#Jaime Raskin

[liberalsarecool]

Jaime Raskin 🎯🔥💯

Republicans do not care about principles. Foreign governments paid Trump millions. Democrats have the receipts and 100+ page report.

Republicans don't care.

[carolinemillerbooks]

New Post has been published on Books by Caroline Miller

New Post has been published on https://www.booksbycarolinemiller.com/musings/the-shadow-knows/

The Shadow Knows

During the winter holidays, Britain’s Prime Mister, Rishi Sunak took a photo-op when he decided to serve breakfast at a homeless shelter. Sunak, reported to be worth  $800 million, made a stab at being chummy as he handed a plate of eggs and sausages to a stranger standing on the opposite side of the steam counter.  “Do you work in business, by any chance?” As the man reached for the plate that hung in midair, he stated the obvious.  “No.  I’m homeless.  I’m here for a hot meal.” Finding common ground with a stranger can be difficult.  Sometimes, it never happens.  Sometimes connection takes a second. Since arriving in Congress (2021), House Republican Marjorie Taylor Green has engaged her Democratic associate Jaime Raskin in Twitter combat.  No one could have guessed they were linked by a  thread.  Yet when Raskin announced he had cancer, Greene did an about-face. Her father had died of cancer. She knew the struggle that awaited her colleague.  “I’ll be praying for Jaime Raskin,” she tweeted. Empathy is a grace that exists in most humans.  It lifts us into spiritual realms but is ephemeral. Called upon too often or for too long a time, the flame dies out. Prolonged empathy morphs into grief; grief becomes despair; despair, falling alike upon those who suffer and those who help,  leaves the spirit numb.  insanity is the final transition. The Ukraine war is an example.  The nation may be winning its battles, but its rubbled streets look nothing like a victory. How long will the people’s courage last and that of their supporters?  Longer than the invaders’, I hope.  Seeing his country mired in blood,  one Russian propagandist’s despair touches upon insanity. Embrace death he exhorted his countrymen. “Life is highly overrated.”    History is rife with nihilists like him.  It is a state of mind as old as Biblical Masada and jihadism.  In times of greatest stress, it can pass for Reason.   Recently, the U. S. Supreme Court struck down New York’s gun control laws which were intended a cripple the growing number of mass shootings. The judges concluded that under the Second Amendment, the legislation violated the people’s right to protect themselves. That decision was based on its 2008 verdict in the District of Columbia v. Heller. There, the judges determined that “militia” in the Second Amendment covered an individual’s right to self-defense.  Though reasonable on its face, the interpretation leaves citizens standing in crosshairs. One commentator rightly asked, “What happens when the people are no longer allowed to protect themselves from mass slaughter through their elected representatives and are left at the mercy of unelected judges who do not care if they are shot to death.” The marshmallow experiment reminds us that our human tendency is to secure what we have rather than plan for future unknowns. The impulse can goad us into precipitous action.      In the 1990s, the United States may have acted impulsively when President Bill Clinton encouraged Urkaine’s desire for ties with Europe.  Political scientist John Mearsheimer says Clinton’s decision destroyed a détente between Russia and the west and paved the way for Vladimir Putin’s invasion of its neighbor. Clinton disagrees. Graham Fuller, a political analyst, sides with Mearsheimer on the question and sees Ukraine’s struggles as a proxy war between the U. S. and Russia.  He says we are making a similar mistake with China he continues. Our efforts to restrict that country’s growth have backfired, leading  China to respond with its Belt and Road initiative —an economic development plan for third-world countries that China underwrites. The program has enjoyed success, particularly among nations in the southern hemisphere that have experienced the west’s military presence: Latin American, the Middle East, Africa, India, and parts of Asia.   Finger-pointing, of course, is among the oldest ploys.  At this moment, however, it poses danger because it diverts our attention from Damocles’s sword as it swings above our heads.  I refer to climate change. In a recent version of nihilism, some scientists have abandoned the hope that we can escape annihilation. Those of us who dare to contemplate the future know that Marjorie Taylor Greene and Jamie Raskin have revealed the common ground that unites the species. Who becomes Speaker of the U. S. House in 2023 is irrelevant. At a visceral level, we know our charge. Either we work toward the common good.  Or, we nurture our grudges and fall victim to the lengthening shadow of our annihilation.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Kaia Hubbard at CBS News:

Washington — Party leaders and rising stars will address delegates in Chicago this week as the Democratic National Convention gets underway, with speeches honoring President Biden's time in office while celebrating a new name atop the ticket.  

[...]

Speakers for the 2024 Democratic National Convention

Three presidents, leaders in Congress and other prominent members of the party are expected to address the convention this week as Democrats gear up for November's election. 

Though the full speaker schedule for the entire week has yet to be released, convention officials confirmed the speakers for Monday:

Minyon Moore, convention committee chair

Jaime Harrison, chairman of the Democratic National Committee

Brandon Johnson, mayor of Chicago

Peggy Flanagan, the lieutenant governor of Minnesota

Rep. Lauren Underwood of Illinois

Rep. Robert Garcia of California

Labor leaders Lee Saunders (AFSCME); April Verrett (SEIU); Brent Booker (LiUNA); Kenneth Cooper (IBEW); Claude Cummings Jr. (CWA); Elizabeth Shuler (AFL-CIO)

Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow

Gina Raimondo, Secretary of Commerce

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul

Shawn Fain, president of the United Automobile Workers

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York

Hillary Clinton, former secretary of state and 2016 Democratic nominee

Rep. James E. Clyburn of South Carolina

Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland

Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Texas

Rep. Grace Meng of New York

Women from states with abortion restrictions: Amanda and Josh Zurawski; Kaitlyn Joshua; and Hadley Duvall

Gov. Andy Beshear of Kentucky

Sen. Raphael Warnock of Georgia

Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware

First lady Jill Biden

Ashley Biden

President Biden

The speakers list for Monday's opening session of the #DNC2024 is out, with President Joe Biden and FLOTUS Dr. Jill Biden as the headlining speakers this evening.

Other notable speakers: DNC Convention Committee Chair Minyon Moore, DNC Chairperson Jaime Harrison, Former FLOTUS and former Senator Hillary Clinton, Delaware Sen. Chris Coons, Illinois Rep. Lauren Underwood, UAW President Shawn Fain, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock, and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson.

[stlhandyman]

Supreme Court, U.S FILED In The OCT 2 2022 Supreme Court ofthe United States  RALAND J BRUNSON, Petitioner,

Named persons in their capacities as United States House Representatives: ALMA S. ADAMS; PETE AGUILAR; COLIN Z. ALLRED; MARK E. AMODEI; KELLY ARMSTRONG; JAKE AUCHINCLOSS; CYNTHIA AXNE; DON BACON; TROY BALDERSON; ANDY BARR; NANETTE DIAZ BARRAGAN; KAREN BASS; JOYCE BEATTY; AMI BERA; DONALD S. BEYER JR.; GUS M. ILIRAKIS; SANFORD D. BISHOP JR.; EARL BLUMENAUER; LISA BLUNT ROCHESTER; SUZANNE BONAMICI; CAROLYN BOURDEAUX; JAMAAL BOWMAN; BRENDAN F. BOYLE; KEVIN BRADY; ANTHONY G. BROWN; JULIA BROWNLEY; VERN BUCHANAN; KEN BUCK; LARRY BUCSHON; CORI BUSH; CHERI BUSTOS; G. K. BUTTERFIELD; SALUD 0. CARBAJAL; TONY CARDENAS; ANDRE CARSON; MATT CARTWRIGHT; ED CASE; SEAN CASTEN; KATHY CASTOR; JOAQUIN CASTRO; LIZ CHENEY; JUDY CHU; DAVID N. CICILLINE; KATHERINE M. CLARK; YVETTE D. CLARKE; EMANUEL CLEAVER; JAMES E. CLYBURN; STEVE COHEN; JAMES COMER; GERALD E. CONNOLLY; JIM COOPER; J. LUIS CORREA; JIM COSTA; JOE COURTNEY; ANGIE CRAIG; DAN CRENSHAW; CHARLIE CRIST; JASON CROW; HENRY CUELLAR; JOHN R. CURTIS; SHARICE DAVIDS; DANNY K. DAVIS; RODNEY DAVIS; MADELEINE DEAN; PETER A. DEFAZIO; DIANA DEGETTE; ROSAL DELAURO; SUZAN K. DELBENE; Ill ANTONIO DELGADO; VAL BUTLER DEMINGS; MARK DESAULNIER; THEODORE E. DEUTCH; DEBBIE DINGELL; LLOYD DOGGETT; MICHAEL F. DOYLE; TOM EMMER; VERONICA ESCOBAR; ANNA G. ESHOO; ADRIANO ESPAILLAT; DWIGHT EVANS; RANDY FEENSTRA; A. DREW FERGUSON IV; BRIAN K. FITZPATRICK; LIZZIE LETCHER; JEFF FORTENBERRY; BILL FOSTER; LOIS FRANKEL; MARCIA L. FUDGE; MIKE GALLAGHER; RUBEN GALLEGO; JOHN GARAMENDI; ANDREW R. GARBARINO; SYLVIA R. GARCIA; JESUS G. GARCIA; JARED F. GOLDEN; JIMMY GOMEZ; TONY GONZALES; ANTHONY GONZALEZ; VICENTE GONZALEZ; JOSH GOTTHEIMER; KAY GRANGER; AL GREEN; RAUL M. GRIJALVA; GLENN GROTHMAN; BRETT GUTHRIE; DEBRA A. HAALAND; JOSH HARDER; ALCEE L. HASTINGS; JAHANA HAYES; JAIME HERRERA BEUTLER; BRIAN HIGGINS; J. FRENCH HILL; JAMES A. HIMES; ASHLEY HINSON; TREY HOLLINGSWORTH; STEVEN HORSFORD; CHRISSY HOULAHAN; STENY H. HOYER; JARED HUFFMAN; BILL HUIZENGA; SHEILA JACKSON LEE; SARA JACOBS; PRAMILA JAYAPAL; HAKEEM S. JEFFRIES; DUSTY JOHNSON; EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON; HENRY C. JOHNSON JR.; MONDAIRE JONES; DAVID P. JOYCE; KAIALPI KAHELE; MARCY KAPTUR; JOHN KATKO; WILLIAM R. KEATING; RO KHANNA; DANIEL T. KILDEE; DEREK KILMER; ANDY KIM; YOUNG KIM; RON KIND; ADAM KINZINGER; ANN KIRKPATRICK; RAJA KRISHNAMOORTHI; ANN M. KUSTER; DARIN LAHOOD; CONOR LAMB; JAMES R. LANGEVIN; RICK LARSEN; JOHN B. LARSON; ROBERT E. LATTA; JAKE LATURNER; BRENDA L. LAWRENCE; AL LAWSON JR.; BARBARA LEE; SUSIE LEE; TERESA LEGER FERNANDEZ; ANDY LEVIN; MIKE LEVIN; TED LIEU; IV ZOE LOFGREN; ALAN S.LOWENTHAL; ELAINE G. LURIA; STEPHEN F. LYNCH; NANCY MACE; TOM MALINOWSKI; CAROLYN B. MALONEY; SEAN PATRICK MALONEY; KATHY E. MANNING; THOMAS MASSIE; DORIS 0. MATSUI; LUCY MCBATH; MICHAEL T. MCCAUL; TOM MCCLINTOCK; BETTY MCCOLLUM; A. ADONALD MCEACHIN; JAMES P. MCGOVERN; PATRICK T. MCHENRY; DAVID B. MCKINLEY; JERRY MCNERNEY; GREGORY W. MEEKS; PETER MEIJER; GRACE MENG; KWEISI MFUME; MARIANNETTE MILLER-MEEKS; JOHN R. MOOLENAAR; BLAKE D. MOORE; GWEN MOORE; JOSEPH D. MORELLE; SETH MOULTON; FRANK J. MRVAN; STEPHANIE N. MURPHY; JERROLD NADLER; GRACE F. NAPOLITANO; RICHARD E. NEAL; JOE NEGUSE; DAN NEWHOUSE; MARIE NEWMAN; DONALD NORCROSS; ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ; TOM O'HALLERAN; ILHAN OMAR; FRANK PALLONE JR.; JIMMY PANETTA; CHRIS PAPPAS; BILL PASCRELL JR.; DONALD M. PAYNE JR.; NANCY PELOSI; ED PERLMUTTER; SCOTT H. PETERS; DEAN PHILLIPS; CHELLIE PINGREE; MARK POCAN; KATIE PORTER; AYANNA PRESSLEY; DAVID E. PRICE; MIKE QUIGLEY; JAMIE RASKIN; TOM REED; KATHLEEN M. RICE; CATHY MCMORRIS RODGERS; DEBORAH K. ROSS; CHIP ROY; LUCILLE ROYBAL-ALLARD; RAUL RUIZ; C. A. DUTCH RUPPERSBERGER; BOBBY L. RUSH; TIM RYAN; LINDA T. SANCHEZ; JOHN P. SARBANES; MARY GAY SCANLON; JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY; ADAM B. SCHIFF; BRADLEY SCOTT SCHNEIDER; KURT SCHRADER; KIM SCHRIER; AUSTIN SCOTT; DAVID SCOTT; ROBERT C. SCOTT; TERRI A. SEWELL; BRAD SHERMAN; MIKIE SHERRILL; MICHAEL K. SIMPSON; ALBIO SIRES; ELISSA SLOTKIN; ADAM SMITH; CHRISTOPHER H. V SMITH; DARREN SOTO; ABIGAIL DAVIS SPANBERGER; VICTORIA SPARTZ; JACKIE SPEIER; GREG STANTON; PETE STAUBER; MICHELLE STEEL; BRYAN STEIL; HALEY M. STEVENS; STEVE STIVERS; MARILYN STRICKLAND; THOMAS R. SUOZZI; ERIC SWALWELL; MARK TAKANO; VAN TAYLOR; BENNIE G. THOMPSON; MIKE THOMPSON; DINA TITUS; RASHIDA TLAIB; PAUL TONKO; NORMA J. TORRES; RITCHIE TORRES; LORI TRAHAN; DAVID J. TRONE; MICHAEL R. TURNER; LAUREN UNDERWOOD; FRED UPTON; JUAN VARGAS; MARC A. VEASEY; FILEMON VELA; NYDIA M. VELAZQUEZ; ANN WAGNER; MICHAEL WALTZ; DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ; MAXINE WATERS; BONNIE WATSON COLEMAN; PETER WELCH; BRAD R. WENSTRUP; BRUCE WESTERMAN; JENNIFER WEXTON; SUSAN WILD; NIKEMA WILLIAMS; FREDERICA S. WILSON; STEVE WOMACK; JOHN A. YARMUTH; DON YOUNG; the following persons named are for their capacities as U.S. Senators; TAMMY BALDWIN; JOHN BARRASSO; MICHAEL F. BENNET; MARSHA BLACKBURN; RICHARD BLUMENTHAL; ROY BLUNT; CORY A. BOOKER; JOHN BOOZMAN; MIKE BRAUN; SHERROD BROWN; RICHARD BURR; MARIA CANTWELL; SHELLEY CAPITO; BENJAMIN L. CARDIN; THOMAS R. CARPER; ROBERT P. CASEY JR.; BILL CASSIDY; SUSAN M. COLLINS; CHRISTOPHER A. COONS; JOHN CORNYN; CATHERINE CORTEZ MASTO; TOM COTTON; KEVIN CRAMER; MIKE CRAPO; STEVE DAINES; TAMMY DUCKWORTH; RICHARD J. DURBIN; JONI ERNST; DIANNE FEINSTEIN; DEB FISCHER; KIRSTEN E. GILLIBRAND; LINDSEY GRAHAM; CHUCK GRASSLEY; BILL HAGERTY; MAGGIE HASSAN; MARTIN HEINRICH; JOHN HICKENLOOPER; MAZIE HIRONO; JOHN HOEVEN; JAMES INHOFE; RON VI JOHNSON; TIM KAINE; MARK KELLY; ANGUS S. KING, JR.; AMY KLOBUCHAR; JAMES LANKFORD; PATRICK LEAHY; MIKE LEE; BEN LUJAN; CYNTHIA M. LUMMIS; JOE MANCHIN III; EDWARD J. MARKEY; MITCH MCCONNELL; ROBERT MENENDEZ; JEFF MERKLEY; JERRY MORAN; LISA MURKOWSKI; CHRISTOPHER MURPHY; PATTY MURRAY; JON OSSOFF; ALEX PADILLA; RAND PAUL; GARY C. PETERS; ROB PORTMAN; JACK REED; JAMES E. RISCH; MITT ROMNEY; JACKY ROSEN; MIKE ROUNDS; MARCO RUBIO; BERNARD SANDERS; BEN SASSE; BRIAN SCHATZ; CHARLES E. SCHUMER; RICK SCOTT; TIM SCOTT; JEANNE SHAHEEN; RICHARD C. SHELBY; KYRSTEN SINEMA; TINA SMITH; DEBBIE STABENOW; DAN SULLIVAN; JON TESTER; JOHN THUNE; THOM TILLIS; PATRICK J. TOOMEY; HOLLEN VAN; MARK R. WARNER; RAPHAEL G. WARNOCK; ELIZABETH WARREN; SHELDON WHITEHOUSE; ROGER F. WICKER; RON WYDEN; TODD YOUNG; JOSEPH ROBINETTE BIDEN JR in his capacity of President of the United States; MICHAEL RICHARD PENCE in his capacity as former Vice President of the United States, and KAMALA HARRIS in her capacity as Vice President of the United States and JOHN and JANE DOES 1-100.  

https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/22/22-380/243739/20221027152243533_20221027-152110-95757954-00007015.pdf

[jdread-616]

If not President Biden, then who?

I just read an article where Jaime Raskin articulated concerns in the party about President Biden. It seems to me as it’s a bit late to air trepidation as Biden would have to step down having already won the primary. At the end of the article a few names were floated as possible contenders but I think the best choice was left off the list. Vice President Kamala Harris made the list as did…

[pscottm]

Exchange of the Day

Rep. Jaime Raskin (D-MD) and Rep. James Comer (R-KY) had a heated but telling exchange at a House Oversight Committee hearing:

RASKIN: What is the crime that you want to impeach Joe Biden for? Tell America right now.

COMER: You’re about to find out very soon

[scottiestoybox]

Rep. Jaime Raskin: The 14th Amendment Is “The Most Democratic Disqualifier” To Run For President [VIDEO]

Rep. Jaime Raskin: The 14th Amendment Is “The Most Democratic Disqualifier” To Run For President [VIDEO] December 31, 2023 “Is it undemocratic that Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jennifer Granholm can’t run for president because they weren’t born in the country? If you think about it, of all of the forms of disqualification that we have, the one that disqualifies people for engaging in insurrection…

[momo4521]

Jamie Raskin

Jaime Raskin was first elected to the House in 2016 after teaching constitutional law at American University for more than 25 years. He is now the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee. He has stated that we’re still in the fight of our lives and Trump is still very much at large. We’re in a struggle to defend democracy and the rule of law. He is help to bring Trump down and out.

[bookmarketingjournal]

Watch Jaime Raskin puts Trump in PANIC MODE with probe ‘Judge’ admits ‘T...

[liberalsarecool]

Jaime Raskin is a treasure. Listen to him tell House Republicans the truth about their spineless worship of Trump the Con Man.

Must Watch!

[feelingbluepolitics]

"The vote came after Representative Jamie Raskin of Maryland, the lead impeachment manager, said that Democrats wanted the chance to call Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler, Republican of Washington, to testify. Ms. Herrera Beutler confirmed late Friday evening that Representative Kevin McCarthy, the minority leader, had told her that [t]rump said in a phone call during the rampage that the rioters were more upset about the election than Mr. McCarthy was.

..."In her statement Friday night, Ms. Herrera Beutler said Mr. McCarthy told her that [t]rump had said the rioters storming the Capitol were 'more upset about the election than you are.' She pleaded with those who were at the White House with him that day, or former Vice President Mike Pence, to come forward and share eyewitness accounts and details about what they saw.

"'To the patriots who were standing next to the former president as these conversations were happening, or even to the former vice president: If you have something to add here, now would be the time,' Ms. Herrera Beutler said in a statement."

Herrera Beutler voted in the House for trump's impeachment.

However, the issue of her witness testimony has been resolved by admitting her statement into the record.

Her statement includes the fact that Kevin McCarthy reached trump by phone during the riot; that McCarthy requested him to help them, and trump refused; that McCarthy refuted trump's claim that the insurgents were "antifa," telling trump that they were trump supporters; and then that trump told McCarthy -- a loyal servant to trump like Pence -- "Well, Kevin, it looks like these people are more upset about the election than you are."

No witness would benefit trump's defense. They wanted none, but just to move on to trump's acquittal by Republicons endorsing trump’s actions.

The issue of witnesses for the House Managers was more weighted because 1) they have already made an incontrovertible case that trump incited the insurrection and refused to call it off; 2) the "jury" is stacked with open trump co-conspirators including Hawley, Cruz, Lee, and Graham actively working with the defense lawyers; 3) the House Managers got the statement they wanted into the record; and 4) Biden and Democrats want and need to move fast on Covid relief and other measures to help Americans, passing measures that Grim Reaper McConnell killed for the years that the Senate was under his control.

Herrera Beutler's statement that trump refused to send help, and was in fact vengeful against McCarthy and Congress and Pence for not "giving" trump the election, as trump and his terrorists wanted, goes powerfully to reveal trump's intentions. His miserable defense attorneys have said the "protest" was intended as "peaceful," regardless of the violent militia members and other violent elements making up the crowd, some in tactical gear, many with weapons, and all with directed rage, for trump's orders.

But the Republicon Congresswoman's statement reveals the difference between someone who kills someone and calls for help, and a criminal who kills someone and then works to cut up the body. What happened on January 6 was trump's vengeful determination that everyone should be sorry, whether the violent coup actually worked to give him power or not.

[disillusioned41]

Shortly after the Senate voted to pave the way for witnesses in Donald Trump's impeachment trial, Democratic lawmakers and the former president's defense team on Saturday reached a deal to merely enter a statement by Republican Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler into evidence instead of having her testify under oath on her knowledge of a call between Trump and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy.

The agreement effectively slammed the door on the possibility of witnesses in the trial and likely means a final vote on the impeachment charge could come later Saturday. After the deal was announced on the Senate floor, Democratic managers moved to their closing arguments.

The abrupt change of course by Democrats was met with outrage by progressive observers and analysts who viewed Herrera Beutler's potential testimony—and that of others who may have been compelled to come forward—as an opportunity to uncover additional information about Trump's conduct on the day of the deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol last month.

"Even if you're convinced no testimony will change the minds of 40 Republicans—and I think that's a fair assumption—leaving witnesses on the table is an incredible mistake," tweeted HuffPost's Matt Fuller. "After impeachment managers presented a fantastic case, the decision to fold is what will be remembered."

In the statement that was entered into the record, Herrera Beutler—one of the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump last month—said that "when McCarthy finally reached the president on January 6 and asked him to publicly and forcefully call off the riot, the president initially repeated the falsehood that it was antifa that had breached the Capitol."

"McCarthy refuted that and told the president that these were Trump supporters," Herrera Beutler said. "That's when, according to McCarthy, the president said, 'Well, Kevin, I guess these people are more upset about the election than you are.'"

Judd Legum of Popular Information argued that because Herrera Beutler's statement had already been released to the public, the agreement to enter it into evidence is "objectively the same as a complete capitulation on witnesses and the Democrats should just own up to that."

"This is retreat. White flag. Malpractice. Completely unstrategic," added Adam Green, co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee (PCCC). "They just closed the door on others who may have stepped out, as Herrera Beutler urged last night. Just when we thought Dems were being bold and strategic. This is grabbing lameness out of the jaws of boldness."

It was not immediately clear why Democrats decided at the last minute to back off their push for witnesses, but Democratic senators were reportedly "blindsided" by Rep. Jamie Raskin's (D-Md.) announcement Saturday morning that he planned to seek a subpoena for Herrera Beutler's testimony. Trump's defense team countered Raskin by threatening to call hundreds of witnesses, which potentially could have dragged out the trial for days as the Senate would have had to vote on each request.

According to CNN, Senate Democratic leaders pressured House impeachment managers behind closed doors to drop the call for witness testimony:

After a brief recess just before noon on Saturday—a break that came shortly after the Senate opened the door to witnesses with a 55-45 vote—Trump's lawyers returned to the Senate chamber and announced that they reached an agreement with Democratic lawmakers to enter Herrera Beutler's statement into evidence instead of calling her to testify.

"Donald John Trump by his counsel is prepared to stipulate that if Rep. Herrera Beutler were to testify under oath as part of these proceedings her testimony would be consistent with the statement she issued on February 12, 2021, and the former president's counsel is agreeable to the admission of that public statement into evidence at this time," Bruce Castor, one of Trump's lawyers, said on the Senate floor.

Raskin, the lead House impeachment manager, then delivered brief remarks accepting the deal and proceeded to read Herrera Beutler's statement aloud in full.

Politico reported that "during the Senate break after the witness vote Saturday, Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) twice came into the managers' room off the Senate floor" and "pressed House Democrats to relent, saying their quest for witnesses would cost them Republican votes to convict and maybe even some Democrats."

"The jury is ready to vote," Coons told the impeachment managers, according to Politico. "People want to get home for Valentine's Day."

Citing an unnamed source close to the former president's team, CNN's Jim Acosta reported that Trump "is pleased there won't be witnesses at the trial."

"The source added that the legal team views the Democrats' decision to not call witnesses as a clear victory," Acosta tweeted.

Jeff Hauser, director of the Revolving Door Project, said he's "livid" at Democratic leaders for caving on witnesses and rejected the argument that a longer trial would endanger coronavirus relief efforts.

"They're going on recess next week," Hauser said of senators. "The Democratic leadership is spreading the claim that it's relief vs. accountability. They are lying. Learned helplessness being justified by a knowably false choice."

[silverdragonmustache]

Gun control part of next stimulus package (04/16/2020)

This is from: FireArmsPolicy.org

https://www.firearmspolicy.org/oppose-vawra-covid-19?utm_campaign=415_vawa&utm_medium=email&utm_source=firearmspolicycoalition

This link will take you to this page, and allow you to send a complaint to your congress members.   This will affect EVERY PERSON IN EVERY STATE.

CovidGunControl.com: Oppose Gun Control Amendment for next Covid-19 Stimulus Package                                                                                                  

Bill/Issue: Bi-partisan attempt to sneak gun control legislation into the next COVID-19 stimulus package.

Position: Strongly Opposed

Sponsor(s): House Members - Rodney Davis, Ann Kirkpatrick, Susan Brooks, Jaime Herrera Beutler, Raúl M. Grijalva, Terri A. Sewell, Jamie Raskin, James P. McGovern, Lizzie Fletcher, Lori Trahan, Grace F. Napolitano, Troy Balderson, Anthony Brindisi, Tom Malinowski, Nydia M. Velázquez, Joe Neguse, Don Young, Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon, Derek Kilmer, Anthony G. Brown, Ruben Gallego, Wm. Lacy Clay, Cindy Axne, Bill Johnson, David Trone, John Katko, Abigail D. Spanberger.

Senate Members - Lisa Murkowski, Thom Tillis, et al.

Summary: Republicans are colluding with Congressional Democrats to sneak gun control into the next COVID-19 stimulus package. These traitors are launching a bi-partisan attack on your rights that would:

Reauthorize the deceptively-named "Violence Against Women Act" (VAWA), a massively-problematic gun control initiative

Manufacture a whole new class of victims by depriving Americans of a hearing before losing their Second Amendment rights and property

Provide for the unconstitutional federalization of state resources, dramatically expanding the federal government’s reach into matters traditionally controlled by the states.

And much more

This proposal is a MASSIVE bi-partisan assault on your fundamental rights. And we need to stop it IMMEDIATELY! Please use our Take Action form below to contact Congress. Tell them you won't stand for these treasonous politicians' attempt to sneak gun control into the stimulus!

Read more about VAWA and this attack on your rights:

FPC 2019-9-4 Policy Memo- Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act (VAWRA)

Letter House members sent to Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader McConnell, Republican Leader McCarthy, and Minority Leader Schumer

Letter Senate members sent to Senate leadership

[cryptodailysun]

Only one seat currently remains vacant out of the panel of five SEC commissioners, but Allison Lee is expected to depart when her term expires in June. United States President Joe Biden is reportedly planning to nominate two commissioners with different political party affiliations to the Securities and Exchange Commission.According to a Wednesday report from the Wall Street Journal, Biden is considering Democrat Jaime Lizárraga, a staffer for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Republican Mark Uyeda, counsel for the Senate Banking Committee on securities and capital markets, to fill seats left behind by SEC commissioners Allison Lee and Elad Roisman, respectively. Roisman left the regulatory body at the end of January, while Lee is expected to depart when her term expires in June. Lizárraga worked on Pelosi’s staff while legislation was prepared to handle the financial crisis in 2008, and was part of efforts behind the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, which went into effect in 2010. Uyeda is a staff member for the SEC who has served as counsel on the Senate Banking Committee since January 2021.As one of the top financial regulators in the United States, the makeup of the SEC leadership could have an impact on how the government handles the framework on crypto and blockchain. Hester Pierce, the SEC commissioner known to many as "Crypto Mom," has been a major proponent of digital assets in the U.S. government, including proposing a safe harbor for projects. In contrast, many lawmakers and industry leaders have criticized SEC chair Gary Gensler for not providing regulatory clarity for crypto projects dealing in securities, as well as the uncertainty around approval for a spot Bitcoin (BTC) exchange-traded fund.Related: Congress members concerned SEC stifling innovation with crypto scrutinyThough only one seat currently remains vacant out of the five SEC commissioners, Biden has faced difficulty filling positions with key financial regulators in the United States due, in part, to pushback from Republican lawmakers. In the Federal Reserve, Jerome Powell has been acting as chair pro tempore since February in the absence of a full Senate vote while the central bank currently lacks a vice-chair without the confirmation of Fed governor Lael Brainard. Economist Philip Jefferson is also currently awaiting a full Senate vote after Sarah Bloom Raskin — Biden's pick for Fed vice chair for supervision — withdrew her name from consideration in response to “relentless attacks by special interests.” Go to Source

[davidpwilson2564]

Bloglet

Saturday, February 5, 2022

It’s too damn cold to do anything.  

Queen Elizabeth celebrates her seventy year reign.  

Sunday, February 6, 2022

In the N Y Times real estate section an article catches my attention.  A young man, priced out of his West Village apartment due to lack of work (pandemic) looks for another place to live.  Even the smallest places rent for 2,000 a month.  He finds a place he likes and is told by the agent there is no toilet.  The toilet is down the hall.  The young man thinks it over and by the time he decides to take the apartment it is gone.  (Most New Yorkers I know have a gone apartment story.)  This article brought to mind Johnny Robinson (drummer, sometimes pianist, and song writer) who was the uncle of my U of T roommate Bob Orr.  Johnny lived for decades in a one room apartment with the West Forties that had a toilet down the hall.  This sort of thing would be too rustic for most but Johnny managed, and lived within his (slender) means,  even going so far as to entertain there.  He was one of a kind.  He had some sort of arrangement with the government (disability?) that provided him with a monthly income.  This being the case he could never leave a paper trail.  I know this because I tried to throw a drumming gig or two his way.  He had numerous excuses for turning me down.  He played for tips in a band in the vast subway station at Forty Second Street.  Oh, and he was in a movie.  Robert Downey, Sr’s “Putney Swope.”  It showed up the other night on the Turner channel, one of their naughtier selections, the one that come on the in wee hours.  I remembered that Johnny even sings in “Putney” but I dozed off and missed it.  Johnny ended his days in a home up in Massachusetts where his son lived and could check in on him.  I’m sure Johnny played the piano and sang, keeping the others entertained as long as he was able.  

Note: Quite good show on Constitution scholar Jaime Raskin.  Shortly before the insurrection his son committed suicide.  But he had to keep going, trying to clean up the mess.  

  to be continued