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You are here: Home / Archives for Politics / Goddamned Traitors

Goddamned Traitors

ETA: There IS Joy in Mudville

by Tom Levenson|  February 17, 20211:02 pm| 118 Comments

This post is in: domestic terrorists, Goddamned Traitors, Open Threads

Following up on Adam’s bulletin below, my son just introduced me to the crab song and meme.

It is the perfect funerary dirge for one Rush Limbaugh:

I’m so with Clarence Darrow on this one:

I have never killed any one, but I have read some obituary notices with great satisfaction.

Open thread. No nil nisi bonum restriction on this one.

ETA: There IS Joy in MudvillePost + Comments (118)

A classic Gambino style roll-up

by David Anderson|  January 13, 20219:33 pm| 174 Comments

This post is in: Goddamned Traitors, Trump Crime Cartel, Violent Insurrection at the Capitols

NEW: Audio of militia members narrating the Capitol invasion:

“We have a good group: 30 to 40 of us. We’re sticking together and sticking to the plan.”

“We are in the main dome right now.”

“Keep going.”

“…Everything we fucking trained for.”https://t.co/TJnfEnX81H

— Lois Beckett (@loisbeckett) January 14, 2021

I am not a lawyer.

However, that sure as fuck sounds like an overt act of a conspiracy.

And given an overt act of conspiracy, there are going to be a shit ton of small fry who will soon be enjoying the full and unparrelled attention of the US government.  They will be getting lawyers who will be telling them that silence gets them 10 to 20 while talking gets them a much shorter and easier sentence.

A lot of people are extremely unlikely to be pardoned in the next week.  The incentive to squeal will be extraordinarily high.

But again, I am not a lawyer.

 

 

 

A classic Gambino style roll-upPost + Comments (174)

Sunday Rabble-Rousing Open Thread: IMPEACH HIM NOW

by Anne Laurie|  January 10, 20218:07 am| 136 Comments

This post is in: Goddamned Traitors, Open Threads, Republican Venality, Trumpery, Lock Him Up...Lock Them All Up

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told lawmakers to be prepared to return to Washington for action on President Trump https://t.co/t0bX4tspe3

— Bloomberg (@business) January 10, 2021

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Source familiar with Pelosi’s thinking says should Pence not invoke the 25th Amendment by the conclusion of her CBS interview Sunday night, she’s prepared to green-light bringing articles early next week.

— Hugo Lowell (@hugolowell) January 10, 2021

Repubs, of course, are meeping about how inflammatory it would be to hold their Arsonist-in-Chief to account…

we don’t negotiate with terrorists https://t.co/bne0AQHlhj

— kilgore trout, brad r’s brother (@KT_So_It_Goes) January 10, 2021

Impeachment is “divisive” only if there’s an actual *divide* about the President’s conduct. If you’re ok with what he did, stand up and say it. But don’t hide behind weasel words like “divisive.”

— Elie Honig (@eliehonig) January 9, 2021

It may also have another foreign policy implication: restoring faith this kind of thing isn't going to become tolerated as normal in the US – which has deeply alarmed a lot of countries. https://t.co/bfhzjpV82c

— Patrick Chovanec (@prchovanec) January 9, 2021

No lifetime pension.

No lifetime Secret Service protection.

No running for President.

No $1 million travel budget.#ImpeachTrumpNow

— Kurt Bardella (@kurtbardella) January 9, 2021

What are you guys going to do, attack the capitol and kill people while trying to overturn a presidential election? https://t.co/hMrjmbZth7

— Adam Serwer ?? (@AdamSerwer) January 9, 2021

Calls for unity from Republicans are inauthentic until they stop spreading the lie that there was massive fraud in this Presidential election. Tell the people the truth it was a free and fair election and President Elect Biden was duly elected. That is the first step to unity.

— Ruben Gallego (@RubenGallego) January 10, 2021

Also, we should continue to deny that Biden won the election

— The face toucher (@JonIsAwesomest) January 10, 2021

Impeachment/25 Amendment are literally constitutional remedies. Insurrection, not so much. https://t.co/Zw8ZxJ0bSc

— Daily Trix (@DailyTrix) January 10, 2021

Holding him accountable for stoking the anger and violence could make his followers even more angry and violent, so let's let him slide. https://t.co/mtMeAS3HI4

— Patrick Chovanec (@prchovanec) January 10, 2021

Instead of Republican leaders saying that Trump shouldn't be impeached because it would make his followers angry, they *should* say that impeaching (and removing) Trump in a bipartisan manner would send a signal to his followers that this kind of behavior can never happen again.

— Josh Jordan (@NumbersMuncher) January 10, 2021

When Republicans say “unity” what they mean is “we would really like not to have to talk about Donald Trump anymore”

— Josh Barro (@jbarro) January 10, 2021

We have already established the precedent that a President won't be removed from office for shaking down a foreign country for political favors.

Now we are on to establishing the precedent that he won't be removed for whipping up his supporters to physically assault Congress.

— Patrick Chovanec (@prchovanec) January 10, 2021

Absolutely. Many violent authoritarians fail the first time around. https://t.co/9j9grATc9q

— Jennifer 'Prosecute Incitement and Sedition' Rubin (@JRubinBlogger) January 9, 2021

Sunday Rabble-Rousing Open Thread: IMPEACH HIM NOWPost + Comments (136)

Insurrection Open Thread: There Is No Reasoning With These People

by Anne Laurie|  January 7, 202112:15 am| 214 Comments

This post is in: domestic terrorists, Goddamned Traitors, GOP Death Cult, Trump Crime Cartel, Lock Him Up...Lock Them All Up

45% of Republicans approve of the storming of the Capitol building. https://t.co/th0ldyK1IC pic.twitter.com/JnFFsZ4obo

— Catherine Rampell (@crampell) January 7, 2021

show full post on front page

Also, a majority of Republicans blame *Joe Biden* for the storming of the Capitol pic.twitter.com/t3ijBDFely

— Catherine Rampell (@crampell) January 7, 2021

Got that? Per Republicans, the storming of the Capitol was good and right and done by patriots, but also was somehow that guy Joe Biden's fault

— Catherine Rampell (@crampell) January 7, 2021

Trump is a danger to his own country. He shouldn't be president for one more minute. #ImpeachAgain – Now. https://t.co/qUurJ4NEFi via @usatoday

— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) January 6, 2021

I dislike being forced to agree with Tom Nichols, but… “Trump is a danger to his own country. He shouldn’t be president for one more minute”

… First, Trump is an imminent danger to the safety of the country. The Capitol was overrun by a mob at his behest. By late afternoon, Trump had called on the protesters to go home — while telling them that they were indeed right that the election had been stolen, thus pouring more fuel on the flames even while pretending to calm the waters. There is no responsible argument for leaving such a man in command of the armed forces, for leaving the security of the American nation in his hands for one more minute.

Second, even after this attempt at a violent overthrow of the political order is defeated, Trump is not going to stop. He created the situation in the Capitol, and he will gladly create another diversion — perhaps with a last-ditch attempt to use the U.S. military at home or as part of a desperate attempt to embroil America in a foreign conflict — if he thinks it is the only way to protect himself from the legal and financial peril he will face on Jan. 21.

Finally, impeachment for multiple crimes against the Constitution and the American people is the only course left for lawmakers, especially Republicans of the president’s own party, who want to demonstrate their fidelity to the Constitution and protect the supremacy of the rule of law in the United States. The Constitution has to mean something. If the president of the United States goes unpunished after unleashing a mob against elected legislators merely because he wishes to invalidate an election, then this is a far larger problem than a day of protest that got out of hand.

We should never have come to this point. Of course, now that all is lost, born-again constitutionalists like Vice President Mike Pence and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (soon to become minority leader) have rediscovered the notion of duty and strict obedience to the Constitution. They are too late, and it is to their shame that they did not act sooner. Trump has made it clear for months, even years, that he would never accept a defeat and that he would never voluntarily leave office. They knew the danger and they chose to take their chances in order to keep their grip on power…

Democrats, whatever the limits of their usual disorganization, have tried for four years to stop Trump from running roughshod over our system of government. Biden ran a campaign that took the high road and called for national unity. They have done their part. Now it is time for the Republicans to do theirs…

Another guy I don’t trust, but he does have a reputation as a competent/skillful lawyer:

This is key. The text is poorly drafted on this point, but when you think about it, it's the only sensible construction. https://t.co/FoZdnFkUHA

— George Conway (@gtconway3d) January 7, 2021

Anyway, once Trump objects, the VP and cabinet within the four days can notify Congress that they still think Trump unfit, and that triggers a period during which the VP remains acting president while the Congress decides whether (by a 2/3 vote of both houses) …

— George Conway (@gtconway3d) January 7, 2021

Ideally, Congress would sumultaneously proceed with expedited impeachment and removal proceedings that would result in an impeachment conviction that would not only totally remove Trump from office, but—this is the added value—prohibit him from ever holding federal office again.

— George Conway (@gtconway3d) January 7, 2021

Insurrection Open Thread: There Is No Reasoning With These PeoplePost + Comments (214)

Insurrection Open Thread: Disgraceful

by Anne Laurie|  January 6, 20216:22 pm| 125 Comments

This post is in: domestic terrorists, Goddamned Traitors, GOP Death Cult, Open Threads, Trump Crime Cartel, Lock Him Up...Lock Them All Up

Trump repeats claims about the election being stolen from him but says, "We can't play into the hands of these people…So go home. We love you. You're very special…I know how you feel, but go home & go in peace." His former chief of staff said many are "domestic terrorists."

— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) January 6, 2021

It would be shameful, but these people — and particularly their Dear Leader — are incapable of shame.

show full post on front page

Trump is in the private dining room off the Oval Office watching news on the protesters on television, sources tell @SalehaMohsin and me.

— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) January 6, 2021

White House adviser tells @Acosta some aides around Trump are furious the president won't do more… but "he doesn't want to”

— Ana Cabrera (@AnaCabrera) January 6, 2021

Dan Lamothe is on the ‘military beat’ for the Washington Post:

BREAKING: The entire D.C. National Guard will be activated today, putting about 1,100 guardsmen on duty tonight, defense official tells me. Comes after breach of Capitol by pro-Trump protesters.

— Dan Lamothe (@DanLamothe) January 6, 2021

So, unarmed protesters in the streets last summer get the military and tear gas and men in unmarked outfits armed to the teeth, but an invasion of the Capitol gets "sorry, we're not home, please leave a message." https://t.co/a123O0U2Zj

— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) January 6, 2021

The D.C. National Guard is not controlled by the Mayor; it’s controlled by the President.

The lack of a military response right now is a failure by the *federal* government to respond to an assault on one of its most important institutions engaging in its most important duty.

— Steve Vladeck (@steve_vladeck) January 6, 2021

This tracks with previous reporting: Request was made and did not get an immediate response. https://t.co/kX75XyaPNH

— Dan Lamothe (@DanLamothe) January 6, 2021

This is nuts. The Acting Secretary of Defense acknowledging that he and the Joint Chiefs Chairman did not discuss deploying the National Guard with President Trump – but rather with VP Pence and Congressional leaders. pic.twitter.com/b8gAT9bnSC

— Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) January 6, 2021

Cops are taking selfies with the terrorists. pic.twitter.com/EjkQ83h1p2

— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) January 6, 2021

still can’t wrap my head around how the MAGA terrorists broke through this wall of heavily armed national guardsm- *taps earpiece* -ah I’m being informed this treatment was for racial injustice protesters pic.twitter.com/c1voc9cv7G

— kilgore trout, brad r’s brother (@KT_So_It_Goes) January 6, 2021

Never forget. Never forgive.

They evacuated Pence out of an "abundance of caution" or to put it in plain English, he's been removed in reaction to a coordinated attack at the direction of the president. https://t.co/RpFBrgruFH

— Natasha Rothwell (@natasharothwell) January 6, 2021

News with @karoun @mikedebonis —> effort underway to persuade Cruz, Hawley and the objectors to stand down from their objections after the pro-Trump mob breached the Capitol today https://t.co/SDPa3yir05

— Seung Min Kim (@seungminkim) January 6, 2021

Sedition. https://t.co/kYEiMIr7Fr

— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) January 6, 2021

From our Francis Chung, Sen. Josh Hawley greeting protesters in the east side of the Capitol before riots began. pic.twitter.com/I8DjBCDuoP

— Manuel Quinones (@ManuelQ) January 6, 2021

Huh. Weird. Almost like he thought this was all for show and was too dumb to realize he was coddling fascists. https://t.co/33FXKXAWmx

— Chuck Enderlin (@Vote_Chuck) January 6, 2021

"Violence is always unacceptable. But it's also really fun to think about and kind of tacitly encourage, it gets people fired up. But also it's unacceptable. So that's a complicated thing. Anyway I'm in a bunker right now for unrelated reasons." https://t.co/gJrmlkdb5l

— David Roth (@david_j_roth) January 6, 2021

THIS MORNING at the rally Giuliani called for "trial by combat."

Don Jr. told Congressmen who weren't going to vote to overturn the election: "We're coming for you."

— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) January 6, 2021

A law enforcement source has confirmed to CNN that pipe bombs were found at the headquarters for the DNC, RNC and grounds of the United States Capitol. All of the devices were safely detonated by the police, the source tells @evanperez.

— Ana Cabrera (@AnaCabrera) January 6, 2021

Insurrection Open Thread: DisgracefulPost + Comments (125)

Late Night Anti-Social Media Open Thread: Who Funds Parler?

by Anne Laurie|  November 14, 202011:31 pm| 69 Comments

This post is in: Glibertarianism, Goddamned Traitors, Information Warfare, Our Failed Media Experiment

WSJ: Hedge fund investor Robert Mercer and his daughter Rebekah Mercer are financially backing the social media company Parler.

The Mercers previously financed a number of conservative causes, and have not disclosed their involvement with Parlerhttps://t.co/uRW6Ili87F

— Hamza Shaban (@hshaban) November 14, 2020

“Interesting“, as far as it goes, which probably isn’t far enough. I can’t see most of the article, because I’m not gonna buy an exorbitantly expensive Wall Street Journal subscription for pap like this:

As Facebook Inc . and Twitter Inc . have taken a harder line against unsubstantiated claims of a stolen presidential election, prominent conservatives on both platforms have responded with anger and a frequent retort: Follow me on Parler.

Launched in 2018, the libertarian-leaning social network was the most downloaded app on both Android and Apple devices for most of last week, according to data from Google and analytics firm App Annie. Its leaders envision it as a free-speech-focused alternative to the giants of Silicon Valley.

The platform also has some deep-pocketed investors. Rebekah Mercer, daughter of hedge-fund investor Robert Mercer, is among the company’s financial backers, according to people familiar with the matter. The Mercers have previously financed a number of conservative causes…

ICYMI (as you probably did, what with all the more pressing news out there), this breathless scoop comes hard on the heels of a widely circulated twitter thread…

show full post on front page

Parler is funded by FSB? This is the most surprising development since the sun came out this morning. https://t.co/Zfyrpyx9Sg

— Slava Malamud (@SlavaMalamud) November 13, 2020

Interesting background on Parler: https://t.co/Re2ThmDigA

— Tanya Eckert Grasser 💜 (@treg313) November 14, 2020

The Verge adds:

… Parler turned into a kind of de facto home for conservatives’ protests against the election— including the persistent “Stop the Steal” campaign— after the race was called for former Vice President Joe Biden. Several high-profile conservative social media personalities encouraged people to abandon Twitter and Facebook because of their moderation policies, and instead follow them on Parler.

According to the WSJ, the Mercers, known for giving financial support to conservative causes and organizations, including Cambridge Analytica, have not previously revealed their connection to Parler.

In a “parley” (what Parler calls its posts) on Saturday, a user with the handle Rebekah Mercer and a yellow “verified” badge said she and “John,” an apparent reference to Parler CEO John Matze, “started Parler to provide a neutral platform for free speech as our founders intended,” and that “the ever increasing tyranny and hubris of our tech overlords lead the fight against data mining” and online free speech…

As a devout Cynic, I suspect the distinction between Mercer funding and official Soviet funding is very much on the Why buy a cow when milk is so cheap? spectrum, myself. But then, all the most significant capital-L libertarian thought leaders seem to have had a strong Russian influence: Ayn Rand, the Koch brothers, Edward Snowden — it’s a tradition!

Late Night Anti-Social Media Open Thread: Who Funds Parler?Post + Comments (69)

Donald Trump Achieves A First Strike Decapitation Of US NatSec Command-And-Control

by Tom Levenson|  October 6, 20201:34 pm| 175 Comments

This post is in: COVID-19 Coronavirus, Goddamned Traitors, GOP Death Cult, Military, Open Threads

The Plague Rat in Chief’s scabbed and pustulent touch has reached the Pentagon.

Donald Trump Achieves A First Strike Decapitation Of US NatSec Command-And-Control

The US top military leadership have entered quarantine after Admiral Charles W. Wray, vice commandant of the Coast Guard, was diagnosed with Covid-19:

The chairman of the joint chiefs of staff and other top military leaders are under quarantine after a senior Coast Guard official tested positive for the coronavirus, two U.S. officials said.

Gen. Mark Milley and the chiefs of the Army, Navy and Air Force have tested negative for the virus, but remain under quarantine as a precaution, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss information not yet made public. The head of U.S. Cyber Command, Gen. Paul Nakasone, was also among those quarantined.

Up to 14 officials are believed to have been potentially exposed…

This exposure is, apparently, unconnected to the Judge Barrett corona party in the Rose Garden–but  this is the direct consequence of the larger Trump failure to create the procedures and culture in which all Americans collaborate that could contain the virus.

We are all less safe because of that–and now we see that such insecurity extends beyond “mere” personal security to that of the nation as a whole.

Enraged open thread

 

ETA: By popular (sic!) demand…

Image: Anonymous, Three Rats Eating a Fish Head, Edo, 18th c.

Donald Trump Achieves A First Strike Decapitation Of US NatSec Command-And-ControlPost + Comments (175)

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