Sunday, January 26, 2020

A Tad of Russiagate and a $#!*load of Shampeachment

DOJ figures out that cleaning up the mess with the Carter Page FISA warrants is going to take longer than they thought; or else, maybe they're just starting the standard FBI/DOJ stall campaign. Sundance, DOJ/FBI Quietly Request Deadline Extension from FISA Court – Deadline Moved to February 5th…
The previous deadline was January 28th. As noted the FISC has granted a one week extension until February 5th. [Some Possible Ramifications Outlined Here]

This is a hot mess. Remember, IG Horowitz said he only found evidence of a FISA warrant against Carter Page, no other Trump campaign or Trump administration official was investigated using a FISA application. That statement is a little more important now.

As I go back through my notes seeing if I can identify the downstream consequences impacted by a rather stunning sequestration effort, I find myself wondering if the HJC case(s) for 6(e) material and Don McGahn testimony might even be part of the pull-back material as a derivative of the special counsel probe’ use of the Carter Page Title-1 surveillance warrant. After all, there had to be an investigative reason for Mueller to want the renewal on June 29, 2017, long after Carter Page was gone from the Trump orbit.
WaEx, House Democrats conceal testimony of 18th witness from Trump team. Hmm.
Democrats clamoring for more witnesses at President Trump’s impeachment trial are concealing one of those questioned in the House investigation, President Trump’s defense team says.

Rep. Adam B. Schiff, California Democrat, and other impeachment managers repeatedly talk about the 17 witnesses interviewed during the House’s secretive depositions. But they do not mention an 18th witness, Michael Atkinson, the intelligence community’s inspector general who has firsthand knowledge of the origins of the whistleblower complaint that led to the impeachment.

Members of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence who conducted the interview are barred from disclosing details. But Republicans on the committee said the testimony should be heard at the president’s impeachment trial in the Senate.

“The reason it hasn’t been released is it’s not helpful to Adam Schiff. It is not helpful to the whistleblower,” said Rep. John Ratcliffe, Texas Republican, who took part in the October interview with Mr. Atkinson. “It raises credibility issues about both of them.”

The potentially exculpatory evidence for Mr. Trump has remained classified and is not part of the record for the impeachment trial. Because it remains classified, only members of the intelligence committee have seen it and Mr. Trump’s legal team is denied a copy.
Matt Margolis, PJ Media, BOMBSHELL: NYT Reportedly Killed Story Revealing Obama WH Meeting With Whistleblower about Bidens and Burisma. Gee, I wonder why? At Fox News, GOP senators: Dems threw Bidens 'under the bus' in Trump impeachment trial. Well, let's let him tell his side of the story. Under oath. Elizabeth Vaughn at Red State notes that Ukrainian Official Who Attended Jan 2016 White House Meeting on Biden/Burisma Blows Up Schiff’s Narrative. Cristina Laila at Gateway Pundit, HERE WE GO… Happening Tomorrow! Rudy to Begin Revealing Top Level Democrats Making Millions of Dollars Selling Their Public Office. So this was published on the 23rd. It's the 26th and I ain't seen shit. But to be fair, impeachment is dominating the news. Da Beast pumps old news, Rudy Pal Lev Parnas Releases Audio of Trump Calling for Ukraine Ambassador’s Firing, without mentioning she served for 14 more months. Politico wishes Forget impeachment. Republicans fear Ukraine revelations could spill into election. Lindsey nails Joe:
And onto Shampeachment, you can see the first day of the defense here, from sundance at CTH, Day Five – Senate Impeachment Trial, Defense Begins. Althouse,The President's lawyer Jay Sekulow said the 3-hour presentation today will be “a trailer” — “coming attractions” — for what's to come next week.
And — as the NYT puts it in "What to Watch For in Trump’s Impeachment Trial on Saturday" — "anything they say will resonate over the weekend and could be seized on by Democratic presidential candidates who will be campaigning aggressively ahead of the Iowa caucuses on Feb. 3." So "the president’s lawyers are likely to take the opportunity to try out a few sound bites that could foreshadow" the longer arguments we'll hear on Monday and Tuesday.
Alhouse, Watching the President’s lawyers. "I am, at least for now." ADDED: I liked the restrained tone and the rhetoric in the form of inviting the Senators to think about various questions."

Raheem Kassam at Da Caller, A Robust Defense Of The President Should Use Every Second Of Time Available. Here’s Why… I disagree. CNS News, Trump Impeachment Attorney: 'It’s Not a Rebuttal,' We’re Going to 'Attack'. It's the Trump method, and it works. Town Hall, Cipollone: In Their 24 Hours of Arguments, the Dems 'Hid' Evidence From You. It's what dishonest prosecutors do. Sundance, Opening Argument – Patrick Philbin Explains an Unconstitutional Origin to The House Impeachment, And Why It Matters… Tyler O'Neil PJ Media, Trump Lawyer: Dems Are 'Asking You to Tear Up All of the Ballots' by Removing Trump in an Election. Twitchy, THERE it is! CNN legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin criticizes Trump defense team’s — (wait for it) — lack of diversity. So truth is not really the issue. Fox, Schiff refers to CBS 'head on pike' story, infuriating GOP: 'Every one of us knows it is not true',  Sundance, Attorney Michael Purpura Highlights House Manager Adam Schiff Lying…



Also, Rep. Adam Schiff seems upset that White House team now free to mischaracterize what he said. Sauce for the goose. . . Jordain Carney on Da Hill, Democrats cry foul over Schiff backlash. Aw, did they hurt Pencil-Neck's feewings?

Sundance again, Senator James Lankford and Senator Mike Braun Discuss Opening of Impeachment Defense…



Buzzfeed, Democrats Say Trump’s Lawyers Just Made A Great Case — For Calling Witnesses and Documents. But of course, that is what they would say. CNN, Pierre Romney Delicto says 'very likely' he'll be in favor of witnesses but won't decide until after opening arguments

Of course, the House Impeachment team, and particularly Schiffs, performance is still being fisked. Liz Harrington at Red State, Dems Can't Take the Chance of Voters Deciding 2020 Election. The Western Journal, Schiff Now Openly Claiming Trump 2020 Victory Could Be Illegitimate. Front Page Mag, Schiff Admits Impeachment is a Coup. From the BB: Democrats Warn That American People May Tamper With Next Election, reminder to Snopes, the Babylon Bee is a parody news site, much like CNN.
In his opening statement at Trump's impeachment trial, Rep. Adam Schiff reminded the Senate of their solemn duty and the gravity of just what it is they will be discussing at the trial.

Schiff warned that if Trump is not impeached, the American people may have a chance to tamper with the next election.

"If President Trump is not impeached, the American people might get a say in who is president," Schiff said gravely. "We simply can't allow that to happen. We must diligently defend our electoral process against electoral outcomes we do not like. If that means seizing power through a sham impeachment trial, so be it."

"When the Founders wrote that founding document thing, they never imagined there would be electoral outcomes that Democrats did not agree with."
Nick Arama, Red State, Dems Undercut Their Hope for Witnesses at Impeachment Trial by Offending Republicans They Need For Vote. Locomotive Breath, Chronic Liar Adam Schiff(D) Lies more Lies during Closing Impeachment Lie. At this point, anything Adam says should be assumed to be a lie, unless video or forensic evidence proves otherwise. AP, Dems say oust Trump or he’ll betray again; ‘He is who he is’. Hot Air quotes NYT, Emotional Schiff Speech Goes Viral, Delighting The Left And Enraging The Right. Breitbart, House Democrats to Senate: Impeach Trump for Criticizing Impeachment on Twitter. Isn't that in the Constitution? And, Adam Schiff, April 2019: Obama Had a Duty to Investigate Candidate Trump, but expects Biden to be untouchable. At Mediaite, Adam Schiff: Trump Couldn’t Get Ukraine to Smear Bidens, So His Team Will Use Trial to Do It Instead. Hey, you brought him into it.
Matt Margolis lists Ten Ways the Democrats’ Own Impeachment Witnesses Destroyed Their Case Against Trump, and some one at MSNBC agrees:
Nick Arama at Red State, Graham Says They Going To Grill House Impeachment Dems About Contact/Coordination With Whistleblower. I look forward to that! Steven Hayward at Power Line, The State of Things for Dems: Gloomy & Getting Gloomier. AllahPundit is upset that White House, Senate GOP Increasingly Confident That No Witnesses Will Be Called. Only two R votes within sight.  I want Eric Ciaramella! But at WaPoo, Kellyanne's worse half claims There’s a critical witness impeachment is missing, Donald Trump. I can't believe they wasted those column inches.

Angelina Jolie's Dad Jon Voight calls for 'highest prayers' for President Donald Trump amid impeachment trial. OK. Supposedly, even Nancy is praying for him, if you believe that.

An amusing headline from WaPoo, Defense seeks to undermine Schiff after his orations win bipartisan praise. Apparently Lindsey Graham said something like "Good job!" Interestingly, they changed the headline in the digital edition to Trump’s legal team targets Schiff in effort to undercut impeachment case Fox, Dan Gainor: In impeachment trial coverage, liberal media heap praise on Schiff and Democrats prosecuting Trump. You don't say! Newsbusters, What Now? MSNBC: Schiff Is Like Atticus Finch, Billy Joel, Prince, AND Springsteen!

How can you tell Democrats are losing? Noah Feldman (a House "witness") Maybe the Senate Isn’t Up to the Job of Trump’s Impeachment Trial. At the National Interest, How the Democrats Will Pay for Impeaching Donald Trump "We can already conclude with certainty that Democrats have lost the impeachment fight against President Trump. The only question is how much of a political disaster this will be for the Democrats, and who will pay for the failure." It would be nice if they lost the House. But Turley, on Da Hill, Why neither side is really trying to win this Trump impeachment trial. This ain't football, a tie goes to the defense.

And the trial is being well received by the Senators and public. Megan Fox, PJ Media, GOP Senators Surviving Snoozefest Impeachment Trial with Fidget Spinners, Secret Candy Drawer. It can't be that secret. CNN, Romney reacts to length of trial: "Oh jeez, no one's watching". Althouse, "I went to the press gallery one afternoon to check out the tableau vivant. The visitors’ gallery was only half full, and there was none of the passion and titillation..."
"... that infused the Clinton impeachment.... One Democratic Senate staffer mourned the apathy. 'Our phones aren’t ringing,' he told me. 'Nobody cares. It’s the saddest thing ever.' One side of the room seemed to be smirking.... Seated at the back of the class, Mitt Romney looked dutiful, and the thought must have crossed his mind that’s he’s in a position to inflict payback on Trump for calling him 'a pompous ass' and tricking him into an interview for secretary of state only to humiliate him. (Revenge is a dish best served with milk.) But more senators on the Republican side were telegraphing boredom.... [T]he more impressive the Democrats’ case is, the more depressing the reality becomes. They want to convince themselves that character matters. But many Americans knew they were voting for a thug. They wanted a thug who would bust up Washington, and they got one."
Writes Maureen Dowd in her new NYT column.

For the list of things that must have crossed Mitt Romney's mind, I have enough respect for his character and intelligence that I'm willing to bet he has considered that it is true that he is a pompous ass.
Paul Bedard at WaEx, Even DC is ignoring impeachment: 63% have watched ‘none’ of trial. Having been to DC, I'm shocked they got even 27%.

Stacy McCain Probably Not a Trump Voter
Wild guess. Just going out on a limb here:
A man who had been watching the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump on Tuesday allegedly choked and punched his girlfriend in a Pennsylvania motel room when she wanted to watch something else, according to charging documents.
Lonnie D. Clark, 53, who lives at the northern York County motel, faces charges of strangulation, simple assault and harassment.
Police responded to the Scottish Inn at about 7:45 p.m. Tuesday after Clark’s girlfriend called 911. The woman reported that Clark had assaulted her and that she had left the room, documents state.
Once Fairview Township Police officers arrived, they spoke with Clark’s girlfriend, noting that she had red marks on her neck and right cheek.
The woman told police that Clark had been drinking alcohol all day while watching the impeachment trial and “was upset,” although documents do not state what caused his anger.
When the woman told Clark she “would like to watch something else,” Clark began to curse at her and called her “dumb” and “stupid.”
She tried to talk to Clark while seated on his lap, but he began to choke her with his hands, causing her to have trouble breathing, documents state.
The woman broke free and tried to leave, but Clark punched her twice and pushed her several times. Clark grabbed her around the neck again and punched her when she attempted to leave a second time, according to documents.
She eventually was able to get to the bathroom, where she hid until Clark left. She then ran out of the room and reached the motel’s main office, where she called 911.
“She advised that she was scared to come back to the room until police arrived,” documents state. . . .
Clark was arraigned on the charges and was released on $5,000 unsecured bail. He has a preliminary hearing before District Judge Scott J. Gross scheduled for Feb. 24, according to online court dockets.
(Hat-tip: Ace of Spades.)

You beat up your girlfriend because she doesn’t want to watch the impeachment hearing. Also, you’re living in a $44-a-night motel room. You might want to reconsider you life choices. Just sayin’ . . .

The ratings for the hearings have not been very impressive.
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