Reason #6405 that Trump was Elected

By The Way, Trump Administration Just Scored Another Safe-Third-Country Agreement In Central America Today (Yesterday)

No biggie, just the last link in a fence that might end up mooting much of the asylum debate in Congress. While most of the attention today has focused on Ukraine, the White House announced a new agreement with Honduras to take any refugees seeking asylum first rather than the US. That makes three nations with safe-third-country agreements in Central America that effectively blocks the land route for asylum seekers from south of Mexico:

The Trump administration reached a deal with the government of Honduras to enhance the Central American nation’s asylum capacity.
The agreement, signed Wednesday, is similar to agreements previously reached with the governments of El Salvador and Guatemala, a senior Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official told reporters on a phone call.
The official said migrants who had an opportunity to seek protection in Honduras, El Salvador or Guatemala will be returned from the U.S. border to seek asylum or protection in one of those countries under the recent agreements, including the new Honduras accord.
The U.S. and international organizations will work to help build upon Honduras’s current systems and processes to expand its asylum capacity, the official said.

The Trump administration has attempted to get around the gridlock in Congress by using its diplomatic authority to deal with waves of asylum seekers. Most of these cases turn out not to qualify, with the request dealing with economic issues rather than oppression. In 2017, the most recent year for which DHS has statistics, the US received 139,801 affirmative asylum cases, where the person applies on arrival, and processed an additional 119,303 defensive asylum cases (filed when the DoJ attempts to deport a person). Only 26,568 were approved combined for both categories, for an approval rate of 10.3%.

Transcriptional Russiagate

So, the transcripts of the call between President Trump and Ukrainian President ZZ Top are out, and as we expected, it settled everything. Just kidding of course. Everyone retreated to their corners and came out spinning like a electric grinder. I had to delete a page worth of outdated leaks I collected in the morning.

The White House has released the transcript of a call between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that occurred on July 25 of this year. While Joe Biden was mentioned, Trump's claim that there was "No pressure and, unlike Joe Biden and his son, NO quid pro quo" appears to be true.

Katie Pavlich at Town Hall, BREAKING: President Trump's Ukraine Call Transcript Has Been Released and Blows Up the Latest Impeachment Narrative.

The Department of Justice has released an unredacted transcript of a phone call between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The text was taken down by note takers. The call took place in July from the White House Situation Room. It shows no effort by President Trump to pressure Zelensky into investigating former Vice President Joe Biden's son, Hunter, in exchange for military aid. This action was falsely alleged by a whistleblower and pushed Democrats on Capitol Hill into an impeachment inquiry.

Jeff Dunleavy, WaEx, 'I would like you to do us a favor': Transcript reveals Trump asked Ukrainian president to investigate 2016 election and Bidens

1) Having read DOJ’s Trump-Ukraine release, here’s the real story: This is another internal attempt to take out a president, on the basis of another non-smoking-gun.

— Kimberley Strassel (@KimStrassel) September 25, 2019

Via the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 09.25.19, Power Line says Transcript Shows No Wrongdoing By President Trump,

So President Trump is doing the right thing in encouraging Zelensky to get to the bottom of a corruption investigation that may extend both to Ukraine and to the United States. That investigation, if it is pursued to the end, might not end happily for the Biden family, which apparently, at least, has gotten caught with its hand in a multi-million dollar cookie jar.

Sundance has an unusual theory, as usual, It’s Not About Biden – Deep State Response to Ukraine Call Now Makes Sense – Trump Questioned Crowdstrike…

The completely over-the-top response by a Deep State embed whistleblower and his/her political allies withing the administrative state now makes sense; it had nothing to do with Joe Biden. President Trump asked President Zelenskyy about “Crowdstrike.”
(Page 3 – Source pdf)
To understand how important this is, we must remember the foundation for the entire Russian election interference narrative, ‘Muh Russia – writ large, is built on the claim Russians hacked the servers of the Democrat National Committee (DNC), and subsequently released damaging emails that showed the DNC worked to help Hillary Clinton and eliminate Bernie Sanders.

Despite the Russian ‘hacking’ claim the DOJ and FBI previously admitted the DNC would not let FBI investigators review the DNC server or cloud-based network. Instead the original claim was that the DNC provided the FBI with analysis of a technical review done through a cyber-security contract with Crowdstrike.

According to the original FBI statements made by James Comey: Crowdstrike did the captured imaging of the DNC network (servers/cloud), then conducted analysis, then provided a report to the DNC with their findings; and that report was given to the FBI. At least that was the original 2017 claim. However, during court filings in the case against Roger Stone, the DOJ/FBI later admitted they never even saw the Crowstrike final report.

In an update to  Hey, Dude, Where's My Formal Impeachment Inquiry?, Tom Maguire at Just One Minute also noticed the Crowdstrike reference;

CROWDSTRIKE: Trump mentions Crowdstrike. They were part of the DNC email investigation and tagged the Russian "Fancy Bear" as one hacker group. But they also had a controversial situation in the Ukraine involving a hack of Ukranian artillery fire control. Presumably Trump would love to discredit them.

Matt Vespa at Town Hall,  WSJ Columnist Torches Every Democratic Talking Point Being Peddled In This Bogus Trump Impeachment Circus

2)As to call transcript itself: Trump’s actual “favor” is that Ukraine look backward, to what happened in the 2016 election. This is a legitimate ask, since election meddling looks to have come from both Russia and Ukraine.

— Kimberley Strassel (@KimStrassel) September 25, 2019

But you won't,  or at least shouldn't  be surprised to learn that liberals see the transcript as the perfect smoking gun. Nothing exemplifies this split so much as the food fight between Fox's Shepherd Smith and Tucker Carlson: Fox News Civil War: Tucker Carlson Repeatedly Mocks ‘Daytime Host’ Shepard Smith in Jawdropping Segment

AP, Democrats call whistleblower complaint ‘deeply disturbing’. MSN citing the LA Times, Trump's actions with Ukraine epitomize framers' idea of impeachable offense, scholars say. Alan He on Twitter: "Senator Sasse (R-NE) after reading the whistleblower complaint: "...Republicans ought not to be rushing to circle the wagons to say there’s no there there when there’s obviously lots that’s very troubling there...".

A slug from WaPoo, Intelligence chief to testify as whistleblower complaint is released.  Robert Kagan, If we legitimize Trump’s behavior, it’ll be open season on our politics. Trump’s call with Ukrainian leader is unlike anything presidential scholars have heard before. Maybe that's because private conversations between Presidents and foreign leaders are never released. The Editors The Trump-Zelensky readout is a devastating indictment of our president, but Hugh Hewitt, The rough transcript is nothing but an empty vault "Impeachment-minded Democrats, welcome to Al Capone’s vault. Look familiar?" Impeachment inquiry threatens to overtake Capitol, upend trade and spending talks

As a Premium Subscriber to The Washington Post, I'm able to share with you a free 30-day digital subscription pass. The pass requires no obligation from you, so please simply enjoy the free 30-day digital subscription with my best wishes. https://wapo.st/30daypass?code=JCG-HQA-LKG-JCX --Nona

Given that the transcripts are a political Rorschach test, Democrats are now swearing the whistleblower complaint is definitely going to sink Trump. Streiff at Red State, Questions Raised About Intelligence Community Motives After Release Of The Office Of Legal Counsel Opinion On The Whistleblower Complaint. Their motives aren't in doubt, their veracity is.

Sundance, Here Comes the SSCI – Senators Burr and Warner Now Advance Whistleblower Narrative….

SSCI Chairman Richard Burr and Vice-Chairman Mark Warner now inject the Senate into the process of advancing Adam Schiff’s Ukrainian “whistleblower” narrative. In a letter today Burr and Warner write to the attorney representing the “whistleblower”:

Jeff Dunetz, The Lid, Whistleblower Scandal Has Fusion GPS Connection And Suspicious Timing

And this scandal came and went in the course of the day, Acting intel chief Joseph Maguire denies report that he threatened to resign

Acting Director of National Intelligence Joseph Maguire denied a report by The Washington Post Wednesday that he had threatened to resign amid the clamor over President Trump’s July phone call with the Ukrainian president.

“At no time have I considered resigning my position since assuming this role on Aug. 16, 2019,” Maguire said in a statement. “I have never quit anything in my life, and I am not going to start now. I am committed to leading the Intelligence Community to address the diverse and complex threats facing our nation.”

The Post report, which cited "current and former U.S. officials familiar with the matter," said that Maguire had threatened to turn in his resignation over concerns that the White House might try to make him stonewall Congress. He is set to testify Thursday about a whistleblower complaint that has spurred House Democrats to open an impeachment inquiry into Trump.

Unrelated to the transcription, the Post also opined, Andrew McCabe has been punished enough

Mr. McCabe has been punished proportionately for his alleged wrongs. More and more, the case against him looks like an act of political vengeance, draining the already-depleted credibility of the Trump Justice Department. If the case against Mr. McCabe is still active, it should end.

I disagree, and so might George Papadopoulos, who was jailed for lying to FBI investigators over misremembering a date.

Sundance also reports a Stunning Rebuke – Federal Judge Throws Out Guilty Verdict for Flynn Partner and Acquits…

In a stunning and very rare move today Federal Judge Anthony J Trenga has thrown out the conviction of a Mike Flynn’s partner Bijan Rafiekian (Flynn Intel Group) and granted the defendants’ motion to acquit. [Hat Tip to Techno-Fog for the ruling]

This is a huge blow to the DOJ-NSD who framed their special counsel case on sketchy FARA violations and bamboozled the jury with dubious legal theories. This type of intervention by a federal judge is very rare. Here’s the ruling

“The evidence was insufficient as a matter of law for the jury to convict Rafiekian on either count”
The Government “failed to offer substantial evidence” that Rafiekian acted as an agent of a foreign government”
“There is no substantial evidence” that he agreed to cooperate subject to the direction/control of Turkey; no evidence of any implied agreement w/ Turkey.

 And just to clean up today's mess:

Ukraine's President Says Donald Trump Could Not Have Pressured Him and Only Person Who Can 'Is My Son Who Is 6'

Ace of Spades HQ Live Press Conference; Trump Addresses Ukraine Hoax and Impeachment "Inquiry" "It's all a hoax, folks. It's all a hoax."

Ace of Spades HQ You're Not Going to Believe This, But the Media Is Ignoring and Justifying The Democrats' Overt Pressure on Ukraine to Open Political Investigations They Thought Would Hurt Trump

So, FOUR Democrat US senators did the SAME THING they are after Trump about, because the Ukraine was ending investigations they felt were helpful to the Mueller probe?! https://t.co/3Nddqc5C0g

— Tracy Beanz (@tracybeanz) September 25, 2019

Ron Johnson's Homeland Security Committee may investigate the Bidens and Ukraine

Morning Consult warns Dems: Americans just aren't into impeachment

READ: 6. Financial records from #MorganStanley show numerous lines of money going into the account of “Robert H. Biden.” The funds originated from oligarchs and anonymous LLCs in Ukraine, China, Kazakhstan and elsewhere

Why isn't @GOP investigating this?https://t.co/qg28YsSdIF

— Sara A. Carter (@SaraCarterDC) September 25, 2019

Rudy Giuliani tells Dems they’ve walked into a trap

Trump: 'If You Impeach Me Now, I Shall Become More Powerful Than You Can Possibly Imagine' | The Babylon Bee

Iman Don't Wanna Live Like a Refugee

Iman in 2019 - Still hot

Iman Opens Up About Being a Refugee: "These Aren't Nameless, Faceless People"

. . . After decades of more straightforward activism and philanthropy, the 64-year-old model and entrepreneur is taking on a new role: the first-ever global advocate of CARE, the leading global organization fighting poverty, particularly through empowering women and girls.

CARE created the position specifically for Iman, and it's not hard to see why. Whereas statistics like the fact that there are currently more than 70 million people displaced worldwide are often difficult to wrap your head around, Iman makes it easy—and, it almost goes without saying, heartbreaking—to understand. That's in large part because the supermodel herself is a refugee, and has been loud and proud about pointing out as much for decades. She opens up about the past and shares her hopes for the future, here.

Why did you want to work with CARE? - I knew about CARE, of course. And I knew they were very good at handling something I’ve experienced firsthand, because I am a refugee. I am the face of a refugee. I became a refugee in 1972, when there was a coup. My father, an ambassador, was in danger, so we decided to leave the country—to leave just with the clothes on our back. We ended up in Kenya. So here I was, on my own, never worked in my life outside of my family home. And then I met the angels that are NGOs—the ones which is where I first met the angels that are NGOs. They're the ones who are really are on the ground helping refugees navigate through their new countries. They asked me what I could do, and I spoke three languages, so they found me a job as a translator. They put me through Nairobi University, they and helped me find me a place to live.

You know, until I did this, I never knew she was married to David Bowie (NSFW); but then I was never an avid Bowie fan.

How old were you at the time? - I was barely 16. So I’m very aware what happens to girls and women when they’re that vulnerable. The most important thing about young girls becoming refugees is that people take advantage of them, whether through sexual harassment or rape. Which is part of why, in my job as global advocate, I want to make sure there'a collective humanity. These aren't nameless, faceless people, and they aren't from far away. They’re everywhere; it happens to every country. All that’s unique is that there are more people fleeing nowadays. You know, my mom and dad have lived in this country for 35 years. When my mom passed away three years ago, her last wish was to be buried in Somalia. I want people to understand that most refugees want to go back home. They don’t want to stay in foreign countries where they’re not wanted, where they’ve left their families. Nobody wants that, but they have no choice—there are circumstances that made them flee. I really want to put a face to it—to show that we shouldn’t put everybody in one bag, so to speak.

What are the next steps? - I’m going to go on the ground, whether to Uganda or the Congo or Syria. I want everybody to understand, though it is a hard issue to speak about and to tackle. But it’s not impossible to tackle. Needless to say, America is made of immigrants and refugees—people who hopes and dreams, who have talents and important contributions to make to their country, including their host country. I mean, look at me: America adopted me. I’m an American citizen. I have my own company. Everything I have now, I only have because I was shown dignity.

It's a pretty compelling story. And someone for America to be proud of.



The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Summertime Girls ready for your digital amusement.

Chesapeake Bay Expecting a Raise

Chesapeake Bay Program funding boost closer after Senate subcommittee push

The federal government is poised to provide $76 million in funding for the Chesapeake Bay Program next year, more than 10 times the amount originally allotted for the program by the Trump Administration in March.

A 2020 funding bill that passed a Senate Appropriations subcommittee Tuesday included a $3 million increase over last year's budget for the Environmental Protection Agency program. The allocation amounts to the first annual increase in funding for the program since fiscal year 2015.

When the Trump Administration proposed cutting the program by 90% in March, the move was met by bipartisan criticism. The cuts were part of a move to reduce the overall Environmental Protection Agency budget by about 30%, down to $6.1 billion.

In a statement, Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, called Tuesday's news a victory over the Trump Administration's "continued efforts to rob the program of its funding." The funding is expected to pass out of the full Appropriations Committee on Thursday.

“The Chesapeake Bay Program is our first line of defense in protecting and preserving the bay," Van Hollen said. "This program is central to our efforts to maintain a healthy bay and ultimately a healthy Maryland economy.”

For the last three years, proposed budgets have repeatedly threatened to slash the program's funding, but lawmakers have rebuffed each attempt.

With the renewed funding, the program will continue with its clean-water projects and watershed modeling efforts. Since its formation in the 1980s, the Chesapeake Bay Program has advanced scientific research about the bay environment and develop goals and deadlines for achieving ecosystem restoration.

They'll find a way to spend $3 million more, and no change will be detectable.

Fall Falls at the Beach

Some pictures from the last four days, not necessarily in order.

The Ospreys are still around, but it seems fewer every day.

And a few butterflies; this is a Cloudless Sulphur on some Jewel Weed, a native species of Impatiens.

 The local herd is still wandering the roads

Georgia lets Skye get a cool drink in the stream between Calvert Cliffs and Matoaka Cottages.

Yesterday, a film crew was at Matoaka, filming a fantasy sequence. They told me what it was, but I forgot what it was called.

Today, a boat load of Coasties came into the harbor. I wonder what they were after. I hope they weren't low on gas. Nobody there to sell them any.

A Cormorant (Double Crested?), suns on a rock in the south jetty.

We weren't the only people on the beach, but almost.

Russiagate: Impeachment Begins; Or Does It?

An anonymous, second or possibly even third hand whistleblower, represented by the DNC and Clinton mafia, and the Speaker of the house just announced a "formal impeachment inquiry", with no vote (although I'm fairly sure she has them). Have we entered terminally crazy politics? Stacy McCain Ukraine! Ukraine! Ukraine!

Everybody needs to calm the hell down. My expectation is that this latest “scandal” will prove to be nothing, and that it will end up hurting Democrats more than it hurts Trump. Be patient.

Ace, Pelosi to Announce Impeachment Inquiry; "Whistleblower" Being Represented by.... Former Schumer Staffer and Hillary Clinton Campaign Operative,  Andrew Bakaj, "This guy works for a firm that pays "whistleblowers" to lodge complaints against Trump." The Wire, Go Ahead and Guess Who the Lawyer for the Trump-Ukraine "Whistle-Blower" Is

The Daily Wire, BOMBSHELL: Intel Inspector General Found Whistleblower Had ‘Bias’ In Favor Of ‘Rival Candidate’ Of Trump, Report Says | Daily Wire

"A senior Trump administration official told Fox News late Tuesday that the administration will release a document showing the intelligence community inspector general found the whistleblower who leveled an explosive accusation against President Trump concerning his talks with Ukraine had 'political bias' in favor of 'a rival candidate' of the president," Fox News reported. "The official did not identify the name of the rival candidate. Separately, a senior administration official told Fox News the White House has been working as quickly as it can to release to Congress the whistleblower complaint involving President Trump's conversations with the leader of Ukraine, as long as it's legally possible."

Devin Nunes on Ukraine whistleblower controversy: 'Doesn't it feel like Russia hoax all over again?' | Fox News. Sure does, same cast of characters.

The Babylon Bee reports Democrats Introduce Resolution To Impeach Trump With Reasons To Be Filled In Later  The Babylon Bee

Release the Ukraine transcript WSJ demands , Trump agrees, and liberals find fault Ace, Trump: I'm Releasing the Transcript of My Call with the President of Ukraine, Obama Official Jon Favreau: No! Don't Read the Transcript! It's a Trap!!! Bonchie as Red State, After Trump Calls Their Bluff On the Ukraine Transcript, The Left Hilariously Cry Foul and Rush to Move the Goalposts

Ace, Impeachment Failure Theater? Democrats Wonder What Nancy Pelosi's Rhetoric Actually Accomplished, Althouse: How is it a "formal impeachment inquiry" when it was a "closed-door meeting" of only the Democratic Congress. Hot Air has Four reasons Trump might want to be impeached. Instapundit IMPEACHMENT: Less Than Meets the Eye. "It’s only been an hour, but already this impeachment process looks less like an actual congressional inquiry, and more like a sop to the growing Crazy Wing of Pelosi’s caucus." AllahPundit at Hot Air, Hillary: We should move towards impeaching this "corrupt human tornado." Comey: No, we shouldn't and "Terribly divisive": Tulsi Gabbard sounds like a no on impeachment. Sounds like a smart women. Democrats are lucky to have her.

Instead of "no collusion!" Trump now seems to be saying, so what if I did? - Hot Air, Trump is prepared to go to war against U.S. intelligence agencies - MarketWatch and not without cause. Not With a Bang, Donald Trump, Texas Hold’m and the Big Ukrainian Bluff

Meanwhile, things aren't looking good for the Burisma 'Clearly' Paid Hunter Biden to Sell Influence, Says CNN Contributor



Da Beast. Ukraine Likely to Reopen Probe of Hunter Biden Firm, The Week Ukraine is expected to re-open the corruption case against Hunter Biden's firm. But it's not because of Trump. Hot Air, The whistleblower complaint may end up being worse for Joe Biden than Trump. Even the Washington Post is allowing notice of the Democrats’ double standard on Ukraine

The Wombat's In The Mailbox: 09.23.19 at The Other McCain brings us American Greatness: Trump Punks The Press On Biden And Ukraine and Weasel Zippers Flashback – Joe Biden Admits Strong-Arming Ukraine To Fire Prosecutor Investigating His Son, while his In The Mailbox: 09.24.19 has Twitchy: Nothing To See Here? Lawyer Representing Whistleblower Has Some Interesting Stuff On His Resume, JustOneMinute: I Can’t Take Any More, Legal Insurrection: Pelosi Caves, Announces Formal Impeachment Inquiry Into Trump and Weasel Zippers: Forget Biden’s Son, Now It’s Fauxcahontas’ Daughter Who’s Raising Eyebrows,

Roger L. Simon (PJ Media) thinks he knows Why the Democrats Have Gone Insane

One, distraction. They live in absolute fear of the coming revelations about the Russia probe, from Inspector General Horowitz but even more from the DOJ's John Durham, who can actually put people in jail. The Dems know -- if they have a brain (and a few do) -- these revelations are likely to point up the line at the leaders of the Democratic Party all the way to President Obama. They were all involved to one degree or another with illegally spying on or undermining Trump and his administration and supporters before and after the election. The extent of this we are only beginning to understand.

To put it mildly, not good. Whether you call this treason is up to you, but you can be sure Middle America (i. e. those elusive independent voters) will not appreciate it.

But there's something worse -- and Pelosi's knows it. The only hope for Democrats to defeat Trump is, remote and quixotic as it may be, impeachment. In the midst of the current brouhaha, Joe Biden -- their great (alas white male) hope -- is being exposed as not just a senile plagiarist, but a senile, corrupt plagiarist with a freaky family out of a Southern gothic novel with tentacles reaching into China and Ukraine. Again, not good.

Judge Napolitano at Fox News thinks Trump has admitted committing crime in talks with Ukraine, but he doesn't actually name a statute. He just really doesn't like it.

Instapundit » Blog Archive » ALSO, IT’S “TOE” THE LINE, NOT “TOW.” Hey, don’t just ask me….

Our media/Democrats this week are skipping several important intermediary steps before going full-blown bat guano unhinged in front of everybody. https://t.co/Awlg2DGYzI

— Mollie (@MZHemingway) September 24, 2019

More Wednesday Water Bottles

Take that, Greta Thunberg!

Stay hydrated my friends.

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Summertime Girls and FMJRA 2.0: Alien Turned Human ready for your digital amusement.

Are You a Paddler?

If so, here are some ideas: Paddle the Susquehanna with New Guide Website:

There’s a new resource for boaters who want to explore the Susquehanna River, but may not know where to start. After all, it’s the longest river on the East Coast.

The National Park Service Chesapeake Bay Office and Chesapeake Conservancy have just launched a new website, www.PaddletheSusquehanna.com, to give people launch information, water trails, and trip itineraries in all four regions of the Bay’s largest tributary. New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland paddlers can all find out where to go and how to enjoy the river on the North Branch, West Branch, Middle, and Lower sections. Ongoing blog posts on the site highlight specific places, activities, and personal first-hand experiences.

PaddletheSusquehanna.com is the latest in a series of companion websites to www.FindYourChesapeake.com, a Bay Bulletin partner which offers “authentic Chesapeake experiences and over 350 special places around the region,” for tourists and Bay dwellers alike. Other “Paddle” companion sites include www.PaddletheChester.com, www.PaddlethePotomac.com and www.PaddletheSassafras.com, to link paddlers to the waterways throughout the Bay region.

I looked at the Potomac site (a river I've spent some amount of time on through the years), and found it interesting. Now they need to add the Patuxent.

His Words Did Glow With Gold of Sunshine

Robert Hunter, Grateful Dead Collaborator and Lyricist, Dead at 78

Robert Hunter, the poet and writer who provided the Grateful Dead with many of their vivid and enduring lyrics, died Monday night. He was 78. No cause of death was provided.

“It is with great sadness we confirm our beloved Robert passed away yesterday night,” Hunter’s family announced in a statement. “He died peacefully at home in his bed, surrounded by love. His wife Maureen was by his side holding his hand. For his fans that have loved and supported him all these years, take comfort in knowing that his words are all around us, and in that way his is never truly gone. In this time of grief please celebrate him the way you all know how, by being together and listening to the music. Let there be songs to fill the air.”

It would be hard to name my favorite song that he wrote the lyrics for, but this one is up there:

There is a road, no simple highway

Between the dawn and the dark of night

And if you go no one may follow

That path is for your steps alone

Russiagate While the Brightness Subsides

I had an early mid morning eye exam before I could do the Russiagate thing, and I just got home fully dilated. It even hurts to look at the white composing screen; but it goes anyway. In real Russiagate, Michael Flynn pleads Fifth, refuses to be 'paraded, harassed or disparaged' by Adam Schiff. A big FU from his new attorney, Sidney Powell. I like her.

Elizabeth Vaughn at Red State, McCabe Memo: Rosenstein Offered To Wear Wire To Record Trump Because ‘He Was Not Searched When He Entered The White House’. This dispute isn't really new, but McCabe is an accused liar, while in Rod's case, it's still out for review. I still haven't been convinced about Rod one way or the other. And I appreciated that in a high government official. More from sundance at CTH, who is convinced of Rod's perfidy; FOIA Release of McCabe Memo Highlights Much More Than Rosenstein’s “Wear a Wire” Controversy…

There are three aspects to this McCabe memo that warrant attention: (1) Rosenstein’s willingness to wear a wire. (2) Evidence that Rosenstein took Mueller into the White House on May 16, 2017, as a set-up to interview Mueller’s pending target; and (3) the CURRENT redactions to the memo indicate CURRENT efforts by the CURRENT AG Bill Barr to protect a corrupt endeavor that encompasses Rod Rosenstein. While all three aspects are alarming; the last aspect is concerning in the extreme.
. . .
Ultimately all of the DOJ obfuscation, delay and hidden information under AG Bill Barr has an identical motive: help protect Rod Rosenstein. That effort continues today with the internal DOJ redactions…

Eric Felten at RCI,  How Many Spy Targets Were There in Russiagate? One ... or Four?. Four, not counting Trump who was the real target. In addition to Carter Page, there was George Papadopoulos, Paul Manafort and Michael Flynn. Convince me otherwise.

There's simply too much Ukrainegate to deal with individually, so you'll have to sort through the dross for some gold, but let's start with the video, Nunes: Biden admitted he did the very thing Trump is accused of doing. It's generally true that whatever the Democrats are accusing Republicans of, it's already been undertaken by their own troops.



Let's get real: Democrats were first to enlist Ukraine in US elections | TheHill

It’s Deja-Vu All Over Again – The Ukraine Effort is Simply “Obstruction 2.0″… | The Last RefugeDevin Nunes: Whistleblower complaint may not even mention Ukraine

Trump: 'Radical Left Democrats' and 'Little Adam Schiff...Are At It Again'

Whistleblower Had No ‘Direct Knowledge’ Of Trump Telephone Call — Just ‘Hearsay’ | The Daily Caller

Ukraine Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko Denies President Trump Pressure or Coercion During Phone Call With President Zelensky…. | The Last Refuge

Ace of Spades HQ "Whistleblower" Had No Knowledge of Alleged Ukraine Call

Rudy Giuliani Challenges The Media Over Ukraine: “Take Me On”… | The Last Refuge

Giuliani can't say 100 percent Trump didn't threaten Ukraine aid | TheHill

Biden Says He Never Discussed Hunter Biden’s Ukraine Deal. Hunter Says He Did | The Daily Caller

Althouse: Impeaching Trump now = conceding the 2020 election.

Sunday Talks – Senator Lindsey Graham -vs- Maria Bartiromo…. | The Last Refuge

Devin Nunes: The Ukraine Issue “Could Be The End of Biden’s Campaign”… | The Last Refuge

Why are we calling Ukraine story leaker a whistleblower?

Bidens in Ukraine: An explainer - Hot Air

Instapundit » Blog Archive » WHY IS IT THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ADVERTISE THEMSELVES AS A SANER ALTERNATIVE TO TRUMP ALWAYS SEEM TO TU…

Bill Weld Suggests Death Penalty for Trump Over Ukraine Call

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Just Put Another Bullet Into the Latest Trump "Scandal"

Ukraine ‘Bombshell’ Will Explode in Democratic Faces | The American Spectator

WATCH: Ukrainian Foreign Minister Says He Doesn’t ‘Think There Was Any Coercion’ From Trump To Zelensky | Daily Wire

Schiff Shafts Biden

Pat Toomey: 'Not Appropriate' If Trump Pressured Ukraine

Adam Schiff: Impeachment Might Be Remedy to Trump's 'Evil' Bullying of Ukraine | Breitbart

Trump's team is trying to stop impeachment before it starts - POLITICO

Romney Says Trump Asking Ukraine to Investigate Biden 'Troubling'

Biden 2018: You're damn right I ordered the US-aid-money Code Red on Ukraine prosecutor going after son's company

Kasich on Trump and Ukraine: "Where are the Republicans?!"

Pat Toomey: It's "not appropriate" if Trump asked for foreign assistance in his reelection - Hot Air

Dem push for impeachment grows over Trump's Ukraine call

Republicans have four options on Trump and the Ukraine. They’re all bad. - Hot Air

Napolitano: This Ukraine business is far more serious than anything Mueller had on Trump

Midnite Music - "Fever"

Thunderpussy:

We were elated after hearing about the decision in favor of Brunetti this morning. For us this has always been a First Amendment issue. It’s not just a victory for one man with a clothing brand or for a misunderstood band, but a triumph of free speech. Thank you Simon Tam and The Slants for laying the groundwork, and thank you to the supreme court for upholding the value of free speech in the Brunetti case. Much gratitude to the US government for recognizing that there is value in all forms of expression including those that are “scandalous and immoral.” This is a huge step forward! BUT it does not mean that we will automatically be granted our trademark. In fact, it is possible for the USPTO to rule against us on other grounds if they so choose. But the ruling certainly gives us hope!

To learn more about the supreme court case, click the link below!

https://www.forbes.com/sites/michellekaminsky/2019/06/30/supreme-court-fuct-trademark-ruling-paves-way-for-thunderpussy-trademark/#6f0b2d835970

Girls just wanna have fun.

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Summertime Girls ready for your digital amusement.

Striped Bass vs Red Drum

A pretty good article on the recent decline  and the need for conservation of Striped Bass from the Annapolis Capital Gazette's Chris Dollar: Attention anglers: short- and long-term rockfish conservation hangs in the balance

Twelve years ago, on a crisp, windswept day in late October, from the banks of the Miles River I watched with others from the sport fishing community as President George H. Bush signed an executive order bestowing gamefish status on red drum and rockfish in federal waters. He then boarded a charter boat to try and catch a rockfish.

Some might argue – cynically perhaps – this was purely ceremonial, given both iconoclastic gamefish had long been out of bounds beyond the state boundary line. But they’d be missing the point. Both species are representative of saltwater angling at its best.

Well, it appears to actually have been President George W. Bush (which makes better since from at timing point of view), but whatever. Layers of fact checkers and all.

Both also had been pushed to the brink of no return by human avarice. And both had been brought back from that precipice, largely by the relentless determination of recreational anglers and conservationists. So when the leader of the free world acknowledges these efforts, it is a huge deal.

Several years before, and for a few years after President Bush’s show of support, we enjoyed a glorious rockfish renaissance. Fat and healthy stripers – many trophy-sized – could be caught up and down the Chesapeake Bay. Line peeled from reels at angling meccas like Cape Cod and Cape Charles, and points in between. All was right with the striper world. At that time, few saw signs that storm clouds were brewing.

We had a few really great years, from about 2000 to 2008. Then things started to look off.

The decline was a subtle at first, as is often the nature of these things. Then the drop accelerated. Many Chesapeake and East Coast anglers raised the alarm that the striper fishery was in serious trouble, warning if the brakes weren’t stomped on a crash was inevitable.

By the time the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) released its 2018 stock assessment stating rockfish are overfished and overfishing is occurring, much of the damage had already been done.

We anglers has already been warning about the decline for years at that point, but the managers kept insisting that the numbers showed the fish weren't being overfished. As far as I know, they haven't apologized yet.

We’re now forced to again begin the arduous task of rebuilding rockfish stocks. Managers have set a minimum reduction target of at least 18 percent along the coast and in Chesapeake Bay.

While I encourage you to read the entire draft proposal, called Draft Addendum VI, for the sake of brevity there are three basic options: Status Quo (Option 1); Equal Percent Reductions among the commercial and recreational sectors (Option 2:), and; Commercial sector takes a smaller percentage reduction (Option 3).

Most sport anglers and fishing groups I’ve talked with believe Option 2 (and its subsets) offers the best chance at reducing mortality quickly and fairly. I concur. Should Maryland close the upper Bay during the summer to reduce dead discards—and I believe they should—then it also makes sense to consider implementing a complete closure that applies fairly to both commercial and recreational sectors.

Yep, equal cuts. In a perfect world, I'd argue for a slow cessation of commercial fishing, but knowing fishing politics, that ain't gonna happen. Watermen would rather catch the last fish.

I’m also hopeful Maryland will be among the leaders during this latest round of rockfish conservation, in no small part because we’re the primary nursery state but also because so much is at stake economically.

You don’t need me to remind you of the significance of the issue confronting the ASMFC, and by extension striper anglers and the sport fishing community writ large. Whatever you do, don’t sit this one out. One way to ensure nothing meaningful happens is to wring your hands in apathy.

As we move forward in the rebuilding years, the question we should ask ourselves is what kind of striper fishery do we really want, not just for the next few years but long-term?

Meanwhile, the Redfish are doing great, judging by the number of giants being caught in the Bay this year.

So why have the conservation measures succeeded so well for the Redfish, and relatively poorly for the Striped Bass? It might have something to do with the fact that the commercial fishing for Redfish in 2017 was approximately 194,000 pounds harvested, with a maximum size of 27 inches, while the commercial take of Stripers was 4.6 million pounds, with a maximum size of 36 inches (at least in MD).

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Summertime Girls ready for your digital amusement.

Baltimore Drinking Water Spill Kills Fish

Water main break causes fish kill in Leakin Park

A Baltimore City pipe filled with chlorinated water – left to flow for 72 hours into a Leakin Park stream – has caused a major fish kill.

The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) confirmed to The Brew that it has found about 2,000 dead fish in a tributary of the Gwynns Falls.

They include white suckers, stonerollers, blacknose dace, longnose dace, creek chub, crayfish and – by far the most endangered species – American eel.

Canvassing the stream yesterday, The Brew saw mature eels, some 30 inches long, floating in Dead Run about a mile downstream from the pipe, located under the Ingleside Avenue bridge near Security Boulevard and Forest Park Avenue.

MDE spokesman Jay Apperson said the fish kill was caused by elevated levels of chlorination entering the stream from the broken pipe.

Yes, the amount of chlorine commonly used to disinfect drinking water is poisonous enough to kill fish. It's not harmful to humans or other animals who drink the water because our stomachs are much tougher than a fish's gills. And most natural waters contain enough organic compounds that will react with chlorine so that a small amount added to a lake or stream won't harm most organisms.

In my fish tank, which requires a couple of gallons of water a week to replace evaporation, I can add up to five gallons to the 55 gallon tank without bothering to dechlorinate the water, and the fish will be unaffected. However, if I change half the water (which I do periodically) I need to dechlorinate the water or the fish will be distressed.

I'm a little surprised eels hung around long enough to be killed.

Russiagate Rambling On

Still really Ukrainegate, Michael Goodwin NYPo, Comey and Baquet — united against Trump — have caused a nonstop feeding frenzy

I speak of the FBI and The New York Times, and the men who damaged them, James Comey and Dean Baquet. It is no coincidence that Baquet’s newspaper became an errand boy for Comey’s corrupt team of G-men. Birds of a feather, you know.

They were united against Donald Trump. Both tried to block him from becoming president, and both tried to get him removed. And are still trying.

Ace reacts to the Angelo Codevilla article from yesterday in We Are Shocked To Discover That The Constitution Gives The President Authority Over Foreign Policy! Shocked!

I thought Obama was a sleazy prick who was not pursuing the best interests of the United States, but he was the president, so there wasn't much to do about that except vote him out of office. We tried and failed. My suggestion to the Democrats and the media (BIRM) is to try that tactic instead of all of the ridiculous crap you have been throwing around, hoping that some of it will stick. My anecdotal evidence suggests that most Americans, even my loony-liberal relatives don't give a shit about this kind of crap.

Kurt Schlichter, Town Hall, This Will Totally Destroy Trump! (Volume MCXXXVII)

You see, the problem with making the latest THIS WILL DO IN TRUMP! moment out of the President’s alleged attempt to investigate corruption by the Biden family is that it brings to the fore a scandal that the mainstream media has carefully covered up during the marathon of gaffes that has been Gropey J’s nomination campaign, i.e.that the Biden clan has obviously made a fortune exploiting HairPlug One’s elected offices. There’s no other explanation for their amazing success. Absolutely no one is thinking, “Well, the Bidens are a smart family of cunning and shrewd thinkers who totally could have scored these huge windfalls in Ukraine (and China too) even if Joe had not been a DC power-player for nearly 50 years.”

The Eyeball Network, Trump admits he discussed Biden in call with Ukrainian president. The Bookworm Room, Aiming At Trump, Shooting Biden (Updated)

So let’s put this in perspective.  Trump asked the President of the Ukraine to restart a legitimate investigation that had been closed because Biden had the former prosecutor fired.  Trump did not ask that the Ukrainians invent this investigation out of whole cloth.  He did not request a specific outcome to the investigation.  He did not condition U.S. aid to the Ukraine on completion of the investigation or a specific outcome.

It may be a bit unseemly, but if this is all there is, then Trump has done nothing illegal.  And indeed, given, on one hand, the Deep State’s attempted coup against Trump, and on the other hand, the Deep State’s utter determination to ignore when possible, whitewash when not, the illegal acts and corruption of progressive political leaders, it is understandable why Trump would seek to have the Ukraine finish its own investigation into Hunter Biden.

Thomas Lifson, AmThink,  Deep State deflecting Biden's Ukraine scandal with whistleblower complaint. Of course they are. Also, Joe Biden and his son Hunter can’t keep their Ukraine story straight. Usually considered a sign of lying.

 Meanwhile at Just One Minute, Tom Maguire is Back In The Ukraine

As to Biden:

No evidence has surfaced to support Mr. Trump’s claim that the former vice president intentionally tried to help his son by pressing for the prosecutor general’s dismissal. But some State Department officials had expressed concern that Hunter Biden’s work in Ukraine could complicate his father’s diplomacy there.

No evidence has emerged, which might be a predictable consequence of a quashed investigation. Then again, proving there is no evidence offers the usual challenge of proving a negative. Fun for everyone!

S. Noble, Latest Fake MSM Scandal Tries to Pin Biden’s Possible Corruption on Trump. Surely another 2.5 year, $30 million dollar investigation into Biden wouldn't hurt him if he's innocent, right?

Beth Bauman at Town Hall, Yikes: Biden Loses His Cool With Fox News Reporter. How dare you ask my a hard question; don't you know I'm the DNC front-runner!" Ask the right question"

Jonathon Turley, Ukraine could badly damage both Donald Trump and the Democrats

While the inspector general concluded that this allegation fell within the whistleblower law, the Justice Department has a good faith basis to reject his interpretation. That law is intended to address mismanagement, waste, abuse or a danger to public safety by intelligence officials. The president is the ultimate intelligence authority, and there is little support to argue that a discussion between world leaders should be viewed as a subject of this law. After all, any intelligence official could claim that a president undermined national interests in discussions with another world leader. Trump has been denounced, perhaps correctly, for disclosing classified information to foreign figures, but he has total authority to declassify information for a good reason, a bad reason, or no reason at all.

Even if the law is viewed as covering these allegations, there would be a massive potential court fight over executive privilege. A conversation between two presidents is the ultimate example of a privileged communication. Indeed, the first assertion of executive privilege by George Washington concerned foreign relations communications underlying the Jay Treaty. Executive privilege, however, is not absolute. Indeed, in Richard Nixon versus United States, the Supreme Court rejected the argument of the president after recognizing the privilege.

Dems are notably apoplectic. AP, Democrats blast latest Trump crisis. But what will they do?, Politico, Trump Didn’t Bribe Ukraine. It’s Actually Worse Than That, Modo at NYT (cited at Hot Air), Has Trump Finally Gone Too Far?, Twitchy, Huge, if true: ‘Very reluctant’ Adam Schiff says the Rubicon ‘very well may have been crossed’ when it comes to impeachment, Slate, The Most Serious Clash Over Presidential Power Since Watergate "If initial reports are true, Trump committed a blatantly impeachable offense and the administration is challenging the entire concept of congressional oversight."

A Long Ride

Vicky Stark, a former star of Fish Pic Friday, goes 150 miles offshore to catch fish:



The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Summertime Girls ready for your digital amusement.