“Witnesses are not allowed to appear by video.” Remember when the histrionics brigade tried these obstruction tactics during Impeachment? It’s happening again. 2 Republicans just argued with Nadler about allowing the witness. The one yelling loudest was on video.Can’t make it up
“William Barr poses the greatest threat, in my lifetime to our rule of law and to public trust in it.” - Donald Ayer former Deputy Attorney General.
That’s one way to open your testimony. #ImpeachBarr
Louie Gohmert is trying to drown out the testimony of Donald Ayer by ganging a gavel repeatedly to try to stop the testimony. Gohmert opts to use a mask. The bandit mask, like he’s about to rob a train. Fitting. Don’t ever let them tell you a woman is too emotional to lead.
Michael Mukasey is the soft landing spot for the Republicans to ask their questions to. A former Attorney General, someone of whom they may ask irrelevant questions about process and procedure they know he has no first hand knowledge of. Remember Collins whining about hearsay?
Nadler forgets that arguably the most important witness in this hearing is appearing by video and almost skips Aaron Zelinsky. C’mon Jerry. Step it up, it’s a big day! Hank Johnson is calling for the Sargeant At Arms! Get in the game, man!
On to questions. Nadler D-NY gets facts on the record. Barr acted corruptly in Stone case, Elias confirms he did wrong in anti trust as well. Ayer says we’re headed to something far worse than watergate. Nadler says Barr will be held accountable. Impeachment maybe?
Chabot R- OH. He is defending the ego of the president. He begins his 5 minutes saying this hearing is yet another attempt to smear trump. He says cares about racial justice and pandemic, not this. He brings up Hillary, 13 Democrats on Mueller team, he’s playing the deep cuts.
Lofgren D-CA concerned about election integrity! She should be. We all should be.
Impeachment is election security.
Gohmert R-TX essentially accuses Donald Ayer of perjuring himself now by not admitting to ‘mouthing’ something to him while Gohmert was banging his rattle on the high chair. Wants you to know it’s his anniversary. I pity anyone who stood in front of him when he was judge.
Gohmert is a real travesty. Calls the panel a sideshow, says they all lack credibility so he doesn’t ask any questions. Remember the rules? Look for the questions that are seeking justice and who is there to make speeches.
Jackson Lee D-TX shows how different Texas is. On one hand they are represented by Gohmert and on the other Sheila Jackson Lee. She calls out republicans for not calling out injustice at Lafayette square. Is AG Barr a clear and present danger?
Ayer: Yes.
Correction, Doug Collins is in the room. I just spotted him when Donald Ayer called out Jim Jordan for reciting disinformation, namely Obamagate.
Nadler asserts authority over the Committee by telling members he is requiring them to wear masks and if they fail to do so they will not be recognized. This is how I spotted Doug Collins by the way. He wasn’t wearing a mask. Nadler calls on Collins.
Collins R-GA is dismayed about politically motivated investigations in Atlanta into the police department, you know racial justice. We’re in mendacious gaslighting portion of the hearing. He doesn’t yield for Jackson Lee who no doubt was about to tell him this.
He tries to discredit Elias by trying to get a job on impeachment. Collins is saying Elias wanting a promotion and to oversee antitrust improprieties during impeachment somehow makes him an not credible.
A do gooder, trying to do good for the good of the nation is bad?
Cohen D-TN calls for the Impeachment of Bill Barr. Now, I know Nadler said Sunday it was pointless, but this is important. It is a member of the committee calling for impeachment. It is on the table.
Johnson R-LA wants to now the physical location of Zelinsky. He is trying to discredit the witness because of his choice to protect his family during the pandemic. He tried to out the whistleblower during impeachment too. He brings up Carter Page and FISA.
He says he wished Zelinsky could have been there to address the full scope of all this. He is literally telling a witness, he wished he would be a witness. Ask him something. But you got nothing. Sham impeachment. “ask John Bolton about sham impeachment”- unknown
Johnson D-GA Elias antitrust investigation seems like it will be a whole chargeable offense itself. An imporoper opening of an antitrust case.
Jordan R-OH brings up whistleblower. Asks questions with winding, accusatory, hypothetical and theoretical premises that are impossible to answer.
Deutch D-FL The feedback is unbearable. He adds facts to the ledger. Zelinsky sentence recommendations were in accordance with guidelines. Stone threatened the life of a witness.
Biggs R- Peter Strozk, Mike Flynn, pretty much asks Mulasky, if I cherry pick some things the AG said, and provide no context, will you agree with me the things I’m telling you are correct? Then to Obama bashing. Waste of 5 minutes. Fear of asking questions of the whistleblowers
Richmond D-LA says we aren’t here to embarrass trump, he can do that all by himself. Gets contacts between Stone and trump about stolen information on the record. Says trump doesn’t remember. Important because trump told Muller that. trump lying to Mueller is impeachable.
McClintock R-CA complains that Nadler is practicing social distancing during a pandemic. He asks no questions of the whistleblowers, makes Barr out to be Batman. A real justice crusader. He is not searching for the truth.
Jeffries D-NY reminds Mukasey, AG works for the people. Adds facts to the ledger. Sentencing guidelines lowered for Stone because of his relationship with trump. Credico threatened by Stone. Zelinsky told to say there were no concerns on Credico’s part, but there were. Crime.
Gaetz R-FL calling for the pardoning of Roger Stone. Thinks he will be. Is that Mauve? What color suit coat is Gaetz wearing? I think the Joker wore that. He yields to Jim Jordan, who is not wearing a coat. Jordan is trying to out someone for procedural wrongdoing, not Barr tho.
Jordan asks why Mifsud wasn’t charged. Good question. Zelinsky claims privilege. Ongoing investigation much? I don’t think Jordan is aware of exactly what he is opening with bringing Mifsud up.
Cicilline D-RI investigation of automakers was baseless. Putting facts on the ledger. Meritless Antitrust investigations cost significant tax payer resources. Another building block on a path to impeachment.
I’m going to need to end it here. That Deutch feedback was too much. It’s a good place anyway. The volleys are clear. Republicans doing all they can to discredit the witnesses. Democrats building toward impeaching Barr. Judge for yourself.
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Did you ever hear the phrase: “they have so much money they don’t know what to do with it.”? Not a problem, I’ve ever run into myself, but Project 2025 is just that. Billionaires want to be bankers. They want to sell off our governmental oversight to private companies they own.
Here is Project 2025. There isn’t one part of our lives this won’t touch. Think it doesn’t mean you? There is no provision to exclude from its effects those who vote for fascism so choose your candidate wisely.
Here is the part where they will abolish the federal reserve. It will be replaced by currency they can “create” and then lend out at their own interest rates.
“There is no place for political violence” has been a pretty common refrain throughout the weekend. It really got me thinking. ”Political violence” must be one of those “you know it when you see it” types of things.
Let’s see…
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Political violence strikes me as a visual medium but there are so many things that occur before we see the blood that I think might be political violence. Are we just numb to it? How do we define what is political violence and what is just violence? Why is it different?
Are Texas Gov Greg Abbott’s razor balls floating in the river, considered “political violence”? Kind of. I mean, the idea is people from south of the US shouldn’t be allowed to come here and take our jobs.
Political.
To deter from this, razor balls in the river.
Violence.
There’s been a lot said about Joe Biden since the debate. I, along with so many of you, watched it play out in real time as respected news transmitters read out ‘inside texts’ from knee jerk reactionaries.
After much thought, I won’t be voting for Joe Biden because he’s old.
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I’ll be voting for Joe Biden because he’s team democracy. I’m voting for ideas he represents. I’m voting for the team of people he can put together. I’m voting for my own interests and for your ability to vote for your own interests. I didn’t vote for him last time either, btw.
In 2020, I voted for a November 5th, 2024 election. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were the only options on the ballot that allowed this. I colored in Joe and Kamala’s bubble to keep the lights on long enough for us to have this election. Like many of you, I voted team democracy.
I am loathe to do predictions. However, there are some things you just can’t help but see coming. Project 2025 is a blinking red alarm and we all need to be aware of the stakes of this election. Please familiarize yourself with EO11246, be discriminating voters.
A wee thread🧵👇🏻
On September 24th, 1965 President Lyndon Johnson signed Executive Order 11246. EO11246 established Equal Opportunity Employment. It includes Non-Discrimination in Government. It includes Non-Discrimination Employment by Government Contractors and Subcontractors.
Focus on Non-Discrimination Employment by Government Contractors and Subcontractors. In Sub Part B under Contractor’s Agreements, contractors agree to not discriminate against employees based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin.
“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."
Trust me…
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The above is the oath the President takes at 12 noon on January 20. Typically, it is administered by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court but there is no law that makes that a requirement. You could have your gran do it. So why is it *usually* the Chief Justice?
For this thread let’s assume the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is there as a symbol of the law. Chief Justice Roberts in a way represents the Judicial Branch of our government on the day it grants power to the person who will symbolize the Executive Branch.
If trump wins, the period between Biden and trump would see the installation of trump acolytes in every corner of our government ready to begin the dismantling of institutions on January 20, 2025.
Have you ever heard of a Blackie’s Warrant?
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Of course not because it has no impact on your life whatsoever. Or does it? Because it totally does. If you have ever eaten in a restaurant, or eaten food from a grocery store or stayed in a hotel, or had a loved one being cared for, you may want to keep reading.
On March 17, 1978, a warrant was served upon Blackie’s restaurant as Immigration and Naturalization Services removed 15 employees. 10 of those were proven to be subject to deportation. What was the probable cause to issue such a warrant?