Monday Open Thread

12 thoughts on “Monday Open Thread”

1. AG Barr's response to Mueller, posted on Scribd by PBS Newshour:

   This isn't going to make anyone happy.

   Some tidbits:

   Under the Russian interference heading:

   The Special Counsel did not find that the Trump campaign, or anyone associated with it, conspired or coordinated with the Russian government in these efforts, despite multiple offers from Russian-affiliated individuals to assist the Trump campaign.

   Under the Obstruction of Justice heading:

   The Special Counsel did not draw a conclusion – one way or the other – as to whether the examined conduct constituted obstruction. ….While this report does not conclude that the President committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him.-  (emphasis mine)

   AG Barr concludes by saying that he hasn't decided how much of the report to release to Congress and to the public, because some of it is sealed to the grand jury  I don't think that Chairmen Nadler or Cummings, or Leader Pelosi,  are going to be satisfied with that. 

   Log in to Reply

   1. To be honest, I pealed off the "Never Russia" bumper sticker, but still have my "Never Trump" bumper sticker.  Yet, I would like to know why Michael Flynn and others were offered plea deals without implicating Trump or anyone in his family.  Were Donald Jr. and Jared interviewed?  Why did Jared go to the Seychelles and try to setup a back channel to Russia?  Why did everyone lie about their Russian connections?  etc., etc.  Perhaps we'll be better informed when we see the Mueller report.

       

      Log in to Reply

2. And here I was hoping that we would simply greet the morning and NOT be like everyone else in commenting on Mueller, Rosenstein, Barr, and those who want to talk about, with, or to them.

   Good morning, all.  May you have an enjoyable observation of César Chávez Day in Denver and other liberal slacker havens.  589 days to the general election.

   Log in to Reply

   1. Why would we do that? It's a political blog, after all. You enjoy your Chavez day. I'll enjoy the Ides of Spring break. I did try to watch Lindsay Graham being smug and huffy, promising to investigate the "real problems" of the  FBI and Clinton's emails (again) but it was a bit much.

      Sure it would have been great if Mueller had revealed a smoking gun with Trump's fingerprints on it…but instead, we get the slog of gathering evidence, Congress doing its job to check the executive branch. And, yes, preparing for elections.

      Log in to Reply

3. I think release of the full report is in the best interest of the public.

   Log in to Reply

   1. We agree…whoulda thunk?

      Log in to Reply

4. As I mentioned a couple of days ago…

   I didn't really count, so I sure can't remember how many times I heard someone say, "We will wait for the Mueller report to be done before we proceed." It was a bunch though.

   This is the beginning …

   Mueller investigated the collusion question. He did not prosecute anyone who the president would definitely protect. They handed most of the actionable stuff off to others. Congress has been waiting to go public, the SDNY has been hard at work…

   Who thinks all those people and institutions are going to put down their subpeonas and go home? A show of hands?…Anybody?

   As JID mentions above…the 2020 elections are less than two years away. The people of this country must resoundingly reject the fascism being inflicted upon our democracy by a corporate mafia that has finally found a true Capo di tutti Capo.

    

    

   Log in to Reply

   1. Here's a quick take from AOC that we need to consider deeply:

      Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s ability to keep everything in perspective and stay focused on the underlying structural problems, is a breath of fresh air.

       

      “But removing Trump will not remove the infrastructure of an entire party that embraced him; the dark money that funded him; the online radicalization that drummed his army; nor the racism he amplified+reanimated.”

      

      Log in to Reply

5. Father of Sandy Hook victim Avielle Richman found dead at Edmond Town Hall in Newtown after apparent suicide

   Log in to Reply

   1. Thoughts and prayers….

      Log in to Reply

6. WOTD on the Green New Deal from David Roberts at Vox: "Mitch McConnel Wants a Green New Deal Vote"

   Moderate Democrats want to avoid a vote. Can you say litmus test?

   To understand the import of the decision, contemplate the context. I’ve already had my sayabout what I think GND critics are missing. It comes down to three key facts:

   1. Climate change is an extremely urgent, fast-moving catastrophe and the time left to adequately deal with it is rapidly diminishing. The status quo — a world with tepid-to-no US leadership — leads to disaster. 
   2. The US political system is a dumpster fire; there’s no prospect of any cooperation from the right on any climate response of any remotely appropriate scale; “moderate” Democrats have found the balance of incentives and they lean toward slow, incremental action. The Venn diagram of adequate climate solutions and politically possible climate solutions is currently empty in America. The status quo leads to disaster.
   3. The only way to change the status quo is through power, and the only power available to progressives on this issue is people power — bodies in the streets, in congressional offices, and in voting booths. Any plan to address climate change must involve not just policy but the question of how to build people power around it and thus change the status quo.

   This is the context that activists are pressing members of Congress to acknowledge, pushing on all fronts.

   Log in to Reply

7. This just in from “The Hill": https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/435618-udall-says-he-will-not-seek-reelection-in-2020

   Log in to Reply