Here is a list of News Blogs ordered by Most Commented, posted by members. A Blog is a journal you may enter about your life, thoughts, interesting experiences, or lessons you've learned. Post an opinion, impart words of wisdom, or talk about something interesting in your day. Update your blog on a regular basis, or just whenever you have something to say. Creating a blog is a good way to share something of yourself with others. Reading blogs is a good way to learn more about others. Click here to post a blog.
Breaking News ! Federal Judge rules than former White House advisor Don McGhan must testify
In response to:
Former White House counsel Donald McGahn must comply with congressional subpoena, federal judge rules
By Katherine Faulders, Allison Pecorin Nov 25, 2019, 7:05 PM ET
Former White House counsel Donald McGahn must comply with a congressional subpoena, a federal judge in Washington ruled Monday.
The ruling came in a case brought by the House Judiciary Committee in August in an effort to enforce its subpoena demanding McGahn's congressional testimony about events relating former special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation after President Donald Trump directed him not to comply.
"This court holds that individuals who have been subpoenaed for testimony by an authorized committee of Congress must appear for testimony in response to that subpoena -- i.e., they cannot ignore or defy congressional compulsory process, by order of the President or otherwise," Judge Kentanji Brown wrote in her ruling. "Notably, however, in the context of that appearance, such individuals are free to assert any legally applicable privilege in response to the questions asked of them, where appropriate."
In her decision, the judge wrote that her conclusion is "inescapable" because subpoenas are legal constructs and not political ones, and "no one is above the law."
"However busy or essential a presidential aide might be, and whatever their proximity to sensitive domestic and national-security projects, the President does not have the power to excuse him or her from taking an action that the law requires,
" Jackson wrote.
In a statement issued following the release of the judge's decision, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler said he now expects McGahn to "follow his legal obligations" and appear before the committee.
"Don McGahn is a central witness to allegations that President Trump obstructed Special Counsel Mueller's investigation, and the Administration's claim that officials can claim 'absolute immunity' from Congressional subpoenas has no basis in law, as the court recognized today," Nadler said in the statement.
The judge, sharing Nadler's sentiment, wrote in her finding that Congress has not been able to get to the bottom of some of the findings in the Mueller report partly because McGahn is "the most important fact witness" in the committee's "consideration of whether to recommend articles of impeachment and its related investigation of misconduct" by the president.
White House counsel Pat Cipollone has said, "McGahn is absolutely immune from compelled congressional testimony with respect to matters occurring during his service as a senior adviser to the president," citing previous opinions from the Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel, along with OLC guidance that said McGahn specifically is "absolutely immune" from providing such testimony.
McGahn's lawyer, William Burck, previously wrote to Nadler that McGahn "remains obligated to maintain the status quo and respect the president's instructions."
Attorneys for the House wrote in their August complaint that the "absolute immunity" claim has "no grounding in the Constitution, any statues or case law," and say the president cited "no legal authority" for McGahn -- who is a private citizen -- to defy a congressional subpoena.
In its August lawsuit, the Judiciary Committee wrote that McGahn is a critical witness to determining whether articles of impeachment are necessary.
"The Judiciary Committee is now determining whether to recommend articles of impeachment against the President based on the obstructive conduct described by the Special Counsel," .....
Former White House counsel Donald McGahn must comply with congressional subpoena, federal judge rules
By Katherine Faulders, Allison Pecorin Nov 25, 2019, 7:05 PM ET
Former White House counsel Donald McGahn must comply with a congressional subpoena, a federal judge in Washington ruled Monday.
The ruling came in a case brought by the House Judiciary Committee in August in an effort to enforce its subpoena demanding McGahn's congressional testimony about events relating former special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation after President Donald Trump directed him not to comply.
"This court holds that individuals who have been subpoenaed for testimony by an authorized committee of Congress must appear for testimony in response to that subpoena -- i.e., they cannot ignore or defy congressional compulsory process, by order of the President or otherwise," Judge Kentanji Brown wrote in her ruling. "Notably, however, in the context of that appearance, such individuals are free to assert any legally applicable privilege in response to the questions asked of them, where appropriate."
In her decision, the judge wrote that her conclusion is "inescapable" because subpoenas are legal constructs and not political ones, and "no one is above the law."
"However busy or essential a presidential aide might be, and whatever their proximity to sensitive domestic and national-security projects, the President does not have the power to excuse him or her from taking an action that the law requires,
" Jackson wrote.In a statement issued following the release of the judge's decision, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler said he now expects McGahn to "follow his legal obligations" and appear before the committee.
"Don McGahn is a central witness to allegations that President Trump obstructed Special Counsel Mueller's investigation, and the Administration's claim that officials can claim 'absolute immunity' from Congressional subpoenas has no basis in law, as the court recognized today," Nadler said in the statement.
The judge, sharing Nadler's sentiment, wrote in her finding that Congress has not been able to get to the bottom of some of the findings in the Mueller report partly because McGahn is "the most important fact witness" in the committee's "consideration of whether to recommend articles of impeachment and its related investigation of misconduct" by the president.
White House counsel Pat Cipollone has said, "McGahn is absolutely immune from compelled congressional testimony with respect to matters occurring during his service as a senior adviser to the president," citing previous opinions from the Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel, along with OLC guidance that said McGahn specifically is "absolutely immune" from providing such testimony.
McGahn's lawyer, William Burck, previously wrote to Nadler that McGahn "remains obligated to maintain the status quo and respect the president's instructions."
Attorneys for the House wrote in their August complaint that the "absolute immunity" claim has "no grounding in the Constitution, any statues or case law," and say the president cited "no legal authority" for McGahn -- who is a private citizen -- to defy a congressional subpoena.
In its August lawsuit, the Judiciary Committee wrote that McGahn is a critical witness to determining whether articles of impeachment are necessary.
"The Judiciary Committee is now determining whether to recommend articles of impeachment against the President based on the obstructive conduct described by the Special Counsel," .....
Oh, what a tangled web Republicans have weaved.
It turns out, that Devin Nunes, who is supposed to be investigating Trump for his trying to influence Ukraine to investigate the Bidens, himself went to the Ukraine in an effort to try to get 'dirt' on Biden. 
From CNN;
From CNN;
In response to:
Exclusive: Giuliani associate willing to tell Congress Nunes met with ex-Ukrainian official to get dirt on Biden
CNN NY Vicky Ward
A lawyer for an indicted associate of Rudy Giuliani told CNN that his client is willing to tell Congress about meetings the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee had in Vienna last year with a former Ukrainian prosecutor to discuss digging up dirt on Joe Biden.
The attorney, Joseph A. Bondy, represents Lev Parnas, the recently indicted Soviet-born American who worked with Giuliani to push claims of Democratic corruption in Ukraine. Bondy said that Parnas was told directly by the former Ukrainian official that he met last year in Vienna with Rep. Devin Nunes.
"Mr. Parnas learned from former Ukrainian Prosecutor General Victor Shokin that Nunes had met with Shokin in Vienna last December," said Bondy.
Shokin was ousted from his position in 2016 after pressure from Western leaders, including then-vice president Biden, over concerns that Shokin was not pursuing corruption cases.
Republican senators echoed Biden in urging Ukrainian president to reform prosecutor general's office
Nunes is one of President Donald Trump's key allies in Congress and has emerged as a staunch defender of the President during the impeachment inquiry, which he has frequently labeled as a "circus." Nunes declined repeated requests for comment.
After the story published, Nunes disputed CNN's report, telling far-right website Breitbart that it was "demonstrably false."
Giuliani made an appearance on Fox News on Saturday and, when asked about the CNN report, said he had no reason to doubt Nunes.
Bondy told CNN that his client and Nunes began communicating around the time of the Vienna trip. Parnas says he worked to put Nunes in touch with Ukrainians who could help Nunes dig up dirt on Biden and Democrats in Ukraine, according to Bondy.
That information would likely be of great interest to House Democrats given its overlap with the current impeachment inquiry into President Trump, and could put Nunes in a difficult spot.
Bondy told CNN his client is willing to comply with a Congressional subpoena for documents and testimony as part of the impeachment inquiry in a manner that would allow him to protect his Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination.
Bondy suggested in a tweet on Friday that he was already speaking to House Intel though the committee declined to comment.
Giuliani has told CNN previously about his conversations with Shokin and ?Parnas, saying that this was part of his legal work for his client, President Trump. Parnas' claims about Nunes' alleged involvement offers a new wrinkle and for the first time suggests the efforts to dig up dirt on the Bidens involved a member of Congress.
Parnas' claim that Nunes met with Shokin, which had not been previously reported, adds further context to a Daily Beast report that Parnas?helped arrange meetings and calls in Europe for Nunes last year, citing another Parnas' lawyer, Ed MacMahon.
Those revelations came to a head on Thursday when Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell raised the Daily Beast story publicly during the impeachment hearing......
Exclusive: Giuliani associate willing to tell Congress Nunes met with ex-Ukrainian official to get dirt on Biden
CNN NY Vicky Ward
A lawyer for an indicted associate of Rudy Giuliani told CNN that his client is willing to tell Congress about meetings the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee had in Vienna last year with a former Ukrainian prosecutor to discuss digging up dirt on Joe Biden.
The attorney, Joseph A. Bondy, represents Lev Parnas, the recently indicted Soviet-born American who worked with Giuliani to push claims of Democratic corruption in Ukraine. Bondy said that Parnas was told directly by the former Ukrainian official that he met last year in Vienna with Rep. Devin Nunes.
"Mr. Parnas learned from former Ukrainian Prosecutor General Victor Shokin that Nunes had met with Shokin in Vienna last December," said Bondy.
Shokin was ousted from his position in 2016 after pressure from Western leaders, including then-vice president Biden, over concerns that Shokin was not pursuing corruption cases.
Republican senators echoed Biden in urging Ukrainian president to reform prosecutor general's office
Nunes is one of President Donald Trump's key allies in Congress and has emerged as a staunch defender of the President during the impeachment inquiry, which he has frequently labeled as a "circus." Nunes declined repeated requests for comment.
After the story published, Nunes disputed CNN's report, telling far-right website Breitbart that it was "demonstrably false."
Giuliani made an appearance on Fox News on Saturday and, when asked about the CNN report, said he had no reason to doubt Nunes.
Bondy told CNN that his client and Nunes began communicating around the time of the Vienna trip. Parnas says he worked to put Nunes in touch with Ukrainians who could help Nunes dig up dirt on Biden and Democrats in Ukraine, according to Bondy.
That information would likely be of great interest to House Democrats given its overlap with the current impeachment inquiry into President Trump, and could put Nunes in a difficult spot.
Bondy told CNN his client is willing to comply with a Congressional subpoena for documents and testimony as part of the impeachment inquiry in a manner that would allow him to protect his Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination.
Bondy suggested in a tweet on Friday that he was already speaking to House Intel though the committee declined to comment.
Giuliani has told CNN previously about his conversations with Shokin and ?Parnas, saying that this was part of his legal work for his client, President Trump. Parnas' claims about Nunes' alleged involvement offers a new wrinkle and for the first time suggests the efforts to dig up dirt on the Bidens involved a member of Congress.
Parnas' claim that Nunes met with Shokin, which had not been previously reported, adds further context to a Daily Beast report that Parnas?helped arrange meetings and calls in Europe for Nunes last year, citing another Parnas' lawyer, Ed MacMahon.
Those revelations came to a head on Thursday when Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell raised the Daily Beast story publicly during the impeachment hearing......
Chaos in Michigan as drivers swarm Michigan capital to protest Gov. Nit- Whitmer's stay home order
Hundreds of cars, trucks and SUVs descended on Michigan’s state capital Wednesday afternoon as part of a noisy protest against Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s social-distancing restrictions that critics say have gone too far.
Dubbed “Operation Gridlock” and organized by the Michigan Conservative Coalition, the protest did just that – creating bumper-to-bumper traffic throughout downtown Lansing as demonstrators blasted their horns, waved Americans flags and hoisted placards deriding Whitmer’s orders and demanding that she reopen the state’s economy.
The lockdown measures are meant to curb the spread of the coronavirus outbreak, but Whitmer has gone further than some other governors -- and the backlash in Michigan is among the most heated in the country.
More and videos here :
Dubbed “Operation Gridlock” and organized by the Michigan Conservative Coalition, the protest did just that – creating bumper-to-bumper traffic throughout downtown Lansing as demonstrators blasted their horns, waved Americans flags and hoisted placards deriding Whitmer’s orders and demanding that she reopen the state’s economy.
The lockdown measures are meant to curb the spread of the coronavirus outbreak, but Whitmer has gone further than some other governors -- and the backlash in Michigan is among the most heated in the country.
More and videos here :
Why New York Had More Deaths From The Chinese Virus Than Any Other Entire Country In The World
Note that these are the same Democrats who called President Trump a racist and a xenophobe when he immediately shut down travel from China when we first learned about the virus, a move that in retrospect saved countless American lives. And they are also the same Democrats who accuse President Trump of not taking action soon enough.
Harshest downturn for US workers in history. Joblessness at highest levels since Great Depression.
Today from Bloomberg;
And to think, it only took Trump 3 years to destroy the good economy he inherited.
Of course, he had help. Well, he fired the help and brought in a bunch of unqualified crooked idiots.
Thus, the USA was unprepared for the impending onslaught. And now he wants to rush workers back
to work before testing is sufficient and before a vaccine is available. Afterall, his record with the economy is more important than other's lives.......to him.
In response to:
In the harshest downturn for American workers in history, employers cut an unprecedented 20.5 million jobs in April, and the unemployment rate more than tripled to 14.7%. Joblessness now stands at its worst level since the Great Depression, as the coronavirus brought the economy to its knees. President Donald Trump, who has been criticized for downplaying the virus, then responding months too late, said none of it his fault. The unprecedented economic collapse robs Trump of his argument for re-election, and will fuel his drive to quickly “reopen” the U.S. economy ahead of the campaign season. He pledges to do so even as a solid majority of Americans are reluctant to return to public life, and experts foresee tens of thousands of avoidable deaths. —Josh Petri
In the harshest downturn for American workers in history, employers cut an unprecedented 20.5 million jobs in April, and the unemployment rate more than tripled to 14.7%. Joblessness now stands at its worst level since the Great Depression, as the coronavirus brought the economy to its knees. President Donald Trump, who has been criticized for downplaying the virus, then responding months too late, said none of it his fault. The unprecedented economic collapse robs Trump of his argument for re-election, and will fuel his drive to quickly “reopen” the U.S. economy ahead of the campaign season. He pledges to do so even as a solid majority of Americans are reluctant to return to public life, and experts foresee tens of thousands of avoidable deaths. —Josh Petri
And to think, it only took Trump 3 years to destroy the good economy he inherited.
Of course, he had help. Well, he fired the help and brought in a bunch of unqualified crooked idiots.
Thus, the USA was unprepared for the impending onslaught. And now he wants to rush workers back
to work before testing is sufficient and before a vaccine is available. Afterall, his record with the economy is more important than other's lives.......to him.
online today!
Are you proud of these boys...
The Proud Boys, a right-wing extremist group with a violent agenda, played a part in the January insurrection. Along with other patriots many are receiving prison terms for their roles in the attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. The latest and longest was ground commander Ethan Nordean who received a sentence of 18 years and Dominic Pezzola, who set off the initial breach of the building by smashing a window with a riot shield received 10 years.
After receiving his sentence, Pezzola reportedly raised his fist and shouted, “Trump won,” as he left the courtroom.
Dominic, not that it will help, but you've got some time to rethink that statement.
After receiving his sentence, Pezzola reportedly raised his fist and shouted, “Trump won,” as he left the courtroom.
Dominic, not that it will help, but you've got some time to rethink that statement.
"Tools" to be added to next 'presidential' debate
The debate commission announced the moderators in the next 2 presidential debates will be equipped with a whistle, a whip, a tazer and a bag of chicken McNuggets, as well as a 'binky' for Trump to suck on to better control Trump.
Just kidding.
............... Although....
Today from Newsweek;
Nice to see, that the debate commission read my earlier blog comments.
Just kidding.
............... Although.... Today from Newsweek;
In response to:
After Biden Trump Debate Chaos, Debate Commission Adds 'New Tools to Maintain Order'
By Mili Godio On 9/30/20 at 2:24 PM EDT
The Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) will make changes to debate rules following Tuesday night's chaotic first presidential debate between President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden in Cleveland.
The commission announced on Wednesday it will add "additional structure" to the remaining scheduled debates.
"Last night's debate made clear that additional structure should be added to the format of the remaining debates to ensure a more orderly discussion of the issues," said the CPD in a statement. "The CPD will be carefully considering the changes that it will adopt and will announce those measures shortly."
While thanking debate moderator Chris Wallace for keeping "professionalism and skill" during last night's showdown, the commission also promised that "additional tools to maintain order" will be put in place.
The commission has not yet revealed what these additional tools or strategies will be ahead of the next presidential debate, scheduled for October 15 in Miami, Florida.
Throughout the 98-minute debate, Trump was responsible for 71 interruptions, while Biden was responsible for 22, according to the Washington Post's Aaron Blake.
"I think that the country would be better served if we allowed both people to speak with fewer interruptions," Wallace said to Trump at one point during the debate. "I am appealing to you, sir, to do that."
While topical issues surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, health care, race, and law and order were discussed, Tuesday's debate was filled with hostility and interruptions as both men faced-off ahead of the November 3 presidential election.
Biden's remarks against his opponent received widespread attention across social media, including asking Trump, "Will you shut up, man?" and calling him a "clown" on two occasions. Trump's consistent interruptions and off-hand insults—including aggressive comments towards Biden's sons and insults aimed towards the former vice president's intelligence—certainly did not go unnoticed.
Trump also did not publicly condemn white supremacists when asked to by Wallace and told well-known extremist group the Proud Boys to "stand down and stand by."
In response to an Associated Press tweet highlighting the structural changes promised by the CPD, Trump lashed out at both Biden and Wallace.
During a press briefing in Alliance, Ohio, Biden called the president's behavior a "national embarrassment" and proposed some measures that the CPD can consider to better handle the upcoming second and third presidential debates.
After Biden Trump Debate Chaos, Debate Commission Adds 'New Tools to Maintain Order'
By Mili Godio On 9/30/20 at 2:24 PM EDT
The Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) will make changes to debate rules following Tuesday night's chaotic first presidential debate between President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden in Cleveland.
The commission announced on Wednesday it will add "additional structure" to the remaining scheduled debates.
"Last night's debate made clear that additional structure should be added to the format of the remaining debates to ensure a more orderly discussion of the issues," said the CPD in a statement. "The CPD will be carefully considering the changes that it will adopt and will announce those measures shortly."
While thanking debate moderator Chris Wallace for keeping "professionalism and skill" during last night's showdown, the commission also promised that "additional tools to maintain order" will be put in place.
The commission has not yet revealed what these additional tools or strategies will be ahead of the next presidential debate, scheduled for October 15 in Miami, Florida.
Throughout the 98-minute debate, Trump was responsible for 71 interruptions, while Biden was responsible for 22, according to the Washington Post's Aaron Blake.
"I think that the country would be better served if we allowed both people to speak with fewer interruptions," Wallace said to Trump at one point during the debate. "I am appealing to you, sir, to do that."
While topical issues surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, health care, race, and law and order were discussed, Tuesday's debate was filled with hostility and interruptions as both men faced-off ahead of the November 3 presidential election.
Biden's remarks against his opponent received widespread attention across social media, including asking Trump, "Will you shut up, man?" and calling him a "clown" on two occasions. Trump's consistent interruptions and off-hand insults—including aggressive comments towards Biden's sons and insults aimed towards the former vice president's intelligence—certainly did not go unnoticed.
Trump also did not publicly condemn white supremacists when asked to by Wallace and told well-known extremist group the Proud Boys to "stand down and stand by."
In response to an Associated Press tweet highlighting the structural changes promised by the CPD, Trump lashed out at both Biden and Wallace.
During a press briefing in Alliance, Ohio, Biden called the president's behavior a "national embarrassment" and proposed some measures that the CPD can consider to better handle the upcoming second and third presidential debates.
Nice to see, that the debate commission read my earlier blog comments.
Happy New Year 2016
Wishing you all a wonderful year ahead filled with God's Blessings, Good Health, peace, joy and love!
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year!
Pocahontas a real Indian - 1/1,024th. that is
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) has declared herself vindicated for a decades-long claim to be Cherokee, thanks to a DNA test she ordered in response to taunts from President Donald Trump, in another signal that the former professor is gearing up for a 2020 presidential run.
According to Warren’s own DNA test, she has, at best, 1/64th Native American ancestry, but it could also be as low as 1/1,024. Percentage-wise, she can claim somewhere between 0.1 percent to 1.56 percent Native lineage.
I must post Miclee's favorite video:
According to Warren’s own DNA test, she has, at best, 1/64th Native American ancestry, but it could also be as low as 1/1,024. Percentage-wise, she can claim somewhere between 0.1 percent to 1.56 percent Native lineage.
I must post Miclee's favorite video:
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