US Politics

[Wideleft]

13 minutes ago, bustamente said:

Trump wins again today

??

Trump charged in probe of Jan. 6, efforts to overturn 2020 election

By Devlin Barrett, Spencer S. Hsu, Perry Stein, Josh Dawsey and Jacqueline Alemany

Updated August 1, 2023 at 5:44 p.m. EDT|Published August 1, 2023 at 5:16 p.m. EDT

 

A grand jury indicted former president Donald Trump Tuesday for a raft of alleged crimes in his brazen efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election — the latest legal and political aftershock stemming from the riot at the U.S. Capitol two and a half years ago.

The four-count, 45-page indictment accuses Trump of three distinct conspiracies, charging that he conspired to defraud the U.S., conspired to obstruct an official proceeding and conspired against people’s rights.

“Despite having lost, the Defendant was determined to remain in power,” the indictment charges.

A spokesman for the former president, Steven Cheung, accused the current administration of trying to interfere with the 2024 election by targeting the current GOP frontrunner.

About 5 p.m., reporters observed a prosecutor with special counsel Jack Smith’s office and the foreperson of a grand jury that has been active for many months examining the events surrounding Jan. 6 deliver the indictment to a magistrate judge in federal court in Washington, D.C.

That grand jury panel gathered Tuesday, and left the courthouse in the afternoon. The indictment is the first known charge or charges to be filed in the special counsel probe of the machinations that led up to the Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol, and its aftermath.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Moxila A. Upadhyaya accepted the grand jury return, saying, “I do have one indictment return before me, and I have reviewed the paperwork in connection with this indictment.”

The indictment could mark a major new phase in Smith’s investigation of the former president and his aides and allies, coming nearly two months after Trump and his longtime valet were indicted for allegedly mishandling classified documents and scheming to prevent government officials from retrieving them.

Trump, who has pleaded not guilty in the documents case, denies all wrongdoing related to the 2020 election as well. He announced on social media on July 18 that his lawyers had been told he was a target in the election-focused probe.

Smith was tapped in November to take charge of the both high-profile investigations, after Trump launched his 2024 presidential election campaign and Attorney General Merrick Garland — an appointee of President Biden — concluded that an independent prosecutor should oversee the probes.

 

A state grand jury in Fulton County, Ga., is also considering whether to file broad charges against Trump and his lawyers, advocates, and aides over their efforts to undo the 2020 election results. A decision on that front is expected in August, although previous plans to announce a charging decision have been delayed. Michigan and Arizona are also investigating aspects of the efforts to block Biden’s victory in their states.

Trump, who is the first former president charged with a crime, is facing a remarkable challenge: as a leading candidate for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, he is likely to be juggling campaign events with court hearings and criminal trials for months on end.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/08/01/trump-indictment-jan-6-2020-election/

[bustamente]

They indicted Trump but there are 6 co conspirators who have not been named, legal beagles are saying that Smith wants a speedy trial so they are only charging Trump atm the other will have to wait their turn.

[Tracker]

28 minutes ago, bustamente said:

They indicted Trump but there are 6 co conspirators who have not been named, legal beagles are saying that Smith wants a speedy trial so they are only charging Trump atm the other will have to wait their turn.

Trump has promised that, when re-elected, he will pardon everyone associated with the 1/6 attemppted coup as well as anyone convicted in the unfair prosecution of himself. He has even mused that he could pardon himself. The MAGAts are having wet dreams imagining this.

[Mark F]

empty wheel

charge text (partial)

Jack Smith likes plain language. for the people who need to have it explained in simple words.

The Defendant lost the 2020 presidential election.

“Despite having lost, the Defendant was determined to remain in power. So for more than two months following election day on November 3, 2020, the Defendant spread lies that there had been outcome-determinative fraud in the election and that he had actually won. These claims were false and the Defendant knew they were false.”

 

also....charged in washington  d.c. 

Edited August 2, 2023 by Mark F

[Tracker]

Top Trump DOJ Official Was Prepared To Use Insurrection Act To Stay In Power

Jeffrey Clark signaled he was ready to overthrow the government amid “riots in every major city,” according to the latest indictment against the former president.
Jeffrey Clark, a former top Justice Department official under Donald Trump, was prepared to use the Insurrection Act to stay in power despite Trump’s loss in the 2020 presidential election, according to Tuesday’s federal indictment of the former president.

The indictment reveals a stunning Jan. 3, 2021, exchange between Clark, who is referred to as Co-Conspirator 4, and deputy White House counsel Patrick Philbin. Philbin had previously warned Clark in December that “there is no world, there is no option in which you do not leave the White House [o]n January 20th.” He made the point again on Jan. 3 in an effort to dissuade Clark from assuming the role of acting attorney general under a fraudulent Trump presidency.

Philbin warned Clark that if Trump tried to stay in office despite no evidence of widespread fraud in the 2020 election, there would be “riots in every major city in the United States.”

Clark replied, “Well, [Phibin], that’s why there’s an Insurrection Act.”

The Insurrection Act, originally enacted in 1792, empowers the president of the United States to deploy the military domestically in certain cases, like suppressing civil disorder or rebellion.

Tuesday’s indictment accuses Clark of having “worked on civil matters and who, with the Defendant, attempted to use the Justice Department to open sham election crime investigations and influence state legislatures with knowingly false claims of election fraud.”

[Mark F]

There is no way to look at this other than a coup attempt.

since death penalty is probably too much to hope for, Let's hope that each of these fascists get twenty years in jail.

nothing else will deter these people.

and let's hope that Americans that want a democracy, are better prepared, next time.

 

Edited August 2, 2023 by Mark F

[Tracker]

48 minutes ago, Mark F said:

There is no way to look at this other than a coup attempt.

since death penalty is probably too much to hope for, Let's hope that each of these fascists get twenty years in jail.

nothing else will deter these people.

and let's hope that Americans that want a democracy, are better prepared, next time.

 

Given the deep divisions within American society at present and how hard many public figures are working to exacerbate this, I am not optimistic that Trump and his co-conspirators will receive much beyond a token slap on the wrists. I fear we are seeing the end of a functional democracy in America.

[Wanna-B-Fanboy]

2 hours ago, Mark F said:

There is no way to look at this other than a coup attempt.

since death penalty is probably too much to hope for, Let's hope that each of these fascists get twenty years in jail.

nothing else will deter these people.

and let's hope that Americans that want a democracy, are better prepared, next time.

 

This needs to be enacted- otherwise, they will be pardoned the next time there is a gop pres.

Edited August 2, 2023 by Wanna-B-Fanboy

[Mark F]

America has always been deeply divided in a few ways. and very violent.

in the past,  to a greater extent than now.  voting rights, civil rights, somewhat recent for some people there.

black doctor? judge?

unthinkable not long ago.

and what more could they do with Trump and his goons?

show trial, summary conviction and immediate firing squad?

 

They will continue as they always have....and survive as a democracy.

Edited August 2, 2023 by Mark F

[WildPath]

14 minutes ago, Mark F said:

America has always been deeply divided in a few ways. and very violent.

in the past,  to a greater extent than now.  voting rights, civil rights, somewhat recent for some people there.

black doctor? judge?

unthinkable not long ago.

and what more could they do with Trump and his goons?

show trial, summary conviction and immediate firing squad?

 

They will continue as they always have....and survive as a democracy.

Ezra Klein wrote a book Why We're Polarized that discusses how the political parties in the US are more polarized than ever before. The differences between Republican and Democrat were not always as stark and obvious as they are right now. The stuff that I'm seeing coming out of the US is scary to me and I'm not sure it will just be a bump in the road. They've even had their credit rating downgraded yesterday in large part to political instability and polarization.

[Tracker]

Capitol Police issue shelter in place order for US Senate buildings over possible active shooter

U.S. Capitol Police are asking anyone inside a U.S. Senate building to shelter in place over an unconfirmed report of a possible active shooter.

“If you are inside the Senate Buildings, everyone inside should be sheltering in place as the report was for a possible active shooter. It should be noted that we do not have any confirmed reports of gunshots,” the Capitol Police said via social media.  Our officers are searching in and around the Senate Office Buildings in response to a concerning 911 call. Please stay away from the area as we are still investigating. We will continue to communicate with the public here.”

MSNBC’s Garrett Haake on-air stressed also there were no reports of shots fired, and says some staffers were escorted out of the building by Capitol Police, who had “guns drawn.”

[Mark F]

3 hours ago, WildPath said:

es how the political parties in the US are more polarized than ever before. T

dont knowmthe book. 

I agree that the two parties are very  far apart. which is a good thing.

the republicans are bare bones, no platform, just tax cuts, guns, racism, deregulation of business, and Some kind of christian dictatorship. thats it. and obstruction. and they have voters , but dwindling numbers of them.  they have been without any actual platform since the nineties. they have been taken over top to bottom, by people who are without values. who have no interest in serving the public good in any way. by liars, and cheats.

 

I think that the current Republican party does not reflect the values of a majority of people down there. they only have power through cheating. gerrymandering and vote supression. they have been losing popular vote for years.

so parties, yeah, but people in general? I think its better now. the good old days were pretty bad for a lot of (black) people.

in the sixties there was segregated schools. 

how can it be worse tham that?

I think media in general reports bad news, controversy, and drama.

there are a lot of good things happening, in America, but you have to look for it. cause it is not in the headlines. 

 

I think they are on a good path finally. the Democrats seem to have finally woken up, and are dealing with the horrendous problems they and we have, dragging the  crazy people along.

just the inflation reduction is a spectacular accomplishment.  projected one trillion us dollars investment in transition to renewable.

 

 

Edited August 2, 2023 by Mark F

[Tracker]

17 minutes ago, Mark F said:

dont knowmthe book. 

I agree that the two parties are very  far apart. which is a good thing.

the republicans are bare bones, no platform, just tax cuts, guns, racism, and Some kind of christian dictatorship. thats it. and obstruction. and they have voters , but dwindling numbers of them.  they have been without any actual platform since the nineties. they have been taken over by people who are without values. who have no interest in serving the public good in any way. by liars, and cheats.

 

I think that the current Republican party does not reflect the values of a majority of people down there. they only have power through cheating. gerrymandering and vote supression. they have been losing popular vote for years.

so parties, yeah, but people in general? I think its better now.  in the sixties there was segregated schools.  how can it be worse tham that?

I think media in general reports bad news, controversy, and drama.

there are a lot of good things happening, in America, but you have to look for it. cause it is not in the headlines. 

 

I think they are on a good path finally. the Democrats seem to have finally woken up, and are dealing with the horrendous problems they and we have, dragging the  crazy people along. just the inflation reduction is a spectacular accomplishment. 

 

I think you underestimate the amount of diseased minds in the American right wing and their willingness to invoke violence and threats of violence when they do not get their way. There is no middle ground for many of these. In sociology, we were told that once about 15% of a given group has reached a consensus of dissent, that group is de facto no longer a coherent entity and inevitably fractures. I suspect that the individuals given to violence to gain their ends in the USA has reached and even exceeded that number.

[WildPath]

2 hours ago, Mark F said:

there are a lot of good things happening, in America, but you have to look for it. cause it is not in the headlines. 

 

I think they are on a good path finally. the Democrats seem to have finally woken up, and are dealing with the horrendous problems they and we have, dragging the  crazy people along.

I hope you are right and I was surprised at the Inflation Reduction Act. I intentionally don't follow what is going on in the US too closely as I see so much disappointment and despair and it leaves me frustrated. To see that a guy like Trump has a chance to lead, again, even with just what has been confirmed publicly, is horrible. Very low regard for democracy.

The parties are definitely polarized, but it seems like people rigidly hold to whatever beliefs the party tells them are important. It is cult-like how people choose to get their values from whatever political party they are part of rather than developing values outside of the political party and voting for a party that fits. I see this happening more in Canada too.

[Tracker]

1 hour ago, WildPath said:

I hope you are right and I was surprised at the Inflation Reduction Act. I intentionally don't follow what is going on in the US too closely as I see so much disappointment and despair and it leaves me frustrated. To see that a guy like Trump has a chance to lead, again, even with just what has been confirmed publicly, is horrible. Very low regard for democracy.

The parties are definitely polarized, but it seems like people rigidly hold to whatever beliefs the party tells them are important. It is cult-like how people choose to get their values from whatever political party they are part of rather than developing values outside of the political party and voting for a party that fits. I see this happening more in Canada too.

'I want to pull the lever': Trump supporters issue violent new threats against Pence

"Extremist" supporters of thrice-indicted ex-President Donald Trump are reigniting the January 6th, 2021 rallying cry to "hang Mike Pence" on a right-wing digital forum, Rolling Stone reported on Wednesday.

"Chilling calls for violence against the former vice president were rising to the top of the comments thread" on TheDonald.win following United States Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith's four-federal-felony-count Tuesday indictment of Trump for allegedly conspiring to subvert American democracy, according to Rolling Stone's Tom Dickinson and Jana Winter.

TheDonald.win, Dickinson and Winter noted, "became a hub of plotting for the unrest at the Capitol, and a place where members of the then-Trump administration monitored their success in firing up the base."

NEXT TARGET: Mark Meadows who has apparently "flipped hard" on Trump. Witness protection program coming up?

[iHeart]

Don't most of the people that turned on Trump need witness protection?

[Tracker]

1 hour ago, iHeart said:

Don't most of the people that turned on Trump need witness protection?

If they have any smarts, that would be part of any plea deal.

Edited August 3, 2023 by Tracker

[Wideleft]

[FrostyWinnipeg]

Statement on AP Psychology and Florida

[FrostyWinnipeg]

One of Louisiana’s few doctors specializing in pediatric heart conditions is leaving the state after the Legislature passed a variety of bills aimed at restricting rights for LGBTQ people. https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/gay-louisiana-doctor-says-s-leaving-state-discriminatory-legislation-rcna97867

 

[FrostyWinnipeg]

https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/politics/elections/2023/08/03/expelled-reappointed-tn-rep-justin-jones-re-elected-in-nashville/70508514007/

[bustamente]

If the DOJ gets a speedy trial for Trump's latest indictment and I still have my doubts then for the sake of democracy in the United States it needs to be on TV.

Edited August 4, 2023 by bustamente

[FrostyWinnipeg]

 

[Goalie]

So the US appears to want to go back to the days of the north vs south. 

Some of these southern states making it difficult to not see the discrimination or racism.  

[Mark F]

funny, not funny