In reading posts, I've run across some who don't realize that Congress started investigations into Trump back in February, related to abuse of power, obstruction of justice and corruption. And anything else they run across.

They have requested documents from over 81 people or organizations. They've officially requested Trump's tax returns from the IRS. They had Michael Cohen in for a hearing. Mueller is scheduled for May, I read.

After the new Congress took office in January, they didn't waste time. Once the committees were put together, they immediately went to work planning out the investigations.

Impeachment has not been on the table because, as Pelosi said, they need to see what the Mueller Report says. It would be premature. Nadler has filed a request w/a Court, asking to get an unredacted version of the Mueller Report.

https://www.vox.com/vox-sentences/2019/3/4/18250682/vox-sentences-congress-investigation-documents-trump


https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/03/22/mueller-report-congress-oversight-investigations-trump/3061526002/

I'm wondering if a particularly tough, scrappy President might be needed in dealing with the Republican Senate, since they've gone so far out of the light. If so, which candidate does that describe?

Which candidate is the toughest...gets on the phone to get votes for bills in Congress, and won't stop until s/he gets those votes. Not easily talked out of something, or into something.

The scrappiest...if you wanna fight, you've got one. (won't back down)

Puts the screws to 'em....if you won't vote for the Democratic Party health care bill that has been carefully crafted, or the new tax cut bill, or the budget that restores funding to Meals on Wheels....s/he won't forget. And by the way, I said I'd consider your sister for that ambassadorship, but now.....

People skills. Honey does catch flies, when the time is right.

I have a couple in mind that MIGHT be that way. Or could be, if s/he chose to be. But I'm not sure. They all seem so....nice. Smart, good at communicating, good plans for issues. Dealing with McConnell will be a trip, though. Extreme confidence and toughness may be required.

Cory Booker had the pdf (which was in an unsearchable format) re-scanned and saved as a searchable version, making it easier to locate terms.

https://www.scribd.com/document/406729844/Mueller-Report

The word is out that many truckers got hit with higher taxes for 2018, sometimes owing thousands of dollars instead of getting a refund. This is in part related to the removal of an exemption of a per diem expense for meals and travel expenses.

I feel for them, as I would for anyone. Some won't have the money to pay the tax bill. BUT...let's remember:


https://www.ccjdigital.com/trucking-industry-support-helps-propel-donald-trump-to-victory-in-2016-presidential-race/



https://www.vocativ.com/376182/trump-states-truckers-automation/index.html




https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2017/03/23/trump-turns-to-truckers-for-help-in-moving-the-republican-health-care-bill/?utm_term=.7bcd97046c6a

Here he is, driving away with trucker's tax refunds in a Big Mack truck:

https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/11/business/middle-class-oecd-report/index.html

If this trend continues, the middle class will disappear. There will be the monarchy (executive branch), the aristocracy (the wealthiest, including the oligarchy), and the peasants. Just like in medieval England. The monarchy & aristocracy will say the peasants are to blame for being peasants; they made poor choices.

The system is increasingly rigged against The American Dream. If you're born poor in the U.S., it's increasingly difficult to rise above humble beginnings. This is happening in other countries, too, to a lesser degree.

Scary.

https://www.businessinsider.com/fall-into-black-hole-2016-11?jwsource=cl

Different video:



Scientists have been able to get the first picture of a black hole.

[img][/img]

https://www.businessinsider.com/supermassive-black-hole-first-photo-event-horizon-telescope-m87-2019-4

Hearing on "White Nationalism." Rep Lieu played to Conservative Commentator Candace Owens (Trumper) statements she had made about Hitler and Germany. She then snapped that someone referred to her as despicable (she doesn't mention that was in response to her calling someone despicable).

Speaking of despicable, what a motley crew of despicable characters the Trump family and friends make.

Que...1, 2, 3: "Despicable" from Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol:

A glimpse of this, and you can see why he ventured into talk shows (besides his gift for brilliant spontaneous timely jokes, and a mind that holds all sorts of facts, and his gift for comedy):

Start watching at about 34:45. It's not long. But this is his "climax" in the show, and bless his heart, he gives it his all:

Since Barr is hell pent on purifying Trump's image for the 2020 election and for history, to the point that he misled the public when he "summarized" the Mueller report, does ANYONE really think he's going to supposedly redact it fairly, so that what's left reflects the thrust of all of Mueller's conclusions, and lays out what happened?

Is Barr really going to let people read that Mueller concluded that Trump and his team had been stupid dupes, used and manipulated by the Russians? That's a step up from actively and knowingly conspiring with the Russians, but I doubt Barr wants the world to know how stupid Trump and his family really are. Sure, WE know. But Trumpers don't. Trump keeps telling them he's really smart, the smartest guy in any room.

If that's what Mueller concluded...that Trump was duped. Frankly, I don't see how Trump could be that naive, since he's dealth with mobsters and the fringe of the mob for years, and he himself behaves like he's a mob boss. Not stupid in that way. He took care to protect himself, not say self-incriminating things outright, even to Cohen. He's street smart.

But BARR is going to redact the report. Aren't some of the committee chairs cleared for classified intel? Can't they read the whole report?

It needs to be a law of the land that anyone seeking the Presidency of the U.S. must produce federal and state tax returns for "x" number of years, for the most recent years.

If they don't, then they can't be placed on the ballot or something along those lines.