For those opting out of the Trumpster’s State of the Union Address this evening, I have a suggestion for an interesting read written by Benjamin Wittes at Lawfare. Wittes is the Papa of the Baby Cannon meme, the Tick-Tock and Boom series on twitter during last year’s on-going Mueller updates. He’s pretty much put that away from what I can tell. Sadly, Sean Hannity took over a similar tick-tock formula, not nearly as entertaining.

In any case, Wittes has written a number of thoughtful pieces and the link below will link an essay from yesterday. The piece is particularly pertinent as the country awaits the next round of spectacular boasts and chest-beating from the Emperor Who Proudly Wears No Clothes.

Wittes manages to tie together the craziness of yesterday’s news cycle and remind us of the Big Lie philosophy, how Big Lie politics have a wretched, destructive history. In today’s context, the Trumpsters are attempting—and on some levels succeeding—to cast the US Justice Department and our own law enforcement and intelligence agencies as Enemies of the State while giving Russia, Vladimir Putin and his merry band of criminal oligarchs a pass. The Trumpster has spent a year discrediting and demeaning the press, journalists, anything and anyone not willing to genuflect and kiss his ring.

It’s what an Emperor expects, clothes or not.

The term Fake News is now a well-known catch-all phrase. Here and around the world. So I’m sure The Donald figures what worked in one arena will surely work in another.

Wittes focuses on Rod Rosenstein who Wittes has criticized in the past, made clear is an imperfect vessel (aren’t we all) but is at the momentThe Man standing between us and the next upheaval. The next disruption could be a direct, unapologetic attack on our independent law and justice departments. American presidents neither control nor are they permitted to use American institutions for their personal gain or political vendettas. That’s the stuff of Banana Republics or the realm of autocrats and demagogues throughout history.

The poignant question rests in the title and in Wittes’ text::

What Still Stands Against the Big Lie?

For the purposes of a conclusion, I’ll edit this to: Who or What Still Stands Against the Big Lie?

At the moment the what = the Rule of Law, the who = Rod Rosenstein. Regardless of how things shake out, The Rule of Law will always be the guiding principle. However, the who could easily change—fired, dismissed, forced from office, stumble from one public official to another. And if that happens, then the who = Us.


https://www.lawfareblog.com/big-lies-law-enforcement

Though overshadowed by Hair on Fire articles—the truly big story over the weekend was the article on the Dutch infiltration of Cozy Bear hackers in 2015-2016, which included real time evidence of the hack’s ‘how-and-where,’ as well as visual confirmation of the hackers and handlers involved.

Pretty much blows the Trumpster’s denial of Russian interference into the 2016 elections into the Deep Blue Sea.

This morning, I read that several Dutch institutions were attacked, including large banks and their Department of Taxation. I originally read this on a tweet thread but then failed to find it mentioned anywhere else until digging around, finding a Politico & Reuter’s report.

You would think that after the Cozy Bear reveal that the ‘coincidence’ of a cyberattack on the Dutch would be vaguely newsworthy. Though the identity of the hackers are as yet unknown, the servers from which the attack came were inside Russia.

Just another strange coinky-dink, I’m sure.


https://www.politico.eu/article/dutch-tax-authority-banks-under-cyberattack/

In an earlier thread there was mention of a strange phenomenon to Trump reporting. Mainly, that anytime a Trumpster bad news story is revealed, a corresponding ‘let’s savage Hillary Clinton’ piece pops up.

I might go so far as saying a frigging pattern in coverage of all things Trumpy and Hillary Clinton savaging has emerged and has been increasingly obvious for some time. As in the last two years. Presumably, the redux NYT’s story on Trump’s desire to fire Mueller wasn’t enough to thoroughly distract the public, so a Clinton story was clearly needed.

This morning our good woman Ruth Marcus at WAPO provided a flourish, claiming that the ten-year old story on Hillary Clinton made Ruth's head EXPLODE and by implication should do the same for everyone else. This is in addition to what the cable news shows were pumping yesterday, many of them leading with this 'explosive' story. On MSNBC, btw.

Marcus couches her indictment of Hillary Clinton with this:

"Look, I believe that not every bad act deserves the death penalty, and without more details, it’s hard to judge what the consequences should have been here."

But then, Miss Ruth proceeds with a guillotine treatment of the 2008 campaign's reaction to the man in question and HRC's reaction to the story now. The word dismayed is put through the ringer--so lame, so uninvolved, so clearly guilty of not really, really caring.

Off with Hillary's head!!

Not the head of the man in question for whom we will admit may not deserve the death penalty but the head of Clinton because she should have known better, been better and is required to be better in all things.

Meanwhile, the real story of the day, the week, the month is that the Trumpster, the imposter sitting in the WH, has been completely and utterly compromised by the story about Dutch intelligence hacking into the Russian spy network. The Dutch caught the Russians red-handed, specifically the Cozy Bear operation breaking into our cyber-infrastructure.

The Dutch knew, our allies knew, we knew and yet Trump and his enablers and Russian buddies continue to lie about Russian interference and its consequences in 2016. The Republicans continue to scream about the enemies inside the FBI and intelligence community when in fact they are the enemy. And the 400-pound teenage hacker squatting in his mother's basement? That would be Trump without his hairpiece.

But, but . . . Her emails! But, but . . . her response to a sexual harassment case ten years ago and/or her donor relationship with Harvey Weinstein and . . .

Pattern revealed.

The story that will ultimately sink Trump and his treasonous sycophants has been deliberately short-changed and shunted aside. The question of why should always revert back to:

Who benefits?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/wp/2018/01/27/hillary-clinton-metoo-meet-sowhat/?hpid=hp_no-name_opinion-card-c%3Ahomepage%2Fstory&utm_term=.ca681f19b996

Though the Trumpster keeps telling us how the reputation of the United States has increased exponentially since his inauguration, anyone with an actual conscience or claim to a Christian belief system would be hard pressed by recent headlines. I’m talking about our border patrol deliberately sabotaging water and food intended for immigrants at our border. Doing it for video broadcast, too, smirking, yukking it up because . . . they can and are being supported by a WH fanning racial and ethnic animus.

Now, we have another moment, another headline that additional ‘No More Deaths’ volunteers are being rounded up to face Federal charges.

What would those charges be? I wonder. Helping your fellow man or woman or child? Preventing unnecessary death or suffering? Providing humanitarian outreach to undesirables?

No, the charges are more subtle than that but equally shameful. Charges range from allegedly harboring/sheltering undocumented immigrants near the US/Mexican border, a felony by all accounts but also creepily reminiscent of an earlier history, one that nearly brought the world to ruin. In addition were a number of misdemeanor charges, as in: operating a motor vehicle in a wilderness area, abandonment of property (food and water) and entering a national wildlife refuge without a permit.

From where I come from those latter charges would be considered deliberate harassment by law enforcement.

From the TPM article:

“In an affidavit filed Tuesday by a officer with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the officer claimed, referring to four of the defendants: “I asked if they had left the stash of water and food at Charlie Bell Well, to which they openly admitted they did.” 

Well, there you go. A hanging offense and the defendants admitted to the crime.

Which circles around to my first question:

Are We Proud Yet???


http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-border-patrol-mexico-water-bottles-video-migrants-kick-over-video-illegals-mexicans-hispanics-a8165591.html

https://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/eight-humanitarian-volunteers-no-more-deaths-charges

On numerous occasions I’ve read of Russia’s expertise in playing the long-game. The explanation often involves the country’s history, geography, tumultuous political experiences and character—a steely, unflinching resolve. This long-game strategy is dramatically underscored by a timeline—a miniature tin-type considering Russia’s long national history—constructed by Shaun Mullen, former newspaper journalist and editor, author and five-time Pulitzer Prize nominee. The timeline itself starts in the 1980s and in chilling fashion illustrates the ladder, rung-by-rung, leading us to Trump, the network of dubious characters supporting him and the devastating wreckage we’re witnessing at the moment.

The timeline is a work in progress, as is the Trump/Russia investigation. I read the timeline shortly after reading the New Yorker’s recent profile on Glenn Greenwald. As most of you know, Greenwald has poo-poohed any and all relevance between Russia and 2016 election. Greenwald has repeatedly said (quite similar to the Trumpster) that the Russian probe is merely a device to steer attention away from the Democratic Party’s stunning loss, a distraction by blaming and accusing The Donald of nefarious acts. From the New Yorker piece:

"Greenwald’s been yelling about this, quite heatedly, since before the election. “In the Democratic Echo Chamber, Inconvenient Truths Are Recast As Putin Plots,” reads the headline of an Intercept piece published in October 2016. “The Increasingly Unhinged Russia Rhetoric Comes From a Long-Standing U.S. Playbook,” reads another, from February 2017. As Mueller’s investigation widened, no fallen domino — not the guilty plea of former Trump national-security adviser Michael Flynn, not the indictment of former campaign chairman Paul Manafort — chastened Greenwald. When it was recently reported that Steve Bannon had lobbed a “treason” charge in the direction of Donald Trump Jr. — precipitating his break with the president — Greenwald rolled his eyes . . .”

Pretty standard Greenwald dismissal.

But a timeline of events, contacts, machinations, many carried out in broad daylight, others behind the scenes refutes Greenwald’s premise that the on-going investigation is fairytale, made-up, fake news. Mullen drew from public sources, as did Politico with its recent “270 Individuals Tied to the Russian Probe” graphic piece. Mullen’s source list is provided at the end—newspapers, news mags, websites, etc. It’s a list most readers will recognize.

The most shocking reveal for those who have not read the background on The Trumpster’s rise to fame and fortune is the long, sordid history of mob-related real estate dealings, bankrolling and money-laundering schemes that are central to the Trump empire, a virtual House of Cards. In addition to that is the targeted viciousness, the cold-blooded violence and defiant power-grabbing of Putin and his cronies. How do I love, thee? Let me count the bodies.

Which begs the obvious questions: Why didn’t the media reveal this history of criminality to the public before the 2016 election? For instance, The New York Times ran columns about Trump’s questionable business practices and scandals over the decades. Yet the paper failed to tap its own archives and inform the public. How could a major political party willfully run a candidate who was compromised by his own messy, personal past and financially tied to Putin’s mafia state? How could 30-40% of the American electorate support such a creature?

Greenwald would have us believe the vile corruption of our body-politic, the bloated surveillance state is the accountable agent. I tend to think we were asleep at the wheel, allowing CNN Jeff Zucker’s statement/corporate attitudes to slide by too easily:

“Donald Trump may be bad for the country but he’s great TV.”

There’s a point at which unfettered capitalism devours itself. Personally, I think we’ve reached that dismal point.


http://kikoshouse.blogspot.com/2017/11/a-comprehensive-timeline-of-russia.html


http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2018/01/glenn-greenwald-russia-investigation.html

A January 29th deadline is looming for Putin’s richy-rich friends and has, according to Bloomberg, set a flurry of lobbyists and proxies into the offices of DC powerbrokers. The Report which will be issued through the US Treasury Department threatens to expose Russian elites for less than noble financial behavior and actions since each name listed will include a ‘corruption index.’

The Report/List stems from the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, passed last summer with overwhelming Congressional support. It expanded previous sanctions leveled by the Obama Administration, including secondary companies and Kremlin-connected insiders and business leaders, Putin’s inner circle or best friends in crime.

According to one Erich Ferrari, founder of Ferrari and Associate in DC and who has helped individuals removed from the designation list, The Report will result in public shaming. Oh, Boo Frigging Hoo. Mr Ferrari went on to say:

“It’s a step below a sanction because it doesn’t actually block any assets, but has the same optics as sanctions -- you’re on a list of people who are engaged in doing bad things.”

One would think the remedy for all this angst of lost financial and personal cred would be:

Don’t do bad things.

Maybe we could ask The Trumpster for his opinion. Then again, maybe not.

Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle raised alarms after the Administration failed to meet the October 2017 deadline—designation of potential targets for additional sanctions—and came into compliance only after Senator Corker, Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, urged the WH to follow through. I suspect that “urging’ was more like lighting a bonfire or threatening to bring back the adult daycare meme.

One could conclude that in all things Russian, The Donald tends to . . . drag his feet.

Nevertheless, the upcoming January report will be in addition to the 49 individuals designated December 20th by the Treasury’s Office for Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) under the Magnitsky Act. The initial list targeted “gross violators of human rights in Russia as well as those responsible for fraud, extrajudicial killings, torture and other despicable acts.”

What a splendid group of people!

Despite the cries of Nothingburgers or Witch Hunt shrieks or suggestions that Hillary Clinton is two steps from Federal prison, etc., the wheels of our institutions are slowly, inexorably grinding forward. No amount of projection or temper-tweeting or Alex Jones’ conspiracy theories will halt that. Politco’s recent release of 270 individuals tied to the Trump/Russia investigation is a sign that the MSM is finally getting a clue. This is no small thing.

Interesting to note is the increasing, even frenzied outcry within certain Republican circles about the Russia probe. If you didn’t know better, you’d think they were sitting on the hot seat along with Putin’s whiny oligarchs.

A true mystery of the Universe. Or maybe something called Karma.


https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-01-12/russia-s-oligarchs-brace-for-u-s-report-listing-putin-friends

See US Treasury Press release here:

https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm0240

and Politico's graphic:

https://www.politico.com/interactives/2018/trump-russia-investigation-ties/

Found this last night after a 'The Eagles Won!!!!!' text storm from family and friends. It's a good, basic rundown of the people involved with the ongoing investigation and should shutdown the nothingburger response from any Trumpster. One might even say this is . . . YUGE.

https://www.politico.com/interactives/2018/trump-russia-investigation-ties/

Three Days after the Hawaii false alarm of an impending missile strike, Japan sends out a false alarm of their own.

WTF?


https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/01/16/578283950/japan-also-sends-out-then-retracts-a-false-missile-warning

According to Glenn Greenwald this is absolutely the case because:

“ . . . Democrats [have] so quickly decided to back a white, straight male politician steeped in privilege, while devoting themselves to opposing a candidate who would make history by becoming the first trans woman ever elected to the U.S. Senate, in the process inspiring trans youth around the world and helping to erode the stigma that has made them so vulnerable to discrimination and violence?”

They’ve decided to do this presumably because they find Cardin’s centrist ideology and politics more appealing than Manning’s more radical politics, and believe that this trumps what could be the historic value of Manning’s candidacy. They’ve apparently decided to prioritize their own centrist ideology over the important gender, sexual orientation and trans equality progress that Manning’s victory would ensure.”

Greenwald also states that Cardin’s career has been unremarkable with few accomplishments. But far worse: he’s a . . . vile centrist!

Ben Cardin’s unremarkable career can be found in his official Senate bio here:

https://www.cardin.senate.gov/about

I find his advocacy for the Chesapeake Bay Project particularly irritating. I mean who needs clean water or National parks?

And here:

"He led the fight for the Patients' Bill of Rights and, because of his efforts, the law ensures that individuals in private health insurance plans have the right to choose their primary care provider, women have direct access to an ob/gyn, and patients with medical emergencies are guaranteed coverage for necessary ER visits."

Horrific!

But just take a gander where Cardin ranks according to Govtrack:

https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/benjamin_cardin/400064

The tracking graph is based on voting history and where in the leadership pack an individual falls. Curiously, Cardin is at the top of the leadership graph. Really! The grotesque nerve of the man wheedling his way to Ranking Member of the Foreign Relations Committee, he Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works or the Committee on Finance, yada, yada.

Then, unlike some Senators I could mention, he was a primary sponsor of 18 bills that were actually enacted, as in:

S.1221 Countering Russian Influence in Europe and Eurasia Act of 2017
S.284 Global Magnitsky Human Rights Acountability Act
S.599 Improving Access to Emergency Psychiatric Care

A glance at the graph indicates that Cardin’s overall voting history puts him in the same category as Leahy, Wyden and Booker. Should we primary these senators as well? How about Kaine, Coons or Duckworth because these members are to the right of Cardin?

His voting record has afforded him a 100% by the Human Rights Campaign, 100% by the Planned Parenthood Action Fund and 92% by the League of Conservation Voters.

He must be stopped!!

This is why I rarely pull up Greenwald’s columns anymore.

Btw, when I mused about who exactly was backing/advocating Ms Manning’s primary bid?

I think I found my answer.


https://theintercept.com/2018/01/15/centrist-dems-launch-smear-campaign-against-young-trans-woman-all-to-keep-an-old-straight-white-man-in-power/

Anyone who attended last year’s Women’s March in DC or the satellite marches across the country and world, recall the endless ocean of pink hats. An awesome sight. I was at the March 2017 protest in DC and it was . . . emotional, thrilling.

However, the controversy over the Pussyhat Project designed and promoted by Krista Suh and Jayna Zweiman started well before the 2017 March. Some feminists believed the whole idea was vulgar, symbolizing women by a single body part, their genitalia. Others believed that women were taking back the word 'pussy' after the Trumpster had demeaned its meaning in the crassest sense. Grab ‘em by the pussy became a rallying cry. Millions of women donned the pink-eared caps as a symbol of unity on women’s issues and human rights.

That did not stop the controversy.

The current line of attack is based on accusations of TERF, Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminism. Because, as I’ve read online recently, “not all women have a vagina and not everyone who has a vagina is a woman. Or so the argument goes.

I don’t buy into this line of thinking because this was a Women’s March, by and for women but a March that was open to anyone and everyone protesting the installation of the Trumpster in the WH. What I saw on the faces of marchers of all ages, colors, shapes and sizes was determination and joy.

The protestors have been proven right x1000 since the original March on DC. We all see and know what The Trump is: unfit for Office. If anything, we know more now than we did then. And it’s far worse than many imagined.

The second line of argument is presumably from women of color. It’s been claimed in several articles that the pink color of the hats exclude women of different races.

Really?

We all wear pink ribbons for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I don’t recall anyone objecting to that, even though men can, in fact, be diagnosed with breast cancer and breasts come in many skin tones. For all the hoopla, the color pink is feminine in nature. The color of the hat IMHO doesn’t read: white women’s genitalia. Because trust me as a white woman: if I turned hot pink in the nether regions, I’d run to the doctor. Rather the color reads:

Sisters United. A Force to be Reckoned With. We Will Not Stand Down.

So, how do these stories of division and controversy start? The first article I read this year was written by an Emily Zanotti at the Daily Wire, a conservative outlet led by no other than Ben Shapiro, former editor of Breitbart. Then it was picked up by the Detroit Free Press. Now, the Daily Mail and Washington Times have run the same article with few changes. Out of the four publications only the Detroit Free Press is considered Left-of-Center.

So why would the conservative press want to fan the flames of division with the Second Women’s March approaching on 20 January?

Because the original Women’s March was enormously successful. The event inspired more people to show-up, march and protest than attended the Trumspter’s fraudulent inauguration. I was there; I saw The Donald's poor showing.

As for the pussyhats?

I remember standing inside the Maryland House off Rt 95, waiting to purchase water on my way back to Philly. A large group of women entered the rest stop, all donning their hats. A spontaneous round of applause started then grew into a thundering roar. People stamped their feet. Fists punched the air. Electric!

That’s the excitement we generated. That’s what the GOP's right-right wing is afraid of, again.

Fortunately, not everyone is taking the conservative cue on pussyhat donning. See here:

https://www.amny.com/news/pussyhat-knitty-city-1.16068536

And the Pussyhat Project? Glad to say, it’s alive and well.

https://www.pussyhatproject.com

Another blast on January 20th, people!