Weekend Reading

'Here we go again': Rand Paul clashes with Fauci (for the 4th time)

You misrepresented someone's argument to make it easier to attack.

When the Top U.S. Tax Rate was 70 Percent—or Higher

Both Fox News and Russian state media are trying to get Biden to debate Putin

Republicans have perfected the troll two-step: The art of being a jerk and then playing the victim

Sheldon Whitehouse Is Following the Money Around Brett Kavanaugh

Biden’s Planned Tax Hike to Hit People Earning Over $400,000 Hardest

Wisconsin Republicans authorize Assembly investigation of elections administration

The Future of Conservatism?

America’s Richest 1% Dodge Taxes On More Than A Fifth Of Their Income, Study Finds

America Is Now in the Hands of the Vaccine-Hesitant

US sinks to new low in rankings of world's democracies

Please Stop Asking Trump & His Enablers Anything

Why is anyone asking this crook anything?

AG Barr calls coronavirus restrictions 'draconian,' says they should be reevaluated next month

That asshole should have been disbarred long ago. And, who gives a shit about what he thinks...about anything.

Barr, stick to licking Trump's ass. Otherwise, shut the fuck up!

For Further Reading:

William Barr lied to Congress about the Mueller report

William Barr Told All the Right Lies About the Mueller Report

Stark Contrasts Between the Mueller Report and Attorney General Barr’s Summary

Pelosi says Barr committed a crime by lying about Mueller report

A Federal Judge Just Called Out William Barr for Distorting the Mueller Report’s Findings

Judge Calls Barr’s Handling of Mueller Report ‘Distorted’ and ‘Misleading’

Attorney General William Barr doesn’t mind lying for Trump but he’s really awful at it

William Barr is a bad lawyer and a bad liar

William Barr’s War on Reality, Truth, and the Law

Trump Supporters Don't Care...About Anything

Also:

A Complete Psychological Analysis of Trump's Support

More Blatant Republican Hypocrisy

Geraldo And Kilmeade In Brawl Over Soleimani Assassination

One person astutely commented:

Forgot the Geraldo part of this clip what stands out to me is Fox News “NOW” believes and trust USA intelligence Community enough to assassinate a leader BUT when it comes to Russian interference in the elections they pull out the deep state card?!!!!!

For Further Reading:
Donald Trump’s assassination of Qassem Suleimani will come back to haunt him

So…Are We Going to War With Iran Now?

‘Dangerous escalation’ and ‘severe revenge’: The world responds to the US killing of Iran’s top general
‘Fox & Friends’ Host Ainsley Earhardt Simply Can’t Believe People Would Question the Intel Community
Mike Pence Demonstrates Vividly Just How Much Contempt He Holds For The American Public

Traitors Among Us

[source]

"If"?

So I'm following along with the impeachment hearings and all the coverage surrounding it.

From this article, CNN’s Michael Smerconish: Fiona Hill might have given House Democrats everything they need on John Bolton’s views, the following quote jumped out at me:

Many proponents of impeaching President Donald Trump have been asserting that if House Democrats can get former National Security Adviser John Bolton to testify, it would be a major victory.

"If" they can get Bolton to testify?

When someone is subpoenaed, you can now choose whether or not to show up?

What kind of banana republic circus is going on here? 

Here's FindLaw's definition of subpoena:

A subpoena (pronounced "suh-pee-nuh") is a request for the production of documents, or a request to appear in court or other legal proceeding. It is court-ordered command that essentially requires you to do something, such as testify or present information that may help support the facts that are at issue in a pending case. The term "subpoena" literally means "under penalty". A person who receives a subpoena but does not comply with its terms may be subject to civil or criminal penalties, such as fines, jail time, or both.

Whether you're the President, Vice President, National Security Advisor, the Secretary of Energy, whomever you are, if you're subpoenaed, YOU HAVE TO SHOW UP.

Maybe Adam Schiff and the Democrats are just being nice, figuring they can get all they need from the people who do show up. But Republicans have shut down the government for a lot less and they tried to impeach Bill Clinton over a blow-job. So part of me would just like to get assholes like Trump, Pence and Perry in the hot seat to see them sweat and squirm. Ya know, payback's a bitch, and shit like that.

For Further Reading:
‘A complete sham’: Anger grows over report GOP senators met with Trump to map out ‘rigged’ impeachment trial

White House and Republicans discuss limiting impeachment trial to two weeks

Trump Is A Crook

And everyone making excuses for him (and/or defending him) is also a shameful, irresponsible criminal.

The Republican Agenda: Party Over Country

Trump ally Roger Stone found guilty on all 7 counts in Mueller probe

White House releases new Trump-Zelensky transcript revealing its initial call readout was all lies
'Witness Intimidation in Real-Time': Trump Tweets Attack on Yovanovitch During Public Impeachment Testimony

All of Robert Mueller’s indictments and plea deals in the Russia investigation
House Republicans in lockstep say they will not impeach Trump — despite all the evidence: ‘It does not matter’

Here are 7 remarkable moments from the morning’s impeachment testimony
Gordon Sondland’s opening testimony is the ballgame

Sondland’s testimony shows Mike Pompeo was far more central on Ukraine than we knew
The looney CrowdStrike conspiracy claims debunked by Fiona Hill during her bombshell impeachment testimony

‘This is a fictional narrative’: Dr. Fiona Hill delivers damning slam against Nunes’ lie Ukraine attacked US election

Fox News legal analyst knocks down Fox & Friends’ anti-impeachment talking points one by one
Mike Pence All Of A Sudden Can't Recall If He Talked With Sondland About Ukraine Aid Being Withheld

Lt. Col. Vindman Demands Fox News Retract Its Espionage Smears

Uh Oh GOP, David Holmes's Testimony Has 'Pizzazz'!

Ron Johnson Is An Idiot

Things You Don't Say When You're Innocent

On May 17, 2017, then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions personally broke the news to Trump that Sessions’ deputy, Rod Rosenstein, had appointed a special counsel to take over the investigation into Russian interference in the election and possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. According to notes from Sessions’ then-chief of staff, Jody Hunt, Trump slumped in his chair and said, “Oh my God. This is terrible. This is the end of my Presidency. I’m fucked.” [source]

Facebook: Where Thinking Went To Die

The Kremlin Konnection

Extra Sauce And Two Scoops Of Ice Cream

Report Of Trump Associates' Possible Collusion With Russia

Statement by California Representative Ted Lieu on report of Trump associates' possible collusion with Russia:

The bombshell revelation that U.S. officials have information that suggests Trump associates may have colluded with the Russians means we must pause the entire Trump agenda. We may have an illegitimate President of the United States currently occupying the White House.

Other than allowing routine governmental functions, there must be a total and complete shutdown of any agenda item being pushed by the Trump Administration. Congress cannot continue regular order and must stop voting on any Trump-backed agenda item until the FBI completes its Trump-Russia collusion investigation. 

Congress must immediately form an independent commission and appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the collusion allegations with impartiality and independence. Congress also needs to pass the Resolution of Inquiry, authored by Rep. Hakeem Jeffries and I, to compel the Trump Administration to publicly disclose information on its Russian ties to the American people. At this point in our nation's history, there is nothing more important than finding out whether or not high crimes were committed by associates of Donald Trump or possibly by Trump himself.  [source]

For Further Reading:
Did Putin Direct Russian Hacking? And Other Big Questions