Progressives (Liberals)

It’s important to remember the context in which all of this is unfolding. This week, we’ve learned that the extent to which the president has politicized the Department of Justice may be a lot worse than any of us feared. And then on the heels of that discovery he tweets out this extortionate demand that New York drop its lawsuits against him.

He made the link to this outrageous Global Entry decision that the government made with regard to New York. He was careful not to say the exact phrase, ‘as a quid pro quo, give me this relief from your lawsuits and I will give you relief from my administration’s Global Entry decision,’ but this is the issue we confronted during the impeachment hearing. The criminals never say, ‘This is a quid pro quo.’ They link things and then try to steer your behavior with the linkage, and either give or withhold something in exchange for it.

It’s important to remember that the president is exempt from a lot of criminal conflict of interest statutes, but he’s not exempt from 18 U.S. Code §201 — linking an official action to a thing of value given by another party. So telling them to drop lawsuits against him personally is a thing of value, and making a decision on the Global Entry would be an official act.

...There was a really instructive interview that [MSNBC host] Nicole Wallace did with Robert Costa of the Washington Post yesterday in which he explained to her that [Trump’s] closest advisers are telling people like Costa that Trump now feels the rule of law is done, and he can do whatever he wants because the Senate will back him. (see interview at link)

...They are in a straight line pointing from democracy to authoritarianism. This is a president declaring himself above the law, without regard for laws like the anti-bribery statute in one case, or the traditions of the country in a non-politicized justice system. I see them as exactly the same, because it is now a full-court press to push the boundaries in all directions.

If you envision it, it’s not that he’s focused on one issue and pushing it in one direction. It’s like a balloon expanding. And so the outer edges of the expanding balloon are going to touch on different issues, but they are consistent in being part of the expanding of executive power beyond the bounds of anything democracy can tolerate.

LAURA INGRAHAM (HOST): All right, John, the media sees this sexy story of Trump versus Barr but, they missed the fact that Barr was basically telling Trump, 'don't worry, I got this.'

I totally disagree with your take on who is the enemy of whom. Many centrists have treated Bernie and his followers as the enemy. Now they're coming to regret it.

On Sanders'role as visionary vs. leader, if elected it's quite possible (given his age) that like Moses he will lead his people out of Pharaoh's rule and into the wilderness of change, but die before reaching the promised land.

In other words, Bernie could well win this election, do the good campaigning/organizing work needed to change the face of congress, start to win some state's assemblies and congressional seats, and then die before he can see any of his programmes implemented...

That would be sad in a personal way, but irrelevant politically. The important
thing is to gird up your loins and start the journey.

For border wall, Trump raids billions from Pentagon budget (again)
As far as Trump is concerned, the Pentagon has so much extra money lying around, he can raid its budget without consequence.

On the deficit, VP Mike Pence gives away the game
The same Republicans who said deficits hinder economic growth now believe deficits can help fuel economic growth. Imagine that.

TheBeat w/Ari Melber
@TheBeatWithAri
WATCH: Former Deputy AG Donald Ayer tells @AriMelber he "doesn't think [Barr] is fit for the office" of Attorney General as he has taken on "a campaign to undermine the Department of Justice."https://bit.ly/2SGd3bn

Bernie will nip that shite in the bud.

AIPAC is far too powerful in the US.

Bernie will nip that shite in the bud.

Robert Reich
@RBReich
Just a casual reminder that Mike Bloomberg spent over $300 million on campaign ads in January alone.

That’s more than Hillary Clinton spent on advertising during her entire presidential run.

Second worst possibility: Bloomberg wins nomination and presidency.