https://www.politico.com/news/2020/01/06/john-bolton-willing-to-testify-in-trumps-impeachment-trial-094757
John Bolton willing to testify in Trump's impeachment trial
More: https://politicalwire.com/2020/01/06/boltons-testimony-would-be-damning-to-trump/
“Former White House officials and people close to Mr. Bolton have indicated that his testimony would likely be damning to Mr. Trump and put additional pressure on moderate Republicans to consider convicting him.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/06/us/politics/bolton-testimony-impeachment.html
What John Bolton Could Tell Us
https://www.thedailybeast.com/john-bolton-impeachment-testimony-bombshell-flummoxes-senate-gop
Bolton Impeachment Testimony Bombshell Flummoxes Senate GOP
[NB: Will the House subpoena him, if the Senate won't?]
Nancy!
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2020/1/6/1909783/-Pelosi-seizes-on-Bolton-agreement-to-testify-Trump-and-McConnell-have-run-out-of-excuses
Pelosi seizes on Bolton agreement to testify: Trump and McConnell have 'run out of excuses'
The official story line on how and why the decision was made to kill Soleimani doesn't pass the smell test. So what was the REAL reason?
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/the-official-trump-line-soleimani-strike-starts-unravel
Right off the bat, it’s worth pausing to acknowledge an obvious truth: if the intelligence pointed to an “imminent” attack that could only be prevented by an airstrike targeting Soleimani, effectively leaving Trump with no other credible options, then top Pentagon officials wouldn’t have been “stunned” by the president’s decision. Indeed, they also wouldn’t have presented Trump with such a radical move under the assumption that he wouldn’t be so reckless as to actually choose it. The same Times report added that there were “disputes” within the administration about the “significance” of the intelligence. The same article added that some officials “voiced private skepticism about the rationale” behind the strike, with one describing the U.S. intelligence as “thin.” A separate New York Times report cited a Defense Department official who said there was “nothing new in the threat presented by the Iranian general.” To be sure, Team Trump’s absence of credibility, coupled with the political context, made it difficult to take seriously the White House’s line about an imminent attack, necessitating an immediate assault. But the reporting brings the problem into sharper focus: Team Trump’s official story about one of the president’s most dangerous decisions doesn’t appear to be true. All of which leads to an important follow-up question: if the airstrike wasn’t needed to prevent an imminent attack, why exactly did the president green-light such a radical offensive? . . . [read on]
Here's a clue: https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-boasts-of-soleimani-killing-in-2020-campaign-email
Trump Boasts of Soleimani Killing in 2020 Campaign Email
There was no "imminent threat"
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/imminent-threat-pompeo-soleimani-strike
One take
https://crooksandliars.com/2020/01/trump-administration-woefully-unprepared
"So many of Trump's top advisors on Iran are military vets who served multiple tours of duty in our wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere. They believe to their core that Iran is the reason why they lost those wars, and they're dead set on payback - no matter what it takes. . . They've been pushing to kill Soleimani for years, and they finally baited Trump into it. They think war with Iran is long overdue, so for them, this was a means to an end. When Iran responds, they'll tell Trump to hit the Iranians harder. You see where this could go."
More: https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/01/trump-team-iran-crisis-pompeo-esper.html
The People Around Trump Are Totally Unqualified to Stop the Iran Crisis
No, you can't inform Congress of war plans BY TWEET
https://www.vox.com/2020/1/6/21051550/trump-iran-tweets-soleimani-war-powers-act
Trump Boasts of Soleimani Killing in 2020 Campaign Email
There was no "imminent threat"
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/imminent-threat-pompeo-soleimani-strike
One take
https://crooksandliars.com/2020/01/trump-administration-woefully-unprepared
"So many of Trump's top advisors on Iran are military vets who served multiple tours of duty in our wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere. They believe to their core that Iran is the reason why they lost those wars, and they're dead set on payback - no matter what it takes. . . They've been pushing to kill Soleimani for years, and they finally baited Trump into it. They think war with Iran is long overdue, so for them, this was a means to an end. When Iran responds, they'll tell Trump to hit the Iranians harder. You see where this could go."
More: https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/01/trump-team-iran-crisis-pompeo-esper.html
The People Around Trump Are Totally Unqualified to Stop the Iran Crisis
No, you can't inform Congress of war plans BY TWEET
https://www.vox.com/2020/1/6/21051550/trump-iran-tweets-soleimani-war-powers-act
What are the cultural sites that Trump wants to attack in Iran, even though it is against international law to do so?
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2020/1/6/21047720/trump-iran-war-cultural-sites
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2020/1/6/21047720/trump-iran-war-cultural-sites
https://www.thedailybeast.com/here-are-the-biblical-wonders-trump-just-threatened-to-bomb-in-iran
Later: https://politicalwire.com/2020/01/06/pentagon-rules-out-striking-iranian-cultural-sites/
“Defense Secretary Mark Esper sought to douse an international outcry on Monday by ruling out military attacks on cultural sites in Iran if the conflict with Tehran escalates further, despite President Trump’s threat to destroy some of the country’s treasured icons . . . Mr. Esper acknowledged that striking cultural sites with no military value would be a war crime, putting him at odds with the president, who insisted such places would be legitimate targets.”
Iran threatens to attack Trump properties. Now THAT will get his attention
https://politicalwire.com/2020/01/06/iran-officials-hint-at-attacks-on-trump-properties/
More: https://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2020/01/trump-properties-in-crosshairs.html
I've been saying since at least 2016 that we had a big problem with buildings all over the world being emblazoned with the president's last name and not just because they are fetid corrupt swamps. They are also perfect terrorist targets against the man who talks like a cheap thug in public and constantly begs for retaliation. [read on]
It makes your head spin
Morning: https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2020/1/6/21051467/trump-iraq-sanctions-iran-soleimani-us-troops-expel
After a weekend of issuing threats to Iran, President Donald Trump said he would impose sanctions on Iraq if it decided to expel US troops . . .
Afternoon: https://politicalwire.com/2020/01/06/u-s-pulling-troops-from-iraq/
The Pentagon sent a letter to Iraq announcing the “onward movement” of American forces after the Iraqi parliament voted to expel the troops, indicating a withdrawal has begun. . .
Later in the afternoon: https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/letter-announcing-us-troop-withdrawal-from-iraq-was-honest-mistake-pentagon-says
Within a few minutes, the Pentagon straightened itself out. The letter declaring a withdrawal was real, but it was a draft that never should have been released publicly, military leaders said. . . .
[NB: Do they have ANY idea what they are doing -- or what they want?]
People are leaving Pentagon leadership positions in droves
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2020/1/6/1909746/-Defense-Secretary-s-chief-of-staff-tenders-resignation-as-Trump-team-moves-towards-war
In other investigation news . . .
Mitch McConnell now says there might be witnesses in the Senate trial. . . later. Maybe. We'll have to wait and see
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/muckraker/collins-takes-mcconnell-line-on-impeachment-trial
Later: https://politicalwire.com/2020/01/06/pentagon-rules-out-striking-iranian-cultural-sites/
“Defense Secretary Mark Esper sought to douse an international outcry on Monday by ruling out military attacks on cultural sites in Iran if the conflict with Tehran escalates further, despite President Trump’s threat to destroy some of the country’s treasured icons . . . Mr. Esper acknowledged that striking cultural sites with no military value would be a war crime, putting him at odds with the president, who insisted such places would be legitimate targets.”
Iran threatens to attack Trump properties. Now THAT will get his attention
https://politicalwire.com/2020/01/06/iran-officials-hint-at-attacks-on-trump-properties/
More: https://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2020/01/trump-properties-in-crosshairs.html
I've been saying since at least 2016 that we had a big problem with buildings all over the world being emblazoned with the president's last name and not just because they are fetid corrupt swamps. They are also perfect terrorist targets against the man who talks like a cheap thug in public and constantly begs for retaliation. [read on]
It makes your head spin
Morning: https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2020/1/6/21051467/trump-iraq-sanctions-iran-soleimani-us-troops-expel
After a weekend of issuing threats to Iran, President Donald Trump said he would impose sanctions on Iraq if it decided to expel US troops . . .
Afternoon: https://politicalwire.com/2020/01/06/u-s-pulling-troops-from-iraq/
The Pentagon sent a letter to Iraq announcing the “onward movement” of American forces after the Iraqi parliament voted to expel the troops, indicating a withdrawal has begun. . .
Later in the afternoon: https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/letter-announcing-us-troop-withdrawal-from-iraq-was-honest-mistake-pentagon-says
Within a few minutes, the Pentagon straightened itself out. The letter declaring a withdrawal was real, but it was a draft that never should have been released publicly, military leaders said. . . .
[NB: Do they have ANY idea what they are doing -- or what they want?]
People are leaving Pentagon leadership positions in droves
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2020/1/6/1909746/-Defense-Secretary-s-chief-of-staff-tenders-resignation-as-Trump-team-moves-towards-war
In other investigation news . . .
Mitch McConnell now says there might be witnesses in the Senate trial. . . later. Maybe. We'll have to wait and see
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/muckraker/collins-takes-mcconnell-line-on-impeachment-trial
How Rudy Giuliani dodged financial disclosure requirements
https://politicalwire.com/2020/01/06/unofficial-role-allowed-giuliani-to-dodge-disclosures/
In other news . . .
Trump has a new National Security Advisor -- a crucial foreign policy position. Here's a disturbing introduction
https://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2020/01/trumps-new-sycophant-doing-his-bidding.html
Trump's new national security adviser . . . tells him what he wants to hear, never argues and . . . is Trump's new companion pony, so important that Trump wanted him by his side every moment during the decision-making process at Mar-a-lago. He's not a good influence: Rather than trying to restrain Trump from riskier decisions, O’Brien has instead enabled big swings -- like the president’s decision in October to abruptly withdraw U.S. troops from Kurdish-held territory in Syria, the military raid that killed Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and the Soleimani killing. In meetings on all three situations, O’Brien offered pros and cons, but ultimately agreed with the courses of action and didn’t dissent. . . . O’Brien’s counsel has proven to be a balm for Trump, who aides say has been cheered by their conversations on some of his gloomiest days. But some aides are concerned that the president may not be well served by O’Brien’s accommodating approach. Those concerns have been amplified as Trump has replaced other top advisers with loyalists seen as unlikely to challenge his thinking. . . [read on]
What does a relatively strong economy mean for the fall election? How should the Dems talk about it?
https://www.vox.com/2020/1/6/21046443/economy-impact-2020
Trump has a new National Security Advisor -- a crucial foreign policy position. Here's a disturbing introduction
https://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2020/01/trumps-new-sycophant-doing-his-bidding.html
Trump's new national security adviser . . . tells him what he wants to hear, never argues and . . . is Trump's new companion pony, so important that Trump wanted him by his side every moment during the decision-making process at Mar-a-lago. He's not a good influence: Rather than trying to restrain Trump from riskier decisions, O’Brien has instead enabled big swings -- like the president’s decision in October to abruptly withdraw U.S. troops from Kurdish-held territory in Syria, the military raid that killed Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and the Soleimani killing. In meetings on all three situations, O’Brien offered pros and cons, but ultimately agreed with the courses of action and didn’t dissent. . . . O’Brien’s counsel has proven to be a balm for Trump, who aides say has been cheered by their conversations on some of his gloomiest days. But some aides are concerned that the president may not be well served by O’Brien’s accommodating approach. Those concerns have been amplified as Trump has replaced other top advisers with loyalists seen as unlikely to challenge his thinking. . . [read on]
What does a relatively strong economy mean for the fall election? How should the Dems talk about it?
https://www.vox.com/2020/1/6/21046443/economy-impact-2020
The problem with the manufacturing sector
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/donald-trump-manufacturing-10-year-low_n_5e1289c6c5b6b5a713bc67e6
More: https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/how-trumps-trade-war-is-making-lobbyists-rich-and-slamming-small-businesses
Overall, Trump’s tariffs have not had the effect that the self-described “Tariff Man” promised. Companies have moved manufacturing out of China — and it has mostly gone to Vietnam, Taiwan and Mexico. Tariffs are chiefly behind a months-long decline in domestic manufacturing, Federal Reserve researchers have found. The total loss of jobs across the economy may be as high as 300,000. But constantly up-in-the-air trade agreements and the byzantine, opaque exclusion process has been a blessing for one set of players: Washington’s influence industry, including the firms of former Trump officials and allies like inauguration committee chief Brian Ballard, former White House chief of staff Reince Priebus and Trump fundraiser Marc Lampkin. . .
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/01/06/trump-2020-trade-vision-094746
Trump's 2020 trade vision: More disruption
The kind of person he is
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/don-jr-sports-crusader-rifle-lock-her-up-magazine-in-bizarre-gun-range-shot
The President’s son posed with an assault rifle that referenced the Crusades and the Hillary Clinton “lock her up!” meme on Sunday. . . .
[NB: Not very subtle, yo . . .]
GOP Rep tweets photoshopped picture of Obama
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/paul-gosar-obama-rouhani-tweet
More: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/paul-gosar-fake-obama-pic_n_5e13ac75c5b6b5a713bf380b
A Republican lawmaker wasn’t happy when he was exposed for using a fake photo to spread propaganda. . . . [read on]
Dems are worried about a protracted primary
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/01/06/democrats-post-super-tuesday-scramble-093743
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/01/06/democrats-post-super-tuesday-scramble-093743
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/01/07/democratic-primary-2020-095090
[NB: The two parties: Repubs always project confidence, regardless of the facts; Dems fret.]
Joe Biden now, especially now, has to get right with history on his vote to support the Iraq war. But he's having trouble keeping his story straight
https://politicalwire.com/2020/01/06/biden-again-falsely-claims-he-opposed-iraq-war/
Keep an eye on Elissa Slotkin (D-MI). People are talking about her as a possible VP, and if Middle East war becomes a key issue in the campaign -- as it now looks like it will -- she brings a ton of credibility on the issue
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2020/1/6/1909714/-Pelosi-announces-war-powers-resolution-as-Trump-tries-to-bypass-Congress-and-start-war-with-Iran
There is much to like about AOC, but she keeps saying dumb things
https://politicalwire.com/2020/01/06/quote-of-the-day-2439/
“In any other country, Joe Biden and I would not be in the same party.”
— Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY)
Chuck Todd said he had an epiphany about recognizing the Republican disinformation strategy. But then he kept on enabling it
https://crooksandliars.com/2020/01/chuck-todd-continues-enable-republican
Bonus item: It's the same old song
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2020/1/6/1909590/-Cartoon-That-old-familiar-melody
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