Category: Senate

2020, National Security, Senate, Trump January 22, 2020January 22, 2020

1am White House Counsel Meltdown | John Bolton Matters

Washington (GGM) Analysis | January 22, 2020
by Noreen Wise

In the wee hours of the morning, between midnight and 1:00 AM Wednesday January 22, 2020, the GOP suffered a significant unforced error.

Technically the error wasn’t unforced, but rather a knee-jerk response to Jerry Nadler’s exceptional presentation of irrefutable facts that were impossible to dispute. Nadler’s skillful ability to outline what appears to be Bolton’s critical knowledge, followed by the questions that only Bolton would be able to answer, left viewers feeling very confident that GOP Senators would be forced to agree to Bolton being subpoenaed, for how could they not? What could Cipollone and Sekulow possibly say in response to Nadler?

White House Counsel Pat Cipollone, then appeared at the mic. His obvious anger at being cornered, resulted in what could only be described as “deranged.” Cipollone demanded that Nadler apologize for what he said, and for his “lies.” His tone was that of alarm. This created cognitive dissonance for viewers, who were aware of the facts, and had followed the House Impeachment Hearings.

Jay Sekulow jumped up and took the mic. Perhaps it was one too many Red Bulls, or the late hour after a marathon day of conflicted debates, but whatever it was, Sekulow’s guard was down. He sounded shrill and panicked over Nadler’s compelling facts, and the significance of Bolton in the impeachment trial outcome.

It suddenly became abundantly clear that what McConnell never anticipated, was that the 12 hour day might create human vulnerabilities that no one can predict. Very scientific human vulnerabilities, such as the impact sleep deprivation has on our response to stress. Whatever it was, the outcome was significant and blatant.

Nadler’s focus on Bolton, during which he outlined impactful facts and questions, caused a major stress reaction in the White House counsel. Nadler seemed startled by the unexpected commotion.

John Roberts stepped in to admonish both sides, reminding everyone about where they were.

The takeaway? John Bolton matters. John Bolton’s testimony is absolutely critical and appears to be the very evidence that will hang Donald Trump, and result in his removal from office.

John Bolton must be protected until he can testify.

DOJ, Mueller, Russia, Senate May 1, 2019May 2, 2019

Wait, How About Trump Collusion with Russian Oligarchs?

Washington (Gallant Gold Media Hill Report | Opinion | May 1, 2019) – Attorney General William Barr’s Hearing in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee today, presented himself as uninformed, out of touch and severely biased. It was a very sad day for American justice.

The Mueller Report. The scope of Robert Mueller’s Investigation was as follows:

“Russian government’s efforts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election”
“any links and/or coordination between the Russian government and individuals associated with the campaign of President Donald Trump; and
“any matters that arose or may arise directly from investigation; and
“any other matters within the scope of 28 C.F.R. 600.4(a)“

Russian interference was extensive and pervasive. The staggering number of details in Mueller’s report have so much meat, that by the end readers can easily conclude that Trump is an illegitimate president. Further, Trump has acted like he knows he’s an illegitimate president ever since his inauguration.

Links and/or coordination with Russian government. It seems that the operative word here is Russian “government.” What definition did Mueller and his team use when investigating the Russian government? The assumption is that Mueller’s Team went by the official definition of the Russian government:

Prime Minister
Deputy prime ministers
Federal ministers

The list of government officials is very straight forward. These are highly visible politicians. I can understand why Mueller didn’t find any evidence connecting Trump and his campaign to conspiring with Russian government officials. But did Mueller find evidence connecting Trump and his campaign to oligarchs, business professionals, and influential Russian citizens? It’s highly probable Mueller did. Was Mueller able to investigate these connections, or was it considered out of scope? Were these lower level Russians associated in anyway to the Russian government? So many questions still unanswered. If Mueller’s Report is narrow in scope, only addressing what Rosenstein stated in his original order, then Mueller’s summary makes sense, and seemingly Trump will be blindsided On November 3, 2020 when he leaves office.

But this troublesome void of not knowing whether or not Mueller’s summary was based solely on Trump and his campaign’s conspiring with Russian politicians, versus oligarchs and business professionals and other Russians, leaves many in the public feeling unsettled. Hopefully we’ll learn the answer to this sooner rather than later.

Legislative Branch, Mueller, Senate April 25, 2019April 25, 2019

Silent GOP Senators Are the Force That Enables Trump’s Obstruction of Justice

Washington (Gallant Gold Media Hill Report | Opinion | April 25, 2019) – Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s silence is deafening. It appears that McConnell didn’t even read the Mueller Report. Or Lindsey Graham for that matter. The GOP game-altering “silence is complicity” perspective in 2018, led to the blue tsunami sweep on November 6, 2018. The Senate overhaul will be next.

Twenty-one months of GOP silence now has Trump by the throat. It’s the very reason why Mueller’s obstruction investigation uncovered so much evidence. The very reason why Mueller can’t exonerate Trump. If McConnell and the GOP Senators had followed-through with their sworn oath to the Constitution, Trump wouldn’t be able to obstruct. It’s become a Catch-22. Mitch McConnell and GOP Senators are enablers of Trump’s obstruction of justice, allowing him free reign to obstruct. Are GOP leaders now part of Trump’s criminal enterprise, or has their long game always been Trump’s demise? McConnell’s silence will eventually lead to Trump’s destruction, as well as his own. The ultimate goal in 2020 is to flip the Senate and the White House. McConnell’s pro-Putin, anti-American Constitution obstructionism will finally become the nail in his coffin.

McConnell has only made one official statement since the release of the Mueller report and it is completely unapologetic of any of Trump’s ludicrous attempts to subvert the United States legal system.

“I’m grateful for the Attorney General’s diligent work to release as much of the Special Counsel’d report as possible to Congress and to the American people. The nation is fortunate to have an experienced leader like Bill Barr in place to ensure maximum possible transparency while carefully protecting classified material and legally restricted grand jury information. Like all of my colleagues, I look forward to carefully reviewing the report.” ~Mitch McConnell, April 18, 2019

Lindsey Graham, Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, is in a state of denial. The statements in his tweet read like lies, except that he does clarify that they’re IMO (“To me”). But is it appropriate for the Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee to spin the Mueller Report in this way, or does he feel justified in doing so because he’s simply following Barr’s lead? Isn’t Graham obligated to adhere to professional standards in this leadership position?

Sad. The gagged Senate GOP has become the springboard that will lead to Trump’s “day with destiny” (Neal Katyal) much sooner than otherwise.

Legislative Branch, National Security, Russia, Senate, Trump January 16, 2019January 16, 2019

Impeachment is Easier Than It Seems

“A likely impossibility is always preferable to an unconvincing possibility.” ~Aristotle

The world has been traumatized by Trump’s delusion, and McConnell’s support of Trump’s delusion, for two painfully slow, long years. This feeling of continuous cognitive dissonance while we’re forced to endure these two self-serving cowards as they pretend to lead our massive nation, in the midst of defrauding us, ignites that effervescent American spirit that fills us with motivation, and the “can do” determination, on these toughest, darkest days.

Trump and McConnell appear to have a quid pro quo relationship. Kentucky is the largest coal producing state in the country. Trump has gone all in on promoting coal, and passing legislation that benefits coal producers while harming the health and well-being of millions of Americans. In return, McConnell has pledged his loyalty to trump in equal measure.

This is corruption. And this is why we have a twisted stalemate during this government shutdown that’s been a traumatic event for 800,000+ Americans.

According to The Hill today (Tuesday January 15, 2019), McConnell boldly blocked a “House bill to reopen government for second time.” Additionally, The Hill published the scoop that McConnell vowed “the senate won’t override Trump veto on shutdown fight.”

Which brings us to an historic crossroad. We’re forced to make a choice.

Unconvincing possibility? | McConnell and or Trump doing the right thing… proceeding forward with ending the shutdown because it’s what’s best for America.
Likely impossibility? | Expel McConnell so that we can impeach Trump which will end the shutdown. Perhaps Amazon and Apple and several states could front a loan to pay the 800,000 furloughed federal employees until this is over.

If Aristotle advises that it’s best to go with the “likely impossibility,” well then… let’s just do it. What do we have to lose? Absolutely nothing. The only way we can lose is by doing nothing, or by caving and letting a malicious bully weaken our resolve.

Impeachment is much easier than it appears. Just 3 steps:

(1) House of Representatives debate the Articles of Impeachment against Trump and vote. They need a simple majority.

(2) Expel Mitch McConnell from the Senate. Senators must have 67 votes to succeed at this. McConnell has a super majority opposed to him right now, so this shouldn’t require much persuasion. Fourteen Senators have been expelled from the Senate since the U.S. Constitution was ratified.

(3) Once McConnell is expelled, the Senate will hold an Impeachment Trial:

House Judiciary Committee, chaired by Representative Jerry Nadler, acts as prosecutor and submits evidence
Trump’s lawyers submit his defense
Chief Justice John Roberts presides as judge and rules on whether the evidence is admissible
The Senate acts as the jury, 67 need to say “Aye” to impeach

It seems a very likely impossibility that we can succeed at this if we move swiftly to expel McConnell as soon as possible.

Climate Change, Environment, Legislative Branch, Mitch McConnell, Senate December 22, 2018July 11, 2019

McConnell Most Responsible for Climate Change

Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell was first elected to the United States Senate in 1984. After serving five terms, he was re-elected to a sixth in 2014. He steadily rose the ranks to various leadership positions:

National Republican Senatorial Committee | 1998 – 2000
Majority Whip | 2003 – 2005, 108th Congress
Minority Leader | 2006 – 2014
Majority Leader | 2014 – present

The global temperature in 1984, when McConnell was first elected, was 14.10 Celsius / 57.38 Fahrenheit. During the thirty-four years since then, the global temperature has risen to approximately 14.8 Celsius / 58.64 Fahrenheit, more than half of one full degree. Numerous urgent international global warming warnings have spanned the past three plus decades; McConnell was present for every single one of these. In his leadership capacity, McConnell had the unmistakable, repeated opportunity to rally support and Legislative action to curb the rise in global temperature, but he chose to shun responsibility, bury his head in the sand and aggressively promote the fossil fuel industry. His campaigns have received a stunning $2,151,444 from Oil & Gas industries.

Timeline of Global Warming Warnings During McConnell’s Tenure in the Senate:

1985 – Villach Conference | Consensus amongst experts, global warming inevitable, calls on governments to “consider international agreements to take action to restrict emissions”
1987 – Montreal Protocol of the Vienna Convention | “imposes international restrictions on emissions of ozone-destroying gases”
1988 – Toronto Conference | “calls for strict, specific limits on greenhouse gas emissions; UK Prime Minister Thatcher is first major leader to call for action”
1989 – Global Climate Coalition established | created by “fossil-fuel and other U.S. industries to tell politicians and the public that climate science is too uncertain to justify action”
1990 – First IPCC Report | “world has been warming and future warming is likely”
1992 – Rio de Janeiro Conference | “produces UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, but U.S. blocks calls for serious action”
1995 – Second IPCC Report | “detects ‘signature’ of human-caused greenhouse effect warming”
1997 – Kyoto Protocol | “setting targets for industrialized nations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (rejected by U.S. senate in advance)”
2000 – Global Climate Coalition dissolves | “as many corporations grapple with threat of warming, but Oil lobby convinces U.S. administration to deny problem”
2001 – Third IPCC Report | “global warming, unprecedented since the end of the last ice age, is ‘very likely,’ with highly damaging future impacts”
2004 – “First major books, movie, and art work featuring global warming appear”
2005 – Kyoto Treaty | “signed by major industrial nations except U.S.”
2006 – “An Inconvenient Truth” documentary | “persuades many but sharpens polarization”
2007 – Fourth IPCC Report | “warns that serious effects of warming have become evident”
2009 – Copenhagen Conference | “fails to negotiate binding agreements,” hopes fade of “avoiding dangerous future climate change”
2015 – Paris Agreement | 196 nations/state parties “pledge to set targets for their own greenhouse gas dust and to report their progress” | McConnell sends letter “urging states not to comply with EPA’s Clean Power Plan”
2017 – McConnell succeeds at urging Trump to pull United States out of Paris Agreement
2018 – Katowice Climate Change Conference COP24 | “leaders reach deal bolstering Paris Agreement,” but not United States, “U.S. held event promoting fossil fuels“

In a stunning rebuke of the 800 million people across the globe who are impacted by global warming, McConnell has consistently corralled his senate colleagues, and now the current president, to maintain staunch opposition to the science behind the global warming warnings. Despite the scientific facts, and the yearly physical proof that climate change is a reality, McConnel persists at denying the research and guidance of experts, and plows forward with legislating in conflict with the damaging impact of climate change reality.

Unfortunately, McConnell’s thirty-four years representing Kentucky in DC have not proven to be a career of public service, but rather of self-service. Hundreds of thousands of lives have been lost, and many millions are at stake.

Children, Senate December 19, 2018December 21, 2018

Senators Fight to Protect Children

WASHINGTON (December 19, 2018) – Today, Senator Ed J. Markey (D-MA) announced that he and fellow Senators on the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee – Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Tom Udall (D–NM) – have written a letter urging the Federal Trade Commission to initiate an investigation into the Google Play store.

In a pointed communication of concern addressed to FTC Chairman Simons, along with four key Commissioners – Chopra, Wilson, Phillips and Slaughter – the Senators outlined their key areas of grievance:

The apps for many of the toys featured in the Google Play Family section do not comply with the Children’s Online Protection Privacy Act (COPPA)
For example, apps created for toys such as Elmo and Furby share “user information in an insecure manner” as well as “share persistent identifiers with third parties in an unencrypted form”
Additionally, many contain advertisements not appropriate for children such as gambling, alcohol, and video games for adults, as well as ads that could frighten children or “result in harm if imitated by children”

The Senators make it very clear that the FTC is obligated to investigate such matters of noncompliance, and that there’s no excuse for failing to protect children and families.

Lastly, the three Senators note that they sent a previous letter to the FTC about the COPPA standards and requirements back on October 3, 2018 and appear to be very annoyed that their previous requests on these dire children safety and security matters are going unheeded. They ended their letter by urging an immediate investigation and requesting a response no later than January 8, 2019.