Barack Obama, who recorded Get Out the Vote calls for John Bel Edwards and helped Dems win in the LA legislature through the National Democratic Redistricting Committee.
Since Trump took office, Democrats have flipped governorships in: Kansas, Nevada, New Mexico, New Jersey, Illinois, Maine, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Kentucky. And now, held the governorship in Louisiana, where Trump won in 2016 by 20 points.
I laughed at myself just now for “fighting the good fight” at 7:30 a.m., but then I came here, saw Nerdy’s new post, and knew I was back in good company again! Good morning, TODville!
I find it disturbing when I hear the media and see tweets referring to the impeachment hearings as “boring”. I did not realize we were going through this process for the entertainment value….though I shouldn’t be surprised since it seems that many think it’s okay that agent Orange has been allowed to turn our government into a reality show.
Do we have to have information presented to us in pictures and bullet points to hold our attention? Are people ignoring the substance of the testimonies?
I’m am glad that Adam Schiff is keeping these hearings civil and not allowing it to become a circus. Otherwise, the focus would be more on the theatrics rather than what this impeachment inquiry is all about…bringing to light the MANY violations against this country and our democracy, and highlighting how this oval office occupant and his partners in crime are a threat to our national security.
On a serious note, more than one knowledgeable person has speculated that Trump's visit to #WalterReedHospital is the beginning of Donald's escape plan – claim a medical reason and #resign instead of being humiliated by the Congress branding him a criminal.#SundayMorning
Hot take: This is the first step to claim some BS health issue so he can resign with the old "…for my health and my family" schtick. Then Pence will give the "compassionate" pardon to Trump due to his "failing" health. #WalterReed#walterreedhospital
“Tucker Carlson Showcases Rising Eco-Fascist Response To Climate Change:
Last week, Senator Bernie Sanders released an immigration plan for his presidential platform,
which included a significant climate component in that it would welcome some 50,000 people displaced by climate change. In response, on Monday Tucker Carlson questioned the proposal in a way that fits comfortably with his decade-long embrace of white nationalism, asking ‘Why would a climate migrant have a right to come to my country?’ Now, to state the obvious, this is not Carlson’s country. But the question does reveal something about Carlson, which is that he considers the United States a place for white people like him, as opposed to being a nation of immigrants seeking a better life. (The indigenous people who lived here for millennia before European colonization do not appear to exist in Carlson’s conception.) As folks were quick to point out on Twitter, what followed was a clear display of eco-fascism, with Carlson invoking a sort of ‘blood and soil climate nationalism’ by complaining that welcoming immigrants (who were displaced by climate change, a problem for which the US is
by far the greatest historic contributor) would be ‘crowding the country’.”
(ClimateDenierRoundup)
(https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2019/11/16/1898473/-Spotlight-on-green-news-amp-views-Tucker-Carlson-and-eco-fascism-100s-of-koalas-perish-in-fires)
Insect decimation…
“In the continental US that I have visited recently, the signs of a 95% drop in the population of flying insects is something that apparently has not attracted attention or interest.
The first real job I had after Viet-Nam was in technical field service….In some weeks I might put in a mileage chit for over 1,000 miles. Stopping to refuel also meant scraping the insects off the windshield while the gasoline was flowing…If anybody had told me back then that you could drive from Seattle to Dallas in late June and only hit four or five bugs, I would have asked which alternate universe their planet was in.” (Sherbardigan, daily kos)
—anyone else remember stopping to clean the windscreen on the highway due to thousands of insects?
Congrats, Jacqueline, and also to Gov. John Bel Edwards for holding on. I am still on the fence about whom to support in the D primary, but I volunteered to be a worker bee at a private fundraiser for VP Biden yesterday. At the end, he invited the volunteers to come upstairs to take a photo with him. I had a chance to tell him I was an OFA Chapter lead while he was in the White House with President Obama and that my daughter’s best friend since kindergarten, Ariana, works for him at the Penn-Biden Foundation. He held my hand and we had a nice moment. His speech to the 100 donors was a bit rambling but full of important points about foreign policy, climate change, and other critical topics.
I think that if Pence pardons Trump that would cover whatever he’s being impeached for and that he couldn’t be tried for the same crime twice. The federal government won’t be Trump’s biggest problem if he resigns or is impeached, the Southern District of New York is waiting in the wings to get a chance.
If Trump resigns the NY Attorney General, among others, will prosecute and convict him and neither Pence or anyone else can prevent that from happening.
Trump knows that either he stays in office or he’s going to jail, unless he dies first.
Biden is Leading the field. The picture posted is different from the Polls the CBS News released this AM.
Speaker Pelosi’s interview this AM is posted below.
PELOSI: "I have a real discomfort level of responding to what Republicans say, b/c they're in denial about what's happened in the country… I find it a waste of my time & yours to just be talking about what Republicans say… let their arguments stand b/c it's on such quicksand" pic.twitter.com/juCF8uTQnD
“Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Sunday left open the possibility that Democrats’ impeachment inquiry will continue into next year…”
Madame Speaker knows what she’s doing.
I must say…she’s 1001% that compelling.
A “great danger is that the legacy of this period will be that Mr. Trump got caught doing one bad thing rather than that he abused power across the board and wantonly violated the Constitution.” @ElizabethDrewOH is right about that. I’ve been saying it toohttps://t.co/EaAWdCSo8f
Wait a minute! Are you telling me that instead of turning the case over for quick acquittal in the Senate, House Dems might instead keep building the case until it’s ironclad, maybe even waiting until they have his tax returns and bank records?!?!? Inconceivable!!! https://t.co/SEXkJeKkru
The only people saying otherwise are the republicans, led by Sen McConnell. He brought in the idea of the Senate receiving the impeachment by Thanksgiving & of course the media repeated this as fact.
Nancy is amazing. The best part of her recent interview (above) was when she refused to speak to the innumerable quotes from the GOP that the interviewer kept bringing up. She shut it down despite the best efforts of the interviewer to keep quoting GOP talking points.
The executive order Gov.-Elect Beshear has promised in KY (while a HUGE deal) wouldn't even enfranchise all who have completed their sentence (let alone others).
Compare to red Louisiana, which has enabled thousands to vote while serving their sentence.
They are now past the $1m – Ms Stefanik’s attacks on Adam Schiff sure backfired – not forgetting that the GOP love to give women the water carrier job. The only GOP woman on the committee & they gave her the attack dog role. Women who support the GOP never learn until it is too late.
Sometimes a picture really is worth more than a thousand words. Thanks to the photographer and original poster, who deserve great credit. This is Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/tJuJoG2BT1
Olga Skabeeva, the host of Russian state television news show 60 Minutes: “When we—here in Russia—were electing Trump, we were certain that to express his gratitude, he would carry a picture of Putin in his pocket.” https://t.co/YV97CPAwmW
Interesting that Pres. Trump almost always visits his Virginia golf resort every Saturday and Sunday when he is in town – a habit dating to the very beginning of his presidency. But not yesterday or today – he did have an unscheduled visit to the doctor, however
Now the latest Iowa poll has Mayor Pete ahead and the media is having a fit, but wasn’t it afew days ago the latest Iowa poll had Sen. Warren ahead and the same media were having a fit about that. Come on media take it easy. So Mayor Pete is ahead. Doesn’t mean he will stay ahead.
So proud to present the Portrait of a Nation Prize to my good friend, @Lin_Manuel. Love this guy—with his melodies, rhymes, and nonstop energy, he’s painted as honest a portrait of our country as I’ve ever seen, lifting folks up through his work onstage and off. pic.twitter.com/Xar2Y1mcFP
Tweet from the remarkable Richard Engel:
“Massive attacks underway against the kurds in northern syria. No ceasefire. Total nonsenses there is. US military officials tell me they are ashamed, “sickened.” It’s cold now outside. What about the families, and kids, out of their homes? ”
Sarah Jones: “Trump touts his withdrawal as a success to bring our troops home, but they are not coming home. …Instead of making our military great again, Trump is crashing morale with his foreign policy that elevates dictators while spitting on freedom and justice. Donald Trump has decimated the brand of the United States.”
(https://www.politicususa.com/2019/11/17/u-s-military-are-ashamed-and-sickened-after-trumps-syria-retreat.html)
= NottheC.I.C.
Hey friends, Checking in for a couple things. We are in Charleston for a few days. Have a rockin restaurant and bar next door. Sure hope the music ends by 11:00!!!!!
Michelle Obama ROCKS and ROCKS some more. OMG, she is amazing.
Question: Did Biden Step in it tonight with his comment about marijuana? Interested in responses from y’all.
For @JoeBiden.@DrBiden, perhaps their son, Hunter, it might have been their family experience.@SymoneDSanders & other advising #VPBiden, as a fellow Roman Catholic who has never pushed his Religion & faith to others, #JoeBide is going to have to separate his Family issues from🇺🇸 https://t.co/flNRb4kPTc
Based upon the evidence, everyone classified by the current occupant of the White House as a Never Trumper is actually Pro America and heroically working to safeguard our Democracy.
So proud to present the Portrait of a Nation Prize to my good friend, @Lin_Manuel. Love this guy—with his melodies, rhymes, and nonstop energy, he’s painted as honest a portrait of our country as I’ve ever seen, lifting folks up through his work onstage and off. pic.twitter.com/Xar2Y1mcFP
"North Korea on Monday responded to a tweet by U.S. President Donald Trump that hinted at another summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, saying it has no interest in giving Trump further meetings to brag about unless it gets something substantial" https://t.co/6pu0XS4XuI
Former NIC officer specializing in Ukraine & Russia energy sector, Fiona Hill, is bringing the week home. And I can’t wait for ALL THE WORLD to hear exactly why that is (psst… maybe words like Naftogaz, RosUkrEnergo, & Firtash). Welcome to 4-dimensional chess, @realdonaldtrump. https://t.co/06ztFEKONm
FRESNO MASS SHOOTING: Police continue to search for a suspect that opened fire on a family watching football in the backyard of a home, killing at least 4 people and injuring 6 others. https://t.co/txm53DueWb
1:25 : Kanye goes to Joel Osteen's church and describes how men are forced by their home life and work then subliminally manipulated into participating in sex trafficking at strip clubs.
As DSR listeners know, @EvelynNFarkas is brilliant, wise, experienced and exactly the kind of leader we need in the U.S. Congress. If you've heard her on our pod or on @msnbc and liked what she said…now's the time to support her. Go to her website and donate now! https://t.co/R0TfqvtFQJ
New: Possible pay-to-play scheme for ambassador role in Trump administration uncovered by CBS News. San Diego Billionaire Doug Manchester was asked to donate $500,000 as his confirmation in the Senate hung in the balance. https://t.co/2IY2YurciS
San Diego billionaire Doug Manchester donated $1M to Trump's inaugural fund before he was nominated as ambassador to the Bahamas. While his nomination stalled and three days after Trump tweeted his support for him RNC Chair McDaniel sent a curious email. https://t.co/E7lVBpkG9d
Now, Manchester wrote back that he knew he couldn't donate. But see what McDaniel's wrote. She wanted Manchester to think about "putting together" half a million from "your family."
One broader, lingering question: How much was the Trump inaugural fund a vector for businessmen who sat on the sidelines of the Trump campaign to plunge money to secure appointments and favors from the President-Elect?
But the reason why Machester's nomination tanked? He copied Jim Risch and Rand Paul on his reply to McDaniel's. Risch knew it was wrong and alerted the White House. Someone smart at the WH (wonder who?) then asked Manchester to withdraw. What a mess.
The thread. Seriously, what a shit show. They have done nothing for Americans, but boy damn! they sure do want to have their connections and line THEIR pockets!
🐶 That sweetie is is like: Who dis? I’m not… No. What? Fine I’ll let her pet m… She seems nice. [sniff] Hey! Oh it’s you! Hi! Hi! OMG! I love you! Where’ve you been! OMG! Kiss me! Wow! OMG! Hi! Ssksksksksks!
Federal prosecutors investigating Giuliani want to interview people with knowledge of Ukraine's state-run oil-and-gas company, suggesting a line of inquiry has been opened into whether he sought to secure energy deals by asserting influence on Naftogaz. https://t.co/rptbjP5Uqk
On Trump pardoning accused war criminals:
“The military requires its members to operate in accordance with the laws of war for good reason. Disregarding the laws of war – which Mr. Trump has done by intervening in these cases – jeopardizes mission accomplishment and the safety of service members; excessive civilian casualties, for example, can stimulate further violence, turn local populations against American forces, and discourage allies from collaborating with the United States. Mr, Trump should realize that the laws of war actually serve to benefit our armed forces.” (NYT, Haas)
–What military discipline, integrity of the Uniform Code of Military Justice system, protection of troops on the battlefield, respect for veterans? What C.I.C.? What rule of law?
–Remove putin’s bootlicker.
“Tuesday morning
Lt. Col. Alexander S. Vindman, the National Security Council’s top Ukraine expert, who was among those listening to the July 25 call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and subsequently raised concerns with NSC lawyers.
Jennifer Williams, an aide to Mike Pence whom Trump attacked by tweet over the weekend as a “Never Trumper.”
Tuesday afternoon
Kurt Volker, the former United States special envoy to Ukraine whose texts with Rudy Giuliani helped send the impeachment inquiry into overdrive.
Tim Morrison, an NSC Europe and Russia expert who worried that news of the July 25 call would leak, though he said he didn’t think anything on it was illegal.
Wednesday morning
Gordon Sondland, one of the leaders in pressing Trump’s extortion demands.
Wednesday afternoon
Laura Cooper, deputy assistant secretary of defense for Russian, Ukrainian, and Eurasian affairs.
David Hale, undersecretary of state for political affairs.
Thursday
Fiona Hill, former NSC senior director for Europe and Russia, who, like Vindman, raised concerns about Trump’s Ukraine dealings with the NSC counsel, only to watch a cover-up put in place.
Key unknowns remain exactly what stunts Republicans will get up to to disrupt the proceedings and give Fox News alternative headlines to the damning information being revealed, and whether Trump will suddenly decide he needs the second part of his completely routine physical.”
(Laura Clawson, Daily Kos)
The Obama Diary 
If this guy’s testimony was bad for Schiff, this guy probably did not tell the truth.
I laughed at myself just now for “fighting the good fight” at 7:30 a.m., but then I came here, saw Nerdy’s new post, and knew I was back in good company again! Good morning, TODville!
😘
Right on sister!
Absolutely!!!
🙂 🙂 🙂
Good Morning, Obama Diary Family. Although, I’m mostly lurking these days, I’m still here.
Thanks again to Nerdy for keeping this site going, and to the regulars for keeping us informed and sane.
THIS!!!!!
Good Morning Everyone! 😘💋❤️
Well, didn’t we all act like that? Ha. (I remember mine!)
That is sooooo cute 😘
A great morning smile!
I find it disturbing when I hear the media and see tweets referring to the impeachment hearings as “boring”. I did not realize we were going through this process for the entertainment value….though I shouldn’t be surprised since it seems that many think it’s okay that agent Orange has been allowed to turn our government into a reality show.
Do we have to have information presented to us in pictures and bullet points to hold our attention? Are people ignoring the substance of the testimonies?
I’m am glad that Adam Schiff is keeping these hearings civil and not allowing it to become a circus. Otherwise, the focus would be more on the theatrics rather than what this impeachment inquiry is all about…bringing to light the MANY violations against this country and our democracy, and highlighting how this oval office occupant and his partners in crime are a threat to our national security.
AHEM!
I had that same thought.
Jer44, I never thought he’d play the “I’m not feeling well” card.
You are right.
“Tucker Carlson Showcases Rising Eco-Fascist Response To Climate Change:
Last week, Senator Bernie Sanders released an immigration plan for his presidential platform,
which included a significant climate component in that it would welcome some 50,000 people displaced by climate change. In response, on Monday Tucker Carlson questioned the proposal in a way that fits comfortably with his decade-long embrace of white nationalism, asking ‘Why would a climate migrant have a right to come to my country?’ Now, to state the obvious, this is not Carlson’s country. But the question does reveal something about Carlson, which is that he considers the United States a place for white people like him, as opposed to being a nation of immigrants seeking a better life. (The indigenous people who lived here for millennia before European colonization do not appear to exist in Carlson’s conception.) As folks were quick to point out on Twitter, what followed was a clear display of eco-fascism, with Carlson invoking a sort of ‘blood and soil climate nationalism’ by complaining that welcoming immigrants (who were displaced by climate change, a problem for which the US is
by far the greatest historic contributor) would be ‘crowding the country’.”
(ClimateDenierRoundup)
(https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2019/11/16/1898473/-Spotlight-on-green-news-amp-views-Tucker-Carlson-and-eco-fascism-100s-of-koalas-perish-in-fires)
Um, dumb, so according to Carlson,
There’s no such thing as climate crisis…but don’t let the “climate migrants” come here.
Insect decimation…
“In the continental US that I have visited recently, the signs of a 95% drop in the population of flying insects is something that apparently has not attracted attention or interest.
The first real job I had after Viet-Nam was in technical field service….In some weeks I might put in a mileage chit for over 1,000 miles. Stopping to refuel also meant scraping the insects off the windshield while the gasoline was flowing…If anybody had told me back then that you could drive from Seattle to Dallas in late June and only hit four or five bugs, I would have asked which alternate universe their planet was in.” (Sherbardigan, daily kos)
—anyone else remember stopping to clean the windscreen on the highway due to thousands of insects?
Good West Coast morning Nerdy & TOD family.
I love Dem WINS 🥰🎉💃🏾✌🏾❤️
Me too!
Take care TOD …
Congrats, Jacqueline, and also to Gov. John Bel Edwards for holding on. I am still on the fence about whom to support in the D primary, but I volunteered to be a worker bee at a private fundraiser for VP Biden yesterday. At the end, he invited the volunteers to come upstairs to take a photo with him. I had a chance to tell him I was an OFA Chapter lead while he was in the White House with President Obama and that my daughter’s best friend since kindergarten, Ariana, works for him at the Penn-Biden Foundation. He held my hand and we had a nice moment. His speech to the 100 donors was a bit rambling but full of important points about foreign policy, climate change, and other critical topics.
Morning all … should PP resign, can he still be charged for the same reason(s) as for impeachment? Once he is out of the office?
I think that if Pence pardons Trump that would cover whatever he’s being impeached for and that he couldn’t be tried for the same crime twice. The federal government won’t be Trump’s biggest problem if he resigns or is impeached, the Southern District of New York is waiting in the wings to get a chance.
Thanks Don. I hope SDNY gets that chance. Eveything that PP’s organization earned through corrupt methods should be taken away.
If Trump resigns the NY Attorney General, among others, will prosecute and convict him and neither Pence or anyone else can prevent that from happening.
Trump knows that either he stays in office or he’s going to jail, unless he dies first.
Good Afternoon TODville Community.
Thank you, Nerdy Wonka. 🙂
Congrats, JO’B on your solid Au ⭐
:love: 🙂 🙂
Biden is Leading the field. The picture posted is different from the Polls the CBS News released this AM.
Speaker Pelosi’s interview this AM is posted below.
Pelosi for the win
OMG, THIS IS EPIC. She is THE BOSS.
“Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Sunday left open the possibility that Democrats’ impeachment inquiry will continue into next year…”
Madame Speaker knows what she’s doing.
I must say…she’s 1001% that compelling.
Thread. Speaker Pelosi knows what she’s doing:)
The only people saying otherwise are the republicans, led by Sen McConnell. He brought in the idea of the Senate receiving the impeachment by Thanksgiving & of course the media repeated this as fact.
Nancy is amazing. The best part of her recent interview (above) was when she refused to speak to the innumerable quotes from the GOP that the interviewer kept bringing up. She shut it down despite the best efforts of the interviewer to keep quoting GOP talking points.
worth repeating again
Wow!!
They are now past the $1m – Ms Stefanik’s attacks on Adam Schiff sure backfired – not forgetting that the GOP love to give women the water carrier job. The only GOP woman on the committee & they gave her the attack dog role. Women who support the GOP never learn until it is too late.
NOW: Joe Biden holds town hall in Elko, Nev. – https://abcnews.go.com/Live/video/speciaL-live-3
This the uncropped version…notice Lindsey Graham
Cheeky with it.
😀
Now the latest Iowa poll has Mayor Pete ahead and the media is having a fit, but wasn’t it afew days ago the latest Iowa poll had Sen. Warren ahead and the same media were having a fit about that. Come on media take it easy. So Mayor Pete is ahead. Doesn’t mean he will stay ahead.
Exactly, Hillary. Someone else will be the new flavor of the week in Iowa next week.
our FLOTUS…..
Our Forever FLOTUS44
Tweet from the remarkable Richard Engel:
“Massive attacks underway against the kurds in northern syria. No ceasefire. Total nonsenses there is. US military officials tell me they are ashamed, “sickened.” It’s cold now outside. What about the families, and kids, out of their homes? ”
Sarah Jones: “Trump touts his withdrawal as a success to bring our troops home, but they are not coming home. …Instead of making our military great again, Trump is crashing morale with his foreign policy that elevates dictators while spitting on freedom and justice. Donald Trump has decimated the brand of the United States.”
(https://www.politicususa.com/2019/11/17/u-s-military-are-ashamed-and-sickened-after-trumps-syria-retreat.html)
= NottheC.I.C.
Hey friends, Checking in for a couple things. We are in Charleston for a few days. Have a rockin restaurant and bar next door. Sure hope the music ends by 11:00!!!!!
Michelle Obama ROCKS and ROCKS some more. OMG, she is amazing.
Question: Did Biden Step in it tonight with his comment about marijuana? Interested in responses from y’all.
Are you all tired of so much ‘winning’ yet??!!
😡🥺🥵🤬😥😳😫😟🤬 My answer.
Good Monday, Morning TODbots.
This was said 2yrs ago.
🙂 🙂 🙂
How about that
Morning everyone
Bad week to be a lying traitor
Around and around we go
#AllRoadsLeadToPutin
I’m sorry, but WTF is he talking about??
Smart woman who would be a GREAT Rep!!
I know I’m shocked.
The thread. Seriously, what a shit show. They have done nothing for Americans, but boy damn! they sure do want to have their connections and line THEIR pockets!
🐶 That sweetie is is like: Who dis? I’m not… No. What? Fine I’ll let her pet m… She seems nice. [sniff] Hey! Oh it’s you! Hi! Hi! OMG! I love you! Where’ve you been! OMG! Kiss me! Wow! OMG! Hi! Ssksksksksks!
Gee, ya think??!
New post.
https://obamadiary.wordpress.com/2019/11/18/a-year-of-becoming/
On Trump pardoning accused war criminals:
“The military requires its members to operate in accordance with the laws of war for good reason. Disregarding the laws of war – which Mr. Trump has done by intervening in these cases – jeopardizes mission accomplishment and the safety of service members; excessive civilian casualties, for example, can stimulate further violence, turn local populations against American forces, and discourage allies from collaborating with the United States. Mr, Trump should realize that the laws of war actually serve to benefit our armed forces.” (NYT, Haas)
–What military discipline, integrity of the Uniform Code of Military Justice system, protection of troops on the battlefield, respect for veterans? What C.I.C.? What rule of law?
–Remove putin’s bootlicker.
“Tuesday morning
Lt. Col. Alexander S. Vindman, the National Security Council’s top Ukraine expert, who was among those listening to the July 25 call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and subsequently raised concerns with NSC lawyers.
Jennifer Williams, an aide to Mike Pence whom Trump attacked by tweet over the weekend as a “Never Trumper.”
Tuesday afternoon
Kurt Volker, the former United States special envoy to Ukraine whose texts with Rudy Giuliani helped send the impeachment inquiry into overdrive.
Tim Morrison, an NSC Europe and Russia expert who worried that news of the July 25 call would leak, though he said he didn’t think anything on it was illegal.
Wednesday morning
Gordon Sondland, one of the leaders in pressing Trump’s extortion demands.
Wednesday afternoon
Laura Cooper, deputy assistant secretary of defense for Russian, Ukrainian, and Eurasian affairs.
David Hale, undersecretary of state for political affairs.
Thursday
Fiona Hill, former NSC senior director for Europe and Russia, who, like Vindman, raised concerns about Trump’s Ukraine dealings with the NSC counsel, only to watch a cover-up put in place.
Key unknowns remain exactly what stunts Republicans will get up to to disrupt the proceedings and give Fox News alternative headlines to the damning information being revealed, and whether Trump will suddenly decide he needs the second part of his completely routine physical.”
(Laura Clawson, Daily Kos)