jakeem Posted February 13 The Week @TheWeek 10 things you need to know today: 10 things you need to know today: February 13, 2020 The Senate approves Iran War Powers Resolution, Barr agrees to testify to House amid Stone controversy, and more theweek.com 7:26 AM · Feb 13, 2020·Sprout Social 1. Senate approves Iran War Powers Resolution in bipartisan vote The Senate voted 51-45 on Wednesday to limit President Trump from pursuing military action in Iran without congressional approval. Eight Republicans sided with all Democrats to approve Sen. Tim Kaine's (D-Va.) resolution. Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) didn't vote as they were likely on the presidential campaign trail, and recent 2020 dropout Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) didn't vote either. Trump tweeted earlier Wednesday to encourage senators to vote against the resolution, saying "this is not the time to show weakness" to Iran. It comes as Trump continues to escalate tensions with Iran after authorizing a strike that killed top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani. Trump is expected to veto the bill. [CNN, Politico] 2. Barr to testify to House as Democrats question Stone sentencing move Attorney General William Barr has agreed to testify before the House Judiciary Committee on March 31 as questions mount about the Justice Department's decision to overrule prosecutors and recommend a light sentence for President Trump's longtime adviser Roger Stone. Democrats on the committee said Wednesday in a letter to Barr confirming the arrangement that they plan to discuss concerns about "the misuse of our criminal justice system for political purposes." The announcement came a day after all four prosecutors involved in the Stone case quit when the Department of Justice overruled their sentencing recommendation of seven to nine years for Stone, who was convicted of lying to Congress and other charges. On Wednesday, Trump congratulated Barr on Twitter "for taking charge" of the case. [The Hill, House Judiciary Committee] 3. Several GOP senators criticize Trump tweets on Stone sentencing Several Republican senators on Wednesday said President Trump should not have criticized prosecutors for recommending up to nine years in prison for Roger Stone, a longtime Trump adviser who was convicted in November of lying to Congress and obstructing the Russia investigation. "I don't think he should be commenting on cases in the system," said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.). "I don't think that's appropriate." Several other senators, including Susan Collins (R-Maine) and John Kennedy (R-La.) made similar comments. On the same day as Trump's tweet, the Justice Department said it would overrule the recommendation and propose a lighter sentence. Four prosecutors quit the case after the announcement, and Democrats called for investigations. [USA Today] 4. Deval Patrick ends presidential campaign Former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick ended his campaign for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination on Wednesday. Patrick, the last African-American candidate in the Democratic field, entered the race late but failed to draw significant support. He never attracted enough donors or polling support to qualify for a spot on a debate stage. He placed second to last with 0.4 percent of the vote in Tuesday's New Hampshire primary. "The vote in New Hampshire last night was not enough for us … to go on to the next round of voting," Patrick said in a statement. Two other Democrats, Andrew Yang and Michael Bennet, dropped out on Tuesday as the remaining candidates moved on to campaign for the next contests, in South Carolina and Nevada. [The Associated Press, NBC Boston] 5. Confirmed coronavirus cases soar as China changes diagnostic rules Chinese public health officials on Thursday reported a huge increase in the number of coronavirus cases in Hubei province on Thursday. The 14,840 new cases, lifting total infections to about 60,000, marked a 10-fold increase over the number reported a day earlier. The 242 new deaths more than doubled the most recorded in a single day. It was not immediately clear what the figures indicated about how fast the flu-like virus was spreading, because the spike came after the health commission in Hubei, the epicenter of the virus, changed its diagnostic criteria for confirming cases, giving doctors more discretion in identifying new cases. Still, the news cooled hopes that the spread of the epidemic was slowing, halting a rally in Asian stock markets. [South China Morning Post, Reuters] 6. China shakes up Hubei leadership amid questions about virus response China's Communist Party on Thursday fired several senior officials in Hubei province, the center of the new coronavirus outbreak, in a move to firm up Beijing's control of the response to the outbreak. The Central Committee said Jiang Chaoliang, Hubei's party secretary since 2016, will be replaced by Shanghai Mayor Ying Yong, an ally of Chinese President Xi Jinping. The Communist Party also fired Ma Guoqiang, party boss in the city of Wuhan, where the coronavirus outbreak originated. Chinese citizens have complained about how long it took the government to acknowledge the outbreak, saying a slow response allowed the virus to spread. The number of confirmed cases jumped to nearly 50,000 in Hubei alone, and about 60,000 overall cases and 1,367 deaths. [The Washington Post] 7. Iowa Democratic Party chair resigns Iowa Democratic Party Chair Troy Price resigned Wednesday following the state's chaotic caucuses, the first contest in the presidential primary season. "Democrats deserved better than what happened on caucus night," Price wrote in a resignation letter to fellow party leaders. "As chair of this party, I am deeply sorry for what happened and bear the responsibility for any failures on behalf of the Iowa Democratic Party." Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez angrily called on the state party to recanvass after a delay due to problems with a smartphone app used to report results. The party said Wednesday it would recanvass precincts as requested by the campaigns of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and former South Bend, Indiana, mayor Pete Buttigieg, who both claimed victory. [The Wall Street Journal, NPR] 8. Marie Yovanovitch says State Department leaders lack 'moral clarity' Former Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch on Wednesday told an audience at Georgetown University that the State Department is "in trouble," with leaders lacking "policy vision" and "moral clarity." Yovanovitch was ousted from her post last May, following what her supporters have called a smear campaign orchestrated by President Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani. She retired from the State Department last month, and told the crowd that when it comes to foreign policy, the U.S. needs to be "principled, consistent, and trustworthy. To be blunt, an amoral, keep-them-guessing foreign policy that substitutes threats, fear, and confusion for trust cannot work over the long haul." Yovanovitch was at Georgetown to accept an award from the School of Foreign Service, and received a standing ovation. [CNN, The Guardian] 9. Deficit rises 25 percent in first 4 months of fiscal 2020 The federal deficit hit $389.2 billion in the first four months of the 2020 fiscal year, a 25 percent increase over the same period the previous year. The shortfall over those four months is already roughly 40 percent of the entire 2019 deficit of $1.06 trillion. The government is bringing in more, with receipts totaling $1.18 trillion through January, up from $1.1 trillion in the same period a year earlier. But spending is up by more, hitting $1.57 trillion in the first four months of the new fiscal year compared to $1.42 trillion last year. President Trump has said economic growth would pay the cost of his tax cuts, but GDP growth slowed from 2.9 percent in 2018 to 2.3 percent in 2019. [CNBC] 10. Trump says Duterte's curbing of U.S.-Philippines military ties not a problem President Trump on Wednesday brushed off Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte's announcement that he would end a two-decade-old military arrangement that let U.S. soldiers train in the country. "I don't really mind if they would like to do that, it will save a lot of money," Trump told reporters at the White House. "My views are different from others." Trump often calls for bringing home American military personnel stationed overseas. He also consistently presses allies to pay more for their own defense, including that provided by U.S. troops. An Asia Times analysis, however, warned this week that Duterte's decision was a "shock move" that could severely hurt U.S.-Philippine ties and "have ramifications for the region's strategic balance of power including in the hotly contested South China Sea." [Reuters, The Washington Post] Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NipkowDisc Posted February 13 49 minutes ago, jakeem said: David Lazarus @Davidlaz News flash: The current economic recovery began in 2009 BS. 8:56 PM · Feb 12, 2020·Twitter for Android 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NipkowDisc Posted February 13 when liberals and democrats' arguments doan carry the day. they do what they always do... pretend they doan know it. 😁 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jakeem Posted February 13 3 minutes ago, NipkowDisc said: News flash: The current economic recovery began in 2009 BS. 8:56 PM · Feb 12, 2020·Twitter for Android Wanna see more charts and graphs? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jakeem Posted February 13 The Week @TheWeek The Senate voted 51-45 on Wednesday to limit President Trump from pursuing military action in Iran without congressional approval. Eight Republicans sided with all Democrats to approve Sen. Tim Kaine's resolution. 8 Republicans join Democrats in vote to limit Trump's military powers in Iran The Senate voted 51-45 on Wednesday to limit President Trump from pursuing military action in Iran without congressional approval. Eight Republicans sided with all Democrats to approve Sen. Tim... theweek.com 3:45 PM · Feb 12, 2020·Sprout Social 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bogie56 Posted February 13 56 minutes ago, jakeem said: Tea Pain @TeaPainUSA There’s a special place in Hell for immoral “preachers” that prey on the elderly. 7:10 PM · Feb 12, 2020·Twitter for iPhone Trump University? 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bogie56 Posted February 13 51 minutes ago, NipkowDisc said: there is really no such thing. sanders just made it up to deflect. wants he gonna do? admit to being a lifelong communist? nope. I guess you would classify Canada and Europe as communist then. Sanders is to the right of almost all of these countries. Time to grow up! 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sukhov Posted February 13 1 hour ago, Bogie56 said: I guess you would classify Canada and Europe as communist then. Sanders is to the right of almost all of these countries. Time to grow up! I find it ironic that he attacks policies like healthcare for the poor and struggling that would objectively benefit him. 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bogie56 Posted February 13 54 minutes ago, Gershwin fan said: I find it ironic that he attacks policies like healthcare for the poor and struggling that would objectively benefit him. The working class are their own worst enemy. Lots of union workers vote conservative in Canada. It's called brainwashing! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jakeem Posted February 13 The Daily Beast @thedailybeast John Kelly: Lt. Col Alex Vindman rightly reported Trump’s “illegal order” on Ukraine John Kelly: Vindman Was Right to Report Trump’s ‘Illegal Order’ on Ukraine The four-star general and former White House chief of staff said NSC Ukraine official “did exactly what we teach them to do.” thedailybeast.com 6:58 AM · Feb 13, 2020·SocialFlow 3 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jakeem Posted February 13 George Conway @gtconway3d “Vindman was rightly disturbed by Trump’s phone call to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in July, Kelly suggested. Having seen something ‘questionable,’ Vindman properly notified his superiors, Kelly said.” 1:40 AM · Feb 13, 2020 from Utah, USA·Twitter for iPhone 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Arturo Posted February 13 9 hours ago, jakeem said: Newsweek @Newsweek Nikki Haley rebukes recent rise of "liberal socialist" Bernie Sanders, says it's "unthinkable" we'd give up freedoms "our veterans fought and died for" Nikki Haley rebukes recent rise of "liberal socialist" Bernie Sanders, says it's "unthinkable" we'd... Haley claimed other countries were perplexed at the election results in America. newsweek.com 8:33 PM · Feb 12, 2020·Echobox Social Nikky Haley and the supine GOP in Congress are the ones who are giving up the freedoms our veterans fought and died for, by allowing Donald Trump to destroy our democracy, our constitution and the rule of law. And attacking decorated war heroes and veterans for doing their duty. This woman wants to be Donald Trump in drag for 2024, assuming Trump ever leaves office willingly. 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Arturo Posted February 13 8 hours ago, NipkowDisc said: No wonder Trump succeeds with the brain dead, low information deplorables. You hear it on Fox, see Trump’s tweets, and your “mind” is set. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bogie56 Posted February 13 The Fix Barr pledged that investigations would be ‘sacrosanct from political influence.’ That’s in real doubt now. Barr said repeatedly in his confirmation hearing that he would not allow investigations to be affected by presidential politics. Signs are increasingly pointing in that direction. The Fix Trump just made the DOJ’s Roger Stone intervention look even worse The Justice Department claimed Tuesday this was normal business; Trump suggested in a tweet that Attorney General William P. Barr was personally involved. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheCid Posted February 13 12 minutes ago, Arturo said: Newsweek @Newsweek Nikki Haley rebukes recent rise of "liberal socialist" Bernie Sanders, says it's "unthinkable" we'd give up freedoms "our veterans fought and died for" Bull Sh**!!!! Nikki Haley hasn't got a clue about what those of us who served in wars "fought and died for." As for giving up freedoms, Donald J. Trump and the Republicans have shown in the past week just how American freedoms are actually being threatened and taken away. And it will get worse. God save America if Trump wins in November. I don't like Sanders or most of his positions, but he is not a threat to American freedoms. Except maybe the freedoms of the super wealthy and corporations to gouge more money out of the working and middle classes. Incidentally when it came time for her to move back to S.C., she did not return to her poverty stricken hometown or even the town she lived in before becoming governor of S.C. She moved to a luxury resort island near Charleston S.C. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bogie56 Posted February 13 Haven't the Republicans just named this bozo the head of the judiciary? They should check the phone records!!! Jim Jordan accused of ‘begging’ former Ohio State wrestler not to support reports of sexual abuse In testimony before the Ohio legislature, a witness alleged that the congressman and former assistant coach was part of a coverup to discredit accounts of sexual abuse by the wrestling team’s doctor. By Colby Itkowitz Feb. 13, 2020 at 2:25 a.m. GMT A former Ohio State wrestler accused Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) of repeatedly “crying” and “begging” him not to corroborate accounts of sexual abuse against the university’s wrestling team doctor that occurred when Jordan was a coach. Adam DiSabato — the brother of Mike DiSabato, the whistleblower who exposed the abuse by Richard Strauss — testified Wednesday during a public hearing in the state legislature that when the story came out in July 2018, he received a phone call from a tearful Jordan. “Jim Jordan called me crying, crying, groveling, on the Fourth of July, begging me to go against my brother, begging me, crying for half an hour,” Adam DiSabato said, according to video of his testimony. “That’s the kind of coverups going on here.” ....more 1 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bogie56 Posted February 13 Trump suggests Roger Stone’s jury forewoman had ‘significant bias’ A tweet by the president was his latest intervention ahead of his longtime friend’s sentencing in federal court next week. John Wagner, Spencer S. Hsu and Matt Zapotosky John Kelly, essentially: Trump is doing everything wrong In his most unvarnished comments to date, Kelly made clear he has little confidence in the man he once served. Aaron Blake 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Arturo Posted February 13 33 minutes ago, Bogie56 said: Trump suggests Roger Stone’s jury forewoman had ‘significant bias’ A tweet by the president was his latest intervention ahead of his longtime friend’s sentencing in federal court next week. John Wagner, Spencer S. Hsu and Matt Zapotosky John Kelly, essentially: Trump is doing everything wrong In his most unvarnished comments to date, Kelly made clear he has little confidence in the man he once served. Aaron Blake The Jury-Tamperer in Chief is at it again. If the GOP could grow a spine, not only would Trump have been removed from office, but he’d be doing time with all his criminal co-conspirators. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Arturo Posted February 13 1 hour ago, Bogie56 said: Haven't the Republicans just named this bozo the head of the judiciary? They should check the phone records!!! Jim Jordan accused of ‘begging’ former Ohio State wrestler not to support reports of sexual abuse In testimony before the Ohio legislature, a witness alleged that the congressman and former assistant coach was part of a coverup to discredit accounts of sexual abuse by the wrestling team’s doctor. By Colby Itkowitz Feb. 13, 2020 at 2:25 a.m. GMT A former Ohio State wrestler accused Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) of repeatedly “crying” and “begging” him not to corroborate accounts of sexual abuse against the university’s wrestling team doctor that occurred when Jordan was a coach. Adam DiSabato — the brother of Mike DiSabato, the whistleblower who exposed the abuse by Richard Strauss — testified Wednesday during a public hearing in the state legislature that when the story came out in July 2018, he received a phone call from a tearful Jordan. “Jim Jordan called me crying, crying, groveling, on the Fourth of July, begging me to go against my brother, begging me, crying for half an hour,” Adam DiSabato said, according to video of his testimony. “That’s the kind of coverups going on here.” ....more Jim Jordan, serial protector of serial sexual abusers! 1 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Arturo Posted February 13 13 hours ago, jakeem said: Newsweek @Newsweek Nikki Haley rebukes recent rise of "liberal socialist" Bernie Sanders, says it's "unthinkable" we'd give up freedoms "our veterans fought and died for" Nikki Haley rebukes recent rise of "liberal socialist" Bernie Sanders, says it's "unthinkable" we'd... Haley claimed other countries were perplexed at the election results in America. newsweek.com 8:33 PM · Feb 12, 2020·Echobox Social So Haley and the GOP cannot deal with a Democratic Socialist, but are supporting a National Socialist, or Nazi, Donald Trump. Our own fuerher is doing here what Hitler did to Germany, dismantle our democratic institutions, and scapegoat “the other”, to cheers from the base, and complicity from the “good people” who won’t speak up as the atrocities mount. 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jakeem Posted February 13 Kyle Griffin @kylegriffin1 Inbox: Sen. Kamala Harris and Rep. Joaquin Castro have introduced a resolution "condemning the presence of white nationalist Stephen Miller in the White House and called for his immediate resignation from office." 3:05 PM · Feb 13, 2020·Twitter Web Client 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jakeem Posted February 13 Aimee Carrero @aimeecarrero Damn this could have been a ticket 3:08 PM · Feb 13, 2020·Twitter for iPhone 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jakeem Posted February 13 Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump When I terminated John Kelly, which I couldn’t do fast enough, he knew full well that he was way over his head. Being Chief of Staff just wasn’t for him. He came in with a bang, went out with a whimper, but like so many X’s, he misses the action & just can’t keep his mouth shut, which he actually has a military and legal obligation to do. His incredible wife, Karen, who I have a lot of respect for, once pulled me aside & said strongly that “John respects you greatly. When we are no longer here, he will only speak well of you.” Wrong! 11:04 AM · Feb 13, 2020·Twitter for iPhone 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jakeem Posted February 13 Bill Kristol @BillKristol This might be a good moment for Gen. Mattis (ret.) and Gen. Dunford (ret.) to come to the defense of their fellow Marine. 11:53 AM · Feb 13, 2020·Twitter for iPhone 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jakeem Posted February 13 Joe Lockhart @joelockhart Leave no man behind right? 3:09 PM · Feb 13, 2020·Twitter for iPhone Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
