IMPORTANT:
NPR Politics
@nprpolitics
The House Jan. 6 committee said former President Trump and his allies raised $250 million in the weeks after the election, some of which was ostensibly for an "Official Election Defense Fund" — which the committee found did not exist.
Wire Fraud anyone?
It’s not what he believed that matters, but what he had the responsibility to know.
by MONA CHAREN JUNE 14, 2022 5:30 AM
"Are the people who get all of their news from Fox or The Federalist responsible for what they believe? They are. Every person in a democratic republic has a duty to ascertain the truth as best they can and that means questioning the pap that they are fed nightly. It means letting the light of skepticism peek under the blanket of certainty every now and then.
[snip]
The unstated assumption here is that Trump did not sincerely believe the election was stolen. He was told over and over again that it wasn’t and yet persisted in propagating a dangerous lie to the world. And therefore he is responsible."
[snip]
A Fox viewer is lied to, yes, but he or she can ask: Why did Tucker Carlson do an entire show on the first night of televised hearings, Thursday, June 9, without commercial interruptions? What was he afraid viewers would learn if they switched channels to any other outlet even for a minute?
Yes, viewers are lied to and the liars deserve particular opprobrium, but at some point citizens have to use the sense God gave them. If the Dominion Voting machines were rigged, why did Republican House and Senate candidates do so much better than Trump?
If there was a vast conspiracy to flip votes from Trump to Biden, why did Trump perform better with Hispanics in 2020 than he had in 2016? And if the problem was the “rigged” voting machines, why did two hand recounts in Georgia show no discrepancies?
If the riot at the capitol was the work of Antifa and the Deep State, why was Ashli Babbit a martyr? And for that matter, if it was Antifa, why were Republican members asking Trump for pardons in the final days of his presidency? Alternatively, if it was an “normal tourist visit,” why blame it on Antifa?"
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Excellent essay. But we know that Trump cultists will refuse to read and understand what this means. They, too, are willfully blind and are so invested in believing Trump's lies and betrayal to America that even this evidence of Trump's treachery will not move them.
The truth is out there for everyone to see. But some of our fellow Americans will choose not to see it.
And I pity them for their continuing self-deceit.
18 comments:
Here's a bit more from Charen, comparing the response from the GOP in the Nixon years with the current Trump version...
Consider just one contrast from the Watergate era. Part of why the tapes were Nixon’s undoing is that they proved that Nixon had lied to his friends and allies as well as to his enemies. Barry Goldwater, one of those who personally delivered the news to the president that he had lost the support of his party in Congress, wasn’t alone in feeling personally betrayed by Nixon. “It was an enormous betrayal for some of Nixon’s allies when they realized that he had been lying the whole time,” historian Jeffrey Engel told FiveThirtyEight, “Because it meant they had been lying too.”
The same cannot be said in Trump’s case because absolutely everyone in his circle and everyone in the Republican party who made their peace with him as leader had been lied to repeatedly. Trump had so warped the people around him that there was no expectation of honesty or integrity.
What undid the Nixon presidency was the realization of the party, of everyday Republicans, that the President of the United States had been lying to them and the American people.
So they decided he had to go.
Sadly, no so with Trump. Unless they are just too blind as to see his lies.
At which point, they need to go.
Harry Litman
@harrylitman
Interesting that the Republican rotten peanut gallery – McCarthy, Jordan et al– have been basically silent this last week. It’s not out of goodwill or courtesy. Presumably they’ve concluded they would look like idiots trying to rebut the tidal wave of evidence. Thank you, J6C!
For those with attachment to actual reality we will not forget the abject dishonesty or idiocy of tRump's supporting cast of vipers. EVER. Or at least as long as we're alive.
To Harry Litman,
Why would Republicans get in the way of the Democrat show trial? Evidence? Why do Democrats not subject their 'evidence' to cross-examination and rebuttal?
Loudon Tallman
So far, the majority of the people who've given testimony have been Republicans who served Trump, who were chosen by Trump, and who were, mostly, part of his inner circle.
BTW, this isn't a trial. The Select Committee is presenting FACTS. And we're hearing those facts from the proverbial horses' mouths. They were there. The evidence is not hearsay.
But stick around. If the DoJ indicts Trump, maybe we'll see a trial.
Did you read my post from a couple of days ago? He might actually believe all the BS he's spewing.
https://www.brainandlife.org/articles/confabulation-honest-lying
I think a little electro shock therapy might help him. I GET TO THROW THE SWITCH!
Thanks, Mike, I read it.
Is it possible Trump is brain damaged?
Hopefully they can keep these hearings going until November. If they end and trump is charged the democrats have nothing to run on. Under their leadership the middle class are suffering and the poor don’t stand a chance. I can’t say Biden is lying about everything because he just reads what he is told without a clue on what is going on. Trump was and is a lying person who did what he said he would do. He just let his ego control his actions. Bidens lack of any leadership had led the country down a rabbit hole the is punishing everyone except the rich.
Loudan asked, as have many conservtives... "Why do Democrats not subject their 'evidence' to cross-examination and rebuttal?
Let's assume for a moment, there is an actual factual rebuttal to be had.
Who would that come from? Who could refute the "people in the room" who testified so far? The people who include the admin's Atty. General, the former president's campaign director, the former president's daughter, son in law and the former president's lawyers? Who would rebut the Capitol Police Officers, more than 100, who were attacked on Jan 6?
I'm sure the people who might make that case would include the former president's Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, his aide Dan Scavino, maybe his trade rep who was said to be in the room, Peter Navarro, Minority Leader McCarthy, maybe even Steve Bannon or Donald Trump Jr.
But, wait for it, all of those people, offered a chance to testify and defend the president, refused! Let me say it again, a little more slowly so you can understand it clearly...
Conservatives. Were. Offered. A. Chance. To. Testify. And.
Defend. President. Trump. But. They. Refused.
They were offered a chance to supply evidence to disprove and rebut what we have seen and what hundreds of people, under penalty of perjury, have testified to so far.
Ask yourself this... Why?
Why would people who supposedly have exculpatory evidence disproving what we have seen so far, to rebut the House Select Committee, willingly choose not to show up, testify and exonerate former President Trump and his administration?
BTW... the House Select Committee is Bi-Partisan. There are two House Republicans on the committee, which is modeled along the lines of the previous House Select Committee on Benghazi. Sure Speaker Pelosi refused to seat Reps. Jordan and Banks, but that was because those two men were expected to be witnesses. Witnesses who, like those above, also refused to show up and defend President Trump.
Who adds potential witnesses to a committee investigating wrongdoing?
Minority Leader McCarthy had the opportunity to add other Republican Party members to the committee, but he refused and then decided the members already approved by both parties, could not participate.
Again... why?
At the end of the day, we have the House Select Committee because after the entire House voted, with 35 GOP members, in a Bi-partisan way to establish an independent commission to investigate the events leading up to and including Jan 6, the GOP led Senate refused.
Again... why?
You see, everything you want, the Dems offered. But at every turn, the GOP refused.
In January 2021 Dems wanted to know about a "tour" of the House given by US Rep Barry Loudermilk. Through his aides, who explained at the time not only were there no “reconnaissance” tours, but that there were no tours, period.
Then the story changed.
Rep Loudermilk stated in a written statement that a visit by "A constituent family with young children meeting with their Member of Congress in the House Office Buildings is not a suspicious group or 'reconnaissance tour.' The family never entered the Capitol building."
Then the story changed again, to include guests of the family.
Now we know the group increased to 15 people, as confirmed by the Capitol Police, the same police insurrectionists attacked and savagely beat the very next day.
Loudermilk then told Roll Call this week that his office checked in with the group as the riot unfolded, but that none of them was on the Capitol grounds that day.
Now we know that, like the rest of his story, is also inaccurate as at least one person on security video seen photographing tunnels and other normally off limits areas, was indeed on site on January 6.
Why has Loudermilk's changed so many times?
And is he one of the members of Congress who wrote to then Pres. Trump asking for a pardon?
Day by day, drip by drip, the stories of 1/6, and the GOP complicity are going to come out. The ongoing lies and obfuscations of the admin and their enablers will be exposed.
The question is whether we as a nation will care, or be able to do anything about it.
Perhaps he is brain damaged Shaw. But it is most probable that, as former AG Barr ascertained, he is removed from reality. Which is to say everything that doesn't stroke his ego centered sense of self importance is BS in his own deluded mind. This shit HE started is far from over.
Anonymous 10:19AM,
"Trump was and is a lying person who did what he said he would do."
Trump's biggest promise: He said Mexico will build a wall and Mexico will pay for it. DID NOT DO IT.
Trump's second biggest promise: He would repeal Obamacare and give you a better and cheaper, "beautiful" health care plan. DID NOT DO IT.
Here's more of what "he said he would do" BUT DID NOT DO IT:
Trump said he’d cut your taxes, and that the super-rich like him would pay more. He did the opposite. HE DID NOT DO IT.
Trump said he would boost economic growth by 4 percent a year. Nope. The economy stalled, and unemployment soared to the highest levels since the Great Depression.
Trump promised that the average American family would see a $4,000 pay raise because of his tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations. But nothing trickled down. HE DID NOT DO IT.
Trump promised to eliminate the federal deficit. He increased the federal deficit by more than 60 percent. HE DID NOT DO IT.
Trump promised to lower prescription drug costs. HE DID NOT DO IT.
Trump promised to revive the struggling coal industry and bring back lost coal mining jobs. The coal industry continued to lose jobs as clean energy becomes cheaper.
Trump promised to help American workers during the pandemic. But 80 percent of the tax benefits in the coronavirus stimulus package have gone to millionaires and billionaires.
Trump promised to protect Americans with pre-existing conditions. His Justice Department tried to repeal the entire Affordable Care Act, including protections for people with pre-existing conditions.
Anonymous, there's plenty more of Trump's promises that he DID NOT FULFILL. But apparently you get your opinions from FAUX and other echo chambers where they assiduously keep you and other Trumpers away from reality.
PS. Anonymous, tell us why you believe "a lying person" would EVER keep his promises?
Your sentence: "Trump was and is a lying person who did what he said he would do." Isn't logical.
Dave
Your post about Rep. Loudermilk is accurate. Why would he change his story so often? IMO, because he's lying. The truth doesn't change its story; the lie does, because often the liar can't remember his previous lies.
We'll wait and see if Loudermilk was one of the Congressmen/women who begged for a pardon.
Thank you Shaw for alowing me to post on your site. It has been appreciated given our basic philosophical differences.
This country is in serious crises and given the obvious love of deciet and authoritarianism that now defines the now rethuglican party I will no longer engage in the deluded and counter productuct BS thst today passes as political discourse.
Given the obvious trajectory of our nationtional politics I am researching possibilities to relocate in another country. One not so insane.
Again thanks for the allowing me to post on your rational and truthful site. And good luck livig in America after 2024.
RN, let us know how we can assist in your relocation. Moving to a different state because you object to the way the state is governed is a big deal but moving to a different country is a massive undertaking.
Good luck with your move.
RN I hope you continue to comment here, RN.
A few of my relatives are contemplating what you are thinking of doing.
If you're watching the hearings, it must give you some satisfaction to know you've been correct and your once-fellow-Republicans-turned-Trumpublicans at the AOW and Geeez blogs where you used to comment are all off their rockers in their continuing and shameful support of Trump and his criminal, traitorous actions.
I was astounded at the depth of Trump's criminality revealed at today's hearings.
And before I get anymore comments from Anonymous/Unknown posters, they need to understand that all of the witnesses have been Republicans: those who worked for Trump, some family members, and many Conservative legal voices from the trump administration.
I was astounded to hear today that Trump and Eastman were told again and again that there was no Constitutional basis for their plot to make VP Pence decertify the e.c. votes. But nevertheless, they persisted and thereby almost undid over 230 years of American democracy if VP Pence hadn't held firm to his oath of office.
IMO, Trump and Eastman are traitors to America. May their names live on in infamy.
I agree on both of your closing remarks. America and a certain lying dishonest political party, along with a significant quantity of its deluded anti American members have forced a change that will be far from over unless the SOB's that sucked up to the orangs shit and sold their souls to a POS ldeology and its lying narcissist are gone completely from public life.
I am at this point almost ashamed to admit I'm an American. And it's tRump and the GOP that gets all the credit.
Tibet of India are looking very interesting.
Thanks skud... you can help me try to convince my wife, the smarter and wiser half.
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