Tonight saw a Friday night news dump that will go into the history books. Trump tried to fire the US Attorney from the Southern District of New York, Geoffrey S. Berman, who has managed a series of cases against Trump and his allies, including Trump fixer Michael Cohen, Trump lawyer Rudolph Giuliani, and Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman, who were indicted for funneling Russian money to Republican candidates for office. Berman is reported to be investigating Trump’s finances, among many other things.
As an historian of the Pacific War, this feels like the Battle of Midway, with Trump's side playing the role of the Japanese fleet. Bear in mind that, until Bombing-Six commander Dick Best sank the Japanese carrier Akagi, the battle was going against the US, and from beginning to end it could have ended differently than it did. The result history records is that never again did the Japanese make an offensive move in the war. What I am trying to say as a metaphor here is, this is Huge, and right now the ultimate outcome is unknown. But if the several threads go - as they so easily can - against Trump, this is the battle that could see him sunk.
His own appointees are turning against him and showing the remnants of their integrity an courage. First in the intelligence services then the the supreme court and now in the justice system. Let's hear it for them! Go for him Berman. The rats will leave the sinking ship when it is clear that Trump won't or can't protect them any longer.
Professor Richardson, this Letter is one for the history books: I forwarded it to my students this morning.
Thank you for illuminating the encroaching darkness in a way that diminishes a measure of its malign power and converts it into information we can process, and use constructively to find our way.
It feels like we are moving closer to a Trump resignation so that he can be pardoned. The house of cards is shaking, and Berman may be what moves the cards to tumble. And, I ask the obvious question, although I know the answer..."Where is the outrage at Barr lying to the Senate during hearings for his nomination?"
It has become so common for the president to stir up, obfuscate, and threaten that last night's actions are, in a way, just another page in the same book. But I do feel hope this book might end well, even though there is quite possibly a great deal more chaos in store. If this was a football game, my brother knows this, I would hate it. I like my team to be ahead by 35 points at halftime. I want to know they are winning. No such luck here. My beloved country is in a fight for its life, and while we may win, the outcome is not yet visible. And the stakes are so high. The American experiment in democracy, despite many failures, is still a political wonder and gift.
I gotta say. I was happy to be awake to witness it unfolding in front of our eyes. It was just a "WOW" moment. Finally someone with balls stood up. Finally.
It took Nixon three days to announce his resignation after the transcripts of the tapes were released. If SCOTUS rules against 45 by ordering the release of his tax returns this next week could 46 be sworn in by Fourth of July? Could things move that fast? Let's all pray Tulsa ... and across the entire country ... stays calm and peaceful throughout the weekend! We must hold onto the opportunity of a lifetime this momentous movement toward Justice and Equality. We must hold onto our Republic as Ben Franklin would tell us.
I'm also rubbing my hands as this also says to me that SCOTUS will also rule against him on revealing his accounts and forcing his people to answer Congress's questions. I think we are going to see confirmed that he is not only a criminal but that he is also "broke"
What really surprises me is how, instead of trying to pretend that he is not a Trump flunky, Barr is ramping up the politicization of the DOJ seemingly with enthusiasm. Is this in response to the Bolton book, because they realize they haven't got a chance of stopping its contents from coming out? Is this simply Barr tugging the forelock to his puppet master? What the heck does Trump have on these guys that they turn themselves inside-out to do his bidding? I am very anxious about how the next five months will play out--and the battle royal possibly for months after to get him out of the White House if he loses.
HCR obviously focused on the new news tonight, understandably. But it's interesting that recently unredacted parts of the Mueller report came out and basically baldly said Trump lied, under oath, in writing about WikiLeaks. Is this SDNY a false flag operation? This US Attorney was going to get blocked by Democrats for a reason. I hate the tinfoil, but we have no idea what's really going on in SDNY. This US Attorney gave Trump a fairly significant campaign contribution. I mean, if you needed a really big distraction this would be a good one.
A few days ago I said that the reason he will not resign from a job he loathes is that he knows SDNY will be waiting on the White House lawn with indictments? Well today he tried the fire the guy HE PICKED to run SDNY after he fired Preet Bahara. Perhaps because--like SCOTUS--that did not insure Michael Berman would not do his job after all. Or that Berman would not have the heft to fight back.
Although really not germane to HCR’s 6/19/20 letter, of all of the labels that have been attached to 45, the one that I prefer is “Gas-lighter in Chief”. Just sayin’.
This experiment with fascism can’t end soon enough.
As an historian of the Pacific War, this feels like the Battle of Midway, with Trump's side playing the role of the Japanese fleet. Bear in mind that, until Bombing-Six commander Dick Best sank the Japanese carrier Akagi, the battle was going against the US, and from beginning to end it could have ended differently than it did. The result history records is that never again did the Japanese make an offensive move in the war. What I am trying to say as a metaphor here is, this is Huge, and right now the ultimate outcome is unknown. But if the several threads go - as they so easily can - against Trump, this is the battle that could see him sunk.
His own appointees are turning against him and showing the remnants of their integrity an courage. First in the intelligence services then the the supreme court and now in the justice system. Let's hear it for them! Go for him Berman. The rats will leave the sinking ship when it is clear that Trump won't or can't protect them any longer.
Professor Richardson, this Letter is one for the history books: I forwarded it to my students this morning.
Thank you for illuminating the encroaching darkness in a way that diminishes a measure of its malign power and converts it into information we can process, and use constructively to find our way.
It feels like we are moving closer to a Trump resignation so that he can be pardoned. The house of cards is shaking, and Berman may be what moves the cards to tumble. And, I ask the obvious question, although I know the answer..."Where is the outrage at Barr lying to the Senate during hearings for his nomination?"
It has become so common for the president to stir up, obfuscate, and threaten that last night's actions are, in a way, just another page in the same book. But I do feel hope this book might end well, even though there is quite possibly a great deal more chaos in store. If this was a football game, my brother knows this, I would hate it. I like my team to be ahead by 35 points at halftime. I want to know they are winning. No such luck here. My beloved country is in a fight for its life, and while we may win, the outcome is not yet visible. And the stakes are so high. The American experiment in democracy, despite many failures, is still a political wonder and gift.
I gotta say. I was happy to be awake to witness it unfolding in front of our eyes. It was just a "WOW" moment. Finally someone with balls stood up. Finally.
It took Nixon three days to announce his resignation after the transcripts of the tapes were released. If SCOTUS rules against 45 by ordering the release of his tax returns this next week could 46 be sworn in by Fourth of July? Could things move that fast? Let's all pray Tulsa ... and across the entire country ... stays calm and peaceful throughout the weekend! We must hold onto the opportunity of a lifetime this momentous movement toward Justice and Equality. We must hold onto our Republic as Ben Franklin would tell us.
I'm also rubbing my hands as this also says to me that SCOTUS will also rule against him on revealing his accounts and forcing his people to answer Congress's questions. I think we are going to see confirmed that he is not only a criminal but that he is also "broke"
ProPublica with the podcast Trump Inc. have been digging into the Deutsche Bank debacle for quite a while. https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/trumpinc/episodes/trump-inc-trump-deutsche-bank-its-complicated I've been following this story for years, so this attempted Friday night firing of Berman terrifies me.
What really surprises me is how, instead of trying to pretend that he is not a Trump flunky, Barr is ramping up the politicization of the DOJ seemingly with enthusiasm. Is this in response to the Bolton book, because they realize they haven't got a chance of stopping its contents from coming out? Is this simply Barr tugging the forelock to his puppet master? What the heck does Trump have on these guys that they turn themselves inside-out to do his bidding? I am very anxious about how the next five months will play out--and the battle royal possibly for months after to get him out of the White House if he loses.
Thank you so much for using the gift of your intellectual genius to save our democracy!
HCR obviously focused on the new news tonight, understandably. But it's interesting that recently unredacted parts of the Mueller report came out and basically baldly said Trump lied, under oath, in writing about WikiLeaks. Is this SDNY a false flag operation? This US Attorney was going to get blocked by Democrats for a reason. I hate the tinfoil, but we have no idea what's really going on in SDNY. This US Attorney gave Trump a fairly significant campaign contribution. I mean, if you needed a really big distraction this would be a good one.
A few days ago I said that the reason he will not resign from a job he loathes is that he knows SDNY will be waiting on the White House lawn with indictments? Well today he tried the fire the guy HE PICKED to run SDNY after he fired Preet Bahara. Perhaps because--like SCOTUS--that did not insure Michael Berman would not do his job after all. Or that Berman would not have the heft to fight back.
Although really not germane to HCR’s 6/19/20 letter, of all of the labels that have been attached to 45, the one that I prefer is “Gas-lighter in Chief”. Just sayin’.
Some folks are satirically calling tonight's rally in Tulsa the COVID-fest. Public health officials tried in vain to get Trump to cancel it.