The website Amino, the source of this image, says the original Japanese intent of the phrase "See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil" was to keep a person pure, but
"Now it means turning a blind eye to evil and wrongdoing. It is meant to represent the fear of witnessing or speaking about evil and choosing to ignore its existence altogether."That seems to be a pretty good description of what most Republican Senators are doing. Avoiding any and all evidence of what they know is true. First McConnell just wanted to acquit Trump with no real trial at all. No witnesses. No evidence. And they're doing their best to hide what little will happen from the public. The Senate has added new, greatly restricted rules for press access to cover the impeachment.
Tim Miller, at The Bulwark, writes about Sen Martha McSally's response to reporter Manu Raju's question whether the Senate should take new evidence in the impeachment hearing:
“Manu, you’re a liberal hack. I’m not talking to you. You’re a liberal hack.”Miller goes on to say this is the Republican 'heel turn' in response to questions about impeachment.
"They all know Trump is guilty. The only question is whether or not they can avoid admitting this, out loud, before they vote to acquit him. Every action Republicans take in the coming days should be viewed through the lens of them casting about for a strategy that lets them avoid telling voters what they actually believe."Miller also tells us they are squeezed between doing what's right and being attacked by Trump.
My junior Senator - Dan Sullivan - was a marine. Marines are supposed to be known for their courage and for risking their lives to protect the US. That's the PR anyway.
In the Senate he doesn't seem ready to even risk his Senate seat to do the right thing. I'm sure he's saying that not criticizing Trump means he can get things from this administration for Alaska. Short term gains, long term disasters. My senior Senator - Lisa Murkowski - is giving signs of trying to get out from under the charade, but we'll have to wait and see.
We also learn today that two of Trump's defense attorneys (Dershowitz and Starr) defended Jeffrey Epstein. (Who committed suicide in prison where he was supposed to be watched carefully, and the video mysteriously disappeared. This was a guy who hosted many big name men with underage girls.) Dershowitz has been implicated in going to Epstein's parties.
From a Tweet by Kenneth Boykin:
"Ken Starr, the guy who thought Bill Clinton should be removed from office for a blowjob, is going to argue that Donald Trump should remain in office even after he illegally asked a foreign government to interfere in our elections."
Meanwhile Emptywheel raises questions about how presiding over the impeachment will affect Chief Justice John Roberts, who's not ever running for reelection:
Q: Does Roberts' presiding over Trump's trial present recusal issues for the pending Trump lawsuits? Might presiding over it change how he'd rule?
Everyone gets pulled into the mud.
My sense is that in a fair election, Trump gets beat bad by any of the Democrats, even if there is an automatic loss of votes if the candidate is a women or person of color.. Though that could be partially made up by people coming out to vote who wouldn't otherwise.
But I know the Trump team will do everything they can to suppress voters, sway votes through outright lies, and meddle, if they can, with voting machines and electronic registration lists. So, I'm not counting on a fair election.
And while it concerns the US little, here is what is reported by The Telegraph (known here as 'The Tory-graph" this morning:
ReplyDelete'Boris Johnson is expected to formally open trade talks with the US before he begins discussions with the European Union, the Telegraph has learned.
US diplomats believe the Prime Minister is poised to seek Cabinet authorisation to open trade talks directly with America on a visit to Washington next month.
British civil servants have drawn up advice for ministers on the “pros and cons” of starting trade talks with America before beginning them with the European Union, the Telegraph understands.'
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For we who voted to Remain in the EU, this is precisely what we feared would come to pass. That this falls to the US to 'annex' us during this administration is particularly regrettable.
Our pivot to US business methods that our nation's conservatives have longed for is within reach.
God help us.
BTW, I didn't provide a link as this is pay-wall subscription only. Yes, I subscribe to a paper that sends its offers to join 'our subscribers to celebrate the UK leaving the EU in our private party at..."
ReplyDeleteI also subscribe to The Independent and the Guardian. News rolls & Twitter feeds just don't replace journalism.