39 Comments
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Al Draycott's avatar

Thanks Rick: Well scripted, You covered all the bases. U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams directed that a copy of her scathing order regarding a controversial IRS lawsuit be sent to the State Bar of New York concerning acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. Will anything come from this referral?? Regarding Blanches hearing , I can hardly wait to so how Senator Susan Collins votes.

Patrick's avatar

Show me the man and I’ll find you the crime. Beria.

David Gunn's avatar

Send a letter demanding a no vote to your legislators immediately with ResistBot - Text “SIGN PCRCIX” to 50409.

Here’s the letter:

“**Vote No on Todd Blanche's Attorney General Confirmation**

Vote no on Todd Blanche's confirmation as Attorney General. He is not a neutral law enforcement officer — he was Trump's personal defense attorney before joining the DOJ, and a coalition of 101 former federal and state judges just filed a 73-page ethics complaint against him with the New York State Bar. The charges include professional misconduct tied to a nearly $2 billion IRS slush fund and the abuse of DOJ powers to target political opponents. This is not a close call.

A federal judge in Florida already ruled that Trump used her courtroom to "provide some legitimacy to an agreement to confer immunity to people and entities affiliated with the President and to earmark billions of dollars from American taxpayers." More than 1,000 former DOJ employees signed a letter calling Blanche's tenure marked by corruption and abuses. Senators Cassidy and Booker filed a joint brief opposing the settlement fund. The evidence against this nomination is overwhelming and bipartisan.

The Senate Judiciary Committee has the power to stop this. The rubber-stamping of corrupt and unfit nominees has to end somewhere — this is that moment. Vote no.”

Ben's avatar

Blanche is without question (retired prosecutor here) a profoundly corrupt and dishonest fiend. What’s so amazing — even now— is that the bill of particulars against Blanche involve conduct so brazen and unambiguously criminal at scale that his nomination can only be considered Trump’s massive fuck you to the Rule of Law. What unfolds at the hearing will reveal much about where we are right now.

Rick Braun's avatar

Read Judge William's order (56 pages) in Trump's worthless IRS suit. US Dist. Southern Florida, No. 26-20609CV-Williams. The evidence against Blanche is damning. In essence he engineered and managed an attempt to steal $1.776 million from the American taxpayers and using the US Federal court as cover. Every lawyer in that case should be disbarred and criminally charged.

Chris Klots's avatar

Susan Collins is clutching her pearls and expressing concern. But, she'll vote yes, have no doubt! Sorry, Mainers, for the death in Biddeford! Imagine how much more restrained this gang will be, once Collins votes yes and Blanche is in!!

Liz Scheffler's avatar

I hope somewhere in the DOJ archives, a certain John Mitchell has left a few notes. Mr. Blanche may wish to read them before tomorrow's hearing. The oath to defend the Constitution is serious.

With the passing of Sen. Graham, and the continued incapacitation of Sen. McConnell, I am hopeful this will not make it beyond the hearing to the full floor.

John Gregory's avatar

I don't think Comey arranged the shells to say 8647. I think he found them so arranged on the beach and took a picture and posted it (then removed it, as you say.) VERY thin grounds for a charge of threatening the president...

Mike's avatar

What gives me hope: It will only take 2-3 repubs to vote nay to sink him

What makes me pause: It will only take 2-3 repubs to vote nay ...

We've seen this movie like 10 times already: Collins will see if she can vote nay without sinking him. If not, she votes to confirm, but expresses concern. Will say he promised her to be a good boy.

Murkowski: Same. Might be bought off by another tax break for Alaskan crabbers. Again.

But surely Cornyn and Cassidy will vote nay. Right?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA.

BTW ... speaking of Collins, she just voted to give $70B to ICE. It gives me great pleasure to be the first to announce her political death

Progress. Somewhat. And Chuck didn't even have to write a letter

Barry Eisenberg's avatar

I'm nobody and I still use Incogni. Thanks for all you do

Phil Johnson's avatar

likewise. And I am an old AF (1960s) vet/public defense lawyer...

Mingo's avatar

I've been calling my senators Kelly and Gallego for weeks to vote "no" on his nomination. I hope the beat-down by the federal judge yesterday is foremost in their minds.

Phil Johnson's avatar

1. did you get any response that 2. wasn't canned?

Sara Smith's avatar

One of my Senators sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee. I was just about to send him an email urging him to reject Blanche’s nomination (and pointing out that I am one of the voters who recently changed their party registration to Republican specifically to be able to vote in Republican primaries). Thanks for the ammunition to include in my message!

Angela Carrelli's avatar

Great move Sara! I know so many Republicans who routinely changed their party registration to cheat in Democratic primaries Well done💜

Sara Smith's avatar

Did it because our MAGA legislature, pushed by our MAGA governor, closed our previously open ("jungle") primaries. Republican primaries are where the future of this state will be decided, and I want to have my say in that. (Republicans are now crowing about how their registrations surpassed those of the Democrats. I wonder how many other Democrats did the same thing I did? They may be sorry about some of those new registrations!)

Jen Baron's avatar

Um, the 55% “discount” is bogus. Thanks just the same.

US Blues's avatar

Urg. “Weaving” paid content into a serious newsletter seems icky. The ad in the center of the piece irks the hell out of the writing teacher in me. It’s an unnecessary barrier in communication which good writers try like hell to avoid. Rick’s a damn good writer though. 🤔I guess the AI company or whatever pays well, so then I wonder why he needs my paid subscription…

That the 55% off part is a scam further erodes credibility. Bigly.

Bob McKeown's avatar

Yeah. I love Rick's writing like everybody here. What I call the Man From Glad paradigm (drafting off the rizz of the presenter) is the backbone of product influencer culture but it lands like a lead balloon in a serious political podcast. As soon as Rick shifts into his product shill voice, all his credibility evaporates and not a word he says in the ad can be trusted because he's being paid to say it. I think this is more corrosive than it's worth, honestly.

Shannon Glenn's avatar

Is the US population 1/3 of a billion people?

Phil Johnson's avatar

last number I saw was 335 million. Close enough, I guess.

Shannon Glenn's avatar

The article said 2/3. I’m Canadian so we usually measure ourselves at 1/10th and suddenly we became 1/20th 😀 We’re 40 and 335 makes sense but not 600+. To be clear I’m a big fan and follower just helping out

Phil Johnson's avatar

Thank you for that. I knew when I first read the comment, then replied, something told me that I was responding for the wrong reason. I forgot it was "2/3" which prompted me to respond in the first place. Thank you for restoring my sanity, which tells me I responded correctly instinctively, but for the wrong reason.

We are in deep doo-doo down here, whether it is 1/3 or 2/3...