The Prosecutor and The Felon

We approve this message pic.twitter.com/Kd1zKlqFmp

— Kamala HQ (@KamalaHQ) July 25, 2024

This.

pic.twitter.com/RMIRvlSOYw

— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) July 21, 2024

And some Pennsylvania endorsements:

Governor Josh Shapiro:

The contrast in this race could not be clearer and the road to victory in November runs right through Pennsylvania – where this collective work began.

I will do everything I can to help elect @KamalaHarris as the 47th President of the United States. pic.twitter.com/sqCkiAmCV7

— Josh Shapiro (@JoshShapiroPA) July 21, 2024

Senator Bob Casey:

“With women’s rights, workers’ rights, and voting rights on the line, the stakes of this election for Pennsylvania and the Nation couldn’t be higher,” said Casey. “Vice President Harris has been leading on those fights and as a former prosecutor, she will draw a clear contrast between herself and former President Trump. She is prepared to be Commander-in-Chief and is the best person to meet this moment. I’m proud to endorse her candidacy for President.

Representative Summer Lee:

My statement on President Biden stepping aside and my endorsement of Kamala Harris for President: pic.twitter.com/wTFbWLdYZU

— Summer Lee (@SummerForPA) July 21, 2024

Mayor Ed Gainey:

I am proud to endorse @KamalaHarris to be our 47th President of the United States of America.

Kamala has the passion, energy, and experience to win this race and deliver for the people of Pittsburgh. I look forward to joining her on the campaign trail soon. pic.twitter.com/PzrNBYz4du

— Ed Gainey (@gainey_ed) July 21, 2024

I know the list is incomplete. I know the list will grow over time.

Some things for all of us to remember:

• 34 Felony convictions
• Half a billion in fines for real estate fraud and for defaming a woman he sexually abused
• Bragged about overturning Roe v Wade

Rinse, later and repeat.

• 
  

Fact-checking Trump's Convention Speech

The Washington Post:

Former president Donald Trump’s 92-minute speech accepting the Republican presidential nomination on the final night of his party’s national convention rambled, often incoherently, through a hit parade of his favorite falsehoods, many of them ad-libbed instead of drawn from his prepared remarks.  

CNN:

Former President Donald Trump accepted the Republican presidential nomination on Thursday with the most dishonest speech of the four-day Republican National Convention, making more than 20 false claims by CNN’s count. 

ABC News

TRUMP CLAIM: Trump argued there was "a massive invasion at our southern border that has spread misery, crime, poverty, disease and destruction to communities all across our land."

FACT CHECK: This is false. There is no evidence of a major surge in crime caused by recent arrivals, and Trump's claims ignore the fact that crime is down across the country overall.

 NBC News:

Did Democrats ‘use Covid to cheat’ in the 2020 election?

“The election result, we’re never going to let it happen again. They used Covid to cheat," Trump said.

This is false.

Trump is referring to changes made during the Covid pandemic, largely to make it easier to vote by mail or absentee, as congregating at the polls posed a health risk. Democrats embraced the changes and turned out many voters by mail, while Trump slammed mail voting. There is no evidence the changes led to fraud, even though Trump and his allies filed more than 50 lawsuits challenging some facet of the 2020 election. All were denied, dismissed, settled or withdrawn, including multiple that made it to the Supreme Court.

CBS News:

Former President Donald Trump says he oversaw the "best economy in the history of our country, in the history of the world:" False

What we know: It is not true that Trump oversaw the best economy in the history of the U.S. by many of the metrics used to judge economic performance.

GDP

The claim struggles when looking at GDP. If the 2020 pandemic is excluded, growth after inflation under Trump averaged just over 2.5%, according to figures from the World Bank. Including the time period after COVID spread, that average drops by almost a percentage point. By comparison, Growth between 1962 to 1966 ranged from 4.4% to 6.6%. In 1950 and 1951, GDP ranged between 8.7% and 8%.

Under Mr. Biden, annual GDP growth is averaging 3.4%, according to the World Bank.

AP:

TRUMP: “We had the greatest economy in the history of the world.”

THE FACTS: That’s far from accurate. The pandemic triggered a massive recession during his presidency. The government borrowed $3.1 trillion in 2020 to stabilize the economy and Trump left the White House with fewer jobs than when he entered.

But even if you take out issues caused by the pandemic, economic growth averaged 2.67% during Trump’s first three years, which is pretty solid. But it’s nowhere near the 4% averaged during Bill Clinton’s two terms from 1993 to 2001, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. In fact, growth has been stronger so far under Biden than under Trump.

Trump did have the unemployment rate get as low as 3.5% before the pandemic, but the labor force participation rate for people 25 to 54 — the core of the U.S. working population — was higher under Clinton. The participation rate has also been higher under Biden than Trump.

There you go. One stop shopping for the fact-checking.

 

 

Meanwhile, Outside

Science from the scientists who study the climate over at NOAA:

June 2024 was the warmest June on record for the globe in NOAA's 175-year record. The June global surface temperature was 1.22°C (2.20°F) above the 20th-century average of 15.5°C (59.9°F). This is 0.15°C (0.27°F) warmer than the previous June record set last year, and the 13th consecutive month of record-high global temperatures. This ties with May 2015-May 2016 for the longest record warm global temperature streak in the modern record (since 1980). June 2024 marked the 48th consecutive June with global temperatures, at least nominally, above the 20th-century average.

There it is. 

And then there's this:

The January–June global surface temperature ranked warmest in the 175-year record at 1.29°C (2.32°F) above the 1901-2000 average of 13.5°C (56.2°F). According to NCEI's statistical analysis, there is a 59% chance that 2024 will rank as the warmest year on record and a 100% chance that it will rank in the top five.

Science. 

And yet, our friends at the Heritage Foundation see things differently:

Downsize the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research. 

OAR provides theoretical science, as opposed to the applied science of the National Hurricane Center. OAR is, however, the source of much of NOAA’s climate alarmism. The preponderance of its climate-change research should be disbanded. OAR is a large network of research laboratories, an undersea research center, and several joint research institutes with universities. These operations should be reviewed with an aim of consolidation and reduction of bloat. 

Why would they want to do that?

This is why:

Together, these form a colossal operation that has become one of the main drivers of the climate change alarm industry and, as such, is harmful to future U.S. prosperity.

Whereas some men just want to see the world burn, others would let it for the sake of profit.

Text of President Biden's Address

From The The Whitehouse:

My fellow Americans, I want to speak to you tonight about the need for us to lower the temperature in our politics and to remember, while we may disagree, we are not enemies.  We’re neighbors.  We’re friends, coworkers, citizens.  And, most importantly, we are fellow Americans.  And we must stand together. 

Yesterday’s shooting at Donald Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania calls on all of us to take a step back, take stock of where we are, how we go forward from here. 

Thankfully, former [President] Trump is not seriously injured.  I spoke with him last night.  I’m grateful he’s doing well.  And Jill and I keep him and his family in our prayers. 

We also extend our deepest condolences to the family of the victim who was killed.  Corey was a husband, a father, a volunteer firefighter, a hero, sheltering his family from those bullets.  We should all hold his family and all those injured in our prayers.

Earlier today, I spoke about an ongoing investigation.  We do not know the motive of the shooter yet.  We don’t know his opinions or affiliations.  We don’t know whether he had help or support or if he communicated with anyone else.  Law enforcement professionals, as I speak, are investigating those questions. 

Tonight, I want to speak to what we do know: A former president was shot.  An American citizen killed while simply exercising his freedom to support the candidate of his choosing. 

We cannot — we must not go down this road in America.  We’ve traveled it before throughout our history.  Violence has never been the answer, whether it’s with members of Congress in both parties being targeted in the shot, or a violent mob attacking the Capitol on January 6th, or a brutal attack on the spouse of former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, or information and intimidation on election officials, or the kidnapping plot against a sitting governor, or an attempted assassination on Donald Trump.

There is no place in America for this kind of violence or for any violence ever.  Period.  No exceptions.  We can’t allow this violence to be normalized. 

You know, the political rhetoric in this country has gotten very heated.  It’s time to cool it down.  And we all have a responsibility to do that. 

Yes, we have deeply felt, strong disagreements.  The stakes in this election are enormously high. 

I’ve said it many times that the choice in this elect- — that we make in this election is going to shape the future of America and the world for decades to come.  I believe that with all my soul.  I know that millions of my fellow Americans believe it as well.

And some have a different view as to the direction our country should take.  Disagreement is inevitable in American democracy.  It’s part of human nature.  But politics must never be a literal battlefield and, God forbid, a killing field.

I believe politics ought to be an arena for peaceful debate, to pursue justice, to make decisions guided by the Declaration of Independence and our Constitution.  We stand for an America not of extremism and fury but of decency and grace. 

All of us now face a time of testing as the election approaches.  And the higher the stakes, the more fervent the passions become.  This places an added burden on each of us to ensure that no matter how strong our convictions, we must never descend into violence. 

The Republican convention will start tomorrow.  I have no doubt they’ll criticize my record and offer their own vision for this country.  I’ll be traveling this week, making the case for our record and the vision — my vision of the country — our vision. 

I’ll continue to speak out strongly for our democracy, stand up for our Constitution and the rule of law, to call for action at the ballot box, no violence on our streets.  That’s how democracy should work. 

We debate and disagree.  We compare and contrast the character of the candidates, the records, the issues, the agenda, the vision for America. 

But in America, we resolve our differences at the ballot box.  You know, that’s how we do it, at the ballot box, not with bullets.  The power to change America should always rest in the hands of the people, not in the hands of a would-be assassin.

You know, the path forward through competing visions of the campaign should always be resolved peacefully, not through acts of violence.

You know, we’re blessed to live in the greatest country on Earth.  And I believe that with every soul — every power of my being.  So, tonight, I’m asking every American to recommit to make America so — make America what it i- — think about it.  What’s made America so special? 

Here in America, everyone wants to be treated with dignity and respect, and hate must have no safe harbor. 

Here in America, we need to get out of our silos, where we only listen to those with whom we agree, where misinformation is rampant, where foreign actors fan the flames of our division to shape the outcomes consistent with their interests, not ours.

Let’s remember, here in America, while unity is the most elusive of goals right now, nothing is more — more important for us now than standing together.  We can do this. 

You know, from the beginning, our founders understood the power of passion, and so they created a democracy that gave reason and balance a chance to prevail over brute force.  That’s the America we must be, an American democracy where arguments are made in good faith, an American democracy where the rule of law is respected, an American democracy where decency, dignity, fair play aren’t just quaint notions, but living, breathing realities.

We owe that to those who come before us, to those who gave their lives for this country.  We that — we owe that to ourselves.  We owe it to our children and our grandchildren. 

Look, let’s never lose sight of who we are.  Let’s remember we are the United States of America.  There is nothing, nothing, nothing beyond our capacity when we do it together.

So, God bless you all.  And may God protect our troops. 

The address:

No, Let's NOT "Both Sides" It

Before we do too many "both sides do it" with the overheated political rhetoric, let's recall what CNN posted on 08/09/2016:

It’s come to this. Donald Trump said on Tuesday that his opponent Hillary Clinton “wants to abolish, essentially abolish the Second Amendment. By the way, if she gets to pick her judges, nothing you can do, folks.” Trump followed his claim, which was not supported by any source or proof, with a not-so-veiled suggestion, adding, “although the Second Amendment people, maybe there is.”

Gee, I wonder what Trump meant by that?

8 years ago he was calling for one of those "Second Amendment people" to shoot Hillary Clinton.

 

GOP types were repeating the need for "Second Amendment solutions" back then, remember? 

What do you think they meant by that??

No Political Violence.

 

Political violence must always be condemned.

No political violence.

An Open Letter To Leaders Of The Democratic Party

Dear Dem Leaders;

I am not a member of the party, though I have recently donated money to it.

I was a member but that was more than a decade ago. I left the party in, I believe, 2010.

All that being said, I realize that my one voice probably doesn't amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world. I'd like to think, though it may just be wishful thinking, that my feelings in this matter may be independently shared by many of us on the non-politically connected left.

I am writing, of course, on the current tension in the party over Joe Biden's candidacy for presidency.

For god's sake, resolve this matter. 

Now.

I am a big fan of President Biden. I think he's done a great job as president, cleaning up the mess of the twice impeached Trump.

I also watched, in horror, his performance at that first debate.  At the very least Joe had a bad bad superbad night. It was so bad it pulled all the pundits' attention away from Trump's near complete dishonesty that night.

To paraphrase Mary McCarthy on Lillian Hellman: Every word he said was a lie, including "and" and "the."

As I am not a member of the party, I will not push for any particular resolution in this matter, only implore you to resolve it - either way. Resolve this.

Here's why:

Every Democrat in every speech should be pointing out at least these three things;

• He has 34 Felony Convictions
• He owes half a billion in fines for real estate fraud and for defaming a woman he sexually assaulted
• He brags about ending Roe v. Wade

Any day a democrat can not point these things (because he or she has to answer a question about Joe Biden) is an opportunity lost.

Our form of democracy is on the line.  One way or another, resolve this fucking thing.

July 4

July 4

Rudy Giuliani DISBARRED - And A Pennsylvania Connection!

We'll start here:

Rudy Giuliani, the former New York mayor and personal attorney to Donald Trump, was disbarred Tuesday in New York over his false statements about the 2020 election.

“The seriousness of respondent’s misconduct cannot be overstated,” a state appeals court said in a ruling, adding that Giuliani “baselessly attacked and undermined the integrity of this country’s electoral process.”

And so now let's dig into that ruling, shall we? 

Scrolling down somewhat, we find this:

Wherefore, it is Ordered that the motion by the Attorney Grievance Committee for the First Judicial Department to confirm the Referee’s report and recommendation pursuant to 603.8-a(t)(4) and 22 NYCRR 1240.8(b)(2) is granted, and respondent Rudolph W. Giuliani, admitted as Rudolph William Giuliani, is disbarred from the practice of law, effective immediately, and until the further order of this Court, and his name stricken from the roll of attorneys and counselors-at-law in the State of New York...(p.30)

And so on.

Inside the ruling we can find things like this:

The Referee found that on November 25, 2020, in violation of rules 4.1, 8.4(c), 8.4(d), and 8.4(h), respondent falsely and dishonestly claimed to Pennsylvania state legislators that in Philadelphia during the 2020 Presidential election, many thousands of votes were cast in the names of dead people. 

Respondent stipulated that “[m]any thousands of votes were not cast in the names of dead people in Philadelphia during the 2020 election.” Further, the Referee found that respondent knew, or should have known, that on November 11, 2020, Philadelphia Commissioner Al Schmidt, a Republican, made a televised statement in which he criticized the allegations of fraud as having no basis in fact and specifically concluded that the investigations regarding dead voters had led nowhere. (p.5)

Look at the date.

That would be PA State Sen Doug Mastriano's "hearing" on the 2020 election.

This "hearing" shows up a couple more times:

The Referee found that respondent falsely and dishonestly asserted that in Philadelphia there occurred “an extraordinary number of voter fraud convictions that stood as evidence of endemic election fraud in that city.” Respondent made the alleged offending statement four times: first, during the November 7, 2020 press conference at Four Seasons Total Landscaping; second, during a November 17, 2020 appearance in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, in violation of Pennsylvania Rules of Professional Conduct rules 3.3(a)(1), 4.1,and 8.4(c), which controlled under New York rule 8.5(b)(1); third, on November 25, 2020 before Pennsylvania state legislators; and fourth, on December 14, 2020 before Missouri state legislators, while testifying under oath, in violation of New York rules 4.1, 8.4(b), 8.4(c), 8.4(d), and 8.4(h). (p. 8)

And:

The Referee found that, in violation of rules 4.1, 8.4(b), 8.4(c), 8.4(d), and 8.4(h), respondent falsely and dishonestly asserted that in Michigan, trucks delivered ballots in garbage receptacles and paper bags. Respondent made the alleged offending statements during the November 19, 2020, press conference at the Republican National Committee Headquarters, during his November 25, 2020 appearance before Pennsylvania state legislators, during his December 3 and December 10, 2020 appearances before Georgia state legislators, and in his April 14, 2021 affidavit filed with this Court in opposition to the AGC’s interim suspension motion. (p. 17)

So, in part, the lies Rudy told at Doug's little hearing got Rudy disbarred. 

When will Pennsylvania State Senator Doug Mastriano offer up any sort of explanation/apology for setting up the venue in which Donald Trump's lawyer (and a man once known as "America's Mayor") spread lies bad enough to be disbarred?

With Fear For Our Democracy, I Dissent

Today

Steve Bannon's going to prison today.