Siegfried Fischbacher Some news items you might have missed: • The Advocate: Las Vegas illusionist Siegfried Fischbacher, of Siegfried and Roy fame, has died at age 81. Fischbacher died Wednesday night at his home in Vegas due to pancreatic cancer. Roy Horn, his partner in life and work, died last May of COVID-19 complications at age 75. • Defense One: The Pentagon, in a break with recent tradition, will not host an Armed Forces Farewell tribute to President Donald Trump. Trump will leave office in disgrace, one week after the House voted a second time for his impeachment, two weeks after his supporters staged a deadly siege in the Capitol Building, six months after he dragged his Joint Chiefs chairman into a political firestorm, and after four years of nonstop assaults on truth. • Broadway Cares: Beloved stars from All My Children, One Life to Live and General Hospital will reunite for ABC Daytime: Back on Broadway, a one-night-only streaming concert benefiting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. The free streamed event can be watched at broadwaycares.org beginning at 8 pm Eastern on Thursday, February 11.
• Business Insider: GOP elected officials lost thousands of Twitter followers over the weekend, as the company cracked down on QAnon accounts in the aftermath of the Capitol Hill riots. Rep. Jim Jordan’s followers took the biggest dive with nearly 150,000 purged or defected. • ABC News: Amazon Web Services has responded to Parler’s lawsuit against it with a series of screenshots of hateful content – loaded with threats of violence and racial slurs – that allegedly spread on the platform. One screenshot of a Parler post features a slew of racial slurs about Michelle Obama and another states, “The only good democrat is a dead one.” • Variety: Lady Gaga is set to sing the national anthem for the inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris on Jan. 20. Film and recording star Jennifer Lopez will perform as well.
Rudy Giuliani at Trump press conference (screen capture) Donald Trump’s personal circle continues to grow smaller and smaller. After attacking his own Vice President for not trying to illegally overturn the 2020 election, Trump now is reportedly disgruntled with his personal attorney, Rudy Giuliani. From the Washington Post:
Though Trump has been exceptionally furious with Vice President Pence, his relationship with lawyer Rudolph W. Giuliani, one of his most steadfast defenders, is also fracturing, according to people with knowledge of the dynamics between the men.
Trump has instructed aides not to pay Giuliani’s legal fees, two officials said, and has demanded that he personally approve any reimbursements for the expenses Giuliani incurred while traveling on the president’s behalf to challenge election results in key states.
They said Trump has privately expressed concern with some of Giuliani’s moves and did not appreciate a demand from Giuliani for $20,000 a day in fees for his work attempting to overturn the election.
Many outlets have reported that Giuliani may have been wrangling for a preemptive presidential pardon just to cover his own backside. But it appears that may not be in the cards now. Although, Maggie Haberman of the New York Times has tweeted that White House folks are now walking back some of the ‘angry at Rudy’ reports.
It makes perfect sense that Trump would stiff Rudy Giuliani on the money he's owed, AND expect him to represent him in the impeachment trial.
My favorite thing in the world just happened – Trump is mad at Giuliani for not winning any of the dumbass cases he wanted him to bring, so he's not paying him! Exactly as predicted! I told you that he would throw every single ally under the bus and never pay any of his bills!
And now it’s gone full circle, Rudy Giuliani is going to get stiffed by his client who is known for not paying any contractors after he helped him commit insurrection. Oh Rudy. 🤣🥂
Donald Trump released a video message today admonishing “violence and vandalism” in regard to the invasion of the U.S. Capitol building last week. “No true supporter of mine could ever endorse political violence,” says Trump in the clip. “No true supporter of mine could ever disrespect law enforcement or our great American flag.” Oh, my sides… The video came shortly after the House approved an article of impeachment against Trump by a vote of 232-197 making him the first president ever to be impeached twice. Plus, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell began hinting he may vote to convict Trump. This comes across as a preemptive legal defense against impeachment to me. Trust and believe, he did not write a word of this. From the New York Times:
“I want to be very clear,” he continued. “I unequivocally condemn the violence that we saw last week. Violence and vandalism have absolutely no place in our country and no place in our movement. Making America great again has always been about defending the rule of law” and supporting law enforcement officials.
As a candidate in 2016, Mr. Trump once encouraged rally attendees to physically attack protesters. But in the video on Wednesday, he said that “mob violence goes against everything I believe in and everything our movement stands for. No true supporter of mine could ever endorse political violence.”
“If you do any of these things, you are not supporting our movement, you are attacking it, and you are attacking our country,” he said. “We cannot tolerate it.”
There was no mention of the people who died in the melee last week including one Capitol Police officer who was reportedly bludgeoned with a fire extinguisher. Looking ahead to the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden, Trump added, “There must be no violence, no lawbreaking and no vandalism of any kind.”
Trump: “No true supporters of mine could ever endorse political violence.”
Also Trump: “When the looting starts, the shooting starts.” “I’d like to punch him in the face.” “Any guy who can do a body slam, he’s my guy.” — Eli Stokols (@EliStokols) January 13, 2021
TELEPROMPTER: “I did not endorse the violence.”
REALITY: “I sat & watched the violence play out on TV and I did nothing to stop it. Instead, I ignored all calls to intervene as I sat there, clapping my little doll-hands in giddy delight, because the violence was what I wanted.” — Mrs. Betty Bowers (@BettyBowers) January 13, 2021
More lies in Trump video. Says “no true supporters of mine could ever endorse political violence.” (These were his supporters of his at rally. He told them to come. He said he was with them as they marched to Capitol. Also he has stoked violence before calling press “enemy,” etc)
He said they were very special, he loved them…he watched it unfold on TV, all for his ego. He chose to do nothing and allow terror to reign in hopes of stopping the count process.
Trump, in his new video statement, said “no true supporter of mine could ever disrespect law enforcement.” Here’s video evidence of a Capitol security guard being beaten with a Trump flag pic.twitter.com/AwNQkgQ1dD
Donald Trump has become the first president in the history of the U.S. to face impeachment charges twice. In a bipartisan vote of 232 to 197, the House of Representatives approved a single article of impeachment against Trump charging him with “inciting violence against the government of the United States” in regard to last week’s insurrection at the Capitol. So. Much. Winning. From the New York Times:
The House on Wednesday impeached President Trump for inciting a violent insurrection against the United States government, as 10 members of the president’s party joined Democrats to charge him with high crimes and misdemeanors for an unprecedented second time.
Reconvening under the threat of continued violence and the protection of thousands of National Guard troops, the House was determined to hold Mr. Trump to account just one week before he was to leave office.
At issue was his role in encouraging a mob that attacked the Capitol one week ago while Congress met to affirm President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s victory, forcing lawmakers to flee for their lives in a deadly rampage.
Ten House Republicans joined with Democrats in passing the measure. The Senate will now face holding impeachment proceedings once the House transmits the article of impeachment. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has reportedly been ‘pleased’ by the impeachment development but says he won’t bring the Senate back into session before its scheduled session on January 19.
Trump’s last four years: -Lost the popular vote twice -Been impeached twice -Lost the House in 2018 -Lost the Senate in 2021 -Lost reelection by 7m votes, 306-232 electoral votes -Banned from Twitter and Facebook for inciting a riot at the US Capitol Otherwise he’s doing great.
Donald Trump Lacking his social media platforms, Donald Trump issued a statement ‘old-school’ today discouraging any further violence. “In light of reports of more demonstrations, I urge that there must be NO violence, NO lawbreaking and NO vandalism of any kind,” read the statement from the White House Press Secretary. “That is not what I stand for, and it is not what America stands for.” “I call on ALL Americans to help ease tensions and calm tempers. Thank you.” As the House is currently debating an article of impeachment at this very moment, this seems like Trump probably got advice from his lawyers that he needs to at least ‘appear’ to discourage violence like the hideous insurrection that occurred at the U.S. Capitol building last week.
Soon-to-be twice impeached president: I don’t stand for lawbreaking.
Too late, he should have kept his mouth shut . He whipped crazy people up into a frenzy . He knew what he was doing. pic.twitter.com/WvovDejDpU
— Chappie the cat 🐱 Voted Biden/Harris (@chappie_cat) January 13, 2021
"Please understand that my comments about the election being 'stolen' or 'fraudulent' were just a joke. I'm always making jokes like that. Remember the one about injecting bleach? So, anyway, be good. Stand by."
— Gregory Paul (YOU do 40 with a ladder.) (@G_Paul_Musings) January 13, 2021
Zero chance he wrote this. Glad to see the communications staff finally figuring out how to use their official means of communications after four years.
Donald Trump (screen capture via CNN) In his first remarks to the press since the invasion of the U.S. Capitol building last week, Donald Trump took no responsibility for the violence and chaos that took place after he encouraged his followers to “march up to the Capitol” and “fight like hell.” From CNN:
A defiant President Donald Trump insisted Tuesday his speech inciting the riot at the US Capitol was “totally appropriate” while at the same time calling for “no violence” in his first public remarks to reporters after the insurrection last week.
Trump assumed no responsibility for what happened last Wednesday, despite telling his supporters in the hour beforehand to “fight like hell.” And he did not specifically decry attempts to find and kill political leaders, including his own vice president.
Before leaving the White House earlier in the day, the Donald also denounced the current impeachment proceedings developing in Congress calling it a “continuation of the greatest witch hunt in the history of politics.” He also insinuated that those actions could lead to more violence. “This impeachment is causing tremendous anger, and you’re doing it and it’s really a terrible thing that they’re doing,” he told reporters.
Chuck Schumer, in New York City, says Trump’s recent remarks show “how despicable a president he is.” “What Trump did today, blaming others for what he caused, is a pathological technique used by dictators,” he says, adding that Trump should resign or be impeached.
Five people died, things got smashed up, shit was smeared everywhere and we infected some Democrats with Covid, so yes, IT WAS A PERFECT SPEECH! https://t.co/LJlRUJVr2P
Donald Trump speaks at the White House (photo: public domain) A majority of Trump supporters say the individuals who stormed the U.S. Capitol last week were undermining U.S. democracy rather than protecting it. From the Quinnipiac University poll: • 62% of respondents who voted for Trump said the rioters were undermining democracy, 19 % said they were protecting it • 80% said the rioters were undermining democracy, 10% said they were protecting it • 56% of voters say they hold Donald Trump responsible for the storming of the U.S. Capitol, while 42 percent say they do not hold him responsible • 52% of voters say Trump should be removed from office, 45% disagree; 53% also say he should resign as president, 43% disagree • 84% of Trump voters said there was widespread voter fraud, even though there is no evidence to support those claims • 8 in 10 Trump supporters said they approve of how the president is handling his job, 10% said they disapprove, 10% had no opinion • Among registered voters overall, however, 60% disapprove of the job Trump is doing while 33% approve of Trump’s performance (which ties his all-time low) • 45% of voters say Trump is mentally stable, while 48% say he is not mentally stable
House Democrats on Monday introduced an article of impeachment against President Trump for inciting a mob that attacked the Capitol last week, vowing to press the charge as Republicans blocked a separate move to formally call on Vice President Mike Pence to strip him of power under the 25th Amendment.
The dual actions came as Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her caucus sought to ratchet up pressure on Mr. Pence to intervene and push Mr. Trump to resign. If they did not, the Democrats promised immediate consequences for Mr. Trump’s role in an attack that put the lives of the vice president, members of Congress and thousands of staff working on Capitol Hill at risk as officials met to formalize President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s victory.
“The president’s threat to America is urgent, and so too will be our action,” Ms. Pelosi said on Monday.
The article of impeachment calls out Trump specifically for “incitement of insurrection.” Trump’s own former toadie, Chris Christie, told ABC News on Sunday he believes Trump definitely committed an impeachable offense. You can read the article of impeachment at the New York Times. A House vote on the single article of impeachment could come as early as Wednesday. While most of us watched the events at the Capitol unfold via live news streams, since that time much more video and photographic evidence has been made available which illustrates the breadth of the violent insurrection. Check out this report from NowThis News.
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (screen capture) Impeachable offenses? Chris Christie thinks so. The former Republican governor of New Jersey told ABC News’s George Stephanopoulos that he believes Donald Trump’s actions and statements to his followers prior to the invasion of the U.S. Capitol building constitute “impeachable offenses.” “If inciting to insurrection isn’t, then I don’t really know what is,” said Christie. “What we had was an incitement to riot at the United States Capitol. We have people killed, and to me there’s not a whole lot of question here.” The former Trump supporter also called out the White House for not flying the U.S. flag at half mast in honor of the Capitol Police officer who was killed in the riots.
A case of ‘a little too late,’ but Twitter just announced it has permanently suspended Donald Trump’s Twitter account.
After close review of recent Tweets from the @realDonaldTrump account and the context around them — specifically how they are being received and interpreted on and off Twitter — we have permanently suspended the account due to the risk of further incitement of violence.
In the context of horrific events this week, we made it clear on Wednesday that additional violations of the Twitter Rules would potentially result in this very course of action. Our public interest framework exists to enable the public to hear from elected officials and world leaders directly. It is built on a principle that the people have a right to hold power to account in the open.
However, we made it clear going back years that these accounts are not above our rules entirely and cannot use Twitter to incite violence, among other things. We will continue to be transparent around our policies and their enforcement.Twitter locked Trump’s account for 12 hours over inflammatory tweets on Wednesday evening, but gave him back the keys. Earlier today, Axios reported that Twitter had suspended the accounts of former national security adviser Michael Flynn and President Trump’s lawyer Sidney Powell on Friday for breaking the platform’s “Coordinated Harmful Activity” policy.
