The petition demands that the federal government explain what it is doing to “immediately release Donald Trump’s full tax returns, with all information needed to verify emoluments clause compliance.” It garnered over 100,000 signatures within 24 hours of the president’s inauguration and has become the subject of a New York Times editorial.,
“The unprecedented economic conflicts of this administration need to be visible to the American people, including any pertinent documentation which can reveal the foreign influences and financial interests which may put Donald Trump in conflict with the emoluments clause of the Constitution,” states a brief description of the petition.
As of Thursday afternoon, the petition had over 368,000 signatures, surpassing the previous record of 367,180. The previous record-holder called for the United States government to “legally recognize the Westboro Baptist Church as a hate group.”
There are now more than 400,000 signatures.
The Daily Telegraph has an update on the Russian spy who was arrested and charged with treason in December: Mystery death of ex-KGB chief linked to MI6 spy’s dossier on Donald Trump.
An ex-KGB chief suspected of helping the former MI6 spy Christopher Steele to compile his dossier on Donald Trump may have been murdered by the Kremlin and his death covered up. it has been claimed.
Oleg Erovinkin, a former general in the KGB and its successor the FSB, was found dead in the back of his car in Moscow on Boxing Day in mysterious circumstances.
leg
Oleg Erovinkin
Erovinkin was a key aide to Igor Sechin, a former deputy prime minister and now head of Rosneft, the state-owned oil company, who is repeatedly named in the dossier.
Erovinkin has been described as a key liaison between Sechin and Russian president Vladimir Putin. Mr Steele writes in an intelligence report dated July 19, 2016, he has a source close to Sechin, who had disclosed alleged links between Mr Trump’s supporters and Moscow.
The death of Erovinkin has prompted speculation it is linked to Mr Steele’s explosive dossier, which was made public earlier this month….
The Russian state-run RIA Novosti news agency reported Erovinkin’s body was “found in a black Lexus… [and] a large-scale investigation has been commenced in the area. Erovinkin’s body was sent to the FSB morgue”.
Read more at the link.
Yesterday, tRump signed a cruel executive order to prevent refugees from several majority Muslim countries from coming to the U.S. Countries like Saudia Arabia where tRump has business interests weren’t on the list, but Syria and Iraq were. Voice of America reports:
The executive order titled “Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States,” calls for suspension of visas and other immigration benefits to citizens of “countries of particular concern.”
Two United Nations agencies issued a joint statement Saturday just hours after Trump’s order, saying “The needs of refugees and migrants worldwide have never been greater, and the U.S. resettlement program is one of the most important in the world.”
The U.N. Refugee Agency and the International Organization for Migration said they hope the “U.S. will continue its strong leadership role and long tradition of protecting those who are fleeing conflict and persecution.” The agencies said they “strongly believe that refugees should receive equal treatment for protection and assistance, and opportunities for resettlement, regardless of their religion, nationality or race.” ….
As a reason for the order, the document cites the September 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington, which were carried out by 19 foreigners who obtained visas to enter the United States without difficulty. It refers to other terrorism-related crimes committed over the past 15 years by foreign nationals who entered the United States using either short-term visas — as visitors, students or temporary workers — or as refugees seeking resettlement in the U.S.
Of course everyone knows the majority of the 9/11 hijackers were from Saudi Arabia. The order means that we will turn away Iraqis who helped us and are in danger in their own country.
The New York Times: Fears That Trump’s Visa Ban Betrays Friends and Bolsters Enemies.
CAIRO — Across the Muslim world, the refrain was resounding: President Trump’s freeze on refugee arrivals and visa requests from seven predominantly Muslim countries will have major diplomatic repercussions, worsen perceptions of Americans and offer a propaganda boost to the terrorist groups Mr. Trump says he is targeting.
Mr. Trump’s stance has been evident since the early days of his campaign, when he advocated a “complete and total shutdown” of all Muslims entering the United States.
President Trump has since softened his language, casting his order on Friday as a way to keep terrorists, not Muslims, out of the United States.
“We don’t want them here,” Mr. Trump said as he signed the order at the Pentagon. “We want to ensure that we are not admitting into our country the very threats our soldiers are fighting overseas.”
But in interviews with dozens of officials, analysts and ordinary citizens across Muslim-majority countries, there was overwhelming agreement that the order issued Friday signaled a provocation: a sign that the American president sees Islam itself as the problem.
“I think this is going to alienate the whole Muslim world,” said Mouwafak al-Rubaie, a lawmaker and former Iraqi national security adviser in Iraq.
This heartless order by tRump will be challenged in the courts.
An Iraqi refugee family
The New York Times: Refugees Detained at U.S. Airports, Prompting Legal Challenges to Trump’s Immigration Order.
President Trump’s executive order closing the nation’s borders to refugees was put into immediate effect Friday night. Refugees who were in the air on the way to the United States when the order was signed were stopped and detained at airports.
The detentions prompted legal challenges as lawyers representing two Iraqi refugees held at Kennedy Airport filed a writ of habeas corpus early Saturday in the Eastern District of New York seeking to have their clients released. At the same time, they filed a motion for class certification, in an effort to represent all refugees and immigrants who they said were being unlawfully detained at ports of entry.
Mr. Trump’s order, which suspends entry of all refugees to the United States for 120 days, created a legal limbo for individuals on the way to the United States and panic for families who were awaiting their arrival.
Mr. Trump’s order also stops the admission of refugees from Syria indefinitely, and it bars entry into the United States for 90 days from seven predominantly Muslim countries linked to concerns about terrorism. Those countries are Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen.
It was unclear how many refugees and immigrants were being held nationwide in the aftermath of the executive order. The complaints were filed by a prominent group including the American Civil Liberties Union, the International Refugee Assistance Project at the Urban Justice Center, the National Immigration Law Center, Yale Law School’s Jerome N. Frank Legal Services Organization and the firm Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton.
Just reading the words “President Trump” makes me physically ill.
On bright spot is that the tRump people have walked back a number of the ridiculous plans they’ve proposed. Rachel Maddow did a good report on this last night. If you didn’t see it, I hope you’ll go watch it. And while you’re there, please check out Lawrence O’Donnell’s open monologue about the abject humiliations tRump has suffered over the past two days. I know everyone is demoralized, and I am too. But we have to keep hope alive.
Please post your thoughts and links in the comment thread and do your best do enjoy the weekend.
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ACLU filed lawsuits this morning for them.
Adam Jentleson at the WaPo:
Senate Democrats have the power to stop Trump. All they have to do is use it.
Jentleson was Harry Reid’s top aide.
We need to pressure Senate Democrats to do this.
DeVos and Sessions should be at the top of the list for this treatment.
Yes!
I don’t know what makes me angrier. The fact that all these “representatives” who are supposed to take care of the country haven’t done anything to save it yet, or the fact that there are so many simple things they could be doing and aren’t.
What is WRONG with these people?
I’ve never understood this type of behavior. They are cowards, IMO. They don’t want to make too much fuss. They want to get along. And that’s how bad things happen — no one takes a stand, and down that slope they slide.
Since last weekend I’ve had some hope rise up — all the people in the streets last Sat and this weekend — Congress, the people are leading! Follow us!
BTW, good to see you, quixote!
You too, Luna!
This is a read that will scare you. It connected dots for me.
https://www.autostraddle.com/i-was-trained-for-the-culture-wars-in-home-school-awaiting-someone-like-mike-pence-as-a-messiah-367057/
Holy shit! The m-fers are seriously dangerous.
I need to do more research on this, but my gut is telling me it’s right. I went to a church once that had a tight group of home-schoolers. And everyone I know that home schools & is fanatically religious, is an ultra conservative. That is why DeVos would be their champion. I’m just sick thinking about it. Jim Jones style wacko, without the kool-aid
This quote stuck out for me: “Michael Farris founded HSLDA in 1983 as a way to ensure that homeschooling was legal, but what he’s been striving for is the wild west.”
It seems the “wild west” would be the logical conclusion of what some of the “no gun regulations” people want.
There is that long-awaited conservative Christian take-over of the government that I don’t minimize. But, the recent ban on immigrants from 7 muslim countries, may be an opening for conservative Christian groups like the Dominionist to be emboldened to ratchet its desire for Christian domination of society and every living thing on Earth as God pronounced as their responsibility (Genesis 1:28). It may not come to a religious war between Christians and Muslims. With a reckless, enemy-provoking president trump, we’re much closer than 10 days ago.
I guess no one realized how nuts they are. I’m gob-smacked right now because people I have trusted are in agreement with this. Why can I see how evil Resident Rump is, but they are clueless?
contrask, I can only tell you that some like this blue-haired keiryn are taught these beliefs and think liberal democrats allow any and everything, against God’s word. What I can’t understand is how many people who voted for this businessman thought his business experience and skills were easily transferable to leading this #1
world power.
I am very saddened to hear about John Hurt’s passing. I had a geeky crush on him decades ago after seeing him in films and reading about him. I’m a sucker for that kind of voice.
The production values are kind of cheesy but if you have never seen the old BBC series “I, Claudius” (Derek Jacobi, Patrick Stewart and Hurt as an over-the-top Caligula) it is very immersing.
I will really miss him. I’m afraid we are going to lose a lot of people this year, too.
“I, Claudius” was marvelous. I’d read the Graves books years before I saw the film version. All the acting was superb.
Yes!. Books like that hold you hostage until you’re done and then when you’re finished you get your life back. lol
I swear I DID NOT not get the word “immersing” from this post at Hullabaloo:
http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2017/01/he-was-human-being-rip-john-hurt.html
I’d like to delurk and comment here too. In the 1980’s I worked for the British Film Institute. One of the people I worked for had been well known but was now an alcoholic and would be termed a “has been”. He was totally ignored or treated with contempt by many in the film industry. John Hurt was the exception, he remained a good friend, treated my ex-boss with respect, was always there for him. I’ve always thought that was the measure of the man John Hurt was and I had tremendous respect for him.
Sweet kingcake baby jaysus!!
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/donald-trump-publish-weekly-list-crimes-immigrants-commit-refugees-aliens-executive-order-us-a7546826.html
There is a “Black crimes” list at Breitbart???? And where is this “aliens” list going to appear? That is just pure unadulterated hate. How does doing such a thing help anything?
If I thought it was not immoral I would say there needs to be a counter list for crimes by Goldman Sachs bankers. Or how about domestic abuse perpetrators? Pedophiles?
The Nazis did this with Jewish “crimes,” which is probably where Bannon and thus Trump got the idea.
yes , what they have been doing reminds me a lot of what nazis or other dictators would do. Why is it that republicans cannot see how bad all of his policies are for this country. Home schooling and charter schools all over the place will not be good. I met a lady once whose husband was becoming a preacher, she was a teacher. Her sixth grader was flunking school, and she laughed, thought it was funny. Her kindergartner played with mine, and he did not even know a single letter of the alphabet, mine was reading at age 3. I did not work at my kids’ learning, it just happened in the course of a day. Reading books and doing puzzles instead of beating up on other kids and going to church.
I’ve been calling them fake Christians for years. Just more evidence to back up my claim.
All hellfire and damnation (for others) and no forgiveness and love, no helping the poor or the sick, no loving thy neighbor as thyself for these “Christians”.
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No but the hair does.
“I know everyone is demoralized, and I am too. But we have to keep hope alive.”
I’m with you BB. We can’t allow tRump to do what all of this week’s BS is intended to do, dishearten us, scare us into the shadows. I am calling my Senators & Reps every day. We all must keep the heat on in any way that we can.
We need to reclaim the meme “NOT IN MY NAME”. And remind the world that tRump is not doing what MOST of us want him to do. We need to carry it proudly in marches, tweets etc.
NOT IN MY NAME.
NOT IN MY NAME!
NOT IN MY NAME!
RESIST!
Thanks very much for the link to the petition for the release of the tax returns of the Orange Menace. I’ve signed.
Me too. I had to confirm my signature via email.
They always do that.
This guy co-founded Ready for Hillary and is running for DNC Vice-Chair. We need more people like him:
There goes weapons inspections. Is any other country doing this but us?
Terry McAuliffe and AG Mark Herring went straight to Dulles Airport. Terry ordered AG to look at all avenues to help any detainees there.
Thank you Gov. McAuliffe!
Makes me wish I was on the other Liberal Coast (but no place is safe now):
Oh, my God!
I’ll add that we on the east coast had Russia’s (Cuban) missiles actually pointed at us in 1962. I trusted JFK, at quite a young age, to end the standoff peacefully.
A CIA/military coup may be America’s last resort.
Most of the U.S.A. would back that now.
I’ve had this gnawing feeling China may decide they’ve had enough. If we continue to refuse to get in line with the dangers of climate change in particular – at some point they may feel we’re a threat that cannot be tolerated.
One of my favorite John Hurt performances
In light of the insane narcissist in the White House, let’s rumor Hurt’s turn as Caligula in “I,Cladius.”
“Let’s remember” — #DamnYouAutoCorrect!
A CIA/military coup may be America’s best hope.
Well it’s for damned sure the Republican won’t bring articles of impeachment against him until he signs a repeal of the ACA and changes to SS, Medicare, Medicaid, privatizes schools, defunds PP, runs all undocumented workers out, appoints a SCOTUS judge and does whatever else it is they want done.
If they impeach him, Pence’s will become POTUS and they’ll still get their wishes.
That’s in response to the ACLU lawsuit this morning.
Just read in a tweet that the judge is a woman! That will be so difficult for Trump to accept. Hahahahahaha!
My Gov!
http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/at-sea-tac-inslee-and-other-officials-denounce-immigrant-ban-train-wreck/
Awesome! I met him once! He was so engaging it felt like I’d known him for years.
That’s cool. He was the Congressman (with a good record) for the district just north of Seattle for several terms before running for Gov.
Your Governor nailed it. tRump in office 8 days has done more damage to our country than every other president combined in my 70+ memory.
And today tRump appointed Steve Bannon to an advisory role in the National Security Council. A white nationalist sitting on the NSC. OMFG!!!!!
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/politics/ct-trump-isis-plan-bannon-security-role-20170128-story.html
Steve Bannon Replaces DNI And Military Head On National Security Council
http://crooksandliars.com/2017/01/steve-bannon-replaces-dni-and-military
Holy Sh*t!
Here’s the scene at Seatac…
I hope she doesn’t get any backlash for speaking out. But I am glad that she is raising her voice at this outrage! Luv her…I’m with her!
I’m Still With Her!
Hillary warned during the debates and on the campaign trail that THIS sort of action is what would happen with a trump presidency. He’s incompetent and unfit. No one can ever say we weren’t warned. I’m glad to see Hillary speaking out. Keep it up Hillz.
Let’s keep it up! RESIST!
I’m so proud of the millennials. They are taking it to streets and letting trump know this shit is unacceptable and will not stand.
Awesome – I sent this sign to my sister who is going to ATL Hartsfield Airport tonight for a protest there. I have to hang around the house as Mom is in the hospital and may be discharged today.
Anyway THANK YOU – I hope she uses this.
That’s my people!!! That is MY PEOPLE right there!!!
I hear this judge is a woman, too! Take that, Drumpf!
Splendid: a new course at the Univ of Wash, and they’d like to make it a MOOC, too!
http://callingbullshit.org/index.html
When election was over, I changed my monthly donation to Hillary’s campaign to the ACLU. I am so glad I did. Of course, it doesn’t match 100K 😀
Breaking: Trump is afraid of stairs.
And of slopes! Well, let’s push him down that slippery slope to impeachment!
Didn’t he go snow skiing with Ivana when they were first dating? The story goes she humiliated him as he was patronizing her on the slope, assuming she was afraid and a novice when in fact she was an expert skier. Maybe his phobia began after that…
i’LL WAGER HE NEVER FORGOT THE HUMILIATION AND MADE HER PAY FOR IT MANY TIMES OVER.
I’m sure you’re right!
It took me hours to get to sleep last night. I can’t believe what’s happening to our country. And it’s only been one week!
And I am willing to bet Steve Bannon slept with a smile. A**hole!
We have a long fight ahead of us. We’re battling a man who has a serious mental illness and is surrounding himself with advisors who likely share many of his mental defects.
Very good post today from PoliticusUsa discussing his psychological issues:
http://www.politicususa.com/2017/01/28/opinion-leading-psychologists-trump-mentally-deranged.html
According to the Washington Post this morning, Jason Chaffetz told them he is looking into legislation that would require a POTUS to have a comprehensive physical and mental examination. I won’t hold my breath, but someone needs to do it.
I hope that’s the truth but it’s sort of like closing the barn door after the horse has left the barn.
Chaffetz? That is surprising – it does nothing about tRump of course, so why would he do it.
Hell yeah. Stop lamenting and DO SOMETHING! ANYTHING! Tweeting is barely an action and isn’t a solution. GET TO WORK.
WH and DHS refusing to obey court orders. Surely that is a “high crime or misdemeanor.”
Trump Immigration Ban Still In Place Despite Court Ruling, Says DHS
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/trump-immigration-ban-still-place-despite-court-ruling-says-dhs-n713696
The very definition of “constitutional crisis.”
Yes it is!!!! Hold on folks, we’re headed for a really rough patch.
They could care less about the rule of law. He’s already in violation of it one biebillion times with his business conflicts.
Perhaps Madam President? We need a woman to come in and clean the HOUSE, both the White House and the Houses of Congress. She’s been a real champion and a fighter and she doesn’t friggin drive me crazy like bernard! She’s even been better at standing up to power than Elizabeth Warren. Maybe we have our next Presidential Candidate.
Word!
http://rlv.zcache.com/are_we_great_again_yet_card-rf1f0ac689a3a4e7f9f9dceb12103a9dd_zk9yv_324.jpg?rlvnet=1
Hey, have any of the GOP stepped to the plate yet? Didn’t think so. They will stand by and let this unhinged dictator and his merry band of racists destroy the democracy they pledged to uphold because “power”.
It must come from the CIA and other defense factions to expose this cabal before we find ourselves in a nuclear confrontation with no turning back.
Let’s see how soon ISIS “retaliates” as another excuse for destruction in response to this “ban”. This is when the rubber hits the road as these war mongers respond.
Just hope that Bannon is passed out drunk at that moment, or Flynn is on the phone with Putin as President Crazypants is busy tweeting about Saturday Night Live again.
A darkness is settling upon this nation and all we can do is wait.
John McCain and Lindsey Graham are about the only GOP members who’ve said a word.
McCain blasts Bannon placement on National Security Council
http://www.politico.com/story/2017/01/mccain-bannon-nsc-234329
Graham and McCain are nothing but “show boaters”. They yap,yap, yap but cave in the end. They always do. It’s a little game they like to play. Find a camera, huff and puff for a day or two, then reverse course.
I wouldn’t trust these two with speaking the truth if my life depended upon it.
Trump is behaving like a drunken loon and no one is standing up to him. All cabinet picks will get through regardless of how unqualified. Bannon will be the shadow president while Flynn prepares to do battle somewhere in the world as Ryan and McConnell drive the rest of us into poverty.
There won’t be enough shelters or food banks to house or feed us.
Agree. McCain and Graham never follow through.
They’re both a little wimpy, but I’m glad they’re not sitting there in total silence like most of their fellow GOP’ers. In the end some GOP’ers will have to get on board if we’re going to stop the tRump madness.
Per Guardian, list of Senators’ statements on #muslim ban here:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1hSGjyWJZIQJpGz4V2ftX_qioCgBtL59oJkkhx146nFE/htmlview?usp=sharing&sle=true
Massive Demonstration happening right NOW at WH.
They are marching in Boston as well!!
I’m loving these young people. I haven’t seen anything like this since the marches in the 60’s and 70’s. Vive Le Resistance.
My 60-year old sister is going to ATL airport tonight to protest. My 67-year old sister in SFO marched then and now! But I’m happy to see the resistance isn’t just us old hippies anymore.
Me too. I couldn’t do the long march these people are doing. My body can’t do that anymore. It’s time for the Millenials to take over and may I say they’re doing an excellent job of it.
I’m very emotional today because these young people aren’t going to allow DJT to take our country away from us and into the abyss. They’re in for a long fight, but I BELIEVE they’re up to it. They’re chanting “FREE PRESS, FREE PRESS.”
And as Enheduanna says, not all are young people! Certainly last Sat’s March wasn’t, not what I see of this weekend’s. March in Seattle @ 5 pm tonight.
I watched the DC Women’s march last weekend and saw a lot of older people. And I understand that there are a lot of older people in the crowd today, just saw a couple of 70’s looking people in the DC crowd and some middle aged folks, but if this movement is to survive then the banner has to be carried by the Millennials. They are this countries future, this is their future. I don’t have much future left. My life is basically behind me. I don’t even make long term plans anymore except to speak up and out for as long as I can draw a breath. I’m not unhealthy, but I realize that this world belongs to our children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews. So, they have to get out, get up and fight for it and they’re doing just that in large numbers. I’m so proud of them and I hope my generation of fighters and your generation of fighters inspires them to take their country wherever it is they want it to go. This election was a HUGE wake up call for them. Elections DO have real time, real life consequences and they’re responding.
I see what you mean, and agree completely! So good to see the young people woke!
Gov. Inslee refers to the EO against Japanese-Americans. To his right is my Rep Pramila Jayapal.
Bravo Gov. Inslee
“Build a wall, we’ll tear it down”. “No ban, no registry, no white supremacy” Chanted by Snow White People. I’m loving every moment of this.