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You are here: Home / Open Threads / Senator Hirono drags Barr through a sewer pipe, rolls him in barbed wire, loads him into a cannon, and fires him into a toxic waste dump.

Senator Hirono drags Barr through a sewer pipe, rolls him in barbed wire, loads him into a cannon, and fires him into a toxic waste dump.

by Betty Cracker|  May 1, 20193:35 pm| 178 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads, Politics, Proud to Be A Democrat

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This clip of Senator Hirono’s opening statement before beginning her questioning in the Barr hearing is one of those rare videos that lives up to the hype:

"Being attorney general of the United States is a sacred trust. You have betrayed that trust. America deserves better. You should resign.”

During Attorney General Barr’s testimony on the Mueller report, Sen. Mazie Hirono calls on him to resign. https://t.co/nXgFssdO66 pic.twitter.com/dRXUo83yjT

— CNN (@CNN) May 1, 2019

I think my favorite part was when she said Barr was no better than Rudy Giuliani and Kellyanne Conway, lying for the “grifting liar who sits in the Oval Office.” That’s telling it like it is, Senator!

Oh, and when she said he’d violated the “sacred trust” of his position as AG, pointed out his decades-long history of lying on behalf of Republican miscreants and called on him to resign. Yowza!

Well, someone had to say it. Thank you for saying that, Senator Hirono!

Open thread.

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Reader Interactions

178Comments

  1. 1.

    Mr. Mack

    May 1, 2019 at 3:37 pm

    The look in his eyes when Harris asked about whether the President or anyone else suggested he investigate anyone was worth the price of admission.

  2. 2.

    lamh36

    May 1, 2019 at 3:38 pm

    Hirono, Klobaucher, Hariis…all A+ questioners!

    The full videdo of Kamala Harris’ A+++++ questioning of Barr!

    https://twitter.com/MaddowBlog/status/1123669794211995649

    This was a big moment: Sen. Kamala Harris got Barr to admit that he decided not to charge Trump with obstruction—perhaps the most consequential DOJ decision since Watergate—without examining any of the underlying evidence

    https://twitter.com/markfollman/status/1123662911786774528?s=21

  3. 3.

    James E Powell

    May 1, 2019 at 3:38 pm

    I read on TPM that Lindsey Graham scolded her for it. Why does anyone still take that a hole seriously?

  4. 4.

    PhoenixRising

    May 1, 2019 at 3:40 pm

    @Mr. Mack: the look on Booker’s face…the staffer behind Harris shaking her head because she obviously got something in that ear where sounds are entering, indicating that the AG of the US can no longer understand English words…quality daytime teevee y’all.

  5. 5.

    lamh36

    May 1, 2019 at 3:41 pm

    @AmandiOnAir
    Final grades for @SenateDems in today’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing of Bill Barr:@SenFeinstein C@SenatorLeahy A-@SenatorDurbin B+@SenWhitehouse C-@amyklobuchar C@ChrisCoons B+@SenBlumenthal A@maziehirono A@SenBooker D+@SenKamalaHarris A++

    WINNER: @KamalaHarris

    636
    1:34 PM – May 1, 2019

    Leahy, Klobaucher, Harris and HIrono came with their A games!

  6. 6.

    Joey Maloney

    May 1, 2019 at 3:42 pm

    Go Mazie! That’s my Senator.

  7. 7.

    trollhattan

    May 1, 2019 at 3:43 pm

    @James E Powell:
    Never bought the theory that McCain kept Graham in check but wow, has he ever been bonkers since McCain’s death. Coincidence or another crazy old man gone round the bend?

  8. 8.

    lamh36

    May 1, 2019 at 3:43 pm

    Def think this is true…

    @renato_mariotti
    5h5 hours ago
    More
    Today’s questioning by Senators helps explain why House Judiciary wants their lawyer to question Barr.

    When a smart lawyer like Barr tries to deceive Congress, it’s important to ensure that he is asked the right questions.

  9. 9.

    trollhattan

    May 1, 2019 at 3:43 pm

    @Joey Maloney:
    Nice job, hope you keep sending her back! :-)

  10. 10.

    trollhattan

    May 1, 2019 at 3:44 pm

    @lamh36:
    “When did you stop beating your wife?”

  11. 11.

    schrodingers_cat

    May 1, 2019 at 3:44 pm

    @trollhattan: Russians must have some primo black mail material. When Orange says jump, Lindsay says how high.

  12. 12.

    japa21

    May 1, 2019 at 3:50 pm

    @lamh36: MAybe they can have Harris do the questioning.

  13. 13.

    ruemara

    May 1, 2019 at 3:50 pm

    I wish the headline was actually accurate.

  14. 14.

    chopper

    May 1, 2019 at 3:52 pm

    @Mr. Mack:

    and his answer was notably weasely. even for him.

  15. 15.

    MoxieM

    May 1, 2019 at 3:52 pm

    I need a cigarette! And I quit about 40 years ago… I love Sen. Hirono

    I’m packing for a house move on Monday (yegads), and this was just the right energy boost. Thank you

  16. 16.

    The Moar You Know

    May 1, 2019 at 3:52 pm

    Never bought the theory that McCain kept Graham in check but wow, has he ever been bonkers since McCain’s death.

    @trollhattan: Pretty sure McCain was protecting him. Then the Blackmail King took office and McCain died, and Lindsey is out on his own. Wouldn’t want to be him.

    I suspect they’ve got something on him that has nothing to do with him being gay, and a couple of phone calls ends up with him in jail. He’s obviously in a 24/7 state of fear.

  17. 17.

    Msb

    May 1, 2019 at 3:53 pm

    Maxie, Kamala and Amy were wonderful. Let’s hope the House Committee turns up the heat even further.
    Someone needs to tell Lindsey to untwist his knickers.

  18. 18.

    lamh36

    May 1, 2019 at 3:53 pm

    @abbydphillip
    13m13 minutes ago
    More
    Given Barr’s focus on his phone call with Mueller, it’s worth reminding everyone:

    Mueller could have simply called his friend Bill Barr and complained about the summary letter or media coverage. But he didn’t. He intentionally created a written record.

  19. 19.

    Sister Golden Bear

    May 1, 2019 at 3:55 pm

    @ruemara: A girl can dream, right?

  20. 20.

    Aleta

    May 1, 2019 at 3:57 pm

    emptywheel @emptywheel


    Criminal Division (Benczkowski), also a Kirkland and Ellis lawyer, asked Barr to get the waiver so he could oversee investigation into Kirkland and Ellis client.


    Bingo:
    Barr started making the decision on obstruction prior to seeing the report.
    *
    Barr got the report on the 22nd. Made final decision on 24th.
    Admits he had started discussing it before he got the report.
    *
    “OLC had already done a lot of thinking about some of these issues.”


    southpaw @nycsouthpaw
    Barr previously testified that the Russia investigation was without basis. In questioning from Sen. Durbin just now, he indicated he doesn’t know what the referral from the Australian government that launched the investigation said.

    emptywheel @emptywheel
    Why hasn’t any Dem laid out that there are underlying crimes?

    —— Earlier —————–

    emptywheel


    Again, there is ZERO question there was an underlying crime.
    *
    Mueller says there was.
    *
    Barr: The President does not have to sit there and allow investigation to run its course, bc he was being falsely accused. Most of obstruction do involve exercise of constitutional authority.
    *
    Barr keeps claiming that Trump was being falsely accused.
    *
    That’s … not what the Mueller report shows.

    (I don’t think anyone tried to confront Barr about this, but I might have missed it.)

  21. 21.

    Baud

    May 1, 2019 at 3:59 pm

    Hirono should run for president.

  22. 22.

    ?BillinGlendaleCA

    May 1, 2019 at 4:04 pm

    @Baud: If we keep this up, we won’t have any Democrats left in the Senate.

  23. 23.

    tobie

    May 1, 2019 at 4:05 pm

    Go, Senator Hirono!!! I posted this below on the afternoon hearings but it’s more in line with this thread:

    Harris did a fantastic job. Barr tried to claim that there was no danger of him having a conflict of interest because he didn’t make his decision alone but with DAG Rosenstein. That’s where he fell into Harris’ trap. She then got Barr tripped up by highlighting that Rosenstein had a clear conflict of interest in being a witness to obstruction as well as a participant in the charging decision. She hammered Barr on whether he bothered to check with the DOJ ethics office to make sure Rosenstein was cleared of conflict of interest and could take part in the charging decision. Well played, Senator Harris, well played.

    I’ll be curious if Blumenthal ends up having lured Barr into a perjury trap. Barr said he couldn’t recall having discussion the 12 referrals from Mueller to other AGs with the White House. Then said he didn’t discuss anything substantive about those referrals. Sounds fishy.

  24. 24.

    sukabi

    May 1, 2019 at 4:07 pm

    @Aleta: Barr for all practical purposes exonerated drumpf with his audition letter submitted months prior to his nomination to AG.

    Don’t know why everyone is shocked he’d brazenly lie and cover up, that’s what he does. It’s well documented.

  25. 25.

    SiubhanDuinne

    May 1, 2019 at 4:08 pm

    @Baud:

    Hirono should run for president.

    Born in Japan :-(

  26. 26.

    Major Major Major Major

    May 1, 2019 at 4:08 pm

    Nice.

  27. 27.

    oatler.

    May 1, 2019 at 4:10 pm

    I watched the hearings and I’m thinking what is the point of calling out a Barr lie?

    Grant us the luxury when all the heroes are bastards
    Grant us the luxury when all the heroes are thieves

    Camper Van B “Jack Ruby”

  28. 28.

    germy

    May 1, 2019 at 4:10 pm

    I loved Sen. Hirono’s statement and questions. But I was disappointed that when Graham started his rant against her (“you’re slandering this fine man!”) she just quickly said “Okay I’m done.”

    I sort of wish she’d continued questioning, but maybe she was out of time?

    I love how she brought up Iran Contra. Excellent.

  29. 29.

    germy

    May 1, 2019 at 4:11 pm

    Watch Graham after the hearing:

    Lindsey Graham says he won't call for Robert Mueller to testify before Congress: "I'm not going to do any more. Enough already. It's over."Via ABC pic.twitter.com/9gFXzKEkXy— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) May 1, 2019

    He looks mighty pissed.

  30. 30.

    TaMara (HFG)

    May 1, 2019 at 4:11 pm

    I’m watching Harris grill Barr and it’s a thing of beauty.

    I know why some people are afraid of women in charge – Hirono and Harris illustrated it beautifully today. They will slice and dice the BS and get to the truth. And you’ll be sitting there in your underwear stammering, uh, uh, uh.

  31. 31.

    Martin

    May 1, 2019 at 4:11 pm

    People wonder why I’ve backed Harris for president. Who does everyone want to see in a one on one debate with Trump? She knows her shit, she knows who is in charge, and she makes it unwaveringly clear that it’s her.

    Look at the faces around her during her questioning. A lot of people glad that she’s on their side.

    Obama offered her the US Atty General job after Holder – Barrs current job. She turned it down. Barr begged for it. Everyone in that exchange knows what’s what.

  32. 32.

    germy

    May 1, 2019 at 4:12 pm

    Someone on twitter said (and I agree) that if Harris doesn’t become president or vice president, she should have Barr’s job.

  33. 33.

    Martin

    May 1, 2019 at 4:15 pm

    @germy: Trump should be pissed by that decision. Graham is ceding all control to House Democrats. They’ll set the tone and scope of that hearing with no real opportunity for Republicans to shape a counter-narrative. Graham doesn’t want to own the shitshow that will result. Barr is at real risk of impeachment hearings.

  34. 34.

    Cacti

    May 1, 2019 at 4:15 pm

    I only wish that Hirono had answered Graham with something on the lines of “To slander Mr. Barr would have required me making a false statement.”

  35. 35.

    Martin

    May 1, 2019 at 4:15 pm

    @germy: It was offered. She turned it down.

  36. 36.

    Eunicecycle

    May 1, 2019 at 4:15 pm

    I think it is amazing that the Attorney General of the United States thinks the president can stop an investigation into himself if he “knows he didn’t do anything.” So if Hillary were president, she could stop an email investigation? Or Benghazi?

    ETA since we know those investigations were BS.

  37. 37.

    Ohio Mom

    May 1, 2019 at 4:15 pm

    @Baud: Senator Hirono has stage four kidney cancer. I don’t know any details but with some cancers you could last quite a while in stage four, if you are responding well to treatment. Apparently she is.

    I imagine that knowing your time on earth is limited really amps up the No Fs Left to Give quotient.

  38. 38.

    Gravenstone

    May 1, 2019 at 4:16 pm

    @germy: I wonder if he’ll be encouraged to reconsider, since then his committee won’t be able to provide a counterpoint to the Democratically controlled House committee, where Mueller will certainly appear. Granted, given the performance of several of the Democrats on his own committee today, he might consider it not worth the risk of letting them have a go at Mueller.

  39. 39.

    lamh36

    May 1, 2019 at 4:16 pm

    So Barr…really thinks it’s a good idea to shit on Mueller after leaving the hearing and the letter released…smh

  40. 40.

    chopper

    May 1, 2019 at 4:16 pm

    @SiubhanDuinne:

    she’s also still fighting off some pretty nasty cancer IIRC. :(

  41. 41.

    germy

    May 1, 2019 at 4:16 pm

    @Martin: In a new Democratic administration, I hope there’s a place for her (if not the top job)

  42. 42.

    Martin

    May 1, 2019 at 4:17 pm

    @Gravenstone: Not just that, but I was surprised at how non-protective of Trump or Barr many of the Republicans were. Barr didn’t get as much cover as he probably expected.

  43. 43.

    danielx

    May 1, 2019 at 4:18 pm

    Obligatory:

    But her EMAILZZZZZZZ…!!!

    Also obligatory: if Donald Trump farts he will blow Lindsey Graham’s brains all over whatever room they are occupying.

  44. 44.

    sukabi

    May 1, 2019 at 4:18 pm

    @germy: look for spittle flecked hysterics when Graham realizes that it’s really not over, it’s just beginning and he’s lost the plot and whatever cover drumpf has granted him.

  45. 45.

    Martin

    May 1, 2019 at 4:20 pm

    @germy: I would argue that if people see that much value in her, then make her President rather than find a lesser position to make it easier to not promote her to the top job.

  46. 46.

    Aleta

    May 1, 2019 at 4:21 pm

    Oliver Willis @owillis

    regardless of how you feel about her presidential campaign if kamala harris had me on the witness stand id probably say i was guilty no matter what.

    “so the night of the fifth”
    “i did it”
    “you’re a character witness not a suspect”
    “i murdered him, please just no more questions”

  47. 47.

    germy

    May 1, 2019 at 4:25 pm

    @Martin:

    then make her President

    Yes, that’s actually my preference.

  48. 48.

    Kay

    May 1, 2019 at 4:27 pm

    I do love Kamala Harris’ way in the world. She’s so at ease and confident. It’s…Presidential :)

  49. 49.

    LeftCoastYankee

    May 1, 2019 at 4:28 pm

    De-lurking with a recurring thought on Graham:

    I keep wondering if the source of his (and other R’s) change of heart on Trump is due to National Enquirer “catch and kill” stories, rather than Russian Kompromat.

  50. 50.

    lamh36

    May 1, 2019 at 4:28 pm

    @tommyxtopher
    31s31 seconds ago
    More
    Barr Calls Mueller Letter ‘A Bit Snitty’: Probably ‘Written by One of His Staff People’ https://www.mediaite.com/tv/barr-calls-mueller-letter-a-bit-snitty-probably-written-by-one-of-his-staff-people/ …

  51. 51.

    tobie

    May 1, 2019 at 4:31 pm

    @LeftCoastYankee: That’s an interesting thesis! Thanks for de-lurking.

  52. 52.

    Kay

    May 1, 2019 at 4:33 pm

    @lamh36:

    No, Mueller thinks he’s a gross compromised hack and he’s ashamed of him. It’s hard, but there it is.

    But extra, bonus “gross” points for blaming it on the underlings. Perfect.

  53. 53.

    germy

    May 1, 2019 at 4:35 pm

    Barr’s reaction to Senator Hirono (after Graham launches his outraged “This is slander!” sputter) is to whine something about “How did we ever get to this point, when someone like HER can say all that stuff to someone like ME?”

  54. 54.

    justawriter

    May 1, 2019 at 4:36 pm

    I’m sure somewhere out there an erstwhile democrat is horrified and is pining for a return to civility, you know, when that nice Ken Starr boy was around.

  55. 55.

    germy

    May 1, 2019 at 4:39 pm

    Off topic, but

    ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) – An effort to ban the declawing of cats in New York is moving through the state Assembly.

    The chamber’s agriculture committee advanced the measure Tuesday.

    If eventually passed, New York would be the first U.S. state to ban declawing. The act is already banned in Denver as well as 10 California cities.

    Supporters hailed the move as a sign of positive momentum. The bill must still pass a second committee before going to the Assembly.

    Animal welfare advocates and many veterinarians say declawing a cat is inhumane since it involves the amputation of a cat’s toes back to the first knuckle.

    The state’s largest veterinary association has opposed the bill. It says the procedure should be allowed as a last resort for felines that won’t stop scratching furniture or humans.

  56. 56.

    sukabi

    May 1, 2019 at 4:41 pm

    @LeftCoastYankee: more likely closer to home than the National Enquirer, more likely a drumpf branded “leverage” scheme.

  57. 57.

    Patricia Kayden

    May 1, 2019 at 4:41 pm

    Thank you Senator Hirono! You said what each and every Democrat should be saying whenever they talk to a Trump lackey. Stop being polite. You’re dealing with White Supremacists.

  58. 58.

    Martin

    May 1, 2019 at 4:44 pm

    @Kay: There is no imposter syndrome there. I’m envious.

  59. 59.

    trollhattan

    May 1, 2019 at 4:47 pm

    @Ohio Mom:
    Oh, that’s a gut punch. Here’s wishing the best for the senator, her family and her doctors. Beat this thing!

  60. 60.

    Amir Khalid

    May 1, 2019 at 4:47 pm

    @Eunicecycle:
    We had a situation like that re 1MDB. Najib, as Prime Minister, was the official to whom the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission reported in investigating the RM2.7 billion that mysteriously showed up in his bank account one day. No one was terribly surprised when the MACC cleared him of wrongdoing at first. Of course, it was a different story after Najib’s coalition lost the general election.

    In football news, Liverpool have given at least as good as they got in the first leg of the Champions League semifinal. But they trail to two goals from old boy Luis Suarez and a glorious free kick from Leo Messi. I haz a sad.

  61. 61.

    Martin

    May 1, 2019 at 4:47 pm

    @LeftCoastYankee: Maybe with him personally, but there are dozens if not hundreds of Republicans that have made a similar change.

    I can only conclude that these people are so morally bankrupt as a cohort that they are underserving of any form of public service or that the GOP writ large is compromised by the Russians. Well, I guess the later implies the former…

  62. 62.

    LeftCoastYankee

    May 1, 2019 at 4:47 pm

    @tobie:

    Tobie, it’s less “sexy” in scandalous-ness (no foreign intelligence elements), but it makes it more directly attributable to Trump and would fit his nature.

    Of course the NE parent company is cooperating with SDNY… So if it’s criminal rather than just embarrassing….

    Or maybe it’s as simple as Graham being an a$$.

  63. 63.

    trollhattan

    May 1, 2019 at 4:48 pm

    @LeftCoastYankee:
    Heck, maybe, or maybe both?

  64. 64.

    LeeM

    May 1, 2019 at 4:49 pm

    @germy: The problem is that once declawed, aggressive cats tend to become biters. I’ve been shredded by some of our mini tigers, but being bitten to the bone is much worse.

  65. 65.

    Martin

    May 1, 2019 at 4:49 pm

    @Ohio Mom: The 5 year survival rate for stage 4 kidney cancer is only 8%. She gets a buff for being on the exemplary side of quality of health care, but she’s got a fight ahead of her.

  66. 66.

    LeftCoastYankee

    May 1, 2019 at 4:51 pm

    @sukabi:

    IIRC they have some history filling that role for Trump. But yeah I do wonder if it’s just Trump and his crowd.

  67. 67.

    oldgold

    May 1, 2019 at 4:52 pm

    My take away from today’s hearing is that Barr has not read the entire Mueller Report.

  68. 68.

    Kay (not the front-pager)

    May 1, 2019 at 4:53 pm

    Sen. Hirono laid out articles of impeachment for Attorney General Barr today. I hope Jerry Nadler is listening.

  69. 69.

    NotMax

    May 1, 2019 at 4:54 pm

    Senate Republican bill to decertify Hawaiian statehood in 3…2…1…. //

    Both Hirono and Schatz have blossomed in the Senate, exceeding initial expectations they’d be naught but glorified seat warmers.

  70. 70.

    Litlebritdifrnt

    May 1, 2019 at 4:55 pm

    Good news from over the pond the British Government has declared a Climate and Environment Emergency. It is a start.

    https://twitter.com/ChrisGPackham/status/1123688242518401026

  71. 71.

    NotMax

    May 1, 2019 at 4:58 pm

    @Litlebritdifrnt

    Is the declaration printed on recycled paper?

    :)

  72. 72.

    LeftCoastYankee

    May 1, 2019 at 4:58 pm

    @trollhattan:
    @Martin:

    E: All of the above (or whatever seems most stupid to rational folks)?

    It’s a chaotic corrupt cluster. Total opposite of “organized” crime…..

  73. 73.

    Betty Cracker

    May 1, 2019 at 5:00 pm

    Regarding Graham’s shameless toadying — why can’t it be as simple as Graham wanting to keep his job? Trump is popular in South Carolina. If Graham pisses Trump or his fans off, he’ll draw a primary challenge. Graham had a lot of ground to recover since he was tough on Trump during the GOP primary, so he’s extra-obsequious, which seems to have paid off in his own approval rating. Conspiracy theories are fun, but nothing he’s done can’t be explained by the above, IMO.

  74. 74.

    Omnes Omnibus

    May 1, 2019 at 5:01 pm

    @japa21: Yeah, I am pretty sure that the House Dem Caucus doesn’t have any lawyers capable of doing the job.

  75. 75.

    tobie

    May 1, 2019 at 5:02 pm

    @LeftCoastYankee: I think Trump blackmails people all the time and the National Enquirer’s record of holding onto damaging stories for later use would be a perfect vehicle for this. At this point, though, it seems that what keeps the Republicans in line is not so much a fear of shaming as a naked lust for power. They’re happy to sell out the country if it keeps them in power. For me that was the most painful lesson of today’s hearings.

  76. 76.

    Kay (not the front-pager)

    May 1, 2019 at 5:03 pm

    @SiubhanDuinne: But, according to MSNBC today, her mom was a US citizen so she is a natural born citizen and eligible to be president. There is still the problem of stage 4 kidney cancer though.

  77. 77.

    Roger Moore

    May 1, 2019 at 5:03 pm

    @LeftCoastYankee:

    I keep wondering if the source of his (and other R’s) change of heart on Trump is due to National Enquirer “catch and kill” stories, rather than Russian Kompromat.

    I don’t think it’s necessary to invoke that kind of thing to explain Graham, and I would guess not for plenty of other Republicans. There are two reasons he isn’t going to oppose Trump:

    1) He still thinks he has more influence over Trump by publicly backing him than he would if he publicly opposed him. This is the whole “wiser heads will guide him” argument many people made about Trump. It’s easy for people to continue deluding themselves that way.

    2) He doesn’t want to blow the party up with infighting. He made this point during the campaign, and it holds even more strongly after the election. Parties don’t fail from losing elections; they fail from infighting. He isn’t going to abandon Trump no matter what he does, because he sees the alternative as destroying the party.

    Yes, you and I see these things as lame excuses for refusing to stand on principle, but that kind of rationalization is very common among people who go along with things they shouldn’t.

  78. 78.

    Amir Khalid

    May 1, 2019 at 5:05 pm

    @oldgold:
    For what Barr was always going to do, he didn’t need to read Mueller’s report at all. Indeed, he couldn’t have read the report and then done what he was hired to do.

    Liverpool have lost the first leg 3-0. Barcelona certainly did not outplay Liverpool, but did take their chances better. Here’s hoping we win 4-0 at Anfield.

  79. 79.

    TomatoQueen

    May 1, 2019 at 5:05 pm

    @Amir Khalid: I’ve just been thinking of you. All was well until Messi decided today was a day to do party tricks. Which are better than anyone else’s party tricks, ever. Even Klopp just smiles.

  80. 80.

    sukabi

    May 1, 2019 at 5:07 pm

    @LeftCoastYankee: I know they’ve acted as a “filter” for drumpf…but it’s also pretty well known that drumpf likes to “listen in” on his guests / employees via a special switchboard (that’s so last century) installed in his suite.

    Also, Mr. Projection is pretty convinced that folks are tapping him, it stands to reason that a large part of his “leveraging” his way out of trouble in the past is by collecting embarrassing information on his adversaries.

  81. 81.

    Dan B

    May 1, 2019 at 5:08 pm

    Harris is great. She doesn’t let Barr gas on with time wasting BS. She immediately points out his games and yet doesn’t raise her voice or hurry her put downs. She acts like she has plenty of time. Amazing verbal and nonverbal skills.

  82. 82.

    germy

    May 1, 2019 at 5:09 pm

    .@SenWhitehouse is left speechless by the hairsplitting Barr does to defend his misleading congressional testimony pic.twitter.com/6k51CFCcNc— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 1, 2019

  83. 83.

    Amir Khalid

    May 1, 2019 at 5:10 pm

    @Betty Cracker:

    Regarding Graham’s shameless toadying — why can’t it be as simple as Graham wanting to keep his job?

    It certainly could be, but then again cowardice is not an honourable motive.

  84. 84.

    Sab

    May 1, 2019 at 5:13 pm

    @?BillinGlendaleCA:

    Sort of OT

    My execrable Democrat (probably not an “ic” ) white rustbelt male congresscritter is also running for President. Why can’t we give him enough love that somebody in the district thinks it’s safe to run against him?

    He is actually very bright and has a handle on a lot of policy issues but he doesn’t actually care about them (policies) or anything but his own political future.

    Phucking lied about his A+ NRA rating for years. I ‘d challenge neighbors, and they would say “but his website says…” Of course it did. He lied.

    Pro-life until he wanted to run for statewide office. Suddenly more concerned about us girls and our feti.

    Tim Ryan, proud member of the Democrat party .

  85. 85.

    Frankensteinbeck

    May 1, 2019 at 5:14 pm

    @Martin:

    the GOP writ large is compromised by the Russians.

    Honestly, the only explanation you need is that elected Republicans aren’t all that different from the people who vote for them – which would make sense. They’re racist assholes who get their thrills out of hurting people and see sticking it to the libs as the definition of morality. It ties well into @Roger Moore and @tobie‘s points, since protecting the party and themselves protects white power and fanatically opposes any Democratic victory.

  86. 86.

    Mike in NC

    May 1, 2019 at 5:14 pm

    @germy:

    The state’s largest veterinary association has opposed the bill. It says the procedure should be allowed as a last resort for felines that won’t stop scratching furniture or humans.

    We all know that declawing cats is inhumane and traumatic to them. If somebody can’t accept a cat’s claws, they should get a goldfish.

  87. 87.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    May 1, 2019 at 5:18 pm

    @Betty Cracker: I tend to think that if Lindsey had ever had any kind of sex, somebody would have leaked something by now. I think he’s a vol-cel, to use what seems to be current terminology. He has also, always, been a nasty partisan piece of shit. IIRC he started Benghazi, running ads in the fall of 2012 to stave off a Tea Bagger challenge in 2014. He’s a hollow man, an empty man whose empty life is filled by the personalities of people he perceives as Alphas, first McCain, then trump. And if he’s not a Senator, what is he? Who would want to have him on TV, especially now.
    ETA: Do people think there’s “kompromat” on Willard Romney? What? That he had a cup of coffee once? Said “Dang it!” My own theory is that Willard, like the Bushes, is kept quiet by dreams of dynasty, spawn who will need that mouth-breather vote, but who the hell knows

  88. 88.

    LeftCoastYankee

    May 1, 2019 at 5:22 pm

    @Betty Cracker:
    @tobie:

    That makes the most sense for the office holders. And the appointees are just fellow grifters looking to feed.

    I think local blackmail would be more likely than Russian if it was present, but it’s not even needed.

    Oy. Thanks!

  89. 89.

    Amir Khalid

    May 1, 2019 at 5:22 pm

    @germy:
    Far be it from me to accuse anyone of mercenary calculation, but veterinarians who will declaw a cat do charge money for it, don’t they?

  90. 90.

    Litlebritdifrnt

    May 1, 2019 at 5:26 pm

    @Kay (not the front-pager): Hmmmm not necessarily, there are a whole bunch of rules and regulations that state who is or who is not a US Citizen based on how many years the mother lived in the US after the age of 14. I know this because I spent an inordinate amount of years countering the birther arguments about Obama on the website The Fogbow. There were a whole bunch of lawyers and legal eagles on there who were always there with the facts. It was an invaluable resource at the time.

  91. 91.

    trollhattan

    May 1, 2019 at 5:28 pm

    @Betty Cracker: @Amir Khalid:
    This Graham trip to the ungluery convinced me Lindsay has lost the plot and rages because he likes to.

  92. 92.

    LeftCoastYankee

    May 1, 2019 at 5:28 pm

    @sukabi:

    I know have an image of Trump wandering around the White House looking for the switchboard.

  93. 93.

    Sab

    May 1, 2019 at 5:28 pm

    @germy: Think of the furniture!

    None of my five cats are declawed. They all shred all kinds of furniture.

    The only one who ever put me in the hospital was the still clawed but brain-damaged cat who bit me hard and a lot when she fell out the dog door at night and was too stressed and frightened (and stupid) to recognize me when I tried to rescue her the next morning.She bit me like her life depended on it, and I spent 3 days in the hospital at the absolute peak of my firm’s busy season.

    We both survived. I discovered I was allergic to the most basic antibiotic (amoxicillin.) Weird times. Don’t let the vet braindamage your cat. They are very sensitive to anesthetics.

  94. 94.

    joel hanes

    May 1, 2019 at 5:31 pm

    I have had seven cats in the last thirty years.

    None of them have been “declawed”.

    Only one of them ever clawed a piece of furniture.

  95. 95.

    germy

    May 1, 2019 at 5:32 pm

    @Sab: I suspect my cat hasn’t been quite the same since her last experience with general anesthesia. Not aggressive, just forgetful. Like she used to let me know she was hungry by going to the door where her dish was and yelling.

    Now she’ll yell for food, but run under a table in a different room, far from the dish.

    Maybe it’s just old age, I don’t know. She’s only 11, for god’s sake.

  96. 96.

    lamh36

    May 1, 2019 at 5:34 pm

    its offical

    Barr is skipping the House tomorrow

    https://twitter.com/Yamiche/status/1123701826421968896

  97. 97.

    japa21

    May 1, 2019 at 5:34 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus: Okay, maybe I should have used the sarcasm tag.

  98. 98.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    May 1, 2019 at 5:35 pm

    @trollhattan: also, just like trump desperately wants the respect of the Establishment he pretends to loathe, I suspect Lindsey reads every “What happened to Lindsey Graham?” article and seethes, and every time he says “Great point, Steve!” on the Fox Morning Zoo, a part of his mind drifts back to when Tim Russert treated him like the American Metternich. Or at least the guy that got called when the American Metternich was in Sedona and couldn’t make it for a live shot
    and he just gets angrier at everyone and everything, including himself

  99. 99.

    trollhattan

    May 1, 2019 at 5:35 pm

    Drip, drip, drip for Assange.

    Wikileaks co-founder Julian Assange has been sentenced to 50 weeks in jail for breaching his bail conditions.

    The 47-year-old was found guilty of breaching the Bail Act last month after his arrest at the Ecuadorian Embassy. He took refuge in the London embassy in 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden over sexual assault allegations, which he has denied.

    In a letter read to the court, Assange said he had found himself “struggling with difficult circumstances”.

    He apologised to those who “consider I’ve disrespected them”, a packed Southwark Crown Court heard. “I did what I thought at the time was the best or perhaps the only thing that I could have done,” he said.

    In mitigation, Mark Summers QC said his client was “gripped” by fears of rendition to the US over the years because of his work with whistle-blowing website Wikileaks.

  100. 100.

    joel hanes

    May 1, 2019 at 5:36 pm

    @lamh36:

    Barr is skipping the House tomorrow

    Contempt.

  101. 101.

    germy

    May 1, 2019 at 5:36 pm

    @Amir Khalid:

    veterinarians who will declaw a cat do charge money for it, don’t they?

    Yes, and the law would cost them a valuable income stream.

    I think most decent vets would oppose declawing. I would not continue with a vet who was in favor of it.

  102. 102.

    Sab

    May 1, 2019 at 5:37 pm

    @Amir Khalid: My vet (not the guy who accidentally lobotomized my husband’s cat with an anasthesia overdose) loves cats but likes declawing because he hates him and his staff being clawed. Tough for him and them, but I am not chopping my cats’ fingertips off.

  103. 103.

    Amir Khalid

    May 1, 2019 at 5:38 pm

    @joel hanes:
    I wonder about people who value inanimate furniture above the physical and mental wellbeing of a living creature in their care.

  104. 104.

    ?BillinGlendaleCA

    May 1, 2019 at 5:39 pm

    @Sab: I’m not sure we want to encourage him.

  105. 105.

    bemused

    May 1, 2019 at 5:39 pm

    @lamh36:

    Chickenshit.

  106. 106.

    LeftCoastYankee

    May 1, 2019 at 5:40 pm

    @Roger Moore:

    Good points. And if someone was going to be the instigator to “Save the Party” from Trump it likely wouldn’t be an elected R, and definitely wouldn’t be Graham.

  107. 107.

    Gelfling 545

    May 1, 2019 at 5:40 pm

    And to honor International Workers’ Day – Billy Bragg

  108. 108.

    lamh36

    May 1, 2019 at 5:40 pm

    Ya’ll I can’t get enough of watching Kamala grill Barr…and esp her first question.

    She had him stuttering!

    “suggest, hinted, inferred”

  109. 109.

    germy

    May 1, 2019 at 5:41 pm

    @Sab: They should put little mittens on them or something.

    So it was an anesthesia overdose?

    Should I not worry about my cat undergoing another procedure with anesthesia?

  110. 110.

    lamh36

    May 1, 2019 at 5:42 pm

    @Yamiche
    Following Following @Yamiche
    More
    My source has made it clear that the next step is to subpoena AG Barr to make him come testify before the House Judiciary Committee and compel him to answer questions posed by congressional attorneys. A reminder: The hang up is that Barr only wants Qs to come from lawmakers.

    4:38 PM – 1 May 2019

  111. 111.

    Baud

    May 1, 2019 at 5:44 pm

    @lamh36:

    Yeah, no contempt until they issue a subpoena.

  112. 112.

    Amir Khalid

    May 1, 2019 at 5:45 pm

    @Sab:
    There is such a thing as protective clothing. I’d think an ethical vet would rather wear that than mutilate his patients for his own convenience.

  113. 113.

    Betty Cracker

    May 1, 2019 at 5:46 pm

    @Amir Khalid: I have a friend with a declawed cat she inherited from an elderly relative who ordered the declawing. I feel sorry for the poor critter, but I gotta admit I enjoy that cat’s “kneading” activities more than her clawed sisters’!

  114. 114.

    Sab

    May 1, 2019 at 5:47 pm

    @Amir Khalid: Oven mitts are wonderful at home. Had I only known when the cat girl fell out the dog door.

  115. 115.

    Aleta

    May 1, 2019 at 5:48 pm

    Clip of Harris right after the hearing

    Justin Gomez @JustinGomezABC

    Outside AG William Barr’s Senate hearing, @KamalaHarris says “yes” he should resign.

  116. 116.

    Lyrebird

    May 1, 2019 at 5:50 pm

    @Ohio Mom: Yeah, Sen. Hirono’s amazing. I wish her own vote to protect health care access had gotten even half the recognition that Sen. McCain’s did, even though I understand some of why his was politically more important. But she took at least as many medical risks to be there for the vote.

  117. 117.

    Sab

    May 1, 2019 at 5:50 pm

    @Amir Khalid: He does have cat charisma. Every cat we have ever taken to him loves and trusts him. (How do you tell a cat the vet wants to chop her fingers off?)

  118. 118.

    tobie

    May 1, 2019 at 5:50 pm

    @lamh36: That was a great moment, as was her line of questioning about Rosenstein’s conflicts of interest. I also liked that Blumenthal had Barr hemming and hawing about whether he had discussion Mueller’s 12 referrals with the White House. Now the House needs to subpoena Barr so they can hold him in contempt.

  119. 119.

    Ohio Mom

    May 1, 2019 at 5:52 pm

    @trollhattan: Sadly, you don’t beat most stage four cancers. Stage four means it has spread throughout the body. You treat for quality of life and extra time, not cure.

    For some cancers, there are more effective treatments than others, and many extra and good years can result.

    IAN a doctor but I don’t think kidney cancers generally have good prognoses. Still, there are always the outliers who are exceptional responders (to treatment) and sometimes there are new treatments that are fabulously effective (see Jimmy Carter).

    You gotta give Senator Hirono props for making every moment count.

  120. 120.

    Sab

    May 1, 2019 at 5:52 pm

    @germy: That vet wasn’t competent to do cats. Lots of vets are. Just do your homework.

  121. 121.

    Amir Khalid

    May 1, 2019 at 5:52 pm

    @germy:
    Eleven sounds worryingly young for senile dementia in a cat. My Bianca will very soon be 15 and still has all her marbles.

  122. 122.

    Amir Khalid

    May 1, 2019 at 5:57 pm

    @Sab:
    If cats aren’t inclined to claw him, why on earth does he feel a need to declaw them? It is a puzzlement.

  123. 123.

    SiubhanDuinne

    May 1, 2019 at 5:57 pm

    @lamh36:

    Ya’ll I can’t get enough of watching Kamala grill Barr…and esp her first question.

    She had him stuttering!

    “suggest, hinted, inferred”

    It’s “implied,” dammit, not “inferred.” Kamala Harris is dead to me now! \\

  124. 124.

    HeleninEire

    May 1, 2019 at 5:58 pm

    As per CNN Barr isn’t gonna show tomorrow.

  125. 125.

    germy

    May 1, 2019 at 6:02 pm

    @HeleninEire:
    Is there a penalty for that? A fine, or imprisonment?

  126. 126.

    Sab

    May 1, 2019 at 6:03 pm

    @joel hanes: I have five cats in the same house right now, and only four of them grew up together. Plus two dogs. Csts are territorial and these five cats housebound have all kinds of territory issues. We decided a few less choice pieces of furniture will just have to make the sacrifice ( the ugly hutch in the living room, the little three step ladder in the kitchen, the chair that can be re-upolstered, the carpeted stairs. I do throw things at them when they go after the 100 year old sofa or our new kitchen island)

    And I put a vinyl tablecloth on the kitchen table so meankitty can pee on that without ruining the table..

  127. 127.

    BobS

    May 1, 2019 at 6:03 pm

    Hirono was beautiful. Fucking Barr sat there looking like the emperor who just realized he was naked.
    @Martin: I can see why you like Harris. Warren’s my candidate (I like her platform), but I’d love to watch Trump bring his knife to a gunfight with Harris.

  128. 128.

    Baud

    May 1, 2019 at 6:03 pm

    @SiubhanDuinne:

    Kamala Harris is dead interred to me now! 

    Fixed.

    @germy:

    No. He was invited. He wasn’t subpoenaed.

  129. 129.

    Martin

    May 1, 2019 at 6:04 pm

    @trollhattan:

    In mitigation, Mark Summers QC said his client was “gripped” by fears of rendition to the US over the years because of his work with whistle-blowing website Wikileaks.

    Hmm. How exactly did helping the Russians attack our election mitigate that fear?

  130. 130.

    HeleninEire

    May 1, 2019 at 6:05 pm

    @SiubhanDuinne: I once had someone describe that to me as “It’s the difference between pitching and catching.” Perfect.

  131. 131.

    J R in WV

    May 1, 2019 at 6:06 pm

    @Martin:

    “Barr is at real risk of impeachment hearings.”

    Oh, yeh, in my fond and better than most dreams. Not the very best ever dreams, you know what’s in those dreams. But very good, better than most, oh yeh!

  132. 132.

    Cacti

    May 1, 2019 at 6:08 pm

    @trollhattan:

    Considering he also voluntarily imprisoned himself in an embassy for 7-years prior to that, whatever his problems were with the Swedish authorities, they’d likely have lasted less than 8-years.

    But I’m sure he still thinks himself a man of superior intellect.

  133. 133.

    Immanentize

    May 1, 2019 at 6:09 pm

    @HeleninEire:
    Or itching and scratching.

  134. 134.

    The Dangerman

    May 1, 2019 at 6:10 pm

    Hirono 2020? Know nothing about her, couldn’t pick her out a two person lineup, but I need a cigarette (smoked only 1 in my 58 years and found it lacking; made up for it with my coffee addiction).

    I don’t get people like Barr. If your Boss wants you to say the sky is pink and he has a network (FOX, of course) at his back that will say the sky is pink, if you say the sky is pink, history will not judge you well. So, it’s not history he is getting; has anyone checked if he has a son or daughter that got a sweet gig at DeutscheBank?

  135. 135.

    Cacti

    May 1, 2019 at 6:11 pm

    @The Dangerman:

    She has stage 4 cancer. :-(

  136. 136.

    Sab

    May 1, 2019 at 6:12 pm

    I love the way the MSM said the Republicans had a deep bench in 2016. And then they got Drumf.

    Our bench is phucking awesome. And that ‘s just nationally. We are having contested city council races where everyone is impressive.

    People just suddenly decided to get off the sidelines and run.

  137. 137.

    Geeno

    May 1, 2019 at 6:13 pm

    @Litlebritdifrnt: If you review the decisions of the SCOTUS over the years, they seems to recognize two kinds of citizenship. “Natural born” – jus soli – you were born under US jurisdiction and “Naturlized” – the law says you’re a citizen – say because your mother was or what ever. The case of someone who is a citizen by birth – due to parents being citizens or some other law – who is born outside US jurisdiction hasn’t been adjudicated.
    We had a definite edge case with McCain, born a non-citizen in the Panama Canal Zone, made a citizen a year later when Congress passed a law declaring all persons born in the canal zone after 1904 citizens.

  138. 138.

    MCA1

    May 1, 2019 at 6:16 pm

    I would be all in favor of a subpoena for Barr followed by a contempt count if he doesn’t show, but it needs to be backed up by non-stop unified trash talking from Dems about what a chickenshit little snowflake the AG is, and stating it’s obvious he’s fully aware how much he pissed down his own leg today in the Senate hearing. Then turn the Dotard’s NPD and Barr’s colossal ego against one another: start by claiming it’s obvious these orders came from the White House, since Barr’s not his own man anymore, having surrendered his personal agency and acted solely as Trump’s fixer since taking office. Then asking why Mango Mussolini is so scared by the AG testifying when he keeps talking about how exonerated he is. Bait these fuckers and make it lose-lose for them.

    On the other hand, I’d also be completely in favor of the Dems saying “Yeah, that’s fine, only lawmakers will ask you questions.” Then when he shows up, it’s a roomful of media, a dozen Republicans, and Nadler and Schiff sitting in the middle of the dais. Only lawmakers present! Or, they throw it back in his face by having their chosen outside attorney move from committee member to committee member, whispering his/her questions in their ear, and then the reps repeat those questions to Barr. You want to play cute with words, Tom Bosley? We can do that, too.

  139. 139.

    germy

    May 1, 2019 at 6:16 pm

    Graham is lost.

    Drumpf has eaten his soul.

  140. 140.

    germy

    May 1, 2019 at 6:18 pm

    @MCA1:

    Tom Bosley?

    Some have said Barr resembles Fred Flintstone. Others are of the opinion he looks like the kid from “A Christmas Story” but aged and fattened.

  141. 141.

    TenguPhule

    May 1, 2019 at 6:18 pm

    @germy:

    Is there a penalty for that? A fine, or imprisonment?

    Sadly no, otherwise Karl Rove would be a felon.

  142. 142.

    Immanentize

    May 1, 2019 at 6:19 pm

    @germy:

    Drumpf has eaten [Graham’s] soul.

    Objection! Assuming facts not in evidence.

  143. 143.

    J R in WV

    May 1, 2019 at 6:20 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist:

    “Willard” and then Wilmer… who? Wha’? Now I’m confuzed!?!

    O… yeah, Mitt, better than Willard… said no one, ever

    ;-)

  144. 144.

    Immanentize

    May 1, 2019 at 6:21 pm

    @germy: There is one picture with his hands up that makes him look like the Abominable Snow Man from Rudolf

    And Bumbles bounce.

  145. 145.

    Monala

    May 1, 2019 at 6:21 pm

    @germy: I’m a dog owner, so I have to ask: can cats have their nails trimmed and filed like dogs do?

  146. 146.

    Enhanced Voting Techniques

    May 1, 2019 at 6:22 pm

    @Martin:

    Trump should be pissed by that decision. Graham is ceding all control to House Democrats. They’ll set the tone and scope of that hearing with no real opportunity for Republicans to shape a counter-narrative. Graham doesn’t want to own the shitshow that will result. Barr is at real risk of impeachment hearings.

    hehe, wonder if the Dems were trolling Graham knowing he would go dipshit on them hand the Dems the pize. If feels the Congressional Dems, much like the Russians, have a good read on these guy’s thinking.

  147. 147.

    mrmoshpotato

    May 1, 2019 at 6:23 pm

    @Baud:

    No. He was invited. He wasn’t subpoenaed.

    Well now it’s time. Subpoena, standardpoena, superpoena, superduperpoena.

    House Judiciary should put it in their fist, and fucking pummel Barr. Then drag his ass before the committee.

    Dump will whine about all this anyway like the Soviet shitpile mobster that he is.

  148. 148.

    Roger Moore

    May 1, 2019 at 6:23 pm

    @Amir Khalid:

    I wonder about people who value inanimate furniture above the physical and mental wellbeing of a living creature in their care.

    This is my basic take on it. Clawing stuff is normal behavior for a cat, and anyone who wants to get a cat needs to accept that. If you care more about your furniture than about your cat, you shouldn’t get a cat.

  149. 149.

    Cacti

    May 1, 2019 at 6:25 pm

    @Geeno:

    That’s not quite accurate. Sanguinis citizenship and naturalized citizenship are not the same thing.

  150. 150.

    germy

    May 1, 2019 at 6:27 pm

    @Monala: I clip my cat’s nails. I can tell she needs it when she starts getting stuck in things, like our blanket.

    I hold her on my lap. I let her sniff the clipper. She’s familiar with the routine. She lies on her back on my lap and lets me clip each claw (she’s polydactyl so she has extras). I need to do this to prevent ingrown claws that curl around and go back into her paw. At first she would try to jump away, but I whisper to her that it’s okay. It’s now something she accepts and seems to even enjoy the attention.

    She will sometimes remain in that position on my lap after I’m done.

    But not for long. And then she’s off to her next adventure…

  151. 151.

    mrmoshpotato

    May 1, 2019 at 6:27 pm

    @Sab: Quality not quantity.

    Rick “D in Meats” Perry!

  152. 152.

    debbie

    May 1, 2019 at 6:27 pm

    @HeleninEire:

    Subpoena Time!

  153. 153.

    germy

    May 1, 2019 at 6:29 pm

    @Immanentize:

    Drumpf has eaten [Graham’s] soul.

    Objection! Assuming facts not in evidence.

    Just a light snack.

  154. 154.

    J R in WV

    May 1, 2019 at 6:31 pm

    @Sab:

    Our vets and all their techs know how to handle a cat under all circumstances. Our cats are pretty well behaved, but get wrapped in a warm towel and squeezed firmly so as to be mostly unable to do more than wriggle a little bit. And I scritch their foreheads after they’re wrapped up, and they purr.

    Professional~!~

  155. 155.

    Geeno

    May 1, 2019 at 6:31 pm

    @Cacti: Soil is/was/always has been the US default. Citizenship by blood has always been subject to ever-changing laws defining what it means. It didn’t apply to McCain, for example, because the children of military personnel were exempted, and his father was a naval officer and his mother a navy nurse.
    The SCOTUS has seemed to regard any citizenship due to law and not soil as “naturalized”.

  156. 156.

    rikyrah

    May 1, 2019 at 6:36 pm

    Senator Hirono
    READ?HIM?FOR?FILTH?

    Yes Yes Yes
    I could watch it on an endless loop

  157. 157.

    J R in WV

    May 1, 2019 at 6:37 pm

    @Amir Khalid:

    I wonder about people who value inanimate furniture above the physical and mental wellbeing of a living creature in their care.

    Yes, my friend. One of our cats – a 14 pound black tortie – works on the wickerwork couch most every day. We take turns shouting at her to knock it off!! which she ignores. Then at bed time she curls up between us and purrs…who cares about the wickerwork.

    After 15 years, she has left her mark on those pieces of furniture, but they sit just as well, and the cat purrs.

  158. 158.

    Gex

    May 1, 2019 at 6:38 pm

    @LeftCoastYankee: Maybe. But Occam’s Razor should be considered here. His approval numbers in SC have skyrocketed since he made the switch from mild critic to total lackey.

    ETA: Which is not to say I don’t think he’s corrupt. i think a lot of them got dirty money so covering for Trump helps cover themselves.

  159. 159.

    different-church-lady

    May 1, 2019 at 6:39 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist:

    …if Lindsey had ever had any kind of sex, somebody would have leaked something by now.

    Jesus ever-lovin’ Christ, PHRASING!!!

  160. 160.

    SiubhanDuinne

    May 1, 2019 at 6:43 pm

    @HeleninEire:

    Absolutely. I love that, and plan to use it henceforth.

  161. 161.

    SiubhanDuinne

    May 1, 2019 at 6:44 pm

    @HeleninEire:

    As per CNN Barr isn’t gonna show tomorrow.

    What. A. Fucking. Craven. COWARDY CUSTARD.

  162. 162.

    different-church-lady

    May 1, 2019 at 6:45 pm

    @trollhattan:

    Mark Summers QC said his client was “gripped” by fears of rendition to the US over the years because of his work with whistle-blowing website Wikileaks.

    The poor dear!

  163. 163.

    lamh36

    May 1, 2019 at 6:48 pm

    I think it’s a stupid idea to still hold the hearing if Barr doesn’t show up.

    The whole “empty chair” bit is stupid.

    He won’t show up…fine…cancel the hearing.

    Subpeona him…course he wont’ show up…so then they’ll hold him in contempt.

    that’s it.

    Time to subpeona Mueller and get him in front of the comittee

  164. 164.

    Roger Moore

    May 1, 2019 at 6:51 pm

    @Monala:

    I’m a dog owner, so I have to ask: can cats have their nails trimmed and filed like dogs do?

    It’s possible to trim cats’ claws. Not all cats tolerate having their claws trimmed, and cats can still damage stuff by clawing with trimmed claws.

  165. 165.

    Sab

    May 1, 2019 at 6:52 pm

    @J R in WV: Actually, my vet does that. I think he and his staff are pretty tough. They just hate putting down cats who clawed rich peoples furniture. This is actually an unfortunate part of their practice.

  166. 166.

    Cacti

    May 1, 2019 at 6:56 pm

    @Geeno:

    Right, but naturalized citizenship in this country means that you’ve gone through the naturalization process set forth in the Immigration and Nationality Act. You’re correct in that SCOTUS hasn’t decided whether sanguinis citizenship outside the US or its territories satisfies the “natural born” requirements of the Constitution.

  167. 167.

    mrmoshpotato

    May 1, 2019 at 7:04 pm

    @Sab: Would it be more accurate to call these rich people morons?

  168. 168.

    mrmoshpotato

    May 1, 2019 at 7:06 pm

    @different-church-lady: What? Jim’s phrasing is fine. ?

  169. 169.

    J R in WV

    May 1, 2019 at 7:23 pm

    @different-church-lady:

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist:

    …if Lindsey had ever had any kind of sex, somebody would have leaked something by now.

    Jesus ever-lovin’ Christ, PHRASING!!!

    OK, now… I’m pretty sure we’ve had this conversation once before. Deja vu, anyone?

    I think the phrasing is perfect, still, I do ~!!~

  170. 170.

    opiejeanne

    May 1, 2019 at 7:24 pm

    @lamh36: i heard him admit that and my jaw dropped. I think he said that Rosenstein hadn’t either but the narrative shifted to Rosenstein being both a witness and doing his job. And Barr trying to pretend the two things happened in two separate universes.

  171. 171.

    Amir Khalid

    May 1, 2019 at 7:38 pm

    @different-church-lady:
    I think that depends on just how much sex he had, if you know what I mean.

  172. 172.

    Omnes Omnibus

    May 1, 2019 at 7:44 pm

    @Amir Khalid: I refuse to know what you mean.

  173. 173.

    Sab

    May 1, 2019 at 8:28 pm

    @mrmoshpotato: No. They are still very rich. At that level nobody cares about your IQ or even if your synapses connect.

    Also, most of the veterinarians I know used med school as a fallback. They were that intelligent. They could have gone to med school but vet school was their first choice.But they still have to listen to very rich idiots who own pets.

  174. 174.

    mrmoshpotato

    May 1, 2019 at 9:15 pm

    @Sab: Rich morons then?

  175. 175.

    jc

    May 1, 2019 at 9:15 pm

    The horrible thing about attorneys like AG Barr is that Congress members like Hirono and Harris can pin him to the wall, but he’ll come right back and lie some more to your face. It’s that Paul Manafort level of assholish-ness that we see so often in those associated with this administration. Impeachment is the only appropriate response to such arrogant abuse of office. But it’s Trump himself that is the root cause of this fiasco of an executive branch.

  176. 176.

    mrmoshpotato

    May 1, 2019 at 9:20 pm

    Watching Dr. Maddow right now.

    Rachel on Barr testimony: “…follows the hollowed American legal tradition – If you really don’t think you’re bad, then no one can arrest you.”

    “Fuck ’em” as efg would say.

  177. 177.

    Bill Arnold

    May 1, 2019 at 9:45 pm

    @SiubhanDuinne:

    It’s “implied,” dammit, not “inferred.” Kamala Harris is dead to me now! \\

    That bothered you too?
    But otherwise, she was rather good for a Senator. Good timing, good mental speed, good repertoire and speed of facial (including eyes) expressions. Properly prepared and practiced, she would vivisect D.J. Trump in debates.

  178. 178.

    Steeplejack

    May 1, 2019 at 9:45 pm

    @SiubhanDuinne:

    The sarc tags are “//,” not “\\,” damn it. You are dead to me now!

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