House Intelligence Committee

Outrageous For Speaker McCarthy To Deny Three Democrats Appointments To Committees They Have Served On!

Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy is demonstrating what a total disaster he is, allowing right wing extremists to have authority, and now working to deny Democrats of their appointments on the House Intelligence Committee, specifically Adam Schiff and Eric Swalwell both from California, who have served on that committee honorably!

McCarthy is also taking a stand against Muslim Congresswoman Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, planning to deny her continued membership on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, but giving the phony liar, George Santos, positions on two committees!

This is outrageous, and the few moderate Republicans, such as Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Nancy Mace of South Carolina, and Don Bacon of Nebraska, along with a few others, can prevent this outrageous violation of McCarthy to be prevented by voting with Democrats to overrrule the Speaker!

California Split: Kevin McCarthy Declares War On Adam Schiff, Eric Swalwell, Fellow Californians!

Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy from Sacramento, California, has demonstrated in just one week how corrupt and vindictive he is!

He has declared war on two fellow Californian Congressmen, both Democrats, Adam Schiff and Eric Swalwell, because of their efforts regarding the impeachments of former President Donald Trump. He has promised he will deny these two courageous Congressmen from serving on the House Intelligence Committee in revenge!

Now, McCarthy is also suggesting that the Republican House of Representatives might move to “expunge” the two impeachments of Trump that took place in 2019 and 2021, trying to whitewash and change history!

This is the same man who denounced Trump, rightfully, for the January 6, 2021 US Capitol Insurrection, but then within about ten days, went to Mar A Lago and made “peace” with a President who had been responsible for treason, sedition, bloodshed, and violence, including all members of Congress of both parties, as well as law enforcement personnel, and Congressional staff members!

Future Democratic House Of Representatives Leadership–Hakeem Jeffries Vs Adam Schiff Likely Choice!

It seems clear that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will give up leadership in the House of Representatives after the Midterm Elections in November 2022.

Pelosi had pledged she would do so, back in 2018, so it would be difficult to change her mind.

There is the argument that the Democrats need younger House leadership, since Pelosi is 82 this coming March; House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer is 83 this coming June; and House Majority Whip James Clyburn is 82 this coming July.

There has never been a situation in which the top three House leaders are all octogenarians, although all three are very alert and competent.

As one looks ahead to the future, at this moment, the major competition for the Democratic leadership in 2023, whether majority or minority in the House of Representatives, seems to be between Hakeem Jeffries of New York, and Adam Schiff of California.

If Jeffries who is now 51 and has been in Congress since 2013 becomes the leader, he would be the first African American leader of either party. He is 5th ranking Democrat in the House as the Chair of the House Democratic Caucus. He was one of the seven House managers in the first Senate impeachment trial in January 2020 against President Donald Trump.

If Adam Schiff, who has been in Congress since 2001 becomes the leader, he would be the first Jewish House leader, although Chuck Schumer is now Senate Majority Leader. He is Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, and was the lead manager, heading a group of seven, in the first Trump impeachment trial in 2020.

Congressmen Adam Schiff (California)And Jamie Raskin (Maryland): Two Courageous, Principled Legislators!

Two of the most outstanding, principled members of Congress serve on the January 6 House Committee investigating the US Capitol Insurrection, and both were involved in one or the other impeachments of Donald Trump in December 2019 and January 2021.

California Congressman Adam Schiff has served in Congress since 2001, and was the lead manager in the first Trump impeachment investigation in 2019, and is the Chair of the House Intelligence Committee. He represents part of the Los Angeles metropolitan area.

Maryland Congressman Jamie Raskin has served in Congress since 2017, and was the lead manager in the second Trump Impeachment investigation in January 2021. He represents Montgomery County, in the suburbs of Washington, DC.

Both men are courageous and totally decent, models of what all members of Congress should be like, but sadly, so many are not such!

The Heroes Of 2020: Bright Lights In A Year The Worst In Most People’s Lifetimes

The year 2020 has been the worst year in most people’s lifetimes, but there have been heroes who deserve attention and appreciation from all decent Americans.

The ultimate hero is Dr. Anthony Fauci, who reached the age of 80 yesterday, and has been an inspiration to anyone who believes in science, and respects expertise over “junk science”, or science that is generations out of date.

Some of our greatest heroes of the year, sadly, have departed, including Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who left a legacy of promotion of equal rights for all groups in America, including women, people of color, the disabled, and equal justice for all.

Also departing this world was Congressman John Lewis of Georgia, who promoted the concept of “good trouble” to advance human rights in a world and nation that too often is not engaged in such efforts.

Another hero is former South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg, who advanced equality of gays and lesbians, just by becoming the first known gay Presidential contender, and now will be the first openly gay Cabinet officer as Secretary of Transportation.

Another hero is Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, who has done an amazing job pursuing justice, equality, and the interests of the American people, in a time of the massive threat presented by Donald Trump, and has not blinked at his threats, misogyny, and crazed insanity. She has had to deal with the unrelenting misogyny of many in the Republican Party opposition, and Trump supporters who show a total lack of respect for her that they would never utter against a man!

Another hero is California Congressman Adam Schiff, who was a key player in the impeachment investigation of Donald Trump, and is Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee. He has suffered from threats and vicious attacks by Donald Trump and his minions, but has demonstrated courage and conviction in an admirable manner.

Another hero is South Carolina Congressman James Clyburn, the highest ranked African American in Congress as House Majority Whip, third ranking leadership role. If it were not for Clyburn, Joe Biden would not have been able to become the Democratic Presidential nominee this year, as Clyburn’s endorsement was a major factor in Biden winning the South Carolina Primary and moving forward to the top of the Democratic Presidential ticket.

Another such hero is the future First Lady, Dr. Jill Biden, who, with her elegance and intelligence, will raise the level of that position from the disgraceful low level it reached in the past four years.

California Senator Kamala Harris, soon to be Vice President of the United States, is another hero, who will be the first woman, and first woman of color with her Jamaican and Asian Indian heritage, to be a heartbeat away from the Presidency. She is a role model for women and racial minorities, and will be a very influential Vice President, more in the direction of Joe Biden, Al Gore, and Walter Mondale, than Mike Pence!

And last but not least, Joe Biden, who is a man of decency, compassion, ethics, and empathy, will be our 46th President on January 20, 2021. He will face the most daunting set of issues of any President since Abraham Lincoln in 1861, Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933, and Barack Obama in 2009. His long career in Congress, and his outstanding Vice Presidency give America hope, that in a time of a “dark winter”, as Joe Biden calls the COVID 19 Pandemic and the Second Great Depression, that Biden will take leadership on the level of FDR’s New Deal to take us to brighter days and a recovery in 2021 and beyond!

Everyone needs to pray for his success, but all know that he will not waste a minute or a day in promoting himself on Twitter or playing golf, as our despicable 45th President, Donald Trump, has done more of in the past four years, than doing his job!

Adam Schiff Should Be Acknowledged As Champion For Upholding Of Constitution And Rule Of Law!

California Democratic Congressman Adam Schiff, the Chair of the House Intelligence Committee, should be acknowledged as a champion for upholding the Constitution and rule of law. He also will be praised for not allowing fellow Congressman and Californian Devin Nunes, the Republican ranking member, from intimidating him in his work toward impeachment of Donald Trump.

Schiff will be long regarded in history for his courage, his principles, his dignity, and his steadfastness, in his pursuit of the truth about our 45th President.

When the time comes for Senator Dianne Feinstein to leave the Senate, Schiff would be an excellent replacement for her.

Gordon Sondland Indicts Trump, Pence, Pompeo, Mulvaney, Perry, Bolton, Giuliani In Ukraine Scandal

In a shocking six hours of testimony before the House Intelligence Committee, Gordon Sondland, Ambassador to the European Union, indicted President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney, Secretary of Energy Rick Perry, former National Security Adviser John Bolton, and former NYC Mayor and Trump legal adviser Rudy Giuliani of collusion in the Ukraine Scandal.

Nothing like this has ever happened before to this extent, although the Watergate Scandal under Richard Nixon and the Iran Contra Affair under Ronald Reagan were both massive scandals.

By all justification, all of these people should be facing prosecution, and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi should be finishing up the remaining year in the Trump term, but that is highly unlikely.

If this is not enough to convince Trump loyalists on the evil represented by Donald Trump, then we can say true “brainwashing” has occurred, and nothing will convince the 40 percent of Americans who are clearly totally delusional and clueless.

The Trump White House Reaches A New Low: Condemning Marie Yovanovitch and Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman

Donald Trump’s White House has reached a new low, employing character assassination of public servants doing their job in reporting the wrongdoings on Ukraine to the House Impeachment investigation.

Trump has blasted both former Ukraine Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch and National Security Council member Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman, questioning their loyalty and their honesty, and putting both of them in direct threat of reprisal encouraged by right wing forces, including Fox News Channel and specific hate mongers in conservative talk radio, outlined yesterday on this blog.

Also Republican House members of the Intelligence Committee, including Jim Jordan of Ohio and Devin Nunes of California, were totally demagogic and despicable in their attempt to besmirch the reputation of both Yovanovitch and Vindman, as well as other witnesses, accusing them of espionage and dual loyalties. The lack of respect for Vindman wearing his uniform was shocking, and the fact that he came to this country as a toddler being seen as an attack on immigration was condemnatory.

We have never seen such behavior by any other President, and that should be another issue for impeachment, and now, even Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is in the “dog house”, as Trump is reported to be blaming him for the various witnesses testifying, many of whom are connected to the State Department, although Pompeo does not personally know many of them.

The Trump White House is deteriorating ever further before our eyes, and undermining American foreign policy, as well as destroying any progress on any basic issue, as Donald Trump flails in the wind in a crazy manner, added to by the chest issue he had that led him to go to Walter Reed Medical Center this past weekend.

It is time for mass marches to demand the resignation of this crooked, immoral, unethical, disastrous President, and his indictment, trial, conviction, and incarceration in federal prison!

What Is Nancy Pelosi Waiting For? The Need For Impeachment For Historical Reasons!

The time has come for the impeachment inquiry regarding Donald Trump go move forward.

After the Special Counsel Robert Mueller testimony at the House Judiciary Committee and the House Intelligence Committee, there is no reason to wait anymore.

Some might say that Trump will not be convicted by the US Senate, so it is a waste of time.

But even though Trump will not be removed by the Senate, it is important to impeach for historical reasons, to make the record clear for all time that Donald Trump deserves to be impeached.

If Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton could be impeached for far less reasoning, then Donald Trump, with his multitude of sins as President, deserve to be impeached, and have his future obituary highlight the impeachment, as it has for Andrew Johnson and will do so for Bill Clinton in the future.

It is time for Nancy Pelosi to move ahead on impeachment.

Major Roles To Be Played By Democratic Committee Chairs In 116th Congress

The 116th Congress will see Democrats taking over the committee chairmanships in the House of Representatives.

Adam Schiff of California will be the Chair of the House Intelligence Committee, and will require many Trump Administration figures, including his children and son in law, to testify.

Elijah Cummings of Maryland will head the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

Jerrold Nadler of New York will head the House Judiciary Committee, which might move to have impeachment hearings against Donald Trump.

Eliot Engel of New York will lead the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and deal with the problems of unstable foreign policy of Donald Trump.

Maxine Waters will lead the House Financial Services Committee, and is sure to demand lots of testimony and documents from the Trump Administration.

Nita Lowey of New York will be the Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, clearly crucial in dealing with spending programs.

Raul Grijalva of Arizona will be the Chair of the House Natural Resources Committee, and will be engaged in combat with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Interior Department over Donald Trump’s refusal to combat global warming.

These seven committee Chairs are going to face a constant assault by the right wing extremists, Fox News Channel, and Donald Trump himself, along with others who are Chairs of other committees in the House of Representatives.

One point of particular concern is that four of these seven committee Chairs named above are Jewish (Schiff, Nadler, Engel, Lowey), two (Cummings and Waters) are African American, and Grijalva is Hispanic, which makes it likely that white supremacists, encouraged by Donald Trump rhetoric, are likely to pose a growing threat to these committee Chairs, and makes it likely they will need security services to protect them, a horrendous reality.

But the move to investigate and hold Donald Trump and his administration responsible is urgent, even with the growing threat.