Freedom of the press is not just important to democracy; it is democracy. Trump no. 94.

[TheClaws]

Quote from Walter Cronkite.

Previous thread here:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3345873-Trump-has-a-Pecker-problem-and-there-is-a-blue-pill-to-make-it-grow-bigger-midterms-Trump-threads-contd

....stalking horse....

is becoming desensitized has become desensitised
“This is the new normal”: shooter in Bakersfield, California, kills 5 people and himself.
America is becoming desensitized to mass gun violence.'
By German Lopez on September 13, 2018 12:50 pm
www.vox.com/platform/amp/2018/9/13/17854970/bakersfield-california-mass-shooting?__twitter_impression=true

Bernie Sanders will be 79 if he won in Nov 2020. My PIL's are late 80s/early 90s and are mentally super-sharp and engaged but the physical decline that has happened since their mid-80's is much more obvious. I'm no spring chicken either and don't want to be put out to pasture any time soon but I don't think I'd want to take on the presidency in my 90th decade. These old white men need to step aside. That goes for our side of the Atlantic as well!

Sanders:
One would not have to be a cynic:
"A cynic might say the guy who complained about the rigging of the 2016 Democratic presidential primary is kinda, sorta, rigging the 2018 Vermont Senate race for himself,” journalist Aaron Blake wrote in the Washington Post in May. “It all suggests a guy who is still very much using the Democratic Party when it’s convenient for him.

As I said.................

Totally agree, North. And I don't think he is presidential material (just as, despite his popular appeal to some, Corbyn is no leader).

More of a halterless nag, really, cozie,

Three legged horse or three legged race maybe.

Maybe the equine theme is a thing.

Maybe so...........

It's all fun and games in ' The Atlantic'. Following on from Hungary's cautionary tale:
'IS DEMOCRACY DYING?'
'A Warning From Europe: The Worst Is Yet to Come.
Polarization. Conspiracy theories. Attacks on the free press. An obsession with loyalty. Recent events in the United States follow a pattern Europeans know all too well'.
www.theatlantic.com/amp/article/568324/?__twitter_impression=true

Did you see this?

President Donald Trump’s administration offered the Palestinians $5 billion in aid if they negotiate with Israel, according to a report by the Israeli business paper Globes.

"Analysts noted that the Trump administration is attempting to use funds to pressure the Palestinians to make a deal. Trump said last week that they would be paid to make peace."

"Meanwhile, the details of the peace plan being concocted by Kushner and Greenblatt have not yet been made public."

www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-offers-palestinians-5-billion-aid-negotiate-israel-report-1120364

'Nervous Republicans Revive ‘Carnage’ as Turnout Strategy.
Steve Bannon is back with a new fearmongering movie that’s firing up conservative media about left-wing violence
www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-09-14/nervous-republicans-revive-carnage-as-midterm-turnout-strategy
If we’d put it in theaters, it’d be X-rated for violence,” he says. “The film opens powerfully and focuses on this subject because it’s a motivation tool that we’ve tested with audiences
In addition to running on OAN, Bannon’s film will be the centerpiece of a roadshow that begins this weekend in St. Louis. “We’ll be working with evangelical groups doing events and screenings in church halls,” as well as promoting the film on Facebook and YouTube, he says. “This is very simply a get-out-the-vote technique.”

Perfect viewing for the devout congregation relaxing, replete, after the potluck supper.

I remember something about that peace bribe from a while back, Lweji. That great statesman and intellectual giant, Imonlyherecosofwhoimarried, came up with it, apparently

That's the great peace plan??

www.buzzfeednews.com/article/zoetillman/paul-manafort-dc-trial-plea

'Although the latest charging papers include just two criminal counts, the conspiracy to defraud the United States charge still encompasses a broad range of financial and other crimes. It charges Manafort with conspiring to commit money laundering, tax fraud, failing to report foreign bank accounts, violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act, and lying to the Justice Department.'

Caroline O.
‏
@RVAwonk

'#BREAKING: Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort pleads guilty to one count of conspiracy against the United States, one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice, per @Reuters.'

'Liars are always most disposed to swear'
Jake Tapper
@jaketapper
In a statement to @RonanFarrow, Kavanaugh said, “I categorically and unequivocally deny this allegation. I did not do this back in high school or at any time.”
Ronan Farrow
@RonanFarrow
A woman alleged to two democrats that, during high school, Brett Kavanaugh held her down and attempted to force himself on her, placing a hand over her mouth and turning up music to conceal her protests. How the politicians responded is now a controversy: link: newyorker.com/news/news-desk/a-sexual-misconduct-allegation-against-the-supreme-court-nominee-brett-kavanaugh-stirs-tension-among-democrats-in-congress newyorker.com/news/news-desk…
mobile.twitter.com/jaketapper/status/1040612965416882177

Connecting dots. The story, it seems, was one that smeared Clinton (sorry for the Breitbart link):

www.breitbart.com/national-security/2012/10/29/clinton-ukraine-tymoshenko-anti-semitism/

Laura Rozen
@lrozen

“..MANAFORT coordinated privately with a senior Israeli government official to issue a written statement publicizing this story...”

Haven't come across Rozen before but she has lots of Manafort details on her account.

Hugh Hewitt
‏
Verified account

@hughhewitt

'In my interview with @realBobWoodward just concluded, Woodward says “Yes” when I ask him if he would release the tapes of anyone he interviewed who publicly requests he do so. People who say they have been misquoted: Just ask for tapes to be produced. They will be.'

He must think the pardon will be worth it:
'The filing also suggested that, in addition to any prison sentence he might receive, Manafort had agreed to forfeit three homes in New York, one in Virginia, and the funds from five bank accounts, per our reporter Jon Swaine.'
www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2018/sep/14/paul-manafort--plea-deal-donald-trump-robert-mueller-latest-live-updates

Kavanaugh ...

This makes sense now.

John Bresnahan
‏*@BresPolitico*

'.@ChuckGrassley releases a letter from 65 women who knew Kavanaugh in high school (showing Rs knew about this high-school rape allegation.) These women say Kavanaugh “behaved honorably and treated women with respect.”'

Define 'historic'
David D. Kirkpatrick
@ddknyt
important, probably historic interview with Kushner by @marklandler, about Israel/Palestine: Kushner Says Punishing Palestinians Won’t Hurt Chance for Peace Deal
mobile.twitter.com/ddknyt/status/1040524656044896256

Includes link to full charging doc.

www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/paul-manafort-pleads-guilty-mueller-probe-n909576