Scandal after scandal, controversy after controversy—America is divided over ideas. For many, their solution is to talk, argue, theorize, analyze, and strategize. While their constant clucking reaches ears outside the hen house, other people in Washington are actually doing something.
The DOJ is pursuing a genuine criminal investigation of the FBI’s role with what has become the Russianewsgategate scandal. It started with an accusation about Russia based on the news rather than evidence, then they tried to make it into a scandal, then the fake scandal became a scandal. Now, Comey and Brennan could be looking at jail time, even treason, in an attempted coup.
Typically, Washington Congressional hearings carry clout and intimidation. The political puppets line up around the room on an elevated bench and look down on the witness giving testimony. Behind the witness is a packed crowd with standing room only. That’s how confirmation hearings and impeachment hearings and other televised hearings go. That was ENRON, General Motors, Condi Rice, Olly North, Brett Kavanaugh, Clarence Thomas, even John Kerry’s testimony about Vietnam before he was a Senator. It’s scary, even spooky, but that’s about it.
Lights, camera, action! Congressional hearings are a show designed to stir the pot of voters. As Americans grow bored with the news, Congressional theater is losing whatever power it might have wielded. So, while the actors, performers, and thespians give their show on Capitol Hill, the DOJ is actually doing something substantive. Attorney General William Barr isn’t putting on any kind of show trial. This is serious. And, it’s moving forward at the speed of law. And, perhaps for the first time, the usual performers will need to lawyer-up.
It doesn’t matter so much what people say; it matters what people do. America is divided over ideas. The biggest source of division is whether to perform or whether to actually do something real. Another performance will probably be their defense.
Election
David Rubenstein: Warren wealth tax not answer to society problems // CNBC
Leon Cooperman gets emotional talking about current political climate // CNBC
1 Year Out: A divided nation lurches toward 2020 election // AP
Trump
Trump will ask Supreme Court to take New York tax returns case // CNBC
State & Local
Puerto Rico senator, 7 others arrested by FBI in corruption investigation // Fox News
Death & Taxes
Democrats
Sen. Kamala Harris introduces bill to lengthen school day by three hours // CNBC
Republicans
Was Trump call with Ukraine ‘perfect’? GOP has many answers // AP
Up and coming Republican
Daniel Cameron: Why Mitch McConnell is smiling today // CNN
Activism, Unrest & Protests
Radical Extremism & Terrorism
Russianewsgategate
State Department Freed Ukraine Money Before Trump Says He Did // Bloomberg
DiGenova: FISA report will be explosive // YouTube @ Fox Business
DiGenova: FISA Report Will Ruin Careers, ‘People Are Going To Be Indicted’ // RCP
News Media & Journalism
Prices, Rates, Oil & Food
Iran discovers 53 billion-barrel oil field, Rouhani announces // CNN
Soc Media, Econ, Tech
DNS-over-HTTPS will eventually roll out in all major browsers, despite ISP opposition // ZD Net
Thousands of Facebook internal documents, emails made public in leak // Business Insider
On record…
Schwarzman: I wouldn’t be surprised if trade war cools over time // CNBC
Morgan Stanley: Markets will have some low in the next decade // CNBC
Breaking: Dow Jones Hits Record High, Jumps 100+ After US-China Trade Talks // Hannity