Saturday, October 31, 2020

Mind Numbing

 

Rachel Maddow's show yesterday was heart stopping. Three stories guaranteed to knock your socks off.

1. The first involved Russian hackers hacking into US hospitals in a ransomware attack. It's called tickbot (not sure of the bot name.)
shutting off computer systems of hospitals in various states to avoid any further destruction.

2. Russian hackers wanting to go after US elections gathering confidential information on voters to screw up the US
election as if we needed anymore doubt sown by Trump in the security of elections

3. Corruption times 10: Trump and his attorney general lackey Barr involving themselves to help a foreign power Turkey's Erdogan in a major attempt to kill an investigation of a Turkish bank (Halkbank) for financial crimes which investigation was run out of the Southern District of New York with US attorney Berman going after the Turkish bank. In summary from the Intelligencer: "In 2016, Turkish strongman Recep Tayyip Erdogan asked then-Vice-President Joe Biden to lean on federal prosecutors who were investigating a Turkish bank for financial crimes and to hand over a dissident cleric living in the United States. The requests seemed to be on Biden’s mind when he publicly addressed reporters and piously explained that, in the United States, the justice system doesn’t work like that. “I suspect it’s hard for people to understand that as powerful as my country is, as powerful as Barack Obama is as president, he has no authority under our Constitution to extradite anyone,” Biden explained to reporters. “Only a federal court can do that. Nobody else can do that. If the president were to take this into his own hands, what would happen would be he would be impeached for violating the separation of powers."

If you remember US attorney Berman resigned. Erdogan wanted the investigation killed until Trump got angry at Erdogan for something else so Trump and Barr backed off. Still it was a hugely treasonous attempted breach of national security for a sitting president and his henchman Barr to attempt to kill a case investigated by a US attorney or any other attorney for that matter. US higher ups never get involved in cases brought by a US attorney or any in US courts. It's just not done except in banana republics.

From the Intelligencer article: "Trump’s own financial interest is a factor Biden did not imagine in 2016. When Trump was asked about Turkey in 2015, he conceded that he had a conflict of interest. “I have a little conflict of interest because I have a major, major building in Istanbul,” Trump told Breitbart. “It’s called Trump Towers — two towers, instead of one. … And I’ve gotten to know Turkey very well. They’re amazing people. They’re incredible people. They have a strong leader.”

"Yes, having a lucrative business deal in a foreign country, especially an oligarchy where leaders intermingle official favors with foreign policy, is a deep conflict of interest.  It is disqualifying, in fact.  "In a pre-Trump world, the Turkish bank scandal would destroy a normal presidency." Trump would have satisfied Erdogan' request if Trump had not gotten angry at Turkey like boys in a school yard fight.  "If Trump wins reelection, the House should launch impeachment hearings."

If you are wondering how so many could tie themselves to the most uber corrupt president in US history I am having that incredulity assault my senses too. It is, indeed, mind numbing.  The answer is I have zero idea how anyone of any ethical standards could support Trump. 

DROP YOUR BALLOT FOR BIDEN IN TIME AND MOST IMPORTANTLY DROP IT NOW IN PERSON IN A DROP BOX OR AT APPROPRIATE LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES. IN THE ALTERNATIVE, VOTE IN PERSON EARLY IF POSSIBLE ON NOVEMBER 3RD AT YOUR POLLING FACILITY   DO NOT USE THE MAIL.  IT IS TOO LATE TO USE THE MAIL BECAUSE OF TRUMP AND REPUBLICANS’ VOTER SUPPRESSION TACTICS. VOTE BLUE UP AND DOWN THE TICKET AND SAVE OUR DEMOCRACY!

No comments:

Democratic Presidential Convention--On to November

  I watched the Democratic convention last evening until my body's demand for sleep overtook me around midnight.  Having followed thin...