171 Comments

I suspect the deal is with Marjorie Taylor Greene: "Give all the footage to Tucker Carlson and I'll let you continue to be Speaker for another week."

The question ought to be "what is MTG's deal with Carlson?" ... and why is an avowed insurrectionist MTG even in Congress? The 14th Constitutional Amendment clearly states that she (and others) are barred from holding public office!

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Before the 22 election, challengers alleged that Greene “engaged in insurrection or rebellion” on January 6th, which, if she did, would disqualify her from taking office upon her reelection under Section Three of the Fourteenth Amendment. A Georgia state administrative judge held an eight-hour hearing when she testified for several hours. The challenge was lost.

I watched it IMHO it is possible that she perjured herself. She claimed she couldn't remember pertinent facts. . https://www.newsweek.com/marjorie-taylor-greene-trolled-perjury-says-she-cant-remember-1700277

The transcript of that hearing should be matched against her public statements and witnesses should have been called to show credibility. https://law.justia.com/codes/georgia/2010/title-16/chapter-10/article-4/16-10-70

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The judge was a nut job right winger!

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I saw some of that footage right after the hearing. She was practically smirking upon each "I don't remember" statement, mocking the session. I do wonder whether the DOJ's investigations have reached the level of those US House members who were certainly involved.

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I watched a very small part of the footage of that hearing. Her smug potato face and smile (smirk) after answering that she couldn't remember...gave me acid reflux and I had to turn it off.

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MM obviously not. DOJ has been asleep at the switch.

If you notice, perjury is also a state crime.

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Article 14, section 3 does not automatically bar anyone whom you or I might believe to have engaged in insurrection or rebellion. Each case must be individually litigated. As you mention, Daniel, the Greene case was decided in her favor. Even if somehow she were found guilty of perjury, that decision would not be reversed.

I'm fairly certain that here has been only one Article 14, section 3 case decided at the federal level, Cawthorne v. Amalfi. Cawthorne was a member of Congress and his candidacy for re-election was challenged in January, 2022.

On May 24, 2022, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit ruled that the 1872 Amnesty Act lifted the ban on Members of Congress. Near the end of the court's 73 page decision, they stated:

"The only actor in our American constitutional system that can judge the qualifications of members of the House of Representatives is the House of Representatives itself. That restriction restrains the jurisdiction of federal courts—the very power of the courts to consider the question. The judging of congressional qualifications—or the qualification of candidates—is a political question committed exclusively to each House of Congress. This court cannot do it. The district court cannot do it. Only the appropriate House of Congress can."

The decision was not appealed. So it now stands decided, at least for the Fourth Circuit.

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"Even if somehow she were found guilty of perjury, that decision would not be reversed."

Fraud is a valid basis to relitigate it.

As for the Amnesty Act, with respect to MTG, it would be hard to serve as a member from jail.

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You are correct of course. But as a practical matter, you also know there will be no perjury trial, the case will never be relitigated and she will continue to be a member of the 118th Congress.

The more relevant point is that the highest federal court decision on Section 3 so far is that only the House of Representatives can judge the qualifications of its members. Believing otherwise is pretty much fantasy.

Now if you want to talk about Section 3 with regard to a presidential candidate, that would be an interesting discussion (but one for another time and place).

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With respect to the Amnesty Act, the House rules place the burden of proof on the insurrectionist and it takes a supermajority to be seated.

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Re Section 3 w/regard to presidential candidates, Marianne Williamson has made an interesting recent revelation.

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Democrats should provide an unrestricted release of the same videos to two reputable press organizations. Then the capitol should consider the implications of the release of information about the capitol and adjust security procedures accordingly.

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founding

McCarthy is a desperate man with hopes of carrying forward a hopeless attempt to save a faltering Republican party filled with extremely corrupt and anti-democratic members.

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Not just anti-democratic, John. trump and all members of the GOP who adhere to him are pro authoritarian dictatorship. We need to be shouting that loud and clear

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Shouting sure stopped the Nazis .. didn't it.

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I agree! People who vote Republican just because that's their party need to pay attention. My sincere hope is that the DOJ rounds up all the Republicans who refused to certify the election. I'm not sure if that's a crime or not, but it is definitely not in the best interest of the country. A lot can happen in a year.

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The sad part (for them)? The Gop is DEAD. The useless billionaires do not realize it yet, but when we finally realize that their beloved oil is gone for 200,000+ years within the next decade, the DEMOCRATIC PARTY will become our new "conservative party."

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Too many people think both parties are dead at present, which means too many opt out of participating in electoral politics, OR they believe we’re so far gone that revolution — by armed insurrection or just mayhem in the streets — is the answer.

It’s scary that so many think “both sides” are equally as bad. The Dems can be feckless and dopey, and they too easily jump into the pockets of Big Money, but they aren’t Fascist Nazis or Communist Nazis [yeah, I know, I know … traditional Nazis were fascist, but not any more — Putin is every bit the “Nazi” that Mussolini was, and they were fascist and communist, ostensibly, but no different from any Nazi anywhere].

How do we get it back to Of the People, By the People, and For the People?

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Messaging is the answer. We are using the wrong responses. A laundry list of facts will not change people's minds. Chris Schechter and Rachel Bitekofe's podcast answers the question. Strategic mockery i.e. Daniel Goldman and Eric Swalwell have used to take down these MAGA nuts. https://post.news/@/cliffschecter/2MDHnIxYhbLLSMX4twMKywGYNWW?fbclid=IwAR1x-E-7KqDk4Kbu_cXBnNiOvhU-z9TSbPWiOYuFq96LRjtGlUs99xy21e0

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First I have heard about Goldman & Swalwell. I agree re list of facts, will check them out. Thx!

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Why isn’t this illegal?

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And why aren't America's corporate MSM outlets lining up to file lawsuits to halt Fox's exclusive access to government material produced with taxpayer funds? Or, why doesn't someone -- NGO/government agency -- seek an injunction on the grounds of national security, since FBI & CIA both opposed the deal?

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Like maybe the Justice Dept,

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'MURICA!!! But seriously: America is 100% run by useless billionaires that do not pay taxes and in fact MAKE money from us Americans. Ronny Reagan is to blame with his asinine "Trickle Down Theory." Me? I would redub it the "Trickle Up Theory" where American's money goes UP to billionaires. Again: 'MURICA!!!

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It is. Blatantly.

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Illegal vs. unjust. Law formulation has a way of draining away justice, or haven't you noticed? ..

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As I have said repeatedly: The GOP is a crime Syndicate, hell-bent on subverting this democracy. The Murdoch-Fox department is a main outlet for spreading misinformation and propaganda. Wanna-Be Crime Boss, Qevin McQuarthy, a KKKoch Puppet, is feeding those tapes to Fox so they can twist the narrative. THIS sort of thing happens because no one in the Justice Dept has the Will or Courage to stand up to Fascist Oligarchs, the Puppet Masters of the crime syndicate.

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Tucker will slice and dice the footage to show:

1. That the Jan 6 riot was actually a peaceful protest;

2. That ANTIFA fomented the violence;

3. That Pelosi and the Capitol police were complicit.

McCarthy let the FOX into the henhouse.

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OMG spectacular line” McCarthy let the FOX into the Henhouse.”

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Yes. @Phil H --Stellar.

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LUCKILY: not even Cucker and his goons can make it look like ANTIFA was complicent . . . I hope. I mean, they would need to use CGI and they are FAR too stupid to do that.

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The reason the far right idiots want this is so they can “Barr-ize “ the attack on democracy by their supporters. These traitors need to keep their base stoked.

I hope that Democrats launch a legal challenge that prevent the fox nazi regime from doing it. They shouldn’t be allowed to speak of this until after all media sources also have this full list. And actually, the courts should intervene in the release altogether as it is a security risk.

What an execrable bunch of losers. Hilary picked the wrong term. Not strong enough. Few knew what hyperbole meant until Biden started using it.

Execrable is the word for the “Christian” nationalist authoritarian movement

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I still prefer Rex Tillerson's name for Bunkerboy though: "Fucking Moron."

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Omg I forgot that one. And in “polite “company, where I prefer not to be, Bunker oh is perfect

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This is a threat to the safety and security of Congress and America. Kevin McCarthy and Tucker Carlson should be investigated and jailed for CRIMES AGAINST AMERICA!!

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Let a million hands WRING!

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Feb 25, 2023Liked by Robert Reich

Really enjoy these weekly coffee klatch! Hope you continue to have them.

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He is giving the right s map for another attack-security is destroyed. Right wingers are bringing guns to congress...this is for chaos, but this is cold blooded planning for another attack.

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And Alex Jones of InfoWars infamy admits to storing weapons for militia members charged with participating in the J6 insurrection. A ready-made stockpile.

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Seventy-three years ago, a prescient George Orwell in his book "1984" summarized the Republican party of today: 'Those who control the present, control the past and those who control the past control the future.'

Big Brother lives.

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I know that any relation of Republicans to logic and consistency is purely coincidental, but on January 6, 2021, Trump was the head of the federal government. He was the big boss of the FBI, obviously with power to fire its head. So, if the January 6 riot was a false flag carried out by the FBI, either Trump directed it or he was so out of touch with his own government that he did not know what they were doing.

There was also the fact that Trump directed the rioters to the Capitol and subsequently told them he loved them. The public saw and heard him on video. So, "false flag" or not, Trump loved it.

With regard to access to the tapes of the riot, I am wondering whether Fox may have paid McCarthy a personal bribe and/or promised a hefty contribution to the Republican Party, in exchange for the exclusive access.

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In his exposure of the secure locations around the Capitol, McCarthy has acted as a traitor.

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Feb 25, 2023Liked by Robert Reich

Wow, @Robert Reich and @Heather Lofthouse--what a session, and covering so much ground! Thank you! :~)

I especially enjoyed your discussion of economics in history, and prospects for how things could change in the future, especially with regard to how AI could shape the economic landscape, and how the workweek, and people's relationship to work could change.

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So obvious! McCarthy placating the crazies like MTG to keep his position, giving Tucker Carlson the opportunity to rail at his viewers/believers that Jan 6 was nothing more than a peaceful demonstration by cherry picking the tapes to present them with only what he wants seen & continue the division of this country. McCarthy does not have the character for providing the tapes to all news outlets for equal viewing & evaluation. Frankly, I watched the entire Jan 6 Insurrection, from the very beginning & was horrified, appalled, disgusted & sad that people in the United States were so hypnotized by tfg. Now 2 years later, after dissolving the committee that was diligent at getting to the truth, McCarthy has put it in the hands of the one sided "news" personality to further Carlson's repulsive ego. Only MAGAs will view & accept Carlson's analysis 100%, without question. He knows that & so does McCarthy, & they are reveling in that, along with MTG. A coalition of media outlets has now requested, in writing that McCarthy release the same footage to them, & sending an expedited request under the Freedom of Information Act. He darn well better provide the same 41,000 hours of footage to these news outlets! No excuses for not doing so.

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Yes, that's what he is....a loser! hahahahahaha!

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He was "blackmailed" into it: his position is secured only by agreement with the crazies of the Greene group and they wanted him to do this. Rep Jeffries MUST make an issue of this and not rely upon the press to carry his water.

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The idea that MTG can lead anyone is ludicrous. She is all ego and not able to strategize.

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And she's hollow,chock full of stupidity!

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LOL! .... She was able to "strategize" well enough to get re-elected with a near 40 point margin. Her Democratic opponent, Marcus Flowers, ran an 18-month well-financed campaign against her.

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I'm familiar with that area, having grown up there and worked for a previous (Democratic) congressman. I could never figure out who chose Flowers and why. As a black veteran with a white wife, he had no longstanding connections there that I could discern, and of course, Greene had already fanned the racism into a fire. It's not accidental that John Birch's grandparents lived in that area, and he once had a following. And it had also elected right wing Democrat conspiracist Lawrence McDonald, who died in a Korean Air crash in 1983. (At some point, the area had been redistricted to delete the more diverse Cobb County, which is represented by Lucy McBath, who is Black and an advocate of gun control.)

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I've been in Cobb County for 40 years, moving here when Larry McDonald was representing it. I have to take exception with much of what you wrote.

Nobody "chose" Flowers, or ANY other opponent to run against Greene. He filed and ran, and started telling his story. Nobody cared he has a "white wife," and I have to wonder why you thought that was important. Flowers raised MANY millions of dollars, and maybe that was the whole point.

Nobody cares where John Birch's grandparents were from. It has no bearing on ANYTHING. Greene's district contains a tiny sliver of Cobb County, and really does not have much overlap with the district once served by McDonald. (The Korean 007 incident was not a "crash," but a shoot-down by the USSR when it "strayed" over Russian air space.)

Lucy McBath's district contained less than 10% of Cobb County, and now it contains zero percent. Over 80% of Cobb County is in the 11th district, which McBath never represented. The fact she is "black" seems very important to you... as your statement that Flowers' wife is white.

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Thank you for correcting me about the lines of the current district. You will never convince me that race is inconsequential in Georgia politics. And party leaders do make choices about candidates. (There was a Black woman in Rome who was already elected to public office, and I'm not sure why she didn't prevail.) I contributed to Flowers' campaign, as did many people outside the district because of their distaste for Greene. But we couldn't vote, or he would have beaten her. However, it did cut into her margin, as you know.

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