330 Comments

Good! All the pieces have FINALLY clicked into place. He can, in a sane world, be imprisoned for life! Thank you again for shifting through all that was said for the bones, Professor Reich. Know that we appreciate you.

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Jul 22, 2022Liked by Robert Reich

18 U.S. Code § 2383 - Rebellion or insurrection

U.S. Code

Whoever incites, sets on foot, assists, or engages in any rebellion or insurrection against the authority of the United States or the laws thereof, or gives aid or comfort thereto, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both; and shall be incapable of holding any office under the United States.

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18 U.S. Code § 2384 - Seditious conspiracy

If two or more persons in any State or Territory, or in any place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, conspire to overthrow, put down, or to destroy by force the Government of the United States, or to levy war against them, or to oppose by force the authority thereof, or by force to prevent, hinder, or delay the execution of any law of the United States, or by force to seize, take, or possess any property of the United States contrary to the authority thereof, they shall each be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both.

(

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As stated yesterday, there was a planning phase and an execution phase.

The elements for the planning phase, i.e. conspiracy, IMHO are an easier fit.

The general conspiracy statute, 18 U.S.C. § 371, creates an offense "[i]f two or more persons conspire either to commit any offense against the United States, or to defraud the United States, or any agency thereof in any manner or for any purpose.

1. 2 or more persons who 2. Intentionally 3. make an agreement 4. to violate federal law or defraud the United states, and then 5. Commit some overt act in furtherance of the agreement.

The crime of Conspiracy is a specific- intent crime, the government must prove that 2 or more persons intentionally entered into an agreement to commit some criminal offense. Also, the overt act done in furtherance of the agreement must occur AFTER the agreement has been reached.

The 1/6 insurrection is the overt act.

Everyone involved in the Green Bay sweep, the White House meetings of December 19, 20, 21. etc. should have been identified, their roles revealed and if involved sent to a grand jury.

Besides the Georgia investigation, six other states need to be investigated re state phony electors, proffering manufactured fake evidence to official proceedings, improper interference, etc.

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And if this were the 1700s, he and ALL his liddle drones would have been HANGED. >sigh<

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❤️ precisely Daniel!

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Why would just a fine be the punishment for conspiring against the US as President of these United States? Seems like small price to pay.

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Big fine is warranted!!! Let's see that!!! Worth the effort.

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Yes. All organizations affiliated with Trump should be bankrupted.

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I am all for rebellion/insurrection and revolution, but not the right wing type. Power to the people! Liberty, equality and fraternity.

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God, doesn’t simplistic $hit like this crappy creative effort confirm the Tea Party Trumpists are selfish children? Lies, don’t click it, it is creepy; Teapartiers crying they don’t get treated equitably with evil lying Democrats. Yuck, Ted Phillips. Don’t you feel dirty watching or sharing stuff that makes it appear the Republican party supports Trump? Real Republicans don’t support Trump’s egotistical bombastic ignorant petty knee-jerk desires to be powerful and influential despite knowing nothing of history, politics, economics, law, or diplomacy.

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Jul 22, 2022Liked by Robert Reich

Prof. Reich, thank you for the excellent work you have done in putting all the pieces together of the entire public hearing proceedings so far. The J6 committee has really done a great job in bringing all the threads together to make the case for criminal proceedings against the ex president.

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Jul 22, 2022Liked by Robert Reich

I was pleased that Josh Hawley was revealed for the coward he is.

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Fist pump, run, run, run. Hypocritical cowards like Hawley have no shame.

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Hey Doug! I was glad to see that too. When you are on stage in front of a crowd, you can incite away, but when faced by that mob you helped spur on, run like hell!

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He should be on the Washington Commanders football team. Talk trash, rely on your running game.

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One blind mouse

One blind mouse

See how he runs

See how he runs

Everyone else was walking calmly away when he sped by them.

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I wish one of the CAPITOL POLICE caught him and turned him around and escorted him to the patriotic visitors touring the Capitol.

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It has all been proven! I do not understand the disbelievers. Are they ignorant? Stubborn? I just don’t get it!

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Jul 22, 2022·edited Jul 22, 2022

I think that what's getting lost here is this: If you say the HSCJ6 hearings aren't a proper trial? You're right. The HSCJ6 hearings are deliberations as to whether an actual "criminal referral" be filed with the DOJ. Any other palaver is just more goddam lying propaganda from ol' Tweety's supporters. HSCJ6 must hand over a recommendation to prosecute. It's not a prosecution, and it isn't a court of law.

As for a wank-publican claim that it's a totally partisan proceeding, I don think anyone could possibly respond to that allegation any better than Jamie Raskin did. To paraphrase: "Of course it's partisan. >All< the witnesses are Republicans!"

ADDENDUM: I see where ol' Tweety is sniveling & whining that the HSCJ6 hearings are politically motivated. Damn >skippy< they're politically motivated, and ol' Tweety's political chicanery motivated them! (I >really< like Raskin's style!)

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Hey DZK, 'Ol Tweety, that's a new one for me. I like it! He is not the brightest bulb in any string of lights. "Ol Tweety knows how to do one thing and that has gotten him far in life because he had a lot of money; he knows how to read and manipulate people. I heard from someone yesterday that he is a "great communicator." Ugh! He is not a "great" anything. He can test balloon really well to see what his desperate, entitled supporters want to hear (not about vaccinations), then gives it to them over and over and over until they think they just heard something miraculous from this near-saint. When asked what they especially like about what he said, they generally can't name one thing, so they say, "everything!"

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Jul 22, 2022·edited Jul 22, 2022

I believe you have his horse & pony show >completely< surrounded. Well done!

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founding

Everything in our country is politically motivated. That's how we solve problems in a democratic republic: through political action. You know, like voting.

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Your point being?

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founding

The point is, when trying to discredit something as being "politically motivated" in a political system in which the people govern themselves, the phrase itself becomes meaningless, since problems are solved by the political process.

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I see. So you're saying ol' Tweety's simpering and whining about the HSCJ6 committee proceedings being politically motivated is meaningless politically motivated bullshit. Thanks for clarifying that.

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They aren't required to make the referral and are sharing evidence with Justice since before investigations began. After someone in Justice heard Pence's aid testify they sent a letter to the commitee damanding cooperation, since the writer had been not paying attention maybe? Made Justice look foolish and hopefully they locked down the printers and had a chat with whomever needed a reminder and the manager of said creative writer. Justice acts independently and can idict at will.

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I stand corrected. They aren't >required< to make a criminal referral. That >doesn't< mean they can't.

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Hey there, I just wanted to point out the commitee is doing all this for the benefit of all of us and our future. But Justice department can indict: they need our thoughts and they should pray they don't lose first strike advantage to Orange Wanna-bessolini.

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founding

Well said, Mark. The revelations of the committee's proceedings are for, first and foremost, the American people.

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Even Nixon's gop stood by him UNTIL the criminal prosecutions happened. Then public opinion started to sway (nothing is ever 100%).

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They don't listen to the hearings and believe whatever their favorite talk radio host has to say. Just read what some of the trumpster trolls on this site have to say. I've given up even responding to them, they spew such garbage.

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Fortunately they are few & far between on this site & the commenters here are more than capable of refuting them forcefully but nicely.

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I'm glad to hear that Jsime. I've only seen a couple of outright trumpsters s d one who clsims to be an indrprndent. I just can't be bothered wth them, so I just ignore.

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Fay, Independent and Libertarian are simply other words for RepubliCons. And there is also the myth of the “undecided”. If someone is “undecided”, that means Republican deadly-Seditionist supporter.

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You might be surprised that Independents are the ones that have swung the most towards the Democrats, along with women & the elderly, on account of the hearings & the horrible court rulings.

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Remember that these trolls aren’t just from the US. It no longer matters what trolls think. The world was able to watch this, not just the US. It’s crystal clear that Trump perpetrated an incitement against his own government and allowed capital police to be killed and injured. It’s over for Trump.

I don’t bother with trolls that much. But call them out as trolls.

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Yes, many trolls are from other countries intentionally trying to sow division in the US. Russia has a whole troll factory dedicated to this as part of an extraordinarily sophisticated operation attacking democracy in the West.

Steve Bannon is an ally of Putin with the same goal in mind, who has operated not only in the US, but also Europe & Brazil. I consider him 1 of the Top 10, if not Top 5, most dangerous men in the world, & the sooner & longer he is in jail, the better for us. The fact that he, Trump, Flynn, Stone et al are still free men when they are clear & present dangers to the nation is a mystery.

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Agreed. Hopefully the tides are turning now for Bannon. A dangerous man, announced his allegiance to Trump over the legal system. Flynn also creepy fellow.

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Jaime, I could not agree more! These dangerous seditious deluded lunatics are both free and still in Congress & SCOTUS. We cannot fail to prosecute and imprison these people but WHY are they free now? Outrageous!

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I think it’s better to ignore them. Any engagement gives them an opportunity to rile people up. Deprive them of that and strip them of their power.

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It’s never a good idea to feed a troll. It just encourages them.

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Hi Fay. You have that right! Why should they listen to anything but their Foxy friends. They are so desperate not to be wrong about Trump, they will cling to him no matter what. If they don't have to listen to anyone who has evidence of their baby's criminal activity, it makes that trust in a child-man easier.

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_rump has somehow formed a "Cult of Personality," despite being a mentally "exceptional" failed conman. Facts are ONLY facts if Dear Leader says they are indeed true. That is all that needs to be explained honestly.

It is a psychological disorder affecting roughly THIRTY PERCENT in America today!

Luckily, with the imminent demise of Moscowmitch and the imminent disqualification of _rump, I am confident we humans can weather this!

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Jul 22, 2022·edited Jul 22, 2022

Well, the Q-publicans themselves agree that mental health in the US is clearly a problem in their apologetics supporting gun proliferation. They know anyone that votes for them >must< clearly be irrational.

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Keep an eye on Mr. DeStupid from Fla.,this one is a dictator start up and dangerous.Seems he's very popular in this culture war stupidity.He's already infiltrated education,enjoys book banning,fights w/ 'Mickey Mouse' 'cos the man stood up to him and expressed his opinion.From what I understand Reedy Creek(a special tax district) has been dissolved for punishment.The Rethug. legislators are his 'loyalists'.They raided our Sadowski fund(specially earmarked for housing needs to the tune of billions of dollars,he created the"Election Police' after saying 2020 was perfectly done.This is one dangerous,ambitious dude and we're trying to vote him out.The ego is so big,he couldn't wear a cowboy hat!+

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:You are absolutely correct. I would love to see him pitted against the Trumpster and see them bury each other in muck, mire and the bones from the skeletons each drags out of the closet.

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Ignorant, privileged, arrogant, stupid.

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🐑 🐑 🐑 🐑

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Linda, I don't get it either, how people can still believe Baby Donnie is anything more than a privileged petulant spoilt child who cares nothing for them beyond their cheering for him. Maybe it's part of that thing that makes people cling to their beliefs because they just can't be wrong.

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The sign of a mature person is being able to admit you’re wrong.

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Exactly! They always acted like he is “one of us”. Okay how are they similar to trump? Are they super rich and pampered from birth? Have they had over 3,500 court cases? Have they filed for bankruptcy multiple times? Have they never done a hard days work? Have they raped anyone? Have they insulted women, the disabled, foreign countries like Trump? What do they have in common with Trump? Besides the last couple maybe. He’s a pampered, little rich boy who never had to do anything— did you see the video where he couldn’t figure out what a fucking shovel does?!? He used to be a pro choice democrat— is that what they have in common? Nope cuz now magically he’s an abortion hating republican. He pussied out on the draft, is that what they have in common? I’ll NEVER understand.

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Lets not forget he has ZERO political experience, still because his reign as president wasn't experience, it was a fucking clown show. He lied about his businesses actually being open during his 2020 run. The businesses didn't even exist anymore, some were closed over 10 years earlier. He's beyond a "liar". Need a whole new word for what that bloated, orange, pampered moron is.

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Hatred, bigotry, selfishness, and ignorance.

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Hey Paula, you've got that right. And, they don't seem to have much joy in their lives unless someone else is suffering because of something they have done or supported.

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Dude you and I almost said the exact things to describe them.

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Willfull ignorance can take on pathological proportions when combined with the cognitive distortions of WS and WCN.

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I call all MAGAs willfully ignorant and I despise when people say they were misled. Watch the screaming and outrageous behavior on Fox News, listen to ANY speech from Trump, if they can’t determine he stirs up hatred…it’s because they bask in hatred too.

They’re adults not 8 year olds.

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willful blindness and deafness

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Well beyond ignorant and stubborn

They are unreasonable and closed minded

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Delusion is a pretty hard nut to crack, however it can certainly be seen and clearly evident with what has transpired to date thanks to Professor Robert Reich and many others https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delusion#Definition

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Remember, Trumps delusion has been fed by various people over the past 30 years or more, namely his Father.

Others were just there for the 'gravy train' that Trump provided.

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They just might be guilty, so silence or lies are their best defense.

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All I pray for is that Trump never be allowed to hold public office ad infinitum

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We also pray for conviction and a place on the chow line at Leavenworth.

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Trump is a criminal and should be tried!

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A perfect summation. I think the most moving testimony tonight was Adam Kinziger's closing statement, it moved me to tears. I know he's a Republican but I'm heartbroken we have lost this young man's insight into right and wrong. The possibility of losing Liz Cheney in next month's Wyoming primary would also be a great loss. We need to do everything in our power to prevent even one trumpster from being re-elected, but especially that dips@#t Kevin McCarthy. We need some REAL Republican's to keep us honest, and I'm not dumb enough to think that any Democrat is perfect (I wish Manchin would fall down a coal shaft) - but wouldn't it be wonderful to have both houses of Congress full of dedicated, honest Americans for a change.

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I'd love it if Cheney & Kinzinger would both run in the Republican primary to team up to persistently shame Trump & the other republofascists.

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I agree with everything you've written, except for calling a Manchin a Democrat. He's no Dem; he's a DINO and he's as corrupt as drump ever thought of being. As for falling down a coal shaft...I would add that I hope that the coal shaft leads straight to the fiery lake and may he roast in that fire forever.

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I agree with all you say

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Just because people don’t hold office doesn’t mean they can’t be influential.

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And he needs to go to jail for a very long time. Honestly jail is too good for him.

What he has done to this country is beyond despicable. He should be drawn and quartered!

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I’ll do it

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Nah, leave him to the Alligators of the Florida swamps.

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Where a man can hide and never be found

And have no fear of the bayin' hound

But he better keep it movin' and don't stand still

If the skeeters don't get him then the gators will!

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I like the image that gives me in my mind. 😄

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Kathy, I agree. Spies have gotten the death sentence for less damage!

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Horrifying!

How many pieces are needed to prove his guilt!

Well done !

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Jul 22, 2022Liked by Robert Reich

Thanks for expert explanation

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Simple and to the point-- just read it to my hubby.

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As the child of a narcissistic personality disorder mother, everything Trump did made sense. He had given himself to this nation to be president at great sacrifice and they have had the audacity to reject him. How dare they. “I will get my minions to steal it back for me.” They never loose. They have to choose to leave under flying colors. They can’t help themselves. This is who they are. Ask Mary Trump.

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I delore the change of spelling that makes it difficult for readers to follow writer's meaning. We used to spell choose & chose!

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I think your issue was meant to be lose and loose (not choose and chose)?

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I spelled choose choose which is correct.

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Trump not only needs to be put away, he must be put away from public view and exposure, because that is his trip: celebrity and recognition. He has no inner validity, but seeks it from outside. Daddy stripped away whatever little may have been there. Look at me, Daddy, please look at me. Shut up kid. Here, go buy something, a college education or anything to get you out of my hair. That's how little Donnie was raised. And this apple didn't fall far from the tree. He needs to be utterly ignored by the press and people. This will be his most apt and fitting fate.

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Steve, that’s so true. His microphone should have been taken away long ago. But the ultra right owns the airwaves.

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Why is it the ultra right is always wrong and also ultra rich?

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Greedy Grifters! 😀

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The problem with the term "greed" is that it is entirely relative and subjective. Example: I live a very scaled-down life style: small house, minimal driving, recycle all that I can, avoid excess. Yet I have two cars and a (small) travel trailer. I live in air-conditioned comfort. In the eyes of millions (or billions) who sleep on dirt floors and wash their tattered clothes in a community basin, my life style may be considered excessive and over-consumptive. When my son was in elementary school and brought a Black school friend home, he called it a mansion. My daughter's church group, made up primarily of kids from upscale households, gave her a ride home one day and exclaimed, "You live in THAT little house?" Get my drift? Attributing something to greed is like a doctor attributing an ailment to bad mojo. If you can't quantify it or qualify it, you can't solve it.

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founding

Yes. And he is continuing in his actions, to this very moment.

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I clicked on "like", but I am so not liking all and any of this. If our government is unwilling to prosecute --- I have no hope left for my children and grandchildren, or great-grandchildren I hoped to live long enough to see. I never, ever, ever, in my life thought I'd say I admire a Cheney (I picketed her father more than once). But....... amazingly..... I find myself admiring Liz Cheney infinitely more than any other Republican right now. She is fighting for the existence of our democracy.

Now it's up to the "guts" of "the majority" of our justice system -- which has already in so many ways proven it's incredible ineptitude.

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Kinzinger has been great, too! That's the extent of good Republican politicians in DC.

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Linda, don’t go overboard on Liz Cheney. She and Kinzinger deserve to be thanked for their courage. But they are doing what they should be doing, allowing the truth to come out. Liz Cheney was cheering on the recent SCOTUS decision to let states decide, despite the extreme danger. She is not our friend!

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But they are really good at this! Very impressive the way they've conducted the hearings, infusing a lot of appropriate righteous morality & patriotism into it, while making excellent rational arguments for their case. The fate of our democracy is uncertain, but they have significantly improved our chances of saving it.

Both have also moderated their views & votes on issues, especially Kinzinger, who is nearly always among Republicans voting with Democrats on proposals with bipartisan support. Kinzinger, Upton & Fitzpatrick are the 3 most likely Republicans to vote with Democrats recently. But Cheney was among the minority of House Republicans voting for codifying marriage equality & just 8 voting for protecting contraception.

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Thank you for all your hard work to bring this Criminal to Justice!

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