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February 20 House Judiciary Chair Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) announced today that the impeachment proceeding against President Hillary Clinton would proceed directly to a vote of the full House.

We know everything we need to know, said Goodlatte. This woman belongs in prison, or worse, for the high crime of treason.

House Speaker Paul Ryan added, We knew Hillary Clinton was incompetent and we knew she was corrupt. But trading favors with Vladimir Putin to throw the election, and to enrich the Clinton business interests, is a new low, even for the Clintons.

I dont want to pre-judge this, since the Senate still needs to vote to convict, added Senate leader Mitch McConnell, but her behavior makes Benedict Arnold look like a patriot.

We now know, said Goodlatte, citing the bill of impeachment, that the Clinton campaign did the following:

Several senior aides in the campaign were in regular contact with Russian intelligence. They signaled the Russian leadership that a Clinton administration would give the Russians a freer hand to pursue expansionary objectives. In return, the Russians hacked into the Trump campaigns confidential internal communications. All this while the Clintons had extensive business interests in Russia.

Even now, an unrepentant Clinton has doubled down on her disgusting habit of selling out the security of the United States for the business interests of her family. China. After feigning a tougher on Chinese, Clinton abruptly backed down and confirmed Americas One China policy and the Chinese government suddenly violated its own laws to resolve a long-blocked trademark dispute in the Clintons favor.

McConnell added, Pathetically, the Democrats have focused on the leaks, by patriotic members of the intelligence community. They liked the leaks just fine when they were coming from Putin. During the campaign, candidate Clinton even urged Putin to provide more leaks of confidential Republic campaign conversations.

This is far worse than Watergate, said Ryan, Because it involved meddling by Americas most treacherous global rival; and because unlike in 1972, it actually altered the election results. I cant believe that only a handful of Democrats are concerned about this.

Okay, the shoe is on the other foot. Most Republicans have reversed their longstanding view of the Russian threat rather than embarrass Donald Trump. Its breathtaking. Theyre okay with having Putin be the dominant world leader as long as Republicans get their tax cuts, deregulation, Supreme Court, and dismantling of government.

With a handful of exceptions, the Republicans already concluded that selling out America in exchange for partisan goals is an acceptable deal. Hypocrisy is rampant in politics, but this takes it to an unimagined extreme.

A curious question for this Republic is whether its better or worse that our would-be dictator is so thoroughly incompetent and disorganized. You might say that a more competent demagogue would do even more damage. By now, he would have a fully staffed administration in place. There would be less chaos, less infighting, and a more consistent game plan.

At the same time, Trumps very weirdness makes him that much more dangerous. Trumps approval ratings keep dropping, but its a long way to 2018. The question is which pays the price first the Republicans or the Republic.

Robert Kuttner is co-editor of The American Prospect and professor at Brandeis Universitys Heller School. His latest book is Debtors Prison: The Politics of Austerity Versus Possibility. http://www.amazon.com/Debtors-Prison-Politics-Austerity-Possibility/dp/0307959805

Like Robert Kuttner on Facebook: http://facebook.com/RobertKuttner

Originally posted here:
The Impeachment Of Hillary Clinton - Huffington Post

WASHINGTON Zac Petkanas thought he was done with politics after the 2016 election. He was ready to move into the private sector or maybe chase a dream job in the art world.

Then his boss, Hillary Clinton, lost.

Within 48 hours infuriated by the Cabinet prospects being floated by Donald Trumps transition team, like Wisconsin sheriff David Clarke for homeland security secretary Petkanas had decided he couldnt change careers yet.

Tuesday was the election. Wednesday I was sleepless and tired and very sad, he said. And Thursday I got extremely angry.

Petkanas quickly transitioned from Clintons director of rapid response a role that made him the campaigns chief Trump hit man to director of the Democratic National Committees war room, where hed lead the partys resistance to Trumps actions.

The signals that were coming out of the White House lit a fire under a lot of people, Petkanas said. He re-engaged a whole slew of people, talented people, driven people, to stay in the fight.

In the three months since her defeat, Clinton has mostly faded from the political stage. She has tweeted support for the Womens March last month and criticized Trumps moves to limit immigration.

But many of her former staffers especially mid-level Brooklyn veterans are now on the front lines of the lefts anti-Trump resistance.

Many say theyre apoplectic over revelations that top Trump advisers were in constant contact with Russians known to US intelligence during the campaign.

Some ex-Clinton staffers have moved into Democratic organizations that are shifting their focus to opposing Trump such as Clinton press secretary Brian Fallon, now a senior adviser to Priorities USA; policy adviser Corey Ciorciari, now helming the Center for American Progress war rooms policy and research efforts; and Cristobal Alex, Clintons national deputy director of voter outreach and mobilization, who is now the president of the Latino Victory Fund.

Others are racing to fill the holes in the Democratic Party exposed by Novembers results, in an effort to help activists newly energized by Trumps victory strike back in upcoming elections, at congressional town halls and more.

Clinton veterans new projects

One example many Clinton veterans point to: Run for Something, which launched on Trumps Inauguration Day with the goal of recruiting, training and funding first-time candidates for office.

It was co-founded by Amanda Litman, the Clinton campaigns email director, who said in the immediate aftermath of the election, she was looking for a new challenge after several years in online fundraising.

After the election, though, she said she and other Clinton staffers felt like they had failed.

Once we got over the shock and the sadness and the heavy drinking catching up on sleep, cleaning my apartment for the first time in six months a bunch of us were talking about different things, she said. Do you stay in politics because its incredibly important? Do you leave because youre so cynical and jaded and feel like the work weve been doing doesnt matter?

Once Litman chose the first option, she leaned heavily on Clinton campaign staffers.

She said Run for Something was built through volunteer efforts of Clinton veterans: The campaigns website director built Run for Somethings website for free; Clintons finance team helped Litman figure out how to raise money. Many of its 1,000 operatives who have volunteered to help future candidates are Clinton alumni.

Litman said friends asked her why she wasnt spending more time going out and relaxing after the election. But she came to feel like she had two options: working, or yelling at the television as news of Trumps transition moves came in.

One is productive and one scares my dog, she said.

Fueling the Trump resistance

Litman met her co-founder, Ross Morales Rocketto, through his wife, former Clinton digital staffer Jess Morales Rocketto who is now organizing airport protests and consulting for United We Dream and the National Domestic Workers Alliance in fighting Trumps executive order banning immigration from seven majority Muslim countries.

Other Clinton staffers are filling out the offices of rising Democratic stars like California Sen. Kamala Harris who hired ex-Clinton aides Lily Adams and Tyrone Gayle to lead her communications shop. Washington Rep. Pramila Jayapal hired Clinton veteran Omer Farooque as communications director.

Clinton campaign rapid response team veteran Jesse Lehrich is leading communications for Organizing for Action, while Clinton rapid response spokeswoman Adrienne Watson is the Democratic National Committees national press secretary.

Another former Clinton communications staffer, Xochitl Hinojosa, is advising former Labor Secretary Tom Perez who has called on party members to treat Trump as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell treated Obama, opposing him at every turn in his bid for Democratic National Committee chairman.

Jimmy Dahman, a Clinton field organizer in Iowa and then Ohio, has launched TownHallProject.com where he and a team of volunteers have made a point of tracking every town hall, coffee meeting or other opportunity for constituents to reach their congressional delegation.

His sites database of upcoming meetings has served as a crucial tool for progressives to identify upcoming events to attend and protest.

Dahman decided to launch the volunteer-driven project after watching a crowd of 100 spontaneously show up at a town hall held by Rep. Mike Coffman, R-Colorado, to protest his support for repealing Obamacare.

I thought, I wonder how many people feel the same way but didnt know the event exists, he said.

Former Clinton deputy national press secretary Jesse Ferguson, senior adviser Leslie Dach and communications department chief of staff Lori Lodes are all consulting for Protect Our Care, the coalition fighting Trump and congressional Republicans over the future of the Affordable Care Act.

Ferguson cited Clintons oft-repeated Methodist creed do all the good you can, for all the people you can, in all the ways you can, as long as ever you can.

Its one that many of us took to heart, he said. Theres no better example for the idea that you get knocked down, you have to pick yourself back up. She taught us that and, for a lot of the staff, theyre going to go and live that idea.

Read this article:
What Hillary Clinton's staffers are doing after election loss - wtvr.com

When Hillary Clinton conceded the presidential race to Donald Trump, her speech was dignified, but also tinged with a little sadness at the fact that the U.S. would have to keep waiting for its first female president.

However, a group of young women in California seized upon her words of hope for women everywhere and adapted parts of her Clintons speech into a heart-rending anthem.

To All the Little Girls was composed by 13-year-old Isolde Fair who, along with her all-girls music theory class at Sol La Music Academy in Santa Monica, performed the song and posted the performance on YouTube.

The message is that all girls (and women) should never doubt that they are valuable and powerful and can have their dreams come true, Fair wrote in the description.

The song samples the following passage from Clintons concession speech, along with some original lyrics by Fair:

And to all of the little girls who are watching this, never doubt that you are valuable and powerful and deserving of every chance and opportunity in the world to pursue and achieve your own dreams.

The dramatic yet stripped down performance is really incredible for someone so young, and Clinton herself congratulated the girls on the songs.

Watch the full performance below.

View post:
Teenage Singer Adapts Hillary Clinton's Concession Speech into Powerful Anthem - Out Magazine

Lesli Margherita always has something amazing up her sleeve and this time she has pulled together a scathing and hilarious re-write of HAMILTON's "You'll Be Back". Addressed to Trump supporters feeling that buyer's remorse as the presidential administration draws constant attention for gaffs and bumps, Margherita as Hillary Clinton lounges in a pantsuit and fuzzy hot pink slippers and reminds the country what could have been.

Prior to a return to Matilda, to Margherita most recently starred as Mona Kent in the Broadway premiere of Dames at Sea. She won the Laurence Olivier Award for her performance in Zorro the Musical in London's West End. Fancy. Go to leslimargherita.com to see her other fancy jobs, like starring opposite Taye Diggs & Topher Grace in the upcoming feature Opening Night. She wrote a book, Neckpunch and Carry On (available on iTunes) and her cabaret shows continue to be performed across the country.

See original here:
STAGE TUBE: Margherita's Hillary Clinton Sends Out a Message to Trump Supporters: 'You'll Be Back' - Broadway World

My latest Counter Propa article highlights the U.S. Russia uranium deal that sent 20% uranium capacity to Russia. In 2015, The New York Times stated As the Russians gradually assumed control of Uranium One in three separate transactions from 2009 to 2013, Canadian records show, a flow of cash made its way to the Clinton Foundation.

Has Vox or POLITIFACT analyzed this quote?

Or just Trumps wild accusations?

The next paragraph in this New York Times piece states And shortly after the Russians announced their intention to acquire a majority stake in Uranium One, Mr. Clinton received $500,000 for a Moscow speech from a Russian investment bank with links to the Kremlin that was promoting Uranium One stock.

Vox, POLITIFACT, and others havent commented on the two quotes above and have only pontificated against President Trumps awkwardly worded claims.

Hillary Clinton didnt give up 20% of U.S. uranium to Russia, but Uranium One donations to the Clinton Foundation might have influenced the State Department and Obamas administration to approve the deal.

Was it merely coincidence that Uranium One officials were Clinton Foundation donors, or is there legitimate conflict of interest?

Also, did the FBI tape Bill Clintons speech at a Moscow bank?

Theres absolutely no way for Vox or any other Clinton public relations firm to spin the fact Bill Clinton received $500,000 from a Moscow bank with ties to the Kremlin.

Also, nothing said at Trumps press conference refutes the fact Uranium One officials donated millions to the Clinton Foundation amid the sale of U.S. uranium to Russia.

After Trumps recent press conference, millions of Clinton loyalists gleefully read a POLITIFACT piece titled Donald Trump repeats his Mostly False claim about Hillary Clinton, Russia and uranium.

That POLITIFACT piece references another POLITIFACT article titled In a nuclear claim, Donald Trump says Hillary Clinton gave up one-fifth of U.S. uranium to Russia.

Both articles rate the truthfulness of Trumps accusation that Clinton gave up (or was solely responsible) for the uranium sale.

As with all Clinton scandals, the entire story is far more complicated (with defenders focusing on semantics and plausible deniability more than possible foul play), and leads to a major conflict of interest; especially in todays neo-McCarthy Democratic Party.

Frist, Clinton didnt even intentionally use a private server, so she didnt give up 20% of U.S. uranium all by herself.

The issue POLITIFACT, Vox and others conveniently circumvent is the New York Times quote stating As the Russians gradually assumed control of Uranium One in three separate transactions from 2009 to 2013, Canadian records show, a flow of cash made its way to the Clinton Foundation.

Did millions of dollars to her Foundation influence Clinton?

Furthermore, three FBI field offices wanted to investigate the Clinton Foundation. The Clinton Foundation has been the subject of quid pro quo controversies, from an AP report to weapons deals. Last years AP Report states millions in donations correlated with access to Americas Secretary of State:

This story (if Trump were the subject) would spark outrage today. Instead, Vox and others defended Clinton and denied any possible conflict to interest.

As for the uranium deal (approved under an Obama administration that eventually sanctioned Russia for alleged election tampering), its similar to Clintons weapons deal scandal reported by the International Business Times. Read the International Business Times article titled Clinton Foundation Donors Got Weapons Deals From Hillary Clintons State Department.

This all gets back to the POLITIFACT articles.

POLITIFACT states The State Department did approve the Uranium One deal, but it didnt act unilaterally.

And this is supposed to be a good thing?

The New York Times states The deal made Rosatom one of the worlds largest uranium producers and brought Mr. Putin closer to his goal of controlling much of the global uranium supply chain.

Vox recently called Trump a Russian stooge, yet it was Clintons State Department that approved a deal bringing Mr. Putin closer to his goal of controlling much of the global uranium supply chain.

President Obamas administration approved a uranium deal that motivated Pravda to write Russian Nuclear Energy Conquers the World.

If Putin is Americas great adversary, why did Clintons State Department and eight other agencies approve the deal?

Why didnt President Obama veto the deal?

Why did Uranium One officials feel the need to donate millions to the Clinton Foundation amid the sale?

This blind spot within American media is the reason Trump won the White House. Clinton engages in an overt controversy, and the American press focuses solely on the semantics within Trumps accusation. With Clinton, its never using a private server to hide information. Everything is merely a coincidence, or theres enough semantic leeway for plausible deniability. Yoga emails were deleted, not Clinton Foundation emails.

As for the billions lost in Haiti linked to Bill and Hillary Clinton, Hatian-born journalist Daddy Cherry demands the Clintons Return Haitis Earthquake Billions.

Congratulations, vigilant and daring American press, whose only goal is to defeat Trump. Youve again focused on Trumps wild accusations, while ignoring the giant elephant in the room.

Once again, America is playing Trumps game (fact checking based on semantics, as opposed to the overall picture) and refusing to hold Hillary Clinton accountable for a genuine conflict of interest. This paved the way for Trumps recent conflicts of interest.

Sure, Hillary Clinton didnt give up 20% of U.S. uranium.

Trump is wrong about Clinton giving the uranium to Putin.

Also, its 20% of U.S. uranium capacity, thats true.

There, feel better now DNC?

You shouldnt if you think Russia influenced the election and fear the implications of General Flynns phone calls, or Trumps contacts with Russia.

I highlight the impact of the Obama administrations uranium deal with Russia in the following segment on H. A. Goodman YouTube:

In the McCarthy era atmosphere of todays Democratic Party, what if Trump approved the sale of 20% of U.S. uranium capacity to Russia, as his foundation received millions?

For every fact-checking piece mocking Trumps claims, simply reread the original NYT story. The New York Times explains the possible quid pro quo arrangement in a now legendary piece by Jo Becker and Mike McIntire titled Cash Flowed to Clinton Foundation Amid Russian Uranium Deal:

Again, would this be condoned if Trumps foundation had accepted millions from uranium one?

Also, why were Uranium One donations not publicly disclosed by the Clintons, despite an agreement Mrs. Clinton had struck with the Obama White House to publicly identify all donors?

Thered be widespread calls for impeachment if this happened with Trump, and people would be right.

The Clinton Foundation received millions of dollars, as the Podesta Group lobbied on behalf of Uranium One. Uranium One was already owned by the Kremlin, while the Podesta Group was lobbying on behalf of Uranium One. The Obama administration sold U.S. uranium to a company that was essentially owned by Putin.

The fact 9 agencies had to sign off on the deal is irrelevant. If Clintons State Department, under Obama approved the deal, this shows Hillary Clinton was never worried about Russian aggression or influence.

Uranium One officials felt the need to donate to Clintons Foundation during the uranium deal, and that brings up the question of Clintons influence on Obamas administration.

Most importantly, the Clinton Foundation coincidentally shut down its Global Initiative, shortly after Clinton lost, and no longer accepts foreign donations.

Why did Bill and Hillary shut down the Clinton Global Initiative?

Could it be that the Clintons no longer have access to give to donors?

Or is it only Trump who has conflicts of interest?

The Clinton Foundation did accept millions of dollars from Uranium One during the sale, approved under Obamas administration, while the Podesta Group lobbied on behalf of company owned by Russia. In addition, the Panama Papers reveal Clintons ties to the Kremlin. Therefore, its a fact Clinton and President Obama presided over the sale of 20% of U.S. uranium capacity to Russia. If the fact Uranium One officials donated millions amid the deal doesnt bother you, then theres a job waiting for you at Vox.

H. A. Goodman is the creator of Counter Propa and the thoughts above are inspired by his new publication.

See more here:
Yes, Cash Flowed to Clinton Foundation Amid US Russian Uranium Deal - Huffington Post