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    David Cay Johnston on Trump's lying, crazy, self-absorbed weekend

    David Cay Johnston, DCReport @ RawStory
    October 28, 2019

    Thanks for your support!

    This article was paid for by reader donations to Raw Story Investigates.

    Trump at Nats game (Photo: Screen capture)

    This article was paid for by Raw Story subscribers. Not a subscriber? Try us and go ad-free for $1. Prefer to give a one-time tip? Click here.

    David Cay Johnston, DCReport @ RawStory

    That Donald Trump is manifestly unfit to be president, and cannot be trusted with national security secrets, was on full display Sunday morning.


    What should have been a simple but triumphant announcement on the death of a dangerous man, the ideological leader of ISIS, became a display of Trump’s sick mind. It also showed that Trump’s claims to have defeated ISIS are nonsense.

    During the announcement, Trump lied repeatedly because that is just what he does. He didn’t even tell Americans that Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi committed suicide, killing three children as well, before he could be assassinated. Instead, Trump created the false impression that American forces killed al-Baghdadi, saying it was “something really amazing to see…as though you were watching a movie.”

    Trump thanked foreign governments, notably Russia, before he thanked American forces.

    Trump is so obsessed with celebrity he discussed the death of al-Baghdadi in Page Six gossip column terms, using his ignorance as a reference point and trying to diminish the success of President Barack Obama’s administration in hunting down and killing Osama bin Laden in 2011.

    Celebrity Obsessed

    “We would kill terrorist leaders, but they were names I never heard of,” Trump said. “They were names that weren't recognizable, and they weren't the big names. Some good ones, some important ones, but they weren't the big names."

    Then Trump puffed up ISIS for reasons not all clear while showing how thoughts pop up in his jumbled mind like random weeds, but always making it about him.

    ISIS, he said, “they use the internet better than almost anybody in the world—perhaps other than Donald Trump. And what they've done with the internet through recruiting and everything—and that's why he [al-Baghdadi] died like a dog, he died like a coward. He was whimpering, screaming and crying."

    Trump thanked foreign governments, notably Russia, before he thanked American forces.

    "Russia treated us great. They opened up. We had a flyover certain Russia areas, Russia-held areas. Russia was great,” Trump said.

    Russian Dismissal

    Problem is, Russia dismissed Trump’s thanks for help with the al-Baghdadi raid. “We are unaware of any alleged assistance … during this operation,” Russian Major-General Igor Konashenkov told a Kremlin news outlet. Russia favored Trump in 2016 not because it loves him so much as it wanted to block Hillary Clinton, who had vowed to force the Kremlin to give up Crimea and eastern Ukraine.

    What Trump failed to do was advise the eight members of Congress who by law are required to get advance notification. He did, however, inform Russia, showing again that Trump’s de facto policy is Russia First.

    Trump also thanked Turkey, foolishly and gratuitously giving away operational details.

    “Turkey—we dealt with them. They knew we were going in. We flew over some territory. They were terrific. No problem. They were no problem…We flew very, very low and very, very fast," Trump said.

    How many foreign governments are going to pause, and perhaps say no, when asked for help in future operations for fear that Trump will out them? This is a growing concern since May 2017 when Trump revealed highly classified information, including another country’s sources and methods, to two Russian spymasters he invited into the Oval Office.

    Self Congratulations

    Throughout his announcement, Trump wallowed in self-congratulation sprinkled amidst extensive gruesome details. For as long as I have known and covered Trump, now more than 31 years, he has made remarks revealing his violent fantasies, becoming animated when discussing events marked by pain and gore.

    But take heart, for there was one important development Sunday that bodes well for our republic.

    Within hours of his televised statement, serving military officers, diplomats and others were dishing on Trump, pointing out his lies, filling factual gaps and warning how his conduct endangers our national security.

    Why is that good news? Because it reaffirms that Trump does not have the support of our military officer corps, without which he cannot stage a coup d’état.

    And we know that’s on his mind because he talks about it all the time, though in accusatory terms towards House Democrats who are properly following Constitutional procedure to impeach him for “high crimes and misdemeanors.”

    As a general rule, when Trump accuses others of anything it is what he is thinking, or knows, about himself.

    Trump displays his contempt for our Constitution, and following the law, when he dismisses the impeachment inquiry as “a scam” and “a lynching.”  That’s another sign that he wants to be America’s dictator for life.

    'Frightened Puppies'

    Trump described al-Baghdadi's last moments in lurid detail that again showed his animus for people whose ethnicity is other than white European, remind us that Trump is an uncivilized man. Civilized people, even in the necessary killing of the most horrible among us, conduct themselves with dignity. Not Trump.

    When Nazi, Fascist, and Japanese war criminals were tried and then executed after World War II, Americans carrying out those executions acted with solemnity to show that America acts with respect for human life even in ending the lives of those who engaged in torture and mass murder.

    Trump went on and on with gruesome details, a marked contrast to the crisp and civilized remarks of President Obama when he announced the killing of Osama bin Laden.

    "He died after running into a dead-end tunnel, whimpering and crying and screaming all the way," Trump said of al-Baghdadi. "He died in a vicious and violent way, as a coward, running and crying... He died like a dog. He died like a coward."

    Yet al-Baghdadi also took his unavoidable fate into his own hands by detonating a suicide vest befoe he could be shot,  a fact that does not fit Trump's narrative, but does describe how Trump would act were he being pursued.

    What's Next

    What happens next with ISIS is not going to go as well for America as it would have but for Trump’s abrupt and inexplicable withdrawal from Northern Syria earlier this month. He never told the generals before he tweeted, forcing our soldiers to flee half-eaten meals, as shown on Russian TV. American planes had to be sent to blow up the munitions left behind.

    Brett McGurk was the special presidential envoy for the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS under both Obama and Trump, laid out some of the awful truth in a smart Washington Post op-ed today.

    Whoever rises to replace al-Baghdadi, that “successor will keep the Islamic State alive in Iraq and Syria” with its more than 10,000 fighters, but for now no territory controlled by the terrorist organization.

    “This would be the perfect time to consolidate success and act on what is likely a trove of intelligence pulled from the Baghdadi compound,” McGurk wrote Monday.

    “Our analysts are surely poring over this information now, and it will lead to Islamic State sleeper cells and networks across Syria, Iraq and elsewhere. But our abrupt pullout from Syria will make it harder to act on this information” because U.S. Special Forces were forced to flee and “these areas are now controlled by Russia and the Bashar al-Assad regime, foreclosing our ability to act on targetable information.”

    Keep in mind that ISIS arose after the George W. Bush administration breaking its promise to Iraqi military officers that if they did not resist much they would be treated well, only to fire every one of them. ISIS offered career military officers jobs and they signed up, though any did not share its ideological convictions.

    'Lock Him Up'

    Trump arrived for the fifth game of the World Series between the Washington Nationals and the Houston Astros with his wife, but not his 13-year-old son, Barron. Instead, he brought along a squad of Republican senators and two Congressmen, one of them the Florida frat boy Matt Gaetz, who led the lawless mob of lawmakers who invaded a secure House hearing room last week endangering national security.

    When the Nationals stadium Jumbotron showed Trump and his entourage at the end of the fifth inning the crowd broke into chants of  “lock him up.”

    That’s disgusting, an awful illustration of the state of our democracy thanks in good part to Trump's debasement of civic debate.

    Much as we believe at DCReport that Trump should be removed from office and then prosecuted for his many state and federal criminal offenses, we call out mobs of all kinds as inimical to liberty and justice.

    This article was paid for by Raw Story subscribers. Not a subscriber? Try us and go ad-free for $1. Prefer to give a one-time tip? Click here.

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    … then let us make a small request. The COVID crisis has slashed advertising rates, and we need your help. Like you, we here at Raw Story believe in the power of progressive journalism. Raw Story readers power David Cay Johnston’s DCReport, which we've expanded to keep watch in Washington. We’ve exposed billionaire tax evasion and uncovered White House efforts to poison our water. We’ve revealed financial scams that prey on veterans, and legal efforts to harm workers exploited by abusive bosses. And unlike other news outlets, we’ve decided to make our original content free. But we need your support to do what we do.

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    … then let us make a small request. The COVID crisis has slashed advertising rates, and we need your help. Like you, we believe in the power of progressive journalism — and we’re investing in investigative reporting as other publications give it the ax. Raw Story readers power David Cay Johnston’s DCReport, which we've expanded to keep watch in Washington. We’ve exposed billionaire tax evasion and uncovered White House efforts to poison our water. We’ve revealed financial scams that prey on veterans, and efforts to harm workers exploited by abusive bosses. We need your support to do what we do.

    Raw Story is independent. You won’t find mainstream media bias here. Every reader contribution, whatever the amount, makes a tremendous difference. Invest with us in the future. Make a one-time contribution to Raw Story Investigates, or click here to become a subscriber. Thank you.

    Report typos and corrections to: corrections@rawstory.com.
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    Should Trump be allowed back on social media?

    President of top police union agrees Derek Chauvin conviction was justified

    Matthew Chapman
    April 20, 2021

    On Tuesday, the conviction of former Minneapolis cop Derek Chauvin on multiple counts of murder and manslaughter for the death of George Floyd triggered outrage from the far right.

    But one person who did not come to Chauvin's defense was Patrick Yoes, president of the Fraternal Order of Police — a top police union that is usually quick to defend officers' conduct in just about any fatal incident. Even as far as Yoes was concerned, the conviction was justified, as he said on CNN's "OutFront" that night.

    "Your organization called the trial fair and said the system of justice worked as it should," said anchor Erin Burnett. "Do you believe the jury got it right in the case of Derek Chauvin with the guilty on all three counts?"

    "As a law enforcement officer, we were probably one of the first organizations that stepped forward and said, you know, this just doesn't look right, and we knew that, and we had full faith in the criminal justice system," said Yoes. "There was a trial and a trial, all the evidence was put forth, and now we have a verdict, and now we can go one step closer to getting past this very dark day in American history. We're very much committed to having the open dialogues and finding a path forward so we can have a better criminal justice system."

    Watch below:

    FOP President Patrick Yoes says Chauvin conviction was fairly decided youtu.be

    Ohio police shoot and kill teenage girl who called for help just as Derek Chauvin guilty verdict is handed down

    Sarah K. Burris
    April 20, 2021

    A 15-year-old Ohio teen was shot and killed Tuesday when a fight broke out in her foster home. Just as the guilty verdict against Derek Chauvin, police killed her.

    "Authorities said they received a call at 4:35 p.m about a reported stabbing on the 3100 block of Legion Lane," said the Columbus Dispatch. "The caller identified the person with a knife as a female," but gave no other details and hung up.

    "Hazel Bryant told The Dispatch that she is the aunt of the 15-year-old girl who was shot," said the report. "The girl lived in a foster home there on Legion Lane and got into an altercation with someone else at the home, she said."

    Her aunt said that the teen wasn't holding a knife when police shot her and that she was the one who called the police for help.

    "We don't get to celebrate nothing," said protester K.C. Taynor after the Chauvin verdict. "...In the end, you know what, you can't be Black."



    Video from Legion Lane: https://t.co/bdEdl0BUDo
    — Marc Kovac (@Marc Kovac)1618964268.0

    Progressives mock pro-Chauvin advocates calling for police walk out with #BlueFlu: 'Um, ok, bye'

    Sarah K. Burris
    April 20, 2021

    While the right-wing complained about the far-left demand to "defund police," Tuesday, the right proposed their own effort to end police departments, calling in sick with the blue flu and walking out on their jobs. Essentially, the so-called "blue flu" would be police defunding themselves.

    Many activists say those police departments must have better training and employee people trained to handle things like mental health crises, suicidal people, and other struggles that Americans face that can end in police violence. States and the federal government have slashed funding to mental health services. As a result, police have been forced to handle those cases, filling American jails with the mentally ill.

    So, when some call for defunding the police, what they really mean is such funds should go to hire people to handle these issues with the experience necessary to navigate tense situations that can sometimes end in a cop shooting someone. While it certainly wouldn't end all of the problems, it would stop some, and better training, higher pay to recruit better officers and other suggestions could stem the problem with police violence.

    Conservatives, however, remove the nuance from the phrase "defund the police" to attack the left and people of color.

    Ten police testified in the Chauvin case against the fellow officer, but conservatives are the outliers, advocating for police to be above the law.

    Those pressing for justice for George Floyd responded to conservative threats of a walkout by simply saying, "Ok."

    See tweets from them calling for a walkout of all police:

    @thereidout Police exodus from large cities. Hopefully the police will learn from Chauvin’s conviction and stop en… https://t.co/izUvk13u3j
    — Billy Bones (@Billy Bones)1618963627.0


    Agree. I was TOO much. I really think cops there should develop a really BAD CASE of the blue flu....AND WALK. https://t.co/F5bz14KZ1A
    — StillMeAngB (@StillMeAngB)1618962647.0


    Every police officer should quit their jobs #BlueFlu The Federal Government doesn't give a 💩 about you #BlueLivesMatter #DefendTheBlue
    — Americans 1st 🇺🇸♀️ (@Americans 1st 🇺🇸♀️)1618960685.0


    No. It’s time for the #BlueFlu EVERY police officer should go on strike. https://t.co/kpA8I0f8lU
    — 🇺🇸Proud American🇺🇸 (@🇺🇸Proud American🇺🇸)1618959898.0


    I feel a case of the Blue Flu coming. Faucci Ouchie is not gonna fix it!
    — SilverKnife (@SilverKnife)1618963147.0


    And rightly so! Self governance! Relying on others for too long! #BlueFlu https://t.co/w4XJqpAKC4
    — Dustin (@Dustin)1618962748.0


    @Saminsunderland Police National need to come down with blue flu! Even the capital police!
    — Denise🌟🌟🌟🇺🇸 (@Denise🌟🌟🌟🇺🇸)1618962323.0


    @JackPosobiec Don’t we have Blue Flu now?
    — candidcomment (@candidcomment)1618959996.0


    #BlueFlu https://t.co/GDN8E14bUw
    — noah (@noah)1618962238.0


    @JackPosobiec Don’t we have Blue Flu now?
    — candidcomment (@candidcomment)1618959996.0


    Time for the Blue Flu!!!!!
    — Dorothy (@Dorothy)1618960532.0


    It’s time for the NG to go home and all officers in Blue to develop the Blue Flu! Let the neighborhoods conduct th… https://t.co/HJDLCvpc92
    — Laurie A. Shaw (@Laurie A. Shaw)1618961090.0


    LAPD officers: Does this make you want to risk your life to make arrests? #BlueFlu https://t.co/rW5EknyF5z
    — Ray Dietrich (@Ray Dietrich)1618962272.0



    Progressives responded with their own comments below:


    Hey all of you tweeting #BlueFlu, get fucked
    — 🧜‍♂️King of Mermanistan 🧜‍♂️ (@🧜‍♂️King of Mermanistan 🧜‍♂️)1618961279.0


    Every cop I know thinks today's verdict was the correct one and is glad Chauvin is gone from our profession. https://t.co/pd7KTwdXj2
    — Back off, War Child (@Back off, War Child)1618954942.0



    @johnpecco1 This isn't the threat you think it is. Do you want to shift the power and police forces across the na… https://t.co/7EMKWrWs1l
    — Dalton Hooks (@Dalton Hooks)1618963402.0


    There should be an epidemic of Blue Flu in Minneapolis. https://t.co/9DgQc9L73u
    — Southern🇺🇸by the grace of God✝️ (@Southern🇺🇸by the grace of God✝️)1618962505.0


    I believe this is what’s called a compromise. https://t.co/aYnda8tdKn
    — Scafe says wear a gd mask (@Scafe says wear a gd mask)1618961936.0


    I'm actually fine with mass police resignations and firing any blue flu strikers. That would make cleaning up law… https://t.co/0kZ5ggoBto
    — Catz Meow is fully vaccinated! 🗝 (@Catz Meow is fully vaccinated! 🗝)1618963243.0


    #BlueFlu https://t.co/MMyzqGXJpX
    — Kenneth A Schultz (@Kenneth A Schultz)1618963414.0



    So, as I understand this #BlueFlu plan, all murderous malcontent racists who are upset over this verdict will falsi… https://t.co/WHCj30t8bP
    — Dalton Hooks (@Dalton Hooks)1618963678.0


    Imagine being angry that you don't get to go and violate someone civil rights and take their life as judge jury and… https://t.co/pgJcgWhd2z
    — Dalton Hooks (@Dalton Hooks)1618961438.0


     
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