Well, the corporations ran the country, and they ran it into the ground until
FDR took remedial measures. Those measures stayed in place for 40 or 45 years
while the corporate elites formulated and executed a plan to wrest complete
control of the country back again. Since that time, we've watched a complete
autocratic takeover. As far as the ruling elites were concerned, the only
problem with Trump was that he removed the camouflage.
Miriam
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of Carl Jarvis
Sent: Sunday, February 14, 2021 11:48 AM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: 'A Complete Capitulation': Outrage as Democrats
Abruptly Back Off Push for Witnesses in Trump Trial
If the Republicans refusal to impeach Donald Trump, doesn't serve as a warning
that the USA is in decline, and the inability of the USA to be prepared to deal
with a Pandemic, putting profit ahead of People, is a big indicator that
democracy is dead, and a Corporate Coup has been achieved, then we might as
well turn in our Dick Tracy Secret Decoder.
Carl Jarvis
On 2/13/21, Miriam Vieni <miriamvieni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Published onIf the Republicans refusal to impeach Donald Trump, doesn't serve as a warning
Saturday, February 13, 2021
byCommon Dreams
'A Complete Capitulation': Outrage as Democrats Abruptly Back Off Push
for Witnesses in Trump Trial "This is retreat. White flag.
Malpractice. Completely unstrategic."
byJake Johnson, staff writer
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) talks with reporters at
the end of the third day of former President Donald Trump's second
impeachment trial at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Thursday, Feb. 11,
2021. (Photo:
Caroline Brehman/CQ-Roll Call, Inc. via Getty Images)
Shortly after the Senate voted to pave the way for witnesses in Donald
Trump's impeachment trial, Democratic lawmakers and the former
president's defense team on Saturday reached a deal to merely enter a
statement by Republican Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler into evidence
instead of having her testify under oath on her knowledge of a call
between Trump and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy.
The agreement effectively slammed the door on the possibility of
witnesses in the trial and likely means a final vote on the
impeachment charge could come later Saturday. After the deal was
announced on the Senate floor, Democratic managers moved to their closing
arguments.
The abrupt change of course by Democrats was met with outrage by
progressive observers and analysts who viewed Herrera Beutler's
potential testimony-and that of others who may have been compelled to
come forward-as an opportunity to uncover additional information about
Trump's conduct on the day of the deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol
last month.
"Even if you're convinced no testimony will change the minds of 40
Republicans-and I think that's a fair assumption-leaving witnesses on
the table is an incredible mistake," tweeted HuffPost's Matt Fuller.
"After impeachment managers presented a fantastic case, the decision
to fold is what will be remembered."
In the statement that was entered into the record, Herrera Beutler-one
of the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump last month-said
that "when McCarthy finally reached the president on January 6 and
asked him to publicly and forcefully call off the riot, the president
initially repeated the falsehood that it was antifa that had breached the
Capitol."
"McCarthy refuted that and told the president that these were Trump
supporters," Herrera Beutler said. "That's when, according to
McCarthy, the president said, 'Well, Kevin, I guess these people are
more upset about the election than you are.'"
Judd Legum of Popular Information argued that because Herrera
Beutler's statement had already been released to the public, the
agreement to enter it into evidence is "objectively the same as a
complete capitulation on witnesses and the Democrats should just own
up to that."
"This is retreat. White flag. Malpractice. Completely unstrategic,"
added Adam Green, co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee
(PCCC).
"They just closed the door on others who may have stepped out, as
Herrera Beutler urged last night. Just when we thought Dems were being
bold and strategic. This is grabbing lameness out of the jaws of boldness."
It was not immediately clear why Democrats decided at the last minute
to back off their push for witnesses, but Democratic senators were
reportedly "blindsided" by Rep. Jamie Raskin's (D-Md.) announcement
Saturday morning that he planned to seek a subpoena for Herrera
Beutler's testimony. Trump's defense team countered Raskin by
threatening to call hundreds of witnesses, which potentially could
have dragged out the trial for days as the Senate would have had to vote on
each request.
According to CNN, Senate Democratic leaders pressured House
impeachment managers behind closed doors to drop the call for witness
testimony:
After a brief recess just before noon on Saturday-a break that came
shortly after the Senate opened the door to witnesses with a 55-45
vote-Trump's lawyers returned to the Senate chamber and announced that
they reached an agreement with Democratic lawmakers to enter Herrera
Beutler's statement into evidence instead of calling her to testify.
"Donald John Trump by his counsel is prepared to stipulate that if Rep.
Herrera Beutler were to testify under oath as part of these
proceedings her testimony would be consistent with the statement she
issued on February 12, 2021, and the former president's counsel is
agreeable to the admission of that public statement into evidence at
this time," Bruce Castor, one of Trump's lawyers, said on the Senate floor.
Raskin, the lead House impeachment manager, then delivered brief
remarks accepting the deal and proceeded to read Herrera Beutler's
statement aloud in full.
Politico reported that "during the Senate break after the witness vote
Saturday, Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) twice came into the managers' room
off the Senate floor" and "pressed House Democrats to relent, saying
their quest for witnesses would cost them Republican votes to convict
and maybe even some Democrats."
"The jury is ready to vote," Coons told the impeachment managers,
according to Politico. "People want to get home for Valentine's Day."
Citing an unnamed source close to the former president's team, CNN's
Jim Acosta reported that Trump "is pleased there won't be witnesses at
the trial."
"The source added that the legal team views the Democrats' decision to
not call witnesses as a clear victory," Acosta tweeted.
Jeff Hauser, director of the Revolving Door Project, said he's "livid"
at Democratic leaders for caving on witnesses and rejected the
argument that a longer trial would endanger coronavirus relief efforts.
"They're going on recess next week," Hauser said of senators. "The
Democratic leadership is spreading the claim that it's relief vs.
accountability. They are lying. Learned helplessness being justified
by a knowably false choice."