To cap off a tumultuous day wherein AG Barr stonewalled many incisive questions from Democratic members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Hillary Clinton paid a visit to Rachel Maddow. Here are a few snippets.
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during an event at Barnard College, January 7, 2019 in New York City.
Washington (CNN)Reacting to Attorney General William Barr’s testimony on Wednesday, Hillary Clinton said the notion that the President can fire any prosecutor investigating him if he feels the accusations are false is “the road to tyranny.”
Clinton made the comments during an interview with MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow on Wednesday evening. During the show, Maddow pointed to something Barr had said in his public testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
“The point I was trying to make earlier is that, in the situation of the President, who has constitutional authority to supervise proceedings, if in fact a proceeding was not well founded, if it was a groundless proceeding, if it was based on false allegations, the President does not have to sit there, constitutionally, and allow it to run its course,” Barr said during his testimony. “The President could terminate that proceeding, and it would not be a corrupt intent, because he was being falsely accused.”
Maddow said Barr was making the argument that “the President can’t be investigated if the President doesn’t want to be investigated.”
“And that, that is the road to tyranny,” Clinton said. “That is what authoritarians believe and those who service them argue.”
In one of his final appearances on the Senate floor, Senator John McCain urged his colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get back to regular order. Hillary Clinton echoed that imperative on The Rachel Maddow Show last night. Appearing on the anniversary of the release of her book, What Happened, and upon the release of the paperback edition with a new afterword (also published in The Atlantic), Hillary addressed, among other topics, the Kavanaugh confirmation logjam, the Special Counsel probe, the Manafort deal, and the ongoing Russian influence not only in our elections but in our very interactions.
Rachel began the interview quoting from the piece that ran in The Atlantic, and asked Hillary why she is afraid of losing our country. Hillary responded saying that putting aside ideological concerns we have to defend our democracy. Degrading the rule of law, de-legitimizing elections, attacking truth and reason, undermining our unity … is a crisis. She said the authoritarian tendencies, left unchecked could result in the erosion of our institutions to an extent that we have never imagined here. We are not there yet, she contends, but that is because there is an election. “We need a new Congress, and we need a new Republican party.”
With a new Congress, Hillary thinks we need an agenda broader than one of impeachment. She listed policy changes already made, and said those need to be addressed. If people do not go out and vote, she thinks we will see more dismantling of institutions.
She believes that she was clearly a part of the puzzle where Russian interference was concerned in 2016, but she thinks they are playing a longer game of undermining democracy here and globally. She said, “Foreign money, foreign interference in our elections, I don’t care if it’s from the right, the left, the center, up, down; I don’t care where it’s from. It’s wrong. It’s illegal,and the American people deserve to know if it happened so we can try to prevent it.”¹
Rachel replayed a clip from a year ago where Hillary said we have to depend on those around Trump to be our first line of defense against him doing something that might have serious repercussions. The Times op-ed of September 5 and Bob Woodward’s Fear appear to show that remark to have been predictive.
Her prediction now is that after the election Trump will wholesale fire people. She said he is close to being uncontrollable. She is hoping people will see that we need checks and balances and will vote accordingly. While she has not heard any specifics of invocation of the 25th Amendment, she thinks there are private discussions in the White House, and that people are worried.
It was a broad, extensive interview and thought-provoking. Hillary has warned us in the past. Once again she is sounding the alarms. Yes, we must get out the vote. But we must do more. We need to hold the government accountable. First, we must hold the line. Then, we must repair the damage. That demands advocacy. It is going to take more than a village. It is going to take the whole country.
¹Please bear this comment in mind and take it very seriously to heart if you are one of those who defends a “Hillary supporter” whom you suspect or know not to be American but who insists upon not only impersonating an American but also insists upon telling Americans how to think and how to vote. Proxies, trolls, sock puppets, and bots take every side. There is a purpose to this alleged support. Do not be duped.
I don’t know why I am always blown away by how much information Hillary Clinton can pack into a few minutes, but I am. Hillary was on for 55 minutes. She had spoken uninterrupted and said so much at the beginning that I thought she had used up half the show. Then I looked at the clock. She had been speaking for only 14 minutes.
Rachel noted, at the end, that Hillary made some very strong comments regarding Facebook, Fake Americans, and the influence they held over our election. This is, as Rachel notes, a national security issue. I keep saying, it does not really matter which side a Fake American pretends to be on. A Fake American “Hillary supporter” is just as capable of impugning Hillary and/or other Democrats and Americans in general with untrue or alarmist statements as a Fake American on the right.
During the 2015-2016 election cycle, I applied a bit less scrutiny than normal in accepting Facebook friends. My intention was an expansion of an audience for Hillary’s words, plans, and voter base and to drum up donations. I succeeded in doubling the number of Facebook friends tied to Hillary from the post-2008 number.
In the aftermath, I discovered that I had indeed accepted friend requests from some questionable entities who were less than forthcoming vis-à-vis their nationality/citizenship and location. My bad! I intend to be more assiduous in vetting friends in the future and to do my small part in depriving duplicitous and noxious trolls a platform on my news feeds for their fictional news. If there is a single divergence between these folks and the woman they claim to love and hold as a role model, it is on the role of honesty and transparency in trust.
During the campaign, there were detractors who questioned Hillary’s honesty. She is among the most painfully honest people in the public eye. So it is ironic that these impostors resist transparency. That can only raise questions about their trustworthiness.
That said, I think we all can appreciate the honest foreign nationals who admire Hillary and provide truthful coverage of her initiatives.
This community here contributed impressively in many ways to Hillary’s campaign: phone banking, pounding the pavement and knocking on doors, registering voters, providing primary day information, and making donations.
Hillary has made it clear that she will not appear on another ballot, but she is not leaving the arena. We will all be here to boost her efforts going forward.
Here is the full interview in case you missed it. Probably tomorrow Rachel will have the complete one-on-one posted at her website. It will play again at midnight EDT.
ICYMI Hillary sat down with the ladies of The Viewthis morning.
This is Day 2 of her book tour. Note to the people who are already tired of seeing Hillary promote her book on TV, here’s a neat invention you might like.
For everybody else, catch Hillary tonight with Anderson Cooper on CNN. Check local listings for AC360. Tomorrow night she will be with Rachel Maddow on MSNBC.
If I had a dollar for every time over almost eight years that I have heard Hillary Clinton explain, in so many countries as well as here at home, that we have regular, peaceful transitions of power in this country, I would give every dollar to Hillary for America.
Some of you might remember, that he and I competed against each other as hard as we could back in 2008. But when it was over, I was proud to endorse him and campaign for him.
And I’ll never forget when he called me the Sunday after the election, asking me to come to Chicago. It turned out he wanted me to be Secretary of State, and I don’t think anybody saw that coming – especially me.
And as I travelled on behalf of our country, a lot of people around the world asked how President Obama and I could work so well together after being such fierce competitors. In some places, the person who loses an election gets exiled or executed, not asked to be Secretary of State.
But President Obama asked me to serve, and I accepted. You know why? We both love our country.
That is how democracy is supposed to work. We just celebrated 240 years of independence. In America, we put common interest before self-interest. We stand together because we know we’re stronger together.
So it it especially jarring and disconcerting to hear crowds at the Republican Convention in Cleveland chanting “Lock her up.!” Really?
CLEVELAND — It’s pretty disturbing to hear a large crowd at a major party convention repeatedly call for the jailing of the leader of the other major party.
And I’ve heard that happen again and again at the Republican convention so far, as the clear favorite chant of the attendees is: “Lock her up! Lock her up! Lock her up!”
It’s not just the crowd. Three speakers at the podium on the first day of the convention called for Hillary Clinton to be jailed.
And Chris Christie’s speech on day two, while nominally a critique of Clinton’s foreign policy judgment, was framed as a “prosecution” of Clinton in which he repeatedly asked the crowd whether she was “guilty” or “not guilty.”
Naturally, the crowd interrupted Christie four times with the “lock her up” chant. Indeed, the idea of sentencing Clinton to prison has been the only thing that’s really excited the crowd so far on this listless second day.
To me, all this seemed like a new crossing of a line and an ugly degradation of a norm in American politics.
At any major party’s national convention, partisans aren’t going to use kid gloves when going after the other party’s nominee. It stands to reason that when Republicans target Hillary Clinton in Cleveland this week, they’re going to use every possible line of attack they can think of. It’s just how the game is played.
But Vox’s Andrew Prokop picked up on GOP messaging from the first night of the Republican National Convention that goes much further than anything Americans are accustomed to.
One of the most striking recurring suggestions of the Republican convention’s first day was that Hillary Clinton should be sent to prison.
During retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn’s speech, the delegates began to chant, “Lock her up! Lock her up! Lock her up!” Soon, Flynn agreed, saying, “Lock her up, that’s right! It’s unbelievable!”
After noting some other speakers who called for Clinton’s imprisonment, Prokop’s piece added, “To me, all this seemed like a new crossing of a line and an ugly degradation of a norm in American politics.”
He’s not the only who thought so. Independent Journal Review’s Justin Green, a conservative journalist, added, “Plagiarism is bad, but it’s remarkable that the headline news today isn’t that speakers at the RNC called for jailing the opposing nominee.”
It’s no small detail. In the American tradition, partisans will blast rivals on every front, but voters are not accustomed to hearing calls for the incarceration of the other party’s presidential candidate.
We stand as the role model of bloodless transition for all the world. It is beyond not normal. Steve Schmidt, on MSNBC tonight, called it “Banana Republican” right after I remarked that I had never seen anything like this in this country.
No. This is not normal. It is not what we do. It is not how we act. It is not who we are. We are better than this.
I once read that Hillary Clinton excels at Tetris. Since I also am very good at that game, I have always wanted to challenge her to a face-off, but she just doesn’t have that kind of time, and, following her, neither do I. It is appropriate, nevertheless, that this week the Democratic Party has behaved like a game of Tetris with the tiles tumbling in fast and furiously.
Earlier in the week (I can’t believe this is all in the same week), contacted by Associated Press, enough uncommitted special delegates decided to commit to Hillary on the eve of the last Super Tuesday of the primary season giving her the clinch even before the polls opened. The next day Hillary dominated in four of the six states.
President Obama wasted no time in jumping on the Hillary bus, endorsing her today shortly after meeting privately with Senator Sanders. Whether the timing was planned or coincidental, former presidential candidate Martin O’Malley also came out with a strong endorsement today.
Hillary Clinton on Thursday at last secured the endorsement she’d long sought — and she also won the backing of Martin O’Malley.
It’s not clear if it was by design or he was just a victim of unfortunate timing, but not long after President Obama announced his support of Clinton as the presumptive Democratic Party nominee, O’Malley said that he, too, was backing his former 2016 rival, in an endorsement that will unquestionably be overshadowed.
In a series of tweets, O’Malley said “for the future of the country, I am committing my energies to the election of Secretary Clinton as the next president.”
Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a hero to liberal progressives ideologically aligned with Bernie Sanders’ anti-Wall Street rhetoric, will endorse presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton Thursday night on MSNBC’s the Rachel Maddow Show.
The endorsement will come during an exclusive live interview beginning at 9 p.m.
Warren’s announcement comes the same day President Barack Obama formally backed Clinton in a video lauding her qualifications for the job.
“I’m ready,” she said Thursday on MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow Show. “I am ready to get in this fight and work my heart out for Hillary Clinton to become the next president of the United States and to make sure that Donald Trump never gets anyplace close to the White House.”
Vice President Joe Biden also criticized Donald Trump during a speech at the American Constitution Society convention on Thursday.
Vice President Joe Biden endorsed presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton for president on Thursday, hours after President Barack Obama publicly declared his support for Clinton.
“In my view, God willing, it’ll be Secretary Clinton,” Biden said, referring to the next president, during an address at the American Constitution Society convention in Washington.
“I am honored to have earned the endorsement of the National Association of Letter Carriers.
“The Postal Service is consistently ranked as the most trusted government agency, and the brothers and sisters of NALC are one reason why. Since our nation’s founding, efficient and effective mail service has connected families and enabled commerce. Today, more than 160 billion pieces of mail travel through the postal system each year—many of them in the hands of a Letter Carrier.
“As President, I will stand with the Letter Carriers to protect workers’ fundamental rights to organize, to bargain collectively, to be safe on the job, and to retire with dignity and security. And I will work with the Letter Carriers to build a bright future for the postal system and postal workers in the 21st century. I know that the postal system is still a vital lifeline for American communities from coast to coast, and recognize the Letter Carriers’ vital role in building the American middle class.
“Above all, workers deserve a seat at the table and a champion in the White House. Because when workers are strong, families are strong—and when families are strong, America is strong.”
The Democratic Party is unifying behind Hillary very quickly while the Republicans remain in disarray over remarks by Donald Trump and the image he projects as “leader” of the party. Apparently the remarks are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to potential problems posed by the presumptive nominee of the GOP who likes to cite in unspecific numbers the “many” people, “hundreds” of people who support his unfiltered comments and positions.
Donald Trump casts himself as a protector of workers and jobs, but a USA TODAY NETWORK investigation found hundreds of people – carpenters, dishwashers, painters, even his own lawyers – who say he didn’t pay them for their work.
Back in October, after the first debate, I said this: ” I was proud of my party watching this debate and proudest of my candidate, Hillary Clinton, who did a superlative job.” I am proud again today..
Look for President Obama tonight on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. The segment was recorded yesterday, before the big endorsement today.
So meanwhile, back at the ranch, this interview with Rachel Maddow preceded the AP call. Everyone who canshould vote tomorrow! I apologize for this not being better organized. It has been a crazy night!
Hillary expressed confidence and said everyone was working hard. She has a wide lead. She would not affirm what kind of speech she would give in Brooklyn, but hinted it would be a victory speech.
She noted that she suspended eight years ago Tuesday and endorsed the Obama/Biden ticket to unify the party. Hillary is perplexed by Bernie’s insistence that she does not have the lead. She thinks he is suggesting that Super Ds can overturn the will of the people.
Hillary was very firm that special delegates (Super Ds) do not go against the will of the people as represented by hard popular votes and delegates accrued.
Hillary said the sooner we unify against Donald Trump the better. Hillary does not understand the argument the Sanders camp lodges.Rachel asked how unity happens. Hillary can’t answer. Said the campaigns are talking. Then she unloaded on Trump.
He is the threat that will unite the party. Trump impervious to the values of America. Dangerous nonsense. No respect for fellow Americans and disqualified for the presidency. His attacks are racist. Re: Trump and the judge and possible racial conflagration: Hillary will work against that and will call him out on statements that are racist, divisive, and dangerous.
Those comments must be repudiated. Hillary called it a terrible precedent to say a judge by way of heritage cannot rule fairly on a case where Americans have been defrauded. Trump is dangerous, undermines the rule of law. He is divisive and disqualified from being president. It is a racist attack. What else can you call these attacks?
Why 240 years to get here? Hillary is aware of the history but does not want to get ahead of herself. Wants people to vote tomorrow. Is running to be president for every single American.
I think this is my day and time to say this. If you supported her some time in the past and either “cannot” or do not today, you never were in this camp. Go follow Donald or Bernie into iniquity. Do not come back here like you are all over Hillary and have her BFF’s cell number. We, the anonymous, have stayed the course. We will carry Hillary in – on Teddy Roosevelt’s chair.
Rachel Maddowinterviewed Hillary at the Apollo today. When she returned to the studio, she heard about Donald Trump’s comment to Chris Matthews about punishing women for abortions which occurred concurrently with Rachel’s interview. Rachel then picked up her gear, rounded up her crew, and headed for Hillary’s office where Hillary gave her an addendum interview on that subject. Wow!
NEW Trump to @msnbc: “there has to be some form of punishment” for women who have abortions but he has yet to determine what that should be.
Responding to Rachel Maddow’s question about Trump’s abortion statement today, Hillary quoted Maya Angleou: “When people show you who they are, believe them.” She called that statement the most outrageous she has heard in a very long time.
Maya Angelou said: “When people show you who they are, believe them.” Trump can try to walk back his words, but we heard him loud and clear.
In the main interview, Hillary said she is returning to Wisconsin, is working hard, and taking nothing for granted. She hopes, after the primaries, that the party comes together.
Hillary does not understand the argument Bernie poses about delegates and Super Ds. She said the person with the delegates gets the nomination and hopes Sen. Sanders will join her should she have the winning number.
Hillary said caucuses are an unusual way for states to choose candidates.
Re: The Republicans and the chaos within, Hillary intends to run against their agenda. She said when you strip it down they are all peddling the same policies from 30-40 years back.
Hillary said Trump has a “different” personality, but then pointed to his proposed policies and said he is not that far off from other. Differences of degree but not kind. His demonization of groups is not different from much of what that party espouses. He simply has a different way of expressing these policies.
The fact is, Trump isn’t that different from every other Republican candidate who would also outlaw abortion.
Hillary, who has relationships with many world leaders, said several have voiced concerns about Trump’s statements and plans. She pointed out that our coalitions depend on getting along with Muslim nations and a strong NATO. She said we need to take a 360 degree look at how NATO is constructed and funded, but that the organization itself remains important.
Hillary said she will go after Trump on issues. She said Republicans have not confronted him on issues because they agree with him.
Hillary said she is surprised the primaries will be long. She always expected a contest, and ran her 2008 campaign into June.
She said she understands how people both here and abroad hear Trump and Cruz and feels an obligation to go up against the offensive, dangerous statements.
Rachel asked Hillary whether she would ask Obama to withdraw the Merrick Garland nomination. Hillary is not comfortable with the question because we have one president at a time and not processing that nomination shuts out all votes cast for Obama in 2012 – including her own. Her position is to keep the pressure on the Senate to do their job.
Hillary said we need to elect a Democratic Senate. The SCOTUS standoff has made it clear how important this is.
Rachel asked whether the work of the Clinton Foundation and the CGI should wind down while she runs for POTUS. Hillary finds the work astonishing and would hate to lose that. She said transparency is the best response.
The fact is, Trump isn’t that different from every other Republican candidate who would also outlaw abortion.
Asked if the Corey Lewandowski incident reflects Trump’s attitude toward women, Hillary responded that Trump has been inciting violence.
Asked if whe wants to pivot toward Trump, Hillary said she will remain focused on the primaries but that it is important not to stand silent when Republicans make outrageous statements.
She stated again that the Republicans do not take Trump on about his statements because they agree.
Again she said she is going back to Wisconsin to do all she can there.
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"... ratify the Law of the Sea Convention, which has provided the international framework for exploring these new opportunities in the Arctic. We abide by the international law that undergirds the convention, but we think the United States should be a member, because the convention sets down the rules of the road that protect freedom of navigation, provide maritime security, serve the interests of every nation that relies on sea lanes for commerce and trade, and also sets the framework for exploration for the natural resources that may be present in the Arctic." -HRC, 06-03-12, Tromso Norway
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"...whether it’s here, in the absolute best embassy in the world, or whether it’s in Washington, or whether it’s elsewhere, what a difference one woman can make. And that woman is right here, the woman who needs no introduction, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton." 07.05.10 - Unidentified speaker, Embassy Yerevan
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