Year: 2018

A ‘rigged’ FBI investigation in the Kavanaugh coverup (Updated)

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Arizona Senator Jeff Flake called for a thorough FBI background investigation while speaking at an event in Boston. “It does no good to have an investigation that gives us more cover, for example,” he said. “We actually have find out what we can find out.”

While the Twitter-troll-in-chief lied his ass off in tweets and press statements that the FBI could follow any lead and speak to any witness, White House legal counsel Don McGahn, a longtime friend of Judge Kavanaugh’s, made certain the background investigation would be severely restricted. To borrow Trump’s favorite phrase, the FBI background investigation was “rigged.”

Bloomberg News reports that the FBI did not even interview the principals involved. FBI Lacks White House Approval to Talk to Kavanaugh and Ford.

NBC News reports that the FBI has not contacted dozens of potential sources in Kavanaugh investigation:

More than 40 people with potential information into the sexual misconduct allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh have not been contacted by the FBI, according to multiple sources that include friends of both the nominee and his accusers.

[S]ources close to the investigation, as well as a number of people who know those involved, say the FBI has not contacted dozens of potential corroborators or character witnesses.

More than 20 individuals who know either Kavanaugh or Ramirez, who has accused the nominee of exposing himself to her while the two attended Yale University, have not heard from the FBI despite attempts to contact investigators, including Kavanaugh’s roommate at the time and a former close Ramirez friend.

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Indigenous Peoples Day on October 8 – updated

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INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ DAY South Tucson, AZ Monday, October 8, 2018 GLOBAL JUSTICE CENTER BLOCK PARTY BEGINS 11:00AM 225 E. 26th ST TUCSON/CHUKSHON, AZ (Free to the Community) of Music, Dancers and Speakers throughout the day. Join us to celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day! There will be music, dancers, speakers, food and more! Family-friendly, drug and alcohol … Read more

Maricopa County prosecutor Rachel Mitchell’s unprofessional memo

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Republican strategist Rick Wilson authored the book Everything Trump Touches Dies.

This is likely to include the professional legal career of Maricopa County prosecutor Rachel Mitchell.

Hired to be a “human shield” for Republican senators in questioning Christine Blasey Ford last week, she proved to be ‘not effective’ in questioning Ford.

Mitchell had barely begun asking questions of Judge Kavanaugh when she zeroed in on his July 1 calendar entry which might corroborate Dr. Blasey’s recollection of a party. Republican senators insulted her by summarily dismissing her, never to be heard from again.

Eleven old white men didn’t want to hear from any woman, even their hired gun.

Mitchell has since compounded her catastrophic performance by providing a partisan political memo to the GOP senators who hired her. Her memo violates the rules of professional conduct for attorneys and prosecutors. Her desire to be in the national spotlight may wind up costing her.

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More opposition to Prop. 126

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I have previously posted No on Prop. 126, the false and purposefully misleading Protect Arizona Taxpayers Act and posted Abe Kwok of The Arizona Republic adding his voice in opposition to Prop. 126. Another opinion against Prop. 126.

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Howard Fisher reports, Arizona’s Prop. 126 — a ban on taxing services — draws diverse resistance:

To hear the proponents of Proposition 126 tell it, Arizona lawmakers are chomping at the bit to tax medical services, child care and veterinary bills.

Never mind that lawmakers already can do that — and have not.

The initiative sponsors, financed by Arizona Realtors and their national parent organization, want to put a [preemptive] provision in the state constitution. It would forever preclude the Legislature from expanding the current sales-tax base to services that are not already taxed.

And they have built a war chest — $6.1 million as of the last campaign-finance report filed in the middle of August — to get voters to agree. The campaign is operating under the umbrella of Citizens for Fair Tax Policy.

There is no organized opposition.

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Martha McSally to venture outside her chicken bunker to debate Kyrsten Sinema

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Martha McSally goes to great lengths to avoid debating her opponents, she always has. It is because she is a terrible debater, as anyone who has ever seen her debate can attest.

And when McSally does agree to a debate — never multiple debates — it is always in front of a GOP-friendly audience.

McSally never strays far from her chicken bunker, as this blog has documented for years (hence, the familiar graphic).

The Arizona Republic reports Martha McSally agrees to debate with Kyrsten Sinema in Phoenix:

U.S. Senate contenders Democrat Kyrsten Sinema and Republican Martha McSally will debate Oct.15 in Phoenix at an event hosted by Arizona PBS and The Arizona Republic.

The debate is scheduled for 7-8 p.m. on October 15. It will be broadcast on Arizona PBS Channel 8.1 and at azcentral.com. Republic political reporter Maria Polletta and Ted Simons, host of Channel 8’s “Arizona Horizon,” the nightly public affairs program, will be the moderators.

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