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McCain Slams Bachmann, Others, Over Claim Clinton Aide Part Of Muslim Brotherhood

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2008 Republican presidential nominee and Republican Senator John McCain today took to the floor of the U.S. Senate to slam Republican Congresswoman Michele Bachmann and others who are demanding the U.S. government investigate Huma Abedin, a top aide to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, for ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. Abedin is married to former Congressman Anthony Weiner.

“Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.), apparently in need of some attention, has launched some sort of paranoid inquiry into whether the U.S. Congress has been infiltrated by the Muslim Brotherhood,” Jason Linkins reported yesterday at The Huffington Post.

Some weeks ago, Bachmann sought the assistance of inspector generals in the State, Homeland Security, Defense and Justice Departments, asking them to investigate potential “policies and activities that appear to be the result of influence operations conducted by individuals and organizations associated with the Muslim Brotherhood.”

“It appears that there has been deep penetration in the halls of our United States government by the Muslim Brotherhood,” Bachmann told radio host Sandy Rios in June. “It appears that there are individuals who are associated with the Muslim Brotherhood who have positions, very sensitive positions, in our Department of Justice, our Department of Homeland Security, potentially even in the National Intelligence Agency.”

Practicing Muslim and fellow Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) didn’t take to kindly to Bachmann’s insinuations, and sent her a letter asking her to provide him with “a full accounting of the sources you used to make the serious allegations against the individuals and organizations in your letters.” He also warned her that there had better be “credible, substantial evidence” for her claims.

Well, today, Bachmann responded to Ellison with 16 pages worth of “evidence”implicating the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, to whom President George W. Bush created a “special envoy” position in 2008, and advocacy groups like the Islamic Society of North America and the Muslim Public Affairs Council. Bachmann doesn’t make clear what evidence connects these latter groups to “infiltration” — their mere existence seems sufficient to warrant her paranoia.

But by the far the strangest claim of “infiltration” that she cites is the one she leads off her letter with: longtime Hillary Clinton aide-de-camp Huma Abedin. In her letter, Bachmann tells Ellison that she is concerned about Abedin’s familial connections to the Brotherhood, and raises concerns over her security clearance.

Today, in response, Senator McCain, occasionally known to do the right thing (video), said:

“To say that the accusations made in both documents are not substantiated by the evidence they offer is to be overly polite and diplomatic about it. It is far better, and more accurate, to talk straight: These allegations about Huma, and the report from which they are drawn, are nothing less than an unwarranted and unfounded attack on an honorable citizen, a dedicated American, and a loyal public servant,” according to a report in the New York Daily News:

Abedin, of course, is the wife of former Rep. Anthony Weiner. The two told People magazine that they’re back to normal after Weiner’s forced departure from office (and Weiner said he has no immediate plans to run for public office again).

Aside from his broader condemnation of the attacks on Abedin, McCain also spoke on a personal note:

“Some years ago, I had the pleasure, along with my friend, the Senator from South Carolina, Senator Lindsey Graham, of traveling overseas with our colleague, then-Senator Hillary Clinton. By her side, as always, was Huma, and I had the pleasure of seeing firsthand her hard work and dedicated service on behalf of the former Senator from New York – a service that continues to this day at the Department of State, and bears with it significant personal sacrifice for Huma.

“I have every confidence in Huma’s loyalty to our country, and everyone else should as well. All Americans owe Huma a debt of gratitude for her many years of superior public service. I hope these ugly and unfortunate attacks on her can be immediately brought to an end and put behind us before any further damage is done to a woman, an American, of genuine patriotism and love of country.”

Yesterday as well, McCain also said that Sarah Palin was a better vice presidential candidate than Mitt Romney.

http://embed.5min.com/517420916/

https://youtube.com/watch?v=ao8wIq2HMAg%3Fversion%3D3%26hl%3Den_US

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‘Can You Imagine?’: Trump Slams SCOTUS Over Tariffs Case

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President Donald Trump expressed frustration with the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday, telling steel workers that he has had to wait “many months” for a decision on the tariffs case, even though tariffs are still being collected.

The court hear oral arguments on November 5 — three and a half months ago — and a decision could come as soon as Friday. It is not unusual for the justices to take many months to decide a case.

The court, reports stated, appeared skeptical of Trump’s authority to impose sweeping tariffs via executive orders without Congress.

“And to think I have to be, in the United States Supreme Court for many, many months, waiting for a decision on tariffs — without tariffs, this country would be in such trouble right now,” Trump said at the Coosa Steel Corporation in Rome, Georgia, in a speech at a GOP-ticketed event.

“Without tariffs, this country would be like your company was two years ago,” he told workers. “What a difference it made. And you know who brought the cases against us? People that are China-oriented, people that have business in China that want to rip us off and keep ripping us off.”

Trump continued to display his ire.

“I’m waiting for a decision from the Supreme Court. Can you imagine? We have to wait.”

“And I have to wait for this decision,” he continued. “I’ve been waiting forever. Forever. And the language is clear that I have the right to do it as president. I have the right to put tariffs on for national security purposes, countries that have been ripping us off.”

 

 

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‘One Way or Another’: Trump Vows to Pass SAVE America Voter ID Bill

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President Donald Trump is vowing that the controversial SAVE America Act voter ID bill will pass into law, “one way or another.”

“We are going to have the Save America Act, one way or the other, after approval by Congress through the very proper use of the Filibuster or, at minimum, by a Talking Filibuster, à la ‘Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,'” he wrote on Truth Social on Thursday.

The legislation, which narrowly passed the House, is currently sitting in the Senate. For it to pass will require 60 votes under current filibuster rules, which — given staunch Democratic opposition — does not appear to be possible in its current form, or under current Senate rules.

Republican Majority Leader John Thune could attempt to alter Senate rules, though such major changes are typically debated at the start of a new session rather than mid‑Congress. He has indicated opposition to doing so.

Democrats oppose the bill in part because it requires a passport or birth certificate to register to vote — something tens of millions of Americans do not currently have, according to voting rights groups. It also narrows generally acceptable forms of photo ID to vote.

Others oppose it because it requires states to run their voter rolls through federal immigration databases, which reportedly have a high error rate. Critics also say that creates a large unfunded administrative burden for states.

Image via Reuters 

 

 

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DOJ Gets Giant MAGA Banner — Plastered With Trump’s Image

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As President Donald Trump continues his efforts to rebrand portions of Washington, D.C. with his name, the U.S. Department of Justice has become the latest federal government agency to unfurl a massive banner depicting an image of the nation’s president on the exterior of its headquarters.

The image, as posted on Thursday by CNN’s DOJ reporter Hannah Rabinowitz, reads “U.S. Department of Justice” and “Make America Great Again,” the president’s campaign slogan and moniker for his agenda.

Trump banners have also adorned the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Reports indicate that despite what critics see as the political nature of their message, taxpayer funds were used to pay for the placards.

“The Trump administration used at least $50,000 in taxpayer dollars to create large signs featuring the president’s face or policies, alleges a new report released by Sen. Adam Schiff’s office,” Axios reported last September. “The California Democrat calls the move illegal, saying the banners amount to ‘propaganda’ mirroring ‘totalitarian dictators.'”

Trump has also put his name on the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and the United States Institute of Peace.

READ MORE: ‘Can’t Play Cute With Me’: Trump Tries to Spin Big-Power Snub of Peace Board

Some blasted the decision to hang another banner of Trump on government property, especially one that is supposed to be apolitical.

“Nothing says independent and impartial DOJ like a giant North Korea-style banner of the Dear Leader!” mocked Zev Karlin-Neumann, a former senior advisor to Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken.

“Cuba doesn’t even have a poster of its dictator on its ‘Justice’ Ministry building,” said former DNC delegate Christopher Hale.

“The Trump DoJ is a pure creature of presidential whim, retribution, and cover-up – so this banner has the virtue of candor at least,” snarked The Atlantic’s David Frum.

“Nothing says Justice is Blind like hanging a Dear Leader Banner at DOJ…” observed Republican former U.S. Rep. Barbara Comstock.

READ MORE: ‘Republicans Have to Lose’: Far Right Extremist Leader Puts Trump on Notice

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