More than 200 judges have been embedded in the federal judiciary by outgoing Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Donald Trump. The huge majority of those judges come from the Federalist Society, the right-wing dark money association that has been working for years to erode civil rights, end abortion, oppose LGBTQ equality, stop gun safety laws, and fight regulations protecting the environment, health care, and worker safety—aka everything achieved in roughly half a century of progress. They are responsible for the current makeup of the Supreme Court and most of the Republican Senate. And they also have at least partial responsibility for the insurrection that happened at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.
John Eastman, until this week the chairman of the Federalist Society's Federalism & Separation of Powers practice group, spoke at the pre-insurrection rally. "Anybody that is not willing to stand up and [vote to overturn the election] does not deserve to be in the office!" Eastman told the crowd. Standing next to Rudy Giuliani at the rally, he broke into a smile when Rudy incited the crowd with "Let's have trial by combat!"
Those linked tweets are from Slate's Mark Joseph Stern, who highlighted Eastman's role in pushing Trump's various plots to overturn the election: "As the president's actual attorneys backed away from his coup, Eastman rushed in to fill the void, attempting to bolster the scheme with incoherent legal theories," Stern writes. "When Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton urged the Supreme Court to overturn the election by nullifying millions of votes, it was Eastman who intervened on Trump's behalf to endorse Paxton's suit."
Worse, Eastman was in the Oval Office on Jan. 5 telling Trump—and Vice President Mike Pence—that Pence could legally toss out the real, certified electoral votes and throw the election to Trump. Because of his participation in the coup attempt, he's been tossed from the Chapman University School of Law, where he was a law professor and onetime dean. He's officially "retired"—at age 60, in the middle of the school year. But sure, retired. Eastman has been a visiting scholar at the University of Colorado Boulder, where calls for his dismissal have so far resulted in cancellation of two courses he was going to teach this spring.
As of now, the Federalist Society has not thrown out Eastman. Never mind that his name has been floated as one of Trump's impeachment lawyers, which would be kind of awkward. In what can only be considered an effort to save face—and its ability to someday again be able to shape the federal judiciary—one of the group's co-founders is calling Trump "a danger to the nation" who must be convicted by the Senate.
But the Federalist Society, which has supplied 85% of Trump's judges, has made no comment on Eastman, who is an insurrectionist. That's a problem for the organization. It's a much larger problem for the nation. Expanding the courts to dilute the influence of these judges is going to have to be a high priority for President-elect Joe Biden and the Democratic Senate.
The Black police officer who went viral for his bravery in distracting the angry Donald Trump mob that took over the Capitol is being rightfully called a hero, not just by Americans nationwide but representatives in Congress. Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman lured a group of rioters away from the Senate chamber’s entrance to protect members of Congress on Jan. 6. As a result, Reps. Charlie Crist of Florida, Emanuel Cleaver of Missouri, and Nancy Mace of South Carolina introduced a bill Thursday to award Goodman the Congressional Gold Medal for “bravery and quick thinking during last week’s insurrection at the United States Capitol."
Since the horrific Capitol riots, many have criticized the lack of security in the building and Capitol Police leadership for its lack of preparation, resulting in the resignation of the Capitol Police’s chief. But amid all the criticisms for Capitol Police comes praise for Goodman and his quick thinking. The award several lawmakers hope to give Goodman is considered one of the highest civilian awards in the country.
"The United States Capitol was under attack by armed, violent extremists, and Officer Eugene Goodman was the only thing standing between the mob and the United States Senate," Crist said in a statement, according to Business Insider.
"I shudder to think what might have happened had it not been for Officer Goodman's fast thinking and commitment to his duty and his country," he continued. "While some will remember last Wednesday for the very worst in our country, the patriotism and heroics of Officer Eugene Goodman renew my faith and remind us all what truly makes the United States great."
The footage of Goodman’s selfless bravery went viral after being shared by HuffPost reporter Igor Bobic on Twitter. Daily Kos shared the footage and reported that the incident happened at 2:14 PM. The Senate was closed mere seconds later at 2:15 PM “Just now realizing how much of a close call it was in the Senate,” Bobic tweeted.
Here’s the scary moment when protesters initially got into the building from the first floor and made their way outside Senate chamber. pic.twitter.com/CfVIBsgywK
This moment in @igorbobic stunning footage. In front of the officer, coming up the stairs, is a mass of rioters. The USCP officer glances to his left. Between those two chairs is the entrance to the senate floor. He lured them to his right, away from their targets. pic.twitter.com/knjQQ4GZ0d
Bobic told Good Morning America on Thursday he was covering Congress as they were certifying electoral votes from the presidential election when he heard “a commotion.”
"I ran downstairs to the first floor of the Senate building, where I encountered this lone police officer courageously making a stand against the mob of 20 or so Trump supporters who breached the capitol itself and were trying to get upstairs,” Bobic said.
In the footage Bobic shared, Goodman wasn’t wearing tactical gear nor did he have his gun out. Yet he shoved the mob leader, identified as Doug Jenson of Iowa, before running to grab a baton. At least 20 or more people can then be seen chasing the lone officer, who diverted them away from the Senate chamber. “They were yelling ‘Traitors. We want justice. This is our America. If we don’t stop this now, we won’t get justice. Trump won,’” Bobic told Good Morning America.
“These folks had zip ties,” Kirk D. Burkhalter, a professor at New York Law School and a former New York City police officer, toldThe Washington Post, referring to photos of rioters with zip tie handcuffs. “It’s not unreasonable to say that they were ready to take hostages ... Officer Goodman really helped to avoid a tremendous tragedy.”
After the footage went viral, colleagues and friends identified Goodman. "He'd do the same thing again,” a friend told The Washington Post, noting that Goodman is "not looking for any accolades."
Officials from the 101st Airborne Division also took to Twitter to praise Goodman, noting that he was a hero to the country years before last week.
According to the Military Times, Goodman served in the Army from 2002 and 2006 and deployed to Iraq for one year with the 101st Airborne Division. His awards include a combat infantryman badge.
Capitol police officer Eugene Goodman is rightfully being hailed as a hero after singlehandedly holding back rioters from entering the Senate chambers last week. An Iraq combat vet and member of this Corps, Eugene was a hero long before last Wednesday. We celebrate his valor. pic.twitter.com/CLWlLG3bIW
Other friends of Goodman told the Post that his decision to lead the rioters away instead of engaging with them reflects his military experience.
“He was diverting people from getting on the Senate floor and getting hostages. It was the smartest thing that he could have ever done,” a colleague said. “I don’t know that many people who can think on their feet like that ... His quick thinking enabled those senators to get to safety.”
Goodman’s ability to not only lead the rioters away from the Senate Chambers but call for backup and show restraint to prevent injury or loss of life pays tribute to his dedication to service and his heroic qualities. Despite his newfound fame, Goodman has remained humble and maintained the same positive attitude, his colleagues told the Post.
Goodman’s attitude toward his job has remained the same despite his newfound fame.
“My job is to protect and serve,” Goodman told co-workers after the video of him went viral. “And on that day, I was protecting.”
Newly shared terrifying footage from the other side:
Wow. First time I’m seeing video *taken by one of the first rioters* to breach the Capitol and storm up the Senate steps. I actually recorded him as he was recording me on the first floor. “Where are they counting the votes?” one is heard shouting https://t.co/6uvvBznma0
"President Trump was impeached today for a second time. Or as Fox News reported it: Fun rainy-day crafts to do with your grandkids!!!"
—Seth Meyers
"The impeachment articles charged the president with just one thing: inciting violence against the government of the United States. His impeachment comes just one week before the president's term expires. Do you know how bad of a job you have to be doing to get fired while you're getting fired? "
—Stephen Colbert
Continued…
-
"Trump got impeached in December 2019 and January 2021, and botched COVID in between. Dude basically made a pandemic sandwich with impeachment bread."
—Jimmy Fallon
"This impeachment gives me one last chance to salvage my reputation!” shouts Rudy Giuliani, as he ladles baked beans into his briefcase.
—Conan O'Brien
In this somber time, let us remember the solemn words of FDR:
—The Daily Show
"Not only did Trump get banned from Twitter, but Google, Apple and Amazon removed the Parler app from their platforms. Parler is where all the right-wingers gather to post Q-a-nonsense and misspell the word 'parlor.' Trumpers are complaining bitterly that they're being silenced. On their three propaganda networks, one-thousand conservative radio shows, and all over the internet, they're screaming about being silenced."
—Jimmy Kimmel
"Police assumed protesters wouldn't get out of control because they were white. They were literally wearing shirts that said "Civil War" on them. What else did they need? The back of the shirt to read, Seriously We're Going To Attack You & Also Shit On The Floor For Some Reason?"
—Samantha Bee
EVERY GOP CONGRESSMAN: To all my Radical Dumbocrat colleagues: We need healing and unity. I say this not just to the Commies, but also to the Libtards.
—Trevor Noah
And now, our feature presentation...
-
Cheers and Jeers for Friday, January 15, 2021
Note: Surely you don’t expect me to write a note on a Friday night, do you? Forget it, I’m checked out. Here’s my grocery list instead: milk, eggs, bananas, a dozen boxes of large garbage bags, and 4,000 pounds of lye. Now go away. —Mgt.
-
By the Numbers:
5 days!!!
Days 'til inauguration day: 5
Percent of Americans polled by Quinnipiac who believe democracy in America is "alive and well": 21%
Percent in the same poll who believe Trump is undermining democracy: 60%
Number of National Guard troops that'll be deployed in D.C. for the inauguration: 20,000
Minimum number of people who visited Maine state parks last year, a record: 3 million
Percent increase in first-time visitors from 2019: 60%
Year that a poet first took part in a presidential inauguration (Robert Frost for JFK): 1961
Age of Amanda Gorman, who will be the inaugural poet next Wednesday: 22
CHEERS to post-inaugural Jazz Hands!!! Depending on how things go on Wednesday, we may or may not be in a celebratory mood after Joe and Kamala take their oaths of office. But if the terrorists—aka the Republican party—fail to blow everything up, Team Biden has a heckuva talent show lined up, and it's a lot better than what "master showman" Whatsizface (I forget his name—the freak in the orange clown makeup whose approval ratings are headed for the 20s) put on four years ago:
Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, Justin Timberlake, Demi Lovato, Jon Bon Jovi, Ant Clemons and Tom Hanks are among the stars tapped to appear during Joe Biden's inauguration festivities next week, the Presidential Inaugural Committee announced Wednesday. […] "Celebrating America," a 90-minute live special, will air the evening of President-elect Biden's inauguration, and will feature remarks from Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, as well as tributes to COVID-19 first responders.
Looks to me like the insurrection failed.
"This inauguration presents a unique opportunity to spotlight the resilience and spirit of an America united," PIC CEO Tony Allen said in a statement. "We have witnessed countless heroes this past year step up to the frontlines and serve their fellow Americans, so we are telling their stories, spreading their collective light and celebrating the best of our country and its people with this prime-time program.
The committee also announced the Inauguration Day ceremony lineup Thursday. Lady Gaga, who will perform "The Star-Spangled Banner," has previous experience with the national anthem, singing (and nailing) it for Super Bowl 50 in 2016.
You can read more about the inauguration participants here. In a shocking non-twist, the current president will not be attending the swearing-in. He'll be back at the White House trying and failing to pry the J and B keys off the West Wing keyboards. (In her last act as first lady, Melania will melt them into blobs of molten plastic by staring at them.)
CHEERS capturing a creepy crazy Capitol criminal. Yeah, the guy wearing horns was bad. Yeah, the guy with his feet up on Nancy Pelosi's desk was worse. And don’t get me started on the moron who tried to steal the Speaker's lectern. But among all the traitors (300 charged so far) who stormed the Capitol last week, the one who burned my chaps the most was the Jefferson Davis fanboy who frolicked among the statues in the rotunda with a giant confederate flag in his hands. Well, we got him. And not only is he a traitor, he's also a candidate for Worst Dad in the World. And his son? His son is a f*cking idiot, too:
Kevin Seefried, who was carrying the flag that he later told authorities had been displayed outside his Delaware home, and his son Hunter Seefried [were] arraigned later Thursday in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C.
Should be stripped of his citizenship.
According to a charging document, Kevin Seefried told the FBI on Tuesday during a voluntary interview that he and his son had been part of the group that breached the Capitol’s entrances on Jan. 6, and that they had been in Washington that day to hear Trump speak at a rally on the Ellipse. […]
The two men were identified after a co-worker of Hunter Seefried contacted the FBI to say Hunter “had bragged about being in the Capitol with his father” during the riot, the document says.
Thus proving that, in Traitor Land, the shithead doesn’t fall far from the asshole.
JEERS to yesteryear's sleazebag. On Sunday’s date in 1997, then-Speaker Newt Gingrich—the guy who promised to clean up Washington—accepted a reprimand by the House that included a $300,000 penalty as punishment for decidedly un-clean ethics violations. Four days later the House voted 395-28 to discipline its leader for ethical misconduct. If memory serves, the sun was shining and the birds were singing that day.
-
BRIEF SANITY BREAK
-
Mom shows her baby elephant how to cross the river bank.. He almost nails it.. pic.twitter.com/qWengpCewb
JEERS to messing with The Precious. On January 16, 1919, the tenacious temperance twits in Wyoming became the last ones necessary to ratify Prohibition, which went into effect on January 16, 1920...in the name, of course, of Jeeeeeezus. As a lapsed Episcopalian, I’d like to apologize for this on behalf of all my brethren and sistren:
Many Prohibition groups, called “dries”, were church-based, mainly Protestant denominations.
“Yeah. We’ll get right on that.”
The anti-Prohibition groups, or “wets”, tended to be mostly Roman Catholic, Episcopalian and Lutherans from Germany. Both major political parties had wet and dry factions.
[W]hen Congress convened in January, 1917, the mandate was clear: regardless of party, dries outnumbered wets in Congress by 2-to-1.
The result: a huge spike in organized crime. The stock market crash of 1929 led to the eventual repeal of the 18th amendment on the premise that reviving the legit liquor industry would create jobs. So you might say that in a weird way the banksters toppled the gangsters. (Although, like today, it took authorities awhile to figure out who was who.)
CHEERS to home vegetation. Here's some of the haps on the squawk box this weekend, starting with Chris Hayes, Rachel Maddow, and Lawrence O’Donnell processing the Friday news dumps on MSNBC as we end the last week of the Trump era. Or you can watch the U.S. Ladies Free Skate Championships at 8 on NBC (the men skate tomorrow at 4pm), or new episodes of Whose Line and Penn & Teller: Fool Us on the CW. Tonight at 11 on BBC America, The Graham Norton Show welcomes Regina King and "The Queen's Gambit" star Anya Taylor-Joy.
Encore showing tomorrow night at 10 on MSNBC.
The most popular home videos, new and old, are all reviewed here at Rotten Tomatoes. The NFL schedule is here (Tom Brady and Drew Brees go at it Sunday at 6:30 on Fox, and that’ll be fun) and the NBA schedule is here. Tomorrow night at 10 catch an encore showing of the great documentary focusing (pun intended) on Barack Obama’s White House photographer Pete Souza, The Way I See It, on MSNBC. SNL is still in reruns (the Justin Bateman-hosted show is tomorrow night). Sunday on 60 Minutes: inauguration security efforts in the wake of the Republican Party’s attempted coup. And at 8 on the CW you can catch the season premiere of Batwoman with new lead Javicia Leslie and, as always, Rachel Maddow providing commentary as radio personality Vesper Fairchild.
Now here's your Sunday morning lineup:
Meet the Press: TBA
Prepare yourself, people. We’re about to have a White House communications team that’s not made up of serial liars. Kate Bedingfield offers a truth-telling preview Sunday.
Face the Nation: Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA); incoming CDC Director Rochelle Walensky; Gov. Jim Justice (Trump Cult-WV); former FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb; St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter (D).
This Week: Biden White House communications director Kate Bedingfield.
CNN's State of the Union: Biden chief of staff Ron Klain; Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL); Rep. Jaime Raskin (D-MD).
Fox GOP Talking Points Sunday: TBA
Happy viewing!
-
Ten years ago in C&J: January 15, 2011
JEERS to the new Keeper of the Thankless Job. Oh, drat. I thought God might intervene and, purely for our amusement, allow Michael Steele to stay on as chairman of the RNC. Twas not to be. The new chairman's name is Reince Priebus. I hate him already—he just made my spellchecker explode. [1/15/21 Update: Hey, brilliant job on that party “rebranding,” Reince. We hope you’re finding your duties at the Burger King fry vat more suitable to your talents.]
-
And just one more…
CHEERS to America’s favorite “Girl from the South Side.” Michelle Obama (who you can follow on twitter here) is the tenth First Lady whose iron-fisted regime I’ve lived under. During her eight way-too-fast years in that official capacity, she was an amazing role model—not only in terms of her grace and humor and intelligence and optimism and down-to-earth authenticity and… (I'll stop there for space reasons—my list of her pluses is 12 pages long, single spaced), but also for throwing open the doors of the White House and making it feel more like the "People's House" than any time I can remember. (For another five days the place will continue to feel more like Berlin circa 1945.) Sunday is Michelle’s hrrfrrfrfth birthday, and that’s all the reason I need to post these…
I know there's no job description or requirements for the role of presidential spouse, but I think it's fair to say that she set the bar just about as high as it can go. She rocked it. So, in conclusion: Happy happy happy (I'll stop there for space reasons—my list of happys is also 12 pages long) birthday, Michelle, and many blessings on your camels.
P.S. Her too:
She’ll be 99!
This is the final weekend of the Trump administration. Even if I get hit by a bus, develop rickets and a tree falls on my house, it's still gonna be the best weekend ever. Floor's open...What are you cheering and jeering about today?
The House GOP’s high-profile freshman class is fracturing less than two weeks into the new Congress, and it’s all over one man: Donald Trump.
Trump’s failed gambit to overturn the election — and the deadly Capitol riots that followed — forced the newest House Republicans to take some of the toughest and most consequential votes of their careers during their very first days in office.
The result has left a deep and bitter divide among the freshmen, who have already begun to publicly and privately lash out at one another as tensions in the party ramp up. Nearly a dozen newcomers ended up opposing the election challenges that were lodged by a majority of their Republican colleagues, while just one freshman — Rep. Peter Meijer of Michigan — broke ranks to support removing Trump from office.
Now, the 45-member group finds themselves increasingly cleaved into two camps of freshmen. There are the members who flipped suburban swing-seats and rejected Trump’s false claims of voter fraud — a group that includes single moms and Cuban and Korean immigrants. And then there are those such as Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert, who won deep red districts where loyalty to the president is paramount and conspiracy theories are commonplace.
The warring factions in the freshman class mirror the broader rift in the GOP, where there is a widening gulf between a Trump-loving base and the moderate wing that can help make Republicans a majority party in 2022.
And some freshmen have been more vocal than others. One standout is Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina, who won back a GOP seat in the Lowcountry and has emerged as the most outspoken critic of Trump and the “QAnon wing” in her class.
Mace has excoriated some Republicans for their potential roles in inciting the violent mob on Jan. 6, calling for them to face investigations and other possible repercussions such as censure — which would represent a stinging rebuke of a colleague.
“It’s very important that we hold everybody accountable, and I hope that people are investigated to the fullest extent of the law — starting from the president on down. Including members of Congress,” said Mace, noting “all options” should be on the table. “We have allowed QAnon conspiracy theorists to lead us.”
Mace, however, said she’s not worried about potential blowback for criticizing her new colleagues: “I do not operate out of fear.”
But she’s also not blind to the risks facing her and her family’s physical safety. Mace said she applied for a concealed carry permit and sent her kids home from D.C. early after she started receiving threats for vowing to certify President-elect Joe Biden’s win.
Meijer, meanwhile, said he is now investing in body armor after he joined just nine other Republicans to vote for impeachment. He has also suggested that fears for personal safety had influenced some of his colleagues to support Trump’s challenges to the results of the election.
“This has been for many of us, especially those who decided to vote for impeachment, one of the worst weeks of our lives, one of hardest votes we’ve ever had to take,” Meijer said on MSNBC. “I’ve been talking to a number of colleagues, just felt physically nauseous.”
To the frustration of some GOP lawmakers,House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy counseled some of the freshmen about which states to object to and even warned of potential primary challenges if they didn’t, POLITICO first reported.
And in the hours after the Jan. 6 riots, when Congress began resuming the electoral certification process, some freshmen were still torn about how to vote and sought the advice of more senior lawmakers, according to sources familiar with the conversations.
But in the end, the majority of the new House Republicans objected to the results, along with more than 120 GOP lawmakers. Several of the freshmen were even leading the charge against Biden's victoryand spoke out on the House floor, including Boebert, Greene, and freshman Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-N.C.).
The stark differences in style and substance have led to some clashes among the freshmen. During a GOP conference call on Monday, Mace and others criticized Boebert for suggesting that Capitol Police officers were involved in the riot and for live tweeting the speaker’s whereabouts during the siege. Boebert responded that it wasn’t her intent, and asked her colleagues not to accuse her of anything.
And the following day, Axios reported that Mace slammed Greene in a private text chain among all the new GOP members, calling her the “literal QAnon lady.” Greene’s office said that different viewpoints are to be expected in such a large class, but said the congresswoman was primarily concerned about the violation of privacy.
Greene responded to Axios with a similar sentiment: “Who is the freshman rep that is betraying everyone's trust and leaking our group chat to the press?”
McCarthy has tried to maintain unity in his ranks, repeatedly warning members not to attack each other over their positions on the issue.
“I do want everyone to understand: emotions are high,” McCarthy said on a GOP conference call this week, according to a source familiar with the conversation. “What you say matters. Let’s not put other people in danger. Let’s watch what words we’re using and definitely not be using other members’ names in any media.”
Amid the riots and impeachment, few incoming freshman classes have experienced as chaotic of first few weeksin office. And the political implications of their votes will reverberate throughout the coming months: the House Democratic campaign arm is already seizing on their votes on impeachment and vote certification to use as a cudgel in 2022.
GOP recruiters crowed about the rising stars who ousted Democrats in November, a diverse crop of candidates who they hoped would improve the party’s image in suburban America and dominate the spotlight. There’s Reps. Young Kim, one of the first Korean American women in Congress; Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, whose family fled communist Cuba; and Mace, the first woman to graduate from The Citadel military college.
But the large number of retirements by older mainstreet Republicans in the Trump era means the party has also seen an infusion of new representatives from safe, red seats. The most notable are Greene and Boebert, who bothsuggested before winning election that they believed in aspects of the far-right QAnon movement.
Many of those new members have proved eager to imitate the president’s brash and often-offensive style. Rep. Mary Miller (R-Ill.) had to apologize during her first week in office for praising Hitler in a speech addressing Trump supporters. Meanwhile, Rep. Barry Moore (R-Ala.) deleted his personal Twitter account after complaining that there were “more arrests for stealing a podium” on Jan. 6 than for “stealing an election on” Nov. 3. Then there’s Cawthorn, who urged a crowd to “lightly threaten” their members of Congress if they want to motivate their votes and actions.
The coronavirus — and how seriously to take it — has also created a rift in the new GOP class. Freshman Rep. Bob Good (R-Va.), a hardline conservative who ousted the libertarian-leaning Denver Riggleman in a primary, faced blowback for calling Covid “a phony pandemic” in a December speech in downtown Washington, D.C.
And Greene has refused at times to wear a mask, arguing it’s “my body, my choice.”
To which, Mace shot back in a subtweet of her own: “My body. My choice. And I choose to wear a mask.”
