Report: Trump’s Own Impeachment Lawyer Called Him A ‘Fu**ing Crook’

As Donald Trump’s impeachment legal team began arguments in the second day of the trial, The Daily Mail reported that Trump lawyer Michael Van der Veen had once called him “a fu**ing crook.”

According to the report, Van der Veen’s comments happened while working on a 2019 case in which a student was accused of hacking IRS databases in order to obtain Donald Trump’s tax records.

The current defense team was assembled in a hurry. David Schoen and former Montgomery County Pennsylvania District Attorney Bruce Castor came on board just last Sunday.

Van der Veen was also brought in last week to assist. 

RELATED: Lindsey Graham Rips Impeachment – ‘We’re Doing A Lot Of Damage To The Country Because People Hate Trump

A Curious Addition

Van der Veen’s former client stated that he was not sure if the ‘crook’ comments were an attempt to make him more comfortable or if they were the genuine beliefs of Van der Veen.

Van der Veen has denied the allegation.

Even more curious, a Washington Post report states that Van der Veen sued Trump last year over Trump making claims that mail-in voting was “ripe with fraud” despite having “no evidence to support these claims.”

Conservative commentators have often wondered aloud about some of Trump’s hires. This one will no doubt draw many questions.

RELATED: CBO Warns $15 Minimum Wage Will Kill 1.4 Million Jobs, House Dems Are All For It

Trump Legal Team Off To A Shaky Start?

In a report from Politico, sources close to Trump say that the former president was not happy with the legal team’s performance. 

Widely criticized for his performance was Bruce Castor.

Castor gave a disjointed 45-minute opening statement that confused many as it seemed that Castor often struggled to find a point.

Among the bewildering strategies was Castor stating that Donald Trump lost the election fairly.

This was a departure from reports that neither Castor or Schoen had planned to bring up any mention of a stolen election, but planned on arguing constitutionality of an impeachment trail against a president who is out of office.

Harvard Law Professor Alan Dershowitz also did not have good things to say about the team’s first day, saying they did not do well.

Of Castor, Dershowitz said, “I have no idea what he is doing.”

RELATED: Republicans Release Plan to Target Vulnerable Democrats, Take Back The House

President Trump Unhappy And Frustrated

According to multiple outlets, sources close to Trump claim that, as defense attorneys meandered through opening statements, the President appeared to be getting frustrated as they gave timid responses to the prosecution.

The source also said that Trump saw the team’s performance as a missed opportunity, and was also bothered by the public criticism of his attorneys.   

 

The Politico report also stated that Castor had indeed admitted to changing plans based on how well the House Managers arguments were received.

Initially Schoen would present opening statements, the change was last minute.

An aide to former President Trump reportedly stated, “This is about lowering the temperature from the Democrats’ emotionally charged opening argument before dropping the hammer on the unconstitutional nature of this impeachment witch hunt.”

RELATED: Trump ‘Not Happy’ With His Legal Team’s First Appearance In Impeachment Trial

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Sen. Ben Sasse Joins List Of Anti-Trump Republicans Censured By Their Own Party

Senator Ben Sasse (R-NE), a vocal critic of former President Trump, was censured on Sunday by the Lincoln County, Nebraska Republican Party. Chairwoman Carol Friesen said that the vote on the measure was unanimous. 

The resolution to censure Sen. Sasse chastises him for “dismissing the legitimate concerns of Nebraska’s Secretary of State, Attorney General, and a huge majority of Republican voters regarding allegations of fraud in November’s presidential election.”

In addition to Lincoln county, other Nebraska counties who have passed similar resolutions include Hitchcock, Scotts Bluff, and Sarpy.

The Nebraska State Republican Central Committee will meet on Saturday to consider a resolution to censure.  

Sasse had been among a handful of GOP Senators who had objected to the challenges of electoral votes by Sens. Josh Hawley (R-MO and Ted Cruz (R-TX). He went as far as to call Hawley’s actions “really dumbass.”

RELATED: Here Are The 6 Republicans Who Voted That Trump’s Impeachment Trial Is Constitutional 

The Beginning Of A Trend?

Ben Sasse is not the first Republican to face censure from the home crowd.

Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) has also been censured by several county Republican committees and her state party in her home state of Wyoming for her vote to impeach former President Trump.

Also coming under fire at home, for his vote that the Senate is constitutionally allowed to hear the impeachment trial against a former President Trump is Bill Cassidy (R-LA), who was one of six Republican Senators to vote for hearing impeachment, even after he voted against it last week. 

Of the 10 House members that voted for impeachment, seven of them, including Cheney, already have primary challengers.

Could average Americans be trying to tell the folks they sent to Washington D.C. something?

Could be.

There has been much speculation over what Donald Trump may decide to do in his post-presidential life. Starting a third party has been on that list. 

In a report from The Hill, a new Hill/HarrisX poll finds that 64% of registered Republican voters would join a new political party started by Donald Trump. 

RELATED: Jim Jordan Claims Democrats Are ‘Scared’ Of Trump

A View From The Swamp

There are a lot of people on both the left and the right who are quick to talk about things that Donald Trump did as president.

“He lied, he started a riot,” and on and on.

Whether you agree with those accusations is not the point. What he did do, that even more people don’t like, is that he exposed the system that is really exists in Washington D.C.

And the people who don’t like it are exactly the same ones Americans sent to represent them in the nation’s capitol, Democrat and Republican alike.

Call it the old guard, call it the establishment, whatever it is, it is a group that not only seems aligned with each other regardless of party, but they are also aligned with each other against average Americans.

RELATED: Trump ‘Not Happy’ With His Legal Team’s First Appearance In Impeachment Trial 

Are Americans Waking Up?

Donald Trump exposed Democrats and Republicans for being one and the same, a “uniparty.” We send them to Washington, they go into the House or Senate and pretend to argue, then they all go out for drinks.

What’s missing? Carrying out the will of their constituents.

More Americans of all political stripes are seeing a clear split between the Ben Sasse, Liz Cheney, and Mitt Romney types who delight in telling us, the great unwashed, how wrong we are for supporting an ogre like Donald Trump.

After all, they know better, and they are less and less afraid to convey that.

We already knew a long time ago that our representatives are no longer going to Washington to cast votes on behalf of we the people. They are casting votes for themselves. 

Liz Cheney said on a recent appearance on “Fox News Sunday” that Donald Trump “does not have a role as a leader of our party going forward.”

Newsflash Rep. Cheney: that is not for you to decide.

Ben Sasse put out a video addressing his fellow Nebraska Republicans. In it he said, “Personality cults aren’t conservative, conspiracy theories aren’t conservative, lying that an election has been stolen isn’t conservative, acting like politics is a religion isn’t conservative.”

Presuming to give people a litmus test on what is conservative isn’t conservative.

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Texas Sheriff Claims Biden Admin Releasing Illegal Immigrants Into U.S. Without COVID Testing

A Texas Sheriff claimed on Fox News Channel’s “Tucker Carlson Tonight” that the Biden administration is releasing illegal immigrants into the interior of the U.S. without any COVID testing.

Sheriff A.J. Louderback of Jackson County made his comments to Tucker after the host asked him whether or not illegal immigrants who are released into the United States after being detained were getting tested. 

The Sheriff replied in the affirmative:

“It’s absolutely true. It’s even, if I can continue, Tucker, the memo, the memo that I received this last week, it’s essentially a defund the ICE by memo, by a memorandum that was sent out by David Borkowski on Jan. 20 or 21. So this is a particularly devastating document for Texans and Americans here in the United States.

The memo Sheriff Louderback referred to in his reply was sent out by then Acting Homeland Security Secretary David Pekoske on Inauguration Day, Jan. 20, 2021. 

RELATED: Governor Greg Abbott Wants Texas To Be A Second Amendment Sanctuary State

Sheriff Makes Shocking Claim About COVID-19 Testing

Sheriff Louderback, in his interview with Carlson, did not hold back.

He said that the memo, put out to CBP (Customs and Border Patrol), ICE, and USCIS (Citizenship and Immigration Services) essentially ties the hands of these immigration enforcement agencies. 

The Sheriff stated that, “This is a particularly devastating document for Texans and Americans here in the United States. When I read it and looked at it, it’s a message to the world that you can come here illegally, you can commit crimes here against Americans, and remain illegally.”

At a time where the U.S. and the rest of the world are still in the grips of a global pandemic, the Sheriff was particularly bothered, as should all Americans be, by the very vital issue of COVID testing being overlooked. 

 “The COVID issue [is being] during that time. So I struggle for a thought process, like many Americans and Texans, on how an administration can conduct themselves in this manner,” stated Sheriff Louderback.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, there have been many news articles about illegal immigrants who have been afraid to get tested for COVID for fear of being identified and deported. 

RELATED: Biden Administration In ‘Active Conversation’ To Require COVID Test Before Domestic Flights

Back To Obama-Era Lawlessness

Sheriff Louderback also said that this was not the first time that America had gone the way of lax enforcement of immigration law. “We walked this path from 2008 to 2016,” he said.

The Sheriff stated that the policy was very similar to the Priority Enforcement Program in 2014 and 2015 during the Obama administration.

In his interview, Sheriff Louderback painted a very grim view of the safety of Americans, at least for the next four years.

“Every peace officer in the United States should be extremely concerned about the attitude, the lawlessness, the complete abject removal of law.

We have a full nullification of the law going on here. We’re going to allow our ICE officers, USCIS, all affected by this memo, which guts the INA and handcuffs them so that they’re unable to respond. So in law enforcement here, those of us that don’t have the jurisdiction to enforce the federal laws here, we’ve created a situation that is unthinkable for the public.”

RELATED: Constitutional Professor: Why Senate Cannot Bar Trump From Being President Again

Immigration Under Joe Biden

New Biden administration policies include guidelines for Homeland Security that will mean fewer arrests and deportations for drug crimes, DUI’s, and low-level assaulters, fraudsters, and thieves.

Sheriff Chuck Jenkins of Frederick County Maryland says that traditionally in the deportation process, criminal histories are considered.

With fewer arrests for these kinds of crimes, those who may have committed crimes will be free to walk the streets. 

Those coming into the country through the southern border are not just from Mexico and Central America.

Recently, eleven Iranian citizens were apprehended in Arizona, and there is evidence of Chinese drug lords assisting Mexican drug cartels in smuggling fentanyl and other substances across the border.

The new policies are a strong departure from the policies of the Trump adminstration.

To see the entire interview with Tucker Carlson and Sheriff A.J. Louderback, see below.

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‘Squad’ Member Rep. Cori Bush Defends Prison Riot After Condemning Capitol Riot

Far-left Congresswoman Cori Bush (D-MO), a member of the ‘Squad,’ appeared to defend a prison riot that broke out at the downtown St. Louis Justice Center over the weekend.

In a tweet Bush posted on Saturday, she quoted the late Dr. Martin Luther King saying “A riot is the language of the unheard.”

Bush went on to say that she and her team are working to “ensure that the needs of people who are incarcerated are not ignored.”

The freshman Congresswoman also put a more in-depth statement on her Congressional page where she talked about the positivity rates and testing for COVID-19 among those incarcerated.

But it was her apparent support for the riot that broke out on Saturday that became front and center.

RELATED: Squad’s Ayanna Pressley: Capitol Riots Gave Me ‘Deep And Ancestral’ Terror From ‘White Supremacist Mob’

Trouble At The City Jail

According to the St. Louis Post Dispatch, roughly 115 inmates at the Justice Center jimmied already-faulty lock systems and freed themselves from cells.

The fourth floor of the building was taken over as inmates set fires, clogged drains, broke windows, and threw furniture down onto the sidewalk.

While no inmates were reported to have been injured, one corrections officer who was attacked by inmates is recovering from injuries. Mayor Lyda Krewson says damage totals are “way into the thousands of dollars.”

RELATED: AOC Declares She ‘Will Not Apologize’ For Saying Cruz Tried ‘To Get Me Killed’

Bush’s Position On Riots – It’s Complicated

Bush’s comments that seemed to support, or at least justify, the riot drew rebuke and questions.

The National Republican Congressional Committee wondered aloud if any of Bush’s fellow Democrats would also justify the riot at the St. Louis City Jail.

The Daily Caller covered Seattle conservative radio host Jason Rantz, who called Bush a “total failure” and said to Fox News’s Harris Faulkner, “Well, I can look at it and say that Cori Bush is a total fraud unless suddenly she’s decided to change her position on impeachment.”

Rantz was referring to President Trump, who was impeached for allegedly inciting the Capitol riot on January 6th. 

Bush voted to impeach Trump, with the official charge in the article of impeachment reading, “Donald John Trump engaged in high Crimes and Misdemeanors by inciting violence against the Government of the United States.”

RELATED: Bill Maher Claims Christianity Is To Blame For Capitol Hill Riot

Are Riots Good Or Bad?

Just a little over a month ago however, Congresswoman Bush was singing a very different tune when it came to the subject of riots.

In a report from ‘The Hill”, Bush claimed that, “had the rioters that stormed the Capitol earlier in the day been black, they would have been shot.”

The only person shot on January 6th was a white woman, unarmed Air Force veteran Ashli Babbitt, who was shot by Capitol Police.

In another report from CNN, Bush called former President Donald Trump the “white supremacist in chief” and described the storming of the Capitol, “a white supremacist insurrection.”

“Madam Speaker, St. Louis and I rise in support of the article of impeachment against Donald J Trump. If we fail to remove a White supremacist President who incited a white supremacist insurrection, it’s communities like Missouri’s First District that suffer the most,”

While Bush was careful to use the term “insurrection” instead of “riot,” Twitter users were quick to wonder where exactly the Squad member stood on riots. 

One user finished Martin Luther King’s quote for Bush, pointing out that the august Reverend opposed wanton violence:

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, who has come under fire from the media and the left and was recently removed from her Congressional committees, wondered where Bush stood on riots:

Many Bush defenders were quick to differentiate between “riot” and “insurrection.” 

Dictionary.com defines riot as “a noisy, violent public disorder caused by a group or crowd of persons, as by a crowd protesting against another group, a government policy, etc., in the streets.”

They define insurrection as “an act or instance of rising in revolt, rebellion, or resistance against civil authority or an established government.”

A Google search for “Capitol riot” returns 229,000,000 results, with news outlets TIME, NBC, CNN, New York Times, CBS, and USA Today describing the event as such.

When speaking to the local NBC affiliate immediately following the Capitol Hill riot, Bush describe those storming the Capitol as “not protesters, not demonstrators, that was violence happening in our Capitol.”


Based on that, it seems fair to wonder where exactly Bush stands on riots.

Apparently, Congresswoman Bush has learned the art of Washington D.C. Democrat double standards quickly. 

The post ‘Squad’ Member Rep. Cori Bush Defends Prison Riot After Condemning Capitol Riot appeared first on The Political Insider.

Marjorie Taylor Greene Calls Out Media As Dems Prepare To Kick Her Off Congressional Committees

Embattled pro-Trump Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene slammed the media Thursday prior to a vote by the House on whether or not to strip her of her committee assignments.

Greene has come under fire for statements she made prior to being elected to Congress, many of which were deemed by Democrats and the media as racist and anti-Semetic. 

In her speech, Greene was quick to call out the media and turn the tables on her accusers, saying, “Will we allow the media, that is just as guilty as QAnon, of presenting truth and lies to divide us?”

She began her speech saying that she had not really had a chance to get to know most of her colleagues, and they may have a warped view of her due to extensive media narratives: “You only know me by how Media Matters, CNN, MSNC, and the rest of the mainstream media is portraying me.”

“Any source of information that is a mix of truth and lies is dangerous,” Greene went on to say, “Big media companies can take tiny bits of what we say, and portray us as someone we are not.”

She spoke of wanting to work with all members of Congress, but stated, “it should always be America first, there is nothing wrong with that.”   

Greene also expressed regret over some of her past comments in support of QAnon.

“I was allowed to believe things that weren’t true and I would ask questions about them and talk about them, and that is absolutely what I regret.”

Currently, Rep. Greene sits on the Education and Labor and Budget committees.

Watch her entire speech below.

RELATED: Democrats Demand Trump Testify At Senate Impeachment Trial

Greene Had Previously Apologized To Her Colleagues

Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) has taken heat recently for Greene’s comments, and Democrats have demanded some sort of reprimand of Greene by McCarthy.

Leader McCarthy and the freshman member of Congress held a 90 minute meeting on Wednesday, but little is known about what was discussed.

Democrats had stated that if McCarthy was unwilling to take action regarding Greene, that they would consider voting to strip her of her committee assignments.

RELATED: Marjorie Taylor Greene Blasts ‘Hate America’ Democrats’ As Vote To Remove Her From Committees Is Confirmed

Several GOP members rose to her defense at the meeting, such as House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Biggs (R-AZ).

Still, Greene wasn’t believed with what she viewed as a lack of support from her own party’s leadership.

RELATED: Marjorie Taylor Greene Fires Back After Mitch McConnell Calls Her ‘Cancer’ To The GOP

Greene Actually Gets Help From Democrats

Marjorie Taylor Greene may get stripped of her committee assignments, but she can safely say that she has gotten help from her Democrat colleagues.

Because of the Democrats’ threatened punishment, Greene has gotten a steep boost in fundraising.

As of Wednesday, Greene had raised $175,000. In a tweet, she thanked all who had donated. And in yet what may be described as yet another controversial comment, Greene stated that, “They are attacking me because I am one of you. We will not back down. We will never give up!”

Watch Greene’s entire speech here: 

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House GOP Meets For Decisions On Liz Cheney, Marjorie Taylor Greene

Republicans in the House of Representatives gather for a crucial meeting on Wednesday to discuss the future of two House members. Liz Cheney and Marjorie Taylor Greene, who represent a growing division between factions of the Republican Party with two very different visions.

Republicans will debate whether or not to remove Liz Cheney (R-WY) from her position as GOP Conference Chair.

Cheney has come under fire from fellow Trump-supporting Republican members of the House for her vote to impeach the former president on charges that he incited the riot that took place at the Capitol on Jan. 6.

Also at issue is freshman member of Congress Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), and whether or not she should be removed from her congressional committee assignments.

Controversial comments made by Greene prior to her being elected to Congress have surfaced on social media.

RELATED: GOP Pushes Omar Ouster From Committee Assignments In Response To Marjorie Taylor Greene Measure

Major Issues On The Table For The GOP

According to a CNN report, in 2019, Greene “liked” a comment that stated “a bullet to the head would be quicker,” in a thread that discussed the removal of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). 

There are other other claims that she has espoused QAnon conspiracy theories and confronted political opponents such as Parkland High School shooting survivor and gun activist David Hogg on video. 


RELATED: Liz Cheney Censured By 10 Wyoming Republican Parties Over Impeachment Vote

On The Hot Seat, Kevin McCarthy

The eyes of all GOP House members will be on Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA).

On Tuesday, McCarthy had a long anticipated, well-publicized 90 minute meeting with Greene, however, aides disclosed little about what was discussed. 

The possible removal of Greene from her committee assignments will be the subject of another separate meeting, also on Wednesday.

Several Republicans are calling foul on Democrat double standards that ignore past anti-Semetic remarks that have been made by Democrat Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), and the incendiary comments of Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA).

Politico reports that McCarthy may try to broker a deal with House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD), but it is not know whether or not Hoyer will agree to any such deal.

RELATED: Mitch McConnell Voices Support For Liz Cheney As Calls Grow For Her To Be Expelled From GOP Leadership

The Future Of The Republican Party?

The push to remove Cheney began with her ‘yes’ vote on impeachment. On the heels of that vote, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) was one of the first to call for her ouster as Conference Chair. Nine other Republicans had also voted to impeach Trump. 

Cheney is also in trouble at home. Recently, ten Wyoming Republican County Parties have voted to censure Cheney for her vote.

She already has a primary opponent for 2022. Wyoming State Senator Anthony Bouchard will challenge Cheney.

Gaetz recently also traveled to Cheyenne Wyoming to call on Trump supporters to back Cheney’s removal from Congress. 

Cheney enjoys much support by those who are seen as the “establishment,” the old guard of the Republican Party.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said of Cheney, “Liz Cheney is a leader with deep convictions and the courage to act on them.”

Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-SC) called her, “a strong and reliable voice of the conservative party.”

Greene, as a newly elected member of Congress, has not even been on Capitol Hill long enough to put forth much legislation. But already the establishment wing of the Republican Party seems very threatened by her. 

Mitch McConnell called her “a cancer” for the GOP in a reference to her “loony lies and conspiracy theories.”

“Somebody who has suggested that perhaps no airplane hit the Pentagon on 9/11, that horrifying school shootings were pre-staged, and that the Clintons crashed JFK Jr’s airplane is not living in reality. This has nothing to do with the challenges facing American families or the robust debates on substance that strengthen our party.”

Sen. Mitt Romney called for distance. “I think we should have nothing to do with Marjorie Taylor Greene, and I think we should repudiate the things she said and move away from her.”

Greene responded to McConnell that, “the real cancer for the Republican party is weak Republicans who only know how to lose gracefully.”

https://twitter.com/mtgreenee/status/1356442381491593218    

There are clearly two wings of the Republican party forming. The McConnell, Romney, Cheney wing of graceful losers, and the new faces of Matt Gaetz and Marjorie Taylor Greene, who are tired of establishment business as usual. 

Make no mistake, the American people will decide the winner.  

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Trump Announces New Impeachment Defense Team

Former President Donald Trump has announced a new legal defense team for his upcoming second impeachment trial, which is set to begin in the Senate on Feb. 9. According to a report from The Daily Caller, the original team decided to disband Sunday over strategies for arguing Trump’s defense.

RELATED: Ohio Republicans Launch Bid To Make June 14 ‘President Donald J. Trump Day’

Out With The Old, In With The New

Trump was impeached by the House for a second time on charges of inciting a riot at the Capitol building in Washington D. C. on Jan. 6.

The original defense team consisted of Butch Bowers, a North Carolina attorney and and Tulane Law School grad, who worked in the Justice Department in the George W. Bush administration. He additionally worked in South Carolina government under Govs. Nikki Haley and Mark Sanford.

Also on the team was Deborah Barbier, a University of South Carolina Law School grad who served in the United States’ Attorney’s Office in South Carolina. Rounding out the original team was Josh Howard, Johnny Glasser, and Greg Harris.

RELATED: Most Americans Say Trump Impeachment Will Only Divide Us More

Getting Ready For Round Two Of Impeachment

In a press release on Sunday night, Trump announced the new legal team for impeachment. David Schoen, a Boston College Law School grad, is described as a, “seasoned trial attorney who has served as lead counsel in several high-profile matters”, including representing long time Trump ally Roger Stone.

Schoen said, “It is an honor to represent the 45th President, Donald J. Trump, and the United States Constitution.”

Also on the new team is Bruce Castor, a Washington and Lee University law school grad who is the former District Attorney of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Of the new case, Castor stated, “I consider it a privilege to represent the 45th President.”

“The strength of our Constitution is about to be tested like never before in our history,” he continued. “It is strong and resilient. A document written for the ages, and it will triumph over partisanship yet again, and always.” 

RELATED: Washington Post Article Demands No Presidential Library For Trump, Calls It ‘Issue Of National Security’

Debating The Best Strategy

The change in legal teams stems from an apparent difference of opinion on strategy. A report by CNN stated that Trump wanted attorneys to argue the presence of massive election fraud, and that the election had been stolen from him.

Bowers and Barbier wanted instead to argue the constitutionality of convicting a former president on articles of impeachment.   Trump advisor Jason Miller said on Saturday, “Democrats’ efforts to impeach a president who has already left office is totally unconstitutional and so bad for our country.”

Schoen and Castor have made no comments on any legal strategies they may be taking. Neither of their initial statements made mention of election or voter fraud. At least 67 Senators would be needed for conviction of Trump of incitement. He would be prohibited from running for president again if convicted. 

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer promised a “relatively quick” trial, stating that, “I don’t think there’s a need for a whole lot of witnesses.”

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RNC Says They Will Be Neutral If Trump Runs In 2024 – But Polls Show GOP Voters Definitely Won’t

The Republican National Committee (RNC) says it will not actively back former President Donald Trump should he decide to run again in 2024 and will remain neutral in the contest.

RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel said in an interview with the Associated Press that, “The party has to stay neutral. I’m not telling anybody to run or not to run in 2024. That’s going to be up to those candidates  going forward. What I really do want to see him do, though, is help us win back majorities in 2022.”

RELATED: Matt Gaetz And Liz Cheney Trade Barbs In Battle For Future Of The Republican Party

There Are Visible Differences In The GOP

2020 Senior Advisor to the Trump campaign Jason Miller says that is exactly what Trump wants to do.

Miller says the president, “made clear his goal is to win back the House and Senate for Republicans in 2022.” 

But there are some visible fissures in the Republican Party. All is not well for 2022.

A perfect example of that is the recent sniping between Reps. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) and Liz Cheney (R-WY).

Gaetz, a strong and vocal supporter of Donald Trump, flew to Cheney’s state of Wyoming to campaign against her, after she voted to impeach President Trump.

When Gaetz announced he would go to Wyoming to help “inspire” voters to oust Cheney, her office responded with snark, stating, “Rep. Gaetz can leave his beauty bag at home. In Wyoming the men don’t wear make-up.” 

There has been a lot of speculation as to what Donald Trump’s future plans might be, aside from helping the GOP in 2022.

Indications are that Trump won’t just be helping the GOP, but trying to reshape it as well.

There has been talk of Trump starting a third party. Donald has even come up with a name for it, the “Patriot Party.”

Reports indicated that Trump was using the specter of a third party to hold Republicans in line on the upcoming impeachment trial. 

Instead, The Donald has apparently decided to primary challenge “Never Trump” Republicans.

It was also reported that Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell was “pleased” about impeachment, saying he thought that it might help to “purge” Trump from the Republican Party.

What McConnell and the rest of his crowd don’t seem to realize is that he may very well “purge” Republican voters, angry at the party for dissing Trump. 

A poll from Axios shows that Republicans side with Trump over McConnell – big time. 

There has also been belief that Trump may start a media outlet to rival Fox News.

Trump has been highly critical of the conservative news channel since the early call for Arizona for Joe Biden on election night.

RELATED: McConnell Turns On Trump Again: Says Trump Responsible For Capitol Violence

America First vs. America Last

The divide within the Republican Party may be just this simple, but simple isn’t always without casualties. There is clearly now a Trump wing of the party which includes guys like Matt Gaetz.

That fact makes the Mitch McConnells and the Liz Cheneys of the party crazy.  

Gaetz’s America First vision of a strong economy, peace, low taxes and regulations, and less government interference – the things that Trump ran on in 2016 – have more of an attraction to average Americans.

What Trump called the “America Last” agenda consists of sending American troops hither and yon for indefinite periods of time, not standing up to the liberal Democrat agenda, and voting to impeach a president that his supporters feel is the only one listening to them.

The Cheney/McConnell types support the latter vision.

And they seem to be hanging on for dear life to the idea of Democrat “unity.” The definition of which is usually means ‘Republicans shut up and cave to Democrats.’ 

RELATED: Supreme Court Dismisses 2 Emoluments Lawsuits Against Trump

The Numbers Are In Trump’s Favor 

A Rasmussen survey released on Tuesday said that 56% of Republican voters “believe that Trump should either probably or definitely run for president again in 2024, or at least be a political power figure.

Fifty-three percent believe a third party is a good idea.

The aforementioned Axios poll has a whopping 92% of Republicans agreeing that Trump should be the GOP candidate for President in 2024.

The post RNC Says They Will Be Neutral If Trump Runs In 2024 – But Polls Show GOP Voters Definitely Won’t appeared first on The Political Insider.

Biden Set To Sign Another Far-Reaching ‘Climate Change’ Executive Order

President Joe Biden is set to sign another executive order that will address climate change and issues related to the environment, such as jobs, “equitable” clean energy, and “restoring” scientific integrity throughout the federal government.

These actions by the president will dovetail Biden’s previous executive orders on climate, which recommitted the United States to the Paris Climate Accords.

The order will also review of “harmful rollbacks and standards” that protect air, water, and will direct federal agencies to “eliminate fossil fuel subsidies as consistent with applicable law and identify new opportunities to spur innovation, commercialization, and deployment of clean energy technologies and infrastructure.”

Perhaps most drastic, the White House will establish that climate change will be an essential element of national security.

RELATED: Biden: Anyone Who Wants Vaccine Might Be Able To Get It By Spring

Biden Promised Cimate Change Action

During the 2020 campaign season, then-candidate Joe Biden called for the U.S. to phase out its dependence on fossil fuels.

Biden’s order on Wednesday is said to, “empower American workers and businesses to lead a clean energy revolution.” The goal would be to achieve a carbon pollution-free sector by 2035, and “an irreversible path to a net-zero economy by 2050.”

On the national security front, Biden had tapped former Secretary of State John Kerry to serve as “special envoy for climate” and even added him to the National Security Council. 

RELATED: Biden Received Over $145 Million In ‘Dark Money’ Campaign Cash

Which ‘Build Back Better’ Jobs Are More Important?

The Biden administration insists that the new EO is “consistent with the goals of the President’s Build Back Better jobs and recovery plan” and that clean energy jobs are a “central pillar” of the plan. 

But not everyone seems to be included in “Build Back Better.”

Guy Williams, who has worked in the energy industry for 53 years, found out that he would be unemployed by the cancellation of the Keystone XL Pipeline.

He told Fox News Channel’s Steve Doocy that, “It’s like a kick in the stomach that knocks the wind out of you.” Williams went on to say that, “We’ve waited on this pipeline for 10 years.”

The cancellation wiped out approximately 13,000 high paying union jobs in the United States and Canada.

The move brought sharp criticism from labor unions who heavily supported Biden in the presidential election.

A statement from the Laborers’ International Union of North America, or LIUNA, stated they were “disappointed” in Biden’s decision, and said that the move, “will kill thousands of good-paying #UNION jobs.” LIUNA had endorsed Biden in October.

The United Association of Union Plumbers and Pipefitters stated that, “Sadly, the Biden administration has now put thousands of union workers out of work.”

RELATED: Earth To Joe Biden: Canceling Keystone XL Pipeline Is A Gift To China And Russia 

Some Democrats Could Regret Climate Change Vote

Congress has also made moves to take action on climate change.

In the House last year, Democrats passed H.R.9, which would have required the U.S. to stick with the Paris Accords provisions.

In states where many jobs are dependent on oil and natural gas, several House seats may vulnerable and up for grabs in 2022 due to Biden’s executive order.

Fox reports that Republicans are already using it as a campaign strategy.

Among some of those who voted for H.R.9 are Rep. Abigail Spanberger of Virginia and Rep. Vincente Gonzalez of Texas. Both are Democrats and won re-election by less than 3%. 

Other House members who voted for H.R.9 include Democrat Reps. Susan Wild, Conor Lamb, and Matt Cartwright, all from Pennsylvania.

In Texas, Democrat Reps. Henry Cuellar, Colin Allred, and Filemon Vela all voted in favor.

Any Democrats who might still appear moderate, such as West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin, are being put in between what they know to be bad for their states, and having to draw ire from the left wing of their party. 

RELATED: The ‘Squad’ Issues Brutal Impeachment Warning – ‘Dangerous Precedent’ 

AOC And The ‘Squad’ Pushing Biden Left On Climate

But Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and the rest of her ‘squad’ don’t seem to care about displaced union workers who helped Joe Biden to victory in November.

Prior to the election, she demanded that Biden approve the New Green Deal if elected. 

“Climate is now a top-three issue for voters across the country and it is about time that our Congress and our administration starts acting like it”, she stated while addressing supporters outside of the DNC Headquarters. She went on to say, “It’s way past time.”

She has also gone on to give a pretty dire warning to the Biden administration to “keep their promise” on climate change issues.

Newest squad member Cori Bush (D-MO) also weighed in prior to her swearing in on the need for “bold leadership.”

“When we don’t act, people who look like me die. And so there is just no alternative right now than to make sure we have bold leadership,” Bush claimed.

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Matt Gaetz And Liz Cheney Trade Barbs In Battle For Future Of The Republican Party

Reps. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) and Liz Cheney (R-WY) traded jabs with each other on Monday in what could be illustrative the battle for the heart and soul of the GOP and its opposing wings.

Cheney has been in the hot seat, most recently for her vote to impeach Donald Trump, who Democrats accuse of being responsible for the violent protests at the Capitol building on Jan. 6.

As a result, Trump supporting Rep. Matt Gaetz announced on Monday that he would be traveling to Wyoming to “inspire” Wyoming voters to remove Cheney from her seat in Congress.

Cheney’s office shot back saying, “Rep. Gaetz can leave his beauty bag at home. In Wyoming the men don’t wear make up.”

Gaetz has reportedly been looking to defeat Cheney ever since she backed a primary challenge against popular Republican and Gaetz ally Thomas Massie of Kentucky.

Back in July, Cheney’s PAC had donated money, the maximum amount to fellow Republican Thomas Massie’s primary opponent, Todd McMurtry.

“In an interview with Breitbart News on Monday, Gaetz described Cheney’s attacks on Massie and himself as representing “her vindictive style” of politics.

Gaetz says Cheney wants the Republican Party to share her “America Last” vision.

“In the wake of the Biden presidency, the Republican party establishment is trying to wrangle the conservative movement back under their control. They want the GOP to look and sound like Liz Cheney. 

“I have a competing vision for Republicanism and I intend to showcase it by going after the America Last politicians in both parties,” Gaetz said.

RELATED: Liz Cheney Squirms As She Twice Refuses To Say If Senate Should Hold Impeachment Trial For Trump

Besides the back and forth with Gaetz, Cheney has plenty of trouble on Capitol Hill.

More than half of the House Republican Conference has signed on to support a resolution calling for the removal of Cheney as the House GOP Chair in light of her “yes” vote on impeachment.  

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy also told Breitbart News that he “has concerns” about Cheney’s impeachment vote:

“Look, I support her, but I also have concerns. She took a position as a number three member in conference.

She never told me ahead of time. One thing about leadership: if we’re going to work together on that as a whole conference, we should understand. We know that this is going to become a difficulty.

She can have a difference of opinion, but the one thing if we’re going to lead within the conference, we should work together on that as a whole conference because we’re representative of that conference. So I support her, but I do think she has a lot of questions she has to answer to the conference.” 

RELATED: House Republicans Call For Cheney’s Removal From GOP Conference Chair After Impeachment Vote  

Cheney In Trouble At Home

In addition to her troubles in Washington, Liz Cheney is in some trouble at home. She has already garnered a primary opponent for 2022. Wyoming State Senator Anthony Bouchard plans to challenge Cheney for her Congressional seat. 

She has also been censured at home. On Jan 17, the Carbon County Wyoming Republican Central Committee announced it had voted to censure Cheney for her impeachment vote.

A Change.org petition has already collected almost 50,000 signatures calling for Cheney to be recalled. 

RELATED: If Republicans Put America First, They’ll Remove Liz Cheney, Not Donald Trump

Two Visions Of The Republican Party

Matt Gaetz and Liz Cheney represent two very different visions for the Republican Party going forward.

Matt Gaetz has long been a Trump supporter and on board with Trump’s America First agenda.

Liz Cheney is still a backer of the Bush era, especially on foreign policy. She is in agreement with her dad, former Vice President Dick Cheney who says, “I was right about Iraq.” 

While new faces like Gaetz and others staunchly oppose getting involved in needless conflicts, Cheney and the Democrats recently blocked Trump’s attempt to remove troops from Afghanistan where troops have been stagnating for twenty years.

The GOP will have to make a decision on which way to go.     

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