Freshman GOP Rep Admits Voting To Impeach Trump May Have Destroyed His Career

Posted on January 18, 2021 by LifeZette

Freshman Rep. Peter Meijer (R-MI) spoke out on Sunday to admit that voting in favor of impeaching President Donald Trump last week may have destroyed his political career.

Meijer Votes To Impeach Trump

The House voted to impeach Trump for a second time last week over the Capitol riots earlier this month, with the article of impeachment charging Trump with “incitement of insurrection.” The impeachment was approved by a vote of 232-197, with every Democrat and ten Republicans in the House voting in favor of it.

Meijer was one of the ten Republicans to vote in favor of impeaching Trump in a move that he himself admitted one day later that “may have been an act of political suicide.”

While appearing on ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday, Meijer was asked by host George Stephanopolous, “Are you concerned you ended your career with that vote?”

“Oh, I may very well have,” Meijer responded. “But I think it’s also important that we have elected leaders who are not thinking solely about what’s in their individual self-interest, not what is going to be politically expedient, but what we actually need for country.”

Meijer Explains His Reason For Voting To Impeach Trump

Earlier in the interview, the freshman Republican congressman explained his reasoning behind voting to impeach Trump.

“Impeaching a president, especially a president of my own party, was nothing that we ever hoped to do. Many of us deliberated deeply,” Meijer said.

“This was not as easy as just saying what is in our best political interest, but, frankly, looking at the evidence, looking at the facts of the case, reading the article and asking, ‘Is this true by our own experience, by our lived experience?’ And it was,” he continued.

“You know, I think this is a time for reflection, but it’s also a time for accountability. And that’s something that I am deeply committed to,” he added.

“You know, I’m calling on my party to restore trust, to restore the trust of the voting public and to ensure that we never allow the actions that led up to Jan. 6 and what happened on Jan. 6, we never allow that outburst of political violence to occur in our name again,” Meijer said.

A Senate impeachment trial against Trump is expected to take place after Joe Biden is inaugurated later this week.

This piece was written by James Samson on January 18, 2021. It originally appeared in LifeZette and is used by permission.

The post Freshman GOP Rep Admits Voting To Impeach Trump May Have Destroyed His Career appeared first on The Political Insider.

Katie Couric Asks How We’ll ‘Deprogram People Who Signed Up For The Cult Of Trump?’

Posted on January 18, 2021 by LifeZette

While appearing on “Real Time with Bill Maher” this week, television personality Katie Couric wasted no time in shaming President Donald Trump and his millions of supporters in the worst ways possible.

Couric Attacks Trump And His Supporters

At one point in the interview, Couric went so far as to pose the question, “How are we going to really almost deprogram these people who have signed up for the cult of Trump?” She then attacked Republican lawmakers who have remained friendly towards Trump in the wake of the Capitol riots earlier this month.

“It is so shocking. … Not only are they not conceding, Bill, but their thoughts – that there might have been some collusion among members of Congress, some are refusing to go through magnetometers … to check for weapons, they’re not wearing masks during this siege,” Couric said.

“I mean, it’s really bizarre, isn’t it, when you think about how AWOL so many of these members of Congress have gotten,” she added.

“But I also think some of them are believing the garbage that they are being fed 24/7 on the internet, by their constituents, and they bought into this big lie,” Couric continued. “And the question is how are we going to really almost deprogram these people who have signed up for the cult of Trump.”

Couric Doubles Down

Not stopping there, Couric also called for Trump’s impeachment.

“But Bill, if you commit a crime and then you move, does that means we’re not going to charge you with a crime because you’re moving out of the neighborhood? I mean, it’s ludicrous,” Couric said. “I think there have to be guardrails on presidential power. He incited violence. … He was really, really inciting violence.”

She then fantasized about a “Hollywood ending” to Trump’s presidency in which Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) “comes out as the hero” to convict the president. Unsurprisingly, she celebrated the fact that Trump had been banned from social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook.

“You’re not allowed to yell fire at a crowded theater, so if you’re inciting violence and you’re spreading lies that are getting people fired up, encouraging violence, I think there should be some standard,” Couric said.

Couric Celebrates Biden Inauguration

She then celebrated Joe Biden’s upcoming inauguration, calling it an “important symbol of closing the chapter on Donald Trump.” Maher somewhat disagreed, warning that Biden should hold a small, indoor inauguration ceremony to protect against a potential coronavirus risk.

“Joe Biden – he’s a friggin’ tragedy magnet,” Maher said. “He broke his foot playing with his dog. I mean, his eye exploded from blinking. We have got to treat this guy like the baby in ‘Children of Men.'”

Couric, however, was quick to downplay any potential Biden health concerns.

“I think he’s pretty vibrant and in good shape,” Couric said of Biden. “You saw him run across the stage when he made that speech. … I mean, compare his physical fitness to Donald Trump, hello!”

Couric is set to be the guest host on “Jeopardy!” this week, the second guest host behind Ken Jennings after the death of Alex Trebek.

This piece was written by James Samson on January 18, 2021. It originally appeared in LifeZette and is used by permission.

The post Katie Couric Asks How We’ll ‘Deprogram People Who Signed Up For The Cult Of Trump?’ appeared first on The Political Insider.

Karl Rove Warns Trump Will Be Convicted In The Senate If He Continues To Claim Election Fraud

Posted on January 18, 2021 by LifeZette

Republican strategist Karl Rove spoke out over the weekend to warn that Donald Trump will be convicted in the Senate by a bipartisan vote if he continues to claim that election fraud took place.

Chris Wallace Questions Karl Rove

“Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell says that he is keeping an open mind about the second impeachment trial of Donald Trump, a big difference, sharp difference, from his clear opposition from the very start of the first impeachment trial just a year ago,” said Fox News host Chris Wallace.

“What do you think, Karl, are the chances that 17 Senate Republicans, and that’s what it would take if all of the Democrats vote for conviction, 17 Senate Republicans would vote to convict Donald Trump and to keep them from running again?” he added.

Rove Issues Warning

“Normally we say not much chance, but I think Leader McConnell’s statement is a sign that every Republican Senator needs to take this seriously,” Rove replied. “I think it’s all going to boil down what’s the president’s defense.”

“Rudy Giuliani charted a very bad course for the president in the morning papers when he suggested that the argument was going to be in there couldn’t have been incitement because all the charges of widespread voter fraud are true,” he added.

“Well, those charges and the so-called experts that the campaign has mustered to advocate them have been rejected by over 50 courts with judges appointed by President Trump, President Obama, Present Bush, President Clinton, and I think even one Reagan justice,” Rove continued.

Rove Doubles Down

“So if it’s the Rudy Giuliani defense, there is a strong likelihood that more than 17 Republicans will because essentially that argument is this was justified, the attack on the Capital and the attempt to end the congressional hearing on certifying the election was justified because all these charges are true and frankly they aren’t.”

“They have been given every opportunity to prove them in a court of law and have failed to do so,” Rove concluded. “I think it really boils down to what’s the defense that the president is going to make, and if it is Rudy Giuliani’s defense, I think it raises the likelihood of more than 17 Republicans voting for conviction.”

Trump was impeached for a second time last week by the House, and a Senate impeachment trial is expected to take place after the inauguration of Joe Biden later this week.

This piece was written by James Samson on January 18, 2021. It originally appeared in LifeZette and is used by permission.

The post Karl Rove Warns Trump Will Be Convicted In The Senate If He Continues To Claim Election Fraud appeared first on The Political Insider.

Rand Paul Issues Major Warning About Future Of GOP If Republicans Support Trump Impeachment

Posted on January 17, 2021 by LifeZette

Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) spoke out on Friday to issue a major warning to the GOP, advising what will happen if Republicans continue to support the impeachment of President Donald Trump.

Paul Issues Warning To Republicans

Paul told Fox News host Laura Ingraham that there will be a mass exodus from the Republican Party if enough Republican senators support impeachment to remove Trump from office.

“I don’t often get ask my advice from leadership how they should react. My unsolicited suggestion would be this: they will destroy the Republican Party if leadership is complicit with an impeachment or leadership votes for an impeachment, they will destroy the party,” Paul said, adding that the GOP could lose one-third of its party.

“Impeachment is purely a partisan thing. It’s for these moral, ‘Oh I’m so much better than you and you’re a bad person because I’m so moral’ — It’s for these kind of people to do this,” Paul explained.

“I didn’t agree with the fight that happened last week, and I voted against overturning the election,” he continued. “But at the same time, the impeachment is a wrongheaded, partisan notion. But if Republicans go along with it, it will destroy the party — a third of the Republicans will leave the party.”

“This isn’t anymore about the Electoral College. It’s about the future of the party and whether you’re going to ostracize and ex-communicate President Trump from the party,” the Republican said. “Well, guess what? Millions of his fans will leave as well.”

Liz Cheney Supports Effort To Impeach Trump

This comes after Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), the third-highest ranking Republican in the House, supported the left’s effort to impeach Trump.

“Much more will become clear in coming days and weeks, but what we know now is enough. The President of the United States summoned this mob, assembled the mob, and lit the flame of this attack,” Cheney said.

“Everything that followed was his doing,” she added. “None of this would have happened without the President. The President could have immediately and forcefully intervened to stop the violence. He did not.”

This piece was written by James Samson on January 17, 2021. It originally appeared in LifeZette and is used by permission.

The post Rand Paul Issues Major Warning About Future Of GOP If Republicans Support Trump Impeachment appeared first on The Political Insider.

Pelosi Comes Unglued As She Claims Small Inauguration Is ‘Not A Concession To The Terrorists’

Posted on January 16, 2021 by LifeZette

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) got defensive during her weekly press conference on Friday as she addressed plans for Joe Biden to have a scaled-down inauguration next week.

Pelosi Comes Unglued

“For a long time now, weeks, it has been determined that we would have a very small inauguration because of COVID,” Pelosi said, adding “that in order to have the distancing and the rest on the platform and then some people down below, it would be necessary to limit it.”

She went on to say that it is “most disappointing” because “we’re excited about nominating a new President of the United States, but not at the risk of people’s health and well-being and, indeed, their lives.”

“So this is always going to be small,” Pelosi continued, before mentioning the Capitol riots last week.

“Now, with the insurrection of last week, it is necessitated by security to have more security but hasn’t changed the nature of the swearing-in,” she said. “I think it’s important for people to know that. This is not a concession to the terrorists. It is a recognition of the danger of COVID.”

Pelosi Says Lawmakers Could Be Prosecuted Over Capitol Riots

Pelosi also said that any lawmakers who played a role in assisting the Capitol rioters last week may face criminal prosecution.

“If in fact it is found that members of Congress were accomplices to this insurrection, if they aided and abetted the crime, there may have to be actions taken beyond the Congress in terms of prosecutions,” she said, according to Politico.

Pelosi specifically singled out a rioter who was wearing a sweatshirt that read “Camp Auschwitz,” a reference to the concentration camp that killed over one million Jews during World War II.

“To see this punk with that shirt on and his anti-Semitism that he has bragged about to be part of a white supremacist raid on this capitol requires us to have an after-action review,” Pelosi said.

This comes days after Pelosi led the charge in the House impeaching President Donald Trump for a second time.

This piece was written by James Samson on January 16, 2021. It originally appeared in LifeZette and is used by permission.

The post Pelosi Comes Unglued As She Claims Small Inauguration Is ‘Not A Concession To The Terrorists’ appeared first on The Political Insider.

Top GOP Rep Calls Out Impeachment Effort – Says It Seems Like ‘Political Vengeance’

Posted on January 16, 2021 by LifeZette

Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY) spoke out on Friday to blast the House for impeaching President Donald Trump for a second time, this time for “incitement of insurrection” after some of his supporters stormed the Capitol building last week.

Barr Discusses Trump Impeachment

While Barr said that he does not see Trump as “blameless” in the riot at the Capitol, he added that the impeachment looks “more like an act of political vengeance” than “trying to uphold the standards of the presidency.”

“The president here is not blameless, but ultimately, I voted against impeachment because, as a legal matter, the Supreme Court has set the standard for what constitutes criminal incitement in a way that doesn’t violate the First Amendment,” Barr said.

“And here, based on the facts, the president’s conduct, while unfortunate, did not rise to the level of the legal definition of incitement,” he continued.

“But beyond the legal analysis, I think the real point here is that with only seven days left in this president’s term, what does impeachment actually accomplish?” Barr questioned.

“It looked to me, and every member, Republican and Democrat, had to make their own judgment, but it looked to me more like an act of political vengeance as opposed to actually trying to uphold the standards of the presidency,” he said. “And again, what I would say is let’s follow the advice of the president-elect, and let’s try to do what we can to bring the country together to turn the page, heal and unite the country.”

Barr Voted Against Impeachment

Barr was one of the lawmakers who voted against impeaching Trump, arguing that the country needs to look forward rather than backward.

“We know that there are people in this country in both the right and the left who feel disenfranchised, they’re angry, they feel left behind,” Barr said.

“They feel disrespected,” he concluded. “And I think we need to do a lot of soul-searching, Republicans and Democrats and look at ways in which we can’t reach out to these people who feel so alienated from the institutions of our country and rebuild trust.”

This piece was written by James Samson on January 16, 2021. It originally appeared in LifeZette and is used by permission.

The post Top GOP Rep Calls Out Impeachment Effort – Says It Seems Like ‘Political Vengeance’ appeared first on The Political Insider.

Rose McGowan Blasts Trump Impeachment As ‘Cult Propaganda…Mass Distraction’ – Elites Ignoring ‘Country’s Starving, Sick, And Poor’

Posted on January 15, 2021 by LifeZette

The actress Rose McGowan is defying the liberal world of Hollywood to blast the left’s impeachment effort against President Donald Trump.

McGowan Slams Impeachment Effort

“This impeachment is Cult propaganda,” McGowan tweeted on Thursday. “A theater of mass distraction. US cult members on the left will cheer, those on the right will be in a fury. And the country’s starving, sick & poor will sink farther & farther.”

“Good thing the Elites are leading us!” the former “Charmed” actress added sarcastically.

This impeachment is Cult propaganda. A theater of mass distraction. US cult members on the left will cheer, those on the right will be in a fury. And the country’s starving, sick & poor will sink farther & farther. Good thing the Elites are leading us!

— Rose McGowan (@rosemcgowan) January 14, 2021

McGowan’s tweet comes in stark contrast to the attitudes of much of the rest of Hollywood when it comes to impeachment, as many actors and actresses have been celebrating the fact that the House impeached Trump for a second time this week.

McGowan Doubles Down

Not stopping there, McGowan proceeded to defend her tweet when it was met with backlash. When one person claimed that having Trump removed from office and convicted of his alleged crimes would be a “step in the right direction,” McGowan replied, “Then I suggest we also, in the interest of fairness, go after Obama for war crimes in Yemen, GW Bush for war crimes in Iraq /Afghanistan.”

McGowan was later asked by another person what her solution would be.

“My overall solution is to keep working to deprogram US cult members on both sides so they can clearly see what lies they’ve been told and revolt,” the former Scream star wrote.

McGowan later explained that she grew up in a cult, which is why she’s so disturbed by what is happening to our country today.

“Saw firsthand the power structure & later when I was sent to US where they kept saying they were free I couldn’t help but notice that its nationalist power structure was identical to the cult we escaped,” she wrote. “They key to change is deprogramming.”

McGowan Calls Out Issues Because She Cares

In the end, McGowan said that she calls out issues when she sees them because she cares.

“I care most about what US does because its propaganda has farther reach than a nuclear bomb,” she wrote. “But personally, my solution was to leave.”

Fox News reported that McGowan has dropped hints over the past few months that she has moved to Mexico.

This piece was written by James Samson on January 15, 2021. It originally appeared in LifeZette and is used by permission.

The post Rose McGowan Blasts Trump Impeachment As ‘Cult Propaganda…Mass Distraction’ – Elites Ignoring ‘Country’s Starving, Sick, And Poor’ appeared first on The Political Insider.

Gretchen Whitmer Extends Restaurant Lockdown In Michigan Again – ‘Three Week Pause’ Now Upped To Twelve

Posted on January 15, 2021 by LifeZette

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI) has extended the restaurant lockdown in Michigan once again amidst the coronavirus pandemic, upping her original “three week pause” to twelve long weeks.

Whitmer Extends Restaurant Lockdown

Whitmer announced on Thursday that she was extending her mandated closure of in-person dining at restaurants and bars until at least February 1.

“The efforts we have made together to protect our families, frontline workers and small business owners are working,” Whitmer said, according to NBC6.

Whitmer first announced this “pause” back in November, and this marks the third time that she has extended it.

“While there has been a slight uptick in our percent positivity rate, our cases per million have plateaued and more hospital beds are becoming available,” she said. “Today, we are confident that MDHHS [Michigan Department of Health and Human Services] can lift some of the protocols that were previously in place.”

“We are reopening cautiously because caution is working to save lives,” added MDHHS Director Robert Gordon told reporters.

“The new order allows group exercise and non-contact sports, always with masks and social distancing, because in the winter it’s not as easy to get out and exercise and physical activity is important for physical and mental health,” he continued. “We are glad that we made it through the holidays without a big increase in numbers, but there are also worrying signs in the new numbers.”

Restaurants Fire Back

The Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association (MRLA), however, has already fired back at Whitmer for extending this lockdown for a third time.

“The governor’s continuation of this pause without a plan — now expanding to 75 days — is without parallel in the nation in terms of its unwillingness or inability to provide leadership to a decimated industry and its workforce,” MRLA President and CEO Justin Winslow said in a statement.

“There are more than 100,000 unemployed hospitality workers and thousands of small operators on the edge of bankruptcy all waiting for hope and direction, and once again it did not come,” he added.

“This is unacceptable and we should all demand more accountability,” Winslow continued. “Michigan stands alone as the only remaining statewide closure of dining rooms without a discernible, data-driven path to reopen and fully reintegrate in the economy.”

Whitmer has become infamous among many for enacting some of the strictest. It remains to be seen whether she will extend her lockdowns for a fourth time next month.

This piece was written by James Samson on January 15, 2021. It originally appeared in LifeZette and is used by permission.

The post Gretchen Whitmer Extends Restaurant Lockdown In Michigan Again – ‘Three Week Pause’ Now Upped To Twelve appeared first on The Political Insider.

Cindy McCain Blasts GOP – Says It Was Once About Inclusion But ‘We Have Lost Our Way’

Posted on January 15, 2021 by LifeZette

Cindy McCain, the widow of the late Republican Senator John McCain, went on her daughter’s talk show “The View” on Thursday morning to blast the GOP, saying that it has “lost its way.”

Cindy McCain Talks Possibly Being Censured By Arizona GOP

“The Arizona GOP is in talks to censure you as well as a former senator Jeff Flake and our wonderful governor Doug Ducey, and I think I’m actually included in the censuring because it said part of the McCain family,” Meghan McCain said to her mother. “I don’t know what’s going on. I’m horrified and disgusted. Why do you think there’s so much anger at our family and Jeff Flake and Doug Ducey?”

“Well, it’s the same thing,” Cindy replied. “It’s about doing what’s right for the country, and certainly, Senator Flake and our Governor Ducey have made some very tough decisions lately and in the past, but it was for the good of our state and for our country.”

“I, you know, I’m in good company,” she added. “Your dad was censured by them. I think I’m going to make t-shirts for everyone, and wear them, you know. You’ll be happy to know, Meghan, they did take the family part out. You’re no longer included.”

Cindy McCain Attacks Republican Party.

Not stopping there, Cindy went on to double down about how much she feels the Republican Party has changed.

“I think what we have seen here is when I began in the Republican Party officially, the Republican Party was the party of inclusion,” she said. “It was the party of generosity. It was the party of country first. We have lost our way.”

“We have lost our way, and it’s time that we get back on track because we have always been the party that cared deeply, that loved what our country did and what it stood for,” Cindy continued. “We have lost our way. I truly hope that as things progress on and we get further away from this mess that occurred, that we can do just that. We can get back on track and remind everyone that we are here for the country and not our party.”

Cindy McCain to @TheView on the possibility of being censured by Arizona GOP: "It's about doing what's right for the country…Sen. Flake and our Gov. Ducey have made some very tough decisions lately and in the past—but it was for the good of our state and for our country." pic.twitter.com/kXUcqWEqUf

— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) January 14, 2021

The entire McCain family has long been vehemently anti-Donald Trump. Meghan has spent much of the week since the Capitol riots calling on Republicans to impeach him.

This piece was written by James Samson on January 15, 2021. It originally appeared in LifeZette and is used by permission.

The post Cindy McCain Blasts GOP – Says It Was Once About Inclusion But ‘We Have Lost Our Way’ appeared first on The Political Insider.

Ex-FBI Director James Comey Calls On Biden To ‘Consider’ Pardoning Trump

Posted on January 15, 2021 by LifeZette

Former FBI Director James Comey spoke out this week to surprisingly say that Joe Biden should “consider” pardoning Donald Trump when he takes office next week as Democrats continue their efforts to impeach the current president for a second time.

Comey Says Biden May Want To Pardon Trump

“I obviously think he belongs in jail, but I don’t think pursuing that is in the best interests of the entire nation, so I think the wiser decision would be not to pursue him,” said Comey, who has long been no fan of Trump’s. He added that it is crucial that whatever Biden’s decision on this is, that he explain it to the American people.

“Be transparent about why you’re doing what you’re doing,” he continued.

When Comey was asked if Biden should pardon Trump like “Ford did Nixon,” he said that he did not know, but that Biden “should at least consider it.”

“Now I don’t know whether Donald Trump, he’s not a genius, but he might figure out that [if] he accepts a pardon, that’s an omission of guilt, the United States Supreme Court has said,” he continued, going on to say that he doesn’t even know if Trump would accept the pardon if offered it.

“But as part of healing the country and getting us to a place where we can focus on things that are going to matter over the next four years, I think Joe Biden is going to have to at least think about that,” Comey said.

“Donald Trump belongs in jail.”

Ex-FBI Director @Comey says while he “obviously believes” the president should be in jail, he doesn’t think “pursuing that is in the best interests of the American people”, adding Joe Biden should "consider" pardoning Donald Trump#Newsnight pic.twitter.com/RUghKyq5nW

— BBC Newsnight (@BBCNewsnight) January 13, 2021

Possibility Of Trump Being Prosecuted

The House voted on Wednesday to impeach Trump for a second time for allegedly inciting the Capitol riots last week. Some have even called for him to be prosecuted for the riots, but legal experts have said that this will be difficult to do.

“Legal experts have said it could be difficult to charge Trump with a crime related to last week’s deadly rioting at the Capitol by his supporters that led to the president’s second impeachment on Wednesday,” The Hill reported. “But the president and his company could face scrutiny for possible financial crimes in the Southern District of New York, they have noted.”

This piece was written by James Samson on January 14, 2021. It originally appeared in LifeZette and is used by permission.

The post Ex-FBI Director James Comey Calls On Biden To ‘Consider’ Pardoning Trump appeared first on The Political Insider.