;)
The Commentariat -- September 18, 2019
Late Morning/Afternoon Update:
Richard Pérez-Peña & Edward Wong of the New York Times: "Secretary of State Mike Pompeo accused Iran on Wednesday of having carried out an 'act of war' with aerial strikes on oil facilities in Saudi Arabia last weekend, and he said the United States was working to build a coalition to deter further attacks.... Despite Mr. Pompeo's statement, President Trump pushed back against another American military entanglement in the Middle East, speaking only of unspecified new sanctions on Iran. Asked about a possible American attack on Iran, Mr. Trump told reporters in Los Angeles: 'There are many options. There's the ultimate option and there are options a lot less than that.'"
Jay Powell and the Federal Reserve Fail Again. No 'guts,' no sense, no vision! A terrible communicator! -- President* Tweetle-Dee-Dee, shortly after the Fed's announcement it would cut rates by a quarter point ~~~
~~ Jeff Cox of CNBC: "The Federal Reserve approved a much-anticipated quarter-point interest rate cut Wednesday but offered few indications that further reductions are ahead as members split on what to do next. Following its two-day policy meeting, the central bank announced that it would take down its benchmark overnight lending rate to a target range of 1.75% to 2%. That comes nearly two months after the policymaking Federal Open Market Committee went ahead with its first cut in 11 years.... Donald Trump, who has called Fed policymakers 'boneheads' for not cutting rates enough, tore into Wednesday's decision, saying Chairman Jay Powell and his colleagues have 'no guts.'" ~~~
~~~ Jeanna Smialek of the New York Times: "Fed Chair Jerome H. Powell, speaking at a news conference said that the United States economy remains strong and unemployment is low but that' there are risks to this positive outlook.' If the economy weakens, a 'more extensive' series of rate cuts would be appropriate, he said.... Mr. Powell said trade uncertainty and geopolitical tensions necessitated action." Mrs. McC: IOW, Thanks, Trump!
Natasha Bertrand & Bryan Bender of Politico: "Since Donald Trump took office, the U.S. military has spent nearly $200,000 at the president's luxury Scotland resort, according to figures and documents the Pentagon provided to the House Oversight Committee. The spending, which has all occurred since August 2017, paid for the equivalent of hundreds of nights of rooms at the Turnberry resort over approximately three dozen separate stays, the committee said.... Nearly three dozen Democratic senators this week co-sponsored a bill that would make it illegal for the federal government to spend taxpayer dollars at properties owned by the president, vice president or members of the Cabinet."
Marianne Levine & Burgess Everett of Politico: "The White House this week began circulating a much-anticipated gun background check proposal to Republicans on Capitol Hill, though it's unclear if ... Donald Trump supports it. The White House's plan would expand background checks to all commercial gun sales, including gun show sales, according to a document obtained by Politico and first reported by The Daily Caller. It's similar to a proposal from Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.)." ~~~
~~~ Another Presidential* Tweet from the Very Stable Genius*. Quint Forgey of Politico: "... Donald Trump on Wednesday admonished 'Dummy Beto' O'Rourke for impassioned remarks on gun reform he made at last week's primary debate, charging that they complicated the path toward a bipartisan agreement. 'Dummy Beto made it much harder to make a deal,' Trump tweeted. 'Convinced many that Dems just want to take your guns away. Will continue forward!'"
Jordain Carney of the Hill: "Senate spending talks hit another roadblock on Wednesday amid an entrenched fight over funding for President Trump's U.S.-Mexico border wall. Senate Democrats on Wednesday blocked a bill to fund most of the federal government, marking the latest setback for spending talks with days to go until the Sept. 30 deadline to avoid a shutdown. Senators voted 51-44 on taking up a House-passed bill that was expected to be the vehicle for any Senate funding action, depriving it of the 60 votes needed to overcome the initial hurdle.... Democrats objected to the top-line spending figures over concerns that Republicans were padding extra funding in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spending bill, legislation that has emerged as a perennial point of conflict.... Democratic senators also balked at supporting the defense spending bill because Republicans rejected including an amendment that would have prevented Trump from shifting funding from the military to the border wall without congressional sign-off."
Peter Baker of the New York Times: "President Trump on Wednesday selected Robert C. O'Brien, the State Department's chief hostage negotiator, to become his national security adviser, moving to reconstitute his foreign policy staff even as he faces rising tension with Iran. In choosing Mr. O'Brien to replace John R. Bolton..., the president chose a Los Angeles lawyer who had impressed him with his work to extricate Americans detained by countries like North Korea and Turkey. But it is not clear how different his advice will be from his predecessor given that Mr. O'Brien previously worked for Mr. Bolton and has cited his hawkish views in the past. Mr. Trump announced the selection on Twitter shortly after saying he would also 'substantially increase Sanctions' on Iran after weekend attacks on oil facilities in Saudi Arabia that officials in Washington and the region have blamed on the Tehran government." CNN's story is here. Mrs. McC: Yes, because "substantially increasing sanctions" (or "Sanctions") on Iran has been such an effective strategy.
Paul Schemm of the Washington Post: "BREAKING: At a news conference in Riyadh, [a] spokesman displayed debris of what he said were Iranian-made weapons used in Saturday's attacks and said the strikes on the oil facilities 'did not originate in Yemen.'"
Jonathan Chait: "Elizabeth Warren is not leading the polls (yet), but she is on a trajectory to win the Democratic presidential nomination. She is well-liked by supporters of other candidates, giving her room to grow. And the sequence of votes gives her an enormous advantage over Joe Biden; the first two states are heavily white, giving her a chance to build momentum before Biden's minority-heavy support base has its say.... At the moment, I'd feel very nervous betting the future of American democracy on Warren's ability to defeat Trump. But a lot can change in a year, and it's not hard to imagine the Warren of 2020 as a potent challenger." Chait assesses Warren's pluses & minuses re: electability.
Elena Schneider of Politico: "Fifty-eight U.S. mayors announced their endorsements of Pete Buttigieg, giving the South Bend, Ind., mayor a boost of institutional support for his presidential campaign. In a USA Today op-ed, the current and former mayors, including some who have already publicly backed Buttigieg, called for 'a great mayor in the White House.' The column -- written by Mayors Steve Adler of Austin, Texas; Christopher Cabaldon of West Sacramento, Calif.; and Nan Whaley of Dayton, Ohio -- emphasizes Buttigieg's bipartisan credentials and executive experience." Here's the op-ed.
All Things Are Possible. Simon Romero & Dana Goldstein of the New York Times: "In one of the boldest state-led efforts to expand access to higher education, New Mexico is unveiling a plan on Wednesday to make tuition at its public colleges and universities free for all state residents, regardless of family income." Here's a Slate story.
There's Corruption & There's "Corruption." digby points out that the New York Times' headline writer doesn't know the difference. Thanks to Akhilleus for the link, and see his commentary below. As Akhilleus suggests, when we get into general-election mode, watch the "elite liberal media" spill buckets of ink on all the faults, or "faults" of the Democratic nominee.
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~~~ Nicholas Fandos & Maggie Haberman of the New York Times: "After initially stonewalling Democrats' questions, Mr. Lewandowski appeared to abruptly change strategies, confirming the details of a key episode from the Mueller investigation -- and even providing new information that wasn't in the special counsel's report. Under questioning by Representative Hank Johnson, Democrat of Georgia, Mr. Lewandowski said he never relayed the message because he went on a beach vacation with his children.... Mr. Lewandowski began his appearance before the House Judiciary Committee with remarks that sounded more like a campaign speech than testimony in a congressional investigation.... Given that he has been considering a run for the Senate from New Hampshire for the last several weeks, Mr. Lewandowski and his allies see the hearing as an opportunity to promote his allegiance to Mr. Trump in a way that could benefit him politically.... During a break that he requested, he tweeted out a link to a website for a new super PAC that was created today, 'Stand With Corey.'... Almost immediately, Mr. Lewandowski made clear he intended to do whatever he could to slow down the proceedings, including demanding that Democrats read him the section of the Mueller report about which they were questioning him.... At the tail-end of the hearing, Barry H. Berke, a well-regarded white-collar defense attorney who has taken a leave from his New York law firm to consult for the committee, unleashed a rapid-fire cross-examination in which he quickly established that Mr. Lewandowski had lied in an interview earlier this year when he said he couldn't recall any conversation he had with Mr. Trump about Mr. Sessions.... It was only one of several moments in which Mr. Berke plainly got under the skin of Mr. Lewandowski, who mentioned repeatedly that he did not have a law degree from Harvard, as Mr. Berke does." (Also linked yesterday.) ~~~
~~~ Mrs. McCrabbie: I listened to the first half hour of the "hearing" but had to turn it off because Lewandowski was so obnoxious. I thought Nadler should have held Lewandowski in contempt. Update: Joyce Vance called Lewandowski "one of the smarmiest witnesses I've ever seen on the stand," and Vance, a former prosecutor, no doubt has heard a lot of smarmy witnesses. ~~~
~~~ The Times' full story, by Nicholas Fandos, is here. ~~~
~~~ Rachel Bade, et al., of the Washington Post: "Trump, who was watching, applauded Lewandowski on Twitter, writing that he gave a 'beautiful' opening statement. But Lewandowski's defiance and disregard for Democrats' impeachment inquiry also prompted a contempt threat from Democrats. 'Mr. Lewandowski, your behavior in this hearing room has been completely unacceptable,' House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) said. 'You have shown the public that the Trump administration will do anything and everything in its power to obstruct the work of the Congress.'... Under questioning, Lewandowski routinely asked for page numbers, feigned ignorance and otherwise dodged questions from Democrats." ~~~
~~~ Mary Jalonick & Laurie Kellman of the AP: "The hearing underscores what has been a central dilemma for the House Judiciary Committee all year as they investigate -- and potentially try to impeach -- Trump. Many of the Democrats' base supporters want them to move quickly to try to remove Trump from office. But the White House has blocked their oversight requests at almost every turn, declining to provide new documents or allow aides and associates to testify." ~~~
~~~ Andrew Desiderio & Kyle Cheney of Politico: "... the hearing armed Democrats with what they see as key ammunition in their drive toward impeachment of the president. House Judiciary Committee Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) suggested that Lewandowski's refusal to answer questions about his conversations with Trump -- at the behest of the White House -- bolsters Democrats; case to impeach the president.... 'When you refuse to answer these questions, you are obstructing the work of our committee. You are also proving our point for the American people to see: The president is intent on obstructing our legitimate oversight. You are aiding him in that obstruction,' Nadler told Lewandowski. 'And I will remind you that Article 3 of the impeachment against President [Richard] Nixon was based on obstruction of Congress,' Nadler added.... In 2017, Trump deputized Lewandowski to approach then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions and order him either to restrict Mueller's probe to future interference by Russia or be removed from his Cabinet post. Lewandowski, though, told Mueller he didn't want to deliver that message to Sessions, so he asked former top White House aide Rick Dearborn to pass it along instead. Dearborn never followed through, Mueller found. In his review of the episode, Mueller found that Trump's actions met all the criteria that would typically result in an obstruction of justice charge." ~~~
~~~ Mrs. McCrabbie: Dearborn was summoned to appear at today's hearing, but Trump directed him not to appear, citing fake executive privilege. Surely any conversation Dearborn had with Lewandowski, who was not a federal employee, cannot be subject to actual executive privilege. ~~~
~~~ Sarah Ferris, et al., of Politico: "In a closed-door meeting last week, Speaker Nancy Pelosi stunned lawmakers and aides with a swipe at Democratic staff on the House Judiciary Committee. Pelosi criticized the panel's handling of impeachment in harsh terms, complaining committee aides have advanced the push for ousting ... Donald Trump far beyond where the House Democratic Caucus stands. Democrats simply don't have the votes on the floor to impeach Trump, Pelosi said. 'And you can feel free to leak this,' Pelosi added, according to multiple people in the room.... It was the latest sign of the widening schism between Pelosi and Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler, two longtime allies who are increasingly in conflict over where to guide the party at one of its most critical moments."
Julian Barnes & Nicholas Fandos of the New York Times: "The acting director of national intelligence will not testify before Congress this week or immediately hand over a whistle-blower complaint to lawmakers, escalating a standoff between Capitol Hill and leaders of the intelligence agencies. The Democratic chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Representative Adam B. Schiff of California, demanded in a cryptic letter on Friday that Joseph Maguire, the acting director of national intelligence, turn over a whistle-blower complaint made to the inspector general for the intelligence agencies. Mr. Schiff asked in his letter whether the underlying conduct involved 'the president or those around him.' But Mr. Schiff has said he cannot discuss the content of the complaint.... Other lawmakers said they did not know the complaint's details.... The inspector general for the intelligence agencies has already begun investigating the complaint and alerted the intelligence committees." ~~~
~~~ Kyle Cheney of Politico: "The nation's top intelligence official has refused to comply with a House Intelligence Committee subpoena to provide the contents of a whistleblower complaint a government watchdog deemed 'urgent' and credible, the panel's chairman, Adam Schiff, said late Tuesday. The California Democrat warned the agency might be acting to conceal high-level wrongdoing by ... Donald Trump or his immediate advisers.... Schiff ripped [Joseph] Maguire for breaching a law that requires him to share with Congress any whistleblower complaint deemed urgent by the intelligence community's inspector general. He said the confluence of factors led him to believe the complaint involved Trump or other senior executive branch officials." ~~~
~~~ Mrs. McCrabbie: All kidding aside, it's time to send the Capitol police out to lock up a few Trump regime recalcitrants. The cell in the basement of the capitol building may have been repurposed, but I propose the House buy a lock for a windowless room & lay out some narrow cots. Trump's lawless sidekicks should not be walking free.
Zolan Kanno-Youngs & Maggie Haberman of the New York Times: "The White House on Tuesday fired John Mitnick, the general counsel for the Department of Homeland Security, after months of shake-up at an agency responsible for carrying out President Trump's immigration agenda.... The White House this year has turned the Department of Homeland Security ... into a revolving door of officials, creating a void of permanent leadership. A Trump administration official said Tuesday evening that Chad Mizelle, an associate counsel to the president, would replace Mr. Mitnick. But a Department of Homeland Security official said later that Joseph B. Maher, the department's principal deputy general counsel, would be taking over.... Mr. Mitnick's ouster was prompted by the White House general counsel's office as opposed to Stephen Miller..., an administration official said. But two other people briefed on the events disputed this account...." ~~~
~~~ Aris Folley of the Hill: "Mitnick, who was nominated to the post by President Trump in 2017 and confirmed by the Senate the following year, was the department's fifth general counsel." Mrs. McC: They really don't know what they're doing.
Coral Davenport of the New York Times: "The Trump administration is expected on Wednesday to formally revoke California's legal authority to set tailpipe pollution rules that are stricter than federal rules, in a move designed by the White House to strike twin blows against both the liberal-leaning state that President Trump has long antagonized and the environmental legacy of President Barack Obama. The announcement that the White House will revoke one of California's signature environmental policies will come while Mr. Trump is traveling in the state, where he is scheduled to attend fund-raisers in Los Angeles and Silicon Valley.... Xavier Becerra, the attorney general of California, wrote in an email: 'California will continue its advance toward a cleaner future. We're prepared to defend the standards that make that promise a reality.'" The Reuters report is here. (Also linked yesterday.)
Deirdre Shesgreen & David Jackson of USA Today: "Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is heading to the Middle East Tuesday as the Trump administration again sent mixed messages about how the U.S. would respond to the crippling attacks on Saudi Arabia's oil infrastructure.... Pompeo is scheduled to arrive in Jeddah on Wednesday, where he will meet with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom's de facto ruler, to discuss the oil facility attacks and to 'coordinate efforts to counter Iranian aggression in the region,' the State Department said Tuesday in announcing the trip.... Several Democrats said Trump's decision to withdraw from the 2015 multilateral nuclear agreement with Iran and reimpose crippling sanctions on Tehran has helped spark the current crisis. They warned against any military action over the destruction of Saudi oil facilities." ~~~
~~~ David Sanger of the New York Times: "Over the next few days or weeks, [Donald Trump] will almost certainly face the reality that much of the world -- angry at his tweets, tirades, untruths and accusations -- could be disinclined to believe the arguments advanced by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and others that Iran bears responsibility for the attack.... The Saudis seem to sense the credibility problem. Even they have not yet publicly followed Mr. Pompeo in accusing Iran of responsibility. In a statement on Monday, the Saudi government urged an international investigation, led by the United Nations, to determine responsibility. That move, unusual for a country that disdains the United Nations almost as much as the Trump administration does, seemed an acknowledgment that the world would not take Mr. Trump's word, nor that of the Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman.... For Mr. Trump, the suspicions about any American assessment of responsibility will be colored by another problem: European officials blame him, as much as the Iranians, for creating the circumstances that led to the attack.... Germany's chancellor, Angela Merkel, said on Tuesday that the best strategy for defusing tensions with Iran was for Mr. Trump to back down. 'The deal to stop Iran from acquiring military nuclear capabilities is a building block we need to get back to,' she said." ~~~
~~~ Eric Schmitt of the New York Times: "American intelligence analysts and military investigators are examining a missile guidance mechanism recovered in Saudi Arabia that may provide clues as to the missile's origins and flight path, as they continue gathering information to make the administration's case that Iran was responsible for last weekend's attack against Saudi oil facilities. Analysts are poring over satellite imagery of the damage sites, and assessing radar tracks of at least some of the low-flying cruise missiles that were used. Communication intercepts from before and after the attacks are being reviewed to see if they implicate Iranian officials. And, perhaps most important, forensic analysis is underway of missile and drone parts from the attack sites, including at least one mostly intact cruise missile recovered from the area, officials said." (Also linked yesterday.)
Whatever Happened to Progressive Pelosi? Berkeley Lovelace of CNBC: "Democrats should focus on making improvements to Obamacare instead of trying to reinvent the wheel with 'Medicare for All,' House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Tuesday.... Pelosi's thoughts on how to improve the nation's health-care laws appear to align with those of former Vice President Joe Biden, who in his 2020 presidential bid is calling for building on provisions of Obamacare, formally known as the Affordable Care Act. 'I believe the path to "health care for all" is a path following the lead of the Affordable Care Act,' Pelosi told [CNBC]. 'Let's use our energy to have health care for all Americans, and that involves over 150 million families that have it through the private sector.'"
Presidential Race 2020
No Job for an Old Man. Bill Barrow of the AP: "Weeks shy of his 95th birthday, former President Jimmy Carter said Tuesday he doesn't believe he could have managed the most powerful office in the world at 80 years old. Carter, who earlier this year became the longest-lived chief executive in American history, didn't tie his comments to any of his fellow Democrats running for president, but two leading 2020 candidates, Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders, would turn 80 during their terms if elected. Biden is 76. Sanders is 78. 'I hope there's an age limit,' Carter said with a laugh as he answered audience questions during his annual report at the Carter Center in Atlanta. 'If I were just 80 years old, if I was 15 years younger, I don't believe I could undertake the duties I experienced when I was president.'... At 73..., Donald Trump ... [was] the oldest newly elected president in history and would become the oldest president to be reelected.... Carter said he remains undecided in the 2020 primary. 'I'm going to keep an open mind,' he said, explaining that he wants to vote for a candidate who pledges to make the U.S. the world's leading champion for peace, human rights and equality. 'One of the major factors I will have in my mind is who can beat Trump,' he added, noting that he'll vote for the Democratic nominee in the general election regardless."
Daniella Diaz & Gregory Krieg of CNN: "It had been hours since Sen. Elizabeth Warren wrapped her speech here in Manhattan, but ... Warren stuck around deep into the New York night on Monday, taking photos with each person who'd waited in line -- a process that took nearly fives times as long as the candidate spent delivering an impassioned anti-corruption address to the thousands who filled the park. The Warren 'selfies' -- the photos she takes with voters, framed and snapped by a campaign aide as other staffers hustle supporters through, handling their bags and phones, so Warren can take as many photos as quickly as possible -- have become a political phenomenon. It's one that manages to be both savvy and kitschy, exhausting and exhilarating.... A Warren aide told CNN on Tuesday that she took about 4,000 'selfies' after her New York rally and has now, since kicking off her campaign last winter, posed for more than 59,000 of them in all. (Also linked yesterday.) ~~~
~~~ Cristina Cabrera of TPM: "According to a pool report, Trump downplayed the crowd size at Warren's rally in Washington Square Park, which her campaign estimated to be about 20,000 people -- the senator's biggest rally to date. 'Number one, she didn't have 20,000 people,' Trump told reporters, per the pool report. 'And number two, I think anybody would get a good crowd there.'... Trump, notoriously sensitive over the size of his own crowds, then claimed he gets crowds 'in areas that nobody's ever seen crowds before.'" Mrs. McC: Trump could draw a crowd of 20,000 protesters at Washington Square.
Yvonne Sanchez of the Arizona Republic: "Sen. Kyrsten Sinema is facing a censure vote from the Arizona Democratic Party, brought by progressives who deem her politics too accommodating to ... Donald Trump at the expense of Democratic values. Sinema, D-Ariz., built a moderate political brand during her three terms in the House of Representatives, which has extended to her early days in the Senate. According to the FiveThirtyEight Trump Tracker, she has opposed Trump while in the Senate 81% of the time. In the House, she supported Trump's agenda 54% of the time. While Sinema's political centrism has earned her Republican support, it has grated on progressives -- some of whom silently protested her during a state fundraising dinner in downtown Phoenix. Democratic state committeemen will consider the resolution on Saturday, at the Arizona Democratic Party's quarterly meeting. They cite in particular her vote to confirm Trump's nominee, David Bernhardt, to serve as secretary of the Interior, and her vote to confirm William Barr as U.S. attorney general."
Douglas Martin of the New York Times: "Sander Vanocur, the television newsman who became familiar to American viewers as a prominent White House correspondent during the Kennedy administration and as a tough questioner in presidential debates, died on Monday night in a hospice facility in Santa Barbara, Calif. He was 91." (Also linked yesterday.)
Neil Genzlinger of the New York Times: "Cokie Roberts, the pioneering broadcast journalist known to millions for her work with ABC News and NPR, died on Tuesday. She was 75.... Ms. Roberts started her radio career at CBS, then began working for NPR in 1978, covering Capitol Hill. She joined ABC in 1988. Her three decades at the network included anchoring, with Sam Donaldson, the Sunday morning news program 'This Week' from 1996 to 2002.... Michelle and Barack Obama, in a statement, called Ms. Roberts 'a trailblazing figure; a role model to young women at a time when the profession was still dominated by men; a constant over 40 years of a shifting media landscape and changing world, informing voters about the issues of our time and mentoring young journalists every step of the way.'" Roberts' ABC News obituary is here. (Also linked yesterday.) ~~~
~~~ Update. Then There Was This. I never met her. She never treated me nicely. But I would like to wish her family well. She was a professional, and I respect professionals.... Never treated me well, but I certainly respect her as a professional. -- Donald Trump, on Air Force 1
Thanks, Donald, for demonstrating why I like to be polite or noncommittal about the deceased, even when I didn't like them when they were alive, at least in the days immediately following news of their deaths. -- Mrs. Bea McCrabbie
Hey, Right-to-Lifers/Climate Deniers. What About This? Morgan Gstalter of the Hill: "Air pollution has the potential to travel from a pregnant woman's lungs to the fetal side of the placenta, according to a new study. Researchers at Hasselt University in Belgium in a study reported in Nature Communications found sootlike black carbon, a type of particle pollutant, on placentas donated by new mothers. The placenta is a temporary organ that acts as a natural barrier between a mother and the fetus during pregnancy." (Also linked yesterday.)
Matt Wilstein of the Daily Beast: "Sean Spicer Has Most Embarrassing 'Dancing With the Stars' Debut Ever, Period.... Spicer was paired up with season 25 champion dancer Lindsay Arnold, who described her partner as dancing at a 'pre-pre-school level,' adding, 'He definitely isn't natural at it.'" Mrs. McC: Seinfeld's puffy shirt was less ridiculous. (Also linked yesterday.) ~~~
~~~ Uh, Jesus Made Him Do It. Joe Concha of the Hill: "Former White House press secretary and current 'Dancing with the Stars' contestant Sean Spicer on Tuesday implored viewers on Twitter to vote for him to 'send a message to #Hollywood that those of us who stand for #Christ won't be discounted.' Spicer made the call after his viral debut on Monday night that included him performing to a Spice Girls song while wearing a neon puffy shirt." (Also linked yesterday.)
Beyond the Beltway
North Carolina. Meagan Flynn of the Washington Post: "Granville County Sheriff Brindell Wilkins learned one of his deputies had a tape of him making 'racially offensive' comments, prosecutors say. So the North Carolina lawman encouraged another man to kill the officer, according to a felony indictment revealed late Monday night. 'The only way you gonna stop him is kill him,' Wilkins allegedly told the would-be shooter in a 2014 recorded phone call about a plan to kill former deputy Joshua Freeman. The plot was not carried out. Wilkins is charged with two felony counts of obstruction of justice charges for his failure to arrest the unnamed person or report the threat on Freeman's life, and for also allegedly giving the man advice about how to get away with the killing. Wilkins has been sheriff of the small county in northern North Carolina, where the biggest town is home to about 8,400 people, since 2009 and was most recently reelected in 2018. Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman, who brought the charges, told the News & Observer that Wilkins is still the sheriff." Slate has a story here. (Also linked yesterday.)
Way Beyond
David Halbfinger & Isabel Kershner of the New York Times: "Israel's election was too close to call early Wednesday, with neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nor his main rival, the former army chief Benny Gantz, a centrist, immediately commanding enough support to form a majority coalition, according to exit polls. But Mr. Gantz's Blue and White party appeared to have come out ahead of Mr. Netanyahu's conservative Likud, giving a small third party the power to decide the outcome. And his avowed desire to force a unity coalition including both their parties made it likely that, if the projections held, Mr. Gantz would be given the first chance of forming a government. The murky outcome itself was a humiliating blow to Mr. Netanyahu, 69, the nation's longest-serving prime minister, who forced the do-over election when he failed to assemble a coalition in May, rather than let Mr. Gantz have a try." The AP story is here. ~~~
~~~ Anshel Pfeffer of Haaretz: "After what looks like an almost certain failure to secure a majority coalition in Israel's Tuesday election, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu didn't need anyone to tell him about the murmurings within Likud that his own party should start thinking about a change in leadership. He suspects they are there, and have been for a while. As he arrived at the party's campaign headquarters at Expo Tel Aviv, greeting senior Likudniks with forced, tight-lipped smiles, the heavy makeup he wore could not mask the tiredness on his face from days of relentless campaigning and long hours of non-stop online Likud TV broadcasts, in which he harangued right-wingers to go out and vote. Netanyahu's speech at a Likud rally, delivered more than five hours after voting ended and exit poll results spelled doom, was a carefully measured attempt to reassert his leadership, while acknowledging, without saying it in so many words, that matters have changed. Perhaps irrevocably."
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