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Congressional investigative powers are great, and testifying under oath there is not insignificant. Waiting to testify does not equate to lack of truth. It comes with career risk. Hutchinson painted a picture that most folks will find believable. As Steve said, what can be said about Trump behavior that will not be believed? This kind of picture will not gain GOP voters outside the confines of primary contests. None of the Trump voters that left him after 1/6 are coming back as long as Trump strangle holds the GOP.

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More folks testifying under oath, more fun for all of us.

The ball is in your court, Secret Service agents.

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Jun 29, 2022Liked by Chris J. Karr, Jay Berman

I know everybody is stuck on the more salacious details of her story but if there is a paper trail showing he or someone close to him has been trying to tamper with witnesses to this investigation that is the real story.

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Jun 29, 2022Liked by Chris J. Karr

From JVL at the Bulwark:

-That the president knew the crowd he had assembled on January 6 was armed.

-That the president believed this crowd intended to hurt people who were not him.

-That the president did not care about this danger to others.

-That in possession of this knowledge he still instructed the crowd to march on the Capitol with the words: "We fight like hell. And if you don't fight like hell, you're not going to have a country anymore.”

Those are the key facts. Forget the ketchup dripping down the wall and whether Trump touched a Secret Service agent or merely berated him. The most significant revelation was Trump requesting the removal of magnetometers after being told that many of his supporters were armed.

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That one will require some level of documentation. There were so many staff leaks at the Trump White House. It was such a toxic and dysfunctional place, it’s hard to know who heard what and if anything without direct evidence is true. It does fit the rest of the narrative and many people want it to be true. Two things: 1) such requests would *never* be honored by the USSS; 2) if Trump made such a request, whoever knew about it should have memorialized it in notes or written documentation. However, Trump said so many batshit things over 4 years the staff and USSS detail might have been inured to it by then. But it does require direct corroboration just like the other spectacular claims.

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Jun 29, 2022Liked by Chris J. Karr

At the least, there is an under-oath testimony: at this point, it needs be countered under-oath. I'm not gonna hold my breath that those who both are knowledgeable and tweeting/shouting that it's not factual will ever testify under oath.

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Jun 29, 2022Liked by Chris J. Karr

Interesting, two emails in my box, one atop the other this morning. Both of the same ilk; i think. In spite of asking, EE simply won't quit sending me his daily dose of tripe, and Steve's was just below his. I flush Erick's as easy as my morning dump. Sometimes i read SB's or if i am feeling pissy, i hold off till later. Today, i opened Steve's as quickly as i sent EE's to the trash bin.

Seemed only fitting for Steve to try and walk in Erick's shadow, happens a lot. Erickson's a guy who got it wrong both times (2016 and 2020), he's done pretty well for himself in spite of that. I always want to give Mr. Berman the opportunity to show me what he's got. BTW, good choice, as an ENTJ (every time i tested), ignoring me is your the right choice given your personality type.

I won't belabor this any longer than need be. After reading his article, i hopped over to the Bulwark, a slightly different take, to say the least. Anyway, pretty simple here; all of those who refute Hutchinson's "pee-tape" simply need to step up, raise their right hand and set the record straight. Easy-peasy.

There is that one little problem though, well, actually a couple. Between pleading the 5th and refusing to appear, we are left with the few who have the balls to show up and testify under oath. And then of course there's the other undeniable truth, most are unwilling to speak truth to power; they live shaking in fear of what trump will say and think about them.

I find it almost laughable; you can imagine the big guy doing all this weird freaky stuff, but clearly it's far better to defend him because some one jumped on Twitter or Truth and said it ain't so. Last time i looked, neither of those social media platforms came with swearing an oath to be honest. Clearly Cassidy had to do just that.

Damn, i wasn't brief. "Pee-tape" indeed.

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author

If Steve’s purpose here is to defend Trump, then he did a poor job of it. I do agree with your commentary on the hearing testimony.

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Jun 29, 2022Liked by Chris J. Karr

I will very quickly say in defense of Steve, based on what he has written over the years, he'll never, ever be invited to Mar-a-Lago. I doubt, even if he was graced with an opportunity to kiss the ring, he would go. Only he can answer that one.

My point was, as i have said before, your brother seems more interested in being Erick-light. We all have hero's, those we admire and aspire to be like. Erick wouldn't be my first choice (or last). Too each his own.

My bigger problem with Steve's column today was the click-bait header. I know, it's there to get people to open the email. The problem is once you attach "pee-tape" to Cassidy's name, you sully and demean her testimony. She was willing to step up and raise her right hand, what others are willing to do that?

If the orange guy is so angry, so incensed by this young woman he "barely knew," (there's one we never heard before), let him show up and shut everyone up by swearing on a stack of bibles to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help him God (oh wait, he is God to half the maga crowd). This will give him the chance to hold it right side up.

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We are pretty much in agreement on the hearings. And on the other part, Steve can only be himself.

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Jun 30, 2022Liked by Chris J. Karr

From what I have read this has been a well laid trap for the Secret Service. Why did Pence not want to get into the car with Trump's Secret Service? That is a burning question the committee wants to resolve. Kellogg (Pence's head of security) said that Pence did not trust them. Trump's Secret Security, who happens to be the man accusing the young lady who just testified that Trump threw a fit in the car, is accused of being a liar. Soap Opera all around.

One thing for sure, the Committee really really wants Trump's guy to come back for a sit down under oath, again. They already had him on video. They also claim they have another agent who corroborates the young ladies version of events.

If you weren't around during Watergate, you are about to get your own.

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Jun 29, 2022Liked by Chris J. Karr

Not really watching the Jan 6th Hearings, not really a fan of James Goldston's work. I mean he really messed up on "Who wants to be a Millionaire" and he completely destroyed the opportunity presented with "Living With Michael Jackson". I think I will be waiting for the DNC/Walt Disney Studio Animation production. I understand it is in the works.

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author

Congressional hearings happen whether we watch or not. Testimony is under oath whether it has show quality or not. We will see where it all leads.

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Jun 29, 2022Liked by Chris J. Karr

There is a strong tendency to get used to and accept very bad things that would be shocking if seen with fresh eyes.

Ray Dalio

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Jun 29, 2022Liked by Chris J. Karr

There is a strong tendency to get used to and accept very bad things that would be shocking if seen with fresh eyes.

Ray Dalio

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