Senator Whitehouse (RI) grills Kevin Lilly, President Trump's nominee to be assistant secretary for fish and wildlife, over arrests for "vandalism" at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
Trump, or honestly, whoever the actual scumfuck that has two evil brain cells that they can rub together, definitely read the 48 laws of power, diversions, smoke screens being used to hide their true intentions that I assume has to do with the files everyone, but mchefe wants released. Definitely diversions from something though in my humble opinion.
Whitehouse and company need to break out the "L" word. Just say it flat out "That's a lie." Not "...made up a 350ft gash" but "Told a LIE about a 350 foot gash."
Not answering the question should subject one to a simple majority vote to permanently and irrevocably remove them from all public positions, ban them indefinitely from such positions, and throw them for contempt in jail.
It's because the Democrats are the minority party. If they had voting power in Congress, these people could easily be held in contempt of Congress indefinitely.
That's why they are so brazen in these committee meetings, they know that the Democrats don't have the votes to send them to jail. That's why vote like your life depends on it come November, because well, it probably will if the GOP keeps control of all the branches of government.
ion-about-us-government-abuse-of-power/gallery/mlk-day-is-also-ab">-WTViMK2">https://imgur.com/gallery/mlk-day-is-also-about-truth-reconciliation-about-us-government-abuse-of-power-WTViMK2 http://www.tni.org/en/article/waging-counterinsurgency Please see my report on ICE torture in private for-profit detention, mass incarceration- www.worldconsul.com http://imgur.com/gallery/torture-ice-private-detention-centers-bSU3TeW my first-hand report on torture of detainees help me spread the word/let people know Blacks, Dems, the Left, Progressives targeted for "disruption" Ops 3
just once I'd like to hear a senator or congressperson tell one of these trump nominees who won't answer questions - " you know there have been a lot of imbeciles who have been put up for confirmation by trump. I hope you are proud to now be included in that number."
More worthless performances. God we waste so much money talking sternly to people who don't care and know nothing will happen. What an inefficient system of show boating and zero substance.
The process is the punishment. The target's life is disrupted, they have to spend $$$ on lawyers, etc. It's all about intimidating them – and everyone else – into obedience and silence.
Man they need to get rid of this BS just claim the 5th or I don't know or giving generic I stand by my statement shit.
Imagine of you or I were being grilled, we refused to answer, we would be put in jail immediately, so why are these so blatantly performative and not punitivate in the slightest for them?
Unfortunately, it doesn't matter to just state the obvious. One side is flagrantly breaking all laws and the other side is pretending those laws still matter. "I stand by my statement." Ok, put the man in jail for contempt/perjury. Will it hold up in court? Maybe, maybe not. They're literally having an exchange about people being put in jail without good reason, see if he can take what he dishes out. If he walks out of that room a free man, then he wins. No amount of 'gotcha' makes him the loser
That's not how Contempt of Congress works, there's no court hearing that throws out the case or anything like that. If they arrest you for Inherent Contempt of Congress, they can basically hold you until you break or they break because the court deciding the charge IS that branch of Congress. And the cops that arrest you are the Capital Police which are under Congressional control not executive control.
Worst part of all of that is that it’s the “under oath” part and the “outside” part. Words mean nothing in politics unless under oath… and even then it’s questionable. But doing so seems like the most obvious avoidable thing if you’re a crook.
They're selfish assholes who think they are superior and above the law and are only interested in protecting their own asses and jobs so they kowtow to appease dear leader so they can continue to have their job so they can still feel like they are better than everyone else. Fucking cowardly little children.
This does nothing because they have zero shame. All they want or care about is to feel like they have power over others so they will do or say anything to cover their own asses and don't give a flying fuck about how those choices harm others.
Why don’t they just take the 5th in these meetings? It would save so much time than listening to them repeating the same phrase over and over when it doesn’t make sense.
They would, if the Democrats controlled Congress and could charge them with contempt for evasive non-answers like this. But Democrats don't control Congress so they are flexing like this because they know their own side won't charge them with contempt for a Democrat's questions.
I am so sick of politicians not answering questions at these hearings or at anything. What's the point of having the fucking hearings if they dont answer questions? This isnt the 50s where that's a bad thing. This whole country is just a giant fucking joke.
How/where do you even get a "flat top" today? Says "defending" the city with straight face-so, "national security"/ requiring COIN warfare against "enemies"? Mass incarceration as part of deliberate destruction of Blacks, the Left. "Disruption", torture, COIN warfare against "enemies" of the Right to convert victims to informants /gallery/trump-vance-announc">-0W9avpc">https://imgur.com/gallery/trump-vance-announce-new-war-on-left-what-will-be-like-what-has-already-been-0W9avpc https://www.tni.org/en/article/waging-counterinsurgency 1
ion-about-us-government-abuse-of-power/gallery/mlk-day-is-also-ab">-WTViMK2">https://imgur.com/gallery/mlk-day-is-also-about-truth-reconciliation-about-us-government-abuse-of-power-WTViMK2 http://www.tni.org/en/article/waging-counterinsurgency Please see my report on ICE torture in private for-profit detention, mass incarceration- www.worldconsul.com http://imgur.com/gallery/torture-ice-private-detention-centers-bSU3TeW my first-hand report on torture of detainees help me spread the word/let people know Blacks, Dems, the Left, Progressives targeted for "disruption" Ops 3
This identifies the main tactic of the administration: spaghetti throwing. Just say whatever, arrest whoever. Nothing holds up in court, but the point isn't to govern or enforce the law, it's to intimidate, to accrue leverage by making it easier to comply than to resist. It works on people in government, who won't stand up to political pressure because they're afraid of retribution, and it works on the public, who don't want to get shot by an un-trained ice goon.
So like how cops give out bullshit speeding tickets they know will get thrown out of court.... cuz they can claim 2 hrs of overtime just processing papers
Because just being arrested and missing work as a result can cost these people their jobs, their health insurance, their housing, etc. They don't have to get a conviction to ruin your life and they know it.
It's not just spaghetti throwing to intimidate, but it is also pumping up the base who will never hear anything questioning this on right wing media.
To them it's just news about the left hates us so much they destroy our monuments, and when it's dismissed "See the radical deep state leftist judges threw out the case of someone who destroyed trump's work. This is why we have to impeach these judges!"
They don't need an "explanation" that is truthful, or survives scrutiny. They just need an "explanation" that lasts long enough to occupy the news cycle.
Thank you. I fuck this up myself all the time. If you hadn't pointed it out, I wouldn't have noticed, which means I still haven't learned. Yet my eye twitches and my vein pops when I see OTHER mistakes. Conflicting and embarrassing.
And the toadies to Trump are stupid, but have enough self preservation to know if they actually lie under oath by saying they believe Trump's obviously bullshit lies, then it actually opens them to consequence. So they give zero answers and just babble nothing statements that have zero substance like this. It's such a maddening waste of time that they get away with never giving a real answer.
That wouldn't work if the DNC has control of Congress instead of being the minority party. Giving evasive non-answers like this in a Congressional hearing to a Senator or Congressperson can result in a Contempt of Congress charge. And they would sit in jail until they actually answered the questions. It's been done in the past, it can be done now.
Agreed. Refusing to answer a direct question when summoned before congress should be considered contempt of congress and they should be charged and arrested.
I understand the sentiment, but that would violate the separation of powers. Congress cannot execute the laws they write, the executive cannot judge and convict those they detain. They could refer him for prosecution to the Justice department. This succinctly highlights the problems of separation of powers, eh? Time for a constitutional convention, imo
It wouldn't violate any separation of powers. An executive branch official that refuses to answer Congress is technically violating the separation of powers too if that is your definition of it. And they don't need the DoJ to hold someone, Congress has its own police officers: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Capitol_Police
Note: Those were the guys that stood up to the Jan 6th insurrectionists. That's why they did that, because they aren't under the President's control.
cosinewave
The area is loaded with security cameras. Produce the video of someone cutting it with a blade or shut the fuck up.
Slonato
Trump won't run again, it's illegal! Let me continue ignoring all the terribly illegal shit he's currently doing.
ElbowDeepInABlackhole
Trump, or honestly, whoever the actual scumfuck that has two evil brain cells that they can rub together, definitely read the 48 laws of power, diversions, smoke screens being used to hide their true intentions that I assume has to do with the files everyone, but mchefe wants released. Definitely diversions from something though in my humble opinion.
sms001
Whitehouse and company need to break out the "L" word. Just say it flat out "That's a lie." Not "...made up a 350ft gash" but "Told a LIE about a 350 foot gash."
MCNewYorkLives
"you lied about the 350 gash"
"I never said that you don't have the proof"
"I'm trying to get the proof, and you refuse to answer."
PolitiCat
Not answering the question should subject one to a simple majority vote to permanently and irrevocably remove them from all public positions, ban them indefinitely from such positions, and throw them for contempt in jail.
cearn
It's mindblowing that there are no consequences for stonewalling like this.
draqsko
It's because the Democrats are the minority party. If they had voting power in Congress, these people could easily be held in contempt of Congress indefinitely.
That's why they are so brazen in these committee meetings, they know that the Democrats don't have the votes to send them to jail. That's why vote like your life depends on it come November, because well, it probably will if the GOP keeps control of all the branches of government.
Lugh314159
Why is no one ever held in contempt when they just straight up like or refuse to answer questions???
draqsko
Because the GOP controls Congress and they aren't going to vote to send their members to jail over a Democrat's questioning.
[deleted]
[deleted]
michaelfire
https://irp.fas.org/congress/1998_cr/980507-07-l.htm">https://irp.fas.org/congress/1998_cr/980507-l.htm> https://il.htm07-l.htm">httrp.fas.o">l.htm07-l.htm">https://irp.fas.org/congress/1998_cr/980507-l.htm> https://irp.fas.org/congress/1992_cr/h920205-october-clps://irp">rp.fas.o">l.htm07-l.htm">https://irp.fa">ips.htm ">ps://irp">rp.fas.o">l.htm07-l.htm">https://irp.fas.org/congress/1998_cr/980507-l.htm> https://irp.fas.org/congress/1992_cr/h920205-october-clips.htm https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/50-year-war-on-drugs-imprisoned-millions-of-black-americans https://ccrjustice.org/torture-us-prisons /gallery/who-was-robert-mueller-really-bush-iraq-war-us-partisan-intel-warfare-co-conspirator-letting-trumps-russian-election-interference-slide-CbathV7 https://www.globalresearch.ca/a-cia-hand-in-an-american-coup/5346984 2
michaelfire
ion-about-us-government-abuse-of-power/gallery/mlk-day-is-also-ab">-WTViMK2">https://imgur.com/gallery/mlk-day-is-also-about-truth-reconciliation-about-us-government-abuse-of-power-WTViMK2 http://www.tni.org/en/article/waging-counterinsurgency Please see my report on ICE torture in private for-profit detention, mass incarceration- www.worldconsul.com http://imgur.com/gallery/torture-ice-private-detention-centers-bSU3TeW my first-hand report on torture of detainees help me spread the word/let people know Blacks, Dems, the Left, Progressives targeted for "disruption" Ops 3
rossonerinho
just once I'd like to hear a senator or congressperson tell one of these trump nominees who won't answer questions - " you know there have been a lot of imbeciles who have been put up for confirmation by trump. I hope you are proud to now be included in that number."
clonedeeznuts
More worthless performances. God we waste so much money talking sternly to people who don't care and know nothing will happen. What an inefficient system of show boating and zero substance.
flordelasantillas
Let's make our false claims real by arresting innocent citizens. Everyone on our side keep repeating the lies, MAGA people will believe them.
Kess9215
Why not just call them the cowards that they are for not answering questions while under oath?
Resistance1000
The process is the punishment. The target's life is disrupted, they have to spend $$$ on lawyers, etc. It's all about intimidating them – and everyone else – into obedience and silence.
Aristocrats
The only rational response to any corrupt public official is to respond with the Sisamnes protocol.
dontrike
The gash that has no pictures or videos of it being done.
TrumpRapesChildren
Man they need to get rid of this BS just claim the 5th or I don't know or giving generic I stand by my statement shit.
Imagine of you or I were being grilled, we refused to answer, we would be put in jail immediately, so why are these so blatantly performative and not punitivate in the slightest for them?
lildude52ca
WHERES THE ACCOUNTABILITY. HOLD THESE FUCKING LOSERS ACCOUNTABLE JESUS FUCK THESE AMERICANS ARE FUCKING USELESS
Rink257
This is just embarrassing, but im glad the there are people in charge somewhere still able to call BS when they see BS.
kbryant414
Unfortunately, it doesn't matter to just state the obvious. One side is flagrantly breaking all laws and the other side is pretending those laws still matter. "I stand by my statement." Ok, put the man in jail for contempt/perjury. Will it hold up in court? Maybe, maybe not. They're literally having an exchange about people being put in jail without good reason, see if he can take what he dishes out. If he walks out of that room a free man, then he wins. No amount of 'gotcha' makes him the loser
draqsko
That's not how Contempt of Congress works, there's no court hearing that throws out the case or anything like that. If they arrest you for Inherent Contempt of Congress, they can basically hold you until you break or they break because the court deciding the charge IS that branch of Congress. And the cops that arrest you are the Capital Police which are under Congressional control not executive control.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contempt_of_Congress#Inherent_contempt
idiotsonfire
Every Republican is a Nazi.
lonelyrangerofthedreams
Shitshow as always in the US
gtotherizzle
A fuckwit
nothingtolurkhere
The question is, is that guy just protecting his job or is he just shoulders deep up Trump's ass?
Madalchemist2018
To do A he has to be B.
Whatdoyousaytoanicecupoftea
https://media2.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPWE1NzM3M2U1M2EzNjVhc3JlcHF5YzJ0bWI2dGFsYnA4Y3FqNmdndGVkY2R5NXlqayZlcD12MV9naWZzX3NlYXJjaCZjdD1n/3o85xIO33l7RlmLR4I/200w.webp
zHurk777
yes.
[deleted]
[deleted]
iquestionthepinappleeveryday
Worst part of all of that is that it’s the “under oath” part and the “outside” part. Words mean nothing in politics unless under oath… and even then it’s questionable. But doing so seems like the most obvious avoidable thing if you’re a crook.
KremlinOfAges
The answer is B. And shortly, that guy is going burst out like this MF:
DaddyDune
Just following orders
Roqinn
So,picking up trash is vandalism?
aChungusAmongUs
Looks like Kevin Lilly is a bootlicking piece of shit. It’s exhausting to comprehend the magnitude of power given to unqualified fucking morons
StellarJay77
They're selfish assholes who think they are superior and above the law and are only interested in protecting their own asses and jobs so they kowtow to appease dear leader so they can continue to have their job so they can still feel like they are better than everyone else. Fucking cowardly little children.
HarryDresdenIsMySpiritAnimal
Do you mean Kevin Lilly, the bootlicker? That bootlicker? The bootlicking piece of shit, Kevin Lilly, who is a lying liar who lies? That Kevin Lilly?
StellarJay77
This does nothing because they have zero shame. All they want or care about is to feel like they have power over others so they will do or say anything to cover their own asses and don't give a flying fuck about how those choices harm others.
johnvilnis
Why don’t they just take the 5th in these meetings?
It would save so much time than listening to them repeating the same phrase over and over when it doesn’t make sense.
draqsko
They would, if the Democrats controlled Congress and could charge them with contempt for evasive non-answers like this. But Democrats don't control Congress so they are flexing like this because they know their own side won't charge them with contempt for a Democrat's questions.
ItsACrazyWorld
I am so sick of politicians not answering questions at these hearings or at anything. What's the point of having the fucking hearings if they dont answer questions? This isnt the 50s where that's a bad thing. This whole country is just a giant fucking joke.
charhan
Senator Whitehouse is not a Republican. How could you make this mistake?
OceansRust
RI - Rhode Island
charhan
I hate it when I make a fool of myself.
OceansRust
Welcome to my World.
michaelfire
How/where do you even get a "flat top" today? Says "defending" the city with straight face-so, "national security"/ requiring COIN warfare against "enemies"? Mass incarceration as part of deliberate destruction of Blacks, the Left. "Disruption", torture, COIN warfare against "enemies" of the Right to convert victims to informants /gallery/trump-vance-announc">-0W9avpc">https://imgur.com/gallery/trump-vance-announce-new-war-on-left-what-will-be-like-what-has-already-been-0W9avpc https://www.tni.org/en/article/waging-counterinsurgency 1
michaelfire
https://irp.fas.org/congress/1998_cr/980507-07-l.htm">https://irp.fas.org/congress/1998_cr/980507-l.htm> https://il.htm07-l.htm">httrp.fas.o">l.htm07-l.htm">https://irp.fas.org/congress/1998_cr/980507-l.htm> https://irp.fas.org/congress/1992_cr/h920205-october-clps://irp">rp.fas.o">l.htm07-l.htm">https://irp.fa">ips.htm ">ps://irp">rp.fas.o">l.htm07-l.htm">https://irp.fas.org/congress/1998_cr/980507-l.htm> https://irp.fas.org/congress/1992_cr/h920205-october-clips.htm https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/50-year-war-on-drugs-imprisoned-millions-of-black-americans https://ccrjustice.org/torture-us-prisons /gallery/who-was-robert-mueller-really-bush-iraq-war-us-partisan-intel-warfare-co-conspirator-letting-trumps-russian-election-interference-slide-CbathV7 https://www.globalresearch.ca/a-cia-hand-in-an-american-coup/5346984 2
michaelfire
ion-about-us-government-abuse-of-power/gallery/mlk-day-is-also-ab">-WTViMK2">https://imgur.com/gallery/mlk-day-is-also-about-truth-reconciliation-about-us-government-abuse-of-power-WTViMK2 http://www.tni.org/en/article/waging-counterinsurgency Please see my report on ICE torture in private for-profit detention, mass incarceration- www.worldconsul.com http://imgur.com/gallery/torture-ice-private-detention-centers-bSU3TeW my first-hand report on torture of detainees help me spread the word/let people know Blacks, Dems, the Left, Progressives targeted for "disruption" Ops 3
rolliefingers
This identifies the main tactic of the administration: spaghetti throwing. Just say whatever, arrest whoever. Nothing holds up in court, but the point isn't to govern or enforce the law, it's to intimidate, to accrue leverage by making it easier to comply than to resist. It works on people in government, who won't stand up to political pressure because they're afraid of retribution, and it works on the public, who don't want to get shot by an un-trained ice goon.
GabbyJayYay
So like how cops give out bullshit speeding tickets they know will get thrown out of court.... cuz they can claim 2 hrs of overtime just processing papers
iquestionthepinappleeveryday
No, not really like that at all honestly.
chd7hubx8m11666
Prove it.
jaecyk10
Because just being arrested and missing work as a result can cost these people their jobs, their health insurance, their housing, etc. They don't have to get a conviction to ruin your life and they know it.
NM156
This is like when the police arrest you on BS charges. They do this to waste your time. They know you have to make time to go to court.
tidepool
FDT learned that from Roy Cohn who was a mafia lawyer. Everything he does comes out of the ancient mob boss manual.
Selfinflictedwounds
It's not just spaghetti throwing to intimidate, but it is also pumping up the base who will never hear anything questioning this on right wing media.
To them it's just news about the left hates us so much they destroy our monuments, and when it's dismissed "See the radical deep state leftist judges threw out the case of someone who destroyed trump's work. This is why we have to impeach these judges!"
jamesbondq
They don't need an "explanation" that is truthful, or survives scrutiny. They just need an "explanation" that lasts long enough to occupy the news cycle.
leechdemon
So like... He didn't answer the question. If this was court, he'd be held in contempt and go to jail.
Is there no consequence for refusing to answer questions in Congress? I feel like there should be..
imakesoap
And no one is asking about the Epstein files now either
rolliefingers
Sorry, WHOMever
EstoyPoopis
Thank you. I fuck this up myself all the time. If you hadn't pointed it out, I wouldn't have noticed, which means I still haven't learned. Yet my eye twitches and my vein pops when I see OTHER mistakes. Conflicting and embarrassing.
bolinotoyou
I'll Say !
My cumberbund burst and flew across the study, after reading such a callous mispronunciation !
ibuycrap
No mispronunciation here, sir. Straight up grammar police. Thank you, I’ll sit down now.
SubTrout
And the toadies to Trump are stupid, but have enough self preservation to know if they actually lie under oath by saying they believe Trump's obviously bullshit lies, then it actually opens them to consequence. So they give zero answers and just babble nothing statements that have zero substance like this. It's such a maddening waste of time that they get away with never giving a real answer.
draqsko
That wouldn't work if the DNC has control of Congress instead of being the minority party. Giving evasive non-answers like this in a Congressional hearing to a Senator or Congressperson can result in a Contempt of Congress charge. And they would sit in jail until they actually answered the questions. It's been done in the past, it can be done now.
jaecyk10
Agreed. Refusing to answer a direct question when summoned before congress should be considered contempt of congress and they should be charged and arrested.
wouldClimbForCash
I understand the sentiment, but that would violate the separation of powers. Congress cannot execute the laws they write, the executive cannot judge and convict those they detain. They could refer him for prosecution to the Justice department. This succinctly highlights the problems of separation of powers, eh? Time for a constitutional convention, imo
draqsko
It wouldn't violate any separation of powers. An executive branch official that refuses to answer Congress is technically violating the separation of powers too if that is your definition of it. And they don't need the DoJ to hold someone, Congress has its own police officers: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Capitol_Police
Note: Those were the guys that stood up to the Jan 6th insurrectionists. That's why they did that, because they aren't under the President's control.