Stories Of Ukrainian Heroism Are Emerging And Giving The Country Hope excerpt: "KYIV — Acts of unthinkable bravery by Ukrainian citizens have already ascended into legend across the country, boosting morale and galvanizing a nationwide resistance that has already proved formidable in the face of Russia’s massive and experienced military. Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine is only several days old, and examples of spirited defiance are piling up: A group of border guards who defied a Russian warship order and were captured or killed. A military unit that took on 34 Russian attack helicopters and dozens of paratroopers during a battle for a key airport. A Ukrainian soldier who rigged a bridge to blow up in order to stop a Russian advance on Kyiv and sacrificed his life to ensure the blast was successful. Civilians lying down in front of rolling Russian tanks and berating occupying troops to their faces. Tens of thousands of civilian volunteers taking up arms and rushing to the frontlines."
Russia-watchers, lawmakers question Putin’s stability as he puts nuclear forces on alert excerpt: "McCaul told Fox News he is "really starting to question" Putin's "competency, mental fitness." The Russian president "seems to be delusional, very isolated," he said, "and that's really terrifying not just for Ukraine, but the entire world." Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, told NBC's Meet The Press he wouldn't discuss "specific intelligence," but "what we do know is that over the last couple of years, Putin has been more and more isolated." "When you are an authoritarian leader and you have less and less input, and you're only hearing from people that want to say to the boss, ‘Hey, you're right,’ I think that leads to miscalculation," Warner said. "And I think that is what has happened in the case of his invasion in Ukraine.""
Make Russia Great Again. Putin's invasion is like a highly magnified version of Trump's riot at the Capitol. Trump said he was in awe at the number of Putin's troops and tanks and said that such a force could be used at the U.S.-Mexico border. Russia-watchers, lawmakers question Putin’s stability as he puts nuclear forces on alert excerpt: "What he wants to do more than anything is restore Russia to ... greatness," McMaster said. "He's also driven by the desire to remain in power until 2036. I think now he knows all of that is at risk. The Russian military doesn't look very good; he doesn't look very powerful."
Not sure why this remark isn't getting more attention... Trump was also suggesting the "claim those territories independent and move in as peacekeepers" for the southern border. Little red hat people would like that, but the rest of the world would react in a less than favorable manner. Trump is no less delusional than Putin but much more stupid...
Washington Post: Bill Barr says Trump 'has neither the temperament nor persuasive powers' of a leader | CNN Politics excerpt: "Washington (CNN)Former US Attorney General Bill Barr thinks former President Donald Trump "has shown he has neither the temperament nor persuasive powers" of a leader, according to excerpts of his forthcoming book obtained by The Washington Post. "We need leaders not only capable of fighting and 'punching,' but also persuading and attracting -- leaders who can frame, and advocate for, an uplifting vision of what it means to share in American citizenship," Barr, who served as Trump's second attorney general, wrote in the book, "One Damn Thing After Another," according to the Post. The comments from the onetime Trump loyalist come as the former President continues to hold considerable influence over the style and direction of the Republican Party, serving as its standard-bearer more than a year after leaving office. According to the Post, Barr says in the book that the prospect of Trump running for president again was "dismaying." CNN has been unable to obtain a copy of the book. Barr did not comment to CNN on the new reporting on the book. When Barr resigned in December 2020 after telling The Associated Press that the Justice Department had not found any evidence of widespread voter fraud, his split with Trump seemed mostly -- at least publicly -- amicable, with Barr using his resignation letter to offer a glowing account of Trump's tenure."
If trump’s supporters want to protest they should go to Russia. I am sure the Russian police will treat them nicer. . . .
Trump claims he doesn’t know anything about Sean Hannity’s 6 January texts excerpt: "Donald Trump has claimed he doesn’t know anything about text messages sent by Sean Hannity to his chief of staff during the 6 January attacks on the Capitol. The House select committee investigating the Capitol riot last month released several text messages sent by the Fox News host to Mark Meadows in the days leading up to, during and after the attack on the Capitol on 6 January. The messages showed Hannity “had advance knowledge” of plans for 6 January to prevent the peaceful transfer of power to Joe Biden, according to the committee. When Mr Trump was asked about the messages after speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference on Saturday, he claimed not to know anything about them. “I don’t know what messages you’re talking about but I think he’s a great gentleman, a very talented person, gets fantastic ratings and certainly he speaks very well of me,” Mr Trump said. The House Committee has asked Hannity to testify, and voted to hold Mr Meadows in contempt after he refused to appear before them."
North Carolina officials reject Cawthorn claim that Constitution’s insurrectionist ban no longer applies excerpt: "The North Carolina attorney general’s office says a constitutional prohibition on insurrectionists seeking federal office could be applied to GOP Rep. Madison Cawthorn if a state board determines he aided or encouraged the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. In a late Monday court filing, state attorneys said a provision of the 14th Amendment — disqualifying insurrectionists from holding federal office — is not a defunct Civil War-era relic meant to apply only to former Confederates but a guard against future acts of insurrection. As a result, Cawthorn, who is fighting a challenge to his eligibility to run, could face that prohibition if the North Carolina State Board of Elections determines he meets the criteria, the state attorneys said. The state’s filing came in a motion to dismiss Cawthorn’s lawsuit against the North Carolina State Board of Elections. Cawthorn is suing to prevent the board from even considering the challenge to his eligibility to seek a second term in the House."
Crowd size and ratings are the metrics Trump uses to gauge the value of life. Trump's latest embracement: Putin's number of tanks in Ukraine Sean Hannity's TV ratings.
Romney blasts GOP who are rootin' for Putin. 'Almost treasonous': Romney condemns GOP voices backing Putin excerpt: "Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, said Sunday that "it just makes me ill" to see people inside of the Republican Party praise Russian President Vladimir Putin as he wages war against Ukraine. Romney even went as far as to describe it as "almost treasonous" to side with Putin. "A lot of those people are changing their stripes as they are seeing the response of the world and the political response here in the U.S.," Romney said during an interview on CNN's "State of the Union," when asked about pro-Putin sentiment within the Republican Party. "But how anybody — how anybody in this country, which loves freedom — can side with Vladimir Putin — which is an oppressor, a dictator, he kills people, he imprisons his political opponents, he has been an adversary of America at every chance he's had — it's unthinkable to me. It's almost treasonous," he continued. "And it just makes me ill to see some of these people do that.""
From a filing by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia regarding the riot at the Capitol involving defendant Stephen Ayres who was one of Trump's protesters at the Capitol: "The U.S. Capitol is secured 24 hours a day by U.S. Capitol Police. Restrictions around the U.S. Capitol include permanent and temporary security barriers and posts manned by U.S. Capitol Police. Only authorized people with appropriate identification were allowed access inside the U.S. Capitol. On January 6, 2021, the exterior plaza of the U.S. Capitol was also closed to members of the public."
Trump has another opportunity to go on a name-calling rage against people he used to like. Barr says Trump 'lost his grip' in forthcoming memoir Barr Rebukes Trump as ‘Off the Rails’ in New Memoir
Remarkably, Trump hasn't gone on a name-calling rage against Pence, even though he thinks Pence double-crossed him by not overturning the election.