Friday News: McDonnell SCOTUS Decision Makes Trump/Bondi Corruption Prosecution Less Likely; Media Needs to Call Out Trump’s Many, Many Lies

by Lowell

Here are a few national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Friday, September 9.

• Trump’s Comments On Intelligence Briefings ‘Astonish’ Former Intel Officials (“Experts say they can think of no precedent for what Trump said.”)
• North Korea Says Tested Nuclear Bomb, Can Miniaturize Arms (That country is a major problem, will require steady leadership – not a sociopathic, war-loving hothead like Trump – to deal with in coming years.)
• 15 Years of Donald Trump’s 9/11 Lies, Insults, and Slights (“The New Yorker has a huge history of indifference and contempt for the darkest day in his city’s history.”)
• It’s Time for the Media to Step Up and Call Out Donald Trump’s Many Lies (Looong past time!)
• Trump attacks U.S. foreign policy, political press corps on state-owned Russian television network (Just imagine if Hillary Clinton did this, or if Barack Obama had done it in 2008 – the right wing, Fox/Rush/etc., would have gone APE!)
• Why Donald Trump and Pam Bondi Probably Won’t Face a Corruption Investigation (“The Supreme Court’s McDonnell decision seems to have put a chill on prosecutors.” That’s bad news for anyone who cares about honest, non-corrupt government in America.)
• The Pam Bondi case shows Trump is more hustler than businessman (“It seems unlikely the candidate gave Florida’s attorney general $25,000 for principled reasons.” Paging the FBI, paging the FBI! How has Trump not gone to prison by now, given his lifelong corruption?)
• Gary Johnson’s Aleppo gaffe was bad. But Trump’s consistent ignorance is worse. (Obviously, Gary Johnson shouldn’t be president, but Trump makes wild errors every time he opens his mouth, not to mention his pathological lying, love of violence and war – fascist that he is – etc.)
• The Hillary Clinton email story is out of control (“The attention paid to it has far surpassed the boundaries of the facts.” There’s basically never been any “there there,” yet the media acts like there’s something while ignoring Trump’s massive corruption. Yep, that’s your “liberal” – hahahaha – media at work for ya.)
• Donald Trump’s raging egomania (“He made the joint commander-in-chief forum all about him.” We need not just Trump’s medical records, but also a thorough psychological evaluation. I’m sure that would find he’s seriously unwell.)
• Trump and Priebus’s sexism show the challenges Clinton will face — even if she wins (If you’re a woman, how can you possibly vote for the candidate and party of rabid misogyny?)
• How Russia could spark a U.S. electoral disaster (“Moscow has done this before in other countries.” Putin would love to see Trump elected, as he knows that would severely weaken America and aid Russia.)
• Don’t be fooled — Donald Trump’s foreign policy is as scary as ever (“The candidate proved once again he is unfit to be commander in chief.” It’s utterly terrifying.)
• What Really Happened at Donald Trump’s Intelligence Briefing (“Four sources with knowledge of the briefing — including two intelligence officials who spoke to people in the room — said Flynn repeatedly interrupted the briefers until New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie intervened.”)
• How white racism and a complicit media are keeping Trump close in the polls — and why it won’t be enough
• Self-proclaimed “genius” reaches new highs in stupidity: Trump puts his incompetence on full display (“This week Donald Trump has gone the extra mile to remind America he’s clueless, dangerous and inept”)
• Trump’s shot at top brass rankles military circles (“Any attempt to sideline top officers in one fell swoop is viewed by some retired officers and longtime Pentagon officials as undermining tradition.”)
• Donald Trump Jr. Treats the Nation’s Top Conspiracy Theorist as a Legitimate News Source (Also should be an automatic disqualifier for Trump, among many others.)
• A Debate Disaster Waiting to Happen (“Moderators at future presidential debates must do a better job of holding the candidates accountable.” And asking serious, relevant questions.)
• Krugman: Donald Trump’s ‘Big Liar’ Technique
• Rachel Maddow: “The Top Of The Republican Ticket” Is Reading And Circulating “The Kook Fringe” (The top of the Republican ticket IS the “kook fringe.”)
• Tim Kaine Gets First Classified Intelligence Briefing as VP Contender (And unlike Trump, we can trust Kaine to keep secrets.)
• Is Virginia losing its swinginess? (“One hint the battleground state may be less so: Outside groups spent zip on ads in August, compared with $10 million in 2012.”)
• Editorial: State’s unfunded pension liability raises concerns
• Prosecutors will drop cases against former Va. governor Robert McDonnell, wife (“The decision brought to an end a years-long saga that saw the reputation of a rising GOP star sullied.”)
• McDonnell scandal ends with a shrug. He can’t compete with Trump for our attention. (“In the current climate of political raunch, the former Virginia governor and his wife just aren’t icky enough.”)
• In Richmond, the McDonnell case changed the calculus on gifts (“As politicians welcome end of saga, they reflect on changes in ethics laws and attitudes.”)
• RTD Exclusive: Bob McDonnell reflects on the end of his ordeal
• McDonnell decision: No clear message, experts say (“Former Gov. Bob McDonnell won’t face another jury, is unlikely to again face Virginia voters — and has reassured politicians that they don’t have to fear prosecution for accepting gifts or money from special interests, political scientists say.” Well, that’s a clear message then, and a really bad one at that!)
• In-service date delayed on Atlantic Coast Pipeline project (How about delaying it to…never?)
• 6th district candidate Kai Degner to hold issues summit Saturday
• Virginia Beach council, mayoral candidate forum focuses mostly on light rail
• Richmond Democrats vote to endorse Levar Stoney for mayor (That was a done deal a looong time ago. As for the DPVA intervening in an intra-Democratic contest…just think about that one.)
• National NAACP officials plead guilty to trespassing during Goodlatte sit-in
• Fairfax County Park Employee Released on Bond After Lawyers Argue He Stabbed Caterer in Self-Defense
• Another day of near-record heat, still hot Saturday, then some relief