Guess Who Came to Dinner

From NBC NEWS:

WASHINGTON — As federal workers file out of the State Department at the end of a Washington workday, an elite group is often just arriving in the marbled, flag-lined lobby: Billionaire CEOs, Supreme Court justices, political heavyweights and ambassadors arrive in evening attire as they’re escorted by private elevator to dinner with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

Until the coronavirus shut them down in March, the gatherings were known as “Madison Dinners” — elaborate, unpublicized affairs that Pompeo and his wife, Susan Pompeo, began in 2018 and held regularly in the historic Diplomatic Reception Rooms on the government’s dime.

Original DVD cover

Trials and Fib-ulations

From Mother Jones:

It took less than two hours in the Senate impeachment trial on Tuesday for a member of President Donald Trump’s defense team to tell an outright lie.

Original DVD cover

Her Reign In Maine Has Really Left a Stain

From HILL REPORTER:

Whenever there is a close controversial vote, democrats normally hold out hope that Maine senator, Susan Collins, will vote with them. […] She broke liberal hearts, however, when she voted to confirm Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh in October of 2018.

That Kavanaugh vote, while it pleased the GOP, may have done the senator more harm than good. According to a new poll from Critical Insights, Collins’ Maine approval rating has dipped 17 points since last spring.

Original painting (Agreeable Burden by William-Adolphe Bouguereau)

The Beer Facts

You have to wonder what the FBI will be investigating now that Senator Jeff Flake had a moment of conscience or courage (or if he is playing a game like Susan Collins was when she voted Betsy Wetsy DeVos out of committee knowing she would have enough votes to be confirmed even though Susie voted against her. But I digress…). I’m hoping they look into his Georgetown Prep yearbook references.

Original advertisement

When you are so sexist, you can’t be trusted to even talk to a woman

From THE CUT at NYMAG.com:

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has a solution to the all-male judiciary committee that will preside over the Christine Blasey Ford hearing on Thursday. At a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, he revealed that he hired a “female assistant” to ask Ford questions about the sexual assault allegation she made against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.

Original advertisement

They’ll get the most beautiful cake with the most beautiful file in it!

From BUSINESS INSIDER:

Speculation is mounting that President Donald Trump could issue a pardon to members of his family and close associates who are suspected of colluding with Russia in the 2016 campaign.

…snip…

The June 2016 meeting of Donald Trump Jr., Paul Manafort, Jared Kushner and Russian go-betweens promising dirt about Hillary Clinton raises the specter of criminal liability under campaign finance laws.

Original movie poster

(Don’t strain your dear little eyes, Raisinettes. That’s Paul Manafort in the top floor cell and Michael Flynn in the bottom. The guard with the gun is Robert Mueller.)

Instead of a travel ban, there should be a Twitter ban

From the New York DAILY NEWS:

A close ally of President Trump and the husband of one of his top advisers took to Twitter to bash the President’s Twitter habits on Monday, warning that Trump was undercutting his own legal standing in the court fight for his travel ban in order for short-term emotional gratification.

George Conway, Kellyanne Conway’s husband who recently took his name out of the running for a top Department of Justice job, tweeted Monday morning that Trump was hurting himself.

Original DVD cover

Picture This!

From tampabay.com:

Is this what happens when you put a CEO in charge of state government?

Those experienced in dealing with the cranky, suspicious class known as hardcore news reporters know the best way to get journalists to do something, is to tell them they can’t — and vice versa.

So it’s hard to understand why anybody in Gov. Rick Scott‘s office thought journalists would actually accede to their request that all photos of the new governor be supplanted by an official photo they distributed Monday [Click link to see the official pic].

…snip…

The email sent to news outlets said: “Please forward the attached photo of Governor Rick Scott to the appropriate people in your organization who handle graphics, layout and design.  Please use this photo of Governor Scott, rather than any others you may have on file.”

Yeah, right!
Original movie poster