(Permanent Musical Accompaniment To The Last Post Of The Week From The Blogs Favourite Living Canadian)

Fridays Transcripts of the Day were those of Fiona Hill and Colonel Alexander Vindland, and, yes, they pretty much prove that the president* is as guilty as sin, even as his own sins, which are considerable. But the most entertaining parts of the new transcripts, and the sections that give us some kind of indication as to where the open hearings might go, are those featuring the floundering attempts by various Republicans to derail the proceedings in one way or another. And when it comes to Republican Flounders, theres no flounder more floundering than Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Breathalyzer), Republican of Florida.

You may recall that Gaetz was one of the leaders of the pack of Republican congresscritters who bum-rushed the secure area in which the depositions were held. In the latest transcripts, the actual moment of Gaetzs triumph, which occurred during Hills time before the committee, is captured. Intelligence committee chairman Adam Schiff was having none of this, and pretty plainly wanted Gaetz to get up off of his last nerve.

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In a related development, it was announced that Rep. Jim Jordan, Republican of Ohio and dedicated follower of fashion, would be replacing Rep. Randy Crawford on the Intelligence Committee in next weeks public hearings. This was particularly well-timed since another witness came forward on Thursday night and accused Jordan of shrugging off molestation complaints against Ohio State doctor Richard Strauss when Jordan was the assistant wrestling coach at the school. From NBC News:

Oh, its going to be a show, no doubt about it. And, at the end of it, the president* is still going to be guilty as sin.

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Michael Bloomberg is going to launch his campaign in Alabama. He is the billionaire former mayor of New York City whose primary issue is gun control, and who's most notable for attempts to ban the Big Gulp. Meanwhile, African-American citizens in NYC dislike and distrust him because of his defense of the Stop-and-Frisk tactics that led to abuse by the NYPD. And that word has got around. Exactly who would his constituency be in Alabama? His primary voting bloc seems to remain wealthy cable news stars and their many friends. Lord, though, its hard to tell whether the ownership class is more frightened of Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, or Joe Bidens cerebral cortex. He is not a serious factor in the Democratic primary. Read the damn room, people.

By the way, John Bolton is in this thing for the book deal. Nothing more.

The president* had a bit of a nutty in his driveway on Friday. The highlight was when he claimed he barely knew Ambassador Gordon Sondland, the middleman in the Ukraine scheme. I know Ive forgotten more than a few people who have given me $1 million. Its tragic, is what it is. Also, he might go to Moscow so Vladimir Putin can show him all the big boom-booms the Russians have. QUIET!!!!!!

Little Richards SHUT UP! was much more compelling. The sound of the helicopter was drowned out by the sound of a cock crowing, three times.

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Weekly WWOZ Pick To Click: Clarinet Marmalade (Paul Barbarin): Yeah, I still pretty much love New Orleans.

Weekly Visit To The Pathe Archives: Here are some US airmen yucking it up with some colleagues from the Soviet air force in Ukraine in 1944. Military aid, you know, without a quid or a quo. Nice soup ladies! Singing and dancing! And young Ivan, being introduced to Beemans. (Hey, Ivan. You got any Beemans?) History is so cool.

Is it a good day for dinosaur news, CBC? Its always a good day for dinosaur news!

Congratulations to British Columbia on the occasion of the discovery of its first indigenous dinosaur, which lived then to make people from Vancouver to Peace River happy now.

The Committee was very impressed by Top Commenter Rod McDonalds History of Performative Outrage TED Talk about the long legacy of people complaining about things. It awarded him 91.11 non-transferable Beckhams.

They screamed when the defense dept spent 300 bucks on furniture from Jordan Marsh in case Jackie K. needed a place to rest at Otis AFB when she was pregnant w/ Patrick they were appalled when Susan Ford greedily dishonored her fathers presidency by doing a Subaru commercial they were *outraged* at the windfall profits that Billy Carter got from his 2-pump jerkwater gas station when his brother was POTUS But this asshat loots millions intended for homeless vets and *crickets* - what can one say other than O tempora! O mores!

The archives of the shebeen are fathomless.

Im off to DC next week to watch the donkey show. (Might stop by Roger Stones trial as well.) Be well and play nice, ya bastids. Stay above the snake-line, and, remember, if any of you are caught quidding the quo, the president* doesnt know who you are.

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Matt Gaetz and Jim Jordan Just Debuted the Trump Circus Defense - Esquire