Pelosi/Schiff press conference NOW

[highplainsdem]

Just starting....

[struggle4progress]

1. HR 3

[BumRushDaShow]

2. Running on CSPAN

Also WaPo -

[highplainsdem]

4. Thanks!

[Ilsa]

7. Thank you so much for posting.

I wasn't in a position to watch until you posted.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

35. thanks! WaPo clip works. starts about 0:29:30

CSPAN doesn't like me, but the WaPo vid does. Starts out with "This event has ended". Skip forward to about 29 mins in and that's when Pelosi and Schiff come out.

[NeoGreen]

3. C-Span link...

https://www.c-span.org/video/?464846-1/house-speaker-nancy-pelosi-news-conference

[highplainsdem]

5. Thanks!

[Johnny2X2X]

6. Love that she's highlighting Dem plans and accomplishments

The party is working everyday for Americans.

[BumRushDaShow]

10. AND she is really underscoring how the media doesn't give a damn

yet they will then claim that "Democrats in the House are doing nothing with kitchen table issues" (completely ignoring when legislation about these things are discussed by the House leadership).

[tymorial]

41. They certainly demonstrated their duplicity

She was clearly asking for questions and feedback regarding legislation but they would step forward and redirect to impeachment. Its certainly important but the behavior of the press is aggravating.

[BumRushDaShow]

42. And to give an example of what she's talking about

WaPo then had the nerve to publish this analysis -

Now that there’s an impeachment inquiry, what’s going to happen to guns, the border and prescription drugs?

By Amber Phillips
Oct. 2, 2019 at 1:03 p.m. EDT

Now that House Democrats have started an inquiry into whether to impeach President Trump, is all hope for legislation such as gun control, trade agreements and prescription drug costs dead?

Not necessarily, but if Wednesday morning’s Trump tweetstorm during House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s weekly news conference is any indication, it will be tough.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/10/02/now-that-theres-an-impeachment-inquiry-whats-going-happen-guns-border-prescription-drugs/

The GOP is permtted to do nothing but obstruct.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

15. Don't you think this could be true because they

know it's all DOA in Senate? After a while it's more than obvious.

[BumRushDaShow]

43. But why doesn't the media pressure and harass Turtle about that?

The media prefer to blame the Democrats and then DUers fall for that false narrative that Democrats are doing nothing.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

48. Get some Dems on news every day talking about it? The fact

that McConnell won't take up an election protection bill is unspeakable given that Russia hacked us. But instead of blaming the news we have to make that news with a media savvy campaign and constant, clear, and unified message. Especially in this world of constant distraction and trump doing something horrible twice a day. It provides cover for so much.

[BumRushDaShow]

50. They HAVE been out there "every day"

on both cable and network shows. But remember that the media is corporate-owned and those owners are generally "big business" Republicans. They are the same ones who engage in -

1.) bothsidesisms
2.) horse-race politics for ratings

So it is to their advantage to feed the discord.

Liberals/Progressives/Democrats need to OWN some "big media". If you don't own the megaphone, no one is going to willingly give one to you - EVEN when you do have a "clear and concise and unified message". And that's because the news departments in these entities were merged with the entertainment departments some time ago (as a "cost-cutting" measure). And thus the mentality is more along the line of providing "infotainment" versus "information". They spend more time and money creating "flashy graphics" and "scrolling chyrons" then what goes on the teleprompters for the anchors and hosts to read. And this is why what Drumpf does as part of his crazy act, gets attention. He had careers in television and other entertainment venues.

I posted a tweet storm from Rep. Maxine Waters and that certainly got some attention both here and in the media, but there were some DUers who were against that "style" of communication and some media also balked (although acknowledging that she has been consistent). Yet that is what Drumpf does continually all day and night and has been deemed "acceptable".

[Laura PourMeADrink]

51. Anyone who thinks we need to be acting gentile

is certainly behind the curve. Agree a long term plan to own part of the media is an excellent goal. Why do you think none of our most wealthy haven't done that? And what about advertising? You'd have to seek out Dem leaning companies. Anyone else would want you to please both sides..so they know their dollars are reaching as many people as possible. Not saying this couldn't be overcome. I would love to see it.

I have the news in in the background all day since I work from home. I never see Dems on every day dropping the same messaging points. Repetition important. And the calm and cautious people don't get heard past the first few sentences. Sad as that is. You can still be calm and be passionate. Otherwise just noise to the average person. So much noise no one can break through it.

[BumRushDaShow]

52. It depends on what "news" you are watching

The odd thing that is going on is the "messaging" going on in what I consider "unlikely places" -where political discussion is happening within an entertainment-focused show. For example, whenever I have seen clips of "The View" from ABC (and the couple times I might see it on the TV in the waiting room where I get my car serviced) the messaging is actually being discussed and debated with Whoopie and crew (as part of the show format).

I have actually been in my PCO's office waiting for my appointment and there is a TV there too, and I have actually seen Democratic party "talking points" introduced in the multiple choice questions of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" show.

When it comes to the broadcast networks - they are not dedicated to "all news all the time" so the "daily" appearances are usually happening during their morning shows - ALL of them - i.e., while DU watches and posts about the Joe and Mika big tent circus, the "Good Morning Americas" and "CBS This Mornings" and the "Today" shows, have our folks on.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

53. I agree. Jeez if you watch any of the late night shows - they all unabashedly ridicule trump.

Yet - think there IS an "unidentified" demographic. People like my SIL. Educated, kind, curious about other things, not a wingnut yet cares absolutely zero about politics. We saw her last weekend and had to fill her in on what trump did in Ukraine. she literally only heard surface noise about it and shut it out. she cares about everything else but politics and if she and her family and friends have a job and her taxes didn't go up - she's good. I have met other people like this in TX.

I am a yahoo user and when I tap email - I get their home page and see big news headlines. But, what about I-phone users? they don't see news unless they sign up for a service to provide it, right?

[BumRushDaShow]

54. Oddly enough

(and I think I've seen this posted before on DU) - many get their "news" from those late night comedians... the Colberts, Olivers, and even SNL, etc.

You'll notice that whenever they report the ratings for the cable news shows, they are talking about just a few million viewers throughout the programming day... whereas network programming has tens of millions of viewers (i.e., most people are not watching CNN or MSNBC or even Faux). So the "news" gets to them from their "local" stations (5pm/6pm news programs) and from the network national news programs (usually @6:30 pm local time), and in some cases depending on their work schedules, they may watch some morning news programming before heading out to work, and then that's it. Some may also read their local newspapers (especially those who have small-town local papers) too but they are not drenching themselves in the cable news analyst-style programming.

And for cord-cutters and/or those with cell service, both cell operating systems usually offer some kind of news service feed along with apps that provide configurable running headlines and links to news/sports/business/entertainment/style stories (if the owner chooses to look at/configure these to add/subtract from the default).

When I post my LBN stories, I am doing so based on the banner headlines that pop up (configured with a sound) on my iPad and/or iPhone (both that I keep plugged in/charging nearby).

[Laura PourMeADrink]

56. Yes. This demographic also likes the Today Show

And CBS 🌞 day Morning. Light news mixed with entertainment, cooking, and calmness without rancor.

It would be an interesting experiment to only watch what they see for a week. I know when I spend weekends with people like this I feel like I have missed tons of info and spend lots of time catching up when I get home.

Of course that doesn't answer our original dilemma...how do you educate this segment? I have always thought we need to create generic non-confrontational ads. Like my pet subject. (Link in my signature line to a comprehensive list of all trump crimes.). Trump reversed a President Obama regulation he instituted when they found out there were cancer causing materials in coal company sludge being dumped into water. I picture a simple ad with kids splashing in a stream with an overlay of confusion "president Trump removed this regulation....ask your congressman, senator, why they allowed this to happen?"

[BumRushDaShow]

58. Yes and

I know the past couple years I have had a sense of guilt in even considering viewing that type of "entertainment" TV (let alone the reality shows), considering it frivolous... And then find myself stressed... so I usually focus on hobbies. I do have close relatives who are keeping up with the political goings-on and we will often have group text discussions and will fill each other in on the latest. So in a number of cases, many folks do know enough to get by... and then they move on with their immediate lives.

And regarding ads - there comes a time when people get real sick of them because remember, they are also seeing ads for their local/state elections and it eventually gets to the point when they walk away. So if anything, an ad strategy would be to start them early and often "off season" because once the season is in full swing, the ads will be lost in the middle of all the other ads.

[BumRushDaShow]

55. To add what I wrote above-just heard on my local news radio that Pelosi will be on GMA this morning

which will be a broadcast of an interview taped on Wednesday (a video excerpt of the interview is available at the below story link) -

ABC News October 2, 2019
Pelosi says Trump 'scared' of impeachment inquiry in exclusive ABC News interview

By John Parkinson

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Wednesday that President Donald Trump is “scared” of the impeachment inquiry she launched last week centered on a whistleblower complaint alleging he pressured Ukraine to help investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and interfere in the 2020 presidential election.

“I think the president knows the argument that can be made against him, and he’s scared,” Pelosi, D-Calif., told ABC News Chief Anchor George Stephanopoulos in an interview in her ceremonial office in the U.S. Capitol to be broadcast Thursday morning on "Good Morning America." “And so he’s trying to divert attention from that to where [he’s] standing in the way of legislation,” she said.

/snip

“You say he’s scared … Did you hear the fear in his voice when you spoke with him on the phone last week?” Stephanopoulos asked about a Sept. 24 conversation Pelosi had with Trump hours before she launched the formal impeachment inquiry.

“I saw the surprise in his voice that he didn’t understand that I thought what he did was wrong,” Pelosi said, referring to Trump's call with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. “That he was undermining our national security, that he was undermining our Constitution by his actions and he was undermining the integrity of our elections. He just didn’t see it.”

https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/news/story/speaker-nancy-pelosi-tells-george-stephanopoulos-president-trump-66004619

[Laura PourMeADrink]

57. Interesting focus. More about trump being scared

than definitively explaining in VERY simple terms what he did wrong. Trust me..there are lots of people out there who don't know. And communicating with them needs to be boiled down. "We have found proof that President Trump has been repeatedly trying to get foreign governments to make up dirt on the Bidens. And even worse, saying they will not get US aid until you do!"

[BumRushDaShow]

59. I didn't see the full interview that aired this morning

so I expect there was more than what was mentioned in that clip.

But I would caution about this - I expect the average non-Drumpf-obsessed American is well aware of the malfeasance and their reactions are not so much out of ignorance but out of a "Just leave me alone and let me get through my life right now". They know the election is next year and I expect they will be there then, but I also expect they figure there is not much that can be done right now - particularly those in GOP districts with money-beholden reps (at least those who haven't already announced they were not running again). And in that case, we still have another year before the election and I predict many more are not going to run again.

[Funtatlaguy]

8. Did Schiff mention a date to interview the whistleblower?

[regnaD kciN]

9. Nothing really new...

[BumRushDaShow]

13. Pelosi started with talking about "kitchen table issues" that DU claims doesn't happen

What is wrong with that?

Pelosi has just illustrated how the media doesn't give a damn about what they are doing (except for the controversy of the day).

[Laura PourMeADrink]

19. Yup. No answer on House vote on Impeachment. No announcement

that GOP might actually take up their good legislation.

[Roland99]

11. Quite devoid of actual news

[Laura PourMeADrink]

21. Buzz kill

[JCMach1]

12. Nothing Sandwich

[4139]

16. No news but likely some good soundbites for evening news

[Laura PourMeADrink]

23. I would have liked a follow-up on why no House vote

On Impeachment. We have the votes. And Pelosi mentioned that repuke house members nervous about vote. Then why not do it???

[Bernardo de La Paz]

24. Vote now would be stupid while public shifting pro impeachment & more stuff coming out

It might be satisfying in some way, but the groundwork has not been laid. The American public is not as informed as they will be after hearings.

Give it some time. Much better to have a few more Republicon Senators switch and make the choice even starker.

Yes, I know, it is an emergency. But it has been an emergency ever since news of Russian interference was broken.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

25. I understand what you are saying...but this seems

Exactly like what happened before. We don't stand up and let our voices be heard and public support wanes. It's a chicken and the egg deal. In my view, voting to start Impeachment is a symbolic gesture but a critically important one. I don't think that if someone (a repuke) votes no, that they can't change their mind if and when new crime details come out. It would be easy to cya on that.

[empedocles]

28. The Speaker has been, since the beginning, clearly been a much better strategist, than

any of the Impeachment Now crowd - who seem to be somewhat oblivious the Speaker's successful historical record of the past 2+ years. Even fox, just now, after the usual fox snide dismissal of the impeachment Democrats, conceded Pelosi as being more reasonable [and implicitly, effective].

[Laura PourMeADrink]

30. Oh the Impeachment crowd like the 73% of Dems?

[TwilightZone]

32. 73% of Dems aren't demanding articles be voted on immediately.

Doing so would be ridiculous.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

38. Not same subject. Only talking about a vote on

Opening Impeachment inquiry.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

26. The House is in recess.

[BumRushDaShow]

45. Not required at this stage

Doesn’t the House have to vote to open an impeachment inquiry?

This has been the subject of much dispute. The House voted to open an inquiry into Nixon and Clinton, but when the House impeached President Andrew Johnson in 1868, it did not.

Pelosi has indicated she doesn’t see such a vote as being necessary. Republicans meanwhile are using the lack of a vote to argue the inquiry isn’t legitimate.

Just because the House voted to open an inquiry in the past doesn’t mean it must always do so, Brookings Fellow Margaret L. Taylor said.

“There’s no real technical reason for a full House vote,” Taylor said. “The Constitution does not prescribe how the House impeaches.”

https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2019-10-02/what-does-impeachment-actually-look-like

The important votes would be what Articles get voted out of Committee and what the full House does with them as their official impeachment vote (I believe each Article gets its own full House vote).

[Laura PourMeADrink]

47. Yes, know not required. That doesn't mean it isn't needed

symbolically and to keep it on the front page. Better than letting trump and Putin filling up the void.

[BumRushDaShow]

49. The media would then take the GOP side by declaring it to be a "show vote"

that would be guaranteed to result in ZERO GOP votes and thus would be declared to be "completely partisan".... setting off more nonsensical media and GOP drama.

In this case, Democrats whipped the votes internally knowing that if they did hold a vote, they had at least 218 to carry it using nothing but votes from Democrats. They could then officially get started right away and commence the hearing process - the biggest hurdle timing-wise, being to get people scheduled to testify.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

40. we must've seen two different press conferences

I thought it was significant.

[California_Republic]

14. Thought was at 10:45

[highplainsdem]

18. Was supposed to be 10:45 ET. Started late.

[renate]

17. There must have been an actual announcement that they changed their minds about making

Why run an hour late for a press conference about nothing new?

[awesomerwb1]

20. Well, at least some of you

who were expecting something huge got a better night sleep maybe?

[JohnnyLib2]

22. Still listening--

Their responses to questions are extremely hard-hitting and personal. Trump's reaction will be even wilder.

[nolabear]

27. I think they wanted their faces out there being sane, getting things done, not being cowed.

Nancy handled those reporters beautifully. Firm but respectful. As the head of a governing body should be.

[empedocles]

29. Sciff was his sharp self and comfortable.

[blogslut]

31. Anything the Executive does to hinder/defy will be considered Obstruction

I think that's pretty clear.

Also, somewhere in the middle of that press conference, Ms. Pelosi had a moment. I think the enormity of what they were about to do, hit her.

My friends. She is innnnnnn.

[frazzled]

33. Geez, friends

Nothing new? Ho hum? So you were expecting some kind of explosive piece of dirt, and short of that, it wasn't worth your time?

Here's what I got out of it:

1. Pelosi spent the first part of the conference outlining critical legislation the House of Representatives has been working on, from prescription drug legislation, to gun safety laws, to trade with Mexico.
Strong message to the country and the press: we're continuing to do our job for the people of the country, even as the impeachment inquiry proceeds. This is in contrast to the president, who spends all day tweeting about himself instead, and has threatened that he won't work at all with Congress as long as this goes on. We can walk and chew gum at the same time, and the sole interest of Congress, in both legislating and conducting impeachment inquiries, is the good of the nation and its people, not our political interests.

2. Schiff made it firmly clear that the inquiry is not effing around: there will be no efforts to compel testimony in the courts, which could delay proceedings by tying things up for untenable periods of time. If compliance is not granted, it will automatically be considered obstruction and simply made another article of impeachment; and failure to comply will be considered an implication of guilt.
Strong message: We are not playing your game: you will lose/lose. (Yes, this was telegraphed yesterday, but it was made explicit to the press today.)

3. We have a Leader and a Committee Chair who are dedicated patriots, who have deep understanding of the Constitution, and the intentions of the Founders in writing the impeachment article.

I thought it was a great press conference. It deserves far more attention than it has gotten on this board.

[OneGrassRoot]

34. Thank you...

I think #2 was for also Dems and even Never Trumpers as to why they're not going to pursue inherent contempt. Makes sense to me.

[nolabear]

36. I agree. They're underlining key issues and responsible governance.

I fear we’re so overstimulated anything that’s not a shock or a fistfight is discounted.

[diva77]

37. +1 Good point. I'm still recovering from Bush Outrage Fatigue

[BumRushDaShow]

39. THIS

For all those who have railed - "What are Democrats doing about kitchen table issues?", Pelosi described the Canada/Mexico trade agreement work and the drug pricing legislation they have been drafting...And she excoriated the media for apparently not caring about that, noting all the "new faces" that were there for this briefing (briefings that she does regularly) and wishing that many would show up for her other (non-impeachment-related) briefings.

[Hortensis]

44. Yes. But I also loved the emphasis on protecting our democracy

and its constitution. That is the single most important and existential issue we face. All else depends on that.

[BumRushDaShow]

46. Agree

And moreso because I had the opportunity to go see "Hamilton" last weekend (currently playing here in Philly) and am listening to the soundtrack right now. It keeps making me really think about what happened back then and what is going on now.