The Senate hearing yesterday with Dr. Anthony Fauci scheduled to testify about the Kung Flu and the former Current Unpleasantness was a clown show. Except it was not at all funny.
Dr. Fauci arrived at the hearing, accompanied by 7 lawyers. Take it from me, that is overkill. Hell, Colonel Oliver North only needed 1 lawyer–Brendan Sullivan–at the Iran Contra hearings.
Dr. Fauci was given the normal courtesy of providing an opening statement. He took the occasion to insult and accuse the committee chairman, Senator Rand Paul (R. Ky.), and informed the committee that he would not answer any questions, but would be pleading “the Fifth”.
Let us stop and reflect for a minute. China Joe preemptively pardoned Dr. Fauci for everything and anything he might have done prior to his late term pardon. Therefore, the federal government cannot prosecute Dr. Fauci for the myriad of crimes it is believed he may have committed. So why is Dr. Fauci pleading “the Fifth”, invoking his right against self-incrimination?
You can only invoke your 5th amendment protections if your testimony or comments might reasonably be used or construed to incriminate you. If you have holding a blanket pardon from the President of the United States, you have no reasonable fear of incrimination. So you have no basis to invoke “the Fifth”.
So why did Dr. Fauci invoke his 5th Amendment rights? 111 times? Because his lawyers are fools.
Indeed, by taking his lawyers’ advice to not answer any questions about his past actions–for which he could not be prosecuted–Dr. Fauci might well have committed crimes such as obstruction of an official federal proceeding, and contempt of Congress. Good job guys! Your client was absolutely immune from criminal prosecution, and now you have exposed him to likely criminal prosecution.
Senator Bernie Moreno (R. Oh.) addressed Dr. Fauci, calling him out for his actions:
“Clearly, what you think today is that somehow you’re above reproach. Somehow you feel like you don’t need to be treated like a normal American. If, during the time of the COVID pandemic, you were called the racist for calling the virus a ‘Wuhan virus’ or the ‘China virus’; if you thought the six-foot rule was total crap; if you thought the vaccine wasn’t something that you should take; if you thought it was outrageous the way the mass policy was rolled out; if you were fired from your job for not taking that vaccine, including members of the military; if you thought closing schools was catastrophically stupid and if you thought that saying these things made you somehow a lesser human being, stand up.”
At this point in the hearing, several people in the audience stood up, at Senator Moreno’s invitation. Dr. Fauci refused to look at them, instead staring down at the witness table.
“Look at the people who were absolutely shamed for saying what we know now to be the truth. You can’t even look at them. Here I am sitting in front of you six years later saying, ‘Who the f–k do you think you were for doing that?’” Will you apologize — just apologize — to the people you harmed through your actions? Do you have the dignity to just say you’re sorry?”
Dr. Fauci did not apologize to anyone. Instead, in response to Senator Moreno’s question about apologizing, he . . . plead “the Fifth”.
The only satisfactory moment in the hearing came when Senator Paul called for security to remove Dr. Fauci’s lead lawyer. Before the hearing began, Senator Paul instructed the lawyers that they could not sit at the witness table, but instead should sit in the row of chairs behind Dr. Fauci. Senator Paul also informed the lawyers that they would not be recognized, and not allowed to speak during the hearing.
Despite being forewarned, Dr. Fauci’s lead lawyer insisted on sitting at the witness table. Despite being forewarned, Dr. Fauci’s lead lawyer insisted on objecting and giving speeches to the committee. After numerous warnings, he was removed.
So there you go. Dr. Fauci who would not shut up at press conferences before a fawning media, who sat for numerous magazine and newspaper interviews, and who flaunted and celebrated his newfound celebrity, refused to answer a single question from a Congressional committee. A man who could not be prosecuted cowered behind his constitutional protections against compelled self-incrimination. He is a coward.
Dr. Anthony Fauci was always a bloviating, arrogant bureaucrat. He never practiced medicine a day in his life. He was always quick to claim credit, quick to deflect and shift blame, and enjoyed a highly exaggerated reputation for competence. He is a disgrace.
Senator John Cornyn (R. Tx.), who did not support the SAVE Act, but then did in order to garner support from the President in his reelection campaign, does not anymore, now that he has lost the Republican nomination to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. The President is urging the Senate to remain in session in order to pass the legislation. Senator Cornyn insists that the Senate take its usual August recess. Sigh. Relax, Senator; you will be on a permanent vacation soon enough.
Sacramento, California is employing people to inspect residents’ trash and recycling bins, in order to determine that they are putting their trash out correctly. If the inspectors find improperly disposed of refuse, the offending residents will be fined.
In Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 91% of 4th graders in public schools are unable to read at grade level. By 8th grade that figure improves, slightly; still, 76% of students are unable to read at grade level. But gubernatorial candidate Francesca Hong (D. Wi.) has the answer; abolish Milwaukee’s school choice program which permits parents to remove their children from the public schools, and place them in charter schools. Perhaps after a few years, a Governor Hong might get the percentage of 4th graders unable to read proficiently to 100%.
“I think Democratic Socialism is actually more about freedom than any other form of government. The scariness that surrounds the word really comes from the people who want to maintain the status quo. That is an S-word we should be afraid of.”
–Francesca Hong.
Francesca Hong must have been educated in Milwaukee public schools.
Arlington County, Virginia is doubling the rate to charge electric vehicles at county owned charging stations. Affordability.
Colonel Harlan Sanders’s Kentucky estate is up for sale. On the grounds is the original restaurant he opened in the beginning of his restaurant career.
Apple will now permit customers to lease their iPhones, instead of purchasing them. I do not think that is a wise choice. Maybe it is, but . . . .
The Minocqua Brewing Company, whose owner promised free beer to all on the day that President Trump died, has lost its alcoholic beverage license. Ah, that’s a shame!
McDonald’s restaurants are now serving 2 new breakfast entrees. There is a Honey Brown Butter Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Biscuit, and a Honey Brown Butter Chicken Biscuit.
The United States and Saudi Arabia launched bombing strikes against Iran backed militias in Iraq. Iraq’s foreign minister reacted angrily, threatening “legal action” against the 2 countries. Oh, go away, before your country becomes a target.
The LIV golf tour’s season ending championship will not be played. Stick a fork in LIV, it is done.
Things are looking worse for former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo. Police officers pulled him over for passing traffic while driving on the right hand shoulder of the highway. Tony Romo denied drinking any alcohol, and told officers he was on his way to visit his grandparents. But the police report reveals that Tony Romo and his automobile “reeked” of alcohol, and that an open container of alcohol was found in the front passenger seat. Tony Romo failed the physical field sobriety tests, and refused to undergo any breath tests or blood draws. He’s guilty.
Irish singer/songwriter Glen Hansard is dead at age 56. R. I. P.
The Rt. Rev. Jerry Albam Lamb, former Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern California, has died at age 85. R. I. P.
GFK
Observations From The Fifth Estate 