Thanks for the shout out, Bob. Bird’s trip to NYC May have been smart politically with the MAGA crowd, but it’s not playing well here at home among many other Iowans, including Republicans I’ve heard from who are offended that she went there on behalf of what she called “our state”. Perhaps if she had explicitly stated she was there as a private citizen, it might have made a slight difference. The larger issue is the damage that Bird, Johnson, Tubberville, Vance and others are doing to faith in our court system. If the case is a “scam”, let the jury decide that.
Agreed. Thanks Dave. I haven't talked to any Republicans about the trip, but I'm almost beyond caring what they think. So many Republicans decry Trump and what he is doing but still vote for him and other MAGA types. Until they quit supporting the MAGA cult they are enablers and complicit.
Bird's New York visit is a cagey political move by current standards. Our world has never been perfect, of course, but it seems that honor, honesty, truthfulness, and decency are completely absent on the right. Apparently, those same characteristics do not matter to a great number of voters. Is that how they live their own lives? Do they also regularly lie, make fun of suffering people, cheat where they can? Is that now the model to be emulated? Is that what they teach their children? Grow up to be like Donald Trump? Hope to marry someone like Donald Trump?
Brenna Bird says that no taxpayer funds supported her trip to New York. Her trip was paid for by the Republican Attorneys General Association. I am curious about who pays for her membership in the Republican Attorneys General Association.
An eye-opening piece, Bob. I'm grateful, as always, for your coverage. It's shocking to see a trial taking place less than two miles from me (that isn't even rerouting the traffic on Centre Street) suddenly become a bizarro Republican National Convention. Everyone saw Trump fundraising off of his plight, a lot of us predicted he'd have "friends" say what he can't, to do an end run around the gag order and threaten witnesses; but I didn't imagine this parade of politicians, no less a state politician from Iowa, coming. All politics is local, but not when it comes to fascism, which is ubiquitous and centralized (and which isn't really politics). The cockroaches from Iowa, Ohio, Louisiana, Alabama crawl to the head roach in NYC, then scamper back to their states to spread fresh droppings of MAGA poison. I would sooner call Brenna Bird fascist and diabolical than "brilliant" or "smart," though whatever the case, MAGA leaders are many steps ahead of the democrats and the press, who I'd call dumfounded and naive, or maybe just cowardly.
One thing that ought to be said: the use of one branch or part of government to destroy another is a hallmark of early stage fascism. We see this in red state legislatures’ attacks on public libraries, and we’re seeing it in legislators' attack on the justice system. We also saw it everywhere during the Trump administration, when he dismantled everything from the National Weather Service to the State Department to the Post Office, DOJ, FBI, CDC, NSA, Dept. of Education, etc—though no one with a platform was calling it fascism then, says this soar-throated New Yorker. Anyhow, your attorney general is a fascist, and I'd love for Iowans to have the guts to say that word and point this out.
I trust your assessment of people as you have contacts that I do not have. I was shocked by your opinion of Brenna Bird's intelligence since I no longer have my late husbands intuitive nature to point out those things. However, I do not wish to see an intelligent MAGA supporter any any position.
I agree that she is being quite disingenuous in saying politics have no place in a court of law while she is blatantly putting her political aspirations on display by appearing behind Citizen Trump and referring to him as "our President". Excuse me. He is no longer "our President". She should be home taking care of Iowa's issues instead of boot-licking. We've come to expect that from her, I suppose. Fellow Iowans who voted for her - are you pleased with yourselves?
Not sure about the New York case, but we all heard him commit the crime in Georgia, and saw lots of evidence of the crimes in Florida. We would already have been in jail.
Merchan should dismiss the case before it goes to the jury.
The other cases are also fraudulent.
Democrats clearly hope to stop Trump by getting a conviction they can use to brand him as a felon.
Two problems: polls suggest that many voters see the cases as transparently political and thus of little worth; and people have more important things to worry about, like putting food on the table and paying their mortgage.
Thanks, Bob, for hammering away at the little bird. She smack talks politics but isn't photo oping at a NY trial court room politicking? Really? If Reynolds does indeed decide not to run again in 26, (hooray), then the Democratics best be creating strategy to appeal to our fellow Iowa citizens. By the way, the DNR has recommended the Iowa AG Office taker over enforcement against NEW Coop for the catastrophic nitrogen fertilizer spill in the Nishnabotna River last March. What say you AG Bird?!
Thanks for the shout out, Bob. Bird’s trip to NYC May have been smart politically with the MAGA crowd, but it’s not playing well here at home among many other Iowans, including Republicans I’ve heard from who are offended that she went there on behalf of what she called “our state”. Perhaps if she had explicitly stated she was there as a private citizen, it might have made a slight difference. The larger issue is the damage that Bird, Johnson, Tubberville, Vance and others are doing to faith in our court system. If the case is a “scam”, let the jury decide that.
Agreed. Thanks Dave. I haven't talked to any Republicans about the trip, but I'm almost beyond caring what they think. So many Republicans decry Trump and what he is doing but still vote for him and other MAGA types. Until they quit supporting the MAGA cult they are enablers and complicit.
…” all assholes and elbows…” pretty much sums up a lot.
Bird's New York visit is a cagey political move by current standards. Our world has never been perfect, of course, but it seems that honor, honesty, truthfulness, and decency are completely absent on the right. Apparently, those same characteristics do not matter to a great number of voters. Is that how they live their own lives? Do they also regularly lie, make fun of suffering people, cheat where they can? Is that now the model to be emulated? Is that what they teach their children? Grow up to be like Donald Trump? Hope to marry someone like Donald Trump?
Brenna Bird says that no taxpayer funds supported her trip to New York. Her trip was paid for by the Republican Attorneys General Association. I am curious about who pays for her membership in the Republican Attorneys General Association.
Great question!
I am really disappointed that the Des Moines Register did not include that information in the article this morning. I'll have to follow-up on that.
Great point! I'd ask her if she would talk to me.
I could never get to her, but I think I will ask her office. I likely won't get a very direct answer.
An eye-opening piece, Bob. I'm grateful, as always, for your coverage. It's shocking to see a trial taking place less than two miles from me (that isn't even rerouting the traffic on Centre Street) suddenly become a bizarro Republican National Convention. Everyone saw Trump fundraising off of his plight, a lot of us predicted he'd have "friends" say what he can't, to do an end run around the gag order and threaten witnesses; but I didn't imagine this parade of politicians, no less a state politician from Iowa, coming. All politics is local, but not when it comes to fascism, which is ubiquitous and centralized (and which isn't really politics). The cockroaches from Iowa, Ohio, Louisiana, Alabama crawl to the head roach in NYC, then scamper back to their states to spread fresh droppings of MAGA poison. I would sooner call Brenna Bird fascist and diabolical than "brilliant" or "smart," though whatever the case, MAGA leaders are many steps ahead of the democrats and the press, who I'd call dumfounded and naive, or maybe just cowardly.
One thing that ought to be said: the use of one branch or part of government to destroy another is a hallmark of early stage fascism. We see this in red state legislatures’ attacks on public libraries, and we’re seeing it in legislators' attack on the justice system. We also saw it everywhere during the Trump administration, when he dismantled everything from the National Weather Service to the State Department to the Post Office, DOJ, FBI, CDC, NSA, Dept. of Education, etc—though no one with a platform was calling it fascism then, says this soar-throated New Yorker. Anyhow, your attorney general is a fascist, and I'd love for Iowans to have the guts to say that word and point this out.
Great points Dianna. I've used fascist before, and I should have used it here. Thanks!
I trust your assessment of people as you have contacts that I do not have. I was shocked by your opinion of Brenna Bird's intelligence since I no longer have my late husbands intuitive nature to point out those things. However, I do not wish to see an intelligent MAGA supporter any any position.
I agree that she is being quite disingenuous in saying politics have no place in a court of law while she is blatantly putting her political aspirations on display by appearing behind Citizen Trump and referring to him as "our President". Excuse me. He is no longer "our President". She should be home taking care of Iowa's issues instead of boot-licking. We've come to expect that from her, I suppose. Fellow Iowans who voted for her - are you pleased with yourselves?
I should have noted that distinction on how she referred to Trump and Biden. Thanks!
Bird is a complete ass. No room for her in my party
The cases against Trump, including Bragg's, have yet to inflict a political price on the de facto GOP nominee.
That may be because voters are already familiar with Trump's behavior and misbehavior and simply shrug it off.
It may also be a result of the transparently political nature of the cases, and, in truth, their weakness.
Not sure about the New York case, but we all heard him commit the crime in Georgia, and saw lots of evidence of the crimes in Florida. We would already have been in jail.
Merchan should dismiss the case before it goes to the jury.
The other cases are also fraudulent.
Democrats clearly hope to stop Trump by getting a conviction they can use to brand him as a felon.
Two problems: polls suggest that many voters see the cases as transparently political and thus of little worth; and people have more important things to worry about, like putting food on the table and paying their mortgage.
Brenna Bird is still giving Iowa the BIRD. Thank you, Bob for your service in reporting facts.
Thanks, Bob, for hammering away at the little bird. She smack talks politics but isn't photo oping at a NY trial court room politicking? Really? If Reynolds does indeed decide not to run again in 26, (hooray), then the Democratics best be creating strategy to appeal to our fellow Iowa citizens. By the way, the DNR has recommended the Iowa AG Office taker over enforcement against NEW Coop for the catastrophic nitrogen fertilizer spill in the Nishnabotna River last March. What say you AG Bird?!