The following press releases and news articles:
Statement by Representative Kilmer on Today’s Impeachment Votes in the U.S. Senate.
Press release issued 2/ 5/ 20“I didn’t come to Congress to pursue impeachment. Rather, as the folks I represent know, my focus has been on trying to create more economic opportunity in our region and pushing to have a government that works better - period. Having said that, the very first thing I do as your representative is raise my right hand and swear an oath to uphold the Constitution. That’s an oath I take seriously, and it remains my guiding principle. And it was with that oath in mind that I voted in December in support of articles of impeachment based on evidence brought to light in the course of the impeachment inquiry that showed that the President abused the power of his office and obstructed Congress in its investigation to evaluate that abuse.
Like most Americans, I had hoped that the Senate would hold a fair trial with the opportunity to hear from witnesses. That didn’t happen. But Democrats and Republicans have now acknowledged that President clearly used his office to pressure Ukraine to dig up dirt on his political rivals - and that he withheld military aid to increase the pressure.
I still believe that no one is above the law. Just as reforms were made following Watergate, Congress should look at ways to improve the system so that it is more transparent, more accountable, and more ethical. I will keep pushing to make sure that elected officials work for the public interest - not their own gain.”
Murray Statement on Vote to Convict President Trump
Press release issued 2/ 5/ 20Murray: “I am now on the record, representing millions of people in my home state of Washington, in saying it is unacceptable for a president, now or ever, to ask a foreign country to interfere in our election for their own benefit”
(Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) issued the following statement today after voting “guilty” on both articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump.
“I’ve said many times throughout this trial that each senator’s decision to choose fairness or a cover-up, and country or party, is theirs alone to make and live with—and that this isn’t just about this president, it’s about every future president. I am now on the record, representing millions of people in my home state of Washington, in saying it is unacceptable for a president, now or ever, to ask a foreign country to interfere in our election for their own benefit. I want every American to know my strong feeling is that we, the people, elect our presidents, they owe their office to the American people, and Americans must be their priority. I am grateful to every senator who stood up for this fundamental American principle today.”
Commentary Note: Fortunately, their dreams and hopes were dashed with most of the Republican Senate, voting to acquit.
As for the State of the Union:
2020 State of the Union AddressPresident Trump delivered his third State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress. The address occurred on the eve of a Senate vote on a verdict in the president’s impeachment trial. As President Trump gave copies of his speech to Vice President Mike Pence and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the speaker extended her hand to shake his, but he turned to face the chamber. President Trump addressed a wide range of issues, including immigration policy, health care, jobs, the economy, and border security. During his speech, he acknowledged several guests in the audience and awarded radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh with a Presidential Medal of Freedom. He later surprised a military wife with the return of her husband who was deployed. As the president concluded his remarks, Vice President Pence and Speaker Pelosi stood, and she picked up her copy of the president’s address and tore the pages in two, dropping the ripped pieces on the table in front of her.---C-SPAN
TEXT of Speech
Remarks by President Trump in State of the Union Address
Related news stories:
Pelosi May Have Violated Fed. Law by Tearing Trump's Speech, Gaetz Calls for DOJ Prosecution---WJ
Pelosi laces into Trump, defends tearing up his State of the Union speech---WP
Pelosi: 'That was not a State of the Union, that was his state of mind'----Washington Times
Nancy Pelosi was classless to rip up Trump's State of the Union speech, but stop freaking out----Washington Examiner
Trump’s State Of The Union Proposed A New, New Deal
In essence, the president told Americans he agrees with Democrats that we need a big, energetic government, but not their kind of big, energetic government.--The Federalist
Trump’s State of the Union Address Affirms Americanism as Nation’s Guiding Ethos---Daily Signal
Trump Thanks Widow, Son of Fallen Soldier; Blames ‘Monster’ Qassem Soleimani---CNSN
Trump Brings Rush Limbaugh to Tears, Awards Him Highest Civilian Honor During SOTU-----WJ
WORLD NEWS HEADLINES:
Slight fall in coronavirus infections ‘nothing to celebrate’, says UN health agency
A slight drop overnight in the number of people infected by the new coronavirus is welcome but “nothing to celebrate”, a top UN health official said on Thursday.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/02/1056862
Central African Republic: One year after peace deal, a ‘long, steep’ road ahead to ensure child rights protections
A year since the signing of a peace deal between the Government of the Central African Republic (CAR) and 14 armed groups, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported on Thursday that millions of children across the country remain threatened by violence and a lack of access to food, health care and other basic needs.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/02/1056842
Female Genital Mutilation costs $1.4 billion annually: UN health agency
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) poses serious risks to the health and well-being of women and girls, but it also exacts a crippling economic toll, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/02/1056802
2020: the year for action, to ‘rise up’ and safeguard ocean life
With the ocean in deep crisis, members of civil society and philanthropic organisations are urging governments and corporations to take bold action to safeguard the ocean. After a two-day preparatory meeting in New York ahead of June’s UN Ocean Conference in Portugal, activists handed over what they termed “A Blue Call to Action” to the UN Secretary-General António Guterres, on Wednesday.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/02/1056792
$675 million appeal to stop coronavirus in its tracks, as deaths rise
The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) appealed on Wednesday for $675 million to boost international measures to counter the new coronavirus epidemic, as deaths from the outbreak neared 500.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/02/1056772
Refugee resettlement: ‘Tremendous gap’ persists between needs, and spaces on offer.
Although around 1.4 million refugees are estimated to be in urgent need of resettlement worldwide, only 63,696 were resettled through the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) last year - that's only 4.5 per cent - due to a continuing shortage of offers of sanctuary from governments across the world.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/02/1056742
Africa’s Sahel: Act now before the crisis ‘becomes unmanageable’, urges Grandi
The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) is stepping up response in Africa’s Sahel region where escalating violence has forced a rising number of people to flee their homes.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/02/1056782
