Sen. Tim Scott is taking the issue of impeachment seriously

Senate Republicans are taking the House impeachment proceedings against President Trump more seriously as damaging revelations against the president mount and the possibility of a quick dismissal of the charges shrinks.

Sen. Tim Scott (S.C.) was the latest GOP senator to express concerns Wednesday even though he argued that the House has yet to provide any evidence that would support actually removing Trump from office.

Asked Wednesday if he had any concerns at all in light of recent reports on Trump’s efforts to pressure Ukraine, Scott said, “There’s lot of things that concern me.”

But he added, “That’s not the question.”

“The question on the table is impeachment and that’s the question we should get an answer to, and the answer so far is ‘For what would we impeach the president?’ And the answer is ‘I don’t see anything for that,’ ” he said.

At the same time, Scott acknowledged there is pressure on Senate Republicans to take any impeachment articles seriously.

“Everybody wants us to do the right thing. In order to do the right thing, we want to see all that there is,” Scott told reporters, explaining that he’s not ready to dismiss the House charges out of hand.

Congressional Black Caucus Statement on the Passing of Former Congressman John Conyers

The Congressional Black Caucus issued the following statement on the passing of founding CBC Member and Former Congressman John Conyers:

“The Congressional Black Caucus mourns the loss of one of its founding members, the longest-serving African American in Congress, and the former Dean of the House – Congressman John Conyers. A son of Detroit and champion of civil rights, Mr. Conyers lived a life dedicated to serving the community in which he was raised. He leaves a legacy of more than 5 decades of systematic change that continues to transform our country for the better to this day.

"Congressman Conyers was a veteran and soldier in the civil rights movement. After serving in the Michigan National Guard and the United States Army, he turned his efforts to voting rights and participated in the 1963 voter registration effort in Selma, Alabama. He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1964, with the endorsement of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and immediately tapped Rosa Parks to serve by his side. Congressman Conyers quickly became a trailblazer for liberal issues that eventually became mainstream.

"Just four days after the assassination of Dr. King, Congressman Conyers introduced a bill to create a federal holiday in his honor and reintroduced the bill every year for 15 years until it was signed into law. Mr. Conyers continued his pursuit of voting rights in Congress as a lead co-sponsor of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Mr. Conyers was an ardent opponent of the death penalty and fought for police brutality oversight. Now a major issue in the Democratic Presidential debates, Mr. Conyers was the first to introduce the Expanded and Improved Medicare For All Act, legislation to establish a government-sponsored, single-payer healthcare option to control costs. Mr. Conyers also championed the issue of reparations by introducing a bill to establish a commission to study the issue of slavery and race relations in America, which he fought for consideration every year.

"His fight for justice extended to international issues as well. Mr. Conyers was an early leader in the anti-Vietnam War movement, in addition to the anti-Iraq War movement. He was also a vocal opponent of South Africa’s apartheid policies. Congressman Conyers joined Congressman Ron Dellums and other CBC Members in confronting President Nixon about imposing sanctions against South Africa. When it became clear he would not act, Congressman Conyers joined Congressman Dellums in introducing legislation to that end and was even arrested at a protest in front of the South African embassy.

"Congressman Conyers chaired the Government Oversight and Reform Committee (formerly the Government Operations Committee) and was the first African American to chair the influential Judiciary Committee.

"For the Congressional Black Caucus, Congressman Conyers was more than a founding member. He was a guiding light. We will continue his vision by serving as the “Conscience of the Congress” in pursuit of justice for all Americans. We extend our deepest condolences to his wife, sons, family, and friends.”

John Witherspoon dead at 77

John Witherspoon, a prolific character actor best known for a run of comedic turns in acclaimed films and cult classics like “Hollywood Shuffle” and the “Friday” franchise, died Tuesday in his Sherman Oaks home. He was 77.

Witherspoon’s family released a statement posted to his Twitter account.

It is with deep sadness we have to tweet this, but our husband & father John Witherspoon has passed away. He was a Legend in the entertainment industry, and a father figure to all who watched him over the years. We love you “POPS” always & forever.

- The Witherspoon Family pic.twitter.com/ov9P34kaMn

— John Witherspoon (@John_POPS_Spoon) October 30, 2019

Born John Weatherspoon in Detroit (he changed his name to Witherspoon later) in 1942, he began his career in the 1960s, performing as an actor, comedian and occasional model. He made his television debut in 1970 on an episode of “Barnaby Jones,” and later in the decade appeared on episodes of “Good Times,” “What’s Happening!!” and “The Incredible Hulk,” as well as “The Richard Pryor Show.” Other television appearances include “WKRP in Cincinnati,” “St. Elsewhere,” “L.A. Law.”

During the 1980s, Witherspoon became closely associated with the rise in television shows created by and featuring African American performers, with appearances on “227,” “What’s Happening Now!!,” “Amen,” as well as “Living Single.” He had a major role on the 1995-1998 sitcom “The Wayans Bros.,” portraying the main characters’ father. On movie screens, Witherspoon’s other film credits include classics like “I’m Gonna Get You Sucka,” “The Five Heartbeats,” “The Meteor Man,” and “Vampire in Brooklyn,” and he most notably appeared as Willie Jones in all three “Friday Films.”

[SOURCE: YAHOO]

African American watchmaker, The Benson Watch Company Announces Launch of Latest Collection on Macys.com

Marcel Benson, founder of the Benson Watch Company, and alumni of The Workshop at Macy’s, a vendor development program created to mentor up-and-coming minority and women-owned businesses, announced today that the latest collection of quality watches is now available on The Workshop at Macy’s alumni sitelet on Macys.com. This partnership marks a significant achievement for the three-year-old company and brings the emerging African American designer closer to his vision that “time should be spent doing what you love.”

Benson Watches’ premier Cardinal Collection includes unisex timepieces featuring thin, sleek, and nuanced aesthetics. A major distinction is the color precision on dials to ensure owners subtly stand out. The limited-edition timepieces showcase unique designs and include a customized engraving of Benson’s vision on the case back.

“I truly appreciate Macy’s for recognizing the value Benson Watches brings to consumers and providing a larger platform in which to grow the brand,” said Benson. “Macy's has led the charge for diversity and inclusion within department stores and continues to give new designers like me the opportunity for exposure and elevation.”

The Workshop at Macy’s was developed by a consortium of experts from Macy’s and Babson College – the nation’s leading business school for entrepreneurship. This exclusive and ground-breaking program serves as a key element of Macy’s commitment to vendor diversity. With more than 100 companies graduated to-date, The Workshop at Macy’s has created a viable pipeline for vendors, including Benson Watch Company, who will go on to become successful partners within the retail industry at large.

Purchase your very own Benson Watch here: https://www.macys.com/social/workshop/benson?cm_kws=benson-watch

For more information about the Benson Watch Company visit ​bensonwatch.com About Benson Watch Company Benson Watch Company was started by Marcel Benson out of his passion for timepieces. He decided to showcase his decision to leave his corporate job and pursue his dream and encouraged others to do the same in the process. His honest and transparent approach has garnered him quite a bit of attention. He also gained thousands of raving fans because his story resonates. Benson’s slogan is “Time Should Be Spent Doing What You Love” the company’s mission is to encourage the masses to apply the idea to their lives, through timepieces.

Trump brags about the First Step Act but is not funding it

By George L. Cook III

Pres. Trump likes to brag about the First Step Act as something he has done to help black people (as if we're the only people incarcerated), but if he cares so much why hasn't the program been properly funded? No funding was allocated to support the law in 2019 and only $14 million of the $75 million annual appropriation to run the program has been allocated fore the 2020 year.

Per The Crime Report:

More funds are urgently needed to implement the new First Step Act that Congress passed late last year to increase rehabilitation and release of federal prisoners, says a coalition of 14 criminal justice reform organizations representing views across the ideological spectrum.

The groups sent a letter this week to leaders of the Senate Appropriations Committee, which next week will consider the Department of Justice (DOJ) budget for the federal fiscal year that begins on October 1.

Reformers want DOJ’s Bureau of Prisons to get the full $75 million annual appropriation that was authorized in the law.

In its initial budget request to Congress, DOJ sought far less money for the First Step Act and so far has not formally asked congressional appropriators to raise the total, says Inimai Chettiar of the Justice Action Network, one of the groups that is pressuring for a higher allocation.

The other organizations joining in the request are the American Civil Liberties Union, the American Conservative Union, Americans for Prosperity, the Drug Policy Alliance, the Due Process Institute, the Faith and Freedom Coalition, Families Against Mandatory Minimums (FAMM), FreedomWorks, Law Enforcement Leaders to Reduce Crime and Incarceration, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, Prison Fellowship, the R Street Institute, and The Sentencing Project.

“We cannot leave it to the Department of Justice to reallocate existing funds to implement these reforms — spreading thin the already limited resources within the Bureau of Prisons,” the groups told Sens. Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), the chairman and ranking member of the subcommittee overseeing DOJ spending.

“The success of these programs will lead to cost-savings in the long run, but in order to achieve these goals we cannot afford to underfund this important initiative.”

If Trump wanted it funded he would give the DOJ its marching orders to do so. It's apparent to me that Trump wants a nice talking point but not an actually fully funded program to actually create real federal prison reforms.

Then again, why should we have believed otherwise?