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Although there is no data listed for 2016, from 2011 to 2014 Angus King owned Exxon Mobil stock, according to data from the Center for Responsive Politics. The concept of recusing oneself due to conflicts of interest needs to be revived. If politicians had to recuse themselves over conflicts of interest then hefty campaign donations would quickly become a thing of the past. Just lifting the sanctions against Russia, as Tillerson wants to do, would increase the value of Exxon Mobil stock.
“Angus King, Heidi Heitkamp, Mark Warner & Joe Manchin all voted with the GOP to shut down the filibuster on Tillerson” remarked Howie Klein @ downwithtyranny in a tweet:
http://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/01/31/three-senate-dems-and-angus-king-enable-tillerson-advance
Does that explain Angus King fetching nonsensical reasons to vote for Tillerson, as seen at the bottom of our blog post? Does Angus King think that Tillerson can sit on top of Trump and hold him down? That’s what it sounds like he’s saying.
The above two screenshots are information from the Center for Responsive Politics as available at Open Secrets.org.
And, the reasons he gives for opposing Sessions for AG are even more nonsensical. Sessions is more likely to hold a Putin loving Trump in line than former Exxon Mobil CEO Putin friend Tillerson, as can be seen by the confirmation hearings with Yates in March of 2015 where Sessions warns that one has to be willing to tell a President “no”! Sessions is opposed to illegal immigration and the legal H1B immigration which lowers wages and strips Americans of the few remaining jobs. This is mostly unrelated to the temporary moratorium on travel from certain countries. Had he been approved the chaos of the weekend might have been avoided. No one else appears to have suggested that Sessions would not uphold the law – in fact, his upholding of law and order is the primary criticism thrown at Sessions. Even if Sessions were racist and 3 black co-workers went to Washington to say he’s not, white racists do not want black people walking about unemployed either!
The real reason that Angus King and Heitkamp and many others are opposed to Sessions is most likely because more immigrants is more votes and both have very low-population states so that excessive immigration hasn’t had a visibly negative impact upon their lives yet. More immigrants is also more cars and more oil and gas sold by Exxon Mobil. Maine has the lowest population density east of the Mississippi. It’s the same reason that most Churches want immigrants – a number’s game – they want bodies in their pews and immigrants generally have more children.
Former US Marshal Jesse Seroyer testifying on behalf of Senator Sessions: https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Seroyer%20Testimony.pdf http://youtu.be/VhFX64yzCnw
Attorney Willie Huntley testifying on behalf of Senator Sessions: https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Huntley%20Testimony.pdf http://youtu.be/EEQ7dh_nZF4
Mr. William Smith testifying on behalf of Senator Sessions http://www.judiciary.senate.gov/download/01-11-17-smith-testimony. http://youtu.be/R5VXWyJn99k. See too: https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/01-11-17%20Thompson%20Testimony.pdf
Heidi Heitkamp is a Senator from North Dakota, which grew in population and wealth due to the Bakken Oil boom. She received at least $4,000 from Exxon Mobil (PAC) and $60,700 from the oil and gas industry, according to the Center for Responsive Politics-Open Secrets: https://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/pacs.php?cycle=2016&cid=N00033782§or=E&seclong=Energy+%26+Natural+Resources&newMem=N
https://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/pacs.php?cycle=2016&cid=N00033782§or=E&seclong=Energy+%26+Natural+Resources&cat=E01&induslong=Oil+%26+Gas&newMem=N
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heidi_Heitkamp
Why she is supporting Tillerson should be obvious. Why is she opposing Sessions? Probably because, as in Maine, more immigrants is more votes, more cars, more oil and gas needed and she’s in a low population state.
In 2016 Manchin received $33,000 from the Energy & Natural Resources sector and in 2012 $2,500 from Exxon Mobil. He’s very tied in with coal and has gotten lots of donations from the oil and gas industry. So, fossil fuels is probably his knee-jerk reaction though in poor states $2500 was a big donation until recently so one can’t preclude that he might have been bought for this pittance: https://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/pacs.php?cycle=2012&cid=N00032838§or=E&seclong=Energy+%26+Natural+Resources&cat=E01&induslong=Oil+%26+Gas&newMem=N
We haven’t found any financial clues yet as to why Warner is supporting Tillerson.
People in Maine asking the AG to sue Exxon Mobil: http://youtu.be/j3c1adFhmN4
Excerpts from Sen. Jeff Sessions questioning Sally Quillian Yates in March 2015:
Sessions: “WELL, YOU HAVE TO WATCH OUT BECAUSE PEOPLE WILL BE ASKING YOU TO DO THINGS, YOU JUST NEED TO SAY NO ABOUT…”
Yates: >> “… IT’S IMPORTANT THAT THE OFFICE OF LEGAL COUNSEL BE INDEPENDENT BECAUSE FEDERAL AGENCIES ACROSS OUR GOVERNMENT REGULARLY COME TO THE OFFICE SEEKING ADVICE AND GUIDANCE ABOUT WHAT IS PERMISSIBLE AND WHAT ISN’T. AND IT’S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT THE OLC ADVICE BE JUST THAT AND THAT IT NOT BE ADVOCACY.
Sessions: >> WELL, THAT’S TRUE. AND LIKE ANY CEO, WHERE THE LAW FIRM, SOMETIMES, THE LAWYERS HAVE TO TELL THE CEOs, MR. CEO, DON’T DO THAT. WE’LL GET US SUED. IT’S GOING TO BE IN VIOLATION OF THE LAW. YOU’LL REGRET IT. PLEASE. NO MATTER HOW HEADSTRONG THEY MIGHT BE,…“. https://www.c-span.org/video/?324983-1/confirmation-hearing-deputy-attorney-general-nominee-sally-quillian-yates
“The population density of the state is 41.3 people per square mile, making it the least densely populated state in New England, the American northeast, the eastern seaboard, of all of the states with an Atlantic coastline and of all of the states east of the Mississippi River.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maine
Angus King’s nonsensical excuses for supporting Tillerson and opposing Sessions: Angus “King Announces Support for Tillerson as Secretary of State & Opposition to Sessions as Attorney General
Monday, January 30, 2017
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) this evening announced that he will support the nomination of Rex Tillerson to serve as U.S. Secretary of State and oppose the nomination of Senator Jeff Sessions to serve as Attorney General. Senator King released the following statement:
“After speaking personally with him, watching his confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and seeking the advice of several former high-level national security and foreign affairs officials, I have arrived at the conclusion that Mr. Tillerson can and will effectively lead the State Department and serve as a critical moderating influence on and counterweight to the more impulsive forces within the current Administration. I still harbor concerns regarding Mr. Tillerson’s past connections to Russia, as well as some activities that occurred at ExxonMobil during his tenure, but, on balance, those concerns are ultimately outweighed by the need to have a strong and serious leader at the helm of the State Department – someone who can offer the President forceful, but thoughtful and measured judgment on the critical issues we face.
“I have also met with Senator Sessions, attended his confirmation hearing, and extensively reviewed his record. While I consider Senator Sessions a friend, I am not voting to confirm a friendship. I am voting to confirm the next Attorney General of the United States. And I believe that this individual will need to stand up to the President when they believe he is wrong. While I certainly have concerns with Senator Sessions’ record, ultimately, I am concerned that he will not approach this critical role with the independence that is required, and that, as a result, the President could exercise an unchallenged influence in the affairs of the Justice Department, which must often take objective positions that may be at variance with the views of the Administration. It is never easy to vote against a colleague, and it is not done out of personal dislike or disaffection for him, but out of what I believe is in the best interests of Maine and the nation.” http://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/king-announces-support-for-tillerson-as-secretary-of-state-and-opposition-to-sessions-as-attorney-general
Mining Awareness + 
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