Sunday, December 25, 2022

HOPE YOUR HOLIDAYS ARE FANTASTIC!

 


It seems that our country and the world are experiencing problems that many think are insurmountable. I can't speak for the rest of the world but after 90 years, I can tell you that America has always bounced back and gone ahead to prosperity. This time will be no different.

Nasty Jack

Friday, December 23, 2022

Kevin McCarthy - Bogus Speaker at best - In pictures

 


This is another Republican liar we have learned not to believe. Did Kevin McCarthy learn it from his pal, Donald Trump?





Doesn't this make Kevin McCarthy ineligible to be a member of Congress?






Congress should replace Kevin McCarthy with Charley McCarthy, without Edgar Bergen.





Sorry about the cutoff picture but I couldn't resist the description of Kevin McCarthy as Donald Trump's lapdog.







The question is, are Kevin McCarthy and Marjorie Taylor Greene in a love-hate relationship? With any luck, they'll take each other down.





Actually, in addition to Kevin McCarthy, Liz Cheney has a lot of mens' gonads after her participation in the Jan. 6 Riot Commission. But most notably Donald Trump.





I have no words that would better describe Kevin McCarthy than a POS.








And, although not in the picture, Kevin McCarthy was one of those that both endured and supported Donald Trump lies and corruption.






THE  END...FOR NOW





Thursday, December 22, 2022

Republican white supremacist Christmas

 

Take a good look at the picture to the left. See anything missing? The Republicans' idea of a "white" Christmas is literally white. Here is a post from AlterNet: "The Republican Party is soaked in white supremacy. But is it a hate group?"  To begin with, here are some things to think about...
"Guns, abortion, immigration – what binds these “hot button” issues together in the Republican mind? Well, white supremacy, obviously."

Each, GUNS, ABORTION and IMMIGRATION, has its explanation from John Stoehr of the AlterNet and I urge you to read his post, here. All three of these issues have one common denominator, fear. But does all this make them Republican hate groups? Southern Poverty Law Center’s Rachel Carroll Rivas asked, 'What’s the status of hate groups in America?' I have followed SPLC for years and find their research on hate groups the best.

Some of Rivas' comments...
"after the insurrection on January 6, 2021, the hard-right movement converged around a willingness to engage in political violence, inflict harm and deny legally-established rights.
"Honestly, these harmful ideas have become so commonplace 
that card-carrying membership is less and less necessary.
"We consider the hard right of today inherently anti-democratic.
"We documented 733 hate groups and 488 antigovernment groups in 2021. There are also 65 new groups listed in 2021."
With that said, many of the members of SPLC's hate groups are connected to Donald Trump, and Christian Picciolini who nearly 25 years ago was a leader in the skinhead movement defines who make up hate groups...
"It's the average American. It is our mechanics, it's our dentists, it's our teachers, lawyers, doctors, nurses and unfortunately that's the way it's turned into the last 30 years."

Although not mentioned by name, there are member of the U.S. Congress who do support extremist groups...
"a small but vocal band of Republicans now serving in the House provided legitimacy and publicity to extremist groups and movements as they built toward their role in supporting Mr. Trump’s efforts to subvert the outcome of the 2020 election and the attack on Congress."

So, it suddenly becomes clear why Republicans are dreaming of a White Christmas. Their dream is indisputedly focused on the word "white."

 


Wednesday, December 21, 2022

Jan. 6 Committee...Best of statements

 

Posted yesterday my wife and I watched the Monday hearing of the Jan. 6 Commission and came to the conclusion the panel nailed Donald Trump. Following are some of the leading quotes from the meeting, compliments CNN...

1. “The Trump campaign legal team knew there was no legitimate argument…to overturn the election, and yet President Trump went forward with his plan for January 6 anyway.” – Wyoming GOP Rep. Liz Cheney 
2. “Mr. Trump decided before the election…that he would claim it was rigged.” – California Democratic Rep. Zoe Lofgren 
3. “The mayor (Rudy Giuliani) was definitely intoxicated.” – former Trump adviser Jason Miller 
4. “I don’t know that I had a firm view of what he should say.” – Ivanka Trump 
5. “My recommendation was to say that ‘Votes were still being counted. It’s too early to tell, too early to call the race but we’re proud of the race we ran, and we think we’re in good position.’” – former Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien

These are the first five and I urge you to go to the CNN article for the rest as well as more in-depth explanation. 

Tuesday, December 20, 2022

Jan. 6 Committee nails Donald Trump

 

My wife and I watched the last session of the January 6 Committee yesterday and the summary and wrap up was very convincing. Donald Trump is corrupt and an anarchist with solid proof from the Committee allowing them to refer prosecution of Trump to the Dept. of Justice on the following charges...
"to prosecute Trump for obstruction of an official proceeding, conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to make a false statement and incitement, rebellion or insurrection."

The Committee could also recommend ethics charges against 5 Republicans for refusing House subpoenas: House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California and Reps. Jim Jordan of Ohio, Mo Brooks of Alabama, Andy Biggs of Arizona and Scott Perry of Pennsylvania. Of course, the GOP takes over the House in January 2023, but with the amount of chaos surrounding who will be Speaker, it looks like

there will be non-stop turmoil facing Congress.

If you watched, did you see the commitment and passion when Adam Kinzinger spoke? The U.S. Congress will lose a valuable asset when he retires, as well as Liz Cheney leaving due to losing her election. Cheney pledged herself and her career to get rid of Donald Trump, which culminated in the Jan. 6 Committee. Others on the panel were clear in their condemnation of Trump using clips from his administration to illustrate how he broke the law over and over.

There is talk that these prosecution referrals of Trump will face a number of obstacles when it gets to the DOJ. One is Merrick Garland's record of moving so slow in Donald Trump's prosecution, but it is hoped that the latest appointment of fireball prosecutor, Jack Smith, will move things along now. There is also the feeling that, if brought before a jury, a general public would be reluctant to convict

a former president, or a Trump minion would be on the jury.

No matter what, the Jan. 6 Committee has done an excellent job in bringing Donald Trump to justice for his transgressions. We can only hope that the DOJ will do their job now.

Monday, December 19, 2022

One homeless person in a wealthy America is too much

 


My wife and I were shopping at Costco recently and when we left after shopping, there was a homeless man at the exit with a sign indicating his plight. Don't care what people say, we keep a number of five-dollar-bills in the car for the homeless. My wife rolled the window down and gave the man $5.00. He was so grateful, thanked us for the money, but then said, "Have a happy holiday." Here's a man on the street, wrapped in a blanket (cold in Phoenix) and he wishes us a happy holiday.

I was totally taken aback by this kind and sincere wish from someone who had no place to live and probably no idea where his next meal would come from. Added to this, Phoenix was forecast to have a low in the 30s that night. I haven't been able to forget him and can only wish that more people around the country would have a similar experience and demand something be done about the homeless now. That's when I thought of the headline above to shame those in charge to do something.

And this is what shelters are asking for in the Phoenix metro area...

  • Coats/jackets
  • Sweaters/sweatshirts
  • Sweatpants
  • Hats/Beanies
  • New socks and underwear 
If this is what is required in Phoenix, can you imagine what is needed in New York and New England where tens of thousands are without power from a powerful snowstorm. The Right to Shower homeless group says, "For most of us, winter means holidays, family gatherings, and gift-giving." However...
"for people experiencing homelessness, winter is a brutal challenge. The cold weather makes life on the street even more dangerous than usual, and the societal focus on togetherness and holiday cheer can create a sense of even greater isolation."
What's behind rising homelessness in America?


Here are some of their suggestions for helping...
"Donate warm clothes, socks, and blankets. Cleaning house for the cold season? Taking stock of your family’s winter wardrobe? Don’t let those coats and hats go to the trash. Shelters and individuals will be grateful for your gently used items, especially socks and blankets, which are even more necessary during the cold months."
Donate food, including leftovers. All shelters and soup kitchens will be grateful for donations during the holiday months, and if you over-prepare for an office party or gathering among friends, don’t let those leftovers go to waste. Rescuing Leftover Cuisine is one organization that helps redirect potential food waste to those who need it.
"Call 311 (non-emergency services) when you see someone in danger. The colder it gets, the more dangerous it is for people to live unsheltered. If you see a person outside on a cold night, contact 311 to access local services and potentially save a life. Many cities have their own cold-weather homeless-serving hotlines and 211 is another common line for essential community services. If you meet an unsheltered person who is also a veteran, they can find help through 1-877-4AID-VET, while homeless teens can call the National Runaway Safeline at 1-800-RUNAWAY."

In closing, I cannot understand why some millionaire or billionaire hasn't stepped

forward to organize a consortiun that would deal directly with this problem. Yes, there are numerous charities that do their best but there are still over a half-million homeless on the street with around 11,000 shelters in the U.S. 

Unfortunately, the displaced folks are not evenly distributed around the country so that is why a centrally controlled plan is necessary. So far band aids are being used where there should be a major bandaging of the problem. I just don't understand why millionaires and billionaires can't spare a few bucks to help those down on their luck. What good Samaritan will commit to this worthy project?

Have a happy holiday to our homeless friend at Costco and the same for all your peers. May you all find shelter and good fortune in the near future.


Friday, December 16, 2022

Pets should not be given as presents

 

The Jacksonville, Arkansas animal shelter says it right: "Getting a dog is a lifetime commitment, not a Christmas gift." But hundreds of animals will be given this year at Christmas and hundreds will end up in shelters in 2023. Here are some numbers from PETA...

  • A shelter in Fargo, North Dakota, reports that in its area, more than 700 animals are turned over to shelters right after the holidays every year.
  • An adoption group in tiny Edinburg, Texas, gets more than 400 animals. It says that the surrenders normally start with a phone call from someone saying, “I got this [animal] for Christmas…and I can’t take care of it.”
  • A humane society in Reading, Pennsylvania, says that most of its post-Christmas drop-offs are puppies and kittens. They’re dumped soon after the holiday when training them requires too much time.
  • By January 4 last year, one Georgia animal shelter was posting on Facebook begging for adopters because of the onslaught of returned dogs it was bombarded with.
Here's the scenario from Jamie Parker, supervisor of Jacksonville Animal Shelter...
"Some of them get adopted and they stay. But a lot of them end up coming back to us, and a lot of them find themselves back in the kennel with no one that can play with them all day."

PETA says you should never give animals as Christmas gifts. It does sound like a

good idea and the expectation of those faces when they receive their new pet makes the giver think they have done something great. Apparently they haven't...
"By January, many of those “present” animals will have joined the more than 6 million who enter shelters in the U.S. every year. Some animal shelters even get in on the craze, offering discounted or free adoptions and encouraging people to give animals away as gifts. Their intentions may be good, but they likely don’t realize that they’re exacerbating the homeless-animal crisis."

Other reasons not to do this include the fact the holidays are full of a lot of people having fun; a great deal of frivolity in the household; noise and commotion a new animal doesn't understand and most likely will be frightened of. The house is filled with strangers coming and going. But the worst thing are the things left around from gifts like ribbons, ornaments, electrical cords, and sweets as well as other foods and drinks.

PETA also warns...

"When shelters offer animals up for a pittance (or for free), they devalue them and encourage impulse adoptions by eager people who haven’t considered whether they or their gift recipients are ready to invest the substantial amount of money, commitment, and care that the animals will need. And animals can be acquired as cheap gifts by people who can’t afford to care for them. After the holidays, many of these “present” animals end up back at the shelter or, worse, sentenced to a life of isolation on a chain or in an outdoor pen or dumped on the street."

I, nor PETA, nor all the animal shelters and rescues nationwide don't want to discourage the public from adopting pets, at Christmas or the rest of the year. But you must want that animal to become a member of your family and realize the responsibility of caring for them. It's not easy but oh so rewarding. I know, my wife and I have taken in eleven rescues and we've had the time of our lives. Merry Christmas to you and your pets and to the rescue animals all over the world.



Wednesday, December 14, 2022

Barry Goldwater preceeded Donald Trump on RIGHT WING EXTREMISM

 





The American public was worried that Goldwater was a danger with his finger on the button. 





Goldwater lost in one of the largest landslides in history to Lyndon Johnson in 1964.






As the 1964 Republican convention approached, many political observers warned that right-wing extremists were about to take over the Grand Old Party. Barry Goldwater’s critics now see today’s Republican extremism in 1964.




But there is no comfort in knowing that Donald Trump was not the originalist on right wing extremism. And there is no doubt the Trump-borne extremism is much more severe than was Barry Goldwater's. At least Goldwater had the best for the country behind his beliefs.

Tuesday, December 13, 2022

Donald Trump's terrorism at work again...

 

Guess who opened the door to domestic terrorism resulting in activity in at least three states? Do I even have to say Donald Trump? He started with immigrants in his early administration calling them rapists, murderers and drug dealers. Then, during his run for president he called for barring all Muslims from entering the United States, then when in the Oval Office...
he signed an executive order titled 'Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States' which became better known as the muslim travel ban.
The new domestic terrorism acts started in North Carolina in Moore County where 45,000 utility customers lost power and local officials declared a state of emergency. Here's the scenario...
"The Homeland Security 'National Terrorism Advisory System Bulletin' issued on Nov. 30 said individuals and groups motivated by a range of ideological beliefs and personal grievances 'continue to pose a persistent and lethal threat to the Homeland.'"

Trump labelled a 'domestic terrorist' by former US deputy secretary of state Richard Armitage...


 Since the perpetrators haven't been identified yet we can't definitely place the blame, but five will get you ten that there is some connection to Donald Trump and his followers. And then all the way across country in the northwest there were at least six attacks at electricity substations in Washington and Oregon. Current efforts are in place to determine who is doing this and why. Vox says that "Donald Trump is the accelerant" and everything points back to the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riots...

"At Trump’s behest, throngs of his supporters descended on Washington, DC, to dispute the results of the presidential election, climbing the steps of the Capitol and busting through its doors and windows. Throughout the day, Trump continued to falsely claim that the election was stolen without any evidence to support this unreality, further riling up his followers to “take the country back.” By mid-afternoon, the Capitol building was breached and one member of the mob had been shot and fatally wounded. Five people died."

Need I say more? 

Monday, December 12, 2022

One euthanized animal in a wealthy America is too much

 

In case you haven't heard, animal shelters around the U.S. are loaded beyond capacity.
The public decided they can no longer keep their pets so they just dump them at the local shelter. There are hardships where this is necessary but too many use this as an act of convenience even where the family has had their animal for several years, a forever home? I've said this before but it bears repeating...would you give up your human child in similar circumstances? I think not.

There are reasons for these actions, according to The Hill...
"Animal advocates cite the decline of virtual work, a national housing shortage and the rising cost of kibble, among other factors."
Packed with pets: how you can help struggling animal shelters...


This all coincides with the coronavirus pandemic where people began an influx of adoptions. But some apparently weren't really animal lovers. As the headline indicates, "the number of cats and dogs facing possible euthanasia stands 100,000 higher this year than last." This is incredibly insane for both the animal advocates (should do a better job of spay and neutering) and a portion of the American population that considers pets "just animals," whatever that means.

The word is out and here are just some of the numbers...
New York’s municipal shelter system has seen a 25-percent increase in surrendered pets, a trend driven by rent inflation and pet-averse landlords.
An Atlanta shelter designed to hold 80 animals has been running nearly 300 dogs over capacity. Another in Montgomery County, Texas, has housed more than 400 dogs in space designed to hold 180. At an overcrowded facility in nearby Brazoria County, “we’ve started stacking crates in the bathroom.”

100,000 dogs and cats facing euthanasia as people return adopted pets to animal shelters...



 Julie Castle, CEO of Best Friends Animal Society, said, “Nobody’s job description should have killing animals as one of the things on the list.” Yet someone has to do it...or do they? Volunteers are needed as this is certainly not a for-profit industry. Anyone who can spare any amount of your time, please contact your local shelter to let them know you are available. This would allow them to do more spay, neuter and release projects which helps to control the animal population.

On the other side, I would like to see a massive education program, funded by grants and/or animal lover donors, which details the fun and satisfaction of having a pet in your home. It should emphasize the love and affection that results and the times your animal(s) will literally lift you out of the doldrums. They will be there for you and you should be there for them. Please read this article in The Hill. You'll be glad you did and so will the animals in the shelters.

Friday, December 9, 2022

The love of animals...

 

Immanuel Kant feels that people can be judged by the way they treat animals. I worked for a guy once who was a complete jerk, but one day I learned how much he loved his cat, often discussing with me his care of the animal because he knew we had cats. After this I realized I couldn't fault the man altogether and our relationship improved measurably. But treatment of animals by some results in abuse, even cruelty, an area requiring new laws. 

But have you ever taken the time to see that lovin' look in your pet's eyes that says they adore you. And, of course, you adore them too. The connection to our animals has grown over the years to where they are now one of the family. And that's the way it should be as most of us consider them our children, most especially when you don't have human kids. These households treasure their pets and some families spend large sums on their animal for toys and miscellaneous things. 

The main thing is you must keep them healthy making regular trips to the vet. Find a caring doctor for your species, dog, cat, horse, etc. Depending where you live, housing is important. As an example, you should never leave a cat outside for the simple reason they are easy prey for predators. Dogs are better able to defend themselves but should be in a fenced yard high enough to keep out all other animals. Climate change has made some desperate and they are on the prowl.

Animal lover and vet, James Herriot, draws a comparison between animals and

humans, contrasting the souls of each, and animals come out on top. The traits Herriot emphasizes are love, loyalty and gratitude, three qualities that many humans are sorely missing. There is a saying that I use regularly in my blog: "All I Want is to Live." Animals don't ask for much but the least we can give them is a loving family and a forever home.

Just think about these stats from the ASPCA...

Approximately 6.3 million companion animals enter U.S. animal shelters nationwide every year. Of those, approximately 3.1 million are dogs and 3.2 million are cats.
Each year, approximately 920,000 shelter animals are euthanized (390,000 dogs and 530,000 cats).
Approximately 4.1 million shelter animals are adopted each year (2 million dogs and 2.1 million cats).

Why not go to your local animal rescue, shelter or humane society today and take one, or more of those statistics with you to your forever home.

Thursday, December 8, 2022

White Nationalism/White Supremacy still rampant

 

Here it is word for word from RawStory...
"Conservative podcast host Steve Bannon defended former President Donald Trump's call for a 'termination' of the U.S. Constitution over his 2020 election loss."

Steve Bannon is a white nationalist, white supremacist, spreading his agenda around the White House during the Trump administration. It is thought John Kelly, Trump's Chief of Staff, was instrumental in the resignation of Bannon, after which Bannon dissed many on Trump's staff and went on with his anti-American program. Steve Bannon is supposed to be in jail but just a month ago...

"Former Trump White House strategist Steve Bannon will be allowed to remain free as he appeals his conviction for defying a subpoena from the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol riot."

Bannon opposed most everything that opposed Donald Trump, but now that Trump

wants to abolish the Constitution, the expected of course, he supports the ex-White House maniac all the way. Steve Bannon even went to the extent of quoting Donald Trump's Truth Social post on his podcast...
"A Massive Fraud of this type and magnitude allows for the termination of all rules, regulations, and articles, even those found in the Constitution."

The Trump organization was just found guilty on all counts of tax fraud by the N.Y. atty. general with more charges of Trump personally being investigated. Bannon barely got a reprieve from jail time and more of Donald Trump's minions are already serving time. As you can see from the visual, above, and also from a Republican, David Rockefeller, the government should be the servant of the people, not their master. The latter is what Steve Bannon and Donald Trump want.

Wednesday, December 7, 2022

George Carlin talks - Stop making stupid people famous

 

The headline is taken from an Internet quote and represents a great array of politicians today like Arizona's Kari Lake and Georgia's Herschel Walker. They came out of the woodwork with a mouth loud enough to get the attention of the stupid people George Carlin is talking about. The question is, how can we get rid of them?


Tuesday, December 6, 2022

A conservative on the Supreme Court we can be proud of...

 

Sandra Day O'Connor was the first female associate justice on the Supreme Court. She was appointed by Pres. Ronald Reagan and served from 1981 to 2006. From Arizona, and known for her dispassionate and meticulously researched opinions, often siding with liberals in election law. Unfortunately, the Supreme Court of today is a complete opposite of O'Connor.

Monday, December 5, 2022

Kari Lake salutes Trump/Hitler

 

We know what a loser Kari Lake is, brought down in part by her love and affection for Donald Trump. It is endless, as well as her passion for denying the fact that Joe Biden won the 2020 election. Lake is, of course, a lunatic who thought she could parlay her television exposure into a political career. She didn't, but she hasn't given up yet and goes on with a new strategy planned to unseat Arizona's elected governor, Katie Hobbs. Republicans never learn, especially Trumpsters.

Sunday, December 4, 2022

Stephen King's latest horror story...Donald Trump

 


I cannot count the ways Stephen King has blasted Donald Trump for the idiot and buffoon he is. But why not write a new version of Cari with Trump on the stage under the bucket of blood. That could even outdo Kathy Griffin's Trump severed head.

Friday, December 2, 2022

Abandoned After Seven Years, Jodi is Sad

 

Jodi is a little girl dog in Georgia living with what she thought was her forever family. She had been there for seven years when she was surrendered to The Little Guild. Staff says she was really scared and just wanted to go home. According to The DoDo, Jodi didn't know what was happening or where her family had gone. 

Here are some facts from the ASPCA...

Approximately 6.3 million companion animals enter U.S. animal shelters nationwide every year. Of those, approximately 3.1 million are dogs and 3.2 million are cats.
Each year, approximately 920,000 shelter animals are euthanized (390,000 dogs and 530,000 cats).

If those numbers don't make you think twice about abandoning your pet, then you need to look deep inside for more compassion. As ardent animal lovers we have considered our gang of eleven rescued cats as part of the family. Eating, sleeping, drinking and their healthcare are all a part of our family program. I know you have heard it before...they are our children. Jodi has become more confortable at The Little Guild but it took time to build her trust.

Jodi hasn't been adopted yet, which suprises the shelter staff, since she has become so lovable and outgoing. But they feel strongly that it will happen. The little girl is lucky but look at the above stats and think of the awful consequences if you decide to abandon your pet. PLEASE!

Thursday, December 1, 2022

Arizona's Anti-Democracy Gains Momentum

 

Arizona's leader in the destruction of our democracy, gubernatorial loser in the November elections, "still refuses to concede a race the Associated Press called for her opponent weeks ago." Vox reports she is still pumping supporters for help and recently...
filed a lawsuit asking Maricopa County, the largest county in Arizona, to hand over various election records before the statewide canvass of the results, which is scheduled to happen on December 5.

And it was a typical Arizona Trumpster Republican that threatened a "violent revolution" and "death penalty" at a Maricopa County election hearing. According to RawStory...

A woman named Kathy Roscoe told the supervisors that she came to the hearing "to get an up close and personal look at the seven traitors to the United States Constitution."

She continued...

"I will not repeat your election crimes," Rosco said. "I will just say, not 
certifying the machines constitutes a form of interference and in case no one has enlightened you people, interference in an election in the United States of America, Mr. Gates (Maricopa Board of Supervisors), is a capital offense; it's considered treason punishable by the death penalty!"

And, the Arizona lunatic state Sen. Wendy Rogers, recently censured by her own party for her comments on the Buffalo gun massacre, is now...

"promising Trump supporters she can have the 2022 Arizona election redone, as a fundraising gimmick."

In another RawStory article...
"From the glass half full department, Maricopa County’s vote to certify the Nov. 8 election opens an entirely new grifting opportunity for the election denial industry," wrote [Laurie] Roberts. "And who but our own state Sen. Wendy Rogers to lead the way? Within minutes of the (Republican-run) Maricopa County Board of Supervisors voting (unanimously) to certify the vote on Monday, Rogers had her hand out. 'I am Arizona Senator Wendy Rogers, and I will hold Maricopa County accountable for its election shenanigans,' she wrote, in her fundraising plea. 'Help me get a new election for Maricopa!' And by 'help,' she means send her money."

Okay, maybe we can't stop the momentum but what we can certainly slow it down by illustrating to the rest of the country what a bunch of certifiable morons we have in Arizona's state government. 

Wednesday, November 30, 2022

Billionaires and Large U.S. Corporations Support Anti-Democracy

 

It is beyond disconcerting to realize one of the richest families in the U.S. supports the 2020 election deniers spending over $1 million to overturn President Joe Biden’s victory. It was right-wing shipping magnates Dick and Elizabeth Uihlein and their money went to "campaigns or committees tied to the 147 Republicans who voted, on January 6, (2021), to overturn President Joe Biden’s victory." But their affection for MAGA goes a lot farther, according to AlterNet...
"Sollenberger, writing for the [Daily] Beast in an article published on November 28, reports that in 2021, Arizona Republican Party Vice Chair Gina Swoboda was hired as executive director for “the Uihlein-backed dark money nonprofit Restoration Action Inc.” Her salary was $108,750 per year."
And in corporate America some of the largest corporations handed out more than $8 million "in campaign contributions toward candidates running for federal office who denied the results of the 2020 election and promoted ideas that the race was stolen from former president Donald Trump." Of course, Chas. Koch and Koch Industries was one of the leaders in the gang of democracy mongers. Another you will want to know about before planning home repairs is Home Depot.

There are more so remember the names if you have a relationship with these companies and let them know how you feel...

"AT&T, Home Depot and UPS, which collectively contributed more than $1.6 million to campaigns that pushed ideas of election fraud.
"Others included Comcast, NBC Universal, the American Crystal Sugar Company and Delta Airlines."

 Arizona GOP Election Rejecting Zeal Could Boomerang On Party's Candidates...


What is most concerning is how organized these people are becoming as if this is only the beginning of the battle...and it may very well be. Here's the scenario and you can see why Arizona is known today as the hotbed of anti-democracy...

“Swoboda, a former Trump campaign official and the vice chair of the... 

"Arizona Republican Party, is now leading a misguided charge against the ballot count in that state on behalf of GOP gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake,” Sollenberger explains. “Swoboda currently serves as ‘election integrity’ coordinator for Lake, whose repeated false claims of voter fraud have ingratiated her to former President Donald Trump and who still refuses to acknowledge her election loss to (Democratic Arizona Secretary of State) Katie Hobbs.”"
Kari Lake is a big promoter of Swoboda and the Uihleins' funded Restoration of

America network which is a hub for election denial, including funding some of the key players pushing election falsehoods in Arizona at the moment. There is so much more in this article that will make the democracy-loving public literally sick to their stomach. It's a great read! In closing, this is AlterNet's overall perspective...
"This is a reminder that there’s big money behind the push to undermine democracy. Through Restoration Action and other entities, an array of groups pushing election conspiracy theories are backed by literally tens of millions of dollars from just one billionaire couple.”

This anti-democracy movement must be stopped now but so far lacks a real leader. If one doesn't step up to the plate soon it could be too late. 

 

Tuesday, November 29, 2022

UPDATE: Gun Nuts Abuse Their Right To Carry Arms Intimidating The Innocent

 

UPDATE: DAILY BEAST: 
It’s Sickening How Many Guns Were Sold on Black Friday

Right here in Phoenix we had groups of Trumpsters/2020 election deniers out shadowing voters at drop boxes, and it was all legal. Voters were scared for their safety since many of the intimidators were heavily armed. Arizona is, of course, wide open to guns, even allowing them in bars. It is a normal day in this state to see someone walking around the streets packing heat. Ownership requires only a warm body. But all this has escalated into something much worse.

Here's the way Mike McIntire of the New York Times sees it...

"Across the country, openly carrying a gun in public is no longer just an exercise in self-defense — increasingly it is a soapbox for elevating one’s voice and, just as often, quieting someone else’s."

Okay, it is one thing to stand on the corner armed to the hilt trying to stare down a voter. But it is quite another thing to confront your opponents swinging an AR-15 in their face. It is clearly a threat and that is exactly how it is meant to be. Here's a recent headline from The Guardian, "Six million Americans carried guns daily in 2019, twice as many as in 2015." This study by the American Journal of Public Health continues...

"The new estimates highlight a decades-long shift in American gun ownership, with increasing percentages of gun owners saying they own firearms for self-defense, not hunting or recreation, and choosing to carry a gun with them when they go out in public..."
Responsible Gun Owners Don't Use Guns to Intimidate...


I don't buy this "self defense" crap when you are out in public, but it sometimes can be valid at home when you are threatened. Authentic statistics that confirm gun carriers have been instrumental in stopping a gun confrontation or saving a life are hard to find; I am sure there are some but this hardly justifies the coercion of innocent people with an assault rifle, as is depicted in this NYT article. And the Editorial Board of the Washington Post wants us to be honest about guns...
"The mass shootings that plague this nation are a uniquely American jumble of contradictions. Each new one horrifies, and yet fits into a depressingly familiar pattern. Communities count the dead — nearly 50 so far in November — and tally the gruesome details. The country vows to honor the lives cut short. And then it all fades from the headlines and people move on, leaving behind thoughts and prayers but no concrete policies to stop the next bloodbath."

The month of November will be over tomorrow and there have been "nearly 50"

deaths due to gun violence in this month alone. Merry Christmas from the NRA. SCOTUS has made things even easier...

"A landmark supreme court case this summer overturned a New York law that placed strict limits on public gun-carrying, ruling, for the first time, that Americans have a constitutional right to carry a handgun for self-defense outside the home."

The Guardian says an estimated 16 million adults...

"saying they carried a loaded handgun in public at least once a month, and an estimated 6 million saying they did so daily..."

It may be legal to carry guns in public, even for those who have no training on how to use them, but the time is coming when a comatose public will finally wake up to the horrifying innocent deaths due to gun violence in the U.S. and wreak havoc on this insane gun culture. Better sooner than later!







Monday, November 28, 2022

ARIZONA...The Hotbed Of Anti-Democracy

 

I have lived in Arizona for over twenty years. We left Los Angeles because of the gangs that were slowly migrating up the coast where we lived. When we arrived here and discovered how conservative and far-right the state was (didn't do my homework), we didn't want to leave; rather we thought another liberal presence in the land of the sun could help change the state to, at least, moderate. We have had luck finding other liberals and now Arizona has definitely turned purple, we think on the way to blue.

But as it turns out the Donald Trump administration, which didn't make the state necessarily more red, did incite the brand of retaliatory politics that has resulted in the recent chaotic gubernatorial election. Kari Lake, a radical right Trumpster who is also a 2020 election denier, challenged Democrat, Katie Hobbs, who wasn't squeaky clean but a hell of a lot more honest and qualified than Lake. Hobbs had a narrow win but Lake is still contesting the certified voting results. 

Other Trumpsters and 2020 election deniers also lost, but Abe Hamadeh, in a tight race for...

"attorney general, filed a lawsuit on Tuesday contesting the preliminary results of an election that had already been headed to an automatic recount."

You can see the stupidity of these people who react with no thought to what they are doing. Idiots. Hamadeh had a guaranteed runoff. But, what puzzles me even more, probably shouldn't in Arizona, is the fact the races are so close. You would think when known anarchists are on the ballot the logic would be that it is a threat to our democracy, vote them down. Much of the country did in the blue tsunami, but not Arizona. The New York Times reports...

Mr. Hamadeh’s lawsuit, filed in State Superior Court in Maricopa County, names as defendants Arizona’s secretary of state — Katie Hobbs, a Democrat who won the governor’s race — as well as the county recorders and boards of supervisors in the state’s 15 counties. The Republican National Committee joined Mr. Hamadeh in the suit as a plaintiff.

 Inside The Arizona GOP' 'Anti-Democracy Experiment'...


And on Thanksgiving Day, it was reported that Lake filed a lawsuit against Maricopa County, demanding information about Election Day printer problems. She said, "I still have hope." Here's the scenario...

"Republican gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake filed a lawsuit against Maricopa County officials on Wednesday, accusing them of breaking election laws and demanding they provide information about voters whose ballots were impacted by Election Day printer issues."

But, one of the most critical wins for Democrats was Sec. of State; the position controls state elections and Republican candidate and a Trump denier Mark Finchem had repeatedly said he may not certify some elections. With that area worsening on a daily basis, the Washington Post corroborates the problem in this piece, "Election denial is reaching new levels of absurdity in Arizona." Here's their

take...

"Arizona is home for many of the most fervent true believers in the election fraud myth. Their ire is directed toward election authorities in Maricopa County, home of Phoenix, where roughly 60 percent of the state’s votes are cast. After the 2020 election, the purveyors of the fraud narrative pushed the state legislature to authorize the so-called audit of the county’s vote. That effort confirmed Joe Biden’s victory, but it did nothing to quell the faithful’s suspicions."

That was followed by what WaPo calls the "fraud squad," illegal electors, led by gubernatorial candidate, Kari Lake. She, along with the Trump supported gang of mock politicians lost, and as far as I am concerned, Arizona is saved...for the time being. We still have a Republican legislature to deal with and Governor-elect Katie Hobbs has indicated her plan to work with them. Being the self-designated state pessimist, I have my doubts but unlimited hope for turning Arizona blue.

Friday, November 25, 2022

Peace Through Democracy

 

For those who don't want peace, there should be a trap door to oblivion...




Thursday, November 24, 2022

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

 


Thankful for those who contribute to Democracy and the future of a free world.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING




Wednesday, November 23, 2022

Should We Cancel Thanksgiving This Year? NO but...

 


Starting with the corruptive enigma that almost brought down this country, Donald Trump has decided to run for President again.

I, and millions more can't be thankful for that.

I am not thankful for the amount of animal abuse and cruelty that is going on in the U,S, and in the world. In this country an estimated 115 million animals in science labs are killed every year for chemical, drug, food, and cosmetics research. Every 60 seconds, one animal suffers abuseEvery year, more than 10 million animals die from abuse in the US alone; There are over 10,000 puppy mills in the United States.

Millions are definitely not thankful for this. And I do not see how anyone could abuse an innocent animal; it takes a sick human being to do something like this.

Next, the idiot Elon Musk, a leader in electric vehicles, recently bought Twitter and is slowly but surely dismantling one of the best social medias the world has known.

Again, myself and millions can't be thankful for that.

A number of viruses, infections, new variants and most recently a deadly fungus threaten the U.S. population. How did it start and then spread so fast?

Once more, millions recognize that beginning with the pandemic and continuing with the current onslaught of calamities must, to some degree, be blamed on anti-vaxxers that we certainly can't be thankful for.

A recent blue tsunami in the November election is something to be thankful for, but the GOP although barely winning the House, does open the door to idiocies like the Hunter Biden investigation being planned by Jim Jordan.

Certainly nothing to be thankful for on either side of the aisle.

And then there are Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert, the shallow and brainless Bobbsey twins that barely tip the meter of double-digit IQs.

If you really searched high and low, there is absolutely no way to be thankful for these two idiots. 
Look at gun violence. With two recent incidents of mass shootings at the Univ. of Virginia and another at LGBTQ Club, Club Q, eight are dead along with multiple injuries. There have been 39,005 gun violence deaths so far this year and 34,706 injuries from gun violence.
No one should be thankful for the National Rifle Assn. and its head, Wayne LaPierre, as well as the minions that serve him. Also, those gun nuts out there who have blocked responsible gun legislation.

Perhaps the most pressing problem the world has ever had, climate change is drying up lakes that are critical for reservoirs in the U.S. and causing weather calamities that are changing lives around the world. Although the Republicans take the lead in the denial of this issue. the Democrats have also dragged their feet. WHO estimates that half of the world’s population will be living in water-stressed areas by 2025.

How could anyone possibly be thankful for this.

The U. S. has a Supreme Court that has moved so far to the right there are calls for impeachment for at least two judges, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito. In the court's recent decision to in effect repeal the abortion act, Roe v. Wade, millions of women have been compromised, and they are mad as hell. They showed their anger in the recent election by turning back the expected red tide.

Yes, there are millions who are not thankful that the right to control their own bodies has been taken away from them.

Democracy is slowly dying, made possible by the autocratic government of Donald Trump's administration in the White House, supported vigorously by the Republican Party. 

Who could want their rights taken away from them and end up living like basketball star Brittney Griner has been forced to do? But this is the way they do it in a fascist government.

And the last entry leads to the question of whether Americans could live without their right to vote. If Republicans have their way vote will be restricted for some constituents; as an example, the black vote.

I am not thankful for the many laws the GOP has managed to pass and the new drawing of voting districts just to favor the right.

There are more I know but this is enough for now. 

Back to my original question, NO we shouldn't cancel Thanksgiving. What we must do is be thankful that we still have the right to fight tyranny and make it a 2023 resolution to try and mend the fences that have been erected by both the Republicans and Democrats, and return to the use of the two words negotiate and compromise. Without them, we are a lost nation. 


 

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