Tuesday, February 14, 2023

Congress Is Littered With White Trash

 

Longtime Democratic strategist James Carville said it best, "the level of white trashdom in the Republican Party is staggering." For openers he had Marjorie Taylor Greene in mind for her display of boorish behavior at Joe Biden's recent State of the Union speech. Only a moron like Greene would come to the event decked out in a white coat lined with a fur collar, obviously meant to display her ignorance. Carville described Republican lawmakers as “white trash.” His comment in Huff Post...

“I tell people I have the equivalent of a PhD in white trashology, and we saw real white trash on display,” Carville told MSNBC anchor Ari Melber.

 Carville follows with another similar statement in RawStory, "The white trash in the Republican Party is just staggering," then...

"Let me say something about congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), she dresses like white trash. She really needs a fashion consultant. I recommend George Santos. He could do a good job of dressing up where she doesn't announce her white trashdom by her own clothes."

Carville, just before 2022, slammed the GOP for fielding “very low-quality candidates” and suggested the reason...

“They have a lot of stupid people that vote in their primaries. They really do. I’m not really supposed to say that, but it’s obvious fact. And you know, when stupid people vote, you know who they nominate? Other stupid people.”

 Carville: Does Trump's GOP Deserve Marjorie Taylor Greene?...


But the ultimate put down was by Matt Lewis in Daily Beast...
"Trump would never have Greene as his VP because she was too "low rent" for his high style."

Carville also quotes some very interesting Republican history on Social Security and Medicare...

"First of all, their lust for cutting Social Security and Medicare is well documented," Carville said about the GOP. "Newt Gingrich shut the government down and got defeated in the end. We know that George W. Bush tried to privatize Social Security and Medicare. we know when Paul Ryan was Speaker and John Boehner — they did everything they could to cut Social Security and Medicare. We know that that is their objective."

The conservative on again/off again with these entitlement programs is becoming very tiresome. New House Speaker, Republican Kevin McCarthy said they are both off the table but we've learned repeatedly not to believe him, or most Republicans, for that matter. And Carville didn't forget Lauren Boebert...

"You cannot do anything to have low-quality people — Lauren Boebert met her husband when -- allegedly according to the police report, he exposed himself to her at a bowling alley," said Carville. "This is not made-up stuff. This is who they are! And even McCarthy, as gutless and spineless as he is, knew that they walked right into the trap. It's unbelievable."

If only the conservative U.S. Congress were like the trash bin in your computer...hit delete and it's all gone. 



 

 






Monday, February 13, 2023

News Catch Up Time

 

'This defines the Roberts Court': Chief justice's wife earns millions placing lawyers at firms that argue cases
...Since SCOTUS has gone conservative, it has also gone corrupt. First, there was Justice Clarence Thomas' wife, Ginni, now Chief Justice John Roberts' spouse can...
make millions of dollars recruiting attorneys who are placed into top law firms that argue cases before it?
Dozens of dogs left freezing to death in cold...A northwest side of San Antonio is only one U.S. city where over a dozen dogs were left out in the cold. Texas weather has been brutal and animals can freeze to death in a short while. PLEASE bring your pets in from the cold and report any strays. It could mean their life!

Ex-colleague of chief justice's wife makes ethics claim...More confirmation on SCOTUS Chief Justice John Roberts' wife, Jane, for unethical behavior.

A comprehensive list of Florida’s freedoms...NOT! This article illustrates just

how far the Fla. Gov. Ron (the despot) DeSantis' wrecking ball has gone, as an example...
Books. Specifically books that make students feel uncomfortable in any way, so that their parents need never endure a more complicated discussion than “tendies or nuggies?”
A homeless mother left a note with her dog for whoever found her. An animal shelter reunited them...Finally, a good news story for both the homeless and a    bandoned animals, in this case with no choice. Heartwarming!

Nearly Two-Thirds Say They’re Worse Off Than Two Years Ago...And it's not all Republicans. Some Democrats agree. With wages and the economy up and the unemployed down, am I missing something?

Judge suggests abortion might be protected by 13th Amendment despite Supreme Court ruling...SCOTUS Judge Samuel Alito is guilty of ramroding the repeal of Roe v. Wade and the country has been sorry ever since. And I think pro-abortion will find a way.

Missouri dog euthanized after grooming; family calls for accountability...A mistake like this is unconscionable. In fact, any euthanization of animals should be illegal. We MUST work together; the public, animal shelters and local governments, to curb the uncontrolled populations of pets. Then, the feds can pass a law to make Euthanization against the law.

100 gun deaths a day, about half suicides, most of them men
...Gun sales go up and the natural result is more gun violence. Fortunately the NRA is in its drmise so we no longer have these sayings like, 'Guns don't kill people, people kill people.' #1, ban assault weapons; #2, beef up background checks; #3, eliminate concealed and open carry unless necessary; #4, pass tougher gun control laws. And do it before gun violence kills more innocent people.

How 'the most lawless jurist in the country' could ban medical abortions 'in all 50 states': journalists..."In less than three years, Kacsmaryk (the lawless jurist) has seized control over border policy, repeatedly defied the Supreme Court’s decision protecting LGBTQ employees, and restricted minors’ access to birth control." The journalists point out three massive flaws in the case...
First, none of the plaintiffs "have a remotely plausible claim to standing," or "ability to sue in federal court."
Second, the "substantive arguments are ridiculous."
Third, a federal judge has never banned a drug "by wholly revoking FDA approval."

There's one more...you thought demonstrations were bad before, just watch if this moron takes away the abortion pill. 

MORE LATER...




Friday, February 10, 2023

DeSantis Is An Ideological Fascist And Racial Authoritarian

 

These are the words from Salon's Senior Writer Chauncey Devega's piece on February 7th of this year. I mention all this due to the importance and timeliness of this issue. It comes at a time when Donald Trump is losing his power and the Republican presidential primary emphasis is swinging toward the despot DeSantis. I cannot think of anything, including Donald Trump, that would be worse for this country...most certainly democracy.

There was a story back in November of 2022 on RawStory, "'Oddball' Ron DeSantis might not be a hit on the national stage: former GOP insiders." First of all, calling DeSantis an "oddball" falls way too short of describing this autocratic dictator whose actions caused 7,443,954 Covid cases resulting i84,927 deaths. Teachers have only the books on their shelves allowed by DeSantis or face jail time. A Florida teacher rips DeSantis’ censorship, criminal threats as outrageous.

One can only hope he won't play well nationally keeping him isolated in a Florida that has so far supported his dictatorial prowess with cracks appearing recently. Here is an excerpt from a recent RawStory essay by Thom Hartmann...

"Historians and political observers have been predicting that America would get our very own Mussolini ever since the days of Barry Goldwater. And there's been no shortage of candidates: bribe-taking Nixon; Central American fascist-loving Reagan; Gitmo torturing and war-lying Bush; and, of course, Trump."

 Has Ron DeSantis Turned Florida into Fascist Paradise?


And, of course, what we have been given to fill this Mussolini niche is Ron DeSantis. Hartmann makes a statement that is disturbing but not unexpected...
"But with Ron DeSantis, we may finally be facing an all-American politician who has Mussolini's guile, ruthlessness, and willingness to see people die to advance his political career..."

OMG, a willingness to let people die is just what this ogre did, along with his bogus Surgeon General, Joseph Ladapo, in spewing misinformation over Covid. DeSantis and fellow Republicans are described as proclaiming Florida a bastion of "freedom" and "liberty" when in reality Hartmann calls it a laboratory for fascism. My interpretation of this comment indicates plans by this deranged group of autocrats to take their tyrannical movement national in 2024.

This country cannot survive another dictator. Florida's Gov. Ron DeSantis must be cut off at the knees and we must do it today!

Thursday, February 9, 2023

Joe Biden Lays Claim To 2024 In His State Of The Union

 

Yes, there were moments, but President Biden came through in his assessment of the administration's accomplishments and then the outlook for 2024. There was heckling by the likes of Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert, both Republican certified moron radicals, but it was expected. Here's an early scenario from CNN...

"A majority of Americans say he [Biden] hasn’t accomplished much, many Democrats aren’t thrilled at the prospect of him running for reelection and he faces clear disdain from most Republicans. But Biden powered through."

The President became feisty at a time when he desperately needs to display power

and the fact that he is in control. He used the phrase “finish the job” 12 times to urge Republicans and Democrats to move his issues into legislation and the law. The problem is, and has been, the fact that the American public seems to believe he has accomplished so little. There were many...

  • Lowering Healthcare and Drug Costs from the Inflation Reduction Act
  • The Most Consequential Federal Gun Safety Bill in Decades
  • The Most Consequential Federal Gun Safety Bill in Decades
  • Reducing the Cost of Gas by Releasing Oil from the National Strategic Reserve
  • Reforming the US Postal Service to Ensure Long-Term Stability

There are five more you can see here

My report would not be complete without two distinct cries for help in the fashion world. First, Arizona Senator, Krysten Sinema, in a bright yellow dress with puff shoulders, looks like she fell in a vat at a mustard factory. Agreed, she is lousy at her job but should get an award for acting as if this is all perfectly normal. The New York Post reported:  “Did the airbags on Kyrsten Sinema’s outfit deploy during the State of the Union?” user Gabe Sanchez tweeted.

And then there was Marjorie Taylor Greene dressed so that Newsweek said it made her look like Cruella de Vil. Only a misfit like MTG would come up with an outfit like this for an event like the State of the Union. In both cases, Sinema and Greene, they obviously pulled this off because they are so desperate to be noticed.

Newsweek reported...
"She [Marjorie Taylor Greene] shouted "liar" to Biden after the president accused the GOP of wanting to cut Social Security and Medicare. But what caught the attention of people on social media was the white fur coat she was wearing.

Oh yes, apparently Mitt Romney, amongst a group of representatives at SOTU, told another Republican lunatic, George Santos, "You don't belong here." Well said!

Republicans like this are regularly radically bizarre, but Joe Biden showed the kind of secure demeanor and disposition along with his grasp of the issues as the person we want in the White House. 

Wednesday, February 8, 2023

The City Of Memphis Has Chosen Racial Violence As Its Credo

 

I spent several years in Memphis in the 1950s, after four years in the Navy. On the G I Bill, I was able to get my degree from the University of Memphis while working as a television news producer at a local station. There was violence in those days but nothing remotely compared to the bloodshed that exists today. Most certainly nothing like the recent killing of Tyre Nichols (Black) by five Black Memphis cops. And, why would they attack one of their own and kill him?

This is the scenario from AP...

"In a terrible way, the death of Tyre Nichols brings vindication to members of the Black community in Memphis who live in constant fear of the police."

What this means is that it took the violent death of yet another Black person to once again expose the problem that African Americans have been dealing with for years. The difference is, it has gotten eonsiderably worse. I grew up in in a small town just east of Memphis, Jackson. Tennessee. When in high school there I witnessed a Black person being hanged and resolved at that moment I would never harbor feelings of racism. Lost a lot of friends but it was worth it.

The AP article presented by U.S. News is so compelling, I found it hard to believe Memphis had gotten this bad. Here are some excerpts...

"A homeowner who called the police because a young man who had been shot was on his front porch. The responding officers ignored the gunshot victim and entered the caller’s home. The caller was slammed to the ground and a chemical agent used on him as he was subdued. The officers then lied about the circumstances, but there was video.
"In police sweeps, unmarked cars roll into neighborhoods and armed plainclothes officers jump out, rushing traffic violators and issuing commands. The result is a community in fear, where people text, call and use social media to caution each other to stay inside or avoid the area when police operations are underway.
“There’s one type of law enforcement that keeps people safe, and then there’s a type of law enforcement that keeps people in check,” said Joshua Adams, 29, who grew up in south Memphis' Whitehaven, home to Elvis Presley’s Graceland Mansion, now a mostly Black neighborhood."

ALTHOUGH I MUST WARN YOU IN ADVANCE, this video of Tyre Nichols' beating death clearly confirms that cops can be violent...


 Unfortunately there is more in this AP piece that will shock you. And finally, a short anecdote about one of my former friends in Memphis. We lived close to this guy and his family, partied together, went out on the town together. The closest of friends. After leaving Memphis we went back for a vacation and the same friend and his family showed us their new house. Prominently, one room was dedicated to the Ku Klux Klan with KKK sheets and a hood affixed to the wall. 

I couldn't believe it but realized very quickly that the South will never change. And it hasn't.   READ MORE...


 

Tuesday, February 7, 2023

SCOTUS Matches Trump Corruption And Then Some

 

It was during Donald Trump's Oval Office romp that he nominated these questionably qualified and suspect corrupt and lascivious people to the highest court in the land. But, then, what would you expect from someone sporting the exact same qualities...
There is Neil Gorsuch, an originalist, in line with the late Justice, Anton Scalia, and the one who lied to Susan Collins re. his vote to repeal Roe v. Wade. Next, Brett Kavanaugh, accused of sexually assaulting Christine Blasey Ford in the early 1980s.Three other women also accused Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct, one of whom later recanted her story. And finally there is Amy Coney Barrett, an ultimate conservative believing that life begins at conception, is also a former member of the Federalist Group, which CNN calls "shadowy," and she is still involved with them.

But the latest corruption comes with the leak, which Chief Justice John Roberts called a...

"singular and egregious breach" and a "betrayal of the confidences of the Court," and ordered an investigation into its provenance.

The Court's marshal was chosen to lead the investigation, which is probably why, in eight months, the whole thing has gone nowhere. Their report said this...

"The pandemic and resulting expansion of the ability to work from home...created an environment where it was too easy to remove sensitive information from the building and the Court's IT networks."

We don't even know if SCOTUS justices were interviewed and Newsweek says...

"All the justices very clearly had the means, and it is quite possible that one (or more) had the requisite motive, to leak the draft opinion or direct a law clerk or some other staffer to do so on his/her implicit behalf."

Newsweek added...

The marshal "pre-judged the outcome of the probe, exculpating the justices and thus undermining the probe's very legitimacy."

And back in November of 2022 Newsweek reported...

Supreme Court Associate Justice Samuel Alito has been called a "disgrace" after a new report revealed that he allegedly leaked a draft opinion related to a Supreme Court decision in 2014. The conservative judge has denied the report.
According to Huff Post, Rev. Rob Schenck, the former head of the conservative evangelical group Faith & Action testified Alito leaked the outcome of the 2014 Hobby Lobby decision ahead of time. But here are the results of SCOTUS' bogus investigation...
"The Supreme Court found no leaker, concluding in an unsigned statement that after interviewing almost 100 employees, 82 of whom accessed the opinion, the marshal's team was 'unable to identify a person responsible by a preponderance of the evidence.'"

Wrapping up, apparently the marshal provided considerably more in excuses for what it couldn't find than the efforts it used in its investigations. This isn't over.
READ MORE... 

Monday, February 6, 2023

Florida's Big Brother Says Hide Those Books Or Go To Jail

 

You would think that George Orwell had Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in mind when he wrote 1984. Of course he didn't, but like a painter who has found a perfect model, DeSantis would have been Orwell's ideal standard for Big Brother. Yes, the despot DeSantis is a certified dictator borne out by the fact that in this case, Florida teachers have to hide perfectly acceptable books to a fair-minded person, but not to the unbalanced bunch that governs the dubious sunshine state. 

Here's the scenario from The Washington Post...

"Students arrived in some Florida public school classrooms this month to find their teachers’ bookshelves wrapped in paper — or entirely barren of books — after district officials launched a review of the texts’ appropriateness under a new state law." 
It seems, "the State Board of Education ruled that a law restricting the books a district may possess applies not only to schoolwide libraries but to teachers’ classroom collections, too." It "mandates that schools’ books be age-appropriate, free from pornography and 'suited to student needs.'” Get this, they have to "be approved by a qualified school media specialist." This person apparently receives training from the duly appointed minions of, who else, Ron DeSantis.

'Outrageous': Don Lemon reacts to Florida book law championed by DeSantis...


This all comes down to the fact that these frustrated teachers cannot order books for over a year. And in many cases it is the interpretation of the law in what is bad and what is good by a radical right that confuses teachers. And would you believe, if any teacher errs in the display or use of books, DeSantis the destroyer doesn't approve of, they could face up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine? And here are the results...
Marie Masferrer, a board member of the Florida Association for Media in Education and a school librarian. says former colleagues have told her that students are struggling.

First, Ron DeSantis aids and abets in the deaths of 84,927 Covid pandemic deaths, along with 7,443,954 cases of the virus. Now, the delusional DeSantis wants to put teachers in prison for teaching their students. According to Market Realist, Florida faces a teacher shortage of over 9,000 unfilled positions. It can only get worse as long as Florida is run by a dictator.

READ MORE...

 

When conservatives turn against their own

 I have followed Wm. Kristol for years and it wasn’t very long ago that I considered him an ultra conservative that would never chastise the...