User-Supported News Commentary Hosted by Craig Crawford
mo’ Joe mojo
Attribution: Democrats fret about Biden by Kevin Siers, The Charlotte Observer, NC
Author: patd
“But I don’t want to go among mad people," Alice remarked.
"Oh, you can’t help that," said the Cat: "we’re all mad here. I’m mad. You’re mad."
"How do you know I’m mad?" said Alice.
"You must be," said the Cat, "or you wouldn’t have come here.”
― Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland
View all posts by patd
To cobble together the bare-minimum 217 votes needed to pass the Limit, Save, Grow Act, McCarthy had to agree to hard-right conservative demands, like even stricter work requirements for recipients of food stamps and other forms of poverty aid.
[…]
“It’s notable that the only way they could pass this was to make it even more extreme.” Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA) told The Daily Beast. “That tells you a lot. If they want to do something as a caucus that has the Republican name on it, it’s either extreme, or it doesn’t happen.”
Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) told Politico, meanwhile, that the House GOP’s exertions were “a clear indication of how disastrous a negotiation could be. I mean, these guys can’t negotiate amongst themselves.”
[…]
Indeed, the bill that passed Wednesday was a grab-bag of Republican priorities, all melded into a package that pleased some and pissed off others. As written, McCarthy’s bill would broadly lower federal spending, cut back on social welfare programs and clean-energy tax credits, roll back huge swaths of Biden’s signature Inflation Reduction Act, and rescind unspent COVID funds.
[…]
Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), who’s running for Senate, was overheard leaving the chamber Wednesday while telling another Democrat that the bill Republicans had just passed was “a campaign commercial right there.”
“That’s dumb as shit,” Gallego said.
exhibit #2:
leading GOPer candidates for prez are an alleged rapist treasonous insurrection conspirator and an anti-free speech book banning zealot who hates mickey mouse.
I have been suspicious of polls for many years, a few seem a few over/under, a few a lot over/under, and a few just nuts (Rasmussen usually). Sometimes it is like the poll is of one persuasion and not the other. 538 has just been gutted by disney including Nate Silver. I am hoping he gets the group back and form another company.
Republicans could’ve rolled back tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy. They didn’t. They went after folks already on the edge, including older voters. Republicans hurt voters. Social Security is not secure with Republicans in office. Vote ‘em out!
(Washington, DC) — The following is a statement from Alex Lawson, Executive Director of Social Security Works, in response to 217 House Republicans voting for a bill that reduces funding for the Social Security Administration:
“Nearly every Republican in the U.S. House just voted to slash the already inadequate funding of the Social Security Administration (SSA). If this bill becomes law, it will force SSA to close field offices, reduce hours, and lay off thousands of workers. This will make it far harder for Americans to claim the benefits they’ve earned.
Cuts to SSA are cuts to Social Security, and we will hold every single one of these members accountable.
This vote shows that Republicans are united in support of cutting Social Security, while Democrats are united in support of a clean debt limit increase with no cuts to Social Security or any other benefits.”
Desi Lydic takes on the biggest stories of the day, including the latest debate on the abortion pill, Aaron Rodgers heading to the New York Jets, the departure of Tucker Carlson from Fox News, and why America doesn’t want Donald Trump or Joe Biden to run for president in the 2024 election.
Two Democrats didn’t show for the House vote or it would have failed. Don’t know who but hope they had a good excuse.
Desi Lydic breaks down the biggest stories of the day including Ron DeSantis getting sued by Disney, Tucker being silenced by Fox’s “bad behavior folder,” Hugh Grant starring as an oompa loompa in the newest Wonka movie, scientists finding out where great white sharks mate, and Ed Sheeran being under fire for possibly ripping off Marvin Gaye.
It was not immediately clear what day Pence might appear before the grand jury, which for months has been investigating the events preceding the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol and efforts by Trump and his allies to subvert the election outcome. But Pence’s testimony, coming as he inches toward a likely entrance in the 2024 presidential race, would be a milestone moment in the investigation and would likely give prosecutors a key first-person account as they press forward with their inquiry.
The order from the three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia Circuit was sealed and none of the parties are mentioned by name in online court records. But the appeal in the sealed case was filed just days after a lower-court judge had directed Pence to testify over objections from the Trump team.
[…]
The appeal was decided by Judge Gregory Katsas, a Trump appointee, and judges Patricia Millett and Gregory Wilkins, both appointees of former President Barack Obama. It was not clear if lawyers for Trump might ask the entire appeals court to hear the matter.
President Biden’s sinister, glowing-eyed alter ego, “Dark Brandon,” became an official part of his reelection campaign this week, which marks either the high point or the low point for one of the most politically polarized memes of the 2020s. We’re not totally sure. It’s been a journey, either way.
A stylized image of a grinning Biden with red laser beams shooting out of his eyes graces $32 T-shirts and “Dark Roast” coffee mugs (get it?) available on the Biden campaign web store, which launched Tuesday to coincide with the president’s announcement that he will run for a second term in 2024. There’s even a Dark Brandon Easter egg for visitors to the site who accidentally find themselves on a nonexistent webpage.
“You’re lost, Jack. Let’s get you back on the rails,” reads the 404 page, which in itself is a callback to Biden’s adoration for Amtrak.
[continues]
Imagine a political reality where the best bulwark against fascism wasn’t an 82 year old guy who said he’d only serve one term 🤔
one of those D votes could have been a case of vote pairing
i’m not sure the retro-Nazis need a whole lot of federal control if they have supermajorities in all the legislatures of the states in which they all live, anyway, which they do 🤷♂️
They’re Republicans. What else do you expect? They don’t care about people, they care about property and money. People are expendable; money is for keeps. They don’t care about “freedom” either; they care about “ownership” and wringing out every penny. That’s it.
“Citing eight unnamed sources at Fox, Rolling Stone reports that the network’s executives have maintained a so-called “oppo-file” against Carlson, which they intend to use in the event he attacks the network and its leadership for ousting him.”
Which is why he’s been silent, and why he probably can’t run for office in the future.
today’s meme…
It’s so delusional for say, Moscow Mitch, to try to grasp on to money/power. Republicans seem to think they’ll either live forever or that they can take it with them.
Republicans call themselves “Christians,” while stepping on the marginalized. Those are the exact people whom Jesus would’ve uplifted.
Republicans are hypocrites, at best. Republicans are self-serving, soulless liars. Republicans are anti-democracy, and pro-fascism. Republicans are neither pro-family nor pro-life. Vote ‘em out.
They need to step up their merch game. The “Dark Brandon” stuff doesn’t hit the mark; it should at least be in-your-face, if not amusing. “Finish The Job” is on point. What I really liked on the website is “America Is Back,” but there was no merch with that logo.
Great meme, Renee! There are a few good people still in Alabama, even some liberals and Democrats. Pulitzer Prize winner John Archibald, Former Sen. Doug Jones, attorney Joyce Vance, and State Rep. Neil Rafferty to name just a few.
Why is Santos still in Congress? It is the work of Republicans and they have no shame.
Senate Republicans on Thursday blocked a measure that would have allowed the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to be added to the Constitution.
Senators voted 51 to 47 to invoke cloture on a motion to proceed, falling short of the 60 votes it it needed.
[…]
The Senate resolution would have removed the deadline so that the ERA could become the 28th Amendment. Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Murkowski were the resolution’s lead co-sponsors.
Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) has argued throughout the week that the legislation was needed following the Supreme Court‘s ruling last summer that overturned Roe v. Wade.
“This resolution is as necessary as it is timely. America can never hope to be a land of freedom and opportunity so long as half of its population is treated like second class citizens,” Schumer said on the Senate floor ahead of the vote.
“There is no good reason — none — for this chamber, this Congress and this nation to bind itself to limitations set 50 years ago,” he continued. “If you look at the terrible things happening to women’s rights in this country, it’s clear we must act. To the horror of hundreds of millions of American people, women in America have far fewer rights today than they did a year ago.”
Schumer switched his vote to “no” in order to bring up the bill at another time.
Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mon.), who is expected to face a tough campaign for reelection next year, on Thursday released bloopers to a campaign video in which he pushes Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) into a wall that then breaks.
[…]
After they both inspected the damage to the cracked wall behind them, Booker turned to the camera, with his hand on Tester’s shoulder, and said “chip in today.”
“This didn’t really go as we had planned,” Tester said. “But hey. Help me out. Help me out.”
Recent polling suggests Tester may be in a better position than other vulnerable Democrats in red states. A Morning Consult survey from earlier this month showed he is one of the top 10 most popular senators among his constituents, including a 42 percent approval rating among voters in his state who do not approve of President Biden.
The last time the government shutdown the people who suffered had reservations to national parks and were the lower paid fed employees.
so, I saw a billboard recently, in the hometown of President Biden, no less, advertising a sale on A.R. 15’s. I believe they were selling for $400. All-in, mass-murder and suicide-by-cop has a retail cost of about $500, after sales tax.
Ergo, put a %1000 tax on such items. That does not infringe on anyone’s constitutional right to bear arms any more than the %1000 tax on cigarettes infringes on people’s right to smoke. The proceeds could go to fund the police. Republicans should love/support that.
Hmmmmm.
Jeffrey Levin
Ivanka Trump splits from family and ditches Don Jr. and Eric’s lawyer in $250M lawsuit via Salon
KGC – the “kids”, my co-workers, were young and low in grade when we had the long shutdown. My supervisor and I had concerns they might not understand what was happening and to have a couple months cash in the ol’ savings account. I had already built a large pile because I expected sfb to fire me for being Trans. For me and Gale (service dog) it was a month and a half on my boat watching movies and drinking beer (me not her). The government shutdowns cause all sorts of havoc world wide along with the pain and suffering of feds and others.
Will there be a shutdown this year from the greedy old perverts trying to turn the “pay the bills” event into a budget act? I do expect it. Will it hurt the U.S.? Yes, but the idiots like that, anything to kill America is good for them.
You CAN fool too many people too much of the time.
Ivy, re: the award for the AL.com (my source for all things Alabama) reporters and the predatory fines – I think it was Heflin, AL back in the 70s that was a major speed trap on US 78 that led to legislation or a lawsuit or something back then – which was before I-20 between B’ham and Atlanta opened up, but it may have been Fruithurst. (Damn I hate getting old).
Ivanka getting new counsel and getting arms-length from her brothers strikes me as a smart move if what Reid Figel wrote the judge is accurate re: the allegations in the suit. She doesn’t want their shitty shadows on her.
Ahah! It was Fruithurst. Wiki:
“Fruithurst once had a reputation for being a notorious speed trap along US Highway 78. Abuse of policing reached such an extent that in 1975 Alabama Attorney General Bill Baxley set up an office in the town, personally pledging to provide criminal defense to any person arrested or cited in the town. Additionally Reason magazine reported in May 2022 that, “…one case involved a woman arrested for traveling 58 in a 55-mph zone. She was also charged with transporting untaxed liquor—a half-empty miniature bottle of liqueur in her purse…” stating this was, “…both an abuse of law enforcement powers and a mockery of the very idea of legitimate traffic safety enforcement.”
Pogo, love the history lessons, the more things change, the more they go back in time. I remember Lucy Baxley. (friend of mine spent a night in jail after getting caught in a speed trap between Birmingham and Nashville. She was just the passenger.)
“Small business owners in Nashville are stepping up after a high school student was turned away from their senior prom for wearing a suit.”
“B. Hayes, 18 – who uses they/he pronouns, according to their Instagram account – said they weren’t “allowed in the doors” because they were wearing a suit.”
“I should not have to conform to femininity to attend my senior prom. I will not compromise who I am to fit in a box,” the post read. “who are you to tell us what it means to be a woman?”
“A spokesperson for Nashville Christian School said in a statement to CNN that it has established dress code requirements for both school attendance and special events, and, “All students and families are aware of and sign an agreement to these guidelines when they enroll.”
“Where can you still find Americans saying true things? There aren’t many places left, but there are some. And that’s enough. As long as you can hear the words, there is hope.”
“See you soon,” Carlson added.
Is that a threat, Fluffy?
Ha! Tucker is referring to his firing as taking “some time off.”
exhibit #1:
Kevin McCarthy Got His Debt Limit Win—Now Comes the Hard Part (thedailybeast.com)
exhibit #2:
leading GOPer candidates for prez are an alleged rapist treasonous insurrection conspirator and an anti-free speech book banning zealot who hates mickey mouse.
I have been suspicious of polls for many years, a few seem a few over/under, a few a lot over/under, and a few just nuts (Rasmussen usually). Sometimes it is like the poll is of one persuasion and not the other. 538 has just been gutted by disney including Nate Silver. I am hoping he gets the group back and form another company.
Republicans could’ve rolled back tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy. They didn’t. They went after folks already on the edge, including older voters. Republicans hurt voters. Social Security is not secure with Republicans in office. Vote ‘em out!
217 Republicans Just Voted to Cut Social Security – Social Security Works
Desi Lydic takes on the biggest stories of the day, including the latest debate on the abortion pill, Aaron Rodgers heading to the New York Jets, the departure of Tucker Carlson from Fox News, and why America doesn’t want Donald Trump or Joe Biden to run for president in the 2024 election.
Two Democrats didn’t show for the House vote or it would have failed. Don’t know who but hope they had a good excuse.
click here for the daily show follow-up last night on why, whither and what the Tuck.
Desi Lydic breaks down the biggest stories of the day including Ron DeSantis getting sued by Disney, Tucker being silenced by Fox’s “bad behavior folder,” Hugh Grant starring as an oompa loompa in the newest Wonka movie, scientists finding out where great white sharks mate, and Ed Sheeran being under fire for possibly ripping off Marvin Gaye.
Appeals court rejects Trump effort to block Pence testimony – The Washington Post
also at wapo
Biden’s 2024 campaign embraces ‘Dark Brandon’ shirts, merchandise – The Washington Post
Imagine a political reality where the best bulwark against fascism wasn’t an 82 year old guy who said he’d only serve one term 🤔
craig, according to wapo the non-voters were
kelly R from pa
peters D from ca
watson coleman D from nj
one of those D votes could have been a case of vote pairing
i’m not sure the retro-Nazis need a whole lot of federal control if they have supermajorities in all the legislatures of the states in which they all live, anyway, which they do 🤷♂️
They’re Republicans. What else do you expect? They don’t care about people, they care about property and money. People are expendable; money is for keeps. They don’t care about “freedom” either; they care about “ownership” and wringing out every penny. That’s it.
Checkmate!
https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2023/04/26/secret-tucker-carlson-files-reportedly-held-by-fox-news-as-ex-producer-claims-she-has-90-recordings-of-her-time-on-network/
“Citing eight unnamed sources at Fox, Rolling Stone reports that the network’s executives have maintained a so-called “oppo-file” against Carlson, which they intend to use in the event he attacks the network and its leadership for ousting him.”
Which is why he’s been silent, and why he probably can’t run for office in the future.
today’s meme…
It’s so delusional for say, Moscow Mitch, to try to grasp on to money/power. Republicans seem to think they’ll either live forever or that they can take it with them.
Republicans call themselves “Christians,” while stepping on the marginalized. Those are the exact people whom Jesus would’ve uplifted.
Republicans are hypocrites, at best. Republicans are self-serving, soulless liars. Republicans are anti-democracy, and pro-fascism. Republicans are neither pro-family nor pro-life. Vote ‘em out.
They need to step up their merch game. The “Dark Brandon” stuff doesn’t hit the mark; it should at least be in-your-face, if not amusing. “Finish The Job” is on point. What I really liked on the website is “America Is Back,” but there was no merch with that logo.
Great meme, Renee! There are a few good people still in Alabama, even some liberals and Democrats. Pulitzer Prize winner John Archibald, Former Sen. Doug Jones, attorney Joyce Vance, and State Rep. Neil Rafferty to name just a few.
Why is Santos still in Congress? It is the work of Republicans and they have no shame.
Doug Jones — Great Alabamian
the hill:
who says dems aren’t scrappy fighters –
particularly among themselves
the hill:
The last time the government shutdown the people who suffered had reservations to national parks and were the lower paid fed employees.
so, I saw a billboard recently, in the hometown of President Biden, no less, advertising a sale on A.R. 15’s. I believe they were selling for $400. All-in, mass-murder and suicide-by-cop has a retail cost of about $500, after sales tax.
Ergo, put a %1000 tax on such items. That does not infringe on anyone’s constitutional right to bear arms any more than the %1000 tax on cigarettes infringes on people’s right to smoke. The proceeds could go to fund the police. Republicans should love/support that.
Hmmmmm.
Jeffrey Levin
Ivanka Trump splits from family and ditches Don Jr. and Eric’s lawyer in $250M lawsuit via Salon
KGC – the “kids”, my co-workers, were young and low in grade when we had the long shutdown. My supervisor and I had concerns they might not understand what was happening and to have a couple months cash in the ol’ savings account. I had already built a large pile because I expected sfb to fire me for being Trans. For me and Gale (service dog) it was a month and a half on my boat watching movies and drinking beer (me not her). The government shutdowns cause all sorts of havoc world wide along with the pain and suffering of feds and others.
Will there be a shutdown this year from the greedy old perverts trying to turn the “pay the bills” event into a budget act? I do expect it. Will it hurt the U.S.? Yes, but the idiots like that, anything to kill America is good for them.
You CAN fool too many people too much of the time.
Ivy, re: the award for the AL.com (my source for all things Alabama) reporters and the predatory fines – I think it was Heflin, AL back in the 70s that was a major speed trap on US 78 that led to legislation or a lawsuit or something back then – which was before I-20 between B’ham and Atlanta opened up, but it may have been Fruithurst. (Damn I hate getting old).
Ivanka getting new counsel and getting arms-length from her brothers strikes me as a smart move if what Reid Figel wrote the judge is accurate re: the allegations in the suit. She doesn’t want their shitty shadows on her.
Ahah! It was Fruithurst. Wiki:
“Fruithurst once had a reputation for being a notorious speed trap along US Highway 78. Abuse of policing reached such an extent that in 1975 Alabama Attorney General Bill Baxley set up an office in the town, personally pledging to provide criminal defense to any person arrested or cited in the town. Additionally Reason magazine reported in May 2022 that, “…one case involved a woman arrested for traveling 58 in a 55-mph zone. She was also charged with transporting untaxed liquor—a half-empty miniature bottle of liqueur in her purse…” stating this was, “…both an abuse of law enforcement powers and a mockery of the very idea of legitimate traffic safety enforcement.”
Pogo, love the history lessons, the more things change, the more they go back in time. I remember Lucy Baxley. (friend of mine spent a night in jail after getting caught in a speed trap between Birmingham and Nashville. She was just the passenger.)
https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/26/us/nashville-business-owners-prom-student-denied-entry/index.html
“Small business owners in Nashville are stepping up after a high school student was turned away from their senior prom for wearing a suit.”
“B. Hayes, 18 – who uses they/he pronouns, according to their Instagram account – said they weren’t “allowed in the doors” because they were wearing a suit.”
“I should not have to conform to femininity to attend my senior prom. I will not compromise who I am to fit in a box,” the post read. “who are you to tell us what it means to be a woman?”
“A spokesperson for Nashville Christian School said in a statement to CNN that it has established dress code requirements for both school attendance and special events, and, “All students and families are aware of and sign an agreement to these guidelines when they enroll.”
This school is Christian? I don’t think so.
https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/26/media/tucker-carlson-fox-news/index.html
“Where can you still find Americans saying true things? There aren’t many places left, but there are some. And that’s enough. As long as you can hear the words, there is hope.”
“See you soon,” Carlson added.
Is that a threat, Fluffy?
Ha! Tucker is referring to his firing as taking “some time off.”
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