Now that we know DOGE and company is dumb enough to put an unsecured server on the internet, it's only a matter of time before someone finds where they have squirreled away all our PII data and starts exposing it. My one hope is that someone on our side finds the IRS data first and exposes Trump, Musk, Bezos, etc.
1) I don’t know what’s worse – Patel lying in his confirmation hearing or the fact that the Senators know that he’s lying and don’t care enough to do anything about it (and, of course, Trump knows that they know). I guess I’ll answer my own question – it’s that they don’t care because it means that Patel will become head of the FBI.
2) Re: Cash Bonanza: I suppose many readers will remember the scene from Idiocracy where one cabinet official keeps adding the phrase “brought to you by Carl’s Junior” at the end of everything that he says. And when the protagonist asks him why he is doing that, he replies “because they pay me every time I say it”. How much different is that obvious grift from the obvious grift of $40M to Melania Trump for her documentary and (what’s much worse) the $10M “sponsorships” she reportedly sought? How quaint the Clinton “pay-for-play” scandal seems now (and remember that there was never any evidence at all that Clinton actually did anything wrong; but the simple idea that she “might” have gotten money based on her office was enough to send Republicans into a tizzy).
I used to think that Melania was a reluctant participant in the Trump phenomenon. And I guess that could have been true at one time. But, boy, has she learned from the master how to maximize her profits. Just think what real good that money could have done.
What a complete heaping pile of embarrassing sleaze!
Maybe it is time to resurrect George Santos? The Comeback Kid for the FBI? why not? He meets The Don's requirements>> kiss his ass, criminal, liar and bullshit>> signature trademarks that The Don loves.
Resigning is not enough. Refuse to comply with illegal actions. Get legal help make every illegal act be taken to SCOTS. Aling the way get every illegal action delayed by the lower courts.
I don’t know this lady who resigned, but if fighting until the end cost you some income later she is unlikely to be depauperate: she is a capable lawyer and manager.
So Patel is a pathological liar--just like the man who nominated him. It would be great to hear that some Republican Senators developed a spine but I think spinelessness is the order of the day.
The US crossed a red line when Trump pardoned people who beat up cops and the Republican Congress remained silent.
Tim - you can add another lie ( under oath, one minute and 40 seconds in after Sen Grassley swears him in) where he claims that Idi Amin slaughtered people “ that looked like me”. Never happened. Indians were deported, Africans slaughtered. Big difference
I’m old enough to remember when a nominee lying under oath to the Senate was a bridge too far for any Senator, regardless of party. If Patel’s nomination is confirmed, the Senate will have hit rock bottom.
RE: Kash Patel, the FBI and "It is simply madness to put a man such as that atop the bureau."
Golly, Tim... considering that Kash Patel is to the truth about anything and everything just as a brain-addled former(?) drug using, science denying crackpot is to the responsible best medical practices concerning the health and well-being of a third of a billion Americans, and that wacked-out bear-carcass jokester having now been judged fit for the job by a deliberate act of The Greatest Deliberative Body in the World and duly sworn in... at the risk of repeating myself:
Golly, Tim. I just don't see the problem. All those Republicans in the U.S. Senate who will sit in judgement of his nomination only have the country's best interests at heart.
(I'll leave it to the gentle reader of this as to whether or not that last line was my best effort at a Kash Patel impersonation.)
It does sort of feel like the argument about the qualities of people in Trump's cabinet is over before it starts because the person with whom the buck (supposedly) stops is a pathologically-lying, mentally ill rapist felon. And America at large seems fine with that.
Lack of consequences for the False Messiah in a country built on rule of law is the contagion that now emboldens pathological liars like KP. Ignoring subpoenas, stalling in the courts and outright lying to the Senate are badges of honor now. Apparently, they all sleep well at night, even Mitch McConnell, Susan Collins et al.
Now that we know DOGE and company is dumb enough to put an unsecured server on the internet, it's only a matter of time before someone finds where they have squirreled away all our PII data and starts exposing it. My one hope is that someone on our side finds the IRS data first and exposes Trump, Musk, Bezos, etc.
Trump and his minions are endeavoring to make average Americans Uhealthy, Unwealthy and Unwise
(apologies to Mr Franklin)
A few comments...
1) I don’t know what’s worse – Patel lying in his confirmation hearing or the fact that the Senators know that he’s lying and don’t care enough to do anything about it (and, of course, Trump knows that they know). I guess I’ll answer my own question – it’s that they don’t care because it means that Patel will become head of the FBI.
2) Re: Cash Bonanza: I suppose many readers will remember the scene from Idiocracy where one cabinet official keeps adding the phrase “brought to you by Carl’s Junior” at the end of everything that he says. And when the protagonist asks him why he is doing that, he replies “because they pay me every time I say it”. How much different is that obvious grift from the obvious grift of $40M to Melania Trump for her documentary and (what’s much worse) the $10M “sponsorships” she reportedly sought? How quaint the Clinton “pay-for-play” scandal seems now (and remember that there was never any evidence at all that Clinton actually did anything wrong; but the simple idea that she “might” have gotten money based on her office was enough to send Republicans into a tizzy).
I used to think that Melania was a reluctant participant in the Trump phenomenon. And I guess that could have been true at one time. But, boy, has she learned from the master how to maximize her profits. Just think what real good that money could have done.
What a complete heaping pile of embarrassing sleaze!
No, it was never true. She's been on the make (and take) since she slithered into this country.
Maybe it is time to resurrect George Santos? The Comeback Kid for the FBI? why not? He meets The Don's requirements>> kiss his ass, criminal, liar and bullshit>> signature trademarks that The Don loves.
Resigning is not enough. Refuse to comply with illegal actions. Get legal help make every illegal act be taken to SCOTS. Aling the way get every illegal action delayed by the lower courts.
I don’t know this lady who resigned, but if fighting until the end cost you some income later she is unlikely to be depauperate: she is a capable lawyer and manager.
So Patel is a pathological liar--just like the man who nominated him. It would be great to hear that some Republican Senators developed a spine but I think spinelessness is the order of the day.
The US crossed a red line when Trump pardoned people who beat up cops and the Republican Congress remained silent.
Tim - you can add another lie ( under oath, one minute and 40 seconds in after Sen Grassley swears him in) where he claims that Idi Amin slaughtered people “ that looked like me”. Never happened. Indians were deported, Africans slaughtered. Big difference
I thought lying and criminality were the hallmarks of MAGAdom and required for credibility within the MAGA World. Did I miss something?
The first principle of Trumpian apologetics was that Trump's indifference to rules was a strength.
Exactly.
I’m old enough to remember when a nominee lying under oath to the Senate was a bridge too far for any Senator, regardless of party. If Patel’s nomination is confirmed, the Senate will have hit rock bottom.
I don’t think there’s any doubt at this point.
I'd say that they're already there, but as with Trump himself we've learned there apparently is no actual bottom to hit.
I bet 90 of the senators know it. Trump is blackmailing and bribing them. The new normal!
There are several that know RFK jr will result in additional childhood deaths but they caved in anyway. They could have insisted on better
RE: Kash Patel, the FBI and "It is simply madness to put a man such as that atop the bureau."
Golly, Tim... considering that Kash Patel is to the truth about anything and everything just as a brain-addled former(?) drug using, science denying crackpot is to the responsible best medical practices concerning the health and well-being of a third of a billion Americans, and that wacked-out bear-carcass jokester having now been judged fit for the job by a deliberate act of The Greatest Deliberative Body in the World and duly sworn in... at the risk of repeating myself:
Golly, Tim. I just don't see the problem. All those Republicans in the U.S. Senate who will sit in judgement of his nomination only have the country's best interests at heart.
(I'll leave it to the gentle reader of this as to whether or not that last line was my best effort at a Kash Patel impersonation.)
Kash Patel is another case of "He's horrible - but is he any worse than the person who nominated him?"
It does sort of feel like the argument about the qualities of people in Trump's cabinet is over before it starts because the person with whom the buck (supposedly) stops is a pathologically-lying, mentally ill rapist felon. And America at large seems fine with that.
Hmm, I misread “doge.gov” as “doge.goy” … and I am quite correct, thank you.
Lack of consequences for the False Messiah in a country built on rule of law is the contagion that now emboldens pathological liars like KP. Ignoring subpoenas, stalling in the courts and outright lying to the Senate are badges of honor now. Apparently, they all sleep well at night, even Mitch McConnell, Susan Collins et al.
Kash Patel, “the proverbial we” — young X Musk, the prodigious wee.
“[P]reposterous pierriot”—good one!
I hope Kash gets canned…but I’m really not holding my breath for such a move
Oy, leave the poetry to young X:
To me it’s a jewel/
In a world so cruel/
But to that fat old pot/
It’s snot.