And just what is it with Republicans and sex? QAnon rants against pedophiles … and yet Jeffrey Epstein, Roy Moore, Matt Gaetz, Dr. Strauss, team doctor while Jim Jordan was coaching. Rants against the gays … and yet, Dennis Hastert. Rants *for* manly masculinity … and yet Donald Trump, Pete Hegseth, Gaetz again, all (and more) credibly accused of sexual misconduct.
It’s the new state religion . Where one goes, we all go. Hail the orange Q (and I guess RFK jr is the stand in for the resurrection of JFK jr (does he know how to pilot a small plane?)….
20 years ago a friend of mine suggested that when Republicans are involved in a scandal it was about money, and when Democrats are, it's about sex. There were exceptions even then, but I estimated that the rule did hold ~70% of the time. Now it's probably the reverse.
Lankford intrigues me. I don’t agree with his stances at all, but at least he seems genuine. I’d really like to know what he thinks and feels about the way Trump exploded his hard work on the immigration bill, for nefarious purposes. Was his faith in the GOP shattered at all? Does he have any moral qualms about associating with such dramatic hypocrisy? He is surrounded by slime. What does that feel like to a person with authentic conservative values? He’s not blind.
I remember at one point (during the State of the Union speech??) Biden said something like ~the immigration bill was a good bill and Trump tanked it just for political gain and Lankford either said or mouthed something like "that's true." He got censured by his own state GOP for working on that bill.
fun as it would be to speculate, we already know how this is going to end: every single trump nominee will be approved or recess appointed, period, case closed.
We can't continue to be surprised at what Republicans will do. If we look at them through the lens of a 'cult', it all makes sense. This is how cults behave - anything their leader wants can be explained away. It's as simple as that. The Bulwark, Meidas+, etc...would be wise to start referring to R's as a cult. I recommend coining a phrase that everyone embraces. I would not dignify it with the word Republican. That party is no longer. This is a new party, should be labeled as such so when they fail (and they will fail!), there is a home for real R's to come home to. Also, do not invoke Trump name. He likes any kind of branding.
We have to rebrand OUR way. No MAGA, it has positive connotations for voters that love the movement. Personally I like GOP Soviets. Says it all without any explanation. Branding 101.
Hey Timonty, I'm advocating for a clear understanding that their movement has cultish-communist tendancies. TPP can feel positive. I'd like to see something that hits everyone over the head. Hence, my fav...GOP Soviets. They'll hate it. But we'll love it.
Well, anything that starts with, “The People” has some serious communist connotations to folks of (read: old farts like me) a certain age. Both the soviets and the Chinese communist parties had dozens, if not more, “people’s” organizations, all under the ‘communist’ umbrella.
So please consider and then dispose of the snarky comments as use see fit
And please call me Tim. Only my parents called me Timothy and generally only when I was in serious trouble …
You are so right, Tim re: 'the people'. But I don't know if his voters will understand. They're not well-read or bright. They are 'all in' no matter what.
When Trump had oral sex with the microphone, it was not to be outrageous for Harris voters. It was to show the Evangelicals that he owns them. And he does. He can act out oral sex in front of their children and they do not blink.
The Senators are having the same come-to-Jesus moment. If they go against Trump, Elon has promised to use all of his power and wealth against them. And that power is growing. If they vote for Gaetz et al, they weaponize the JD against themselves for any future dissension. This is the moment they have brought themselves to. Just like the Christians overlooked the finger raping video they have bit-by-bit climbed aboard Trump train and now it is going 60 and stepping off would mean political death.
I called the House Committee on Ethics last week to let them know that the committee needs to release the report on Gaetz. The young man who answered the phone said he would pass on my statement, as he has been doing with statements given by other citizens who have called in. Please consider calling the committee and giving your statement on whether its investigative report on Gaetz should be released.
Committee on Ethics
1015 Longworth House Office Building (LHOB), Washington, DC 20515
I called my Republican Congressman's office yesterday and also sent an email, asking that he demand and insist that the report be released to the public, as well as to the Senators. I will call the ethics committee as well. I think they need to hear from their constituents that this matters.
I just read that Trump nominated Dr. Oz to be head of Medicare and Medicaid. You cannot make this shit up. The man is literally turning our nation into a reality TV show! Who’s next? Dr. Phil as Mental Health Tzar? Judge Judy for SCOTUS? No, that will go to Aileen Cannon!
Furthermore, the MSM is ignoring the fact that John Ratcliffe, who will serve as Director of the CIA, wrote a portion of Project 25. Not to mention, the Inspector General’s of both the CIA and Directorate of National Intelligence, have resigned in advance of an upcoming expected purge of the Intelligence Community.
The three pillars t for authoritarianism to succeed are having the Military, Intelligence, and Justice Departments in the leader’s pocket! Check! Check! And Check.
The last aspect is to make the MSM impotent! Mission accomplished on that end! Be afraid, be very….:)
No one shocks me more than Mike Johnson! He has that innocent look, and talks like a choir boy; yet, the man can actually look into a TV camera and lie to the American public with a straight face; and he doesn’t even blink. That truly takes talent!
Although, when one believes that dinosaurs roamed the man with earth, he definitely is a man with a vivid imagination!…:)
I absolutely loved it it when one of our best newsmen cornered Reverend Mike and asked him to comment about Trump's public praise of Arnold Palmer's penis. He repeated that phrase several times to the evident distress of the pious and and homophobic Speaker of the House. Finally Johnson as good as instructed his interviewer not to repeat it again. This from a creep who is on record saying that he and his son are one another's porn minders. There is no doubt that, if pressed, Pastor Mike could quote chapter and verse (from the Old Testament, of course) why he was justified in lying. You know that's one of the first things the guys who made up the Bible built a loophole in the text for.
Thanks for the report. I'm extremely surprised to see how quickly MAGA lined up behind RFK Jr. I didn't (and don't) foresee much pushback on Hegseth, despite the fact that he is completely unqualified, because he's one of their own. RFK though is just a marriage of convenience, and the man really is way out on the left wing on a whole host of issues. But there was a op-ed in the Hill by a lifelong GOPer talking about how RFK Jr. will save millions of lives and will be one of the best and most consequential cabinet appointments ever (really). He will save the children from chronic disease! Save them from diabetes so they can die of tetanus I guess. There was also a wide swath of conservatives, from Fox News to Charlie Kirk, who came to his defense when the NYT offered a fact check of one of his statements.
If a year ago, AOC had proposed that the government force all agriculture in the country to go organic and forced our food system to completely revamp how they make 80% of the stuff we find in the grocery store, the right would have had a conniption. However, they now line up behind a guy who says he wants to do just that! Do these people have any principles other than 1) Trump forever and 2) liberals are evil?
When did we start using the Neo-Right's 1960's "pro life" to describe those who want to crush my individual sovereignty? I just want to be equal. And sovereign. Just like any other . . . oops, guy. Why do the vagaries of my birth disqualify me, America?
As if Republican elected officials actually care about abortion. It is a way for them to control women via legislation, and their mistresses and girlfriends will be exempt from their rules.
You are probably correct about most Republicans, but there are bound to be a few true believers in Congress, especially now that the primaries are bringing out ever more radical candidates.
Not one GOP Senator will vote No for any nominee. They can talk to the media and say one thing all they want, but to report that they are in a "we'll see" mode is disingenuous. No evidence at all they will vote No.
Next time you talk to Hawley ask him why he lives in Virginia and not Missouri.
The problem is not really with any of Trump’s cabinet picks - they are just the byproducts of the actions of the voters who for whatever reason thought Donald Trump ever belonged in the Oval Office, let alone a second time.
Today is the anniversary of the day when Abraham Lincoln, at Gettysburg, gave us in two minutes the briefest and best evocation ever by any American of the promse of our Republic and of our responsibilities as citizens in it.
It is only necessary to imagine what Donald Trump (or his nineteenth century equivalent) might have said on that occasion to understand how far from any proper vision of America he stands. Indeed, it is far easier to imagine Trump as a member of the Southern Democratic Party at the time than of the then Republican Party - whose current namesake he has now himself so distorted and enslaved.
And just what is it with Republicans and sex? QAnon rants against pedophiles … and yet Jeffrey Epstein, Roy Moore, Matt Gaetz, Dr. Strauss, team doctor while Jim Jordan was coaching. Rants against the gays … and yet, Dennis Hastert. Rants *for* manly masculinity … and yet Donald Trump, Pete Hegseth, Gaetz again, all (and more) credibly accused of sexual misconduct.
QAnon still a thing?
It’s the new state religion . Where one goes, we all go. Hail the orange Q (and I guess RFK jr is the stand in for the resurrection of JFK jr (does he know how to pilot a small plane?)….
That's just what a baby-eating Democratic pedophile would say. Peddle your soap somewhere else, groomer.
20 years ago a friend of mine suggested that when Republicans are involved in a scandal it was about money, and when Democrats are, it's about sex. There were exceptions even then, but I estimated that the rule did hold ~70% of the time. Now it's probably the reverse.
Best fit one word characterization of politicians, regardless of party, is - hypocrisy. YMMV.
All of these people are giant POS(s)
And they have the power.... what's that tell you about 49% of your fellow Americans???
Lankford intrigues me. I don’t agree with his stances at all, but at least he seems genuine. I’d really like to know what he thinks and feels about the way Trump exploded his hard work on the immigration bill, for nefarious purposes. Was his faith in the GOP shattered at all? Does he have any moral qualms about associating with such dramatic hypocrisy? He is surrounded by slime. What does that feel like to a person with authentic conservative values? He’s not blind.
I remember at one point (during the State of the Union speech??) Biden said something like ~the immigration bill was a good bill and Trump tanked it just for political gain and Lankford either said or mouthed something like "that's true." He got censured by his own state GOP for working on that bill.
Lankford seems to me to be a man of some integrity. Don't know how he continues to swim in those polluted waters
Certain I disagree with him on 99% of policy, but respect him.
On TV yesterday - a Congressman stated that he was upset with how Gaetz often paraded about sexual conquests. What don't you see?
The House Ethics Committee better release their report - or give up their name.
If you can't count on transparency from an Ethics Committee - let's admit corruption is the accepted order of business.
Ask William J Bennett what he thinks
Grassley has always been spineless.
https://youtu.be/nXgOxLJ-OKc?si=zuDfukPQU5PHlZmg
In this SNL skit, Grassley's the dog.
fun as it would be to speculate, we already know how this is going to end: every single trump nominee will be approved or recess appointed, period, case closed.
We can't continue to be surprised at what Republicans will do. If we look at them through the lens of a 'cult', it all makes sense. This is how cults behave - anything their leader wants can be explained away. It's as simple as that. The Bulwark, Meidas+, etc...would be wise to start referring to R's as a cult. I recommend coining a phrase that everyone embraces. I would not dignify it with the word Republican. That party is no longer. This is a new party, should be labeled as such so when they fail (and they will fail!), there is a home for real R's to come home to. Also, do not invoke Trump name. He likes any kind of branding.
With that, here are my suggestions:
The Red Cult
RepubliComrades
GOP Soviets
We have to rebrand OUR way. No MAGA, it has positive connotations for voters that love the movement. Personally I like GOP Soviets. Says it all without any explanation. Branding 101.
I mostly use MAGA now. Not GOP. But I see your point about following it up with “cult”.
MAGA - Making America Gross Again!
MAGA ties people to Trump. And they will follow him to the ends of the earth. Hence, no association with the word MAGA or Trump.
‘TPP’ - The People’s Party
Hey Timonty, I'm advocating for a clear understanding that their movement has cultish-communist tendancies. TPP can feel positive. I'd like to see something that hits everyone over the head. Hence, my fav...GOP Soviets. They'll hate it. But we'll love it.
You have made a very salient point w/the ‘over their head’ thing!
Hey! I just felt a bright light go off in the fog of my cerebellum. Would the “politburo” or “the new politburo” work?
Well, anything that starts with, “The People” has some serious communist connotations to folks of (read: old farts like me) a certain age. Both the soviets and the Chinese communist parties had dozens, if not more, “people’s” organizations, all under the ‘communist’ umbrella.
So please consider and then dispose of the snarky comments as use see fit
And please call me Tim. Only my parents called me Timothy and generally only when I was in serious trouble …
You are so right, Tim re: 'the people'. But I don't know if his voters will understand. They're not well-read or bright. They are 'all in' no matter what.
When Trump had oral sex with the microphone, it was not to be outrageous for Harris voters. It was to show the Evangelicals that he owns them. And he does. He can act out oral sex in front of their children and they do not blink.
The Senators are having the same come-to-Jesus moment. If they go against Trump, Elon has promised to use all of his power and wealth against them. And that power is growing. If they vote for Gaetz et al, they weaponize the JD against themselves for any future dissension. This is the moment they have brought themselves to. Just like the Christians overlooked the finger raping video they have bit-by-bit climbed aboard Trump train and now it is going 60 and stepping off would mean political death.
I called the House Committee on Ethics last week to let them know that the committee needs to release the report on Gaetz. The young man who answered the phone said he would pass on my statement, as he has been doing with statements given by other citizens who have called in. Please consider calling the committee and giving your statement on whether its investigative report on Gaetz should be released.
Committee on Ethics
1015 Longworth House Office Building (LHOB), Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-7103 - Fax: 202-225-7392
Office Hours:
Mon. – Thurs – 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Fri. – 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
I called my Republican Congressman's office yesterday and also sent an email, asking that he demand and insist that the report be released to the public, as well as to the Senators. I will call the ethics committee as well. I think they need to hear from their constituents that this matters.
I just read that Trump nominated Dr. Oz to be head of Medicare and Medicaid. You cannot make this shit up. The man is literally turning our nation into a reality TV show! Who’s next? Dr. Phil as Mental Health Tzar? Judge Judy for SCOTUS? No, that will go to Aileen Cannon!
Furthermore, the MSM is ignoring the fact that John Ratcliffe, who will serve as Director of the CIA, wrote a portion of Project 25. Not to mention, the Inspector General’s of both the CIA and Directorate of National Intelligence, have resigned in advance of an upcoming expected purge of the Intelligence Community.
The three pillars t for authoritarianism to succeed are having the Military, Intelligence, and Justice Departments in the leader’s pocket! Check! Check! And Check.
The last aspect is to make the MSM impotent! Mission accomplished on that end! Be afraid, be very….:)
No one shocks me more than Mike Johnson! He has that innocent look, and talks like a choir boy; yet, the man can actually look into a TV camera and lie to the American public with a straight face; and he doesn’t even blink. That truly takes talent!
Although, when one believes that dinosaurs roamed the man with earth, he definitely is a man with a vivid imagination!…:)
I absolutely loved it it when one of our best newsmen cornered Reverend Mike and asked him to comment about Trump's public praise of Arnold Palmer's penis. He repeated that phrase several times to the evident distress of the pious and and homophobic Speaker of the House. Finally Johnson as good as instructed his interviewer not to repeat it again. This from a creep who is on record saying that he and his son are one another's porn minders. There is no doubt that, if pressed, Pastor Mike could quote chapter and verse (from the Old Testament, of course) why he was justified in lying. You know that's one of the first things the guys who made up the Bible built a loophole in the text for.
Thanks for the report. I'm extremely surprised to see how quickly MAGA lined up behind RFK Jr. I didn't (and don't) foresee much pushback on Hegseth, despite the fact that he is completely unqualified, because he's one of their own. RFK though is just a marriage of convenience, and the man really is way out on the left wing on a whole host of issues. But there was a op-ed in the Hill by a lifelong GOPer talking about how RFK Jr. will save millions of lives and will be one of the best and most consequential cabinet appointments ever (really). He will save the children from chronic disease! Save them from diabetes so they can die of tetanus I guess. There was also a wide swath of conservatives, from Fox News to Charlie Kirk, who came to his defense when the NYT offered a fact check of one of his statements.
If a year ago, AOC had proposed that the government force all agriculture in the country to go organic and forced our food system to completely revamp how they make 80% of the stuff we find in the grocery store, the right would have had a conniption. However, they now line up behind a guy who says he wants to do just that! Do these people have any principles other than 1) Trump forever and 2) liberals are evil?
RFKJr and Tulsi have as good or better odds of taking Trumps place as any other MAGA personality, including JD.
And didn't they all squawk about the nanny state when Michelle Obama sought to provide more healthful food in school lunches?
What a bunch of sorry-ass, mealy-mouthed hypocrites. Ugh.
When did we start using the Neo-Right's 1960's "pro life" to describe those who want to crush my individual sovereignty? I just want to be equal. And sovereign. Just like any other . . . oops, guy. Why do the vagaries of my birth disqualify me, America?
Change the language, change the world.
As if Republican elected officials actually care about abortion. It is a way for them to control women via legislation, and their mistresses and girlfriends will be exempt from their rules.
You are probably correct about most Republicans, but there are bound to be a few true believers in Congress, especially now that the primaries are bringing out ever more radical candidates.
Not one GOP Senator will vote No for any nominee. They can talk to the media and say one thing all they want, but to report that they are in a "we'll see" mode is disingenuous. No evidence at all they will vote No.
Next time you talk to Hawley ask him why he lives in Virginia and not Missouri.
The problem is not really with any of Trump’s cabinet picks - they are just the byproducts of the actions of the voters who for whatever reason thought Donald Trump ever belonged in the Oval Office, let alone a second time.
Today is the anniversary of the day when Abraham Lincoln, at Gettysburg, gave us in two minutes the briefest and best evocation ever by any American of the promse of our Republic and of our responsibilities as citizens in it.
It is only necessary to imagine what Donald Trump (or his nineteenth century equivalent) might have said on that occasion to understand how far from any proper vision of America he stands. Indeed, it is far easier to imagine Trump as a member of the Southern Democratic Party at the time than of the then Republican Party - whose current namesake he has now himself so distorted and enslaved.
It has been the Party of the Old South for quite some time.