The MAGA Tide in Congress Ebbs

 On Saturday Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson and 100 of his fellow republicans finally grew a pair. It was a long time coming. In fact, given recent Congressional history, some observers weren't sure it would ever happen, at least not with this gaggle of fascist performance artists, publicity hungry assholes, and groveling cowards.

Indeed, the MAGA reign of terror appeared to have a death grip on republicans serving in the House, despite their lack of numbers. That ended about 48 hours ago when a Ukraine aid bill passed 311-112. The yeas included 101 republicans. The package passed despite MAGA objections, threats, and bullying that included everything up to and including the removal of Johnson from the speakership, ala Kevin McCarthy. 

The MAGA reaction to the House vote was swift and predictably over the top. Democrats helped fuel the fire by waving small Ukrainian flags after the results were announced. Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene led the charge by booing the flag wavers, Colorado Representative, Lauren Boebert yelled at them angrily and Florida Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna grabbed the microphone, despite not being recognized to speak, and yelled, "Put those damn flags away!"

It is unknown if Vladimir Putin was on the phone with any of them at the time. 

Greene later posted on social media a video of the pro Ukrainian demonstration and wrote, "Mike Johnson's House of Representatives so proud to work for Ukraine. Not the American people!!!" Boebert wrote, "Such an embarrassing and disgusting show of America LAST politicians." She later added, "You love Ukraine so much get your ass over there and leave America's governing to those who love THIS country!"

Republican Congressman Clay Higgins posted his own video of the democrats waving Ukrainian flags and wrote, "All Democrats waving Ukrainian flags on your house floor when the bill passed sending another 60B of your treasure to fund the war machine. 100% deficit money. Borrowed on the backs of your children. Wake up America." 

This sudden concern about deficit spending appeared right after the MAGA Big Kahuna Donald Trump--who didn't give a rat's ass about the deficit and could spend money like a drunken sailor on shore leave--vacated the White House. However, it at least makes a little more sense than what Marjorie Taylor Greene told the media after the vote. She was quoted saying, "This is the sellout of America today. When we had members of Congress in there waving Ukrainian flags on the United States House of Representatives floor while we're doing nothing to secure our border." 

The hypocrisy of the statement is breathtaking. It wasn't that long ago Greene, along with other republicans in the House, voted to kill a bill which clamped down hard on immigration. It was authored by conservative republican Senators and Joe Biden had vowed to sign it. Herr Trump wanted it defeated only because it would have robbed him of his most potent campaign issue. In other words when you had a chance to, "do something," to secure the border, Congresswoman you chose to do nothing because pleasing your boss was more important than helping solve the problem.

Yes, at least for now the MAGA tide in Congress seems to be ebbing. Think not? Texas republican Congressman Tony Gonzales appeared on CNN yesterday. When asked if Speaker Mike Johnson will survive after supporting the aid to Ukraine he said simply, "He will survive." That sounds like a man who knows a deal has been struck and Greene will never get the votes to unseat another Speaker. Gonzales, who voted for the bill, then went on to tell the network's Dana Bash, "I serve with some real scumbags." 

And that, ladies and gentlemen, also sounds like a man who is tired of being pushed around by Marjorie Taylor Greene, Matt Gaetz, and the rest of Don Trump's cadre of legislative brown shirts. 

4-22-24

God's Misfits and Good Old American Family Values

 Tifany Adams and Tad Cullum lived together on a piece of land n Cimarron County Oklahoma. Their friends, Cole and Cora Twombly lived nearby, or at least as nearby as you can get in the breathtaking emptiness that is the Oklahoma panhandle. All four friends were members of a group going by the name of God's Misfits. According to reports they consider themselves both religious and anti government. 

Given the history of rural, quasi-religious/anti government cults over the last few decades authorities weren't taking any chances last Saturday. When law enforcement moved in to serve arrest warrants the News Nation video of the raid showed an overwhelming force converging on the four. Indeed, it looked like everyone, up to and including Seal Team 6, was involved. Listen, you can't take any chances with people like that, especially when the chargers are murder in the first degree and kidnapping.  

Yes, Tifany Adams, the grandmother of two young children, her boyfriend, and two acquaintances were arrested and charged with murdering Veronica Butler, Adams' ex daughter in law. They are also charged with murdering Jilian Kelley, because--well--she was there. The two Kansas women went missing on March 30 while on their way to pick up Butler's children for a birthday party. Police say the motive was a child custody battle between Adams and Butler, The children's father, Wrangler Rickman wasn't part of the fight because he is busy serving out a court ordered stint in a drug rehab center in Oklahoma City.

News Nation, the only cable news network covering this nightmare, is reporting Adams has claimed Veronica Butler's brother, or half brother, or step brother, or some kind of brother, has been sexually abusing the two children who are 8 and 6 years old. She hasn't provided any proof of the accusation and in fact was facing a court hearing tomorrow when Butler was expected to ask for expanded visitation rights without court approved supervision. Ms. Kelley, was that supervision the weekend she and Butler disappeared. Apparently she was a last minute replacement. The woman who normally served in that capacity was told by Adams she didn't need to be there, Adams then told her former daughter in law the woman wasn't available. At this point it isn't known if Jilian Kelley's presence in the car was a surprise to the killers, or not.   

On Sunday, one day after the arrests, two bodies were recovered from a shallow grave on property rented by Tad Cullum. Police are saying Cullum dug the grave the day before the disappearance. It's unclear at this time if the authorities found the burial site on their own, or one of the four alleged killers gave it up. What is clear, however is law enforcement investigators found blood inside and outside Butler's abandoned car, Kelley's purse inside it, with a loaded semi automatic pistol magazine, but no weapon, and Veronica Butler's glasses nearby on the road.

In addition the OSBI has found dear old grandma had recently bought five tasers, been Googling pages explaining the effects of taser hits, and had purchased a number of what is known as, burner phones. 

As further proof of how twisted this shit is, it looks like the key witness and the person who broke the case is the Twombly's 16 year old daughter. Court records say she told police her parents had left their home the morning of the crime because according to them, they were going on, "a mission." When they returned they told her to clean up the cab of their pick up. News Nation is reporting that after word of the abductions had spread the girl asked her parents why Kelley was killed also. They told her because, "she was evil for helping Veronica Butler." Jilian Kelley was the wife of a pastor who worked as her church's secretary. She was the mother of four.

So, as of right now here is where things stand out in the panhandle. Two women are dead. Two children no longer have a mother, their father is in drug rehab after doing hard time in prison, and their grandmother, at the very least could be going away for the rest of her life. Four additional children are now without a mother. And, a 16 year old girl is in the position of having to testify against her parents in a trial which could see both of them get the death penalty. 

Hey, thank God for good old American family values, not to mention child psychologists.

4-16-24

Moscow Marjorie Turns a Couple of Tricks

 The first thing one must understand about Georgia republican Congresswoman, Marjorie Taylor Greene is that she is bat shit crazy. Not crazy in the funny way either. You know, like the eccentric old aunt in the movie, "Christmas Vacation," who mistakenly brings her cat over in a gift-wrapped box as a present, then recites the Pledge of Allegiance when she is asked to say grace before dinner. No, Ms. Greene is crazy more along the lines of Aileen Wuornos, the Florida street hooker who murdered seven of her, let's say, clients.  

Of course, MTG, as she's known in the trade, doesn't sell her body along stretches of lonely highways like Wuornos did. However, sometimes one can't help but feel Vlad Putin has paid her cash, somewhere, somehow, to perform unnatural acts that even the most hardcore pros would be revolted by. And all of it wrapped in flag and a brand of Christianity completely alien to most Christians and to the, as we say, Word of the Lord.

Last week, after an earthquake, centered in New Jersey, and prior to Monday's eclipse she posted on social media this quasi piece of prophecy, "God is sending America strong signs to tell us to repent. Earthquakes and eclipses and many more things to come. I pray that our country listens." 

The translation to that being, America must do what Donald Trump and I say, while applauding as Russia runs completely amok in Ukraine, or God Almighty will punish us all. She failed to mention the quake's epicenter was located only a couple of miles away from the 12th hole of Trump's Bedminster National Golf Club, a fact which some mystics might consider a major part of, The Sign.

Well, irony is lost on many, especially when it conflicts with their message.

Recently during an online interview Greene said this about the war in Ukraine, "This is a war on Christianity. The Ukrainian government is attacking Christians. The Ukrainian government is executing priests, Russia is not doing that. They're not attacking Christianity. They seem to be protecting it, so that's something else that's clear and obvious to many people that are looking closely to what's going on." 

When I saw that statement my first thought was ask myself how much Vladimir Putin had to pay her for that particular blow job. It was such a blatant and ham handed propaganda moment, recently retired republican Congressman, Ken Buck began referring to MTG as, "Moscow Marjorie." 

"...Moscow Marjorie is focused now on this Ukraine issue and getting her talking points from the Kremlin and making sure that she is popular and she is getting a lot of coverage," Buck told CNN.  

Greene is so determined to abet Putin's rape of Ukraine she is currently threatening to bring down a second republican Speaker of the House to get her way. Her current excuse, other than being in bed with Vlad, is that Ukrainian aid isn't contingent on beefing up security at the U.S. southern border. 

That she had it once, thanks to republicans in the Senate doesn't phase her. Donald Trump didn't want to lose the chaos on the border during the campaign so Greene opposed a bill drafted by conservatives which gave the GOP everything they had asked for, short of gunning down anyone trying to get across the river. 

Yes, the Congresswoman from Georgia is as nuts as they come. That isn't the real problem though. Not even her willingness to suck off Vlad Putin, or do whatever, Don Trump wants is the real problem. The real problem with Marjorie Taylor Greene is, just like her Russian john and her American pimp, she thinks democracy is a complete waste of time and has no use for it. 

And tragically for the nation and world, because of this contempt, she is more than happy to fuck it over, no matter where it is. 

4-10-24

Veronica Butler and Jilian Kelley Drive into the Void

 The panhandle of Oklahoma is a strip of land that is 166 miles long and 34 miles wide. It is comprised of three counties, moving east to west, Beaver, Texas, and Cimarron. The 2020, U.S. census found that a little fewer than 29,000 souls live in the panhandle, not quite half of them in Guymon, the seat of Texas County. These statistics are mentioned only to illustrate one point. In the panhandle of Oklahoma there is a whole lot of empty fucking space. It is, in fact, the very definition of the phrase, "the middle of no where."

At some point a week ago today two women, Veronica Butler, and Jilian Kelley drove into this void and then disappeared. Both women lived on the Kansas side of the state line, although Butler graduated from high school in, Oklahoma. (Hey, when you live in a place that is only 34 miles wide you don't have to go very far to move into another state.)

According to various reports the pair were either friends, or simply acquaintances who were headed to Eva, Oklahoma to pick up, "children," for a birthday party. One source reported the children were Butler's son and daughter. The Amarillo ABC outlet is saying the two kids were living with Butler's ex-mother in law. News Nation added that Kelley was along to help Butler with, "a custody issue." It is unknown at this time what that issue is, but according to both the Amarillo outlet and News Nation the ex mother in law alerted local authorities when they didn't show up.

Within a short time the car Butler and Kelley were driving in was found abandoned three, or four miles north of Eva. A few hours after the discovery of the car the Texas County Sheriff's Department realized it was in over its head and called in the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. 

The OSBI immediately cut off the flow of information regarding the investigation. As one reporter said about them years ago, "They are notoriously tight lipped." Their reputation for crime solving is also, let's say, mixed. The organization was eviscerated by author John Grisham in his non fiction book, "The Innocent Man." It later became a Netflix documentary which featured the famous writer.  

After releasing a statement that the OSBI's analysis of evidence found in the abandoned auto leads them believe the women were victims of foul play, bureau Public Information Manager, Hunter Mckee told the Amarillo ABC outlet, "We have every reason to believe they could be in danger."

You think, Hunter?

Meanwhile the media accounts of Butler and Kelley keep shifting subtly. Jilian Kelley, also a mother who has four children herself, has been described as being married to the pastor of Hugoton's First Christian Church. It is being reported she serves as the church secretary and a youth leader. Another report says her husband, Heath recently resigned and moved to Nebraska to be the minister at another Christian church. An early release said Butler attended another church and was active in it, while later reports say she attended the same church as the Kelleys and made no mention of any involvement except as a member of the congregation.

Other reports have said the ex mother in law called her son--whether before, or after she called the sheriff's department is unclear--and he and Heath Kelley drove to where the car was found together. Of course if Pastor Kelley really was in Nebraska that would be impossible. If the account is true, the only possible explanation is he also received a call from someone and rushed straight down from his new home. 

Both missing victims were described as having visible tats which is highly unusual for evangelical women, unless they led completely different lives before being, "born again." Whether that is the case, or it is okay for the women of the First Christian Church of Hugoton to decorate their bodily temples is not known. In addition, the nearest school to the car, the one Butler graduated from, went into an unexplained lockdown on Tuesday as the investigation proceeded.  

In other words, the whole picture of what happened, who is responsible, and who these women are, or were is garbled to the point of incoherence right now. And, thanks to the presence of the OSBI it will remain that way until they are convinced they've solved the mystery. If they ever do.

And, even then, if we are to believe John Grisham, we might not find out what really happened. 

4-6-24

Enid's Oberfuhrer is Kaput

 After losing a recall election yesterday in Enid, Oklahoma out going City Commissioner, Judd Blevins issued a statement which in part read, "It took a coalition of leftists and moderates, an all out media blitz from local, state, and national outlets and scare tactics about the future of Vance AFB, unfounded in any truth, or reality, yet shamefully endorsed by the establishment to remove a true conservative from office." 

What Herr Blevins didn't say was yesterday's election would have never been held if it hadn't been for his absolute refusal to apologize for his past connections to a white nationalist group and his participation the 2017 Neo Nazi parade on the University of Virginia campus. In addition, he steadfastly refused to renounce the hateful politics of white nationalism and white supremacy. The people who circulated the recall petition, the Enid Social Justice Committee, had told him that if he did those things they would drop the recall and he could go his merry way as a city commissioner.

Blevins' response had been to go on a local radio show and say, among other things, "I have nothing to apologize for." At a candidate's forum last week when asked about his membership in Identity Evropa--he was the group's Oklahoma state coordinator and recruiter--he said, "Well those organizations no longer exist and I think this election is really about the next three years of this city, not of organizations that disbanded five years ago. Now if speaking out against what is being done to this country, what is continuing to be done to this country is a crime, then I would gladly plead guilty to that." Then he threw in a line about the media's continuing bias against white people.

Brother Blevins also failed to mention the online support his recall campaign received from out of state white nationalist groups. One of them went as far as to publish a photo of the daughter of the social justice committee chair while labeling her a, "terrorist."

It's over and done with now though. When the Enid Ward 1 votes were counted last night--it didn't take long, only 1,390 of the 5,000 registered voters went to the polls--Blevins had lost to republican, Cheryl Patterson, 829 votes to 561. For those into percentages rather than raw numbers that means Ms. Patterson won just under 60% of the ballots cast. And yes, for those pessimists among us it meant a little over four out of every 10 voters in Enid, OK supported a known white supremacist who once marched around at night carrying a torch while chanting, "The Jews will not replace us." 

Not to mention Judd Blevins was right about at least one thing. It did take a coalition of democrats and moderate republicans working in conjunction with Enid business leaders to get rid of his fascist ass.

Indeed, Enid's Oberfuhrer might be kaput, but it took an all hands on deck effort to beat him and that should worry us all. Well, that and the 40% who actually liked the Nazi son of a bitch.   

4-3-24

Private Winger Was Right: The Baltimore Blame Game and the Great Replacement in Michigan

 We're mutants. There's something wrong with us, something very, very wrong with us. Something seriously wrong with us...

Private John Winger, from the movie, "Stripes."

Well, a large portion of us anyway. 

Late Tuesday night, early Wednesday morning the container ship, Dali suffered a series of power outages as it was leaving Baltimore Harbor bound for Sri Lanka. As a result the ship lost all of its steering capabilities. At 1:39AM it struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge, collapsing the entire 1.6 mile span.

Faster than you can say conspiracy, Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene posted, "Accident, or terrorist attack?" on social media. She followed up with a second post demanding a complete investigation into the incident to find out if it was indeed an act of terrorism. While many, including myself, find it hard to believe, Ms. Greene's posts were the closest thing to sanity many right wing screechers were saying.

Utah state legislator and candidate for governor, Phil Lyman posted, "This is what happens when you have Governors who prioritize diversity over the wellbeing and security of citizens." He later posted, "DEI =DIE." It is unclear when and where Representative Lyman became an expert on maritime safety, or the commission which oversees the Port of Baltimore. However, it's obvious he is convinced that somehow, some way, gays and, or people of color are to blame for the Dali taking down that bridge.

Others, not quite as informed, blamed the black Mayor of Baltimore, because he is , "a DEI mayor." Not only that he is just another example of a liberal leading, "a failed city." At least the guy in Utah knows the municipal government in Baltimore has absolutely nothing to do with running the port. 

Pete Buttigieg was blamed apparently because he is a gay man who has kids. One post read, "Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg to address Baltimore Bridge collapse as soon as he is done chestfeeding." Others said Buttigieg was trying to avoid responsibility for the crash by saying the bridge was built for racist reasons.  

Still another post blamed the state of Israel for the accident. He, or she--it's hard to tell when the poster is remaining anonymous--believes Israeli intelligence disabled the ship's steering system in retaliation for the U.S. failing to fully support Israel in the war against Hamas. It wasn't specified whether it was a hands on job,, or those Jewish space lasers Marjorie Taylor Greene used to talk about were responsible. 

South Carolina Congresswoman Nancy Mace posted it was all the Biden Administration's fault. She pointed out the President's, "weaponization," of the DOJ has caused people not to believe anything the government says. In addition, too much of Biden's infrastructure bill is going into, "green," industries. The implication being not enough money was dedicated to building bridges that can withstand a hit by a 200 million pound ship traveling at eight knots. 

Ah, but it wasn't all about the Francis Scott Key Bridge. In Michigan, republican state legislator, Mark Maddock posted a long shot photo of some busses loading passengers from a plane on the tarmac at Detroit Metro Airport. Accompanying the photo was a desperate message which read, "Happening right now. Three busses just loaded up with illegal invaders at Detroit Metro. Anyone have any idea where they're headed with their police escorts?"  

Maddock's post seemed to be ta rock solid confirmation of all those MAGA accusations that Joe Biden is flying in plane loads of illegal aliens who will vote for him in November. That's right, baby, The Great Replacement has begun.

Or not.

The people deplaning and boarding the busses weren't being flown in from Central America, or even the planet Tralfamadore. No, they came from that far away place, Spokane, WA. The, "illegal invaders," were the Gonzaga University' men's basketball team along with coaches, staff, and university officials. They were arriving to play in the NCAA men's basketball tournament. 

We have to give it up to Maddock though. When someone pointed out the truth to him on social media he stuck by his guns. His answer was, "Sure kommie. Good talking point," thus proving without a doubt, once these fuckers go crazy, they stay crazy.

The fictional Private, Winger was right. We just didn't know how right until the Year of Our Lord, 2024.

3-29-24  

Donald Trump Slips the Noose Again--At Least for Now

 Today is March 25, 2024. The media has led us to believe that this date for Donald J. Trump is Judgement Day, an Apocalypse that sweeps the Trump Organization off the face of the financial world. Indeed, today is the moment of the former President's, Reckoning.   

Even Trump himself fed the frenzy. As late as last night Orange Jesus, went into yet another post-midnight manic rage, posting on social media, "Why should a Crooked, highly political New York Judge, Arthur Engoron, in concert and coordination with an even more Corrupt Attorney General, Lettica 'Peekaboo,' James, his Puppet Master, and the White House be allowed to take away and sell off, very successful properties and assets that took me years to zone and nurture into some of the best of their kind in the World--WHEN I HAVE DONE NOTHING WRONG! These Radical Left Lunatics and Communists ask me to pay a ridiculous and completely unheard of fine of over $450,000,000 only because they saw a similar amount in my bank account. I had intended to use much of that hard earned money on running for President. They don't want me to do that--ELECTION INTERFERENCE!"

If we've learned anything about Trump since 2016 it is that when it comes to financing political campaigns he is loathe to use his own cash, both hard earned and ill gotten. He would much prefer those crazed starch fed, rubes attending his rallies pay the political tab $20 and $50 bucks at a time. When they do it proves to him and them, he is a true man of the people. Not to mention, when the investment is high risk it's always best to use someone else's money.  

Now, even as these words are being typed, media outlets have said the New York State Appellate Court has lowered his fraud case bond from the $450 plus million to $175 million and given Trump another 10 days to come up with the cash. 

Yes, the oily fucker just slipped the noose once again--at least for now. Shortly after the decision became known Trump announced he would post the bond within the allotted 10 days. 

Fortunately, for those of us who still believe in the rule of law, there was another breaking story. Today wasn't all peaches an cream for Big Don. When the bond news aired Trump was otherwise occupied in another New York courtroom. He was attending what turned out to be the final pre-trial hearing in what is known as the Stormy Daniels hush money case.

The criminal charges faced by Trump allege that during the 2016 Presidential campaign he paid off a porn star/dancer/high end hooker, who goes by the name of Stormy Daniels for her silence about a one night stand she had with while his wife was home caring for their newborn son, Barron. Actually the hush money payment itself isn't illegal in New York. However, covering it up as payments to your lawyer and as campaign expenditures is--which is what Trump is accused of doing.

Judge Juan Merchan had already delayed the start of the trial once. Today Trump's lawyers, with him looking on, argued the trial should be delayed again. According to them the feds and the state colluded to delay the discovery process by intentionally withholding evidence regarding Michael Cohen who is expected to be the state's key witness in the case. Cohen was Trump's former lawyer and damage control officer. He is the alleged conduit who got the cash from either Trump, or the campaign to buy Daniels' silence.

Merchan wasn't buying any of the collusion nonsense. He told the Trump team they hadn't proven any of it, which must have come as a shock to the defendant, because in Trumpworld, if Donnie says it, it becomes the truth.

Jury selection is now set to begin on April 15th. If it does, for the first time in American history a former President will be tried on criminal charges. Whether the Trump legal team can appeal their way out of that date remains to be seen. 

However, as we know all too well, Donald Trump is the greatest escape artist since Harry Houdini. He has proven time and time again, with very few exceptions, he can get out of anything. 

It is, to paraphrase a lyric, the nature of his game.

3-25-24

Up in Enid Oklahoma: Two Little Old Ladies Find a Nazi in the Ointment

 In early 2023 Enid, Oklahoma resident, Connie Vickers was looking at photos of neo-Nazis and other assorted white nationalists and fascists marching around the campus of the University of Virginia. The 2017 rally was held the night before what was billed as, "The Unite the Right," get together in Charlottesville the next day. As Vickers gazed at the photos of those participating in the torch lit procession she came across a familiar face. 

Among those holding Tiki torches and chanting, "Jews will not replace us," was Enid resident, Judd Blevins. The reason Ms. Vickers recognized Blevins was quite simple. Blevins wasn't just any Enid guy, he was a candidate for the Ward 1 city council seat. Indeed, he was aiming to be the new face of the republican party in Enid, the largest city in the state's northwest. 

The year plus long saga of what has followed in Enid is detailed in a March 13th NBC News story posted online by Brandy Zadrozny. She describes council meetings filled with both opponents and supporters of Blevins. The involvement of out of state right wing groups in municipal politics. Accusations of organized, "antifa commandos," attempting to unseat the duly elected City Commissioner. And, of course, high crimes and misdemeanors.    

Zadrozny doesn't explain why Ms. Vickers, a democrat, was looking at photos of Nazis marching in Charlottesville. However, she reports that soon after finding the image of Blevins, Vickers contacted her friend, another democrat, Nancy Presnall. (Yes, apparently there are at least two democrats in Enid.) After a January 2023 candidate's forum was over, the two women confronted Blevins with an enlarged version of the photo and demanded that he explain his connections to white nationalist groups. According to Presnall, the candidate fled the scene as they trailed behind shouting, "Answer the question, Judd." Presnall added, "He ran away from two little old ladies."

He may have then but Judd Blevins isn't running away from anyone now. A month after the meeting with the two, "little old ladies," Blevens won the council seat. There were a little over 800 ballots cast in Ward 1 (out of 5,000 registered voters). His margin of victory was 36 of them. Now, with a recall election on the horizon, he is facing the challenge head on. Or, at least as head on as any ultra right wing wanker ever does.

That's right, Judd Blevins, Marine Corps vet and former state coordinator for the white nationalist group, Identity Evropa is claiming he is the victim of a nefarious leftist conspiracy. 

Hwy, why not? It's what all these flamers do--from the top of the ballot, all the way down to the very bottom of it in every nook and cranny of America.

The people who worked to organize the recall is a group known as, "The Enid Social Justice Committee." According to Blevins they are so ruthless they tried to murder him. by cutting the brake lines on his truck. At a city council meeting he said the alleged attempt was made by, "far left wing fringe groups." He then complained about the lack of media coverage of the event. "I guess attempted murder of an elected official isn't newsworthy." 

Actually, the reason it wasn't newsworthy was because after investigating the so-called attempted murder Enid police found the only person anywhere near Blevins' truck the day he said it happened was Judd Blevins himself. 

Blevins has also claimed, "They (committee members) would like to see me apologize and denounce everything that I'm accused of, but I don't have anything to apologize for." In addition he has said, the attacks on him have been led by a leftist, "George Soros funded," media outlet. Presumably that media outlet is Enid's local paper, The Enid News & Eagle. In 2016 it had the, depending on your opinion, either the guts, or foolishness, to endorse Hillary Clinton for President. In blood red Enid, such an act was considered heresy in the first degree. 

Closer to the issue at hand, the News &Eagle also ran an expose detailing Judd Blevins' connection to Identity Evropa and reprinting some of his--let's say, more explicit--social media posts and podcast quotes regarding race in America. At the time Blevins described the front-page story as, "a hit piece." The number of residents, besides Blevins, who read the article is unknown. Thanks to the Clinton endorsement and the internet, the paper has been hemorrhaging subscribers for years.

The chaos comes to a head on April 2nd, the day of the recall election. Blevins' opponent is 61-year-old grandmother and former school teacher, Cheryl Patterson. She is a longtime republican, which she has to be. That is the reality in not just Enid, but all of northwest Oklahoma. A lot of people up that way might not like Nazis, but no one, absolutely no one, will vote for a democrat.

Well, except those two, "little old ladies." 

sic vita est

3-19-24

A Preview of Things to Come: Lies, Lies, and More Lies

If you repeat a lie often enough, people will believe it, and you will even come to believe it yourself. 

Joseph Goebbels, Nazi Propaganda Minister and personal pal of Herr Adolf Hitler

For those wondering what the 2024 Presidential campaign is going to look at, this past week was a prime, grade A, preview. A movie trailer of sorts allowing us a glimpse of just some of the rock 'em sock 'em action we can expect.

Last Thursday, Alabama's junior Senator, Katie Britt gave the GOP response to Joe Biden's rousing state of the union address. Britt spoke from her sparsely appointed kitchen in Montgomery. During her little stove front chat, delivered with all the emotional impact of a 17 year old performing in a high school production of, "Our Town." she related the story of child sex trafficking occurring because of Joe Biden's policies. 

According to Britt she had personally traveled to the, "Del Rio sector of Texas." where she met with a victim of the foul practice. "She told me she had been sex trafficked by the cartels starting at age 12," Britt said. "She told me not just that she was raped every day, but how many times a day she was raped. We wouldn't be okay with that in a third world country. This is the United States of America and it's past time we start acting like it. President Biden's border is a disgrace. It's despicable. And it's almost entirely preventable." 

Cue the outrage. It's all Joe Biden's fault this 12 year old had to live through an unimaginable horror story. 

The woman Britt, "talked to," is named Karla Jacinto. These days she is a crusader for the victims of child trafficking. Her nightmare was real, but it happened between the years 2004 and 2008. For those who are historically challenged, during that time frame George W. Bush was President and Joe Biden was a Senator--just like Katie Britt. In addition Ms. Jacinto was trafficked, not by a cartel, but rather a pimp who took in at risk young girls. And, of course, none of the crimes perpetrated against the then 12 year old happened near the border, or the, "Del Rio sector of Texas." It all happened deep in Mexico. 

afew days after Britt spoke to the nation Karla Jacinto told the media, yes she had met the Alabama Senator, but no, not one on one, she had spoke to a group of politicians about the plight of  sexually abused and missing children, using her own experiences as an example of a crisis which is largely ignored by politicians and the media world wide.

Ms. Jacintoo reportedly told CNN, "I hardly ever cooperate with politicians because it seems to me that they only want an image. They only want a photo--and that to me is unfair."

Yeah, there is a lot of that going around these days. Now we know why Senator Britt is considered a rising star in the republican party. She might be only 40 years old, but she has their act down cold.

Then there was Fox News personality and noted jug wine aficionado, Jeanine Piro told her audience, "The democrats spent the whole day saying Donald Trump obstructed. Well news flash, Donald Trump was not charged with obstructing." 

Really? It is a matter of public record that Donald Trump is charged with conspiracy to obstruct justice in the Mar a Lago documents case. In a separate indictment he is charged with obstruction in regard to that whole, attempting to overthrow the results of the 2020 Presidential election thing. 

It is unclear at this time if Ms. Piro is simply lying out her ass or is suffering from the onset of Delirium Tremens. I prefer to think it is the latter. It's the romantic in me.

Finally we get to the big man himself. On Tuesday the House Judiciary Committee got together so republicans could grill, former Special Counsel Rober Hur on his report about Biden and some classified documents he left with after the second Obama term had ended. Most of the republicans on the committee didn't really care about why Hur had decided not to prosecute Joe Biden, they just wanted him to tell them and the nation the President is a feeble old man, so incapacitated mentally he can't even remember the year his son died. 

The democrats, namely Jerry Nadler of New York decided to turn the tables on them, so to speak. Nadler played a montage of Trump's gaffes, abject cruelty, and incoherent ramblings. There was nothing new on the video clip. In fact some of it dated back to the 2016 campaign. In other words everything Trump said, or let's say, garbled beyond all recognition, was witnessed the days he said them and have been replayed for years, months, and days.

Not according to Don Trump though. After seeing the hearing and montage he posted on social media, "The Hur Report was revealed today. A disaster for Biden, a two tiered standard of justice. Artificial Intelligence was used by them against me in their videos of me. Can't do that Joe." 

That's right. Donald J. Trump just claimed Jerry Nadler and those devious democratic operatives faked all that insane shit every American who watches TV saw him say--in many cases, live. In short Donald Trump isn't the one with the delusions, everyone else is.

Doctor John Gartner is right, but that doesn't mean plenty of people won't believe the crazy fuck. They'll read his post, they will listen to Piro's dipsomanic ravings, and Britt's intentional twisting of reality and never doubt any of it. What's worse is they won't even see anyone contesting these lies, because none of them watch anything on the air, or the internet which challenges their faith in Orange Jesus.  

 Welcome to the 2024 Presidential campaign. Only eight more months to go.

sic vita est

3-14-24

Joe Gives 'Em Hell

 Well, if we learned one thing about Joe Biden on Thursday night it is he isn't the fumbling, mumbling, old codger republicans would have us believe he is and some of us have feared he has become. Indeed, Biden might be old, but he is still the consummate politician and despite the efforts Donald Trump's toadies in Congress he is still the President of the United States. After the speech both Sean Hannity and Trump himself predictably called President Biden a liar, but they no longer referred to him as, "senile," or, "a vegetable." 

Hannity is paid to do such things. Trump was probably jealous that on Thursday he didn't dominate the news on any of the networks, or, thanks to his social network crashing, even the internet. In fact, the only time he was mentioned at all was on the not so fashionable tee shirt worn by Marjorie Taylor Greene. Biden might have eviscerated him from the podium, but he steadfastly refused to mention his name. 

According to MSNBC's Lawrence O'Donnell Biden referred to his predecessor 13 times. Perhaps the most damning was when he drove home the brutal facts of the January 6th coup attempt. "The insurrectionists were not patriots," the President said. "My predecessor--and some of you here--seek to bury the truth about January 6. I will not. Here's the simple truth. You can't love your country only when you win." 

When it came to abortion, the issue Trump wants to avoid at all costs, Biden said, "Clearly those bragging about overturning Roe v Wade have no clue about the power of women in America. If you the American people send me a Congress that supports the right to choose, I promise I will restore Roe v Wade as the law of the land again." Six of the nine justices were in the front row at that point. One of the three missing was Clarence Thomas, which moved a late night host to say, "Finally we found something Clarence Thomas will recuse himself from."

Of course there were speech mishaps and a handful of gaffes. It was, after all, Joe Biden up there.  The worst of which was when Biden spoke about the murder of Laken Riley. He mistakenly called her Lincoln Riley in response to Marjorie Taylor Greene's heckling. He quickly recovered though by segueing into the bipartisan border security bill stalled on orders by Donald Trump. When he began listing what the bill would fund, then said it was supported by the border patrol's union and the National Chamber of Commerce Greene screamed, "Liar!" and republicans booed. Biden responded, "Read the facts. I know you can read." 

The exchange proved two things. First, unlike Donald Trump, Joe Biden can come back from a stumble then go off script coherently and with wit. Second, he might be a tad over optimistic. Even if Greene and her cohorts can read they would never come close to looking at anything which conflicts with their worldview, or the sadistic whims of Donald J. Trump.

Yes, the battle is now joined. And suddenly, instead of Joe Biden, it is Donald Trump who appears to be one struggling with cognitive issues. It's Trump not, Biden who seems on the verge of a complete mental collapse. And, for the moment at least, it is Biden, rather than Trump controlling the content of the news cycle.

Indeed, on Thursday night we finally saw the Joe Biden we've all been praying for--fiery, on point, and ready for a fight. 

Ladies and gentlemen, I am no longer voting against Donald Trump. I am voting for Joe Biden.

3-9-24

The Doctor Has Made His Call

 The men the American people admire most extrovertly are the most daring liars. The men they detest most violently are those who tell them the truth.  

H. L. Mencken 

With that single observation, H. L. Mencken pretty well sums up the reason Donald Trump, a known rapist and accused felon, will either clinch, or come within an inch of clinching the republican party nomination for President of the United States today. 

Here in the U.S. the media and politicos from coast to coast and beyond refer to the day as, "Super Tuesday." It is the day when voters in 15 states and one territory cast their ballots to decide on who the parties will nominate to run in November. In the days of yore the nominees were chosen at party conventions which were filled with drama, closed room deals, and generally old white guys sucking at the ends of cigars.

We still have the conventions, but they haven't been relevant in decades. Thanks to the primary voting process, today being the most wide spread of these events, by the time the conventions roll around the nominations have already been decided. The get togethers exist now solely as sort of political rock festivals held to give party activists an opportunity to kick out the jams, throw week long benders while dressed as fools, and provide the candidates with free network airtime.  Oh, and to let the attendees play with balloons. There is always lots and lots of balloons. 

This year in particular the issue of nominees appears chosen already. A lot of people on both sides of the aisle aren't happy about it. That's mainly because there are many democrats and republicans who consider their guy either too old and senile, or nuts to run the country. 

The other day, Dr. John Gartner, a psychologist and former member of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine faculty, gave his opinion on the subject in an interview. 

"I had to speak out because the 2024 election might turn  on the issue of who is cognitively capable. Biden, or Trump.? It's a major issue that will affect some people's vote. Not enough people are sounding the alarm, that based on his behavior, and in my opinion, Donald Trump is dangerously demented. In fact we are seeing the opposite among too many in the news media, the political leaders, and among the public. There is also this focus on Biden's gaffes, or other things that are within the normal limits of aging. By comparison Trump appears to be showing gross signs of dementia. This is a tale of two brains. Biden's brain is aging. Trump's brain is dementing." 

The reason for Gartner's diagnosis? "Phonenic paraphasias--the substitution of non words for words that sound similar. ..That is a fundamental breakdown in the ability to use the language. ..There is no healthy older person who speaks that way." He went on to say, "Trump also engages in what we call tangential speech. He just becomes incomprehensible when he engages in free association word salad speech that is all over the place. Again that's a sign of real brain damage, not being old, not being slow, not losing a step, but of severe cognitive deterioration."

According to Gartner, "By comparison, Biden has never been the most articulate person. He always had a stutter. He always made gaffes. But Biden has a good heart and good judgement. Over the decades we have not seen much evidence of deterioration in Biden's speaking." 

When it comes to the MAGA groupies Garner said: "At some level their worship of Trump is cartoonish. They idolize him beyond anything that is reasonable...Charismatic leaders like Donald Trump excite their followers into a kind of frenzy. But because the MAGA movement, like other fascist and authoritarian movements is a death cult, what Trump is inciting in them is a kind of dark frenzy and dangerous excitement. We have seen such summoned in some of the worst moments of modern history., most notably in Germany." 

Gartner believes Trump's followers and the media misinterpret his apparent energy, not realizing, that it is a symptom of his condition. In his words, "Trump is what we would clinically describe hypomanic." In Gartner's opinion, "Trump and people like him are not going to have good judgement."

The doctor concluded by saying, "Even if he was demented I would rather have Biden than Trump as President of the United States of America. Dementia brings out the worst in people's character. They become 10 times worse. If Biden really were to mentally decline--and I'm not saying he has, or will, or is---he's basically a benign person with good judgement. Biden cares about his fellow human beings. Biden is patriotic and actually believes in defending the Constitution and the United States of America. So even if Biden were to become diminished in his cognitive abilities he's still not going to do something evil, or crazy. He just might need more help. By comparison, Donald Trump unleashed would be Satan unbound."

And just think, I didn't even mention the parts where John Gartner talked about Trump's lust for revenge, his perverse pleasure in destroying people and institutions, and his belief he actually has God-like powers.   

Yes, the real options on this Super Tuesday are decidedly limited. In November though, they will be as stark as night and day. And, as we've just learned from the good Doctor, that night is a darkness the media and much of the voting public has grown too accustomed to, simply because they can't truly fathom it.

3-5-24

Getting Your Wife and Donad Trump Off the Hook

 LOVE MAGA people! GOD BLESS EACH OF YOU STANDING UP or PRAYING!

Social media post written by Virginia, "Ginni," Thomas on January 7, 2021.

Prior to the January 6th coup attempt Ginni Thomas served on the advisory board of Turning Point USA, the group who sponsored the event which, at Donald Trump's urging, turned into an insurrection. She was so involved, Dustin Stockton, one of the primary organizers told the New York Times, "The way it was presented to me was that Ginni Thomas was uniting these different factions around a singular mission on Jan. 6." 

In addition Mrs. Thomas, with the help of Steve Bannon, founded a group collectively known as, "Groundswell," The Independent reports she also helped put together a list of , "disloyal" members of the government. One can only presume the list was to be used after a successful overthrow of American democracy for purposes we've most recently seen play out in Mr. Putin's Russia. 

Finally she was in Donald Trump's tent on the ellipse as part of his personal retinue on Jan. 6th.  That would be the day Rudy Giuliani told the cheering crowd, "We need trial by combat," and the President of the United States exhorted them to, "...march to the capitol." Then lied when he told them, "I will be with you."

When the mob began their march Trump then went back to the White House. Ginni Thomas said she also left. Hey, why not? When Al Capone ordered the St. Valentine's Day massacre he made sure he was in Miami when the actual hit took place.

Her involvement in the entire plot and the ensuing nightmare was so prominent one MSNBC legal expert claimed Ginni Thomas could very well be labeled an unindicted co-conspirator in the federal case against Donald Trump. She won't though. In fact, right now, thanks to her husband, Supreme Court Justice, Clarence Thomas and others on that bench who owe their jobs to Trump, there might not be any case at all. 

The U.S. Supreme Court has announced it wants to rule on the ex President's legal argument that because he was still in the Oval Office on January 6th everything he said and did between election day 2020 and Joe Biden's swearing in is legal--that, everything he did in the four years as President is legal, because sitting Presidents have total criminal immunity. It is a concept that used to be known as, "The Divine Rights of Kings." In other words, the king is in power due to the will of God. Therefore the king can do whatever the fuck he wants and no law made by people can touch him. 

It is a notion so completely anti-American any normal Supreme Court would have immediately refused to even consider it. Unfortunately for the republic this isn't a normal Supreme Court. Despite his wife being deeply complicit, in the insurrection--or perhaps because of it--Clarence Thomas won't recuse himself from the case. In addition, both he and Samuel Alito are in the pockets of conservative billionaires, one of whom admires notorious dictators so much he has a garden filled with statues of them. John Roberts' wife has a lucrative, although ethically questionable business on the side. Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett are all beholden to Trump, the man this decision will directly impact.  

Indeed, the odds seem to favor the fix being in.

The court won't hear oral arguments on the issue of immunity until late April. Between now and then the federal charges against Trump are on hold. After hearing the arguments the Supreme Court of the United States can take as long as it wants before deciding if the nation is a country of laws, or imperial Presidential whims. 

Given its make up don't look for that decision until well after the November elections. The bet here is if Trump wins the race they will decide no because it won't matter. A Trump Justice Department will just drop the whole thing anyway. If he loses, they will say yes, Donald Trump did have immunity so he can't be tried.   

It's a solution that's overly simple and obviously corrupt, but when your wife is involved you had better get her off the hook. If you don't, there is no telling what she might say publicly about your deviant sexual preferences. Not to mention, when the Godfather needs a favor to be repaid you had better do it, no matter what the consequences might be for yourself and everyone else. 

2-29-24

What Presidential Immunity Looks Like

Well, for those wondering, we recently witnessed what happens when a President has complete and total immunity from criminal prosecution. Vladimir Putin just showed us in brutal fashion at some frozen prison north of the Artic Circle. Indeed, even though Alexei Navalny was out of circulation he just wouldn't shut up and neither would his supporters. The answer to this problem was clear for a man with complete immunity. A few days ago Russian authorities announced Navalny had died while in the joint. The cause of death was announced as, "Sudden Death Syndrome," apparently the adult version of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. 

In order to keep that myth alive the Russians are refusing to allow an independent autopsy of the remains. in addition , according to his mother, the only way they will release Navalny's body for burial is if she immediately puts her son into a plot of tundra somewhere far away from any city without mourners, or presumably clergy present. 

No wonder Donald Trump admires Putin so much. This is the sort of shit he can only dream of. So far anyway.    

Of course we have seen glimpses of Russian executive immunity before. Over the years Putin has systematically shut down any vestiges of a free and independent press--which Donald Trump has threatened to do with American media outlets, MSNBC in particular--and a mini-epidemic of political opponents falling out of upper story windows, not to mention blowing up in planes. There has also been the occasional murder and attempted murder of Russian citizens who were and are living in Europe and the United States.  

One supposes in the Kremlin such acts of international criminality are simply referred to as the long arm of immunity.

There are still a few problems for Vladimir Putin, however. As many, let's say, immunized Presidents before him have learned, when you get rid of one opposition leader a new one tends to pop up. In this instance, as her husband 's body still lies on a slab in Siberia, Yulia Navalnaya appeared on stage in Munich, Germany to address western leaders and condemn Putin.  Later she had a sit down with American President, Joe Biden, a well known critic of political immunizations. 

Then there is Volodymyr Zelenskyy.  Instead of taking the first available flight out of Ukraine when Putin launched an invasion, he stood his ground and fought back. What one Russian military officer said would be a five day war has turned into a bloody two year slog. That Zelenskyy is still alive proves even Russian Presidential immunity has its limits, although thanks to pro autocracy zealots like Trump and Marjorie Taylor Greene an assignation may no longer be necessary. Once the Ukrainians run out of ammunition we can expect Zelenskyy's quick trial and execution. It will all be, at least in Putin's twisted mind and probably Trump's, quite legal and above board. Such is the fate, of enemies of the state. The state being whatever Vladimir Putin defines it as.

Whatever the case might end up being, for the present, Yulia Navalnaya should watch her back. And stay away from windows higher than one floor up. Because if we've learned anything about the sort of Presidential immunity Trump wants and Putin has she is now next on the list.

2-23-24

The High Price of Being the Chosen One

 You can say one thing about Donald Trump. when he does something it is big. And on Friday he went really, really, big.

Indeed, there aren't a whole lot of people on this blue ball who can run up a $355 million tab in a single day. That's the amount of money Judge Arthur Engoron ordered the Trump Organization and therefore Donald John Trump to pay the state of New York late last week. Engoron also ordered Don Jr. and Eric Trump to shell out $4 million apiece, running the Trump family bill up to $363 million. Former Trump Org hot shot Allen Weisselberg was tagged for $1 million, which he will, no doubt, be on the hook for all by himself. 

For those keeping track of such things our Donald also owes E. Jean Carroll another $88 million plus. That means the family Trump at this moment in time owes a total of $451 million. But wait, as they say in the ads, there is more. All these financial judgements accrue interest during the appeals process. If the judgement totals remain the same after the appeals are exhausted--it's doubtful they will--the Trump Org/family will owe well over $500 million.

That's a figure which might cause 17-year-old Barron to rethink his lifestyle plans.    

As the appeals are pending the Trumps will have to post a bond on the sum of the judgements as they now stand amounting to somewhere between 10 and 20%. So, unless DJT wants to kick out $35 to $70 million of his own cash on that $355 million he need to find someone to front him the money. It's difficult to say who would do it. Thanks to Engoron's ruling they can't secure a loan from any bank licensed to do business in New York. In fact they can't do any sort of business at all in the state for two to three years. (Two each for Donn Jr. and Eric and three for the old man) In addition everything they do financially is monitored by two different court appointed officials.

Despite these restrictions MSNBC talking head, Lawrence O'Donnell is confident the Trumps will find a fresh influx of cash somewhere. As he points out, Donald Trump has a lot of, to borrow a Garth Brooks title, friends in low places. His son in law, Jared Kushner is in tight with the Saudis and they're pretty free with their cash. Then there is Don's old pal Vladimir Putin. In exchange for a few future favors from a second Trump administration--you know like leaving Ukraine high and dry and withdrawing from NATO--no one could deny they would be happy to foot Trump's bill. 

Sure there would be accusations of bribery, but it's Trump for God's sake. The man is a known rapist and been accused of felonies from New York City to Washington D.C. Atlanta, and beyond. At this point selling out Ukraine and all of Europe for personal gain is to be expected. 

Whether Donald Trump has to sell off some, or all of his properties to pay these massive tabs is unknown. What is known is he won't have to worry about his growing legal fees. No, all those bills have been and will continue to be paid for by hordes of devoted rubes who are utterly convinced he is the second coming of Jesus Christ. They might not be able to pony up $500 million, but by Donald they can pay for his never-ending appeals.

And why shouldn't they? After all, as we've just learned, it costs a lot of money to be, The Chosen One.

2-18-24 

Vlad and Tuck Have a Chat...Sort Of

 Last week former Fox News hitman, Tucker Carlson sat down with Russian President, Vladimir Putin for a couple of hours to conduct an, "interview." It really wasn't, but many knew that would be the case before the conversation took place. The entire mind-numbing episode was nothing more than a Putin propaganda speech meant for both internal and external consumption. In truth Carlson didn't even need to be there. There were certainly long periods, especially during Putin's half hour Russian history lecture--Russia According to Vlad, From the 9th Century to the Present--it felt like he wasn't. 

Carlson's only contribution to that presentation was to ask, "Where are we now?" Putin told him, "The 13th century," then the lesson resumed.

When we finally arrived at the 20th century we learned, without objection from Tuck, Poland provoked Germany into beginning World War II.  According to Vlad, the Polish government left Herr Hitler no choice, but to invade when they wouldn't agree to even his most modest demands. Then, over the course of the chat we learned Mr. Putin seems pretty put out in general by the Poles. It is unclear if an invasion of the NATO country is pending, but Putin, by one count, mentioned the nation 30 times. so it is probably safe to say the Kremlin is at least considering Warsaw as a future destination. 

When the subject of present day Ukraine came up Putin was all over the place. One moment Ukraine was a natural part of Russia. The next it wasn't, but it needs to be de-nazified and it must be unaligned militarily. Well, except for the Russian troops who would be based there. When it came to the invasion, Putin revealed the conflict began because of a, to borrow a title from George Lucas, phantom menace. That shadowy figure is former British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson. According to the Russian President the Ukrainians were on the verge of caving into Russian demands when Johnson, abetted by other western European leaders, convinced Volodymyr Zelenskyy to put up a fight. 

In other words, much like 1939 Poland, in 2022 Ukraine caused the invasion of, that's right, Ukraine. 

It shouldn't come as a surprise Carlson didn't make any real effort to challenge this bullshit. After all, this is the same guy who claimed the January 6th rioters running wild in the U.S. capitol building acted as peacefully as tourists. He proved it by airing deftly edited video clips to his audience, carefully deleting all those inconvenient scenes of brute violence and vandalism. In short, the man is a born liar. So much so he told his fans he is the only western journalist to ask for an interview with Putin. That fib was too much even for the Russians. They issued a statement saying he was wrong--all sorts of western media outlets ask for interviews with Putin nearly every day. 

While in Moscow Tucker also made an appearance of his own in front of an audience, telling them Joe Biden was senile and incompetent. He went on to rattle off a list of reasons why saying those things about the President of the United States isn't politics per se, just the unvarnished truth. In addition, he claimed American intelligence agencies have spent the last number of years spying on his text messages and preventing him from doing the interview. He told them America just wasn't the same place he grew up thinking it was. Finally, Carlson called his visit to Moscow, "radicalizing," because the city was so much cleaner, safer, and architecturally pleasing than American cities. 

For those of us who remember a right wing phrase popular during the 1960s and 70s such statements are dripping with irony.

However, telling Tucker Carlson, "America, love it, or leave it," would be lost on him. The problem isn't that Tucker Carlson hates America. The problem is he wants America to be just like Russia.

That, and there are far too many people out there who are exactly like him.

2-13-24

D.C. Court to Trump: No, No, and Hell No

 We cannot accept former President Donald Trump's claim that a President has unbounded authority to commit crimes that would neutralize the  most fundamental check on executive power."

Part of the ruling by the panel of three judges on the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals in the case of The United States vs. Donald J. Trump 

That line was a small part of the decision written by judges Florence Pan, J. Michelle Childs, and Karen Henderson which was released yesterday. To put it simply it was a 57 page letter to Donald Trump which told him, no, no, and hell no. 

No, you can't have one team of lawyers tell congress a second impeachment isn't necessary because the client, since he is no longer President, should be tried in the federal court system--then have a second team tell the courts you can't be charged because you were never impeached and convicted by that same congress. No, being impeached then tried for the same crimes doesn't constitute double jeopardy. And hell no, you can't have political opponents assassinated then walk away from it if you aren't impeached and convicted in the Senate first.

The decision wasn't surprising. Hell, even Dick Nixon knew these arguments were bullshit. It's why he got down on his knees and thanked God and Gerald R. Ford for his Presidential pardon. 

Trump's people have already said they will appeal. They can ask for the entire court of appeals to review the decision, although in all truth they've probably already read it and given the three judge panel a thumbs up. or, they can go to the Supreme Court. If they do they will have to hurry. the Circuit Court gave them until Monday to file the paperwork with SCOTUS.

At that point the Justices can either agree to hear the appeal, or refuse to which would send it straight back into the court of Tanya Chutan. Liberal media, "analysts," are hopeful the Supremes will do just that. They have all sorts of plausible legal reasons for that sort of outcome. Given the presence of Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, and others on the bench that optimism might be misplaced. The court doesn't even have to decide the issue. If they agree to hear the appeal they can sit on it for as long as they want--say this December, after the election--before delivering a decision. That gives Trump what he wants, especially if he wins, and the Justices can avoid all those accusations of corruption and malfeasance. 

Meanwhile in the House of Representatives republicans dove head first into a big pool of chaos and humiliation. After coming to the realization they couldn't pin anything on Joe Biden they came to the decision they would impeach the Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas. The GOP controlled impeachment committee was a bit vague on the whole high crimes and misdemeanor thing. The Secretary's main crime seems to have been he works for the current President. Well, that and, by God we're going to impeach somebody and your name happened to come up.

Yesterday the vote to impeach Mayorkas failed. Later republicans tried to separate aid to Israel from border security and aid to Ukraine. That effort also went down in flames. 

Indeed the only thing House republicans accomplished yesterday is proving they aren't a political party in the majority, but rather a prison riot in progress.  

Next up, for another of Trump's legal teams anyway, is a stop at the Supreme Court tomorrow to deliver oral arguments in the Colorado ballot appeal. Odds are that decision will come quickly and in his favor. After all the man hasn't been convicted of insurrection, at least not yet. In fact, even at this late date as he faces 91 criminal counts, he hasn't been convicted of any felonies. 

That doesn't mean he won't be. Thanks to the D.C. Circuit Court, for the first time in his life, Donald John Trump does appear on the verge of coming down with a serious case of, as it's known in some professions, CTD. Or, in layman's terms, Circling the Drain.   

We can only hope.

2-7-24

Taylor Swift: Pop Star and Psy-Op Specialist

 Taylor Swift is an American pop music star and some say internet, "influencer." She has over 78 million followers on social media accounts which is roughly five million more people than voted for Donald J. Trump in the 2020 presidential election. Her most avid fans and called Swifties. 

According to Microsoft Stats,74% of Swift's fans are white.  Wikipedia says, "Swifties are known for high levels of participation, creativity, community, and fanaticism. The site also notes her fan base is subject to wide spread coverage in the mainstream media. 

Does any of that sound suspiciously like another group of devoted fans the media loves to follow these days? No wonder Don Trump is leery of her and her influence. He is also a tad delusional when it comes to Ms. Swift. (Trump has reportedly reassured aides he is more popular than she is) Well, what else can be expected from a man who has normalized delusions for a huge chunk of the electorate?

A month before the 2020 election Taylor Seift endorsed Joe Biden for the office of president. Since then she has spent some of her time telling her fans they need to register to vote. That hasn't gone over well with the MAGA crowd since they really don't like it when a whole lot of new voters cast their ballots--especially ones who are doing so at the behest of a known Biden supporter.  

Lately it has become even darker for those in the red hats.  

At the moment Taylor Swift is enjoying a relationship with pro football player, Travis Kelce. Kelce is the starting tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs. He is also considered a sneaky leftist due to his high profile charity work, participation in an on field protest of deadly police violence, TV appearances, and, of course, an ad urging people to get vaccinated against the flu and Covid-19.

Can you spell conspiracy? According to the MAGA word online, Swift is a Pentagon psychological war, or as they say in the business, psy-op asset Others claim she is an operative of the deep state, working to sabotage Donald Trump's campaign. Some say her strings are being pulled by the devious puppet master, George Soros, that great bugaboo of all things right wing. There are also accusations the whole, Swift-Kelce affair, as it were, is fake, just part of the nefarious plot to lure voters into Biden's camp.

After Swift showed up at a Chief's game last month that politically and socially astute observer Vivek Ramaswamy posted, "I wonder who's going to win the Super Bowl next month? And I wonder if there's a major presidential endorsement coming from an artificially propped up couple this fall?"  

That's right, if the Chiefs beat the 49ers this coming weekend it is proof the democrats can rig Super Bowls just as easily as they do elections. In some minds the fuckers apparently control everything.

Yes, yes and we can all expect Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce to lead tens of thousands of  Swifties and Chief's fans down Pennsylvania Ave. this October as she belts out her rendition of, "The Internationale."   

For those interested, Kansas City is currently a one point favorite. I'm taking them to win. No, not because of Travis Kelce, Taylor Swift, or even Vivek Ramaswamy. As always, in both football and politics, I go with the team who has the better quarterback. 

2-5-24

James Lankford Wanted to Get Something Done, Donald Trump Didn't, and Dusty Deevers Tells Us Where He Wants to go Next

 James Paul Lankford is the senior United States Senator from Oklahoma. He is also an ordained Southern Baptist minister who, prior to his political career ran the Falls Creek Baptist Conference Center, in the south central part of the state. He served two terms in the House of Representatives before running for the senate. He has run for the seat three times. He won with 67.9%, then 68%, and finally with 64% of the ballots cast. 

Lankford opposes abortion and gay rights, He received an, "A,' rating from the NRA and is against the legalization of cannabis for both medical and recreational use. His stated belief is that federally funded health insurance is unconstitutional and has voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act. He also feels regulating carbon emissions is bad for the economy and thinks there should be an expansion of oil and natural gas exploration and production worldwide.  

All of this is being said only to prove to one and all, Senator James P. Lankford is one conservative son of a bitch. 

Ah, but apparently he isn't conservative enough for Oklahoma MAGAs. On Saturday, newly minted state senator and keeper of the faith, Dusty Deevers announced over social media the Oklahoma republican party is censuring Lankford for, "playing fast and loose with democrats on our border policy." The statement also called on Lankford, "to cease and desist jeopardizing the security and liberty," of Americans."

Over the last year Lankford has been the lead GOP negotiator as the U.S. Senate has tried to come up with a bill on southern border security both sides can live with. Tied to the bill is money for both Ukraine and Israel. Lankford, democrat Chris Murphy of Connecticut, and independent, Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona came up with a proposal a lot of liberals have objected to, but joe Biden said he would sign. Initially the deal was well received in the upper chamber, although passage in the house was still problematical. 

Then Donald Trump got on the phone and the whole republican world jumped immediately after asking Orange Jesus how high. Lankford initially tried to explain his reasoning by saying it was the best possible deal conservatives could get. He went on to say he had taken an oath to defend and protect the constitution, not just the republican party, or special interest groups. Finally, he pointed out it is pretty darn tough to get something done in the Senate if you don't negotiate with democrats since they are--you know--in the majority there.

And that was Jimmy Lankford's mistake. He tried to get something done. 

Silly boy. The entire existence of the MAGA wing of the republican party is based on complaining about anything and everything. If you get things done you can't do that. Besides Donald Trump, their lord and savior, needs chaos at the border so he can blame Joe Biden and democrats for it. If you ease, or heaven forbid solve the nightmare on the Rio Grande you have robbed Trump and others of a campaign issue that everyone acknowledges is genuine. That Trump and his MAGAs don' have plan, other than to build a wall, or open fire matters not. He and he alone must get the credit for curing the immigration issue after Biden is gone. 

Not to mention killing this border bill right now has the added benefit of making sure Ukrainian troops will be reduced to throwing rocks at Russian tanks within a few months--a topic which doesn't sell nearly as well as The Great Replacement Conspiracy.

Well, we've learned two things from this censure of James Lankford. On the national level, Donald J Trump still calls the shots in the GOP, no matter how insanely nihilistic those shots are, And, here in Oklahoma, all of us just found out exactly where freshman state senator, Dusty Deevers wants to go next. 

sic vita est

1-31-24

Haley Won't Quit, Kornacki Crunches the Numbers, and the Durst Cousins Want Their Money Back

 To no one's surprise Donald Trump handily won the New Hampshire republican primary last night. After the issue was settled former South Carolina governor, Nikki Haley drove Orange Jesus into a rage by refusing to quit the race. After it became clear Haley was sticking around, at least through the South Carolina primary, Trump took to a stage, called her names, hinted that she would have unnamed secrets exposed, and denigrated her choice of clothing for the evening. 

Well, what did you expect, he is, after all, Donald Trump.

While all this was happening the crowd of analysts on MSNBC were assuring viewers the Trump's victories in Iowa and New Hampshire were no big deal--that they had in fact exposed DJT;s weakness with the electorate. They all seemed a tad shrill in their optimism, sort of like people whistling past the graveyard. The only realist in the bunch was the network's resident numbers cruncher, Steve Kornacki.

The man at, "the big board," alone sounded the alarm by pointing out at this point in the campaign year Don Trump is leading Joe Biden, or in a statistical tie with him in every credible poll taken. That, he pointed out ominously, never happened in 2020. Four years ago Biden led Trump in every credible poll leading up to his election victory. The only person who saw it differently was Trump himself and he had to. It was all part of that establishing an alibi thing.

Then came the kicker. Kornacki pointed out those polls still weren't considering some third party entry into the race. He admitted that any third party candidate could throw the election into chaos which, as we all know, is right in Donald Trump's wheelhouse.  

Steve Kornacki isn't the only one who realizes how dire things could become if some outfit, like No Labels becomes involved in the 2024 race. 

The Durst Organization is headed up by cousins, Douglas and Jonathan Durst. They are real deal New York real estate barons with an estimated worth of $8 billion, or so. (That $8 billion presumably, unlike Don's operation, is real and fraud free) Back in 2016 they donated $145,000 to No Labels when it was first getting started. In those days the stated mission of No Labels was to seek ways to build a non-partisan consensus between democrats and republicans on legislative issues, typically which bent toward a more conservative solution. When the check was cashed there was absolutely no talk, or any plans to run a third party candidate for the White House.

Now that there is one, the cousins, Durst want their $145 grand back. The legal filing the other day states the Dursts are, "Bewildered, betrayed, and outraged, by what they call No Labels breach of contract with them. The lawsuit went on to say, "No Labels has shifted seismically from its original mission, and its donors like the Dursts who believed in the mission and financially supported it, should not have to stand idly by." In addition, it noted if the cousins had been, "given any indication that No Labels might pursue such a gambit the Dursts would have never funded the organization." 

In other words, we just wanted to get some legislation passed on the QT which would benefit us. We don't want any part of helping to install a fucking dictator who will end American democracy as we know it.

The election in November is going to be a close thing. In fact it is going to be breathtakingly close. Douglas and Jonathan Durst understand that. So does Steve Kornacki. It might not be what the rest of us want to think about right now, but it makes more sense than whistling past a graveyard.

1-24-24

Don Trump's Wednesday Magical Mystery Tour

 We really don't have to dig deeply to prove Donald John Trump shouldn't be allowed anywhere near the White House. Yesterday was a prime example. 

The day began in a New York City courtroom. Mr. Trump showed his disregard for the American legal system by attempting, through side remarks spoken loud enough for everyone to hear, to intimidate a woman he raped a number of years ago. Luckily, Judge Lewis Kaplan wasn't having any of Trump's performance art routine. In Kaplan's words: "Mr. Trump has the right to be present here. That right can be forfeited and it can be forfeited if he is disruptive and he disregards court orders. Mr. Trump, I hope I don't have to consider excluding you from the trial, I understand you are very eager for me to do that."

Donald Trump, the man who wishes to be president once again responded by waving his hands in the air and saying, "I would love it. I would love it."

Kaplan then told him, "I know you would because you just can't control yourself in this circumstance, you just can't."

Trump shot back at the judge, "And neither can you."  It was the sort of petty retort normally heard on 6th grade playgrounds. It's also one that would have landed anyone else in a jail cell, charged with contempt. As a general rule witch hunts, which Trump and his supporters claim these legal problems are, don't let you slide when you insult the court.   

Later in the day, Orange Jesus made a campaign stop in New Hampshire. After bragging to the crowd he had just, "aced," a test which proved he didn't have dementia he said this:

We're going to place strong protections to stop banks and regulators from trying to de-bank you. From your--you know your political beliefs, what they do. They want to de-bank you, and we're going to de-bank--think of this. They want to take away your rights. They want to take away your country. The things they're doing, all electric cars. Give me a break."

The man' isn't a president. He is Ozzy fucking Osbourne. 

Finally, early this morning Don ended the day's magical mystery tour with a social media post which he typed in all caps:

A PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES MUST  HAVE FULL IMMUNITY, WITHOUT WHICH IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR HIM/HER TO FUNCTION. ANY MISTAKE EVEN WELL INTENDED WOULD BE MET WITH ALMOST CERTAIN INDICTMENT BY THE OPPOSING PARTY AT TERM END. EVEN EVENTS THAT "CROSS THE LINE" MUST FALL UNDER TOTAL IMMUNITY, OR IT WILL BE YEARS OF TRAUMA TRYING TO DETERMINE GOOD FROM BAD. THERE MUST BE CERTAINTY. EXAMPLE: YOU CAN;T STOP POLICE FROM DOING THE JOB OF STRONG & EFFECTIVE CRIME PREVENTION BECAUSE YOU WANT TO GUARD AGAINST THE OCCASIONAL "ROGUE COP" OR "BAD APPLE." SOMETIMES YOU JUST HAVE TO LIVE WITH "GREAT BUT SLIGHTLY IMPERFECT." ALL PRESIDENTS MUST HAVE COMPLETE AND TOTAL PRESIDENTIAL IMMUNITY, OR THE AUTHORITY & DECISIVENESS OF A PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES WILL BE STRIPPED & GONE FOREVER. HOPEFULLY THIS WILL BE AN EASY DECISION. GOD BLESS THE SUPREME COURT."

The post hit social media just before one AM Eastern Time. It is unknown if Don had a snoot full of crushed Adderall fueling it, or not, although odds seem to favor that scenario. It is interesting to note he does seem to be hinting that even though some people might think attempting a coup d'etat was a tad, "over the line," his intentions were good so therefore he should be immune from prosecution.

MSNBC polled republicans as they entered the Iowa caucuses Monday night. 65% of them said Donald J. Trump, even if convicted of a felony, is fit to be president once again. No one thought to ask them, Do you think he's fit even if his brain is found to have as many holes as a chunk of Swiss cheese and he is certified as bat shit crazy?

Maybe that's the one we should start asking.

1-18-24

An Exercise in Predestination in Iowa

 So tomorrow in the frozen corn fields of Iowa the game will be afoot. The media is already in a frenzy over the republican caucus meetings which will begin at 7pm local time. All the polls and all the, "experts," are predicting a massive win for Donald John Trump. Not even sub freezing weather can alter the outcome. Indeed, right now the only relevant questions seem to be who will come in second and will the campaign of Florida governor, Ron DeSantis still exist by Tuesday afternoon.

The answers are simple. It won't make any difference who comes in second. And, given the amount of time and money the immensely unlikeable DeSantis threw at Iowa the odds of him surviving are slim to none. Let's face it, big time contributors have to see the writing on the wall. At this point giving Ron DeSantis more cash is the equivalent of setting it on fire. The return in either scenario is the same.  

Nikki Haley might be able to slow the Trump express a little in New Hampshire, but New Hampshire is an outlier when it comes to GOP primaries. It is the only republican race where evangelicals don't play a major role in the outcome. Even in her home state of South Carolina 58 percent of republican voters consider themselves evangelical Christians and for reasons still unclear to many Trump has some occult hold over the evangelicals. 

Who knows? Perhaps it is because they think the apocalypse is not only inevitable, but a good thing. Or maybe he has photographs of each and every one of them hanging out at Jeffrey Epstein's private island. Let's face it, a lot of people made the trip to those sordid beaches at one time, or another and evangelical leaders have proven themselves to be among the most degenerate souls on the planet.   

In any event, the only true Trump hater in the republican field was Chris Christie. He was a non factor in the polls and now evidence points to him bolting from the party altogether. Rumors are flying he will join West Virginia's Joe Manchin on the No Labels ticket. Both are, as they say, leaving their options open at this time. 

Yes, the entire crusade in Iowa, on everyone's part, feels like a great exercise of predestination. The  only people who don't recognize it are the national media who hopes for a major story and a ratings coup and a few hopeless idealists. The cult of Donald Trump is too deeply entrenched in the GOP culture. It is time to admit Iowa republicans and the GOP nationwide likes the idea of a fascist monster running this country--that they want a dictatorship and all its accompanying evil.  

It is, tragically, where we are at as a people and nation. Nearly half of us prefer being part of a frightened, angry, violent mob rather than a democracy.

1-14-24

No Labels and the Stakes in 2024

 The year 2024 has arrived and once again Americans will choose someone to lead this vast land which is so steeped in idealism, arrogance, and hypocrisy that many on this blue ball are puzzled and horrified by our presence here. 

Four years ago the nation faced a stark and unambiguous choice. You either supported all that was evil, bigoted, xenophobic, and outright corrupt in America, or the idealism found in documents like the Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution. In short, you could choose a crime boss, or a man who actually believed in the ideal of democracy and its promise. 

In 2024 we seemed to be faced with the same two choices and the same two old white guys who represent them. Not everybody is happy with that, of course, but that is what a two party system provides for. Well, most of the time anyway.

There have been third party candidates in the past, sometimes even a fourth party. In 1860 Abraham Lincoln was the republican nominee, John Breckinridge, the Southern Democrat, Stephen Douglas, the democrat, and John Bell who represented what was called, the Constitutional Union Party. All of them won electoral votes, but Lincoln got the majority thanks to the northern states. Breckinridge swept the deep south to come in second place. Since he was the sitting Vice President he certified Lincoln's electoral victory, no questions asked despite the southern states, which he carried, seceding from the union after the results were in.  

There have been others. Strom Thurman and his Dixiecrats, George Wallace and the American Party, Ralph Nader and the Green Party. And of course the famous Man Bat impersonator, Ross Perot and his Reform Party. None of them came close to winning a presidential election, although in at least one instance they altered the outcome.

Now comes news of the No Labels Party. According to their current pitch Americans need a choice other than the extremism displayed by both Donald Trump and Joe Biden. Currently they are on the presidential ballots in Arkansas, Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Hawaii, Mississippi, Nevada, North Carolina, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Colorado, and Maine. Their initial goal was to appear on the ballots in at least 23 states, but now they are talking about all 50. 

The reason for their existence was explained by former republican, David Brooks last fall. "What happens if the republicans nominate someone who is morally unacceptable to millions of Americans while the democrats nominate someone who is ideologically unacceptable?" 

First off anyone who claims Joe Biden is a radical left extremist can justifiably be suspected of MAGA style delusions. Secondly, No Labels stated target in November is young voters and independents in states carried by Joe Biden four years ago. In other words, the same demographics that won him the election. They might be on the ballot in Mississippi, but odds are they are going to spend a lot more time and money campaigning in Colorado, Nevada, and Arizona than they are in the delta country. 

In addition, although they don't like to admit who their donors are, "Mother Jones" has gained access to names of a few high rollers who are bankrolling the new party. They are almost exclusively traditional GOP contributors who have financed the campaigns of political centrists such as Mitch McConnell and Kevin McCarthy.   

Yes, it would seem there is something more afoot here than simply trying to give voters a middle of the road alternative. No matter what current polls might say one has to believe Donald Trump will not be elected this November without help from somewhere else. It probably won't be the Russians, that's too obvious, besides they have their hands full right now. Indeed, in 2024 the help needs to be subtle. Something as pure and Quixotic as Ralph Nader. But, you know, paid for by discriminating billionairess who would rather their operations be, let's say, regulation free.

And the reality is the help doesn't have to be a lot. All it would take is just 10,000 votes here and 12,000 votes there and suddenly Donald Trump can start to indict his political foes, cut off aid to Ukraine, and begin building camps for all those, "enemies of the state," he likes to talk about. As long as he leaves them alone it is the sort of fascist shit none of these country club thugs care about.

When Nader fouled things up we got stuck with George W. Bush and a war in Iraq. If the same thing happens in 2024 we might not have a chance to correct the mistake in 2028. That's the nature of the stakes this year. 

Because that's the nature of Donald John Trump. The quicker we all admit it the better off we all will be.

1-8-24

Lauren Boebert Makes Her Move

 Lauren Boebert might not be the brightest bulb in the room, but at least she knows when to make an exit--sort of.  In 2020 she defeated republican incumbent congressman , Scott Tipton in the GOP primary. In November of that year she cruised to victory over her democratic opponent and arrived in Washington just in time to join the attempt to overturn the election. She even advised the insurrectionists via Twitter, House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi had left the house chamber.  Over the next two years she made national news for a number of reasons, most of them having to do with her complete lack of legislative knowledge and talent. 

By 2022 she had pissed off enough democrats and embarrassed so many republicans in Colorado's 3rd district she won re-election by a mere 546 votes. Over the past two years her performance didn't improve and in a couple of ways got worse. So much so, even her fellow Trumpista, Marjorie Taylor Greene called her a, "bitch," on the house floor. And that was before the sordid episode at a Denver theater where her behavior became so downright skanky she and her date were kicked out.

At some point Ms. Boebert read the graffiti scrawled on the restroom walls. The odds were mounting against her. Her 20022 opponent, democrat Adam Frisch was running again and his political donations had been flowing in at a dizzying rate. Last week, in an effort to save her platform in congress, Lauren Boebert announced she would run for re-election, not in the 3rd district, but in Colorado's 4th. It is a district which has been represented by republican Ken Buck, who is retiring at the end of his term. 

Of course Boebert doesn't live in the 4th which is located on the other side of the Rocky Mountains from where she does live, but legally that is okay. As long as she lives somewhere in Colorado she can represent any district which will elect her. That doesn't mean those who actually live on high plains of eastern Colorado are happy with her decision. Especially those republicans who do live there and have been planning to run for Buck's empty chair ever since he announced his retirement. 

Indeed, terms like, "seat shopping,," and "carpetbagger," have been used to describe her move. Republican politicos in the 4th are saying she will never make it out of the primary. Whether they are right, or not is anyone's guess.

Later in the week she showed up on Steve Bannon's podcast and in a rare moment of clarity admitted she was changing districts because, "...they're (democrats) simply running against Lauren Boebert." She went on to claim Hollywood elites like Barbra Streisand and Ryan Reynolds and the greatest boogie man of all, George Soros were trying to, "buy their way into congress." It is unclear how much money Soros has contributed to Frisch, but reports are Streisand and Reynolds have given $1,500 each to his campaign. In the grand scheme of things that's hardly trying to, "buy," a seat. Hell it is less than a month's rent on a condo in Aspen.

Other than the whole money thing Ms. Boebert didn't comment on why she was about to lose in a district which hasn't elected a democrat to congress in 14 years and was carried by Donald Trump by 6 points in 2020. Obviously more than a few people living there see her peculiar brand of politics and her behavior as a tad, let's say, flawed.

The feeling here is Lauren Boebert won't make it past the GOP primary in her new hangout. Money aside, she has proven herself too incompetent for even republicans--which is pretty fucking hard to do these days. However that doesn't mean democrats will carry the 4th district, which is more conservative than the 3rd. It also might have put the 3rd district in play for the GOP. Although she has been terribly wrong about a lot of things the last four years she might be right about what she also told Bannon. She said she was moving districts to give conservatives a chance to hold the seat she couldn't possibly keep. 

Given the history of the district her absence on the ballot might well do that, no matter how much money Babs, Ryan, and George spend. Just because a lot of people hate her it doesn't mean there has been some great and mystical harmonic conversion to liberalism on the western slope. 

Yes, we may be rid of Lauren Boebert, but we could end up with someone who is just as crazy as she is, only smarter, and a little less prone to grabbing dicks in public. 

It is hardly a comforting thought.

1-2-24