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