Ah, democracy.
One of two things just happened in the senate judiciary committee.
Moments ago, Jeff Flake, the outgoing senator from Arizona, either struck an inspired and totally unexpected compromise with senate democrats, or he set them up for the biggest double cross in the history of the upper chamber.
Flake's proposal went like this--he would vote for the committee to advance Brett Kavanaugh's nomination to the senate floor only if Mitch McConnell agrees to delay the full senate vote on the confirmation for a week. During that time, in theory, the FBI will look specifically into the allegations made by Dr. Christina Blasey Ford about Judge Kavanaugh's wild and unseemly sexual behavior while he was in high school.
Flake's proposal includes his promise that if the delay isn't granted, he won't vote for Kavanaugh during the roll call on the floor. It is presumed he has talked a couple of his GOP colleagues into voting no also if McConnell attempts to immediately plow ahead. If he is telling the truth and he has even a handful of republican senators with him, Kavanaugh's nomination is doomed.
The democrats, who didn't have the votes in the committee to stop Kavanaugh's name from going to the floor without Flake, had no choice, but to go along with the deal.
Now comes the kicker. The FBI has stated the vetting of Kavanaugh has ended. That means the only person who can instruct them to re-open the investigation is--that's right--Donald John Trump, the single most corrupt individual in the entire republic.
All this comes after yesterday's testimony by Dr. Ford, who said she is 100% certain it was Brett Kavanaugh who tried to rape her when she was 15 and the nominee himself.
Ford's time before the committee could best be described as soul searing. Her tale and sometimes on the edge of terror demeanor rang devastatingly true. No one who saw, or heard it could ever, in good conscience, accuse her of being a democratic operative carrying out some devious plot of revenge concocted by the Clintons and perhaps George Soros.
Except, of course, Brett Kavanaugh. In his 45 minute opening remarks he raged against democrats everywhere. He tearfully referred to his family, who he claimed were the real victims of what he said was a vast left wing plot, instigated by the Clintons, meant to pay Don Trump back for winning the 2016 election. He railed that the confirmation process was a, "national disgrace." He even threw in a statement threatening his own vengeance if appointed. How else can you interpret a line like, "You sowed the wind and the country will reap the whirlwind."
It was a surreal, bombastic, and in the end, borderline unhinged presentation.
Afterward, during contentious questioning from democratic senators, the judge even indulged in a few transparent lies worthy of the guy in the White House. The most egregious of which concerned high school yearbook references by him and some of his pals. In the publication they described themselves as, "Renate Alumni." The references were to Renate Schroeder Dolphin who was a student at a nearby all girls school. Those, "Renate Alumni" claims were there, he swore, only because he and his crowd at Georgetown Prep considered her, "a friend and part of their group."
Yeah, right.
After the yearbook allusions to her came to light, Ms. Dolphin issued a statement which said, in part, "...I can't begin to comprehend what goes through the minds of 17 year old boys who write such things, but the insinuation is horrible, hurtful, and simply untrue. I pray their daughters are never treated this way..."
Yes, well, there is a lot of that sort of sentiment floating around when it comes to Brett Kavanaugh these days, but we still have to deal with the son of a bitch.
And next week we will, one way, or the other. If Flake and his comrades are true to their word--always a dicey proposition when it comes to 21st century republicans--and Trump gives the okay, the FBI will have five days to unravel a 36 year old mystery.
Ask any honest bookie and I guarantee he will tell you thinking they will is a sucker bet. In other words, get used to the idea of Brett Kavanaugh spending the rest of his life on the Supreme Court of the United States of America.
Hey, that's where we are in this age of, The Reality TV President. Brag about grabbing women by the pussy and fucking them in public. Then, despite the incontrovertible evidence, deny everything.
sic vita est
9-28-18
Friday, September 28, 2018
Monday, September 24, 2018
Rosenstein and Kavanaugh Leave the MSNBC Talking Heads Breathless and Dizzy
The talking heads on MSNBC are having quite the day. Indeed, a hurricane of breaking political news has left the network's entire staff breathless and a tad dizzy.
For a long while this morning the whole Brett Kavanaugh business took a back seat to Rod Rosenstein's mysterious and ominous visit to the White House. Reports came fast and furious that Rosenstein, who is overseeing Robert Mueller's investigation into the Trump campaign's Russian connection, would resign, or be forced to resign. Or, he would be given a chance to resign, but refuse, forcing Don Trump to fire him barely over a month prior to the mid term elections.
Speculation ran to a fever pitch as the caffeine kicked in. With Trump in New York at the U.N. preparing to insult both friends and enemies alike and AG Jeff Sessions also out of town, everyone figured the dirty work would fall to White House Chief of Staff, John Kelly.
Rumors were rife. Most said after the sacking the White House would appoint Sessions' Chief of Staff, Matthew Whitaker to Rosenstein's job, but he wouldn't have anything to do with Mueller's investigation. The task would fall to current Solicitor General, Noel Francisco who had limited criminal experience during his tenure at the firm, Jones Day Law.
However, there was a snag with that particular scenario. Jones Day Law's foremost client is Donald Trump's campaign organization. They are representing it in the matter of--that's right--Mueller v. Trump and just about every corrupt son of a bitch ever associated with him. According to White House insiders, because there could be a conflict of interest, Francisco won't be allowed to supervise Mueller's investigation unless they issue him a waiver to do so. Knowing this outfit, presumably such a waiver would come only after El Don receives a loyalty oath from Mr. Francisco and a steadfast promise to can, Mueller--then afterward swear to God, not to mention congress, Trump never ordered him to do it.
By lunch, Central Time, the whole storm had been put on hold until Thursday, when, according to Press Secretary, Sarah Sanders, Trump would meet with Rosenstein face to face. Sanders' statement added that the decision had been agreed to after Rosenstein and Trump had talked at length on the phone. Further muddying reality, Kelly made a big show of shaking Rosenstein's hand in front of the media before the Assistant AG left the White House, still, officially, on the job.
Today's entire hallucinogenic episode was triggered by a recent New York Times story. The Times piece claimed in February last year, Rosenstein suggested to other DOJ employees he should wear a wire while meeting with the president in order to gather enough evidence to invoke the 25th amendment to the constitution. You know, the one which authorizes congress to remove a sitting Chief Executive because he is either physically incapable, or just too fucking nuts to perform the duties of the office.
Rosenstein adamantly denies he ever suggested such a thing. An unnamed Justice Department official was quoted as saying Rosenstein did make the statement, but he was being sarcastic at the time. In other words, it was a joke.
Meanwhile a second woman has come forward saying Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh used to get a little weird and dangerous after jumping whole heartedly into a keg of beer.
First there was Dr. Christine Blasey Ford who accused Kavanaugh of attempted rape 30 plus years ago when both of them were in high school. According to Ford, during a night of partying at a house somewhere, Kavanaugh held her down on a bed, put his hand over her mouth in order to stifle her screams, then attempted to rip her clothes off.
Now, The New Yorker's Ronan Farrow reports while in college, during another besotted evening, Kavanaugh whipped it out and pushed himself into the face of fellow student, Deborah Ramirez. Ms. Ramirez admits she was also three sheets to the wind, but claims she didn't want anything to do with Kavanaugh, or his penis and was able to fight him off. She stated Kavanaugh was accompanied by a friend wielding a dildo who thought the entire scene was hilarious.
Kavanaugh and several of his buddies denied both incidents, but, in Ms. Ford's case, it's documented she began telling people about the alleged attack years ago, before Kavanaugh was even known to Trump. The story of Ramirez's ordeal also, uncorroborated by eye witnesses--at least ones willing to talk--began to spread through the dorms at Yale immediately after it happened in the 1980s.
Never one to be left out when it comes to lurid sexual misbehavior we are now hearing from attorney, Michael Avenatti, who represents porn diva, Stormy Daniels. Avenatti issued a statement which says he has a credible information from yet a third, although anonymous woman, Kavanaugh and his pal, Mark Judge were a couple of wild and crazy guys in college--that they both used to plot to get women so drunk and incapacitated they wouldn't resist what is known in the industry as a gangbang.
According to Ms. Ramirez, Judge was the person armed with the dildo, cheering Kavanaugh on in her room that awful night in New Haven. She says he ran into the hall and yelled to everyone present Ol' Brett had just shoved his cock into her face.
Through all this The Big Orange Guy is standing by his man. According to Don Trump, "I am with him all the way. He is an outstanding person, a fine man with an unblemished past. There is a chance that this could be one of the single most unfair, unjust things to happen to a candidate for anything. For people to come out of the woodwork from 36 years ago, and 30 years ago and never mentioned it. All of a sudden it happens. It's all political."
Additionally, a number of GOP senators are saying the accusations are nothing more than Democratic attempts to assassinate the character of Brett Kavanaugh.
For those wondering, the Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault compiled statistics which show somewhere between 65% to 83% of all American women who have been raped don't report the crime to police. One of the leading reasons is, "fear of reprisal."
It is currently being reported Christine Blasey Ford has been forced to shut off her phone and move to another location because of the number of death threats she has received since going public with her story.
Honestly, given who she is up against, it isn't a surprise.
9-24-18
For a long while this morning the whole Brett Kavanaugh business took a back seat to Rod Rosenstein's mysterious and ominous visit to the White House. Reports came fast and furious that Rosenstein, who is overseeing Robert Mueller's investigation into the Trump campaign's Russian connection, would resign, or be forced to resign. Or, he would be given a chance to resign, but refuse, forcing Don Trump to fire him barely over a month prior to the mid term elections.
Speculation ran to a fever pitch as the caffeine kicked in. With Trump in New York at the U.N. preparing to insult both friends and enemies alike and AG Jeff Sessions also out of town, everyone figured the dirty work would fall to White House Chief of Staff, John Kelly.
Rumors were rife. Most said after the sacking the White House would appoint Sessions' Chief of Staff, Matthew Whitaker to Rosenstein's job, but he wouldn't have anything to do with Mueller's investigation. The task would fall to current Solicitor General, Noel Francisco who had limited criminal experience during his tenure at the firm, Jones Day Law.
However, there was a snag with that particular scenario. Jones Day Law's foremost client is Donald Trump's campaign organization. They are representing it in the matter of--that's right--Mueller v. Trump and just about every corrupt son of a bitch ever associated with him. According to White House insiders, because there could be a conflict of interest, Francisco won't be allowed to supervise Mueller's investigation unless they issue him a waiver to do so. Knowing this outfit, presumably such a waiver would come only after El Don receives a loyalty oath from Mr. Francisco and a steadfast promise to can, Mueller--then afterward swear to God, not to mention congress, Trump never ordered him to do it.
By lunch, Central Time, the whole storm had been put on hold until Thursday, when, according to Press Secretary, Sarah Sanders, Trump would meet with Rosenstein face to face. Sanders' statement added that the decision had been agreed to after Rosenstein and Trump had talked at length on the phone. Further muddying reality, Kelly made a big show of shaking Rosenstein's hand in front of the media before the Assistant AG left the White House, still, officially, on the job.
Today's entire hallucinogenic episode was triggered by a recent New York Times story. The Times piece claimed in February last year, Rosenstein suggested to other DOJ employees he should wear a wire while meeting with the president in order to gather enough evidence to invoke the 25th amendment to the constitution. You know, the one which authorizes congress to remove a sitting Chief Executive because he is either physically incapable, or just too fucking nuts to perform the duties of the office.
Rosenstein adamantly denies he ever suggested such a thing. An unnamed Justice Department official was quoted as saying Rosenstein did make the statement, but he was being sarcastic at the time. In other words, it was a joke.
Meanwhile a second woman has come forward saying Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh used to get a little weird and dangerous after jumping whole heartedly into a keg of beer.
First there was Dr. Christine Blasey Ford who accused Kavanaugh of attempted rape 30 plus years ago when both of them were in high school. According to Ford, during a night of partying at a house somewhere, Kavanaugh held her down on a bed, put his hand over her mouth in order to stifle her screams, then attempted to rip her clothes off.
Now, The New Yorker's Ronan Farrow reports while in college, during another besotted evening, Kavanaugh whipped it out and pushed himself into the face of fellow student, Deborah Ramirez. Ms. Ramirez admits she was also three sheets to the wind, but claims she didn't want anything to do with Kavanaugh, or his penis and was able to fight him off. She stated Kavanaugh was accompanied by a friend wielding a dildo who thought the entire scene was hilarious.
Kavanaugh and several of his buddies denied both incidents, but, in Ms. Ford's case, it's documented she began telling people about the alleged attack years ago, before Kavanaugh was even known to Trump. The story of Ramirez's ordeal also, uncorroborated by eye witnesses--at least ones willing to talk--began to spread through the dorms at Yale immediately after it happened in the 1980s.
Never one to be left out when it comes to lurid sexual misbehavior we are now hearing from attorney, Michael Avenatti, who represents porn diva, Stormy Daniels. Avenatti issued a statement which says he has a credible information from yet a third, although anonymous woman, Kavanaugh and his pal, Mark Judge were a couple of wild and crazy guys in college--that they both used to plot to get women so drunk and incapacitated they wouldn't resist what is known in the industry as a gangbang.
According to Ms. Ramirez, Judge was the person armed with the dildo, cheering Kavanaugh on in her room that awful night in New Haven. She says he ran into the hall and yelled to everyone present Ol' Brett had just shoved his cock into her face.
Through all this The Big Orange Guy is standing by his man. According to Don Trump, "I am with him all the way. He is an outstanding person, a fine man with an unblemished past. There is a chance that this could be one of the single most unfair, unjust things to happen to a candidate for anything. For people to come out of the woodwork from 36 years ago, and 30 years ago and never mentioned it. All of a sudden it happens. It's all political."
Additionally, a number of GOP senators are saying the accusations are nothing more than Democratic attempts to assassinate the character of Brett Kavanaugh.
For those wondering, the Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault compiled statistics which show somewhere between 65% to 83% of all American women who have been raped don't report the crime to police. One of the leading reasons is, "fear of reprisal."
It is currently being reported Christine Blasey Ford has been forced to shut off her phone and move to another location because of the number of death threats she has received since going public with her story.
Honestly, given who she is up against, it isn't a surprise.
9-24-18
Friday, September 21, 2018
Spam in the Mail and Scams on the Phone
About four fifths of every piece of mail I receive from the United States Postal Service is absolute crap. This deluge of wasted paper--God only knows how many trees these fuckers are killing--is invariably from people trying to sell me everything from hearing aids, to time shares in Florida, and increasingly, insurance policies which promise me my wife won't go broke when she has to bury my dead ass.
The last fifth consists of monthly bills. That's because I remain one of those atavistic sons of bitches who refuse to pay for anything, well, practically anything, on line, or through automatic bank withdrawals. Indeed, if I live long enough I might just end up being the last person in these United States to actually possess a check book, envelopes, and stamps.
It doesn't stop there. Nearly 50% of the calls I receive on my cell phone come from robotic creatures who tell me they have important information about my credit card account. Either that, or they are people with distinctly west African accents who warn me my computer's passwords have been compromised and if I'll just repeat those codes to them they'll make sure my pc will remain secure from hackers. Then there is my favorite. A voice, sometimes live, sometimes not, tells me the Treasury Department has charged me with fraud and if I don't make an immediate payment over the phone IRS agents are going to bust in my door and haul me away.
Honestly, I don't see this nonsense getting better anytime soon. In fact, a recent Washington Post article by, Hamza Shaban reports a company called First Orion predicts by next year 45% of all the calls you receive will be from scammers. In 2017 it was a mere 3.7%. This year it jumped to 29%.
The first thing one can gather from these growing numbers is there are a whole bunch of suckers out there. Let's face it, the only reason these ruthless monsters are multiplying like rats run amok on aphrodisiacs is because the market, as it could be called, is not only ripe for picking, but growing.
As Shaban points out, scammers know the lay of the current political landscape all too well. According to the story, recently members of immigrant communities have begun to receive calls from, "authorities," telling them they are in some sort of foggy legal trouble. They warn them if they don't immediately pay a fine they can expect a visit from those friendly folks at ICE.
And, now that it's Hurricane season the CEO of First Orion, Charles Morgan, says there will be a surge of calls from, "charities," appealing for donations to help the victims of Florence and other storms.
Of course, as always, there is more to these dire tales and predictions from First Orion than simple altruism. Morgan's company sells phone carriers and their customers caller ID and call blocking technology.
Yes, everyone is in it for a buck and since Shaban noted scammers constantly find ways to circumvent caller ID and call blocking, one has to wonder if Charlie Morgan and his outfit aren't, in their own way, part of the problem. After all, he might be selling a real product, but if it doesn't work and he knows it, isn't that a scam too?
Listen, about 99% of the time I just hang up on these grifters. Every now and then though I can't resist fucking with them. Like the time I told a Treasury Agent, "You're right, I did it, come and get me, I'll go quietly." The silence during the moment before I ended the call was deafening.
As for the ghouls who send me those burial insurance ads? Hey, like Rick once told Yvonne, "I never make plans that far in advance."
Besides, I'll be dead. I won't care.
9-21-18
The last fifth consists of monthly bills. That's because I remain one of those atavistic sons of bitches who refuse to pay for anything, well, practically anything, on line, or through automatic bank withdrawals. Indeed, if I live long enough I might just end up being the last person in these United States to actually possess a check book, envelopes, and stamps.
It doesn't stop there. Nearly 50% of the calls I receive on my cell phone come from robotic creatures who tell me they have important information about my credit card account. Either that, or they are people with distinctly west African accents who warn me my computer's passwords have been compromised and if I'll just repeat those codes to them they'll make sure my pc will remain secure from hackers. Then there is my favorite. A voice, sometimes live, sometimes not, tells me the Treasury Department has charged me with fraud and if I don't make an immediate payment over the phone IRS agents are going to bust in my door and haul me away.
Honestly, I don't see this nonsense getting better anytime soon. In fact, a recent Washington Post article by, Hamza Shaban reports a company called First Orion predicts by next year 45% of all the calls you receive will be from scammers. In 2017 it was a mere 3.7%. This year it jumped to 29%.
The first thing one can gather from these growing numbers is there are a whole bunch of suckers out there. Let's face it, the only reason these ruthless monsters are multiplying like rats run amok on aphrodisiacs is because the market, as it could be called, is not only ripe for picking, but growing.
As Shaban points out, scammers know the lay of the current political landscape all too well. According to the story, recently members of immigrant communities have begun to receive calls from, "authorities," telling them they are in some sort of foggy legal trouble. They warn them if they don't immediately pay a fine they can expect a visit from those friendly folks at ICE.
And, now that it's Hurricane season the CEO of First Orion, Charles Morgan, says there will be a surge of calls from, "charities," appealing for donations to help the victims of Florence and other storms.
Of course, as always, there is more to these dire tales and predictions from First Orion than simple altruism. Morgan's company sells phone carriers and their customers caller ID and call blocking technology.
Yes, everyone is in it for a buck and since Shaban noted scammers constantly find ways to circumvent caller ID and call blocking, one has to wonder if Charlie Morgan and his outfit aren't, in their own way, part of the problem. After all, he might be selling a real product, but if it doesn't work and he knows it, isn't that a scam too?
Listen, about 99% of the time I just hang up on these grifters. Every now and then though I can't resist fucking with them. Like the time I told a Treasury Agent, "You're right, I did it, come and get me, I'll go quietly." The silence during the moment before I ended the call was deafening.
As for the ghouls who send me those burial insurance ads? Hey, like Rick once told Yvonne, "I never make plans that far in advance."
Besides, I'll be dead. I won't care.
9-21-18
Tuesday, September 18, 2018
Ralph Shortey Talked the Talk: Now He Is Walking a Very Long Walk
Ralph Shortey was first elected to the Oklahoma state senate in 2010. He was pretty much a back bencher for his first six years--just another born again, pro family values, ultra conservative republican hack, lost in a crowd of them.
That began to change in 2016 and early 2017. During the presidential election he served as a Donald Trump, "county coordinator." In February of 2017 he became a confidant to fellow republican state senator Dan Kirby who had become embroiled in a sex scandal involving a female aide. Shortey's advice to Kirby was don't resign. Kirby didn't and the senate promptly kicked his ass out of the capital building.
About the same time Brother Ralph announced he planned to introduce legislation which would nullify two state questions--passed overwhelmingly by voters--which would decriminalize some low level drug offenses and set up a system of county drug rehab centers. According to Senator Shortey he was attempting to thwart the will of Oklahomans, "Because people didn't understand what they were voting for."
He never got a chance to get the bill, or bills to committee, much less the floor.
In March, 2017 authorities knocked on the door of a Super 8 Motel in Moore, OK. Inside they found Shortey, a 17 year old boy, a ripe cloud of marijuana smoke, and a backpack which contained lotion and condoms. The cops say it was the kid's father who tipped them off.
The bust shocked the senator's constituents and the state wide republican majority. It also ruined the day and most probably the lives, of his wife and four daughters.
The Feds immediately got involved because, A) Ralph Shortey had, according to federal statutes, committed child trafficking when he solicited the hookup for, "sexual stuff," over the internet and B) they love to put away government officials no matter what their office and actual importance.
There was more. As anyone with a brain can guess the meeting in the Super 8 wasn't the first time, or crime. According to writer Nolan Clay in today's, "The Oklahoman," investigators found the Senator had, "...been using fake names for at least five years to send and receive child pornography." Additionally he had a history of using pseudonyms on places like Craiglist to solicit intimate get togethers with men who should be, in Mr. Shortey's words, "The younger the better."
Clay reports part of the Senator's suave sales pitch read, "We can be guy friends to everyone else, but privately we have fun, maybe even boyfriend type stuff. I've always wanted something like that. This could even be a daddy son type of thing behind closed doors. Discretion is a must. Very open minded."
A few months ago the now ex-legislator's wife divorced him. What took her so long is anyone's guess. Yesterday he got 15 years in a federal lockup. It could have been much longer, but because Shortey knew his goose was thoroughly cooked he copped a plea last November. In exchange the U.S. Attorney dropped three child pornography charges.
Apparently the newly convicted felon teared up during an appearance in front of Federal District Judge, Timothy DeGuisti while apologizing to his wife, kids, and the victim of his lascivious intentions. On top of the 15 years DeGuisti slapped Shortey with 10 years of supervised parole, plus required him to register as a sex offender.
Ralph Shortey's defense attorney, Ed Blau, blamed his client's behavior on his upbringing which he said, included never knowing his father, physical and sexual abuse, exposure to pornography, a drug addicted mother, and being bullied in high school. He also complained about the trial venue. Clay quoted Blau as saying, "If he'd been prosecuted in state court he would have gotten far less than 15 years. Given the magnitude of cases you normally see in federal court, this is far below what's normal."
Well, yeah. But let's face it, only a select few get a shot at bringing down the big boys in Washington and New York. When you're a U.S. prosecutor stuck in the outback you go after whoever you can, no matter how small and quick the splash. Besides, in the end, Blau's client might have caught a break. The chances of a sex offender walking out of a federal joint alive are a lot better than they are at a place like the notorious state run facility down in McAlester.
These days, with the 24 hour news cycle drowning us in a never ending cascade of grotesque felonies we tend to become jaded to this sort of God awful shit. In truth, if Ralph Shortey had been just another run of the mill serial child molester he would have never made national news, perhaps not even page four of, "The Oklahoman."
He wasn't though. He was a politician who raved on and on about the Hollywood elite and liberals ripping apart the moral fabric of the state and nation with their politics. He routinely breathed righteous fire and brimstone.
In other words, for six plus years he made a huge public deal of talking the evangelical right wing talk.
Now, luckily for the rest of us and children everywhere, he is going to walk a very long, incarcerated, walk.
sic vita est
9-18-18
That began to change in 2016 and early 2017. During the presidential election he served as a Donald Trump, "county coordinator." In February of 2017 he became a confidant to fellow republican state senator Dan Kirby who had become embroiled in a sex scandal involving a female aide. Shortey's advice to Kirby was don't resign. Kirby didn't and the senate promptly kicked his ass out of the capital building.
About the same time Brother Ralph announced he planned to introduce legislation which would nullify two state questions--passed overwhelmingly by voters--which would decriminalize some low level drug offenses and set up a system of county drug rehab centers. According to Senator Shortey he was attempting to thwart the will of Oklahomans, "Because people didn't understand what they were voting for."
He never got a chance to get the bill, or bills to committee, much less the floor.
In March, 2017 authorities knocked on the door of a Super 8 Motel in Moore, OK. Inside they found Shortey, a 17 year old boy, a ripe cloud of marijuana smoke, and a backpack which contained lotion and condoms. The cops say it was the kid's father who tipped them off.
The bust shocked the senator's constituents and the state wide republican majority. It also ruined the day and most probably the lives, of his wife and four daughters.
The Feds immediately got involved because, A) Ralph Shortey had, according to federal statutes, committed child trafficking when he solicited the hookup for, "sexual stuff," over the internet and B) they love to put away government officials no matter what their office and actual importance.
There was more. As anyone with a brain can guess the meeting in the Super 8 wasn't the first time, or crime. According to writer Nolan Clay in today's, "The Oklahoman," investigators found the Senator had, "...been using fake names for at least five years to send and receive child pornography." Additionally he had a history of using pseudonyms on places like Craiglist to solicit intimate get togethers with men who should be, in Mr. Shortey's words, "The younger the better."
Clay reports part of the Senator's suave sales pitch read, "We can be guy friends to everyone else, but privately we have fun, maybe even boyfriend type stuff. I've always wanted something like that. This could even be a daddy son type of thing behind closed doors. Discretion is a must. Very open minded."
A few months ago the now ex-legislator's wife divorced him. What took her so long is anyone's guess. Yesterday he got 15 years in a federal lockup. It could have been much longer, but because Shortey knew his goose was thoroughly cooked he copped a plea last November. In exchange the U.S. Attorney dropped three child pornography charges.
Apparently the newly convicted felon teared up during an appearance in front of Federal District Judge, Timothy DeGuisti while apologizing to his wife, kids, and the victim of his lascivious intentions. On top of the 15 years DeGuisti slapped Shortey with 10 years of supervised parole, plus required him to register as a sex offender.
Ralph Shortey's defense attorney, Ed Blau, blamed his client's behavior on his upbringing which he said, included never knowing his father, physical and sexual abuse, exposure to pornography, a drug addicted mother, and being bullied in high school. He also complained about the trial venue. Clay quoted Blau as saying, "If he'd been prosecuted in state court he would have gotten far less than 15 years. Given the magnitude of cases you normally see in federal court, this is far below what's normal."
Well, yeah. But let's face it, only a select few get a shot at bringing down the big boys in Washington and New York. When you're a U.S. prosecutor stuck in the outback you go after whoever you can, no matter how small and quick the splash. Besides, in the end, Blau's client might have caught a break. The chances of a sex offender walking out of a federal joint alive are a lot better than they are at a place like the notorious state run facility down in McAlester.
These days, with the 24 hour news cycle drowning us in a never ending cascade of grotesque felonies we tend to become jaded to this sort of God awful shit. In truth, if Ralph Shortey had been just another run of the mill serial child molester he would have never made national news, perhaps not even page four of, "The Oklahoman."
He wasn't though. He was a politician who raved on and on about the Hollywood elite and liberals ripping apart the moral fabric of the state and nation with their politics. He routinely breathed righteous fire and brimstone.
In other words, for six plus years he made a huge public deal of talking the evangelical right wing talk.
Now, luckily for the rest of us and children everywhere, he is going to walk a very long, incarcerated, walk.
sic vita est
9-18-18
Thursday, September 13, 2018
The NRA's Dana Loesch Is On Top Of The Situation
Sometimes they get just too weird. You know, like in 1999 when Rev. Jerry Falwell accused the British produced kid's television show, "The Teletubbies," of secretly promoting the gay lifestyle. Mr. Falwell became aware of this terrible subterfuge after somebody pointed out to him one of the characters, Tinky Wink, was purple and had an antenna on his head which was shaped like a triangle--both considered international symbols of homosexuality.
Then came Eric Bolling and Dan Gainor on the Fox News show, "Follow The Money." In 2011 they announced the Disney film, "The Muppets," was laced with leftist propaganda meant to brainwash America's children. The proof? The movie's villain was an evil oil baron named, Tex Richman. According to Bolling, "It's amazing how far the left will go just to manipulate your kids, to convince them, give the anti corporate message. Gainor agreed. He said, They've been doing it for decades. Hollywood, the left, the media, they hate the oil industry. They hate corporate America."
Yes, it turns out after all these years, Kermit the frog isn't green at all. He's actually a red. And for those tempted to believe Bolling and Gainor--the Muppets were battling Tex Richman not because he drilled for oil and became rich from it, but because he wanted to tear down their theater.
That brings us to today and National Rifle Association shill, Dana Loesch. A few hours ago, Ms. Loesch became a bit unglued on her NRA-TV on line broadcast, "Relentless." She was enraged because the Nick Jr. Channel's, "Thomas and Friends," has decided to introduce new characters from countries other than the fictional Sodor, where Thomas lives, plus add some girls to the cast.
Now what this has to do with guns is a bit beyond the normal brain, but delusion and paranoia is all the rage these days on the right side of the aisle.
USA Today reports she had this to say about a newly introduced character, Nia, from Kenya. "That's where it gets really strange to me. Am I to understand this entire time Thomas and his trains were white? Because they all have gray faces. How do you bring ethnic diversity? I mean they had to paint what I guess they thought was some sort of African pattern on the side of Nia's engine."
Oh, did I forget to mention the show is geared to pre school children and Thomas and all his pals are cartoon steam engine trains who possess big eyes, talk, and have cute little adventures together?
Loesch continued as the screen switched from her to the image of three trains wearing KKK style white hoods while parked on burning railroad tracks. "Fair, I get it," she said. "Thomas the Tank Engine has been a blight on race relations for far too long. Clearly this is overdue."
According to USA Today, Thomas' maker, Mattel Toys, teamed up with the UN in an effort to show kids the world has many different types of places and--well--trains. In the near future Thomas will be traveling from Sodor to places like China, India, and Australia. As for the addition of more girl train characters? That is a genuine old fashioned U.S. of A. business decision. Research showed over 40% of, "Thomas and Friends," audience are girls. It doesn't take a marketing genius to figure out the math. More girl trains on TV means more toy train sales to girls. Hey, Mattel is, after all, a capitalist venture. Their commitment to altruism is directly related to their quarterly profit margin.
Why all this set Loesch off is up to speculation. Especially since her primary job is making sure NRA members and supporters remain steadfastly addicted to owning firearms and using them when their mood strikes. That and keeping them utterly convinced anyone to the left of Wayne, by God, LaPierre is out to take their weapons away from them.
Was it just crude sarcasm directed at perceived political correctness? Or, perhaps, a knee jerk reaction to UN involvement, no matter how small, in the direction of the show? After all, if Tinky Wink was gay and the Muppets are militant Marxists, who knows what sort of globalist propaganda, "Thomas and Friends," will begin to subliminally indoctrinate the nation's children with.
That's right baby, from gay space aliens and revolutionary puppets, to animated toy trains, the enemies of freedom are not just everywhere, they're sneaky sons of bitches.
Think not? Just ask Dana Loesch. It's obvious, for the good of the republic and our children, she is on top of the situation.
9-13-18
Then came Eric Bolling and Dan Gainor on the Fox News show, "Follow The Money." In 2011 they announced the Disney film, "The Muppets," was laced with leftist propaganda meant to brainwash America's children. The proof? The movie's villain was an evil oil baron named, Tex Richman. According to Bolling, "It's amazing how far the left will go just to manipulate your kids, to convince them, give the anti corporate message. Gainor agreed. He said, They've been doing it for decades. Hollywood, the left, the media, they hate the oil industry. They hate corporate America."
Yes, it turns out after all these years, Kermit the frog isn't green at all. He's actually a red. And for those tempted to believe Bolling and Gainor--the Muppets were battling Tex Richman not because he drilled for oil and became rich from it, but because he wanted to tear down their theater.
That brings us to today and National Rifle Association shill, Dana Loesch. A few hours ago, Ms. Loesch became a bit unglued on her NRA-TV on line broadcast, "Relentless." She was enraged because the Nick Jr. Channel's, "Thomas and Friends," has decided to introduce new characters from countries other than the fictional Sodor, where Thomas lives, plus add some girls to the cast.
Now what this has to do with guns is a bit beyond the normal brain, but delusion and paranoia is all the rage these days on the right side of the aisle.
USA Today reports she had this to say about a newly introduced character, Nia, from Kenya. "That's where it gets really strange to me. Am I to understand this entire time Thomas and his trains were white? Because they all have gray faces. How do you bring ethnic diversity? I mean they had to paint what I guess they thought was some sort of African pattern on the side of Nia's engine."
Oh, did I forget to mention the show is geared to pre school children and Thomas and all his pals are cartoon steam engine trains who possess big eyes, talk, and have cute little adventures together?
Loesch continued as the screen switched from her to the image of three trains wearing KKK style white hoods while parked on burning railroad tracks. "Fair, I get it," she said. "Thomas the Tank Engine has been a blight on race relations for far too long. Clearly this is overdue."
According to USA Today, Thomas' maker, Mattel Toys, teamed up with the UN in an effort to show kids the world has many different types of places and--well--trains. In the near future Thomas will be traveling from Sodor to places like China, India, and Australia. As for the addition of more girl train characters? That is a genuine old fashioned U.S. of A. business decision. Research showed over 40% of, "Thomas and Friends," audience are girls. It doesn't take a marketing genius to figure out the math. More girl trains on TV means more toy train sales to girls. Hey, Mattel is, after all, a capitalist venture. Their commitment to altruism is directly related to their quarterly profit margin.
Why all this set Loesch off is up to speculation. Especially since her primary job is making sure NRA members and supporters remain steadfastly addicted to owning firearms and using them when their mood strikes. That and keeping them utterly convinced anyone to the left of Wayne, by God, LaPierre is out to take their weapons away from them.
Was it just crude sarcasm directed at perceived political correctness? Or, perhaps, a knee jerk reaction to UN involvement, no matter how small, in the direction of the show? After all, if Tinky Wink was gay and the Muppets are militant Marxists, who knows what sort of globalist propaganda, "Thomas and Friends," will begin to subliminally indoctrinate the nation's children with.
That's right baby, from gay space aliens and revolutionary puppets, to animated toy trains, the enemies of freedom are not just everywhere, they're sneaky sons of bitches.
Think not? Just ask Dana Loesch. It's obvious, for the good of the republic and our children, she is on top of the situation.
9-13-18
Monday, September 10, 2018
Colin Kaepernick Stands For Something While Selling Phil Knight's Shoes
To say Colin Kaepernick's professional football career has been up and down over the years is a bit of an understatement. He has gone from back up to starter, then once more to riding the pine. He has had outstanding games, including 444 yards of total offense and two touchdowns on runs and another two passing against Green Bay in the 2012 post season. However at other times, quite honestly he sucked. In a 2016 game against Chicago he threw for a measly four yards before being benched.
As early as 2014 he proved himself to be a bit of an irritant and rebel. Wikipedia notes that in September of that year the NFL fined him for, "using inappropriate language on the field." What the language exactly was remains unknown to the general public. However, given the hyper-aggressive, barely sane, and sometimes felonious types playing in the league one can easily speculate it was a graphic description of a referee's sexual preferences and history. A month later the NFL fined him once again. This time his offense was wearing Beats by Dre headphones to a post game news conference. The league's official headphones that year were manufactured by Bose. To make sure Kaepernick got the message the bill was $10,000.
Both of those two, "incidents," are small beans compared to what happened later. During the third pre season game in 2016 Colin Kaepernick took a seat on the bench during the playing of The Star Spangled Banner. After the game he told the media, "I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color. To me this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people are getting paid leave and getting away with murder."
Presidential candidate Donald J. Trump and the banshees who follow him immediately went what could best be described as, ape shit.
The next week, after speaking with a veteran, Kaepernick, while continuing his protest, took a knee, rather than a seat, out of what he said was respect to former and current U.S. military members. As right wing outrage grew, other players, both black and white began to follow suit and Anthem protests continue two years later.
All of which brings us to Phil Knight and Nike shoes. Colin Kaepernick has become the latest sports figure to not just endorse Knight's products, but become the front man in TV ads for them. His first one hit TV last Thursday during a football game between Philadelphia and Atlanta.
Donald Trump immediately tweeted, "Just like the NFL whose ratings have gone WAY DOWN, Nike is getting absolutely killed with anger and boycotts."
As always, The Big Orange Guy, has twined together some truth with easily disproved falsehoods. The NFL's TV ratings are down. While the protests may be part of it, the major reason for the slip in viewers probably has more to do with over exposure and the simple fact pro football is an absolute bore to watch, especially when you compare it to the high scoring free for all contests happening in the college game.
On the other hand, while Nike's stock has taken a recent small dip, for the year it has risen 28%. In addition one outside source estimates their online sales of shoes over the Labor Day Holiday (after the Kaepernick ad was announced, but before it was shown) were up 31% from last year.
The other day I spoke with a friend about the spot. I said I thought the ad, which uses the tag line, "Believe in something, even if it means sacrificing everything," was a shot at Trump. In retrospect I was being terribly naive and that assessment was completely wrong. Given the company's history it is fairly obvious Phil Knight and Nike could give a rat's ass about political and social issues. Just ask the kids in places like Indonesia, Vietnam, and China who make the damn shoes.
No, Nike is all about selling their product. And Colin Kaepernick may make a bunch of older, big bellied white Trumpists, not to mention their, Leader, go crazy with rage, but how many of them ever buy Nike products to begin with?
On the other hand just picture all the kids and young adults, particularly the ones of color, who are out there and not only understand where Colin Kaepernick is coming from, but appreciate and agree with his social convictions. They number in the millions and they are, each and every one of them, in the demographic Nike is aiming at.
Hey, who says America isn't great? Sometimes even a company which ruthlessly exploits child labor across the globe can portray themselves as progressive and dare to piss off the fascist crowd--at least as long as it fattens the bottom line.
As for Kaepernick himself? His football career remains in limbo. He is an unsigned free agent and it is doubtful any NFL team will ever hire him. This despite being one of only four QBs in league history to throw for three touchdowns and rush for 100 yards in a single game.
Well, at least for now he knows the Nike checks won't bounce and there is always the Canadian Football League.
One thing is for sure though, what he says in the ad is correct. Sometimes you do sacrifice everything when you stand for something. That's what happens when you make corporate big boys like NFL owners squirm and sweat by forcing them to deal with an issue they'd rather ignore. Not to mention fuck with the racist inclinations of the crazy dude in the White House and his bilious followers.
sic vita est
9-10-18
As early as 2014 he proved himself to be a bit of an irritant and rebel. Wikipedia notes that in September of that year the NFL fined him for, "using inappropriate language on the field." What the language exactly was remains unknown to the general public. However, given the hyper-aggressive, barely sane, and sometimes felonious types playing in the league one can easily speculate it was a graphic description of a referee's sexual preferences and history. A month later the NFL fined him once again. This time his offense was wearing Beats by Dre headphones to a post game news conference. The league's official headphones that year were manufactured by Bose. To make sure Kaepernick got the message the bill was $10,000.
Both of those two, "incidents," are small beans compared to what happened later. During the third pre season game in 2016 Colin Kaepernick took a seat on the bench during the playing of The Star Spangled Banner. After the game he told the media, "I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color. To me this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way. There are bodies in the street and people are getting paid leave and getting away with murder."
Presidential candidate Donald J. Trump and the banshees who follow him immediately went what could best be described as, ape shit.
The next week, after speaking with a veteran, Kaepernick, while continuing his protest, took a knee, rather than a seat, out of what he said was respect to former and current U.S. military members. As right wing outrage grew, other players, both black and white began to follow suit and Anthem protests continue two years later.
All of which brings us to Phil Knight and Nike shoes. Colin Kaepernick has become the latest sports figure to not just endorse Knight's products, but become the front man in TV ads for them. His first one hit TV last Thursday during a football game between Philadelphia and Atlanta.
Donald Trump immediately tweeted, "Just like the NFL whose ratings have gone WAY DOWN, Nike is getting absolutely killed with anger and boycotts."
As always, The Big Orange Guy, has twined together some truth with easily disproved falsehoods. The NFL's TV ratings are down. While the protests may be part of it, the major reason for the slip in viewers probably has more to do with over exposure and the simple fact pro football is an absolute bore to watch, especially when you compare it to the high scoring free for all contests happening in the college game.
On the other hand, while Nike's stock has taken a recent small dip, for the year it has risen 28%. In addition one outside source estimates their online sales of shoes over the Labor Day Holiday (after the Kaepernick ad was announced, but before it was shown) were up 31% from last year.
The other day I spoke with a friend about the spot. I said I thought the ad, which uses the tag line, "Believe in something, even if it means sacrificing everything," was a shot at Trump. In retrospect I was being terribly naive and that assessment was completely wrong. Given the company's history it is fairly obvious Phil Knight and Nike could give a rat's ass about political and social issues. Just ask the kids in places like Indonesia, Vietnam, and China who make the damn shoes.
No, Nike is all about selling their product. And Colin Kaepernick may make a bunch of older, big bellied white Trumpists, not to mention their, Leader, go crazy with rage, but how many of them ever buy Nike products to begin with?
On the other hand just picture all the kids and young adults, particularly the ones of color, who are out there and not only understand where Colin Kaepernick is coming from, but appreciate and agree with his social convictions. They number in the millions and they are, each and every one of them, in the demographic Nike is aiming at.
Hey, who says America isn't great? Sometimes even a company which ruthlessly exploits child labor across the globe can portray themselves as progressive and dare to piss off the fascist crowd--at least as long as it fattens the bottom line.
As for Kaepernick himself? His football career remains in limbo. He is an unsigned free agent and it is doubtful any NFL team will ever hire him. This despite being one of only four QBs in league history to throw for three touchdowns and rush for 100 yards in a single game.
Well, at least for now he knows the Nike checks won't bounce and there is always the Canadian Football League.
One thing is for sure though, what he says in the ad is correct. Sometimes you do sacrifice everything when you stand for something. That's what happens when you make corporate big boys like NFL owners squirm and sweat by forcing them to deal with an issue they'd rather ignore. Not to mention fuck with the racist inclinations of the crazy dude in the White House and his bilious followers.
sic vita est
9-10-18
Monday, September 3, 2018
A Labor Day Tale: The Sneaky Lewis Hine and His Camera
I am really tired of seeing so many big children, 10 years old, playing in the street.
An unnamed woman, circa 1907.
She wasn't the only one. The Washington Post ran an online article today which cited labor statistics around the beginning of the 20th century. They showed during those years at least 18% of the nation's children aged 10-15 years old were working full time.
They weren't just flipping burgers, handing out fries, or selling lemonade either. Many worked in factories, mines, and on farms doing everything from maintaining and running textile machines, to digging out coal, and picking cotton. The hours were brutally long and in a lot of instances the jobs were extremely dangerous.
The Post noted that back in the good old days it wasn't just corporate and farm interests who thought child labor was a great idea. The general opinion was kids would learn the valuable lesson of hard work. At the same time businesses would increase their productivity and profitability because--you know--unfettered from any sort of moral, or legal restraint they could force a 10 year old to work as long they wanted, while paying him, or her less than an adult. All the while knowing the little brats wouldn't dare squawk.
Unfortunately for the capitalist hot shots of the day and more than a few moms and dads who had come to covet Jr's income, along came a group of liberal do-gooders. They had formed what was called the National Child Labor Committee (NCLC) then quickly enlisted a sneaky sort named Lewis Hine.
Hine had been kind of lucky. His father was able to provide for his family until he died when his son was 18. That meant young Lewis entered the work force at a relatively late age. His first job was in a Wisconsin furniture factory. He toiled 13 hours a day, six days a week. According to the Post he quit the factory to take a job as a bank janitor which afforded him the opportunity to attend school part time. It was a benefit denied most younger child laborers. They were working up to 16 hours a day, also six days a week. Back then overtime pay wasn't even a fantasy and the eight hour day was reserved for members of a few unions who had forced it on their corporate overlords through strikes, many of them violent.
After becoming a teacher, Hine learned photography and hooked up with the NCLC. They sent him on scads of covert missions which, over the years, he carried out with spectacular, if grim, success.
Lewis Hine would put on a three piece suit, then tell factory managers, mine, and farm owners he was a bible salesman. He would ask for permission to enter their work places so he could preach The Word of the Lord to their child laborers. Many of the dopes bought his story. Once inside he began taking photographs of the kids and the conditions they were working in.
While snapping the photos he would ask their names and how old they were. If they didn't know their age he'd measure them against the buttons on his vest in order to make an estimate. Those photographs, literally thousands of them, illustrated the appalling and dangerous conditions children were forced to endure as their faces, drained of all youth and hope stared straight into his lens. When Hine's work began to be published it was the first time huge numbers of Americans saw the cruel reality of child labor.
The haunting images are credited with helping end the wide spread practice of using children to perform inherently dangerous and brutal jobs in the United States.
Of course, it didn't happen right away. Hine shot much of his photography from 1904 through the 1930's. It wasn't until 1938 that congress passed the Fair Labor Standards Act which prohibited most of the barbarity. It was the same act which, after decades of protests, finally established the eight hour day and overtime wages as national standards.
Lewis Hine died in 1940. The NCLC, which was a private endeavor, closed down in 2017. It had existed on donations and now days since most child labor is confined to places we don't care about, the money dried up. Besides those Asian kids make great caps with team logos on them--not to mention some really flashy sports sneakers.
Happy Labor Day, America. Just don't ever forget where we, as a nation, once were and where many on this blue ball are still at.
9-3-18
An unnamed woman, circa 1907.
She wasn't the only one. The Washington Post ran an online article today which cited labor statistics around the beginning of the 20th century. They showed during those years at least 18% of the nation's children aged 10-15 years old were working full time.
They weren't just flipping burgers, handing out fries, or selling lemonade either. Many worked in factories, mines, and on farms doing everything from maintaining and running textile machines, to digging out coal, and picking cotton. The hours were brutally long and in a lot of instances the jobs were extremely dangerous.
The Post noted that back in the good old days it wasn't just corporate and farm interests who thought child labor was a great idea. The general opinion was kids would learn the valuable lesson of hard work. At the same time businesses would increase their productivity and profitability because--you know--unfettered from any sort of moral, or legal restraint they could force a 10 year old to work as long they wanted, while paying him, or her less than an adult. All the while knowing the little brats wouldn't dare squawk.
Unfortunately for the capitalist hot shots of the day and more than a few moms and dads who had come to covet Jr's income, along came a group of liberal do-gooders. They had formed what was called the National Child Labor Committee (NCLC) then quickly enlisted a sneaky sort named Lewis Hine.
Hine had been kind of lucky. His father was able to provide for his family until he died when his son was 18. That meant young Lewis entered the work force at a relatively late age. His first job was in a Wisconsin furniture factory. He toiled 13 hours a day, six days a week. According to the Post he quit the factory to take a job as a bank janitor which afforded him the opportunity to attend school part time. It was a benefit denied most younger child laborers. They were working up to 16 hours a day, also six days a week. Back then overtime pay wasn't even a fantasy and the eight hour day was reserved for members of a few unions who had forced it on their corporate overlords through strikes, many of them violent.
After becoming a teacher, Hine learned photography and hooked up with the NCLC. They sent him on scads of covert missions which, over the years, he carried out with spectacular, if grim, success.
Lewis Hine would put on a three piece suit, then tell factory managers, mine, and farm owners he was a bible salesman. He would ask for permission to enter their work places so he could preach The Word of the Lord to their child laborers. Many of the dopes bought his story. Once inside he began taking photographs of the kids and the conditions they were working in.
While snapping the photos he would ask their names and how old they were. If they didn't know their age he'd measure them against the buttons on his vest in order to make an estimate. Those photographs, literally thousands of them, illustrated the appalling and dangerous conditions children were forced to endure as their faces, drained of all youth and hope stared straight into his lens. When Hine's work began to be published it was the first time huge numbers of Americans saw the cruel reality of child labor.
The haunting images are credited with helping end the wide spread practice of using children to perform inherently dangerous and brutal jobs in the United States.
Of course, it didn't happen right away. Hine shot much of his photography from 1904 through the 1930's. It wasn't until 1938 that congress passed the Fair Labor Standards Act which prohibited most of the barbarity. It was the same act which, after decades of protests, finally established the eight hour day and overtime wages as national standards.
Lewis Hine died in 1940. The NCLC, which was a private endeavor, closed down in 2017. It had existed on donations and now days since most child labor is confined to places we don't care about, the money dried up. Besides those Asian kids make great caps with team logos on them--not to mention some really flashy sports sneakers.
Happy Labor Day, America. Just don't ever forget where we, as a nation, once were and where many on this blue ball are still at.
9-3-18
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