#PELOSI LOOSES HOUSE

[tomorrowusa]

The increasing weirdness of Donald Trump 🤤 👿 ☢️

While news media in the US often get blamed for "normalizing" Weird Donald, the Washington Post looked at the recent craziness in plain sight exhibited by the GOP presidential nominee.

Some excerpts...

As that saga first unfolded publicly Tuesday night, Trump’s interview with TV’s Dr. Phil aired. The friendly conversation Trump filmed last week turned into another venue for him to air inflammatory claims about his opponents without presenting evidence. “I think to a certain extent it’s Biden’s fault and Harris’s fault,” he said of the attempted assassination against him last month, adding, “They weren’t too interested in my health and safety.” There is no public evidence that Biden or Harris were personally involved in decisions about Trump’s security protections. With pressure mounting to drive a sharper message against Harris, the Republican presidential nominee is delving into distractions and delivering a mix of incendiary and false statements. While such tactics have been on regular display in his third run for the White House, he is now pushing them further, running the risk of alienating key voters. [ ... ] Trump spent Wednesday morning venting on Truth Social, his social media site. He let loose a flurry of reposts just after 8 a.m. There was an image of Biden, Harris,Hillary Clinton, former House speaker Nancy Pelosi, former White House medical adviser Anthony S. Fauci and others in prison uniforms. There was a call to jail members of the congressional committee that investigated Trump’s supporters over the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol after Trump’s election loss. Another repost used a QAnon slogan: “WWG1WGA! RETRUTH IF YOU AGREE.” Just after noon, Trump began to claim — without evidence — that Harris was exaggerating her online footprint. “IT’S ALL FAKE,” he wrote. Soon he turned to resharing a video of himself promoting digital trading cards for $99 a piece: Buy enough, he said, and you could get a physical card with bits of Trump’s outfit from the June debate that helped push Biden out of the race.

He's desperately trying to reignite QAnon. We haven't heard from QAnon (except for one probable fake) since Trump left office. Trump is like an aging rock star reminding fans of his greatest hits.

Trump's demented rantings are not difficult to provoke. He will toss aside prepared comments on policy to respond to something unrelated with an unhinged fact-free tirade.

With Trump trying to put QAnon back in the spotlight, maybe he could get some fashion tips from the QAnon Shaman.

[readingsquotes]

One would think that just over a month after blowing one of the most important elections of our time, the Democratic Party would be doing a little bit of that post-failure soul searching. In an ideal world, Democratic leadership would look at the campaign they ran, one predominantly centered on the message of "At least we're not the other guy!" and targeted mainly at the eternal white whale that is moderate Republicans, and think "maybe we've been approaching this all wrong!"

...Their response to the efforts of younger party members to get more involved in this time of rebuilding has been nonstop obstruction. As Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez made an attempt lead the Senate Oversight Committee, many younger and more left-leaning voters were excited. Could this be a sign that the Democrats were ready to embrace a new strategy?

Turns out, no! Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi campaigned behind the scenes for AOC's opponent, Gerry Connolly, a 74 year old man with a recent cancer diagnosis. Asked to comment on the race, Virginia Democrat Don Beyer spoke in favor of Connolly saying, "Gerry's a young 74, cancer notwithstanding." A sterling choice for a party in need of new blood.

This blatant, public, snub of one of the party's youngest rising stars came as a shock to many. This didn't seem like an action that should be taken by a party restructuring in the wake of a massive defeat. Hell, even the Republicans are embracing their next generation! Every young Republican is more embarrassing to their party than the last but they find themselves ascending through the ranks despite it all. Why is it that when a young Democrat tries to do the same, they walk out to the parking lot to find Nancy Pelosi keying their car? What reason could Democrats have to not embrace the future of their own party? Don't they want to win? Don't they care about their party?

...The party itself has become a loosely affiliated group of ultra-wealthy individuals and highly compensated consultants put in charge of defending the interests of the socially-conscious wing of the ruling class without ever endangering their bottom line. They're at best incompetent and at worst profiteering so openly off industries they're meant to regulate that the conspiracies Republicans push about their corruption are beginning to rhyme with the truth. All they need to do to maintain their personal status quo is fundraise every few years and move their substantial assets to the right places at the right times.

....But this will never be seen as an issue so long as the Democratic Party is run by other, older, people. Nancy Pelosi is 84, Chuck Schumer is 74, Dianne Feinstein "served" until she died at the age of ninety. These people would have been forced out of any other job decades ago, but for some reason running a country is something they claim can be done indefinitely, a particular affliction of people their age.

They're members of a singular generation, one that didn't have to fight in either of the World Wars but got to reap all the economic benefits of the prosperity that followed. They bought houses, sold them for ten times what they paid, and watched their stock portfolios boom regardless of who won at the ballot box. Their prosperity was so vast and so great that it likely feels to them as if all of human history was coalescing to enable their charmed lives. But nothing lasts forever. No matter how rich or powerful you are, life only ends one way.

[theofficefantasyfootball]

WEEK 9 - Wrap Up

ELECTION EDITION

Yes, I know. Politics and football don't mix. And yes, I wish the Presidential election's in this country were as fun and entertaining as the Reese Witherspoon/Matthew Broaderick film "Election", but they are not. Nevertheless, this is a big week for our country. No matter who you vote for or what your belief's are - it's good to remember we are all American's who love football. Let's go!

WHAM BAM THANK YOU LAMB vs BOOMER SOONER

All i can do is laugh. Laugh at Stu Jones! Laugh at Zay Flowers for having a big day for me. Laugh and cackle and laugh some more at my win! I needed a win and I got one! #stopthesteal

FUNK GUY vs TREE HUGGERS

This one was the "too close to call" game. It spurred a flurry of chatter on the text thread and apparently really upset the Funk Guy...as he lost maybe because of a field goal? I must be honest and tell you that I didn't watch this one very close but from looking at the line ups if I were going to blame anyone I would say Cole Kmet who put up 0 points for Dana. Scott as usual found a great defense to play and took home the win. Sorry Dana. Maybe focus on your Strategery moving forward.

TuPADRE vs TRADE WITH ME

Look at Brett. Pushing Gully out the way. Gully showed up this week and put up 114 points but Brett is like...doesn't matter I will put up 126 and take the win. It looks to me like he has Smith-Njigba to thank for the big win. Gully has now lost 2 in a row and might be on a downward trend. Nice win Brett!

LONG LEFT BALLERS vs LANAKILA

C'mon man! What the hell is going on with Bebo. This can't be possible. No one is this bad. Not trying to take anything away from Cliff. He will probably take high point after tonight so congrats on that but 1-8. It's just sad. Sad like an old man who should have retired decades ago still trying to do the job like he's young and ambitious. You know what i am talking about? Not a joke! Ah, anyway -you know the thing.

HOWARD vs MR AWESOME

Yeah...Rob Howard is probably the Frank Underwood of this league. He runs the show. Finds a way to win. And will shoot at his neighbors to get what he wants, as seen in the draft order video. This week he was up against Gabe Scott...and although he didn't grab the high point again this week - he did grab the win...easily. Just like Frank would. Nice win Rob.

MOOSES ON THE LOOSES vs THE HUNT FOR BROCKTOBER

And here we come to the "what the hell is going to happen game of the week". Mitch goes into MNF with 85.10 points facing Kyle with 81.42. Kyle with Kareem Hunt still to play and Mitch with the gift I gave him earlier this season - Baker Mayfield. Hunt did have an amazing game - with 106 rushing yards...and a game winning TD...but Kyle comes up a bit short (3 points). So with 107 electoral points, The Moose becomes the Winner elect.

CHEERLEADER OF THE WEEK

Yes, I thought about making it Nancy Pelosi (so many pictures that would have worked for that joke) but we all know who the hottest girl in the House of Representative is....AOC. Undisputed.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Christian Paz at Vox:

Look around and you might see it: the telltale signs that the #Resistance has been born again. A-list celebs are rallying for and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris; Zoom calls of Black, Latino, female, and young voters are reaching capacity; the coconut-tree and brat memes keep coming. Even cringe and earnest #Resist merch is back — now in the form of organic Kamala Harris merch.

The political movement that materialized organically, protested policy decisions, and eventually helped end Donald Trump’s presidency may now be taking on a second political life with the goal of not just beating Trump, but electing the first woman president. None of this was a sure thing. Just a few months ago it looked a lot like the anti-Trump #Resistance was dead. Progressive organizers and activists were exhausted; Trump fatigue had settled in. And voters of all kinds were tuned out and unenthusiastic about the candidate choices they had. That dynamic has flipped — for now. But what remains uncertain is whether this energy can mobilize record numbers of voters like it did in 2020, or if it exists in a bit of an echo chamber, like the energy that fired up Hillary Clinton’s hardcore supporters but failed to produce a winning coalition.

How the #Resistance fell off

The sour vibes earlier this year were a far cry from the energy that dominated during the Trump years. The Resistance was born after the unexpected election of Trump in 2016. The pink hats marched on Washington the day after his inauguration; plenty more college-educated Americans, women, young people, suburban voters, and LGBTQ people were mobilized in those early Trump years to protest the Muslim ban, gun violence, and the separation of families at the southern border. The energy carried on. “Resist libs,” as they were sometimes derisively called by both disapproving leftists and hostile conservatives, voted in record numbers during the 2018 midterms and helped flip the House of Representatives. They rallied around special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigations into Trump and Russia, and they cheered then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi during the first Trump impeachment.

A sprawling Democratic primary field in 2019 helped to keep this cohort of liberal, college-educated, and suburban voters galvanized. By the time the 2020 election came around — and despite the pandemic hampering some of these organizing efforts — the primarily liberal movement had grown along with a loose alliance of disaffected independents and Republicans, progressive youth, and many voters of color to form a winning coalition that ousted Trump from the White House and delivered a Democratic majority in Congress. That movement quickly splintered once Biden won, and those divisions only grew as his presidency continued. The overturning of Roe v. Wade in the summer of 2022 did fuel a short-lived revival, as pro-abortion rights voters and the remnants of the Resistance turned out in that November’s midterms to stop election deniers and anti-abortion candidates, holding back a red wave. But the outbreak of the Gaza War, stubbornly high inflation, and concerns over Biden’s age all worked to tamp down that anti-Trump energy.

[...]

The vibe shift is real

Now with Harris at the top of the ticket, much of the Democratic base has reconsolidated. The enthusiasm that a lot of the media coverage has picked up on is real — specifically among Democrats. Whereas only 62 percent of Democrats were enthusiastic about voting back in February, 88 percent of Democrats say that they are now, according to a CNN comparison of polls by Ipsos and Monmouth University. The switch-up is so dramatic that Democrats are now outpacing Republicans in terms of how excited they are to vote for their party’s nominee.

Of course, part of this bounce back in support can be attributed to just how unhappy Democrats and voters in general were with Biden as the nominee. But there are plenty of signs that a new kind of energy has reanimated the disparate constituencies that make up the Democratic base and were at the heart of the first incarnation of the anti-Trump resistance movement. Within days of Biden dropping out of the race and Harris becoming the presumptive nominee, tens of thousands of Americans have joined organizing calls specifically focused on mobilizing identity groups: 44,000 people joined a “Win With Black Women” Zoom call the same day Biden dropped out; 45,000 joined a “Win With Black Men” call; 164,000 joined a ��White Women: Answer the Call” Zoom meeting; similar meetings were organized for white men, for Latina women, and will be held for Latino men.

A revival of the Trump-era #Resistance movement is under new management: The Kamala Harris campaign. #Harris2024 #KamalaIsBrat

[cyarskaren52]

White Terrorists Safely Taking Siege Of Capitol Highlights Policing Double Standard, Twitter Reacts

Source: Jon Cherry / Getty

Today (Jan. 6), Donald Trump supporters, in this case also terrorists since they’re on in the same, were able to stroll into the Capitol in Washington as Congress was certifying the electoral votes that mean Joe Biden will take office on Jan. 20. As a Black man, watching the obvious double standard in how white people are policed versus people of color, today’s circus of political struggle was infuriating.  

to make it here without dying is the epitome of white privilege pic.twitter.com/Uw5FV33bpO — Noah Caine (@NoahCaine) January 6, 2021

Source: Caroline Brehman / Getty

Almost immediately, the contrast was striking. While the protests after the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, as just one example, in 2020 were marred with suspect arrests and the brutalization of protesters, Trump’s flunkies were able to stroll into the Capitol wears America’s elected officials were convening.

These terrorists were met with little resistance and soon enough were dispersed throughout the Capitol, forcing lawmakers to shelter in place in their offices as if a gunman was on the loose. Social media was soon enough littered with photos and video of MAGA acolytes trespassing in the offices of people like Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi as rioters also broke windows and waved the Confederate Flag in the building.

this is what #whiteprivilege is. Had it been Black Lives Matter they wouldn’t have even gotten the chance to get inside. Many would have already been arrested, pepper sprayed, and shot at. pic.twitter.com/WdE5nswZFe — matorma (@_matorma) January 6, 2021

Nevertheless, the police seemed to do their absolute best not to put hands on protesters. Many immediately noted that if these were people of color “protesting” they’d sure be catching batons upside their head, or worse. Pick any large Black Lives Matter protest this is obvious. The jig was particularly noted on Twitter, with hashtags like #whiteprivilege and #amerikkka trending that highlighted the obvious difference in policing tactics when it’s Black people peacefully protesting.

Throughout the day, hundreds of the rioters committed federal crimes. But reportedly, only 13 people were actually arrested while the entire world witnessed all types of trespassing and vandalizing property, at least.

Perhaps the biggest show of disrespect to many (like say people have to worry about if they’ll make it home if a cop pulls them over), was the footage of what looked like a member of SWAT helping a “protester” in a Trump hat down the Capitol steps while gently holding her hand.

The privilege. #civilwar2021 #whiteprivilegepic.twitter.com/3TtLbPXIPj — Mikayla Corean (@MikaylaCorean) January 7, 2021

Son.

Peep more of the outrage and head-scratching (but not really) police behavior below. Whether you say “defund” or “reform” how the authorities deal with its citizens through the lens of systemic racism must be addressed, expeditiously.

Breonna Taylor shot while sleeping  Ahmaud Arbery shot while jogging  Tamir Rice shot by playing in his front yard  Blm protesters shot while fighting for civil rights  Maga rioters breaking into the US Capitol without being shot or killed Is the definition of #whiteprivilegepic.twitter.com/5z9bhtsJuO — Myxtli Martinez (@diorinblush) January 6, 2021

1. Yes, this is looting.

Trump supporters now LOOTING from the Capitol building. you have got to be kidding me. why even have officers at this point?what are they gonna do? oh yeah help them loot the paintings now i guess.#CapitolBuilding#whiteprivilege#Capitol pic.twitter.com/xKBYGVb3JJ— Neda (@poetic_women) January 6, 2021

2. The Ops were nowhere to be found.

Where were these guys today? Or do they only show up when people of color are around.#whiteprivilege #Amerikkapic.twitter.com/IA2uZ6pliC— Kirk Acevedo(@kirkacevedo) January 6, 2021

3. What’s the difference?

What is the DC Penalty for Black ppl who simply break a metal barrier? Ask the mother of #KaronHylton who was arrested by MPD two weeks ago. fir wanting answers for her dead son. Why is DC Police treating Black grieving mothers like this but not Capitol rioters? #WhitePrivilegehttps://t.co/XelQwqjP85— ChuckModi (@ChuckModi1) January 6, 2021

4. 

The face of #whiteprivilege and treason. pic.twitter.com/MszBfzmtGk— Democratic Coalition (@TheDemCoalition) January 6, 2021

5. 

this aged well #whiteprivilege #Amerikkka#CapitolBuilding pic.twitter.com/edb7NRnW8F— genny gomez (@gennygomez_) January 6, 2021

6. 

To Visually Show You The Differences.. #whiteprivilege #Trumppic.twitter.com/pcNnVtmxn5— Mari (@Marioun98) January 7, 2021

7. 

Can we all agree now that #whiteprivilege is frighteningly real ? Although , not sure why it's dressed as Jamiroquai 😳 ? pic.twitter.com/GUNvPUGR3f— Tanita Tikaram (@tanita_tikaram) January 6, 2021

8. 

Those thugs need to be dealt with 🤧#WashingtonDC #whiteprivilege #DCRiotspic.twitter.com/ycYJifC3Jg— زاكاريا (@ZForZachariahh) January 6, 2021

9. Where is the lie?

My black kids won’t be able to safely wear a hoodie in their own community but these terrorists are able to walk calmly (and freely) around a Capitol they have forcibly overtaken. This is America.#whiteprivilege#CapitolBuilding #DCProtestspic.twitter.com/vbbzoSe4Vp— Jahnisa (@SimplyJahnisa) January 6, 2021

10. 

Remember when they thought KNEELING for black lives during the national anthem was disrespectful? #whiteprivilegepic.twitter.com/SyA1cxYKtx— Harry Cook (@HarryCook) January 6, 2021

11. 

How Black people are watching the real thugs and terrorists at Capital Hill.... #whiteprivilegepic.twitter.com/eSLoErFq1t— It's Cinta (@MsTigerEyes) January 6, 2021

12. 

US Capitol security when white people riot #WashingtonDC #whiteprivilege #TrumpRallypic.twitter.com/s2pn9bZ5uO— Prosper (@Prosper458) January 6, 2021

13. 

14. 

all because they didn’t get their way... let this be BLACK folks tho. #whiteprivilegepic.twitter.com/b9VMNtdIRf— GS. (@_speakingofg) January 6, 2021

Sent from my iPhone

[newstfionline]

Tuesday, August 2, 2022

Western flames spread, California sees its largest 2022 fire (AP) Crews battling the largest wildfire so far this year in California braced for thunderstorms and hot, windy conditions that created the potential for additional fire growth Sunday as they sought to protect remote communities. The blaze exploded in size to more than 80 square miles (207 square km) just two days after erupting in a largely unpopulated area of Siskiyou County, according to a Sunday incident report. The cause was under investigation.

Pelosi to visit Taiwan (Bloomberg) US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is expected to visit Taiwan on Tuesday, ignoring Chinese threats of reprisals if her trip to the island democracy takes place. Pelosi would become the first sitting speaker to visit Taiwan in 25 years: It would be a landmark move by the third-highest US elected official and may raise the risk of a military confrontation, given China’s long-held stance that Taiwan is its territory. A meeting between Pelosi and Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen could happen on Wednesday, though Pelosi’s schedule is still in flux. China says its military would take unspecified action if the California Democrat visits and that it will not “sit idly by.” The Biden administration has in turn warned Beijing not to do anything rash. “We will not take the bait or engage in saber rattling,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said. “At the same time, we will not be intimidated. We will keep operating in the seas and the skies of the Western Pacific as we have for decades.”

1st ship carrying Ukrainian grain leaves the port of Odesa (AP) The first ship carrying Ukrainian grain set off from the port of Odesa on Monday under a deal brokered by the United Nations and Turkey that is expected to release large stores of Ukrainian crops to foreign markets and ease a growing hunger crisis. The Sierra Leone-flagged cargo ship Razoni left Odesa for Lebanon, Turkey’s defense ministry said. A statement from the United Nations said the Razoni was carrying over 26,000 tons of corn. The ship is expected to reach Istanbul on Tuesday, where it will be inspected, before being allowed to proceed. The corn will then head to Lebanon, a tiny Mideast nation in the grips of what the World Bank has described as one of the world’s worst financial crises in more than 150 years.

Using Nuclear Reactors for Cover, Russians Lob Rockets at Ukrainians (NYT) Along most of the front line in Russia’s war in Ukraine, when one side lets loose with an artillery attack, the other shoots back. But not in Nikopol, a city deep in southern farm country where the Ukrainian military faces a new and vexing obstacle as it prepares for a major counteroffensive: a nuclear power station that the Russian Army has turned into a fortress. Nikopol, controlled by the Ukrainians, lies on the west bank of the Dnipro River. On the opposite bank sits a gigantic nuclear power plant—Europe’s largest—that the Russian Army captured in March. The Russians have been firing from the cover of the Zaporizhzhia station since mid-July, Ukrainian military and civilian officials said, sending rockets over the river at Nikopol and other targets. It is, in effect, a free shot. Ukraine cannot unleash volleys of shells in return using American-provided advanced rocket systems, which have silenced Russian guns elsewhere on the front line. Doing so would risk striking one of the six pressurized water reactors or highly radioactive waste in storage. And Russia knows it.

Zelensky Orders Donetsk Evacuation (Foreign Policy) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has ordered the evacuation of the Donetsk region as fighting continues to rage in the east of the country following Russia’s capture of Luhansk in early July. The decision affects at least 200,000 people still remaining in Donetsk’s Ukrainian-held east and Zelensky promised financial and logistical support for those that heeded his call. “The sooner it is done, the more people leave Donetsk region now, the fewer people the Russian army will have time to kill,” Zelensky said. Zelensky’s announcement follows requests from other Ukrainian authorities. Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk said the evacuation was necessary now before winter sets in and the region would be without gas. Despite Russia’s grinding assault, eastern Donetsk’s three largest cities—Bakhmut, Slovyansk and Kramatorsk—are still in Ukrainian hands.

Tensions Flare on Kosovo-Serbian Border Amid Protests and Gunfire (NYT) A dispute over license plates between the Balkan nations of Kosovo and Serbia, from whom Kosovo split 14 years ago, yielded protests and gunfire Sunday night, prompting fears that the violence could escalate as Western countries are focused on the war in Ukraine. Amid demonstrators who built barricades, unknown gunmen fired on Kosovo police officers along the restive northern border with Serbia on the eve of a new law requiring ethnic Serbs living in Kosovo to switch from Serbian license plates to Kosovar ones in the next two months. Many Serbs in Kosovo still use Serbian-issued plates, which the government considers illegal. Kosovo’s government had also said that beginning Monday, all Serbian ID and passports holders must obtain an extra document to enter Kosovo, just as Kosovars must do to enter to Serbia. No one was injured by the gunfire, but in response to the violence, the Kosovo police closed two northern border crossings. “The overall security situation in the Northern municipalities of Kosovo is tense,” NATO-led mission to Kosovo KFOR said in a statement.

Myanmar junta extends emergency rule (Reuters) The head of Myanmar’s junta on Monday blamed instability for stalling efforts to implement a peace plan agreed with other Southeast Asian countries as he extended emergency rule for another six months. The junta first declared a state of emergency after seizing power from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in a coup in February last year. Myanmar has been in chaos since then, with conflict spreading after the army crushed mostly peaceful protests in towns and cities. Security forces have killed more than 2,100 people since the coup, according to the Assistance Association for political prisoners, an activist group. The junta has said such tolls are exaggerated.

China’s most powerful rocket falls back to Earth, lands in criticism (Washington Post) China said its most powerful rocket fell back to Earth, as NASA criticized Beijing for failing to share crucial data about its trajectory. The Long March 5B rocket, which weighs more than 1.8 million pounds, blasted off from the Wenchang spaceport on July 24—carrying another module to China’s first permanent space station, Tiangong, which is in the process of being constructed. The “vast majority” of the rocket’s debris burned up during reentry into the atmosphere at about 12:55 a.m., the China Manned Space Agency said Sunday in a statement on its official Weibo social media account. The rest “landed in the sea” at 119.0 degrees East and 9.1 degrees North, it said. These coordinates are in the waters off the Philippine island of Palawan, southeast of the city of Puerto Princesa. China’s statement did not say whether any debris fell on land. The United States said China was taking on a significant risk by allowing the rocket to fall uncontrolled to Earth without advising on its potential path. Last week, China’s state-run newspaper the Global Times accused the West of showing “sour grapes” and trying to discredit its efforts in space. The article accused the United States of leading a “smear campaign” against the “robust development of China’s aerospace sector.”

Al-Qaida leader killed (AP) As the sun was rising in Kabul on Sunday, two Hellfire missiles fired by a U.S. drone ended Ayman al-Zawahri’s decade-long reign as the leader of al-Qaida. He and his family had taken up residence in the home after the Taliban regained control of the country last year, following the withdrawal of U.S. forces after nearly 20 years of combat that had been intended, in part, to keep al-Qaida from regaining a base of operations in Afghanistan.

Iraq’s parliament protests (Foreign Policy) Protesters supporting Iraqi cleric Muqtada al-Sadr are camped out in Iraq’s parliament for the third straight day today after hundreds stormed Baghdad’s Green Zone on Saturday. Sadr has called the actions “a great opportunity to radically challenge the political system, the constitution, and the elections,” but has yet to appear in parliament himself.

2 years later, hope for justice in Beirut explosion fades (AP) It’s been two years since his 3-year-old daughter, Alexandra, was killed in a massive explosion at Beirut’s port—and Paul Naggear has lost hope that outrage over the disaster will bring justice and force change in Lebanon. The investigation into one of the world’s biggest non-nuclear explosions has been blocked for months by Lebanon’s political powers. Many blame the Lebanese government’s longtime corruption and mismanagement for the tragedy, but the elite’s decades-old lock on power has ensured they are untouchable. In fact, some of those charged in the probe were re-elected to parliament earlier this year. Even as the wrecked silos at the port have been burning for weeks—a fire ignited by the fermenting grains still inside them—authorities seemed to have given up on trying to put out the blaze. A section of the silos collapsed Sunday in a huge cloud of dust.

‘One miscalculation away from nuclear annihilation’ (NYT) The secretary general of the United Nations warned on Monday that humanity was “just one misunderstanding, one miscalculation away from nuclear annihilation,” citing the war in Ukraine among the conflicts driving the risk to a level not seen since the height of the Cold War. “All this at a time when the risks of proliferation are growing and guardrails to prevent escalation are weakening,” the official, António Guterres, said. “And when crises—with nuclear undertones—are festering from the Middle East and the Korean Peninsula to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.” Mr. Guterres was speaking at the opening session of a conference at the U.N. headquarters in New York about upholding and securing the 50-year-old global Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, meant to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, aiming for eventual disarmament. The threat of a nuclear confrontation or a nuclear accident emerging from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was a recurring theme in many of the day’s speeches.

[rwood2477]

Watch "Pelosi fails to bring infrastructure package to the House Floor for votes" on YouTube

The communist democratic traitors in congress are loosing control.

[libertariantaoist]

News Roundup 2/16/21

by Kyle Anzalone

US News

Missouri sent letters to 46,000 residents demanding the repay money the state said it over-paid in unemployment. [Link]

Ohio police arrested a mother of two for leaving her ten and two year old children home alone while she was at work. [Link]

Biden has removed the petitioning system from the White House website. [Link]

A newly-released James Comey email from January 12, 2017 shows the FBI Director knew he could not prove any of the Steele Dossier information was true. [Link]

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi says she wants a 9/11-style commission into the Capitol riot. [Link]

Russia

Russia and the US are engaging in talks that could lead to a prisoner swap. [Link]

Philippines

The Philippines wants more military aid in exchange for extending a visiting forces agreement with the US. [Link]

Middle East

Iran says it will limit the inspections of the IAEA if the US does not lift sanctions on Iran by February 21st. [Link]

The Palestinian Authority reports Israel is preventing vaccinations from entering Gaza. [Link]

The Turkish government is unhappy with the Biden administration for not having a strong enough response to 13 Turkish soldiers being found executed in Iraq. [Link]

Turkey arrests 700 Kurdish citizens over alleged connections to the execution of soldiers in Iraq. [Link]

One civilian contractor was killed and one US soldier was injured in a rocket attack near the Erbil airport in Iraq. [Link]

A DC Circuit judge will allow the CIA to deny a FOIA request about the program to arm Syria rebels. [Link]

Africa

Sudan claims Ethiopian forces crossed into its territory in an act of aggression. [Link]

Soldiers from Cameroon have been arrested after a video surfaced of them torturing a person with a machete. [Link]

Guinea declared a new Ebola outbreak. [Link]

The Democratic Republic of the Congo reports its fourth Ebola case in a new outbreak. [Link]

Islamist militants – possibly the ADF – attacked a village in the Congo killing three soldiers and 13 civilians. [Link]

Read More

[newagesispage]

                                                                AUGUST    2021

THE RIB  PAGE

Fran Drescher is running for National SAG-AFTRA President with Anthony Rapp as secretary treasurer for Unite for Strength!!! Matthew Modine is running under Membership first with Joely Fisher for Secretary Treasurer. Running in local elections are, among others, Yvette Nicole Brown, Shari Belafonte, Rosie O’Donnell, Jeff Garlin, Ezra Knight, Dule Hill, Camryn Manheim, Sara Rue, Mindy Cohn and Ever Carradine. Sept. 2 is the day!** Frances Fisher filed a suit against SAG-AFTRA over the health care plan but a judge rejected it.

*****

Sha’Carri Richardson’s problem is all our problem. No more drug testing for Mary Jane in this country!

*****

Chuck Schumer finally unveiled the Cannabis administration opportunity act to end Federal prohibition of marijuana.

*****

Dolly Parton used the $10 mil + in royalties from the Whitney Houston version of her song to invest in a black neighborhood in Nashville.

*****

Bob Balaban and Henry Winkler play brothers in The French Dispatch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can’t wait for October 22!!!!!!!!!!!!** The next Wes Anderson film will star Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton, Adrien Brody and Tom Hanks. No other details are out there yet.

*****

Trees save lives in heat waves.

*****

TBS will bring us n updated Stupid Pet Tricks with Sarah Silverman.

*****

So much organized religion is based on forgeries, fakes and plundering. Virtually none of it is based on any sort of truth, spiritual or even historical. Just lies to fulfill an agenda and control the masses. And so far it has worked. –Larry Charles

*****

Scarlett Johansen has sued Disney cuz her contract guaranteed a theatrical release only.

*****

An expert on the circus industry recently reached out to me and urged me to not compare Trump and his comeback tour to clowns and the circus, as that is an insult to clowns. –Jim Acosta

*****

Eric Adams has won the Dem primary for Mayor in NY.

*****

Have you seen High on the Hog?? It’s awesome!!

*****

Jeff Flake will be ambassador to Turkey.

*****

Cornell West resigned from Harvard with a scathing letter accusing the school of “intellectual and spirited bankruptcy of deep depths.”

*****

Biden gave a hell of a speech in Philly. He needed to go on more about the filibuster but he was passionate about the For the People act and the John Lewis voting rights advancement act.  He roared, “Peddlers of lies are threatening the very foundation of our country.”

*****

Will Celebrity Dating Game continue? I am sure they think romance expert, Michael Bolton is a cute and quirky thing to do but not so much. If it stays, I hope they change the music, at least those final notes. And why are half of the questions, “Who am I?” The show could be cute but they need a little work!!

*****

Jeff Bezos donated $200 mil to the Smithsonian air and space museum.**Feminists everywhere winced when Gayle King was interviewing the Bezos space team.  Bezos commented about the 18 year old going with them into space and that he was just worried about the prom at 18. Gayle said “And I was just hoping for a date to the prom.”** But we have to love Wally Funk, the oldest woman to go into space.**Bezos thanked the Amazon employees and customers for paying for his trip. Yikes!**  Saw a great sign: Pay fair taxes, end hunger, help people, end poverty, save Earth or fly to space.

*****

Antonio Banderas and Harrison Ford will star in Indiana Jones 5.

*****

Zsa Zsa Gabor’s ashes were laid to rest 5 years after her death.

*****

The Britney conservatorship mess is still going thru the courts, and now topless?

*****

Pope Francis underwent colon surgery which caused him to comment on the need for good health care for all.

*****

Questlove brings us Summer of Soul!!!

*****

Reports show that about 150 people were killed by guns in more than 400 shootings during the 4th.

*****

Has anybody ever built a show around the Tex Watson tapes?? The LAPD apparently liked to deny them but there was a book.

*****

Henry Hall is out with his debut album, Neato, along with a tour.

*****

Do all male law enforcement officers have to be bald now?

*****

Idaho has begun an eradication campaign that could slash the number of gray wolves living in the state by 90%.

*****

Hooray for the monthly child tax credit!!

*****

Release Me 2 from Barbra Streisand is due out August 6.

*****

The look into the Jan. 6 insurrection has begun. Kinzinger and Cheney are in. **Tucker Carlson attacked Harry Dunn, a Capitol officer on air. The man protected Carlson’s son, a House staffer.** On Jan. 5, the Steve Bannon podcast went like this: All Hell is going to break loose tomorrow. Just understand this. It’s gonna be moving. It’s gonna be quick.** Why is mainstream media putting nearly all eggs in the Covid and Olympic baskets and only a few on the insurrection hearing?

*****

Why do so many that call America , “great” seem to hate it?? How can one love this country and not want majority rule, not want democracy??

*****

The Emmy noms are out: Lovecraft Country was nominated even though it has been cancelled.  Also hooray for Pose, The Flight attendant and for Conan!! Lead actor is a tough category with Matthew Rhys, Billy Porter and Rege-Jean Page. Aidy Bryant and Jean Smart got lead and supporting noms. I have to route for Ewan McGregor and Anya Taylor-Joy. I am excited for Paul Reiser, Bowen Yang, Evan Peters, Carl Weathers, Renee Elise Golsberry, Dave Chappelle, Helena Bonham Carter and Daniel Levy. There is love for Yvette Nicole Brown, Issa Rae and Maya Rudolph. The Masked Singer got a few noms. The doc category included Tina, Allen V. Farrow and The Bee Gees. Friends: The reunion got 4.

*****

“Voting is not supposed to be easy. That’s what our men died for.”- Jack Finger

*****

Giant Pandas are no longer endangered.

*****

Zalia Avante- Garde is the 93rd Scripps National Spelling Bee Champ.** I’m more impressed by the girl who won the Spelling Bee than the billionaire who went to space. –Mike Jollett.

*****

Why do they have to run erectile dysfunction ads during true crime rape episodes? ** And why do people still say things like, “this just don’t happen here” or “dumped like a piece of trash? “ There have to be other things to say.

*****

Tom Barrack, chairman of the inaugural committee for Trump was arrested for foreign lobbying shenanigans. America first, right?** Wilbur Ross lied to congress about the census and the Trump administration declined to prosecute.** Stephen Calk, bank exec was found guilty of trying to get a WH position by giving Manafort millions in loans.

*****

Jake Ellzey won the Texas special election run off for congress, beating out Trump’s girl Susan Wright.

*****

Every city should have a Peacemobile!!!!!

*****

The Chinese government has been called out for malicious cyber -attacks.  Four officials have been indicted in California.

*****

Miracle Workers’ Simon Rich was there when FB was invented and was so creeped out by people using it to stalk women.

*****

There was a story in Rolling Stone about how Eric Clapton threatened to cancel shows if the venue required proof of vaccines. Valerie Bertinelli tweeted: Once a dick, always a dick.

*****

Every Fox news host is vaccinated. –Mikel Jollett

*****

Toyota has dropped out of Olympic ads.  Contenders are starting to drop out due to positive Covid tests.

*****

Actor Isaiah Stokes has been indicted for murder.

*****

Lionsgate has bought the rights to Clerks 3.

*****

Ready or not, here come the Olympics.- Harry Shearer

*****

The Cleveland Indians will now be the Cleveland Guardians.

*****

A bust of KKK leader Nathan Bedford Forrest was taken out of the Tennessee capitol.

*****

American Housewife was sold into syndication.

*****

The poorest zip codes include Erie, Pennsylvania, Decatur and the south end of Peoria, il, Canton, Oh, Waterbury, Ct., Bonsecour, Al. and Elpaso, Tx.

*****

Issa Rae married Louis Diame.

*****

The court of appeals disqualified Judge John W. Ouderkirk from the Jolie- Pitt divorce because of a business relationship with Pitt’s attorney.

*****

Joe Manchin owns a coal company.

*****

The Hollywood walk of fame has welcomed Jimmy Smits, Kathie Lee Gifford and 90 year old Marla Gibbs. Terry Crews is next!

*****

Generation after generation of women love the bad boy.  Do they never learn? I will never understand, please explain.

*****

Pelosi rejected 2 of the noms to serve on the special committee looking into Jan. 6. Kevin McCarthy withdrew his 5 noms.

*****

The gun that killed Billy the Kid is for sale.

*****

I think you should leave with Tim Robinson on Netflix is hilarious if U get thru the gross. U can’t miss the episode with Clifton Davis and Fred Willard!!

*****

Joaquin Phoenix is trying to get some bears from a traveling show moved to an accredited sanctuary. The Bearadise Ranch in Florida has been cited for, “violating state wildlife laws.”

*****

Go employees Go!! Frito Lay is on strike, Coal miners are on strike and Ride Share drivers are on strike. A good portion of this country should be on strike. The top of the corporate ladder needs to learn! Let those that treat us fair rise to the top.

*****

Who owns Brett Kavanaugh?

*****

A Bishop seeking to deny Biden communion was caught on Grindr.

*****

Gabriel Jagger married Anouk Winzenried.** I don’t know why the Rolling Stones bass player doesn’t just change his name to “not pictured.” –Michael Mckean

*****

Frank Fritz will not be back on American Pickers.

*****

For the first time, astronomers have seen behind a black hole. Einstein predicted the gravitational pull of black holes is so enormous that they warp the very fabric of space. He was right. Scientists have now spotted light which was being emitted by the far side of the black hole.

*****

Look for Heels on Starz.

*****

What is this new screen for Amazon? It sucks.

*****

Biden has signed an executive order to protect infrastructure from cyber- attacks.

*****

Arthur was canceled.

*****

The Kennedy Center has revealed the latest honorees. The 44th class is Justin Diaz, Berry Gordy, Lorne Michaels, Bette Midler and Joni Mitchell and will be held on Dec. 5.

*****

Get well Bob Odenkirk!!!! The fabulous Odenkirk collapsed on the set of Better call Saul from a minor heart attack.

*****

Days alert: We have lost Days of Our Lives first director, Joseph Behar.  He will be missed.** Marla Ginns is joining the cast as Paulina’s Mother. ** Is EJ throwing Sami out? Will AJ McLean join the cast? **Rex is back.**Peacock is bringing us a limited series, Days of our Lives: Beyond Salem that will send many couples on romantic vacations and lead to intrigue. Lisa Rinna will star.** Arianna Zucker (Nicole) is set to marry Shawn Christian (former Daniel).  He popped the question on Father’s Day.

*****

R.I.P. President Jovenel Moise, Philece Sampler, Robert Downey Sr., Richard Donner, flood victims of Belgium and Germany,  Robby Steinhardt, Covid victims, Joseph Behar, Robert Moses, Jackie Mason, Dusty Hill, joey Jordison, Priscilla McMillan, Ron Popeil, Carl Levin, Saginaw Grant and Charles Robinson.

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

January 12, 2021

Heather Cox Richardson

The news continues to move at a breathless pace.

After making no comments on the January 6 coup attempt since the day after, when he continued his assault on the validity of the 2020 election, Trump today refused to acknowledge he has done anything wrong. He told reporters his speech to the “Stop the Steal” rally in Washington, D.C., that prompted the assault on the Capitol, was “totally appropriate.” He insisted that “other people” had said that the “real problem” was “the horrible riots in Portland and Seattle and various other places.”

Instead of addressing his role in the crisis, on his way to Alamo, Texas (not The Alamo, which is in San Antonio, Texas, about four hours away from Alamo), Trump blamed the Democrats for attacking him unfairly. He said that the Democrats who were pushing for impeachment were once again on a “witch hunt” that was “causing tremendous danger to our country.”

No one is buying it.

There are three real stories right now with regard to this crisis. The first is that what happened on January 6 when rioters stormed the Capitol, and what led to that attack, is getting clearer, and none of the details are good. The second, and related, story is that the Republicans are splitting, and their leadership is trying desperately to find a way to remain powerful. The third ties the first two together: lawmakers are preparing to throw Trump out of office.

Today the FBI finally briefed the public on the events of January 6. Contradicting reports that said there was no sign of trouble in advance, an FBI official said that on Tuesday, the bureau warned that extremists were going to muster in Washington, D.C., to launch a “war.” Today, the bureau announced 160 case files on the insurrection and said this was just the beginning. Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Michael Sherwin said people will be shocked about some of the things that happened inside the Capitol. He also said the Department of Justice is considering filing charges of sedition against some of the riot’s participants.

A separate briefing for House Democratic committee chairs seemed to leave them shaken by the scope of the insurgency. “This was not a peaceful protest that got out of hand,” they said in a statement. “This was an attempted coup to derail our Constitutional process and intimidate our duly elected leaders through violence.” “[W]e have grave concerns about ongoing and violent threats to our democracy. It is clear that more must be done to preempt, penetrate, and prevent deadly and seditious assaults by domestic violent extremists in the days ahead.”

Calls for Trump’s impeachment continue to escalate. Today the New York Times editorial board blamed Trump and his supporters in Congress and in the right-wing media for the Capitol attack, “a crime so brazen that it demands the highest form of accountability that the legislature can deliver.” Perhaps of more interest to Trump’s accomplices is that today Walmart joined other corporations in refusing to donate money to the Republican lawmakers who voted against counting the electoral votes for Biden in the states Trump falsely insisted had voted for him.

The pressure of those two things made Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and House Republican Conference Chair Liz Cheney (R-WY), the third most powerful House Republican, today come out in favor of impeachment. McConnell acknowledged that Trump had committed impeachable offenses and told other Republican leaders he welcomed the House's actions. In the House, Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy opposes impeachment personally, but has decided not to try to lobby fellow Republicans against it, turning them loose to vote as they wish. For her part, Cheney announced she will vote to impeach the president.

Cheney’s statement suggests that part of what is driving the Republican willingness to entertain impeachment is that there will be more coming out about January 6 and Republicans want to dump Trump rather than be associated with him. She wrote: “Much more will become clear in coming days and weeks, but what we know now is enough. The President of the United States summoned this mob, assembled the mob, and lit the flame of this attack. Everything that followed was his doing. None of this would have happened without the President. The President could have immediately and forcefully intervened to stop the violence. He did not. There has never been a greater betrayal by a President of the United States of his office and his oath to the Constitution.”

It is undoubtedly also of great significance to McConnell that the actions of Trump and his supporters in Congress have led major donors to close their wallets. The less money McConnell has to dole out, the less power he has, and the weaker the Republicans’ chances of retaking the Senate in 2022. McConnell wants that spigot of money to reopen.

He would also like to use this moment to get rid of Trump and his supporters from Republican leadership. Trump has led the party to a major defeat and made it so reviled that it has lost the White House and the Senate, defeats for which McConnell blames the president. Indeed, the Trump administration is so reviled that today European officials took the unprecedented step of refusing to meet with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on a scheduled trip to Europe this week. He was forced to cancel his trip at the last minute. McConnell may have been announcing his support for impeachment to put pressure on Trump to resign, which would enable Republicans to avoid voting on the issue and head off an irreparable split.

For their part, the Trump Republicans are doubling down. Law enforcement has installed metal detectors for congress members to enter the House chamber, and Louis Gohmert (R-TX), for one, simply walked around it. “You can’t stop me; I’m on my way to a vote,” he told the police officers.

Tonight, by a vote of 223-205, the House passed the Raskin resolution urging Vice President Mike Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment and begin the process of removing Trump from office. Pence had already told House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that he would not do so. In a letter to Pelosi, Pence said, “I do not believe that such a course of action is in the best interest of our Nation or consistent with our Constitution.” He maintains that the 25th should be used only in cases when the president is incapacitated or disabled, neither of which, he says, is the case now. Pence’s statement gave Republicans in the House cover to vote against the Raskin resolution. Only one, Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) voted in favor.

That leaves Congress to move forward with impeachment, which it will do tomorrow. As of today, five House Republicans have announced they will join the Democrats in support of the measure.

Meanwhile, all eight of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the military, including chair Mark Milley, today reminded service members of their oath to the Constitution and warned against “violence, sedition and insurrection.” They reminded members of the military that “any act to disrupt the Constitutional process is not only against our tradition, values, and oath; it is against the law.”

“On January, 20, 2021,” they wrote, “in accordance with the Constitution, confirmed by the states and the courts, and certified by Congress, President-elect Biden will be inaugurated and will become our 46th Commander in Chief.”

—-

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

[dragoni]

Long read but worth it. There is a fight between House Democrats over supporting mass demonstrations — just as there was with impeaching Trump. 

Democratic Congress members must unite and support large scale #ImpeachmentMarches. Here’s why!

Watergate played out under a party system that was remarkably loose compared to today. Not all conservatives were Republicans, and not all Republicans were conservatives. That arguably set the stage for presidential misconduct to be evaluated as separately from political ideology or orientation as is possible.

American elites rarely seem to do this, but they should consider the lesson that toppled Mariano Rajoy’s corrupt right-wing government in Spain in 2018, Park Geun-hye’s corrupt right-wing government in South Korea in 2017, and Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson’s corrupt right-wing government in Iceland in 2016: Large-scale public protests work. 

“it would be extremely foolish to believe that Republican senators and Federalist Society judges are going to come riding out of the woods in order to do the job.”

It’s no great mystery why congressional Democrats turned against popular protest. Some party officials believed that the mobilized progressive base pushed them into a tactically disadvantageous confrontation over Brett Kavanaugh in 2018 that contributed to the defeat of several incumbent red state senators.

Small impeachment rallies have broken out recently in American cities, and that’s great to see, but they’ve been modest in size compared to the demonstrations of 2017.

Pelosi has now embraced impeachment, and just two weeks ago declared that Trump’s actions were “an assault on the Constitution.”

“A lawless government cannot be constrained by the institutions of the law alone. It is popular mass resistance that creates a crisis point and forces action. And if Democrats want to beat Trump’s stonewalling tactics in 2019, they should consider doing it again.”

[samstedtalk-blog]

March 29 2020

As many of us are indoors right now and figuring out whats next or what will be the new norm. I figured this would be a good time for myself to keep sane and share my thoughts, ideas, concerns and whatever comes to mind. I will try every day to post something and if people read it, awesome and if no one reads it, awesome. Im going to keep it simple and if any one wants to talk more about the subject I’m writing about, I’m all for it.  Over the last few weeks we have seen some new information come out about Biden and Tara Reade. For the most part it has been on the back burner between the public and both political parties. We have had two powerful female politic figures endorse Biden, Hillary Clinton and Nancy Pelosi. In the coming months of Trump becoming president. Hillary and Nancy were right in front trying to take Trump down with his long list of sexual assaults. So what does make Biden different? Now all sudden a women voice doesn’t matter?  As November is approaching, the #votebluenomatterwho has been circling social media. Look where that has gotten the Democratic party. Voters are really that hungry to get rid of Trump, that they are going to put aside a human life and their horrific experience with a top political figure. Don’t forget Biden’s track record with the Patriot Act, Anti-gay/black rights and a war criminal. This bothers me and we should all be bothered by it. A lot. Along with that, five years ago these same people were up in arms with Trump and preaching ‘”Believe all women”. The Democratic party has slapped every person in the face who has been sexually assaulted. Just like what the Republicans have done. What is happening America? Is the Democratic public so scared to step outside their comfort zone, the party thats so “aggressive and woke”  that they are willing to stay quiet, push aside Tara’s story and let Biden move on? This is exactly why sexual assault has become a laughing stock within our government and society, really. If Trump or Biden can get away with it, why can’t the next person? It’s a question we all ask but it never gets a response.  This is the problem I see with both sides of the left and right. Society has allowed these parties to become so powerful, we are blind sheep and now it’s one way out, through the slaughter house. We as a society must be ready to change and think; If both parties have gained this much power and greed from the public. Wouldn’t there be nothing to loose to let the system fail? The government has failed us, the voting system has failed us and the public has failed each other. Yes, we as the people have failed each other by pushing what the government pushed on us. Power, greed, racism and wealth. We are literally a reflection of what we want out of the system. So, what can we change while we are in this lockdown? In the end, it’s us, we the people are going to have to step up and stand for whats right. It’s your voice and actions that can change the system. Maybe having Trump another four years is what this country needs. 

[marcel334]

The New York Times By Catie Edmondson Jan. 8, 2020 ----------------------------------

REEL THE LOOSE CANNON IN? MORE LIKE RESTRAINING THE INSANE.

The House is expected to vote on Thursday on a resolution to force the president to halt any military action against Iran unless Congress authorizes it.

[a1detective]

SATIRE:

BY—ALCOHOL AND DRUG FREE—JEFFREY A. FRIEDBERG

< —————— ——————- >

Nancy Pelosi will be dead because she’s already 79 and will be like around 84 or something, when Donald Trump leaves the office of President in about 2024.

Nancy’s imminent death—as a reportedly diseased Older Woman—will  be for the stated reason of her stunning alcohol bill (which you paid.)

It reads like a dream order for some wild frat party: Maker’s Mark whiskey, Courvoisier cognac, Johnny Walker Red scotch, Grey Goose vodka, E&J brandy, Bailey’s Irish Crème, Bacardi Light rum, Jim Beam whiskey, Beefeater gin, Dewars scotch, Bombay Sapphire gin, Jack Daniels whiskey … and Corona beer.

But that single receipt makes up just part of the more than $101,000 taxpayers paid for “in-flight services” – including food and liquor, for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s trips on Air Force jets over the last two years. That’s almost $1,000 per week.

Documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act by Judicial Watch, which investigates and prosecutes government corruption, show that the Pelosi incurred expenses of some $2.1 million for her use of Air Force jets for travel over that time. [2010]

—https://www.ihatethemedia.com

It’s said elsewhere that “Nancy Pelosi is either alcoholic or senile.” If she’s indeed playing in adult beverages, it’s likely—at her advanced age—that she has kidney, liver, bladder, or brain problems.

I picture a magnificent DC funeral with grand procession down Pennsylvania Avenue. Gucci boots in the stirrups are reversed—a prancing magnificent stallion. Or one that identifies as gay?

Nothing is spared in this opulent funeral for a woman whose net-worth is said to be $121,000,000 (million).

Ocasio-Cortez—gentle and child-like—salutes  (tight three-shot on Ocasio-Cortez, Tlaib, and Omar. Zoom back to show mob of 75 people overwhelming that small section of  street. Try to cover up that Tlaib is laughing….)

Tlaib, Omar, Ocasio-Cortez, all looking sad – a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com

Mitt Romney reads a glowing funeral oration written by Hillary Clinton, and passed to some English chap, who slips it to Mitt.

A Tearful Mitt Romney Reads Funeral Oration – .com

Trump tweets somberly, funereally.

Actually it seems Donald Trump is Nancy’ Lugosi’s biggest problem. She and other out-of-control Democrats been fruitlessly trying to destroy him for at least three years. “At all costs.” No matter what. I think he noticed.

For Pelosi, who has clearly lost control of her drove of sheep in the House, this once powerful woman has succumbed to her basest instincts: destroy the opposition at all costs.  This time, the cost may be, as it was for Ahab, her ultimate humiliation and that of her party.

—americanthinker.com

It does appear that Nancy has “lost control” of her Democrat Party, which now seems to be lead by media-darlings, Ocasio-Cortez, Tlaib, Omar, and other America-haters. This may play well to “the insane, Democrat Base.”

But—it seems to me—a majority doesn’t like it one bit.

And—oh damn. “Majorities,” am I right, I no, right? Majorities tend to be majorities and to do majority stuff. Such as—oh—all, like, say: winning the next Presidential election?

The mad pursuit of Donald Trump could end up throwing him the 2020 election. It could be the end of the Democrat Party’s party. For a hundred years Democrats have played fast and loose with American traditions, laws, and ways.

Leftist Democrats have tried to destroy America and its life-blood of democracy—in order to replace it with their own, dark, twisted “socialist” mania.

Democrats want a “socialized,” communist world where the worst are defined as the best. Where the poorest are mostly Everyone—all of us dragged down to the lowest Level.

Except for themselves. The Democrats. As they Rule the World, anonymously, from sumptuous dachas by the sea. As they accumulate total wealth and power.

Joe “Baldy” Biden and his props

Joe Biden looks like Roy Scheider because, in addition to Biden’s hair plugs, phony teeth, Ray-Bans, “everyman” ice-cream cone, blue collar cash-in-hand, and half-jogs to microphones—he’s being re-worked by aliens from space, known as the Star People.

Millions of years ago the Star People built pyramids and left us canabis, horses, and Mastiffs, to help make a more perfect Earth.

But theStar People’s latest “gift,” is the hybrid jackass-shark, Joe Biden.

(Insert theme: “dum dumb dum dumb dum dumb….”)

JOE “GREAT WHITE” BIDEN -i.ytimg.com

      Why Nancy Pelosi Will Already Be Dead When Trump “Leaves Office,” and WHY Joe Biden Looks Like Roy Scheider. SATIRE: BY—ALCOHOL AND DRUG FREE—JEFFREY A. FRIEDBERG < —————— ——————- > Nancy Pelosi will be dead because she’s already 79 and will be like around 84 or something, when Donald Trump leaves the office of President in about 2024.

[cultureofresistance]

CHRIS HEDGES: Well, it reminds me of the Watergate hearings, where the activities that were carried out by the Nixon White House against the Democratic headquarters in Watergate were directed at the elites. All of those activities had been carried out before, including break-ins into Daniel Ellsberg’s psychiatrist’s office, against antiwar activists. But it’s when those activities were targeted at the elite. And I think that’s exactly what we’ve seen, and that’s what’s triggered such a reaction, including from Pelosi, who up until now has been very reluctant to carry out impeachment. But what they’ve done, or what Trump, the Trump White House, has done, is target the favored nominee by the Democratic donor class. JOHN BONIFAZ: That’s not necessarily an argument to not proceed with impeachment proceedings. It’s an argument to expand the scope of the impeachment inquiry to cover all of his impeachable — Donald Trump’s impeachable offenses, from the obstruction of justice, from giving aid and comfort to white supremacists and neo-Nazis, racist abuses of power, placing children and their families in imprisonment unconstitutionally at the southern border. All of the impeachable offenses need to be covered by these impeachment proceedings, not just the Ukraine scandal. CHRIS HEDGES: Well, yeah, I agree with that, and I’m not against impeachment. The problem is that — and you use the phrase “rule of law” — from the very moment Trump took office, he was violating the emoluments clause; very clear evidence that he attempted to obstruct justice during the Mueller investigation; inciting violence and racism; using taxes to punish people he considered political opponents, Jeff Bezos, in particular, at Amazon. Yes, it’s all there, but what has been disturbing for me is the shredding of the rule of law, the inability on the part of the ruling elites on both sides of the aisle to stand up for the rule of law, until now. And that gets to the much deeper issue that there are — essentially, we live in a two-tiered legal system, where poverty has been criminalized. We live in a city where Eric Garner was strangled to death by New York City police for allegedly selling loose cigarettes, which he wasn’t on the day he was killed — he was, in fact, not doing anything — and then Wall Street, which has essentially rewritten the rules to — and so, my worry about impeachment, which I’m not against impeachment, is that people see it as a panacea. I think many in the Democratic Party, in particular in the liberal class, have personalized our problems in the figure of Donald Trump. And, in fact, the malaise runs much deeper. This is what I spent the last two years doing in my book America: The Farewell Tour. It is the rupturing of what the sociologist Émile Durkheim calls the social bonds — that’s where you get the term “anomie” — the disenfranchisement of well over half the country, the inability of them to actualize themselves, and acting out in self-destructive pathologies, whether that’s hate groups, the opioid crisis, gambling, sexual sadism, etc.

To Impeach or Not to Impeach? Chris Hedges & John Bonifaz Debate What Congress Should Do Next | Democracy Now!

[bountyofbeads]

Trump Approves Strikes on Iran, but Then Pulls Back https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/20/world/middleeast/iran-us-drone.html

Trump Approves Strikes on Iran, but Then Abruptly Pulls Back

By Michael D. Shear, Eric Schmitt, Michael Crowley, Maggie Haberman | Published June 20, 2019 |New York Times | Posted June 21, 2019 |

June 20, 2019

WASHINGTON — President Trump approved military strikes against Iran in retaliation for downing an American surveillance drone, but pulled back from launching them on Thursday night after a day of escalating tensions.

As late as 7 p.m., military and diplomatic officials were expecting a strike, after intense discussions and debate at the White House among the president’s top national security officials and congressional leaders, according to multiple senior administration officials involved in or briefed on the deliberations.

Officials said the president had initially approved attacks on a handful of Iranian targets, like radar and missile batteries.

The operation was underway in its early stages when it was called off, a senior administration official said. Planes were in the air and ships were in position, but no missiles had been fired when word came to stand down, the official said.

Mr. Trump’s national security advisers split about whether to respond militarily. Senior administration officials said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo; John R. Bolton, the national security adviser; and Gina Haspel, the C.I.A. director, had favored a military response. But top Pentagon officials cautioned that such an action could result in a spiraling escalation with risks for American forces in the region.

Congressional leaders were briefed by administration officials in the Situation Room.

The destruction of the drone underscored the already tense relations between the two countries after Mr. Trump’s recent accusations that Iran is to blame for explosions last week that damaged oil tankers traveling through the strait, the vital waterway for much of the world’s oil. Iran has denied that accusation.

Iran’s announcement this week that it would soon breach one of the key limits it had agreed to in a 2015 pact intended to limit its nuclear program has also fueled tensions. Mr. Trump, who pulled the United States out of the 2015 pact, has vowed that he will not allow Tehran to build a nuclear weapon.

On Thursday, Mr. Trump insisted that the United States’ unmanned surveillance aircraft was flying over international waters when it was taken down by an Iranian missile.

“This drone was in international waters, clearly,” the president told reporters on Thursday afternoon at the White House as he began a meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada. “We have it all documented. It’s documented scientifically, not just words.”

Asked what would come next, Mr. Trump said, “Let’s see what happens.”

Iran’s government fiercely disputed the president’s characterization, insisting that the American drone had strayed into Iranian airspace. Iran released GPS coordinates that put the drone eight miles off the country’s coast, inside the 12 nautical miles from the shore that Iran claims as its territorial waters.

Majid Takht-Ravanchi, Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, wrote in a letter to the Security Council that the drone ignored repeated radio warnings before it was downed. He said that Tehran “does not seek war” but “is determined to vigorously defend its land, sea and air.”

Congressional Democrats emerged from the president’s classified briefing in the Situation Room and urged Mr. Trump to de-escalate the situation. They called on the president to seek congressional authorization before taking any military action.

“This is a dangerous situation,” Speaker Nancy Pelosi said. “We are dealing with a country that is a bad actor in the region. We have no illusions about Iran in terms of their ballistic missile transfers, about who they support in the region and the rest.”

Iran’s destruction of the drone appeared to provide a boost for officials inside the Trump administration who have long argued for a more confrontational approach to Iran, including the possibility of military actions that could punish the regime for its support of terrorism and other destabilizing behavior in the region.

But in his public appearance, Mr. Trump initially seemed to be looking for a way to avoid a potentially serious military crisis. Instead of directly accusing the leaders of Iran, Mr. Trump said someone “loose and stupid” in Iran was responsible for shooting down the drone.

The president said he suspected it was some individual in Iran who “made a big mistake,” even as Iran had taken responsibility for the strike and asserted that the high-altitude American drone was operating over Iranian air space, which American officials denied.

Mr. Trump said the episode would have been far more serious if the aircraft had been a piloted vehicle, and not a drone. It made “a big, big difference” that an American pilot was not threatened, he told reporters.

Last year, Mr. Trump pulled the United States out of the 2015 nuclear pact with Iran, over the objections of China, Russia and American allies in Europe. He has also imposed punishing economic sanctions on Iran, trying to cut off its already limited access to international trade, including oil sales.

Iran has warned of serious consequences if Europe does not find a way around those sanctions, though it has denied involvement in the attacks on tankers near the vital Strait of Hormuz. On Monday, Iran said it would soon stop abiding by a central component of the nuclear deal, the limit on how much enriched uranium it is allowed to stockpile.

Both Washington and Tehran said the downing of the drone occurred at 4:05 a.m. Thursday in Iran, or 7:35 p.m. Wednesday in Washington. The drone “was shot down by an Iranian surface-to-air missile system while operating in international airspace over the Strait of Hormuz,” the United States Central Command said in a statement. “This was an unprovoked attack on a U.S. surveillance asset in international airspace.”

Iran’s ability to target and destroy the high-altitude American drone, which was developed to evade the very surface-to-air missiles used to bring it down, surprised some Defense Department officials, who interpreted it as a show of how difficult Tehran can make things for the United States as it deploys more troops and steps up surveillance in the region.

Lt. Gen. Joseph Guastella, the Air Force commander for the Central Command region in the Middle East, said the attack could have endangered “innocent civilians,” even though officials at Central Command continued to assert that the drone was over international waters. He said that the closest that the drone got to the Iranian coast was 21 miles.

Late Thursday, the Defense Department released additional imagery in an email to support its case that the drone never entered Iranian airspace. But the department incorrectly called the flight path of the drone the location of the shooting down and offered little context for an image that appeared to be the drone exploding in midair.

It was the latest attempt by the Pentagon to try to prove that Iran has been the aggressor in a series of international incidents.

[What we know and don’t know about Iran shooting down an American drone.]

Iran’s foreign affairs minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, said in a post on Twitter that he gave what he said were precise coordinates for where the American drone was targeted.

“At 00:14 US drone took off from UAE in stealth mode & violated Iranian airspace,” he said in a tweet that included coordinates that he said were near Kouh-e Mobarak. “We’ve retrieved sections of the US military drone in OUR territorial waters where it was shot down.”

Mr. Trump’s comments on Thursday afternoon in the Oval Office reflected the longstanding tension between the president’s desire to be seen as tough on the world stage and his campaign promise to make sure that the United States did not get tangled in more foreign wars.

The president has embraced a reputation as someone who punches back when he is challenged. Only months into his tenure, Mr. Trump launched 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles at an air base in Syria after a chemical weapon attack.

But he has often talked about ending American involvement in long-running conflicts abroad, describing his “America First” agenda as having little room for being the world’s police force. In a tweet in January, he said he hoped that “Endless Wars, especially those which are fought out of judgement mistakes” would “eventually come to a glorious end!”

According to Iranian news media, a foreign minister spokesman there said that flying a drone into Iranian airspace was an “aggressive and provocative” move by the United States.

Hossein Salami, the commander in chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, said crossing the country’s border was “our red line,” the semiofficial Mehr news agency reported.

“We are not going to get engaged in a war with any country, but we are fully prepared for war,” Mr. Salami said at a military ceremony in Sanandaj, Iran, according to a translation from Press TV, a state-run news outlet. “Today’s incident was a clear sign of this precise message, so we are continuing our resistance.”

Iranian news media said the drone had flown over Iranian territory unauthorized, and reported that it had been shot down in the Hormozgan Province, along the country’s southern coast on the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.

Both the United States and Iran identified the aircraft as an RQ-4 Global Hawk, a surveillance drone made by Northrop Grumman.

“This was a show of force — their equivalent of an inside pitch,” said Derek Chollet, a former assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs during the Obama administration, speaking of Iran’s decision to shoot down the drone.

James G. Stavridis, who retired as a four-star admiral after serving as the supreme allied commander at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, warned that the two countries were in a dangerous game that could quickly spiral out of control. He described Iran’s downing of the drone, which costs about $130 million, as a “logical albeit highly dangerous escalatory move by Iran.”