Wednesday, February 26, 2020
Tuesday, February 25, 2020
Warren says Bloomberg funded Lindsey Gragam right now on CBS
And many other Republican senate candidates against Democrats.
Screw him.
Screw him.
So, about Sanders and Castro et al
When the judge gave Manafort a much softer sentence than recommended by the guidelines and than apparently deserved he explained that, apart from his crimes, Manafort was sort of an OK guy.
And it was an infuriating irrelevancy likely true of damn near all criminals.
Apart from the ways in which they suck they're swell.
And, hey, Hitler got on well with dogs and children, they say.
Joe Scarborough pointed out that Mussolini made the trains run on time.
And it was an infuriating irrelevancy likely true of damn near all criminals.
Apart from the ways in which they suck they're swell.
And, hey, Hitler got on well with dogs and children, they say.
Joe Scarborough pointed out that Mussolini made the trains run on time.
Monday, February 24, 2020
Morning Joe crew no friends of Bernie
Lots of worrying about red baiting and Bernie's thin record of achievement.
Lots of worrying about Zombie candidates splitting moderate votes.
Lots of worrying about Zombie candidates splitting moderate votes.
Thursday, February 20, 2020
Russian interference a forbidden subject
Trump decided to replace his top spy chief after his aide told Congress that Russia is interfering in 2020 to help Trump win
Just more authoritarian thuggery from the enraged and unrestrained Crime Lord in the White House.
Every line of the story makes the reader sick.
But it's real, of course.
Just more authoritarian thuggery from the enraged and unrestrained Crime Lord in the White House.
Every line of the story makes the reader sick.
But it's real, of course.
Mike Bloomberg was one of Pat Toomey's top donors.
So reports local Action News station channel 4.
Mike Bloomberg supported hard right and Trump loyalist Senator Pat Toomey against Democrats whom he did not support.
Oh, and the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Mike Mikus remembers it as a “kick in the gut.”
Amid one of the most pivotal campaigns in the country in 2016, one many thought could decide control of the Senate, Mike Bloomberg poured millions of dollars into the contest — to help Pennsylvania Republican Sen. Pat Toomey.
“It helped both operationally in terms of the money spent, but it also allowed Pat Toomey to use that endorsement to create a false impression that he’s a moderate,” said Mikus, a consultant who worked for Toomey’s Democratic opponent, Katie McGinty.
Bloomberg, now a rising Democratic candidate for president, used his television ads to vouch for Toomey as a centrist problem solver.
Toomey a centrist? If Grover Norquist is just a tad to the right of center.
Bloomberg is really beginning to have a bad smell, to me.
How's this for balls?
On Wednesday, Bloomberg’s campaign called on Joe Biden, Warren and Buttigieg to drop out.
“Biden and Warren have crumbled … Buttigieg has stagnated,” said the Bloomberg memo. “If they remain in the race, “they will propel Sanders to a seemingly insurmountable delegate lead.”
On Thursday, Buttigieg’s campaign strongly suggested Bloomberg should leave the race, for the exact same reason.
“If Bloomberg remains in the race despite showing he cannot offer a viable alternative to Bernie Sanders, he will propel Sanders to a seemingly insurmountable delegate lead.”
So, it's all about stopping Trump, eh?
Or maybe not.
Those who prioritize beating Trump over beating Bernie would worry beating Bernie by such means would embitter his supporters and improve rather than hurt Trump's chances of beating the Dem nominee, as compared with his chances in a race against Bernie.
But those whose aim is to stop Bernie may or may not really care very much that Trump not get a second term.
Bloomberg campaign posts fake video of him mopping up the floor with the other Dems when in fact he fared very poorly.
Mike Bloomberg supported hard right and Trump loyalist Senator Pat Toomey against Democrats whom he did not support.
Oh, and the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Mike Mikus remembers it as a “kick in the gut.”
Amid one of the most pivotal campaigns in the country in 2016, one many thought could decide control of the Senate, Mike Bloomberg poured millions of dollars into the contest — to help Pennsylvania Republican Sen. Pat Toomey.
“It helped both operationally in terms of the money spent, but it also allowed Pat Toomey to use that endorsement to create a false impression that he’s a moderate,” said Mikus, a consultant who worked for Toomey’s Democratic opponent, Katie McGinty.
Bloomberg, now a rising Democratic candidate for president, used his television ads to vouch for Toomey as a centrist problem solver.
Toomey a centrist? If Grover Norquist is just a tad to the right of center.
Bloomberg is really beginning to have a bad smell, to me.
How's this for balls?
On Wednesday, Bloomberg’s campaign called on Joe Biden, Warren and Buttigieg to drop out.
“Biden and Warren have crumbled … Buttigieg has stagnated,” said the Bloomberg memo. “If they remain in the race, “they will propel Sanders to a seemingly insurmountable delegate lead.”
On Thursday, Buttigieg’s campaign strongly suggested Bloomberg should leave the race, for the exact same reason.
“If Bloomberg remains in the race despite showing he cannot offer a viable alternative to Bernie Sanders, he will propel Sanders to a seemingly insurmountable delegate lead.”
So, it's all about stopping Trump, eh?
Or maybe not.
Those who prioritize beating Trump over beating Bernie would worry beating Bernie by such means would embitter his supporters and improve rather than hurt Trump's chances of beating the Dem nominee, as compared with his chances in a race against Bernie.
But those whose aim is to stop Bernie may or may not really care very much that Trump not get a second term.
Bloomberg campaign posts fake video of him mopping up the floor with the other Dems when in fact he fared very poorly.
The Trump standard
Trump angrily declared the Stone jury tainted because the foreperson was a woman who criticized Trump on social media.
A fact that came out during voir-dire and that fazed Stone, his lawyers, and the court not at all.
Trump was not on trial.
But Stone through his lawyers has moved for a new trial for exactly the reason trumpeted by Trump.
And the right wing noise machine is equally outraged.
Clearly, only a jury of Trump supporters or political neuters could be untained in a trial of any Trump ally.
The Trump standard.
Wednesday, February 19, 2020
Bernie stonewalling
He promised he would release all his medical records to the public, but now he refuses to do it. Meanwhile, his leading operatives release scurrilous lies about Mike Bloomberg, per Jake Tapper.
Thursday, February 13, 2020
Let's get real
There are only two features that are peremptorily disqualifying for any aspirant to the Democratic nomination.
(a) He or she is worse than Trump.
(b) He or she will lose to Trump.
That's all.
Remember that when viewing propaganda from The Hill, The Damage Report, The Young Turks, The Pakman Report, or other manufacturers of propaganda for Bernie or against all the other aspirants for the Democratic nomination.
Nothing else is disqualifying.
And to the best of my knowledge none of them is worse than Trump.
(a) He or she is worse than Trump.
(b) He or she will lose to Trump.
That's all.
Remember that when viewing propaganda from The Hill, The Damage Report, The Young Turks, The Pakman Report, or other manufacturers of propaganda for Bernie or against all the other aspirants for the Democratic nomination.
Nothing else is disqualifying.
And to the best of my knowledge none of them is worse than Trump.
Wednesday, February 12, 2020
Bernie media discover new requirement of democracy
Bernie media have been bashing CNN and MSNBC and other Dem media for trying to keep Bernie from winning the nomination, with some justice (but not all that much).
Now they're floating the idea it would be an outrage if at a brokered convention anybody ended up the nominee but whoever came into the convention with the most delegates.
Confidence is high the candidate who shows up at the convention with the most delegates will be Bernie.
They complain of backroom deals wickedly allowing the process to act out second, third, or however many rounds as people with the least votes drop out and release their delegates to freely vote for whomever they prefer among those still standing, or recommend them (nonbindingly) to specific others.
Odd.
Most of the partisans of preferential voting, sometimes called "instant runoff voting", think it is far more democratically legitimate than first past the post.
Not these Bernie partisans. Not this year.
Why not?
Look at the combined totals for Mayor Pete, Joe Biden, and Amy Klobuchar and the combined totals for Bernie and Sen. Warren.
More moderate voters are divided among more moderate candidates.
And that's why a brokered convention bodes ill for Sanders.
Amy Klobuchar has to Rachel Madow indicated she is OK with somebody emerging as the nominee - herself, in particular - who did not arrive at the convention with the most pledged delegates.
Is this how the Bernie bros signal to all others that if their guy shows up with the most votes at the convention but he is not the nominee they will not support the nominee?
Yeah, kinda, sorta.
Bernie bros this time are what Bernie bros were last time.
Once a shithead always a shithead.
Now they're floating the idea it would be an outrage if at a brokered convention anybody ended up the nominee but whoever came into the convention with the most delegates.
Confidence is high the candidate who shows up at the convention with the most delegates will be Bernie.
They complain of backroom deals wickedly allowing the process to act out second, third, or however many rounds as people with the least votes drop out and release their delegates to freely vote for whomever they prefer among those still standing, or recommend them (nonbindingly) to specific others.
Odd.
Most of the partisans of preferential voting, sometimes called "instant runoff voting", think it is far more democratically legitimate than first past the post.
Not these Bernie partisans. Not this year.
Why not?
Look at the combined totals for Mayor Pete, Joe Biden, and Amy Klobuchar and the combined totals for Bernie and Sen. Warren.
More moderate voters are divided among more moderate candidates.
And that's why a brokered convention bodes ill for Sanders.
Amy Klobuchar has to Rachel Madow indicated she is OK with somebody emerging as the nominee - herself, in particular - who did not arrive at the convention with the most pledged delegates.
Is this how the Bernie bros signal to all others that if their guy shows up with the most votes at the convention but he is not the nominee they will not support the nominee?
Yeah, kinda, sorta.
Bernie bros this time are what Bernie bros were last time.
Once a shithead always a shithead.
Tuesday, February 11, 2020
Overkill, so to speak
Abortion before Roe was forbidden but not thought of or treated as murder.
This is overdoing it.
I favor banning abortion from conception if that is the only available alternative to allowing it ad lib up to the onset of labor.
But not like this.
This is clear proof there really are pro-life extremists and crazies.
Missouri lawmaker wants police officers to stop women from getting abortions
Mike Moon, a Republican Missouri state representative, introduced a bill he calls the Right to Due Process Act, which redefines a fertilized egg as a person with all the constitutional rights of any other citizen.
The suggested law then requires police and the courts to “affirmatively enforce” the Missouri constitution’s due process clause which guarantees legal rights to people, effectively turning any attempt to terminate a pregnancy into murder.
Moon also filed a bill to “abolish” abortion in Missouri, and specifically cites “murder by abortion”.
The law makes no exemptions for rape, incest or apparently for women who have pregnancies which are not viable and potentially fatal, since the proposals strike references to abortion exemptions for maternal health.
This is overdoing it.
I favor banning abortion from conception if that is the only available alternative to allowing it ad lib up to the onset of labor.
But not like this.
This is clear proof there really are pro-life extremists and crazies.
Missouri lawmaker wants police officers to stop women from getting abortions
Mike Moon, a Republican Missouri state representative, introduced a bill he calls the Right to Due Process Act, which redefines a fertilized egg as a person with all the constitutional rights of any other citizen.
The suggested law then requires police and the courts to “affirmatively enforce” the Missouri constitution’s due process clause which guarantees legal rights to people, effectively turning any attempt to terminate a pregnancy into murder.
Moon also filed a bill to “abolish” abortion in Missouri, and specifically cites “murder by abortion”.
The law makes no exemptions for rape, incest or apparently for women who have pregnancies which are not viable and potentially fatal, since the proposals strike references to abortion exemptions for maternal health.
Capone unchained
He thinks, correctly, he can get away with mob boss bullshit in plain sight as much as he wants.
Trump denounces Roger Stone sentencing as 'miscarriage of justice'
Executive clemency or an outright pardon for his pal, coming right up.
Trump denounces Roger Stone sentencing as 'miscarriage of justice'
Executive clemency or an outright pardon for his pal, coming right up.
Sunday, February 9, 2020
Mayor Pete
Really, really smart.
Pete on You Tube at Politics and Prose.
He is a lot smarter than I realized and a lot smarter than his competition.
Maybe.
Can't imagine Trump doing anything remotely like this.
Pete on You Tube at Politics and Prose.
He is a lot smarter than I realized and a lot smarter than his competition.
Maybe.
Can't imagine Trump doing anything remotely like this.
Friday, February 7, 2020
What next? Next he hires Russians away from Trump.
Mike Bloomberg will pay you $150 to say nice things about him
Money can’t buy you friends.
But it can buy you influence – or influencers, to be precise.
In the latest round of “What will Mike Bloomberg buy next?” (he has already been accused of buying his way into the presidential race) Bloomberg is offering $150 a pop to Instagram influencers willing to shill for his campaign, according to the Daily Beast.
The Bloomberg campaign is using the social marketing agency Tribe to recruit influencers.
A post on Tribe’s platform – which matches influencers with paid opportunities – asks influencers to apply for the gig by explaining “why Mike Bloomberg is the electable candidate who can rise above the fray, work across the aisle so ALL Americans feel heard & respected”.
The advert specifies influencers should “be honest, passionate and be yourself!”
Money can’t buy you friends.
But it can buy you influence – or influencers, to be precise.
In the latest round of “What will Mike Bloomberg buy next?” (he has already been accused of buying his way into the presidential race) Bloomberg is offering $150 a pop to Instagram influencers willing to shill for his campaign, according to the Daily Beast.
The Bloomberg campaign is using the social marketing agency Tribe to recruit influencers.
A post on Tribe’s platform – which matches influencers with paid opportunities – asks influencers to apply for the gig by explaining “why Mike Bloomberg is the electable candidate who can rise above the fray, work across the aisle so ALL Americans feel heard & respected”.
The advert specifies influencers should “be honest, passionate and be yourself!”
The Good Samaritan
This orangutan saw a man wading in snake-infested water and decided to offer a helping hand
A revealing impulse, in lots of ways.
A revealing impulse, in lots of ways.
Not so much for Pete as against Bernie
How the Democrats handled Iowa.
The panic of leading talkers at Democratic media at the prospect of Bernie being the nominee.
The shrill insistence that he can't win disguising the desire to keep him and his agenda (not really socialist but really progressive) out of the White House, or anyway from gaining more traction in the Democratic Party.
Some You Tube commentators flatly characterize this as class war within the Democratic Party, with neolibs of the Clintonista variety, old and new, old and young, denouncing Bernie and his supporters as an ideological cult, a cult of personality, a cult of purity, loony lefties far more committed to taking over a party they despise than actually driving out Trump.
His Democratic enemies pretend pushing Bernie aside is all about beating Trump.
But are they just using the necessity of beating Trump as a smokescreen for class war?
Well, yes, of course there's that.
But for some of them, anyway, both concerns could be real.
Did Mayor Pete lie to kill a poll that would have embarrassed him?
Did he demand a recount to deny Bernie a clear win?
MSNBC more and more open to such skepticism about Bernie.
The panic of leading talkers at Democratic media at the prospect of Bernie being the nominee.
The shrill insistence that he can't win disguising the desire to keep him and his agenda (not really socialist but really progressive) out of the White House, or anyway from gaining more traction in the Democratic Party.
Some You Tube commentators flatly characterize this as class war within the Democratic Party, with neolibs of the Clintonista variety, old and new, old and young, denouncing Bernie and his supporters as an ideological cult, a cult of personality, a cult of purity, loony lefties far more committed to taking over a party they despise than actually driving out Trump.
His Democratic enemies pretend pushing Bernie aside is all about beating Trump.
But are they just using the necessity of beating Trump as a smokescreen for class war?
Well, yes, of course there's that.
But for some of them, anyway, both concerns could be real.
Did Mayor Pete lie to kill a poll that would have embarrassed him?
Did he demand a recount to deny Bernie a clear win?
MSNBC more and more open to such skepticism about Bernie.
The most religious man in Washington?
So said by Lawrence O'Donnell of Mitt Romney.
How seriously do we suppose he takes that amazing mythology?
Plates in a rain barrel?
The angel Moroni?
And those are the least extravagant bits.
I can't imagine what he actually thinks.
But then I can't imagine what the Pope thinks.
Sometimes I am not at all sure what I think.
How seriously do we suppose he takes that amazing mythology?
Plates in a rain barrel?
The angel Moroni?
And those are the least extravagant bits.
I can't imagine what he actually thinks.
But then I can't imagine what the Pope thinks.
Sometimes I am not at all sure what I think.
Inexplicable America
Just watched somebody's elderly aunt prepare genuine Hungarian Goulash on You Tube.
It's an extravagantly rich soup with no roux, not a thick soup, using lard, onions, garlic, sweet peppers, tomatoes, carrots, parsnips, potatoes, cut up pork chops, spices including a lot of paprika, parsnip and celery greens, and small bits of Hungarian pasta made from eggs and flour but no water and no oil.
Not much like the American Chop Suey variant people in the US refer to as Goulash (sometimes American Goulash).
There are other recipes on You Tube using other meats than pork, but otherwise generally the same ingredients.
It's an extravagantly rich soup with no roux, not a thick soup, using lard, onions, garlic, sweet peppers, tomatoes, carrots, parsnips, potatoes, cut up pork chops, spices including a lot of paprika, parsnip and celery greens, and small bits of Hungarian pasta made from eggs and flour but no water and no oil.
Not much like the American Chop Suey variant people in the US refer to as Goulash (sometimes American Goulash).
There are other recipes on You Tube using other meats than pork, but otherwise generally the same ingredients.
Trumpist dirty tricksters contributed deliberately to the chaos
Trump-Supporting 4chan Trolls Reportedly Flooded Iowa Caucus Hotline With Calls
The organized attack delayed and even blocked precinct officials from reporting caucus results on the phone, NBC and Bloomberg reported.
The organized attack delayed and even blocked precinct officials from reporting caucus results on the phone, NBC and Bloomberg reported.
Revenge is coming
Trump’s impeachment revenge list starts with Mitt Romney
And the Duce is not pursuing it all on his own.
Treasury Department Hands Over Hunter Biden Info After Withholding Trump’s Tax Records
The Treasury Department has given congressional Republicans sensitive financial information related to Hunter Biden after having refused to give Democrats President Donald Trump’s tax returns.
Yahoo News first reported Thursday that the Treasury Department handed over highly confidential information in response to a November request from Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Homeland Security Committee Chairman Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) for suspicious activity reports filed with the department by financial institutions.
Last year, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin blocked a Democratic request for the president’s tax filings, saying Democrats had no legitimate legislative purpose for seeking the documents.
And the Duce is not pursuing it all on his own.
Treasury Department Hands Over Hunter Biden Info After Withholding Trump’s Tax Records
The Treasury Department has given congressional Republicans sensitive financial information related to Hunter Biden after having refused to give Democrats President Donald Trump’s tax returns.
Yahoo News first reported Thursday that the Treasury Department handed over highly confidential information in response to a November request from Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Homeland Security Committee Chairman Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) for suspicious activity reports filed with the department by financial institutions.
Last year, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin blocked a Democratic request for the president’s tax filings, saying Democrats had no legitimate legislative purpose for seeking the documents.
"It was the opposite of prayer"
Trump takes victory lap in speech after impeachment acquittal
A day after the Senate failed to convict him on two articles of impeachment, President Donald Trump struck back at his “enemies” at the National Prayer Breakfast in the morning and during remarks later in the East Room of the White House.
Trump was unsparing in his criticism of the people who impeached him on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, which were dismissed Wednesday by the Senate.
At the 68th National Prayer Breakfast, Trump brandished two newspaper front pages with headlines that included the word “acquitted” as attendees showered him with applause.
“Weeks ago, and again yesterday, courageous Republican politicians and leaders had the wisdom, the fortitude, and strength to do what everyone knows was right,” Trump told the breakfast. “I don’t like people who use their faith as justification for doing what they know is wrong. Nor do I like people who say, ‘I pray for you,’ when they know that that’s not so,” Trump told the crowd.
. . . .
Not everyone reacted positively to Trump’s comments.
“It was the opposite of prayer,” said the Rev. James Martin, a Jesuit priest, calling Trump’s remarks “an exercise in spite, contempt and vanity.”
A day after the Senate failed to convict him on two articles of impeachment, President Donald Trump struck back at his “enemies” at the National Prayer Breakfast in the morning and during remarks later in the East Room of the White House.
Trump was unsparing in his criticism of the people who impeached him on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, which were dismissed Wednesday by the Senate.
At the 68th National Prayer Breakfast, Trump brandished two newspaper front pages with headlines that included the word “acquitted” as attendees showered him with applause.
“Weeks ago, and again yesterday, courageous Republican politicians and leaders had the wisdom, the fortitude, and strength to do what everyone knows was right,” Trump told the breakfast. “I don’t like people who use their faith as justification for doing what they know is wrong. Nor do I like people who say, ‘I pray for you,’ when they know that that’s not so,” Trump told the crowd.
. . . .
Not everyone reacted positively to Trump’s comments.
“It was the opposite of prayer,” said the Rev. James Martin, a Jesuit priest, calling Trump’s remarks “an exercise in spite, contempt and vanity.”
Perhaps a successor to Michael Harrington
Ocasio-Cortez Testifies: There's A 'State Of Denial' About Poverty In US
AOC lays it down: "We do not want to recognize the level of poverty in this country because if we did, it would be a national scandal."
AOC lays it down: "We do not want to recognize the level of poverty in this country because if we did, it would be a national scandal."
Thursday, February 6, 2020
Capone unchained
Why is Bloomberg the only one to realize the campaign against the Duce has to be primarily and mostly a campaign against the Duce, not a campaign for "hope and change", or "what our values are", or "bringing us together", or "a return to the way things were and ought to be", or "a return to decency and civility".
Not that I want him to be the nominee.
The green agenda is swell, as is Medicare for All and Bernie's "political revolution" against rule by Kochist billionaires.
But attack the son of a bitch, relentlessly and mercilessly.
Show him as he is and that will do it.
That will unite and bring in the votes of everyone who loathes him.
While agenda driven campaigning will tend to divide that very demographic, to our cost.
'It was evil': Trump basks in acquittal as he settles scores and fires his insult cannon
In a formless rant described as a ‘celebration’, the president insulted enemies, flattered allies and replayed old grievances.
“This is really not a news conference,” Donald Trump admitted.
“It’s not a speech. It’s not anything. It’s just, we’re sort of, err – it’s a celebration because we have something that just worked out.”
Whatever it was, it wasn’t pretty.
For more than an hour at the White House on Thursday, this was Trump at his Trumpiest, swaggering, settling scores, firing his insult cannon and basking in the adulation of the Republican allies who ensured his impeachment trial ended in acquittal.
Not that I want him to be the nominee.
The green agenda is swell, as is Medicare for All and Bernie's "political revolution" against rule by Kochist billionaires.
But attack the son of a bitch, relentlessly and mercilessly.
Show him as he is and that will do it.
That will unite and bring in the votes of everyone who loathes him.
While agenda driven campaigning will tend to divide that very demographic, to our cost.
'It was evil': Trump basks in acquittal as he settles scores and fires his insult cannon
In a formless rant described as a ‘celebration’, the president insulted enemies, flattered allies and replayed old grievances.
“This is really not a news conference,” Donald Trump admitted.
“It’s not a speech. It’s not anything. It’s just, we’re sort of, err – it’s a celebration because we have something that just worked out.”
Whatever it was, it wasn’t pretty.
For more than an hour at the White House on Thursday, this was Trump at his Trumpiest, swaggering, settling scores, firing his insult cannon and basking in the adulation of the Republican allies who ensured his impeachment trial ended in acquittal.
Oh, this is a helpful move.
Fucking idiot.
The committee in Iowa has refused unless a candidate asks for it, and none has.
DNC chairman calls for recanvass of Iowa caucuses
Update. Pete has. So I guess this is happening.
The committee in Iowa has refused unless a candidate asks for it, and none has.
DNC chairman calls for recanvass of Iowa caucuses
Update. Pete has. So I guess this is happening.
Their fiasco cost him a legitimate and important bragging opportunity
It now seems to me Bernie is the best of an unimpressive lot.
Can he win?
Sure.
Will he win?
I fear not.
And I fear what will happen in Bozo's second term much, much more.
Bernie Sanders declares 'decisive victory' in Iowa caucuses, rips results reporting 'screw-up'
Three days after the Iowa Democratic caucuses, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders claimed a "decisive victory" Thursday, pointing to his 6,000-vote lead in raw popular votes in the first alignment and downplaying partial results that show a tiny lead for former Mayor Pete Buttigieg in state equivalent delegates.
"We are holding a press conference that should have occurred three nights ago in Des Moines, but for the inability of the Iowa Democratic Party to count votes in a timely fashion," Sanders told reporters packed inside his New Hampshire campaign headquarters.
"That screw-up has been extremely unfair to the people of Iowa, it has been unfair to all of the candidates and all of their supporters. So what I want to do, three days late, is thank the people of Iowa for the very strong victory they gave us Monday night."
Sanders' pronouncement comes as Iowa results are still not fully counted following the malfunction of a cell phone app used to report results.
Can he win?
Sure.
Will he win?
I fear not.
And I fear what will happen in Bozo's second term much, much more.
Bernie Sanders declares 'decisive victory' in Iowa caucuses, rips results reporting 'screw-up'
Three days after the Iowa Democratic caucuses, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders claimed a "decisive victory" Thursday, pointing to his 6,000-vote lead in raw popular votes in the first alignment and downplaying partial results that show a tiny lead for former Mayor Pete Buttigieg in state equivalent delegates.
"We are holding a press conference that should have occurred three nights ago in Des Moines, but for the inability of the Iowa Democratic Party to count votes in a timely fashion," Sanders told reporters packed inside his New Hampshire campaign headquarters.
"That screw-up has been extremely unfair to the people of Iowa, it has been unfair to all of the candidates and all of their supporters. So what I want to do, three days late, is thank the people of Iowa for the very strong victory they gave us Monday night."
Sanders' pronouncement comes as Iowa results are still not fully counted following the malfunction of a cell phone app used to report results.
Napolitano, again
Doesn't pull his punches for Bozo.
Despite his impeachment trial acquittal, Trump clearly guilty of a high crime
Napolitano begins with a quote from Orwell.
Despite his impeachment trial acquittal, Trump clearly guilty of a high crime
Napolitano begins with a quote from Orwell.
"The party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command." – George Orwell, "1984"He says Trump was guilty of the crime of bribery, that it is absolutely impeachable, and that he should have been convicted and removed from office by the senate.
Romney alone
Romney's impeachment vote didn't change the outcome but it did change the narrative
No witnesses, no documents, no subpoenas, no removal, no censure.
But Romney, alone among Republicans, voted to remove a president "unfit for office".
“The president asked a foreign government to investigate his political rival,” Romney said.
“The president withheld vital military funds from that government to press it to do so.”
“The president delayed funds for an American ally at war with Russian invaders.”
“The president’s purpose was personal and political.”
“What he did was not ‘perfect.’ No, it was a flagrant assault on our electoral rights, our national security, and our fundamental values. Corrupting an election to keep oneself in office is perhaps the most abusive and destructive violation of one’s oath of office that I can imagine.”
. . . .
In the end, the Senate voted to acquit President Trump on Wednesday — by a 48-52 vote on the abuse of power article of impeachment (where Romney joined Democrats), and by a 47-53 on the obstruction of Congress (where Romney joined with Republicans).
GOP Sen. Romney faces awkwardness, 'abuse' for defying Trump on impeachment
Romney’s decision to become the first senator in U.S. history to vote for removal of a president of his own party now makes him a test case on whether the GOP is willing to accommodate dissent against a president who demands loyalty.
. . . .
The president’s oldest son, Donald Trump Jr., tweeted that Romney was "bitter" over his failed 2012 president bid and intent on impressing elites and the mainstream media. He added that Romney was officially "a member the resistance & should be expelled from the @GOP.”
Trump himself tweeted out a video that called Romney "slick, slippery, stealthy."
Matt Schlapp, head of the American Conservative Union and a staunch Trump ally, said Utah now has a “big problem” that his group would like to help fix.
“#DumpRomney,” tweeted Schlapp who had already banned Romney from attending this year’s gathering of conservative activists after Romney was one of only two Republican senators to vote for witnesses at the Senate impeachment trial.
Laura Ingraham calls on Mitt Romney to resign, says she 'may consider' opposing him in 4 and a half years
Laura Ingraham took aim at House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for her demeanor during the State of the Union address and eventually tearing up President Trump's speech as he concluded before she focused on Utah Senator Mitt Romney who was the only Republican to vote guilty along with Democrats at the Senate impeachment trial.
"Last night, [Pelosi] showed the world who she really is," Ingraham said on "The Ingraham Angle" Wednesday.
"A woman left with little else, but her own sour puss, facial expression and a paper ripping stunt. She let her anger get the best of her, and her white suit didn't make her look any more angelic. It was the color of surrender."
Ingraham then called Romney "the ultimate selfish, preening, self-centered politician."
"If he were up for reelection this year, the people of Utah would have their own payback against him because they were defrauded by Romney. For when he had to choose, he chose [Charles] Schumer and Kamala [Harris] over common sense and conservatism," Ingraham said.
"If you're one of Romney's constituents in Utah, you're out of luck. If you're a business in need of a regulation reexamined, don't bother calling his office. He has no power anymore."
Ingraham brought up Romney's previous presidential runs saying, "we thought you'd be better for America and the way you repay millions of people, the millions who did vote for you in 2012 is to throw in with the very people who don't share our goals, who hate us. And by the way, who still hate you."
"Like all the other bitter 'Never Trumpers', he'd rather see the entire American economy go down the drain than give Trump a victory," Ingraham said.
No witnesses, no documents, no subpoenas, no removal, no censure.
But Romney, alone among Republicans, voted to remove a president "unfit for office".
“The president asked a foreign government to investigate his political rival,” Romney said.
“The president withheld vital military funds from that government to press it to do so.”
“The president delayed funds for an American ally at war with Russian invaders.”
“The president’s purpose was personal and political.”
“What he did was not ‘perfect.’ No, it was a flagrant assault on our electoral rights, our national security, and our fundamental values. Corrupting an election to keep oneself in office is perhaps the most abusive and destructive violation of one’s oath of office that I can imagine.”
. . . .
In the end, the Senate voted to acquit President Trump on Wednesday — by a 48-52 vote on the abuse of power article of impeachment (where Romney joined Democrats), and by a 47-53 on the obstruction of Congress (where Romney joined with Republicans).
GOP Sen. Romney faces awkwardness, 'abuse' for defying Trump on impeachment
Romney’s decision to become the first senator in U.S. history to vote for removal of a president of his own party now makes him a test case on whether the GOP is willing to accommodate dissent against a president who demands loyalty.
. . . .
The president’s oldest son, Donald Trump Jr., tweeted that Romney was "bitter" over his failed 2012 president bid and intent on impressing elites and the mainstream media. He added that Romney was officially "a member the resistance & should be expelled from the @GOP.”
Trump himself tweeted out a video that called Romney "slick, slippery, stealthy."
Matt Schlapp, head of the American Conservative Union and a staunch Trump ally, said Utah now has a “big problem” that his group would like to help fix.
“#DumpRomney,” tweeted Schlapp who had already banned Romney from attending this year’s gathering of conservative activists after Romney was one of only two Republican senators to vote for witnesses at the Senate impeachment trial.
Laura Ingraham calls on Mitt Romney to resign, says she 'may consider' opposing him in 4 and a half years
Laura Ingraham took aim at House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for her demeanor during the State of the Union address and eventually tearing up President Trump's speech as he concluded before she focused on Utah Senator Mitt Romney who was the only Republican to vote guilty along with Democrats at the Senate impeachment trial.
"Last night, [Pelosi] showed the world who she really is," Ingraham said on "The Ingraham Angle" Wednesday.
"A woman left with little else, but her own sour puss, facial expression and a paper ripping stunt. She let her anger get the best of her, and her white suit didn't make her look any more angelic. It was the color of surrender."
Ingraham then called Romney "the ultimate selfish, preening, self-centered politician."
"If he were up for reelection this year, the people of Utah would have their own payback against him because they were defrauded by Romney. For when he had to choose, he chose [Charles] Schumer and Kamala [Harris] over common sense and conservatism," Ingraham said.
"If you're one of Romney's constituents in Utah, you're out of luck. If you're a business in need of a regulation reexamined, don't bother calling his office. He has no power anymore."
Ingraham brought up Romney's previous presidential runs saying, "we thought you'd be better for America and the way you repay millions of people, the millions who did vote for you in 2012 is to throw in with the very people who don't share our goals, who hate us. And by the way, who still hate you."
"Like all the other bitter 'Never Trumpers', he'd rather see the entire American economy go down the drain than give Trump a victory," Ingraham said.
Wednesday, February 5, 2020
A speech full of lies from the likely winner of 2020.
Yes, I think the Duce will likely win a second term this fall, to the very great harm of the Republic.
Lies about pre-existing conditions (his lawyers are in court to kill this as well as all of Ocare), the economy, Social Security and Medicare (which he has already said will be cut).
A speech so ludicrous Nancy tore it up.
Not a word about impeachment.
A propos of which: Trump Job Approval at Personal Best 49%
As to the Democratic aspirants to Bozo's job, they bear the stain of Iowa's utter disaster.
Joe S this morning emphasizes that participants ignored the rules and made a mess of things, even apart from the failure of their now infamous app.
Initial results from Iowa caucuses show Buttigieg has narrow lead
Pete Buttigieg led the field in the first set of results released after Monday night's Iowa caucuses, providing a major boost for the former South Bend, Indiana, mayor.
With 71% precincts reporting as of early Wednesday morning, Buttigieg had 26.8% of state delegate equivalents, followed by Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders at 25.2%, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren with 18.4% and former Vice President Joe Biden at 15.4%.
. . . .
Sanders, meanwhile, showed he remains the preference of progressive voters, leading third-place Warren ahead of next week's showdown in a state that neighbors the homes of both senators.
The results are an alarming failure for Biden, whose campaign fell short of the 15% viability threshold in some precincts.
The national front-runner in most polls, whose campaign was built on the argument he is the party's most electable contender, is on course to limp into New Hampshire with a clear loss.
Lies about pre-existing conditions (his lawyers are in court to kill this as well as all of Ocare), the economy, Social Security and Medicare (which he has already said will be cut).
A speech so ludicrous Nancy tore it up.
Not a word about impeachment.
A propos of which: Trump Job Approval at Personal Best 49%
As to the Democratic aspirants to Bozo's job, they bear the stain of Iowa's utter disaster.
Joe S this morning emphasizes that participants ignored the rules and made a mess of things, even apart from the failure of their now infamous app.
Initial results from Iowa caucuses show Buttigieg has narrow lead
Pete Buttigieg led the field in the first set of results released after Monday night's Iowa caucuses, providing a major boost for the former South Bend, Indiana, mayor.
With 71% precincts reporting as of early Wednesday morning, Buttigieg had 26.8% of state delegate equivalents, followed by Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders at 25.2%, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren with 18.4% and former Vice President Joe Biden at 15.4%.
. . . .
Sanders, meanwhile, showed he remains the preference of progressive voters, leading third-place Warren ahead of next week's showdown in a state that neighbors the homes of both senators.
The results are an alarming failure for Biden, whose campaign fell short of the 15% viability threshold in some precincts.
The national front-runner in most polls, whose campaign was built on the argument he is the party's most electable contender, is on course to limp into New Hampshire with a clear loss.
Tuesday, February 4, 2020
Iowa hacked? They say not, just a "reporting issue" with their new app. Grotesque.
Training issue, glitch, what?
Still no word from Iowa.
So Buttigieg is claiming victory.
Some users are saying to MSNBC they gave up on the app in the morning and stopped early even trying to enter data, giving the lie to Iowa officials claiming the data are sound but only reporting is some sort of problem.
Trump and the GOP are not merely claiming incompetence but that this proves the system is somehow being rigged. By somebody. Somehow. For someone or against someone.
Iowa Caucus vote totals delayed amid 'inconsistencies'; campaigns lash out at 'crazy' state party
Still no word from Iowa.
So Buttigieg is claiming victory.
Some users are saying to MSNBC they gave up on the app in the morning and stopped early even trying to enter data, giving the lie to Iowa officials claiming the data are sound but only reporting is some sort of problem.
Trump and the GOP are not merely claiming incompetence but that this proves the system is somehow being rigged. By somebody. Somehow. For someone or against someone.
Iowa Caucus vote totals delayed amid 'inconsistencies'; campaigns lash out at 'crazy' state party
The Iowa Democratic Party (IDP) still has not reported official vote totals in the critical Iowa Caucuses as of early Tuesday morning, in a largely unexplained and unprecedented delay that has raised questions about the legitimacy of the contest — and Democratic campaign officials are livid, Fox News has learned.
The Trump campaign, meanwhile, openly suggested that the delay meant that the caucuses were being "rigged," and that the embarrassing night proved that the Democratic Party can't be trusted to run Americans' health care and implement sweeping new government programs.
Even if a winner were ultimately announced, the chaos and confusion has seemingly erased any hope for the major momentum boost that would normally result.
Update 5:00 pm, Iowa released 62% of the data to the media who have not the least idea how to interpret the numbers.
Reportedly, the Iowa Democratic Party relied on some outside experts to test their new app and did not even once do a mock vote or their own or any sort of stress test.
Where do you find an ISD stupid enough not to advise their employers that's nuts?
Meanwhile, newsies are saying that actual caucus goers and officials did not behave according to the rules so that some results are gibberish on their face.
Example, in some cases people eliminated as non viable on the first round nevertheless appeared in and were viable in the second round.
So, fucked.
Update 5:00 pm, Iowa released 62% of the data to the media who have not the least idea how to interpret the numbers.
Reportedly, the Iowa Democratic Party relied on some outside experts to test their new app and did not even once do a mock vote or their own or any sort of stress test.
Where do you find an ISD stupid enough not to advise their employers that's nuts?
Meanwhile, newsies are saying that actual caucus goers and officials did not behave according to the rules so that some results are gibberish on their face.
Example, in some cases people eliminated as non viable on the first round nevertheless appeared in and were viable in the second round.
So, fucked.
Monday, February 3, 2020
Not yet a tyrant. But it wouldn't take much.
The killing of Matteoti with impunity was widely believed to be ordered by Mussolini.
And this drove home the lesson that he could murder anyone who crossed him.
And that more than any other one thing helped make him a tyrant.
Trump has not yet been given impunity for murder by the courts or by the congressional Republicans, but if and when they do it, especially if for a real or supposed political murder, that will do it.
If you through your minions can kill your political opponents with impunity and everyone knows it, you are there.
That would not make him a fascist or the Republicans fascists.
Fascism is an ideology justifying tyranny, executive absolutism and not merely authoritarianism, as a political principle.
Neither Bozo nor the Republicans espouse any such ideology.
But they may yet espouse the thing.
He is already close with his idiotic bullshit about Article II of the Constitution.
And they, the congressional Republicans, are already so very, very close to condoning and covering for absolutely anything.
And this drove home the lesson that he could murder anyone who crossed him.
And that more than any other one thing helped make him a tyrant.
Trump has not yet been given impunity for murder by the courts or by the congressional Republicans, but if and when they do it, especially if for a real or supposed political murder, that will do it.
If you through your minions can kill your political opponents with impunity and everyone knows it, you are there.
That would not make him a fascist or the Republicans fascists.
Fascism is an ideology justifying tyranny, executive absolutism and not merely authoritarianism, as a political principle.
Neither Bozo nor the Republicans espouse any such ideology.
But they may yet espouse the thing.
He is already close with his idiotic bullshit about Article II of the Constitution.
And they, the congressional Republicans, are already so very, very close to condoning and covering for absolutely anything.
Hmm. Every sentence of Dershowitz's argument is a lie. Every one.
Dersh's argument.
It's neither sound nor even formally valid.
Premise: All politicians believe their own electoral victories are in the public interest.
Premise (or aside?): Mostly, they are right.
Conclusion: So if the quid pro quo is help getting elected, that cannot be the kind of quid pro quo that justifies removal from office.
Is that a brag, talking to Democrats?
Amy Klobuchar just now told Joe and Mika on MSNBC the names of several Republican office holders who have changed parties in order to caucus for her - at the Democratic caucuses - in Iowa.
She's bragging about this.
Does that really work?
Hurrah, hurrah; I'm the Democrat Republicans prefer for the Democratic nominee against Trump.
Screw them.
They don't get to force real Democrats to vote for the Republicans' favorite Democrat to stop Trump.
We get to force them to vote for the Democrats' favorite Democrat to stop Trump.
She's bragging about this.
Does that really work?
Hurrah, hurrah; I'm the Democrat Republicans prefer for the Democratic nominee against Trump.
Screw them.
They don't get to force real Democrats to vote for the Republicans' favorite Democrat to stop Trump.
We get to force them to vote for the Democrats' favorite Democrat to stop Trump.
Sunday, February 2, 2020
Yeah, like he knows how to win
John Kerry overheard discussing possible 2020 bid amid concern of 'Sanders taking down the Democratic Party'
These stooges of worried plute party donors pretend it's about Sanders not being able to win.
Horseshit.
It's about the agenda and the bully pulpit Sanders would use to bash the shit out of the plutes.
Class war with the little guy's side winning, in other words.
These are the same sort of shits who hated FDR, and whose hatred he said he welcomed.
These stooges of worried plute party donors pretend it's about Sanders not being able to win.
Horseshit.
It's about the agenda and the bully pulpit Sanders would use to bash the shit out of the plutes.
Class war with the little guy's side winning, in other words.
These are the same sort of shits who hated FDR, and whose hatred he said he welcomed.
He says he keeps all his promises, and even keeps promises he hasn't made!
Looks like he's getting ready to break a couple of big ones.
He really is just a front man for the most radical right wing moves to undo every progressive achievement since McKinley.
With his penchant for saying the quiet parts out loud and assuming no one is paying attention, President Trump on Wednesday opened the door to cutting Social Security and Medicare later this year.
Thing is, like any Republican, when he denies doing or intending to do something awful he's lying.
Think of Ocare and preexisting conditions.
And when he says he is doing or going to do something awful he's telling the truth.
His deplorable white trash voters will just stay in denial, no matter what.
Fucking idjits.
"It's clearly working"
A noble (!) use of racist disinformation about the coronavirus outbreak.
Coronavirus misinformation surges, fueled by clout chasers
The first- and second-most-popular coronavirus posts on Instagram since the start of the outbreak, according to Crowdtangle, a social media metric platform, came from the account of Karmagawa, a U.S. nonprofit owned by an internet marketer that donates proceeds from the sale of branded merchandise to various charitable causes.
Both posts feature a carousel of videos, some of which show people eating animals like bats and mice and put the blame for the outbreak on the eating habits of Asian people — claims that have been debunked.
Experts have warned about the spread of xenophobic and racially insensitive stereotypes tied to the coronavirus.
. . . .
Jennifer Mancini, a public relations representative for the nonprofit, said that while the videos are perhaps technically misinformation, they generally support the current research and are in the service of a greater philanthropic mission: to save animals and build schools.
“A lot of his stuff is for shock value, but look at the results,” Mancini said.
“He’s had so many shares. He’s gained so many followers, and donations have started coming in, so it’s clearly working. People are watching, right?”
Mancini said money donated to the nonprofit would go to buy supplies and medicine for people and families affected by the virus.
Coronavirus misinformation surges, fueled by clout chasers
The first- and second-most-popular coronavirus posts on Instagram since the start of the outbreak, according to Crowdtangle, a social media metric platform, came from the account of Karmagawa, a U.S. nonprofit owned by an internet marketer that donates proceeds from the sale of branded merchandise to various charitable causes.
Both posts feature a carousel of videos, some of which show people eating animals like bats and mice and put the blame for the outbreak on the eating habits of Asian people — claims that have been debunked.
Experts have warned about the spread of xenophobic and racially insensitive stereotypes tied to the coronavirus.
. . . .
Jennifer Mancini, a public relations representative for the nonprofit, said that while the videos are perhaps technically misinformation, they generally support the current research and are in the service of a greater philanthropic mission: to save animals and build schools.
“A lot of his stuff is for shock value, but look at the results,” Mancini said.
“He’s had so many shares. He’s gained so many followers, and donations have started coming in, so it’s clearly working. People are watching, right?”
Mancini said money donated to the nonprofit would go to buy supplies and medicine for people and families affected by the virus.
His preferential option for the poor
19th Century Vatican palace turned into homeless shelter at Pope Francis' behest
After the building was renovated in November, it opened its doors to the homeless.
“Beauty heals,” Francis said when he inaugurated the building at the time.
After the building was renovated in November, it opened its doors to the homeless.
“Beauty heals,” Francis said when he inaugurated the building at the time.
Saturday, February 1, 2020
Watching Bernie clips on You Tube
AOC in Iowa, campaigning for Bernie, is urging an agenda of the working class and working class power.
Socialism is the opium of lots of people, but anybody who has the balls to campaign for working people (Bernie, AOC, etc.) rather than "the middle class" has my attention.
The agenda is what it is, a modest dose of social democracy that is of immense value to tens of millions of ordinary Americans that will cost the plutes of America much more than they ever thought they would have to pay for social peace.
They are the authoritarian, almost fascist plutes.
And they pretend to be terrified by the socialism of AOC, Bernie, and an entire wing of the Democratic Party when they are merely enraged by it.
The threat is not AOC, Bernie, or their "socialism".
The threat is the billionaires who might rather sink the republic than see such advances for the working people of America, with its consequences for everybody above them in the social scale.
Socialism is the opium of lots of people, but anybody who has the balls to campaign for working people (Bernie, AOC, etc.) rather than "the middle class" has my attention.
The agenda is what it is, a modest dose of social democracy that is of immense value to tens of millions of ordinary Americans that will cost the plutes of America much more than they ever thought they would have to pay for social peace.
They are the authoritarian, almost fascist plutes.
And they pretend to be terrified by the socialism of AOC, Bernie, and an entire wing of the Democratic Party when they are merely enraged by it.
The threat is not AOC, Bernie, or their "socialism".
The threat is the billionaires who might rather sink the republic than see such advances for the working people of America, with its consequences for everybody above them in the social scale.
Super Bitch: Willing to see Trump win again rather than forego her revenge.
Axelrod and the Clintonistas of yesteryear share the attitude.
Amid Clinton attacks, Sanders tries to move past 2016
Amid Clinton attacks, Sanders tries to move past 2016
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