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.
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