The Wisdom of Pooh

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The Orange Anus is going to make some sort of big announcement today. There notified the world of this big announcement with an animated video: him ripping open his shirt to reveal large T [[like Superman) while lasers shot out of his eyes. I'm not posting it. Very amateurish, possibly hoping to suck Marvel fans into the MAGA cult, some think he's going to announce that Kari Lake is his running mate. Others believe he might be announcing his intention to run for Speaker of the House. Still, others think he's going to re-announce his candidacy, since the first announcement floated like a turd in a public swimming pool. Or, perhaps, he just needs a boost to his ego since recent polls shown DeSantis leading him among the Cracker Jack Crazies.


And then there's this: Deep controversies in the Republican party are causing serious rifts. Usually, after a stunning defeat in the midterms, a political party re-evaluates their positions, they pinpoint mistakes which need to be corrected, they understand the need for softening their rhetoric in order to appeal to more centrist voters. This is not so for a majority of Republicans in the House. Instead, they are gathering as many dead horses around them as possible: Hunter Biden's laptop, Fauci's wisdom, disagreeable election results, and they are going to continue kicking them as hard as they can. For them, this is survival mode; hold onto the base by giving them what they want. Expect nothing less from the party which has suckled supporters on the teat of Republican hatred for years. After Trump is indicted, these same people will be desperately searching among the ruins for survivors.

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Cyndi Lauper, singer, activist and LGBTQ+ ally, thanking President Biden for signing the Respect for Marriage Act: “I came here because I wanted to say thank you to President Biden, Speaker Pelosi, Vice President Harris and all the advocates and his team for all families—mine and a lot of my friends and people you know … we can rest easy tonight because our families are validated, and because now we’re allowed to love who we love.” And right after saying this Lauper was attacked on social media for praising equality for same-sex couples and interracial couples. And folks wonder why we fight. photo

John Avlon, CNN, on Marjorie Taylor Greene saying if she had planned the insurrection “we would have won”: “She was playing to the crowd. But what she is basically saying is what we’ve been pointing out: without accountability, failed insurrections are just practice. She’s saying they would have succeeded, and they would have come armed. And that’s a statement with real weight if you’re a member of Congress. That’s an endorsement of violent sedition. Make no mistake about it.” Greene should have been run out of Congress for suggesting she’d be in favor of, and probably attend, an armed attack on our government. Traitorous ignorant bitch. photo

Andrew Hartzler, nephew of crying anti-marriage equality GOP lunatic Vicky Hartzler: “Aunt Vicky, that’s just not right. Institutions of faith like religious universities are not being silenced. They’re being empowered by the U.S. government to discriminate against tens of thousands of LGBTQ students because of religious exemptions, but they still receive federal funding. It’s more like you want the power to force your religious beliefs onto everyone else and because you don’t have that power you feel like you’re being silenced, but you’re not.” Sadly, Aunt Vicky is too blinded by her ignorance, masked as faith, to ever see the truth, but good on Andrew for taking her to task. photo

Kirk Cameron, former childish actor and current butt-hurt religious wingnut, whining on Fox: “One of the things I love about our country is its commitment to the sharing of knowledge and the free expression of ideas. That is why I’m excited to bring Brave Books Story Hour to public libraries across the country. Unfortunately, though many of these libraries gladly hosted the ‘Drag Queen Story Hour,’ several have refused to let me read about biblical wisdom from my new children’s book, ‘As You Grow.’ Today, I sent a letter to the directors of the Indianapolis Public Library and Scarsdale Public Library asking for the same opportunity the drag queens had this year to use a room in their libraries so I can read my new book and talk about love, joy and gentleness—character traits I think we all want to see in our children. I hope these libraries welcome me to Indiana and New York—but should they refuse to rent me a room, like those used by drag queens in June, I am prepared to assert my rights under the Constitution in court.” Hey Kirk, you asshat, if the library doesn’t want you there, that’s their right. And please let us all know when you’ll stand up for Drag Queen Story Hours since you seem upset that they were allowed to read to the kids. And lastly, fix the pedophile situation in organized religion and protect children inside churches before you come for the libraries.

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Neal Bledsoe, actor, standing up for his beliefs and ending his affiliation with anti-same-sex marriage Great American Media and Kirk Cameron’s little bigoted sister, Candace Cameron Bure: “My life wouldn’t be where it is today without the love, support, and guidance of the LGBTQIA+ community. From my mentors in college, to the myriad of agents and managers, writers and directors, teachers and colleagues, and, of course, my dear friends and family, who have all touched my life, I owe them a great debt. As someone who struggled as a young man with our society’s extremely narrow definition of masculinity, it was their community that provided me with refuge and a guiding light when my life felt lost. And now, if I cannot stand up for that community in their time of need, my debt to them means nothing. So, I want to be very clear: my support for the LGBTQIA+ community is unconditional—nothing is worth my silence or their ability to live and love freely in a world that we are lucky enough to share with them. I cannot continue with business as usual. I cannot take comfort from, nor will I give refuge to, those who excuse exclusion and promote division in any way, shape, or form. Everyone is entitled to their beliefs, and these are mine: the recent comments made by leadership at Great American Family are hurtful, wrong, and reflect an ideology that prioritizes judgment over love. I was raised as a Christian and believe in the essential message of love and forgiveness. That said, I could never forgive myself for continuing my relationship with a network that actively chooses to exclude the LGBTQIA+ community. It galls me to think that some among us are still finding ways to justify a crueler world under the cloak of faith, tradition, or, even worse, audience share.” Bledsoe is one of many actors who seemingly left the Hallmark Channel for Great American Family. He made just two films for the network in 2022 before Candace Cameron Bure took over as creative director and said there would be no same-sex marriages, or relationships on the network, just ‘traditional’ ones. Good on Bledsoe for standing up against hate masked as religious belief.

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Don't give any money to con artist Trump [[nypost.com)

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So, and what about Mike Lee? Here he is cozying up to the Orange Anus.

He has introduced a bill to ban pornography from the Internet. Well, it's a little more than pornography he wants taken away, nudity in general is a bad thing. You see, Mike Lee is one of those terrible individuals who believe a theology that was crimped together by men who not only believed the Earth was flat, but that it was the center of the universe as well. For Mike to believe otherwise would mean he'd need to question. Questions are bad for religion; answers not being might you want to hear. Of course, Mike also knows that his beliefs are a great way to control the masses. These rules have been divinely inspired, of course, they don't always apply to Mike, or to pastors, or to priests, or preachers. And Mike? Because of his close affiliation with the Orange Anus during the insurrection, might find that he'll be spending some quality time in jail. He will, of course, believe he is being punished for his beliefs.

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And, of course, this week leading up to Christmas has not been good for Republicans. The DOJ received referrals for not only the Orange Anus, but many of his cohorts in crime, including one for Mark Meadows. Yesterday Congress voted to release Trump's Tax Returns. One foolish Republican complained that if they release Donald's taxes, people might also want to see the Tax Returns for sitting member of the Supreme Court. The social media response was overwhelming to his comment. Bring it On!


As for the indictments? I don't believe we will have to wait long. I understand the Atlanta Grand July is in its final sessions and their charges should be arriving shortly; probably not before Christmas, though.


The Republican civil war in the house will very shortly turn into what will no doubt be a very long and very brutal battle, and looks to probably consume the full length and breadth of the party. What a shame they can't wrap it up and give it to us with a bow on top.

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lakeside, check your inbox, please.

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You gotta be a special kind of stupid to rally behind a man who claims to be rich but makes you foot the bill to run this country while he pays not one dime.

It’s become increasingly clear that Democrats are sexier than Republicans. I mean, has anyone ever heard anyone say, “Man, that’s a fine piece of elephant?”

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Josh Hawley, GOP Senator, January 6th Chicken, and self-described masculinity expert: “The liberal culture, what the message to young people is, the most you can aspire to in life is to be a consumer who sits in a cubicle in front of a computer all day and doesn’t ask questions or do anything meaningful with your life. What we need to say to young men—and young women too—is just the opposite. Aspire to be something more than a consumer, and for young men, aspire to be something more than a consumer of pornography. Aspire to actually create something of your life, like, create a family for instance. That is the single greatest act of rebellion—if you like—against the liberal culture.” I dunno, every time I hear a Republican accuse a liberal of something, it’s always the Republican doing that same thing. Leads me to think that Joshie likes himself from porn and so if he tells you it’s bad you’ll never think he sits in a dark room in his house choking Little Josh for hours on end. photo

Mike Lindell, the Pillow Loon, aiming at a new target: “What we’re doing now is, I’m going after Dade County in the 2022 election. And everyone says, ‘Well, why would you go after Dade County? This is where Ron DeSantis won Dade County, that’s a Republican won Dade County. Well, for me, I look at deviations, everybody. That’s a deviation. I don’t believe it. So I want to show, it’s gonna show everybody just like we always say about Democrats where they stole their elections. Because that was historical, normally Republicans don’t win that county. I want to find out in Dade County, what happened there because it’s, it’s a deviation from norm, you know, it’s very much a deviation.” Bitch should stick to pillows because his statement is nonsensical, other than that he thinks if he proves DeSantis cheated to win in Dade County, then DeSantis won’t run against Hair Furor in 2024. Of course, though, Mike Lindell is the biggest moron on the political scene so I doubt this little theory will go anywhere either. photo

Adam Kinzinger, retiring Republican Congressman, in his House farewell speech “Our democracy is not functioning. Where Republicans once believed that limited government meant lower taxes and more autonomy, today limited government means inciting violence against government officials. Following the tragic Oklahoma City bombing, former President George H. W. Bush publicly refuted those who used fear to gain support. In stark contrast, our leaders today belittle, and in some cases justify, attacks on the U.S. Capitol as ‘legitimate political discourse.’ The once great party of Lincoln, Roosevelt and Reagan has turned its back on the ideals of liberty and self-governance. Instead, it has embraced lies and deceit. The Republican Party used to believe in a big tent, which welcomed the tired, the poor, the huddled masses yearning to breathe free. Now we shelter the ignorant, the racists, who only stoke anger and hatred to those that are different than us. Our constituents voted us in based on our beliefs, but we cannot use our faith as a sword and a shield while ignoring the fact we are all children of God, that we are all Americans … Americans deserve a democracy that values truthful leaders and real dialogue between our parties. It is my belief that we must put aside our differences and remember that the nation itself will only survive if the people have faith in one another. Unfortunately, we now live in a world where lies trump truth. Where democracy is being challenged by authoritarianism. If we, America’s elected leaders, do not search within ourselves for a way out, I fear that this great experiment will fall into the ash heap of history. I can rest at night knowing I was standing up for the truth [but] I know many in this institution cannot do the same.” Snap. I know many in the GOP didn’t hear him because their heads are too filled with lies and the quest for power at any and all costs. It’s a shame that the GOP, and the Democratic party as well, didn’t have more Adam Kinzinger's in their midst.

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Yesterday there were quite a few individuals got reality checks. Can you hear me laughing at them?
Matty Gaetz was shooting off angry retorts because many, many people were outraged that he and Bimbo Boebert sat through Zelenskyy's speech. This is one of many images of the two sitting on their hands, or checking their phones. Did they think they were making some sort of bizarre statement?

Even the conservative rag, Newsweek, published, with large headlines, the names of the seven congressmen who stayed sitting.


That Putin asset, Tucker Carlson, was gesticulating so wildly I felt certain he was having a conniption as he shrieked about Zelenskyy throwing a foreign flag on the dais. Fox has a serious problem with Tucker in that he makes news because he rants, not because he makes points. Ranting people are rarely taken seriously.


And then there's George Santos, a Republican from New York who lied extensively about... well, everything. Let's see, he's not Jewish. His grandparents didn't flee Hitler, they were born in Brazil. He was married to a woman for some time. He has not been openly gay for 10 years. He never worked for Goldman-Sachs. Shit, the list goes on and on. George is having a serious reality check. George says he will tell all next week. Right.


Finally, the January 6 committee has released it's findings. The Republican party is dealing with a very serious Reality Check, as well they should.

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As for Christmas, itself. I wonder if Democrats are beginning to understand that Donald Trump is the greatest grift they could ever receive. Republican red is not going to hide all the political blood the party is going to spill. Charlie Kirk is going after Ronna McDaniel [[yeeha!). And all of those glorious texts the January 6 committee has blessed America with? Who cares if they weren't wrapped with a pretty bow on top. And Trump's taxes? Patience is a virtue. Good things come to those who wait.

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Besides Trumps ranting and ravings about the stolen 2020 election, other thing making the news this past holiday weekend, was Texas' governor Abbott sending bus loads of immigrants to Kamala Harris' home in Washington. You don't need to excuse my lack of political correctness, but Greg Abbott is truly a cripple, both physically, and emotionally, and politically. He shits on human beings in order to win approval from the MAGA Republican base. There was so much outrage on social media, people quoting scripture, as though their words were going to punish Abbott. They didn't. Abbott doesn't care what Jesus thinks. Abbott cares about Abbott. In case you haven't realized it yet, he's running against DeSantis for president in 2024.


Oh, and Kari Lake lost her case in Arizona. The judge actually told her, "you lost." Of course, Lake has vowed to appeal because that's what her lord and savior Donald Trump would do.

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Spot the psychopath........

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The GOP Hates The Gays More Than They Love Children

The GOP battle cry has long been, ‘The children! The children’ and they trot it out very heavily election. They want to protect the unborn children, well, at least until birth at which time they become irrelevant. Until this year when the GOP took up the QAnon theory that Democrats ‘groom’ children to be gay or to be given to pedophiles or, and this is an actual QAnon theory, to be eaten by high-ranking Democrats, like Obama, or Hollywood celebrities, like Tom Hanks. And the GOP turned their wrath on drag queens and the LGBTQ+ community, accusing us of sexualizing children; wingnuts protest Drag Queen Story Hours and some even shoot up LGBTQ+ nightclubs to prove their point. So, you’d think they would rally round a bill that would help victims of child sex abuse, right? The bill, entitled Respect for Child Survivors Act, was developed with input from child welfare groups to address the mistreatment that child witnesses sometimes face during investigations of their own abuse. It would require the FBI to form multi-disciplinary teams to investigate child sex abuse cases in a way that ensures accountability and transparency without re-traumatizing victims and their families. Sounds like a good way to protect children and save them from further abuse and while the bipartisan bill—which was introduced by GOP Senators John and Lindsey Graham , along with Democrat Senators Chris Coons and Amy Klobuchar—passed the House with 215 Democratic and 170 Republican votes, the No votes were all from the GOP: Mo Brooks and Barry Moore—Alabama Andy Biggs and Paul Gosar—Arizona Rick Crawford—Arkansas Tom McClintock—California Lauren Boebert—Colorado Byron Donalds and John Rutherford—Florida Andrew Clyde, Jody Hice, Austin Scott, and Marjorie Taylor Greene—Georgia James Comer and Thomas Massie—Kentucky Clay Higgins—Louisiana Matt Rosendale—Montana Jeff Van Drew—New Jersey Dan Bishop and Virginia Foxx—North Carolina Scott Perry—Pennsylvania Ralph Norman—South Carolina Louie Gohmert, Ronny Jackson, Troy Nehls, Chip Roy, and Michael Cloud--Texas Bob Good—Virginia Lauren Boebert, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Louie Gohmert, Paul Gosar and Rick Crawford all oppose he expansion of LGBTQ+ civil rights and many have accused the LGBTQ+ community of sexualizing or “grooming” kids. And yet they voted against this bill. In June, Boebert accused queer-inclusive teachers of “grooming” kids with educational flashcards showing a pregnant man on one of the cards. In November, Greene called gay Californian state Democratic Senator Scott Wiener a “communist groomer” for calling “groomer” an “anti-LGBTQ hate word.” In October, Gohmert co-sponsored a bill called the “Stop the Sexualization of Children Act” which would ban any entity that receives federal money from talking about sexual orientation or gender identity to children under the age of 10. Crawford has consistently voted against LGBTQ+ civil rights. It’s important to note these Republicans, who have spent the last year making so much noise about LGBTQ+ people “grooming” children, never speak as loudly against child sex abuse in their Christian churches, nor do they partner with any groups that actually oppose child abuse or child sex trafficking. And now we know they aren’t even willing to vote for a bill to address child sex abuse that got broad bipartisan support. That’s the rightwingnut faction of the GOP; they say they want to protect children but only if they can denigrate and humiliate and terrorize and threaten and perhaps even incite murder of LGBTQ+ Americans. They don’t care about children. They hate us.

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Donald Trump 2024: His Final Presidential Campaign [[nymag.com)

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[144man]

Note to Trump on Terminating Constitution

If Liz Truss had realized this, she might have remained prime minister for a little bit longer.

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And now, for the Drama. Republicans were praying that the George Santos revelations, that he's a lying sack of shit, were going to go away. They're getting worse. His claim to being Jew-ish took a terrible turn yesterday when forms he sent to Jewish groups had him claiming to be a proud Jewish American, and this from a Catholic boy. Even Tulsi Gabbard is questioning his integrity [[stop laughing). I'm guessing she knows how badly this is going to effect Republicans in the long run.

Evidently, on numerous occasions copies of confidential documents were made, and taken to the White House, and disbursed to members of the private sector. People are wondering if these are the papers Mark Meadows was burning in his office fireplace.


Trump's taxes will be released to the public on Friday.


More drama to arrive this afternoon.

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Santos shit show.....

didn’t graduate from any institution of higher learning. I’m embarrassed and sorry for having embellished my resume. I own up to that … We do stupid things in life.” Congressman-elect George Santos [[R-Bullshit)
Embellished? I do not think that word means what the Talented Mr. Santos thinks it means.
To “embellish” is to adorn, decorate, enhance, gild, beautify, and festoon, and, on occasion, it means to “exaggerate.”
This Santos did not do. He just made shit up out of whole cloth. He did not place doodads on his resume: He lied about his schooling, his degrees, his background, his criminal history, his employment, and about the non-existent properties he claimed to own. He lied that his employees were killed in the Pulse nightclub shooting. He lied about his Jew-ishness and about his grandparents escaping the Holocaust. He used fake quotes from Winston Churchill. He lied about his money, probably lied on financial disclosure forms [[which is actually a crime), and lied about his lying.
And then, having constructed this Babel of Fabulism, he turned to the playbook of disingenuous non-apologies.

“If I disappointed anyone by résumé embellishment…
and
“a lot of people overstate in their résumés.”
and
“I never claimed to be Jewish. I am Catholic,” he said. “Because I learned my maternal family had a Jewish background I said I was ‘Jew-ish.’

Parody weeps.

Because the news cycle moves fast, though, Santos has already tired of contrition and has moved on to defiance and threats. Asked by a radio host whether he might sue the NYT, which exposed his serial lies, Santos blustered:

“I’m gonna look through and see everything, and just like they nitpicked at me, now it’s gonna be my time to nitpick at both journalists who made it their mission to slander me across this country and across the world, and let’s see what happens at the end,” he added.
“But the one thing is, I will be sworn in, I will take office.”

**
Of course, a political party with any sort of intact immune system would move quickly to send this sociopath back to ScamLand, whence he came.
But this is the GOP circa 2022, and so it faces a painful dilemma. With a narrow majority in the House, Republicans [[and especially Kevin McCarthy) need his vote, of course.
But that’s not the real problem here, is it?
After years of ignoring, enabling, and rationalizing Big Lies and small ones, it will now be exceedingly difficult for the GOP to find their misplaced conscience that might morph into outrage and something like a moral standard. As Nick Catoggio writes:

Anyone willing to set aside their qualms about Trump for the sake of holding executive power logically should be willing to set aside their qualms about Santos for the sake of holding legislative power

So, not surprisingly, GOP leaders are either silent, or in a forgiving mood.

Rep.-elect Anthony D’Esposito, a Republican who will represent a House district next to Santos’s district, said in a statement that people “are deeply hurt and rightly offended” by Santos’s “lies and misstatements.” Although Santos’s “fabrications regarding the Holocaust and his family’s history are particularly hurtful,” D’Esposito said Santos has taken a “first step” by “coming clean” about other parts of his background.

This seems rather aggressive bar-lowering. But it’s echoed by Joseph G. Cairo Jr., the chairman of the Nassau County Republican Committee, who said that even though Santos “has broken the public trust” with his serial lies, he should nevertheless still be seated as a member of Congress, where he can atone for his deceptions by [[I kid you not) voting to cut taxes.

“The damage that his lies have caused to many people, especially those who have been impacted by the Holocaust, are profound,” Cairo said in the statement. “He must do the public’s will in Washington,” including “to deliver tax relief and pass laws” to boost public safety. Cairo said Santos “will have to continually prove that he has learned his lesson.”

We hate to be cynical here, because lots of people do go on to learn their lesson. But we doubt George Santos will be one of those cases.
**
Side note: The responsibility for this entire goat-rope lies with Santos and the GOP, but it’s worth noting that all of this should have been exposed before the election by the local media and Dem oppo research. Balls were dropped.
Bonus: Who thought electing Santos was a good idea?

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Lying Long Island Representative-elect George Santos came clean this week admitting he lied about being Jewish; he lied about his grandparents escaping the Holocaust, he lied about his education, he lied about having a college degree, he lied about places he worked, he lied about being married to a woman, and swore he was married to a man though no proof of that wedding exists either. Democrats are calling for him to resign but the GOP is mostly standing with him because when you are a party of liars one more is no big deal.

Pope Francis has announced his predecessor Benedict XVI is “very sick” and his health had “worsened” and asked people “for a special prayer for Pope Emeritus Benedict.” Hard pass.

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Luckily, many of us are going to be on the bright side of the light. Siding with Brian Tyler-Cohen, the Right side has already begun to implode. Their Super Nova will begin after they seat George Santos, because he's going to be arrested. Not only will fingers be pointed and threats will be made. And then the indictments will begin to fall. The MAGA cult will take to the streets in protest. The only thing missing, at first, will be Kristi Noem and her flamethrower. Don't worry, she and every other self-serving Republican in Congress will try and torch anything and everything connecting them to The Former Guy.


Sometimes, I almost think this whole thing has been pre-ordained, so sit back and enjoy the entertainment.

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And the new political year starts tomorrow. Today is a holiday for them. From what I understand, Kev McCarthy is one of those with the sadz. It looks like there will be several votes before they decide on Speaker of the House. Kev, who's offered his soul to any and every demon who might help him win the coveted position is in a bind, not enough demons are on his side. The American Freedom Caucus only have enough votes to disrupt, not control. This is actually good for America. The more they disrupt, the more the truth comes out about them, that they're in favor of a Republican authoritarian government. The more this truth comes out, the weaker they become. The weaker they become, the more repulsive they become. This is how a political party dies. Unlike the Phoenix, they will not rise from their ashes.

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And for today's picture, I chose this one, of Kev McCarthy after his 3rd loss.

I don't if any else saw, but Ted Lieu took a bag of popcorn. Me? I kept laughing. Vote after vote, after vote. The Republican implosion is really beginning to take off. Part of the problem is the American Freedom Caucus, which the party has let run rampant in the House for years. Many of them are still aligned with Trump, and are still election deniers. The fact that he diminishes them is something they will never understand. Had the Red Wave happened, McCarthy wouldn't have had to deal with them. Even when the Republicans do manage to elect a speaker, don't expect much to happen.


Jack Smith, who had been waylaid in Europe because of surgery, he'd had a serious biking accident, has quietly returned to the United States. Prepare for indictments to follow. With each indictment, the Republican party, and the American Freedom Caucus in particular, is going to implode. Self-destruction is eminent.


And, finally, George Santos wandered around inside the capital yesterday. The first thing that went through my mind when I saw him walking the halls was that he was wearing a sweater. [[Did you hear me laughing?). The second, and most obvious thing I realized was that no one was talking to him. He was completely ignored, and I could only wonder what he thought was going to happen. After all of his lies, did he believe lying Republicans were going to meet him with open arms?

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“All of us who didn’t have jobs lined up will be permanently unemployed…I’m so mad and upset. We all look like domestic terrorists now… This made us unemployable, untouchable. God, I’m so f***ing mad.”
— from Trump WH Communications Director Hope Hicks’ post-Jan.6 texts

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This GOP Clown Car Extravaganza is making my week, especially listening to all the dim bulbs in the party—Bobo, Empty G, Gym Jordan, Matt Predator Gaetz—brag about all they will accomplish when they can’t even pick a Speaker.

When the new Congress convenes House Republicans are set to vote on a rules package that guts the Office of Congressional Ethics. The GOP getting rid of the Ethics Committee makes perfect sense since they’ve never had any.

Elon Musk was the second person ever to amass a personal fortune of more than $200 billion, right after Jeff Bezos, but he also has a new honor all his own: becoming the only person in history to erase $200 billion from their net worth. Sorry not sorry.

When you shtup a grifter you become one … we now know Junior’s pole-dancing trick, Kimberly Guilfoyle, asked for a $60,000 payment upfront before giving a three-minute speech at Thing 45’s Insurrection Party. Seriously? Does she think she’s a ‘high-class’ call girl now? And she was quite the bitch to campaign deputy Caroline Wren: “You will pay us that’s the deal so don’t even think about it. You will send the funds as promised.” Wren disagreed, so Kimmy said they were “done for life,” and then demanded Julie Fancelli, QAnon heir to the supermarket chain Publix, cough up $176.47 per, mostly screeched monosyllabic, word for a total of 60K.

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Our House

I am love-hating this GOP Speaker / No Speaker thing going on Two days [[so far); six votes [[so far): no Speaker of the House. As always, the GOP seems to win and yet are still in complete disarray. How is the first part even possible.
All of those potentially up for the job are pure slime. I'm super happy that Kevin McCarthy is now a six-time loser.
First off - totally pro-insurrection. Secondly, BLOTUS wants him as Speaker, I'm guessing to stop any investigation, let alone sanction. But I called that a week or two ago.
Still, with the far right not behind McCarthy, other names are being thrown not just into the ring, but being put up for a vote - including multiple rape enabler, Jim Jordan..........another pro-insurrectionist. Though let's be fair: except for the two GOP folks were on the January 6th Task Force, every GOP in the House is pro-insurrection.
It does not matter who wins - it's going to be a shit show for the country, the dems and especially Hunter Biden. They have nothing on his father, so they're just going to chip away at that. It's distraction / deflection from having any sort of real agenda. The election was all about Pappy Joe's inflation. Nary a word uttered about 'inflation' since the actual election day. SHOCK! Not.
Maybe it'll only be for two years. Less, if they can't actually select a leader. That would be fucking great.
I do love the above picture. I'm just assuming that child predator [[who TOTALLY gives off QUEER vibes!) is doing a scene from his high school performance of West Side Story, where he's the faggy Shark. And the audience watching is still larger than the school's auditorium. ....and it's probably where his girlfriend still has study hall.

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Trump Extends His Losing Streak

JANUARY 5, 2023
McCarthy’s long surrender.
From The Bulwark, by Charlie Sykes:
As we start a new day of performative chaos, Kevin McCarthy continues to self-geld, which guarantees that if he hangs on to the speakership, he will merely be the Superintendent of Crazy Town.
David Rothkopf @djrothkopf
News: McCarthy proposes key concessions: –Will babysit for Gaetz’s girlfriends one night a week –Will personally teach Boebert how to read –Will arrange for Gosar to be adopted by a family that doesn’t actually hate him.
This, of course, is a parody.
But the reality is only a shade less pathetic. Early reports suggest that McCarthy’s remarkable surrender campaign now includes an agreement to let any single member force a vote on ousting the speaker, and plum committee slots for the lunatic caucus. His Super-Pac also cut a swampy deal with the Club For Growth to stand down on primary races against nutjobs.
But it’s far from clear that this will be enough to get him to the 218 votes he needs. Meanwhile, the House remains paralyzed.
Conservative Inc. is pleading: Don’t let the crazies win.
But, ICYMI, they already have.
As my colleague, Mona Charen pointed out yesterday, the fight over the speakership “is not between the extremists and the establishment. It’s between two camps of extremists.” The grownups are gone: excommunicated or self-exiled. What’s left is MTG and George Santos vs. Matt Gaetz and Paul Gosar — nothing but deplorables as far as the eye can see. And whatever happens now, the extremists/grifters/crazies/nihilists on both teams are going to feel emboldened and empowered. And, no, there won’t be a deal with the Dems.
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D

The WSJ editorial board laments:

The problem any GOP leader faces today is that too many Republicans don’t really want to hold and keep political power. They’re much more comfortable in opposition in the minority, which is easier because no hard decisions or compromises are necessary. You can rage against “the swamp” without having to do anything to change it. This is the fundamental and sorry truth behind the Speaker spectacle and the performative GOP politics of recent years.

[[If only they had been warned.)
So this Congress will continue the way it has begun, and if you think this is messy, wait until they get to the debt ceiling.

[lakeside]

Can you hear me laughing now?


McCarthy keeps making concessions to the insurrectionists without understand that's not what they want. The man's an idiot. And a weasel. And spineless. I don't think he understands that one of the goals here is to humiliate him straight to Hell.


Yesterday, while Scott Perry was speaking, someone shouted "order for the traitor." Had I been in a theater, I'd have been rolling in the aisles. At one point afterwards, I believe, he was caught on camera yelling that this whole thing was bullshit. As a reminder, Perry was the one pushing a YouTube video about Italian satellites switching votes from Trump to Biden.


Personally, I'm saying more power to these 20 asswipes. I can't think of a better way to sabotage the 2024 elections.


John Boehner, who was forced out of the Speaker position by the American Freedom Caucus, has said they actually have no true agenda, their main goal is to 'kick as much sand as possible into the gears, hoping to break the government.' That sounds about right.


No matter what they want, the destruction they're causing to the Republican party is tremendous, so, let's stand back and make a joyful noise!

[lakeside]

Adam Kinzinger, on what he thinks will happen to Thing 45: “If this is not a crime, I don’t know what is. If a president can incite an insurrection and not be held accountable, then really there’s no limit to what a president can do or can’t do. I think the Justice Department will do the right thing. I think he will be charged, and I frankly think he should be. If he is not guilty of a crime, then I frankly fear for the future of this country. I feel honored to be at this moment in history and to have done the right thing.” I hope he’s charged, and I hope he’s tried, though I don’t think he’ll be found guilty. Of course, if he is, then he’ll run to some country where he can hide out for the rest of his miserable life and never, ever come back to this country, or make a dime in this country, I’ll be good with that. photo

Kevin Brady, Texas GOP Congressperson, thinks lying liar George Santos can be redeemed: “We’re a country of second chances. And when you own up to this, then do what it takes to earn respect and trust again, you know, we’re willing to do that. So I’m hopeful, you know, he chooses the right path.” Oh, you fool, this man has literally lied about every possible aspect of his life, from marriage to work to school to family history and is continuing to lie to this day … he Tweeted about being sworn into Congress though he hasn’t been sworn in at all because his party is a clusterfuck of ineptitude. There is no redemption for this fool. photo

Michael Lawler, New York Representative-elect, also speaking about Santos: “Listen, his conduct is embarrassing and unbecoming, and it is certainly a distraction. There are multiple investigations as you said. I have said he should cooperate fully with those investigations. His election has been certified, so he will be seated in this Congress. But ultimately, obviously, we will see what the investigations come back with. There are numerous investigations at federal state and local, as well as international. It’s very unfortunate and disappointing.” These f%king Republicans. If Santos was a Democrat they’d be losing their shiz about seating him in Congress but their hypocrisy about their own party is boundless. photo

Chuck Coughlin, Arizona GOP consultant, on QAnon Kari’s fight to prove she isn’t a loser: “It’s done in Arizona. I think the enormous amount of ill will that [Lake] is going to create as a result of the appeal—I mean, it’s OK to file a case, but then some of the stuff she’s been saying on media and posts and just the degradation of the Arizona institutions—I think is really going to hurt her out here.” She’s a loon, just read on … photo

Kari Lake, losing candidate for Governor of Arizona, insists she would have been gracious in defeat if she believed that she lost her midterm election: “Somebody said, ‘Oh, just be graceful, you lost.’ No, we didn’t lose. If I would have lost I would be graceful. But I don’t walk away when I’ve been the victim of a crime. It’s not just me. The people of Arizona have been the victim of a stolen election. And I promised when I ran for governor that I would stand up and fight for the people of Arizona every single day.” Stand up and fight for them, Kari, but not as governor, because you lost, and if you don’t see how The Big Lie has ruined Donald J. Traitor, you’re a loser and stupid. PS And for the love of the goddess, lay off the Vaseline smeared camera lenses. photo

Lauren Boebert, escort and Ted Cruz protégé, who barely eked out a win in the midterms, proving, sigh, yet again, that she is the dumbest human being in Congress and on the planet: “Listen, no one wants shootings. No one wants death. But we need a way to protect ourselves. We need a way to actually end it. And if you look at statistics, if you look at the FBI and their database, well, places where American citizens are not infringed on their Second Amendment rights and they are actually able to carry their firearm lawfully, well, there aren’t mass shootings. Because they are an armed citizen presence to neutralize the threat. They’re coming after your guns.” Oh Bobo, are you that stupid? Don’t answer, dear, it’s a rhetorical … look it up … question. Texas, where there have been mass shootings at schools and churches and Walmart’s is an open carry state. Nevada, where 59 concertgoers were slaughtered is open carry. Even your state, Colorado, is open carry except in some counties, where Club Q shooting just happened. You really should have stayed in school and not gone the hired escort route.

[lakeside]

[lakeside]

The headline this morning from the Hill is: Republicans stumble out of the starting block. That's rather an understatement. As someone said a while back, they live in a universe of their own creation creating truths that fit their own selfish needs. Criticism is being heaped on them from just about every side and they honestly believe that if they say nothing it will go away. They also desperately believe that if they can create a big enough diversion people will ignore the fact that they are devoid of leadership of governing skills. Their main goal is to say "shut up, we're in charge."


Their second goal to so satiate the hunger of their base. Knowing this, I was not surprised to see that their first piece of major legislation will be to stop the hiring of 87,000 IRS agents. Their base hates taxes. They hate the IRS. This is why the new Speaker of the House, Marjorie Taylor Green, has announced that their first thing this new congress is going to work on is the elimination of those new agents. The fact that any bill they pass regarding this will be DOA when it gets to the Senate doesn't phase them. It's not about governing, it's all about shoring up their party for 2024.

[lakeside]

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c

Jim Jordan, er, Gym Jordan, says the Founding Fathers wanted a political party to come close to physical violence in electing a Speaker, and claims this was no different than the vote to elect Pelosi. Except Pelosi’s vote didn’t take 15 tries and she didn’t jump out of her seat and rush another member of Congress demanding a vote. Lauren Boebert and Marjorie Traitor Greene are sill fighting over who gets to be the pretty girl in Congress and who gets to fuck the newbies under the bleachers. Speaking of Large Marge did you notice how many times her picture was taken with George Whatever-His-Name-Is-This-Week? I don’t think she likes him but she’s never one to turn down a chance to get her fugly mug on TV. Matt Gaetz said he would never ever never vote for McCarthy and then, after a week’s worth of raising money and campaigning on that stance, he voted for McCarthy … right after another member threatened to physically assault him. Best of all was Kevin McCarthy being barely elected on his fifteenth try, smiling and joking like this was business as usual when how he got elected was by allowing just one member of Congress a vote to have him removed. The Wind Down clock is already running, Kev. The GOP think they have this all locked up and will rule this party and this country and yet they can’t even agree on a Speaker. Cluster :::cough::: fuck.