Republicans

[RobDownSouth]

The cult of libertarianism is losing its grip on even many Republicans, just as it did on me over time. It's just scary that their substitute is Trumpism instead of real populism.

It's been fascinating watching the decline of Libertarianism in the United States in the past 5 years. They seem to have hit a fork in the road, one side leads to Trumpism (where survival of the fittest is now secondary to "making the other guy suffer") and the other to a return to reality. Not unlike Nancy Reagan, who didn't give a shit about AIDS until her bud Rock Hudson died...these neo-populists have discovered late in life that yeah, they actually DO need that government safety net.

Some are still in denial of course: AJ bragged for years about how he didn't need health insurance, he had something better: Rainy day savings account, Then he got the double whammy of pneumonia and atrial fibrillations and rainy day dried up and he had to declare bankruptcy.

 

[Schlank]

Prosecutors seem to have their sights set on Trump Organization chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg as the Manhattan district attorney's office plows ahead in its investigation of the twice-impeached one-term president's business dealings, and Cohen believes they'll eventually gain his cooperation in the probe, reported The New Yorker.

"He's not going to let his boys go to prison," Cohen told the magazine, "and I don't think he wants to spend his golden years in a correctional institution, either."

The 73-year-old Weisselberg has worked closely alongside Trump for decades, and legal experts and others close to the case agree he would make a star witness.

"Allen Weisselberg knows where all the bodies are buried," said the president's niece Mary Trump.

https://www.rawstory.com/allen-weisselberg-donald-trump-2651036197/

 

[jaF0]

Did ya' hear the one about the guy from Wisconsin openly endorsing and supporting the insurrectionists?

No, really!


And ya doesn't has to call him Johnson.


GOP Sen. Ron Johnson says he never felt threatened during Jan. 6 Capitol attack

NBC News|17 hours ago

Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wisc., described the pro-Trump rioters who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6 as people who "truly respect law enforcement" and "loved this country" in a radio interview Friday and expressed worry if the mob had been Black Lives ...

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/co...says-he-never-felt-threatened-during-n1261024

 

[allison22]

John Dean, the former White House counsel to former President Nixon, on Thursday, predicted that former President Trump would soon be indicted after reports that his ex-lawyer Michael Cohen has met with the Manhattan district attorney's office for a number of interviews.

“From personal experience, as a key witness, I assure you that you do not visit a prosecutor’s office 7 times if they are not planning to indict those about whom you have knowledge. It is only a matter of how many days until DA Vance indicts Donald & Co.

https://thehill.com/homenews/admini...h0zQgNXAdHTRtT4keFLaxRaIL5YTl1F3ZsN0RxIHSINLE

 

[Secretive_Victoria]

A judge for the United States Court for the District of Columbia on Tuesday unloaded on Proud Boy Dominic "Spaz" Pezzola for his role in leading the January 6th riots at the United States Capitol building.

n a new ruling, United States District Judge Timothy Kelly denied Pezzola's request for pre-trial release and argued that the Proud Boy served as the "tip of a spear that pierced the United States Capitol" on January 6th.

"The government has proffered photographs and video showing Pezzola at the forefront of a mob charging the Capitol grounds, robbing a police officer of his riot shield, and then using that shield to break a Capitol window, allowing him -- and others in the mob -- to enter the halls of Congress to disrupt our Nation's peaceful transfer of power," Kelly wrote. "The Grand Jury has charged him with eleven counts stemming from this assault."

Pezzola and another Proud Boy, William Pepe, have been accused by federal prosecutors of engaging in a conspiracy to obstruct, influence, impede, and interfere with law enforcement officers engaged in their official duties in protecting the U.S. Capitol.
"It is alleged that Pezzola and Pepe took actions to evade and render ineffective the protective equipment deployed by Capitol Police in active riot control measures, including actions to remove temporary metal barricades erected by the Capitol Police for the purpose of controlling access to the Capitol Grounds, and the stealing and purloining of property belonging to Capitol Police," the Department of Justice said in a statement.

"It is further alleged that Pezzola confronted a Capitol Police officer attempting to control the crowd and ripped away the officer's riot shield, while the officer was physically engaging with individuals who had gathered unlawfully in the west plaza of the Capitol. Pezzola can be seen on video that has been widely distributed, using that riot shield to smash a window at the U.S. Capitol."

https://www.rawstory.com/judge-unlo...rders-him-to-remain-jailed-over-capitol-riot/

 

[jaF0]

The Party Of Law and Order .....


GOP, NRA Oppose Parts of Violence Against Women Act as Domestic Abuse Rises
Republicans and the NRA are opposed to a provision which would prevent any partner convicted of stalking or abuse from obtaining a firearm.

https://www.newsweek.com/senate-gop...ct-covid-related-domestic-abuse-rises-1577002

 

[bodysong]

Is that part of the ol' gun violence excuse, of "he only
caved in her temple with the barrel, her cheek bone
was "accidentally" smashed with the grip of the gun."

"He just pushed the muzzle against roof of her mouth, he did not shoot her.

"Does not really count as gun violence."

voting against the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2021,
because guns are more important to Trump Loyalists, than living women.

172 Republicans tell us why! (No, that is not going to happen.)

 

[Schlank]

The district attorney is sifting through millions of pages of his tax records. The state attorney general has subpoenaed his lawyers, his bankers, his chief financial officer — even one of his sons.

And that’s just in New York. Former president Donald Trump is also facing criminal investigations in Georgia and the District of Columbia related to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election. And Trump must defend himself against a growing raft of lawsuits: 29 are pending at last count, including some seeking damages from Trump’s actions on Jan. 6, when he encouraged a march to the Capitol that ended in a mob storming the building.

No charges have been filed against Trump in any of these investigations. The outcome of these lawsuits is uncertain. Trump has raised more than $31 million for his post-presidential political action committee, which he could tap to pay legal fees.


But the sheer volume of these legal problems indicates that — after a moment of maximum invincibility in the White House — Trump has fallen to a point of historic vulnerability before the law.


He has lost the formal immunities of the presidency and the legal firepower of the Justice Department, but he is also without some of the informal shields that protected him even before he was president: his reputation for endless wealth and his clout as a political donor in New York.

Now, prosecutors roam free in his financial records. New lawsuits keep arriving. Some of his key lawyers have quit. A man who once used the law to swamp his enemies, overwhelming them with claims and legal bills, is finding himself on the other side of the wave, unable to control what comes next.


https://www.washingtonpost.com/poli...7e8a4360472fd4/10/70/60537e3c9d2fda4c881135a2

 

[JackLuis]

Russian company 'suspending its investments' in Kentucky project pushed by McConnell: report

Russians pulling out 'cause Kentucky "Too Shady" for them?

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) suffered a major economic defeat in Kentucky as a Russian company founded by oligarch Oleg Deripaska pulled its financing.

"According to a Bloomberg report, Rusal, the formerly blacklisted Russian company with a major stake in the 10-figure project, is suspending its investments while it awaits word that its U.S. partners have raised the necessary funds. So far the company has sunk at least $65 million in the proposed mill, to be built by Unity Aluminum, previously known as Braidy Industries," WUKY-TV reported Thursday. "The news is only the latest twist for the troubled project, which has been plagued by fundraising questions and the ouster of the CEO formerly overseeing the venture. Rusal's involvement has been controversial from the start, after it was revealed that the company had been subject to sanctions."

In 2019, The Washington Post reported how McConnell blocked a bill to keep sanctions in place on the company.

Also too:

New report unveils the brewing 'rebellion' in the ranks of House Republicans

Rethuglicunts being cunts, Again!

Conservative MSNBC pundit Joe Scarborough recently commented that the battles among House Republicans aren't conflicts between conservatives and centrists, but conflicts between Republicans who are arch-conservative and Republicans who are even more to the right. The arguments among House Republicans, however, not only have to do with policy, but also, with procedure. An article by journalists Melanie Zanona, Sarah Ferris and Olivia Beavers, published by Politico this week, describes a procedural disagreement between House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Rep. Andy Biggs, the Arizona Republican who chairs the far-right House Freedom Caucus.

 

[JackLuis]

Mitch McConnell's secret weakness is now exposed — and he can't stop what's coming

Mitch says he'll be and asshole if the Dems nuke the filibuster. Dem's say what changes, you're always an asshole!

That's the way of things in the United States Senate. Those of us who pay attention to politics despite there being other things to do understand quite well that McConnell's reputation is overrated.

This, however, was not apparent until Tuesday. That's when McConnell issued his second warning in a month that there will be hell to pay if the Democratic majority vaporizes the filibuster. The filibuster is a Senate rule requiring most pieces of legislation to attract 60 votes, a supermajority, instead of the simple majority that governs the House of Representatives. The filibuster is not in the US Constitution. It has not always been in place. When it has been, it has changed over time. Most importantly, to McConnell anyway, is that the filibuster has been key to his success, which is another way of saying his success can be reduced to procedural obstruction.

This same man rammed through another Supreme Court justice by breaking the rule he totally made up to prevent a former Democratic president from naming a Supreme Court justice. To prevent the Democrats from nuking the filibuster, he would have to keep his promise not to abuse it, but honestly, after all this time, why would the Democrats trust him?

Trust Mitch to be an asshole all the time!

 

[Secretive_Victoria]

Trump insider reveals possibly illegal scheme ex-president used to ensure loyalty from underlings

https://www.rawstory.com/jennifer-weisselberg/

 

[Secretive_Victoria]

Mitch McConnell's secret weakness is now exposed — and he can't stop what's coming

Mitch says he'll be and asshole if the Dems nuke the filibuster. Dem's say what changes, you're always an asshole!



Trust Mitch to be an asshole all the time!

Agreed. McConnell has been going full-tilt obstructionist against the democrats since 2015. Claiming that he's going to stop cooperating with the Democrats is an empty threat when he's been OPENLY AT WAR against them for six years now!!!!

 

[JackLuis]

GOP strategists panicked Democrats are going to 'shaft' Republicans in 2022: report

According to a report from ABC, Republican strategists are looking at the possibility that the Democratic-controlled Senate will join with the House and pass a sweeping voters' rights bill that will damage the GOP's chances of gaining back control of both the House and the Senate in 2022 and cripple their party long into the future.

At issue is H.R. 1, also known as the For the People Act, which would knock aside roadblocks to voting, allow no-excuse mail voting, provide for at least 15 days of early voting and restore voting rights to felons who have served their time.

The idea of increasing voter turnout has always been a fear of Republicans who do best when fewer voter show up, and according to the ABC report, fear of the bill has them reeling.

Drive a stake in the heart of the Retuglicunts!

 

[JackLuis]

Ted Cruz caught lying in leaked phone call about upcoming Senate bill: report

"On an invitation-only call with GOP state lawmakers last week, Republican Sen. Ted Cruz falsely claimed Democrats are working to give 'illegal aliens' and 'child molesters' the right to vote, according to a recording of the call obtained by the Associated Press," reported Kelsey Vlamis. "The call, which occurred amid an ongoing battle over voting rights, was organized by the American Legislative Exchange Council, a conservative group that recommends legislation to lawmakers."

"H.R. 1′s only objective is to ensure that Democrats can never again lose another election, that they will win and maintain control of the House of Representatives and the Senate and of the state legislatures for the next century," said Cruz on the call.

Gosh, you say that like it's a bad thing, Ted!

 

[JackLuis]

Missouri GOP may be 'irrational' enough to throw away a key Senate seat: St. Louis columnist

Republicans have a very narrow path in their efforts to win back the U.S. Senate in the 2020 midterms and local dynamics in Missouri could compromise their efforts.

While the Senate is currently split 50-50, the dynamic of six year terms resulting in only some members running in a given election has created a situation where Republicans are defending 20 seats in 2020, compared to just 14 for Democrats.

And one Missouri columnist wonders if Republicans in the Show Me State may repeat a similar mistake like the one that cost them a chance at a Senate seat a decade ago.
"Nine years ago, Missouri Republicans, saddled with a clearly unfit U.S. Senate nominee in Todd Akin, showed they were still capable of setting aside blind partisanship when it mattered. The possible Senate candidacy of Eric Greitens could become a test of whether that's still true. The omens aren't good," Kevin McDermott wrote for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Now Greitens is considering a bid for the seat left open by the retirement of Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO).

"That's terrifying to Republican leaders, because the GOP path to take back the Senate in 2022 is already narrow. Politico reports that Greitens' possible candidacy 'is giving Republicans nightmarish flashbacks to 2012' and the Todd Akin debacle," he wrote. "The hand-wringers reportedly include Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. One GOP strategist called Greitens a 'clear and present danger' to the party's Senate strategy."

Find out if the "Show Me" state shows any sense?

 

[YDB95]

Find out if the "Show Me" state shows any sense?

Probably depends on whether the Dems nominate a me-too Republican like ex-Sen McCaskill (who is an ex-senator for a reason!). At least she likely won't be running again.

 

[SevMax2]

Probably depends on whether the Dems nominate a me-too Republican like ex-Sen McCaskill (who is an ex-senator for a reason!). At least she likely won't be running again.

On this we can agree. McCaskill is a DINO. She probably never even saw Hawley coming.

 

[Veroe]

On this we can agree. McCaskill is a DINO. She probably never even saw Hawley coming.

Sadly that's probably the exact type we'd get to run against him. Republican lite against real Republican. That or an idiot like McGrath who touted herself as more pro-Trump than McConnell and thusly getting her buttocks soundly kicked. SMH.

Why are Democrats so afraid of championing the left as ardently as Republicans champion the right I'll never understand.

 

[SevMax2]

Sadly that's probably the exact type we'd get to run against him. Republican lite against real Republican. That or an idiot like McGrath who touted herself as more pro-Trump than McConnell and thusly getting her buttocks soundly kicked. SMH.

Why are Democrats so afraid of championing the left as ardently as Republicans champion the right I'll never understand.

They’re paid to avoid real progress at any cost. The Establishment is inherently corrupt and owned by Wall Street in both parties.

 

[Dribble]

Why are Democrats so afraid of championing the left as ardently as Republicans champion the right I'll never understand.

Because we are better than them. We cater to the center...moving forward slowly only after society comes on board with the agenda. I refuse to support far left wing agenda as a driving force. That does not say I don't support working towards those goals. But the numbers simply are not there.

 

[CornusKousa]

Why are Democrats so afraid of championing the left as ardently as Republicans champion the right I'll never understand.

Same reason despite talking all that good shit they won't even do their own ideas in their states.

Because it doesn't actually work...and they know it.

Because we are better than them. We cater to the center...moving forward slowly only after society comes on board with the agenda. I refuse to support far left wing agenda as a driving force. That does not say I don't support working towards those goals. But the numbers simply are not there.

LOL you think (D)'s represent the center?? LMFAO!!

Moving left not so slowly....and left =/= forward.

 

[SevMax2]

Because we are better than them. We cater to the center...moving forward slowly only after society comes on board with the agenda. I refuse to support far left wing agenda as a driving force. That does not say I don't support working towards those goals. But the numbers simply are not there.

And by numbers, the center right Dems (there is nothing even remotely progressive about the moderate/conservative Dems) mean the payoff. Wall Street pays better than the working class. So does the military industrial complex and the prison industrial complex, am I right, Madame Vice President?

It's not strategy. Better strategy would be to keep pushing ballot initiatives where people agree largely with leftist principles. It's a big pay-day and a golden parachute. The Senator from Mastercard and the Senator from Steve Mnuchin's back pocket are of like minds on how much to sell out the working class to the rich and powerful robber barons.

 

[Schlank]

The F.B.I. uncovered a phone call between a member of the violent extremist group, the Proud Boys, and former President Donald Trump‘s White House hours before the Capitol insurrection January 6.

The F.B.I. has monitored location and call record data showing that a Proud Boys member called, and successfully spoke to someone in the Trump White House on January 6. The F.B.I. has been unwilling to release any additional information on either party at this time.

Speculation has led many to believe the call was between Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio, who was arrested on the eve of the riots, and Trump strategist Roger Stone.


https://www.msn.com/en-my/news/othe...Bxitmb2y4Uc_wSlqfUh8iTJf480E6DCANREOCCRigcsNk

 

[Secretive_Victoria]

Evidence the government obtained in the investigation into the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol most likely meets the bar necessary to charge some of the suspects with sedition, Michael R. Sherwin, the federal prosecutor who had been leading the Justice Department’s inquiry, said in an interview that aired on Sunday.

The department has rarely brought charges of sedition, the crime of conspiring to overthrow the government.

But in an interview with “60 Minutes,” Mr. Sherwin said prosecutors had evidence that most likely proved such a charge.

“I personally believe the evidence is trending toward that, and probably meets those elements,” Mr. Sherwin said. “I believe the facts do support those charges. And I think that, as we go forward, more facts will support that.”

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/21/us/politics/capitol-riot-sedition.html

 

[Jesus_Ateo]

Long-delayed reports about Trump administration misconduct are set to drop in the coming months after Trump officials fought tooth and nail to avoid accountability.


The Washington Post reports that "across the government, at least nine key oversight investigations were impeded by clashes with the White House or political appointees," as "hostility to oversight reached unprecedented levels during his time in office."

Among the many long-delayed probes that may soon come to light include two ethics inquiries into former Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, an audit into a $400 million border wall contract that was awarded to a politically connected construction firm, and a major probe into the Trump administration's handling of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Former President Donald Trump was infamously hostile to inspectors general, and he fired five different government watchdogs in the span of two months.

https://www.rawstory.com/trump-corruption-2651178598/?utm_source=push_notifications