US Politics

[HardCoreBlue]

14 hours ago, bustamente said:

His own kid hates him, Senators from both parties despise him, the guys mug is permanently punchable.

But yet he remains a highly influential GOP Senator with high levels of authority, status and backing ($) within the US administration.

Welcome to our current environment of what approach is not only tolerated but rewarded.

[blue_gold_84]

https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/illegal-migration-canada-u-s-border-1.6763492

Quote

A group of Republican lawmakers say it's time to protect the border. No, not that border. The other one, north of the United States. The one many Americans forget. 

Their focus: the frontier with Canada. 

That northern border usually is an afterthought in American politics, comfortably ensconced on the back burner of the country's searing debates about the Mexican border. 

More than two dozen Republicans have a mission to change that, and they held a news conference outside the Capitol on Tuesday. 

They announced the creation of a new northern border security caucus, aimed at flagging concerns about the perennially disregarded frontier with Canada.

"We are being assaulted because we don't have a border," said Ryan Zinke, a congressman from Montana who served briefly in Trump's cabinet. 

"This is a national security problem and the northern tier has their own set of challenges." 

Tuesday's events shed light on challenges on all sides: for this particular group of politicians, for the U.S. and for Canada. 

The limited interest in Canadian migration was evident inside and outside the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday.

Not a single American reporter showed up to ask any questions at the outdoor press conference.

The only questions were from Canadian journalists, and they were about things like about how the countries could co-operate on migration.

the most senior politician there, the No. 3 House Republican, Elise Stefanik, interjected to urge a focus on what truly matters here: There's a border crisis, and it's President Joe Biden's fault. 

More manufactured outrage by GQP.

[Wanna-B-Fanboy]

This brightened my day

 

[HardCoreBlue]

1 hour ago, Wanna-B-Fanboy said:

This brightened my day

 

#unfoxmycable

Nice.

[FrostyWinnipeg]

Trump can be sued by police over Jan. 6, Justice Department says.

 

[Tracker]

2 hours ago, FrostyWinnipeg said:

Trump can be sued by police over Jan. 6, Justice Department says.

 

o
WASHINGTON (AP) — Former President Donald Trump can be sued by injured Capitol Police officers and Democratic lawmakers over the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, the Justice Department said Thursday in a federal court case testing Trump’s legal vulnerability and the limits of executive power.

The department wrote that although a president enjoys broad legal latitude to communicate to the public on matters of concern, “no part of a President’s official responsibilities includes the incitement of imminent private violence. By definition, such conduct plainly falls outside the President’s constitutional and statutory duties.”

The brief was filed by lawyers of the Justice Department’s Civil Division and has no bearing on a separate criminal investigation by a department special counsel into whether Trump can be criminally charged over efforts to undo Democrat Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election ahead of the Capitol riot. In fact, the lawyers note that they are not taking a position with respect to potential criminal liability for Trump or anyone else.

The Justice Department wrote that it also takes no view on a lower court judge’s conclusion that those who sued Trump have “plausibly” alleged that his speech caused the riot. Nevertheless, the department said that an appeals court should reject Trump’s claim that he’s immune from the lawsuits.

[Tracker]

Donald Trump falsely claims Joe Biden formed 'Marxist Equity Enforcement Squad' and vows 'restitution fund'

In another campaign video outlining his "agenda," Donald Trump falsely accuses President Joe Biden of mandating "Marxist equity enforcement squads" through the executive branch, and promises if voters return him to the Oval Office he will "immediately terminate" all staffers and programs associated with Biden's "woke takeover of the entire federal government."

"Every institution in America is under attack from this Marxist concept of equity instead of treating everyone equally, making decisions based on merit or qualifications," Trump says, mischaracterizing what he calls President Biden's "sinister" executive order.“  "Equity means that benefits are awarded and policies are enforced based on skin color and sexual identity," Trump falsely claimed. "We don’t think that’s a good idea. It’s a catch-all term used by the radical left to justify every one of its crazy programs."

"Climate change is now about fighting environmental racism. They falsely accused law enforcement of racism to explain why they must end cash bail, instead of busting up bloodthirsty gangs that killed people," Trump says, reinforcing his far-right hard-line authoritarianism.

Trump also accused President Biden of "weaponizing every tool of government power to push this racism and this communism and Marxism or whatever you want to call it, when FEMA, the EPA, and the FAA and IRS are corrupted and tasked with enforcing equity, freedom and equality under the law are absolutely dead."

He promised he would "urge Congress to create a restitution fund for Americans who have been unjustly discriminated against by these equity policies."

[HardCoreBlue]

Watching AG MG at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing still supports the thought that he is currently the most dangerous man in the US.

He continually holds on to thinking long standing beliefs and values, traditional checks and balances are running the show in ensuring accountability but they aren't running the show. Not since 2016 and one could probably argue a lot further back than this.

Here again is his bullshit empty words:

“Every day, the 115,000 employees of the Justice Department work tirelessly to fulfill our mission: to uphold the rule of law, to keep our country safe, and to protect civil rights,” Garland said, lauding efforts to protect “our country’s democratic institutions.”

He's weak and only concerned for his own personal legacy much like Mueller. It's more insulting, maddening, frustrating and ironic to watch him react to people like Hawley, Cruz, Kennedy, Lee (insert certain democrats here as well) than it is in watching these hooligans themselves. The irony is in one breath he spews his empty words of protecting the country's democratic institutions than in another breath does nothing of impact to the very people like Hawley, Cruz, Kennedy, Lee who are assisting in causing all this damage.

All of this out in plain sight right in front of our very own eyes.

   

[Tracker]

7 minutes ago, HardCoreBlue said:

Watching AG MG at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing still supports the thought that he is currently the most dangerous man in the US.

He continually holds on to thinking long standing beliefs and values, traditional checks and balances are running the show in ensuring accountability but they aren't running the show. Not since 2016 and one could probably argue a lot further back than this.

Here again is his bullshit empty words:

“Every day, the 115,000 employees of the Justice Department work tirelessly to fulfill our mission: to uphold the rule of law, to keep our country safe, and to protect civil rights,” Garland said, lauding efforts to protect “our country’s democratic institutions.”

He's weak and only concerned for his own personal legacy much like Mueller. It's more insulting, maddening, frustrating and ironic to watch him react to people like Hawley, Cruz, Kennedy, Lee (insert certain democrats here as well) than it is in watching these hooligans themselves. The irony is in one breath he spews his empty words of protecting the country's democratic institutions than in another breath does nothing of impact to the very people like Hawley, Cruz, Kennedy, Lee who are assisting in causing all this damage.

All of this out in plain sight right in front of our very own eyes.

   

And in spite of very credible reports that FBI agents and supervisors were afraid to participate in the raids on Mar-A-Lago out of concern for their own safety and careers. 

[Tracker]

8 hours ago, Wanna-B-Fanboy said:

This brightened my day

 

 

Experts: Murdoch testimony "guts" Fox's best defense — but he may set up top exec to "take the fall".  "I appointed Ms. Scott to the job … and I delegate everything to her," Murdoch said in his deposition

Fox Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch may have damaged the company's defense in Dominion Voting Systems' $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit — but some media analysts believe he is setting up Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott to "take the fall" in the case.

Murdoch's deposition admitting that some Fox News "endorsed" false claims about the election "guts" the network's best defense, CNN legal analyst Elie Honig argued on Wednesday. 

"Every day that it's on the air and continues to push some of the basis of what this defamation lawsuit's about, they do have legal liability and exposure," former federal prosecutor Laura Coates said on "The Situation Room."

Honig agreed that Murdoch's testimony "really guts what I think is the best potential defense here for Fox."

"Their defense – they've articulated this – is going to be, 'These were newsworthy comments by the then-president and his top advisers. We were simply reporting them,'" Honig said. "Now, Murdoch has admitted 'we' endorsed them, but he tried to draw this distinction between, 'Well, not we, Fox, but we, our top anchors.' But who is Fox News, who is any media corporation if not the voices of the top journalists and reporters?" 
Fox News has denied Dominion's allegations and accused the company of cherry-picking quotes to publicize in its filings. A spokesperson said Dominion has taken an "extreme, unsupported view of defamation law" to "publicly smear FOX for covering and commenting on allegations by a sitting President.

The voting machine company filed a brief last month citing internal communications in which Fox colleagues privately trashed the same debunked election fraud allegations they aired. Fox Corp., the parent company of Fox News, has sought to distance itself from the lawsuit, arguing that its executives were not directly involved in decisions to air the claims. Murdoch in his deposition suggested that the issue was Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott's responsibility.

Semafor editor-in-chief Ben Smith told CNN on Wednesday that the Murdochs "are certainly setting Suzanne Scott up to take the fall for this."

David Folkenflik, an NPR media correspondent and Murdoch biographer, added that "they're leaving a trail of crumbs that lead back to her office."

[JCon]

23 minutes ago, Tracker said:

 

Experts: Murdoch testimony "guts" Fox's best defense — but he may set up top exec to "take the fall".  "I appointed Ms. Scott to the job … and I delegate everything to her," Murdoch said in his deposition

Fox Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch may have damaged the company's defense in Dominion Voting Systems' $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit — but some media analysts believe he is setting up Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott to "take the fall" in the case.

Murdoch's deposition admitting that some Fox News "endorsed" false claims about the election "guts" the network's best defense, CNN legal analyst Elie Honig argued on Wednesday. 

"Every day that it's on the air and continues to push some of the basis of what this defamation lawsuit's about, they do have legal liability and exposure," former federal prosecutor Laura Coates said on "The Situation Room."

Honig agreed that Murdoch's testimony "really guts what I think is the best potential defense here for Fox."

"Their defense – they've articulated this – is going to be, 'These were newsworthy comments by the then-president and his top advisers. We were simply reporting them,'" Honig said. "Now, Murdoch has admitted 'we' endorsed them, but he tried to draw this distinction between, 'Well, not we, Fox, but we, our top anchors.' But who is Fox News, who is any media corporation if not the voices of the top journalists and reporters?" 
Fox News has denied Dominion's allegations and accused the company of cherry-picking quotes to publicize in its filings. A spokesperson said Dominion has taken an "extreme, unsupported view of defamation law" to "publicly smear FOX for covering and commenting on allegations by a sitting President.

The voting machine company filed a brief last month citing internal communications in which Fox colleagues privately trashed the same debunked election fraud allegations they aired. Fox Corp., the parent company of Fox News, has sought to distance itself from the lawsuit, arguing that its executives were not directly involved in decisions to air the claims. Murdoch in his deposition suggested that the issue was Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott's responsibility.

Semafor editor-in-chief Ben Smith told CNN on Wednesday that the Murdochs "are certainly setting Suzanne Scott up to take the fall for this."

David Folkenflik, an NPR media correspondent and Murdoch biographer, added that "they're leaving a trail of crumbs that lead back to her office."

There's always a fall guy for the Uber corrupt and most horrible people in this world. 

There's no hell but if it existed, it would be for people like Murdoch and Trump. 

[17to85]

3 hours ago, JCon said:

There's always a fall guy for the Uber corrupt and most horrible people in this world. 

There's no hell but if it existed, it would be for people like Murdoch and Trump. 

[Tracker]

Revealed: Jim Jordan's FBI 'whistleblowers' were paid by Trump ally and spread J6 conspiracy theories

A trio of witnesses being called as "whistleblowers" by the GOP committee investigating the "weaponization" of government were paid off by a Trump ally and spread conspiracy theories, reported The New York Times on Thursday.

"The first three witnesses to testify privately before the new Republican-led House committee investigating the 'weaponization' of the federal government have offered little firsthand knowledge of any wrongdoing or violation of the law, according to Democrats on the panel who have listened to their accounts," reported Luke Broadwater and Adam Goldman. "Instead, the trio appears to be a group of aggrieved former F.B.I. officials who have trafficked in right-wing conspiracy theories, including about the Jan. 6, 2021, attack at the Capitol, and received financial support from a top ally of former President Donald J. Trump."

The roster of witnesses, whose interviews and statements are detailed in a 316-page report compiled by Democrats that was obtained by The New York Times, suggests that Representative Jim Jordan of Ohio, the chairman of the panel, has so far relied on people who do not meet the definition of a whistle-blower and who have engaged in partisan conduct that calls into question their credibility," said the report. "And it raises questions about whether Republicans, who have said that investigating the Biden administration is a top goal, will be able to deliver on their ambitious plans to uncover misdeeds at the highest levels."

The three witnesses in question, per the report, are "George Hill, a retired F.B.I. supervisory intelligence analyst from the bureau’s Boston field office; Stephen Friend, a former special agent who worked in the Daytona Beach office; and Garret O’Boyle, a special agent from the field office in Wichita, Kan., who has been suspended."

They have promoted conspiracy theories; Hill wrote on Twitter that the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol was a "set up." Meanwhile, O'Boyle and Friend have admitted to receiving financial aid from Kash Patel, a former aide to Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA) and Trump associate who has testified in the Mar-a-Lago classified documents case.

[HardCoreBlue]

1 minute ago, Tracker said:

Revealed: Jim Jordan's FBI 'whistleblowers' were paid by Trump ally and spread J6 conspiracy theories

A trio of witnesses being called as "whistleblowers" by the GOP committee investigating the "weaponization" of government were paid off by a Trump ally and spread conspiracy theories, reported The New York Times on Thursday.

"The first three witnesses to testify privately before the new Republican-led House committee investigating the 'weaponization' of the federal government have offered little firsthand knowledge of any wrongdoing or violation of the law, according to Democrats on the panel who have listened to their accounts," reported Luke Broadwater and Adam Goldman. "Instead, the trio appears to be a group of aggrieved former F.B.I. officials who have trafficked in right-wing conspiracy theories, including about the Jan. 6, 2021, attack at the Capitol, and received financial support from a top ally of former President Donald J. Trump."

The roster of witnesses, whose interviews and statements are detailed in a 316-page report compiled by Democrats that was obtained by The New York Times, suggests that Representative Jim Jordan of Ohio, the chairman of the panel, has so far relied on people who do not meet the definition of a whistle-blower and who have engaged in partisan conduct that calls into question their credibility," said the report. "And it raises questions about whether Republicans, who have said that investigating the Biden administration is a top goal, will be able to deliver on their ambitious plans to uncover misdeeds at the highest levels."

The three witnesses in question, per the report, are "George Hill, a retired F.B.I. supervisory intelligence analyst from the bureau’s Boston field office; Stephen Friend, a former special agent who worked in the Daytona Beach office; and Garret O’Boyle, a special agent from the field office in Wichita, Kan., who has been suspended."

They have promoted conspiracy theories; Hill wrote on Twitter that the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol was a "set up." Meanwhile, O'Boyle and Friend have admitted to receiving financial aid from Kash Patel, a former aide to Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA) and Trump associate who has testified in the Mar-a-Lago classified documents case.

Broken record: And again and again and again nothing of consequence will happen. Nothing.

MG will continue to bluster away that no one is above the law as he and his circle cower like cowards still upset that he didn't get his lifetime gig on the SCOTUS. 

[JCon]

People of Ohio were willing to overlook his complicity in the sexual assault and rape of students to own libs. So, is it any surprise the Gym Jordan is buying false testimony? There will be no repercussions for him. Just fail up, like the rest of the GOP. 

[Wideleft]

Sooo good.

 

 

[JohnnyAbonny]

So, is there honestly any stopping fascism in the US at this point? 

[Mark F]

2 hours ago, HardCoreBlue said:

Broken record: And again and again and again nothing of consequence will happen. Nothing.

MG will continue to bluster away that no one is above the law as he and his circle cower like cowards still upset that he didn't get his lifetime gig on the SCOTUS. 

compare garland/Trump to Murdaugh

Murdaughwife and son shot, killed  june 2021

murdaugh charged with their murder july 2022

murdaugh convicted march 2 2023

 

Trump probably has no defence of any kind to the classified document theft. slam dunk

as is paying off the prostitute.

dont worry, Jack  is tough, fearless! prosecuted war crimes! (remember Fitzgerald, who investigated Bush Cheney various crimes.  He too, was, tough, very tough. he nailed....... scooter libby 😂 )

Edited March 3, 2023 by Mark F

[JCon]

17 minutes ago, JohnnyAbonny said:

So, is there honestly any stopping fascism in the US at this point? 

Nope. And the GOP handed the reigns to the fascists when McCarthy bent over for them. It's over. Done and dusted. Build a ****ing wall cause we're seeing that crap up here with PP and his ilk. 

[HardCoreBlue]

50 minutes ago, Wideleft said:

Sooo good.

 

 

Well worth viewing in it's entirety but the last 20-25 seconds of this 8+ minute clip is where Stewart really nails it.

What a F'ing F this Dahm ghoul is.

[HardCoreBlue]

2 hours ago, JCon said:

People of Ohio were willing to overlook his complicity in the sexual assault and rape of students to own libs. So, is it any surprise the Gym Jordan is buying false testimony? There will be no repercussions for him. Just fail up, like the rest of the GOP. 

You're much too kind and less cynical than me.

They aren't overlooking, they are endorsing/supporting what he continues to do not only to own the libs (that's secondary) but because what he does and says is who they are as people, their genetic makeup, how they are hardwired.

Jordan gives their knuckle dragging 'views' legitimacy.

But hey, sane critically thinking people from all walks of life and political stripes are actually the problem for not tolerating and listening to this ****.

We're the divisive ones causing all this hate and anger in the world living in our echo chambers.   

[JCon]

2 minutes ago, HardCoreBlue said:

You're much too kind and less cynical than me.

They aren't overlooking, they are endorsing/supporting what he continues to do not only to own the libs (that's secondary) but because what he does and says is who they are as people, their genetic makeup, how they are hardwired.

Jordan gives their knuckle dragging 'views' legitimacy.

But hey, sane critically thinking people from all walks of life and political stripes are actually the problem for not tolerating and listening to this ****.

We're the divisive ones causing all this hate and anger in the world living in our echo chambers.   

So you see his complicity in the sexual assaults as a feature not a bug? You're probably correct with the right. 

[HardCoreBlue]

6 minutes ago, JCon said:

So you see his complicity in the sexual assaults as a feature not a bug? You're probably correct with the right. 

Well how many times do you hear 'what were they wearing?, why did they even put themselves into that situation?, why didn't they fight back? why did it take so long for them to say something?, I bet you it was consensual, what's a little touching lighten up etc etc etc'

Explain it away cause that's who they are.

My proof?

Cause they keep voting this F face in.

Edited March 3, 2023 by HardCoreBlue

[Tracker]

'A lot of unhealthy effects': DeSantis-appointed Disney board member suggests tap water turns people gay

A man appointed to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' Disney oversight board has a history of making anti-LGBTQ comments, including a claim that tap water could be turning people gay, CNN reported. Ron Peri, an Orlando-based former pastor and the CEO of a Christian ministry, is one of five people who will oversee the Reedy Creek Improvement District, the government body that has given Disney unique powers in Central Florida for more than half a century, according to CNN.

In a January 2022 Zoom call, Ron Peri asked, "So why are there homosexuals today?  There are any number of reasons, you know, that are given. Some would say the increase in estrogen in our societies. You know, there’s estrogen in the water from birth control pills. They can’t get it out," Peri said. “The level of testosterone in men broadly in America has declined by 50 points in the past 10 years. You know, and so, maybe that’s a part of it.”

"But the big part I would suggest to you, based upon what it's saying here, is the removal of constraint," he continued. "So our society provided the constraint. And so, which is the responsibility of a society to constrain people from doing evil? Well, you remove the constraints, and then evil occurs."

As CNN points out, testosterone levels in men have been inexplicably dropping in recent decades, but not at the 50 percent rate that Peri claims. Also, there's no proof that a drop in testosterone in men can lead to them being gay.

In the same speech, Peri called homosexuality "shameful," and said it leads to disease.

"There are a lot of unhealthy effects of a homosexual lifestyle. There are diseases, but it goes beyond that," he said, adding that gay people don't care about the future since they can't have children.

From CNN: "Peri's appointment to the oversight board comes after a long-standing battle between DeSantis and Disney over the Parental Rights in Education Act – which critics have called Florida's 'Don’t Say Gay' law. The law bars schools from teaching about sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third-grade classrooms and in older classrooms that do not meet yet-to-be-defined standards."

[iHeart]

1 hour ago, Tracker said:

'A lot of unhealthy effects': DeSantis-appointed Disney board member suggests tap water turns people gay

A man appointed to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' Disney oversight board has a history of making anti-LGBTQ comments, including a claim that tap water could be turning people gay, CNN reported. Ron Peri, an Orlando-based former pastor and the CEO of a Christian ministry, is one of five people who will oversee the Reedy Creek Improvement District, the government body that has given Disney unique powers in Central Florida for more than half a century, according to CNN.

In a January 2022 Zoom call, Ron Peri asked, "So why are there homosexuals today?  There are any number of reasons, you know, that are given. Some would say the increase in estrogen in our societies. You know, there’s estrogen in the water from birth control pills. They can’t get it out," Peri said. “The level of testosterone in men broadly in America has declined by 50 points in the past 10 years. You know, and so, maybe that’s a part of it.”

"But the big part I would suggest to you, based upon what it's saying here, is the removal of constraint," he continued. "So our society provided the constraint. And so, which is the responsibility of a society to constrain people from doing evil? Well, you remove the constraints, and then evil occurs."

As CNN points out, testosterone levels in men have been inexplicably dropping in recent decades, but not at the 50 percent rate that Peri claims. Also, there's no proof that a drop in testosterone in men can lead to them being gay.

In the same speech, Peri called homosexuality "shameful," and said it leads to disease.

"There are a lot of unhealthy effects of a homosexual lifestyle. There are diseases, but it goes beyond that," he said, adding that gay people don't care about the future since they can't have children.

From CNN: "Peri's appointment to the oversight board comes after a long-standing battle between DeSantis and Disney over the Parental Rights in Education Act – which critics have called Florida's 'Don’t Say Gay' law. The law bars schools from teaching about sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third-grade classrooms and in older classrooms that do not meet yet-to-be-defined standards."

Maybe he should prove it by drinking it