US Politics

[Tracker]

Right wing goes nuts over gas shortage, invents elaborate reasons why it's Biden's fault

Republicans and their allies in right-wing media have found a new attack line against President Joe Biden's administration, attempting to generate over the evolving nationwide fuel storage that resulted from the hack of Colonial Pipeline, a private company, which has sent Americans into long lines to top off their tanks at inflated prices. 

As tanks began to run dry at gas stations along the East Coast, right-wing pundits fired up the outrage machine and started blaming Biden and his administration. 

Fox News host Tucker Carlson, during his Tuesday opening monologue, tried to blame the shortage on Biden's policies, suggesting that the administration "approves" of the short-term gas crisis, reportedly caused by a Russian dark internet operation called "Darkside" hacking into Colonial Pipeline's data. 

"In case 2021 didn't remind you enough of a grimmer version of the 1970s, we now have serious gas shortages in a country that just recently was energy-independent," Carlson said. "All along the East Coast of the country today, people couldn't fill up their cars. The footage looks like Venezuela." Carlson further remarked, in skeptical tones, that "the official explanation is that some mysterious gang of cybercriminals hacked the software at a major American fuel supplier called Colonial Pipeline."

"What is this about?" Carlson then posed to his audience. "Well, you know. On some level — let's be honest about it — the White House approves of this disaster," he continued, blaming the Biden administration's policies of gradually moving away from fossil fuels. 

"Yes, some gas stations are closed tonight," Carlson continued, before launching into a dystopian future fantasy. "But soon enough, the lunatics plan to close them all — every gas station in the entire United States, shuttered forever, to make way for some new, as-yet-undefined means of transportation that will magically replace the gasoline engines we've used for more than 100 years. This is a green revolution. So who cares about some old pipeline?"

Right wing goes nuts over gas shortage, invents elaborate reasons why it's Biden's fault | Salon.com

[Mark F]

4 minutes ago, JCon said:

Trump, Putin, Johnson... the list goes on. 

true.

should add netanyahu.  

Edited May 14, 2021 by Mark F

[Tracker]

3 hours ago, Mark F said:

Bush junior cant leave the USA for fear of arrest for war crimes, Trump, always has to outdo everyone........in fear of arrest, he  can't leave Florida. 🤣

If thjs happens, they should send a bounty hunter.  America gets goofier by the hour.

This wrinkle, that a state governor can order defiance of a federal subpoena or arrest warrant because the governor does not like it is absolutely bizarre, even for American jurisprudence. Can you imagine that a premier or delegate could defy a criminal arrest warrant for a member of that province because s/he did not like it?

[Mark F]

7 minutes ago, Tracker said:

Right wing goes nuts over gas shortage, invents elaborate reasons why it's Biden's fault

read that the pipeline itself is fine, and was not disabled  at all, and the problem is with the billing system

caused by corprate malfeasance failing to secure adequately.

2 minutes ago, Tracker said:

This wrinkle, that a state governor can order defiance of a federal subpoena or arrest warrant because the governor does not like it is absolutely bizarre,

the american system is a true rube goldberg contraption. 

Edited May 14, 2021 by Mark F

[the watcher]

" read that the pipeline itself is fine, and was not disabled  at all, and the problem is with the billing system

caused by corprate malfeasance failing to secure adequately."

The horrible thing is it doesn't matter anymore.  What's real, what the truth is, what the cause is, really doesn't matter. It will be spun to suit the needs of those in power or with a microphone.

[Mark F]

"New details from within Colonial Pipeline have come to light surrounding the decision to shut off supply. Those briefed on the matter have suggested that fuel flows were shut down due to the company's billing system being compromised. Company officials were reportedly concerned that they would not be able to accurately bill customers for fuel delivered, and chose to stop delivery instead.

No evidence available has pointed to the pipeline's operational systems actually being compromised. "

The Drive

corporate side bonus: large Gas price rise.

they win no matter what.

Concerned about metering.

this reminds me of when the usa occupied Iraq.

oil was pumped without metres for years.

 

meters.

Edited May 14, 2021 by Mark F

[JCon]

Just now, Mark F said:

true.

should add nutenyahu .

Do you trust any of the nuclear bros leaders?

Biden, Putin, Johnson, Netanyahu, Modi, Macron, Aivi, Jinping, Jong-un? 

[Tracker]

2 minutes ago, Mark F said:

read that the pipeline itself is fine, and was not disabled  at all, and the problem is with the billing system

caused by corprate malfeasance failing to secure adequately.

American system is a true rube goldberg contraption. 

The roots of this sort of thing go waaay back. About 20 years ago, I was  part of a fledgling internet technology forum- then called a chat group. One of the members at that time reported, from first-hand knowledge, that a major American food company had been hacked and their entire accounts receivable was encrypted and held for ransom- the amount quoted was 12 million dollars that was paid as quietly as possible. One would think that the word would get around to all the major companies if not all larger organizations that they ought to upgrade their security protocols. I seem to recall that as recently as a few years ago, Windows 95 was still being used by some organizations. You get what you pay for.

[Mark F]

2 minutes ago, JCon said:

Do you trust any of the nuclear bros leaders?

Biden, Putin, Johnson, Netanyahu, Modi, Macron, Aivi, Jinping, Jong-un? 

I trust nobody with nuclear weapons.

[JCon]

1 minute ago, Mark F said:

I trust nobody with nuclear weapons.

Me too. But, we're only 5 months out from possibly the worst collection of red button pushers ever? Biden is more stable than Trump but I don't trust him either. 

[the watcher]

I'm not sure how many of you are familiar with the Fermi paradox. Science and mathematics say there must be other intelligent life in the universe. The paradox is of course , where is it ?  ONE of the many solutions is that no civilization can get past where we are. That it will always destroy itself or collapse.  I'm leaning more that way all the time.  We seem to be reverting to a less logical, intellectual , science based time. Yet we still maintain the ability for ultimate destruction.

[JCon]

5 minutes ago, the watcher said:

I'm not sure how many of you are familiar with the Fermi paradox. Science and mathematics say there must be other intelligent life in the universe. The paradox is of course , where is it ?  ONE of the many solutions is that no civilization can get past where we are. That it will always destroy itself or collapse.  I'm leaning more that way all the time.  We seem to be reverting to a less logical, intellectual , science based time. Yet we still maintain the ability for ultimate destruction.

I wonder if we revert back because we're easily influenced by smooth talking, shiny objects or are we truly just horrible beings? We are, by all measures, so close to providing everyone in this world with access to food, water and healthcare, the essentials for life, yet we choose to go backwards with a selfish, me first, mentality. 

[the watcher]

4 minutes ago, JCon said:

I wonder if we revert back because we're easily influenced by smooth talking, shiny objects or are we truly just horrible beings? We are, by all measures, so close to providing everyone in this world with access to food, water and healthcare, the essentials for life, yet we choose to go backwards with a selfish, me first, mentality. 

 Not just food, water and healthcare  but social acceptence of people that are different than us. It like a fork in the road. Which way will we choose ? I really don't know.

[JCon]

Just now, the watcher said:

 Not just food, water and healthcare  but social acceptence of people that are different than us. It like a fork in the road. Which way will we choose ? I really don't know.

Yeah, I feel like that is coming too. It seems as though (not scientifically supported) that the more stable our food, water and healthcare supplies are, the more people seem to be willing to accept others for who they are. It's all incremental steps forward, then these giant leaps back. 

[JCon]

 

This is a great thread. 

[Mark F]

15 minutes ago, JCon said:

This is a great thread. 

describes classic right wing move:

 

"Mr. Greenberg was first indicted in June on charges stemming from his attempts to undermine a political rival by spreading false rumors that the rival had engaged in sex with a student. Two months later, he was indicted on a charge of sex trafficking a child. "

greenberg needs to avoid umbrellas, upper floors.

trump has to be sweating.

Edited May 14, 2021 by Mark F

[JCon]

1 minute ago, Mark F said:

describes classic right wing move:

 

"Mr. Greenberg was first indicted in June on charges stemming from his attempts to undermine a political rival by spreading false rumors that the rival had engaged in sex with a student. Two months later, he was indicted on a charge of sex trafficking a child. "

Always projecting. 

 

"Taking away our rights!" meanwhile, trying to make it impossible for minorities to vote. 

[HardCoreBlue]

1 hour ago, Mark F said:

describes classic right wing move:

 

"Mr. Greenberg was first indicted in June on charges stemming from his attempts to undermine a political rival by spreading false rumors that the rival had engaged in sex with a student. Two months later, he was indicted on a charge of sex trafficking a child. "

greenberg needs to avoid umbrellas, upper floors.

trump has to be sweating.

24 hour multi security personal protection for Mr. Greenberg please.

[Tracker]

South Carolina GOP panicked pro-Trump lawyer Lin Wood's loss will trigger a statehouse insurrection
   
Far-right, pro-QAnon attorney Lin Wood, who struck out trying to prove voter fraud in the 2020 election and is now facing an ethics investigation and a criminal probe for alleged illegal voting of his own, has embraced a new project: running for chair of the the South Carolina Republican Party.

According to POLITICO, this bid is also likely to go down in flames today, as incumbent party chair, Drew McKissick will likely rout him among party delegates. But GOP strategists are privately scared that his loss will not put an end to the base's embrace of his conspiracy theories.

"Like Trump, Wood is already accusing McKissick of election fraud — without any evidence — even before the first ballots are cast Saturday," reported Marc Caputo. Meanwhile, "Wood has gone so far as to make dark insinuations that McKissick isn't doing enough to stop 'the real pandemic' of pedophilia, and suggested he needs to resign over unspecified 'nefarious activities' with GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham. Wood has also called the coronavirus pandemic a 'plandemic,' suggesting it was part of an organized plot."

According to the report, Wood has even tried to cast doubt on the authenticity of Trump's endorsement of McKissick for re-election.

"What's going to happen Saturday is that McKissick is going to win, and Lin Wood is going to say it was fraud and scream and holler conspiracy theories," Joel Sawyer, a former South Carolina GOP executive director, told POLITICO. "The problem in South Carolina is many of the people at the county level, the delegate level, have been echoing the former president's fact-free claims of election fraud, but those very people are now going to have to turn around and defend the legitimacy of this election. But they don't have a lot of moral authority to dispute fact-free claims of election fraud."

South Carolina GOP panicked pro-Trump lawyer Lin Wood's loss will trigger a statehouse insurrection - Alternet.org

[Tracker]

Texas GOP passes abortion ban based on weaponizing lawsuits against providers
 

Legislation that would ban abortions after as early as six weeks — before many women know they are pregnant — and let virtually any private citizen sue abortion providers and others was given final approval by lawmakers Thursday and is headed to Gov. Greg Abbott, who has signaled he will sign it into law.

Senate Bill 8, a Republican priority measure, is similar to "heartbeat bills" passed in other states that have been mostly stopped by the courts. But proponents of the Texas legislation believe it's structured in a way that makes it tougher to block.

The bill was denounced by hundreds of lawmakers and doctors — in letters circulated by opponents of the measure — who said its broad legal language could open the door to harassing or frivolous lawsuits that could have a "chilling effect" on abortion providers and leave rape crisis counselors, nurses and clinic staff "subject to tens of thousands of dollars in liability to total strangers." Abortion rights advocates say it is among the most extreme restrictions nationwide.

The bill, which would take effect later this year, bans abortions after a fetal heartbeat can be detected without specifying a time frame. A legislative analysis and the bill's proponents have said that can be as early as six weeks, though state Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, in a floor debate cited medical experts who say there is no fully developed heart at that gestational age and that the sound referred to as a heartbeat is actually "electrically induced flickering" of fetal tissue.

The bill makes an exception allowing for abortions in the case of a medical emergency but not for rape or incest.

It would be enforced by private citizens empowered to sue abortion providers and others who help someone get an abortion after six weeks, for example, by driving them to an abortion clinic.  Those private citizens would not need to have a connection to an abortion provider or a person seeking an abortion, and would not need to reside in Texas.

 

Texas GOP passes abortion ban based on weaponizing lawsuits against providers | Salon.com

[Mark F]

1 hour ago, Tracker said:

ould be enforced by private citizens empowered to sue abortion providers and others who help someone get an abortion after six weeks, for example, by driving them to an abortion clinic

definitely a step in the right direction./s

up till now anti abortionists just murdered and bombed clinics.

remember this?

 

"A Winnipeg abortion provider, shot 14 years ago this week in his living room, has just published a book and is speaking out for the first time.

Dr. Jack Fainman, now 80, was one of three Canadian physicians, all of whom performed abortions, shot in the 1990s."

 

Edited May 15, 2021 by Mark F

[Tracker]

3 hours ago, Mark F said:

definitely a step in the right direction./s

up till now anti abortionists just murdered and bombed clinics.

remember this?

 

"A Winnipeg abortion provider, shot 14 years ago this week in his living room, has just published a book and is speaking out for the first time.

Dr. Jack Fainman, now 80, was one of three Canadian physicians, all of whom performed abortions, shot in the 1990s."

 

Killing people in the name of an all-wise, all-powerful and loving God never seems to go out of fashion.

[Mark F]

5 minutes ago, Tracker said:

Killing people in the name of an all-wise, all-powerful and loving God never seems to go out of fashion.

just read this

Stamislaw Lem, why he was an athiest:

"the world appears to me to be put together in such a painful way that I prefer to believe that it was not created ... intentionally"

 

Edited May 15, 2021 by Mark F

[Wanna-B-Fanboy]

If anyone is interested, the Joel Greenberg case how it pertains to Gaetz and the full details of the plea bargain attached.

 

[Tracker]

19 hours ago, Mark F said:

just read this

Stamislaw Lem, why he was an athiest:

"the world appears to me to be put together in such a painful way that I prefer to believe that it was not created ... intentionally"

 

There is an answer as to how the world can be created by a loving God and yet manifest in such an apparently cruel and uncaring way. And it does not involve Zeemu.

Trump officials used secret terrorism unit to question lawyers at the border: documents

Taylor Levy couldn't understand why she'd been held for hours by Customs and Border Protection officials when crossing back into El Paso, Texas, after getting dinner with friends in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, in January 2019. And she didn't know why she was being questioned by an agent who'd introduced himself as a counterterrorism specialist.

Levy was part of the legal team representing the father of a girl who'd died the previous month in the custody of the Border Patrol, which is part of CBP. “There was so much hate for immigration lawyers at that time," she recalled. “I thought that somebody had put in an anonymous tip that I was a terrorist."

The truth was more troubling. Newly released records show that Levy was swept up as part of a broader than previously known push by the administration of President Donald Trump to use the federal government's expansive powers at the border to stop and question journalists, lawyers and activists.

The records reveal that Levy and attorney Héctor Ruiz were interrogated by members of CBP's secretive Tactical Terrorism Response Team. The lawyers were suspected of “providing assistance" to the migrant caravan that was then the focus of significant attention by the administration and right-wing media. Officials speculated in later reports that immigration lawyers were seeking to profit by moving migrants through Mexico, and that “Antifa" may have been involved.

The records were provided to ProPublica by the Santa Fe Dreamers Project, a public interest law firm and advocacy group that received them after filing a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit about the stops of Levy and Ruiz at the border in El Paso.

Trump officials used secret terrorism unit to question lawyers at the border: documents - Alternet.org