Farron Cousins brings us the story of Arkansas governor Sarah Huckabilly Sanders deciding to take health care away from 78,000 kids in under a year by kicking them off Medicaid – oh yes, go kicking and screaming about “Dark Brandon”; he doesn’t run your punk ass state...you allegedly do...
...and David Shuster of Rebel HQ tells us about St. Louis cops who crashed a vehicle into a gay bar and then arrested the bar owner for supposedly putting a hand on a cop, though that is being contested (the officer allegedly made a homophobic slur)...and there’s also a video of reporter Jesse Blackburn in PA being accosted by a cop for doing nothing wrong, as far as we can see (Blackburn reported on a case in a public area, but the local constable got in his face anyway...I didn’t see the clip of the break-in by the cops in Connecticut)...
...and Sam Seder of The Majority Report speaks with Ari Tolany, research consultant for Women for Weapons Trade Transparency; they discuss the piece Tolany wrote for In These Times on “How Israel Got an Endless Supply of U.S.-Made Smart Bombs”...the amount of munitions we’ve sent to that country and continue to send is jaw-dropping...and I know this is a broken record, but so much of the garbage that currently afflicts us can indeed be traced back to The Sainted Ronnie R, who made sure Israel started getting these precision-guided munitions in return for pulling out of Lebanon (and I would say that the reporting on this stuff is “deliberately opaque” also)...
...and here’s another clip I meant to get to previously; John of The Damage Report, with Ramesh Srinivasan and Mondale Robinson, tell us about the wingnuts losing what’s left of their minds over a “Nutcracker” presentation by Dr. Jill Biden at the White House...there actually was a time in this country when perpetual outrage over every little thing wasn’t being manufactured endlessly; the person primarily responsible for this now as far as I’m concerned, more than anyone else, is Roger Ailes...I don’t know of course what his fate in the great beyond is for doing this, but I can’t imagine that it’s anything good...
...and I'm continuing to work my way down the list of seasonal tunes with these selections.
Brian Tyler Cohen discusses the “Mayor of 9/11” and the $148 million judgment against him for maligning the mother and daughter Georgia poll workers in the ’20 election...Rudy! obviously has never learned the phrase “when you’re in a hole, stop digging”...this guy could have absolutely coasted, but because he aligned himself with Mango Mussolini, he’ll likely be disbarred and spend the rest of his life paying off debts for his malfeasance (more here)...
Update: This trick didn't work for Alex Jones, and it won't work for Rudy either.
...and I want to go a little “inside baseball” here a bit and point out the following...when I’m in holiday mode like this, I’m more prone to skip around certain videos that might have been a little more topical previously...that’s not my cunning plan by any means, but it’s just the way things turn out sometimes; I’m saying this because this fine Majority Report clip with Emma V. on Israel’s Gaza incursion might have been more timely earlier in the week or last week, but it just got bumped for other stuff...educational for yours truly, I have to admit, because I’d hung onto the possibility of a two-state solution for the Palestinians when in reality that may have been just a liberal pipe dream given all of those stinking settlements on the West Bank...even Yitzhak Rabin apparently said that the Palestinians should have “less than a state” or something, and he got his brains blown out just for that...makes me despair over this issue even more actually, and I realize that’s not constructive either, but I just don’t know how else to react over this, aside from cutting off Israel at its metaphorical knees unless it agrees to mediation to get its remaining hostages freed, assuming they aren’t already dead (and this makes me detest “Bibi” and his cadre of “true believers” in Israel and this country even more, including that shameless harpie arguing with the interviewer)...
...and it’s also an incredible downer to watch this clip from David Doel on PA’s Dem U.S. Senator John Fetterman...I think Fetterman has made the political calculation that he doesn’t have a snowball’s chance of remaining in the U.S. Senate unless he cozies up to AIPAC, which sadly is probably correct, and no, I don’t know what the answer to that is either at the moment...I should say that I’m not completely comfortable with Doel’s framing of “not many Israeli civilian deaths,” though the power balance numbers he presents when compared with casualties in Gaza are irrefutable IMO...yes, I’m very concerned about Fetterman’s clownish behavior also when it comes to the Gaza carnage, but I’m not ready to totally give up on the guy based on this alone, though it is pretty bad (haven't forgotten that we could have been stuck with "Dr. Crudite") – hopefully there will be no other reason for me to bail on him (and yeah, to say you’re not a progressive after all those tweets is beyond belief; THAT is more concerning to me than anything...slightly NSFW/H)...
...and as a bit of a “compare and contrast” exercise, Mike Figueredo sez that AIPAC is planning to spend $100 million to get rid of progressive candidates (I don’t need any additional reasons to detest AIPAC, though this is pretty damn disgusting also; imagine the better ways that money could be put to use for their nation as well as the Palestinians on Gaza)...according to Ryan Grim, though (mentioned in the TMR clip), AOC told AIPAC what they could do...and before anybody asks, “Why didn’t John Fetterman do that?,” let me point out that, at best, PA is plus 2 or 3 on the D side (which is basically a tossup as far as I’m concerned), but AOC's district is about a +14 in favor of the Dems, so she can afford to take that position...and I think Shri Thanedar is a lying idiot also (NSFW/H)...
And by the way, here are links to help members of “the squad”...
Ana Kasparian and Cenk Uygur of TYT bring us the oh-so-woeful story (snark) of Almost Silent Clarence “The Job Is Not Worth Doin’ For What They Pay” Thomas...more great reporting from ProPublica...as I read these astounding dollar figures that the Thomases borrowed (and let’s not forget that this includes Ginni too, who gave aid and comfort to the 1/6 traitors and of course is still part of the cadre that wants to overturn our government), I couldn’t help but remember the incredibly paltry sum by comparison that forced Abe Fortas off the High Court and led to the conservative hammerlock that Tricky Dick created, which exists with The Supremes to this day...
...but the big story on Action News, as they say, is A Certain Treasonous Orange Pestilence not being allowed on the presidential ballot in Colorado for inciting the 1/6 insurrection...yeah, this whole thing is headed straight for the High Court of Hangin’ Judge JR as alluded to above, which is probably where this whole matter belongs (and if they find a way to rule in Combover Caligula’s favor, there should be crowds with torches and pitchforks in front of 1 First St. NE...David Doel tells us more...and speaking of Action News, my sympathies for real over this)...
Update 1/2/24: Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold is truly a hero as far as I'm concerned (here).
...and returning to the story of Christian and Bridget Ziegler and the former’s attempt to get paid before he steps down from his Repug Party post in Flori-DUUH!, Farron Cousins tells us that Big Stupid Head Matt Gaetz took a break from cavorting with underage teenage girls (allegedly!) to say that politicians accused of involvement in sex scandals should resign...you first, pal...
...and I give Chris Hayes so much credit for this incredibly clear-eyed analysis of why the Gaza attacks must end...yes, Hamas started this with their indefensible assault on October 7th, but as Hayes tells us, the vast majority of Gaza has been destroyed, putting huge numbers of people at risk for disease, starvation, and continuing slaughter...and no, pointing that out doesn’t automatically mean siding with Hamas; the murdering cowards of that despicable organization should be held to account, but in an international court...
(OK, so YouTube flagged the clip as age inappropriate somehow, probably because of the film of the kid from Gaza with part of his leg missing. I think that's ridiculous, but I don't own the platform - here's the link to the video...yes, the kid missing part of his leg is terrible, but calling attention to atrocities like that is part of what Hayes was doing...more here.)
...and Kyle Kulinski brings us the latest “woke Pope” developments, with Francis commendably calling out the IDF as guilty of terrorism for targeting Christians in churches; shouldn’t be that controversial to state such a plainly obvious fact...#46, IMO, is getting played on this by AIPAC, and when push comes to shove, those cretins won’t be there for him next November...I have a feeling Kyle is right on what this has done to Biden’s support among younger voters, and his support by Muslims is pretty damn microscopic now unfortunately...
...and I know it's hard to keep up anything approximating a holiday spirit given these stories, but please allow me to keep trying anyway with these selections.
Jesse Dollemore and Brittany Page discuss the Moms for Liberty idiots in Flori-DUUH! who remain defiant despite the rape allegation and the story of the “three way,” particularly Bridget Ziegler, who refuses to step down from her role on the Sarasota school board...and yeah, it sound to me also like Christian Ziegler wants to “get paid” (an update is here)...
Update 1/2/24: Looks like Christian Ziegler may be on his way to the gray bar hotel - hope he has a good lawyer (here).
...and great job by the student in Sarasota giving Ziegler the treatment she deserves in the public meeting here...
...and Thom Hartmann gives us the latest on the efforts of the Repug Party to destroy the Constitution and rewrite it to give the rich every damn thing they want...it sounds like the next battleground will be our thoroughly bought-and-paid-for SCOTUS, who may rule that the six state challenges to the Constitution from long ago are still in force, giving the wingnuts the magic number of 34 to call a convention, which would be awful, requiring us to fight even harder to oppose it...
...and John and Brett Erlich of The Damage Report tell us about the umbrage from the usual right-wing suspects over the film “Leave The World Behind” based on the book (here...and yeah, it sounds like the wingnuts are showing absolutely zero self-awareness, Part The Infinity as Charlie Pierce might say, and all over one line of dialogue from one scene apparently which has white people fee fees all in a tizzy, and I can’t think of a word to describe how pathetic It is that these knuckleheads are apparently caterwauling about it when they are TOO LAZY TO ACTUALLY GO SEE THE THING THEY’RE COMPLAINING ABOUT! And no, I didn’t see it yet either, but I’m not the one yelling about it)...
The latest clip from Second Thought tells us How The Far Right Infiltrates U.S. Education (I honestly didn’t know that Dennis Prager has 3.2 million YouTube subscribers...ugh...those poor kids; if I was being forced to watch a video of Jordan freaking Peterson, I might end up wanting to “go postal” myself...and why am I also not surprised to see that this motley outfit has gotten such a buildup in Flori-DUUUH!? And why is it no damn surprise either that this garbage can be traced back to The Sainted Ronnie R? –“capitalism is not equipped to solve the problems it creates”...and IMO “we sold our souls for short-term profit maximization” should be written on the headstone of the very last boomer who sheds his or her mortal coil...and I heard about the dustup with Nebula, but I didn’t want to say anything b/c I wasn’t sure how verifiable the rumor was; I’m glad it wasn’t as severe as I’d heard at first)...
...and don’t look now, but our corporate media is actually DOING SOME INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING INSTEAD OF PRATTLING ON ABOUT THE POLITICAL “HORSE RACE”...Lester Holt and reporter Sam Brock of NBC News inform us of the utter scam of Medicare Advantage, with claims routinely denied...of course, the Medicare enrollment period just ended; not sure why this report didn’t air during enrollment instead of after it...
...and I know I’ve alluded to this before, but I’m going to do it again – Rachel Maddow tells us that this Congress is the most pitiable bunch of losers we’ve seen since Herbert Hoover and The Great Depression (22 bills passed with our current gaggle of idiots and frauds as opposed to 21 about 90 years ago)...and yes, this is symptomatic of a slow lurch towards authoritarianism, which we have to fight with all of the legal means at our disposal (more here)...
Update 12/19/23: I updated this item to correct the number of bills; I admit that math was never my strong suit :-).
...well, for some good news, this video from More Perfect Union tells us about the successful unionization effort by the UAW at the Blue Bird plant in Georgia, which should be helpful in the EV-powered future for vehicles such as school buses...great to see a victory for labor in hostile terrain; I suppose this clip is a bookend of sorts for yesterday’s nonsense with Marjorie Traitor Greene saying she didn’t want jobs in her district because it would take workers from existing businesses (translation: she doesn’t want workers to benefit from a labor competition which is a positive outcome of job growth and economic development...and kudos to that brave Bluebird worker who gave the TV interview)...
Nina Turner of Rebel HQ tells us about Marjorie Trailer Park Greene railing about the EV plant in her district (more here)...as of now, 4 Democrats are running in the primary election scheduled for next May...and yeah, I know this is a pretty solid “R” seat despite Greene’s lunacy, but there’s no percentage at all if we do nothing in response.
And speaking of Republican idiocy, I believe I need to communicate the following item.
First of all, I have to confess that I shop very infrequently at Home Depot. And yes, I know the person in charge of Home Depot is a Trumpist a-hole who believes workers in this country are lazy and deserve absolutely nothing from our government (here). And I’ve gone out of my way to the Lowe’s in my area from time to time as a matter of principle, but unfortunately, Home Depot has a better selection for what I need.
Well, I journeyed to the one in my area (Fairless Hills, more or less), picked up some seasonal stuff, and while I was exiting the parking lot, I found myself behind a certain individual with the bumper sticker shown below.
(I should also note, by the way, that Home Depot, and actually the Lowe’s in Middletown also, are pretty much wingnut central. Bumper stickers like the one in the pic are definitely not a “one off.”)
To me, this puts a bit of emphasis on the fact that WE NEED TO GET FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS REGISTERED TO VOTE if they aren't already and we also need to MAKE SURE THEY GET TO THE POLLS. Life forms like this character in the Lincoln 4x4 pictured above most definitely will be voting, and we need to do all we can to electorally neutralize him and others like him (and yes, a guy was driving).
...continuing, David Doel tells us about all the wingnut umbrage over a Dem staffer who allegedly filmed gay sex in a Senate hearing room, so of course this person was fired, and OF COOOURRRSE wingnut media are losing what’s left of their minds over it...and no, I don’t condone it either, but can we get a freaking grip, people? Also, I like the way Doel presents that clip of Generalissimo Trump using white nationalist dictator rhetoric again at one of his hate rallies, with Doel basically saying to us, “what do YOU think matters more?” (mildly NSFW/H)...
...and this gives me a chance to work in a couple of more seasonal tunes.
Farron Cousins brings us the story of a certain Treasonous Orange Pestilence trying to extort 2024 prez endorsements from willing lackeys U.S. Senate Republicans, and that would be Cancun Cruz and “Running Man” Josh Hawley, and the tactic actually worked in the latter case... I shouldn’t be surprised, but I am in a way (and to do something about the Texas mistake, click here...to do something about Brave Sir Josh, click here)...
...and Jesse Dollemore tells us about yet another fundie assclown who tells us to vote for Combover Caligula or there will be “punishments and retribution”...try bringing it, wingnut (“evangelical nutter butter”....good one)...
...and speaking of manufactured outrage, it looks like the ammo-sexuals out there are all in a snit over this ad from Mothers for Democracy, timed for the recent 11th anniversary of the Sandy Hook massacre...those kids would be teenagers now...
...and it looks like “MAGA Mike” Johnson was crowing against “single party impeachments” four years ago, but whoopsie! It looks like we have a “Seinfeld” one against Dark Brandon now (meaning that it’s about nothing)...every U.S. House Republican voted for it, including this guy, and to do something about our wet noodle PA-01 rep, click here (NSFW/H)...
...and I know some of this stuff makes it hard to get into the mood for the season, but I'm going to keep presenting these tunes to help that process anyway.
David Pakman brings us this clip of Ron Johnson doing his best to keep the unofficial title of Biggest Idiot in the U.S. Senate by alleging that the “D” party uses fake electors in an interview with Kaitlan Collins of CNN (here), which actually is a violation of federal election law as noted here... I agree with Pakman – Collins pushed back, but she definitely could have done a better job of it IMO (and Democrat is of course a noun and not an adjective...not that Rojo cares about that I realize)...
Update 7/15/24: Just say "oops" and get out, RoJo (here).
...and Robert Reich reminds us about the Moore v. U.S. case on the SCOTUS docket that could potentially lead to the High Court of Hangin’ Judge JR tying Congress’s metaphorical hands when it comes to enacting a wealth tax on the increased value of investments...and yes, “Strip Search Sammy” and Almost Silent Clarence Thomas should recuse if they had a speck of integrity, which they don’t, so they won’t...and when it comes to replacing our U.S. House Rep in PA-01, please click here...
...and Mike Figueredo brings us the story of Evangelicals furious at Iowa governor Kim Reynolds for allowing a holiday display from the Satanic Temple in the state’s rotunda...hey, this is what happens when you go for all of this “religious liberty” stuff...and I agree; that Iowa rep who is also a minister said that this whole discussion should be guided by the First Amendment, and he’s right (NSFW/H)...
Update 12/16/23: I wonder if this Michael Cassidy idiot realizes how much free publicity he has given to the Satantic Temple by his ridiculous act of vandalism (allegedly, of course).
...and I’m a little late with this I know, but I didn’t want to forget it; Lewis Black on “The Daily Show” looks back at ’23 like only he can (w/Charlamagne tha God)...
Kyle Kulinksi tells us the latest on “MAGA Mike” Johnson and all of the legal work he did for the looney tunes who lose what’s left of their minds over gay people and drag shows (here)...and let’s not forget that Johnson took advantage of an exception in Louisiana state law that allowed him to make “tens of thousands of dollars” as part of the legal team representing the state in a federal court trial over abortion clinic restrictions (noted here...a pretty rank case of double-dipping as far as yours truly is concerned)...and yeah, I think “Grant Storms” sounds like a porn star too...
...and Brian Tyler Cohen brings us this clip of Brianna Keilar of CNN trying to brings facts and logic to the claims of wingnut Tim Burchett about Hunter Biden and Joe Biden BLAH BLAH FREAKING BLAH!...OMIGOD, #46 WAS PAID BY HIS SON FOR A CAR LOAN!!! WHAT A “SCANDAL”!! And boy, is Cohen ever right about the wingnuts trying to own the narrative, facts and logic be damned...makes me recall this post (NSFW/H)...
...and given all of the garbage allegations against Hunter Biden, I think it’s called for to give the man the opportunity to speak for himself, which he did yesterday...
...and Farron Cousins tells us that, while it’s great that Adam Frisch running against Bo-Bo Boebert in CO-14 has raised a lot of dough from Hollywood types (4X the amount it seems), Frisch needs to downplay that a bit; yes, it shouldn’t matter, but unfortunately it does...I know what Cousins is talking about when it comes to getting people riled up over celebrities like that; it’s pretty blue where Le Manse Doomsy resides, but there are definitely red pockets too (I’ll admit that I’m not completely sure what the answer is to that either, people getting worked up over famous donations I mean)...
...and ready or not, it's time for more seasonal selections.
Mike Figueredo tells us about Kate Cox, the Texas woman who was at first granted an abortion because her fetus was diagnosed with something called Edwards Syndrome, which is an almost assuredly fatal condition, but was then denied the abortion by Ken Paxton and the ghouls of the Texas Supreme Court, forcing her to flee the state to get the health care she needs, also to save her own reproductive health...as the clip informs us, it tells you how toothless the exception provision is in these monstrous laws, and these battles are playing out in at least 14 states as Cox’s lawyer points out (more here - NSFW/H)...
...and as someone who has journeyed “across the pond” like millions of others I’m sure, I can tell you that I have had to avail myself of Britain’s National Health Service, and I have been satisfied with the care I received as well as the affordable cost...this New York Times video tells us how it has recently fallen into decline; basically, when you don’t invest in something and let the privateers from this country take over (with the all-too-willing help of the Tories), you get the predictable result...
...and Richard Ojeda of Rebel HQ brings us a clip of Adam Mockler doing his best to reach the brainless bipeds still supporting Our Ochre Abomination...want to know why Ukraine funding has been in trouble recently? Because of these knuckle draggers who actually think Vlad The Butcher is acting in our interests, that’s why...
...and I’ll loop Ana and Cenk of TYT back into this...they inform us that Hannah Giles of Project Veritas recently stepped down and pretty much spilled the beans on James O’Keefe and the other bottom feeders at that wretched outfit...allow me to pass the popcorn while I watch those guttersnipes eat each other alive...
...and I hope you find these seasonal tunes to be a little more enjoyable and/or fulfilling somehow.
This video from Chris Hayes tells us about the Biden Administration quietly doing its job on the economy – lots of “sky is falling” BS from Fix Noise of course on housing costs, eggs, gas as well, and the supply chain overall (and the stuff about Biden supposedly being the grinch who stole Christmas is just so “on the nose” for this bunch)...to be fair, no president is 100 percent at fault on these issues, but if you’re going to give the “R” guy credit for this stuff when it’s good, he should get the blame for it when it goes bad, and that’s right for the “D” person also (more on Biden and the economy is here...and by the way, the baby formula shortage had more to do with monopolies than anything else as noted here)...
Update 12/13/23: Yeah, that stinky Biden economy does it again (#joke), with the Dow breaking 37K for the first time (here).
...and though I believe #46 deserves credit for the reason previously stated, I also think he deserves blame for the reason Beau points out in this clip...as we know, the proverbial buck stops with the person in the big chair, but I also wonder if Biden is getting sold down the river by this Brett McGurk guy who he apparently is relying on for foreign policy advice...for all kinds of reasons, I believe it’s wrong to oppose a ceasefire in Gaza, and I also agree that 46’s diplomatic team has a really heavy lift here to get “Bibi” to stop indiscriminately bombing the crap out of Gaza so some kind of international coalition can restore something approximating order in that area of the world (to say nothing of freeing the remaining hostages and bringing the Hamas murderers to justice)...
...and with the prior clip in mind, David Doel informs us of a recent debate of sorts on CNN between Jamaal Bowman and Mike Lawler on Israel’s latest incursion into Gaza...I agree with Doel; kudos to Bowman for speaking about the reality of the West Bank and Gaza, which should be the rule for our corporate media instead of the exception...I know Abby Phillips has done good work in the past, but once again, her somewhat passive blaming of Bowman tells you what kind of a hold the everything-Israel-does-is-100-percent-right caucus has on our politics and our discourse (mildly NSFW/H)...
...and I give Krystal Ball so much credit for this commentary on the targeted IDF killing of Palestinian poet Refaat Alareer (and yes, I believe that’s what it was for the reasons Ball states); although Hamas is nothing but a bunch of murderous cowards for launching the attack on the music festival and taking hostages that started all of this (well, let’s just say it greatly exacerbated it anyway), it’s long past time for this to be turned over to international mediation since, as far as I’m concerned, Israel will never be honest actors in this barbarity (and oh yeah, what about "free speech warrior" Bari Weiss on this? Do you even need to ask? And call me a pointy-headed lib if you want, but I could care less about Saagar Enjeti)...
...and staying with the Israel/Hamas war and Gaza incursion, Ana of TYT tells us about a recent confrontation between “Bibi” and the freed Israeli hostages and some family members, with the latter making the pretty damn obvious point that bombing the crap out of Gaza isn’t going to do a hell of a lot for anyone’s safety, whether they’re Israeli captives or Palestinians...
Update: Definitely a tactic of an outlaw regime IMO (and I mean Israel) here.
...and while I know that it’s pretty difficult to feel festive in light of the war in the Middle East (as well as this example of disgusting cowardice), I’d like to present the following seasonal selections anyway.
By the way, I should note that I didn’t see the testimony of the 3 Ivy League presidents before Congress about antisemitism (the one where Elise Stefanik apparently got her shorts all knotted up). As far as I can tell, all the umbrage had to do with calls for violence against Israel and/or Jews. And that’s bad of course; nobody should be issuing calls for violence against anybody or any group. However, aside from grabbing some headlines and trying to own the news cycle, I cannot possibly understand why this story is a big deal.
And yes, I know Penn president Liz Magill resigned as a result of the fallout. And I think that was the point from these U.S. House idiots – to manufacture someone as a boogeyman and deflect away from the ongoing nonsense from the ruling clowns in that governmental body.
So let’s play a little game of “what if” here, OK? Suppose one of those universities had tried to prosecute a student for objectionable speech. Do you honestly believe that a student attending these schools WOULDN’T have the financial means (likely through their parents) to file suit, and likely win on free speech grounds? And yes, I realize that not every Ivy league-school student is rich, but I would guess that most of them are. And if a university president knows that, how much sense does it make for them to file a lawsuit in response to objectionable speech that they would likely lose?
As noted here, this congress is on a pace to be the least productive of any (in terms of legislation put forward and bills passed) since the Great Depression. And while that’s partially the fault of the Senate also I know, it is OVERWHELMINGLY the fault of the House. But sure, go ahead and stage some ridiculous hearing about antisemitism instead of securing women’s health care, trying to pass common-sense gun reform, ensuring college affordability or doing relatively nothing while our planet continues to melt.
What a bunch of goddamn idiots! And more from Will Bunch on this is here.
To begin the videos...Jesse Dollemore tells us about some of the likely cabinet picks in the terrible event that, somehow, a certain Treasonous Orange Pestilence were to return to An Oval Office in ‘25 (“a menagerie of dum dums” indeed, though I don’t mean to trivialize the importance of this matter by noting that...and I share Jesse’s concerns about “Tuckums” as a VP candidate – I share concerns about ALL OF THEM, actually, but particularly The Swanson TV Dinner Heir, and yes, this is an “all hands on deck” moment to get anyone registered to vote that we possibly can to prevent all of this...slightly NSFW/H)...
...and Thom Hartmann has a pretty direct related message here for the “party of Lincoln,” namely, that you’ll never rid yourself of the stink from the Gropenfuhrer (here)...
...and Sam and Emma of The Majority Report discuss Ryan Grim pushing back on pro-Israeli “disinformation” with Erin Burnett of CNN (trying to get Grim to pile onto Pramila Jayapal also based on that Dana Bash interview...and AIPAC and their pals spent $40 to $50 million purging critics of Israel from the Democrats, huh? I think that’s a typically disgusting amount of money that definitely could have been put to use in myriad other, better ways...and NOW they’re going to spend $100 million in this upcoming cycle? Once again, thank the High Court of Hangin’ Judge JR for Citizens United...and I think Sam in particular is exactly right here on CNN trying to create some kind of schism within “the squad,” and I think Sam is also right in saying that that effort will not succeed...discussion ends at about 13:52 before they go to a news wrapup)...
...and this video from More Perfect Union informs us of how the NFL is choosing concerts over player safety, and it’s ending careers...former player J.C. Tretter is interviewed on the impact of playing on grass vs. artificial turf...and I can’t think of a word to describe how disgusting it is that NFL owners won’t commit to grass, let alone the fact that Jerry Jones and his pals will go to grass for the World Cup but then go back to turf for the NFL, and at taxpayer expense to boot...apparently, Met Life Stadium in the Meadowlands must be the worst place of this sorry lot...and yes, I’m completely aware of the fact that the Birds did not have a good game yesterday...
...and like it or not, it's time for more seasonal selections.
Hey, it’s “Dictator For A Day” Donnie...yeah, he only wants to run the country “for one day”...uh huh – I guess he believes a “day” has an indefinite time period...and as Farron Cousins notes, if God forbid he ended up back in charge, he would be able to enact a bunch of stuff with the typical presidential power, though Mango Mussolini would go waaay beyond that of course (and what’s at least as vile and repugnant to me, as opposed to the treasonous words of Our Traitorous Orange Meat Sack, are the life forms in the audience who applauded when 45 said this garbage...somewhat NSFW/H)...
...and according to a survey in the WaPo I believe, women are getting more and more disgusted with Trumpers and not wanting to date them, and of course these Fix Noise harpies are big mad about that (Ben Gleib of Rebel HQ fills us in on the details)...
...and when it comes to our thoroughly compromised SCOTUS, Ali Velshi informs us about a case from some self-entitled jagoff with apparently too much time and money on his hands, and that would be this George Jarkesy guy who brought suit against the SEC and its governmental tribunal, a group which provides an important function as noted in this clip including an interview with author and NYU law professor Melissa Murray...this case could indeed potentially upend our government and the “administrative state” that actually does the important legwork providing for our quality of life...the wingnuts have been going after governmental regular bodies ever since the Teahadists swept into power in 2010 (mainly Chucky and Davey Koch attacking the EPA), and maybe even earlier than that, and this is just the latest assault...yeah, this whole case has “bad idea” written all over it IMO, so OF COOURRSE the wretched Court of Hangin’ Judge JR leapt into action...
...and as long as we’re talking about The Supremes, I should include this video from Leeja Miller, telling us that the proposed ethics code from this bunch is worse than we think (hinging on the difference between the words “should” and “shall”)...lots of interesting background IMO on what judges and lawyers can and can’t do, and Miller gets to the SCOTUS at about 10:50...legal trickery is highlighted I know, but it’s important to mention...also, more weasel wording is discussed that allows justices (according to their joke of a code) to speak at what amounts to right-wing advocacy groups, codifying their existing garbage behavior as Miller points out...yeah, these “carve outs” stink to high heaven as she says...also, nice work to point out that separation of powers in the Constitution does NOT mean that the branches of government can’t regulate each other...I believe it was mentioned in one of the obits for Sandra Day O’Connor how important it is for justices to have served in a governmental capacity before they were elevated to the SCOTUS (which O’Connor did in the Arizona state senate...Earl Warren was a Republican governor of California, which was a credential that appealed to President Eisenhower, who nominated him); I think this bunch we have now is pretty much proof positive of how out of touch you can be without that important experience (well, for six of the nine anyway)...
...and I now present the following seasonal selections, including our annual remembrance.
(Yes, I know that GOP clown show was last night, but for now I'd rather focus on more important stuff.)
Sam and Emma of The Majority Report comment on the horrific reports of civilian casualties coming out of Gaza...like many of you I’m sure, I feel compelled to say something about this gut-churning slaughter, though that doesn’t mean that I’m willing to give Hamas a pass on their brutality under any circumstances...and Biden Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin gave a speech where he basically told Netanyahu to limit civilian casualties, which I’m sure “Bibi” categorically ignored...as far as I’m concerned, Netanyahu is as bloodthirsty as Hamas, and it’s pathetic that he’s not getting called out enough for it IMO; tells you what a stranglehold AIPAC has on our politicians and the allegedly sane corporate media discourse on this carnage...
Update 12/10/23: Yeah, this sure figures, doesn't it?
...so what do our corporate media cousins do instead when it comes to civilian deaths in Gaza? Why, that means it’s time to attack Dem U.S. House Rep Pramila Jayapal, who happens to be on the COMPLETELY CORRECT side of this issue (as is Bernie), as David Doel tells us...Netanyahu wants to bomb the Palestinians into extinction...I would say that we’re looong past the point of international mediation, not only on the war but the whole matter of a Palestinian state, Jerusalem as a shared capital and negotiating right of return (as much as any of that can actually take place now given what that area of the world has turned into)...
...and Mike Figueredo brings us the story of Jewish Americans and others condemning this garbage resolution that just passed the U.S. House equating Anti-Zionism with antisemitism (with some Repug U.S. House idiot named Max Miller cheering on the ruin in Gaza...and yes, I agree that this is comparable to accusing someone of being anti-Catholic if they criticized the Church for covering up the abuse scandal...NSFW/H)...
...and speaking of U.S. House idiocy, Speaker “MAGA Mike” Johnson sez in this clip that the Repugs are the “rule of law team” while they plan to go ahead with the Biden impeachment inquiry (oh, and does that have anything to do with Hunter Biden wanting a public hearing which James Comer refuses to give him for some reason, I wonder? And yeah, Johnson is a lying sack of sh*t on the two impeachments of #45, but we knew that – Jesse Dollemore tells us about it...NSFW/H also)...
...and I realize that it may be pretty hard to feel like watching some of these seasonal numbers (including a song to commemorate the beginning of the "festival of lights"), but I hope these tunes can lift our spirits up somehow anyway.
Retired Army Major Richard Ojeda brings us this video of Michael Shure interviewing Trump supporters at his most recent hate fest in Iowa...I give Shure credit for exercising the proverbial patience of Job while trying to reach these life forms, which is more than I can do for certain...
...and as a bit of a follow-up, Farron Cousins tells us that Fix Noise had to cut away from broadcasting #45 and his antics at the rally noted above because his lies were so awful (I think Cousins is exactly right in that The Roger Ailes BS Factory didn’t want to get sued again...aside from ratings, I can’t think of another reason why they would bail on Combover Caligula like that)...
...and transitioning to the economy under #46, this clip from More Perfect Union discusses how clean energy companies rely on contracting firms to staff and frequently underpay an exploitable workforce, citing one particular case in Buckeye, Arizona...when picking produce is a more desirable job than installing a solar panel, I think something is seriously wrong; fortunately, there is a unionization effort underway...regardless, the jobs created here are another success story of Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act IMO...
...and RIP Norman Lear, and I don’t think it’s an overstatement to call him a great American for a few reasons (I thought this was an excellent appreciation)...like many of you I'm sure, I can remember the guts it took for Lear to found People For The American Way and stand up to Jerry Falwell and The Sainted Ronnie R when both were riding high, to say nothing of revolutionizing TV sitcoms...we can all profit from Lear’s courageous example...
...and RIP also Denny Laine of Wings and the original version of The Moody Blues; he was famous for this tune, which was actually a cover...the original was performed by R&B singer Bessie Banks...
Thom Hartmann discusses a report from Pro Publica and Lever News on the rip-off of Medicare Advantage and our scammy for-profit health care system in general – Thom cites a story of a guy in Michigan with an aggressive form of lymphoma, but Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan won’t pay for the treatment because it’s over $100 grand...his outrage is completely justified, and I can use a few words here myself to say what I think of this that probably would get me dinged for content moderation (and I'm pretty sure the open enrollment period for Medicare is almost done)...
...and Beau gives us his take on the Senate Judiciary Committee issuing subpoenas to Leonard Leo and Harlan Crow for the SCOTUS nonsense (and no, I don’t see 60 votes coming to enforce a subpoena...and I agree with Beau; just put forward the damn SCOTUS ethics code and let that stand or fall, but if it goes down, get those Senate cretins on the record for voting against it...of course, Biden and the Dems should be well on their way to packing the Court by now, particularly in light of this, and this also has to do with Moore, but we are where we are - sigh)...
...and Mike Figueredo of The Humanist Report informs us of “Meatball Ron” lying again, this time about banning gender studies for grades pre-K through 3rd, when in reality he’s trying to ban these studies through grade 12 in Flori-DUUH!...oopsie! And yeah, that transphobic idiot Michael Knowles really does give away the game here as Figueredo says...the goal is to do everything possible to erase trans and queer individuals entirely (mildly NSFW/H)...
...and moving a few degrees west, Farron Cousins lets us know that former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabilly sez that impeaching Biden would be a disaster...yeah, Huckabilly kind of stumbled into the truth here (though not for the reasons he points out), but as Cousins tells us, there’s plenty of historical precedent behind the argument that impeachment (based on zero evidence to date) would definitely be a boon for #46...
Gee, it looks as if a certain Treasonous Tiny Handed Former *preznit doesn’t have immunity from prosecution for 3 separate civil lawsuits holding Our Ochre Abomination liable for the 1/6 insurrection, as ruled by a U.S. appeals court; Rayy Vana, Cenk Uygur and Jordan Uhl bring us the details...I thought Rayy Vana’s analysis was solid, Cenk’s was interesting a bit – and he may be right in his pessimism, sadly – but Jordan Uhl might as well not even have bothered to show up...
...and Lawrence O’Donnell starts off here by discussing a passage in Liz Cheney’s new book (and you just KNEW that was coming in time for the holidays, right?) where Combover Caligula is referred to as “Orange Jesus,” which, as far as I’m concerned, is pretty damn blasphemous; I really wish she had found a way to attribute that quote to an individual or individuals...and by the way, don’t think I’m anywhere close to climbing onboard some kind of Liz Cheney bandwagon, because I’m definitely not; she was right about #45 but absolutely 100 percent dead wrong on everything else...it takes awhile for O’Donnell to get to the point, but it’s worth it when he does...probably the most damning indictment of our corporate media that I’ve heard from someone on an actual corporate media channel...
...and from one extreme of a TV network doing the right thing to the exact opposite in the other direction, Farron Cousins tells us about Brian Kilmeade of Fix Noise praising slaveowners in an interview with the equally odious Charlie Kirk, because of course - and yeah, most of the northern states managed to do just fine without slavery, but I guess they don't count somehow...
...and Sam and Emma of The Majority Report bring us the clip of Mehdi Hasan interviewing Israeli diplomat Mark Regev that, in all likelihood, led to Hasan losing his show on MSNBC... I guess the “back and forth” offended people’s sensibilities or something (and I know Hamas started this with that horrible attack on the music festival including taking the hostages, but I thought Regev’s responses along the lines of “yeah, I know those are pictures of kids that got bombed, but why aren’t you showing dead Hamas soldiers instead?” was pretty damn weak...I know MSNBC’s sucky ratings particularly on weekends played a part here also, but like the TMR panel, I thought the main reason Hasan lost his show was the Regev exchange)...
