Rachel Maddow tells us, along with Matt Zapotosky of the WaPo, about at least one intriguing staffer hired by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, along with the fact that the spotlight on Jared Kushner is getting bigger (Money laundering? Fraud? Other potential financial crimes? So much winning!)…
(Oh, and is it my imagination, but does Ivana Trump have some kind of a ‘60s Fellini-model thing going on with those shades? Just wondering…)…
…and with the first son-in-law in mind, I bring you the following from Bill Maher (NSFW - GREAT finish!)…
…and I guess the lesson here is that, if you’re pregnant in this country or know someone who is, live anywhere else except Texas (I’d like to tell them what they can do with that yellow rose)…
The maternal mortality rate in Texas is higher than anywhere else in the developed world pic.twitter.com/TFfCnKwXNj
…and apparently based on this (probably as a distraction from the Russia stuff as opposed to just about any other reason), it looks like our AG, “Immunity Gnome” Jeff Sessions, is trying to declare “war on weed,” which I’m sure will eventually end up making the drug more plentiful somehow (that’s the way it usually goes)…
...and here’s an interesting bit of science I came across on plastic-eating worms who could save us all (CNN's Kristie Lu Stout talks to beekeeper/scientist Federica Bertocchini)……
…and apparently, PA’s own mistake of a U.S. House Rep Lou Barletta is all sooo scared to have a town hall now (here)…didn’t feel that way in 2010 when the Teahadists were all in people’s faces – oh, but that’s because they were carrying the proverbial water for Barletta and his party…I think this reminder from a few years ago should be provided as a response…
…and Lawrence O’Donnell did a good job here IMHO of putting together the recent mass shootings in this country (and yes, there were 2, let’s not forget, instead of just the one in Alexandria, VA which was horrific enough) – oh, and by the way…
…and with that in mind, it’s time once more for “This Day In Doomsy History” from 6/16/11 (Dem U.S. House Rep Gerry Connolly of Virginia called out the Repugs’ efforts here regarding censorship on the part of Mr.-Puppy-Dog-Eyes-With-The-Shiv by changing the language around Ryan’s attempt to voucherize Medicare – shows the progression as far as I’m concerned in the congressional Repugs’ efforts to stifle dissent and strangle the free flow of information on issues that are important to us “bigly” - more here)…
…and Bernie Sanders speaks out against that cowardly life form who shot up the Alexandria, VA baseball field and those in attendance; I agree that he didn’t have to even though this individual worked on his campaign to some degree, but it was still the right thing to do – and I have to admit that I’m saddened by what Joy Reid has done on this…NSFW towards the end from John; to me, one takeaway here is that we on the Deb/lib/progressive side can’t be hunkered down into one “camp” at the expense of another – yes, as I’ve said before, I supported Bernie in the primary but I supported Hillary in the general because she was the nominee of my party and the choice was her versus a crazy person…I think Bernie was a bit excessive at times in his campaign and HRC definitely was in hers, but as somebody once said, politics ain’t beanbag, and at the end of the day, you need to know what you’re about and stick with it (and yeah, the next time a wingnut blames a lefty for gun violence again, tell them to suck on this and this)…
…and leave it to Sam Bee to give us the lowdown on the Jeff Sessions Show (yeah, I think “Senator Honor And Virtue” needs to go reserve his place in the Shady Rest One-Way Home For Political Blowhards...NSFW also)…
...and all of this makes me nostalgic, I must admit, for a chief executive so utterly competent at his job that the wingnutosphere had to MAKE UP scandals about him, as David Pakman reminds us on how Obama was criticized for mustard on hamburgers eight years ago (horrors! – yep, “context” indeed)…
…and with all of the insanity going on, I just felt like I needed to hear this song.
(Might be hard to read I know, but the furthest left column in red – apropos – is the US. The graph shows that we have about 3.6 gun deaths per 100,000 residents, which, far and away, leads other countries.)
Yeah, let’s have the predictable wingnut demonizing of Democrats/progressives/liberals over the act of this one lunatic who also happened to be a Bernie Sanders supporter (here and here). Never mind that a sizeable amount of mass shootings happen at the hands of sick, twisted individuals who tend to associate with right-wing causes (to say nothing of the fact that, as far as I’m concerned, anyone who demonized Planned Parenthood over what turned out to be faked videos of the groups supposedly selling baby body parts has blood on their metaphorical, or perhaps actual, hands).
Oh, and by the way, there was also a shooting in San Francisco (here). Both attacks are cowardly and awful, and we should pray if we’re so inclined or lend whatever support we can to help in either case.
But I’d like to perhaps tilt at a figurative windmill once more and ask that, people, please, for the love of God almighty, can we tone down the eliminationist rhetoric and gun-related nonsense?
You know – stuff like this (gosh, wasn’t Rand “Ophthalmologist Certified By My Own Board” Paul so clever in this clip, shooting the IRS Tax Code – and by the way, when it comes to “Aqua Buddha” Paul, let it be known that he was one of two U.S. Senators…the other being the thoroughly execrable Mike Lee…who opposed sanctions against Russia for their interference in our election last year, as noted here - typical for Paul based on this)…
Update 6/16/17: So much for civility - GMAFB (here).
…and by the way, when it comes to private individuals selling guns in Virginia, David Frum is right here, but not when talking about licensed gun dealers, as noted here, and I believe Frum made the correction (demonstrating yet again the utter insanity of what passes for gun laws in this country…and I don’t know if irony is the right word for this.)
Update 6/15/17: And as far as people like Greg Gutfeld and Chris Collins are concerned, I’m still waiting for “lefty” equivalents to infamous moments like these (God, I wish enough people had listened to Cenk)…
Turning now to Generalissimo Trump (from that typically vile video in which he's featured...not criticizing Cenk)…awww, it wooks wike poor widdle Ivanka haz hurt fee fees (something particularly ridiculous given this)…
…and Chris Hayes talks to Obama Admin lawyer Bob Bauer and Elizabeth Holtzman, who served on the House Judiciary Committee during the Watergate hearings, both roundly ridiculing Jeff “Elf On A Shelf” Sessions for his evasions in his Senate testimony yesterday…
...and here is a very important reminder (more here)...
‘If the GOP & Trump have their way many people will lose their homes, their jobs, or their lives.’ pic.twitter.com/i578OarEof
I know that yesterday marked the 30th anniversary of The Sainted Ronnie R giving a speech telling Soviet General Secretary Gorbachev to “tear down this wall” and then that marked the fall of communism once and for all and capitalism reigned supreme and everyone lived happily ever after the end.
Well, not really – the truth is somewhat more complicated, as it often is; the prevailing theme for me is that everyone stood up and said enough is enough, and the world as a whole was better off…
…and returning to the present – or should I say “predisent” – day, I give you the latest from our Megalomaniac-In-Chief (and it sounds like something is up with the Russian hookers; hmmmm - wonder how the saps who got played by our Problem-Child-In-Chief here feel about that?)…
...and Chris Hayes talks about the "Gropenfuhrer" trying to get Former FBI Director and Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller fired (with former DOJ attorneys - under Republican administrations - Nick Akerman and Carrie Cordero)...
…and yeah, if it doesn’t involve someone of a different ethnicity, gender preference or faith background, then I guess it isn’t “terrorism,” huh? (NSFW)…
…and here’s yet another reminder that Congressional Republicans plan to utterly f*ck us over when it comes to Trump-scam-care (and kudos as always to Sen. Elizabeth Warren, and I laugh at that fool Jimmy Dore for criticizing Warren for supposedly not supporting Bernie Sanders or allegedly supporting Wall Street, or something)…
Elizabeth Warren just exposed the horrifying truth behind the Republican's secret health care bill pic.twitter.com/xAzlefqLLR
Apparently, this was pretty close for what passed for Generalissimo Trump's meeting today based on this story (and really, people, are we actually still surprised at this point?)…
…and I think this was some recent insightful commentary on the “Gropenfuhrer” from Tweety, though why it has taken so long for him to realize this is something I cannot imagine…
…and I normally wouldn’t give that senile fossil Pat Robertson the time of day, but I thought Kyle made a good point about how, when it comes to arming the Saudis, you hear crickets from the wingnutosphere, and THAT has A LOT to do with funding extremism, as Kyle points out (NSFW)…
...and with the prior clip in mind, I should note that I would never claim to imagine what He thinks of us all, though I'm sure, based on what the Bible says, the first ones who will "get it" are those who claim to speak in His name, like these clowns...
…and this story tells us about four Orlando moms who, tragically, lost their kids in the Pulse nightclub massacre in Orlando, FL, the worst mass shooting in this country’s history, which took place a year ago today, though, to their everlasting credit, they did manage to create something positive and enduring out of it (and by the way)……
…and yeah, when summer hits in this area, it’s kind of like a door slamming open and the heat and humidity descend immediately – hey, I’ll take this as opposed to ice and snow.
I thought this was a pretty “no BS” commentary on Generalissimo Trump from Lawrence O’Donnell…
…and Kyle stands up to defend millennials; totally deserved as far as I'm concerned (NSFW of course – kicks ass over the last minute and a half)…
…and I know this happened this week also; we know what kind of individuals are in charge of Iran, but their long-suffering people deserve MUCH better (and you know that saying about a stopped clock being right twice a day? I think you can put Trump’s statement in that category)…
…and I’m sure it doesn’t bother this Clay Higgins life form that he’s pretty much emulating the ISIS mentality here…
…and RIP Adam West – as far as I’m concerned, with all of the stuff going on in the ‘60s (some great, some interesting, some both, and some genuinely scary), he was one of the people who made sure we had fun also along the way (hat tip to Bob Cesca on Twitter for the cartoon)…
…and as long as we’re back in that era, I should note that we recently observed the 50th anniversary of the release of this recording, which featured the following tune.
I think Rachel Maddow takes a minute or two to get going here, but when she does, it’s worth it – her summation at the end is what matters…we’re almost leaving behind the question of what it is or isn’t that Generalissimo Trump has going on with Russia; the obstruction at this point should be enough by itself to get his ass impeached…
...a point echoed by K.O. here…
…oh, and I think it should be noted that, lost in the kerfuffle over his gratuitous use of the “N” word last week, Bill Maher made a GREAT point about how Democrats should respond to this and basically all of the garbage and nonsense from the “party of Lincoln” here (and I thought this was a good post about Gianforte here – yeah, nothing like the “rich white guy” punishment is there, which isn’t even a slap on the wrist, as opposed to everybody else, which would be a one-way ticket to the gray bar hotel...NSFW I believe)…
…and maybe Dem Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill saw Maher’s segment, because this was a great moment with her giving it to “Saint Orrin” Hatch over the Repugs and their attempt to railroad “Trump-scam-care” in the U.S. Senate…
This senator ripped Republicans for trying to rush their health care bill without a hearing pic.twitter.com/i7yKtNNOMt
…and speaking of “the world’s greatest deliberative body,” the incredibly-inaptly-named Repug Louisiana Sen. John Kennedy (ugh) compared public schools to mayonnaise here…
...and as I've said before, we in the "great 48" could learn a thing or two from the Brits and the "in your face" nature of their politics (we may have dueling political and media consultants, but our corporate puppet masters don't want their bought-and-paid-for office holders to act quite so independently, or ferociously - might wake up the American "sheeple," you see...but yeah, I think it's safe to say that Theresa May metaphorically "screwed the pooch" - good luck trying to form a coalition government with this bunch)...
…and I’m also behind on this great commentary from John Oliver about the “Gropenfuhrer” pulling out of the Paris climate accord (noteworthy for a few reasons, not the least of which is Oliver’s thoroughly appropriate smack down of Scott Wagner...seems pretty far in the rear view mirror with everything going on I know...NSFW also)…
…and speaking of climate/weather, the summer season may have come to our area at long last, so maybe I’ll kick off my typical selections for this time of year with this one.
As far as I’m concerned, only the most craven and idiotic of partisans basically oppose impeachment of Number 45 at this point (here); do you seriously want to imagine what would happen if we were somehow talking about a Democrat?...
'So why did he kick everybody out of the Oval Office?' — a key question from James Comey during Thursday's testimony pic.twitter.com/Ki4zEjOK6L
…and sorry I’m a little late with this item from Maine Sen. Angus King yesterday – nice work to go after Coats and Rogers like that; what a pair of compromised idiots, like the rest of our outlaw executive regime…
This Senator grilled America's top intelligence chiefs for refusing to answer questions about Trump’s ties to Russia pic.twitter.com/MjXueUaxtA
…and I thought this was an interesting bit of history – on this day 50 years ago, our “ally” Israel attacked the U.S.S. Liberty; kind of sickening behavior I must admit (and this was an odd bit of a coincidence I would say)…
…and as long as we’re “setting the wayback,” I give you the latest installment of “This Day In Doomsy History” (a bit late I know) from 6/7/08 (Amy Goodman talks with Josh Silver and Bob McChesney at a conference on media consolidation…yep, “Straight Talk” McCain caved as usual – and apparently enough he didn’t distinguish himself here either; more important to watch a baseball game than to be ready for the Comey hearing I guess – and it’s funny to hear that O’Reilly comment now, but NOT FUNNY when you realize what kind of a battle we have to fight against the Trumpsters to keep the Internet as equal for everybody as possible…and good point, sadly, about Clinton/Gore and the ’96 telecomm bill – never a good ending when a Dem caves on an issue as important as that one)…
…oh, and I guess I committed a bit of a faux pas by not wishing VP Mike Pence a happy birthday yesterday; please allow me to do so with this (and boy, is John Iadarola right at about 6:15…that point by Cenk about Generalissimo Trump’s attitude of only he being allowed to win is well made, and the Democrats should have echoed that OVER AND OVER AND OVER during the campaign...and by the way, about Pence's cap-and-trade denigration, I give you this)...
…and I never thought I would have a reason to put up this tune, but I’m glad to be wrong; happy what-would-have-been 150th birthday to architect extraordinaire Frank Lloyd Wright.
It’s becoming more and more of a challenge to keep up with the flood of sludge generated from the Trumpsters, but I’ll continue to try my best (f Hillary Clinton or ANY Democrat had engaged in this kind of behavior, they would be in jail by now, having been impeached already)…
…and aside from the illegality, there’s the matter of the fact that our ruling cabal of idiots are truly scummy people, as noted below (more here – oh, and Democrats supposedly aren’t “human”? Doesn’t mean much coming from a scumwadlike you, does it, Eric?)…
…and this is, for my money, a really toned-down report on Generalissimo Trump’s decision to single out Qatar as a country that aids terrorism (no word on what kind of impact our estimated military force of about 11,000 will have to deal with in response...not encouraging to see anyone giving credence to Sen. Mr. Elaine Chao on this issue as well as any other) – no clue as to how guilty Qatar is or isn't, but I’m not making that charge; President Big Orange Cheetoh is the one doing that (a MUCH BETTER segment on this issue aired last night on “The Last Word” with Lawrence O’Donnell talking with Wendy Sherman and Graeme Wood, but good luck finding it on MSNBC’s utterly wretched web site - more here)…
…and speaking of the Senate “leader,” it looks like he’s going to try and railroad “Trump-Scam-Care” through the U.S. Senate (here), and Dem Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire reminds us why that is a terrible idea (she speaks out in defense of the ACA and against the garbage from the “Gropenfuhrer”...and yes, I know his name is “Mick” Mulvaney)…
…and it’s almost refreshing to hear the honesty of the Dickensian point of view of Repuglican shill Karen Handel in the GA-06 congressional election (more on how horrible a $15-an-hour minimum wage supposedly is can be found here, and to help Jon Ossoff, click here...and nice work by Ossoff here)…
'I do not support a livable wage' — an actual Republican candidate running for Congress pic.twitter.com/yPVLMnbGFW
Yeah, I’m not sure what else needs to be pointed out about our Problem-Child-In-Chief considering the pic above and the following video – would be nice if the outrage were universal across this country and the 30-percent-or-so “bitter enders” would actually join us, but of course that would mean making common political cause with a DEMOCRAT, and we know what chance there is that THAT will happen…
The @AP fact checked President Trump, and guess what? Barely anything he tweets is accurate pic.twitter.com/XFl4oVfB6r
…and I kind of get the impression that K.O. has had enough of Generalissimo Trump – as far as I’m concerned, anyone with a functioning cerebral cortex should feel that way also…
…and I thought this was an interesting report by Joy Reid with NBC security reporter Ken Dilanian about the latest report on the degree of Russian hacking in the 2016 election – not because, as far as we know, the Russians actually hacked to the degree that they changed vote totals or anyone’s party registration, which hasn’t happened as far as we know, but I think this tells us just how hard they worked to interfere and, to me, what kind of potential there is for the Russians doing further damage (they’re not just going to stop since they were so successful – love to be wrong)…more on spear-fishing is here – continues to astonish me in a way that, with all of the caterwauling going on about Russia’s interference (justified caterwauling IMHO), I don’t hear a peep out of anybody from the angle of trying to shore up the security/transparency of our voting systems…
…and with the prior clip in mind, I thought Mike Papantonio had a good clip here about the importance of whistle blowers (I don’t know who Reality Leigh Winner is, but I’d pay her bail if I could...and no, I didn’t know what a qui tam provision was either)…
….and I give you the short version of Betsy DeVos after watching this clip…”I know this Congress and the High Court of Hangin’ Judge JR aren’t going to do a damn thing about anything going on at one of my precious charter schools, where I can keep out the “blahs” and anyone who isn’t as deserving as me and my friends and their kids, so how dare this rude li-bu-ruul try to make me say I’ll honor the sacrifices of previous generations of Americans, regardless of how murky the law may be.”…
Watch this testy exchange between Secretary DeVos and Senator Merkley over discrimination in schools pic.twitter.com/eNIAuvjByE
Here’s to possibly the best city on earth and our brave friends in the UK (more here, and the predictable idiocy from our problem child-in-chief is here...kudos to Mayor Khan and his defenders)…
…and yeah, I think this says all we need to know about President Big Orange Cheetoh and his decision to pull out of the Paris climate accord (here is an update)…
More than 20 tech companies wrote an open letter to Trump about his withdrawal from the Paris Agreement pic.twitter.com/2kCzxPdbWI
…oh, and not that I expect the “Gropenfuhrer” to actually care, but, just to let the rest of us know (maybe he’ll wake the “f” up when Manhattan sinks into the harbor – maybe)…
This crack in an Antarctic ice shelf could create an iceberg larger than Rhode Island pic.twitter.com/hfsz86COQv
…oh, and as long as we’re discussing the economy, remember how Number 45 said coal was coming back, or something? Uh, no…
…and Sam Seder talks with Heather “Digby” Parton about some of the Russia financial stuff in particular involving Generalissimo Trump (and here is more on Number 45’s budget)…
…and to me, when I need a tune to re-orient myself a bit in terms of priorities in a musical way, this does the trick quite nicely.
Sorry I forgot that yesterday was National Gun Violence Awareness Day; that being said, as far as I’m concerned, EVERY DAY should be National Gun Violence Awareness Day (and I’m actually glad that the video includes the BS from Generalissimo Trump at the very end on guns, just like his BS about everything else; those poor, cheering saps who got utterly played by a Republican…again)…
...and kudos to French President Emmanuel Macron for giving it back to the “Gropenfuhrer” on the climate issue (I can recall when we used to have leadership like this - sigh)...
'Make the planet great again' — Emmanuel Macron just went AT Donald Trump for leaving the Paris climate accord 👀 👀 pic.twitter.com/f4tHMjz7lq
…and I hope you’re in the mood for an encore tune featuring Gregg Allman, because here it comes.
Update: And here is yet another hot take that I’m sure nobody will care about, and it is this; I don’t care what happens to Bill Maher.
Yes, he said the “N” word on TV. No, he very definitely should not have done that.
And yes, I get that using that word is highly offensive. No, I’m not going to pretend that that hits me where I live, because, as a white male, it clearly doesn’t (this is noteworthy though, I'll admit).
Has Maher said things that have royally pissed me off? Uh, yep. Has he also said plenty of things that I applaud? Same answer.
Here’s where I come down on this, though – if the overwhelming force of public opinion somehow says that Maher should be off the air, then he should be off the air (How exactly would that be measured? Number of tweets? Number of signees to a likely petition to boycott HBO if he remains? I have no idea). However, if the dustup eventually blows over, then he should remain.
But know this – Maher will win out on this either way. If he stays, he will continue to stick his metaphorical finger in the metaphorical liberal eye and crow “Oh, I give it out equally to both sides,” which may actually be true. However, if he goes, you can bet a book will come out of this and he’ll make the rounds on “Fox and Friends,” etc., spouting more nonsense about how political correctness is the reasons why Democrats lose elections, and so on.
Speaking for myself, I’ve authored somewhere over 8,000 posts (please hold the applause – heh) and I honestly don’t believe I’ve ever used that word in the context Maher used it. If I did, I genuinely apologize – I haven’t been able to find such an instance. And context matters – there’s no mistaking what Maher was talking about. However, if I were to quote the line from the song “Oliver’s Army” by Elvis Costello that goes “one more widow, one less white n*gger,” I would be alluding to young boys in battle dress in Belfast, Northern Ireland in 1978, as Costello was (e.g., poor whites who Costello saw as cannon fodder for more imperial war). There may have been an economic meaning to that line, but not a racial one.
Another point that I think has been lost a bit in this dustup is the fact that Maher, trying to burnish some “glibertarian” bona fides or something, gave an audience to Repug U.S. Senator Ben Sasse to help Sasse promote his book (which – big surprise – is another conservative screed telling younger Americans they need to appreciate the value of work, or something). That to me is pretty repellent also; I guess Sasse is looked upon as some sort of Rand Paul knockoff because they make noises to indicate they think for themselves, even though, when you look at votes and actual policy they support, they’re nothing but the same old movement conservative Republicans who are grinding this country into the dust (full disclosure: I haven’t seen the full segment yet because I can’t find it on YouTube and I’ll make a note to watch the whole thing when it comes on demand).
The generation that came before me handed us the keys to the kingdom. As far as the generation after us is concerned, we’re handing them a bag of shit. And writing a book to make it sound like that’s somehow THEIR fault is, as far as I’m concerned, compounding the insult.
Lawrence O’Donnell tells us more about Michael Cohen, lawyer for the “Gropenfuhrer,” than we’d ever like to know I’m sure (so true about how he likes to surround himself with sycophants of course, meaning our tiny-handed chief executive - and congrats to Lawrence on re-upping with MSNBC by the way; also, let’s not forget about tomorrow’s marches; to find one near you, click here)…
…and K.O. entertains the possibility that former national security adviser (and registered foreign agent also, let’s not forget) Michael Flynn has already “rolled over” on President Impulse Control Issue Child…
…and Ari Melber sitting in for Rachel Maddow interviews former State Department chief coordinator Dan Fried on Generalissimo Trump’s decision to unilaterally lift sanctions against you-know-who imposed by President Obama last December…
…and Sam Sacks sits in for Thom Hartmann and interviews MN state rep Melissa Hortman over the Dem governor trying to shut down the government over the Republican “lege” and their typically ridiculous tax cut scheme…kind of a clumsy cut at the end of the video – more here…
…and Kyle K. talks about 230 veterans deported from this country, a story recalling last Monday (yeah, you read that right – NSFW…totally disagree with Kyle’s disparaging attitude towards the Russia stuff, but he’s right about everything else)…
…and I think this is the best way to wrap up this week’s tribute to Gregg Allman, with the legendary original band that he co-led with his brother Duane at the top of their form, live at Fillmore East many years ago.
Generalissimo Trump said he would do it, and he did (here); I think Cenk Uygur brings all of the disgust and outrage that is called for, though it’s aimed mainly at Tom Coburn and the Foxies (yep, 97 percent of scientists say we need to get our shit together on this...from 6:50 to 7:00 is Nail. Hammer. Head.)...
…and I’m going out of order again with K.O.’s “Resistance” commentaries, I know – Olbermann is absolutely right, but good luck getting the “party of Lincoln” to owe up to this nightmare…
…and Sam Bee is back to give us the latest on “Covfefe” and “An Idiot Abroad” (NSFW)…
…though anything concerning the “Gropenfuhrer” is fine with our corporate media puppet masters, among others…
…and there’s so much garbage going on with this pestilence of an administration that it’s hard to figure out which disaster to fight first (once again, thanks to all of you clueless meatheads, regardless of your political stripe, who had anything to do with this even though you were THOROUGHLY WARNED), but Farron Cousins tells us that 40 U.S. House Repugs who supported Trump-Scam-Care have made just oodles of dough off their medical investments (yeah, I know “conflict of interest” is something only Democrats have to worry about – removing my tongue from my cheek)…
..and I guess this great Gregg Allman tune could be the theme for the "Trumpsters" trying to pillage our country.
Before I begin, here is another “hot take” that I’m sure nobody else cares about (though I might be wrong).
Don’t make excuses for Kathy Griffin (we know what she did recently – I’m not posting a picture…you know what I’m talking about).
Yes, we know what the “Gropenfuhrer” is. Yes, I know there’s no equivalency whatsoever between Griffin holding up that stupid photo and the serial sexual garbage that Number 45 is responsible for (as I’ve seen some people on Twitter who I otherwise respect remind us about).
But Griffin should have known better. And it’s not as if she’s a stranger to this sort of thing - this certainly isn't a "one off." Our side is supposed to be better than that (and I agree with John Amato’s assessment here, but I STILL say that we should be better than that - I also agree with John Fugelsang here).
That being said, you really have to wonder about what is ostensibly a cable TV news station that terminates Griffin (I understand they had the right to do that) but allows a life form like Jeffrey Lord to say despicable garbage like this.
Update 6/2/17: In a VERY weird way, I supposed I have to give Huckabee a bit of credit actually here for making me more sympathetic to Griffin - count on wingnuts to shoot themselves in the foot, as it were, even when they're right, as they are so rarely.
Now to the videos...I think K.O.’s measured tone here about Jared Kushner’s nefarious exploits makes the revelations even more cringe-worthy…
…and speaking of cringe-worthy, Thom Hartmann speaks with Greg Palast about Karen Handel’s nonsense (including voter disenfranchisement when she was secretary of state for GA) in the upcoming GA-06 election (isn't it hilarious in a way to see the redneck yelling at Palast calling him a "liberal"? And to help Jon Ossoff, click here)…
…and with an eye towards the almost unspeakable forces that Generalissimo Trump has helped to unleash (with the awful attack in Portland, OR being the latest episode), I give you this (hard to get my head around the unbelievably inappropriate name of this mongrel...nothing "Christian" whatsoever - and speaking of Number 45, let's not forget this) …
'You call it terrorism, I call it patriotism' — the Portland stabbing suspect defended his hate speech in court pic.twitter.com/qo8FlmnEzE
…and I thought this was a nice remembrance of the two victims of this gutless act by Chris Hayes (oh, but “allegedly,” let’s not forget – don’t want to do anything to prejudice the trial and verdict that this scumwaffle deserves – and I thought this was a desperately needed act of kindness in the midst of this horror)…
…and yeah, here’s the latest “do as I say, not as I do” nonsense from President Impulse Control Issue Child…
The guy who wanted to lock up Hillary Clinton over private e-mails wants world leaders to call his private cell phone pic.twitter.com/bQTMpDn67Q
…and speaking of Russia, last May 28th marked the 30th anniversary of German Mathias Rust landing a plane in Red Square – he’d probably be shot or poisoned if he tried that today (as a YouTube commented noted, the then-Soviet Union had shot down a Korean passenger plane shortly before that and rightly earned world outrage for it, which might be another reason why Rust wasn’t blown out of the sky)…
…and speaking of “in your face” (a la Macron), Dem U.S. Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro gives it to Trumpster Betsy DeVos, with the typical apologia from Repug U.S. House Rep Tom Cole (great point by Sue Ann Robinson about messaging, by the way)…
…also, Ari Melber talks with Dem U.S. House Rep Jim Himes about the Senate investigation into Trump and Russia supposedly expanding to last year's presidential campaign (not sure who the reporter was who Melber spoke to later)...
…and The Majority Report gives us the latest on Ken Langone of Home Depot, with his typical “one percent” point of view – another good reason to go to Lowe’s instead…
…and here’s another great Allman Brothers tune from later in the ‘70s.
Today marks what would have been the 100th birthday of President John F. Kennedy – Caroline Kennedy provided a remembrance here, concerning JFK’s legacy for his generation and beyond…
…and I think the best way to recall our 35th president is through one of his speeches, and I consider this to be one of his very best, and that was his “Peace” speech at American University in June 1963 (may have to slide back to the beginning)…
Update 9/2/17: Here is another important reminder for this occasion.
…and since it’s also Memorial Day of course, I give you the following (more here and here)…
...and I guess you could say this is "This Day In Doomsy History" once more, Memorial Day version, with this report from three years ago timed for the holiday - I guess this makes this the 10th anniversary of his wonderful tribute in Rockland, MA, though we all wish it hadn't been necessary of course (and this is a timely remembrance also - will forego name-calling about the life form responsible for the attack for now)...
…and I know I just put up a song by Bruce Cockburn a couple of days ago, but I just remembered this one, which he composed while witnessing what’s called a Ramp Ceremony at Camp Mirage near Kandahar Airfield for two fallen members of the Canadian forces some years ago…
…and I think it’s appropriate also to feature music by The Allman Brothers this week with the recent passing of Gregg Allman, beginning with this selection.
I said earlier that the Trumpsters aren’t dumb enough to do things that will metaphorically hang themselves, but after this, I’m not so sure…
…and Ana and company at TYT gives us more background on Kushner and Russia (a little behind the news cycle on this, which seems to be spinning out of control - kudos to Ben at the very end)…
…oh, and as far as I’m concerned, if you voted for Generalissimo Trump, then you’re guilty of environmental terrorism, because you may have given the climate of this planet a death sentence (though God knows I want to be wrong about that - NSFW)…
…and speaking of activism, happy birthday to Bruce Cockburn.
Seth Meyers weighs in on the Gianforte/Quist congressional election in Montana, won by the Repug (I’d never seen that “Wrestlemania” clip or whatever that was of the “Gropenfuhrer,” but I’m not surprised to see him blindside someone and give him a tiny-handed beating)…
…and when it comes to policy, I give you this GREAT video from Sen. Chris Murphy about what Generalissimo Trump and his pals are doing to the ACA…
….and turning to President Impulse Control Child and his loathsome budget, I give you Amberia, Ben and Ana of TYT telling us about the recent exchange between Sen. Bernie Sanders and Trumpster Mick Mulvaney (I thought the analysis of this was really good – when it comes to “optics,” and “theater,” you could give Mulvaney a point or two, but when it comes to the reality of the policy, it’s typically Dickensian from the typical crew of idiots, criminals and frauds…and by the way, here is more on the estate tax)…
…and when it comes to high net worth people, I would argue that there is a dotted line at the very least (as opposed to perhaps a neon stripe) between these folks and corporations, and former Clinton Labor Secretary Robert Reich reminded us here on 5/27/15 why they need to pay their fair share too…yep, you guessed it – time once more for “This Day In Doomsy History”…
…and as I watch this, I realize that maybe I’d better come around on “Cape Wind”; we’ll find out the latest on that in a couple of months…
U-S-A! U-S-A! (and I was tempted to make a snarky remark about Walmart, but kudos to the worker who was trying to resolve the issue as near as I could tell…I’m wondering, though, about how the video camera just happened to be present, but I don’t think that changes the substance of what happened - more here)…
Latino woman needs medicine, says "excuse me" @WalMart to get it. White woman tells her to leave America then calls another woman "nigger" pic.twitter.com/l7j5YBTlWP
…and K.O. tries valiantly once again to connect the dots in the unbelievably sordid mess of Russia and the “Gropenfuhrer”…
…and as we know, Generalissimo Trump will conjure up all kinds of dog-whistle language to his base of sheep-like followers, but when held to account for this nonsense – cue the sound of crickets…
Donald Trump bashed Obama for never saying 'radical Islamic terrorism.'
…and I thought David Pakman has some interesting observations on the potential fallout of impeaching President Tiny-Handed Egomaniac…
…and even though he’s bleeped here, I still think Billy Joe and the guys hit the nail on the head (primarily with the first two clips in mind, and this too – not Schumer I mean).
Update 5/26/17: And with the prior video very much in mind, please allow me to congratulate voters in Montana who just sent to Congress a guy who may end up being guilty of assaulting a reporter (here).
…and oh yeah, about the “Gropenfuhrer” and the tapes…
…and Former Clinton Labor Secretary Robert Reich reminds us about the greatest obscenities in this administration of idiots, crooks and overall bottom-feeders…
Trump's new budget is yet another part of his unnecessary cruelty. Here's why: pic.twitter.com/KUBvi9IMXw
…and it looks like Big Orange Cheetoh has decided to lawyer up, as they say – with the same guy who lost when Number 45 decided to sue the New York Times (yep, there’s a reason why John Oliver calls this “stupid Watergate”…and could Trey Gowdy be more of a shill than he already is?)…
…and I’m not sure exactly what happened to Nearly-Silent Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, but somehow he did the right thing, as Chris Hayes tells us…
…and RIP jazz drummer extraordinaire Mickey Roker.
Update: OMFG - to do something about it, click here...
And yes, we get the connection (here and here)....and seriously? (here).
I know John Oliver is making points with humor in the following clip, and good for him, but to me, the numbers that really matter are the composition of Congress – how many Repugs vs. Dems. I think it really gives us an idea of the mountain we have to climb to take control next year and start holding the Trumpsters to account, including Big Orange Cheetoh himself. The “party of Lincoln” is going to make some sweet-sounding noise from time to time about making sure Number 45 faces the proverbial music, but as long as they have that 30-percent utter bedrock of fools and sycophants to rely on (talking about the voters), I honestly don’t believe much will happen (love to be wrong).
Another thing to keep in mind is that, for the most part, the criminals of Watergate were amateurs. Yes, people like Michael Flynn, Paul Manafort, Carter Page and the like have tripped over their own feet in the media, but I don’t think they’re troubled by questions of legality vs. illegality. They basically don’t care (and neither does their boss, of course). And so far, they’ve been able to skirt the law enough to have a good laugh over it, proving that (again, up to now), they know what to do and what not to do to avoid ending up breaking rocks wearing an orange jump suit. In other words, the Repugs have had over 40 years to craft their schemes of using government to their own nefarious ends on behalf of the “pay no price, bear no burden” bunch in this country, and it shows. With each progressive scandal (Iran-Contra, Iraq War-Halliburton, the housing bubble that burst and cratered our economy, etc.), they’ve learned more and more about what they can get away with, particularly when the vast majority of the voters of this country are preoccupied with “values” issues and whatever nonsense the right-wing echo chamber tells them to pay attention to instead of, you know, verifiable truth and reality that actually impacts their lives.
In other words, what we’re watching isn’t a movie – more like a bad reality TV show starring the tiny-handed egomaniac-in-chief. Though I would love to see this happen, I’m not holding my breath waiting for the proverbial smoking gun proving that, yes, Putin paid off Trump and his pals, and a memo somewhere in an embassy where Julian Assange is hiding out proves that, in order to bail Trump out of some failed real estate and casino deals, Number 45, Rex Tillerson et al agreed to commit treason to let Putin engage in any foreign policy exercise he wanted, putting the lives of our service people, diplomats and other members of our foreign service in jeopardy. And yes, that Trump documented that he fired former FBI Director James Comey (and as I asked earlier, I wonder how dumb HE feels now?) and the U.S. attorneys general because they were getting a little too close to financial shenanigans with Trump and, say, Wilbur Ross and a certain Russian bank.
So, no – though these people are what they are, I honestly don’t think they’re stoo-pid enough to let themselves be trapped like that (again, love to be wrong). The only thing these cretins understand is the loss of power. And I’m afraid that the only way that that’s going to happen is for EVERY REPUBLICAN to lose in EVERY ELECTION.
People like Kyle K., who I basically respect, say we’re paying too much attention to the Russia stuff and not enough attention to the scorched earth tactics of the Trumpsters in an effort to turn this country once and for all into a third-world kleptocratic state. And yes, I have no doubt that this cabal of idiots and crooks given power primarily by clueless meat sacks in Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania are playing our corporate media in an effort to keep us distracted still further, which the Republican Party has crafted perversely into a science of sorts. However, I think it is incumbent on us to pay attention to both of these activities, regardless of how heavy a lift that is at times.
So, with that admittedly long-winded prelude out of the way (NSFW)…
…and I really hadn’t paid a lot of attention to the tragic death of Seth Rich, but fortunately, Keith Olbermann did – yep, truly no bottom for these people; sorry to bring this up and I seriously hope I’m not causing more pain for his family and friends, but I’m just trying to do what I can to try and set things straight…
…and oh yeah, don’t look for much help from what passes for our entertainment on this either, as Bill Maher points out (NSFW also I think, and Nail. Hammer. Head. at the very end)…
…and I don’t know what else I can do to lend support to the brave folks of Manchester in the U.K. who were recently victimized by a deadly terrorist attack (here) – I gladly offer prayers and this link to donations, and this tune by RT meant to make fun of the stupidity of terrorism (I can only hope that the coward responsible for this atrocity receives what he deserves in the afterlife).
...also, I think Thom Hartmann makes a lot of good points about Democrats, but I honestly don’t care if #44 wants to give a speech for $400 G’s – the last minute of this is the true takeaway…the biggest battle we have to fight in this country is over the quality of the information we receive from our media as far as I’m concerned…
...and Lawrence O'Donnell talks to Ana Marie Cox and Josh Barro about a Twitter "intervention" for President Tiny-Handed Egomaniac that apparently didn't go so well (I thought Ana Marie Cox's comments in particular were spot-on, though that doesn't make me feel better either…also, I thought O’Donnell’s contract was already renewed, but apparently it wasn’t yet – to do something about that, please click here)...
...and Rachel Maddow talks with Devlin Barrett of the WaPo about the latest on Number 45 and Russia, which is apparently reaching further and further into his inner circle...
…and I know this is a little past the news cycle, but you can consider this to be my response (courtesy of Kyle K.) to Huckleberry “Long Overdue” Graham here (NSFW – particularly liked Kyle’s bit of shade at the end)…
..and my, how the weak-minded forget (or, more likely, choose to be willfully stupid)…
Republicans think Democrats are hysterical for wanting to impeach Trump.
