"Woe is me" - Trump and his trumpkins

Can one play the victim card in Liar's Poker?  

Cheeto does, and apparently so do his followers.

From KKCO (Colorado) [bold in the story added by me] -

FBI raids homes of Mesa County Clerk and Recorder Tina Peters and Lauren Boebert’s former campaign manager

Early Tuesday morning the Federal Bureau of Investigation executed search warrants at four locations in western Colorado.

According to Mesa County District Attorney Dan Rubinstein, the state attorney general’s office and local authorities conducted the searches Tuesday in Mesa and Garfield Counties. The court-ordered search was part of an investigation of alleged election security breaches conducted by Mesa County officials.

Mesa County Clerk and Recorder Tina Peters did confirm her home was searched. A statement was released from her legal defense fund early Wednesday morning stating, “Today large teams of heavily armed federal agents, using a battering ram to break down doors, raided the homes of Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters and several of her friends and colleagues, mostly elderly women in their mid 60s.  This is a level of weaponization of the Justice Department we haven’t seen since the McCarthy era. Thank God Tina wasn’t protesting critical race theory at a Virginia school board meeting or they might have brought two battering rams.”

Where are the prayers for the victims?

From Twitter - 

If Rittenhouse is acquitted, maybe conservatives should pray for his past and future victims; and, for that matter, *all* victims of vigilante violence.

Methinks it's time to rename the "House Freedom Caucus". The phrase "House Karma Caucus" has a certain ring to it.

From The Hill -

Newly elected Freedom Caucus chair tests positive for COVID-19

The newly elected leader of the far-right House Freedom Caucus, Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.), has tested positive for COVID-19.

Perry's office said in a statement on Tuesday that "his symptoms are quite mild" and he's working while quarantining at home. 

"This is a personal health matter and our office will not have further comment," the statement added.

[snip]

Members of the House Freedom Caucus elected Perry as the group's new chairman on Monday to replace term-limited Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), who will remain a member of its board.

Perry has a rather hypocritical definition of "personal health" matters - he wants people to leave him alone over this but he's all for Republicans getting between women and their doctors.

And if I seem gleeful over this, let me be clear - I don't wish fatal or potentially fatal diseases on *anyone*, not even on Perry and his ilk.

I'm just happy that I got to use the word "methinks" in the title of a post. :)

GOP legislators bemoan the AZ Supreme Court's decision on the AZ Constitution and its potential effect on...dealmaking at the lege

Pretty sure that dealmaking is *not* covered in that state constitution; at least, I couldn't find any references to it.

And I looked.

From KTAR -

Legislators taking stock of Arizona Supreme Court ruling on single subject rule

Arizona legislators are taking stock of the potential impact of the state Supreme Court’s decision that lawmakers violated the Arizona Constitution’s requirements that subjects included in each piece of legislation be related and also be expressed in bill titles.

The justices’ Nov. 2 ruling on the constitutionality of budget bills could simplify the Legislature’s work in some ways while possibly extending future legislative sessions by making it harder to cut deals, lawmakers told the Arizona Capitol Times.

[snip]

Sen. Sean Bowie, D-Phoenix, said the ruling might result in a longer session next year, because Republicans won’t be able to pack bills with policy measures to get votes.

Republicans could work with Democrats, Bowie said. “But often that seems like it’s always the last option instead of coming earlier in the process, which I would prefer to see.”

The relevant parts of the state constitution (something that ALL legislators are sworn to follow) -

13. Subject and title of bills

Section 13. Every act shall embrace but one subject and matters properly connected therewith, which subject shall be expressed in the title; but if any subject shall be embraced in an act which shall not be expressed in the title, such act shall be void only as to so much thereof as shall not be embraced in the title.

20. Appropriation bills

Section 20. The general appropriation bill shall embrace nothing but appropriations for the different departments of the state, for state institutions, for public schools, and for interest on the public debt. All other appropriations shall be made by separate bills, each embracing but one subject.

The decision is not yet available on the website of the AZ Supreme Court; I expect that it will be and soon.

Interestingly, their hypocrisy toward and disdain and even hatred for the people of Arizona held by the GOP showed in their votes for HCR2001.

ALL Republican legislators voted in support of John Kavanagh's scheme to propose an amendment to the AZ Constitution to require all voter initiatives to follow the single subject rule, a rule that isn't good enough for them.

Guessing that Michael Flynn's religion's messiah has a Cheeto-colored hue about him

From Taegan Goddard's Political Wire, dated 11/12/2021 -

Michael Flynn Says U.S. Should Have One Religion

Michael Flynn, former national security advisor for President Donald Trump, suggested that the United States should have just one religion.

Said Flynn: “If we are going to have one nation under God, which we must, we have to have one religion. One nation under God, and one religion under God.”

So...who wants to inform the pardoned fascist that his Imperious Leader may offer an opinion on who should be worshipped?

I'm actually OK with there being a single American religion...so long as that religion is Pastafarianism.

Gosar supports violence...until he doesn't

Paul Gosar, doing AZ proud.  Again.

From The Daily Beast -

Gosar Defends Anime Clip of Him Killing AOC, Then Deletes It

Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ) released a very long statement Tuesday to explain why his cringeworthy anime clip that showed him killing Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) was actually an extremely clever metaphor—then, hours later, he apparently deleted the video without explanation. In his defense of the clip, Gosar wrote that his video was a “symbolic portrayal of a fight over immigration policy” and insisted that he would never encourage violence against any member of Congress. He faced serious blowback over the clip, including from his own sister, Jennifer Gosar, who accused her brother of trying to live out a “sociopathic fantasy.” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called on a congressional ethics panel and law-enforcement officials to investigate. Then, at some point on Tuesday, the video disappeared from Gosar’s Twitter profile. A Twitter spokesperson told The Hill that it wasn’t responsible for the video’s removal.

The Daily Beast's story is based on one from The Hill -

Gosar faces increasing odds of censure on House floor

The chances of the House voting to censure Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) are rising amid simmering anger among Democrats over a video he distributed that showed him as an anime character killing Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.).

Pressure is mounting on Democratic leaders to bring a resolution introduced Friday by Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) and 60 other Democrats to the House floor as rank-and-file members argue that his actions merit extraordinary sanction at a time when members of Congress face unprecedented threats of violence. 

A cartoon from Cleveland dot com (I like the ASU reference in it, though Michael Crow may not :) ) -

Trump advisor indicted for contempt of Congress

From CNN, dated 11/12/2021 -

Federal grand jury indicts former Trump adviser Steve Bannon for contempt of Congress

A federal grand jury has returned an indictment against former Donald Trump adviser Steve Bannon for contempt of Congress, the Justice Department announced Friday.

Attorney General Merrick Garland had been under tremendous political pressure to indict Bannon since the House referred the Trump ally to the Justice Department for contempt on October 21.

The Department of Justice sent out a press release on the subject.

From the US DOJ -

If they were being accurate, they would have added two Ks to his middle initial.

For most folks, the indictment would be a problem, but Bannon probably isn't the least bit worried - the judge assigned to the case was appointed by Cheeto.

From The Week -

Steve Bannon's federal contempt of Congress case assigned to Trump appointee

The Justice Department charged Steve Bannon, one-time chief strategist to former President Donald Trump, with two counts of contempt of Congress on Friday for refusing to testify and provide documents to the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 siege of the U.S. Capitol. Each count carries a maximum sentence of one year in jail, and a minimum of one month, and Bannon is expected to turn himself in to federal law enforcement on Monday. 

"Since my first day in office, I have promised Justice Department employees that together we would show the American people by word and deed that the department adheres to the rule of law, follows the facts and the law and pursues equal justice under the law," Attorney General Merrick Garland said on Friday. "Today's charges reflect the department's steadfast commitment to these principles."

The judge assigned to Bannon's case, Carl J. Nichols, was appointed to the bench by Trump. And, Politico's Betsy Woodruff Swan notes, he clerked for conservative Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas before that.

Guessing that there's only two ways Bannon sees the inside of a prison cell -

1. Any case involving him is assigned to an honest judge.

2. He buys a ticket for the tour.

Apparently, "taking on the establishment" is GOP code for "I wanna keep my job"

From ABC News, dated 11/12/2021 -

Firebrand GOP Rep. Madison Cawthorn takes on 'establishment' with district switch

Rep. Madison Cawthorn, a conservative Republican firebrand, shook up next year's congressional race on Thursday night when he announced he would run for a different congressional district -- effectively pushing a more traditional state lawmaker who was expected to run out of the race.

"North Carolinians don't settle for the status quo. We defy it. We made history together last year when you sent me to Washington to shake up the swamp and fight for you," Cawthorn said in a video he tweeted on Thursday.

[snip]

"I have every confidence in the world that regardless of where I run, the 14th Congressional District will send a patriotic fighter of D.C. But knowing the political realities of the 13th District, I'm afraid that another establishment, 'go along to get along Republican' would prevail there. I will not let that happen. I will be running for Congress in the 13th Congressional District."

Cawthorn is a thoroughgoing trumpkin, supporting and imitating his idol, even emulating his cravenness.

Federal Committee Update

 From the website of the Federal Election Commission (which still doesn't work right, but I could still derive some information from it...it just takes more work) -

Republican Logsdon has formed a committee for a run at the CD3 seat, currently held by Democrat Raul Grijalva.

Guy Montag for School Board!!

For those who don't know the reference, Montag is the lead character in the book Fahrenheit 451 by science fiction author Ray Bradbury.

In the dystopian novel, a classic, Montag was fireman.  Except that he didn't put out fires, he set them.  Specifically, he set books of fire.

If there is ever a sequel written, it may be based on the events in the following story.

From Business Insider - 

Virginia school board members call for books to be burned amid GOP's campaign against schools teaching about race and sexuality

Amid the GOP's nationwide push against teaching about race and sexuality in schools, two members of the Spotsylvania County School Board in Virginia advocated for burning certain books, according to the Fredericksburg-based Free Lance-Star newspaper.

This came as the school board directed staff to begin removing "sexually explicit" books from library shelves, after voting 6-0 in favor of the removal, the Lance-Star reported. The board has plans to review how certain books or materials are defined as "objectionable," the paper said, which opens the door for other content to be removed. 

Courtland representative Rabih Abuismail and Livingston representative Kirk Twigg both championed burning the books that have been removed. 

A few weeks ago, I wrote a post about Trumpkins and other nihilists seeking to infiltrate school boards in Maricopa County.

Pay attention; the dystopian future has already arrived in Virginia.

From BrainyQuote - 

Walt Kelly was the author of the comic strip Pogo.

The saying is one used by environmentalists but seems to fit well here.  Unfortunately.

Geez, this sounds *so* familiar

So...militarizing things, demonizing immigrants, and blaming others for his misdeeds.  Who else followed that playbook?

From Reuters -

Russia sends bombers to fly over Belarus, blames EU for migrant catastrophe

Russia blamed the European Union on Wednesday for the migrant crisis on the border between Belarus and Poland, accusing it of trying to "strangle" Belarus with plans to close part of the frontier and urging it to talk directly with Minsk.

As migrants from the Middle East, Afghanistan and Africa made new attempts to break into Poland overnight, Moscow sent a further signal of support for its ally Belarus by dispatching two strategic bomber planes to patrol Belarusian airspace.

The lip-shaped Cheetle stain on Putin's butt may just be a coincidence.

Really.

Irony has a new poster child

From The Daily Beast - 

North Dakota Republican Misses His Own Anti-Vax Rally After Catching COVID

After presumably working very, very hard to help organize a Monday rally against COVID vaccine mandates, a far-right North Dakota lawmaker had to give it a miss after coming down with the virus himself. Republican Rep. Jeff Hoverson revealed over the weekend that he is quarantining and taking ivermectin, an anti-parasitic drug unproven to have any substantial effect on coronavirus patients. He wrote on Facebook that “Covid is real and like a really bad flu.” The Minot lawmaker told the Associated Press he was “feeling rough” after being diagnosed last week. Hoverson is a pastor who has introduced legislation to repeal mask mandates and sponsored a failed attempt to criminalize aiding women’s access to abortions. He said on Monday that although he would not be attending his “We the People” rally outside North Dakota’s statehouse, three of his teenage children would be.

Hoverson has a history of being a problem child.

From KFYRTV, on October 27 -

North Dakota lawmaker barred from flight following incident with Minot TSA agent

A North Dakota lawmaker was barred from boarding a flight at Minot International Airport Monday, following an incident with a TSA agent.

Rep. Jeff Hoverson, R-Minot, said he and his wife were planning to travel Monday for their anniversary.

Hoverson told Your News Leader that a TSA agent who was giving him a pat down put his hand in the front pocket of Hoverson’s hoodie.

Can you add "duh" to a poster pic?

1. Wear a damn mask.

2. Get vaccinated.  

Paul Gosar goes full on violent creep

From Taegan Goddard's Political Wire -

Paul Gosar Posts Video Showing Him Killing AOC

Paul Gosar (R-AZ) has shared a photoshopped anime video that shows him killing Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY).

From Twitter (pic taken in the event that the tweet is deleted) -

Of course, this may be Paul's version of an outcry for professional help.

Of course2, with the likes of him, it would be wasted.

Dear Ted (Cruz): We're not going to miss you, or anyone else who gets into arguments with fictional characters

First, from The Hill -

Ted Cruz wants Texas to secede if 'things become hopeless' in the US

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said that Texas should secede if Democrats "fundamentally" destroy the U.S. but added that "he is not ready to give up on America yet."

"If the Democrats end the filibuster, if they fundamentally destroy the country, if they pack the Supreme Court, if they make D.C. a state, if they federalize elections, if they massively expand voter fraud, there may come a point where it's hopeless," Cruz said while speaking at an event at Texas A&M last month.

I'm pretty sure that if the U.S. ever let Texas go, say, if we returned it to Mexico, Mexico would respond by looking at the inhabitants of Texas...and immediately declaring war on the U.S. :)

That was last month.  Over this past weekend, he fully embraced his inner Gohmert.

From CNN -

Ted Cruz has found the real vaccine enemy: Big Bird

It's hard to imagine how we all missed it.

After all, an 8-foot, 2-inch yellow bird is sort of hard to miss.

But, lucky for all of us, Ted Cruz is on the case!

Big Bird?  Really?

Wouldn't it be ironic if Sesame Street was broadcast in Cancun?

3...2...1...

Which is about how long before Democratic party "leaders" sacrifice urban and suburban voters in a attempt to appease people who will NEVER vote for Democratic candidates.

From NBCNews -

Youngkin's rural voter landslide sounds alarms for Democrats

Republicans had a satisfying Election Day last week, particularly in Virginia, where Glenn Youngkin captured the governor's mansion after former President Donald Trump lost the state by 10 points in 2020. There were a number of factors behind that big swing, but one of the biggest was the GOP's strength in the rural parts of the state.

One question going into the election was whether rural voters, who were so crucial to Trump's coalition, would show up. Tuesday provided a resounding answer.

[snip]

Should rural voters be ignored?

Nope.

But neither should voters in more urban areas be ignored.