Paul Gosar isn't just a nutjob himself, he hires nutjobs

No need for DES for unemployed nutjobs; just send them to Gosar; he'll put them to work.

From Business Insider via Yahoo! News -

Paul Gosar's chief of staff tried to intercept a plane rumored to be full of fake votes for Biden: court docs

The chief of staff for Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona tried to catch a plane rumored to be full of fake votes, according to a recent court document.

The episode is one of the most outlandish in the fruitless search by allies of former president Donald Trump for proof that the 2020 election was stolen.

Gosar's aide, Tom Van Flein, hunted for a plane from South Korea that conspiracy theorists identified as a source of what they thought would be election-changing levels of fraud, per documents cited by The New York Times on Thursday.

The pro-Trump USSC filing is here.

Van Flein used to work for another of Cheeto's allies, Sarah Palin.

From Politico, dated 2010 -

Palin aide to work for Ariz. lawmaker

One of Sarah Palin’s most-trusted advisers is going to work for a newly elected Arizona congressman.

Tom Van Flein, an Anchorage lawyer who has become a political adviser and fixer of sorts for Palin and her family, will become legislative director and deputy chief of staff for incoming Republican Rep. Paul Gosar, it was announced Monday.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Van Flein graduated from the law school at U of A..

The profs there must be *so* proud of their graduate.

State Senator Victoria Steele - working for Arizonans

Victoria Steele represents LD9 (southern AZ) in the state senate, where her peers have shown their respect for her to have elected her as Democratic Whip there, making her a part of leadership in the senate.

She's got a history of making strong practical proposals for Arizona.

Already she has introduced bills about groudwater pumping (a big issue in AZ) and domestic violence and sentencing for violence.

In short, she's NOT a candidate for the Legislative Loon Award, though she may become a candidate for higher office.

pic from her candidate website

This pic makes me laugh

 Even folks on the waiting list for Packers' season tickets wear masks...

Pic taken in the gym of the physical rehab facility that I'm in...

People are dying of Covid, yet Rep. Steve Kaiser wants to ignore the science

 Arizona's hospitals have reached their capacity due to Covid hospitalizations and the state is asking for federal help to deal with it, but Republican State Rep. Steve Kaiser has proposed HB2020 to exempt from vaccine requirements those that have had Covid or anti-bodies from it.

The problem?  

His proposal ignores the science.

From the CDC -

Antibodies and COVID-19

Antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, can be detected in the blood of people who have recovered from COVID-19 or people who have been vaccinated against COVID-19. Getting a vaccine is safer than getting COVID-19, and vaccination against COVID-19 is recommended for everyone 5 years of age and older. If someone has already had COVID-19, vaccination against COVID-19 increases their body’s antibody response, which improves their protection.

It is important to remember that some people with antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 may become infected after vaccination (vaccine breakthrough infection) or after recovering from a past infection (reinfected). Based on what we know right now, risk of reinfection is low for at least the first 6 months following an infection with the virus that causes COVID-19 diagnosed by a laboratory test. When someone who is fully vaccinated gets COVID-19, it is called a vaccine breakthrough infection. No vaccine is 100% effective, so some breakthrough infections are expected. The risk of infection, severe illness, hospitalization, and death are all much lower for vaccinated people compared to people who are unvaccinated. When reinfections or breakthrough infections happen, having antibodies plays an important role in helping prevent severe illness, hospitalization, and death.

For many diseases, including COVID-19, antibodies are expected to decrease or “wane” over time. After a long enough period of time, your level of antibodies can decrease below a level that provides effective protection. This level is called the “threshold of protection.” When antibodies decrease below the threshold of protection, you may become more vulnerable to severe illness. We do not yet know what the threshold of protection for antibodies is for the virus that causes COVID-19 or how long it takes these antibodies to wane. Even after antibodies wane, your immune system may have cells that remember the virus that can act quickly to protect you from severe illness if you become infected. These topics are being researched by scientists all over the world.

­I have COVID-19 antibodies. What does it mean?

A positive antibody test result can help identify someone who has had COVID-19 in the past or has been vaccinated against COVID-19. Antibody tests are not used if you have symptoms of COVID-19 or for diagnosing a current case of COVID-19. This is because it takes most people with a healthy immune system 1 to 3 weeks after getting COVID-19 to develop antibodies. A viral test is recommended to identify a current infection with the virus that causes COVID-19. More information about the role and uses of antibody testing is available.

Most people who have a positive antibody test result can continue with normal activities, including work, but they should still take steps to protect themselves and others, including getting vaccinated.

Studies show that people who have antibodies from an infection with the virus that causes COVID-19 can improve their level of protection by getting vaccinated.

A positive antibody test result alone, especially one from an infection at an unknown time or that was determined by a viral test more than 6 months ago, does not necessarily mean that you are immune to getting COVID-19. If you have had an antibody test, it is important to review your test results with your healthcare provider.

Kaiser is another one that is in the running for the Legislative Loon Award, though I may have to add a "homicidal" criteria to it.

1. Wear a damn mask.

2. Get vaccinated.  

The AP finds that voter fraud is almost nonexistent. Quelle surprise!

Guessing that Mark Finchem, Paul Gosar, Cheeto himself, et. al. can't be bothered with facts.

From AP - 

Far too little vote fraud to tip election to Trump, AP finds

An Associated Press review of every potential case of voter fraud in the six battleground states disputed by former President Donald Trump has found fewer than 475 — a number that would have made no difference in the 2020 presidential election.

Democrat Joe Biden won Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin and their 79 Electoral College votes by a combined 311,257 votes out of 25.5 million ballots cast for president. The disputed ballots represent just 0.15% of his victory margin in those states.

[snip]

Education funding as public spectacle

In case you missed it...

If/when the lege introduces this here in AZ, you can be sure they'll call it some kind of catchy name, like Thunderdome.

Oh wait - "Thunderdome" has already been used.  

No matter what they call it though, the Rs in the AZlege will use it as another excuse to take money from public ed and give it to private schools.

From NPR, dated 12/13/2021 -

Teachers in South Dakota scrambled to pick up $1 bills in a hockey game sideshow

Schoolteachers grabbed at dollar bills in a "dash for cash" during intermission at a hockey game in South Dakota, sparking controversy for turning teachers' need to pay for classroom supplies into a public spectacle.

"As a teacher, I find this humiliating," a commenter wrote after video of the event was posted to Twitter. "Scrambling against others on the ground for a few $1 bills? How about honoring teachers with genuine donations rather than turning us into silly entertainment for fans?"

Paul Gosar, giving Rand Paul a run for his title of biggest hypocrite in Congress

 From Rolling Stone -

Paul Gosar Takes Credit for Covid Funding He Bashed as a ‘Democrat Spending Bonanza’

Paul Gosar has repeatedly denounced the American Rescue Plan, a bill passed by Congress earlier this year to help Americans and businesses during the pandemic. Gosar labeled the plan, which cost $1.9 trillion, “a Democrat spending bonanza” and agreed with his colleague Matt Gaetz’s contention that it’s nothing more than “a trojan horse for socialism.” Gosar voted against the plan, of course, but in a Monday press release he happily took credit for a $32,000 American Rescue Plan grant that will help an Arizona airport clean and sanitize its facilities, calling the funds “essential.”

“I am pleased to announce that the City of Kingman will receive this critical funding for economic relief related to operational costs for cleaning and sanitizing the Kingman Airport to combat the spread of COVID-19,” Gosar wrote. “This funding is essential to maintaining safe and reliable air service to the community.”

Mark Finchem et.al. are now using resorts to peddle the "big lie"

The use of resorts is *so* Republican.  My only question is were the witnesses bused in or were limos provided to them?

 From an email from the ADLCC, or Arizona Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee -

In case someone believes that the ADLCC is too partisan to be credible, from KOLD (Tucson) -

Cyber Ninjas, state Republican leaders election integrity complaints to Pima County

The Cyber Ninjas and state Republican leaders brought their “election integrity” complaints to Pima County following a months-long election audit in Maricopa County.

The all-day event was hosted by state Rep. Mark Finchem and held at an Oro Valley resort.

Finchem has faced backlash for controversial tweets and has been accused of ethical violations and getting paid to try to overturn the 2020 election. He is a candidate for Secretary of State, which oversees elections in Arizona.

Rand Paul - professional hypocrite

 And this isn't about his adulation of Donald Trump, in spite of his previous criticism of Cheeto.

From DailyKos -

Rand Paul has voted against helping most Americans most times they’re in need.

How right-libertarianism works: Today, Rand Paul asked Joe Biden for federal help for Kentucky — even though Paul has voted against every federal disaster relief package of the last 10 years.

[snip]

Legislative Loon Award: early frontrunner Rep. John Kavanagh

 It's time to bring the award back, and while previous winner John Kavanagh is the early favorite to win it again, I expect that there will be many contenders for it.

The award will be based on bill proposals, votes, and statements made during the legislative session.  If the criteria were more expansive than that, almost the entire GOP caucus would be up for the award.

If simply being craven and/or corrupt was enough, all of the GOP caucus (as well as some of the Dems) would be eligible but this will be reserved for the nuttiest of the nuts.

Having said that, Rep. Kavanagh is still carrying the water for the bigoted grifter over at the Center for Arizona Policy.  He also wants to censor police body camera footage.

Lastly, he already wants to greatly expand the the definition of what constitutes illegal residential picketing.

It's early, and I'm sure he will provide other examples for his eligibility for the award, but for these things alone, he's the early frontrunner for the award.

Paul Gosar - not in favor of science and not a dentist

No matter how often he refers to himself as a "Doctor".

From The Payson Roundup -

As Omicron spreads – Rep. Gosar seeks ban on vaccine mandates

The world’s bracing for the fast-spreading Omicron variant of the COVID virus, but Rep. Paul Gosar is focused on blocking vaccine mandates and attacking the federal Food and Drug Administration for the slow release of 325,000 pages of documents on COVID vaccines.

The Omicron variant has been detected in dozens of countries and about a third of U.S. states, including California, Colorado, Utah and now in Arizona’s Yavapai County. Researchers are still trying to get reliable data on how the dozens of mutations in Omicron will impact people who get infected. Right now, it spreads much more easily than the already fast-spreading Delta variant — but Omicron might cause less severe illness. Omicron appears more infectious for people who have recovered from a previous variant — and perhaps for people who have been vaccinated. But some early evidence suggests despite causing breakthrough infections, it’s not causing as much serious disease.

From the AZ Board of Dental Examiners -

Aunt Maude's Antiques?

Really?

Paul Gosar hangs out with the farter-in-chief and traitors in training

 From The New Yorker -

Party Like It’s January 6

 

A night out with Rudy Giuliani, Paul Gosar, and New York’s Young Republicans.

A woman in mink and diamonds steps out of a car on Park Avenue. She struts, coiffure held high, past protesters clutching signs about Rudolph Giuliani and Joseph Goebbels. She demands of the doorman, “Can’t we have these feminazis arrested or something?” It’s Saturday night on the Upper East Side.

She’s just arrived at the New York Young Republican Club’s 109th annual gala. Inside the ballroom, by the bar and beneath the chandeliers, one youngish Republican tells another: “I just bought my third AR-15!” A couple Newsmax sleveens slip past. Everyone recites the Pledge of Allegiance. Dating back to the days of William Howard Taft, it’s a night to get together and hash out the direction of the party, to identify and imbibe with its comers. This year, it’s an unalloyed freak show, and what’s past is prologue: They all want Donald Trump in 2024.

Rudy will NEVER live this down.

Legislative pre-filing of bills has started. Expect the 2022 session to be a lot like 2021.

As in, filled with contempt for democracy, Arizonans, science, school boards, and medical professionals.

The targets of their venom may change, but the attitude of the Rs in the lege doesn't.

Unless otherwise specified, all legislators introducing bills are Republicans.

State Sen. Vince Leach and State Rep. Regina Cobb (somebody running for state treasurer) have introduced "technical correction" bills, which often become shells for strikers, or strike-everything amendment bills, filled with language so extreme that the original measures couldn't pass the lege the first time through.

State Sen. Michelle Ugenti-Rita (somebody running for secretary of state) has already introduced bills to lower the threshold for mandatory recounts of elections, limiting the powers of the governor to declare a public health emergency, and barring school districts and boards from ejecting or otherwise penalizing "peaceful" protesters in a measure that seems to protect threats against lives, as long as the lives of specific people aren't threatened, and mandating that school board elections are partisan.

State Sen. Kelly Townsend has introduced bills to prevent school boards from using tax money to pay for membership in a state or national school board association, mandating the creation of a database of "federal-only" voters and giving access to it by an entity designated by the AZlege (in short, legalizing last year's fraudit), requiring the secretary of state to ask the federal election assistance commission to add a citizenship requirement to its registration requirements, removing a requirement that fire departments in counties with fewer than 500K folks have a "certificate of necessity" before supplying ambulance services, loosening any restrictions regarding a parent accessing the medical records of their minor child ("unless otherwise prohibited by law  THE PARENT IS PROHIBITED FROM HAVING ANY CONTACT WITH THE MINOR CHILD BY 21 AN ORDER OF A COURT"), and requiring pharmacies to fill prescriptions for the off-label use of meds (the hydroxychloroquine bill).

A couple of bills were filed by Democratic State Rep. Diego Rodriguez, who has since resigned his position in the lege to run for attorney general.

State Rep. Quang Nguyen has introduced a bill to add to the requirements for Arizona's propaganda civics course.

State Rep. Steve Kaiser introduced an anti-mask/vaccine bill that would penalize school districts for any violation of state law by withholding 10% of site classroom fund monies for the district.

State Rep. John Kavanagh has introduced a bill to require condo associations to add first responder flags to the list of flags they must allow to be flown.

It also specifies that flags supporting law enforcement are protected.

Here's a thought: maybe they should stop killing unarmed civilians.  Maybe then flags supporting them wouldn't need protection.

If only

 

Still not sure how I got on Conservative Intel's mailing list.

Medical Issues

Recovering from a fractured pelvis.

Blogging will be light while doing so.