MAGA types are already gearing up to lose the 2024 election

And if/when the election doesn't go their preferred way, expect cries of "fraud!" and lots of violence.

Just ask Republican Elise Stefanik.

From NBC News (emphasis added by me)-

GOP Rep. Elise Stefanik won’t commit to certifying the 2024 election results

Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., on Sunday wouldn’t commit to certifying the 2024 election results during an interview on NBC News’ “Meet the Press.”

While interviewing Stefanik, who serves in House Republican leadership, host Kristen Welker asked, “Would you vote to certify, and will you vote to certify, the results of the 2024 election no matter what they show?”

Stefanik, who has boosted former President Donald Trump’s baseless claims of widespread fraud in the 2020 election, said that she did not vote to certify the 2020 results in the state of Pennsylvania and several other states because there were “unconstitutional acts circumventing the state legislature and unilaterally changing election law.”

[snip]

When asked if she stood by the comments that she made on the House floor calling Jan. 6 a “truly tragic day for America,” Stefanik said, “I have concerns about the treatment of Jan. 6 hostages.”

[snip]

Stefanik argued that Biden and Democrats pose a “threat to democracy.”

Really?  Violent traitors are "hostages" when imprisoned?  And people who have different opinions than are threats "to democracy"?

MAGAits don't get their way so they threaten violence. Color me shocked!

Next, someone will tell me that water is wet.

From The Guardian (UK) -

Colorado supreme court justices face death threats after Trump ruling

Justices on the Colorado supreme court are receiving a barrage of death threats after it ruled to exclude Donald Trump from the state’s presidential ballot next year because of his attempts to cause insurrection.

A report compiled by Advance Democracy, a non-partisan non-profit organization, said there was “significant violent rhetoric” against the justices and Democrats on social media, according to NBC News.

Cheeto supporters aren't happy about something so they spew violent rhetoric.

Only on days ending in "Y".

How long before Cheeto insists that he can yell "fire!" in a crowded theater?

From CNN -

Trump ‘does not have the right to say and do exactly what he pleases,’ Judge Chutkan says, issuing gag order

A federal judge on Monday issued a gag order on former President Donald Trump, limiting what he can say about special counsel Jack Smith’s federal prosecution into his alleged attempt to subvert in the 2020 presidential election.

The order restricts Trump’s ability to publicly target court personnel, potential witnesses, or the special counsel and his staff. The order did not impose restrictions on disparaging comments about Washington, DC, – where the jury will take place – or certain comments about the Justice Department at large, both of which the government requested.

[snip]

Trump will appeal Chutkan’s order, he said in a post on his social media website Truth Social.

“WILL APPEAL THE GAG ORDER RULING. WITCH HUNT!” he wrote.

I don't really expect Cheeto to yell "fire" in a crowded theater, but I *do* expect him to do two things:

1. He will claim victimhood and defy the order.  He'll egg on his supporters and then he'll chime in.

2. He will claim victimhood and fundraise off of the order..  It's always about the grift for him.

Was The Nuremburg Defense taught at Trump U?

A lot of Cheeto's lackeys seem to be using it, AKA the "I was just following orders" defense.

From Politico -

Trump’s co-defendants are already starting to turn against him

The finger-pointing among Donald Trump’s inner circle has begun.

And as his four criminal cases march toward trials, some of his aides, allies and co-defendants are pointing at the former president.

Cheeto could try the same gambit, but would have to point a finger at his liege. And if when he does that (face facts - Donnie *never* accepts responsibility for his own bad acts), he should probably avoid being anywhere that can be blown up or even has windows above ground level (to avoid spontaneous defenestration).

Cheeto may also want to avoid being near other people - his liege has shown a willingness to have others killed in order to get to those he considers to be disloyal.

Harvard U has a repository of Nuremburg war crimes trials stuff here.

Short Attention Span Musing

...Public service is so much more enjoyable without, ya know, *the public*.  Just ask TN legislators

From AP -

In session reacting to school shooting, Tennessee GOP lawmaker orders removal of public from hearing

Families close to a Nashville fatal school shooting broke down in tears Tuesday after a Tennessee Republican leader ordered state troopers to remove them and others from a legislative hearing room while they waited to testify in favor of gun control measures.

The emotional scene was just one of several chaotic moments that erupted during the second day of Tennessee’s special legislative session. Republican Gov. Bill Lee initially called lawmakers back to the Capitol to consider his proposal to keep firearms away from dangerous people.

“I was supposed to speak, I was supposed to testify,” said Sarah Shoop Neumann, sobbing and shaking in front of the silent GOP-controlled House subcommittee room, which was cleared out after some clapping from the public gallery, even though she sat quietly and wasn’t holding any signs.

{snip}

Rep. Lowell Russell, the Republican subcommittee chairman, had also warned that he could order everyone out of the room.

My only question is this: Did the NRA have to crook its little finger to get Rep. Russell to stifle dissent or did he come up with this on his own?

...Am I the only one who believes that if Hurricane, then Tropical Storm, then something else, Hilary threatened Florida instead of California that Trumpkins would have another outlandish conspiracy theory to embrace?

...Got a new nickname for Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas -

Spina Mustela.

Per Google Translate, Spina Mustela is Latin for "spineless weasel."

It seems to work for other things, too :) -

Hmmmmm............

Certain things may not be related, but they reek of being related.  Of course, with trumpkin Rs involved, "reek" might be the right word.

From AP -

In rowdy scene, House censures Rep. Adam Schiff over Trump-Russia investigations

    The House voted Wednesday to censure California Rep. Adam Schiff for 

comments he made several years ago about investigations into Donald Trump’s 

ties to Russia, rebuking the Democrat and frequent critic of the former president 

along party lines.

    Schiff becomes the 25th House lawmaker to be censured. He was defiant ahead 

of the vote, saying he will wear the formal disapproval as a “badge of honor” and 

charging his GOP colleagues of doing the former president’s bidding.

“I will not yield,” Schiff, who is running for the Senate in his home state, said 

during debate over the measure. “Not one inch.”

Yet the censure by the Rs in the House came on the same day as this.

From The Daily Beast -

Adam Schiff Gets John Durham to Admit Russia Helped Trump

When Republicans brought Special Counsel John Durham to the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, they thought it’d be an opportunity to score points on Democrats—particularly Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), who spent years hyping up Donald Trump’s connections to Russia.

What they got instead was a viral moment when Schiff got Durham—the man tasked with concluding whether the FBI’s investigation of Russia’s connections to the 2016 Trump campaign was appropriate—took Durham to task.

Schiff, a former impeachment manager against Trump, questioned Durham about whether President Trump flaunted information that was released by Russian hackers during the 2016 election. Durham repeatedly insisted he had no knowledge of the matter. But in the midst of the exchange, Durham clearly stated he doesn’t doubt the validity of evidence showing Russia was trying to help Trump—something many Republicans have vehemently denied.

It really looks as if Schiff's real offense was to publicly criticize their Dear Leader.

Can you say "Cheeto doing Cheeto-ish things"?

From Vanity Fair -

Surprise: Trump Reportedly Stiffed a Restaurant Full of His Supporters He’d Promised to Buy Lunch

Donald Trump has long been known for two things: lying all the time and being extremely cheap. (And being really weird about dogs. And making wildly bizarre claims, like that Abraham Lincoln had it easy compared to him. But right now we’re focussing on the lies and the cheapness.) Anyway, these two traits converged on Tuesday in an event that, in retrospect, we all should have all seen coming.

After pleading not guilty to 37 felony counts brought by the Justice Department, the ex-president stopped by the Miami restaurant Versailles, where patrons prayed for him and sang “Happy Birthday” one day early. It was there that the former president declared, “Food for everyone!”

Most people would take this declaration to mean Trump was saying he was going to buy food for everyone in the restaurant. But according to the Miami New Times, that was not the case:

New Times wondered, did Trump—who famously fancies his chicken from KFC and his steaks well-done and slathered with ketchup but isn’t exactly known for picking up the check—treat his fan club to a spread of croquetas, pastelitos, and cubanos chased with cafecitos? It turns out no one got anything. Not even a cafecito to-go. A knowledgeable source assures New Times that Donald Trump’s stop at Versailles totaled about ten minutes, leaving no time for anyone to eat anything, much less place an order.

Want to see some violence, real or implied? Visit Miami on Tuesday.

Cheeto is scheduled to arraigned there and then.

However, security there will be increased (the events of January 6th, 2021 are fresh in everyone's mind).

From WSVN in Miami, dated 6/9/2023 -

Stepped-up security in downtown Miami ahead of Trump’s arraignment; former president expected Monday at Trump National Doral

Former President Donald Trump is days away from surrendering in downtown Miami, and that means there will be stepped up security during his arraignment.

All eyes are on South Florida as Trump will be facing charges at the Federal Courthouse.

.

.

.

In an interview with Fox News Sunday, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez said everyone’s safety will be the top priority.

“We want to make sure that all of our citizens know that they’re going to be able to express their First Amendment rights, and at the same time, we’re going to keep them safe, and we’re going to make sure that there is no disorder,” he said.

.

.

.

“FBI domestic terrorism agents and analysts are actively working to identify any potential threats surrounding that upcoming court appearance,” said Former U.S. intelligence officer Josh Campbell. “They are looking at online platforms that are popular with extremist groups.”

Downtown Miami is expected to mirror New York City when Trump was indicted, with barricades, rooftop security, street closures and sharpshooters.

Of course, Cheeto's followers are spouting off about violence over their Dear Leader's indictment (hence the heightened security), but it's being pushed back on.

From The Guardian (UK) -

Kari Lake’s vow to defend Trump with guns threatens democracy, Democrat says

The Arizona Republican Kari Lake’s vow of armed resistance over Donald Trump’s indictment for retaining classified records “threatens the very core of our democracy”, an Arizonan Democratic congressman said.

Ruben Gallego is running to replace the former Democrat Kyrsten Sinema in the US Senate next year.

He said: “I know this language isn’t just hyperbole – it’s dangerous and it threatens the very core of our democracy.”

My guess (and it's only that) is that Lake still wants to be Cheeto's choice for his ticket's VP slot (hence her violent rhetoric) and this is normally where I would say get out your popcorn.

If you do, though, make sure the popcorn bowl is made out of Kevlar.

Just in case.

Is "deplorable" synonymous with "gullible"?

It isn't, but in certain circles, apparently it is.

Of course, one shouldn't be surprised to find that those circles are filled with trumpkins.

Pointed at this by Taegan Goddard's Political Wire.

From NBC -

‘Trump Bucks’ promise wealth for MAGA loyalty. Some lose thousands.

In the recesses of the internet where some of Donald Trump’s most fervent supporters stoke conspiracies and plot his return to the White House, suspected con artists have been mining their disappointment over the last presidential election for gold.

They’ve been peddling “Trump Bucks,” which are emblazoned with photos of the former president, and advertising them online as a kind of golden ticket that will help propel Trump’s 2024 bid and make the “real patriots” who support him rich when cashed in.

I believe that there's a movie quote that covers this situation.

Edited to add:

While the NBC article describes the corporations formed for this scam as based in Colorado, they seem to be based in Idaho.

End edit.

Some fake electors in GA get immunity: guessing that Trump and his camp don't need laxatives at this point

From CNN -

At least 8 fake electors have been granted immunity in the Georgia Trump investigation

At least eight of the Republican “fake electors” in Georgia have accepted immunity deals in an ongoing criminal investigation into efforts by Donald Trump and his allies to overturn the 2020 election there, according to a new court filing.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis had previously notified all 16 GOP fake electors in Georgia that they were targets in her investigation. Last month, Willis offered immunity deals to several of the Republicans who served as pro-Trump electors and they accepted, according to the filing.

Except the farter-in-chief.  He has probably never needed laxatives.

Legislative schedule - week starting 4/13/2023

Same as last week -

Nada.  No bills under consideration.  

For legislative committee meetings, there's nothing scheduled for this week, though that could change on a moment's notice (so keep an eye out as the lege has been known to get sneaky).

Actually, they don't even have floor sessions on tap for Monday though they may have floor sessions later in the week to consider and pass bills that will be vetoed by Governor Hobbs.

The only thing they have left is the same thing they began the session to do - the state's budget, and that could come down at any time.

Note: HHR refers to a hearing room in the House building; SHR refers to one in the Senate building.

Note2: Generally, I'll only specify bills that look to spread propaganda.  Other bills may be more conventionally bad (think: corrupt or other misuses of public monies and/or authority.  My recommendation is that if an agenda covers an area of interest to you, read the entire agenda.

Note3: Each chamber's respective Rules Committee meets on Monday, the House's in HHR4 at 1 p.m. and the Senate's in Senate Caucus Room 1, also at 1 p.m.  Both committees serve as rubber stamps for bills leadership wants to be advanced and gatekeepers for measures that leadership wants stopped.

Note4: Meeting start times may be listed, but are flexible.  Before journeying to the Capitol or viewing the meeting online, verify the start time.

Note5: Watch for strikers, or strike everything amendments.  Those involve inserting language that replaces the entirety of a bill.  Those can be introduced at any time and can make a previously harmless bill into a very bad one. 

On Monday. 4/24 

-

Senate Director Nominations meets at 10 a.m. in SHR109.  One nomination scheduled for consideration/inquisition: Ben Henry as director of the Department of Liquor Licenses and Control.  Not sure if this is intended as a shot across the bow directed at Governor Hobbs for her vetoing so many bills  or a peace offering as part of the negotiations on a budget..  

However, considering the history of the committee chair, Jake Hoffman, as an Always Trumper and a fake elector in 2020, the "shot" part wouldn't be a surprise.

Joint Legislative Ad Hoc Committee on Air Quality and Energy meets at 1:30 p.m.in SHR1.  No bills on the agenda.  Scheduled to receive a presentation from the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) on "Ozone Nonattainment Designation for the Maricopa County."

MAG's press release on the topic is here.

I can't say that the House doesn't take air pollution seriously, but they've at once abandoned the committee and desginated as the committee co-chair someone who regularly caters to industrial interests.

On Tuesday, 4/25 and Wednesday,  4/26 -

Nada scheduled.

On Thursday, 4/27 

-

Senate Judiciary meets at 9:30 a.m. in SHR1.  No bills on the agenda, just consideration of one appointment to one commission, the Commission On Trial Court Appointments, Maricopa County.

Cheeto indicted! Couldn't happen to a nicer guy.

Actually, it probably wouldn't happen to a nicer one, either. 

From CNN -

Donald Trump indicted by Manhattan grand jury on more than 30 counts related to business fraud

Donald Trump faces more than 30 counts related to business fraud in an indictment from a Manhattan grand jury, according to two sources familiar with the case – the first time in American history that a current or former president has faced criminal charges.

The indictment has been filed under seal and will be announced in the coming days. The charges are not publicly known at this time. Trump will likely be arraigned in court early next week, according to his defense attorney, Joe Tacopina.

My question is this:  Will he do a perp walk before the arraignment?

Don't worry about our Cheeto, though - his acolytes, including some based in AZ, rushed to defend/protect him.  From NBC -

Trump allies erupt in fury over former president's indictment

Donald Trump’s most fervent Capitol Hill allies erupted in fury Thursday night as news of his indictment rocked the country. They rushed to his defense and blasted New York County District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s prosecution of the GOP presidential front-runner as a political witch hunt designed to influence the 2024 election.

“Outrageous,” tweeted Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, who is using his roles as chairman of the Judiciary and Weaponization of the Federal Government committees to investigate Bragg’s work.

Certain folks from Arizona wanted to be sure that they weren't left out of the pro-Cheeto babble.  They took to Twitter.

Cheeto goes full Cheeto and threatens violence if he is indicted

In the book Foundation, written by Isaac Asimov, character Salvor Hardin said "violence is the last refuge of the incompetent."

That quote may sum up Trump and his supporters in a nutshell. 

From the NY Times, via Yahoo! - 

Trump, Turning Up Heat, Raises Specter of Violence if He Is Charged

In an overnight social media post, former President Donald Trump predicted that “potential death and destruction” may result if, as expected, he is charged by the Manhattan district attorney in connection with hush-money payments to a porn star made during the 2016 campaign.

The comments from Trump, made between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. on his social media site, Truth Social, were a stark escalation in his rhetorical attacks on the Manhattan district attorney, Alvin Bragg, ahead of a likely indictment on charges that Trump said would be unfounded.

He could threatened that there would a massive outbreak of sudden defenestrations, but Vlad might consider that to be infringing on his territory; riots in the streets are in Cheeto's wheelhouse.

He'll just lie about them.

Cheeto, trying to do his idol one better

Of course, in this case, "better" might not be the right word to use.

First up, Cheeto.

From CNN -

Trump says he expects to be arrested Tuesday as New York law enforcement prepares for possible indictment

Former President Donald Trump said Saturday he expects to be arrested in connection with the investigation by the Manhattan District Attorney next week and called for protests as New York law enforcement prepares for a possible indictment.

In a social media post, Trump, referring to himself, said the “leading Republican candidate and former president of the United States will be arrested on Tuesday of next week.”

“Protest, take our nation back,” he wrote.

Two observations here:

1. For once, I hope he's right.

2. NYPD and the NY state police should expect violence from trumpkins.

Now Vlad.

From BuzzFeed -

Vladimir Putin Is Officially A Wanted Man

The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, accusing him of war crimes over the invasion of Ukraine. 

Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia’s commissioner for children’s rights, are both wanted by the ICC for unlawfully deporting and transporting Ukrainian children to Russia.

The International Criminal Court does not have its own police force, so any warrants issued by it have to be enforced by other jurisdictions, and unless the subjects of the arrest warrants visit some place that will enforce the warrants for the people named in them won't be arrested.

I don't expect Putin et. al. to do so

I'm not normally one to stereotype someone, but...

...I'm guessing that this person likes their politics simple and filled with hate.

Seen on McDowell Road in Phoenix late in the morning on 10/15/2022.

Well, I know who Paul Gosar will be dining with on Thanksgiving

From 12News, dated 7/14/2022 -

'Clearly unhinged': 3 of Paul Gosar's siblings endorse his opponent in Republican primary

Three of Arizona Congressman Paul Gosar’s siblings are endorsing one of his Republican primary opponents, Adam Morgan, declaring in a statement that their brother is “completely unfit for office.”

The three siblings say in a statement released Thursday that this is the first time they have endorsed a Republican. They are among several of Gosar’s nine siblings who have scorched their brother in videos, op-eds, and interviews in recent years.

He shares three things with Adam Laxalt, the R nominee for US Senate in Nevada:

1.  They both hail from states in the Desert Southwest.

2.  They're both dyed-in-the-wool trumpkins.

As for number 3, well,  from The Nevada Independent -

Fourteen members of Laxalt family endorse Democratic rival, Cortez Masto, in Senate race

Fourteen members of Republican Senate candidate and former Attorney General Adam Laxalt’s family announced Wednesday that they would collectively endorse his Democratic opponent, incumbent Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, in the heated race for Nevada’s U.S. Senate seat. 

The three-page letter, obtained by The Nevada Independent, does not mention Laxalt by name or his Senate campaign, focusing instead on praising Cortez Masto. That includes her positions on women’s issues, opposition to a proposed federal mining tax, public land preservation and her record as the state’s attorney general from 2007 to 2015. 

Should be interesting dinner conversation - 

Both have family members who believe that they belong to the "anyone but" club