With Cheeto, the grift never ends. Neither does a certain other bad habit.

From Mother Jones, emphasis added by me -

Trump’s Truth Social Is in Trouble

Lately, Donald Trump has been screaming into the void. He is taking to his own social media site, Truth Social, to complain about the FBI raid on Mar-a-Lago, but not many people (bar a few reporters) seem to be listening. That’s a far cry from his days as a Twitter influencer before he was finally booted from the platform.

The site’s traffic has tumbled to about 300,000 views per day, down from 1.5 million on the day of its launch, the Washington Post reported Saturday. And that is one of a slew of problems for the would-be Twitter competitor. The Patent and Trademark Office this month refused Trump’s application for a trademark for the site’s name. The site has been panned for forcing people who want to sign up to languish on a waitlist.

[snip]

The Trump company has also stopped paying a key vendor. Fox Business reported this week that Truth Social owes a web-hosting company called RightForge $1 million and has failed to make contractually required payments since March.

RightForge Holdings is NC-registered Delaware corporation, formed in Wyoming on 4/6/2022.

That's a LOT of opacity for one corporation.  It's almost like they're *trying* to hide something.

Anyway, Cheeto has a long and well-documented history of not paying his bills.  He's even been sued over it.

At least he's consistent; vile, but consistent.

Of course, being consistent, he's probably already drained all of the cash out of the business.  He seems to have the same attitude toward all of his activities, be it business or elected office - someone - not him, *never* him - gets screwed financially.

Red State governors like sending busloads of migrants to blue states and cities. The receiving governors and mayors should return the favor.

But no, not with immigrants.

From The Oregonian (emphasis added by me) -

GOP governors try to bus migrants to blue cities, but many exit to live in red states

Since April, thousands of migrants have arrived by bus in New York City and Washington, D.C., sent north by Republican governors in Texas and Arizona as a political gambit to blame Democrats for the migrants’ presence in the country.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey have spent millions of dollars transporting migrants to the liberal cities to protest President Joe Biden’s intention to roll back some pandemic-era border restrictions and Democratic immigration policies more generally.

[snip]

Migrants have disembarked in Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee in recent weeks, and some of the buses arriving in New York and Washington have been nearly empty, according to media reports, though local charities say they’re still helping dozens of arriving migrants almost daily. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, warned migrants back in April not to use the buses to get to his state, saying “Florida is not a sanctuary state.”

Blue state governors and blue city mayors should return those buses, but filled with guns that were used to commit murders in their jurisdictions but started off in red states.

From ReformAustin, dated 4/11/2022 -

Red States Have More Murders Than Blue States

To hear any Texas Republican tell it, “blue” cities like Houston are made into lawless abattoirs by Democratic leadership. However, a deep look at the actual murder data from the last several years shows that at the state level, Republican control is typically associated with more murder.

There’s no argument that Houston does currently have a very alarming murder rate. In a recent comprehensive report by Third Way, H-Town has a whopping 17.32 murders per 100,000 residents, one of the highest in the country. Governor Greg Abbott has repeatedly used that fact to push anti-progressive agenda items such as requiring cash bail, arguing that Democrats who are coddling criminals and defunding police forces. 

[snip]

It makes a lot of sense when the causes of violence are looked at more closely. Consider Chicago, which is a favorite target of Second Amendment extremists because of its higher murder rate (28.49 per 100,000) and stringent gun control. However, most guns used in crimes in Chicago aren’t purchased in Chicago or even Illinois. Sixty percent of guns recovered in crimes in Chicago come from Indiana and Mississippi, two very red states with extremely lax gun laws that are within easy driving distance of the Windy City. 

Don't misunderstand me - before any guns are shipped, the victims of those guns should be buried, any cases stemming from their use should adjudicated, and the guns themselves should be rendered permanently unable to be fired or repaired until they're in useable condition (What? You don't believe that certain red state governors like Ducey, Abbott, and DeSantis, would order the guns repaired (if possible) and sold?  Then you have a higher opinion of their personal characters than I've got)

Blake Masters is hoping Peter Thiel's leash can act as a lifeline

Mark Kelly can breathe a little easier tonight, but only a little.

From The Hill -

GOP super PAC canceling ads in Arizona, Alaska

A Republican super PAC aligned with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is canceling advertisements in Arizona less than three months out from the midterm elections, a possible sign of problems for the Trump-backed GOP candidate challenging Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.).

The Senate Leadership Fund called off its advertisement reservations that were set to air in Arizona between Sept. 6 and Oct. 3, according to AdImpact.

Well, at least we'll find out two things -

1. How big a rift develops between Cheeto and more mainstream GQPers like Mitch McConnell.

2. How golden the leash extending from Peter Thiel's hand to Blake Masters is at this point.

With pockets as deep as Thiel's, this race isn't over; he may just have to dig a little deeper.

Ducey's packed AZ Supreme Court (surprise!) condemns Free and Fair Elections ballot initiative

As expected, the AZ Supes protected Big Business at the expense of letting the people of Arizona make decisions.

From the AZ Mirror, written by Gloria Rebecca Gomez -

Whiplash: Free and Fair Elections Act won’t be on the ballot after last-minute math changes

A ballot initiative to reform elections and campaign finance laws was barred from the November ballot on Friday afternoon by the Arizona Supreme Court after a week of legal activity that saw the measure’s fate reversed.

When the dust settled, the Arizona Free and Fair Elections Act, which sought to make sweeping changes to Arizona’s election and campaign finance laws, fell just 1,458 signatures short of qualifying for the November ballot.

The underlying Maricopa County Superior Court case is here.

Kirsten Engel is running for Congress in CD6. Hope she's ready for the shitstorm of lies about to be spewed by her opponent

Engel is a former state legislator and current candidate for Congress.

Now that the primaries are over and the general election candidates have been determined, it's about to hit the fan and southern AZ.

Notice any similarities between the two PACs?  Like everything, except the sponsors?

Blake Masters may be scrubbing his ass off, but he and Peter Thiel have thoroughly embraced the "spaghetti" model in campaigning (throw a lot of it against the wall in hopes that some of it sticks).  His TV ads are as incessant as they are false.

My guess is that Engel's opponent will do the same.  

The only question is will Thiel spread his largesse to another contest?

Well, at least Abe Hamadeh has the "shameless hypocrite" part of the GQP description down

Pointed at this by Taegan Goddard's Political Wire.

I was going to go with a headline about how he wants to baselessly punish others for behavior that he engaged in himself, but "shameless hypocrite" covers that, and is shorter.

From The Phoenix New Times -

Abe Hamadeh Wants to be Arizona’s Top Cop. As a Teen, He Bragged About Voter Fraud

Abe Hamadeh has built his campaign for attorney general around cleaning up elections in Arizona. Yet as a teenager, he boasted to an online message board about voting before he was legally allowed to and altering his mom's ballot.

The posts were among thousands Hamadeh made to an online message board beginning in 2007. When he wasn't bragging about altering ballots, he was offering antisemitic and sexist rants, backing Sheriff Joe Arpaio and arguing that voting should be limited to college graduates who pass intelligence tests.

Where do legislators go when when their time in the lege is done? Many places, but they're almost always taking public money.

When Bob Burns was done in the lege, he moved to the Arizona Corporation Commission (where, to be fair, he was considered to be one of the least bad Rs on the ACC).  Now, he's on the board of a charter school.

Which came to my attention as a result of a story at Arizona's Family, written by Amy Cutler -

What is “1776 curriculum?” We stopped by a Peoria school teaching it to find out

The 1776 curriculum got renewed attention this week when Republican gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake said she supported it. So what is it exactly? What does it involve? Arizona’s Family learned a school in Peoria uses it.

It’s called Candeo Peoria. The public charter school says its “mission is to grow wisdom and virtue for a life well lived.” A part of their liberal arts education includes the 1776 curriculum.

From Candeo Schools' website -

Actually, according to the ACC, he's been part of the organization since 2012.

From the ACC -

In the 2018-19 school year, they took over $4.1 million from the state.

From the National Center for Education Statistics -

Guess that it's just RW indoctrination for profit.

Anyway, Burns like to keep his hand in R politics, donating to both Kimberly Yee (before she dropped out of the race for the R nomination for governor) AND Kari Lake (after that) -

That's a Sedona address, so how do I know that's him?

He, along with his wife, owns it.

From the Yavapai County Assessor -

Gotta love it when GQPers eat their own

From Business Insider via Yahoo! -

Donald Trump launched a furious attack on 'broken down hack' Mitch McConnell and his 'crazy wife' in bust-up over GOP Senate candidates

Former President Donald Trump has launched a furious attack on Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell in a dispute over the GOP Senate mid-term campaign.

Trump said the senior senator from Kentucky should spend more time and money helping Republican Senate candidates get elected and "less time helping his crazy wife and family get rich on China."

"Why do Republicans Senators allow a broken down hack politician, Mitch McConnell, to openly disparage hard working Republican candidates for the United States Senate," Trump wrote on Truth Social. 

Not a fan of McConnell (he's done too many bad things to the U.S.) *or* of Cheeto, so this is a popcorn-riffic conflict.

More evidence that "pro-lifers" are more "anti-choicers" than anything else

Like we needed more evidence of that....

From NPR, dated 8/18/2022 -

States with the toughest abortion laws have the weakest maternal supports, data shows

Nearly two dozen states have moved to restrict abortion or ban it altogether since the reversal of Roe v. Wade — meaning more people, especially those with low incomes and from marginalized communities, will be forced to carry unwanted pregnancies to term.

So are states prepared to pay for the infrastructure needed to support these parents and children? The data paints a grim picture for many families: Mothers and children in states with the toughest abortion restrictions tend to have less access to health care and financial assistance, as well as worse health outcomes.

If they're "pro-" anything, they may be "pro-imposing our will on others without regard to the effect on others."

The AZ Supreme Court gives its reasons for siding against the people of AZ

In my opinion, if I was a health care provider, I'd prescribe an Ex-Lax IV before they explode.

But since I'm not, I'll just say it -

I think they're full of shit.

From KPHO, from the Associated Press -

Arizona Supreme Court says voters can’t repeal tax cuts

The Arizona Supreme Court has ruled that tax cuts or increases enacted by the Legislature can never be blocked by opponents using the state constitution’s referendum power, with the rare exception of a tax that funds a completely new state department.

The written opinion released Friday explains the reasoning behind the court’s April 21 decision reinstating a massive income tax cut enacted by the Republican-controlled Legislature last year and signed by GOP Gov. Doug Ducey. The court reversed a lower court decision that said the tax cuts could be referred to the ballot because they did not appropriate money.

The full opinion is here.

While the AZ Supreme Court may have ruled against the people of Arizona, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled differently when the Republicans in the state legislature sued the people of Arizona  Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission.  

From that opinion -

Maybe Cheeto should announce his intent to run in 2024...in 2025.

Pointed at this by Taegan Goddard's Political Wire.

From NBC -

Trump thinks the Mar-a-Lago search will help him in 2024. Some allies aren't so sure.

A wild two weeks for Trump has reoriented his thinking about announcing a presidential campaign before the midterms, people who have spoken with him recently said.

The day after federal agents searched Mar-a-Lago, former President Donald Trump told a group of conservative lawmakers that “being president was hell,” according to three people at the meeting.

But to some he sounded ready to have the job again.

“He was not to be deterred,” said Rep. Randy Weber of Texas, one of a dozen Republican House members who met with Trump on Aug. 9. He described Trump’s state of mind in the immediate aftermath of the search as “pretty miffed, but measured.” 

[snip]

Taken together, it’s reoriented Trump’s thinking about whether he should announce a presidential campaign before or after the midterm elections, according to those who have spoken with him over the past two weeks. They said Trump feels less pressure to announce early because viable challengers who might otherwise force his hand have faded into the background. But there are other reasons to wait. 

When, in 2025, he's told that the election was in 2024, he'll cry three things.

"Fraud!"

"Fake news!"

"Gimme money!" (OK, that one may first out of his mouth :) )

Short Attention Span Musing

...It seems that biggest crime in GQP/MAGA land these days is apostasy.

From Merriam-Webster -

Certain Rs, people I would *never* vote for, deserve the "Broken Clock" Award.

From The Free Dictionary -

Based on that, there are three Republican who merit the award, IMO.

U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney, vice-chair of the House panel investigating the January 6 riot, lost in a primary to a trumpkin.  She's still a Cheney, though.

State Rep. Rusty Bowers, Speaker of the AZ House and someone who testified about Cheeto's efforts to overturn the 2020 election, lost a primary bid for a seat in the AZ Senate to a trumpkin.  He's still a Mesa Republican, though.

Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer received death threats after saying something other than positive about the fraudit.

It's not just Cheeto and his adherents/defenders.  And it isn't just other Rs that they wish death upon.

From Politico -

Louisiana officials stall New Orleans flood funds over abortion

A Louisiana commission is withholding approval of New Orleans flood control funds over city officials’ opposition to the state’s strict abortion ban.

The Louisiana State Bond Commission has twice voted to delay approval of a future $39 million line of credit for a power station to run New Orleans drainage pumps that would protect the city’s 384,000 residents from flooding and have been described as critical for the city’s ability to adapt to climate change.

Chutzpah2: Fake electors in GA want DA barred from investigating them

From CNN -

Fake Trump electors ask judge to disqualify Atlanta DA from election probe

Eleven of the "fake electors" who participated in a plan to subvert the Electoral College have asked a judge to disqualify Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis from her probe into the Republican effort to overturn the 2020 presidential election in Georgia.

The group argued in a new court filing that they are each "inextricably intertwined" with Republican state Sen. Burt Jones, a fake elector who Fulton County Superior Court Judge Robert McBurney recently ruled cannot be investigated by Willis after she hosted a fundraiser for Jones' Democratic opponent.

That's like mobsters demanding that the U.S. Attorney prosecuting them be barred from doing so.

Is "Defund the FBI" the R version of "Defund the Police"?

*I* think so, and they really hate the idea of doing anything to change the police or the way that policing is done.

From the Texas Tribune, dated June 1, 2021 -

Gov. Greg Abbott signs slate of legislation to increase criminal penalties for protesters, punish cities that reduce police budgets

Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law a slate of legislation Tuesday that targets protesters and restricts cities’ abilities to reduce police budgets.

In a ceremony attended by state law enforcement associations and bill authors, Abbott signed four Republican-backed bills aimed at widespread protests over police killings of Black and Hispanic Americans and calls to reduce spending on law enforcement.

They feel that the law, and police enforcement of it, is sacrosanct...until that law is enforced on one their own.

From Politico, dated August 14,2022 -

FBI warns of heightened threats as Hill Republicans demand more from Garland on Mar-a-Lago search

Law enforcement agencies are warning of “an increase in threats and acts of violence” directed at FBI personnel after agents executed a search warrant of former President Donald Trump’s home.

Alongside the Department of Homeland Security, the bureau issued a joint intelligence bulletin on Friday describing an “unprecedented” number of such threats posed at government officials, POLITICO confirmed. The bulletin said the threats were “occurring primarily online and across multiple platforms,” and that some were specific in identifying proposed targets and tactics, as well as weaponry.

Turns out that a professional sports league is more civic-minded than the GOP. Who knew?

From ESPN -

NBA avoids scheduling regular-season games on Election Day

The NBA will be off on Election Day.

The league's schedule for the coming season will have all 30 teams playing on Nov. 7, the night before the midterm elections. The NBA is hoping teams use that night as an opportunity to encourage fans to get out and vote, plus amplify the need for civic engagement.

But on Nov. 8, which is Election Day, no NBA teams have games scheduled. Teams are being encouraged to share election information -- such as registration deadlines -- with their fan bases in the weeks leading up to Nov. 8.

Yet...

From MSNBC -

GOP voters tap radical election denier to oversee Arizona elections

For many voters, secretary of state — at the state level, not the cabinet secretary who leads the U.S. State Department — is probably a fairly obscure office. As we’ve discussed, these officials tend to work behind the scenes on unglamorous tasks such as election administration, and few reach the household-name level.

But in the wake of Jan. 6, the Republican Party’s "big lie," and Donald Trump’s fixation on installing election-denying allies in key positions, secretaries of state — and this year’s campaigns to elect secretaries of state — have taken on extraordinary importance.

The "radical election denier" in question is Mark Finchem, someone who was at the January 6th insurrection.