Cheeto makes history, and not in a good way: A former POTUS indicted!

From CNN (they have many articles on the topic; this quote is just from the first) -

The latest on the federal indictment of Trump in the documents probe

Trump's attorney confirms former president faces 7-count indictment

Donald Trump's attorney Jim Trusty confirmed Thursday night that the former president has been charged with seven counts – and revealed that the charges “break out from an Espionage Act charge.”

"It does have some language in it that suggests what the seven charges would be. Not 100% clear that all of those are separate charges, but they basically break out from an Espionage Act charge," he told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins.

As could be expected, trumpkins didn't react well to the news.

From Google -

From Twitter -

From Newsweek -

Trump has maintained his innocence, often calling the DOJ probe a "hoax" and a form of "election interference." Several of the former president's political allies also condemned the news of his indictment over Twitter, including Ohio Representative Jim Jordan, who tweeted that it was a "Sad day for America."

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"Democrats must literally shake with sweats when they see amazing packed out Trump 

rallies and overwhelming winning poll numbers week after week," said Georgia 

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, who also shared screenshots of Trump's 

reaction on Truth Social. "They must awake in the night with panic at the thoughts of us 

winning in 2024."

Greene also wrote in length about the accusations against Biden's family, whom 

House Republicans have accused of an alleged bribery scheme based off an unclassified 

FBI forum shown to lawmakers on Thursday. Florida Representative Matt Gaetz also 

noted the form, tweeting, "Imagine being naive enough to believe that the Biden Bribe 

evidence and Trump indictment happening the same day was a coincidence."

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Conservative political pundit Charlie Kirk demanded that Trump's opponents 

in the 2024 GOP primary take action and "show solidarity" with the 

former president, or risk being made "part of the opposition."

Of course, with Cheeto, the grift never stops.

From The Hill -

Trump immediately fundraises after saying he was indicted in documents probe

Former President Trump on Thursday swiftly moved toward fundraising efforts after claiming he’s been indicted in connection with the Justice Department’s investigation into his handling of classified documents. 

“We are watching our Republic DIE before our very eyes. The Biden-appointed Special Counsel has INDICTED me in yet another witch hunt regarding documents that I had the RIGHT to declassify as President of the United States,” Trump wrote in an email message asking supporters to donate.

Big Pharma has a creative definition for "negotiation"

Well, at least I have an answer for a question I asked a couple of days ago.

From AP -

Merck sues federal government, calling plan to negotiate Medicare drug prices extortion

Merck is suing the federal government over a plan to negotiate

 

Medicare drug prices, calling the program a sham equivalent to

 

extortion.

The drugmaker is seeking to halt the program, which was laid out in the 

Inflation Reduction Act and is expected to save taxpayers billions of

 

dollars in the coming years.

Unsurprisingly, most of their corporate PAC's (Merck PAC) go to Republicans (nationally; it was active in AZ until the end of 2018).

However, not *all* of their money goes to Rs; some of it goes to former Democrats.

From the FEC -

Is Kyrsten Sinema really a Republican at heart?

She sure fundraises like one.

From an email from her campaign -

There are a LOT of R talking points in her email; it's like she is trying raise fund from the R base.

Of course, every dollar they give her is a dollar that her hedge-fund running benefactors don't have to funnel to her campaign.

OK, I'll say it: If Hunter Biden were any lousier a human being, he'd be a Republican

Pointed toward this by Taegan Goddard's Political Wire.

From USA Today (emphasis added by me) -

How the Biden family name became latest wrinkle in Hunter Biden's paternity battle

Hunter Biden is nearing judgment day in an Arkansas lawsuit to reduce his child support and prevent his daughter from taking his last name.

The president's son faces a deposition this month and a July trial against a woman, Lunden Roberts, who had his daughter Aug. 28, 2018. Biden was ordered in March 2020 to pay child support, but he asked in September 2022 to reduce the amount because of his changing income, which led to the pending trial.

Another point of contention deals with the child’s name. Roberts wants the child to have Biden’s last name because of the family's political prominence and business success, but he is opposed because of the "political warfare" she could face.

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During a May hearing, lawyer Abbe Lowell revealed Biden is paying $20,000 per month in child support for a total of $750,000.

Mr. Biden, two things:

1. Pay what you owe.

2. The perfidy by Congressional Republicans and you doesn't justify you forsaking your child.

Dear HuffPo: Improve your spelling

This won't be an exercise in criticizing Cheeto and his followers (though there will be some of that).

This won't be an exercise in criticizing one of Cheeto's minion for doing her best Ted Cruz/invertebrate impression (though she obviously merits such criticism).

Nope, this will be an exercise in me doing my best imitation of an old man waving his cane while yelling "Get off my lawn!".  :)

Let me be clear - the word is "milquetoast".  Means timid or meek.

From Huffington Post via Yahoo! (emphasis added by me)-

Kayleigh McEnany Responds To Donald Trump Attack With 1 Of His Favorite Routines

Former Trump White House press secretary-turned-Fox News host Kayleigh McEnany deployed a favorite Donald Trump line on the air Thursday, days after the former president bizarrely insulted her as “milktoast.”

McEnany, who Trump accused of understating his poll numbers against GOP 2024 rival Ron DeSantis, resorted to her former boss’ old “tears in their eyes” routine during a fawning analysis of his comments on the campaign trail in Iowa.

Of course, Cheeto and his followers probably think the word should be spelled as "milkkktoast."

Legislative schedule - week starting 6/4/2023

Another quiet week is on tap at the legislature as their vacation continues.  A couple of Senate committees will meet, but only to consider nominations.

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 t.o 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, 6/5 -

Nada.

On Tuesday, 6/6 

-

Senate Committee on Director Nominations meets at 10 a.m. in SHR109.  Up for inquisition this time: Ryan Francis Thornell as director of the Department of Corrections and Susan Nicolson as Commissioner of the Department of Real Estate.

Senate Education meets at 2 p.m. in SHR1.  On the agenda for consideration: The appointment of David A. Zaragoza to the Board of Regents.

On Wednesday, 6/7 and Thursday, 6/8 -

Nada.

Shameless hypocrisy: Yet another thing to despise about the NRA

From NBC -

Marijuana users still barred from buying guns even in states where pot is legal, ATF warns

Users of marijuana remain barred from purchasing and possessing guns under a decades-old federal law, even as more and more states move to legalize recreational use of the drug, federal authorities warned this week.

Unless marijuana is legalized on a federal level, users of cannabis will continue to be prohibited from shipping, transporting, receiving or possessing firearms and ammunition, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, or ATF, said in a notice.

Yet...

From that bastion of progressive thought (OK, that's sarcasm.  If this magazine were any more conservative it would be owned by Rupert Murdoch) Reason Magazine, dated 4/2023 (emphasis added by me) -

The Drug Exception to the Second Amendment

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...in light of the NRA's longstanding support for the federal bans on gun possession by illegal drug users and people convicted of drug-related felonies. The organization's enthusiasm for enforcing those restrictions illustrates a blind spot shared by many right-leaning critics of gun control, whose concerns about overcriminalization, law enforcement abuses, and violations of civil liberties usually do not extend to the war on drugs

Violent toward others?

The NRA will seek to protect you.

Light one up?

Not so much.

Throwing bombs is sexier than actually governing...just ask the shameless bomb throwers

Gotta wonder if certain folks realize that the debt ceiling deal, while bad, is spoken well of when it's so thoroughly opposed by those who hate America.

From KJZZ, written by Kirsten Dorman -

Congressman Andy Biggs says debt ceiling deal is an 'abomination'

Congress is considering an agreement to avoid a government default and raise the nation’s debt ceiling.

Both President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy have said it’s a compromise that includes GOP demands, like cuts in spending. But Arizona Congressman Andy Biggs said the proposal is an “abomination.”

“I had no idea that we would see a plan as ephemeral and malodorous as this plan,” Biggs said. “I’m gonna vote ‘no.’ I urge my colleagues to vote ‘no.’”

Biggs didn't confine his spouting off to reporters' mics, either.

Social media served as an outlet for his bile.  From Twitter -

The bile-spewing wasn't limited to members of Congress.

While he hasn't yet weighed in on the topic, I expect that Biggs' saddle partner, Paul Gosar, will oppose the debt ceiling deal.

He may just be waiting for Vlad to make his pronouncement on the deal.

Someone should tell Paul Gosar that he's no longer a dentist

Even though he likes to present himself as one.

(Snippys taken today):

From Twitter -

From his official website -

He may like to present himself as a dentist (the "D.D.S" part), but the Arizona State Board of Dental Examiners seems to have a different opinion on the subject.

From their license lookup page -

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.

Will May 27th be Texas' version of January 6th?

Guessing not, but the similarities between Texas AG Ken Paxton and Cheeto  are striking.

Both have called for followers to rally/riot (my term, not theirs) in support, both have cheated on their wives, and both have been impeached.

First up:  Paxton's call for his supporters to "rally" to prevent his impeachment.  From The Guardian (UK) -

Texas attorney general urges supporters to protest at capitol ahead of impeachment vote

The Texas attorney general, Ken Paxton, has urged his supporters to protest at the state capitol when Republicans in the House of Representatives take up historic impeachment proceedings against him.

The state House has set a Saturday vote to consider impeaching Paxton and suspending him from office over allegations of bribery, unfitness for office and abuse of public trust – just some of the accusations that have trailed him for most of his three terms.

Then: Paxton cheating on his wife.  From the Fort Worth Star-Telegram - 

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s mistress at heart of allegations in impeachment papers

At the heart of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s recent troubles is that he used his office to help a political donor — Austin real estate investor Nate Paul — in exchange for allegedly helping the attorney general remodel his home and giving Paxton’s mistress a job in his company. 

According to thedailybeast.com, “Paxton reportedly acknowledged the affair with the woman, who worked as an aide to a Texas state senator, to his staff in 2018 and said he had ended it.”

Finally: Paxton has been impeached, too.  From the Texas Tribune -

Texas AG Ken Paxton impeached, suspended from duties; will face Senate trial

Defying a last-minute appeal by former President Donald Trump, the Texas House voted overwhelmingly Saturday to impeach Attorney General Ken Paxton, temporarily removing him from office over allegations of misconduct that included bribery and abuse of office.

The vote to adopt the 20 articles of impeachment was 121-23.

The vote itself, from the Texas Legislature -

The Paxton matter now moves to the Texas State Senate for a trial, where, interestingly, Angela Paxton, Ken's cheated-on wife, is a member.

Not sure how she will vote, or even if she will conflict herself out and simply not vote on the matter.

It's rather unusual for Republicans to hold one of their own accountable, for, well, *anything,* but like the Liz Harris mess here in AZ (where she was expelled from the legislature for inviting a guest to testify at a committee hearing who accused other Republicans of being corrupt), but Paxton made it personal when he called for the Texas house speaker to resign over allegations that he was drunk while presiding over the Texas House.

Federal Committee update

Pastor is a current member of the Phoenix City Council.

Aguilar is a current member of the governing board of the Central Arizona Project.

Both are looking to replace Ruben Gallego in Congress, who's running for Senate.

Sawdy is mounting a campaign to replace Republican Debbie Lesko.

O'Donnell is running to replace Republican Juan Ciscomani.

Alan Dershowitz, one of Kari Lake's lawyers, invokes the idiot defense

It's BS.

He may be an alleged predator, but he's not a *stupid* one.

From AZMirror, written by Caitlin Sievers -

Attorneys: Alan Dershowitz should have known better

Alan Dershowitz, the famed civil liberties attorney, is asking not to be sanctioned alongside other attorneys for Kari Lake and Mark Finchem after he signed onto a lawsuit that the judge called a “frivolous complaint.”

Dershowitz claimed during a telephone hearing on Wednesday that he only participated in the case, which aimed to stop Arizona from using any type of electronic voting machines to tally ballots, in a limited capacity and should therefore not be held responsible for the false claims in the suit. 

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But two Arizona attorneys told the Arizona Mirror that because Dershowitz was listed as counsel in the case and signed his name to many of the filings, he was legally just as responsible for its content as the other lawyers who represented Lake and Finchem. 

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Dershowitz made it a point to tell the judge that he doesn’t know either Lake or Finchem personally. 

“I do not like Ms. Lake,” Dershowitz said. “I would never have voted for her.” 

While Dershowitz told the judge on Wednesday that he only consulted on the case as a constitutional law expert and was not involved in any other way, he agreed to be admitted to be an attorney in the case “pro hac vice,” which allows an attorney who isn’t licensed in a state to work on a specific case in that state. 

“Everyone knows those rules, that when you appear in a case, you accept responsibility for the case,” Stirling said. “If he consented to appear in the case, he knows the responsibility he was taking on.”

 

Dershowitz has tried to get out of paying his penalty before this plea.  Guess being one of Cheeto's lackeys isn't so lucrative.

Legislative schedule - week starting 5/21/2023

Perhaps in commemoration of Memorial Day on Monday (OK, who am I trying to kid?  The majority at the lege just doesn't care), but the coming week is shaping up to be a relatively quiet one.

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 t.o 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 5/29 and Tuesday 5/30 -

Nada. 

On Wednesday, 5/31 

-

Senate Committee on Director Nominations meets at 10 a.m. in SHR109.  Up for inquisition this time:  former legislator Martin Quezada, nominee for Registrar of Contractors.

On Thursday, 6/1 - 

Nada.

Update to: Legislative schedule - week starting 5/21/2023

Things can change at the legislature can change on short notice, and this week is a good example of that.  Two committees are meeting; no bills under consideration.

On Thursday, 5/25 

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House Ethics meets at 10 a.m. in HHR4.  They'll be considering the matter of Rep. Stephanie Stahl Hamilton.

I'm not going to say that this is shaping up to be a kangaroo court, but they *really* don't want the public to weigh in.

From the agenda -

Senate Judiciary meets at 10 a.m. in SHR109.  They'll be considering a couple of appointments.