Cheeto demands that Republicans shouldn't vote; I hope they listen to him

He's only talking about them sitting out 2022 and 2024, but if Rs want to make a definitive statement, they probably should sit out *every* election.

From The Daily Beast (Note: this is the entire article; it's only three paragraphs long)-

Trump Tells Republicans Not to Vote in 2022 or 2024

In a new statement that he would have posted on Twitter himself if his account was not permanently suspended for inciting violence, former President Donald Trump urged his supporters not to vote in the two upcoming elections if the Republican Party does not “solve” the supposed voter fraud that he has falsely claimed precipitated his loss to President Joe Biden.

“If we don’t solve the Presidential Election Fraud of 2020 (which we have thoroughly and conclusively documented), Republicans will not be voting in ’22 or ’24,” Trump declared. “It is the single most important thing for Republicans to do.”

After prominent Trump supporters similarly told Georgia Republicans to sit out the two runoffs in that state late last year, calling it “another rigged election,” voters ended up giving Democrats control of the Senate.

His inevitable bio should be named "The Mouth That Roared", but that's already been taken.

Of course, an inveterate liar won't let a little plagiarism slow him down.

I thought that Trumpkins believed that elections are fraudulent

Oh wait.  They do.

But if they don't let truth affect them a little rhetorical inconsistency isn't going to faze them.

Not in the least.

From the Detroit Free Press - 

Michigan Trump supporters to launch ballot drive for 'forensic audit' of November election

Backers of former President Donald Trump will launch a ballot drive to require a "full forensic audit" of the 2020 presidential election, a rally in Lansing was told Tuesday. 

Jon Rocha, of Portage, a Republican who is running against U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, said he expects paperwork for the legislative initiative to be filed with the Board of State Canvassers next week.

State Senator Rick Gray seems to believe that corruption should be constitutionally protected

Does Pinnacle West pay its water carriers via check or brown paper bag?

From Jeremy Duda at the AZMirror -

Lawmaker takes aim at Corp Comm policy on campaign contributions by utilities

Legislative attorneys believe a Corporation Commission policy intended to restrict campaign contributions by regulated utilities violates the Arizona Constitution, and the lawmaker who requested that opinion is hoping it will persuade the commission to change course for next year’s election.

Sen. Rick Gray, R-Sun City, asked Legislative Council to review the commission’s 2019 code of ethics. Specifically, he wanted the council’s opinion on whether a policy that prohibits commissioners from taking campaign contributions from regulated utilities, their employees and their lobbyists violates either the Arizona or U.S. constitutions.

The ACC's code of ethics is here.

According to the article, the lawyers for the Republicans in the state legislature have already determined that the ACC's code of ethics is in violation of the AZ Constitution, US Constitution, and decisions rendered by the US Supreme Court.

APS is a subsidiary of Pinnacle West, is regulated by the ACC, and, at least seven times since 2018, Pinnacle West has given money to Gray.

Openly; Gray has been known to take money from entities that take money from Pinnacle West, like the Arizona Leadership Fund.

From Gray's 5th Report (2018) -

From ALF's 6th Report (earlier in 2018) -

Greg Abbott gives everyone yet another reason to avoid Texas if one wants to stay alive

From The Texas Tribune -

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott bans any COVID-19 vaccine mandates — including for private employers

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday issued another executive order cracking down on COVID-19 vaccine mandates — this time banning any entity in Texas, including private businesses, from requiring vaccinations for employees or customers.

Abbott also called on the Legislature to pass a law with the same effect. The Legislature is in its third special legislative session, which ends Oct. 19.

He's pro-gun too.

Or maybe he's just pro-death (for others).

Quelle surprise2! One of the elected supporters of the January 6th insurrection thinks that threats of violence are just "democracy" and are constitutionally protected

From CNN -

McConnell challenges Garland on DOJ effort to address threats against public school board members and teachers

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell on Saturday told Attorney General Merrick Garland that parents "absolutely should be telling" local schools what to teach amid a debate over mask and vaccine mandates, the role of racial equity education and transgender rights in schools that has become a flash point ahead of the 2022 midterms.

"Parents absolutely should be telling their local schools what to teach. This is the very basis of representative government," McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, wrote in a letter. "They do this both in elections and -- as protected by the First Amendment of the Constitution -- while petitioning their government for redress of grievance. Telling elected officials they're wrong is democracy, not intimidation."

The support for the January 6th rioters?

From Business Insider -

Mitch McConnell reportedly asked other GOP senators to vote against the January 6 commission as a 'personal favor'

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell asked other GOP senators to vote against the January 6 commission as a "personal favor" to him, CNN reported Thursday.

Earlier this month, the House passed a bill to create a bipartisan commission that would investigate the January 6 insurrection. The bill has received pushback from Republicans, including McConnell, who announced his opposition to the commission on the Senate floor last week.

At least he's consistent.  McConnell has a history of deriding school board members from the safety of the Senate floor where he's protected by the same Capitol Police who were attacked by the January 6th rioters.

From the Louisville Courier-Journal -

Mitch McConnell calls out JCPS board member over reluctance to reopen schools

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell called out Jefferson County Board of Education member Chris Kolb on the Senate floor Wednesday morning over his indicated hesitancy to reopen Louisville schools this year amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

"In my hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, the largest school district in the state has a union-funded Board of Education vice chair," McConnell said, referring to Kolb in remarks also posted to his press office's Twitter account. "He’s now saying that even if all school personnel get vaccines, he’d still be reluctant to open schools."

Federal committees update

From the website of the Federal Election Commission -

Republican Pozzolo has formed a committee for a run at the CD 3 seat currently held by Democrat Raul Grijalva.

Democrat Metzendorf has formed a committee for a run at the CD 6 seat currently held by Republican David Schweikert.

State committees update

From the website of the Arizona Secretary of State -

Democrat Bellavigna originally formed a committee for a run at a seat on the Arizona Corporation Commission, but is now apparently running for the constable slot in the Kyrene district (West Tempe); however, she has not yet formed a county-level committee for that run.

Republican Udall is a current state legislator who is an anti-truther.

Sinema teaches students about her first love - getting money from rich people

At least she's qualified for this one; it's not as if she could teach courses on public service, or listening to constituents.

Pointed to this by Taegan Goddard's Political Wire.

From The Intercept -

SEN. KYRSTEN SINEMA IS LITERALLY TEACHING A COURSE ON FUNDRAISING

ALL STUDENTS HOPE to learn from the top experts in their field. Graduate students at Arizona State University have an unusual opportunity this fall to do just that, where Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., is teaching a course on getting rich people to give you money.

The course, titled “Developing Grants and Fundraising,” is one of two classes Sinema is teaching this fall at Arizona State University’s School of Social Work. The syllabus, which was obtained by The Intercept, says students will “learn diverse fundraising strategies” for nonprofits as well as “how to cultivate donors,” including “large individual donors,” by leveraging resources like “opportunistic fundraising,” “finding supporters for major fundraising events” — and, well, “asking for money.”

Betcha ASU doesn't have a professional integrity policy for their instructors; just one for their students.

From the syllabus (courtesy The Intercept) -

One question.  Is she a hypocrite for not attending work when students are expected to attend class?

I think she is one, but at least she skipped out on work to raise money from rich folks and/or corporate lobbyists.

Also from the syllabus -

Quelle surprise! McConnell pledges to sacrifice American economy and blames Democrats for his acts.

I've got the next headline ready -

"Chief arsonist promises that his association will keep burning down buildings because firefighters don't kiss butt well enough"

From The Hill - 

McConnell vows GOP won't help raise debt ceiling in December after Schumer 'tantrum'

Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) warned President Biden on Friday that Republicans won't help raise the debt ceiling later this year, and stated that a recent speech by Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y) had "poisoned the well."

"Last night, Republicans filled the leadership vacuum that has troubled the Senate since January. I write to inform you that I will not provide such assistance again if your all-Democrat government drifts into another avoidable crisis," McConnell wrote in the letter to Biden. 

Of course, "avoidable crisis" is McConnell-speak for "crisis that we caused, so avoid voting for us".

Election season has started in AZ

 

The questions on each ballot will vary based on which jurisdiction/city one is in..

Mine were for a budget override and increase for Phoenix Union High School District, and given Dougie's propensity for using money to discourage school districts from requiring masks, it may be needed.

I voted "yes".

Even Republicans admit that Biden won here. Maybe they should tell Andy Biggs.

Biggs won't admit that the election led to his election was valid.

From Yahoo! - 

Arizona Republicans testified before Congress that Biden won 'free, fair, and accurate elections' in Maricopa County

GOP officials from Arizona's Maricopa County testified before Congress on Oct. 7, telling the House that the elections in the county were "free, fair, and accurate" and prove that President Joe Biden won there.

Three Republicans appeared before the House Oversight Committee to talk about the results of the Cyber Ninjas audit in Maricopa County: Jack Sellers, chairman of the Maricopa County board of supervisors, Bill Gates, the board's vice-chairman, and Ken Bennett, a former Arizona secretary of state who liaised directly with the Cyber Ninjas.

I'm torn - is Andy Biggs the gift that keeps on giving or is he just a moron in denial?

Well, he could be a multitasker - it's not as if those things are mutually exclusive. :)

What's next for him?  Foot stamping as a political statement?

From The Hill - 

Raskin and Biggs spar over Arizona audit results, with Biggs refusing to say who won the state

Reps. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) and Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) clashed Thursday over the results of Arizona's 2020 election audit, with Biggs, a staunch Trump supporter, refusing to acknowledge that President Biden had won the state.

Raskin, who appeared at the House Oversight and Reform Committee hearing virtually, said he never understood why Arizona representatives challenged "the result by which they themselves were elected." The Maryland congressman then referenced Biggs, who is also the House Freedom Caucus chairman, and asked him if he would accept the results of the recent GOP-requested audit, which showed that Biden got even more votes than were reported by the state last year.

Ignorance. It's obviously a trait that is valued by Republicans.

From the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel -

Former Supreme Court Justice Gableman, head of Republican review of Wisconsin election, says he does not understand how elections work

The attorney leading a partisan review of Wisconsin's 2020 election acknowledged this week that he doesn't understand how elections are supposed to be run. 

The admission by former state Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman comes as he subpoenas mayors and election officials.

From Jeremy Duda of the Arizona Mirror -

‘Audit’ expert Shiva Ayyadurai didn’t understand election procedures. He made a number of false signature claims.

The audience in the Senate gallery oohed and aahed as Shiva Ayyadurai drew its attention to a “verified and approved” stamp that appeared behind a triangle on the image of an early ballot envelope, unsubtly suggesting that it might have been pre-printed that way. 

“It’s almost as though it was imaged on there. I don’t want to say Photoshopped, but put on there. But it’s quite fascinating. I’m sure there’s some explanation for this,” Ayyadurai said. The remark elicited laughter from an audience largely composed of audit supporters who believed, without factual basis, that the 2020 election was rigged against Donald Trump, a position Ayyadurai himself has aggressively promoted.

Lest one believe that election ignorance is restricted to an employee of Cyber Ninjas, Doug Logan, head of Cyber Ninjas, is just as ignorant.  

From Salon - 

Owner of firm hired to conduct Arizona election audit promoted baseless election conspiracy theories

The owner of a Florida-based tech company, who promoted baseless claims about widespread election fraud, has been charged by the Arizona state Senate with heading a recount of the 2.1 million general election votes in Maricopa County.

The company, Cyber Ninjas, will be leading three other firms – Wake Technology Services, Digital Discovery and CyFIR – to carry out a comprehensive audit and full hand recount. According to the firm's website, it "specializes in all areas of application security, ranging from your traditional web application to mobile or thick client applications. Within these disciplines, we offer ethical hacking, training and general consulting."

Like Athlete's Foot fungus, Joe Arpaio won't go away

 From KTAR -

Joe Arpaio announces 2022 run for mayor of Phoenix suburb

Former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio will be 90 by the time votes are cast, but on Tuesday he announced a 2022 run for mayor of Fountain Hills.

Arpaio has lived in the town about 30 miles northeast of downtown Phoenix for more than 20 years.

The professional bigot still can't spell though.  Also from KTAR -

My guess (and it's only that) is that when it become time to put in some real work he'll beg off.

Do they find the idea of vaccines or the suggestion of thinking more objectionable?

From The Daily Beast -

Republicans Shout Down Lindsey Graham for Pushing Vaccine

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) was booed by Republican activists Saturday after he suggested they should consider taking the coronavirus vaccine, making him the latest prominent Republican to face a backlash from the party’s grassroots over the vaccine.

Speaking at a county Republican event in Summerville, South Carolina, Graham said he had received the vaccine and encouraged audience members to take the vaccine as well.

[snip]

“I didn’t tell you to get it, you ought to think about it,” Graham continued, shrugging to the audience as they heckled him.

1. Wear a damn mask.

2. Get vaccinated.