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babylonsister
babylonsister's Journal
babylonsister's Journal
February 24, 2022
snip//
Similarly deceptive tactics by invading forces were reported elsewhere in the country.
After Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the alarming news that Russian forces were trying to “seize” the Chernobyl nuclear plant, the site of the worst-ever nuclear disaster, residents in the area were quoted telling the UNIAN news agency that they had seen the troops make their way through by dressing up as peacekeepers. They reportedly made their way through in white trucks and armored vehicles that had “something like red flags” on the front.
Elsewhere, in Sarny, Rivne, Mayor Ruslan Serpeninov issued a video address to residents, warning them that sabotage and reconnaissance units were entering the country from Belarus wearing Ukrainian military and police uniforms.
more...
https://www.thedailybeast.com/putin-sent-in-troops-disguised-with-ocse-white-peace-monitor-symbols-and-ukrainian-uniforms-says-kyiv?ref=scroll
Putin Sent in Troops Disguised With White Peace Monitor Symbols and Ukrainian Uniforms, Says Kyiv
Putin Sent in Troops Disguised With White Peace Monitor Symbols and Ukrainian Uniforms, Says Kyiv
CHEAP SHOT
Troops entering the country from Belarus were also reportedly disguising themselves in Ukrainian military and police uniforms.
Allison Quinn
News Editor
Updated Feb. 24, 2022 11:06AM ET / Published Feb. 24, 2022 5:03AM ET
As part of their invasion of Ukraine, Russian forces have used insignia of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to descend on several cities in the Luhansk region, Ukraine’s National Police warned Thursday.
“Columns of Russian tanks entered the Luhansk region at the borders of Krasnaya Talovka, Milove, and Gorodishche. The enemy insidiously placed white vehicles with OSCE symbols at the front. Fighting is currently underway there,” police said in a statement.
snip//
Similarly deceptive tactics by invading forces were reported elsewhere in the country.
After Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the alarming news that Russian forces were trying to “seize” the Chernobyl nuclear plant, the site of the worst-ever nuclear disaster, residents in the area were quoted telling the UNIAN news agency that they had seen the troops make their way through by dressing up as peacekeepers. They reportedly made their way through in white trucks and armored vehicles that had “something like red flags” on the front.
Elsewhere, in Sarny, Rivne, Mayor Ruslan Serpeninov issued a video address to residents, warning them that sabotage and reconnaissance units were entering the country from Belarus wearing Ukrainian military and police uniforms.
more...
https://www.thedailybeast.com/putin-sent-in-troops-disguised-with-ocse-white-peace-monitor-symbols-and-ukrainian-uniforms-says-kyiv?ref=scroll
February 24, 2022
You Guys Can't Imagine How Stupid Rick Scott Actually Is
Rick Scott thinks he's proposing a new "contract with America," but his "plan" raises taxes on middle-class retirees. REALLY.
By Frances Langum — February 23, 2022
Rick Scott is so stupid he doesn't even know when he has committed political suicide.
Rick Scott's "plan," which insists that everyone should have "skin in the game" of federal spending by paying federal income tax.
Thing is, many Americans, including retirees and students, don't make enough money to pay federal INCOME tax, but they do pay payroll taxes, sales taxes, and property taxes.
Whatever happened to the Tea (Taxed Enough Already) Party?
Lawrence O'Donnell explained on Tuesday night's Last Word: "One of the problems of putting really rich guys in charge of public policy is that generally they don't know anything about it and this is proof of it. Rick Scott has never seen a paycheck, and so he doesn't understand that the people he thinks are not paying federal taxes are paying withholding: payroll taxes every week in their paychecks. And in fact, two-thirds, two-thirds of American taxpayers pay more in payroll taxes than they do in federal income taxes, and Rick Scott wants to push up their federal income taxes!"
Jennifer Rubin was flabbergasted. "You know, as a former Republican, I'm sort of appalled at the political stupidity of this. My gosh," she said.
You Guys Can't Imagine How Stupid Rick Scott Actually Is
https://crooksandliars.com/2022/02/you-guys-cant-imagine-how-stupid-rickYou Guys Can't Imagine How Stupid Rick Scott Actually Is
Rick Scott thinks he's proposing a new "contract with America," but his "plan" raises taxes on middle-class retirees. REALLY.
By Frances Langum — February 23, 2022
Rick Scott is so stupid he doesn't even know when he has committed political suicide.
It's a little late for Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) to pretend he *didn't* propose tax increases on tens of millions of lower-income Americans. He literally put it in writing. https://t.co/uz99i2TE2E
— Steve Benen (@stevebenen) February 23, 2022
— Steve Benen (@stevebenen) February 23, 2022
Rick Scott's "plan," which insists that everyone should have "skin in the game" of federal spending by paying federal income tax.
Thing is, many Americans, including retirees and students, don't make enough money to pay federal INCOME tax, but they do pay payroll taxes, sales taxes, and property taxes.
Whatever happened to the Tea (Taxed Enough Already) Party?
Lawrence O'Donnell explained on Tuesday night's Last Word: "One of the problems of putting really rich guys in charge of public policy is that generally they don't know anything about it and this is proof of it. Rick Scott has never seen a paycheck, and so he doesn't understand that the people he thinks are not paying federal taxes are paying withholding: payroll taxes every week in their paychecks. And in fact, two-thirds, two-thirds of American taxpayers pay more in payroll taxes than they do in federal income taxes, and Rick Scott wants to push up their federal income taxes!"
Jennifer Rubin was flabbergasted. "You know, as a former Republican, I'm sort of appalled at the political stupidity of this. My gosh," she said.
JENNIFER RUBIN: There is nothing in there that speaks to any kind of cost control, drugs, health care. There is nothing in there about educating children, pre-k, universal pre-k, about any kind of education plan. There is nothing in there that actually helps Americans. And this is very telling. Because the Republican Party is no longer in the business of helping Americans, or even trying to. It is a grievance club. It is a machine that creates content for Fox News. And that's what this thing is. It's sort of throws every buzzword, every phrase up against the wall and sees it sticks. Whether it's "CRT", whether it's books, whether it's abortion, whether it's the wall, and they just think that this is going to buy enough votes for them. Now, the problem is this what they're saying is really pretty unpopular. There is a new poll out today from CBS/YouGov, which everyone should look a look at, which shows Americans overwhelmingly do not want to ban books. Americans overwhelmingly want race to be taught in their schools, Americans overwhelmingly think race is an issue. And even more, they think it is a historical issue. Americans are not as dumb as Republicans think they are. And putting this all out there gives Democrats what they have been looking for. They don't want this to be a referendum, things go wrong when you are in power. And things happen that are beyond their control, like inflation. But if you make this a choice between the guys who are really trying their hardest, and made a lot of progress, and the guys who live off in cuckoo land and want to raise your taxes? That's an election that Democrats could actually win. That's why Rick Scott has some sort of, given hope to Democrats that maybe they can pull a rabbit out of the hat for this election.
"My opponent wants to ban books" seems to be one of the easiest and truest attacks you can make on just about any Republican candidate alive. https://t.co/bcZKB0x3hl
— LOLGOP (@LOLGOP) February 23, 2022
— LOLGOP (@LOLGOP) February 23, 2022
February 24, 2022
4 hours ago
Is It Amnesia or Hypocrisy That Fuels the GOP’s Crazy Response to Putin?
It’s both.
David Corn
In the midst of an international crisis created by Russia that could potentially trigger a war in Europe, Republicans and right-wingers on and off Fox News have pledged allegiance to…Vladimir Putin. At the least, they are siding with the Russian autocrat and trash-talking President Joe Biden’s effort to block his aggression. But there’s nothing surprising about the ongoing romance between conservatives and the democracy-crushing thug-leader of Russia, who has invaded Ukraine and violated international law. Anyone shocked by this has forgotten one of the key facts of the 21st century: Putin waged war on the United States, and Donald Trump and his party aided, abetted, and benefitted from that attack.
more...
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2022/02/is-it-amnesia-or-hypocrisy-that-fuels-the-gops-crazy-response-to-putin/
David Corn: Is It Amnesia or Hypocrisy That Fuels the GOP's Crazy Response to Putin?
4 hours ago
Is It Amnesia or Hypocrisy That Fuels the GOP’s Crazy Response to Putin?
It’s both.
David Corn
In the midst of an international crisis created by Russia that could potentially trigger a war in Europe, Republicans and right-wingers on and off Fox News have pledged allegiance to…Vladimir Putin. At the least, they are siding with the Russian autocrat and trash-talking President Joe Biden’s effort to block his aggression. But there’s nothing surprising about the ongoing romance between conservatives and the democracy-crushing thug-leader of Russia, who has invaded Ukraine and violated international law. Anyone shocked by this has forgotten one of the key facts of the 21st century: Putin waged war on the United States, and Donald Trump and his party aided, abetted, and benefitted from that attack.
more...
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2022/02/is-it-amnesia-or-hypocrisy-that-fuels-the-gops-crazy-response-to-putin/
February 24, 2022
Trump Attorney Admits Entire Family In A Bind, May Take The Fifth
Gee, ya think?! 
https://crooksandliars.com/2022/02/trump-attorney-admits-entire-family-bind
Trump Attorney Admits Entire Family In A Bind, May Take The Fifth
Trump attorney Alina Habba admitted on Tuesday that the ex-president and members of his family may be forced to use the Fifth Amendment to protect themselves from incrimination in New York after a judge ruled that they can be subpoenaed by Attorney General Letitia James.
By David — February 23, 2022
Trump attorney Alina Habba admitted on Tuesday that the ex-president and members of his family may be forced to use the Fifth Amendment to protect themselves from incrimination in New York after a judge ruled that they can be subpoenaed by Attorney General Letitia James.
During an interview on Newsmax, Habba claimed that it had been improper for state Supreme Court Judge Arthur F. Engoron to call Donald Trump a "bad guy" during a court hearing over the attorney general's right to subpoena. She also defended referring to Trump as a "protected class" in court.
Habba called the judge's ruling "incredibly frightening" but said that she has not decided if she will recommend using the Fifth Amendment for Trump and two of his children, Ivanka and Don Jr.
"We are going on all avenues against Letitia James, not just with the courts, and it has to be stopped," Habba vowed. "And people in this state should really be frightened if you're a real estate tycoon, and you have valuations of property and you happen to be on the other side of politics with Letitia James."
"I haven't made a determination on what I think is best at this point," she said of the Fifth Amendment. "Unfortunately, they put them between a rock and a hard place. But I can tell you we're appealing the decision."
"I haven't made a determination on what I think is best at this point," she said of the Fifth Amendment. "Unfortunately, they put them between a rock and a hard place. But I can tell you we're appealing the decision."
February 23, 2022
Fox News Blames Benghazi For Russian Invasion Of Ukraine
There’s never a bad time for Fox News to flog the tragic events of Benghazi 10 years ago.
By John Amato — February 23, 2022
I have never seen a supposed "news service" attack a sitting president so relentlessly when the country is faced with a serious national security threat.
It's treacherous.
Earlier this morning on Fox and Friends, the three Trump loving co-hosts blamed Biden for Russia invading Ukraine.
And they used their favorite Benghazi talking points to prove it.
After giving their viewers a revisionist history lesson about Putin, Russia and Ukraine, Doocy stepped up to the plate.
Ainsley Earhardt stepped up next to share her vapid wisdom to their audience.
It must have taken her all night to write and memorize those words.
When Traitor Trump sent love letters to China and North Korea's presidents they were enthralled.
When Traitor Trump debased the entire US intelligence service by groveling to Putin in Helsinki and denying Russian interference because Putin said so they were overjoyed.
The world is at a precipice with Putin and yet these right-wing chatter heads are continually feeding Russian propaganda to their viewers.
Fox News Blames Benghazi For Russian Invasion Of Ukraine
https://crooksandliars.com/2022/02/fox-news-blames-benghazi-russia-invasionFox News Blames Benghazi For Russian Invasion Of Ukraine
There’s never a bad time for Fox News to flog the tragic events of Benghazi 10 years ago.
By John Amato — February 23, 2022
I have never seen a supposed "news service" attack a sitting president so relentlessly when the country is faced with a serious national security threat.
“He's weak, he's not strong, he's mentally challenged, he's out of his depth. On the other hand, Putin is a strong virile man!” Those are just some of the daily recurrent themes.
It's treacherous.
Earlier this morning on Fox and Friends, the three Trump loving co-hosts blamed Biden for Russia invading Ukraine.
And they used their favorite Benghazi talking points to prove it.
After giving their viewers a revisionist history lesson about Putin, Russia and Ukraine, Doocy stepped up to the plate.
"He's got one playbook and he's going to it again. The Putin playbook. He's done this before when he went into -- when everything happened with Georgia back in the day.
Ainsley Earhardt stepped up next to share her vapid wisdom to their audience.
"He knows how Biden handled Afghanistan. That was a disaster. He also lost two embassies. He has lost the Afghanistan embassy and now the Ukrainian embassy has moved to Poland. When he was vice president, Benghazi happened. And, even, we know that [former Secretary of Defense Robert] Gates said he has been wrong on every foreign policy and national security issue for the past four decades. He looks very weak, and Russia is taking advantage of it," Earhardt said.
It must have taken her all night to write and memorize those words.
When Traitor Trump sent love letters to China and North Korea's presidents they were enthralled.
TRUMP: We go back and forth, and then we fell in love, OK?
(LAUGHTER)
No, really. He wrote me beautiful letters. And they're great letters. We fell in love.
(LAUGHTER)
No, really. He wrote me beautiful letters. And they're great letters. We fell in love.
When Traitor Trump debased the entire US intelligence service by groveling to Putin in Helsinki and denying Russian interference because Putin said so they were overjoyed.
The world is at a precipice with Putin and yet these right-wing chatter heads are continually feeding Russian propaganda to their viewers.
February 23, 2022
https://www.thedailybeast.com/delaware-supreme-court-upholds-dismissal-of-candace-owens-lawsuit-against-facebook-fact-checkers
Candace Owens Loses (Again) in Crusade to Sue Facebook’s Fact-Checkers
WOMP-WOMP
AJ McDougall
Breaking News Intern
Zachary Petrizzo
Media Reporter
Published Feb. 22, 2022 11:25PM ET
Candace Owens Loses (Again) in Crusade to Sue Facebook's Fact-Checkers
https://www.thedailybeast.com/delaware-supreme-court-upholds-dismissal-of-candace-owens-lawsuit-against-facebook-fact-checkers
Candace Owens Loses (Again) in Crusade to Sue Facebook’s Fact-Checkers
WOMP-WOMP
AJ McDougall
Breaking News Intern
Zachary Petrizzo
Media Reporter
Published Feb. 22, 2022 11:25PM ET
Conservative commentator Candace Owens suffered yet another legal setback on Tuesday, with Delaware’s highest court upholding a dismissal of her lawsuit against two fact-checking media companies. The Delaware Supreme Court issued a 68-word order affirming the July dismissal of Owens’ contract interference suit against USA Today and Colorado company Lead Stories LLC, which both published articles in 2020 correcting Facebook posts she had made downplaying the severity of COVID. The media organizations are two of dozens paid by Facebook to publish articles on misleading posts, according to the Associated Press. USA Today and Lead Stories’ articles, Owens contented, strangled multiple sources of income for her, including revenue from Facebook advertising. The judge who dismissed Owens’ suit last year said that, among other failings, she hadn’t demonstrated that either company had come between her and her contract with Facebook. “This is a great day for fact-checking and the First Amendment,” Lead Stories’ co-founder Alan Duke told The Daily Beast on Tuesday night via phone, adding that the ruling affirmed “we do have a role in fact-checking.” “We have our processes down to where we are able to be unbiased and straight forward.”
February 23, 2022
The Rude Pundit
Proudly lowering the level of political discourse
2/22/2022
The GOP Put Out "An 11-Point Plan to Save America" and It's Hysterical Hysteria
Perhaps reacting to the fact that the Republican Party has given up on everything to do with actually governing, choosing, instead, to become a cabal devoted to fake outrage and outdated ideas of morality, Sen. Rick "This Fucking Skull of Doom Will Haunt Your Dreams" Scott has put out a pamphlet titled "An 11-Point Plan to Save America." Yes, it is exactly as fucking idiotic and worthless as you already know it is. Perhaps even more so. From its preamble to its conclusions, it's nonstop hysteria over "wokeness" and trans rights, along with policies based on complete lies and nothing about the actual issues facing the country.
I mean, how do you take seriously any however many point plan to "save America" that starts with (and, no shit, this is number one), "Our kids will say the pledge of allegiance, salute the Flag, learn that America is a great country, and choose the school that best fits them." Oh, it goes way further than that in the explanation: "Kids in public schools will say the Pledge of Allegiance, stand for the National Anthem, and honor the American Flag. We must foster national unity." The only way to assure that this happens is to pass a law and punish those who don't. Is that what you're gonna do, Sen. Skeletor? Are you gonna arrest kids who say, "Fuck you, I'm not standing"? Maybe send them to reeducation camps since the rest of the fuckin' "plan" is all about enforcing beliefs.
There's so much conservative extremist fuckery in here that it reads like porn for the Federalist Society, like a bunch of Hillsdale grads are gonna sit around and circle jerk to things like finishing the stupid border wall and naming it for Donald Trump. "Yeah, that'll own the libs," they'll say as they jizz and then immediately feel shame and then immediately start jacking off again when they read the next line about funding the police.
Look at this savagery in attacking the poor: "No government assistance unless you are disabled or aggressively seeking work" (okay, so are you gonna provide child care?) and "Eliminate federal programs that can be done locally" (sounds good if you're in Massachusetts, scary if you're in Texas) and "All Americans should pay some income tax to have skin in the game, even if a small amount" (which is raising taxes on the poor instead of forcing million/billionaires to pay their share). There's fucking nothing in there about poverty other than that "socialism" apparently causes it. Not paying shit wages or corporations dicking over workers in favor of shareholders and executives.
On it goes, just a steaming shit pile that you'd just have to be a sociopath, and a fucking dumb one, to buy into. In addition to essentially ending the federal government except for the military, the paranoia over "cancel culture" bullshit and the outright terror over trans people is bizarrely overwhelming. In a weird merging of "science" and religion, the plan declares "Men and women are biologically different, 'male and female He created them.'" And "No doctor will be allowed to perform irreversible surgical or gender-altering procedures on any minor child," going against the advice of every major medical organization when it comes to gender dysphoria (and it's something Texas is already on board with).
more...
https://rudepundit.blogspot.com/2022/02/the-gop-put-out-11-point-plan-to-save.html
The Rude Pundit: The GOP Put Out "An 11-Point Plan to Save America" and It's Hysterical Hysteria
The Rude Pundit
Proudly lowering the level of political discourse
2/22/2022
The GOP Put Out "An 11-Point Plan to Save America" and It's Hysterical Hysteria
Perhaps reacting to the fact that the Republican Party has given up on everything to do with actually governing, choosing, instead, to become a cabal devoted to fake outrage and outdated ideas of morality, Sen. Rick "This Fucking Skull of Doom Will Haunt Your Dreams" Scott has put out a pamphlet titled "An 11-Point Plan to Save America." Yes, it is exactly as fucking idiotic and worthless as you already know it is. Perhaps even more so. From its preamble to its conclusions, it's nonstop hysteria over "wokeness" and trans rights, along with policies based on complete lies and nothing about the actual issues facing the country.
I mean, how do you take seriously any however many point plan to "save America" that starts with (and, no shit, this is number one), "Our kids will say the pledge of allegiance, salute the Flag, learn that America is a great country, and choose the school that best fits them." Oh, it goes way further than that in the explanation: "Kids in public schools will say the Pledge of Allegiance, stand for the National Anthem, and honor the American Flag. We must foster national unity." The only way to assure that this happens is to pass a law and punish those who don't. Is that what you're gonna do, Sen. Skeletor? Are you gonna arrest kids who say, "Fuck you, I'm not standing"? Maybe send them to reeducation camps since the rest of the fuckin' "plan" is all about enforcing beliefs.
There's so much conservative extremist fuckery in here that it reads like porn for the Federalist Society, like a bunch of Hillsdale grads are gonna sit around and circle jerk to things like finishing the stupid border wall and naming it for Donald Trump. "Yeah, that'll own the libs," they'll say as they jizz and then immediately feel shame and then immediately start jacking off again when they read the next line about funding the police.
Look at this savagery in attacking the poor: "No government assistance unless you are disabled or aggressively seeking work" (okay, so are you gonna provide child care?) and "Eliminate federal programs that can be done locally" (sounds good if you're in Massachusetts, scary if you're in Texas) and "All Americans should pay some income tax to have skin in the game, even if a small amount" (which is raising taxes on the poor instead of forcing million/billionaires to pay their share). There's fucking nothing in there about poverty other than that "socialism" apparently causes it. Not paying shit wages or corporations dicking over workers in favor of shareholders and executives.
On it goes, just a steaming shit pile that you'd just have to be a sociopath, and a fucking dumb one, to buy into. In addition to essentially ending the federal government except for the military, the paranoia over "cancel culture" bullshit and the outright terror over trans people is bizarrely overwhelming. In a weird merging of "science" and religion, the plan declares "Men and women are biologically different, 'male and female He created them.'" And "No doctor will be allowed to perform irreversible surgical or gender-altering procedures on any minor child," going against the advice of every major medical organization when it comes to gender dysphoria (and it's something Texas is already on board with).
more...
https://rudepundit.blogspot.com/2022/02/the-gop-put-out-11-point-plan-to-save.html
February 22, 2022
Worse than Trump: Head of the NRSC releases Republican plans for a dystopian, fascist America
Joan McCarter
Daily Kos Staff
Tuesday February 22, 2022 · 11:57 AM EST
GOP Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has decided that the best way for Republicans to prevail in the midterms, and thus regain Congress, is to simply run against President Joe Biden and use inflation, mask wars, vaccine wars, and gas prices to defeat him. McConnell has decided not to release a competing Republican agenda—to have a plan Republicans will run on. Too bad, because that gives the guy he picked to head up the Senate Republicans 2022 effort, Florida Sen. Rick Scott, all the room he needed to go full-on fascist with his vision for America.
Politico got its hands on the Scott plan, and it is a chilling vision for the end of America as we know it. He calls it a plan to “rescue America.” It’s 11 points with 128 action items to fight the “militant left,” which “now controls the entire federal government, the news media, academia, Hollywood, and most corporate boardrooms.” Here’s what he says we militants are out to “change or destroy: American history, patriotism, border security, the nuclear family, gender, traditional morality, capitalism, fiscal responsibility, opportunity, rugged individualism, Judeo-Christian values, dissent, free speech, color blindness, law enforcement, religious liberty, parental involvement in public schools, and private ownership of firearms.” That’s just him warming up.
snip//
Scott’s ideas are an amalgam of standard Republican economic principles—keep taxes low for the rich, punish the olds and poor—and batshit Fox News, MAGA culture warrior propaganda fueled by conspiracy theories.
It’s a fun—albeit terrifying—gift for Democrats. There it all is: what Republicans really think about the majority of Americans and how they intend to suppress us.
No wonder McConnell didn’t want to put out an agenda; he knew it was going to be full of this kind of stuff. Too late, though. It’s been embraced by the Republican National Committee (RNC)—you know, the official Republican Party that said the Jan. 6 insurrection was “ordinary citizens engaged in legitimate political discourse.”
Yeah, that RNC.
Worse than Trump: Head of the NRSC releases Republican plans for a dystopian, fascist America
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2022/2/22/2081670/-Rick-Scott-makes-the-Republican-fascist-agenda-publicWorse than Trump: Head of the NRSC releases Republican plans for a dystopian, fascist America
Joan McCarter
Daily Kos Staff
Tuesday February 22, 2022 · 11:57 AM EST
GOP Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has decided that the best way for Republicans to prevail in the midterms, and thus regain Congress, is to simply run against President Joe Biden and use inflation, mask wars, vaccine wars, and gas prices to defeat him. McConnell has decided not to release a competing Republican agenda—to have a plan Republicans will run on. Too bad, because that gives the guy he picked to head up the Senate Republicans 2022 effort, Florida Sen. Rick Scott, all the room he needed to go full-on fascist with his vision for America.
Politico got its hands on the Scott plan, and it is a chilling vision for the end of America as we know it. He calls it a plan to “rescue America.” It’s 11 points with 128 action items to fight the “militant left,” which “now controls the entire federal government, the news media, academia, Hollywood, and most corporate boardrooms.” Here’s what he says we militants are out to “change or destroy: American history, patriotism, border security, the nuclear family, gender, traditional morality, capitalism, fiscal responsibility, opportunity, rugged individualism, Judeo-Christian values, dissent, free speech, color blindness, law enforcement, religious liberty, parental involvement in public schools, and private ownership of firearms.” That’s just him warming up.
snip//
Scott’s ideas are an amalgam of standard Republican economic principles—keep taxes low for the rich, punish the olds and poor—and batshit Fox News, MAGA culture warrior propaganda fueled by conspiracy theories.
It’s a fun—albeit terrifying—gift for Democrats. There it all is: what Republicans really think about the majority of Americans and how they intend to suppress us.
No wonder McConnell didn’t want to put out an agenda; he knew it was going to be full of this kind of stuff. Too late, though. It’s been embraced by the Republican National Committee (RNC)—you know, the official Republican Party that said the Jan. 6 insurrection was “ordinary citizens engaged in legitimate political discourse.”
Yeah, that RNC.
February 22, 2022
https://www.politicususa.com/2022/02/21/the-republican-party-disrespects-biden-on-presidents-day.html
Posted on Mon, Feb 21st, 2022 by Jason Easley
The Republican Party Disrespects Biden On Presidents’ Day
The Republican Party put out a Presidents’ Day tweet that disrespected the current president, Joe Biden.
The RNC tweeted:
https://twitter.com/GOP/status/1495750407888510985?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1495750407888510985%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.politicususa.com%2F2022%2F02%2F21%2Fthe-republican-party-disrespects-biden-on-presidents-day.html
Notice that 2 of the Republican presidents listed on the RNC’s tweet were impeached. The Republican Party honors Nixon and Trump but disrespects Joe Biden.
The RNC’s tweet is an example of the petty partisanship that has caused one of the two political parties to become a dysfunctional cult that is existing in another universe separate from the rest of the country.
There is no reason to show such disrespect to the sitting president. Joe Biden has never been under criminal investigation, nor has been impeached or thrown out of office on his ear by the voters.
Donald Trump is likely happy with the tweet, which is all that matters in the current Republican Party.
Republicans have no respect for America, democracy any longer.
The Republican Party Disrespects Biden On Presidents' Day
https://www.politicususa.com/2022/02/21/the-republican-party-disrespects-biden-on-presidents-day.html
Posted on Mon, Feb 21st, 2022 by Jason Easley
The Republican Party Disrespects Biden On Presidents’ Day
The Republican Party put out a Presidents’ Day tweet that disrespected the current president, Joe Biden.
The RNC tweeted:
https://twitter.com/GOP/status/1495750407888510985?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1495750407888510985%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.politicususa.com%2F2022%2F02%2F21%2Fthe-republican-party-disrespects-biden-on-presidents-day.html
Notice that 2 of the Republican presidents listed on the RNC’s tweet were impeached. The Republican Party honors Nixon and Trump but disrespects Joe Biden.
The RNC’s tweet is an example of the petty partisanship that has caused one of the two political parties to become a dysfunctional cult that is existing in another universe separate from the rest of the country.
There is no reason to show such disrespect to the sitting president. Joe Biden has never been under criminal investigation, nor has been impeached or thrown out of office on his ear by the voters.
Donald Trump is likely happy with the tweet, which is all that matters in the current Republican Party.
Republicans have no respect for America, democracy any longer.
February 22, 2022
Finally, Ginni Thomas Is Getting The Credit She Earned
Ginni Thomas insists that she and her husband operate in “separate professional lanes,” but those lanes in fact merge with notable frequency.
By Susie Madrak — February 22, 2022
Oh look, the New York Times has finally deigned to notice that the wife of a Supreme Court justice is deeply embedded in a lot of extremist conservative movements, including the fantasy that the election was stolen from Donald Trump.
Much, much more there, like the straight line we can draw from the Council for National Policy campaigns and this Clarence Thomas dissent:
As more publications are dragging Ginni Thomas, her group Groundswell, and her work on the Council for National Policy into the national spotlight, progressive groups like People for the American Way are working to build public pressure to put stringent ethics laws in place that actually apply to the Supreme Court (which has exempted itself from the ethics laws that apply to the rest of the federal judiciary). The unholy political alliance of Clarence and Ginni Thomas with the right wing needs a new approach to the political expression of judicial spouses. You can sign here.
https://act.pfaw.org/sign/supreme-court-ethics/
Tell Congress to Support the Supreme Court Ethics Act!
Finally, Ginni Thomas Is Getting The Credit She Earned
https://crooksandliars.com/2022/02/finally-ginni-thomas-getting-kind-credit-0Finally, Ginni Thomas Is Getting The Credit She Earned
Ginni Thomas insists that she and her husband operate in “separate professional lanes,” but those lanes in fact merge with notable frequency.
By Susie Madrak — February 22, 2022
Oh look, the New York Times has finally deigned to notice that the wife of a Supreme Court justice is deeply embedded in a lot of extremist conservative movements, including the fantasy that the election was stolen from Donald Trump.
Ginni Thomas insists, in her council biography, that she and her husband operate in “separate professional lanes,” but those lanes in fact merge with notable frequency. For the three decades he has sat on the Supreme Court, they have worked in tandem from the bench and the political trenches to take aim at targets like Roe v. Wade and affirmative action. Together they believe that “America is in a vicious battle for its founding principles,” as Ginni Thomas has put it. Her views, once seen as on the fringe, have come to dominate the Republican Party. And with Trump’s three appointments reshaping the Supreme Court, her husband finds himself at the center of a new conservative majority poised to shake the foundations of settled law. In a nation freighted with division and upheaval, the Thomases have found their moment.
This article draws on hours of recordings and internal documents from groups affiliated with the Thomases; dozens of interviews with the Thomases’ classmates, friends, colleagues and critics, as well as more than a dozen Trump White House aides and supporters and some of Justice Thomas’s former clerks; and an archive of Council for National Policy videos and internal documents provided by an academic researcher in Australia, Brent Allpress.
The reporting uncovered new details on the Thomases’ ascent: how Trump courted Justice Thomas; how Ginni Thomas used that courtship to gain access to the Oval Office, where her insistent policy and personnel suggestions so aggravated aides that one called her a “wrecking ball” while others put together an opposition-research-style report on her that was obtained by The Times; and the extent to which Justice Thomas flouted judicial-ethics guidance by participating in events hosted by conservative organizations with matters before the court. Those organizations showered the couple with accolades and, in at least one case, used their appearances to attract event fees, donations and new members.
This article draws on hours of recordings and internal documents from groups affiliated with the Thomases; dozens of interviews with the Thomases’ classmates, friends, colleagues and critics, as well as more than a dozen Trump White House aides and supporters and some of Justice Thomas’s former clerks; and an archive of Council for National Policy videos and internal documents provided by an academic researcher in Australia, Brent Allpress.
The reporting uncovered new details on the Thomases’ ascent: how Trump courted Justice Thomas; how Ginni Thomas used that courtship to gain access to the Oval Office, where her insistent policy and personnel suggestions so aggravated aides that one called her a “wrecking ball” while others put together an opposition-research-style report on her that was obtained by The Times; and the extent to which Justice Thomas flouted judicial-ethics guidance by participating in events hosted by conservative organizations with matters before the court. Those organizations showered the couple with accolades and, in at least one case, used their appearances to attract event fees, donations and new members.
Much, much more there, like the straight line we can draw from the Council for National Policy campaigns and this Clarence Thomas dissent:
The battle over the election did not land before the court as Bush v. Gore did in 2000. But in February 2021, as Trump and his associates continued pressing for state lawmakers to audit — and reverse — the 2020 election, Justice Thomas sharply dissented when a 6-to-3 majority rejected the case brought by Pennsylvania Republicans that the court had refused to take up in December. Echoing the arguments advanced by C.N.P. Action, he wrote that legislatures have the constitutional authority to determine how federal elections are held, yet in 2020, “nonlegislative officials in various States took it upon themselves to set the rules instead.”
As more publications are dragging Ginni Thomas, her group Groundswell, and her work on the Council for National Policy into the national spotlight, progressive groups like People for the American Way are working to build public pressure to put stringent ethics laws in place that actually apply to the Supreme Court (which has exempted itself from the ethics laws that apply to the rest of the federal judiciary). The unholy political alliance of Clarence and Ginni Thomas with the right wing needs a new approach to the political expression of judicial spouses. You can sign here.
https://act.pfaw.org/sign/supreme-court-ethics/
Tell Congress to Support the Supreme Court Ethics Act!
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