US Politics Thread 2021-24

[Buddahaid]

You're too kind. :hmmm::haha:

[Torvald Von Mansee]

which one is worse carter or biden or are they running neck to neck

Reagan is easily worse than either.

[Torvald Von Mansee]

I'm a little sad there's no mention of the Trump NFTs in here!!

[Buddahaid]

Yes there is. :Kaleun_Wink:

[les green01]

Reagan is easily worse than either.

what i can remember Reagan was better he sure is better than biden,if biden said the sun comes up east and set in the west i would look the other way

[Skybird]

If you pay me 99 Dollars, could you please send me one of those marvelous Trump collection cards I heard so much about?? Who knows, after mixing with funghi from rotting in the basement for ten years it might turn from a cause of into a cure for cancer.

[em2nought]

I'll take a guy who believes in America over a guy who believes he has to "change" America every time. :up:

[Skybird]

This for El Presidente! Yeah...! :har: And Pokemon as Vice!

https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/12/15/multimedia/15pol-trump-cards-1-fd9b/15pol-trump-cards-1-fd9b-articleLarge.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale

[August]

Reagan is easily worse than either.


Two one term US presidents who left office under a cloud with the man who defeated the Soviet Union? Hardly.

[Buddahaid]

This for El Presidente! Yeah...! :har: And Pokemon as Vice!

https://static01.nyt.com/images/2022/12/15/multimedia/15pol-trump-cards-1-fd9b/15pol-trump-cards-1-fd9b-articleLarge.jpg?quality=75&auto=webp&disable=upscale

For someone who hates getting laughed at it's a wonder he endorsed this. It looks like something his enemies would come up with for satire and the images will be used forever on to mock him. I'd say unbelievable but I've come to expect crap like this from him.

He sure is better than Lincoln and Washington.

[Ostfriese]

For someone who hates getting laughed at it's a wonder he endorsed this. It looks like something his enemies would come up with for satire and the images will be used forever on to mock him. I'd say unbelievable but I've come to expect crap like this from him.


He must be desperate for money, but hey, it worked. The 45,000 NFTs are sold out, and that's created a revenue of about $4.4m. If you now consider that creating NFTs costs next to nothing it's almost all profit.

You have to give Trump credit here, it turned out to be a profitable business idea, and that's rare enough for him.

[Buddahaid]

He must be desperate for money, but hey, it worked. The 45,000 NFTs are sold out, and that's created a revenue of about $4.4m. If you now consider that creating NFTs costs next to nothing it's almost all profit.

You have to give Trump credit here, it turned out to be a profitable business idea, and that's rare enough for him.

Trump doesn't own the NFT's. He made a licensing deal so I doubt he collected anywhere near that.

[Ostfriese]

Trump doesn't own the NFT's. He made a licensing deal so I doubt he collected anywhere near that.


I know, but he will still have made a decent buck, basically for nothing.

[Buddahaid]

I just heard DeSantis called Diet Trump! :har:

[Buddahaid]

Biden has appointed 97 judges in two years topping Trump's 74 (I think) and Obama's 36 or so during his two terms.

[Rockstar]

https://i.ibb.co/XSZgZSr/3932-B286-0642-4433-A769-89-A6-E9-D08-A18.jpg

[Otto Harkaman]

Nothing will be done, welcome to one party rule

[August]

The Serial Liar in Chief drops another doozy.

Conservatives on Twitter blasted President Joe Biden (https://www.foxnews.com/media/biden-roasted-busting-old-school-anti-irish-slur-claiming-hes-italian-needs-help) for telling another "ridiculous tall tale" about himself in a speech, claiming that his uncle won a Purple Heart for his actions during World War II.

Critics slammed the claim, asserting there is no evidence it is true.
Biden made the remarks during a town hall for U.S. veterans in Delaware on Friday. At one point during his speech, the president stated, "My dad, when I got elected vice president [in 2008], he said, ‘Joey, Uncle Frank fought in the Battle of the Bulge.’ He was not feeling very well now — not because of the Battle of the Bulge, but he said, ‘and he won the Purple Heart and he never received it. He never got it. Do you think you could help him get it? We will surprise him.’"
He continued, claiming, "So I got him the Purple Heart. He had won it in the Battle of the Bulge. And I remember he came over the house and I came out and [my father] said, ‘Present it to him, okay?’ We had the family there."
Biden concluded the story, claiming he gave the medal to his uncle despite his Frank’s humble protests.

Though the New York Post (https://nypost.com/2022/12/16/biden-claims-his-uncle-frank-won-purple-heart-but-story-doesnt-add-up/) shot holes through the story in a Friday report, stating, "The known facts indicate it’s not true. Biden’s father, Joseph R. Biden Sr., died in September 2002 — more than six years before his son was elected vice president. Frank Biden, Joe Sr.’s brother, died in 1999." The piece also noted, "Frank Biden’s tombstone does not identify him as a Purple Heart honoree, nor does his obituary. A partial registry of known Purple Heart (https://www.foxnews.com/us/purple-heart-burglary-returned-vietnam-vet-40-years) recipients also doesn’t note anyone by that name receiving the award, though that database is not comprehensive."

The RNC Research Twitter account, which shared a clip of the statement to Twitter, debunked Biden’s speech, saying, "Joe Biden says after he was elected VP, he awarded his Uncle Frank with a Purple Heart he earned at the Battle of the Bulge. There is no evidence any of that is true — and Biden's uncle died in 1999, while Biden wasn't elected VP until 2008."

Conservative radio host Derek Hunter suggested an honest media would hold Biden accountable for these statements. He wrote, "Imagine if we had an honest media, or even just a less dishonest one, and the questions this guy and his press secretary, ‘historic’ or not, would be peppered with."
Popular conservative commentator "AGHamilton" stated, "Some people might play this off as having to do with his age, but Biden has had a habit of consistently making up stuff like this for 4+ decades. He does it so often that a lot of people don't even notice anymore."
The Spectator contributing editor Stephen Miller pointed out that the media would have hammered former President Donald Trump over a claim such as this. He wrote, "This is the kind of thing fact checkers would have spent a week and 3 press briefings on 4 years ago."
https://www.foxnews.com/media/biden-skewered-ridiculous-tall-tale-about-giving-uncle-purple-heart-biggest-serial-liar-elected

[Otto Harkaman]

Nothing will be done

[August]

Biden just embellished the war record of a dead relative in order to burnish his own reputation. To me that is a form of Stolen Valor.

[Otto Harkaman]

The dude is a buffoon, they are so caught up in TDS they don't care.

[Buddahaid]

Here's a transcript of the event honoring vets. He's trying to pass a bill for vet health benefits over burn pits. So nefarious.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2022/12/16/remarks-by-president-biden-at-a-delaware-veterans-summit-and-pact-act-town-hall-new-castle-de/

[les green01]

first of all,you don't win a purple heart

[August]

Here's a transcript of the event honoring vets. He's trying to pass a bill for vet health benefits over burn pits. So nefarious.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2022/12/16/remarks-by-president-biden-at-a-delaware-veterans-summit-and-pact-act-town-hall-new-castle-de/


Ends justifies the means eh?

[Buddahaid]

Don't try to do a gotcha thing here as I didn't say that and you know it.

[August]

Don't try to do a gotcha thing here as I didn't say that and you know it.


Not in so many words but it's obvious that was the gist of your post. Otherwise what difference does it make what function Biden was attending when he made up this complete fabrication? A lie is a lie and make no mistake it was a lie told to promote himself, not some long dead uncle or any social cause.

If Trump had done that you would be jumping all over it not trying to defend it. You know it and I know it.

[Buddahaid]

I don't think it was a lie just to promote Joe Biden and that's where I disagree with you. Of course, I can't say if it was a manufactured lie or an inadvertent false memory, but I don't think it was done with any intent of ill will.

How is it worse than Trump's stupid NFT's highlighting his "career" as an astronaut, fighter pilot, and cowboy, who's better than Lincoln and Washington?

[August]

I don't think it was a lie just to promote Joe Biden and that's where I disagree with you. Of course, I can't say if it was a manufactured lie or an inadvertent false memory, but I don't think it was done with any intent of ill will.

How is it worse than Trump's stupid NFT's highlighting his "career" as an astronaut, fighter pilot, and cowboy, who's better than Lincoln and Washington?




No it's not any worse, but that shouldn't make it any more acceptable either.

And if you don't think it was a manufactured lie then you have political blinders on. Read what he said again. The whole story was about how HE made it happen. The poor dead uncle was done wrong but HE fixed it. False memory indeed. :roll:

[Buddahaid]

No it's not any worse, but that shouldn't make it any more acceptable either.

And if you don't think it was a manufactured lie then you have political blinders on. Read what he said again. The whole story was about how HE made it happen. The poor dead uncle was done wrong but HE fixed it. False memory indeed. :roll:

I said I don't know, not I don't think, but make of it what you will. It's your choice and I respect it. I don't argue on this site to hear myself, I argue to be challenged in my views, and to challenge others in theirs, and hopefully find some honesty in the process.

[mapuc]

It's breaking news here in Denmark.

Following is translated with DeepL from A Danish newspage


Congressional committee recommends criminal case against Trump
Committee says there is basis to indict former President Trump for his role in storm at US Congress

A House committee investigating the circumstances of the storming of the US Congress on 6 January last year is asking the US Department of Justice to indict former US President Donald Trump on four counts of aiding and abetting sedition.

A unanimous committee is behind the recommendation to indict Trump on several counts, including conspiracy and aiding and abetting an insurrection against state institutions.

But also for making false statements.

The same is true of several of Trump's closest aides, several of whom have refused to testify before the January 6 committee.

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

Why didn't I think about it-

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-us-canada-63994477

Markus

[vienna]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Izukxr-SfsM






<O>

[August]

Operation Mockingbird redux.


According to the ACLU: Newly declassified documents reveal that the CIA has been secretly conducting massive surveillance programs that capture Americans’ private information.

The CIA has been caught conducting a domestic operation to spy on Americans, again, in spite of being banned from doing so. Think anyone will go to jail over it? Think someone ought to go to jail over it?

[August]

And this:



Jan. 6 Committee criminal referrals of Trump are political 'theater,' DOJ likely to 'ignore' say legal experts

Former prosecutors call January 6 Committee's criminal referrals of Trump political 'theater'



Legal experts say that the House January 6 Committee's criminal referrals (https://www.foxnews.com/category/us/capitol-protests) of former President Donald Trump to the Justice Department for his involvement in the 2021 Capitol protests are "theater" and will likely be ignored by the DOJ, and they could possibly have a counterproductive effect should the DOJ decide to bring charges.
The Jan. 6 panel held what is expected to be their final meeting Monday and voted unanimously to issue criminal referrals to the DOJ on Trump for obstructing an official proceeding of Congress, conspiracy to defraud the federal government, making a false statement, and inciting, assisting or aiding and comforting an insurrection.
The committee’s unprecedented criminal referral (https://www.foxnews.com/shows/media-buzz/romanian-videos-claims-illegal-aliens-voted-gop-lawmakers-swamped-mark-meadows-wild-texts) holds no official legal weight, and a final determination in whether to pursue the charges will be up to Attorney General Merrick Garland.

[Rockstar]

https://image1.slideserve.com/2719079/slide1-n.jpg

BOONDOGGLE: a project that is considered a waste of both time and money, yet is often continued due to extraneous policy or political motivations.

[mapuc]

It makes me sad if all this that comes from the committee of the House of Representatives is nothing more than theater.

Markus

[Buddahaid]

It's far from over. The next two years should be really interesting.

[AVGWarhawk]

It's far from over. The next two years should be really interesting.

Not really. It will continue to be a rudderless ship on the voyage to winning the next election by any means.

[Otto Harkaman]

It makes me sad if all this that comes from the committee of the House of Representatives is nothing more than theater.

Markus


Everything went great, many people fulfilled their work requirements and were issued paychecks thereby paying rent, car payments, gas and child support.


:yawn:

[August]

And this too (it's been a full day!:o)

Biden administration appoints Kennedy as special envoy for Northern Ireland: 'knifed Britain in the back'

Joseph Kennedy III's pro-Irish background has some worried he will not be a neutral figure as Biden's special envoy of Northern Ireland.


Ya think? :doh: I'm pretty sure Little Joey has an honorary membership in the IRA given his past statements. This should be interesting. Sorry Brits. Hopefully it's only for two years.

[Rockstar]

Seems the Alzheimer's patient in chief is making things up as he goes along again. From stolen valor to jobs creation.

Biden claims HE added a whopping 1,151,500 new jobs! However, it seems the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia indicated only 10,500 net new jobs were added in the second quarter.

https://www.philadelphiafed.org/-/media/frbp/assets/surveys-and-data/benchmark-revisions/early-benchmark-2022-q2-report.pdf

[Rockstar]

Seems the Alzheimer's patient in chief is making things up as he goes along again. From stolen valor to jobs creation.

Biden claims HE added a whopping 1,151,500 new jobs! However, it seems the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia indicated only 10,500 net new jobs were added in the second quarter.

https://www.philadelphiafed.org/-/media/frbp/assets/surveys-and-data/benchmark-revisions/early-benchmark-2022-q2-report.pdf


U.S. may need 7.5% unemployment to curb inflation -research
By Howard Schneider

https://www.reuters.com/markets/us/us-may-need-75-unemployment-curb-inflation-research-2022-09-08/

WASHINGTON, Sept 7 (Reuters) - The U.S. unemployment rate may need to reach as high as 7.5%, double its current level, to end the country's outbreak of high inflation, according to new estimates from a team of researchers including two staff economists from the International Monetary Fund.

That would entail job losses of perhaps 6 million people, but the research found that only under "quite optimistic assumptions"

[em2nought]

Don't forget to get your January 6th fireworks at the same time you pick up your New Year's supply. They should have some sort of promo. :D

[Buddahaid]

Or for only $99.99 you can get a Trump Security Blanket to cry into. It comes with SECRET POCKETS the best SECRET POCKETS money can buy to hide all your STOLEN DOCUMENTS and phone numbers for "easy sanction lawyers". Better than Lincoln, better than Washinton loser blankets and has a big big the biggest ever Q on the front.
https://mediacloud.theweek.com/image/private/s--NC3vugZf--/f_auto,t_primary-image-mobile@1/v1608552011/linus.jpg

[August]

I found this nice compilation of Bidens lies.

Biden claims:

— Survived a fire
— Arrested in civil rights march
— Star football player
— Once a truck driver
— Arrested meeting Mandela
— Son killed in Iraq
— Overheard mass shooting
— Top of his class in college
— Hit a 368’ homer in baseball game
— Had job at timber co.
— Drunk driver killed his wife & daughter
— Pinned medal on a Navy captain who was just a kid
— No knowledge of Hunter's foreign business dealings
— Turned down offer from the Naval Academy
— His uncle won a Purple Heart
— His helicopter in Afghanistan “forced down”
— Met Parkland families as vice president
— Was once a coal miner
— Comes from a family of coal miners
— Was shot at in Iraq
— Called Milosevic a “war criminal” to his face
— Criticized George W. Bush to his face
— Participated in sit-ins during civil rights movement
— Oil industry somehow gave him cancer
— Won a fight against a drug dealer named Cornpop
— Dead Amtrak worker awarded him for riding 1.8 million miles
— Attended Temple services on a Sunday
— Raised in Puerto Rican community
— Worked as a college prof
— Hiked the Himalayas with ChiCom President Xi
— Received full-ride scholarship
— Graduated with three degrees
— His dad was an early gay marriage advocate
— Spoke to the inventor of insulin (despite not being born yet)
— Attended Delaware State Univ (an HBCU)
— Worked as lifeguard
— Not “the big guy”

Thanks to Tom Elliot (found on twitter)

[les green01]

I found this nice compilation of Bidens lies.

Biden claims:

— Survived a fire
— Arrested in civil rights march
— Star football player
— Once a truck driver
— Arrested meeting Mandela
— Son killed in Iraq
— Overheard mass shooting
— Top of his class in college
— Hit a 368’ homer in baseball game
— Had job at timber co.
— Drunk driver killed his wife & daughter
— Pinned medal on a Navy captain who was just a kid
— No knowledge of Hunter's foreign business dealings
— Turned down offer from the Naval Academy
— His uncle won a Purple Heart
— His helicopter in Afghanistan “forced down”
— Met Parkland families as vice president
— Was once a coal miner
— Comes from a family of coal miners
— Was shot at in Iraq
— Called Milosevic a “war criminal” to his face
— Criticized George W. Bush to his face
— Participated in sit-ins during civil rights movement
— Oil industry somehow gave him cancer
— Won a fight against a drug dealer named Cornpop
— Dead Amtrak worker awarded him for riding 1.8 million miles
— Attended Temple services on a Sunday
— Raised in Puerto Rican community
— Worked as a college prof
— Hiked the Himalayas with ChiCom President Xi
— Received full-ride scholarship
— Graduated with three degrees
— His dad was an early gay marriage advocate
— Spoke to the inventor of insulin (despite not being born yet)
— Attended Delaware State Univ (an HBCU)
— Worked as lifeguard
— Not “the big guy”

Thanks to Tom Elliot (found on twitter)

lol if he keeps it up his nose be bigger than Pinocchio's

[Rockstar]

Meanwhile as the largest conspiracy theory group in the U.S. a.k.a. democrat voters cling to their Trump derp and conspiracies.

https://youtu.be/JNtZJLt7FVk

[Buddahaid]

Speaking of conspiracy.

"A Tennessee man already facing charges of assaulting a police officer during the storming of the Capitol last year was charged on Friday with plotting to assassinate several of the federal agents who had investigated him and to attack the F.B.I.’s field office in Knoxville, Tenn."

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/16/us/politics/jan-6-defendant-assassination-plot.html

[Rockstar]

Speaking of conspiracy.

"A Tennessee man already facing charges of assaulting a police officer during the storming of the Capitol last year was charged on Friday with plotting to assassinate several of the federal agents who had investigated him and to attack the F.B.I.’s field office in Knoxville, Tenn."

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/16/us/politics/jan-6-defendant-assassination-plot.html

That’s not a conspiracy, that’s an assault and attempted murder charge. Though if he’s lucky enough to be tried in a blue court he’ll probably just be one of many ROR. Helps to know the difference between an actual investigation by law enforcement and a political boondoggle and Kabuki theatre.

The Democrat voter a.k.a. blue anon conspiracy theorists like lemmings are still falling for it, praying, hoping, clinging to all the conspiracies and drama they were lead to believe as truth. Micheal Cohen and all the low hanging fruit to flip. Schiff releasing his collusion evidence against Trump. Jan 6th committee evidence of the Trump master plan of orchestrating insurrection and selling nuke codes and secrets and other derp. Anyday now! :haha:

[Rockstar]

Florida Leads US Population Growth for First Time in 65 Years

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/realestate/florida-leads-us-population-growth-for-first-time-in-65-years/ar-AA15BQmt

(Bloomberg) -- Florida, which has seen a surge in migrants since the onset of the pandemic, was the state with the fastest-growing population in 2022, taking top spot for the first time since 1957, Census Bureau data show.

Florida’s population increased by 1.9% to 22.2 million between 2021 and 2022, the data show, surpassing Idaho, which led last year. Florida had the second-largest numeric gains, behind Texas.

“For the third most-populous state to also be the fastest growing is notable because it requires significant population gains,” the bureau’s Marc Perry, Luke Rogers and Kristie Wilder said in a statement

Wealthy Northeasterners and Californians have long flocked to Miami, drawn to its warm weather and lower taxes. The pandemic accelerated that shift, but overall population growth rates still greatly lag behind Florida’s 1950s growth spurt, when the average annual increase was 6.1%.

Unfortunately what happens is those Democrats fleeing the Democrat facists ideology, taxes, rules and regulations they helped create tend to bring those stupid blue ideas with them. Saw it happen in South Carolina.

[Buddahaid]

"Kari Lake has lost her frivolous lawsuit in Maricopa County challenging the results of the 2022 Arizona governor’s race."

Lost on all counts and there will likely be sanctions as well. Again the MAGA side hires complete idiots for lawyers. :yep:

[Buddahaid]

This is a long video, and anti MAGA, but I like the way it's lawyers discussing the merits of the litigation surrounding Trump and MAGA, good, or bad. Michael Popok pretty much stays with the dry legal points, and Ben will flavor with more opinion I wish he'd downplay more, but I've yet to catch these two in any opinion that turns out wrong. Popok is the one to listen to.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLJ8-HBBN_0

[Rockstar]

A Democrat Kind of Christmas

Ya but what about Trump and Kari Lake drama? Any day now! :haha:

https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/12/25/06/65920055-11572629-image-a-5_1671951280010.jpg

https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2022/12/24/01/65898985-11570847-image-a-53_1671846021765.jpg


EXCLUSIVE: Instagram v. reality! San Francisco unveils taxpayer-funded open-air Christmas market that's become dystopian hellhole after being besieged by city's famed druggies

A video reveals San Francisco's downtown Christmas market to not be so festive
The video was posted onto social media channels by a concerned SF resident
It shows drug paraphernalia and people sleeping rough in close proximity
Promo videos tell a different story making the event out to be 'family friendly'
A resident who lives in the area said she has felt forced out because of addicts
'Winter Wanderland Holiday Village' is close to the now closed Tenderloin center

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11572629/San-Francisco-unveils-taxpayer-funded-open-air-Christmas-market-thats-dystopian-hellhole.html

San Francisco's taxpayer-funded open air Christmas market, hoped to be a wholesome holiday outing for families, is in fact a dystopian hellhole besieged by the city's famed drug addicts.

At least that's what concerned residents living near the market have revealed to DailyMail.com, with one property owner filming and posting to social media what she's described to be a 'horrible decline' in the area.

Her clip shows a homeless person under a blanket just a few yards away from the Winter Wanderland market in the sunken Hallidie Plaza, near City Hall.

The camera then pans down to the market itself, where two people dressed as cuddly characters perform on a small stage. Our camerawoman then zooms off to the left, and films a man swigging from what appears to be a bottle of brown liquor.

The 'Winter Wanderland' has been set up at Union Square in downtown San Francisco, just minutes from the now closed Tenderloin Linkage Center. It was set up to help addicts get clean, but DailyMail.com soon revealed widespread illegal drug use had been taking place.

The footage filmed by the concerned mother of two is in stark contrast to promotional material posted by the organizers of the holiday market on social media channels, who described the event as 'family friendly.'

In the footage filmed by the concerned mother, viewers can see a person sleeping next to what appears to be a pile of clothes, with used syringes scattered among the belongings.

The video then speeds up to show their proximity to the Hallidie Plaza and Powell BART station 'Winter Wanderland Holiday Village.'

The 25 second video finishes on a near-to-empty plaza with two people dressed up dancing on a stage - one wearing a snowman costume, the other a reindeer.

In a caption the woman, who asked to remain nameless, writes: 'Misery, drug abuse, overdosing, drug dealing and mayor's 'Winter Wanderland' at Hallidie Plaza and Powell BART station at downtown San Francisco. Who is this charade for?'

Promotional footage uploaded to social media by the organizers of the 'Winter Wanderland Holiday Village' however tells a different, more polished, version of events.

The video starts with a performer juggling, soundtracked by Christmas carols before panning to a group of children eagerly watching on.

The advertisement then cuts to a woman dressed as the beloved Children's character 'Minnie Mouse' while wearing a COVID-safe face mask, with the caption 'balloon twisting fun and face painting' at the bottom of the screen.

The woman is seen politely waving to viewers and saying 'hi, there' before the video ends on festive Christmas tree display.

While preparing Christmas Eve dinner for her family, the mother of seven-year-old twins told DailyMail.com of the 'nightmare' her once beloved city has turned into.

'I am a property owner just above that Powell BART station,' she said.

'[I've seen a] horrible decline since March 2020. It's a nightmare, it's all drugs.'

The San Francisco resident said she had a love/hate relationship with the city but was being forced to move due to the declining situation.

'We just made offer on a house in Alameda, we can't take this anymore,' she said.

'I have a love/hate relationship with the city. I don't want to move but I have no choice.'

The Union Square Alliance, through a $500,000 grant from the Office of Economic and Workforce Development, installed Christmas trees, wreaths, snowflakes and other hanging ornaments, along with a slew of booths for vendors at the location.

Downtown San Francisco's economic recovery has been uneven, and 2021 saw episodes of large-scale retail theft.

The city's offices have the lowest occupancy of any major city, as its tech-focused workforce continues to work from home. That has shuttered many businesses and left the streets eerily empty, further allowing crime to proliferate.

Union Square's holiday tree saw some mischief and vandalism earlier in the month but organizers weren't worried going into the festive season.

San Francisco is governed by a leadership who appear to have set their priorities on masking the ever-present and deteriorating situation in its downtown district.

Its progressive, humanitarian self-image has been at odds with lawmaking - even when looking to solutions to save people's lives like controlling drug sales and consumption throughout the city.

The festive market sits but a 15 min walk from the now shut Tenderloin center which was supposed to put addicts in touch with rehab facilities, but was revealed by DailyMail.com to operating as a secret illegal drug use site has since closed.

The Tenderloin Center was opened by San Francisco Mayor London Breed at the beginning of the year to tackle the city's ongoing drug crisis and cost about $22million to operate.

The site was often referred to as a 'safe place' for addicts to 'get high without getting robbed,' according to one person who used the center.

In the first four months of the center's opening, was said to only refer 18 people of the more than 23,000 it welcomed into the site.

Overall less than one per cent of visits ended in a 'completed linkage' to behavioral health programs.

City leaders, including Breed, now say the site was a 'temporary solution' offered up as a way to avoid the more than 640 overdose deaths San Francisco saw in 2021.

Despite their efforts, 2022 has been nearly just as deadly as more than 500 people have died from overdoses throughout the California city. In 2021, there were 641.

Officials had also hoped the site would offer a place to deal with the homeless crisis the city has faced in recent months and years.

Some estimates indicate that hundreds of people visited the Tenderloin Center while it was open, and more than 350 overdoses were reversed at the location.

Mayor Breed had originally allotted just $10 million for the project but it quickly ballooned to more than double that estimate.

In total, some 400 individuals were provided with assistance each day, according to the San Francisco Department of Public Health.

A large portion of those who took advantage of the site used it specifically for shelter or food.

[Skybird]

https://edition.cnn.com/2022/12/22/opinions/donald-trump-tax-returns-mccaffery/index.html


Two important quesitons asked. Two replies that are food for tought.

[les green01]

there many loopholes in income taxes good enough accountant tax person will find it also there only one other person that didn't take the president pay that was jfk

[Torvald Von Mansee]

there many loopholes in income taxes good enough accountant tax person will find it also there only one other person that didn't take the president pay that was jfk

What's your point? If it's legal it's moral? So, if it's legal to set a puppy on fire, it's a moral thing to do?

[Torvald Von Mansee]

A Democrat Kind of Christmas

Like depositing people in teen temperature weather on the street because you think your crippled ass should be President some day? Just like Jesus would do.

[August]

What's your point? If it's legal it's moral? So, if it's legal to set a puppy on fire, it's a moral thing to do?


Was taking your personal deduction on your taxes last year the moral thing to do? There's no difference. And setting puppies on fire is not legal.

[les green01]

What's your point? If it's legal it's moral? So, if it's legal to set a puppy on fire, it's a moral thing to do?

who's give a crap if it imoral you think hell flame going burn less is it imoral to step on a bug you don't see or mash it in a auto windshield people that preaches imoral crap probably just as guilty has the ones that don't

[Rockstar]

Like depositing people in teen temperature weather on the street because you think your crippled ass should be President some day? Just like Jesus would do.

What’s your point? I’m not crippled and last I looked my arse wasn’t running for president and I don’t believe in Jesus but his moral teachings yes.

Migrants are routinely shipped out of state and logistics and contingency plans are already in place. It just so happened these migrants came to the U.S. during winter and it’s damn cold outside. Many if not all were scheduled to arrive in New York. Did it ever occur to you they stopped in D.C. because further North East the U.S. is suffering from the worst blizzard in over 50 years, white outs & icy road conditions? I bet that thought wasn’t even a blip on the RADAR was it? Oh hell no, Blue Anon headlines immediately make being dropped off “near” the Naval Observatory another political conspiracy theory. The typical Democrat response never fails. Oh how they love to thump their chests while proclaiming to care about all the migrants endangering their lives at the Texas border. But man do those same rich white Democrats pitch a fit when those colored foreigners come into their well to do neighborhoods.

Anyway I suppose if Jesus was the bus driver, rather than endangering the lives of his passengers by driving headlong into a blizzard. He would pull over to the side of the goddamn road and seek shelter.

With a 97 billion dollar budget surplus like California what would your Jesus do? Let me guess, pat himself on the back for building a dystopian winter wonder land for the rich white democrats while out of control homelessness and drug addicts run rampant? :roll:

[Kptlt. Neuerburg]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lncLOEqc9Rw
Warning, it's got a load of cuss words. If you got kids get them out of the room before you watch this.

[Buddahaid]

What’s your point? I’m not crippled and last I looked my arse wasn’t running for president and I don’t believe in Jesus but his moral teachings yes.

Migrants are routinely shipped out of state and logistics and contingency plans are already in place. It just so happened these migrants came to the U.S. during winter and it’s damn cold outside. Many if not all were scheduled to arrive in New York. Did it ever occur to you they stopped in D.C. because further North East the U.S. is suffering from the worst blizzard in over 50 years, white outs & icy road conditions? I bet that thought wasn’t even a blip on the RADAR was it? Oh hell no, Blue Anon headlines immediately make being dropped off “near” the Naval Observatory another political conspiracy theory. The typical Democrat response never fails. Oh how they love to thump their chests while proclaiming to care about all the migrants endangering their lives at the Texas border. But man do those same rich white Democrats pitch a fit when those colored foreigners come into their well to do neighborhoods.

Anyway I suppose if Jesus was the bus driver, rather than endangering the lives of his passengers by driving headlong into a blizzard. He would pull over to the side of the goddamn road and seek shelter.

With a 97 billion dollar budget surplus like California what would your Jesus do? Let me guess, pat himself on the back for building a dystopian winter wonder land for the rich white democrats while out of control homelessness and drug addicts run rampant? :roll:

So shall we start comparing Miami's problem with SF's? Drug problems in Florida?

[August]

"Kari Lake has lost her frivolous lawsuit in Maricopa County challenging the results of the 2022 Arizona governor’s race."

Lost on all counts and there will likely be sanctions as well. Again the MAGA side hires complete idiots for lawyers. :yep:

Guess Political Santa dropped you a lump of coal there Bud!

Maricopa judge refuses to sanction Kari Lake, saying claims weren't 'groundless'
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/maricopa-judge-sanction-lake

[Buddahaid]

Nope, it's the judges ruling, still, the plaintif's lawyers failed to provide any "clear and convincing" evidence for any of the allegations.

[August]

Nope, it's the judges ruling, still, the plaintif's lawyers failed to provide any "clear and convincing" evidence for any of the allegations.


But not frivolous or groundless. Maybe with some better lawyers like you suggest she would have prevailed.

[August]

So shall we start comparing Miami's problem with SF's? Drug problems in Florida?




I've been to both Miami and SF. Of the two Miami was a much nicer and cleaner place.

[Buddahaid]

But not frivolous or groundless. Maybe with some better lawyers like you suggest she would have prevailed.

Maybe but not very likely, by the way, why didn't she sit as a witness? She talks tough about people needing to stand up and risk charges, but not her apparently.

Every city has it's good and bad areas.

[Rockstar]

Earlier today I read the USCG nabbed some Cubans on the high seas trying to make it to the U.S. in inner tubes. They received the same warning if you are caught at sea attempting to illegally enter the U.S. you will be sent back PERIOD. Like the below DHS statement there was no mention of asylum requests or other extenuating circumstances . That surprised the hell out of me. Just get the hell out and don’t bother coming back.

Damn those mean uncaring Republican judges and their secret conservative agenda agreeing with the current Democrat executive branch & administration to keep Title 42 order in place.. :har:

Statement by the Department of Homeland Security on Supreme Court Title 42 Order
Release Date: December 27, 2022

https://www.dhs.gov/news/2022/12/27/statement-department-homeland-security-supreme-court-title-42-order

As required by today’s Supreme Court order, the Title 42 public health order will remain in effect and individuals who attempt to enter the United States unlawfully will continue to be expelled to Mexico or their home country.

People should not listen to the lies of smugglers who take advantage of vulnerable migrants, putting lives at risk. The border is not open, and we will continue to fully enforce our immigration laws.

We will continue to manage the border, but we do so within the constraints of a decades-old immigration system that everyone agrees is broken. We need Congress to pass the comprehensive immigration reform legislation President Biden proposed the day he took office.


Weird how in the statement the executive branch agency deflected responsibility by stating SCOTUS ‘required’ it.

[Rockstar]

Oh man this Sam Harris interview pretty much hits the nail on the head defining the mind and thought process of the brainwashed Blue Anon a.k.a the Democrat voter suffering from Trump derangement syndrome . It’s a long one so we’ll worth the time.

https://youtu.be/DDqtFS_Pvcs


In a nut shell

“I’m for censorship if it helps my side politically…I mean, I just can’t see a downside to thinking like this cuz I don’t read history and I’m super smarter than you”

https://youtu.be/NsSlobq8aoc

https://i.ibb.co/kGvdMWN/1856-ADA4-E939-4610-AEBF-DA3-E2-FEBE430.jpg

[Buddahaid]

Right.:roll: Trump and his circle are in really deep doodoo now, but fine, go ahead a label every democrat as brainwashed if it makes you feel better. It won't change the results at all.

EDIT: Clue. It's not just democrats that see Trump for the dangerous idiot he is. It's non-MAGA republicans, independents, and democrats that see through the charade of this charlatan who would be king.

Who is attacking power stations now? I don't know but I'd wager it's not democrats.

Who are these judges that are ruling against him? Many of them are republicans and some of them are his appointees! How far does one have to go to still believe?

[em2nought]

The only pretender is the one sitting on the throne as we speak. :D

https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1351847598500569089/iW45zz4x_400x400.jpg

[Buddahaid]

I'm pretty sure Biden will observe a peaceful transfer of power if he loses, unlike Trump, who still cries foul without any proven evidence despite about seventy lawsuits that have failed to substantiate any fraud, and current lawsuits, that will prove his efforts to retain power in conflict with the constitution.

[Buddahaid]

The only pretender is the one sitting on the throne as we speak. :D

https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1351847598500569089/iW45zz4x_400x400.jpg

What's the point of the Irish flag? Irish immigrants don't count as US citizens? What demographics qualify as US citizens in your perspective? Please explain your bigotry so us democrats can understand it?

[em2nought]

What's the point of the Irish flag? Irish immigrants don't count as US citizens? What demographics qualify as US citizens in your perspective? Please explain your bigotry so us democrats can understand it?

Relax Karen, it was the only linkable image that had Brandon wearing his stolen crown, it just happened to contain an Irish flag. I don't know, maybe Hunter has some deals with Lucky Charms too? Can you snort a marshmellow? :D

[Buddahaid]

Relax Karen, it was the only linkable image that had Brandon wearing his stolen crown, it just happened to contain an Irish flag. I don't know, maybe Hunter has some deals with Lucky Charms too? Can you snort a marshmellow? :D

No Karen here Ken. Let's sort it out six , or twelve, months from now.

[MaDef]

Right. Trump and his circle are in really deep doodoo now, but fine, go ahead a label every democrat as brainwashed if it makes you feel better. It won't change the results at all. Brainwashed lets democrats off the hook, braindead is a better adjective. :D

What's the point of the Irish flag? He is of Irish descent. And he claims although he is of Irish descent, he is not stupid (his words, not mine. in a speech given on 12/16/2022). While the first part of his statement can be verified, His claim to not being stupid gets 4 pinocchios.

[August]

Who is attacking power stations now? I don't know but I'd wager it's not democrats.


Funny I'd wager that it was Antifa or some other militant arm of the Democrat party.

[Buddahaid]

Brainwashed lets democrats off the hook, braindead is a better adjective. :D

He is of Irish descent. And he claims although he is of Irish descent, he is not stupid (his words, not mine. in a speech given on 12/16/2022). While the first part of his statement can be verified, His claim to not being stupid gets 4 pinocchios.

So the Irish flag in the photo is nothing more than a racist slur.

[Buddahaid]

Funny I'd wager that it was Antifa or some other militant arm of the Democrat party.

You would and I'll take that bet.

[MaDef]

So the Irish flag in the photo is nothing more than a racist slur.

This is what I mean by "brain dead". How exactly is a flag pin considered racist? And while we're on the subject..... You need to ask Biden why he felt the need to disparage Irish people in a town hall speech.

[Buddahaid]

This is what I mean by "brain dead". How exactly is a flag pin considered racist? And while we're on the subject..... You need to ask Biden why he felt the need to disparage Irish people in a town hall speech.

Since the pin was added to the image just like the crown it's meant for a reason. Any other brain dead remarks?

[Jimbuna]

I'll add a remark if I may....can we all refrain from personal attacks and petty insults.

[August]

So the Irish flag in the photo is nothing more than a racist slur.




What is so racist about it? Did not Biden claim to be Irish?

[Buddahaid]

Did Biden make the photo?

[August]

Did Biden make the photo?


So what? The tons of similar pictures of Trump weren't made by him either. I didn't see you get your knickers in a twist over those.

[Buddahaid]

So what? The tons of similar pictures of Trump weren't made by him either. I didn't see you get your knickers in a twist over those.

I can care less about the crown, and the joke, but I'm getting crap about the added Irish flag business so I want to know who made it and why they put the flag there. It's not there by accident but nevermind.

What's up with this Santos dude? I can't find a good reason for why he was running that makes any sense.

[em2nought]

You're getting crap about casually throwing out the one trick pony "racism" card against me on an image that happens to contain an Irish lapel pin. I had no problem living with the Scots for several years, so I'm sure I'd get along fine with the Irish too.

[Buddahaid]

You're getting crap about casually throwing out the one trick pony "racism" card against me on an image that happens to contain an Irish lapel pin. I had no problem living with the Scots for several years, so I'm sure I'd get along fine with the Irish too.

Whatever.

[Rockstar]

Human Rights First’s research, updated in a report issued earlier this month, has found over 13,480 reports of murder, torture, kidnapping, rape, and other violent attacks on migrants and asylum seekers blocked in or expelled to Mexico under Title 42 since President Biden took office.

What would democrat Jesus do? Shed a tear, run for office, and keep them out of democrat voter neighborhoods

[August]

I can care less about the crown, and the joke, but I'm getting crap about the added Irish flag business so I want to know who made it and why they put the flag there. It's not there by accident but nevermind.

What's up with this Santos dude? I can't find a good reason for why he was running that makes any sense.


Why he was running? To beat the evil lying Democrats of course! At least Santo's seems not to have plagiarized his campaign speeches like the present Liar in Chief.

[MaDef]

Why he was running? To beat the evil lying Democrats of course! At least Santo's seems not to have plagiarized his campaign speeches like the present Liar in Chief.
Santos cant open his mouth without lying (which makes him perfect for congress), He lies about his education, his employment, his monetary worth, his address, you name it, he's probably lied about it. He claims he is gay, but was married to a woman until 2019, and didn't "come out" publicly until this year. Taking into account all his other lies, fabrications, and exaggerations, I have to wonder if he is actually gay, or just claiming to be for convenience.

[August]

Santos cant open his mouth without lying (which makes him perfect for congress), He lies about his education, his employment, his monetary worth, his address, you name it, he's probably lied about it. He claims he is gay, but was married to a woman until 2019, and didn't "come out" publicly until this year. Taking into account all his other lies, fabrications, and exaggerations, I have to wonder if he is actually gay, or just claiming to be for convenience.


That nothing. Besides being a confirmed plagiarizer our POTUS has also claimed that he:


— Survived a fire
— Arrested in civil rights march
— Star football player
— Once a truck driver
— Arrested meeting Mandela
— Son killed in Iraq
— Overheard mass shooting
— Top of his class in college
— Hit a 368’ homer in baseball game
— Had job at timber co.
— Drunk driver killed his wife & daughter
— Pinned medal on a Navy captain who was just a kid
— No knowledge of Hunter's foreign business dealings
— Turned down offer from the Naval Academy
— His uncle won a Purple Heart
— His helicopter in Afghanistan “forced down”
— Met Parkland families as vice president
— Was once a coal miner
— Comes from a family of coal miners
— Was shot at in Iraq
— Called Milosevic a “war criminal” to his face
— Criticized George W. Bush to his face
— Participated in sit-ins during civil rights movement
— Oil industry somehow gave him cancer
— Won a fight against a drug dealer named Cornpop
— Dead Amtrak worker awarded him for riding 1.8 million miles
— Attended Temple services on a Sunday
— Raised in Puerto Rican community
— Worked as a college prof
— Hiked the Himalayas with ChiCom President Xi
— Received full-ride scholarship
— Graduated with three degrees
— His dad was an early gay marriage advocate
— Spoke to the inventor of insulin (despite not being born yet)
— Attended Delaware State Univ (an HBCU)
— Worked as lifeguard
— Not “the big guy”

[Buddahaid]

So you're OK with Santos as an good politician.

[August]

So you're OK with Santos as an good politician.



Haven't seen him in office yet.


So you're OK with Biden as a good politician?

[Buddahaid]

The subject was Santos and you start with the whataboutism.

[August]

The subject was Santos and you start with the whataboutism.

Sorry but it's a completely valid comparison. Your President has lied repeatedly throughout his career but apparently that does not matter to you. I maintain that your outrage in this case is mainly about the (R) after Santos name than anything he has said.

[Buddahaid]

Sorry but it's a completely valid comparison. Your President has lied repeatedly throughout his career but apparently that does not matter to you. I maintain that your outrage in this case is mainly about the (R) after Santos name than anything he has said.

What outrage are you talking about? Yours?

"What's up with this Santos dude? I can't find a good reason for why he was running that makes any sense."

[Rockstar]

Right.:roll: Trump and his circle are in really deep doodoo now, but fine, go ahead a label every democrat as brainwashed if it makes you feel better. It won't change the results at all.

After six years of accusations and people claiming to have evidence. What results are expecting?

EDIT: Clue. It's not just democrats that see Trump for the dangerous idiot he is. It's non-MAGA republicans, independents, and democrats that see through the charade of this charlatan who would be king.

That’s what the headlines are saying. :roll:

Who is attacking power stations now? I don't know but I'd wager it's not democrats. ????? Whoever it is needs to be apprehended and the hammer dropped. Why would you think what party card they carry or who they voted for matters?

Who are these judges that are ruling against him? Many of them are republicans and some of them are his appointees! How far does one have to go to still believe?

What are they ruling against and believe what?

[Buddahaid]

I'll bite.

1. I expect that Trump will find himself in jail possibly for the rest of his life. That is by no means certain but it's how I see it.

2. It's more than just headlines.

3. The judges are ruling against every one of Trumps lawsuits and motions. The belief that the election was stolen and that Trump did "nothing wrong". That all the lawsuits are just "witch hunts", that (sorry I'm sick right now and have low energy), pretty much every claim he makes on Truth Social.

[Rockstar]

I'll bite.

1. I expect that Trump will find himself in jail possibly for the rest of his life. That is by no means certain but it's how I see it.

So you never thought that after six years of headlines of accusations and claims of evidence from nameless "top officials" "insiders" and "low hanging fruit" that maybe you might have been fed a line of crap from the get-go? I reckon that's where you and I differ.

2. It's more than just headlines.

Care to elaborate, what charade are you talking about? Claiming to know what others think because some headlines told you that isn't much to go on IMO.

3. The judges are ruling against every one of Trumps lawsuits and motions. The belief that the election was stolen and that Trump did "nothing wrong". That all the lawsuits are just "witch hunts", that (sorry I'm sick right now and have low energy), pretty much every claim he makes on Truth Social.

I don't follow Trump or his truth social. But do believe Trump can make and file all the claims he wants, it's his right. His last claim was shot down by SCOTUS almost two, TWO! freaking years ago. Why is it even an issue today? Why is anyone still getting their panties in a bunch over what amounts today as a two year old nothing burger?

[Buddahaid]

Yes, lot's of time to work through the lrgal delaying tactics Trump uses, but time is up and he's up against a wall now. I look forward to next year so we can reassess.

We all have our opinions.

He can, and does, and he fails with his lawyers getting sanctioned in followup. It's an issue today because of the above mentioned delaying tactics have to get worked through which takes time. Time is up, enjoy.

[Rockstar]

OMG

Not 6 years ago, not two years ago, not this year. But next year huh? Any day now!

https://media2.giphy.com/media/3ohuP7ku84lJPfQsVi/giphy.gif

Let us know how the Blue Anon crusade goes

[Buddahaid]

Climb out of the rabbit hole you are living in and get current with the status of the lawsuits involving Trump et all. Don't ask me.

[Rockstar]

Climb out of the rabbit hole you are living in and get current with the status of the lawsuits involving Trump et all. Don't ask me.

Rabbit hole huh? :har:

[Buddahaid]

Exactly! :har::har:

[August]

https://i.imgur.com/iknFXeD.jpg

[Buddahaid]

Laugh now. Let's just wait a few months and see where this goes.:Kaleun_Salute:
http://d279m997dpfwgl.cloudfront.net/wp/2017/01/tvv.jpg

[em2nought]

I'm grinding up all those ping pong balls the Red Cross sent in case we have to hide him from youse guys in the water tower. :D

[Rockstar]

How the good person a.k.a. Blue Anon views others.

https://i.ibb.co/R0gvs6s/6247-F9-FE-BF5-B-4892-B72-E-9-D30-D28-A0815.jpg

[Catfish]

[...] "What's up with this Santos dude? I can't find a good reason for why he was running that makes any sense."
Power? Money? Being not Trump? :D

[Rockstar]

Laugh now. Let's just wait a few months and see where this goes.:Kaleun_Salute:
http://d279m997dpfwgl.cloudfront.net/wp/2017/01/tvv.jpg

What I’m trying to say is, it’s old news and nobody with a sane brain cares. This entire subject is only kept alive by Blue Anon and the Democrat party faithful who’ve put their reputations on the line having backed themselves into a corner by believing without any reservations all the accusations and claims of evidence that after six years has produced absolutely nothing.

The committee has washed their hands of the investigation the new congress is in session, it’s over.

[Rockstar]

Democrats idea of freedom, in their sick demented and dangerous minds destroying peoples lives is such a small price to pay. A democrats idea of how to win an election has nothing to do with allowing people to vote. I guess the next Democrat plan would be for competing candidates to start ‘accidentally’ falling out of windows.

https://i.ibb.co/L6bCL1p/F18-BF590-2673-4012-AD19-900-FBDA910-EE.jpg

[Dowly]

Fact check: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez did not tweet that governors should keep businesses closed to prevent Trump’s re-election

https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-factcheck-aoc-tweet-idUSKBN23V32A


Reuters could not find the alleged tweet in ProPublica’s “Politwoops” archive, which tracks deleted tweets by public officials (here (https://projects.propublica.org/politwoops/)). Deleted Tweets from Ocasio-Cortez can be found here (https://projects.propublica.org/politwoops/user/AOC) .

[Rockstar]

So they couldn’t find it, I guess that’s what happens when it gets deleted. Thanks for stopping by. :Kaleun_Cheers:

[Rockstar]

This is how things get deleted. :har:

https://youtu.be/Tn6sLmlPhvA

[Rockstar]

https://i.ibb.co/dD9RCMT/0-EC43-A23-D039-4048-9-F58-8-D15-E18-F8570.jpg

[Buddahaid]

"The committee has washed their hands of the investigation the new congress is in session, it’s over."

The Jan6 Committee's term has ended and the investigation is indeed over. They did not "wash their hands" of it, they published all of the under oath testimony and made criminal refferals. Expect Trump to be criminally indicted this year and face trial at least for obstruction of justice.

Unlike the quest to go after Hunter Biden and try to find a crime to pin on him, the Jan 6 Committee has a crime, the Capitol Riot, and investigated the causes.
I look forward to the new House's committees and I expect they will be an embarrassing failure.

[Rockstar]

"The committee has washed their hands of the investigation the new congress is in session, it’s over."

The Jan6 Committee's term has ended and the investigation is indeed over. They did not "wash their hands" of it, they published all of the under oath testimony and made criminal refferals. Expect Trump to be criminally indicted this year and face trial at least for obstruction of justice.

Unlike the quest to go after Hunter Biden and try to find a crime to pin on him, the Jan 6 Committee has a crime, the Capitol Riot, and investigated the causes.
I look forward to the new House's committees and I expect they will be an embarrassing failure.


Given the opportunity they would have generated more political hay and squeezed it for every drop they could get out of until next presidential election. But as it stands, they had no choice but to end it. Washing their hands of it means making it someone else's problem so it can be said any failure to act on it, whatever that is, it's not the committee's fault. BOONDOGGLE!

I don't look foward to any of it. I thought the Clinton impeachment was a political boondoggle just as much as this Jan 6th committee and any another 'committee'.

[mapuc]

One of my American friends on FB has got the full report(It looks like a very big book)

She's gonna read the this report.

What I ask myself is-Can she read it with an neutral mind ? I tell you she can't or couldn't stand his(Trump) guts.

Markus

[Rockstar]

One of my American friends on FB has got the full report(It looks like a very big book)

She's gonna read the this report.

What I ask myself is-Can she read it with an neutral mind ? I tell you she can't or couldn't stand his(Trump) guts.

Markus

FYI: https://www.govinfo.gov/collection/january-6th-committee-final-report?path=/GPO/January%206th%20Committee%20Final%20Report%20and%2 0Supporting%20Materials%20Collection

[Buddahaid]

Given the opportunity they would have generated more political hay and squeezed it for every drop they could get out of until next presidential election. But as it stands, they had no choice but to end it. Washing their hands of it means making it someone else's problem so it can be said any failure to act on it, whatever that is, it's not the committee's fault. BOONDOGGLE!

I don't look foward to any of it. I thought the Clinton impeachment was a political boondoggle just as much as this Jan 6th committee and any another 'committee'.

The committee was established with a fifteen month time limit and could not continue until the next election. What's your point about hand washing?

[Buddahaid]

The Electoral Count Reform Act has been signed by Biden and will prevent the fake electors scheme from ever being attempted again, and there are also improvements to the Presidential Transition Act so the new President Elect and the shadow cabinet get access to transitional records and resources unlike needing to sue for the materials as Biden had to do when Trump refused to cooperate like a three year old bully.

[MaDef]

The Electoral Count Reform Act has been signed by Biden and will prevent the fake electors scheme from ever being attempted again, and there are also improvements to the Presidential Transition Act so the new President Elect and the shadow cabinet get access to transitional records and resources unlike needing to sue for the materials as Biden had to do when Trump refused to cooperate like a three year old bully.

LOL. "they" had to sneak it into the 4,155 page, 1.7 trillion spending bill to do it. Kind of makes you wonder what other crap was snuck into that boondoggle of a legislation.

[Buddahaid]

LOL. "they" had to sneak it into the 4,155 page, 1.7 trillion spending bill to do it. Kind of makes you wonder what other crap was snuck into that boondoggle of a legislation.

Typical business as usual for Congress no matter who's in charge.

[Rockstar]

The committee was established with a fifteen month time limit and could not continue until the next election. What's your point about hand washing?

I’ll say it again, they throw it someone else’s lap and when nothing happens again. They can say don’t look at us we did our job allowing all the political drama & controversy continue.

[Buddahaid]

I’ll say it again, they throw it someone else’s lap and when nothing happens again. They can say don’t look at us we did our job allowing all the political drama & controversy continue.

The Committee never had any power to prosecute. Try again.

[Rockstar]

The Committee never had any power to prosecute. Try again.

Jesus Christ are you serious? Let me try it one more time. They washed their hands of the investigation when they threw it in the lap of the DOJ. And once more when absolutely nothing happens like all the last six years of accusations, committees, investigations and boondoggles before. Now all the party(s), committees, and true believers can say look we did our job but nobody listened too us so it’s not our fault. The controversy, political drama can continue divide, sell papers with headlines that will keep party fanbois giddy with pointless arguements for years to come. BOONDOGGLE


Get it?:k_confused:

[Buddahaid]

Don't bother, I don't believe you get it. There was no decision to stop being responsible for investigating as if they just grew tired of it. They had to stop because their time was up and it's not the same thing to me.

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/wash-hands-of

[Buddahaid]

Kevin McCarthy caves in to a motion to vacate in order to gain enough votes to become Speaker of the House. Something he swore he would never do but he's on shaky ground now. I expect he will win the vote and become the weakest Speaker of the House, possibly ever, as it will take only five votes of no confidence to remove his teeth.

[Rockstar]

Did you know the 1.7 billion dollar budget was signed and approved UNREAD. :har:

[Buddahaid]

It was bi-partisan. That excludes MAGA because thay are so far to the right they fell off the flat earth. :Kaleun_Wink:

[MaDef]

Did you know the 1.7 billion dollar budget was signed and approved UNREAD. :har:
Of Course, Rep Pelosi set that precedent back in 2009/2010 with the ACA.

[Rockstar]

It was bi-partisan. That excludes MAGA because thay are so far to the right they fell off the flat earth. :Kaleun_Wink:


So the gang came together and signed a 1.7 trillion dollar budget without reading it. Now their tooting their horn how they raised corporate taxes minimum 15%.

Nobody knows what’s in the budget or asking the important question like WHY taxes needed to be raised. We go deeper in debt every year and that burden is placed on us, not them. Ya but what about MAGA? :har:

[Buddahaid]

It's interesting to watch how Trumpism has fractured the GOP to such an extent they can't even pull together enough to elect a stong Speaker of the House. McCarthy's career is over.

[em2nought]

Does not a nagging little suspicion start to form at the base of your skull as otherwise seemingly healthy people topple over again and again? Might not the holiest of holy revered "science" shorten our life expectancy by twenty years or so? :hmmm: Guess that will take care of that social security problem.

[Rockstar]

Oh look Blue anon’s a.k.a. The Democrat voter's, a.k.a Build Back Better *extremist's darling witness for the prosecution goes to jail for fraud. Boy oh boy can they pick’em. Wasn't he one of the low hanging fruit they were depending on? Any day now, oops! :har::har::har::har:

* in keeping with the example democrats and our president set when he accused innocent citizens of the same thing.

https://www.irs.gov/compliance/criminal-investigation/lawyer-michael-avenatti-sentenced-to-14-years-in-federal-prison-for-stealing-millions-of-dollars-from-clients-and-tax-fraud

Date: December 5, 2022

Contact: newsroom@ci.irs.gov

Santa Ana, CA — Suspended plaintiffs' lawyer Michael John Avenatti was sentenced today to 168 months in federal prison for stealing millions of dollars from his clients – one of whom was a paraplegic with mental health issues – and for obstructing the IRS's efforts to collect more than $3 million in payroll taxes from an Avenatti-owned coffee business.

Avenatti, a former Newport Beach resident now in federal custody, was sentenced by United States District Judge James V. Selna, who said Avenatti "has done great evil for which he must answer."

In imposing the 14-year sentence, Judge Selna ordered that this term of imprisonment run consecutive to sentences totaling five years previously imposed in two federal cases in the Southern District of New York.

Judge Selna also ordered Avenatti to pay $10,810,709 in restitution to four clients and to the IRS.

Today's sentencing follows Avenatti's entry of guilty pleas on June 16 to four counts of wire fraud and one count of endeavoring to obstruct the administration of the Internal Revenue Code. He has been a federal prisoner since on February 7, soon after he was ordered to begin serving a sentence in one of the New York cases.

"Michael Avenatti was a corrupt lawyer who claimed he was fighting for the little guy. In fact, he only cared about his own selfish interests," said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. "He stole millions of dollars from his clients – all to finance his extravagant lifestyle that included a private jet and race cars. As a result of his illegal acts, he has lost his right to practice law in California, and now he will serve a richly deserved prison sentence."

"Michael Avenatti violated the trust placed in him by his clients. Instead of helping his clients receive the compensation that they were owed and needed, he pocketed the money, stealing from people who were already hurting. The money was used to fuel a lavish lifestyle that had no limits," stated Tyler Hatcher, the Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation's Los Angeles Field Office. "While today's sentencing concludes the government's case against Mr. Avenatti, the enormous damage left behind will be felt by his former clients for quite some time. It is our sincere hope that his victims will take some solace in the fact that he has been held accountable for his criminal actions."

The Wire Fraud Counts
Avenatti received money on behalf of clients into client trust accounts, misappropriated the money, and then lied to the clients about receiving the money or, in one case, claimed that the money had already been sent to the client. The four clients suffered actual losses totaling approximately $7.6 million.

"Although the details pertaining to each of the four clients underlying the charges in the indictment differ, the general pattern was the same," according to a sentencing memorandum filed by prosecutors. "[Avenatti] would lie about the true terms of the settlement agreement he had negotiated for the client, conceal the settlement payments that the counterparty had made, secretly take and spend the settlement proceeds that belonged to the client, and lull the client into not complaining or investigating further by providing small 'advances' on the supposedly yet-to-be paid funds."

According to court documents:

In the case of Geoffrey Johnson, Avenatti represented Johnson in a lawsuit against the County of Los Angeles that alleged, among other things, Johnson became a paraplegic as a result of the county violating his constitutional rights. The county paid a $4 million settlement in January 2015, but within months Avenatti had drained the entire settlement payment from his law firm's trust account and used portions of the settlement to finance his coffee business and pay personal expenses. Avenatti never told Johnson about the settlement agreement and terms, and he concealed from Johnson the receipt of the settlement payment from the county. Instead of giving Johnson his portion of the settlement, Avenatti gave Johnson periodic "advances" of no more than $1,900 and paid the rent for his assisted living facility to falsely reassure him that Avenatti was continuing to work on his behalf.
Alexis Gardner obtained a $3 million settlement in a matter, which included a payment of $2.75 million in early 2017. Avenatti never provided a copy of the settlement agreement to Gardner or told her the true terms of the settlement. Upon receipt of the settlement money, Avenatti took the bulk of this money – $2.5 million – and used it to purchase his portion of a jet, while falsely telling Gardner that the settlement called for monthly payments over eight years. Avenatti gave Gardner a small "advance" for rent and made approximately 12 monthly payments, totally approximately $227,500, making them appear to come from the individual who paid the settlement, but then Avenatti stopped paying Gardner.
Gregory Barela was to receive a $1.9 million settlement in an intellectual property dispute. Avenatti embezzled the first installment of $1.6 million in January 2018, in part by providing Barela with a bogus settlement agreement indicating that the payment was going to be made two months later. Avenatti used the money to pay expenses at his coffee business and to pay his own legal expenses.
Michelle Phan and Long Tran hired Avenatti to negotiate a "Common Stock Repurchase Agreement" for the sale of nearly $27.5 million worth of Phan's shares of ipsy, a company founded by Phan, and then another sale of approximately $8.15 million worth of Phan's shares. When the first payment was made, Avenatti took his fees for the overall $35 million sale and sent the balance to Phan. But when the second stock sale was finalized and the company sent nearly $8.15 million, all of which belonged to Phan, Avenatti kept $4 million for himself and used this money to pay some of his law firm's bankruptcy creditors, including the IRS; to provide funding for his various businesses; and to make lulling payments to Johnson, Gardner and Barela. When Phan and Tran demanded Phan's money, Avenatti falsely told them that the stolen $4 million already had been wired to them and provided them with a wire transfer confirmation document which actually documented the transfer of an earlier $4 million payment.
"[Avenatti's] scheme to defraud his clients was cruel – often reducing those clients to begging for needed funds and making them feel beholden to him when he 'advanced' or 'loaned' them funds that were, in fact, the clients' own money," prosecutors argued in the sentencing memorandum.

The Tax Count
Avenatti corruptly obstructed and impeded the IRS's efforts to collect more than $3.2 million in unpaid payroll taxes, which includes money that he withheld from the paychecks of employees of Global Baristas US LLC, the Avenatti-owned company that operated Tully's Coffee, and should have paid to the IRS but never did.

Avenatti obstructed the agency's efforts to collect the monies that his company owed by making false statements to an IRS revenue officer; directing employees to stop depositing cash receipts; and changing the company name, Employer Identification Number, and bank account information listed with his credit card processing company to avoid IRS levies.

In addition, prosecutors argued in support of allegations in an indictment that:

Avenatti failed to file individual tax returns or pay any personal income taxes for 2011 through 2017, even though he had a substantial income and lived lavishly.
He also failed to file partnership returns or pay taxes – including payroll taxes – for his now-defunct Newport Beach-based law firm Eagan Avenatti LLP, of which he was the managing partner, for 2013 through 2017, even though the law firm received many millions of dollars during those years.
Furthermore, Avenatti failed to file corporate tax returns or pay taxes for Avenatti & Associates, of which he was president, for 2011 through 2017, even though this entity also received substantial funds.
"[Avenatti's] tax fraud scheme was massive, resulting in losses to the federal treasury…and harming hundreds of his employees whose payroll taxes he stole," prosecutors noted in the sentencing memorandum.

IRS Criminal Investigation conducted the investigation in this matter. The Office of the United States Trustee provided assistance.

Assistant United States Attorneys Brett A. Sagel of the Santa Ana Branch Office and Ranee A. Katzenstein, Chief of the Major Frauds Section, prosecuted this case.

[Catfish]

So McCarthy did not pass the test, and Tim Jordan made it.

[Buddahaid]

So McCarthy done.

[August]

So McCarthy done.


Sorry to disappoint you but not yet.

[August]

So McCarthy did not pass the test, and Tim Jordan made it.



It's Jim Jordan and he has not made anything. The issue is still being decided.

[Buddahaid]

Sorry to disappoint you but not yet.
Keeps getting worse though.

[August]

Keeps getting worse though.




Yeah one vote changed to Jordan giving him 20 vs 200 for McCarthy.

[mapuc]

Taking a little detour from your interesting discussion and ask

The final report on the 6th of Jan. which one of you are going to read the entire report(845 pages) ?

I'm not gonna read a single word-It's an American/Domestic problem.

When you have answered my question you may return to your discussion

Markus

[Skybird]

A disgrace at least like it has not been seen for 100 years. All because of the orange dude and the genie he let out of the bottle. At least we get properly entertained. And the reputation of Republicans further damaged.

[Ostfriese]

A disgrace at least like it has not been seen for 100 years. All because of the orange dude and the genie he let out of the bottle. At least we get properly entertained. And the reputation of Republicans further damaged.


Do you think McCarthy will pull a "Heide Simonis" at some point? :D

[Skybird]

Do you think McCarthy will pull a "Heide Simonis" at some point? :D
He could even surpass it many times over! :haha:


Serious, he already is damaged anyway. So is the party. Not that there is much left that could still be damaged.

[MaDef]

Taking a little detour from your interesting discussion and ask

The final report on the 6th of Jan. which one of you are going to read the entire report(845 pages) ?

I'm not gonna read a single word-It's an American/Domestic problem.

When you have answered my question you may return to your discussion

Markus only in certain circles, most of us in flyover country belief Jan 6th was a one-off (a protest that got out of hand and turned into a small riot), not an insurrection as some proclaim to believe.

[Texas Red]

only in certain circles, most of us in flyover country belief Jan 6th was a one-off (a protest that got out of hand and turned into a small riot), not an insurrection as some proclaim to believe.

Okay then.

Jan. 6 was a riot instigated by Trump for the sole purpose of blocking the certification of the votes. He clearly wished to be back in power, and his supporters wished to reinstate him as well. Therefore, it is not much of a stretch to say that the riot was intended as an insurrection.

IIRC, Trump and his legal team had also worked on intimidating election officials into giving him the votes/points he needed (I believe this was established in the hearings over the summer).

[Rockstar]

Taking a little detour from your interesting discussion and ask

The final report on the 6th of Jan. which one of you are going to read the entire report(845 pages) ?

I'm not gonna read a single word-It's an American/Domestic problem.

When you have answered my question you may return to your discussion

Markus

It doesn’t matter if anyone reads it. The lines have been drawn, minds are already made up. Two people could read the same document and end up with three different opinions.

https://i.ibb.co/ZzgCDKb/D82-E0-A5-E-D165-4244-8-AD9-F7176-C6195-CE.jpg

:yep:

[Buddahaid]

Well who would have thought. Santos is wanted in Brazil for identity theft and fraud. :hmmm:

[Rockstar]

Well who would have thought. Santos is wanted in Brazil for identity theft and fraud. :hmmm:

I do believe we have an extradition agreement with Brasilia. We could ship him out if they press charges.


Not sure if it’s up to date

https://internationalextraditionblog.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/brazil1.pdf

[Buddahaid]

I do believe we have an extradition agreement with Brasilia. We could ship him out if they press charges.


Not sure if it’s up to date

https://internationalextraditionblog.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/brazil1.pdf

I believe Brazil has reopened the case, anyway, nothing will happen while he sits in Congress even if he's convicted.

[mapuc]

Following is copied and translated from a Danish newspaper


Tuesday's events in the House of Representatives were worthy a Hollywood movie.

Kevin McCarthy was hoping to rally Republicans and get enough votes to become speaker, now that the party has a majority. But it ended in farce.

In the first round McCarthy managed to get 203 votes, but needed 218. So for the first time in 100 years we had to go to a second round and finally a third round. But here again we failed, and the humiliation was total.

And it was the same 20 Republican politicians who stood in the way of Kevin McCarthy's dream. And that has created further internal division in the party.

In the wake of the failure, the Nebraska politician has said that the 20 Republican kamikaze pilots have been nicknamed the 'Taliban 20' because, according to him, they operate as terrorists within the party.

And that has prompted Matt Gaetz to react. He's one of those who couldn't bring himself to point to Kevin McCarthy.

The lack of a majority has left Kevin McCarthy with a big job, while the House of Representatives is de facto in hibernation without a speaker in charge of gathering majorities to pass federal legislation.

And that creates problems for both him and the legislature.

Getting tough
Former US Congressman Charlie Dent already said after the first vote that it will be hard for Kevin McCarthy to stand up.

- They can keep doing votes, but once they've been voted on this way, it's really hard to change the votes. So I don't see how he gets it changed," Dent told CNN.

Congress convened Tuesday for the first time since the midterm elections.

One of the first items on the agenda is to find a Speaker of the House. Only once that's done can the rest of the formal procedures move forward, CNN writes.

It has not happened since 1923 that a chairman candidate was not elected in the first round. Back then, nine votes were needed.

The House of Representatives convenes Wednesday to try again to elect a chairman.

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)


Markus

[Rockstar]

Keeps getting worse though.

Ya, I heard if McCarthy can’t find the votes he might yield the position to the My Pillow Guy for speaker of the house. :D

[Buddahaid]

Ya, I heard if McCarthy can’t find the votes he might yield the position to the My Pillow Guy for speaker of the house. :D

I’d pay to watch that.

[Subnuts]

For someone who claims to hate socialism, Kevin McCarthy really seems to enjoy being publicly owned.

[Skybird]

0 : 6 :D Someone is really greedy for power! Or does he just not want to have to cancel the painters again?

[Rockstar]

”Remove any and all content to include quotes, retweets and reactions to that content”.

BREAKING: Elon Musk Exposes Adam Schiff for Colluding With Twitter
By Collin RuggJanuary 3, 2023Updated:January 4, 2023

https://trendingpoliticsnews.com/breaking-elon-musk-exposes-adam-schiff-for-colluding-with-twitter/?utm_source=collin&utm_medium=twitter

The bombshell dropped continued to expose how government agencies were working closely with Twitter to censor and ban their opposition.

One revelation from Taibbi showed how Democratic Representative Adam Schiff used his influence to attempt to get investigative journalist Paul Sperry banned from Twitter.

Twitter was accepting requests “from all over: from Treasury, the NSA, virtually every state, the HHS, from the FBI and DHS, and more,” Taibbi explained.

“They also received an astonishing variety of requests from officials asking for individuals they didn’t like to be banned. Here, the office for Democrat and House Intel Committee chief Adam Schiff asks Twitter to ban journalist Paul Sperry,” Taibbi reported.

Although Schiff was unable to get Sperry immediately banned, the investigative journalist was later removed from the site.

Musk has narrowed his vision on Schiff as he continues to call out Washington politicians for their corrupt nature.

In late December, Musk absolutely destroyed Schiff by making fun of his small brain. Schiff and other Democrat politicians have been going after Musk in recent weeks however the billionaire is not having it.

The comment from Musk came in response to a tweet from Schiff which read: “Elon Musk calls himself a free speech absolutist, to justify turning a blind eye to hatred and bigotry on Twitter. But when journalists report unfavorable news, they are banned without warning. The devotion to free speech is apparently not that absolute. But the hypocrisy is.”

“Thankfully, you lose your chairmanship very soon,” Musk shot back while referring to Schiff’s position in the House Intelligence Committee. “Your brain is too small.”

On Tuesday, Musk also took a shot at Democrat Senator Elizabeth Warren after she took a shot at Tesla by writing a letter to Tesla’s board asking if investors have been “harmed” by Musk’s acquisition of Twitter.

“Elizabeth Warren has written a letter to Tesla’s board asking whether investors have been harmed by the billionaire tech mogul’s time running the social network, per NYT,” said Unusual Whales on Twitter.

Farzad Mesbahi reacted to the tweet from Unusual Whales, stating: “Elizabeth Warren is the last person I would ever want anywhere close to Tesla.”

Musk then replied to Mesbahi’s tweet by taking a direct shot at Warren.

“The United States has definitely been harmed by having her as a senator lol,” he tweeted.

Warren is threatening “significant legal questions” against Musk in relation to labor laws and corporate laws, accusing Musk of abusing power since his takeover of Twitter.

The question of abusing power is quite ironic considering Warren is a member of the political elite class in America.

“As you know, it is the legal obligation of Tesla’s board to ensure that its C.E.O. is meeting all his legal responsibilities and serving as an effective leader,” she said in the Sunday letter.

Back in November, Warren told CBS late night host Stephen Colbert that she is very upset about Musk’s acquisition of Twitter.

“I don’t think any billionaire ought to be the one who has that kind of power, to decide how Americans, how people around the world get a chance to talk to each other,” Warren said. “I got a real problem with him.”

“This deal is dangerous for our democracy. Billionaires like Elon Musk play by a different set of rules than everyone else, accumulating power for their own gain. We need a wealth tax and strong rules to hold Big Tech accountable,” she ironically said in a tweet.

https://i.ibb.co/zQJgJQM/ACD96-FDE-6-BB8-4-A8-F-B4-F7-BDAAE1-A3-C54-B.jpg
But it was Qanon, really! :har: And the Democrat voters all together said: “we believe”

House Intelligence Committee chair Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) pressured Twitter to censor the account of Paul Sperry, an investigative journalist who first published the name of the so-called impeachment “whistleblower.”

In September 2019, Schiff announced that his committee had reached an agreement with the “whistleblower,” who allegedly filed a complaint about President Donald Trump’s July 2019 phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, to testify in his inquiry, which became the impeachment investigation. But Schiff never produced the whistleblower and later claimed, falsely, that the whistleblower had a “right” to anonymity.


Schiff also lied about his contact with the “whistleblower,” first claiming that his committee had never spoken to the whistleblower, then admitting — after a New York Times report to the contrary — that they had done so.

Later, Sperry published an article at RealClearInvestigations identifying the “whistleblower” as a CIA analyst named Eric Ciaramella, who had worked at the Trump White House before returning to the CIA. Sperry also published other articles identifying links between Schiff’s committee and aides who had worked at the Trump White House and who had been “holdovers” from the Obama administration. The media and the tech industry suppressed the name of the whistleblower, and Schiff refused to allow Republicans to ask questions about the whistleblower during the impeachment investigation. Even Chief Justice John Roberts played along, censoring a question from Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) during the Senate impeachment trial about the whistleblower. On Tuesday, in the latest installment of the “Twitter files,” investigative journalist Matt Taibbi produced email evidence showing that Schiff’s office had asked Twitter, in writing, to censor Sperry after the November 2020 election, claiming (without evidence) that Sperry had spread “QAnon conspiracies” on the platform.

[Buddahaid]

From Gaetz yesterday. :har:
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img923/1508/keRJmM.png

[Dowly]

How about now?
No
How about now?
No
How about now?
No
How about now?
No
How about now?
No
How about now?
No

[Buddahaid]

The GOP has until Jan 13th to sort this out or they can't fund anything. The House can't function until there is a Speaker and they pass the rules per the Constitution Art. 1. No committees, no chairs, no bills.

The Speaker doesn't have to be a member of Congress so even Mike Lindell, or Trump God forbid, has a chance.

It's been 100 years since 1923 when it took nine ballots, and back in 1885 it was four months before there was a Speaker and Congress was effectively shut down.

The GOP is disfunctional and all it took was Trump to wreck it like he wrecks everything he touches.

[MaDef]

The GOP has until Jan 13th to sort this out or they can't fund anything. The House can't function until there is a Speaker and they pass the rules per the Constitution Art. 1. No committees, no chairs, no bills. From where I sit, that's a good thing.

[u crank]

The GOP is disfunctional and all it took was Trump to wreck it like he wrecks everything he touches.

But I thought Trump has endorsed McCarthy. And McCarthy has by far the largest number of votes for Speaker. Last vote he had 201 out of 222. Isn't Trump, like most GOP House members in the majority on this particular issue?

[Rockstar]

If not McCarthy, then who?

It seems to me this is show done for their benefit of getting elected. But since nobody cares how or why bills are passed or has a clue what they really do. Would it make any difference who the speaker is, what would change?

[Rockstar]

So republican rhetoric has always been for strong border control.. Since McCarthy is for them the topic of the day. 3 hours ago during a White House press brief Biden takes advantage and delivered his plans for “cracking down” on border control.

[Skybird]

0:8 :haha: The GOP is a true NGO now. :har:

[Subnuts]

On the upside...

Incredibly Productive House Of Representatives Assembles For 8th Vote In Just 3 Days (https://www.theonion.com/incredibly-productive-house-of-representatives-assemble-1849954415)

[u crank]

But since nobody cares how or why bills are passed or has a clue what they really do. Would it make any difference who the speaker is, what would change?

Be quiet. You are starting to make sense.



:D:D:D

[Skybird]

0:9


It has become ridiculous already longer time ago. Probably the whole system is. Its surreal, bizarre.

[Buddahaid]

Solved.
https://youtu.be/5m1CbzIMbeI

[u crank]

0:9

It has become ridiculous already longer time ago. Probably the whole system is. Its surreal, bizarre.

The only sure way that McCarthy can lose is to drop out. He will end up making all the concessions necessary to win. Like Rockstar said, who else is there?

[Buddahaid]

He can cut a deal with democrats as well.

[mapuc]

The only sure way that McCarthy can lose is to drop out. He will end up making all the concessions necessary to win. Like Rockstar said, who else is there?

One of my American friend wrote this some hours ago.

Omg I wish a grown-up would walk into the house of representatives going on the 8th vote and it's only the democrats that's are united constantly 212 votes for Jeffries, McCarthy still at 201 !!!!

Can the Dems do that-United on one of their own ?

Markus

[August]

He can cut a deal with democrats as well.

Not without loosing a majority of his solid Republican votes.

And what is the threshold for recalling a speaker currently? I seem to recall it's 50. Definitely attainable.

[Rockstar]

0:9


It has become ridiculous already longer time ago. Probably the whole system is. Its surreal, bizarre.

The House of Representatives is responsible for the election of the Speaker of the House. This is provided by the United States Constitution, as per Article I, Section 2. The Speaker of the House of Representatives are elected every subsequent time a new House is to convene for the first time.

It may be unusual that it didn’t happen on the first vote but certainly doesn’t make it bizarre. It’s a system that’s been in place for a few hundred years now. Speakers are voted in by their peers not appointed or assumed as if by magic. Even Pelosi’s nomination for speaker was at one time in question.

I’m sure there is plenty of wheelin’ and dealin’ and jockeying for position going on.

Drama

[mapuc]

As I understand it.

Dems vote only on their own candidate
GOP vote only on their own Candidate

Isn't there a person both side can put their vote on ?

Or is your politics divided by a 20 meter concrete wall ?

Markus

[u crank]

He can cut a deal with democrats as well.

You mean these Democrats?

https://thehill.com/homenews/house/3800812-democratic-leaders-urging-rank-and-file-to-remain-in-washington-to-vote-against-mccarthy/

[les green01]

biden once again call harris president again how many times has he done that and he wants to visit the border we better form a big arrow pointing to the border if not he ridable end up wandering the middle of kansas saying there a border around here somewhere

[Buddahaid]

You mean these Democrats?

https://thehill.com/homenews/house/3800812-democratic-leaders-urging-rank-and-file-to-remain-in-washington-to-vote-against-mccarthy/

Yeah, them. :up:

[Skybird]

The House of Representatives is responsible for the election of the Speaker of the House. This is provided by the United States Constitution, as per Article I, Section 2. The Speaker of the House of Representatives are elected every subsequent time a new House is to convene for the first time.

It may be unusual that it didn’t happen on the first vote but certainly doesn’t make it bizarre. It’s a system that’s been in place for a few hundred years now. Speakers are voted in by their peers not appointed or assumed as if by magic. Even Pelosi’s nomination for speaker was at one time in question.

I’m sure there is plenty of wheelin’ and dealin’ and jockeying for position going on.

Drama
Its outdated, like the whole election system is. all those holy rules may have made sense in the ciotnext fo the times they were created in, but the context has chnaged while the world and the times have changed. Its petrified ritual.

Read Gormenghast by Mervyn Peake, then you know where it leads: hollowed out ceremonies and petrified rituals.
(Fantastic and bizarr and humours and artistic gothic novel, btw, read it even if not interested in the political debate, it is not political at all. One of my books for the island list. Do not watch the films, they are terrible).

Add to it that the system already is being intentionalyl derailed and abused for powerpolitical opportunism.

No, its not holy, not everlasting. Nothing man-made ever is. Historic context is key.

[Buddahaid]

Its outdated, like the whole election system is. all those holy rules may have made sense in the ciotnext fo the times they were created in, but the context has chnaged while the world and the times have changed. Its petrified ritual.

Read Gormenghast by Mervyn Peake, then you know where it leads: hollowed out ceremonies and petrified rituals.
(Fantastic and bizarr and humours and artistic gothic novel, btw, read it even if not interested in the political debate, it is not political at all. One of my books for the island list. Do not watch the films, they are terrible).

Add to it that the system already is being intentionalyl derailed and abused for powerpolitical opportunism.

No, its not holy, not everlasting. Nothing man-made ever is. Historic context is key.

Maybe so but it's still working and preventing any one person from taking power.

[Rockstar]

As I understand it.

Dems vote only on their own candidate
GOP vote only on their own Candidate

Isn't there a person both side can put their vote on ?

Or is your politics divided by a 20 meter concrete wall ?

Markus

Nothing that I know of says the speaker of the house must be a current member of the House or affiliated with a political party. I suppose the possibilities are endless.

[August]

Nothing that I know of says the speaker of the house must be a current member of the House or affiliated with a political party. I suppose the possibilities are endless.




Can you think of anyone that would be acceptable to both parties? I can't.

[Rockstar]

Based on my very uninformed opinion. Everyone in the puzzle palace seems to appreciate the work The Clerk of the House; The Honorable Cheryl L. Johnson doing. She doesn't appear to take any crap from either party.

[Buddahaid]

Based on my very uninformed opinion. Everyone in the puzzle palace seems to appreciate the work The Clerk of the House; The Honorable Cheryl L. Johnson doing. She doesn't appear to take any crap from either party.

She used to teach Kindergarten. :hmmm:

[Rockstar]

She used to teach Kindergarten. :hmmm:

I know it will never happen. But I did read her bio, she's not stupid nor seem to be interested in trying to win a popularity contest and she has been fulfilling the role since Pelosi stepped down.

[Rockstar]

Either that we get more of this

https://i.ibb.co/3NffZSk/1-CAFA04-C-DEEF-4-EB2-A928-54-A8-A327-D6-E6.jpg

[Buddahaid]

:up::har::har:

[Buddahaid]

Does anyone have any idea what the Freedom Caucus wants? They can't get anywhere close to offering an alternative to McCarthy and yet they won't accept him so no speaker.

One view I've encountered is they are just jockeying for power in the vacuum left by Trump's departure leaving them with nobody to back, not having any policy to fall back on, and hoping to maneuver themselves into more senior roles come 2024.

[Ostfriese]

Does anyone have any idea what the Freedom Caucus wants? They can't get anywhere close to offering an alternative to McCarthy and yet they won't accept him so no speaker.


I don't think they have any idea about what they want themselves, and certainly not anything they agree on.
They oppose, they are against it because "being against something" is basically everything they are capable of. Producing chaos is much simpler than producing order.
If they wanted something productive, a true goal to achieve, they'd have to put thoughts and consideration into it, they'd have to convice others, and that would drive away the simple minds that voted for them.

[Buddahaid]

I don't think they have any idea about what they want themselves, and certainly not anything they agree on.
They oppose, they are against it because "being against something" is basically everything they are capable of. Producing chaos is much simpler than producing order.
If they wanted something productive, a true goal to achieve, they'd have to put thoughts and consideration into it, they'd have to convice others, and that would drive away the simple minds that voted for them.

In other words, the Freedom Caucus doesn't have any policy to offer.

[Ostfriese]

In other words, the Freedom Caucus doesn't have any policy to offer.


That's my impression, yes.

[u crank]

In other words, the Freedom Caucus doesn't have any policy to offer.

Does anyone have any idea what the Freedom Caucus wants?

I don't think they have any idea about what they want themselves, and certainly not anything they agree on.


It is remarkable that in this day and age people lack the ability to find out basic facts about anything.

Took me 30 seconds to find this via Google.

https://perry.house.gov/uploadedfiles/hfc_rules_reforms_proposal_7.25.2022.pdf

[Dowly]

"What have we become as a political party when 20 people can rule 200 others against their will. Certainly not conservative."
https://twitter.com/SenKevinCramer/status/1610775980582354945?cxt=HHwWgoC-9YqO0NosAAAA


Now, repeat that slowly in your head. :D

[u crank]

https://i.ibb.co/VvzD94X/shawn.jpg (https://ibb.co/SKM0yCq)

[Ostfriese]

It is remarkable that in this day and age people lack the ability to find out basic facts about anything.

Took me 30 seconds to find this via Google.

https://perry.house.gov/uploadedfiles/hfc_rules_reforms_proposal_7.25.2022.pdf


That would be an acceptable answer if yesterday hadn't happened. McCarthy basically conceded everything the Freedom Caucus demanded from him, and still they didn't vote for him.

[u crank]

That would be an acceptable answer if yesterday hadn't happened. McCarthy basically conceded everything the Freedom Caucus demanded from him, and still they didn't vote for him.

Hmm, here's a thought. Did it ever occur to you that they don't want Kevin McCarthy as speaker? And that their demands are a way of getting him to drop out of the race? It seems pretty obvious to me and considering the fact that they are on record saying just that seems to back up that idea.

[Ostfriese]

Hmm, here's a thought. Did it ever occur to you that they don't want Kevin McCarthy as speaker? And that their demands are a way of getting him to drop out of the race? It seems pretty obvious to me and considering the fact that they are on record saying just that seems to back up that idea.


Who do they want instead? If they had a clear idea about this they would have voted for the same person in every round, but they haven't. They oppose McCarthy for the sake of opposition.

In other words: there's a difference between "we don't want Kevin" and "we want XY, not Kevin".

[u crank]

Who do they want instead? If they had a clear idea about this they would have voted for the same person in every round, but they haven't. They oppose McCarthy for the sake of opposition.

In other words: there's a difference between "we don't want Kevin" and "we want XY, not Kevin".

You are right. As of now there isn't another viable candidate. What I wonder is if you realize why they don't want him? And it isn't just for the sake of opposition.

[Buddahaid]

It is remarkable that in this day and age people lack the ability to find out basic facts about anything.

Took me 30 seconds to find this via Google.

https://perry.house.gov/uploadedfiles/hfc_rules_reforms_proposal_7.25.2022.pdf

What you found is pretty meaningless babble that means they want their own sandbox to play in because they don’t play well with others. Karen philosophy and failure then.

[August]

What you found is pretty meaningless babble that means they want their own sandbox to play in because they don’t play well with others. Karen philosophy and failure then.

Meaningless babble? I found it quite readable and agree with several of it's points including it's rejection of omnibus spending bills and the lengthening of the review process.

Maybe you think that letting legislators actually read a bill (especially 1.7 trillion dollar ones) before they are required to vote on it is undemocratic or something?

[u crank]

What you found is pretty meaningless babble that means they want their own sandbox to play in because they don’t play well with others. Karen philosophy and failure then.

Jeebus. You and Ostfriese asked a rather simple question and then let it be known that you didn't know the answer. Were you being facetious? Hard to tell. So I gave you an answer. And you say it is meaningless babble.

Hint. Don't ask obvious questions if you don't want obvious answers.

[Ostfriese]

You are right. As of now there isn't another viable candidate. What I wonder is if you realize why they don't want him? And it isn't just for the sake of opposition.


I understand what they claim to be the reasons, but I consider these claims to be nothing more than smoke and mirrors. I'd believe them if they presented a true alternative direction, but as we have already established: this is not about offering alternatives, this is not about achieving certain goals. It's about causing chaos to gain attention.

[Ostfriese]

Jeebus. You and Ostfriese asked a rather simple question...


I didn't ask a question at all, but thanks anyway.

[mapuc]

I'm picturing a kindergarten where there's no teacher in the classroom.

Markus

[Rockstar]

Maybe so but it's still working and preventing any one person from taking power.

I think he may be projecting. Seems the new, bestest and improved not so democratic government of the European Union is involved in corruption on a massive scale, again.

https://www.politico.eu/article/wow-thats-not-democratic-robert-golob-slovenia-qatargate-eu-confidential/

[u crank]

I didn't ask a question at all, but thanks anyway.

My mistake.

I don't think they have any idea about what they want themselves, and certainly not anything they agree on.


You just stated that you don't think they know what they want. Turns out they do. I tried to tell you what they want.

You're welcome.

[August]

My mistake.



You just stated that you don't think they know what they want. Turns out they do. I tried to tell you what they want.

You're welcome.

I don't think those are all their demands though. I've heard about putting FC members on rules and appropriations committees and a chairmanship for Gaetz for example.

[Ostfriese]

You just stated that you don't think they know what they want. Turns out they do. I tried to tell you what they want.



You told me what they claim to want, I told you that I consider those claims to be smoke and mirrors, or, in other words, thinly veiled lies.

[Buddahaid]

I was thinking of what they want in this balloting not in general terms. Maybe there’s no difference but they don’t get to form another government within the current one because they don’t like the laws or the constitution for that matter.

[u crank]

You told me what they claim to want, I told you that I consider those claims to be smoke and mirrors, or, in other words, thinly veiled lies.

I am beginning to think that you didn't read the document.

Restore the Independence of Committees.

To balance the power between committees and party leaders so that Members can meaningfully participate in the legislative process on behalf of their constituents, committees need to reclaim independence and authority.

Instead of being selected based on loyalty towards and fundraising for party leadership, committee chairs should be elected by the members of their committee based on their qualifications and effectiveness.

Enforce Responsibility in Spending.

Restoring fiscal responsibility requires being responsible with spending decisions. House Republicans should prove we are the party of fiscal responsibility to reforming our party’s rules to incentivize the passage of appropriations bills on time without relying on continuing resolutions or omnibus bills.

End Secret Deals Behind Closed Doors.

House Rules require legislation be available for 72 hours before being considered on the floor. These commonsense, good government rules are easily waived, but it was previously considered a rare and significant departure from the norm.

In May 2020, Democrats gave themselves “same day authority” (also known as “martial law”) to get around these rules and force a vote on bills the same day they are introduced. Speaker Pelosi has kept this extraordinary power for over two years, using it to rush the passage of massive trillion-dollar spending deals so fast that no one can even read them.

Reset the House Rules.

Republicans need to undo the damage to the institution caused by Democrats. Wiping the slate clean by restoring the same House Rules as the 115th Congress as they existed before Speaker Pelosi took control in January 2019 is step one for the new Republican Majority.

Institute a Ban on Earmarks.

Earmarks .. extend Congress’s power of spending beyond items genuinely connected to the nation’s welfare. In practice, they are often used to buy votes and coerce support for bills that might otherwise not pass muster. Essentially, earmarks amount to taxpayer-financed bribery.


I'd be very curious to get your opinion on those specific points. Are they unreasonable demands to make on the people who are elected to serve the citizens of a democratic country? Please point out the smoke and mirrors and the thinly veiled lies.

[August]

Nation In Shock As Politicians Show Up To Work 4 Days In A Row


Politics (https://babylonbee.com/news/categories/politics) · Jan 6, 2023 · BabylonBee.com


WASHINGTON, D.C. — The nation is in shock today following reports of representatives in Congress showing up to work for the 4th day in a row. Sources in Washington say this may be a new record, as most members of the House are used to showing up maybe once or twice per month while spending most of their time drinking cocktails with lobbyists and talking to CNN. Medical personnel has been dispatched to the Capitol Building to tend to any elderly reps in attendance, who aren't used to working this hard, while experts warn many of them may not last through today's grueling 5-hour workday.
The House is expected to adjourn early today for the sake of any at-risk senior citizens.



https://babylonbee.com/news/nation-in-shock-as-politicians-show-up-to-work-4-days-in-a-row

[Rockstar]

Low income wage earners are in shock too.

In 2022, the IRS Went After the Very Poorest Taxpayers
Despite $80 billion in new funding, the agency is living up to its reputation of hassling low-income taxpayers over rich people.

https://reason.com/2023/01/06/in-2022-the-irs-went-after-the-very-poorest-taxpayers/

On Wednesday, Syracuse University's Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) released data provided to it by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) on audits performed by the agency in fiscal year 2022. Despite the infusion of new funding earmarked for the IRS via last year's Inflation Reduction Act, the agency continued historic trends of hassling primarily low-income taxpayers, with relatively few millionaires and billionaires getting caught up in the audit sweep.

"The taxpayer class with unbelievably high audit rates—five and a half times virtually everyone else—were low-income wage-earners taking the earned income tax credit," reported TRAC, noting that the poorest taxpayers are "easy marks in an era when IRS increasingly relies upon correspondence audits yet doesn't have the resources to assist taxpayers or answer their questions."

In fact, "if one ignores the fiction of auditing a millionaire through simply sending a letter through the mail, the odds that millionaires received a regular audit by a revenue agent (1.1%) was actually less than the audit rate of the targeted lowest income wage-earners whose audit rate was 1.27 percent!"

The Inflation Reduction Act, passed in August 2022, directed $80 billion worth of new funding over the next decade to the IRS so it could hire 87,000 new workers, purportedly to better target millionaire and billionaire scofflaws. The Biden administration and credulous journalists claimed that this would in no way increase audits for those making under $400,000 annually—suspect assurances not provided within the text of the actual bill. This increased capacity meant only those at the top would be targeted, supporters insisted. But this ignores how the IRS's incentives work and how agencywide reform might be too heavy of a lift.

Correspondence audits—which are conducted via mail, and are the type frequently used when interacting with the poorest of taxpayers—are much easier and cheaper to conduct than other types of audits. Plus, the earned income tax credit is easy to get wrong. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that new hires with experience in the field will take almost three years of ramp-up time, with more junior new hires taking longer. The lag time between 2022's infusion of funding, and legitimately increased capacity, will be enormous—if the agency can even snag the best in the industry when TurboTax and H&R Block will surely be swelling their own ranks. It makes sense that, given a dearth of experienced auditors not likely to be fixed soon, the agency would rely on the easiest and least time-consuming types of audits.

But be suspicious of the idea that an infusion of cash will solve longstanding problems within the IRS. This is, after all, the agency that sent $1.1 billion in child welfare payments to the wrong people over the course of merely five months during the pandemic. It's the agency that was hacked back in 2015, resulting in the personal information of more than 700,000 taxpayers being compromised. It's the agency that has been foolishly going after Americans who hold $10,000 or more in a foreign bank since 2010, never mind the fact that many of them are middle-class expats, not folks with yachts in the Mediterranean. And it's the (leaky) agency that enabled the richest Americans' intimate financial information to be thumbed through by ProPublica readers. It will take more than a little cash to fix all this, and, as the IRS's competence and tenacity increase, so too will the tenacity of the vast infrastructure of accountants and lawyers hired by the rich to creatively minimize their tax burdens.

Though some libertarians may argue such an agency ought not to exist in the first place and cheer its relative ineptitude at going after the well-to-do, it's decidedly absurd that the agency taxpayers just fed $80 billion to has, for another year, continued its assault on the poor.

[August]

It was an "Accident" they say but, C'mon Man!



Jan. 6 committee documents share Social Security numbers of 2,000 Trump officials and allies
by Brady Knox, Breaking News Reporter (https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/author/brady-knox) | [/URL]

January 06, 2023 04:08 PM



Documents released by the [URL="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/january-6-commission"]Jan. 6 committee (https://apps.washingtonexaminer.com/forms/contact-author/?url=%2Fauthor%2Fbrady-knox) shared the Social Security numbers of nearly 2,000 Trump (https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/trump) allies and officials.
The leak is believed to have been an accident, and the data have since been removed, the Washington Post reported (https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/01/06/social-security-numbers-jan-6-committee-documents/). The Social Security numbers were listed in the White House guest book, which was included in the Jan. 6 committee's final report. The Social Security numbers of visitors were listed next to their names and were supposed to have been redacted in the version released to the public.

At least three members of former President Donald Trump's Cabinet were affected by the leak, along with other big names such as Govs. Kristi Noem of North Dakota, Greg Abbott of Texas, and Henry McMaster of South Carolina and former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson (https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/ben-carson). “Whether it was a careless and sloppy handling of records or a deliberate disregard of decorum, either scenario is a perfunctory and callous display of government and a frightening reminder of the current state in Washington,” Carson told the Washington Post. “President Reagan was a savant indeed — the nine most frightening words to hear are, ‘I am from the government and here to help.’”
Those affected apparently weren't notified of the leak.
“To my knowledge, we were not notified. The governor was not notified,” Noem spokesman Ian Fury told the outlet.
The major breach in privacy, presenting a gold mine for hostile intelligence agencies and identity thieves, leaves open the question as to how an apparently prestigious government committee could have allowed for such a massive error.
A former Jan. 6 committee aide said, “Records released publicly underwent a review process to redact personal details and other sensitive information ... Any release of such information was inadvertent.”
The Government Publishing Office originally published the material, but the National Archives appeared to blame the leak on the Jan. 6 committee itself.


https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/jan-6-committee-social-security-numbers

[em2nought]

https://babylonbee.com/news/nation-in-shock-as-politicians-show-up-to-work-4-days-in-a-row

Once again the bee trying to tell a joke, but it's so close to truth that it's no joke. :D

[Rockstar]

SPITE

1. Malicious ill will prompting an urge to hurt or humiliate another person.
2. Injury; mischief; shame; disgrace; dishonor.
3. A disposition to thwart and disappoint the wishes of another; ill-will;
4. malevolence; malice; grudge; rancor.

[August]

Once again the bee trying to tell a joke, but it's so close to truth that it's no joke. :D


The best satire is difficult to discern from reality. It's why smart guys like Jim and myself are fooled from time to time when we read the article before reading the website name. :)

[Buddahaid]

McCarthy is now Speaker on the 16th vote. I want to know about the concessions.

Now the circus moves to the second tent.

[August]

McCarthy is now Speaker on the 16th vote. I want to know about the concessions.

Now the circus moves to the second tent.


The better tent.

[Buddahaid]

The better tent.

Did you mean bitter tent?:Kaleun_Wink:

I can't wait for the committee to investigate Hunter Biden in the hope of finding a crime. It should make for some good comedy.

[Buddahaid]

Why am I losing badges? My best of is now gone and a spam hunter disappeared. I must be on Santa's naughty list.

Oops best of is back now. I need to clear my browser.

[MaDef]

Did you mean bitter tent?:Kaleun_Wink:

I can't wait for the committee to investigate Hunter Biden in the hope of finding a crime. It should make for some good comedy.

It is a crime to lie on the 4437 form when purchasing a gun.

It is a Felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison as per the Brady Act of 1993.

[August]

Did you mean bitter tent?:Kaleun_Wink:
I can't wait for the committee to investigate Hunter Biden in the hope of finding a crime. It should make for some good comedy.


Yeah. Aside from the slam dunk gun charge on junior maybe we can impeach the big guy for racketeering.

[Buddahaid]

It is a crime to lie on the 4437 form when purchasing a gun.

It is a Felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison as per the Brady Act of 1993.

I thought the big crime involved Ukraine. I expect that crime you suggested would take the guns away from a huge amount of people and I'm surprised you even care.

[Buddahaid]

Yeah. Aside from the slam dunk gun charge on junior maybe we can impeach the big guy for racketeering.

So there is no crime being investigated. Just people you don't like getting investigated in the hope of finding a crime. Sounds like some banana republic dictatorship tactic.

[les green01]

It is a crime to lie on the 4437 form when purchasing a gun.

It is a Felony, punishable by up to 10 years in prison as per the Brady Act of 1993.

and dont forget they dump the gun in a grocery store dumpster right across from a high school

[les green01]

I thought the big crime involved Ukraine. I expect that crime you suggested would take the guns away from a huge amount of people and I'm surprised you even care.

most don't lie on the form most criminals get them though illegal means and most legal gun owners like me care and consider the gun was dump in a dumpster right across from a high school maybe you should care too and i really hope you do

[Skybird]

Concessions and their costs:

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-64194129


This play will still cause great problems for the USA. It was not the first act, certainly not the whole play, but only the prelude. The Republican party has de facto become a group that has disintegrated into two parts, one of which can only be described as a sect - and this sect is leaving its mark on the rest. Even Trump himself is no more than a figurehead, who no longer owns the party, but just happens to be mounted at the bow of the ship, looking at the direction the helmsman is pointing the ship at. The revolution eats its children. Welcome to the post-Trumpian era. Thins will beocme worse.
And I predicted already years ago that they would get worse even when Trump one day would be gone. His effect outlasts his presence, and irreversibly. The sect no longer depends on its founding messiah. Its time for him to go to heaven. The transfiguration serves his successor's agendas only, no longer himself.

[Buddahaid]

Cool. I look forward to Congress getting nothing done and destroying the economy in the process.

[MaDef]

I thought the big crime involved Ukraine. I expect that crime you suggested would take the guns away from a huge amount of people and I'm surprised you even care.
I'm Not going of on a tangent, but it's guys like this that are one of the reasons I have to jump through hoops to exercise my 2nd amendment right. More specifically, He has broken the law twice where there is no ambiguity over whether he broke the law or not. (1), illegal drug use/possession (video evidence). (2), possession of a firearm by a prohibited person (form 3347 along with aforementioned video). So this begs the question, what other laws has H. Biden broken and lied about, because his actions and correspondence indicate there are more laws he has broken.

[Rockstar]

Here Are The Concessions McCarthy Had To Make For Speakership

Tyler Durden's Photo
BY TYLER DURDEN
SATURDAY, JAN 07, 2023 - 11:00 AM

After four grueling days and 15 votes, Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) is finally Speaker of the House - but not without having made a pile of concessions to a group of hard-line Republicans who think he'll be too accommodating to uniparty interests.

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/here-are-concessions-mccarthy-had-make-speakership

The last vote came after a dramatic scene, where during the 14th vote Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) threw a wrench in the gears - voting 'present,' which left McCarthy just one vote short of victory.

During the final, 15th ballot, enough holdouts voted 'present' to bring the total required number of votes low enough for McCarthy to finally win around midnight.

Here's what McCarthy had to give up for the votes, according to The Epoch Times' Roger L. Simon, who interviewed first-year Congressman Andrew Ogles (R-TN), who has yet to be sworn in;

I spoke with Ogles by phone the night of Jan. 6, 2023, before the roll call vote during which, it was said, two of the remaining rejectionists who couldn’t accept McCarthy personally would absent themselves so that the magic number would be lowered and the new Speaker could go over the top.

Apropos, Ogles informed me that what many had guessed was true. His absence from voting in a previous round was also planned. He waited to see that all was going according to plan before stepping forward to flip his vote to McCarthy after the initial round.



For Ogles, the basis of all the negotiations was to establish the rules of the game in Congress that had been altered over the years beyond recognition. As he pointed out, the rules of a game almost always determine the winner.

He shared with me a list of some of what has been roughly negotiated to date. The devil, as always, is in the details.

As has been reported, it will only take a single congressperson, acting in what is known as a Jeffersonian Motion, to move to remove the Speaker if he or she goes back on their word or policy agenda.

A “Church” style committee will be convened to look into the weaponization of the FBI and other government organizations (presumably the CIA, the subject of the original Church Committee) against the American people.

Term limits will be put up for a vote.

Bills presented to Congress will be single subject, not omnibus with all the attendant earmarks, and there will be a 72-hour minimum period to read them.

The Texas Border Plan will be put before Congress. From The Hill: “The four-pronged plan aims to ‘Complete Physical Border Infrastructure,’ ‘Fix Border Enforcement Policies,’ ‘Enforce our Laws in the Interior’ and ‘Target Cartels & Criminal Organizations.'”

COVID mandates will be ended as will all funding for them, including so-called “emergency funding.”

Budget bills would stop the endless increases in the debt ceiling and hold the Senate accountable for the same.

* * *

In response to the outcome, Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO), one of the holdouts, said in a statement that the anti-McCarthy Reps. "changed the way the government will be funded," and "changed the way committees will be formed."

"We secured votes on term limits, the fair tax, the Texas Border Plan, and so much more."

Bobert goes on to slam President Biden for calling the speakership process 'embarrassing for Republicans.

"How sad is it that us governing as the founders intended looks embarrassing to Democrats?" Bobert asked, adding "I'll tell you what's embarrassing. 40-year high inflation is embarrassing. 5 million illegals crossing our southern border is embarrassing/ Surrendering to ISIS and fleeing Afghanistan is embarrassing. Having a president that cant' finish his sentences is embarrassing."

It’s safe to say that we believe there ought to be specific, concrete limits on spending attached to a debt ceiling increase," said Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) on Thursday.

"There will be no clean debt ceiling increase, that’s for sure," said Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA), another anti-McCarthy lawmaker who was convinced to switch his vote due to the concessions.


Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA)
No word from Ogles on committee assignments or agreements, however there are discussions on positions for members of the Freedom Caucus.

Also no word on whether the House will hold a different kind of Jan. 6 investigation, unless it's going to be part of the new "Church" committee.

Meanwhile, The Hill notes that chairmanships on subcommittees are still going to need to be earned.

Another major concern for centrist Republicans throughout the week’s marathon negotiations was the conservatives’ push to win more subcommittee gavels for themselves — an idea that infuriated those already in line for those seats.

Bacon had called it “a non-starter,” particularly among the more moderate Republicans who have worked their way up the ladder into those seats.

“If you’re talking about chairmanships and things like that, they’re gonna have to still earn it,” Bacon said. “I call it affirmative action for [the] smallest of the caucuses to put them in leadership roles when they’ve not earned it. We believe in a merit-based system on the GOP side.”

Rep. Ann Wagner (R-Mo.), who has served in the House since 2013, also highlighted the “seniority process” for chairmanships.

“Everybody has to work their way through the seniority process and earn positions on both committees and gavels and things of that nature,” she said. -The Hill

"These concessions have been agreed to by our conference, and ultimately I believe it’s going to lead to a more people-driven legislative process," said Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA). "It’s about restoring more power and decision making to the members."

Democrat Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland says McCarthy gave up too much.

"I think he gave away much more than I wish he’d given," he said, adding "I think it does give to a small, willful faction of his caucus, a negative faction of his caucus, a faction of his caucus that has been almost uniformly obstructionist, more authority than they ought to have."

[Buddahaid]

Did Bobert just forget it was her favorite President that negotiated the Afganistan withdrawel? "...Surrendering to ISIS and fleeing Afghanistan is embarrassing....."

I give McCarthy a week.

[Rockstar]

Did Bobert just forget it was her favorite President that negotiated the Afganistan withdrawel? "...Surrendering to ISIS and fleeing Afghanistan is embarrassing....."

I give McCarthy a week.

Might help if you offer the difference (yes there was a difference, or so said Chris Miller) between what was negotiated by the Trump admin and what Biden did with it.

https://www.defenseone.com/policy/2021/08/trumps-pledge-exit-afghanistan-was-ruse-his-final-secdef-says/184660/

Btw, your predictions have been wrong since 20 January 2017. :haha:

[Buddahaid]

Might help if you offer the difference (yes there was a difference, or so said Chris Miller) between what was negotiated by the Trump admin and what Biden did with it.

https://www.defenseone.com/policy/2021/08/trumps-pledge-exit-afghanistan-was-ruse-his-final-secdef-says/184660/

Btw, your predictions have been wrong since 20 January 2017. :haha:

I didn't know you cared. :O:

[August]

This play will still cause great problems for the USA. It was not the first act, certainly not the whole play, but only the prelude. The Republican party has de facto become a group that has disintegrated into two parts, one of which can only be described as a sect - and this sect is leaving its mark on the rest. Even Trump himself is no more than a figurehead, who no longer owns the party, but just happens to be mounted at the bow of the ship, looking at the direction the helmsman is pointing the ship at. The revolution eats its children. Welcome to the post-Trumpian era. Thins will beocme worse.
And I predicted already years ago that they would get worse even when Trump one day would be gone. His effect outlasts his presence, and irreversibly. The sect no longer depends on its founding messiah. Its time for him to go to heaven. The transfiguration serves his successor's agendas only, no longer himself.


So your whole argument is the Republcians are evil, because you say so. Not one example, not one fact, just word salad and hate filled wishful thinking. Don't you ever get tired of being wrong?

[Buddahaid]

So your whole argument is the Republcians are evil, because you say so. Not one example, not one fact, just word salad and hate filled wishful thinking. Don't you ever get tired of being wrong?

Most of them aren't just like Democrats, some of them are just like Democrats, but it's the extreme right faction currently holding the House hostage that I count among the evil. I don't find anything about them patriotic.

[les green01]

Did Bobert just forget it was her favorite President that negotiated the Afganistan withdrawel? "...Surrendering to ISIS and fleeing Afghanistan is embarrassing....."

I give McCarthy a week.

only people that can owned it is the bonehead and democrats they were in office when it took place they had months to come up with a plan and execute it instead they f it up and 11 of my brothers and sisters paid the price then he meets them at the airport and what does he do look at his watch not once but twice everything he and them touch they f it up for a man that said the buck stops here he tries and blame everyone else

[Buddahaid]

only people that can owned it is the bonehead and democrats they were in office when it took place they had months to come up with a plan and execute it instead they f it up and 11 of my brothers and sisters paid the price then he meets them at the airport and what does he do look at his watch not once but twice everything he and them touch they f it up for a man that said the buck stops here he tries and blame everyone else

Your opinion, but it was Trump that fumbled first by setting a hard date for it and thereby giving away a position of power, while at the same time refusing to hand over transitional materials of the presidency forcing the Biden administration to play catch up.

[August]

Your opinion, but it was Trump that fumbled first by setting a hard date for it and thereby giving away a position of power, while at the same time refusing to hand over transitional materials of the presidency forcing the Biden administration to play catch up.


Your opinion as well but I feel that your premise fails for two big reasons.

First, the transitional materials argument becomes invalid way back in mid January. There was plenty of time after he took office to absorb whatever they may have contained.

Second, the so called "hard date" was May 1st but Biden was able to and did extend it to the end of August. Not that hard of a date apparently.

Biden delayed the May 1 withdrawal date that he inherited. But ultimately his administration pushed ahead with a plan to withdraw by Aug. 31, despite obvious signs that the Taliban wasn’t complying with the agreement and had a stated goal to create an “Islamic government” in Afghanistan after the U.S. left, even if it meant it had to “continue our war to achieve our goal.”
https://www.factcheck.org/2021/08/timeline-of-u-s-withdrawal-from-afghanistan/

Bottom line is that Biden and Co had plenty of time to examine Trumps plan and they had the ability to modify it and (did) delay it's implementation. Blaming Trump for their incompetence just doesn't cut it.

[Rockstar]

Yes, dates were set and dates were changed but according to then acting SECDEF there was never any intention to completely abandon Afghanistan. Biden took office and he did what nobody expected, he abruptly and completely abandoned Afghanistan. Which may also explain how the massive stockpile of military hardware was left to the Taliban. Democrats left weapons and ammo to religious extremists. Democrats lied people die.

Miller said the president’s public promise to finish withdrawing U.S. forces by May 1, as negotiated with the Taliban, was actually a “play” that masked the Trump administration’s true intentions: to convince Afghan President Ashraf Ghani to quit or accept a bitter power-sharing agreement with the Taliban, and to keep some U.S. troops in Afghanistan for counterrorism missions.

Keep in mind, we've also been told we pulled out of Iraq and Syria too. Yet we still have troops in those areas for the exact same reasons Miller stated they wanted some to remain in Afghanistan.

[August]

It was such an obvious outcome that you have to wonder why they allowed it happen. Maybe they figured Trump would get the blame?

On another note it seems that Mr. Biden keeps unauthorized classified documents too. They just found a bunch of secret files that he'd kept from his VP days stored in some office filing cabinet.

...classified documents discovered at the Penn Biden Center which were taken by now President Biden after his time as vice president, nearly six years ago.https://www.foxnews.com/politics/mccarthy-reacts-classified-documents-discovered-from-bidens-time-vp-dems-overplayed-hand

[Rockstar]

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., says Democrats "overplayed their hand" in the handling of the classified documents found at Mar-a-Lago in light of new revelations of classified documents discovered at the Penn Biden Center, which were taken by now-President Joe Biden after his time as vice president nearly six years ago.


Unfortunately, the Blue Anon conspiracy theorists a.k.a. the Democrat voter and certain Euros haven't figured it out yet. But once they do, they're gonna need therapy after six very long years of placing their whole being into the belief of all the accusations, conspiracy theories & drama. :D

[Buddahaid]

It was such an obvious outcome that you have to wonder why they allowed it happen. Maybe they figured Trump would get the blame?

On another note it seems that Mr. Biden keeps unauthorized classified documents too. They just found a bunch of secret files that he'd kept from his VP days stored in some office filing cabinet.

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/mccarthy-reacts-classified-documents-discovered-from-bidens-time-vp-dems-overplayed-hand


Looks like they turned them in when they were found so no need for a search warrant, and besides, the trouble Trump is in over documents at his compound is outside of whether they are classified, or not, and always has been.

Oh look, the first item the new House goes after is the Ethics Committee. :haha:

[August]

Looks like they turned them in when they were found so no need for a search warrant, and besides, the trouble Trump is in over documents at his compound is outside of whether they are classified, or not, and always has been.

What? :doh: There's some double-speak right there. You yourself have claimed otherwise right here in this forum. As for their claim that they just found them one would have to take that with enough salt grains to drive up ones blood pressure. It still doesn't get by the fact that classified material was improperly stored and not returned like it was supposed to be. This stuff is at least, what 6 years old? Assuming it wasn't deliberate if this is an example of how The Big Guy handles classified documents then maybe the FBI and armed agents of the National Archives should toss his Delaware compound and see what else he has stashed away.

Oh look, the first item the new House goes after is the Ethics Committee. :haha:Oooh "go after" sounds so terrible! What did the Evil Republicans corner the committee in a dark corner somewhere and beat them up for their lunch money or something? Tell us where the bad GoP man touched you... :)

Actually the first item was rolling back that $70 billion for the new division of IRS agents the Democrats want to use to "go after" the American people.

[ET2SN]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-N294x4NEZw






:har:

[Rockstar]

Looks like they turned them in when they were found so no need for a search warrant, and besides, the trouble Trump is in over documents at his compound is outside of whether they are classified, or not, and always has been.

Oh look, the first item the new House goes after is the Ethics Committee. :haha:

After six or more years of laying around in the office and they were just found it? Makes me wonder how many times his crackhead son and his friends had access to that classified material. :hmmm:

At least NARA knew exactly what documents Trump had and knew exactly where they were secured at the Mar-Largo compound. The legal arguments over the documents between Trump lawyers and Government lawyers was no secret. Trump wanted to maintain ownership but the government won and said they belong to NARA. Trump complied, a lawyer was present when the safe was opened and read the search warrant issued. Search warrants proves neither guilt or innocence but protects the citizen’s right to privacy by defining what exactly those collecting the documents may look for and retrieve. I don’t doubt it was one of Trump's lawyers that demanded a search warrant be provided to prevent the FBI from ransacking the entire property.


The Trump documents event was just another example of Democrats chasing unicorns again. Another boondoggle tailor made for the Blue anon a.k.a. Democrat voter conspiracy theory true believers . You keep believing, the low hanging fruit will turn on Trump, Schiff will release all the evidence he has, any day now. :har:

https://i.ibb.co/35X7WRR/DA5-F87-F8-9905-448-B-8-CF9-023-CB3803626.jpg

[August]

After six or more years of laying around in the office and they were just found it? Makes me wonder how many times his crackhead son and his friends had access to that classified material. :hmmm:


And now an update to the story:

Actually Biden only rented the (non-government) office from 2017 to 2020 which means that far from being misplaced and forgotten leftovers from his Vice Presidency these documents (now reported to be intelligence reports on The UK, Iran and Ukraine) were physically moved to that location and stored long AFTER Biden had left office.

What was a former VP doing with "compartmentalized" classified intelligence reports at a Washington Think Tank?
How did he obtain them, and who authorized their release to him?
Why was their discovery concealed until after the the recent election?

The answers should be interesting. :hmmm:

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/white-house/classified-biden-docs-featured-material-iran-ukraine-uk

[Rockstar]

Article Open Access

Published: 09 January 2023

Exposure to the Russian Internet Research Agency foreign influence campaign on Twitter in the 2016 US election and its relationship to attitudes and voting behavior

Gregory Eady, Tom Paskhalis, Jan Zilinsky, Richard Bonneau, Jonathan Nagler & Joshua A. Tucker

Nature Communications 14, Article number: 62 (2023) Cite this article


https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-35576-9

Russiagate was - and is - one of the most deranged and unhinged Blue Anon a.k.a. Democrat voter a.k.a. The countries single largest group of conspiracy theorists in modern times. It wasn't spread by QAnon or 4Chan users but the vast majority of media corporations, "scholars," think tank frauds, so called fact checkers and NYT/NBC's "disinformation units":

Too bad that it took six years to publish this data. Think how many Democrats and Euros we could have saved from embarrassing themselves from chasing all those imaginary unicorns. Unfortunetly I fear many still lie awake every night hoping Schiff will finally release the evidence, any day now.:har:

I said it six years ago when it started, I’ll say it again.
BOONDOGGLE

[Rockstar]

https://youtu.be/JB4ZkAQBex4


My honest opinion is, with Russian operatives and double agents being found out recently both here and abroad. What’s most likely happening is western security services are hell bent on accounting for, rounding up and securing classified material. Which of course only naturally gives both Democrat and Republican parties the opportunity to point fingers, generate massive amounts of political hay, media headlines and new conspiracy theories

[Rockstar]

Biden Administration Considers Banning Gas Stoves over Health Concerns

https://www.nationalreview.com/news/biden-administration-considers-banning-gas-stoves-over-health-concerns/

… Senator Cory Booker (D., N.J.) and Representative Don Beyer (D., Va.) wrote a letter to the agency last month urging the commission to address the issue and calling the harmful emissions a “cumulative burden” on black, Latino and low-income households.

Everyone knows gas is generally cheaper than electricity but if you’re poor, Black or Latino you’re gonna pay through the nose when those racist Democrats take those options away from blacks and Latinos.

Meanwhile Biden’s white privileged Democrat wife cooks in the ‘big house’ on her new gas stove. :har:
https://i.ibb.co/VLqWck3/F13663-B1-25-C8-449-E-8-EEF-F3-A4-E1972216.jpg

[Skybird]

^ "Progressives". Other name for "institutional inmates who have escaped".

Germany too is full of them. The mental madness is the new health norm.