On December 19, 1998, the House of Representatives impeached Bill Clinton on two charges related to his extramarital affair with Monica Lewinsky. (The charges were for perjury and obstruction of justice.) The historic vote, and subsequent trial in the Senate, involved the work of three men who were elected Speaker of the House Of Representatives by the Republican majority, Newt Gingrich, Bob Livingston and Dennis Hastert.Speaker Gingrich: having an affair during the proceedings.
Catastrophic Texas floods. Historic California drought. Polar ice melting. Highest monthly temperatures on record. But, they're not scientists. Just fools and charlatans.You thought he was the smart Bush. You thought he was the reasonable one. You thought he was the Republican with one foot in the 21st century, the man who wasn’t going to say crazy things to win the primary voter who believes in crazy things. But you haven’t been paying attention to Jeb Bush. [snip]...Bush the youngest believes the Earth is warming. No doubt, he’s willing to go further out on a limb and conclude that heat expands, cold contracts and a dolphin is not a fish.
That’s as far as he’ll go. He says the science is “convoluted,” even though the latest assessment from international climate scientists states with 95 percent confidence that humans are the cause of a sick planet. That obfuscation is also understandable. You simply cannot be a leader of the Republican Party without appearing to know less than a fifth grader about earth science.
“I felt a special bond with our wrestlers. And I think they felt one with me.”Ewww.
Carly Fiorina detailed her plan to fight ISIS today. Mostly, it involves luring them into the low-margin personal computer business.
— Josh Barro (@jbarro) May 27, 2015
"No, I don't want war [against the world's Muslims], but they need to learn tolerance. We're not the ones out committing these acts. We're not the ones threatening anybody." (emphasis added)The level of delusion is absolutely shocking. Former CIA anti-terrorist official Philip Mudd tried vainly to point out to Ritzheimer that his actions were the ideal recruitment tool for al Qaeda and ISIS, a fact which the cretin accepted as if it were perfectly fine. Somewhere, Crazy Pam Geller is cheering.
CHICAGO (AP) — Former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert agreed to pay $3.5 million in hush money to keep an unidentified person silent about "prior misconduct" by the Illinois Republican who was once third in line to the U.S. presidency, according to a federal grand jury indictment handed down on Thursday in Chicago.
The indictment, which does not describe the misconduct Hastert was allegedly trying to conceal, charges the 73-year-old with one count of evading bank regulations as he withdrew tens of thousands of dollars at a time to make the payments. He is also charged with one count of lying to the FBI about the reason for the unusual bank withdrawals.
Each count of the indictment carries a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. (our emphasis)Let's review:
"All I can tell you it is a foolproof way of winning, and I’m not talking about what some people would say, but it is a foolproof way of winning the war with ISIS. And it will be absolutely, 100 percent –they’ll at minimum come to the table but actually they’ll be defeated very quickly.”This opens the door to speculation: will he offer comped rooms at one of his casinos, draw ISIS fighters in and ambush them? Will he grab a bullhorn, confront the fighters and yell, "Yer fired?" Will he simply appear on the battlefield, wind blowing through his "hair," and cause ISIS to laugh uncontrollably until they surrender?
MOSCOW, May 28 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the United States on Thursday of meddling outside its jurisdiction in the arrest of top officials from soccer's world governing body, FIFA.
Putin said the arrests in Switzerland on Wednesday were an "obvious attempt" to prevent FIFA head Sepp Blatter's re-election this week but that the 79-year-old had Russia's backing.
The world's most popular sport was plunged into turmoil this week when seven senior soccer officials were arrested on U.S. corruption charges to face extradition from Switzerland.Putin, it may be remembered is no stranger to racketeering, as it is the grease that lubricates the kleptocratic Russian economy; Putin's Russia is ranked 136th out of 175 nations in terms of government corruption. Vlad's concern extends to the fact that the corruption investigation will likely involve the awarding of the 2018 soccer World Cup venue to Russia.
This is when Texas nationalists and secessionists really look foolish.
With 46 counties now declared disaster areas by Gov. Greg Abbott and no end in sight until summer, Texas welcomes federal officials and disaster relief.
Texas Task Force 1 and soldiers and pilots of the Texas Military Forces — the National Guard units and Texas State Guard — have worked round-the-clock to save motorists in Krum, lift away flood victims in Cleburne and search for the missing in Wimberley.
But if anyone needs convincing, this reminds us Texas can’t go it alone.Yes, as ridiculous as it seems, there are "Texas nationalists and secessionists" (former Gov. Rick "Oops" Perry can tell you about them). But there's also an overlapping group called "Republicans" who have a very situational (if not conspiratorial) view of the Federal-state compact that is, not surprisingly, an extension of their Ayn Rand Objectivist "goodies for me, pain for thee" philosophy. They'll be squealing for help now from the Obama Administration, but let's remember 8 Congressmen from Texas (out of 67 Republicans total) voted against Hurricane Sandy relief, all the while Texas relies on Federal disaster relief more than any other State.
Here’s something you will never hear any of the crop of Republican presidential candidates say on same-sex marriage: “With today’s vote, we have disclosed who we are: a generous, compassionate, bold and joyful people.” Those soothing words came from Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny after 62.1 percent of his nation voted in favor of marriage equality on Saturday.
It was a stunning development in one of Europe’s most conservative countries. A nation where the Catholic Church once held great sway. Emphasis on “once.” The resounding victory of same-sex marriage proponents is as clear a sign of independence from the church as you’ll ever see. [snip]
[America] isn’t Ireland. And this certainly isn’t Britain, where conservative Prime Minister David Cameron was a vocal champion of marriage equality and won reelection with overwhelming support. This is America, where once again, the courts will push the nation to live up to its ideal of equal protection under the law. The Supreme Court did it for African Americans in the 20th century and so it must for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Americans in the 21st.As is always the case, whether it's marriage equality, global climate change, voting rights, etc., the Republican / New Confederate/ Stupid Party, with its head firmly up its ass, is on the wrong side of history -- and it will be judged as such.
John McCain: "Only a complete idiot would have declared victory when US troops pulled out of Iraq in 2010" pic.twitter.com/wjOj3RnnHp
— The Daily Edge (@TheDailyEdge) May 24, 2015
In a Saturday interview on the Larry Kudlow Show, a nationally syndicated radio broadcast, David Koch let it slip that the roughly $900 million that he and his brother, Charles, plan to lavish on the 2016 presidential race could find its way into the hands of more than one GOP contender.[Sarcasm alert] Since, according to Justice Anthony Kennedy in Citizens United, "... [I]ndependent expenditures, including those made by corporations, do not give rise to corruption or the appearance of corruption," the notion that Republican presidential hopefuls will be tailoring their positions to make certain they match those of the plutocrat Kochs (cut taxes on corporations and the wealthy, cut programs for the poor and middle classes, weaken environmental regulations, etc.) to get as much of that plutocrat dough as they can, there can't be the slightest appearance of a quid pro quo because those candidates won't owe anything to the Koch brothers =cough= $900 million =cough=, no siree! Plus money is speech and corporations are people, my friends.
"We are thinking of supporting several Republicans," David Koch said, adding, "If we're happy with the policies that these individuals are supporting, we'll finance their campaigns." (our emphasis)
"You can buy an ACA plan on the marketplace, get a subsidy, and be happy with your plan—but if you're a Republican you still overwhelmingly hate Obamacare by 74-25 percent."Hating something that's helped you, just because it's Obama's program. That's pathological, with no connection to what they've actually experienced.
In the wake of a tabloid report alleging that he molested several underage girls while he was a teenager, reality-television star Josh Duggar said Thursday that he “acted inexcusably” and was “deeply sorry” for what he called “my wrongdoing.”But wait, there's more:
The 27-year-old Duggar, a high-profile member of the evangelical Christian family that stars on TLC’s “19 Kids and Counting,” also resigned his post with the Family Research Council, a conservative lobbying organization.
Hours before Duggar’s statement, In Touch Weekly had published a partially redacted police report from the Springdale Police Department in Arkansas that, the tabloid said, contained details of the allegations against Duggar. The report redacted the name of the suspect and the alleged victims, all juveniles, but listed Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar as relatives. The incidents occurred in 2002 and 2003. (our emphasis)Translation: several of the victims were his younger sisters.
The FRC, a conservative Christian organization led by Tony Perkins, is known for its advocacy against same-sex marriage, “with the mission to champion marriage and family as the foundation of civilization, the seedbed of virtue, and the wellspring of society.” [snip]
The FRC is known in Washington for hosting a Values Voters Summit, which regularly gathers Republican politicians trying to run for president. The organization’s budget in 2013 was about $13 million, according to its financial statements.Not mentioned: the FRC is classified as a "hate group" by the Southern Poverty Law Center.
“Family Research Council is one of the major players among the pro-family social conservatives and has a major D.C. presence,” said Tobin Grant, a political scientist at Southern Illinois University, who compared the FRC to the Heritage Foundation or the American Family Association. “It still represents an old guard of people who are pushing the culture wars and traditional family values.”
The Duggars, who endorsed Mike Huckabee for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination, have been likened to the “Quiverfull” movement, which urges its followers to have as many children as God will give them.Or perhaps something else was rotten at the core:
Many Quiverfull-style families opt to homeschool their children, who are raised in the belief system of their parents.
The Duggars have previously promoted the teachings of Bill Gothard and the Institute in Basic Life Principles, a conservative organization that was once popular among the Christian homeschooling movement. Gothard resigned from the institute he founded in 2014, after allegations of sexual harassment, molestation and failing to report child abuse.Be sure to go to the article for bonus pics of Duggar with pals Mike "Huckster" Huckabee, Gov. Scott "Koch Head" Walker, and Sen. "Tailgunner Ted" Cruz."
Twelve of about 30 people who worked on Fiorina’s failed 2010 California Senate campaign, most speaking out for the first time, told Reuters they would not work for her again. Fiorina, once one of America's most powerful businesswomen, is now campaigning for the Republican nomination in 2016.
The reason: for more than four years, Fiorina - who has an estimated net worth of up to $120 million - didn’t pay them, a review of Federal Election Commission records shows. (our emphasis)
So, not only a job destroyer, but a golden parachute multi-millionaire deadbeat employer to boot. She must think the "little people" survive on the sunbeams that jet out of her kazoo.
“I’d rather go to Iraq than work for Carly Fiorina again,” said one high-level former campaign staffer, who asked not to be identified, citing disclosure restrictions in his contract. (our emphasis)It's always just about let- them- eat- cake Snarly and what's good for her, and let the "little people" sort the rest out amongst themselves. That's why (Costco) ham-handed stunts designed to portray the multi-millionaire Fiorinas as jus' folk are doomed to failure, just like her stints at H-P and running for the Senate were.
After more than a decade bearing the political burden of Iraq, Republicans are making a dogged effort to shed it by arguing that the Islamic State’s gruesome ascent is a symptom of Obama’s foreign policy, rather than a byproduct of the 2003 invasion they once championed.
Chaos in the city of Ramadi, which this week fell under the control of Islamic State militants, has only intensified the Republican outcry.Steve M. at No More Mister Nice Blog noticed the corporate "mainstream media" is already engaged in tying the recent loss of Ramadi to ISIL into a narrative about the pain veterans of the Iraq War feel over seeing the city fall. Mind you, not that the whole bloody mess originated in the first place because of the lies of Likudnik chickenhawk neocons. More evidence, if any were needed, that the "mainstream media" is the perfect foil for Republican revisionists because it has the perspective of Mr. Magoo and the attention span of a mayfly.
...The only way for the people who shook their moneymakers for the war in 2002 to justify their continued place in our politics is to use ISIL to replace the aluminum tubes and hope that enough people don't notice what a grotesque fast shuffle this is. That will clear the way for the candidates on the Republican side -- Rubio, Graham, Jeb (!), and, most recently, Chris Christie -- who want to revive the old neocon hoo-rah while distancing themselves from its savage consequences. It looks very much like "Who lost Iraq?" may replace the disastrous decisions of the Avignon Presidency in this campaign, and that a good chunk of the Republican field will be perfectly happy to allow that to happen. For all the talk of the president's fecklessness from the chickenhawk choir, what those candidates are about right now is the worst kind of cowardice.That Republicans are trying to turn recent events in the Middle East into a "Who lost Iraq?" narrative is beyond obscene, especially, as Pierce notes, with the same Republican neocons (Sen. "Huckleberry Butchmeup" Graham, Sen. Marco "Glug Glug" Rubio and "J.E.B." Bush adviser Paul Wolfowitz) ready and willing to repeat the same disastrous mistakes all over again, with a new generation of someone elses children. That whirring sound must be George Santayana spinning in his grave.
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| (Attribution: Ruben Bolling) |
"We know he [Saddam Hussein] has been absolutely devoted to trying to acquire nuclear weapons. And we believe he has, in fact, reconstituted nuclear weapons." (emphasis added)Rethuglicans have long asserted that it was "faulty intelligence" that led Dumbya and The Dick astray, but former CIA Deputy Director Mike Morell said yesterday on MSNBC that The Dick's claim that the Iraqis had nuclear weapons wasn't supported by any intelligence from the CIA. The Dick lied, and Dumbya didn't have the curiosity or candlepower to question it (and anyway, he was happy to grasp any excuse because, as he memorably put it, Saddam "tried to kill my dad.") Another question begs an answer: not that The Dick and the neocons needed help, but were other self-serving governments /intelligence services (Israel's, Saudi Arabia's, even Iran's?) involved in feeding the false claims?
On Tuesday, to the dismay of Gov. Bobby Jindal (R), Louisiana’s proposed Marriage and Conscience Act failed in the state’s house. The legislation, which has been compared to “religious freedom restoration acts” (RFRA) in Arkansas and Indiana, would have prohibited “the state from taking any adverse action against a person on the basis that such person acted in accordance with a religious belief or moral conviction about marriage.” Thus, a pizza shop that said it would not cater a gay wedding — as happened in Indiana — might not be penalized.
But after the bill failed, Jindal stepped into the breach.
“We are disappointed by the committee’s action to return the Louisiana Marriage and Conscience Act to the calendar,” Jindal said in a statement, as the Times-Picayune reported. “We will be issuing an Executive Order shortly that will … prevent the state from discriminating against persons or entities with deeply held religious beliefs that marriage is between one man and one woman.”Hmmm. Circumventing his (Republican) legislature by Executive order. Sounds suspiciously like another tyrant. However, unlike that other "tyrant," pious Piyush's action would almost certainly be overturned in court (and certainly would be moot should the Supreme Court rule against discrimination and in favor of same-sex marriage next month), and is not intended to be anything but a campaign talking point (UPDATE: Make that a 30-second spot.). But we hope he and other dead-enders in the Republican/ New Confederate/ Stupid Party continue to fight this to the last crumb of the last gay wedding cake, because it defines them so perfectly as the Stupid Party (thanks again, irony-free Piyush!).
... As with most things Clinton, there's enough to get everyone interested and virtually never enough for there to be any real there there. If there were less of the former or more of the latter, the story would have a clearer, more satisfying conclusion. With the Clintons, the inevitable gap between their pursuers' hopes and the mundane reality, the expectations and inevitable disappointment is the beautiful face that sets sail to a thousand ships of nonsense, wishful thinking and right-wing media rube fleecing.
Part of what is endless and exhausting about the Clintons is that they really do always push it right to the line. We've seen it enough times to know they're generally smart enough and careful enough not to go over it. Indeed, one of the paradoxical benefits of the endless and frenetic investigations of the Clintons in the '90s is that these probes stand as an unintentional proof that there's no real goods there to find. One of the countless committee investigations and special counsel inquiries would have found it. But, as I said, they push it right up to the line.
Yet it's never enough for the Clintons' perennial critics to be satisfied with potential conflicts of interest or arguably unseemly behavior. It's got to be more. It always has to be more. There have to be high crimes, dead people, corrupt schemes. And if they don't materialize, they need to be made up. Both because there is an organized partisan apparatus aimed at perpetuating them and because there is a right-wing audience that requires a constant diet of hyperventilating outrage from which to find nourishment. Why else do we have 'Benghazi', the President's birth certificate, the Muslim Brotherhood's infiltration of the White House and so much more? And if you think that's bad, you should have seen the '90s. (our emphasis)We saw the 90's, lived through it, suffered through it. It was every bit as exhausting as Marshall says, with constant efforts by Republicans (who saw the Reagan years fast disappearing in their rear view mirror) to bludgeon Bill Clinton, capped by an impeachment trial which was not about anything related to governance, but for lying about a b.j. All the while, the corporate "mainstream media" was happily letting itself be led around by its nose ring by those media-fleecing Republicans. The whole spectacle of undercutting a twice-elected President over fever-brain conspiracies and a dubious impeachment should have kept Republicans out of government at the national level for a generation or more (and would have if the Supreme Court didn't award the Presidency to Dumbya). It also disabused many of us of the notion that the corporate media were honest brokers when it came to the Clintons or politics in general.
“A big country, a tolerant country, ought to be able to figure out the difference between discriminating someone because of their sexual orientation and not forcing someone to participate in a wedding that they find goes against their moral beliefs,” he said. “This should not be that complicated. Gosh, it is right now.” (our emphasis) John Ellis "J.E.B." Bush Saturday speaking on "Christian" Broadcasting Network.Gee, no, "J.E.B." We think it's you who need to figure it out, and we'd like to help.
For months now, America Rising has sent out a steady stream of posts on social media attacking Mrs. Clinton, some of them specifically designed to be spotted, and shared, by liberals. The posts highlight critiques of her connections to Wall Street and the Clinton Foundation and feature images of Democrats like Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Mayor Bill de Blasio of New York, interspersed with cartoon characters and pictures of Kevin Spacey, who plays the villain in “House of Cards.” And as they are read and shared, an anti-Clinton narrative is reinforced.
Republicans and their plutocrat dark money dirty tricksters can be counted on to try to undercut Clinton, as they would any other Democrat they see as a threat to their return to power. Progressives need to be savvy and not amplify the messages these ratf**kers will be sending out from now until election day.America Rising is not the only conservative group attacking Mrs. Clinton from the left. Another is American Crossroads, the group started by Karl Rove, which has been sending out its own digital content, including one ad using a speech Ms. Warren gave at the New Populism Conference in Washington last May.
"If I'm President of the United States and you're thinkin' about joining al-Qaeda or ISIL — anybody thinkin' about that? — I'm not going to call a judge, I'm going to call a drone and we will kill you." (emphasis added)We're not sure where in the Constitution it says that someone "thinkin'" about something could justify summarily killing them, but we're not from the secessionist state of South Carolina. It sounds more like something ISIS would contemplate if they had drones. It also sounds like some overcompensation for someone with an image issue.
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| (AP Photo - Rod Aydelotte) |
As of press time, we have not yet heard from Alex Jones on the matter, so we aren’t certain whether the bikers were all crisis actors pretending to have a shootout so the feds can seize all the guns, or if the incident is part of Operation Jade Helm 15, and hence a slightly different flavor of false flag incident staged so the feds can seize all the guns. The one thing it couldn’t possibly be was a bunch of armed thugs blowing each other away because guns are always the solution.Because an armed society is a polite society!
“An electromagnetic pulse over the state of Iowa could knock us back to the stone age. Worse, [at least] people in the stone age knew how to live in the stone age. We don’t.”Well, we'd give the wingnuts in Iowa more credit than that. Living in the stone age shouldn't be too much of a change for them, and anyway, Jesus rode dinosaurs, didn't he?