GOP Is In The Process of Cannibalizing Itself

Did you know that cannibalism is common in the animal kingdom? 

It's also common in politics today as the Republican party turns inward and eats/cancels it's own members.

The Trumpian wing has been allies with anti-vaxxers and other conspiracy groups for a couple of years now, but that alliance is suddenly on shaky ground.

When Florida Governor, Ron DeSantis, and FOX news host, Sean Hannity, promoted getting COVID-19 vaccines Friday, the anti-vaxxers lost their shit.

QAnon's favorite general, Michael " the traitor" Flynn, quickly called them out for speaking truthfully about the vaccine saving lives.

Flynn accused the two of "trying to be politically correct." There were even dark rumors that someone bribed DeSantis to tell the truth about the vaccine.

Think about that. DeSantis is supposed to be more popular than Trump in a recent poll. And going after Hannity? WTF?

The Republican party has become a moveable feast from within, as segments break off and attack/cancel each other.

Between moderates, old school Republicans, and Trump cult followers, the Party of Lincoln is a seething mess of toxic lies.

This growing turmoil can only benefit the Democrats if they continue on their course under Biden, who enjoys a 53 percent approval rating among all Americans. Trump never surpassed 49 percent in four years.

The challenge for the Democrats is keeping their own house in order. Progressives are pushing harder for big changes that Republicans use to scare their conservative constituents with, while other members strive to keep a bipartisan attitude allowing for compromise on important legislation.

It's not easy working with a party when the inmates have overrun the asylum and are charting a congressional course for chaos.

If Republicans continue to cancel each other out with muddled messaging there just might be a chance the Democrats will buck history and win big in the 2022 midterms.

A Snake on the Glass, Shrinking Cereal Boxes, Gullible Judges and Other Blunt Observations

Everybody is getting their fifteen minutes of fame nowadays on one, or more, social media websites.

People and animals are stars, entertaining millions of viewers. Did I mention anything can "go viral?"

A Florida woman went viral (4 million views) on TikTok after a snake took a liking to her windshield, and she struggled to get it off. After watching it, I got the feeling most of the people were rooting for the snake. Just me, I guess.

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I have a message for cereal companies that think consumers are stupid:

Listen up, asshats! I know all about your tactic of "shrinkflation." We pay more, and get less product. Hell, you've been doing that for a decade. 

But it especially pisses me off when we're already facing an inflation surge and the boxes continue to shrink. Just know, you're not fooling anyone.

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Lately I've been losing trust in our judicial system. Watching Trump stack the Supreme Court in the last four years was like watching the Jan. 6 insurrection - a shocking reality call.

Gone are neutral judges. If there were ever any in the first place. Unabashedly, Republican and Democratic judges sway with the current political climate.

I strongly suspect there's plenty of judges that are simply gullible maroons. Case in point:

Trump's longtime associate Tom Barrack (a billionaire) was indicted earlier this week on charges of illegal foreign lobbying.

A federal magistrate judge released him from jail pending his trial. The bail package included a $250 million bond secured by $5 million in cash.

Barrack was also ordered to wear a GPS location monitoring bracelet, and was barred from transferring any funds overseas, and he's restricted to just traveling to parts of Southern California and New York.

Were should I start?

How about the fact that Barrack has been buddies with Trump for 30 years, instantly qualifying him as a lying shithead.

Then there's the bond money. It's chump change for the billionaire, and if his lawyers warn him he could spend the rest of his days in prison he's going to skip to parts unknown.

Authorities will be left with his broken GPS device, and the millions he gladly discarded for his freedom. 

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Did you hear about the Florida homeowner who shouted at a man trying to save another man's life on his front lawn?

"Have him die someplace else!" the slime bag yelled. (Read the story here)

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I was really disgusted to hear the rest of the story regarding Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing in 2018.

At the time the FBI was supposedly documenting calls on a tip line in a wide background search into Kavanaugh's past activities.

Republican Senator, Susan Collins, told reporters that, "it appeared to be a very thorough investigation." 

Only it wasn't, as we found out this week, nearly three years later. The FBI had 4,500 tips, and they only investigated 10 of them.

Guess what happened?

Those thousands of tips disappeared into the bowels of the counsel's office in Trump's White House. Now, no one knows where they are. 

Pretty convenient eh?

I'm out of here... have a safe and bodacious day!

McCarthy's Move To Pull Republicans From Select Committee Jan. 6 Panel Is Pathetic

Doing his best impression of Lucy picking up the football at the last second before Charlie Brown kicks it, House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy pulled his team off of the Select Committee on the Jan. 6 riot.

Angry that two of his recommendations for the panel were rejected by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, McCarthy continues to make things worse for Republicans by sacrificing his other three picks in his snit.

If not for his stupidity and loyalty to Trump, Republicans could have had a bipartisan committee where they would have been well-represented. 

But no. 

McCarthy is paying the price for playing Trump's puppet. Now he's holding a pity party after Pelosi's announcement that Jim Banks, and Jim "Gym" Jordan don't get to play on the panel.

Just what will McCarthy's latest move accomplish?

In true Trumpian fashion, he's responded with a lot of hot air, but no substance, telling reporters Republicans will conduct their own investigation.

Don't hold your breath. They're not in power. The faux investigation would have to be held in a DC alley.

The old saying about cutting off your nose to spite your face describes McCarthy's efforts to subvert the committee's goal to investigate the assault on the Capitol...and our democracy.

Perhaps if he hadn't traveled to Trump's lair to kiss the ring, things could have been different for McCarthy. 

Instead of being a loyal puppet, he had a chance to demonstrate real leadership by taking that initial offer of a bipartisan investigation. 

It would have been the best bet for the party by putting them on a level playing field.

Despite McCarthy's move there's still a chance more Republicans can join their colleague Liz Cheney on the panel. 

Pelosi has the authority to select Republicans to serve on the committee, if they agree to serve. However, it would require a spine to forge ahead without McCarthy's (and Trump's) blessing.

The bottom line is Americans are owed a complete accounting for the coup attempt on Jan. 6., and they're going to get it.

The committee will meet for the first time Tuesday 7/27/21, where it will hear from law enforcement officers about what they witnessed during the riot.

Trump's Theatre of the Absurd Threatens America: The Truth Will Set Us Free

The only way to contend with Trump and his cult is to challenge the lies and disinformation that come on a daily basis.

Even though Trump was run out of office in 2020, the Republican party continues to put on a show for the ages.

Trump's bad actors are everywhere. In the school districts, state and congressional lawmakers, Fox News, Newsmax, Oann, and social media platforms.

The result has been a flood of disinformation and lies designed to restore Trump to power.

There were several good opinion articles today, but I selected this one from Salon because it's so right on.

Why the Revelations About Trump and the Kremlin are True (even if the documents are fake)

"Joe Biden may be president, but in too many ways the Age of Trump marches on. American political and civic life continues to resemble a spy thriller, a horror movie or a science fiction dystopia that keeps spawning sequels.

Most Americans want to escape the theater, but the doors are locked. Those who remain in their seats love these movies and can't get enough of their charismatic star.

The ending of this saga has been obvious since the beginning: Donald Trump is a malevolent force, with no loyalty to the United States and its people; yet his followers worship him as a god and nothing can tear them away from the cult." (Read the rest here)

There's so much more to say, but I'll save it for another day.

Cults Are Us: America Faces Identity Crisis

While cults have been around before we became a country, they've never been mainstreamed like they are now.

We're faced with the biggest and most dangerous cult to ever challenge democracy; the Trump cult.

Cults in America became big news in the 1970s. Violent cults under leaders like Charles Manson, Reverend Jim Jones, and others became common names in American households.

Political, racist, or terrorist cults are fueled by belief in changing society, revolution, overthrowing the perceived enemy or getting rid of "evil forces."

Trump's attempts to overthrow our government and turn it into a fascist regime, have been numerous and continue to this day.

In a relatively short period of time Trump transformed Americans into two armed camps. His believers and the rest of the country that still believes in a democracy.

One of the things that makes the Trump cult so deadly is it's a crossover cult combining political and religious cults that are based on ultra-conservative family values, strict morals, or patriotism.

Members are encouraged to participate by selling the group's product to others. Practices and influence techniques include using guilt and shame, peer pressure, financial control, magical thinking, or guided imagery.

There's never been a more dangerous cult in our history where an ex-president is actively trying to overthrow our electoral system in order to seize power.

With half of America believing the 2020 election was stolen, we're facing a crisis unlike anything seen before in our history.

The only way to defeat Trump and his minions is to vote against them. Plucking Trump's enablers out of politics is going to take a lot of determination and participation at the polls.

America is worth it. Freedom is worth it. Fighting disinformation is worth it. 

In this time of America's identity crisis, we must not let Trump's cult flourish. We must defeat him and his cult followers for the sake of the nation.

Despite Reality Trump Spokesperson Claims 'History Tour' Is Already Making History

History shows us that former presidents - and even their spouses - don't usually have a hard time in selling out their appearances and speeches.

The same doesn't hold true for Trump and Bill O'Reilly, who are hoping lots of people will happily pay to see them.

It doesn't look that way however

In a Friday morning article, Politico highlighted the Trump/O'Reilly tour's lagging sales for its four dates in December.

That's not good news for the Liar's Tour because tickets have been available for more than a month. Thousands at each venue remain unsold according to Ticketmaster and AXS.

For comparison, Orlando's Amway Center featured Bad Bunny and the concert sold out in two days. For the record, the concert isn't until next March.

Thus far, Trump's Alternative History Tour is a bust, with entire sections going unclaimed in the venues.

Orlando's Amway Center is apparently a real tough sell for the two insurrectionists trying to rewrite history.

Of course, Trump's spokesperson, Liz Harrington had another take on how well the planned tour was doing.

"The excitement and enthusiasm is unlike anything we've seen before," she bragged. (Sound like someone else?)

I can't help wonder how much experience Harrington has in dealing with reality. Promoting Trump's lies seems to be her sole skill set.

Not surprisingly, O'Reilly had to get in on the hyperbole derby; "Nobody has sold tickets this fast at this price," he claimed.

I think the biggest mistake this tour of infamy made is thinking Trump supporters are going to pay between $100 to $300 to sit in the nose-bleed sections of the arenas, with closer tickets ranging around $1,000 a seat.

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Observation:

The History Tour may yet be canceled - not necessarily because of ticket sales, but because Trump may be in court fighting to stay out of prison.

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Trump's rallies were always free carnivals, and well-attended. His core base of minions expects to see a full circus act for FREE.

I highly doubt they would pay through the nose to sit that long if it's just Trump answering questions from O'Reilly, or with a few select people asking questions. Borrrring!

'Kraken' Team's Desperate Attempt To Avoid Serious Sanctions Failed

     Sidney Powell - Top Kraken Leader - Takes on courts

Justice is coming soon for a group of Trump lawyers who have been promoting the Big Lie in swing state courts.

A federal Judge in Michigan denied a request from the so-called "Kraken," team, led by Sidney Powell and Lin Wood, to stall the proceedings with a meritless request.

Fact: the entire July 12 proceeding was wide open - far wider than could have been accommodated in a small courtroom.

Judge Linda Parker wrote, "As counsel notes in the motion, more than 13,000 people watched live, 'viewing the proceedings just as they were conducted."

The seven attorney "Krakenists" filed an emergency motion for the release of the recording of the hearing. 

They claimed Democratic intervenors (the City of Detroit) lied about what happened during the contentious July 12th hearing.

The court did not save the live broadcast on it's website. A standard procedure.

In an act of "magical thinking" the crack pro-Trumpian team thought that if more people could watch the hearing they'd {somehow} be exonerated.

Don't ask me what would change people's minds. Powell and Wood live in an alternate universe that rejects the realities unfolding around them.

Proof of that is evident with Lin Wood who grudgingly admitted posting short clips of the trial on Telegram. 

Despite Judge Parker's order not too. Afterward, a motion was called for Wood to be held in contempt for violating the court's order.

The Kraken team's argument that they needed the video in order to prepare a supplemental brief was shot down by Judge Parker.

She pointed out, "attorneys routinely prepare such briefs following a hearing without a video, audio recordings of the proceedings and often without a transcript."

I'm looking forward to see the Kraken bunch lose their law licenses and being laughed out of their profession.

Trump's Illegal Investigation Exposed: Judge Orders DOJ Records To Be Released To Public

For reasons that have "puzzled" a judge - among others - The Department of Justice (DOJ) has been covering up information regarding an illegal investigation undertaken by the Trump regime.

The Judge who ordered the sealed records released today was "puzzled" that the Biden DOJ hadn't already published them.

Here's what we know:

-- The Trump Justice Department fought to secretly obtain the records of journalists from two additional outlets, two lawmakers on The House Intelligence Committee, and even former White House counsel Don McGahn.

-- Trump pushed AG Barr right up until his last days in office, to investigate his enemies.

-- The concealed files offered new details about the DOJ investigation, including how late into Barr's tenure records were pursued, and how the agency suspected Congressional staff might have been the sources for the information leaks in Trump's administration.

Here's two of the stories that spurred Trump and his minions to Illegally Investigate:

-- Jared Kushner had discussed using Russian facilities for backchannel communications with the Kremlin

-- Former AG Jeff Session had discussed campaign matters with then-Russian Ambassador to the U.S. Sergey Kislyak.

The filings also show the Biden administration was fighting to keep the records concealed right up until The Washington Post broke the news story that their reporters were involved in an illegal government search against them.

The DOJ's weak reasoning for stalling was that the records contained "non-public investigative and witness information."

As magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui pointed out today, the investigation is closed now that Trump's gone, and they have a duty to make the records available to the public.

In the decision Faruqui wrote, "The government's anti-redaxer stance is puzzling. The administrative burden of doing its job is no escape hatch from completing this task {releasing records to the public}."

What happens next is uncertain.

Cartoon Controversy: Americans Are Talking About a Bunny Not Having Boobs

Lola in the first Space Jam (left). Lola in the sequel (right).

In these days of divisions over any subject it's no surprise people are treating a new cartoon - Space Jam: New Legacy - like a political hot potato.

Let's get right to the meat of the matter; Lola Bunny lost her boobs in the sequel to the original Space Jam, starring Michael Jordon and Looney Tunes characters.

A refresher for those who missed the first Space Jam:

Lola Bunny was the romantic interest for Bugs Bunny, and she looked as hot as a cartoon character can look.

But the director, Michael Lee decided she needed a redesign for the sequel. An updated version, if you will. A politically correct portrayal of a smoking hot cartoon bunny with a chest as flat as a washboard.

Turns out millions of fans are upset with the new look Lola.

It seems their anger caught Lee off-guard, according to an interview with Entertainment Weekly. He thought it was a "super weird" response about the character's body. 

Defending the old Lola-look former pro golfer Paige Spinarac told the Sun that the redesign implied, "women couldn't be sexy and strong."

Apparently exasperated by the controversy Lee said, "And, yes, we had all these women who were like 'Oh, you can't be strong and have boobs?!' Sure you can, but we're talking about a cartoon bunny, not women."

My take on this ridiculous argument is people can't seem to relax enough nowadays to just suspend reality and enjoy a cartoon at the movies.

American Schools Facing a 'Brain Drain' As Educators Quit The Jobs Over Lies About Critical Race Theory

Once upon a time, not so long ago, American teachers were held in high regard. 

Parents supported teachers and trusted them with their children.

But in this time of major polarization across the country, teachers are being intimidated by conservative lies that seek to suppress black history in America.

What we're seeing now is a concerted attack against a theory that isn't even taught in elementary or high schools. 

Extreme conservatives have labeled the Critical Race Theory (CRT) as an attack against whites and progressives. 

Up until six months ago most people had never heard this theory which was mostly taught in college law schools.

So what happened?

Pulling out their oldest playbook, conservatives have demonized the theory and have taken their lies into our K-12 school system as a new attack against teaching the truth.

This new tactic to harass Democrats and blacks has spread like cancer in school districts where furious parents (washed in the orange Kool aid) demand an end to teaching CRT.

Even though it isn't being taught to their children, the Trump wing of the Republican party claims it is.

What these parents fail to realize is that they're being used. Lied to by extreme Republican politicians with only one agenda - to gain and hold complete power in the nation.

The real problem for these narrow-minded parents and lawmakers is that students are having discussions about race in school.

Against this backdrop five states have passed laws limiting how teachers can address "divisive concepts" with students across the country.

The result in these districts is what educators call a "brain drain," of those most committed to fighting racism in schools.

The problem is when facts are no longer part of the discussion, teacher's tools to reframe the conversation and get people back on board with facts is limited. 

The results of this mislabeling campaign is causing an exodus among the already scarce recruiting field in education. 

It's highly alarming that educators are resigning, facing dismissal and fearing for their lives due to conversations about race and diversity.

This local backlash to addressing race in school has been fueled by national conservative group and activists, who see the anti-critical race theory fights as a winning political issue and are helping parents mobilize.

The real loser in this battle are our children who deserve to be taught "honest history."

Trumpian Wing of the GOP Agrees Not To Agree With Bipartisan Legislation

Part of the GOP battle plan to regain power is a no-holds barred attack on bipartisanship.

There actually was a time when bipartisan bills were possible in Congress. Now they are as rare as the fabled Dodo bird.

The Washington Examiner interviewed three GOP aides that said child care and family proposals are viewed favorably by a sizable contingency of Republican voters but they suggested that opposing Biden's "socialist agenda" would help their bosses, and the party, significantly more during the 2022 midterm elections than reaching across the aisle this summer.

Uniting under Trump's Big Lie has become a lifeline for extremists seeking re-election, and for new players in conservative politics.

Here's What Some GOP members are saying:

While addressing an audience at CPAC Saturday night, Rep. Lauren Boebert ranted,

"We're here to tell the government we don't want your benefits. We don't want your welfare. Don't come knocking at my door...you leave us the hell alone."

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"My job is to block President Biden's socialistic agenda." Mitch McConnell

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"For the next 18 months, Republicans' job is to do everything that we can to slow down the Democrats' radical agenda, and then win the majority and lead," Rep. Chip Roy at CPAC.

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Speaking to a group of extremists, Patriot Voices," Rep. Chip Roy proclaimed, "Hopefully there will be 18 more months of chaos and the ability to get stuff done." 

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I could go on with more examples, but my point here is there's an active resistance against the majority of Americans who want to see successful legislation that improves their lives.

It helps to understand that Trump and his minions are a minority in the country. Right now that minority is seeking to destroy our electoral system and rig it for themselves.

Americans are being held hostage by these haters who manipulate social media and cable news to support the Big Lie.

Lies motivate the Republican party. Truth motivates the Democratic party to defend our Constitution and freedoms.

One prediction; if Biden wants to pass big legislation the filibuster must go. I think it will come to that once the Democratic party realizes their being played like fools.  

Otherwise Mitch McConnell, Trump, and the rest will do an "Obama" and successfully derail Biden's legislation attempts throughout his presidency.