Sunday, August 1, 2021

The Delta Variant Is Killing Unvaccinated People and Spreading Faster Than The Original Virus: America's Response? Confusion

                  It should be clear cut.

America was rebounding from the challenges that COVID-19 brought earlier this year. There were positive vibes rippling throughout the country.

More people were being vaccinated in record numbers every day. Businesses we're re-opening. Masks were not needed if we were fully vaccinated.

Then the Delta Variant struck 

It came like a thief in the night and nearly all of the progress made against the pandemic was lost.

The death toll among the unvaccinated went from just a few cases across the country in several months - to over 100,000 a day nationally.

The Delta Variant turned out to be more contagious and more severe than the original COVID-19.

Inject partisan politics and mass disinformation campaigns and the result has been chaos.

The CDC had to issue new masking regulations because of the new challenges the Delta Variant is presenting. 

Among the most challenged guidance is that vaccinated people have to wear masks again inside. It turns out they can infect others in this new reality.

However, this new guideline has been a river too far for Republicans, and some Democrats. Science deniers have seized on the change as proof the CDC doesn't know what its talking about.

Despite the explanation above, conspiracy theorists are using the changing rules as a cudgel against the CDC.

The worst part is that we've lost a lot of the progress made against the virus, and it's looking like last year as the infections continue to grow daily.

Because we live in a polarized country there's no unified effort to combat the variant. Being unvaccinated has become a badge of honor for Trump followers.

Now we're seeing people who are vaccinated getting pissed off at others who aren't following safety guidelines. 

This toxic atmosphere in our society, while facing the biggest health challenge in 100 years, is crippling the country. 

The confusion and chaos must end, or else democracy will.

Friday, July 30, 2021

You Have a Right to Be a Moron: Just Don't Expect The Rest of Us To Follow

MEMO: To all Americans who choose to deny reality and science;

-- You have the right to be a moron. 

Just don't expect the rest of us to go along with your conspiracy theories, lies about the 2020 election, and voter suppression.

-- You have the right to deny facts.

The rest of us have the right to ignore your lies and not be afraid to tell the truth.

-- You have the right to live in an alternative universe.

Just don't expect the rest of America to join you in fantasyland.

-- You have the right to worship Trump and kiss his ass daily.

Just know the rest of the world sees Trump as a malicious narcissist, world-class liar, and sociopath.

-- You have the right to call people libtards and communists if they don't believe in Lord Trump.

Americans have the right to denounce extremist Republicans and the trolls who support them.

-- You have the right to sow fear with false narratives among yourselves to get fired up.

The rest of us have the right to reject the malicious attacks you wage against reality and democracy.

-- You have the right to join cults like Trumpism.

We have the right to expose cults that are anti-American.

-- You have the right to deny history when it doesn't fit into your agenda.

-- The rest of us have the duty to preserve history - the good, bad, and the ugly for future generations.

In summary;

We live in a society where freedom is highly valued. We're willing to fight, and die for it. But freedom also brings other unintended price-tags that cost lives every day.

Americans have more guns than any nation in the world. We also lead the world in mass shootings. It's an uncomfortable fact that is imbedded into our society.

The bottom line however, is that we are free to do great things and stupid things.

Thursday, July 29, 2021

A New 'Big Lie' Emerges From Extreme House Republicans


Save the Prisoners! Matt Gaetz (front right) and Marjorie Taylor Greene (front left) are followed by their crazy comrades Louis Gohmert (behind Greene) and bringing up the rear (behind Gohmert) is Paul Gosar. 

After calling the Jan. 6 rioters "tourists" and "patriots," House Republicans have shifted to a new strategy... canonize the rioters who are still behind bars for attempting to overthrow the government.

Suddenly those wackos who attacked Capitol police are being called "political prisoners" by four of the craziest Republicans in the House.

The group, consisting of Louis Gohmert, Matt Gaetz, Paul Gosar, and Margie Taylor Greene, attempted to visit some of the prisoners in a detention facility in Washington D.C. on Thursday.

Their attempt was rejected and they were accused of trespassing. But it made great theatre for right-wing lunatics on cable TV and social media.

Their pathetic attempt to divert from the Jan. 6 Select Committee's mission would be laughable if it wasn't so treasonous.

One America News Network (where truth goes to die) and the Rightside Broadcasting Network which hosts a right-wing YouTube channel, followed the little group around like their actions were breaking news.

It was. In an alternative world where one Big Lie has already infested the Republican party. 

So, this latest attempt to create a new Big Lie by House Republicans is falling on deaf ears. The majority of Americans aren't comparing the insurrectionists to political saints... yet. At least sane Americans aren't.

To date, The Justice Department has reported arresting 535 people in connection to the insurrection.

As these prisoners move through the judicial process they're going to be charged with crimes despite GOP propaganda suggesting they're all being wronged and tortured.

With Trump leading Republicans around by the trunk nose the lies will continue to pile on - shiny objects spinning around in Trump World as the rest of us ignore their antics.

Wednesday, July 28, 2021

Another Fraud Lawsuit Advances Against Trump and His Children

Remember when the Trump crime family's charity organization was dissolved after ripping off veterans, other organizations, and individual donors?

Trump was forced to pay $2 million in court-ordered damages to eight different charities for illegally misusing charitable funds at the Trump Foundation in 2019.

Fast forward:

America's premier crime family is back in court for another fraud lawsuit promoting a marketing scam targeting the poor and working class.

A federal appeals court said today Trump and his adult children cannot move into arbitration a fraud lawsuit accusing them of exploiting their family name to promote a marketing scam.

Four plaintiffs in the proposed class action accused Trump, his children Donald Jr., Eric and Ivanka, and an affiliate of the Trump Organization of promoting American Communications Network in exchange for millions of dollars in secret payments from 2005 to 2015.

The plaintiffs said Trump's endorsement, including on episodes of his TV show "The Celebrity Apprentice," conned them into thinking their investments would pay off.

By now the Trump crime family's modus operandi is common knowledge. They're cheaters, liars, and lowlifes feeding off the American public.

For years Trump has been able to fend off the increasing lawsuits by burying them in the courts until they wither away.

That tactic is no longer working.

He's run out of appeals in several civil lawsuits that are going to end up in court now.

His presidential protections and immunity are no longer allowing him to put off court cases. A good example is the case filed in Manhattan against the Trump Organization. It's moving forward rapidly and may go to court this year.

I'm still amazed at how long Trump has avoided going to jail for his numerous crimes throughout his career. 

Despite his Mafia connections, and his dealings with Russian Oligarchs in real estate, he's been a "Teflon Don" out of the reach of justice.

The long awaited reckoning for Trump is coming from all directions. It's time to sit back and watch the hammer fall...repeatedly.

Tuesday, July 27, 2021

The 'Hitman' That Tried To Kill Our Electoral System: Jan. 6 House Select Committee Seeks Reckoning For Instigators

When Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn called Trump a "hitman" during the first meeting of the Jan. 6 House Select Committee, I knew Trump and his cronies were in trouble.

This committee is going to get to the bottom of what caused the insurrection. The committee's mission is clear - no stone unturned.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

D.C. Cop Refutes Newsmax Host's Bizarre Claim 

He Was Mistaken for Antifa at Capitol Riot

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi made sure the investigation wasn't going to be a circus by rejecting Minority Leader McCarthy's attempt to sabotage the proceedings by inserting two of his most outrageous clowns - Jim "Gym" Jordan and Jim Banks.

It's not clear when the next hearing will be held. Odds are, it'll happen after Congress takes its summer break.

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Things to keep in mind in advance of the next hearing:

-- House Majority Whip James Clyburn said that Trump could be called to testify - "if that's what it takes."

-- Jan. 6 House chairman, Bennie Thompson, made it clear NO ONE is off limits. "We have the subpoena authority." 

Thompson also made it clear that any administration officials who refuse to appear will face subpoenas and lawsuits.

-- There is a possibility that Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner will be called to testify.

-- There's a real good chance that Kevin McCarthy, and "Gym" Jordan will be called upon.

-- The committee has no deadline.

-- Committee members will meet with AG Merrick Garland to make sure investigations don't over lap with the existing criminal probes opened by the justice department, and the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia.

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I don't know how anyone who watched the four officers testify before the panel today, can be unmoved by their emotional appeals for justice.

It's easy to see why the Trumpian wing of the GOP are running scared and doubling down on their lies about the insurrection and the election.

I'm intrigued to see how non-Trump Republicans respond to their peers, Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger participating in the investigation. They're both true conservatives. 

Before all of this is over, the Republican party is going to go through even more turmoil as sanity slowly returns when Trump and his ilk start paying the price for their treasonous activities.

Monday, July 26, 2021

Trump Cult Followers and Other Assorted Conspiracy Nuts Are Looking Forward to August

The world is going to turn upside down in August.

Blue skies will become green. Grasslands will be a brilliant blue with lavender highlights.

And, Trump will be reinstated as president.

Social media trolls of all persuasions are experiencing a mass hallucination where their beloved leader will be restored sometime in August (according to users on YouTube the big day will be the 13th).

And, Trump will be crowned as "president" for life.

Fun fact check: There's no constitutional way for Trump to return to his old job.

Because Trump is such an epic bad loser, he's never going to quit his crusade against the constitution and our hard-fought for democracy.

No surprise to anyone, Trump is telling his closest allies that he thinks he'll be back in office this August.

I read a Political/Morning Consult poll that reported 29 percent of Republican voters believe Trump will return to the White House this year.

That's a lot of people living in an alternative universe. Worse yet, they can vote. 

Bat shit crazy Pillow Boy, Mike Lindell, is looking forward to August so he can share his latest looney event - a cyber symposium - that will motivate the Supreme Court to overthrow the election results with a 9-0 vote.

Like all the fake audits popping up in swing states, nothing is going to change the fact Joe Biden is our president. Reality does win out in the end.

The grass will still be green and the skies blue despite the assembled trolls best efforts.

Saturday, July 24, 2021

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.

Friday, July 23, 2021

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!

Thursday, July 22, 2021

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.

Tuesday, July 20, 2021

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.

Monday, July 19, 2021

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.

Trump's Lowest Grift Ever Saved for Holy Week

This is a story about how the devil's puppet, aka Donald Trump, mocked Christianity by selling a book combining the Bible, the Constitu...