49) Excellent piece on the heavy lift faced by #JoeBiden on switching #Ohio back to the #DemocraticParty column

#Biden identifies as an old style #Democrat who represents the interest of the #WorkingClass. Post #NAFTA, many Ohioans felt abandoned by the Democratic Party and became more receptive to the #GOP. Reversing Ohio voters perception of the Democratic Party as solely interested in the issues of the coastal elites, will be challenging.

#Politics #Election2024

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/sep/10/ohio-democrats-biden-working-class

50) To the absolute non surprise of anyone following #USPolitics, #KevinMcCarthy gave the green light to an #impeachment inquiry directed against #JoeBiden

In times past, presidential impeachment was reserved for overt misdeeds, think Nixon and the #Watergate break in. Now #GOP politics has degenerated to the point where political payback and #Trump fealty outweighs facts and evidence gathering

#Politics #Biden #HunterBiden #HardRight #FreedomCaucus #RightWing

https://www.npr.org/2023/09/12/1198922531/mccarthy-biden-impeachment-inquiry

51) A great piece on #MittRomney from in #TheAtlantic.

What is most disturbing is the profound isolation of Romney from his senatorial colleagues many who agree with him have opted to place their position and attendant reelection prospects above any sense of fidelity to the US Constitution

There is no honor left in the #GOP. The last honorable man in that caucus, that believed his oath, is walking away from the crumbling remains of the #RepublicanParty

#Politics

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2023/11/mitt-romney-retiring-senate-trump-mcconnell/675306/

52) #Wisconsin will be one of the battleground statres of #Election2024. The state will also be host to the #GOP convention.

The GOP dominates the state legislature and is attempting to remove a recently elected liberal justice from the state supreme court. Why?

With the election of Justice Protasiewicz, Wisoconsin's Supreme Court now has a liberal majority. That majority will likely redraw the Gerrymandered State and Federal election districts

#Politics

https://talkingpointsmemo.com/cafe/wisconsin-gop-threat-to-impeach-protasiewicz-is-unsupported-by-law-and-undermines-judicial-independence

53) The #GOP state party has a lot of variables to consider should they opt to use #impeachment in attempting to remove Justice Protasiewic. There is no guiding ethical precedent for such an action

Excellent exchange between Ben Wikler, the #Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair and Josh Marshall of @tpm_rss_bot at the video 🔽 .

The #GOP seems to have found itself under increasing national scrutiny as this drama plays out. More to come!

#USPoliticsw #StatePolitics

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEXf_BbtgJM

54) A third party, #Election2024 candidate is a big concern for the #Biden re-election campaign.

What disturbs #Democrats sleep at night is that #NoLabels will put up a plausible #centrist candidate who will draw votes from #JoeBiden

In theory, more choice is better right? Not in America, and right wing #oligarch types understand this, it's why they're playing with the notion, and looking for a political patsy to do their bidding

#Politico has part of the story here:

https://www.politico.com/news/2023/08/30/trump-donor-no-labels-adviser-00113395

55) In a similar vein, to the prior post, #CornelWest's #GreenParty candidacy, poses a threat to #JoeBiden and while I’m an admirer of Professor West, it would be better if he joined forces with #Biden to defeat the existential threat to democracy that is #DonaldTrump

#BernieSanders understands what it is at stake in #Election2024

#Politics #USPolitics

https://www.politico.com/news/2023/08/27/sanders-biden-cornel-west-00113123

56) Despair is setting in for the monied types who wanted a nonsense free candidate as an alternative to #DonaldTrump

As #Trump support continues to coalesce in the #GOP primary, oligarch checkbooks are shutting.

There are rumblings that #NikkiHaley might be an alternative but it’s questionable those rumaors will manifest into a gusher of life giving campaign cash.

Politico has the story on the richies’ handwringing 🔽

https://www.politico.com/news/2023/09/25/who-wants-to-get-involved-and-waste-money-some-gop-donors-give-up-on-finding-an-alternative-to-trump-00117772

#Election2024 #Politics #USPolitics

58) #DonaldTrump and his companies ruled to have engaged in fraud. Specifically #Trump inflated his assets to borrow money from banks

The ruling was accompanied with an order which effectively cancelled the right of #Trump to business in #NewYork

#Election2024 #Politics

https://www.politico.com/news/2023/09/26/trump-fraud-trial-inflate-net-worth-00118269

59) With the #UAWStrike almost 2 weeks old, #DonaldTrump went to #Michigan to posture as a supporter of American labor.

What did he do? He held his event in a non-unionized parts plant where he railed against #ElectricVehicles and environmentalists

#Trump does not care about #OrganizedLabor, the #environment and the #EV transition

Trump wants Americans to use 19th century fuel and 20th century tech in the 21st century. The #oilygarchy has no better advocate

#politics

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2023/09/27/donald-trump-returns-auto-industry-strike-uaw-ev-taking-center-stage-presidential-election-joe-biden/70960155007/

60) Tomorrow, the Sunday politics talk shows will be filled with spinning about who blinked first on the threat of a government #Shutdown

Let’s start here, #KevinMcCarthy blinked. #McCarthy understands that shutdowns are bad #politics and have yet to yield a positive result for the #GOP at the ballot box

Assuming the #Senate passes the bill, the next item in the immediate future is whether the #Speaker will face a vote to remove him by the #FreedomCaucus

https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2023/09/30/congress/stopgap-passes-00119280

61) The #GovernmentShutdown is a creation of the #GOP. The #RepublicanParty only becomes interested in #BalancedBudgets when out of, or with limited power.

Inevitably, the GOP’s onset of fiscal rectitude is accompanied by a desire to cut #spending which in turn will be used to reward the donor class with #TaxCuts. There is never any interest on the other side of the budgetary equation, namely raising taxes on the wealthy

This is the only governance idea the GOP has: #TaxCutsForTheRich

62) While a shutdown has been averted with stopgap funding, we get to do this all over again in November.

It is important to frame the chaos properly, shutdowns are a #GOP thing. A casual browse of history tells us that. This is part of a decades long #RepublicanParty effort to convince America that Washington is dysfunctional

So let’s be clear, the GOP is the party of dysfunction. These budget fights are a feature not a flaw in their strategy.

#Politics #UsPolitics

https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2023/09/30/congress/senate-votes-averts-shutdown-00119301

63) Pete Buttigieg, Secretary of Transportation explains the expense associated with a government #Shutdown threat.

#Buttigieg outlines the consequences of another similar action when the 45-day stopgap funding is used up

It's always a pleasure to listen to #PeteButtigieg who is articulate on the challanges of being in #government. He makes a refreshing diversion from the incoherence of what passes as political discourse on most TV coverage

#Politics #USPolitics

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YspK8N6yZek

65) The noose is tightening for #DonaldTrump as some of his co-conspirators start to plea out on their collective effort to subvert the presidential election in #Georgia.

The threat of the presentation of facts in a court of law does wonderful things to concentrate the mind. 😜

With both #Chesebro and #SidneyPowell taking a plea, I expect they will be required to testify to #Trump’s instructions as he attempted to subvert the election

#Politics #USPolitics

https://www.politico.com/news/2023/10/20/kenneth-chesebro-an-architect-of-trumps-fake-elector-scheme-pleads-guilty-in-georgia-00122758

66) Meanwhile over in the #HouseofRepresentatives, #GOP dysfunction is on full display as #JimJordan’s effort to accede to the #SpeakerOfTheHouse implodes

Given the #Republican Party’s dedication to the elimination of government, it’s not a surprise that they can’t implement anything approaching party discipline. The party with each passing month has become profoundly undemocratic

#UsSPolitics #Democracy #HouseSpeaker #houseGOP

https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2023/10/20/congress/jordan-fails-again-00122706

67) For those with a deeper interest in the American political scene, this 3-parter #podcast from @ProPublica and #OnTheMedia, should be required listening.

In the past few years the impact of a multiple decade effort to swing the courts dramatically to the right of public concensus, is obvious to all but the somnolent

The series documents how one man, Leonard Leo, became and is an important player in the radicalization of the judiciary

#Politics #Justice #Law

https://www.propublica.org/article/we-dont-talk-about-leonard-podcast

68) #DonaldTrump and #RudyGiuliani must be feeling increasingly queasy as #JennaEllis, a third #Trump attorney, has now copped a deal rather than face legal jeopardy at the hands of #FaniWillis in #Georgia

It's not a good situation for a defendent when many subbordinated in the decision tree opt to avoid going down with the ship. I supose the big question is whether #Rudy will odp to plea out as well?

#Politico has the details 🔽

#Politics #USPolitics #Election2024

https://www.politico.com/news/2023/10/24/another-trump-lawyer-who-pushed-to-overturn-2020-election-pleads-guilty-00123163

69) Meanwhile over in the #House we have the latest candidate for #speaker in the form of #TomEmmer of #Minnesota's 6th district.

There are plenty of cracks in plain sight and hard core #Trumpist types cite Emmer's vote to certify the presidential election on #Jan6 as being problematic.

He is rumored to be too liberal for the #FarRight types who are not appeased by his support for lawsuits which would have nullfied #SwingState votes

#Politics #USPolitics #HouseOfReps

https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2023/10/24/congress/banks-00123253

70) And just like that, #TomEmmer's candidacy ends as he is branded a #RINO by #DonaldTrump.

The chaos will continue, much to the delight of the #HardRight of the #GOP who are uninterested in governing and more engaged by theatrical media appearence.

This is what it means to support #Trump's #Republican Party. It has been remade in his image, increasing populated with chaos monkies

#USPolitics #Politics #Speaker

https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2023/10/24/congress/trump-calls-republicans-on-speaker-race-00123281

71) The news flow appears to be quickening on multiple fronts, If #Meadows is now testifying against #DonaldTrump, there will be little place for the former president to hide

#USPolitics #Politics #Election2024

https://abcnews.go.com/US/chief-staff-mark-meadows-granted-immunity-tells-special/story?id=104231281

72) Next up in the #HouseSpeaker derby is Mike Johnson from #Louisiana’s 4th. Johnson, a lawyer, ticks the box from a #DonaldTrump fealty POV, having defended the former president during the impeachment trials

The #HardRight will support his opposition to financial support for the #UkraineWar

He is a #ChristianRight #SocialConservative, opposing #GayMarriage, #Abortion etc

#USPolitics #SpeakerOfTheHouse #Speaker #GOP

https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2023/10/24/congress/next-up-mike-johnson-00123404

73) One drama has ended with the election of Mike Johnson. The question is whether he will be able to manage his fractious caucus and legislate

Where will Johnson stand on the #Ukraine War funding effort? Initially he was supportive of the war, now like make of his party, he is making reluctance noises. Will things change now that he has the #Speaker's gavel?

#Politics #USPolitics #HouseofReps #Congress

https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2023/10/25/congress/johnson-takes-it-00123512

74) Much has been made of #JoeBiden’s verbal gaffes and supposed age related confusion in the #NewsMedia

Given #DonaldTrump’s rambling, non sequitor style of speaking, he appears to have been given a free pass

Today, the #NYTimes decided to call attention to Trump’s recent confusions

#Politics #USPolitics #Election2024

🔑 https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/30/us/politics/trump-biden-age.html

75) File this one under remedial geographic education needed for presidential candidate

In 1976, Gerald Ford got slated for an absurd statement on the nature of of Soviet influence in Eastern Block countries. The response was appropriate. Expectations for a president should be higher.

Yet when #DonaldTrump gaffes on the location of #Hungary, it is mostly unnoticed.

What does that say about the #Newsmedia ecosystem in the United States?

#USPolitics

https://www.politico.eu/article/us-donald-trump-hungary-orban-borders-russia-map-again/

76) One year from today, Americans will vote for the next President in #Election2024.

It’s virtually certain that #JoeBiden and #DonaldTrump will go face off again.

Today, the #NYTimes and #SiennaCollege published a battleground state poll containing sobering cross tabs for the #Biden campaign

A lot can happen in a year, but will Americans opt for the return of #Trump despite the multiple indictments faced by the former president?

#USPolitics #Politics

https://scri.siena.edu/2023/11/05/among-registered-voters-trump-tops-biden-in-nevada-by-11-points-georgia-by-7-arizona-by-5-pennsylvania-by-4-michigan-by-3-biden-up-in-wisconsin-by-3-points/

77) Yesterday's polling results for the #DemocraticParty provided a relieving counterweight to the recent polling of next year's expected #Trump - #Biden showdown

Clearly it was a good night for the Democrats, but will the results of an off-year election carry forward to #Election2024?

Is polling conducted primarily by phone still a reliable indicator of public sentiment? In an age of caller id, who is answering these polling phone calls?

#USPolitics #Politics

https://www.politico.com/news/2023/11/08/election-day-2023-results-takeaways-00126035

78) What will the impact be of #DonaldTrump's #VerminSpeech?

It seems to me that #Election2024 will be a campaign of thirds. One third of the country loves #Trump and another third loathes him.If both of these voting blocks turn out in force, they will cancel each other out.

That leaves the middle third who can swing either way. Will they be encouraged to fall in line on the back of increased hatre speech?

#Politics #USPolitics

https://newrepublic.com/article/176877/trump-vermin-speech-nazi-language

79) I’m wary about tossing around the word #Fascist and drawing #Hitler comparisons when talking about #DonaldTrump. His Veteran’s Day #VerminSpeech has removed any misgivings.

While #Trump has yet to achieve the level of power accrued by #AdolphHitler, it’s clear that both he and his enablers intend to establish an authoritarian state where those who he does not like, or who oppose him will rightfully fear for their lives

Good piece ⬇️ from NYMag

#USPolitics

https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2023/11/trump-vermin-hitler.html

80) In November 1923, Adolph Hitler attempted to seize power in what is now referred to as the Beer Hall Putsch. There are eerie similarities playing out in #USPolitics right now with #DonaldTrump going full #Fascist. I’m reminded of the #MarkTwain quote

“History Doesn't Repeat Itself, but It Often Rhymes”

If you’re not familiar with Hitler’s 1923 abortive grab for power, here’s an excellent conversation with historian Mark Jones on the #DavidMcWilliams #podcast

https://overcast.fm/+SE4zcnbPo

81) in a bizarre twist to the #Jan6 insurrection case, #DonaldTrump’s lawyers are now citing Russian election interference in 2016 as a reason for #Trump’s distrust of the 2020 election result

Trump has long denied, Russia’s efforts as a contributing factor in his 2016 election victory. Expecting factual consistency from the former president and his lawyers is not to be expected if a legal advantage is possible

#USPolitics #Election2024

https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/trump-touts-intel-community-hes-long-besmirched-in-bid-to-defend-jan-6-charges

82) There is nothing much left of the man known as #DonaldTrump, just a shell dreaming of revenge and the opportunity to vent his anger.

There are reasons for the way he is, it is sad to see somebody so broken. There is no joy in his life he is a pitiable creature

His Thanksgiving message ⬇️ is just one example of how he can never miss an opportunity to rage

To build, joy is needed in the heart, to destroy utterly requires only rage

https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/4324656-trump-thanksgiving-prosecutor-radical-left-lunatics

#USPolitics #Election2024

83) Much of the ugly anger that currently swirls through #USPolitics is directed at the #LGBTQI community. A significant portion of that rage is based on an interpretation of Biblical verses translated into English.

What if that post war translation was wrong?

This is a #film that needs to be supported as it attacks religious bigotry at its root

#Homophobia #Religion #Bible #Documentary #Movie

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/dec/01/christian-homophobia-bible-mistranslation-1946-documentary

84) Funding for the #UkraineWar is now tied up in the #Senate by the #GOP who want #border policy changes

Seems like the #RepublicanParty are now willing to sacrifice geopolitical stability unless they get their way on border priorities

#USPolitics

https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2023/12/06/congress/senate-gop-blocks-foreign-aid-ukraine-border-00130387

85) Good piece featuring #KevinMcCarthy from the folks at #CBSSundayMorning.

Make sure you watch to the end where the former speaker is called out for kissing #DonaldTrump’s ring at Mar-A-Lago only weeks after condemning Trump for fomenting the attempted #Jan6 coup

Reporter Robert Costa does not pull any punches when he accuses McCarthy of ignoring #Trump’s incipient #Fascism and thirst for retribution. There is no core to McCarthy, just an empty suit

#USPolitics

https://youtu.be/ClzkKXh9lxs?si=13PLgmdiMhLvKjhs

86) Today we’ll witness the sad spectacle of President #Zelensky lobbying #MikeJohnson for #UkraineWar support.

That request will fall on deaf ears

Let’s be clear what is going on here. It is not about budgetary prudence nor is it about the #SouthernBorder.

It is about what #Trump wants and #DonaldTrump loves #Putin. The continuation of European democracy is irrelevant to the Trumpist #GOP who care for nothing except for what #garchs desire

#USPolitics

https://thehill.com/newsletters/morning-report/4355200-zelensky-lobbies-speaker-for-ukraine-aid/

87) Lets be clear here. the GOP congressional concern on the security of the #SouthernBorder is simply a convenient blocking deflection

Congressional #Republicans are busy tugging their forelocks before #DonaldTrump. Republican Senators don't care about geopolitical stability, they just want to keep #Trump happy who in turn wants to keep his friend #Putin happy, so no funding from the US for the #UkraineWar

#USPolitics #Politics #Ukraine #UkraineRussiaWar

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/12/us/politics/republicans-zelensky-border-ukraine-aid.html

88) Oh dear, file this one under when bad things happen to bad people.

Naturally this will be appealed and recent news articles indicate the #RudyGiuliani’s personal finances are in poor shape. Bankruptcy looms as part of the final humiliation for #NYC’s former mayor

https://www.npr.org/2023/12/15/1219048410/giuliani-defamation-trial-money-georgia-election-workers

#Republicans #DonaldTrump #Trump #USPolitics #Politics #Ukraine

@mnutty

I saw the breaking notice on my tablet and cheered.

Scared the dog.

@McPatrick

It is extraordinary how this man has destroyed his reputation on behalf of a narcissist who won’t lift a finger to help him.

I will add that #Giuliani’s reputation was unjustifiably inflated as a result of 9/11. He was much lauded for his presence on the streets of #NYC that day.

New Yorkers though know he was out and about because his emergency center was in the WTC, a decision he had made that policy experts had counseled against

#USPolitics