I am dying of the schadenfreude: Republicans at the state and local level are drowning in bills, legal and otherwise, as the 'purists' in the far MAGA right 'punish' the 'RINOs'.
Mind: they are still very dangerous, and their backers are white supremacist billionaires, so 2024 is going to suck.
But boy, fuck all these assholes; may they stab each other's backs all year long. Hell, for the rest of their lives.
Everything is politics and all politics are connected. And so, for defending the humanity--and the human rights--of Palestinians, now the Squad is facing the AIPAC funding their opponents to the tune of A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS.
Please note: AIPAC has already spent money against progressive politicians. AIPAC represents Israel's government, not Jews who are critical of it, and not human rights.
#Palestine #FreedomToDissent #USPolitics
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2023/11/squad-primary-battle-israel-gaza-pacs.html
The U.S. #PressIsComplicit in cleaning up Trump's record on everything from abortion to gun violence; the same outlets, the same editors, in many cases the same reporters who cheered him on to the White House in 2016, then were "horrified" by him during his administration, are now right there, cheering him on again.
Then they'll bemoan that trust in the media is so low.
https://popular.info/p/how-trump-plays-the-media-on-abortion
Since the fall of Roe v. Wade, abortion has been a losing issue for Republicans. This was evident in this year’s election: in Ohio, voters approved a constitutional amendment to enshrine abortion rights. In Kentucky, pro-choice Governor Andy Beshear (D) won his re-election against a candidate who staunchly defended the state’s abortion ban. And, in Virginia, a state where Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin recently embraced a 15-week abortion ban, Democrats secured majorities in both chambers of the statehouse.
Via @georgelakoff:
People rarely vote for their own interests; they vote their values ("dying of whiteness" is a thing! that exists!).
https://framelab.substack.com/p/why-bidenomics-failed
I wrote about Biden's shitty poll numbers in September, and inadvertently made some of the same points--only from the perspective of someone struggling to make ends meet, while also terrified of a second Trump presidency.
https://herhandsmyhands.wordpress.com/2023/09/10/why-are-bidens-poll-numbers-so-bad/
Republicans have been working to defang the Voting Rights Act from the day it passed--and now they have a path to put it in front of the Roberts SCOTUS so that the white supremacists therein can finish the job once and for all.
And so we will have to suck it up and re-elect the same Democrats who flail about ineffectually, to try and protect what little remains of democracy.
PSA, because some people really struggle with context and nuance:
I don't want the openly-fascist Republicans in charge, but that doesn't mean I'm going to cater to your "can't criticize Democrats ever" fetish.
No, I don't mean "the two parties are the same"
As far as I'm concerned, Democrats aren't knights in shining armor coming to the rescue. With very, very few exceptions, Democrats are literally the centrist lesser evil.
And so we must elect them.
end of.
You know how it's a red flag when your date is rude to the waitperson?
Well, it's a nuclear explosion warning when they use a racist slur, a sexist slur *and* threaten to shoot the person they're speaking with--holds true for dates as well as politicians.
Meet #DanielBoman, #Alabama 5th District #GOP candidate, disbarred lawyer, also accused of stealing from an estate. Fucker changes parties as often as socks.
https://www.al.com/news/2023/11/alabama-gop-congressional-candidate-facing-theft-charge.html
Even when they aim for actual reporting, the NYT provides cover for Trump.
You'll notice they never actually say that Trump is lying as they report on his lies, and they subtly put Democrats concerns on the same footing as Trump's lies.
#USPolitics #2024Election #PressIsComplicit
gift link:
Trump is not hiding what he wants; it's what he expected the presidency to be for him. And this time he could get his wish--the same evil humans who tagged along with him are happy to go back (Ivanka, Jared, Stephen Miller, Bannon, Roger Stone and others)
Enough people who think that he will only dictate to Black people to Brown people, to Jews, to queers, etc., will vote for him come November
We must remind the rest what's a stake.
So, Colorado's supreme court ruled that an insurrectionist can't be in the presidential ballot, so, the GOP whined to the judges in their pockets over at #SCOTUS
But now, so has the Maine Secretary of State:
https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/28/politics/trump-maine-14th-amendment-ballot/index.html
Please note that putting "Trump denies all wrongdoing" in that piece is journalistic malfeasance.
And of course, now we get the "probably unrelated, nothing to see here, folks" from the cops, faithfully reported to by MSM.
Also evident, the blatant #Racism that sees Black men murdered by cops for existing, and white men, armed to their teeth, who break into and destroy public offices, taken to hospitals for mental health evaluations.
I said in another thread that the #PressIsComplicit, (CNN's coverage of the #Genocide of #Palestine being carried out by #Israel), when along comes the #AssociatedPress to prove my point, this time with the absolutely naked fascism-enabling "both sides" tweet about the #January6 #Insurrection attempt by Trump supporting MAGAts.
This headline? Complicity. The last line of the piece? a fig-leaf for "neutral" reporting.
#AP
https://apnews.com/article/biden-trump-january-6-anniversary-speech-campaign-0777d1f89342fac32bcc230d0d854043
Donald Trump plans to spend the third anniversary of the Capitol riot by campaigning in Iowa as he tries win back the White House. The former Republican president has two events planned for Saturday in the leadoff voting state Iowa as he marks the anniversary of what he has called “a beautiful day.” President Joe Biden will be at a site near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, on Friday where he's expected to press his case that Trump and top supporters of his “Make America Great Again” movement are threats to American democracy. Biden's visit has been moved up from Saturday due to weather concerns. The Capitol riot is increasingly viewed differently along partisan lines.
Both Trump and Biden are making January 6 a central part of their campaign, and here comes #CNN, making insurrectionists into sympathetic figures--because the #PressIsComplicit. We even get the diner!
The fucking "mom of eight" chose to storm the U.S. Capitol and participate in a motherfucking insurrection, Donie. Perhaps lead with that, you asshole.
PSA: if you live in North Carolina or know anyone who does, please pass them this link: https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/commissioner-agriculture-north-carolina-democrat/
It's shocking how often local races that are entirely winnable, for little money, and that can make a huge difference down the road, are ignored entirely by the "serious political analysts" in the national press' radar.
If you can, support @sarahtaber: https://mastodon.online/@sarahtaber/111743794485303819
Interview with courtroom sketch artist Christine Cornell (who draws Trump, among many others in a professional career spanning 49 years!)
#Trump #USPolitics #2024Election
https://www.thehandbasket.co/p/christine-cornell-trump-courtroom-sketches
(hat tip to @whetstone for the link)
So, guess who has to either pay about $82MILLION to E. Jean Carroll directly, or, if he wants to appeal the decision, deposit the full amount with the court?
#TrumpTheLoser #EJeanCarroll #TrumpTrials
https://www.politico.com/news/2024/01/26/trump-trial-jean-carroll-defamation-verdict-00138171
Honestly, this is why I'm terrified this year. We all know that if Trump wins, his first presidency will look like peaceful Eden in comparison, and yet, there's a very real possibility that white progressives will "punish Biden" (for everything from COVID to Gaza) by staying home and letting it happen rather than voting strategically.
People always say Americans treat politics like a team sport, but it’s not true. Republicans treat politics like it’s a team sport. Democrats treat politics like *hipster teenagers* treat sports: oh sportsballs are all the same lol can you even imagine giving a shit (except that one sportsthing I know WAY too much about. Oh you’ve probably never heard of it but it’s the only part that matters) And NO I will NOT come to practice it’s a waste of time what do you mean we lost this is an outrage
Watching this More Perfect Union conversation with three of the five U.S Representatives who have flipped Trump districts, about how they managed it, especially with little (and often misguided) support from the DNC, and boy, would someone please listen to them?
Also, if you want to help someone who's doing it right for the right reasons, consider donating to @sarahtaber
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9k2zsVGPFA
And there it is: D.C appeals court held that #Trump can be prosecuted for, essentially, attempting coup.
Of course, with this #SCOTUS, who knows what will actually happen next.
https://www.cnbc.com/2024/02/06/trump-election-case-appeals-court-denies-ex-president-immunity.html
If there's a god, may they help us.
Rachel Maddow's highlights for 2/5, on the, essentially, dissolution of the Republican party as a political party, into becoming the cult of one man (yes, it's been happening over eight years, it's now essentially done)
ETA: my hope is that a national party coalesces to the LEFT of the DNC (and no, I don't count the split-the-vote Green Party there, YMMV)
Let us all note that just a few months ago, #SCOTUS pompously "adopted" a toothless code of ethics that today #ClarenceThomas flaunted by sitting at arguments over the insurrection that his fucking wife was helping organize.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGxSgsYoJMo
Here's Maddow's segment tonight:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2-CGyBWvro
https://www.supremecourt.gov/about/Code-of-Conduct-for-Justices_November_13_2023.pdf
Joy Reid tonight:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDnwdO_jNeY
Republicans on abortion: STATES' RIGHTS!
Republicans on SCOTUS: indeed.
Colorado and Maine on article 3 of amendment 14: STATES' RIGHTS!
Republicans on SCOTUS: not so fast, there, how dare you.
#SCOTUS #2024Election #USPolitics
Because it bears repeating: #ClarenceThomas is breaking the law by sitting on cases where he should have recused himself
Because things happen everywhere and they're all connected to some degree, we need to contextualize Putin's threats to Poland and #Trump's threats to #NATO from several points of view.
#RachelMaddow contextualizes the latest legal happenings in the Trump #2024Election and other legal woes here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPkxf9M9QwU
However, for the Poland/Putin/NATO angle, it's worth reading @oldladyplays's post here for non-US centric context::
https://wargamers.social/@oldladyplays/111923975490232537
TFW you see #MitchMcConnell in the news and are disappointed it's not because he's dead.
Ah well.
As usual, the #PressIsComplicit: look at the AP characterizing Trump's rabid ranting as "fiery populism", and the shifting of the GOP from already-assholes to open fascism as "ideological transition"
Mitch McConnell says he'll step down as Senate Republican leader in November. The 82-year-old Kentucky lawmaker is the longest-serving Senate leader in history. He's maintained his power in the face of dramatic changes in the Republican Party. He made the announcement Wednesday on the Senate floor. He said that “one of life’s most underappreciated talents is to know when it’s time to move on to life’s next chapter." McConnell says he plans to serve out his Senate term, which ends in January 2027, “albeit from a different seat in the chamber.”
I live ever in hope about his death.
Man, when his hands were all purple and swollen, I had a bottle of cheap fizzy *ready to GO*.
I have no shame about this.
@JoanGrey The only thing better than his death would be his death as a pauper, having to beg for health care from the system he helped design to deny care.
If there's hell, I hope he'll eventually roast in there for longer than the universe may exist.
From your mouth to god's ear.
azteclady has moved
Joan Grey