122) Some have posited that #Election2024 will be the first #AI #Election
Looks like a certain #Texas based corporation by the name of Life Corporation and its owner Walter Monk can expect to experience some deep law enforecement scrutiny for deceptively impersonating Pres #JoeBiden's voice
Hopefuly this will pursued agressively to dissaude other dirty trick types
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/06/us/politics/biden-robocall-new-hampshire.html
123) Excellent piece from #HCR on the #NewsMedia, Pres #Biden is losing it campaign. Required reading for thoughtful types
Let’s be clear, there is a perverse incentive faced by many for-profit #journalism outfits. A close race, increases clicks, reads, views, listens.
The owners of many of these corporations are also likely fond of billionaire friendly tax policies that #Trump will support
https://open.substack.com/pub/heathercoxrichardson/p/february-9-2024
Yesterday, Special Counsel Robert Hur, appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland in January 2023 to investigate President Joe Biden’s handling of classified documents before he was president, released his report. It begins: “We conclude that no criminal charges are warranted in this matter. We would reach the same conclusion even if Department of Justice policy did not foreclose criminal charges against a sitting president.” The Department of Justice closed a similar case against former Vice President Mike Pence on June 1, 2023, days before Pence announced his presidential bid, with a brief, one-page letter.
124) As sure as day follows night, #Trump dusts off his #Putin loving playbook
Just par for the course for a man who has more contempt than understanding of the world order established through the sacrifice of the greatest generation 80 years ago
As #NancyPelosi said of #DonaldTrump back in 2019 :
“With him, all roads lead to Putin”
🔑 https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/11/us/politics/trump-nato.html
125) It’s more than troubling that #NikkiHaley has to advise voters that #Trump’s anti-NATO #Putin hugging utterances are a problem
Why #DonaldTrump is so quick to to embrace the geopolitical goal’s of #Russia’s arch murderer is a matter of speculation
Maybe it’s #Kompromat, maybe if a love of #petrogarch oil money or just #autocracy fan boy stuff
Whatever, it’s hugely dangerous to world peace
126) Sometimes i agree with even the most obnoxious of Republicans
127) There is more blood on the hands of #VladimirPutin with the death of #Aleksei Navalny today in a remote Russian prison
Sadly #Putin’s regime of enablers is not confined to #Russia. Far too many #GOP types are obediently following #Trump’s autocratic loving “leadership” and betraying #Ukraine by withholding financial support for the #UkraineRussiaWar
An ugly day for freedom and democracy. RIP #Navalny
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/16/world/europe/aleksei-navalny-dead-russia.html
128) I'm rarely aligned with #MikePence. Frankly his #politics are pretty much diametrically oppoed to mine.
However today we're in agreement, on the this saddest of days ,when a brave man has died far from friends and family in a Russian penal colony
Those #GOP politicians that equivocate and waffle when it comes to supporting #Ukraine in #Congress are aiding and abetting #Putin. #Democracy and geopolitical stability are at stake
https://thehill.com/policy/international/4472262-pence-gop-putin-apologists-navalny-death
Former Vice President Mike Pence said Friday is no room in the Republican party for “apologists” for President Vladimir Putin after Russian authorities reported the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Pence issued a strong rebuke of the Russian leader in a series of posts on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Putin is a…
129) Cash is getting a little tight in #Trump world. Apparently inflating one’s net worth to the size of a bull frog is not a winning business strategy.
The #Engoron ruling requires the posting of a bond or actual cash within 30 days.
Given the former president’s has filched much of the cash from those foolish enough to donate his collection of PACs, I imagine his current crop of attorneys must be wondering if they’ll be paid
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/16/nyregion/trump-civil-fraud-trial-ruling.html
130) Central to #Trumpist politics is the stoking and packaging of fear which produces and reinforces a radicalized #FarRight.
Few produce fear based #TV better than #Sinclair broadcasting and that fear and its ugly stepchildren, anger and revenge, are the fuel for #Trump’s election campaign. Nothing else is being offered beyond vengeance
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/02/16/sinclair-broadcasting-conservative-media-trump
131) I've watched this scene before from the #WestWing. It still speaks powerfully to me especially when I hear some awful unctous biblical reference to justify something reprehensible
The #Bible is filled with contradictions and peculiarities and for politicians, who like to use"Tthe Good Book" as justification, #Shakespeare in the Merchant of Venice reminds us that "The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose" likely based on his reading of Luke 4:9-13
132) The tortured #GOP efforts to conflate #HunterBiden's troubles into a Joe #Biden corruption story continues to be confronted by embarassing realities and truths
Sadly the smear, rather than the truth, aided and abetted by the velocity of #SociaMedia and a variety of #GOP useful idiots continues their contribution to the deterioration of American #democracy
There will be no shameful admissions nor acknowledgement of error. This is the #RepublicanParty
https://apnews.com/article/hunter-biden-burisma-fbi-informant-lying-6969656f6012780a23a4b8841ce2689b
An FBI informant has been charged with lying to authorities about a multimillion-dollar bribery scheme between President Joe Biden, his son Hunter and a Ukrainian energy company. The claim is central to a Republican impeachment inquiry in Congress. Prosecutors say Alexander Smirnov falsely told FBI agents in June 2020 that executives associated with the Ukrainian energy company Burisma paid Hunter and Joe Biden $5 million each in 2015 or 2016. The allegations became a flashpoint in Congress over the summer as Republicans demanded the FBI release the unredacted form documenting the allegations as they pursued investigations of President Biden and his family. An attorney for Smirnov declined to comment on the allegations.
133) I watched the #Oscar nominated “20 Days in Mariupol” last night. It is not for the faint of heart.
It depicts the horror of the #RussiaUkraineWar and its devastating impact on civilian populations
Should be required viewing for #GOP types withholding their support for #Ukraine and think geopolitical stability is to be sacrificed on the altar of #Trump’s slavish fanboy love of #Putin
134) Nobody was surprised by the outcome of the #SouthCarolina primary.
The word “trounce” is being used by the #NewsMedia in describing #Trump’s victory, but 40% of #SC’s voters preferred #NikkiHaley which in #RedState land ain’t exactly a glowing endorsement
Will these disgruntled voters show up for #DonaldTrump in November? What does that presage for Independent voters?
#USPolitics #Politics #Election2024
https://www.politico.com/news/2024/02/24/south-carolina-takeaways-trump-haley-00143177
135) Some interesting data from the #SouthCarolina exit poll conducted by the @washingtonpost
When it comes to voters motivated primarily by concerns over temperament (16% of the total), 95% voted for #NikkiHaley
36% of #SC #GOP voters indicate that #Trump criminal conviction woukd render him unfit the presidency
https://www.washingtonpost.com/elections/2024/02/24/south-carolina-exit-polls/
136) it seems that the #SupremeCourt has decided to slow-walk #DonaldTrump’s date with justice.
What tortured reasoning is behind the court’s reasoning in taking a case deciding whether Trump’s expectation of eternal presidential immunity remains to be seen.
The certainty that #Trump will face trial on #Jan6 charges prior to the #Election2024 is now in serious doubt. It’s up to voters to end Trump’s drive for autocracy
#Politics #USPolitics
https://www.npr.org/2024/02/29/1235017841/supreme-court-trump-immunity-hearing
137) Like many folks who abhor #DonaldTrump, I was disappointed that the #SupremeCourt decided to take Trump’s presidential immunity case.
The notion that #POTUS is immune from prosecution in a republic which champions the rule of law is patently absurd.
But this blog post makes the case that rather than slow walking multiple #Trump cases, it may ultimately speed things up
Worth a read 👇
138) For months I’ve read a variety of news stories positing alternatives to the #Biden vs #Trump match up. My political calculus leaned heavily in favor of the that likelihood
It is not that I would have wished otherwise. The persistence of #DonaldTrump in American political life is sad testimony to the degradation of #USPolitics
Despite #JoeBiden’s political successes, I wish he was 10 years younger, but he is not and he will have my unqualified support
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/06/us/politics/trump-biden-rematch-election.html
139) Clearly I’m late realizing there is a term for the odd voice used by Senator #KatieBritt of #Alabama in her state of the union response.
I was trying to put my finger on the tone which seemed to vacillate between someone fearful of an off camera kidnapper and a fervent supporter of #Torquemada
With thanks to #JessPiper for introducing #BabyFundieVoice to my vocabulary.
Now, if only I could unhear Senator Britt
https://open.substack.com/pub/jesspiper/p/the-fundie-baby-voice
140) Of course #KatieBritt Senator from #Alabama has now been caught in a lie about the awful sex trafficking story she recounted in her #SOTU response
The case she describes did not happen in the USA and did not happen during the #Biden administration. Apparently the case dates back to Bush II 2004 - 2008
The #Trumpist #GOP modus operandi: fear mongering, lying and BSing is all they have
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/09/us/politics/katie-britt-republican-response-sotu-border.html
141) Sometimes one has to step back, take a moment, and laugh.
The madhouse that is American #politics reached a whole new pitch with Senator #KatieBritt’s #SOTU response
Unsurprisingly the junior Senator from #Alabama provided rich fodder for #SNL delivered pitch perfect #ScarlettJohanson
142) Sometimes a single panel #cartoon does more to capture an important truism than a 1,000 words.
Will the #SupremeCourt act as a guardian of American #democracy or will they provide #Trump with an #autocracy imprimatur?
#politics #USPolitics #Election2024
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/3/9/2228532/-Cartoon-Royal-court
143) #Election2024 will be driven by turning out the base for both #Biden and #Trump respectively
While the #Trump fan base continues to be motivated, the support for #NikkiHaley during the #GOP primaries reveals fault lines which are being exploited by conservative #NeverTrump types
Cracking #Republican turnout is one of many factors which will yield a #JoeBiden win on Election Day
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/12/us/politics/republican-voters-against-trump.html
144) We all have #liberal friends who have expressed misgivings about the upcoming election #Biden is too old etc.
#Democracy will only be preserved in #Election2024 if the #Democratic base turns out in big numbers and we manage to persuade enough of the middle 1/3 of the country to see things our way
So when you see a liberal friend vacillating about #voting, have them watch this viedo from @DavidPepper
RINSE AND REPEAT!
Which Freedoms Are You Willing to Give Up?
145) I’ve long ceased attempts to divine exactly what #Trump means in his rambling incoherent speeches.
Frankly the #GOP nominee may not really understand what he is saying himself beyond his craven need for the adulation he receives when he uses words like “bloodbath” and the vilification of #immigrants.
Anger and revulsion seem core to Trump’s essence and something he seeks to stoke in his #Trumpist fan base
#USPolitics #Politics #Election2024
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/03/16/trump-immigrants-not-people/
146) When #Trump makes fun of those who suffer from a #disability, how do his supporters feel about that?
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/03/trump-disabilities-supporters-responses/677812
147) Good piece this morning on the recent #bloodbath #Trump rally. Much has been made of the use of that word which was used in reference to the auto industry. A case could be made that many #NewsMedia orgs ran with stories without context
Far more important was the bizarre lionization of #Jan6 insurrectionists. Give this story a listen
147) Good article on #Bloomberg on how tax policy can be used by #JoeBiden in #Election2024
Clearly #TaxTheRich polls well. I'd add branding the #GOP as the party of rapacious #billionaires is a good idea
148) #ReproductiveRights will be a keystone issue in #Election2024, but it is also an issue in #Alabama tomorrow where a comptitive state house election will take place.
Keep an eye on this election as it will be an important indication on how energized voters are on this issue, particularly #WomenRights voters
149) #ReproductiveRights has not gone away as a key issue in #Election2024
This special statehouse election in #Alabama today has reminded just how potent that issue is and that the #GOP cannot slide away from the consequences of their regressive judicial appointments and anti-abortion legislation.
https://www.politico.com/news/2024/03/26/abortion-winning-strategy-alabama-democrat-00149205
150) #KariLake admits she’s a liar and defamed #GOP election official, Stephen Richer with false claims of election rigging following her defeat in the #Arizona 2022 governor’s race.
Lake is a typical GOP American #fascist with no regard for the truth and will pay the electoral price when she loses in her quest for the open #AZ senate seat
151) Almost all the American veterans who fought in WWII are gone. They are no longer here to tell us about the price paid in defeating #facism in Europe
Those very few left must shudder when they hear the #fascist language used by #Trump and the sycophantic support chorus that is the #GOP
#Election2024 will be about preserving the #democracy that they saved 80 years ago.
#Politics #USPolitics #Election2024 #AmericanFascism
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/3/30/2232110/-Cartoon-Fighting-fascism
152) The latest #Trump grift in the form of #TruthSocial was floated on the #StockMarket last week. The fan base cluelessly piled into the stock. Bidding up the value of the company to about $8 billion. Today gravity made itself known as the value slid south.
Here’s the thing, #DJT has 1 million monthly users, when #ElonMusk bought #Twitter with more than 200 million users he paid $44 billion. #Musk overpaid by 50%
Math tells me train wreck is a certainty. LOL
153) On the two candidates running for the Presidency in #Election2024, I couldn't put it more succinctly:
154) Now here’s a huge surprise #Trump’s new grift in the stock market only made it to #IPO with #Russian money.
I’m guessing this investment channeled through the island of #Domnica is on the up and up 🙄
#Putin wouldn’t have anything to do with this. All roads on #DonaldTrump’s world lead to Moscow
https://theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/03/trump-media-es-family-trust-2022-loans
155) Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes wrote:
“Taxes are what we pay for civilized society”
Thanks @rbreich for reminding us that a properly funded #IRS insures that the #garchs pay their fair share
The #GOP bitterly opposes the fair payment of taxes. If you want to live in a fairer country #VoteBlue
156) Excellent piece from #NYTimes on the financing of #TrumpMedia aka #DJT
Unsurprisingly #Trump put very little of his own money in the venture. He relied on other #garchs who wanted to curry favor with him to get the company afloat.
Now #DonaldTrump will rely on his base to prop up the stock until he can cash out
#USPolitics #Politics #Election2024
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/05/business/trump-media-backers-investors.html
157) Glad to see some consistency out of the #Trump campaign - no #billionaires left behind. Crumbs for the rest of us if it’s convenient
WASHINGTON — Former President Donald Trump emphasized the importance of extending his signature tax cuts to some of the nation’s wealthiest political donors, according to a readout of his private remarks Saturday night provided by a Trump campaign official.
158) As #Trump’s NYC #HushMoney trial draws nearer, there is a whiff of desperation revealed by the failure of three frantic appeals to delay the proceeding set for Mon Apr 15.
There will, no doubt, be more legal maneuvers and attempted delaying tactics, but escaping the sordid details of the case no longer appears to be an option for #DonaldTrump.
159) The #StockMarket appears to do a far better job of evaluating #DonaldTrump’s abilities than many American voters
#Trump is a mediocre businessman at best and this price chart depicts what happens when a less than mediocre company is offered on the public stock exchange.
A truly terrible #investment
I think there are lightly quite a few of those, but the recent price movement indicates that many are no longer embracing #DJT with anything close to ardor.
The #WashingtonPost had a good article on #Trump supporters who invested in the stock
https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/04/14/truth-social-investors-faith-trump/
Martin Nutty
Sveinn í Felli