tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55183461813872743672024-03-17T23:02:42.893-04:00Political Rapids & Current Events: Foreign and Domestic“<i>You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time</i>.” — <b>Abraham Lincoln</b>Danny M. Francis (Eyepublius)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15404681142717886193noreply@blogger.comBlogger915125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518346181387274367.post-27407036254760417562024-03-13T00:53:00.001-04:002024-03-13T00:53:49.396-04:00Intel Chiefs: Issue Warning to Congress of Global Threat in Fragile World Order <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuy_sfIPqeYakdfUOWHm6tf-9P69oLKJCj_-RQy5gsW6E-mqE2Lg4RDOQxMxx3m4RCABeDl62htNhYA6Qb8FOrZRQvPR-l2VYrCWxHXqHBMcEaNUt6jKbjxxAC0oNxMHEK051mBd58Fpa6YFJJe3hoGzqyxHE8oZjV8N1KlEf55qoajHYiD6TZ3u572ffC/s550/U.S.%20Intelligence%20Committee%20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="376" data-original-width="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuy_sfIPqeYakdfUOWHm6tf-9P69oLKJCj_-RQy5gsW6E-mqE2Lg4RDOQxMxx3m4RCABeDl62htNhYA6Qb8FOrZRQvPR-l2VYrCWxHXqHBMcEaNUt6jKbjxxAC0oNxMHEK051mBd58Fpa6YFJJe3hoGzqyxHE8oZjV8N1KlEf55qoajHYiD6TZ3u572ffC/s16000/U.S.%20Intelligence%20Committee%20.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">L-R: DIA; FBI;
CIA; DNI; NSA; State Cyber Research</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://time.com/6899803/global-threats-report-hearing/" target="_blank"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">TIME has a
story</span></b></a> that is very concerning and worrisome at the same time
with this their article headline:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: times;">“U.S. Intel Chiefs Warn of
Threats to Increasingly Fragile World Order”</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<div style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">U.S. intelligence leaders warned
on Monday (March 11) that the country faces an “increasingly fragile world
order” as it navigates a range of global threats exacerbated by adversaries'
use of emerging technologies like AI. </span><span style="color: #767171; font-size: x-large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The hearing represents an annual opportunity for lawmakers
to publicly question the country’s top intelligence chiefs. In addition to DNI
Haines also on the panel were: CIA Director William Burns; FBI Director
Christopher Wray; Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research Brett
Holmgren; NSA Director Lt. Gen. Timothy Haugh; and the head of the DIA (Defense
Intelligence Agency), Lt. Gen Jeffrey Kruse, all appeared before the Senate
panel. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ms. Avril Haines, Director
of National Intelligence (DNI) told the Senate Intelligence Committee at its
annual hearing on the top threats to the nation that:</b> “<i>The threat of malign
actors exploiting these tools and technology to undercut U.S. interests and
democracy is particularly potent as voters go to the polls in more than 60
elections around the globe this year</i>.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">U.S. intelligence agencies are focused on China's efforts to
manipulate the 2024 presidential election and the potential for bad actors to
use AI tools to create and amplify disinformation campaigns.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">In the overall
intelligence community’s new </b><a href="https://www.intelligence.senate.gov/sites/default/files/hearings/unclassified_2024_ata_report_0.pdf" target="_blank"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">40-page
unclassified report on worldwide threats</span></b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">, they wrote:</b> “The U.S. is facing an
ambitious but anxious China, a confrontational Russia, some regional powers
such as Iran, and more capable non-state actors [who] are challenging
longstanding rules of the international system as well as U.S. primacy within
it.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Here are some of the threats covered in the hearing:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><u style="font-weight: bold;">China may target the 2024 U.S. elections</u><b>: </b>Officials assess that China “<i>may attempt to
influence the U.S. elections in 2024 at some level because of its desire to
sideline critics of China and magnify US societal divisions</i>,” according to their
40-page report.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">DNI Director Haines
said:</b> “<i>Under President Xi Jinping, Chinese leaders believe it is essential
to project power globally in order to be able to resist U.S. pressure. Xi's
focus on boosting China’s economy may temper any election interference, which
would jeopardize the relationship with the U.S. and potentially damage China’s
ability to attract foreign investment</i>.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><u>TikTok under fire</u>: </b>Lawmakers from both parties raised concerns about the
popular social-media app, which is mentioned briefly in the intelligence
report.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sen. Marco Rubio
(R-FL) said:</b> “<i>China uses the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">TikTok data</b>
from Americans to basically read your mind and predict what videos you want to
see. The problem is the algorithm that powers it is controlled by a company in
China that must do whatever the Chinese Communist Party tells them to do</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">In the report, U.S. spy chiefs noted that China is
“<i>demonstrating a higher degree of sophistication in its influence activity,
including experimenting with <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">generative
AI</b></i>.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">TikTok<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i></b>accounts run by a Chinese
propaganda arm reportedly targeted both Democrat and Republican candidates from
during the 2022 U.S. midterm elections.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">There is bipartisan agreement that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">TikTok</b>, which is owned by the Chinese company, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">ByteDance</b>, poses a national security threat. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">A House bill that would require the company to divest from
the massively popular platform, which has about 170 million U.S. users, or face
a ban is expected to come to a vote in the House this week. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The bill requires <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">ByteDance</b> to sell <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">TikTok</b> within six months or be banned from Apple, Google, and other
U.S. app stores and web-hosting services. The measure is sponsored by
Republicans, but has significant bipartisan support. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">President Joe Biden, whose campaign recently created its own TikTok account,
told reporters:</b> “<i>If they pass it, I’ll sign it</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><u>High risk of escalation in the Middle East</u>: </b>The war in Gaza and the resulting humanitarian crisis has
galvanized Arab countries in the region, where there is rising “<i>public
sentiment against Israel and the United States for the death and destruction</i>,”
the intelligence officials say in their report.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">DNI Haines also told
lawmakers at the hearing, which was repeatedly interrupted by anti-war
protestors inspired by Hamas:</b> “<i>That terrorist groups including al-Qaeda and
ISIS have directed supporters to conduct attacks against Israeli and American
interests as the war drags on. While it is too early to tell, it is likely that
the Gaza conflict will have a generational impact on terrorism</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Read More Here: <a href="https://time.com/6549544/israel-and-hamas-the-media-war/" target="_blank"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Inside the
Israel-Hamas Information War</span></b></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Intelligence
report also states that the U.S. intelligence community assesses that:</b>
“<i>Iranian leaders did not orchestrate nor had foreknowledge of Hamas’ October 7
assault on Israel, attacks by Iranian-backed groups are threatening to
destabilize Lebanon, Iraq, the Gulf, and the Red Sea. The risk of escalation
into direct interstate conflict, intended or otherwise, remains high</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><u style="font-weight: bold;">U.S. support for
Ukraine remains critical</u><b>: </b>As the war in Ukraine enters its third year, U.S.
intelligence chiefs emphasized the importance of continued U.S. military
support.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">CIA Director Burns
told the panel:</b> “<i>The Ukrainians are not running out of courage and
tenacity, they're running out of ammunition. And we're running out of time to
help them</i>,” <b>then he added: </b>“<i>If the U.S. is seen as walking away from support for
Ukraine, not only is that going to feed doubts amongst our allies and partners
in the Indo-Pacific, it's going to stoke the ambition of Chinese leadership</i>.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Intelligence leaders noted the challenge posed by Russia's
strengthening ties with China, Iran, and North Korea, which they said was
bolstering its defense production and economy. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">DNI Haines also told
the panel:</b> “<i>Putin's strategic goals remain unchanged. He continues to see
NATO enlargement and Western support for Ukraine as reinforcing his long-held
belief that the United States and Europe seek to restrict Russian power and undermine
him</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">More on this story at the link
provided above <a href="https://time.com/6899803/global-threats-report-hearing/" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">and
here</span></b></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Directly related to TikTok is this GOP House Energy and
Commerce Committee hearing <a href="https://energycommerce.house.gov/posts/chair-rodgers-to-tik-tok-ceo-your-platform-should-be-banned" target="_blank"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">on banning
TikTok seen here</span></b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #0000cc;">.<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<div style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #990000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">My 2 Cents:</b> </span>We must stay alert, vigilant, and smart to see and
detect, avoid, and report any nonsense in the upcoming 2024 election cycle ...
which may end up worse than 2020, and more so if Trump loses again which I
honestly think he will and by much larger margin than his loss to Joe Biden in
2020. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The above Intel agency’s report is alarming and noteworthy and especially
as it relates to China, Russia, and Iran activities and their massive disinformation
campaigns which are ongoing right now. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Our right to vote in a free, fair, safe,
and secure election is the number one priority of our country that keeps us who
we are: free and democratic – nothing nor no one can be seen to hamper that
right. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Thanks for stopping by.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div><br /></div><p></p>Danny M. Francis (Eyepublius)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15404681142717886193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518346181387274367.post-70408348215820971012024-03-09T18:24:00.002-05:002024-03-09T18:34:27.626-05:00Sen. Katie Britt post SOTU: What a Shameful Display of Arrogance, Deceit, and Downright Lying<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">First of all, listen to the difference between Alabama Senator Katie Britt’s natural voice and her speech voice in this short video clip - was she auditioning for movie role?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="289" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ie-h63RNR4I" width="521" youtube-src-id="Ie-h63RNR4I"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Senator, Actress
Wannabe, Liar, or Maybe All Three</span></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Now below is Sen. Katie Britt (R-AL)
and her whopper story post-SOTU address on National TV <b><a href="https://www.nj.com/news/2024/03/was-sen-katie-britt-caught-in-whopping-lie-about-graphic-sex-trafficking-story.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">from here</span></a></b> with this headline question:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: helvetica;">“Was Trump supporter Katie Britt caught in whopping lie about graphic
sex trafficking story?” </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><b style="font-size: xx-large;">Related article <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/katie-britt-accused-whopping-lie-sotu-response-1877591" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">here from NEWSWEEK</span></a>.</b></p>
<div style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 6pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 1.0pt 1.0pt 1.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/07/us/politics/alabama-senator-gop-response.html" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Sen. Katie Britt (R-AL)</span></b></a> told a graphic sex-trafficking
story about a woman who was sexually abused “over and over” by members of
Mexican drug cartels on the United States side of the Rio Grande. Britt implied
also that the woman had confided the story to her and that the events had
occurred during President Biden’s administration. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 6pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 1.0pt 1.0pt 1.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">But reporter Jonathan
Katz, <a href="https://twitter.com/joshtpm/status/1766302818678325759" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">in a lengthy video posted to social media</span></b></a>, connects the
dots on the story, and Britt lied. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 6pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 1.0pt 1.0pt 1.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">FACT:</b>
The woman told her story many times publicly, including to Congress; the events didn’t occur in the United States; and they didn’t
happen under President Biden; <b><i><span style="color: #990000;">it happened during George W. Bush’s presidency
</span></i></b>(<b>2004-2008</b>). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Britt precisely said:</b> “<i>When I first took office, I did something
different. I traveled to the Del Rio sector of Texas, where I spoke to a woman
who shared her story with me. She had been sex trafficked by the cartels
starting at age 12. She told me not just that she was raped every day, but how many
times a day she was raped. The cartels put her on a mattress in a shoebox of a
room, and they sent men through that door, over and over again, for hours and hour’s
on-end. We wouldn’t be OK with this happening in a third-world country. This is
the United States of America, and its past time we start acting like it. President
Biden’s border crisis is a disgrace. It’s despicable. And it’s almost entirely
preventable</i>.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">AL senators it seems are famous
liars – first Tuberville and now Britt.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt 4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 6pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="color: #990000;">My 2 Cents:</span></b> Sen. Britt if
she had any dignity at all and it seems she does not, then she should resign
from the Senate … seems she might be a George Santos wannabe or maybe already
is. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 6pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The story above stands as
proof. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 6pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Thanks for stopping by.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>Danny M. Francis (Eyepublius)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15404681142717886193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518346181387274367.post-78670640783716204032024-03-03T19:49:00.006-05:002024-03-03T19:49:54.823-05:00AI Not Totally Trustworthy: 100% Wide Range Oversight Needed in This 2024 Election Cycle<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaBkjU9ztF8lQmZDi1pyXvUynK1ncEC5U7nZUyb865u_fa-2bwRceL1Kqcwt1j-F6xCf_NETuseBufpKzkwugdUKYIoc0uwfmxxfYwEFYvl_KvvYC93IkFlEsf16PfTzlDsjSqJAEwQOjab0wuUiCypY22rqZj1IOkfjg-LyZJcSZQpSf8grWSYaP2yc1K/s550/AI%20bad%20usage%20in%20Election%20Disinformation.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="351" data-original-width="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaBkjU9ztF8lQmZDi1pyXvUynK1ncEC5U7nZUyb865u_fa-2bwRceL1Kqcwt1j-F6xCf_NETuseBufpKzkwugdUKYIoc0uwfmxxfYwEFYvl_KvvYC93IkFlEsf16PfTzlDsjSqJAEwQOjab0wuUiCypY22rqZj1IOkfjg-LyZJcSZQpSf8grWSYaP2yc1K/s16000/AI%20bad%20usage%20in%20Election%20Disinformation.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Devious Hands Are
Already in Play A Proven Fact</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #990000;">(Best guess </span><a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disinformation" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>Russian Disinformation</b></span></a><span style="color: #990000;">)</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Two thought-providing articles that mankind had better pay
attention to the massive and sudden growth of AI … check out this first article
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/an-ai-weapons-race-may-create-a-world-where-everyone-stays-inside-out-of-fear-of-being-chased-down-by-swarms-of-slaughterbots-warns-founding-skype-engineer/ar-AA1fssGc" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">from BUSINESS INSIDER</span></a></b> on the
subject with this headline:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: times; font-size: x-large;">“An AI weapons race may create a world where everyone stays inside out
of fear of being ‘chased down by swarms of slaughterbots’ warns the founding
Skype engineer.” </span><o:p></o:p></b></p>
<div style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt 4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: #767171;"><span style="font-size: large;">We could be reaching an “Oppenheimer moment” that is in other
words</span></span></u></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #767171;"><span style="font-size: large;">: Researchers are questioning their responsibility for developing
technology that might have unintended consequences just like the first A-bomb
had.</span><span style="font-size: 15.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Tesla’s Elon Musk; Apple’s
co-founder Steve Wozniak; Stability AI CEO Emad Mostaque; researchers at
Alphabet's AI lab DeepMind; and notable AI professors signed an open letter
issued by the “Future of Life Institute” calling for a six-month pause on
advanced AI development saying part:</b> “<i>Advanced AI could represent a
profound change in the history of life on Earth, and should be planned for and
managed with commensurate care and resources. Unfortunately, this level of
planning and management is not happening, even though recent months have seen
AI labs locked in an out-of-control race to develop and deploy ever more
powerful digital minds that no one — not even their creators — can understand,
predict, or reliably control</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt 4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The second article on the
same subject focuses on election tampering is here from <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://campaignlegal.org/update/how-artificial-intelligence-influences-elections-and-what-we-can-do-about-it" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Campaign Legal Center</span></a></b> (CLC) with
this headline:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #990000; font-family: times; font-size: x-large;">“How Artificial
Intelligence Influences Elections, and What We Can Do About It:</span></b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt 4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u><span style="color: #767171;">AI technologies could easily be used to manufacture fake images and
false evidence of misconduct, such as ballot tampering or shredding</span></u></b><b><span style="color: #767171;">. <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #767171;"><span style="font-size: large;">That would not only erode public trust in the results of elections,
it could fuel additional public threats of violence against election
administrators.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The year 2024 will be the first election year to feature the
widespread influence of AI before, during, and after voters cast their ballots,
including in the making and distribution of public messages about candidates as
well as electoral processes. CLC has been working hard to help address the
impact of AI on our democracy. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">That includes educating the public about what to expect
in upcoming political campaigns and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://campaignlegal.org/update/clcs-trevor-potter-testifies-senate-hearing-ai-elections" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">recommending policy solutions lawmakers should adopt
to mitigate the greatest risks to our election system</span></a></b>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">CLC has particularly <a href="https://thehill.com/opinion/technology/4289478-how-to-safeguard-democracy-from-ai-disinformation-in-2024-and-beyond/" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">highlighted</span></b></a> the
danger of political ads that use AI technology to generate deceptively realistic
false content — such as “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">DEEPFAKES</b>”: W<i>hich are manipulated media that depict people doing or saying things they
didn’t say or do, or events that didn’t really occur — to mislead the public
about what candidates are asserting, their positions on issues, and even
whether certain events actually happened</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">If left unchecked, these fraudulent and deceptive uses of AI
could infringe on voters’ fundamental right to make informed decisions. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">In addition to influencing the voters’ perceptions of
candidates, AI could be used to manipulate the administration of elections,
including by spreading disinformation to suppress voter turnout.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Bad actors could use AI tools to create and distribute
convincingly false messages about where or when to cast a ballot, or to
discourage voters from showing up to their polling locations in the first
place. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt 4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">For example, shortly
before the 2024 NH primary election, an <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/misinformation/joe-biden-new-hampshire-robocall-fake-voice-deep-ai-primary-rcna135120" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">AI-generated
robocall simulated President Biden’s voice</span></b></a> and urged voters not to
participate in that election, falsely suggesting that voters should “save”
their vote for the 2024 general election in November.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The average voter hearing this message might reasonably have
concluded that Biden had actually recorded the message, and that they should
comply with his request — effectively disenfranchising them. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Looking ahead, it is not hard to imagine other fabricated
messages from trusted voices being used to dissuade citizens from voting,
undermine their ability to vote or to raise false alarms about emergency
situations like a fire or an attack that would persuade voters to stay at home
on Election Day. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt 4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Moreover, there is a real
risk that <a href="https://www.lawyerscommittee.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Damon-Hewitt-Senate-AI-Insight-Forum-on-Elections-and-Democracy-Statement-11.8.23-Final-1.pdf%22HYPERLINK%20%22https:/www.lawyerscommittee.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Damon-Hewitt-Senate-AI-Insight-Forum-on-Elections-and-Democracy-Statement-11.8.23-Final-1.pdf" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">AI
could be used to worsen the disproportionate targeting</span></b></a> of
disinformation at Black and brown voters who already face too many barriers to
equal participation in the democratic process. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">AI also creates new opportunities for bad actors to
undermine election administration or sow unjustified doubt about election results. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">AI technologies could easily be used to manufacture <a href="https://protectdemocracy.org/work/generative-ai-make-election-threats-worse/" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">fake
images and false evidence of misconduct</span></b></a>, such as ballot tampering or
shredding. That would not only erode public trust in the results of elections,
it could fuel additional public threats of violence against election
administrators.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">In recent years, nonpartisan election workers have already
faced <a href="https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/poll-election-officials-shows-high-turnover-amid-safety-threats-and" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">unprecedented
levels of threats and harassment</span></b></a> while trying to ensure our democratic
process is smooth and fair. AI technology could make their situation even
worse. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Even after all the ballots have been cast, AI could be used
to <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/01/politics/election-deepfake-threats-invs/index.html" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">fabricate
audio of a candidate claiming they rigged the results</span></b></a>, or to generate other
misinformation that could persuade the supporters of a failed campaign to
disrupt vote counting and certification procedures, which are already
increasingly politicized and served as the basis for the effort to sabotage the
2020 presidential election (<b><i>and we all recall who from</i></b>).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span>Fake media made with AI have already been used to influence
major elections in Argentina and Slovakia. </span><span>To
be clear, the risks of election manipulation, voter suppression, and
misinformation all predate the arrival of AI-based media tools.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">AI undoubtedly provides bad actors with easy access to new
tools to harm our democracy more easily and effectively, increasing the urgency
of a robust response. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Many <a href="https://campaignlegal.org/cases-actions/every-vote-counts-combatting-election-sabotage-and-safeguarding-our-democracy" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>necessary solutions</b></span></a><b> </b>also go beyond regulating new technologies, and laws often
lag behind even well-established tech. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt 4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span>States have <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/11/us/ai-election-ads-state-legislators.html" target="_blank"><b>taken action</b>;</a> or <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/11/us/ai-election-ads-state-legislators.html" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">passed a bill, </span></b></a>drafted <a href="https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/states-take-lead-regulating-artificial-intelligence#:~:text=Several%20states%20have%20passed%20(California,the%20outcome%20of%20an%20election." target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">legislation</span></b></a>, even citizen groups </span><a href="https://www.citizen.org/article/tracker-legislation-on-deepfakes-in-elections/" target="_blank"><b>proposing</b></a> bills
ranging from mandatory disclaimers that would inform voters when AI is being
used in elections, to legislation banning political DEEPFAKES.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">At the federal
level, <a href="https://www.congress.gov/118/bills/s2770/BILLS-118s2770is.pdf" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">bipartisan legislation</span></b></a> has been introduced in Congress that would prohibit the
distribution of deceptive AI-generated content to influence an election or to
fund raise. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Federal agencies are also <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/01/17/fec-weigh-ai-limits-political-ads-by-early-summer-chair-says/" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">considering what they can do</span></b></a> to safeguard our democracy in the age of AI, with
some <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/fcc-moves-criminalize-ai-generated-robocalls-rcna136347" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>proposals</b></span></a> that
would extend beyond elections but nevertheless help address the specific risks
voters face. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">For example, in response to the AI-generated fake Biden
robocall in NH Hampshire (<i>cited above</i>), the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/fcc-elections-artificial-intelligence-robocalls-regulations-a8292b1371b3764916461f60660b93e6" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">FCC outlawed certain robocalls</span></b></a> containing voices generated by
AI. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt 4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Finally, new <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2023/10/03/ai-campaigns-nonprofit-misinformation-00119579" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">education efforts</span></b></a> are underway to simply prepare the public for AI-generated
media being used to influence and possibly manipulate elections, which will
hopefully help mitigate its worst effects.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Twenty major tech
companies, including Google; Meta (the parent company of Facebook and
Instagram); OpenAI; X (formerly Twitter); and TikTok have all <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/microsoft-google-meta-pledge-action-ai-election-risks-rcna138909" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">recently pledged</span></b></a> to take concrete steps to detect, track, and combat the use of
DEEPFAKES and other election interference efforts. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Of course, they must follow through on those promises</b>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Although it is encouraging
to see widespread interest in preventing AI-based election manipulation, many
proposed solutions are still a long way from providing tangible protection for
voters and the electoral process</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">This is why the CLC continues to urge policymakers across
the country to redouble their efforts and take strong action to address the
unique challenges AI creates for our democracy in this by far and most-critical
election year in our national political history.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt 4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #990000;">My 2 Cents:</span></b> All I can say we all had better be alert this election
cycle<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Otherwise we may hear this
phrase from that famous movie line by Arnold Schwarzenegger who said: “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I’ll
be bach</i></b>…” (A little humor). </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Just kidding, but not very much – this
whole AI topic is real and fast moving and very critical. We must not allow it
to get out of hand. Rules and safeguards can and must be in place to protect
our right to vote free, fair, safe, and secure and then in other aspects of
human survival. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">This is not hyperbole, just realistic
concern keeping in mind the first word in AI is “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Artificial</b>” and artificial means “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">not real</b>,” and yet possibly harmful or dangerous nevertheless.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span>So, why don’t the AI
controllers just speak the truth and say: “That news report this is not real
news; that image is not a real person; that is now so and so speaking; the
election results you see are not real; your vote was not counted – your mail-in
ballots came into late, etc., etc., etc.)? I guess the truth hurts?<o:p></o:p></span>”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Well, I say that truth is countermanded
by the most-important word of all in politics and that word is “power” – Power’s
goal is just that simple and it is built on: Name, Fame, and Fortune.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Thanks for stopping by.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div><br /></div><p></p>Danny M. Francis (Eyepublius)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15404681142717886193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518346181387274367.post-39080077220078811492024-02-26T00:21:00.001-05:002024-02-26T00:21:39.728-05:00Biden vs Trump 2024: Looks Like 2020 Rematch Biden Moving Forward as Trump Seeks Revenge<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpW9BwRFER1B0W5u2vgYMHteO9cLst5JYHc8SbnEkSq9Und_WrRUOCwatReRtexE02_Cdru1IVGJh9JbptdQ2Q152NioYVso9aexWPBSPqMEWsIq3x5pjdWaPozL6oSvHgTY1q66oVxshlUu8Q02JSRMjqhtAg0yjCbLkvsyEnZM_CG1brmZn6LqSAc6fA/s550/Biden%20vs%20Trump%20issues%20are%20back%20and%20white%20and%202020%20rematch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="366" data-original-width="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpW9BwRFER1B0W5u2vgYMHteO9cLst5JYHc8SbnEkSq9Und_WrRUOCwatReRtexE02_Cdru1IVGJh9JbptdQ2Q152NioYVso9aexWPBSPqMEWsIq3x5pjdWaPozL6oSvHgTY1q66oVxshlUu8Q02JSRMjqhtAg0yjCbLkvsyEnZM_CG1brmZn6LqSAc6fA/s16000/Biden%20vs%20Trump%20issues%20are%20back%20and%20white%20and%202020%20rematch.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Achievements close only on few items</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-large;">(Biden Experience & Leadership More Than Trump)</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Biden vs. Trump on top
4 Key Issues Based on the Facts and Reality here in part <a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/the-trump-vs-biden-economy-a-comparison-in-10-charts/ar-BB1iQkR8" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">from BARRON’S</span></a> </b>(<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">formatted to fit the
blog</i>) with this headline<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">:<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: helvetica;">“The Trump vs. Biden Economy:
A Comparison in 10 Areas”</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">#1: Inflation:</b> During
the Trump era, Americans enjoyed relatively low inflation, following the
historically low levels of the Obama years. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The Consumer Price Index hit a high
in June 2018 of only 2.9%. Then CoVID and massive pandemic changed inflation’s
trajectory as the supply-chain snarled as government stimulus spending and
pent-up demand combined to send prices sharply higher. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The Russia’s attack on Ukraine added further price
pressures, particularly in the energy sector. The CPI reached a peak of 9% in
June 2022, in the second year of Biden’s term. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Inflation has since fallen to
3.1% year over year, based on the latest CPI reading. Credit goes largely to
the Federal Reserve, which raised interest rates 11 times in the past two
years, to a targeted range of 5.25% - 5.50%, to cool price growth. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Still, high
costs, particularly for food, have dogged the Biden presidency. Government data
show that food costs are up more than 20% from the start of Biden’s term.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">#2. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gross Domestic Product (GDP):</b> Gross
domestic product, which measures economic output, is a fundamental indicator of
the economy’s performance. Real GDP, adjusted for inflation, averaged 2.6%
during Trump’s first three years in office, a decent performance <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">but
below the 4% economic growth he had pledged to deliver</i></b>. Much of that
growth came from tax cuts and spending increases related to CoVID.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">From Biden’s inauguration in January 2021 through the end of
last year, real GDP grew by an average of about 3.4% a year. Much of the growth
in 2021 was due to “automatic recovery mechanisms in the economy” after CoVID-related
shutdowns. Still, GDP grew by 2.5% last year, after much of the recovery bounce
arguably had dissipated. The New York Federal Reserve estimate for this year’s
first quarter stands at 2.8%.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">#3. Government Debt:</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Trump and Biden administrations were
birds of a feather in one regard: <b>Borrowing and spending. </b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">“They both spent money hand over fist.” Public debt stands
at $34.3 trillion today, equal to $101,976 per American. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Biden added $3.8 trillion to the national bill largely
through the American Rescue Act, pandemic-era stimulus legislation passed at
the start of his presidency and much other spending legislation under Biden has
been bipartisan, so his administration shouldn’t shoulder sole responsibility.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Contrast Trump with that under Biden:</b> The Committee for a
Responsible Federal Budget estimates that <b><i>Trump added $8.4 trillion to the
debt, including about $3.8 trillion in 2020 that included stimulus legislation
to shore up the U.S. economy. </i></b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="color: #990000;">Trump’s 2017 tax cuts are
expected to add $2.2 trillion in debt over a 10-year period.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Both administrations opted
to run the U.S. economy hot and fiscal experts have mostly said: “<i>That probably
appeared to work more successfully for Trump<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">, because it didn’t create
inflation, but it did create a huge legacy of debt</b> — a legacy that
Biden also has, but not to a great extreme as of yet</i>.<o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-size: xx-large;">”</span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">#4. Unemployment:</b>
Trump presided over a strong job market: He took office with unemployment at
4.7% and heading to 3.5% in September 2019 — a then-50-year low. The economy
added 6.4 million jobs during his term, <b>before the arrival of CoVID</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Biden inherited a labor market beset by pandemic-related
chaos. The economy shed 9.3 million jobs in 2020, and unemployment reached 6.4%
by the start of 2021.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>By January 2023, as the CoVID crisis eased and the
economy reopened, unemployment had fallen to 3.4%, the lowest rate in 54 years
— and it isn’t much higher today. </b></span><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Plus, the U.S. economy added 14.8 million new jobs from 2021 to
2023, with monthly payroll gains averaging 412,000.</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The past seven years have witnessed demographic shifts that
will see the U.S. population grow at a slower rate, while the share of
Americans over 65 climbs to record levels. Both trends curtail the labor
supply, which should keep the unemployment rate low.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">#5. Final Areas of Interest
and Concern:</b> PERSONAL DEBT; THE BORDER – tied to: NATIONAL SECURITY; and AID
TO UKRAINE, ISRAEL & TAIWAN.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #990000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">THE BORDER:</b> </span>There
is a large bi-partisan Senate bill (70-29 vote passed) now pending GOP-run
House approval that Speaker “MAGA Moses” Mike Johnson (R-LA) is blocking as a separate
matter before anything else, and that my friends makes Putin happy as hell…
ergo: the GOP pleases Putin – how ironic is that?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Personal delinquency rates, or the percentage of debt that
is past due, averaged 4.7% in Trump’s first three years in office, and 2.8% in
Biden’s first three years. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">There’s an easy
explanation for the difference:</b> Pandemic-era practices and policies proved
beneficial to many households’ financial health early in Biden’s term. Not only
did people spend less during the CoVID “lockdown”, but Biden’s stimulus
payments also boosted savings.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Now as Americans draw down their pandemic savings,
delinquency rates are rising again. They topped 3% in the fourth quarter,
according to data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. But there is no
need to panic: Delinquency rates hit 12% at the end of 2009, following that
GOP-driven financial crisis and recession that they generated under then-President
Obama. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="color: #990000;">My 2 Cents: </span></b>The final chapter of Biden’s presidency has yet to be
written, but this far, it’s a fine working administration once he gets the
border under control that is.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">But, based on economic
results so far, Mr. Biden has been stellar. He and Trump have plenty to crow
about — and some issues to duck, too, <b>but Biden has more in the plus and truth
departments. </b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">This upcoming 2024
presidential election is apt to be far worse than 2020 – if Trump does not win –
but conversely really bad if Trump were to win – which I think fairly he cannot
– but he won’t let another loss go unacted on … it could be and possibly will
be worse than January 6 – and, yes, we must take him at his word on this
revenge trip as he calls it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The one element lacking
bigly is that Trump is a serial liar and Joe Biden is not. We must take Trump
at his word when he says what he will do if reelected – that must never happen.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Thanks for stopping by.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div><br /></div><p></p>Danny M. Francis (Eyepublius)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15404681142717886193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518346181387274367.post-43929065922235443772024-02-20T21:47:00.001-05:002024-02-20T21:48:51.528-05:00Comer & Jordan's Biden Impeachment: Lot's of Theories & Star Witnesses But No Real Evidence<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjglWLB6IdiJPMlROpc4hCMjeikVU9S7X23yPFj2tmXwqDrEHPWrRrGhyphenhyphennlnyS_X88yHrqVXVSeK5TQXuFw1cOq0nGwP5klETnJrTsTNdW8IXpGwydj-lUxbHrd1V4HLGocHn_Kds_2yfebHVscKdR9OgeKNE6EEgycGo8W97zoyF62FdZbVaZN6mjeGvWi/s550/No%20there%20there%20says%20another%20GOPer%20about%20comer%20and%20jordan.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="550" data-original-width="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjglWLB6IdiJPMlROpc4hCMjeikVU9S7X23yPFj2tmXwqDrEHPWrRrGhyphenhyphennlnyS_X88yHrqVXVSeK5TQXuFw1cOq0nGwP5klETnJrTsTNdW8IXpGwydj-lUxbHrd1V4HLGocHn_Kds_2yfebHVscKdR9OgeKNE6EEgycGo8W97zoyF62FdZbVaZN6mjeGvWi/s16000/No%20there%20there%20says%20another%20GOPer%20about%20comer%20and%20jordan.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Other Republicans know the truth</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"> (</span>“<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">They</span>” <span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">mentioned
above: Comer & Jordan wackos)</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Well, this headline <b><a href="https://www.mediaite.com/politics/james-comer-admits-he-might-have-to-throw-in-the-towel-on-biden-impeachment-quest-because-the-math-keeps-getting-worse/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">from MEDIAITE</span></a></b> and also <b><a href="https://www.salon.com/2024/02/20/the-math-keeps-getting-worse-james-comer-admits-he-may-have-to-give-up-on-biden-impeachment-probe/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">from SALON</span></a></b> tells a great predictive
story for a very long time for Rep. Comer that there never was a there, there
regarding impeachment of President Joe Biden and now we know for sure there was
no there, there.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #990000; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">“James Comer
Admits He Might Have to Throw in the Towel on Biden Impeachment Quest Because <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>The Math Keeps Getting Worse</u></i>”</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<div style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt 4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) conceded in a recent interview that
his impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden may very well not result in an impeachment vote.</span><span style="color: #767171; font-size: 15.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Comer spoke to Spectrum News last week and said the GOP-led
House may not even hold a vote based on his committee’s report because the “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">math keeps
getting worse</i></b>” –referring to both the GOP’s shrinking majority <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/02/politics/house-impeachment-biden-republicans/index.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">and skepticism inside the
Republican conference</span></a></b>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Comer’s investigation has slung bombastic corruption
allegations at the president, has yet publicly disclose any concrete evidence
of wrongdoing – <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2023/09/16/gop-rep-ken-buck-impeachment-biden-00116396#:~:text=Politico%20Logo&text=Ken%20Buck%2C%20a%20member%20of,and%20a%20disservice%20to%20Americans." style="color: #0000cc; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0000cc;">a fact even some House
Republicans admit</span></a><b style="color: #0000cc;"> </b>(<i>as noted above from Rep. McCaul</i>).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Comer told
Spectrum News that how the Democrat-controlled Senate handles the recent
impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas will be telling
for House Republicans, saying:</b> “<i>I think the conference will get to see what
happens with this Mayorkas impeachment in the Senate and how serious the Senate
treats that as to whether or not we impeach Joe Biden over here or are we just
focused on holding him accountable? The accountability, I hope will come this
year, but it may come next year with a new president, a new attorney general</i>.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt 4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Comer then suggested that
Mr. Biden could face a DOJ investigation after leaving office if Trump becomes
president, <b>and I say: <i>Not likely</i>.</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Comer then concluded:</b>
“<i>At the end of the day, my goal is to get the truth out there and hold people
accountable for wrongdoing. That may encompass impeachment. If it doesn’t,
that’s fine with me</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt 4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #990000;">My 2 Cents:</span></b> FYI – this post is a follow up of my earlier posts <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://danzview.blogspot.com/2024/02/gop-biden-impeachment-another-star.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">here</span></a><span style="color: #0000cc;">, </span><a href="https://weaselwart.blogspot.com/2024/01/comer-v-bidens-looking-for-zebras-in.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">here</span></a><span style="color: #0000cc;">, </span></b>and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://weaselwart.blogspot.com/2023/09/biden-impeachment-like-2020-election.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">here</span></a></b> on this same dismal failure of
Rep. Comer and Rep. Jordan, and of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://danzview.blogspot.com/2023/11/rep-comer-dogging-joe-biden-his.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Comer’s own woes posted here</span></a></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">My basic message and fact
for every 2024 voter this year is just this simple. This clown show explained
above shows the worse possible shape that this GOP-run house and GOP are in. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">They
have blundered in just about everything they have tried to accomplish and
honestly, they have failed at every twist and turn. They are in a word:
Pathetic and unproductive.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">This GOP’s new party label
today should be: “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>G</u></b>et <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>O</u></b>utta <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>P</u></b>olitics.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Comer and his other
committee sidekick in this phony impeachment hunt for President Biden, Rep, Jim
Jordan (R-OH), should save face and both just resign from office – they both are pitiful.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Need more proof of those
two clowns and the entire House GOP: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.politico.com/f/?id=00000186-daa2-db28-afa7-fbf2566e0000" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">These 7 pages are sheer joy</span></a>.</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Thanks for stopping by.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div><br /></div><p></p>Danny M. Francis (Eyepublius)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15404681142717886193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518346181387274367.post-23011666277198707312024-02-12T22:35:00.001-05:002024-02-12T22:36:52.794-05:00Delay, Delay, Delay: Trump's Escape Route from Justice & Accountability for His Crimes<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9V4vVgDqA-OFa17aDGraJpJ65HNNxiYPQzoVDnRkLS4h70__uSeY0eJadgDCKPkyk72MQ_U7Z-izHm-m9Z1dJIjL9j6RG3b3Kzgm_cGzVGjpz2lf2o1W7XpN9twaz7aLReX9CTu0JuksqlO3oFWzR777oHykfnoqT87LGzuUEd1Ja5C4F5XsQkTtUk1w5/s550/I'm%20gonna%20escape%20justice%20and%20accountability%20for%20Jan%206%20believe%20me.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="318" data-original-width="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9V4vVgDqA-OFa17aDGraJpJ65HNNxiYPQzoVDnRkLS4h70__uSeY0eJadgDCKPkyk72MQ_U7Z-izHm-m9Z1dJIjL9j6RG3b3Kzgm_cGzVGjpz2lf2o1W7XpN9twaz7aLReX9CTu0JuksqlO3oFWzR777oHykfnoqT87LGzuUEd1Ja5C4F5XsQkTtUk1w5/s16000/I'm%20gonna%20escape%20justice%20and%20accountability%20for%20Jan%206%20believe%20me.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I'm gonna beat Biden's FBI, Deep State, and Courts</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-large;">(Gather around and trust me I'm gonna win)</span></span></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNDu8SCxMoCZG4N4lVFC1_XhmRyWFtb_oXaOFl5sg6eCCj9YESzhgxyZ5g3ZkC9sC2TJqVKnnnZ0y1yeh0LJ57SsMPwXyPoaelhbkPizvWqqioQELRKW1k5AhTqG8ObO6V0DjmHoh3w-tLuYvQoD7PyxyGcsxsoToMtOxcTlEPpY4fjrsv1AR6S1NuL-nE/s550/Biden%20v.%20Trump%20legal%20woes%20NOT%20even%20close.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="442" data-original-width="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNDu8SCxMoCZG4N4lVFC1_XhmRyWFtb_oXaOFl5sg6eCCj9YESzhgxyZ5g3ZkC9sC2TJqVKnnnZ0y1yeh0LJ57SsMPwXyPoaelhbkPizvWqqioQELRKW1k5AhTqG8ObO6V0DjmHoh3w-tLuYvQoD7PyxyGcsxsoToMtOxcTlEPpY4fjrsv1AR6S1NuL-nE/s16000/Biden%20v.%20Trump%20legal%20woes%20NOT%20even%20close.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-size: x-large;">No comparison between Sleepy Joe and Me</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-large;">(Don’t trust the left media only trust me)</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">This startling
headline <a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/the-supreme-court-will-soon-decide-whether-to-sabotage-trump-s-most-important-criminal-trial/ar-BB1iaXA1" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">from VOX.com</span></a> is one of two things:</b> (1)
It serves and excuses Trump from any part of the January 6 insurrection, (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and
yes, it was an attempted insurrection</i></b>), or (2) It nails him and holds
him accountable for that horrible day and justice will be served (<i>formatted to fit the blog</i>):<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: helvetica;">“The Supreme Court will
soon decide whether to sabotage Trump’s most important criminal trial”</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt 4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #767171;">The </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.vox.com/scotus" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Supreme Court</span></a></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> <span style="color: #767171; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #767171; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=50000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background2; mso-themecolor: background2; mso-themeshade: 128;">is about to have two
Trump-sized problems to deal with.<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><u>First to deal with is the 14<sup>th</sup> Amendment case</u>:<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">On February 8, the Nine Justices <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.vox.com/scotus/2024/2/8/24066103/supreme-court-trump-anderson-ballot-disqualification-roberts-thomas-barrett-jackson" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">heard oral arguments in Trump v. Anderson</span></a></b><i>,</i> the
case in which Colorado’s Supreme Court held that former Trump is
ineligible for the presidency because of his incitement of the January 6
insurrection under Section 3 of the 14<sup>th</sup> Amendment. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Based on the justices’ questions at oral arguments, the
Court appears <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.vox.com/scotus/2024/2/8/24066103/supreme-court-trump-anderson-ballot-disqualification-roberts-thomas-barrett-jackson" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">likely to rule in favor of Trump</span></a></b> —
on narrow grounds that states are not the right forum to determine whether a
presidential candidate is disqualified from office or not.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><u>Second case is his demand for immunity for all 91 charges</u>:<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Recently a federal appeals court <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.vox.com/scotus/2024/2/6/24063557/supreme-court-trump-immunity-dc-circuit-united-states-jack-smith-tanya-chutkan" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">rejected Trump’s argument</span></a></b> that
he is immune from prosecution for any “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">official acts he engaged as president</i></b>.” </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">This is one of the least surprising developments in modern legal history,
because Trump’s arguments were truly outlandish. Among other things, his lawyer
told a judges “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">that the former president could not have been prosecuted even if he </i></b><b><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2024/01/09/trump-immunity-appeals-court-arguments/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">ordered SEAL Team 6 to assassinate his political rivals</span></a> </b><b> <i>unless
Trump were also impeached and convicted by the Senate first</i></b>.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><u>How it could play out</u>:<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Often, when a federal case is on appeal to a higher court,
the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.258149/gov.uscourts.dcd.258149.186.0_5.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">trial court loses jurisdiction over
the case</span></a></b> until the appeal is resolved. That’s what
happened in this case of Trump. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Judge Tanya Chutkan has already announced once that she will
have to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.vox.com/scotus/2024/2/6/24063557/supreme-court-trump-immunity-dc-circuit-united-states-jack-smith-tanya-chutkan" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">postpone Trump’s March 4 trial</span></a>
</b>thanks to the delay caused by this appeal. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Every delay, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.vox.com/scotus/2023/12/22/24012602/supreme-court-jack-smith-donald-trump-delay-election-theft-criminal-trial" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">moreover is a big win for
Trump</span></a></b>. If he can delay his trials long enough, he can
avoid being convicted of a crime before voters have to weigh in on whether he
should be president this November. And should he prevail in that election, he
can simply order the Justice Department to drop its prosecutions against him
and even pardon himself.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">In any event, the DC Circuit, when it issued its opinion
rejecting Trump’s immunity claim, also took some steps to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.vox.com/scotus/2024/2/6/24063557/supreme-court-trump-immunity-dc-circuit-united-states-jack-smith-tanya-chutkan" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">prevent Trump from dragging this
case out</span></a></b> until it is too late. When an appeals court
is finished with a case, it issues a document known as a mandate that formally
returns control over the case back to the trial court. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">This process takes
several weeks, but DC Circuit <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.threads.net/@steve_vladeck/post/C3Atuv7RCuY" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0000cc;">i</span><span style="color: #2b00fe;">ssued an order expediting this process</span></a></b>.
Basically, the order said the mandate would issue at the end of the day on
Monday, February 12 unless Trump sought an order from the Supreme Court asking
the justices to delay issuing it. <b><i>Now that Trump has made that request deadline</i></b>,
the DC Circuit’s order says that Judge Chutkan will regain control over the
case upon “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the Supreme Court’s final disposition of Trump’s request to delay the
mandate</i></b>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The Court will probably give Special Prosecutor Jack Smith’s
office a brief period of time to respond to Trump’s request. Then the justices
will issue one of the most consequential orders of this election cycle.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt 4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Three ways the Court could
resolve the question of whether to delay Trump’s trial or not</i>:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The best-case
scenario for Smith, and for anyone else to see Trump face justice is:</b> (1) The
Supreme Court denies Trump’s request immediately, or: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(2) The Court could issue a rare order, called
a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.vox.com/scotus/2024/2/6/24063557/supreme-court-trump-immunity-dc-circuit-united-states-jack-smith-tanya-chutkan" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">summary affirmance</span></a></b>
that effectively gives the justices’ blessing to the DC Circuit’s immunity
decision. Either one of those two outcomes would return this case to Judge Chutkan
right away.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>The best outcome for Trump is: </b>(1) The Court grants his
request to delay his trial without qualification, or (2) The Court could
simply <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2022/12/29/23530842/supreme-court-arizona-mayorkas-title-42-mexican-border-immigration" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">sit on his request for a very long
time</span></a></b> without taking any action on it, and thus
preventing the DC Circuit from issuing its mandate. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">In either of these scenarios, Trump’s trial is delayed, and
such a delay could last a very long time. If the Court granted an indefinite stay, that order would
likely remain in effect until the justices fully consider and decide the
question of whether Trump is immune from prosecution.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Under the Court’s rules, Trump wouldn’t even have to
formally ask the justices to give this case full consideration <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/filingandrules/2023RulesoftheCourt.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">until 90 days after the DC
Circuit’s judgment</span></a></b>, and an unqualified stay would remain
in effect during this entire period. But, there are also ways for Trump to
delay filing this request even longer. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Then the justices would have to receive briefing, hear oral
arguments, and write opinions — all while the time between now and Election Day
is slipping away.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>Then there’s that third possibility</u></i></b>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The justices could grant the stay, but also call for an
expedited hearing on whether Trump is actually immune from prosecution — <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>allowing
them to decide this question and lift the stay in a matter of weeks, rather
than months</u></i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">But even a brief stay would reward Trump’s tactic of raising
absurd legal arguments on appeal and then using the mere fact that these
arguments are before an appeals court to delay his criminal trial.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">So, again, Trump’s legal argument is that he would be immune
from prosecution even if he had turned the U.S. military into a death squad
targeting his enemies, and certainly we don’t need the Supreme Court of the
United States to tell us he’s not allowed to do that.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt 4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>My 2 Cents:</b> <span style="color: #e69138;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i>“Art of Con”</i></b>
</span>in play with Trump v. the Voters. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Will his ploy of delay, delay, and delay really work? </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Boy, I pray is does not. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Thanks for
stopping by. </span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div><br /></div></div><p></p>Danny M. Francis (Eyepublius)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15404681142717886193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518346181387274367.post-52240921009067700822024-02-09T22:17:00.001-05:002024-02-09T22:19:31.427-05:00Rep. Tenney (R-NY): Out of Wack Wanting to Remove President Biden Under XXV Amendment <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT-wU08BX59XdSCZyyglGh-FtEBthQZ64RPDYuokKPZVgQ6esgMDWFFkuhXD5htQ1jfXE9z9HigJB-jU-sWCF1tm4JoJ7pVZpHalxhCeDJ1UqyBuUKJ8__BwPchM1HGYs0nlgiFZvUJaLpPGV9N_HM-AL0T9lFa-Ul_MUvK7Gc5m0SMVkYrr5HwOFx7X1A/s550/Rep.%20Tenney%20is%20way%20off%20the%20mark%20on%2025th%20Amendment%20push.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="374" data-original-width="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT-wU08BX59XdSCZyyglGh-FtEBthQZ64RPDYuokKPZVgQ6esgMDWFFkuhXD5htQ1jfXE9z9HigJB-jU-sWCF1tm4JoJ7pVZpHalxhCeDJ1UqyBuUKJ8__BwPchM1HGYs0nlgiFZvUJaLpPGV9N_HM-AL0T9lFa-Ul_MUvK7Gc5m0SMVkYrr5HwOFx7X1A/s16000/Rep.%20Tenney%20is%20way%20off%20the%20mark%20on%2025th%20Amendment%20push.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Tenney's smug, arrogant horrible person
look</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-large;">(She is a typical conservative Republican)</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY) a very troubled woman working for
Trump against President Biden based on <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/joe-biden/gop-lawmaker-asks-merrick-garland-invoke-25th-amendment-remove-biden-o-rcna138112" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">this NBC News story</span></a> </b>with this headline – very concerning issue: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: helvetica;">“GOP lawmaker asks Merrick Garland to
invoke 25th Amendment to remove Biden from office”</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<div style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt 4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY) said in a letter to AG Garland that she
has “grave concerns” about Biden following Special Counsel Robert Hur’s
classified documents report that cleared Mr. Biden.</span><span style="color: #767171; font-size: x-large;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Tenney is calling on Attorney General Merrick Garland to
invoke the 25th Amendment to remove President Joe Biden from office after
special counsel <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/first-read/special-counsel-recommends-no-charges-probes-bidens-political-weakness-rcna138053" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Robert Hur’s report</span></b></a> said that while the president
should not be prosecuted for mishandling classified documents, he does suffer
from a poor memory.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">In her letter to Garland, Tenney expressed her “<i>grave
concerns</i>” about Hur’s findings. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">She said that Hur’s reasons for not bringing
charges against Biden, even though the president “<i>knowingly and willfully
removed, mishandled, and disclosed classified documents over a period of decades,
were alarming</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Hur said President Biden's actions and such had presented <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/joe-biden/special-counsel-says-evidence-biden-willfully-retained-disclosed-class-rcna96666" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">serious risks to national security</span></b></a>, and described in
his report several instances of the president suffering from memory loss. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">He
added that part of the reason he didn’t pursue charges against Biden was
because the president could portray himself as an “<i>elderly man with poor
memory</i>” who would be sympathetic to a jury.</span></p>
<div style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt 4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #990000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">My insert:</b> </span>S/C Hur’s remarks are his personal opinions and not
factual nor related to the case he was assigned to investigate, in which the
president was totally cleared of any wrongdoings re: the classified documents he
had DE and elsewhere which is BTW: totally the opposite of Trump and his
documents scandal at Mar-a-Lago and elsewhere.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Tenney criticized that reasoning in her letter to Garland,
saying: </b>“<i>We don’t prosecute or decline to prosecute people based on
their personalities, or on the public’s anticipated perception of them. If the Special
Counsel finds that the evidence forms a reasonable basis to bring charges, he
must do so.</i>”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Tenney compared Hur's decision in his investigation of Biden
to special counsel Jack Smith's bringing charges against former President
Donald Trump for his handling of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago, saying in
part:</b> “<i>The DOJ cannot ethically bring charges against Trump because he has
mental acuity and a forceful personality, while declining to bring charges
against Biden because of his “cognitive decline</i>.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt 4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>FYI: </b>Trump now still faces <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trumps-lawyers-look-get-mar-lago-classified-doc-charges-tossed-rcna137742" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">several charges</span></b></a> by S/C Jack Smith which include the willful
retention of national defense information, false statements and representations,
conspiracy to obstruct justice, and corruptly concealing documents. He has pleaded
not guilty to those charges in that case.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Tenney also wrote:</b> “<i>President Biden needs to be charged, or
he needs to be removed. There is no middle ground. It incumbent upon you Garland
to begin proceedings to remove the Biden using the 25th Amendment</i>.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Fact:</b> The 25<sup>th</sup> Amendment was ratified in 1967, based
upon the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">It provides the
procedure for replacing the president in the event of death, removal, resignation,
or incapacitation. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">One of its sections provides the vice president and majority
of either the Cabinet (8 of the 15 cabinet members), or such other body as
Congress may by law provide, with the mechanism to transfer power from the
president to the VP citing that he is unfit or unable to fulfill his
presidential duties.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/biden-national-address-special-counsel-report-rcna138031" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Biden responded forcefully</span></a> to Hur’s report asking:</b> “<i>How
in the hell dare he raise that</i>?” in response to Hur describing an instance in
which Biden couldn’t remember when his son Beau had died adding: the report cleared
him of wrongdoing, and Mr. Biden added: “<i>My memory is fine</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt 4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="color: #990000;">My 2 Cents:</span></b> Rep. Tenney is now my new Rep. in this CD (<b><i>and I am a lifelong DEM in a very heavy RED district here
in Upstate NY</i></b>). </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I say as clearly as possible that she is totally wrong with her
request to AG Garland for him to push and remove President Biden under the
provisions of the 25<sup>th</sup> Amendment.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">There simply is no grounds
to say that Mr. Biden is not fulfilling is presidential duties – <b><i>his
accomplishments tell the story</i></b> – he is doing an excellent job as president and the facts prove that.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Tenney and others are
trying to please Trump – just that simple and S/C Hur as outlined above is helping
the GOP run with that very weak approach. That too is my view – just that plain
and simple. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">S/C Hur is acting just
like Comey did against Hillary Clinton in 2016 that basically lost her the
election against Trump based on nothing about her emails and such – and that
was proven bogus after all the <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>GOP
hearings proved there was no there, there.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">We seem to be heading down
that same path now once again with this new GOP scheme. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">We must not allow that
to happen again. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Thanks for stopping by.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div><br /></div><p></p>Danny M. Francis (Eyepublius)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15404681142717886193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518346181387274367.post-70066829900415055542024-02-07T18:02:00.000-05:002024-02-07T18:02:41.461-05:00GOP Blame Gamers: Hey, Look in the Nearest Mirror to See Both Cause and Affect<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-k76nULqAq1aHfPlksPh0HiIMba-IVs-K5txOubdOlJG00D27ITZ4m0NroGbGuyNdFbcdFJ6ZSVMPGrmUQXNTOT_024i7xtB1rJZdMZY_k76O_zz3PxwFG0pwLSWSeqRwmOizRgtrUefVmb3kythw3mwAHrroxLQVo2MgieJexTyp_TzbAs-A0NU1z7r-/s550/MAGA%20Mike%20Pissed%20at%20vote%20but%20look%20who's%20behind%20him%20Jordan%20and%20Boebert%20yikes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="374" data-original-width="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-k76nULqAq1aHfPlksPh0HiIMba-IVs-K5txOubdOlJG00D27ITZ4m0NroGbGuyNdFbcdFJ6ZSVMPGrmUQXNTOT_024i7xtB1rJZdMZY_k76O_zz3PxwFG0pwLSWSeqRwmOizRgtrUefVmb3kythw3mwAHrroxLQVo2MgieJexTyp_TzbAs-A0NU1z7r-/s16000/MAGA%20Mike%20Pissed%20at%20vote%20but%20look%20who's%20behind%20him%20Jordan%20and%20Boebert%20yikes.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) Lack of
Leadership</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-large;">(Look at who controls him)</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>My new name for the GOP: </b>“<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>G</u></b>et
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>O</u></b>utta <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>P</u></b>olitics” that is based on two failed votes that show a
total lack of leadership by Speaker MAGA Mike Johnson (R-LA) and the GOP base
itself as seen in this <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/what-the-hell-are-they-thinking-furious-republicans-erupt-over-embarrassing-defeat/ar-BB1hVysY" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">SALON article</span></a> </b>and their headline which shows the utter chaos within the GOP
on those two high-profile issues that failed. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">It is also <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/republicans-knock-house-gop-leadership-after-2-failed-votes/ar-BB1hVtkM" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">covered here from POLITICO</span></a></b>:</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">“What the hell are they
thinking: Furious Republicans erupt over embarrassing defeats”</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<div style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #767171;">Emotions ran high among House Republicans on Tuesday following a
double defeat on HSD Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas impeachment and the aid
package for Israel. <u>Criteria to impeach the</u> </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #990000;">President,
Vice President, and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed
from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other
high Crimes and Misdemeanors. U.S. Const. Art. II, § 4. </span><span style="color: #c00000;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #767171;"><span style="font-size: large;">The vote on Mayorkas ended in a 215-215 tie after three members of
the House GOP — Reps. Ken Buck (CO); Mike Gallagher (WI); and, Tom
McClintock (CA) — voted against it. </span><span style="font-size: 15.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The hotly debated proposed impeachment was the result of
House GOP <a href="https://www.salon.com/2024/01/31/alligator-moats-along-the-border-democrats-derail-crazy-impeachment-hearing/" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">efforts to oust Mayorkas</span></b></a> for: (1) “perceived failure
to enforce U.S. immigration policies at the border, violating public trust,”
and (2) “willful and systemic refusal to comply with the law” (re: <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/01/30/alejandro-mayorkas-impeachment-explained/" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Washington Post</span></b></a>). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Multiple hearings were held to discuss the impeachment
proceedings, with many Democratic lawmakers claiming that they were baseless
and politically motivated, also highlighting previous and ethically
questionable <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/01/us/politics/trump-border-wars.html#:~:text=After%20publicly%20suggesting%20that%20soldiers,allowed%20either%2C%20they%20told%20him." target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">border proposals</span></b></a> made by Trump, including building
alligator moats along the border. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The final vote which was 250-180 (a 2/3 majority was needed
to pass) — served as a “<i>House GOP counter-measure to the Senate's attempts to
pass a bill that would allocate funds toward Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan, and
border security</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>GOP Irate Member
Reactions</u></b>:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1. Rep. Ryan Zinke
(MT) said:</b> “<i>I knew that we would have, the ability to block the DEM agenda.
We've exceeded my wildest expectations on blocking, because we not only blocked
the DEMS we blocked the Republican agenda. We don't have command of the field</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The notion of bipartisan
agreement has been treated as increasingly taboo by some GOP lawmakers, as seen
with their heavy <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/republicans-want-to-kill-bipartisan-border-bill-help-trump-campaign-2024-1" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">opposition to bipartisan-border related legislation</span></b></a> only
after Trump spoke out against it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">2. Rep. Troy Nehls
(TX) told Axios that that vote on Mayorkas was shameful, adding: </b>“<i>I mean,
what the hell are they thinking? We should have gotten this done</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">3. Rep. Cory Mills
(FL) shared his frustration, saying: </b>“<i>There's a plethora of reasoning and
justification and evidence ... I just don't understand why we can't do the one
thing the American people want</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">4. Rep. Mark Alford
(MO) said:</b> “<i>It's very frustrating as a freshman to realize that we don't
have the cohesiveness and the fortitude to come together to vote what's right
for America</i>.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">5. Rep. Marjorie
Taylor-Greene (GA), well-known for unabashedly speaking her mind on any topic,
said she didn't have anything to say to Buck, Gallagher, and McClintock, then
adding:</b> “<i>I think they'll hear from their constituents</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">6. Rep. Eric Burlison
(MO) suggested that absence of House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (LA) (recovering
from cancer treatment) was the deciding factor saying:</b> “<i>If Scalise comes in
tomorrow then we've got the votes. So I think it just delays it</i>.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">7. Rep. Derrick Van
Orden (WI) saying:</b> “<i>Frustrating' is not the right word … it's maddening</i>.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">8. Rep. Max Miller
(OH) called the Israel vote: </b>“<i>Embarrassing claiming that they're trying to
save face and do the right thing that should have been done to begin with … No
one has to wonder how we got here, the speaker did it</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="color: #990000;">My 2 Cents: </span></b>However
possible and I hope the November election will prove in a massive turnout that
will give both the House and Senate to total large DEM majorities, and puts President
Biden in his second term.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">That would serve the
nation 100% better than this wild GOP-run House under MAGA Mike Johnson. DEMS
do get things done for the country as a whole policy and program fact. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">This GOP is, as a lot of news
has labeled them, “<i>a clown show</i>” and even some of their own members have said
so.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">They are so divided that
it’s hard to measure – they are perhaps the worse in the last 25 or so years,
and especially under Speaker Johnson who kowtows to the seriously divided GOP
and a dozen or more completely out of control members: <b>e.g.,</b> <i>Taylor Greene, Jim
Jordan, James Comer, Gosar, Gaetz, and Boebert, and others of that same ilk</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">All they do is blame,
offer crazy ideas, and not much else by just controlling Speaker Johnson with their
nutty ideas and policies getting him to bend to their whims and no matter the
cost that the two failed votes on the issues described above plainly show.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">FYI: <a href="https://danzview.blogspot.com/2024/02/bipartisan-senate-border-bill-speaker.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">My earlier post related to this same topic is here</span></a>.</b> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Thanks for stopping by.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div><br /></div><p></p>Danny M. Francis (Eyepublius)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15404681142717886193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518346181387274367.post-17172346949296233222024-02-03T01:01:00.001-05:002024-02-03T01:03:59.330-05:00Trump's MAGA Cult: His Loyal Followers Have all the Makings of Jim Jones' Jonestown Cult<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG-F22hVpHb266BI1hy9q7qpM7HRUZqS9JQEuzKAvO0vnK-h0tmTstnyNbG-H4xQstzY57MNuyHQ4beO9U_OBR9ZQjqspMBy8u2t4IZ24cL1cgi9sZZIRUQ2zj6713x0ggxy5YH-hbkITsW64HtdGtTzsivB0NFQ6mKIK50UJQGJs1-pjTi6jwsB1aO7_U/s543/Willis%20and%20Wade%20a%20nuthin%20burger.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="543" data-original-width="473" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG-F22hVpHb266BI1hy9q7qpM7HRUZqS9JQEuzKAvO0vnK-h0tmTstnyNbG-H4xQstzY57MNuyHQ4beO9U_OBR9ZQjqspMBy8u2t4IZ24cL1cgi9sZZIRUQ2zj6713x0ggxy5YH-hbkITsW64HtdGtTzsivB0NFQ6mKIK50UJQGJs1-pjTi6jwsB1aO7_U/s16000/Willis%20and%20Wade%20a%20nuthin%20burger.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Fulton County GA
DA Fani Willis & Nathan Wade</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Very timely story in this Trump MAGA cult era. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">His MAGA Republicans
have developed a dark but effective strategy to deflect from his massive criminality
and that strategy is simple: <b><i>They appear willing to lodge any </i><a href="https://homeland.house.gov/2023/06/13/tomorrow-full-committee-hearing-to-examine-secretary-mayorkas-dereliction-of-duty/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">complaint</span></a><i> or
investigation, without an </i><a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-impeachment-inquiry-mike-johnson-94884b322da40ca9315ac5f4e73a3e86" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">under lying good faith basis in law, factual, and without hard evidence</span></a><i>, against </i><a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/hunter-biden-agrees-deposition-lawmakers-after-resisting-subpoena/story?id=106496972" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">any Democrat</span></a><i><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span>to create false equivalencies for Trump’s many actual indictments
in his 91 charges</i></b>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt 4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-large;"><b>The noise from their
constant false allegations produces the desired effect of minimizing Trump’s
crimes in the court of public opinion, leading exhausted voters to tune out and
lump together all politicians facing legal charges</b></span><span style="font-size: x-large;">.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">And because of the mainstream media’s “performative
neutrality,” as the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/jan/04/bidens-january-6-speech-is-bigger-than-the-horserace-can-the-media-say-that" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Guardian</span></b></a> puts
it, the GOP’s obvious political stunts garner excessive <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/20/us/nathan-wade-trump-prosecutor-atlanta.html" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">coverage</span></b></a>
for those wrong GOP reasons. It is all meant to equalize coverage of Trump’s
traitorous conduct, which has no equal. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">So, under this MAGA ethos, a man can rape a woman, brag
about grabbing a woman’s genitalia without permission, and then occupy the
highest office in the nation. But, but a woman in a consensual affair with
outside counsel is disqualified from service as they claim it the case of DA Fani
Willis in GA.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Classic example:</b> This from GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene
(R-GA) as reported on from <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/marjorie-taylor-greene-hits-fani-willis-special-prosecutor-with-ethics-complaint" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">The Daily Beast</span></a></b> – Taylor Greene, seen below here, is a pitiful, disgusting,
and out of sight crazy conspiracy nut, and not much else.<b><span style="color: red;"> <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYwl7nS9DgpJSMhzZWX9629JB1V-Y6YysovgXQNtnoBL8OmKeJ3iIQjj_x7LRHXU9GBtaHMFmOTUjAq9TgRfMVY-Tb_vwmBf1QytzzN_eL1KLxnlZrTSuWPgq6TZgNbcppbLzjLoezQSfeMLscmWzHuJTEwWyDJo-Tr7QwBzEtr13zfu3A_IAzjvJIx7qA/s550/Taylor%20Green%20wackjob%20number%201.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="463" data-original-width="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYwl7nS9DgpJSMhzZWX9629JB1V-Y6YysovgXQNtnoBL8OmKeJ3iIQjj_x7LRHXU9GBtaHMFmOTUjAq9TgRfMVY-Tb_vwmBf1QytzzN_eL1KLxnlZrTSuWPgq6TZgNbcppbLzjLoezQSfeMLscmWzHuJTEwWyDJo-Tr7QwBzEtr13zfu3A_IAzjvJIx7qA/s16000/Taylor%20Green%20wackjob%20number%201.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Rep. Marjorie
Taylor Greene (R-GA) is a conspiracy nut</span></span></div><p></p></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>From the article Greene’s nonsense: </b>She filed an
ethics complaint against Nathan Wade, accusing the GA special prosecutor
in the RICO case against Trump and 18 others in the 2020 election interference
case.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">All of the defendants were found guilty of violating the GA state
RICO law amid allegations he had an “improper” relationship with Fulton County
DA Fani Willis and case should be dismissed.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 1.0pt 1.0pt 1.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="color: #990000;">My 2 Cents: </span></b>Fani Willis
and her sex life with Nathan Wade, if even known publicly before or during the
trial, would not / and should not have influenced the jury decision in the RICO
trial that indicted 18 people in GA, including Trump. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 1.0pt 1.0pt 1.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><u>Noteworthy</u></b>: It is now
known and revealed that her affair was after the Jury’s convictions were
rendered and handed down in court. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 1.0pt 1.0pt 1.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">So, there is no there, there as that expression
has been stated before and again now by Taylor Greene, et al.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 1.0pt 1.0pt 1.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Thanks for stopping by.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div><br /></div><p></p>Danny M. Francis (Eyepublius)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15404681142717886193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518346181387274367.post-57574652323456688092024-01-27T22:23:00.001-05:002024-01-27T22:24:28.577-05:00Trump to GOP: No Border Deal for Biden Save It for Me When I Retake the White House <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">President Biden statement on <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">the Senate bi-partisan border bill just agreed upon pending a vote next
week. </b>Reported on <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/senate-negotiators-reach-bi-partisan-border-deal-that-biden-will-sign/ar-BB1hkuzG" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">here from Meidas Touch</span></a> </b>with this their headline:</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEilVQCqsYondRiCY-RfslkNsr72tkd7pgt7C0UxlS2OSWx0Ov2vx7t3wlqucWj_K6QZeW7T3g3svgik8La0i4zXcMEbKrLsV7kYeebwcNDPXeg61I-oe1E9fALLP05zcmid7Minquroozr3m7F9lSQ2xhlPMFUAJp5BmjoIGnOKqGfrEUBXk5ktVtBt6QoE" style="font-size: xx-large; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1207" data-original-width="975" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEilVQCqsYondRiCY-RfslkNsr72tkd7pgt7C0UxlS2OSWx0Ov2vx7t3wlqucWj_K6QZeW7T3g3svgik8La0i4zXcMEbKrLsV7kYeebwcNDPXeg61I-oe1E9fALLP05zcmid7Minquroozr3m7F9lSQ2xhlPMFUAJp5BmjoIGnOKqGfrEUBXk5ktVtBt6QoE=w517-h640" width="517" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #990000; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">“Senate Negotiators Reach Bi-Partisan
Border Deal that Biden Will Sign”</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://weaselwart.blogspot.com/2024/01/trump-to-gop-no-deals-on-border-or.html">Notes
from my earlier post here</a></b>: Senate negotiators have reached an agreement
on a comprehensive, bi-partisan border deal that President Biden has pledged to
sign. The only problem is the House, and the fact that Speaker Johnson seems to
be completely controlled by Trump on this issue saying: “<b><i>It’s dead on arrival</i></b>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikTdZVht6LMoAu-a8fqlUDDlSLNuT8oTOrygki25QWdPFoJs1zsl4A6W9tPyOUxpvEcTX5jmYhMRpBXzwIIC7FvyFGPhrlcOtM2sVxYgScYdDffBilpAUhoB3P_eSG-HWkP2quwqvAEezSdFWOPaMnpg4s7SGHM8D4A3fTucukDyKYMoH3UO2Zk0OSNiJu/s550/MAGA%20Mike%20in%20Trump's%20pocket.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikTdZVht6LMoAu-a8fqlUDDlSLNuT8oTOrygki25QWdPFoJs1zsl4A6W9tPyOUxpvEcTX5jmYhMRpBXzwIIC7FvyFGPhrlcOtM2sVxYgScYdDffBilpAUhoB3P_eSG-HWkP2quwqvAEezSdFWOPaMnpg4s7SGHM8D4A3fTucukDyKYMoH3UO2Zk0OSNiJu/s16000/MAGA%20Mike%20in%20Trump's%20pocket.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Speaker MAGA Mike Johnson Senate Border
Deal DOA</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-large;">(President Trump told me to say that)</span></span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0sqjBkyGcbwMHwMDkkr8l9VKvj4YXTAP6vH0jMXS2BVfE22lUiWbJl_HpfrwXk4qlZNkYLbL-IZ1Pi88NnXp-3XE5xEFu-1H1bOlyMRaRWLPGj8_VAeYGm93fxIEESV1wSsXyLxTWPvkQhq3RRm_y0OyPovyqNInVva09tIwm89X8p5fXP5rdXFq9iyWA/s549/Trump%20to%20GOP%20cut%20Ukraine%20aid%20and%20no%20wall%20don't%20help%20Biden.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="304" data-original-width="549" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0sqjBkyGcbwMHwMDkkr8l9VKvj4YXTAP6vH0jMXS2BVfE22lUiWbJl_HpfrwXk4qlZNkYLbL-IZ1Pi88NnXp-3XE5xEFu-1H1bOlyMRaRWLPGj8_VAeYGm93fxIEESV1wSsXyLxTWPvkQhq3RRm_y0OyPovyqNInVva09tIwm89X8p5fXP5rdXFq9iyWA/s16000/Trump%20to%20GOP%20cut%20Ukraine%20aid%20and%20no%20wall%20don't%20help%20Biden.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I’m the GOP, follow
me no ifs, ands, or buts capisce</span></span></div></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt 4pt;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The agreement would give
the president the authority to completely shut down the border if crossings
reach certain levels, and President Biden's statement said that he would
exercise that authority immediately. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The asylum process would also be sped up
so that cases could be processed more quickly, which would also speed up deportations
for migrants who fail to qualify. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Trump has put tremendous pressure on Senate Republicans not
to make a deal with Democrats and the White House on the border. That resulted
on Minority Leader Mitch McConnell making some candid comments on Wednesday
admitting that Trump had intervened, stating “the politics have changed” as a
result of Trump's phone calls. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">However, McConnell has shown in the past that
when he chooses to oppose Trump's wishes he is usually able to deliver enough
votes to move things through the Senate despite being opposed by the
Trump-aligned group led by Senators Rick Scott (FL), Ted Cruz (TX), and Josh
Hawley (MO).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt 4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The House remains the
greater challenge, as Speaker Johnson also acknowledged that Trump has called
him frequently about the border issue urging him not to make any deal. Johnson has
with a razor-thin majority very little control of his own Members.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Interesting points
thus far on the details of the Senate deal put together by Senators Kyrsten Sinema
(I-AZ), James Lankford (R-OK), and Chris Murphy (D-CT) deal would: <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">(1) Empower U.S to significantly restrict border crossings
if they surge to 5,000 daily average over a week, or 8,500 crossings in a
single day. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">(2) The border would be effectively shut down now to
migrants (not fleeing persecution and who are not entering at ports of entry) —
as December saw more than 300K crossings. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">(3) The asylum process would be sped up to six months. There
would still be a minimum of 14,000 asylum applications that could be processed
though legal ports of entry while the emergency authorities are in effect, and other
the key points in President Biden’s statement.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The deal could be unveiled as soon as next week when more
details will be unveiled. Pressure will be on Senate GOP as Trump has urged
them to kill deal as he campaigns on migrant surge but as they have called on the
U.S to regain control of border<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Related from Gov. Gavin
Newsom (D-CA) on the deal <a href="https://www.meidastouch.com/news/newsom-blasts-pathetically-weak-republicans-for-sabotaging-border-bill-for-trump" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">seen here</span></a> in his statement on MSNBC:</b> “<i>The GOP) don’t want this deal. They
don't want to make this a campaign win for Joe Biden. That says everything you
need to know about the fraud that they are perpetuating on the issue of the
border and this bipartisan Senate deal. These guys are so pathetically weak</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-vows-to-fight-border-deal-all-the-way-praises-johnson-as-very-tough/ar-BB1hmtnp" target="_blank">This related from Trump</a> – the original story continues <a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/senate-negotiators-reach-bi-partisan-border-deal-that-biden-will-sign/ar-BB1hkuzG" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">here</span></a>:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<div style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt 4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="color: #990000;">My 2 Cents:</span></b> Typical GOP –
seek and complain and blame about the border on the DEMS and namely President
Biden and when handed a good bipartisan bill with lots of fixes what do they
do? They thumb their nose nose and follow Trump’s orders not to accept it. How
pathetic is that? Pretty much 100% and SOP for this MAGA-linked GOP under
Speaker Johnson – a pitiful “leader – worse than ousted Kevin McCarthy. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Thanks for stopping by.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div><br /></div>Danny M. Francis (Eyepublius)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15404681142717886193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518346181387274367.post-60549133326229110842024-01-23T18:34:00.005-05:002024-01-23T18:37:36.949-05:00Define Insanity: Simple "T-E-X-A-S" Let Mexico Have Them & Good Riddance "Texit"<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLSXztMgFGSUx8OO2_Z1uJdcEnmo4TQUNFx3bTylAFrmQnjCctUw6VdkYCpMTjKQC-d5xA-QYl6ltglfnSAw8ZMhkCQ5h1da-c8KMD0xJcS7wdqinqqA5KWvcyZb7MJfaob6BbnBtcmU2LwHn_XdCM1bcanMML63sRApa7tdkF4T92A7h9k11AGFwLAlcc/s550/Texit%20total%20insanity%20defined.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="323" data-original-width="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLSXztMgFGSUx8OO2_Z1uJdcEnmo4TQUNFx3bTylAFrmQnjCctUw6VdkYCpMTjKQC-d5xA-QYl6ltglfnSAw8ZMhkCQ5h1da-c8KMD0xJcS7wdqinqqA5KWvcyZb7MJfaob6BbnBtcmU2LwHn_XdCM1bcanMML63sRApa7tdkF4T92A7h9k11AGFwLAlcc/s16000/Texit%20total%20insanity%20defined.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Growing Number Wants to Secede from the U.S. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggO0aUssGLcSH9CQo6jntb0gzkfLqW-ezqN-d-QiuLQ7tHPWr-7OaNcCHfu5vCGcP8IMwJJLmrYIZ_jnZbWnRQA7fosAV9GmH5sWSStNECfhOJ81meqyVVR6twecBpAAE1Um803KHF6RXUDlsLZ7700mIbxa5pA9UtL4mY1o9uBAn4-G_3pMsifaWy5wx5/s550/Texit%20now%20protestors.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggO0aUssGLcSH9CQo6jntb0gzkfLqW-ezqN-d-QiuLQ7tHPWr-7OaNcCHfu5vCGcP8IMwJJLmrYIZ_jnZbWnRQA7fosAV9GmH5sWSStNECfhOJ81meqyVVR6twecBpAAE1Um803KHF6RXUDlsLZ7700mIbxa5pA9UtL4mY1o9uBAn4-G_3pMsifaWy5wx5/s16000/Texit%20now%20protestors.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>“</b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Texit</span><b>”</b> <span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">to Mexico</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-large;">(Hasta la vista bebé)</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>UPDATE ON THE FOLLWING POST:</b> More red meat from the crazies in
Texas who want to secede from the Union based on this article <b><a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/supreme-court-decision-sparks-texas-independence-calls/ar-BB1h8yI6" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">from NEWSWEEK</span></a></b> with this headline:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="color: #990000; font-family: helvetica;">“Supreme Court Decision
Sparks Texas Independence Calls”</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt 4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span>Calls for Texas to declare
independence from the U.S. (TEXIT) are growing after the </span><a href="https://www.newsweek.com/topic/supreme-court" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Supreme Court's</span></b></a><span> recent decision siding with the Biden
administration over a border barrier dispute.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">In a 5 to 4 vote, a
majority of the Supreme Court justices allowed federal officials to cut or
remove parts of a razor-wire barrier that Texas had erected along the border
with Mexico to keep migrants from crossing into its territory. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: times;">Justices Thomas, Alito, Gorsuch, and Kavanaugh</span><span><span style="background-color: white; color: #4d5156; font-family: times;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: times;">dissented.</span></span></p>
</div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Even GOP Rep. Clay Higgins from Louisiana condemned the
Supreme Court's ruling, saying:</b> “<i>The Feds are staging a Civil War and that Texas
should hold its ground</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt 4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Despite rising calls for “Texit,”
the state cannot legally secede from the U.S., as it was established following
the Civil War, which saw the victories of the union and Texas rejoining the
nation. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">In <b><a href="https://www.oyez.org/cases/1850-1900/74us700" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Texas v. White (1869)</span></a></b> SCOTUS ruled that individual states could not unilaterally
decide to leave the union.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The Biden administration brought the case up to the Supreme
Court, which ultimately sided with the federal government, saying that federal
agents have the right to cut through the state-erected barrier in Texas if they
deem it necessary.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Gov. Abbott wrote on
X:</b> “<i>This is not over. Texas' razor wire is an effective deterrent
to the illegal crossings that Biden encourages. I will continue to defend
Texas' constitutional authority to secure the border and prevent Biden Admin
from destroying our property</i>.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><u>ORIGINAL STORY FOLLOWS</u>:</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">How do we define insanity in Texas? Well, this article in <b><a href="https://www.newsweek.com/what-independent-texas-would-look-like-1854810" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">NEWSWEEK</span></a></b>
tells how Texas politicians measure that with this insane story headline:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">“What an Independent Texas Would
Look Like”</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<div style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt 4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #767171; line-height: 107%;">Introduction, highlights,
and key parts of the story: Texas supporters of “Texit”</span></b><span style="color: #767171; line-height: 107%;"> </span></span><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">(<b><a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/brexit.asp" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">copycat
of the UK’s “Brexit” movement</span></a></b>) <b><span style="color: #767171;">the campaign for Texas to secede from the United States and become
a fully independent nation, have had a busy year.</span></b></span><span style="color: #767171; font-size: 15.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 15.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Earlier this month the <b><a href="https://tnm.me/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Texas Nationalist Movement</span></a> </b>(<b>TNM</b>), the leading pro-independence campaign group, delivered a petition
with 139,456 signatures to the Republican Party of Texas in Austin.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">That result <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/texas-independence-usa-secession-1852816" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">called for an advisory referendum</span></b></a> on Texan
independence to be included on the March 2024 primary ballot. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">According to the
Texas election code, the minimum number of signatures needed for a referendum
to be considered is “5% of the total vote received by all candidates for
governor in the party's most recent gubernatorial general primary election,”
and since the most recent Republican gubernatorial primary was in 2022, when Gov.
Greg Abbott was elected with 1,954,172 votes.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Therefore, a total of 97,709 signatures
are needed for a referendum to be considered, so they have met and exceeded
the number for the petition to go on the 2024 ballot.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><u>Background With Key
Historical Points</u>: <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">According to Miller the <b>TNM</b>
wants “the United States and Texas to maintain a frictionless movement of people
and goods between the two *U.S. and Texas* should they split. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">On its website
the group points to the U.S. relationship with Mexico as a model and states
Texas would “<b><i>readily qualify for America's federal Visa Waiver program</i></b>,” which
allows citizens from 41 countries to enter the U.S. for 90 days without
requiring a visa.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt 4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The <b>TNM</b> program calls for the establishment of an independent Texan
military after independence, claiming if the new nation spent the NATO minimum of 2% of GDP of defense
each year it would fund “<b><i>an active duty enlistment in excess of 125,000 troops</i></b>.”
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">These would primarily be
used for home defense, but the TNM also suggests Texas would contribute to “<b><i>the
combined military might of the western world to tackle threats to international
instability</i></b>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><u>Historical Note</u><i>: </i></b>Any bid at secession would almost
certainly result in intense legal disputes, cited in the <b><a href="https://www.oyez.org/cases/1850-1900/74us700" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">U. S. Supreme Court case
of Texas v. White (1869)</span></a></b> that a state leaving the union is
unconstitutional. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt 4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Miller at TNM disputes
that saying: </b>“<i>Article 1 Section 10 of the U.S. Constitution lists all
actions that are prohibited to the states. Withdrawing is not in that list.
Therefore, under the 10th Amendment to the Constitution, the lack of an
explicit constitutional prohibition means it is a right reserved to the states
and the people</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>However, James Henson, director of the Texas Politics
Project at the University of Texas at Austin, argued that the debate over Texan
independence is more about internal Republican politics than a serious project
in its own right telling NEWSWEEK: </b>“<i>Texas nationalists calling for something
akin to a </i><b>Texit </b><i>represent some combination of fantasy and symbolic gesture,
each divorced from reality…the GOP party apparatus has become the favored
dwelling place of extreme and esoteric elements, where such factions are
treated much more seriously than they are among the general public. In some
areas, they sometimes succeed in moving the center of the party to the right,
and in attracting attention to ideas and proposals that have little relation to
reality — like the idea of an independent Texas</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt 4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Joshua Black, an expert in
state politics at the University of Texas at Austin, and research director of
the Texas Politics Project said: </b>“<i>Any ‘Texit’ is unlikely to be peaceful and
would require a greatly expanded state capacity of the type that would repel
many Republicans</i>.” </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Further in his interview with Newsweek Black said:</b> “<i>I think history
has made clear that there is no plausible scenario in which Texas could
peacefully extract itself from the United States, even were that the will of
its populous — which there is no indication of to my knowledge. When you start
to think about the mechanics of Texas withdrawing from the United States, the
ridiculousness of the proposition quickly makes itself apparent. As much as
Texas prides itself on the notion of independence, like most states, Texas
relies on federal dollars — especially in recent years — to help provide a relatively
low baseline of state services. For Texas to withdraw from the U.S., the state
would have to significantly increase its revenue through both taxes and fees to
make up for lost federal dollars, but also, to begin providing funding for the
many, often very expensive, services no longer provided by the federal
government. A central element of Republican orthodoxy in Texas is a government
model based on low taxes and few services. Filling in the gaping financial and
service-providing role of the federal government would require a dramatically
different, significantly expanded, model of government in Texas, one that I
would suspect most GOP voters would detest more than Texas' ongoing participation
in the United States</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">That is the main key points of the article and the madness
in Texas.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt 4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="color: #990000;">My 2 Cents: </span></b>I asked up
front how to define insanity – well this “Texit” movement hits that definition smack
dead center with this utter madness. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Not much else to say except perhaps give
Texas back to Mexico and take away their U.S. citizenship (which right now is
not legal, as withdrawing from the Union is not either). </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Then see how they like
their “<i>old, new Mexican citizenship</i>.” </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Thanks for stopping by.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div></div><p></p>Danny M. Francis (Eyepublius)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15404681142717886193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518346181387274367.post-33689087642116237382024-01-21T18:26:00.002-05:002024-01-21T18:39:46.182-05:00"PROJECT 2025": If Trump Gets Reelected It's His Plan for Total & Compete Autocratic Control <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3BM0lp2af5JZN-a_lu__gVtP1X7JPlEQcGU-UdDWGYtHLZlFSVVw58-K-vdzZ9cmnx6HYTU6OiWT-dHwXXxKCxT-yZsLhf8opyrd1pTL0B40pPNBBf0q6L3Te8XbZeau_nKecJKGOUx6DAZztoydaNWxE2c6gi3WefHHumrqsvVMkDILbvP_NdkbLEK2a/s550/2025%20Trump's%20fascisrt%20takeove%20of%20the%20nation.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="327" data-original-width="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3BM0lp2af5JZN-a_lu__gVtP1X7JPlEQcGU-UdDWGYtHLZlFSVVw58-K-vdzZ9cmnx6HYTU6OiWT-dHwXXxKCxT-yZsLhf8opyrd1pTL0B40pPNBBf0q6L3Te8XbZeau_nKecJKGOUx6DAZztoydaNWxE2c6gi3WefHHumrqsvVMkDILbvP_NdkbLEK2a/s16000/2025%20Trump's%20fascisrt%20takeove%20of%20the%20nation.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Dictator for a Day: Trump eyes November 5, 2024</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbsuLJt_1WIK0AA8-VCfZfXm1_M-pxfTMXBcARRm-yf9GbF43jJbJP9DJ2FHEHLd7uyIHGiJstF08UAl3Z8BDgIdjPRdN4PJ1WzP4VxBHqc3ScPTnm8D6qmui0qIK4cjVcZTght7qSCZRSjN1VYlPYpy6t9V1llixj8jzyXebz7y-lcZVc5Yst0d-CK2kG/s550/Trump%20sees%20himself%20post-2024%20election.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="327" data-original-width="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbsuLJt_1WIK0AA8-VCfZfXm1_M-pxfTMXBcARRm-yf9GbF43jJbJP9DJ2FHEHLd7uyIHGiJstF08UAl3Z8BDgIdjPRdN4PJ1WzP4VxBHqc3ScPTnm8D6qmui0qIK4cjVcZTght7qSCZRSjN1VYlPYpy6t9V1llixj8jzyXebz7y-lcZVc5Yst0d-CK2kG/s16000/Trump%20sees%20himself%20post-2024%20election.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; text-align: left;">How Trump sees himself: Donald the 47</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; text-align: left;"><sup>th</sup></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-large;">(Next: Take over planet Earth)</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Introduction and Repost
of the Subject Topic that Follows:</b> A rather long and detailed post (with
minor changes) on the background leading up to this critical issue discussed in
the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://michiganadvance.com/2024/01/16/project-2025-if-allowed-will-cement-america-as-a-rightwing-authoritarian-state/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Michigan Advance</span></a></b> with this their article headline:</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;">“Project 2025, if allowed,
will cement America as a rightwing authoritarian state”</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<div style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt 4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I note right up front that
this subject and contents are NOT hyperbole, but it is based on facts of the
topic of “Project 2025” as stated in the links herein. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>FYI</u></b>: <i>A dictatorship is an autocratic form of government characterized
by a leader, or a group of leaders, who hold governmental powers with few to no
limitations</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Simple question:</b> How does the judicial system of the nation hold
Trump accountable to ensure that he is not above the law for the crimes he has
been charged with and now ready to face justice? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">First watch this <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/video/news/jack-smith-keeps-heat-on-supreme-court-to-deal-with-trump-issues-quickly/vi-AA1lSAXk?t=26" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">short MSNBC video</span></a></b> on “<i><b>Project 2025</b></i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>The latest</u>:</b>
The U.S. Supreme Court rejects special counsel Jack Smith’s request to
fast-track a ruling on whether presidential immunity protects former Trump from
being prosecuted for his efforts to overturn the 2020 election, likely delaying
the federal trial. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>January 6 election
interference</u>: </b>The Supreme Court rejects S/C Jack Smith’s request to quickly
rule on presidential immunity question.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->On December 22, the Supreme Court rejected a request
by Smith to fast-track a decision on whether presidential immunity protected
Trump from prosecution in the case that alleges he defrauded the United States
with his efforts to overturn the 2020 election (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://news.yahoo.com/supreme-court-says-no-now-193543952.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">The AP reports</span></a></b>).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The court’s decision not to immediately rule on
that question puts the March 4 start date for Trump’s federal trial in
jeopardy. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Note</u>:</b> The justices
did not offer reasons for rejecting Smith’s request.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Judge Chutkan, who ruled Trump was not protected
by presidential immunity in the case, has paused the trial proceedings until
the appeals process played out.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> Jack </span></span></span>Smith noted that an appeal of the D.C. Circuit’s
ruling might not reach the Supreme Court before its summer recess.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Trump’s lawyers had asked the court to slow down
the process.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">This last point is
what Trump has wanted all along:</b> Keep delaying every charge against him
until after the election and if he wins: <i>His new DOJ would toss everything and free
him to continue “</i><b>Project 2025</b><i>” and his
total dictatorship</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>What Another Trump
Term Would Look Like</u>: </b>Trump’s plans for his predicted victory in
November 2024 election is based on “Project 2025” (being developed by his
rightwing supporters). More details are here <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/27/opinion/trump-deep-state-schedule-f.html" target="_blank"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">from the NY TIMES</span></b></a> with this headline:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: helvetica;">“Trump Has a Master Plan <i><u>for Destroying the Deep State</u></i>”</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<div style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt 4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: #767171; line-height: 107%;">Trump puts his win in 2024
in </span></u></b><a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/awaiting-possible-indictment-trump-rallies-waco-rcna75684" target="_blank"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #767171; line-height: 107%;">apocalyptic terms</span></b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #767171; line-height: 107%;">: “<i>Either the deep state destroys America or we destroy the
deep state</i>.” <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: #767171; line-height: 107%;">Note</span></u></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #767171; line-height: 107%;">: This is not
an empty threat. He has a real and plausible plan to utterly transform American
government. It will undermine the quality of that government and it will
threaten our democracy.<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">A second Trump administration would be very different from
the first. Trump’s blueprint for amassing power has been developed by a
constellation of conservative organizations that surround him, led by the
Heritage Foundation and its <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.project2025.org/about/about-project-2025/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Project 2025</span></a></b>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">That three-part plan is based 100% personal fealty to Trump center
of all government employment, employees, processes, and institutions.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Part One</u>:</b> Trump
will put only loyalists into positions, as he believes that “the resistance to
his presidency included <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/psq.12792" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">his own appointees</span></a></b>.” Unlike in 2016, he now has a deep
bench of loyalists. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/20/us/politics/republican-president-2024-heritage-foundation.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Heritage Foundation</span></a></b> and dozens of other Trump-aligned organizations are
screening candidates to create 20,000 potential MAGA appointees. They will be
placed in every agency across government, including the agencies responsible
for protecting the environment, regulating workplace safety, collecting taxes,
determining immigration policy, maintaining safety net programs, representing
American interests overseas, and impartial rule of law. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">These are not
conservatives reluctantly serving Trump out of a sense of patriotic duty, but
those enthusiastic about helping a twice-impeached president who tried to
overturn the results of an election. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">An influx of appointees like this would come at a cost to
the rest of us. Political science research that examines the effects of
politicization on federal agencies shows that political appointees, especially
inexperienced ones, are associated with <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1111/j.1468-2508.2007.00608.x" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">lower performance</span></a></b> in government and less
responsiveness <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://academic.oup.com/jpart/article/27/4/581/3867390" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">to the public</span></a></b> and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/700270?af=R&mobileUi=0&journalCode=jop" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">to Congress</span></a></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Part Two</u>:</b>
The plan is to terrify career civil servants into submission. To do so, he
would re-impose an executive order that he signed but never implemented at the
end of his first administration. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The </i></b><a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/puar.13433" target="_blank"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Schedule F</span></b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> order
would allow him to convert many of these officials into political appointees. </i></b>Thus<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i></b>Schedule
F would be the most profound change to the civil service system since its
creation in 1883 since Presidents can currently fill about 4,000 political
appointment positions at the federal level. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">This already makes the United States an outlier among
similar democracies, in terms of the degree of politicization of the
government. The authors of Schedule F have suggested it would be used to
turn another 50,000 officials — with deep experience of how to run
every major federal program we rely on — into appointees. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt 4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Other Republican presidential
candidates have also pledged to use Schedule F aggressively. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), for example, promised that he would “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">start slitting throats on Day 1</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Schedule F would be a catastrophe for government
performance. Merit-based government personnel systems perform better than
more politicized bureaucracies. Under Trump’s first term, career officials <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/703072" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">were more
likely to quit</span></a></b> when sidelined by political appointees. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt 4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Schedule F would also
damage democracy. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The framers included a requirement, in the Constitution
itself, that public officials swear an oath of loyalty to the Constitution <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">and not whoever occupies the White House,
or Congress</b>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">By using Schedule F to demand personal loyalty, Trump would
make it harder for them to keep that oath. When he was president, his
administration frequently targeted officials for abuse, denial of
promotions or investigations for their perceived disloyalty. In a second
administration, he would simply fire them. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Trump loyalists <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/11/05/trump-revenge-second-term/?pwapi_token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJyZWFzb24iOiJnaWZ0IiwibmJmIjoxNjk5MTU2ODAwLCJpc3MiOiJzdWJzY3JpcHRpb25zIiwiZXhwIjoxNzAwNTQyNzk5LCJpYXQiOjE2OTkxNTY4MDAsImp0aSI6IjkzYjU3MTcxLWViMzctNDc4ZC1hNjJhLTVmZTUyMmE1NGEyMyIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS9wb2xpdGljcy8yMDIzLzExLzA1L3RydW1wLXJldmVuZ2Utc2Vjb25kLXRlcm0vIn0.NWr4V8l0pwhIZJp9f3XU4nhs6DH4m4vtSziV2HMByAc" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">reportedly have lists ready of civil servants</span></a></b>
who will be fired because they were not deemed cooperative enough during his
first term.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Part Three</u></b>:
Trump’s authoritarian blueprint is to create a legal framework that would allow
him to use government resources to protect himself, attack his political
enemies and force through his policy goals without congressional approval.
Internal government lawyers can block illegal or unconstitutional actions. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt 4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The
New York Times has <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/01/us/politics/trump-2025-lawyers.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">uncovered
a plan to place Trump loyalists in those key positions</span></a></b>. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">This is
not about conservatism. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Trump grew disillusioned
with conservative Federalist Society lawyers despite drawing on them to stock
his judicial nominations. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">It is about finding
lawyers willing to create a legal rationale for his authoritarian impulses. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Examples from Trump’s time
in office include Mark Paoletta, the former general counsel of the OMB who
approved Trump’s illegal withholding of aid to Ukraine, or in Jeffrey Clark,
who almost became Trump’s acting AG when his superiors refused to advance
Trump’s false claims of election fraud on January 6. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Clark is now under
indictment for a “<i>criminal attempt to communicate false statements and
writings</i>” to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/06/23/us/jeffrey-clark-draft-letter.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Georgia state officials</span></a></b>. But he continues to lay the groundwork for a second
Trump term. He has made the case for the president <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/11/05/trump-revenge-second-term/?pwapi_token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJyZWFzb24iOiJnaWZ0IiwibmJmIjoxNjk5MTU2ODAwLCJpc3MiOiJzdWJzY3JpcHRpb25zIiwiZXhwIjoxNzAwNTQyNzk5LCJpYXQiOjE2OTkxNTY4MDAsImp0aSI6IjkzYjU3MTcxLWViMzctNDc4ZC1hNjJhLTVmZTUyMmE1NGEyMyIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS9wb2xpdGljcy8yMDIzLzExLzA1L3RydW1wLXJldmVuZ2Utc2Vjb25kLXRlcm0vIn0.NWr4V8l0pwhIZJp9f3XU4nhs6DH4m4vtSziV2HMByAc" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">using military forces</span></a></b> for domestic law
enforcement. He has also written a legal analysis arguing that “<i>the DOJ is not
independent</i>,” <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">while Paoletta told The NY
Times:</b> “<i>I believe a president doesn’t need to be so hands-off with the DOJ</i>.”
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">If government lawyers will
not defend norms of the DOJ, Trump will use the department to shield himself
from legal accountability and to pursue his enemies.</span></p></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">We sometimes think of democracy as merely the act of voting.
But the operation of government is also democracy in action, a measure of how
well the social contract between the citizen and the state is being kept. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">When
values like transparency, legality, honesty, due process, fealty to the
Constitution and competence are threatened in government offices, so too is our
democracy. These democratic values would be eviscerated if Trump returns to
power with an army of loyalists applying novel legal theories and imposing a
political code of silence on potential holdouts. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">American bureaucracy is often slow and cumbersome. The civil
service system in particular is in need of modernization. It also is saturated<span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #252528; line-height: 107%;"> </span>with democratic checks that limit the abuse of centralized
power. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">This is why Trump and his supporters are so precisely
targeting the administrative state, taking advantage of an antipathy toward
Washington that both parties have long nurtured. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">My earlier related “Project
2025” posts,</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://weaselwart.blogspot.com/2024/01/project-2025-update-big-plan-for-trump.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">here</span></a></b>
and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://danzview.blogspot.com/2023/12/united-states-v-trump-he-says-my-court.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">here</span></a>.
<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<div style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt 4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #990000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">My 2 Cents:</b> </span>Short and sweet – I don’t trust the USSC to do the right
thing since it appears they are beholding to Trump and not to the nation as a
whole, and especially NOT ready to hold Trump accountable for the crimes he has
been charged with. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Trump’s 2024 campaign announcement is based on his game of
delay, delay, delay and well, delay so he can win and not go to trial. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">But we
shall see – I may be wrong and I hope that I am. If Trump has a chance to
implement his various plans, expect a weaker American government, worse public
service, dismantling of limits on presidential power, and bye, bye American pie
just as the old song says. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Those Trump
would call on and appoint to serve and help him are seen <a href="https://www.axios.com/2022/07/22/trump-2025-radical-plan-second-term" target="_blank"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">here from Axios</span></b></a>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Many names you probably already know include:</b> Jeffrey Clark
(mentioned above) – the controversial lawyer Trump had wanted to install as
attorney general in the end days of his presidency; Russ Vought, the former
head of Trump’s OMB; Mark Meadows; Stephen “Strong Anti-Immigrant” Miller; Ed
Corrigan; Wesley Denton; Brooke Rollins; James Sherk; Andrew Kloster; Troup
Hemenway; Dan Scavino; John McEntee; Richard Grenell; Kash Patel; Robert
O’Brien; David Bernhardt; John Ratcliffe; Peter Navarro (now ready for prison);
Pam Bondi; and Susie Wiles. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Trump also looks to Rep. Jim Jordan (OH);<b> </b>former Rep.
Devin Nunes (CA) who also now runs Trump's social media company and “Truth
Social;” and ultra-far right crazies like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (GA); Steve
Bannon; Michael Flynn; and others of that same ilk. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">What I predict is only my
hunch and gut feeling based on “Project 2025’s” plan and aim and goal for another
Trump term but mostly in his own words, so: We ought to believe him, right. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">If true then we must take
him at his word about the things he intends to do under that plan and so much
more. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I fear for the country and
any future we think we have left. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Thanks for stopping by.</span></p></div><br /></div><p></p>Danny M. Francis (Eyepublius)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15404681142717886193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518346181387274367.post-65790081446959092742024-01-13T15:04:00.004-05:002024-01-13T15:09:02.133-05:0015 GOP Governors: As Cruel as Cruel Can Be — Denying Food for Kids During Summer Break<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwPTV9UvVitwMd2vCCOz9ZlJuyRRiuPTRhjS6CwnQhFjbcne538OrTaswUWggGVXJjzjSphxWXTrGRZTGvE1Q7fR_sX92einB5JJ1sQ4bRqPKYrdGdShsPDcv2itYyQwN7Xh6pfXJk3M1Xuhvsj6b1zAVKLm7jt8jEecBe3_3xHBRRvZrxbS1J9TvEv8lp/s550/Gov.%20Tate%20Reeves%20R-MS%20cuts%20school%20kids%20declines%20Fed%20meal%20money.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="335" data-original-width="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwPTV9UvVitwMd2vCCOz9ZlJuyRRiuPTRhjS6CwnQhFjbcne538OrTaswUWggGVXJjzjSphxWXTrGRZTGvE1Q7fR_sX92einB5JJ1sQ4bRqPKYrdGdShsPDcv2itYyQwN7Xh6pfXJk3M1Xuhvsj6b1zAVKLm7jt8jEecBe3_3xHBRRvZrxbS1J9TvEv8lp/s16000/Gov.%20Tate%20Reeves%20R-MS%20cuts%20school%20kids%20declines%20Fed%20meal%20money.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">MS Joins 14 GOP
States to Deny Federal Food Aid</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Amazing and yet sickening GOP state-run policy article from
the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/jan/13/mississippi-child-school-food-program-welfare-state" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">GUARDIAN</span></a> </b>with this headline that affects
8 million school-aged low-income children and the Federal food program.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: helvetica;">“Mississippi quits child
food program amid Republican welfare state attack”</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<div style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt 4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Critics condemn cruelty of the state opting out of federal problem
to feed children from low-income families during summer break.</span><span style="color: #767171; font-size: x-large;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Highlights from the
article:</b> Mississippi is withdrawing from a federal program to feed
children during their summer break from school, the governor there announced,
characterizing the decision as a way to reject “attempts to expand the welfare
state.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Governor Tate Reeves, a Republican, declined to participate
in the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Federal SNAP
Program</span></a></b> that would give electronic benefit transfer (<b>EBT</b>)
cards to low-income families to supplement food costs when academic classes are
out of session in the summer (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://mississippitoday.org/2024/01/11/federal-summer-food-program-tate-reeves/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Mississippi Today reports</span></a></b>). </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Eligible
families would have received $40 a month, or a total of $120 to account for the
break between school terms. Mississippi’s welfare agency undercut Reeves’s
reasoning, <b><i>saying the state does not have the capacity to administer the
program</i></b>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Thirty-five states, all five U.S. territories, and four
Tribes will be participating in the program for its first year, which the U.S.
Department of Agriculture said it expects will benefit nearly 21 million
children. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">MS now joins these 14 other GOP
states doing the same thing:</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000;">AL; AK; FL; IA; ID; OK; SC; SD; GA; NE; LA; TX; VT; </span></b>and
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #c00000;">WY</span></b>
(total of 15 with MS). One word describes those GOP-run states: Disgusting and
inhumane against children (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">actually 5
words</b>). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">But remember this disgusting link: </b><i>Mississippi</i> <i>gave millions of dollars of state welfare funds to
former NFL player Brett Favre to build a volleyball facility for his
daughter’s school, but they won’t take Federal funds to feed hungry children</i>. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Why?
Simple, helping poor kids (and others) is the kind of welfare that Republicans
hate.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Also, tax breaks for the top crust - well, that's fine and dandy, too (Cite: <a href="https://www.americanprogress.org/article/tcja-2-years-later-corporations-not-workers-big-winners/#:~:text" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Trump's 2017 massive $1.9 trillion tax cut for the very ric</span><span style="color: #2b00fe;">h the TCJA</span></b></a><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>)</b></span></span><span style="font-size: xx-large;">.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Note this two years after Trump signed that into law: </b><span style="background-color: white; color: #151515; font-family: times;">Two years later, (1) business investment is actually declining; (2) factory closings and mass layoffs have not ended; (3) wage growth is tepid </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #151515; font-family: times;">despite the continuation of the economic expansion that began 10 years ago; (4) gross domestic product (GDP) growth is slowing and projected </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #151515; font-family: times;">to revert to its long-term trend or below; and </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #151515; font-family: times;">budget deficits are higher </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #151515; font-family: times;">due to revenue losses — which have largely been triggered by the massive corporate tax cut at the heart of the TCJA.</span></span></p>
<div style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt 4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="color: #990000;">My 2 Cents:</span></b> This is kind
of story that that makes me sick to learn about in those 15 GOP-run states and
the program for low-income families and poor kids. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I also note in the photo
of Gov. Tate Reeves (R-MS) above that he doesn’t seem to be missing many meals,
but helping poor kids – what the heck – no biggie, right Gov. Must be a conservative
thing I surmise?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">What a sad person he is as
well as the other GOP-run states mentioned above who won’t stand up for poverty
and yet want to blame the DEMS for poor people and hunger across the country …
what a sad commentary isn’t it? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I truly hope people will
remember this sort of insanity at election time.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Thanks for stopping by.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div><br /></div><p></p>Danny M. Francis (Eyepublius)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15404681142717886193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518346181387274367.post-21886362441345261672024-01-04T00:40:00.000-05:002024-01-04T00:40:10.652-05:00DeSantis as Bad as Trump: Horrible Man for the Job as President too Anti-Social About Everything<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK3XLhbEiqf-HDt8vi1ViKBOCV7M6K86w7EZTc2avaakoQfKVShT87_4HjFCjzWbp-a_md2pFyrOPkQEFMYPUzdynFwgZXMckMUXu6ZSOT7H-bMH7W8z4tO4xkrjb4yv5j7uwTkO5nR-V-yBr6o_0Guo-QhqtHLfKF75Hxz0SeWuu1vUNCqNr58DLKv4dB/s550/Children%20as%20DeSantis%20props%20shame%20on%20him.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="265" data-original-width="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK3XLhbEiqf-HDt8vi1ViKBOCV7M6K86w7EZTc2avaakoQfKVShT87_4HjFCjzWbp-a_md2pFyrOPkQEFMYPUzdynFwgZXMckMUXu6ZSOT7H-bMH7W8z4tO4xkrjb4yv5j7uwTkO5nR-V-yBr6o_0Guo-QhqtHLfKF75Hxz0SeWuu1vUNCqNr58DLKv4dB/s16000/Children%20as%20DeSantis%20props%20shame%20on%20him.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">DeSantis bad example for kids & their
future</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-large;">(Using them as his props for no good reason)</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Timely article
showing 100% why Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) must never be elected president of
the United States since he is the most-radical and anti-social everything candidate
ever to run for that office. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">What follows are
examples of his harsh and in some cases downright nutty attack on social
progress in education reported on from here from </span><a href="https://www.americanoversight.org/investigation/right-wing-attacks-on-education-and-student-expression" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">AMERICAN OVERSIGHT</span></b></span></a><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> with this their story headline:<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: helvetica;">“RIGHT-WING ATTACKS ON
EDUCATION AND STUDENT EXPRESSION”</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<div style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: large;">Mostly led by GOP FL Gov. Ron
DeSantis conservatives and Republican state leaders are attempting to prevent
students from learning about race or gender through censorship, restrictions,
and right-wing indoctrination.</span><span style="color: #767171; font-size: x-large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Conservative political leaders across the country are
launching attacks on public education by limiting what instructors can teach
about racism and gender, demonizing and restricting the rights of LGBTQ
students and teachers, and banning books that they deem “inappropriate.” </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">American Oversight is using public records to investigate these egregious
attempts to politicize, censor, and weaken public education, from early
elementary school through higher education. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Watch this <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-3x3xUFYG8" target="_blank"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">“Lincoln Project” video</span></b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(2:30 minutes)</i> it targets
DeSantis as the “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Worst Governor in America</i></b>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Examples follow: <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->DeSantis
has all but declared war against students of color and gay and <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-politics-and-policy/desantis-seeks-transgender-university-students-health-care-information-rcna66495" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">transgender
students</span></b></a> in FL. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->DeSantis
signed the <a href="https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/politics/2022/04/22/florida-governor-desantis-stop-woke-act-race-bill-law-sign-discussions-republicans/7403239001/" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Stop
WOKE Act</span></b></a> in 2022, which prohibits the teaching of <a href="https://www.americanoversight.org/in-the-documents-anti-democratic-proposals-originating-in-the-office-of-gov-desantis" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">certain concepts</span></b></a> that could <a href="https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2022/7/BillText/er/PDF" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">make
students feel</span></b></a> “guilt, anguish, or any other forms of psychological
distress” because of their race or national origin, along with other vague
restrictions that serve to stifle discussion of racial injustice. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->He
also signed the Parental Rights in Education Act (AKA: <a href="https://www.npr.org/2022/03/28/1089221657/dont-say-gay-florida-desantis" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Don’t
Say Gay bill</span></b></a>) — which banned teaching children about gender or sexual
identity. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->DeSantis
also supported laws that ban including <a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/06/02/1002405412/on-the-first-day-of-pride-month-florida-signed-a-transgender-athlete-bill-into-l" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">transgender
female student athletes</span></b></a> from playing on girls’ and women’s teams
and <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/florida-jacksonville-classroom-bookshelves-ron-desantis-house-bill-1467/" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">requiring that books</span></b></a> available in classrooms go through an extra layer of
review, actions that have been <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/data-graphics/map-book-bans-rise-rcna25898" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">echoed</span></b></a> by
conservative leaders with similar agendas in <a href="https://www.lgbtmap.org/equality-maps/sports_participation_bans" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">other states</span></b></a> (e.g., don’t read this book or that book unless he approves of it
and says so). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->In
January 2023, DeSantis said he would <a href="https://apnews.com/article/ron-desantis-florida-education-6603c0aa4de0098423eb7b6c04846d0c" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">reject</span></a> a
proposed AP (Advancement Placement) <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/01/us/college-board-advanced-placement-african-american-studies.html"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">African
American Studies</span></b></a> course for including <a href="https://mobile.twitter.com/senmannydiazjr/status/1616565048767385601?s=12&t=LcwBTcSQxHlaXmggDCz_ww"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">content
such as</span></b></a> “intersectionality and activism” and “Black Queer studies.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The
College Board later <a href="https://www.axios.com/2023/02/03/college-board-ap-african-american-studies" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">removed</span></b></a> many
of the criticized contemporary Black authors and content from its required
curriculum nationwide, though asserting that the changes were not in response
to political pressure from DeSantis or Florida – all the while, DeSantis and other conservative leaders also have attacked the concept of <a href="https://www.npr.org/2022/04/28/1095042273/ron-desantis-florida-textbooks-social-emotional-learning" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">social-emotional
learning</span></b></a>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->DeSantis
has also targeted higher education, including by working to turn <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/14/us/ron-desantis-new-college-florida.html" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">New College of Florida</span></b></a>, a progressive public college, into a conservative institution.
After replacing the school’s board of trustees with conservative allies —
including prominent anti-critical race theory (CRT) activist <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/14/us/ron-desantis-new-college-florida.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>Christopher
Rufo</b></span></a> — the new trustees appointed DeSantis’ former education
commissioner as the college’s president. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span></span><!--[endif]-->DeSantis has also expressed his intent to
ban diversit, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs at public universities in FL. His
newly appointed trustees at New College voted to <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/28/us/new-college-florida-board-meeting-reaj/index.html" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">scrap the school DEI programs</span></b></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">. </span></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Other
states (e.g., <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2023/02/22/university-texas-system-dei-pause/" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Texas</span></b></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">) </span></span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">have also targeted </span></span>DEI
programs just like FL. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p>
<div style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #990000;">My 2 Cents:</span></b> From the “what it’s worth department” and, no not the
song of the same title, Gov. DeSantis must never be anywhere near the White
House in any capacity except maybe for a visit – but certainly never as
president – no ifs, ands, or buts.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">That is my opinion and
based on the above article and his overall record in FL reinforces my opinion,
and I hope it that will help the readers and voters as we move along in this
critical 2024 election cycle in their decision to not vote for him. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Thanks for stopping by.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><br /></div><p></p>Danny M. Francis (Eyepublius)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15404681142717886193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518346181387274367.post-87986416039976718572023-12-19T16:11:00.003-05:002023-12-19T16:16:21.674-05:002024 Global Outlook: Not Pretty Not One Bit With Wars Ongoing and More Looming<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieCef78MG3e74bB4B11Osh6JjsTqXL2Pl19pESzBgn31On1-6OE5679IPnPKlMBhIzbuzyIET59sSkMbWuc2tp82uguMNGqnZ-K58AWL39r_T0pYPi3dn-zjdZ5lnayzEX-PHrnlhy2Jid3vO5oILi9WblrOwPhfl-XpUJXyJTbeGgsi0x7KLM0tVCVqNj/s550/Red%20Sea%20Houthi%20attacks%20growing.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="504" data-original-width="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieCef78MG3e74bB4B11Osh6JjsTqXL2Pl19pESzBgn31On1-6OE5679IPnPKlMBhIzbuzyIET59sSkMbWuc2tp82uguMNGqnZ-K58AWL39r_T0pYPi3dn-zjdZ5lnayzEX-PHrnlhy2Jid3vO5oILi9WblrOwPhfl-XpUJXyJTbeGgsi0x7KLM0tVCVqNj/s16000/Red%20Sea%20Houthi%20attacks%20growing.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Major Hotspot Now Developing</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-large;">(Houthi Attacks on Free Shipping Lanes)</span></span></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCw7pXwg2iMmf8arOhnzkl6-EkKC82p-GtTkFXgQr6uFQaq-0AeDdT6ihdcI4_VPnZMnMnY1JuIq7lVhM4r2nH6Ow7lWcNoDPhC7NzbEjunuySdPHBScpmL6T5sflcCkoJLqAxTyfEj_uLfw0g_OCd4nmRsumP1oTbprPFPRqldYS_4uS7i7Sj60kwygAA/s575/Red%20Sea%20growing%20Hot%20Spot.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="247" data-original-width="575" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCw7pXwg2iMmf8arOhnzkl6-EkKC82p-GtTkFXgQr6uFQaq-0AeDdT6ihdcI4_VPnZMnMnY1JuIq7lVhM4r2nH6Ow7lWcNoDPhC7NzbEjunuySdPHBScpmL6T5sflcCkoJLqAxTyfEj_uLfw0g_OCd4nmRsumP1oTbprPFPRqldYS_4uS7i7Sj60kwygAA/s16000/Red%20Sea%20growing%20Hot%20Spot.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">U.S. and allies on duty in the Red Sea</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-large;">(Iranian Backed Houthis do the dirty
work)</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Is another war about to break out in the RED SEA (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">re: above
map). </i></b>It sure seems possible now with so much in the news over the past
year and now almost daily. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Who is behind something like that? Seems it could be
Iran based on this article from <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/joe-biden-s-dangerous-new-red-line/ar-AA1lKa90" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">NEWSWEEK</span></a></b>
and this worrisome headline (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">formatted to fit the blog</i></b>):<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: helvetica;">“Joe Biden's Dangerous New Red Line”</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt 4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #666666; font-weight: bold;">Global</span><b> </b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/5518346181387274367/8798641603997671857" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">oil and gas prices are rising due to a steady drip of
attacks on commercial shipping transiting the Red Sea by Houthi militants in
Yemen</span></b></a>, <b><span style="color: #666666;">with the Iran-aligned group looking to undermine Israeli, American,
and broader Western interests amid the Israel-Hamas showdown in Gaza.</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">For example, BP said it would pause all shipments
through <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/us-navy-red-sea-yemen-houthi-rebels-attacks-cargo-vessels-shipping-routes-1853374" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">the Red Sea</span></b></a>, citing a deteriorating security situation. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Other
shipping giants: </b>MSC, Maersk, CMA CGM, and Hapag-Lloyd have all also said they
will avoid using the Suez Canal route into the Red Sea due to safety concerns. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Evergreen Group's container shipping operation said it would suspend Israeli imports and exports “<i>with immediate effect until
further notice</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The unfolding maritime crisis poses another thorny problem
for the White House, which is said to be juggling divergent demands from its
regional allies. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The UAE, <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/topic/bloomberg" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Bloomberg</span></b></a> reported,
is pushing for direct military action and the re-designation of the Houthis as
a terrorist organization. But Saudi Arabia favors a more diplomatic approach,
fearing further Houthi escalation. There is no easy fix to the Houthi problem. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Saudi Arabia and the UAE have been at war with the
organization since 2015, working in vain to restore the Yemeni government
overthrown in 2014. They are still heavily armed and trained extensively by
Iran, but retains significant operational independence. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced
the U.S.-led “<a href="https://www.newsweek.com/red-sea-us-military-centcom-operation-prosperity-guardian-houthi-attacks-yemen-ships-1853583" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Operation Prosperity Guardian</span></b></a>” to enhance security for
shipping transiting the conflict region, with the participation of the U.K.,
Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, the Seychelles, and
Spain, and he added: “<i>The Red Sea is a</i> <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/red-sea-map-houthi-attacks-vessels-israel-1853329" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">critical waterway</span></b></a> <i>that has been essential to freedom
of navigation and a major commercial corridor that facilitates international
trade</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Michael Allen, who served as special assistant to
President George W. Bush</b> <b>and the senior director at the NSC told Newsweek: </b>“The situation is getting more and more tense,”<b> adding:</b> “<i>There's so many different
fronts, highlighting the Gaza campaign, fighting in the Israeli-occupied West
Bank, shooting along the Israeli-Lebanese border, militia strikes on American
targets in Iraq and Syria, and now regular attacks in the Red Sea, and
suggesting that an expansion of the war remains unlikely</i>,” <b>then he noted:</b> “<i>The
chances are increasing if the Houthi are able to get a shot off and actually
hit one of our destroyers — the missile defense fails, or something gets
through — there's going to be hell to pay. President Biden, as much as he
doesn't want to escalate — and that does seem to be the overriding thesis of
his foreign policy if you want to stretch that</i> <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/us-want-ukraine-defeat-russia-putin-biden-zelensky-peace-talks-1846772" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">to Ukraine</span></b></a> <i>and the Middle East — I don't see how he's
going to avoid it. If they land a punch, Biden is going to have to hit back
very, very hard</i>.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Allen offered this background on that saying that the White
House has appeared reluctant to respond to the steady drip of attacks on U.S.
targets in Syria and Iraq in recent months, but did eventually order several
airstrikes on Iran-linked targets in both countries, then he added</b>: “<i>One
American civilian contractor was killed in the series of incidents. Another
death in the Red Sea — whether military or civilian — may force Biden's hand
and if they kill any U.S. citizen, I think that is Biden's trigger to hit back.
But with each new attack comes new risks. It's a math problem.</i>” </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Thus far, Western military vessels have weathered Houthi
attacks.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">For example, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ina9snyLFg" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">the USS Carney (seen
here)</span></a></b> has repeatedly shot down dozen drones and ballistic missiles
fired from Yemen, while the French Languedoc frigate has also intercepted
Houthi munitions.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt 4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="color: #990000;">My 2 Cents: </span></b>As the outlook
for 2024 slowly creeps in past a lousy 2023 year, things don’t look good on
many fronts: Political, Economic, Social, and well, just about any other, and
that’s due to tyrants, dictators, and wannabes pushing their agendas: One
planet under their control – just that simple.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Nowhere it that any
clearer than right here at home with Trump and his moves to win again in 2024
and join that club of strong armed men as their new partner (<b><i>that I posted next below FYI</i></b>).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Time of course will tell
but right now things don’t look great for mankind and planet Earth – but I hope
I am wrong.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I’m loath to say that in
such stark terms, but, sadly it’s true – that is for those like-minded who see through
all the crazy talk and actions by the tyrants now seeking more unrestrained power.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The only way I see any positive
way ahead is for decent people to be alert, and stay alert, and do the research
on things that are positive to help make sure the gloom and doom never takes
place for the sake of decent freedom-loving people worldwide. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Thanks for stopping by.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div><br /></div><p></p>Danny M. Francis (Eyepublius)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15404681142717886193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518346181387274367.post-87262117104986761522023-12-09T22:49:00.001-05:002023-12-09T22:57:32.197-05:00Wannabe Dictator Trump: We Need to Take Him Seriously Now More Than at Anytime Ever<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIRx8KgV-ofuibvIwMJbqNu6d9CW3lqYl-337pU_aYB5fILkHFfEnxUVL2FR2yC6Hx0vOOeECg8121JrvfyPApksK-Tvkl3lyJT4TvVhc6xsgnCXi8w2xT9LMFBQrfC4UHoH5ZB1zqjtsW_uIhYEG8gKc8z63lbL5c73XuJkbQEgYbhC_JC1xBdVgXkMHw/s550/Trump%20%237%20dictaror-in-waiting%20or%20so%20it%20seems.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIRx8KgV-ofuibvIwMJbqNu6d9CW3lqYl-337pU_aYB5fILkHFfEnxUVL2FR2yC6Hx0vOOeECg8121JrvfyPApksK-Tvkl3lyJT4TvVhc6xsgnCXi8w2xT9LMFBQrfC4UHoH5ZB1zqjtsW_uIhYEG8gKc8z63lbL5c73XuJkbQEgYbhC_JC1xBdVgXkMHw/s16000/Trump%20%237%20dictaror-in-waiting%20or%20so%20it%20seems.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Trump seeks to join that elite club</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh17dFsqU_lnCmefyOnf0rXZLqy6cG1EkZ1fH4iD0LuGL7ENQs9V25N9KHlDNuKVyNgIyzTjGDO0jb9tDAvogvbr5DjMRbiCA3NIL6SpVoCpwnDSlRLfqh76-OTYzI6IhCSlLskwm4B-2QCL1Tebxx24fwmAG63OezQ3KTkPK-BvcEl8VhkwcKEBn2suv7v/s550/Hiding%20in%20plain%20sight%20-%20his%20words%20not%20mine.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="331" data-original-width="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh17dFsqU_lnCmefyOnf0rXZLqy6cG1EkZ1fH4iD0LuGL7ENQs9V25N9KHlDNuKVyNgIyzTjGDO0jb9tDAvogvbr5DjMRbiCA3NIL6SpVoCpwnDSlRLfqh76-OTYzI6IhCSlLskwm4B-2QCL1Tebxx24fwmAG63OezQ3KTkPK-BvcEl8VhkwcKEBn2suv7v/s16000/Hiding%20in%20plain%20sight%20-%20his%20words%20not%20mine.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Democracy in America: Trump's idea for change</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The below startling headline article <a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-s-vow-to-only-be-a-dictator-on-day-one-follows-growing-worry-over-his-authoritarian-rhetoric/ar-AA1laCzT" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">from THE AP</span></b></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"> </span><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span color="windowtext">now us all over most of the major and minor media channels
that got my attention and hopefully yours: </span></span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="color: #990000; font-family: helvetica;">“Trump's vow to only be a
dictator on ‘day one’ follows growing worry over his authoritarian rhetoric”</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt 4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: times; font-size: large;">Using that as a
starting point I make the following post, which is rather long (9 pages). It
has a lot of links and references about a second Trump presidential term that
he now seeks. Right up front, what I am posting is not hyperbole. Listen to Trump
in his own words, not mine. Review what he has said, still says, done, tried to
do, and now promises to do and finish. It is truly scary isn’t it? </span><span style="color: #767171; font-size: x-large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The links in this post are reputable and verifiable.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">How much of this story do you actually believe from Trump –
well as for me not the “day-one part” – how about for the rest of his life part?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">If he wins, more and more people are saying that he will never
leave the White House except in a pine box as the next Trump family takes over in
the way family-linked dictators do in non-democratic countries. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Directly related to all that follows comes from <b>Steve Bannon and Stephen Miller</b> running
the Trump “cabinet of losers” reported on here from <a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/this-is-insane-experts-horrified-by-report-revealing-trump-s-rumored-cabinet-of-losers/ar-AA1la8gC" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">SALON</span></b></a><span class="MsoHyperlink">. </span>Then that add to
your research list this from <a href="https://themessenger.com/politics/trump-appeal-presidential-immunity-chutkan-jan-6-jack-smith" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">THE MESSENGER</span></b></a>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt 4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>TUSCALOOSA, AL (AP)</b> — As Trump faces a growing scrutiny over
his <a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-biden-democracy-election-2024-f2f824f056ae9f81f4e688fe590f41b4" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">increasingly authoritarian and violent rhetoric</span></b></a>, FOX News
host Sean Hannity gave <a href="https://apnews.com/article/sean-hannity-business-arts-and-entertainment-donald-trump-ben-bradlee-e4e8353591844244a0d74c3584b53b60" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">his longtime friend</span></b></a> a chance to assure the American
people that <b>he wouldn't abuse power or
seek retribution as a dictator if he wins a second term by stoking that fire and
telling a live audience in Davenport, IA:</b> “<i>Except for day one. I want to
close the border, and I want to drill, drill, drill</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Trump then told the audience
about Sean Hannity who asked that question:</b> “<i>We love this guy. You’re not going
to be a dictator, are you he asked me, and I said: No, no, no, other than day
one. We’re closing the border, and we’re drilling, drilling, drilling. After
that, I’m not a dictator.</i>” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt 4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Trump has a long history
of making inflammatory proclamations that spark outrage from detractors and
generate a stream of headlines, without ever coming to fruition. Often they are
made in a tongue-in-cheek manner that allows Trump's allies to claim he was
joking and that the out of touch media takes him far too literally (<b><i>we must take him serious because he acts on
these stunts</i></b>).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Trump campaign aides said he was simply trying to trigger
the left and the media with his dictator comment while at the same time seeking
to focus attention on the influx of migrants at the border and stubborn
inflation, two vulnerabilities for President Joe Biden heading into the 2024
general election.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt 4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">But the consequences of
Trump's rhetoric have been made all too clear, after he refused to accept the
results of the 2020 election and a mob of his supporters violently stormed the
U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021 to stop the certification of Biden's election victory.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Trump has long expressed regard for authoritarian leaders
and the power they wield as he vows vengeance and retribution and <a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-policies-agenda-election-2024-second-term-d656d8f08629a8da14a65c4075545e0f" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">outlines a second-term agenda</span></b></a> marked by an
unprecedented expansion of executive power, unparalleled interference in the
justice system, and a massive purge of civil servants (<b><i>e.g., taking away their
civil service rights</i></b>). <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt 4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Indeed, hours before his
remarks were aired, a longtime ally who is widely expected to serve in a top
national security role <a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-2024-second-term-prosecute-media-b892fd6f3ce721016eb1176e82aa51c3" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">vowed to target journalists</span></b></a> in a second Trump term. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl8tUEcpBTZX4ff0Mz5_LTN_PziV_08tX9kCZPHn68BKIW98ew_hNLh_JT_pA2KtTBGlLVTR4eAtMXQuW1IXygWr0qgX8w7GJAzKlW2OuYGC7I6aXcGZ0S9CLtr8iiUSnm6UZAozC0sALupWWS3IhPJT0Esf0T3JPl0aSz5tUQTw-1sxyweRR_h5_lMfrc/s550/Trump%202025%20picks.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl8tUEcpBTZX4ff0Mz5_LTN_PziV_08tX9kCZPHn68BKIW98ew_hNLh_JT_pA2KtTBGlLVTR4eAtMXQuW1IXygWr0qgX8w7GJAzKlW2OuYGC7I6aXcGZ0S9CLtr8iiUSnm6UZAozC0sALupWWS3IhPJT0Esf0T3JPl0aSz5tUQTw-1sxyweRR_h5_lMfrc/s16000/Trump%202025%20picks.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Trump administration team pickers</span></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>That threat came from Kash Patel (</b><i>pictured above along with Steven Bannon
and Stephen Miller</i><b>) that some say he could
take over the CIA director’s chair said: </b>“<i>We’re going to come after the
people in the media who lied about American citizens, and who helped Joe Biden
rig presidential elections</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">That comes from numerous local,
state and federal election officials, a long list of courts (over 60 cases he
lost), top former campaign staffers, and even <a href="https://apnews.com/article/barr-no-widespread-election-fraud-b1f1488796c9a98c4b1a9061a6c7f49d" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Trump's own AG</span></b></a> all have said that was <a href="https://apnews.com/article/ap-fact-check-donald-trump-georgia-elections-atlanta-c23d10e5299e14daee6109885f7dafa9" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">no evidence of the 2020 election fraud that Trump keeps alleging</span></b></a>.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Other critics have seized on Trump’s comments, painting him
as a threat to democracy as they seek to turn the 2024 election into a referendum
on Trump and not President Biden. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Cognizant of the risks, Trump's campaign has tried to
distance itself from Patel’s statement as well as headline-grabbing policy
plans proposed by several outside groups staffed by longtime Trump allies. Some
of Trump’s top aides issued a statement last month saying those groups did not
speak for the campaign.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt 4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Trump, too, has tried to
turn the tables on Biden, who has increasingly argued the former president
poses a fundamental danger to the country. In <a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-biden-democracy-election-2024-f2f824f056ae9f81f4e688fe590f41b4" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">a speech in Iowa</span></b></a> this month, Trump insisted it is
really Biden who is the true “destroyer of democracy,” not citing himself with four
criminal indictments and 91 specific charges that he faces. That is a very weak
argument Trump and his campaign plan to continue to make heading into the 2024
general election.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Trump advisor, Jason
Miller, said Biden’s attack against Trump was: </b>“<i>It is a clear sign that the
Democrats believe their only possible pathway to victory is to go scorched
earth on President Trump. Four years of President Trump in the White House, and
he never did any of the types of things that Joe Biden is currently doing to
him</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt 4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>But, we cannot and must not forget nor dismiss Trump's own words like
in March 2023, for example when he said:</b> “<i>In 2016, I said I am your voice.
Today, I add, I am your warrior. I am your justice. And for those who have been
wronged and betrayed, I am your retribution</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>In the months since,</b>
Trump has repeatedly and explicitly vowed to use the DOJ to target his enemies
in a dramatic break from the long-standing, post-Watergate tradition of
independence. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>In a June video clip,
Trump said: </b>“<i>I will appoint a real special prosecutor to go after the most
corrupt president in history, Joe Biden, the entire Biden crime family, and all
others involved with the destruction of our elections, borders and our country
itself</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Then in an interview
with Univision shortly thereafter, he went even further, saying:</b> “<i>If I
happen to be president and I see somebody who’s doing well and beating me very
badly, I will say: Go down and indict them</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt 4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Last December, he mused
about circumventing the Constitution, arguing that the election fraud he
alleges “<i>allows for the termination of all rules, regulations, and articles,
even those found in the Constitution</i>.” </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">He has taken hostile approach to the
press, vowing to “rout the fake news media” calling reporters: “THE ENEMY OF
THE PEOPLE!” (<b><a href="https://www.axios.com/2018/08/01/trump-reminder-stalin-enemy-of-people" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Note a favorite Stalin phrase</span></a></b>) by saying outlets like NBC News and MSNBC
should be investigated for treason.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Trump's <a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-policies-agenda-election-2024-second-term-d656d8f08629a8da14a65c4075545e0f" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">extensive policy plans</span></a> also rely on a dramatic
expansion of executive power. He wants to strip tens of thousands of career
federal workers of their civil service protections (his return to his once
tried & failed Schedule F employee policy) saying:</b> “<i>If you are not
loyal, you’re will be booted out and won’t have any</i> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_federal_civil_service" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>Civil
Service protections</b></span></a>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">He has vowed new ideological tests for those entering the
country and has talked about <a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-military-insurrection-act-2024-election-03858b6291e4721991b5a18c2dfb3c36" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">increasing the military's role on domestic soil</span></b></a>, including
sending the National Guard to the border and to cities like Chicago to tackle
crime.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt 4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">He
has warned that the gravest threats to the nation come “<i>not from abroad, but
from within</i>,” <i>and called for expanded use of the death penalty while praising
countries that rely on “quick trials, and</i> <a href="https://apnews.com/8ae31f9d31f04c4fbfab9ba42575aa6a/Trump-said-to-praise-%27great-job%27-in-Philippine-drug-fight" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">extrajudicial killings</span></b></a>, <i>saying</i> <a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-california-republicans-desantis-e2f59e579f106c03aaf6189ea1079f11" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">looters should be shot</span></b></a> <i>on sight. He has continued to praise
authoritarian leaders like China's Xi Jinping, Hungary’s Viktor Orbán, and
Russia’s Vladimir Putin, while dehumanizing his enemies as scum, and thugs, who
live like vermin</i>.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">(<b>Note:</b> <b><a href="https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2023/11/trump-vermin-hitler.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">That vermin quip is an old 1930’s phrase that Hitler used about eradicating Jews in Germany</span></a></b>).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Aides argue the former
president did not enact some of his most extreme campaign promises, like
jailing his then-rival Hillary Clinton, or enacting “a total and complete
shutdown of all Muslims entering the United States from sh*t hole countries.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Those former aides also note
his campaign operation this time around has been widely praised as more
disciplined and professional than his previous efforts — a sign of what could
be to come. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Trump is expected to face far fewer guardrails, including his administration
filled with loyalists, fewer rivals in Congress, and more appointees across the
courts.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Quentin Fulks, the
No. 2 official on Biden’s reelection campaign, pushed back at Trump’s attempts
to turn the issue back on Biden and said there is no comparison between the men,
saying:</b> “<i>President Biden is not standing at the presidential podium and saying
that he’s going to round up his political enemies and use government to go
after his political enemies</i>.” (<i><b>Like the old Nixon enemies list</b></i>).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Fulks went on to say:</b>
“<i>It is imperative for Democrats to call out this rhetoric when we see it and
make sure the American people really know what’s at stake</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt 4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Meanwhile, Ken Cuccinelli,
a top immigration official in Trump’s administration who now leads a super PAC
supporting Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for president, called the former
president’s dictator remarks<b> “</b><i>Provocative
and vintage Trump</i><b>.”<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Cuccinelli then added: </b>“<i>Do I think he’s trying to needle everybody?
Yes, I do. He enjoys doing that. Does it help improve America? No, it doesn’t.
And he doesn’t care about that because his first concern is Donald Trump and
nothing else</i> (sic).”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><u>Added to all that above
is the name for a 2<sup>nd</sup> Trump term</u> as we have heard the term
tossed around that is “</b><i><b>Project 2025</b></i><b>” – </b>The Trump plan for a new American
system of government were Trump alone has control of everything from -to-bottom
as reported on here from <b><a href="http://SALON.com" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">SALON.com</span></a></b><b> </b>with a few of the Trump proposals that we know about:<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">1. He plans to <a href="https://t.co/I3TJDljxnf" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">gut the EPA</span></b></a> and drill in
Alaska <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-12-06/trump-pledges-to-expand-drilling-to-pay-for-senior-benefits" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">under the illusion that somehow the profits</span></b></a> will pay
for Social Security and Medicare. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">2. He's going to use the Insurrection Act to deploy the
military to <a href="https://t.co/CMu513rdkN" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">quell domestic dissent</span></b></a> and he'll <a href="https://t.co/sDKjbn0ii2" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">ban homeless camps</span></b></a> in cities and put the unhoused in
tent cities.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">3. He plans to <a href="https://t.co/z9ZW2f0gQU" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>round up millions of migrants</b></span></a> and put them in
detention camps before mass deportation. (<b><i>We're going to have a whole lot of internment
camps in Trump’s America</i></b>).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">4. He plans <a href="https://t.co/CE1RRhfSQQ" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">to pardon</span></b></a> a large portion of the January 6 insurrectionists. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">5. He then
will <a href="https://t.co/XsqDVQIpUI" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">go after</span></b></a> Joe
Biden and other political enemies using the DOJ <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/kash-patel-tells-members-media-government-after-trumps/story?id=105432592" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>as well as the media</b></span></a>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">6. He is going to <a href="https://t.co/g7R7ICYOph" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">pull out of NATO</span></b></a>, <a href="https://t.co/HeqkVPzLFU" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">abandon Ukraine</span></b></a> and <a href="https://t.co/3GRA9Fz04S" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">back the right-wingers</span></b></a> in
the Israeli government. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">7. He will <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2024/01/trump-liberal-america-reelection-law-enforcement/676136/" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">declare war on blue states</span></b></a>, particularly the cities where
he plans to send in what amounts to an occupying federal force. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Please read this
extract from </b><a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-2024-second-term-prosecute-media-b892fd6f3ce721016eb1176e82aa51c3" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">THE AP</span></b></a><b> on this same subject:<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>In a post on his
Truth Social network in September, Trump repeated both phrases and vowed to
investigate NBC News and MSNBC for “Country Threatening Treason” and try to
curb their access to the airwaves, saying:</b> “<i>I say up front, openly, and
proudly, that when I WIN the Presidency of the United States, they and others
of the Lame Stream Media will be thoroughly scrutinized for their knowingly
dishonest and corrupt coverage of people, things, and events. Why should NBC,
or any other of the corrupt & dishonest media companies, be entitled to use
the very valuable Airwaves of the USA, FREE? They are a true threat to
Democracy and are, in fact, THE ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE! The Fake News Media should
pay a big price for what they have done to our once great Country</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>FYI:</b> A long list
of Trump’s previous quotes over the years <a href="https://www.brainyquote.com/authors/donald-trump-quotes" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">seen here</span></b></a>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Two loud mouth blowhards (<b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Bannon" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Steve Bannon</span></a> and <a href="https://www.defense.gov/About/Biographies/Biography/Article/2418491/kashyap-p-patel/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Kash Patel</span></a></b>) are making threats to a
wide variety of Americans as reported on here from <a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/new-trump-administration-will-come-after-the-media-ally-warns/ar-AA1l5xt9"><b>CNBC</b></a>:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->A second Donald Trump administration will take
action “criminally or civilly” against people in the media, a close allies warn.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Kash Patel also served as chief advisor to
the secretary of defense and as counterterrorism advisor on the NS Council.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->The AP reported that the Trump campaign had told
the news agency that pronouncements “<i>like Patel’s have nothing to do</i>” with the
group.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt 4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/possible-trump-cia-pick-threatens-to-come-after-media-critics-criminally/ar-AA1l5ZTM" target="_blank"><b>Yeah, that Kash Patel</b></a>: <b>Patel said on Steve Bannon's podcast,
referring to a potential second Trump leadership:</b> “<i>We will go out and find
the conspirators, not just in the government, but in the media, yes, we're
going to come after the people in the media, who lied about American citizens,
who helped Joe Biden rig the elections, we're going to come after you. Whether
it's criminally or civilly, we'll figure that out, but yeah, we're putting you
all on notice. We will put all-American patriots in office, top-to-bottom</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Trump has yet to be confirmed as the 2024 presidential
nominee of the GOP, and now he is running while facing four criminal
indictments and 91 charges, but he still enjoys ongoing popularity in the
polls.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt 4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Criminalizing free speech
at a government level would bring the U.S. closer to dictatorial policies such
as the censorship practiced in Russia since the start of the war in Ukraine,
China, and North Korea. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Trump's relationship with the press has been historically
tenuous, including an episode of <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/white-house-excludes-several-outlets-press-gaggle-n725366" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">blocking several high-profile outlets</span></b></a> such as CNN,
Politico and the New York Times, from a White House media briefing. Controversial
in headlines, Trump has often complained of “<i>partisanship and unfair treatment
from mainstream media,” referring to several outlets as</i> “<i>fake news; the
opposition party, and “enemy of the people just like Stalin labeled them</i>.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Following his incitement January 6 violence against the
Capitol his accounts were suspended by Facebook and X (formally known as
Twitter). Trump’s “X account” was reinstated in November 2022 after the social
media platform was formally taken over by <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1499976967105433600" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">self-defined free speech absolutist</span></b></a> Elon Musk. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Amid the bans, Trump <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2021/10/20/trump-announces-social-media-platform-launch-plan-spac-deal.html?&doc=107343778" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">launched his own social media network</span></b></a> — the Trump
Media and Technology Group (TMTG) — and his “TRUTH Social” platform to stand up
to the tyranny of Big Tech he said.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt 4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="color: #990000;">My 2 Cents:</span></b> What bothers me mostly about Trump and his plans for
becoming president again in 2024 is quite simple and not just what he is now
saying and proposing to do if that were to happen – which I think is not
possible unless he runs, loses, and then calls for a full blown ‘take over’ of
the country. That assumes January 6 was a practice or dry run for Civil War II.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">All that is most
concerning to me, and I hope to Americans all across the land, too – that must never happen.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">All this news today – in
Trump’s own words and plans as well as those close to him – all hoping that
will in fact happen and whoopee they shout Trump and we now own the world.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I have never had this
feeling about our county in my entire adult lifetime. I bet you haven’t,
either. So, what can we do about stopping this nearly total madman? I don’t
have an answer to that – do you?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">But simply stated that
when the GOP does not win fair and square at the ballot box – like in 2020 and
2022 – so what do they do? They cheat, lie, drag out the past ad all the while
keep on blaming everyone except themselves for those losses by keeping the Trump
“<b><i>Big Lie</i></b>” alive and now apparently more dangerous than ever – or so it seems. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Thanks for stopping by.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div></div><p></p>Danny M. Francis (Eyepublius)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15404681142717886193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518346181387274367.post-41819935249166091972023-12-05T22:56:00.001-05:002023-12-05T22:56:25.647-05:00More News on Speaker Johnson: He Aims to Protect January 6 Rioters from DOJ Justice <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlLCgPlCTVPQLjH2n2YxwwdrK0FNpWX0Oa9Tdicg8JFTKW9lfonsRALswvTbxz3VvGeG48PszESUds2AWjzRUOWEZDbhXwig9nYbLq8qXJ4hRqjhmi3imjA1wsD1Bww4bJ5vhuQLYgoQf3BQFW0t0_NqTv1YRA5EonVxZgfZt6WZr0vgY22deL5nk_LY3X/s550/Johnson%20sides%20with%20Jan%205%20rioters%20not%20with%20the%20Police.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="454" data-original-width="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlLCgPlCTVPQLjH2n2YxwwdrK0FNpWX0Oa9Tdicg8JFTKW9lfonsRALswvTbxz3VvGeG48PszESUds2AWjzRUOWEZDbhXwig9nYbLq8qXJ4hRqjhmi3imjA1wsD1Bww4bJ5vhuQLYgoQf3BQFW0t0_NqTv1YRA5EonVxZgfZt6WZr0vgY22deL5nk_LY3X/s16000/Johnson%20sides%20with%20Jan%205%20rioters%20not%20with%20the%20Police.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Speaker Johnson video link in the MSNBC site below</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt9qsD2Z2qdvrgy8Uuqw7RJDIvDDcdW2C7o-w2qUUrzpJ8B-HBsI7v2e8EY2Ai3shhFdt7weVam8POCjSPe20_RVF8kutHqkC_26wEUNfRomhzj8BTtTaBzmlTJFAYiyMVctRGphzGZ6crcsxL50tIu8s0oBKGKZ1TGQUOQDqJxM73I2bXUi2iRmmJEJLR/s550/Johnson%20wants%20to%20thwart%20police%20to%20protect%20Jan%206%20rioters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="390" data-original-width="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt9qsD2Z2qdvrgy8Uuqw7RJDIvDDcdW2C7o-w2qUUrzpJ8B-HBsI7v2e8EY2Ai3shhFdt7weVam8POCjSPe20_RVF8kutHqkC_26wEUNfRomhzj8BTtTaBzmlTJFAYiyMVctRGphzGZ6crcsxL50tIu8s0oBKGKZ1TGQUOQDqJxM73I2bXUi2iRmmJEJLR/s16000/Johnson%20wants%20to%20thwart%20police%20to%20protect%20Jan%206%20rioters.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Every day rioters storming the Capitol</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">This story and video below is from MSNBC with Host Ari
Melber, (host of “<b><i>The Beat</i></b></span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">”</span></span></span><span style="font-size: xx-large;">) with this topic:</span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: georgia;">“GOP Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA)
says he wants to “blur" the faces of the January 6 rioters so that they aren't
charged by the DOJ.”</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<div style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: times; font-size: large;">Melber reports on
the “largest law enforcement scandal to hit the Republican Party’s new House
Speaker” to date.</span><span style="color: #767171; font-size: x-large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxTh6DMI2Nc&list=PLDIVi-vBsOEy-g6NYL8UomwTwpOCuQSvQ&index=1" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">The
whole story is seen in this MSNBC video</span></b></a> (<b><i>about 11-minutes</i></b>) – worth your
time to watch it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #990000;">My 2 Cents:</span></b> I have been reporting on Speaker Mike Johnson at these
sites: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://weaselwart.blogspot.com/2023/11/meet-speaker-johnson-man-you-didnt-have.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">here</span></a></b>
and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://politicalrapids.blogspot.com/2023/12/guess-what-social-security-back-in-gop.html" target="_blank">here</a></b>,
and now that above. Johnson is a menace to anything that is good and decent. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The video presentation above
makes my point perfectly and it proves more so now than ever that Speaker
Johnson is a shameful ultra-far-right radical who is way out of touch with any
rational or logical thinking. In my view, Johnston needs to be replaced and the
sooner the better.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I fear a lot more is
forthcoming from him, too that could be far worse than above.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Thanks for stopping by.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div><br /></div><p></p>Danny M. Francis (Eyepublius)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15404681142717886193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518346181387274367.post-43862911076386691472023-12-01T16:26:00.004-05:002023-12-01T16:42:12.765-05:00Guess What: Social Security Back in GOP Sights & It Ain't Pretty Surprise, Surprise, Surprise<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin3JLTjHkvK5S82F6mc7rlGiw2omkghSn96wDplV1pqRTC35L-dyWmiT2vXUt-f4ChfWGULDcZ9KNVwHw5J8m-ASnsH3_az6kOU5RiqtvVr-0YJTSe9Xqvtymn8NFaE9aj76TUN_UzX3xKOROJiGfh3DgDlZCfD5lrG1bnvAhHIRKBEVft_mYBVqnfToai/s550/Johnson%20cut%20SS%20and%20Medicare%20-%20SAY%20WHAT%20CAN'T%20HEAR%20YOU%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin3JLTjHkvK5S82F6mc7rlGiw2omkghSn96wDplV1pqRTC35L-dyWmiT2vXUt-f4ChfWGULDcZ9KNVwHw5J8m-ASnsH3_az6kOU5RiqtvVr-0YJTSe9Xqvtymn8NFaE9aj76TUN_UzX3xKOROJiGfh3DgDlZCfD5lrG1bnvAhHIRKBEVft_mYBVqnfToai/s16000/Johnson%20cut%20SS%20and%20Medicare%20-%20SAY%20WHAT%20CAN'T%20HEAR%20YOU%202.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Save Society Security - </span><span style="line-height: 25.68px;">“</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Sorry, can't hear you</span><span style="line-height: 25.68px;">”</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-large;">(Rep. Boebert seems smitten with Johnson)</span></span></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA1RZ6lWJFFNModJJpTFWPwTakBNc9X8O0gR-OxXch3dQ0YKbwYRTblWd8j6pzKMW4ZL3Evt9hLjlyVu69B24FWysaJCVPxcRqjDTpBZrSUOuLRKtzrBCAYPzSHVjMkg6qxoBzp8C9NHakr6cdGq2IAjEyJh8V4N5GDQQpXHy3GAyHP8LnKyVjyQYVIUMD/s550/GOP%20soluiton%20to%20fix%20and%20save%20social%20security.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="324" data-original-width="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA1RZ6lWJFFNModJJpTFWPwTakBNc9X8O0gR-OxXch3dQ0YKbwYRTblWd8j6pzKMW4ZL3Evt9hLjlyVu69B24FWysaJCVPxcRqjDTpBZrSUOuLRKtzrBCAYPzSHVjMkg6qxoBzp8C9NHakr6cdGq2IAjEyJh8V4N5GDQQpXHy3GAyHP8LnKyVjyQYVIUMD/s16000/GOP%20soluiton%20to%20fix%20and%20save%20social%20security.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The long-standing GOP solution</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-large;">(Their fallback solution since 1935)</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Social Security's survival vs. another new (old) GOP attack
deal aimed to “<b><i>cut it</i></b>” while protecting the very rich as cited in this article
at <a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/gop-pushes-social-security-death-panel-after-years-of-tax-cuts-for-the-rich/ar-AA1kNr1f" target="_blank"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">RAW STORY</span></b></a> with this headlines and
key part of the GOP plan below:</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: helvetica; font-size: large;">“GOP pushes Social
Security ‘death panel’ after years of tax cuts for the rich”</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<div style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt 4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">A bill introduced earlier this month by Sens. Mitt
Romney (R-UT) and Joe Manchin (D-WV) — would form a 16-member
bipartisan, bicameral fiscal commission comprised of 12 elected officials and
four outside experts tasked with crafting legislation to “<i>improve solvency of
federal trust funds over a 75-year period</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">If approved by the
commission, the legislation would be put on a fast track in the House and
Senate.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Romney insisted during his testimony that he
doesn't know of a single Republican or Democrat who wants to cut Social
Security and said benefit reductions should be off the table.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt 4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">However, <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/tag/social-security-works" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Social
Security Works</span></b></a> (SSW), a progressive advocacy group, pointed that an earlier <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/gop-budget-destroy-social-security" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">proposal</span></b></a> released by the Republican
Study Committee (RSC) — a panel comprised of 175 House Republicans — called for
raising the Social Security retirement age, <i><b>which would de facto</b></i> <a href="https://www.peoplespolicyproject.org/2022/10/26/what-does-it-mean-to-increase-the-social-security-retirement-age/" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">cut benefits across the board</span></b></a>.</span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rep. Jodey Arrington
(R-TX), who presided over that hearing, just happens to be a member
of the RSC, and during his </b><a href="https://budget.house.gov/press-release/chairman-arrington-delivers-opening-statement-at-hearing-on-fiscal-commission-legislative-proposals" target="_blank"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">opening remarks</b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">, described efforts to prevent what he
called a</b> “<i>sovereign debt crisis as our generation's World War</i><i>.</i>”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Alex Lawson,
executive director, of SSW told Common Dreams that at today's
hearing, Republicans made the true purpose of their fiscal commission crystal
clear: </b>“<i>Demolish Social Security and Medicare behind closed doors,
while avoiding accountability from voters</i>.”</span></p>
<div style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt 4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chairman Arrington then referred to the commission's supporters as
“partners in crime” after Lawson added:</b> “<i>That's exactly what they are:
criminals who are plotting to reach into our pockets and steal our earned
benefits. It should be a national scandal that middle- and working-class
families have to pay Social Security taxes on all of their income but
millionaires and billionaires do not</i>.<o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-size: xx-large;">”</span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Instead of taking the <a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/republicans-cut-social-security" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">deeply unpopular</span></b></a> step of slashing benefits, Democrats
who spoke at the budget committee hearing argued that Congress should pass
legislation requiring the rich to contribute more to Social Security. <b><i>This
year, because of the payroll tax cap, millionaires stopped paying into the
program in </i></b><a href="https://www.commondreams.org/news/scrap-cap-millionaires-social-security" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">late February</span></b></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #2b2b2b;"><b>Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA) said at the same hearing:</b> </span></span><span style="font-size: xx-large;">“</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>It should be a national scandal that middle- and
working-class families have to pay Social Security taxes on all of their income
but millionaires and billionaires do not</i>.</span><span style="font-size: xx-large;">”</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rep. Brendan Boyle
(D-PA), the top Democrat on the House Budget Committee, said at Wednesday's
hearing that Congress could extend Social Security's solvency </b><a href="https://www.budget.senate.gov/chairman/newsroom/press/whitehouse-boyle-legislation-to-protect-social-security-for-all-make-wealthiest-pay-fairer-share-will-extend-solvency-indefinitely" target="_blank"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">through the end of the
century</b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> by requiring the
rich to pay more in taxes, while adding:</b> “<i>I think that is fair. I think
that is appropriate. And for those who disagree, I would be very interested in
seeing what their plan is and their alternative</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Following the
hearing, Rep. Summer Lee (D-Pa.) delivered a speech on the House floor condemning
Republicans for: </b>“<i>Working to establish a death panel commission to gut
earned benefits</i>” <b>then he added:</b> “<i>First,
Republicans pass tax handouts for their filthy rich donors, promising a
trickle-down miracle that never has and will never happen — from Reaganomics to
Trump's tax scam. Then, when their tax scam causes the economy to slow and
deficits to grow, they refuse to correct their mistake. Instead they blame
immigrants, poor folks, Black folks, and brown folks</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rep Lee continued:</b>
“<i>Then they repeat the cycle hoping enough of us will forgive or forget their
scheme to tear away Medicare and Social Security and believe their lie that
they were only after food assistance, healthcare, and housing for poor folks — not
your earned benefits — when the truth is that they always were and always will
be after it all</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 1.0pt 1.0pt 1.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #990000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">My 2 Cents:</b> </span>Rep. Lee and the others are like-minded are spot on. The
devil is in the details as they say, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">but in this case the Devil might very well
appear to be Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) who hates Social Security and he has
the record and statements and stance to prove it</i> (<a href="https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/politifactwisconsin/2023/11/17/mike-johnsons-views-on-social-security-benefits/71489816007/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">as seen here FYI</span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink">).</span><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 1.0pt 1.0pt 1.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">More about Speaker Johnson </i>(from
</b><a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/mike-johnson-house-speaker-republican-nominee-what-know-rcna122114" target="_blank"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">NBC News</span></b></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> and <a href="https://weaselwart.blogspot.com/2023/11/meet-speaker-johnson-man-you-didnt-have.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">also from here</span></a> my earlier post)</b> – <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">not pretty – not one bit</i></b>:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 1.0pt 1.0pt 1.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">In the years under
President Biden, Johnson voted against a slew of bipartisan bills — <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 1.0pt 1.0pt 1.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">(1) Against the January 6
House Commission; (2) the infrastructure law; (3) reauthorization of the
Violence Against Women Act; (4) a modest new gun law; (5) the <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/biden-touts-economic-agenda-anniversary-chips-science-act-rcna98978" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">CHIPS and Science Act</span></b></a>; (6) for the debt limit law negotiated by
McCarthy and Biden; (7) voted against the stopgap bill to avert a government
shutdown on Oct0ber 1; (8) voted to cut off U.S. military assistance for
Ukraine; (9) against legal abortion for any reason; (10) voted against
bipartisan legislation to codify same-sex marriage; (11) Johnson <a href="https://mikejohnson.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1206" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">authored</span></b></a> legislation called the “<b><i>Stop the Sexualization
of Children Act of 2022</i></b>,” which prohibits the use of federal funds to develop,
implement, facilitate, or fund any sexually-oriented program, event, or
literature for children under the age of 10.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 1.0pt 1.0pt 1.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">FACT:</b> The GOP has for a very long time wanted to cut and/or scale
back Social Security while benefitting the very rich who just simply do not pay
their fair share, etc. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 1.0pt 1.0pt 1.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Those who get SS have as
we all know ALREADY paid into the system and now want to enjoy their earned
retirement since it was enacted August 15, 1935. Do we surmise that GOPers
never worked and earned that same benefit including I might add are those
serving now in Congress – Oops …<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 1.0pt 1.0pt 1.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Thanks for stopping by.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div><br /></div></div><p></p>Danny M. Francis (Eyepublius)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15404681142717886193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518346181387274367.post-64159319049757970772023-11-21T22:29:00.000-05:002023-11-21T22:29:20.586-05:00Anti-Trump Republicans: Growing in Numbers and They Have to Be Taken Seriously<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn-TcGP5TwfLKizIAusBlDO7jNybdGY4yjnSI96-8PDBKTEyx8yVGimmCvZ2VsYzeSkxvsyQLPDL7KjI1465JmMhF2qs_xddPDe6649psKyJWiBQ7xu6FuSGeYHDNCZo3oPKbgjeJd2REyI-vOOEhXPOrZ9x7bmKvlq35d1xjCFMjDLF9cjVAoM2Ildk30/s550/Trump%202025%20%231a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="274" data-original-width="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn-TcGP5TwfLKizIAusBlDO7jNybdGY4yjnSI96-8PDBKTEyx8yVGimmCvZ2VsYzeSkxvsyQLPDL7KjI1465JmMhF2qs_xddPDe6649psKyJWiBQ7xu6FuSGeYHDNCZo3oPKbgjeJd2REyI-vOOEhXPOrZ9x7bmKvlq35d1xjCFMjDLF9cjVAoM2Ildk30/s16000/Trump%202025%20%231a.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Project 2025: Step 1</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit1Gl5y3KF0LM2WkhBExuiucXCKt_gK3ZhbGVnhlVtWOO12_LKKejzOMlAjwINzuehUYc3sq9wg0epMuBJi4Ug3FXUk3OU-lc-18kckfSKcmEv_eMnD7kBHTADRaPlU8vVt6GWYfjjtv739Cqk8iT3fgwNn9kasUyS3lmQbQEnPY7qgOTmHvpGvIlbRE0c/s550/Trump%202025%20%232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="322" data-original-width="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit1Gl5y3KF0LM2WkhBExuiucXCKt_gK3ZhbGVnhlVtWOO12_LKKejzOMlAjwINzuehUYc3sq9wg0epMuBJi4Ug3FXUk3OU-lc-18kckfSKcmEv_eMnD7kBHTADRaPlU8vVt6GWYfjjtv739Cqk8iT3fgwNn9kasUyS3lmQbQEnPY7qgOTmHvpGvIlbRE0c/s16000/Trump%202025%20%232.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Project 2025: Step 2</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlzCz18ySszd7CnM61NIcdRIx7c-YPgr5RTuXL_bsU3Qv9uDBzRaGHhzvVCRbRd55Cdio2Oj-q0xSWeRL34Kk8WcdxJ5HI8CBr73d334Ymo6TdbdQ3A8Y-rhzW9nY5F26cCvAZOhJGQntFfQIZycbr4pOKZT117vxl2Pzp4_6McmwuG6yH6mSMEBXmaBNg/s550/Trump%202025%20%233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="265" data-original-width="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlzCz18ySszd7CnM61NIcdRIx7c-YPgr5RTuXL_bsU3Qv9uDBzRaGHhzvVCRbRd55Cdio2Oj-q0xSWeRL34Kk8WcdxJ5HI8CBr73d334Ymo6TdbdQ3A8Y-rhzW9nY5F26cCvAZOhJGQntFfQIZycbr4pOKZT117vxl2Pzp4_6McmwuG6yH6mSMEBXmaBNg/s16000/Trump%202025%20%233.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Project 2025: Step 3</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU0ZoNb_kYUFeXMAo5OzJzBsXNpQi-WocxCUmogpB4GBsig-6ZNnqaLfkZOGy4lLVsAD4_0Yr7CocZa-IsqIIH1Gsc7fpW2kugm3yUwlkPaFwBOdbYJHcVO00aOvH12WG1giPm0AKCWSx_U88QyggZtIlupLPj97izB3Mdau8s27BQI70p21LBWk0QUR52/s550/Trump%202025%20%234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="263" data-original-width="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU0ZoNb_kYUFeXMAo5OzJzBsXNpQi-WocxCUmogpB4GBsig-6ZNnqaLfkZOGy4lLVsAD4_0Yr7CocZa-IsqIIH1Gsc7fpW2kugm3yUwlkPaFwBOdbYJHcVO00aOvH12WG1giPm0AKCWSx_U88QyggZtIlupLPj97izB3Mdau8s27BQI70p21LBWk0QUR52/s16000/Trump%202025%20%234.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Project 2025: Step
4</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Trump’s campaign is developing plans to use the federal
government to punish his political opponents if he wins a second term next year.
some prominent Republicans, even some staffers from his first term — say these
plans would imperil American democracy according to this article <b><a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-has-big-plans-for-a-second-term-critics-say-they-pose-a-threat-to-democracy/ar-AA1kfxSL" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">via Yahoo.news</span></a></b> with numerous source
links therein with this headline:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="color: #990000; font-family: helvetica;">“Trump has big plans for a
second term: <br />They pose a threat to democracy.”</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">On the campaign trail, Trump has made numerous public
references to exacting revenge upon detractors and rivals, including promising
to appoint a special prosecutor to “<a href="https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-vows-biden-family-bitter-051215901.html" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">go after</span></b></a>”
President Biden for unspecified crimes. In a speech and in
a post on Truth Social, <b><span style="color: #990000;">Trump </span></b></span><b><span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-large;">referred to left-wing Americans as “vermin.”</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><a href="https://www.yahoo.com/news/donald-trumps-word-vermin-draws-181857088.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Historians said</span></a> </b>such dehumanizing of one’s political
opponents is frequently used by fascist dictators. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Trump campaign spokesperson <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2020/06/23/playbook-birthday-steven-cheung-335271" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Steven Cheung</span></a> said: </b>“<i>Those who try to make that ridiculous assertion are
clearly snowflakes grasping for anything because they are suffering from Trump
Derangement Syndrome and their entire existence will be crushed when President
Trump returns to the White House</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">According to the <b><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/11/05/trump-revenge-second-term/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Washington Post</span></a></b>,
Trump has privately said he would direct the Department of Justice to
investigate officials from his first term who have since criticized his tenure,
including:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: x-large;">1.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>Former
White House CofS & Marine Corps General John Kelly.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: x-large;">2.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>Former
AG William Barr.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: x-large;">3.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>Former
JCS General Chairman Mark Milley.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: x-large;">4.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>Former
Trump White House S/C Ty Cobb.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">According to his advisers, </span><b style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/17/us/politics/trump-plans-2025.html#:~:text=Trump%20and%20Allies%20Forge%20Plans,the%20independence%20of%20federal%20agencies." target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Trump intends</span></a></b><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> to
fire up to tens of thousands of career government professionals and replace
them with his allies, and will refuse to spend congressional appropriations
on programs he opposes.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><a href="https://news.yahoo.com/trump-allies-plan-wield-power-125320951.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">The NY TIMES</span></a></b> also reported that Trump’s plans to crack down on illegal immigration will
include:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: x-large;">1. Using
military funds to erect detention camps.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: x-large;">2.<span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Using
a public-health emergency law to shut down asylum requests at the border.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: x-large;">3. Ending
birthright citizenship for babies born in the U.S. to undocumented immigrants.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Trump also reportedly <b><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/03/us/politics/trump-mexico-cartels-republican.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">plans to send the military</span></a></b> into
Mexico to combat drug cartels, with or without the Mexican government’s
permission. A number of high-profile Republican elected officials, conservative
legal scholars and veterans of Trump’s first term in office have said Trump’s
intentions would weaken the justice system and threaten the rule of law. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Here are some of the
most notable criticisms:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">1. <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/news/liz-cheney-doesnt-rule-presidential-165459604.html?guccounter=1" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY)</span></b></a>:
“<i>He cannot be the next president, because if he is, all of the things that he
attempted to do, but was stopped from doing by responsible people around him at
the Department of Justice, at the White House Counsel’s Office, all of those
things, he will do. There will be no guardrails</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">2. <a href="https://news.yahoo.com/trump-signals-revenge-second-term-110000484.html" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Sarah Matthews, a former Trump
White House and campaign press aide</span></b></a>: “<i>His policies are
not centered around improving the lives of his supporters or Americans in
general, it’s centered around consolidating power for Trump, and that way he
can wield it to enact that revenge on anyone he deems as an enemy. And that is
what is scary</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">3. <b><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/nov/13/january-6-michael-luttig-trump-warning" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Former federal appeals court Judge
Michael Luttig, appointed by President George H.W. Bush, and former assistant
White House counsel under President Reagan</span></a></b>: “<i>I am more
worried for America today than I was on January 6. Trump’s election would be
catastrophic for America’s democracy</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">4. <b><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/11/05/trump-revenge-second-term/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Former Trump-appointed AG Rod
Rosenstein</span></a></b>: “<i>Making prosecutorial decisions in a nonpartisan
manner is essential to democracy. The White House should not be meddling in
individual cases for political reasons</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">5. <b><a href="https://news.yahoo.com/john-bolton-second-trump-term-025713903.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Former Trump administration national
security adviser John Bolton</span></a></b>: “<i>He doesn’t think in policy
directions when he makes decisions, certainly in the national security space.
It’s all connected with how things benefit Trump. … In a second Trump
term, we’d almost certainly withdraw from NATO</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">6. <b><a href="https://news.yahoo.com/mitt-romney-says-doesnt-home-160412552.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT)</span></a></b>: “<i>Donald Trump represents a failure of
character, which is changing, I think, in many respects, the psyche of our
nation and the heart of our nation. And that's something which takes a long
time — if ever — to repair</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="color: #990000;">My 2 cents:</span></b> People who were close to and who know Trump better than
the average MAGA voter are honest in their opinions expressed above – I believe
it’s a growing field – I hope continues to grow. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I
strongly believe that Trump means what he says about the things he intends to
do if reelected in 2024 – it would be as the above charts show and thing he
intends to do under the so-called “<b><i>Project 2025</i></b>” plan now taking shape for him. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><a href="https://weaselwart.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">That plan I posted about here</span></a></b>
with this summary: “<i>DEMS must emphasize that Trump’s “<b><span style="color: #0000cc;"><a href="https://www.project2025.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0000cc;">Project 2025</span></a></span></b>”
to reform (*he says rewrite) the constitution, will see him in charge of everything
too-to-bottom under his one man rule as Dictator Don</i>.<o:p></o:p>”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">It
is very scary stuff and I don’t say that lightly – it worries me greatly and I
don’t scare or worry easily, either. Trump must never be anywhere near or in
the White House ever again. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Thanks for stopping by.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div></div><p></p>Danny M. Francis (Eyepublius)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15404681142717886193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518346181387274367.post-80297983549721507362023-11-17T22:07:00.000-05:002023-11-17T22:07:27.458-05:00Trump Tears Up Valuable Note: S/C Smith Has the Note that Finally Could Finish Off Trump <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZhFPSUOkly6-Lj3EQ1B1iKWAQ2Ycpb6mNj-eawBlK8mA4t__lNphG7WjhqeIKfqfcjm9NI4_K2tLMRiDQ1t5nHCLw2LEMsapfPoxPAHjFTN57n9tbZHvd2QRwQJPTmPgXtRCfMQmFyAHEGh4dT8-39Lnv-vztYvvLR8i3t_Jh_yYTMIJNalKpuHvuh6V3/s550/Smith%20vs.%20Trump%20and%20note%20proves%20Trump%20intent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="418" data-original-width="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZhFPSUOkly6-Lj3EQ1B1iKWAQ2Ycpb6mNj-eawBlK8mA4t__lNphG7WjhqeIKfqfcjm9NI4_K2tLMRiDQ1t5nHCLw2LEMsapfPoxPAHjFTN57n9tbZHvd2QRwQJPTmPgXtRCfMQmFyAHEGh4dT8-39Lnv-vztYvvLR8i3t_Jh_yYTMIJNalKpuHvuh6V3/s16000/Smith%20vs.%20Trump%20and%20note%20proves%20Trump%20intent.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Smith has proof that shows Trump’s January 6 intent</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">If a former federal prosecutor is right, a torn-up note
could be a key piece of evidence for special counsel <b>Jack Smith</b> in
his case against Trump seen in this <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://newrepublic.com/post/176918/ripped-note-help-jack-smith-donald-trump-intent">NEW
REPUBLIC</a></b> article headline:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: helvetica;">“A Ripped-Up Note Could Help
Jack Smith Take Down Donald Trump”</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<div style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #666666;">The note can prove Trump’s
January 6 intent.</span><b style="color: #767171;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Background:</b> In
the weeks immediately preceding the January 6 insurrection, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Trump’s first national security adviser,
Michael Flynn, claimed on Newsmax: </b>“<i>President Trump could take military
capabilities and rerun an election in key swing states that he lost</i>.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The military shot down the idea when then-Army secretary <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Ryan McCarthy</span> and then-Army Chief
of Staff <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">James McConville</span> both
said in a joint statement:</b> “<i>There’s no role for the military in determining
the outcome of an American election</i>.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Shortly after the
military made its stance known, <a href="https://newrepublic.com/post/176918/ripped-note-help-jack-smith-donald-trump-intent" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Trump
aide <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">John McEntee </span>wrote
note to Trump</span></a>, which could be the proof Smith needs to show Trump's
intent:</b> “<i>Chris Miller (</i>Acting Secretary of Defense<i>) spoke to both
of them and anticipates no more statements coming out. If another happens, he
will fire them</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Trump ripped up the note,
which has since been reconstructed and was used as part of the House Committee’s
January 6 investigation.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Trump in December tweeted a call to action from his supporters asking
them to join him in D.C. on January 6 posting:</b> “<i>Big protest in D.C. on
January 6. Be there, will be wild</i>!”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">That reconstructed note,
collected as part of the House January 6 Committee’s investigation, and now
appears in the pages of ABC News journalist Jonathan Karl’s latest book: </b>“<i><b>Tired
of Winning: Donald Trump and the End of the Grand Old Party</b></i>.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Nicolle Wallace (MSNBC
host) asked former DOJ official <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Weissmann" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Andrew Weissmann</span></a>:</span>
</b>“<i>Doesn’t that get right at his intent of what he wanted them to do</i>?” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Weissmann said: </b>“<i>Absolutely</i>”
<b>and then he concluded</b>: “<i>As much as you think of it as a military organization
with a hierarchy, they are also trained that they do not violate the
Constitution. And when there’s an invalid order, they know that they cannot
follow it because the Constitution comes first</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="color: #990000;">My 2 Cents:</span></b> This update
(<b>Jonatan Karl's interview and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Tired-Winning-Donald-Trump-Grand/dp/0593473981" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">his new book</span></a></b>) seems pretty clear-cut to me…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">It’s to finally nail Trump
and get him out of the public limelight and help return us to some sort of
normalcy – even if that’s humanly possible after all the destruction that Trump
has levied on the country in a short period of time.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Thanks for stopping by.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div><br /></div><p></p>Danny M. Francis (Eyepublius)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15404681142717886193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518346181387274367.post-47811959652988363332023-11-12T15:20:00.001-05:002023-11-12T15:20:51.173-05:00Trump's Words and Actions: Are a "Clear and Present Danger” Like SCOTUS Declared in 1919<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf8Uf1REzDdiy0OQ9_pN34YIhRQsv184hoekcF8l-GUWkkCQvLuhgd2-gPjs1wBTz68ANWAHDIimJeqSnLtdOJGJlOCtwMl1qjNENltzsrx2DmoIOhGu42tfBR2g7R3rmkh_4nSj4cJ4mTFSz007P5ddn1FTlpMBNdCHKiFzx40o9N4nUS8SYSszGwr_ca/s493/Tired%20of%20winning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="493" data-original-width="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf8Uf1REzDdiy0OQ9_pN34YIhRQsv184hoekcF8l-GUWkkCQvLuhgd2-gPjs1wBTz68ANWAHDIimJeqSnLtdOJGJlOCtwMl1qjNENltzsrx2DmoIOhGu42tfBR2g7R3rmkh_4nSj4cJ4mTFSz007P5ddn1FTlpMBNdCHKiFzx40o9N4nUS8SYSszGwr_ca/s16000/Tired%20of%20winning.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Excellent background
leading to Election 2024</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-large;">(Video is provided in story below)</span></span></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp3NWJjsN2Ai7l2THio8x44FVZj42vw6VQmhvS3dtBQvtDCov6g6CcuXS7pJRcrrxHDCxHUXOQOn4mYhbAnk3ZjfkZNAxsJsh3mNgB2u0ABzDe7FWsQV23sNWZYTsYvNv2-TBymn_Ce6dmWY3GUzhiIv-_iVsps0OmpTHA0vzHxN53AJvUlek4ZzHXGSDV/s550/Trump%20look%20at%20Hitler%20says%20a%20lot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="321" data-original-width="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp3NWJjsN2Ai7l2THio8x44FVZj42vw6VQmhvS3dtBQvtDCov6g6CcuXS7pJRcrrxHDCxHUXOQOn4mYhbAnk3ZjfkZNAxsJsh3mNgB2u0ABzDe7FWsQV23sNWZYTsYvNv2-TBymn_Ce6dmWY3GUzhiIv-_iVsps0OmpTHA0vzHxN53AJvUlek4ZzHXGSDV/s16000/Trump%20look%20at%20Hitler%20says%20a%20lot.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">No one likes Hitler comparisons, but consider
this</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">(<b><a href="https://www.rawstory.com/trump-veteran-hitler/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Click
here from RAWSTORY</span></a></b>)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The new book: “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Tired
of Winning</b>” gives insight into <b><i>Trump’s 2024 campaign which is one of “Revenge”
or more apt, like the Civil War quote of “Calm Retribution”</i></b> that was the code
word used in a plot to assassinate President Lincoln.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">A video explaining that book from author, Jonathan Karl, ABC
News Chief Washington Correspondent, is most enlightening:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">[<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/video/news/new-book-gives-insight-into-former-president-trump%E2%80%99s-2024-campaign/vi-AA1jhyUt" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Click here for that 5-minute video of Jonathan Karl’s interview</span></a></b>]<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Also, related from <a href="https://www.rawstory.com/trump-crimes-2666225497/?cx_testId=4&cx_testVariant=cx_1&cx_artPos=0&cx_experienceId=EXC93HV4HK4I#cxrecs_s" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">RAWSTORY</span></a>
because words matter.<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Finally, this also for
serious consideration:</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/111393315342651569" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Trump posted the
following message</span></a></b> to American veterans on Veterans Day,
November 11, 2023.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">“<i>In honor of our great Veterans on Veteran’s Day, we pledge
to you that we will root out the Communists, Marxists, Fascists, and Radical </i><b>Left
Thugs that live like vermin within the confines of our Country</b><i>, lie,
steal, and cheat on Elections, and will do anything possible, whether legally
or illegally, to destroy America, and the American Dream. The threat from
outside forces is far less sinister, dangerous, and grave, than the threat from
within. Despite the hatred and anger of the Radical Left Lunatics who want to
destroy our Country, we will </i><b>MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN</b>!”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">That message struck
some as familiar for many people, e.g., </b><b><span style="color: #0000cc;"><a href="https://www.meidastouch.com/news/trump-echoes-hitler-threatens-to-rid-america-of-vermin-from-within" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0000cc;">Meidas Touch</span></a></span></b> reported that Trump “<i>echoes
Hitler nearly verbatim</i>” in his calls to destroy the “<i>vermin, or liberals</i>.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Tristan Snell, a former assistant NYS AG added his take, as
well of the two quotes:</b> “<i>This vermin must be destroyed. The Jews are our sworn
enemies, and at the end of this year there will not be a Jew left in Germany</i>.”
— <b>Hitler, 1939</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #990000;">My 2 Cents:</span></b> Simply stated is that we must – the entire nation – must take serious heed and have serious concern about Trump and his recent harsh words in many
speeches about his plans for 2025 if he were to return to the White House.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">His MAGA base believes him
like other radicals groups and individuals believed people like him in the
past in Waco, Jonestown, and of mass shooting nationally in between and ever since.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">We must believe him and his
words, <b><i>but we must NOT trust him for any goodness</i></b> – it’s not in his DNA. He must
be taken very seriously for one reason as the famous judicial line quote says: “<b><i>He
is a Clear and Present Danger</i></b>.” That is not hyperbole – that’s what his words
say.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">History of that quote comes from the famous high court freedom of speech case of: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.oyez.org/cases/1900-1940/249us47" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Schenck
v. United States</span></a><span style="color: #0000cc;">. </span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Articulating for the first time the
“Clear and Present danger test” Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes (a Republican
BTW) concluded that the First Amendment does not protect speech that approaches
creating a “<i>clear and present danger of a significant evil that Congress has
power to prevent.</i>” Justice Holmes reasoned that the widespread dissemination of the anti-WWI
leaflets was sufficiently likely to disrupt the conscription process, and he famously compared the
leaflets to falsely shouting “Fire! In a crowded theatre,” which is not
permitted under the First Amendment. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Trump has been shouting words
worse than “Fire” in a crowded theatre since he lost the 2020 election. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">He has
now laid out his plan to burn down our democratic nation, including in his own
words that would enable him to “<b><i>rewrite the constitution</i></b>” – in his own words, and now is
his “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2024-conservatives-trump-heritage-857eb794e505f1c6710eb03fd5b58981" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Project 2025</span></a></b>” plan that he utters practically in every speech. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">All of us must pay close attention
to his words since they have serious consequences just like they did on January
6. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Thanks for stopping by.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div><br /></div><p></p>Danny M. Francis (Eyepublius)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15404681142717886193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518346181387274367.post-8138077814220066082023-11-06T19:48:00.005-05:002023-11-06T20:08:44.873-05:00Separation of Church & State: Far Right Issue Now With House Speaker Johnson in Play<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWlBoUS8LWALnFvT8SxCd7PltxkOGElvvBhlNRwo_vljY9qrI9UmKlIHzEUiTCAUPCgGuGM3jCbaUK7a1y-OuNwKPW-wt41fW2K-NPLyw-98ePXIvURdvUO7Tl7yomsg31SWqwBuEW3Uw8BY-U2Wl3p54sE9Tjc_XOcf7NPoGt_EazRgaQHr5svTnpzox_/s550/Religion%20and%20Politics%20individual%20choice%20NOT%20government's.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="321" data-original-width="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWlBoUS8LWALnFvT8SxCd7PltxkOGElvvBhlNRwo_vljY9qrI9UmKlIHzEUiTCAUPCgGuGM3jCbaUK7a1y-OuNwKPW-wt41fW2K-NPLyw-98ePXIvURdvUO7Tl7yomsg31SWqwBuEW3Uw8BY-U2Wl3p54sE9Tjc_XOcf7NPoGt_EazRgaQHr5svTnpzox_/s16000/Religion%20and%20Politics%20individual%20choice%20NOT%20government's.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Historically Not a Good Public Policy Issue</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_gfjS5UrKkdhHSPJVU-T2pGj6V6L8vVPthSiqYUQMnr2z2um_XGqbDKnJJzIF6wqhgeVWYDphj-KR_BgI15OnsKUhkKTbDNaJBY9sA4BhJlpLiqVGemlNCori47R3e1mkG6XeyVRo5H5PnrBE8bir85ZSyTl5FRUv26Y1Ctz3cVEaJ2ChW3u8QfT6FBes/s550/Barton%20and%20Johnson%20now%20locked%20into%20one%20very%20bad%20issue.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="374" data-original-width="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_gfjS5UrKkdhHSPJVU-T2pGj6V6L8vVPthSiqYUQMnr2z2um_XGqbDKnJJzIF6wqhgeVWYDphj-KR_BgI15OnsKUhkKTbDNaJBY9sA4BhJlpLiqVGemlNCori47R3e1mkG6XeyVRo5H5PnrBE8bir85ZSyTl5FRUv26Y1Ctz3cVEaJ2ChW3u8QfT6FBes/s16000/Barton%20and%20Johnson%20now%20locked%20into%20one%20very%20bad%20issue.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Barton and
Johnson: Joined at the Hip & Lip it Seems</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;">Still don’t think new GOP House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is not a
threat to our democracy and way of life – think again as you ponder this pretty
big battle coming soon – or so it seems – reported on from <b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2023/11/03/david-barton-mike-johnson-texas-church-state-christianity/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">T</span><span style="color: #2b00fe;">HE TEXAS TRIBUNE</span></a></span></b> with this
article headline:<o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="color: #222222;">“Texas
activist David Barton wants to end </span></b><b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Separation_of_church_and_state" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">separation of church and state</span></a></b><b><span style="color: #222222;">. He has the ear of the new House
speaker.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<div style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 1pt 4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><b><span style="color: #767171;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: large;">Barton has been a staple of Texas’ Christian conservative movement,
offering crucial support to politicians and frequently being cited or called on
to testify in favor of bills that critics say would erode church-state
separations.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></b></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;">Highlights from the
article:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<div style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 1pt 4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;">For nearly four decades,
Texas activist David Barton has barnstormed statehouses and pulpits across the
nation, arguing that <b><a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/04/texas-legislature-church-state-separation/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">the separation between church and state is a myth</span></a></b> and
that America should be run as a Christian nation. Now, he’s closer to power
than perhaps ever before. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;">One day after little-known Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson
of Louisiana was elected as the new GOP House speaker, <b><a href="https://wallbuilderslive.com/the-making-of-a-speaker-mike-johnsons-commitment-to-conservative-values/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Barton said on a podcast</span></a></b> that
he was already discussing staffing with Johnson, his longtime ally in deeply
conservative, Christian causes, <b><span style="color: #0000cc;"><a href="https://wallbuilderslive.com/the-making-of-a-speaker-mike-johnsons-commitment-to-conservative-values/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0000cc;">with Barton saying</span></a></span></b>: “<i>We have some
tools at our disposal now (that) we haven't had in a long time</i>.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;">Johnson recently spoke at an event hosted by
Barton’s nonprofit, “<i><b><a href="https://wallbuilders.com/about-us/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Wall Builders</span></a></b> as he praised Barton
and his profound influence on me, and my work, and my life and everything
I do</i>.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;"><b>FYI: </b>Before his career as a lawmaker, Johnson worked for “Alliance
Defending Freedom”— a legal advocacy group that has helped infuse more Christianity
into public schools and government, <b><a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/04/texas-legislature-church-state-separation/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">a key goal of Barton’s movement</span></a></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;">Barton, who lives in Aledo, has been a staple of Texas’ own
Christian conservative movement, offering crucial public support to politicians
and frequently being cited or called on to testify in favor of bills that
critics say would erode church-state separations — including in front of
the <b><a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/04/texas-legislature-church-state-separation/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Texas Legislature this year</span></a>.</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 1pt 4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;">Johnson’s election — and
his proximity to Barton — is a massive victory for a growing Christian
nationalist movement that claims the United States’ foundation was ordained by
God, and therefore its laws and institutions should favor their brand of
Christianity.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;"><b>David Brockman, a non-resident scholar in religion and
public policy at Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy said about
that:</b> “<i>Johnson's rise means that Barton and his fellow Christian nationalists
now have unprecedented access to the levers of power on the national stage,
paralleling the access they already have here in Texas, and in some other
states</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;">Barton and Johnson did not respond to requests for comment
this week.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 1pt 4pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="color: #990000;">My 2 Cents: </span></b>As clearly as I can
state it – any person the U.S. under our laws and constitution have the freedom
to worship and practice any religion they choose, or not to choose. I strongly
believe most others feel that Barton’s and Johnson’s beliefs and practices MUST
not be shoved down our throat the way this, their so-called movement advocates
as discussed above.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;">Worship how you want to
whom you choose or believe in, but as I said, do not try to force that on
others with difference views or no views at all. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;">That is original intent of
the freedom of worship and religion and speech in our country, period. Hardnose
and yes, even somewhat radical evangelicals like Barton and Johnson, et al
should advocate all they want – just not those of us who believe differently
than their side advocates – our choice NOT theirs. Period. Thanks for stopping
by.</span><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div></div></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Danny M. Francis (Eyepublius)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15404681142717886193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518346181387274367.post-26247257745210565232023-10-29T18:22:00.000-04:002023-10-29T18:22:11.816-04:00Blame Biden for Israeli War: Not his Fault nor U.S. either — The Real Culprit is Hamas, et al<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig12V8qnoojGZucRLUzbxiyzC0W_UsAk0lgNarVcKaNWdSrnmUxOsjV7kl_gIbJN6B_lQnxidlpU9THi8hlb1ytoBp4fmhX81ORR5K8AqV4yXRdtpbRy9xQlN9uciPDVQ1hiThURGtw3jndZLaeaDX6LIMaKG2t4mGLdaGnjHnw_KtkUT4nUhymSEpIjzN/s500/Vera%20Fact%20Check.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="497" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig12V8qnoojGZucRLUzbxiyzC0W_UsAk0lgNarVcKaNWdSrnmUxOsjV7kl_gIbJN6B_lQnxidlpU9THi8hlb1ytoBp4fmhX81ORR5K8AqV4yXRdtpbRy9xQlN9uciPDVQ1hiThURGtw3jndZLaeaDX6LIMaKG2t4mGLdaGnjHnw_KtkUT4nUhymSEpIjzN/s16000/Vera%20Fact%20Check.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The facts are what many refuse to believe</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc0pSg9JPaZI-qWfQICA2Dr99faBorZ5X5_qsZYS3MTkp6SHfzb7XzV2stMHCbc2lCfIKBRn-0NJgsR2k9nVIryn9H0cjGOAVzC5Jql2ed-u3jNC5IzJ0j6cq_bnQaLkWSa6vLXbz24DbPWlhskgPGVcD9fH7MnrqL2F4PcJNf6rQ2wxd-BJ1y500mG8xf/s618/Biden%20not%20all%20Palenstains%20to%20blame.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="618" data-original-width="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc0pSg9JPaZI-qWfQICA2Dr99faBorZ5X5_qsZYS3MTkp6SHfzb7XzV2stMHCbc2lCfIKBRn-0NJgsR2k9nVIryn9H0cjGOAVzC5Jql2ed-u3jNC5IzJ0j6cq_bnQaLkWSa6vLXbz24DbPWlhskgPGVcD9fH7MnrqL2F4PcJNf6rQ2wxd-BJ1y500mG8xf/s16000/Biden%20not%20all%20Palenstains%20to%20blame.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="font-size: x-large;">GOP lives to blame
President Biden for everything</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-large;">(His words not their disinformation)</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">A very long and very detailed story of which I do not agree
or disagree with in total. I see selective parts in an unbiased point of view –
others are inflammatory as the headline indicates that is “<i>Blame Biden</i>.” </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Also,
a short video <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.vox.com/2023/10/29/23937303/world-will-see-gaza-incursion-as-bidens-war" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">from VOX</span></a> </b>with this headline:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: helvetica;">“The world will see this as Biden’s war”</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<div style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #767171;"><u>For the Biden haters</u>: Chew on this article</span></b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.axios.com/2023/10/29/biden-netanyahu-hamas-israel-war-palestinians-civilians" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">from AXIOS</span></a></b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #767171; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #767171; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: lumm=50000; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: background2; mso-themecolor: background2; mso-themeshade: 128;">as a warmup to the main piece that follows.</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Original VOX article:</b>
Even before Israel began its heavier ground incursion into Gaza on October 27,
accompanied by accelerated bombings of the occupied territory, the situation on
the ground was already severe. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://www.ochaopt.org/content/hostilities-gaza-strip-and-israel-flash-update-22" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">According</span></b></a> to the Gaza-based Ministry of Health, as of
Saturday midday, there are 7,703 fatalities, 1.4 million internally displaced
people, and about 19,700 injuries. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Twenty-nine <a href="https://cpj.org/2023/10/cpj-statement-on-news-blackout-in-gaza/" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">journalists</span></b></a> have died, along with at least 53 <a href="https://twitter.com/unrwa/status/1717878743681663457?s=46" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">UN employees</span></b></a>. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The <a href="https://www.vox.com/2023/10/9/23910159/israel-gaza-siege-palestinians-hamas-humanitarian-crisis" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">complete siege</span></b></a> Israel declared on the <a href="https://www.vox.com/2023/10/9/23910159/israel-gaza-siege-palestinians-hamas-humanitarian-crisis" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">already blockaded territory</span></b></a> after Hamas’s October 7
attacks has resulted in three weeks rationing of food, water, medicine, and
fuel for a population of 2.2 million people. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>A Mercy Corps staffer in
Gaza <a href="https://www.mercycorps.org/press-room/releases/gaza-cut-off-from-world" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">said</span></a></b><b> earlier this week: </b>“<i>We know that we are dying here;
if we are not dead physically, we are dead on the inside</i>.” </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The toll from what
Israel Defense Minister Yoav Gallant called the war’s “<a href="https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-10-28-23/h_3fc60f39fd2697cf54af4dc4179b3585" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">new phase</span></b></a>” is only starting to become clear. Israel
appeared to have <a href="https://twitter.com/john_hudson/status/1718676405129478344?s=46" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">shut off communications in Gaza</span></b></a>. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">International aid groups
and press organizations lost contact with their staff, creating a vacuum.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Beyond the numbers of the dead and wounded, the extent of
the bombardment and the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza is best expressed so
far by a handful of first-hand accounts that were able to reach outside the territory.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Journalist Hind
Khoury’s note from Gaza City shared with Vox via the nonprofit Institute for
Middle East Understanding said:</b> “<i>The amount of explosions is massive.
Endless explosions. We’re talking about an explosion every single minute. The
sky is orange</i>.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Israel suffered tremendous
atrocities at the hands of Hamas, with more than 1,400 people killed, while the
militant group holds 229 hostages in Gaza. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Rocket fire from the territory
continues to target Israel. But the degree of Israel’s shelling of Gaza and the
first indications of what may become a lengthy, intensive ground operation
poses critical risks for the Middle East and the world. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>And among those dangers is
a political one for the White House:</b> It’s becoming clear that while the Israeli
military is carrying out this attack, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i>much of the world views Israel’s assault on
Gaza as </i><a href="https://twitter.com/ShibleyTelhami/status/1718253754909147445" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">enabled by the United States</span></a><i> — as President Joe
Biden’s war.<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The full story follows, and again, it’s very long and biased
in parts:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #990000;">My 2 Cents:</span></b> Israel did not start this war. They do however, intend
to end it on their terms. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The blame is one sided:
Hamas and whomever is supporting them either directly or indirectly as nasty
characters for sure behind the Hamas brutal attack – they are to blame and NOT
President Joe Biden or the U.S. – I want to make that perfectly clear.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Thanks for stopping by.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div><br /></div><p></p>Danny M. Francis (Eyepublius)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15404681142717886193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518346181387274367.post-74850967159823119812023-10-23T23:17:00.000-04:002023-10-23T23:17:01.880-04:00Homeland Security (CBP) Warning: Hamas May Try to Enter & Cross Our Southern Border<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJs76ppw5tdbU37o2odcl-nkmuVc0foR-MkhuP5bkc-rnqEJmlORhOYmWupxJxKG0lOJVxIc-l9oDTYyGIpMQAv_KGUkwXjHN8rbUDP-KzTdXDs7PfsU7XCTbSBKTrH23jumsM1cJKauszT20Oz6rIktujpWa_jP1xx4g4q-a9m8v-I6aq1xaIliu8nXXz/s550/Hamas%20in%20Gaza%20today.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="322" data-original-width="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJs76ppw5tdbU37o2odcl-nkmuVc0foR-MkhuP5bkc-rnqEJmlORhOYmWupxJxKG0lOJVxIc-l9oDTYyGIpMQAv_KGUkwXjHN8rbUDP-KzTdXDs7PfsU7XCTbSBKTrH23jumsM1cJKauszT20Oz6rIktujpWa_jP1xx4g4q-a9m8v-I6aq1xaIliu8nXXz/s16000/Hamas%20in%20Gaza%20today.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Hamas now in Gaza: Looking to cross into U.S.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: x-large;">(Not dressed like this of course)</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">From <a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/hamas-militants-may-potentially-try-crossing-southern-border-us-officials-warn/ar-AA1iIQ4e" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>ABC News</b></span></a> this very concerning
headline and developing story. Plus, it seems we are on top of the issue
(hopefully 100%):<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: helvetica;"><b>“Hamas militants may potentially try
crossing southern border, U.S. officials warn</b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: helvetica;">”</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<div style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials in San Diego
recently warned in an internal intelligence notice: </b>“<i>Militants
associated</i> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://abcnews.go.com/International/live-updates/israel-gaza-live-updates/?id=104049894" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">with the Israel-Hamas war</span></a></b> <i>may
potentially be encountered at the southwest border. Individuals inspired by, or
reacting to, the current Israel-Hamas conflict may attempt travel to or from
the area of hostilities in the Middle East via circuitous transit across the
Southwest border</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The CBP document shows various insignia worn by Hamas, the
Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">It informs CBP personnel
to be vigilant for military-age men wearing military gear and traveling alone
at the border.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">CBP intelligence offices regularly generate reports on
potential threats to border security. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Thus, naming particular groups may indicate
that officials have specific intelligence based on the severity of potential
threats outside the U.S.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #990000;">My 2 Cents:</span></b> Good heads up reporting from ABC News showing that our border
protection agency (CBP) is alert and on the job.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">It’s a tough job with a
lot of area to monitor. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Updates on this developing story are expected and will be posted with
any developments, so stay tuned.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Thanks for stopping by.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div><br /></div><p></p>Danny M. Francis (Eyepublius)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15404681142717886193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5518346181387274367.post-41414937894629489212023-10-18T00:28:00.002-04:002023-10-18T00:28:40.908-04:00Taylor Greene Armed & Ready: She is a Menace to Common Sense , Logic, and Rationality<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLihr8v0ZP9qSAETgFWUfhoZtWCtasntXB5K67xDXUJl0L6A339kGVgs9iQhvkJoPuwGQyrLaziZOU8vLV0jYBruzd81R3t7-JzhDX4w2WI6q-5tomIchtKMw77mmCas1fGTdHcggylwklQGwLQd_ISuaMs_JptYO_n6ri2MG1xynXUM2Ft5ylpdQuMxPp/s550/The%20gun%20%20is%20bigger%20than%20she%20is.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="323" data-original-width="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLihr8v0ZP9qSAETgFWUfhoZtWCtasntXB5K67xDXUJl0L6A339kGVgs9iQhvkJoPuwGQyrLaziZOU8vLV0jYBruzd81R3t7-JzhDX4w2WI6q-5tomIchtKMw77mmCas1fGTdHcggylwklQGwLQd_ISuaMs_JptYO_n6ri2MG1xynXUM2Ft5ylpdQuMxPp/s16000/The%20gun%20%20is%20bigger%20than%20she%20is.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The gun is bigger
than her – I guess she likes ‘em big </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Thar she blows – the wackiest person ever in the House among
a few others again mouthing off in this article from <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/war-is-coming-marjorie-taylor-greene-tests-new-conspiracy-theory-about-violence/ar-AA1io4MB" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">RAW STORY</span></a></b> with this headline:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: times;">“War is coming – Marjorie Taylor Greene tests new conspiracy theory
about violence”</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>The article below (formatted to fit the blog):</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>It has been just a few weeks since Rep. Marjorie Taylor
Greene (R-GA) begged the anti-war </b><a href="https://www.newsweek.com/marjorie-taylor-greene-left-wing-group-photo-backlash-1832296" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">group Codepink</span></b></a><b> for a photo with their activists, but she's now
beating the drum for war as she says she told them: </b>“<i>The war in Ukraine must
END! Today, I met brave <b><a href="https://www.codepink.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Codepink</span></a></b> activists who protested for peace in Bernie
Sanders’ office. He had 11 of them arrested! Peace & free speech shouldn’t
be a partisan issue. We don’t agree on most things, but we do agree Congress
should STOP fueling the war in Ukraine</i>!<o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-size: xx-large;">”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Her ominous comment explained:</b> “<i>Washington wants war with
Iran, which will pull in Turkey and Syria, maybe Saudis. Russia will likely
sell weapons to Iran and NK too. Maybe nukes as well. What will India do?
China? Both might play the long game and they will likely watch everyone blow
themselves to pieces and be weakened and then either country can make a play
for global dominance when it’s over</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>She then claimed this is why cable news is running non-stop
coverage of the Israel-Hamas war:</b> “<i>To physiologically prepare you to support
war, sending our troops, and paying for it all. It’s so you can stomach the
flag draped [sic] coffins coming home and donate to all the charities
supporting blown apart American soldiers. It's the idea that war feeds
patriotism and wins elections and war is good for the economy tactic</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>She then went on to attack Neocon power
trip funding of the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcuStxJHv4c" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Military-Industrial
Complex</span></a> proclaiming:</b> “<i>Get ready. War is coming. I’ll fight against it the whole way and
inform you all every step of the way. But I’m going to need help</i>.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>While Greene was sounding off about the U.S. aiding the
war against Hamas,</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.rawstory.com/wall-street-journal-iran-israel/?utm_source=msn" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">the conservative side of the Wall Street Journal </span></a></b><b><a href="https://www.rawstory.com/wall-street-journal-iran-israel/?utm_source=msn" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">blamed Iran for the attack</span></a></b>,
<b>in a way that one reporter said was similar to the:</b> “<i>Destruction claims that Iraq had WMD's from Geo. W. Bush and Dick Cheney</i> (remember that).”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Meanwhile, Donald Trump Jr., <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.rawstory.com/donald-trump-jr-ar-15-sales/?utm_source=msn" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">warned that Hamas is coming to the
United States</span></a></b> and urged Americans to buy AR-15’s
quickly to defend their families.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<div style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #990000;">My 2 Cents:</span></b> I wonder how much crazier Taylor Greene and the cult Trump
types can get – a hell of lot more, I’m sure. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Will it matter at the
ballot box in 2024? Probably not, at least not with cult-hooked and
ill-informed MAGA types wild-eyed and glued to Trump himself … but we will have
to wait and see. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">However. I do have faith in the voters, but just to be sure, hang
on tight. It might get a lot nastier and downright uglier along the way – bet on it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 1.0pt 4.0pt 1.0pt 4.0pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Thanks for stopping by.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div><br /></div><p></p>Danny M. Francis (Eyepublius)http://www.blogger.com/profile/15404681142717886193noreply@blogger.com0