All-purpose news and politics thread: Two Steps Beyond!(Part II)

[worstblogever]

In 2015, in 2016, and in 2017, “Crazy Stupid Republican of the Day” published profiles of Michele Fiore, a former member of the Nevada House of Representatives and a particularly staunch fan of the 2nd Amendment who in her first year in office alone in 2013, came to the defense of Jim Wheeler for saying he would vote to legalize slavery if he could, bragged about breaking the law by carrying her personal guns through gun free zones, and abrasively finding ways to tell her colleagues she thought were suffering from rectal-cranial inversion, or that they needed to grow sets of brass ovaries or testicles. She also has blamed victims of sexual assault on college campuses because they weren't carrying a gun, themselves, and becoming one of the most vocal defenders of tax scofflaw and domestic terrorist Cliven Bundy during his standoff with the Bureau of Land Management in 2014. And that was just in our first profile of Fiore. Our second look at Fiore featured a whole new series of moronic adventures, including the time that in spite of being the CEO of a healthcare company, talked about working on a bill regarding "end of life care" for medical patients. She seemed like she had a lack of knowledge about medicine, though, when she talked about how to treat cancer, which she "believes is a fungus", by putting in a pic line to "wash it out" with baking soda (none of which is in any way medically or scientifically accurate). She chimed in during a debate in the Nevada State Assembly about Voter ID, where she said such a measure could no longer be discriminatory because Barack Obama was elected president and referred to one of her African American colleagues in the legislature as "colored". In April 2015, Fiore introduced a bill in support of rancher Cliven Bundy, AB 408, which would require the federal government to obtain permission from county commissioners to use public land in the state. When a colleague voiced his concerns that the bill was patently unconstitutional and a violation of the Supremacy Clause and that she was turning the proceedings into a circus, Fiore blew up, yelling at him,“Can you sit your ass down and be quiet?” In July of 2015, after the Charleston Massacre, Michele Fiore, born in New York, and now a citizen of Nevada decided to speak out in defense of the Confederate flag. In November 2015, she released a pin-up calendar featuring herself posing with assault rifles to try and further normalize them into the American consciousness and but a few weeks later in December 2015 the Fiore family Christmas Card made viral news on Facebook, by featuring ten family members, between them carrying seven guns, including one in the hands of a five year old boy. By the time 2015 was done, on her weekly radio show, Michele Fiore stated her desire to handle Syrian refugees by "flying to Paris and shoot them in the head myself". (Please remember, of course, that the perpetrators of the terrorist attacks in Paris were not, in fact, Syrian refugees, but Muslims from France and Belgium. And thus, Fiore was talking about going to murder innocent people.) In January 2016: Fiore raged on social media about actions taken by Oregon police and the FBI to end the militia (aka domestic terrorist) siege of Malheur Wildlife Refuge. Two of Cliven Bundy's sons, Ryan and Ammon, were present. But Fiore took the time to lie about the death of Lavoy Finicum, who she claimed was "murdered with his hands up". (The video of Finicum's death shows him nearly run over an officer while crashing through a police barricade, and not once, but twice reaching for a firearm that he was carrying in his belt before they opened fire.) Now, most smart conservatives would try to try and not come off as too extreme while running for office in a presidential year, but Michele Fiore is not most conservatives. In fact, in spite of all the above idiocy she's shown in the headlines, she even has an inflated enough opinion of herself to think that she could successfully run for U.S. Congress to represent Nevada's 3rd Congressional District. She finished third in that GOP Primary with only 18% of the vote, losing to Danny Tarkanian. Fiore has gone on to get herself elected to the Las Vegas City Council, so for the time being, we will set aside her CSGOPOTD profile at this time and go ahead and take a look at a different wacky Republican today instead.

On this date in 2018, “Crazy/Stupid Republican of the Day” profiled former Ohio State Senator Kris Jordan, a member of ALEC who was first elected to the Ohio House of Rezpresentatives back in 2008, before making the jump to the Ohio State Senate in the 2010 Tea Party Wave. What’s more amazing is that he was re-elected in 2014 when in 2011, dashcam video emerged of police at Jordan’s home investigating a domestic violence incident after he was suspected of attacking his wife, Melissa, and threatening her with a gun. While in the video, Jordan’s wife reports that the abuse had gone on for nearly two years, usually after he was drinking, she declined to press charges.Kris Jordan explained to the cops, however, that the whole thing was his wife’s fault, saying, ”She got a little upset. Girls do that.” For whatever reason, there was zero political fallout from this, until 2016, after the Jordans divorced, and for a time, a judge ordered the Jordans’ divorce records sealed, an order which another judge had to overturn in 2017. We’re not just going to point out Jordan’s issues with women as evidenced by his violence towards his wife, but will also note he was the sponsor of several bills in Ohio that seem to indicate a general resentment for them. Like the fact that he was a sponsor of a fetal heartbeat bill in Ohio that would have effectively outlawed abortion at 6 weeks, before many women are even aware they’re actually pregnant. Or the fact that Jordan, shocker of all shockers, was actually the one hold out on an anti-cyberbullying measure in the Ohio State Senate.



On both February 21st, 2016, as well as February 21st, 2017, that “Crazy/Stupid Republican of the Day” posted profiles about Isaac Latterell, who came to our attention as a reactionary, outspoken pro-life extremist after back in February of 2014 when he submitted a bill in the South Dakota state legislature that would have banned abortion at 7 weeks (in other words, a flagrantly unconstitutional bill that flew in the face of the Roe v. Wade ruling). At that time, he posted a blog to comment on the impending vote, tastefully titled, “Stop the Dismemberment of Living Children” in which, he compared abortion to “a veterinarian ripping the heads off puppies and crushing their skulls”, and gave his humble opinion that abortion doctors are more savage than “the barbarians of old”. After the talk of puppy decapitation and barbarians didn’t sway the public to his cause, and just shy of a year after his first rant about Planned Parenthood, Latterell penned a second screed, this time titled, “Planned Parenthood is worse than ISIS and Lying About It”. After being criticized for his rant, Latterell decided to back off just a tad, changing his article’s title to “Planned Parenthood is Beheading Children and Lying About It”, which is still devoid of facts. Laterrell then pitched a bill in the South Dakota House, HB 1230, that would “prohibit the beheading of certain living unborn children”, that predictably went nowhere. Now, this would be the most offensive issue that Isaac Latterell has ranted about, but just so everyone’s aware, he’s not a one-issue politician. Apparently, Latterell has some deep-seated fears about transsexuals, as he has voted for H1195, a bill that would limit a citizen’s gender identity to what is listed on their birth certificate, and in January 2016 voted for HB 1008, a transphobic bathroom cop bill to make sure that people use the bathroom designated for the gender types people are born. This is also reflected in his support through 2017 for a transphobic bathroom ban to be implemented in public schools, as well as a failed attempt at passing a “religious freedom” law to allow Christians the freedom to discriminate against same sex couples whose marriages threaten their “freedom”.

Since our last check-in with Isaac Latterell two years ago, we have the update that he tried to subvert direct democracy, and instead change the law so that South Dakota State Legislature, and not the people of the state, would vote to choose U.S. Senators that head to the capitol from South Dakota. Oh, and he admitted in an open hearing that he is “not necessarily comfortable with women serving on the front lines of the military”, because of course he’s that much of a misogynist. No words.

Latterell won re-election in 2018, and now goes on to his fourth fanatical term in office. The only good news we have is that this will be his last term in the South Dakota House of Representatives, as he will be term-limited in 2020. Barring him making a run at the South Dakota State Senate or some other higher office, that could mark the end of the road for him politically.

[PaulBullion]

Next time they try and do that ask them why their isn’t any white nationalists running for the Democrat’s nomination? Why isn’t David Duke or the Neo Nazis stumping for Democrats? They won’t have much of an answer for that.

David Duke is a bad example because he has, once again, endorsed Tulsi Gabbard.

[PaulBullion]

Dianne Feinstein Fumbles in Meeting With Young Climate Activists Over Green New Deal

That one seems to backfire on the organisation who did this, because it seems to be almost an O'Keefe like edit hit job. To their credit, the unedited web site was on their web site, but they probably hoped few people would click it.
In the full video, the Senator is very respectful to the kids, explains to them how government works, says she might vote for the Green New Deal and offers one of them an internship. It also edits out the chaperone badgering her repeatedly which led to the testy tone they probably wanted for their viral clip.

[PaulBullion]

A grand jury is considering evidence concerning whether former Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke lied to federal investigators.

The Post reported Friday that the case the grand jury is considering involves Zinke's decision to block two Indian tribes from opening a casino in Connecticut, and whether Zinke lied to the inspector general's investigators.

[WestPhillyPunisher]

Robert Kraft’s Arrest Is About Way More Than Just Him

The real story is the story of vulnerable women.

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There appears to be problems with presidential candidate Amy Klobuchar:

When Staff Sought Better Jobs, Amy Klobuchar Tried To Undermine Them

Amy Klobuchar Screamed At An Aide And Then Ate Her Salad With A Comb

Exposing Amy Klobuchar’s Mistreatment Of Staff Is Not Sexist

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Trump Limply Defends Acosta’s Handling Of Sex Abuse Case: ‘Seems Like A Long Time Ago’

The president claims he didn’t know his labor secretary once made a secret plea deal with billionaire financier Jeffrey Epstein and kept it secret from the victims. Look for Acosta to suddenly resign, probably claiming that he wants to "spend more time with his family". If there's one thing Trump hates most, it's being embarrassed by his underlings, and this situation is a real mess.

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Trump Won’t Say If He Thinks Rep. Steve King Should Seek Re-election

The president avoided commenting on the Iowa Republican, who faces scrutiny for his white supremacist views. My take? Trump doesn't want to risk pissing off Iowans who've supported King, especially not before the campaign begins next year. That would be bad for his reelection chances.

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Nicolle Wallace: Donald Trump ‘Greenlit A War In This Country Around Race’

The MSNBC host said it could be “the most dangerous thing he’s done.” Well, when you have an unabashed racist in the Oval Office, shit like this was bound to happen.

[PaulBullion]

The next president SHOULD be able to eat a salad with a comb. It's a very useful survival skill when you have to negotiate with the French.

[aja_christopher]

That one seems to backfire on the organisation who did this, because it seems to be almost an O'Keefe like edit hit job. To their credit, the unedited web site was on their web site, but they probably hoped few people would click it.
In the full video, the Senator is very respectful to the kids, explains to them how government works, says she might vote for the Green New Deal and offers one of them an internship. It also edits out the chaperone badgering her repeatedly which led to the testy tone they probably wanted for their viral clip.

It's almost as if certain Sanders supporters are using O'Keefe style misinformation and propaganda to attack the Democratic party for the benefit of their candidate -- dragging others on the "left" down despite knowing that's exactly what helped Trump win the first time around.

At a certain point you have to wonder -- is the goal to help Sanders win or to help Democrats lose, since these are the exact same tactics that were used against Hillary in the last presidential election.

Like I said before -- it's not so much a hate for Sanders as a hatred for the divisiveness of those who support him.

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"Watch the entire video and see if you change your mind. Everyone leaves happy and one student leaves with an internship. The editing is a full on hit job. You can disagree on policy with Feinstein but this is propaganda."

https://twitter.com/nicolekowalski5/...303835649?s=21

[numberthirty]

The next president SHOULD be able to eat a salad with a comb. It's a very useful survival skill when you have to negotiate with the French.

Probably useful when you are negotiating with anyone.

Trump keeps talking about that you have to seem kooky/crazy/whatever to keep the opposition guessing. Everyone will be guessing when you get the comb out for the salad course.

[Tami]

The next president SHOULD be able to eat a salad with a comb. It's a very useful survival skill when you have to negotiate with the French.

Reserving judgement for now, however if the reports about Klobuchar turn out to be true I'm going to be very disappointed. I had high hopes for her, if not as president then at least as potential Vic e-president, however one thing that turns me off are people who fail at managing others with respect, Bad Bosses.

[WestPhillyPunisher]

Reserving judgement for now, however if the reports about Klobuchar turn out to be true I'm going to be very disappointed. I had high hopes for her, if not as president then at least as potential Vic e-president, however one thing that turns me off are people who fail at managing others with respect, Bad Bosses.

While I prefer to keep an open mind regarding ALL the candidates, Klobuchar is not coming off at all well, whether those are character flaws or a penchant for being an autocrat, she’s got some serious explaining to do, and PR work to undertake.

[Tami]

While I prefer to keep an open mind regarding ALL the candidates, Klobuchar is not coming off at all well, whether those are character flaws or a penchant for being an autocrat, she’s got some serious explaining to do, and PR work to undertake.

Klobuchar's office retools family leave policy after news report

(CNN)Sen. Amy Klobuchar's Senate office scrapped a policy this week that required employees who took 12 weeks of paid maternity and paternity leave to stay at the office for three times that time off once they returned, an aide to the Minnesota Democrat said Friday.

The aide said the office policy -- which was first reported by The New York Times -- was brought to the staff's attention this week and no one was ever asked to abide by it. Once the policy was known, the aide said, it was updated on the staff handbook. According to the Times report, those who left after returning from leave would be required to pay back the money they earned during the weeks they were on leave.

"We've never once made staff pay back any of their leave and have already changed that language in the handbook," said Elana Ross, press secretary for Klobuchar. "Our office has one of the strongest paid leave policies in the Senate, offering 12 weeks of paid maternity and paternity leave (both adoptive and biological) for our staff."

There is no blanket family leave policy in the Senate and each senator's office determines its own policy.

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Klobuchar ate her salad with a comb, report says

Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., is facing additional allegations of abusing her staff after a report Friday said the presidential candidate berated an aide for forgetting to bring utensils — forcing the lawmaker to eat a salad with a comb.

The episode happened in 2008 while the lawmaker was traveling with aides to South Carolina and a staffer bought a salad for Klobuchar while carrying bags through the airport, The New York Times reported.

However, the aide forgot utensils and the flight had none on board, prompting Klobuchar to berate the aide and pull a comb from her bag to eat the salad, the paper reported citing four people familiar with the episode. Klobuchar then directed the aide to clean the comb after she had finished.

NBC News has not confirmed the report. Klobuchar's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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How Amy Klobuchar Treats Her Staff

The senator feared sabotage from her own team: In an email, she once raised the prospect of an in-house mole. She and her top confidantes could complicate the future job opportunities of some staff members who sought to leave, former aides said, sometimes speaking to their would-be employers to register her displeasure. And Ms. Klobuchar frequently suggested that her aides were preventing her from greater standing in Washington and beyond, former staff members said.

“We are becoming a joke,” she wrote in one email about the contents of her Twitter feed, “and it is making me a joke.”

Questions about Ms. Klobuchar’s actions toward subordinates have shadowed the early days of her 2020 presidential campaign, with articles in HuffPost and BuzzFeed News by turns fueling the hard-driving reputation that has followed her for years in Washington and angering supporters who see sexism in the criticism.

Ms. Klobuchar, 58, has allowed that she has “high expectations.”

“Am I a tough boss sometimes? Yes,” she said at a recent CNN forum. “Have I pushed people too hard? Yes.”

Presented with a detailed accounting of The Times’ reporting and the staff emails written by Ms. Klobuchar, a campaign spokeswoman, Carlie Waibel, said: “The senator has repeatedly acknowledged that she can be tough and push people hard. But these anonymous stories — some of which are just plain ridiculous — do not overshadow the countless experiences of people on the senator’s team who she has been so proud to work with.”

Despite employee turnover that perennially ranks near the highest in the Senate, Ms. Klobuchar has defenders among her former staff. She noted at the forum that some people had been with her for many years.

The world of congressional staffs is one of long hours and low pay, with much of the work shouldered by twentysomething junior aides who are learning on the job. Some members of Congress are notorious for round-the-clock phone calls, late-night email and fierce attention to their own press coverage. Ms. Klobuchar is among them, but former aides said they were especially troubled by her willingness — in excess of other senators’, they said — to embarrass staff members over minor missteps or with odd requests.

[PwrdOn]

I'm pretty meh on Klobuchar for the most part, but these stories about her treatment of staff smell like a nothingburger to me. I always just assumed that Congressional staff were just routinely abused as a rule in Washington and that this was basically the price they pay to gain access to the corridors of power, so it's a bit curious why this is all of a sudden such a huge problem.

[PaulBullion]

Reserving judgement for now, however if the reports about Klobuchar turn out to be true I'm going to be very disappointed. I had high hopes for her, if not as president then at least as potential Vic e-president, however one thing that turns me off are people who fail at managing others with respect, Bad Bosses.

I mean, this salad story seems completely relatable to me. You have a long day with no time to eat, your assistant was charged with getting you lunch and they forget to bring you a meal you cannot eat because they forget cutlery. I wouldn't smile and say "thanks for the effort, this is fine" either. I would give them an earful. And then make them clean my makeshift cutlery - although I would have used my reading glasses instead of my comb. Chop stick style!

[Tendrin]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/mavenro...k2N_OO-HtXIRQ/

Because hungry children learn better, right?

OH WBE-Eeeeeeee

[Tami]

I mean, this salad story seems completely relatable to me. You have a long day with no time to eat, your assistant was charged with getting you lunch and they forget to bring you a meal you cannot eat because they forget cutlery. I wouldn't smile and say "thanks for the effort, this is fine" either. I would give them an earful. And then make them clean my makeshift cutlery - although I would have used my reading glasses instead of my comb. Chop stick style!

I would have said thank you. gently reminded them next time, possibly in a half joking way, that a fork would have been helpful, then ate it with my fingers. More importantly, if I was traveling a lot for my job, I would carry supplies in my pocketbook, including travel utensils.

The point is, bad bosses expect that their employees do everything for them, including the things they can and should do for themselves. Bad bosses also go on the attack fro every little thing, instead of understanding that no one is perfect. Perfection does not exist in the real world.