All Purpose News and Politics Thread Part IV: The Center Cannot Hold

[worstblogever]

In 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, as well as 2018, "Crazy/Stupid Republican of the Day" published profiles of the former U.S. House Representative from Arizona’s 8th Congressional District, Trent Franks. In our first look at Rep. Franks, we had to let everyone know that there's nothing wrong with your eyes, his mouth is kind of weird, as Rep. Franks was born with a cleft lip and palate and required surgery to correct it. That’s honestly one of the least weird things about him, as he’s declared Barack Obama an “enemy of humanity”, segued debates on the House floor about a balanced budget amendment into a discussion of abortion and Nazis, claiming straight married couples “deserve” the legal rights they get as opposed to gays and that LGBT advocates are “intolerant” of Christians, claims there’s nothing in the Bible that obligates Christians to help the poor, demanded investigations into President Obama’s birth certificate, and to top it all off, once said in an interview that “African Americans were better off under slavery”. Franks was one of the, if not the most fervently anti-abortion Republican in Congress (and that’s saying something), and accidentally revealed that the GOP knew about the Center for Medical Progress’ fraudulent Planned Parnethood “sting” videos before they were ever released to the public. He has compared legalized abortion in the United States to both slavery, and the Holocaust, and gone on the Family Research Council’s Washington Watch and promised God's Judgment would soon fall upon abortion providers as it once did upon those who worshipped at altars to Baal (because that sounds perfectly sane).. Franks has gone on FOX News to say that ISIS was going to work together with Iran (even though they are sworn enemies of one another) and attack America with a nuclear weapon while President Obama would be out golfing, and that he waswas regarding President Obama’s executive orders on immigration as saying that they were the “death of the Republic”. After Donald Trump got a lot of Russian help to win the 2016 presidential election, and the intelligence community began to reveal the extent of the Russian attacks upon our democracy, Trent Franks went on MSNBC to say that if the Russians hacked our elections, it actually was a form of “public service”.

But that wasn’t even the stupidest thing he said since we last covered him, not by a long shot. Rep. Franks was arguing in favor of tighter border security, giving the example that in his mind, it would be possible for terrorists to smuggle a nuclear weapon across the U.S./Mexico border by hiding it inside of bales of marijuana. In 2017, while a lot of #MeToo stories were coming out and GOP Congressmen were getting forced into early retirement for sexual harassment in the capitol, all of a sudden, Trent Franks had his name come up, as well. The details… well, the most graphic details remain mostly unknown…. However, the allegations are that Trent Franks had gone full “Handmaid’s Tale” on staffers, often pulling them aside and asking if they would be surrogate mothers for his future children, hoping to have sex with them to impregnate them. As this absolute bastard was shown the door and won’t be back, we’ll go ahead and retire his profile at this time and go ahead and take a look at a different wacky Republican today instead. (Current crazy/stupid scoreboard, is now 772-40, since this was established in July 2014.)


John Cox

Welcome to the 772nd original “Crazy/Stupid Republican of the Day” profile, where today we’ll be discussing John Cox, the Republican nominee to be the Governor of California. His prior political experience was to run a losing campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives in Illinois in 2000, and for U.S. Senate in Illinois in 2002. He also was the first Republican to announce a presidential campaign in 2008, and got all of 10 votes in the Iowa caucuses.

Cox got the endorsement of Donald Trump in 2018, which around the country was the kiss of death… but in California? Why, would you adopt a staunch anti-immigration policy in one of the states calling the most for reform? He was already a dead man walking, from an electoral standpoint. Making matters worse, in the final months of the campaign in August of 2018, John Cox compared long lines at the DMV to the Holocaust.

”“You know, I met a Holocaust survivor in Long Beach. He survived concentration camps, and he said this was worse. He’s 90 years old and he had to wait four hours down in Long Beach. Can you imagine that?”

A savvy political campaign might be able to spin their way out of that. John Cox does not run savvy campaigns, as this is what his campaign spokesman came up with to try to “fix” things:

”[I]John isn’t saying it was worse than the Holocaust. The guy didn’t say it was worse than the Holocaust. He was saying that it reminded him of pre-war Germany when Jews had to wait in lines to be processed.”

SEE? FIXED IT.

After bizarrely ignoring all of California’s major cities on the campaign trail, and instead, trying to rally his followers at places as scenic as a Costco gas station (and being asked to please leave), Cox only got 38% of the vote in California against Gavin Newsom. We’re pretty sure he isn’t going to make another state-wide run for office again.

[WestPhillyPunisher]

One other reason they should at least think over keeping the guy off of the air(Hopefully, this hasn't come up a few times already)...

- http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/...c-bitcoin.html

Does the Pope know about this? I could be wrong, but I suspect his Holiness probably wouldn't approve.

[worstblogever]

I should add that 'MassacreMitch' is also trending, now.

I think he would prefer that to Moscow Mitch. He took glee in being called "The Grim Reaper" of legislation not long ago. It's not just of legislation, though. The consequences of McConnell's f***ery in the Senate are making very preventable deaths still happen.

[ed2962]

El Paso Mass Shooting Being Treated As ‘Domestic Terrorism’

Federal prosecutors are investigating the Saturday shooting that left 20 dead in a Texas Walmart as domestic terrorism and a possible hate crime. As well it should.

**********

Mexico Considering Litigation Over Shooting Of Mexicans In The United States

Mexican foreign minister Marcelo Ebrard said the attorney general would consider litigation claiming that terrorism was committed against Mexicans in El Paso. I can't wait to see how Trump reacts to that.

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Rick Santorum Suggests Unarmed ‘Soft Target’ Shoppers Tempted El Paso Shooter

The former Pennsylvania senator parroted a line often used by gun control opponents — that if everyone is armed, everyone is safer. Jesus Christ! What an asinine, but predictable response by Republicans in the back pocket of the NRA.

**********

Democrats Call On Mitch McConnell To Reconvene Senate For Gun Vote

The upper chamber adjourned last week for its annual August recess. Let's see if Massacre Mitch will do the right thing. Yeah, I'm highly doubtful too.

**********

Trump Says ‘Hate Has No Place In Our Country’ After Texas And Ohio Shootings

Trump spoke out broadly against hatred following shootings in Dayton and El Paso but made no mention of white supremacy. The hypocrisy is staggering since Trump has done nothing but peddle hate against anyone who ISN'T white.

Except Texas is already an open carry state. That fact clearly didn't sway the shooter.

[Tendrin]

https://www.cnbc.com/2019/08/05/arti...al-status.html

he Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) is in lockdown after the government revoked a special status granted to the troubled region.
On Monday, Interior Minister Amit Shah told India’s parliament that the federal government would scrap Article 370, a constitutional provision that grants special status and allows the Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir to make its own laws. The order was subsequently approved by the Indian President.

CNBC takes a look at what this means for Kashmir and for the Muslim-majority state’s relationship with India.

What's happening in India is indeed worrisome, given these provocative actions. The Hindutva movement's violence towards India's muslim citizenry is likely to have a pretty nasty impact on Kashmir.

[Tendrin]

I think he would prefer that to Moscow Mitch. He took glee in being called "The Grim Reaper" of legislation not long ago. It's not just of legislation, though. The consequences of McConnell's f***ery in the Senate are making very preventable deaths still happen.

Exactly. When the history of the era is written, much will be written of Trump's incompetence but much of damage done to the Republic over the last decade and a half can be laid directly at the feet of Senator McConnel.

[Tami]

Sen. Ted Cruz, other Republicans condemn white supremacy after El Paso massacre

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz denounced Saturday's shooting in El Paso as a “heinous act of terrorism and white supremacy.”

He was one of several Republicans to speak out over the weekend against white supremacy in the wake of a shooting at a Walmart where the gunman killed 20 and wounded 26.

Just before the El Paso attack, the suspect posted a diatribe against immigrants, a senior law enforcement official told NBC News. He railed against immigrants in Texas and pushed talking points about preserving European identity in America.

Federal prosecutors were treating the shooting as a domestic terrorism case.

n a front-page editorial, the right-leaning New York Post newspaper called to “ban weapons of war.”

The paper appealed to President Donald Trump to “Come up with answers. Now. Beginning with the return of an assault-weapons ban.”

“It does not have to be this way. It should not have to be this way. Mr. President, do something — help America live without fear,” wrote the paper.

[InformationGeek]

Oooooooooooo, he was so close. He was almost there, but in the end, he couldn't help himself.

[Tami]

GOP Rep Blames Obama, 'Drag Queen Advocates,' Marijuana and Open Borders for the Shootings: 'The List Is Long. And the Fury Will Continue'

A Republican politician from Ohio has sparked fury after she linked the weekend's shooting in Dayton in which nine people died with a list of what she deems to be society's ills, including gay marriage, marijuana and violent video games.

In a post on Facebook, Representative Candice Keller, who lives in Middletown, around 30 miles south of Dayton, said that after every mass shooting "the liberals start the blame game," and asked "why not place the blame where it belongs?"

Keller attributed the killings to various problems that she said stemmed from the "breakdown of the traditional American family (thank you, transgender, homosexual marriage, and drag queen advocates)."

She also listed video games, "fatherlessness" and "the acceptance of recreational marijuana" as other ills that contributed to the shootings.

She said that former President Barack Obama was to blame for a "disrespect to law enforcement," expressed anger at "snowflakes, who can't accept a duly-elected president," and took aim at the "the relaxing of laws against criminals (open borders)."

Keller finished the message by asking: "Did I forget anybody? The list is long. And the fury will continue."

Hey, WBE, is she on your list?

[Mister Mets]

Spitballing here, but...

Russians wanted to infiltrate our elections in 2016. Wanted to weaken our country by attacking those elections to destroy it from within. They also had a spy working with the NRA to funnel the Russian oligarch's money towards Trump. Trump, in turn, bends over backwards to give the Russians what they want, and what the NRA want. The NRA have talked like a civil war was coming for decades. Trump cut funding to the parts of the FBI that investigated white supremacists.

White supremacists with high powered rifles can attack minorities whenever they please motivated by Trump's words, the weapons they can get are thanks to the NRA blocking all sane gun control. Which, the Russians are fine with, because we're killing ourselves, and weakening ourselves from within, and gravitating slowly closer and closer to civil unrest where an insecure group of white nationalists try to go to war against non-whites.

I mean, a few years ago that might have sounded crazy, but...

Since Putin wants Americans divided, he also benefits from paranoia about Russian involvement in American politics.

[aja_christopher]

"Beto O'Rourke rips President Trump in expletive-filled rant after El Paso shooting"

After a weekend of violence that devastated communities in Dayton and El Paso, former Texas Congressman and 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke tore into President Trump in an emotional rant after the lawmaker traveled home to be with his community. O'Rourke was asked by a reporter if there was anything that Mr. Trump could do now in audio captured by CNN reporter Eric Bradner.

"What do you think? You know the s*** he's been saying. He's been calling Mexican immigrants rapists and criminals. I don't know, like, members of the press, what the f***?"

He went on, suggesting the president was promoting acts of violence like the one carried out in O'Rourke's hometown.

I mean, connect the dots about what he's been doing in this country. He's not tolerating racism, he's promoting racism. He's not tolerating violence, he's inciting racism and violence in this country. So, uhm, you know, I just - I don't know what kind of question that is."

In a racist screed allegedly written by the suspected El Paso gunman, he expressed support for the Christchurch, New Zealand shooter, and denounced the increasing Hispanic population in Texas. Prosecutors are still deciding whether they want to pursue federal hate crime charges against the suspect.

Earlier, O'Rourke delivered an impassioned speech to members of the El Paso community that gathered for a vigil in honor of the victims of Saturday's shooting. During the melee, a gunman shot and killed nearly 29 people, many of which were of Hispanic decent.

"There are so many right now who want to make us afraid of each other. Make us angry. Keep us apart based on our differences. ... This community has born the brunt of it," he said.

O'Rourke pressed for gun control measures including banning the sale of assault weapons, similar to the one used by both gunmen in the weekend's shootings. He also urged support for so-called "Red Flag" laws -- measures that allow courts to issue orders confiscating the guns of individuals who are deemed to be a risk to others or themselves.

"[The shooter] was from half a state away, bringing that fear, bringing that anger, bringing that hatred, and bringing that racism. And the gun," said O'Rourke.

After his emotional exchange, the Democrat tweeted that he stood by his earlier comments, doubling down on his claims that the president "stokes racism" in the electorate.

"We know what Trump is doing. He stokes racism. He incites violence. We shouldn't be asking if there's anything he can do or if he's responsible for this when we know the answer."

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/el-paso...after-rampage/

[aja_christopher]

Since Putin wants Americans divided, he also benefits from paranoia about Russian involvement in American politics.

It's not paranoia if it's real and verified by every single American intelligence agency, including the recent Mueller investigation.

Mets, you really should just stop: all you do is damage your credibility, and the credibility of every other Republican, every time you make these kinds of posts.

------
"Along with a team of experienced prosecutors and attorneys, the former FBI director has indicted, convicted or gotten guilty pleas from 34 people and three companies, including top advisers to President Trump, Russian spies and hackers with ties to the Kremlin. The charges, which Mueller referenced during his opening statement to the House Judiciary Committee on July 24, range from interfering with the 2016 election and hacking emails to lying to investigators and tampering with witnesses."

https://time.com/5556331/mueller-inv...-guilty-pleas/

[KNIGHT OF THE LAKE]

Oooooooooooo, he was so close. He was almost there, but in the end, he couldn't help himself.

He’s such an idiot.

[kidfresh512]

Oooooooooooo, he was so close. He was almost there, but in the end, he couldn't help himself.

Suggesting marrying those 2 wildly separate and complex issues into one bill is stupid. It clearly shows a lack of seriousness in tackling the problem. They have nothing to do with one another and both separately have wildly differing approaches and viewpoints on how to solve said issue. You try and force 2 complex issues that have nothign to do with each other together and you are making it impossible to get anything done on either.

And that's what the GOP want. They want to keep the boogeyman of the "invading" brown man to use in fear mongering and red meat to the base. They want to keep saying see the Democrats don't want to tackle immigration. And they don't really want to do anything to piss off the gun lobby and NRA.

[KNIGHT OF THE LAKE]

Suggesting marrying those 2 wildly separate and complex issues into one bill is stupid. It clearly shows a lack of seriousness in tackling the problem. They have nothing to do with one another and both separately have wildly differing approaches and viewpoints on how to solve said issue. You try and force 2 complex issues that have nothign to do with each other together and you are making it impossible to get anything done on either.

And that's what the GOP want. They want to keep the boogeyman of the "invading" brown man to use in fear mongering and red meat to the base. They want to keep saying see the Democrats don't want to tackle immigration. And they don't really want to do anything to piss off the gun lobby and NRA.

Not even that. Not only does gun control have NOTHING to do with immigration, one of the shooters was motivated by a hatred of immigrants. This is effectively Trump saying “yeah this is really bad, and maybe the shooter had a point and it wouldn’t have happened if this racist didn’t have to be burdened by these dirty immigrants.