[….]
…I want to directly address the allegations made against the governor on the evening of Wednesday, January 10, after the State of the State address. I’m still processing the details that came out in the media Wednesday evening about an affair the governor had in 2015 and possible blackmail allegations. I personally spoke with the governor on Thursday morning and he vehemently denied the allegations of blackmail. I take the allegations against the governor very seriously and I trust law enforcement will conduct a thorough investigation if they believe one is warranted based on the facts presented. I will continue to listen to the facts and give thoughtful consideration before making any judgements.
[….]

That was rather subdued.

“…he vehemently denied the allegations of blackmail…”

Anything else? Just asking.

Previously:

Oh, my. (January 11, 2018)

Oh, my – part 2 (January 11, 2018)

Oh, my – part 3 (January 11, 2018)

אַ שאַנדע פֿאַר די גוים and *IOKIYAR (January 11, 2018)

Oh, my – part 4 (January 11, 2018)

Oh, my – part 5 (January 11, 2018)

Oh, my – part 6 (January 12, 2017)

Observations about our racist President’s potty-mouth outburst

12 Friday Jan 2018

Posted by willykay in Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Africa, Africans, Donald Trump, Haiti, Haitians, immigration, Norway, Norwegians

Plenty of folks have already pointed out that President Racist Moron’s labeling of poor countries populated with mostly brown people as “sh**thole countries” only serves to undeniably confirm the racism he has never really troubled to hide. But there’s more than just the racism that we all already knew about at play here. There’s rank stupidity as well. And I don’t just mean the type of stupidity that allows Trump blurt out any ugly, id-driven morsel of thought that manages to make it to his forebrain and out his mouth – we’re used to that as well. There’s the follow-up to the “sh**hole” statement wherein the President asks why we don’t bring in immigrants from Norway instead. Yeah! As if.

Evidently no one told him Norwegians have got lots more going for them than being white (and there’s no doubt that the Racist-in-Chief thinks that’s the big thing). As Paul Thornton notes in the Los Angeles Times:

Trump reportedly wanted to know why Norway doesn’t send more of its people to the United States, evidently unaware that his (accurate) opinion of that country as better than a dump pretty much answers the question he asked: The Scandinavian social democracy, as its two linguistically similar neighbors do, has a higher per-capita GDP, life expectancy and, for what it’s worth, “happiness” rating than the United States. It also has universal healthcare, a ridiculously large sovereign wealth fund and top-notch infrastructure.

Actually, there are plenty of Americans who might like to think about immigrating to one or the other of the Scandinavian countries as Trump and his GOP enablers continue their effort to disassemble decades of social progress in this country. As Thornton observes, “in fact, the Norwegian Americans I know often share stories of Googling citizenship requirements — hoping there’s some kind of loophole for the grandchildren or even great-grandchildren of emigrants — when they return to the States after a visit to the Old Country.”

After spending some time in Sweden in the eighties, I had much the same response. And times were better here then than now under the demonstrably non compos mentis Trump and the Koch/crony controlled GOP Congress. (And, no, Muslim immigrants are not inciting the type of wholesale chaos in Scandinavia that has been claimed by Trump and the Breitbart crowd.)

Trump wants Norwegians in the U.S.? Try taking back his tax cut for the rich, increase minimum wage, institute a single-payer healthcare system, invest “bigly” in infrastructure and education, restore regulations that protect the environment, road safety, public lands – and while he’s at it, he could throw out the various crooks and corporate shills he’s installed in his cabinet and put in charge of agencies that are supposed to work for the public welfare, not the corporate donors who are rewriting the rules to benefit themselves.

Maybe he could import some Norwegians to help the process along. They, after all, know how it’s done.

Oh, my – part 6

12 Friday Jan 2018

Posted by Michael Bersin in Missouri Governor, social media

≈ 36 Comments

Tags

affair, Eric Greitens, facebook, governor, missouri, Roy Temple, social media

This morning from Roy Temple (D), via Facebook:

Roy Temple

Friends,

As some of you may have seen, Governor Eric Greitens has chosen to attack me via his attorney and suggest that I am somehow responsible for the predicament he currently finds himself in. Those are the actions of a pitiful man. As I said on Twitter last night, if he is looking for the source of his problems, he should start with a mirror.

He has made his choices and must now live with the consequences of those choices – all of them. He doesn’t get to pick and choose.

For his benefit, I hope that his attorneys are better lawyers than they are political analysts. If the information about the Governor’s infidelities was going to be used for maximum political impact, the time to use it would have been before the 2016 election. I had all of the information to do so then but didn’t. So there would have been no reason for me to choose to do so now.

I was aware of all that has come out to this point about the Governor (and more) prior to the election, but I knew that information because I had made a commitment to someone that if they told me the details I would not make them public without their permission. They didn’t grant that permission, so I didn’t go any further with it.
With that said, the basic fact of a Greitens affair was fairly widely known. This story is coming to light because of a welcome shift in the terms of how these matters are being discussed publicly, not because of me or the fact that I happen to be a Democrat.

Governor Greitens’ actions devastated the lives of real people and families. They deserved better than the treatment they have received from him.

Some may question the choices I have made in this matter. I can only say that I have tried to make the best choice available to me at the time that I was making it. I don’t believe the same can be said for the Governor.
As I mentioned on Twitter last night, I once asked Governor Carnahan how he tolerated some of the harsh criticism he received. He matter of factly said, “I don’t respect them enough to let their opinion bother me.” That perfectly captures my view of Greitens’ attacks on me.

I will wear the disdain of a man I hold in such low regard as a badge of honor. And I will wear it proudly.

Previously:

Oh, my. (January 11, 2018)

Oh, my – part 2 (January 11, 2018)

Oh, my – part 3 (January 11, 2018)

אַ שאַנדע פֿאַר די גוים and *IOKIYAR (January 11, 2018)

Oh, my – part 4 (January 11, 2018)

Oh, my – part 5 (January 11, 2018)

Oh, my – part 5

11 Thursday Jan 2018

Posted by Michael Bersin in Missouri Governor, social media

≈ 37 Comments

Tags

affair, Eric Greitens., facebook, governor, missouri, social media

We’re running out of our quickly accessible file photos of Eric Greitens (r) (without repeating one in the same day).

Digging in, via Facebook, from Governor Eric Greitens (r):

Eric Greitens

I wanted you to see this statement from Jim Bennett, our attorney, on a new false story that actually revealed the motivation behind these lies:
“We have been asked repeatedly by reputable news outlets why we believe this nearly three-year-old news story is coming out now. The latest reporting has finally disclosed that the reporting was being driven by a “source” who is the former Democrat state party chairman and who apparently has not spoken to the person in question. This goes a long way to explaining what is going on – this is a political hit piece.
This is and remains an almost three-year-old private matter with no matter of public interest at stake. Eric and Sheena have worked through those issues long ago and I think that Sheena put it best: “We have a loving marriage and an awesome family; anything beyond that is between us and God. I want the media and those who
wish to peddle gossip to stay away from me and my children.” Now we know who has been peddling that gossip.”
[….]

The republican cult of the victim. Oh, my.

Uh, it’s “Democratic”.

“…the person in question…”

Uh, he really went there.

“…an almost three-year-old…”

How quaint. How about “just over a year” or “close to a year and a half ago” or “right before assuming the office of governor over a year ago” [when the story was first given to his political opposition].

Some of the comments:

I have been hearing for years that the GOP is the party of family values. I Guess family values now includes having affairs. I am sorry Governor. You are a hypocrite.

Me thinks he doth protest too much. There is no reason any democrat would say anything since Greitens will most likely be a one term governor anyway. Sorry but it will be a cold day in hell before I ever believe a repuglicon again.

I believe her. You admit to part of it, just not the illegal part. Convenient for you. Why in the world would she lie about one thing and not the other? Republicans keep claiming “family values” but I don’t think they mean what they think they mean. Inconceivable!

It’s too late Greitens, you’ve already let your mask slip. The people have seen you for what you are now. You’re the guy who cheats on his wife while she’s pregnant. If you can’t even be committed enough to keep it in your pants, how can you be committed to the citizens of this state?

You can’t use your family as political props and ask for privacy. You don’t get it both ways. Choose the right way – resign, and let them have some peace and healing.

1. “We have been asked repeatedly by reputable news outlets why we believe this nearly three-year-old news story is coming out now. . . this is a political hit piece.” So . . . what would you have called it if it had been reported in the news immediately? 2. Why are you asking for our forgiveness? We’re smart enough to know that is a euphemism for “forget.” Sorry, pal.

Question: are you against same sex marriage because it’ll ruin the sanctity of marriage?

There are a lot of comments. The *IOKIYAR contingent is strong in numbers.

* it’s okay if you’re a republican

Previously:

Oh, my. (January 11, 2018)

Oh, my – part 2 (January 11, 2018)

Oh, my – part 3 (January 11, 2018)

אַ שאַנדע פֿאַר די גוים and *IOKIYAR (January 11, 2018)

Oh, my – part 4 (January 11, 2018)

Oh, my – part 4

11 Thursday Jan 2018

Posted by Michael Bersin in Missouri Governor, social media

≈ 38 Comments

Tags

affair, Eric Greitens, governor, missouri, Roy Temple, social media, Twitter

This evening, via Twitter:

Roy Temple‏ @roytemple
Governor #Greitens’ attempts to lay his current predicament at my feet are pitiful. If he’s looking for the source of his problems, he should start with a mirror.
6:55 PM – 11 Jan 2018

Oh, my. That’s throwing an anvil.

Previously:

Oh, my. (January 11, 2018)

Oh, my – part 2 (January 11, 2018)

Oh, my – part 3 (January 11, 2018)

אַ שאַנדע פֿאַר די גוים and *IOKIYAR (January 11, 2018)

אַ שאַנדע פֿאַר די גוים and *IOKIYAR

11 Thursday Jan 2018

Posted by Michael Bersin in meta, Missouri Governor

≈ 42 Comments

Tags

affair, Eric Greitens., governor, missouri

Yiddish. Hebrew alphabet (read right to left). Germanic language. “A shanda far die Goyim”. An embarrassment/shame in front of the whole (non-Jewish) world. This from an admonition for Jews, from their Jewish community, that one had an obligation to act in a manner to avoid criticism from non-Jews (“the rest of the world”) because an individual’s failings or actions would be unfairly attributed to all Jews. “You’re an embarrassment that reflects poorly on the rest of us” and we’ll suffer the consequences because of your stupidity.

* it’s okay if you’re a republican. An on-line political meme. If a Democrat fails ethically or morally there will be consequences. They will lose their position. They must resign. There will be a political reckoning. If the roles are reversed and a republican fails in the same manner, for some republicans, after a short period of hand wringing and some pearl clutching, all is forgiven, it’s no big deal.

It will be very interesting to witness the resolution of these cultural constants.

Eric Greitens (r) [2016 file photo].

The public story is, as of this writing, still under twenty-four hours old. The story broke late last night that Missouri’s governor, Eric Greitens (r), who happens to be Jewish, engaged in an affair. There are elements of this story that continue to swirl about. I expect there will be more – only because that is the nature of our cultural and political environment.

There are reports that well before the November 2016 election individual(s) within the Missouri Democratic Party was/were contacted by the husband of the other party. We don’t know the entire story of how many individuals or exactly all of the who within the Missouri Democratic Party and Chris Koster’s (D) gubernatorial campaign knew at the time. We might never know the answer to that. The reports indicate that those individual(s), out of deference to the husband and/or concern for the children of the other family and perhaps other, more practical concerns, decided to not use the information. That is an ethical and moral choice.

And then, we consider the “what if”. If they story of Eric Greitens’ (r) hypocrisy had come out in September 2016 would he still have won the election for governor? If not, would Governor Chris Koster (D) have signed the same bills and cut the same essential social support programs in the state? I think not. The consequences of Eric Greitens (r) assuming his office had significant consequences for more than the handful of individuals in those two families. That, by definition, is what happens when we elect an individual to a powerful public office.

Election have consequences. Throw the anvil.

Sadly, perhaps the only people who are somewhat thankful right now are the Missouri Farm Bureau, the Missouri Corn Growers Association, the Missouri Soybean Association, and organized labor.

Previously:

Oh, my. (January 11, 2018)

Oh, my – part 2 (January 11, 2018)

Oh, my – part 3 (January 11, 2018)

Oh, my – part 3

11 Thursday Jan 2018

Posted by Michael Bersin in Missouri Governor, social media

≈ 42 Comments

Tags

affair, Eric Greitens, governor, missouri, social media, Twitter

Eric Greitens (r) [2016 file photo].

Early this morning, from Governor Eric Greitens (r), via Twitter:

Eric Greitens‏ @EricGreitens
I wanted to share with you some statements that are important in light of news you may have seen tonight.
1:44 AM – 11 Jan 2018

And he did.

Some of the responses:

Why is your statement longer than “I’m a hypocrite, and I resign.” ?

Nope. Resign. Not gonna work. We WILL keep the pressure up until you exit. Hopefully sooner than later.

Spin! Spin!! Spin!! Nice try Eric.

Just resign.

Resign

Do you think maniacally shooting a machine gun into a lake will help?

As a conservative, I ask of you: Have you voted in favor of cheaters and liars, or have you voted for conservatives? Either way, you are unfit for office. You are a hypocrite and untrustworthy. You should find another job.

Resign.

Please submit your resignation rather than dragging your family and this great state through this.

Resign asap please

To campaign on family values while hiding this is beyond disgraceful. You need to resign, Governor.

Resign. #greitensresign

RESIGN.

R E S I G N

Resign.

Your “God” has nothing to do with your morals. Thanks for sharing as now I think of you as an even more selfish person. Missouri can and should do better.

You may step down. Do it for the good of your constituents. You have the right to work doing something else.

So the whole “Sanctity of Marriage” and “Party of Family Values” thing…. You must be proud. 50 Shades of Greitens

@EricGreitens Resign

The evidence being presented is pretty creepy on your part. You should probably resign before you have to answer for more of this as it comes out.

The only thing important is you are evil and a fraud! RESIGN! Family values, what a fraud!

Time for the Governor to step down.

Just continue doing the great job you are doing as our Governor. The past is the place from where you begin…..not where you end

Must not have heard last night’s “State of the State” address.

#timesup byeeeee

After reading your books, I was excited to hear you were getting into politics. You are so disappointing.

I wish you would have shared this over the text messaging app rather than twitter.

Subtle.

stop using the word “mistake” when what you did was clearly something you chose to do.

Make a statement of your own, since you are the one responsible for needing there to be a statement – if you dare.

Unfortunately this deeply personal mistake affects far greater than yourself and wife, and responsibility still looms. Also for a personal issue why are statements from everyone but you personally?

Resign, “family man”

There’s always forgiveness and mercy with Jesus, many vile Twitter trolls have none. Praying for your family. Don’t fight, stand still and trust God. He is a Shield and a buckler to all who trust in Him.

Uh.

The party of family values strikes again.

Yeah you’re done. Get out, rebuild and see what you can do later. You’re done now. You’re still young. America is a place of second chances, but for now, you’re done.

You have shamed the office.

Resign immediately.

“There are a lot of people committed to the status quo,” he wrote on Facebook. “They’ve been willing to harass and intimidate anyone who stands up to them.”
YOUR words… does the status quo include being a liar? You fit right in. Perhaps you are just another #StableGenius ?

Resign.

This #Kansan is pleased to not have the most disgusting governor in the Union anymore. @govsambrownback owes you a fruit basket or something.

The Mission Continues….

We see what they did there.

Hey Eric, “admitting” something after getting caught does not an admission make. Your statement is typical and impotent at best. Resign.

Resign.

Missouri deserves better. #ResignGreitens

And on and on.

Previously:

Oh, my. (January 11, 2018)

Oh, my – part 2 (January 11, 2018)

	Steve Duane Phipps on No Kings – Warrensburg,…
	No Kings – War… on Warrensburg, Missouri – No Kin…
	Campaign Finance: pr… on Campaign Finance: for billiona…
	Campaign Finance: wa… on About that ‘inconvenient…
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~ covering government and politics in Missouri – since 2007

Monthly Archives: January 2018

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Campaign Finance: when in Rome…

Sen. Denny Hoskins (r): not exactly a ringing endorsement

Observations about our racist President’s potty-mouth outburst

אַ שאַנדע פֿאַר די גוים and *IOKIYAR