Monthly Archives: June 2022

Donald Trump’s (r) continual grifting is still perfectly okay

19 Sunday Jun 2022

Posted by in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , ,

Jason Smith (r) [2021 file photo]

Yesterday afternoon:

Rep. Jason Smith @RepJasonSmith
Biden is enjoying his weekend at the beach while Americans watch gas prices soar and pay more every week at the grocery store.
3:00 PM · Jun 18, 2022

Some of the responses:

Maybe because the GOP voted against gas price gouging?

There’s that.

Well, you’re District has been plagued with crippling poverty for the entire time that you’ve “represented” it. Funny that you suddenly care about your constituents’ well-being. So you’ve been talking to your buddies in big oil- right?

It’s weird how Jason here and the @GOP scream how D’s are trying to make this a socialist country then believe the president controls free market prices.

How about when Trump was playing golf at Mar a Lago every weekend and thousands of Americans were dying of covid. How did you feel about that?

Did you ever complain about TFG golfing for over a complete year in his term? No? Why not?

That’s the cult.

Bad combover. Check. Too long red tie. Check. Orange spray tan. Check. Tiny hands. Check. Cluelessness. Check…

I’m enjoying my weekend at home while Republicans like you vote against every bill that will help Americans.

Would you have tweeted anything if he was playing golf at his own golf course?

How often are you in Congress in session and how often do you go home? Most people work during the week and take a break on the weekends…he’s no different. Plus he doesn’t control gas prices and you all voted no on price gouging so stuff it.

You aren’t worried about gas prices – you voted AGAINST doing anything about price gouging, remember? ( Spoiler – the VOTERS remember )

II went to the Cubs game today and enjoyed time with my family. Fortunately I still have time to remind you that gas price increases are global and you voted against helping Americans lower them.

Riding his bike and NOT driving a gas guzzler. I’m good with that. Congress sure takes a lot of time off, but I guess potus doesn’t even get the weekend. But keep tweeting. Super productive.

And what proposals have you made to provide relief?

Have you ever actually done anything for working class people and small businesses in your district, like your profile says? I doubt it.

He’s ready to sign the law stopping price gouging but you didn’t vote to pass it. What oil companies are you protesting this week?

Nah, I’m building a chicken coup.

I did fill my 25 gallon tank with $3.59/gas (after my points discount).

And I drive a behemoth truck. But I plan my trips & watch my $.

Are gas prices more important than our democracy? Nope.

Tell me how much time Trump spent at Mar-A-Lago again?

How did YOU vote on the price gouging bill??

FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 232
H R 7688 YEA-AND-NAY 19-May-2022 12:15 PM
QUESTION: On Passage
BILL TITLE: Consumer Fuel Price Gouging Prevention Act

[,,,,]

— YEAS 217 —

[….]

—- NAYS 207 —

Smith (MO)

—- NOT VOTING 5 —

[emphasis added]

Asked and answered.

You could have voted against price-gouging. Why didn’t you?

I am American and I filled my tank without undue anxiety, went grocery shopping and purchased same items As norm and live at the beach. I’m glad our President also takes time@to recharge on the weekends. Even happier that he isn’t also charging others to stay at his gaudy resorts

So I am ASSuming you working all weekend on a solution. I look forward to your report on Tuesday

Didn’t you vote no on the oil price gauging bill?

See above.

Do you prefer to be called by your full name “Mr. Clear and Present Danger” or do you have a nickname???

We see what you did there.

@GOP is like a broken record. Same thing over and over and over with zero progress. Stuck in the rut, stuck in the past. [….]Yawn[….]

Congress is only in session for about 172 days a year – how many days do YOU spend at home during that same year jaystun?

I dunno, he holds open public townhall meetings in the district, right? Just spitballing here…

Interesting that the former President was on the golf course just about every weekend but no complaints about that especially during a pandemic. How did you vote on bills that would have helped those that elected you?

And what exactly are you doing to help?

The grocery store I’m afraid to go to in case some maniac walks in with a assault weapon? That grocery store?

Actively voting NO on anything that could possibly help! You don’t support the working class w/culture wars, Smith.

What’s your solution to solving worldwide inflation this weekend?

Did you vote for the gas gouging bill?

No. See above.

Are you seriously sitting home and watching prices? I suspect most Americans are enjoying their weekend – certainly no obvious lack of vacationers in our area and no shortage of cars on the highway.

Vacationing rent free in Jason Smith’s (r) head:

Joe Biden (D) [2014 file photo].

It’s a cult

19 Sunday Jun 2022

Posted by in Uncategorized

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

, , , , ,

From the 2022 Texas GOP State Convention:

Report of the Permanent 2022 Platform & Resolutions Committee [pdf]

[….]
1581 1. 2020 Election: We believe that the 2020 election violated Article 1 and 2 of the US Constitution, that
1582 various secretaries of state illegally circumvented their state legislatures in conducting their elections in
1583 multiple ways, including by allowing ballots to be received after November 3, 2020.We believe that
1584 substantial election fraud in key metropolitan areas significantly affected the results in five key states in
1585 favor of Joseph Robinette Biden Jr.
1586 We reject the certified results of the 2020 Presidential election, and we hold that acting President Joseph
1587 Robinette Biden Jr. was not legitimately elected by the people of the United States. [….]

[line number emphasis added]

“…We reject the certified results of the 2020 Presidential election, and we hold that acting President Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. was not legitimately elected by the people of the United States….”

Curiously, there’s no mention of the multitude of those other race results certified on the very same ballots.

Bad combover. Check. Too long red tie. Check. Orange spray tan. Check. Tiny hands. Check. Cluelessness. Check…

“No Labels” was saying what?

A not so good, very bad, day…

18 Saturday Jun 2022

Posted by in Claire McCaskill, social media, US Senate

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , ,

Eric Schmitt – Missouri Supreme Court judges – Americans for Prosperity Action – campaign mailer – June 17, 2022 [detail]

Claire McCaskill (D) [2018 file photo].

Claire – on Eric Schmitt’s (r) photo with Missouri Supreme Court judges used in a campaign mail piece:

Claire McCaskill @clairecmc
He has sold his soul to the political vultures. That’s @Eric_Schmitt the AG of Mo and US Senate candidate. Now some of the most respected and non partisan Mo officials are calling him out for his gutter ethics. [….]
4:01 PM · Jun 17, 2022

Eric Schmitt (r) [2021 file photo].

Sixteen minutes later Eric Schmitt (r) provided a prickly response:

Eric Schmitt @Eric_Schmitt
Your lies are thick, but that’s nothing new for you. You were the most two faced politician in modern Missouri political history. Your phony folksy routine caught up to you. Enjoy your baking.
[….]
4:17 PM · Jun 17, 2022

“Big mistake. Big. Huge…”

Some of the responses:

Finally, @Eric_Schmitt speaks directly to Missouri’s women voters.
His message, packaged as an insult:
“Enjoy your baking.”

Awww, did someone with some clout and an actual former Senator call you on your #Bullschmitt ?

Poor little thing, you can ignore us all day long, but she says something and you’ve got to reply. And at 4:17pm, on a workday/weekday that’s still our time and our dime Eric!

Except Claire for better or worse actually got stuff done and didn’t support a political movement that tried to overthrow the government to install authoritarianism, Eric. You cannot say the same.

Mr. Schmitt, in order to insult Claire, she must first value your opinion. Nice try, though.

Are you EVER going to do some of the work we pay the MO Attorney General to do? I mean, when you’re not busy suing China, micro-managing public schools, bullying beloved Missourians?

Most people running for office would be smart enough not to tell a woman to get in the kitchen.

There’s that.

She did win election to the Senate, which is more than you’ll do.

She was a US Senator, and you are going to come in third in a primary so I dunno man sounds like you’re punching up pretty far here.

Bullschmitt is triggered. LOL.

Ooh, Claire triggered Eric!!

You actually have to attack someone who’s not even in the race in order to make yourself look good (not working btw) Are you so afraid if you say something bad about your other GOP Primary competition everyone will mean tweet you in their defense? This is a new level of desperate

That’s rich, Eric. Every move you make is for political theater, for power, and to raise fear. You are despicable and deserve every call out you are getting.

Wow, Eric. Things must be worse with your “also ran” campaign than we suspected. But no worries. I bet if you look really hard, you can find some school kids to sue.

And on and on…

From Claire:

Claire McCaskill @clairecmc
I’m confused, you lost soul. Is the Missouri Supreme Court lying? I’m just quoting their public statement. I never sold my soul to get re-elected. Someone has convinced you to abandon what you believe it. It’s just sad.
[….]
9:33 PM · Jun 17, 2022

“You come at the Queen, you best not misss.”

Previously:

Political hacks participate in unethical political hackery (June 18, 2022)

Political hacks participate in unethical political hackery

17 Friday Jun 2022

Posted by in US Senate

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , ,

The mail is coming from inside the building?

“…The judges are disappointed that this photograph was used, without their knowledge or consent, for such a blatant political purpose. They are reporting the incident as required by their judicial code of conduct and legal ethics…”

Business as usual.

Eric Schmitt (r) [2021 file photo].

Eric Schmitt (r) [2021 file photo].

This came in today’s mail:

Nope, he doesn’t. And someone has a serious ethics problem in the bottom right corner

Nope again.

The judges of the Missouri Supreme Court:

Missouri Supreme Court

A news release, today, from the Missouri Supreme Court:

Supreme Court of Missouri renounces use of photograph for political purposes

17 June 2022

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Late last evening, the Supreme Court of Missouri learned of a campaign mailer using a photograph of Attorney General Eric Schmitt and three of the Court’s judges. The mailer is for Schmitt’s candidacy for the United States Senate.

The photograph was taken by a member of the attorney general’s staff during a public event to which the judges were invited during the state’s bicentennial celebration last August. The judges attended the event in their official capacities to mark a moment of the branches of state government working together. Neither the Court nor its judges had any knowledge that the photograph would be distributed or used in a political context. Furthermore, none of the judges did – or ever would – consent to their names, titles or likenesses being used in any political context. Missouri citizens should know that no Supreme Court judge ever would or could endorse a political candidate and this photograph should not be taken as such an endorsement despite the implication created by the mailer.

Because they were selected pursuant to the Missouri Nonpartisan Court Plan, Supreme Court judges are prohibited by article V, section 25(f) of the Missouri Constitution from engaging in any political activity.

The judges are disappointed that this photograph was used, without their knowledge or consent, for such a blatant political purpose. They are reporting the incident as required by their judicial code of conduct and legal ethics.

Meanwhile, the Court has asked the attorney general’s office to delete this photograph and any others like it from the office’s public or social media accounts to help prevent any further inappropriate use of such images.

###

The ethics problem:

Eric Schmitt – Missouri Supreme Court judges – Americans for Prosperity Action – campaign mailer – June 17, 2022 [detail]

“…The photograph was taken by a member of the attorney general’s staff during a public event to which the judges were invited during the state’s bicentennial celebration last August. The judges attended the event in their official capacities to mark a moment of the branches of state government working together. Neither the Court nor its judges had any knowledge that the photograph would be distributed or used in a political context. Furthermore, none of the judges did – or ever would – consent to their names, titles or likenesses being used in any political context. Missouri citizens should know that no Supreme Court judge ever would or could endorse a political candidate and this photograph should not be taken as such an endorsement despite the implication created by the mailer…”

The return address on the mail piece:

The disclaimer:

The irony of the Missouri Supreme Court getting burned by a dark money PAC supporting Missouri’s Attorney General is just so….

Now, the question is how did Americans for Prosperty Action get that photo? Was it a RSMo § 610 request or did someone give it to them directly?

Heh.

They fought the SPLC and the SPLC won

16 Thursday Jun 2022

Posted by in social media, US Senate

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , ,

United States Constitution, Article VI:

“…The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the members of the several state legislatures, and all executive and judicial officers, both of the United States and of the several states, shall be bound by oath or affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.”

Vicky Hartzler (r) [2021 file photo].

This morning:

[photo cropped]

Rep. Vicky Hartzler @RepHartzler
It is quite the honor to be awarded the Distinguished Christian Statesmanship Award from @DJKMinistries.

The award recognizes those whose commitment to Christ and love for country compels them to stand for truth and righteousness in government. I am truly humbled to receive it.
[….]
8:51 AM · Jun 16, 2022

In 2018:


[….]

Some of the responses to today’s tweet:

As an elected official you cannot establish religion through your work.

PS Are you capable of winning awards from groups that aren’t designated as hate groups?
[….]

Jesus would not have voted against a standalone bill to cap the cost of insulin at $35/month.

This is a joke, right…?

Nope. She is aimed at the rabid right

Ah if only there was some ethical doctrine about separating your governing duties and your personal religion. Something about the church and state perhaps? Weird how people can be so inconsistent about which principles of the founding fathers and Jesus they follow.

Winning an award isn’t “humbling,” reading these responses should be humbling. Words are hard.

Not all your constituents are white Christians.

Keep your faith out of our government.

Oh that’s embarrassing

Christian Nationalism…It’s wrong & goes against everything Jesus came to abolish. If it was an integral part of Christianity Jesus would have come as an earthly king, not a heavenly one. As a born-again Christian, I will continue to fight this misuse of Jesus’ name.

LMAO, distinguished Christian. That bar must be so low its buried if they gave it to you Vick. You don’t stand for truth, righteousness, or humility. You stand for lying, hypocrisy and hatred. You foster bigotry and indifference on a daily basis.

You are rotting from the inside out, and it shows.

Christofacist.
I don’t believe your mythology, yet you pledge to rule me with it. Dangerous cultists have infiltrated government.

Brownshirts required?

16 Thursday Jun 2022

Posted by in social media, US Senate

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , ,

Eric Schmitt (r) [2021 file photo].

Yesterday:

Eric Schmitt @Eric_Schmitt
It’s not enough to take the majority back — we need to send the right people there. We need more America First fighters.
4:24 PM · Jun 15, 2022

Some of the responses:

Are you saying we need more election officials who won’t certify elections when American First candidates lose?

Glad you feel that way, and that person/people is NOT you.

So you’re withdrawing from the race?

You’re running to be a legislator, not an infantryman. We need intelligent people who can work on both sides of the aisle to accomplish something. Not people who want to be on Fox News every night.

Eric, you have no constructive suggestions for anything. You cover it up by saying you’re a fighter.

So besides being a complete failure as Attorney General for the people of Missouri, now you are openly aligning for the overthrow of American Democracy. Good to know.

You need to stop inciting violence.

No. You’re wrong. As usual. We need HONEST representative s. You’re not honest. You’re just a cheezy R trying to scam your way into the senate. You are a trumper. Notice how he’s getting exposed in the 1/6 hearing?

What is your definition of America First fighters @Eric_Schmitt? An AG that sues everyone w/o cause? A lousy lawyer who points guns @ people walking down the street? The kinky bondage, blackmailing Ex-Governor or Treasonous Senator who fails to represent those from his State?

You are weak and a coward. You use your office to bully, intimidate, and as a campaign tool. You do nothing constructive to improve the lives of average Missourians.

Campaign Finance: There only used to be justice – part 2

16 Thursday Jun 2022

Posted by in campaign finance

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,

Apparently, there’s a going rate.

Yesterday at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C222147 06/15/2022 Conservative Justice PAC Ketchmark & McCreight P.C. 11161 Overbrook Rd Suite 210 Leawood KS 66211 6/15/2022 $125,000.00

[emphasis added]

Hourly?

Previously:

Campaign Finance: There only used to be justice (June 9, 2022)

When a political hack starts to believe his own hype

15 Wednesday Jun 2022

Posted by in Roy Blunt, social media, US Senate

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , ,

“…The fairness doctrine took effect shortly after the creation of the Federal Radio Commission (FRC) in 1927 and was continued by its successor, the FCC, until the late 1980s. In its 1929 Great Lakes Broadcasting Co. decision, the FRC asserted that the “public interest requires ample play for the free and fair competition of opposing views, and the Commission believes that the principle applies to all discussions of issues of importance to the public….”

The Fairness Doctrine died in 1987 when Ronald Reagan (r) was in office.

“…On January 21, 2010, the Supreme Court issued a ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission overruling an earlier decision, Austin v. Michigan State Chamber of Commerce (Austin), that allowed prohibitions on independent expenditures by corporations. The Court also overruled the part of McConnell v. Federal Election Commission that held that corporations could be banned from making electioneering communications….”

Where Roy Blunt (r) tries to pretend he’s never heard of Citizens United or the Fairness Doctrine:

Senator Roy Blunt @RoyBlunt
It’s hard to have truly fair elections when large email platforms are deciding which messages can easily reach voters and which get buried in a spam folder.
3:40 PM · Jun 15, 2022

What’s the matter Roy, you can’t buy any stamps or newspapers?

Some of the responses:

It’s hard to have truly fair elections when $20 Billion is being spent just on political campaigns ensuring divisive & emotionally charged messaging can easily reach voters. Time to revoke Citizens United & shine a blinding light on Dark Money contributions.

It’s hard to have truly fair elections when large mobs are deciding to usurp voters by seeking to bury the vice president.

Trust me when I say that the contents of my SPAM folder were never the reason that I didn’t vote for you.

Perhaps my emails to you to get your thoughts on common sense gun control in Missouri HAVE gotten stuck in your SPAM box, though, since I sure haven’t heard back from you.

You going to complain about dial-up speeds next? Gas prices, milk prices, and spam emails. So glad I have a senator who’s focused on solving the biggest problems of 1998

Try a decade before that.

It’s hard to have truly fair elections when you put obstacles in the way of voting, and put people in positions of power whose stated purpose is to only verify results where Republicans win.

How about when one side storms the capitol to overthrow the results of the election?

Distract and deflect…. What does the 1/6 committee have on you? Might your name be coming up?

Restore the Fairness Doctrine and help cure the evils of Fox News

“Faux News channel, fascist groupies” – protest sign, circa 2003- 2004.

Maybe if your messages are going to spam your messages are spammy bullshit.

So you don’t understand how it works

Also when the nra buys the allegiance of a Senator like you. #ComplicitCorruptGOP

Roy Blunt (r) [2016 file photo].

Capitol “Pardon Me” Tour – January 5, 2021

15 Wednesday Jun 2022

Posted by in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , ,

From the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol, including video of individuals given a tour of the capitol complex by Rep. Barry Loudermilk (r) who had previously denied giving any tour:

A letter to Barry Loudermilk (r) from the chair of the committee:

[….]
June 15, 2022

Representative Barry Loudermilk
United States House of Representatives
2133 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Representative Loudermilk:

On May 19, 2022, the Select Committee invited you to meet with us about evidence of a tour you provided on January 5, 2021. Based on our review of surveillance video, social media activity, and witness accounts, we understand you led a tour group through parts of the Capitol complex on January 5, 2021. That group stayed for several hours, despite the complex being closed to the public on that day.

Surveillance footage shows a tour of approximately ten individuals led by you to areas in the Rayburn, Longworth, and Cannon House Office Buildings, as well as the entrances to tunnels leading to the U.S. Capitol. The below image shows you leading individuals on the tour:

[….]

Individuals on the tour photographed and recorded areas of the complex not typically of interest to tourists, including hallways, staircases, and security checkpoints. [….] For example, the below image shows an individual appearing to photograph a staircase in the basement of the Longworth House Office Building while you speak with others nearby:

[….]

The below image shows members of the tour you led also taking photographs of the tunnel leading from the Rayburn House Office Building to the Capitol:

[….]

The behavior of these individuals during the January 5, 2021 tour raises concerns about their activity and intent while inside the Capitol complex.

The Select Committee has learned that some individuals you sponsored into the complexattended the rally at the Ellipse on the morning of January 6, 2021. According to video recordings from that day obtained by the Select Committee, the individual who appeared to photograph a staircase in the Longworth House Office Building filmed a companion with a flagpole appearing to have a sharpened end who spoke to the camera saying, “It’s for a certain person,” while making an aggressive jabbing motion. Later, these individuals joined the unpermitted march from the Ellipse to the U.S. Capitol. While standing near the Capitol grounds, the same individual made a video that contained detailed and disturbing threats against specific Members of Congress. For example, as the individual filmed the march to the Capitol, he said, “There’s no escape Pelosi, Schumer, Nadler. We’re coming for you.” As he looked up at the Capitol, he went on:

[“]They got it surrounded. It’s all the way up there on the hill, and it’s all the way around, and they’re coming in, coming in like white on rice for Pelosi, Nadler, even you, AOC. We’re coming to take you out and pull you out by your hairs. … When I get done with you, you’re going to need a shine on top of that bald head.[“] [….]

While we had hoped to show you the video evidence when you met with us, and since you have thus far declined, the Select Committee provides the video in question for your review [….].

The foregoing information raises questions the Select Committee must answer. Public reporting and witness accounts indicate some individuals and groups engaged in efforts to gather information about the layout of the U.S. Capitol, as well as the House and Senate office buildings, in advance of January 6, 2021. For example, in the week following January 6, 2021, Members urged law enforcement leaders to investigate sightings of “outside groups in the complex” on January 5, 2021 that “appeared to be associated with the rally at the White House the following day.” [….] The Select Committee’s review of urveillance footage showing the above-described tour is consistent with those observations. [….]

We again ask you to meet with the Select Committee at your earliest convenience.

Sincerely,
s/
Bennie G. Thompson
Chairman

“…coming in like white on rice…” They don’t even attempt to hide it anymore.

There’s always video. They weren’t tourists.

Campaign Finance: this time, with more feeling, or not

15 Wednesday Jun 2022

Posted by in campaign finance

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,

It really is like clockwork.

Today at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C171144 06/15/2022 Missouri Alliance For Freedom – Grace River PAC Herzog Railroad Services Inc. 700 Riverside Road St Joseph MO 64507 6/13/2022 $50,000.00

C171144 06/15/2022 Missouri Alliance For Freedom – Grace River PAC Herzog Technologies Inc. 700 Riverside Road St Joseph MO 64507 6/13/2022 $50,000.00

C171144 06/15/2022 Missouri Alliance For Freedom – Grace River PAC Herzog Contracting Corp. 600 Riverside Road St Joseph MO 64507 6/13/2022 $50,000.00

[emphasis added]

And:

C211738 06/13/2022 Great Northwest PAC Herzog Contracting Corp. PO Box 1089 Saint Joseph MO 64502 6/13/2022 $100,000.00

For a total of $400,000.00 in one day.

Previously:

Campaign Finance: write a check, write a check, write a check (June 18, 2020)

Campaign Finance: write another check, write another check, write another check (June 19, 2020)

(June 15, 2022)