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Author Archives: Michael Bersin

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): Give it a rest, seditionist

21 Thursday Jan 2021

Posted by Michael Bersin in social media

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Tags

4th Congressional District, abortion, anti-choice, Capitol breach, Daily Caller, Insurrection, missouri, sedition, social media, Twitter, Vicky Hartzler

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r) [2016 file photo].

You’d think a right wingnut who promoted lies which encouraged an insurrection would want to keep a low profile for just a little while longer.

Nope.

Today:

Rep. Vicky Hartzler @RepHartzler
One of America’s unalienable rights is LIFE.

Sickened that the @BidenInaugural associated our nation’s flag and patriotism with an organization who promotes ending the lives of the unborn.
[….]
2:02 PM · Jan 21, 2021

Vicky, you’d be surprised how many contributions have been made to Planned Parenthood in your name.

The Daily Caller? That sounds like the name of a Trotskyite rag.

The responses, as always, never fail to amuse:

I prefer you represent Missourians who have been BORN rather than the unborn.

What about the 400,000 people dead from COVID? What about the kids locked in cages? What about the kids struggling with home school and hunger? I guess you only care about them until they are born.

Under Trump, GOP showed what they really think about life. 400,000 dead Americans from a pandemic. 5 dead from an insurrection, organized and encouraged by GOP leaders.

Yeah um so 400000 dead americans on yours and Trumps watch is ok?

Whose life is important to you? Just unborn babies, right? Not the 400,000 covid deaths or the lives of your fellow legislators? I haven’t seen you denounce the lie leading to the attempted coup.

Are you concerned about all the kids that Trump locked in cages and separated from their parents?

You’re sickened? That’s how this whole country has felt for the last four years. Every. Single. Day.

Hello, someone dying to be outraged on Line 2. —-hold music—–

“The girl from Ipanema”?

Your hypocrisy is showing

Omg I am pro choice and live in your district, is this all you can tweet about when over 400000 have died of COVID

People elect you to be a representative of ALL the people in your district not just those you agree with. Try being more than a one-issue dog whistler.

Wow. 400,000 reasons why you are a complete and utter dip shit.

Just can’t help yourself can you. Maybe you could show you care about ALL LIFE and not support mobs who stormed the Capitol, resulting in loss of life. YOU desecrated our flag and patriotism with YOUR actions. You are a hypocrite and a traitor.

GOPs playbook on guns, life and debt is worn and tattered. You need a new playbook after 5 years of lies, caging kids, a failed coup, and blowing up deficits.

Or you can continue to look like clowns.

Capitol police were attacked with our nation’s flag.

Trump loving Vicky loves to yap about the lives of the unborn but doesn’t give a damn about the lives of those who are living breathing human beings in her district.

You’re gonna really crap your pants when you learn about terrorists taking our flag and beating a police officer with it because twice impeached-Trump told them to.

How about this association? You know the one you don’t want to mention as well as the act of treason. Spin bullshit is your only skill set.

Vicki, what any woman does with her own body is her own business. Btw, how do you feel about separating babies from their Mommas at the border? Or executing people in Federal custody?

Girl shut up.

Spare us your faux anger. Sickening is your support of those trying to overthrow an election. Where was your outrage over people being beaten with the flag?

NOPE. you don’t get to be the party of “life” my dear – more executions during Trump admin than any other, kids in cages, beaten dead police officers, OVER FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND DEAD FROM COVID.

Sorry, nope.

Where was your outrage when babies were being separated from their parents on the border under our American flag.
Save it, lady. You can’t start being outraged now.

You are a disgrace to Missouri, Vicki. Resign.

Hi whichever fearmongering Republican you are….

Here’s a thought… Separate church from state and stop bamboozling Americans into debating theocracy rather than government policy.

Ugh will you people shut up already about abortion. You don’t give a shit about the unborn or the born. You prove that time and again.

Wait until you hear about covid-19. Stfu with this pro-life BS

Trump and the GOP are forever associated with right wing terrorists killing a man with a flag

Cry me a fucking river. How many people did Trump kill this year? And I mean actual people, not blastulas

What’s the next faux outrage? Just asking.

Four years ago today – women knew

21 Thursday Jan 2021

Posted by Michael Bersin in Resist

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

#resist, Donald Trump, Kansas City, missouri, Women's March

Four years ago, in Washington Square Park in Kansas City, Missouri, women knew.

No tactical gear, no tactical helmets, no bear spray, no assault on law enforcement.

There were thousands of people. There were thousands of knitted pink hats.

Women’s March – Kansas City, Missouri – January 21, 2017

Women’s March – Kansas City, Missouri – January 21, 2017

Women’s March – Kansas City, Missouri – January 21, 2017

Women’s March – Kansas City, Missouri – January 21, 2017

Women’s March – Kansas City, Missouri – January 21, 2017

Law enforcement had the only noticeable supply of plasticuffs.

Women’s March – Kansas City, Missouri – January 21, 2017

Women knew.

Previously:

Women’s March – Kansas City – Washington Square Park – January 21, 2017 (January 21, 2017)

Rally and March in Columbia, Missouri – January 20, 2018 (January 20, 2018)

Kansas City Women’s March – January 18, 2020 – photos – part 1 (January 18, 2020)

Four years ago – we knew (January 19, 2021)

“Women hold up the sky…” (January 20, 2021)

@^$# Trump – four years ago today (January 20, 2021)

It took four years (January 20, 2021)

It took four years

20 Wednesday Jan 2021

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Muslim Ban Repeal

“We shall overcome because the arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice.” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., “Remaining Awake Through a Great Revolution.” Speech given at the National Cathedral, March 31, 1968

“…the previous administration enacted a number of Executive Orders and Presidential Proclamations that prevented certain individuals from entering the United States — first from primarily Muslim countries, and later, from largely African countries. Those actions are a stain on our national conscience and are inconsistent with our long history of welcoming people of all faiths and no faith at all…” – Joe Biden, January 20, 2021

Four years ago, at the start of the Trump era, at Kansas City International Airport:

Kansas City International Airport – January 29, 2017

Kansas City International Airport – January 29, 2017

Kansas City International Airport – January 29, 2017

Kansas City International Airport – January 29, 2017

Tonight, at the White House:

Proclamation on Ending Discriminatory Bans on Entry to The United States
JANUARY 20, 2021 • PRESIDENTIAL ACTIONS
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

The United States was built on a foundation of religious freedom and tolerance, a principle enshrined in the United States Constitution. Nevertheless, the previous administration enacted a number of Executive Orders and Presidential Proclamations that prevented certain individuals from entering the United States — first from primarily Muslim countries, and later, from largely African countries. Those actions are a stain on our national conscience and are inconsistent with our long history of welcoming people of all faiths and no faith at all.

Beyond contravening our values, these Executive Orders and Proclamations have undermined our national security. They have jeopardized our global network of alliances and partnerships and are a moral blight that has dulled the power of our example the world over. And they have separated loved ones, inflicting pain that will ripple for years to come. They are just plain wrong.

Make no mistake, where there are threats to our Nation, we will address them. Where there are opportunities to strengthen information-sharing with partners, we will pursue them. And when visa applicants request entry to the United States, we will apply a rigorous, individualized vetting system. But we will not turn our backs on our values with discriminatory bans on entry into the United States.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including sections 212(f) and 215(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. 1182(f) and 1185(a), hereby find that it is in the interests of the United States to revoke Executive Order 13780 of March 6, 2017 (Protecting the Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into the United States), Proclamation 9645 of September 24, 2017 (Enhancing Vetting Capabilities and Processes for Detecting Attempted Entry Into the United States by Terrorists or Other Public-Safety Threats), Proclamation 9723 of April 10, 2018 (Maintaining Enhanced Vetting Capabilities and Processes for Detecting Attempted Entry Into the United States by Terrorists or Other Public-Safety Threats), and Proclamation 9983 of January 31, 2020 (Improving Enhanced Vetting Capabilities and Processes for Detecting Attempted Entry Into the United States by Terrorists or Other Public-Safety Threats). Our national security will be enhanced by revoking the Executive Order and Proclamations.

Accordingly, I hereby proclaim:

Section 1. Revocations. Executive Order 13780, and Proclamations 9645, 9723, and 9983 are hereby revoked.

Sec. 2. Resumption of Visa Processing and Clearing the Backlog of Cases in Waiver Processing. (a) The Secretary of State shall direct all Embassies and Consulates, consistent with applicable law and visa processing procedures, including any related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), to resume visa processing in a manner consistent with the revocation of the Executive Order and Proclamations specified in section 1 of this proclamation.

(b) Within 45 days of the date of this proclamation, the Secretary of State shall provide to the President a report that includes the following elements:

(i) The number of visa applicants who were being considered for a waiver of restrictions under Proclamation 9645 or 9983 on the date of this proclamation and a plan for expeditiously adjudicating their pending visa applications.

(ii) A proposal to ensure that individuals whose immigrant visa applications were denied on the basis of the suspension and restriction on entry imposed by Proclamation 9645 or 9983 may have their applications reconsidered. This proposal shall consider whether to reopen immigrant visa applications that were denied due to the suspension and restriction on entry imposed by Proclamation 9645 or 9983, whether it is necessary to charge an additional fee to process those visa applications, and development of a plan for the Department of State to expedite consideration of those visa applications.

(iii) A plan to ensure that visa applicants are not prejudiced as a result of a previous visa denial due to the suspension and restriction on entry imposed by Proclamation 9645 or 9983 if they choose to re-apply for a visa.

Sec. 3. Review of Information-Sharing Relationships and a Plan to Strengthen Partnerships. Within 120 days of the date of this proclamation, the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence, shall provide to the President a report consisting of the following elements:

(a) A description of the current screening and vetting procedures for those seeking immigrant and nonimmigrant entry to the United States. This should include information about any procedures put in place as a result of any of the Executive Order and Proclamations revoked in section 1 of this proclamation and should also include an evaluation of the usefulness of form DS-5535.

(b) A review of foreign government information-sharing practices vis-à-vis the United States in order to evaluate the efficacy of those practices, their contribution to processes for screening and vetting those individuals seeking entry to the United States as immigrants and nonimmigrants, and how the United States ensures the accuracy and reliability of the information provided by foreign governments.

(c) Recommendations to improve screening and vetting activities, including diplomatic efforts to improve international information-sharing, use of foreign assistance funds, where appropriate, to support capacity building for information-sharing and identity-management practices, and ways to further integrate relevant executive department and agency data into the vetting system.

(d) A review of the current use of social media identifiers in the screening and vetting process, including an assessment of whether this use has meaningfully improved screening and vetting, and recommendations in light of this assessment.

Sec. 4. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this proclamation shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or

(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

(b) This proclamation shall be implemented in a manner consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

(c) This proclamation is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twentieth day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-one, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-fifth.

JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.

Joe Biden (D) [2020 file photo].

It’s been four years too long.

Previously:

Trump Muslim ban protest at Kansas City International Airport – January 29, 2017 (January 29, 2017)

Johnson County, Missouri – COVID-19 – Statistics – January 20, 2021

20 Wednesday Jan 2021

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Corona virus, COVID-19, Johnson County, missouri, pandemic, statistics

Today from Johnson County, Missouri Community Health Services:

Johnson County, Missouri

Cumulative Positive Cases: 4086

Deaths: 34

136 additional cases since the January 11th report.

Wear a damn mask. And while you’re at it, wear some damn gloves.

Stay Home. Wash your hands. Don’t touch your face. Good luck to us all.
#FlattenTheCurve

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris

20 Wednesday Jan 2021

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Joe Biden, Kamala Harris

Joe Biden (D) [2020 file photo].

Kamala Harris (D) [2019 file photo].

It’s been a good day, long time coming.

There you go

20 Wednesday Jan 2021

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

At noon:

Excellent.

@^$# Trump – four years ago today

20 Wednesday Jan 2021

Posted by Michael Bersin in Resist

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

#resist, Donald Trump, Kansas City, missouri, protest, protest signs

We knew.

At the Liberty Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri on January 20, 2017:

Kansas City, Missouri – January 20, 2017

Kansas City, Missouri – January 20, 2017

Kansas City, Missouri – January 20, 2017

We knew.

Previously:

Four years ago – we knew (January 19, 2021)

“Women hold up the sky…” (January 20, 2021)

“Women hold up the sky…”

20 Wednesday Jan 2021

Posted by Michael Bersin in Resist

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

#resist, Donald Trump, Kansas City, missouri, protest

Four years ago, today.

January 20, 2017 – Inauguration Day Protest – Kansas City, Missouri – Michael Bersin

They still do.

Previously:

Four years ago – we knew (January 19, 2021)

Donald Trump (r): adding to the swamp on the way out the door

20 Wednesday Jan 2021

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

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Tags

Donald Trump, Ethics, Executive Order 13770, Hypocrisy, lobbying, swamp

“…I will not, within 5 years after the termination of my employment as an appointee in any executive agency in which I am appointed to serve, engage in lobbying activities with respect to that agency…”

Lobbying. Taking care of the one true base.

Last night:

Executive Order on the Revocation of Executive Order 13770
Issued on: January 20, 2021

By the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the Constitution and laws of the United States of America, including section 301 of title 3, United States Code, and sections 3301 and 7301 of title 5, United States Code, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Revocation. Executive Order 13770 of January 28, 2017, “Ethics Commitments by Executive Branch Appointees,” is hereby revoked, effective at noon January 20, 2021. Employees and former employees subject to the commitments in Executive Order 13770 will not be subject to those commitments after noon January 20, 2021.

Sec. 2. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or

(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

DONALD J. TRUMP

THE WHITE HOUSE,
January 19, 2021.

Executive Order 13770 [pdf], at the National Archives:

Executive Order 13770 of January 28, 2017
Ethics Commitments by Executive Branch Appointees

By the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 301 of title 3, United States Code, and sections 3301 and 7301 of title 5, United States Code, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Ethics Pledge. Every appointee in every executive agency appointed on or after January 20, 2017, shall sign, and upon signing shall be contractually committed to, the following pledge upon becoming an appointee:

‘‘As a condition, and in consideration, of my employment in the United States Government in an appointee position invested with the public trust, I commit myself to the following obligations, which I understand are binding on me and are enforceable under law:

‘‘1. I will not, within 5 years after the termination of my employment as an appointee in any executive agency in which I am appointed to serve, engage in lobbying activities with respect to that agency.

‘‘2. If, upon my departure from the Government, I am covered by the post-employment restrictions on communicating with employees of my former executive agency set forth in section 207(c) of title 18, United States Code, I agree that I will abide by those restrictions.

‘‘3. In addition to abiding by the limitations of paragraphs 1 and 2, I also agree, upon leaving Government service, not to engage in lobbying activities with respect to any covered executive branch official or noncareer Senior Executive Service appointee for the remainder of the Administration.

‘‘4. I will not, at any time after the termination of my employment in the United States Government, engage in any activity on behalf of any foreign government or foreign political party which, were it undertaken on January 20, 2017, would require me to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, as amended.

‘‘5. I will not accept gifts from registered lobbyists or lobbying organizations for the duration of my service as an appointee.

‘‘6. I will not for a period of 2 years from the date of my appointment participate in any particular matter involving specific parties that is directly and substantially related to my former employer or former clients, including regulations and contracts.
[….]

Is anyone really surprised?

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

Four years ago – we knew

19 Tuesday Jan 2021

Posted by Michael Bersin in Resist

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

#resist, Donald Trump, Inauguration Day, Kansas City, missouri, peaceful demonstration, protest

January 20, 2017:

January 20, 2017 – Inauguration Day Protest – Kansas City, Missouri – Michael Bersin

On Inauguration Day close to two thousand people gathered on the grounds of the Liberty Memorial in Kansas City for a rally and march to protest the inauguration of Donald Trump. Like many of the early demonstrations opposed to the new administration this was loosely organized by word of mouth and on-line. The march started from the ground of the memorial, across Washington Square Park, and then up Main Street. There was a significant Kansas City Police presence. The sky was overcast with a light drizzle as the march proceeded across the park.

The organized Women’s March was scheduled for Washington Square Park the next day. It was when we saw the size of this demonstration that we understood that the Women’s March was going to be big.

It was a peaceful demonstration. No one (that we saw) carried a firearm. They just carried signs and banners, all homemade.

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