• About
  • The Poetry of Protest

Show Me Progress

~ covering government and politics in Missouri – since 2007

Show Me Progress

Tag Archives: Turkey

“We have a transnational crime syndicate masquerading as a government…”

25 Wednesday Nov 2020

Posted by Michael Bersin in social media

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

corruption, Donald Trump, felon, Michael Flynn, pardon, Sarah Kendzior, social media, Treason, Turkey, Twitter

Sarah Kendzior has always called it.

This afternoon:

Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump
It is my Great Honor to announce that General Michael T. Flynn has been granted a Full Pardon. Congratulations to @GenFlynn and his wonderful family, I know you will now have a truly fantastic Thanksgiving!
3:08 PM · Nov 25, 2020

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

Earlier this afternoon:

General Flynn @GenFlynn
Jeremiah 1:19
Translate Tweet
1:27 PM · Nov 25, 2020

Translation? We don’t need a translation.

212° in the shade

29 Thursday Oct 2020

Posted by Michael Bersin in Josh Hawley, social media, US Senate

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

dave Helling, Josh Hawley, missouri, shade, social media, Trump, Turkey, Twitter

Josh Hawley (r) [2016 file photo].

This morning:

Dave Helling @dhellingkc
A link to this story must be posted on @HawleyMO’s Senate website. Otherwise, he’s censoring the news.

Turkish Bank Case Showed Erdogan’s Influence With Trump
[….]

8:29 AM · Oct 29, 2020

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

“The most dangerous place to stand in Washington D.C. is any place between Senator Josh Hawley and a live microphone” – Charles P. Pierce

Not today, Dave. Not today.

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): “Yeah, you, in the back row, clap louder.”

17 Thursday Oct 2019

Posted by Michael Bersin in social media

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

4th Congressional District, Donald Trump, gaslighting, Kurds, Mike Pence, social media, Syiria, Turkey, Twitter, Vicky Hartzler

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

Today:

Rep. Vicky Hartzler @RepHartzler
I wanted to congratulate @SecPompeo and my friend @VP Mike Pence on helping to broker a ceasefire in #Syria.

This agreement will give peace a chance and will encourage Turkey to arrive to a diplomatic solution, which will save a massive amount of lives.
12:42 PM · Oct 17, 2019

All is forgiven, apparently.

Meanwhile, there was much hilarity in the responses:

OMG

We’re all not as stupid as you would hope we are.

This ‘ceasefire’ and what it means is already unraveling in the media, and by this evening we’ll know the truth: you all betrayed our allies, and then rewarded Erdogan for his actions.

Still, Representative Hartzler (r) wants us all to clap louder.

Seriously, have you no dignity left? Are you really such a complete and total sell out?

Do you want us to answer both questions? We could.

Wrong again. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said it is not a ceasefire. “We will pause the operation for 120 hours in order for the terrorists to leave,” Cavusoglu said.

A day late & a dollar short. All the innocent who have died already because of reckless Trump! Better than nothing at this point! No one should have murdered to begin with!!!!

Yeah, Turkey did a quick smash and grab, and got what they wanted, and now they’ve gotten away with no penalty.

That’s not much of a victory.

You should just give the whitehouse communication team direct access to your account, it would save time retyping their talking points

Uh.

Sad that #trump put us in this position in the 1st place.

Any comment on #potus?

Alarm bells are ringing for Trump Impeachment.

You’re wise to congratulate your male handlers, whether they did anything or not. Good girl.

No

You don’t get to gaslight the nation all the way to a corrupt election in Nov 2020.

Nice try Vicky, thanks for trolling.

So as I understand it this deal will give the Kurds 5 days of cease fire to escape (and go where to?) then Turkey can go back to murdering them. Great job Pence and Trump.

Sound about right, Icky?

At what cost & how many lives? Missourians do not be fooled by @RepHartzler, @POTUS was & is impulsive, his actions cost humans lives. Further, our Air Force had to destroy an exposed ammo depot due to @POTUS actions.
@GOP creates a problem to take credit 4 the resolution?

You don’t get credit for pulling out a fire extinguisher on a house fire you started.

This genocide is happening *because* of your president.

Oh, I see. You meant the complete capitulation to Turkey and Putin. Plus the ethnic cleansing of the Kurds, and now the forced relocation. And the millions of wasted taxpayer $$, plus our bombing of our own facilities.

Pathetic

How disingenuous of you.

Oh, pulease. Not all of us are stupid republicans.

Turkey has gotten what they wanted, to be seen a major player in the world. This wasn’t about the Kurds, this was about power. Trump was played like a fiddle.
Your buddies are pretty much as worthless as the rest of your party, soulless pseudo-christians.

Are you kidding me? Trump caused this mess. Now you’re trying to give him credit for a cease fire? Unbelievable.

You’re kidding, right?

So the Kurds have 120 hours to evacuate their homes and relocate before Turkey again uses force to seize land?

Shame on you, Vicky, for abandoning our allies.

You are a fool.

Nice try, you treasonous hack. Doing Putin’s bidding yet again, Trump sold out our allies.

You know it was a terrible deal, actually it really wasn’t a deal, it was what Putin wanted. By the way, why are you sending our boys to Saudi Arabia the land of hijackers and a prince who orders Americans residents to be chopped up if we are getting out of the Middle East?

you are an imbecile

Dunning Kruger Effect.

Turkey already said it’s not a ceasefire you feckless POS. Learn to read.

Benedict Donald

15 Tuesday Oct 2019

Posted by Michael Bersin in social media

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Donald Trump, Kurds, Putin's Puppet, social media, Syria, Turkey, Twitter

“Россия” (Russia) – a variant of the Russian presidential flag.

This:

Kurt Eichenwald @kurteichenwald
Today, Russia took over a US military base that was rapidly abandoned. I wonder if Trump gave time to shred/destroy classified info and devices, or if everything is now in Russian control.

PS: This is the first time in memory that the US has surrendered a base to Russia. MAGA!
12:11 PM · Oct 15, 2019/a>

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

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): Too late

11 Friday Oct 2019

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

4th Congressional District, corruption, Donald Trump, Kurds, missouri, Syria, Turkey, Vicky Hartzler

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

Today:

Hartzler Statement on Syria Developments
October 11, 2019 Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C — Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler (MO-4) issued the following statement regarding Turkey’s invasion into northern Syria earlier this week:

“I am deeply concerned by the reports coming out of Syria in the aftermath of Turkey’s invasion earlier this week. The Kurds, including the Syrian Democratic Forces and the Free Syrian Army, are fiercely loyal allies who have stood by the United States since the First Gulf War. They have been fundamental in rooting out terrorists who seek to harm the United States and our allies. Nothing shows that more clearly than their valiant efforts to root out ISIS.

“We should not be complicit in the slaughter of our Kurdish allies by Turkey or any other actor trying to increase its influence in the region. I call on the White House to modify its strategy in Syria so that bad state actors, including Russia, Iran, and non-state actors like Hezbollah or a resurgent ISIS, are not permitted to get and maintain a foothold in the region. Allowing them to do so would erase every gain we have made and would gravely jeopardize our security interests in the region.

“I hope the White House further pursues a military strategy that ensures religious minorities in Syria, including Christians, are able to freely practice their religion and be protected from extremists who would do them harm.
“I will continue to work with my colleagues to explore ways to protect the Kurds who have been working alongside us in the region and to hold Turkey accountable for their assault on our allies.

Really? What did you expect?

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

Today:

Exclusive: Turkey Attacks US Special Forces in Syria, Apparently by Mistake

A contingent of U.S. Special Forces was caught up in Turkish shelling against U.S.-backed Kurdish positions in northern Syria, days after President Donald Trump told his Turkish counterpart he would withdraw U.S. troops from certain positions in the area. A senior Pentagon official said shelling by the Turkish forces was so heavy that the U.S. personnel considered firing back in self-defense…

[….]

Mistake. Yeah, right. Now what?

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): well, that was a turkey

07 Monday Oct 2019

Posted by Michael Bersin in social media

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

4th Congressional District, Donald Trump, Kurds, missouri, Putin's Puppet, Russia, social media, Syria, Turkey, Twitter, Vicky Hartzler

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

Today:

Rep. Vicky Hartzler @RepHartzler
The decision to abruptly pull troops out of #Syria is a mistake. Leaving the region will mean abandoning the Kurds who have been fiercely loyal allies as we’ve moved to eliminate ISIS and stabilize the region.

I urge the White House to reconsider this decision.
[….]
12:02 PM · Oct 7, 2019

We hear his buddies may have an oil and gas deal in Ukraine you might be interested in.

Some of the responses:

Have you finally reached a point of concern? We have warned you all along that many have had concerns about @POTUS.

You sit on the House Armed Services Committee.

You’re the ranking member of the Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee.

You have the power to hold the President accountable + provide oversight.

Please do so.

If only you had the power to do something about it . .oh, wait…

This is on you and your GOP friends. Congrats.

Give us a shout when you object to holding up military aid to Ukraine until they assist the president’s reelection by contributing to dark web conspiracy theories to protect Russia and smear a political opponent.

Not gonna happen.

You’re one of his biggest fans.

I’m sure he was just joking, Ms. Hartzler. Ha, got you good, didn’t he!!!

And, here’s the joke:

Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump
As I have stated strongly before, and just to reiterate, if Turkey does anything that I, in my great and unmatched wisdom, consider to be off limits, I will totally destroy and obliterate the Economy of Turkey (I’ve done before!). They must, with Europe and others, watch over…
10:38 AM · Oct 7, 2019

“I am the great and powerful…Wizard of Oz.”

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

“Россия” (Russia) – a variant of the Russian presidential flag.

Previously:

Impeachment: Consciousness of Guilt (September 24, 2019)

Impeachment: Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D) (September 24, 2019)

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): gaslighting (September 24, 2019)

Impeachment: Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D) – “Tell your people to obey the law.” (September 25, 2019)

Impeachment: the smell of fear (September 25, 2019)

Impeachment: It became self aware at 6:24 a.m., September 26, 2019… (September 26, 2019)

Impeachment: NPR/PBS NewsHour Marist Poll – September 25, 2019 (September 26, 2019)

Flop sweat (September 27, 2019)

Impeachment: this morning’s “Executive Time” (September 28, 2019)

Impeachment: unhinged (September 29, 2019)

Hillary Clinton (D) is living rent free inside of Donald Trump’s (r) head (September 29, 2019)

Going 0-2 (September 30, 2019)

Impeachment: almost too stupid to remember to breathe (October 1, 2019)

Hillary Clinton (D) is having fun these days (October 1, 2019)

Impeachment: in a panic (October 2, 2019)

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): clap louder (October 3, 2019)

Impeachment: why we can’t have nice things (October 4, 2019)

Impeachment: “…and getting caught in Ukraine…” (October 5, 2019)

Sen. Roy Blunt (r): see nothing, hear nothing, know nothing (October 6, 2019)

Impeachment: Putin’s Puppet (October 7, 2019)

White House Petition: there are at least 2,446 people in America possessing a warped sense of humor

05 Thursday Dec 2013

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

pardon, Petition, rural policy, Thanksgiving, Turkey, White House

At the White House petition site:

We petition the Obama Administration to:

Execute Caramel, the Thanksgiving turkey who was pardoned by President Barack H. Obama

We the undersigned hereby demand that President Barack H. Obama, hereafter “POTUS,” fulfill the implied will of the people with regards to the annual Thanksgiving Turkey Pardon. POTUS supervised a binding web vote between poultry-Americans “Popcorn” and “Caramel,” promising to spare the life of the winner. Popcorn won the vote, but then POTUS revealed that both turkeys would be allowed to live. Is this the democracy the pilgrims fought and ate dinner for? We think not. Therefore, we the people ask that POTUS summarily execute Caramel at a time and place of his choosing. Justice must be served. Preferably with a side of mashed potatoes and candied yams.

Created: Dec 02, 2013

Issues: Civil Rights and Liberties, Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement, Rural Policy

[….]

Signatures needed by January 01, 2014 to reach goal of 100,000 97,554

Total signatures on this petition 2,446

[emphasis added]

I understand the mashed potatoes.

President Obama in Turkey: the usual American wingnuts are gonna whig out

07 Tuesday Apr 2009

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Obama, religion, Turkey

President Obama spoke in Turkey, using the bully pulpit in a fashion the the American wingnut right is not going to like. Witness this exchange on CNN:

(hat tip for the video to MyDD)

President Obama: …One of the great strengths of the United States is, uh, although as I mentioned, uh, we have a very large Christian population, we do not consider ourselves a Christian nation, or a Jewish nation, or a Muslim nation. Uh, we consider ourselves, uh, a nation of citizens, who are, uh, bound by ideals and a set of values…

American history is on President Obama’s side.

In 1796:

Treaty of peace and friendship between the United States of America and the Bey and Subjects of Tripoli, of Barbary

…Art. 11. As the Government of the United States is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquility, of Musselmen;  and, as the said States never entered into war, or act of hostility against any Mohametan nation, it is declared by the parties, that no pretext, arising from religious opinions, shall ever produce an interruption in the harmony existing between the two countries…”

Or, a little earlier:

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.

Bill of Rights

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…

Why in Turkey? Read that nation’s Constitution:

Turkey Constitution

{Adopted in: 1982}

{Last Amendment: May 10th, 2007}

{ICL Document Status: May 10th, 2007 }

…Article 1  Form of the State The Turkish State is a Republic.

Article 2  Characteristics of the Republic

The Republic of Turkey is a democratic, secular and social state governed by the rule of law; bearing in mind the concepts of public peace, national solidarity and justice; respecting human rights; loyal to the nationalism of Atatürk, and based on the fundamental tenets set forth in the Preamble.

Article 3  Integrity of the State, Official Language, Flag, National Anthem, and Capital

(1) The Turkish state, with its territory and nation, is an indivisible entity. Its language is Turkish.

(2) Its flag, the form of which is prescribed by the relevant law, is composed of a white crescent and star on a red background.

(3) Its national anthem is the Independence March.

(4) Its capital is Ankara.

Article 4  Irrevocable Provisions

The provision of Article 1 of the Constitution establishing the form of the state as a Republic, the provisions in Article 2 on the characteristics of the Republic, and the provision of Article 3 shall not be amended, nor shall their amendment be proposed…

Over the past few years you may have noticed that Turkey has had some political struggles concerning religion and the state. From 2001:

Turkish Court Bans Religious Party, Main Opposition Force

By DOUGLAS FRANTZ

Published: Saturday, June 23, 2001

Turkey’s messy political system suffered another jolt today when the country’s highest court banned the religious-oriented Virtue Party. The court said the main opposition party violated a law that prohibited religious activities that could undermine the secular government.

The court stopped short of expelling large numbers of the party from Parliament, a move that would have automatically led to new elections because it would have left more than 5 percent of the Parliament seats vacant. The party controls 102 of the 550 seats. Most of the rest are split among the three governing parties…

From 2008:

Turkey’s ruling party to stand trial for being ‘too religious’

By Nicholas Birch in Istanbul

Tuesday, 1 April 2008

Turkey’s highest court has voted to hear a case to close down the country’s ruling party, in a move that looks set to open the bitterest bout yet in a 50-year war pitting popularly-elected governments against the secular establishment.

The Constitutional Court’s unanimous decision comes a fortnight after a prosecutor charged the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) with trying to turn Turkey into a country that “takes religion as its reference” and demanded political bans on the prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the president Abdullah Gül…

Turkey has been going through a political struggle that some in America would probably like to emulate, it’s just that their specific choices might vary slightly in the details.

Subscribe

  • Entries (RSS)
  • Comments (RSS)

Archives

  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010
  • June 2010
  • May 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • November 2009
  • October 2009
  • September 2009
  • August 2009
  • July 2009
  • June 2009
  • May 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009
  • February 2009
  • January 2009
  • December 2008
  • November 2008
  • October 2008
  • September 2008
  • August 2008
  • July 2008
  • June 2008
  • May 2008
  • April 2008
  • March 2008
  • February 2008
  • January 2008
  • December 2007
  • November 2007
  • October 2007
  • September 2007
  • August 2007

Categories

  • campaign finance
  • Claire McCaskill
  • Congress
  • Democratic Party News
  • Eric Schmitt
  • Healthcare
  • Hillary Clinton
  • Interview
  • Jason Smith
  • Josh Hawley
  • Mark Alford
  • media criticism
  • meta
  • Missouri General Assembly
  • Missouri Governor
  • Missouri House
  • Missouri Senate
  • Resist
  • Roy Blunt
  • social media
  • Standing Rock
  • Town Hall
  • Uncategorized
  • US Senate

Meta

  • Log in

Blogroll

  • Balloon Juice
  • Crooks and Liars
  • Digby
  • I Spy With My Little Eye
  • Lawyers, Guns, and Money
  • No More Mister Nice Blog
  • The Great Orange Satan
  • Washington Monthly
  • Yael Abouhalkah

Donate to Show Me Progress via PayPal

Your modest support helps keep the lights on. Click on the button:

Blog Stats

  • 738,133 hits

Powered by WordPress.com.

 

Loading Comments...