Yesterday, Rep. George Santos (R-Fantasy Island) announced through his mouthpiece that he’d rather go to jail than reveal those who cosigned his bail:
Murray signaled that his client may resort to drastic measures to keep them from facing the public light.
“My client would rather surrender to pretrial detainment than subject these suretors to what will inevitably come,” he wrote.
Why would he be so moved? I’m betting that it’s not for the stated reason, to spare his benefactors the public shaming that might attend the revelation of their support for the congressman from Fabulistan.
It would be irresponsible not to speculate as to the real reason: his backers don’t want to see who has ownership of a GOP MoC. Alternatively, Santos may have dirt on others, and doesn’t want to reveal into whom his hooks have sunk
Today we get to see who has whom by the nethers:
On Tuesday, U.S. Magistrate Judge Anne Y. Shields ordered the disclosure of the identities of the bond’s co-signers.
Those names are still under seal as Judge Shields gave Santos until Friday to appeal the ruling, which means there remains a small window of opportunity to stock up on popcorn futures (or just bags of the stuff for present use.)
The serious note in all this is that we’ve (or I’ve) normalized the notion that the GOP is in fact largely owned by malign interests, including some of the worst folks in the world (Putin, MBS, etc.). Santos is no world-shaking mastermind of evil. He’s just useful to folks even more vile than himself. So yeah, it’s fun and funny to see karma in action much more rapidly than usual (looking at you, Deadbeat Donnie), but the mere fact that this carbuncle has attached itself to the body politic even for a cup of coffee is depressing as hell.
But still, we have to take our amusement when we can. The Santos trial could be a ton of fun, and I for one, plan to enjoy it to the fullest.
Open as OTB on Derby Day this thread is.
Image: Charles Ethan Porter, Still Life With Corn, c. 1880
Baud
I would like to see those names.
MattF
We’re all learning a lot of true facts about psychopaths. Interesting, but sad.
skerry
Me too!
trollhattan
Just Santos swearing in can be a playlet in itself.
“Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?”
“Do I!!!”
WV Blondie
What? He said he’s willing to go to jail to keep them from being exposed! Are you saying … (gasp!) he lied?
MisterDancer
There’s no nice explanation for for the then-GOP Chairman courted the Dixiecrats in the early 1950s, save the desire for power by any means necessary
That Party could have chosen to reject the thrice-warmed over leftovers of the Slave Owners. But instead of helping them off the cliff they deserved, they embraced them — and the soulness need to CONTROL at nearly any cost, including the health of the community — so deeply that it’s utterly warped many gains we made from looking into the maw of Fascism in WWII.
Gin & Tonic
If I were advising Santos, I’d recommend staying away from windows.
SpaceUnit
Pianist and composer George Winston has passed away. I know a lot of folks marginalized him as a new age musician, but I was always very fond of his music. I play a bit and compose my own stuff and I always found myself attempting to emulate his breezy, whimsical and wandering, non-traditional style. He was 73.
Dammit.
trollhattan
Newest Kim has a bold idea for curing suicide in North Korea.
MattF
@trollhattan: Death penalty, one assumes.
Geminid
Why do I not believe Santos when he says he’s willing to go to jail rather than revealing his bailors?
This may be out of his hands anyway.
JPL
@Geminid: Why not both?
misterpuff
I would like to know who put up the dough, but if they pull their bond, take their bucks back and Georgie goes to jail, I will laugh hysterically.
What lock up will he have to report to?
Gin & Tonic
And, possibly to derail this thread (sorry, Perfesser) it appears that every NGO which pretends to have anything to do with alleviating human suffering has chosen to sit on the sidelines of the Nova Kakhovka dam sabotage.
Tom Levenson
@Gin & Tonic: There is no derailing an open thread. There is only a majestic heave on the switch to send the train away from whomever Snidely Whiplash has tied to the tracks on the original course.
MattF
@Gin & Tonic: I got an email from World Central Kitchen, though:
Jackie
@MattF: I spewed coffee… And, of COURSE I’m wearing white…
debit
@SpaceUnit: Damn. I have Autumn on regular rotation and never get tired of it. Damn.
Kayla Rudbek
JaySinWA
Apparently the quotes are from https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/order-unsealing-identities-of-rep-santos-bond-co-signers-sparks-prospect-of-jail-time-for-congressman
SpaceUnit
@debit:
His work has such a spontaneous quality to it. It’s like you’re watching some subtle genius produce a stunning sketch or watercolor before your eyes.
Burnspbesq
@misterpuff:
Most likely MDC Brooklyn, which is decidedly not a fun place.
CaseyL
Another shoe has dropped, this one for the J6 investigation: Jack Smith’s team has subpoenaed Steve Bannon.
dmsilev
Open thread? I get emails. This one is legit (from our campus security folks) but is, well, read it for yourselves:
I’d suspect that we were on the set of a movie shoot except for the complete and utter lack of camera crews, lighting teams, wardrobe, makeup, and the rest of the giant circus-comes-to-town that those bring with them.
dmsilev
@CaseyL: Prison garb would be a wardrobe upgrade for him.
SpaceUnit
@Kayla Rudbek:
Yeah. I’m listening to Summer right now.
JPL
@Gin & Tonic: A friend mentioned today that we can’t take our eyes off of what is happening in Ukraine, and I said why not both. trump’s take down could help Ukraine
Although I think the President has done a good job, I do wish that Ukraine had fighter jets sooner.
sab
@SpaceUnit: George Winston at 73 after a 10 year battle with cancer.
As I remember, his chosen professional instrument was classical guitar, but he was overheard fooling around for fun on piano, and that is what they signed him to record for.
JaySinWA
@Burnspbesq: But of course the serial fabulist is unlikely to keep his word. Unless of course his backers are seriously criminally vindictive.
kalakal
@Baud:
He may be keeping schtum for the same reason Manafort did. Some of those names may be the sort of people you do not inform on. Not if you want to keep breathing
zhena gogolia
@MattF: I got one from Razom.
Kayla Rudbek
@dmsilev: I thought that the SGA was on strike?
Suzanne
@dmsilev: Dude. So Spawn the Elder works in a hip college-town bookstore. He had a customer come in with a machete and ask him for his phone number.
What the fuck.
SpaceUnit
@sab:
Fooling around on a piano for fun is a great description for his style. He sounds like a guy just playing for himself when there’s no one else around, just channeling his inner sense of whimsy.
Jackie
@CaseyL: And Meadows is up to his neck re J6. I’m greedy – I want TFG indicted for both J6 and MAL documents BEFORE Fulton County indicts him in Aug.
Old School
@Suzanne: Did he give him his phone number?
Percysowner
Slight derail Marjorie Taylor Greene’s move to the mainstream baffles her MAGA-land constituents: report It’s hard to call MTG “mainstream”, but apparently her district is turning purple and she wants to stay in Congress, so suddenly she’s going to say she’s not as nutty as she either is or has been pretending to be. Anything to hold onto power.
Jay
hueyplong
I’d be grateful for any link to the brief filed in support of concealing the identity of the bail poster(s).
I like to think that Santos/his counsel gave them rock solid assurances that their anonymity would be preserved, and that Santos is in peril now. It’s the romantic in me.
Omnes Omnibus
@Suzanne: This is a good reason to have memorized the number for Dial an Atheist.
karen marie
Neither are the people who posted his bond. The name and address of the person who posted a defendant’s bail is on the court’s case docket. Unless it’s sealed, anyone can see it.
You have to be pretty stupid to not realize your name will be public when you post bond for a high-profile serial criminal like George Santos.
randy khan
@MattF: Jose Andres is a treasure.
eversor
@karen marie:
Guessing Santos has dirt on some people.
WaterGirl
@SpaceUnit: Oh, no.
SpaceUnit
Also, Rep. George Santos (R-Fantasy Island) is hilarious
ETA: I understand that Santos actually played the character Tatu on the original show.
BQuimby
@trollhattan: Do I ???
randy khan
If Santos sits in jail, thanks to the Republican decision to require all House votes to be cast in person, the actual majority shrinks to 221 to 212 (one seat being currently vacant), reducing their margin for error on any vote.
hells littlest angel
“And that’s no bull,” he added.
dmsilev
@Suzanne: Was he asking for books on hewing techniques? Jungle adventures?
In all seriousness, hope Spawn the Elder was/is ok. Sounds nerve-wracking.
Delk
@Omnes Omnibus:
867- 5309
edited for link
Suzanne
@dmsilev: He is fine, just, like, “Retail is bullshit”. Which…. accurate.
Nukular Biskits
@Baud:
I’d like to see the names of everyone funding campaigns, whether candidates or “issues”.
In other words, shine a light on “dark money”.
Nukular Biskits
@Baud:
BTW, shouldn’t you be in hiding after being called out by our blog’s Lord & Savior?
;>)
Nukular Biskits
@Delk:
Ask for Jenny.
Jay
@Suzanne:
It’s the worst job you will ever have.
Steve in the ATL
On a related note, if I were to google “best restaurants in Battle Creek, Michigan”, would Bob Evans and Big Boy appear on the list, or constitute the entire list?
craigie
@eversor: Or bail was posted by his dead mother, and it’s, you know, embarrassing.
dmsilev
@Suzanne:
Truth.
sab
@Suzanne: Working retail certainly gives you a different perspective on the human race, unless you were raised by wolves.
Jackie
@randy khan: That’s why an evil imp in me is hoping Kevin posted his bail. He needs Santos’ vote.
Can you imagine the repercussions? 😂😳
Jay
@sab:
don’t diss wolves,……..
japa21
@Steve in the ATL: I hear there’s a lot of cereal joints there.
TS
My sincere hope is that Santos and trump regret the day the decided to amuse themselves by getting into politics and convincing people to vote for them.
They both seem to want to bring democracy down, have zero regard to the truth, no nothing about governing other than it can pay them $$$ and know you can fool some of the people some of the time. I don’t think they even got to all of the people some of the time but the damage has been done – world wide.
dmsilev
@sab: Wolves never demand to speak to the manager.
SiubhanDuinne
@Steve in the ATL:
I lived in Battle Creek for three years.
Hope you’re up for some fasting.
Denali5
I get the feeling that it is Elise Stefanik who posted bail. She was rumored to have supported his campaign.
gene108
I remember when Rep. Foley had his “live boy(s)” scandal, back in 2006, and Congressional Republicans lack of action against Rep. Foley tainted the entire party. It was a reason some voters voted for Democrats in that election.
I don’t get the same sense of general outrage that Speaker McCarthy is protecting Santos, because Kevin needs the vote, that used to spring against a general stench of corruption.
Omnes Omnibus
@Delk: 777-9311.
Citizen Alan
@dmsilev:
And that was when I realized the perp was a white guy.
Marc
Up here in Silicon Valley and Marin County there is a noticeable subset of techbro culture who are into collecting and carrying swords and large knives. Likely an outgrowth of playing D&D and related online games. That grouping is mostly disjoint from the local gun nut culture.
WaterGirl
@Nukular Biskits: That’s a point of honor!
Delk
@Omnes Omnibus:
RIP
WaterGirl
@Steve in the ATL: I don’t know about the restaurants, but you should go to Binder Park Zoo i Battle Creek. The African exhibit is set up without cages.
WaterGirl
@Citizen Alan: My exact thought.
Steve in the ATL
@japa21: @SiubhanDuinne: there’s also a Cracker Barrel, where I can meet up with my Trumpy friends!
Omnes Omnibus
@Delk: Ah, fuck.
Ruckus
@Geminid:
Jail may be safer for him, depending on who paid….
Steve in the ATL
@WaterGirl: that might be a fun way to decompress after I finish crushing the hopes and dreams of the working class!
WaterGirl
@Steve in the ATL: Sounds like a plan! Wild Africa
JaySinWA
@WaterGirl: You want to send Steve into the lion’s den? Or forage for food?
Ruckus
@Delk:
I thought it was 876-5309
JPL
@WaterGirl: Something coming what a voice youtube
Omnes Omnibus
@JaySinWA: Can we staple some steaks to him?
Steve in the ATL
@JaySinWA: yeah, I was deeply, deeply troubled by her comment!
(not really)
Steve in the ATL
@Omnes Omnibus: I don’t do beef because of the environmental damage caused.by cattle farming. Would free range turkey work well enough to get me eaten by wild animals?
MomSense
@Steve in the ATL:
Hahahaha!
MomSense
@Delk:
Damn.
Another Scott
@Steve in the ATL: Made me look.
Red Lobster is #8, Bob Evans is #20 at TripAdvisor.
HTH!!1
Cheers,
Scott.
Omnes Omnibus
@Steve in the ATL: May we staple them to you?
Steve in the ATL
@Another Scott: kill me now.
@Omnes Omnibus: have I ever told you no?
@MomSense: I am here to serve.
Anonymous At Work
Don’t discount McCarthy posting the bond just so he can have the extra vote in case of a Motion to Vacate the Chair.
Scout211
President Biden has vetoed the bill canceling student loan debt.
Hopefully, this veto won’t be overturned.
sab
@Jay: I admire wolves, but they aren’t raised for customer service. They eat either the customer or the retail person, depending on their role.
JaySinWA
@Another Scott: Red L is up to 7 and Bob E is now at 18. I think some Jackals may be stuffing the ballot box.
NotMax
@sab
Customer service, you say?
:)
Jay
@sab:
oh, desk or management
Argiope
@JaySinWA: It would be objectively hilarious if jackals banded together to make White Castle or something the #1 restaurant in Battle Creek just to mess with SteveintheWTF’s dining choices. Maybe we should do it for the proletariat.
geg6
@Denali5:
That’s what I think, too.
karen marie
@eversor: It looks to me that he’s scared of his unnamed benefactors. I don’t see that he’s behaving or speaking in a way that would indicate he thinks anyone is scared of him.
brantl
Don’t threaten me with a good time.
Steve in the ATL
@Argiope: you are a mean, spiteful, ruthless bastard. #respect!
Jay
@sab:
years ago, I was fishing the canyons in Salishan territory.
Had a pack walk down the beach 5 feet in front of me.
Later, had a 5lb mink “steal” a 12lb coho salmon I had caught. Could have stopped them, but the dude was committed and I was LMAO.
Stopped in at the Band office to mention what I had seen, got the “yeah, we know, we don’t talk about it because “people” are weird about wolves”.
Another Scott
@Anonymous At Work: You may be on to something there.
How much was the bond? Empty Green recently gave Qevin $100k for a used tube of chapstick. Maybe the money immediately went to Santos-Devolder’s bond??
Who gave Empty Green the money?
Follow the money!!1
(Note I haven’t checked the timeline for accuracy. One can’t start a decent conspiracy theory if one wastes time checking facts.)
Cheers,
Scott.
WaterGirl
@JaySinWA: I would never do that to Steve!
Miss Bianca
@SpaceUnit: Oh, sad. He was a masterly musician, and now when I remember one enchanted dinner party evening in the 80s where his brand-new style of ambient music was the backdrop, I realize he was only a few years older than I when he produced it.
RIP. And now off to look sadly at the poster commemorating the performance he gave at my theater back in the 90s.