Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

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They are lying in pursuit of an agenda.

There is no right way to do the wrong thing.

Today in our ongoing national embarrassment…

Republicans want to make it harder to vote and easier for them to cheat.

Everything is totally normal and fine!!!

Not rolling over. fuck you, make me.

Is it negotiation when the other party actually wants to shoot the hostage?

DeSantis transforming Florida into 1930s Germany with gators and theme parks.

Stop using mental illness to avoid talking about armed white supremacy.

At some point, the ability to learn is a factor of character, not IQ.

T R E 4 5 O N

“Everybody’s entitled to be an idiot.”

Republican speaker of the house Mike Johnson is the bland and smiling face of evil.

All hail the time of the bunny!

Republicans seem to think life begins at the candlelight dinner the night before.

They are not red states to be hated; they are voter suppression states to be fixed.

Anyone who bans teaching American history has no right to shape America’s future.

“Perhaps I should have considered other options.” (head-desk)

Every one of the “Roberts Six” lied to get on the court.

Yeah, with this crowd one never knows.

Let’s not be the monsters we hate.

Dear Washington Post, you are the darkness now.

Trump should be leading, not lying.

You are here: Home / Open Threads / Thursday Evening Open Thread: Marjorie Taylor Greene, BDE (Big *Divorced* Energy)

Thursday Evening Open Thread: Marjorie Taylor Greene, BDE (Big *Divorced* Energy)

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Once again, MTG (inadvertently) leaps to President Biden’s aid. The whole ‘Did Joe order the IRS to ignore his failson’s tax cheating?!?’ Outrage Oversight Committee Hearing got derailed when Big Marj decided to whip out her revenge-porn posterboards.

Per the Daily Beast, “Marjorie Taylor Greene Inflicts Hunter Biden Nudes on Congress”:

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) briefly sent Wednesday’s House Oversight hearing into chaos when she displayed nude photos of President Joe Biden’s son Hunter engaging in sexual activities, prompting committee Democrats to deem her latest attention-grabbing stunt inappropriate.

Wednesday’s hearing was centered on the testimony of two IRS whistleblowers who allege that the criminal probe into Hunter Biden, which resulted in a plea deal on tax charges, was mishandled by the Justice Department, who they claim gave preferential treatment to the younger Biden.

For the first few hours, the hearing largely went as expected. Republicans touted the whistleblowers’ testimony as extremely credible while using it as a launching point for further speculation about the “Biden crime family” and allegations of foreign bribery schemes. Democrats, meanwhile, labeled the entire investigation into the Bidens as an “exercise in futility and embarrassment,” noting that House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-KY) has yet to provide any evidence of the president’s wrongdoing.

It wasn’t until Greene got her chance to ask questions, however, that the hearing really turned into a circus of the absurd.

Armed with a series of posterboards emblazoned with X-rated images from the younger Biden’s infamous laptop, the MAGA congresswoman asked the two witnesses if they believed the president’s son’s involvement with prostitutes violated any federal laws…

Even after Ranking Member Jamie Raskin (D-MD) pointed out that Greene was nearly two minutes over her time, the congresswoman kept asking Ziegler about a potential IRS investigation into “Hunter Biden making sex tapes” and “online pornography.” She then waved around yet another large nude photo of the presidential scion, prompting gasps from the crowd and an objection from Raskin…

Asking for a point of order, Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY) complained about Greene publicizing images that “are not actually even allegations much less evidence of anything.” Conceding that it was a “good point,” Comer went on to say that the material had been “on the internet long before I became chairman of this committee” and therefore was already publicized…

Jim Comer is so in over his pudgy little head, whenever we see him. Did the GOP ‘leadership’ know he was this incapable of keeping his troops in line, or were they just throwing the most rabid little cannon fodder into an unwinnable fight?

Nothing against dicks or dick pics — I have admired a few of each, in my time — but IMO this particular kink is of interest only to a very small percentage of the population…


(Well, we already knew Gym likes to watch.)

It’s a Fine Southern Tradition, I guess:

How this comes across to normal people:

Somebody should really hook MTG up with a reputable escort service, before she goes full incel with her no doubt extensive weaponry collection…

Reader Interactions

131Comments

  2. 2.

    Another Scott

    Meanwhile, … BlueVirginia.US:

    RICHMOND, VA – Today, Virginia Democrats unveiled the biggest, earliest voter turnout project in Virginia legislative history – The Majority Project. The combined effort of the House Democratic Caucus, Senate Democratic Caucus, and the Democratic Party of Virginia is an unprecedented coordinated effort, utilizing every available medium to drive absentee and early voting for the 2023 state legislative elections. The program began its work in May of 2023 and is formally launching today.

    The Majority Project has over 100 staff members already in the field in districts across the Commonwealth. The seven-figure early and absentee vote effort includes a state of the art “relational organizing” program, a robust field program, and a combination of collaborative door-to-door and phone-to-phone efforts designed to get Democrats to the polls in record numbers this November.

    This program builds on already-energized Virginia voters. After the overturn of Roe v. Wade last year, hundreds of thousands of Virginians got engaged and signed up for the Permanent Absentee Voter List. The Majority Project kicked off the earliest voter turnout operation in Virginia history to warn voters of what’s at stake if MAGA extremists take full control of Richmond, including the very real threat of an abortion ban.

    “The Virginia Democrats’ campaign launched on a scale that has never been seen before in the Commonwealth,” said House Democratic Caucus Leader Don Scott. “Democrats have been ahead of the curve on early and absentee voting for years now, and that is because we are investing in people over corporations and standing up for women’s rights and the rights of Virginians all across the Commonwealth. We’ve already got people hitting the doors everyday hearing from Virginians which issues matter most to them, and we’re going to keep up that work and win in November.”

    “This is about keeping rights in the hands of Virginians and not taking them away this November,” Senate Democratic Caucus Chair Senator Mamie E. Locke. “Senate Democrats are meeting voters at their doors on these key issues such as protecting reproductive rights, funding our public schools and our teachers, and preventing gun violence. Secure your vote is a fallacy because MAGA Republicans are determined to take away these very rights. Democrats want people to vote for candidates who are fighting for issues that matter to them. We will continue to push early voting in hopes to keep our Senate majority. This majority is the only thing standing in the way of Glenn Youngin and his MAGA Republican plan for our Commonwealth or should I say, Youngkin’s plan for our nation.”

    “Our party is entirely unified in this unprecedented and laser-focused effort,” said DPVA Chairwoman Susan Swecker. “The Majority Project is a perfect example of how Democrats invest in the future of Virginia at every level. Across the Commonwealth, from local offices to the General Assembly, we’re working together to build a Commonwealth for everyone.”

    House Democratic Caucus Chair Charniele Herring said, “Democrats have been fighting for voter access, made it a priority in the majority, and this campaign only highlights our commitment. We’ve got a winning slate of brilliant candidates across the Commonwealth, a fully equipped staff already doing the work to back them up, and the support and momentum of voters all across the Commonwealth. Virginians are motivated to show up and elect legislators who will safeguard access to abortion, fully fund our public schools, and fight for hardworking Virginians.”

    ***

    Good, good.

    The GQP cannot win a fair fight, and cannot come close without riling up the lizard brains of their people. Expect more outrageous stuff from the elected MAGAs and their hangers-on as the primaries and other elections approach.

    Eyes on the prizes.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  3. 3.

    Bethanyanne

    I’m not sure I could drink myself dumb enough for Empty G’s point to make sense. Here’s a nude pic – it could be of Hunter Biden – those could be prostitutes – which are illegal in places – therefore: gotcha!

  4. 4.

    Alison Rose

    So it’s horrifying and unseemly and sinful for kids to see a fully clothed drag queen reading a book in the library, but A-OK for them to see giant nude photos of a dude while Mom and Dad are watching the news. Cool story, GOP.

  6. 6.

    Tony G

    I’m starting to think that Marjorie Taylor Greene is even crazier than Lauren Boebert — but I’ll give Ms. Boebert a chance to show what she can do.  It’s a very exciting competition!

  8. 8.

    Elizabelle

    FWIW, I am not really comfortable with calling Hunter a “failson.”  It seems pretty cruel; contrasts him with the sainted Beau.

    They’d be doing this anyway, but it is really to distract from anyone going after the corrupt Trump family (even the aunt!!), and all the other grifting on the GOP side.

  10. 10.

    Dorothy A. Winsor

    I don’t think it’s a coincidence that MTG showed these pics on the day after Biden used her words and image in a political ad. She wanted revenge and this was it.

  12. 12.

    jimmiraybob

    So, you’re a third grader in civics class and the teacher turns on C-Span to demonstrate a congressional committee hearing and, whammo, a Hunter penis.

  13. 13.

    Elizabelle

    This is kind of amusing, because weren’t some pundits making noises about MTG being a power behind the throne, and on to more serious things?

    Introducing naked photos of the President’s child on the floor of the House.  I think I might have to check out some foreign publications to see what they make of that.

  14. 14.

    Jackie

    @dc: That’s what I’m wondering.

    Plus, any email subscribers under 18… Kevin has absolutely no control over her disgusting behavior. She’ll run tattling straight to daddy/TIFG.

  16. 16.

    Martin

    Revenge porn is a federal civil violation under VAWA. Hunter might be able to sue MTG in federal court for damages.

    In DC, first degree publication is a felony punishable by up to 3 years. Going to assume a C-SPAN feed would be accepted as evidence.

  18. 18.

    Miss Bianca

    @Another Scott: This sounds like the sort of effort that Kay has been advocating – paying organizers, not media consultants!

    The CO state Democratic Party is launching a similar effort with particular attention to certain districts, like CO-3 (Boebert) and CO-8 (Caraveo, who squeaked out a win over a MAGAt)

    ETA: With regard to the dick pics…smdh.

  19. 19.

    Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)

    Can Greene be sued by Hunter Biden for this? Or does him being a public figure prevent that? Does Greene have immunity as MoC

    ETA: Martin answered my question

  20. 20.

    Cameron

    I don’t give a tin-plated shit about pics of Hunter’s johnson.  When is she going to cough up the pics of the Jewish space lasers?

  21. 21.

    Martin

    @Goku (aka Amerikan Baka): Maybe. Depends on whether a judge buys the argument that this was distributed as part of her job in Congress, which I think would be a tough but not impossible sell. The emailing to her her supporters makes that harder, IMO.

  22. 22.

    David 🌈 ☘The Establishment☘🌈 Koch

    Majorie Taylor Greene brandishing Hunter nudes during a hearing really should be a bigger scandal.

    That would play into their hands. They want amplification. Anything to take the focus off Dump’ indictments. What’s that old sayin: when you wrestle a pig in the mud you end up dirty and making the pig happy.

  23. 23.

    Scout211

    Hey fellow Californians, Temecula Valley School District just got to the find out of FAFO. This was announced yesterday by Governor Newsom.

    California to fine school district $1.5 million for rejecting materials mentioning Harvey Milk

    The governor announced the penalty less than 24 hours after a nearly six-hour school board meeting that dissolved into shouts and jeers multiple times.

    LOS ANGELES — California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a $1.5 million fine against the Temecula Valley Unified School District less than a day after conservative board members voted to reject a state-endorsed curriculum that includes a short biography of gay rights leader Harvey Milk.

    On top of the fine, the district east of Los Angeles will have to pay the $1.6 million shipping costs associated with sending the materials to the district, which he previously vowed to do if the board did not approve the material.

    “After we deliver the textbooks into the hands of students and their parents, the state will deliver the bill — along with a $1.5 million fine — to the school board for its decision to willfully violate the law, subvert the will of parents, and force children to use an out-of-print textbook from 17 years ago,” Newsom said Wednesday in a statement.

  24. 24.

    Chetan Murthy

    @Goku (aka Amerikan Baka): Over at LG&M, the consensus is that this disgusting conduct is covered by the Speech and Debate Clause of the Constitution.  Sigh.  In any case, I don’t think Hunger *is* a public figure.  To be one, you have to actually court publicity, I would think.  And he’s never done that IIRC.  But I could be wrong.

    I mean, otherwise, if Faux Noize wanted to slander somebody, all they have to do is *first* run a story about their life, and then the next day, they can claim they eat babies, right?  Doesn’t seem like that can be right.

  26. 26.

    tobie

    I don’t know how to deal with MTG and the rabble that eats up her every word. I’m living amongst these folks right now and they just lap up the whole crime family, sex trafficking rhetoric. It’s a foregone conclusion for them. They don’t need proof.

    I normally like Sen Chris Murphy but hearing him take the populist line tonight that many are frustrated with our democracy because it only serves the elites was so disappointing. No, that’s not why rural and exurban whites are flocking to extremists like MTG. They have no problem with the Harlan Crowes of the world. It’s diverse metro America that they hate.

  27. 27.

    satby

    @Dorothy A. Winsor: Revenge for the commercial and also a vicious attempt to provoke Hunter Biden into a relapse just to embarrass his father. The constant hammering on Biden the younger is relentless and a deliberate attempt to push him back into using.

  28. 28.

    Ken

    Did the GOP ‘leadership’ know [Comer] was this incapable of keeping his troops in line

    They looked up “oversight” in a dictionary, saw that the first definitions were “an omission or error due to carelessness” and “failure to notice; lack of proper attention”, and said “That’s Comer!”

  29. 29.

    Jeffro

    @Another Scott: thank you!  I bookmarked that article in order and just might be looking for a part-time side hustle with The Majority Project next week.

    But first…hiking and kayaking (and probably sweating my brains out) in SW Virginia this weekend!

  35. 35.

    Jeffro

    @Elizabelle: I’m more than a little disappointed that what little coverage there was of her disgusting antics just noted the nudie nudie nudie nature of the pics…and didn’t ask, “Where is Kevin McCarthy?  What’s his reaction?  Why in the world would he put this walking puke-bucket in charge of anything?”

    Or, as we sometimes do here, picture it in the reverse?  Can anyone imagine the reaction (from the GOP, the press, Fox News) if a Democratic House member decided to go after any of the trumps by waving around pictures of them in the nude?  In the freakin’ House?

  36. 36.

    satby

    @tobie: As any divorce lawyer can tell you, the surest way to crush an opponent is to threaten the children. H. Biden isn’t a child, but since childhood has been through almost every major trauma except war that a human could suffer. The Republicans’ attacks on Joe don’t land, so they’ll torture his mentally fragile son instead.

    There’s no bottom.

  39. 39.

    Elizabelle

    Washingtonian magazine came up with a roundup of other inane things that happened on the floor of Congress but honestly, not one of them approaches MTG’s antics.
    Think Marjorie Taylor Greene Showing Naked Hunter Biden Photos Was Bad? Don’t Forget About These Ridiculous Political Stunts
    Let us remind you of a song called “Twinkle, Twinkle Kenneth Starr.”

    ….  Greene is known for attention-grabbing claims and sensationalism, but the dick pic stunt was particularly outrageous, and drew condemnation from Democrats within seconds.

    Still, she isn’t the first representative to turn the legislative branch into a circus. Here are some of the most eyebrow-raising, bizarre, and just plain dumb political stunts that have taken place in the Senate and the House.

    [Yeah, let’s both sides this one, and make it sound like it happens all the time.  Weak.  Note that, but for the KFC, all the stunts were by Republicans.]

    The other episodes were:

    Ted Cruz’s (mis)reading of Green Eggs and Ham, and later reading a children’s book, Antiracist Baby, at Ketanji Brown Jackson’s confirmation hearing

    Jim Inhofe’s snowball

    Duncan Hunter vaping to protest a ban on its use on airliners, which passed anyway

    Steve Cohen (our only Democrat in the roundup) eating a bucket of KFC Chicken to call Bill Barr a chicken for refusing to testify before the House judiciary committee

    Rand Paul and his copying machine: “wheeling a copier machine over to the House in an attempt to find and distribute a bill to repeal and replace Obamacare.”

    Lauren Boebert setting off House metal detectors with her gun and

    this one was kind of funny — like any of us remember Mike Pappas:

    The Clintons’ Whitewater controversy was eclipsed by the Monica Lewinsky scandal and may seem like distant history now, but it did lead to one memorable oddball stunt on the House floor. In 1998, Republican congressman Mike Pappas took the stand to deliver an admiring, cringe-worthy song about the independent counsel charged with investigating Bill and Hillary’s failed Arkansas real estate venture. “Twinkle Twinkle Kenneth Starr,” began the ode, “now we see how brave you are.” Pappas soon lost a re-election bid. His opponent ran ads calling him “out of tune,” and “out of touch.”

    and last:

    John Boehner handing out checks from lobbyists on the House floor
    In 1995, then-representative Boehner admitted to giving out campaign checks from a tobacco PAC to incumbent fellow Republicans in plain view, right on the House floor. Boehner’s move was condemned as shameless, but wasn’t a political stunt per se. He apologized and claimed “it was a matter of convenience.”

    My point:  not one of these rises to the cruelty and derision and just plain impropriety and ickiness of MTG’s showing dick pics. Not one.

    I hope Speaker Emerita Pelosi and others can make Greene regret her actions, and soon.

    You do not want to normalize this behavior, or let it slide.  This is taking it to another level.

    I think Biden should play that campaign ad about his effectiveness on repeat.

  40. 40.

    Bill Arnold

    @Chetan Murthy:
    Yep. It probably is the case that use of revenge porn for political purposes is protected by the speech and debate clause when done in a hearing, particularly with the current SCOTUS.
    Understanding the Speech or Debate Clause (Todd Garvey, Legislative Attorney, December 1, 2017)

    Examining judicial precedent regarding acts that are “legislative,” it would appear that Members enjoy protection under the Clause when:
    – speaking or acting on the House or Senate floor;
    – introducing and voting on bills and resolutions;
    – preparing and submitting committee reports;
    – speaking or acting at committee meetings and hearings;
    – conducting official investigations and issuing subpoenas;
    – engaging in fact-finding and information-gathering for legislative purposes.

  44. 44.

    tobie

    @satby: The whole performance today was totally gratuitous. Hunter Biden is a private citizen. He’s never been in public office. Allegations that he’s been given favorable treatment by the DOJ are far fetched but would in principle fall under the purview of Congress. With whom he had sex is immaterial.

  47. 47.

    tobie

    @Bill Arnold: Didn’t she also send the pictures to her entire fundraising list? I thought that was where she exceeded the speech and debate clause.

  48. 48.

    Scout211

    @tobie: I thought that was where she exceeded the speech and debate clause.

    And possibly sending porn to minors.  Also too.

    Link

    There is no screening for age when signing up for Greene’s email newsletter, so any minors who subscribe—such as for a social studies project or simply to stay up to date—have now received nudes from their congresswoman. If that is the case, then Greene would not only have violated her state’s revenge porn law, but she could also have broken federal laws banning the distribution of obscene material to minors.

  50. 50.

    Martin

    Reminder that a judge ruled that Lindsay Graham was protected for fact finding in his call with the GA gov over the stolen election, but nothing more. So there are limits to that protection.

    That’s why I think the emails might be problematic. She didn’t need to share those. And I think a judge could question in what way are distributing these actual photos ‘fact finding’. Can she publish child pornography and claim ‘fact finding’? Nothing in the constitution is absolute.

  55. 55.

    Elizabelle

    @Jackie:  From your link.

    As of late afternoon Wednesday, the video had amassed 35 million views—second only to a video Biden released in April announcing his reelection bid, which has over 45 million views.

    Greene’s royalty-free endorsement of Biden came before another curious favor for Democrats. Today, the Georgia Republican said on the House floor that “when evidence and proof of a crime is presented, no prosecution should be denied, no matter who the person is.”

    In other news, twice-impeached, twice-indicted, and rapist former President Donald Trump now faces a likely third criminal indictment.

  56. 56.

    Elizabelle

    Parent or principal:  Why is this congresswoman sending dick photos to my minor child/student?

    Oh, I hope that happens.

  58. 58.

    Geminid

    @SFBayAreaGal: Maybe Comer can call in a Russian intelligence officer to verify that these images are in fact the ones he hacked from Hunter Biden’s computer.

  59. 59.

    Steve in the ATL

    @Elizabelle:

    FWIW, I am not really comfortable with calling Hunter a “failson.” It seems pretty cruel;

    Steve in the MSP concurs. Not ok.

  61. 61.

    tobie

    @LNNVA: I admire him too which is why the facile analysis was a surprise. After all these years are we still going to maintain that it’s economic anxiety that drove white folks in general and especially in rural and exurban regions into Trump’s arms?

  62. 62.

    Mallard Filmore

    @Scout211:

    she could also have broken federal laws banning the distribution of obscene material to minors.

    Perhaps she will argue that what she sent was not obscene.

    More seriously, will she try to stretch the “speech and debate” idea to cover republicans politicians sending porn to minors.

  63. 63.

    Jackie

    TIFG is upset that “his Kevin” hasn’t yet endorsed him – Kevin has reasons… so apparently to appease TIFG Kevin promised to expunge his impeachments:

    “Kevin McCarthy denies he made any deal with Donald Trump to expunge his impeachment record. Even if the speaker did call for such a vote, a bloc of House GOP centrists would likely defeat it,” Politico reports.”

    “Roughly a half-dozen swing district Republicans said Thursday they were skeptical — or even downright opposed — to any vote designed to symbolically rescind one or both of Trump’s impeachments.”

    Kevin is in a pickle of his own making. When does TIFG threaten to Primary him when “his Kevin” fails to honor his promise?

  66. 66.

    Ruckus

    @dc:

    Likely could but it likely wouldn’t go anywhere. But it does sort of open up the concept that if politicians are going to show nude blow up photos (no pun intended…) of a politician’s family member then it would seem that all limits should be off on showing photos of that politician. Unfortunately absolutely no sane person wants to see her nude. Or not nude. And likely not a lot of insane people either.

    It is so nice to see that some states have no real clue about what they hired their representatives to be, say, do, not do. Really says a lot of our educational system and how some/many people that get to voting age have either forgotten everything they learned in school or they learned not one second of the curriculum. I imagine only graduating kindergarten really isn’t enough education for some individuals.

  68. 68.

    Ken

    @Jackie: What would “expunging” an impeachment even mean? And wouldn’t the Senate have some say in the matter, considering they held the trial?

  70. 70.

    SpaceUnit

    Imagine being the poor schmuck in the print shop when MGT walks in with a thumb drive.

  71. 71.

    patrick II

    Watching O’Donnel and learned that Trump has hired another lawyer today. Which made me wonder … how many lawyers are currently employed by Trump fighting his legal battles and how many more he employs to handle the cases of his co-conspirators?
    Anyone care to make a guess?

  72. 72.

    RaflW

    “prompting committee Democrats to deem her latest attention-grabbing stunt inappropriate”

    try: “prompting committee Democrats to accurately point out how her latest attention-grabbing stunt was grossly inappropriate”

    I mean, come on. Is it just Democrats who deem blown up, posterboard dic pics in an open hearing inappropriate? Do newspapers no longer even have a basic grasp of community standards? Jeeebus. Lame o rama.

  73. 73.

    Ken

    @patrick II: Also, how many more lawyers will be needed if someone questions whether his PACs can pay the other lawyers, assuming the PACs fundraising material doesn’t list that as the purpose of the PAC.

  75. 75.

    Jackie

    @Ken: Apparently, voting to remove the impeachments from TIFG’s record. I’m not sure if the Senate would be involved – as impeachments are done in the House.

  77. 77.

    dmsilev

    @Ken: His ego is bruised and he demands that lackeys abase themselves before him. That’s all it really means; don’t bother looking for actual meaning.

  78. 78.

    Jackie

    @patrick II: Apparently not enough. The relatively few lawyers he has are doing double or triple duty.

    It’s hard to find attorneys who want to work for free when you’re a “billionaire.”

  80. 80.

    NorthO49

    So what are DC revenge porn laws like? I think it’s safe to say MTG neither requested consent to display Hunter’s junk (likely a privately produced image for private use), nor would he likely have given it…

    NVM, already answered further up…

  83. 83.

    Chetan Murthy

    @Joey Maloney: Whoa!  I didn’t click on the tweet with her “newsletter”.  Inspecting it, I suppose it contains those Hunter dick-pics?  Yeesh.  Just amazing.  I sure hope she can be prosecuted for sending revenge porn, and Hunter can sue her for every damn dollar she’s got left.  Just Yeesh.

  84. 84.

    brendancalling

    What’s bizarre is that Three-Toes Madge is somewhat of  kinkster herself, what with the adultery and everything, and I’m sure there are some photos out there of HER doing all sorts of weird shit.

  85. 85.

    Cameron

    Do any of MTG’s stunts turn off voters in her district?  AFAIK, she’s always been like this, so she must be giving them something they value.

  86. 86.

    Martin

    DeSantis has instructed state officials to sue InBev for sending a beer can to a transgender person.

    If anyone was wondering if DeSantis has learned anything from his current polling – no, no he hasn’t.

  88. 88.

    RaflW

    @Martin: I think the bigger question is, has corporate America learned that donating to Republicans just enables their utterly inappropriate attacks on themselves.

    Fascism may be profitable for in-favor companies, but who is on the approved list can change capriciously, and in some tinpot countries, falling out of favor can come with falling out of windows.

  89. 89.

    hitchhiker

    @Elizabelle:

    Jim Inhofe’s snowball

    Jim’s retired now, living somewhere in sweltering Oklahoma and suffering (a lot, I  hope) from Long Covid.

    For some reason he’s the lunatic I find most offensive. Tried to make English the official language. Tried to make gay marriage illegal. Brought in Michael Crichton to explain environmental science. The snowball.

    I like to picture him struggling with daily activities while he watches indictment summer unfold.

  90. 90.

    Jackie

    @Cameron: Recently I read that her coziness to McCarthy deemed her a RINO by the ultra GQP Georgia Repubs. Whether she gets Primaried by someone further to the Right…🤷🏼‍♀️

  91. 91.

    different-church-lady

    @brendancalling:

    I’m sure there are some photos out there of HER doing all sorts of weird shit.

    Hell, there’s footage of her doing it in congress.

  96. 96.

    Daoud bin Daoud

    @Bethanyanne:  Margarine Tainted Grease is reverting to her baboon-nature default state by grunting loudly and throwing her excrement around.

  97. 97.

    kalakal

    News from Engerland.

    There were 3 by-elections today with the the Tories defending 3 “safe” seats. They got obliterated in 2 and hung on to the third (B. Johnsons recently vacated one) by less than 500 votes. Per the Grauniad

    Selby and Ainsty, tonight’s most exiting result, made history: it is the largest Conservative majority (20,137) overturned by Labour at a byelection since 1945.

    Here are the key numbers, via PA:

    The previous record was set at the Mid Staffordshire byelection in March 1990, when Labour overturned a Tory majority of 14,654.

    To win the seat, Labour needed a swing in the share of the vote of 17.9 percentage points

    They managed a swing of 23.7 points: the largest achieved by Labour at byelection since it won Dudley West from the Tories in December 1994 (29.1 points) and the second largest swing managed by Labour at a byelection since 1945.

    The Conservative share of the vote in Selby dropped sharply from 60% at the 2019 general election to 34%, while Labour’s share rose from 25% to 46%.

    Key figures for Somerton and Frome, via PA:

    Somerton and Frome is the fourth seat the Liberal Democrats have taken from the Conservatives at a byelection since the 2019 general election. All of the seats have changed hands on huge swings in the vote.

    The swing at Somerton was 29.0 percentage points

    This is well above the 14.9 point swing the Lib Dems needed to win the seat.

  100. 100.

    JWR

    @Scout211:

    It’s not just Temecula. Just minutes ago local news reported about a contentious school board meeting in Chino: (From the Daily Bulletin)

    California’s Superintendent of Schools Tony Thurmond has been kicked out of a crowded and contentious Chino Valley school board meeting Thursday night, July 20.

    The board ejected Thurmond, who was led away by security officers to shouts of “kick him out.” He attended to address the Chino Valley Unified School District board before its anticipated vote on a parental notification policy that would require schools to tell parents if their child identifies as transgender.

    […]

    Speakers spoke on both sides of the issue.

    “It is morally repugnant that they think parents shouldn’t be involved with their children,” Chino Valley school parent Nick Wilson said.

    “We are here today because our kids are in danger,” parent Oscar Avila said. “Our kids are in danger from groomers.”

    Not all supported the board’s stance.

    “If you pass this policy, you are telling trans kids they don’t matter and you are placing a burden on teachers,” recent Chino Hills High School graduate Daniel Mora told trustees.

    “Students don’t want your policies, we just want our education back,” Chino Hills High School graduate Esther Kim told the board.

  105. 105.

    frosty

    @Elizabelle: ​
     I agree. Failson is cruel, and I don’t think Joe thinks of him that way, no matter what Beau accomplished and could have accomplished. “I love him unconditionally” covers it.

  108. 108.

    JWR

    And it passed 4-1, (From CBS):

    Chino Valley school district votes in favor of controversial gender identification policy

    Chino Valley Unified School District members voted on a highly controversial policy regarding gender identification on Thursday, all in the midst of an extremely heated meeting involving hundreds of parents.

    Board members voted 4-1 in favor of the policy, which would require school officials to notify parents if their children identifies as transgender.

    I think that if I were a student in that district, I’d change my name and/or pronouns every week. Just fuck with these arseholes daily. “Yes, teacher. I was a woman last week, but now identify as male. I know this from MTG’s congressional dickpic hearing earlier today.”

  109. 109.

    sab

    @eclare: Addiction in my family also. My 33 year old niece died from cocaine. Before her addiction she was an amazingly lovely girl. Breaks my heart to even think of her and what was lost when she died.

    My stepson is clean for five years. It has been a long haul for him. This Hunter Biden harassment makes me ballistic. My stepson could not have withstood what Hunter Biden has been through.

  111. 111.

    sab

    @Steve in the ATL: Not okay with me either. He fucked up on drugs, but he also had another life where he got through college and law school and thrived. He actually did that.

  112. 112.

    HumboldtBlue

    Well, that finishes off the Philippines despite two great saves from the goalie.

    Swiss too strong, too skilled.

  117. 117.

    eversor

    @sab:

    I don’t think you can even say that he “fucked up” on drugs.  Addiction is really not that simple.

    It’s never really a case of screwing up or being a screw up.   It’s almost of other a case of there being other problems that someone had no control over.   Various forms of trauma, depression, stress, all sorts of things our society just inflicts on people constantly.  With glee.  Our society also tells people it’s their fault things are bad constantly.  And no, we aren’t going to do anything to help you.

    The options that are out there are all idiotic as well.  Mental healthcare is not available to most people.    It’s costly and deeply stigmatized even if you can get it.  Or just screaming at people to Jesus harder from the right.

    Which leaves drugs.  Say what you will drugs will help.  At least immediately.   You can let go of the pain.   You do get to talk to a bunch of other people about your problems who understand them and are not going to judge you.  But that opens the door to addiction.  And once you are addicted the solution to that is more stigmatized healthcare you probably can’t get or having Bibles waved at you again.

    His accomplishments are also not counter or despite his addiction.  It’s the same life.  People high enough up the class and economic ladder can be high functioning addicts easily.  Functional alcoholics and coke addicts are so common in some industries (and politics) they are a running gag.  Some of the most accomplished people out there are really functional addicts because they are so frazzled that’s how they cope.  But these are also people who’s status lets them get away with it because they aren’t going to get called on it as their position protects them, and if they need to talk time off for “family reasons” for a few days that’s fine.

    Hunter isn’t someone who fucked up with drugs and led a parrallel life where everything was fine if not for the drugs.  He’s just a guy who with immense family power and privilege with his own set of personal accomplishments.  Who’s life has been deeply traumatic and stressful and he’s trouble coping with it.  His addiction is just a part of all that.

    I don’t even think addiction is really something to be “pittied” either.  That often comes off as looking down on someone as well.  It just is what it is.  He’s an addict?  So fucking what.  It doesn’t take away from anything and it’s not the root cause of his actual problems.

  119. 119.

    Brachiator

    @David 🌈 ☘The Establishment☘🌈 Koch:

    That would play into their hands. They want amplification. Anything to take the focus off Dump’ indictments.

    But it doesn’t take the focus off Trump. The Republicans should rein MTG in. But they are committed to revenge politics. Hunter Biden’s laptop has taken on a life of its own. It will be exploited as long as Biden is in office.

  120. 120.

    MomSense

    Meanwhile we are dealing with massive flooding and wildfires and record high temperatures.  This hot as hell summer is likely to be the coolest one of the rest of our lives.
    The stupid is killing us.

  121. 121.

    Anne Laurie

    @eclare: Those feet are nasty.

    Yeah, came a time when I examined my toes in the previous  summer’s sandals, and got much more particular about which open-toed shoes I could wear…

  122. 122.

    eclare

    @MomSense:

    I have been without power since Tuesday night.  The high in Memphis on Wednesday and Thursday was 94.  Wednesday was not too bad, yesterday was hell, 87 indoors, 89 outdoors at midnight.  Supposed to stay in the 80’s today.

    And another round of storms came through this morning, already customers wo power have increased about 6k.

  124. 124.

    Anne Laurie

    @frosty: Failson is cruel, and I don’t think Joe thinks of him that way,

    *I* don’t think that, you don’t think that, obviously Joe Biden doesn’t think that — but I was paraphrasing the GOP Tantrum Caucus, and for sure they would use that language!

    You can’t be under the impression they gave a godsdamn about Hunter’s tax misdemeanors, after all…

  126. 126.

    JML

    @Anne Laurie: truth. all they care about is attacking Biden. Using a member of his family for personal gain is just frosting on the cake. they don’t care a bit about what Hunter Biden may or may not have done, only that his his name is Hunter Biden. (Ok, they might care a little that the stories involve sex and drugs, but only because of the titillation factor that might get it extra coverage)

  127. 127.

    sdhays

    It’s a meme now how Republicans have used the absurd argument that it’s “chilling” how “if the DOJ can go after Trump, they can go after you”, but this is a real terrifying example of what they’re trying to make people think.

    Someone stole naked pictures of Hunter Biden and published them – revenge porn. The Republican House majority (I’m not going to single out the Congress member herself since her colleagues are clearly backing her all the way) used those stolen photos to amplify the revenge porn. And apparently this is all legal.

    And all in the desire to destroy a private person who’s only reason for drawing this scrutiny is that he’s the son of a President they don’t like. They literally can do this to anyone. What’s the next way the Republican majority can come up with to weaponize the Speech and Debate Clause?

    Hopefully they went too far with the email and can get some legal redress.

  130. 130.

    Denali5

    Well, clearly the Democrats have been outmaneuvered. Where were they when they had the opportunity to spread pictures of Don Trump Jr.’s adultery with his mistress? Did they actually have a sense of dencency?

  131. 131.

    Chris T.

    @Bethanyanne:

    I’m not sure I could drink myself dumb enough for Empty G’s point to make sense. Here’s a nude pic – it could be of Hunter Biden – those could be prostitutes – which are illegal in places – therefore: gotcha!

    Hey Marge, how do we know that’s actually Hunter Biden’s penis? Why don’t you pass the picture over to Gym Jordan there so he can scrutinize it; we know he’s an expert on that sort of thing!

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