Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Sitting here in limbo waiting for the dice to roll

Sadly, media malpractice has become standard practice.

I’ve spoken to my cat about this, but it doesn’t seem to do any good.

Thanks to your bullshit, we are now under siege.

Damn right I heard that as a threat.

No offense, but this thread hasn’t been about you for quite a while.

The rest of the comments were smacking Boebert like she was a piñata.

The worst democrat is better than the best republican.

When do we start airlifting the women and children out of Texas?

The Giant Orange Man Baby is having a bad day.

It’s easy to sit in safety and prescribe what other people should be doing.

The republican speaker is a slippery little devil.

Republicans don’t trust women.

I’d hate to be the candidate who lost to this guy.

Historically it was a little unusual for the president to be an incoherent babbling moron.

You can’t love your country only when you win.

I see no possible difficulties whatsoever with this fool-proof plan.

“Everybody’s entitled to be an idiot.”

Please don’t feed the bears.

And we’re all out of bubblegum.

The party of Reagan has become the party of Putin.

Baby steps, because the Republican Party is full of angry babies.

Following reporting rules is only for the little people, apparently.

Good lord, these people are nuts.

You are here: Home / Open Threads / Poor Pastor Mike

Poor Pastor Mike

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This post is in: 

Not only did he have to spend two hours listening to MTG vomit in his ear yesterday, he had to listen to her again today.  Here’s the latest from her:

Following their second meeting, Greene would not specify when she may force the vote and wouldn’t commit to moving to oust the speaker this week, but she said that Johnson has a “pretty short” window to act on a list of demands. A vote to remove the speaker is certain to fail, however, since House Democrats have announced they would vote to kill her motion.

This prompts me to repeat my question from last week:

A Couple of Congressional Updates 1

Also, in case you missed this little bit of trolling from Hakeem Jeffries’ interview on 60 Minutes, I’m gonna guess that Marge spent at least a few minutes of those two hours of consultation with her pastor whining about this:

“Even though we’re in the minority, we effectively have been governing as if we were in the majority because we continue to provide a majority of the votes necessary to get things done,” Jeffries said. “Those are just the facts.”

“It’s a difficult situation on the other side of the aisle, because many of my Republican colleagues are more interested in creating chaos, dysfunction, and extremism,” he continued.

“All” that Marge wants is to fuck over Ukraine, only pass bills with Republican votes, and to defund investigations into Trump — in other words, stuff that someone from an R+infinity red district would think is just glorious, and everyone else in the party would run away from.   Johnson will probably throw her some kind of bone, but it’s going to have to be something really minor.  I’m thinking Greene will latch onto that nothingburger and turn it into a something to save face, but she might just force a vote that will make Johnson even more beholden to Jeffries.  I hope she will, so Jeffries can get another concession.

My experience dealing with the insane is limited to a few minutes on public transit where I couldn’t get away from someone running their crazy mouth.  I just can’t imagine listening to Greene’s bullshit for hours.  I guess being “speaker” for a few months must be worth it for Pastor Mike, but I for one couldn’t eat that amount of shit in order to keep the title.

Reader Interactions

160Comments

  1. 1.

    rikyrah

    The fact that there’s an entire community that feels MTG is good enough to be elected to Congress…..

    Imma stay in my blue city in my blue state.

  2. 2.

    Betty

    You left out Marge’s demand to de-fund the Department of Justice. Such a dreamer.

  3. 3.

    Baud

    Not sure how Johnson will get her more nude pics of Hunter Biden, but being a Johnson, I’m sure he’ll try.

  5. 5.

    MattF

    I sometimes feel a pang of sympathy for Mikey, but then he says shit like the stuff quoted below supporting Project 2025. He’s a radical RWer, and he’s getting precisely what he deserves.

  7. 7.

    lollipopguild

    @schrodingers_cat: My own personal opinion is that they feel VERY inferior to alot of people who show up every day and do stuff. If they see someone that they hate being successfull then the world is “rigged” against them. Many of them are lazy and stupid and cannot see that they are the problem. I say this as a white male who has grown up with a lot of these folks and worked with them and spent 43 years waiting on them as customers at my paint store.

  8. 8.

    David 🌈 ☘The Establishment☘🌈 Koch

    the media would portray a Dem Speaker and caucus as weak and in disarray if it was being hostage by a lone nut.

  10. 10.

    Urza

    @MattF: He has stated clearly he intends to do everything possible to put TFG in power again.  I do not like the Democrats helping him in any way that isn’t explicitly quid pro quo.  Sure the next guy will be worse, and try to do the same things, but is likely even stupider and that is for the good.  As is showing the nation yet again that Republicans cannot govern as they fight for yet another speaker who would still have time to be deposed this year.

  11. 11.

    rikyrah

    @MattF:

    He’s a true believer. Maybe not the Orange Menace, but, he’s just using him so that they can set up their Dominion Government in the United States.

  16. 16.

    The Pale Scot

    a few minutes on public transit where I couldn’t get away from someone running their crazy mouth.

    Ok, I have to tell one of my meeting the eccentric stories in NYC. I’m walking down 7th ave to my weed connection on a Sat morning. There is a middling crowd blocking the sidewalk. Assuming it was a Three Card Monty game or something I just push my way thru and suddenly I’m in the clear with a man having problems with his invisible roommate. Moving his hands emphatically he’s screaming “you don’t clean up your etc…. your late on the rent…. and you’re DRINKING ALL OF MY BEER”. I look up and say “you fucking tell him man and shoulder my may past a couple of cops looking at me like I’m as nutty as him. Behind me I hear ” You See You See! Even he says………

    That was just another day in Manhattan back in the 80’s

  18. 18.

    Tony Jay

    Commenting from over here* on the Island That Stares At Goats, there’s something eerily familiar about the travails of a weedy little nobody balanced precariously atop a dwindling majority with his hollow coinpurse clenched firmly between the jaws of a rabidly Hard Right performance artist of dubious sanity.

    And I have exactly the same microatomic degree of sympathy for your Squeaker of the House as I do for our own Prime Miniature. Johnson wanted this, he got this, and he’s getting it good and hard. Let us, one and all, savour the fuck out of that.

    * If that’s okay with our Non-Progressive Betters, or even if it’s not.

  19. 19.

    cmorenc

    Meanwhile, CNN just reported that Judge Cannon has indefinitely postponed Trump’s classified documents trial, citing need to work out sensitive issues over classified documents.  The blurb gave no further details – though it would be irresponsible not to speculate that she is sensitive to whether holding the classified docs trial might affect Trump’s chances of winning in November.  And this maneuver will allow her to hedge her bets depending on the results of the election.  He wins, she sees herself at the head of the line for an appellate promotion.  He loses, she morphs abruptly into hanging judge aileen.

  20. 20.

    comrade scotts agenda of rage

    @rikyrah:

    …he’s just using him so that they can set up their Dominion Government in the United States.

    The American Taliban.

    The Founding Fathers, for all their inconsistencies (I’m being generous, I know) and warts, would be rolling in their grave at all of this. “Where did we go wrong? We wrote a fucking governing document to prevent exactly this kind of shit from happening.”

    And here we are.

  25. 25.

    Scout211

    @cmorenc: Yeah, I’m reading this everywhere.

    ABC

     

    The judge overseeing former President Donald Trump’s classified documents case has now indefinitely postponed the trial date pending resolution of outstanding pretrial litigation, including disagreements about how the classified information is used during trial.

    It comes as Judge Aileen Cannon has continued to delay various deadlines in the case, making it all but certain the case doesn’t go to trial before Election Day.

    “The Court also determines that finalization of a trial date at this juncture — before resolution of the myriad and interconnected pre-trial and CIPA issues remaining and forthcoming — would be imprudent and inconsistent with the Court’s duty to fully and fairly consider the various pending pre-trial motions before the Court, critical CIPA issues, and additional pretrial and trial preparations necessary to present this case to a jury,” Cannon wrote in the new order.

    Disappointing.  But not at all surprising.

    ETA:  Loose Cannon uses lots of very big words and descriptors to sound like a very smart judge doing very smart things when all she had to say was, “See you all back here after the election, suckers!”

  26. 26.

    mrmoshpotato

    two hours listening to MTG vomit in his ear yesterday

    Gross, yet accurate.

  28. 28.

    JWR

    It’s really incredible how easily he lies. It’s even more incredible how easily his fans believe his lies.

    Speaking to cameras for a few minutes outside of the courtroom, Trump said, “This was a very big day … a very revealing day.”

    “Their case is totally falling apart,” he said about the DA’s office. “This whole case is a disaster.”

  31. 31.

    2liberal

    @Tony Jay:* If that’s okay with our Non-Progressive Betters, or even if it’s not.

     

    We hate you and your english comments, also your posts are too short nowadays.

  32. 32.

    mrmoshpotato

    @rikyrah:

    He’s a true believer. Maybe not the Orange Menace, but, he’s just using him so that they can set up their Dominion Government in the United States. 

    Exactly true.

  33. 33.

    Gin & Tonic

    @MattF: I, on the other hand, have never felt an iota of sympathy for him. I only hope his life gets worse every fucking day.

  35. 35.

    O. Felix Culpa

    @Scout211:

    Disappointing.  But not at all surprising.

    Agreed. The election was never going to turn on this trial, and it’s not worth wasting emotional energy on these delays. Better to put one’s energy into GOTV, when the time comes.

  38. 38.

    sab

    Yikes. My dog, being a dog,does not drink and desparately hopes we don’t either.

  39. 39.

    dmsilev

    @TBone: puerile acronyms in service of energy-hogging appliances. Add in some racism just because, and it’s a perfect distillation of the House GOP.

  41. 41.

    comrade scotts agenda of rage

    @JWR:

    It’s really incredible how easily he lies.

    I used to think that until I dealt with one developer here in Denver who’s been described as “The Trump of Denver with all the associated psychological issues.”

    It’s called “Live Lying” and it’s incredible to see it up close and personal over about a year-long time frame.  “Narcissistic Sociopath” is the perfect descriptor for people like that.

  42. 42.

    NotMax

    “It’s such a nice day, Ms Greene, what say we step out onto the Speaker’s balcony. The view from standing right at the railing is spectacular. Lean over and you can see clear across the Tidal Basin. After you, Congresswoman.”
    //

  43. 43.

    Jackie

    @mrmoshpotato:

    two hours listening to MTG vomit in his ear yesterday

    Trapped listening to her nasal screechy voice…. I could ALMOST feel sympathy for Johnson – until I remember what he’s trying to do to our democracy 😡

  46. 46.

    Torrey

    @2liberal: ​
     

    @Tony Jay:* If that’s okay with our Non-Progressive Betters, or even if it’s not.

    We hate you and your english comments, also your posts are too short nowadays.

    And there aren’t enough of them.

  47. 47.

    cain

    @TBone:

    Maybe she picked up some orders when she went on some vacation junket paid for by someone else? Wasn’t that reported somewhere?

  48. 48.

    cain

    @O. Felix Culpa: Didn’t Jack split the cases between Florida and elsewhere? There is still a Federal trial to work on.

    But I think Cannon is way over her head. She sounds like an incompetent buffoon who doesn’t know how to manage a case.

  50. 50.

    Tony Jay

    @2liberal:

    Elderberries. Fart. Direction.

    Terse!

    But in all due seriousness, it’s true. Since I started the new job I’ve got 99% less free time to vent and the situation over here is just… well… there’s no possibility of joy, and going on about it here would be like turning up to dinner and clomping on about ‘down below problems’ while everyone is trying to work their way through the fish course.

  53. 53.

    lowtechcyclist

    @rikyrah:

    Now that the Government is funded….is there anything that’s actually needed from him before the election?

    The government’s funded through the end of the fiscal year – September 30.  They still need to fund the government for FY 2025 which starts on October 1.  Or more likely, pass a continuing resolution funding it through the election.

    Either way, a House vote would be necessary.

  54. 54.

    Jay

    So,

    Staff Sergeant Gordon Black, 34, who is married, was stationed in South Korea and was in the process of returning home to Texas.

    Instead, they said he travelled to Vladivostock in ruZZia to see a longtime girlfriend.

    She then accused him of theft. and he was arrested.

    Imaginary Canadian Girlfriends are much safer.

  55. 55.

    cmorenc

    @O. Felix Culpa:

    Agreed. The election was never going to turn on this trial, and it’s not worth wasting emotional energy on these delays. Better to put one’s energy into GOTV, when the time comes.

    I respectfully disagree, because the classified docs case is indefensible to any voter not in the firm grip of MAGA fever. Cannon has managed, via her deliberate foot-dragging, to take the traiterously reckless details of Trump’s actions off the daily news cycles for many months in favor of occasional blurbs over procedural fights.  Exactly the case most likely to peel off (or at least firmly induce to sit on their hands election day) more than enough soft leaners to insure Trump’s defeat in November.

    OTOH, I agree that true MAGA voters will rationalize firm excuses why his retention of classified docs is immaterial.  Back the day when the news of his classified docs retention first broke, I was working a game with a soccer referee colleague I did not theretofore realize was MAGA (because we’d never had any politically related conversations before) – and when I mentioned the news and mentioned that critical nuclear defense info was among the docs, he gruffly replied: “hey, the Russians already have our damn nuclear codes, so it doesn’t matter that he kept the docs, they are setting up a politically motivated sham prosecution”.   I was gobsmacked that anyone could be that wilfully blind to irrefutable facts, but quickly realized that any further conversation with him about the matter would be like talking with a brick wall.

  56. 56.

    smith

    @lowtechcyclist: The crazies shutting down the govt a few weeks before the election would be a killer political move, in more ways than one. Hope they go for it.

  57. 57.

    TBone

    @Baud: also, Krusty Gnome’s book debuted on Amazon today.  I’m thinking up some adjectives for my review.  Apparently I’m in good company!

  60. 60.

    JWR

    @comrade scotts agenda of rage: Wow, I’m so sorry you had to deal with that nonsense up close and personal. But this term, “Live Lying”, it doesn’t turn up in a Google search. Is that a real thing, or simply a great description?

  64. 64.

    gene108

    @cain:

    But I think Cannon is way over her head. She sounds like an incompetent buffoon who doesn’t know how to manage a case.

    I think Cannon’s a genius. Punt the case until after the election. If Trump wins, delay until he’s sworn in and get ready for a promotion. If Trump loses, the case gets less attention and less interest in the ways she’ll influence it to push a jury to not convict Trump.

    Either way, she’s setting herself up for a promotion to the Appellate division in the next Republican presidency, and if there’s a timely opening at the SCOTUS, I think her work as a team player sets herself up nicely for consideration.

  66. 66.

    TBone

    @Baud:

    @NotMax:

    I’m dead from laughter but when I revive from choking on giggles I will incorporate those carefully considered additions.

  67. 67.

    Barry

    @cmorenc: “He loses, she morphs abruptly into hanging judge aileen.”

     

    IMHO no, she’ll make the case dribble to a nothingness.

    It’s clear that SCOTUS has weighted in, and are on TFG’s side.

  69. 69.

    TBone

    @gene108: Ty Cobb disagrees.  And that was way back in the beginning of April. At this point, it is so fucking blatant that the 11th Circuit almost has no choice IMO. I am ever hopeful.  It’s ESPIONAGE for crying out loud!

    https://www.yahoo.com/news/ty-cobb-says-11th-circuit-030222981.html

    Cobb pushed back on the idea that Cannon’s so-called missteps could be explained simply by inexperience or incompetence, saying, “the evidence of her bias is pretty palpable at this stage of the game.”

    “I think the evidence is just too overwhelming,” he later added. “I mean, yes, she may be incompetent, but at this stage of the game, her incompetence is so gross that I think it clearly creates the perception of partiality, and her attempt to put her thumb on the scale. So, I think that should disqualify her.”

  70. 70.

    cain

    @gene108:

    I don’t know – I think she’s taking a lot of risks. The DOJ isn’t without resources here. Her reasons don’t look that slam dunk.

    I’d like to hear from the lawyers in the group. There are other trials pending so this isn’t the only one.

  74. 74.

    wjca

    @rikyrah: Now that the Government is funded….is there anything that’s actually needed from him before the election?

    The government is only funded thru the end of its fiscal year: Sept 30.

    Granted there might be electoral advantages to having the Republicans manage, whether deliberately or due to sheer incompetence, to shut down the government.  But we’re not really out of the woods, best case, until the new Congress comes in in January.

  75. 75.

    gene108

    @TBone:

     

    @cain:

    She’s biased. She’s in the tank for Trump. She’s doing enough to keep from getting taken off the case. I think Leonard Leo loaned her some staffers to shore up not showing her blatant deference to Trump, while stalling the case.

    @cmorenc:

    I respectfully disagree, because the classified docs case is indefensible to any voter not in the firm grip of MAGA fever. Cannon has managed, via her deliberate foot-dragging, to take the traiterously reckless details of Trump’s actions off the daily news cycles for many months in favor of occasional blurbs over procedural fights. Exactly the case most likely to peel off (or at least firmly induce to sit on their hands election day) more than enough soft leaners to insure Trump’s defeat in November.

    It’s an easy case to understand both in terms of the underlying crime and the realization if that’s me, I’m already convicted and in jail.

  76. 76.

    Brachiator

    “It’s a difficult situation on the other side of the aisle, because many of my Republican colleagues are more interested in creating chaos, dysfunction, and extremism,” he continued.

    What a mixed up political world. MTG is crazy. Johnson has his head deep up Trump’s ass.

    Jeffries has to try to craft some workable concessions from this nightmare.

  77. 77.

    TBone

    @gene108: Leo Trollstoy needs his comeuppance.  Old Leonard is way past his due date.

    “Karma is like a boomerang. I hope he has many happy returns.” ― Frank Sonnenberg

  78. 78.

    mrmoshpotato

    OT – have I talked about chuck steak (also called chuck roll, or chuck roll steak) before?  It’s pretty inexpensive, and ridiculously tender.  So good!

  79. 79.

    Jay

    The ruling by the judge, Aileen M. Cannon, was made in a bare-bones order that contained no factual or legal reasoning.

  85. 85.

    Steve in the ATL

    @Tony Jay: that is some bullshit.   Go beg for your old job back—we NEED your posts, and our needs are far more important than your happiness, success, financial security, career growth, and job satisfaction.

    Please govern yourself accordingly.

  88. 88.

    like a metaphor

    I was thinking it would be good to donate the same amount of $ that her book costs to whatever animal welfare agency in her state.  And do it under the name  of ‘Cricket’    ‘Smelly Goat’ would also suffice.

     

    @TBone: also, Krusty Gnome’s book debuted on Amazon today.

  89. 89.

    Steve in the ATL

    @Omnes Omnibus: this bud lite lime-a-Rita is amazing!

    Also, I just got back from Yurp and their airline and airline lounge wine is SO much better….

  91. 91.

    geg6

    Fuck Mike Johnson.  I don’t have an ounce of pity for him.  I hope he has to listen to that troll, Marge, screech at him for hours at a time every day for the rest of his miserable life.  Maybe we’ll all get lucky and that’ll do him in.  Or he’ll do himself in to escape.  Either way, I’m fine with it.

  92. 92.

    TBone

    A couple book reviews:

    “When you have a gun, everything looks like a puppy.”

    “My cat loves this book.”

  93. 93.

    Another Scott

    @rikyrah: Made me look.

    Ballotpedia.org

    Yeah, she beat Flowers by over 30 points in the general election. But, I see that he got more votes in the general election (88,189) than she did in the primary (72,215).

    Kinda apples and oranges, agreed. But it goes to show that the votes are there to pick someone else. Voters need to find a way to show up when it matters.

    And it always matters…

    I think she hasn’t pulled the trigger yet because she’s nervous. Maybe not about losing this election, but certainly about making it difficult for those of her RWNJ colleagues who don’t live in R+31 districts.

    This reminds me – I hear a brief story a while ago about Ted Cruz’s supposed pivot to the center, talking about (something like) ‘the need for bipartisan solutions’ and was taken aback. Ted Cruz?? He must be really worried!

    It looks like Ted may be in a bit of trouble about a donation to his superpac by iHeartMedia that smells to high heavens.

    Cruz’s fundraising concerns may explain a very shady financial arrangement the senator has with iHeartMedia, the hosting platform of his podcast Verdict with Ted Cruz. Last week, The Houston Chronicle reported that the radio network paid out $630,850 to a Cruz-affiliated super Pac, Truth and Courage. According to FEC data reviewed by the Chronicle, the six-figure sum represents about a third of the PAC’s fundraising haul since 2023. The LoseCruz PAC, a political action committee challenging the senator’s reelection, first reported a $214,752.98 transfer from iHeartMedia to Truth and Courage in March.

    A Cruz campaign spokesperson told the Chronicle that the senator “appears on ‘Verdict’ three times a week for free.” A representative from the company said the funds were the proceeds of sales for the podcast’s advertising inventory, and that Cruz “volunteers his time to host this podcast and isn’t compensated for it.” But if iHeartMedia is sending massive checks to a PAC affiliated with his reelection campaign, is there really no benefit to Cruz?

    “My The Superpac is completely independent. We do not coordinate. I have nothing to do with it.” – Ted, and every politician, ever. Grr….

    It ain’t over until it’s over.

    Thanks.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  95. 95.

    Andrew Abshier

    Crazies on public transit?  In San Diego we had a guy who would board the bus, whip out his wallet, then talk into it like it was a Star Trek communicator!   Come to think of it, even he made more sense than Empty G, Bobo, and all the rest of the worst of the R’s.

  99. 99.

    Another Scott

    @TBone: +1

    I don’t see how the law could be any clearer than it is about national security information, classified documents, and all the rest.  Cannon’s actions have been infuriating from the beginning.

    Even the “personal documents” stuff is a red-herring.

    Did he create the documents that he claims are “personal”?  E.g. taking notes for his memoirs and including sensitive information?  No?  They’re original documents created by and for the United States Government national security system?  Are the documents – that he did not create – marked as being national security information?  Yes?  Well then, the US Code says this and that and that is what we go by here in the Land of Laws, so he’s Guilty.  [BANG!]  Come back in 3 weeks for sentencing.  Next!

    I suppose this action by Cannon isn’t appealable, by design (I haven’t checked), but I hope that Smith and his team are looking into all the various next moves to get the case moving to a expeditious, fair, and correct resolution ASAP.

    Grr…,
    Scott.

  101. 101.

    karen marie

    @Jackie: In a way, we should be grateful to Moscow Marge for making it difficult for Johnson.  Without her, he’d be less dependent on the Democrats.

    I say, KEEP GOING, MARGE! YER DOING GRATE!

  102. 102.

    Jeffro

    @rikyrah:

    The fact that there’s an entire community that feels MTG is good enough to be elected to Congress…..

    Imma stay in my blue city in my blue state.

    …and dig a moat…and fill it with alligators…

  103. 103.

    Geminid

    @Another Scott: There is a Republican Georgia State Senator from the Dalton area named Colton Moore. He’s 30 years old and unseated an incumbent state Representative at age 25. Colton Moore is a “young man in a hurry” and I expect him to challenge Marjorie Greene sometime this decade.

    If he does, I think Greene will have a real fight on her hands. Unlike Greene who carpetbagged in from the Atlanta suburbs, Moore has lived in what is now the 14th District all his life.

    The scion of a local trucking and heavy equipment family, Moore earned a Commercial Drivers license at age 18 and at age 21 won the competition for “Georgia State Auctioneer.” A slick talking guy who earns his living as an auctioneer and cattle farmer.

  105. 105.

    Jeffro

    @cmorenc:

    @Scout211:

    again, I just want to throw out there that out of all trumpov’s many outstanding felonies, indictments, etc., the documents case is the killer (and Cannon, and the FedSoc, etc) know that.

    He has already been busted absolutely dead to rights mishandling this country’s most sensitive secrets, and possibly selling them to others – including our country’s enemies.

    He’s going to lose the election anyway, but I want justice here, even if it has to happen after November.

  106. 106.

    JWR

    @Another Scott: I agree. It’s maddening what this sleazebucket is doing to the rule of law.

    Does anyone have any guesses about getting this case, at the very least, reviewed by the 11th circuit? Or is Jack Smith in the best position to get it kicked upstairs?

  107. 107.

    smith

    @Another Scott: I think shutting down air traffic would make the GQP whackaloons even more unpopular than shutting down the rest of govt would. They might threaten it just for form’s sake, but I don’t see them doing it.

  109. 109.

    Jeffro

    @geg6:Fuck Mike Johnson.  I don’t have an ounce of pity for him.  I hope he has to listen to that troll, Marge, screech at him for hours at a time every day for the rest of his miserable life.  Maybe we’ll all get lucky and that’ll do him in.  Or he’ll do himself in to escape.  Either way, I’m fine with it.

    stop reading my mind!    =)

  113. 113.

    Ken

    @NotMax: “It’s such a nice day, Ms Greene, what say we step out onto the Speaker’s balcony. The view from standing right at the railing is spectacular. Lean over and you can see clear across the Tidal Basin. After you, Congresswoman.”

    Johnson’s hand drifts closer to the Congresswoman’s back…

    “You know, Mike,” she casually says, gazing out over the vista, “a friend of mine sent me the records from that quote anti-porn unquote app you and your son have on your phones.”

    Johnson’s hand slowly drifts back. Closeup on his face, where a single tear is trickling down his cheek.

  115. 115.

    TBone

    @Another Scott: as was said above, even if after the election, justice shall be done.  I have to trust Jack Smith’s expertise.  That lowly beyotch can’t just make shit up and sweep all of the charges away with a wave of her hand.  Delay will only last for a finite period of time and that orange motherfucker isn’t going to be elected in this nation ever again.

  117. 117.

    Geminid

    @Baud: Auctioneer’s-vigorous-primary-challenge-from-the-right-of-notorious-Congresswoman-with-national-reputation-but-scanty-local-ties, Sold!

  118. 118.

    Ken

    @Andrew Abshier: In San Diego we had a guy who would board the bus, whip out his wallet, then talk into it like it was a Star Trek communicator!

    Presumably before bluetooth? In my experience when someone’s ranting in the street, it’s about 50/50 between “undermedicated schizophrenic” and “executive yelling at underlings”. The executives may scream a few more F-bombs.

  119. 119.

    Gvg

    @rikyrah: The elections are months away and there probably will be a couple of crisis before then. Hurricanes, someone dies, another war, something financial. It’s a big world and we are a big important country others depend on, and a lot of extremism is rising which might mean more refugees. We cannot coast till elections. I know it’s tiresome.

  120. 120.

    Another Scott

    Speaking of tire rims and anthrax…. TWZ.com:

    Navy Pays $100K To Replace Each F/A-18 Tire, 3D Printed Repairs Cuts Cost To $300

    […]

    There’s no doubt that wheels and tires on a carrier aircraft like the Super Hornet lead hard, relatively short lives. Since 2019, the Navy’s E/F fleet has progressively undergone a multi-phase service life modification program which stretches the fighter’s service life from 6,000 to 10,000 hours. Over that service life Super Hornets make literally thousands of landings and takeoffs, both arrested landings and catapult takeoffs from aircraft carriers and takeoffs and landings from fixed bases. In the process they consume many wheels and tires, using them up particularly quickly during carrier operations.

    [ image – An F/A-18E Super Hornet, attached to the “Golden Warriors” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 87, approaches the flight deck of USS Gerald R. Ford, August 6, 2023. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Tajh Payne ]

    Gronda explained that F/A-18E/F pilots often land hard on carrier decks, causing the fighter’s main landing gear wheel rims to oblong and the tire mounted on the rim to shake. If the tire wobbles, he said, the wheel and tire assembly is taken off and discarded.

    That gets expensive very quickly. “We go through 166 of these tires a year and they cost six figures apiece,” Gronda affirmed to the Sea Air Space audience. According to Boeing, Goodyear and Michelin supply rubber for the Rhino. The War Zone reached out to each company asking for their tire price for the F/A-18/E/F. Both declined to share it. The main landing gear wheels are supplied by Honeywell Aerospace, Aircraft Landing Systems which likewise declined to provide price information.

    Assuming a nominal $100,000 per-assembly price, simple math shows that the Navy’s Super Hornet wheel assembly replacement bill for aircraft with out-of-round rims amounts to somewhere around $16.6 million per year.

    […]

    The Command uses a variety of 3D printers to make repairs to flight critical components. In 2021 NAVAIR awarded a five-year IDIQ contract worth up to $5 million to deliver fully-deployable 3D printing systems including Ultimaker S5 3D printers.

    That investment looks set to pay off across different platforms and equipment types including Super Hornet tire/wheel assemblies. In an email response to questions from The War Zone, Gronda reaffirmed that the AM team’s “initial assessment is that over 80% of the 166 [wheel rims/tires] sent to [scrapping/recycling] each year are repairable with this cold spray technique.”

    He added that the cold spray repairs to each take two hours and cost $300 per wheel. That works out to a total cost of about $40,000 to repair the rims and re-mount the tires annually. Set against a $16.6 million bill to simply replace the assemblies as customary, AM repair looks like a no-brainer. Its potential to be employed in the field and/or in forward operating locations, like an aircraft carrier, adds further value.

    […]

    Nothing about anthrax though.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  121. 121.

    Ruviana

    Unless the science has changed Neanderthals may be responsible for red hair and blue eyes. Could Margerine do anything that cool?

  122. 122.

    smith

    @Baud: Completely unsurprising. I’m wondering why only half are repelled. It will likely go up as the red states enact more and more draconian restrictions, and as more people realize what they’re doing. I saw a survey not long ago that showed 80% of women of childbearing age in TX do not have an accurate idea of the restrictions they are now subject to. When that knowledge hits…

  124. 124.

    cain

    @Geminid:  Fast talking scion – Marge will have her work cut out for her .

    He can lull the voters with his auctioneering skills. Her attack ads against him will be epic – she’ll probably even show up to personally harass him.

  125. 125.

    Sister Golden Bear

    Comedy gold. MTA trolls Trump after the Orange Fart Cloud rants against NYC’s new congestion pricing fee.

    the MTA’s response to Trump’s congestion pricing post:

    “Once streets are less congested the former president’s SUV should be able to get to the courthouse faster, or he can use mass transit like millions of hardworking New Yorkers do every day”

    and they sent transit directions

  126. 126.

    Raoul Paste

    So if the GOP shuts down the FAA on May 10,  I suppose the judge will have to grant him a longer leave of absence to attend his son‘s graduation on the 17th.
    I bet Judge Cannon would do it

  127. 127.

    Scout211

    @Baud: more details reposted from the morning thread:

    This is not surprising.

    The youngest generation of American workers is prepared to move away from states that pass abortion bans and to turn down job offers in states where bans are already in place, a new survey from CNBC/Generation Lab finds.

    The “Youth & Money in the USA” survey of 1,033 people between the ages of 18 and 34 found that almost two-thirds of respondents, 62%, would “probably not” or “definitely not” live in a state that banned abortion.

    And 45% of those surveyed said that if they were to be offered a job in a state where abortion is illegal, they would either “definitely reject” or “probably reject” the offer. Another 35% said they would “probably accept” the job. And only 20% of respondents said they would definitely take the job.

    “These numbers on abortion have gigantic implications for just about every large company in America,” said Cyrus Beschloss, the CEO of The Generation Lab. “Companies must know they’ll be freezing out or at least scaring a large part of the young talent they’re trying to hire when they’re based in one of these states.”

  129. 129.

    TBone

    A State Supreme Court judge on Tuesday struck down New York’s proposed Equal Rights Amendment from the November ballot.

    Democrats, who were counting on the measure to help generate voter turnout, said they will appeal.

    The amendment would enshrine the right to abortion in the state’s constitution and protect discrimination against gender and gender identity.

    https://www.wxxinews.org/new-york-public-news-network/2024-05-07/ny-dems-confident-equal-rights-amendment-will-be-back-on-nov-ballot-after-ruling-strikes-it-down

    Letitia James will appeal.

  130. 130.

    NotMax

    Meanwhile, in Florida, not exactly the cream of the crop.

    Javier Ortiz, the Miami police captain whose long history of citizen complaints alleging beatings, false arrests and harassment made him notorious in the city he swore to protect and serve, has joined Ron DeSantis’ Florida State Guard.
    [snip]
    Javier Ortiz, the Miami police captain whose long history of citizen complaints alleging beatings, false arrests and harassment made him notorious in the city he swore to protect and serve, has joined Ron DeSantis’ Florida State Guard.
    [snip]
    A few years ago, the two agencies looked into nearly 70 complaints, including 44 citizen complaints and 18 allegations of excessive use of force. Ortiz-related complaints settled by the city cost taxpayers nearly $600,000 combined.

    Investigators talked to witnesses — including former and current Miami police officers — who said Ortiz engaged in a “pattern of abuse and bias against minorities, particularly African-Americans” and that he cyber-stalked and doxxed “civilians who question his authority or file complaints against him.”
    [snip]
    Earlier this year, the State Guard’s vetting process came under scrutiny when recruits were detained for criminal and mental health issues. Source

  132. 132.

    OldDave

    @Another Scott: For anyone who has submitted a SF-86 and held a clearance, it is absolutely infuriating – especially TFG’s overriding intelligence officials, demanding Kushner be given a top-secret clearance.

  133. 133.

    Geminid

    @cain: There already are some Republican vendettas among House Republicans which may outlast this Congress. Greene is trying to get Bob Good beaten in Virginia’s June primary and if he survives, Good and his supporters will want to return the favor. This is more a faction fight than a policy fight.

    First term Rep. Jen Kiggans (VA02) has also endorsed Good’s opponent, and I’m hoping that comes back to bite Kiggans in November. Her Virginia Beach-based district is Virginia Democrats best prospect for a flip this year. It has something like an R+2 rating.

  134. 134.

    Gvg

    @Scout211: assuming that women are more than 50% of the ones who say they won’t live with abortion restrictions, the actual number of workers who really won’t do it may be higher. Husbands and potential boyfriends may have it explained to them by their significant other that they can’t take that job.
    Also even guys that aren’t yet paired may find the choices slim. Younger about the right age to start a family have good reasons to avoid the nuts who won’t listen to medical science. Especially if they know they have any fertility issues. And once people put done roots, they may not come back. It could permanently hurt the anti women states.

  137. 137.

    David 🌈 ☘The Establishment☘🌈 Koch

    @TBone:  it’s being dogged by the critics.  even Fox “News” took a bite out of Cruella de Ville.

     

    Varney: Your political judgement…

    Gov. Noem: I know that a lot of people are using attacks and trying to take me down because they’re scared of me. Listen, I’ve run 12 campaigns, and all I’ve done is won.

    Varney: I’ve not heard anybody support you on shooting the dog.

    Gov. Noem: I’m honest. Well, I’ve heard a lot of people. I’ve heard a lot of people that say, listen, this was 20 years ago.

    Varney: We’re consumed with emails. We’ve…

    Gov. Noem: 50 states have a law on the books. Oh my goodness.

    Varney: We’ve been consumed with emails saying, I won’t vote for this person. I won’t vote for Trump if he puts her in the vice presidential spot.

    Gov. Noem: Well, I’ll tell you, Stuart, I’m sorry you’re not hearing from real Americans that live on farms and ranches in Dakota.

    real Americans murder puppies

  140. 140.

    cmorenc

    @TBone:  What if Trump elects to forego a jury if and when the classified docs case does go to trial and Cannon finds him not guilty under bogus reasoning eg that Trump did believe he had declassified the docs with a mental wave of hand.  Outrageous, but double jeopardy still applies and Trump walks scott free of any classified docs related charges.

    Before just about any other federal judge (except maybe Karmanski in Texas) Trump foregoing a jury trial would be incredibly stupid, but before Cannon it might actually be a shrewd move.

  141. 141.

    Another Scott

    @cmorenc: Hasn’t the decision about a jury trial already been made?  There was the bit about jury instructions a few months ago, right?

    IANAL.

    Of course, since she apparently went to the Calvinball Correspondence School of Law, anything is possible I guess…

    Grr…,
    Scott.

  142. 142.

    smith

    @cmorenc: Even with a jury she could dismiss the case on bogus grounds, and if she does it after the jury is chosen, he can’t be retried. I have been worried that she’s been really coy about the possibility of accepting his argument that he could do whatever he wanted because of the Presidential Records Act. She rejected for now a motion to dismiss for on those grounds because of very circumscribed legal reasons, but left open the possibility of revisiting it later in the trial process.

  143. 143.

    cmorenc

    @Another Scott:  Not sure how late in the pretrial proceedings a defendant can change their mind about their initial election to hsvr a jury trial – but probably can, at least until a panel of prospective jurors is called in.

  145. 145.

    wjca

    @Another Scott: Big problems without an FAA.

    Why.  Without an FAA, there’s no flying, and thus no “flyover country” any more.  Sounds like a win for Rul Muricans.

    /s

  146. 146.

    wjca

    @smith: Even with a jury she could dismiss the case on bogus grounds, and if she does it after the jury is chosen, he can’t be retried.

    If she’s going to do that, why both with the stall?  After all TIFG would almost certainly be delighted to crow about how he had been vindicated/found not guilty — no matter how blatant a miscarriage of justice was involved.

  147. 147.

    kalakal

    @Gvg: Could make the next census interesting in the allocation of congressional numbers. Young people  from red to blue states vastly outnumbering those doing the reverse trip, remaining wrinklies shuffling off this mortal coil, the house. Red states could lose quite a few seats in the House

  148. 148.

    catclub

    @Another Scott: that one will get done.  Congressmembers and Rich republicans fly all the time. One can threaten to shut down the FAA when  the government shuts down for a budget stalemate, but even then it does not happen.

  151. 151.

    Jackie

    @wjca: Without the FAA, TIFG can’t fly to rallies.

    The fact the rest of us are inconvenienced is worth the temporary sacrifice.

  152. 152.

    smith

    @wjca: If she did it before a jury is seated, Smith could appeal and have that ruling reversed. She would have to wait until the trial is started to ensure that he couldn’t be retried due to double jeopardy.

  153. 153.

    Another Scott

    @catclub: The local Virginia delegation is very upset about the proposal to add more flights (10 per day?) to DCA.  It already has the busiest runway in the country, supposedly, and there was a near miss recently, and the local suburbanites don’t like the plane noise, more flight slots will add delays, and …  Plus, people are wanting to lard it up with must-pass amendments.

    I suspect that they’ll punt another 3-6-9 month extension to try to take the heat off and figure out what amendments to allow and how hard they want to push on the extra flights.  I’d be surprised if they really get it done by Saturday.

    But, who knows.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  154. 154.

    wjca

    @smith:  If she did it before a jury is seated, Smith could appeal and have that ruling reversed. She would have to wait until the trial is started to ensure that he couldn’t be retried due to double jeopardy.

    Of course.  But her stalling is delaying jury selection.  Which, as you note, delays the bogus dismissal with prejudice.

  155. 155.

    Another Scott

    @catclub: Since the repair is done on-shore, presumably the repaired part has to go through all the usual qualification that any critical flight part would have to pass.  And that makes sense.

    The original NAVAIR story doesn’t have a lot more detail than the TWZ story, but there is no implication that they’re going to be fixing these things and sticking them back on planes immediately thereafter anytime soon.

    The F/A-18 is a 46+ year old design. Honeywell, etc., knows that they won’t be making parts for it forever. If they’re counting on 166 new F/A-18 wheels a year to stay in business, well… ;-) It looks like they’ve got a lot of other planes they make wheels for (4 page .pdf)

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  156. 156.

    Another Scott

    @smith: I don’t think that the “dismiss and double-jeopardy – haha, suck-it – gambit” makes much sense.  My recollection is that Smith didn’t charge all kinds of things that he could have in the classified documents/obstruction indictment, in the interest of speeding up the process.  If that recollection is correct, I would expect TIFG to be charged again almost immediately (as soon as a grand jury is set up and indicts) if Cannon tries to pull that.  And maybe he would be charged in DC (where these things should be judged as that is where the courts have experience with these issues), where the chances of him getting an incompetent judge interested in freeing him no matter the law or the evidence are lower.

    This national security stuff is deadly serious.  The whole system depends on people understanding what the rules are, where the lines are, and the swift and sure consequences for overstepping those lines.  The US Government cannot let one judge throw out those principles without irreparably damaging that system.

    She must know that.  Surely??  :-/

    Is our Judge Cannon learning??  We’ll see.

    My $0.02.  IANAL.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  157. 157.

    Yutsano

    @Tony Jay: ​

    And I have exactly the same microatomic degree of sympathy for your Squeaker of the House as I do for our own Prime Miniature.

    I miss Bercow too.

  159. 159.

    Tony Jay

    @Yutsano:

    Ha! Great drama, fought for Parliament’s rights and rules, and 1000% better at his job that the limp jellyfish with one eye always on his future peerage currently squatting in the seat

  160. 160.

    Ironcity

    @Another Scott: doubt this repair equiment or repairs will be at O level, likely I level ashore or on the boat.   Assuming the 3D repair equipment stays up and the consumables needed are available the other big benefit would be repair at the end of a long supply line ratger than having to wait for another wheel from a depot somewhere or carrying a bunch of spares.

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