Wondering on Wednesday 5/18/22

Ready... Set... Wonder!

Aw, shucks. North Carolina's Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-I'm a Liar of the First Degree But I Swear, I Really Was Invited to those Orgies on Capitol Hill!) failed to win his primary and will not get a second term. So, what's next for him, after this year? Some have suggested he'll go to work at Mar-a-Lago, or become a commentator on a right-wing network or something, although I have to wonder if there are any media companies desperate enough to hire him.

Dr. Oz, a guy once famous for being a cardiothoracic surgeon and now famous as a flip-flopping, Trump-endorsed, Columbia University-disaffiliated, quack medicine-promoting, Turkish presidential-election voting, non-resident Republican Senate candidate in Pennsylvania, is effectively tied in that race with another MAGAist. A recount is almost certain to occur, given the margin of separation between them, barring some kind of election fraud 0r random meddling with the mail-in ballots, or some such silliness. 

And I can't help wondering, how fun would it be if some of the well-documented Republican election shenanigans we've learned about were to befall Pennsylvania again? Oh, don't get me wrong - I'm all for secure elections - but there have been so many instances of Rs behaving badly in the Commonwealth, it would almost be too rich if they had a mess in the primary.

On that point, the former president said that Oz should declare himself victorious, without waiting for all the votes to be counted, because, "It makes it much harder for them to cheat with the ballots that they "just happen to find." And, he said, we should go to all paper ballots with same-day voting. I wonder if he's practicing his speech for November 2024?

Sticking with things the former president said, it seems his contract with Trust Me Social or whatever it's called allows him to post on other platforms after a six-hour wait. Yep -according to an SEC filing cited in this Vanity Fair article, 

President Trump is generally obligated to make any social media post on TruthSocial and may not make the same post on another social media site for 6 hours. Thereafter, he is free to post on any site to which he has access. Thus, TMTG has limited time to benefit from his posts and followers may not find it compelling to use TruthSocial to read his posts that quickly.

I wonder, is there anything compelling at all about joining Trump's platform?

Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-You Kidding Me? Of Course My Caucus Supports Me - They Don't Have a Choice) was babbling earlier tonight about baby formula and Peloton memberships, saying the Dems were too busy to do anything about the former because they were focused on the latter.  Meanwhile, the House voted overwhelmingly make more formula available under the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program. Nine members of McCarthy's House Lunatics Conference v0ted against the bill. 

I don't know about you, but I wonder, wouldn't we all be better off if this crew was at home, faces glued to Peloton apps, instead of bothering to show up to work?

What are you wondering about?

In Case You Missed It (v86)

Here's your recap of last week's posts, in case you missed anything.

In Sunday School, we heard from House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy; his week got worse as it went along, didn't it? He talked with Mike Emanuel on Fox News Sunday, and shared some thoughts on what could happen if the Rs regain the majority.

McCarthy said the Rs are not over-confident about winning back the House, but he said they need to do more than just criticize, they must commit to making changes and fixing the big problems. Emanuel asked if they could do that - tackle the national debt, for example - with a divided government. 

We need to have sound fiscal policy, stop the irresponsible spending to curve inflation and make America in a stronger path. But it's not just to balance the budget, you have to pay off the debt. And the only way we'll be able to do that is with fiscal responsibility, with Republicans in the majority.

And I laughed and laughed at that, I really did.

You'll laugh too, when you click that link.

I was fortunate to stumble upon some presidential poetry - some OrangeVerse in my spam folder. It's funny how this stuff just writes itself. 

Apr 18

Join NOW

I have a TOP SECRET video message for you

My father is about to release a never-bef0re-seen video message

Your wallet needs this

NEVER. HAPPENED. BEFORE.

Contribution status: PENDING

For your Extra Credit, learned from the panel discussion on This Week with George that crime's going to be an issue in November - big surprise, right? 

Former Gov. Chris Christie (R-NJ) appreciated Adams agreeing with Bratton that it was "progressive policies that have caused this wave in crime" (an over-simplification of what Bratton said and what Adams agreed with), but he thinks Adams, who ran on fighting crime, is "sticking to his word" and he thinks New Yorkers will "give him the benefit of the doubt" for that. 

Biden, on the other hand, doesn't get a pass. He was against 'defunding the police,' but

he was also standing with a lot of these reforms that have made - that have turned out to be a mistake. And it's not only reforms, it's the attitude of local prosecutors that have been elected, in places like Manhattan, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago who are refusing to prosecute some of these crimes.

We also heard from NYC's two top crime-fighters - Mayor Eric Adams, and NYPD commissioner Keechant Sewell. 

I was Wondering on Wednesday all about Florida, and the Florida Man who runs the state, and his attacks on the happiest place in the universe, or whatever they call it, after the legislature decided to revoke the special district in which the happiness has taken root. 

And what about the Imagineers? I wonder if they're going to spend the next few months trying to come up with a theme park ride about a vindictive governor and his minions? Oh wait - can't be minions, maybe they can Imagineer a new name for the Rs in the legislature, and introduce that along with the ride?  

And what about the trailer? Disney always makes a mini-movie when they're ready to roll out a major new 'experience' at their parks, and I wonder, would I have to subscribe to Disney+ to see it, or would ABC carry it on broadcast TV?

And, perhaps against my own best judgment, I dropped a Quick Take on the occasionally armed and frequently dangerous behind the wheel Rep. Madison Cawthorn. Here's just a bit of this 'law and order party' representative's record.

• Oct. 13, 2011, Henderson County, NC: speeding. Case disposed Jan. 25, 2012. Pleaded guilty to a lesser speed, fined $40.
• Feb. 27, 2016, Henderson County, NC: speeding and expired registration card/tag. Case disposed May 18, 2016. Pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of failure to wear seat belt in rear seat; fined $75; The expired registration card/tag charge was dismissed. (How, exactly, do you get that lesser charge option?)

I dropped a Throwback Thursday post, which was actually a Wondering on Wednesday from one year ago, the day the verdict in Derek Chauvin's case gave us the verdict we had hoped for. Here's part of what I wondered that day.

• The prosecution's closing argument - in a nutshell, believe your own eyes and the eyes of the witnesses - made me wonder about the witnesses. How hard it must have been to relive the murder of George Floyd in open court, to be questioned about what you saw, to stay strong with the whole world watching. I wonder if they'll ever know how grateful we are?

• I wonder what Chauvin was thinking when he had his knee on George Floyd's neck, particularly what he was thinking as he held that look, the unflinching look we saw in the video. Was there ever an "oh, shit, what have I done?" moment, I wonder? 

A friend commented on the post. I'm curious what folks think about his question, and my response. Is his fear appropriate? Am I looking at the world through rose colored readers? Chime in if you want.

Finally, it was TGIF time, and I express my concern about what appears to be a 'thing' now, where reporters for the New York Times (and others) at least appear to be holding information for their books, instead of sharing what they learn when they learn it with the rest of us. 

I haven't yet figured out whether the NY Times had a good week or a bad week. While it was the paper's repauthors (reporters turned authors) who have the tapes, the Times itself is in hot water, IMO, for the perception that reporters are holding stuff for their books, instead of serving the public interest by publishing what they know. 

And this is not the first book written by their reporters on Trump, the Trump Years, the Trump White House, the Trump Christmas Decorations, the Trump Rose Garden... and yes, some of that's made up, but none of it is outside the realm of possibility. The Times is not alone, of course - there are television reporters who have done the same thing.

Should they be able to do this? Which master are they serving, themselves or their employer? And should the Times and the rest be so joyfully sharing excerpts from the books, or should they let the book sell themselves?  

I'll be back for Sunday School, if not sooner.

Quick Takes (v65): Law and Order, or Something

I thought about writing this one as an Irony Board piece, but given the subject matter, it seemed more appropriate to use the 'Quick Takes' theme. 

I have no idea why Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-Pol of Lies, NC) has so much trouble obeying the law. Maybe he's always in a hurry to get back to DC for one of those orgies he told us about? Or maybe a drug party?  

I don't know, but for a kid, he's building up quite a record of violations, across several states. Here's a summary.

• Oct. 13, 2011, Henderson County, NC: speeding. Case disposed Jan. 25, 2012. Pleaded guilty to a lesser speed, fined $40.

• Feb. 27, 2016, Henderson County, NC: speeding and expired registration card/tag. Case disposed May 18, 2016. Pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of failure to wear seat belt in rear seat; fined $75; The expired registration card/tag charge was dismissed. (How, exactly, do you get that lesser charge option?)

• April 21, 2016, South Carolina: speeding more than 25 mph over the speed limit. Pleaded down to a 10-miles-over violation in July 2016.

• Oct. 7, 2016, Virginia: following too close. Case resolved Jan. 27, 2017. 

• Dec. 8, 2017, Buncombe County, NC: driving while license revoked (but not impaired). Case dismissed Dec. 29, 2017. 

• Dec. 12, 2019, Georgia: speeding more than 25 mph over the speed limit and having expired tags, followed by a charge of failure to appear on Feb. 7, 2020. Plea deal negotiated in August 2021. 

• Oct. 18, 2021, Buncombe County, NC: speeding. Case disposed March 4, 2022. Pleaded guilty to improper equipment, fined $25. 

• Jan. 8, 2022, Polk County, NC: speeding, traveling 87 mph in a 70 mph. Court date is June 2. 

• March 3, 2022, Cleveland County, NC: driving while license revoked (but not impaired). Court date is May 6. 

Now, he's not just a speed demon, he's sometimes armed - or, when he thinks it's useful, he claims he's armed. 

• Jan. 6, 2021: Cawthorn said he was armed on the day Trump insurrectionists attacked the Capitol building. Not sure why he felt the need to be armed on that particular day, or why he felt the need to tell people he went to work armed that day. Bringing weapons to the Capitol, and to Senate and House buildings, is prohibited, of course.

• February 2021: Cawthorn attempted to board a plane in Asheville with a handgun and a loaded magazine in his luggage. He was not charged; the gun and ammo were held for him to pick up when he returned. Rules on charging people for this stupidity vary by location.

• Also in 2021: Cawthorn visited schools around North Carolina, and was accused of bringing a knife to at least four of those visits. There are a number of laws that could apply to Cawthorn's possession of knives on school grounds.

It's no secret that Cawthorn's a jerk, or that he's a proven liar; he's also been accused of predatory behavior towards women. 

I'd say he's a stain on the House of Representatives, but I guess I'd be wrong.

After all, without irony, Cawthorn was named to the House Veterans Affairs Committee - after claiming the reason he didn't make it into the US Naval Academy was because of his car accident. That's a bald-faced lie; he had already been rejected before he had the accident. 

And, also without irony? The party of law and order, the 'rule of law' folks, seem to think he's good enough for them.

Wondering on Wednesday 3/30/22

Ready... Set... Wonder!

Let's dive into the wonderment, shall we? 

Right off the bat, I have to wonder why Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R- I Lied About Why I Didn't Get In To The US Naval Academy But They Elected Me Anyway) would actually think anyone in DC political circles wanted him to attend their orgies? I mean, seriously, he's among the most obnoxious people I've never had the pleasure of meeting. And, frankly, the words 'pleasure' and 'Madison Cawthorn' go together about as well as 'delicious' and 'bird poop.'

And I wonder, who's going to get to him first: Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Mar-a-Lago's Tool Shed), or the folks who invited him to the orgies? Or, maybe it's going to be the other folks he knows, the politicians who do all that coke?

I also wonder if McCarthy or anyone else is going to require him to name names - otherwise, how will the Rs know who to put on key committees when they regain the majority in November?

The other day I gave US Attorney General Merrick Garland the We May Never Find the Poop Under this Snowpile award for moving oh-so-slowly in deciding whether to do anything any time soon. About anything. The House January 6th Committee asked for contempt of Congress charges against Mark 'One Man's Rusty Trailer is Another Man's Castle' Meadows. To his credit, Garland's folks did charge Steve 'Does Hanging Out On This Chinese Yacht Make My Podcast Sound Stupid?' Bannon, but still no word on Meadows. 

With former Trump administration goofballs Dan Scavino and Peter Navarro now facing a vote by the full House to refer their contempt charges to DOJ, it's past time for Garland to act on the Meadows referral, or explain why he won't act.  And the only wondering here is this: How long will it take Garland to decide whether he'll decide to make a decision?

Former president Donald Trump's White House call logs apparently have a bigly gap on January 6th. How bigly, you're wondering? Here's what CBS News is reporting.

The lack of an official White House notation of any calls placed to or by Trump for 457 minutes — from 11:17 a.m. to 6:54 p.m. — on Jan. 6, 2021 means there is no record of the calls made by Trump as his supporters descended on the U.S. Capitol, battled overwhelmed police and forcibly entered the building, prompting lawmakers and Vice President Mike Pence to flee for safety.

In case you wondered, as I did, it would take nearly 25 separate Rosemary Woods yoga poses, demonstrated in this AP photo, to create a chasm that big. And I can't believe he didn't take or receive a single call during that time - especially since we know he talked with several members of Congress, by their own admission.

Sticking with the former president, I'm sure you're all familiar his enthusiastic endorsements of MAGAesque candidates - including Madison Cawthorn, it turns out. Trump also endorsed Rep. Mo 'I Tried to Stop the Steal' Brooks, who's in the hunt for the open Alabama Senate seat. After getting Trump's support, Brooks started talking about looking ahead to 2022 and 2024 - he 'went woke' according to Trump, who pulled his endorsement last week. 

Now, what makes this all so very wonderful and interesting? Brooks pulled no punches in responding to the lost endorsement. After blaming Trump for going along with Mitch McConnell - unlikely, at best - he said

President Trump asked me to rescind the 2020 elections, immediately remove Joe Biden from the White House, immediately put President Trump back in the White House, and hold a new special election for the presidency. As a lawyer, I've repeatedly advised President Trump that January 6 was the final election contest verdict and neither the U.S. Constitution nor the U.S. Code permit what President Trump asks. Period."

I don't wonder for a second whether Trump did what Brooks says he did; at the same time, I don't doubt for a second that Brooks would say just about anything to try and stay in the game.

What's got you wondering tonight?

Wondering on Wednesday 9/1/21

Ready... Set... Wonder!

Where to begin with this week's wondering? Well, how about with a time check?

It's been reported, primarily - but not solely - on the right, that President Biden checked his watch after each of the 11 fallen Americans were transferred from the plane to waiting vehicles at Dover AFB on Monday (two of the 13 transfers were private).  There is video, that has been widely shared, showing him do that once. And, it's been 'fact-checked' by the folks at Snopes that the scene in the video was at the end of the ceremony, after all of the victims of the ISIS-K suicide bomber had been transferred.  

Now, before you go all nutso on me about how Snopes is the Wikipedia of fact-checking and can't be trusted, know that they're not the only ones who have said this isn't true. And, regardless of how you feel about the fact-checkers, don't you wonder why, if this really happened 11t times, no one has video of it?  

And coming on the heels of the false reports that "no one from the Biden administration met the plane" for the dignified transfer on Saturday, when the plane hadn't even arrived yet, how much faith are we to put into a report like this one?

Are you also wondering about the fate of the American service dogs that were left behind in Kabul? I'm sure you've seen the reports from reliable sources such as Donald Trump, Jr., about our leaving crates of dogs at the airport. Other notables also chimed in, like Medicare fraudster Sen. Rick Scott (R-I Took A Huge Golden Parachute and Named it Responsibility).

"Infuriating. Biden stranded Americans. He stranded our allies. Now, he’s stranded our loyal K-9 warriors," Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., wrote on Twitter, posting American Humane's letter.

Sadly, for those who wanted to paint Biden as an animal hater, in addition to all the other stuff he's accused of being, we did not strand our service dogs. 

On Tuesday, the Pentagon denied that any dogs that had worked with the U.S. military were left behind in the country while acknowledging that a series of social media posts about nonmilitary evacuation of Kabul pets caused confusion.

"To correct erroneous reports, the US military did not leave any dogs in cages at Hamid Karzai International Airport, to include the reported 'military working dogs,'" said Eric Pahon, a spokesman for the Defense Department.

I wonder, if the real news out of Afghanistan is as bad as it is, why do people feel the need to make it worse? 

Speaking of making stuff up, there's the Big Lie, that the election was stolen from Former Guy. There was a fun little recording featuring Sen. Ron Johnson (R- Who Doesn't Love Moscow on July 4th?), who pretty much summed up the fallacy of Former Guy's theory that the election was stolen from him. Speaking about the results in his state, Johnson admitted that

There’s nothing obviously skewed about the results...If all the Republicans voted for Trump the way they voted for the Assembly candidates, he [Trump] would have won. He didn’t get 51,000 votes that other Republicans got, and that’s why he lost.

I added the emphasis for the folks in the back, and I wonder why that's so hard for the Rs to understand?

And speaking of rigged elections, the GOP's latest poster boy, Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-Not the Naval Academy) has made it clear he's willing to fight over this. Speaking at a GOP event in his home state of North Carolina, he offered this.

If our election systems continue to be rigged and continue to be stolen then it's going to lead to one place and that's bloodshed.

Continue to be rigged? There's going to be bloodshed? Huh?

And I will tell you, as much as I am willing to defend our liberty at all costs, there's nothing I would dread doing more than having to pick up arms against a fellow American. 

In case you didn't know,  rising star Cawthorn lies about all kinds of things, including the accident that left him paralyzed from the waist down, and about being accepted into the US Naval Academy. Given that he'll lie about those things, I wonder why we should think that he's telling the truth about taking up arms against his fellow citizens? 

And while I don't condone gratuitous violence, I wouldn't wonder at all if the bloodshed Cawthorn spoke of eventually happens when someone who finally had enough of his BS hauled off and punched him in the nose.

And speaking of bullshittery and hyperbole, let us not forget about House GOP Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-You Better Watch Out if We Take Back The House, Dammit!), who seems to be in a bit of a snit about every action taken by the House Select Committee investigating the January 6th insurrection. 

The Committee issued a document preservation request to more than 30 telecom companies on Monday, a step taken in advance of a request for specific documents which is sure to follow. And McCarthy wasn't happy about that - at all. 

I'm not wondering about his response, or his threat - I mean, he's a ring-kissing #AlwaysTrumper after all - but I am wondering why he didn't include the traitorous RINOs Rep. Adam Kinzinger and Rep. Liz Cheney in his tweet? 

And I'm wondering if the GOP really is like an elephant. What if they don't retake the majority for a few cycles? Will they remember that they have to take out some of these great American companies that support all those great American jobs and help our great American stock market soar ever higher, making America even greater? 

What are you wondering about?