Republican Fuckery Part IX: MTG Complains About Her Salary, the Balloon, and TX Banning the Abortion Pill

In both life and politics, there is no rule that we have to get along and agree on everything all of the time. However, there are certain times when compromise and understanding where the other person is coming from is paramount.

Recently Marjorie Taylor Greene complained about her salary. This woman makes a healthy 6 figure income. There are millions of Americans (myself included) whose paychecks don’t even come close to hers. If she is so unhappy, she should resign and let someone take the job who is in for the right reasons.

Speaking of MTG, she accused Mitch McConnell of being a Democrat. In her world, the “d” word is an insult. By directing it at McConnell, she is basically saying that he is not MAGA enough for her.

Over the last couple of weeks, several balloons of unknown origin have been sighed across the US. According to new reports, all signs point to China. The right has accused the President of letting the first one float across the country before shooting it down when it was over the Atlantic ocean.

I would love to know where else it might have been shot down without potentially damaging property or killing someone? Even in the most rural of areas, there was still the chance that an innocent life could have been taken.

And finally, in Texas (because they have nothing better to do?) a District Judge possibly has the power to enshrine a national ban on the abortion pill. It’s one thing to try to push this archaic law on the residents of his own state. It is beyond reprehensible that he can do the same for the rest of the country.

What I don’t get is that these people would do anything to prevent abortion. But, when it comes to providing adequate parental leave that prevents the new parents from going into debt, they are silent.

I hate to say it, but I miss the days when Republicans were reasonable and at least pretended to work with their colleagues on the left. Those days are sadly, in the rearview mirror.

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Republican Fuckery Part V: McConnell & Thomas Deligitimize Their Marriages While McCarthy Denies Omar Committee Spot

The true sign of any living democracy is the ability to work with someone across the political aisle, regardless of the number of topics that you disagree with them on.

Last week, Mitch McConnell voted against the Respect for Marriage Act. In short, this legislation protects both interracial and same-sex marriage at the federal level. Not surprisingly, only a handful of Republicans voted with their Democrat colleagues in voting for the law.

I don’t get it. McConnell is married to Elaine Chao, who is AAPI. Back in July, when Roe was overturned, Clarence Thomas (who is married to a White woman, Ginni Thomas) made a similar statement. Basically, they are stating that they are ok with making their own marriages illegal. I used to think that they are/were delusional. Now they appear to be a bunch of fools.

Meanwhile, Kevin McCarthy has already stated that if he is elected Speaker of the House, Ilhan Omar will be removed from her committee assignments. His reasoning as is follows:

“Congresswoman Omar, her antisemitic comments that have gone forward, we’re not going to allow her to be on Foreign Affairs,” McCarthy told host Maria Bartiromo, referring to the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

While her antisemitic utterances cannot and should not be ignored, this is rich coming from McCarthy. One of his party members, Marjorie Taylor Greene, has not been shy about her own anti-Jewish views. Moreover, his attempts to make an example of her were nothing more than a slap on the wrist.

The only way to move forward and heal from the last few years is to come together and work with one another. But that requires both sides to hold out their hand in a proverbial acceptance of one’s differences. That can only happen if the Republicans as a party, are willing to come to the table. As it appears now, that is not happening anytime soon.

Is Anyone Truly Surprised That the New Voting Legislation was Blocked in Congress?

It’s easy to talk about the importance of voting in a political election. We all know how important this single decision is. But for all of the talk, the action from certain segments of our society does not match the words coming out of their mouths.

Last week, a bill went through Congress which would have allowed for same-day voter registration and designated Election Day as a national holiday. The bill, known as the Freedom to Vote Act, was rejected by Republicans in the Senate. Senator Mitch McConnell stated the following for the party’s reasons as the following:

“It is my hope and anticipation that none of us will vote for this latest iteration of Democratic efforts to take over how every American votes all over the country,”

This is bull shit. Rejecting the bill is not about protecting voting rights. It is ensuring that certain people who vote a certain way will if not outright be prevented from entering the ballot box, will have as many hurdles thrown in front of them as possible. While they give lip service about protecting our rights, it is really about staying in power. Instead of listening to what we, the public, want and need, McConnell and his party are more concerned with their careers and serving their 1% donors.

It’s no wonder that this country is going down the drain.

Those Who Don’t Learn From History are Doomed to Repeat it: You Know Who Acquitted Again

In 1923, a future German Dictator who shall remain nameless led a failed coup that history would recall as the Beer Hall Putsch. Ten years later, his second attempt at joining the government was successful. The rest, as we all know, is history.

Yesterday, you know was was again acquitted of all charges relating to the riot on January 6th. Though 57 members of the senate checked off the guilty box (including several Republicans), 67 were needed for an official verdict.

Though some have argued that having 57 votes by itself is a victory, I don’t see it that way. By formalizing that he was guilty of lighting the fire that ignited the events of that day, the message would have been clear. But because he was declared innocent, the message is scarily opaque.

The fact is that everyone who was in the building that day was in danger. It didn’t matter if they voted red, blue, purple, or another color. Did they not hear the chant “Hang Mike Pence“? Did they not see the news that pipe bombs were placed at both Republican and Democrat headquarters that morning?

I thank those who voted that you know who was guilty, especially if they lean politically right. They had the courage to do what was the right thing, knowing full well the backlash they may receive. Those who didn’t are nothing but cowards.

Several members of the Republican party were seen doing anything but paying attention. Some actively chose to not attend the hearings at all. What gets my goat is that though Mitch McConnell voted not guilty, he still made a statement afterwards that you know who was responsible for the riot.

Others have said that history will be the ultimate judge. In a sense, it is comforting. I understand what they are saying, but I am more concerned about today than tomorrow. Most, if not all of us are taught when we are young, that there are consequences relating to our actions. This message is obviously lost on you know who and his traitorous supporters.

If there is a glimmer of hope, it is that come the next midterm elections, the voters get rid of these hypocritical turncoats. Until then, we must remain vigilant to ensure that this never happens again.

Our Long National Nightmare is Over: Biden & Harris Win the Election

When we all went to bed on Tuesday, we know that the outcome of the election would not come immediately. After several days of constantly watching the news and holding our breath, we have a winner. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will be entering the White House as President and Vice President in January. Knowing that we will have the first female Vice President who is also a woman of color speaks to how far this country has come.

It goes without saying, that the response from you know is the adult equivalent of a tantrum.

Tantrum starts at 4:06

Instead of being and adult and accepting that he lost, he will continue to claim that voter fraud conspiracy cost him a second term. If (and I mean a huge if) that was true, there would have been a complete blue wave. Both Mitch McConnell and Lindsey Graham would lost their respective elections. But they didn’t, which is completely baffling to me.

As much as we can celebrate (and there is a reason to celebrate), there are two caveats. The first is that unfortunately, we have to wait until January before the Biden administration can actually get down to business. The second is that one of their first tasks will be to clean up the mess of the previous administration.

Although we know that there is still a lot of work to do, we can still take in the moment. Normalcy is on the horizon. I don’t know about you, but I am ready to for a boring President and a boring Presidential administration.

Thoughts on Ticked Off Vic: Elected Officials Who Think They’re the Ruling Class

The purpose of democracy is to ensure that the voice of the average citizen is heard. There is no aristocratic type hierarchy in which a ruler and the wealthy classes are more important than the average person on the street.

At least that is the idea.

The latest news from Washington D.C. is that the traditional Congressional August recess has left a few unresolved issues on the table. One of these is whether or not to continue to send an additional $600 a week in unemployment to those who are still jobless due to Covid-19. I have a few opinions on the topic, but I will let Vic DiBitetto (Ticked Off Vic) share his perspective. The nail has been hit on the head.

As usual, his videos contain language that might be offensive to some people.

Vic DiBietto Speaks Truth to Mitch McConnell

These days, one would have to be living under a rock to not see the heavily partisan politics that exist within the United States. Add in Covid-19 to the mix and the partisan politics creates a crisis of it’s own.

Last month, Senator Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) made the following statement in regards to the state and federal financial issues that Covid-19 has created.

“I would certainly be in favor of allowing states to use the bankruptcy route. It saves some cities. And there’s no good reason for it not to be available. My guess is their first choice would be for the federal government to borrow money from future generations to send it down to them now so they don’t have to do that. That’s not something I’m going to be in favor of.”

Though he did not refer to any specific states in this initial statement, the subtle message is clear. He would rather let certain East Coast and West Coast states who normally vote blue (my home state of New York included) go bankrupt rather than provide badly needed financial support. Comedian Vic DiBitetto has a few things to say on this subject.

*Warning: the video below contains language that might be offensive to some viewers.

In an ideal world, politics would be about compromise and doing what is best for the nation. But we don’t live in an ideal world. We live in a world in which some politicians look out for number one and/or only look out for their base. They don’t give two sh*ts about the rest of the country.

What Senator McConnell chooses to conveniently forget is that we are in a national crisis. If we are to stop Covid-19 and return to some semblance of normalcy, we need to work together. But we cannot work together if those in the halls of power choose partisan politics over the welfare of the nation.

Thoughts On Mitch McConnell’s Apology

When one goes into politics, the hope is that it is for altruistic reasons. But sometimes, the altruism can secede into doing what needs to be done (even if it means cross over moral or legal boundaries) to retain one’s position.

Last week Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) apologized about his previous statement that President Barack Obama did not provide a pandemic playbook for the current administration.

“I was wrong. They did leave behind a plan, so I clearly made a mistake in that regard,”

What bothers me about this apology is that it does not feel genuine at all. It feels forced. He conceded that he made a mistake because he had to, not because he knew he was wrong. Anyone who was paying even the smallest amount of attention to Washington, D.C. over the past few years could easily see that Senator McConnell had it out for the former President from the start.

We need political leaders who remember why they went into office and who they represent. It seems to be that Senator McConnell has forgotten both. Which from my perspective, is a good reason for his constituents to vote him out in November.

Adjourning Congress is Straight out of a Dictator’s Playbook

A democracy does not become a dictatorship overnight. That process entails a series of steps in which democracy is slowly squeezed out and replaced by a dictatorship.

One of the first crucial steps is the removal or adjournment of the governing body that represents the voting public. Yesterday, you know who made the following statement:

“If the House will not agree to that adjournment, I will exercise my constitutional authority to adjourn both chambers of Congress,” Trump declared. “The current practice of leaving town while conducting phony pro forma sessions is a dereliction of duty that the American people cannot afford during this crisis. It is a scam what they do.”

To completely understand his statement, it has to be put in context. Due to Covid-19, Congress has adjourned until May. While it is true that the Constitution does give the President this power, it is only “in Case of Disagreement between them, with Respect to the Time of Adjournment.”

The problem is that he is take advantage of this time to force the approval of judges and political appointees who would benefit his administration. This is straight out of a dictators playbook. Once a governing body, like Congress, is dissolved and a political leader is only surrounded by yes men and women, there is no stopping them.

I have to wonder when the Republicans are finally going to get their heads out of the sand? Where is Mitch McConnell and the rest of the Republican leadership who have spent the last three years kissing you know who’s behind? This man is a threat to our democracy and our country.

He MUST be voted out in November.

Our Long National Nightmare is (Hopefully) Almost Over

To say that the Presidential administration of you know who has been controversial is an understatement.

In the history of the United States, there has never been a President like this man. Granted, there will always be a debate as to whether or not a President has done their job. However, there is a difference between the debate between citizens and a President who has put his needs above the needs of the country.

You know who was impeached tonight by the House.

Granted, tonight was half the battle. The decision to remove you know who goes to the Senate. The problem lies with Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) who has stated that he will “take my cues from the president’s lawyers.”

Party loyalty is one thing. I respect a politician who is loyal to his or her political party. But I don’t respect a politician who puts his or her job and party loyalty over the good of the country. As I see it, the good of the country is to impeach and remove from office a President who is only looking out for number one. He has neither the capacity or the ability to lead. He does not listen to advisors who are knowledgable in certain areas. Nor does he know when to stop.

That being said, if you know who is removed from office, then Mike Pence is President. Though in a certain sense, he is the lesser of two evils, he still sends a chill down my spine.

We will know soon enough about the fate of this current administration. I just hope that our long national nightmare will be over soon.