The Republican Party Has Flat Out Lost Its Mind

[indy]

I confess I don't know what may move a lot of house republicans but if I were any of the 200 or so other republicans in the house and I saw how these assignments were being handled, I'd have smoke coming out of my ears like in a cartoon.

[goldenvalley]

Jan 18, 2023 17:03:36 GMT indy said:

I confess I don't know what may move a lot of house republicans but if I were any of the 200 or so other republicans in the house and I saw how these assignments were being handled, I'd have smoke coming out of my ears like in a cartoon.

I think they've been smoking (maybe pot to try to chill out) but they are so afraid of being primary-ed that they will not speak against the lunatics and will be absent when key votes are taken to avoid having any record on the vote. And of course they are relying on the Senate Democrats to prevent the crazy bills from passing. It's all very self protective and does nothing to mitigate the damage caused by the lunatics on committees.

[pnwguy]

I'm hoping that SNL might bring Lovitz back for a cameo on George Santos.

[indy]

Jan 18, 2023 17:21:39 GMT goldenvalley said:

Jan 18, 2023 17:03:36 GMT indy said:

I confess I don't know what may move a lot of house republicans but if I were any of the 200 or so other republicans in the house and I saw how these assignments were being handled, I'd have smoke coming out of my ears like in a cartoon.

I think they've been smoking (maybe pot to try to chill out) but they are so afraid of being primary-ed that they will not speak against the lunatics and will be absent when key votes are taken to avoid having any record on the vote. And of course they are relying on the Senate Democrats to prevent the crazy bills from passing. It's all very self protective and does nothing to mitigate the damage caused by the lunatics on committees.

Except no more than five of them can be absent for any vote or the bill doesn't pass, which means a lot of them are are in fact going to be on the record in a lot of districts. It's going to be interesting to watch how all this unfolds.

[LFC]

Rep. Scott Perry (R-PAtriot NOT!), one of the most vocal fascists in Congress who had his phone seized as part of an investigation into his involvement in the Jan. 6 Republican Insurrection, was given a seat on the House Oversight Committee. Thanks, Qevin.

[pnwguy]

Jan 19, 2023 17:28:26 GMT LFC said:

Rep. Scott Perry (R-PAtriot NOT!), one of the most vocal fascists in Congress who had his phone seized as part of an investigation into his involvement in the Jan. 6 Republican Insurrection, was given a seat on the House Oversight Committee. Thanks, Qevin.

They would put John Gotti on the Judiciary Committee if he was still alive and a member of the House, as long he voted R.

A GOP president might have elevated him to FBI director.

[goldenvalley]

What do people in the Congressional District think of Santos?

Caught in the middle of the drama are the 746,449 constituents in Santos’s district, which spans parts of northeastern Queens to towns along the North Shore on Long Island. In interviews with The Washington Post over several days, residents who supported Santos said they both regretted their choice and were resigned to his status as a member of Congress.

Several people who told The Post they voted for Santos said they regretted their decision, or expressed anger at Santos for fabricating parts of his personal and professional story.

“I’m completely outraged by the whole thing, that someone would lie on their résumé to that extent and then call it an embellishment. I think it’s a complete outrage,” said Anthony Raimondi, a 62-year-old resident from Manhasset.
Asked if he would vote for Santos again, Raimondi replied “Definitely not.”

Back at the meeting in the American Legion basement, former Rep. John LeBoutillier (R-N. Y), who broke party lines endorsing Santos’s Democratic opponent, compared Santos to former president Donald Trump, calling them “two peas in a pod.”
“These guys lie about anything, ” he said. “It’s sad to say this is what we as a party have become.”

Some in the group asked LeBoutillier why Republicans in Congress had not immediately taken up a vote to remove Santos from office.

His answer was simple: “Kevin McCarthy so far has not been willing to throw him out.”

After the meeting concluded, people lingered in the room, with some saying they now had a better understanding of the news reports about Santos and the intricacies of Congress. Others remained steadfast that the national political implications of removing Santos from office would do more harm than good.

“My heart says yes [Santos should be removed or resign], but my brain says [McCarthy] can’t because they need the seat,” said Howard Abbondondelo, an Albertson resident. “But I won’t invite him over for Thanksgiving dinner, that’s for sure.”

I think invitations to Thanksgiving dinner are not the same thing as having a liar represent you in Congress, but maybe that's just me.  Some folks have caught the "maintain power at all costs virus."

[LFC]

More on what Santos's constituents think of him. (paywalled)

I’ve been so eager to see data on how George Santos is doing in his home district that I half considered having TPM sponsor a poll, which is completely insane because quality polls are super expensive and we don’t have anything like that kind of money. But now we can rejoice because Siena College has leapt into the breach. They did a poll and Santos currently clocks in with 7% favorability and 83% unfavorability, which is fairly poor. Even with Republicans he’s at 11%.

Generally, when you poll the constituents of incumbent politicians, you poll “approval” rather than “favorability.” But I think we can likely infer that his approval is fairly low too.

But there’s more!

There’s “Should George resign?” 78% of his constituents say “yes.”

Was it right for Kevin McCarthy to put George on committees? 71% say “no.”

Maybe it will all blow over since voters aren’t paying much attention? Sorry, George. Fully 81% are following the Santos news “very closely” or “somewhat closely.”

Perhaps the most entertaining part of the poll is the results for what people said when asked how they voted. First, 89% of respondents said they voted, which means a significant percentage are liars. But it gets better. 24% said they voted for George Santos, which again means that a whole lot of them are liars or in denial. (Santos won with 54% of the vote.) 17% say they voted for another candidate. 15% refused to answer. (Who can blame them?) Notably 45% said they voted for Democrat Robert Zimmerman which is almost exactly the percentage of the vote he got. Of the 24% of voters who admitted voting for Santos, 31% say they’d still vote for him even knowing what they know now. 63% say they would not have. (What’s wrong with that 31% of the 24%?)

[LFC]

They really just can't help themselves, and it's not always the same handful of dipshits. Nope, the GOP has a deep bench of utter nutters.

Cancel Culture Club

There’s always that one guy who takes the GOP’s pretend freakout one step too far:

Rep. Eric Burlison compares DirecTV dropping Newsmax to the Holocaust pic.twitter.com/XsyefbbRTr
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 1, 2023

[andydp]

Feb 1, 2023 21:48:41 GMT LFC said:

They really just can't help themselves, and it's not always the same handful of dipshits. Nope, the GOP has a deep bench of utter nutters.

Cancel Culture Club

There’s always that one guy who takes the GOP’s pretend freakout one step too far:

Sad to hear 6 million NEWSMAX viewers committed seppuku when they heard the "news".  I'm sure they will now be reunited with their Kehrigs

[LFC]

DeSatanist again. The fact that this actually means anything to anybody tells you all you need to know about the right. It also shows that he will do something moronic to show he's addressing any grievance the right creates out of thin air, no matter how earth shatteringly stupid it is.

A little perspective.

Ron Filipkowski 🇺🇦
@ronfilipkowski

8% of the homes in FL have gas stoves. Ron lets the elitists pay no tax. The other 92% pay.

[LFC]

More right-wing virtue signaling, this time by Gaetz and backed by the GOP members of the House Judiciary Committee.

Ron Filipkowski 🇺🇦
@ronfilipkowski

His objection was based on the fact that they say the Pledge on the floor already every morning. I really don’t think the American people give a rats ass how many times Reps say the Pledge every day. Get to f*cking work you idiots!

[LFC]

Clearly Josh Hawley is a better fit with House Republicans. Moscow Mitch just backhanded him for some of his nonsense.

Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley was booted from his perch on the powerful Armed Services Committee last month as retribution for delaying the confirmation of numerous Defense Department nominees last year, and for his role in challenging Mitch McConnell’s hold as the chamber’s top Republican, sources tell CQ Roll Call.

When the Armed Services panel announced its roster last week, Hawley’s name was conspicuously absent from the list — a surprise move that came directly from McConnell’s office, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter. The sources, who requested anonymity to speak candidly about the decision, come from both sides of the aisle.

Hawley’s removal, the circumstances of which have not been previously reported, stemmed in part from his involvement in attempting to postpone the Senate GOP’s leadership elections in November to allow for a long-shot bid from Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., to replace McConnell as Republican leader.

Spokespersons for Hawley and McConnell both denied the claim.

Hawley’s spokesperson said the senator had voluntarily stepped down from Armed Services, which left room for his newly elected colleague from Missouri, Republican Eric Schmitt, to join the committee.

“I can confirm Senator Hawley’s explanation: He voluntarily gave up his seat on the committee. Any claim to the contrary is false,” said a spokesperson for McConnell.

Yeah, sure. Let's go with that. As for delaying votes on Defense Department nominees all I can ask is, why does he hate America? Why does he want our defenses to be weak? How much is Putin paying him?

[LFC]

These people are nasty children who never grew up. The right-wingers have them so groomed that they can trigger them with almost anything. Now they're suddenly mad at Chick-fil-a for offering a vegetable. They were similarly triggered when Cracker Barrel did it. You'd think the Vegan Police were kicking in doors and shoving veggies down their throats ... not that that's a particularly bad idea. (Oh, did I type that out loud?)

If you thought last month’s Twitter meltdown over a non-existent gas stove ban would be the strangest part of the 2023 culture wars… you are sadly wrong. Many tweeters are now angry at the beloved Christian conservative chicken chain Chick-fil-A for testing out a “plant-forward” alternative product.

This Thursday, the chain unveiled a breaded cauliflower sandwich. Starting on Monday, February 13, Chick-fil-A will test the new menu item in three markets; Denver, Charleston, S.C., and North Carolina’s Greensboro-Triad region.

“Cauliflower is the hero of our new sandwich, and it was inspired by our original Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich,” Leslie Neslage, the director of menu and packaging at Chick-fil-A said in a statement. “Guests told us they wanted to add more vegetables into their diets, and they wanted a plant-forward entrée that tasted uniquely Chick-fil-A. Our new sandwich is made with the highest quality ingredients and whole vegetables, and we hope it offers customers another reason to dine at Chick-fil-A.”

But a plant-based menu item (much like an induction stove) is a little too woke for some of the chain’s loyal customers The Tweet announcing the new menu item went live on Thursday. As of today the tweet has garnered about 3.5 million views and the comments have been disabled. The post was also rationed with more than 2,000 quote tweets, and about 1,400 likes. The press release announcing the new menu item linked to the tweet opens up a “site can’t be reached” page. The company’s press-room section is also unavailable at the moment.

The quote tweets were a barrage of people angry at the company for messing around with their Jesus Chicken. Maybe the backlash has been because anything deemed eco-friendly is too “woke.” Or because the cauliflower sandwich has sparked memories of Fox News warning Americans that Sleepy Joe was coming for their hamburgers. But whatever the reason, many tweeters are not happy.

Some of these tweets seem like they’re parodies of tweets from people who are actually upset about the vegetable addition to the Chick-fil-A menu. And some seem genuine. Here are some highlights:

[LFC]

The most extreme wingnut wing of the GOP still wants Moscow Mitch's head. MTG tees it up and the MAGAts jump on it.

[goldenvalley]

Feb 13, 2023 22:34:36 GMT LFC said:

The most extreme wingnut wing of the GOP still wants Moscow Mitch's head. MTG tees it up and the MAGAts jump on it.

Marge is pretty amazing.  While I agree with whoever thought Bobert and Gaetz were bought and paid for, I think Marge is a true believer in the QAnon and other stuff.  That lots of people send her PAC(s) and campaign coffers $$ is just a bonus.

[LFC]

Republicans, the same party that screeched "DEATH PANELS!" over providing end of life counseling, now has a State rep openly asking if there's a fiscal benefit in having abused children. That's not an exaggeration or spin. He literally f***ing asked it in a committee hearing.

Alaska State Rep. David Eastman (R), a former Oath Keeper who attended the Stop the Steal rally on Jan. 6, sparked outrage on Monday when he asked whether there could be economic benefits to the deaths of abused children.

Eastman made the befuddling remarks during a State House Judiciary Committee hearing this week that focused on how adverse childhood experiences, like physical or sexual abuse, can negatively affect an individual throughout their life. During the hearing, a representative from the Alaska Children’s Trust delivered a policy briefing to legislators focused on the fact that fatal child abuse and neglect can cost the family and broader society over time an estimated $1.5 million in health care expenses and potential lifetime earnings.

When it was his turn for questioning Eastman used data from the policy brief to claim that the death of an abused child could be “cost savings” for the government.

“It can be argued, periodically, that it’s actually a cost savings because that child is not going to need any of those government services that they might otherwise be entitled to receive and need based on growing up in this type of environment,” he said.

“Can you say that again? Did you say, ‘a benefit for society?’” Trevor Storrs, president and CEO of the Alaska Children’s Trust asked in response to Eastman’s question.

“I’m not even sure how to answer that,” he said, adding the loss of a child is “unmeasurable” to a family.

[goldenvalley]

Feb 22, 2023 19:52:21 GMT LFC said:

Republicans, the same party that screeched "DEATH PANELS!" over providing end of life counseling, now has a State rep openly asking if there's a fiscal benefit in having abused children. That's not an exaggeration or spin. He literally f***ing asked it in a committee hearing.

...

“It can be argued, periodically, that it’s actually a cost savings because that child is not going to need any of those government services that they might otherwise be entitled to receive and need based on growing up in this type of environment,” he said.

“Can you say that again? Did you say, ‘a benefit for society?’” Trevor Storrs, president and CEO of the Alaska Children’s Trust asked in response to Eastman’s question.

“I’m not even sure how to answer that,” he said, adding the loss of a child is “unmeasurable” to a family.

He's not sure how to answer that because he didn't mean for the words to slip out of his mouth.  It's fun to talk that way with your bar buddies and fellow insurrectionists but none of them would question him. As Rick Perry said "OOPS!" He's one of those guys who thinks that Johnathon Swift's A Modest Proposal (eat the Irish kids) was a legitimate proposal.  

[LFC]

South Carolina thought treating misbehaving children as criminals was a good idea. A federal appeals court disagreed. Spare the police record, spoil the child. And, as you could have easily predicted, black students were prosecuted WAY more than white ones. Republicans are intent on rebooting Jim Crow in any way they can.

A federal appeals court on Wednesday ruled that a pair of South Carolina laws that allowed elementary and secondary school students to be criminally charged for behaviors like cursing or acting in a "disorderly" or "boisterous" way were unconstitutional.

A 2-1 panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals held the laws failed to provide students notice of what behaviors might expose them to criminal charges and lacked sufficient safeguards to prevent arbitrary or discriminatory enforcement.

The ruling marked a victory for a group of students represented by the American Civil Liberties Union who challenged the laws, which they said had been disproportionately enforced against students of color and students with disabilities.

U.S. Circuit Judge Toby Heytens, writing for the majority, said the laws were too vague to provide elementary and secondary school students due process under the U.S. Constitution's 14th Amendment.

"Laws imposing such weighty costs on free expression must define their bounds, so students have fair warning about what is prohibited and the discretion of those who enforce the laws is adequately constrained," Heytens wrote.

Heytens said the disorderly conduct law was so broad that unless the state meant to criminalize many "childish shenanigans," it was unclear what types of "adolescent mischief" were covered, creating the risk of arbitrary enforcement.

Heytens, an appointee of Democratic President Joe Biden, noted both laws had been widely enforced, with 3,735 referrals of students for prosecution under the disorderly conduct law and 9,500 under the disturbing schools law, with some defendants as young as 7.

Black students from 2015 to 2020 were charged with disorderly conduct at roughly seven times the rate of white ones, Heytens noted, adding: "The Constitution prohibits this type of inequitable, freewheeling approach."

[LFC]

Don, Jr. isn't saying anything that isn't standard Republican fare. All roads lead to and from Hunter Biden's laptop.

Ron Filipkowski 🇺🇦
@ronfilipkowski

Junior says Biden really went to Ukraine to cover up evidence that might corroborate Hunter’s laptop.

[LFC]

Gotta' love it when these sickos are just attacking each other.

[LFC]

Listen to Rep Scott Perry (R-PArty of Fascism) rant. I don't believe this is a political act. He's literally insane.

[LFC]

Just toxic. I think this asshat is still on drugs and abusing alcohol, or perhaps he's just brain damaged from years of substance abuse.

[goldenvalley]

Mar 6, 2023 18:06:19 GMT LFC said:

Just toxic. I think this asshat is still on drugs and abusing alcohol, or perhaps he's just brain damaged from years of substance abuse.

Nope I won't give him the substance abuse outlet.  He's saying in public what he and his fellow loonies and guys at the bar are saying. He perceives no need to stop doing that now that he's in office. 

[LFC]

Rep. James Comer (R-KYll, Kyll, Kyll), House Oversight Chair, is known to be a metaphorical bomb thrower but he wants the U.S. to be a literal bomb thrower ... in Mexico.

House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-KY) said Tuesday morning that it was a “mistake” that the administration didn’t go through with bombing drug labs in Mexico after then-President Donald Trump suggested it in 2020.

“One of the things we learned post-Trump presidency is that he had ordered a bombing of a couple of fentanyl labs, crystal meth labs, in Mexico, just across the border and for whatever reason the military didn’t do it,” he said on Fox News. “I think that was a mistake.”

That Trump suggested bombing the United States’ southern neighbor and ally was revealed in former Defense Secretary Mark Esper’s book, “A Sacred Oath,” last year. Esper relayed that Trump thought such an act of war could be performed discreetly.

“When Mr. Esper raised various objections, Mr. Trump said that ‘we could just shoot some Patriot missiles and take out the labs, quietly,’ adding that ‘no one would know it was us,’” the New York Times wrote from an advanced copy of Esper’s book. “Mr. Trump said he would just say that the United States had not conducted the strike, Mr. Esper recounts, writing that he would have thought it was a joke had he not been staring Mr. Trump in the face.”

During his Tuesday interview, Comer also said that “certainly we need to have a strong military presence on that southern border,” a seeming clarification of his position a couple months ago when he floated cutting off “all funding for everything” before deciding how best to secure the border.

Comer also bemoaned that the Biden administration is paying more attention to the “Ukrainian border” than the Mexican border.

And there's the Putin payment.