Republican-On-Republican Violence
In the past, whenever I have used that title phrase, it has always been tongue-in-cheek -- as a hyperbolic metaphor, in other words. Other close cousins to it would be: "A GOP circular firing squad," or "Republicans eating their own." Neither of those was ever meant literally either, obviously. They were all merely used to dramatize intraparty GOP power struggles, or one Republican getting ostracized or worse by his or her own fellow party members. Such as Madison Cawthorn getting successfully primaried, or what the party has done and is doing (both in the House of Representatives and back home in Wyoming) to Liz Cheney.
Now, however, one Republican candidate's new campaign ad forces me to use the phrase in absolutely literal fashion, since Eric Greitens, running for a U.S. Senate seat in Missouri, posted an ad that takes Republican politics to a whole different -- and very ugly and dangerous -- level.
The ad shows Greitens on the porch of what appears to be a suburban home, with a team of military-clad buddies, all dressed as a SWAT team (of sorts) or a military attack squad. Greitens narrates the ad, as the team breaks down the door, tosses in a smoke grenade, and then rushes into the living room in ominous fashion, military assault weapons at the ready. Greitens has a shotgun, which is already cocked (he does this at the start of the ad). Here is his narration:
I'm Eric Greitens, Navy SEAL, and today we're going RINO hunting. The RINO feeds on corruption and is marked by the stripes of cowardice. Join the MAGA crew. Get a RINO hunting permit. There's no bagging limit, no tagging limit and it doesn't expire -- until we save our country.
The ad ends with an image of a "RINO Hunting Permit." Apparently (I was too disgusted to actually check) you can get an actual "RINO Hunting Permit" from his campaign site.
So this is now where the Republican Party stands. GOP politicians are now fine not just with brandishing guns in their ads, not just with shooting their guns in their ads, not just threatening those across the political aisle, but openly advocating killing members of their own party who are insufficiently pure enough for Eric Greitens.
There's no other way to read it. This is not some "joke" or "dog whistle" or any sort of "nudge, nudge, wink, wink" sort of stuff. Get a permit from Greitens, and he'll be okay with you killing as many ("no bagging limit, no tagging limit") "Republicans In Name Only" as you like. It is impossible to read this any other way. They have moved, in plumbing the depths towards fascism, to what might be called the "brownshirt stage."
This is dangerous stuff, folks. Very dangerous. Whenever any horrific shooting happens, Republicans' new answer is that the shooter was just "mentally deranged," as if that somehow makes it acceptable. And here is a Republican running for the United States Senate telling everyone -- even mentally-deranged Republicans -- that it's not just acceptable to kill as many RINOs as possible, but showing them the ultra-macho version of doing just that, by breaking down a door and invading a living room with a tactical assault team.
What would happen if someone did just that and killed some Republican voters or officeholders and then said: "But it's okay -- I have a permit from Eric Greitens, he said it'd be okay!"? Would Greitens get charged as an accessory-before-the-fact to murder? He'd definitely get sued by the family of the victim, if there's any justice left in the world.
The Washington Post, in their story about this ad, reminds anyone who doesn't recognize his name just who Greitens is:
In case you're unfamiliar with him, [Eric] Greitens's campaign for Missouri governor six years ago featured an ad showing him firing hundreds of rounds with a gigantic machine gun while the narrator said he was "under attack from Obama's Democrat machine." Greitens won that election, then resigned amid multiple scandals. The most appalling of them concerned a woman who charged that he coerced her into sex and then blackmailed her. (He admitted having an affair but denied the blackmail accusation.)
The New York Times added a few more things to the list:
The ad by Mr. [Eric] Greitens, a former Missouri governor, comes as his campaign for Senate has stumbled following lurid allegations of blackmail, sexual misconduct and child abuse. In March, Mr. Greitens's former wife, Sheena Greitens, accused him of abusive behavior, including an incident she recounted that loosened one of their son's teeth. A number of Republicans, including Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri, called on Mr. Greitens then to quit the race.
Democrats pointed out the obvious:
"This is sociopathic," tweeted Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Tex.). "You're going to get someone killed."
Even some Republicans were appalled:
"Every Republican should denounce this sick and dangerous ad from Eric Greitens," Barbara Comstock, a former Republican congresswoman from Virginia, said on Monday. "This is just a taste of the 'clear and present danger' that Judge Luttig talked about last week."
This is where the Republican Party is, even if a handful of them (usually limited to "former" officeholders who aren't worried about getting re-election) realize how dangerous their party now is. They are in the midst of a full-scale purging -- or, in the original German, launching a putsch -- of anyone insufficiently worshipful to Donald Trump. They're at the "purify the party from within" stage. This effort has been going on ever since Trump became a force within the party, and it is just about complete. They have already terrified virtually all the politicians within their own ranks with what will happen to them if they don't swear enough fealty to the Dear Leader, and they have now shifted to outright terrorizing them.
Republican-on-Republican violence, in other words. This is the logical end to the road that began with a murderous mob chanting "Hang Mike Pence!" to put it another way. Does anyone doubt that that mob would have done exactly that? And now it's so out in the open a GOP candidate for Senate is pushing his "RINO Hunting Permit" (No limits! Hunt as many as you please!).
Barbara Comstock is right. Judge Michael Luttig, testifying before the House Select Committee last week warned in stark terms: "Donald Trump and his allies and supporters are a clear and present danger to American democracy."
And now, it seems, they're also a danger to themselves. Or, at least, the perceived RINOs among them.
-- Chris Weigant
Follow Chris on Twitter: @ChrisWeigant
I'd imagine if you asked the candidate (or at the very least his attorney) he'd say it was a metaphor, and "hunting" just means voting out of office...
Not an excuse, just a plausible explanation. Also, where are the content moderators who are supposed to prevent stuff like that from being allowed in public.
Well, of course, if anyone does what he's suggesting, he will say it was only a joke. Remember how many times Trump said something, and then a couple of days later said it was a joke? Of course, none of Trump's jokes were funny, and Greitens's is even less funny, but that's not the point. When is a joke not a joke? When it's an excuse.
And notice that the RINOs who can be attacked at will now include, of all people, Dan Crenshaw. At a recent convention he was accosted by angry guardians of MAGA purity, one of whom shouted, "Dan Crenshaw is a traitor! He needs to be hung for treason."
Crenshaw not a real Republican? Next we'll hear that Siegfried wasn't Aryan.
[3]
Technically speaking Sigmund Freud Freud was born to Galician Jewish parents in the Moravian town of Freiberg, in the Austrian Empire.
[3]
Crenshaw, he of the eye patch, is some sort of military veteran and someone I find to be a Cogent Conservative. Prolly still voted against Trump Impeachment 2.0*, but still. Thus one has a brain.
*He did.
[3]
So. Final answer, "Siggraph want Aryan."
Sorry.
Goddammit. SIGMUND wasn't Aryan.
Just saying.
Fact of the matter is that Der Fürher had no Jewish blood but a little bit of cousin-cousin inbreeding, which is frankly, unsatisfying.
The decent into Facism continues...
Where's Newt Gingrich when we need him most?
Whoops, he's the guy who started all this Never compromise -- Death to Democrats! crap.
So, nevermind.
AND to Michale a gratuitous yet heartfelt Sieg Heil! as you must simply be eating up America's slide into Trumpian Dear Leader authoritarianism.
Of course hat! What could go wrong?
@caddy,
Exactly how stoned are you right now? Inquiring minds want to share.
When I saw the lead, I thought that the threats to Kinzinger's family would be included. Nonetheless, this does the trick.
nypoet22 [11]
Myself, very.
Don't know MtnCaddy personally, but oh yeah.
CW- By now we all know that Mr. Trump is guilty of treason and in a perfect world would spend the rest of his life in prison. But in this world, should he? What would the effects of a trial be on this country? Would a conviction trigger a paroxysm of violence and evil that might be unstoppable? And yet doing nothing might embolden and empower these evil forces. As I ponder this issue I would love to hear your thoughts on the subject.
Caddy,
Being stoned is NOT an excuse, just so you know ... :(
nypoet22 wrote:
@caddy,
Exactly how stoned are you right now? Inquiring minds want to share.
...or want to know.
In answer, not particularly as I wrote the comment mere minutes after indulging in "420."
I'm curious. Besides the auto correct/typos, why do you ask?
[14]
Well, I'm stoned and I have no need for any excuse. I see nothing that I've posted that isn't grounded in reality.
You, Madame "It's EVERYBODY'S but Putin's fault" hand-wringing appeasement monkey" Miller are presumably NOT (as) stoned. So what's your excuse for your foolishness?
Yep.
When Trump invades Ontario in 2027 you be sure to try and stop Murican tanks by singing Kumbaya, Elizabeth.
[12]
...
Myself, very.
Don't know MtnCaddy personally, but oh yeah.
Wait a minute! It's that obvious that I'm stoned?
Now I'll never be able to run drugs and guns through the border!
@caddy,
Yes, it is beyond obvious. And no, i really don't care to know, i just want some. :)
[13]
By now we all know that Mr. Trump is guilty of treason and in a perfect world would spend the rest of his life in prison. But in this world, should he? What would the effects of a trial be on this country? Would a conviction trigger a paroxysm of violence and evil that might be unstoppable? And yet doing nothing might embolden and empower these evil forces. As I ponder this issue I would love to hear your thoughts on the subject.
I ain't CW but we go weeks between CW Sightings, so,
I'm your Huckleberry.
--Doc. Holiday
TOMBSTONE
It's simple. If Trump breaks the law and doesn't pay? It's like me walking up and bitch slapping all the Repugs in my 'hood.
If I don't have to pay for breaking the law I'ma go ahead and get myself a little more satisfaction...and start stabbing mothereffers!
Ya follow me, Vern?
[19]
You gotta stop voting Repug wherever the hell you live :eyeroll: so that the Dems can make it LEGAL.
FYI I'm sampling a pair of 27% hybrids BLUEBERRY KUSH and BLUEBERRY SHERBERT something. In mason jars. Numbers five and six that my Homeboy Al gave me for free.
Pays to be charming, right Elizabeth?
If Trump breaks the law and doesn't pay?
It must be Tuesday.
@caddy,
Recreational marijuana is legal in New York. Not sure what it would mean for my chosen profession, however, much less my two sons under five years old.
JL
Your two sons don't have to know about it.
Caddy, I was talking about you being missing in action around here for the Juneteenth festivities ... you made me very sad.
Speaking of feeling sad, I wonder how Ukraine feels about being sacrificed ... starting to hear from Western officials that they expect this war to drag on for years ... what will be left of Ukraine and for what earthly purpose ...
What an unbelievably stupid war all in an effort to keep Ukraines wishes to be a member of NATO intact??????????
Is NATO membership worth this!?
Well, it's a moot point anyway as Ukraine is the most corrupt nation in Europe. Which is why even membership in the EU is a very, very, very long way off if it ever happens.
Most corrupt in all of Europe is a pretty bold statement, given, y'know, every other country in Europe.
For the past couple years, the worst corruption in Europe according to transparency.org is actually Russia. Ukraine has been gradually becoming less corrupt. Which kind of begs the question, is part of the reason for the invasion that Ukraine was getting tougher to buy off?
Yes, it is a bold statement ... that happens to be true.
How has Ukraine become less corrupt?
Which kind of begs the question, is part of the reason for the invasion that Ukraine was getting tougher to buy off?
And, that begs a whole other question.
It might have been true five or six years ago, but for the past few years it's not.
@Liz [31],
I have no idea as to the mechanics of Ukraine becoming less corrupt than it had been, i can only point to the rankings and say that I'm sure the experts have ways of measuring.
Oh, you're gonna have to explain why you think corruption in Ukraine has gotten better!
Well, the bottom line is that Ukraine will NOT soon be admitted to the EU nor will it become a member of NATO any time soon or ever.
Which is what makes this war the most stupid war ever.
The US now owns Ukraine now, so maybe it will become less corrupt! Heh.
How many tens of billions will the US pour into Ukraine if this goes on for years? Un-freakin'-believable!!!
Maybe Putin can build a little wall around Donetsk and Luhansk to remind himself of East Berlin.
Yeah, stopping dictators from conquering and subjugating all their neighbors is so expensive!
Okay, I will stipulate that Ukraine is the SECOND most corrupt state in Europe.
Russia is THE most corrupt state in Europe.
But, Russia isn't vying for membership in the EU nor has it ever really wanted to join NATO. So, there's that.
Yeah, stopping dictators from conquering and subjugating all their neighbors is so expensive!
Seriously?
You think this about saving Ukraine from being conquered or subjugated?
Clearly, Ukraine is being sacrificed on the alter of the West versus Russia.
You think this about saving Ukraine from being conquered or subjugated?
Yes.
Clearly, Ukraine is being sacrificed on the alter of the West versus Russia.
Ummm, no. It's just trying not to be conquered and subjugated.
It should be about saving Ukraine from being destroyed. But, obviously, it ain't.
Because, everyone including Zelensky knows that this war will only end by way of a negotiated settlement but no one is yet ready to proceed down that path.
I think the longer this thing goes on, the harder it will be to end it and the worse off Ukraine will be.
Unless, one imagines wildly that Ukraine will emerge from battle victorious with its sovereignty and territorial integrity intact.
Wow, today boomed quick.
MtnCaddy [18]
Oh don't worry, you'll still be able to do that, you'll just be more paranoid when doing it, is all.
@Speak2
Wow, today boomed quick.
Yea, we call that here in Weigantia, The Michale Effect...
As you can notice by the times that I don't comment here, things tend to be slow... Low comments... Kinda Echo-Chamber'ee..
But then, when I come back to comment, things boom quickly... :D
The Michale Effect... :D
SF Bear,
By now we all know that Mr. Trump is guilty of treason
Of course, in the REAL America, everyone (even President Trump) is innocent til proven guilty in a court of law..
In other words, in THIS America, President Trump is completely and 1000% *INNOCENT* of every and all accusations ya'all accuse him of..
And that just burns ya up, don't it?? :D
Having said that, in the spirit of amity, I'll address your question...
What would the effects of a trial be on this country?
Likely the same effect that Democrats using impeachment to address political differences would be...
Likely the same effect that Democrats dropping a nuke in the Senate would be...
Likely the same effect that Russia using a REAL nuke on the battlefield would be..
It cheapens it.. Makes it permissible and common-place.
Rather than it being a chilling and horrible and apocalyptic event it becomes an "eh... it's not so bad" kind of event..
"Disease.. Destruction.. Famine... It's what makes war so horrible. It's what makes war a thing to be avoided..."
-Captain James T Kirk
Which is why, when Democrats used impeachment to settle political scores with President Trump, the result is going to be monthly impeachments of President Biden.. That sure is going to work out well for Democrats, eh? :eyeroll:
It's why, when Democrats dropped a nuke in the Senate to push Odumbo's court picks thru, the GOP'ers dropped their own nuke and now you Democrats have to contend with a 6-3 Conservative SCOTUS.. That sure worked out well for Democrats, eh?? :eyeroll:
It's why, when Russia uses a REAL nuke on Ukraine, it's likely that NATO/US will respond with a REAL nuke on Russia.. That's surely going to work out well for the world, eh? :eyeroll:
Which brings us back around to your question of what will happen if Democrats start prosecuting former Presidents for imagined "crimes"...
IF (and that's a really big IF) President Trump Americans don't take to the streets well armed, well trained and royally pissed off....
IF that doesn't happen, you can bet that Biden, if he lives long enough to be a 'former' President will be prosecuted for all the dumb things that HE did while President..
But, that is what your Democrat Party is all about, eh SF Bear???
Being utterly moronic and ONLY paying attention to short-term goals while ignoring the long-term unintended consequences of their moronic actions...
One would think having a 6-3 SCOTUS would be a reminder to Democrats..
A reminder NOT to do stoopid shit that ALWAYS comes back and bites the Democrats on the arse...
But, beyond hypocrisy.. Beyond Trump/America hate...
Beyond THOSE defining qualities that make one a Democrat...
There is the Democrat defining quality of doing stoopid shit over and over hoping for an actual GOOD result...
Liz,
Okay, I will stipulate that Ukraine is the SECOND most corrupt state in Europe.
Russia is THE most corrupt state in Europe.
Not to nitpick..
But isn't Russia considered Asia and not Europe??
But Liz makes a good point about Ukraine and corruption..
Pre-invasion, Ukraine was one of the most corrupt states in all of Europe..
Even during the invasion, Ukraine's racism was blatant, systemic and plentiful...
THIS is the state that are the good guys, according to Biden's Handlers and the Democrats???
Boggles the mind..
Recreational marijuana is legal in New York. Not sure what it would mean for my chosen profession, however, much less my two sons under five years old.
If I may tread towards the morbid here for a moment..
I am reminded of an old DRAGNET episode (probably before ya'all's time (save for CRS and Caddy)) where a couple high on pot let their toddler drown in the bath-tub because they were so high and didn't know/care what their kid was doing..
We had a similar episode on a film we watched in 3rd or 4th (could have been 5th or 6th... Probably 6th) grade where at the end, the announcer was saying something like..
"Stressed out?? Take a pill and feel better"
Then showed parents around a crib with the mother saying, "Oh no, the baby has a 105 temperature" and they take a pill to feel less stressed about it...
The anti-drug campaign of my youth worked very well on me.. That plus my wanting to be a cop since I was in 2nd grade... :D
Which ALSO reminds me of an article I read yesterday.. I won't bother finding the link, because there are so many news reports of the same effect..
I think it was in Portland, OR (of course.. :eyeroll:) where they had legalized all sorts of hard drugs and then were shocked that OD deaths and violent crime increased..
I mean, what are the odds!!?? You legalize hard drugs and all of the sudden, there are a lot more OD deaths and a lot more violent crimes committed by those whacked out on hard drugs..
Who could have POSSIBLY predicted that outcome, eh??
What *IS* it about Democrats that they simply refuse to see the obvious consequences of their actions??
I mean, was it PREDICTABLE that if you have DEFUND, DEMORALIZE, DEMONIZE THE POLICE policies that actually defunded and demoralized the police.... Is it predictable that violent crime would flourish out of control???
Is it predictable that if you get rid of bail and simply release violent criminals back into society that these violent criminals would CONTINUE to commit violent crimes!??
Is ANY of that predictable!??
OF COURSE it's predictable...
Which is why it's LAUGHABLE that Democrats are shocked and surprised at these VERY PREDICTABLE consequences...
Democrats be like, "WOW... Who would have thought that if you legalize hard drugs, that more people would die from overdoses!!??? We did NOT see that coming!!!"
Or Democrats be like, HOLY CARP!!! Who could have predicted that, if we defund, demoralize, demonize the police that people would adopt the same kind of 'Hate Cops' attitude and attacks on cops and citizens would increase!! Who would have thunked if we made the cops NOT want to do their jobs, that lawlessness would have increased dramatically!!!??? We could NEVER have predicted THIS would be the result, eh!!???"
It's the same attitude Democrats have over everything..
Democrats are ALWAYS about the short term goals.. Democrat *NEVER* consider the long-term consequences of their actions..
This is simply another example of it..
Just like dropping a Nuke in the Senate and then Democrats are all shocked and surprised that they now have to deal with a 6-3 Conservative SCOTUS...
Just like making impeachments a weapon to settle political scores with.. And Democrats are going to be all shocked and indignant when Biden has monthly impeachments once the GOP is in control..
Just like prosecuting former Presidents to settle political scores.. And then Democrats are going to be all shocked and indignant when Biden is hauled into criminal court...
Democrats are hysterical and emotional and they simply react hysterically and emotionally...
Democrats *NEVER* think before they strike...
It's a defining characteristic...
One would think having a 6-3 SCOTUS would be a reminder to Democrats..
Speaking of the 6-3 SCOTUS.....
Is today the day???
Are we going to see Roe v Wade and Democrat Eugenics v Casey thrown on the trash heap of history where it belongs??? :D
According to the SCOTUS Schedule, they are releasing opinions today and Thursday... No other releases are scheduled...
I think they have like 20 opinions that are left to be released..
Could be as few as 17 or as many as 24... I am not sure which..
Last week, on the SCOTUS BLOG, there was talk of extending the releases into July.. But, as I said, according to the SCOTUS calendar they haven't scheduled an OPINIONS release beyond Thursday...
So, this is it.. This week RvW and DEvC will fall... :D
I, of course, will be live blogging as my work schedule permits..
So, stay tuned.. :D
MC,
If I don't have to pay for breaking the law I'ma go ahead and get myself a little more satisfaction...and start stabbing mothereffers!
Of course, you live in The People's Republic Of California so the odds of you being able to get away with it are good because no one is armed..
Try doin' that shit here in FL or in TX.... See how long you last.. :D
Down here, you can't throw a rock without hitting at least a DOZEN people who are armed..
"Of course he had a gun!! This is Texas!! MY FLORIST HAS A GUN!!!"
-Candice Bergen, MISS CONGENIALITY
Of course, the *FACT* is that President Trump is 100% completely and unequivocally INNOCENT of all that ya'all accuse him of..
Get that???
President Trump is 1000%.... COMPLETELY.... UNEQUIVOCALLY....
***INNOCENT***
And that just chaps ya'all's arses, don't it.. :D
Of course, you live in The People's Republic Of California so the odds of you being able to get away with it are good because no one is armed..
Of course... Once the SCOTUS rules on New York State Rifle & Pistol Association Inc. v. Bruen (THIS WEEK!!! :D ) then California will become a MUST ISSUE state.. :D
ALL States that are MAY ISSUE states will become MUST ISSUE states.. :D
That's the beauty of a 6-3 Conservative SCOTUS.. The 2nd Amendment is sacrosanct.. :D
Once again, Democrats and Unintended Consequences...
They go together like shit and stank...
So get yer "stabbin' them mothereffers" in now, MC.. :D
Because pretty soon, when it comes to being armed, California is gonna be like FL and TEXAS...
The mothereffers you go after might just shoot back.. :D
OH, and just a reminder??
139 days until The Uber Nuclear Biblical Shellacking is visited upon Democrats.. :D
Just 3,357 hours...
Just 201,446 minutes..
Not that I am counting, eh? :D
Jean Luc,
I'd imagine if you asked the candidate (or at the very least his attorney) he'd say it was a metaphor, and "hunting" just means voting out of office...
That's what a Democrat would say...
Remember all those Democrats telling black Americans to take to the streets and riot if they don't get a verdict they want...
Remember all those Democrats telling other Democrats to harass GOP'ers in their homes and when they go out to eat, etc etc etc...
Remember how Schumer threatened Gorsuch and Kavanaugh?? Schumer threatened Gorsuch and Kavanaugh, saying that they would have to "pay the price"...
And then some loony Democrat actually tries to make good on Schumer's threat and exact such a "price" from Kavanaugh...
Funny how no one here wants to look at all THAT... :eyeroll:
Hypocrisy... It's not a bug in Democrat programming.. It's a feature.
As a PSA for Weigantians, allow me to save ya'all the trouble of responding..
"Well.. uh... er... well, THAT's different!!"
-Weigantians
There... ya'all are covered.. :eyeroll:
Russia is big enough that large parts of it are in both Asia and Europe. For that matter it even has a border with North America, as Sarah Palin might attest.
EXCLUSIVE: Down and out (for the count) in Portland:
Distressing pictures of addicts passed out all over city show how its Democrat-backed drug decriminalization program has backfired spectacularly
New photos show the current situation in Portland that resembles an 'open air drug market'
Homelessness and drug use continue to increase more than a year after Ballot Measure 110 passed
Overdose deaths in the state hit an all-time high in 2021 with 1069, a 41 percent increase from 2020
Wright's comments come as nearby Portland has become an 'open air drug market' and overdoses skyrocket
Oregon was the first state in the United States to decriminalize possession of personal-use amounts of heroin, methamphetamine, LSD, oxycodone
I mean, com'on...
How many brain cells does one actually need to realize that decriminalizing hard drugs would lead to a massive explosion of OD deaths???
And it's so DOUBLE'ee stoopid because Democrats are simply killing off Democrat voters..
And, given the facts of the soon to be (139 days!! :D) Democrat Uber Nuclear Biblical Shellacking, the LAST thing Democrats want to do is start killing off their OWN voters!!!
But here again... Just another example of Democrat short term thinking and ignoring the long term consequences..
What did Democrats think??
That if Democrats legalize the drugs, that the druggies would, all of the sudden turn over a new leaf and use the hard drugs responsibly???
Was THAT the thought process at work here??
That's the same kind of thinking that Democrats used to defund, demonize, demoralize the police.. Democrats figured that the crooks and scumbags would be so thankful that Democrats neutralized LEOs that the crooks and scumbags would work with them to better society...
It's complete and utter MORONIC thinking without an iota of rational fact or awareness of reality.....
Apparently, ANOTHER identifying characteristic of a Democrat...
Of course I would be remiss if I didn't point out that those characteristics are of quintessential Democrats..
I am well aware that not all Democrats fit that mold...
So... Notable Exceptions Noted... NEN
Russia is big enough that large parts of it are in both Asia and Europe. For that matter it even has a border with North America, as Sarah Palin might attest.
But, for purposes of geography...
Is Russia considered Asia or Europe...
Maybe Eurasia???
Because we are at war with Eurasia.. We have always been at war with Eurasia...
:D
yes.
OK.. Glad we got that one resolved.. :D
to give you personal context, my great grandfather fought for the tsar against japan in manchuria, which earned him the freedom of movement that made his immigration to the US possible.
that's how big russia is. of course back then they considered ukraine part of russia. my grandmother came from ukriaine (a suburb of kiev), and she still called it russia in stories about her childhood. my other granddad would NEVER have called wales part of england.
"before i'll be a slave i'll be buried in my grave" isn't just song lyrics.
Interesting factoid..
Occasional Cortex is AGAINST the new mental health as it pertains to guns legislation that is coming out of the Senate..
The new mental health bill includes expanded background checks for those over 18 but under 21 to buy any kind of firearm...
This would open up any juvenile criminal record of the purchaser..
And Occasional Cortex is against that because it's prejudicial...
Get that???
Occasional Cortex doesn't want a juvie criminal record to be held against someone who wants to purchase a rifle..
That is how completely and utterly whacked progressive Democrats are...
They are against gun violence but they think that someone with a juvie criminal record should still be able to buy a gun...
Democrat "logic" at work.. :eyeroll:
Hmmmmm.. This is interesting..
FINA
Just testing the NNL filters.. Bear with me..
Hmmmmmmm
Swimming’s world governing body, FINA, announced a ban Sunday on biological men competing in women’s events, unless they had “transitioned” before the age of 12.
NNL Test..
puberty
OK Apparently, the NNL filters DO NOT like the word
test-oste-rone
So, I will rephrase..
FINALLY... Some sanity comes to women's sports..
Men are men and women are women..
And no amount of surgery or drug therapy or mental health issues or wishful thinking will change this one biological FACT...
Men are men and women are women...
I guess if we had a wholesale instance of spontaneous genetic mutations worldwide then the scientific definition would have to change..
But we don't so it doesn't..
Men are men and women are women..
This is a scientific FACT... And Democrats claim to be all about the science, so obviously Democrats agree that men are men and women are women..
Even if they can't define what a woman is..
:eyeroll:
Michale,
I can't believe that I'm the only one around here who sees what is happening to Ukraine and becomes more and more frustrated and saddened. This war should never have begun and, now that it is raging, no one seems to give a whit about putting in the effort to end it. And, as it drags on - for years!!!!!!!!!!!????????? Are you freakin' kidding me!!!!!!?????? - the people of Ukraine are losing everything, permanently while the rest of the world deals with food shortages and famine in Africa. I can't take much more of this stupidity and lack of concern. I have about reached my limit.
And, about what I do to try to make a living ... pretty sure I've talked about this before. I manage a boutique for a German ladies wear company. In Canada, we have about 80 retail outlets across the country. It is a mostly fun job but it is a lot of hard work and a lot of crazy hours even though I am the one who sets the schedule! :)
Men are men and women are women..
Repeating something, over and over again, doesn't make it so. Heh.
Liz,
I can't believe that I'm the only one around here who sees what is happening to Ukraine and becomes more and more frustrated and saddened. This war should never have begun and, now that it is raging, no one seems to give a whit about putting in the effort to end it. And, as it drags on - for years!!!!!!!!!!!????????? Are you freakin' kidding me!!!!!!?????? - the people of Ukraine are losing everything, permanently while the rest of the world deals with food shortages and famine in Africa. I can't take much more of this stupidity and lack of concern. I have about reached my limit.
I understand your frustrations...
We differed at the beginning... I believed (and still do) that Ukraine had the sovereign right to decide NATO membership for themselves.. Just as Finland and Sweden do...
And Putin has the right to be miffed about it and take steps INTERNALLY to combat the NATO "threat"..
Those steps are proper and legitimate right up to where Putin crossed the border, literally and figuratively,
into open warfare against Ukraine...
At THAT point, Ukraine held the moral, legal and ethical high ground..
But once Zelentsky took NATO membership off the table, Ukraine lost the moral, legal and ethical high ground..
At THAT point, it simply began a battle of pride and egos... Zelentsky is NOT doing Ukraine any favors by prolonging this war..
And Biden and the Democrats are NOT doing Ukraine or the region any favors by prolonging the conflict...
Biden and the Democrats are feeding the battles for Ukraine but starving the victory...
It's Star Trek's DAY OF THE DOVE for the here and now...
And, about what I do to try to make a living ... pretty sure I've talked about this before.
Probably have... You know me.. At my age, the memory is the second thing to go.. :D
It is a mostly fun job
I have always maintained... If you enjoy your job, you'll never have to work a day in your life... :D
Repeating something, over and over again, doesn't make it so. Heh.
Yer right..
Biological science is what makes it so... :D
Biology can now be changed!
Nope...
No amount of drugs or surgery will turn a man into a woman or a woman into a man..
You can put tits on a man and he will still be a man..
You can put an adams apple on a woman and she will still be a woman...
Biologic gender is forever...
This is the science...
Even when Spock's consciousness was in T-Pring, T-Pring was still a Vulcan woman...
Just about another hour to go!!!! :D
https://www.scotusblog.com/
Make that TWO more hours... DOH!!! :^/
"Got excited there.. Fired off a few warning shots.. Sorry about that.."
-Robin Williams, LIVE AT THE MET
:D
If I may go on a bit of a rant here..
I am really getting sick and tired of all the second guessing by armchair quarterbacks over the Uvalde shooting..
Mistakes were made.. Of that there is no doubt.. But what is SORELY lacking is reporting on WHY the decisions made were made..
If the facts and reality were ignored and mistakes were made, OK fine... String the cops up by their thumbs and slap them silly...
But if tactical decisions were made for good sound tactical reasons and just turned out to be wrong, that's another whole kettle o' fish....
In other words, WRONG decisions made for the RIGHT reasons are not mistakes.. It's called the heat of battle... The fog of war...
If a cop makes a totally boneheaded decision based on fear or what have you, yes.. That cop deserves to be vilified
But if a cop makes a decision based on the known accepted reality of the situation and it just turns out to be wrong, then you can't blame the cop... He or she did the best they could with what they had....
I always told troops under my command, "Failure to make a decision is a decision in itself. And it's the WORST possible decision you can make.. Get all the available facts and intel you can and then make a decision.. If you get it wrong, but you had good tactical reasons, I'll cover your 6 to hell and back.."
So people need to quit demonizing the Uvalde cops until they learn WHY the decisions made were made...
Until they do, they just need to STFU....
{/rant}
oh, really ... that's priceless, coming from you
In what way???
I strive to be consistent...
You lost any right you may have had to tell anyone to STFU a long time ago ...
I mean, seriously ...
Why?? You mean when it comes to demonizing cops for no good reason???
If a cop actually screws up he deserves to be strung up..
The problem here is that 99% of the time, cops DON'T screw up...
Even when Spock's consciousness was in T-Pring, T-Pring was still a Vulcan woman...
But she was in the male body of Spock. the inhabitant of her body was Spock, who is male. Personally I'm amazed that with all these cross gender body switching story lines the first thing they all do isn't to reach down and play with their new junk.
I mean, generally speaking.
Don't ever tell anyone to STFU about anyting, okay?
Let the fun begin!
Personally I'm amazed that with all these cross gender body switching story lines the first thing they all do isn't to reach down and play with their new junk.
"Don't you touch my boobs!"
-Martha (in Sheldon Oberroth's body)
"Oh shit, girl, that's the FIRST thing I did!"
-Fridge, (in Ruby Roundhouse's body)
:D
Don't ever tell anyone to STFU about anyting, okay?
Apologies.. I get real defensive about cops being falsely accused of stuff..
It's actually funny.. When my kids were growing up, we had a hard and fast rule..
We NEVER tell people to shut up...
Good advice!
Yea, it always rubbed me the wrong way to have our kids tell each other to shut up..
OK Here we go.. SCOTUS orders...
Orders done... Waiting for opinions... 1000hrs EDT...
They start at 1000hrs and come every 10 minutes until done..
OK It's pucker time.. :D
We have the first opinion. It is Marietta Memorial Hospital v. Davita.
It's by Justice Kavanaugh, and the decision appears to be 7-2.
https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/21pdf/20-1641_3314.pdf
Next opinion, which is US v. Taylor.
It is by Justice Gorsuch, and the vote is 7-2 with Thomas and Alito dissenting.
The question before the Court was whether an attempted (but ultimately unsuccessful) robbery under the Hobbs Act, which criminalizes an attempt to commit robbery that affects interstate commerce, qualifies as a “crime of violence” for purposes of a federal law that makes it a federal crime to use a gun in a “crime of violence.”
https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/21pdf/20-1459_n7ip.pdf
Next opinion United States v. Washington.
It is by Justice Breyer, and the decision is unanimous.
This case is a challenge by the federal government to a special Washington state worker’s compensation law for federal contract workers employed at the Hanford site in the state, which produced weapons-grade plutonium for the U.S. nuclear program but also generated large amounts of radioactive waste. The law creates a presumption that workers will be eligible for benefits if they contract certain diseases, including cancer.
https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/21pdf/21-404_i5ea.pdf
Breyer releasing an opinion means we're not going to get Dobbs or Bruen today... :(
Unless Chief Justice Roberts joined the majority on Dobbs..
Next opinion is Carson v. Makin
This case was a challenge to the constitutionality of a Maine program that pays tuition for some students to attend private schools when their own school district does not operate a public secondary school.
https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/21pdf/20-1088_dbfi.pdf
Next up is Shoop v. Twyford.
This is a case about, among other things, whether a court must determine whether evidence would help an inmate seeking a writ of habeas corpus and whether the court can consider that evidence before the court grants an order allowing the inmate to develop new evidence.
A 5-4 ruling with Roberts authoring the majority...
Still a possibility for DOBBS and BRUEN...
https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/21pdf/21-511_o75p.pdf
Nope.. It's an R number so that's it for the day... :(
Still no Dobbs... Still no Bruen...
What a let down...
@liz [72],
you're not the only one who's frustrated and saddened, you're just the only one who is willing to accept the cost putin would exact if ukraine sued for peace by voluntarily giving him part of their country.
the US will not conquer canada. we promise we'll leave you alone and let you do business same as before, just sign over manitoba to US control and we'll all be very pleased with ourselves for avoiding an unnecessary conflict.
I prefer British Columbia.... Much more fun a place.. :D
Pro-lifers targeted over 40 times in attacks, vandalism, harassment since Supreme Court leak, group says
Pro-life groups demand Biden condemn violence, DOJ take action
And the response from Democrats and Weigantians??
{{cccchhhiiirrrrrpppppp}}{{{ccchhhiiirrrrrrppppp}}}
:eyeroll:
All it is is 6JC blaaa blaaa blaaaa...
Never condemning the REAL violence and REAL attacks coming from the Left Wingery....
Ok, BC it is. It'll need a new name though, how about trumpsylvania? I'm sure Quebec will be tickled pink that somebody else left Canada before they did.
There, see how easy that was? Imagine all the bloodshed we've avoided!
Michalelund!!!! :D
Reaganbushia
hehehehehhe
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDF0Y9KOloY&list=RDMMYKtlK7sn0JQ&index=27
Twitter board unanimously recommends Musk's takeover bid
Elon Musk's deal would take Twitter private at $54.20 a share
It's gonna happen.. :D
[80]
If I may go on a bit of a rant here..
IMO Michale, this is the best post out of you in recent memory! Enjoyable and informative even as I take exception to your Don't criticize the law enforcement that we hire to protect us mantra.
D'ya wanna know why I feel that way? Because it's,
*Original (not cut and paste laziness)
*It's in your own heartfelt words.
*It's not the #SameShitDifferentDay boring and repetitive dross that you pollute the man's comment section with...after stiffing him when you lost our wager. I'm not letting this go until one of us pays CW that $100USD you owe him.
Anyways, more Michale and less right-wing spewage!
Anyways, more Michale and less right-wing spewage!
Be careful what you wish for??? :D
I want to tell you what I think Democrats' biggest problem is..
That, if they solved this problem, then all other issues would be surmountable..
The Democrat Party's biggest problem is their collective guilt over racism..
Every problem the Democrats have all flow from that single issue..
Collective guilt..
Democrats feel guilty because they were the Party that gave this country the KKK and Jim Crow..
And, in their throes of collective guilt Democrats feel that the ONLY solution is to be racist in FAVOR of black Americans.. To atone for all their past racism AGAINST black Americans..
In short, Democrats feel that the must be racist to atone for their racism..
I know, I know.. It's completely and utterly irrational, but it's how Democrats think...
That is why, as a whole, Democrats see racism in everything.. They are like the brigand in THE MUMMY II who thinks everything is cursed..
"This is cursed.. THAT is cursed..."
With Democrats, it's "This is racist... THAT is racist..."
Of course, the black American activists feed this Democrat way of looking at things because it benefits the black Democrat activist...
Reparations is a PERFECT example..
Thanx to BLM, we now know that a Democrat activists are working a con... And this push for reparations is the most blatant con of all.. Even more blatant than the BLM con... The BLM con was more of an extortion ring than a con..
"Give us money or we will destroy your corporation and your offices and your stores.."
-BLM
The CON part of BLM came when those paying the extortion actually believed they were going to help black Americans.. But all the corporations did was fund the lavish lifestyle that the BLM group felt they were entitled..
But reparations?? That is a blatant con.. Giving money to people for slavery that were NEVER slaves.... And, of course, it's the American people of ALL races who are footing the bill...
So, the people who were NEVER slaves get slavery reparations..
And the people who were NEVER slave owners have to pay the slavery reparations..
Can ANYONE explain to me the logic of this??? The rational thought that goes along with this blatant con??
And the Democrat Party as a whole gets behind this because of Democrat collective guilt over their past support of slavery and their collective guilt for having given this country the KKK and Jim Crow...
But here's the kicker..
EVERY country in this world had slavery at one time or another.. EVERY society at one time or another had the conquerors and the conquered. And the conquered were almost always enslaved...
And, of course, it's a FACT that it was black African conquerors who enslaved the black people they conquered... Black slave traders sold black people all over the world..
And yet, it's ONLY in America that there is this collective guilt by the Democrat Party that pushes blatantly racist crap like Affirmative Action and Reparations...
You have blatantly racist Affirmative Action where you get a leg up SOLELY based on your race.. BY DEFINITION, that is racist..
With Reparations, you get money SOLELY based on your race.. AGAIN, BY DEFINTION, that is racist..
It's the ONLY remnant of systemic/institutionalized racism left in this country..
And it's ALL on the Democrat Party...
So, Democrats... Get over your collective guilt already....
Everyone in America has an equal opportunity to succeed....
And THAT is all that anyone can expect from life...
For all those that DON'T succeed?? 99.9% of the time, such lack of success can be traced back to a stupid choice that was made..
So, let's nip this one in the bud, right here, right now..
Democrats.. In the here and now, you are not responsible for the slavery perpetrated by your ancestors..
In the here and now, black Americans don't NEED a leg up... They are sentient human beings who can make choices for themselves.. They don't NEED wealth they didn't earn.. Your average black American is perfectly able to get to where they want to be without handouts or legs up or reparations or affirmative action..
Black Americans have the same exact opportunities that everyone else has..
And for Democrats to think that black Americans need the extra consideration is insulting and racist..
So, Democrats...
Get over your racism already...
{/rant}
I'm not letting this go until one of us pays CW that $100USD you owe him.
And, unfortunately, the CW I know has passed away...
So unless you can figure out a way to send $100 to either heaven or hell (I am betting on the former, but wouldn't put the latter past CW, the sly dog.. :D) then you'll just have to be satisfied with some lucky lady in Israel who has a seeing eye companion thanx in part to my donation...
http://mfccfl.us/IGDdonation.jpg
If the old CW was here with us, I am sure he would love that the donation went to such a worthy cause...
Police could've stopped Uvalde shooting within 3 mins, Texas DPS official says
Sure...
With the benefit of 20/20 hindsight, EVERY mass shooting could have been prevented.. :eyeroll:
Please note that the requested rant of #115 was directed at the quintessential Democrat...
Many Democrats represented here in Weigantia do not fit in the category of the Democrat that #115 was directed at..
NEN....
Notable Exceptions Noted... :D
If the "old CW died" then why are you still here?
Yes! More rants and less right-wing spew. Especially when it's something you know about.
Repeating lies over and over doesn't work on us Libs like it works on you whatever you call yourself and your ilk.
If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck it's a duck, albeit a duck quacking NPA! I'm an NPA!
If the "old CW died" then why are you still here?
As one of 3 original founders, I have a duty and an obligation to continue to fulfill the role that CW wanted me to fill...
Repeating lies over and over doesn't work on us Libs
If I were repeating lies, you would have a point..
But I am not, so you don't...
Except where noted as fact-based opinions, everything posted is 1000% factual...
If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck it's a duck, albeit a duck quacking NPA! I'm an NPA!
And yet, I am the ONLY one who has PROVEN that they are a card-carrying NPA.. IE Independent.. :D It says it right there on my registration card...
NPA
No
Political
Affiliation.. :D
Once again... JUST THE FACTS.. :D
Others trying to be like Mike have CLAIMED they are Independents..
But yet, *I* am the only one who has PROVEN it... :D
Funny how that is, eh?? :D
[122]
In your world it sounds like you have.
Um, what does 1000% proven/whatever mean in your world? That you've proven it ten times more truly? Is this some sort of Supersized Truth? And should I,too, give it the respect of ALLCAPS TRUTH?
How does that work in your world?
On a lighter note, I loved that ...second thing to fail.:D
That's a keeper!
So that's at least one thing your world has with ours. USA! USA!
Later, Alligator.
Joshua,
Ukraine's insistence on its future membership in NATO - at the behest of the US, I hasten to add - made this stupid war unavoidable. I'm beginning to believe that the US never wanted to avoid this conflict with Russia - mostly because none of this makes any sense, otherwise.
Do you really think that Ukraine will win this war and regain ALL of its territory, including Crimea? The only way that happens is if the US and its NATO allies engage in all out war with Russia. Then do you want to guess how THAT ends?
If Ukraine had instead acted in its own best interests and negotiated to avoid war and softened its stance on NATO membership (as Zelensky has already done and then backtracked more than once since this thing began) it may well have ended up with most of its territory intact. Now, when all the parties are finally ready to end this war with a political settlement, Ukraine will surely not be so fortunate.
I can't understand why you choose to ignore geopolitical reality and facts already on the ground vis-a-vis NATO enlargement and Russian concerns ... pre-24 February, let alone for the past thirty years. These things won't go away just because you refuse to see them.
As for your silly Canadian scenario ... the US can go right ahead and conquer Canada and take beautiful British Columbia just as soon as Canada pulls out of NATO and declares its wish to be aligned with Russia in a defense alliance and even go so far as to put this wish in writing in our constitution. You see how non-serious your analogy is?