Thursday, February 29, 2024

WI Republicans Spending Spree on Attorneys, Chesebro is the BadgerPundit, Nazi CPAC Meet, WHITE RURAL RAGE, the book.

 Just another page in the Trump era...

1. Lame Duck Laws by Lame Gerrymandered Republicans.

WI Republicans not only took power away from the governor and AG during a lame duck session after Scott Walker lost, but they also allowed themselves to hire their own attorneys instead of the state justice department.

WI GOP's lame duck laws made it easier for the Legislature to hire attorneys and indeed, WI taxpayers are on the hook for nearly $14.3M spent by WI GOP on private attorneys between 1/1/19 & 12/31/22. Add probably $3M more for this last redistricting fight.

While the Dems have only just hired their private attorneys:

It must be highlighted that only in this last redistricting fight did Democrats hire their own private lawyers—at a fraction of what WI GOP attorneys charged. And WI GOP experts, like the redistricting one paid $450/hr, are additional out-of-pocket costs.

Another amazing example of “fiscal conservative policies.” Then there's this...



2. Kenneth Chesebro's private Twitter account @badgerpundit sought to overturn the election. Okay?

Do you call it an insurrection? Uh, yea.

Kenneth Chesebro, who helped devise the Trump campaign’s fake electors plot, concealed a secret Twitter account from Michigan prosecutors, hiding dozens of posts that undercut his statements to investigators about his role in the scheme.



3. Nazis at CPAC know where their swastikas are welcome...
4. WHITE RURAL RAGE, the book: 

Professor of political science at the University of Maryland, Tom Schaller and journalist Paul Waldman's new book, “White Rural Rage.”

You might remember back in 2016, The Politics of Resentment: Rural Consciousness in Wisconsin and the Rise of Scott Walker by author Katherine J. Cramer.
White Rural Rage laid out the fourfold interconnected threat that white rural voters pose to the country,” in their new book. “They are the most anti-gay, xenophobic in the country. QAnon support and subscribers, COVID denialism, Obama birtherism.”

“They don’t believe in an independent press, free speech. They’re most likely to say the president should be backed unilaterally without checks from the courts, and the strongest white Christian nationalists. Fourth, they’re most likely to excuse or justify violence as acceptable.”

This is the case due to the “problematic education systems,” “poorer infrastructure” and “a lack of economic opportunity” in rural areas of the country.

“That kind of left them open to someone like Donald Trump who would come along and tell them something that was true, that there is a system that has not served them well,”

5. Florida College Hit With Rare Sanction After DeSantis’ ‘Egregious’ Takeover, that was politically motivated. 

NewCollege of Florida, the school infamously overhauled by Gov. Ron DeSantis and his pals, was slapped with a rare sanction by a national faculty group Monday for “egregious and extensive” standards violations during its conservative takeover last year.

The American Association of University Professors, has placed just 12 other universities on its sanctioned list over the last three decades.

The nonprofit wrote in a report that its decision stemmed from New College’s “unprecedented politically motivated takeover.”

DeSantis praised the moves as necessary to save the school from ruin, even though it regularly pumped out Fulbright scholars.

LeRoy Pernell, a Florida A&M Law professor said, “What we are witnessing in Florida is an intellectual reign of terror. There is a tremendous sense of dread right now, not just among faculty; it’s tangible among students and staff as well. People are intellectually and physically scared. We are being named an enemy of the state.”


MUST SEE: What Trump's American will really look like...

The Heritage Foundation's work on Project 2025 is a long read, so in an attempt to get the word out on our possible dystopian future, the Courier Newsroom has a number of videos that break it all down. Here's just one great example:




Wednesday, February 21, 2024

Christian Nationalism is spreading.

1. Gather Around the Christian Nationalist Flag…

Trump’s team is preparing to fundamentally reshape America under their “Project 2025” plan, starting with declaring America is now a “Christian nationalist” country.

Christian nationalists believe the country was founded as a Christian nation, and Christian values should be prioritized throughout government and public life.

Russell Vought, who served under Trump could be a potential chief of staff for Trump.

A list of top priorities:

---invoking the Insurrection Act on Day One to quash protests.

--- refusing to spend authorized congressional funds on unwanted projects.

---promoted a restrictionist immigration agenda, saying a person’s background doesn’t define who can enter the U.S., but rather, citing Biblical teachings, whether that person “accept[ed] Israel’s God, laws and understanding of history.”

---Christian nationalist William Wolfe, a former Trump administration official advocated for overturning same-sex marriage, ending abortion and reducing access to contraceptives.

---a constellation of conservative groups run by Trump allies constructed a detailed plan to dismantle key agencies, that states “freedom is defined by God, not man.” NOT THE CONSTITUTION.

---Trump is espousing the Christian right’s long-running argument that Christians are so severely persecuted that it necessitates a federal response.

---“Marxists and fascists” are “going hard” against Catholics, so “Upon taking office, I will create a new federal task force on fighting anti-Christian bias to be led by a fully reformed Department of Justice that’s fair and equitable.”

---Trump promoted on his social media a video that suggests his campaign is, actually, a divine mission from God.

God made Trump audio.

---define human rights based on “natural law and natural rights” derived from God that can’t be superseded by government or judges. It’s been used to oppose abortion, LGBTQ+ rights and contraception.

---Trump is also talking about bringing his former national security adviser Michael Flynn, a vocal proponent of Christian nationalism, back into office. Flynn is currently focused on recruiting what he calls an “Army of God” — as he barnstorms the country promoting his vision of putting Christianity at the center of American life.

---William_E_Wolfe’s principles, including on immigration states: “Jesus Christ wasn’t an open-borders socialist. The Bible unapologetically upholds the concept of sovereign nations.”

---Vought defended the widely criticized practice of family separation at the border during the Trump years, telling the audience “The decision to defend the rule of law necessitates the separation of families.”

---policies that support LGBTQ+ rights, subsidize “single-motherhood” and penalize marriage should be repealed because subjective notions of “gender identity” threaten “Americans’ fundamental liberties.”

---organized campaigns around “culture war” issues, including curbing LGBTQ+ rights, banning books and opposing gun safety laws.

---Matthew Taylor, a scholar at the Institute for Christian Jewish Studies, said, “These folks aren’t as interested in democracy or working through democratic systems because their theology is one of Christian warfare.”

2. ‘God & Country' Review: A Bracing, Rob Reiner-Produced Primer on the Dangers of Christian Nationalism.

Thefilm points out in exhaustive detail, Christian Nationalism is very much a political, rather than religious, movement. The movement claims that America is a Christian nation and that the founders intended it as such. It seeks to roll back feminism, LBGTQ rights and abortion, and to either introduce Christianity to public schools or substitute them with private Christian schools funded by vouchers.

That a large majority of the population opposes these things doesn't faze them in the least. But it does motivate them to prevent people from voting.

The film ends where it began, with footage of Jan. 6 insurrectionists proudly bearing crosses, signs emblazoned with bible verses, and pictures of Jesus. What it doesn't provide, unfortunately, is a persuasive prescription for how we're going to prevent our country from descending from democracy to theocracy.

3. Heritage Foundation Integrates religion into Sex...not having it!

Tuesday, February 20, 2024

A Media Defamation Law would be Right-wing Media's biggest Enemy but go-ahead Florida.

Once a conservative now a progressive pundit Bruce Bartlett remarked: 
“The right spent the last 50 years building an alternative media to get out its message, while the left has doggedly relied solely on the legacy media. As the legacy media has collapsed, the right's media has remained strong, while the left's ability to communicate has died."
Well, that might change soon in Florida:
A GOP-backed defamation bill making it easier to sue the media in Florida will 'destroy conservative media,' says on conservative radio host
Supposedly, Florida aims to hold the liberal media accountable.

But right-wing radio host lie all the time. They don’t see a problem with this.

This conservative radio host never admits right wing radio hosts lie… But he is freaking out because he knows it's true…in his own words:
“Liberal trial lawyers are going to have a field day with “center-right” media in the state of Florida, it will destroy conservative media in this state.”
Why, because they Lie.
“How do you think a conservative show host is gonna hold up in deep blue Broward County with liberal judges. I believe that Republicans are acting like liberals in the way that they are legislating out of emotion. They're not thinking. They're reacting. Liberals don't even care about winning. They care about burying the voices. They care about censoring conservative voices.”
Because they can’t stop lying? He said,
“They want to shut down conservative media. And the Republicans are creating a law that would make it easier for them to do so."
Because conservative media can’t stop lying.

This will be fun to watch, if not a little on the chaotic side.

John & Gordy Show: Pentagon Sense of Humor, AI voices against Guns, MAGAs part with their money, Tenn. to Ban Cold Beer?

 A look at the John & Gordy Show on WMDX 92.7 Monday....

1. PENTAGON CONFRONTED WITH MOVIE CHARACTER COMPARISONS TO REAL WORLD VILLAINS:  

As the TWEET X said: "This actually happened at the Pentagon briefing yesterday. It is real. It really happened. Maj. Gen. Ryder @PentagonPresSec…." Who doesn't like this Maj. General now?

Context here…..Jeff Schogol is a reporter for  @TaskandPurpose,  a news, culture and analysis site for the military community.

The audio starts with reporter Jeff Schogol's first question, and about 1 minute 5 sec. in his 2nd question:

2. AI VOICES OF TEENAGERS COMING BACK TO HAUNT REPUBLICANS: 

One of the most incredible responses yet by parents of children killed by assault weapons. If this doesn't get a politicians attention, nothing will. Horrifying, sad, and giving a voice to those who can no longer be heard...

ENGADGET: Their children were shot, so they used AI to recreate their voices and call lawmakers.

The parents of a teenager who was killed in Florida’s Parkland school shooting in 2018 have started a bold new project called The Shotline to lobby for stricter gun laws in the country. The Shotline uses AI to recreate the voices of children killed by gun violence and send recordings through automated calls to lawmakers, The Wall Street Journal reported.

“I’m back today because my parents used AI to recreate my voice to call you,” says the AI-generated voice of Joaquin Oliver, one of the teenagers killed in the Parkland shooting. “Other victims like me will be calling too.” At the time of publishing, more than 8,000 AI calls had been submitted to lawmakers through the website.

3. MAGA Cult willingly give what little money they have, living paycheck to paycheck, to pay for this former grifting president? Sure, it will happen...watch the coffers fill. 


(You can't make this kind of grifting up!!!)

4. TENNESSEE MAY BAN THE SALE OF...COLD BEER? 

I know, having an overwhelming super majority in the Tennessee legislature and having a governor willing to sign every bill, it would be tempting to exercise power that would stretch past the boundaries of reality, but who would have guessed this...in the words of reporter Phil Williams:


5. ‘God & Country' Review: A Bracing, Rob Reiner-Produced Primer on the Dangers of Christian Nationalism.

The film points out in exhaustive detail, Christian Nationalism is very much a political, rather than religious, movement. The movement claims that America is a Christian nation and that the founders intended it as such. It seeks to roll back feminism, LBGTQ rights and abortion, and to either introduce Christianity to public schools or substitute them with private Christian schools funded by vouchers.

That a large majority of the population opposes these things doesn't faze them in the least. But it does motivate them to prevent people from voting.

The film ends where it began, with footage of Jan. 6 insurrectionists proudly bearing crosses, signs emblazoned with bible verses, and pictures of Jesus. What it doesn't provide, unfortunately, is a persuasive prescription for how we're going to prevent our country from descending from democracy to theocracy.

VIDEO FOUND HERE

BONUS: The following video came out in 2014 predicting the power of AI...my Gen Z son started playing this for me and I could not stop laughing. This guy threw every possible cliche into it. Hope you find this even remotely funny, or I'm going to think they were right, there is something definitely wrong with me....


Sunday, February 4, 2024

MAGAs should back out of cratering economy before it's too late !

 I thought this opinion in USA Today was spot on....

1. True MAGA patriots must remove themselves from Biden’s booming economy, cash out 401(k)s

To all devoted MAGA patriots aboard the Trump Train:

America’s economy appears to have gone woke and is now fully supporting the reelection of Crooked Joe Biden. I’m not sure how this happened, but no matter how much we say the economy is terrible, it keeps unpatriotically refusing to be terrible, posing a direct threat to PRESIDENT Donald J. Trump in the 2024 presidential race.

Just look at these recent headlines about the now-totally-liberal economy:

Along with all that, the S&P 500, which we now know has a liberal bias, hit a record high Jan. 19, wage growth is beating inflation and jobless claims hit their lowest point since 2022.

There must be fear! Good economic news forces the GOP to switch narrative to the border.

2. A booming Biden economy is bad for America and worse for Trump

None of this is good news if you care about President Trump or America. It’s clear Democrats are manipulating the economy and making it the strongest economy in the world in order to fool voters into thinking Biden is a competent president.

Don’t believe me? If you own stocks or have a 401(k), just look at your balance and you’ll see EXACTLY what these cheaters are up to. They’re trying to buy your votes by putting more money in your pockets. That’s cheating. DON’T BE FOOLED!

It’s clear true Trump supporters cannot be party to this kind of liberal skullduggery. So in response to this distressing spate of positive economic news, I hereby call on all MAGA faithful to remove themselves from the CORRUPTLY BOOMING BIDEN ECONOMY.

3. Cash out your 401(k) and invest in the Trump Train, baby!

If you have a 401(k), you need to immediately cash that out and either donate the money to President Trump’s reelection campaign/legal defense fund (he will give it back to you, with interest, once elected) or invest those funds in somethings sensible, like digital Trump Trading Cards.

Next, you must quit your job. It’s on us to help President Trump’s campaign by bringing those unemployment numbers back up to where we think they should be under an incompetent president who doesn’t know what day it is.

If you aren’t willing to quit your job, you must at least refuse any pay raise you’re offered. Only a squishy lib would allow himself to get paid more while a DEMONcrat is in office.

4. Trump wants you to believe America is a disaster – do as he says

Lastly, it is ABSOLUTELY imperative that you not feel confident about the future. America is a terrible place. It is falling apart. The economy is in shambles and your personal economic situation is a garbage fire.

Darkness is everywhere. Living is anguish. All hope is lost.

Only by embracing these America-first beliefs, and believing Trump is the one person who can fix everything and make life perfect, will you be able to declare yourself a true MAGA loyalist.

So get out there, fellow patriot, and disconnect from Biden’s economy. Sell stocks, put your retirement money in Trump’s coffers, embrace the gloom.

When it comes to Biden’s hot economy, remember this: Go broke or you're woke.