Saturday, August 05, 2023

They Ain't Tolerating This Behavior Any Longer!

They are going to lock his ass up if he keeps ignoring the court's restrictions.

The former president is about to be placed on severe restrictions after he did his latest post on Truth Social. This is the threat: "IF YOU GO AFTER ME, I'M COME AFTER YOU!"

Former president Donald J. Trump will likely receive a court order to cease posting on social media after he posted a suggestive message threatening federal witnesses.

Prosecutors asked U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan to issue a protective order in the case a day after Trump pleaded not guilty to charges of trying to overturn his 2020 election loss and block the peaceful transition of power. The order — which is different from a so-called “gag order” — would limit what information Trump and his legal team could share publicly about the case brought by special counsel Jack Smith.

Such protective orders are common in criminal cases, but prosecutors said it’s “particularly important in this case” because Trump has posted on social media about “witnesses, judges, attorneys, and others associated with legal matters pending against him.”

Prosecutors said they are ready to hand over a “substantial” amount of evidence — “much of which includes sensitive and confidential information” — to Trump’s legal team.

They told the judge that if Trump were to begin posting about grand jury transcripts or other evidence provided by the Justice Department, it could have a “harmful chilling effect on witnesses or adversely affect the fair administration of justice in this case.”

Prosecutors’ proposed protective order seeks to prevent Trump and his lawyers from disclosing materials provided by the government to anyone other than people on his legal team, possible witnesses, the witnesses’ lawyers or others approved by the court. It would put stricter limits on “sensitive materials,” which would include grand jury witness testimony and materials obtained through sealed search warrants.

The indictment unsealed last week accuses Trump of brazenly conspiring with allies to spread falsehoods and concoct schemes intended to overturn his election loss to President Joe Biden as his legal challenges floundered in court.

The indictment chronicles how Trump and his Republican allies, in what Smith described as an attack on a “bedrock function of the U.S. government,” repeatedly lied about the results in the two months after he lost the election and pressured his vice president, Mike Pence, and state election officials to take action to help him cling to power.

Trump faces charges including conspiracy to defraud the U.S. and conspiracy to obstruct Congress’ certification of President Joe Biden’s electoral victory.

It’s the third criminal case brought this year against the the early front-runner in the 2024 Republican presidential primary. But it’s the first case to try to hold Trump responsible for his efforts to remain in power during the chaotic weeks between his election loss and the attack by his supporters on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

After his court appearance on Thursday before a magistrate judge, Trump characterized the case as a “persecution” designed to hurt his 2024 presidential campaign. His legal team has described it as an attack on his right to free speech and his right to challenge an election that he believed had been stolen.

Smith has said prosecutors will seek a “speedy trial” against Trump in the election case. Judge Chutkan on Friday ordered the government to file a brief by Thursday proposing a trial date. The first court hearing in front of Chutkan is scheduled for Aug. 28.

Trump is already scheduled to stand trial in March in the New York case stemming from hush-money payments made during the 2016 campaign and in May in the federal case in Florida stemming from classified documents found at his Mar-a-Lago estate.

Friday, August 04, 2023

James Larkin Passed Away!

Backpage co-found commits suicide.

In 2018, the Washed Up 45 administration was getting "tough" on human trafficking. The U.S. Department of Justice issued an injunction to online classified website Backpage.

It seized it after allegations of the website looking the other way when it came to child prostitution and sex slavery. Backpage denied the claims and fought to reclaim its website. After ignoring the court order to testify to Congress, the government seized assets and permanently shut the website.

Its co-founder James Larkin committed suicide weeks before his federal trial. He was 74.

Larkin, who helped turn the alternative weekly Phoenix New Times into a chain that took over the venerated Village Voice in New York, died by suicide Monday, days before the trial was set to open in U.S. District Court in Phoenix.

Larkin, along with longtime New Times editor Michael Lacey, had dodged both criminal charges and civil penalties for years. They argued that they merely hosted ads and were shielded from liability by federal law and First Amendment protections.

Backpage earned $135 million in 2014, according to a U.S. Senate report. A February 2015 appraisal said the company was worth more than $600 million. In 2015, Larkin and Lacey reportedly sold Backpage to Ferrer for $603 million, with Lacey and Larkin loaning Ferrer the money to buy them out. Despite having sold it, Larkin and Lacey were subpoenaed (along with Ferrer and other contemporaneous company execs) to appear before the U.S. Senate's Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI), infamous for its onetime use by the former chair, Sen. Joseph McCarthy, to investigate alleged communists in the U.S. government.

Backpage was utilized (and loved) by countless independent sex workers. The platform banned ads for anything illegal, including consensual adult prostitution; it also worked hard to keep ads posted by or featuring minors off the site and cooperated extensively with law enforcement when bad deeds were facilitated through Backpage ads.

Every community in the United States will eventually have a legacy. A legacy of never ending tragedy. Gun violence, extremism and COVID-19 will affect your town, your family and your life. So I don't want to hear that bullshit about how gun reform is taking away your rights to own firearms.

I don't want to hear that protesting against police killing people of color is hate on cops in general. I don't want to hear talk about the coronavirus being a myth.

When you hear folks say "gun rights," what they really mean is that its white privilege. This good guy with a gun nonsense has to end. The cops didn't do nothing when children were shot inside a school. A security guard was shot dead trying to protect shoppers. A cop accidentally shot his own. The good guy who tried to stop a bad guy is outgunned and a part of the rule #3.

Remember #3 means: The "good guy with a gun" better be prepared to die if they want to stop a shooter.

Backpage was seized by the U.S. Justice Department in 2018.

I don't want to hear folks say masks and vaccine mandates impede their freedoms. It prevents a deadly outbreak from spreading. If you want to die from the coronavirus, that's on you. We lost over 1 million people from the coronavirus.

I don't want to hear the shit about guns saving lives. Cause a bullet does not have eyes and it's always likely gonna hit a target. These folks seem to not get it. These incidents are a tragic part of American history. Thoughts and prayers and your heart going out to the victims is not enough. It quite frankly is an insult. I am also tired of scapegoating Black on Black crime, Chicago, Baltimore and Democratic mayors for the nation's obsession to be numb to gun violence. You pretty much enable this nonsense by deflecting.

President Joe Biden is trying to curb gun violence. However, he has no support from Republicans. Most Democrats and America are for gun control measures. However one Democrat and one independent who caucuses with the Democrats in the Senate refuse to change the filibuster rules and its holding us back.

The National Rifle Association is always pushing against it. They will not relinquish from the narrative that guns are not saving lives. The Republicans aided by a fickle junk food media are openly encouraging anarchy and disruption in a desperate attempt for the Republicans to win back Congress and the White House. These agitators are calling for Biden to curb crime but will not help him. They want more guns on the street. It makes no sense.

So in closing, expect more.

The website Officer Down is a memorial to those who were killed in the line of duty. Those who don't get their names mentioned in the junk food media. Also the website the National Gun Violence Memorial also keeps record of the many individuals killed by gun violence

Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (Lifeline) at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or 988, or text the Crisis Text Line (text HELLO to 741741). Both services are free and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The deaf and hard of hearing can contact the Lifeline via TTY at 1-800-799-4889. All calls are confidential. Contact social media outlets directly if you are concerned about a friend’s social media updates or dial 911 in an emergency. Learn more on the Lifeline’s website or the Crisis Text Line’s website.

The call number to the U.S. Capitol is now going to be used. This is the official phone number, 202-224-3121. Let them know that "thoughts and prayers," "hearts going to" and "good guys with guns" are no longer acceptable and you want legislation to curb gun violence.

GUN VIOLENCE IS THE NUMBER ONE PROBLEM IN THE UNITED STATES.

Hot Dogs!🌭

Biden keeps the jobs coming.

The jobs report for the month of July showed that it netted 187,000 jobs. Job growth in July was less than expected, pointing to slower growth in the U.S. economy, the Labor Department reported Friday.

Nonfarm payrolls expanded by 187,000 for the month, slightly below the Dow Jones estimate for 200,000. Though the headline number was a miss, it actually represented a modest gain from the downwardly revised 185,000 for June.

The unemployment rate was 3.5%, against a consensus estimate that the jobless level would hold steady at 3.6%.The rate is just above the lowest level since late 1969.

Average hourly earnings, a key figure as the Federal Reserve fights inflation, rose 0.4% for the month, good for a 4.4% annual pace. Both numbers were higher than the respective estimates for 0.3% and 4.2%.

Health care led job creation by industry, adding 63,000 jobs for the month. Other sectors contributing included social assistance (24,000), financial activities (19,000) and wholesale trade (18,000). The other services category contributed 20,000 to the total, which included 11,000 from personal and laundry services.

Leisure and hospitality, which has been a leading sector for most of the recovery in the Covid pandemic era, added just 17,000 jobs, consistent with a slowing trend after averaging gains of 67,000 a month in the first three months of 2023.

Previous months’ totals were revised lower — the June count dropped to185,000, a downward revision of 24,000, while May was cut to 281,000, down 25,000 from the previous estimate.

Even with the slowing job gains, the economy has proved resilient against a variety of challenges, particularly a series of 11 Federal Reserve interest rate hikes aimed at bringing down inflation.

Most Wall Street experts have been forecasting a recession at least for the past year, but growth has managed to stay positive as consumers keep spending and the services sector rebounds from its pandemic-related disruptions.

Gross domestic product gains have averaged 2.2% annualized for the first half of 2023, and the Atlanta Fed’s GDPNow tracker of growth is pointing to a 3.9% gain for the third quarter.

McCarthy threatens an impeachment inquiry into Biden.

However, Fed officials including Chairman Jerome Powell have warned that the full effect of the rate increases has not been felt yet. Economists worry that the Fed could overtighten and send the economy into recession.

Inflation data of late has been moving in the right direction. However, the Fed’s preferred gauge is still showing prices rising at a 4.1% annual rate, or more than double the central bank target.

Wages have been one component of the inflation picture. Average hourly earnings had been declining, though the annual figures are somewhat distorted by comparisons to a year ago when wages were surging.

A Labor Department gauge that the Fed follows closely showed compensation costs rising at a 4.5% 12-month rate through the second quarter. That level is not consistent with the Fed’s inflation target.

At the same time, recession fears on Wall Street appear to be ebbing. Goldman Sachs has been slowly reducing its probability for a contraction, and Bank of America this week said it now.

So while we are talking about the jobs report, here are some things observed.

As expected, the noise will be concerned about former president Donald J. Trump's indictment by U.S. Special Prosecutor Jack Smith. The former president who I call Washed Up 45 faced a four count indictment for his role in the Jan. 6 attack. He also is facing another possible indictment in Georgia.

Biden signed a declaration to name portions of Mississippi a part of the Emmett and Mamie Till National Historic Park. Emmett was lynched in 1955 after he was accused of whistling at Carolyn Bryant Donham. The woman died in early 2023.

Republicans have hinted an impeachment inquiry in the allegations of President Joe Biden taking a bribe. The Republicans have no evidence but they are still riding on this Hunter Biden conspiracy theory.

McConnell had a health scare.

With the distractions cranked up to 1000, Republicans continue to offer nothing but culture wars and conspiracy theories. For example, the far right is obsessed with the U.S. Secret Service finding a suspicious package at the White House on Sunday and had it determined to be possibly cocaine. Without evidence and a possible libel, they assume it belongs to Hunter Biden, the troubled son of the president. The far right has been obsessed with the news of this instead of having policies that deal with gun violence, climate change, lowering inflation and fixing infrastructure.

They sure love to brag about the appropriations coming to their districts and not credit the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act as a reason to this. Several Republicans who voted against the law are now bragging about several projects and benefits.

The junk food media is hyping Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Cornel West as the saviors to the left. Both candidates appear to be spoilers and chaos agents being propped up by the far right and leftists.

The Supreme Court refuses to get ethics reform in the wake of Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito getting lavish expenses from Republican donors who eventually bring cases to the Supreme Court.

Ron DeSantis is falling behind. He is now in third place against conspiracy theorist Vivek Ramaswamy. He riled up the Black Republicans with this notion that slaves benefited in skills of trade. The Florida governor has continued to stay in the culture wars and attack mode despite the campaign's warnings. The campaign wants him to ease up and speak to media outside the right wing bubble.

Mike Pence may not be able to be on the debate stage. Although he did not flatly condemn Trump, he did say that he should not be allowed back in the White House after the indictment. Pence wrote notes and they're in the hands of Jack Smith. Besides Pence, and Nikki Haley, many former Trump advisers refuse to back his bid. They said he is a real threat.

Upon coming back from their recess, Congress must pass a budget or face a government shutdown. The far right Republican are proving to be a headache. They vow to stall legislation after they felt that House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) caved to Biden.

Israel is closer to a civil war. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli government have agreed on reforms to the Supreme Court. The pressure is on for war crimes against Israel during their attack on Jenin in the West Bank.

Washed Up 45 has another federal indictment.

Ukraine is now using drones to target buildings in Moscow, Russia. Ukraine and Eastern European Countries are being blocked from the Black Sea due to Russian vessels imposing an embargo on grains.

Russia is struggling in this. Ukraine as well but the European Union and NATO has continued to offer weapons to the country.

Greece has wildfires.

Canada has wildfires. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is separating from his wife of 18 years Sophie. The prime minister faces a tougher reelection in 2025.

California, Arizona, New Mexico saw temperatures over 100.

People are dying in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and Florida. Their energy grids are collapsing. Texas refuses to join and it has been suffering during these excessive heatwaves.

The SAG-AFTRA and WGA strike continues and it is affecting fall television, radio and movies. Fran Drescher, the union president and actress has vowed to pressure the executives to agree to paying workers more with the possibility of streaming and artificial intelligence becoming a thing.

Barbie is closing in on nearly $1 billion in ticket sales. Oppenheimer is doing very well at the theaters. If the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem flops, it will be because of Ice Cube. The rapper/actor/director talked to white nationalist Tucker Carlson and appears to be backing Trump in 2024.

Yes, folks are working two jobs. I am a testimony of that. But I am confident that in the short term I will have all the resources to reapply for the job I prefer.

The Congress has less work than most Americans. It is infuriating that the average worker works more hours than 157 House members and 36 senators.

Republicans see the only path to victory is basically obstruct and complain about the president. They won't offer solutions or policies. All they care about is trying to keep folks angry with culture wars and distractions.

President Joe Biden's headaches:

  1. The Republicans in the House of Representatives.
  2. The media asking him about Washed Up 45's controversies.
  3. The Supreme Court making controversial decisions that impact the country.
  4. Gun violence and Congress not doing anything to stop it.
  5. Inflation.
  6. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO), Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH), Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT).
  7. Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA), Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-TX), Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ), Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN), Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Rep. James Comer (R-KY), Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA), Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX), Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), Rep. George Santos (R-NY), Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL), Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) and Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO).
  8. Republican governors Ron DeSantis, Kay Ivey, Greg Abbott, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Bill Lee, Glenn Youngkin, Kristie Noem, Kim Reynolds, Brian Kemp, Brad Little and Greg Gianforte.
  9. Judges appointed by Washed Up 45.
  10. The junk food media and their never ending dramatizing of world events.
  11. Anti-Vaxxers. 
  12. Lawmakers and activists who protest the CDC guidelines during the pandemic.
  13. The endless culture wars that Republicans find outrage in.
  14. Washed Up 45 and his minions on Fox, Newsmax, OANN and the internet.
  15. Facebook, Twitter and TikTok. The idiots who run it and the idiots who post on it.
  16. Fox, Breitbart, Libs of TikTok, The Daily Mail, Newsmax and OANN's relentless talk about conspiracies. The endless attacks on the president's age, First Lady Jill Biden, Hunter Biden, Ashley Biden and the conspiracies about the president's mental capacity and health.
  17. The endless racism towards Biden's allies Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Barack Obama.
  18. The relentless talk about spending despite the former president's reckless spending.
  19. The lack of civility towards fellow Americans.
  20. Vladimir Putin.
  21. Xi Jinping.
  22. Kim Jong-Un.
  23. Benjamin Netanyahu.
  24. Alexander Lukashenko.
  25. Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud.
The coronavirus doesn't care about your age, race, gender, sexuality, nationality, religion, politics, economic or social standings. It doesn't care about your business, your performances, your personal finances and travel. It doesn't care about the funerals, the birthday parties, the weddings, the vacations, the events and your graduations.

An active shooter doesn't care about the politics, race, gender, sexuality, nationality, religion, your finances, your family, your plans that day, your successes, your failures, and most importantly, your life.

Democrats are staying quiet. The Republicans are creating the noise.

You're not safe in the school, the concert, the hospital, the church, the casino, the bus station, the subway, the light rail train, the buses, the malls, the local big box store, the political rally, the protest rally, the women's center for reproductive surgeries, the mosque, the synagogue, the state buildings, the workplace, the gas station, the family picnic, the food truck rally, the funerals, the birthday parties, the graduations, the wedding, the televised events, the sporting events and many more events that have some terrorist with a firearm. Domestic violence, suicide, racism, culture war inspired, politically motivated and international operative inspired are types of gun violence.

Food prices, energy prices, rent, city services and college education have risen. Companies are struggling to find workers. They are now trying to push incentives to get workers in.

Real Reasons To Why Unemployment Rate Stays The Way It Is!

  1. DEAD
  2. BORN
  3. THE PANDEMIC
  4. CLIMATE CHANGE
  5. IN PRISON
  6. IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
  7. IN MIDDLE SCHOOL
  8. IN HIGH SCHOOL
  9. IN COLLEGE NOT LOOKING
  10. VOLUNTEER
  11. DISABLED
  12. INFLATION
  13. STAY AT HOME PARENT
  14. RETIRED 
  15. QUIT ON THEIR OWN
  16. TERMINATED FROM EMPLOYMENT 
  17. NOT HIRING UNQUALIFIED
  18. NOT HIRING TOO QUALIFIED
  19. ACTIVE MILITARY
  20. NATURAL DISASTERS
  21. MASS SHOOTINGS DISRUPT DAILY ROUTINE
  22. BEING LAID OFF DUE TO CLOSING OR STAFF REDUCTION
  23. DESTRUCTION TO FACILITY OR PROPRETY
  24. OUTSOURCING JOBS TO OTHER STATES OR COUNTRIES
  25. BEING UNDOCUMENTED IN FEAR OF I.C.E. OR U.S. AGENCIES
  26. BEING PUBLICLY OUTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA DOING SHAMEFUL ACTS
  27. PARTICIPATING IN UNCIVIL OR VIOLENT PROTESTS

Jobs are looking good despite fears of an economic slowdown.

Companies are still trying to hire employees. With the average wages stagnant, many are not looking forward to returning to a job that pays dirt wages. Many who worked in the retail, restaurant and low end service industry are not willing to take a job for less than $10 an hour. Matter of fact, no one can survive on $15 an hour.

Republicans don't see the bigger picture itself. They rather continue to believe in conspiracies about people collecting the safety net and not going back to work.

Give them a liveable wage and maybe things might improve in the job market.

We can't always assume that folks are lazy. People are literally dying from being exposed to the coronavirus and folks are tired of the status quo of their jobs.

Many single mothers are having trouble trying to find quality daycare or family members to watch children. On top of that, some have lost family members due to the pandemic. A homemaker may have lost their spouse. Some may have no choice but to watch their children or loved ones due to the aftermath of the pandemic.

Folks are still trying to rebound from medical bills, late rent payments, owing taxes and college loans.

Republicans are white nationalists without a conscience. 

Washed Up 45's presidency and Republican controlled governments killed millions of Americans. Biden has a slim majority in Congress and things can't be done with obstruction from both parties.

Holding these lawmakers accountable is not just a pledge, but a promise. You need to learn who represents your community. Your local community member, your school board member, your mayor, your state representative, your state senator, your governor, your U.S. Representative, your U.S. Senator and the president need to be held accountable for their actions. 

We need to put pressure on Republicans and Democrats to do something to improve everyone's lives.

The call number to the U.S. Capitol is now going to be used. This is the official phone number, 202-224-3121. Let them know that "thoughts and prayers," "hearts going to" and "good guys with guns" are no longer acceptable and you want legislation to curb gun violence. Let them know that women deserve the right to safe medical procedures. Let them know that their failure to pass legislation to lower prices are the reasons why the economy is in a free fall.

Thursday, August 03, 2023

MSNBC May Take The No. 1 Spot!

Gaining.

The folks over at Fox are losing their goddamn minds over the Washed Up 45 indictment.

Special prosecutor Jack Smith has announced on Tuesday that the former president faced four criminal charges for his role in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Fox is calling this an attack on the freedom of speech. The network believes we are living in a "Banana Republic".

And while they're crowing over at Fox, MSNBC is gaining momentum. 

MSNBC, the only network to broadcast special coverage of the indictment, swept overall primetime figures as the No. 1 most-watched cable news channel. Fox came in second place with 2.19 million total viewers, while CNN lagged behind with 1.06 million viewers, according to Nielsen-live-plus-same-day figures. 

The trend continued in the demo for primetime, with MSNBC leading the pack with 350,000 viewers in the key cable demographic among adults 25-54. Fox came in second with 279,000 viewers, and CNN came in third with 208,000 viewers in the demo. 

In the words of Stephanie Ruble, "Let's get smarter."

The network has seen a ratings boom in the last few weeks and it maybe safe to say that MSNBC may be the No. 1 cable news network. The progressive agitators on the network are effective in messaging.

MSNBC was in special coverage mode to detail the charges outlined in the indictment brought against the former President. The network’s special coverage was led by Rachel Maddow, Ari Melber, Joy Reid, Chris Hayes, Alex Wagner, Lawrence O’Donnell and Stephanie Ruhle. 

From 4pm until 12am, you can watch Nicolle Wallace, Ari Melber, Joy Reid, Chris Hayes, Rachel Maddow, Alex Wagner, Lawrence O'Donnell and Stephanie Ruble. On weekends, you have Ali Velshi, Katie Phang, Jonathan Capehart, Rev. Al Sharpton, Ayman Mohyeldin and Alicia Menendez doing their best to help. I can't forget Joe Scarborough, Mika Brzezinski, Willie Gest, Jonathan Lemire, Anna Cabrera, Jose Diaz-Balart, Chris Jensing, Katy Tur, Alex Witt, Yasmin Vossoughian and Mehdi Hasan.

Adding Jen Psaki and Symone Sanders Townsend also helps.

So the network is trying to bring in more viewers who are supportive of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris' agenda. They are hitting back at Republicans and Fox for years of peddling misinformation, conspiracy theories and culture wars.

I became more supportive of the network. I gotten tired of this noise of the far right.

Need sanity.

The Justice Democrats Go Broke!

Progressive lawmakers abandon controversy SuperPac.

Progressive SuperPac is laying off workers.

Just over six years since its founding, however, Justice Democrats’ opposition is more organized while its mission is more muddled and its coffers depleted. Faced with a shortage of funds, the group laid off nine of its 20 staff members in mid-July, a move that took many prominent progressives by surprise.

The group started by two former 2016 staffers of Bernie Sanders' Presidential Campaign and two controversial leftists helped elected members to the House.

Justice Democrats is an American progressive political action committee and caucus founded on January 23, 2017, by two leaders of Bernie Sanders's 2016 presidential campaign, Saikat Chakrabarti and Zack Exley, as well as political commentators Kyle Kulinski and Cenk Uygur of The Young Turks. The organization formed as a result of the 2016 United States presidential election and aspires "to elect a new type of Democratic majority in Congress" that will "create a thriving economy and democracy that works for the people, not big money interests". The group advocates for campaign finance reform (reducing the role of money in politics) and endorses only candidates who pledge to refuse donations from corporate PACs and lobbyists.

The Justice Democrats cost the Democratic Party some crucial seats in several swing states. Their "hostile takeover" plan led to Mandela Barnes, Tim Ryan, Cheri Beasley and Val Demings losing.

Kulinski and Uygur are no longer part of the group and have become critics of it. Alexandra Rojas became the organization's executive director in May 2018.

During the 2018 elections, Justice Democrats ran 79 progressive candidates against Democrats, Republicans and Independents in local, state, and federal elections. The seven Justice Democrats candidates who won their electoral congressional races in 2018 were Raúl Grijalva, Pramila Jayapal, Ro Khanna, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley, and Rashida Tlaib.

The group endorsed considerably fewer candidates in 2020 than in 2018, a move its communications director defended as a strategy to focus its resources on the most promising candidates. Jamaal Bowman, Cori Bush, and Marie Newman were elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2020.

In 2022 the group's success continued to decline. Greg Casar and Summer Lee were elected to the House, while Newman lost her reelection in the Democratic primary after facing an investigation by the House Ethics Committee

Wednesday, August 02, 2023

Vince McMahon Under Federal Watch!

Washed Up 45 and Vince McMahon have paid hush money to women for years. Time's up for these two. They are not untouchable.

Vince McMahon is out again at WWE. He is taking an indefinite leave after it appears the feds came knocking on his door. The hush money payments to numerous mistresses done him in. Dana White is another figure who allegedly paid hush money to women. He may be next.

Like Washed Up 45, McMahon supported the Republicans and his long suffering wife Linda McMahon in her failed attempts for Senate and governor of Connecticut. She had a brief stint as Small Business Administration director and 2020 campaign advisor.

WWE also revealed Wednesday that McMahon “went on medical leave after undergoing major spinal surgery.”

McMahon’s leave began July 21, and he will “remain on medical leave until further notice but will remain Executive Chairman” of WWE, the company said in its quarterly report to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Reached for comment Wednesday, the company said it believes the subpoena and search warrant are “a continuation of the investigation that commenced last summer. WWE has cooperated throughout and fully understands and respects the government’s need for a complete process.”

McMahon, in a separate statement, told CNBC: “I have always denied any intentional wrongdoing and continue to do so. I am confident that the government’s investigation will be resolved without any findings of wrongdoing.”

In April, WWE agreed to merge with rival UFC to form a new publicly traded company controlled by Endeavor Group.

WWE and Endeavor both expect the deal to close in the second half of this year, WWE said Wednesday.

The search warrant and subpoena on July 17 came a year after news first broke that federal prosecutors and the SEC were investigating WWE and McMahon over his payments to women.

In a regulatory filing this week, WWE revealed that federal agents executed a search warrant on the company chairman in July, and that it “has received voluntary and compulsory legal demands for documents, including from federal law enforcement and regulatory agencies, concerning the investigation and related subject matters.”

The investigation into McMahon is ongoing, WWE says, but no charges have been filed at this time.

Last year, McMahon briefly departed the company after the WWE opened an investigation that alleged the former CEO paid a female employee $3 million after a consensual affair.

No Reboots!

These Mfers are trying to rewrite Black history. 

Florida governor Ron DeSantis is seriously struggling. His presidential campaign is tanking and it appears he will have to find a better way of winning over Republicans.

Even with three federal indictments, Washed Up 45 is leading in the Republican field. The governor has tried to maintain himself as the former president without the baggage. Yet, his charisma and appeal is waning.

He tried to bait Vice President Kamala Harris into a debate over Florida's controversial decision to change is historical references to African American being slaves.

Harris rejected his offer.

“Right here in Florida, they plan to teach students that enslaved people benefited from slavery. They insult us in an attempt to gaslight us, in an attempt to divide and distract our nation with unnecessary debates, and now they attempt to legitimize these unnecessary debates with a proposal that most recently came in of a politically motivated roundtable,” Harris said in remarks at the Women’s Missionary Society of the African Methodist Episcopal Church Quadrennial Convention.

“Well, I’m here in Florida and I will tell you, there is no roundtable, no lecture, no invitation we will accept to debate an undeniable fact: There were no redeeming qualities of slavery,” she added.

Another reboot.

The vice president’s appearance at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando comes amid contention with DeSantis after Florida’s Board of Education passed the new standards, which Harris said in a separate trip to Florida last month was the state “pushing propaganda” onto children.

In DeSantis' mind, slaves learned trades that benefited them. In most Blacks minds, slaves were forced into torture, rape, beatings, decapitation and starvation. Yes, they were forced to learn how to build, cook, plant and nurse. However, they were not paid.

The most attractive were raped and the most unattractive were tortured and brutalized.

Slavery was horrific and should never be looked as a benefit to people of color.

The far right refuses to acknowledge that descendants are deserving of reparations.

The so called Foundational Blacks Americans are backing Washed Up 45 over Joe Biden because they believe in Black separation.

They have no problem seeing Florida's education changes as anything offensive.

 

Tuesday, August 01, 2023

Cold Cuts Added!

More federal charges.

Former president Donald J. Trump who I refer to as Washed Up 45 was indicted on four federal counts in relation to the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Special Counsel Jack Smith and a District of Columbia federal grand jury concluded that the former president committed unlawful activities leading to the deadly riot at the Capitol. It was a seditious attempt to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power to his successor Joe Biden.

Trump has been charged with four counts: conspiracy to defraud the United States "by using dishonesty, fraud and deceit to obstruct the nation’s process of collecting, counting, and certifying the results of the presidential election"; conspiracy to impede the Jan. 6 congressional proceeding; a conspiracy against the right to vote and to have that vote counted; and obstruction of, and attempt to obstruct and impede, the certification of the electoral vote.

The suspect is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Charges that could put him in federal time out for 15 years.

Trump is top defendant. John Eastman, Rudy Giuliani, Kenneth Chesebro, Jeffrey Clark and Sidney Powell are co-conspirers under federal watch and are likely to be indicted soon.

The four-count indictment, the third criminal case against Trump, provided deeper insight into a dark moment that has already been the subject of exhaustive federal investigations and captivating public hearings. It chronicles a months-long campaign of lies about the election results and says that, even when those falsehoods resulted in a chaotic insurrection at the Capitol, Trump sought to exploit the violence by pointing to it as a reason to further delay the counting of votes that sealed his defeat.

Jack Smith announced the charges against Trump.

Trump clearly knew he lost the election. He tried to manipulate Republicans in states that were battleground. He wanted to toss out results from Democratic leaning cities like Detroit, Phoenix, Tuscon, Milwaukee, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Flint, Macon, Columbus (Georgia), Madison, Athens and State College.

Trump and his moron squad thought that officials would take unverified electors and dismiss Biden's electors. 

They thought wrong.

After losing over 60 federal lawsuits and the former president whipped up his supporters into believing former vice president Mike Pence would be able to stop the certification and throw it back to the states.

When Pence didn't, his supporters rallied and rioted.

As expected, conservative outrage and responses from Republicans as well as Trump.

What Bugs You?

Tau fruit flies invade California.

Climate change is real.

Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) usually votes in favor of climate change. So please spare me the noise from the far left about how Rep. Reuben Gallego (D-AZ) could beat her. He will split the vote allowing a Republican to win.

California is a state that takes issues very seriously. Homelessness, fentanyl, illegal border crossings, gangs, gun violence and the Hollywood strike are issues in the state.

Wildfires, drought, record snowfalls in the Sierra Nevada region, record heat, smog, smoke from the wildfires in Canada, shark attacks, bears moving into neighborhoods, coyote attacks, rattlesnakes and now an invasive animal now plague California.

The Tau fruit fly is so invasive the California Department of Health and Department of Food and Agriculture have order a statewide quarantine for the Southern tier.

According to the California Department of Food and Agriculture, more than 20 invasive Tau fruit flies had been detected in the Stevenson Ranch area near Santa Clarita as of July 25. 

The fruit fly-related quarantine is the first of its kind in the Western Hemisphere.

The flies are native to Asia and are a “serious pest” for natural resources and crops, the CDFA said in a release. 

“[It’s] a serious infestation, so a quarantine is needed,” said Ken Pellman, the Public Information Officer with the Los Angeles County Agricultural Commissioner/Weights & Measures. “There’s going to be trapping in the area to trap the pests and hopefully this will be over with soon.” 

The quarantine area measures 79 square miles bordered on the north by Castaic Junction, on the south by Oat Mountain, on the west by Del Valle and on the east by Honby Avenue. 

In addition to fruits and vegetables, some native plants in Southern California can become hosts to the flies. 

Those who grow fruits and vegetables within the quarantine zone are urged not to share their crops outside their property, but the fruits are still good to consume. 

Individuals looking to dispose of fruits or vegetables should double-bag them and place them in their regular trash bins and not the compost pile. 

The GOP Keeps The Hunter Biden "Scandals" Going!

American business man convicted of defrauding clients knew Hunter Biden and Republicans want him.

When will the Republican Party focus on what they were elected for?

They were elected to improve the economy, lower inflation and lower gas prices.

Obviously, they are too focused on culture  wars and conspiracy theories. They are willing to impeach the 46th President of the United States without any substantial evidence of wrongdoing. They allowed the 45th President of the United States commit abuse of power and willful intent to overthrow a democracy. They called the Jan. 6 attack, a protest against election fraud and legitimate political discourse. They are willing to do some of the most dumbest shit on behalf of a president who had no control of his actions while in office.

I don't give two fucks about Hunter Biden or his problems. If you ask me, they are showing they have no sympathy for Americans with disabilities, mental illness, the homeless and those battling addiction.

Hunter Biden is a perfect example of Americans struggling with addiction. On top of that, it would be the perfect time to let people know that there are places to help with addiction.

We will discuss it at the end.

Washed Up 45 was impeached in 2019 after it was revealed that he was planning to withhold congressional funds to Ukraine. He demanded Volodymyr Zelenskyy launch an investigation into his potential rival Joe Biden based on some shoddy claims from Rudy Giuliani and John Solomon. He wanted a criminal investigation into Hunter Biden, the former vice president (now current president) and to investigate a conspiracy theory that Ukraine, not Russia, was behind interference in the 2016 presidential election.

The quid pro quo and obstruction of justice lead to his first impeachment.

So Devon Archer, a former business partner was convicted in 2018 and will be sentenced to federal time out for a year and a month. He was subpoenaed by far right Republican House member Rep. James Comer (R-KY). The Republicans did a closed door meeting with Archer as they knew he was about to be serving his time.

Upon the news of his testimony, the noise. Fox, Newsmax, NewsNation and The Daily Mail are covering this like the right wing propaganda they are. CNN, MSNBC, ABC, NBC, CBS and PBS will cover it and unfortunately have to debunk some of the Republicans claims.

Archer and his attorney Matthew Schwartz were on Capitol Hill for several hours for an interview with the Republican-led House Oversight Committee.

Archer was expected to provide details related to Hunter Biden's business dealings in Ukraine, ABC News previously reported.

Archer subsequently told lawmakers on Monday that Hunter Biden would frequently take his father's phone calls in the company of business associates and put him on speakerphone, according to lawmakers and sources familiar with the testimony -- a development that sparked partisan jockeying over its significance.

Comer, the Republican chairman of the Oversight Committee, called it evidence that "Joe Biden lied to the American people when he said he had no knowledge about his son's business dealings and was not involved."

Democrats framed those interactions as benign pleasantries: "Not a shred of evidence of a single conflict of interest of President Biden ever doing anything in connection or in relation to Hunter Biden's business ventures," said Rep. Dan Goldman of New York.

Hunter Biden "was selling the illusion of access to his father," Archer told the panel, according to Goldman -- but never directly involved his father in any of their business dealings.

Comer also said Archer told the committee that Hunter Biden's value to Burisma, a Ukrainian oil and gas firm, was the "the brand" associated with the Biden family. A Democratic source disputed that -- claiming "the brand" referred to Washington, D.C., not the Biden family, specifically.

An attorney for Archer would not comment on the specifics of what his client told the committee, only telling ABC News in a statement after the testimony that Archer answered questions "honestly and completely."

"We are aware that all sides are claiming victory following Mr. Archer's voluntary interview today," said Schwartz. "Mr. Archer shared the truth with the Committee, and we will leave to them and others to decide what to do with it."

Archer and Hunter Biden previously partnered in the investment firm Rosemont Seneca and the two served together on the board of directors at Burisma.

Hunter Biden wrote in his 2021 memoir that it was Archer who initially "raised my name for a possible board seat" at Burisma. ABC News has reported that Hunter Biden and Archer, who also secured a seat for himself, raked in $166,666 payments each month for their work with the firm.

Republicans have portrayed Archer's testimony as key in their investigation into the Biden family, and it came as House GOP leaders prioritize efforts to open an impeachment inquiry into President Biden by attempting to link him to his son's business dealings.

When the panel subpoenaed Archer in June, it stated he played a "significant role in the Biden family's business deals abroad, including but not limited to China, Russia, and Ukraine."

"Mr. Archer's testimony is critical to the committee's investigation," Oversight Chair Comer said at the time. "Mr. Archer was Hunter Biden's business partner in a number of transactions involving foreign nationals and foreign companies."

Republicans have no shame.

However, Comer's office said on Monday morning he wouldn't be in attendance for the testimony.

Some lawmakers spotted arriving for the session were House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, Rep. Goldman and Republican Rep. Andy Biggs.

Jordan, stepping out during the interview, told reporters it "very productive" but declined to get into specifics until it was over.

Congressional Republicans have repeatedly claimed President Biden was more involved in his son's business affairs than he's disclosed -- allegations Joe Biden and the White House have denied. So far, their investigations into the Biden family have revealed little new information.

Republicans and their whistleblowers and witnesses are shady as fuck.

Devon Archer was convicted of defrauding a Native American tribe out of a business deal. Nothing to do with Hunter Biden. He was convicted. His lawyer clearly stated that the Bidens did no wrongdoing. 

Gal Luft, the Israeli American writer who claimed that he has witnessed Chinese business deals between Joe Biden and Hunter Biden is on the run. He is indicted for being a foreign agent and lying to federal authorities.

Tara Reade, a California woman who claimed Joe Biden digitally penetrated her in the U.S. Capitol. Republicans Matt Gaetz and Marjorie Taylor Greene wanted her to testify in Congress. She ended up "defecting" to Russia. Sitting with convicted spy Maria Butina, Reade claims her life is in danger. The U.S. dismiss the claims. Reade owes the New York Times legal fees after losing a federal lawsuit. She is likely under investigation for association with Butina. She claims she can't come back due to Interpol. Unless she is indicted for lying to federal authorities or failure to register as a foreign agent, Reade chose to leave. However, if she comes back she could be arrested.

Monday, July 31, 2023

Paul Reubens (aka Pee-Wee Herman) Passed Away!

The Playhouse in the sky.

If you were an 80s baby like myself, you used to watch CBS Saturday morning cartoons and one program came to mind. It was "Pee-Wee's Playhouse," children's program that came fresh off the title character's motion picture "Pee-Wee's Big Adventure" and the HBO adult comedy "The Pee-Wee Show" (aka "Pee-Wee & Friends").

The man who made Pee-Wee Herman a part of American history has passed away from cancer.

Paul Reubens, the famed actor, comedian and writer has passed away at the age of 70 on Sunday. His publicist released his final statement acknowledging that he did not want people to feel sorry for him and want children and adults to know that he loved the support.

“Please accept my apology for not going public with what I’ve been facing the last six years,” wrote Reubens in a statement posted to Instagram after his death. “I have always felt a huge amount of love and respect from my friends, fans and supporters. I have loved you all so much and enjoyed making art for you.”

The Pee-wee Herman character was known for his bright red bowtie, grey suit and flattop haircut, and delivered his well-known catchphrases like “I know you are, but what am I?” in a distinctive squeaky, high-pitched voice.

“Last night we said farewell to Paul Reubens, an iconic American actor, comedian, writer and producer whose beloved character Pee-wee Herman delighted generations of children and adults with his positivity, whimsy and belief in the importance of kindness,” wrote Reubens’ estate in the caption. “Paul bravely and privately fought cancer for years with his trademark tenacity and wit. A gifted and prolific talent, he will forever live in the comedy pantheon and in our hearts as a treasured friend and man of remarkable character and generosity of spirit.”

Reubens began his career in the 1970s after joining the Los Angeles live comedy troupe the Groundlings as an improvisational comedian and stage actor. In 1980, he launched “The Pee-wee Herman Show,” a stage production centered on a fictional character he had been developing for years. As Pee-wee became a cult figure, Reubens’ show ran for five sold-out months, and he landed a special at HBO. Reubens also committed to the character in his interviews and public

Reubens was born Paul Rubenfeld in Peekskill, New York, on August 27, 1952, and grew up in a Jewish family in Sarasota, Florida, where his parents, Judy (Rosen) and Milton Rubenfeld, owned a lamp store. His mother was a teacher. His father was an automobile salesperson who had flown for Britain's Royal Air Force and for the U.S. Army Air Forces in World War II, and later became one of the founding pilots of the Israeli Air Force during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War. An Orthodox Jew, he was one of five Jewish pilots to fly against Arab forces in smuggled fighter planes.

Reubens's two younger siblings are Luke (born 1958), who is a dog trainer, and Abby (born 1953), who is an attorney and a board member of the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee.

Reubens did not want to be typecast as Pee-Wee Herman for the rest of his life.

Reubens spent much of his childhood in Oneonta, New York. As a child, he frequented the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, whose winter headquarters were in Sarasota. The circus atmosphere sparked Reubens's interest in entertainment, and influenced his later work. He also loved to watch reruns of I Love Lucy, which made him want to make people laugh. At age 5, Reubens asked his father to build him a stage, where he and his siblings would act out plays.

Reubens attended Sarasota High School, where he was named president of the National Thespian Society. He was accepted into Northwestern University's summer program for gifted high-school students, joined the local Asolo Theater, Players of Sarasota Theater, and appeared in several plays.

After high school graduation, he attended Plymouth State University for one semester, before attending Boston University, after which he began auditioning for acting schools. He was turned down by several schools, including the Juilliard School and twice by Carnegie Mellon University, before being accepted to the California Institute of the Arts. Reubens moved to California, where he worked in restaurant kitchens and as a Fuller Brush salesman.

In 1985, he teamed with Tim Burton on “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure,” the character’s feature film debut, which was a critical and commercial success. Reubens returned three years later for a follow-up film, “Big Top Pee-wee,” helmed by Randal Kleiser. The character transitioned to television from 1986 to 1990, on CBS’ weekend morning show “Pee-wee’s Playhouse.”

Influenced by vintage kids’ shows like “Captain Kangaroo,” the artistically groundbreaking “Pee-wee’s Playhouse” won several Emmys and featured colorful postmodernist set design and music from New Wave icons like Mark Mothersbaugh, Cyndi Lauper and the Residents, along with guest stars including Laurence Fishburne, Natasha Lyonne and Jimmy Smits.

Pee-Wee's Tequila dance.

Reubens had already decided to end “Pee-wee’s Playhouse” when his image as a beloved childhood hero was tarnished in 1991, after he was arrested for indecent exposure at an adult movie theater in Sarasota, Fla. At the center of a national sex scandal, Reubens backed away from Pee-wee and began doing press as himself. In the aftermath of the arrest, he did receive support from his fans and other celebrities, and appeared at the 1991 MTV Video Music Awards, receiving a standing ovation. “Heard any good jokes lately?” he said to the crowd.

He wouldn’t again reprise the iconic role until 2010, when he revived “The Pee-wee Herman Show” on Broadway and made several other appearances, on “WWE Raw” and in a couple of digital sketches for Funny or Die. In 2016, Reubens co-wrote and starred in Netflix’s “Pee-wee’s Big Holiday,” a sequel to 1988’s “Big Top,” which would serve as Reubens’ final film role before his death.

Throughout his career, Reubens starred in a variety of other projects as well, including Kinka Usher’s superhero comedy “Mystery Men” and Ted Demme’s biographical crime drama “Blow.” He also appeared in “Batman Returns,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “The Nightmare Before Christmas” and “Matilda,” and his television credits include “30 Rock,” “The Blacklist,” “Pushing Daisies,” “Hercules,” “Rugrats,” “Reno 911!” and “What We Do in the Shadows.”

In 2002, after turning himself in to the Hollywood division of the Los Angeles Police Department, Reubens was charged with misdemeanor possession of obscene material improperly depicting a child under the age of 18 in sexual conduct. A self-proclaimed collector of erotica, Reubens disagreed with the city’s classification of pornography. His child pornography charges were dropped in 2004 after he agreed to plead guilty to a lesser misdemeanor obscenity charge.

In an interview with NBC News’ Stone Phillips, Herman said in 2005: “One thing I want to make very, very clear, I don’t want anyone for one second to think that I am titillated by images of children. It’s not me. You can say lots of things about me. And you might. The public may think I’m weird. They may think I’m crazy or anything that anyone wants to think about me. That’s all fine. As long as one of the things you’re not thinking about me is that I’m a pedophile. Because that’s not true.”

Before his death, Reubens was developing two Pee-wee Herman projects, one a black comedy titled “The Pee-wee Herman Story” and the other a family adventure film called “Pee-wee’s Playhouse: The Movie.”

He Survived Longer Than Most Humans!

He could be the oldest.
Jose Paulino Gomes passed away. He was 127 year old according to the Brazilian government. He would be one of the fewest human beings on this planet that made it past 120 years old.

Born on August 4, 1895, according to his 1917 marriage certificate, Jose witnessed historical milestones such as the first-ever Proms, the inaugural rugby league football game, and the discovery of X-rays.

Willyan Jose Rodrigues de Souza, a legal adviser, asserted that Jose’s age was accurate, suggesting he was born before 1900. If proven true, he would surpass the current Guinness World Records holder, Spain’s Maria Branyas Morera, who is 115.

Living a simple and humble life, Jose worked as an animal tamer and enjoyed a self-sufficient lifestyle, relying on natural and countryside-produced goods. He was fondly remembered by his family, leaving behind seven children, 25 grandchildren, 42 great-grandchildren, and 11 great-great-grandchildren.

His granddaughter, Eliane Ferreira, revealed that due to rural practices, Jose’s documentation might have inaccuracies, but his family had no doubt about his age, knowing he lived for over a century.

Jose’s passing was attributed to multiple organ failure, a natural outcome given his old age. He was laid to rest at the Corrego dos Fialhos Cemetery in Pedra Bonita.

While Guinness World Records has yet to confirm Jose’s status officially, the Brazilian countryside mourns the loss of a man whose longevity was only matched by the cherished memories he created with his loved ones.

Special shout out to Norman Lear. He turned 101 on July 27th. He is still writing scripts and currently a striking union member of the Writer's Guild of America.

He died a few days short of his 128th birthday.

Now if the records are verified, he would be one of the oldest males in history.

The average life of a human is 77 years old.

Our U.S. President, Joseph R. Biden II is 80 years old. If he wins his reelection in 2024, he will be 82 years old in November.

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