Well... it's Trump... again. #47, here we go.

[Swammerdami]

Hegseth, our ignorant drunkard of a SecDef, appears before Congress and must listen to Rep. Adam Smith for 13 minutes. Smith is not a fan of Trump and it's good to listen to his eloquent summary. Watch it even if you expect to learn nothing new. Hegseth had to listen for 13 minutes and, assuming he has the 90+ IQ needed to understand Smith's beautiful English, I'm sure he's happy he ate some IMODIUM® before being turned into a laughing-stock by this ordeal.

Especially startling to me was Donald Trump's suggestion that the single-engine F-35 be given a 2nd engine. Top designers are now working on implementing this change! I am not an aeronautical engineer but adding a 2nd engine to an airplane on which much more than a TRILLION dollars has already been spent seems a doubtful decision to me.

 

[Swammerdami]

Could Trump's stupidities (and more specifically Kristi Noem's stupidities) have operated so quickly as to affect the Texas disaster? Perhaps yes, according to a CNN interview of the former FEMA Administrator.

Noem swaggered into Washington announcing that the problem with FEMA was the time wasted by controlling emergencies from Washington.... So, to "solve" this problem I suppose, Noem mandated that any expenditure of $100,000 or more had to be approved by her personally. This rule takes away the agility to move fast.

Almost by definition FEMA gets involved only with major emergencies, for which $100,000 is chicken-feed. Sources inside FEMA are telling CNN that officials were ready to get urban search and rescue teams into position when the water was starting to rise on Friday. But the new rule required Noem's personal sign-off before deployment could begin. She must have had weekend plans because that sign-off didn't come until Monday, 72 hours later.

Complaining about "red tape", and mandating MORE red tape to address the red tape problem has been in the Republican "Starve the Beast" play-book for decades. The late Lewis Lapham wrote a brilliant essay on the topic.

Trump was asked about this dreadful show, "didn't know anything about it," but did mention that Kristi "was the first face" he recognized on TV.
...
The Acting Administrator of FEMA has not been heard of since the disaster....

It may seem unseemly to "pick on" the MAGGOTS for the hundreds of lives lost in Texas floods, but I just learned of another bizarre part of the story. So bizarre it makes the mind boggle. From this Texas news source we learn that Kerr County was well aware of the danger of sudden floods -- they've had similar disasters in the past -- and were well aware of the need for infrastructure improvements, and for a flood warning system. Enter Biden's Infrastructure Improvement programs to the rescue?

In 2021, Kerr County was awarded a $10.2 million windfall from the American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA, which Congress passed that same year to support local governments impacted by the pandemic. Cities and counties were given flexibility to use the money on a variety of expenses, including those related to storm-related infrastructure. Corpus Christi, for example, allocated $15 million of its ARPA funding to “rehabilitate and/or replace aging storm water infrastructure.” Waco’s McLennan County spent $868,000 on low water crossings.

Kerr County did not opt for ARPA to fund flood warning systems despite commissioners discussing such projects nearly two dozen times since 2016. In fact, a survey sent to residents about ARPA spending showed that 42% of the 180 responses wanted to reject the $10 million bonus altogether, largely on political grounds.

“I’m here to ask this court today to send this money back to the Biden administration, which I consider to be the most criminal treasonous communist government ever to hold the White House,” one resident told commissioners in April 2022, fearing strings were attached to the money.

“We don't want to be bought by the federal government, thank you very much,” another resident told commissioners. “We'd like the federal government to stay out of Kerr County and their money.”

Kerr Country accepted (and then misspent) only a part of "Biden's money" and did that only because otherwise the money would have gone to a "blue state!"

Even Kelly, the Kerr County judge remarked that this “old law partner” – U.S. Sen. John Cornyn – had told him that if the county did not spend the money it would go back to blue states.

“As far as where that money sits for the next year or two, my old law partner John Cornyn tells me that if we send it back it’s going to New Jersey or it’s going to New York or it’s going to … or California,” Kelly said. “And so I don’t know if I’d rather be the custodian of the money until we decide what we have to do with it rather than giving it back to the government to spend it on values that we in Kerr County don’t agree with.”

You couldn't make this shit up.

 

[TV and credit cards]

The Tariffs

US customs duties top $100 billion for first time in a fiscal year
It will be interesting to watch how much revenue comes in from tariffs. Inflation is still low but I do suspect we are still running on built up inventories in anticipation thereof.
There is a nice little diagram in the summary of the monthly reports.
US Treasury Monthly Report
Scroll down to the bottom of the page to get previous issues for comparison.
Here it is on one sheet going back to 1980

 

[unapologetic]

Trump's deal making. He creates the illusion of making deals, but nothing.

Our common notion of 'deal making' is compromise, give and take.
Not Rump's. Rump's deals are always about winning. Always threatning. Thinks they need us more than we need them.
In civilian bussiness life "Sign the 'deal' or we'll deal with your competitors." In the WH "See these tarrifs? Beg us for a deal."
Never a word to the public about the details.

'The Art of the Deal' was ghost writen by Sun Tzu.

 

[ZiprHead]

The Tariffs

US customs duties top $100 billion for first time in a fiscal year
It will be interesting to watch how much revenue comes in from tariffs. Inflation is still low but I do suspect we are still running on built up inventories in anticipation thereof.
There is a nice little diagram in the summary of the monthly reports.
US Treasury Monthly Report
Scroll down to the bottom of the page to get previous issues for comparison.
Here it is on one sheet going back to 1980

MAGAts are gloating hard over this, saying Trump was right. They still think the tariffs are paid by other countries.

 

[Ford]

Meanwhile, Trump has declared Rosie O'Donnell to be a threat to humanity, and is saying he will revoke her citizenship.

Yes, the "are you still talking about Epstein" guy is digging up one of his oldest public spats. In the words of Yoda, "make this shit up, you cannot."

 

[ideologyhunter]

Meanwhile, Trump has declared Rosie O'Donnell to be a threat to humanity, and is saying he will revoke her citizenship.

Jesus fucking Christ. Just looked this up. It is just as you stated. When the history of this crazed man is finally, definitively written, this will be only a speck in the volumes of bizarre things he's stated, tweeted, hollered onstage.
He is desperately unwell. You MAGA voters -- any conclusions from this little episode in the continuing psychodrama?

 

[Patooka]

You MAGA voters -- any conclusions from this little episode in the continuing psychodrama?

I'm sure the answer would involve egg prices and Kamala's laugh.

 

[ideologyhunter]

Just to emphasize the hypocrisy: Pres. Clinton got into a tangle with Rush Limbaugh sometime in the 90s, over a comment that ran very close to, "He's on the air for three hours a day, with no one to correct what he says about me." Rush took tremendous umbrage, stating (ridiculously) that here was a President going after a private citizen, publicly. Look where we are thirty years later. (And yes, obviously, O'Donnell's a celeb, but this President makes heinous insulting comments about anyone who points out his malfeasance...or simply people who thwart his schemes. He slandered the two Georgia poll workers that sued Rudy Giuliani, calling one of them, Ruby Freeman, a "professional vote scammer." You tell me why Trump hasn't paid for this lie.)

 

[crazyfingers]

I really wish there were penalties in addition to impeachment for Presidents who are completely lawless.

Threatening to take away citizenship from Rosie O’Donnell ( someone I have no particular liking for) because she called him names. That would he a completely lawless unconstitutional act.

He’s also called for “major investigations” into celebrities like Bruce Springsteen and Beyoncé, calling their endorsements of Kamala Harris in last year’s presidential election “corrupt and unlawful.”

Ya, he considers endorsing someone other than himself "corrupt and unlawful" Throw the 1st Amendment out the window.

Trump is an evil, lying fascist slim-bucket.

Trump Threatens to Strip Rosie O’Donnell of U.S. Citizenship

President Trump said the actress, a longtime nemesis, “is not in the best interests of our Great Country.” Ms. O’Donnell called him a “criminal con man” who puts his interests ahead of the nation’s.

www.nytimes.com

 

[ZiprHead]

Trump still pushing the lie that other country's pay the tariffs.

 

[ZiprHead]

 

[Swammerdami]

Bondi dismisses charges against doctor accused of faking vaccination records​

... Dr. Michael Kirk Moore, whose criminal trial was currently underway in Utah, was indicted by the Justice Department in 2023. Moore, his medical corporation and three co-defendants were accused of allegedly destroying more than $28,000 worth of government-provided COVID-19 vaccines and distributing at least 1,937 falsely marked COVID-19 doses on vaccine cards in exchange for direct cash payments or donations to a charitable organization.
. . .
The Biden Justice Department alleged that Moore was not administering COVID-19 vaccines in exchange for the payment, and was administering saline shots to minors, at the request of their parents, so children would think they were receiving a vaccine dose.

Moore and his co-defendants were also charged with conspiracy to convert, sell, convey, and dispose of government property; and the conversion, sale, conveyance, and disposal of government property and aiding and abetting for their efforts to forge the vaccine cards.

The fake cards were sold for $50 each, charging documents said, during the scheme they allegedly operated between May 2021 and September 2022.

"Dr. Moore gave his patients a choice when the federal government refused to do so. He did not deserve the years in prison he was facing. It ends today," Bondi wrote on X, thanking Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who has a history of casting doubts on the efficacy of COVID vaccines, for raising awareness of his case. "She has been a warrior for Dr. Moore and for ending the weaponization of government," Bondi wrote.

In a post on X on Saturday, Greene called Moore a "hero who refused to inject his patients with a government mandated unsafe vaccine!"

 

[scombrid]

View attachment 51330

How many people died at that camp because the Christian Conservative administrators couldn’t be bothered to have weather radios on standby on a night with an enhanced risk of flash flooding?

If there is anything above a moderate risk for tornadoes and NWS issues a tornado watch overnight then I have a weather radio that will wake me up if a warning is issued. A camp should do the same thing for floods if it is in a dangerous flood zone.

Charlie Kirk and the rest of them are just assholes.

 

[ZiprHead]

View attachment 51330

How many people died at that camp because the Christian Conservative administrators couldn’t be bothered to have weather radios on standby on a night with an enhanced risk of flash flooding?

If there is anything above a moderate risk for tornadoes and NWS issues a tornado watch overnight then I have a weather radio that will wake me up if a warning is issued. A camp should do the same thing for floods if it is in a dangerous flood zone.

Charlie Kirk and the rest of them are just assholes.

I don't know how much a weather radio would have helped. I do know the people that owned the RV campground park said they did not get the cell phone warning like they are used to.

 

[crazyfingers]

Bondi dismisses charges against doctor accused of faking vaccination records​

... Dr. Michael Kirk Moore, whose criminal trial was currently underway in Utah, was indicted by the Justice Department in 2023. Moore, his medical corporation and three co-defendants were accused of allegedly destroying more than $28,000 worth of government-provided COVID-19 vaccines and distributing at least 1,937 falsely marked COVID-19 doses on vaccine cards in exchange for direct cash payments or donations to a charitable organization.
. . .
The Biden Justice Department alleged that Moore was not administering COVID-19 vaccines in exchange for the payment, and was administering saline shots to minors, at the request of their parents, so children would think they were receiving a vaccine dose.

Moore and his co-defendants were also charged with conspiracy to convert, sell, convey, and dispose of government property; and the conversion, sale, conveyance, and disposal of government property and aiding and abetting for their efforts to forge the vaccine cards.

The fake cards were sold for $50 each, charging documents said, during the scheme they allegedly operated between May 2021 and September 2022.

"Dr. Moore gave his patients a choice when the federal government refused to do so. He did not deserve the years in prison he was facing. It ends today," Bondi wrote on X, thanking Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who has a history of casting doubts on the efficacy of COVID vaccines, for raising awareness of his case. "She has been a warrior for Dr. Moore and for ending the weaponization of government," Bondi wrote.

In a post on X on Saturday, Greene called Moore a "hero who refused to inject his patients with a government mandated unsafe vaccine!"

Makes me want to puke how this administration loves to dismiss right-wing lawlessness.

 

[Elixir]

Makes me want to puke how this administration loves to dismiss right-wing lawlessness.

Elect an ignorant racist rapist traitor and this is whatcha get.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

N.H. green card holder denied re-entry to U.S. after visiting native Canada

The man, who supported President Donald Trump though he can't vote, says he "feels differently" now and blames the administration for his immigration plight.

www.nbcnews.com

Chris Landry is a legal U.S. resident and has lived in the Granite State since he was 3 years old. He has a partner, five children and a job in manufacturing.

He was stopped Sunday at the border in Houlton, Maine, while returning from a family vacation.

“They pulled me aside and started questioning me about my past convictions in New Hampshire,” Landry told NBC10 Boston.

Three hours later, the 46-year-old was told he couldn’t come home, despite having a green card and being a legal U.S. resident.

“They denied me re-entry and said, ‘Don’t come back or we will detain you,’ and the only way for me to get back in was to see an immigration judge,” he told NBC10 Boston from New Brunswick.

Marijuana possession 20+ years ago and drove with a suspended 18 years ago. Now the folks in the White House say no entry.

But this is just male bovine excrement. This will never happen... though it is actually happening.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

View attachment 51330

How many people died at that camp because the Christian Conservative administrators couldn’t be bothered to have weather radios on standby on a night with an enhanced risk of flash flooding?

Reading an article on WashPo, it might have been worse had the young adults in charge of the cabins not acted pretty much on their own. Those teens managed to save lives. Sadly they heard the screams and pleas for help from even younger children in a cabin on lower ground who were going to die.

 

[unapologetic]

N.H. green card holder denied re-entry to U.S. after visiting native Canada

The man, who supported President Donald Trump though he can't vote, says he "feels differently" now and blames the administration for his immigration plight.

www.nbcnews.com

Chris Landry is a legal U.S. resident and has lived in the Granite State since he was 3 years old. He has a partner, five children and a job in manufacturing.

He was stopped Sunday at the border in Houlton, Maine, while returning from a family vacation.

“They pulled me aside and started questioning me about my past convictions in New Hampshire,” Landry told NBC10 Boston.

Three hours later, the 46-year-old was told he couldn’t come home, despite having a green card and being a legal U.S. resident.

“They denied me re-entry and said, ‘Don’t come back or we will detain you,’ and the only way for me to get back in was to see an immigration judge,” he told NBC10 Boston from New Brunswick.

Marijuana possession 20+ years ago and drove with a suspended 18 years ago. Now the folks in the White House say no entry.

But this is just male bovine excrement. This will never happen... though it is actually happening.

I don't see the problem. He will be better off in Canada.