McCarthey out as Speaker of the House - Bozo the clown on deck

[Loren Pechtel]

Well, seems like the House Speaker isn't disclosing assets. His 2022 disclosure form literally shows zero assets (note that link is to the House.gov, so the source is kind of solid). He lists a $250k to $500k mortgage and a pair of other loans, but not a single asset... like a checking account (which needs to be reported if over $1000). He makes over $10k a month. Is he living off of the line of equity with his home?

That makes no sense at all. How can you have a mortgage without the mortgaged asset?

We need some real teeth to the disclosure laws. Say, any substantial defect renders you unable to vote and to the extent feasible disqualifies any past vote you made while the defect existed.

 

[lpetrich]

Does New Speaker of the House Mike Johnson Have a Bank Account? - "Speaker Mike Johnson has never listed a bank account on his financial disclosure. In fact, on his newest disclosure he doesn’t list a single asset at all."

Over the course of seven years, Johnson has never reported a checking or savings account in his name, nor in the name of his wife or any of his children, disclosures show. In fact, he doesn’t appear to have money stashed in any investments, with his latest filing—covering 2022—showing no assets whatsoever.

Of course, it’s unlikely Johnson doesn’t actually have a bank account. What’s more likely is Johnson lives paycheck to paycheck—so much so that he doesn’t have enough money in his bank account to trigger the checking account disclosure rules for members of Congress.

But his income is upper middle class.

Jordan Libowitz, communications director for watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, offered a more blunt assessment, saying that if Johnson truly doesn’t have any assets, it “raises questions about his personal financial wellbeing.”

"It’s strange to see Speaker Johnson disclose no assets,” Libowitz told The Daily Beast. “He made over $200,000 last year, and his wife took home salary from two employers as well, so why isn’t there a bank account or any form of savings listed?”

Johnson has also carried debts over for several years, which Libowitz said would sharpen the question.

He then asked where the money goes, and he said that financial difficulties can make him vulnerable to influence buying.

 

[Don2 (Don1 Revised)]

If he doesn't have a bank account, how does he pay for his Accountabilibuddy porn-tracker app on his devices? Does he give them cash money each month? That's fricking weird!

 

[lpetrich]

If he doesn't have a bank account, how does he pay for his Accountabilibuddy porn-tracker app on his devices? Does he give them cash money each month? That's fricking weird!

He could use a credit card, or do some online banking like PayPal.

Or else he could use a bank account that's in someone else's name.

 

[bilby]

If he doesn't have a bank account, how does he pay for his Accountabilibuddy porn-tracker app on his devices? Does he give them cash money each month? That's fricking weird!

He could use a credit card, or do some online banking like PayPal.

Or else he could use a bank account that's in someone else's name.

Or he could have a nice savings account somewhere, and/or a bunch of investments, and just be a lying liar who lies.

Sometimes the simplest answer is the most likely.

 

[James Brown]

Innocent until proven guilty, that's our motto. Even when guilt is patently obvious.

 

[TV and credit cards]

Does New Speaker of the House Mike Johnson Have a Bank Account? - "Speaker Mike Johnson has never listed a bank account on his financial disclosure. In fact, on his newest disclosure he doesn’t list a single asset at all."

Over the course of seven years, Johnson has never reported a checking or savings account in his name, nor in the name of his wife or any of his children, disclosures show. In fact, he doesn’t appear to have money stashed in any investments, with his latest filing—covering 2022—showing no assets whatsoever.

Of course, it’s unlikely Johnson doesn’t actually have a bank account. What’s more likely is Johnson lives paycheck to paycheck—so much so that he doesn’t have enough money in his bank account to trigger the checking account disclosure rules for members of Congress.

But his income is upper middle class.

Jordan Libowitz, communications director for watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, offered a more blunt assessment, saying that if Johnson truly doesn’t have any assets, it “raises questions about his personal financial wellbeing.”

"It’s strange to see Speaker Johnson disclose no assets,” Libowitz told The Daily Beast. “He made over $200,000 last year, and his wife took home salary from two employers as well, so why isn’t there a bank account or any form of savings listed?”

Johnson has also carried debts over for several years, which Libowitz said would sharpen the question.

He then asked where the money goes, and he said that financial difficulties can make him vulnerable to influence buying.

For a man who says "My faith informs everything I do.", his faith must be oddly silent on being a financial responsible adult. I don't think he's lying. I think they are just like so many others who spend every dime they can get their hands on.

From this Daily Beast article:

Johnson appears to have carried that retirement account over to a federal program called a Thrift Savings Plan. He put some money into that account, topping out between $15,000 and $50,000 in 2020. (The previous year, Johnson had taken out the line of credit on his home.) In 2021, he appears to have cashed out that retirement account entirely, and it does not appear at all in his 2022 report.

This dude cashed out his TSP likely under a COVID exception to avoid getting hit with a 10% penalty. But just to cash this out says his financial situation is dire or he's a fool. It makes no sense to cash out his TSP while he can still contribute.

 

[ZiprHead]

This dude cashed out his TSP likely under a COVID exception to avoid getting hit with a 10% penalty. But just to cash this out says his financial situation is dire or he's a fool. It makes no sense to cash out his TSP while he can still contribute.

Maybe he had a judge he needed to finance.

 

[Swammerdami]

Is this the thread to discuss "Christian nationalism"? James Carville regards "Christian nationalism" as a bigger threat to America than al-Qaeda.

 

[ZiprHead]

Is this the thread to discuss "Christian nationalism"? James Carville regards "Christian nationalism" as a bigger threat to America than al-Qaeda.

Dya think...

 

[southernhybrid]

There are currently 13 countries that give the death penalty for being an atheist. It wouldn't surprise me if some of these White Christian Nationalists want to make it 14.

 

[Politesse]

Conservative politicians sure talk about pedophilia and think about pedophilia and accuse people of pedophilia, like, a lot.

Some Republicans use false 'pedophilia' claims to attack Democrats, LGBTQ people

So, Let’s Talk About Republicans and Sex Crimes

Why Republicans Are Smearing Everyone As Pedophiles Now

The Republican party is obsessed with children – in the creepiest of ways

 

[Patooka]

There are currently 13 countries that give the death penalty for being an atheist. It wouldn't surprise me if some of these White Christian Nationalists want to make it 14.

They're also not too fond of the non-white religions (Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam* etc), so technically it's not so much giving atheism the death penalty as it is codifying heresy again.

*ten bucks Derec is going to post an image of Richard Geer or Yousif Islam in a pedantic attempt to prove some imaginary fallacy.

 

[ZiprHead]

There are currently 13 countries that give the death penalty for being an atheist. It wouldn't surprise me if some of these White Christian Nationalists want to make it 14.

They're also not too fond of the non-white religions (Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam* etc), so technically it's not so much giving atheism the death penalty as it is codifying heresy again.

*ten bucks Derec is going to post an image of Richard Geer or Yousif Islam in a pedantic attempt to prove some imaginary fallacy.

Wasn't it Geaorge Bush who said atheists should be allowed to be citizens, or something like that?

 

[crazyfingers]

There are currently 13 countries that give the death penalty for being an atheist. It wouldn't surprise me if some of these White Christian Nationalists want to make it 14.

They're also not too fond of the non-white religions (Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam* etc), so technically it's not so much giving atheism the death penalty as it is codifying heresy again.

*ten bucks Derec is going to post an image of Richard Geer or Yousif Islam in a pedantic attempt to prove some imaginary fallacy.

Wasn't it Geaorge Bush who said atheists should be allowed to be citizens, or something like that

Rob Boston reported George HW Bush saying that Atheists shouldn't be citizens but I don't think that there were any witnesses and Bush denied it. It comes down to who you believe. I tend to believe Boston but independent evidence is lacking.

 

[Patooka]

Rob Boston reported George HW Bush saying that Atheists shouldn't be citizens but I don't think that there were any witnesses and Bush denied it. It comes down to who you believe. I tend to believe Boston but independent evidence is lacking.

That's sounds more like a George W instead of a HW thing to say.

 

[Derec]

They're also not too fond of the non-white religions (Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam* etc), so technically it's not so much giving atheism the death penalty as it is codifying heresy again.
*ten bucks Derec is going to post an image of Richard Geer or Yousif Islam in a pedantic attempt to prove some imaginary fallacy.

It is a fallacy on your part and it is not pedantic to point it out. Religions are sets of beliefs and practices and thus are not "white" or "non-white". You wanted a photo, so why not this idiot?

But since you yourself recognized your argument to be fallacious, why did you post in the first place?

 

[crazyfingers]

Rob Boston reported George HW Bush saying that Atheists shouldn't be citizens but I don't think that there were any witnesses and Bush denied it. It comes down to who you believe. I tend to believe Boston but independent evidence is lacking.

That's sounds more like a George W instead of a HW thing to say.

It was Rob Sherman, not Boston, but still...

Did George H. W. Bush Really Say Atheists Shouldn’t Be Considered Citizens?

There are many holes in this story.

friendlyatheist.patheos.com

 

[Patooka]

They're also not too fond of the non-white religions (Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam* etc), so technically it's not so much giving atheism the death penalty as it is codifying heresy again.
*ten bucks Derec is going to post an image of Richard Geer or Yousif Islam in a pedantic attempt to prove some imaginary fallacy.

It is a fallacy on your part and it is not pedantic to point it out. Religions are sets of beliefs and practices and thus are not "white" or "non-white". You wanted a photo, so why not this idiot?

But since you yourself recognized your argument to be fallacious, why did you post in the first place?

Because contextually it's not fallacious, and you know that.

 

[lpetrich]

Former House speaker Kevin McCarthy announces he is leaving Congress | AP News

His announcement capped a stunning end to a House career for the onetime deli counter owner from Bakersfield, California, who ascended through state and national politics to become second in line to the presidency, until a cluster of hard-right conservatives engineered his removal in October.

McCarthy is the only speaker in history to be voted out of the job.

“No matter the odds, or personal cost, we did the right thing,” McCarthy wrote in The Wall Street Journal, announcing his decision. “It is in this spirit that I have decided to depart the House at the end of this year to serve America in new ways.”

Will he write his memoirs?