It's past the funny part

 SO - it has been  entertaining the past few days watching and listening to the House  of Representatives GOP  eating it self alive. Watching 20 members of the House hold out and hold up the business of governing the USA.  Frankly - we are now past the "funny" part. 

This Body of our government - regardless of which Party holds the Majority - has some functions that it must do.  They cannot even start that without electing a Speaker of the House.  WE have these 20 Republicans - the Freedom Caucus - I think they call them selves - made UP of Ultra MAGA - ultra Right wing of the party not voting for the guy who has been the Minority leader , while Nancy Pelosi has been the Speaker. McCarthy is now negotiating with them for the votes he needs to become speaker... to date - the last 2 days - he has lost on all 6 votes - unheard of since the 20's - so near 100 years. You have yo ask how much of the "power" (political influence )  that he will need is he negotiating away to get those votes... and remember here although these ULTRA MAGAs will tell you that the American people spoke and elected them the majority - they have a Majority by I believe 4 votes. So that nay time in the next 2 years this group of INSANE people - yup Bobo, Gosar , Madge, Perry (who may be in jail before his term is up)  - has a hissy fit ... that group that barely understands how the Business of the country works,  will destroy the GOP majority.  So if you think this infighting in the GOP is over after they pick a speaker - think again !  

OH and they - those 20 Full goose Bozos  - nominated Byron Donalds on Wednesday - I believe they did that as a counter to the Democrats ALL voting to Hakeem Jefferies ( a Great Rep from NY - will be the 1st time that a Black man is the Leader of a party in either House)  -  Jefferies who will eventually be the House Minority Leader - he and Donalds both African Americans -  I believe they did it to say  - "oh you have a black guy ,,, so do we... " Assholes...

A quick side note: Remember that even though there were those in the Democrat party that were not thrilled with Nancy Pelosi- they realized that they needed to show the Strong Front- the I'm on the TEAM and vote for Nancy ,

On November 17, 2020, Pelosi was nominated by voice vote without opposition. Whoosh! 

It does offer us  - once again - some insight into things that I did not know how it all worked. So one needs a majority of the Reps that are voting in the House   - the number is 218 IF everyone votes.... If there are some not in attendance (for whatever reason)  then it the simple majority of those A) in attendance and more importantly casting a vote for SOMEONE..... The Representative can vote "Present" so that they are in attendance - but not voting for any candidate for Speaker - this also  lowers the threshold that is needed to be elected..  there was a rumor that the House Democrats  were going to either not be in attendance, or Vote "Present" to help McCarthy get elected... But I could not see that happening,, and many many of them came out to say so..  AOC  (who I just love - what a smart strong Representative) was seen talking to Gosar - who you have to know they HATE each other - she came out and said that he asked her of that was what the Democrats were going to do ,, and she she told him in no certain terms that the Democrats would not be taking any action to help the GOP , especially McCarthy - in any way. 

The House reconvenes on Thursday at Noon- so stay turned to see if they Elect a Speaker of the House later today - and then can get on with the Business of Government. 

a Second side note - I think that most people - at least most people  Before Trump came along - most thought that their Congressperson - Senator , Representative of Federal or State legislature  was going to a) represent and stand for what they stood for to get elected, and perhaps more importantly - B) they would work with their peers of BOTH parties in order to achieve a compromise where possible for the Good of Both sides ...  I think that the Compromise part has been removed by Trump and ultra magas and that compromise - give and take - is seen as Weakness instead of Strength of a Legislator.  Yes - there are hills you will DIE ON ,,, but that can't be every issue - If you are a parent reading this - you know exactly what I'm talking about.. humm  Maybe a requirement of governing should be you must be a parent 1st !! 

...... If you can keep it.

 A quote attributed to Benjamin Franklin on September 18, 1787 the last day of the Constitutional Convention,,,  “A lady asked Dr. Franklin  "Well .... Doctor what have we got a republic or a monarchy" 

 – "A republic" replied the Doctor "if you can keep it.” 

The J6 Committee has referred the Former POTUS to the DOJ - thats the Department of justice - for Criminal prosecution.   and , while it has gotten a fair amount of Press coverage, I have to tell you that  this - as we have seen with many many things that surround the former POTUS is kinda a no big surprise...  OK - think back to say 10 - 12 years ago - at a time before Trump//  IF a past president was referred to the DOJ for Criminal charges everyone would be losing their minds !!  Remember Watergate... Remember the Bush Iran Contra Scandal..   but I think this shows you the level that we are used to from Trump , that we kinda just say ...  Ahhh that Crazy olde trump...  But in coming years this investigation, the Summary issued by the Congressional panel, and the involvement of the POTUS, his immediate staff , lawyers, advisers, some senators, Congressman, rival what even Nixon was up to with the Watergate scandal.  

I am not the 1st or even the 1000th person to say this,, but if NO incitement's come of this,,, then we can't be surprised when it all happens again,,, and maybe next time it will succeed in overturning an election,, and that will be the end of the Democracy and the Republic as we know it...

=========================================================================

The 2nd piece of news is the House Ways and Means committee is going to release the last 6 years of Trumps tax returns... that he - Trump - has tried to keep secret since way back in 2015....  

The Republicans say  that this sets a bad president for the future that anyones tax return can be made public,,, Senators, Congressman and even Supreme Court Justices....  two things about this..

1) the Republicans saw fit to use their majority in the Final days of the Trump presidency to approve Supreme court justice Amy Barret even thought Moscow Mitch said that during the Obama Administration - that a year before his term ended that that year was way to close to the next  election to Confirm or even vote on Garland's nomination, but had no problem voting in Barrett even as votes were being counted that would eventually UN Elect Trump..   NOW the GOP is pissed that the Democrats are using their power in the last weeks of their majority in the House to release Trumps taxes.

2) I fail to see the Problem here,,, Why not make it that if you are going to run for public office and/or serve in the government , WE the People know who is paying you ... we know where you are invested.. what businesses,, what countries,,  where do you have loans from that may compromise your voting position...  Make it a LAW  !! that way no Political Party would have that power - it would just be the Norm....

and in the Summary we have seen so far - Trump pays NO TAX... he carries huge Debts forward year to year to offset his taxable burden - and where he says he donates money to organization there is no specific of that donation(s) , where you and I have to have receipts of our small donations to SPCA, Veteran organizations , etc etc.... HE should have to show proof of those donations... 

=========================================================================

SO - we wait for the Incitement's to be handed down. The DOJ, Special Counsel Jack Smith,

and Merrick Garland - DO YOUR DAMN JOBS ! 

Quik observations about livin in the South....

 While I knew it was warmer /  different here,...  I was not ready for 

- Flowers blooming next to Christmas decorations &  lights

- Folks moving their lawns in Mid December

- the fact that Red lights and speed limits are  merely suggestions

- Turn signals are a sign of Weakness

- There are things - packages meats and Poultry - in the Meat store that I have no clue what they are / where on the Cow / Pig they come from nor what you do to prepare them...  and Chicken Feet !!  HUH 

- The Truth is that there are no more Confederate flags there than in NY

- You do see that the Confederate Veterans adopt highways for Clean up.... we do remember that these were the folks that tried to destroy  the country --right  ??

- Purchasing a gun - hand gun or Shotgun or Rifle is Really easy....

- I could get away with wearing shorts every day (so far) 

 

The good news

  Let's deal with this 1st -  and just move along if you ar sick of all the Political stuff..

On Wednesday - Dump says that he has a major announcement coming the next day,...  and the speculation os that he is 1) dropping out of the Presidential race 2) he names a running mate , 3) he is going to go after the House Speaker seat....  and guess what NONE of these and any other guesses were even fucking close ......  his Latest grift - thats GRIFT- not GIFT...  is that he is selling Trump NFT cards - Lie  baseball cards - only not hard copy NFT ...   ,, just images of himself - thats not surprising !!  and I gotta ask are you people really that gullible - that dumb! that you would send - this so called Billionaire - more of YOUR money ! 

Here is the announcement,,,  and yea - Totally photo-shopped or Cartoon that the Blob like Urine soaked Cheeto man thinks  he looks like......   I mean seriously - what  CON Man - that he thinks / knows that there are people that will PAY him for this !!

 

The trump organization is found guilty - by a JURY - of 17 counts of Tax Fraud.

Trump loses an appeal  on the Special Master to oversee the Documents he stole from the government

Trump Lawyers find more classified documents at another property of his in Florida,, and we can talk about WHY it's his Lawyers looking for them - after they certified in writing  that all had been retuned.

Herschel Walker loses bid to be a Senator from Georgia- and we can discuss later why 48% of the Georgia voters look at him as a good candidate for Senator. 

Sunday Sunday,,, ...

 World Cup news,,,,,

Group B :

US needs to WIN their match  against Iran to advance...   A tie or loss and they are OUT ! 

Group  C is the other one that I am watching: 

Poland Has a tough final match .vs Argentina... If they beat Argentina - they win the Group.  If they Draw they might not win the group , but they will advance.  SO Poland needs to WIN or TIE to ensure advancing 

 If they lose - the need to have the Saudias lose to Mexico to  advance... IF the SA ties Mexico and Poland loses then it will come down to Goal Differential - so Lots still up in the air in Group C ...

=====================================================================

The former POTUS , hosts a Dinner at Mar-a logo.. with  White nationalist and Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes and rapper Kanye West  this week, demonstrating his continued willingness to associate with figures who have well-publicized antisemitic views as he embarks on another White House run.  And I do not hear any or so very few Republicans condemning this,,,  

I DO NOT KNOW why the GOP has such a hard time condemning Anti-Semites and Nazis. Seems like a no Brainer to me,,,but what do I know.... 

-===================================================================

The Aaron Judge Sweepstakes continue ....  I know that the Dodgers say they are interested,,, and maybe the Mets... I believe it comes to 2 choices.... GIANTS  or YANKEES...  it will be a massive contract either way ,,,   so far in his career he has made Approx 36 Million dollars...   bet cha that the next contract is more like $36 Million per year / probably more....   Mike Trout's contract is $35 million per ,, so Judge will be looking for more.... Now ,, let's not go down the path of how much money does one person need,,,, He is one of the TOP Players in MLB.. he deserves to be paid what the market will pay...  He is the face of the Yankees if not the face of MLB (along with a few,, very few others) ,,, look around the stadium,, or just walking around in NY.. how may Jerseys & T-shirts have his name on them ??    I will tell you that - the times I dod go to the games this year..........  either 99 or 2 are on the back of most of the shirts,,,

===================================================================

Trump taxes... the former POTUS - even though he lost his bid with the Supreme court to have his taxes withheld from the Congress - he essentially won....  he delayed the process to the point that the Democrat's will only have the Majority for maybe a month - to do any ting with them. will they release them or leak them to the Public??? That would seems vindictive,, but this is TRUMP ...  and they have been waiting for years,, like since 2018 for them... maybe they should summarize them....  Listen - Presidential Tax returns are reviewed / Audited - so what cam of those audits while he WAS President ?? were there adjustments made ?    If they decide to summarize them : AKA - his total income , his debts and to WHO ?? What did he pay in taxes...   NOW - it would say something about our current tax structure - when a Billionaire (if he really is) can work the tax system so the he pays nothing !!! This might actually get us to a Flat Tax Scenario - or at least to getting the top 1% of the Money holders to Pay their share of TAX !!

Here is couple for Sunday ...  

A  old song fromJohn Prine - It's a Big Old Goofy World - off 1991's LP 

"The Missing Years" 

And a Chapin Song  - off Heads and Tails.... it's 50 years old !!

That is Steve Chapin on Guitar,  (big) John Wallace on bass, Kim Scholes on Viola, 

TAXI.

Why ??? Why does this happen in the US ??

At least 6 people were killed in a shooting at a Walmart in Virginia, officials say. The shooter is also dead.

Suspect in Colorado Springs shooting at an LGBTQ Club slated to appear in Court, 

I think there are few very understandable reasons that the US has more and more of these mass shooting events.... 

#1 - Obvious - we have more people that own guns,,, and more guns are available to anyone and everyone... Come on ,, how can this not be  factor... 

#2 - More and more lately the political rhetoric has radicalized these lone wolf type assailants. The more hate talk - the more that one side demonizes the other them more you are gonna have someone that thinks that killing others will solve what they see as "the Problem" ...   IMHO - we are not far away from an assassination of a Politician... Senator,  Representative.  Judge,,, someone is going to get killed,,   these people these days have guards following them and their families around...  think of that ,, seems like something that you hear about in a 3rd world country ... Not in the US.... But since the former POTUS got into the game - he has worked to Demonize his opponents -  he has used hate speak to do it... and he and the followers  in his Cult are at least part responsible for this .....   

Today more than ever - you cannot have a discussion of politics,,,  there is no more compromise in the system, its MY Way or nothing,,,  YOU are not allowed  different opinion....  and I think that mush of that is driven by the fact that we are not both dealing from a position of Truth, FACTS.... actual Truth - not Trump Truth (Lies) ......