Month: February 2019

Free Republic, The Darnold, Tommy T

Bonus “Obsession” – Scarborough Unfaire!

Tommy T

You good people get an additional mini-“Obsession” this week – a little coda to the “what right-wing terrorist I have no idea what you’re talking about” thingy : Scarborough: ‘I Know’ Trump Undisturbed By Guardsman’s Planned Terror Killings NewsBusters ^ | Mark Finkelstein Posted on 2/21/2019, 8:50:14 AM by governsleastgovernsbest After Morning Joe led today’s show with the report of the arrest of a Coast Guard officer accused of planning terror attacks against numerous liberal politicians and media figures, including Joe Scarborough, Scarborough said: “I know he [President Trump] is not disturbed by the news reports. He sees that as … Continue reading Bonus “Obsession” – Scarborough Unfaire!

Michael F2 Comments

It’s The Party Of Trump…It’s Also The Cult Of Trump

mmferry1965

Like Adrastos, I’m recycling an image. Wish I could say it was because of Muses, but unfortunately it’s because of work. Well, work and that while watching yesterday’s House hearing, I kept thinking, wow, they’re fucking brainwashed. All of them. Sure, Cohen’s a convicted felon and a liar, but as the pundits kept saying, the lies were when he was … the president’s lawyer. Michael Cohen got caught, realized his options were, at best, highly restricted, and that cooperating was his only chance at avoiding decades in prison. The Trump cultists, on the other hand, have decided to stick with … Continue reading It’s The Party Of Trump…It’s Also The Cult Of Trump

Adrastos, Fog Of History, Law/Justice, Political Crack, Stupid Republican Tricks2 Comments

Quote Of The Day: Ode To Manafort Edition

Peter Adrastos Athas

If there was ever a convicted felon in deep shit and sinking fast, it’s Paul Manafort. Here’s one of his lawyers’ arguments from his sentencing memo: “[Manafort has spent] a lifetime promoting American democratic values and assisting emerging democracies to adopt reforms necessary to become a part of Western society.” Holy spit take provoking quote, Batman. I’d never confused Manafort with Captain America before. I always thought he was a corrupt piece of shit instead of a democracy promoting hero. Who knew? Nobody. I have some sympathy for his lawyers. They gotta argue something and their client has made it … Continue reading Quote Of The Day: Ode To Manafort Edition

Athenae, Economy

People’s Capacity

Allison Hantschel

This is a fascinating approach:  A 2016 study published in the American Journal of Public Health found that between roughly 2,800 and 5,500 premature deaths that occurred in New York City from 2008 to 2012 could have been prevented if the city’s minimum wage had been $15 an hour during that time, instead of a little over $7 an hour. That number represents up to one in 12 of all people who died prematurely in those five years. The chronic stress that accompanies poverty can be seen at the cellular level. It has been linked to a wide array of adverse conditions, … Continue reading People’s Capacity

Free Republic, Terrorism, Tommy T5 Comments

Today on Tommy Ts Obsession with the Freeperati – Foregone Conclusions edition

Tommy T

A quick one today, people – just finished a trip from Dallas to Houston,, then back to Dallas – and boy, are my dogs tired.

Let’s see – hmmm – Freeperville seems to have turned into the Jussie Smollet / fake noose show.

Every. Single. Post.  Geez, how boring is this?

Whups – some real news sneaked in.  Behold – no noose is good noose!

Coast Guard Officer Accused of Terrorist Plot Targeting Media, Lawmakers
Military,com ^ | February 20, 2019 | By Hope Hodge Seck

“military.com”?  Damn that liberal media!!

Posted on 2/20/2019, 5:11:56 PM by Hojczyk

A Coast Guard lieutenant assigned to the service’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., has been arrested on drug and gun possession charges, and is accused of plans to “murder innocent civilians on a scale rarely seen in this country,” according to documents filed in Maryland District Court.

Lt. Christopher Paul Hasson, an acquisitions officer for the National Security Cutter Acquisition Program, was arrested Feb. 15 and charged with possession of a firearm and ammunition by an unlawful user or addict of controlled substances, and possession of Tramadol, a Schedule IV pain medication.

A motion for detention pending trial, filed by U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur, paints a much more menacing portrait of Hasson’s crimes and planned crimes.

“The current charges, however, are the proverbial tip of the iceberg,” Hur wrote. “The defendant is a domestic terrorist, bent on committing acts dangerous to human life that are intended to affect government conduct.”

Hur cited a draft email written by Hasson in June 2017 in which he said he was “dreaming of a way to kill almost every last person on the earth” using a “Spanish flu, botulism, anthrax” or some other mass toxin.

Another draft letter to a “known American neo-Nazi leader” identified Hasson as a white nationalist looking for an opportunity for “a little focused violence” to establish racial supremacy.

When Hasson was arrested in Silver Spring, Maryland, earlier this month, the document states, law enforcement agents found 15 firearms, including shotguns, rifles and handguns, and “conservatively, over 1,000 rounds of mixed ammunition.”

A list of potential targets allegedly compiled by Hasson in January included “prominent Democratic congressional leaders, activists, political organizations, and MSNBC and CNN media personalities” including TV host Chris Hayes; House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California; Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia; Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-New York; and many others.

Posted on 2/20/2019, 5:11:56 PM by Hojczyk

Is this the Rubicon that Trump and his nutjob supporters have finally crossed?

Have they, at long last, no sense of decency?

To: Hojczyk

 

Why do these people always write down/publicize their stupid plots?

2 posted on 2/20/2019, 5:14:56 PM by moonhawk (Excuse me…Did you just presume the gender of the Earth Deity?)

I’m guessing that’s a “NO”.
To: Hojczyk

 

Funny how the Fed’s(sic) just happen to have these cases to announce whenever the dirty FBI is getting covered in the news.

3 posted on 2/20/2019, 5:16:10 PM by PghBaldy (12/14 – 930am -rampage begins… 12/15 – 1030am – Obama’s advance team scouts photo-op locations.)

Tricksy tricksy Feds – always causing Coast Guard Lieutenants to draw up death lists of political opponents. How do they get away with it?
To: PghBaldy

 

I will bet my house this is an FBI informant entrapment special.

14 posted on 2/20/2019, 5:31:15 PM by lodi90

YeahBaby

 

And a double-wide is not a “house”.

Just so ya know.

To: Hojczyk

 

Sounds like Antifa to me.

6 posted on 2/20/2019, 5:18:47 PM by Midwesterner53

…because they’re famous for drawing up hit lists of liberals to kill.  Yep.
To: Hojczyk

 

So the Juicy Smell-it meme has collapsed and it’s time to move on to this.

13 posted on 2/20/2019, 5:30:49 PM by Afterguard (Deplorable me!)

Because publicity scammers are SO much more dangerous than mass murderers.
Of course, to some Freepers, the REAL crime is that he didn’t go far enough :
To: Hojczyk 

Only 15 firearms?

Yep.  Only 15.   Piker.

How many can he shoot at once anyway?

Um – two?

And anything less than 10,000 rounds is not significant.

I’ll pass that info along to the residents of Thousand Oaks, the Pittsburgh Synagogue, Jacksonville Landing, Orlando, Fla., Scottsdale, Ca, Santa Fe, Tx., Stoneman Douglas High School, etc, etc, etc.

As far as his koko’s list goes who doesn’t have one of those?

Who indeed?  In related news, the FBI just got its probable cause warrant to search Free Republic’s server for this nitwit’s IP address.

The guy is a piker

I already said that.

and as usual the government is vastly overstating its position. “If the federal government was put in charge of the Sahara Desert tomorrow in five years we would have a sand shortage”. Milton Friedman.

17 posted on 2/20/2019, 5:34:59 PM by from occupied ga (Your government is your most dangerous enemy)

I can’t imagine what’s keeping the “false flag” contingent…..
To:moonhawk
Why do these people always write down/publicize their stupid plots?yeah, how convenient. Maybe because for a false flag to work, the “ evidence” needs to be indisputable?

22 posted on 2/20/2019, 5:39:04 PM by atc23
You can set your fucking clock by them.
More rationalization / bugfuck crazy / whataboutism at the friendly link.
.

Continue reading “Today on Tommy Ts Obsession with the Freeperati – Foregone Conclusions edition”

Athenae, Books, Economy, Faith1 Comment

It’s ALL About Money

Allison Hantschel

I look forward to this explanation of how church and “civic life” are entirely divorced from economics because everyone knows you don’t need money to buy, say, land to build your sanctuary on, or textbooks:  Why do so many people believe that the American dream is no longer within reach? Growing inequality, stubborn pockets of immobility, rising rates of deadly addiction, the increasing and troubling fact that where you start determines where you end up, heightening political strife—these are the disturbing realities threatening ordinary American lives today. The standard accounts pointed to economic problems among the working class, but the … Continue reading It’s ALL About Money

Art, Athenae

Not Everything Sucks

Allison Hantschel

This photo archive exists and is being circulated around again:  For the Documerica Project (1971-1977), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hired freelance photographers to capture images relating to environmental problems, EPA activities, and everyday life in the 1970s. John H. White was one of nearly one hundred photographers hired for DOCUMERICA. His photographs captured the spirit and struggle of the African-American community in Chicago, Illinois in the early 70’s. John White is a national treasure and these images of a Chicago past make it seem so alive and vital. A. Continue reading Not Everything Sucks

Adrastos, Diary, Film, Fog Of History, Food and Drink, Music, New Orleans, Odds & Sods, Political Crack, Television

Saturday Odds & Sods: Moon River

Peter Adrastos Athas
Swing Landscape by Stuart Davis

Carnival is about to kick into high gear and it looks as if it may be a wet season. There are few things worse than parading or watching in the rain. What was the old cliché? Oh yeah, don’t rain on my parade. I’m not a fan of being fenced in either.

This week’s theme song is a longtime favorite of mine. It was written in 1961 by Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer for the classic movie Breakfast At Tiffany’s. Moon River has some of Mercer’s best, and most evocative, lyrics. I’m still waiting round the bend for my huckleberry friend but they haven’t shown up. So it goes.

We have two versions for your listening pleasure:  a jazzy interpretation by the great Sarah Vaughan and a swinging version by my homey Dr. John.

Now that we’re huckleberry friends, we won’t wait until the end to jump to the break.

Continue reading “Saturday Odds & Sods: Moon River”

Adrastos, Bayou Brief, Carnival, New Orleans, Race

The Bayou Brief: The Zulu Conundrum

Peter Adrastos Athas

New Orleans is one of the few places in the country where a white person can wear blackface in public and not be called a racist. Why? 20% of the folks who ride in the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club’s Mardi Gras day parade are white. My latest piece at the Bayou Brief: The Zulu Conundrum is an attempt to bring nuance and context to this contentious local discussion. I believe that, as they did once before, Zulu should abandon “blacking up” for all its members, not just white riders. The reason I use the word conundrum is that … Continue reading The Bayou Brief: The Zulu Conundrum

Athenae, So Called Liberal Media

Poynter Pearl-Clutching Train’s Never Late

Allison Hantschel

How, HOW, is Sainted Jill Abramson dealing with the horrible trauma that is being accused of plagiarism after plagiarizing a bunch of people?  “Over the weekend, I was mostly taking care of and playing with my grandchildren,’’ Abramson told Poynter on Monday afternoon. “And focusing on all that is right with my world.’’ Aww. It’s so nice that we checked in with her and not with, you know, all the people she ripped off or the ones she misgendered or called stupid uneducated kids with mohawks or whatever her problem was with Vice and BuzzFeed. After all, Twitter was MEAN … Continue reading Poynter Pearl-Clutching Train’s Never Late

Adrastos, Books, Law/Justice, Political Crack, The Darnold1 Comment

Quote Of The Day: The Case Of The Unfit President*

Peter Adrastos Athas

Former FBI honcho Andrew McCabe has been ubiquitous of late. His description  of his encounters with the Insult Comedian are either bone-chilling or blood-curdling. Pick your metaphor. Today’s quote comes from McCabe’s new tome, The Threat: People do not appreciate how far we have fallen from normal standards of presidential accountability. Today we have a president who is willing not only to comment prejudicially on criminal prosecutions but to comment on ones that potentially affect him. He does both of these things almost daily. He is not just sounding a dog whistle. He is lobbying for a result. The president … Continue reading Quote Of The Day: The Case Of The Unfit President*

Free Republic, The Darnold, Tommy T3 Comments

Today on Tommy T’s Obsession with the Freeperati – balls to The Wall edition

Tommy T

Just installed new HEPA filters for the ISO chamber, so let’s crank up the blowers and open the latest drums of toxic sludge!

First up – the wailing wall!

Trump says he ‘didn’t need to’ declare emergency but wanted ‘faster’ action
thehill.com ^ | February 15, 2019 | Jordain Carney

Posted on 2/15/2019, 3:41:35 PM by Berlin_Freeper

President Trump said on Friday that he “didn’t need to” declare a national emergency but did it to speed up construction of the U.S.-Mexico border wall.

“I want to do it faster. I could do the wall over a longer period of time. I didn’t need to do this, but I’d rather do it much faster,” Trump said during a press conference at the Rose Garden in the White House.

1 posted on 2/15/2019, 3:41:35 PM by Berlin_Freeper
Freepers?   Victory dance?
To: Berlin_Freeper

 

Except that the bill he just signed will very likely be used to keep him from doing just that. He should have vetoed that POS. When Oh When will we get the line item veto for the Oval Office? I know…double edged sword but…it would have been handy this week.

3 posted on 2/15/2019, 3:43:20 PM by Bloody Sam Roberts (Atrophy of science is visible when the spokesman goes from Einstein to Sagan to Neil Degrasse Tyson.)

Be oh so careful what you wish for.
To: Berlin_Freeper

 

Well he’s right..if Congress/Senate had done their damn jobs he wouldn’t need to do this, but he had no choice because this needs to be done NOW

5 posted on 2/15/2019, 3:45:43 PM by Sarah Barracuda

…because once he gets to Mar-Al-Fucko, he’ll be too busy playing golf….
Of course, even in Freeperville, an occasional gleam of truth seeps through :
To: Bloody Sam Roberts

 

He signed the bill because the votes in both Congressional bodies were higher than the votes required to override his veto.

There was no benefit from playing the part of a person who wanted to shut down the government again.

Look folks, he can’t do it alone, and we need to quit playing as if that isn’t exactly what he has to do.

6 posted on 2/15/2019, 3:46:12 PM by DoughtyOne

OtherwiseOKdog
To: Berlin_Freeper

 

I hope that statement does not hurt him in court, as saying he didn’t need to do it seems to contradict it being a qualifying emergency.

9 posted on 2/15/2019, 3:48:37 PM by zencycler

CaptainObvious
To: morphing libertarian
“I didn’t need to do this, but I’d rather do it much faster,” Trump said during a press conference at the Rose Garden in the White House.

 

This statement completely undermines any legal argument in support of a “national emergency” declaration.

15 posted on 2/15/2019, 4:06:39 PM by Alberta’s Child (“In the time of chimpanzees I was a monkey.”)
YaThink
To: All

 

“I didn’t need to do this, but I’d rather do it much faster,”

The statement Pretty much guarantees he loses. That plus he signed just a bill where he agrees not to do what the act intends. I can only think he must know this so what do we conclude from that? Nothing good.

17 posted on 2/15/2019, 4:11:54 PM by gibsonguy

Come on, guys – cheer up! Turn those frowns upside down.
To: DoughtyOne

 

“Look folks, he can’t do it alone, and we need to quit playing as if that isn’t exactly what he has to do.”

Absolutely.

The folks treating this as entertainment need to stop looking for their next hit, and start asking what they can do to help.

18 posted on 2/15/2019, 4:15:08 PM by VanDeKoik

Well – I hear that the Kolfage GoFundMe account’s still active.

The organizer of an effort to crowdfund construction for the southern border wall has a new plan to raise money: selling commemorative coins with his face on them.

Fans of Brian Kolfage, the triple-amputee Iraq War veteran behind the border wall effort that started on GoFundMe, can now buy a “Brian Kolfage Collector’s Coin” coin for $49.99.

Kolfage’s crowdfunding campaign turned him into an instant celebrity among supporters of President Donald Trump, who were frustrated as the president’s own efforts to fund the wall struggled to gain traction. But soon after the crowdfunding effort took off, Kolfage came under fire after it was revealed that before his wall campaign, he had run Facebook pages that promoted fake stories and hoaxes and raised money for a veterans’ program that never materialized.

Kolfage insist that his current effort to help collect donations for wall construction is real.

Oh dear.

To: Berlin_Freeper

That was not a smart thing to say.

(James Garner “Support Your Local Sheriff” voice : “Well, I’ve been watching The Darnold for two years, and I haven’t seen him do one smart thing yet.”)

He just admitted that he doesn’t really believe there is an emergency. That undermines his declaration. Dumb.

That’s going to bite him (and us) in the butt.

22 posted on 2/15/2019, 4:33:28 PM by P-Marlowe (Freep mail me if you want to be on my Fingerstyle Acoustic Guitar Ping List)

BiteInTheButt
More butt-biting below the fold.

Continue reading “Today on Tommy T’s Obsession with the Freeperati – balls to The Wall edition”

Athenae, So Called Liberal Media3 Comments

Surely THIS Will Save Journalism

Allison Hantschel

Horseshit:  It’s easy to see why Apple favors the scheme. It gets a windfall of new revenue at a time when the decline in iPhone sales has made selling additional services a high priority. It gets to bring more high-quality publishers onto its platform, burnishing its reputation as a premium brand. And it gets to talk loudly about how much it loves journalism, as Apple vice president Eddy Cue did when announcing Apple’s acquisition of the subscription news app Texture last year. “We are committed to quality journalism from trusted sources and allowing magazines to keep producing beautifully designed and … Continue reading Surely THIS Will Save Journalism

Michael F

Zombie Special Envoy

mmferry1965

  Drain the swamp? Elliot Abrams IS the swamp, or at least the zombie swamp thing that won’t go away. And good that Ilhan Omar took some time to remind us. “Mr. Abrams, in 1991 you pleaded guilty to two counts of withholding information from Congress regarding the Iran-Contra affair, for which you were later pardoned by President George H.W. Bush,” Omar begins. “I fail to understand why members of this committee or the American people should find any testimony you give today to be truthful.” “If I could respond to that …” Abrams says, before Omar cuts him off. … Continue reading Zombie Special Envoy