Highest inflation in the G7. Explosive diarrhea. Can't afford meat. Can't afford gas. Can't afford rent and sure as hell can't afford to buy a house. The country is at war, again, still, whatever the term is for this shitshow. Farms in foreclosure because farmers can't sell their crops, can't afford seeds, can't even get fertilizer. Government goons kicking in doors without a warrant, detaining people without due process, murdering citizens in the street. Rich getting rich and the poor getting poorer.
And Trump goes on TV to complain about imaginary fraud in an election six years ago where the only provable fraud was Trump himself attempting to extort a state into "finding" him enough votes to win.
That's where we're at.
Highlights include:
- Trump thinks mail-in ballots are totally corrupt. But he himself along with his family vote by mail-in ballot every year.
- Trump says the 2016 election and the 2024 elections that put him in office were fine, but the 2020 election where he lost was corrupt. Obama was president in 2016, Biden was president in 2024, TRUMP was president for the alleged corrupt 2020 election. Trump is literally saying the only corrupt elections were under his watch.
- Trump says he ordered certain intelligence documents to be declassified and uploaded online to prove his claims. Literally NONE of those documents prove ... well, anything. Not a single bit of the "evidence" would stand up in a court of law, even under a judge appointed by Trump. He might as well have referenced YouTube conspiracy videos.
- Trump says because of "the Deep State" his own intelligence service hid from him the fact that China was trying to influence our elections. Except Trump's own national security expert, Miles Taylor, who served as DHS Chief of Staff in Trump's first term went online last night after Trump's speech to remind Trump that the Intelligence Community, including Taylor personally, briefed Trump EXTENSIVELY on that very threat not once but repeatedly over several years beginning in 2018 in the lead-up to the 2020 elections. There are records of those meetings. And, ironically, one of the documents released by Trump has a section that specifically notes China targeted Biden's campaign, not Trump's.
- Trump claims there are 250,000 non-citizens on voter rolls. Given that many states, including red states, refused to cooperate with Trump's various election investigation by refusing to hand over their voter rolls, it's hard to determine where Trump got that number from other than the obvious "out of his ass." And in fact, Trump's own government's sources categorically refute that number. There is no record of any non-citizen voting in our elections, certainly not in any significant volume. Those few that attempted to do so were caught and prosecuted.
Even Fox News wasn't buying it.
Again, this is a president who has confused "political asylum" with "insane asylum" and who just this week confused "transistors" for "transgenders" when ranting about the manufacture of microchips. This is a guy who thinks windmills cause cancer and who once gave a bizarre unhinged speech about electric boats and sharks. This is a guy who just last week claimed he actually spoke to Teddy Roosevelt and joked about having a "threesome" with his sons.
What I'm saying here is that maybe this guy is nuts.
Maybe he's a self-involved narcissist who is suffering from increasing dementia who spends all day imagining persecution to make himself feel better about being such an insecure louse of a human being and his utter humiliation at being defeated by someone he considers inferior.
I'll say this though: Remember all those QAnon people who were absolutely convinced JFK Jr. staged his own death in 1999 by faking being an inexperienced pilot who should never have been flying over water at night, and how he was going to miraculously return as Trump's VP in 2021 and when he didn't they still show up every year in Dallas all glassy-eyed and expectant to await the return of Republican Jesus?
I'll bet they loved every word of Trump's speech last night.
Pretty much spot on.
ReplyDeleteOther than being much too polite to the malignant narcissist and flaming idiot.
Hopefully his party will continue to hold the line on his Voter Suppression "Save America" legislation. Not confident about that however.
The sheeple need their sucking time.
Correction: the last line should have been The sheeple need their suckling time. Auto spell check perhaps?
DeleteI want to thank the Criminal President for confirming Mueller's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election on behalf of the Criminal Candidate.
ReplyDeleteThis "we won or they cheated" anti-American, debunked, destabilizing, undermining, and denial of elections bullshit needs to be rejected, shunned, and shut down for the good of the country.
Unfortunately this won't happen until we all see the "big beautiful obituary", the sooner the better. His bullshit lies need to be buried along with him.
Jon Ossof:
ReplyDelete“Tonight I heard a failed and desperate president who as war spirals and prices rise is as always focused on his grievances, his shame, and above all his fear of the accountability that will come with defeat.
I also heard a president signaling his unmistakable intent to attack these elections and our voting rights, just as he tried to throw out our votes and seize the presidency in 2020.
Our answer will be overwhelming.
Across Georgia a wave of defiance is building to rebuke him so decisively that no president ever again dares such brazen corruption and abuse.
The power of the presidency is nothing compared to the power of the people.”
Only when the people exercise it. Something many simply don't take the time to do. Unfortunately.
ReplyDeleteHe showed no evidence of voter fraud, absolutely none.
ReplyDeleteLet's remember the 2020 elections. The GOP was in charge of the Senate. Conservatives had a SCOTUS majority. Trump was the president. If there was fraud, how did all of that happen with him in charge?
Time and time again when pressed for, you know, actual evidence, his administration and ppl like ex Mayor of New York Giuliani could not produce any and at one point, even admitted in court, they "had no evidence".
Were foreign governments actively trying to influence our elections? Yes, and that was the Dems point about the 2016 elections. But POTUS Trump said that was all a hoax.
So here's where we're at...
In 2016 when Obama was president, Trump said charges of foreign involvement in the the election were a hoax, it did not happen. But... when he was president in 2020 there was fraud and foreign involvement.
Then in 2024, when Biden was president and Trump won, there was no fraud.
But now that he's president again, there will be fraud.
Can anyone see a thread?
According to Trump, the only time there was election fraud was when he was the president!!!
DeleteHe is on every day complaining about non existent trivial this and that. I'd prefer a root canal than watch that guy give an "Important Prime Time" speech.
ReplyDeleteA disgrace to his country and his species.
Ya gotta give him credit for having a remarkable ability for keeping people focused on and incessantly talking about problems that, well, really are no problem are all. And, at the same time doing absolutely nothing to correct real problems that actually affect people's lives and well-being.
ReplyDeleteJohn Solomon, a member of Trump’s election task force, confessed that there is no proof of election fraud in the last three elections.
ReplyDeleteCan -FJ/JC tell us who won the 2020 election NOW?
I adore Jim Wright aka StoneKettle. I learned about his blog back in the day (defunct mostly now) when Palin burst onto the political scene. He is Old Military, knows what he knows, and isn't shy about yeeting folks when they present opinions as facts.
ReplyDeleteI have a new vision for our current POTUS, one that came to me as I listened to parts of his tantrum. My thought is the Dems sweep the midterms and are able to implement their plan to impeach the President only he's declared mentally unfit to stand trial.
Instead, like his father, he's shuffled into some sort of memory assisted living arrangement. As I've learned about dementia there are times where you know you are losing yourself and there are times where you don't remember that you can't remember. He will die knowing he has no power and is no longer relevant.
His people? I suggest The Hague as international laws were not only broken but were ignored and publicly dismissed. Unless WeThePeople hold everyone accountable there will be nothing to prevent them from trying these shenanigans again.
And rest assured the authoritarian minded control freaks of thr American capital class will raise its ugly head again if it is beat down. It ALWAYS has.
DeleteEven Fox News knows Trump is a crackpot. During their three hour morning news show, “Fox & Friends”, not only did they not cover his prime time speech last night, they didn’t even bother to mention it.
ReplyDeleteHe is not a crackpot but a threat to the US. His antics are of the rails and someone needs to reel him in. If the democrats start impeachment proceedings now by the time they are the majority they can vote.
ReplyDeleteWas there election fraud on both sides, of course there was there always is. Was it enough to make a difference, no it never is, unless you are in Chicago
Well Skud... like many, you are asserting facts that are not in existence. Here's the proven number of cases of actual voter fraud since 2000 covering 7 federal elections... are you all ready for it?
ReplyDelete99.
Not 100, but 99. That's according to the most detailed accounting we have, from the conservative SAVE Act supporting Heritage Foundation, which even multiple AI systems cite as accurate.
That's 99 cases of intentional fraud out of 938 million votes cast in the corresponding presidential elections.
Conclusions... Anyone who believes there is a voter fraud epidemic or a problem in the US is not understanding the facts, or is an idiot.
Perception of a problem, is not a problem. A potential for a problem, is also not a problem. People believing there is a problem, absent actual evidence, now that is a problem.
How much money will it cost to limit mail in voting to one day, as many conservatives want, to change ID requirements, as many conservatives want, and to get all 150 million paper ballots counted in one day, again as many conservatives want?
Just because they feel there is a problem of fraudulent voting?
Maybe I'm wrong, but I think 99 votes out of 938 million, or approximately 1 fraudulent vote out of every 9.48 million votes cast since 2000 is pretty dang good.
Again, can someone, anyone at all, tell me what problem the SAVE Act will solve?
Anyone who comes up with an idea to impose tariffs on wildfire smoke is by definition, a crackpot!!
ReplyDeletePossumlady
Well, there is one thing we should view positive coming out of the trump regime. And that is allowing Turkey to secure F-35 fighter jets. Turkey, with the largest and most powerful army in the region can then become the policeman against the hegemony of the butchering genocidal evils of Zionist Israel.
ReplyDeleteOn that one I give trump an A+.
Dave, I said there was fraud so that proves facts are in existence. One fraud vote is fraud so your response is inaccurate but I also said there was not enough to change any results. I
ReplyDeleteConclusions... Anyone who believes there is a voter fraud is non existent or a problem in the US is not understanding the facts, or is an idiot. If you believe there was only 99 fraudulent votes then you believe politicians are honest.
Why are you so opposed to providing proof of citizenship and not banning but limiting mail in ballots.
skud: Part of the problem.
DeleteGood old Skud.
ReplyDeleteThere's nothing he won't swallow from FOX (R) and other pro-Trump media.
And there's nothing he accepts from actual journalists.
This gullibility is why the country is in this mess.
For sure. Ignorance lead by ignorance. The republican and MAGA playbook.
DeleteSkud posted... Dave, "If you believe there was only 99 fraudulent votes then you believe politicians are honest.
ReplyDeleteWell as usual Skud, you spoke for me not actually using, or quoting my words. I was not speaking of politicians at all. In fact what I said had nothing to do with politicians,. I was speaking of evidence, proof and facts, and I said so.
The facts are this... since the year 2000, various governments across the US have only been able to prove, with evidence, 99 cases of intentional voter fraud.
That's a statement of fact Skud.
Now whether you believe that fact or not is immaterial. It is what it is. A fact.
I gather from your writings here and on other similar posts, you do not agree with that fact. And that's fine. It's your opinion and you are entitled to your own opinions, but, as the saying goes, not your own facts.
How about you give us the proof of all of this actual voter fraud you allege. I mean, if you can actually come up with any.
Now, you also asked me "Why are you so opposed to providing proof of citizenship and not banning but limiting mail in ballots."
Where have I ever said any of this Skud? I'll help you out... NEVER have I ever.
What I have said is if the US wants to have a voter ID system, then I believe the fairest way to do that is a simple one size fits all policy that comes with a free federal voting ID card for everyone on their 18th birthday. A card that is valid in Texas, California, Maine or Florida. Or any other state.
One free universal ID.
I guarantee you the Dems will support that in a heartbeat.
As it relates to mail in voting, you tell me... what specific problem that we have are you wanting to solve as it relates to mail in voting? What problem will limiting mail in voting solve?
Please be specific.
"Again, can someone, anyone at all, tell me what problem the SAVE Act will solve?"
ReplyDeleteYour words Dave. As I am sure you know part of the SAVE Act is voter verification and limited mail in ballots.
You believe there is voter fraud as do I. The difference is the numbers which neither of us believe will make a difference. I did hear today that 86% of Americans do not feel congress is doing their job. I guarantee the dems would not support free universal ID if it was proposed by a republican because all they care about is we hate trump.
Your last question can be answered by the limited and verifiable part of the SAVE Act. I vote by mail because I am not living in the city where I vote in November, it's called absentee voting which is in every state. I have to take some action to get a ballot and not just have it randomly sent to me. If I was in my polling district I would vote in person.
There ya go again skud. Arguing what amounts to blowing smoke in the wind. No one, not a single reputable source has EVER shown that voter fraud is significant and thar it changed the results of any election.
DeleteThe SAVE Act is BS. It's true purpose is voter suppression in the effort to insure democrats lose so trump is not impeached a 3"rd time, tried, convicted, and imprisoned.
That, and aiding the White Supremacists cause.
Skud... you quoted my question perfectly and then, as usual with you, refused to answer it.
ReplyDeleteMy question, again was/is as follows... " ...can someone, anyone at all, tell me what problem the SAVE Act will solve?"
You provided no answer. What problem is the SAVE Act trying to solve? An average of 5 incidents of voter fraud each election since 2000?
The numbers are so insignificant, thinking that's a problem is laughable.
You want to change an entire election process for 5 cases of voter fraud each election? Did you pass statistics in college? The actual numbers of proven fraud we've amassed since 2000, again, 99, are, from a statistics class understanding, an effect size approaching zero or have a negligible effect, or are statistically non-significant.
And since there is no effect on our elections, what specifically is the problem you believe the SAVE Act will solve.
On my other question about mail in voting, I asked... what specific problem that we have are you wanting to solve as it relates to mail in voting? What problem will limiting mail in voting solve?
Here's your answer... "Your last question can be answered by the limited and verifiable part of the SAVE Act. I vote by mail because I am not living in the city where I vote in November, it's called absentee voting which is in every state. I have to take some action to get a ballot and not just have it randomly sent to me. If I was in my polling district I would vote in person."
I asked AI for some help on your response Skud and this is what I got back...
The response you received does not directly answer your question. You asked what specific problem limiting mail-in voting solves. Instead of identifying a concrete problem (like systemic fraud, double voting, or administrative costs), the person answered by explaining how they personally vote, a description of a specific piece of legislation, and a distinction between two types of voting systems. They are explaining the mechanism they prefer, but they still haven’t articulated what problem occurs when ballots are sent, other than implying it feels less secure to them.
Skud seems to have difficulty answering questions that require rational responses.
ReplyDeleteIf I may try a couple alternative questions with simple answers.
What have you learned recently?
What is the last book you read, Skud?
Dave, You acknowledged there was voter fraud now the debate is the amount of fraud. One side says 90 and another says 278,000. Of course you are right in your mind and the other is right in theirs. Again why do you object to proof of citizenship to vote.
ReplyDeleteSkud,
DeleteYou can't resist believing Trump's lies can you?
Evidence matters. It's not a "debate". One side has EVIDENCE and the other is LYING without evidence, and you need to "both sides" it.
You can't even question what's in the SAVE act. Why do you want to make it more difficult for American citizens to vote? What is your justification?
Put up or shut up, please.
Reuters debunks Trump in less than 2 minutes on his lies about "widespread illegal voting" in elections - "we did not find a single case where it was alleged that someone had done this as part of a broader conspiracy, or had been paid or coerced to vote a certain way."
DeleteYour turn, Skud.
Skud... I said there were 99 proven cases. That's a fact, or do you deny that? As for your 278,000 number, since it matches up with Trump's number of "fraudulent" cases, which his own released documents seem to contradict.
ReplyDeleteNow, are there instances of people fraudulently registering to vote? Yes, and some people have said those numbers are huge. But, to date, despite plenty of effort, no one has been able to prove fraud at that scale.
I'm perfectly will to support a sensible voter ID plan that, as I've said numerous times to you and others, provides a universal ID to every American citizen once they turn 18, that is accepted as proof of citizenship to vote in each and every state.
Do you agree with my solution, or can you offer one of your own.
But please, since you've admitted we do not have any fraud at a level that would change a federal election, tell us what problem you are trying to solve. And if your goal is to get us to zero, that's fine, but in the actual world, that will never happen. Because we're essentially already there, statistically.
Your argument is it is very few in relation to total numbers. The same could be used for removing some from SNAP. It is few so what difference does it make.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe the 99 number nor do I believe the 278,000. We will never have zero fraud but at lest everyone could feel confident of the numbers presented.
Bulls*it skud. The numbers out of the mouths and from the pen of fascists now running the country are so much self serving authoritarian BS it stinks to the high heaven's.
Deleteskud isn't part of the problem, they are the very definition of the problem.
ReplyDeleteOh my stars reading this exchange was/is painful!
What problem will the SAVE Act fix? Nothing, it's legislation seeking to harm voters (mostly female) with added restrictions and hoops to jump through. Women who changed their names when they got married must get additional documents in order to vote as they did in the past. This is a feature of the Act, not a bug.
What is wrong with mail in voting? Absolutely nothing provided specific security precautions are set in place first. For example, citizens in Colorado voted in a process that has officially ensured accurate voting records since 2013.
Adopted by both their legislature and voted in by the people of the state the process has been seamless:
1. Citizen registers to vote when they get their State Drivers license or their State ID. Documents are provided at the time to prove they are who they are with the specific documents needed listed on the CO DMV website.
2. Once the citizen is registered for mail in voting after providing cell phone and email information they are contacted when a ballot is sent out.
3. Citizen fills out the ballot and returns it to a drop box (an extensive list of drop boxes across the state is included with each ballot) or dropped in a US Post office mailbox provided the ballot is postmarked before election day*. Once the ballot reaches the counting stage the citizen is contacted to let them know their ballot arrived safely.
4. Once the citizens ballot has been counted another message is sent stating their ballot has been counted.
When COVID hit for the 2020 election Colorado's "Gold Standard" was ready to meet the challenge of contactless voting.
skud's claims of states sending out ballots willy nilly is false. But then in their comment above they said "I don't believe the 99 number nor do I believe the 278,000. We will never have zero fraud but at lest everyone could feel confident of the numbers presented."
Why we commentators here continue to try to show them their ways aren't based in facts... to me skud is sticking their fingers in their ears and shouting loudly because they don't want to know what they don't want to know.
So, to the assignment: the issue with mail in voting and as far as I can tell the issue the GOP has with mail in ballots is the lag between results on election day and the time it takes for ballots sent through the US Post office to arrive before getting counted. In big states with tight races results can take up to a week before the numbers are certified. The only ballots counted are the ones postmarked before election day but somehow per the GOP that's cheating. Not sure how - oh wait, yes, I do. Dems statistically vote by mail and the GOP votes in person. The lag in time isn't cheating as labeled by the GOP admins over the decades, it's allowing everyone's voice to be counted, something the GOP (and their SAVE Act) are doing their best to prevent.
* Latest changes in the US Post office procedures means that just dropping your ballot into a mailbox doesn't mean it will get postmarked for that day. Instead of postmarking mail at the center where it was dropped all mail is collected and sent to a separate center to be postmarked a change that adds days to the transit time. It's all gaming the system as per our current admin - nothing is done to make the citizens life easier, only our corporate overlords.
Hope my work rises to the level of Jim Wright. Although we've never met I consider his lessons on being a better citizen as a sort of mentorship.
Bottom line: The "SAVE" America act at its core is voter suppression aimed at reducing voting by POC and the female gender. Both, who in majority DO NOT vote authoritarian republican.
ReplyDeleteSkud,
ReplyDeleteWhat's the last book you've read?
What have you recently learned?
Are this too difficult for you to answer?