I am not sure how it is at other locations around the country, but I know some local police etc. are very angry at the commutation (or pardon) of one man by Joe Biden. Apparently, the lives of others is not as important as these criminals. I am sorry for the victims that do not get justice.
“I’ve always said the media is the mouthpiece of the Democrat party, but in this case the Democrats actually paid the media with government contracts to do their bidding.
“The Biden Admin paid Reuters over $300 million in government contracts. 11 different Biden government agencies targeted Elon’s businesses. All 11 agencies paid millions to Reuters. Reuters then won the Pulitzer Prize for “their work on Elon Musk and misconduct at his businesses”
—–
This is propaganda, not journalism. And once again, like with the Russia collusion hoax, they win Pulitzers for their lies.
Responding to Kizzie’s links about possible explanations of drone sightings: I have no idea what’s going on in NJ or on the rest of the east coast. I doubt it’s mass hysteria–there are too many sightings of drones from government officials as well as the population at large.
The drone we saw was flying during the day at about 3 or 3:30 pm so it was clearly visible. I know very little about drones, but the one we saw at the airport here did not look to be new technology, though it was larger than I would expect. It looked like there was something mounted under it, like a large surveillance camera. It was flying in airspace that is illegal in Tennessee for anyone but someone having a special license and governmental permission; and though I did a search, I could not find that this airport has been permitted by anyone to fly a drone in this space.
The drone seemed to me to be actively watching, almost patrolling in a circuit–although I could not see everywhere it was going. It paused and hovered, several times. My best guess is that we are being illegally surveilled, probably by our own government. I doubt this is foreign. We do have nuclear facilities nearby. I was going to drive out that way and check the skies for any activity before I leave for work, but it’s foggy so it’s off to work as usual. If disaster strikes before I return home, God is still God, and he’s still good. Be well. 🙂
The govt know exactly what’s up with those drones. They are behind it.
If they were foreign, the US would shoot them down. While some may be privately owned domestic hobbyists, the suv sized ones are not.
There are theories out there about what type of operation they’re performing, some defense industry insiders say radiation scans looking for hidden weapons, dirty bombs and what not. The govt won’t say so, lest some panic.
But the govt knows they’re ours, is allowing them to continue operating, and is lying when they claim ignorance.
Relax. Trump will spill the beans on this nonsense in a month or so.
I thought so, AJ. I read there has been half a dozen instances of medical grade radioactive material stolen over the past few years. The most recent being this November in NJ. They should tell us.
Luigi M has been charged with murder as a crime of terrorism. Kill a CEO and you’re a terrorist. Shoot up a school and its only murder. Ransack the Congress and it’s just vandalism. But kill a CEO and you’re a terrorist. It appears society values the corporate world more than children and the legislature.
In Florida, a woman said “deny, defund depose you’re next” and was charged with uttering a terrorist threat. Threaten to shoot your classmates — uttering threats. When a woman reports an ex for threatening her; a restraining order is the most the police will do.
The New York governor has offered free therapy to CEOs and state help with security.
This whole episode demonstrates what and who are valued in society.
The federal government has had contracts with Thomson Reuters for many years related it its information and analysis software and services in areas such as tax and accounting, legal, and financial reporting. The Reuters news service is just a part of the much larger company.
I was employed by the Thomson Corporation when it merged with Reuters in 2008. At that time Thomson Reuters was also involved with science and healthcare information, which is the area I worked in.
Click the tweets and dig deeper. This is Reuters news ops targeting Musk and his companies on behalf of the Biden admin. This is a propaganda op meant to slander their political opponents, and Reuters involvement involves much more than simple data collection.
Shoot up a school and it’s all about those evil guns. Shoot and kill the United Healthcare CEO and it’s all about “the practices fueling anger at US health insurers.”
Agreed — it is about control, hence the terrorism charges on Luigi. The murder has become a political act and must be controlled. School shootings on the other hand are not deemed political so the need for control is less.
Speaking of the need to control — Trump is suing the Des Moines Register and a pollster for conducting and publishing a poll showing him behind in Iowa. Somewhat ironically and hypocritically, Rasmussen shared its polling data with the Trump campaign before it publicised it. Perhaps Trump thinks the Register and the pollster were doing what he would do.
Drones — obviously some of the sightings are the military, and others are probably just hysteria or private drones. Amusingly one politician claim to have seen drones and it turned out to be a constellation. Starlink and other satellites are also a consideration. It would however be amusing if it were aliens who had come to save us from ourselves.
Janice — the internet is full of rumours on what Musk, Bezos, and the rest of the billionaires boy’s club want to do once Trump takes over. I’ve chosen to ignore it until it becomes a real possibility — besides the Christmas holidays start next week and ignoring the billionaires just makes sense.
So Congress wants to give more of our money to the Ukraine…and give themselves a 6600.00 raise. What a gig when you can just vote yourself thousands of dollars for doing nothing for the American people! How about those people living in tents in NC? Or those with mental l illness living on the streets…our Veterans? What a mess….keep giving it to people crossing our borders illegally and murdering our citizens…and selling those drugs…now those are the ones “deserving” of our tax dollars!??
“NEW: Vivek Ramaswamy rips Speaker Johnson’s funding bill, says the government is trying to waste your money without telling you.
Here is what’s inside:
– Pay raises for members of Congress.
– Expansion of their federal health benefits.
– Opening up a new stadium in Washington DC.
– “Renews the Global Engagement Center, which is a keynote of the Censorship Industrial Complex.”
“I think we need outsiders to bring actual accountability to Washington DC so feel free to call your congressman and let ’em know how you feel about it.””
While I may agree it’s time for a pay raise, make your case publicly, then vote on it. Don’t try to sneak it thru like this.
And there’s so much other useless pork giveaways in this, it needs to die.
And on Jan 3, Johnson needs to go as speaker. Once again he sought to pass a horrible bill with mostly Dems supporting it, not the Rs he supposedly leads.
“Hard to imagine anything more heartless than shutting down the government and leaving disaster victims out in the cold just days before Christmas. Absolutely outrageous this is even a possibility.”
“With all due respect Senator. Imagine ignoring them for months and months and then using them as a pawn to get your pork-filled bill through. That’s heartless.”
“Congress just got caught trying to put over $100 billion on our credit card. On what, you ask? A law to put politicians above the law, fund censorship programs, fund more vaccine mandates and gain-of-function-type research, hand out $3 million to inspect molasses inspectors, $15 million to make recycling more accessible, and $100 million to migrant farmworkers. The bill would also keep @KamalaHarris’s electric bus program and ban sexy memes. It’s even woke too! It would change the word “homeless” to “an individual experiencing homelessness.” Plus, Congress wants to give itself a raise to keep up with the cost of living. Now why has the cost of living gone up? Because of Congress!
Every year our politicians tell us the spending will stop and then every year, they do it again. Now, Republicans just scrapped the spending bill and are going to pull an all-nighter. They have until Friday midnight to vote on a new bill or the government shuts down for Christmas. They’ve had all year to get this done and they waited until the last second, tried to pull a fast one, got caught, and then they promise they won’t do it again. It’s the same thing every time. They have no respect for you – or your money.”
It wasn’t supposed to end this way. The Bureaucracy obviously thought it could pass this bill. A lot of work went into drafting and backroom-negotiating that 1,600-page monster. Don’t conclude this was anything new, Congress has been playing budgetary brinksmanship games for years now. These tactics are as old as Napoleon Hill’s self-improvement advice. But Twitter and AI just ended it for good. The last-minute bill-drop technique is dead. They can invent something else, but they won’t try this again.
We are truly entering a new, more transparent era of politics. You might even say more democratic.
This governmental system appears arse backwards when the employed can vote themselves a pay raise. Then turn around and give billions of the employers confiscated money to foreign countries!
A lot of work always goes into a budget or supply bill. They normally start as soon as the last bill was passed. And the work continues til the deadline. Almost nothing in any universe is ever completed til the deadline. And twitter and AI won’t change this — and if it does, you have to wonder who is in charge.
And this bill isn’t any better or worse than any other budgetary bill. Depending on which side people are on, you can always find something wrong with it.
The oligarchy that runs the US has never been so obviously on display. With words from Vivek, Musk and others the budget is suddenly dead or at least in need of revision. Who elected them? The party that has been busy trying to remake itself as a working class party has removed the curtain or the mask (pick your metaphor) and its the billionaire class who run it.
For more fun, the debt ceiling is coming up and now its the Republicans turn to justify raising the limit. Maybe they should do the sensible thing — get rid of it. But there’s no way the Democrats who are now on the other side of debt will agree to anything unless they extract their pound of flesh.
So with billionaires throwing wrenches on months of work and compromise and the usual nonsense about debt upcoming, the gridlock has started and Trump hasn’t been sworn in yet. And I’m sure the Republicans in the House won’t stop fighting amongst themselves despite having a minuscule majority.
And the world is worried about tariff wars, Ukraine, Syria etc. I’ve ignored predictions of gloom and doom and other predictions of elation and victory simply based on my own intution – nothing will get done in a city where Republicans don’t talk to each other let alone Democrats and billionaires run around demonstrating they really do nothing as CEO. Musk is a CEO at three corporations and has time to be co-president. Obviously the rich aren’t earning their pay.
Of course, just to divert the masses, the report on Matt Gaetz is arriving just in time for the holidays. Save it for New Years Eve; I’m sure whatever is in it shouldn’t be shared on Christmas.
HRW, what’s up with Trudeau? I read that even his own party is giving him grief. What’s the significance of a pm change there? Will it greatly affect Canada’s relationship with the US? And what’s your prediction?
What has people more upset there– that he kissed the ring or that he had to? Iowa, what’s the temperature of public opinion towards Trump in your neck of the woods.
Sure HRW, blame the w guys who called out the BS, not the clowns who tried to ram it all thru last minute.
And once again, who informed the American people of their sleight of hand?
Elon and X, while the media once again stood by silently as they tried to shaft taxpayers.
Elon and Vivek have once again done a great service for America, and they aren’t even getting paid to do so. Congress, who is paid to do so, just tried stiffing us again. Because that’s what they do. They serve the lobbyists and special interests, this disaster just further proves that.
Beat it, stab it, shoot it, than burn it. Kill this monstrosity dead.
“The Biden/Garland DOJ spent years reviewing allegations that I committed various crimes.
I was charged with nothing: FULLY EXONERATED. Not even a campaign finance violation. And the people investigating me hated me.
Then, the very “witnesses” DOJ deemed not-credible were assembled by House Ethics to repeat their claims absent any cross-examination or challenge from me or my attorneys. I’ve had no chance to ever confront any accusers. I’ve never been charged. I’ve never been sued.
Instead, House Ethics will reportedly post a report online that I have no opportunity to debate or rebut as a former member of the body.
In my single days, I often sent funds to women I dated – even some I never dated but who asked. I dated several of these women for years. I NEVER had sexual contact with someone under 18. Any claim that I have would be destroyed in court – which is why no such claim was ever made in court.
My 30’s were an era of working very hard – and playing hard too. It’s embarrassing, though not criminal, that I probably partied, womanized, drank and smoked more than I should have earlier in life. I live a different life now.
But at least I didn’t vote for CR’s that @#$% over the country!”
Now here’s an idea guaranteed to set hair aflame in DC:
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) suggested Elon Musk serve as Speaker in a Thursday morning post on X following contentious debates over the continuing resolution (CR).
“The Speaker of the House need not be a member of Congress . . . ,” Paul wrote.
Nothing would disrupt the swamp more than electing Elon Musk . . . think about it . . . nothing’s impossible. (not to mention the joy at seeing the collective establishment, aka ‘uniparty,’ lose their ever-lovin’ minds).”….
a bit of background – the Liberal party is a centrist party and leans both left and right occasionally causing divisions within the caucus. Currently they are a minority gov’t requiring another party to pass money bills in order to remain in power. The left-wing NDP (my party) has insisted on a dental and phrama plan in exchange for support. The Liberals dragged their feet on it and so after more than two years, both plans have barely started. Thus the NDP pulled support and said it would be a day to day basis. The left leaning Quebec BQ party also provides support also in exchange for programs (usually geared to old people — must be the core BQ demographic). On the right the Conservative party is biting at the bit since they are the gov’t in waiting according to the polls.
I’m not sure why he went to Mar-a-lago. I don’t think it had anything to do with Trump or tariffs but rather to domestic politics. Perhaps he thought he might get a bump in the polls. Or perhaps to demonstrate strength to Liberal MPs who have been trying to oust him. Regardless, it was a dumb move – he should have gone to Mexicio. Truimp of course has been trolling ever since. Most Canadians are either mad at Trump or think he’s being an immature brat. Weirdly, this trolling might benefit Trudeau or at least hurt his Conservative rival Pollievre.
In his continuous attempt to stay in power, Trudeau made a deal with the NDP for a temporary halt to the sales tax on certain items for a month plus an extra tax refund. His own finance minister, Freeland, disapproved and resigned the day she was supposed to submit the money bill to the House of Commons. Weird timing in that if she disapproved she could’ve resigned weeks ago when the deal was made. She then posted her resignation letter on X for everyone to see.
In her resignation letter, she linked her disapproval to make Canada less financially able to handle tariffs if they come. I don’t get the linkage. Freeland and Trudeau have been working together for the last eight years but its been noticeable for the last six months that she’s had enough of him. The abrupt resignation and the posted letter on X suggests its more than policy
Now where do we go from here. Its a parliamentary democracy so there are two things that have to be functioning. The cabinet and prime minister must have the confidence of the House. And the PM must have the confidence of his own party.
The first he does not have. Its a minority government. When the Christmas break is over, a simple vote of non-confidence could remove Trudeau from power and an election will occur. An election that the Conservatives will easily win. The NDP could prevent the non-confidence vote but it appears that their support is contingent on Trudeau resigning — that is Trudeau quits and the Liberals party elects a new leader to become PM. The caucus could vote a new leader temporarily.
The second problem for Trudeau is if his own party voted him out in a caucus vote (its how Thatcher was ousted and not much different than what happened with the speaker in the US) Party discipline in Canada is extremely strict and this have never happened (if I recall correctly). Already there was an attempt to oust him in September which failed. Perhaps a renewed attempt might succeed. At this point most Liberal MPs would rather have Freeland lead them than Trudeau.
All of this is very unusual for Canadian politics because our party discipline usually prevents this.
My own p.o.v. is that Trudeau should have resigned in September and then the Liberals could have set up a timeline to elect a new leader and have an election. The party I support, the NDP, should have put more pressure on him earlier. Hopefully now Trudeau will leave. Freeland or someone else will increase the Liberal vote so we have a minority government again. Otherwise the Conservatives will win and have four years with very little limits to their power. Perhaps if Trump keeps trolling, Canadians won’t vote for the Conservative party — that would be amusing.
HRW, it doesn’t sound like we have any less a democracy than you guys. It’s all messy. There’s no likelihood of a Speaker Musk in our future, I think. Rand Paul is trolling. I say we let Musk and Ramaswamy make their recommendations and force Congress to debate the matter in public. It could be a gift for our MSM and for our democracy. Public debate. Imagine that.
Structurally, the US is far more democratic than the Canadian system. Our severe party discipline is problematic plus our executive and legislative branches are not separated. The American problem is the amount of money in the electoral process and the presence of the billionaires even after an election worsens the situation. interestingly arguments can be made that the amount of democracy in the US makes it inefficient (I’d argue that inefficiency is sometimes good in gov’t — avoid the concentration of power)
.Public debate is always good but what qualification do Musk and Ramaswamy have to make recommendations and set the parameters? Why not have Debra and AJ make the recommendations? When we allow the wealthy to set the public debate the parameters, the ideas etc will be based on their experiences and their needs not the people.
“Quick story about govt. shutdowns and the theatrics behind them. One year when I was reporting at CBS News during a govt. shutdown, I think 2013, we were sincerely searching for real life impact. When we couldn’t find any, *that* should have been part of the story. Instead, we kept trying to create the appearance of an impact. It wasn’t really trying to be dishonest. It was, in my retrospective view, because the general editorial idea for the story was to show how bad the “Republican” shutdown was for ordinary Americans, and the answer simply couldn’t be that it wasn’t. I’ve written quite a bit about this but we, as journalists, too often “decide” the story in advance and shape the facts to fit our narrative, rather than gathering information and letting that tell the story, whatever it may be. Anyway, the Ds were blaming Rs for the shutdown, so we were calling Ds and the Obama administration for ideas to report what was the real impact. Taking our cue, these officials fabricated impact that we could report. For example, they cordoned off outdoor public monuments in Washington DC. We knew and even discussed in the newsroom that this made no sense. These monuments weren’t “manned” to begin with. The only reason to cordon them off from the public was so that visiting tourists would see the “impact” of the shutdowns and the news media would have something to take pictures of and interview people about. There are other examples but this is the one I remember the most.”
“All these big “brave Republicans” pretending to be fiscal hawks today for Trump’s slimmed down CR were quiet as lambs yesterday when the Deep State CR was on the floor
Isn’t that interesting!
It’s almost as if they work for the uniparty and not the People”
Lol. Bless you, HRW, but when have the wealthy NOT set the debate parameters? Have we ever elevated a middle class or poor man to speak for us? The mobs scream, shout and burn things down, while the wealthy and powerful tell us all what it really means. When those explanations resonate with the people, the screaming diminishes to a little grumbling. When the explanations don’t resonate with enough people it can increase the chaos. However, if you’re serious about elevating the non-wealthy common folk, you could send a friendly letter to the powers that be. I can’t speak for AJ, but I could probably make room in my busy schedule.
Unfortunately, no one seems to listen to me either. Perhaps I should borrow some money from my friends and buy Twitter.
The wealthy have always set the debate but we usually don’t make it this easy for them. At least make Musk break a sweat. As it is, it appears he purchased the US gov’t for less than he paid for Twitter.
Its been rather amusing on the left today – We’re wondering when President Musk will show his birth certificate.
The Republicans control the House or so they say. They did elect the Speaker. Thus, they should be able to pass a money bill. And if they don’t its on them not the Democrats.
From what I understand the Democrats refuse to pass the current bill because it will lift the debt ceiling for the next two years. The Democrats would be silly to hand a blank cheque for the next two years. Generally the Democratic party doesn’t impress me but they aren’t that stupid.
I’m amused that Trump thinks this reflects on Biden. How? The House is responsible for the budget and any money bills – it reflects on the party in charge of the legislature and that’s the Republicans.
HRW, I’m having this same debate with my husband this morning. He’s made your arguments almost verbatim. He sees the Musk involvement as a move toward solidifying our already rapid slide toward actual Italian fascism. Since I’m outnumbered I’ll make a tactical retreat. I draw the line at brawling over the (South African?) birth certificate. :–)
Well like it or not, Musk has been more effective than the cowardly Speaker Johnson. While the dems play childish games and try to create dissent, real Americans are doing the hard work. Let the left meme and play childish games, after all, they hold no power now. That’s why they Musk, because they see that a taxpayer holds more sway than they do, so the rage and cry. Boo hoo. 😀
This is win for taxpayers, and a big old L for the dems and uniparty stooges.
“Let me explain the debt ceiling to you since it’s pretty clear most of you have no idea what is going on.
As of now, there is no debt ceiling.
Let me repeat that for all of those “true conservative” supporters. As of right now, there is no debt ceiling.
The debt ceiling was suspended back in Jun of 2023.
As things stand now, as of Jan 1st, 2025, the debt ceiling will return, and it will be whatever it was when it was suspended plus whatever spending Biden and the dems did since June of 2023. That new debt ceiling is estimated to be hit by June of 2025 if not earlier.
What the CR wanted to do is push the redemption of the debt ceiling back for 2 years. This would allow massive tax cuts that Trump wants to make. Things like no tax on tips, no tax on social security, no tax on overtime, a 15% tax bracket for companies who built here, and to stop the Trump tax cuts from expiring.
You see, the government idiots consider tax cuts as government spending. So if you do $4 trillion in tax cuts, the government considers that $ 4 trillion in spending.
The debt ceiling redemption on Jan 1st will make Trump have to figure out how to pass the tax cuts without going over the debt ceiling and triggering a default.
Do you get it now? By not moving the non-existent debt ceiling back two more years, the “true conservatives” just stopped you from getting more of your money returned to you by tax cuts and they kept more money in the government for a bigger gov.
In effect, they just voted for the exact opposite of what they tell you they want and don’t for a second think they don’t know that.”
But is comparing the current Trump-Musk regime to Mussolini an insult to Benito? Trump’s first campaign and then administration had elements of Huey Long and Mussolini. So far this time around, I see the second time around to be more of a farce or at most resembling a cheap Latin American imitation. A bit too early to judge but that’s where I’m at
I have a conservative European-Canadian friend who views the current decline in Canadian and American political manners to be due to a slow seeping of Latin American culture northward. He supports Trump and the wanna-be Pollievre and has told me I should accept the new crudeness as part of the new American culture (American as in the continent). Perhaps I’ve reached the age of nostalgia, grumpiness and courtesy but I might have to investigate the possibility of retiring to a cheap European country (North Macedonia maybe) in retreat of the farcical nonsense I see both in Canada and the US.
My daughter’s continual refusal to leave Berlin and come home might have me moving across the pond regardless.
Once again Johnson knuckles under and sides with Dems to defy the base. More Dems have voted for this than Rs, because Johnson gave them what they wanted. He’s useless.
Now they will all stand around and attaboy each other and pretend they did something good. What a joke.
But is Musk a taxpayer?? From a quick google search it appears he paid no taxes in 2018 and only at a rate of 3-4% in other years from 2015 to 2021. In 2022, he had a one time tax bill of $11 billion because he exercised some stock options. The next time his stock options become due is 2028 and until then its highly unlikely he will pay taxes. Unless of course the rules change before then…….
Musk also has three citizenships — South African, Canadian and American. I’m not sure he’s loyal to anyone of them. Today he was musing about supporting Reform UK and the Afd in Germany. In all liklihood he’s loyal to himself, his money, and the oligarchs. Given his wealth increased by about a 100$ billion since the November election, I’m sure he sees more countries to win and more wealth to obtain
In terms of book keeping, new spending (increase in cost) and a tax cut (decrease in income) are the same thing — a negative entry that increases debt or deficit. Thus they are treated the same.
Debt ceilings are an American exception to common national book keeping. However the conservative commentator is parsing words. The last debt ceiling deal is expiring and it’s time for a new one. To expect Democrats not to try to exert influence is foolish and naive.
Although line by line spending with up and down votes and line by line taxes with up and down votes is appealing it removes responsibility. A representative can vote for any spending that they like and will impress their district and then just vote against any tax to pay for it. Fiscally irresponsible. so one bill is the responsible way to go…
AJ — I did google and as I noted he did pay billions in 2022. But prior to that and after that his rate of taxation was close to 3-4%.
After the first 575k, the highest bracket is 37%. In 2023, Musk “earned” $94 billion dollars. Thus he should have paid $34 billion in taxes this year and I’m sure he didn’t. Of course, he wasn’t paid in “income” rather options and shares and thus is either not taxed or pays very little. As Buffet pointed out once, the system taxes his secretary more than him.
Just curious — when I googled for tax brackets I found that Americans are taxes at 10% on any income from 0 to 11K. That’s bizarre if true. In Canada, we have a personal basic tax amount deductible of 15k. Anything below that is tax free.
HRW, we have personal exemptions in the USA as well, and also something called EITC (earned income tax credit), which gives “refunds” to people with low income who didn’t actually even pay taxes.
I’m in favor of low taxes for everyone, even billionaires. The government is involved in way too much.
HRW, we have personal exemptions in the USA as well, and also something called EITC (earned income tax credit), which gives “refunds” to people with low income who didn’t actually even pay taxes.
I’m in favor of low taxes for everyone, even billionaires. The government is involved in way too much.
Cheryl has mentioned one of the biggest tax scams going, the EITC.
This tax is also one of the reasons the marriage rates continue to decline.
Let me explain how it works. Mom and dad aren’t married, by cohabitate instead. They have 3 kids. Every year dad files taxes on his income as a single, unmarried taxpayer.
Meanwhile mom claims the 3 kids on her ususally part time income. This makes her eligible for a refund of all federal tax she pays. Plus, she is eligible for the EITC for each of the children. Using my neighbors as an example, this gets mom a typically 5 to 7k additional refund of taxes she now their dad ever paid. Couple this with other public benefits mom is eligible for as a single, low income parent, and the benefits are over 10k a year. This deincentives marriage, and they will tell you this is why they don’t marry. It’s a scam that costs taxpayers billions.
Musk and others paying millions and billions not paying more isnt the problem. Programs like this are.
AJ
“The EITC cost $72 billion in 2023. The combination of the EITC and the Child Tax Credit were equal to 3.2 percent of all federal outlays in 2023, representing a fraction of the cost of other major programs.”
“2024 Earned Income Tax CreditNumber of children Max income: Single, head of household, or widowed filers Maximum earned income tax credit amount
We also have a similar credit in addition to the tax free bracket under 15k. Its called the Workers Income Credit. It was modelled after your credit — I believe a conservative government put it in; didn’t Reagan create the EITC? Essentially you pay no taxes for income under 15K and then you get a WIC for a certain amount over (can’t remember exactly although my ex-wife has been eligible a few times, she doesn’t get a cheque become she has to pay taxes on my support payments)
AJ
Why can’t you say billionaires and your example are both problems. Both should pay taxes according to the bracket. Just because people play the system doesn’t exempt Musk, Buffet and the others.
Simple solution to your scenario. Simply declare cohabitation to be the equivalent to marriage for tax purposes. Legally common-law and marriage is the same here.
You may not have to pay tax when you make under 15k but you still have to pay money to the IRS. After covid we filed taxes separately. Husband made under 15k and still had to pay about $1200 into ss. Neither of us is retired. Our tax code is bizarre.
I’m not in favor of lower taxes for billionaires. I’m not convinced the tax code should permit billionaires at all. They are too powerful. Some are more powerful than governments. Just a thought.
Im not sure how you can prevent billionaires. Some people are just better at making money, usually thru useful, innovative, and beneficial products and services. Plus they tend to employ thousands of other Americans.
While I don’t necessarily support lowering their tax bill, I have no qualms with people making what they’re able.
I do think the FEC and federal law need to tighten up on the influence they buy. That’s across the board as well.
I’ve been greatly amused at the left hand wringing over Musk’s newfound influence operations. They have had Soros bankrolled their campaigns, bankrolled the invasion of America and Europe, installed DAs across the country to release criminals and lower sentencing for serious crimes. Yet now Musk is the worst thing ever?
Please. Spare me the faux outrage. When Musk starts doing things that harm America, as Soros does, then maybe you’ll have a point. Until then, sit down and shut up. No one buys this trash anymore.
There’s a meme floating around that I’ve seen a few times – anytime someone reaches a billion dollars they should get a message – “Congratulations you won capitalism, game over. We will name a dog park after you”. And that’s it they keep the $999,999,999. Seems fair to me.
A university flat-mate came to visit me. He just sold half his company for $100 million. We spent $1000 that night on good whiskey/wine and some food. Some people told me he’s throwing away his money but at a $1000/day – he will spend $365 000 in a year; 10 years is $3.65 million, 100 years is $36.5 million and 300 years is about $110 million. Now of course he will spend money on a condo, home, son’s education, wife, vacations etc. but my point is simple — you don’t need more than 100 million and certainly not a billion dollars.
The job creation excuse is bogus — unemployment rates are not lower than the 1960s when progressive taxation policies kept the rich in check and inequality lower than today.
There’s no need to prevent billionaires just tax them properly. As Buffet points out, any form of income should be taxed at the same rate. Buffet, Soros, Musk etc should be paying 37% on stock options not 11%. Tax billionaires at the right level and poof there goes the deficit — you don’t have to cut paediatric cancer research just tax the billionaires. (The US has a structural deficit — it needs to return to Clinton level taxation. Pre-Reagan tax levels would leave the US gov’t rich)
Don’t make this about partisan politics. Trust me the left does not like Soros or any billionaire (we also don’t like most of the Democratic party). I do wonder how much power the FEC has given Citizens United and a very billionaire friendly court. Take a Supreme Court on a nice holiday and poof you can buy politicians.
Debra – The Social Security deduction is 6.2%, Canada Pension Plan is 5.95%. This is only on income from 3,500 to 68K. Below or above it doesn’t apply. US SS is applied from 0 – 160K. I hope you get better benefits than us.
AJ — On one hand, that’s ridiculous. I must admit I also found it amusing — the Republcans calling Biden out for dementia while one of their own was in a treatment centre for dementia. I checked into it though she’s retired. A new republican will be in the House in 2025
The memes dealing with Musk’s influence on Trump must be having an effect. His aides have been phoning the media pushing the point that Trump not Musk is in charge and last week’s events were Trump’s ideas. The memes were amusing — the AI involved in photos is extremely realistic.
Stop falling for flat out lies. Republicans in the House passed the child cancer research legislation months ago. And that bill has sat on Democrat Chuck Shumer’s desk since then
Put the blame for any delay where it belongs, on Democrats. And stop spreading lies on the Dems behalf.
“Mind blowing: the children’s cancer research bill was voted on as a stand alone bill and was passed overwhelmingly by the house but Chuck Schumer has held it up in the senate since MARCH. But you know that when you posted this lie.”
I think HRW is right about the tax code, but I’m not prepared to crusade against billionaires; I just have doubts that this is an enduring phenomenon.
DOGE is probably not a bad idea, but Musk should stay on the right side of Trump’s ego, else we may have to endure a litany of unfortunate nicknames all before the innaguration. Vivek seems to be staying slightly more low key— and that is not something I thought could ever be said about him, but of course, he doesn’t own Twitter/X. Battling Billionaires. Sounds like a good reality show. Unfortunately, it’s just politics in the good ol’ USA. Lord help us .
Here’s a very interesting article from an unlikely source — to me anyway. It’s an interview if Steve Bannon. I’m not familiar with this publication, but they are talking about populism, increasing taxes on the wealthy, the recent gunning down of the CEO. I’m on break and haven’t finished it all, but it’s good so far.
Actually I didn’t know that; it’s been a persistent meme and nobody has called it out. Could there be a funding issue? That is, the bill has been approved but had to wait for a budget bill for the money? Life is always more complicated than a meme or an X
And in an attempt to make retirement more relaxing, I have limited myself to one standard media outlet, the Guardian. And they keep the US news to a minimum.
Speaking of the Guardian. I found the following article/column fascinating due to its attempt at intellectual origins but I’m not sure it’s entirely true or plausible. However, there’s been a persistent idea that Project 2025 is coming and Trump’s cabinet does little to disarm that idea.
Debra — the nicknames and the memes are never ending.
But great idea for a reality show – perhaps they have to compete by completing tasks their employees normally do for them. Each time a billionaire fails or is the last to complete a task, a percentage is added to their tax bracket.
The fact that the mainstream media has not called out the cancer research lie is just a further indictment of their partisanship and biased reporting.
Once again, X reports what they ignore. The truth is known to X users, while those who prefer the MSM are uninformed and clueless, which is what Dems and the MSM prefer.
HRW, I don’t care much for the Guardian, but I was reading that article just this morning before church. Husband says Yarvin is the mentor of Michael Anton who Trump has just named to some position or other. Maybe I’m wrong, but he sounds like a dangerous nutcase to me. Both of them actually. The Endarkenment indeed. I was going to read more about it before I brought up the subject, but since you put it out there…. Does anyone know anything more about these guys?
The “sex with a minor” is probably silly (she was 17 and he didn’t know how old she was), but it does look like the case against Matt Gaetz looks pretty strong.
“A disgusting animal kidnapped, raped, and stabbed to death 2 little girls riding their bikes on Mother’s Day. The father of one was wrongly accused so the sick twisted POS went on to murder another girl and tried to kill more
Joe Biden just saved his life”
——
These people have been convicted of some of the most heinous crimes imaginable.
“She was lit on fire by an illegal immigrant you sick bastards. She didn’t magically combust. Why on earth would you leave that out and imply this was anything other than a heinous act???”
—–
“Woman dies after she catches fire in Brooklyn subway car; NYPD suspects homicide”
“Two hours ago, Kathy Hochul took a victory lap for making subways “safer.” She congratulates herself on the same day two subway riders were stabbed in Queens (one in the face and one in the chest) and another was barbarically burned alive.
Has there ever been a more tone-deaf Governor in the history of New York?”
Lets put it all out there. The Didy parties, the still hidden Epstein client list, the Congressional payouts, all of it. Then you can release the Gaetz hit piece too and we’ll see what matters more to voters.
“Yea still don’t care about the Matt Gaetz ethics report.
I do want to see all of the ethics reports for all of the members of Congress, who had to dip into a taxpayer funded slush fund that paid for sexual harassment claims.”
“Giving funds to someone you are dating – that they didn’t ask for – and that isn’t “charged” for sex is now prostitution?!?
There is a reason they did this to me in a Christmas Eve-Eve report and not in a courtroom of any kind where I could present evidence and challenge witnesses.
This is testimony from one of the alleged “prostitutes” that you won’t see in the report!”
The intellectual background of our current autocrats is rather lightweight. Many like Yarvin (Milo Y, Joe Rogan etc) are actually populizers of ideas that have been floating around in the post Reagan world especially as the world of Reagan is slowing dying. However, they still espouse the same economic ideas (Austrian school) but align them to the need for an autocrat (much like Pinochet’s Chile — like Rome, the empire is coming home for the west).
AJ’s link is quite good even if its political point of view is opposite of mine. (post more of these and less X, please AJ) I like the Enlightenment ideal – not because I think it’s great but it’s the best we have (similar to Churchill and democracy). The so-called post Enlightenment thinkers are fairly nihilistic and engage in circular reasoning. And too walk back or away from the Enlightenment is to embrace fascism (the article errs in asserting fascism is part of the Enlightenment — its origin lies in Catholic social theorists trying modernise medieval social order in order to offer an alternative to the French Revolution). So for me it’s the Enlightenment or nihilism or autocratic fascism. I’ll take democratic socialism that’s derived from the Enlightenment over the other two.
Your criticism of the MSM mirrors the criticism of the MSM by the left. They assert the lack of critical coverage of Trump by the media helped Trump hide his agenda and senility and be elected president. With criticism from the left and right, I’m surprised any one is still reading and watching the MSM. But in reality, it’s where we can get our basic info.
Even X which isn’t a news source but rather a place to post random announcements,, ideas etc uses links to MSM to give out background information.
Gaetz was fully exonerated?? But by all means keep pushing to publish Epstein’s black book — we already know its a bipartisan book. And more ethics reports on elected members is always a good idea — we can start by looking at their attendance and place of residence; hopefully not a secure setting for dementia patients.
Why 37 out of 40? Why not all? I’m against the death penalty so I’m okay with commuting their sentence to life but wonder why three were not on the list?
Gaetz needs to take his lumps and walk away. Just admit to mistakes and walk away. Don’t attack the girls, their behaviour or their credibility. He was over 30 and the girls were teens or in their early twenties. There’s an imbalance of experience, money, power, etc. The behaviour was inappropriate and maybe illegal. Just go home, collect your pension, etc
Haha. That ain’t happening. While he resigned from the last Congress, he was overwhelming reelected by voters in his district and will be back when the new Congress convenes.
One of my favorite lines from a Batman movie is Michael Cain as Alfred saying to Christian Bale as Batman, ” well Master Wayne, some men just wanna watch the world burn.”
I don’t want to watch the world burn, just our corrupt (on both sides) Congress. Raze it to the ground. It no longer serves the people, just themselves and the donor class.
This is why I want Matt Gaetz, Kash Patel, Elon, Vivek, and plenty more like them.
I checked and I believe Gaetz isn’t coming back. He resigned and the seat is now vacant. In any case, why would any decent person want to be represented by such sleaze. He’s also been hired by the One America News Network.
I’m quite sure a cabinet of billionaires and sleaze like Gaetz is the wrong group to clean up Washington. Along with that, i’m sure Epstein’s book will remain wherever it as long as Trump is president.
I checked — the three who will remain on death row is the Boston Marathon bomber, Dylan Roof, and the Jewish synagogue shooter. Speaking.
Trump is either trying to start a fight or is trolling the world. In the last week, he’s called Canada the 51st state, demanded the Panama Canal back and still wants to buy Greenland. I believe he’s trolling but why? Like the boy who cried wolf, eventually the world will cease to take him seriously (which is where Im at)
~ “I was charged with nothing: FULLY EXONERATED,” he wrote. “It’s embarrassing, though not criminal, that I probably partied, womanized, drank and smoked more than I should have earlier in life. I live a different life now.” ~
“earlier in life”? This was like just a few years ago. He was already middle-aged. Youthful exploits? “Embarrassing?” Paying girls for sex, bragging about it to colleagues, using drugs? While pushing 40 years old?
I can’t believe anyone would take him seriously, he’s brushed it all off like it was just common teen-age exploits, he was too young to know better.
‘I probably’ … (shouldn’t have done all that)? That’s it?
As for living “a different life now,” where’s the evidence of that? He sounds like he’s still in complete denial that this was anything *that* serious, he’s still defending the indefensible in himself. He needs to back away, step out of the limelight and politics, take care of his own life and moral character, before asking the American people to give him any kind of trust again at all.
I think ALL ethics committee investigations in both the House and Senate should be a matter of public record, as should the payoffs from the slush funds. People deserve to know what their elected officials are up to so they can make informed choices. Knowing their deeds will be seen and judged might cause some to clean up their act or choose another occupation.
That’s just it Debra, they hide their dirty deeds, yet selectively release what will damage political enemies. It’s just one more reason to Congress as it currently exists.
The Biden DoJ refused to charge anything, because there’s nothing illegal. Yet the McCarthy installed stooges on the unethical ethics committee release this hit piece and then scurry home on recess like the cockroaches they are.
This is also yet another demonstration of why McCarthy was unfit for Speaker.
“So let me get this straight, Matt Gaetz gets selected for Attorney General
– Vows to target Congress insider trading
– Calls Ukraine a money laundering operation
Magically has underage sexual assault ALLEGATIONS, not charges, publicly released
BUT the Congress reps who used $17 million in taxpayer money to settle sexual assault charges are allowed to keep it a secret along with the Jeffrey Epstein client list?
“Regarding this leaked ethics report on Matt Gaetz. You’ve got to be a special kind of stupid to think the FBI and AG Garland would have let one of their fiercest critics off the hook had they had any real evidence against him.”
Hrw does not take Trump seriously. No one would expect you to take him seriously, Hrw. You are in another nation so it seriously does not matter what you think of him. I am still amazed that you spend so much time focused on the politics of the nation south of your border unless you think Canada might become the 51st state. I, personally, don’t think that will ever happen.
“Matt Gaetz and his father were blackmailed for $25 million. The man who did so was charged with wire fraud. Matt’s father wore a wire and cooperated with the FBI.
That doesn’t strike me as a man guilty of a crime. It looks much more like Gaetz was a problem for DC and they wanted him gone.
Which is exactly why congress released the ethics committee report today. They want to make sure Matt doesn’t take his congressional seat back a month from now. A seat he easily won back with 2/3rds of the vote.
Which is exactly why he must.
Return to congress and punish the criminals who wanted you gone, Matt. That’s the only proper ending to this story.”
Merry Christmas all — take a break (and a deep breath). We’ll need both.
Meanwhile, a good piece bringing us back to our roots at the Aquila Report today:
~ Ezekiel 14:2-3 Then the word of the LORD came to me: “Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces. Should I let them inquire of me at all?
Through his prophet, the Lord is setting before his people and their leaders an important principle concerning prayer.
The situation in Judah and Jerusalem was desperate – so desperate in fact that ‘some of the elders’ were prepared to eat humble pie and approach Ezekiel for help (1). Up to this point they had been very unresponsive to his message, as they also had been to the messages of his predecessors. Now they were desperate because of the dire situation they were in as a nation. But there was more required than just eating humble pie.
The problem was, as it had always been, that they had ‘set up idols in their hearts’. As a nation, we are not a theocracy as they were, but as Christians, the body of Christ, we are a theocracy, and we need to live in our democracy as a ‘light that is set on a hill’. As a nation, we are in a desperate situation spiritually, a situation that seems to be getting worse rather than better.
This ought to be a real matter of prayer for all professing Christians. But as we plead before our heavenly Father for his intervention on behalf of our nation, as we plead for a mighty work of the Holy Spirit throughout our land bringing people to repentance and faith, it is essential that we take Ezekiel’s words seriously. More than that, his words are important concerning every aspect of our prayer life, private as well as corporate.
Where do we stand as individual Christians? Have we ‘set up idols in our hearts’? Such an ‘idol’ is anything that is more important to us in our thinking than God himself. The Apostle Paul was able to declare publicly: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20) and “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21).
It is a searching question that we all need to ask, especially because of our relative wealth and prosperity, our relative safety and blessing, the access we have to every latest piece of technology and the time and opportunity we have to ‘play’ with it, and the degree to which the lifestyle most of us lead is enriched by entertainment and recreation. William Cowper’s old hymn, ‘O for a closer walk with God’, contains a relevant prayer: “The dearest idol I have known, whate’er that idol be, help me to tear it from thy throne and worship only thee.”
Allegations and sleaze in Congress or elsewhere shouldn’t shield or distract from Gaetz. And these allegations didn’t surface once he was nominated for Attorney General. The sleaze followed him to Washington the day he was elected. Republicans knew this and avoided him.
Was the family blackmailed? Perhaps but again that’s not a shield from his very real behaviour. As for his vote count; the way American districts are drawn – very few are not predictable. The republicans could run a blue and yellow striped dog and still win that district.
It’s not unusual for foreigners especially Canadians to closely follow American politics. The US is the elephant in the room in world politics. My respect for my sanity has me limiting my exposure to American politics to this site, the Guardian and whatever my friends send/post or ask me. I can’t take Trump seriously simply because the intellect and the thought process is not present when he speaks or tweets. My friends tell me I’m wrong to take this approach since his words and actions have consequences. My sanity depends on me not viewing him as a rational actor nor as representative of humanity.
For example; today Eric Trump posted a pic of his father buying Canada, Panama and Greenland on Amazon (obviously AI generated). People generally don’t mature past their high school selves but this is middle school level trolling – who does this?
Anyway, Im not a fan of John Bolton nor the Reagan/Bush foreign policy he embodies but I found the following interesting. And he’s right, Trump is random and seems to like “big guy” foreign actors.
“This is so disgusting. If you think he’s guilty of something, charge him. Don’t smear him without the ability to clear his name in a fair proceeding where he can present evidence. I’m so sick of this crap.”
dj is right — take a deep breath and a break. Enjoy time with families. I start cooking tonight and will finish early in the morning. I’ll then bring it to my mom and brother who live 90 mins away. My daughter is in Poland with her maternal mother and grandmother and will be back to Berlin leading her freelance artist bohemian existence. I’ll have plenty of leftovers and will have her mom over on Boxing Day (the 26th).
Enjoy your holidays and ignore the trolling, the anger and the selfish behaviour. Here’s one of only two Christmas carols I will play at home (the other is Fairy Tale of New York). Merry Christmas – hrw
~ Trolling. Middle school. Anger (lots of anger) ~
HRW has some very valid points there … (and Merry Christmas back at you, HRW, and everyone else) (like him or not, Bolton these days has some very valid comments typically, though I haven’t read the ones posted above yet and I realize he’s despised by many on the right – and left, of course)
We’ll see what the next year holds, we’ll be taking lots of deep breaths — and I will trust it is still all in God’s hands, no matter how things “look,” or sound, realizing we can’t see God’s overall, sovereign plan in any of this (as they couldn’t in the OT either).
We are called to be faithful, called to pray, called to love our neighbor (and our enemies).
I’m having white rice for Christmas dinner tomorrow. Long story. 🙂 lol
~ … “He doesn’t know much about foreign policy. He’s not a big reader. He reads newspapers from time to time but briefing papers are almost never read because he doesn’t think they’re important. He doesn’t think these facts are important. He thinks he looks the other guy across the table in the eye and they make a deal and that’s what’s important.”
Trump believes he has a friendship with Putin, Bolton added. “I don’t know what Putin thinks his relationship is with Trump but he believes he knows how to play Trump, that Trump’s an easy mark. Trump doesn’t see that at all.
“If you put everything on the basis of personal relations and you don’t understand how the person you’re talking about on the other side views you, that’s a real lack of situational awareness that can only cause trouble.” ~
I have always had more care about local politics because I can have more of a voice of influence by actions I can take. State and local politics deserve the lion’s share of my interest and participation.
On the national level, I can vote, and I can contact my Senators and Representatives about concerns. I have practical reasons to engage with people about my locale’s government.
As for other nations, I am interested in what affects the other nations’ people, but I recognize I have no voice in their matters. If I were a globalist, I might think otherwise?
A lot of dissing other nations’ leaders who were legitimately chosen by the majority of the nation’s people feels like a put down of the people. It is not a very kind thing to do. I know, I am not supposed to take it personally. Just saying, I would not do it to Canadians, and I believe in the Golden Rule. But I also believe in freedom of speech. I suppose that indicates a conflict of interest?
I’d really appreciate hearing more about Canadian politics from a local and what a person is doing in their locale to make things better for people where they live. That would seem more productive and good for the world (and perhaps share info that could be helpful to others in other nations about best practices). But maybe time is too short to do something like that because one is obsessed with another nation.
Praying for peace on earth and goodwill toward men (and women).
Janice – As HRW and I both pointed out, the U.S. and its politics are of interest to others in the world, particularly our neighbors. And considering that this blog focuses much on the topic of politics, it makes sense that that is what he would be commenting on.
Also, remember that although Trump won the election, nearly half of voters did not vote for him, so they would not be offended by his comments (which I see from many Americans as well).
I’ve heard that much of the world is now fascinated by what is going on in the US currently with the Trump phenomenon; we’ve been something of the world’s leader (in a good way mostly) in recent history — and so what happens here actually does impact many other countries and is of legitimate interest. The world (I think) is watching.
@6:57: Maybe about half the country (who would respectfully disagree with the “traitorous fraud” disparagement of a fellow human being)? 🙂
Sometimes when I post what is simply another opinion that differs from the majority here (not that I do that often anymore) I say to myself (“Wait for it …”). Usually I’m not let down.
Such a dichotomy of world views. God has the absolute truth. May His pure truth be revealed more and more to us all here so we can be set free from holding so tightly to the flawed political news reports of biased humans.
Bolton is pretty much the picture of a warmonger. He’s vocal and proud of the coups he’s engineered. I believe he’s an evil man, and I take whatever he has to say in that light.
I think it’s wise to keep up generally with what’s going on in other countries but it’s time consuming . If you don’t, our government is liable to pull a fast one with propaganda convincing us that we MUST go to war in Syria, Iran, Taiwan, China or any number of other countries where we have no real provocation to invade.
Right now I’m a little concerned about Panama. I’m hoping Trump is just trolling. I did see a reference to “Governor Trudeau” and shook my head and smiled, but it wouldn’t be humorous if we invaded Panama….or Greenland. :–/
Many people are wondering how it’s possible to cut the budget without cutting essential services. A few days ago Rand Paul came out with his annual Festivus Report which details over 1Trillion dollars in waste that could be cut. Paul has apparently been working closely with Musk and Ramaswamy so they might be ready to go on day 1. Here’s the first 10 (I added the numbers)
1-Ghost Towns on the Government’s Dime: The federal government spent $10 billion on maintaining, leasing, and furnishing almost entirely empty buildings
2-A Pandemic Plunder: A Florida man stole $8 million in COVID-19 Relief funds to buy an island and more
3-Your Tax Dollars at Play: The Department of the Interior (DOI) spent $12 Million on a Las Vegas Pickleball Complex
4-Taxpayers Fund a Disinformation Index: The Department of State (DOS) wasted $330,000 to fund censorship of non-liberal and conservative media
5-Snack Attack: The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded a $2 million grant to study kids looking at Facebook ads about food
6-Taxpayers Dollars Down the Drain in Nevis: The Department of State (DOS) spent $108,272 on a non-functioning hotel
7-Direct File Fail: Congress spent $15 million to turn the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) into an unconstitutional force to prepare, file, and audit your hard-earned money
8-Oh Rats! HHS Spends Nearly Half a Million on a Depressing Study of Lonely, Starved Rats: The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) spent $419,470 to determine if lonely rats seek cocaine more than happy rats
9-Hold on to Your Steering Wheels: The Department of Energy (DOE) spent $15.5 billion to push Americans toward electric vehicles they don’t want
10-The Influencer Effect Hits Foreign Policy: The Department of State (DOS) squandered $4,840,082 on influencers
There is another name for the item #10 below; it’s called propaganda. Paid for by tax payers. I wonder what they were trying to “influence” us to do, think, or say.
Wandering Views 
I am not sure how it is at other locations around the country, but I know some local police etc. are very angry at the commutation (or pardon) of one man by Joe Biden. Apparently, the lives of others is not as important as these criminals. I am sorry for the victims that do not get justice.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Why do people hate and distrust the media?
https://x.com/RepMTG/status/1868986915451813951?t=E9OSXGfcOrKlBidJ70Fhdw&s=19
“I’ve always said the media is the mouthpiece of the Democrat party, but in this case the Democrats actually paid the media with government contracts to do their bidding.
That’s not journalism.”
—
https://x.com/MikeBenzCyber/status/1868945446875676693?t=f5EfzmG4_YzwCouiQUdnPQ&s=19
“The Biden Admin paid Reuters over $300 million in government contracts. 11 different Biden government agencies targeted Elon’s businesses. All 11 agencies paid millions to Reuters. Reuters then won the Pulitzer Prize for “their work on Elon Musk and misconduct at his businesses”
—–
This is propaganda, not journalism. And once again, like with the Russia collusion hoax, they win Pulitzers for their lies.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Responding to Kizzie’s links about possible explanations of drone sightings: I have no idea what’s going on in NJ or on the rest of the east coast. I doubt it’s mass hysteria–there are too many sightings of drones from government officials as well as the population at large.
The drone we saw was flying during the day at about 3 or 3:30 pm so it was clearly visible. I know very little about drones, but the one we saw at the airport here did not look to be new technology, though it was larger than I would expect. It looked like there was something mounted under it, like a large surveillance camera. It was flying in airspace that is illegal in Tennessee for anyone but someone having a special license and governmental permission; and though I did a search, I could not find that this airport has been permitted by anyone to fly a drone in this space.
The drone seemed to me to be actively watching, almost patrolling in a circuit–although I could not see everywhere it was going. It paused and hovered, several times. My best guess is that we are being illegally surveilled, probably by our own government. I doubt this is foreign. We do have nuclear facilities nearby. I was going to drive out that way and check the skies for any activity before I leave for work, but it’s foggy so it’s off to work as usual. If disaster strikes before I return home, God is still God, and he’s still good. Be well. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
The govt know exactly what’s up with those drones. They are behind it.
If they were foreign, the US would shoot them down. While some may be privately owned domestic hobbyists, the suv sized ones are not.
There are theories out there about what type of operation they’re performing, some defense industry insiders say radiation scans looking for hidden weapons, dirty bombs and what not. The govt won’t say so, lest some panic.
But the govt knows they’re ours, is allowing them to continue operating, and is lying when they claim ignorance.
Relax. Trump will spill the beans on this nonsense in a month or so.
Allen
LikeLiked by 3 people
I thought so, AJ. I read there has been half a dozen instances of medical grade radioactive material stolen over the past few years. The most recent being this November in NJ. They should tell us.
LikeLiked by 2 people
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1Be1AR9ZoX/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Luigi M has been charged with murder as a crime of terrorism. Kill a CEO and you’re a terrorist. Shoot up a school and its only murder. Ransack the Congress and it’s just vandalism. But kill a CEO and you’re a terrorist. It appears society values the corporate world more than children and the legislature.
In Florida, a woman said “deny, defund depose you’re next” and was charged with uttering a terrorist threat. Threaten to shoot your classmates — uttering threats. When a woman reports an ex for threatening her; a restraining order is the most the police will do.
The New York governor has offered free therapy to CEOs and state help with security.
This whole episode demonstrates what and who are valued in society.
hrw
LikeLiked by 3 people
The federal government has had contracts with Thomson Reuters for many years related it its information and analysis software and services in areas such as tax and accounting, legal, and financial reporting. The Reuters news service is just a part of the much larger company.
I was employed by the Thomson Corporation when it merged with Reuters in 2008. At that time Thomson Reuters was also involved with science and healthcare information, which is the area I worked in.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Is it true that Elon Musk plans to buy Disneyworld and get the woke out of it?
LikeLike
Kevin,
Click the tweets and dig deeper. This is Reuters news ops targeting Musk and his companies on behalf of the Biden admin. This is a propaganda op meant to slander their political opponents, and Reuters involvement involves much more than simple data collection.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Shoot up a school and it’s all about those evil guns. Shoot and kill the United Healthcare CEO and it’s all about “the practices fueling anger at US health insurers.”
It’s all about control…
LikeLiked by 3 people
The drones are ours, which is why the current admin is lying about what they are.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Agreed — it is about control, hence the terrorism charges on Luigi. The murder has become a political act and must be controlled. School shootings on the other hand are not deemed political so the need for control is less.
Speaking of the need to control — Trump is suing the Des Moines Register and a pollster for conducting and publishing a poll showing him behind in Iowa. Somewhat ironically and hypocritically, Rasmussen shared its polling data with the Trump campaign before it publicised it. Perhaps Trump thinks the Register and the pollster were doing what he would do.
Drones — obviously some of the sightings are the military, and others are probably just hysteria or private drones. Amusingly one politician claim to have seen drones and it turned out to be a constellation. Starlink and other satellites are also a consideration. It would however be amusing if it were aliens who had come to save us from ourselves.
hrw
LikeLike
Janice — the internet is full of rumours on what Musk, Bezos, and the rest of the billionaires boy’s club want to do once Trump takes over. I’ve chosen to ignore it until it becomes a real possibility — besides the Christmas holidays start next week and ignoring the billionaires just makes sense.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So Congress wants to give more of our money to the Ukraine…and give themselves a 6600.00 raise. What a gig when you can just vote yourself thousands of dollars for doing nothing for the American people! How about those people living in tents in NC? Or those with mental l illness living on the streets…our Veterans? What a mess….keep giving it to people crossing our borders illegally and murdering our citizens…and selling those drugs…now those are the ones “deserving” of our tax dollars!??
LikeLiked by 3 people
“NEW: Vivek Ramaswamy rips Speaker Johnson’s funding bill, says the government is trying to waste your money without telling you.
Here is what’s inside:
– Pay raises for members of Congress.
– Expansion of their federal health benefits.
– Opening up a new stadium in Washington DC.
– “Renews the Global Engagement Center, which is a keynote of the Censorship Industrial Complex.”
“I think we need outsiders to bring actual accountability to Washington DC so feel free to call your congressman and let ’em know how you feel about it.””
https://x.com/CollinRugg/status/1869461401632231528?t=hXxvwfhjko_1JOeIx_tjuA&s=19
——
While I may agree it’s time for a pay raise, make your case publicly, then vote on it. Don’t try to sneak it thru like this.
And there’s so much other useless pork giveaways in this, it needs to die.
And on Jan 3, Johnson needs to go as speaker. Once again he sought to pass a horrible bill with mostly Dems supporting it, not the Rs he supposedly leads.
LikeLiked by 2 people
“Hard to imagine anything more heartless than shutting down the government and leaving disaster victims out in the cold just days before Christmas. Absolutely outrageous this is even a possibility.”
https://x.com/MarkWarner/status/1869507040621867035?t=GirPCX-8A4KZg3ZBU_N8Ug&s=19
—–
Reality.
https://x.com/adamhousley/status/1869606275107127793?t=6rrR8CkgJPzm3lRSPwqdxQ&s=19
“With all due respect Senator. Imagine ignoring them for months and months and then using them as a pawn to get your pork-filled bill through. That’s heartless.”
LikeLiked by 3 people
Truth.
https://x.com/JesseBWatters/status/1869562268318392555?t=AKuKuwYeO8Zz-EwZLrYfng&s=19
“Congress just got caught trying to put over $100 billion on our credit card. On what, you ask? A law to put politicians above the law, fund censorship programs, fund more vaccine mandates and gain-of-function-type research, hand out $3 million to inspect molasses inspectors, $15 million to make recycling more accessible, and $100 million to migrant farmworkers. The bill would also keep @KamalaHarris’s electric bus program and ban sexy memes. It’s even woke too! It would change the word “homeless” to “an individual experiencing homelessness.” Plus, Congress wants to give itself a raise to keep up with the cost of living. Now why has the cost of living gone up? Because of Congress!
Every year our politicians tell us the spending will stop and then every year, they do it again. Now, Republicans just scrapped the spending bill and are going to pull an all-nighter. They have until Friday midnight to vote on a new bill or the government shuts down for Christmas. They’ve had all year to get this done and they waited until the last second, tried to pull a fast one, got caught, and then they promise they won’t do it again. It’s the same thing every time. They have no respect for you – or your money.”
LikeLiked by 2 people
Jeff Childers:
It wasn’t supposed to end this way. The Bureaucracy obviously thought it could pass this bill. A lot of work went into drafting and backroom-negotiating that 1,600-page monster. Don’t conclude this was anything new, Congress has been playing budgetary brinksmanship games for years now. These tactics are as old as Napoleon Hill’s self-improvement advice. But Twitter and AI just ended it for good. The last-minute bill-drop technique is dead. They can invent something else, but they won’t try this again.
We are truly entering a new, more transparent era of politics. You might even say more democratic.
This governmental system appears arse backwards when the employed can vote themselves a pay raise. Then turn around and give billions of the employers confiscated money to foreign countries!
LikeLiked by 1 person
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/georgia-appeals-court-disqualifies-da-fani-willis-from-trump-election-interference-case
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think Fani Will could still appeal to the Georgia Supreme Court, but I am not sure they would take the hot potato.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A lot of work always goes into a budget or supply bill. They normally start as soon as the last bill was passed. And the work continues til the deadline. Almost nothing in any universe is ever completed til the deadline. And twitter and AI won’t change this — and if it does, you have to wonder who is in charge.
And this bill isn’t any better or worse than any other budgetary bill. Depending on which side people are on, you can always find something wrong with it.
The oligarchy that runs the US has never been so obviously on display. With words from Vivek, Musk and others the budget is suddenly dead or at least in need of revision. Who elected them? The party that has been busy trying to remake itself as a working class party has removed the curtain or the mask (pick your metaphor) and its the billionaire class who run it.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/dec/19/bernie-sanders-elon-musk-funding-deal
hrw
LikeLike
For more fun, the debt ceiling is coming up and now its the Republicans turn to justify raising the limit. Maybe they should do the sensible thing — get rid of it. But there’s no way the Democrats who are now on the other side of debt will agree to anything unless they extract their pound of flesh.
So with billionaires throwing wrenches on months of work and compromise and the usual nonsense about debt upcoming, the gridlock has started and Trump hasn’t been sworn in yet. And I’m sure the Republicans in the House won’t stop fighting amongst themselves despite having a minuscule majority.
And the world is worried about tariff wars, Ukraine, Syria etc. I’ve ignored predictions of gloom and doom and other predictions of elation and victory simply based on my own intution – nothing will get done in a city where Republicans don’t talk to each other let alone Democrats and billionaires run around demonstrating they really do nothing as CEO. Musk is a CEO at three corporations and has time to be co-president. Obviously the rich aren’t earning their pay.
Of course, just to divert the masses, the report on Matt Gaetz is arriving just in time for the holidays. Save it for New Years Eve; I’m sure whatever is in it shouldn’t be shared on Christmas.
hrw
LikeLike
HRW, what’s up with Trudeau? I read that even his own party is giving him grief. What’s the significance of a pm change there? Will it greatly affect Canada’s relationship with the US? And what’s your prediction?
LikeLike
What has people more upset there– that he kissed the ring or that he had to? Iowa, what’s the temperature of public opinion towards Trump in your neck of the woods.
LikeLike
Lol. Don’t know where ‘Iowa’ came from.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sure HRW, blame the w guys who called out the BS, not the clowns who tried to ram it all thru last minute.
And once again, who informed the American people of their sleight of hand?
Elon and X, while the media once again stood by silently as they tried to shaft taxpayers.
Elon and Vivek have once again done a great service for America, and they aren’t even getting paid to do so. Congress, who is paid to do so, just tried stiffing us again. Because that’s what they do. They serve the lobbyists and special interests, this disaster just further proves that.
Beat it, stab it, shoot it, than burn it. Kill this monstrosity dead.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Trudeau and some others are blaming Trump, who played a roll, clearly in Castro’s love child’s downfall. I’m OK with that.
I say let’s annex Canada as our 51st state. Trump should make an offer. 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
Their “squirrel!” has responded.
Let he/she in DC who is without sin cast the first stone. You know there are none.
https://x.com/mattgaetz/status/1869406920768917618?t=w4Gdafda9ARBGmDJwvatiQ&s=19
“The Biden/Garland DOJ spent years reviewing allegations that I committed various crimes.
I was charged with nothing: FULLY EXONERATED. Not even a campaign finance violation. And the people investigating me hated me.
Then, the very “witnesses” DOJ deemed not-credible were assembled by House Ethics to repeat their claims absent any cross-examination or challenge from me or my attorneys. I’ve had no chance to ever confront any accusers. I’ve never been charged. I’ve never been sued.
Instead, House Ethics will reportedly post a report online that I have no opportunity to debate or rebut as a former member of the body.
In my single days, I often sent funds to women I dated – even some I never dated but who asked. I dated several of these women for years. I NEVER had sexual contact with someone under 18. Any claim that I have would be destroyed in court – which is why no such claim was ever made in court.
My 30’s were an era of working very hard – and playing hard too. It’s embarrassing, though not criminal, that I probably partied, womanized, drank and smoked more than I should have earlier in life. I live a different life now.
But at least I didn’t vote for CR’s that @#$% over the country!”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Now here’s an idea guaranteed to set hair aflame in DC:
Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) suggested Elon Musk serve as Speaker in a Thursday morning post on X following contentious debates over the continuing resolution (CR).
“The Speaker of the House need not be a member of Congress . . . ,” Paul wrote.
Nothing would disrupt the swamp more than electing Elon Musk . . . think about it . . . nothing’s impossible. (not to mention the joy at seeing the collective establishment, aka ‘uniparty,’ lose their ever-lovin’ minds).”….
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5048431-rand-paul-elon-musk-speaker/amp/
LikeLike
Debra —
a bit of background – the Liberal party is a centrist party and leans both left and right occasionally causing divisions within the caucus. Currently they are a minority gov’t requiring another party to pass money bills in order to remain in power. The left-wing NDP (my party) has insisted on a dental and phrama plan in exchange for support. The Liberals dragged their feet on it and so after more than two years, both plans have barely started. Thus the NDP pulled support and said it would be a day to day basis. The left leaning Quebec BQ party also provides support also in exchange for programs (usually geared to old people — must be the core BQ demographic). On the right the Conservative party is biting at the bit since they are the gov’t in waiting according to the polls.
I’m not sure why he went to Mar-a-lago. I don’t think it had anything to do with Trump or tariffs but rather to domestic politics. Perhaps he thought he might get a bump in the polls. Or perhaps to demonstrate strength to Liberal MPs who have been trying to oust him. Regardless, it was a dumb move – he should have gone to Mexicio. Truimp of course has been trolling ever since. Most Canadians are either mad at Trump or think he’s being an immature brat. Weirdly, this trolling might benefit Trudeau or at least hurt his Conservative rival Pollievre.
In his continuous attempt to stay in power, Trudeau made a deal with the NDP for a temporary halt to the sales tax on certain items for a month plus an extra tax refund. His own finance minister, Freeland, disapproved and resigned the day she was supposed to submit the money bill to the House of Commons. Weird timing in that if she disapproved she could’ve resigned weeks ago when the deal was made. She then posted her resignation letter on X for everyone to see.
In her resignation letter, she linked her disapproval to make Canada less financially able to handle tariffs if they come. I don’t get the linkage. Freeland and Trudeau have been working together for the last eight years but its been noticeable for the last six months that she’s had enough of him. The abrupt resignation and the posted letter on X suggests its more than policy
hrw
LikeLiked by 2 people
Debra cont’d
Now where do we go from here. Its a parliamentary democracy so there are two things that have to be functioning. The cabinet and prime minister must have the confidence of the House. And the PM must have the confidence of his own party.
The first he does not have. Its a minority government. When the Christmas break is over, a simple vote of non-confidence could remove Trudeau from power and an election will occur. An election that the Conservatives will easily win. The NDP could prevent the non-confidence vote but it appears that their support is contingent on Trudeau resigning — that is Trudeau quits and the Liberals party elects a new leader to become PM. The caucus could vote a new leader temporarily.
The second problem for Trudeau is if his own party voted him out in a caucus vote (its how Thatcher was ousted and not much different than what happened with the speaker in the US) Party discipline in Canada is extremely strict and this have never happened (if I recall correctly). Already there was an attempt to oust him in September which failed. Perhaps a renewed attempt might succeed. At this point most Liberal MPs would rather have Freeland lead them than Trudeau.
All of this is very unusual for Canadian politics because our party discipline usually prevents this.
My own p.o.v. is that Trudeau should have resigned in September and then the Liberals could have set up a timeline to elect a new leader and have an election. The party I support, the NDP, should have put more pressure on him earlier. Hopefully now Trudeau will leave. Freeland or someone else will increase the Liberal vote so we have a minority government again. Otherwise the Conservatives will win and have four years with very little limits to their power. Perhaps if Trump keeps trolling, Canadians won’t vote for the Conservative party — that would be amusing.
hrw
LikeLiked by 2 people
AJ — not blaming anyone. Just indicating the problem — oligarchs running the gov’t instead of elected representatives; not much of a democracy.
The bill isn’t any different than any other budget passed before. At least there’s no bridge to nowhere.
I’m sure the report will fully exonerate Gaetz as he says.
Debra — it’s probably the honest thing to do, have the oligarchs operate openly will make them responsible for their greed, avarice and mistakes.
hrw
LikeLiked by 3 people
HRW, it doesn’t sound like we have any less a democracy than you guys. It’s all messy. There’s no likelihood of a Speaker Musk in our future, I think. Rand Paul is trolling. I say we let Musk and Ramaswamy make their recommendations and force Congress to debate the matter in public. It could be a gift for our MSM and for our democracy. Public debate. Imagine that.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Structurally, the US is far more democratic than the Canadian system. Our severe party discipline is problematic plus our executive and legislative branches are not separated. The American problem is the amount of money in the electoral process and the presence of the billionaires even after an election worsens the situation. interestingly arguments can be made that the amount of democracy in the US makes it inefficient (I’d argue that inefficiency is sometimes good in gov’t — avoid the concentration of power)
.Public debate is always good but what qualification do Musk and Ramaswamy have to make recommendations and set the parameters? Why not have Debra and AJ make the recommendations? When we allow the wealthy to set the public debate the parameters, the ideas etc will be based on their experiences and their needs not the people.
hrw
LikeLiked by 3 people
Happy Govt. Shutdown Day!
lol.
Every Democrat voted against the slim downed bill, along with 30 Republicans. The media will, of course, blame Rs, but the voters know better.
https://x.com/TheCalvinCooli1/status/1869893696189030687?t=c5p8jHw4j-s-ENQvbQWXbg&s=19
LikeLiked by 2 people
“Quick story about govt. shutdowns and the theatrics behind them. One year when I was reporting at CBS News during a govt. shutdown, I think 2013, we were sincerely searching for real life impact. When we couldn’t find any, *that* should have been part of the story. Instead, we kept trying to create the appearance of an impact. It wasn’t really trying to be dishonest. It was, in my retrospective view, because the general editorial idea for the story was to show how bad the “Republican” shutdown was for ordinary Americans, and the answer simply couldn’t be that it wasn’t. I’ve written quite a bit about this but we, as journalists, too often “decide” the story in advance and shape the facts to fit our narrative, rather than gathering information and letting that tell the story, whatever it may be. Anyway, the Ds were blaming Rs for the shutdown, so we were calling Ds and the Obama administration for ideas to report what was the real impact. Taking our cue, these officials fabricated impact that we could report. For example, they cordoned off outdoor public monuments in Washington DC. We knew and even discussed in the newsroom that this made no sense. These monuments weren’t “manned” to begin with. The only reason to cordon them off from the public was so that visiting tourists would see the “impact” of the shutdowns and the news media would have something to take pictures of and interview people about. There are other examples but this is the one I remember the most.”
https://x.com/SharylAttkisson/status/1869913284318519730?t=chxmRFzrkBnZh5jMO4qtmA&s=19
The media will be the only ones that care.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Should say slimmed down…
slim downed probably belongs in a western.
Slim downed two of the three train robbers, but the third shot him in the back.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Lookin’ at you Chip Roy…
https://x.com/DC_Draino/status/1869899913288458394?t=jgR99AcgLJepv2k71zspLQ&s=19
“All these big “brave Republicans” pretending to be fiscal hawks today for Trump’s slimmed down CR were quiet as lambs yesterday when the Deep State CR was on the floor
Isn’t that interesting!
It’s almost as if they work for the uniparty and not the People”
LikeLiked by 2 people
Lol. Bless you, HRW, but when have the wealthy NOT set the debate parameters? Have we ever elevated a middle class or poor man to speak for us? The mobs scream, shout and burn things down, while the wealthy and powerful tell us all what it really means. When those explanations resonate with the people, the screaming diminishes to a little grumbling. When the explanations don’t resonate with enough people it can increase the chaos. However, if you’re serious about elevating the non-wealthy common folk, you could send a friendly letter to the powers that be. I can’t speak for AJ, but I could probably make room in my busy schedule.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Unfortunately, no one seems to listen to me either. Perhaps I should borrow some money from my friends and buy Twitter.
The wealthy have always set the debate but we usually don’t make it this easy for them. At least make Musk break a sweat. As it is, it appears he purchased the US gov’t for less than he paid for Twitter.
Its been rather amusing on the left today – We’re wondering when President Musk will show his birth certificate.
hrw
LikeLiked by 2 people
The Republicans control the House or so they say. They did elect the Speaker. Thus, they should be able to pass a money bill. And if they don’t its on them not the Democrats.
From what I understand the Democrats refuse to pass the current bill because it will lift the debt ceiling for the next two years. The Democrats would be silly to hand a blank cheque for the next two years. Generally the Democratic party doesn’t impress me but they aren’t that stupid.
I’m amused that Trump thinks this reflects on Biden. How? The House is responsible for the budget and any money bills – it reflects on the party in charge of the legislature and that’s the Republicans.
hrw
LikeLiked by 1 person
HRW, I’m having this same debate with my husband this morning. He’s made your arguments almost verbatim. He sees the Musk involvement as a move toward solidifying our already rapid slide toward actual Italian fascism. Since I’m outnumbered I’ll make a tactical retreat. I draw the line at brawling over the (South African?) birth certificate. :–)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well like it or not, Musk has been more effective than the cowardly Speaker Johnson. While the dems play childish games and try to create dissent, real Americans are doing the hard work. Let the left meme and play childish games, after all, they hold no power now. That’s why they Musk, because they see that a taxpayer holds more sway than they do, so the rage and cry. Boo hoo. 😀
This is win for taxpayers, and a big old L for the dems and uniparty stooges.
https://x.com/WallStreetMav/status/1870141012301013149?t=HUpCDUBgJFV36m7Xb2CsKg&s=19
“Thomas Massie has won.
The House GOP leadership is splitting the spending bill into smaller pieces.
Each section will be voted on individually and allowed to pass or fail on it’s own.
CR, disaster relief, debt limit increase, etc. They will each be separate votes.”
LikeLiked by 3 people
The inconvenience of breaking things down will help them earn their keep.
LikeLiked by 3 people
The “true conservatives” are not being truthful about the debt ceiling issue.
https://x.com/unseen1_unseen/status/1869926112349835331?t=HEootYXk-cN01sGxrC5zlQ&s=19
“Let me explain the debt ceiling to you since it’s pretty clear most of you have no idea what is going on.
As of now, there is no debt ceiling.
Let me repeat that for all of those “true conservative” supporters. As of right now, there is no debt ceiling.
The debt ceiling was suspended back in Jun of 2023.
As things stand now, as of Jan 1st, 2025, the debt ceiling will return, and it will be whatever it was when it was suspended plus whatever spending Biden and the dems did since June of 2023. That new debt ceiling is estimated to be hit by June of 2025 if not earlier.
What the CR wanted to do is push the redemption of the debt ceiling back for 2 years. This would allow massive tax cuts that Trump wants to make. Things like no tax on tips, no tax on social security, no tax on overtime, a 15% tax bracket for companies who built here, and to stop the Trump tax cuts from expiring.
You see, the government idiots consider tax cuts as government spending. So if you do $4 trillion in tax cuts, the government considers that $ 4 trillion in spending.
The debt ceiling redemption on Jan 1st will make Trump have to figure out how to pass the tax cuts without going over the debt ceiling and triggering a default.
Do you get it now? By not moving the non-existent debt ceiling back two more years, the “true conservatives” just stopped you from getting more of your money returned to you by tax cuts and they kept more money in the government for a bigger gov.
In effect, they just voted for the exact opposite of what they tell you they want and don’t for a second think they don’t know that.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
“Panic! Government will shut down if Congress doesn’t pass a funding bill!
That’s how most media cover it.
But during previous shut downs, what terrible things happened? None!
Life went on. Government demonstrated how needless most of it is.
I made this video about that:”
https://x.com/JohnStossel/status/1870127238953197713?t=TarIkKcuYbztsjNGOyuW2A&s=19
LikeLiked by 1 person
https://www.newsweek.com/kamala-harris-cancels-california-trip-white-house-2004016
LikeLiked by 1 person
And once again, the coward Johnson will use Dem votes to betray the base and shove thru the pork the uniparty and dems want.
Come Jan 3rd, motion to vacate must happen.
https://x.com/DerrickEvans4WV/status/1870209415204249661?t=7Zj2HMHpOZPpYpK7ucCWig&s=19
“Thomas Massie said Speaker Mike Johnson went back on his word. The House will be voting on ONE HUGE BILL, NOT SEPARATE.
“He spoke with Hakeem Jeffries, realized he could get Democrat votes to pass it as ONE BILL”
MOTION TO VACATE!
SHUT. IT. DOWN.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Debra
But is comparing the current Trump-Musk regime to Mussolini an insult to Benito? Trump’s first campaign and then administration had elements of Huey Long and Mussolini. So far this time around, I see the second time around to be more of a farce or at most resembling a cheap Latin American imitation. A bit too early to judge but that’s where I’m at
I have a conservative European-Canadian friend who views the current decline in Canadian and American political manners to be due to a slow seeping of Latin American culture northward. He supports Trump and the wanna-be Pollievre and has told me I should accept the new crudeness as part of the new American culture (American as in the continent). Perhaps I’ve reached the age of nostalgia, grumpiness and courtesy but I might have to investigate the possibility of retiring to a cheap European country (North Macedonia maybe) in retreat of the farcical nonsense I see both in Canada and the US.
My daughter’s continual refusal to leave Berlin and come home might have me moving across the pond regardless.
hrw
LikeLiked by 1 person
Once again Johnson knuckles under and sides with Dems to defy the base. More Dems have voted for this than Rs, because Johnson gave them what they wanted. He’s useless.
Now they will all stand around and attaboy each other and pretend they did something good. What a joke.
Johnson must go.
LikeLiked by 2 people
But is Musk a taxpayer?? From a quick google search it appears he paid no taxes in 2018 and only at a rate of 3-4% in other years from 2015 to 2021. In 2022, he had a one time tax bill of $11 billion because he exercised some stock options. The next time his stock options become due is 2028 and until then its highly unlikely he will pay taxes. Unless of course the rules change before then…….
Musk also has three citizenships — South African, Canadian and American. I’m not sure he’s loyal to anyone of them. Today he was musing about supporting Reform UK and the Afd in Germany. In all liklihood he’s loyal to himself, his money, and the oligarchs. Given his wealth increased by about a 100$ billion since the November election, I’m sure he sees more countries to win and more wealth to obtain
hrw
LikeLiked by 1 person
In terms of book keeping, new spending (increase in cost) and a tax cut (decrease in income) are the same thing — a negative entry that increases debt or deficit. Thus they are treated the same.
Debt ceilings are an American exception to common national book keeping. However the conservative commentator is parsing words. The last debt ceiling deal is expiring and it’s time for a new one. To expect Democrats not to try to exert influence is foolish and naive.
Although line by line spending with up and down votes and line by line taxes with up and down votes is appealing it removes responsibility. A representative can vote for any spending that they like and will impress their district and then just vote against any tax to pay for it. Fiscally irresponsible. so one bill is the responsible way to go…
hrw
LikeLike
Do as I say do as I do
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/dec/20/uline-mexican-workers-trump
LikeLiked by 1 person
@6:22 For shame! Off with their heads. Or at least suspend their MAGA credentials until further investigation.
LikeLike
HRW,
Google can be useful.
He is the US’s largest amount ever taxpayer. Warren Buffet, another billionaire, pays nowhere near this, his bill being about 24 million.
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/12/20/elon-musk-says-he-will-pay-over-11-billion-in-taxes-this-year.html
“Elon Musk faces a hefty tax bill this year — possibly the biggest in U.S. history.
“For those wondering, I will pay over $11 billion in taxes this year,” the Tesla CEO tweeted on Monday”
That’s close to a CNBC estimate that Musk was set to pay a total of $12 billion in taxes in 2021.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
The debt ceiling is the reason I voted against all sitting congress people. The have ONE JOB. SET A BUDGET.
LikeLiked by 1 person
AJ — I did google and as I noted he did pay billions in 2022. But prior to that and after that his rate of taxation was close to 3-4%.
After the first 575k, the highest bracket is 37%. In 2023, Musk “earned” $94 billion dollars. Thus he should have paid $34 billion in taxes this year and I’m sure he didn’t. Of course, he wasn’t paid in “income” rather options and shares and thus is either not taxed or pays very little. As Buffet pointed out once, the system taxes his secretary more than him.
Just curious — when I googled for tax brackets I found that Americans are taxes at 10% on any income from 0 to 11K. That’s bizarre if true. In Canada, we have a personal basic tax amount deductible of 15k. Anything below that is tax free.
hrw
LikeLike
HRW, we have personal exemptions in the USA as well, and also something called EITC (earned income tax credit), which gives “refunds” to people with low income who didn’t actually even pay taxes.
I’m in favor of low taxes for everyone, even billionaires. The government is involved in way too much.
LikeLiked by 1 person
HRW, we have personal exemptions in the USA as well, and also something called EITC (earned income tax credit), which gives “refunds” to people with low income who didn’t actually even pay taxes.
I’m in favor of low taxes for everyone, even billionaires. The government is involved in way too much.
LikeLike
Cheryl has mentioned one of the biggest tax scams going, the EITC.
This tax is also one of the reasons the marriage rates continue to decline.
Let me explain how it works. Mom and dad aren’t married, by cohabitate instead. They have 3 kids. Every year dad files taxes on his income as a single, unmarried taxpayer.
Meanwhile mom claims the 3 kids on her ususally part time income. This makes her eligible for a refund of all federal tax she pays. Plus, she is eligible for the EITC for each of the children. Using my neighbors as an example, this gets mom a typically 5 to 7k additional refund of taxes she now their dad ever paid. Couple this with other public benefits mom is eligible for as a single, low income parent, and the benefits are over 10k a year. This deincentives marriage, and they will tell you this is why they don’t marry. It’s a scam that costs taxpayers billions.
Musk and others paying millions and billions not paying more isnt the problem. Programs like this are.
AJ
“The EITC cost $72 billion in 2023. The combination of the EITC and the Child Tax Credit were equal to 3.2 percent of all federal outlays in 2023, representing a fraction of the cost of other major programs.”
“2024 Earned Income Tax CreditNumber of children Max income: Single, head of household, or widowed filers Maximum earned income tax credit amount
No children $18,591 $632
1 child $49,084 $4,213
2 children $55,768 $6,960
3 or more children $59,899 $7,830″
LikeLiked by 1 person
We also have a similar credit in addition to the tax free bracket under 15k. Its called the Workers Income Credit. It was modelled after your credit — I believe a conservative government put it in; didn’t Reagan create the EITC? Essentially you pay no taxes for income under 15K and then you get a WIC for a certain amount over (can’t remember exactly although my ex-wife has been eligible a few times, she doesn’t get a cheque become she has to pay taxes on my support payments)
AJ
Why can’t you say billionaires and your example are both problems. Both should pay taxes according to the bracket. Just because people play the system doesn’t exempt Musk, Buffet and the others.
Simple solution to your scenario. Simply declare cohabitation to be the equivalent to marriage for tax purposes. Legally common-law and marriage is the same here.
hrw
LikeLiked by 1 person
You may not have to pay tax when you make under 15k but you still have to pay money to the IRS. After covid we filed taxes separately. Husband made under 15k and still had to pay about $1200 into ss. Neither of us is retired. Our tax code is bizarre.
LikeLike
I’m not in favor of lower taxes for billionaires. I’m not convinced the tax code should permit billionaires at all. They are too powerful. Some are more powerful than governments. Just a thought.
LikeLike
Debra,
Im not sure how you can prevent billionaires. Some people are just better at making money, usually thru useful, innovative, and beneficial products and services. Plus they tend to employ thousands of other Americans.
While I don’t necessarily support lowering their tax bill, I have no qualms with people making what they’re able.
I do think the FEC and federal law need to tighten up on the influence they buy. That’s across the board as well.
I’ve been greatly amused at the left hand wringing over Musk’s newfound influence operations. They have had Soros bankrolled their campaigns, bankrolled the invasion of America and Europe, installed DAs across the country to release criminals and lower sentencing for serious crimes. Yet now Musk is the worst thing ever?
Please. Spare me the faux outrage. When Musk starts doing things that harm America, as Soros does, then maybe you’ll have a point. Until then, sit down and shut up. No one buys this trash anymore.
AJ
LikeLiked by 1 person
Term limits. NOW!
Local, state, and federal.
We have many in both parties that are unfit for office. Lookin’ at you too Mitch and Nancy.
https://x.com/libsoftiktok/status/1870617313130459395?t=mUF6vgM3F4B71qEzJOuyTA&s=19
“Missing” Congresswoman Kay Granger (R-TX) who hasn’t been seen for 6 months, was found living in a dementia care facility.
She’s been in office since 1997.
She’s 81 years old.”
—-
https://wcbm.com/national-headline/missing-gop-congresswoman-not-seen-for-six-months-finally-found-living-at-dementia-care-home/
LikeLiked by 1 person
There’s a meme floating around that I’ve seen a few times – anytime someone reaches a billion dollars they should get a message – “Congratulations you won capitalism, game over. We will name a dog park after you”. And that’s it they keep the $999,999,999. Seems fair to me.
A university flat-mate came to visit me. He just sold half his company for $100 million. We spent $1000 that night on good whiskey/wine and some food. Some people told me he’s throwing away his money but at a $1000/day – he will spend $365 000 in a year; 10 years is $3.65 million, 100 years is $36.5 million and 300 years is about $110 million. Now of course he will spend money on a condo, home, son’s education, wife, vacations etc. but my point is simple — you don’t need more than 100 million and certainly not a billion dollars.
The job creation excuse is bogus — unemployment rates are not lower than the 1960s when progressive taxation policies kept the rich in check and inequality lower than today.
There’s no need to prevent billionaires just tax them properly. As Buffet points out, any form of income should be taxed at the same rate. Buffet, Soros, Musk etc should be paying 37% on stock options not 11%. Tax billionaires at the right level and poof there goes the deficit — you don’t have to cut paediatric cancer research just tax the billionaires. (The US has a structural deficit — it needs to return to Clinton level taxation. Pre-Reagan tax levels would leave the US gov’t rich)
Don’t make this about partisan politics. Trust me the left does not like Soros or any billionaire (we also don’t like most of the Democratic party). I do wonder how much power the FEC has given Citizens United and a very billionaire friendly court. Take a Supreme Court on a nice holiday and poof you can buy politicians.
hrw
LikeLiked by 1 person
Debra – The Social Security deduction is 6.2%, Canada Pension Plan is 5.95%. This is only on income from 3,500 to 68K. Below or above it doesn’t apply. US SS is applied from 0 – 160K. I hope you get better benefits than us.
AJ — On one hand, that’s ridiculous. I must admit I also found it amusing — the Republcans calling Biden out for dementia while one of their own was in a treatment centre for dementia. I checked into it though she’s retired. A new republican will be in the House in 2025
The memes dealing with Musk’s influence on Trump must be having an effect. His aides have been phoning the media pushing the point that Trump not Musk is in charge and last week’s events were Trump’s ideas. The memes were amusing — the AI involved in photos is extremely realistic.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cmon HRW,
Stop falling for flat out lies. Republicans in the House passed the child cancer research legislation months ago. And that bill has sat on Democrat Chuck Shumer’s desk since then
Put the blame for any delay where it belongs, on Democrats. And stop spreading lies on the Dems behalf.
https://x.com/justin_ayres/status/1870615622138077485?t=VQCs8v8WK7ixWKgrVOAfuA&s=19
“Mind blowing: the children’s cancer research bill was voted on as a stand alone bill and was passed overwhelmingly by the house but Chuck Schumer has held it up in the senate since MARCH. But you know that when you posted this lie.”
—-
https://x.com/RightGlockMom/status/1870182462627692619?t=_uzwuKxul_ZC5Hb2QxOGaQ&s=19
LikeLike
I think HRW is right about the tax code, but I’m not prepared to crusade against billionaires; I just have doubts that this is an enduring phenomenon.
DOGE is probably not a bad idea, but Musk should stay on the right side of Trump’s ego, else we may have to endure a litany of unfortunate nicknames all before the innaguration. Vivek seems to be staying slightly more low key— and that is not something I thought could ever be said about him, but of course, he doesn’t own Twitter/X. Battling Billionaires. Sounds like a good reality show. Unfortunately, it’s just politics in the good ol’ USA. Lord help us .
LikeLiked by 1 person
Here’s a very interesting article from an unlikely source — to me anyway. It’s an interview if Steve Bannon. I’m not familiar with this publication, but they are talking about populism, increasing taxes on the wealthy, the recent gunning down of the CEO. I’m on break and haven’t finished it all, but it’s good so far.
https://www.semafor.com/article/12/20/2024/we-have-to-increase-taxes-on-the-wealthy-steve-bannon
LikeLike
AJ —
Actually I didn’t know that; it’s been a persistent meme and nobody has called it out. Could there be a funding issue? That is, the bill has been approved but had to wait for a budget bill for the money? Life is always more complicated than a meme or an X
And in an attempt to make retirement more relaxing, I have limited myself to one standard media outlet, the Guardian. And they keep the US news to a minimum.
Speaking of the Guardian. I found the following article/column fascinating due to its attempt at intellectual origins but I’m not sure it’s entirely true or plausible. However, there’s been a persistent idea that Project 2025 is coming and Trump’s cabinet does little to disarm that idea.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/dec/21/curtis-yarvin-trump?fbclid=IwY2xjawHVcQBleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHbwA_NL3BBzGsiHtC3Zw5fyOzlOF1UEHr8PibK0R7JnNW-TMHlkzNBWq3w_aem_9faDkx8A9KhUUkWSvXJO0g
hrw
LikeLiked by 1 person
Debra — the nicknames and the memes are never ending.
But great idea for a reality show – perhaps they have to compete by completing tasks their employees normally do for them. Each time a billionaire fails or is the last to complete a task, a percentage is added to their tax bracket.
hrw
LikeLiked by 2 people
The fact that the mainstream media has not called out the cancer research lie is just a further indictment of their partisanship and biased reporting.
Once again, X reports what they ignore. The truth is known to X users, while those who prefer the MSM are uninformed and clueless, which is what Dems and the MSM prefer.
LikeLiked by 1 person
HRW, I don’t care much for the Guardian, but I was reading that article just this morning before church. Husband says Yarvin is the mentor of Michael Anton who Trump has just named to some position or other. Maybe I’m wrong, but he sounds like a dangerous nutcase to me. Both of them actually. The Endarkenment indeed. I was going to read more about it before I brought up the subject, but since you put it out there…. Does anyone know anything more about these guys?
LikeLike
Debra,
I’d never heard of it. But I did find and am reading this, which is quite interesting.
https://www.city-journal.org/article/the-endarkenment#:~:text=The%20Endarkenment%20is%20the%20pathological,paths%20to%20a%20happier%20future.
AJ
LikeLiked by 1 person
The “sex with a minor” is probably silly (she was 17 and he didn’t know how old she was), but it does look like the case against Matt Gaetz looks pretty strong.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/matt-gaetz-ethics-report-released/?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us
LikeLike
This is disgusting. This is who Biden’s handlers chose to commute the sentence of?
https://x.com/julie_kelly2/status/1871206595377467398?t=umAoFw__RZ6CkhZYJ0jcbQ&s=19
“A disgusting animal kidnapped, raped, and stabbed to death 2 little girls riding their bikes on Mother’s Day. The father of one was wrongly accused so the sick twisted POS went on to murder another girl and tried to kill more
Joe Biden just saved his life”
——
These people have been convicted of some of the most heinous crimes imaginable.
https://x.com/bennyjohnson/status/1871201983912415607?t=JkytWJy7v3i7hulpkhJqag&s=19
“Joe Biden has commuted the sentences of 37 out of the 40 prisoners on federal death row.”
LikeLiked by 2 people
Siri, why do people hate the media?
https://x.com/DonaldJTrumpJr/status/1871210920090771538?t=9wkrvqfE7OTVuQXnZbDamw&s=19
“She was lit on fire by an illegal immigrant you sick bastards. She didn’t magically combust. Why on earth would you leave that out and imply this was anything other than a heinous act???”
—–
“Woman dies after she catches fire in Brooklyn subway car; NYPD suspects homicide”
https://x.com/NYDailyNews/status/1870893077721735196?t=4D6ts6lNmKfb6oY9TtcveQ&s=19
LikeLiked by 1 person
Meanwhile….
https://x.com/RitchieTorres/status/1870967985344799102?t=qCPDQAtwr1xnbDtR4MD-hw&s=19
“Two hours ago, Kathy Hochul took a victory lap for making subways “safer.” She congratulates herself on the same day two subway riders were stabbed in Queens (one in the face and one in the chest) and another was barbarically burned alive.
Has there ever been a more tone-deaf Governor in the history of New York?”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lets put it all out there. The Didy parties, the still hidden Epstein client list, the Congressional payouts, all of it. Then you can release the Gaetz hit piece too and we’ll see what matters more to voters.
https://x.com/DefiyantlyFree/status/1871209198760915214?t=h3k3tT3628wnwS-NohzTBA&s=19
“Yea still don’t care about the Matt Gaetz ethics report.
I do want to see all of the ethics reports for all of the members of Congress, who had to dip into a taxpayer funded slush fund that paid for sexual harassment claims.”
LikeLiked by 2 people
“Giving funds to someone you are dating – that they didn’t ask for – and that isn’t “charged” for sex is now prostitution?!?
There is a reason they did this to me in a Christmas Eve-Eve report and not in a courtroom of any kind where I could present evidence and challenge witnesses.
This is testimony from one of the alleged “prostitutes” that you won’t see in the report!”
https://x.com/mattgaetz/status/1871207714665197718?t=4I6yZn0lO3ryh2SeHf_GiQ&s=19
—-
“House Report On Matt Gaetz Relies On Witnesses Even The Corrupt DOJ Found Completely Lacked Any Credibility Whatsoever”
https://x.com/MZHemingway/status/1871211336182485428?t=9_DP8Nkj9UWwZZO4IAUFXQ&s=19
LikeLiked by 1 person
Debra
The intellectual background of our current autocrats is rather lightweight. Many like Yarvin (Milo Y, Joe Rogan etc) are actually populizers of ideas that have been floating around in the post Reagan world especially as the world of Reagan is slowing dying. However, they still espouse the same economic ideas (Austrian school) but align them to the need for an autocrat (much like Pinochet’s Chile — like Rome, the empire is coming home for the west).
AJ’s link is quite good even if its political point of view is opposite of mine. (post more of these and less X, please AJ) I like the Enlightenment ideal – not because I think it’s great but it’s the best we have (similar to Churchill and democracy). The so-called post Enlightenment thinkers are fairly nihilistic and engage in circular reasoning. And too walk back or away from the Enlightenment is to embrace fascism (the article errs in asserting fascism is part of the Enlightenment — its origin lies in Catholic social theorists trying modernise medieval social order in order to offer an alternative to the French Revolution). So for me it’s the Enlightenment or nihilism or autocratic fascism. I’ll take democratic socialism that’s derived from the Enlightenment over the other two.
hrw
LikeLiked by 1 person
AJ
Your criticism of the MSM mirrors the criticism of the MSM by the left. They assert the lack of critical coverage of Trump by the media helped Trump hide his agenda and senility and be elected president. With criticism from the left and right, I’m surprised any one is still reading and watching the MSM. But in reality, it’s where we can get our basic info.
Even X which isn’t a news source but rather a place to post random announcements,, ideas etc uses links to MSM to give out background information.
Gaetz was fully exonerated?? But by all means keep pushing to publish Epstein’s black book — we already know its a bipartisan book. And more ethics reports on elected members is always a good idea — we can start by looking at their attendance and place of residence; hopefully not a secure setting for dementia patients.
Why 37 out of 40? Why not all? I’m against the death penalty so I’m okay with commuting their sentence to life but wonder why three were not on the list?
hrw
LikeLike
Gaetz needs to take his lumps and walk away. Just admit to mistakes and walk away. Don’t attack the girls, their behaviour or their credibility. He was over 30 and the girls were teens or in their early twenties. There’s an imbalance of experience, money, power, etc. The behaviour was inappropriate and maybe illegal. Just go home, collect your pension, etc
hrw
LikeLiked by 1 person
HRW,
I agree the Epstein list is bipartisan. There are degenerate vermin in both parties. Release it all, expose them, regardless of party.
Also, doing so would remove the FBI and Deep State’s ability to use it as a blackmail tool, which is clearly happening now, against both sides.
Releas it all.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Go home and collect his pension?
Haha. That ain’t happening. While he resigned from the last Congress, he was overwhelming reelected by voters in his district and will be back when the new Congress convenes.
Then, blow it up Matt. All of it
LikeLike
One of my favorite lines from a Batman movie is Michael Cain as Alfred saying to Christian Bale as Batman, ” well Master Wayne, some men just wanna watch the world burn.”
I don’t want to watch the world burn, just our corrupt (on both sides) Congress. Raze it to the ground. It no longer serves the people, just themselves and the donor class.
This is why I want Matt Gaetz, Kash Patel, Elon, Vivek, and plenty more like them.
LikeLike
I checked and I believe Gaetz isn’t coming back. He resigned and the seat is now vacant. In any case, why would any decent person want to be represented by such sleaze. He’s also been hired by the One America News Network.
I’m quite sure a cabinet of billionaires and sleaze like Gaetz is the wrong group to clean up Washington. Along with that, i’m sure Epstein’s book will remain wherever it as long as Trump is president.
I checked — the three who will remain on death row is the Boston Marathon bomber, Dylan Roof, and the Jewish synagogue shooter. Speaking.
Trump is either trying to start a fight or is trolling the world. In the last week, he’s called Canada the 51st state, demanded the Panama Canal back and still wants to buy Greenland. I believe he’s trolling but why? Like the boy who cried wolf, eventually the world will cease to take him seriously (which is where Im at)
hrw
LikeLike
I believe this is finally the end of Gaetz’s political future. I wouldn’t vouch against a future in ultra-conservative newscasting, however.
LikeLike
Apparently still at the top of Gaetz’s X account:
~ “I was charged with nothing: FULLY EXONERATED,” he wrote. “It’s embarrassing, though not criminal, that I probably partied, womanized, drank and smoked more than I should have earlier in life. I live a different life now.” ~
“earlier in life”? This was like just a few years ago. He was already middle-aged. Youthful exploits? “Embarrassing?” Paying girls for sex, bragging about it to colleagues, using drugs? While pushing 40 years old?
I can’t believe anyone would take him seriously, he’s brushed it all off like it was just common teen-age exploits, he was too young to know better.
‘I probably’ … (shouldn’t have done all that)? That’s it?
As for living “a different life now,” where’s the evidence of that? He sounds like he’s still in complete denial that this was anything *that* serious, he’s still defending the indefensible in himself. He needs to back away, step out of the limelight and politics, take care of his own life and moral character, before asking the American people to give him any kind of trust again at all.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think ALL ethics committee investigations in both the House and Senate should be a matter of public record, as should the payoffs from the slush funds. People deserve to know what their elected officials are up to so they can make informed choices. Knowing their deeds will be seen and judged might cause some to clean up their act or choose another occupation.
LikeLiked by 3 people
That’s just it Debra, they hide their dirty deeds, yet selectively release what will damage political enemies. It’s just one more reason to Congress as it currently exists.
The Biden DoJ refused to charge anything, because there’s nothing illegal. Yet the McCarthy installed stooges on the unethical ethics committee release this hit piece and then scurry home on recess like the cockroaches they are.
This is also yet another demonstration of why McCarthy was unfit for Speaker.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Sure, Gaetz should take his lumps and walk away while far worse has, and continues to happen, but the media and Gaetz haters just ignore that.
https://x.com/WallStreetApes/status/1871239074075558079?t=_Vz3yGNZqRFRTJdDXUfDGg&s=19
“So let me get this straight, Matt Gaetz gets selected for Attorney General
– Vows to target Congress insider trading
– Calls Ukraine a money laundering operation
Magically has underage sexual assault ALLEGATIONS, not charges, publicly released
BUT the Congress reps who used $17 million in taxpayer money to settle sexual assault charges are allowed to keep it a secret along with the Jeffrey Epstein client list?
Yeah right. US Congress is organized crime”
LikeLiked by 2 people
Walk away?
Oh no. Things are just getting started.
https://x.com/mattgaetz/status/1870965865644253241?t=recGuM3RdEKiebjh9FQNdw&s=19
—-
Correct!
https://x.com/EliCrane_CEO/status/1871376983508373854?t=uMwOH6LqyiT2pc8k0krfKw&s=19
“Regarding this leaked ethics report on Matt Gaetz. You’ve got to be a special kind of stupid to think the FBI and AG Garland would have let one of their fiercest critics off the hook had they had any real evidence against him.”
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hrw does not take Trump seriously. No one would expect you to take him seriously, Hrw. You are in another nation so it seriously does not matter what you think of him. I am still amazed that you spend so much time focused on the politics of the nation south of your border unless you think Canada might become the 51st state. I, personally, don’t think that will ever happen.
LikeLiked by 1 person
“Matt Gaetz and his father were blackmailed for $25 million. The man who did so was charged with wire fraud. Matt’s father wore a wire and cooperated with the FBI.
That doesn’t strike me as a man guilty of a crime. It looks much more like Gaetz was a problem for DC and they wanted him gone.
Which is exactly why congress released the ethics committee report today. They want to make sure Matt doesn’t take his congressional seat back a month from now. A seat he easily won back with 2/3rds of the vote.
Which is exactly why he must.
Return to congress and punish the criminals who wanted you gone, Matt. That’s the only proper ending to this story.”
https://x.com/LibertyLockPod/status/1871327893906657700?t=oXfLZ0woEwwytellUVJjjg&s=19
Truth.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Merry Christmas all — take a break (and a deep breath). We’ll need both.
Meanwhile, a good piece bringing us back to our roots at the Aquila Report today:
~ Ezekiel 14:2-3 Then the word of the LORD came to me: “Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces. Should I let them inquire of me at all?
Through his prophet, the Lord is setting before his people and their leaders an important principle concerning prayer.
The situation in Judah and Jerusalem was desperate – so desperate in fact that ‘some of the elders’ were prepared to eat humble pie and approach Ezekiel for help (1). Up to this point they had been very unresponsive to his message, as they also had been to the messages of his predecessors. Now they were desperate because of the dire situation they were in as a nation. But there was more required than just eating humble pie.
The problem was, as it had always been, that they had ‘set up idols in their hearts’. As a nation, we are not a theocracy as they were, but as Christians, the body of Christ, we are a theocracy, and we need to live in our democracy as a ‘light that is set on a hill’. As a nation, we are in a desperate situation spiritually, a situation that seems to be getting worse rather than better.
This ought to be a real matter of prayer for all professing Christians. But as we plead before our heavenly Father for his intervention on behalf of our nation, as we plead for a mighty work of the Holy Spirit throughout our land bringing people to repentance and faith, it is essential that we take Ezekiel’s words seriously. More than that, his words are important concerning every aspect of our prayer life, private as well as corporate.
Where do we stand as individual Christians? Have we ‘set up idols in our hearts’? Such an ‘idol’ is anything that is more important to us in our thinking than God himself. The Apostle Paul was able to declare publicly: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20) and “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21).
It is a searching question that we all need to ask, especially because of our relative wealth and prosperity, our relative safety and blessing, the access we have to every latest piece of technology and the time and opportunity we have to ‘play’ with it, and the degree to which the lifestyle most of us lead is enriched by entertainment and recreation. William Cowper’s old hymn, ‘O for a closer walk with God’, contains a relevant prayer: “The dearest idol I have known, whate’er that idol be, help me to tear it from thy throne and worship only thee.”
– Bruce Christian
LikeLiked by 2 people
“Why the Media is hated:
Paula Jones: Not Credible
Kathleen Willey: Not Credible
Eileen Wellstone: Not Credible
Sandra Allen James: Not Credible
Juanita Broadderick: Not Credible
Matt Gaetz’s accuser who is in prison for lying about another accusation: Totally Credible”
https://x.com/C_3C_3/status/1871563770977472801?t=TO4lQNMdp7MbZ7qk0Kt1pQ&s=19
LikeLiked by 1 person
Allegations and sleaze in Congress or elsewhere shouldn’t shield or distract from Gaetz. And these allegations didn’t surface once he was nominated for Attorney General. The sleaze followed him to Washington the day he was elected. Republicans knew this and avoided him.
Was the family blackmailed? Perhaps but again that’s not a shield from his very real behaviour. As for his vote count; the way American districts are drawn – very few are not predictable. The republicans could run a blue and yellow striped dog and still win that district.
hrw
LikeLike
It’s not unusual for foreigners especially Canadians to closely follow American politics. The US is the elephant in the room in world politics. My respect for my sanity has me limiting my exposure to American politics to this site, the Guardian and whatever my friends send/post or ask me. I can’t take Trump seriously simply because the intellect and the thought process is not present when he speaks or tweets. My friends tell me I’m wrong to take this approach since his words and actions have consequences. My sanity depends on me not viewing him as a rational actor nor as representative of humanity.
For example; today Eric Trump posted a pic of his father buying Canada, Panama and Greenland on Amazon (obviously AI generated). People generally don’t mature past their high school selves but this is middle school level trolling – who does this?
Anyway, Im not a fan of John Bolton nor the Reagan/Bush foreign policy he embodies but I found the following interesting. And he’s right, Trump is random and seems to like “big guy” foreign actors.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/dec/24/donald-trump-john-bolton-crisis-likely
hrw
LikeLiked by 1 person
Due process is dead. And Gaetz hating Rs just stare at their feet. The rule of law means nothing to the smear merchants.
https://x.com/KurtSchlichter/status/1871253519862509931?t=qeUrSmPfplJL68lbDIZ3Kg&s=19
“This is so disgusting. If you think he’s guilty of something, charge him. Don’t smear him without the ability to clear his name in a fair proceeding where he can present evidence. I’m so sick of this crap.”
—–
https://x.com/DC_Draino/status/1871298369186050555?t=mqoXtNS0D4QVkPglNsHV-Q&s=19
“Gaetz never had the chance to confront his accusers
He couldn’t provide his own exculpatory evidence
Just a 1 way smear job with no criminal charges
Put up or shut up”
LikeLiked by 1 person
dj is right — take a deep breath and a break. Enjoy time with families. I start cooking tonight and will finish early in the morning. I’ll then bring it to my mom and brother who live 90 mins away. My daughter is in Poland with her maternal mother and grandmother and will be back to Berlin leading her freelance artist bohemian existence. I’ll have plenty of leftovers and will have her mom over on Boxing Day (the 26th).
Enjoy your holidays and ignore the trolling, the anger and the selfish behaviour. Here’s one of only two Christmas carols I will play at home (the other is Fairy Tale of New York). Merry Christmas – hrw
LikeLiked by 2 people
Janice – If we were as small, population-wise, as Canada, and Canada was the huge world power, we would be interested in what was going on there.
Even if not, curiosity and interest in a neighboring country is not a bad thing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
~ Trolling. Middle school. Anger (lots of anger) ~
HRW has some very valid points there … (and Merry Christmas back at you, HRW, and everyone else) (like him or not, Bolton these days has some very valid comments typically, though I haven’t read the ones posted above yet and I realize he’s despised by many on the right – and left, of course)
We’ll see what the next year holds, we’ll be taking lots of deep breaths — and I will trust it is still all in God’s hands, no matter how things “look,” or sound, realizing we can’t see God’s overall, sovereign plan in any of this (as they couldn’t in the OT either).
We are called to be faithful, called to pray, called to love our neighbor (and our enemies).
I’m having white rice for Christmas dinner tomorrow. Long story. 🙂 lol
Candlelight service and God’s peace tonight.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Bolton from link @2:40
~ … “He doesn’t know much about foreign policy. He’s not a big reader. He reads newspapers from time to time but briefing papers are almost never read because he doesn’t think they’re important. He doesn’t think these facts are important. He thinks he looks the other guy across the table in the eye and they make a deal and that’s what’s important.”
Trump believes he has a friendship with Putin, Bolton added. “I don’t know what Putin thinks his relationship is with Trump but he believes he knows how to play Trump, that Trump’s an easy mark. Trump doesn’t see that at all.
“If you put everything on the basis of personal relations and you don’t understand how the person you’re talking about on the other side views you, that’s a real lack of situational awareness that can only cause trouble.” ~
Deep breaths.
LikeLike
I have always had more care about local politics because I can have more of a voice of influence by actions I can take. State and local politics deserve the lion’s share of my interest and participation.
On the national level, I can vote, and I can contact my Senators and Representatives about concerns. I have practical reasons to engage with people about my locale’s government.
As for other nations, I am interested in what affects the other nations’ people, but I recognize I have no voice in their matters. If I were a globalist, I might think otherwise?
A lot of dissing other nations’ leaders who were legitimately chosen by the majority of the nation’s people feels like a put down of the people. It is not a very kind thing to do. I know, I am not supposed to take it personally. Just saying, I would not do it to Canadians, and I believe in the Golden Rule. But I also believe in freedom of speech. I suppose that indicates a conflict of interest?
I’d really appreciate hearing more about Canadian politics from a local and what a person is doing in their locale to make things better for people where they live. That would seem more productive and good for the world (and perhaps share info that could be helpful to others in other nations about best practices). But maybe time is too short to do something like that because one is obsessed with another nation.
Praying for peace on earth and goodwill toward men (and women).
LikeLike
Janice – As HRW and I both pointed out, the U.S. and its politics are of interest to others in the world, particularly our neighbors. And considering that this blog focuses much on the topic of politics, it makes sense that that is what he would be commenting on.
Also, remember that although Trump won the election, nearly half of voters did not vote for him, so they would not be offended by his comments (which I see from many Americans as well).
LikeLiked by 1 person
It occurs to me that there have been comments here (by AJ, I think) that have expressed negative views of Canada’s Trudeau.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve heard that much of the world is now fascinated by what is going on in the US currently with the Trump phenomenon; we’ve been something of the world’s leader (in a good way mostly) in recent history — and so what happens here actually does impact many other countries and is of legitimate interest. The world (I think) is watching.
And yes, we remain a 50-50 country.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Bolton?
Why would anyone care what that traitorous fraud has to say?
🙄
LikeLiked by 1 person
@6:57: Maybe about half the country (who would respectfully disagree with the “traitorous fraud” disparagement of a fellow human being)? 🙂
Sometimes when I post what is simply another opinion that differs from the majority here (not that I do that often anymore) I say to myself (“Wait for it …”). Usually I’m not let down.
Merry Christmas.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Merry Christmas, Dj!
LikeLike
Such a dichotomy of world views. God has the absolute truth. May His pure truth be revealed more and more to us all here so we can be set free from holding so tightly to the flawed political news reports of biased humans.
LikeLike
Bolton is pretty much the picture of a warmonger. He’s vocal and proud of the coups he’s engineered. I believe he’s an evil man, and I take whatever he has to say in that light.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think it’s wise to keep up generally with what’s going on in other countries but it’s time consuming . If you don’t, our government is liable to pull a fast one with propaganda convincing us that we MUST go to war in Syria, Iran, Taiwan, China or any number of other countries where we have no real provocation to invade.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Right now I’m a little concerned about Panama. I’m hoping Trump is just trolling. I did see a reference to “Governor Trudeau” and shook my head and smiled, but it wouldn’t be humorous if we invaded Panama….or Greenland. :–/
LikeLike
Many people are wondering how it’s possible to cut the budget without cutting essential services. A few days ago Rand Paul came out with his annual Festivus Report which details over 1Trillion dollars in waste that could be cut. Paul has apparently been working closely with Musk and Ramaswamy so they might be ready to go on day 1. Here’s the first 10 (I added the numbers)
1-Ghost Towns on the Government’s Dime: The federal government spent $10 billion on maintaining, leasing, and furnishing almost entirely empty buildings
2-A Pandemic Plunder: A Florida man stole $8 million in COVID-19 Relief funds to buy an island and more
3-Your Tax Dollars at Play: The Department of the Interior (DOI) spent $12 Million on a Las Vegas Pickleball Complex
4-Taxpayers Fund a Disinformation Index: The Department of State (DOS) wasted $330,000 to fund censorship of non-liberal and conservative media
5-Snack Attack: The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded a $2 million grant to study kids looking at Facebook ads about food
6-Taxpayers Dollars Down the Drain in Nevis: The Department of State (DOS) spent $108,272 on a non-functioning hotel
7-Direct File Fail: Congress spent $15 million to turn the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) into an unconstitutional force to prepare, file, and audit your hard-earned money
8-Oh Rats! HHS Spends Nearly Half a Million on a Depressing Study of Lonely, Starved Rats: The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) spent $419,470 to determine if lonely rats seek cocaine more than happy rats
9-Hold on to Your Steering Wheels: The Department of Energy (DOE) spent $15.5 billion to push Americans toward electric vehicles they don’t want
10-The Influencer Effect Hits Foreign Policy: The Department of State (DOS) squandered $4,840,082 on influencers
Click to access FESTIVUS-REPORT-2024.pdf
LikeLiked by 2 people
There is another name for the item #10 below; it’s called propaganda. Paid for by tax payers. I wonder what they were trying to “influence” us to do, think, or say.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Actually, #9 is propaganda too. I wonder how much money is spent on propaganda that we don’t know about.
LikeLiked by 1 person