The MAGA (there is no GOP now) senators are no doubt in intense discussions—-regarding their life -time money flow and the safety of their families if they just cast a yes vote. They will have blood on their hands.
Again, I am left sputtering in incoherent profanity. I did have a disturbing thought, however:
One of the first things I was taught as a cop was to look beyond what draws your attention. I want to know what else has gone on while we are (and rightly so) focused on this foundational breech of security...
I still love the fact that stallions that have been gelded are often called “proud boys”, especially when they continue to prance around like they’re still intact. 😂
Thanks Tom, I still maintain giving Elmo Muck (who as you pointed out was neither elected NOR affirmed by Congress) access to the Treasury payment system and top secret data - despite have zero security clearance - is an act of Treason by Dilbert Dimbulb and Elmo Muck. I know with the unpresident, he's safe (thanks to the six injustices of the not so supreme court) from impeachment, but dammit all, Muck has no such protection. ACLU or any group of honest, real attorneys, can bring treason charges against him. Not even the six injustices can protect his sorry ass, he has abused, by his treasonous assault on America (through taking illegal control of taxpayers money), and his American naturalization privileges can be revoked. I believe treason is still considered a capital offense punishable by death. [This is one of the exceedingly few cases where I could justify the death penalty.]
Musk is a true welfare queen. It took him 17 years to make Tesla profitable, and he wouldn't have survived 2009 without Obama's stimulus package during the Great Recession. Today X is valued at 80% less than when he bought it in 2022. His lane is engineering, not government or economics. Perhaps his recent data theft will result in Trump's cabinet's and GOP reps' portfolios taking dives on the market, enough so that they will at least try to end this hostile takeover by the fascist loving tech heads who hate government except when they're receiving benefits and taxpayer money.
Senator Warren raised Muck's possible need for financial support in her comments yesterday and I made this response to a report in The Contrarian:
• "Musk now has the power to extract that information for his own use, to boost his finances or strengthen his political power.”" Senator Warren has hit upon the most likely reason for this activity and the rush with which it's being done. Discussion of Musk is always preceded by "the richest man in the world" and that is apparently an important part of his self-image as Trump's alleged net worth is of his. What we don't hear as much about is the ongoing economic crisis in China where Musk has billions of dollars invested as well as a critical mass of the market for many of his toys including Tesla automobiles. Since none of the unholy trio of Xi, Musk, or Trump can afford to have his lack of liquidity become public knowledge as would be required if they went to a bank for loans, what better way to raid the largest economy in the world than by taking over the computers that keep all of the relevant records? It's time this became a featured part of the discussion and let the three principal players explain and demonstrate that it isn't true. We still haven't seen Trump's income tax filings that are normally part of the public record for Presidents, and a deep look at Musk's finances might reveal some unpaid taxes that would help fulfill his alleged task of reducing the American debt. Xi's reaction is unpredictable, but if there is opposition to his control of the PRC or the CCP, it could only be strengthened by exposing his weakness. (Posted as a comment on The Contrarian, Feb. 4, 2025)
Red line? What red line? Oh…you mean the one only Democrats won’t cross. So glad we’re safely on the right side of the law. Let’s all put on our “ghost shirts” and feel safe under the “rule of law”.
Since Sen. Young made his announcement, his FB feed has been blowing up with Hoosiers expressing their 'disapproval' of his actions. He's shown occasional sparks of independent thought in the past and might surprise when the mistake hits the floor of the Senate. We can hope.
On a different but related topic, the issue with Senate office phones yesterday was a volume of calls that completely overwhelmed the phone system. On the order of 1200-1300/minute compared to 30-50/minute normally. Phones at all 4 MO Senate offices were busy this morning but the Schmitt St. Louis office answered this afternoon and Hawley's DC office was taking voicemail. No word on whether either will change their votes, but this level of activity, if we can keep it up, will have an impact.
Chris Cilliza had an interesting point today - if the Orange Rind did succeed n getting Canada to agree to become the 51st state, it would add 47 electoral votes, at least 2/3 of them Democratic. And there is no guarantee Canada would join as ONE state - each province would qualify as a separate state, adding at least two dozen new senators, again 2/3 likely as Democrats, and even more electoral votes - welcome permanent Democratic Party advantage.....
“[T]he serious commitments I’ve received from the administration” is evidence of an astonishing degree of credulity. That the speaker is a US Senator who must be aware that promises from Trump 2.0 are seldom fulfilled is both sad and frightening.
This is a great format for you, informative and entertaining. Oh, and really infuriating. Nice work!
The MAGA (there is no GOP now) senators are no doubt in intense discussions—-regarding their life -time money flow and the safety of their families if they just cast a yes vote. They will have blood on their hands.
Again, I am left sputtering in incoherent profanity. I did have a disturbing thought, however:
One of the first things I was taught as a cop was to look beyond what draws your attention. I want to know what else has gone on while we are (and rightly so) focused on this foundational breech of security...
I still love the fact that stallions that have been gelded are often called “proud boys”, especially when they continue to prance around like they’re still intact. 😂
I had noted that myself; thanks for posting it!
Thanks Tom, I still maintain giving Elmo Muck (who as you pointed out was neither elected NOR affirmed by Congress) access to the Treasury payment system and top secret data - despite have zero security clearance - is an act of Treason by Dilbert Dimbulb and Elmo Muck. I know with the unpresident, he's safe (thanks to the six injustices of the not so supreme court) from impeachment, but dammit all, Muck has no such protection. ACLU or any group of honest, real attorneys, can bring treason charges against him. Not even the six injustices can protect his sorry ass, he has abused, by his treasonous assault on America (through taking illegal control of taxpayers money), and his American naturalization privileges can be revoked. I believe treason is still considered a capital offense punishable by death. [This is one of the exceedingly few cases where I could justify the death penalty.]
For those who haven't seen it, a link from fellow Subtack author Dave Conant MO to yesterday's press conference outside USAID. Worth your time.
https://substack.com/@daveconant/note/c-90810415
Thanks Jon.
Thank you so much for posting this link. I wanted to hear it, but my searches only turned up snippets.
Musk is a true welfare queen. It took him 17 years to make Tesla profitable, and he wouldn't have survived 2009 without Obama's stimulus package during the Great Recession. Today X is valued at 80% less than when he bought it in 2022. His lane is engineering, not government or economics. Perhaps his recent data theft will result in Trump's cabinet's and GOP reps' portfolios taking dives on the market, enough so that they will at least try to end this hostile takeover by the fascist loving tech heads who hate government except when they're receiving benefits and taxpayer money.
Senator Warren raised Muck's possible need for financial support in her comments yesterday and I made this response to a report in The Contrarian:
• "Musk now has the power to extract that information for his own use, to boost his finances or strengthen his political power.”" Senator Warren has hit upon the most likely reason for this activity and the rush with which it's being done. Discussion of Musk is always preceded by "the richest man in the world" and that is apparently an important part of his self-image as Trump's alleged net worth is of his. What we don't hear as much about is the ongoing economic crisis in China where Musk has billions of dollars invested as well as a critical mass of the market for many of his toys including Tesla automobiles. Since none of the unholy trio of Xi, Musk, or Trump can afford to have his lack of liquidity become public knowledge as would be required if they went to a bank for loans, what better way to raid the largest economy in the world than by taking over the computers that keep all of the relevant records? It's time this became a featured part of the discussion and let the three principal players explain and demonstrate that it isn't true. We still haven't seen Trump's income tax filings that are normally part of the public record for Presidents, and a deep look at Musk's finances might reveal some unpaid taxes that would help fulfill his alleged task of reducing the American debt. Xi's reaction is unpredictable, but if there is opposition to his control of the PRC or the CCP, it could only be strengthened by exposing his weakness. (Posted as a comment on The Contrarian, Feb. 4, 2025)
Red line? What red line? Oh…you mean the one only Democrats won’t cross. So glad we’re safely on the right side of the law. Let’s all put on our “ghost shirts” and feel safe under the “rule of law”.
Ghost shirts is a perfect analogy. Thanks, Diane.
Since Sen. Young made his announcement, his FB feed has been blowing up with Hoosiers expressing their 'disapproval' of his actions. He's shown occasional sparks of independent thought in the past and might surprise when the mistake hits the floor of the Senate. We can hope.
On a different but related topic, the issue with Senate office phones yesterday was a volume of calls that completely overwhelmed the phone system. On the order of 1200-1300/minute compared to 30-50/minute normally. Phones at all 4 MO Senate offices were busy this morning but the Schmitt St. Louis office answered this afternoon and Hawley's DC office was taking voicemail. No word on whether either will change their votes, but this level of activity, if we can keep it up, will have an impact.
Remind me again what happened to Caesar when he crossed the Rubicon.
Chris Cilliza had an interesting point today - if the Orange Rind did succeed n getting Canada to agree to become the 51st state, it would add 47 electoral votes, at least 2/3 of them Democratic. And there is no guarantee Canada would join as ONE state - each province would qualify as a separate state, adding at least two dozen new senators, again 2/3 likely as Democrats, and even more electoral votes - welcome permanent Democratic Party advantage.....
“[T]he serious commitments I’ve received from the administration” is evidence of an astonishing degree of credulity. That the speaker is a US Senator who must be aware that promises from Trump 2.0 are seldom fulfilled is both sad and frightening.
All quite horrific, but when will Hegseth off on a bender hand over the nuclear codes?