October Political Bits & Bobs

[pixy0stix]

Starting with SCOTUS:

Declined to hear appeal from John Eastman regarding his emails to Trump re: Jan 6 that the House has access to via previous ruling - www.cnn.com/2023/10/02/politics/john-eastman-january-6-committee-emails-case-supreme-court/index.html

Of note: Thomas recused himself from this case

[neverfstop]

Oct 2, 2023 11:27:07 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

Of note: Thomas recused himself from this case

I thought there would be some good, juicy reason- either his wife or financial ties, but nope, Eastman was his former clerk!

[mrsd2006]

Shocker. Three years too late.

www.cnn.com/2023/10/02/politics/john-kelly-donald-trump-us-service-members-veterans/index.html


John Kelly, the longest-serving White House chief of staff for Donald Trump, offered his harshest criticism yet of the former president in an exclusive statement to CNN.

Kelly set the record straight with on-the-record confirmation of a number of damning stories about statements Trump made behind closed doors attacking US service members and veterans, listing a number of objectionable comments Kelly witnessed Trump make firsthand.

“What can I add that has not already been said?” Kelly said, when asked if he wanted to weigh in on his former boss in light of recent comments made by other former Trump officials. “A person that thinks those who defend their country in uniform, or are shot down or seriously wounded in combat, or spend years being tortured as POWs are all ‘suckers’ because ‘there is nothing in it for them.’ A person that did not want to be seen in the presence of military amputees because ‘it doesn’t look good for me.’ A person who demonstrated open contempt for a Gold Star family – for all Gold Star families – on TV during the 2016 campaign, and rants that our most precious heroes who gave their lives in America’s defense are ‘losers’ and wouldn’t visit their graves in France.

[mrshandy]

Oct 3, 2023 15:46:28 GMT -5 mrsd2006 said:

Shocker. Three years too late.

www.cnn.com/2023/10/02/politics/john-kelly-donald-trump-us-service-members-veterans/index.html


John Kelly, the longest-serving White House chief of staff for Donald Trump, offered his harshest criticism yet of the former president in an exclusive statement to CNN.

Kelly set the record straight with on-the-record confirmation of a number of damning stories about statements Trump made behind closed doors attacking US service members and veterans, listing a number of objectionable comments Kelly witnessed Trump make firsthand.

“What can I add that has not already been said?” Kelly said, when asked if he wanted to weigh in on his former boss in light of recent comments made by other former Trump officials. “A person that thinks those who defend their country in uniform, or are shot down or seriously wounded in combat, or spend years being tortured as POWs are all ‘suckers’ because ‘there is nothing in it for them.’ A person that did not want to be seen in the presence of military amputees because ‘it doesn’t look good for me.’ A person who demonstrated open contempt for a Gold Star family – for all Gold Star families – on TV during the 2016 campaign, and rants that our most precious heroes who gave their lives in America’s defense are ‘losers’ and wouldn’t visit their graves in France.

Yet he agreed to work for him after he did a few of these things! Shameful! 

[basilosaurus]

I'm so sick of all these people that willingly worked for him are now writing their tell alls. Making money off them. Trying to years later trying to rehabilitate their reputations.

Don't get me wrong, I'm happy this is being addressed publicly, being confirmed. But, it's like, you were there. You knew it at the time! I do understand people wanting to work from within to at least try to mitigatte damage rather than sycophants going along with every awful thing, but at some point you need to quit and be vocal about why. In real time! None of Kelly's confirmations are in the least shocking when the entire nation heard him call McCain a loser for being a POW (I forget if this was during a rally or debate, but no matter. Televised statements!).

[mrshandy]

I forgot about this Kelly anecdote. So Kelly was DHS director before he was COS and he did a town hall with my agency in DC. I was going into the office at that point and I decided to go to it. He gave a little speech and told a story about him and Obama when he was working for him and how he had reminded Obama of something he once said and Obama and said to him incredulously "I said that?!?" It was all in jest on both sides but the point of the story was to compare and explain away some of the dumb things that Trump had said at that point. When people in the room realized he was making that comparison, I think he expected an indulging chuckle from the crowd. Instead he got crickets and stares that he would really make that comparison. He was so nervous and awkward the entire speech addressing what he rightly interpreted as a hostile crowd.

[Velar Fricative]

As wild as the Robert Menendez saga is, it keeps getting wilder. His wife killed a pedestrian in 2018 and it's only making the news now because in typical New Jersey politics fashion, it was buried. Gift link. She did not seem distraught and she was excited about the new Mercedes Bob got for her as part of his dirty deal-making ways. He is so fucking corrupt and needs to go.

[fernweh]

Rudy Giuliani is suing Joe Biden. Apparently Joe Biden and not his alignment to Trump tarnished his character.

www.yahoo.com/news/rudy-giuliani-suing-joe-biden-185047466.html

[bronxgirl]

Oct 4, 2023 15:54:08 GMT -5 fernweh said:

Rudy Giuliani is suing Joe Biden. Apparently Joe Biden and not his alignment to Trump tarnished his character.

www.yahoo.com/news/rudy-giuliani-suing-joe-biden-185047466.html

How is he going to pay for a lawyer to represent him in this suit?

[cous0226]

Trump has shown up to his NYC fraud trial for 3 days in a row. He has been absolutely red in the face livid on all his statements outside the court. I feel like this trial will bring on the heart attack. He is so pissed. It’s beautiful to watch.

[mrsukyankee]

Oct 4, 2023 15:54:08 GMT -5 fernweh said:

Rudy Giuliani is suing Joe Biden. Apparently Joe Biden and not his alignment to Trump tarnished his character.

www.yahoo.com/news/rudy-giuliani-suing-joe-biden-185047466.html

[pixy0stix]

I lost whatever thread this goes in - Trump told Aussie billionaire military sub classified information, and then said billionaire told 45 other people.

abcnews.go.com/US/after-white-house-trump-allegedly-discussed-potentially-sensitive/story?id=103760456

[pixy0stix]

George Santos campaign treasurer pled guilty to fed conspiracy charges - abcnews.go.com/Politics/nancy-marks-george-santos-former-campaign-treasurer-plead/story?id=103750377

[pixy0stix]

Trump dropped his case against Michael Cohen - www.politico.com/news/2023/10/05/trump-drops-michael-cohen-00120297

He says it's because of a scheduling conflict.

I'm wondering if we're watching the beginning of him truly running out of money and lawyers.

[pixy0stix]

I can't remember if Menendez had his own thread. Hey een hot with more charges - www.cnn.com/2023/10/12/politics/bob-menendez-superseding-indictment-foreign-agent/index.html

[pixy0stix]

I can't remember if Menendez had his own thread. Hey een hot with more charges - www.cnn.com/2023/10/12/politics/bob-menendez-superseding-indictment-foreign-agent/index.html

[fernweh]

I know these guys hadn’t been indicted/convicted when they were elected so it may not have shown up but I think it’s time elected officials have to start passing a background check before being sworn in, this is ridiculous.
I don’t know how that would happen since I’m sure said criminal elected officials would have to vote to approve that measure but…

[mrsd2006]

www.yahoo.com/news/biden-campaign-joins-trump-truth-175957643.html

The Biden campaign Monday joined Truth Social, the platform founded by former President Trump, pushing its message on a platform largely dominated by the former president and his followers.

“Well. Let’s see how this goes. Converts welcome!” the campaign wrote in its first post on the platform under the handle @bidenhq.

“A thing about campaigns is sometimes you just do things for the lolz,” Rob Flaherty, a deputy Biden campaign manager, wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, of the decision to join Truth Social.

[krystee]

There aren’t randoms, so I am sharing this here instead: I got to attend a caucus briefing and met NINE members of Congress today, including two there and seven at a reception for electing female democrats. I have photos with Katie Porter, Lauren Underwood, Susie Lee, and Robin Kelly, and talked to a few others. It was basically my version of the Oscars and I am totally geeking out!

[basilosaurus]

Potential vote to oust Santos next week

www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-67224353.amp

While I agree with everything they've said about Santos and their reasoning, all that and more applies to trump, but crickets about him and his 91 charges

[minzy]

Minnesota representative Dean Phillips is entering the Democratic presidential race against Biden (he’s 54): amp.cnn.com/cnn/2023/10/26/politics/dean-phillips-presidential-campaign-launch/index.html

[StrawberryBlondie]

Oct 27, 2023 6:07:12 GMT -5 minzy said:

Minnesota representative Dean Phillips is entering the Democratic presidential race against Biden (he’s 54): amp.cnn.com/cnn/2023/10/26/politics/dean-phillips-presidential-campaign-launch/index.html

Ugh.

[shauni27]

I heard this on NPR this morning and shook my head. Shut up, dude.

I also learned that there is a push to get SC to be the first to vote in the nation, rather than NH and IA and I had no idea. It makes sense when I read the articles about it, but I did not recall hearing anything about that (and I live in NH!). Biden will NOT be on the ballot for the primary in NH which seems...problematic at first, but in reality probably won't make a difference, right?

[basilosaurus]

I thought sc had already taken first from nh with ia keeping first caucus

[shauni27]

Oct 27, 2023 7:37:25 GMT -5 basilosaurus said:

I thought sc had already taken first from nh with ia keeping first caucus

I think you are right.

[pixy0stix]

I read something about a week ago that Biden isn't going to be on NH primary ballot because NH is defying.... something... And the DNC isn't participating.

ETA - apnews.com/article/biden-2024-new-hampshire-ballot-primary-shakeup-1df2712ebf31ffecdaf2bceb4c74bb2f

[Bad Dingo]

Oct 27, 2023 9:14:22 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

I read something about a week ago that Biden isn't going to be on NH primary ballot because NH is defying.... something... And the DNC isn't participating.

www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/biden-will-not-new-hampshire-primary-ballot-election-rcna122039

Jinx

[bronxgirl]

Oct 27, 2023 7:12:56 GMT -5 StrawberryBlondie said:

Oct 27, 2023 6:07:12 GMT -5 minzy said:

Minnesota representative Dean Phillips is entering the Democratic presidential race against Biden (he’s 54): amp.cnn.com/cnn/2023/10/26/politics/dean-phillips-presidential-campaign-launch/index.html

Ugh.

Ugh indeed.  How could anyone possibly think this could be a good idea. Now I'm even more anxious about what will happen in the next election.

[StrawberryBlondie]

Oct 27, 2023 11:35:48 GMT -5 bronxgirl said:

Oct 27, 2023 7:12:56 GMT -5 StrawberryBlondie said:

Ugh.

Ugh indeed.  How could anyone possibly think this could be a good idea. Now I'm even more anxious about what will happen in the next election.

Not to mention if this means he's not running for re-election, his district could swing back red.

[dutchgirl678]

Oct 27, 2023 11:35:48 GMT -5 bronxgirl said:

Oct 27, 2023 7:12:56 GMT -5 StrawberryBlondie said:

Ugh.

Ugh indeed.  How could anyone possibly think this could be a good idea. Now I'm even more anxious about what will happen in the next election.

I had never even heard of this guy. I don't believe his bid is going anywhere.