Friday, April 7, 2023

Thought For The Day

April 7, 2023

Trump and his fellow travelers continue their racist, fascist rampage. Racist white Tennessee (the land where the Klan was born, where MLK was gunned down) legislators voted to expel two young Black Democratic representatives, while another – a white woman – survived expulsion by a single vote. Biden called the move “shocking, undemocratic and without precedent.” The expulsions may not be democratic, but they are damn sure Republican.

The expulsion votes resulted from the three Democrats participating in protests over the unending mass gun murders of children and others – particularly the recent school shooting in Tennessee – on the statehouse floor. Ratpublicans compared the peaceful protest against gun violence to the violent, deadly, seditious assault on the Capitol on January 6, 2021.

Interestingly, these expulsions could very easily and very well be reversed in the very near future by county authorities. Apparently, the entire point of this stunning and futile gesture was to remind everyone that racism is alive and thriving in Tennessee.

In their defense, none of the Ratpublicans referred to the expelled members as “boy.”

War – The World is A Ghetto

This has been your Paying Attention™ Thought For The Day.

What do you think?

On Second Thought For The Day…

Not to be out-dumbed, Mississippi, Governor Tate Reeves (guess which party) has declared April to be Confederate Heritage Month in the hate state of Mississippi. And because it's Mississippi, the proclamation is dated for April 31, 2023 – a date that does not exist.

Thursday, April 6, 2023

Lock Who Up?

If The Head Is Shit, You Must Not Acquit

April 6, 2023

Donald Trump who, among other horrible acts, gained notoriety by constantly yelling “Lock her up!” in reference to his 2016 presidential opponent Hillary Clinton – who it must be noted was never accused of any actual crime by any actual legal authority.

How ironic that now, finally, it is Trump himself has now been arraigned on 34 counts of falsifying financial records. This of course is only the first of many open cases, in several jurisdictions, waiting for the right moment to drag the disgraced, twice-impeached, failed insurrection leader and Fifth-Amendment-dependent ex-one-term-president Trump back into court after court for his other allegedly alleged crimes against democracy and America.

Who constantly points to his own head and just ended up on the wrong side of 34 felony counts?


This putz.

According to court transcripts, Trump was warned by Judge Juan Merchan to “Please refrain from making comment or engaging in conduct that has the potential to incite violence, create civil unrest, or jeopardize the safety or well-being of any individuals. Also please do not engage in words or conduct which jeopardizes the rule of law, particularly as it applies to these proceedings in this courtroom.”

Unsurprisingly, defendant Trump almost immediately disobeyed Judge Merchan’s order once he was safely back in his bunker at Mor-on-Largo. Since just about every time Trump opens his foul mouth he incites civil unrest, perhaps this order was merely rhetorical. It certainly seems that way since there has been no comment from the judge after Trump’s latest transgressions. Not to mention his idiot sons and other MAGAts posting pictures of the judge’s daughter because she had the unmitigated audacity to work for the Biden/Harris campaign in 2020. Where does this little (34-year-old) brat think she lives, America?

Reporters constantly describe Merchan as “a no-nonsense” judge. If that is the case, then why is he already putting up with defendant Trump’s nonsense, or as those in my line of work refer to it – bullshit?


Trump, verging on blackface, addresses his psycophants post-arraignment

In between attacks on the judge and the district attorney, their families, federal law enforcement and democracy, Trump told his loyal losers at Mor-on-Lago after his arraignment, “This whole Stormy Daniels thing is a bunch of bullshit. I’m calling it a bitch hunt. I never wanted to bang her, I just wanted to, you know, grab her by the pussy. And besides, it was very dark, I was tired because I had run out of Adderall, and I thought she was Ivanka. If anything did happen, it’s totally not my fault.”

The degree to which Melania Trump has been publicly defending her dear husband, and father of her son (I wonder if Trump knows this) is stunning.

I. Mangrey reporting. It's not like I had a choice.

Wednesday, April 5, 2023

Thought For Arraign-y Day, Postscript

Yesterday Was A Lovely Spring Arraign-y Day

April 5, 2023

Yesterday finally brought the long overdue arraignment of lifelong criminal Donald Jailbird Trump. The fact that his mentally-defective sons and dimming lights like Jim Jordan, Matt Gaetz, EmptyG, “George Santos,” and other mouth-breathing knuckle-draggers are acting like this is some sort of commie/fascist power-grab with no basis in reality, ignores the fact that Donald Trump has spent his entire life lying, cheating and stealing. Despite his life of crime and punishment (he has perpetually punished everyone else rather than the other way around), practically out of the womb, Trump’s most-bigly-idiot child Eric whined, “At some point, the guy deserves a pass.” In non-alternative reality, what he deserves is a crippling kick in the ass, or more appropriately, the balls. Almost everyone who came within ten feet of Trump during his ill-gotten presidency ended up convicted of some felony or other. All I can say is, fuck ‘em all.

His raised fist says, “Fuck yeah!”
His face says, “I just soiled my diaper again.”

Just about every professional pundit seems to find it necessary to remind their audiences that they should be sad to see a former president of the United States indicted. I understand the sentiment of having undying respect for the office of president. I don’t have that, but that’s just me. Either way, I have to say that when a person who attained that office did so by lying and by not just accepting, but by fomenting help from this nation’s long-time nemesis – Russia – then all bets are off. No one but Trump and his cult members should be sad. And they are only sad that their gutless guru, and by extension they themselves, got caught trying to fuck America.

Professional criminal defendant Trump preparing to plead not guilty 34 times

I mean come on, 34 felony charges? For one person? That’s some serious professional criming. What will Trump’s cult say when all the other shit Dear Leader has thrown up in the air to hide from view comes crashing down on his badly dyed, cotton-candy-covered head in the form of E. Jean Carroll’s rape accusation hitting the courts in two weeks? How will they try to spin the shitstorm coming from Fani Willis in Georgia? Or when Jack Smith and the DOJ take a metaphorical baseball bat to Trump’s classified document theft and Trump’s incitement of the January 6 insurrection? And Letitia James dismantles the skeletal remains of the Trump Organization in New York State? I predict a massive popcorn shortage.

And by the way, this is how you photoshop Trump menacing someone with a baseball bat:


This has been your Paying Attention™ Thought For Arraign-y Day, Postscript.

What do you think?

Tuesday, April 4, 2023

Thought For Arraign-y Day

A Hard Arraign's A-Gonna Fall

April 4, 2023

“I have the right to take stuff. I have the right to look at stuff.”
Donald Trump, March 27, 2023
to Sean Hannity, on illegally taking and hiding
classified documents he in fact was not permitted to possess.

“We’ll see about that, asshole.”
Ed Venture, April 4, 2023
to no one in particular

Today is the day we wondered if we would actually ever see. Donald Trump must present himself to the authorities to. By all reports, the global menace will arrive at the downtown Manhattan courthouse shortly after 2:00 PM, Eastern. I’ll believe that when I see it.

Trump lands in New York to triumphantly face his first of many indictments.
What a Dick

One imagines that this is one of – if not the – worst days of his miserable, insulting life. His lawyer, Michael Cohen did jail time for doing Trump’s bidding. His multi-generational CFO Allen Weisselberg is current serving time for his time working for and with Trump. Trump’s business – the eponymous Trump Organization – was found to have broken the law. Even Trump’s campaign manager Paul Manafort – who represented numerous brutal authoritarians across the globe and was up to his eyeballs in debt to a Russian oligarch before offering to work for Trump for free – also ended up in jail for just a few of the many crimes he committed.

Only Trump himself has managed to evade responsibility. Today will be the first of many legal travails that could not be visited upon anyone more deserving. No doubt Trump will attempt to put on a brave, let's call it, face.

I wish him hell. 

Trump, clinging to stuff he claims is his by fiat and/or just thinking it,
while being taken into custody

This has been your Paying Attention™ Thought For Arraign-y Day.

Monday, April 3, 2023

Sleeping Dog Prepares To Lie

Cloudy With A Chance Of Perjury

April 3, 2023

Many people who have to speak thoughtfully and carefully in public are saying what a sad time it is for our country that a badly defeated, disgraced, twice-impeached, failed insurrection leader and Fifth-Amendment-dependent ex-one-term-president has been indicted. We are told that this is a sad time for the presidency. They remind us that everyone in this country is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

I understand the sentiment, but the time to be sad was every fucking second after Grifty McConman descended his golden elevator and began subjecting America to a years-long golden shower as he called Mexicans rapists and murderers, got elected by the Electoral College and proceeded to make America a political Superfund site. The sadness has filled very single moment until Trump was finally indicted. The sadness has finally begun to dissipate.

Other people, who know not the meaning of the words thoughtful or careful (among many other words), have come out swinging, whining, lying, and railing against the indictment of Trump on charges they have not even seen yet. This, despite the preponderance of evidence, some of which almost everyone in the world has seen and/or heard with their own eyes and/or ears.

I Have (Not Necessarily The Best) Words

As a professional nobody, I need be neither careful nor thoughtful and I will unashamedly admit to being happy for our country at this moment. There is nothing but good news regarding Donald Trump’s indictment (with the possible exception of the likelihood of bloodshed in his name). Trump should never have soiled the presidency, and been permitted to commit uncountable crimes against this nation. He needs to be taken behind the proverbial woodshed and taught a lesson. And since he will never admit to anything, never show remorse, never rehabilitate himself, he should be locked up for good.

I. Mangrey: seen here enjoying the nightly news

Having all-too-closely observed the life and crimes of Donald Trump, I cannot in good conscience presume him innocent. He has gone out of his way to prove himself guilty. Every single day of his miserable life. The rest should just be a formality.

Now is a time to rejoice at the thought that democracy might be truly alive. Wheezing, limping, clutching its chest in response to debilitating pain, but still alive. Let us savor this moment in case the man that made P.T. Barnum jealous once again slips through the fingers of justice.

Judge Juan Merchan looks on as Trump makes his case: “I can’t handle the truth!”

Personally, I am looking forward to watching Trump lie under oath as he sniffs and sweats his way through his testimony, which will of course be liberally sprinkled with invocations of the Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. I will also be hoping that Stormy Daniels has a chance to testify against tiny Don. If only she had a blue dress.

Trump phones it in as he prepares to lie under oath in Manhattan court

I. Mangrey. What are you?

Sunday, April 2, 2023

Question For The Day

Indictment Today, Indictments Tomorrow, Indictments Forever

April 2, 2023

America has finally shown a sign of being a democracy wherein no one is above the law. A tiny glimmer of the possibility of hope, but maybe, just maybe lifelong criminal Donald Trump will finally get something he actually earned – jail time. In a long overdue announcement, a Manhattan grand jury has placed repeat offender Donald Trump under indictment. 

Naturally, Trump’s poll numbers among Ratpublican voters have surged him ahead of Ron DuhSantis – who has stepped up to pretend he will not help extradite his fellow Floridian asshole, and wheedled about how Trump is a victim of something – in the nascent Ratpublican primary.

Today's question is:

Can we now convene a grand jury to hear the evidence against George WTF Bush and Dick Cheney for their war crimes relating to the illegal invasion of Iraq? Wouldn’t that be nice?

Postscript

Of course, there will likely be a price to pay for insisting that justice run its course. Trump’s cultists are nothing if not ignorant, ill-informed, anti-democratic, violent and heavily armed. At least they’re well-rounded.

Fucker Carlson told his viewers it's “probably not the best time to give up your AR-15s.”


This has been your Paying Attention™ Question For The Day.

You're welcome.

What is your question for the day?

Saturday, April 1, 2023

A Fool For The Ages

This Is Not A Test...Or A Joke

April 1, 2023

Donald Trump’s post-indictment meltdown appears to be contagious. It has already spread to many of the unusual suspects. In particular, Lindsey Graham has his delicate panties in the most Gordian twist ever. He appeared on Fux News all teary-eyed, mewling and stamping his little feet. Graham implored the Fux faithful to, “Go tonight. Give the president some money to fight this bullshit.”

Yes, that’s right, poor, twisted Lindsey wants you to send America’s Top Thief some money so he can defend himself against truth, justice and the American way. Some people send their money to Nigerian princes in hopes of getting a not-so-small fortune for their trouble. Some people send their money to an American ex-president in hopes of keeping America as white, stupid and fascist as possible.

Many Ratpublicans are apoplectic at the thought of being out-fascisted (though all their accusations and fear mongering are as always compete projection) by what they insist is a take-over of the government and the lives of their minimally mentally competent hordes (which they of course actually attempted and failed to do). As usual, what Ratpublicans consider commie/fascist/deep state conspiracy, what they are calling “unlawful political interference,” is what political scientists and most other mammals call criminal justice.

People on Fux and countless other far-right outlets are literally talking about armed insurrection should a duly sanctioned court in the United States find an indicted defendant guilty of crimes, some of which everyone already knows he committed. For his part, Trump, who has already dog-whistled “potential death and destruction” in response to being brought to justice, is now, predictably, going after the judge with his patented whining and lying (racial slurs and threats likely to follow).

Fools And Their Money

So, for all those out there preparing to help this poor, demented, put-upon billionaire (at least according to him) and professional criminal, by all means, send this disgraced, twice-impeached, failed insurrection leader and Fifth-Amendment-dependent ex-one-term-president, now the first (soon to be second, third and fourth) indicted ex-president (who paid $130,000 to two different women to keep them quiet about affairs) some of your hard-earned money. He is a fucking billionaire. And you’re not.

In case we are not treated to the actual mugshot

At least the people getting scammed by the Nigerian princes think they’re getting something of value. I wonder how much Lindsey has kicked in to his golfing buddy, about whom Lindsey said, “I think he's a kook. I think he's crazy. I think he's unfit for office,” and a “he’s a race-baiting, xenophobic religious bigot.” Send Trump all your money and see what you get.

I. Mangrey reporting, you deciding. Also, your shoe's untied. 

Thursday, March 30, 2023

We’re Delighted, He’s Indicted

Phase One, In Which Donald Gets His Oats

March 30, 2023

Disgraced, twice-impeached, failed insurrection leader and Fifth-Amendment-dependent ex-one-term-president Donald Trump continues to make history. This time he becomes the first ex-president to be indicted. Trump was indicted by a Manhattan grand jury on 30 as-yet-unspecified felony charges.


The real one of these is scheduled for next Tuesday

First was Trump’s historically disgusting campaign, followed by his historically horrific administration full of mentally challenged, anti-democratic, soon-to-be convicted felons. After aiding and abetting the deadly COVID-19 pandemic, and losing the 2020 election in historic fashion, Donald Trump incited an insurrection, a coup d’état, a historic assault on the U.S. Capitol that ended in several deaths and some thousand convictions on a variety of charges, including seditious conspiracy. Then came the history-making second of two, count ‘em, two impeachments. This makes Trump the most historic president in history.

Donald, for all his bravado and stupidity, must be needing to have his diaper changed much more frequently after this latest turn of events. He took to his failing Twitter knock-off to whine electronically:


That’s right. Trump has been INDICATED. And INDICTED.
Oh, and by the way, you’re being PROSECUTED, not PERSECUTED

Fun fact: Here's what the pathetic putz Trump posted on his site yesterday:


Oopsie! Methinks Trump is a witch (with apologies to real witches).

Some Excitement Over Indictment

Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg announced on Wednesday that the grand jury considering the indictment of Trump was poised to take a long-planned two-week hiatus. The very next day it was reported that the same grand jury was voting on the indictment and subsequently voted to indict. I guess it’s true what they say – a grand jury can indict a Ham Sandwich.

According to American justice, defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Since every other convention has been breached by life-long criminal Donald Trump, this is no time to fall back on quaint traditions. I am not a lawyer, and in most cases neither are you, so we are not constrained by either convention or actual law. I have decided that this is the time to consider uh-alternative laws…to coin a phrase.


Artist’s rendition of Trump voluntarily surrendering to authorities for arraignment

Now, among other things, we must prepare ourselves for the “potential death and destruction” that defendant Trump “suggested” might result from any indictment of any or all of his “alleged” crimes.

I. Mangrey rejoicing (just a bit).

The jerks write themselves, friends.

It's The Guns, Stupid*

As Jesus Said, “Turn The Other Bullet”

March 29, 2023

Another day, another mass shooting in the United States of Guns. More school children gunned down by guns. When Jesus said, “Suffer the little children” I don’t think this is what he had in mind. Naturally, the pro-death GOP/NRA insists it’s too soon to talk about doing something about it. It’s always too soon, and always too late.

The lunatic fringe, that is to say the majority, of the Ratpublican Party - the ones who still cannot understand the more-than-two-century-old language in the Second Amendment, insist on maintaining the wholly unsustainable frequency of mass shootings. There are two reasons they are called mass shootings: 1) there are more than two fatalities, and 2) they are SHOOTINGS, which by definition are the result of GUNS. It's fairly simple really. It takes a moron to miss the message. And we've got plenty of them to go around.

Mouth-breathers on Fux News like Laura Ingraham somehow laid the blame for mass shootings on the “legalization of marijuana.” Now why didn't I think of that? Oh, because I have a functioning brain, that's why. These murderous morons will blame everything but the fucking guns. 

Ingraham and some other Fux schmuck

“They’re fine with going and doing a run on the guns and I guess you could argue that if you wanna do, try to get rid of the Second Amendment. But completely oblivious to what legalization of marijuana has done and is doing to an entire generation of Americans - with violent consequences.” Two things, 1) No one is talking about getting rid of the Second Amendment, though many people are saying that we should consider all the words in the amendment, not just the ones we like, and consider the order of the words, and the context in which the words were written (in no small measure to keep enslaved people in their place, but that's another story altogether), and the fact that the amendment says nothing about anyone owning guns, and 2) When it comes to oblivious, baby, you're the tops.

Or take up-and-coming idiot congressman (and former criminal)  Byron Donalds (R-FL) who worries that people get too emotional after a bunch of little kids and innocent adults are mowed down by military-style weapons. Donalds call himself pro-life. I call him a hypocritical shit stain.

Goons, loons and buffoons: in no particular order (and completely out of order)
Byron Donalds, Lauren Boebert, Matt Gaetz, “George Santos”

Here's a bunch of happy Ratpublican nitwits – Tennessee congressman Andy Ogles and family celebrating the birth of their Lord, and one assumes assault weapon enthusiast, Jesus H. Christ.  I wonder what this congressman will do if one of his little ones ends up a fatality in a mass shooting, or maybe ends up on the wrong end of baby sister mishandling one of daddy's weapons of mass death.

The Ogle family (are those two wives on the right?) begs the question:
Who would Jesus shoot and what would be his weapon of choice

But Wait, There’s More

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) family, not to be out-gunned

The idiot Boebert family, ready to fight the war on Christmas?

Assemblywoman Michele Fiore (R-Las Vegas) and strapped family

Ladies and gentlemen, this is your pro-death Ratpublican Party. They will kill you without giving it a second, or any, thought. It is possible they will also eat your brains.

_________________________________________________________________
*It’s also the fucking Ratpublicans

I. Mangrey reporting. Aw, shoot.