25 thoughts on “Presidents Day Open Thread”

1. In case you needed another reason to hate Richard Nixon: circa 1971.

   . . . or, how to make two American holidays celebrating the birthdays of great past Presidents into a national day of mourning.

   They’ll be celebrating in the streets of Moscow tonight!!!

    

    

   I guess Monday morning just isn’t enough of a suck by itself, huh Alva?

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2. Lindsey's hair is on fire (again) because "attempted bureaucratic coup" sounds scarier than "using a Constitutional process for removing an unfit President".

   I wonder what compromat is being held over Lindsey.

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   1. I have been wondering that myself, mama. I cannot believe Lindsey is so worked up over a perceived slight to the Yamster. I tend to believe Blanche is reacting to some personal dynamic involving the Democratic leadership and some slight to him.

      His histrionics at the Kavanaugh hearings was a marker, I think. Nancy and Chuck have hurt his fee fees and he is simply being spiteful.

      I think he will eventually let a clue slip out…but his behavior seems just a bit too strident and indignant to be explained by sympathy for the devil.

      Could be blackmail, though. I am sure Lindsey is no saint.

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   2. No blackmail required with Lindsey. He's been morally and intellectually bankrupt since McCain died.

       

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3. It's even worse in writing.  I challenge any supporter of the President to read this and say that he is fit to be leader of the free world.

   $rump's "declaration of emergency speech". The infamous quote: "I didn’t need to do this. But I’d rather do it much faster,'" came in the Q&A  with correspondent Peter Alexander after the "prepared" speech was finished.

    

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4. The chart needs a few more arrows to clarify that:

   Trump is OUR President, but Trump is NOT MY President

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   1. 

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   2. He's the president of my country.

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5. For once, I actually agree with Ann Coulter. 

   None other than Ann Coulter declared on Friday, “The only national emergency is that our president is an idiot.”

   Jennifer Rubin's column today explains:

   According to Trump, he’s received legal advice that his emergency power grab is likely to be enjoined. Well, even Trump’s lawyers figured that out. However, Trump’s irrational, desperate and incoherent approach has not merely damaged his chances of surviving a court challenge. He has made it infinitely harder for Republicans to defend him and vote against a resolution reversing the declaration. Trump told them there was no emergency.

   Any intellectually honest lawmaker cognizant of both this fact pattern and his oath of office would be obliged to vote to end the fraudulent emergency. However, we’ve already seen Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., prove he is willing to ignore facts (and his oath) to support an authoritarian president. Other Republicans no doubt will follow suit.

   There is no better reason for voters to throw out Trump and Senate Republicans in 2020. Those who aren’t “idiots” are willfully violating their oaths. Either way, they need to go.

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   1. Any intellectually honest lawmaker . . . 

      . . . OK, I’ve got a two, a two, a two — anybody give me a three? How bout’ a three?  Lookin’ for a three now . . .

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6. Eventful day at the NC-09 Board of Elections hearing today. A veritable laundry list of election fraud violations – and witness tampering. And that's just the first witness's testimony!

   https://mobile.twitter.com/BowTiePolitics/lists/nc-9th-hearing

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7. An excellent argument from the right.
   https://coloradosun.com/2019/02/17/armstrong-colorado-republicans-should-let-the-death-penalty-go

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   1. Try my darndest, I just can't work up bitter tears over the fact that Ted Bundy is no longer in the gene pool.

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      1. That's true enough, but given the number of people on death row who have been exonerated, how about the those that were wrongly executed? 

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         1. There is no convincing evidence that any innocent people have been executed post Forman.   And in Colorado, no one has even claimed it.   Our candidates, who murdered witnesses to hide their crimes, represented the worst of the worst.  

            Natnan Dunlap, Mario Owens, Robert Ray are guilty beyond a scintilla of doubt. Why, other than religious dogma that I do not support, should I cry for them?
            On the other hand, if you want to join them as a fourth for bridge, it’s your funeral.

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            1. Likely innocent men executed in the US since Forman:

               Carlos DeLuna:  Texas — Conviction: 1983, Executed: 1989
               Ruben Cantu:  Texas — Conviction: 1985, Executed: 1993
               Larry Griffin:  Missouri — Conviction: 1981, Executed: 1995
               Joseph O'Dell:  Virginia — Conviction: 1986, Executed: 1997
               David Spence:  Texas — Conviction: 1984, Executed: 1997
               Leo Jones:  Florida — Conviction: 1981, Executed: 1998
               Gary Graham:  Texas — Conviction: 1981, Executed: 2000
               Claude Jones:  Texas — Conviction: 1989, Executed: 2000
               Cameron Willingham:  Texas — Conviction: 1992, Executed: 2004
               Troy Davis:  Georgia — Conviction: 1991, Executed: 2011
               Lester Bower:  Texas — Conviction: 1984, Executed: 2015
               Brian Terrell:  Georgia — Conviction: 1995, Executed: 2015
               Richard Masterson:  Texas — Conviction: 2002, Executed: 2016
               Robert Pruett:  Texas — Conviction: 2002, Executed: 2017
               Carlton Michael Gary:  Georgia — Conviction: 1986, Executed: 2018

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8. Phil Weiser: Colorado will join 12 states in suing Trump over emergency declaration and appropriation of military construction funds – from The Colorado Sun’s coverage today.

   MSNBC Live with Katy Tur covered the protest. Here’s video:
   

   Weiser, speaking at the Capitol along with a few hundred protesters, announced that Colorado will be joining California and 11 other states in suing the administration over the "emergency" declaration.

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9. Trump, doing the nigh-impossible of alienating both the left (predictable) AND the right.

   See some of the anti-immigrant positions at the no-Trump site The Bulwark, as they illustrate "Conservatism Conserved."

   [Mark] Krikorian goes on to describe how the bill sneaks in provisions requiring the Department of Homeland Security to get permission from local elected officials before building barriers in counties along the border—while also opting only to authorize new walls in the Rio Grande Valley, where local governments are overwhelmingly Democratic.

    

    

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10. Someone the other day was asking about Mark Udall.  He resurfaced in the WaPost with an op – ed (co authored with Cindy McCain, John's widow).

    Congress must reach across the aisle and protect the Grand Canyon

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11. Wondering how to celebrate this auspicious holiday, right now?

    Just completed my 2018 tax returns, and come to find out that I am paying close to $1,400 more in federal income taxes for last year than I did for 2017 . . . 

    . . . I think, maybe, I’ll take this massive Trump Tax Cut windfall and use it to make a down payment on the purchase of my very first luxury golf resort?!?!?

    I am so fucking tired of winning! . . .

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    1. Congratulations!

       Perhaps Cory Gardner would like to know how successful the Trump/Republican tax cut has been.

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    2. Yeah, I went from $100 refund from the feds last year to a $900 bill this year.  Income went up, but modestly and no new/abnormal sources. Thanks, Cory!

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    3. Come on, Dio …. those billionaires needed a break! Maybe Poderanus is getting a free ride as we speak?

       Trump's new tax law means everybody may soon be buying private jets — here are the 7 go-to planes for the super-rich

       Private jet buyers can now write off the full amount of their new plane's cost on their tax return, which applies to both new and pre-owned aircraft. That's due to a policy change within the Trump Administration's 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that updated the US tax code to allow 100% bonus depreciation for items such as aircraft. 

       For the mega-wealthy of the world, this deduction accounts for much, if not all, of their millions in tax liability — meaning buying a new private jet could practically wipe out their tax bill in the year they buy it.

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       1. Geezuz, MB.  I sure hope that includes writing-off the optional champagne-spraying bidet fixtures??!!

          . . . have you ever considered using one of those bad boys as a harvester??  

          . . . Hell, you should at least look into having a couple of wings attached to your next tractor purchase??

          Right now, I’m probably very likely to slap the shit outta’ the next sorry, stupid, dullard MF I hear whining about Democrats and “giving away free stuff”!

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          1. (No) thanks to the current trade policies, taxable net income for farmers isn't something we have to concern ourselves with   #MAGA

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