Today's (Alleged) Fuckery

I use the word "alleged" because even a small-potatoes blogger should at least try to follow the rules.

That said, no one paying any attention at all can dismiss the real potential for disaster here.

These assholes ain't playin'.

Exclusive: Roger Stone Spoke With Cop Pal About Assassinating Eric Swalwell and Jerry Nadler

Weeks before the 2020 presidential election, infamous political operative Roger Stone sat across from his associate Sal Greco at a restaurant in Florida.

At the time, Greco was an NYPD cop working security for Stone on the side. Their conversation, at Caffe Europa in Fort Lauderdale, focused on two House Democrats for whom Stone harbors particular animosity, Jerry Nadler and Eric Swalwell.

In audio of the conversation obtained exclusively by Mediaite, Stone made threatening comments about the two lawmakers.

“It’s time to do it,” Stone told Greco. “Let’s go find Swalwell. It’s time to do it. Then we’ll see how brave the rest of them are. It’s time to do it. It’s either Nadler or Swalwell has to die before the election. They need to get the message. Let’s go find Swalwell and get this over with. I’m just not putting up with this shit anymore.”

A source familiar with the discussion told Mediate they believed Stone’s remarks were serious. “It was definitely concerning that he was constantly planning violence with an NYPD officer and other militia groups,” the source said.

Both Nadler and Swalwell serve on the House Judiciary Committee. At the time of the Caffe Europa conversation, Nadler had announced the committee would be investigating then-President Donald Trump’s decision to commute Stone’s sentence after he was convicted of federal crimes in Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia probe.

“A jury found Roger Stone guilty,” Nadler wrote on Twitter in July 2020. “By commuting his sentence, President Trump has infected our judicial system with partisanship and cronyism and attacked the rule of law. @House Judiciary will conduct an aggressive investigation into this brazen corruption.”

The source told Mediaite of Stone: “Stone had been at war with Nadler and Swalwell for years. He just hates them.”

“He just wanted to get Trump back into office so these things would stop,” the source added.

Stone was convicted of obstruction, witness tampering, and lying to Congress in the Mueller investigation. Prosecutors sought a nine-year prison sentence for the longtime Republican operative, but Trump’s Justice Department reportedly intervened to impose a less severe sentence. Stone’s sentence was eventually commuted by Trump days before reporting to prison.

The intervention from the Justice Department prompted Aaron Zelinsky, the prosecutor and Mueller deputy who led the case against Stone, to recuse himself from the case in protest. Mediaite reported last week that Stone was caught on tape in December 2020 urging Greco to “punish” Zelinsky.

“He needs to be punished,” Stone told Greco in the audio. “You have to abduct him and punish him. That has to be done. It will be easy to abduct him because he is a weakling.”

Stone denied making those comments, claiming they were generated by AI. He has previously claimed videos of his comments are actually “deep fakes.” In response to a request for comment on the remarks aimed at Swalwell and Nadler, Stone said, “Total nonsense. I’ve never said anything of the kind more AI manipulation. You asked me to respond to audios that you don’t let me hear and you don’t identify a source for. Absurd.”

Greco did not deny the comments, but said in a text to Mediaite: “I don’t think your reader is interested in ancient political fodder.”

Greco, who acted as security for Stone and was with the operative during the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol soon after the 2020 election, was fired by the NYPD over his association with Stone. An NYPD spokesperson confirmed to Mediaite that Greco was terminated in August 2022.

Nadler and Swalwell did not respond to requests for comment.

A Parody

 Samuel Saint

Today's Politics Girl

We need people who wanna do the job, not people who just wanna have the job.

Today's Brian

Temper tantrums - because Republicans have devolved into a bunch of whiny-butt pussies.

Awards Season Is Upon Us

I've dropped all of my streaming subscriptions - except hulu, which is included in my cell phone package. I rarely go out to movies, and there's nothing much on "regular" TV but some old sitcoms and the occasional sportsball game.

I've kinda isolated myself from a big part of the culture.

So when the (eg) Golden Globes come out, I have a vague sense of disconnect because while I have some passing familiarity with most of the shows, I don't think I've actually seen any of them. 

And that can be a problem, because there have been plenty of movies and shows over the years that I've really liked that could never be thought of as "mainstream". I guess I should be looking for a way to tap into the lesser known works, to keep myself better apprised of what's going on so I don't "miss out" on something that could be important (?)

Sorry - I'm just randomly rambling. Trying to figure out if I should make more of an effort, or just let it go. It is a puzzlement.

The complete list of Golden Globes winners in 2024

Best motion picture, drama

“Oppenheimer”

Best performance by a female actor in a motion picture, drama

Lily Gladstone, “Killers of the Flower Moon.”

Best motion picture, musical or comedy

“Poor Things”

Best performance by a male actor in a motion picture, musical or comedy

Paul Giamatti, “The Holdovers”

Best television series, drama

“Succession”

Best performance by a female actor in a television series, drama

Sarah Snook, “Succession”

Best television series, musical or comedy

“The Bear”

Best television limited series, anthology series, or motion picture made for television

“Beef”

Cinematic and box office achievement

“Barbie”

Best original song, motion picture

“What Was I Made For?” by Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell.

Best original score, motion picture

Ludwig Göransson, “Oppenheimer”

Best performance by a male actor in a motion picture, drama

Cillian Murphy, “Oppenheimer”

Best performance by a female actor in a motion picture, musical or comedy

Emma Stone, “Poor Things”

Best director, motion picture

Christopher Nolan, “Oppenheimer”

Best motion picture, animated

“The Boy and the Heron”

Best performance by a male actor in a television series, drama

Kieran Culkin, “Succession”

Best performance by a female actor in a television series, musical or comedy

Ayo Edebiri, “The Bear”

Best motion picture, non-English language

“Anatomy of a Fall”

Best performance in stand-up comedy on television

Ricky Gervais, “Ricky Gervais: Armageddon”

Best performance by a male actor in a television series, musical or comedy

Jeremy Allen White, “The Bear”

Best screenplay, motion picture

Justine Triet and Arthur Harari, “Anatomy of a Fall”

Best performance by a male actor in a supporting role on television

Matthew Macfadyen, “Succession”

Best performance by a female actor in a supporting role on television

Elizabeth Debicki, “The Crown”

Best performance by a male actor in a limited series, anthology series or a motion picture made for television

Steven Yeun, “Beef”

Best performance by a female actor in a limited series, anthology series, or a motion picture made for television

Ali Wong, “Beef”

Best performance by a male actor in a supporting role in any motion picture

Robert Downey Jr., “Oppenheimer”

Best performance by a female actor in a supporting role in any motion picture

Da’Vine Joy Randolph, “The Holdovers”

Oh, BoBo

We were called Trailer Trash. But ain't none of my kin ever been arrested for showing his dick to a group of teenaged girls at a bowling alley, or for running over a neighbor's mailbox. And we didn't show up on camera gettin' all handsy on date night at the local theater, and we were never involved in an actual fist fight between a man and his wife.

Just what the fuck is up with these fuckin' people?

Lauren Boebert involved in physical fight with ex-husband in Colorado restaurant

U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert and her ex-husband, Jayson Boebert, are the subjects of an investigation after a physical fight between the two on Saturday evening.

The incident happened at a restaurant in Silt, a town in Lauren Boebert's congressional district, according to The Daily Beast. The outlet reported that Jayson Boebert called the police to the scene, claiming he was a victim of domestic violence.

However, an aide to Lauren Boebert denied these allegations, asserting that the congresswoman did not engage in any form of domestic violence.

According to an aide of Lauren Boebert, the lawmaker had gone to Jayson Boebert’s house to pick up one of their sons, The Daily Beast reported. During this visit, there was a physical interaction where Lauren Boebert allegedly pushed Jayson Boebert away as he attempted to hug her.

Later that evening, the situation escalated when they met at the Miner’s Claim restaurant. The aide described Jayson Boebert’s behavior at the restaurant as aggressive and disrespectful. It was reported that a physical altercation of indeterminate severity occurred at the restaurant. As described by the aide, anti-LGBTQ+ far-right Colorado Republican tried to keep Jayson Boebert back, which involved putting her hand on his face and nose.

Following this altercation, Jayson Boebert called the police, alleging that he was a victim of domestic violence, according to The Daily Beast. In response, Lauren Boebert also contacted the police, denying any domestic violence and expressing her willingness to speak with an officer at the restaurant. Although the police arrived at the scene, they did not arrest anyone. The congresswoman was then reportedly driven home by a friend.

Silt Police Chief Mike Kite confirmed the incident and investigation in a conversation with The Advocate.

“We were called to the Miner's Claim restaurant in town, and it involved Lauren and her ex-husband,” Kite said. Kite explained that his department is seeking additional witnesses and that investigators are reviewing videos.

In August 2022, neighbors in Garfield County called 911 over concerns about Jayson Boebert’s behavior, including allegations of driving under the influence and damaging property. Additionally, their children were accused of speeding in the neighborhood, leading to a confrontation. No charges were filed, and the incident was resolved among the involved parties.

Lauren Boebert was caught in a compromising position during a family-friendly musical production of Beetlejuice in Denver at a packed theater in September. Security camera footage showed Lauren Boebert and her companion, Quinn Gallagher, being disruptive, vaping, and engaging in public sexual behavior, leading to their removal from the theater. At first, Lauren Boebert and aides denied that she had been disruptive and vaped in the theater but later admitted to some bad behavior, blaming it on stress and her recent divorce. However, she did not address the mutual fondling caught on camera.

Lauren Boebert recently announced her decision to run for reelection in Colorado’s 4th Congressional District, switching from the 3rd District, where she has held office since 2021. This move has been widely viewed as an attempt to avoid challenging reelection odds in the 3rd District, where she faced notable challenges from Republican and Democratic opponents. In the 2022 midterms, Boebert narrowly defeated Democrat Adam Frisch by fewer than 600 votes.

Lauren Boebert cited her “personal life” as one of the main reasons behind her decision to switch districts, referring to her divorce in May 2023, The Durango Heraldreports. She described the move as a “fresh start” and claimed it was the right decision for her and her supporters. Critics and opponents have been vocal about this decision, with some accusing her of trying to evade tough competition and questioning her commitment to her constituents.

The Advocate contacted a spokesperson for Lauren Boebert but did not immediately hear back.

Another Bullshit Prediction

50 million Americans have not died of the COVID vaccination.

If this was even close to true, the population of The United States would be down around 285,000,000. We are currently at almost 335,000,000.

This is a very good example of The Grifter Culture of Conservative Inc.

Not A Parody

This is no parody. It's fan-produced content, but Trump posted it on his social media platform.

It's what he knows some of the hardcore rubes will swallow whole, and then ask for more.

The next time somebody asks why I'm atheist - it's pretty simple: "God made Trump"

A Thought

There's a lot of talk (mostly from the wingnut right) about pardoning Trump, so we can "heal the nation's wounds and move on." 

Some things:

1. No POTUS can pardon him if he's convicted for state crimes
2. Republicans seem to be tacitly admitting he's guilty of the federal charges, and that they expect he'll be on his way to prison before the year is out, but they won't say so in public.
3. When Republicans are willing to look the other way, or rationalize Trump's criminal actions, doesn't that mean the GOP is soft on crime?

Today's Beau

"The grifter culture of Conservative inc."

NRA civil trial threatens to shake up gun rights organization even with leader’s resignation

Wayne LaPierre, two other current and former NRA leaders and the organization itself are facing a lawsuit that alleges they violated nonprofit laws and misused NRA funds to finance their lavish lifestyles.

Wayne LaPierre’s civil trial, slated to begin Monday in New York, still threatens to unravel the National Rifle Association despite his resignation from the powerful and prominent gun rights group.

LaPierre, 74, had led the NRA for more than 30 years as the organization’s executive vice president. He announced his departure Friday as jury selection neared an end.

He, along with two other current and former NRA leaders and the organization as a whole are fending off a lawsuit brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James in 2020 that alleges they violated nonprofit laws and misused millions of dollars of NRA funds to finance lavish lifestyles for themselves.

The jury will spend the next six weeks in a Manhattan courtroom hearing testimony from roughly 120 witnesses.

If the jurors find the individual defendants liable, they will recommend the amount of money that each defendant would have to repay the NRA.

They would have also been tasked with recommending whether LaPierre should be ousted from the helm of the group, which is now moot.

But the trial outcome may still have important ramifications, according to Shannon Watts, who founded the gun safety group Moms Demand Action in 2012 in part to challenge the gun lobby.

State Supreme Court Judge Joel Cohen, who has the final say over monetary damages and remedies, could determine whether the defendants should be permanently barred from serving on the board of any charity in New York and whether an independent monitor should oversee the NRA’s finances.

“It was never just about Wayne LaPierre,” Watts said, adding that the organization “needs to be taken down at the studs.”

In his announcement, LaPierre said he has been a “card-carrying member” of the NRA for most of his adult life and that he would “never stop supporting the NRA and its fight to defend Second Amendment freedom.”

“My passion for our cause burns as deeply as ever,” LaPierre said. He cited health reasons for his exit, which will take effect Jan. 31.

James touted LaPierre’s resignation as “an important victory.”

“LaPierre’s resignation validates our claims against him, but it will not insulate him from accountability,” she said in a statement. “We look forward to presenting our case in court.”

A ‘personal piggy bank’

The lawsuit alleges that LaPierre diverted millions of dollars away from the group’s charitable mission for his personal use of private jets, expensive meals, travel consultants, private security and trips to the Bahamas for him and his family.

The attorney general claims LaPierre spent more than $500,000 of the NRA’s assets to fly himself and his family members to the Bahamas. From May 2015 to April 2019, the NRA incurred over $1 million in expenses for private flights on which LaPierre was not a passenger, according to the lawsuit.

LaPierre received more than $1.2 million in expense reimbursements from 2013 to 2017, the lawsuit alleges.

The other defendants are also accused of violating nonprofit laws and internal policies as they enriched themselves, the suit says, contributing to the NRA’s loss of more than $64 million in three years.

They are Wilson “Woody” Phillips, a former NRA treasurer and chief financial officer, and John Frazer, the corporate secretary and general counsel.

Joshua Powell, a former chief of staff and executive director of general operations, was also a defendant. But he told NBC News on Friday evening that he had officially settled the case against him. The attorney general’s office confirmed the settlement in a statement Saturday.

At a news conference announcing the lawsuit in 2020, James, a Democrat, accused the four defendants of using the NRA as a “personal piggy bank.”

None of the defendants has been criminally charged as part of James’ lawsuit.

Potential key moments

The defendants have collectively named 86 witnesses, a court filing shows. The plaintiffs named 36 witnesses, including former NRA higher-ups.

One of them is Oliver North, a former NRA president who was in a heated battle with LaPierre when he left the group in 2019. North had reportedly attempted to remove LaPierre from NRA leadership after he began investigating possible financial improprieties.

Another key witness for the plaintiffs is Chris Cox, the NRA’s longtime top lobbyist before he was pushed out of the group in 2019 amid leadership turmoil.

The testimonies from the two former NRA insiders, who have not yet spoken publicly, could reveal details that may be especially eye-opening to current NRA members, according to Justin Wagner, senior director of investigations with Everytown for Gun Safety, a national gun violence prevention nonprofit.

“This is a monumental moment in the organization’s history,” said Wagner, who is also a former prosecutor in the New York attorney general’s office.

“The main witnesses to the NRA’s mismanagement are adamant gun rights supporters,” he added. “I think those firsthand accounts will really be impactful at trial.”

The plaintiffs have asked for two hours to deliver their opening statements Monday, a court filing shows. The remarks come after failed attempts by the defendants to dismiss the lawsuit, change the court venue and countersue. The NRA also filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

James initially set out to dissolve the NRA as part of her suit. However, Cohen dismissed that effort in 2022, saying her complaint “does not allege the type of public harm that is the legal linchpin for imposing the ‘corporate death penalty.’”

The lawsuit also targets the NRA as a whole. The organization has operated as a nonprofit charitable corporation in New York since 1871. Its assets are required by law to be used in a way that serves the interests of its membership and advances its charitable mission.

In the last few years, the NRA has been considerably weaker, with less influence in the political sphere and fewer members, Watts and Wagner said.

Membership fell to 4.2 million from nearly 6 million five years ago, The New York Times reported. Membership dues dropped by $14 million from 2021 to 2022, according to an audit filed as part of the lawsuit.

The NRA did not respond to a request for comment about the trial. In 2020, the group said in a statement that the lawsuit was a “baseless, premeditated attack” on the NRA and on Second Amendment freedoms.

LaPierre previously called the investigation an “unconstitutional, premeditated attack aiming to dismantle and destroy the NRA.”

In a statement Friday, a spokesperson for the attorney general’s office said they “look forward to proving our case and ensuring all charities in New York adhere to the rule of law.”