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Top 10 Conservative Idiots #6-19: Fight For Your Right (To Choose) Edition
Top 10 Conservative Idiots #6-19: Fight For Your Right (To Choose) Edition
Welcome back to the Top 10 Conservative Idiots! Sign up now to get exclusive rewards from our advertising partners! Ah you know what? We wont subject you to that, there’s too much of that shit out there already. Last thing you need is us cluttering your inbox. Hey it’s our season finale everybody!!! Whew, we made it! We are there! This is awesome. And I can’t wait to come back for season 7!!! So is everyone still recovering from the Game Of Thrones finale? I haven’t seen it so I can’t say who won for sure but I do know this – regardless of who wins or loses the Game Of Thrones, someone who does win above all is the House Of HBO. They had the highest ratings ever for a paid cable network. 2.7 million people. So all you people who are complaining that this was a bad season – yeah you know what? This goes back to our theory about Bernie Sanders – he’s got a product to sell, and you bought it. You know what else? HBO has a show to broadcast, and you watched it. The two are no different! So to the 800,000 people who signed a petition to redo this season you know what? I wouldn’t be surprised if HBO flashed their cash right in front of you as an insult. Seriously you can’t please everybody all the time, and most of those people are Game Of Thrones fans. OK that’s enough of the intro. We got a lot of idiocy to get to today. But first John Oliver is back with what might be the single most frightening Last Week Tonight ever on what happens when you die:
Whew, where do we begin this week? Well, they did it. The anti-abortion extremists (1) got abortion successfully equated with murder as states including Ohio, Alabama, and Indiana have signed into law some of the harshest penalties yet for abortion. So much that it’s occupying a second slot, and we’re going to find out what’s fueling the abortion debate (2) because it’s getting weirder and scarier, and Christian extremists are going all out in their quest to rid the country of Roe V Wade. In the third slot this week we have a new installment of “This Fucking Guy” and we’re going to introduce you to media mogul and convicted fraudster Conrad Black (3) who might be the latest in a long line of controversial Trump pardons. Why? Because Mr. Black wrote a flattering book about Trump, and you know how he loves him some loyalty! In the fourth slot this week is the NRA (4) and they are in a complete free fall after last month’s annual convention, mainly thanks to some extremely reckless spending habits. We will play armchair auditor and find out what’s really going on with the gun lobby! For the fifth slot this week is our weekly investigative piece Top 10 Investigates (5) and we’re going to talk cars. There’s finally a market for electric vehicles and they are more popular than ever, but what’s up with the trucks? A couple of startups are looking to take a chunk out of Tesla’s armor, and we will take a look at that. In the sixth slot this week, is of course our weekly visit to the Holy Church Of The Top 10 in “Holy Shit”, and our resident pastor is going to find out – why does the Christian right hate equality? Doesn’t it say love thy neighbor? What Bible are they reading? And in the 7th slot this week we have “Beating A Dead Horse” (7). Is it OK for Trump fans to display their MAGA pride at sporting events? Well a few of them have and it’s beginning to become a problem, and it needs to stop right now! At the number 8 slot this week is a new installment of “How Is This Still A Thing” and after some rocky changes in leadership and ownership, we’re going to find out how conservative campus lobby TPUSA (8) is still a thing. In the number 9 (NEIN!!!) slot this week is a new People Are Dumb, because of course they are! And here we are, it’s finally time to crown the winner of our 2019 Stupidest State Contest! We’re live at UCLA’s legendary Pauley Pavilion for all the action as Wisconsin takes on Alabama. We will have the champagne, the post game celebration, and all the festivities as we crown our winner! Plus to cap off this season, we have some live music from the man, the myth, the legend that is Ice Cube! Really, buy his new album “Everythang’s Corrupt” or you are no friend of this program. Enjoy! And as always don’t forget the key!
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[font size="8"]Abortion Laws
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Yes, our number one this week is the anti-abortion activists who scored crazy victories last week in their never-ending quest to overturn Roe V. Wade. And you know what is fucking scary? They might actually do it this year. I mean right now there’s only one heartbeat that I care about this week is that Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s. Ruth, you must please live forever! But we’re going to talk a lot about Alabama this edition (after all, they are our Stupidest State Flyover League Champion. But here’s where it stands currently in Alabama, or as it’s been called Al’Abama.
The future of a woman's right to choose an abortion in the United States could ultimately come down to the decision of one man.
Last week, the state of Alabama approved legislation to ban abortions in almost all cases, and Missouri passed a bill stopping women from seeking the procedure after the eighth week of pregnancy.
Kentucky, Mississippi, Ohio and Georgia recently approved bans on abortions once a foetal heartbeat was detected in week six, and 16 other states are looking to tighten their abortion laws.
Historically, this legislation was decided by each state until 1973, when the US Supreme Court made abortion a constitutional right across the country through the landmark Roe v Wade case.
Advocates who support access to abortion are now vowing to challenge the recent state law changes, and take their fight through the district and appeals courts — all the way to the Supreme Court.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-05-21/the-decision-to-outlaw-abortion-in-us-could-depend-on-one-judge/11125394
Last week, the state of Alabama approved legislation to ban abortions in almost all cases, and Missouri passed a bill stopping women from seeking the procedure after the eighth week of pregnancy.
Kentucky, Mississippi, Ohio and Georgia recently approved bans on abortions once a foetal heartbeat was detected in week six, and 16 other states are looking to tighten their abortion laws.
Historically, this legislation was decided by each state until 1973, when the US Supreme Court made abortion a constitutional right across the country through the landmark Roe v Wade case.
Advocates who support access to abortion are now vowing to challenge the recent state law changes, and take their fight through the district and appeals courts — all the way to the Supreme Court.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-05-21/the-decision-to-outlaw-abortion-in-us-could-depend-on-one-judge/11125394
You said it, sir! We cannot tolerate this anymore. And that’s fucking terrifying that the fate of all of these horrible abortion bills could rest on the fate of one guy. I mean shit, even Pat Robertson, a guy who I would never in a million years agree with anything he says, thinks that these laws that are being passed have gone too far. But really Pat, you’re part of the problem!
Televangelist Pat Robertson said he thinks Alabama went "too far" with a controversial abortion bill that could punish doctors who perform abortions with life in prison.
"I think Alabama has gone too far," he said Wednesday during an episode of "The 700 Club." "There's no exception for rape or incest. It's an extreme law and they want to challenge Roe v. Wade."
He continued: "But my humble view is that this is not the case we want to bring to the Supreme Court because I think this one will lose."
The bill, which was signed into law by Gov. Kay Ivey on Wednesday, only allows exceptions "to avoid a serious health risk to the unborn child's mother," for ectopic pregnancy and if the "unborn child has a lethal anomaly."
The law carries stiff penalties for those caught violating it. For example, doctors could face up to 99 years in prison for performing an abortion in the state.
https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/alabama-abortion-bill/index.html
"I think Alabama has gone too far," he said Wednesday during an episode of "The 700 Club." "There's no exception for rape or incest. It's an extreme law and they want to challenge Roe v. Wade."
He continued: "But my humble view is that this is not the case we want to bring to the Supreme Court because I think this one will lose."
The bill, which was signed into law by Gov. Kay Ivey on Wednesday, only allows exceptions "to avoid a serious health risk to the unborn child's mother," for ectopic pregnancy and if the "unborn child has a lethal anomaly."
The law carries stiff penalties for those caught violating it. For example, doctors could face up to 99 years in prison for performing an abortion in the state.
https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/alabama-abortion-bill/index.html
Yeah seriously, when Pat fucking Robertson thinks you’ve gone too far, shut the whole damn thing down!!!! And by the way if you’re wondering how you can help, here’s how. Instead of boycotting the state altogether, why not join the fight? It’s turning ugly and the more you avoid talking about it, the more you help create the problem. So why not take action and join in?
Maryland’s chief financial officer on Thursday called for a number of retaliatory economic measures against Alabama in response to the state’s passage of the nation’s most restrictive abortion legislation. The bill was signed Wednesday by Republican Gov. Kay Ivey.
Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot, a Democrat who also serves as vice chair of the state’s retirement system, is seeking a full divestment of the $52 billion pension fund from Alabama businesses and will soon make the case to the system’s board of trustees, he said.
First, he said, he will order his staff to prepare a report on the retirement system’s exposure to Alabama to make sure that it can be done responsibly.
Franchot also said he will order his staff of 1,100 employees not to travel to Alabama on business and will use his seat on the three-member Board of Public Works to limit contracts given to Alabama companies. That board, which also includes Republican Gov. Larry Hogan, awards $11 billion in contracts annually, he noted.
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/05/16/maryland-official-calls-for-alabama-divestment-citing-abortion-bill.html
Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot, a Democrat who also serves as vice chair of the state’s retirement system, is seeking a full divestment of the $52 billion pension fund from Alabama businesses and will soon make the case to the system’s board of trustees, he said.
First, he said, he will order his staff to prepare a report on the retirement system’s exposure to Alabama to make sure that it can be done responsibly.
Franchot also said he will order his staff of 1,100 employees not to travel to Alabama on business and will use his seat on the three-member Board of Public Works to limit contracts given to Alabama companies. That board, which also includes Republican Gov. Larry Hogan, awards $11 billion in contracts annually, he noted.
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/05/16/maryland-official-calls-for-alabama-divestment-citing-abortion-bill.html
I mean seriously when Gordon Ramsay thinks you’ve gone too far, you’ve gone too fucking far. I mean that shrimp scampi isn’t going to marinate itself!!! And Maryland’s not alone. Other states including California and Colorado are joining the fight against Alabama. Really, Alabama, you done fucked up big time and you will pay for this bill.
Colorado's Secretary of State is taking a stand against Alabama over a controversial abortion bill signed into law this week.
"I’m calling for a boycott of Alabama," Secretary of the State for Colorado Jena Griswold posted to Twitter. "Until Alabama allows for safe & legal access to health care for women, I will not authorize spending of state resources on travel to Alabama. I call on other state and local leaders in CO and across the country to join me in this boycott."
Alabama's governor signed the nation's strictest abortion ban on Wednesday, which makes performing an abortion a felony in nearly all cases.
"To the bill's many supporters, this legislation stands as a powerful testament to Alabamians' deeply held belief that every life is precious and that every life is a sacred gift from God," Republican Gov. Kay Ivey said in a statement.
The legislation passed in Alabama would make performing an abortion at any stage of pregnancy a felony punishable by 10 to 99 years or life in prison for the provider. The only exception would be when the woman's health is at serious risk. Women seeking or undergoing abortions wouldn't be punished.
https://www.kktv.com/content/news/Colorado-Secretary-of-State-takes-stand-against-Alabama-for-abortion-bill-510035381.html
"I’m calling for a boycott of Alabama," Secretary of the State for Colorado Jena Griswold posted to Twitter. "Until Alabama allows for safe & legal access to health care for women, I will not authorize spending of state resources on travel to Alabama. I call on other state and local leaders in CO and across the country to join me in this boycott."
Alabama's governor signed the nation's strictest abortion ban on Wednesday, which makes performing an abortion a felony in nearly all cases.
"To the bill's many supporters, this legislation stands as a powerful testament to Alabamians' deeply held belief that every life is precious and that every life is a sacred gift from God," Republican Gov. Kay Ivey said in a statement.
The legislation passed in Alabama would make performing an abortion at any stage of pregnancy a felony punishable by 10 to 99 years or life in prison for the provider. The only exception would be when the woman's health is at serious risk. Women seeking or undergoing abortions wouldn't be punished.
https://www.kktv.com/content/news/Colorado-Secretary-of-State-takes-stand-against-Alabama-for-abortion-bill-510035381.html
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[font size="8"]The Abortion Debate
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I’m sure by now everyone is sick of hearing about Alabama’s insanely totalitarian anti-abortion laws but they’re not alone. This was a carefully coordinated attack in an effort to overturn Roe V Wade, and if it goes to SCOTUS, there’s a chance that it might actually happen – and we have every reason in the world to be fucking terrified of the very real possibility that this could happen. So why is there such a rush to capitalize on anti-abortion practices now and what’s fueling the debate? Well it’s no secret that ultra far right Christians have been operating deep within the Trump administration. But the question is why the push now?
Eight months after the contentious hearings over Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, progressives fear that the most dire warnings of abortion rights groups are now coming to fruition.
This week, Alabama passed the country's most restrictive abortion ban, soon followed by Missouri passing its own strict anti-abortion legislation. Other bills elsewhere have either been signed into law or are working their way through legislatures -- with expectations on both sides that the issue will eventually come before the Supreme Court.
This momentum has thrust women's reproductive rights to the forefront of the political debate, with leaders weighing in from the halls of Congress to the campaign trail where the 2020 election debate is already at fever pitch.
Still, the nationwide political fight over abortion rights comes at a time when 77% of voters support access to abortion in the case of rape and incest during the first trimester.
"We think that women understand their rights are under fire and that there is a dire need to ensure that the right policymakers are making the decisions," said Christina Reynolds, vice president of communications for EMILY's List. "What we've seen is a bunch of mostly male Republicans making really bad decisions on behalf of the women in this country."
https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/18/politics/abortion-bills-debate/index.html
This week, Alabama passed the country's most restrictive abortion ban, soon followed by Missouri passing its own strict anti-abortion legislation. Other bills elsewhere have either been signed into law or are working their way through legislatures -- with expectations on both sides that the issue will eventually come before the Supreme Court.
This momentum has thrust women's reproductive rights to the forefront of the political debate, with leaders weighing in from the halls of Congress to the campaign trail where the 2020 election debate is already at fever pitch.
Still, the nationwide political fight over abortion rights comes at a time when 77% of voters support access to abortion in the case of rape and incest during the first trimester.
"We think that women understand their rights are under fire and that there is a dire need to ensure that the right policymakers are making the decisions," said Christina Reynolds, vice president of communications for EMILY's List. "What we've seen is a bunch of mostly male Republicans making really bad decisions on behalf of the women in this country."
https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/18/politics/abortion-bills-debate/index.html
Well actually you are wrong! I mean this is fucking insane – 77% of the country supports that abortion should be legal in cases of rape or incest. But not in Alabama! Really you got to fight for your right to choose people! Or to paraphrase the immortal Beastie Boys, YOU GOTTA FIGHT… FOR YOUR RIGHT… TO CHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSE!!! Ah, I miss that band. But Alabama isn’t the only one, Missouri has also come along and torched previous abortion legislation.
Missouri is poised to become the latest Republican-led state to enact a strict anti-abortion law, setting up a series of legal battles that could lead to the Supreme Court reconsidering Roe v. Wade.
The Missouri House on Friday approved a bill that had already cleared the state Senate, sending it to the desk of Republican Gov. Mike Parson, who has said he will sign it into law.
The bill, HB 126, would prohibit abortions after eight weeks of pregnancy -- after a heartbeat is detected -- though many women often don't know they're pregnant in that time. The bill includes exceptions for what it defines as medical emergencies, such as cases when the mother's life is at risk or she is facing serious permanent injury, but not for pregnancies that are the result of rape or incest.
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson told reporters Friday that he would sign the bill, calling it "just a matter of when we get all the bills in."
https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/17/politics/missouri-abortion-bill-house/index.html
The Missouri House on Friday approved a bill that had already cleared the state Senate, sending it to the desk of Republican Gov. Mike Parson, who has said he will sign it into law.
The bill, HB 126, would prohibit abortions after eight weeks of pregnancy -- after a heartbeat is detected -- though many women often don't know they're pregnant in that time. The bill includes exceptions for what it defines as medical emergencies, such as cases when the mother's life is at risk or she is facing serious permanent injury, but not for pregnancies that are the result of rape or incest.
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson told reporters Friday that he would sign the bill, calling it "just a matter of when we get all the bills in."
https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/17/politics/missouri-abortion-bill-house/index.html
And I mean is anyone really that shocked that it’s mostly conservative white males who are fueling the fire for this debate? The other thing I noticed is that states seem to be pumping out these abortion laws almost as frequently as Tyler Perry pumps out Madea movies. And just like the Madea movies, each one gets more ridiculous and insane. Quite frankly I’m expecting the two franchises to make a cross over movie at some point. Oh don’t boo! Really sir, that’s the joke you choose to walk out on? Fine, but there is this.
The governor of Georgia signed into law one of the strictest abortion bans in the country. The sponsor of an anti-abortion bill in Ohio made headlines by falsely claiming that it’s possible to transplant an ectopic pregnancy into the uterus. And the Alabama state Senate erupted in shouting after Republicans removed exceptions for rape and incest from an anti-abortion bill.
All these developments happened just this week, a new level of activity in a year that has already seen a raft of abortion restrictions pass — and some states move to shore up abortion access in response. Anti-abortion groups and legislators have been backing more aggressive restrictions since President Trump’s election, but their efforts have ramped up in 2019.
Four “heartbeat” bills, like Georgia’s, that would ban abortion as early as six weeks, have passed this year alone, and total bans on abortion are under consideration in Alabama and elsewhere. Meanwhile, supporters of this kind of legislation have stated openly that their goal is to challenge Roe v. Wade.
“The gloves are off” among abortion opponents, Kristin Ford, the national communications director for NARAL Pro-Choice America, told Vox. “They feel like they have the wind at their backs and they don’t have to dance around their true intentions anymore.”
https://www.vox.com/2019/5/10/18564436/ohio-abortion-bill-law-alabama-georgia-details
All these developments happened just this week, a new level of activity in a year that has already seen a raft of abortion restrictions pass — and some states move to shore up abortion access in response. Anti-abortion groups and legislators have been backing more aggressive restrictions since President Trump’s election, but their efforts have ramped up in 2019.
Four “heartbeat” bills, like Georgia’s, that would ban abortion as early as six weeks, have passed this year alone, and total bans on abortion are under consideration in Alabama and elsewhere. Meanwhile, supporters of this kind of legislation have stated openly that their goal is to challenge Roe v. Wade.
“The gloves are off” among abortion opponents, Kristin Ford, the national communications director for NARAL Pro-Choice America, told Vox. “They feel like they have the wind at their backs and they don’t have to dance around their true intentions anymore.”
https://www.vox.com/2019/5/10/18564436/ohio-abortion-bill-law-alabama-georgia-details
Oh it’s on now anti-abortion foes! In fact your reckless disregard for human rights may signal a massive blue wave in 2020 and possibly spell the end of your reign of terror in the Trump White House. Even Alabama, or as the new name has declared itself, Al’Abama, is running scared of the detractors of this horrifying human rights atrocity.
Conservative governors and legislators are using new highly restrictive abortion laws to get abortion back in front of what they believe is the most friendly U.S. Supreme Court in decades.
Sixteen states have passed or are scrambling to pass bans on abortion after a doctor can detect what they call "a fetal heartbeat in the womb," usually about six weeks, before many women know they are pregnant. That includes Georgia, where Republican Gov. Brian Kemp signed a "heartbeat bill" into law on Tuesday.
Separately, the Alabama Senate is poised to vote this week on legislation that could become the nation’s strictest abortion law, making it a felony to receive an abortion.
In a countermove, lawmakers in a growing number of states are racing to amend state constitutions to provide a backstop for the possible overturn of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court ruling that legalized abortion.
Vermont on Tuesday passed a bill that would enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution, with similar legislation in the works in 12 other states, including New Mexico, Nevada and Rhode Island.
https://www.al.com/news/2019/05/after-georgias-heartbeat-law-national-abortion-debate-moves-to-alabama.html
Sixteen states have passed or are scrambling to pass bans on abortion after a doctor can detect what they call "a fetal heartbeat in the womb," usually about six weeks, before many women know they are pregnant. That includes Georgia, where Republican Gov. Brian Kemp signed a "heartbeat bill" into law on Tuesday.
Separately, the Alabama Senate is poised to vote this week on legislation that could become the nation’s strictest abortion law, making it a felony to receive an abortion.
In a countermove, lawmakers in a growing number of states are racing to amend state constitutions to provide a backstop for the possible overturn of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court ruling that legalized abortion.
Vermont on Tuesday passed a bill that would enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution, with similar legislation in the works in 12 other states, including New Mexico, Nevada and Rhode Island.
https://www.al.com/news/2019/05/after-georgias-heartbeat-law-national-abortion-debate-moves-to-alabama.html
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[font size="8"]Conrad Black
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When Donald Trump picks a person to pardon, he sure knows how to pick them! I mean let’s go through some of the people who he’s pardoned so far. Like Sheriff Joe Arpaio for instance, a guy who tortured prisoners. Or Razzie Award winning documentarian Dinesh D’Souza who got busted for illegal campaign contributions. Or Scooter Libby, the guy who outed CIA agents. Now there’s Conrad Black, the latest in a long line of Trump pardons. This fucking guy. You know what got him on Trump’s radar? He’s the author of a book called “Donald J. Trump: A President Like No Other”. Before you boo, let’s consider the source for a minute.
The name Conrad Black may not ring a bell for some Americans, but the onetime media baron, society figure and now a recipient of a presidential pardon was in the public spotlight for years. Deported to Canada in 2012 after spending more than three years in prison, Black had been found guilty of fraud and obstruction of justice. His long and colorful history includes a long-standing alliance with President Trump.
Born in Canada, Black eventually became a British lord and is described in press accounts as a millionaire who lived like a billionaire. When criticized for allegedly using shareholder money to finance a vacation to Bora Bora and charging an extravagant birthday party for his wife to his company, he reportedly declared that he would "not re-enact the French Revolutionary renunciation of the rights of the nobility." He was acquitted of charges related to both incidents.
"A President Like No Other"
In his 20s, Black and longtime business partner David Radler turned an investment in an English-language daily in Quebec into a company that ran more than 300 newspapers. He became a convicted felon decades later when he and other executives were accused of looting about $32 million from Hollinger International, which owned entities including the Chicago Sun-Times, Canada's National Post, the U.K.'s Daily Telegraph and the Jerusalem Post. Radler pleaded guilty in the scheme blamed for taking down what at the time was among the biggest newspaper companies in the world.
<snip>
When Black was at the helm, the Sun-Times in the early 2000s sold its building alongside the Chicago River to Mr. Trump, leading to the present-day Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago. The two were partners in the undertaking until Mr. Trump bought out Black.
The full pardon came a day after the National Review published an essay by Black headlined: "Smooth Sailing Ahead for Trump," and a year after the publication of Black's book, "Donald J. Trump: A President Like No Other." The 74-year-old Black has authored other presidential biographies, including "Richard M. Nixon: A Life in Full," in 2007.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/who-is-conrad-black-meet-the-man-pardoned-by-president-trump/
Born in Canada, Black eventually became a British lord and is described in press accounts as a millionaire who lived like a billionaire. When criticized for allegedly using shareholder money to finance a vacation to Bora Bora and charging an extravagant birthday party for his wife to his company, he reportedly declared that he would "not re-enact the French Revolutionary renunciation of the rights of the nobility." He was acquitted of charges related to both incidents.
"A President Like No Other"
In his 20s, Black and longtime business partner David Radler turned an investment in an English-language daily in Quebec into a company that ran more than 300 newspapers. He became a convicted felon decades later when he and other executives were accused of looting about $32 million from Hollinger International, which owned entities including the Chicago Sun-Times, Canada's National Post, the U.K.'s Daily Telegraph and the Jerusalem Post. Radler pleaded guilty in the scheme blamed for taking down what at the time was among the biggest newspaper companies in the world.
<snip>
When Black was at the helm, the Sun-Times in the early 2000s sold its building alongside the Chicago River to Mr. Trump, leading to the present-day Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago. The two were partners in the undertaking until Mr. Trump bought out Black.
The full pardon came a day after the National Review published an essay by Black headlined: "Smooth Sailing Ahead for Trump," and a year after the publication of Black's book, "Donald J. Trump: A President Like No Other." The 74-year-old Black has authored other presidential biographies, including "Richard M. Nixon: A Life in Full," in 2007.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/who-is-conrad-black-meet-the-man-pardoned-by-president-trump/
Boy he sure can pick presidents can’t he? I mean Trump *AND* Nixon? Maybe next he’ll write flattering books about Atilla The Hun and Josef Stalin. And you know when Trump picks a person to pardon he really is abusing his position. He has an ego the size of Texas and it’s insane how he keeps pardoning people who kiss his ass, like Conrad Black and Dinesh D’Souza.
The Washington Post’s Aaron Blake analyzed 10 pardons issued by President Donald Trump and found that eight of the pardons have carried apparent political benefits for the president.
Trump announced the pardons of publisher Conrad Black and former California GOP leader Patrick Nolan Wednesday night. Blake notes that both of these pardons could be seen as “self-serving.”
Blake noted Black published a book last year titled Donald J. Trump: A President Like no Other.
“The book is more hagiography than biography. It defends Trump against charges that he is a racist, stating flatly that he is not. It hails his “very successful” foreign policy ventures. It credits his “unquenchable energy,” “sheer entertainment talent” and “raw toughness,”” Blake writes.
Blake also notes the pardon of Nolan was also political but in a less obvious way.
“Last year, Nolan criticized special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation,” Blake writes. “He said it was symptomatic of how law enforcement personnel “decide who they’re going to prosecute and then hunt for a crime.”
https://www.mediaite.com/trump/washington-post-donald-trump-keeps-pardoning-his-friends/
Trump announced the pardons of publisher Conrad Black and former California GOP leader Patrick Nolan Wednesday night. Blake notes that both of these pardons could be seen as “self-serving.”
Blake noted Black published a book last year titled Donald J. Trump: A President Like no Other.
“The book is more hagiography than biography. It defends Trump against charges that he is a racist, stating flatly that he is not. It hails his “very successful” foreign policy ventures. It credits his “unquenchable energy,” “sheer entertainment talent” and “raw toughness,”” Blake writes.
Blake also notes the pardon of Nolan was also political but in a less obvious way.
“Last year, Nolan criticized special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation,” Blake writes. “He said it was symptomatic of how law enforcement personnel “decide who they’re going to prosecute and then hunt for a crime.”
https://www.mediaite.com/trump/washington-post-donald-trump-keeps-pardoning-his-friends/
You know what’s really sad? The fact that this book tried to casually pass off the fact that Trump may be a racist! Shocker! These people lie like it’s a bodily function. In case you were wondering what Conrad Black’s credentials are, he has his head so far up Trump’s ass that he bumped into Hannity, Limbaugh, and Tucker Carlson. Here’s some more of what the relationship between these two is like, and well it’s a classic case of quid pro quo.
Donald Trump has pardoned Conrad Black, the former media mogul who owned the Daily Telegraph and the Spectator before being jailed for fraud, shortly after he wrote a book praising the US president.
Black, a Canadian-born British citizen, was once known for his extravagant lifestyle as he ran an international newspaper empire that included the Chicago Sun-Times and the Jerusalem Post. But he ended up serving three and a half years in prison after he was convicted in 2007 of siphoning off millions of dollars from the sale of newspapers owned by the company he controlled.
Since leaving jail Black, who is a British peer, has been on a quest to clear his name. Last year he published a book entitled Donald J Trump: A President Like No Other, writing that Trump “is not, in fact, a racist, sexist, warmonger, hothead, promoter of violence, or a foreign or domestic economic warrior”. He suggested the president had been misunderstood.
A White House spokesperson said the decision had been made because of Black’s “tremendous contributions to business, as well as to political and historical thought”, as well as the work he had done supporting fellow prisoners while inside.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/may/15/conrad-black-trump-pardons-ex-media-mogul
Black, a Canadian-born British citizen, was once known for his extravagant lifestyle as he ran an international newspaper empire that included the Chicago Sun-Times and the Jerusalem Post. But he ended up serving three and a half years in prison after he was convicted in 2007 of siphoning off millions of dollars from the sale of newspapers owned by the company he controlled.
Since leaving jail Black, who is a British peer, has been on a quest to clear his name. Last year he published a book entitled Donald J Trump: A President Like No Other, writing that Trump “is not, in fact, a racist, sexist, warmonger, hothead, promoter of violence, or a foreign or domestic economic warrior”. He suggested the president had been misunderstood.
A White House spokesperson said the decision had been made because of Black’s “tremendous contributions to business, as well as to political and historical thought”, as well as the work he had done supporting fellow prisoners while inside.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/may/15/conrad-black-trump-pardons-ex-media-mogul
Yes… quid pro quo, douchebags! I mean has Mr. Black really contributed anything to business outside of having his lips placed firmly on Trump’s ass? And Trump’s ass has to be big because he’s got a lot of people kissing it! And by the way I don’t think Trump gets that a pardon is an admission of guilt – Mr. Black may be guilty of one crime but that doesn’t let him off the hook for others! By the way in case you’re wondering what Mr. Black was found guilty of, it was just some good old fashioned white collar crime!
On Wednesday, the White House granted Black a full pardon. The administration’s justification for the pardon doesn’t cite a legal basis but notes Black’s “tremendous contributions to business, as well as to political and historical thought.” As Politico describes it, Black was convicted for his role “in a ploy to swindle millions of dollars from investors in his media company.”
Black’s National Review piece wasn’t the only time he penned praise for Trump. More recently, he wrote a book titled Donald J Trump: A President Like No Other. The book describes Trump as “not, in fact, a racist, sexist, warmonger, hothead, promoter of violence, or a foreign or domestic economic warrior.”
“Like the country he represents, Donald Trump possesses the optimism to persevere and succeed, the confidence to affront tradition and convention, a genius for spectacle, and a firm belief in common sense and the common man,” the first page begins.
In a column about his pardon written Wednesday for Canada’s National Post, a publication he founded, Black details the call he received from Trump last week in which he was informed about the pardon. He claims Trump told him his public praise played no role in the decision, which Trump said was motivated by his desire to “expunge the bad rap you got”:
https://www.vox.com/2019/5/16/18627631/trump-conrad-black-pardon
Black’s National Review piece wasn’t the only time he penned praise for Trump. More recently, he wrote a book titled Donald J Trump: A President Like No Other. The book describes Trump as “not, in fact, a racist, sexist, warmonger, hothead, promoter of violence, or a foreign or domestic economic warrior.”
“Like the country he represents, Donald Trump possesses the optimism to persevere and succeed, the confidence to affront tradition and convention, a genius for spectacle, and a firm belief in common sense and the common man,” the first page begins.
In a column about his pardon written Wednesday for Canada’s National Post, a publication he founded, Black details the call he received from Trump last week in which he was informed about the pardon. He claims Trump told him his public praise played no role in the decision, which Trump said was motivated by his desire to “expunge the bad rap you got”:
https://www.vox.com/2019/5/16/18627631/trump-conrad-black-pardon
And yes there are far worse people Trump has pardoned and we will get to those. But for now this is Conrad Black, this week’s:
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[font size="8"]The NRA
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Allow me to engage in a bit of schadenfreude here. But seriously, fuck the NRA. And is anyone else taking delight that since their annual convention, the organization has been completely imploding? I mean they should go down in a fiery ball of flames the way that a gun lobby is supposed to go down – shooting first and asking questions later. But I am loving the fact that they just seem to be imploding at the seems. Maybe it’s because people are finally getting tired of their schtick? Or because they were the recent attempt of a failed coup by Oliver North? Or is it something else? But never the less time to break out your inner Nelson and laugh along.
The tantalizing leaks have spilled out in the weeks since the National Rifle Association’s annual convention in Indianapolis devolved into civil war.
Amid anxiety over falling revenue and mounting legal trouble has come news that the gun group’s longtime chief executive, Wayne LaPierre, billed $275,000 for purchases at the Zegna luxury men’s wear boutique in Beverly Hills. Its largely ceremonial president, Oliver L. North, had a contract worth millions of dollars a year. And a litany of payments benefited prominent officials, like the $60,000 for advertising on a TV show featuring the rock musician and N.R.A. board member Ted Nugent.
But behind the internecine squabbling lie deeper financial problems. A review of tax records by The New York Times shows that, to steady its finances, the powerful lobbying group has increasingly relied on cash infusions and other transactions involving its affiliated foundation — at least $206 million worth since 2010.
The role of the foundation is among the issues being examined in a new investigation into the N.R.A.’s tax-exempt status by the New York attorney general, Letitia James. The N.R.A. and the charity received separate letters last month from Ms. James’s office ordering them to preserve pertinent records, according to several people who had seen them.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/14/us/nra-finances-executives-board-members.html
Amid anxiety over falling revenue and mounting legal trouble has come news that the gun group’s longtime chief executive, Wayne LaPierre, billed $275,000 for purchases at the Zegna luxury men’s wear boutique in Beverly Hills. Its largely ceremonial president, Oliver L. North, had a contract worth millions of dollars a year. And a litany of payments benefited prominent officials, like the $60,000 for advertising on a TV show featuring the rock musician and N.R.A. board member Ted Nugent.
But behind the internecine squabbling lie deeper financial problems. A review of tax records by The New York Times shows that, to steady its finances, the powerful lobbying group has increasingly relied on cash infusions and other transactions involving its affiliated foundation — at least $206 million worth since 2010.
The role of the foundation is among the issues being examined in a new investigation into the N.R.A.’s tax-exempt status by the New York attorney general, Letitia James. The N.R.A. and the charity received separate letters last month from Ms. James’s office ordering them to preserve pertinent records, according to several people who had seen them.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/14/us/nra-finances-executives-board-members.html
You know just remember – Al Capone wasn’t taken down because he was a drug dealer, money launderer, and murderer. You know what got him busted? Just a little thing called money. And the NRA is losing a hell of a lot of it. I mean things are so bad at the NRA that they actually had to cut their coffee expenses! Yes, fuck free coffee, you NRA employees have to stand in line at Starbucks, just like the rest of us! So how bad is it?
New York state’s attorney general, who promised during her campaign to investigating the National Rifle Association’s nonprofit status, has begun an investigation into the finances of the gun owners’ group, her spokeswoman said Saturday.
“The Office of New York State Attorney General Letitia James has launched an investigation related to the National Rifle Association (NRA),” spokeswoman Kelly Donnelly said in an email. “As part of this investigation, the Attorney General has issued subpoenas.”
William A. Brewer, the NRA’s outside lawyer, says the organization “will fully cooperate with any inquiry into its finances.” He added, “The NRA is prepared for this, and has full confidence in its accounting practices and commitment to good governance.”
James, a Democrat, had vowed during her campaign last year to investigate the NRA’s not-for-profit status if elected.
“I will use the constitutional power as an attorney general to regulate charities, that includes the NRA, to investigate their legitimacy,” she said at a July 12 rally.
http://time.com/5579235/nra-finances-nonprofit-status/
“The Office of New York State Attorney General Letitia James has launched an investigation related to the National Rifle Association (NRA),” spokeswoman Kelly Donnelly said in an email. “As part of this investigation, the Attorney General has issued subpoenas.”
William A. Brewer, the NRA’s outside lawyer, says the organization “will fully cooperate with any inquiry into its finances.” He added, “The NRA is prepared for this, and has full confidence in its accounting practices and commitment to good governance.”
James, a Democrat, had vowed during her campaign last year to investigate the NRA’s not-for-profit status if elected.
“I will use the constitutional power as an attorney general to regulate charities, that includes the NRA, to investigate their legitimacy,” she said at a July 12 rally.
http://time.com/5579235/nra-finances-nonprofit-status/
While the annual gun nut convention drew a record crowd – one of their largest ever in the organization’s existence, it does show just how dire of straights that the embattled gun lobby is actually in, and if you know anything about accounting or finances, you know that there is some serious shit about to go down.
“We’ve seen stories about how NRA fund raising is falling off, and I don’t think they’re comfortable with defector talk,” said Dr. Jody Lynee Madeira of Indiana University, who expects more messages this week about the nation’s imperiled Second Amendment rights. “The NRA comes out and says, ‘This might be it, this might be the straw that breaks the camel’s back,’ and I think that further spurs so called panic buys that occur.”
During last year’s conference in Dallas, the NRA boasted it was stronger than ever.
“As we meet here today, the NRA’s membership is at an all-time high, approaching six million active members and thousands more are joining every single day,” claimed NRA Executive Vice President & CEO Wayne LaPierre. “While they write our obituary, more Americans belong to the National Rifle Association of America at right this second than at any other point of our 147 year history.”
Following the February 2018 tragedy at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, which took 17 lives and led the NRA to blame the FBI for missed signals and a local sheriff’s deputy who did not enter the school when the first shots rang out, several corporations ended their endorsement partnerships with the organization.
“But holding failed leaders accountable and fixing the broken culture that allowed this tragedy to happen isn’t the point for these people,” said NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris Cox, who blasted the group’s critics. “We have to understand they are waging an all-out war against our organization.
https://fox59.com/2019/04/23/indianapolis-convention-key-to-nra-finances/
During last year’s conference in Dallas, the NRA boasted it was stronger than ever.
“As we meet here today, the NRA’s membership is at an all-time high, approaching six million active members and thousands more are joining every single day,” claimed NRA Executive Vice President & CEO Wayne LaPierre. “While they write our obituary, more Americans belong to the National Rifle Association of America at right this second than at any other point of our 147 year history.”
Following the February 2018 tragedy at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, which took 17 lives and led the NRA to blame the FBI for missed signals and a local sheriff’s deputy who did not enter the school when the first shots rang out, several corporations ended their endorsement partnerships with the organization.
“But holding failed leaders accountable and fixing the broken culture that allowed this tragedy to happen isn’t the point for these people,” said NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris Cox, who blasted the group’s critics. “We have to understand they are waging an all-out war against our organization.
https://fox59.com/2019/04/23/indianapolis-convention-key-to-nra-finances/
No fucking shit! I mean gee, you think? We’re tired of seeing people get shot like they’re in an arcade game and our politicians that you installed aren’t doing jack shit about it! So strap in, because the NRA has hit rock bottom in the Trump administration and things are about to get a whole lot worse. Feel free to join in with me at the end as we emit a good, hearty “HA HA!!”.
The National Rifle Association emerged from its annual convention last week with a veneer of stability.
Its leader Wayne LaPierre managed to quash a takeover attempt by now-ousted President Oliver North, winning reelection as executive vice president in a unanimous vote of top board members.
But beneath the surface, the organization is in turmoil. New York Attorney General Letitia James is conducting a wide-ranging investigation into alleged financial mismanagement at the NRA, while the group is embroiled in a messy lawsuit with its longtime image-maker, Ackerman McQueen. The NRA sued the Oklahoma City-based ad firm last month to get documents as part of an apparent internal investigation into whether the firm has been siphoning money out of the gun lobby, allegations that Ackerman denies.
Then there’s Carry Guard. The program — which offers combat training and liability insurance for shootings carried out in “self-defense” — was founded in 2017 to keep money flowing into the NRA’s dwindling coffers after President Trump’s surprise election left gun owners assured that, for the time being, at least, no “jack-booted” government officials were coming for their firearms.
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/muckraker/nra-carry-guard-murder-insurance-cost
Its leader Wayne LaPierre managed to quash a takeover attempt by now-ousted President Oliver North, winning reelection as executive vice president in a unanimous vote of top board members.
But beneath the surface, the organization is in turmoil. New York Attorney General Letitia James is conducting a wide-ranging investigation into alleged financial mismanagement at the NRA, while the group is embroiled in a messy lawsuit with its longtime image-maker, Ackerman McQueen. The NRA sued the Oklahoma City-based ad firm last month to get documents as part of an apparent internal investigation into whether the firm has been siphoning money out of the gun lobby, allegations that Ackerman denies.
Then there’s Carry Guard. The program — which offers combat training and liability insurance for shootings carried out in “self-defense” — was founded in 2017 to keep money flowing into the NRA’s dwindling coffers after President Trump’s surprise election left gun owners assured that, for the time being, at least, no “jack-booted” government officials were coming for their firearms.
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/muckraker/nra-carry-guard-murder-insurance-cost
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[font size="8"]Top 10 Investigates: Electric Avenue
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It’s time to investigate beyond the headlines. This is Top 10 Investigates.
Not even 15 years ago, hybrid cars and electric cars were in the beginning phases. Now with the advent of Tesla and many manufacturers trending toward electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles, many have been asking what about trucks? The idea of marketing an electric truck is very tricky, especially when trucks seem to be getting bigger, burning more fuel, and using bigger and bigger tires. Now companies like Ford and GM appear to be investing in them and bringing their own ideas to the market, so what’s holding back the electric truck?
We know Ford has plans to produce an all-electric pickup truck. General Motors has something in the works as well. However, neither automaker has suggested any type of clear timeline, and the news about these upcoming entrants has not only been few and far between, but also rather conflicting.
Meanwhile, there's arguably no doubt that Tesla has an electric pickup truck in the future pipelines. Moreover, Rivian Automotive is well on its way to making similar plans a reality.
According to electric vehicle expert Chris Ruoff (founder and publisher of CHARGED), Ford and GM won't be able to beat Tesla to market with an electric truck. He also believes that Rivian may come out with its product ahead of all three aforementioned automakers. Rouff shared:
"It’s kind of the same conundrum they have with passenger electric vehicles, that it’s a huge risk for them, and if it doesn’t succeed, it’s a big problem.
Automakers, they are really kind of worried. There is no clear path for any automaker right now to transition to electric vehicles in a successful way. There is really no example yet. Everyone is trying to figure it out because they see that it is coming. But what automakers do a lot of is they hedge their bets, they copy successes, they copy each other’s (success), but they just don’t have a great example of what to do yet."
He pointed out that legacy OEMs generate a huge portion of their North American profits from pickup trucks. So, taking the all-electric plunge is scary.
https://insideevs.com/news/349292/electric-pickup-truck-ford-gm-late/
Meanwhile, there's arguably no doubt that Tesla has an electric pickup truck in the future pipelines. Moreover, Rivian Automotive is well on its way to making similar plans a reality.
According to electric vehicle expert Chris Ruoff (founder and publisher of CHARGED), Ford and GM won't be able to beat Tesla to market with an electric truck. He also believes that Rivian may come out with its product ahead of all three aforementioned automakers. Rouff shared:
"It’s kind of the same conundrum they have with passenger electric vehicles, that it’s a huge risk for them, and if it doesn’t succeed, it’s a big problem.
Automakers, they are really kind of worried. There is no clear path for any automaker right now to transition to electric vehicles in a successful way. There is really no example yet. Everyone is trying to figure it out because they see that it is coming. But what automakers do a lot of is they hedge their bets, they copy successes, they copy each other’s (success), but they just don’t have a great example of what to do yet."
He pointed out that legacy OEMs generate a huge portion of their North American profits from pickup trucks. So, taking the all-electric plunge is scary.
https://insideevs.com/news/349292/electric-pickup-truck-ford-gm-late/
So going after truck owners with electric vehicles is going to be an extremely sticky market to navigate for both experienced conglomerates like GM and Ford, as well as new startups like Rivian and veteran EV manufacturer Tesla. But let’s take a look at Sweden – a country that – not surprising, leads the entire world in electric vehicle production. How have they tackled this situation?
JONKOPING, Sweden (Reuters) - Resembling the helmet of a Star Wars stormtrooper, a driverless electric truck began daily freight deliveries on a public road in Sweden on Wednesday, in what developer Einride and logistics customer DB Schenker described as a world first.
Robert Falck, the CEO of Swedish start-up Einride, said the company was in partnership talks with major suppliers to help scale production and deliver orders, and the firm did not rule out future tie-ups with large truckmakers.
“This public road permit is a major milestone ... and it is a step to commercializing autonomous technology on roads,” the former Volvo executive told Reuters.
“Since we’re a software and operational first company, a partnership with a manufacturing company is something that we see as a core moving forward,” he said, adding he hoped to seal a deal by next year.
Falck said Einride, whose investors include ex-Daimler Asia trucks head Marc Llistosella, is also courting investors for an ongoing Series A fundraising, often a company’s first sizable one. It previously raised $10 million.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-einride-autonomous-sweden/driverless-electric-truck-starts-deliveries-on-swedish-public-road-idUSKCN1SL0NC
Robert Falck, the CEO of Swedish start-up Einride, said the company was in partnership talks with major suppliers to help scale production and deliver orders, and the firm did not rule out future tie-ups with large truckmakers.
“This public road permit is a major milestone ... and it is a step to commercializing autonomous technology on roads,” the former Volvo executive told Reuters.
“Since we’re a software and operational first company, a partnership with a manufacturing company is something that we see as a core moving forward,” he said, adding he hoped to seal a deal by next year.
Falck said Einride, whose investors include ex-Daimler Asia trucks head Marc Llistosella, is also courting investors for an ongoing Series A fundraising, often a company’s first sizable one. It previously raised $10 million.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-einride-autonomous-sweden/driverless-electric-truck-starts-deliveries-on-swedish-public-road-idUSKCN1SL0NC
So that’s what is happening across the ocean. But back at home there’s many challenges that present itself in this new burgeoning market. Manufacturing is one challenge that is needed to overcome in order for electric trucks to be viable. With many of the major manufacturers shutting plants and laying off people, how is that going to affect the production? Here’s one solution.
Steve Burns is a man of big ideas. In December 2017 he proudly showed off Workhorse's electric pick-up truck to WVXU, was perfecting drone delivery off the company's electric delivery trucks and touted his personal flying machine. Now he is planning to buy the GM Lordstown plant.
Burns, the former CEO of Workhorse now heading up a yet unnamed company, is in negotiations to buy the shuttered GM plant. He has pledged to hire hundreds of laid-off UAW workers if he can reach a deal with the union.
The company would make electric pick-up trucks for fleets at the plant and already has a total of 6,000 orders from Duke Energy, Ryder, the City of Orlando and others. "Pick-up trucks are the No. 1 vehicle in the country and a large percentage of those are sold to fleets and there is not an electric pick-up truck on the market," Burns says.
These would be "rugged, no frills, utilitarian, get-the-job-done work trucks."
Workhorse is one of five finalists to make an electric vehicle for the U.S. Postal Service. Fox News reports the Post Office will decide later this year who will get the $6 billion deal. If Workhorse gets the contract, Burns says three shifts a day at Lordstown would be needed to manufacture them.
https://www.wvxu.org/post/what-cincinnati-ceo-will-do-if-he-buys-gm-lordstown#stream/0
Burns, the former CEO of Workhorse now heading up a yet unnamed company, is in negotiations to buy the shuttered GM plant. He has pledged to hire hundreds of laid-off UAW workers if he can reach a deal with the union.
The company would make electric pick-up trucks for fleets at the plant and already has a total of 6,000 orders from Duke Energy, Ryder, the City of Orlando and others. "Pick-up trucks are the No. 1 vehicle in the country and a large percentage of those are sold to fleets and there is not an electric pick-up truck on the market," Burns says.
These would be "rugged, no frills, utilitarian, get-the-job-done work trucks."
Workhorse is one of five finalists to make an electric vehicle for the U.S. Postal Service. Fox News reports the Post Office will decide later this year who will get the $6 billion deal. If Workhorse gets the contract, Burns says three shifts a day at Lordstown would be needed to manufacture them.
https://www.wvxu.org/post/what-cincinnati-ceo-will-do-if-he-buys-gm-lordstown#stream/0
Yes, the article does go on to mention that the owner has plans of making personal electric helicopters at the Lordstown plant. But let’s not get nuts start with the trucks first. But at least this is a wake up call for the industry to get serious about electric trucks. But what will it take for GM, Ford, and RAM to get serious about competing with Tesla and new electric startups? Maybe this will be an incentive.
What makes California a leader in electric cars? A main reason is a policy requiring car manufacturers to sell electric vehicles in the state.
California is considering a similar policy for trucks
Trucks1 and buses make up just 7 percent of vehicles on the road in California, but 20 percent of global warming emissions and 40 percent of smog-forming nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from the transportation sector, the largest sector for both types of emissions in California.
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) recently released the latest iteration of a policy concept that would do for trucks what it has done for cars: set zero-emission sales targets. If set at the right level, such targets could transform the truck sector from one fueled by diesel to one powered by electricity and hydrogen.
The standard has undergone two and a half years of public workshops and information gathering. It will undergo another year of public input before it is voted on.
Here’s where things stand
The sales standard proposed by CARB would result in approximately 5 percent of trucks (84,000) operating in California as zero-emission vehicles by 2030.
Viewed from the limited number of electric trucks on the road in California today (less than a thousand), 84,000 zero-emission trucks might sound like a lot. But viewed in terms of the entire 1.5 million trucks operating in the state, 95 percent would still be powered by a combustion engine in 2030.
https://blog.ucsusa.org/jimmy-odea/how-can-we-get-more-electric-trucks-on-the-road
California is considering a similar policy for trucks
Trucks1 and buses make up just 7 percent of vehicles on the road in California, but 20 percent of global warming emissions and 40 percent of smog-forming nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from the transportation sector, the largest sector for both types of emissions in California.
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) recently released the latest iteration of a policy concept that would do for trucks what it has done for cars: set zero-emission sales targets. If set at the right level, such targets could transform the truck sector from one fueled by diesel to one powered by electricity and hydrogen.
The standard has undergone two and a half years of public workshops and information gathering. It will undergo another year of public input before it is voted on.
Here’s where things stand
The sales standard proposed by CARB would result in approximately 5 percent of trucks (84,000) operating in California as zero-emission vehicles by 2030.
Viewed from the limited number of electric trucks on the road in California today (less than a thousand), 84,000 zero-emission trucks might sound like a lot. But viewed in terms of the entire 1.5 million trucks operating in the state, 95 percent would still be powered by a combustion engine in 2030.
https://blog.ucsusa.org/jimmy-odea/how-can-we-get-more-electric-trucks-on-the-road
Yes leave it to California to drive change for the rest of the nation to follow. That’s it for Top 10 Investigates. Good day.
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[font size="8"]Holy Shit
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Gather around, my fair brothers and sisters, it’s time to take a seat in the pew and pass the collection plate! For the Holy Church of the Top 10 has convened and it’s our weekly duty to remind you why the holiest among us are also the most full of:
My fair congregation! You know we live in some very troubled and rocky times right now. And our attempts to recognize all of our fellow brothers and sisters as equal have not exactly been what one would call successful. There’s a proposed amendment to our constitution that would guarantee equal rights for all citizens. Now isn’t that something that the good LAWRD JAYSUS would want? And here’s a thought – how would everyone being equal somehow impose on your “religious freedom”? But there’s some who are taking this way too far.
The future of the "Equality Act," the landmark LGBT rights bill passed last week by the House, is uncertain. Even if could somehow pass the Republican-controlled Senate, President Donald Trump would likely veto it.
And that would be the right thing to do, no matter what the backlash. From my vantage point as a gay conservative, I can see that the Equality Act goes too far for any level-headed gay rights advocate to support, and its blatant disregard for the basic right to religious freedom is appalling.
The bill purports to protect LGBT Americans like me by prohibiting discrimination “based on sex, sexual orientation and gender identity in areas including public accommodations and facilities, education, federal funding, employment, housing, credit and the jury system.” On the surface, this sounds unobjectionable — after all, no one deserves to face discrimination. Yet the bill defined “public accommodations” so loosely and called for regulations so sweeping that it would crush religious freedom and radically reshape American society.
For example, the Equality Act undermines the 1993 Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which established a balancing test for religious freedom claims. It established a process for the litigation of discrimination grievances, where religious employers could appeal if found responsible for an offense and their actions could be fairly evaluated.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2019/05/20/lgbtq-equality-act-fails-fair-religious-freedom-provisions-accommodation-column/3731197002/
And that would be the right thing to do, no matter what the backlash. From my vantage point as a gay conservative, I can see that the Equality Act goes too far for any level-headed gay rights advocate to support, and its blatant disregard for the basic right to religious freedom is appalling.
The bill purports to protect LGBT Americans like me by prohibiting discrimination “based on sex, sexual orientation and gender identity in areas including public accommodations and facilities, education, federal funding, employment, housing, credit and the jury system.” On the surface, this sounds unobjectionable — after all, no one deserves to face discrimination. Yet the bill defined “public accommodations” so loosely and called for regulations so sweeping that it would crush religious freedom and radically reshape American society.
For example, the Equality Act undermines the 1993 Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which established a balancing test for religious freedom claims. It established a process for the litigation of discrimination grievances, where religious employers could appeal if found responsible for an offense and their actions could be fairly evaluated.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2019/05/20/lgbtq-equality-act-fails-fair-religious-freedom-provisions-accommodation-column/3731197002/
Now let’s dissect this here a minute. You want rights, right? Here’s a bill that is going to give you those rights. Instead you think it’s somehow going to impose on your religious freedom? What it really imposes on is your right to be an asshole! Can I get an amen??? But really what are the religious right talking about when they say nonsense like this?
Brian Brown, who fights LGBTQ equality in the U.S. and around the world, sent National Organization for Marriage supporters an email on Wednesday in which he blatantly lied about the Equality Act that has been proposed in Congress. The legislation would add to existing federal civil rights law protections against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. Brown calls it “a direct attack on the religious beliefs of millions of Americans.”
The lies start before you even open the email, with the subject line, “Making support for marriage illegal.” And they continue:
Legislation pending in Congress would make showing support for marriage as solely the union of one man and one woman to be illegal. Under HR 5, the grossly misnamed “Equality Act,” holding the view that marriage should only be between a man and a woman would constitute sex discrimination against someone who is gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender.
To be clear, none of this is true. The Equality Act would not make it illegal to “hold the view that marriage should only be between a man and a woman.” Nor would it make “showing support for marriage as solely the union of one man and one woman to be illegal.” If the law were passed, the First Amendment would allow Brown to continue to send emails like the one he sent this week and work to get the Supreme Court to overturn its marriage equality ruling.
What the Equality Act would do is prohibit discrimination against LGBTQ people in employment, housing, credit, education, public spaces and services, federally funded programs, and jury service. But that’s enough for Brown to call it an “outrageous assault on people of faith and all supporters of true marriage.”
http://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/brian-brown-is-still-lying-about-the-equality-act/
The lies start before you even open the email, with the subject line, “Making support for marriage illegal.” And they continue:
Legislation pending in Congress would make showing support for marriage as solely the union of one man and one woman to be illegal. Under HR 5, the grossly misnamed “Equality Act,” holding the view that marriage should only be between a man and a woman would constitute sex discrimination against someone who is gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender.
To be clear, none of this is true. The Equality Act would not make it illegal to “hold the view that marriage should only be between a man and a woman.” Nor would it make “showing support for marriage as solely the union of one man and one woman to be illegal.” If the law were passed, the First Amendment would allow Brown to continue to send emails like the one he sent this week and work to get the Supreme Court to overturn its marriage equality ruling.
What the Equality Act would do is prohibit discrimination against LGBTQ people in employment, housing, credit, education, public spaces and services, federally funded programs, and jury service. But that’s enough for Brown to call it an “outrageous assault on people of faith and all supporters of true marriage.”
http://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/brian-brown-is-still-lying-about-the-equality-act/
And that is true. I mean do they really believe it when they spout this nonsense? I have personally been asking this question since I first started my church. The Equality Act does not discriminate against marriage and it certainly doesn’t impose on religious freedom. Like I said what it really imposes on is your right to be an asshole. That’s all, nothing more, nothing less. And it most definitely won’t cause GAWD to destroy America! That much I know for sure. Can I get an amen???
On “The 700 Club” this morning, televangelist Pat Robertson warned that passage of the Equality Act, which seeks to add protections against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity to existing civil rights laws, will cause God to destroy America.
Robertson was interviewing Religious Right activist Mat Staver of Liberty Counsel about the legislation, which Staver declared to be “the biggest threat to religious freedom and freedom in general and the sanctity of human life” ever to be considered in Congress. Following the interview, Robertson urged his viewers to contact their members of Congress and the White House and voice their opposition to the bill.
“This is a devastating blow to religious freedom and to the sanctity of America,” he said. “If you want to bring the judgment of God on this nation, you just keep this stuff up. You know, I was reading in Leviticus where it said, ‘Because of these things, the land will vomit you out.’ Vomit you out. I think God will say, ‘I’ve had it with America, if you do this kind of stuff, I’m going to get rid of you as a nation.'”
“There is plenty of stuff that is going on,” Robertson added. “When you look at the potential of atomic war, when you look at the potential of a solar strike or something on our [electric] grid, you could go down the line of devastation that could happen to our nation. We don’t want that. We want the blessing of God, not the curse of God.”
http://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/pat-robertson-passage-of-the-equality-act-will-cause-god-to-destroy-america/
Robertson was interviewing Religious Right activist Mat Staver of Liberty Counsel about the legislation, which Staver declared to be “the biggest threat to religious freedom and freedom in general and the sanctity of human life” ever to be considered in Congress. Following the interview, Robertson urged his viewers to contact their members of Congress and the White House and voice their opposition to the bill.
“This is a devastating blow to religious freedom and to the sanctity of America,” he said. “If you want to bring the judgment of God on this nation, you just keep this stuff up. You know, I was reading in Leviticus where it said, ‘Because of these things, the land will vomit you out.’ Vomit you out. I think God will say, ‘I’ve had it with America, if you do this kind of stuff, I’m going to get rid of you as a nation.'”
“There is plenty of stuff that is going on,” Robertson added. “When you look at the potential of atomic war, when you look at the potential of a solar strike or something on our [electric] grid, you could go down the line of devastation that could happen to our nation. We don’t want that. We want the blessing of God, not the curse of God.”
http://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/pat-robertson-passage-of-the-equality-act-will-cause-god-to-destroy-america/
Yes, Pat, I don’t think you know what the word GAWD means, yet you keep using it! But while my brothers and sisters keep using that word, this might be one of my favorite things that has been said about the Equality Act so far. And well, just when you think it can’t get any crazier, new depths of depravity are reached.
Michelle Cretella, the executive director of an anti-LGBTQ pseudo-science organization, said that the Equality Act should actually be called the “Death to Christianity Act.”
May 10 episode of Washington Watch with Tony Perkins, guest host Sarah Perry, FRC Action’s Director of Partnerships, and Cretella, executive director of the American College of Pediatricians (a right-wing group not to be confused with the professional organization, American Academy of Pediatrics), shared their opposition to the Equality Act, which would seek to add protections for sexual orientation and gender identity into existing anti-discrimination laws. The duo claimed that the proposed legislation would take children who believe they may be transgender and force doctors to “do harm to these kids.”
“I think it’s really super important for all listeners to realize this law, if it passes, if this bill becomes law, it impacts everyone. And a better name for it is the ‘Death to Christianity Act.’ OK? That’s going to be the umbrella. … Christianity, it will cease to be publicly practiced. It’ll become against the law,” Cretella said.
The American College of Pediatricians has been designated a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center for its fierce anti-LGBTQ stances and peddling of junk science supporting gay conversion therapy, and opposing transgender rights and gay adoption. SPLC reports that the organization, despite its glaring propagandizing, serves as a “go-to authority for far-right media outlets like Breitbart and the Daily Caller, and Christian publications and websites.”
http://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/anti-lgbtq-group-director-the-equality-act-should-be-called-the-death-to-christianity-act/
May 10 episode of Washington Watch with Tony Perkins, guest host Sarah Perry, FRC Action’s Director of Partnerships, and Cretella, executive director of the American College of Pediatricians (a right-wing group not to be confused with the professional organization, American Academy of Pediatrics), shared their opposition to the Equality Act, which would seek to add protections for sexual orientation and gender identity into existing anti-discrimination laws. The duo claimed that the proposed legislation would take children who believe they may be transgender and force doctors to “do harm to these kids.”
“I think it’s really super important for all listeners to realize this law, if it passes, if this bill becomes law, it impacts everyone. And a better name for it is the ‘Death to Christianity Act.’ OK? That’s going to be the umbrella. … Christianity, it will cease to be publicly practiced. It’ll become against the law,” Cretella said.
The American College of Pediatricians has been designated a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center for its fierce anti-LGBTQ stances and peddling of junk science supporting gay conversion therapy, and opposing transgender rights and gay adoption. SPLC reports that the organization, despite its glaring propagandizing, serves as a “go-to authority for far-right media outlets like Breitbart and the Daily Caller, and Christian publications and websites.”
http://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/anti-lgbtq-group-director-the-equality-act-should-be-called-the-death-to-christianity-act/
Yeah so equality for everyone means death to Christianity? I think you protest way too much! I mean really, these fucking people. Mass has ended may you go in peace! That’s it this week for:
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[font size="8"]Beating A Dead Horse: MAGA Pride At Sports Events
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There’s a very fine line between being a fan… and being a fan. You know the type – the kind who take their favorite sports team and turn it into a 24/7 lifestyle brand. It’s not enough to be a fan of the Red Sox – you have to have your bedroom painted to look like a replica of the Green Monster and dress up like Big Papi for Halloween. But that’s racist because you’d be wearing blackface. Hey I’m not the one who thought of it! So with that said, MAGA fans are a rare breed of super fan. They have no team attached, other than glorious leader Trump, and would blindly follow Trump off a cliff if he instructed them to do so, because that’s what a good cult leader does – break down their followers’ ability to think freely. So a series of incidents is going to have us asking the question – “Is it OK to show your MAGA pride at public events?”. I think that we all know the answer to that!
Several fans unfurled a massive Trump 2020 banner at Friday night’s Boston Red Sox game against the Seattle Mariners, prompting other fans to quickly rip it down.
The incident, which happened at Fenway Park, quickly spread on social media, where fans posted photos and videos and offered mixed opinions.
“I would’ve ripped it down as well,” Aimie Searles said. “Good for them.”
Another fan disagreed.
“Yell and scream at it,” Steven Salhaney said. “Yeah, I agree. Boo. Definitely. Tearing it down? No.”
Shortly after the incident, Dion Cini accepted responsibility for the fiasco, posting a photo of himself holding the banner on Twitter with the caption: “Got my flag back.”
https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/Fans-Unfurl-Massive-Trump-2020-Banner-at-Fenway-Park-509800401.html
The incident, which happened at Fenway Park, quickly spread on social media, where fans posted photos and videos and offered mixed opinions.
“I would’ve ripped it down as well,” Aimie Searles said. “Good for them.”
Another fan disagreed.
“Yell and scream at it,” Steven Salhaney said. “Yeah, I agree. Boo. Definitely. Tearing it down? No.”
Shortly after the incident, Dion Cini accepted responsibility for the fiasco, posting a photo of himself holding the banner on Twitter with the caption: “Got my flag back.”
https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/Fans-Unfurl-Massive-Trump-2020-Banner-at-Fenway-Park-509800401.html
Oh come on this is Boston here, some of the rowdiest sports fans in the country. We pay good money for those seats at Fenway! If a giant banner is blocking my view, I’m ripping that shit down, regardless of what’s on it! But this wasn’t the only incident where a Trump supporter went full MAGA in public. And you never go full MAGA, not in a million years! I also want to show you this incident from Disney World last year:
Walt Disney World has banned a man who held a "Trump 2020" sign on Splash Mountain just weeks after he hung a similar banner elsewhere in the Magic Kingdom.
Dion Cini of New York City was photographed holding a "Trump 2020" sign while wearing a "Make America Great Again" cap on Splash Mountain last week. The photo was among those taken of all of the water ride's passengers, which they can purchase afterward.
Disney said that as a result of the display it has "permanently prevented" Cini from visiting its parks.
The contents of Cini's sign were not an issue, the company said, but rather that it violated park policies prohibiting the unauthorized use of any flag, banner or sign for commercial purposes or to incite a crowd.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/disney-world-bans-man-who-held-trump-sign-splash-mountain-n936151
Dion Cini of New York City was photographed holding a "Trump 2020" sign while wearing a "Make America Great Again" cap on Splash Mountain last week. The photo was among those taken of all of the water ride's passengers, which they can purchase afterward.
Disney said that as a result of the display it has "permanently prevented" Cini from visiting its parks.
The contents of Cini's sign were not an issue, the company said, but rather that it violated park policies prohibiting the unauthorized use of any flag, banner or sign for commercial purposes or to incite a crowd.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/disney-world-bans-man-who-held-trump-sign-splash-mountain-n936151
Yeah that one gets a thumbs up from the man himself, and you all know how he loves him some loyalty, right? Oh and then there was this incident from a bar in New York City back in March where a guy went full MAGA in public and suffered the consequences of that. And of course he leaves off the part about being a racist douche.
The video starts with Cini, not in view of the camera, saying, "he said he won't serve me because I've got this hat on." The bartender, a young man wearing a backwards green Jets hat, hits at Cini's phone, who then says, "Don't take my f***ing phone!"
A minute into the video, Cini asks: "You won't serve me another beer because I'm wearing my hat?" The bartender responds, "Correct." Cini asks the same question again, and the bartender gives him a thumbs up.
But Mitch Banchik, who owns the bar, said that Cini was actually refused service before he began shooting the video and for an entirely different reason: being disruptive and using an ethnic slur.
Banchik wasn't in the bar when the incident happened, but spoke to several employees who were working at Jake's Dilemma that night, including the bartender, to find out what happened. He said that calls to the staff in the wake of the incident have been so threatening and disturbing that he felt uncomfortable asking them to speak to the media.
"The problems actually started long before he put his camera on," Banchik told CBS News in a telephone interview. Cini was being "loud and obnoxious," he said.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/maga-hat-bar-trump-supporter-kicked-out-upper-west-side-bar-jakes-dilemma-whole-story-2019-03-14/
A minute into the video, Cini asks: "You won't serve me another beer because I'm wearing my hat?" The bartender responds, "Correct." Cini asks the same question again, and the bartender gives him a thumbs up.
But Mitch Banchik, who owns the bar, said that Cini was actually refused service before he began shooting the video and for an entirely different reason: being disruptive and using an ethnic slur.
Banchik wasn't in the bar when the incident happened, but spoke to several employees who were working at Jake's Dilemma that night, including the bartender, to find out what happened. He said that calls to the staff in the wake of the incident have been so threatening and disturbing that he felt uncomfortable asking them to speak to the media.
"The problems actually started long before he put his camera on," Banchik told CBS News in a telephone interview. Cini was being "loud and obnoxious," he said.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/maga-hat-bar-trump-supporter-kicked-out-upper-west-side-bar-jakes-dilemma-whole-story-2019-03-14/
Gee, what’s that you say? A Trump supporter was being loud, obnoxious and racist in public *WHILE* wearing a MAGA hat? I’m shocked!! And then as if that’s not enough, there was this incident from a high school in Minnesota – where during a basketball game, were being racist. I can’t help but put my finger on it, but I’m sensing a pattern here and I think I can guess what it is!
A high school basketball coach of a predominantly black school has questioned the Trump campaign banner displayed by fans of an opposing team.
As reported by the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Roosevelt High School (Minneapolis) was visiting Jordan (Minn.) High School on Monday when coach Mike Walker noticed a group of white fans sitting in the front row of the stands holding a “Trump 2020” campaign banner while wearing all red, white and blue clothing.
Walker posted a photo he took of the students and the banner to Facebook with his personal commentary about why he felt it was inappropriate. The photo has been removed from the Facebook page.
The answer to the coach’s question apparently arrived in the comments to his post; a woman named Bridget Kahn commented on the coach’s Facebook post that the Trump banner was hers and was intended as part of a, “long-planned USA blackout theme night.” She expounded on those circumstances later with the Star-Tribune:
https://usatodayhss.com/2019/minn-coach-of-predominantly-black-school-questions-opposing-fans-trump-campaign-banner
As reported by the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Roosevelt High School (Minneapolis) was visiting Jordan (Minn.) High School on Monday when coach Mike Walker noticed a group of white fans sitting in the front row of the stands holding a “Trump 2020” campaign banner while wearing all red, white and blue clothing.
Walker posted a photo he took of the students and the banner to Facebook with his personal commentary about why he felt it was inappropriate. The photo has been removed from the Facebook page.
The answer to the coach’s question apparently arrived in the comments to his post; a woman named Bridget Kahn commented on the coach’s Facebook post that the Trump banner was hers and was intended as part of a, “long-planned USA blackout theme night.” She expounded on those circumstances later with the Star-Tribune:
https://usatodayhss.com/2019/minn-coach-of-predominantly-black-school-questions-opposing-fans-trump-campaign-banner
I’m surprised that didn’t happen at the fans. But do you get it yet folks? Do you see why showing your MAGA pride might, I don’t know, be considered bad? And you wouldn’t know any better. But I suggest putting your money where your mouth is. The next time you show your MAGA pride wearing a Trump shirt, hat, or unfurling a large sign or banner, you might want to consider where they are made since it directly contradicts your favorite president’s “America First” policy:
President Donald Trump's 2020 reelection banners are being made in haste at one Chinese flag factory as the fear of more tariffs loom.
Workers in Fuyang, China have been busy at work, leaning over sewing machine tables, hemming the edges of Trump's "Keep America Great!" banners and shipping them off. While the summer is usually the slow season at Jiahao Flag Co Ltd, the factory has packaged more than 90,000 of the iconic red, white and blue banners since March, according to Reuters.
Manager Yao Yuanyuan told the wire service that the increase is tied to the ongoing trade war with the U.S. Already, the U.S. has slapped tariffs on $34 billion worth of Chinese goods and last week, Trump signaled he could increase that to all $505 billion in goods that China imports.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2018/07/26/trumps-2020-banners-made-chinese-factory-fear-tarriffs/844226002/
Workers in Fuyang, China have been busy at work, leaning over sewing machine tables, hemming the edges of Trump's "Keep America Great!" banners and shipping them off. While the summer is usually the slow season at Jiahao Flag Co Ltd, the factory has packaged more than 90,000 of the iconic red, white and blue banners since March, according to Reuters.
Manager Yao Yuanyuan told the wire service that the increase is tied to the ongoing trade war with the U.S. Already, the U.S. has slapped tariffs on $34 billion worth of Chinese goods and last week, Trump signaled he could increase that to all $505 billion in goods that China imports.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2018/07/26/trumps-2020-banners-made-chinese-factory-fear-tarriffs/844226002/
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[font size="8"]TPUSA
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It’s time once again to ask:
This week – ultra conservative, extremely far right campus recruiting group TPUSA. How are they still a thing? You might remember TPUSA from last year when their Kent State chapter famously attempted to protest campus “safe spaces” by wearing diapers and acting like babies, and well, that backfired on them big time. But they just can’t help but being racist and saying racist things. But we can’t escape the fact that one of the biggest conservative recruiting organizations has a problem with racists. And it’s not just the UNLV chapter. It’s happening all across the country. Just remember conservatives, we’re laughing at you, not with you. But the racists can’t help but being racist, and groups like TPUSA have a huge problem with that.
Turning Point USA, a nationwide organization of student Republicans with more than 1,000 chapters, has an institutional problem with white supremacy and bigotry.
Just after midnight on Friday, the group announced that it had canned its University of Nevada Las Vegas chapter leader, identified as Riley Grisar, after a video surfaced depicting him and a woman on a bed, flashing the white supremacist “OK” sign, declaring “white power” and spouting racial slurs.
Turning Point quickly decried the video ― surfaced by the independent outlet It’s Going Down on Thursday night ― as “abhorrent, un-American and disqualifying,” and attempted to distance itself from Gisar’s bigoted commentary.
“TPUSA has a zero-tolerance policy for hate, no matter the medium or how dated the act or comment, and we hold our tens of thousands of students to the highest of standards,” the group stated on Twitter.
However, this isn’t an isolated incident. There’s a demonstrable pattern of extremism and white supremacist ideology in TPUSA’s top ranks.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/tpusa-college-republican-group-turning-point-has-a-white-supremacy-problem_n_5cd58fdbe4b0796a95dac4f6?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly9uZXdzLmdvb2dsZS5jb20v&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAACfksSJXUB80jzBZNaom-DFrnOq93laQ7lPmgh2cXEU8faLgcPyEUroERs5rhK7Us_Vp6jxXovpac2WQW81i7Cja9AqHdZ9cCkfSBVhaUpsOps8Ezw1n-G8P6Qn67eHh0xpr8ETZ9ezSkw9FO3DiN7w04e2zWSg8yvAdUI3r4qU2
Just after midnight on Friday, the group announced that it had canned its University of Nevada Las Vegas chapter leader, identified as Riley Grisar, after a video surfaced depicting him and a woman on a bed, flashing the white supremacist “OK” sign, declaring “white power” and spouting racial slurs.
Turning Point quickly decried the video ― surfaced by the independent outlet It’s Going Down on Thursday night ― as “abhorrent, un-American and disqualifying,” and attempted to distance itself from Gisar’s bigoted commentary.
“TPUSA has a zero-tolerance policy for hate, no matter the medium or how dated the act or comment, and we hold our tens of thousands of students to the highest of standards,” the group stated on Twitter.
However, this isn’t an isolated incident. There’s a demonstrable pattern of extremism and white supremacist ideology in TPUSA’s top ranks.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/tpusa-college-republican-group-turning-point-has-a-white-supremacy-problem_n_5cd58fdbe4b0796a95dac4f6?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly9uZXdzLmdvb2dsZS5jb20v&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAACfksSJXUB80jzBZNaom-DFrnOq93laQ7lPmgh2cXEU8faLgcPyEUroERs5rhK7Us_Vp6jxXovpac2WQW81i7Cja9AqHdZ9cCkfSBVhaUpsOps8Ezw1n-G8P6Qn67eHh0xpr8ETZ9ezSkw9FO3DiN7w04e2zWSg8yvAdUI3r4qU2
Wait, what? That’s not right there. But anyway due to some severe changes in management, TPUSA has gone through a bit of a rocky time. It’s quite ironic that TPUSA has a zero tolerance against hate because that’s all their members do. By the way if you were to look up TPUSA, you would see an alarming number of articles from Breitbart (natch) like this one about how hostile campus environments have become toward TPUSA events. But really, no one wants your hate speech. In fact TPUSA has become quite the problem on campus.
The University of Connecticut spent $24,889.38 to secure the Turning Point USA speaking event on April 9.
The university paid $4,285.82 to CSC Security, unofficially referred to as the “Yellow Jackets,” $17,635.94 in UConn police overtime, and $2,967.62 to UConn fire overtime, UConn spokesperson Stephanie Reitz said.
“The amount of security associated with the visit was based on reviews of events and security at previous venues where the guests had appeared,” Reitz said.
Discussions on campus and in the community leading up to the event as well as the recognition that on-campus speaker events nationwide are drawing also affected the amount of security, Reitz said.
http://dailycampus.com/stories/2019/4/25/tpusa-event-security-cost-university-over-24000
The university paid $4,285.82 to CSC Security, unofficially referred to as the “Yellow Jackets,” $17,635.94 in UConn police overtime, and $2,967.62 to UConn fire overtime, UConn spokesperson Stephanie Reitz said.
“The amount of security associated with the visit was based on reviews of events and security at previous venues where the guests had appeared,” Reitz said.
Discussions on campus and in the community leading up to the event as well as the recognition that on-campus speaker events nationwide are drawing also affected the amount of security, Reitz said.
http://dailycampus.com/stories/2019/4/25/tpusa-event-security-cost-university-over-24000
Yes, TPUSA is costing campuses a lot of money to host their events. Because they are so toxic, no one wants to deal with them. In fact even Candace Owens, a founding member of TPUSA recently quit the group after getting booed at a speech in London for some controversial comments she made about Hitler. And you don’t go full Hitler.
Candace Owens, the GOP darling for the moment, has officially resigned as communications director for Turning Point USA, the right-leaning organization aimed at educating college students about “free markets and limited government,” according to its website.
Owens announced her exit plans in a lengthy Instagram post on May 1, and her departure comes amid calls from supporters and members of the organization for her to step down following controversial comments she made in February about Adolf Hitler.
While speaking at a London event to launch a U.K. chapter of TPUSA, she argued that Hitler was an “OK” leader until he tried to take his message of genocide global.
“If Hitler just wanted to make Germany great and have things run well, OK fine,” she said in response to a question about nationalism. “The problem is he had dreams outside of Germany. He wanted to globalize … he wanted everyone to be German.”
https://thegrio.com/2019/05/07/candace-owens-quits-turning-point-usa-after-members-demand-she-resign/
Owens announced her exit plans in a lengthy Instagram post on May 1, and her departure comes amid calls from supporters and members of the organization for her to step down following controversial comments she made in February about Adolf Hitler.
While speaking at a London event to launch a U.K. chapter of TPUSA, she argued that Hitler was an “OK” leader until he tried to take his message of genocide global.
“If Hitler just wanted to make Germany great and have things run well, OK fine,” she said in response to a question about nationalism. “The problem is he had dreams outside of Germany. He wanted to globalize … he wanted everyone to be German.”
https://thegrio.com/2019/05/07/candace-owens-quits-turning-point-usa-after-members-demand-she-resign/
That is a good question! But in case you’re wondering how TPUSA is allowed to continue to exist despite how toxic the organization is, and the fact that they invite and incite violence, then blame the “leftists” for their faults, there was this. TPUSA and their quest to end “radical leftism” on campus came to a screeching halt when its’ ISP decided that it was no longer going to host their “Professor Watchlist”.
Professor Watchlist, a project of right-wing youth organization Turning Point USA that was dedicated to naming and shaming “college professors who discriminate against conservative students and advance leftist propaganda in the classroom,” appears to have been suspended by its web host.
The Professor Watchlist website featured maps and directories of instructors whom Turning Point USA staff claimed were indoctrinating university students with radical left-of-center politics. The project was launched in 2016; the list of allegedly offending professors in its directory numbered in the hundreds before it went offline. Critics of Professor Watchlist have shared concerns that the site was a “threat to academic freedom.” A professor placed on the list said he worried that being on the list would result in the targeting of him and his family for harassment or worse.
As of this morning, the Professor Watchlist website displayed a generic error message stating: “This Account has been suspended.”
Archives show the website was active as recently as May 9.
Right Wing Watch attempted to reach someone on the project at the phone number that was listed on the Professor Watchlist website but was unable to connect with the number listed, indicating that it may be disconnected.
http://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/tpusas-professor-watchlist-suspended-by-web-host/
The Professor Watchlist website featured maps and directories of instructors whom Turning Point USA staff claimed were indoctrinating university students with radical left-of-center politics. The project was launched in 2016; the list of allegedly offending professors in its directory numbered in the hundreds before it went offline. Critics of Professor Watchlist have shared concerns that the site was a “threat to academic freedom.” A professor placed on the list said he worried that being on the list would result in the targeting of him and his family for harassment or worse.
As of this morning, the Professor Watchlist website displayed a generic error message stating: “This Account has been suspended.”
Archives show the website was active as recently as May 9.
Right Wing Watch attempted to reach someone on the project at the phone number that was listed on the Professor Watchlist website but was unable to connect with the number listed, indicating that it may be disconnected.
http://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/tpusas-professor-watchlist-suspended-by-web-host/
Yes, TPUSA’s general nature has become so toxic even their own ISP doesn’t want anything to do with them. And by the way in case you are wondering about their founder, Charlie Kirk, well he attempted to start a new organization called, un-ironically called Turning Point Action. So if you can guess that it is not even a month old and is already being investigated by the IRS for potential fraud, it’s definitely not at all surprising.
Turning Point USA founder and president Charlie Kirk is launching a new political action arm to the organization that he’s calling Turning Point Action, but an early donation link may have already violated nonprofit tax rules and regulations.
CNBC reported yesterday that Kirk was preparing to launch a 501(c)(4) entity that would be allowed to campaign for and against candidates pursuing office in 2020. Turning Point Action, which CNBC discovered via a donor link, is expected to launch in June.
The donor link created last week with the headline “REMOVE ILHAN OMAR” asked people to contribute money to Turning Point Action in order to demonstrate to Democrat Rep. Ilhan Omar “how much we’re willing to donate to fight to REMOVE HER from office.”
When a donor gives money to Turning Point Action’s 501(c)(4) fund for electoral work, whether it be $45 to honor Trump as the 45th president or $1,000 to receive a personal thank you note from Kirk, they are promised a bumper sticker distributed by Turning Point USA’s 501(c)(3) operation as a token of the organization’s gratitude. The sticker declares that its affixer loves capitalism and prominently features the URL for Turning Point USA’s website.
http://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/charlie-kirks-new-political-group-may-have-already-violated-irs-regulations/
CNBC reported yesterday that Kirk was preparing to launch a 501(c)(4) entity that would be allowed to campaign for and against candidates pursuing office in 2020. Turning Point Action, which CNBC discovered via a donor link, is expected to launch in June.
The donor link created last week with the headline “REMOVE ILHAN OMAR” asked people to contribute money to Turning Point Action in order to demonstrate to Democrat Rep. Ilhan Omar “how much we’re willing to donate to fight to REMOVE HER from office.”
When a donor gives money to Turning Point Action’s 501(c)(4) fund for electoral work, whether it be $45 to honor Trump as the 45th president or $1,000 to receive a personal thank you note from Kirk, they are promised a bumper sticker distributed by Turning Point USA’s 501(c)(3) operation as a token of the organization’s gratitude. The sticker declares that its affixer loves capitalism and prominently features the URL for Turning Point USA’s website.
http://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/charlie-kirks-new-political-group-may-have-already-violated-irs-regulations/
So, some heavy fraud, death threats, some light racism, and lying to the IRS. And yet this guy earned lots of praise from President Trump. Very fine people, right. That’s enough to make you ask – TPUSA:
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[font size="8"]People Are Dumb
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Hit it!
Of course you know by now that people are people and people are dumb. And I feel like literally every single one of these could come from our favorite penis-shaped state of Florida and we will get to those in a minute. But first I want to talk about motivation. So there was a brewery in North Carolina where they had a transport van stolen from them. And rather than getting the police involved, the brewery decided to do something smart and creative instead – offer up some free beer! And you know what happened next? No, sir, that didn’t happen. Instead they found the van in less than an hour.
Police officers around the country may want to take note on what gets people to start talking to police when they know a crime has been committed.
The Unknown Brewing Company in Charlotte, North Carolina took to social media Monday to ask for help in finding the company’s delivery van after thieves stole it. In return for the information, the company offered to throw a party for the person who first identifies where the van was.
“Please help us find it. Share with all of your friends. Who ever finds it, Brad will buy you a keg party ! If you stole it and bring it back,you will also get a keg party (smile for the camera). Please DM us if you see it,” the company wrote on its Facebook page.
Sure enough, more than a dozen tips came in and 42 minutes after the post went public, the company had found their missing van.
https://www.mlive.com/news/2019/05/brewery-offers-free-beer-for-info-on-stolen-van-42-minutes-later-it-was-located.html?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mlivedotcom_sf&fbclid=IwAR13q4LjRO0kZ4oVk5Jv0V1Vow2lpbg83Zv2WpXALSQXSa4UGLzuag5GhY0
The Unknown Brewing Company in Charlotte, North Carolina took to social media Monday to ask for help in finding the company’s delivery van after thieves stole it. In return for the information, the company offered to throw a party for the person who first identifies where the van was.
“Please help us find it. Share with all of your friends. Who ever finds it, Brad will buy you a keg party ! If you stole it and bring it back,you will also get a keg party (smile for the camera). Please DM us if you see it,” the company wrote on its Facebook page.
Sure enough, more than a dozen tips came in and 42 minutes after the post went public, the company had found their missing van.
https://www.mlive.com/news/2019/05/brewery-offers-free-beer-for-info-on-stolen-van-42-minutes-later-it-was-located.html?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mlivedotcom_sf&fbclid=IwAR13q4LjRO0kZ4oVk5Jv0V1Vow2lpbg83Zv2WpXALSQXSa4UGLzuag5GhY0
So yeah that happened. And hey it’s the two greatest words in the English language – free beer! Now let’s get into the dumb people shall we? When you break into a house what’s your first thought? Mine would be to get the fuck out but this woman instead decided to channel her inner Marge Simpson and clean the dishes.
An Ohio woman was taken to jail and charged with burglary after allegedly breaking into a residence and making herself feel at home.
Deputies from the Vinton County Sheriff’s Office responded to a home in Hamden, which is Southeast of Columbus, for reports of a break in on Monday morning.
Investigators learned from an individual on scene that a woman identified as Cheyenne Ewing allegedly entered the home through the back door uninvited, sat down on the couch, and then began to play with the family dog.
According to Vinton County Sheriff Shawn Justice, Ewing washed the dishes before leaving the home.
https://www.kcrg.com/content/news/Ohio-woman-broke-into-home-and-started-washing-dishes-deputies-say-509824651.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
Deputies from the Vinton County Sheriff’s Office responded to a home in Hamden, which is Southeast of Columbus, for reports of a break in on Monday morning.
Investigators learned from an individual on scene that a woman identified as Cheyenne Ewing allegedly entered the home through the back door uninvited, sat down on the couch, and then began to play with the family dog.
According to Vinton County Sheriff Shawn Justice, Ewing washed the dishes before leaving the home.
https://www.kcrg.com/content/news/Ohio-woman-broke-into-home-and-started-washing-dishes-deputies-say-509824651.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
Yeah I’m sure it was like that! Next up, now it’s time to go to the Sunshine State. And this might be one of my favorites, especially since the NBA finals are currently in full swing. But would you believe that maybe the secret to improving your game would be to lose those tight, bunchy gym shorts and even the ever-cumbersome jock strap? Well that’s what this one Florida Man did:
A nude man found playing basketball last night in a Florida park told police that “he feels playing naked enhances his skill level,” according to an arrest report detailing the hoopster's bust for indecent exposure.
Responding to a call about a “white male who was not wearing clothing” inside Candyland Park in Longwood, an Orlando suburb, a patrolman discovered Jordon Anderson, 29, shooting hoops while unencumbered by any clothing.
When Officer William Humphries asked Anderson what he was doing, the suspect “stated he was working on his basketball skills and he feels playing naked enhances his skill level.” Anderson, the report notes, “was asked to put his clothing on and he complied.”
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/buster/basketball/nekkid-bball-guy-275938
Responding to a call about a “white male who was not wearing clothing” inside Candyland Park in Longwood, an Orlando suburb, a patrolman discovered Jordon Anderson, 29, shooting hoops while unencumbered by any clothing.
When Officer William Humphries asked Anderson what he was doing, the suspect “stated he was working on his basketball skills and he feels playing naked enhances his skill level.” Anderson, the report notes, “was asked to put his clothing on and he complied.”
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/buster/basketball/nekkid-bball-guy-275938
Next up – how many people have a sunroof on their car? But you know what you don’t do with that said sunroof? Use it as a ride. And that’s exactly what this Florida Man did. So yeah people the sun roof is not meant to act as a 5th car seat. And especially don’t drive with someone sitting on it while you’re going at this speed. That could end very badly for all parties involved.
A 70-year-old Florida motorist was arrested Tuesday after an off-duty cop spotted the suspect driving while “sitting on the sunroof” of his Cadillac sedan, according to court records.
Leonard Olaf Olsen, the accused septuagenarian, was traveling on Interstate 4 around 1 PM on May 7 when the sheriff’s deputy spotted him recklessly driving his vehicle. The deputy, who recorded Olsen in action, estimated that the Cadillac reached speeds in excess of 100 mph.
After initially claiming not to recall being atop the sunroof, Olsen copped to the dangerous driving (which, he said, occurred while the car was on cruise control).
“The car drives itself and has a gigantic computer in it," Olsen explained. “I thought it would be a nice way to praise God for a minute, and I thought it would be nice at the time and that's what I did.”
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/documents/bizarre/reckless-geriatric-menace-264891
Leonard Olaf Olsen, the accused septuagenarian, was traveling on Interstate 4 around 1 PM on May 7 when the sheriff’s deputy spotted him recklessly driving his vehicle. The deputy, who recorded Olsen in action, estimated that the Cadillac reached speeds in excess of 100 mph.
After initially claiming not to recall being atop the sunroof, Olsen copped to the dangerous driving (which, he said, occurred while the car was on cruise control).
“The car drives itself and has a gigantic computer in it," Olsen explained. “I thought it would be a nice way to praise God for a minute, and I thought it would be nice at the time and that's what I did.”
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/documents/bizarre/reckless-geriatric-menace-264891
Next up – we could probably do an entire “People Are Dumb” based on the dumb things that people have stolen large quantities of. And I’m sure that when this particular Florida Man got in the truck, he didn’t know it was full of… coffins! Yup! And now we can add this to “ridiculous things that people have stolen”.
Highway patrol arrested a man who was suspected of stealing a box truck full of caskets in Jacksonville, Florida on Monday.
Having been alerted to be on the lookout for a Ryder truck by Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, which had been reported stolen from a Jacksonville casket company, Florida Highway Patrol located the vehicle shortly before noon on Monday. However, once a trooper ran tags on the truck, the driver failed to pull over and pressed ahead instead.
A 25-mile chase on Interstate 295 ensued, with police chasing the truck and eventually managing to halt it after it came off the interstate and stopped at a red light at the intersection between Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway and Moncrief Road.
Once they stopped the truck, troopers found out it was carrying a rather unusual load, which included three caskets.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/florida-man-arrested-after-allegedly-stealing-truck-full-of-coffins/ar-AABkZV1?OCID=ansmsnnews11
Having been alerted to be on the lookout for a Ryder truck by Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, which had been reported stolen from a Jacksonville casket company, Florida Highway Patrol located the vehicle shortly before noon on Monday. However, once a trooper ran tags on the truck, the driver failed to pull over and pressed ahead instead.
A 25-mile chase on Interstate 295 ensued, with police chasing the truck and eventually managing to halt it after it came off the interstate and stopped at a red light at the intersection between Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway and Moncrief Road.
Once they stopped the truck, troopers found out it was carrying a rather unusual load, which included three caskets.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/florida-man-arrested-after-allegedly-stealing-truck-full-of-coffins/ar-AABkZV1?OCID=ansmsnnews11
Finally this week we go to the Show Me State for this one. And you know Florida Man either has cousins or he has some competition. But when you go to bail out someone you know / love, and you have a criminal record yourself, maybe I don’t know, don’t show up at the police station with a bag of meth, because that’s what happened here:
Those were the words of Audrain County Sheriff Matt Oller Wednesday morning in a Facebook post regarding an arrest from the day before.
Oller stated he noticed on a video monitor a deputy was arresting a lady in the sheriff's office. Amanda Smith had come to bond her boyfriend out of jail, but, as Oller stated, the 29-year-old woman had her license revoked in April.
When staff were dealing with other inmated and not looking at Smith, Oller saw the woman digging around in her clothes. He called over his chief deputy and had him watch the video monitor to review what had happened. The chief deputy then went to the booking desk and told Smith he would need the bag of meth she brought to the jail.
If you're going to commit a couple of felonies, do it somewhere other than the Sheriff's Office. We'll arrest you and put you in jail for committing felonies - especially when you literally come to us to commit them in our presence, on video......... I mean, c'mon....
https://krcgtv.com/news/local/woman-with-revoked-license-drives-to-jail-to-post-boyfriends-bond-hides-meth-in-pants
Oller stated he noticed on a video monitor a deputy was arresting a lady in the sheriff's office. Amanda Smith had come to bond her boyfriend out of jail, but, as Oller stated, the 29-year-old woman had her license revoked in April.
When staff were dealing with other inmated and not looking at Smith, Oller saw the woman digging around in her clothes. He called over his chief deputy and had him watch the video monitor to review what had happened. The chief deputy then went to the booking desk and told Smith he would need the bag of meth she brought to the jail.
If you're going to commit a couple of felonies, do it somewhere other than the Sheriff's Office. We'll arrest you and put you in jail for committing felonies - especially when you literally come to us to commit them in our presence, on video......... I mean, c'mon....
https://krcgtv.com/news/local/woman-with-revoked-license-drives-to-jail-to-post-boyfriends-bond-hides-meth-in-pants
I love the statement from the Sheriff in that story by the way. I mean come on!!! That’s it this week for:
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[font size="8"]Stupidest State Contest: Selection Sunday
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16 states will enter and only one state will be crowned the new Top 10 Conservative Idiots Stupidest State!
Here it is folks! The grand finale!!!! We are live at UCLA’s legendary Pauley Pavilion in Westwood for all the action as we enter the final round of the tournament. 16 will enter, two will play for the crown and the title of being the Top 10 Conservative Idiots Stupidest State! Last week, Wisconsin showed upstart favorite Georgia who’s boss to win the Layover League and advance to their first ever title matchup in program history. On the flip side, Florida Man again attempted a ridiculous stunt to win the Flyover League and cost Florida the tournament, allowing longtime Family Values favorite Alabama to get the upper hand and win the match and advance to their first title match in 14 years! Let’s get out those brackets and follow along!
[font size="4"]Wisconsin Vs Alabama[/font]
[font size="4"]Wisconsin[/font]
So here we go! It’s the final matchup! Who will win? In this corner it’s Wisconsin! We’ve talked a lot about how Trump is trying to woo Chinese human rights atrocity Foxconn to its’ state and is experiencing a lot of backlash. But we’ve already discussed that enough. Instead we’re going to talk about how completely fucked up the Wisconsin GOP is. So how bad is the GOP hurting in Wisconsin after they got their asses handed to them trying to reelect Scott Walker?
Gov. Scott Walker, the party has fallen on financial hardship, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. After maxing out a credit card and failing to pay it off, the party has been charged $600 a month in interest, according to a draft of an internal report.
The financial review was commissioned by U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson and other top Wisconsin Republicans in the aftermath of their disastrous loss in the 2018 midterms. The final version of the report, missing some details about credit card spending, was released Monday.
In addition to showing the party was broke, the report also found that the state GOP was “recklessly reliant” on consultants who charged exorbitant fees up to $500,000.
https://splinternews.com/wisconsin-gop-is-broke-after-their-failed-bid-to-reelec-1834736681
The financial review was commissioned by U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson and other top Wisconsin Republicans in the aftermath of their disastrous loss in the 2018 midterms. The final version of the report, missing some details about credit card spending, was released Monday.
In addition to showing the party was broke, the report also found that the state GOP was “recklessly reliant” on consultants who charged exorbitant fees up to $500,000.
https://splinternews.com/wisconsin-gop-is-broke-after-their-failed-bid-to-reelec-1834736681
And in case you’re wondering if the Wisconsin GOP has their finger on the pulse of the electorate in Wisconsin, can you guess if they’re running on any of the issues that matter to voters the most? Like I don’t know – abortion? No. The economy? No. Medicaid expansion? No. Legalized pot? No. And the even more fucked up thing? We still can’t beat them!
Wisconsin Republicans voted Thursday to scrap expanding Medicaid, legalizing medical marijuana, raising the minimum wage and a host of other priorities of Democratic Gov. Tony Evers as they begin dismantling his two-year budget plan.
Evers and Democrats remain defiant, saying the public is on their side in support of expanding Medicaid. They ran on their promise to expand the health program for the poor and believe their victories in 2018 were due in large part to that position. Polls also show broad public support.
"Medicaid is being removed in this first motion because you're losing," said Democratic Rep. Evan Goyke. "This is a popular item supported by the people of the state of Wisconsin and every single day it's getting more popular."
https://www.chicagotribune.com/nation-world/ct-wisconsin-republicans-medicaid-expansion-20190509-story.html
Evers and Democrats remain defiant, saying the public is on their side in support of expanding Medicaid. They ran on their promise to expand the health program for the poor and believe their victories in 2018 were due in large part to that position. Polls also show broad public support.
"Medicaid is being removed in this first motion because you're losing," said Democratic Rep. Evan Goyke. "This is a popular item supported by the people of the state of Wisconsin and every single day it's getting more popular."
https://www.chicagotribune.com/nation-world/ct-wisconsin-republicans-medicaid-expansion-20190509-story.html
And the fate of the Wisconsin GOP may lie in just one guy, and we really might have to do a “People Who Somehow Got Elected” in a future edition because really, Ron Johnson is a gem. And I mean that in the most non flattering way possible. So how do we keep losing to morons like this? I really want to know because… just… ahhhhhhh!!!
U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson rode to Washington, D.C., nearly a decade ago as anyone but a career politician and was re-elected after promising to leave office after just two terms.
But now Johnson is embracing his new role as the leader of Wisconsin's Republican Party and is mulling a third term or even a bid for governor.
That's because on the morning of Nov. 7, the U.S. senator from Oshkosh woke up as the only Republican representing the entire state of Wisconsin to survive the election the night before. The "last man standing," as he calls it.
"When I noticed Scott Walker didn't win, nor Brad Schimel or obviously the lieutenant governor, I realized I was the last statewide representative," Johnson, who wasn't on the November ballot, said in an interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "It's a role I never sought, but it's a responsibility I take pretty seriously."
https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2019/05/06/ron-johnson-left-lead-wisconsin-gop-while-contemplating-future/3290990002/
But now Johnson is embracing his new role as the leader of Wisconsin's Republican Party and is mulling a third term or even a bid for governor.
That's because on the morning of Nov. 7, the U.S. senator from Oshkosh woke up as the only Republican representing the entire state of Wisconsin to survive the election the night before. The "last man standing," as he calls it.
"When I noticed Scott Walker didn't win, nor Brad Schimel or obviously the lieutenant governor, I realized I was the last statewide representative," Johnson, who wasn't on the November ballot, said in an interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "It's a role I never sought, but it's a responsibility I take pretty seriously."
https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2019/05/06/ron-johnson-left-lead-wisconsin-gop-while-contemplating-future/3290990002/
[font size="4"]Alabama[/font]
And here comes Alabama! Yes, the state that just equated abortion with murder and is punishing accordingly is showing no signs of slowing down! In fact their governor is someone who we may have to do a “People Who Somehow Got Elected” on Kay Ivey because really, how did she get elected? Oh wait, it’s fucking Alabama, the people who keep wanting Roy Moore to represent them somehow. Yes, family values run deep in Alabama, and Kay Ivey shows you what it’s all about. And apparently they are doing this “for the children” but really – fundies couldn’t give a flying fuck about children.
Alabama's governor said Monday the new abortion ban she recently signed into law reflects the high value residents place on the "sanctity of life," adding she doesn't expect any fallout from the controversial measure on tourism or business recruitment.
Gov. Kay Ivey last week approved the most stringent abortion law in the nation — making performing an abortion a felony in nearly all cases unless necessary for the mother's health. The law provides no exception for rape and incest. Asked about criticism the state has received— particularly over the lack of an exception for rape and industry — the Republican governor noted the bill was overwhelmingly approved by the Alabama Legislature without the exceptions.
"The Legislature has spoken," she said. "It underscores the sanctity of life the people of Alabama value so highly."
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/gop-governor-says-abortion-ban-shows-alabama-values-sanctity-life-n1007816
Gov. Kay Ivey last week approved the most stringent abortion law in the nation — making performing an abortion a felony in nearly all cases unless necessary for the mother's health. The law provides no exception for rape and incest. Asked about criticism the state has received— particularly over the lack of an exception for rape and industry — the Republican governor noted the bill was overwhelmingly approved by the Alabama Legislature without the exceptions.
"The Legislature has spoken," she said. "It underscores the sanctity of life the people of Alabama value so highly."
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/gop-governor-says-abortion-ban-shows-alabama-values-sanctity-life-n1007816
Really? They seriously value sanctity of life? Oh wait, they don’t give a shit! Especially when Alabama leads the country with the nation’s highest infant mortality rate. Yes! The state that gave us a law equating abortion with murder has the country’s highest number of infant deaths. And no, Trump, this does not mean executions. This means something fucked up on the birthing table!
From the moment Darwina Johnson found out she was pregnant, she had hopes and dreams for her baby.
"For months of planning of like, 'Hey, I'm excited, I'm having a baby," she said.
Instead, her joy turned to heartbreak. Johnson lost her baby when she was five months pregnant.
"I'm not going to get that bundle of joy," she said. "I regret I never [saw] her eyes, because she never opened her eyes for me."
Far too many woman in Alabama can relate to Johnson's loss. Alabama has the highest infant mortality rate in the country, sitting at 9.1 deaths per 1,000 according to Department of Public Health 2016 data. During that year 537 infants died.
https://www.wsfa.com/story/38990061/al-has-highest-infant-mortality-rate-data-shows/
"For months of planning of like, 'Hey, I'm excited, I'm having a baby," she said.
Instead, her joy turned to heartbreak. Johnson lost her baby when she was five months pregnant.
"I'm not going to get that bundle of joy," she said. "I regret I never [saw] her eyes, because she never opened her eyes for me."
Far too many woman in Alabama can relate to Johnson's loss. Alabama has the highest infant mortality rate in the country, sitting at 9.1 deaths per 1,000 according to Department of Public Health 2016 data. During that year 537 infants died.
https://www.wsfa.com/story/38990061/al-has-highest-infant-mortality-rate-data-shows/
Don’t get too comfortable there. I could go on and on about how stupid Alabama is in passing this legislation, but instead I’ll just let Kay Ivey do the talking. While there’s many reasons to boycott Alabama and other, more sane states like California, Nevada, and Colorado are actually advising their employees against traveling to Alabama, Kay Ivey seems to think it’s just fine. She said as her nose grew about 15 inches.
Alabama’s governor said Monday the new abortion ban she recently signed into law reflects the high value residents place on the “sanctity of life,” adding she doesn’t expect any fallout from the controversial measure on tourism or business recruitment.
Gov. Kay Ivey last week approved the most stringent abortion law in the nation— making performing an abortion a felony in nearly all cases unless necessary for the mother's health. The law provides no exception for rape and incest. Asked about criticism the state has received— particularly over the lack of an exception for rape and industry— the Republican governor noted the bill was overwhelmingly approved by the Alabama Legislature without the exceptions.
“The Legislature has spoken,” she said. “It underscores the sanctity of life the people of Alabama value so highly.”
The Republican governor was asked about the ban after a news conference Monday about the state tourism industry. The bill's passage drew calls on social media by some opponents to boycott the state in protest.
https://www.al.com/news/2019/05/ivey-alabama-abortion-ban-will-not-hurt-tourism.html
Gov. Kay Ivey last week approved the most stringent abortion law in the nation— making performing an abortion a felony in nearly all cases unless necessary for the mother's health. The law provides no exception for rape and incest. Asked about criticism the state has received— particularly over the lack of an exception for rape and industry— the Republican governor noted the bill was overwhelmingly approved by the Alabama Legislature without the exceptions.
“The Legislature has spoken,” she said. “It underscores the sanctity of life the people of Alabama value so highly.”
The Republican governor was asked about the ban after a news conference Monday about the state tourism industry. The bill's passage drew calls on social media by some opponents to boycott the state in protest.
https://www.al.com/news/2019/05/ivey-alabama-abortion-ban-will-not-hurt-tourism.html
[font size="4"]And The Winner Is…[/font]
WE HAVE A WINNER!!!!! And it was a no brainer – Alabama rolled Wisconsin. You may roll tide, but the Crimson Tide of Alabama steamrolled the Wisconsin Cheeseheads and knocked them out of the contest and declared victory with a final score of 105 – 80. Congratulations to Alabama, they are our 2019 Stupidest State champions!!! They are celebrating on the court and the fans are rioting outside, Alabama has triumphed over all detractors to win the Family Values Conference, the Flyover League, and now they are our 2019 Stupidest State Champion!
[font size="4"]Net Cutting & Champagne Ceremony[/font]
[font size="4"]Statement From The Commissioner[/font]
Congratulations to Alabama for winning it all in the 2019 Stupidest State Championship! Alabama will take home the coveted DeLay Trophy! And as always I want to thank all of the fine people who help make the NFFSA possible, all the venues that hosted us, all the states, the coaches, and staff, our travel partners, and the staff and management of all the venues that hosted us. and congratulations to all of the states that participated this year. You earned it. Alabama is a shining example of conservative idiocy and the one who we are proud to call this year’s champion! I We will see you back next at this time next year! Now let’s play that song we all know and love!
[font size="8"]And Now This:[/font]
[font size="8”]Ice Cube[/font]
Ladies and gentlemen, let’s get this post season party started! My next guest is the hip hop legend himself. His latest album is called “Everythang’s Corrupt”, you can see him September 20th in Ontario at the Citizens Business Bank Arena. Playing his song “That New Funkadelic”, give it up for the one the only Ice Cube!!!
This is the end of Season 6. I want to thank my crew, my staff, my fans. You guys all rock! I also want to thank all the venues that hosted us as well as our travel partners. I want to thank all of the musical guests for coming on, and I want to thank our Stupidest State venues. Season 7 of the Top 10 will start June 12th and we will be in El Paso for our Texas Roadshow! See you in 3 weeks!
Credits
Host: Initech
Top 10 Conservative Idiots Recorded In Front Of Live Audience At: UCB Theater Franklin St, Hollywood, CA
Special Thanks To: UCB Theater Management
Holy Shit Gospel Choir: UCLA Choir Club, Westwood, CA
Images: All images copyright belongs to respective copyright holders.
Videos: All videos copyright belongs to respective copyright holders
Articles: All article content copyright belongs to respective copyright holders
Writing: Top 10 Writing Department
Graphics: Top 10 Graphics Department
Research: Top 10 Research Department
Lighting & Stage Props: Top 10 Lighting Department
Legal: Top 10 Legal Department
Advertising: Top 10 Advertising Department
HR: Top 10 Human Resources Department
Initech’s Wardrobe Provided By: JAB Inc.
Wheel Of Corruption By: Studio 1 Stage Props, Burbank, CA
Ice Cube Appears Courtesy Of: Interscope Records
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Initech Productions: Yes, We Got The Memo
