Molly Jong-Fast: The Not Particularly Talented Mr. Santos

[Nevilledog]

https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2023/01/george-santos-gop-house-seats

No paywall
https://archive.ph/5qouM

Twenty-two days after the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol, Kevin McCarthy visited Mar-a-Lago and posed with the guy who not only encouraged the rioters but apparently delighted in their desire to hang his vice president, Mike Pence. Like so many Republicans, McCarthy, who initially condemned Donald Trump’s behavior, wanted to have it both ways. He could try distancing himself from Trump, but fully breaking with MAGA would be too painful; the former president still had a hold on the GOP base and was raking in donations.

Since finally fulfilling his dream of becoming House Speaker, McCarthy is again trying to have it both ways, in keeping George Santos at arm’s length while still keeping him—and his precious seat—in the Republican column. “He’ll get seated on committees,” McCarthy said earlier this week. “My staff raised concerns when he had a staff member who impersonated my chief of staff, and that individual was let go when Mr. Santos found out about it.” Sure, Santos’s campaign fundraiser is the problem, but not the newly sworn in congressman whose documented dishonesty is so off the charts that New York magazine is running (and updating) a listicle titled “Here’s Every Single Lie Told by George Santos.”

But while Santos may take lying to another level, his willingness to deceive the public for power—along with Republicans tolerating or even excusing such behavior—isn’t out of character with today’s GOP. Remember, McCarthy, along with 138 other House Republicans, were willing to overturn the will of the American people to validate Trump’s “stolen” election lies, while also looking the other way for four years as the former president made more than 30,000 false or misleading claims. The message Republicans sent even before Santos is that lying to Americans is acceptable if it’s in the pursuit of power.

Democrats are understandably agitated by McCarthy seating Santos on two House committees—Small Business and Science, Space, and Technology—just like he’s any other new member. The Small Business Committee assignment is especially galling given that Santos lied about having an MBA. “House Republicans have sunk to the level of self-parody,” New York representative Ritchie Torres told me, adding: “The House Small Business Committee oversees the Payment Protection Program (PPP), one of the largest programs ever enacted by Congress. A fraud like George Santos cannot be trusted to root out rampant fraud in PPP.”

*snip*

[Me.]

1. THey Forgot His Being On Baruch Volleyball Team

was the reason he had to get two, not one, knee replacements.

https://www.sportskeeda.com/pop-culture/news-fact-check-did-george-santos-go-baruch-volleyball-claim-explored

As to MTG's claim about the plane that didn't fly into the Pentagon...I'm sure there are pics as such are always taken of crime scenes but no one is showing them to her because she is an idiot. As to whether or not there was an actual plane...I can only say my brother told me he was one of the people who was asked to enter what remained the next morning. Nothing further about it was discussed.

And thank you for the archive link.

[Solly Mack]

2. He is the typical republican. Liar, thief, hypocrite, aggrieved over imaginary slights

sees accountability for his own heinous actions as persecution, a sense of entitlement, with absolutely no conscience.

[Duppers]

3. +100