US Politics September 2023 - education-getting, income-having, Bible-readin church-goin MOTHERF*****

Would DeSantis be doing better in the polls if he campaigned in a vintage Ed Hardy hoodie from 2006

Looking like Dane Cook won’t make him sound like Dane Cook

If New Jersey's turd of senator finally resigned, can the governor just appoint another Democrat?

"Over $480,000 in cash—much of it stuffed into envelopes and hidden in clothing, closets, and a safe—was discovered in the home ... Some of the envelopes contained the fingerprints and/or DNA of" co-defendant making alleged bribes.

so New Jersey

xpost Yeah, and Menendez should also resign

As they say, not a good look:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/F6oxI-nXQAAoMB1?format=jpg&name=large

did they have Day Day delivering this cash?

I texted my friend about this.

His response: “Yeah, that guy is a stain on the Democrats. Maybe he should change parties.”

My response: “I suspect he may be changing into an orange jumpsuit”

The Dems re-nominated Menendez after the last time he was indicted.

that ended up as a mistrial. he won the primary 2:1 on a miniscule turnout.

funniest outcome would be for Dr. Oz to run for that seat

There's an obvious replacement:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rob_Menendez

Menendez is a sleaze, but he's a sleaze who gets shit done for NJ, and he shows up to all kinds of shit and helps people out. He'll keep winning elections as long as he wants to keep running. I predict jury nullification.

Too bad Paulie Walnuts is no longer with us.

Menendez is a sleaze, but he's a sleaze who gets shit done for NJ, and he shows up to all kinds of shit and helps people out. He'll keep winning elections as long as he wants to keep running. I predict jury nullification.

― read-only (unperson)

A Dem is governor. That's all that mattes.

*matters

From the "couldn't happen to a nicer guy" file, Politico has the knives out for lil' Ron:

‘Waiting for him to drop out’: DeSantis’ influence nosedives in Florida

Interviews with nearly two dozen lobbyists, political consultants and lawmakers revealed that DeSantis’ struggles as a presidential candidate have already eroded his influence in Florida. There is a widespread expectation that his candidacy will end in failure. His standing at home may depend on how long he slogs forward in the presidential campaign — and how he will manage his exit from the race if he eventually drops out.

Now, it may be just a matter of time before Florida Republicans, once unflinchingly loyal, seek distance from DeSantis and his hardball governing methods.

“You don’t get the assumption they are measuring drapes anymore — they are waiting for him to drop out,” one long-time Republican consultant in Tallahassee said of those working for the governor. The consultant, like others quoted in this story, was granted anonymity to freely discuss the sensitive situation.

...

DeSantis is one of Florida’s most powerful governors and has used his influence and sway over the past five years to transform politics in the state, including getting the Republican-controlled Legislature to bow to his agenda.

He reshaped the state’s education system by installing allies in top university positions and pushed legislation that limits how race and gender are taught. He endorsed dozens of K-12 school board candidates in the wake of the pandemic in an effort to help Republicans control all levers of state government. He’s used his power to suspend elected officials, including two Democratic prosecutors, while strong-arming his own party to approve congressional redistricting maps that favored Republicans.

He’s also known for his combative streak, willing to fight major corporations like the Walt Disney Co., Google and the cruise line industry.

But DeSantis’ troubles on the campaign trail have emboldened some in his party who are exhausted by his aggressive tactics. The state party last week rescinded a loyalty pledge that would have obligated the GOP primary candidates to endorse the eventual Republican presidential nominee, a stunning turnaround made at the behest of Trump supporters and against DeSantis’ wishes.

A major lobbyist in Tallahassee said: “There’s no love lost between the Legislature and DeSantis. ... They are faking it. They are waiting long enough to see the king drained of all his power. It’s a slow-motion coup.”

*opens mouth to suggest that florida didn't really have to deal with the man in the first place, if it didn't like him, but thinks better of it because everyone has guns there*

My mom’s idiotically right-wing best friend (lives in The Villages LOL) said a few months ago that she was glad RdS was running for Prez but sad he’d have to leave Florida to do so. Weep no more, lady!

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/-100-matt-gaetz-widely-expected-run-florida-governor-rcna105629

Because things can always get a little worse

Another martini, please.

Hard to think of anyone who exudes more negative charisma than DeSantis, but then Gaetz says "hold my beer."

Dallas mayor switches parties, parrots GOP rhetoric about how Democrats are destroying cities. I don't know this guy, is this a prelude to running for governor?

https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/22/dallas-mayor-eric-johnson-republican/

doesn't sound like he's resigning

Indicted Sen. Bob Menendez issues statement saying, “Those behind this campaign simply cannot accept that a first-generation Latino American from humble beginnings could rise to be a U.S. Senator and serve with honor and distinction.” pic.twitter.com/bGDiGmC3y9

— Ken Klippenstein (@kenklippenstein) September 22, 2023

I hope they get to the bottom of who hid all that cash around his house.

"My enemies send me wads of cash. I welcome their hatred."

"the gold bars found in my garage represent not corruption, but a gold standard of integrity and fidelity to the rule of law."

Dallas mayor switches parties, parrots GOP rhetoric about how Democrats are destroying cities. I don't know this guy, is this a prelude to running for governor?

https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/22/dallas-mayor-eric-johnson-republican🕸/

He needs to use the phrase "high-tech lynching."

Something tells me that Menendez's parentage and ethnicity are the main point, but good luck to him for trying to change the subject

https://www.politico.com/news/2023/09/21/kamala-harris-lead-office-gun-violence-prevention-00117497

lol, gold bars, the guy is a legend!

https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/09/1652942712.jpg

living the American Dream xpost

Dallas mayor switches parties, parrots GOP rhetoric about how Democrats are destroying cities

"i know I fucked up this city as a democrat, but I promise now that I'm a republican I'll do better" doesn't seem like a very good campaign message

whoa what the fuck is up with her pants? hey there Shakira

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNhriA2xq9E

"My enemies send me wads of cash. I welcome their hatred."

Mrs Menendez should be indicted for those jeans

What a loon

Neguse asks Clay Higgins if he thinks COVID is dangerous. Higgins says “I would put a virus along the lines of the flu far down my list of priorities that I would consider dangerous.” Neguse introduces an article titled “Clay Higgins: Covid almost killed me” pic.twitter.com/6kpAazq3lv

— Acyn (@Acyn) September 22, 2023

Clay Higgins seems like a guy that stared covid in the eye and shot it.

Benny Hill visited the WH?

Accused of man's laughter

Seems to be a thing lately to pretend to be a democrat, get elected and then switch.

One of the dynamics I think is underaddressed is how a lot of big (usually richer) cities are Dem heavy, so that any GOP types have to change party affiliation just to get considered. This happened here in Portland, too.

However, once you get in, local incentives are such that you either can or have to switch affiliations depending on party structures or one’s own ambitions.

It’s one of the many reasons why the vote-captured “blue no matter who” stans ain’t exactly promoting the best thinking.

Kingfish, Republicans in the District of Columbia routinely register as Democrats just to get a say in nominations. In DC the Democratic primary is the de facto election. The general election is an afterthought. And no one gives a single shit about it.

In contrast, Arlington County, Virginia (where I live) is as blue as can be, but the dynamic is different. Local candidates will run as "independent" but everyone knows that "independent" is just a code word for. "Republican." No one is fooled.

Come on lol pic.twitter.com/dLaDPcyziH

— Ken Klippenstein (@kenklippenstein) September 22, 2023

It's the age-old political riddle: which weighs more, a kilo of feathers or a kilo of gold bricks?

Searches for "how much is a kilo of gold worth" trending on Google.

A: A bit less than $62,000 at present.