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Top 10 Idiots

(594 posts)
Wed Sep 25, 2019, 05:00 PM Sep 2019

Top 10 Conservative Idiots #7-13: You Should See Me In A Crown Victoria Edition


Top 10 Conservative Idiots #7-13: You Should See Me In A Crown Victoria Edition

Welcome back to the Top 10 Conservative Idiots! What’s up Mizzou? How you guys doing? You doing fucking good? Great! So this is the second time that we’ve been to Missouri and our first at Mizzou, and it’s also our first during football season. How’s that going? Not great? Yeah really fuck those guys. And we were supposed to do a show there too. Do we have time for the thing? Yeah so if you saw Blues Brothers trending on Saturday – no, they’re not remaking the movie, than k god! Because the second one was bad enough. But it’s because an SUV drove through Woodfield mall in the Chicago suburb of Schaumberg. Yeah can we show that clip?



Yeah that movie is such a classic. But really is the thought of a Chevrolet Suburban driving through a mall the most horrifying thing ever? Or do you break out the soundtrack to the Blues Brothers? Well if you do the latter then you’re definitely my people. Yes, a lot of space in this mall, thank you sir! But really I can imagine that would be a pretty crazy scene. And… HEY THEY BROKE MY WATCH!!!! OK that’s enough of the intro, we have a lot of idiocy to get to, but first Bill Maher is back and he turns the tables on the definition of “Trump Derangement Syndrome”:



Where do we begin this week? Well in the first slot this week there was so much ridiculous stuff that happened last week – in fact too much to cram into 10 entries this week. So we’re going to combine it into one entry and debut a brand new segment “So That Happened” (1). Which includes a hilarious reason why Milo is no longer invited to parties, or anywhere for that matter. In the second slot this week, is the guy who we currently call president, Donald J. Trump (2) – and what’s his beef with the auto industry? Do cars have “too much junk on them” or is this just a big “fuck you” to California? We think it’s more the latter than the former. In the third slot this week – is Mike Pence (3). Yes, the vice president is in some serious trouble after taking an 8 SUV motorcade through Michigan’s historic Mackinac Island – which has an ultra strict “no car” rule dating back to the 1800s. Taking the fourth slot this week is Ed Buck (4). Wait, isn’t he a billionaire democratic donor? Well, just like Harvey Weinstein and Jeffrey Epstein, this dude might have actual skeletons in his closet and that wouldn’t be too much of a stretch. Taking the 5th slot this week of course is our weekly investigative piece, Top 10 Investigates (5) – and we’re going to take a look at a ticket reselling scam that targeted fans of the band The Black Keys during a sold out fan club only show last week. At slot number 6 this week of course is our weekly visit to the Holy Church Of The Top 10 in “Holy Shit”, and this week, is it your god given right to own a gun? Our resident pastor attended an event on the subject, and well, he’s got some thoughts. At slot #7 – “Beating A Dead Horse” – should Saturday Night Live have fired conservative actor Shane Gillis? Well, it’s really their own fault for being surprised that a Trump voting actor has said some extremely racist and sexist stuff. At slot #8, we have a new edition of “How Is This Still A Thing?” and this week after it’s once again back in the news, we’re going to ask “Clean Coal – How Is This Still A Thing?”. In the number 9 (NEIN!!!) slot this week is a new “I Need A Drink” we’re going to Area 51 to recap all the madness that was the Storm Area 51 Event. But like a Trump rally, it did not attract the crowd that it thought that it was going to. Finally this week it’s the 8th installment of our 2020 Voters Guide “Keeping Up With The Candidates” and this week we’re going to my home state of California to hang out with former senator and current presidential candidate Kamala Harris! Plus we have some live music from… you guessed it, The Black Keys! Buy their new album “Let’s Rock” or you are no friend of this program.Enjoy! And as always don’t forget the key!

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[font size="8"]So That Happened
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It’s time to debut our new segment:



Yes, that happened. There was so much batshit crazy stuff that happened last week that we figured just like your favorite pasta dish, we’d combine all the ingredients into one pan, toss it and then maybe add some salt and pepper to taste. I’ve been watching a lot of cooking videos lately in case you cant tell. To start with, I love to talk about how the Alt Right has been absolutely imploding under this administration to their absolutely boorish behavior. Nobody wants to deal with your racism and sexism anymore and the fights are getting ugly. Take one of our favorite crazy people, Milo Yiannopolous. Who apparently is a furry now. Well, actual furries aren’t having any of it. Seriously, what do you have to do to get rejected as a furry? These people wear animal costumes and usually don’t care what other people think. Well, maybe if you’re a racist and sexist asshole:

Right-wing persona non grata Milo Yiannopoulos announced that he has adopted a “fursona” as a snow leopard and that he purchased tickets to a furry convention; in response, organizers rescinded his event registration.

Yiannopoulos posted an email screenshot to one of the few platforms he has left—his Telegram messaging channel—on Saturday and claimed he registered for Midwest FurFest, a convention “to celebrate the furry fandom” hosted in the suburbs on Chicago this December. “Furries,” as they’re often called, are groups of people who have interest in animal personas with human characteristics; people who participate in the subculture often present themselves as non-human characters via art and costumes.

Yiannopoulos also claimed on Telegram that he had submitted a form to suggest he host a panel called “The Politics of Fur.” He asked his followers who plan to attend Midwest FurFest to message him to arrange “dinner, drinks, photos or anything else.”

After numerous complaints online, Midwest FurFest put out a statement on Twitter: “We have received a number of mentions and support tickets today – we assure all attendees that your safety is of the utmost importance and is not being ignored. We are investigating all concerns being relayed to us.”

In a statement later provided to Right Wing Watch, organizers wrote that they had rescinded Yiannopoulos’ registration for the event and that he would not be welcome to attend Midwest FurFest or any future event.

“Hate is not welcome at Midwest FurFest. We are dedicated to providing a safe, harassment-free convention experience for all, regardless of age, race, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, or personal beliefs,” organizers wrote. “Midwest FurFest can confirm that Mr. Yiannopoulos has registered for the event this year. While the convention generally does not comment on anyone’s registration status, Mr. Yiannopoulos has already stated as much publicly.”
https://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/milo-adopts-fursona-but-furries-say-no-thanks/




You know what this means? He’s literally a rejection away from opening up for puppet shows at the local zoo. I’m just saying, Spinal Tap you guys. Next up – remember the good old days when all we had to worry about were Hillary’s e-mails? And Trump talked about how there were like 30,000 e-mails that they needed to find? I mean I get that much a day just in spam. No Jetblue, I do not need to book a rental car with my Vegas flight! That’s why I am flying to Vegas! OK now that I got that off my chest, Ivanka did use a private server for personal e-mails:

Ivanka Trump reportedly violated federal records rules by sending emails to government officials on her personal account in 2017, according to a new report from The Washington Post.

It said that Trump, a White House adviser and the president's eldest daughter, sent hundreds of emails about White House business and her official schedule to administration aides, Cabinet officials and her personal assistants.

White House ethics officials discovered this as they reviewed emails gathered last fall by five Cabinet agencies. The agencies were gathering the emails as they prepared to respond to a public records lawsuit.

In their review, the officials found that Trump discussed business from the White House while using a private email account, the Post said.

The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment.
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/417532-ivanka-trump-sent-hundreds-of-emails-about-government-business-on




Next up – Trump certainly knows how to pick the best people doesn’t he? And when you see the word “MAGA” appear anywhere, you almost instantly know that person is going to be a racist and sexist asshole who will probably say or do something racist. Well, when you’re a judge, you should probably refrain from going full MAGA:

A New York judge has resigned from the bench after he was charged over a social media post that allegedly "conveyed racial and/or political bias," state officials said.

Kyle R. Canning, who was a part-time judge in Altona, N.Y., was charged over a Facebook post that allegedly showed a photo of a noose, along with the statement "IF WE WANT TO MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN WE WILL HAVE TO MAKE EVIL PEOPLE FEAR PUNISHMENT AGAIN,” the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct said in a statement Tuesday. The language used in the post echoed President Trump's "Make America Great Again" campaign slogan.

The commission said that Canning was charged with sharing an image that "conveyed racial and/or political bias."

“The noose is an incendiary image with repugnant racial connotations,” Commission Administrator Robert H. Tembeckjian said in the statement. “It is the very antithesis of law and justice. For a judge to use the image of the noose in making a political point undermines the integrity of the judiciary and public confidence in the courts.”

Canning took office in 2018, and his term was supposed to last until the end of 2021, officials said. He agreed to never "seek or accept judicial office" in the future, they added.
https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/461742-NY-judge-resigns-from-bench-after-allegedly%20posting-make-america-great-again




Yeah pretty much. Finally for all the crazy stuff that happened last week – Mike Pence went to Ireland and stayed at a Trump property. Shocking, I know. But what’s even more shocking is that the powers that be are attempting to interrupt a congressional probe into the visit and it’s backfiring on them spectacularly.

Vice President Mike Pence's trip to Ireland — or more precisely his curious stay at one of President Trump’s hotels — has prompted multiple congressional probes. But the Democrat-led oversight investigations have already drawn complaints and pushback from Trump’s loudest Republican defenders on Capitol Hill, including the ranking member of the House Oversight Committee.

Democrats in both the House of Representatives and Senate have sent official letters of inquiry to the vice president’s office seeking specific information on the costs of Pence's recent stay at Trump International Golf Club in Doonbeg, Ireland. They have imposed a Sept. 19 deadline for the administration and the Trump Organization to turn over relevant documents. Democrats have raised concerns that Pence’s stay at Trump’s resort could have violated the emoluments clause in the Constitution. They’ve asked for details like the cost of the stay, Secret Service protection, and comparable rates for hotels nearby as well as across the country in Dublin, where Pence held meetings with Irish officials and business leaders.

The vice president’s decision to stay at Trump’s resort can hardly be defended as one of convenience, as Pence previously suggested. Doonbeg is in County Clare on the west coast of Ireland, nearly a four-hour drive from most of Pence’s scheduled meetings in Dublin. According to an analysis by the government watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), Pence’s stay cost taxpayers $599,454.36 in limousine service alone.

Before taking office, Trump promised he would step away from his business while in office. Instead, however, he has kept his stake in his companies. So expenditures of public funds like Pence’s stay at Doonbeg directly line Trump’s pockets. According to data collected by CREW, Pence has made more than 20 such visits to Trump properties since taking office. So has Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, while Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross has made 16 visits to Trump properties.
https://www.salon.com/2019/09/18/covering-up-the-corruption-gop-tries-to-block-probe-of-mike-pences-ireland-trip/





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[font size="8"]Trump Vs The Auto Industry
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Once again, Trump is sticking his head where it doesn’t belong. And given the amount of shit he eats, I’m not sure that would be very pleasant. And speaking of eating shit, while the rest of the world is striking against the horrors of climate change, Trump apparently wants to rollback decades of auto emissions standards that nobody asked for, or wanted. But really when you peel back the layers, this is more of a “fuck you” to California for not voting for Trump than anything else. And really, he’s just being an asshole for the sake of being an asshole. I mean really Trump don’t go there, this is a fight that you won’t win.

California sued Friday to stop the Trump administration from revoking its authority to set greenhouse gas emission and fuel economy standards for cars and trucks, enlisting help from 22 other states in a battle that will shape a key component of the nation's climate policy.

Federal law sets standards for how much pollution can come from cars and trucks. But since the 1970s, California has been permitted to set tougher rules because it has the most cars and struggles to meet air quality standards. On Thursday, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration withdrew California's waiver.

The NHTSA action does not take effect for 60 days, but state leaders did not wait to file a lawsuit. Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has clashed with President Donald Trump on several fronts, vowed the state "will hold the line in court to defend our children's health, save consumers money at the pump and protect our environment."

The Trump administration's decision does not just affect California. Thirteen other states, plus the District of Columbia, have adopted California's standards.

A spokesman for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration declined to comment on the lawsuit. But Thursday, Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao said the rules "were making cars more expensive and impeding safety because consumers were being priced out of newer, safer vehicles."
https://ktla.com/2019/09/20/mr-president-well-see-you-in-court-ca-sues-trump-over-revoking-states-car-emissions-authority/




There is pretty much a Simpsons GIF for everything. But yeah BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! So is this a fuck you to California or a fuck you to auto makers? Ah, I give up, it’s impossible to decipher Trump’s madness anymore. But according to him, car companies are politically correct and cars are full of junk – yes, this is a thing that was actually said! But there is some good news, we hope – is that states are fighting back!

A group of 23 states on Friday sued to block the Trump administration from undoing California’s authority to set strict car pollution rules, one of the biggest U.S. battles over climate change.

On the day that young people around the world staged protests demanding action on climate, the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Washington was the first round in a legal battle that many expect will outlast Trump’s presidency.

“Mr President, we’ll see you in court,” California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said in a statement.

The legal fight pits a Democratic majority state that has become the U.S. environmental champion against a Republican president who wants to boost the economy by cutting regulation. The debate already is playing out ahead of the presidential election next year.

“Trump’s latest move is bad for our air. Bad for our health. Bad for our economy,” said California Governor Gavin Newsom.
https://www.firstpost.com/world/23-us-states-are-suing-trump-admin-from-undoing-californias-car-pollution-laws-7388711.html




Thankfully we won’t have to go back to those times, but under Trump, we might go back to when cars polluted the atmosphere. You know what? We need it. I can see the LA skyline now! But yeah Trump time and time again, you don’t mess with California or you will get your ass handed to you. I mean seriously, what does Trump want us all to drive Crown Victorias? You should see me in a Crown Victoria. Yeah I threw in a Billie Eilish reference. Sue me! Oh and by the way, completely off topic, we are trying to get her for an upcoming Top 10 edition. Now back on topic.

States across America are ready to hit the accelerator toward limiting carbon emissions from cars and trucks — so why is the federal government putting up a giant roadblock?
On Thursday, the Trump administration, which has repeatedly touted "states' rights" on other issues, moved to take away California's authority on vehicle emissions standards in the state.

In effect, this regressive proposal will immediately affect 13 other states (plus the District of Columbia) that have adopted California's emissions standards. At the same time, the plan would put every state at risk of more pollution by weakening national standards that would have gone into effect over the next few years.

In defense of their right to cleaner cars, 24 states announced a lawsuit Friday challenging the Trump administration's reckless decision, which not only defies science, but also defies public opinion and even market forces. Two in three Americans say the United States needs to do more on climate change, and several leading automakers recently agreed to do their part by following the tough emissions standards set by California.

The aims behind these higher standards are simple: to cut pollution and advance cleaner technology. By implementing higher standards, these states benefit from cleaner air — and from the peace of mind that comes from knowing they're helping America fight global warming.
https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/23/opinions/trumps-disastrous-reversal-of-tough-auto-emissions-rules-folger/index.html




That’s probably not that far off of what Trump wants for cars and they might all end the same way if he has his way. But there is a silver lining in this complete atrocity – at least California is fighting back and they have a pretty solid majority of states backing them. I mean when we have an EPA that is literally doing the exact opposite of the job it was supposed to do, what’s there to do from there?

The Trump administration has a steep hill to climb before it can revoke a waiver that allows California to set separate rules that govern auto emissions.

The Department of Transportation and the Environmental Protection Agency announced on Thursday that they were doing away with the 2013 carveout, which was one of President Barack Obama’s signature measures to contain climate change.

But legal experts say that California, which formally filed suit alongside 23 other states on Friday, has a strong case that the administration’s move is unlawful. And, they say, there is virtually no way in which the legal fight is over before the 2020 presidential election, meaning voters will also get a say in the matter.

“I would say it’s going to be a very strong case but not necessarily a slam dunk,” said Todd Aagard, a former Justice Department attorney who worked in the agency’s environment and natural resources division.
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/09/20/trump-faces-long-odds-in-california-lawsuit-over-auto-emissions-waiver.html





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[font size="8"]Mike Pence
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So this next entry is for the Michiganders in the crowd. Do we have any people from Michigan in the audience here? Yeah I love the one guy in the back who yells “WOOOOOOOOO!!!”. Well, speaking of putting a tail pipe in a place where it is extremely uncomfortable to do so, Mike Pence can join Trump in participating in that activity. Great Photoshop there. What happened for him to deserve that? Well, the super tiny island in Michigan’s Lake Huron is home to Mackinac Island. And it’s pretty well known that vehicles haven’t been allowed on the island since the 1800s. But once again, in an episode of conservatives just being plain douchebags, Vice President Snowflake drove an 8 SUV motorcade through it, proving once again that bad guys drive black SUVs.

Vice President Mike Pence choppered onto a historic Michigan island that has always banned autos in favor of bicycles and horses and was shuttled to a campaign speech in a parade of eight official cars.

Tweeted one Michigander of the grand, gasoline-powered arrival at Mackinac Island’s famous Grand Hotel this weekend:

Most tourists reach the island by ferry, although small aircraft do come in and out, and the island does house a few emergency vehicles at all times. Secret Service for President Gerald Ford had a car waiting in case of an emergency when he and first lady Betty Ford visited in 1975, but the couple used the common mode of getting around during their visit, a horse-drawn carriage.

Pence was on the island to speak to the Michigan Republican Leadership Conference and had alerted officials there to his transportation plans, according to reports.

Michigan was a key state in the 2016 presidential election and is considered a major target for 2020. Pence has visited Michigan 10 times since 2017, the Detroit Free Press said. According to the Michigan Republican Party, Pence is the first sitting vice president to speak at the biennial conference, which has been hosted on the island — home to well-heeled summer people, retirees and fudge-seeking, tandem bike-riding tourists — for more than 60 years.
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/michigans-historic-mackinac-island-bans-cars-the-pence-motorcade-used-8-2019-09-22




Yeah BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! Is nothing sacred to these motherfuckers? It’s almost like they try to come up with the wrong answer to everything? Hmm, let’s drive a car through a place where cars haven’t been allowed for 100 years! Yeah seriously, fail. And the residents of Mackinac Island are pissed and rightfully so. Are they trying to lose Michigan? This could probably do it.

Mackinac Island (pronounced "Mackinaw&quot draws nearly a million visitors each year and is regarded as one of the most precious natural resources in Michigan. Just 450 people live on the small destination, and they get around by bike.

"Bikes are just our way of life," Mary McGuire Slevin, the executive director of the Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau, told the sustainable-business news site TriplePundit. "They are like a part of our bodies, we don't even think about it. When I see a tourist go out for a bike ride around the circumference of the island, you can just tell the difference when they come pedaling back into town — they are more relaxed and have a big smile on their face."

Even Gerald Ford, the only president from Michigan, traveled by horse-drawn carriage when he visited Mackinac in 1975.

So when Pence broke with tradition over the weekend, controversy ensued. Several current and former Michigan residents reached out to Business Insider over email to share their thoughts.

&quot This is) a true gem that has been assaulted in plain sight," Skaneateles, New York resident Bitsy Jennings Govern, who grew up in Michigan, told Business Insider.
https://www.businessinsider.com/mike-pence-car-free-mackinac-island-michiganders-react2019-9




Yeah probably. But seriously, Pence crossed a line that shouldn’t have been crossed here. It’s like nothing is scared to these guys. Yeah sure, the powers that be on Mackinac Island have bent the rules before but nothing like this. At least when Gerald Ford visited the island, he had the good sense to leave his car behind when he realized that it might have been a bad idea.

The U.S. Secret Service had an automobile smuggled onto Mackinac Island when President Gerald Ford visited in 1975 — but the car was kept hidden and was never used, says a former longtime Mackinac Island official.

Dennis Cawthorne, a Lansing lobbyist and Mackinac Island resident who served for more than 20 years as chairman of the Mackinac Island State Park Commission, said Ford and his wife, first lady Betty Ford, rode a horse-drawn carriage during their Mackinac visit.

What wasn't widely known at the time, Cawthorne said, was that the Secret Service insisted that a vehicle be quietly brought to the island, so it would be available in case of an emergency.

Cawthorne disclosed the backstory to the Ford visit amid a controversy over whether Vice President Mike Pence will observe the century-old Mackinac Island ban on motorized vehicles when he visits Saturday to address the Mackinac Republican Leadership Conference.
https://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/elections/2019/09/20/mike-pence-mackinac-island-motorized-vehicle/2386562001/




There literally is a Simpsons GIF for everything. By the way, my mom is from Michigan. I’ve been to Mackinac Island, I’ve eaten and stayed at the Grand Hotel. This is what one might call, a sacrilege. I mean seriously, he fucked up. And if you want to see why cars have been banned on the island, take a look at this photo gallery.

Michiganders are furious over Vice President Mike Pence's motorcade on the historic Mackinac Island — and for good reason.

As a native Michigander, Mackinac Island holds a special place in my heart. The quaint town barred vehicles in 1898 over health concerns for the horses that live on the island. Natives tend to bike everywhere, or travel by horse-drawn carriage.

Today, the vehicle ban adds to the "old-school" feel of the area, along with its Victorian architecture and the presence of horse-drawn carriages.

Here are 12 photos that show exactly why Michiganders are so furious with Pence driving on Mackinac Island:
https://www.businessinsider.com/mackinac-island-photos-before-mike-pence-motorcade-2019-9





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[font size="8"]Ed Buck
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You’re probably thinking – another billionaire donor is a convicted sex criminal and possible human trafficker? Yes. And you’re probably also thinking – hey wait a minute! Ed Buck is a democratic donor, why is he on the list? Because we’re not taking shit from anybody and we’re giving him the same treatment that we gave Harvey Weinstein, Jeffrey Epstein, and Bill Cosby. That is, sex offenders like these monsters can go fuck themselves. So how did Ed Buck wind up on the list? Well, he’s a demon among the homeless population of Los Angeles. And that’s putting it lightly. Of course this is going to give more fuel to the fire for Qanon aficionados, but really, they can fuck off too.

Stunning new allegations that Democratic donor Ed Buck paid at least 10 men to use drugs for his pleasure have sparked more questions from activists and others about why it took so long to uncover the longtime West Hollywood political activist’s alleged misconduct.

Buck has been the subject of protests and demands for justice since 2017, when a young man was found dead in his home of a drug overdose. Early this year, a second man was found dead inside Buck’s West Hollywood apartment.

Community activists and family and friends of the victims have long questioned whether Buck’s political connections played a role in the lack of law enforcement action after the first death — an accusation authorities deny.

Jasmyne Cannick, who has led community protests about Buck, said she was pleased with his arrest this week but said it took far too long.

“We brought them plenty of witnesses,” Cannick said. “Over the years, I met with victims repeatedly. They didn’t want to be out in the open. One of them is now dead, and sadly he didn’t get to see this day.”

The mother of Gemmel Moore, the man found dead in Buck’s home in 2017, thanked her son’s supporters for not giving up. In a video statement posted on Twitter, LaTisha Nixon said she felt like prosecutors initially treated her like a criminal when she pressed her case.
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-09-20/after-arrest-of-ed-buck-a-k-a-dr-kevorkian-some-ask-what-took-so-long




Holy shit!!! Yeah, if people start comparing you to a tried and convicted serial killer, you definitely have some issues. As if this further delves into “holy shit” territory, it gets worse. You know how I sometimes joke about people who have actual skeletons in his closet? Well, for Ed Buck, that joke may not be that far off from reality here.

When the lifeless body of a 26-year-old man was found two years ago in the apartment of Ed Buck, a small-time Democratic donor and political activist, the authorities described it as an accidental overdose. Then, in January, a 55-year-old fashion consultant died in Mr. Buck’s home in exactly the same way. Once again, he faced no charges.

On Tuesday, after a third man survived a methamphetamine overdose in the apartment, Mr. Buck was finally arrested and hauled away in the back of a police car.

The sordid facts — and Mr. Buck’s seeming double life — are the stuff of crime novels. The West Hollywood apartment building where Mr. Buck lived, with its simple white facade, dirty with stains dripping from air-conditioners, would be easy to miss on another day, the kind of spot that the novelist Raymond Chandler once described as a good place to have bad habits.

Prosecutors have charged Mr. Buck with operating a drug house, administering methamphetamines and battery and accused him of being a “violent, dangerous sexual predator” who targeted vulnerable men. “Buck is clearly a predator with no regard for human life,” the court documents said.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/18/us/ed-buck-west-hollywood.html




Forget Dr. Kevorkian, Dexter Morgan might be a more accurate comparison! This might be one of the darkest entries we’ve ever done, but really, fuck this guy. So how did Ed Buck go this long without getting arrested? I mean did he try and evade the authorities with the same precision that Dexter Morgan got away with? Or just pure laziness? I’m guessing the latter than the former.

Los Angeles County prosecutors say they have charged Democratic donor and LGBTQ activist Ed Buck with running a drug house and other crimes after a man overdosed on methamphetamine at Buck's apartment last week. The man survived, but two other men have died from overdoses at Buck's apartment in the past two years.

Buck was arrested Tuesday night — after months in which activists and relatives of the men who died have called for criminal charges related to the suspicious circumstances around the deaths of 26-year-old Gemmel Moore in 2017 and 55-year-old Timothy Michael Dean in January.

Buck, who is 65, is now facing felony counts of battery causing serious injury, administering methamphetamine and maintaining a drug house.

If convicted, he could face a maximum sentence of five years and eight months in state prison, said Greg Risling, the assistant chief of media relations for the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office.

The most recent overdose took place on Sept. 11. Prosecutors say Buck injected a 37-year-old man with methamphetamine at Buck's apartment on Laurel Avenue in West Hollywood. The man suffered an overdose but survived
https://www.npr.org/2019/09/18/761858659/democratic-fundraiser-ed-buck-is-arrested-after-a-third-man-ods-in-bucks-apartme




No no no no, no need to stab anything here. So you might be wondering what does the far right have to do with this? Well, many right wingers who are followers of the Q conspiracy have alleged that Ed Buck’s arrest is similar to that of Jeffrey Epstein’s and that it may be a smaller part of a much bigger picture. But prominent figures on both sides are going down at a very quick rate. So what will happen when all the dust has been settled? It’s too hard to say really.

Buck’s arrest has caught the attention of many right-wing conspiracy theorists on Twitter, in large part because his story is similar to that of Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier accused of sexually abusing dozens of young women who was found dead in his cell last month. Like Epstein, Buck was a wealthy, politically connected white man; also like Epstein, he allegedly targeted members of marginalized communities, and his alleged crimes escaped notice from authorities for years before his arrest, largely due to his wealth and privilege. Perhaps more to the point, from the perspective of far-right conspiracy theorists, both Buck and Epstein had connections to powerful Democratic politicians, and many right-wing trolls on Twitter have leaned heavily into Buck’s links to Hillary Clinton in discussing the case. QAnon followers also made hay with news of Buck’s arrest, suggesting that it was part of President Trump’s larger plan to round up members of the Democratic establishment and send them to Guantanamo, as so-called “drops” from the anonymous 4chan poster Q has intimated.

But the truth is that Buck’s arrest is significant because it does point to a larger conspiracy — just not the one that far-right trolls think. Members of the community have long argued that Buck targeted vulnerable members of the community — men who were HIV-positive or homeless or struggling with drug addiction — for one specific, bone-chilling reason: because he believed he could get away with exploiting them. And if the years of police inaction regarding the allegations against Buck are any indication, he was correct in this belief. The fact that it took the deaths of two men to prove that is a tragic, shameful reminder of just how much power men like Buck still wield, and how little is shared by those our society deems disposable.
https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/ed-buck-arrest-meth-democratic-donor-886516/





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[font size="8"]Top 10 Investigates: Black Keys Ticket Scam
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It’s time to investigate beyond the headlines! This is Top 10 Investigates!



What happens when a night out turns into a nightmare? That’s what happened for fans of one of the biggest rock groups out there right now, The Black Keys. The Black Keys played a sold out show at the historic Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles that was supposed to be the kick off party for their forthcoming “Let’s Rock” tour. But the people who were left outside were the ones who were not exactly rocking out that evening. It turns out that the Black Keys have a strict no reselling policy that hundreds of discerning fans out of the show when they realized that their tickets were not valid anymore. But here’s one account from one family who was dejected from the concert because they bought such tickets.

Beatriz Zaragoza and her two children couldn’t wait to see Thursday’s concert at the Wiltern featuring the Black Keys, one of their favorite bands that had been on a years-long hiatus.

They bought tickets through StubHub for more than $700. They fought rush-hour traffic to drive to the venue from Boyle Heights. They paid Koreatown prices for parking and arrived at the Wiltern two hours early, at 5 p.m.

After more than two hours in line, the family made it through security and entered the Wiltern’s foyer, buzzing with pre-concert excitement. Her kids — ages 9 and 14 — were finally going to see the band whose songs they imitate at home on their guitar and drum set.

But one look at Zaragoza’s mobile tickets and a Wiltern employee turned her away. He didn’t even scan them.

Zaragoza was told the Black Keys were not accepting tickets from third-party vendors.
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-09-20/black-keys-wiltern-tickets-ticketmaster




Yes it does. So how does a simple concert ticket buying experience turn into a nightmare? There’s plenty of ways it can go wrong. And who do you blame for this fiasco? Do you blame the band’s ticket reselling policy? Do you blame the venue? Do you blame the people who sold you the ticket – in this case Stub Hub? Well there’s plenty of blame to go around and there’s plenty of ways that this could go wrong.

The Black Keys, who were performing their first live show in four-and-a-half years, went on stage at around 9:20 p.m., but there was also a spectacle outside the venue prior to that because people who had purchased tickets through third party vendors like StubHub, Vivid Seats and SeatGeek discovered their tickets were fake.

The official tickets, which were sold through Ticketmaster, were mobile only with a rotating barcode. Ticketmaster told CBS2 that the tickets were sold “to fans and not transferable.” Some sellers had allegedly posted screen grabs of their tickets on resale sites such as StubHub. People who bought those tickets were then denied entry.

“The presenters of the concert directed that these tickets be made available only to fans and that they be strictly nontransferable,” Ticketmaster said in a statement provided to CBS2. “This was messaged from the beginning with the announcement of the performance and throughout the sales process. Unfortunately, bad actors took advantage of this situation and posted screen shots of tickets that were not valid for entry onto the secondary market. We always recommend purchasing tickets from the official source.”

Many of these customers were told their tickets were not valid — some turned away after waiting in line. Sky9 was overhead as frustrated people poured out of the theater after being denied entry.
https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2019/09/20/sold-out-black-keys-show-becomes-a-bit-chaotic-when-hundreds-realize-their-tickets-are-no-bueno/




Yes in what seems like a Spinal Tap moment, the reselling policy came back and bit them in the ass hard, and it was a major fiasco. But here’s how it could have happened – there’s a Ticketmaster feature called “Safetix” that generates a random barcode every 15 minutes so that fans can’t randomly generate their own tickets. Also, read the policy before you sell it on a third party site.

Hundreds of fans were left outside of the first Black Keys’ show in five years, after being told their tickets were not valid when they were scanned for entry. Apparently, promoters had shifted to using Ticketmaster’s “Safetix” system – which features barcodes that rotate on a timer to disable the possibility of sending a screenshot of the tickets to friends or after a sale – and made the tickets non-transferrable.

Consumers who had purchased tickets through the secondary ticket market were left on the outside as the band performed, presumably to a half-full building at the Wiltern in Los Angeles.

“Our StubHubs aren’t working,” one fan told LA’s CBS2. “We paid full value for our tickets, and they’re not letting us in.”

Fans locked out took to social media to complain about the fiasco in progress. Many complained that the shift to the “Safetix” system was done at the last minute and without customers being informed of the potential that the tickets wouldn’t work.

Ticketmaster told CBS2 that the tickets sold were “for fans and not transferable,” which directly contradicts what some fans have reported.
https://www.ticketnews.com/2019/09/safetix-hundreds-locked-black-keys-wiltern/




True. there is a lot of that. But again, also, this is a prime example of what happens when you don’t read the terms of sale before buying and selling something like a concert ticket. However, if you want the actual explanation of what happened, look no further than the Black Keys themselves.

The Black Keys kicked off their Let's Rock tour on Friday night (September 20) at Los Angeles' Wiltern Theater with what was supposed to be a special, intimate show for their fans; however, hundreds of ticket-holders were outraged when they were turned down at the door for having invalid tickets. Over the weekend, the duo issued a statement to explain what caused the issue.

“Last night’s concert tickets were $25 and geared toward the fan club,” the band said. “This was our first show in over four years and the kickoff of the Let’s Rock Tour. Because we were playing a venue far smaller than the rest of the venues on the tour as a warmup show, we turned off ticket transferability to ensure that our fans got in the door at the low ticket price we set for them.”

“Unfortunately, scalpers took this opportunity to defraud our fans and steal their money by selling tickets that were ineligible for transfer on scalper sites,” they continued. “The presenters of the concert directed that these tickets be made available only to fans and that they be strictly nontransferable. This was messaged from the beginning with the announcement of the performance and throughout the sales process.”

Ticketmaster also shared in a statement: “Unfortunately, bad actors took advantage of the situation and posted screen shots of tickets that were not valid for entry onto the secondary market. We always recommend purchasing tickets from the official source.”
https://alt987fm.iheart.com/content/2019-09-22-black-keys-share-statement-about-fans-getting-turned-away-from-la-show/




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 of Columbia! For the Holy Church Of The Top 10 has convened and it’s time for our weekly reminder that the holiest among us are also the most full of:



My fair congregation!!! You know we live in a society where the firearm is a constant subject of discussion among both sides in this country. As such, the firearm is in the hands of people who do not use them for good. But is it your GAWD given right to own a weapon of choice? Some on the right side may think so, and they’ve been loud and vocal about it recently. However, I along with many members of my fine congregation, attended an event on this subject very recently. But I’ve got some thoughts on this subject and I’d like to let my brothers and sisters on the right know exactly how I feel! But first, let’s let this play out a bit.

Some Second Amendment activists declared Saturday, September 14 to be “Guns and God Appreciation Day” and hoped that “millions of Americans” would gather to “demonstrate their unwavering support for the 2nd Amendment and their love and appreciation for God.”

Polls taken in the aftermath of recent mass shootings suggest that supermajorities of Americans support stronger background checks and other gun control measures. But according to Guns and God Appreciation Day organizers, “No proposed gun control law or Gun Free Zone can prevent murderous intent, and would not have prevented any mass shooting or murder event.” Instead, they say, “The mass murder epidemic in America is directly correlated to our diminishing relationship with God. We have far too many God Free Zones.”

The event’s website says calls on families, communities, culture, schools and the public square to “simultaneously embrace God’s love and maintain a healthy fear in the wrath of God.”

The organizer, Constitutional Rights PAC, organized a Gun Appreciation Day in 2013, which they claim was a “massive success” despite “efforts by leftist media outlets” to delegitimize it. Since then, the group says, National Gun Appreciation Day “has been observed annually on January 19th.”
https://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/gun-advocates-promote-guns-and-god-appreciation-day-to-resist-cultural-marxism/




Yes, that is a man of GAWD with a gun! But I don’t remember Ned Flanders screaming that he has a GAWD given right to own a weapon! In fact I don’t remember anywhere in the Bible where JAYSUS said to shoot first and ask questions later. Maybe in the Book Of Harry, followed by the Book Of Rambo! But that’s not in our good book! I mean whose idea was this?

One hundred people die a day from a bullet in this country and twice as many are shot and survive, yet we are unable to pass legislation that would stop or at least slow down the bleeding.

On Aug. 31, Texas experienced its second mass shooting in as little as four weeks. Texas House Rep. Matt Schaefer responded to the call to “do something” on Twitter by saying he has no plans to support legislation that limits access to deadly weapons because it is a “God-given right.” I don’t know what god House Rep. Schaefer is referring to, but as a pastor, I can say it is not the god of Jesus.

Some form of Jesus’ command to love God and love thy neighbor appears in each of the four gospels. When something appears in all four gospels, it clues us in to the fact that this is a primary teaching. We think Jesus wasn’t clear about who we are to love, but he also tells us to love our enemies. This means that everyone is included in Jesus’ command to love. It is impossible to love another human when one is preparing to take up arms against them.

Presbyterian pastor Rev. Jim Atwood writes in his book, “Gundamentalism and Where It is Taking America,” “Millions who claim one of the Abrahamic faiths have added guns to their godhead. They have placed their ultimate trust in firearms and dismissed God’s command to love neighbor, stranger and enemy. They bow before the Second Amendment and reject God’s Second Commandment in Exodus 20:4-5: You shall have no other gods before me.”
https://thehill.com/opinion/civil-rights/460194-what-god-gave-you-the-right-to-guns




I have to say I like this guy! Gundamentalism – yes it’s the marriage of GAWD and GUNS! And it is most certainly an unholy union if there ever was one. By the way you ever notice those bumper stickers on the back of cars that say “Pro GAWD, Pro Gun, Pro Life”? I have had one such encounter. And it’s about as stupid as that. But my favorite part of this is you know how right wingers lecture you about how you shouldn’t talk about politics then proceed to lecture you on politics? This is one of those situations!

Guns and God. These two words would seem to be at opposite ends – deadly weapons and a supreme deity – of our instinctual sensibilities. If Colt 45 or Glock G19 are somewhere in the book of Smith & Wesson, I apologize to any Bible believers.

However, this Saturday is Guns and God Appreciation Day, a national campaign that also caused me to pause for a few seconds when first reading about it. Guns and God. Slowly repeat those three words a few times and let me know if they roll off your tongue or choke on your faith.

“It is time to END GUN FREE ZONES to protect our citizens and heal our One Nation Under God,” states an email I received from the organization.

Guns and God Appreciation Day was created to encourage millions of gun owners to “turn out at state capitals, gun shows, gun shops, in public, and to make sure you shoot off a few rounds at your local gun range in support of the Second Amendment,” according to the Guns & God website.

“Let Congress and President Trump know that you stand with the 2nd Amendment as written and the only solution to the mass murder epidemic is to return America to One Nation Under God,” the site states. “What is the root cause of these mass murders? The wedge the politically correct society has placed between to divide Americans from God.”
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/opinion/ct-ptb-davich-guns-and-god-appreciation-day-st-0913-20190912-qs2wn64qa5al5eof5jecfogzla-story.html




Really? I’m pretty sure that GAWD would have a problem with this line of thinking. I don’t remember *ANY* passage in the Bible that indicated that JAYSUS would own a gun! But here’s the thing – how can you rant against gun control and then when you’re in a position to do something about guns, you don’t do it and instead call for prayer? Well, I speak as a man of GAWD, that prayer isn’t solving this!

Texas Republican congressman Matt Schaefer railed against Americans calling for lawmakers to "do something" about mass shootings, arguing via Twitter Saturday that God and prayer are more effective than gun control regulations.

Schaefer, who represents Texas' 6th congressional district, said "NO" to any form of gun restrictions in a Twitter thread in which he touted the "God-given, constitutionally protected" Second Amendment rights of fellow Texans and Americans. Schaefer's series of Saturday tweets proclaiming he will never back any form of weapons bans or background checks came just hours after a shooting left 5 dead in west Texas. Schaefer touted "praying for victims" and downplayed the "evil acts of a handful of people."

"'Do something!' is the statement we keep hearing. As an elected official with a vote in Austin, let me tell you what I am NOT going to do," Schaefer, who was first elected in 2012, tweeted Saturday evening.

"I am NOT going to use the evil acts of a handful of people to diminish the God-given rights of my fellow Texans. Period. None of these so-called gun-control solutions will work to stop a person with evil intent," he continued. Schaefer rejected "red flag pre-crime" law proposals made by President Donald Trump and lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle over the past month.
https://www.newsweek.com/matt-schaefer-texas-republican-congressman-god-prayer-mass-shootings-twitter-victims-1457129




No you moron, your right to own a gun is not a GAWD given right! And if you think that, you need some serious help! 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: Cancel Culture
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Everyone’s favorite sketch comedy show, Saturday Night Live, attempted to find an actor who would resonate with conservative Trump voters. And it backfired on them spectacularly. I mean who would have guessed that a white conservative male would say things that are racist and sexist? I mean, seriously… I never!! Well, ever since Shane Gillis became the shortest tenured actor on the longest running late night program, there’s been a debate about “cancel culture”. And people are comparing it to recent standup specials where comedians like Dave Chappelle have said far worse things. But should they be cancelled?

“Cancel culture” is a phrase that’s been lobbed often this past year, as an impulse toward outrage is ever-amplified by the megaphone of social media. But what the hell does it even mean?

At face value, the term refers to what is perceived as a reflexive, unfair ruthlessness. In a society that is increasingly concerned with being politically correct and “woke,” there is no tolerance of anyone whose words, attitudes, or behavior do not adhere to those mores. And as those ideas are most often ascribed to people who hold liberal values, it is often alleged that this applies to anyone who speaks or does anything that works against a utopian lefitst ideal. In other words, say something that upsets a “snowflake” and you’re fired.

In that version of “cancel culture,” we’re a lynch mob of Red Queens, hysterically policing social media for problematic people, screaming “off with their heads!” anytime we encounter an idea we don’t like.

But like many phrases and ideas in 2019, this one has been appropriated, bastardized, and misused to the point of not only betraying its original definition and its usefulness in checking the actual repercussions of reactionary censorship, but in fact has become almost meaningless.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/shane-gilliss-racist-jokes-and-snl-what-the-hell-is-cancel-culture-anyway




Ah, this show aint no good! See, this all goes back to that whole “snowflake” bullshit that alt right trolls and libertarians have been using for the last 4 ½ years to belittle liberals and anyone who doesn’t agree with the far right. Which is a whole hell of a lot of you. Cancel culture is just another form of it. So what did Shane Gillis do to piss us off?

Here we go again... Photos have emerged of Canadian Prime Ministerial pin-up Justin Trudeau in blackface. The former teacher donned dark make-up for an Arabian Nights themed dress up party in 2001. It’s now been confirmed this wasn’t a one off either. The Canadian leader also wore blackface on other occasions. He cannot recall how many.

Nobody will be surprised that social media had rather a lot to say on the subject. There was valid but predictable outrage from some quarters, followed by exaggerated digital eye-rolling from others. The left concluded that Justin Trudeau was "cancelled". That is, his status as one of the good ones was permanently removed. While the right relaxed with a box of popcorn to watch their opponents devour one of their own.

The internet doesn’t exactly have a reputation for nuanced debate. Far less the septic tank of vitriolic shouting that most social media platforms have devolved into. There’s no space to say something like: "This behaviour is hurtful and upsetting from a world leader, even if it did happen in the past. Let’s unpack what the prevalence of blackface says about our community’s attitudes on race more generally”.

Cancel culture is a consequence of that lack of nuance. It illustrates the closed mindedness with which we engage in viral debate. Pack mentality takes over once we identify our prey. Once the beast has been hunted and hounded within an inch of its life, it is devoured. A social media pile on can prompt online articles, radio talk-back calls and even make the nightly news. The person, their show, their music, their network, their film, their work, their very being – is cancelled.
https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/life-and-relationships/everyone-s-in-on-cancel-culture-but-does-it-really-mean-anything-20190923-p52u54.html




But who’s cancelling who? In this dog eat dog world where nobody talks to each other and we all pass threatening GIFs around on social media, is it really any wonder why cancel culture is a thing? Look, this is America. We have the first amendment, and you can say whatever you want and be the biggest douchebag in the world. But… that said, good luck getting people to agree with you. Just ask Bill Hader, who’s currently starring in one of my favorite shows on TV right now – Barry.

When talking to press after winning the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Emmy for his work in Barry, Bill Hader addressed the idea that comedy is being stunted by the “cancel culture” that seems to be the talk of the town these days.

He said that something that was okay to have in a comedy set years ago wouldn’t fly today, and maybe that’s for the better. He also brought up not wanting to offend anyone just for a joke, which I think is the problem with the “anti-PC” argument in general. The comedians yelling about “PC culture” are the ones who would most likely want to be offensive in regards to making their commentary. They act surprised that people are offended even though they do it on purpose.

For every Bill Hader, though, you have someone who is completely missing the argument. Now, you have someone like Sarah Silverman, who is spreading the narrative that “cancel culture” is ruining comedy. I disagree. Not only do I think that “cancel culture” does not exist and, but its perceived effects are just society holding you and your comedy to a higher standard. There is always going to be an off-color joke, always going to be someone who doesn’t find something funny. That’s the nature of the game, but when you are outright being racist, homophobic, sexist, or anything else for the sake of a “commentary” that isn’t humorous or doing anything to make the situation better, it reflects poorly on you as the comedian—not us, the audience, for objecting to it.
https://www.themarysue.com/bill-hader-on-comedy/




You know here’s the thing – have you been to a comedy club lately? People get up on stage and say some extremely offensive shit, and other people pay them money to hear it! The idea of “cancel culture” is just another stupid debate in an endless string of stupid debates. Meanwhile, R rated comedies are hotter than ever. So who’s offending who? And when the censors are the offenders, who’s censoring who, exactly? Just ask Sarah Silverman.

Fox censors hit the mute button on Sarah Silverman’s salty comments on Sunday during the network’s coverage of the arrivals carpet from the 71st Emmy Awards. In a wry twist, Silverman’s clipped comment was a critique of today’s “cancel culture” and its smothering effect on truly trenchant comedy.

Silverman was answering a question posed by Kelly Osbourne, one of Fox’s pre-show interviewers, but the last four words of her reply were quickly excised from the broadcast thanks to the broadcast’s slightly delayed feed and the crisp reflexes of a network censor who blanched at Silverman’s use of a word that is only one letter off from “fussy.”

“There’s definitely pressure,” Silverman said. “There’s a kind of righteousness porn going on in this cancel culture. There’s nuance to it. There’s good and there’s bad. As a stand-up, it’s really odd. To talk about what’s really going on or to talk about the world as we decide to see it — or to push to see where the line is and to go past it — is so oddly unacceptable it’s safer to…”

Amateur lip-reading skills suggest that Silverman’s sentiment ended with the four-word phrase “just make p*ssy jokes.” Osbourne, no stranger to ripe language, laughed and agreed with Silverman, who went on to bemoan the fact that this year’s Emmys don’t have a host, eliminating yet another natural forum for comedy and commentary.
https://deadline.com/2019/09/fox-censors-sarah-silvermans-salty-complaint-about-censorship-1202741154/





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[font size="8"]How Is This Still A Thing: Clean Coal
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It’s time once again to ask:



This week – Clean Coal: How Is This Still A Thing? When climate change is a constant source of news and people are moving in a direction that produces sustainable energy and renewable sources, there’s one source that is taking us back to the stone ages in terms of energy. And once again the president is sticking his nose where it doesn’t belong and ranting about the myth known as “clean coal”. This is an idea that has been touted since the George W Bush years, and it is back in the news. Really, someone needs to inform the president that he’s spending way too much time watching Tv and needs to come back into the real world.

President Donald Trump on Friday uncorked a strange and nonsensical rant about the virtues of so-called “clean coal” during an Oval Office conversation with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

When asked about the importance of Australia’s mineral industry, the president praised the country for doing so much to extract resources in what he described in an environmentally friendly way.

“Coal, as an example, you’re the leader of safety in coal digging and we’ve actually studied it,” the president said. “We’re doing a lot of coal. You have very little — you have almost no — used to have a thing, black lung disease, and in Australia you almost don’t have it anymore, you’ve got all of the dust down.”

After Morrison touted technological progress that has helped the environment, the president again jumped in with a non-sequitur about digging.

“Environmentally, I have to say — and environmentally, the things they’ve done environmentally with digging. Digging is a, uh, you know, when you talk minerals it’s about digging. What you’ve been able to do with the environment having to do with taking minerals out of the ground, including and I would say even especially because you’re leading on coal… your record is so good in terms of illnesses from digging.”
https://www.rawstory.com/2019/09/trump-uncorks-bizarre-rant-on-clean-coal-in-oval-office-when-you-talk-minerals-its-about-digging/




Yeah unfortunately the president doesn’t see that. In his narrow-minded view, he’s the only one who is right about everything and no one else’s point of view matters. He thinks he is only president of Fox News viewers. And too much of that, when those of us who don’t watch Fox, are looking to end climate change and global warming, the president is going in the opposite direction.

The Trump administration wants to give electric utilities a pass on proving they could finance a hazardous waste cleanup in the event of a Superfund disaster.

The proposed rule from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says electric utilities should not have to make “financial assurances” to cover the risk the industry will produce pollution it cannot afford to clean up.

The rule comes in response to a decade-long push and legal battle with environmental groups, who petitioned the EPA to write the rules during the Obama administration. But under the Trump administration, EPA decided electric utilities do not pose a significant risk and can forego the requirement.

The decision calls into question who will be on the hook to pay for and clean up old waste sites with lagoons of coal ash, the toxic byproduct that is left when coal is burned in power plants to produce electricity. Stored in pits, coal ash can contaminate drinking water or blow into nearby communities. It went largely unregulated until EPA issued rules in 2015 to address the problem.
http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/2019/09/24/critics-warn-trump-epas-coal-ash-plan-will-let-polluters-off-the-hook/




Now there’s no way possible to burn coal and then say that there’s such a thing as clean coal. There really isn’t. The concept of Clean Coal dates back to the Bush administration when anti-environment crusaders used the coal industry as a way to shut up people who might have been raising questions about what billionaire coal miner criminals were doing. And it’s much worse.

President Trump briefly stopped by a daylong summit of world leaders meeting to discuss climate change at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York before leaving to address a meeting on the persecution of religious minorities and his administration's efforts to support religious freedom.

Earlier Monday morning, White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham raised the possibility that Mr. Trump might find time to appear at the climate change summit. "His schedule is ever changing, but it wouldn't surprise me if he popped by," she said in an appearance on Fox News.

And Mr. Trump did end up dropping by a morning session, where he was seen listening to the climate discussion inside the General Assembly Hall. Seated with new U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Kelly Craft and Vice President Mike Pence, the president listened intently for about 10 minutes before departing for his religious freedom event.

U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, who has been making a push to end new coal plant construction by 2020 to curb greenhouse gas emissions, did not want countries supporting the expansion of coal production to have allotted speaking time at the climate summit, so as a result, the leaders of Australia and Japan will reportedly also not be addressing the summit.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/un-climate-summit-trump-drops-by-climate-meeting-at-start-of-united-nations-general-assembly/




Well, Milhouse’s words are empty, but it’s pretty obvious that the president does not care about the environment. And he probably should because if we lose the environment, he loses his ability to go outside and play at his precious golf courses. But if you want to see how the concept of “clean coal” isn’t working – you don’t need to go any further than Japan in order to see the result.

It may have come as a shock to some when reports surfaced that major economies such as Japan and Australia didn’t get a chance to make a speech at the U.N. Climate Summit held in New York on Monday, allegedly due to their continued support for coal as U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres pushed countries to pledge even loftier climate goals than they did under the Paris agreement.

In spite of heightened calls for phasing out coal, global coal consumption rose nearly 1 percent in 2018, according to the International Energy Agency, due to robust demand for power generation in China and India.

In post-Fukushima Japan, the government has sought to achieve a balanced energy mix and considers coal one of its main energy sources due to its advantage of being cheap, stable and safe from geopolitical risk, as it imports almost all of its oil from the Middle East.

Even as coal continues to draw renewed criticism, why is Japan, which has been regarded as a country espousing eco-friendly values, continuing its push for what it calls “clean coal” energy? Here are questions and answers about the status of Japan’s “clean coal” initiative:
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/09/24/business/japan-clean-coal-climate-change-pollution/




So when the most technologically advanced countries on the planet can’t keep up with the technology needed to make “clean coal” work, that’s enough to make you ask – clean coal:




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[font size="8"]I Need A Drink
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Hey guys I could really use a drink!



Of course you know by now that the idea of this segment is that we have some drinks, and while we’re cocktailing, we talk about anything in the news as long as it doesn’t relate to politics. You know I don’t mix booze with politics, but during this administration, it certainly helps. So tell me bartender, what goes well with an alien invasion? A mellonballer? Well, it is a green drink. Ah, I’ll just have my usual Jack Daniels mixed with Jack Daniels. I call it the Double Jack. Last Saturday all the crazy people from your social media feeds went to the military base outside of Lincoln County, Nevada known to the rest of the world as Area 51. So what did you get if you went and stormed Area 51?

With lime green alien suits and tin foil face masks, guests of the original Alienstock music festival gave extraterrestrials a run for their money.

One small Nevada town was bracing itself for the original alien-themed music festival that a viral internet joke had birthed, anticipating that anywhere between 5,000 and 25,000 attendees would descend on their tiny desert town of 40-50 residents.

But what happened over the weekend in Rachel, Nevada, wasn’t remotely the catastrophe many had feared.

“It was honestly breathtaking,” says Matthew Carswell, 22, who flew from Miami to Nevada for Alienstock. “It was a really good atmosphere.”

Despite a small handful of arrests, it was mostly an invasion of friendly humankind. Most people came to the gathering in peace.
https://time.com/5681197/area-51-raid-aftermath/




Man why did you say alien love???? But you know if you’re the closest town to Area 51, you got to be prepared to handle the worst. Thankfully that didn’t happen. But given the military’s warning prior to the “Storm Area 51” proposal, that went about as well as it could have expected. Think of it like a weird, less offensive Burning Man with more aliens, and less… Burning Man.

They prepared for 30,000.

But the number of visitors that descended on this Extraterrestrial Highway town 150 miles from Las Vegas to “storm” Area 51 peaked at 3,000, allowing authorities on Saturday to begin scaling back resources.

“We planned for 30,000 with contingencies above that,” said Lincoln County Emergency Manager Eric Holt. “Anything less than that was acceptable.”

In the end, the storm was more of a September shower.

The middle-of-the-night meme that exploded into a viral space spectacle in this far-flung Nevada town served as both a challenge to law enforcement and county leaders with many lessons learned and an opportunity for otherworld seekers to be a part of something they thought could become the next Burning Man or Woodstock.

No aliens appeared. No flying saucer beams illuminated the desert sky. But to the people who showed up to open a new chapter in the extraterrestrial saga, being here was enough.

“Fifty years from now,” said Pahrump resident Stacey Villines, “we can say we were here.”
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/09/21/storm-area-51-how-small-nevada-town-prepared-worst/2406421001/




Well I would certainly hope that you would come in peace sir! Or… I don’t know how genders work in the alien world. Hell, I don’t even know how genders work in the human world. There, I will admit it. But this event just took off, and like your favorite sparkling fire product, just fizzled out. Even some of your favorite brands got in on the alien love. Wait, why did you say alien love? Don’t say alien love!!!

Karl Marx famously said, “History repeats itself, first as tragedy, then as farce.” While the Storm Area 51 “movement” (which itself began as a joke) will hopefully not end in tragedy (hint: do not attempt to enter the Air Force base or rile up residents) the farce is already with us.

Kool-Aid is giving away 900 canisters of its limited-edition “UFO-Yeah Intergalactic Green” in select markets nationwide starting on September 19. To have a shot at winning this Kool-Aid Man special edition (a spokesperson insists the canister “puts the EXTRA in extraterrestrial”), the company says to tweet #UFOYeah and #promo.

If you’re over 21, you can enjoy another alien-themed beverage. Bud Light is sponsoring the Area 51 Celebration, now scheduled for Las Vegas on Sept. 19. Limited edition alien-themed cans will reportedly be available in California, Nevada and Arizona. But fear not; if you live outside those states Bud Light will still let you order alien-themed hats, socks, t-shirts and even a $75 flag to signal the aliens when they are looking for a landing spot.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelgoldstein/2019/09/18/from-arbys-to-kool-aid-marketers-find-area-51-weekend-out-of-this-world/#21b18bef18cf




Oh yeah that’s the stuff! So with marketers getting into that sweet, sweet alien love, they even have their own theme song now! Yes, so you too can rock out while making alien love as you wait for next year’s Storm Area 51 event!

As alien enthusiasts arrive at a remote patch of the Nevada desert, one young hero has already emerged from the legion people who have pledged to invade Area 51, and finally “see them aliens.”

The event, which was given the name “Storm Area 51, They Can’t Stop All of Us,” suggests that people from around the world gather in the Nevada desert to invade the site. The gathering and jokingly “planned” invasion of the secure military site has made headlines around the world as the military and local residents brace themselves for crowds.

One part of the event that has garnered ever so slightly less attention, though, is the proposed method of invasion. The Area 51 invasion originator suggested that everyone pouring into the military base do so as a “Naruto run” inspired by Naruto Uzumaki the Japanese manga character who runs with his head down and arms stretched behind him. (The event creator Matty Roberts did a demo in interviews.)

One young attendee clearly got the Naruto memo, though. When a local news team arrived to report on the scene near Area 51 in advance of the invasion, a kid ran behind the reporter with head down and arms held back Naruto style. The glorious moment was caught on camera by Twitter user @MunaNawabit1 who shared the video clip on the social media site. The kid’s genius was quickly recognized by other Twitter users who shared the clip, ensuring that with one brief jog the kid ran straight into the Area 51 record books.
https://time.com/5681348/area-51-naruto-run/





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[font size="8"]Keeping Up With The Candidates Ep. 9: Kamala Harris
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This is our handy 2020 voter’s guide, Keeping Up With The Candidates. Because if we’re going to kick Trump. So far we’ve covered presidential candidates, senate candidates and local candidates. We’ve covered the polls and we’ve covered just about all the relevant news that you need to help you make your decision as the 2020 primaries will be quickly approaching us! But we haven’t really touched on any of the presidential candidates who might, actually, you know have a chance of making it to the primary elections. One such candidate is California’s Kamala Harris. Kamala has had quite a bit of a very rocky summer but it is definitely an indication of how things are going.

It's been an up and down summer for Kamala Harris.

The California Democrat scored the biggest victory of her campaign in June, when, at the first debate, the senator excoriated Joe Biden on his past opposition to busing as a way to desegregate schools. The moment vaulted the California senator in the polls and exposed the vulnerability of the former vice president.

But now, two months later and worlds removed from her campaign's high point, Harris was stuck using the archetypal political cliché this week to fend off questions about her standing in the race and slumping poll numbers.

"I just heard you say polls," she told a reporter in a drab Las Vegas conference room on Wednesday. "I think the only poll that matters is Election Day."

Campaigns are never straight lines and often the high points are followed by striking lows. But Harris' summer has been particularly inconsistent, leaving Democratic operatives and even some Harris aides to question why the senator was unable to seize on her debate moment and firmly plant herself among Biden, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren -- the race's top three candidates.
https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/31/politics/kamala-harris-highs-and-lows/index.html




Yeah so just like the actual campaigns, Keeping Up With The Candidates is not a straight line either, we’re just kind of winging it and seeing where it goes. Now with the talk of impeachment against Trump ramping up, how does Kamala fall into the group? Well this is where things get interesting!

Sen. Kamala Harris on Monday evening issued her most forceful call to date for the House of Representatives to begin impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump, an escalation sparked by the news that Trump allegedly pressured the Ukrainian president to investigate Joe Biden and his son.

But she did not attempt to shield Biden or members of his family from scrutiny as she competes with the former vice president to win the Democratic presidential nomination, though she initially sought to turn attention to Trump's conduct.

When asked whether she believed either Biden or his son, Hunter, should be investigated for possible abuse of power, she initially deflected the question by saying, "Donald Trump is trying to play politics on this issue."

"He (Trump) is trying to collaborate with -- and conspired with a foreign leader to interfere in our democracy," the California senator said during a visit to Oaxacan restaurant in Los Angeles' Koreatown. "I have absolutely no support for that. And I believe that that this is a political tactic being waged by Donald Trump, because he obviously perceives a threat. That is a political threat, and I have no support for it whatsoever."

There is no evidence of wrongdoing by either Joe or Hunter Biden.
https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/23/politics/kamala-harris-impeachment-trump-ukraine/index.html




Well, he did rig an election and let’s hope he gets his ass kicked to the curb for it! Since we are literally four months away from the Iowa Caucus, we need to start paying attention to how candidates are treating campaign stops. Like what Harris did during her stop at the Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles last month. Addressing the homelessness crisis is a huge deal in California and around the country, and here’s what happened.

Just over four months from the Iowa Caucus, California Sen. Kamala Harris, who has been polling nationally in the fourth or fifth spot, says she's not worried about the recent surge of Elizabeth Warren or the popularity of former Vice President Joe Biden.

"There are a number of them that have been on the national stage for a long time. We have not," Harris said. "So the challenge of our campaign is to introduce ourselves for the first time to people, and that's what we're doing. If you also look at the national polls, you see that only nine percent of voters have made a decision even though they know the other candidates."

Harris had a packed day of events and fundraisers in Los Angeles, include a stop at Guelaguetza Restaurante on Olympic Boulevard for mole. Harris also weighed in on what the federal government can do to address the homeless crisis.

"We should be receiving support from the federal government around what we need for health and human services, what people need in terms of mental health care. What people need in terms of affordable housing. But yet, he's cut $10 billion in terms of the funding that we would otherwise receive to be supportive of the homeless population," Harris said.
https://abc7.com/politics/kamala-harris-makes-campaign-stops-at-wiltern-guelaguetza/5565068/




Well I hope it doesn’t come to that! But while polls are meaningless let’s talk about them. I mean how does your favorite candidate stand on the issues and where does that land them in the polls? I cannot stress this enough – we are 4 months away from the Caucus! But eh, let’s give it a quick run around, shall we? Not quite that quick, sir!


Poll: Biden holds 12-point lead over Democratic field as Warren edges up to second
© Getty Images

Former Vice President Joe Biden has a 12-point lead over his Democratic presidential primary opponents as Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) moves into second place, according to a poll released Monday.

Biden holds at 32 percent support among registered voters planning to vote in the Democratic primary, a Morning Consult survey reported.

Warren is gaining some steam and follows at 20 percent, up two percentage points from Morning Consult's polling from a week before and now edging out Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) at 19 percent.

Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) and South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg land behind the three front-runners at 6 percent and 5 percent, respectively.

Sanders leads the field in favorability, with 73 percent of respondents holding a favorable view of him, just ahead of Biden's 71 percent.
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/462806-poll-biden-holds-12-point-lead-over-democratic-field-as-warren-edges-up-to




[font size="4"]Next Week:[/font]

Next week we’re going to do something different and tell you why impeaching Trump matters and where your favorite candidate stands on the issue. CONTROVERSY ALERT!!!

[font size="4"]Report Card:[/font]

Key Issues: Homelessness, gay marriage, death penalty
Target Demographic: Progressive voters
Probability Rating: 5:1
Likelihood Of Going Far In Election: Will make it to primaries

Overall Grade: B+


[font size="8"]And Now This:[/font]
[font size="8”]The Black Keys[/font]

Ladies and gentlemen I am super excited to have my next guest on, their new album is out called “Let’s Rock” and it is awesome! You can see them on tour this November. Playing their song “Lo / Hi”, give it up for the Black Keys!




Thank you Mizzou! This was fun! We’re off to the University Of Kansas next! See you next week!

Credits

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Top 10 Conservative Idiots Recorded In Front Of Live Audience At: Houston Improv, Houston, TX
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