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babylonsister
babylonsister's Journal
babylonsister's Journal
May 31, 2022
How Daniel Defense Gun Maker Markets Their Massacre Machines
The maker of the gun used in the Uvalde massacre has emerged as a trailblazer in an aggressive, boundary-pushing style of weapons marketing and sales.
By Susie Madrak — May 31, 2022
Company founder and CEO Marty Daniel fashions himself as a provocateur who ridicules gun control proposals and uses publicity stunts to drum up sales. Via the New York Times:
Their advertisements echo popular video games like “Call of Duty” and feature “Star Wars” characters and Santa Claus, messages that are likely to appeal to teenagers. Their direct-to-consumer business model aimed to make buying military gear as simple as ordering from Amazon, enticing customers with “adventure now, pay later” installment plans that make their guns more affordable.
Isn't that nice?
I would rather see Congress concentrate on one issue: revoking the legal exemption that prevents gun manufacturer from being sued. Make companies like this accountable.
more...
https://crooksandliars.com/2022/05/how-daniel-defense-gun-maker-markets-their
How Daniel Defense Gun Maker Markets Their Massacre Machines
https://crooksandliars.com/2022/05/how-daniel-defense-gun-maker-markets-theirHow Daniel Defense Gun Maker Markets Their Massacre Machines
The maker of the gun used in the Uvalde massacre has emerged as a trailblazer in an aggressive, boundary-pushing style of weapons marketing and sales.
By Susie Madrak — May 31, 2022
Company founder and CEO Marty Daniel fashions himself as a provocateur who ridicules gun control proposals and uses publicity stunts to drum up sales. Via the New York Times:
After one of its military-style rifles was used in the Texas elementary school shooting on Tuesday, the gun manufacturer Daniel Defense published a pop-up statement on its home page sending “thoughts and prayers” to the community of Uvalde, Texas, and pledging to cooperate with the authorities.
When the pop-up disappeared, a different message took center stage: a promotion, adorned with gold-encased bullets, for a sweepstakes to win $15,000 worth of guns or ammunition.
The Texas shooting, which left 19 schoolchildren and two teachers dead and more than a dozen wounded, has put a national spotlight on Daniel Defense, a family-owned business in Georgia that has emerged as a trailblazer in an aggressive, boundary-pushing style of weapons marketing and sales.
When the pop-up disappeared, a different message took center stage: a promotion, adorned with gold-encased bullets, for a sweepstakes to win $15,000 worth of guns or ammunition.
The Texas shooting, which left 19 schoolchildren and two teachers dead and more than a dozen wounded, has put a national spotlight on Daniel Defense, a family-owned business in Georgia that has emerged as a trailblazer in an aggressive, boundary-pushing style of weapons marketing and sales.
Their advertisements echo popular video games like “Call of Duty” and feature “Star Wars” characters and Santa Claus, messages that are likely to appeal to teenagers. Their direct-to-consumer business model aimed to make buying military gear as simple as ordering from Amazon, enticing customers with “adventure now, pay later” installment plans that make their guns more affordable.
Isn't that nice?
I would rather see Congress concentrate on one issue: revoking the legal exemption that prevents gun manufacturer from being sued. Make companies like this accountable.
The owners of Daniel Defense, the manufacturer of the rifle apparently used in the massacre of 21 people at an elementary school in Uvalde, Tex., are deep-pocketed GOP donors, giving to candidates aligned against limits on access to assault rifles and other semiautomatic weapons.
— Citizens for Ethics (@CREWcrew) May 30, 2022
— Citizens for Ethics (@CREWcrew) May 30, 2022
more...
https://crooksandliars.com/2022/05/how-daniel-defense-gun-maker-markets-their
May 31, 2022
A shooting gallery, every single day
Published by digby on May 30, 2022
We’ve had at least 11 mass shootings since Uvalde
Can you believe this?
We live with this as if it’s just the way it is. It’s a bloodbath — and it’s 100% because of the American gun culture. It’s sick.
A shooting gallery, every single day
https://digbysblog.net/2022/05/30/a-shooting-gallery-every-single-day/A shooting gallery, every single day
Published by digby on May 30, 2022
We’ve had at least 11 mass shootings since Uvalde
Can you believe this?
After a shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Tex., that claimed the lives of 19 children and two teachers last week, many politicians, public figures and gun-control advocates said the U.S. government should ensure mass shootings could not happen again.
But mass shootings have already happened again — and again. At least 14 mass shootings have taken place across the United States since Tuesday, from California to Arizona to Tennessee.
This Memorial Day weekend alone — spanning Saturday, Sunday and the federal holiday on Monday — there have been at least 11 mass shootings.
These incidents, gleaned from local news reports and police statements, meet the threshold for mass shootings as defined by the Gun Violence Archive, a nonprofit research organization.
GVA defines a mass shooting as one in which “four or more people are shot or killed, not including the shooter.” Several of those shootings occurred at parties, and one at a Memorial Day event.
At least seven people have been killed and 49 injured in the mass shootings over the holiday weekend, according to GVA and local news sources. Since the Uvalde shooting last Tuesday, at least10 people have been killed and 61 injured in mass shootings.
Brian Stelter, chief media correspondent and news anchor at CNN, interrupted a broadcast Sunday about the response to the mass shooting in Uvalde to tell viewers about another — in Tennessee.
“Mass killings like Buffalo and Uvalde become national news, but many mass shootings do not. They just end up being local stories,” Stelter said, in a clip that has been viewed over 334,000 times on Twitter.
On Saturday evening, six teenagers were injured by gunfire in Chattanooga, Tenn., in what Mayor Tim Kelly said was probably “an altercation between other teenagers.”
The victims, who were between the ages of 13 and 15, were transported to a hospital, and two had life-threatening injuries, according to the Chattanooga Police Department.
Kelly said he was “heartbroken” for the families of the victims and “angry” about political inaction on gun laws during a news conference following the shooting.
The Chattanooga shooting was one of at least five mass shootings that took place on Saturday alone, according to GVA.
But mass shootings have already happened again — and again. At least 14 mass shootings have taken place across the United States since Tuesday, from California to Arizona to Tennessee.
This Memorial Day weekend alone — spanning Saturday, Sunday and the federal holiday on Monday — there have been at least 11 mass shootings.
These incidents, gleaned from local news reports and police statements, meet the threshold for mass shootings as defined by the Gun Violence Archive, a nonprofit research organization.
GVA defines a mass shooting as one in which “four or more people are shot or killed, not including the shooter.” Several of those shootings occurred at parties, and one at a Memorial Day event.
At least seven people have been killed and 49 injured in the mass shootings over the holiday weekend, according to GVA and local news sources. Since the Uvalde shooting last Tuesday, at least10 people have been killed and 61 injured in mass shootings.
Brian Stelter, chief media correspondent and news anchor at CNN, interrupted a broadcast Sunday about the response to the mass shooting in Uvalde to tell viewers about another — in Tennessee.
“Mass killings like Buffalo and Uvalde become national news, but many mass shootings do not. They just end up being local stories,” Stelter said, in a clip that has been viewed over 334,000 times on Twitter.
On Saturday evening, six teenagers were injured by gunfire in Chattanooga, Tenn., in what Mayor Tim Kelly said was probably “an altercation between other teenagers.”
The victims, who were between the ages of 13 and 15, were transported to a hospital, and two had life-threatening injuries, according to the Chattanooga Police Department.
Kelly said he was “heartbroken” for the families of the victims and “angry” about political inaction on gun laws during a news conference following the shooting.
The Chattanooga shooting was one of at least five mass shootings that took place on Saturday alone, according to GVA.
We live with this as if it’s just the way it is. It’s a bloodbath — and it’s 100% because of the American gun culture. It’s sick.
May 29, 2022
Levin Report
Surprise: Donald Trump’s GOP Primary Picks Have Dropped Over $400,000 at Mar-a-Lago
Nice little moneymaking operation the ex-president’s got going there.
By Bess Levin
May 24, 2022
While Donald Trump hated the actual job of being president, one thing he apparently really, really liked about the gig was the many opportunities it gave him to make money off of the federal government, U.S. taxpayers, and anyone looking to kiss the ring. For example, during his four years in office, he made a regular habit of staying at (and pimping out) his for-profit properties, where we learned on Monday the Secret Service paid nearly $2 million for, as the watchdog group CREW put it, “the right to protect him and his family.” (This will likely come as a shock to anyone who gets their news from Eric Trump, who previously claimed agents stayed at Trump-owned properties “for free.”) Naturally, that figure doesn‘t even count the cash the other parts of the government had to splash out during various visits, including meetings with heads of state during which Trump charged for water. Meanwhile, it was an open secret among Republican politicians, foreign officials, corporate executives, and anyone looking to grease the wheels that their money would go far at the Trump International Hotel Washington, D.C, which was one of the many businesses the 45th president refused to divest from after being inaugurated and profited off of during his time in office. “Why wouldn’t I stay at his hotel blocks from the White House, so I can tell the new president, ‘I love your new hotel!’ Isn’t it rude to come to his city and say, ‘I am staying at your competitor?’” a diplomat told The Washington Post in 2016.
So obviously, it should come as little surprise to learn that many of the GOP candidates Trump has endorsed for Tuesday’s primaries have also been sending money directly into the ex-president’s pocket, but it’s nice to put a dollar figure on it.
CNBC reports that federal and state campaign finance records show that the campaigns of seven of the Republican candidates Trump has backed have shelled out more than a combined $400,000 at Mar-a-Lago this election cycle. According to reporter Brian Schwartz, Georgia Senate candidate Herschel Walker’s campaign has dropped the most cash by far, spending nearly $200,000 so far at the Palm Beach resort. (Trump endorsed Walker last September, and despite lying about his academic background, allegedly holding a gun to his ex-wife’s head a handful of times, and suggesting the jury is still out on evolution, he’s expected to win.) Other candidates spending thousands at Trump’s club include former Georgia senator David Perdue (over $20,000); Representative Jody Hice (over $38,000); and Texas attorney general Ken Paxton (over $45,000), according to campaign finance records. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, former Georgia state representative Vernon Jones, and former Trump White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders have also reportedly spent campaign cash to rent space at the Florida club.
In a text message, Trump spokesman Taylor Budowich suggested to CNBC that none of this was remotely unseemly, and that any Republican candidate hoping to raise funds is practically obligated to do so at one of the former president’s for-profit businesses. “In Republican politics today, there’s only two seasons that matter: Mar-A-Lago season and Bedminster season, because it’s where candidates, organizations, and donors want to be,” he said.
more...
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2022/05/donald-trump-gop-endorsements-mar-a-lago-400000-dollars
Surprise: Donald Trump's GOP Primary Picks Have Dropped Over $400,000 at Mar-a-Lago
Levin Report
Surprise: Donald Trump’s GOP Primary Picks Have Dropped Over $400,000 at Mar-a-Lago
Nice little moneymaking operation the ex-president’s got going there.
By Bess Levin
May 24, 2022
While Donald Trump hated the actual job of being president, one thing he apparently really, really liked about the gig was the many opportunities it gave him to make money off of the federal government, U.S. taxpayers, and anyone looking to kiss the ring. For example, during his four years in office, he made a regular habit of staying at (and pimping out) his for-profit properties, where we learned on Monday the Secret Service paid nearly $2 million for, as the watchdog group CREW put it, “the right to protect him and his family.” (This will likely come as a shock to anyone who gets their news from Eric Trump, who previously claimed agents stayed at Trump-owned properties “for free.”) Naturally, that figure doesn‘t even count the cash the other parts of the government had to splash out during various visits, including meetings with heads of state during which Trump charged for water. Meanwhile, it was an open secret among Republican politicians, foreign officials, corporate executives, and anyone looking to grease the wheels that their money would go far at the Trump International Hotel Washington, D.C, which was one of the many businesses the 45th president refused to divest from after being inaugurated and profited off of during his time in office. “Why wouldn’t I stay at his hotel blocks from the White House, so I can tell the new president, ‘I love your new hotel!’ Isn’t it rude to come to his city and say, ‘I am staying at your competitor?’” a diplomat told The Washington Post in 2016.
So obviously, it should come as little surprise to learn that many of the GOP candidates Trump has endorsed for Tuesday’s primaries have also been sending money directly into the ex-president’s pocket, but it’s nice to put a dollar figure on it.
CNBC reports that federal and state campaign finance records show that the campaigns of seven of the Republican candidates Trump has backed have shelled out more than a combined $400,000 at Mar-a-Lago this election cycle. According to reporter Brian Schwartz, Georgia Senate candidate Herschel Walker’s campaign has dropped the most cash by far, spending nearly $200,000 so far at the Palm Beach resort. (Trump endorsed Walker last September, and despite lying about his academic background, allegedly holding a gun to his ex-wife’s head a handful of times, and suggesting the jury is still out on evolution, he’s expected to win.) Other candidates spending thousands at Trump’s club include former Georgia senator David Perdue (over $20,000); Representative Jody Hice (over $38,000); and Texas attorney general Ken Paxton (over $45,000), according to campaign finance records. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, former Georgia state representative Vernon Jones, and former Trump White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders have also reportedly spent campaign cash to rent space at the Florida club.
In a text message, Trump spokesman Taylor Budowich suggested to CNBC that none of this was remotely unseemly, and that any Republican candidate hoping to raise funds is practically obligated to do so at one of the former president’s for-profit businesses. “In Republican politics today, there’s only two seasons that matter: Mar-A-Lago season and Bedminster season, because it’s where candidates, organizations, and donors want to be,” he said.
more...
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2022/05/donald-trump-gop-endorsements-mar-a-lago-400000-dollars
May 29, 2022
Don Trump Jr. Suggests Uvalde Shooter Could Have Killed 19 Kids With A 'Bat'
"Screwed up people," "crazy teachers" and "indoctrination programs" in schools, not assault rifles, are the real problems, said the former president's son.
Mary Papenfuss
May. 29, 2022, 12:19 AM EDT
In an incredible display of utter tastelessness, Donald Trump Jr. insisted in a rage-fueled video on social media Saturday that the Uvalde mass shooter could have killed 19 children and two teachers with a “bat.”
snip//
“It’s the gun; it’s not the sociopath wielding it,” people are claiming, he complained. “He wouldn’t have done the exact same thing with a bat, or a bomb, or some sort of improvised device — or a machete?” he added.
The real problem is that people are “screwed up,” and we have “crazy teachers” and “indoctrination programs” in our schools, he insisted.
“That’s what’s going on right now, guys. Enough is enough,” said Trump, who said he’s looking for “accountability.” “Never ends, man,” he added.
In fact the gun is critical in the amount of destruction any shooter can deliver. Assault rifles cause extreme trauma to the human body, and bullets are spit out lightning fast, allowing a gunman to do maximum damage extremely quickly.
more...
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/donald-trump-jr-not-the-gun-the-sociopath-killer-bat-uvalde_n_6292d4eae4b0b1d98456ec57
Don Trump Jr. Suggests Uvalde Shooter Could Have Killed 19 Kids With A 'Bat'
Don Trump Jr. Suggests Uvalde Shooter Could Have Killed 19 Kids With A 'Bat'
"Screwed up people," "crazy teachers" and "indoctrination programs" in schools, not assault rifles, are the real problems, said the former president's son.
Mary Papenfuss
May. 29, 2022, 12:19 AM EDT
In an incredible display of utter tastelessness, Donald Trump Jr. insisted in a rage-fueled video on social media Saturday that the Uvalde mass shooter could have killed 19 children and two teachers with a “bat.”
snip//
“It’s the gun; it’s not the sociopath wielding it,” people are claiming, he complained. “He wouldn’t have done the exact same thing with a bat, or a bomb, or some sort of improvised device — or a machete?” he added.
The real problem is that people are “screwed up,” and we have “crazy teachers” and “indoctrination programs” in our schools, he insisted.
“That’s what’s going on right now, guys. Enough is enough,” said Trump, who said he’s looking for “accountability.” “Never ends, man,” he added.
Junior went on a wild rant about Uvalde tonight, saying the AR-15 isn’t the issue because he could’ve done the “exact same thing” with a bat, bomb or machete. He says gun owners are unfairly “stigmatatized,” and the real problem is that “crazy teachers” are indoctrinating kids. pic.twitter.com/2Rmme3510A
— Ron Filipkowski 🇺🇦 (@RonFilipkowski) May 29, 2022
— Ron Filipkowski 🇺🇦 (@RonFilipkowski) May 29, 2022
In fact the gun is critical in the amount of destruction any shooter can deliver. Assault rifles cause extreme trauma to the human body, and bullets are spit out lightning fast, allowing a gunman to do maximum damage extremely quickly.
more...
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/donald-trump-jr-not-the-gun-the-sociopath-killer-bat-uvalde_n_6292d4eae4b0b1d98456ec57
May 28, 2022
Federal Court: Don, Don Jr, And Ivanka Must Testify
And betcha they'll set a record for pleading the Fifth.
By Common Dreams — May 27, 2022
A New York appeals court ruled Thursday that former President Donald Trump and two of his adult children must sit for depositions as part of the state's ongoing civil probe into the Trump Organization's allegedly fraudulent business practices.
A four-member appellate panel upheld a late-February decision by New York Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron, writing that he had "properly rejected appellants' arguments that the subpoenas issued by the [Office of the Attorney General] should be quashed."
James, a Democrat, subpoenaed Trump, Donald Jr., and Ivanka in December for documents and testimony. Just last month, Engoron held Trump in contempt for refusing to comply with his March 31 deadline to turn over documents to the attorney general's office.
According to Thursday's ruling by the appeals court, a parallel criminal probe conducted by the Manhattan district attorney's office doesn't inhibit James from seeking testimony in her civil investigation.
The judges also dismissed the Trumps' complaint that they have been "selectively prosecuted" due to the ex-president's right-wing political beliefs, CNN reported.
As the news outlet explained:
more...
https://crooksandliars.com/2022/05/federal-court-don-don-jr-and-ivanka-must
Federal Court: Don, Don Jr, And Ivanka Must Testify
Federal Court: Don, Don Jr, And Ivanka Must Testify
And betcha they'll set a record for pleading the Fifth.
By Common Dreams — May 27, 2022
A New York appeals court ruled Thursday that former President Donald Trump and two of his adult children must sit for depositions as part of the state's ongoing civil probe into the Trump Organization's allegedly fraudulent business practices.
"A court has once again ruled in our favor and ordered Donald Trump, Donald Trump Jr., and Ivanka Trump to appear before my office to testify under oath," New York Attorney General Letitia James tweeted. "Our investigation will continue undeterred because no one is above the law."
A four-member appellate panel upheld a late-February decision by New York Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron, writing that he had "properly rejected appellants' arguments that the subpoenas issued by the [Office of the Attorney General] should be quashed."
James, a Democrat, subpoenaed Trump, Donald Jr., and Ivanka in December for documents and testimony. Just last month, Engoron held Trump in contempt for refusing to comply with his March 31 deadline to turn over documents to the attorney general's office.
According to Thursday's ruling by the appeals court, a parallel criminal probe conducted by the Manhattan district attorney's office doesn't inhibit James from seeking testimony in her civil investigation.
"The existence of a criminal investigation does not preclude civil discovery of related fact, at which a party may exercise the privilege against self-incrimination," the court wrote in a four-page order.
The judges also dismissed the Trumps' complaint that they have been "selectively prosecuted" due to the ex-president's right-wing political beliefs, CNN reported.
As the news outlet explained:
The decision is a setback for the Trumps who have sought to avoid testimony in the attorney general's investigation. James' office in January said it found "significant" evidence indicating the Trump Organization used false or misleading asset valuations in its financial statements to obtain loans, insurance, and tax benefits and she needed to interview the Trumps about their involvement. Attorneys for James' office [have] previously said the investigation is nearly finished and a civil enforcement action may follow. They are scheduled to interview Trump's longtime assistant Rhona Graff next week. She served as a gatekeeper for Trump for decades until April 2021.
The ruling comes just two weeks after the appellate panel expressed skepticism during oral arguments on the deposition dispute. During the hearing, Judge Rolando Acosta asked Trumps' attorney about their Fifth Amendment right to not answer questions: "What prevents you from just invoking it? Why do we need to intervene in this case or constrain the authority given to the attorney general?"
The Trumps have argued that James is trying to end-run the grand jury process, where witnesses receive transactional immunity for their testimony in New York. The lower court judge rejected that argument saying they could invoke the Fifth, a ruling the appeals court agreed with.
The ruling comes just two weeks after the appellate panel expressed skepticism during oral arguments on the deposition dispute. During the hearing, Judge Rolando Acosta asked Trumps' attorney about their Fifth Amendment right to not answer questions: "What prevents you from just invoking it? Why do we need to intervene in this case or constrain the authority given to the attorney general?"
The Trumps have argued that James is trying to end-run the grand jury process, where witnesses receive transactional immunity for their testimony in New York. The lower court judge rejected that argument saying they could invoke the Fifth, a ruling the appeals court agreed with.
more...
https://crooksandliars.com/2022/05/federal-court-don-don-jr-and-ivanka-must
May 28, 2022
Whoa! Jon Tester Told Off Rick Scott On The Senate Floor
Rick Scott appeared at his job for a couple minutes to block a Veteran's Administration DEPUTY appointment. Jon Tester had words for him. Ahem.
By Joan McCarter — May 27, 2022
Video @ link~
Tensions are understandably high in the Senate right now, with Democrats just about on their last nerve with, well, everything.
So when Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) came to the floor Wednesday afternoon to ask for unanimous consent to approve Dr. Shereef Elnahal to serve as the Veterans Affairs deputy secretary for health and Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) objected, Tester blew, telling Scott: “You want to talk about why the American people think the United States Senate is dysfunctional? The senator from Florida could look in the mirror."
Tester pointed out in his speech that Elnahal had impeccable credentials, currently serving as chief executive officer of University Hospital in Newark, New Jersey. That Elnahal had had his hearing in Tester’s Committee on Veterans' Affairs and been approved unanimously. What’s more, Tester said, the need to have the position filled is urgent. “It is no secret that Veterans Heath Administration and health care providers at the VA are going through a challenging time. The VA is continuing to battle the impact of COVID-19 pandemic with veterans cases, hospitalizations, and death on the rise again, and VA staff are dealing with burnout and increasing turnover in our VA system.” The job hasn’t had a Senate-confirmed person in it since January 2017.
So up pops the asshole from Florida to object to the nomination. Not for any real reason—he’s not even on the relevant committee. Just to object. Tester pressed him for a reason, which Scott would not provide, other than mumbling something about not expediting the process and President Joe Biden’s lack of ability to “appoint qualified individuals to serve in important roles.”
Then Scott turned to leave. That’s what really set Tester off.
As if Rick Scott could be shamed. It at least had to be satisfying for Tester to really tell him off from the floor. It is certainly satisfying to watch.
I recommend every Democrat try that with every Republican when they get a chance. More of this, please.
Republished with permission from Daily Kos.
Whoa! Jon Tester Told Off Rick Scott On The Senate Floor
https://crooksandliars.com/2022/05/whoa-jon-tester-told-rick-scott-senateWhoa! Jon Tester Told Off Rick Scott On The Senate Floor
Rick Scott appeared at his job for a couple minutes to block a Veteran's Administration DEPUTY appointment. Jon Tester had words for him. Ahem.
By Joan McCarter — May 27, 2022
Video @ link~
Tensions are understandably high in the Senate right now, with Democrats just about on their last nerve with, well, everything.
So when Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) came to the floor Wednesday afternoon to ask for unanimous consent to approve Dr. Shereef Elnahal to serve as the Veterans Affairs deputy secretary for health and Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) objected, Tester blew, telling Scott: “You want to talk about why the American people think the United States Senate is dysfunctional? The senator from Florida could look in the mirror."
Tester pointed out in his speech that Elnahal had impeccable credentials, currently serving as chief executive officer of University Hospital in Newark, New Jersey. That Elnahal had had his hearing in Tester’s Committee on Veterans' Affairs and been approved unanimously. What’s more, Tester said, the need to have the position filled is urgent. “It is no secret that Veterans Heath Administration and health care providers at the VA are going through a challenging time. The VA is continuing to battle the impact of COVID-19 pandemic with veterans cases, hospitalizations, and death on the rise again, and VA staff are dealing with burnout and increasing turnover in our VA system.” The job hasn’t had a Senate-confirmed person in it since January 2017.
So up pops the asshole from Florida to object to the nomination. Not for any real reason—he’s not even on the relevant committee. Just to object. Tester pressed him for a reason, which Scott would not provide, other than mumbling something about not expediting the process and President Joe Biden’s lack of ability to “appoint qualified individuals to serve in important roles.”
Then Scott turned to leave. That’s what really set Tester off.
“I would really appreciate it, Madam Chair, if the senator from Florida would at least stay here rather than walk out the door, turning his back on the American veterans, the people who have served this country, the people who have fought,” Tester said.
“I hope, Madam Chair, that the senator of Florida doesn’t walk in to Memorial Day services and talk about what a great friend he is of our veterans. Cause he is not. All that I’m asking for is to give the VA the tools they need to be able to provide our veterans with the health care that they have earned.”
“This is obstruction at the worst,” he continued, “because this obstruction stops our veterans from getting the health care that they need. You want to talk about why the American people think the United States Senate is dysfunctional? The senator from Florida could look in the mirror.”
“I hope, Madam Chair, that the senator of Florida doesn’t walk in to Memorial Day services and talk about what a great friend he is of our veterans. Cause he is not. All that I’m asking for is to give the VA the tools they need to be able to provide our veterans with the health care that they have earned.”
“This is obstruction at the worst,” he continued, “because this obstruction stops our veterans from getting the health care that they need. You want to talk about why the American people think the United States Senate is dysfunctional? The senator from Florida could look in the mirror.”
As if Rick Scott could be shamed. It at least had to be satisfying for Tester to really tell him off from the floor. It is certainly satisfying to watch.
I recommend every Democrat try that with every Republican when they get a chance. More of this, please.
Republished with permission from Daily Kos.
May 27, 2022
Posted on Fri, May 27th, 2022 by Jason Easley
An Enraged Eric Swalwell Crushes House Republicans For Whining About Baby Formula While They Enable
School Shooters
After House Republicans had the nerve to tweet about baby formula, Rep. Eric Swalwell lit into them for getting kids killed by doing nothing about guns.
Swalwell tweeted:
https://twitter.com/RepSwalwell/status/1530221972642316288
Rep. Swalwell is a parent of young children, and one can feel the rage and disgust coming from his tweet.
The next time that a Republican claims to care about the lives of children, they should be reminded loudly that they care so little about the lives of children who are sent to school each day only to be murdered that they have done nothing about gun violence.
Republicans can’t claim to care about babies while they enable the slaughter of babies in our schools. The children killed at Sandy Hook were babies. The kids killed at Uvalde were babies.
Children are more than an election-year talking point. They are the most vulnerable members of society who need to be collectively cared for.
Republicans don’t care about children, but as Rep. Swalwell pointed out, if they did, they wouldn’t allow them to be slaughtered by the gun lobby.
An Enraged Eric Swalwell Crushes House Republicans For Whining About Baby Formula...
https://www.politicususa.com/2022/05/27/eric-swalwell-gop-babies.htmlPosted on Fri, May 27th, 2022 by Jason Easley
An Enraged Eric Swalwell Crushes House Republicans For Whining About Baby Formula While They Enable
School Shooters
After House Republicans had the nerve to tweet about baby formula, Rep. Eric Swalwell lit into them for getting kids killed by doing nothing about guns.
Swalwell tweeted:
https://twitter.com/RepSwalwell/status/1530221972642316288
Rep. Swalwell is a parent of young children, and one can feel the rage and disgust coming from his tweet.
The next time that a Republican claims to care about the lives of children, they should be reminded loudly that they care so little about the lives of children who are sent to school each day only to be murdered that they have done nothing about gun violence.
Republicans can’t claim to care about babies while they enable the slaughter of babies in our schools. The children killed at Sandy Hook were babies. The kids killed at Uvalde were babies.
Children are more than an election-year talking point. They are the most vulnerable members of society who need to be collectively cared for.
Republicans don’t care about children, but as Rep. Swalwell pointed out, if they did, they wouldn’t allow them to be slaughtered by the gun lobby.
May 27, 2022
Republicans Tried And Failed To Silence Mallory McMorrow On Guns
Apparently, the Michigan Republicans are very, very afraid of even debating gun safety measures in the wake of the Uvalde school massacre.
By NewsHound Ellen — May 27, 2022
Michigan Republicans have been blocking gun safety laws even after a mass shooting in their own state.
From Click on Detroit:
Video @ link~
Even worse, the Republican-controlled senate adjourned early, for two days in a row, in order to block Democrats from speaking about Uvalde and the urgent need for better gun safety.
But McMorrow, a Democratic heroine for our time, refused to be silenced. She gave her speech on Twitter, instead. As of this writing, it has been viewed more than 691,000 times.
McMorrow began her speech with a heartbreaking attempt to imagine what the parents of school shooting victims must be going through. Not doing so, she thought, can make it “far too easy to distance ourselves, to not feel their pain, to keep it abstract and reduce the urgency of the issue.” Maybe that “makes it easier to avoid taking action, makes it feel out of our control, like we can’t,” she said.
With that, McMorrow, her voice breaking at times, launched an imaginary reconstruction of the horrific tragedy. Frankly, I had to fast forward during some of it.
She concluded with a powerful call to action:
No wonder the Republicans were too afraid to let her speak.
https://twitter.com/MalloryMcMorrow/status/1529923396846460930
Republicans Tried And Failed To Silence Mallory McMorrow On Guns
https://crooksandliars.com/2022/05/republicans-tried-and-failed-silenceRepublicans Tried And Failed To Silence Mallory McMorrow On Guns
Apparently, the Michigan Republicans are very, very afraid of even debating gun safety measures in the wake of the Uvalde school massacre.
By NewsHound Ellen — May 27, 2022
Michigan Republicans have been blocking gun safety laws even after a mass shooting in their own state.
From Click on Detroit:
Video @ link~
It’s been six months since the mass shooting at Oxford High School, and nothing pertaining to guns has changed in Michigan, despite attempts from Michigan Senate and House Democrats, who have introduced several proposed laws and changes. Democrats are in the minority in both state houses.
After the Uvalde school shooting, which ended with 19 children murdered, along with two teachers, Michigan Democrats attempted to revive bills on the Senate floor, but were blocked by Republicans.
After the Uvalde school shooting, which ended with 19 children murdered, along with two teachers, Michigan Democrats attempted to revive bills on the Senate floor, but were blocked by Republicans.
Even worse, the Republican-controlled senate adjourned early, for two days in a row, in order to block Democrats from speaking about Uvalde and the urgent need for better gun safety.
But McMorrow, a Democratic heroine for our time, refused to be silenced. She gave her speech on Twitter, instead. As of this writing, it has been viewed more than 691,000 times.
McMorrow began her speech with a heartbreaking attempt to imagine what the parents of school shooting victims must be going through. Not doing so, she thought, can make it “far too easy to distance ourselves, to not feel their pain, to keep it abstract and reduce the urgency of the issue.” Maybe that “makes it easier to avoid taking action, makes it feel out of our control, like we can’t,” she said.
With that, McMorrow, her voice breaking at times, launched an imaginary reconstruction of the horrific tragedy. Frankly, I had to fast forward during some of it.
She concluded with a powerful call to action:
MCMORROW: What if you knew that you had the power to do something so that you might never have to get that phone call, wouldn’t you? Wouldn’t you try?
This morning, so many people across our state and around our country are at a loss of words. Again, they feel powerless. Again, they find themselves feeling numb, that it’s not registering like it used to.
But you are not powerless. In fact, you’re the exact opposite. You have been called to this moment to do something. Don’t say that it’s impossible. Don’t say that we can’t do anything. Don’t say that now is not the time. Because as I said in November, following Oxford, the only thing that I know for sure is that doing nothing will not stop this from happening. It will not stop this one or the next one or the one after that or the one after that. My colleagues and I have bills ready to go. We’ve been waiting for committee hearings for years. What will you do? Faith without works is dead.
This morning, so many people across our state and around our country are at a loss of words. Again, they feel powerless. Again, they find themselves feeling numb, that it’s not registering like it used to.
But you are not powerless. In fact, you’re the exact opposite. You have been called to this moment to do something. Don’t say that it’s impossible. Don’t say that we can’t do anything. Don’t say that now is not the time. Because as I said in November, following Oxford, the only thing that I know for sure is that doing nothing will not stop this from happening. It will not stop this one or the next one or the one after that or the one after that. My colleagues and I have bills ready to go. We’ve been waiting for committee hearings for years. What will you do? Faith without works is dead.
No wonder the Republicans were too afraid to let her speak.
https://twitter.com/MalloryMcMorrow/status/1529923396846460930
May 27, 2022
Greenwood’s uber-patriot anthem “God Bless the USA” is just the latest song to vanish from the NRA setlist after a string of other acts canceled planned performances this week. “American Pie” singer Don McLean pulled his appearance saying it would be “disrespectful and hurtful for me to perform for the NRA” in light of Tuesday’s gun slaughter. The freewheeling Houston concert—called The Grand Ole Night of Freedom—also saw country singers Larry Stewart and Larry Gatlin back out after the shooting, with Gatlin going so far as to criticize the NRA for not supporting background checks. “I’m a 2nd Amendment guy,” Gatlin told USA Today, “But the 2nd Amendment should not apply to everyone. It’s that simple.”
Singer Danielle Peck took a similar line to Greenwood in her cancellation, citing a “respect for all of the families in Uvalde” in a statement announcing her withdrawal from the show, which is set to take place around 270 miles from the scene of the mass shooting. Their cancellations leave Jacob Bryant as the only artist remaining on the bill.
more...
https://www.thedailybeast.com/lee-greenwood-pulls-out-of-national-rifle-association-concert-in-texas-after-uvalde-school-shooting?ref=scroll
Even Lee Frickin' Greenwood Is Canceling His NRA Appearance After Uvalde School Massacre
Crime & Justice
Even Lee Frickin’ Greenwood Is Canceling His NRA Appearance After Uvalde School Massacre
SOMETHING IS HAPPENING?
Gov. Abbott won’t be there in person and now the “God Bless the USA” belter has drawn the line, too. But Ted Cruz and Donald Trump are still going.
Dan Ladden-Hall
News Correspondent
Updated May. 27, 2022 6:41AM ET / Published May. 27, 2022 6:08AM ET
Lee Greenwood is the latest musician to pull out of a concert at the National Rifle Association’s annual meeting in Texas in the wake of the Uvalde school shooting.
Greenwood directly cited the massacre that left 19 children and two adults dead as the cause of his last-minute pang of conscience.
“As a father, I join the rest of America in being absolutely heartbroken by the horrific event that transpired this week in Texas,” Greenwood said in a statement, according to Variety. “I was scheduled to perform at the NRA’s private event on Saturday with my band. After thoughtful consideration, we have decided to cancel the appearance out of respect for those mourning the loss of those innocent children and teachers in Uvalde.”
Greenwood’s uber-patriot anthem “God Bless the USA” is just the latest song to vanish from the NRA setlist after a string of other acts canceled planned performances this week. “American Pie” singer Don McLean pulled his appearance saying it would be “disrespectful and hurtful for me to perform for the NRA” in light of Tuesday’s gun slaughter. The freewheeling Houston concert—called The Grand Ole Night of Freedom—also saw country singers Larry Stewart and Larry Gatlin back out after the shooting, with Gatlin going so far as to criticize the NRA for not supporting background checks. “I’m a 2nd Amendment guy,” Gatlin told USA Today, “But the 2nd Amendment should not apply to everyone. It’s that simple.”
Singer Danielle Peck took a similar line to Greenwood in her cancellation, citing a “respect for all of the families in Uvalde” in a statement announcing her withdrawal from the show, which is set to take place around 270 miles from the scene of the mass shooting. Their cancellations leave Jacob Bryant as the only artist remaining on the bill.
more...
https://www.thedailybeast.com/lee-greenwood-pulls-out-of-national-rifle-association-concert-in-texas-after-uvalde-school-shooting?ref=scroll
May 26, 2022
Posted on Thu, May 26th, 2022 by Jason Easley
GOP House Candidates May Be Wiped Out After Federal Court Rules Insurrectionists Can Be Barred From The
Ballot
A recent federal appeals court ruling found that insurrectionists whether they are current officeholders or not can be barred from the ballot.
According to Bloomberg Law:
Candidates who take part in an insurrection may be barred from holding public office under the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution, a federal appeals court ruled, overturning a lower court judge’s decision.
….
While the ruling is legally binding only in the states that make up the 4th Circuit — Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina — it could influence the outcome of legal challenges to multiple Republican House candidates tagged by critics for participating in events surrounding the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.
This ruling could also impact cases in other parts of the country involving Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Andy Biggs, and Paul Gosar.
Here is a list of Republican House Candidates Who Could Be Kicked Off Of The Ballot
The DCCC provided PoliticusUSA with a list of Republican House challengers who have confirmed their participation in the insurrection and could be booted off of the ballot:
WI-03 candidate Derrick Van Orden
NV-04 candidate Annie Black
OH-09 nominee JR Majewski
NC-01 nominee Sandy Smith
IA-03 candidate Gary Leffler
NJ-03 candidate Ian Smith
Each of these candidates has bragged about their participation in the insurrection, and if their ballot status is challenged, they could be removed, despite the fact that they are not current officeholders.
The ruling that the 14 Amendment applies to candidates as well as incumbents could create chaos for Republicans around the country.
Voters who are fighting to protect democracy would be wise to keep the legal challenges coming.
...Federal Court Rules Insurrectionists Can Be Barred From The Ballot
https://www.politicususa.com/2022/05/26/gop-house-candidates-may-be-wiped-out-after-federal-court-rules-insurrectionists-can-be-barred-from-t.htmlPosted on Thu, May 26th, 2022 by Jason Easley
GOP House Candidates May Be Wiped Out After Federal Court Rules Insurrectionists Can Be Barred From The
Ballot
A recent federal appeals court ruling found that insurrectionists whether they are current officeholders or not can be barred from the ballot.
According to Bloomberg Law:
Candidates who take part in an insurrection may be barred from holding public office under the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution, a federal appeals court ruled, overturning a lower court judge’s decision.
….
While the ruling is legally binding only in the states that make up the 4th Circuit — Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina — it could influence the outcome of legal challenges to multiple Republican House candidates tagged by critics for participating in events surrounding the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.
This ruling could also impact cases in other parts of the country involving Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Andy Biggs, and Paul Gosar.
Here is a list of Republican House Candidates Who Could Be Kicked Off Of The Ballot
The DCCC provided PoliticusUSA with a list of Republican House challengers who have confirmed their participation in the insurrection and could be booted off of the ballot:
WI-03 candidate Derrick Van Orden
NV-04 candidate Annie Black
OH-09 nominee JR Majewski
NC-01 nominee Sandy Smith
IA-03 candidate Gary Leffler
NJ-03 candidate Ian Smith
Each of these candidates has bragged about their participation in the insurrection, and if their ballot status is challenged, they could be removed, despite the fact that they are not current officeholders.
The ruling that the 14 Amendment applies to candidates as well as incumbents could create chaos for Republicans around the country.
Voters who are fighting to protect democracy would be wise to keep the legal challenges coming.
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