496 Comments

In the firehose of tffg news the past week, despite the apparent strength of the Biden-Harris campaign, I have felt a sense of gloom that tffg may yet evade justice, somehow. BUT your last sentence in tonight's essay, regarding the impeachment attempt against Biden made me actually laugh for the first time in a while of reading Substacks. Thank you.

"Representative Jamie Raskin (D-MD), the top Democrat on the Oversight Committee, told reporters: “Lev Parnas can debunk the bogus claims at the heart of the impeachment probe and, in the process, explain how the GOP ended up in this degraded and embarrassing place.”"

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Must love Jamie Raskin for tirelessly debunking GOP. Reps, in such clear and direct ways. He's a top asset to the Democrat party.

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Raskin is just one of many Democrats that are well spoken and make the maganazis and white faux-Christian nationalists look like fools.

Adam Schiff, Eric Swalwell, Katie Porter to name a few in the House.

But is it really that difficult to bring out the fool in a fool?

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Raskin is a national gem, a Constitutional scholar fighting for what is right, and against what is wrong about the Right.

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Jamie Raskin belongs on the Supreme Court!!

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He would be a real asset - but would need to sit as far away from Brett Kavanaugh and Clarence Thomas as possible. The three women would enjoy his company ! 😉

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Or the Oval Office.

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The biggest factor against Raskin being appointed to SCOTUS: he is extremely competent!

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And he can't be bought!

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Mar 20·edited Mar 20

Well, yes. MAGats are still saying January 6 was just a sightseeing tour through Congress unless those comments are actually ironic, sarcastic words from anti-trumpers. Who can tell the difference? It would make things easier and less confusing if MAGats would adopt a new flag, an orange flag with a big pumpkin in the middle and keep the American flag off their trucks and out of their hands. Save the American flag for the real patriots who vote against MAGat fascists.

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I understand and empathize with the thought behind your post. However, as a veteran myself (an old one. One who got shot at in Vietnam and who shot at others), there is nothing that makes my blood boil more than the latter-day notion that vets have some special—or even exclusive—claim on the flag.

We don’t. It belongs to everyone who lives in this country. There is the same proportion of noble and patriotic people in civilian life as in the military. Just as many dedicated and hardworking people.

It is fashionable these days to fawn over the military and extravagantly thank us for our service. Many of us are frankly put off by that. Can we all try being normal?

I don’t thank strangers who are shift nurses, teachers, single moms (or dads), or literally in hundreds of other walks of life.

Believe me, vets don’t feel a special grievance when some pack of fools uses the flag to represent themselves. In fact, statistics says that a random distribution of vets are in that pack of fools.

I know I am ranting, way off topic, and unfairly singling you out.

But please, can we all abandon that line of thought?

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Thank you for this. I have always railed against this pseudo patriotism, which is propaganda in disguise to promote the false idea that it is noble to join the military and go over seas to kill people. And that it's referred to as service, when I among others never asked anyone to serve me in this way always galls me. The medical personnel who fought the Covid fight are just as deserving to our appreciation, if not more, as well as all the others who serve our communities - police officers, social workers, sanitation workers, as well as those folks who just contribute by doing their jobs and following the rules that keep our society going.

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Librarians and teachers.

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From the wife of another Vietnam vet, we agree with you.

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I too, am the wife of a Vietnam vet.

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Sure. I agree. A truck I saw yesterday with American flags on poles and veterans for tfffmbT-Q stickers was on my mind. Also my parents—both veterans and what would they think about that.

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Thank you for your comment. My husband was Vietnam veteran as well, and felt the same way you do. I lost him in 2018, but I know if he was still here, he would be so disgusted with what is going on in this country.

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Tom, I missed going to Viet Nam by one draft. I didn't have parents that could pay off a doctor to say that my bone spur was bad enough that I couldn't hold a gun. I was designated 1-A after my Army physical.

But, your comment about the flag pique my anti-Republican anti-faux-Christian Nationalist juices. If we went to public school in the US in the 1950's - 1970's chances are very good we have muttered the pledge of Alliagence to that bizarre piece of cloth we had hanging in virtually every room in our schools. I consider myself incredibly lucky to have been born in the US as a white male in a state with a smallll minority population I was treated way better than I deserved to be. And like most white males in America, I have never truly appreciated the advantages GIVEN to me.

But why the heck are any of us pledging allegiance to a piece of cloth and why the heck does it say, "under God" when Americans worship thousands of different Gods most of them we don't even know if they exist.

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The “under God” phrase was added during the (Joe) McCarthy era in a weird symbolic protection against Communism or being accused of sympathy toward such.

Having been raised a Catholic, don’t get me started on the strangeness of the symbols, talismans, charms or totems we’re taught to venerate, respect, or even worship in early civic or religious life.

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Going to miss Katie Porter in the House. Hope that she gets a spot in the new Biden administration.

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She did not lose well, though, which is bothersome.

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And now among Democrats in the House blocking aid to Ukraine.

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Nope. I think you got your wires crossed on this one, Michael. This from her dated Feb 26th: "Porter said she would support the $95 billion deal the Senate passed to provide aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, stressing it is important the bill include humanitarian aid to Gaza residents. “Supporting democracy abroad keeps our democracy safe and strong here at home,” she said.

My source is Calmatters.org

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??? Can you provide more details? I don't see when she blocked aid to Ukraine. Maybe I missed something.

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Really?

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I also like Hakeem Jeffries. Wow, quite a Letter from Heather after hiking in remote Nevada most of the day. Thank you, as always, but especially encouraging news during these worrying days.

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Raskin is sharp like a razor and knows how cut right through Republican representatives. There's a difference between knowledge, experience and stupidity. Half of the Republicans from the house don't even know what hell their talking about.

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Tommy Tuberville is a dunce! His personal financial failures should have been a red flag to voters on Alabama. Instead, they saw only the word “football coach”.

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Patricia- Half? You feeling generous today? /S

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Gary, you would think not, but the Fool of all Fools is still Fooling many people.

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Don't forget Dan Goldman. He's been great today.

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Nope, not difficult at all.

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Mar 21·edited Mar 21

AOC, Cory Booker (I just started following on Instagram, he is doing amazing work), and don't forget Hakeem Jeffries.

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Every time Raskin comments, I’m more encouraged to “write him in” in November…he’s one bright light in a dark alley. (Paraphrasing the late, great Harry Chapin)

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While I, too, greatly admire Jamie Raskin, and think he would be a fine Democratic candidate for the Presidency, I always try to remind myself of the bigger picture, and the longer-range goals. At this point, any vote for anyone other than Biden is a vote for tfrg. Write-in votes and third-party votes (remember all the Bernie Sanders and Marianne Williamson "purists" who refused to cast votes for Hillary Clinton?) have the net effect of being one less vote that would ensure a Democratic party victory, and in consequence, a dagger in the heart of democracy itself. Now really is the time to unite in lock-step solidarity for the candidate who, while not perfect, at least isn't trying to turn the nation into a dictatorship.

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Not to worry, though…this is no time for ticket-splitting….Biden…tried and true…Vote Blue!

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I agree 💯 percent!!Jamie is a great guy!!💙💙💙!!

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Mar 20·edited Mar 20

Marli, I would love to see Jamie Raskin as the Democratic presidential candidate in 2028. He's brilliant, carried on bravely just days after his beloved son's death, can't be intimidated, and as a bonus, he's funny! As for the present, I don't want to jinx the chances, but I'm feeling more and more optimistic about November. There could be life after disaster.

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Yes, I feel optimistic to. We still have a tough fight ahead and must not take anything for granted.

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Patricia, like you, I believe that the road will be rocky, and I am afraid to voice too much optimism for fear of bringing us ill fortune - as if we haven't paid enough for the last eight years!

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The DemocratIC party. Remember, it was Donald who got everyone to drop the “ic”. It was a deliberate act of disrespect.

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I learned of it from Rush Limbaugh's usage. He coined words/usage to be as insulting as possible.

Checking in as the grammar police: Republican is both a noun and an adjective. Democrat is a noun, Democratic is an adjective.

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I believe it eas former Rep Dick Armey who started the inappropriate "Democrat" as adjective talk, Ally. The Massive Maven of Mendacity did it routinely as well

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Mar 20·edited Mar 20

And George W. Bush also talked about the "Democrat" Party. It's pretty ignorant and childish to turn an adjective into a noun and then use it as an insult. If we wanted to return the favor, we could talk about the "Republic" Party, but that's stooping to their low level.

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Adjective and noun, one can’t “ republican” anything , as those in the House are proving.

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I looked up Republican. I found no evidence of the word being used as a verb, just as a noun or adjective.

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We've been republicaned! (synonym for screwed).

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You're right. I shall fix that. I blame my lack of coffee this morning. I ran short...

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As a certified oldster, I remember Nixon, Dole (“Democrat wars” in a debate with Carter), and others after Eisenhower using this as childish taunt.

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I think it goes back to Reagan, as I recall him using the term "Democrat Party".

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Thank you, Michael, for getting the proper adjective back before our eyes.

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Not only is Jamie Raskin an “asset to the Democratic Party,” but he is also an asset the all of US! His intelligence and diligence through the death of his son and his cancer are to be admired and appreciated by everyone.

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"Jamie Raskin...is also an asset the all of US!" 100% agree. The average trump supporter, as opposed to the wealthy, don't realize it, butBiden and the liberals are doing good for them and the whole country they love. Why they don't see that just boggles my mind.

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They only want power and money. Many are traitors, not patriots.

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I agree. That's why I differentiated the average trump supporter from the wealthy. They and the wealthy "conservative" politicians believe trump will serve them. They don't care if he's out of his mind and a full-on criminal. I suppose they are too - most, if not all.

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Thank you. I think all in Congress who refused to recognize the vote should be tried for treason. Of course it is possible that some (think Comer) are more stupid than venal.

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I think of Jamie Raskin as about the closest embodiment of Lincoln we have in our day.

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JustRaven, when I read that quote of Jamie Raskin a lyrics from an old Jim Croce song (hey, all his songs are old, I guess, may he R.I.P.) came to mind:

"You don't spit into the wind"

Nor, I suppose, do you shovel barnyard waste in the wind either, as it all comes back at you. This so-called impeachment inquiry has a strong odor of bovine dung.

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Can't wait to hear that.

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I want to hear it but Representative Comer's voice sounds like Woody Woodpecker strung out on speed. Big deterrent. 😉

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Comer Fudd. . .

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… keeps stepping on rakes.

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When did we become so discriminatory of peoples voices instead of listening to what they say? Sounds like republican distraction used against Hillary. I miss the days of common courtesy, respect, and allowing those who aren’t “perfect” a little human dignity.

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Linda, I understand why you are saying this and I agree it would be nice to see a little civility now and then. However, it is hard to listen to death star and his minions because death star whines and I don't listen to any of the rest of them either. When people behave in a manner that shows that they don't have respect for anything but power and money and certainly not their Constitutional oath, I have problems not making fun of them, even their voices.

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We all need to take what he says seriously....minus the dementia talking.

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I am watching the 0versight hearing. There is dirt on both sides of the street; it does not look like it applies to President Biden (at least evidentially). In the case of the Biden family, sleazy not illegal comes to mind. Mr Bobulisnki is unctuous yet unwilling to take any responsibility for his actions, often by playing the victim card; l surmise that he learned that from the best. Mr Galanis is civil, though untrustworthy. Only Mr Parnas strikes me as sincerely contrite; he is unfailingly civil.

😳

Mr Hunter Biden displayed the de-moralized behavior of someone lost and drowning in addiction. When l suffered similarly in my teens and early twenties, I started sliding down that slippery slope. As it is, Mr Hunter Biden strikes me as sincerely trying to remain clean and to rectify his past behaviors.

🤞

The questioning by Representatives Ocasio-Cortéz (NY), Moskowitz (FLA), Mfume (MD, Goldman (NY), Crockett (TX) and Lee (¡ from my home-town district of Pittsburgh!) have deflated the Republican case. And they have been civil as have the other Democrats. These cited Democrats comprise a representative sample of the Democratic Representatives seated on the 0versight Committee.

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Thank you for the update. I have often marveled at the poise, maturity, intelligence, civic mindedness, and civility of many of our Democratic politicians. It gives me hope.

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Unfortunately, too many Republicans no longer play nice in the political arena.

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"Stupid is as stupid does." It's comer's words and actions that have caused me to think of every term for stupid I can when I hear him talk. "Dumb as a, (fill in the blank)."

Marge green has become as ugly to me as the words that come out of her mouth. She's no beauty, but if she was kind, that's what I'd see.

And I see Biden as the kind, thoughtful, effective leader he has proven to be.

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As Gangrene festers like rotting flesh, that's my nickname for her.

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Just hit mute whenever Comer or any of the other republicans start talking. That's the only way I got through it. We all know that all of the republicans do nothing but lie and spread innuendo, so you don't miss a thing by muting them.

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What does tffg mean?

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When I first saw that extra "F," I guessed that it meant The "effing" Former Guy. Hope to see the real meaning revealed here!

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Yes, Lynell, that's exactly it.

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Lynell, that's what I've always thought, but never saw a "translation."

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Of all the words that begin with the letter "F," you'd think we could have chosen a non-curse word:

Words that begin with F are words that start with the letter F in the English alphabet. Some examples of words that begin with F are:

Fabulous, fantastic, friendly, funny, fierce, fragile, fast, furious, fascinating, and fruitful.

False, fussy, furtive, famous, fancy, fantastic, faultless, favorite, fearless, fervent, festive, fetching, fiery, fine, fit, flawless, flexible, fluent, foremost, fortuitous, fortunate, foxy, frank...

and there are many more!

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Lynell, while you're correct, only a few of those you cited could be used to describe DJT ("faultless," "fetching," "flawless" - c'mon now!). Besides that, he inspires most of my baser instincts, and over the last almost eight years, using the "F" word in relation to him has been one of the few ways I've been able to maintain my sanity.

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Right, you are, Nancy. But I see how easy it was for you to dismiss the obvious "F" words that don't apply to Loser 45, just as it was for me. "favorite?" Nope. "fluent?" Definitely, no. "fantastic?" Give me a break!

And yet, those you and I chose to highlight still are "F" words. Just sayin'!

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While I understand your sentiment, I have always been uncomfortable with how easily we can conflate sex with violence through the use of the F word. As rape is often a weapon of war, I tend to shy away from using this particular slur.

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When I saw the extra f, I thought of “fat” as a possible adjective.

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I picked "feckless" as my second qualifier, and later replaced it with an "R," after really thinking through his personal irresponsibility, his disregard for the rule of law, and his disrespect for democracy generally -- while there are a lot of "R" words that capture part of how I think about him (for example, Rude, Rash, Regrettable, Reckless, Racist, Rancid, Rotten, and so on), I think the "umbrella" that covers everything is "Reprehensible."

I don't even have to think about it. My fingers automatically type "tfrg."

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Perfect word, ml! I'll be sure to remember that when I see it.

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I had that same thought a week or so ago and then I, as Lynell from VA by way of MD&DC, said below, I think is right. Actually I think the extra F should always be capitalized.

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I actually call him quadruple T. Treacherous-treasonous-traitor-Trump! For short Q-T!

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IMHO, T-Q would be better. He is no cutie. And it’s too good a word to spoil. Treacherous is an excellent word we don’t hear enough! 💙🇺🇸❤️😇. No more 🤡🎃💩

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Okay T-quadrupled it is. T-Q. Treacherous-treasonous-traitor-Trump!

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Thank you for saving cutie for real cuties—-babies and children who deserve to grow up in a free country. 💙🇺🇸❤️

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Amen💪

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Always love your poetic alliterations, Linda.

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Well it could represent failure or flawed but I think we all know that it is most representative of the same 4-letter “f-word” that is or has the same meaning or meanings in every language.

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Ladies,

I will not even say how I filled in those initials. 🤭

Hey, I have an image to maintain, here! 😃

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Well, this "lady" doesn't shrink from the translation . . . .

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The Former Fkg Guy

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Ah, so he's lost his sex drive? I guess he found it too expensive (85 million dollars and counting).

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You can put the 'f' word in either place, with 'former' in the other. However it trips off the tongue for you.

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Ned, we took "tfg" from President Biden, who occasionally referred to his predecessor as "the former guy" and a lot of folks adopted the letters "tfg". As the **fill in with your description of choice here, mine is shenanigans** got to be outlandish, there were some of us who threw in an extra "f". Some, less profane or inclined to let their junior high brain get its way than I use "foolish", "foolhardy", or "freakin'" as their "f". Mine is (bowing to both my inclination towards profanity and allowing my junior high brain some head time) is to use the four letter word that, in some circumstances once, stood for "for unlawful carnal knowledge". When I am not in that state, I use fpotus, lowercase letters intentional as a sign of disrespect.

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Somebody around here (I think) said that fpotus is what the Secret Service uses. I use it too, though my word for the "f" is probably not the same as theirs.

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The Fascist Former Guy

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And now we are at tfffg or tfffmb since tfffer is not a guy. He is a manbaby.

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Does any of this relate to koffeefee? Or is that just a mental illness?

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When I asked my friend what it meant, she said it means that former f--king guy.

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Many thanks. I had it close except for fat for f*cking.

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It is easy to feel gloom and doom aided and abetted by the MSM which never misses a chance to give us polls numbers, etc. I also laughed at Raskin's remark this am, JustRaven. He is right on as the party of death is certainly in a "degraded and embarrassing place."

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That's why Lev Parnas testimony, should be televise live for the American people. So they can see the corruption of lies and fraud that Trump has committed. Lev Parnas is a key witness that will tell the truth. We are fed up with this con feeding lies on a everyday basis with us and with the media.

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If tRUMP sidesteps the most obvious crime ie the theft of highly classified documents, it will be because of his evidently bought and paid for young and beautiful (coincidence?) Florida judge, the ever inexperienced Looose Cannon who has penned a rambling 2 page document that gives 2 outcomes both of which basically say , without regard for the law, that if a prz designates any document as personal property before he leaves the White House, it is so. If any judge needs censuring or whatever it's called for judges, she's it. This line of thinking has no basis in document law and is pretty dangerous if it succeeds going forward.

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Did you listen to the videos Aaron Rupar of Public Notice provided an entire thread of Lev Parnas destroying the Republicans with his testimony. Very entertaining.

I hope this is okay.

https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1770453622825844814.html?utm_source=subscriptions_mailer&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=real_time

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Ta ta for good?

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Embarrassing yes, but they have no sense of embarrassment. The play-acting is to appeal to their ignorant base. They know that they can say and do anything regardless of how stupid and unfounded it is, for they know that their base will suck it up because they know what their base wants and needs and that is to be fed BS to justify their hatred.

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Just raven, I just said as much to my husband yesterday… I feel doom and gloom in the air!!

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HCR has had the siren on as she keeps us informed about the battle for Democracy in the US. We look to Ukraine as well to keep Democracy alive. World Central Kitchen is working as no other organization to feed people in need. Learn about their recent shipment of food to the people in Gaza.

'WCK is first to the frontlines, providing meals in response to humanitarian, climate, and community crises. ... WCK has created a new model for disaster relief ...'

https://wck.org/

'Operation Safeena: Aid shipment reaches northern Gaza'

'World Central Kitchen provided almost 200 tons of food in northern Gaza that arrived on our first maritime aid shipment. The food that reached families facing starvation arrived aboard the first humanitarian shipment to reach the Gazan coast in nearly two decades. Alongside local and international partners, WCK has provided more than 39 million meals by land, sea, and air to Palestinians in need.'

https://wck.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=06ac91679649ec3adc1c73cc3&id=5c0f294604&e=8c2d0f0321

'For months, our teams across the region have worked nonstop to open this maritime aid route into Gaza. We are sourcing and loading food onto boats in Cyprus and built our own jetty in Gaza using rubble, including from bombed buildings, to safely unload cargo.'

'WCK will eventually be able to provide “huge quantities of food daily into the shores of Gaza,” said José Andrés, WCK’s founder. Our teams are currently preparing to dispatch our second maritime shipment that will include food and heavy machinery that will expedite the offloading process.

WCK's next maritime shipment will include food and heavy machinery to expedite offloading.'

'Still, much more needs to be done. José has called for a ceasefire and opening of as many land crossings as possible as the best ways to ensure Palestinians get the meals and water they need. To date, we have dispatched more than 1,500 trucks and know that many more are needed to meet the urgent needs of communities all across Gaza.'

'At the same time we deliver food to northern Gaza, WCK is supporting families fleeing south who pass through our Welcome Center in Deir al-Balah. '

Our mailing address is:

World Central Kitchen

PO Box 96538

Washington, DC 20090

Add us to your address book

https://wck.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=06ac91679649ec3adc1c73cc3&id=5c0f294604&e=8c2d0f0321

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WCK is a fabulous organization and one that I always feel good donating to. They always go where there is hunger and strife, no matter where. They are putting their lives on the line everyday to ease the people's pain in Gaza, in Ukraine, and when there have been disasters the States, they are there too!

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Colette My wife and I are regular contributors to WCK, which has provided emergency food services in many countries, including Ukraine, Gaza, and the United States. That Jose Andres could deliver and set up food kitchens in Gaza while the United States dithered is the latest gold star on his chef’s cap.

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Absolutely! I totally agree. What a great chef and humanitarian!

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One person making a huge difference! I'm in.

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WCK.

Doing what States are too cowardly to do.

As for the wretched Netanyahu: a curse to his own people, to Israel's allies and supporters, a boon to anti-Semites everywhere.

*

Thank you, Fern. I just made a first contribution. At least to be able to begin helping where help is desperately needed.

LET'S ALL CONTRIBUTE.

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I'm doing that as soon as I've posted this comment.

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I agree, and I did. In my case, it dove-tailed with a good friend's birthday -- she was thrilled that I made the donation to WCK in her name. I could make a habit of this. Nobody I know needs more stuff, while the people in Gaza, Ukraine and other places really do need food, which WCK is providing.

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Wish I could put up a pic. here; I had a couple of the people feeding refugees arriving from Ukraine at the Polish border.

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Thank you so much for sharing this.

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Thank you for caring, Sabrina.

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Mar 20·edited Mar 20

Thank you for posting this. I can't imagine a better place to send a few bucks. I am rallying my troops to join me today!

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And what a waste TFG has been financially, monies that could support a cause like this. According to AP, he has spent $76 Millie so far on legal fees. It drives me crazy thinking of how many lives are impacted or even lost to the money black hole he is.

https://apnews.com/article/trump-spent-millions-legal-fees-2024-presidential-campaign-3384cbfc2df69d3e97ba9e47c2384312#

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Plus the legal fees and court fees of those who try to follow his lead… he has single-handedly done lots for defense attorneys in this country…and even local school boards & election officials have had to hire protection. Seems like all that should be added up to his bail $$$$$.

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THANKS for reminding us about WCK!!

I sent another donation right after reading your comment.

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Me too!! Thank you Fern, for reminding us. I also read at the WFK website that they created a pier on the Gaza beach, using destroyed buildings to create the pier.

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I actually sent mine the other day, after realizing I had not yet made my first quarter donation.

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As a consistent donor to WCK who carefully reads their reports, I’m totally impressed with Chef José Andrés and his staff who have been diligently committed to putting the needs of those they’re providing for as CRITICAL and when needed creatively develop “work arounds” when choke points stymie the provision of aid…the Gaza work around is one, but not the only example! It’s interesting to me that yet again the MSM devotes little, if any, airspace to WCK’s amazing accomplishments and dedication to providing basic nutrition to ordinary people who desperately need it.

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Thank you all for the recommendation and support of World Central Kitchen. I sent a check this morning.

My preference is still for checks but there is the persistent problem of 'checkwashing.' I put a small strip of scotch tape over part of the "To whom ..." section of the check. There doesn't seem to be a problem cashing the check and none have disappeared.

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Fern,

Thank you!

We must support these innocent families with children. They have done nothing to deserve this treatment!!!!

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Thank you Fern for bringing this up!!Great organization!!

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They are my #1 donation choice when I have extra to give.

Thanks for those links.

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Thank you Fern. While we're asking such things, does your LFAA stand for Letters From ANOTHER American? 😉

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Sorry, top secret, just saying!

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God bless the WCK for supplying food to the Palestinian people in Gaza. Thank you, for given us the Address.

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Thank you, Fern for recognizing the contribution of World Central Kitchen. Patti and I donate to WCK regularly. They extend their meal service by working with local aid organizations.

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Thank you Fern!

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Just made first donation🙏🏻

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Thank you, Karen Hall!

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These reports are making me vomit. Trump is a criminal clear and present and a danger to the American way of life. Clear and present danger. I read that he has rehired Paul manafort, as his campaign manager. The Russian licking guy. Hang onto your seats and please please ensure that your social media prescence is not timid. Theirs won’t be. Lots more to say but I’ve forgotten to breathe … except go Ukraine. Despite Republican treachery. It is what it is … treason.

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Can anyone even begin to tally the dollars spent on combating and prosecuting deceit, corruption, and law-breaking? Imagine that spent on benevolence of all sorts.

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If any President had pardoned even one of the traitorous fraudster felons that TFFG did, the MSM would be all over it. But all we get from them are crickets.

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Corrupt to the bone.

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....corruption is part of drumpy's DNA. The family history makes that clear.

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Part and parcel for the family culture anyway. Don's ethical lapses go way back.

https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/05/donald-trump-2016-mob-organized-crime-213910/

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For more on a scary future if trump wins check out Project 2025. I've been trying to slog through the full text but it's hard to raed that much crap. It's abbout 900 pages of revamping the entire government.

Here is an excerpt of some text defining what kinds of power they want the presidency to have.

“The President must set and enforce a plan for the executive branch. Sadly, however, a President today assumes office to find a sprawling federal bureaucracy that all too often is carrying out its own policy plans and preferences—or, worse yet, the policy plans and preferences of a radical, supposedly “woke” faction of the country.

The modern conservative President’s task is to limit, control, and direct the executive branch on behalf of the American people. This challenge is created and exacerbated by factors like Congress’s decades-long tendency to delegate its lawmaking power to agency bureaucracies, the pervasive notion of expert “independence” that protects so-called expert authorities from scrutiny, the presumed inability to hold career civil servants accountable for their performance, and the increasing reality that many agencies are not only too big and powerful, but also increasingly weaponized against the public and a President who is elected by the people and empowered by the Constitution to govern.

The great challenge confronting a conservative President is the existential need for aggressive use of the vast powers of the executive branch to return power— including power currently held by the executive branch—to the American people. Success in meeting that challenge will require a rare combination of boldness and self-denial: boldness to bend or break the bureaucracy to the presidential will and self-denial to use the bureaucratic machine to send power away from Washington and back to America’s families, faith communities, local governments, and states.

Fortunately, a President who is willing to lead will find in the Executive Office of the President (EOP) the levers necessary to reverse this trend and impose a sound direction for the nation on the federal bureaucracy. The effectiveness of those EOP levers depends on the fundamental premise that it is the President’s agenda that should matter to the departments and agencies that operate under his constitutional authority and that, as a general matter, it is the President’s chosen advisers who have the best sense of the President’s aims and intentions, both with respect to the policies he intends to enact and with respect to the interests that must be secured to govern successfully on behalf of the American people.”

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Absolutely disgusting.

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I know. Pretty creepy huh?

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Written by white supremacists, funded by 40 different shell companies established by Leonard Leo. Those companies launder money between them and then to their Russian counterparts. All under the guise of “saving Christianity”. Sheldon Whitehouse and his staff have been investigating Leo for years!

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The long-winded authors of the 2025 Project can almost lull a reader into missing anything overty fascistic in the plan. Maybe someone can come up with a condensed version.

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I'm thinking of doing a series of posts, each containing excerpts from the chapters to give folks an idea of what the plan entails.

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I thank you in advance!

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Part 1 is up

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Subscribe to my site and post a comment. If enough folks atre interested, I'll do it.

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Yes, I was certainly shocked the first time I read that. That’s the way the governments of China and Russia are set up.

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Bob, it is primarily for Trump but I read it is for any Republican as well… 😬

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In the words of former President W. "That is some weird shit."

Trump and today's GOP are not conservatives. They are regressives. They have created a kakistocracy, but have no idea they have.

I dare them to improve on the SSA. I have been impressed with every correspondence I have received from them. And they set up about 22500 new cases every working day of the year in 2022. And they also, service over 70 million Americans and keep track of our earnings from the first time we paid Federal income tax. We already know they are terrible at administration by how badly they have fucked up the USPS and the EPA.

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No holy 10 commandments is that pile of fetid word salad

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I’m actually feeling quite hopeful with the news of so many Trump voters falling away. I am confident that he will not win and sincerely hope that the MAGAs will not start up their “stop the steal” bullshit again.

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And now we need to take back the House and hold the Senate.

If we're lucky Thomas, Alito and Roberts will all die during Biden's 2nd term although I would actually prefer to see Thomas go to prison form income tax evasion.

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I'm not taking anything for granted. Remind people to vote!

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Thank you Dr. Richardson. I have a question. Didn't we used to have a Law that funds solicited for election campaigns could not be diverted to personal use? In three of the five cases Trump has faced trial the charges had little or nothing to do with the campaign. In the 93.6 million dollar fine in favor of E. Jean Carroll that was prior to 2015 and he was found by a jury of his peers to have "sexually assaulted" Ms. Carroll, last time I looked sexually assaulting women was not part of a President's duties.

The trial for which he owes the State of New York 454+ million dollars was for business fraud. Gee, I don't remember reading in the Constitution that a President's personal business was part of the Presidential duties either.

The third New York trial is political corruption in trying to hide sexually immoral behavior illegally from the voters - I suppose that one could be stretched to cover a campaign cost.

His final two trials have to do with his stealing highly secret classified documents (including military secrets that endanger our security) and trying to overthrow a legitimate election because, well he's Donald Trump and he promised his cult he'd win.

The point of this diatribe is how can he legitimately use funds aimed at reelecting his sorry ass be used instead to pay his attorneys?

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Good question Fay. It sounds like grounds for a whole new trial to me.

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Or at least new charges LOL

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Yes. Isn't Santos under indictment for using campaign funds for personal use? Perhaps the money is exempt because of the "shell game" of PACs and Super PACs?

But as Heather mentioned today, some donors are getting tired of funding his legal fees - money they thought was going to the campaign for office.

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Mar 20·edited Mar 20

Santos says he’s running again. Being a representative was the best-paying scam he ever ran.

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Others in the Republican Party are demonstrating how little actual work it takes.

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Excellent question! Waiting for an answer.

And what about giving aid, comfort, support, and promises of pardons, to convicted felon insurrectionists? Thats front and center at his rallies these days.

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Yes, but we also have an emoluments clause, and we know how that went in fpotus's term.

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And several SCOTUS members should be under indictment for income tax evasion. Apparently, they are also above the law.

If someone filed suit against Thomas and Alito, would they be forced to recuse themselves from hearing the case?

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Interesting question...

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I am writing this without fact checking first, so beware. But I think the short answer is that money given to PACs is not bound by the same rules as money given directly to a candidate’s campaign. The latter was/is subject to the limitations imposed by the Federal Elections Campaign Act. But the Citizens United Supreme Court decision allows PACs to circumvent those provisions (and also overturned much of another campaign finance law known as McCain-Feingold). Trump could not be using political contributions so directly for self-benefit if not for that SCOTUS decision.

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Thank you Susan, I will look into this, but I know Trump's main campaign collection is the Make America Great PAC, So you are probably correct. If we are correct, then we must get rid of that loopy fairy tale known as Citizens United.

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I fear that will be virtually impossible. The CU decision was a constitutional rather than a statutory decision. This means it cannot be undone by rewriting the law. Only a constitutional amendment (or the unlikely event of SCOTUS reversing the decision) can alter it now.

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Thank you Susan, but if it was based on the Constitution I should be able to find the references in my copy of the Constitution and I don't. It was a five to four decision. How can five people re-write the Constitution. John Paul Stevens' dissent, mentions using common sense. I intend to read the whole case myself. And then write a new rant. I still believe on what I've read so far that the 5 favorable opinions were based on fairy tales.

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I say it’s a constitutional decision because it’s based on the principle of freedom of speech…1st Amendment. The Supreme Court has held that campaign contributions are a form of free expression. They further ruled that corporations (like PACs) are “persons” under the principle of corporate personhood and so are entitled to 1st Amendment protection. The US Constitution could be amended to distinguish between natural persons and corporate entities for the purposes of elections, but how likely is any constitutional amendment in our polarized political climate?

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Thanks again Susan, but as an educated scientist; human beings are Homo sapiens with specific identifying features [organs, skeletons, DNA, shape and physical abilities] Corporations on the other hand exist ONLY as legal pieces of paper filed in a particular State where the company is incorporated. I do understand the Supreme Court Justices do not have to understand the biological or physiological implications of their findings, but giving Homo sapiens rights and capabilities to legal papers is beyond the pale. A business requires a business license in the County in which it exists. That business can only become a corporation if the owners of said business file legal documents of incorporation with a State. I concede it is the Homo sapiens who actually file on behalf of the pending corporation but that does not imbue those papers with life (in fantasy maybe, but not in reality) We do not need an amendment to prove the existence of Homo sapiens, anymore than we need a Constitutional amendment to prove the existence of birds, mammals, fish, etc. Those five assenting Justices should be the ones who have to attempt the Amendment process to show cause that legal documents are living breathing creatures of any identity.

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I’m looking forward to seeing what Jamie Raskin stirs up to further embarrass the GQP morons.

Thank you for the summary.

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I’m thinking Parma’s’ Ukrainian roots are rising up in his soul … or at least one would hope so.

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I wish it were possible to embarrass the morons…

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Right on Jeri. If I said under oath, I had $400 million and couldn't post the first bond of $91 million I would be extremely embarrassed. But, I guess that's an emotion narcissists are unable to feel.

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Don't worry, this is part of the act.., the "Woa is me" act. I'm beginning to feel sorry for alleena habbeena already. Don's broke.., No new car! My my my. Nextthing you know he'll drive to court in a 58 Ford F150.. Stormy will arrive in an Escalade (rental).

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That is so true, emotions only related to "my wants." If you encounter one (they can look good at first glance), but run for your life.

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Trump needs to publicly show his tax returns since leaving office as well as Trump, Inc. and all of its subsidiaries.

Plus we need to see the results from a thorough physical from a doctor that isn't a quack like Dr. Ronnie. And a real cognition test.

And while he's at it, maybe someone can explain why, under oath, he said he had $400,000,000 in cash and he can't pony up enough to get a bond. What is better collateral than cash?

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Same. And because a R made fun of his suits like a middle schooler: I love his suit choices. They are bold.

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I have begun to think of the nine months leading up to the 2024 election as a troubled pregnancy. There are some very disturbing symptoms with a possibility of a miscarriage of Justice, and yet we progress towards a delivery. The father of all this has some serious genetic flaws, and something tells me that even many staunch Republicans would like an abortion, but it's probably too late for that. We should have put him away for insurrection when he left the White House.

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We can and should heap much blame on "party-first, country last" McConnell for not taking care of the cancerous boil on the country's butt that is Trump, in the impeachment trial that happened after January 6th.

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He's left centre-stage, but what he did for the previous 12 years can be neither forgotten nor forgiven.

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Nope. And I'm vindictive enough to hope McConnell's actions in service to his actively apt-to-evil "party" earn him some form of post-life eternal punishment.

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Never mind the afterlife, I'm hoping for unrelenting explosive diarrhea in the present

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Oh man....love the way you think! Thanks for the big laugh this morning. Thankfully, I did not have a mouthful of tea when I read your comment!

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There really needs to be an "alert tone" when there is danger of spewing forth the morning beverage.

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You must have been watching "Dante's Inferno" that's been airing on PBS this week. Any number of circles of hell he, and a few others, could descend to.

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Absolutely!!!!!!! McConnell is as much to blame as anyone-more so, for allowing this travesty of humanity to stay in the Oval as well as stacking the Supreme-ly Corrupt Court.

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And he’s a worse worm for not defending his wife from tfg’s racist remarks about her. What a POS

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You mean Mercedes? :)

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Maybe her too, but I was talking about Mitch not responding to tfg calling his wife “CoCo Chow.”

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Eee-zackly!

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Mitch will burn in hell…karma has no deadline.

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too late, having gotten rid of the right to an abortion. I love this analogy!

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Thanks Heather, good job as always. Going back to my So. Cal. roots, if Trump was a surfer his theme song would be 'Wipeout'...have a listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpv1h3d7DQA

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This morning on Alexander Vindman's Substack I was watching a video he has created using Ronald Reagan's words to highlight why we should support funding Ukraine. A very smart strategy that pits Ronald Reagan against the Treacherous-treasonous-traitor-Trump. That video immediately switched to one of Mitt Romney being interviewed on CNN supporting us funding Ukraine so that we remain honorable, retain our allies and support our troops. He also went on to say that he will vote for Biden over Trump because he disagrees with Trump's stance on foreign policy, and he also sees Trump as having bad character and that matters to him. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxKyxb0Gy7E

So glad there are Republicans who can afford the private security so that they can speak out against Trump. I see more and more rats jumping ship. I repeat that the Republican party is imploding and as an experienced classroom teacher I know that if the children ran the classroom it would implode too. That is what the Republicans in Congress are like. However, one disturbing note, is that I read in the Chicago Sun Times that the numbers of voters in Chicago were way lower than in the last 2 primaries.

https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2024/03/19/low-turnout-chicago-2024-primary-election

Still, Biden got 91.3 percent of Democrats, with almost 700,000 votes in Illinois, and Trump got 80 percent of the Republicans with close to 500,000 votes. Nikki Haley got close to 100,000 votes, or 15% and that could lead to some of them voting for Biden.

https://news.wttw.com/2024/03/19/live-illinois-primary-results-president-congress-and-cook-county-state-s-attorney

In fact, who knows how many of the Republican votes for Haley were actually Democrats making a statement. Still, the low numbers of voters in Chicago has me hoping that is not the case in the general election. In any case, I again read that the youth vote was lowest, and many interviewed said that they are not sure how to vote from being out of state in college. I made sure my daughter, who is attending University in Germany knew how to vote. I also told her that voting in this election cycle is the most important thing she can do for her future, more important than her studies, more important than anything else other than taking care of her health. I think it is going to be very, very important that someone take on teaching people how to vote when they are living away. Of the 1000 Americans in the city that I live in in Germany where I also worked the election at the Democrats Abroad Germany voting place where one could vote in person for the Democratic election, there were only a handful that came in to vote. I can hope that they voted online at home too if their states allow it.

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Sounds like a fun day with Jamie Raskin.

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