Showing posts with label John Durham. Show all posts
Showing posts with label John Durham. Show all posts

Monday, June 26, 2023

Flotsam and Jetsam - US Atty Weiss Has "No Comment" on Whistleblower Allegations

The Divine Ms. Devine at NYPo does a pretty good job of running down update on the burgeoning Biden scandals, Heroic IRS whistleblower testimony ensnarls Hunter and Joe Biden in bribery scheme. Joe usually deflects, but when he does address his involvement he asks, "where's the money?" One example, RCP, Peter Schweizer: Hunter Biden Paid For A Private Global Cell Phone For Joe Biden While He Was Vice President. $300 a month, $3,600 a year, it may not be much, but a few more examples like that and it would add up. Jerry Dunleavy at WaEx, Biden investigation: Burisma bribery claims 'concealed' from IRS investigators. I'm sure there's a perfectly rational excuse, but I haven't heard it. Sundance at CTH notes After AG Garland Denies Main Justice Interference, IRS Whistleblower Reveals Names of Witnesses to Show Garland Lying. At mrcTV, U.S. Atty. Weiss: No Comment on Whistleblowers’ Claim DOJ Denied His Request to Charge Hunter Biden with Felonies, I don't think he wants to get in any deeper. Bob Spencer at PJM, Confirmed: Intel Top Dogs Knowingly Lied When They Said Hunter's Laptop Was Russian Disinformation. At Da Fed, Kylee Griswold claims the Whistleblower Transcripts Show Deep-State Election Rigging For Biden Was Way Bigger Than A Laptop.

At Fox, Ted Cruz calls on House to investigate impeaching Biden over Hunter allegations: 'Direct evidence' "Cruz said the WhatsApp messages are 'direct evidence' of President Biden 'abusing his government power.'" Breitbart reports McCarthy Forecasts Garland Impeachment Inquiry if Whistleblower Allegations True. Fine, a warm up for Biden. Paul Bedard at WaEx sees the Hunter Biden scandal lapping at president’s shoes. More like his waist. NewsMax watches Biden DOJ Monopoly Deals Hunter Stay Out of Jail Cards. At Am Spec, Hunter Biden: Too Little Too Late - The American Spectator.  Am Great's Roger Kimball calls it a A Catastrophic Implosion . . . of the Rule of Law. From Da Wire, Klobuchar Chuckles When Asked About Hunter Biden Going To Event Attended By Merrick Garland. At Am Think, Clarice thinks it could be Wilmington: The Next Netflix Series? Too improbable for Netflix. 

Kevin Liptak at CNN, cited at Hat Hair,  Obama tells Amanpour justice "creaky" but Trump arrest proves "rules of law" still exists. Beege Wellborn snarks "From the schmuck whose administration did more to destroy said “rule of law” than any in recent history. The nerve of this weasel." Herr Professor Jacobsen at LI warns the DOJ Request For Delay Of Trump Florida Trial Has Nothing To Do With Strength Or Weakness Of The Case. "Please ignore the people who are claiming that it reflects that the government is afraid to present its case, or that it thinks the case is imploding. And most of all, please ignore the conspiracy theorists who construct elaborate arguments and theories around it and so many other things." From Da Caller the Dersh says  Trump’s Prosecutors Shouldn’t Get To Use The Word ‘Espionage.’ Here’s Why "“Espionage” has no relevance to the upcoming trial. It associates Trump with some of the worst offenses imaginable." At ET, McCarthy Backs Effort to Expunge Trump’s Impeachments. That would be fun; useless but fun. Bob Turner at Am Think thinks about Trump, the Constitution, and the Classified Documents Controversy

At Red State, Nick Arama gives us the chance to see  Patriot Front-Like Characters Get Swarmed and Unmasked, Brawl Ensues, and did Adam Kinzinger just admit they were feds? Whoops: Kinzinger Just Said Something He Shouldn't Have About Those 'Patriot Front' Guys Adam Kinzinger@ AdamKinzinger, "These people (all blue checks) are celebrating a seemingly MAGA assault on federal officers.  Now i don’t know what this really is, but take a gander at the comments of the “patriots” who “love” America." From HE, The inside story of how Bill Barr and Chris Wray refused to go after Antifa, "There is a reason you rarely see Antifa challenge the actual power structure in the United States. Those in power use Antifa as their shock troops to go after anyone who challenges them."

Lloyd Billingsley at Am Great sees Durham Sequel Goes Back to the Prequel,"The struggle against FBI injustice is the struggle of memory against forgetting." I&I, ‘Russian Collusion: It Was Hillary Clinton All Along’

Tristan Justice at Da Fed reports a New FBI Whistleblower Says Deputy Director Threatened Agents Uncomfortable With J6 Investigations. At PJM Stephen Kruiser is beginning to wonder Hmm...Maybe McConnell Shouldn't Have Kept Merrick Garland Off of the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, at Da Wire, Montana Becomes Third State Reporting Suspicious Letters Received By GOP Officials. I expect Garland jumped right on that, am I right?

TNP reports a Whopping 83% Concerned for Biden Health, 74% Say Country on Wrong Track. At Public, Michael Shellenberger and Alex Gutentag claim Biden Is Breaking The Law By Not Releasing Intel On COVID-19 Origins, "White House releases old material on a Friday night, days after deadline had passed. ET sees GOP Lawmakers React to US COVID Origin Report: ‘American People Deserve Better’. The health establishment is still covering up its potential role in the creation of the WuFlu. Also, House Committee Subpoenas Author of Scientific Paper Meant to Disprove COVID Lab Leak Theory. At Fox Business, Biden's 'socialist' mortgage plan reversed by GOP bill "14 Democrats vote with Republicans to pass the legislation." "It is unclear what will happen to the bill once it is sent to the Senate, but sources tell FOX Business it is possible that some of the more moderate Democrats – including those up for re-election in 2024 – could align with Republicans to pass the legislation and send it to President Biden’s desk where he could veto the measure. " Julio Rivera at Am Great, Joe Biden Fails on Cybersecurity  "Our cyber-defenses are yet another matter where the Biden Administration has failed." Hat Hair's KT, Desperate Biden campaign turns to entertainment mogul for advice, entertainment mogul Jeffrey Katzenberg.

Paul Bedard at WaEx, RFK Jr. cites Prozac, video games for rise in mass shootings, not guns, he might be right, but he might be crazy. At Da Caller, ‘F*ck Them’: Bill Maher Slams New York Times Over Biased RFK Jr. Coverage.  Twitchy sees DeSantis and Kennedy spar over marijuana policy and Twitter is not chill, man. Is Twitter ever chill?  Also at WaEx, DeSantis takes on Biden and the college cartel. Someone needs to. And Dobbs anniversary: Biden and Republicans draw abortion battle lines before 2024

NewsMax highlights an NBC Poll: Trump Doubles Lead on DeSantis, GOP Field. Althouse, "For an effective anti-Trump move to take place... the G.O.P. would have to display the sort of coƶrdination that the moderate wing of the Democratic Party showed in 2020..." . . . "Writes John Cassidy in "Can Anybody Stop Donald Trump in the 2024 Republican Primary? Even as the former President has a commanding poll lead in a splintered field, one veteran G.O.P. consultant argues that it’s too early to coronate him" (The New Yorker)." Also at Althouse "The major Iowa newspaper that published a political cartoon depicting MAGA voters yelling racial slurs at Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy issued a formal apology..."  As an Iowa newspaper apologizes for racist attack on GOP candidate Vivek Ramaswamy (KT at Hat Hair), Stacy McCain is not amenable to the 'apology', it's Who They Think We Are.

Jay Valentine at Am Think explains how to win in 2024: How to Out-Compute the Left

Michael Reagan at Town Hall thinks D Is for Democrats... and Disinformation. At Hat Hair, UN pushing their anti-hate speech agenda in a questionable tweet

From Breitbart, Riley Gaines calls Rapinoe and Morgan ‘Disingenuous,’ ‘Virtue-Signaling’ with Claim to Be OK Transgender Athletes in Women’s Sports, now that they're safely out of the competition. “My message to them is — is, of course, they’re done playing,” Gaines replied. “Of course, they don’t have daughters to defend. It’s disingenuous, and it’s virtue signaling. They want to be seen as kind. They want to be seen as inclusive. But they know, in their hearts, every single person knows, they wouldn’t have had the opportunities and the success they had without the women sported category.” At The Messenger, Opposition Rises to Transgender Athletes, Even Among Democrats. Here’s Why. At the New Neo, Mr. Rogers has a message from 52 years ago about boys and girls. At WaEx, Brad Palumbo opines The ‘Rainbow Underground Railroad’ is even more absurd than it sounds.Terrance Kibble at LI, exalts that a Court Blocks Federal Civil Rights Agency From Suing Christian-Owned Business Over LGBT Firings

Da Caller sees Bud Lite doubling down, Bud Light Sponsors Raunchy Pride Show After Desperately Trying To Salvage Its Image

Kylee Griswold at Da Fed, Local Wisconsin Supervisor Calls For Police Investigation After Child Participates In Madison’s Adult Naked Bike Ride. Forget it Jake, it's Madison. PJM's Ben Bartee observes War on Women: Transes Ban Lesbians From Pride March, Cite 'Transphobia' in France. Jazz Shaw at Hat Hair, All of the "anti-drag" laws are constitutionally and logically problematic. Probably true. 

Behind the Black sees Real pushback: Thirteen university-run child mutilation clinics to shut down this year, but how many more opened? 

SLAY reports Researchers Call on World Leaders to Apply ‘Queer Theory’ to Nuclear Weapons Policy. Hat Hair's Dave Strom sees One minute to Midnight until we have more Queer nuclear strategists.Da Caller, ‘I Hire For Diversity’: Pentagon Nominees Blocked By GOP Senator Are Pushing Left-Wing Initiatives To Reshape Military. Breitbart sees House and Senate Republicans Take a Buzzsaw to Wokeness in the MilitaryJim Banks@RepJimBanks, "Simultaneously, the Pentagon is trying to increase military recruitment for women while forcing female service members to share showers with biological men. It makes no sense! @HASCRepublicans  just passed my amendment to report on the impact of Biden’s radical transgender EO."

At Twitchy, Dr. Jordan Peterson DROPS uber-harpy Saira Rao for latest 'white people are bad' tweet and it's GLORIOUS, but more seriously, at LI, Mike LaChance reports Jordan Peterson Facing Legal Battle and ‘Remedial Training’ to Retain His License, “At issue is a January letter Peterson received from the Ontario College of Psychologists.” From the College Fix, Psychiatrist who called Trump supporters mentally ill loses in court against Yale.  At Town Hall a screed from a retired prof, Get Out of My Class and Leave America. At Am Spec, There Is Nothing Worth Saving in America’s Public Schools, "The heart of their mission is to indoctrinate children into being atheistic gender ideologues."

Janet Levy at Am Think exposes How Government is Fanning and Subsidizing Anti-White Racism. At Am Think Brian C. Joondeph thinks about Diversity's Fatal Attraction

On a brighter note, Hollywood in Toto would like you to Meet Pop Culture’s Free Speech Heroes "Liberal. Conservative. Apolitical. They're all taking a critical stand for freedom."

The Wombat has FMJRA 2.0: No Joy In Philly up on time and under budget at The Other McCain.

Friday, June 23, 2023

Flotsam and Jetsam - Hunter Whistleblower Testimony Revealed

It would appear now that we are in a country run by an aging Mafia don. Our highest elected official stands credibly accuses of bribery and coercion, while the law enforcement arm of the government seek to cover up and minimize his crimes, and criminalize attempts at revealing scheme. And it's not clear we can vote our way out of this, even if we could find enough votes to do so. The thumb is on the scale everywhere, to the extent needed to maintain the faƧade that we have a choice. Moreover, the vast majority of the media is rooting and doing the bidding of the bad guys. Sorry, kids. 

Yesterday, the Congressional testimony from the IRS whistleblower Gary Shapley, was released in a lightly redacted form. There are four documents, but you can find the main one here.For a link to all the them see John Solomon's JTN, Bombshell evidence: Read IRS whistleblower documents released by Congress in Biden family probe, "Two IRS whistleblowers provided extraordinary evidence that the Biden family received preferential treatment in tax probe,"  IRS whistleblower says search warrants, charges for Hunter Biden blocked, Joe met Chinese client, and IRS whistleblower says search warrants, charges for Hunter Biden blocked, Joe met Chinese client, "Joe Biden also attended meeting with Hunter and Chinese energy officials, new evidence shows."  Sundance at CTH,  House Releases Stunning Whistleblower Transcripts and Evidence of Biden Justice Department Interfering in IRS Case Against Hunter Biden  John Sexton at Hat Hair,  IRS whistleblower: DOJ 'slow-walked the investigation', gave 'preferential treatment' to Hunter Biden. At Da Wire, Whistleblowers Allege Biden Admin Blocked Prosecutors From Filing Charges Against Hunter Biden Twice Last Year. At Da Fed Tristan Justice sees that Delaware Prosecutors Hid FBI Bribery Document From IRS Investigators and, via the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 06.22.23, Evita Alfonso-Duffy shocked to hear the FBI Tipped Off ‘People Very Close’ To Joe And Hunter Before IRS Investigative Team’s ‘Day Of Action.’ Spencer Brown at Town Hall says Oh, So That's Why Hunter Biden Got a Sweetheart Plea Deal When He Did. Via the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 06.22.23, Twitchy: IRS Says Hunter Deducted Hooker Payments From Taxes. The Free Bacon notes Hunter Biden Deducted Payments to Hooker and Sex Club From His Taxes, Whistleblower Says. Althouse catches "Damon Lawner, the founder of Snctm, has been banned from the high-end sex club after he publicly identified Hunter Biden as a former member." "The L.A. Times reports.Bushman of the Kohlrabi said... "When the dude that runs a sex club calls you a scumbag…" 

Stacy McCain asks, is it White Privilege or … Biden Privilege? I kind of think Barak and Michele's kids would get the the same treatment if they had enough spunk to run a similar grift too. I&I, The Great White Hunter Privilege. From the Free Bacon, Months Before Hunter Biden Plea, DOJ Touted Crackdown on Gun-Related Crimes. The divine Ms. Devine at NYPo has the sad tale of This businessman — who went to prison for 2 years for corrupt donations to Biden — received jail time from the feds because he had wrong last name. At PJM, Mike Van Der Galien finds Kodak Black Lawyer Furious Over Sweetheart Deal for Hunter Biden: 'Two Tiers of Justice'. Margot Cleveland at Da Fed thinks Hunter Biden Plea Deal On Five-Year-Old Crimes Shows Biden-Protection Racket At Work. Via the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 06.22.23, John Green at Am Think wants you to Understand the Biden Plea Deal for What It Is: Evidence of the corruption of the DOJ. At NYPo, Jonathan Turley dwells on All the crimes that Hunter’s ridiculous plea deal missed "What is particularly chilling is that the establishment in Washington is not even trying to rebut the widespread view of a two-tiered system of justice. Garland has failed in his pledge to restore trust in the Justice Department, which is now lower than it was under his predecessor, Bill Barr." At Da Caller, Merrick Garland Asked Point Blank If Hunter Biden Plea Deal Is A ‘Different Standard Of Justice.’ “From the moment of my appointment as attorney general, I would leave this matter in the hands of the United States Attorney, who was appointed by the previous president, and assigned to this matter by the previous administration, that he would be given full authority to decide the matter as he decided was appropriate, and that’s what he’s done.” Except the whistleblower has shown that the prosecutors hands were tied by the FBI and DOJ in numerous ways. Via the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 06.22.23,  Shawn Fleetwood at Da Fed reminds us the FBI Knew Hunter Biden’s Laptop Was Authentic A Year Before Pressuring Big Tech To Censor It. At The Free Bacon, Republican ‘Jerks’ Need To Leave Vulnerable Addict Hunter Biden Alone, Media Say Tom Elliott@tomselliott, "@DanAbrams: "If this wasn't Hunter Biden, it is likely he wouldn't have been prosecuted at all." Virginina Kruta at Da Wire, Not A Joke: ABC Analyst Says Hunter Got Harsher Treatment BECAUSE He’s A Biden.

At Breitbart, James Comer’s Probe Will Lead ‘Directly to Joe Biden’s Doorstep,’ Via the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 06.22.23, Scott Johnson at Power Line asks (hopefully) Is the cover-up unraveling?  and His name is Hunter Biden. At Althouse, "Republicans] haven’t uncovered any evidence that Hunter’s business dealings—which included serving on the board of a Ukrainian energy company while his father..."

"... was responsible for the Obama Administration’s Ukraine policy—crossed the line from unsavory to illegal. Neither, it seems, have Weiss’s investigators, who spent years looking into Hunter’s finances. The charges he is pleading guilty to relate to his personal taxes rather than the sources of his income. The House Republicans and their allies also haven’t produced any evidence that the President benefitted monetarily from his son’s financial ventures with foreign actors, or that he took any official actions to aid these ventures. The White House has insisted all along that President Biden had nothing to do with his son’s businesses. The Republicans haven’t put a dent in that claim."

Writes John Cassidy, in "The Hunter Biden Plea Deal Leaves House Republicans in a Pickle/The White House can now point out that it let the legal process take its course, which is what has happened" (The New Yorker).

At NYPo, Half of Americans think feds gave Hunter Biden preferential treatment, poll shows.  PM is having an acid  FLASHBACK: Joe Biden claimed son Hunter who just pled guilty to tax crimes had 'done nothing wrong,' was 'proud of him,' ""My son’s done nothing wrong. I trust him. I have faith in him."

At WaEx, Hunter Biden plea: First court date in tax case set for July 26. The Babylon Bee, who's snark and parody have an uncanny rate of coming to pass, writes Judge Finds Hunter Biden Guilty Of Being 'A Lovable Little Rascal With A Heart Of Gold.'  "Now come over here and let me tousle your hair, you charming little scamp!"

Lauren Boebert
Breitbart reports  Marjorie Taylor Greene to Force Joe Biden Impeachment Vote. At this point, I would say there is more than ample grounds, but of course, the Democrat Senate would never vote to convict, and any way, President Harris? Paul Bedard at WaEx, MTG: ‘Our voters’ want impeachment, challenges McCarthy. Across da pond at Da Mail, Marjorie Taylor Greene calls Lauren Boebert a 'little b****' on the House floor: Feud between MAGA darlings gets petty after 'copycat' plans to impeach Biden.

Via the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 06.22.23, Eric Lendrum at Am Great reminds us Durham: FBI Ignored Hillary Clinton Plot to Tie Trump to Russia. TNP would like you to watch WATCH: Rep. Gaetz GOES OFF On Durham for ‘Laughable’ Investigation. It's fun to watch, but I think it's unfair to Durham, who tried, but was restrained by the system and the "deep state." At WaEx, John Durham testimony: FBI's treatment of Hillary Clinton under microscope at hearing. PJM's Cathy Salgado cites the FBI Whistleblower: 'FBI and DOJ's Dishonest Tactics Are Their Calling Card' Now

Anna Paulina Luna
Henry Rogers at Da Caller calls out The Six Republicans Who Voted ‘Present’ For Adam Schiff’s Censure. Via the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 06.22.23, Twitchy, Jamie Raskin Calls Party of Lincoln “Party of Luna & Her Luna Followers.” I'd follow her. Althouse, "Shame" chant in Congress echoes the "Shame!" chants heard in Wisconsin in 2011. Greg Price@greg_price11, "Democrats throw a 5 minute temper tantrum in the well of the House chamber as the vote to censure Adam Schiff passes, yelling "shame" at Kevin McCarthy and refusing to allow him to finish reading the resolution."

At Front Page, Wayne Allen Root writes Trump is Winning Again "Here's what real Americans think of Biden's desperate indictment of Trump," and Shalabh Kumar calls The Political Persecution of Trump "A direct assault on American ideals and values." At Da Wire, Trump Learns Who Is Going To Testify Against Him In Federal Case, but can't tell us. The AZ Sun Times reports State Bar of California Begins Trial to Disbar Trump’s Attorney John Eastman Over 2020 Election. Purely political lawfare.

From Breitbart a report that Joe Biden Spills ‘Sensitive’ Intelligence about Chinese Spy Balloon to Campaign Donors, assuming he knows what he's talking about. PJM's Rick Moran worries that CNN's Presidential 'Fact-Checker' Has Gone Missing. At Da Fed, Evita Duffy writes The Biggest Threat To Democracy Is Media Hysterics About ‘Threats To Democracy’ and John Lott points out Biden’s Latest Anti-Gun Claims Aren’t Just False — They Don’t Even Make Sense, like a lot of what Biden spews. Cathy Salgado again call it Ominous: Biden Jeers Americans Would ‘Need an F-16’ to Take on Government, says the man beaten by the Taliban. Hat Hair cites CNN Gulp: Median home prices drop by largest amount in over a decade. Thanks Brandon!

Breitbart, Democrats Conflicted About How Joe Biden Should Approach Populist RFK Jr. So assassination is off the table? Susie Moore at Red State hears Tucker Claim Bobby Kennedy Is Winning - He May Be Right. At WaEx, Paul Bedard echoes RFK Jr. slams media’s ‘frantic need to discredit me’. At Twitchy, Tucker on Twitter Episode 6: The Suppression of Bobby Kennedy Jr.

At TNP, Ron DeSantis Hosts D.C. Fundraiser at Dominion’s Lawyer’s Office. NewsMax reports DeSantis Says He Can Overcome 'Fractured' Primary Vote. Never-DeSantis sundance reports Asked Again Twice About Ukraine, Ron DeSantis Ducks, Weaves and Avoids The Question – At a Certain Point the Neocon Cannot Hide. Also, Larry Hogan is Big Mad, Says Ron DeSantis Running “One of Worst Campaigns” Ever. "Hogan hates Donald Trump and finds himself bitter and angry that political income (general political grifting) has become much harder now. The billionaires are all searching for someone, anyone who can defeat Trump and his insufferable America-First agenda. Hogan jumps up and down shouting look at me, over here, I’m acceptable; but the billionaires are just not giving him any attention. It is tough to be Larry Hogan right now." Does this mean he's thinking of jumping back in? Also also, Everyone Is Going to Think I’m Nuts, But I’m Not Nuts… "If DeSantis wasn’t stupid, the alternative was that he was part of a larger operation being carried out by the real power brokers who control U.S. elections, the billionaire donors and control agents, ie. “The Big Club.” Breitbart, too, Hogan: DeSantis Campaign ‘One of the Worst I’ve Seen’ — ‘Close to Being Over.’ Hat Hair's KT sees Will Hurd enters the Republican presidential primary and the question is, why? and who?  From Da Caller, Every Major GOP Candidate Would Fire FBI Director Christopher Wray — Except One, Christie. Well, I'm glad we mostly agree. 

Natalia Mittelstadt at JTN is concerned that Georgia won't update Dominion voting machines before 2024, despite cybersecurity expert warnings, "The Georgia secretary of state's office is relying on a report commissioned by Dominion regarding the company's voting machines."

Stephen Kruise at PJM, says Riley Gaines Is the Hero Sane America Needs This Pride Month. At Da Blaze, Ted Cruz is forced to ask Democrat same basic question five times — but she refuses to answer: 'It's a yes-no question', "Cruz then turned to Robinson and asked, "Do you agree with Ms. Gaines that there is a difference between women and men?" Chris Rufo at CJ, Thrown to the Wolves, A physician reveals the nightmare of transgender ideology in a major children’s hospital. At Big Think, Transgender detransition is a taboo topic, but data shows it’s on the rise. Just wait until the suits get going. Mike LaChance at LI reports European Countries Moving Away From Gender Transitions for Minors, As U.S. Left Demands More. “They’ve found that the studies cited to support these medical interventions are too unreliable, and the risks are too serious.” Jason Hill at Front Page, Is the LGBT Community Advocating Psychological Pedophilia? 

This is who you are now, just accept it
PJM's VodkaPundit hears Bud Light: 'Please Drink Our Beer Again, You Oafish Hicks.' Bob Hoge at Red State notes Bud Light Just Can't Get It Right: New Ad Ruthlessly Mocked. Insty, SORRY, GARTH, YOU’RE NOT AS LOVED AS BUD LIGHT IS DESPISED: PJM's Chris Queen reports America's Largest Theater Chain Caves in to Pride Mob Bullying "The same press release points out that AMC Theatres was set to give No Way Back a world premiere on June 21 at theaters across the country ahead of its DVD and streaming release next month — but not so fast. The Rainbow Mafia strikes again, this time in the form of a group called the Queer Trans Project, which took to Instagram to protest against the movie. The pressure worked, and AMC caved."

At Am Great Larry Sand worries about  The Pride Divide "In a nutshell, HRC, the country’s “largest and most influential activist organization representing the interests of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community,” finds that in some places, men not being allowed in women’s bathrooms and 10-year-olds not being allowed to pick their own gender qualify as an “emergency.”"  Steve Feinstein at Am Think discusses The Left's LGBTQ+ Hit Squad. But Hollywood in Toto wonders  Are Actors Finally Seeing the Light on Woke Overreach?,  sees hope that "Jennifer Lawrence, Eva Longoria share frustrations with 'woke mind virus.'" At Am Great, the great VDH sees even more hope in America Wakes Up to Woke, "Americans are rejecting wokeism because they finally are realizing that if they do not, they will not have a civilization left." 

 From Da Wire, Loudoun Honchos, In Perjury Trial, Testify They Can’t Remember Almost Anything About Rape Scandal. "Defense attorney says the case is based on the verbal testimony of just one principal, while others who could corroborate claim to have little recollection of the scandal that gripped the nation. But prosecutors in the perjury trial say Loudoun’s spokesman “slipped up.”" Also Authors Of Children’s Book About Penguin With Two Dads Sue Florida. ""There is no sexual implication or language." So now you can sue if your book is not included in school? Amber Athey at Spec World asks Is academia rotten to the core? Yes. At the College Fix, Unfettered free speech actually increases tolerance, law professor argues, Insty. Hat Hair's Dave Strom thinks They are laughing at us, as teachers union president Randi Weingarten appointed to DHS security council.

At Da Wire, Top Tennessee Republicans Receive Suspicious Packages, Radical Trans Activism Suspected. Town Hall's Matt Vespa points out  The New Republic Decided to Go There on the Titanic Submersible Story. CEO was a Republican donor, and therefore, had it coming.

Thursday, June 22, 2023

Flotsam and Jetsam - Durham Testifies, Schiff Censured, Hunter Biden Still Guilty, Riley Gaines Rules

Yesterday, Special Prosecutor John Durham, tasked by former Attorney General Bob Barr with ferreting out malfeasance at the DOJ and FBI with regard to the Russiagate Hoax testified to the House Weaponization Committee. As you might imagine, it was contentious, with Democrats trying to derail the testimony, and not a few Republicans dissatisfied with his results. The 6 hr session is posted by sundance at CTH in  John Durham Testimony to House Judiciary Committee – 9:00am ET Livestream. Ace, Durham: James Comey Hid the Fact That the RussiaGate Allegations Were a Political Op Concocted by Hillary Clinton From the Agents He Assigned to Investigate The Lies, "Via Hot Airs "Durham: You better believe Obama, Biden, and Comey knew that this was a Hillary dirty trick  ."   "When informed that this critical context was hidden from him, the agent supervising the investigation got so angry that he had to leave the room to collect himself." At NRO, FBI Crossfire Hurricane Investigators Had Clear ‘Personal Bias,’ Ignored ‘Red Flags,’ Durham Testifies, Capt. Ed, "I have no trouble believing that the vast majority of investigators at the FBI are hardworking and not politicized, but their leadership clearly is the latter. Maybe the honest agents should make those apologies public — and demand more accountability from James Comey and Loretta Lynch, just as a start." At the Center Square, Durham: Feds had no real evidence to investigate Russian collusion, monitor Trump campaign. At Hat Hair, "What is required is accountability"

In other words, new rules won't fix it, if they can't be forced to abide by the old ones. From the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 06.21.23, Mary Chastain, Durham Shreds Democrats at House Hearing, Especially Adam Schiff, "Durham reminded Schiff he fell for a prank that promised him dirt on Trump from a foreign government" and The Fed's Tristan Justice claims  Discredited Democrats Attack Durham To Deflect From Their Own Tarnished Reputations,At Town Hall, Cutie Pavlich  'If You Wanna Go There': Durham Hits Back at Schiff Over False Attacks and Spencer Brown, Jim Jordan Has the Best Response to Sheila Jackson Lee's Absurd Questions for Durham who was alleging Durham "colluded" with Barr (his boss). Insty, LOL.  Townhall.com @townhallcom, "Rep. Jim Jordan mocks Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee for her line of questioning: "You had 8 text messages with the Attorney General of the United States in an 11 month time period? That's amazing!" "That is absolutely inappropriate!" "I was just pointing out something that I think is so, so ridiculous..." At Red State Susie Moore has Mad Respect: John Durham's Response to Rep. Steve Cohen's Dig at His Reputation Was Chef's Kiss and 'The Nation Can't Stand': John Durham's Response to Harriet Hageman's One and Only Question Portends a Chilling Truth. Sundance, Congressman Tom McClintock Questions John Durham About His Four-Year Investigation.



PJM's Paula Bolyard, BREAKING: House Votes to Censure Adam Schiff. John Sexton at Hat Hair, House votes along party lines to censure Rep. Adam Schiff. At Twitchy, House censures Rep. Adam Schiff, Dems throw a tantrum. Sundance, House Republicans Censure Adam Schiff for Falsifying Intelligence Information to Public. Sound and fury, signifying nothing. But it make Republicans feel good, and will probably help (slightly) with Schiff's bid for Feinstein's Senate seat. 

Chicks on the Right, cited by Hat Hair, Hunter Biden: Justice swerved. "Hunter Biden got a sweetheart deal yesterday – I know you’re SHOCKED by that. And of course, in true liberal-progressive-suck-at-the-Democrat-party-teat fashion, CNN and MSNBC are defending it, as is we DON’T have two sets of justice in this country." From the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 06.21.23, Lawrence Person's BattleSwarm Blog notes it's One Rule For the Hunter Bidens Of The World, Another For You and Scott Johnson at Power Line has Six theses on Hunter Biden’s plea deal. At the Free Bacon, Inside the Whirlwind 48 Hours Before Hunter Biden Bought His Handgun  "President Joe Biden's troubled son was being hounded about hundreds of thousands of dollars he owed in debts, juggling texts from his brother's widow and her sister, who were also his lovers, and coordinating what appears to be a drug deal at a local 7-Eleven with a man saved in his phone only as "Q."" From the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 06.21.23, Jordan Boyd at Da Fed points out If Democrats Really Cared About Gun Laws, They Would Pull The Prosecutorial Trigger On Hunter.

At Am Great, Eric Lendrum reports Congress to Unseal Testimony from IRS Whistleblower in Hunter Biden Case. "According to Just The News, Chairman Jason Smith (R-Mo.) has scheduled a session for Thursday morning where the members of the committee will vote to release the testimony and evidence presented by IRS supervisory criminal agent Gary Shapley. The vote will also aim to waive the 6103 privacy requirements that normally protect any American’s tax information from being released to the public."

At Hat Hair Jazz Shaw want you to Watch as more of Hunter Biden's legal problems magically go away, KT reports that Navy Joan's mom reaches settlement with Hunter Biden over child support. From the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 06.21.23,  as the Victory Girls note, Hunter Biden Reportedly Settles And Abandons Daughter. "There is just no other way to read this story and not assume that the full measure of the Biden machine was brought to bear so that Hunter Biden could continue to be an irresponsible deadbeat pig of a human being."

From Da Caller, Trump Slams ‘Election Interference’ Deal Hunter Biden Struck With Feds. At Am Think Frank Friday wonders Were They Spying on Trump All Along?. Oh, they're spying on all of us, but they paid particular attention to Trump. Sundance features Part 2 – President Trump Interview With Brett Baier and says "In this segment President Trump takes some of the 2024 criticism head-on and does a great job.  From the economy and energy policy to the disloyal perspective of Ron DeSantis, to the COVID-19 vaccine criticism, to the social and cultural issues, Trump hits on all cylinders."

Elon Musk, cited at Hat Hair, bans the terms "cis" and "cis-gendered" from Twitter, The terms "cis" and "cisgender" are now considered slurs on my platform. Genevieve Gluck@WomenReadWomen, "Thank you! And for those who don't know, here is some background on the origin of "cisgender," as coined by German sexologist Volkmar Sigusch." Genevieve Gluck@WomenReadWomen "The term "cisgender" was coined by a German sexologist who also stated, "The sensuality that spontaneously unfolds between a child and an adult is something wonderful." Volkmar Sigusch first used the terms "cisgender" and "cissexual" in a 1991 publication titled Transsexuals and… Show more" Capt. Ed thinks "It’s satisfying in a sauce-for-the-gander sense, but it’s shortsighted in other ways. Declaring terms to be slurs is a tactic of the Left to shut down debate. If Musk really wanted to push back against the Left, he’d declare “[blank]phobic” to be slurs unless referencing a DSM IV or DSM V-listed condition." PJM's Matt Margolis, Musk: ‘Cisgender’ and ‘Cis’ Are Now Considered Slurs on Twitter.
 
At Reason, Lab Leak Theory: 1, Misinformation Cops: 0 "Confirmation of Wuhan scientists as "patients zero" makes the lab leak theory look likely—and the misinformation police look like fools."

By far the most amusing Congressional testimony yesterday was Riley Gaines going head to head with the President of the Human Rights campaign in the Judiciary Hearing. From the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 06.21.23, OutKick, Riley Gaines Senate Hearing: Proposed Title IX Changes An 'Abomination.' Matt Margolis, Riley Gaines Humiliates the President of Human Rights Campaign. Hat Hair, Today's best congressional faceplant is ... Twitchy, Riley Gaines effortlessly fact-checks LGBTQ+ activist's testimony on trans athletes at Senate Judiciary
At NewsBusters, Pride Police Insist Free Speech Is 'Unsafe. At Stream, Gary Bauer explains Why I’m Celebrating This Pride Month. "But why am I celebrating? There’s something very different about this “Pride Month.” For the first time in many years, there is a real backlash against the radical left." Ace,
Men's Health: If You're a Man Attracted to Women, You're a Part of the Gay Rainbow Now, Too. You're a "Gynosexual." "Men's Health has always been, no offense, a gay magazine. In the nineties, I read a great parody of it, possibly in Maxim, calling it "Men's Health: The Women's Magazine for Men (TM)." But they've outdone themselves now. Straight men are now "gynosexuals," and just another of the many flavors of gay." Da Wire documents Chest Binders And Sleeping Bags: Summer Camps For Transgender Kids As Young As 4 The New Craze. Twitchy reports the Transgender child from MTV documentary is now detransitioning. But Jazz Shaw reports an Arkansas judge blocks children's trans surgery law. At Ringside, Paul Mirengoff diagnoses Big cause envy, "The yearning that helps explain the left's obsession with transgender issues."

News Week is butthurt that Bud Light Sales Suffer Biggest Weekly Fall Since Boycott—Down 30 Percent. Capt. Ed, "I wonder if the acceleration isn’t the result of LGBTQ+ backlash for insufficient defense of the partnership with Mulvaney. For that to be the case, though, one would have to believe that Bud Light enjoyed a lot of popularity in that demographic, which seems counter to Bud Light’s chief marketer Alissa Heinerscheid’s assessment prior to the debacle. I’d guess that more of Bud Light’s traditional consumer base continues to choose other industrial lagers while Anheuser-Busch dithers on an apology, even for Heinerscheid’s insult." At Da Caller, Bud Light’s Bad Sales Persist As Backlash Continues

From the College Fix, Feds to begin tracking sexual orientation and gender identity of PhD earners. "Scholars are given the option to “prefer not to answer.”"  I get this survey for retired scientists every year. Sometimes I even respond. Peter Wood at NAS, Academic Freedom Requires More Than Words, following the firing of a tenured professor at Ohio Northern University, apparently for not acceding to DEI. Hat Hair's Dave Strom documents the case where a Michigan State professor forced students to contribute to Left-wing organization she controlled. Capt. Ed, Disgrace: Math and reading scores for 13-year-olds hit lowest level in decades. Thanks to Fauci, Walensky and Weingarten. 

At Hat Hair, Dave Strom explains Why I became a culture warrior, (in one word, Polanski), and claims Going woke is a form of suicide, "If you jump on a grenade to save others, you are a hero. But if you pull the pin on a grenade and jump on top of it to prove how virtuous you are, you are an idiot committing suicide."

I have a double load of election and political crap, but I'm just going to dump it below the fold. The political season isn't all that ripe:

Sunday, May 28, 2023

Flotsam and Jetsam - Debt Ceiling Deal Reached

Our long, and recurring, national nightmare is over, as two days after Janet Yellen announced they had until June 5 to raise the debt ceiling, Republicans in the  House, Democrats in the Senate and whoever is really in charge at the white White House (aided by Arizona 'independent' Senator Kristin Synema) agreed on a plan to raise the debt ceiling, and cut spending (some). Reuters, Biden, McCarthy reach tentative US debt ceiling deal 
the deal was announced without any celebration, in terms that reflected the bitter tenor of the negotiations and the difficult path it has to pass through Congress before the United States runs out of money to pay its debts in early June.
. . .
The deal would suspend the debt limit through January of 2025, while capping spending in the 2024 and 2025 budgets, claw back unused COVID funds, speed up the permitting process for some energy projects and includes some extra work requirements for food aid programs for poor Americans.

Insty, links Capt. Ed at Hat Hair, MCCARTHY GETS DEBT-CEILING DEAL — WITH WORK REQUIREMENTS: “Biden and Chuck Schumer lost this weeks ago, and now they just caved. It would not surprise me if the Democrats knew this was coming all along, and they merely waited for a holiday weekend to give them enough cover to pull the trigger.” Nick Arama at Red State, Debt Ceiling Deal Reached by Biden, McCarthy - Agreement in Principle. At NYPo, President Biden, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy strike tentative debt ceiling deal. Sundance at CTH, McCarthy and Biden Strike Spending Deal to Raise Debt Ceiling. At Da Wire, Democrat Jamaal Bowman Calls GOP ‘Economic Terrorists’ For Negotiating Over Debt Ceiling, coming from him I assume it's a term of endearment. Da Caller catches ‘That’s Not What The Poll Says’: Poppy Harlow Pushes Back Against Jayapal Over Debt Ceiling. At WaEx  Paul Bedard's White House Report Card: Biden losing on 2024, debt, public opinion. The deal pisses off plenty of people on both sides of the aisle who didn't get all they wanted, so I assume it's somewhere near the worst deal either side could accept, which is what a compromise is all about. It will be interesting (as in the ancient Chinese curse, "May you live in interesting times") to see how the voting shakes out.

Politico whines Ron DeSantis upended education in Florida. He’s coming for your state next. Dan McLaughlan at NRO  says David French Is Wrong: Ron DeSantis Won't Destroy Conservatism. I know how he could have saved 5 words in the headline. Insty snarks "I’m reminded of one of Kurt Schlichter’s novels, where a collaborating Bill Kristol is still planning “conservative” cruises in an America that has become, literally, a People’s Republic."

Town Hall's Matt Vespa sees The Today Show Cornered Kamala Harris...And Things Quickly Went Off the Rails "What does Harris do right? Seriously? She’s failed at promoting COVID vaccinations. She’s certainly failed at the border. This is The Today Show. This is softball territory—and she couldn’t even manage that. This is the easy stuff—and she failed miserably." But Matt Towry at RCP warns A Lot Has to Change Quickly for Republicans to Have a Chance in 2024. "Only that massive “Red Tidal Wave” can carry a Republican back into the White House. Here’s a list of why such a GOP meltdown is possible again and the potential remedies for the party that, at present, seem unlikely to materialize in time to avert disaster for Republicans in 2024." Fox, Reparations demands are spiking and Democrats have this astonishing reaction "Democrat promises of money for reparations have created expectations among Black citizens" I predict poor black voter turnout in cities without vote "harvesting." Sarah Arnold at Town Hall finds AOC Heckled and Shouted Off Stage by NYC Voters: 'Put America First'. That renews my faith in New York, at least a little. PM, Oprah responds to rumors Gavin Newsom sought her to fill Diane Feinstein's potentially vacant seat. Are you kidding me? That's work! Sort of. The Peacock is screaming about Jack Dorsey sharing a Robert F. Kennedy Jr. video echoing conspiracy theories. "Dorsey, the co-founder of Twitter and the head of Block Inc, has previously supported unconventional Democratic candidates."

John Solomon at JTN reports IRS whistleblower provided Congress origins of Biden probe, evidence of political interference "Special Agent Gary Shapley turned over 23 pages of evidence, gave six hours of testimony to House Ways and Means Committee." PM, Whistleblower in IRS Hunter Biden probe says tax agency 'deviated from the normal process' in favor of Biden son, "There were multiple steps that were slow-walked, at the direction of the Department of Justice.” Jonathan Turley, “I Don’t Want to Do Any of This”: IRS Whistleblower Defies the Biden Administration and the Media. "The source of the interference with the IRS investigation, according to Gary Shapley, was the Department of Justice. It is the latest chapter in the story of “The Incredibly Shrinking Merrick Garland.”"

Jerry Dunleavy at WaEx reports John Durham to testify before GOP-led House Judiciary Committee in June. Good, but I wish he had better news to talk about.

Atop Da Hill news that ‘QAnon Shaman’ released from halfway house. Meanwhile, many J6 trespassers are being held in pre-trial detention in Gitmo like conditions in the DC jail. 9and10 News, Michigan Man Gets Community Service for Shooting Anti-Abortion Campaigner, claims it was an accident.

TechCrunch, Elon Musk takes Twitter out of the EU’s Disinformation Code of Practice. Trying to get Twitter out of the government censorship game. The article is laughably slanted "  

It’s increasingly looking like an inevitability — one that’s being driven by the billionaire’s goal of advancing a far right political ideology which demands he give succour to disinformation in order that the seeds of anti-democratic conspiracy theories may fly. (As Charlie Warzel put it in a recent Atlantic article: “[Twitter] has unquestionably transformed under [Musk’s] leadership into an alternative social-media platform — one that offers a haven to far-right influencers and advances the interests, prejudices, and conspiracy theories of the right wing of American politics.”

At WUWT,  BBC Verify "The BBC, Britain’s public broadcaster, announced the launch of a new “disinformation” unit in its newsroom to combat claimed conspiracy theories and fake news. The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), which is funded by a statutory fee on individuals who watch live television under penalty of fine or imprisonment, stated that its news division will include a new squad branded “BBC Verify” to refute misinformation."

Halle Bailey
From Da Caller, Bud Light, Target Bleeding Money As Conservatives Boycott. The Dollar Amount Is Staggering. Good job, ya'll. I can't claim to have contributed, since I never bought Bud Light or shopped at Target. Meanwhile, Da Wire reports Target Donates To Group That Promotes Secret Child Gender Transitions, LGBTQ Books In Schools and PM reveals Target tells employees only 'extremists' are concerned with sexualization of children. PJM's Rick Moran says Lululemon Employees were Fired for Calling 911 on Looters Robbing the Store. At Twitchy, Another WOKE failure: ALWAYS sanitary products refers to girls as bodies with female sex organsElphaba @Phabala77 "Don't you wish you could say you were hacked? We see you want a @Target on you too. Do you need someone to hold your @budlight ?" I rarely agree with the ChiComs, but this is true, BIC, ‘The Little Mermaid’: Chinese State Run Media Warns Disney To Stop Pushing Racism Narrative Around Fairy Tales Or They Will Lose Their “Magic Glory.”  I don't care if they picked Halle Bailey to play a mermaid, just don't racialize it. The New Neo asks Wherefore woke corporations? "They are learning that the right can put economic pressure on them too. Will it matter? I don’t know. I think there will be a little pullback by these companies from the more egregious examples, but not a lot."

At the Frisco Chronic, Attacks on trans athletes have little basis in science "Experts say a paucity of research on transgender athletes makes it difficult to determine if trans women actually are faster or stronger. The science is even murkier for young athletes." It's such nonsense only 'experts' can believe it. At Da Mail, The NIH-published study that exposes the gulf between trans athletes and women in sports: Male-to-female transitioners are faster, stronger and fitter than most women even AFTER taking hormone drugs.

Capt. Ed at Hat Hair wonders Did WaPo reporters conspire with extremists to attack National Gallery of Art?  "And if they did, will anyone from the Washington Post face charges over it?" They certainly had a heads up something was going to happen. And no, they will not face charges.

Insty, cites College Fix, A SMALL VICTORY: Arizona drops charges against ASU student arrested for handing out Constitution. "“All witnesses who testified to Tizon’s actions confirmed that the table did not block pedestrians nor interfere with other groups, his attorneys had argued, adding university officials disregarded their own policy, unlawfully restricting Tizon’s freedom of expression.” Now punish the people responsible."