Wisconsin's Own Clown, Rep. Derrick Van Orden, Needs To Resign

 Even after talking points around the accused murderer and attacker of Minnesota elected officials were discredited and rated Pants On Fire, Wisconsin's Rep. Derrick Van Orden had to repost the nonsense and double down on his lies and insensitivity.  From an article at JSOnline:

"Hours after an assassin killed a Democratic state lawmaker and wounded another in Minnesota this past weekend, Wisconsin Republican U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden's official social media accounts condemned the shootings.

"I am horrified by the attack on two Minnesota state lawmakers," read a post to Van Orden's official X account. "Political violence has no place in America. I fully condemn this attack, along with all forms of political violence and intimidation."

A day later, however, posts on Van Orden's personal accounts struck a different tone.

"Yesterday, a whole pack of election deniers got together and spewed hate," he wrote on X about nationwide protests on June 14 against the Trump administration. "One of them decided to murder and attempt to murder some politicians that were not far Left enough for them.""

 

 And then of course he couldn't help but parrot Donold Trump in:

"Van Orden, whose battleground 3rd Congressional District borders much of Minnesota, including the Minneapolis area where the shootings occurred, called Minnesota Democratic Gov. Tim Walz "stupid" and a "clown" in subsequent posts, noting the suspected killer, 57-year-old Vance Boelter, had been reappointed by Walz to a state economic workforce board years prior."

Van Orden needs to go...today...if you have any moral sense...resign.

Tragic Proof That The 'Good Guy' With A Gun Is A False Narrative

 A pall was cast over what should have been a triumphant weekend of national protests in the No Kings demonstrations when a participant in a Salt Lake City, Utah, was shot and killed. Most of you have probably already read a number of media articles about the incident. But here is a brief summation.

At the Salt Lake City protests, a man approached the gathering and assembled a rifle. When confronted, he ran toward the crowd and a civilian 'peace keeper', fired his own gun three times. One bullet injured the intended target but another bullet hit an innocent bystander who eventually died from his wound. 

One of the incessant positions from the sacrosanct 2nd Amendment crowd has been that the good guy with a gun can be a deterrent or the solution in an event where a gunman opens fire in a crowd situation. That is absurd on the face of it and tragically we see a direct result of that mislogic here. Sadly, the good guy with a gun isn't any kind of a solution. Only thoughtful and determined gun controls can work. Period.

Hopefully, the 2nd Amendment won't kill anymore Americans.

Los Angeles Is NOT Guadalcanal

This is in response to Donold Trump and Pete Hogsbreath calling out the Marines to invade Los Angeles in the face of anti-ICE and anti-Trump rallies and protests. I will leave the National Guard call up for later.

First, yes there is some violence around the periphery of the LA protests. Miscreants are always going to use mass protests as cover for vandalism, setting fires, and looting retail stores. But both the mayor of Los Angeles and the governor of California say local law enforcement can handle it. And they can.

But why call out the Marines? Intimidation. Because General Bone Spurs can? For certain.

Well, the Marines are not trained or equipped to confront civilian unrest. They spend months learning to be Marines. The few, the proud, the Marines. The front line of America's defense forces. One of the organizations that keeps America Great, if you want to follow that line.  And they continue to train as a prime fighting force. They are not a police force.

To use them for anything other than their intended purpose, is totally disrespectful to our Marines. Send them back to their posts and let them continue to be ready for a hopefully never gonna happen conflict. 

Devin Remiker Purchases DPW Chair, The Establishment Sighs in Relief

Devin Remiker

I was never much impressed with Ben Wikler.  He was from Wisconsin, or so I'm told, but left the state in 2010 when the going got tough with Scott Walker's assault on the working class to take a job in Washington, D.C.  He then fled Washington about the time the Orange Shitgibbon won his first election.  He then bamboozled everybody in the Democratic Party of Wisconsin with a lot of flash to get elected.

But now with the election of the Rancid Kumquat and big races coming up next year, Wikler got the old itch to get going before the going got tough and decided he was done as DPW Chair.  Now, don't get me wrong. Wikler proved himself to be one helluva fundraiser.  He brought in laudible amounts of cash.  But he didn't know what to do after that. 

Under Wikler's lead, Democrats lost one statewide seat, failed to oust Ron Johnson, failed to oust Drunken Van Orden (twice), and alienated many union people. He did his best work when he gave out the ton of money he raised and then got the hell out of the way.

But when Wikler announced his intent to not run again, three people put their hats in the ring.

Two of them, Devin Remiker and Joe Zepecki, were consummate establishment men and neither were going to rock the boat, much less fire people up.  When the race looked too close to call, Wikler broke yet another promise.  Instead of remaining neutral as he said he would, he endorsed his right hand man, Remiker

Then during the state convention this past weekend, Remiker borrowed a page from Wikler's playbook by dazzling the crowd with a nonconventional menu:

Yeah, nothing says Wisconsin like escargot.  Where's the brats? Where's the deep fried cheese curds?  

But one thing really caught my eye.  After successfully buying the chairmanship, Remiker said this:

Remiker told press following his acceptance speech Democrats need to work on messaging that connects with voters and winning back the union organizers and working class. 

“I think we have to show up everywhere year round,” Remiker said. “I think for some folks there’s trust we have to rebuild to show that Democrats are the party that’s going to fight for the working class.” 

He said he would focus on a smooth transition by connecting with grassroots party members and then starting work on capturing energy for next year’s elections. 

Remiker did not say how much he spent on his campaign to lead the state party, just that he “spent enough to win,” and that it was “certainly not” more than $100,000. 

Admitting that you have a problem is a good first step.  But it is a problem you can't bribe your way through.

Stay tuned because there's more.  There's always more.

Special Holiday Question: In Which Church Did President Trump Start His Father's Day Celebration?

 Not totally facetious. I have asked this in the past on a number of holidays and particularly religious holy days. There is no known answer...for the anointed president from God...it seems odd that he has no actual religious affiliation or observance practices.

Trump Administration to parade America's obsolete arsenal of museum pieces in Washington parade today:

As every Republican in the country looks the other way from the issues around the ego trip that is the military parade in Washington, they should start thinking about how every military item and unit on display has been made obsolete.

We need look no further than the Russian/Ukraine war where drones have been used in mass numbers by both sides in the conflict to inflict heavy damages to their opponents. Ukraine took out a good portion of the Russian bomber fleet with drones. Russian ships are afraid to get too close to Ukrainian waters lest they come under attack by drones. And Russia continues to pound Ukrainian civilian areas with thousands of drones.

So all of those Abrams tanks, Hum-vees, F-35s, and such are obsolete to being nearly useless. And despite 'inventing' the drone, it looks like the US is far behind the curve with its early reliance on huge Predator style drones while the rest of the world is using massed produced civilian sized drones to destroy heavy traditional military equipment. And we aren't talking big nations here. Little bitty Ukraine is turning them out in droves. Russia is too and buying hardware from Iran and North Korea.

Washington needs to get their head around the fact that Iran and North Korea may be ahead of us in effective drone production instead of laughing about failed battle ship launches...a ship that is nearly useless in modern warfare.

So my suggestion: when the parade ends, donate one piece of each US weapon of war to the Smithsonian and then regroup at the Pentagon and decide the future of drones as the new major weapon of war...and make a decision to be the world leader in that technology. That $45 million spent on the parade would have been a good down payment on the project.

Most 79 year old men with fetishes for old technology have train sets in their basement...instead the MAGA cult pampers this dementia patient with a needless parade that will display America's doddering arsenal.

According to the MAGA contingent, waving Mexican flags at protests in the USA are disrespectul, but this isn't:

photo from inside the US Capitol on January 6th, 2021

 But they said nary a word about this 'visitor' to the Capitol. And I bet he got a pardon recently as well. So please ask your US Senator and House Member where they were that day. I bet they weren't in the rotunda greeting their 'visitors' and I don't remember photos or videos of any of them on the House or Senate floors that afternoon.

And for our local MAGA supporters...if recognizing Mexican heritage is wrong, please refrain from attending Polish Fest, Irish Fest, German Fest, Festa Italiana, or celebrating, well you know, Cinco De Mayo!

Why Wasn't The National Guard Called Out on January 6th?

 After all there was a very visible emergency in Washington D.C. that afternoon. The hard talking and so so brave Republican Reps and Senators were hiding in the Capitol while the Capitol police were totally overwhelmed...and were injured and killed. Nary a Guardsman. But a bit of a kerfluffle in LA and the Goldfinch in the White House overcomes his bone spurs and goes all D-Day. 

Or is it true what they've been saying on X, that only Nancy Pelosi can call out the National Guard? Oh, boy...

As The Donold Calls Out The National Guard: Today's Theme IS: Four Dead In Oh-Hi-Oh

 If you don't understand the reference, look up Crosby, Stills, Nash, And Young's "Ohio". Their response to the shootings and murders of Kent State students by the National Guard. 

Having lived through stuff like this once, I didn't think I would have to do it again. But as Trump calls out America's citizen soldiers to quell 'riots' by American citizens, it starts to smell like the second steps to fascist control of the US ala 1930s Germany. And I put riots in single quotes because demonstrations like this are only riots when the ones with the guns decide they are. And yes many of those in the streets are American citizens appalled at the faceless and nameless thugs who are kidnapping and disappearing people off the streets. 

Am I supporting violence? By no means whatsoever...those violent must be arrested and dealt with...but peaceful assemblies must be tolerated. Armed troops don't encourage peace and quiet. Allow local law enforcement to do their jobs.

The real deep state is the Trump Administration...there is no doubt about it...don't get fooled again.

KNN - PHOTO: Members of the California National Guard arrive in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 8, 2025, in this screengrab from a video acquired by ABC News.

too many musical references for you?

Does Memorial Day Mean Anything Any More?

Memorial Day is the day when we, as a nation, reflect and pay honor to the brave men and women who sacrificed their very lives in service to the country.  But does Memorial Day mean anything any more, especially this year?

I'm not talking about just the people who only see the holiday as a three day weekend and the kickoff to the summer season.  I'm talking about the country as a whole.

The United States has a long history of fighting.  Not just fighting, but fighting tyranny and fascism.  Our country was born in war as our founding fathers wrested freedom from the grip of King George and Britian.

The Civil War was fought because some people though they had an inherent right to own other people just because the color of their skin was different.

World War III was fought because one madman and his cultish followers thought he'd play God and determined that only the white kind of people should be allowed to live.  Boy, doesn't that sound familiar?

But Memorial Day 2025 hits totally different and wrong.  When we should be honoring those who gave their lives to fight fascism and for our freedom, too many people are dishonoring their memories and pissing on their graves.  

Instead of being thankful for their sacrifice, too many people are distrespecting them by following a fascist who is doing the same damn thing these heroes had fought against.  It's just a disgrace all around.

My granduncle fought and died on Iwo Jima during WWII fighting Nazis and their fascist allies.  I will not dishonor him by going along with today's fascistts.  What will you do?

Social Media 'Rumor': Vermont Dairy Farmers...

Vermont Dairy farmers who have lost migrant employees to ICE or who have lost employees who have moved away to avoid confrontations with ICE are offering dairy jobs to white South African refugee farmers...but no takers yet. 

We Stand In Solidarity With Meriter Nurses

The nurses union at Madison's Meriter Hospital, SEIU Wisconsin, gave notice that they will go on a five day strike starting May 27 due to a breakdown in negotiations.  

From Eric Gunn of Wisconsin Reporter:

Nurses at Madison’s Meriter hospital plan to walk off the job for five days starting Tuesday, May 27, after negotiations on a new union contract ended Monday night without an agreement.

The hospital management and Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Wisconsin, which represents about 950 nurses at the hospital, are divided over pay, security provisions and whether the hospital should commit to specific ratios of how many patients are under a nurse’s care.

“Nurses have been clear with Meriter management that we will strike for patient and staff safety, improved compensation to retain nurses, and staffing solutions that include the voices of bedside nurses who care for patients day in and day out,” declared a union statement issued Tuesday morning. “Meriter is still not listening to the nurses.”

If the strike goes forward, it is scheduled to last for five days, with union members returning on Sunday, June 1.

It should be noted that the management of Meriter tried to bullshit the public by claiming that they had another negotiations date set for May 26, which is Memorial Day.  The union is denying that they ever agreed to that date.

Until a contract is ratified, we stand in solidarity with the nurses at Meriter. People's lives are at stake, and not just those of the patients, and management shouldn't be playing games right now.

US Representaive McIver ‘slammed her forearms’ into immigration officers according to federal charges

 

From The Hill

 

The Justice Department accused Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.) of having “slammed her forearms” into immigration officers during a scuffle outside a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center as officers attempted to arrest Newark’s mayor.

The criminal complaint, made public Tuesday, provides the most detailed picture yet of why federal prosecutors believe McIver’s actions amount to the federal crime of assaulting federal law enforcement, a felony charge.

The document repeatedly accuses McIver of attacking agents with her forearms. The filing includes a number of still images showing the New Jersey lawmaker’s arms pushed against the back of a masked officer.

 

So given the photo, do you think that either of those two kevlared and MASKED men would even notice if that little lady bumped into them with her forearms? And of course there is last week's accusation that she body slammed someone...like I would find that hard to believe that she could body slam a trained law enforcement officer who would be towering over her. 

So clearly, this is a political hit job and not an actual case for prosecution.

Judge Chris Taylor is running for the Wisconsin Supreme Court

From this mornings emails:

 Breaking news: Judge Chris Taylor is running for the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

Chris has spent her entire career fighting for our freedoms. As a lawyer, public servant, and now as a judge, she’s never backed down from a tough fight.

Today, Chris is stepping up once again — because our rights, our democracy, and our courts are under attack.

Our opponent, Rebecca Bradley, embodies the division and extremism threatening everything we care about.

Bradley has sided time and again with right-wing special interests, opposing reproductive freedom, undermining workers’ rights, and threatening our democracy. She has turned her back on Wisconsinites.

This race isn’t just about two different judges. It’s about two very different visions for Wisconsin’s future and the importance of a fair and impartial Wisconsin Supreme Court.

Thank you,

Team Taylor

 

Moody's Downgrades United States' Last Perfect Credit Rating

 

The Orange Felon strikes again!

Thanks to Donold's reckless trade wars, letting President Elmo running rampant and other nonsense, the United States had their last perfect credit rating downgraded.

The Felon is trying to blame Biden for the problems he created, but as they say, there's a tweet for that:

Way to go, Kumquat!