Someone Needs To AI This Photo Into A New MEME:

 with Trump as the right hand figure in the photo. 

Does Anyone Else Sense Just A Bit Of Irony In This Map?

 Donald Trump recently posted this map on his Truth Social account. I have a partial screen capture with his ID info and then a second of just the expanded map.

But after spending millions and maybe billions of dollars deporting brown people to Mexico, I can't but laugh that now he wants to include Mexico as part of the United States. Irony? I think so. But that solves the issue of the US Mexican border needing a wall and being 'porous', does it not?

And this map also includes all of Central America as well!!!!

Obviously this is causing a ruckus in Canada, Mexico, Greenland, and Iceland at a minimum. 

Not to mention his suggestion to rename New Mexico as New America! LOL! What does that even mean?

And I bet Ald. Lamont Westmoreland is one of the electeds who wonders why 'we' don't trust government:

This little tidbit from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

A Milwaukee alderman on Wednesday, Aug. 19, admitted he posted to his official Facebook page a fake photo of storm damage that showed the city's "Moving City" art car – a taxpayer funded project he has criticized – crushed by a tree.

"Looks like the Big Bad Wolf came through Milwaukee tonight! He huffed, he puffed, and he blew quite a few trees down," Ald. Lamont Westmoreland wrote in the post.

He later acknowledged the image was fake, clarifying the car wasn't actually damaged by a tree. The image, he said, was created to grab people's attention in an effort to remind them how to report downed and damaged trees to the city.

So I don't know what the Moving City art car is exactly and at the moment I don't quite care. What the flock is an elected official doing posting doctored and fake material on his official social media site? I am sick of this shit. I don't need Donald Trump like social media posts from an elected official in my home town.

I get that he thinks the art car or whatever it is, is a waste of money. But in the wake of a natural disaster this type of fake posts are not helpful and are disrespectful of the office. He needs to do something that actually is helpful to Milwaukee residents.

 

STOLEN VALOR. Who is OK with this?

 If any Democratic President, Senator, House Rep, or any other elected official posted a picture like this, the entire Right would be in an uproar demanding their resignation, IMMEDIATELY. The GOP and MAGA generally take the action of Stolen Valor pretty damn seriously. So why are they silent now?

This is OK with everyone?

Well it's not OK with me, and that's not because I am a left leaning Democratic supporter who hates Donald Trump. It is because I am the son of a deceased 60% Disabled American Veteran of the Second World War who suffered greatly through his war shortened life to die at 58 years old. And I am the father of an active duty US Army soldier who served a year in Afghanistan and a year in Iraq. This draft dodging son-of-a-bitch is heaping discredit on the honor and valor and bravery of all of our enlisted men and women including these members of my family. 

And none of the veterans in Congress or our State Houses are protesting? WTF? He is pissing on your service to our nation. 

Why is there no outcry? 

Anyway, this photo was reportedly posted by Donald Trump on his never Truth Social.

It would be interesting if someone would review and breakdown the ribbons he is displaying on his chest. And I bet he'd shoot himself in the leg if he ever tried to draw one of those pistols.

Crowley Can't Give Reason To Vote FOR Him, Only Against Tiffany

The other day, I asked on social media for people to give me one reason to vote for David Crowley. I pointed out that anyone can come up with a thousand and one reasons to vote against Tom Trumpfany, but I wanted a reason to vote for Crowley instead of, say, my dog.

No one gave me a reason.

Apparently, Crowley can't either:

Crowley told POLITICO he plans to use GOP Rep. Tom Tiffany and President Donald Trump as the foils that bring everyone together.

“We’re not all going to agree on everything. But I think we agree that the ultimate goal is making sure that we don’t have a MAGA extremist and congressman Tom Tiffany sitting in the governor’s office,” Crowley said in an interview Thursday, adding that the state “has a grand opportunity in putting some level of check on Trump’s agenda” amid the “affordability crisis.”

Crowley better get his head into the game quickly, or this one will get away. He's coming down on the wrong side of many major issues that progressives hold dear, and if he wants to win them back, he's going to need a lot more than "I'm not Tom Trumpfany."

Or maybe he's just too focused on winning back his old friends from his days in the state legislature - the Republicans: 

Crowley also said he’s already talked to “some Republicans who are more interested in defeating Tom Tiffany.”

My dog said that he might be making a major announcement later this week.

Crowley Is Already Trying To Rewrite History

 David Crowley has already sent out two fundraising emails after being declared the winner of Tuesday's primary a scant 12 hours ago.  And he's already trying to revise the history of said primary:

Crowley wrote, in part:

And this victory was not inevitable.

Most of the political world had counted us out when we were trailing by double digits in the polls. But just like working people across our state, we didn’t give up.

No, David, ALL of the political world had counted you out when you dropped out of the race because, to paraphrase you, you had no path to winning.

Please don't make the next four years and three months longer than they have to be.

Some Final Pre-Primary Thoughts

We're down to the final hours before Tuesday's primary, and there are a few things that need to be touched on.  For the sake of discussion, I'll consider the race to be between Francesca Hong and David Crowley.  With all due apologies to Kelda Roys and Joel Brennan and their respective supporters, there's been no indication that they have a realistic chance of pulling off more than 10  or 15% combined.

Between Hong and Crowley, it's safe to say that Hong has a huge lead over Crowley, although Crowley is making a big effort, spending all the dark money he can get his hands on in traveling the state instead of doing his job in Milwaukee County and running desperate attack ads against Hong, which only reaffirms the idea that he is trailing in a big way.

I have seen many attacks against Hong, but none of them hold any water. They're nonsense about Hong wanting to cancel Thanksgiving is just that - nonsense. She has clarified her position. Besides, Turkey Day is a national holiday, and it would take an act of Congress to change that.  It's even more ridiculous when one considers Crowley has his own problem with old tweets, which he has continued to lie about.

I've seen Crowley supporters do some concern trolling about Hong's mental health. She's been running one helluva campaign for someone they think is not up to it.  Meanwhile, Crowley is almost in tears when he gets accurately labeled an establishment Democrat and has dropped out of the race once already. That sure doesn't seem very stable to me.

I have seen people complain that the GOP will go after Hong fiercely.  I've got news for them. They are going to go after whoever the nominee is. But the important thing is to remember that the Democratic establishment has already fired everything they had and everything the Republicans had at her, and she has emerged virtually unscathed.  On the other hand, Crowley dropped out at the first mild rebuke over his health care crisis. Crowley hasn't yet faced the fire that Hong has and already failed to stand up to even a fraction of it.

It's pretty obvious which candidate really has the electability problem, and it's not Hong.

Lastly, the Democratic establishment is complaining that right-wing groups are running attack ads against Hong, saying that cutting her down would build her up because they think she would be easier to beat. However, both Scott Walker and Tom Tiffany have come out telling people not to cross-vote for her.  Could it be that they know she really is the tougher candidate and would rather face Quitter Crowley? Sure seems that way.

Crowley Claims God Told Him To Get Back In The Race

David Crowley is at the "God told me to get back in the race" stage of desperation, but with a unique twist. He's actually saying that God told his wife that he should get back into the race.

He said that after he dropped out of the race, his wife asked God for the sign in the form of a red bird to indicate that he should get back into the race. He went on to say that later in the day, she saw a red bird, and that's why he resurrected his campaign to run again.

Man, he is starting to sound more and more like his Republican buddies with every passing day. Scott Walker also claimed that God told him to run for President, just before God told him to drop out of the race.  However, in this case, God is leaving Crowley to spin in the wind, as he trails Francesca Hong by twenty points.

Really, the only thing that can be gleaned from this is that Chris Abele's checks have a red bird on them, because it was only the dark money that got him to restart his doomed campaign.

H/T Ken Klippenstein for the video

Sen. Mitch McConnell announces he has been discharged from rehab facility

 Well, no he didn't! Did you see McConnell at a dais saying his was discharged? Did you see him talking to reporters on the driveway on the way out of rehab announcing his discharge? Did he wave from the sidewalk while entering his home from the car? No, there has still been no public sighting of Mitch McConnell. Why is the press acting like everything is okey dokey?

No, some lackey in his press office issued a statement...that's it.

Which Republicans Does David Crowley Listen To?

 David Crowley made this jaw-dropping comment:

Really? Really?!  

I would like Crowley to tell us which Republicans we should listen to and why.  Ron Johnson? Drunken Van Orden? Scott Walker? Trump?  

Unfortunately, it's entirely possible he does listen to Republicans.  I mean, Crowley is for school privatization. He is for AI data centers. He stands against his own workers.  And he does love him all the dark money he can get his hands on.  

So, Crowley, which Republicans do you listen to? Enquiring minds want to know.

NY Times: Breaking news: C.I.A. sets up secret Cuba task force

 Some flockin' secret if it's a headline in the NY Times. aina?

Would Passing The SAVE ACT Disenfranchise A Green Bay Packer??

 There has been a lot of press and social media discussion around the SAVE ACT that Trump is pushing. He claims that it will protect our right to vote. I think our states do a great job of protecting our right to vote without his intervention. And facts are facts, illegal voting is minuscule in this country and most often done by...wait for it...Republicans. 

One of the most discussed topics around the SAVE ACT is the hardships inflicted on and interference in the voting rights of married women who have taken their husbands name when they marry. Apparently your birth certificate would be required in order to register to vote and it better damn well match the ID you show at the polls. Well for most married women in the United States that just wouldn't be the case. So they would have to provide other documentation proving their change in name....sigh.

So in today's The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel print edition (I haven't found an online version yet other that the attached photo from the e-newspaper) talking about Green Bay Packers star Zach Tom. Over the off season Tom did research on his family tree and heritage and decided that he would change his last name to honor his father and family. So he is in the process of legally changing his name to Zach Bako-Bewele. And changing his Social Security card and driver's license. SO: if he has a new D.L. in November and he wants to vote, his ID won't match his voter registration data. And if he wants to register under his new name, I imagine he needs to bring along a slew of paperwork including his court documents approving his name change and maybe his old birth certificate, SSA card, D.L, etc and all of his new ID. 

Doesn't that seem silly? Well yes it is. A little common sense can go a long way here.

I'll Always Love A Dog Named Beau

At the end of 2015, my wife moved into our house. We always knew that we wanted a dog. Not any dog, but a hound dog.  But we promised we would wait until spring to give us time to get settled in.  That promise lasted exactly 10 days, when we welcomed a coonhound we named Beau into our home. It immediately became his home, and he just let us live there.

Beau was a rescue dog at the Wisconsin Humane Society. I am ashamed to admit that I didn't originally want him. I had my heart set on a beagle, having had two of them in my younger days. But I was outvoted by my wife and Beau.  Boy, was I wrong. 

Beau became my best friend, my constant companion, my heart dog. We had many great adventures together. We were also happy to just take naps together on the couch. 

Sadly, on Saturday, I had to escort Beau to the Rainbow Bridge. He had cancer, and he was starting to suffer. I will always remember him, and I will always miss him.  I don't know if I will get another dog. It's too soon to even think about it. But if I do, it will be my favorite breed - rescue.

In closing, I will reproduce this snippet of a poem the late Jimmy Stewart read to Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show:

And there were nights when I'd feel him climb upon our bed

And lie between us,

And I'd pat his head.

And there were nights when I'd feel this stare

And I'd wake up and he'd be sitting there

And I reach out my hand and stroke his hair.

And sometimes I'd feel him sigh and I think I know the reason why.

He would wake up at night

And he would have this fear

Of the dark, of life, of lots of things,

And he'd be glad to have me near.

And now he's dead.

And there are nights when I think I feel him

Climb upon our bed and lie between us,

And I pat his head.

And there are nights when I think I feel that stare

And I reach out my hand to stroke his hair,

But he's not there.

Oh, how I wish that wasn't so,

I'll always love a dog named Beau.

U.S. Department of Justice Finally Identifies The Vandal Responsible For The Reflecting Pool Issues

 Remarkably, none of the American citizens taken into custody and suspected of vandalizing the reflecting pool are at fault and no one actually caused any damage to the pool after it's refurbishing. 

Instead, it is apparent that Donald Trump himself directly caused all of the new issues with the pool by ordering the remake and hiring substandard contractors...and then not overseeing the job or  holding said contractors responsible for their omissions. Given his track record as a developer, why is no one surprised by this outcome? Well other than the Donald?

And the president not only lied to the American people but he lied to his own Justice Dept. They wouldn't have indicted any suspected vandals if the Dept of the Interior had shared all of the information that they had about the conditions in the reflecting pool. Surprise, surprise, surprise. 

The one thing that Trump was correct about was that the wrongdoers were 'sick' and 'terrible'!

The whole story is here: Trump's Reflecting Pool Lies Exposed in Humiliating Admission.

a few quotes:

The "radical vandals" President Donald Trump blamed for ruining the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool have turned out not to be the culprits after all.

The president repeatedly accused unknown "thugs" of slicing into the landmark after its multimillion-dollar renovation, but his own Justice Department now says the damage was caused by contractor error.

The office of Washington, D.C., U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro acknowledged that the sheets of floating paint that appeared after the renovation were caused by a "flawed installation by the contractors."

The filing also blamed the Department of the Interior for "failing to fully and accurately provide" that information to Pirro's prosecutors  ...

he filing recounted that Justice Department officials "first became aware" of information revealing that the damage was the "result of a botched installation and not vandalism" after reviewing additional documents.

 

 

A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Polls

What a difference a week makes.  Last week, I wrote about how I was torn between Francesca Hong and Mandela Barnes, ultimately giving the edge to Barnes.

Then, today, a week later, Barnes dropped out of the race. The speculation is that the establishment's smear campaign kicked it in high gear in a futile effort to give the Zombie Crowley campaign some traction. I guess when he can't run on his track record, he can only build himself up by tearing everyone else down.

According to every poll I have seen, Hong is starting to pull away from the others in this race. Her lead is sure to grow a lot with Barnes's departure. Given that I was already torn, it was an easy decision to go full on for Hong to be governor.

I agree with her on almost every issue. She is for women's rights, workers' rights, and voters' rights. She not only wants to make things more affordable and improve everyone's quality of life, but she also has a plan on how to do these things.

Maybe most importantly, I know that Hong will not sell us out.  She will serve the people of Wisconsin, and not the big money or big corporations. That in itself is worth our votes. 

I will be gladly and proudly voting for Hong in the primary, and I hope you will join me.

You can learn more about Hong and how to help at her website.