I think Deshon Porter is the long shot in the primary.

He ran for the Missouri House in District 135 (click here) and received 406 votes. His heart is true, but, he doesn't have the money he needs basically. He needs to dress up his image and run with his love of sports. He loves freedom and wants to serve his state. He has important views and might receive a populous vote if he had some money to promote his passion.

Mark McClosky is an advocate for gun violence and practices it whenever he can.

Mark McCloskey (click here) 

January 5, 2022

The guns seized from Mark and Patricia McCloskey in 2020 (click here) remain in police and sheriff’s department custody despite a court order to destroy them last year.

Robert Dierker of the City Counselor’s Office said in a virtual court hearing Wednesday that the city has yet to dispose of the guns.

“Obviously with our customary efficiency, we should have destroyed (the weapons) months ago,” Dierker said. “We haven’t. So McCloskey’s a beneficiary of bureaucratic, I want to say, ineptitude. But in any event, it’s fortuitous that the weapons still exist.”

Mark McCloskey, a Republican U.S. Senate candidate, wants the weapons back immediately and has sued St. Louis, the sheriff and state to get them. But the city says he and his wife forfeited them as part of their plea agreements to misdemeanors for waving the guns at protesters in June 2020 outside the couple’s mansion on Portland Place, a private and gated street....

Billy Long is the FOX News candidate.

Murdoch doesn't endorse him directly, it is just that every FOX News commentator carries his strange message. I don't like the cliches. He basically says nothing. He is nothing more than a junk yard dog of criticism. He is selling attitude and not policy.

He is in the US House and likes health care. I was reading a bill he passed and it seems to me he is not a big proponent of consumer information. That would be a real question for him in the primary and if he is nominated for US Senate for the general election. 

 

She is a run of the mill Republican that came up through the ranks.

She is liked among Republicans and she has a real shot at the Senate race.

Every other word she says complains about spending money. She never supported the end of the border wall spending. She opposes "net neutrality."

NET NEUTRALITY (click here) IS the idea that internet service providers like Comcast and Verizon should treat all content flowing through their cables and cell towers equally. That means they shouldn't be able to slide some data into “fast lanes” while blocking or otherwise discriminating against other material. In other words, these companies shouldn't be able to block you from accessing a service like Skype, or slow down Netflix or Hulu, in order to encourage you to keep your cable package or buy a different video-streaming service....

She opposes spending for transgender members of the military to allow their transition to take place. She calls transgender is the new same sex marriage (click here). I don't know what she means by that except she probably opposes same sex marriage.

I would like to see transgender members of the military able to carry out their duties and keep readiness at it's peak.

Vicky Hartzler (Republican Party) is a member of the U.S. House, representing Missouri's 4th Congressional District. She assumed office on January 3, 2011. Her current term ends on January 3, 2023.

Hartzler (Republican Party) is running for election to the U.S. Senate to represent Missouri. She declared candidacy for the Republican primary scheduled on August 2, 2022.

Prior to her election to the U.S. House, Hartzler served in the Missouri House of Representatives from 1995 to 2001. She was appointed chair of the Missouri Women's Council in 2005 and held that position for three years.

On June 10, 2021, Hartzler announced her candidacy to represent Missouri in the United States Senate in 2022.

Based on analysis of multiple outside rankings, Hartzler is an average Republican member of Congress, meaning she will vote with the Republican Party on the majority of bills.

He declares he is a Trump supporter. Don't know exactly what that means given the guy lost the election.

Eric Greitens was educated in public schools (click here) and earned an Angier B. Duke Scholarship to attend Duke University. Selected as a Rhodes and a Truman Scholar, he attended the University of Oxford, where he earned a master’s degree and a Ph.D. His doctoral thesis, Children First, investigated how international humanitarian organizations can best serve war-affected children....

Eric likes to tout his credentials, but, and he has experience in government at the governor level, but, his governorship was short lived for scandalous sexual misconduct and campaign violations (click here). Naturally, he denied all that, but, resigned anyway.

The sexual misconduct and campaign violations need to be exposed for good or for bad. 

The Missouri Republican Primary

 2022 Republican Candidates

Eric Greitens — Greitens is a U.S. Navy SEAL veteran who served as Missouri Governor from 2017-2018. He resigned amid multiple scandals involving sexual misconduct and accusations of campaign finance mishandling. Greitens describes himself and his supporters as “MAGA fighters” and has been a vocal supporter of former President Donald Trump. As of September, Greitens had raised $1,019,771 and had $200,802 cash on hand.

Vicky Hartzler — Hartzler has served Missouri’s 4th Congressional District as a U.S. Representative since 2011. She has a background in teaching and farming and is from rural Cass County, Missouri. Hartzler began her career as a politician in 1994, when she was elected as a State Representative in the Missouri General Assembly, where she represented parts of Cass and Johnson County. Hartzler’s campaign advocates against abortion, vaccine mandates, and other issues. As of September, she had raised $1,496,657 and had $1,651,443 cash on hand, making her campaign one of the highest funded Republican campaigns in the 2022 race.

Billy Long — Long has been a U.S. Representative for the 7th Congressional District of Missouri since 2011. He announced his bid on Fox News and is running as a staunch Trump supporter. Long says he is driven to “get the Senate back” from Democrats. As of September, Long had raised $902,250 and had $539,853 cash on hand.

Mark McCloskey — McCloskey and his wife, Patty, campaigned heavily for Trump in 2020, but they are best known for brandishing guns at Black Lives Matter supporters outside of their St. Louis mansion. McCloskey is a strong supporter of the 2nd Amendment, pro-life initiatives, and efforts to “Stop Critical Race Theory.” McCloskey owns a law firm in St. Louis. As of September, he had raised $856,172 and had $92,146 cash on hand.

Deshon Porter — According to Porter’s Facebook page, he is a travel agent and podcast host. Porter is campaigning for Congressional term limits. No campaign contributions or cash on hand had been reported to the FEC as of Sept. 30.

Dave Schatz — Schatz has been in the Missouri Senate since 2015 and is currently president pro tempore. Prior to his time in the Senate, Schatz served from 2011-2014 in the Missouri House of Representatives. He is vice president of the family business he started, Schatz Underground, INC., which is a utility contracting business. Schatz is new to the U.S. Senate race; he filed paperwork to run on Nov. 15. No financial information on the FEC has been published yet.

Eric Schmitt — Schmitt has been the Missouri Attorney General since 2019. From 2017-2019, he was the Missouri State Treasurer. The free market advocacy group Americans for Prosperity Action (AFP) announced its endorsement for Schmitt on November 17 due to Schmitt’s commitments to fiscal policies such as lowering taxes. Schmitt has made national headlines multiple times for filing lawsuits such as one against China for its handling of the coronavirus and the one he and the Texas Attorney General filed against President Joe Biden to force construction of the border wall. As of September, Schmitt had raised $1,986,220 and had $1,199,448 cash on hand.

Dave Sims — Formerly a radio host, Sims announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate in June. Among multiple other issues, Sims advocates for climate change action. Financial data for Sims has not been processed by the FEC.

The NEW Virginia Governor is a radical right wing politician.

January 15, 2022

Richmond - On Saturday, (click here) hours after being sworn in as the 74th governor of Virginia, Republican Glenn Youngkin unveiled his agenda for day one.

Gov. Youngkin, the first Republican elected to the office since Bob McDonnell was elected in November 2009, has already signed 11 executive actions.

Those orders include removing Critical Race Theory and what the administration describes as ‘divisive concepts’ from public education, withdrawing from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, making masks optional in schools and several others.

“It’s Day One, and we are going to work just like we promised,” said Youngkin.

“It’s a new day in Virginia, but the work is only beginning.”

Below is a breakdown of the executive actions Youngkin has signed as released from his office:

He is pitting parent against parent, seeks to allow the carbon based fuels to rule his administration, Virginia is always open for business (he does not recognize the renaissance of a new burgeoning Main Street (if he can't see it, it won't get support). His statement is about ending any form of protections from "the spread." His ideas are old and antiquated. By mandating parents decide if their children wear masks places everyone at risk.

There have been 12 deaths of children in Virginia from COVID-19. (click here) One in the past two weeks. Pitting parent against parent and in opposition from safe work environments for teachers and administrators is not going to solve the problem, but, make it worse.

Executive Order Number One

Delivers on his Day One promise to restore excellence in education by ending the use of divisive concepts, including Critical Race Theory, in public education.

Executive Order Number Two

Delivers on his Day One promise to empower Virginia parents in their children’s education and upbringing by allowing parents to make decisions on whether their child wears a mask in school.

Executive Order Number Three

Delivers on his Day One promise to restore integrity and confidence in the Parole Board of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Executive Order Number Four

Delivers on his Day One promise to investigate wrongdoing in Loudoun County.

Executive Order Number Five

Delivers on his Day One promise to make government work for Virginians by creating the Commonwealth Chief Transformation Officer.

Executive Order Number Six

Delivers on his Day One promise to declare Virginia open for business.

Executive Order Number Seven

Delivers on his Day One promise to combat and prevent human trafficking and provide support to survivors.

Executive Order Number Eight

Delivers on his Day One promise to establish a commission to combat antisemitism.

Executive Order Number Nine

Delivers on his Day One promise to withdraw from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI)....

July 11, 2014

...I'm writing today (click here) with a friendly, writer-to-writer suggestion: You might want to get your head out of your arse and have a sensible conversation about your August Culture Blog in Esquire. Mind you, I'm not one of those Screaming Mimi Jezebel types who wants to call you out or anything. No, Sweetcakes, I'm here to help.

Your esteemed magazine has just declared 42 to be the most "alluring" age for women, and what got you in hot water is that you wrote about how shocking you found this. I can only assume your fourth wife is still in her 20s, right?...

Tyler the Creator song "Radical" has echos left in our society today. It bothers me to think there are these remants of hate (that is what this song is about) left from racism. I think the genre is Rap, and somewhere along the lines of "Out of Compton," but, man, oh, man that stuff is rough.

"The Pitchfork Festival" (click here) continues and I am not very familiar with it to even comment to the penetration of that music into a society that is leaning right into violence at will.

There is no doubt issues in policing. There are lingering issues of racism. But, violence is not an answer. I realize protesting can provide little reassurances at time for real change, especially, if Congress persons are paid to ignore change and maintain the status quo. But, violence only gives the Plutocrats a bigger platform. 

Living through the "W" years as a conservationist and environmentalist seeking to end the climate crisis there were plenty of times when I thought the movement I was a part of would end because of Big Oil and Big Dark Money, but, the protests and demonstrations during those years kept the flame alive.

We, as people living on Earth, are far from perfect in achieving "Net Zero" and ultimately "Zero Emissions," but we are on our way. COP 26 (click here) is a turning point and I believe that entirely. There is a great deal going on with countries at that conference and while there was still inertia, there was also push to end that inertia and move forward to end GHG emissions.

U.S. President Joe Biden (click here) speaks to reporters after driving a Jeep Rubicon 4xe at an event for clean cars and trucks, and signs an executive order on transformaing the country’s auto fleet at the White House in Washington, U.S. August 5, 2021.

I am very grateful for President Joe Biden. His is the right man for this time in USA History and I wish the age discrimination would stop, but, he is making in roads to change and it will be lasting as long as Americans grab the brass ring and take it forward.

The point is that protests and demonstrations are important even if those involved believe it is for naught. In a democracy it is never a waste of time or effort to organize and protest. It matters, even if it only carries the issues forward and preserves the movement to continue and insist on change.

Violence is not the answer. It enboldens racism and enforces the idea that the old ways are the best ways and people should never give into change.

Tomorrow is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. It is important to realize how he was a man of patience, persistence, faith and peace. He provided movement for civil rights at the cost of his life and today we have recognition of him in statutes and we have institutionalized his dream. The USA needs to continue that movement of equality until we are finally equal.

Martin Luther King, Jr. would be appauld at the hate involved in voter suppression. But, sometimes that is the way it goes. When change comes, there is always that persistent backlash that shows there is still reasons to hang on tight to the change invoked. There will always be a backlash until the change brought by Americans in a majority takes hold and cements peace in our country between all people.

Let's end the violence and rally around the King of peaceful protests.

"Radical" by Tyler, the Creator (click here for Instagram pics @feliciathegoat)

Random disclaimer
Hey, don't do anything that I say in this song, okay?
It's fuckin' fiction
If anything happens, don't fuckin' blame me
White America, fuck Bill O'Reilly
Four, three, two, one

What the fuck I look like saying I'm sorry
To a bunch of fucking fags who can't potentially harm me?

I ain't never gonna bow down to your expectations
By the way, I got sixty fucking wolves that'll guard me
That skate hard, Thrash black hoodies, try something
Make sure your fuckin' feelings end up up in a Glad bag
Fuck all your opinions, I'm tyin' 'em with a shoestring
And fuck the fat lady, it's over when all the kids sing

Kill people, burn shit, fuck school
Kill people, burn shit, fuck school
Kill people, burn shit, fuck school
Kill people, burn shit, fuck school
I'm fucking radical, nigga, I'm fucking radical
I'm fucking radical, I'm motherfucking radical
I'm fucking radical, nigga, I'm fucking radical
I'm fucking radical, I'm motherfucking radical

Left, right, left, right, left, right
Odd Future, Wolf Gang
We came together cause we ain't had nobody else
And you? You just might be one of us
Are you?

Fuck cops, I'm a fucking rockstar
Rebel and defiance makes my motherfucking cock hard
Fuck pigs, fuck guards, all some fucking retards
Fuck school, I'm a fuck up, fuck Harvard
I ain't got no fucking money, (hey mom) I ain't got no motherfucking daddy, he ain't teach me shit

Child support ain't come
That faggot still ain't bought me anything
Fuck the fat lady, it's over when all the kids sing

Kill people, burn shit, fuck school
Kill people, burn shit, fuck school
Kill people, burn shit, fuck school
Kill people, burn shit, fuck school
I'm fucking radical, nigga, I'm fucking radical
I'm fucking radical, I'm motherfucking radical
I'm fucking radical, nigga, I'm fucking radical
I'm fucking radical, I'm motherfucking radical
Left, right, left, right

They want us to go to they schools
And be fucking miserable at they fucking college studying that bullshit
Fuck that, do what the fuck that makes you happy
'Cause at the end, who's there? You
Fuck school
Kill people, burn shit, fuck school
Kill people, burn shit, fuck school
Kill people, burn shit, fuck school
I'm fucking radical, nigga, I'm fucking radical
I'm fucking radical, I'm motherfucking radical
I'm fucking radical, nigga, I'm fucking radical
I'm fucking radical, I'm motherfucking radical

Kill people, burn shit, fuck school
Kill people, burn shit, fuck school
Kill people, burn shit, fuck school
Kill people, burn shit, fuck school
I'm fucking radical, nigga, I'm fucking radical
I'm fucking radical, I'm motherfucking radical
I'm fucking radical, nigga, I'm fucking radical
I'm fucking radical, I'm motherfucking radical

You hear that nigga?
That's cult shit right there nigga
Wolf Gang
Fuck everybody else, nigga
Stand for something
Get money, nigga
Wolf Gang in this bitch, nigga, we six feet deep
Fuck with me, nigga
Odd Future, nigga
Stand the fuck up

Left, right, left, right, left, right
I'm not sayin' just to go out and do some stupid shit, commit crimes
What I'm tryna tell you is, do what the fuck you want
Stand for what the fuck you believe in
And don't let nobody tell you you can't do what the fuck you want
I'm a fucking unicorn and fuck anybody who say I'm not
Wolf Gang

Fuck your traditions, (and) fuck your positions (and)
Fuck your religion, (and) fuck your decisions
(See), they're not mine, (so) you gotta let 'em go
(See), we can be ourselves, but you gotta let us know
Fuck your traditions, (and) fuck your positions (and)
Fuck your religion, (and) fuck your decisions
(See), they're not mine, (so) you gotta let 'em go
(See), we can be ourselves, but you gotta let us know

Fuck your traditions, (and) fuck your positions (and)
Fuck your religion, (and) fuck your decisions
(See), they're not mine, (so) you gotta let 'em go
(See), we can be ourselves, but you gotta let us know
Go, you gotta let 'em go, let 'em go

You gotta let 'em go, you gotta let 'em go, let 'em go
You gotta, you gotta let these shits go man
It's not making sense to you right now but, all these little dreams you got, they ain't shit
All this rebellion, all this crazy shit you got, sayin' this shit
Getting too old for this shit man, you gotta grow out of it

Growing up, you're dreams are getting bigger
You gotta look at reality
Understand that shit so you don't get caught
I'm just being real
Nigga, fuck you
I'm just tryna help you man
Trust me

Look, I mature day after day, nigga
You don't know shit, you're a fucking therapist
Whatever

Since North Korea feels no need to provide infomation to the world...

...about it's missile launches, the FAA has to determine the tragectory of the missle before it allows flights out of the USA from the West Coast. They obviously knew as soon as the missle launched. 

January 12, 2022
By Hunter Lee

An unusual ground stop (click here) was issued to some pilots for a short period of time following a North American Aerospace Defense Command alert of a launch of a North Korean missile, a US official said Tuesday.

The official says it was not a national ground stop and may have been issued by a regional air traffic control facility.

“No warning was issued by NORAD HQ,” regarding a potential threat to the US, according to Captain Pamela Kunze, the chief NORAD spokesperson.

The Federal Aviation Administration, responsible for the nation’s air traffic control system, said the ground stop was to err on the side of safety.“

As a matter of precaution, the FAA temporarily paused departures at some airports along the West Coast on Monday evening,” the FAA said in a statement. “Full operations resumed in less than 15 minutes. The FAA regularly takes precautionary measures. We are reviewing the process around this ground stop as we do after all such events.”

The NORAD spokeswoman said the normal sequence following the launch was followed: The missile launch was detected, and it was assessed not to be a threat to the continental United States. The standard practice is for FAA to have a constant liaison in the NORAD ops center, therefore would have been aware of the quick assessment....

How special.

Creative and innovative.

Must have been a work of a genius.

It is a bird, no a plane, no North Korea's latest design in missile technology.

January 15, 2022

By Hyonhee Shin and Josh Smith; Editing by Leslie Adler, Sandra Maler & Simon Cameron-Moore

Seoul - North Korea tested a railway-borne missile (click here) in its firing drills on Friday, state media KCNA said on Saturday, amid a U.S. push for fresh sanctions against the isolated state following its recent series of weapons tests.

outh Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said two short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) travelled about 430 km (267 miles) to a maximum altitude of 36 km (22 miles) after being launched eastward on the northwest coast of North Korea....

Other than a big splash it isn't looking too bad.

USGS (click here)

Japan is having some quakes that I am confident the people are feeling and probably worried, but, the general region of the Pacific is quiet.

The volcano doesn't seem to have erupted with quakes occurring. It must have been from pressure deeper within the volcano itself.

Evacution away from the volcano would be prudent. My guess is that a Submarine Lava Dome (click here) exploded. That is an enormous pressure release.

The USA West Coast might have wave that are accompanied by a strong undetow and remaining out of the water is prudent. I would be surprised to have another big explosion, but, it is possible even if remote possibility.

January 15, 2022
By Nick Perry

Wellington, New Zealand - An undersea volcano (click here) erupted in spectacular fashion near the Pacific nation of Tonga on Saturday, sending large tsunami waves crashing across the shore and people rushing to higher ground. A tsunami advisory was in effect for Hawaii, Alaska and the U.S. Pacific coast, with reports of waves pushing boats up in the docks in Hawaii.

There were no immediate reports of injuries or the extent of the damage because all internet connectivity with Tonga was lost at about 6:40 p.m. local time — about 10 minutes after problems began, said Doug Madory, director of internet analysis for the network intelligence firm Kentik.

Tonga gets its internet via an undersea cable from Suva, Fiji, which presumably was damaged. The company that manages that connection, Southern Cross Cable Network, could not immediately be reached for comment.

In Hawaii, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center reported waves slamming ashore from half a meter (1.6 feet) in Nawiliwili, Kauai, to 80 centimeters (2.7 feet) in Hanalei. “We are relieved that there is no reported damage and only minor flooding throughout the islands,” the center said, describing the situation in Hawaii....

What was the weather doing? Those circular clouds near the volcano are interesting. It doesn't look like a disturbance pattern.

Past Weather in Nuku'alofa — Graph (click here)

Thunderstorms that morning.

A pressure surge (click here) from the latest eruption of the Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha'apai volcano in Tonga...

There doesn't seem to have been much warning. The lava dome exploded.

According to Snyder his trial and others will be put off for a while. Vacations? Why?

Snyder is "doing a Trump." He is pulling every stunt in the book AND i might add on the taxpayer's dime. The fault here lies with The Judge. It is upto the judge to set the tone and get on with "a speedy trial."

Ah, come on, this is nothing but a little dirty water, right? Snyder spent $2 million for new pipes after people were poisoned, but, that should set everything straight. Right? 

I think he should  have done that BEFORE people were poisoned, like when the GM plant notified everyone of their rusty engines.

That is an amazing aspect of this tragedy. (click here) Anyone have an idea of what it takes to rust a brand new GM engine? It takes alot. Aluminum (click here) used in engines corrodes. Corrosion happens with chemical exposure, not from water. There were trucks that made it into the public. GM didn't catch them all. At least that is the impression I had. It was probably addressed under warranty.

Posted: January 3, 2015

Just got a brand new 2015 Sierra 5.3L (click here) not long ago, and was looking it over the other day and noticed this part of the engine that doesn't look "new"

Looks like its rusty and out of place? Or am I crazy?

The point the Flint Water was full of chemicals, not just lead. The Flint water crisis started on April 25, 2014. The Rachel Maddow Show brought the realityof the Flint residents to the country. I believe that was the December 19, 2015 Show. That is a lot of poisoning. But, as to GM, the 2015 trucks were already on the road by the time owners heard about the crisis. So, there were probably some engines that passed through before GM noticed the corrosion.

January 14, 2022
By Ron Fonger

Media swarms around Gov. Rick Snyder to ask him questions about the Flint water crisis after he toured skilled trades programs on Monday, June 6, 2016 at Mott Community College in Flint. Snyder said the state reimbursed the city $2 million for reconnecting to Detroit for the water supply, which was pegged to replace lead lines for at least 400 homes. The city has had the funds for an estimated two month for infrastructure replacement, but has been slow to use the funds. "We provided the resources some time ago," Snyder said. Hopefully they will get good proposals back and they can start moving forward." Flint officials started accepting request for proposals for Flint Mayor Karen Weaver's Fast Start program replacing lead lines throughout the city.

Flint - A spokesman for the legal team representing former Gov. Rick Snyder (click here) against criminal charges tied to the Flint water crisis says not to expect a trial until at least 2024.

Spokesman Jason Brown made the comment in a larger statement issued by Snyder’s attorneys on the one-year anniversary of the announcement of grand jury indictments against the former governor, seven other former state government officials and Flint’s former director of its Department of Public Works.

Brown said the prosecution, led by Michigan Solicitor General Fadwa Hammoud and Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy, “is at a complete standstill” with little progress having been made.

“Even the most basic question as to whether the charges were properly filed in the city of Flint, rather than the city of Lansing, remains unresolved,” the statement says “The prosecution has made serious missteps with the handling of documents seized through search warrants and two judges have directed them to stop reviewing or disseminating documents to the various defendants....

I think this was a great interview. Why can't America see the Vice President in mainstream media this way?

I agree with Charlamagne (Lenard McKelvey) in regard to laying blame where it belongs at Manchin's feet. The aggressive movement regarding voting started when President Obama was in office. 

Maybe we need Charlamagne on mainstream media? He is upset about protecting the country and motivating voters. I like him. I think he may have gotten stuck on Manchin, but, he has a right to when he thinks his country is on the line. He was on Colbert, why not the mainstream media?

I think he brought out the best of Vice President Harris. Literally, she has demonstrated "I can hear you." She obviously hears the country.

I love this interview. The staff needs to behave. Vice President Kamala Harris used to argue for convictions in court, I think she can handle Charlamagne and his followers.

 

They are running scared now. Sedious Conspiracy.

They will try every trick in the book. That is straight out of the Trump handbook. Then they will bank on the Supreme Court to hide from the truth. The 5th Amendment will be used to a ridiculous level. The January 6th Committee will have to build their case from supporting evidence. These guys aren't going to cooperate. They are too far gone and they are facing serious crimes. It is an organized attempt to overthrow the USA Constitution and defy anyone from saying otherwise and it reaches to the highest levels of the government.

January 14, 2022
By Oma Seddiq

In the days after January 6, 2021, (click here) House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy told Republicans in a private phone call that then President Donald Trump admitted that he shared some responsibility for the Capitol riot, according to CNN.

But during a news conference on Thursday, McCarthy told reporters that he couldn't recall that phone conversation.

"I'm not sure what call you're talking about," McCarthy said.

CNN reported on the phone call at the time, and on Thursday the news outlet obtained a detailed readout of what McCarthy told his Republican colleagues....

They will take it to the Supreme Court. Let them. And then let the Supreme Court look at the conspirators with plenty of evidence found by the DOJ and prevent the US House from proceeding with an investigation to expose the plot against the US Constitution. I dare them to do it!

The Committee simply has to walk the straight and narrow path of the truth.

January 13, 2022
By Harper Neidig

The House Jan. 6 Select Committee (click here) pushed back against legal challenges to its authority to issue subpoenas, defending its Democratic-controlled structure as it tries to fend off a mounting number of lawsuits from former President Trump and allies.

In a court filing Wednesday night, the select committee argued that the structure of the panel — comprised of seven Democrats and two Republicans — is consistent with the House's rules and that it has the authority to issue investigative demands. The filing came in response to a lawsuit from Taylor Budowich, a Trump spokesman challenging a subpoena for his financial records.

"Plaintiffs’ specific contentions—that the Select Committee cannot conduct business unless the Speaker appoints exactly thirteen Members after 'consultation' with (and, in Plaintiffs’ understanding, approval by) the Minority Leader — are belied by the text of the House’s governing resolution and the indisputable facts surrounding the appointments," the committee's lawyers wrote in the brief....

It isn't the US House they have to fear, it is the DOJ making the case with incredible evidence. Trump threw down the guantlet and the Republicans followed. Amazing what they will do for power. 

Lindsay Graham has a lot to worry about. I am wondering how many FOX commentators have evidence that would reveal the relationships they held with Trump. There is more reason than ever for them to dress up Trump and dress down Biden. I don't think McConnell was as close to Trump as Graham was.

All these men know better. Weren't there a few Cabinet Members that resigned when the attack on the US Capitol began? I think it was McConnell's wife, Elaine Choa (click here) at the DOT and DeVos (click here).

Everyone is lawyering up now. 

It was a rather extensive plot by Americans affiliated with Trump.

January 14, 2022
By Stephen Proctor

Michigan AG says scheme (click here) to overthrow election with fake electors ‘may go all the way to the top.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel appeared on The Rachel Maddow Show, Thursday, where she spoke about the scheme in which Republicans in several states that President Biden won forged election documents in an attempt to give the election to former President Trump. Fraudulent electors in Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona, Nevada and Georgia sent documents to the National Archives to certify the election for Trump, despite Biden having won. While no one has been arrested yet in connection with this attempted election fraud, Nessel expects authorities to gather more evidence, and that this may have been orchestrated from the highest levels of government.

“Once those individuals see that they could possibly be facing prison time, I do think we’re gonna see some people flip,” Nessel said, “and we’ll get some further information as to who orchestrated this in the first place, who told these people to do this in exactly this fashion, and I think it may go all the way to the top.”

Nessel’s belief that the individuals involved were part of a larger conspiracy stems from the fact that, in every instance, the fraudulent documents followed almost the exact same template, in some cases not in any way resembling the real elector documents from a particular state. Which is why on Thursday, Nessel referred the case to federal authorities....

The DOJ needs to look at the other falsified documents from other states. It appears there was a single template used. That was probably part of the plan so others would know exactly who were the real electors and who had falsified documents. The plan would be to allow only the falsified delegates the right to vote. This way they would be able to control the outcome.

This entire thing is so crazy, except, that police officers died and there was an ongoing plot even after the January 6th insurrection.

It was all coordinated. Wow.

Putin is old school. This is such a Soviet strategy it is ridiculous.

I guess they don't have computer access in Putin's War Room. I love the transparency by the Biden Administration which is necessary to beat Putin's propaganda. President Biden's administration is stating they will back an insurgency in Ukraine if there is an invasion. It isn't an insurgency if the Ukraine government is defending it's homeland. It is support and direct support, which the USA is proud of, to end the conflict along the border. This is ridiculous. 

I would also expect Russian troops coming from Crimea as well. The bridge should be dismantled.

January 14, 2022
By Natasha Bertrand and Jeremy Herb

BLOW IT UP (click here)

Washington - The US has information (click here) that indicates Russia has prepositioned a group of operatives to conduct a false-flag operation in eastern Ukraine, a US official told CNN on Friday, in an attempt to create a pretext for an invasion.

The official said the US has evidence that the operatives are trained in urban warfare and in using explosives to carry out acts of sabotage against Russia's own proxy forces.

The allegation echoes a statement released by Ukraine's Ministry of Defense on Friday, which said that Russian special services are preparing provocations against Russian forces in an attempt to frame Ukraine. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan hinted at the intelligence during a briefing with reporters on Thursday.

"Our intelligence community has developed information, which has now been downgraded, that Russia is laying the groundwork to have the option of fabricating the pretext for an invasion," Sullivan said on Thursday. "We saw this playbook in 2014. They are preparing this playbook again and we will have, the administration will have, further details on what we see as this potential laying of the pretext to share with the press over the course of the next 24 hours."...

More propaganda (click here) Putin is starting this now because of "winter" and Gasprom. Europe is dependent on METHANE from Russia. Both Russia and Europe need to end the use of methane (natual gas) for energy purposes. Putin wants to use fear of the discontinuance of natural gas to Ukraine and Europe as an attempt to stem Western assistance to 44 million Ukrainians. I don't see the USA backing down. I am confident there will be humanitarian relief if Russia decides they can successfully invade and occupy Ukraine. 

The real question is "Will Vladimir Putin be desperate enough to declare war with The West when and not if he fails in Ukraine?" That is the real question. He and China recently affirmed their devotion to each other as communist dictatorships and North Korea is heating up it's missile program again. In the past, this nuclear mess has been brinkmanship and that is what they may be counting on to catch the USA and Europe off guard with "first strike weapons."

Circumstances are not better in Ukraine

Today, the Ukraine government representing 44 million people, has experienced a cyberattack as Russia is moving more troops to the Ukraine border after practicing in Kazkhstan.

January 14, 2022
By Pavel Polityuk and Tom Balmforth

In an image released (click here) by Ukrainian Defense Ministry Press Service, Ukrainian soldiers use a launcher with U.S. Javelin missiles during military exercises in Donetsk region, Ukraine, on Thursday.

From a Dec. 25, 2021 article.

Kyiv/Moscow - Ukraine was hit by a cyberattack (click here) splashing a warning across government websites to "be afraid and expect the worst", while Russia, which has massed 100,000 troops on its neighbour's frontier, released pictures of more of its forces on the move.

The cyber attack unfolded hours after talks wrapped up with no breakthrough between Russia and Western allies, which fear Moscow could launch a new military assault on a country it invaded in 2014.

"The drumbeat of war is sounding loud," Michael Carpenter, U.S. Ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), said at the close of talks on Thursday. 

Russia denies plans to attack Ukraine but says it could take unspecified military action unless its demands are met, including a promise by the NATO alliance never to admit Kyiv....

The day before this attack today there were arrests of a ransomware group. Evidently, they didn't get all of them.

January 13, 2022
By Jonathan Greig

Ukrainian police (click here) announced the arrest of five members of a ransomware affiliate on Thursday, noting that the group was behind attacks on more than 50 companies across Europe and the US.

In a statement, both the the Ukrainian Security Service and Ukrainian Cyber Police said the group made at least $1 million through their attacks on the companies.

US and UK law enforcement officials worked with Ukrainian officials on the operation.

Officials said the leader of the group was a 36-year-old who worked with his wife and three other people out of Kyiv. The five are facing a variety of charges in Ukraine related to money laundering, hacking, and selling malware.

One of the people charged is wanted by law enforcement agencies in UK after "using a virus to obtain bank card details of the customers of British banks," according to the police statement.

The bank card details were used to buy things online that were then resold....

The international opinion sees Russia as carrying out these attacks in response to autonomous warnings by former Soviet states that they expect Russia, now amassing more troops at the border, to act to invade.

January 14, 2022

Brest, France - The European Union's (click here) top diplomat condemned on Friday a cyber attack on Ukraine and said the EU's political and security committee and cyber units would meet to decide how to respond and help Kyiv.

Ukraine's foreign ministry spokesperson told Reuters it was too early to say who could be behind the attack but said Russia had been behind similar strikes in the past.

The cyberattack, which hit the foreign ministry, the cabinet of ministers and the security and defence council among others, comes as Kyiv and its allies have sounded the alarm about a possible new Russian military offensive against Ukraine....

Declining the change to the Filibuster does not end the Voting Rights Bill.

The US House already passed the Voting Rights bills. It is time to get everyone in the US Senate on the record.

January 12, 2021
By Carl Hulse

Washington - Moving quickly to force a showdown (click here) over voting rights, congressional Democrats plan to pursue a procedural shortcut to bring up stalled legislation and try to win its approval over deep Republican resistance.

In a memo to Senate Democrats on Wednesday, Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the majority leader, laid out a new strategy intended to overcome at least one procedural obstacle erected by Republicans to prevent the Senate from even considering the legislation.

Under the plan, the House would package two major pieces of voting rights legislation being pushed by Democrats — the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act — insert them into an unrelated bill and pass it. That measure would then go to the Senate as what is known as a “message,” meaning Republicans could not filibuster a move to bring it to the floor for debate and Democrats would not need to muster 60 votes to do so.

“Taking advantage of this existing exception to the Senate’s supermajority requirements will allow us to end the Republicans’ ability to block debate on voting rights legislation,” Mr. Schumer wrote in the memo. “The Senate will finally debate voting rights legislation, and then every senator will be faced with a choice of whether or not to pass the legislation to protect our democracy.”...

In response to the Supreme Court ruling putting the American worker at risk for disease.

I think business "gets it." They know if they are a vehicle of a mass spreading with more than 100 employees, there will be consequences in the real world that does not translate well for their business.

January 13, 2022

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. has postponed its return-to-office plan (click here) for U.S. staff by another two weeks as COVID-19 cases in the country flare up, largely fueled by the highly contagious Omicron coronavirus variant.

The bank's employees were told they could delay returning to office to Feb. 1, a spokesperson said, after having previously allowed workers to work from home until Jan. 18.

Goldman, which had been one of the most aggressive banks in bringing staff back into offices, has been forced to alter plans because of the fast-spreading Omicron variant of the coronavirus....

The finanical investment firm is also seeking diversity in their investments, which is long overdue. 

January 12, 2022

Margaret Anadu of Goldman Sachs (click here) speaks with Yahoo Finance Live about how the bank is providing support to Black women and improving communities of color through its One Million Black Women initiative.

BRIAN SOZZI: Goldman Sachs revealed today a suite of 17 new investments partnerships and grants as part of its One Million Black Woman initiative. Launched in early 2021, Goldman's One Million Black Women initiative reflects its intention to spend more than $10 billion over the next decade to advance racial equity and economic opportunity in Black women....