[jedrider]

Here's an interesting story:

Treasury Department sanctions inner circle of Russian agent Derkach for election interferenceThe Treasury Department on Monday announced sanctions aimed at disrupting a Russia-linked influence network associated with Andrii Derkach, a marginalized Ukrainian politician with close ties to President Trump’s personal attorney Rudy Giuliani.

Giuliani, Trump’s top operator in efforts to overturn the election, had met with Derkach in December 2019 to discuss investigating the Biden family and the two appeared together on the pro-Trump news channel One America News Network, where they pushed debunked theories of corruption involving Biden and his son Hunter Biden.
...
The sanctions announced Monday target seven individuals and four entities related to Derkach’s inner circle. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement that they are blacklisted for repeating “malicious narratives that U.S. Government officials have engaged in corrupt dealings in Ukraine.”

This seems really strange. Minuchin and Pompeo both famous brown nosers of trump, personally and publicly endorsed these sanctions of Russians for cooperating with the president's personal attorney in an attempt to corrupt our election.

What am I missing?

The sad thing, is that this is really turning into a conspiracy that Republicans are desperately trying to sweep under the rug. I like Ibon's idea that this should just become a routine law enforcement exercise. However, a lot of big toes must be stepped on for that to happen and if it is allowed to proceed as well there will be cries of 'Democratic Reprisal'. Can't have your cake and eat it, too, I guess.

[dohboi]

Pops wrote: "...why this is just beginning..."

Just popping in to agree with Pops again.

As I wrote on the civil war thread, the 6th was likely just a dress rehearsal. Trump may well be using his platform at Alamo, TX today to call on his most violent and racist supporters (who, as you recall, he told to 'stand by'...for what??--THIS) to start their violent insurrection in earnest and at every state capitol. Security folks have been warning about this, but he's not going to wait till Inauguration Day, methinks.

I sure hope I'm wrong about this, but I am quite afraid that I am not.

Please all, be as safe as you can manage in the mayhem to come. And may Whoever May Be Out There have mercy on all those here and elsewhere who helped enable this chaos...

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Pops also wrote: "badass Jesus"

This actually has a long tradition, going back at least to the 9th century Old Saxon alliterative poem Heliand ('Savior') that portrays Jesus as a Schwartzenegger-like Germanic hero. (see wiki for details)

[jedrider]

Mitch McConnel is the least stupid person in Congress. A bastard, definitely. This is his chance to finish off Trump and claim the mantel of the Republican Party.

I think he can do it.

[aadbrd]

Closure will be elusive. Trump will pull the pardon card and this drama will keep being drawn out ad nauseum.

[jedrider]

Hitler invaded Russia.

Trump invaded the U.S. Capitol.

This is what happens to megalomaniacs (and to Trump's family as well in this case).

Trump's Brand is now associated with lawlessness, violence, insurrection and hatred
https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/trump-spent-four-years-destroying-two-brands-his-own-gop-n1254189?icid=msd_topgrid

[Pops]

Seems I'm pushing the NYT today, an opinion piece by David Brooks is pretty crazy:

“Over the last 72 hours, I have received multiple death threats and thousands upon thousands of emails from Christians saying the nastiest and most vulgar things I have ever heard toward my family and ministry. I have been labeled a coward, sellout, a traitor to the Holy Spirit, and cussed out at least 500 times.”

This is the beginning of a Facebook post from Sunday by the conservative preacher Jeremiah Johnson. On Jan. 7, the day after the storming of the Capitol, Johnson had issued a public apology, asserting that God removed Donald Trump from office because of his pride and arrogance, and to humble those, like Johnson, who had fervently supported him.

The response was swift and vicious. As he put it in that later Facebook post, “I have been flabbergasted at the barrage of continued conspiracy theories being sent every minute our way and the pure hatred being unleashed. To my great heartache, I’m convinced parts of the prophetic/charismatic movement are far SICKER than I could have ever dreamed of.”

I'm far removed from any church, white evangelical/charismatic especially but Brooks sounds like his heads on fire and his ass is catching. "The violent Know-Nothingism, which has always coursed through American history, is once again a torrent, threatening more violence in the days ahead."

You'll notice that here too the pastor was attacked on facebook. There is an element in all of this of performance. trump does it constantly, looking for the perfect selfie, the perfect 140 characters. Everyone is secretly angling to become an "influencer" — the people attacking the pastor want to be seen as "very special people".

Remember when we all just wanted to be cooler online? (don't forget to give him a Like)
.

[aadbrd]

Regarding evangelicals, remember that Pat Robertson was wise enough to get off the Trump train before the riots.

I think remaining support for Trump at this point is driven more by a need to clutch at a savior figure to rescue them from the apocalyptic boogeyman that the right have successfully erected of the left than any endorsement of Trump himself. That's always been the case but it's more true than ever now. I have to believe that if they had someone who could actually walk the talk of self righteousness they'd much rather support him.

There is a golden opportunity for someone to step forward, and this person would be a far more formidable threat in 2024.

[Ibon]

There is a golden opportunity for someone to step forward, and this person would be a far more formidable threat in 2024.

Liten to the podcast of the interview with Peter Meijer, Republican from Michigan. I posted the link on the civil war thread. That could the enlightened future of the Republican Party. I sure do hope so!

A guy like that could get my vote.

[jedrider]

Melania Trump's disappointing break with tradition

Understandably lost in the morass of the horrifying things that have happened leading up to Joe Biden's inauguration is something that did not happen. Melania Trump will become the first modern first lady not to invite the woman who will replace her to the White House for a walk-through of the private living quarters on the second and third floors.

Sore losers. The whole family.

[jedrider]

Trump: Don't let the door kick you on the way out. (I mean I hope it does, all the way to Florida and, maybe beyond. He should just buy an Island somewhere.)

China Debuts First 7nm Data Center GPU To Rival Nvidia, AMD
https://www.tomshardware.com/news/china-debuts-first-7nm-data-center-gpu-rival-nvidia-amd

It's unfortunate how China dealt with Hong Kong. It's unfortunate how Trump dealt with the Capitol Electoral College certification.

A new chapter unfurls. Got to be better than the last.

[Ibon]

Pompeo on Twitter trying to pick up the mantle of Trump........ what a pathetic slime ball... he actually thinks this will work?

https://edition.cnn.com/2021/01/19/poli ... index.html


Washington (CNN)With one day left in his tenure, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo took to his taxpayer-funded Twitter account and denounced multiculturalism, saying it is "not who America is."

[jedrider]

Pompeo is setting himself up to be Trump II. I'm a little worried about this as he doesn't look as dumb as Trump.

[Pops]

-
Goodbye Donald, wish we'd never known ya.

-

[JuanP]

I read today that Trump is claiming he will create a new political party, the Patriot Party. While I do believe that the USA needs more political parties since I consider both The Republicans and the Democrats completely unacceptable options, I also think that Trump should be the last American to found a new political party in the USA.

Goodbye Trump, hello Biden. Meet the new boss ...

[Ibon]

I read today that Trump is claiming he will create a new political party, the Patriot Party. While I do believe that the USA needs more political parties since I consider both The Republicans and the Democrats completely unacceptable options, I also think that Trump should be the last American to found a new political party in the USA.

Goodbye Trump, hello Biden. Meet the new boss ...

Short term mainstream Republicans will fear Trump starting a new party. Mid term they will be thankful he did. Why? The racist nationalists will flock to Trumps new party. This will cleanse the Republican Party of this demographic which they supported for years to their peril. Without them the Republican Party can rebrand itself, be a bulwark to over excessive social spending but compromise on major social reforms, they can then focus on increasing their base with latino minorities, African Americans and other people of color who are not monolithic but have significant conservative followings. Furthermore, such a rebranded Republican Party can appeal to those evangelicals who did not replace Jesus with Donald. This new rebranded Republican Party will also appeal to a percentage of middle of the road democrats who will be attracted back into the Republican Party when and if they see it being effective.

Think about it. If this new mainstream Republican Party compromises with D's on a livable minimum wage what do you think all of those rural folks in Ohio and Oklahoma will think when they see their wages increase? Will they still have so much fire for the grievances that Trump will be spewing and baiting them with?

Short term Trumps new Patriot Party will hemorrhage the Republican Party. Mid term it will cleanse it and make it stronger.

I for one hope Trump does initiate this new party. Give the racist nationalists a voice with no real power or majority. Just a place where deplorables can still feel validated with their primitive racism, all symbolism but no real power. Perfect.

[aadbrd]

Short term mainstream Republicans will fear Trump starting a new party.

Gosh, I hope he does that. It would be the one thing Trump does that I would celebrate.

[Pops]

trump will continue with the adderall and fundraising, being a candidate has been a great moneymaker, perhaps his best scam yet.

I doubt the republican party will fracture, they all have an authoritarian fetish after all, and besides, where the racists and snowflakes go, so goes the party, been that way starting with Goldwater '64 at least.

Indeed, 57 percent of Republicans believed that whites face “a lot of discrimination,” while just 52 percent believe that Blacks do. Among Democrats, 13 percent said whites encounter a lot of discrimination; 92 percent said Blacks do.

https://prospect.org/blogs/tap/how-raci ... cans-very/

I mean I'd be happy if they did, if a small loyal opposition formed to keep the Ds from going overboard and the rest occupied themselves trading "Biden is senile" memes and planning the Boogaloo.

[Plantagenet]

Its early morning in Alaska and I'm up to watch the inauguration right now. Its still a beautiful ceremony, even without the usual audience.

Its good to see the bipartisanship on display. Former President Obama sitting beside former President Bush. Pence and McConnell in the audience along with Amy Klobuchar and Mayor Pete. Kamala Harris a rainbow nation in one person. Flags everywhere.

Trump is gone.

A new day begins.

Good luck to President Biden.

God bless America.

Cheers!