Through. Her. Teeth.Aaron Rupar @atrupar wrote: "It is not a deepfake" -- Ronna McDaniel on an AI-generated RNC attack ad that is quite literally fake
RONNA McDANIEL: President Trump never shies away from a debate
BRIAN KILMEADE: Yes he does. He skipped ours in 2016.
McDANIEL: He did. He skipped one.
Philly BoondoggleHe also skipped a GOP debate right before the 2016 Iowa caucuses.raison de arizona wrote: ↑Wed Apr 26, 2023 12:41 pm
https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1651 ... 15136?s=20Aaron Rupar @atrupar wrote: "It is not a deepfake" -- Ronna McDaniel on an AI-generated RNC attack ad that is quite literally fake
RONNA McDANIEL: President Trump never shies away from a debate
BRIAN KILMEADE: Yes he does. He skipped ours in 2016.
McDANIEL: He did. He skipped one.
Latest arrests in Rensselaer County voter fraud case ensnare top GOP figures
WAMC Northeast Public Radio | By Dave Lucas
Published May 1, 2023 at 12:31 PM EDT
Three Rensselaer County officials with close ties to the ruling Republican Party were indicted last week on federal charges as part of an investigation into ballot fraud. Now, the current and former mayors of the city of Rensselaer are weighing in.
According to the U.S. Attorney, Richard Crist, James Gordon, and Leslie Wallace were arrested and charged Thursday with conspiring to violate the rights of county voters during the 2021 election cycle.
The alleged ballot scheme in Troy appears to have taken advantage of looser absentee ballot requirements that were in place during the pandemic.
Crist is the Director of Operations for Rensselaer County, Gordon is the Director of the Bureau for Central Services of the county, and Wallace works for the county executive.
Rich Mooney, a Democrat, says the federal investigation began during his time as mayor of the city of Rensselaer.
“During the election, during the campaign of 2021, myself, my team, noticed some irregularities with absentee ballots," said Mooney. "During the recount of the election of 2021 we challenged up to 60 ballots that we thought were tainted and not legitimate ballots. Well, along with that, we had an individual come forward, who told us that he did not request an absentee ballot and one was released to a Republican operative in his name and had voted for him. That individual had the courage to sign an affidavit. And we took that to the state police. And that is what started the ballot fraud investigation in the city of Rensselaer and Rensselaer County.”
In January, former Rensselaer County Elections Commissioner Jason Schofield pleaded guilty to unlawfully using the names and dates of birth of voters to fraudulently apply for absentee ballots. The Republican had resigned at the end of December.
Last June, Republican Troy City Councilor Kim Ashe-McPherson resigned after pleading guilty to fraudulently submitting absentee ballots in 2021.
Republican Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin, acquitted earlier this year of campaign finance charges in a separate case brought the state attorney general, said in a statement that Crist, Gordon and Wallace will be able to continue working for the county. Quoting: "Our system states those charged are innocent until proven guilty and I firsthand know significance of that statement, having recently gone through a similar experience. Members of our team will have their day in court and until then, have opportunity to continue their work."
https://www.wamc.org/news/2023-05-01/la ... op-figures
https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/202 ... nded-nazisCONGRESSMEN TO MIX WITH LEADER OF FPÖ, A PARTY FOUNDED BY NAZIS
At CPAC Hungary this week, Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona and Rep. Barry Moore of Alabama will speak alongside a global collection of radical-right figures, including the leader of an Austrian political party founded by Nazi SS officers.
CPAC Hungary, an offshoot of the U.S.-based Conservative Political Action Conference, puts that country’s autocratic Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in a global spotlight for a second consecutive year, surrounding him with like-minded figures from across the world. Orbán is an authoritarian leader whom Tucker Carlson regularly lauded on his show before Fox News canceled it last month. In addition to Orbán’s history of corruption and hostility to press freedom, he has given voice to the great replacement conspiracy theory espoused by radical-right extremists.
The Austrian political party founded by Nazi SS officers, Austrian Freedom Party, or FPÖ, will send to CPAC Hungary their chairman, Herbert Kickl, along with European Parliament member Harald Vilimsky. These men will join other radical-right figures, including former Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša, who has a reputation for embracing conspiracy theories, Japanese politician and cult member Hiroaki “Jay” Aeba, and American political operative Jack Posobiec, who is known for his ties to the white supremacist movement and his history of promoting Russian intelligence-backed social media campaigns.
Hatewatch attempted to reach Gosar but could not get in contact with him. Hatewatch emailed Moore’s office but did not receive a response.
Gosar, who pushed the “Stop the Steal” lie that preceded the pro-Trump attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, is no stranger to appearing alongside extremists. He has previously stood with white nationalist and antisemite Nick Fuentes at his AFPAC conference.
https://www.kxan.com/news/political-new ... uns-votes/Oregon Republicans stay home ahead of abortion, guns votes
Republican state senators in Oregon didn’t show up to work on Wednesday, denying the Democrats who control the chamber a quorum and casting doubt on planned votes later this week on legislation pertaining to abortion rights, gun control and gender-affirming health care.
The office of Democratic Senate President Rob Wagner said 10 Republican senators and chamber’s lone independent were absent, and that four of the Republicans and the independent were absent without an excuse. The so-called walkout prevented the state Senate from having a quorum and holding its scheduled session.
Republicans said in a news release that they were protesting over bills not being written in plain language, claiming violations of procedural rules, state law and the state constitution. They didn’t mention the bills on abortion, gun control or transgender rights, which Democrats would be expected to pass.
“We cannot allow the Senate to operate in an unlawful and unconstitutional manner,” Republican Senate Minority Leader Tim Knopp said in the news release. “We demand that transparency and accountability be a part of the legislative process as intended.”
Democrats said they thought the moves were aimed at delaying votes on the bills relating to gun control, abortion rights and gender-affirming care.
“It wasn’t happenstantial that when we were about to consider those bills, that was when we saw people walking off the job,” Wagner said during a news conference.
GOP lawmakers employed the same strategy in 2020 to freeze legislation on climate change, among other things. But this walkout could test a new voter-approved measure that bans lawmakers who have 10 or more unexcused absences from running for re-election.
On April 20, Tennessee Representative Scotty Campbell (R) abruptly resigned hours after News Channel 5 Nashville reported that a legislative subcommittee found that he had sexually harassed two legislative interns.
According to the report, Campbell told one of the interns that "he was in his apartment imagining that we were performing sexual acts on one another and how it drove him crazy knowing that was happening so close to him." He also "offered to give her cannabis gummies to see her tattoos and piercings" and "begged [her] for several hugs." When the intern declined, she said Campbell "reached out his hand towards me and grabbed me around my neck."
On March 29, the Workplace Discrimination and Harassment Subcommittee sent Speaker Cameron Sexton (R) a memorandum stating that Campbell violated the legislature's Workplace Discrimination and Harassment Policy. But no disciplinary action was taken against Campbell, who was a member of Sexton's leadership team.
On Monday, a follow-up report revealed that the legislature spent at least $8,841 in taxpayer money to address the issues created by Campbell's conduct. One intern, who was living in the same apartment building as Campbell, was given $935 in cash to cover the cost of her rental deposit. She was told that "the person supplying the cash would be reimbursed by the state." The Director of Legislative Administration, Connie Ridley, who works for Sexton, paid $2,495 to move the intern's belongings to another part of the state. And another $5,411.76 was spent "for a 22-day stay at the TownPlace Suites near the Tennessee state Capitol," where the intern resided for the remainder of her internship.
The fact that the intern was provided with nearly $1,000 in cash suggests that there was an effort to cover up Campbell's behavior and the expenditures used to smooth things over. Further, according to an email the intern sent to her university, the intern was "implored by director Ridley not to communicate about the instances with anyone." The intern said that "[a]lthough I am incredibly grateful, it feels as if they are trying to buy my silence."
Sexton claimed that he was in the dark about the details of Campbell's conduct until it was reported by the media. "That process does not provide any details on any matter to the speakers. And so anything that happened, I am not privy to," Sexton said. Sexton also claimed he could not request details about Campbell's misconduct because it is "protected information."
Sexton's claims are directly contradicted by the legislature's sexual harassment policy. The policy states that, after a sexual harassment complaint is filed with "any staff director" or "the chief clerks," it must be "reported to the…Speaker." After the Speaker receives a sexual harassment complaint, the Speaker sends it to the Director of Legislative Administration, Ridley, to conduct a staff investigation. At the conclusion of that investigation, the report is sent to the Speaker.
The process does not preclude the Speaker from learning about sexual harassment complaints. It requires the Speaker to be informed. The Speaker has to be informed because any disciplinary measures, including loss of committee assignments or other privileges, can only be implemented by the Speaker.
Ridley is also not authorized to expend thousands of dollars to relocate an intern — or for any purpose — without the authorization of Sexton. As Speaker, Sexton is responsible for the House budget. Ridley cannot reallocate funds without Sexton's authorization.
Sexton claims that information about the expenditures to relocate an intern is "protected information that even I cannot get." But there is no basis for that claim either in the legislature's Workplace Discrimination and Harassment Policy or Tennessee law.
How things work in the Tennessee legislature
Cade Cothren, the chief of staff for Sexton's predecessor, former Speaker Glen Casada (R), said that Sexton's story is not credible. On Twitter, Cothren wrote that "the Speaker’s Office is involved in every facet of the sexual harassment complaint process, from beginning to end."
Cothren cited the 2019 sexual harassment complaint against former Representative Rick Staples (D), when Casada was Speaker. According to Cothren, "the Speaker’s office was kept in the loop regarding every interview and piece of information gathered from the investigation."
Cothren provided Popular Information with text messages between himself and Ridley, who was in charge of the investigations of both Staples and Campbell, that substantiate his claims. In a March 2019 message, Cothren asks Ridley for an update on the "Staples situation." Ridley responds that "it's getting worse," and they arrange a meeting for Ridley to brief Cothren.
Cothren responds by directing Ridley to move the workstation of one of Staples' staff members. A few days later, they arrange to meet again to discuss the status of the Staples investigation.
The sexual harassment policy in place today, signed by Sexton, is identical to the policy in place in 2019, signed by Casada.
The text messages undercut the idea, advanced by Sexton, that Ridley is prohibited from sharing detailed information about the investigation with the Speaker. Although the sexual harassment policy prohibits sharing information "to anyone not directly involved in an investigation," the Speaker has a central role in every investigation of misconduct. The policy also allows sharing information with anyone involved in "the implementation of corrective action," which also includes the Speaker.
Casada and Cothren are currently under federal criminal indictment in an unrelated matter. Ridley and Sexton did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Sexton has been playing Hide The Intern.On Monday, a follow-up report revealed that the legislature spent at least $8,841 in taxpayer money to address the issues created by Campbell's conduct. One intern, who was living in the same apartment building as Campbell, was given $935 in cash to cover the cost of her rental deposit. She was told that "the person supplying the cash would be reimbursed by the state." The Director of Legislative Administration, Connie Ridley, who works for Sexton, paid $2,495 to move the intern's belongings to another part of the state. And another $5,411.76 was spent "for a 22-day stay at the TownPlace Suites near the Tennessee state Capitol," where the intern resided for the remainder of her internship.
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC)
@SenThomTillis
said at the Bipartisan Policy Center the government should not require food workers to wash their hands after using the bathroom
“I don’t have any problem with Starbucks if they choose to opt out of this policy as long as they post a sign that says we don’t require our employees to wash their hands after leaving the restroom. The market will take care of that. It’s one example”
This is already a problem the Republican Senator just made worse
I think this may be a carry over perhaps of Fauci-hate with his advice to "wash your hands" during COVID. They became anti-hand washers/anti vaxers/etc.Philly Boondoggle
Thomas Massie @RepThomasMassie wrote: Disinformation,
Malinformation, &
Misinformation
typically all refer to information the people in power would prefer you can’t access or share.
A Texas legislative committee recommended Saturday that GOP Rep. Bryan Slaton be expelled for inappropriate sexual conduct with a 19-year-old intern. Slaton, from Royse City, could face an expulsion vote by the full House as early as Tuesday.
Slaton, 45, has declined to comment on the allegations, and did not immediately respond to a phone message left by The Associated Press Saturday afternoon, but his attorney last month called the claims “outrageous” and “false.” The House General Investigative Committee’s recommendation was first reported by The Texas Tribune.
In the written investigation report, the committee said Slaton gave the 19-year-old intern and another young staffer alcohol at his home, that he had sex with the intern after she was intoxicated, and that he later showed the intern a threatening email but said everything would be fine if the incident was kept quiet. Slaton also asked a fellow lawmaker to keep his behavior secret, the committee said.
“Slaton’s misconduct is grave and serious,” the committee members wrote in a report, and that he furnished alcohol to a minor, violated employment laws, abused his position of power and engaged in harassment.
I will admit my first and uncharitable thought was "this is only happening because it's a safe seat and there's no chance it will go (D) in a special election."Volkonski wrote: ↑Sat May 06, 2023 6:32 pm Texas panel says lawmaker should be expelled for misconduct
https://apnews.com/article/texas-slaton ... b591cc567c
A Texas legislative committee recommended Saturday that GOP Rep. Bryan Slaton be expelled for inappropriate sexual conduct with a 19-year-old intern. Slaton, from Royse City, could face an expulsion vote by the full House as early as Tuesday.
Slaton, 45, has declined to comment on the allegations, and did not immediately respond to a phone message left by The Associated Press Saturday afternoon, but his attorney last month called the claims “outrageous” and “false.” The House General Investigative Committee’s recommendation was first reported by The Texas Tribune.
In the written investigation report, the committee said Slaton gave the 19-year-old intern and another young staffer alcohol at his home, that he had sex with the intern after she was intoxicated, and that he later showed the intern a threatening email but said everything would be fine if the incident was kept quiet. Slaton also asked a fellow lawmaker to keep his behavior secret, the committee said.
“Slaton’s misconduct is grave and serious,” the committee members wrote in a report, and that he furnished alcohol to a minor, violated employment laws, abused his position of power and engaged in harassment.
*As long as that President is a Democrat.Becker News @NewsBecker wrote: Rep. Nancy Mace: “Look, if a former president can be investigated, so too can a current president.”
We went for a ride,Because he comes from a reliably Republican district, so the Republicans can take bows for being tough on one of their own without paying any political price for doing so.
Republicans will not mind their own fucking business ...
