i suppose you believe an actual NATO country is next on the chopping block. Heh.

Do you also suppose a "chopping block" is comical? But yes, you do -- in point of fact -- do a whole lot of assuming and supposing on this forum on behalf of other posters and quite obviously an inordinate amount of sighing, which are all obviously infinitely easier than addressing the actual points other posters have made. Fast forward to your rinsing and repeating of your misinformation and discussions of appeasement on and endless loop.

I reiterate that the information you posted is patently false. Your supposition and assumption on my behalf as well as others on this commentary says a lot more about you than it does about me or anyone else.

Oh, and let me know when Ukraine wins this war and regains all of its sovereign territory.

I can definitely keep you informed regarding the facts, and I commend you for seeking out a more reliable source than the propagandists feeding you the asinine drivel you've been regurgitating on loop in these commentaries.

You can be so amusing, at times ...

You put words in my mouth and then find it amusing? So then, you can imagine the laughs the comrades have when witnessing the regurgitation of their dezinformatsia.

Oh, and let me know when Ukraine wins this war and regains all of its sovereign territory.

You can be so amusing, at times ...

After that, Zelensky would have been wise to follow Israeli advice and negotiate for a Russian withdrawal. But, instead, Z listened to the Americans.

This misinformation is patently false yet still being boosted by Russia and various assorted other right-wing useful idiots. Anyone informing you or who actually believes that Russia was interested in negotiating with Ukraine is either uninformed or seeking to misinform and/or totally missing the point of Putin's invasion (not his first invasion of Ukraine... not by a long shot).

Please don't confuse Putin's pretext for Russian military aggression with the actual facts: Putin does not recognize the very existence of Ukraine. Period.

Okay, here goes ...

It is impossible to win this militarily!

No kidding!

For every Hamas militant killed there is a Palestinian civilian that is radicalized and will take the place of that dead militant.

And, for every Palestinian child killed there are many civilians that are radicalized...

I think Netanyahu will keep the military campaign going as long as he can to avoid getting kicked out of office.

I wouldn't be surprised if that is the only reason he keeps the military campaign going. But, there is an opportunity for him to leave the world stage as a statesman instead of a dangerously incompetent leader. The trouble is he always seems to keep coming back. You know what they say about a bad weed.

And, since I'm feeling the need to be abused, ahem, there is no way for Ukraine to win militarily, either. Check that ... Ukraine already did win, militarily, when the Russians were prevented early on from taking Kyiv. THAT was the Ukrainian victory!

After that, Zelensky would have been wise to follow Israeli advice and negotiate for a Russian withdrawal. But, instead, Z listened to the Americans.

After I have something to eat, I might expand upon how I think that negotiation might have gone and what the future after that might have held ... if, that is, you show some mercy on a poor girl's soul and promise not to be too unkind. :)

(1) It is impossible to win this militarily! Even if Israel could nuke Gaza there’s still Hamas outside of Gaza, in Qatar for example.

(2) For every Hamas militant killed there is a Palestinian civilian that is radicalized and will take the place of that dead militant.

(3) I think Netanyahu will keep the military campaign going as long as he can to avoid getting kicked out of office.

In fact, radicalized even in that I now believe that it’s too late for the “two state solution”...

I came to that conclusion years ago, having witnessed many half-hearted attempts.

But, now, I think there may be more hope for a two-state solution than ever before as interests from many quarters are aligning since the horrific October 7 attacks and war in Gaza.

Of course, it will take a huge effort and enlightened political leadership all around, as per usual, which haven't always been present and may still not be.

Thanks, Kick! I always look forward to your put downs.

That's an underwhelming (but not wholly unexpected) attempt at a response but a huge improvement over your standard "sigh," but to MtnCaddy's very valid points is also far easier than actually addressing anyone else's very valid points.

They get my day started off on the right foot.

Sigh. We're all just here for your pleasure, Elizabeth. :) *laughs* *shakes head*

Sorry, like a lot of 88 yr-old fogies, I'm of the generation that has to call for a grandkid to help turn the gawdam computer on in the morning. I don't even know how to "provide a link".

I would never blame anyone's age for computer illiteracy, particularly when I'm quite familiar with a plethora of people of your "generation" who absolutely suffer no similar affliction and can run circles around the youngsters. If you were female, you'd get your ass chewed out by the board mother for your language, so you've got that going for you, and I would definitely say I like your form were your spelling not so demonstrably atrocious. ;)

However, interestingly enough, the link that YOU PROVIDED ME 'https//taxfoundation . . ." etc. appears to be the very place where I found the "top half vs bottom half" statistic.

Of course, and (not surprisingly) it's regularly updated to reflect current data. Math and science!

And also interesting is the fact that the old statistic I quoted (the slightly over 4% for the bottom half) is no longer current.

Yes, the demonstrable evidence of ever-changing income inequality. The data clearly shows how lower income households (that you describe as rich) benefitted from the added benefit of COVID relief measures in 2020. Math and science!

The most recent figure ( I think it was for 2020) for the bottom half is 2.3%, down by over 50% from the earlier year I had researched.

Which begs the question, why would anyone use old data in a post attempting to refute CW's very recent claim? Rhetorical question, though.

According to the IRS website, the top half of American earners pay 96% of all the money they collect, and the bottom 50% of earners pays the other 4%.

~ Stucki

*
Explain your math; specifically, how is 2.3% less than 50% of the 4% you claimed? Maybe one of us sucks at math. Maybe I'm (still) tipsy from fighting for my right to parrrrrrrrrrrty yesterday.

Lastly, based on the updated data you've acknowledged, do you still maintain that the top 50% of all earners being anyone making above $42,184 meets your description of "the rich paying all the income taxes"?

Don't answer that. :)

He's corrupt and a horrible human being, as well as a subpar leader. But yes, much higher standard.

Remember that time the Chiefs came from behind and beat the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl? And then-president Dotard Donald tweeted to congratulate the "Great State of Kansas" instead of the Great State of Missouri where the Kansas City Chiefs are actually 100% located? Moron!

Full disclosure: I'm a Texan but actually born in Missouri. The Chiefs -- and Patrick Mahomes, for that matter -- were born in Texas and moved to Missouri.

So why were you rooting against our Patrick this season!? You used to love us. ;)

https://www.chrisweigant.com/2021/02/05/friday-talking-points-republicans-in-disarray-2/#comment-174902

* Sorry -- not sorry - Moron MAGAts cheering for the 49ers because you fell for the absolutely asinine right-wingnut Swift-Kelce "psyop" conspiracy theory nonsense, but it was unforgettable good times to watch the Righty Rubes do a complete 180 and actually cheer on the team of Nancy Pelosi -- and Kamala Harris, for that matter -- from the deep Blue Democratic Great State of California that they very recently demonstrably hated because of their kneeling as a peaceful protest to bring attention to racial inequality just because their Orange Cult Leader (idiot) insisted it was a protest against the flag and anti-American. If the MAGA moron conspiracy-theory wingnuts ever wonder why people call them "sheeple," they need look no further than their laughable pathetic regurgitation of the conspiracy propaganda fed to them by their media handlers and the breathtaking speed at which they performed a complete 180 to support the 49ers in a hysterical performance of political whiplash! But I digress.

* Sorry -- not sorry -- 49ers!

* Yassssssssss Chiefs! :)

Just finished that 276 page Israeli tome that you provided. You advised me that it had elements of pro-Israeli propaganda (yep) but that it explains Israeli public opinion and I found this to be spot on! But it largely agrees with things I know to be true.

Along with other things that I’ve learned since October I am now considerably more pro Israel than before. In fact, radicalized even in that I now believe that it’s too late for the “two state solution” and considering that Jordan aka Trans-Jordan was part of Palestine the Palestinians should be resettled there. Both Gazans and perhaps some of the West Bankers.

I know, I know — ethnic cleansing! But Arabs have fought against the Jews over this matter for a hundred years now and Israel has to prioritize its security.

The Republicans are trying to defund the IRS to give their masters a better chance to avoid paying their fair share.

If the rich are abiding by the law, I suppose you have to say they're paying a higher percentage, do you not? Otherwise, your tax system is not 'progressive'!!

So you don’t believe that the rich pay a smaller percentage of their income than the 90%, the rest of us?

Re "So obviously you will provide that link".

Sorry, like a lot of 88 yr-old fogies, I'm of the generation that has to call for a grandkid to help turn the gawdam computer on in the morning. I don't even know how to "provide a link". However, interestingly enough, the link that YOU PROVIDED ME 'https//taxfoundation . . ." etc. appears to be the very place where I found the "top half vs bottom half" statistic. And also interesting is the fact that the old statistic I quoted (the slightly over 4% for the bottom half) is no longer current. The most recent figure ( I think it was for 2020) for the bottom half is 2.3%, down by over 50% from the earlier year I had researched.

Exactly!

We all schooled him... again. He's spewed this "all the rich" crap before. :)

Exactly this! Also, as you know, "middle class" is a relative term:

https://247wallst.com/special-report/2023/07/12/what-you-need-to-actually-earn-to-be-middle-class-in-your-state/

Stucki should take that drivel of his and travel to New York where middle class is estimated to begin around $60,000... better yet, travel to Mississippi and explain to them how they're actually "all rich."

Mississippi
* Middle household-income range $47,786 – $76,397
* Median household income: $48,716 (the lowest)
* Share of income earned by middle class (middle 20%): 14.4% (13th lowest)
* Share of income earned by wealthiest 5% of households: 22.1% (21st lowest)
* Cost of living: 12.2% less than U.S. avg. (the lowest)

*
Better take a firearm, Stucki. :)

According to the IRS website, the top half of American earners pay 96% of all the money they collect, and the bottom 50% of earners pays the other 4%.

So obviously you will then supply that link?

Fact check: False

The IRS collects a whole lot more than just Federal Income Tax (FIT). "All the money they collect" also includes payroll taxes like OASDI, Medicare, FICA, FUTA and FIT (but obviously not just FIT).

Here let me help you:

https://taxfoundation.org/data/all/federal/summary-latest-federal-income-tax-data-2023-update/

The "Income Split Point" of the top 50% of all earners is $42,184.

If "the rich" are paying all the income taxes, how exactly could any and all tax cuts NOT be "for the rich"???

Because only a misinformed or moronic or a disingenuous right-wingnut bullshit artist would make the asinine claim that a person making $42,184 is "the rich paying all the taxes."

Hillary's thumb drive disappeared during that infamous presidential campaign in which the Russians hacked the DNC after her office sent it through the regular mail and hasn't been seen since!

You're combining separate server events as if they're related. The Russians hacking of the DNC servers in 2016 had absolutely nothing to do with Clinton's aide, Monica Hanley, who mailed a thumb drive in 2014 that went missing. Hillary Clinton's emails weren't stored on the DNC server.

I'm also curious whether or not you read my response carefully or maybe just failed to comprehend its actual contents because your takeaway seems to be that I'm defending Clinton (not remotely) when my comment was clearly and obviously questioning your ever-present and incessant unwarranted defense of James Comey and your new defense of Biden by actual deflection to Clinton, and I included a 500+ page report containing facts of which I'm already obviously aware.

Allow me to reiterate my main points since I'm not sure what you read or managed to comprehend:

(1) Your deflection to Hillary in defense of Biden is comparing apples to oranges. I'm defending neither of them, just stating it's a pointless exercise. If you had wanted to defend Biden by making comparisons, Trump is your huckleberry [correct person for the job]... which becomes immediately obvious to anyone who's actually read Hur's report.

(2) Your defense of Comey ad nauseam when the Office of Inspector General has already made clear (in that 500+ page report at the link I provided) that Comey's July 5, 2016, announcement violated DOJ's media policy and may have violated regulations regarding the public release of information and also that Comey's October 28, 2016, correspondence only days before the election was a serious error in judgment.

On occasion I will wonder where it is and, more importantly, in whose hands it may be. Ahem.

You certainly do still seem abnormally obsessed about it; no doubt about that, but her staff mailed it in 2014 so you can divest yourself of the prattling BS right-wingnut rhetoric you keep spewing about it.

What she did in the overall was far more reckless than merely keeping some classified documents at home.

Biden also did not merely keep some classified documents at home, and I reiterate that your deflection to Clinton in defense of Biden and Comey is laughable in addition to the fact that it makes you sound like a cringeworthy right-wingnut propagandist in the attempt.

Besides, she is no Joe Biden and never will be.

Thank you for making my point.

Not by a long shot.

No need to piss all over your own drivel any further; the rest of us here obviously already understand that.

Which is why she couldn't even beat Trump. ;)

I already said your rhetoric sounded like a right-wingnut propagandist; there's seriously no need to keep proving it. :)

I am sure the article said a year…because Garland did not announce that they were officially investigating them for January 6 until a year after it occurred. Official announcements just mean they have enough evidence against the person to prepare for charging them with the crimes. The FBI will have been investigating members of the mafia for decades before they may get to “officially” announce an investigation is being started. My point is that Garland is too good at his job to drag his feet on investigating criminal acts. He just doesn't feel the need to brag about it.

Yes, the 91% top marginal rate was a carryover from the economics of WWII, but by the time Reagan came along such rates were no longer justifiable by any means other than pure socialism.

Dubya's and Trump's rate cuts made far less sense and were probably a mistake, especially in view of the magnitude of the gov't deficits we consistently run these days.

Good point. I thought I read an article that said it was a year but I may be wrong. I’ll see if I can dig it up.

Yes you’re right. Throughout the 50s and 60s the top marginal rate was 91% - that one for you and ten for me!

Oddly enough our GDP, public services, the middle class and especially the deficit were in far better shape than today, no?

Reagan came along and started cutting taxes on the rich — the folks who least need a tax cut. Add Dubya’s and then Trump’s additional tax cuts and Americas has kinda gone to shit.

[55] was in response to your [3]. Sorry for not addressing you by name.

R

Not only did he allow Trumpanzie Special Prosecutor Hur to do a Comey on Joe but he didn’t even begin to consider investigating January 6 for over a year! Special Council Jack Smith wasn’t appointed until December of 2022.

While I am not exactly thrilled with the speed with which Garland’s DOJ has gone after Trump, I'm afraid you might be mistaken in your statement that the DOJ didn't start investigating January 6 for over a year. The DOJ did not officially announce they had opened an investigation until a year after the attempted insurrection, but law enforcement only announces they are investigating someone when that person is going to be served papers and they will need an attorney. They were investigating January 6 as soon as the Capitol was secured on January 6! Law enforcement doesn't alert criminals they are being investigated until they have much of the investigation well on its way.

Jack Smith was only able to move as quickly as he could because much of the grunt work necessary to indict on criminal charges had already been done. He stepped into running the largest DOJ investigation in our nation’s history because the evidence the investigations had collected warranted his being brought in. The public believes that we should be aware of everything our government does — as it is being done — but that is not how things work.

That is absolutely true, but Sales taxes and the rest of the non-income taxes are NEVER the subject of complaints about "Tax Cuts for the Rich". When Dems/Libs are complaining about 'tax cuts for the rich', its ALWAYS about income taxes.

Almost half of Palestinians still [want armed conflict], no matter how badly they lose. And THAT is a dramatic improvement over twenty years ago.

I see. So, let me get this straight ... if Gaza is razed to the ground and a high enough percentage of the population killed and what's left of them displaced elsewhere, there might be improvement enough to uncover a path to a real and just peace?

I don't see how ...

every other strategy anyone could come up with has been tried and failed spectacularly.

I think the current Israeli strategy will, too...again. And, worse still, if left to its own volition, there may not be any hope left for peaceful coexistence for anyone, Israelis or Palestinians.

Or, maybe you're right and after enough death and destruction, Palestinians will see the light and denounce the obviously failed leadership and misguided sponsorship they have had for 76 years and demand a better future for themselves and their children.

If you count ALL taxes like payroll taxes, sales taxes etc the bottom 90% pay a HIGHER percentage of their income than do your betters in the top 10%. YOUR betters, not mine.

I think there needs to be more action and less thought.

I hope you’re kidding here, for what I hope are obvious reasons.

Also, phrases like “there ought to be a way” and “smart policy making” without the details are simply useless. The devil is in the details yada yada

According to the IRS website, the top half of American earners pay 96% of all the money they collect, and the bottom 50% of earners pays the other 4%.

If "the rich" are paying all the income taxes, how exactly could any and all tax cuts NOT be "for the rich"???

As awful as Bibi and his policies have been, maybe that's what some Palestinian leaders need to see themselves in a mirror.

Really?

For the purposes of our little discussion here on Chris's blog, I think there needs to be more action and less thought.

Because, you know what thought did - it only thought it did. Heh.

Well, there aren't any easier ways to go about that than by indiscriminate bombing of an entire population. I still think that there are smarter ways to prevent mass murder but they take a lot more effort and involve extensive coalition-building and strategic targeting of Hamas and other terrorist groups.

Just as long as 'a lot' doesn't mean more death and destruction of Gaza. The question is is there a path to any solution if Gaza is destroyed and all of its citizens permanently displaced or under the rubble or dead of starvation and disease.

A lot would have to happen between where we are now and a potential solution. However, an endgame I would suggest is confederation. Two mostly independent states, one military and one economic system.

Of course! Especially because there is NO military solution to this Hamas problem. Even if they killed every Hamas member in Gaza there are plenty abroad and this conflict just created another generation of radicalized Arab youth.

Poet I’m starting to suspect that Israel is held to a far higher standard than any other country.

But, this Sunday my new favourite radio station is bucking the football trend and celebrating 60 years since the Beatles first appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show on Feb 9, 1964 and their facebook page promises to be a lot of fun. I'll be dipping in and out of it all on Sunday.

Rafah is s city of children. It should not be a city of bloodshed.

Rafah's Children Need Life-saving Support

Maybe a two-state solution is not the answer. I don't know. But, what I do know is that so long as Israel continues on the current path - war to depopulate the Gaza Strip, building new settlements in the West Bank and offering no hope whatsoever to the Palestinian people - and is supported in those efforts unconditionally by the US, the Jewish state won't find the peace and security it needs and the US and its military personnel may not fare much better.

So, if not a two-state solution, then what? Whatever it will be will definitely require some very astute political leadership from all corners of the planet and a level of imagination rarely seen, if ever.

The problem with Israel's 'over the top' response to the October 7 attacks is that it seems to have at its core the complete depopulation of Gaza, pushing the Palestinians out and offering no hope for ever recognizing their rights or aspirations for statehood, seemingly with little interest in saving the lives of the hostages, none of whom have been rescued by the IDF.

Between militaristic encroachment and unilateral compromise, there should be enough ground to find a way out of this war that neutralizes Hamas and formalizes a process that can work toward solving the puzzle of two peoples living together on one small parcel of land.

So…ethnic cleansing it is! Clear out Gaza and the entire West Bank and that’s solves a lot of problems!

That is certainly true of Hamas. What is also true is that Israelis and Palestinians are losing the capacity to see each other as fellow human beings. When that is completely lost, then there will be no answer to the problem but fight to the death.

I've heard that before ... that there is a Palestinian state and its name is Jordan.

To suggest that Biden doesn't know who the respective presidents of Mexico and Egypt are is ridiculous. Of course, this wasn't the first time Biden made this same slip of the tongue but, still.

Here's what I would like to see over the course of the next several months ...

Biden making an address from the WH to the American people on a monthly basis, if not weekly, giving them a run down on what he is doing for them and what Republicans are trying to take away from them. Then entertain a few unscripted questions from reporters who are actually able to conduct themselves in a professional manner. Unlike the unruly mob the other day, especially that one CNN 'reporter' in particular. Lay some ground rules, in other words.

For the record, criticizing fucking Bibi and criticizing not fucking Israel is NOT anti-semitism. But Israel has been offering more than hope to the Palestinians since 1948! The Palestinians never lost an opportunity to lose an opportunity. After all this time I’m of the opinion that fuck ‘em — no more! It’s clear they don’t want to live in peace with the Jews, so how can Israel live along side of them?

I say bribe Jordan and resettle the whole lot of them there.

I

I agree, wholeheartedly!

If the Supreme Court does refuse to take up Trump's appeal, it could do so by a short and unsigned order without taking up a bunch of unnecessary time. And as we said, if they are politically savvy, they will issue such a dismissal on the same day that their ruling on the ballot access case drops.

Hopefully, that is precisely what will happen.

Point number one ... I don't get emotional talking politics or take anything personally in that regard, not even with you and Kick!

My displeasure with Joe Biden is that he and his crack foreign policy team try to spin one failure after another into success. That is a very dangerous thing for a big nation to do and the very last thing I would ever have expected from Biden.

My support for Biden always came primarily from a foreign policy perspective but I never realized just how aligned with the NeoCons he has been over the years - a blindspot of mine, I suppose. So that realization has also been a big part of my disappointment.

Whaddup, Girlfriend? Are you okay?

I'd start directing that sort of sentiment toward Biden, if I were you. He's on a downward electoral spiral and he needs to do something about it ... yesterday!

I recently re-watched the extremely powerful and unforgettable French documentary Shoah, first and second era, which aired on TCM to commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

No living and breathing human being who knows the history of the Jewish people and of Israel can fail to support the existence of the state of Israel and the safety and security of Israeli citizens.

But, that can't mean that constructive criticism of the current Israeli government is off limits when it acts in ways that are detrimental to its future. When it refuses to give hope to a Palestinian population who is stateless and may remain that way forever.

Maybe a two-state solution is not the answer. I don't know. But, what I do know is that so long as Israel continues on the current path - war to depopulate the Gaza Strip, building new settlements in the West Bank and offering no hope whatsoever to the Palestinian people - and is supported in those efforts unconditionally by the US, the Jewish state won't find the peace and security it needs and the US and its military personnel may not fare much better.

So, if not a two-state solution, then what? Whatever it will be will definitely require some very astute political leadership from all corners of the planet and a level of imagination rarely seen, if ever.

Thanks Brother, this is the best compliment that I’ve received in years and it warms the cockles of my Libtard heart. As well you know, examining information that challenges my thinking is hard and unpleasant.

But I’m better at it than I used to be and not as good as I sim to end up.

What happened, Elizabeth? When I arrived here on the shores of Weigantia in 2019 I recall you as the staunchest of Biden fans. Overboard even, IMO, but it was kinda cute.

So Joe paddles Trump and proves to be the most transformative President since LBJ and FDR before him. Rallies and unified Europe(!) against Putin’s escalated war against Ukraine (which started in 2014, hello) fixes America’s economy better than any other country and has a list of substantial accomplishments longer than my arm.

Nowadays you are the Weigantian hardest on Joe and for apparently emotional and not research based reasons. This is why Kick and I continually need to edify you — you don’t appear to read up (your silly William Bradley who’s so proud of his work that he doesn’t post it online — doesn’t count) you just blurt out emotional blurtings and a lot like the douchebag formerly known as michale you do not engage with us. No give and take.

It’ll be Trump v. Biden and Joe and the Democrats are going to tsunami the Repugs — have you noticed our election results since 2018? After which the GOP will likely break apart.

Whaddup, Girlfriend? Are you okay?

Hillary's thumb drive disappeared during that infamous presidential campaign in which the Russians hacked the DNC after her office sent it through the regular mail and hasn't been seen since! On occasion I will wonder where it is and, more importantly, in whose hands it may be. Ahem.

What she did in the overall was far more reckless than merely keeping some classified documents at home.

Besides, she is no Joe Biden and never will be. Not by a long shot. Which is why she couldn't even beat Trump. ;)

The real story isn’t half as pretty as the one you’ve heard. The real story is, the miller’s daughter with her long golden hair wants to catch a lord, a prince, a rich man’s son, so she goes to the moneylender and borrows for a ring and a necklace and decks herself out for the festival. And she’s beautiful enough, so the lord, the prince, the rich man’s son notices her, and dances with her, and tumbles her in a quiet hayloft when the dancing is over, and afterwards he goes home and marries the rich woman his family has picked out for him. Then the miller’s despoiled daughter tells everyone that the moneylender’s in league with the devil, and the village runs him out or maybe even stones him, so at least she gets to keep the jewels for a dowry, and the blacksmith marries her before that firstborn child comes along a little early.
~Naomi Novik

thanks for reading. that's one thing i really appreciate about you, your ability to accommodate new information and re-assess your opinions. that doesn't mean we'll always agree, but it makes forming consensus a heck of a lot easier. not very many people on this planet are capable of that kind of self-reflection.

JL

Comey was in a tight spot made so by the candidate's husband's not so secret meeting with the AG.

Nope... still nope. No matter how many times you repeat this BS, it will never magically become reality. Comey was an investigator who overstepped his role (myriad times) during an election year and broke Department of Justice regulations when he interjected his opinion regarding an investigation where the subject was not being charged.

Hur, on the other hand, had no reason whatsoever to editorialize the way he did, especially by bringing up the death of the president's son.

Yes, that was tacky, but honestly, actually, Hur was a special counsel required to give his reasons in a report to the DOJ as to his findings and recommendations. Was he also a Republican who knew exactly how to hurt President Biden during a political year while doing that? Yes, he obviously did.

Now, if Dr. Biden had made a surprise visit to Garland's office ...er, plane, then Hur would have been in the same precarious position of Comey and in a definite damned if you do and damned if you don't kind of situation.

Dr. Biden could have crawled up Merrick Garland's backside and taken an 8-hour nap; it wouldn't have changed the DOJ rules regarding the role of a special prosecutor one iota. Same with Clinton and Lynch. Comey violated department regulations. Period.

Of course, Dr. Biden wouldn't have done what Bill Clinton did and president Biden certainly didn't do what Hillary did.

Actually, Biden had a plethora of loose classified documents found at multiple locations, including stored in his residence garage. Hillary had evidence of emails stored on a server that contained classified information, some that were actually "up-classified" by other departments only after it was sent to her.

As for Comey and his investigators, they also did not follow standard DOJ procedures in their handling of the investigation into Hillary Clinton's email server. Comey himself used a personal Gmail to send himself work communications to his private residence:

https://www.justice.gov/file/1071991/download

In a lengthy investigation, the Office of Inspector General found that Comey's July 5, 2016, announcement violated DOJ's media policy and may have violated regulations regarding the public release of information and also that Comey's October 28, 2016, correspondence only days before the election was a serious error in judgment.

You obviously are free to continue to idolize this man and make excuses for him, just thought you should know how ridiculous you sound when you constantly keep doing it when the FBI itself accepted the conclusions of the IG... even if you (after all these years) seemingly cannot. :)

Bears are cute and cuddly and an amazing creature -- those aren't the bears we're talking about in this bill. We're talking about the ones that are on crack, and they break your door down and they're standing in your living room growling and tearing your house apart. So when you run into one of these crack bears, you should be able to shoot it. Period.

~ Jason Shoaf, Republican

Florida man on crack unaware Second Amendment well regulates right of the people of a free State to arm against bears.

Duh.

He's going to have to work very, very, very hard to overcome it and that effort better start tomorrow and continue on every single bloody day until the election in November.

Comey was in a tight spot made so by the candidate's husband's not so secret meeting with the AG.

Hur, on the other hand, had no reason whatsoever to editorialize the way he did, especially by bringing up the death of the president's son. Now, if Dr. Biden had made a surprise visit to Garland's office ...er, plane, then Hur would have been in the same precarious position of Comey and in a definite damned if you do and damned if you don't kind of situation.

Of course, Dr. Biden wouldn't have done what Bill Clinton did and president Biden certainly didn't do what Hillary did. Heh.

Not only did he allow Trumpanzie Special Prosecutor Hur to do a Comey on Joe but he didn’t even begin to consider investigating January 6 for over a year! Special Council Jack Smith wasn’t appointed until December of 2022.

It appears that (like Comey and Hillary) his top priority is to protect the DoJ, not do his job.

Our power went out for a couple of days — it happens when we get three feet of snow all at once. Fortunately I downloaded that Jewish history thing you kindly provided and I’m well into it.

While it puts a positive spin on almost everything the Israelis have done (e.g. Deir Yassin) I’ve researched the history and am far more sympathetic than I was before towards Israel.

Would you agree that (as throughout history across the world) blaming the Jews is in order to distract the rubes from seeing that their shitty and corrupt rulers are their real problem? I’ve never understood anti-Semitism except as a product of jealousy more than anything else. But as with anti-trans Republicans in America I think it’s easier to get the rubes to hate than to get them to think.

The other Arab countries** clearly don’t give a fuck about the Palestinians or else they’d accept Palestinian refugees, no? And repeatedly attacking Israel and repeatedly turning down a two-state solution leads me to believe that Israeli security HAS to be paramount. As such, I no longer see a two-state solution as being in Israel’s interests.

**Funny how almost all of them no longer have any Jews to speak of.

Our billionaire-owned SCOTUS knows that they are held in contempt by arguable the majority of Americans (see Citizens United and Dobbs and Ginny Thomas) so I doubt they’d do anything with the immunity issue via declining to accept the case.