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Top 10 Conservative Idiots #3-8: Nobody Beats The Mooch! Edition
Last edited Wed Aug 2, 2017, 06:54 PM - Edit history (1)
Top 10 Conservative Idiots #3-8: Nobody Beats The Mooch! Edition
Welcome back to the Top 10 Conservative Idiots! Hey SiriusXM, please stop asking me to turn on my inactive radio because we both know that ain’t happening. We are back everybody! I was originally going to talk about how crappy the Emoji Movie is, but we have to talk about one of my favorite subjects – creepy clowns. Remember back during the first season of the Top 10 when I did several deep dives on creepy clowns? Well guess what? They’re back in the news everybody! Yeah!!!! Why you might ask? Because there’s a hotel off highway 395 in Nevada between Las Vegas and Reno. It’s called the Clown Motel – and it’s quite possibly the creepiest thing ever. In fact let’s show a picture of it:
That looks like a scene of a horror movie, doesn’t it? And if this couldn’t possibly be any creepier – the Clown Motel is right next to Toonapah’s first ever cemetery! Yeah that’s a lot of creepy in one small area! And here’s my favorite part of the story. I can’t get enough of creepy clowns in the news, and this might be one of the creepiest things I’ve ever heard and seen:
Maybe this is where all the creepy clowns we talked about last year were coming from! You seriously can’t get much creepier than that! I mean the Clown Motel was the subject of an indie horror flick last year called “Clown Motel”! this is a real thing! Look it up! And the fact that the owner wants to sell the Clown Motel... I mean who would buy it?
Enough of the intro, we got a lot of conservative idiocy to cover. But first, it feels like an eternity since John Oliver last did an episode of Last Week Tonight but he’s back! And this time he utterly destroys the products hawked by Alex Jones:
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Whew. Where do we begin this week when so much batshit crazy happened last week? Taking the first slot is the Senate Republicans – who lost bigly this week in the wake of their latest disastrous attempt to repeal and replace Obamacare. Taking the second slot we’re going to explore the adventures of Donald Trump and Anthony Scaramucci in our new ongoing segment “DT And The Mooch” (2). In the number 3 slot this week is the triumphant return of the Bathroom Police (3). So Trump dropped the big one last week in regards to whether or not transgender people can serve in the military, and in typical Trump fashion, turned it into a massive shit show in order to please the bigots. Premier Trump is going to take up slots 4, 5 and 6 this week. In the number 4 slot – we’re going to talk about a kid named Pickle. If you must know – Pickle is a 9 year old from Stockton, California, who did nothing more than write a letter to President Trump, and Sarah Huckabee Sanders read the letter and just… wow. In the fifth slot we’re going to tell you about how Trump (5) referred to the White House as a "dump". I mean really... what the fuck? Have you seen his taste in interior decorating? In the number 6 slot we’re also going to tell you how criminal gangster Donald Trump (6) loves our boys in blue. I’m not talking about the Dodgers. I’m talking about the police. And what he said this week will make your blood curdle. In the number 7 slot, we're going to talk about Climate Change Deniers (7) because Al Gore's latest movie "An Inconvenient Truth 2: An Inconvenient Sequel" is hitting theaters and they are in full on denial mode! Taking the 8th slot, we have a brand new installment of “How Is This Still A Thing”, and we’re going to ask: The Seth Rich Conspiracy- How Is This Still A Thing? In the number 9 (NEIN!!!) slot we’ve got another installment of “I Need A Drink” and this time we’re going to talk about… ugh. Justin Beiber (9). I don’t want to talk about Justin Beiber, but did you know he’s religious now? Yeah. And did you know he ran over a guy? Yeah. And we will end this week with the next leg of our World Tour 2017. This time we’re continuing our journey through Scandinavia. This week we’re going to the land of Ikea, Volvo, electric cars, meatballs and of course some awesome death metal – Sweden! Plus, we’ve got some live music for you from one of Sweden’s best rock bands of the moment – Ghost! Enjoy! And as always don’t forget the key!
[font size="8"]Senate Republicans
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You know the Trump administration and the GOP have fallen on some hard times. And I will say watching from the sidelines. I know it’s been six months since Trump took over the White House but it feels like a fucking eternity doesn’t it? I mean the Trump administration is hurting so bad from last week’s big vote on “Repeal & Replace” that it’s forced Trump to do this. We might need the Sad Hulk Music here.
&t=6s
"Every month we outraise the Democrats puts us ahead of the curve and ensures we have the resources to cut through the noise of the FAKE NEWS MEDIA and fight back against the left-wing elites trying to bring down our agenda,” one of the emails, sent on July 31, read.
Another informed Trump supporters: "This month (just like every month since the election) Democrats are doing everything in their power to obstruct our AMERICA FIRST agenda."
"But here on Team Trump, since 2017 began, we’ve been PROVING that the American people are behind our President. Our fundraising numbers are unbeatable, Friend, and we want to keep winning with your help,” it added.
Several emails sent out to supporters highlighted the president’s ongoing battle with the media, as well as his failure to repeal Obamacare; laying the blame firmly at the feet of Democrats despite GOP senators failing to give Trump the numbers he needed to see the Senate healthcare bill pass.
http://www.rawstory.com/2017/07/trump-team-asks-supporters-for-a-dollar-donation/
Another informed Trump supporters: "This month (just like every month since the election) Democrats are doing everything in their power to obstruct our AMERICA FIRST agenda."
"But here on Team Trump, since 2017 began, we’ve been PROVING that the American people are behind our President. Our fundraising numbers are unbeatable, Friend, and we want to keep winning with your help,” it added.
Several emails sent out to supporters highlighted the president’s ongoing battle with the media, as well as his failure to repeal Obamacare; laying the blame firmly at the feet of Democrats despite GOP senators failing to give Trump the numbers he needed to see the Senate healthcare bill pass.
http://www.rawstory.com/2017/07/trump-team-asks-supporters-for-a-dollar-donation/
Yes the Trump administration is *LITERALLY* asking for one dollar donations. Where have I seen this before? Holy shit – he’s turning into Homer Simpson now!
So of course you know what we’re getting into with this first entry this week. And we can sum it up in one word - Trumpcare. Which is now dead on the table.
The latest attempt to repeal the Obama-era healthcare act has failed after a dramatic night in the US Senate.
At least three Republicans - John McCain, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski - voted against the bill, which needed a simple majority to pass.
President Donald Trump said the three had "let the American people down".
The so-called "skinny" repeal, which would have scaled back some of the more controversial provisions, is the third failed attempt to repeal Obamacare.
It would have resulted in 16 million people losing their health insurance by 2026, with insurance premiums increasing by 20%, according to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO).
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-40750071?ns_mchannel=social&ns_campaign=bbc_breaking&ns_source=twitter&ns_linkname=news_central
At least three Republicans - John McCain, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski - voted against the bill, which needed a simple majority to pass.
President Donald Trump said the three had "let the American people down".
The so-called "skinny" repeal, which would have scaled back some of the more controversial provisions, is the third failed attempt to repeal Obamacare.
It would have resulted in 16 million people losing their health insurance by 2026, with insurance premiums increasing by 20%, according to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO).
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-40750071?ns_mchannel=social&ns_campaign=bbc_breaking&ns_source=twitter&ns_linkname=news_central
So what is the “skinny repeal”? Let’s go back a bit.
Senate Republicans trim sails on ‘Repeal and Replace.’
Senate Republicans, unable to reach consensus on broad legislation to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, are looking instead at chipping away at it.
Senator David Perdue, Republican of Georgia, said the main items under discussion for the so-called Skinny Repeal include repealing the mandates that most individuals have health insurance and large employers cover their employees. They are also likely to press for the repeal of a tax on medical devices.
“The skinny bill is getting bigger,” said Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina.
But to avoid a 60-vote threshold for passage, the bill must meet specific deficit reduction targets. It’s still not clear how those targets will be reached.
Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/27/us/politics/senate-health-care-vote.html?
Senate Republicans, unable to reach consensus on broad legislation to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, are looking instead at chipping away at it.
Senator David Perdue, Republican of Georgia, said the main items under discussion for the so-called Skinny Repeal include repealing the mandates that most individuals have health insurance and large employers cover their employees. They are also likely to press for the repeal of a tax on medical devices.
“The skinny bill is getting bigger,” said Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina.
But to avoid a 60-vote threshold for passage, the bill must meet specific deficit reduction targets. It’s still not clear how those targets will be reached.
Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/27/us/politics/senate-health-care-vote.html?
The GOP is trying to get rid of Obamacare with about the same rate of success as Wiley Coyote trying to catch the Road Runner. Meep meep!
And here’s what it left the Senate as. In fact I think I have a preview of what next week’s attempt to repeal Obamacare might look like!
Four Republicans: No ‘yes’ votes without assurances of a conference.
Senators Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, John McCain of Arizona, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin declared Thursday evening that they would not vote for a slimmed-down partial repeal of the Affordable Care Act without ironclad guarantees that the House will negotiate a comprehensive measure.
The senators were unsparing in their criticism of the so-called skinny repeal, saying it would crater the health insurance market and send premiums skyward.
“The skinny bill as policy is a disaster,” Mr. Graham said. “The skinny bill as a replacement for Obamacare is a fraud.”
Senator Johnson said: “The skinny bill in the Senate doesn’t come close to meeting our promises.”
Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/27/us/politics/senate-health-care-vote.html?action=Click&contentCollection=BreakingNews&contentID=65628434&pgtype=Homepage
Senators Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, John McCain of Arizona, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin declared Thursday evening that they would not vote for a slimmed-down partial repeal of the Affordable Care Act without ironclad guarantees that the House will negotiate a comprehensive measure.
The senators were unsparing in their criticism of the so-called skinny repeal, saying it would crater the health insurance market and send premiums skyward.
“The skinny bill as policy is a disaster,” Mr. Graham said. “The skinny bill as a replacement for Obamacare is a fraud.”
Senator Johnson said: “The skinny bill in the Senate doesn’t come close to meeting our promises.”
Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/27/us/politics/senate-health-care-vote.html?action=Click&contentCollection=BreakingNews&contentID=65628434&pgtype=Homepage
Boy they really let Wiley fall down big time in that one didn’t they? But now Trump is in the third stage of the grieving process – denial. He’s already past the anger phase. Or is he?
Link to tweet
Wow, so much to digest in that one tweet. Does he not know how his own “The Art Of The Deal” works? Or is that “The Art Of The Deal”? I mean so the idea is to watch its’ own self destruction and then like vultures you swoop in and pick up the pieces? Because that almost never works!
His tweet pointed out that three GOP Senators, Susan Collins (R-ME), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and John McCain (R-AZ), joined Senate Democrats in their opposition to the “skinny repeal” bill. Vice President Mike Pence was on the Senate floor trying to keep the party together, particularly the Arizona senator who came back to Washington D.C. just one week after he was diagnosed with brain cancer. In the end, Pence fell short, resulting in a 49-51 vote.
This vote was a major blow to the agenda of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Republican Party, and President Trump, all who’ve campaigned to repeal and replace Obamacare for years. It is uncertain whether this will put the nail in the coffin for such efforts, whether they will continue this heath care reform battle, or simply move on to other legislation like tax reform and infrastructure.
Read more: http://www.mediaite.com/online/let-obamacare-implode-trump-reacts-to-failed-skinny-repeal-vote-in-senate/
This vote was a major blow to the agenda of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Republican Party, and President Trump, all who’ve campaigned to repeal and replace Obamacare for years. It is uncertain whether this will put the nail in the coffin for such efforts, whether they will continue this heath care reform battle, or simply move on to other legislation like tax reform and infrastructure.
Read more: http://www.mediaite.com/online/let-obamacare-implode-trump-reacts-to-failed-skinny-repeal-vote-in-senate/
[font size="8"]DT & The Mooch
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So last week at Comic Con, Marvel Studios announced more casting news and started teasing footage of two of it’s most highly anticipated movies yet – Avengers: Infinity War and next year’s sequel to Ant-Man, called “Ant Man & The Wasp”. But while we have to wait until next July for the Ant-Man sequel, we can watch our own hilarious duo right now – Donald Trump & Anthony Scaramucci, or as they’re known by their morning drive time handle, DT & The Mooch. Coming up next on DT & The Mooch, it’s the Wednesday morning fart song! And last week – The Mooch was firing on all cylinders!
“The swamp will not defeat him,” he said, breaking into the third person. “They’re trying to resist me, but it’s not going to work. I’ve done nothing wrong on my financial disclosures, so they’re going to have to go fuck themselves.”
Scaramucci also told me that, unlike other senior officials, he had no interest in media attention. “I’m not Steve Bannon, I’m not trying to suck my own cock,” he said, speaking of Trump’s chief strategist. “I’m not trying to build my own brand off the fucking strength of the President. I’m here to serve the country.” (Bannon declined to comment.)
He reiterated that Priebus would resign soon, and he noted that he told Trump that he expected Priebus to launch a campaign against him. “He didn’t get the hint that I was reporting directly to the President,” he said. “And I said to the President here are the four or five things that he will do to me.” His list of allegations included leaking the Hannity dinner and the details from his financial-disclosure form.
http://www.newyorker.com/news/ryan-lizza/anthony-scaramucci-called-me-to-unload-about-white-house-leakers-reince-priebus-and-steve-bannon
Scaramucci also told me that, unlike other senior officials, he had no interest in media attention. “I’m not Steve Bannon, I’m not trying to suck my own cock,” he said, speaking of Trump’s chief strategist. “I’m not trying to build my own brand off the fucking strength of the President. I’m here to serve the country.” (Bannon declined to comment.)
He reiterated that Priebus would resign soon, and he noted that he told Trump that he expected Priebus to launch a campaign against him. “He didn’t get the hint that I was reporting directly to the President,” he said. “And I said to the President here are the four or five things that he will do to me.” His list of allegations included leaking the Hannity dinner and the details from his financial-disclosure form.
http://www.newyorker.com/news/ryan-lizza/anthony-scaramucci-called-me-to-unload-about-white-house-leakers-reince-priebus-and-steve-bannon
Yeah. I mean this is just an utter embarrassment at this point. The GOP has spent the last 20 years mercilessly attacking Clinton for… something. And now we have a complete joke of a presidency that’s getting worse and worse by the minute. I mean The Mooch does need his mouth washed out with soap at this point. And I haven’t even got to the bulk of what he said yet! We need to go full S&P on The Mooch, I’m afraid!
“They’ll all be fired by me,” he said. “I fired one guy the other day. I have three to four people I’ll fire tomorrow. I’ll get to the person who leaked that to you. Reince Priebus—if you want to leak something—he’ll be asked to resign very shortly.” The issue, he said, was that he believed Priebus had been worried about the dinner because he hadn’t been invited. “Reince is a fucking paranoid schizophrenic, a paranoiac,” Scaramucci said. He channelled Priebus as he spoke: “ ‘Oh, Bill Shine is coming in. Let me leak the fucking thing and see if I can cock-block these people the way I cock-blocked Scaramucci for six months.’ ” (Priebus did not respond to a request for comment.)
Hey Scaramucci, you can’t just curse out the Trump administration, that’s my fucking job!!!!! Thank you audience! You know this feels like that point in the series where the writers feel the need to change things up. So they start killing off favorite characters (like Sean Spicer) and replacing them with new hot shots. And then new plot twists are introduced. Scaramucci called a guy a cocksucker? So outrageous!!! So with that in mind we’re going to go full Standards & Practices on Anthony Scaramucci and do a live bleep of his briefing!
“They’ll all be fired by me,” he said. “I fired one guy the other day. I have three to four people I’ll fire tomorrow. I’ll get to the person who leaked that to you. Reince Priebus—if you want to leak something—he’ll be asked to resign very shortly.” The issue, he said, was that he believed Priebus had been worried about the dinner because he hadn’t been invited. “Reince is a <BLEEP>ing paranoid schizophrenic, a paranoiac,” Scaramucci said. He channelled Priebus as he spoke: “ ‘Oh, Bill Shine is coming in. Let me leak the <BLEEP>ing thing and see if I can <BLEEP> block these people the way I <BLEEP>-blocked Scaramucci for six months.’ ” (Priebus did not respond to a request for comment.)
Thank you! And he’s referring to himself in the third person? I mean this guy really is a perfect candidate for the Jersey Shore reboot! “Hey it’s Tony S here and I’m going to <BLEEP> all you <BLEEP>ing <BLEEP> ing <BLEEPS>!!!!” Maybe he should start a department store called “Nobody Beats The Mooch!”. But did you know he has a wife and a kid, possibly more? Yes somebody decided to swipe right on that guy, and we feel sorry for you!
Anthony Scaramucci sent his wife a text after she gave birth to their second child saying, "Congratulations, I’ll pray for our child," it has been claimed.
Donald Trump’s communications director reportedly sent the message after missing the birth of his second child, James, with his estranged wife Deidre.
The pair reportedly separated some months ago and Ms Scaramucci filed for divorce just two weeks before she gave birth to her son, when she was eight months pregnant.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/anthony-scaramucci-wife-miss-birth-son-donald-trump-white-house-communications-deidre-scaramucci-a7868351.html
Donald Trump’s communications director reportedly sent the message after missing the birth of his second child, James, with his estranged wife Deidre.
The pair reportedly separated some months ago and Ms Scaramucci filed for divorce just two weeks before she gave birth to her son, when she was eight months pregnant.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/anthony-scaramucci-wife-miss-birth-son-donald-trump-white-house-communications-deidre-scaramucci-a7868351.html
Wait – that’s it? Your wife just gave birth to your son and your first thing to do is text her “I’ll pray for you?”. How do you handle other family announcements? “Congrats on your wedding, cousin! I’ll pray for you!”. Maybe that’s why he’s getting divorced. But he’s the Mooch, and nobody beats him!
The wife of newly named White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci reportedly wants a divorce, just days after giving birth to the couple’s son.
The Page Six gossip column of The New York Post on Friday reported that Deidre Ball, 38, had filed for divorce from Scaramucci. Ball began dating the 53-year-old Scaramucci in 2011 and they are believed to have gotten married in 2014, according to the Post. They have two children together, one of whom was born prematurely this past Monday.
Ball’s lawyer, Jill Stone, on Saturday confirmed the divorce story to The New York Daily News, but shot down rumors that Scaramucci’s “naked ambition” and desire to be a fixture in President Donald Trump’s administration drove a wedge between the couple.
“Whoever decided to state that that was the cause, that has nothing to do with her filing for divorce,” Stone told the paper, declining to get into specifics.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/anthony-scaramucci-deidre-ball-divorce_us_597bb23fe4b0da64e879438c
The Page Six gossip column of The New York Post on Friday reported that Deidre Ball, 38, had filed for divorce from Scaramucci. Ball began dating the 53-year-old Scaramucci in 2011 and they are believed to have gotten married in 2014, according to the Post. They have two children together, one of whom was born prematurely this past Monday.
Ball’s lawyer, Jill Stone, on Saturday confirmed the divorce story to The New York Daily News, but shot down rumors that Scaramucci’s “naked ambition” and desire to be a fixture in President Donald Trump’s administration drove a wedge between the couple.
“Whoever decided to state that that was the cause, that has nothing to do with her filing for divorce,” Stone told the paper, declining to get into specifics.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/anthony-scaramucci-deidre-ball-divorce_us_597bb23fe4b0da64e879438c
And now my producer is telling me that Trump has decided to fire Anthony Scaramucci. So this will be it for DT & The Mooch.
WASHINGTON — President Trump has decided to remove Anthony Scaramucci from his position as communications director, three people close to the decision said Monday, relieving him just days after Mr. Scaramucci unloaded a crude verbal tirade against other senior members of the president’s senior staff.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/31/us/politics/anthony-scaramucci-white-house.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/31/us/politics/anthony-scaramucci-white-house.html
[font size="8"]The Bathroom Police
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You know when we were putting together last week’s edition, Trump dropped the big one to please the biggest, bigoted douchebags on the planet. Last week, Donald Trump tweeted this out:
Link to tweet
Link to tweet
Link to tweet
Yeah BOOOO. And let’s not forget that during the campaign, Trump made this promise:
Double boo. So this week, after all that Trump may have said that he is banning transgender people from serving in the military, which would rescind the Obama era order that allowed them to happen in the first place. I mean really, how is that still a thing?
Washington (CNN)President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that he plans to reinstate a ban on transgender individuals from serving "in any capacity" in the US armed forces.
The decision reversed a policy initially approved by the Defense Department under President Barack Obama, which was still under final review, that would allow transgender individuals to openly serve in the military. Defense Secretary James Mattis announced last month that he was delaying enactment of the plan to begin allowing transgender individuals to join the US military.
"After consultation with my Generals and military experts, please be advised that the United States Government will not accept or allow Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military," Trump said in a series of tweets Wednesday morning. "Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail."
http://www.cnn.com/2017/07/26/politics/trump-military-transgender/index.html
The decision reversed a policy initially approved by the Defense Department under President Barack Obama, which was still under final review, that would allow transgender individuals to openly serve in the military. Defense Secretary James Mattis announced last month that he was delaying enactment of the plan to begin allowing transgender individuals to join the US military.
"After consultation with my Generals and military experts, please be advised that the United States Government will not accept or allow Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military," Trump said in a series of tweets Wednesday morning. "Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail."
http://www.cnn.com/2017/07/26/politics/trump-military-transgender/index.html
And he is wrong. I mean did he consult anybody about this? Did he file an executive order? Did he do anything to justify just flat out banning trans people from serving in the military? Did he do anything? Does he do anything?
Washington (CNN)The Joint Chiefs of Staff, including chairman General Joseph Dunford, were not aware President Donald Trump planned to tweet a ban on transgender service members, three US defense officials told CNN -- the latest indication that top military leaders across all four service branches were blindsided by the President's announcement.
For now, Dunford has informed service members that there will be "no modifications to the current policy until the President's direction has been received by the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary has issued implementation guidelines."
"In the meantime, we will continue to treat all of our personnel with respect," Dunford wrote in a memo to the military that was obtained by CNN. "As importantly, given the current fight and the challenges we face, we will all remain focused on accomplishing our assigned missions."
http://www.cnn.com/2017/07/27/politics/trump-military-transgender-ban-joint-chiefs/index.html
For now, Dunford has informed service members that there will be "no modifications to the current policy until the President's direction has been received by the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary has issued implementation guidelines."
"In the meantime, we will continue to treat all of our personnel with respect," Dunford wrote in a memo to the military that was obtained by CNN. "As importantly, given the current fight and the challenges we face, we will all remain focused on accomplishing our assigned missions."
http://www.cnn.com/2017/07/27/politics/trump-military-transgender-ban-joint-chiefs/index.html
Let’s go back to Trump’s telethon for a minute. How much has he raised so far?
So… $0 so far. Now back to our regularly scheduled entry.
Yeah it’s fake news people! But there’s more to this whole thing than you would have thought possible. For starters, not only were the Joint Chiefs not consulted, this may be far more cruel than you would realize:
When President Trump casually ordered the Pentagon on Wednesday to ban transgender servicemembers from the military, he didn’t just undo months of work by military officers, civilian policymakers and trans advocacy groups. He also cut off transgender Americans from an institution that’s historically been viewed as a microcosm of society — and a bastion of steady employment. The effects of Trump’s shocking strike against the trans rights movement could be much more severe than anyone realized initially.
By some estimates, the U.S. military is the single-largest employer of transgender people on the planet, with an estimated 15,500 active-duty trans personnel. Trans people are twice as likely than the general population to serve their country. That’s partly because transgender Americans are patriots like cisgender Americans are, but it’s also partly because we still run far behind our cisgender peers in access to education, affordable housing and employment. Trump’s order means thousands of trans people won’t be able to turn to the military in search of a career anymore. And with his administration’s Department of Justice filing a federal court brief asserting that discrimination on the basis of gender identity is legal, the situation for trans Americans will only get worse. Trans people in America have an unemployment rate of 15 percent, three times higher than the general population. We don’t need righteous anti-Trump rants — we need jobs.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/posteverything/wp/2017/07/28/president-trumps-trans-military-ban-is-far-more-cruel-than-you-realize/?utm_term=.72af4efd3e86
By some estimates, the U.S. military is the single-largest employer of transgender people on the planet, with an estimated 15,500 active-duty trans personnel. Trans people are twice as likely than the general population to serve their country. That’s partly because transgender Americans are patriots like cisgender Americans are, but it’s also partly because we still run far behind our cisgender peers in access to education, affordable housing and employment. Trump’s order means thousands of trans people won’t be able to turn to the military in search of a career anymore. And with his administration’s Department of Justice filing a federal court brief asserting that discrimination on the basis of gender identity is legal, the situation for trans Americans will only get worse. Trans people in America have an unemployment rate of 15 percent, three times higher than the general population. We don’t need righteous anti-Trump rants — we need jobs.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/posteverything/wp/2017/07/28/president-trumps-trans-military-ban-is-far-more-cruel-than-you-realize/?utm_term=.72af4efd3e86
Yeah so this whole thing is an epic fail. By the way, why are we going to Arcade Fire for opinions on critical issues? We may have to ask how that’s still a thing in a future edition.
Arcade Fire spoke out against Donald Trump's efforts to ban transgender Americans from the military during the band's Thursday night gig in Brooklyn, a show that was live streamed on Apple Music.
"I would just like to briefly say that trans people are not disturbances," singer Win Butler told the crowd. "Usually a bully starts with someone who he thinks is weak, but it's the fucking wrong call."
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/arcade-fire-speak-out-against-trumps-trans-military-ban-w494874
"I would just like to briefly say that trans people are not disturbances," singer Win Butler told the crowd. "Usually a bully starts with someone who he thinks is weak, but it's the fucking wrong call."
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/arcade-fire-speak-out-against-trumps-trans-military-ban-w494874
And then there’s this. Trump absolutely infuriated actual trans people who have served in the military – check out this from former trans Navy Seal Kristen Beck:
A retired Navy SEAL Team 6 hero who is transgender had a message for President Donald Trump after he announced the US military would bar transgender people from serving.
"Let's meet face to face and you tell me I'm not worthy," Kristin Beck, a 20-year veteran of the Navy SEALs, told Business Insider on Wednesday. "Transgender doesn't matter. Do your service."
http://www.businessinsider.com/kristin-beck-trump-transgender-ban-2017-7
"Let's meet face to face and you tell me I'm not worthy," Kristin Beck, a 20-year veteran of the Navy SEALs, told Business Insider on Wednesday. "Transgender doesn't matter. Do your service."
http://www.businessinsider.com/kristin-beck-trump-transgender-ban-2017-7
But Trump is the one who’s wrong here. And you want to know how this is still a thing? Look at what the military actually spends its’ money on.
"It's not consistent with any of the data we saw," Radha Iyengar, senior economist at the Rand Corporation, told Newsweek in the wake of the Trump's Twitter announcement. Iyengar was one of the authors of a high-profile study from Rand commissioned by the Defense Department that found "the costs of gender transition–related health care treatment are relatively low."
"I think the most important thing to realize is it's only a very small number of transgender people who are going to seek expensive treatment," Iyengar told Newsweek Wednesday. The study from Rand looked at private and public data while using other developed countries that allow transgender people to serve—Australia, Canada, Israel, and the United Kingdom—as examples.
http://www.newsweek.com/fact-check-trump-transgender-claim-tremendous-medical-costs-642438
"I think the most important thing to realize is it's only a very small number of transgender people who are going to seek expensive treatment," Iyengar told Newsweek Wednesday. The study from Rand looked at private and public data while using other developed countries that allow transgender people to serve—Australia, Canada, Israel, and the United Kingdom—as examples.
http://www.newsweek.com/fact-check-trump-transgender-claim-tremendous-medical-costs-642438
Tremendous, tremendous costs, OK, people???? Oh and then there’s this.
President Trump tweeted this morning that the U.S. military wouldn't allow transgender troops "in any capacity," an apparent rejection of the military's roughly 6,000 trans troops and the Obama-era policy that embraced them.
The U.S. "cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail," Trump said.
Except trans troops don't really cost that much, as many soon pointed out.
A report for the Pentagon last year found that transition-related care would cost between about $2.4 and $8.4 million per year — less than 0.14% of the military's medical budget.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2017/07/27/transgender-soldiers-cost-u-s-less-than-trumps-mar-a-lago-trips/515058001/
The U.S. "cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail," Trump said.
Except trans troops don't really cost that much, as many soon pointed out.
A report for the Pentagon last year found that transition-related care would cost between about $2.4 and $8.4 million per year — less than 0.14% of the military's medical budget.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2017/07/27/transgender-soldiers-cost-u-s-less-than-trumps-mar-a-lago-trips/515058001/
And this:
Considering the prevalence of transgender servicemembers among the active duty military and the typical health-care costs for gender-transition-related medical treatment, the Rand study estimated that these treatments would cost the military between $2.4 million and $8.4 million annually.
<snip>
The military spends $41.6 million annually on Viagra alone, according to the Military Times analysis — roughly five times the estimated spending on transition-related medical care for transgender troops.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2017/07/26/the-military-spends-five-times-as-much-on-viagra-as-it-would-on-transgender-troops-medical-care/?utm_term=.eac4f58bac67
<snip>
The military spends $41.6 million annually on Viagra alone, according to the Military Times analysis — roughly five times the estimated spending on transition-related medical care for transgender troops.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2017/07/26/the-military-spends-five-times-as-much-on-viagra-as-it-would-on-transgender-troops-medical-care/?utm_term=.eac4f58bac67
Yup – boner pills are a large part of military spending. Enough to give it a percentage of the actual overall military budget.
[font size="8"]Donald Trump
[br] [/font] [br]
Before we go any further let’s check in on the Trump telethon! How many dollars has he raised so far?
President Trump, or Premier Trump as we’ve been calling him here around the Top 10 Home Office in Anaheim, California, has been having his worst week ever. Whether it was the parental backlash to his Boy Scout Nazi Rally or the fact that Repeal & Replace failed for the 10,000,000,000,000th time (fool me once, shame on me, fool me 10,000,000,000,000 times….
). Or the fact that the Russia Gate scandal will never die. Remember last week when I made the food comparison when talking about Russia Gate? Well… first there was this billboard that surfaced in Kentucky last week:
I love it! Or to put it in Trump speak - Love ! So we have to talk about Pickle for a minute. And no it does not mean “penis”. Yeah one man in the audience yelling “penis”. So this week, Trump’s new press secretary and Rageaholics Anonymous Spokesperson of the Month – Sarah Huckabee Sanders – read this letter.
The nine-year-old whose letter to President Trump was read aloud at Wednesday's White House press briefing says he wrote to the president because he "wanted him to be" his friend.
Dylan "Pickle" Harbin appeared on "Fox & Friends" alongside his mother on Saturday, where the boy revealed his reason for writing the letter.
"It was all him. He did everything. He said he wanted to write it and I go 'okay, well what do you want to ask him?' And he said, 'well, I just wanted to ask to be my friend,'" his mother SueAnn Harbin said.
In his letter to the president, Harbin asked Trump how much money he has, how big the White House is and how old he is. All of those questions were answered by White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders during the briefing.
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/344492-pickle-on-letter-to-trump-read-at-briefing-i-want-him-to-be-my
Dylan "Pickle" Harbin appeared on "Fox & Friends" alongside his mother on Saturday, where the boy revealed his reason for writing the letter.
"It was all him. He did everything. He said he wanted to write it and I go 'okay, well what do you want to ask him?' And he said, 'well, I just wanted to ask to be my friend,'" his mother SueAnn Harbin said.
In his letter to the president, Harbin asked Trump how much money he has, how big the White House is and how old he is. All of those questions were answered by White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders during the briefing.
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/344492-pickle-on-letter-to-trump-read-at-briefing-i-want-him-to-be-my
Let’s post the context of the letter.
Whoa whoa whoa, back up! You had a Trump themed birthday party? What would that entitle? Let’s extrapolate that for a minute. Would you build a wall around the piñata? Thank you! Would you serve MAGA party favors?
Do you have a Trump impersonator instead of the clown? Does the guest of honor wear a celebratory MAGA hat?
?rlvnet=1
And of course Trump fans would go for the white one! Thank you! I just… I have so many questions about this! Who did the catering? Was it KFC?
Or maybe he gets McDonalds to cater?
Or maybe… he has the best taco bowls ever! Because all the best food comes from Trump Tower, don’t you know?
Oh and by the way there was speculation as to whether or not Pickle was real. Much like Trump’s imaginary friend Jim.
On Wednesday afternoon, while paddling through a week that began with press secretary Sean Spicer's resignation and was pockmarked by Donald Trump dogging his attorney general, the White House launched a hopeful tradition: letters from children to the president, read aloud in the daily press briefing.
Four hours later, the term #PickleTruther was teeming on Twitter, and things had gotten really weird.
"My name is Dylan but every body calls me Pickle," Wednesday's letter began, read by new press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders from her podium. "I'm 9 years old and you are my favorit president. I like you so much I had a birthday about you. My cake was the shap of your hat."
Pickle had a few questions for the president, which Huckabee Sanders answered: The White House has 132 rooms. The president would be happy to be Pickle's friend. Huckabee Sanders wasn't sure exactly how much money the president had, she told Pickle, "but I know it's a lot."
http://www.myajc.com/sports/did-year-old-really-write-that-letter-trump-yep-real/YVvwVBjKVUAb1xWXTqzAcJ/
Four hours later, the term #PickleTruther was teeming on Twitter, and things had gotten really weird.
"My name is Dylan but every body calls me Pickle," Wednesday's letter began, read by new press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders from her podium. "I'm 9 years old and you are my favorit president. I like you so much I had a birthday about you. My cake was the shap of your hat."
Pickle had a few questions for the president, which Huckabee Sanders answered: The White House has 132 rooms. The president would be happy to be Pickle's friend. Huckabee Sanders wasn't sure exactly how much money the president had, she told Pickle, "but I know it's a lot."
http://www.myajc.com/sports/did-year-old-really-write-that-letter-trump-yep-real/YVvwVBjKVUAb1xWXTqzAcJ/
You know you can look it up right, Sarah? I mean we do have this new thing called Google.
President Trump's net worth has dropped since he took office.
That's according to a new finding by the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, which today reported that the president's net worth has slipped from $3 billion to $2.9 billion over the past year. It attributes the decrease to a drop in the values of three Manhattan office properties: 40 Wall Street, Trump Tower, and 1290 Avenue of the Americas.
At the same time, documents released Friday by the U.S. Office of Government Ethics and reported by the Atlantic show that Trump's losses were offset by "tens of millions of dollars in income from the golf courses and resorts whose profile he boosted during frequent visits since taking office."
http://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/money-and-power/a9162094/donald-trump-net-worth/
That's according to a new finding by the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, which today reported that the president's net worth has slipped from $3 billion to $2.9 billion over the past year. It attributes the decrease to a drop in the values of three Manhattan office properties: 40 Wall Street, Trump Tower, and 1290 Avenue of the Americas.
At the same time, documents released Friday by the U.S. Office of Government Ethics and reported by the Atlantic show that Trump's losses were offset by "tens of millions of dollars in income from the golf courses and resorts whose profile he boosted during frequent visits since taking office."
http://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/money-and-power/a9162094/donald-trump-net-worth/
By the way I love that Stephen Colbert took down this nonsense:
[font size="8"]Donald Trump
[br] [/font] [br]
Sigh. Just as we were putting this together this week, Trump... just. What the fuck. We got to go to the tweet on this one. It's just... I can't even begin to comprehend what's being said here.
Link to tweet
OK... let's pay close attention to the word "comrade" here. It's associated with RUSSIA! Don't go there, Donnie! I mean... like I said last week if you are under investigation for Russia, don't talk about Russia! You don't tell the guy trying to lose 100 pounds - "Hey! Eat this giant plate of sliders and onion rings! Go ahead it's right there in front of you!".
And then "OUR FREEDOM" (all caps). I mean who is he? Braveheart?
But I originally had a different entry here, but this is why the Top 10 is in a new time slot to allow for these kind of things. So yesterday, Trump called the White House a "dump" because, reasons. This is just... one disaster after another. The GOP never gets to again say we're disrespecting the president. They elected a serial liar and a guy who's just a high school bully. So yesterday he said this:
Golf.com reports that during a recent visit to his New Jersey golf club (which Trump has visited four times since his inauguration), the president told fellow members the reason why he frequents his own properties.
“That White House is a real dump,” he said.
The profile of Trump the golfer also described how his New Jersey golf course functioned as a de facto campaign headquarters during the 2016 presidential election. The grounds had an anti-Hillary shrine “built in a bar in the men’s locker room” and blared Fox News at top volume.
Trump also allowed his golf club members access to potential Cabinet interviewees during the transition.
“This is my real group,” he reportedly told a group of members, while inviting them to stop by his interviews the following day. “You are the special people. I see all of you. I recognize, like, 100% of you, just about.”
http://www.rawstory.com/2017/08/that-white-house-is-a-real-dump-trump-openly-trashes-official-residence-while-visiting-his-golf-course/
“That White House is a real dump,” he said.
The profile of Trump the golfer also described how his New Jersey golf course functioned as a de facto campaign headquarters during the 2016 presidential election. The grounds had an anti-Hillary shrine “built in a bar in the men’s locker room” and blared Fox News at top volume.
Trump also allowed his golf club members access to potential Cabinet interviewees during the transition.
“This is my real group,” he reportedly told a group of members, while inviting them to stop by his interviews the following day. “You are the special people. I see all of you. I recognize, like, 100% of you, just about.”
http://www.rawstory.com/2017/08/that-white-house-is-a-real-dump-trump-openly-trashes-official-residence-while-visiting-his-golf-course/
Sigh. Really just when you think they can't sink any lower, new depths are opened on an almost daily basis. So this of course prompted the usual backlash. There was this from Chelsea Clinton:
Link to tweet
So Trump reminds "his base" of wealthy club members that the White House is a dump. I mean have you seen his taste in interior decorating?
I prefer to call this style of interior decorating "dictator chic". Thank you! And there's more to this - I mean would you really call the White House a dump?
In 2013, then President Obama wrote a beautiful essay about Lincoln, the White House, and the Gettysburg Address. Reading Obama’s words today reminds everyone that the same piece of living history that previous presidents were in awe of is the same place that classless Trump called a dump.
When talking to members at his Bedminster golf club, Trump explained that he golfs every weekend because the White House is a dump.
As an example of how a president should treat the White House, here is Barack Obama’s handwritten essay on the 150th anniversary of the Gettysburg Address:
In the evening, when Michelle and the girls have gone to bed, I sometimes walk down the hall to a room Abraham Lincoln used as his office. It contains an original copy of the Gettysburg address, written in Lincoln’s own hand.
I linger on these few words that have helped define our American experiment: “A new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.”
Through the lines of weariness etched in his face, we know Lincoln grasped, perhaps more than anyone, the burdens required to give these words meaning. He knew that even a self-evident truth was not self-executing; that blood drawn by the lash was an affront to our ideals; that blood drawn by the sword was in painful service to those same ideals.
http://www.politicususa.com/2017/08/01/obamas-beautiful-essay-white-house-puts-trumps-dump-comment-shame.html
When talking to members at his Bedminster golf club, Trump explained that he golfs every weekend because the White House is a dump.
As an example of how a president should treat the White House, here is Barack Obama’s handwritten essay on the 150th anniversary of the Gettysburg Address:
In the evening, when Michelle and the girls have gone to bed, I sometimes walk down the hall to a room Abraham Lincoln used as his office. It contains an original copy of the Gettysburg address, written in Lincoln’s own hand.
I linger on these few words that have helped define our American experiment: “A new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.”
Through the lines of weariness etched in his face, we know Lincoln grasped, perhaps more than anyone, the burdens required to give these words meaning. He knew that even a self-evident truth was not self-executing; that blood drawn by the lash was an affront to our ideals; that blood drawn by the sword was in painful service to those same ideals.
http://www.politicususa.com/2017/08/01/obamas-beautiful-essay-white-house-puts-trumps-dump-comment-shame.html
Yes, you fail Mr. Trump! See, Obama shows you how it's done! I just... can't even comprehend how stupid this is. Need we remind the "President" that his "Winter White House" is a complete dump and has a massive sink hole in front of it? I mean hey it's the perfect metaphor for this presidency!
A sinkhole opened in front of Mar-a-Lago, President Trump's private estate and golf club, on Monday causing minor traffic delays.
The sinkhole is 4-by-4 feet and is believed to be near a newly installed water main, according to a Palm Beach travel alert. Sinkholes are a common occurrence in Florida, according to the Weather Channel, which has called them "as much a part of the Florida landscape as palm trees and alligators."
The town of Palm Beach issued a travel alert on Monday as a result of the sinkhole, saying crews from West Palm Beach Utilities will be examining the sinkhole throughout the day. According to CBS12 in Florida, one lane of traffic has been closed.
http://time.com/4788455/trump-mar-a-lago-sinkhole/
The sinkhole is 4-by-4 feet and is believed to be near a newly installed water main, according to a Palm Beach travel alert. Sinkholes are a common occurrence in Florida, according to the Weather Channel, which has called them "as much a part of the Florida landscape as palm trees and alligators."
The town of Palm Beach issued a travel alert on Monday as a result of the sinkhole, saying crews from West Palm Beach Utilities will be examining the sinkhole throughout the day. According to CBS12 in Florida, one lane of traffic has been closed.
http://time.com/4788455/trump-mar-a-lago-sinkhole/
And by the way if he thinks this is a dump - wait until you see what kind of health code violations Mar-A-Lago was slapped with!
Inspectors found 13 violations at the fancy club’s kitchen, according to recently published reports — a record for an institution that charges $200,000 in initiation fees.
▪ Fish designed to be served raw or undercooked, the inspection report reads, had not undergone proper parasite destruction. Kitchen staffers were ordered to cook the fish immediately or throw it out.
▪ In two of the club’s coolers, inspectors found that raw meats that should be stored at 41 degrees were much too warm and potentially dangerous: chicken was 49 degrees, duck clocked in a 50 degrees and raw beef was 50 degrees. The winner? Ham at 57 degrees.
▪ The club was cited for not maintaining the coolers in proper working order and was ordered to have them emptied immediately and repaired.
http://www.miamiherald.com/entertainment/restaurants/article144261894.html
▪ Fish designed to be served raw or undercooked, the inspection report reads, had not undergone proper parasite destruction. Kitchen staffers were ordered to cook the fish immediately or throw it out.
▪ In two of the club’s coolers, inspectors found that raw meats that should be stored at 41 degrees were much too warm and potentially dangerous: chicken was 49 degrees, duck clocked in a 50 degrees and raw beef was 50 degrees. The winner? Ham at 57 degrees.
▪ The club was cited for not maintaining the coolers in proper working order and was ordered to have them emptied immediately and repaired.
http://www.miamiherald.com/entertainment/restaurants/article144261894.html
[font size="8"]Donald Trump
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If you’ve seen the Twitter page of @realDonaldTrump this week, you may have noticed this image of him standing in front of police officers:
Well at that speech, he incited violence and police brutality. I mean Trump loves him some law and order doesn’t he? “I’m the most law and order president you will ever see! No safe spaces or snowflakes in my America!”. Well here’s exactly what happened:
On Friday, President Trump traveled to Long Island to address a group of law enforcement officials and speak about the administration’s efforts to eradicate the gang Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13. His speech stuck largely to that theme, though he also made note of Thursday night’s failed health-care vote.
Trump’s speech was noteworthy, though, for its embrace of aggressive tactics by police officers. He insisted that his team was “rough” and encouraged police officers not to be concerned about preventing physical harm to people being taken into custody. The laws, he said, were “stacked against” the police.
“Please don’t be too nice,” Trump told the officers, to applause. Below, his comments, as provided by the White House, with our highlights and annotations. To see an annotation, click on the yellow, highlighted text.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2017/07/28/trumps-speech-encouraging-police-to-be-rough-annotated/?utm_term=.355ddadd8b22
Trump’s speech was noteworthy, though, for its embrace of aggressive tactics by police officers. He insisted that his team was “rough” and encouraged police officers not to be concerned about preventing physical harm to people being taken into custody. The laws, he said, were “stacked against” the police.
“Please don’t be too nice,” Trump told the officers, to applause. Below, his comments, as provided by the White House, with our highlights and annotations. To see an annotation, click on the yellow, highlighted text.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2017/07/28/trumps-speech-encouraging-police-to-be-rough-annotated/?utm_term=.355ddadd8b22
Yeah BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! So he’s literally encouraging police brutality! This is fucking unbelievable! In fact the speech was so controversial… well… let’s roll the tape and then we will discuss further.
Holy shit. Even the police are taking a hard stance against this sort of thing.
Donald Trump traveled to Long Island on Friday afternoon, speaking to a law-enforcement audience, touting his administration’s stated efforts to combat gang violence. Trump noted, for example, “They have transformed peaceful parks and beautiful, quiet neighborhoods into bloodstained killing fields They’re animals.”
Left unsaid is that crime on Long Island is actually at a 50-year low, making his rhetoric about “bloodstained killing fields” rather ridiculous.
But far more problematic was this portion of president’s speech: “[W]hen you see these towns and when you see these thugs being thrown into the back of a paddy wagon – you just see them thrown in, rough – I said, please don’t be too nice. Like when you guys put somebody in the car and you’re protecting their head, you know, the way you put their hand over? Like, don’t hit their head and they’ve just killed somebody – don’t hit their head. I said, you can take the hand away, okay?”
The fact that many of the police officers in attendance laughed and applauded this rhetoric made matters worse.
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/trump-faces-pushback-after-endorsing-police-abuses
Left unsaid is that crime on Long Island is actually at a 50-year low, making his rhetoric about “bloodstained killing fields” rather ridiculous.
But far more problematic was this portion of president’s speech: “[W]hen you see these towns and when you see these thugs being thrown into the back of a paddy wagon – you just see them thrown in, rough – I said, please don’t be too nice. Like when you guys put somebody in the car and you’re protecting their head, you know, the way you put their hand over? Like, don’t hit their head and they’ve just killed somebody – don’t hit their head. I said, you can take the hand away, okay?”
The fact that many of the police officers in attendance laughed and applauded this rhetoric made matters worse.
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/trump-faces-pushback-after-endorsing-police-abuses
http://memeshappen.com/download.php?memeid=79902
But is it live… or is it fake news? But of course the Trump White House would make the claim that “Oh he’s just joking”. Really? There’s no joking about police brutality, Sarah.
The White House is defending President Donald Trump's recent remarks that police shouldn't be too nice when transporting suspects, saying Monday that the president was "making a joke."
On a visit to Long Island last week, Trump implored police officers "Please don't be too nice," noting that some officers are too courteous to suspected criminals when arresting them. That prompted critics to accuse the president of encouraging police brutality.
"Like when you guys put somebody in the car, and you're protecting their head, you know, the way you put your hand over" their head, he said, putting his hand above his head for emphasis. "I said, 'You can take the hand away, OK?" Trump declared.
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/latest-trump-tweet-denies-chaos-white-house-48945520
On a visit to Long Island last week, Trump implored police officers "Please don't be too nice," noting that some officers are too courteous to suspected criminals when arresting them. That prompted critics to accuse the president of encouraging police brutality.
"Like when you guys put somebody in the car, and you're protecting their head, you know, the way you put your hand over" their head, he said, putting his hand above his head for emphasis. "I said, 'You can take the hand away, OK?" Trump declared.
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/latest-trump-tweet-denies-chaos-white-house-48945520
But all kidding aside, I love when the news goes to the one celebrity whose opinion on any given subject at all who you shouldn’t trust. And on this subject – they pick Chris Brown of all people? You might as well ask Joe Arpaio about race relations!!
Chris Brown has some choice words for President Donald Trump.
The R&B singer tore into Trump this weekend on Instagram calling him “crazzy [sic],” after the president delivered a speech urging rougher treatment of suspects in police custody.
“Don’t be too nice,” Trump told a group of law enforcement officers Friday during a speech in Suffolk County, N.Y.
He added that he thinks it’s unnecessary for officers to protect suspects’ heads when placing them in patrol cars. “Like when you guys put somebody in the car, and you’re protecting their head ... like, don’t hit their head, and they just killed somebody,” Trump told the crowd. “I said, ‘you can take the hand away, ok?’”
http://www.dailynews.com/arts-and-entertainment/20170731/chris-brown-tears-into-president-trumps-speech-on-police-roughing-up-thugs
The R&B singer tore into Trump this weekend on Instagram calling him “crazzy [sic],” after the president delivered a speech urging rougher treatment of suspects in police custody.
“Don’t be too nice,” Trump told a group of law enforcement officers Friday during a speech in Suffolk County, N.Y.
He added that he thinks it’s unnecessary for officers to protect suspects’ heads when placing them in patrol cars. “Like when you guys put somebody in the car, and you’re protecting their head ... like, don’t hit their head, and they just killed somebody,” Trump told the crowd. “I said, ‘you can take the hand away, ok?’”
http://www.dailynews.com/arts-and-entertainment/20170731/chris-brown-tears-into-president-trumps-speech-on-police-roughing-up-thugs
Speaking of police, we got to go to Arizona for this one. While not much great came out of the 2016 elections, you want to know the best thing about a shitty situation? Arizona’s reigning racist and guy who was the before picture in a hemorrhoid infomercial, Joe Arpaio got defeated and arrested!
Joe Arpaio, the former Arizona sheriff nationally known for his tough immigration stance and his outspoken support for President Donald Trump's policies, faces trial in Phoenix on Monday accused of criminal contempt of court.
Prosecutors charge that Arpaio disobeyed a court order by continuing to make immigration arrests after he was ordered to stop -- and that his actions violated a court order made in a racial profiling case.
Arpaio contends that while he continued to carry out patrols despite the order, he did not intentionally disobey it, CNN affiliate KNXV reported.
If convicted in federal court, Arpaio could be sentenced to up to six months in jail.
Arpaio had served as the sheriff of Phoenix's Maricopa County for 24 years. But he failed to gain a seventh term in November when he lost to Democrat Paul Penzone, a former Phoenix policeman.
http://bismarcktribune.com/video/featured/joe-arpaio-once-america-s-toughest-sheriff-to-go-on/article_9dcb5b3c-620c-5baa-b1c9-c73861666655.html
Prosecutors charge that Arpaio disobeyed a court order by continuing to make immigration arrests after he was ordered to stop -- and that his actions violated a court order made in a racial profiling case.
Arpaio contends that while he continued to carry out patrols despite the order, he did not intentionally disobey it, CNN affiliate KNXV reported.
If convicted in federal court, Arpaio could be sentenced to up to six months in jail.
Arpaio had served as the sheriff of Phoenix's Maricopa County for 24 years. But he failed to gain a seventh term in November when he lost to Democrat Paul Penzone, a former Phoenix policeman.
http://bismarcktribune.com/video/featured/joe-arpaio-once-america-s-toughest-sheriff-to-go-on/article_9dcb5b3c-620c-5baa-b1c9-c73861666655.html
[font size="8"]Climate Change Deniers
[br] [/font] [br]
You know we haven’t talked much about Climate Change here in the Top 10 even though it’s one of the reasons why the democrats lost in 2016. And our president Donald T. Rump fulfilled that promise by pulling out of the Paris Climate Accord. But this alarming news surfaced this week:
There is only a 5% chance that the Earth will avoid warming by at least 2C come the end of the century, according to new research that paints a sobering picture of the international effort to stem dangerous climate change.
Global trends in the economy, emissions and population growth make it extremely unlikely that the planet will remain below the 2C threshold set out in the Paris climate agreement in 2015, the study states.
The Paris accord, signed by 195 countries, commits to holding the average global temperature to “well below 2C” above pre-industrial levels and sets a more aspirational goal to limit warming to 1.5C. This latter target is barely plausible, the new research finds, with just a 1% chance that temperatures will rise by less than 1.5C.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/jul/31/paris-climate-deal-2c-warming-study
Global trends in the economy, emissions and population growth make it extremely unlikely that the planet will remain below the 2C threshold set out in the Paris climate agreement in 2015, the study states.
The Paris accord, signed by 195 countries, commits to holding the average global temperature to “well below 2C” above pre-industrial levels and sets a more aspirational goal to limit warming to 1.5C. This latter target is barely plausible, the new research finds, with just a 1% chance that temperatures will rise by less than 1.5C.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/jul/31/paris-climate-deal-2c-warming-study
Yes – holy shit! That is quite the cause for alarm! And this week, Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth 2: An Inconvenient Sequel hits theaters. Can we show the trailer for that?
But as much as we love Al Gore here, we can’t help but wonder why he thinks this would be a good movie to bring a date to. I mean really. This is a thing.
A decade ago, former Vice President Al Gore had one of the unlikeliest hit films of all time, An Inconvenient Truth. Now he’s back with a follow-up, An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power, which premiered in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday.
In an interview with Stephen Colbert on CBS’s The Late Show Monday night, Gore joked, “And to young people in particular, I really recommend this movie as a date movie… it’s a hot date movie. It’s an amazingly hot date movie.”
https://thinkprogress.org/inconvenient-sequel-649594bef44e
In an interview with Stephen Colbert on CBS’s The Late Show Monday night, Gore joked, “And to young people in particular, I really recommend this movie as a date movie… it’s a hot date movie. It’s an amazingly hot date movie.”
https://thinkprogress.org/inconvenient-sequel-649594bef44e
Yes really – WTF Lol. I mean let’s think about this for a minute here. What would you say to a date to make her want to go see “An Inconvenient Truth 2”? “Hey baby, want me to pull my Paris Climate Accord out?”. Or maybe.. .“Want to go see An Inconvenient Truth 2? We can get really hot and heavy!”. Or maybe “Hey baby. You and me. An Inconvenient Truth 2. Let’s get inconvenient together!”. Thank you! But here’s where it gets weird – because of course it does! Yes, the mayor of a town in Virginia that is literally sinking is going to debate Al Gore on Climate Change!
TANGIER, Va. (AP) — An enthusiastic Trump supporter who is mayor of a Virginia island that's sinking into the Chesapeake Bay will debate former Vice President Al Gore on climate change.
The Daily Times reports that Tangier Island mayor James "Ooker" Eskridge will appear at a CNN town hall that airs Tuesday at 9 p.m.
The show will discuss the policies of President Donald Trump, including his withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement.
Scientists warn that rising seas and erosion could force residents to abandon Tangier Island in 25 years. But Eskridge recently told CNN that erosion is the real threat, not sea-level rise.
Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/us/article/Pro-Trump-mayor-of-sinking-island-to-debate-Al-11723187.php
The Daily Times reports that Tangier Island mayor James "Ooker" Eskridge will appear at a CNN town hall that airs Tuesday at 9 p.m.
The show will discuss the policies of President Donald Trump, including his withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement.
Scientists warn that rising seas and erosion could force residents to abandon Tangier Island in 25 years. But Eskridge recently told CNN that erosion is the real threat, not sea-level rise.
Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/us/article/Pro-Trump-mayor-of-sinking-island-to-debate-Al-11723187.php
Yes he’s a right wing Jesus freak. Why would we trust a right wing Jesus freak more than we would trust a former vice president who has done his research? Because reasons!
SALISBURY, Md. — President Trump phoned Tangier Island Mayor James "Ooker" Eskridge Monday after viewing a CNN report about the Virginia island's struggle with rising sea levels.
"He said not to worry about sea-level rise," Eskridge said. "He said, 'Your island has been there for hundreds of years, and I believe your island will be there for hundreds more.'"
During the CNN interview, Eskridge had said he loved Trump as much as he would a family member. When staffers brought the CNN report to Trump's attention, "he said, 'I've just got to talk to that guy,'" the mayor said.
In Monday's call, Eskridge told the president that Tangier Island is "a huge supporter of Donald Trump. ... This is a Trump island; we really love you down here."
More:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/06/14/trump-tells-tangier-island-mayor-not-worry-sea-level-rise/394688001/
"He said not to worry about sea-level rise," Eskridge said. "He said, 'Your island has been there for hundreds of years, and I believe your island will be there for hundreds more.'"
During the CNN interview, Eskridge had said he loved Trump as much as he would a family member. When staffers brought the CNN report to Trump's attention, "he said, 'I've just got to talk to that guy,'" the mayor said.
In Monday's call, Eskridge told the president that Tangier Island is "a huge supporter of Donald Trump. ... This is a Trump island; we really love you down here."
More:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/06/14/trump-tells-tangier-island-mayor-not-worry-sea-level-rise/394688001/
[font size="8"]Sean Hannity
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Time once again to ask:
This week – The Seth Rich Conspiracy: How Is This Still A Thing? The right wing absolutely loves to cook up baseless conspiracy theories against liberals and democrats to discredit them, and about half the time it works when one sticks and their base buys it because they can’t think for themselves. The Seth Rich Conspiracy is one such conspiracy.
Yes – Sean Hannity, like any republican sends his “thoughts and prayers” out to Seth Rich’s family for his senseless murder. But they turned what sounds like Washington DC violence into one of the most convoluted, bloated conspiracies they’ve cooked up since Pizzagate.
What is Hannity trying to prove here? In fact even Rod Wheeler, who was hired to lead the investigation into Seth Rich’s murder – found the story that it was linked to the DNC to be pure, 100% grade A bullshit:
In fact even Seth Rich’s family asked Fox to stop the bullshit because well, the story was bullshit.
On the first anniversary of their son’s killing, Seth Rich’s parents called on the public to “cease using Seth as a political football in predetermined partisan narratives.”
In a statement, the family noted the “futility of the request,” but said the false information surrounding the slaying last July and the subsequent harassment of their family and friends do “nothing to bring justice to his killers.”
Rich, a Nebraska native, was shot July 10, 2016, in Northwest Washington’s Bloomingdale neighborhood. D.C. police have repeatedly said they think Rich was killed in a random robbery attempt, but several conspiracy theories have emerged about his death. No arrests have been made.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/seth-richs-family-calls-on-public-to-stop-using-their-son-as-a-political-football-on-anniversary-of-killing/2017/07/10/87e9dd52-656a-11e7-a1d7-9a32c91c6f40_story.html?utm_term=.4f331bbf3236
In a statement, the family noted the “futility of the request,” but said the false information surrounding the slaying last July and the subsequent harassment of their family and friends do “nothing to bring justice to his killers.”
Rich, a Nebraska native, was shot July 10, 2016, in Northwest Washington’s Bloomingdale neighborhood. D.C. police have repeatedly said they think Rich was killed in a random robbery attempt, but several conspiracy theories have emerged about his death. No arrests have been made.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/seth-richs-family-calls-on-public-to-stop-using-their-son-as-a-political-football-on-anniversary-of-killing/2017/07/10/87e9dd52-656a-11e7-a1d7-9a32c91c6f40_story.html?utm_term=.4f331bbf3236
In fact this story is so much bullshit that this week Rod Wheeler launched a lawsuit against Fox News – after the network redacted the story and issued an apology. And that’s something that is usually pretty rare for Fox News.
An investigator who worked on the Seth Rich case claims Fox News fabricated quotes implicating the murdered Democratic National Committee staffer in the WikiLeaks scandal and that President Donald Trump pressured Fox to publish the story.
The investigator, Rod Wheeler, sued Fox for defamation on Tuesday in New York.
The lawsuit tells an explosive story of Trump allies conspiring to push a false story to take the pressure of the Russian collusion investigation off the president, and a news organization willing to work with Trump and show him their story before it was published.
Neither Fox News nor the White House had an immediate comment on the story.
Wheeler, a Fox contributor who looked into Rich's July 2016 murder for the family, was brought into the case by Ed Butowsky, a Texas man and Trump supporter who appeared frequently on Fox, the lawsuit said. Butowsky was intent on establishing a link between Rich, who was killed in July 2016 in what Washington police believe was a botched robbery, and the WikiLeaks scandal.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-fox-news-seth-rich-lawsuit-20170801-story.html
The investigator, Rod Wheeler, sued Fox for defamation on Tuesday in New York.
The lawsuit tells an explosive story of Trump allies conspiring to push a false story to take the pressure of the Russian collusion investigation off the president, and a news organization willing to work with Trump and show him their story before it was published.
Neither Fox News nor the White House had an immediate comment on the story.
Wheeler, a Fox contributor who looked into Rich's July 2016 murder for the family, was brought into the case by Ed Butowsky, a Texas man and Trump supporter who appeared frequently on Fox, the lawsuit said. Butowsky was intent on establishing a link between Rich, who was killed in July 2016 in what Washington police believe was a botched robbery, and the WikiLeaks scandal.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-fox-news-seth-rich-lawsuit-20170801-story.html
Yup – Wikileaks. The original Masters Of Crap. The purveyors of bullshit. We should have known they were behind this, and Julian Assange would have got away with it too, if it weren’t for those meddling liberals. But there’s allegations that not only was it a Trump supporter that helped fund the bullshit, it might have been Trump himself fueling the conspiracy:
President Donald Trump personally approved a false Fox News story claiming a murdered Democratic staffer—not Russian hackers—leaked Democratic National Committee emails to WikiLeaks, a new lawsuit claims.
Private investigator Rod Wheeler sued the cable-TV network in federal court on Tuesday, alleging it falsely quoted him in an article saying slain DNC staffer Seth Rich had contact with Julian Assange’s rogue publishing operation. Wheeler accuses Fox News regular and pro-Trump money manager Ed Butowsky of coordinating between the channel and the White House in an effort to frame Rich for the leaks and imply Democrats had a hand in his death. Fox News later retracted the article, saying it didn’t meet its “standards.”
The White House and Fox’s motivation to push the false story was to “lift the cloud” of the Russia investigation, Wheeler claims in the lawsuit. (Trump fired FBI Director James Comey a week before the article was published.) “One of the big conclusions we need to draw from this is that the Russians did not hack our computer systems and ste[a]l emails and there was no collusion like [t]rump with the Russians,” Butowsky allegedly wrote in emails to Fox News producers and anchors promoting the piece.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-told-fox-news-to-publish-seth-rich-murder-hoax-lawsuit-claims
Private investigator Rod Wheeler sued the cable-TV network in federal court on Tuesday, alleging it falsely quoted him in an article saying slain DNC staffer Seth Rich had contact with Julian Assange’s rogue publishing operation. Wheeler accuses Fox News regular and pro-Trump money manager Ed Butowsky of coordinating between the channel and the White House in an effort to frame Rich for the leaks and imply Democrats had a hand in his death. Fox News later retracted the article, saying it didn’t meet its “standards.”
The White House and Fox’s motivation to push the false story was to “lift the cloud” of the Russia investigation, Wheeler claims in the lawsuit. (Trump fired FBI Director James Comey a week before the article was published.) “One of the big conclusions we need to draw from this is that the Russians did not hack our computer systems and ste[a]l emails and there was no collusion like [t]rump with the Russians,” Butowsky allegedly wrote in emails to Fox News producers and anchors promoting the piece.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-told-fox-news-to-publish-seth-rich-murder-hoax-lawsuit-claims
Yes – Trump himself might have had a hand in framing the democrats for the murder of a DNC staffer – despite that nothing had anything to do with it. So the guy who accuses other networks of being fake news made up some actual fake news himself! And guess what? Like everything Trump does, it all goes back to Russia.
A wealthy Trump supporter and a Fox News producer conspired to run a fake story about the death of a Democratic National Committee staffer while the White House looked on, a lawsuit has alleged.
Rod Wheeler, the detective cited in Fox News' controversial story about the fatal shooting of DNC staffer Seth Rich, has filed suit against the company for allegedly fabricating his quotes and pressuring him to push a false narrative.
“According to the complaint … Fox News was working with the Trump administration to disseminate fake news in order to distract the public from Russia's alleged attempts to influence our country's presidential election,” Mr Wheeler’s attorney, Douglas Wigdor, said in a statement.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/white-house-fake-news-seth-rich-death-russia-distract-fox-news-donald-trump-dnc-staff-lawsuit-a7871321.html
Rod Wheeler, the detective cited in Fox News' controversial story about the fatal shooting of DNC staffer Seth Rich, has filed suit against the company for allegedly fabricating his quotes and pressuring him to push a false narrative.
“According to the complaint … Fox News was working with the Trump administration to disseminate fake news in order to distract the public from Russia's alleged attempts to influence our country's presidential election,” Mr Wheeler’s attorney, Douglas Wigdor, said in a statement.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/white-house-fake-news-seth-rich-death-russia-distract-fox-news-donald-trump-dnc-staff-lawsuit-a7871321.html
And yes Trump is wrong. The master of fake news strikes again – and everyone who’s ever made a conspiracy is involved it seems like. But here’s where it gets weird. Someone attempted to use Seth Rich’s murder and conspiracy theories that resulted to sell shit. We are not making this up.
The conspiracy theory’s continued traction underscores the degree to which many Americans have been swayed by so-called fake news that aligns with their ideological views, and how some have attempted to cash in on baseless—but widely shared—political stories.
Last week, the Prosper-linked Seth Rich conspiracy theorizing took a bizarre turn. An email marketing company run by the firm’s top two executives blasted out an advertisement that promoted a skincare product by linking it to the Seth Rich murder.
“Sean Hannity’s Wife Drops Bombshell Amidst Fox News Murder Investigation!” read the email’s subject line. It linked to “a message from our sponsor” that described in detail how Hannity’s dogged coverage of the Seth Rich murder had led to intense media scrutiny of the Fox host. “But what journalist [sic] found about [Hannity’s wife] Jill’s net worth is even more mindblowing,” the ad exclaimed. She had secretly devised a wrinkle-fighting skin cream called Parisian Secret, the ad says, that produces “anti-aging results that before now were only possible through surgeons.”
http://www.thedailybeast.com/seth-rich-murder-conspiracy-is-being-used-to-sell-face-cream
Last week, the Prosper-linked Seth Rich conspiracy theorizing took a bizarre turn. An email marketing company run by the firm’s top two executives blasted out an advertisement that promoted a skincare product by linking it to the Seth Rich murder.
“Sean Hannity’s Wife Drops Bombshell Amidst Fox News Murder Investigation!” read the email’s subject line. It linked to “a message from our sponsor” that described in detail how Hannity’s dogged coverage of the Seth Rich murder had led to intense media scrutiny of the Fox host. “But what journalist [sic] found about [Hannity’s wife] Jill’s net worth is even more mindblowing,” the ad exclaimed. She had secretly devised a wrinkle-fighting skin cream called Parisian Secret, the ad says, that produces “anti-aging results that before now were only possible through surgeons.”
http://www.thedailybeast.com/seth-rich-murder-conspiracy-is-being-used-to-sell-face-cream
Yes. Face cream. The Seth Rich conspiracy is being used to hawk face cream. That’s enough to make you ask – the Seth Rich conspiracy:
[font size="8"]Justin Bieber
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It’s now time for another installment of:
And man do I need a drink. Whew, this week was exhausting trying to keep up with all the shitty news coming down the pike. And I’ll definitely need something much stronger than a Bud Light with lime. I’ll go with my usual cocktail of Jack Daniels mixed with Jack Daniels. I call it “The Double Jack”. So this week, we’re going to lighten things up and talk about music. I mean do we really need $109 limited edition Arcade Fire fidget spinners? I love Arcade Fire, but this is something I wouldn’t ever purchase, ever.
Earlier today, Arcade Fire fans went through a roller coaster of emotions as the Canadian band announced their new album, Everything Now, was available on a limited-edition fidget spinner, and then announced it was promptly sold out.
The listing, showing a black-and-white fidget spinner with a USB connection, was supposedly on sale for $109 and included an additional booklet. A few weeks back, Pitchfork reported that the band had denounced unofficial Arcade Fire fidget spinners that were being sold on Amazon, with the band saying that “official, ‘infinite content’ spinners are coming.” (For reference, Infinite Content is the name of Arcade Fire’s upcoming tour and also happens to be a hilarious name for a limited-edition fidget spinner.)
https://www.theverge.com/2017/7/31/16072754/arcade-fire-fidget-spinner-everything-now
The listing, showing a black-and-white fidget spinner with a USB connection, was supposedly on sale for $109 and included an additional booklet. A few weeks back, Pitchfork reported that the band had denounced unofficial Arcade Fire fidget spinners that were being sold on Amazon, with the band saying that “official, ‘infinite content’ spinners are coming.” (For reference, Infinite Content is the name of Arcade Fire’s upcoming tour and also happens to be a hilarious name for a limited-edition fidget spinner.)
https://www.theverge.com/2017/7/31/16072754/arcade-fire-fidget-spinner-everything-now
https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/6SyjJHQGBSIv-6E3ktzQ6Tk9xXo=/0x0:456x422/920x613/filters:focal(190x135:262x207)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/55986109/DGFALpBUwAAEZM9.0.jpg
But that’s not what I really want to talk about in this entry. Let’s talk about the opposite of Arcade Fire, Justin Beiber. Sigh, we got to talk about Justin Bieber. I don’t want to talk about Justin Beiber but when something this crazy is in the news, we have to talk about it. Here’s how it started:
Justin Bieber has canceled the remaining dates of his Purpose Tour "due to unforeseen circumstances."
"Justin loves his fans and hates to disappoint them," a statement read on Bieber's official Facebook page. "He thanks his fans for the incredible experience of the Purpose World Tour over [the] last 18 months."
The canceled stops will begin with Saturday's show in Arlington, Texas. Tickets will be refunded.
Shortly after announcing his tour cancellation, Bieber was spotted near Santa Monica beach by TMZ. He told the outlet he plans on "just resting, getting some relaxation. We're gonna ride some bikes."
http://www.cnn.com/2017/07/24/entertainment/justin-bieber-tour-canceled/index.html
"Justin loves his fans and hates to disappoint them," a statement read on Bieber's official Facebook page. "He thanks his fans for the incredible experience of the Purpose World Tour over [the] last 18 months."
The canceled stops will begin with Saturday's show in Arlington, Texas. Tickets will be refunded.
Shortly after announcing his tour cancellation, Bieber was spotted near Santa Monica beach by TMZ. He told the outlet he plans on "just resting, getting some relaxation. We're gonna ride some bikes."
http://www.cnn.com/2017/07/24/entertainment/justin-bieber-tour-canceled/index.html
Yeah. OK so Justin Bieber sells out stadiums like AT&T Stadium in Dallas and the Rose Bowl here in Los Angeles, and I do not know a single person who listens to him! So why did he pull out and miss all that sweet, sweet money?
Earlier this week, Justin Bieber canceled his North American stadium tour. No official reason was given — only that there were “unforeseen circumstances” that prevented the young pop singer from following through with the planned outing. However, according to a new report from TMZ, the cancelation had to do with Bieber’s spiritual awakening.
Citing sources close to the singer, TMZ reports that Bieber has “rededicated himself to Christ” and intends to spend more time with a pastor named Carl Lentz, who he’s forged a close relationship with in recent months. Bieber’s decision “came out of the blue,” according to TMZ, and his crew is “incredibly pissed off at him” as the canceled shows impact their own financial well-being.
https://consequenceofsound.net/2017/07/justin-bieber-cancels-tour-to-rededicate-himself-to-christ-subsequently-drives-truck-into-paparazzi/
Citing sources close to the singer, TMZ reports that Bieber has “rededicated himself to Christ” and intends to spend more time with a pastor named Carl Lentz, who he’s forged a close relationship with in recent months. Bieber’s decision “came out of the blue,” according to TMZ, and his crew is “incredibly pissed off at him” as the canceled shows impact their own financial well-being.
https://consequenceofsound.net/2017/07/justin-bieber-cancels-tour-to-rededicate-himself-to-christ-subsequently-drives-truck-into-paparazzi/
Yeah if I were a member of his crew, I think I’d be pretty pissed at him too. And he’s all of a sudden religious now? How… who… what… where… when… I just can’t think of any church that would want a guy who pees in buckets while flipping off pictures of Bill Clinton! How about one founded by a guy who was under investigation for alleged child molestation?
An investigation by Australia's Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse found none of the allegations against Frank Houston were ever reported to police.
The commission's report found Frank had sexually abused the seven-year-old boy, and had later admitted it to an assembly of church executives.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/inside-justin-biebers-hillsong-church-10874262
The commission's report found Frank had sexually abused the seven-year-old boy, and had later admitted it to an assembly of church executives.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/inside-justin-biebers-hillsong-church-10874262
And one that takes member donations from a cell phone app? I may seriously have to do a deep dive on Hillsong in the next Top 10. Yeah that happened. So what could be the underlying motive here?
Justin Bieber is publicly denying religion played a role in him abruptly pulling the plug on his Purpose tour with just 14 shows to go.
Biebs was grabbing lunch Tuesday in Bev Hills when a pap asked about the sudden decision to quit. Justin seemed perplexed at the suggestion it had anything to do with his spirituality.
As TMZ first reported ... multiples sources connected with Hillsong Church, which Justin attends regularly, say he absolutely canceled the tour because he's "rededicated his life to Christ."
Justin claims he already told us what's wrong ... when he said he just needed to rest after 2 years on the road.
http://www.tmz.com/2017/07/25/justin-bieber-denies-religion-reason-cancel-purpose-tour/
Biebs was grabbing lunch Tuesday in Bev Hills when a pap asked about the sudden decision to quit. Justin seemed perplexed at the suggestion it had anything to do with his spirituality.
As TMZ first reported ... multiples sources connected with Hillsong Church, which Justin attends regularly, say he absolutely canceled the tour because he's "rededicated his life to Christ."
Justin claims he already told us what's wrong ... when he said he just needed to rest after 2 years on the road.
http://www.tmz.com/2017/07/25/justin-bieber-denies-religion-reason-cancel-purpose-tour/
Yeah so religion wasn’t the cause for Beiber cancelling his whole tour. Oh and then he may have run over a guy outside his church. So maybe god isn’t for him?
Justin Bieber accidentally ran over a photographer as he left a church service in Beverly Hills ... and the loud impact was captured on camera.
Justin was leaving the Saban Theater, where he'd been worshipping at a City Church event. He climbed into his monster pickup truck as photogs scrambled around the vehicle, and when he gunned it to pull away ... hit the man. It's pretty clear in the video ... Justin's front right side tire hits, or rolls over, the paparazzo.
Justin did not flee the scene and, in fact, stopped as soon as other photogs pointed out what had happened. Bieber stayed right by the man's side for roughly 8 to 10 minutes until paramedics and police arrived.
http://www.tmz.com/2017/07/26/justin-bieber-drives-into-hits-photographer/
Justin was leaving the Saban Theater, where he'd been worshipping at a City Church event. He climbed into his monster pickup truck as photogs scrambled around the vehicle, and when he gunned it to pull away ... hit the man. It's pretty clear in the video ... Justin's front right side tire hits, or rolls over, the paparazzo.
Justin did not flee the scene and, in fact, stopped as soon as other photogs pointed out what had happened. Bieber stayed right by the man's side for roughly 8 to 10 minutes until paramedics and police arrived.
http://www.tmz.com/2017/07/26/justin-bieber-drives-into-hits-photographer/
Although in case you’re wondering – who the fuck is Hillsong, you might want to see this. It’s a celebrity church with a rock band.
Here are five things you might not know about Hillsong Church:
1. Hillsong Church comes from Australia.
While the website claims it was founded by Brian Houston in 1983 in Australia, the church has roots that go to Brian's father, William "Frank" Houston, who was a Pentecoastal Christian pastor in Australia and New Zealand. He founded a Christian Life Centre, which would go on to become Hillsong Church under his son's leadership.
2. Hillsong reaches across the world. Why? Beautiful musicians in the leadership.
On their website, Hillsong states the locations of their churches in 19 countries on five continents. Norway has five locations and the UK has seven, while the US has only six. Moscow, Tel Aviv and Kiev are also on the list. Although the flagship church is in Australia, and celebrities have been seen flying into Sydney for conferences there, if you want to attend a service, you may not have to leave the comfort of your own country. The services and worships are often held in large venues used for concerts and resemble elaborate music performances more so than traditional religious services. Everyone loves a good show, and Hillsong followers are no exception, be it in Los Angeles or Kiev.
http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/7881833/hillsong-church-justin-bieber-five-things-to-know
1. Hillsong Church comes from Australia.
While the website claims it was founded by Brian Houston in 1983 in Australia, the church has roots that go to Brian's father, William "Frank" Houston, who was a Pentecoastal Christian pastor in Australia and New Zealand. He founded a Christian Life Centre, which would go on to become Hillsong Church under his son's leadership.
2. Hillsong reaches across the world. Why? Beautiful musicians in the leadership.
On their website, Hillsong states the locations of their churches in 19 countries on five continents. Norway has five locations and the UK has seven, while the US has only six. Moscow, Tel Aviv and Kiev are also on the list. Although the flagship church is in Australia, and celebrities have been seen flying into Sydney for conferences there, if you want to attend a service, you may not have to leave the comfort of your own country. The services and worships are often held in large venues used for concerts and resemble elaborate music performances more so than traditional religious services. Everyone loves a good show, and Hillsong followers are no exception, be it in Los Angeles or Kiev.
http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/7881833/hillsong-church-justin-bieber-five-things-to-know
Is it me or does this whole thing remind you of Arrested Development when George Bluth starts selling Caged Wisdom video tapes?
[font size="8"]World Tour Destination #8: Sweden
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Part of our mission statement here at the Top 10 Conservative Idiots is to show you that conservative idiocy isn’t just a problem with America. No, it’s a global problem that is stemming far and wide, and it’s not just America where conservative idiots ruin everything they touch. And if you’re thinking of moving out of the United States just because Donald J. Trump is our current president and our nation is turning to shit, you should know what it is you’re getting into should you decide that you want to leave the country. So if you want a recap of the tour schedule – we’ve been all over continental Europe at this point, and now we’re heading to Scandinavia where we found that Norway is a little bit racist (but who isn’t?) and this week, our next destination is going to be the nation of Sweden!
[font size="6"]Sweden[/font]
Next up – we have the country of Sweden to visit. When one thinks of Sweden what comes to mind? What, audience? You say Ikea? The Swedish chef from the Muppets? Swedish meatballs? Well, some of those things are true. It’s also the land of luxury auto maker Volvo, and racing car manufacturer Koenigsegg. Sweden is also the home of the world famous Ice Hotel, which was seen in the 2002 James Bond flick “Die Another Day”. Sweden is also home to tons of great music. Of course you immediately think of ABBA, and why wouldn’t you? But all genres of music come out of Sweden. You like metal? Sweden is the home of the world’s best metal bands. You have prog metal with Opeth and Katatonia, you have death metal with Bathory, Amon Amarth, and Entombed. You have power metal with Evergrey and Sonata Arctica. You like pop and EDM? How about Likki Li and Avicii? You like classic rock? The Who’s late drummer Keith Moon is from Sweden. And of course – this band:
And believe it or not – American baseball is also very popular in Sweden along with cross country skiing and their own interesting sport – Bandy. Bandy is played similar to ice hockey, but take the skates away and replace them with skis, and suddenly things get much more difficult. But what else is Sweden the home of? It’s the home of one of the biggest data breaches in the entire world! Yes, my fair Top 10 fans! It makes the US election look like child’s play by comparison. Remember the Avengers: Age Of Ultron when Ultron hacks into a server bank in Sweden? It’s kind of like that!
The leak occurred last year but was hushed up by officials and politicians until earlier this week.
On Monday, Sweden's prime minister Stefan Lofven admitted he knew about the ultra-sensitive leaks, which included a huge amount of personal information.
Data relating to armed service personnel, people involved in witness protection programmes, police databases and military hardware and equipment were all leaked.
The information was accidentally leaked to people in the Czech Republic and Serbia during a bungled attempt to re-locate Swedish government departments.
http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/833644/sweden-data-leak-government-collapse-Stefan-Lofven
On Monday, Sweden's prime minister Stefan Lofven admitted he knew about the ultra-sensitive leaks, which included a huge amount of personal information.
Data relating to armed service personnel, people involved in witness protection programmes, police databases and military hardware and equipment were all leaked.
The information was accidentally leaked to people in the Czech Republic and Serbia during a bungled attempt to re-locate Swedish government departments.
http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/833644/sweden-data-leak-government-collapse-Stefan-Lofven
What happens in Sweden stays in Sweden. Unless it’s out in the internet, then it’s out in the open. I mean how bad can this get?
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven replaced two ministers on Thursday in a scandal over the leaking of sensitive data, trying to contain the damage and stave off an early election.
Faced with a political crisis over a botched IT outsourcing deal, Lofven sacrificed his interior and infrastructure ministers rather than step down or call a snap vote more than a year ahead of schedule.
But he retained Defence Minister Peter Hultqvist, defying opposition parties who had pressed for the removal of all three ministers.
The opposition parties said in a statement they would press ahead with a motion of no confidence in Hultqvist. If they win that vote, Lofven will have to remove him, which would leave the premier seriously weakened.
uk.reuters.com/article/uk-sweden-politics-idUKKBN1AC16T
Faced with a political crisis over a botched IT outsourcing deal, Lofven sacrificed his interior and infrastructure ministers rather than step down or call a snap vote more than a year ahead of schedule.
But he retained Defence Minister Peter Hultqvist, defying opposition parties who had pressed for the removal of all three ministers.
The opposition parties said in a statement they would press ahead with a motion of no confidence in Hultqvist. If they win that vote, Lofven will have to remove him, which would leave the premier seriously weakened.
uk.reuters.com/article/uk-sweden-politics-idUKKBN1AC16T
Yeah really what the fuck is going on in Sweden? Is the Putin / Trump cabal trying to attack that country as well? Yes, even with all the technology in the world at our disposal, people can still be fucking idiots with it! But even Sweden isn’t immune from the Russia fake news crisis that’s sweeping the planet.
Russia has coordinated a campaign over the past two years to influence Swedish decision-making by using disinformation, propaganda and false documents, according to a report by researchers at The Swedish Institute of International Affairs.
One of the main tools for spreading false information was the Swedish language version of the state-funded news website, Sputnik News, one of the reports co-author's Sebastian Åsberg told Radio Sweden.
The website was active between spring 2015 and spring 2016, publishing nearly 4,000 articles.
http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=2054&artikel=6604516
One of the main tools for spreading false information was the Swedish language version of the state-funded news website, Sputnik News, one of the reports co-author's Sebastian Åsberg told Radio Sweden.
The website was active between spring 2015 and spring 2016, publishing nearly 4,000 articles.
http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=2054&artikel=6604516
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I like that one! Let’s talk about some lighter stuff involving Sweden. Remember last year when people tried to name a British research vessel “Boaty McBoatface”? Well in Sweden they are naming a new rail line… guess what?
It’s happened again. A public vote to name four trains running between the Swedish cities of Stockholm and Gothenburg has resulted in one of the four being called Trainy McTrainface in an echo of the name chosen by the British public for the new polar research vessel.
Trainy McTrainface received 49% of the votes in a poll, jointly run by Swedish rail company MTR Express and Swedish newspaper Metro.
That placed it well ahead the other three options: Hakan, Miriam and Poseidon.
The other trains have already been named by the public: one is named Estelle, after the five-year-old daughter of Sweden’s Princess Victoria, the next in line to the Swedish throne.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jul/19/trainy-mctrainface-boaty-mcboatface-legacy-lives-on-in-swedish-train
Trainy McTrainface received 49% of the votes in a poll, jointly run by Swedish rail company MTR Express and Swedish newspaper Metro.
That placed it well ahead the other three options: Hakan, Miriam and Poseidon.
The other trains have already been named by the public: one is named Estelle, after the five-year-old daughter of Sweden’s Princess Victoria, the next in line to the Swedish throne.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jul/19/trainy-mctrainface-boaty-mcboatface-legacy-lives-on-in-swedish-train
Who doesn’t love the Swedish chef? What else is going on in Sweden? Well there is some good news – I always say I don’t want the Top 10 to be about negativity. There is always this!
A surge in the pace of growth in the second quarter of 2017 means Sweden's GDP expanded by a whopping 4 per cent from a year earlier, leaving Finance Minister Magdalena Andersson rejoicing over growth some analysts called "crazy strong."
Sweden's gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 1.7 percent in the second quarter of 2017, fresh figures from Statistics Sweden (Statistiska centralbyrån, SCB) show. That means the country's year-on-year growth rate landed at 4 percent, beating the economists' forecast growth of 2.8 percent.
"This shows the strength of the Swedish economy, and we can see that both the household consumption and property investments are going strong," Finance Minister Magdalena Andersson told TT newswire.
https://www.thelocal.se/20170728/swedens-economic-growth-is-crazy-strong-analysts
Sweden's gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 1.7 percent in the second quarter of 2017, fresh figures from Statistics Sweden (Statistiska centralbyrån, SCB) show. That means the country's year-on-year growth rate landed at 4 percent, beating the economists' forecast growth of 2.8 percent.
"This shows the strength of the Swedish economy, and we can see that both the household consumption and property investments are going strong," Finance Minister Magdalena Andersson told TT newswire.
https://www.thelocal.se/20170728/swedens-economic-growth-is-crazy-strong-analysts
[font size="6"] The Verdict & Scorecard[/font]
Sweden is a great place to visit. It’s a great place to live. But just don’t get too comfortable if you’re expecting things like security or privacy! And you might want to visit before Putin’s cabal takes over the country just like they’re trying to do all around the world.
Tourism: B+
Culture: A+
Political Spectrum: D
Liberal Appeal: B
Overall: B
[font size="6"]Next Week[/font]
Next week, we’re heading back to continental Europe for a couple more stops. First up, we’re heading to the land of chocolate, waffles, and of course some fine ales – Belgium! And we couldn’t find an act for Belgium, but we will have some live music for you from Portugal The Man!
[font size="8"]And Now This:[/font]
Ladies and gentlemen, my next guest is repping their home country of Sweden! They are currently touring with one of our favorites here at the Top 10 - Iron Maiden! They are called “Ghost”, and if you go to the show, get there early because these guys are great live. They are touring in support of their new EP called “Popestar”. Playing their song called “Square Hammer”, give it up for GHOST!!!
Yeah how about that?
See you next week!
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