#kevn mccarthy

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Casting de la saison 2.

[opedguy]

McCarthy Stands Up to Press

LOS ANGELES (OnlineColumnist.com), Jan. 25, 2023.--House Speaker Kevn McCarthy (R-Calif.), 58, got into it with the Democrat-controlled press, questioning his judgment about keeping 60-year-old former Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), off the panel. McCarthy also denied Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) a place on the Intel Committee for his known affair with a Chinese spy, something denied by Democrats.  McCarthy said that neither Schiff nor Swalwell should receive intel briefings but welcome them to apply to any other committees of their choice.  Schiff became House Intel Committee Chairman in 2019, after Democrats took over the House.  Schiff routinely leaked daily intel to the New York Times and Washington Post, disparaging 76-year-old former President Donald Trump, accusing him of colluding with Russia.  Schiff was the New York Times and Washington Post’s main leak source.

Democrats saw nothing wrong with letting Schiff weaponize his Article 1 power to build an impeachment case against Trump.  Schiff was heavily involved in Trump’s first impeachment trial, claiming he talked with a whistleblower who said Trump tried to blackmail 44-year-old Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for dirt on 80-year-old President Joe Biden and his 52-year-old son, Hunter.  Biden served as head of former President Barack Obama’s Ukraine’s anti-corruption task force at a time when he landed Hunter and his friend Devon Archer $83,000 a month jobs on the board of a corrupt Ukrainian natural gas company, Burisma Holdings.  Trump wanted information on how Biden and Hunter exploited Ukraine for financial gain for years while serving as Vice President.  Democrats impeached Trump for threatening to withhold funding, trying to dig up dirt on the Bidens.

McCarthy found out the hard way what happens when you make decision against the media’s Democrat establishment.  Trump lived with the nightmare for his four years in office with one fake news story after another, all accusing him of colluding with the Russian Federation.  Schiff was Democrats main point person on the Russian hoax, pretending he had more intel on Trump to charge him with violating the Espionage Act.  Schiff put all his hope in the Mueller investigation looking into Trump’s alleged ties with the Russian Federation.  After 22-months, $40 million, Schiff had his heart broken when Mueller released his finale report March 23, 2019, clearing Trump of any wrongdoing with Russia.  Schiff continued to insist, as Intel Chairman, he had more proof that Trump worked with the Russians to win the 2016 presidential election.  Schiff never produced proof of anything.

McCarthy was pounded by Democrat-friendly reporters about 34-year-old Rep. George Santos’s (R-N.Y.) lies about his background.  McCarthy reminded the press that Santos was elected by his district, regardless of what he said in his background.  “He got elected by his district,” McCarthy said.  When pressed by the reporter about Santos, McCarthy responded forcefully.  “Let me very clear and respectful to you.  You asked me a question.  When I answer it, it’s the answer to your question.  You don’t get to determine whether I answer your question or not, okay?  In all respect,” McCarthy said.  McCarthy reminded the Democrat-friendly press that Schiff lied to the press calling Hunter Biden’s laptop story “Russian disinformation.” McCarthy confirmed that Schiff had intelligence briefings that said Hunter’s laptop was not Russian disinformation yet Schiff misled the public.

McCarthy raised the same objections to Swalwell serving on the Intel Committee, after the FBI said the he had an affair with Chinese spy.  Keeping them off the Intel Committee was not a matter of political payback for former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) keeping 64-year-old Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Az.) and Rep. Marjorie Taylor-Greene off committees because of controversial public remarks.  McCarthy said the Intel Committee required the integrity to have members who did no lie to the public for political purposes.  Reporters continued to focus on Santos who fabricated parts of his background in order to get elected to Congress.  No one in the Democrat-friendly press wants to hear about Swalwell’s affair with a Chinese spy or Schiff leaking constant intel to the New York Times and Washington post building Democrats case against Trump in the 2020 presidential election.

McCarthy’s right wing House detractors saw the Speaker stand up to the Democrat-friendly press, giving good reasons for his decision to keep Schiff and Swalwell of the Intel Committee.  When it came to Santos, McCarthy was clear that if Santos broke campaign finance laws, he would face the same legal test as any other House member.  “This has nothing to do with Santos, “ McCarthy said. “”Santos is not on the Intel Committee.  But you know what?  Those voters elected Schiff, even though he lied.  Those voters elected Swalwell, even though he lied to the American public too . . . “ McCarthy wanted the press to know that he won’t be pushed around, all because Democrats don’t like McCarthy’s committee assignments. McCarthy said that no one will serve ton the Intel Committee when they have proven histories of lying to the public for purely political purposes.

About the Author

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news.  He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging the Bullet and Operation Charisma.  

[ajaxdinerbookclub-blog]

Episode 12: Ajax Diner Book Club

This show is awesome. So awesome. Do you know the artist Swamp Dogg, you should. Holy hell you should. Have you ever wondered what having coffee with Dolly Parton and Patti Smith would be like? We ponder that. Playlist after the break.

Listen Here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Swamp Dogg “The Mind Does The Dancing While The Body Pulls The Strings” from Have You Heard This Story

Woody Guthrie “Ain't Gonna Be Treated This A Way” from Folkways The Original Vision

James Booker “Goodnight Irene” from Junco Partner

Leadbelly “We Shall Be Free” from Leadbelly

Laura Marling “False Hope” from Short Movie

Sandra Phillips “I've Been Down So Long” from Too Many People In One Bed

Jimi Hendrix “Machine gun” from Band of Gypsy's

Neko Case “Runnin' Out of Fools” from Blacklisted

Pavement “Summer Babe (Winter Version)” from Slanted & Enchanted

The Lemonheads “into your arms” from Come on Feel the Lemonheads

Dolly Parton “Just Because I'm A Woman” from Essential Dolly Parton

Patti Smith “gloria” from Horses

Nicole Atkins “Goodnight Rhonda Lee” from Goodnight Rhonda Lee

The Replacements “Sixteen Blue” from Let It Be

REM “Exhuming McCarthy” from Document

Old 97's “Niteclub” from Too Far To Care

Chris Bell “I Am The Cosmos” from I Am the Cosmos

Kevn Kinney “Hey landlord” from McDougal Blues

Doc Watson “Walking Boss” from Memories

Allen Toussaint “Country John” from Southern Nights

Charles Mingus “Better Get Hit in Yo' Soul” from Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus

Mississippi John Hurt “monday Morning Blues” from Mississippi John Hurt Rediscovered

Doris Duke “He's Gone” from I'm A Loser

Eddie Hinton “Everybody needs love” from Letters From Mississippi

Snooks Eaglin “Good News” from The Sonet Blues

J.B. Lenoir “The Whale Has Swallowed Me” from Martin Scorsese Presents The Blues: J.B. Lenoir

[opedguy]

Biden Delays Release of Confidential Docs

LOS ANGELES (OnlineColumnist.com), Jan. 17, 2023.--President Joe Biden, 80, said Republican requests for more information about the newly discovered classified docs found in his Wilmington, De., garage and at his old Univ. of Penn. office.  Biden said Aug. 8, after the FBI raided Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence, that Trump was “totally irresponsible” removing classified docs from the White House to his private Palm Beach estate. Biden’s counsel said five additional classified docs were found Jan. 14 at his Wilmington home, turning immediately over to the Justice Department.  White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden’s classified docs were different from Trumps in that the DOJ didn’t have to go after the docs but were immediately made available to the DOJ and National Archives.  Karine doesn’t admit that Biden’s docs stem from Jan. 20, 2017, the day Trump was sworn in as president.

Democrats and the press want to make the starkest possible contrast between Biden and Trump, wanting Special Counsel Jack Smith to throw the book at Trump. Biden’s handlers refuse to admit they withheld classified docs from the press until after the Midterm elections.  Biden’s attorneys knew about the classified docs in early November but deliberately withheld them until only the last few weeks.  White House officials went of the offense, talking about House Speaker Kevn McCarthy’s (R-Calif.) secret deals made to win the job Jan. 7.  When it came to discrediting Trump, Democrats and press were all in on the Aub. 8, 2022 Mar-a-Lago raid, praising Atty. Gen. Merrick Garland.  Few knew that Garland had little to do with the raid, deferring to his 54-year-old main lieutenant Deputy Atty. Gen. Lisa Monaco, an old Obama holdout involved in the FBI’s counterintelligence investigation of Trump.

White House Spokesman Ian Sams diverted the press from asking tough questions about the timing of the release of Biden’s classified docs, blasting McCarthy and MAGA Republicans for secret deals to get McCarthy elected.  “They’re faking outrage about disclosure and transparency at the same time, for example, that they will not ask their speaker to release the secret deals that he made in order to get support from the far-right extreme MAGA members of the caucus,” said Sams.  What does McCarthy’s election have anything to do with Biden’s attorney deciding to wait until after the Midterms to release his classified docs?  Democrats and the press know that Biden’s problems have made charging Trump impossible for the DOJ, even with Special Counsel Jack Smith trying to focus on Trump.  Democrats and the press thought the Mar-a-Lago raid gave the DOJ the best chance of indicting Trump.

Biden’s classified docs scandal makes it difficult for the DOJ to pursue charges against Trump because the legal standard involves Trump deliberately concealing docs from the National Archives.  There’s zero evidence that Trump even knew what was in the boxes that wound up in Mar-a-Lago’s basement.  By the same token, there’s no evidence that Biden had any clue that he possessed at any location classified docs from his time as Vice President.  Appointing former U.S. Atty. Robert Hur, Garland hoped to show impartiality but he showed his lack of common sense.  Once knowing about the Biden classified docs, Garland should have terminated Jack Smith’s investigation into Trump’s alleged crimes.  Garland had no need to appoint a Special Counsel for Biden, simply because he appointed one Nov. 18, 2022 for Trump.  Worthless classified docs are of no consequence to anyone.

White House’s aggressive response to the classified docs indicates that they’re concerned about any political fallout for Biden’s 2024 presidential run.  Whether the controversy lasts beyond next week is anyone’s guess.  “We’re learning drip-by-drip, bit by bit, the kinds of things he gave away in those negotiations and the serious impact they have on the American people,” Sams said.  Sams knows that whatever McCarthy negotiated with his Republican caucus, it has nothing to do with classified docs found in Biden’s possession. Sams shows the White House is in damage control mode, putting blame of Republicans, for defending Trump against the DOJ’s case.  Recent statements on Truth Social, Trump questioned why the DOJ has orders a raid on Biden’s Wilmington residence or any other place where his Vice Presidential classified docs turned up.

Atty. Gen. Merrick Garland should meet with Monaco and decide whether it’s time to throw in the towel on the Special Counsel investigation, looking into actionable offenses by Trump.  When it comes to classified docs, there’s no case to made for Biden or Trump, since the docs were found inadvertently, not deliberately concealed from the DOJ or anyone else.  When it comes to the Jan. House Select Committee recommendations, Garland knows that there’s no real criminal case against Trump.  In year-and-half the only case made by the Committee is a partisan case against Trump.  Democrats and certain anti-Trump Republicans insist Trump planned and orchestrated the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riots.  But all the committee has are personal opinions, not facts to prove Trump actively participated in the crimes.  Garland needs to act swiftly and end his DOJ inquiry into charging Trump.

About the Author

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.

[opedguy]

Trump Pushes McCarthy to Speaker

LOS ANGELES (OnlineColumnist.com), Jan. 7, 2023.--Whatever 76-year-old former President Donald Trump’s sway with the GOP, he showed yesterday, with 57-year-old year-old House Speaker Rep. Kevn McCarthy (R-Calif.) that he still has sway with conservatives.  McCarthy became Speaker after midnight Jan. 7 once 48-year-old Rep. Marjorie Talyor (R-Ga.) handed her cell phone with Trump on the line to wanted to talk to 40-year-old Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fl.).  Trump got off the fence about McCarthy, telling his conservative friends to back the former House Minority leader for Speaker.  Whatever did the trick on the 15th ballot, it ended a five-day drama that gave the House GOP a black eye, something exploited by 52-year-old incoming House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.). House Democrats couldn’t contain their glee watching Republicans bicker over the House Speaker.  Objections to McCarthy were mostly about his fiscal leadership.

Trump’s sway with certain members of GOP conservative faction is undeniable, especially for his American First agenda, something nowhere seen in the Biden administration, currently spending billions on a deadly proxy war against Rus to advance Ukraine’s agenda not the U.S.  House conservatives resent 80-year-old President Joe Biden spending billions on Ukraine when so many Americans live on the streets.  So when Trump talked with Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-Mt,) before the 15th ballot late last night, something changed, enabling McCarthy to finally pull out the vote.  Whether or not Greene or Rosendale like McCarthy, they have the utmost respect for Trump, knowing his America First agenda helped the country grow the economy and promote peace around the globe  Under Biden, the U.S. finds itself in a costly proxy war that’s all but wrecked U.S.-Russian relations.

Trump also spoke with 64-year-old Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Az.) before the 15th ballot, getting both Biggs and Gaetz to voter present, reducing the number of votes needed by two.  So, whatever Democrats and the media say about Trump, he still has clout insides conservative GOP circles.  Not all Republicans agree with 75-year-old Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Yt.) and other anti-Trumpers that the former president must be kept away from the Oval Office.  Trump’s 25% base would like to seem him back in the White House, not enough math to win a national election.  But when it came to getting McCarthy over the finish line, Trump’s voice carried the decisive influence.  Democrats, the media and certain anti-Trump Republicans blamed the former president for the lack of a Red Wave on Nov. 8, 2020 when, in fact, he help get the House back for Republicans, a major feat.

When it comes to Democrats and the press, Trump gets no credit for anything positive during his presidency, including a stable, inflation-free economy and a foreign policy built off traditional relationships.  When Biden took office, he almost immediately alienated Russia and China to the point that both countries considered breaking off diplomatic relations.  Relations with Russia and China under Biden are at the lowest point in post-WW II history.  Democrats and the media back Biden whether the U.S. economy or world goes up in smoke.  McCarthy taking office means that the GOP flips-the-script on Democrats, opening up hearings on Biden’s domestic and foreign policy.  Democrats and the media give Biden a free pas regardless of how close Biden pushes the economy into recession and world into WW III.  At some point, Republicans are going to ask questions about Biden’s leadership.

McCarthy knows that Trump pulled him across the finish line, getting Biggs and Gaetz to vote present, reducing the 218 vote threshold to 216.  “I don’t think anybody should doubt his influence.  He was with me from the beginning,” McCarthy said, crediting Trump with his victory.  Some of the anti-Trump sentiments led certain conservative to oppose McCarthy, knowing, it the next two years, he would throw his backing to Trump 2024 run for president.  “The ‘Speaker’ selection process, as crazy as it many seem, has made it all much bigger and more important than more conventional way.  Congratulations to Kevin McCarthy and our GREAT Republican Party!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social network.  Democrats and the press exploited the GOP process to make Republicans look incompetent, but, more importantly, unpatriotic according to 80-year-old former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).

McCarthy prevailed because there’s simply no other GOP candidate for House Speaker that made any sense.  When some House conservatives threw their weight behind 44-year-old Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fl.), you know that vote was purely vindictive, not based on what’s good for the party.  Like McCarthy or not, he’s the most experienced GOP elected official in the House to hit the ground running on Day One.  Whatever concessions MeCarthy made, including the Motion to Vacate with only one vote, it won’t change a thing next two years.  Under McCarthy, Democrats should get some of its own medicine going after Trump.  Biden’s been give an free pass by Democrats and the press, leaving the economy close to recession and foreign relations close to WW III.  Republicans can now do the necessary oversight to figure out whether Biden’s fit for office..

About the Author

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.

[opedguy]

McCarthy Drama Embarrasses GOP

LOS ANGELES (OnlineColumnist.com), Jan. 5, 2023.--Former House Minority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), 57, went down by some 18 votes to another failed round to voting for House Speaker.  Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), 82, slammed Republicans as disgracing the institution but, more importantly, showing they can’t govern, only bicker about ideological differences.  McCarthy has served since 2018 as House Minority when former President Donald Trump lost the 2018 Midterm election, leaving Democrats fully in charge until an expected Republican wave saw the GOP take back the House in one of the most improbable elections in recent memory.  Given the trends from 2018, it looked like Democrats were poised to hold the house for generations, when suddenly, Republicans pulled off a 10-vvote vuctory.   Former President Donald Trump, 76, was blamed by Republicans for losing the U.S. Senate.

Why those same voices didn’t praise Trump for reclaiming the House for the GOP shows the kind of hypocrisy that abounds in Washington.  Losing the Senate by two votes, Trump was slammed by the press for leading the GOP down a garden path, eventually tanking GOP fortunes.  But once the GOP took over the House, the same voices condemning Trump for the Senate didn’t thank him for the House.  Now Republicans struggle with a handful of ideologues seeking fiscal restraint in an atmosphere of big government spending.  Since taking office, when you count up all the pandemic stimulus and infrastructure bill, Biden added over $5 trillion to the $31.5   trillion national debt.  Whether or not the debt or, fraction of it to U.S. Gross Domestic Product [GDP], matters to Democrats it still matters to what’s left of Tea Party Republicans or today’s Freedom Caucus.

McCarthy has been lumped in with big spending Democrats, having supported many continuing budget resolutions to keep the government funded and, more recently, Biden’s profligate spending programs leading to the worst inflation in 40 years.  President Joe Biden, 80, won’t admit that the billions spent on Ukraine, paying government salaries and the war, has fueled inflation in the U.S. and around the globe.  Biden shows zero incterest to stop his proxy war against the Russian Federatio, sending U.S.-Russian relations in the worst place since WW II.  Even during the dreaded 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, the U.S. was not in a hot war with the Kremlin.  Funding Kiev’s bankrupt government and war against the Russian Federation, Biden has destroyed U.S.-Russian relations for generations.  Now the media focuses on trivial GOP infighting to divert attention away from the Ukraine War.

Conservative Fox News host Sean Hannity, 61, criticized 20 conservative Republicans for holding 200 hostage on approving McCarthy as House Speaker. The bottom line is you still only have only 20 votes,” Hannity said. Hannity went after Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Co.), who barely won reelection, telling her 20 people don’t want Kevin McCarthy at this time,” urging the 20 conservatives to stop holding the rest of the caucus hostage over McCarthy..  “The fun never stops,” said 53-year-old Fox News host Tucker Carlson who thinks McCarthy should withdraw. “They cannot continue.  It is poison, and Kevn McCarthy is uniquely situated right now to stop it,” Carlson said.  “So, by striking a deal with his 20 colleagues, McCarthy could restore out system to health and at the same time get the job he has always wanted.  It’s not that complicated,” urging McCarthy to compromise.

Former Trump adviser Steve Bannon, 70, who was recently convicted of Contempt of Congress, said the issue with McCarthy goes all the way back to the 2010 Tea Party movement. “This fight has been brewing for 10 years since the Tea Party revolt in 2010,” Bannon said.  Bannon urged Republicans to pick 76-year-old President Donald Trump as the next speaker, showing, if nothing else, Bannon has some screws loose.  Rep. Matt Gaetz, (R-Fl.) 40, facing sex trafficking charges, also proved he’s gone mad endorsing Trump as House Speaker.  Bannon and Gaetz show why they’re not taken seriously by mainstream Republicans.  If nothing else, Tea Party Republicans stood for fiscal conservatism, not printing fiat currency to finance extravagant social land infrastructure programs.  Tea Party Republicans want reassurance from McCarthy that he’ll oppose more of Biden’s profligate spending.

When it comes to McCarthy, he has the seniority and experience necessary for House Speaker.  GOP’s conservative majority said they could get behind 44-year-old neophyte Rep. Byron Donalds (R-F.).  Conservatives know Donalds is completely unprepared for the job based on his experience and time in Congress.  Yet like recommending Trump for House Speaker, there’s no limit to the GOP absurdity.  If conservatives want McCarthy to respect fiscal conservatism, they need to talk with him and make a pledge to each other.  “They have put themselves about everything else and are costing conservatives across the country dearly,” said Rep.-elect Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.).  “They need to get serious and wake up and realize that we are not rolling over. There are over 200 of us who support Kevin McCarthy, and we will support him on every single vote,” Lawler said.

About the Author  

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.