Rachel Maddow: Trump's Real Potential Scandal is Azerbaijan and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard

I don't care if you are a hard-right Republican who thinks Rachel Maddow is "our" version of Glenn Beck or Sean Hannity (tip: she's not), or if it's your knee-jerk reaction to a) call her MadCow, and/or b) make fun of her sexuality or gender, watch this clip. For one thing, it's fascinating as an instruction on how to tell a story, and make it interesting. It's also fascinating to see the connections between things you'd never considered (and I'm not even yet talking about the political stuff). But it's stunning to see where she's going with this one. [Story continues below]



The Rachel Maddow Show is currently experiencing an upsurge in popularity, vying for and sometimes surpassing actual network prime time television. Part of the reason is that she's elected not to focus on Trump's latest tweets, and the incendiary things 45 says. She's been reporting what they're up to; in some cases what they seem to be up to, sure, but that's part of investigative reporting. Connecting the dots. And not in the boring (and crazy) Beck chalkboard way, but by linking actual, real events.

This story does involve Donald Trump, in a rather grave way. and it's worth your full attention, if you are an American, I don't care what party you are.

And if you won't watch that, at least read the article from The New Yorker that inspired it.

Image from The New Yorker

[Excerpt]

Donald Trump's Worst Deal

Heydar Aliyev Prospekti, a broad avenue in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, connects the airport to the city. The road is meant to highlight Baku’s recent modernization, and it is lined with sleek new buildings. The Heydar Aliyev Center, an undulating wave of concrete and glass, was designed by Zaha Hadid. The state oil company is housed in a twisting glass tower, and the headquarters of the state water company looks like a giant water droplet. “It’s like Potemkin,” my translator told me. “It’s only the buildings right next to the road.” Behind the gleaming structures stand decaying Soviet-era apartment blocks, with clothes hanging out of windows and wallboards exposed by fallen brickwork. . .

Read more at: The New Yorker

EDITED TO NOTE: In an epic Freudian slip, my original headline said "Republican," rather than "Revolutionary" Guard. I do not regret the error.

Former VA Governor McDonnell Guilty on 11 Counts

Yes, the man known as Governor Ultrasound or Transvaginal Bob has been found guilty. His very L.A. Law-style "my wife and I couldn't conspire, we can't stand each other!" defense did not work. And instead of being on the Vice Presidential short-list as he was in 2012, instead, Bob McDonnell just might be going to the pokey.

And that's just a little bit funny. Because you know that rampant homophobes like McDonnell have paranoid ideas of what prison is like.
[Excerpt]

Virginia’s McDonnell guilty on 11 counts of corruption

. . .A jury has reached a verdict in the corruption trial of former Virginia governor Bob McDonnell and his wife Maureen. Both McDonnells were found guilty on the majority of the 14 criminal charges they were faced with. The ex-governor was convicted on 11 counts, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and his wife was found guilty on eight counts. Maureen McDonnell was also convicted of obstruction of an official proceeding. . .

Read more at: MSNBC

 

The Real "ObamaCare" Swindle

Image from source, Daily Beast

Ever wonder why conservatives are so rabid about defunding, dismantling and destroying the Affordable Care Act (aka ObamaCare)? Follow the money. . .

[Excerpt]

The Obamacare Swindle (It’s Not What You Think)

House Republican leadership does not want a government shutdown over Obamacare, but the agitation of conservative activists might make one inevitable. That’s not good news for Republicans. After the debt ceiling crisis in 2011, congressional approval ratings dipped to their lowest ever, with Republicans taking a huge hit; in one survey, 71 percent of respondents disapproved with the GOP’s handling of the debt limit. In another, 68 percent said the same (PDF). . .

Read more at: Daily Beast

North Carolina Bill Aims to Make Voting Harder

I've said it before, Voter ID laws sound reasonable. I mean, you need ID to rent a car, or even a tuxedo. You need ID to cash a check, to get a library card, for all kinds of things, and we don't give it much thought. But here's the problem with Voter ID laws: they weren't created to stop voter fraud, they were created to prevent "undesirables" from voting. The fact is, the people most likely to not have ID (which includes an amazingly high number of voters) are disproportionally likely Democratic voters. In unguarded moments, several prominent conservatives and Republicans have even admitted as much.



Voter fraud is vanishingly rare in the United States, and North Carolina is no exception. But I hear you, you think it's a reasonable requirement. Though this ID had better be free, and had better not be difficult to obtain, or it is the equivalent of a poll tax. And if the passage of one of these laws is so urgently important, I'd say there ought to be a broad campaign to educate the public about exactly what they'll need in order to vote. That would only be fair, right? Except in places where these things tend to pass, that sort of assistance rarely seems to happen.

Add to that, that Voter ID itself isn't the only thing being passed here. There's a whole list of things on deck to complicate or restrict current voting rules. They want to cut early voting times. They want to stop pre-registering 17-year-olds who are soon turning 18. They want to complicate voting by college students. They want to repeal same-day registration. They want to ban straight-ticket voting.

Whatever you think about the individual parts of the bill, the fact is, this is an effort to make voting harder. What's amazing to me is that there doesn't seem to even be a cover story for why they're doing it. As with the huge list of restrictions and regulations (regulations from conservatives!) on abortion clinics that exist simply to make abortion harder, this voting bill is just trying to reduce the number of likely--mostly Democratic--voters. It's as plain as day.

And that--my dear Republican friends--should piss you off too. You've got an organized movement at the state level by the GOP to skew election results just by preventing voting by a group of people. It's not really "winning," it's cheating. And it's amazing to me that they don't even have to present even a bullshit reason for why they're doing most of it.

[Excerpt]

Voter ID bill raises controversy in North Carolina

Republican Leader Berger rejects the notion that his party is trying to suppress the Democratic-leaning black and youth vote. "Absolutely not," he said. "I am concerned the people are talking about substantial problem with this that I don't agree exists."

State-issued IDs, which now cost $10, will be free in the future, according to the bill. State Senator Floyd McKissick, Jr., the Democratic Deputy Minority Leader, tried to stop the reforms he called "draconian. . ."

Read more at: CBS News

Credit Card Fraud in Scott Walker's Recall Defense?

Gov. Wanker Walker, Image from Addicting Info.

When it comes to Wisconsin politics, I make no claim to be plugged in. Though The Other Half does belong to a union, I never have. And having been raised in a Republican household, I've been told since I was a kid that, "Unions were a good idea years ago, but they've outlived their usefulness." This despite a dad in the firefighters' union! So, my take on the Scott Walker recall effort is in the larger story of the GOP 2010 freshman class of governors. They seemingly uniformly started a lurch to the hard right. This is probably because they've been spoonfed their policies by groups like ALEC.

They ran on the mantra of jobs, jobs, jobs, and then immediately started passing hundreds of anti-abortion efforts, union busting, anti-gay legislation, etc. All of it cut with an edge of meanness, from the governors to the legislators. Only Chris Christie seems to be able to pull this crap, and somehow maintain an aura of popularity. Thankfully, though my state improbably elected another Republican after our previous disaster of a governor, Nevada Gov. Sandoval hasn't blazed a trail of "screw you if you're not on my side." Which is nice.

Hey, Scott! If you get busted, please take him
with you! Image from Kingston Progressive.

Anyway, so Walker was dragged kicking and screaming into a recall election. But because his radical agenda would be so besmirched if he actually got recalled, the money has come a-rolling in. Yeah, yeah, I know the unions have been spending some jack too. But why wouldn't they? They're the ones Walker has been attacking after all. And I don't think they're matching the firepower of Karl Rove (horrible, horrible man) Reince Priebus, and the rest of the GOP cash machine.

Right now, Walker is leading. Not by insurmountable margin, but by enough that he probably isn't sweating too hard just yet. Then again, he might have different reasons to be sweating. There seems to be an unusual amount of corruption around Mr. Walker. Might the opposition (where are you, DNC?), be able to make a little hay out of this?

[Excerpt]

Scott Walkers New Fund Raising Scheme: Credit Card Fraud?

Many people have had it happen before. You go to the store, attempt to make a purchase for which you have funds in your credit/debit account and get declined. Sometimes this is a mere error. Maybe you made a few purchases that were abnormally large recently. Perhaps you took a trip and they flagged as they often do when you don’t notify them. Or sometimes, as we are now finding out, you may have a fraudulent donation to “Friends of Scott Walker. . .”

Read more at: Addicting Info

Wisconsin Gov. Walker's Aides Caught, Illegal Campaigning

Image from source, JSOnline

Soon to probably be recalled Governor Walker has all sorts of problems these days. He's sort of the walking definition of "political overreach." And now, the people who got him where he is are in trouble too. It's so terribly (chuckle) sad.

[Excerpt]


Two ex-Walker aides charged with illegal campaigning

Two staffers who worked directly for Gov. Scott Walker while he was county executive were charged Thursday with illegally doing extensive political work while being paid by taxpayers to do county jobs.

One of the two, Darlene Wink, cut a deal with prosecutors under which she has agreed to provide information in a related investigation about the destruction of digital evidence and to aid in further prosecutions. This is the first indication that the multifaceted John Doe investigation may be pursuing charges of evidence tampering. . .

Read more at: JSOnline

George Carlin: The American Dream

Many would call me a "lefty, liberal blogger," and I am a registered Democrat. But it's only because that is the party that fits best, not because I'm a big fan of it. It's just that I find the Republican party to be on the whole, nasty and mean. But I'm aware both parties have corruption, both parties are "playing the game." Lobbyists from every corporation have infiltrated them both. My only card is that the Republicans are worse. It can get depressing. Especially when I review this video, made a couple of years before George Carlin died. It's cynical. You could dismiss him as a grouchy old man. But he's right. He's so right.

"Toughest Sheriff" Arpaio Can't Police Own Department?

Image from source, Think Progress

Well, well, well. So, Sheriff Joe, big tough guy, FOX "News" favorite? Apparently he can't even police his own men effectively. And if the FOX fans are true to form, there will be no impact on his popularity there. They forgive any ridiculous thing that Sarah Palin or Glenn Beck do, so they'll offer their sympathy, backed with their support, undoubtedly. What, me cynical?

[Excerpt]

Three Arpaio Employees Arrested For Drug And Human Trafficking

Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio has made a name for himself as “America’s toughest Sheriff.” For the past several years, Arpaio has waged a crusade against Maricopa County’s undocumented population through immigration sweeps and dehumanizing tactics. . .

Read more at: Think Progress

Thanks to Stupid Monkey Planet for the link.

Senator John Ensign Skates

Image from source, TPM

Grrr. You'd think I'd be used to seeing politicians who are caught dead to rights get off anyway, but I don't. Senator Hairdo did wrong, and wrong again, and no big whoop. Must be nice being rich and powerful.

[Excerpt]

Ensign Says DOJ Has Dropped Investigation



. . ."Senator Ensign is certainly pleased that the Department of Justice no longer views him as a target in their investigation, and has long-stated that he acted in accordance with the law," his spokeswoman said in a statement. . .
 
Read more at: Talking Points Memo

Tom DeLay Finally Convicted

Image from source, MSNBC

Is it too much to hope that this is the start of a trend? Maybe he can use his Dancing with the Stars moves to teach his cellmate Jail House Rock?  Thanks to Stupid Monkey Planet for the link.

[Excerpt]

Jury convicts Tom DeLay in money laundering trial



Former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay — once one of the most powerful and feared Republicans in Congress — was convicted Wednesday on charges he illegally funneled corporate money to Texas candidates in 2002. . .
 
Read more at: MSNBC
 

Claim Against Senator John Ensign Dismissed

Harumph.

[Excerpt]

Cash Complaint Dismissed Against Sen. Ensign


The Federal Election Commission has dismissed a complaint against Sen. John Ensign over a $96,000 payment his parents made to his former mistress and her family.. . .

Read more at: 8NewsNow

Thanks to Stupid Monkey Planet for the link.

Sen. John Ensign's Doo-Doo Gets Deeper

Image from source, Las Vegas Now

Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) had yet another terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. The ethics complaints keep rolling in, and this one isn't even about the affair, and the stuff swirling around it. This is about the C Street investigation that is going on separately.

[Excerpt]

Senator Ensign Named in Another Ethics ComplaintSenator Ensign Named in Another Ethics Complaint

Nevada Senator John Ensign was one of three lawmakers named in a complaint alleging a cushy room rental deal in Washington, DC. . .

Read more at: Las Vegas Now

Thanks yet again to Stupid Monkey Planet for the link. Time for that blog of yours to bust out, Monkey!

Rod Blagojevich Refuses to Resign

Image from source, AOL News

I'm beginning to think that all the pundits are right, this guy is missing most if not all of his marbles. For what possible reason would he stay in office, with the weight of the charges against him? The fact that nobody is standing up for him ought to be enough to shame him out of office. At least Tom DeLay and Randy "Duke" Cunningham had some supporters, however misguided. What is Blagojevich hanging on to?

[Excerpt]

Blagojevich Ignores Pressure to Resign

With pressure mounting by the hour for him to resign or face impeachment, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich went back to work Thursday in what an aide described as an attempt to "return to normalcy. . ."

Read more (with video, and a heavily skewed poll) at: AOL News

Greenlee Gazette Disavows Blagojevich Ties!

I want to say here and now, that Greenlee Gazette, and its editor are in no way tied to the Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich scandal! I feel it is necessary to make this crystal clear, as Blagojevich's Deputy, Bob Greenlee resigned today. I don't know him! Never met him! Hey, they don't even invite me to the reunions. . .

[Excerpt]

Obama Calls for Governor Under Siege to Step Down

. . .Bob Greenlee, one of three deputy governors in Illinois, resigned on Wednesday, but the governor’s office would not say why. It was unclear whether Mr. Greenlee, 33, had any connection to the “Deputy Governor A” described in the federal affidavit supporting Mr. Blagojevich’s arrest. . .

Read more at: New York Times

Patrick Fitzgerald's Statement on Gov. Blagojevich

We pinned all of our hopes on Patrick Fitgerald during the Valerie Plame-Wilson affair, but our "Fitzmas" never came. This time, there is much less personal investment from me at least--I have a fantasy of seeing Karl Rove frog-marched--but I have a feeling Fitzgerald will do a good job. And he gives a heck of a press conference.



Found at: AmericaBlog

Illinois Governor Blagojevich (D) Busted for Being a Sleazebucket

Photo from source, NYT

There you go, Mom. Happy now? I've criticized a Democrat in my headline, and even put a (D) there, to make it crystal clear! Far be it for me to jump to a corrupt politician's defense, regardless of which letter follows his name. Unlike say, Tom DeLay or Randy "Duke" Cunningham, who had conservatives jumping to their defense.

Look, a sleazebucket is a sleazebucket. If a politician has done wrong, he needs to get his comeuppance. And you have to hand it to the Democrats. When they screw up, they screw up BIG and STUPID!

[Excerpt]

Illinois Governor in Corruption Scandal

The governor of Illinois brazenly put up for sale his appointment of Barack Obama’s successor in the United States Senate, federal prosecutors said Tuesday. . .

Read more at: New York Times

Five Members of Congress Probed for Bribery

Photo from source, Raw Story

The suspense is killing me on this one! And the possibility of Katherine Harris being one of them? Priceless! C'mon, sweet karma. . .

[Excerpt]

Five more members of Congress being probed in bribery affair

Five other members of Congress are being probed in association with the bribery scandal linked to former California Republican congressman "Duke" Cunningham, according to a little-noticed legal filing discovered Thursday. . .

Read more at: Raw Story

Jack Abramoff Sentenced to Four More Years!

Photo from source, Raw Story

John McCain's declaration to break from the current Republican leadership might have been more noteworthy, had he mentioned the sentence handed down to Jack Abramoff yesterday. Abramoff represents the entrenched corruption in the Republican Party of the last several years, and their attempt at a "permanent Republican majority."

Many, many of the current Republican power base have connections to Abramoff (maybe even McCain and Sarah Palin?), not the least of which is Turd Blossom himself, Karl Rove, who is "unofficially" guiding McCain's campaign. But, hey, at least somebody is getting his comeuppance.

[Excerpt]

GOP lobbyist Abramoff gets 4 years in prison

Disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff was sentenced on Thursday to serve four more years in prison in a corruption scandal that rocked Washington's power elite and helped Republicans lose control of Congress. . .

Read more at: Raw Story

Democrats Who Voted for FISA Getting Telecom Cash?

Photo from Huffington Post

There is a basic difference--in my opinion--between right-leaning media outlets (radio, magazines, blogs), and left-leaning ones. The right will typically stand by a corrupt conservative politician, offering excuses, playing devil's advocate; unless that politician confesses or is convicted. Even then, their guilt is often downplayed. On the left, there is a less strenuous devil's advocate play, and when the politician seems to be dirty they are often called on it.

Ronald Reagan's "Eleventh Commandment," Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican, doesn't seem to have a counterpart on the left. Ask a Democrat to defend Bill Clinton's actions, and you'll likely get some background--that the Republicans were out to impeach him for whatever they could find, and that the action was silly--but you won't get much defending. Same for William Jefferson's infamous "money in the freezer" story.

And now comes the FISA bill, with the retroactive immunity for telecom companies that acted illegally on the President's orders, and allows warrantless wiretapping. Liberals are severely bent that any Democrat would vote for such a thing. And those that do are openly suspected--by liberals--to either be "in the tank" for the telecoms, covering their asses for what they were implicit in, or that they're being blackmailed for their votes.

All three scenarios are strong possibilities, but the first now seems to have some evidence to back it up. Take a look.

[Excerpt]

Dems who flipped on FISA immunity see more telecom cash

House Democrats who flipped their votes to support retroactive immunity for telecom companies in last week’s FISA bill took thousands of dollars more from phone companies than Democrats who consistently voted against legislation with an immunity provision, according to an analysis by MAPLight.org. . .

Read more at: Politico

Nevada Gov. Gibbons Busted Texting Girlfriend

Photo from source, TPM Muckraker

I had to post something about this, being a Nevada resident and all. It's not like we haven't had a bumper crop of corrupt politicians over the years. But this is the freakin' Governor. A governor who had a sexual harassment charge levelled at him in the waning days of the campaign where he somehow got elected anyway. A governor in the middle of a very sticky divorce. Irresistible, right? But text messaging? What, is he twelve?

[Excerpt]

OMG! Gov. Gibbons Sends 867 Texts to His Female BFF

Just when we thought the Gibbons' saga was over, it all starts again.

Throughout his very messy and public divorce with his wife of 22 years, Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons has repeatedly denied having an affair -- despite being seen cavorting around town with two married women half his age and a suspicious friendship he had struck up with Kathy Karrasch, a neighbor of the Gibbonses and the estranged wife of a Reno podiatrist. . .

Read more at: TPM Muckraker