Krystal Ball Just Earned A Spot On Bill Maher's No-Fly-List Probably
Wonkette isn't usually a big Ball fan, but we'll give her this one.
We have written about the many idiotic things that Bill Maher said over the years on his journey to being a full-fledged conservative like Joe Rogan. But these moments where he received some pushback from guest Krystal Ball from last Saturday's "Real Time with Bill Maher" could not be ignored.
Flanked by James Kirchick and Maher himself, Ball spent most of the guest segment introducing some facts to the echo chamber on Maher's set. One of the biggest was when Kirchick and Maher tried to blame inflation on Biden "putting too much money into the economy." (Translation: We gave poor and middle-class people money instead of shoveling it at business owners, one time.)
While this type of bullshit is not surprising from a conservative writer like Kirchick, Maher's agreement and subsequent surprise when Ball fact-checked him is worth noting:
\u201cBill Maher has always been out-of-touch, and it\u2019s gotten worse, but to forget an entire stock market crash?! When even HE mentioned it in his own show?!!\u201d— The M3Writer (@The M3Writer) 1655739587
Pundits and politicians often talk about the short-term memories of voters, but for a "comedian," and one who also does political punditry, Maher forgetting there was a stock market crash just two years ago in 2020 seems ridiculous. While Ball implored Maher to "look it up" because he acted like it was a secret, it was reported at the time by many news outlets. We even included it in our 2020 Year End roundup! But what makes this moment seem so out-of-touch is Maher mentioning it on multiple monologues of his own show. Like this one the very week that the Federal Reserve injected $1.5 trillion dollars, easily found on his YouTube channel.
The conversation then moved to gas prices, which of course it did because conservatives like Kirchick try to pretend both that the president controls gas prices and that it wasn't also affected by the pandemic like the stock market before.
\u201cKrystal Ball dealing with some misogyny to get some gas price facts through to Bill Maher\u2019s audience.\u201d— The M3Writer (@The M3Writer) 1655738452
Ball made the best attempt to inject facts there while Kirchick kept throwing disingenuous bullshit about the Keystone XL pipeline and how we pissed off Saudi Arabia. Ball pointed out the hypocrisy of calling out Russia's human rights abuses while advocating to be nice to a country that kills journalists with bone saws. Ball then pointed out that despite conservatives mentioning these problems, they have done the opposite to fix them. But you can sense the misogyny and disdain from Maher having to deal with Ball when he mutters under his breath "let us finish what we're saying and then you can shit on it" after interrupting Ball fact-checking them again. Which, if Frank Luntz is to be believed, seems to be a cardinal sin on Maher's show.
Ball did, miraculously, get Maher to concede price gouging by oil companies who brag on earning calls about using inflation to their benefit. So ... yay, I guess?
But what Krystal Ball could never get Maher to concede is his obsession with progressives/"The Left"/liberals/Democrats and their damn "cancel culture."
\u201cMaher\u2019s obsession with his own \u201cvictimhood\u201d because he can\u2019t just say what he wants to without consequences, as he was promised white supremacy & patriarchy, is why he can sit there with a straight face and say Biden \u201cpanders too much to the Left.\u201d\u201d— The M3Writer (@The M3Writer) 1655739826
Because when Maher says President Joe Biden "panders too much to the Left," it's his 'cancel culture' grievances that he's talking about. As Ball explained, Biden's approval ratings show quite the opposite, since he polled highest when he moved to get progressive policies and his numbers collapsed when "Build Back Better" bill fell apart and it became clear we were hostages to Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema. Biden rarely speaks on social issues and when he does it is mostly to uphold things we all should agree on. Things like respecting dignity and equality for everyone and striving for a "more perfect union," whether you are in the LBTQ community or Latinx or POC. These are not controversial ... unless you're a bigot or bigot adjacent like Maher has been for years.
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Lauren Boebert Cites Noted Gunhumper 'Jesus,' That Guy Always All Pew Pew Pew Pew Pew!
This is not about those sexxxy sexxx allegations, sorry :(
Editrix's note: We're aware of all things on the internet and are not writing about the sexxxy sexxx allegations at this time as "we heard it from somebody trust us" doesn't meet our exquisitely high journalistic standards of blogginess. Please enjoy this absolute idiocy in its stead.
On Saturday, Colorado Congresswoman Lauren Boebert was a guest speaker at Charis Christian Center's "Family Camp Meeting 2022," held from June 8-12, and used said platform to bastardize her own religion. Boebert, despite whatever her religion says about false idols, has a co-equal deity: Guns. More specifically, in this instance, the AR-15 that has been used in mass shootings in Uvalde, Texas, Buffalo, New York, and many more.
Lauren Boebert: Bad at paying taxes, bad at paying employees, bad at cooking food, bad at Bible!
In this section of her speech, she spoke about "cancel culture" (removing all meaning from that phrase) and how AR-15s can't be blamed for mass shootings:
\u201cLauren Boebert implied that because Cain didn\u2019t kill Abel with an AR-15, guns can\u2019t be blamed for mass shootings.\u201d— PatriotTakes \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@PatriotTakes \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1655246382
This isn't the first time Boebert tried to explain Bible heroes getting "cancelled," but it is the first time to our knowledge that she combined it with her gun fetish. This logic falls apart fast when you remember Cain used a rock to kill just ONE person, not a group of them. The ability of an AR-15 to shoot multiple bullets (or "rocks" if it makes Boebert and Cain more comfortable) in quick succession is what makes it more deadly and this analogy idiotic. If you wanted to kill multiple people at the time the Second Amendment was written, you either needed as many shooters as possible or victims who refused to move out of the way, since it took an average of 20-30 seconds per shot as the 18th century muzzleloader required 12 steps to load and fire. That's just one of the reasons — "well-regulated militia" being another — why every argument regarding "the Founding Fathers' intentions" since District of Columbia v. Hellerhas been a bad faith misreading of the history and context of it.
But Boebert saved the best for last when she used Homer Simpson's logic to argue why Jesus could have used an AR-15.
\u201cLauren Boebert claims Jesus \u201cdidn\u2019t have enough [AR-15s] to keep his government from killing him.\u201d\u201d— PatriotTakes \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@PatriotTakes \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1655248326
Let's ask Jesus. We happen to have Jesus right here!
But Jesus said to him, “Friend, why have you come?” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him. And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. But Jesus said to him, “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?” -
Matthew 26: 50-54 (New King James Version)
Kinda hard to argue that twelve legions of angels would not be more effective than an AR-15, then and now, had Jesus not freely chosen to be sacrificed ("lamb of God," Lauren Boebert) to wash the sin from all of humanity (his thing, not ours).
Lauren Boebert is a terrible Christian, you are very surprised by this, the end.
Breaking: Some Democrats Discover Joe Biden Is Little Bit Old
A New York Times exclusive!
The White House is probably not thrilled with this weekend’s New York Times article that suggests "many Democratic lawmakers and party officials” have started viewing President Joe Biden as "an anchor that should be cut loose in 2024.” Anchor comparisons are rarely flattering.
As the challenges facing the nation mount and fatigued base voters show low enthusiasm, Democrats in union meetings, the back rooms of Capitol Hill and party gatherings from coast to coast are quietly worrying about Mr. Biden’s leadership, his age and his capability to take the fight to former President Donald J. Trump a second time.
Yeah, we’re still not rid of Donald Trump, who might soon announce his third presidential run (especially if the House January 6 committee recommends the Department of Justice indict him). So it seems like Democrats are nervous, at least those the Times interviewed. Reporters Reid J. Epstein and Jennifer Medina spoke with county leaders, members of Congress, and disappointed Biden voters. They are not optimistic.
[T]he repeated failures of his administration to pass big-ticket legislation on signature Democratic issues, as well as his halting efforts to use the bully pulpit of the White House to move public opinion, have left the president with sagging approval ratings and a party that, as much as anything, seems to feel sorry for him.
C’mon, don’t feel sorry for the president! People still stand up when he enters a room. That’s something.
A major Democrat interviewed on the record was David Axelrod, the chief strategist for Barack Obama’s presidential campaigns. Maybe Axelrod is a little rusty, because he seems to think a great strategy for Democratic success is reminding everyone that Biden’s very old.
“The presidency is a monstrously taxing job and the stark reality is the president would be closer to 90 than 80 at the end of a second term, and that would be a major issue [ ... ] "
"Biden doesn’t get the credit he deserves for steering the country through the worst of the pandemic, passing historic legislation, pulling the NATO alliance together against Russian aggression and restoring decency and decorum to the White House,” Mr. Axelrod added. “And part of the reason he doesn’t is performative. He looks his age and isn’t as agile in front of a camera as he once was, and this has fed a narrative about competence that isn’t rooted in reality.”
When past Democratic presidents were on the ropes, they were usually offered specific advice for turning things around: Obama should try coming off as less cerebral. Bill Clinton should stop hooking up with interns. However, even if he’s open to the idea, Biden can’t stop aging.
Biden plans to run again, but Steve Simeonidis, a Democratic National Committee member from Miami, said he “should announce his intent not to seek re-election in ’24 right after the midterms.” Biden effectively giving up after his party potentially suffers major losses is not inspiring. His advanced age is hardly brand new information.
For instance, retired school teacher Ann Hart, a Democratic Party co-chairwoman in Iowa’s Allamakee County, endorsed Mr. Biden prior to the Iowa caucuses. She now says she can’t imagine how an almost 80-year-old Biden manages the presidency. We assumed Democratic primary voters could count and understood that if Biden was 77 in early 2020, he might be an octogenarian by the midterms. Biden didn’t spring this on us.
According to the Times, few Democrats expect that anyone with White House ambitions would defer to Vice President Kamala Harris if Biden declines to run in 2024. It’s suggested that Harris has a “had a series of political hiccups in her own office,” and as evidence links to the Times's own “Heir Apparent Or Afterthought? The Frustrations Of Kamala Harris” piece from December. Democrats interviewed suggested other candidates who lost to Biden in 2020, including Amy Klobuchar, Pete Buttigieg, Elizabeth Warren, Cory Booker, Beto O’Rouke, and Bernie Sanders, who is actually older than Biden.
Cristóbal Alex, who was a senior adviser to Biden’s campaign, claimed congressional Democrats aren’t doing enough to boost Biden.
“I am worried that leaders in the party aren’t more aggressively touting the success of the administration,” he said. “The narrative needs to shift, and that can only happen with a powerful echo chamber combined with action in Congress on remaining priorities. The American people feel unsettled.”
Democratic officials having second thoughts about Biden isn’t new. There were reportedly discussions about replacing him on the ticket with Hillary Clinton in 2012, but Obama stood by his wingman. We’ll have to see if Democrats in general remain as loyal to Biden.
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Rick Scott Clarifies: I Want To Hurt You, Like A Lot
You just watch, soon Mitch McConnell will beg Rick Scott to end Social Security and Medicare.
Senator Voldemort is back with a new ad in which he doubles down on his shitty MAGA plan to fuck over America, because he really hates us, and he hates Mitch McConnell most of all. Rick Scott (R-Florida) promises that if the Republicans can win control of the Senate in this year's midterms, he will for sure go right ahead with raising taxes on working Americans and follow through on his plan to make all laws expire every five years, including of course Social Security, Medicare, labor laws, and everything else. That way, Congress can spend its time in 100 percent crisis mode, reauthorizing every law imaginable and driving businesses into chaos because every single part of American law might change every few years. If there's one thing businesses hate, it's stability and long-range planning.
Just think: It'd be like the week before a possible government shutdown, but all the time!
Read More:
NRSC Chair Rick Scott Would Like To Remind America How Much GOP Policies SUCK
Damn, Rick Scott *Really* Hates Poor People!
Smug Millionaire Rick Scott Really Thinks You Struggling Deadbeats Should Pay More In Taxes
In boring old reality, McConnell panned Scott's "Plan to Rescue America," explaining that if Rs take back the Senate, Scott's plan wouldn't get any traction at all:
Now let me tell you what will not be part of our agenda. We will not have as part of our agenda a bill that raises taxes on half the American people, and sunsets Social Security and Medicare within five years. That will not be part of a Republican Senate majority agenda.
Well by golly, Rick Scott isn't about to let McConnell get the better of him, because Rick Scott knows his plan is wildly popular with the Rick Scott supporters who have heard of it and think low income people who don't look like them should pay more taxes. Yesterday, Scott released an ad in which he says he'd like to "apologize — to absolutely nobody." It's a quote from some Irish UFC fighter a few years ago, so saying it makes Rick Scott the multimillionaire very relatable.
And who would Rick Scott like to treat to a double-leg takedown in the octagon? Scott explains that while his Contract on America is wildly popular outside Washington (trust him on that!), "Joe Biden, Chuck Schumer, and even some Republicans are angry." In this case, "even some Republicans" is his subtle way of saying Mitch McConnell, if you know who he means and he knows you do.
Scott then makes his great big show of defiance to these enemies of the people: "So, in the words of famous UFC fighter Conor McGregor, I’d like to apologize — to absolutely nobody in Washington.”
Wouldn't a UFC match among Biden, Schumer, Scott, and McConnell just be the saddest Old White Man Thunderdome imaginable?
Scott mocks Biden for calling his fantastic 11-point plan an "ultra MAGA plan," and says Ultra MAGA is way better than Biden's "ultra socialist plan," so take that, Joe Biden, you and your Little Red Book.
One does wonder, though: If Biden is so horrible, why is Scott's weird collection of talking points (it is in no way a "plan") named the "Plan to Rescue America," which sounds just the teensiest bit like Biden's American Rescue Plan? Coincidence, I'm sure.
Scott also explains he's gotten all sorts of terrific suggestions from the American people at his website, and now he's going to add two of them to the new version 2.0 of his plan: He will "reduce our dependence on communist China" in some super important ways to be defined later, and also he will "cut taxes" by not actually cutting taxes, but instead by keeping Donald Trump's 2017 tax cuts in place. That counts as a tax cut, probably, since Scott — lying, as usual — says Joe Biden wants to raise taxes on the middle class and give the money to rich liberals!!!!!! (He means the last-minute inclusion, in the House version of Build Back Better, of a renewed deduction for state and local taxes. Biden didn't want it, and the fact that I'm not driving an electric car yet indicates that Build Back Better didn't pass in any form at all.)
In conclusion, this seems like as good a place as any to remind you that in a recent poll, Rick Scott lost a hypothetical GOP Senate primary for his own seat to Donald Trump Jr. by 20 points, 52 percent to 32 percent, neener neener, the end.
Open Thread!
[Florida Politics via Joe.My.God. / Mediaite]
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