Late Night Track -- The Ascent of Man

Paul Singer Donated Money to Devin Nunes... So What?

Per the irrepressible Scott Dworkin:

Devin Nunes' Campaign Donor Was Original Funder Of Trump-Russia Dossier

Republican Congressman Devin Nunes received a $5,400 contribution to his campaign committee from the owner of the Washington Free Beacon, the original funder of the Trump-Russia Dossier. The contribution was made on April 7th, 2015. It was reported in the NY Times in late October that Paul Singer’s conservative website originally funded the research for what became known as the Dossier.

I've gotta give this one a big yawn... first, the donation was a year and a half before #TrumpRussia was a thing.

Second, Singer has since come around on Trump. He put up a million dollars for his inauguration.

Singer gave to every Republican and his (nearly every one was male) mother in the 2016 cycle -- a total of over $25 million in contributions.

The list includes:

• Joan McCarthy Lasonde
• Dean Heller
• Ed Royce
• Jenniffer Gonzales Colon
• Orrin Hatch
• Scott Tipton
• Scott Jones
• Darryl Glenn
• John Kennedy
• Jason Chaffetz
• Kelly Ayotte
• Dave Reichert
• Bruce Poliquin
• Dave Joyce
• Don Young
• Jack Martins
• John Bergman
• Erik Paulsen
• Denise Gitsham
• Justin Fareed
• Susan Brooks
• Virginia Foxx
• Mike Lee
• Todd Young
• Dan Carter
• Kevin Brady
• Peter Roskam
• Thomas Earl Emmer
• Kelli Ward
• John Thune
• Kevin Yoder
• Will Hurd
• Mike Gallagher
• Don Bacon
• Taylor Griffin
• Daniel Innis
• Roy Blunt
• Marco Rubio
• Pete King
• James Lankford
• Jerry Moran
• Paul Ryan
• Scott Walker
• Erin Houchin
• Ted Cruz
• Rodney Frelinghuysen
• Ryan Zinke
• Ann Wagner
• John Faso
• David Jolly
• John McCain
• Mia Love
• Chuck Grassley
• Mike Crapo
• Tim Scott
• Sean Duffy
• Pat Meehan
• David Valadao
• Kenneth Buck
• Carlos Curbelo
• Adam Kinziger
• Ryan Costello
• Ileana Ros-Lehitnen
• Darrell Issa
• Bob Dold
• Mario Diaz-Balart
• Mike Coffman
• Devin Nunes
• Charlie Dent
• Dan Donovan
• Rodney Davis
• Frank Lobiondo
• Jeff Denham
• Joe Heck
• Mimi Walters

He gave millions to the RNC and a number of Republican PACs as well.

So, yeah, there's a bit of irony here, but that's not the story... the story is that someone thought it was worthwhile to buy off basically every Republican elected official in the country. And after last week, I'd have to agree.

Cashing Out

I've been looking for a good way to say this for a while, and Joy Reid's got it:

I had a Republican source tell me quite plainly: @BobCorker and other Republicans don't care what Americans say. They are "cashing out." That's what this GOP tax bill is about.

— Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) December 20, 2017

This bill is essentially an endgame. Every Republican in the House and Senate could lose their seats and be provided with a job that pays them a million dollars a year for 30 years by the Koch Brothers alone and just the estate tax repeal would net the Kochs over $20,000,000,000. And this tax heist saves the Kochs and people like them trillions. So you can pretty much rest assured that any Republican who loses her or his seat will have a cushy job waiting for them at Koch Industries, Americans for Prosperity, or in some other corporate or "think tank" office.

These guys will be laughing all the way to the bank with their Viagra-fueled dicks inside this country.

Late Night Track -- Mr. Jones

Trump May Be Ending American Democracy, But...

... so is the rest of the Republican Party, and that shouldn't be forgotten. And in his book, the Despot's Apprentice, Brian Klass seems to do that:

Critics call Klass partisan, but he says that throughout the book he uses something he calls the "McCain, Romney test”—referring to the past two Republicans nominees Senator John McCain and businessman Mitt Romney—to gauge Trump’s behavior.

“Anything that they would do, I don't criticize,” Klass says. “I’m genuinely advocating for the things that two years ago, before Donald Trump’s arrival in the political scene, would have been viewed as universally accepted opinions, both in the Republican and Democratic party.

“I focus on violations of democratic procedure, democratic norms. I focus on things that we should all value: a free press, a rule of law society, the idea that people should be hired not because they are family members but because of their merit.”

McCain helped push us to war in Iraq and voted for the horrendous GOP tax bill. He nominated Sarah Palin, the Proto-Trump, as his potential Vice President. Mitt Romney elevated Paul Ryan, one of the people behind that tax bill, and a major Trump enabler, to the same position.


This sort of thinking lets the rest of the GOP, who will try to run away from Trump as soon as it's no longer politically expedient to support him, off the hook. We can't allow that.

We liberals plan to burn the lifeboats. No Tea Party rebranding bull this time. Republican party threatens my kids. https://t.co/bCYOXOhuJa

— Frances Langum (@bluegal) May 20, 2017

If the time of reckoning ever does come for those who backed Trump, there should be no lifeboats waiting for Mitt Romney and John McCain.

The #GOPTaxScam Fallout

Is Lawrence O'Donnell right?

Breaking: CONGRESS HAS NOT PASSED A TAX BILL YET. House & Senate passed 2 different bills. Nothing to send to president yet. This is half time. Plenty of bills have gotten this far and never become law.

— Lawrence O'Donnell (@Lawrence) December 2, 2017

I'm often Pollyannish on this stuff, but I don't think Lawrence is right. My understanding is that this bill is going to zoom through conference. I hope I'm wrong.

Other people's reactions so far today:

I think we can stop calling the Senate "the world's most deliberative body."

— Soledad O'Brien (@soledadobrien) December 2, 2017

Selfish.
Vile.
Heartless.

We must UNSEAT every red seat in 2018.

They have just screwed the future of our children to appease the rich.

They will cause the death of vulnerable Americans in our society.#TaxScamBill

— The Hummingbird 🐦 (@SaysHummingbird) December 2, 2017

Senate Republicans will join with the House and eliminate the poor. The poor will lose housing, medical care, and food. There never was a death panel until 12/2/17. Only Republicans can be this cruel. pic.twitter.com/OqZZF4Ref8

— It Matters (@Earnest_One) December 2, 2017

[calling immigration]

Umm hello, I’d like to be deported, please.

— Blue Moon (@Bluestmoon_) December 2, 2017

The Koch Brothers spent around 900 million dollars in 2016 campaign contributions.

Without even considering the other tax benefits, the elimination of the estate tax alone will save them over $10 billion.

Their investment to kill the poor paid off.#TaxScamBill

— Nick Jack Pappas (@Pappiness) December 2, 2017

Yup.

Saturday Morning Twitshit

Huh. Not gloating quite as much as I'd expected...

We are one step closer to delivering MASSIVE tax cuts for working families across America. Special thanks to @SenateMajLdr Mitch McConnell and Chairman @SenOrrinHatch for shepherding our bill through the Senate. Look forward to signing a final bill before Christmas! pic.twitter.com/gmWTny3SfS

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 2, 2017

Biggest Tax Bill and Tax Cuts in history just passed in the Senate. Now these great Republicans will be going for final passage. Thank you to House and Senate Republicans for your hard work and commitment!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 2, 2017

I wonder why? This same guy bragged incessantly when the House passed the ACA repeal months ago, and then it went nowhere. This doesn't seem right. 1. This one's a lot closer to all done than that one, and 2. Trump doesn't learn lessons.

So what gives?

New Addition to the TGC Blogroll -- Leah McElrath

Personal news:

I was one of the hundreds of media folks laid off this week.

I am no longer affiliated with Shareblue Media in any capacity.

— leah mcelrath (@leahmcelrath) December 1, 2017

Watch her space. She was one of the first people I followed after the election, and she's terrific.

Also, drop her a few shekels if you can:

During these too-interesting times, it's important to support independent voices you trust.

You can choose to support mine via:https://t.co/ZFTO5ZKAbQ

or https://t.co/0o8cFhKhvO

Thank you!

— leah mcelrath (@leahmcelrath) December 1, 2017

History

Between #TrumpRussia and the #TaxScam, we are currently at the most pivotal point in U.S. history since probably Pearl Harbor. I don't think I like living through history.

— Jason Consolidation (@tgconsolidation) December 1, 2017

I took that into consideration, but we are currently looking at whether a President (and maybe dozens of his associates) does or doesn't go to prison, and whether a bill that tears out a significant part of the roots of American society gets passed. It's close.

— Jason Consolidation (@tgconsolidation) December 1, 2017

Earworm of the Afternoon -- Prison Sex

Friday Morning Twitshit

Just yesterday I was saying that I was finding writing these deflating. Not today. Today's tweets from the Fontange Fuhrer are not as notable as the ones that don't exist.

He starts his morning by screaming about his favorite things -- false accusations against people of color:

The Kate Steinle killer came back and back over the weakly protected Obama border, always committing crimes and being violent, and yet this info was not used in court. His exoneration is a complete travesty of justice. BUILD THE WALL!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 1, 2017

"Obama border." Heh.

The jury was not told the killer of Kate was a 7 time felon. The Schumer/Pelosi Democrats are so weak on Crime that they will pay a big price in the 2018 and 2020 Elections.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 1, 2017

On to the tax bill he's trying to force through with the sheer volume of his fingers:

Republicans Senators are working hard to pass the biggest Tax Cuts in the history of our Country. The Bill is getting better and better. This is a once in a generation chance. Obstructionist Dems trying to block because they think it is too good and will not be given the credit!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 1, 2017

But Flynn?



Should be a good afternoon when he releases what he's been holding in...

In Like Flynn

In prison, that is...

What a nice thing to wake up to:


He's charged with one count of lying to the FBI about Russia, and he's pleading guilty. That may mean he's made quite the deal. Stay tuned!