NATIONAL SPEAK IN COMPLETE SENTENCES DAY UPDATES
The English Composition Teacher In Me Appreciates This Holiday.
-It is being anticipated that Kevin McCarthy (SINO-R, CA) will get about 150 Republican votes, which will combine with a near-united Democratic caucus to allow the debt ceiling to be lifted through January 2025 along with a set of modest budget cuts and holds that, all in all, have angered the left and right of each party. Which means, the UltraMAGA Freedom Caucus is AAAAN-GRRRY about the bill, and is plotting whether or not to spring the "Motion to Vacate" - a provision allowing the GOP to challenge McCarthy's leadership and, should he lose such a vote, step aside for a different Speaker. Should McCarthy get the above number for the debt ceiling (the vote is scheduled for today pending other motions by the UltraMAGAts to delay or kill the bill) it may bode well, but McCarthy has a five-vote majority that is already shaky due to the indictment of "Rep." "George Santos" ("R," "NY") and what is expected to be the resignation (for family reasons) of Rep. Chris Stewart (R-UT) today.
-Meanwhile, venom UltraMAGA Party Leader Ex-President Trump continues to spew, along with further proof that his demand for loyalty goes one way. The latest Trump bus bump: former Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany, who on Fox committed the unpardonable sin of reporting that Trump's polling lead over FL Gov. Ron DeSantis was 25% instead of 36%. Trump used a social media post to call McEnany "Milktoast" (actual spelling, natch), and UltraMAGAt Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) - one of the leaders in the burgeoning anti-Kevin-McCarthy movement - threw that term (presumably by its correct spelling of "milquetoast") while being interviewed by McEnany last night. Meow.
-Speaking of that 'campaign,' Trump has released videos and interviews laying out his plans for a potential second term should he ever get back in power. The latest: a vow to proclaim (because that's what he thinks Presidents do, apparently) end the Constitutional practice of allowing children who are born on American soil instant citizenship (no word on how that would affect a known practice on his properties that fly expecting Russian moms-to-be to room and board on American properties so their children become American citizens) and a call to find individuals in the FBI and other law enforcement agencies who have testified against him in his myriad criminal and civil cases being investigated and pursued nationally.
-That campaign, despite the investigations, is going well for Trump. Not only is DeSantis not eating into Trump's lead (that campaign still reeling from the inept announcement led by Twitter CEO and billionaire weirdo Elon Musk), the 2024 GOP list of candidates continues to expand in a way that apes the 2016 race, when Trump was able to dominate a huge list of candidates without coming close to approaching 50% in vote count in most primaries - all of which could bode well even with multiple indictments heading Trump's way.
-Scorecards ready? Good - along with Trump and DeSantis, the GOP field currently includes Ryan Binkley (no idea), Larry Elder, Nikki Haley, Asa Hutcinson, Perry Johnson (dunno), Vivek Ramaswamy (interviewed by Chuck Todd, so watch yourself!) and Tim Scott, with Greg Abbott, Kristi Noem, Mike Pence (don't laugh), Chris Sununu Glen Youngkin all considering runs, and THIS JUST IN: former NJ Governor Chris Christie announcing next week. (Mind you, President Biden does not have a clear path to the Democratic nomination, with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Marianne Williamson both declared on that side.)
-As the world continues to await Ukraine's counteroffensive - which Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has confirmed will happen but naturally not when - Russian forces continue to fire missiles in urban areas, with particular emphasis on Kyiv. Perhaps in retaliation (Ukraine denies it), 7-8 drones 'attacked' buildings in Moscow earlier this week, raising continued concerns by some observers that either Ukraine is expanding its military footprint well into Russian territory, or Vladimir Putin continues planting false flags in a continued attempt to intimidate Ukraine and its NATO/worldwide supporters.
-Speaking of supporters, Putin and Russia picked up one yesterday. Tara Reade, who in 2020 accused Biden of sexually assaulting and raping her only to have investigations by journalists reveal holes in the story and severe credibility issues surrounding Reade herself (and no corroboration whatsoever), turned up in Moscow yesterday as the centerpiece of a nine-hour 'news conference' as Reade, flanked by convicted and self-admitted Russian spy Maria Butina, announced her defection to Russia. Reade claimed she felt physically unsafe in the US (a claim 'verified' by another Reade pal, Rep. Matt Gaetz (Hey GiRl, FL) while simultaneously 'promising' she would not be 'intimidated' and will continue to speak the truth while having her Russian citizenship fast-tracked.
-Enjoy the borscht, Tara.
-On this date in 1790, the first copyright law was enacted in the US. On this date in 1889, a flood ravaged Johnstown, PA, killing over 2,200 people. On this date in 1921, the Tulsa (OK) Race Massacre began. On this date in 1977, the BBC banned the Sex Pistols' "God Save the Queen." And on this date in 2005, a former FBI official named Mark Felt was revealed to be "Deep Throat," the unnamed informant who helped break the Watergate scandal.
-Happy Birthday to Walt Whitman, Fred Allen, Norman Vincent Peale, Don Ameche, 'Scoop' Jackson, Denholm Elliott, Prince Rainier III, Clint Eastwood, Johnny Paycheck, Peter Yarrow, Terry Waite, Joe Namath, Sharon Gless, Rainer Werner Fassbinder, John Bonham, Tom Berenger, Gregory Harrison, Jim Craig, Chris Elliott, Lea Thompson, Corey Hart, Darryl "DMC" McDaniels, Brooke Shields, Kenny Lofton, Dave Roberts, Colin Farrell, Andy Hurley, Jake Peavy, and Nate Robinson.
-Rest in Peace/Rest in Power to Joseph Haydn, Billy Strayhorn, Jack Dempsey, Spuds Mackenzie, Timothy Leary, Johnnie Taylor, Tito Puente, Dr. George Tiller, Trivial Pursuit inventor Chris Haney, Jean Stapleton, Christo, Arlene Golonka, and Mike Marshall.
-Feed the Worms: Hungarian autocrat and Trump role model Viktor Orban entered Earth on this date.