31 Comments
User's avatar
Joseph Mangano's avatar

Evidently, Republican dissenters on the panel argued that the bill, should it become law, would punish the wealthy and discourage certain people from running for office. IDK, sounds like a winning proposition to me.

Expand full comment
Eddie's avatar
Aug 5Edited

In the new abnormal, the self-righteous King points his greasy finger at the commotion of untamed Donkeys while his long-nosed heard of Dumbos stampede upon US(a) serfs. Of course he wants to keep his stash of rewards handy to buy off complicity while deluding himself the People will contentedly fight over peanut spillage. FEUDal "lords" can't build castle walls high or thick enuff to hide from what's marchin toward them (or in their precious store houses). It's abundantly obvious that corruption is rampant, the stench of their treason lamely disguised in another ludicrous acronym. FARTers forever⁉️ (Fascist American Republican Traitors). HAUL He scratching his head while 47 scratches his BBButt.

Expand full comment
Linda Weide's avatar

The new abnormal is this is not normal! This is not normal. This is not normal.

Expand full comment
Eddie's avatar

I hear ya’. Stay tuned. It ain’t gonna “work out” how the gigglers think it’s gonna.

Expand full comment
Joe Weicher's avatar

Hard to top esteemed former NY Congressman Chris Collins, (first member of Congress to endorse Trump), photographed phoning his kid from the White House lawn (2017 Congressional Picnic!), telling his kid to sell some stock. Charged with felonies, plead guilty, resigned in disgrace, sentenced to prison, pardoned by Trump (of course), he’s now running for Congress in Florida. He’ll fit right in, won’t he?

Expand full comment
Kate's avatar

Goddammit, of course he came to floriduh!,

Expand full comment
Brenda Doherty's avatar

Why not? All the other crooks are here!

Expand full comment
Kate's avatar

I know—we are lousy with them already!!

Expand full comment
JOEL's avatar

Trump has had GREAT SUCCESS!......

......GREAT SUCCESS AT BEING THE MOST UNETHICAL PRESIDENT THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA HAS EVER HAD.

LIAR, FRAUD, CON, GRIFTER TRUMP.

Expand full comment
Penni Livingston's avatar

And the most mentally ill as the only modern president (close second in Nixon) with megalomania. The steroids he produces to expand the effects of his hateful narcissism are truly spectacular in scope, one of a kind for America. We could measure his success in becoming the first American dick-tator. So glad we can see the humor to take some sting out of the constant devastation.

Expand full comment
JOEL's avatar

perfectly stated, Penni.

When we lose our sense of humor.....we lose our minds!

Expand full comment
Penni Livingston's avatar

I wrote a paper in college in 1981 about how Laughter is the cure for the technological society. I would never have imaged that the Jaques Ellul book The Technological Society would be the philosophy book that most influenced me- more than philosophers of law I have studied intently. I can see Eluul's truth all the time. The professor with the brilliant idea that laughter is the cure for technique taking over the world was named Verene. Interestingly, the class was called Contemporary and Moral Issues and it is where I first read 1984, the times we now live in.

Expand full comment
Linda Weide's avatar

Learning about how our government "works" is an exercise in learning about all the ways politicians and those who fund them can be corrupt.

Expand full comment
Jim Carmichael's avatar

Great update, team! I seem to remember that Marjorie Taylor Greene made a pretty penny sometime in the last six months, too.

Expand full comment
BTAM Master's avatar

Yup.

Published Apr 15, 2025

"Greene's net worth ballooned from around $700,000 before taking office to an estimated $22 million today"

https://www.newsweek.com/congress-insider-trading-isnt-scandalits-business-model-opinion-2060038

Expand full comment
BTAM Master's avatar

Funny...I don't recall them teaching corruption as part of civics class (Yup, I'm old enough to have taken civics in public school).

Expand full comment
Stephen Hooper's avatar

The photo of 5'11" Josh Hawley standing across from 6'3" (HaHa) Commander In Cheat Donald Trump that shows them of equal height is proof positive that they're all liars about everything.

Expand full comment
Kate's avatar

Anyone remember Whitewater and the years of investigations that turned up nothing anyway? Boy, does that seem quaint now…

Expand full comment
Katy Bolger's avatar

I wish I had a crystal ball and could make $65K in profit in six months on an obscure industrial stock. I wish my investment manager could pick up a half million dollars and move it into a stock "just to see" and then make millions of dollars off of the ... wait a minute ... I have those things, a crystal ball and a smart financial advisor. What's the difference? Inside information! Damn, I better run for office.

Expand full comment
Susan Iwanisziw's avatar

Halting the torrent of government corruption from top to bottom sounds like a good idea to me. Was it Rick Scott who said there was no point to being elected if you couldn't make millions? (Or words to that effect.)

Expand full comment
Mike McCabe's avatar

Let’s not forget, not only his Trump a lowlife he is also DUMB.

Expand full comment
Victoria Brown's avatar

Ah gee, $174,000/yr plus

all the other freebies

they get for serving "the

people" just isn't

enough. Most of these

reps, especially in the

senate and house

people who've been

around awhile are $$$

millionaires. Heaven

forbid we, the people,

stop them from making

more money on the

stock market from inside

tips.🙄

Expand full comment
Stephanie Hobbs's avatar

Aw, is Orange Jesus mad at Run'n Josh???

Expand full comment
VALERIE MELUSKEY's avatar

So, are all candidates in political office to be so independently wealthy regardless of any public opportunities to make profits buying and selling stocks, business offerings etc. ? Those who don't have personal wealth can retain the appearance of moral and financial purity? These people in public office are always in need of more funds.

What an interesting topic! Consider the dilemmas of Zuckerberg, Bezos, and then Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, and those in a position to simply give away some of their wealth. Who can claim moral financial abstemiousness?

Expand full comment
Adam's avatar

"Who can claim moral financial abstemiousness?"

Me! Me! Me! I can on account of I have only small money. Not like they do.

Expand full comment
Robot Bender's avatar

Coward Hawley is my so-called representative. He's just like Sir Robin. 😉 He's a perfect example of the area. He doesn't even answer my emails anymore. I can't stand him.

Expand full comment