The second Trump debacle is filled with cabinet secretaries out of a political parody. We have the stripteasing Department of Transportation head, the drinking Department of Defense head declaiming how the United States will “never be Uncle Sucker,” we have the puppy killing attention whore on horseback at the border, heading Homeland Security, the brainworm afflicted, bear-hiding Health and Human Services head, but the worst of all of them may be confirmed as FBI Director within the hour and that is Kash Patel.
Yes, Susan Collins did step up and say that she would vote no, and Mitch McConnell will most likely vote no, but that still leaves us two votes short and if you know of two Republicans with enough guts to take on the MAGA mob, I do not — although hope springs eternal. Collins probably voted no to seem “moderate” because she knows that Patel has the votes. And Murkowski might do the same thing. Which would put tremendous pressure on one more GOPer to do the right thing.
Sen. BLUMENTHAL at FBI Headquarters: The only question is… will my Republican colleagues do the right thing?
“To Republicans who may vote for Kash Patel, this vote will haunt you.” pic.twitter.com/0XxZ0e7fqX
— Senate Judiciary Democrats 🇺🇸 (@JudiciaryDems) February 20, 2025
This is the guy who might be running the FBI shortly.
🔥🔥🔥🔥 .@SenAdamSchiff Kash Patel vowed to destroy the intelligence community and the press at CPAC 2024 pic.twitter.com/WmJoTAylZa
— Sandi Bachom 📹 (@sandibachom) February 20, 2025
Make no mistake about the limitations on free speech in this country. A few weeks ago we ran a piece here on Sean Duffy, showing his striptease video from decades back. Google demonetized it, meaning it refused to place ads on it meaning we got no money from it. Google also threatened to demonetize the site as a whole, which would put us out of business. Why? The rationale was that the post was “dangerous” and “derogatory.”
The post was truthful. Duffy never claimed it wasn’t him or that the video had been altered in any way. If it was “derogatory” that’s on Duffy, not on us or any other outlet showing the video clip. As to “dangerous” you tell me what that means. What danger and to whom?
It’s a situation wherein Google killed the messenger. I finally had to delete the piece, which incensed me because it was a truthful piece and people should be able to see it. But I can’t fight the technical monolith. They’re holding all the cards for an online shop like this one. And I don’t have a slingshot.
But we get trolls every day who report us to Google for this and that supposed evil that we are committing and we speak the truth here. I am very aware of defamation laws. We don’t break them around here or come even close. But Google, being an unregulated giant, steps in and puts its own rules together and if you violate their self-proclaimed “community standards” you have little or no redress. In this instance, my only satisfaction was that some people had seen the piece and we made some money before the goliath forced me to back down.
My point in this digression is that Kash Patel is precisely the kind of person who will do whatever he can to impede free speech and destroy the press. He has openly said as much. And he will tinker with algorithms, I have no doubt. He has an enemies list and who knows how extensive it is? Chris Murphy has this nailed but I don’t know if he can sway a Republican vote or two.
At this time of peril for the rule of law, we cannot put a fraud like Kash Patel in charge of the FBI.
My prediction is that for Republicans that vote for Patel, more than any other confirmation vote you make, you will come to regret this one to your grave. pic.twitter.com/CK0PTnB5yY
— Chris Murphy 🟧 (@ChrisMurphyCT) February 19, 2025
And take a look at this. There is far more subversion and suppression of free speech yet to come.
Get ready for the only guardrail left, which isn’t much but it’s something, to be as rigged as the algorithm. pic.twitter.com/hVRqh3PN4B
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) February 20, 2025
We live in a climate of fear. Forces of evil exist which are trying to suppress the truth. This is not America. This is Trumperica, and I’m waiting for him to announce that name change, too. I’m serious.
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Friends, you see what we’re up against. If you can help with a donation or subscription, please do. If you’ve already stepped up to the plate, we thank you again for your support. We are still early in the Trump 2.0 game and make no mistake, as abuses and outrage continue, there will be a battle to keep America America. Thank you for being on the right side of history. Ursula
OUTSTANDING column!!