Hate to think of these guys getting back into power positions. Perhaps we’ll be over Trump soon and the republican party will recover too. Billserle.com
And this relationship map which features prominent Republicans (Trump, Giuliani, Clarence Thomas, Kavanaugh and assorted Fox personalities) who have been accused of sexual assault.
This article literally made me sick. To think that any woman would support Trump , his minions and the Republican Party just completely blows my mind. The “Christian Conservative party of family values” is what they like to call themselves . They are the ultimate hypocrites.
Long time ago I read 'Den of Thieves' by James Stewart, a book compiled from his columns for the Wall Street Journal concerning the federal investigation and subsequent success of nailing Ivan Boetsky and Michael Milken.
Boetsky was popped for insider trading, fined $100M and jailed for three years. Milken was a tougher case because his junk bonds were at the edge of SEC regulation's 'no mans land', that is, open to interpretation at the time. Milken employed lawyer/CPAs, a rare breed, to write the bonds to just barely comply with the edge law. The feds knew there was illegality there but couldn't break the case open until one of the lawyer/CPAs flipped and guided them through the complex and dense language of the scheme. The man who ran the investigation in NYC for the feds, the USAG there, was Rudy Giuliani.
I say this only to point out how far Giuliani has fallen and to validate your statement that they are indeed not just the ultimate hypocrites but total failures in the world of women. Giuliani's fall coincided with his later investigation of Donald Trump, all noted by Village Voice writer Wayne Barrett's books and columns. What Giuliani did with his secretary, Trump does to everyone in his circle...just as predatory and abusive at all levels.
This is a tough but perhaps necessary lesson for this nation. Trump is merely a stand-in for many predatory corporations and foreign interests...whether he is a direct agent or not is not even a necessary distinction at this point. Trump will go down but I also hope those predatory corporations and billionaires who funded all this take a big hit, too. They're just as responsible and were waiting for a point to the spear to appear.
I suspect that history will determine Giuliani was not a brilliant prosecutor but surrounded by extremely competent staff. I consider Rudy a Gangster supported by one of the five New York crime families with the goal of that Mafia group becoming the most powerful. If Rudy is not imprisoned he will die of Alcoholism in a dank New York alley as a feast for the cities out of control rat infestation.
I am
Cal Lash a retired cop.
I have no Heroes but i have always supported Frank Serpico.
It's very telling of our justice system that Trump and Giuliani both remain free to walk around while their cases are pending or in litigation. Trump is a danger to the country due to his rhetoric and constant tearing down of the justice system that is rightfully going after him, FINALLY. Giuliani is simply a danger to the community of any woman he comes into contact with. I have STILL not been able to watch the second Borat film because I know that Giuliani is in it and doing what has been described. I liked the first film quite a lot because it was ridiculous, and funny, and showed how stupid Americans can be. I'll probably watch the second one after Giuliani is dead, which can't happen soon enough.
It was interesting revisiting the Access Hollywood bus ride because I've always wondered why Billy Bush lost his entire career after the tape release. Yes, Bush was a pig too, but I've always thought that most of his antics were in relation to being with Trump, and the network IDEAL of keeping that disgusting pig happy. So, although Bush was a little more piggy than I'd remembered, compared to Trump, who STILL became president, Billy Bush's downfall seems especially unfair. I can say that too, while not really liking Billy Bush's broadcasting style. Arianne Zucker probably stood in the shower for HOURS that night.
It's sort of amazing, Greg, that you only had three of these sexual; harassing rapists featured today. I assume this could be a multi-week series. Matt Gaetz, Newt Gingrich, Madison Cawthorn -- I could go on. As I said in a previous comment, vote every single Republican out of office that you can, people! It's not only good for the republic, but it's especially good for women.
Thanks for this, Steve. The second Borat film is incredible. The woman who stars in it is just...I can't even. But there is a moment in the film, during that Rudy scene, when it gets a little scary, and SBC stops it. They laugh it off, but you can tell that he is a real predator. Disgusting. Both of them should be locked up during trial for sure.
Bush was also more gross than I remembered, but to your point, I think part of that was him trying to make Trump comfortable. Not that that's an excuse. And when he puts her on the spot, asks for hugs, makes her think about both of them as "dates," which is to say, in a potentially sexual manner, there's no excuse for that.
I was going to do Roger Stone also, as he's SUCH a foul-mouthed horror on social media, but it was running long...
I found this so hard to read. In all the talk of consent, little attention is paid to "coerced" consent. Some of the coercion (not simply violent non-consent) is pretty dramatic, as your examples show. Other, that has not been paid enough attention to, is the simple POWER people "up the ladder" from you on your job have over you. It doesn't have to be the obvious threats of a Giuliani. It includes "if I refuse, or complain, what can this person DO to me?" The answer is, a lot.
Someone close to me was in this situation. She actually was able to settle positively her suit against her company for her superior's action but the whole trauma has ruined her life. PTSD and its aftermath. Destruction of an up and coming career. Fear of even going outside. (There were a lot of factors in this beyond this reaction to coerced consent, but it started with the "he's got the power to derail my career."
Men are always complaining that condemnation for such actions aren't "fair" because "well, she really did consent." But the way to stop this is not to ignore what the women are saying. The way forward is to join in condemnation of such actions, not get caught up in propaganda about what "real men" should be like. Make your male voices heard, along with those of the women in your life.
Thanks for this, Susan. I found it hard to write/compile. It should nauseate any human with even a trace amount of empathy.
I almost never watch news on TV, but I did watch when Stormy was on 60 Minutes, or whatever show it was, when she gave her account of what happened. She was, and is, a brave person, but I remember coming away feeling that she had been violated more than she even realized. Coercion, as you say, is very powerful.
I'm sorry to hear about your friend. These stories are horrible. I shudder to think what it was like before the harassment laws. They only work a small percentage of the time, but at least they exist on the books. It astonishes me how many men are perfectly cool about exploiting their power in the job arena, or similar dynamic. It's so disappointing and awful.
The only foolproof solution to this problem is to give women all of the positions of power -- which is, of course, what these disgusting assholes most fear. In the meantime, I'm going to keep bringing it up, even though I know it makes for unpleasant reading.
Part of what caused the ongoing trauma is that in the red state in which she was living (this was over 15 years ago) the cause of action against this kind of thing belonged to the HUSBAND for interfering with a marriage. Said husband took the settlement, paid off all the debts including those which were his alone, and demanded a divorce. And then reneged utterly on paying the divorce settlement funds he owed. By this time she was clear across the country and in no position, economic or mental, to pursue him for what he owed--and still owes.
That was difficult to read, Greg. These are the wretches of America. These are the lascivious ones whom ‘get off’ on hurting others. These are they whom will kill the nation, the heart and sadly—The Will of The People.
Greg, you forgot to mention that Trump is a murderer re: 1 million+ died of Covid because of him.
The R Party is the RRF now: Rapist Racist Fascist party. The full descriptions of how Trump and Guiliani treat women is blood curdling! That bald-headed drunken-sailor-a-one-time-respected-mayor is vile and deserves nothing but Rikers along with his equally obnoxious dick-tator pal. I am sick now. Gotta go hurl.
Hate to think of these guys getting back into power positions. Perhaps we’ll be over Trump soon and the republican party will recover too. Billserle.com
Wow, Bill! FAR more optimistic than I can see over the horizon. Good on you. Someone's got to do it!
Agree. I'm the designated OPT. Billserle.com
You typed that before the Speaker of the House showed up to cheer on trump at trial, like a little brother at some little league game...
Thanks for this excellent recap Greg!
Check this map (sadly) for the number of rapes in a state and the Republicans who want to ban abortions with no exception for rape in that state.
"Rape In America By The Numbers"
https://thedemlabs.org/2023/06/05/rape-in-america-republicans-ban-abortions-with-no-rape-or-incest-exceptions/
And this relationship map which features prominent Republicans (Trump, Giuliani, Clarence Thomas, Kavanaugh and assorted Fox personalities) who have been accused of sexual assault.
"Republican war on women led by questionable men"
https://thedemlabs.org/2022/05/11/republican-war-on-women-led-by-questionable-men/
Thank you. Good info.
Thank you! Very useful.
This article literally made me sick. To think that any woman would support Trump , his minions and the Republican Party just completely blows my mind. The “Christian Conservative party of family values” is what they like to call themselves . They are the ultimate hypocrites.
Agree.
It's sickening, absolutely, but I feel like I have to keep talking about it.
I didn’t mean it as a criticism of you, but of Trump and his cronies.
Oh, I know. It's impossible to read about their behavior and not get ill.
Please keep talking, Greg, and do it LOUDLY!
Shouting from the rooftops!
Long time ago I read 'Den of Thieves' by James Stewart, a book compiled from his columns for the Wall Street Journal concerning the federal investigation and subsequent success of nailing Ivan Boetsky and Michael Milken.
Boetsky was popped for insider trading, fined $100M and jailed for three years. Milken was a tougher case because his junk bonds were at the edge of SEC regulation's 'no mans land', that is, open to interpretation at the time. Milken employed lawyer/CPAs, a rare breed, to write the bonds to just barely comply with the edge law. The feds knew there was illegality there but couldn't break the case open until one of the lawyer/CPAs flipped and guided them through the complex and dense language of the scheme. The man who ran the investigation in NYC for the feds, the USAG there, was Rudy Giuliani.
I say this only to point out how far Giuliani has fallen and to validate your statement that they are indeed not just the ultimate hypocrites but total failures in the world of women. Giuliani's fall coincided with his later investigation of Donald Trump, all noted by Village Voice writer Wayne Barrett's books and columns. What Giuliani did with his secretary, Trump does to everyone in his circle...just as predatory and abusive at all levels.
This is a tough but perhaps necessary lesson for this nation. Trump is merely a stand-in for many predatory corporations and foreign interests...whether he is a direct agent or not is not even a necessary distinction at this point. Trump will go down but I also hope those predatory corporations and billionaires who funded all this take a big hit, too. They're just as responsible and were waiting for a point to the spear to appear.
I suspect that history will determine Giuliani was not a brilliant prosecutor but surrounded by extremely competent staff. I consider Rudy a Gangster supported by one of the five New York crime families with the goal of that Mafia group becoming the most powerful. If Rudy is not imprisoned he will die of Alcoholism in a dank New York alley as a feast for the cities out of control rat infestation.
I am
Cal Lash a retired cop.
I have no Heroes but i have always supported Frank Serpico.
Serpico, yes!
Thanks for this, Billy. Rudy indicted/convicted a lot of people. Part of the long con, I suppose, because he's the son and nephew of mob figures.
It's very telling of our justice system that Trump and Giuliani both remain free to walk around while their cases are pending or in litigation. Trump is a danger to the country due to his rhetoric and constant tearing down of the justice system that is rightfully going after him, FINALLY. Giuliani is simply a danger to the community of any woman he comes into contact with. I have STILL not been able to watch the second Borat film because I know that Giuliani is in it and doing what has been described. I liked the first film quite a lot because it was ridiculous, and funny, and showed how stupid Americans can be. I'll probably watch the second one after Giuliani is dead, which can't happen soon enough.
It was interesting revisiting the Access Hollywood bus ride because I've always wondered why Billy Bush lost his entire career after the tape release. Yes, Bush was a pig too, but I've always thought that most of his antics were in relation to being with Trump, and the network IDEAL of keeping that disgusting pig happy. So, although Bush was a little more piggy than I'd remembered, compared to Trump, who STILL became president, Billy Bush's downfall seems especially unfair. I can say that too, while not really liking Billy Bush's broadcasting style. Arianne Zucker probably stood in the shower for HOURS that night.
It's sort of amazing, Greg, that you only had three of these sexual; harassing rapists featured today. I assume this could be a multi-week series. Matt Gaetz, Newt Gingrich, Madison Cawthorn -- I could go on. As I said in a previous comment, vote every single Republican out of office that you can, people! It's not only good for the republic, but it's especially good for women.
Thanks for this, Steve. The second Borat film is incredible. The woman who stars in it is just...I can't even. But there is a moment in the film, during that Rudy scene, when it gets a little scary, and SBC stops it. They laugh it off, but you can tell that he is a real predator. Disgusting. Both of them should be locked up during trial for sure.
Bush was also more gross than I remembered, but to your point, I think part of that was him trying to make Trump comfortable. Not that that's an excuse. And when he puts her on the spot, asks for hugs, makes her think about both of them as "dates," which is to say, in a potentially sexual manner, there's no excuse for that.
I was going to do Roger Stone also, as he's SUCH a foul-mouthed horror on social media, but it was running long...
It’s TUESDAY🎉
Great article.
Thanks, Cal.
Two of these men identified vulnerable women and exploited their wounded psyche.
Yes, which they are both masters of, after years of honing the skill. Disgusting.
I found this so hard to read. In all the talk of consent, little attention is paid to "coerced" consent. Some of the coercion (not simply violent non-consent) is pretty dramatic, as your examples show. Other, that has not been paid enough attention to, is the simple POWER people "up the ladder" from you on your job have over you. It doesn't have to be the obvious threats of a Giuliani. It includes "if I refuse, or complain, what can this person DO to me?" The answer is, a lot.
Someone close to me was in this situation. She actually was able to settle positively her suit against her company for her superior's action but the whole trauma has ruined her life. PTSD and its aftermath. Destruction of an up and coming career. Fear of even going outside. (There were a lot of factors in this beyond this reaction to coerced consent, but it started with the "he's got the power to derail my career."
Men are always complaining that condemnation for such actions aren't "fair" because "well, she really did consent." But the way to stop this is not to ignore what the women are saying. The way forward is to join in condemnation of such actions, not get caught up in propaganda about what "real men" should be like. Make your male voices heard, along with those of the women in your life.
Thanks for this, Susan. I found it hard to write/compile. It should nauseate any human with even a trace amount of empathy.
I almost never watch news on TV, but I did watch when Stormy was on 60 Minutes, or whatever show it was, when she gave her account of what happened. She was, and is, a brave person, but I remember coming away feeling that she had been violated more than she even realized. Coercion, as you say, is very powerful.
I'm sorry to hear about your friend. These stories are horrible. I shudder to think what it was like before the harassment laws. They only work a small percentage of the time, but at least they exist on the books. It astonishes me how many men are perfectly cool about exploiting their power in the job arena, or similar dynamic. It's so disappointing and awful.
The only foolproof solution to this problem is to give women all of the positions of power -- which is, of course, what these disgusting assholes most fear. In the meantime, I'm going to keep bringing it up, even though I know it makes for unpleasant reading.
Part of what caused the ongoing trauma is that in the red state in which she was living (this was over 15 years ago) the cause of action against this kind of thing belonged to the HUSBAND for interfering with a marriage. Said husband took the settlement, paid off all the debts including those which were his alone, and demanded a divorce. And then reneged utterly on paying the divorce settlement funds he owed. By this time she was clear across the country and in no position, economic or mental, to pursue him for what he owed--and still owes.
That sort of thing fills me with rage. Nothing vexes me more than men exploiting positions of power to hurt other people, ESPECIALLY women.
How appropriate to call the GOP the party of rape! Besides all the horrible misogyny you’ve recounted, it also speaks to what they’ve done to us.
I hadn't thought of that, Earl, but you're absolutely right, alas.
That was difficult to read, Greg. These are the wretches of America. These are the lascivious ones whom ‘get off’ on hurting others. These are they whom will kill the nation, the heart and sadly—The Will of The People.
Thank you, my compatriot!
They rape and they pillage. That's their entire MO. It's disgusting.
Ellen is that a thumb drive on your necklace?
I keep my will info in my cell phone
Greg, you forgot to mention that Trump is a murderer re: 1 million+ died of Covid because of him.
The R Party is the RRF now: Rapist Racist Fascist party. The full descriptions of how Trump and Guiliani treat women is blood curdling! That bald-headed drunken-sailor-a-one-time-respected-mayor is vile and deserves nothing but Rikers along with his equally obnoxious dick-tator pal. I am sick now. Gotta go hurl.
I keep talking about his negligent homicides, but that seems to have gone down the memory hole...
Sorry, Greg, I love your writing, but had to stop halfway through the Rudy Giuliani complaint. Thinking about it would gag a maggot.