I’m laughing. No, I’m not -- because the back story is a study in absurdity. Ok, it’s time for ☕️☕️ because it’s too early for 🥃-- Thanks Greg! Good ( it’s not raining ) morning! 🥳
Sep 26, 2023·edited Sep 26, 2023Liked by Greg Olear
Schumer and the rest of Democratic leadership need to get their thumbs out of their asses and kick Menendez to the curb. Phil Murphy will appoint another good Democrat to take his place. Every day they delay the moral high ground Democrats hold over Trump and his Republican enablers erodes just a little bit. Too much longer, especially as Trump's trials approach, it will wash away completely.
BTW - Thanks Greg for the accompanying graphic. It made my morning.
The evidence is overwhelming, so of course he should resign. Is it possible that Schumer and other Democratic senators are giving Menendez a chance to do the right thing on his own?
As far as the 2015 indictment, I think you might have flip-flopped your jurors; I think 10 wanted to acquit, only 2 wanted to convict. I don't think they had enough convincing evidence like they do for the current indictment. I think he just lucked out on that one, and may think he can do the same here. Too much evidence on this one.
Thanks, Rick. I did indeed, and I've made the correction. I guess the neurons weren't firing at 5:30 am.
And that's an interesting and viable theory, although it does not look like he will. Booker, the other NJ senator, came out today calling for it. We'll see...
Conflicted I am. There is compelling evidence that Menendez must resign. He should.
Then the likes of George Santos and Clarence Thomas make me want to dig in my heels and say he should not do so. Gaetz, Boebert, Gosar,Taylor Greene and Jordan, betrayers who I so want to get back at distort clear thinking. Richard Burr comes to mind. Not found innocent of insider trading which he clearly did; rather a weak SEC decided no action. Yet he retired after announcing he would not seek reelection. When they go low, we go higher plays in the background.
So many thoughts rumbling in my head.
Democracy versus autocracy. We are on slippery slope, rapidly throwing away our truly amazing history of by the people and for the people. Adding to my confusion, American oligarchs are the new fashion, people who can turn the tide of an illegal war by turning off essential communication satellites jumps at me. I so want to show that the increasing irrelevant majority can save us from becoming another fallen Great society.
So many conflicting thoughts racing in my head.
So much so that the ensuing headache and heartache hurt badly. In this fog comes a thought. The odious Senator from the state I grew up in believes in what I see as corrupt Democracy, however he is a staunch supporter of the principle of Democracy, plain and simple. A potentially greater force against autocracy given a razor thin Senate majority and a hapless majority leader, buying hapless Shumer some time.
Conclusion, stay put Bob, buying Democracy so much needed time, he thinks while selling my soul to the devil. People can now label me what I have become, today's Republican. They are silent, knowing to rise up against Menendez, this the highest form of hypocrisy. If they can wear it, hopefully so can I.
It IS complicated, and there ARE strategic reasons to delay. But I think senators shouldnot behave like this. Only rightwing SCOTUS judges married to political operatives have that right!
The Democrats did not push him to resign the last time because the Republican Governor at that time would appoint a Republican to replace him to serve out his term. Political party interests and strategy prevailed. Al Franklin was pressured to resign by the Democrats before an investigative committee was formed of which he he supported, out of fear that it would create fodder that would derail the Senatorial elections in Alabama. He did it for the party. More political strategy. Now there is a Democratic Governor in N.J. Calling for his resignation and who would appoint a Democrat to triplane him. There is already a declared Democratic challenger to him in the next election cycle for his term.
Sep 26, 2023·edited Sep 26, 2023Liked by Greg Olear
Neither menendez nor his parents ever spent a minute in "communist Cuba." His parents emigrated from Cuba in 1953 - six years before Castro took power - and he was born in New Jersey in 1954.
The man's mendacity is bottomless. His bullshit is infuriating because it is so easily debunked (just go to his Wikipedia page for the above), and because it demonstrates how little regard he holds for anyone else, that he thinks everyone is stupid enough to believe his bullshit.
A liar knows the truth and chooses to avoid it. A bullshitter doesn't care if what he says is true or false.
And Menendez was known for being "hinky" by people in Union City long before he ran for the Senate. It wasn't high office that did him in.
As to his fellow crook, there are two obvious reasons why she has him in thrall - her fashion choices scream "cheap bimbo."
The irony here is that he made his name by helping boot out a NJ politician who was doing, basically, what he is now doing. Cycle of political life, I suppose. And yes: hinky.
Menendez makes Agnew look like a piker. Agnew was only accepting his bribe money in his office of VP. Sounds like the senator was wearing his to work in his suits. What balls!
Corey Booker came out this morning calling for Menendez' resignation.
Menendez is obviously reading from the Trump playbook and it's working on the MAGAts that are publicly speaking about it, like that cyclops Charlie Kirk. Menendez is clearly guilty, and I would guess that Natasha, um, I mean Nadine, may have had something like this in mind when she met him and snared him. She had these friends already, tied to the Egyptian government, so one has to ponder that scenario. I expect, if true, Nadine will eventually be thrown under the Benz.
In addition, it goes without saying that this situation is one of the main differences between Democrats (despite Schumer's milquetoast response) and Trumplicans. Democrats actually BELIEVE in the rule of law, and even if one of their own is found to be corrupt, we want them to face justice. If it means we lose a seat in Congress, oh well -- maybe the guy in there shouldn't have been corrupt? Al Franken WAS definitely jumping the gun, and it took me a long time to realize why he resigned, and it was for the good of the Party because I don't really think the country cared. I still wish he'd run for president, though.
And WTF is with Schumer? He's been watching McConnell stomp all over him and the Democrats for YEARS, and STILL comes out with this bullshit statement? I may be biased because of my residency, but I think Dick Durbin would be a far better majority leader than Schumer. Without Nancy Pelosi in there to prop him up, he's not so good on his own when these kerfuffles come up -- and they do with increasing regularity, although it's usually on the Trumplican side of the aisle.
Can anybody imagine if Menendez were a Trumplican and Greg wrote this column? Oh, the death threats that would come in! THAT'S how they roll. For us, who believe in the law and justice, lock him up!
Thanks, Steve. Excellent points as usual. "Thrown under the Benz" is chef's kiss (and is what's going to happen, if you read, very carefully, what he says in the statement about his wife).
Eh, I write about the corrupt GOP all the time and they just ignore me.
I don't get Schumer at all. My best guess is that, like Don Shula in the 90s, the game has passed him by.
I'm sure she had images of gold bars and stacks of cash dancing through her head. Yesterday I saw a video of him proposing to her at the Taj Mahal as he serenaded her with a song from "The Greatest Showman". The Taj Mahal in India, not Trump's cheesy casino.
I keep some cash at home in case of an emergency where I can't use my bank's ATM because of a natural disaster. But $500,000 in cash AND at least two 1 kg gold bars worth about $124,00—give me a break. That sounds more like flee the country money, or payoff dough. In either case, and regardless of whatever excuses Menendez makes, he should resign, as Greg points out, not only for the good of the country, but also so he can focus on trying to get his obviously f*cked up life back on some kind of straight and narrow.
Rep. Andy Kim has already declared his candidacy for Menendez's Senate seat. He was the one who helped clean up after January 6th and would make a much better Senator.
Al Franken was a mediocre comedian who barely won his Senate race. Eight women accused him of harassment. Tina Smith, who replaced him, actually had political experience as Lt. Governor of Minnesota.
Menendez having large amounts of cash and gold bars at home reminds of a Billions episode where it is revealed that Bobby Axelrod has a secret room with cash and gold just in case he needs to leave the US in a hurry. He did end up escaping to Switzerland when he was about to be arrested.
Holy Shit! Didn’t realize Marc Elias represented Menendez the first time! He must resign or be forced out. We know that he’s corrupt as hell. Maybe he should become a Republican then.
I’m laughing. No, I’m not -- because the back story is a study in absurdity. Ok, it’s time for ☕️☕️ because it’s too early for 🥃-- Thanks Greg! Good ( it’s not raining ) morning! 🥳
Thanks, Steven. It's almost 5 o'clock!
Ok, Greg, it’s 6:04 and guess 🍸 what?
Schumer and the rest of Democratic leadership need to get their thumbs out of their asses and kick Menendez to the curb. Phil Murphy will appoint another good Democrat to take his place. Every day they delay the moral high ground Democrats hold over Trump and his Republican enablers erodes just a little bit. Too much longer, especially as Trump's trials approach, it will wash away completely.
BTW - Thanks Greg for the accompanying graphic. It made my morning.
Well said, Peter, and I agree. I'm glad you like the graphic...it was a fun one to make!
Deport the Menendez Mal Hombre back to Cuba and Mrs Menendez back to Armenia. Adios Amigos!😎
Nah, let them stand trial and, if convicted, go to prison. That works better for me. : )
The evidence is overwhelming, so of course he should resign. Is it possible that Schumer and other Democratic senators are giving Menendez a chance to do the right thing on his own?
As far as the 2015 indictment, I think you might have flip-flopped your jurors; I think 10 wanted to acquit, only 2 wanted to convict. I don't think they had enough convincing evidence like they do for the current indictment. I think he just lucked out on that one, and may think he can do the same here. Too much evidence on this one.
Thanks, Rick. I did indeed, and I've made the correction. I guess the neurons weren't firing at 5:30 am.
And that's an interesting and viable theory, although it does not look like he will. Booker, the other NJ senator, came out today calling for it. We'll see...
If I was expecting something from my neurons at 5:30 am, they would completely ignore me and go back to sleep. 😩
Conflicted I am. There is compelling evidence that Menendez must resign. He should.
Then the likes of George Santos and Clarence Thomas make me want to dig in my heels and say he should not do so. Gaetz, Boebert, Gosar,Taylor Greene and Jordan, betrayers who I so want to get back at distort clear thinking. Richard Burr comes to mind. Not found innocent of insider trading which he clearly did; rather a weak SEC decided no action. Yet he retired after announcing he would not seek reelection. When they go low, we go higher plays in the background.
So many thoughts rumbling in my head.
Democracy versus autocracy. We are on slippery slope, rapidly throwing away our truly amazing history of by the people and for the people. Adding to my confusion, American oligarchs are the new fashion, people who can turn the tide of an illegal war by turning off essential communication satellites jumps at me. I so want to show that the increasing irrelevant majority can save us from becoming another fallen Great society.
So many conflicting thoughts racing in my head.
So much so that the ensuing headache and heartache hurt badly. In this fog comes a thought. The odious Senator from the state I grew up in believes in what I see as corrupt Democracy, however he is a staunch supporter of the principle of Democracy, plain and simple. A potentially greater force against autocracy given a razor thin Senate majority and a hapless majority leader, buying hapless Shumer some time.
Conclusion, stay put Bob, buying Democracy so much needed time, he thinks while selling my soul to the devil. People can now label me what I have become, today's Republican. They are silent, knowing to rise up against Menendez, this the highest form of hypocrisy. If they can wear it, hopefully so can I.
It IS complicated, and there ARE strategic reasons to delay. But I think senators shouldnot behave like this. Only rightwing SCOTUS judges married to political operatives have that right!
How disappointing! I hadn't paid any attention to him but with everything you laid out here, I am thoroughly disgusted with this Senator.
I didn't know the extent, either, until I looked into it. Yuck.
Enlightenment is usually a result of stirring up all the muck that has sunk to the bottom. Not pleasant but necessary to get us to the next level!
Once again, the cartoons speak the truth!
That they do!
The Democrats did not push him to resign the last time because the Republican Governor at that time would appoint a Republican to replace him to serve out his term. Political party interests and strategy prevailed. Al Franklin was pressured to resign by the Democrats before an investigative committee was formed of which he he supported, out of fear that it would create fodder that would derail the Senatorial elections in Alabama. He did it for the party. More political strategy. Now there is a Democratic Governor in N.J. Calling for his resignation and who would appoint a Democrat to triplane him. There is already a declared Democratic challenger to him in the next election cycle for his term.
Ultimately it's his call, and it doesn't sound like he's interested in stepping down, alas.
Ugh . Nail him and send him and is wife to prison-separate prisons and no conjugal visits
Neither menendez nor his parents ever spent a minute in "communist Cuba." His parents emigrated from Cuba in 1953 - six years before Castro took power - and he was born in New Jersey in 1954.
The man's mendacity is bottomless. His bullshit is infuriating because it is so easily debunked (just go to his Wikipedia page for the above), and because it demonstrates how little regard he holds for anyone else, that he thinks everyone is stupid enough to believe his bullshit.
A liar knows the truth and chooses to avoid it. A bullshitter doesn't care if what he says is true or false.
And Menendez was known for being "hinky" by people in Union City long before he ran for the Senate. It wasn't high office that did him in.
As to his fellow crook, there are two obvious reasons why she has him in thrall - her fashion choices scream "cheap bimbo."
The irony here is that he made his name by helping boot out a NJ politician who was doing, basically, what he is now doing. Cycle of political life, I suppose. And yes: hinky.
What would we do without irony in politics? :-)
One clue is that his name is Robert, not Roberto.
Menendez makes Agnew look like a piker. Agnew was only accepting his bribe money in his office of VP. Sounds like the senator was wearing his to work in his suits. What balls!
Corey Booker came out this morning calling for Menendez' resignation.
Menendez is obviously reading from the Trump playbook and it's working on the MAGAts that are publicly speaking about it, like that cyclops Charlie Kirk. Menendez is clearly guilty, and I would guess that Natasha, um, I mean Nadine, may have had something like this in mind when she met him and snared him. She had these friends already, tied to the Egyptian government, so one has to ponder that scenario. I expect, if true, Nadine will eventually be thrown under the Benz.
In addition, it goes without saying that this situation is one of the main differences between Democrats (despite Schumer's milquetoast response) and Trumplicans. Democrats actually BELIEVE in the rule of law, and even if one of their own is found to be corrupt, we want them to face justice. If it means we lose a seat in Congress, oh well -- maybe the guy in there shouldn't have been corrupt? Al Franken WAS definitely jumping the gun, and it took me a long time to realize why he resigned, and it was for the good of the Party because I don't really think the country cared. I still wish he'd run for president, though.
And WTF is with Schumer? He's been watching McConnell stomp all over him and the Democrats for YEARS, and STILL comes out with this bullshit statement? I may be biased because of my residency, but I think Dick Durbin would be a far better majority leader than Schumer. Without Nancy Pelosi in there to prop him up, he's not so good on his own when these kerfuffles come up -- and they do with increasing regularity, although it's usually on the Trumplican side of the aisle.
Can anybody imagine if Menendez were a Trumplican and Greg wrote this column? Oh, the death threats that would come in! THAT'S how they roll. For us, who believe in the law and justice, lock him up!
Thanks, Steve. Excellent points as usual. "Thrown under the Benz" is chef's kiss (and is what's going to happen, if you read, very carefully, what he says in the statement about his wife).
Eh, I write about the corrupt GOP all the time and they just ignore me.
I don't get Schumer at all. My best guess is that, like Don Shula in the 90s, the game has passed him by.
Do you mean that Natasha did not think Bob was "hot, hot, hot!" from the moment she saw him??? (bubble burst)
hot finances
I'm sure she had images of gold bars and stacks of cash dancing through her head. Yesterday I saw a video of him proposing to her at the Taj Mahal as he serenaded her with a song from "The Greatest Showman". The Taj Mahal in India, not Trump's cheesy casino.
What other secrets is Schumer sitting upon? That's what this whole thing makes me wonder.
Excellent question.
I keep some cash at home in case of an emergency where I can't use my bank's ATM because of a natural disaster. But $500,000 in cash AND at least two 1 kg gold bars worth about $124,00—give me a break. That sounds more like flee the country money, or payoff dough. In either case, and regardless of whatever excuses Menendez makes, he should resign, as Greg points out, not only for the good of the country, but also so he can focus on trying to get his obviously f*cked up life back on some kind of straight and narrow.
You're right, John. It IS flee-the-country money. ESPECIALLY the gold bars.
I prefer Cuban and Armenian prison time for them. I’m tired of paying room and
board for all imported crooks.
Rep. Andy Kim has already declared his candidacy for Menendez's Senate seat. He was the one who helped clean up after January 6th and would make a much better Senator.
Al Franken was a mediocre comedian who barely won his Senate race. Eight women accused him of harassment. Tina Smith, who replaced him, actually had political experience as Lt. Governor of Minnesota.
Menendez having large amounts of cash and gold bars at home reminds of a Billions episode where it is revealed that Bobby Axelrod has a secret room with cash and gold just in case he needs to leave the US in a hurry. He did end up escaping to Switzerland when he was about to be arrested.
Ok, now I’m 🍸 laughing. 🥳
Holy Shit! Didn’t realize Marc Elias represented Menendez the first time! He must resign or be forced out. We know that he’s corrupt as hell. Maybe he should become a Republican then.