Politics Random, Random

[ashkor87]

The only purpose of the debt ceiling is to force the President to negotiate with the opposition party...which may be good? Probably unnecessary, one can always negotiate on bill by bill?
The debt celing itself is meaningless...

[skatingfan]

The only purpose of the debt ceiling is to force the President to negotiate with the opposition party...which may be good? Probably unnecessary, one can always negotiate on bill by bill?
The debt celing itself is meaningless...

The debt ceiling isn't meaningless - how would the US Congress bring the world to brink of economic collapse every couple of years without it?

[ashkor87]

It is an empty threat though..

[ti-amie]

Geoff Bowser
‪@geoffbowser.bsky.social‬
Gaetz Report Breakdown Thread:

I describe most of the factual findings in the report with screens shots of relevant portions.

Warning the behavior of this congressman towards teenage girls half his age is despicable and could be uncomfortable reading for those with past trauma.

Representative Gaetz:

• Regularly paid women for sex

• Statutorily raped a 17-year-old girl

• Used cocaine and ecstasy on multiple occasions

• Accepted gifts above limit

• Lied to the Dept. of State to help a sex partner get an expedited passport

• Obstructed the Committee’s investigation



The fact section of the report begins with a discussion of how Gaetz, shortly after getting sworn into Congress began a relationship with Joel Greenberg (sentenced to 11 years in prison for sex trafficking in 2022) in which they used Greenberg's accounts to set up sex and drug parties.


From 2017 to 2020, Gaetz spent tens of thousands of dollars to women related to sex and drugs.


Gaetz used these very young women to precure drugs for him as well.

Why take a risk of arrest for purchasing drugs when you can pay pressure a teenager to do it for you?


For a good portion of the time, one of the women Gaetz met through Greenberg became his primary "girlfriend", she was 21, he 35. He also used her to set up sex with others. She was paid $63,836.58 (at least) by Gaetz from 2017-2020.

Wisely, she invoked the 5th when asked about the payments.

[ti-amie]

Geoff Bowser
‪@geoffbowser.bsky.social‬
The Committee included some helpful screenshots of Greenberg arranging for a pay for sex interaction between Representative Gaetz and a 20 yo.



There was a trip to the Bahamas full of sex and drugs. Gaetz didn't pay for his lodgings and took a private plane back from the trip.


The most disturbing (probably) finding is that Matt Gaetz, when he was 35, had sex with a 17-year old who had just finished her junior year of high school. One of the times they had sex at a party occurred in front of other people. He paid her $400 for it.


As it turns out, Representative Gaetz was not particularly forthcoming to the Committee. Where he did provide answers they do not appear to be truthful. He claimed that the payments to women was just his "generosity to ex-girlfriends" and claimed that he never had sex with a minor.


Conclusions:

Finally some "good" news for Gaetz. The Committee did not find that he violated federal sex trafficking laws.

He paid for women to travel for sex, but they were over 18.

His relationship with the women involved an exploitative power imbalance, but he didn't use force or fraud.

[ti-amie]

Geoff Bowser‬ ‪@geoffbowser.bsky.social‬
·
4h
That was the end of the good news for Gaetz.

The Committee found that he repeatedly paid money for sex in violation of Florida State law.


Gaetz committed statutory rape under Florida law by having sex with the 17 year old when he was 35.


The Committee then reveals something else awful.

Although it had evidence that Gaetz was unaware of the 17 yo's age when he first had sex with her, he continued to have contact with her once he became aware and six months after she turned 18, he met up with her again to pay for additional sex.


The committee also concludes that he used a lot of illegal drugs. And the Committee finally adds a touch of comedy to the report.

The write that "[Gaetz] appears to have set up a pseudonymous e-mail account from his House office in the Capitol complex for the purpose of purchasing marijuana."


In a breach of a gift rule that would make Justice Thomas scoff at small values involved, the Committee found that Gaetz failed to get pre-approval for the lodging and private flight for his drug fueled orgy vacation in the Bahamas.

QED: Drug orgies are fine as long as you disclose it beforehand.

[ti-amie]

Geoff Bowser‬ ‪@geoffbowser.bsky.social‬
·
4h
And as discussed above, the Committee found that he tried to use his office to get a passport for a woman he was having sex with. And he obstructed the Committee's investigation.


"Based on the above, the Committee determined there is substantial evidence that Representative Gaetz violated House Rules and other standards of conduct prohibiting prostitution, statutory rape, illicit drug use, impermissible gifts, special favors or privileges, and obstruction of Congress."


Although there were "dissenting committee members", they make it clear they only dissent from the decision to release the report given that Gaetz resigned. They do not disagree with the factual conclusions the committee reached:


TL;DR (From p. 31 of the Report):

"Gaetz took advantage of the economic vulnerability of young women to lure them into sexual activity for which they received an average of a few hundred dollars after each encounter. Such behavior is not 'generosity to ex-girlfriends.'"

[ti-amie]

Jules‬ ‪@itsjustjules123.bsky.social‬
·
11h
Last boost for a couple days.

[dryrunguy]

So, the guy who set a woman on fire on a New York subway was a 33-year-old man from Guatemala who was in the U.S. illegally. Not helpful to the cause, man... Not helpful to the cause...

[Owendonovan]

So, the guy who set a woman on fire on a New York subway was a 33-year-old man from Guatemala who was in the U.S. illegally. Not helpful to the cause, man... Not helpful to the cause...

Sadly, I always wish for the culprits in crimes like these to be straight white men.

[ti-amie]

So, the guy who set a woman on fire on a New York subway was a 33-year-old man from Guatemala who was in the U.S. illegally. Not helpful to the cause, man... Not helpful to the cause...

Sadly, I always wish for the culprits in crimes like these to be straight white men.

There was an Instagram post showing how men of color regardless of ethnicity or national origin wait on pins and needles to see who the perpetrator of the latest abomination is. It was several days ago and of course now I can't find it.

[ti-amie]

I'm sorry George but irony is dead.

‪

George Takei‬ ‪@georgetakei.bsky.social‬

The irony is thick here.

[ti-amie]

George Takei‬ ‪@georgetakei.bsky.social‬

Maybe don’t pipe up if you have this kind of record?''

[ponchi101]

So, the guy who set a woman on fire on a New York subway was a 33-year-old man from Guatemala who was in the U.S. illegally. Not helpful to the cause, man... Not helpful to the cause...

Sadly, I always wish for the culprits in crimes like these to be straight white men.

How does that work well? If the point is to make straight white men the new "evil standard", has there been any progress?
I know statistically, young, white, straight men usually fit the profile of serial murderers and people that perform crimes like this one. But making us the default perpetrators would be of little help. (you know I am not young, so that is a difference).
I gather the point is that your race, gender, sexual orientation, religion or any other trait does not make you a criminal. Or excludes you from being one.
And I know you are not being offensive. But I find it hard to articulate properly my disagreement.
(You did say SADLY).

[Owendonovan]

So, the guy who set a woman on fire on a New York subway was a 33-year-old man from Guatemala who was in the U.S. illegally. Not helpful to the cause, man... Not helpful to the cause...

Sadly, I always wish for the culprits in crimes like these to be straight white men.

How does that work well? If the point is to make straight white men the new "evil standard", has there been any progress?
I know statistically, young, white, straight men usually fit the profile of serial murderers and people that perform crimes like this one. But making us the default perpetrators would be of little help. (you know I am not young, so that is a difference).
I gather the point is that your race, gender, sexual orientation, religion or any other trait does not make you a criminal. Or excludes you from being one.
And I know you are not being offensive. But I find it hard to articulate properly my disagreement.
(You did say SADLY).

It's all based on how straight white right wing men have turned every immigrant or person of color into this man. They(SWM) find the worst example of any woman, LGBTQ, immigrant, or person of color and promote them as the norm. Now, I know all SWM aren't this, but most on the right are.