Wendy Bell Sows Doubt About The Vaccine (Oh And Seasons It With A Little Racism)

Today on her Facebook Page, Wendy Bell posted this:

We'll get to the Trumpian racism in a minute, no worries.

By simply asking the question "Do you feel the vaccines...are safe?" She's sowing doubt - doubt that's going to get more people sick.

Why?

Because there's more than enough evidence already to show that the vaccines are safe. The question is not up for debate. Someone's feelings don't matter in judging the safety of the vaccines.

From the CDC:

All COVID-19 vaccines were tested in clinical trials involving tens of thousands of people to make sure they meet safety standards and protect adults of different races, ethnicities, and ages, including adults over the age of 65, participated in the clinical trials. There were no serious safety concerns. The most common side effects were pain at the injection site and signs and symptoms like fever and chills. After a review of all the available information, ACIP and CDC agreed the lifesaving benefits of COVID-19 vaccination for LTCF residents outweigh the risks of possible side effects.

And here's a description of the trial phases for vaccine testing: 

In the U.S., the FDA meticulously review the data from each clinical trial phase before approval or, in the case of public health emergencies, before granting emergency use authorization.

And:

A phase 1 trial focuses on the safety of the vaccine candidate. Escalating doses of the vaccine are given to healthy volunteers to determine side effects and tolerability.

Phase 2 trials expand their recruitment and may include participants with health conditions such as obesity, cancer, and diabetes. There is also active recruitment for participants of various demographics. The trial continues to test the safety of the vaccine and looks at the drug’s initial efficacy and how it affects the immune system.

Phase 3 trials recruit thousands of participants to measure the efficacy of the vaccine in preventing disease.

All this has already been done. The vaccines are safe.

If the Angel of Death were really interested in the health and safety of her audience, she would have asked the question something like this:

Even though the scientific evidence shows that the vaccines are safe, are you be reluctant to get one? And if so, why?

This could then trigger a discussion about phase trials, safety measures and so on. I suspect, however, Wendy Bell is more interested in a discussion that runs along the lines of this comment:

All the Wendy tropes are there; herd immunity, mistrust of the Guv'ment, no scientific data.

Yea, that's where St Barnabas' Angel of Death is going with this.

Perhaps Wendy should get her husband (he's a Doctor, doncha know) on the record about the safety of the vaccines.

Then there's Wendy's racism: 

“Ultimately, diseases are about biology, not geography,” said Jeremy Konyndyk, who help lead the U.S. response to the 2014 Ebola outbreak in Africa. Descriptions of coronavirus that are winning praise in some GOP circles are racist, potentially undermine efforts to prevent spread of the disease and and threaten to harm relationships with China, health advocates say.

Specifically, this from NBC:

Republican lawmakers have persisted in using "Wuhan virus" or "Chinese coronavirus," despite remarks by Democrats and the director of the CDC that such phrases are inaccurate and even racist.

Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., used the term "Wuhan virus" on Thursday in announcing that his Washington office was closing because of the illness. His comments came two days after the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Robert Redfield, agreed when questioned at a House hearing that it was "absolutely wrong and inappropriate" to use such labels.

That was last March and Wendy Bell's still pushing the racism.

It must be so comforting for the powers-that-be at St Barnabas Health Care to be connected to such a warm and loving human being as the twice fired Wendy Bell.

Right-Wing Domestic Terrorism (Let's Call It What It Is)

Hey, everyone!  Do you remember this report from 2009? It included such bits as:

The DHS/Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A) has no specific information that domestic rightwing* terrorists are currently planning acts of violence, but rightwing extremists may be gaining new recruits by playing on their fears about several emergent issues. The economic downturn and the election of the first African American president present unique drivers for rightwing radicalization and recruitment.

And:

DHS/I&A assesses that rightwing extremists will attempt to recruit and radicalize returning veterans in order to exploit their skills and knowledge derived from military training and combat. These skills and knowledge have the potential to boost the capabilities of extremists—including lone wolves or small terrorist cells—to carry out violence. The willingness of a small percentage of military personnel to join extremist groups during the 1990s because they were disgruntled, disillusioned, or suffering from the psychological effects of war is being replicated today.

Remember, this was 2009. Twelve years ago.

What happened to that report? Do you remember? Here's an explanation:

Eight years ago, I warned of a singular threat — the resurgence of right-wing extremist activity and associated violence in the United States as a result of the 2008 presidential election, the financial crisis and the stock market crash. My intelligence report, meant only for law enforcement, was leaked by conservative media.

A political backlash ensued because of an objection to the label “right-wing extremism.” The report also rightly pointed out that returning military veterans may be targeted for recruitment by extremists. Republican lawmakers demanded then-Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano rescind my report. The American Legion formally requested an apology to veterans. Some in Congress called for me to be fired. Amid the turmoil, my warning went unheeded by Republicans and Democrats. Unfortunately, the Department of Homeland Security caved to the political pressure: Work related to violent right-wing extremism was halted. Law enforcement training also stopped. My unit was disbanded. And, one-by-one, my team of analysts left for other employment. By 2010, there were no intelligence analysts at DHS working domestic terrorism threats.

This is from 2017. Four years ago.

Why does this matter? Take a look at this from NPR:

As a violent mob descended on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, lawmakers and aides hid wherever they could, waiting for the military and police to arrive. But many of those who stormed the Capitol were military veterans themselves, who had once sworn to protect the Constitution. In fact, an NPR analysis has found that nearly 1 in 5 people charged over their alleged involvement in the attack on the U.S. Capitol appear to have a military history.

That was published last week. 

And now there's this:

The Acting Secretary of Homeland Security has issued a National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) Bulletin due to a heightened threat environment across the United States, which DHS believes will persist in the weeks following the successful Presidential Inauguration. Information suggests that some ideologically-motivated violent extremists with objections to the exercise of governmental authority and the presidential transition, as well as other perceived grievances fueled by false narratives, could continue to mobilize to incite or commit violence.

False narratives like "The election was stolen!" and any of it's corollaries.

Let's call it what it is. Right-wing domestic terrorism. The right wing terrorists swarmed over the Capitol three weeks ago and 5 people died, including one police officer.

Blue lives matter!!

THIS - This Is Why Wendy Bell Is The Angel Of Death

From her Facebook Page this morning: 

Hmm. Let's see. Dr Fauci:

• MD - Graduated 1st in his class from Cornell in 1966 (Note: this would be a few years before Wendy Bell was born)
  
• Joined the NIH in 1968
• Appointed director of NIAID in 1984

That's a position he still holds. About his position at NIAID:

[Dr. Fauci] oversees an extensive research portfolio of basic and applied research to prevent, diagnose, and treat established infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, respiratory infections, diarrheal diseases, tuberculosis and malaria as well as emerging diseases such as Ebola and Zika. NIAID also supports research on transplantation and immune-related illnesses, including autoimmune disorders, asthma and allergies. The NIAID budget for fiscal year 2021 is an estimated $6.1 billion.

And Wendy Bell?

• Fired from WTAE for a racist Facebook post
• Fired from KDKA Radio for calling for statue protestors to be shot on sight

Which one is an expert in communicable diseases? And which one is an ignorant voice on American talk radio? 

But here's more about Dr Fauci:

Dr. Fauci also is the longtime chief of the Laboratory of Immunoregulation. He has made many contributions to basic and clinical research on the pathogenesis and treatment of immune-mediated and infectious diseases. He helped pioneer the field of human immunoregulation by making important basic scientific observations that underpin the current understanding of the regulation of the human immune response. In addition, Dr. Fauci is widely recognized for delineating the precise ways that immunosuppressive agents modulate the human immune response. He developed effective therapies for formerly fatal inflammatory and immune-mediated diseases such as polyarteritis nodosa, granulomatosis with polyangiitis (formerly Wegener's granulomatosis), and lymphomatoid granulomatosis. A 1985 Stanford University Arthritis Center Survey of the American Rheumatism Association membership ranked Dr. Fauci’s work on the treatment of polyarteritis nodosa and granulomatosis with polyangiitis among the most important advances in patient management in rheumatology over the previous 20 years.

And Wendy Bell?

She knows all about the coronavirus. She said this to her audience: 

We understand what happens with coronavirus. People get sick. But people need to be exposed. We need to all become immune to this thing. Stop saying (she uses air quotes here) we need a vaccine, OK? We have a flu vaccine and only half the people get it. So everyone's going to rush out and get this vaccine? C'mon.

This is why she's the Angel of Death. The more people listen to and believe her, the more people will die. I just don't know how she sleeps at night,

I'd post this in a comment at Wendy's Facebook page and at WJAS' Facebook page, but for some reason I am blocked from doing so at both.

If some brave soul in MY audience were to post this at either place, they'd probably get blocked, too.

Meanwhile, Outside...

Now that grownups are now running the show and science has been elevated to a cabinet level position, I thought it a good idea to return to my monthly NOAA based blogging.

From the scientists at NOAA:

The global land and ocean surface temperature for December 2020 was 0.78°C (1.40°F) above the 20th century average and the eighth highest departure from average for December in the 1880–2020 record. Compared to recent months, this value was the smallest monthly temperature departure during 2020 and the smallest monthly temperature departure since February 2018.

There's even some art:

See the red (-ish) columns on the right? That's the global land and ocean temperatures. It's bad and it's going to get worse.

So not only is the country dangerously polarized (something made much worse by the Trump Administration), it's fighting a deadly pandemic (also made much worse by the Trump Administration), it's still facing a global climate crisis (which was, of course, very bad in 2016 but made much much worse by the Trump Administration).

Oh yea, and there's systemic racism strangling the country - Trump had a hand in making that worse, too!

Wendy Bell/Radio Karen Has Returned To The Airwaves! Vetted And Approved By St Barnabas!!

This past Wednesday, Wendy Bell posted this on her Facebook page:

This was followed the next morning by this reporting from Eric Heyl at Patch:

Controversial talk show host Wendy Bell has announced she is returning to local radio next week following her abrupt departure from KDKA-AM last fall. Bell stated on social media that she will join conservative talk station WJAS-AM beginning Jan. 25.

Perhaps he's just being diplomatic but Heyl is too kind to the Angel of Death. She's not "controversial" as much as she's putting the public health in grave danger. (Is there another kind of danger?)

A few hours later, the story was reported by Julia Felton of the Trib:

JD Turco, senior vice president at St. Barnabas Broadcasting, which bought WJAS in November, confirmed Thursday that Bell will be joining the station.

“She’s going to be a conservative talk show host, in keeping with the lineup we have right now,” he said. “There’s a lot of conservative talk there. We believe she fits well into that lineup.”

And then a little after that Joshua Axelrod of the P-G:

“We were able to have the have a conversation with Wendy, and we feel it’s mutually beneficial to put her on,” said J.D. Turco, senior vice president of St. Barnabas Health System, which owns WJAS. “We have high hopes for Wendy and for WJAS.”

And:

Mr. Turco, who is also the chief financial officer of St. Barnabas Broadcasting, said Ms. Bell will fit in well with the station’s conservative talk-show format and that she was hired after “considerable thought” regarding her past behavior.

“We can’t predict the future, but we do think we’ve done ample due diligence, and hopefully it’ll all work out,” he said.

Before we go any further, let me point out that while the P-G is more than happy to post what amounts to free advertising for Radio Karen's latest media presence, they passed on reporting about Wendy's recent indefensible doxxing of a private citizen. This is what I wrote about what Wendy did:

To summarize: a woman called a sponsor of Wendy Bell's, Sierra Experts (who can be reached at 412 378-8333) and left an anonymous voice mail complaining about Wendy Bell. Sierra Experts' IT folks then hacked through the woman's "block caller" and sent Wendy Bell her phone number. By the way, Sierra Experts advertise a number of IT services and evidently violating a person's privacy is one of them. Once they had the woman's number Wendy Bell and her "research team" reversed searched it and doxxed the woman, exposing her name, image and contact info to her audience so that her audience could harass the woman who complained about Wendy Bell to Sierra Experts.

Was this included in St Barnabas' "due diligence"? And if it was, why are they going ahead with rewarding Wendy Bell with a 7 kilowatt platform? If not, can it really be called "due diligence"?

Are you like me and wondering what else was part of this "due diligence"? Let's focus with the virus since, y'know, St Barnabas Broadcasting is headquartered in the same building in Gibsonia as St Barnabas Health Care.

September 2, 2020 Wendy Bell lies to her audience with this:

...the CDC says that 94% of people who we think died of COVID did not die from COVID but died and happened to have it at the same time.

This is, of course, a lie - a QAnon inspired lie, to boot! From Factcheck:

He noted that the 6% figure includes cases where COVID-19 was listed as the only cause of death. “That does not mean that someone who has hypertension or diabetes who dies of Covid didn’t die of Covid-19. They did,” Fauci said on ABC’s “Good Morning America.”

And Wendy has reiterated this lie as recently as 3 weeks ago. 

Was this part of St Barnabas' "due diligence"? Seems kind of important, lying to the public about CDC statements on Covid-19 fatality. If they knew about it and yet STILL want her on their airwaves, then what does that say about St Barnabas Broadcasting?

June 27, 2020 Wendy Bell pushes so-called "herd immunity" onto her adoring public with this mini-rant to Governor Wolf:

Stop trying to circumvent the law. Stop trying to supersede our individual freedoms. Stop trying to rule with an iron fist and stop trying to scare us about this virus.

We understand what happens with coronavirus. People get sick. But people need to be exposed. We need to all become immune to this thing. Stop saying (she uses air quotes here) we need a vaccine, OK? We have a flu vaccine and only half the people get it. So everyone's going to rush out and get this vaccine? C'mon.

As I wrote back then, she's talking herd immunity without the need for a vaccine. Something she reiterated a few weeks later on July 12. She's talking about the news of 15,000 people testing postive for Covid-19 in Florida when she says:

I think, isn't it the third most populous state in the United States of America? Don't we want this virus to work its way through the people so that we can be immune? So that we can develop some semblance of herd immunity? As we anxiously await the arrival of a vaccine?

The only problem with herd immunity without a vaccine is this from Johns Hopkins Medical School: 

To reach herd immunity for COVID-19, likely 70% or more of the population would need to be immune. Without a vaccine, over 200 million Americans would have to get infected before we reach this threshold. Put another way, even if the current pace of the COVID-19 pandemic continues in the United States, we won’t reach herd immunity in 2021. If current daily death rates continue, over half a million Americans would be dead from COVID-19 by that time.

Was this part of St Barnabas' "due diligence"?  Wendy saying "people need to be exposed" so that we can all reach herd immunity (disregarding the massive loss of life that would occur as a result)? Why give someone who believes this any sort of platform at all?

Finally,

April 8, 2020 Wendy Bell is on a fence. And by "fence" she's talking about an ethical quandary. This one:

[B]ut dollars and cents boil down to, "are you going to bankrupt America and the future for less than one percent of our population, many of whom are already ill? Or aged?"

As I wrote at the time:

Wendy Bell is having trouble deciding between her two options: "bankrupting" America or saving hundreds of thousands (perhaps millions) of American lives - people who are old and frail.

And so now I wonder if this was part of St Barnabas' "due diligence" don't you? I mean, she's questioning whether not protecting the economy is worth protecting the people actually living at the St Barnabas nursing home. Did that come up in conversation during their "due diligence" at all? I was all over the news. They had to have seen it, right?

Then there's this wrinkle in the story, this fly in the ointment, this monkey in the wrench:

The data revealed for the first time that the second-worst outbreak at a nursing home in the region in terms of deaths is at one of the best known in the area: St. Barnabas Nursing Home in Richland, which has recorded 31 deaths, the 13th most of any facility in the state.

With 62 positive COVID-19 cases among the 92 residents living in the 152-bed facility — according to online data — the ritzy nonprofit nursing home, known for its two golf courses and ubiquitous television ads featuring former Allegheny County Executive Jim Roddey in his golfing attire, has a fatality rate higher even than Brighton. St. Barnabas has also had 14 cases among its staff.

That was May 20, 2020.

Yippee Ki Yay, St Barnabas. You need to explain how diligent your "due diligence" was of Wendy Bell. By putting her on your airwaves, you're giving her the opportunity to spread a lot of lies. 

I think we're entitled to the truth.

Democracy Has Prevailed

President Biden, yesterday: 

This is America’s day.

This is democracy’s day.

A day of history and hope.

Of renewal and resolve.

Through a crucible for the ages America has been tested anew and America has risen to the challenge.

Today, we celebrate the triumph not of a candidate, but of a cause, the cause of democracy.

The will of the people has been heard and the will of the people has been heeded.

We have learned again that democracy is precious.

Democracy is fragile.

And at this hour, my friends, democracy has prevailed.

So now, on this hallowed ground where just days ago violence sought to shake this Capitol’s very foundation, we come together as one nation, under God, indivisible, to carry out the peaceful transfer of power as we have for more than two centuries.

We look ahead in our uniquely American way – restless, bold, optimistic – and set our sights on the nation we know we can be and we must be.

I thank my predecessors of both parties for their presence here.

I thank them from the bottom of my heart.

You know the resilience of our Constitution and the strength of our nation.

As does President Carter, who I spoke to last night but who cannot be with us today, but whom we salute for his lifetime of service.

I have just taken the sacred oath each of these patriots took — an oath first sworn by George Washington.

But the American story depends not on any one of us, not on some of us, but on all of us.

On “We the People” who seek a more perfect Union.

This is a great nation and we are a good people.

Over the centuries through storm and strife, in peace and in war, we have come so far. But we still have far to go.

We will press forward with speed and urgency, for we have much to do in this winter of peril and possibility.

Much to repair.

Much to restore.

Much to heal.

Much to build.

And much to gain.

Few periods in our nation’s history have been more challenging or difficult than the one we’re in now.

A once-in-a-century virus silently stalks the country.

It’s taken as many lives in one year as America lost in all of World War II.

Millions of jobs have been lost.

Hundreds of thousands of businesses closed.

A cry for racial justice some 400 years in the making moves us. The dream of justice for all will be deferred no longer.

A cry for survival comes from the planet itself. A cry that can’t be any more desperate or any more clear.

And now, a rise in political extremism, white supremacy, domestic terrorism that we must confront and we will defeat.

To overcome these challenges – to restore the soul and to secure the future of America – requires more than words.

It requires that most elusive of things in a democracy:

Unity.

Unity.

In another January in Washington, on New Year’s Day 1863, Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.

When he put pen to paper, the President said, “If my name ever goes down into history it will be for this act and my whole soul is in it.”

My whole soul is in it.

Today, on this January day, my whole soul is in this:

Bringing America together.

Uniting our people.

And uniting our nation.

I ask every American to join me in this cause.

Uniting to fight the common foes we face:

Anger, resentment, hatred.

Extremism, lawlessness, violence.

Disease, joblessness, hopelessness.

With unity we can do great things. Important things.

We can right wrongs.

We can put people to work in good jobs.

We can teach our children in safe schools.

We can overcome this deadly virus.

We can reward work, rebuild the middle class, and make health care
secure for all.

We can deliver racial justice.

We can make America, once again, the leading force for good in the world.

I know speaking of unity can sound to some like a foolish fantasy.

I know the forces that divide us are deep and they are real.

But I also know they are not new.

Our history has been a constant struggle between the American ideal that we are all created equal and the harsh, ugly reality that racism, nativism, fear, and demonization have long torn us apart.

The battle is perennial.

Victory is never assured.

Through the Civil War, the Great Depression, World War, 9/11, through struggle, sacrifice, and setbacks, our “better angels” have always prevailed.

In each of these moments, enough of us came together to carry all of us forward.

And, we can do so now.

History, faith, and reason show the way, the way of unity.

We can see each other not as adversaries but as neighbors.

We can treat each other with dignity and respect.

We can join forces, stop the shouting, and lower the temperature.

For without unity, there is no peace, only bitterness and fury.

No progress, only exhausting outrage.

No nation, only a state of chaos.

This is our historic moment of crisis and challenge, and unity is the path forward.

And, we must meet this moment as the United States of America.

If we do that, I guarantee you, we will not fail.

We have never, ever, ever failed in America when we have acted together.

And so today, at this time and in this place, let us start afresh.

All of us.

Let us listen to one another.

Hear one another.
See one another.

Show respect to one another.

Politics need not be a raging fire destroying everything in its path.

Every disagreement doesn’t have to be a cause for total war.

And, we must reject a culture in which facts themselves are manipulated and even manufactured.

My fellow Americans, we have to be different than this.

America has to be better than this.

And, I believe America is better than this.

Just look around.

Here we stand, in the shadow of a Capitol dome that was completed amid the Civil War, when the Union itself hung in the balance.

Yet we endured and we prevailed.

Here we stand looking out to the great Mall where Dr. King spoke of his dream.

Here we stand, where 108 years ago at another inaugural, thousands of protestors tried to block brave women from marching for the right to vote.

Today, we mark the swearing-in of the first woman in American history elected to national office – Vice President Kamala Harris.

Don’t tell me things can’t change.

Here we stand across the Potomac from Arlington National Cemetery, where heroes who gave the last full measure of devotion rest in eternal peace.

And here we stand, just days after a riotous mob thought they could use violence to silence the will of the people, to stop the work of our democracy, and to drive us from this sacred ground.

That did not happen.

It will never happen.

Not today.

Not tomorrow.

Not ever.

To all those who supported our campaign I am humbled by the faith you have placed in us.

To all those who did not support us, let me say this: Hear me out as we move forward. Take a measure of me and my heart.

And if you still disagree, so be it.

That’s democracy. That’s America. The right to dissent peaceably, within the guardrails of our Republic, is perhaps our nation’s greatest strength.

Yet hear me clearly: Disagreement must not lead to disunion.

And I pledge this to you: I will be a President for all Americans.

I will fight as hard for those who did not support me as for those who did.

Many centuries ago, Saint Augustine, a saint of my church, wrote that a people was a multitude defined by the common objects of their love.

What are the common objects we love that define us as Americans?

I think I know.

Opportunity.

Security.

Liberty.

Dignity.

Respect.

Honor.

And, yes, the truth.

Recent weeks and months have taught us a painful lesson.

There is truth and there are lies.

Lies told for power and for profit.

And each of us has a duty and responsibility, as citizens, as Americans, and especially as leaders – leaders who have pledged to honor our Constitution and protect our nation — to defend the truth and to defeat the lies.

I understand that many Americans view the future with some fear and trepidation.

I understand they worry about their jobs, about taking care of their families, about what comes next.

I get it.

But the answer is not to turn inward, to retreat into competing factions, distrusting those who don’t look like you do, or worship the way you do, or don’t get their news from the same sources you do.

We must end this uncivil war that pits red against blue, rural versus urban, conservative versus liberal.

We can do this if we open our souls instead of hardening our hearts.

If we show a little tolerance and humility.

If we’re willing to stand in the other person’s shoes just for a moment.
Because here is the thing about life: There is no accounting for what fate will deal you.

There are some days when we need a hand.

There are other days when we’re called on to lend one.

That is how we must be with one another.

And, if we are this way, our country will be stronger, more prosperous, more ready for the future.

My fellow Americans, in the work ahead of us, we will need each other.

We will need all our strength to persevere through this dark winter.

We are entering what may well be the toughest and deadliest period of the virus.

We must set aside the politics and finally face this pandemic as one nation.

I promise you this: as the Bible says weeping may endure for a night but joy cometh in the morning.

We will get through this, together

The world is watching today.

So here is my message to those beyond our borders: America has been tested and we have come out stronger for it.

We will repair our alliances and engage with the world once again.

Not to meet yesterday’s challenges, but today’s and tomorrow’s.

We will lead not merely by the example of our power but by the power of our example.

We will be a strong and trusted partner for peace, progress, and security.

We have been through so much in this nation.

And, in my first act as President, I would like to ask you to join me in a moment of silent prayer to remember all those we lost this past year to the pandemic.

To those 400,000 fellow Americans – mothers and fathers, husbands and wives, sons and daughters, friends, neighbors, and co-workers.

We will honor them by becoming the people and nation we know we can and should be.

Let us say a silent prayer for those who lost their lives, for those they left behind, and for our country.

Amen.

This is a time of testing.

We face an attack on democracy and on truth.

A raging virus.

Growing inequity.

The sting of systemic racism.

A climate in crisis.

America’s role in the world.

Any one of these would be enough to challenge us in profound ways.

But the fact is we face them all at once, presenting this nation with the gravest of responsibilities.

Now we must step up.

All of us.

It is a time for boldness, for there is so much to do.

And, this is certain.

We will be judged, you and I, for how we resolve the cascading crises of our era.

Will we rise to the occasion?

Will we master this rare and difficult hour?

Will we meet our obligations and pass along a new and better world for our children?

I believe we must and I believe we will.

And when we do, we will write the next chapter in the American story.

It’s a story that might sound something like a song that means a lot to me.

It’s called “American Anthem” and there is one verse stands out for me:

“The work and prayers
of centuries have brought us to this day
What shall be our legacy?
What will our children say?…
Let me know in my heart
When my days are through
America
America
I gave my best to you.”

Let us add our own work and prayers to the unfolding story of our nation.

If we do this then when our days are through our children and our children’s children will say of us they gave their best.

They did their duty.

They healed a broken land.
My fellow Americans, I close today where I began, with a sacred oath.

Before God and all of you I give you my word.

I will always level with you.

I will defend the Constitution.

I will defend our democracy.

I will defend America.

I will give my all in your service thinking not of power, but of possibilities.

Not of personal interest, but of the public good.

And together, we shall write an American story of hope, not fear.

Of unity, not division.

Of light, not darkness.

An American story of decency and dignity.

Of love and of healing.

Of greatness and of goodness.

May this be the story that guides us.

The story that inspires us.

The story that tells ages yet to come that we answered the call of history.

We met the moment.

That democracy and hope, truth and justice, did not die on our watch but thrived.

That our America secured liberty at home and stood once again as a beacon to the world.

That is what we owe our forebearers, one another, and generations to follow.

So, with purpose and resolve we turn to the tasks of our time.

Sustained by faith.

Driven by conviction.

And, devoted to one another and to this country we love with all our hearts.

May God bless America and may God protect our troops.

Thank you, America.

In Case You Missed It - The Hill We Climb.

The Poem: 

When day comes, we ask ourselves, where can we find light in this never ending shade?
The loss we carry, a sea. We must wade.
We've graved the belly of the beast.
We've learned that quiet isn't always peace.
In the norms and notions of what just is, isn't always justice.
And yet the dawn is ours before we knew it. Somehow we do it.
Somehow we've weathered and witnessed a nation that it isn't broken, but simply unfinished.
We, the successors of a country and the time where a skinny Black girl descended from slaves and raised by a single mother can dream of becoming president only to find herself reciting for one.
And yes, we are far from polished, far from pristine, but that doesn't mean we are striving to form a union that is perfect.
We are striving to forge our union with purpose.

To compose a country, committed to all cultures, colors, characters, and conditions of man.
And so we lift our gaze, not to what stands between us, but what stands before us
We close the divide because we know to put our future first, we must first put our differences aside.
We lay down our arms so we can reach out our arms to one another. We seek harm to none and harmony for all.
Let the globe, if nothing else say, this is true.
That even as we grieved, we grew.
That even as we hurt, we hoped.
That even as we tired, we tried that will forever be tied together victorious.
Not because we will never again know defeat, but because we will never again sow division.
Scripture tells us to envision that everyone shall sit under their own vine and fig tree and no one shall make them afraid
If we're to live up to our own time, then victory won't lie in the blade, but in all the bridges we've made.
That is the promise to glade the hill we climb.
If only we dare it's because being American is more than a pride we inherit.
It's the past we step into and how we repair it.

We've seen a force that would shatter or nation, rather than share it.
Would destroy our country if it meant delaying democracy.
And this effort very nearly succeeded, but while democracy can be periodically delayed, it can never be permanently defeated in this truth.
In this faith we trust for while we have our eyes on the future, history has its eyes on us. This is the era of just redemption.
We feared it in its inception.
We did not feel prepared to be the heirs of of such a terrifying hour, but within it, we found the power to author a new chapter.
To offer hope and laughter to ourselves.

So while once we asked, how could we possibly prevail over catastrophe?
Now we assert how could catastrophe possibly prevail over us?
We will not march back to what was, but move to what shall be a country that is bruised.
But whole benevolence, but bold, fierce, and free.

We will not be turned around or interrupted by intimidation because we know our inaction and inertia will be the inheritance of the next generation.
Our blenders become their burdens, but one thing is certain.
If we merged mercy with might, and might with right, then love becomes our legacy, and change our children's birthright.
So let us leave behind a country better than one.

We were left with every breath, my bronze pounded chest.
We will raise this wounded world into a wondrous one.
We will rise from the gold limbed hills of the West.
We will rise from the wind swept to Northeast where our forefathers first realized the revolution.
We will rise from the lake when cities of the middle Western States.
We will arise from the sun baked South.
We will rebuild, reconciled and recover and every known nook over a nation.

And every corner called our country.
Our people diverse and beautiful will emerge, battered and beautiful.
When day comes, we step out of the shade of flame and unafraid, the new dawn balloons, as we free it.
For there was always light.
If only we're brave enough to see it.
If only we're brave enough to be it. 

This Evening - Finally A Human Presidential Voice Speaks About The 400,000

 

To heal, we must remember. It’s hard sometimes to remember, but that’s how we heal. It’s important to do that as a nation. That’s why we’re here today. Between sundown and dusk, let us shine the lights in the darkness, along the sacred pool of reflection, and remember all whom we lost.

Some Thoughts To Think About In The Next 28 Hours

Updating Gerald Ford (Ford's words are in ALL CAPS):

MY FELLOW AMERICANS. OUR LONG (Trump-fueled) NATIONAL NIGHTMARE IS (almost) OVER.

OUR CONSTITUTION WORKS (but requires eternal vigilance); (As seen from a distance) OUR GREAT REPUBLIC IS A GOVERNMENT OF LAWS AND NOT MEN.

HERE THE PEOPLE RULE (But beware of the well-armed, misinformed mobs).

Also said that day:

TRUTH IS THE GLUE THAT HOLDS GOVERNMENT TOGETHER, AND NOT ONLY GOVERNMENT, BUT CIVILIZATION ITSELF.

Eternal vigilance to The Truth, that's the way to go.

Shame on anyone misinforming the people. You're damaging the glue.

More News About The Law And Order Party

And then there's this from the Washington Post:

President Trump’s incitement of his supporters before their attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6 has galvanized a nationwide extremist movement and fueled those determined to disrupt the transfer of power to President-elect Joe Biden and violently challenge the legitimacy of the election for months — and possibly years, according to U.S. officials and independent experts. 

U.S. officials have warned authorities nationwide to be on alert for potential acts of violence at state capitols, as well as a possible second attack on the Capitol or on the White House. Law enforcement authorities have said extremists might use firearms and explosives and are monitoring online calls to rally in cities nationwide beginning Sunday. Security at the inaugural ceremony in Washington on Wednesday probably will be the most intense ever.

Yea, the Law and Order Party. Sure.

Two Slightly Different Messages From Two Leading Republicans In The House

From the Chair of The House Republican Conference, Representative Liz Cheney:

On January 6, 2021 a violent mob attacked the United States Capitol to obstruct the process of our democracy and stop the counting of presidential electoral votes. This insurrection caused injury, death and destruction in the most sacred space in our Republic.

Much more will become clear in coming days and weeks, but what we know now is enough. The President of the United States summoned this mob, assembled the mob, and lit the flame of this attack. Everything that followed was his doing. None of this would have happened without the President. The President could have immediately and forcefully intervened to stop the violence. He did not. There has never been a greater betrayal by a President of the United States of his office and his oath to the Constitution.

I will vote to impeach the President.

And she was not the only defection from the Trump party:

Ten Republicans joined Democrats in voting to impeach: Representatives Liz Cheney of Wyoming, the party’s No. 3 leader in the House; Jaime Herrera Beutler of Washington; John Katko of New York; Adam Kinzinger of Illinois; Fred Upton of Michigan; Dan Newhouse of Washington; Peter Meijer of Michigan; Anthony Gonzalez of Ohio; David Valadao of California; and Tom Rice of South Carolina.

The defections were a remarkable break from the head of the party by Republicans, who voted unanimously against impeaching Mr. Trump just over a year ago.

Interestingly, they were not joined by the guy who said this:

Madam Speaker, let me be clear, last week’s violent attack on the Capitol was undemocratic, un-American and criminal. Violence is never a legitimate form of protest. Freedom of speech and assembly under the constitution is rooted in non-violence. Yet the violent mob that descended upon this body was neither peaceful nor democratic. It acted to disrupt Congress’s constitutional responsibility.

And:

And make no mistake, those who are responsible for Wednesday’s chaos will be brought to justice...

And:

The President bears responsibility for Wednesday’s attack on Congress by mob rioters. He should have immediately denounced the mob when he saw what was unfolding.

Because for some reason, GOP House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy doesn't seem to think that such actions rise to the level of impeachment. Oh, well.

If only Trump had lied about getting a blowjob from a woman who wasn't his wife, I suppose.

Article of Impeachment (January, 2021)

Resolution

Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanors.

Resolved, the Donald John Trump, President of the United States, is impeached for high crimes and misdemeanors and that the following article of impeachment be exhibited to the United States Senate:

Article of impeachment exhibited by the House of Representatives of the United States of America in the name of itself and of the people of the United States of America, against Donald John Trump, President of the United States of America, in maintenance and support of its impeachment against him for high crimes and misdemeanors.

ARTICLE 1: INCITEMENT OF INSURRECTION

The Constitution provides that the House of Representatives "shall have the sole Power of Impeachment" and that the President "shall be removed from Office on Impeachment, for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors." Further, section 3 of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution prohibits any person who has "engaged in insurrection or rebellion against" the United States from "hold[ing] and office ... under the United States.' In his conduct while President of the United States — and in violation of his constitutional oath faithfully to execute the office of President of the United States and, to the best of his ability, preserve, provide, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States and in violation of his constitutional duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed — Donald John Trump engaged in high Crimes and Misdemeanors by inciting violence against the Government of the United States, in that:

On January 6, 2021, pursuant to the 12th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, the Vice President of the United States, the House of Representatives, and the Senate met at the United States Capitol for a Joint Session of Congress to count the votes of the Electoral College. In the months preceding the Joint Session, President Trump repeatedly issued false statements asserting that the Presidential election results were the product of widespread fraud and should not be accepted by the American people or certified by State or Federal officials. Shortly before the Joint Session commenced, President Trump, addressed a crowd at the Ellipse in Washington, D.C. There, he reiterated false claims that "we won this election, and we won it by a landslide." He also willfully made statements that, in context, encouraged — and foreseeably resulted in — lawless action at the Capitol, such as: "if you don't fight like hell you're not going to have a country anymore." Thus incited by President Trump, members of the crowd he had addressed, in an attempt to, among other objectives, interfere with the Joint Session's solemn constitutional duty to certify the results of the 2020 Presidential election, unlawfully breached and vandalized the Capitol, injured and killed law enforcement personnel, menaced Members of Congress, the Vice President, and Congressional personnel, and engaged in other violent, deadly, destructive and seditious acts.

President Trump's conduct on January 6, 2021, followed his prior efforts to subvert and obstruct the certification of the results of the 2020 Presidential election. Those prior efforts included a phone call on January 2, 2021, during which President Trump urged the secretary of state of Georgia, Brad Raffensperger, to "find" enough votes to overturn the Georgia Presidential election results and threatened Secretary Raffensperger if he failed to do so.

In all this, President Trump gravely endangered the security of the United States and its institutions of Government. He threatened the integrity of the democratic system, interfered with the peaceful transition of power, and imperiled a coequal branch of Government. He thereby betrayed his trust as President, to the manifest injury of the people of the United States.

Wherefore, Donald John Trump, by such conduct, has demonstrated that he will remain a threat to national security, democracy, and the Constitution if allowed to remain in office, and has acted in a manner grossly incompatible with self-governance and the rule of law. Donald John Trump thus warrants impeachment and trial, removal from office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust, or profit under the United States.

Wendy Bell's NOT Going To Be Happy With YouTube! No, Sirree!

This morning, I was watching Wendy's broadcast from yesterday at Radio Karen central, trying to track down the source of a video Wendy played about 6 minutes in.

I snagged a screen shot from the video:

Seems to me that Wendy's occasional reference to the phrase "Great Awakening" and now her use of the a video contains the phrase itself points to Wendy going full QAnon. 

But I'm not sure. That's why I was trying to track down the source of the video.

In any event, I tried loading the transcript of the video and for some reason, it wasn't loading. So I tried refreshing the screen, as sometimes that frees things up.

And I found that in that short period of time, YouTube pulled the video. It's gone.

I took a trip to Wendy Bell's website and in the videos section found the same message I saw at YouTube. This:

I didn't get a chance to absorb all the Trump-trooth Wendy was spraying but considering that this was her BS board for yesterday:

You can guess it was probably pretty crazie. I did get to hear how we're in a war between good and evil and how it's no longer about the left, it's about the deep state.

Did you know it was Italy that tossed all those votes to Biden? Someone should tell Rudy Giuliani! Maybe Rudy Giuliani can refile those 60 or so failed lawsuits now that the truth has been revealed!

(But wait, Rudy Giuliani is an Eye-talian, isn't he? Maybe he's a mole from lo stato profundo on a mission to sink the Great Trump Awakening from the inside! Prove me wrong.)

Quick Update: While writing this blog post, I refreshed the videos page at Wendy Bell's website and found that even the above image is gone. I'm not sure if that's an automatic thing or if Wendy's frantically searching for a way to repost the video.

No worries, though. I still have my original screen capture.

The Letter Speaker Pelosi Sent To House Members

From Politico:

Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued Vice President Mike Pence an ultimatum on Sunday night — invoke the 25th Amendment to remove President Donald Trump in the coming days or Democrats will proceed this week with impeaching the president for an unprecedented second time.

She did so in a letter that you can read here. 

Politico says that:

...if Pence refuses to act, Democrats will immediately move to force Trump from office for his role in inciting violent riots at the Capitol on Wednesday linked to at least five deaths, including a police officer.

An interesting part of the letter is found tucked into its 6th paragraph:

I look forward to our Caucus call tomorrow. I am grateful to all Members for the suggestions, observations and input that you have been sending. Your views on the 25th Amendment, 14th Amendment Section 3 and impeachment are valued as we continue.

We all know the 25th Amendment (Section 4, specifically) details how a Vice President can temporarily remove a President from office when "the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office. But what is Section 3 of the 14th Amendment?

This is the Section 3 of the 14th Amendment:

No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may, by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.

I realize that's very legislative-wordy. Here's the important part:

No person shall be a...Representative in Congress,...who, having previously taken an oath as a member of Congress,...to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof.

Now, who do you think that's addressed to? 

Among dozens of others, I am thinking Representative Guy Reschenthaler should be very interested in that discussion, don't you?

Pennsylvania State Senator Doug Mastriano Is IN THE NEWS About His Involvement In DC Jan 6.

First, the news. From KDKA:

A Republican state senator who was on the scene when a violent mob of fellow Donald Trump supporters commandeered the U.S. Capitol should resign, the top Democrat in the Pennsylvania Senate said Thursday.

Minority Leader Jay Costa, D-Allegheny, said Sen. Doug Mastriano’s words and actions since November encouraged a coup attempt and inspired the people behind it. At least eight other Senate Democrats have said Mastriano should step down.

And something a little different from USA Today (by way of the York Daily News): 

State Sen. Doug Mastriano vowed Tuesday on the Pennsylvania Capitol steps that the election fight wasn't over. 

A day later, he traveled on the bus trip he organized to a "Save America Rally" that turned into an insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, when four people died, 14 police officers were injured and 68 rioters were arrested. 

Mastriano, a Republican from Franklin County, said he was not part of the mob that stormed the Capitol, smashing windows, vandalizing offices and reigning terror over the people's house. 

But state Democrats are calling for his resignation and removal from office. 

You noted the phrase "bus trip he organized" right?

Mastriano made a statement on his Facebook page denouncing the violence and asserting that once he realized that the protest was turning violent, he left. He doesn't mention any "bus trip he organized" in the video, however.

So perhaps that part's just so much fake news, right?

And perhaps it isn't. Perhaps State Senator Mastriano is leaving out a few crucial bits of information in his denunciation of the violence. Let's go find out, shall we?

We'll begin our journey at The Western Journal, in a piece dated January 1:

Many thousands are expected to gather in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday to show their support for President Donald Trump and pressure Congress not to certify the Electoral College vote making Joe Biden the official winner of the 2020 election.

“We the People must take to the US Capitol lawn and steps and tell Congress #DoNotCertify on #JAN6! Congress cannot certify this fraudulent Electoral College,” the event organizers’ website, WildProtest.com, reads.

A few sentences down there's this:

Among the featured speakers scheduled for the rally, which starts at 10 a.m. at the Capitol, are Republicans Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona, Representatives-elect Majorie Greene of Georgia and Lauren Boebert of Colorado, state Rep. Mark Finchem of Arizona, state Sen. Doug Mastriano of Pennsylvania and Democratic state Rep. Vernon Jones of Georgia.[Emphasis added.]

Maybe The Western Journal got it wrong. We'll need to dig deeper.

Were you to click on that link, you'd find an empty screen that's wiped clean, nothing to be seen, you know what I mean, jelly bean?

Rhymes are keen.

If you chose instead to load that URL into the Way Back Machine you'd find a capture of the page (this one is time stamped on January 6, by the way). Evidently, it was set up by the "Stop The Steal" folks. 

Text on that page reads (in part):

We the People must take to the US Capitol lawn and steps and tell Congress #DoNotCertify on #JAN6! Congress cannot certify this fraudulent Electoral College. Our presence in Washington D.C. will let Members of Congress know that we stand with Rep. Mo Brooks and his colleagues in the House of Representatives who will bravely object to the certification of the Electoral College.

There's also a link to this youtube video:

With these words from Trump:

We will not bend. We will not break. We will not yield. We will never give in. We will never give up and we will never back down. We will never ever surrender because we are americans and our hearts bleed Red White and Blue.

The page also has a list of "Invited Speakers & Featured Guests" for that day's rally including: 

• Pardoned Obstructor of Justice, Roger Stone
• QAnon Congresswoman, Marjorie Greene
• Covid-19 Misinformer, Dr Simone Gold
  

And most importantly (for this story, at least):

Yep. That's right. Doug Mastriano was listed as a "Invited Speaker & Featured Guest" on a website set up by "Stop The Steal" though the website doesn't offer any information as to what exactly that means.

Did he speak at the rally? If he didn't speak, what was he doing there for the Stop The Steal folks? Was he handing out out complimentary hot chocolate and MAGA mittens?

The website doesn't offer any answers but maybe shouldn't someone maybe, oh I don't know, ASK STATE SENATOR DOUG MASTRIANO ABOUT THIS??

Because it certainly looks like his involvement runs a little deeper than just someone who was there.

Wendy Bell Fails To Prove Antifa Participated In The Trump Coup

First some news.

This was the first thing Wendy said on today's video:

Wait a minute. Huh. Very interesting, ladies and gentlemen. Hello everybody! Very intriguing right now. As I'm clicking "Go Live" Fail to post to Facebook - here's what Facebook said: You've been temporarily blocked from performing this action.

Wendy Bell got booted from Facebook, at least temporarily.

Yay.

But I really don't care about that. What I care about happened about 12 and a half minutes into her show this morning. She was talking about the Trump-ist coup attempt this week when she says:

I think it's important for us to identify, too, who also showed up at the rally at The Capitol on Wednesday. Because we're all being told it's a bunch of derelict, deranged, rabid Trump supporters. Do you know who went? people who love America. And what happened was that love for America was purposely on schedule bought and paid for, hijacked by the left.

After some throat clearing admitting that "some Trump people" were, in fact, there, she says:

But I want you to see this video. I think it's important, right? Because it's taken by a man on January 6 who recorded some video that's pretty important.

She then shows a video clip from this guy:

Pretty unique looking guy, right? I mean no disrespect here but there aren't a lot of guys who look like this, am I right?

Remember your answer.

On the video, the denim clad gentleman is talking about how the police have escorted in some Antifa shuttle buses "right here. Front and center."

A few seconds later, someone else on the video exclaims:

They freakin brought antifa here!

Having "proven" that antifa was there at the riot in DC on January 6, Wendy returns to the screen, smirking triumphant as she says:

How do you like me now?

We'll see, Wendy. We'll see.

Because Wendy has a problem with the video. You see, she broadcast it today, January 8, at about 11am (eastern standard time).  Too bad Wendy Bell, teller of all things Trump-troothful, failed to read this piece from Reuters dated January 6. That's two days ago, by the way.

The first paragraph from Reuters:

Posts on social media make the claim that the Washington D.C. Police “escorted Antifa” into the U.S. capital ahead of the January 6 protests. A spokeswoman for the D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) told Reuters this assertion is false. As evidence, some iterations feature a mislabeled video that has been circulating since at least Dec. 5, 2020, allegedly showing St. Paul, Minnesota not Washington D.C.

Reuters linked to a number of sources of the video. This is one of them. Here's a screen capture:

Do you see your problem, Wendy? See the time stamp? 

It's from December 6, Wendy. That's a little more than a month ago, Wendy. It wasn't at the Trump-fluffed DC insurrection, Wendy.

There aren't enough words in the English frickin language to describe how wrong you are about this. It's simply a failure of colossal proportions. You know that, right?

Hey, Wendy! How do you like me now?

 Thought so.

Wendy Bell Crossed A Line Today. (She Doxxed A Critic On Air)

Usually, my critiques of Wendy Bell's Karen-rants focus on her disregard for facts or her questionable morality. 

When it comes to her Covid-19 denialism, it's both. She's both factually wrong about the severity of the virus and grossly immoral in her dismissal of that severity. I've called her the "Angel of Death" more than a few times for, among other things, pushing the need for so-called "herd immunity" when it comes to Covid-19 while (willfully?) ignoring the vast numbers of Americans the virus would kill in the meantime.

This is absolutely morally reprehensible.

Today, however, she crossed a big line.

Of course in her telling, the host of Radio Karen is the victim. This is what you'll find at her Facebook page:

With little or no mention of what she did to violate said "standards," Wendy snowflaked herself to Trump-level victimhood.

So what DID she do?

Here's the story. Wendy Bell has sponsors and an otherwise concerned citizen called one of those sponsors, in this case a company called "Sierra Experts" (who can be reached at at 412 379-8333, by the way) and left this message:

Hello, I'm calling on behalf of a number of people who are going to start boycotting anyone who sponsors Wendy Bell. Um, we didn't know about Sierra Experts but the fact that you do sponsor Wendy Bell, who is full of hate speech and actually helped incite the riots at the Capitol yesterday, puts you on a bad list that a lot of people are going to avoid. We are going to do our level best to educate people about that. Please remove yourself from sponsoring Wendy Bell. She is full of hate speech and she is part of the reason violence was incited at the Capitol yesterday. Thank you.

And so what did the freedom loving common sense conservatives at Sierra Experts do with this voice mail?

Wendy Bell herself explained on the now-blocked facebook video:

That woman left, what she thought was an anonymous phone call at my advertisers. Well, my advertisers are really smart people. And they don't like it when people they don't know, who aren't customers of theirs, try to browbeat them into submission to join "Joe Biden's America." So one of my advertisers managed to unravel the no-caller ID private line blocked number and I got to see the number. 

So my team did a reverse search, found out who the woman was, did some digging, found some audio of her, did a cross reference check of the audio. You gotta make sure who you're talking about if you're gonna go on and say, "This is what's going on here."

Wendy Bell found a picture of the woman and showed it to her vast adoring audience. On her BS board, she'd written the woman's name, phone number, work place and, according to my buddy Jon, coiner of the term "Radio Karen," told her listeners to harass the woman who called Sierra Experts (who, by the way, can be reached at 412 378-8333).

I've blurred out the picture and the name and contact info to protect the woman's privacy.

To summarize: a woman called a sponsor of Wendy Bell's, Sierra Experts (who can be reached at 412 378-8333) and left an anonymous voice mail complaining about Wendy Bell. Sierra Experts' IT folks then hacked through the woman's "block caller" and sent Wendy Bell her phone number. By the way, Sierra Experts advertise a number of IT services and evidently violating a person's privacy is one of them. Once they had the woman's number Wendy Bell and her "research team" reversed searched it and doxxed the woman, exposing her name, image and contact info to her audience so that her audience could harass the woman who complained about Wendy Bell to Sierra Experts,

Sierra Experts can be reached at 412 379-8333, if you wanted to discuss any of this with them.

Surely this is illegal somehow. Isn't this cyber bullying?

In any case, Wendy Bell crossed a line today. Up until today, she was just another fired for being a racist ignorant conservative blow hard.

But from now on, she's also a complete fucking asshole.

No, Yesterday Was NOT a Protest. It WAS Domestic Terrorism.

This was domestic terrorism - aided and abetted by Donald J Trump.

This is the result of populist passions stoked for more than four years by Trump and his enablers in the media and and in the government. This is the end result of a political movement nurtured by endless manipulations of the truth by those enablers.

And it continues:

...fight to ensure that only legal votes were counted. While this represents the end of the greatest first term in presidential history, it’s only the beginning of our fight to Make America Great Again!”

— Dan Scavino🇺🇸🦅 (@DanScavino) January 7, 2021

The "facts bear me out" - what the fuck does THAT mean? Does he STILL believe he won? Does he STILL believe the "election was stolen" from him and his followers?

Yes, of course he does. And that's probably why you don't see the word "concede" in that statement.

Anyone who ever supported Donald Trump's presidency bears some responsibility for yesterday. No one gets to whitewash their complicity. No one. If you supported the noxious idea that there was voter fraud, you're complicit. If you defended him during his impeachment, you're complicit. If you're among the "yay" votes here, you're complicit. If you were at a rally to "stop the steal", you're complicit.

But complicity and responsibility are not the same thing. Donald Trump is responsible for yesterday. And he should be tried and convicted to the fullest extent of the law.

Lock HIM up. Now.

See If You Can Spot The Dissonance (Wendy Bell Fights For "Election Integrity" While Ignoring GOP Election Misdeeds)

Radio Karen host Wendy Bell was in Harrisburg yesterday as you can see from her Facebook Page:

And yet, this is what happened inside:

The new session of the Pennsylvania Senate got off to a chaotic start Tuesday, with Republicans refusing to seat a Democratic senator whose election victory has been certified by state officials.

Because:

[Democratic State Sen. Jim] Brewster narrowly won reelection over Republican challenger Nicole Ziccarelli, who is asking a federal judge to throw out the election results. At the center of that legal dispute are several hundred mail ballots that lacked a handwritten date on an outer envelope, as required by state law. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court allowed those ballots to be counted, which gave Brewster the edge in the race.

Republicans are usually the reliable "states' rights!" crowd. But, as usual, when it's necessary to get what they want, they run to the feds.

And don't think, even for a minute, that Wendy was at the capital to defend Brewster's win. 

Election integrity? I don't think so.

Wendy Bell's Lying About Covid. Again.

If you had the intestinal fortitude to saunter over to Wendy Bell's Facebook Page, you'd see this:

 

Uh-oh! Wendy's peddling false information. Again.

What is it this time?

Were you to opt to click the "See Why" you'd see this:

Wendy, Wendy, Wendy. We've been through this before, haven't we? 

Yes, we have. FOUR MONTHS AGO.

This is what I posted from Factcheck.org:  

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention hasn’t drastically reduced the number of deaths attributable to COVID-19, but posts making that bogus claim have been circulating widely — with the help of President Donald Trump, who retweeted one such claim on Aug. 30.

Twitter has since removed the original tweet, which came from an account dedicated to the pro-Trump conspiracy theory QAnon. But the claim is still readily available on all the major social media platforms. In fact, the same QAnon account that posted the now-deleted tweet includes a screenshot version featuring the president’s retweet.

The post Trump highlighted said: “This week the CDC quietly updated the Covid number to admit that only 6% of all the 153,504 deaths recorded actually died from Covid. That’s 9,210 deaths. The other 94% had 2 to 3 other serious illnesses and the overwhelming majority were of very advanced age.”

But that’s not what the CDC information says.

This was so long ago, Wendy Bell hadn't yet been fired by KDKA Radio for advocating that Park Police shoot protestors.

That's how old this lie is, Wendy.

See? There WAS Voter Fraud! Only TRUMP DID IT

52 U.S. Code § 20511: 

A person, including an election official, who in any election for Federal office...

(2) knowingly and willfully deprives, defrauds, or attempts to deprive or defraud the residents of a State of a fair and impartially conducted election process, by...

(B) the procurement, casting, or tabulation of ballots that are known by the person to be materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent under the laws of the State in which the election is held...

shall be fined in accordance with title 18 (which fines shall be paid into the general fund of the Treasury, miscellaneous receipts (pursuant to section 3302 of title 31), notwithstanding any other law), or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both. 

GA Code § 21-2-604 (2016): 

(a) (1) A person commits the offense of criminal solicitation to commit election fraud in the first degree when, with intent that another person engage in conduct constituting a felony under this article, he or she solicits, requests, commands, importunes, or otherwise attempts to cause the other person to engage in such conduct.

And then this from the Washington Post:

President Trump urged fellow Republican Brad Raffensperger, the Georgia secretary of state, to “find” enough votes to overturn his defeat in an extraordinary one-hour phone call Saturday that legal scholars described as a flagrant abuse of power and a potential criminal act.

And:

At another point, Trump said: “So look. All I want to do is this. I just want to find 11,780 votes, which is one more than we have. Because we won the state.”

He later added: “So what are we going to do here, folks? I only need 11,000 votes. Fellas, I need 11,000 votes. Give me a break.”

And then this from the NYTimes: 

President Trump pressured Georgia’s Republican secretary of state to “find” him enough votes to overturn the presidential election and vaguely threatened him with “a criminal offense” during an hourlong telephone call on Saturday, according to an audio recording of the conversation.

And a few paragraphs down we learn of the threat:

“You know what they did and you’re not reporting it,” the president said during the call. “You know, that’s a criminal — that’s a criminal offense. And you know, you can’t let that happen. That’s a big risk to you and to Ryan, your lawyer. That’s a big risk.”

Hmm...a vague-ish threat for criminal prosecution (Trump IS still head of the DOJ, doncha know) unless Georgia officials "find" him just enough votes to win. All caught on tape for the entire world to hear.

I'm NOT a lawyer but it sure sounds to me like this runs counter to 52 U.S. Code § 20511 and Georgia Code § 21-2-562 (2016). 

How is this not illegal? And in light of this, how can the hundred or so House members (including one from my neighboring district, Representative Guy Reschenthaler) or the dozen or so Senators looking to upend Biden's win in November still support the criminal in the White House?

And snarkier still, how will Wendy Bell spin it?