Extremist Congressman Jim Jordan threatened the New York City District Attorney with federal investigation if Donald Trump was criminally prosecuted in New York City for what he lied about as being a “bookkeeping error.” When I was growing up we had French exchange students stay with us over the summer. My father and most of the dads seemed to think if they spoke louder and slower it would help them be understood. It was an amazing phenomenon. Similarly, Jim Jordan must believe that by speaking fast his lying can’t catch up. He’s as wrong about that as he is in his understanding of how the US government actually functions.
Bragg's letter brought a much needed sense of comfort to me yesterday, and rereading it did same this morning. I hope more folks read this column and understand the magnitude of Jordan's ignorance of our constitution.
My mother had a saying that is perfect to describe Jim Jordan, a poor excuse for a human being. We can add many of his fellow Maga Republicans to that club.
I'm a "legal beagle" (I'm sure my two beagles would be pleased to hear that). I haven't seen Gym's letter, but depending on its contents, it could potentially support a charge of intimidating or threatening a public servant (at least in my jurisdiction) or obstruction of some sort.
It totally sounds like a threat to me, and I’m no legal beagle. I do have, however, a keen ear towards hearing threats. My mother taught me to listen carefully to the words people use.
That dumb shit Jordan is the Chair of a committee says it all. How can an ignorant pleb be put into that role? Because the Speaker of the House is a moron and has no clue about the US government and how it needs to be respected and run. This is what trump has wrought on our country. Stupid people doing stupid things. And they actually think the world is laughing with them instead of at them .
Jim Jordan, like many current members of congress, is not qualified for his job as he lacks even a basic understanding of american democracy and how it works. Imagine a veterinarian with no training beyond high school biology and one first aid class. And yet, the american voter keeps electing unqualified representatives that lack basic competence to do the job. Is the problem the Jim Jordans of our world, or an electorate that doesn’t have a clue about how democracies work? Do public schools no longer teach civics?
Another excellent, educational piece. Jordon is not particularly smart and has an ok educational background. He's also mean, in addition to being totally unethical. Bragg went to the top notch Trinity School in NYC followed by Harvard College and Harvard Law. Clearly, he's got a first rate education and mind. Plus, he understands his job and democracy. Jordan doesn't understand those things and doesn't care. He's a threat, for sure. Let's hope he comes out of all this looking weak and defeated.
That Jim is in office, that he has been allowed to continue his idiocy, brought us to this. Until there is accountability for his actions and those that help to create 1-6, who were allowed to ignore subpoenas, who now hold a certain power has delivered us to this day.
I have often wondered about Jordan's behavior, and how much is tied to a "if Trump runs into a 1/6 indictment, then what happens to those who helped plan and support".
Your headline could (and I would argue, should) more accurately read "Jim Jordan is clueless". Being ignorant of the Constitution is but one of his many, many failings.
Jordan’s accomplice/colleague James Comer was featured on the front page of his state’s most well known newspaper and it was quite an unflattering and embarrassing story. See front page Louisville Courier-Journal 3/24/2023 “Leaked emails and how Comet undid his own bid for governor “. These aren’t intellectual elites heading the House Oversight Committee. Story by Joe Gerth.
This may sound a bit snarky (It is!), but I take issue with your description of JJ as a 'bespoke suit.' 1. he doesn't own a suit; 2. He has exactly five pale blue shirts and one yellow tie; 3. his dress is that of an aging wrestling coach with zero taste. Agree on everything else :-)
His sartorial awareness is about equal to his constitutional knowledge.
(Seriously, no jacket in the Capitol? Since when is that acceptable? What a useless, shouty schlub he is. I bet he's one of those guys who keeps his one yellow tie pre-tied on a hanger instead of tying it himself each time he puts it on.)
I don’t believe people like Jordan are ignorant of the Constitution; they don’t care. It’s all about power and using every means to get it and hold on to it. They don’t care that they are hypocrites, liars, and grifters. It’s the voters who are deeply ignorant of the Constitution and how govt functions (or is supposed to). The GOP know how craven and lazy the political press is and that today’s news is yesterday within hours because of the unrelenting 24/7 cycle. People like Jordan are who the Founding Fathers’ were writing (warning us) about when they argued for checks, balances, and separations of power. Undemocratic and certainly unAmerican.
I agree. Unlike many of the comments here, I don’t think Jordan is ignorant. I think the letter is more performative politics. The goal of Jordan’s letter is to obfuscate, change the narrative from TFG’s criminal behavior. By sending this ridiculous demand to Mr. Bragg, Jordan panders to his fellow MAGAts by positing that the Manhattan DA’s alleged corruption supersedes the criminality of TFG’s “accounting errors.”
Like Steve said in this column, the lying began the minute TFG took office as if we’re all blind, deaf and dumb. It seems that obfuscating, changing the narrative, outright lies and gaslighting with propaganda is the point for Gym and the Republican “party” as a whole. They know WE, of sound mind, don’t want anything they’re offering and they are only interested in the power grab they can achieve. By the way, whenever I see the letters ‘TFG’ I always translate to The F*cking Guy, referring to the orange mobster.
Unfortunately, they have been doing it for a while. The machinations and lying go back to Nixon, but the chicanery and gaslighting originated with Newt. Through much of the the 70s, 80s, 90s most of the GOP did work with Dems and respected truth and the rule of law; there were lines they would not cross. From the early 90s on the firebrands made inroads and then began the takeover of the party. Trump and the embrace of authoritarianism is the tragic culmination; it’s a feature not a bug, which is why so many have left the party.
Yes. They don’t care about governing unless it’s passing legislation to hurt the other side. It’s all smoke and mirrors, bread and circuses meant to distract and obfuscate. And they know how easily they can manipulate many in the media to amplify their BS--journalists who are just as ambitious (and pathetically lazy).
The ignorance of these people, Jordan and the others concocting this letter to Alvin Bragg just astounds me. The voters that elected these fools should be embarrassed for their representatives ignorance in the constitution and law.
They do not need to be. This is a deliberate choice. The Library of Congress holds regular sessions on the Constitution and Laws, along with Congressionally-directed research on any topic. Every incoming member is invited to a few-day (I do not remember if it's two or three days) session on Congress and how it works.
Steve, with brevity and specifics you have given proper expansion and context to Mr. Bragg’s letter. Is there no way to hold Gym’s feet to a fire that this country can feel? Related (tangentially or perhaps even directly) can’t enough FoxNews stock be bought by the able to begin a hostile takeover? There’s got to be a way to shut that loud mouth that perverts America by cloaking itself so tightly in the worst shades of red, white and blue.
Maga members and followers always defer to States' Rights in their arguments about Federal government overreach. Now that the State government and their prosecutors are pursuing indictments against the dear leader, the Maga faithful want the Federal Maga members to save him. How pathetic it is to see the once mighty throw a hissy fit.
I would love to see Jim Jordan go to NYC and sit in a room of prosecutors and defend his statements and attempts at coercion of a prosecution where he has no standing. Attorney General Bragg would eat him for lunch and send him back to DC with his tail peppered and tucked. I would pay to be a fly on that wall. Here comes Mr. Jordan, not to rescue but to banish Jim forever with the rest of the insurrectionists.
If baseball is America's pastime, Gym's game is throwing eggs at passing cars, taking a dump in the punch bowl, and pulling a chair out from under someone who's sitting down. If he was a hockey player, his +/- score would be about -197. That's what he offers America
He's a Shemp.
I think I still believe that at some point, this Trump era will end. I think.
At that point, what becomes of shills like Jordan, Stefanik, Gaetz, McCarthy, MTG and other dopes?
"...There is no central or final authority that stands apart, above and beyond the law, who possesses the power to act on whim, take as he pleases and do what he wants to whomever because of power for power’s sake. The strong have no entitlement to dominate the weak..."
When I heard Jim Jordan's pontificating on the Judiciary Committee's role in the the NYC AG's, the Committee and ,specifically Cong. Jordan, cannot address what a State does when following their laws. Cong. Jordan was an attempt at pure intimidation. AG Bragg's response was perfect. No one is above the law, and determining if the former President in violation of those laws is well within the AG's scope and the Grand Jury's role. Jim can waive his arms and send out all of his flame-throwing tweets, but they're strictly performative for his MAGA audience.
Steve et al, I am asking this since I am totally clueless on this. In the last 48 hours all the MAGA world and the R talking heads have been using exactly the same language and terms to describe NY DA Bragg. Of course this is not the first time, nor the last. Is there a central place that disseminates an AM text with "...these are today's talking points...", or do their Admin or XO's coordinate the messaging? Who decides what is the "word of the day".
Bragg's letter brought a much needed sense of comfort to me yesterday, and rereading it did same this morning. I hope more folks read this column and understand the magnitude of Jordan's ignorance of our constitution.
My mother had a saying that is perfect to describe Jim Jordan, a poor excuse for a human being. We can add many of his fellow Maga Republicans to that club.
You nailed it! Your mother was right!!
Bless your mother - she is right on!
Alvin schooled Gym & his two clowns in how to politely say FU. Sensational letter.
The legal beagles might be able to let us know, was the letter sent by Gym et al legal? It looks like interference or obstruction by I’m no lawyer.
May Gym et al have an almighty downfall of power in the not so distant future. He will be a sh$tstain, nothing more.
All cults have an end. How will Trump react?
I'm a "legal beagle" (I'm sure my two beagles would be pleased to hear that). I haven't seen Gym's letter, but depending on its contents, it could potentially support a charge of intimidating or threatening a public servant (at least in my jurisdiction) or obstruction of some sort.
Woof 👍
It totally sounds like a threat to me, and I’m no legal beagle. I do have, however, a keen ear towards hearing threats. My mother taught me to listen carefully to the words people use.
That dumb shit Jordan is the Chair of a committee says it all. How can an ignorant pleb be put into that role? Because the Speaker of the House is a moron and has no clue about the US government and how it needs to be respected and run. This is what trump has wrought on our country. Stupid people doing stupid things. And they actually think the world is laughing with them instead of at them .
Jim Jordan, like many current members of congress, is not qualified for his job as he lacks even a basic understanding of american democracy and how it works. Imagine a veterinarian with no training beyond high school biology and one first aid class. And yet, the american voter keeps electing unqualified representatives that lack basic competence to do the job. Is the problem the Jim Jordans of our world, or an electorate that doesn’t have a clue about how democracies work? Do public schools no longer teach civics?
Another excellent, educational piece. Jordon is not particularly smart and has an ok educational background. He's also mean, in addition to being totally unethical. Bragg went to the top notch Trinity School in NYC followed by Harvard College and Harvard Law. Clearly, he's got a first rate education and mind. Plus, he understands his job and democracy. Jordan doesn't understand those things and doesn't care. He's a threat, for sure. Let's hope he comes out of all this looking weak and defeated.
That Jim is in office, that he has been allowed to continue his idiocy, brought us to this. Until there is accountability for his actions and those that help to create 1-6, who were allowed to ignore subpoenas, who now hold a certain power has delivered us to this day.
I have often wondered about Jordan's behavior, and how much is tied to a "if Trump runs into a 1/6 indictment, then what happens to those who helped plan and support".
Your headline could (and I would argue, should) more accurately read "Jim Jordan is clueless". Being ignorant of the Constitution is but one of his many, many failings.
Ian,
Fair point!
Steve
Jordan’s accomplice/colleague James Comer was featured on the front page of his state’s most well known newspaper and it was quite an unflattering and embarrassing story. See front page Louisville Courier-Journal 3/24/2023 “Leaked emails and how Comet undid his own bid for governor “. These aren’t intellectual elites heading the House Oversight Committee. Story by Joe Gerth.
This may sound a bit snarky (It is!), but I take issue with your description of JJ as a 'bespoke suit.' 1. he doesn't own a suit; 2. He has exactly five pale blue shirts and one yellow tie; 3. his dress is that of an aging wrestling coach with zero taste. Agree on everything else :-)
His sartorial awareness is about equal to his constitutional knowledge.
(Seriously, no jacket in the Capitol? Since when is that acceptable? What a useless, shouty schlub he is. I bet he's one of those guys who keeps his one yellow tie pre-tied on a hanger instead of tying it himself each time he puts it on.)
I don’t believe people like Jordan are ignorant of the Constitution; they don’t care. It’s all about power and using every means to get it and hold on to it. They don’t care that they are hypocrites, liars, and grifters. It’s the voters who are deeply ignorant of the Constitution and how govt functions (or is supposed to). The GOP know how craven and lazy the political press is and that today’s news is yesterday within hours because of the unrelenting 24/7 cycle. People like Jordan are who the Founding Fathers’ were writing (warning us) about when they argued for checks, balances, and separations of power. Undemocratic and certainly unAmerican.
I agree. Unlike many of the comments here, I don’t think Jordan is ignorant. I think the letter is more performative politics. The goal of Jordan’s letter is to obfuscate, change the narrative from TFG’s criminal behavior. By sending this ridiculous demand to Mr. Bragg, Jordan panders to his fellow MAGAts by positing that the Manhattan DA’s alleged corruption supersedes the criminality of TFG’s “accounting errors.”
Like Steve said in this column, the lying began the minute TFG took office as if we’re all blind, deaf and dumb. It seems that obfuscating, changing the narrative, outright lies and gaslighting with propaganda is the point for Gym and the Republican “party” as a whole. They know WE, of sound mind, don’t want anything they’re offering and they are only interested in the power grab they can achieve. By the way, whenever I see the letters ‘TFG’ I always translate to The F*cking Guy, referring to the orange mobster.
Unfortunately, they have been doing it for a while. The machinations and lying go back to Nixon, but the chicanery and gaslighting originated with Newt. Through much of the the 70s, 80s, 90s most of the GOP did work with Dems and respected truth and the rule of law; there were lines they would not cross. From the early 90s on the firebrands made inroads and then began the takeover of the party. Trump and the embrace of authoritarianism is the tragic culmination; it’s a feature not a bug, which is why so many have left the party.
Yes. They don’t care about governing unless it’s passing legislation to hurt the other side. It’s all smoke and mirrors, bread and circuses meant to distract and obfuscate. And they know how easily they can manipulate many in the media to amplify their BS--journalists who are just as ambitious (and pathetically lazy).
The ignorance of these people, Jordan and the others concocting this letter to Alvin Bragg just astounds me. The voters that elected these fools should be embarrassed for their representatives ignorance in the constitution and law.
I’m afraid they are as ignorant of democracy as Jordan seems to be
They do not need to be. This is a deliberate choice. The Library of Congress holds regular sessions on the Constitution and Laws, along with Congressionally-directed research on any topic. Every incoming member is invited to a few-day (I do not remember if it's two or three days) session on Congress and how it works.
Steve, with brevity and specifics you have given proper expansion and context to Mr. Bragg’s letter. Is there no way to hold Gym’s feet to a fire that this country can feel? Related (tangentially or perhaps even directly) can’t enough FoxNews stock be bought by the able to begin a hostile takeover? There’s got to be a way to shut that loud mouth that perverts America by cloaking itself so tightly in the worst shades of red, white and blue.
Maga members and followers always defer to States' Rights in their arguments about Federal government overreach. Now that the State government and their prosecutors are pursuing indictments against the dear leader, the Maga faithful want the Federal Maga members to save him. How pathetic it is to see the once mighty throw a hissy fit.
I would love to see Jim Jordan go to NYC and sit in a room of prosecutors and defend his statements and attempts at coercion of a prosecution where he has no standing. Attorney General Bragg would eat him for lunch and send him back to DC with his tail peppered and tucked. I would pay to be a fly on that wall. Here comes Mr. Jordan, not to rescue but to banish Jim forever with the rest of the insurrectionists.
States' rights for me, but not for thee, eh Gym?
As a deputy state prosecutor myself, this offends me to my core.
Good. Now do Stefanik.
If baseball is America's pastime, Gym's game is throwing eggs at passing cars, taking a dump in the punch bowl, and pulling a chair out from under someone who's sitting down. If he was a hockey player, his +/- score would be about -197. That's what he offers America
He's a Shemp.
I think I still believe that at some point, this Trump era will end. I think.
At that point, what becomes of shills like Jordan, Stefanik, Gaetz, McCarthy, MTG and other dopes?
"...There is no central or final authority that stands apart, above and beyond the law, who possesses the power to act on whim, take as he pleases and do what he wants to whomever because of power for power’s sake. The strong have no entitlement to dominate the weak..."
When I heard Jim Jordan's pontificating on the Judiciary Committee's role in the the NYC AG's, the Committee and ,specifically Cong. Jordan, cannot address what a State does when following their laws. Cong. Jordan was an attempt at pure intimidation. AG Bragg's response was perfect. No one is above the law, and determining if the former President in violation of those laws is well within the AG's scope and the Grand Jury's role. Jim can waive his arms and send out all of his flame-throwing tweets, but they're strictly performative for his MAGA audience.
Steve et al, I am asking this since I am totally clueless on this. In the last 48 hours all the MAGA world and the R talking heads have been using exactly the same language and terms to describe NY DA Bragg. Of course this is not the first time, nor the last. Is there a central place that disseminates an AM text with "...these are today's talking points...", or do their Admin or XO's coordinate the messaging? Who decides what is the "word of the day".