Political shorts

Gotta love it, even if the name ‘Biden’ probably ranks lower in general esteem than, say, ‘asswipe’.

BRINSON:   Bags were stolen from Southwest’s area at Sacremento’s airport.

The suspects were seen at the airport between 4:15 a.m. and 4:30 a.m. on Monday roaming the area where extra bags were stored due to canceled flights. Fox40

No word if one of the thieves was tall, bald, mustached, dressed in a fabulous LBD and wearing a DOE nametag that said “Sam.” Okay, this one was a cheap shot… he had nothing to do with this. I just couldn’t resist.

JEAN-PIERRE:   Now we all know the Hatch Act keeps most Federal employees from campaigning or promoting a poilitical campaign. Biden’s press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, has taken this to a new level, invoking the Hatch Act as a reason to avoid answering questions 33 times since September.

In December, Jean-Pierre notably refused to answer questions by citing the Hatch Act when asked about President Biden traveling to Georgia during the Senate runoff, if Biden would release results from his physical examination, and if he or other politicians plan on returning political donations from disgraced FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried.

Leading up to the Georgia Senate runoff in December, Jean-Pierre repeatedly refused to answer questions on whether Biden would travel to the Peach State before Election Day, citing the Hatch Act. Fox News

Basically, if she doesn’t want to answer ANYTHING she hides behind the Hatch Act.

BUTTIGIEG:    Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has been conspicuously absent during the whole Southwest Airlines debacle recently.

While some have pointed the finger of the major disruptions at the airline itself, others have accused Buttigieg of failing to act on previous warnings about the potential for travel chaos, or impose tougher punishments on airlines who fail to provide adequate customer service.

Earlier that month, New York Attorney General Letitia James also wrote a letter to Buttigieg expressing concern for the “deeply troubling and escalating pattern” of airlines delaying and canceling flights, particularly over holiday weekends.  Newsweek

Buttigieg was similarly regarded a AWOL during the just-passed railroad strike talks. And when the ports were jammed with ships which couldn’t unload during Covid, and during the supply chain crisis. However, Buttigieg’s wife/husband/whatever, Chasten, did defend Pete recently. Fox  I missed getting the quote but thought I heard something about Pete’s critics being “big poopy heads” or some such.

GEORGE SANTOS:   This clown is setting records. So far he has been caught lying about his upbringing, his mother, his college,  his employers, and his tax returns are looking dodgy. If you didn’t know his last name isn’t Biden, you would almost swear it was Trump. And yet: he still wants to be sworn into office.

Long Island Rep.-elect George Santos came clean to The Post on Monday, admitting that he lied on the campaign trail about his education and work experience — but insisting that the controversy won’t deter him from serving out his two-year term in Congress.  NY Post

Yeah, I know Biden lied, and continues to lie, about almost everything.But for now we are stuck with him, so all we can do is recognize the snake in the grass and avoid stepping on it. Trump? Please. Santos? Hasn’t been sworn in, and shouldn’t be. I realize in New York that probably means ceding a seat and letting the Dem governor appoint a successor – but we need to start insisting on some kind of truth from our pols. I don’t care what party they are in: when they are caught lying repeatedly and they are allowed by EITHER party to continue serving, that party has abrogated the trust of the American voters and needs to lose that seat.

Quiz of the day:  Remember the old kids’ quizzes that says “one of these is not like all the rest?”  Have at it. Hint – it is not that Santos is a Republican.