Normally, I give extra points to a political candidate with military service. Pennsylvania Republican governor candidate Doug Mastriano retired from the U.S. Army as a full colonel before turning to politics. High five.
I confess I subtract points for advanced degrees. To my sorrow, I have learned the higher the elevation in the academic tower (with certain exceptions) the greater the separation from common sense. Mastriano has a PhD in history, plus four master’s degrees: Strategy, Strategic Intelligence, Military Operations, and Airpower. Hmm. Lot of duplication, no? He earned his BA from Eastern University in St. David’s, Pa., and is now a state senator from the Red part of the state.
How could a man with so many degrees possibly believe — on the basis of no earthly evidence — that the 2020 election was stolen?
It was not. All of Donald J. Trump’s inner circle, with the exception of certified fruit cake Rudy Guiliani, told him so, to no effect.
If Mastriano, 58, believes something that is demonstrably untrue, he is too dumb to hold public office. If he actually knows better, he is a world-class liar.
Choose A or B. Either way he is unfit for office.
Aside from that, he is dead wrong on a key issue — abortion. He takes the extreme position that he would outlaw abortion (if he could) even in cases of rape and incest.
Almost 2/3s of Americans accept abortion in most or all cases.
If you think that number is much smaller in conservative areas, guess again. Blood red Kansas voters just voted 60/40 to keep abortion legal.
Mastriano has called the separation of church and state a myth. It is not. An excerpt from the First Amendment: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” That is a wall between church and state.
He has made social media posts referencing wingnut QAnon and has spoken at events that promoted QAnon and 9/11 conspiracy theories. He was at the Jan. 6 rally/riot, and was seen on video passing through Capitol Police barriers after they had been breached by others in the crowd. He tried to overturn the 2020 election also spent campaign funds — until it was reported — on a right-wing website with anti-Semitic views.
Speaking of things reported, Mastriano refuses to talk to reporters unless they are far right. He refuses to answer questions about his positions from the press, even from the conservative Broad & Liberty website, probably subscribing to Trump’s view that journalists are enemies of the state. Aren’t soldiers supposed to be brave? What is he scared of?
He has said he will appoint a secretary of state that will allow the governor to basically cancel any election he doesn’t like “with the stroke of a pen.” The man is dangerous in his disdain for democracy.
His platform can be found here.
Some highlights: He’s against CDC mandates, and sanctuary cities, and crime, and high taxes. He is for school choice, police, and drilling for oil.
I agree with some of those, but I can’t get past “election denier.”
No one that dumb or corrupt belongs in American political life. These are the fools and liars in the MAGA spectrum that needs to be crushed. They are the 21st Century recreation of the Know-Nothing Party. They need to be driven back under their rocks.
I’m voting for Josh Shapiro, a sane, moderate Democrat.
HAPPY FRIDAY !!!
Pallie,
No surprise that you jumped to the ‘dark side’. You obviously don’t like Mastriano personally or professionally . BTW, nothing but negatives after his service yet you couldn’t find anything positive about his political career.
When someone embraces the Christian religion – especially the Roman Catholic version, you better believe that they don’t accept any form of abortion. Being a Roman, you either believe everything and accept everything or you are not a Roman Catholic in the eyes of the church.
As for January 6. If you were fair in your so called reporting, you would not be attacking Mastriano on this subject. Again BTW, he is free to believe that the Presidential election was stolen. Maybe the next time he’s in Philly, you could him to explain in detail what he means by ‘stolen’. I for one ( of many) do believe that the election was stolen. Not so much by phony ballots or the like, but every effort by the swamp to kept Trump from winning the election. Eventually, more will come out on that and other elections. It will take many years and many millions of dollars to try to prove a point that is pointless. The point is, ‘clean up the elections’.
Mastriano has firm beliefs. The military will do that to a person. He is hard lined on abortion. That means as Governor, he won’t sign a lousy bill for the purpose of making politicians look good. Get it right and he’ll sign it. He, like other politicians that you don’t like, cuts right to it. He doesn’t have time to play with these so called neutral reporters that are far left. But then again, anybody can twist the facts – such as you, pallie.
Speaking of dumb and dumber. You just proved yourself by supporting Shapiro. Forget the lesser of two evils. Vote third party we say. Oh, not this time. I hate Trump, therefore, I hate Mastriano says Stu Bykofsky.
Tony
Your last line shows you did not comprehend a word I wrote.
It is NOT about Trump. It is about a dumbkopf who believes lies. Or is a liar.
pallie,
you don’t insult me – I won’t insult you.
YOU HATE TRUMP ! for your own personal reasons.
YOU HATE MASTRIANO because he favors Trump !
No one has all of the answers. No one is perfect – even you. You look at the person and you take them for who they are – not who YOU want them to be.
You obviously don’t know jack about Career Officers – who actually served in combat. Not the Captains and 2nf Leweys who served in JAG or similar. How many Medical Doctors do you know who served in Nam or even in these Asian wars of recent times ? Penn loss one or two not so long ago.
What else is on your mind. I’ll tell you this. I never knew you to be a centralist. A lot of people ‘suggest ‘ that they are, but few deliver. This election cycle is bringing your true colors out. You are deep down a socialist, masquerading as a dimocrat.
I’m STILL a republican, always leaning conservative but usually missing the target. The latest round of SWAMP DWELLERS keep me guessing what they are and where they are going.
Tony
What we have here is a failure to communicate.
Stu lays out his specific reasons, and all you can conclude is that he hates Trump and Mastriano for personal, non-rational reasons. And is a socialist. When people attack the messenger instead of engaging with the message, it is as the same as saying “I got nothing.”
Mastriano didn’t say the election was only kinda stolen with no vote switching. If that’s what he wanted to say, easy enough. Instead, he said he would reverse any election outcome he didn’t like. Please explain why this is a good thing.
Are you against the First Amendment? “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” Explain why his statement that “separation of church and state is a myth” is a good thing.
Are you good with QAnon, antisemitism and 9/11 conspiracy theories? If not or if so, say how that should cause a vote for Mastriano.
Nobody, and certainly not Stu, has ever said Mastriano is not entitled to his opinions. Just that they are wrong, odious, dishonest or dangerous. That’s how voting works. You don’t vote for people you disagree with on important issues. I don’t see how any of Stu’s objections to Mastriano remotely imply that he is a socialist, or even that he has some personal animosity towards him, much less Trump. Stu defended Trump after the 6th, though he moved some as more facts about it came out. That’s what you’re supposed to do. Base your opinion on the facts.
Just so you know, the fact that you simply attack Stu instead of addressing the issues he raises, does not persuade anyone. There is nothing wrong with your position that you will vote for anyone with an “R” after their name, and that there is no way you would ever vote for anyone, no matter how saintly, with a “D” after theirs. There is a good portion of the population for whom that, or its opposite, is always true.
The difference is the people open to persuasion. Capturing the “swing voter” is a way to win elections. (Shapiro outperformed Biden, and every other statewide dem candidate, his last time out–so he must be doing something right. More than the “usual suspects” think he’s ok). I am a long time ticket-splitter, and Stu has repeatedly said to vote for the person not the party. No way he is a blind partisan. You want our votes, then explain why. Calling Stu, and anybody else names is not a good way to persuade them, either now or in the future.
tony, after reading the piece of shit you just posted to Stu, I must say two words succintly describes you, IGNORANT SOB!
Your ego is so huge you ̶t̶h̶i̶n̶k̶ mistakenly believe that whatever you feel must be correct and others who do not feel the same way must be wrong. No matter if you believe it or not, your orange-skinned SOB, along with his misbelievers are full of shit.
Tom and H. both of you are spot on and glad you are calling out buffoonery and balderdash as you see it.
I do not HATE Trump. Never said that or anything like that. I don’t have TDS. I have applauded him when he was right (the border, e.g.) and defended him against outrageous claims.
I do not HATE Mastriano.
I DO think they are liars, incompetent and unfit for office.
Stu, what you said is not going to be believed by tony. You are considered a hater if you differ from what the orange-skinned SOB wants.
I tried posting this in the AM:
Stu, my friend, I believe you have once again posted something that will get right-wingers very ticked off at you. The number of posts this will generate may beat the 108 posts in the thread where you chose Lt. Gov. Fetterman over Oz.
I too, will be voting for Josh Shapiro. I detest Mastriano with a passion because of what he says, does and stands for. I would love to see the people here who will disagree with you refute your vicious pack of truths. 😊
Yes, the Right will be ticked off as the Left has been when I target Biden.
By the way, if Mastriano is so bad, why did Shapiro run ads to get him nominated?
Hmmm?
“The icing on the cake,” not that I needed it…Straight Republican! You surprised me though with Fetterman and Shapiro.
I surprise the Left from time to time too. 😄
Maybe he’s just chasing votes. I cannot believe he’s that stupid. Then again, he IS a politician…
If you think it’s okay to murder your baby at the 8th or ninth month of your pregnancy vote for the democrats. If you want open borders vote for the democrats. If you want to depend on our enemies for our energy vote for the democrats. If you want criminals running amok while decent people live in fear vote for the democrats.. it’s right in front of your face . All this destruction of our country and we have idiots endorsing the people who are responsible for it’s demise.
I still think your being paid by the Democratic Party.
Daniel, you also thought Stu was doing it for click-bait and proved yourself to be an “idiot”. Do you remember who called you that Danny? If not, I will give you a hint. It is the same person you have accused, several times, of being paid by the Democratic Party. If you still do not remember (selective memory?) maybe he will remind you.
And you still think the election was stolen because your blockhead is impervious to facts and reason.
Tell me, how MUCH do you think I am paid?
Explain to me why you think it’s ok to murder babies.
After you explain how much money I get from the Democrats. Is it daily, weekly, monthly or per column? Is there a debit when I attack Biden? And where is your evidence?
Lol
Stu, I know you realize that Danny Boy does not really give a damn about anything except “pushing our buttons” to see how many of us he can get angry or upset.
He can’t possibly anger me. It would be like being angry at a turd.
I’m shocked that the sons and daughters of the holocaust are in favor of extermination of babies.
Voting for Mastriano!
I did not tell you NOT to. I said what I would do. You are free ro make mistakes. 😁
I am dumbfounded by your post.
Man has an opinion that differs from yours, so he is being paid
Phillyborn, Daniel is cut from the same cloth as tony. Anybody who does not agree 100% with their line of thinking gets insulted and called names, (for proof of that see what tony posted to Stu further back).
Are you voting for the democrats for the reasons I posted. And if you are explain yourself.
Danny, I do not, and will not, explain why I do things. Especially to idiots like you.
You can’t defend these democratic failures.
That’s my opinion.
As I do most of the time I completely agree with your evaluation Stu. Not sure whether Mastriano is a fool, an opportunist, or just deluded. Or all three. Such a sorry condition this country is in when he is the nominee of a party that is rapidly going into Lala Q land. I know you’re as thick skinned as I, so you will blow off the name callers and those who accuse you of being an unethical sell out. They don’t have the IQ to understand that one can hold well backed and logical opinions from both ends of the political spectrum.
Here’s some more news for you. I don’t know how many other military men you’ve known, but Brian was in the Marines in VietNam and in the Navy for 7, and you know him. And it didn’t make him a rigid asshole. Indeed if anything it expanded his horizons and made him a lot more thoughtful on positions such as “my way or the highway.” Don’t let the fools get you down.
Welcome back, Wanda. When I see your name, as well as a few others, attached to a post, I know I will be reading something which makes sense.
You are spot-on about Mastriano. It is a travesty he was even nominated.
Your “my way or the highway.” comment applies here as well. tony is one of the people here who feel that way. Contrary to Stu telling him he does not hate the orange-skinned SOB tony insists he is lying. One of the traits of someone tyrannical is having a my way or the highway position.
Thank you H. Nice to “see” you and Tom again. We’ve been traveling. Now back and ready to start poll observing for early voting and training people to be poll observers and greeters for the upcoming elections.
We’ve had experience with people like Anthony (Drain the Swamp) and Daniel (I flunked 3rd grade spelling) when we’ve worked the polls as volunteers. The interesting thing is that it’s always the GQPers attacking us and our volunteers verbally and menacingly, never the other way around. One nearly clobbered Brian who was pointedly ignoring him. Even the red tent was embarrassed. Lucky for us our sheriff is a smart 6’8″ 260 lb. Democrat and he has no tolerance for this kind of behavior. Neither, for that matter, does the police chief and he’s a moderate Republican (not a Trump/GQPer) who we like.
Miss seeing freeze here.
Wanda, I have heard similar stories from other people I know across the USA. They all have a common theme, the repukes harassing poll workers and voters. I will say I have never been harassed by them. The times I have been approached by them, they left me alone when I shrugged them away.
Hopefully Freeze will show up in this thread.
I meant to say waved them away.
I said I give extra points for military service.
Since you are the smartest person here maybe you can explain why it’s all right to kill babies.
Danny, maybe you can explain why you are an idiot.
First of all, you are deflecting as usual. Second, Stu does not have to answer your screed about baby killing. But this Jew will give it a try so, let me try to see if your limited IQ can get this or not. (And this may not reflect Stu’s position as a fellow member of the tribe. It’s just mine trying (against hope) to speak to your moronic question.)
As the First Amendment to the US Constitution guarantees, no one religion should be enshrined in law or dictate public policy on any issue — including abortion. So your position (and Christian positions) on abortion and babies are not the only one to consider. In my, and other Jews’ opinions, it violates the Constitution to prohibit women making decisions over their bodies. Jewish law does not share the belief common among abortion opponents that life begins at conception, nor does it legally consider the fetus to be a full person deserving of protections equal those accorded to human beings. In Jewish law, a fetus attains the status of a full person only at birth. Sources in the Talmud indicate that prior to 40 days of gestation, the fetus has an even more limited legal status, with one Talmudic authority saying that prior to 40 days the fetus is “mere water.” Elsewhere, the Talmud indicates that the ancient rabbis regarded a fetus as part of its mother throughout the pregnancy, dependent fully on her for its life — a view that echoes the position that is consistent with the stance that women should be free to make decisions concerning their own bodies. Jewish sources also explicitly state that abortion is not only permitted but is required should the pregnancy endanger the life or health of the pregnant individual and “health” is commonly interpreted to include psychological health as well as physical health.
I’m glad I paid attention in class!!!
Is that clear enough for you?
Nice try Wanda, but I believe you lost Daniel with your first multisyllabic word.
You are undoubtedly right dear H. Plus, his position on morality and religion is not only incoherent and lacking in logical consistency, but also shows he doesn’t know squat about squat and just tosses around words with no conceptual understanding of what he’s asserting. Pathetic, is it not?
It’s not a religious issue it’s a moral issue. If you think having a late term abortion is ok that’s on you. But I don’t no anyone who is for it. Now I have a better picture of what a low life you are.
Danny, you find new ways of increasing your stupidity almost every time you post something. In this post you basically say you do not give a damn what her religion says. You obviously forgot this country was based on freedom of religion.
I’m talking right or wrong. Not religion. Killing a baby in the 8th or 9th month is morally wrong I don’t care what religion you are.
Hey genius. Who’s talking about 8 month fetuses? Not me. Even so, YOU don’t know what you are talking about. Show me a legitimate medical objection to performing a third trimester abortion when one is necessary. These are only done when pregnant women experience conditions such as premature rupture of membranes and infection, preeclampsia, placental abruption, and placenta accreta late in pregnancy that may endanger their lives. Women in these circumstances may risk extensive blood loss, stroke, and septic shock that could lead to maternal death. Also they are done in the event of a non viable fetus, such as an anencephalic. But I guess you and your GQP cult know better and it is moral to endanger a mother’s life in your view. It’s so pointless to try to educate or reason with you. I’m done.
The democrats want abortions with out restrictions.
” In Jewish law, a fetus attains the status of a full person only at birth.”
I’m curious Wanda, does that include a failed abortion resulting in a birth? Thanks.
As a matter of fact, if it’s no longer part of the woman’s body and it’s viable outside of that body, it is a separate human.
“Can’t we all just get along?”
“Sure, now put down the gun.”
😂
Surely Stu you see how progressives have taken us backwards, not just in the last few years, but all the years of PC. The weeds they have planted are now bursting through with CRT, identity politics, cancel culture, defund the police, the whole nine yards.
The corruption of our civil free society is here. Young children in school are being indoctrinated, being taught filth by sick human beings and lies about our history. And how much more don’t we know?
Not too long ago we were a nation of God where anything was possible, now without Him everything is permissable! Ergo, abortion’s higher approval, plus what I stated above. If we keep voting the party who’s responsible, then so help us.
You have been here long enough to know I fight the woke and oppose progressives. I don’t believe Shapiro is. I know him and his career and he has been moderate. Fetterman is progressive but Oz is worse, so I will vote for Fetterman this time, but hopefully not again.
I wonder what that Man upstairs would say. Maybe you should check in with Him. 🤔
It the standard for a politician’s fitness to serve is whether they lie or not, we would have to bypass Shapiro & Fetterman among (many) others. Perhaps it’s the type or degree of lie that concerns you.
Correct. The Republicans are pushing the Big Lie. Just about the biggest lie.
Suggestion. Please consider replacing the word “The” with the word “Some” to begin the 2nd sentence in your reply above. Thank you.
My mistake. Not all Republicans believe the Big Lie. That was careless. Apologies,
‘I’m shocked that the sons and daughters of the holocaust are in favor of extermination of babies.” From Daniel’s post.
I guess you are just not smart enough to understand my peoples’ teaching. They require more than a room temperature IQ to comprehend. Stay ignorant you odious, hateful, and now apparently anti-Semitic cretin.
I’m just repeating what you posted. I’m not anti Semitic. But you come off as a elitist no it all. Perhaps your for abortion because it effects the poor and people of color dispoportionally . And you want to rid the world of people you think your better than.
Dude, you are one sick and unpredictable puppy. This will be the last post of yours to which I will respond.
Good. And you are a pompous windbag who looks down on people who may not have had the advantages you enjoyed .
You, Danny, are a real piece of shit, bitch boy. You are what we call a keynoard warrior. You talk shit here, but are too afraid to say, what you say here, in person because you know you would get the crap beat out of you.
HAPPY MONDAY !!!
A 84 year old female, soliciting for Pro Life, was shot in the back last week after a confrontation at a door.
This took place in Michigan but it could have happened anywhere.
Have we reached the bottom of the human decency pit yet ?
Tony
Don’t forget, you can always join us in writing in ‘Mickey Mouse’ instead of picking from the 2 lousy choices we have this round.