June 22, 2012 - Pensito

Most Americans (Still!) Unsure of Obama’s Religion

June 22, 2012 Buck Banks

34%

Of Americans correctly say U.S. President Barack Obama is a Christian, while 44% say they don’t know Obama’s religion and 11% say he is a Muslim, according to Gallup.

How Not to Kill a ‘Corzine Democrat’

June 22, 2012 Buck Banks

We thought we’d taken a wooden stake and put it through this type of Democrat’s heart.

— New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R), quoted by the Newark Star Ledger, saying that “Corzine Democrats” are back.

An Explanation That’s Worse Than No Explanation At All

June 22, 2012 Buck Banks

It wasn’t about body parts. It wasn’t about dissent. It wasn’t about anyone’s religious beliefs. It was that last comment that took it a step too far, and that’s what crossed the line about … The ‘no means no’ comment. That went a step too far. As I said to someone up north here, it’s like giving a kid a time out for a day, you know. Hey, time out.

— Michigan state Rep. Wayne Schmidt (R), explaining why state Rep. Lisa Brown (D) was barred from speaking on the House floor for saying the word “vagina.”

Even Lawmakers Can Tell People Have Gotten Dumber

June 22, 2012 Buck Banks

Society has changed. The public is to blame as well. I think the people have gotten dumber. I don’t know that I would’ve said that out loud pre-my announcement that I was going to be leaving. [Laughter] But I think that’s true.

— Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-NY), to Bloomberg Businessweek, speaking candidly about what being a member of a highly partisan Congress is really like.

The Court’s Whimsy

June 22, 2012 Buck Banks

When the Supreme Court’s mood grows consultative,
It considers grave matters most substantive.
Yes, SCOTUS just might
Decline to address civil rights,
Yet rule on momentary nudity and fleeting expletives.

Day: June 22, 2012

Most Americans (Still!) Unsure of Obama’s Religion

34%

Of Americans correctly say U.S. President Barack Obama is a Christian, while 44% say they don’t know Obama’s religion and 11% say he is a Muslim, according to Gallup.

How Not to Kill a ‘Corzine Democrat’

We thought we’d taken a wooden stake and put it through this type of Democrat’s heart.

— New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R), quoted by the Newark Star Ledger, saying that “Corzine Democrats” are back.

An Explanation That’s Worse Than No Explanation At All

— Michigan state Rep. Wayne Schmidt (R), explaining why state Rep. Lisa Brown (D) was barred from speaking on the House floor for saying the word “vagina.”

Even Lawmakers Can Tell People Have Gotten Dumber

Society has changed. The public is to blame as well. I think the people have gotten dumber. I don’t know that I would’ve said that out loud pre-my announcement that I was going to be leaving. [Laughter] But I think that’s true.

— Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-NY), to Bloomberg Businessweek, speaking candidly about what being a member of a highly partisan Congress is really like.

The Court’s Whimsy

Poetic Justice

Verbatim

“The man is afraid of the voice of the people and that the people understand and know what he’s doing. He’s trying to stifle the ability of journalists to let the people of America know what’s really going on with their government.”

— “Kamala Harris called President Donald Trump’s ban of CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House ‘absolutely abhorrent,’” The Wrap reports.

“Not one of them is trained in technical skills. Not one research PhD, as opposed to China, where half the cabinet is science and technology PhDs. We’re led by grifters and fools.”

— Columbia professor Jeffrey Sachs, on X, on President Trump’s 35-person cabinet.

“Mr. President, some of your immigration enforcement efforts have gone too far… The same Hispanics who helped you get to the White House in 2024 feel betrayed today.”

— Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL), breaking with President Trump in a direct-to-camera video.

Numerati

1,000

10%

“The unprecedented spate of mid-decade redistricting for the U.S. House has changed the congressional districts for one-tenth of Americans and significantly altered the makeup of at least one-fifth of districts, according to a new study,” the Associated Press reports.

71%

A new Fox News Poll finds 71% of voters think the Trump administration lacks a clear strategy for ending the Iran War, including 95% of Democrats, 83% of independents, and 43% of Republicans. Sixty percent say U.S. military action against Iran was the wrong decision, while just 37% say it was right.

$9.5 billion

“The Trump administration last year spent $9.5 billion on paid administrative leave for federal workers as part of its plan to shrink the government and save taxpayers money, according to a new estimate by a congressional watchdog,” CNN reports.

470

Reuters has documented at least 470 targets of retribution under Trump’s leadership – from federal employees and prosecutors to universities and media outlets. The list illuminates the sweeping effort by the president and his administration to punish dissent and reshape the government.