The Runback: The Dweeb
Matt Gaetz has no redeeming qualities, which makes him the perfect avatar of Trumpism
Welcome to another week of The Runback. Have you been enjoying The Duckpin? Do you have comments or suggestions? Do you want to write for us? Let me know at theduckpin@gmail.com. And please be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. Thanks in advance.
Podcast Episode #35
The sale of Tribune Media, including the Baltimore Sun Media Group, to Alden Capital has been finalized. What’s next for the Baltimore Sun Guild, Stewart Bainum, and the rest that were trying to force the Sun to a non-profit group? And will Bainum and the rest put their money where their mouths are and do whatever it takes to make a change?
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News and Politics
Doug Gansler's Wishful Thinking: By entrusting Len Foxwell with an advisory role on his campaign, Gansler has already shown the voters that he lacks the judgment to be Governor, notwithstanding all of the other mistakes Gansler has made along the way.
Democrats Owe Redfield an Apology: Ferguson, Franchot Among Democrats who demanded Hogan Medical Advisor Resign.
Gas Pump Sticker Shock? "Progressive" Policies Drive Energy Costs Higher: The sticker price for the energy policies advanced by progressives, such as President Biden, is higher -- much, much higher.
Entertainment
The Trailer for Last Night In Soho Is The Best Movie of 2021 So Far: I’m not kidding.
A Salute to Guy Fieri: Food Network Star may be the most successful man in America.
Sports
Moving Year Part 2 – the G5: Plus grading the Kansas hire.
Life
Mister Seahorse And Me: A reflection on the passing of Eric Carle and the journey in fatherhood.
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The Monday Thought (But On a Tuesday)
Embattled Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz had himself quite a week last week. Gaetz, who as you know is under federal investigation for allegedly sex trafficking of a minor, was repeatedly in the news last week for continuing to open his mouth.
Getting all the press was Gaetz making a batshit comment about using the 2nd Amendment in Silicon Valley as a rebuttal to cancel culture.
The remark was stupid on a good day, but it was even more ill advised when considering that his remarks came the day after nine people were killed in a shooting in Silicon Valley.
But dumb remarks and federal investigations are not stopping Gaetz from reaching for the stars:
Rep. Matt Gaetz, the Florida Republican who is currently the subject of a Justice Department investigation into whether he had sex with a 17-year-old girl and transported her across state lines in violation of sex trafficking laws, is considering a run for president in 2024.
Gaetz made that disclosure Wednesday in a text message to the New York Post.
“I support Donald Trump for president. I’ve directly encouraged him to run and he gives me every indication he will,” Gaetz told the paper. “If Trump doesn’t run, I’m sure I could defeat whatever remains of Joe Biden by 2024.”
This reminds me of the last scene of The Distinguished Gentleman:
Fortunately for Gaetz, Eugene Debs has already shown us that you can run for President from federal prison.
U.S. Congressman Matt Gaetz of Florida has sailed into a new controversy, claiming money wired to close the sale on a St. Petersburg yacht his fiancée had agreed to buy “went missing.”
According to a spokesperson for the Republican, he and his fiancée Ginger Luckey were “targeted by malicious actors” during the purchase process of a St. Petersburg yacht. Follow-up questions about the transaction and clarification of the statement have not been answered.
Just to top it all off, Gaetz dropped this gem.
Apparently Gaetz missed the memo where Republicans gained nine seats in the Senate and 3 seats in the House in 2014. Nor did Gaetz read the results of the 2020 election, where Donald Trump led the GOP into an electoral toilet.
The problem with all of this is the fact that there are people who take this guy seriously. There are people who think that he represents the new way forward for Republicans to govern and win elections, despite the fact that he stands for nothing but his ego and the fact that his Trump-style brand of politics gave us Joe Biden and a Democratic Congress.
A few weeks ago, an Ohio-based friend brought Gaetz in to his county’s GOP event and was proud to have him speaking, despite the fact that people brought up questions about Gaetz’s character, rap sheet, and lack of conservative principles. Five years ago this same friend would have been ashamed to put his name to something like this but here, in 2021, he thinks Gaetz is the ne plus ultra of the GOP.
Matt Gaetz stands for nothing. Matt Gaetz accomplishes nothing. Matt Gaetz is under constant scrutiny and investigation for boneheaded actions he takes to benefit himself or benefit Trumpism. This all makes Gaetz the perfect avatar of Trumpism, an ideology for and about losing.