Ireland: Dirty Dancing

A cheating scandal has rocked the Emerald Isle, and it doesn’t involve Gaelic football, Hurling, or Camogie. The highly-competitive world of Irish Step Dancing has been rocked by allegations of feiseanna and oireachtais judges trading high scores for sexual favors. Maybe it’s those short skirts and tight pants.

More:

“Major misstep: sex and cheating scandal rattles Irish dancing world,” Jack Hobbs, NY Post

“High kicks and dirty tricks: Irish dancing hit by fixing and sexual favour claims,” David Mouriquand and Ken Murray, Euro News

“Irish dancing rocked by major allegations of competition fixing involving dance teachers and judges,” Ellen Coyne, The  Independent

“Now Irish Dancing Is in the Grip of a Major Cheating Scandal,” Sophia Smith Galer, Vice

“An Irish Dancing Scandal Is the Latest in Our Season of Cheating,” Kady Ruth Ashcraft, Jezebel

Update:

“‘BagGate’ is the professional cornhole drama taking over the sport,” James Dator, SBNation

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Boris Quit, But Won’t Leave. Here’s Why.

Tory buffoon and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson quit, but he’s staying on as a “caretaker”until his Conservative Party chooses a new PM in September or October. When a PM quits, he or she may choose a senior party member to act as interim PM so the stench of a rotting administration doesn’t waft out of Number 10 and pervade Downing Street.

And many Tories have been proposed as caretaker Prime Ministers, and the list ranges from Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab to Theresa May to Peppa Pig, but Mr. Johnson insists on extending his odious administration into autumn. The reason? He’s scheduled a lavish wedding reception for himself and Carrie, the mother of his last two children, on July 30th at Chequers, the Prime Minister’s official country estate. And we all know Boris loves a good party.

More:

“Boris Johnson plans July wedding party with Carrie at Chequers,” Jessica Elgot, The Guardian

“UK Conservatives say ‘toxic’ Boris Johnson should be replaced now,” Andrew Macaskill, Reuters

“Boris Johnson’s plans to remain as PM are ‘unwise’ and ‘unsustainable’, warns Sir John Major,” Sky News

“Boris Johnson will cause ‘carnage’ if allowed to stay on as caretaker prime minister, Dominic Cummings says,” Mary Bulman, The Independent

“Boris staying on until October would be like PM ‘working with own firing squad,’” Josh Layton, The Scotsman

Related:

“Who wants to be UK prime minister? Just about everyone.” Cristina Gallardo, Politico

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UPDATED: Monty Python Clown PM Boris Johnson Scrambling

After his boozy parties at 10 Downing Street during COVID lockdown, turning a blind eye to sexual misconduct allegations against one of his top Tory officials, and the mass resignations of his administration’s cabinet ministers and officials, Boris Johhnson refuses to resign. If you’re asking why, you’ve mistaken Mr. Johnson with someone with an ounce of shame.

More:

“Boris Johnson’s tenure has been defined by scandal. Here are some of the biggest ones,” Ivana Kottasová and Tara Subramaniam, CNN

“Boris Johnson Freaks Out After Giuliani Arrives in London to Help Him,” Andy Borowitz, The New Yorker

“Boris Johnson and wife Carrie to host lavish Chequers wedding party while he clings on,” Pippa Crerar, Daily Mirror

UPDATE:

Saying “Them’s the breaks,” Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson joined the ranks of unemployed New-York-born television novelty performers. Maybe he’ll move to Mar-a-Lago.

“Boris Johnson resigns as UK prime minister,” Jen Kirby, Vox

“Boris Johnson resigns: Five things that led to the PM’s downfall,” Owen Amos, BBC News

“British Lawmaker’s Live Analysis of Boris Johnson’s Resignation Drowned Out by ‘Benny Hill’ Theme Music,” Dan Ladden-Hall, Daily Beast

Speaking of peaceful transition of power … whatever happens next for Boris Johnson, there is literally zero chance that he will organize a mob to sack Parliament or incite his supporters to try to hang the heir to the throne.

— David Frum (@davidfrum) July 6, 2022

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Anthony Weiner Gets Top Job

Disgraced sleazoid and former congressman Anthony Weiner (aka Carlos Danger) has a new top job. That’s right, he’s working for a Brooklyn kitchen countertop company. Wait, you’re gonna eat off of that? Like Mr. Weiner, the countertop materials are recycled.

In case you forgot, Donald Trump, a great judge of character, donated to Anthony Wiener’s 1997 city council campaign and 2007 and 2010 congressional campaigns.

More:

“Anthony Weiner piecing together shattered life as CEO of broken glass factory,” Reuven Fenton and Bruce Golding, NY Post

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Scott Pruitt Slithers Out of Washington

EPA Secretary Scott Pruitt resigned on Thursday, maybe because of the stern yet civil scolding he got from a sixth-grade teacher on Monday. More likely it was due to a mean tweet by Fox host Laura Ingraham. This is the Trump Administration, so the 13 active investigations into Mr. Pruitt’s conduct don’t count.

Lest you think the environment will now be saved and EPA will emerge from the swamp, the agency is now run by coal industry lobbyist Andrew Wheeler. Fun fact: coal is the product of 300 million-year-old swamps.

More:

“Trump EPA head steps down after wave of ethics, management scandals,” Brady Dennis and Juliet Eilperin, Washington Post

“E.P.A. Chief Scott Pruitt Resigns Under a Cloud of Ethics Scandals,” Coral Davenport, New York Times

“Scott Pruitt resigns: Trump’s scandal-ridden EPA chief steps down,” Oliver Milman and Sabrina Siddiqui, The Guardian

“The scandals that led to Scott Pruitt’s resignation,” Haley Britzky, Axios

“Local Mom Who Told Scott Pruitt To Resign Reacts To His Departure,” Rachel Kurzius, DCist

“Trump Defends Pruitt Until the Very End,” Maria Mendez, Roll Call

“Pruitt Survived By Praising Trump, Who In Turn Fired Pruitt Without Speaking To Him,” Nicole LaFond, TPM Livewire

“Scott Pruitt’s parting words to Trump: you are president ‘because of God’s providence,’”Tara Isabella Burton, Vox 

“How things will (and won’t) change at EPA with Scott Pruitt gone,” Amy Harder, Axios

“Scott Pruitt’s replacement Andrew Wheeler could be even more dangerous for the EPA,” Katherine Ellen Foley, Quartz

“Scott Pruitt is gone. His successor is already feeling the heat.” Dino Grandoni, Washington Post

Mike Flynn’s Russian Headslapper

           General Mike Flynn: “D’oh!”

President Donald Trump’s former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, failed to seek permission or inform the U.S. government about accepting tens of thousands of dollars from Russian organizations after a trip there in 2015. There are also questions about $530,000 in consulting work his company performed for a businessman tied to Turkey’s government.

“Personally, I see no data to support the notion that Gen. Flynn complied with the law,” said Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R, UT-3), Chairman of the House Oversight Committee. Ranking Member Elijah Cummings (D, MD-7 ) added that failure to file information on such payments is a felony. The Oversight Committee’s request for Gen. Flynn’s files was rejected by the White House.

Before Donald Trump hired Mike Flynn as his National Security Advisor and then ousted him, Gen. Flynn was known for shouting “Lock her up!” at Trump campaign rallies.

More:

“Flynn probably broke the law by failing to disclose foreign payments, House Oversight leaders say,” Karoun Demirjian, Washington Post

“What Law Is Michael Flynn Accused of Violating?” Brendan Morrow, Heavy

Updates:

“Flynn was warned not to accept foreign government payments,” Chad Day and Stephen Braun, Associated Press

“Top Pentagon watchdog launches investigation into money that Michael Flynn received from foreign groups,” By Dan Lamothe, Washington Post

“Flynn selling house to pay legal bills in Trump probe,” James Gordon Meek, ABC News

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The 3 Trump-Russia scandals. That we know about.

A timeline of the 3 Trump-Russia scandals that we know about. At this point in time.

UPDATES: 

Scandal #4

“Sessions met with Russian envoy twice last year, encounters he later did not disclose,”  Adam Entous, Ellen Nakashima and Greg Miller, Washington Post

Scandal #5

“Jared Kushner met with Russian ambassador during transition, White House official says,” AP via Los Angeles Times

Scandal #6

“Trump Jr. likely paid $50K for event hosted by Russian allies,” Mark Hensch, The Hill

Scandal #7

“In a reversal, former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page now says he did have contact with Russia,” Joshua Barajas, PBS NewsHour

“Two more former Trump aides spoke with Russian ambassador,” Max Greenwood, The Hill

Javier Zarracina @Vox has a handy graphic

Related:

“White House staff told to preserve Russia-related materials,” Julie Pace and Vivian Salama, Associated Press

“Bush ethics lawyer: Trump’s Russia scandal so far is ‘much worse’ than the early stages of Watergate,” Tara Golshan, Vox

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Carlos Danger Rides Again — Into Bachelorhood

Disgraced former congressman Anthony Weiner (aka Carlos Danger) was caught with his pants down again, outed by the New York Post for sending sexty photos to strange women. His wife, foreign relations pro and Hillary campaign advisor Huma Abedin, invoked the 3-strikes-you’re-out rule and announced the couple’s separation.

Since quitting Congress and losing a local election in New York City, Anthony Weiner has been a commentator for Time-Warner cable news outlet NY 1 and a columnist for the New York Daily News. The TV outfit has put him on “indefinite leave,” and the Daily News cut him loose.

Serial adulterer and Anthony Weiner campaign contributor Donald Trump expressed sympathy for Ms. Abedin and smeared her boss Hillary Clinton in a single tweet. Anthony Weiner should remind his pal Mr. Trump how dangerous Twitter can be.

More:

“Hillary Clinton aide Huma Abedin says she’s separating with Anthony Weiner amid third sexting scandal,” Jeff Stein, Vox

“Trump sees personal tragedy and embarrassment as just political fodder,” Ruth Marcus, Washington Post

“Don’t Expect Donald Trump to Stop Lying About Huma Abedin,” Robert Mackey, The Intercept

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Berlusconi: Guilty

On Monday a Milan court found Silvio Berlusconi — billionaire septuagenarian, football team owner, former Italian Prime Minister, Bunga-Bunga Party host, and one-time cruise ship crooner —  guilty of having sex with an underage prostitute and abusing his public office in an attempt to cover it up. Mr. Berlusconi was sentenced to seven years in prison and banned from public office for life. He recently lost an appeal of an earlier tax fraud conviction.

Mr. Berlusconi, owner of a vast media empire, insisted that he is innocent — on his Facebook page.

More:

“Berlusconi Is Sentenced to Seven Years in Sex Case, but Can Still Appeal Verdict,” Rachel Donadio and Elisabetta Poveledo, New York Times

“Berlusconi: ‘Sentenza violenta, io resisto alla persecuzione,'” ANSA

“Processo Ruby, condannato Silvio Berlusconi. 7 anni e interdizione perpetua dai pubblici uffici,” La Repubblica 

Update:

“Berlusconi, The End Is Near,” Marcello Sorgi, La Stampa via Worldcrunch

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Congressman Mark Sanford Sworn In

Disgraced Former Governor Mark Sanford, noted Republican adulterer, was sworn in as the representative of South Carolina’s First Congressional District on Tuesday. Mr. Defense of Marriage Act was accompanied by his paramour, the lovely María Belén Chapur of Argentina. We recognized her from earlier photos.