The Morning Rant: The United States Senate: Theater Of The Absurd

The klown kar that is the United States Senate regularly belches forth a gaggle of meticulously coiffed morons in $2,000 suits who spout carefully crafted non sequiturs and focus-group-tested punch lines about the topic de jour. Then, without another word they pile back into the kar to be driven to a corporate cocktail party to drink $300 bourbon and try to f*ck the hottest lobbyist.

The Senate has always believed its own press, but the current group of sub-wits we have might be the least impressive in history. At least as far as intellectual heft and the ability to craft and pass good legislation. At fund raising and graft they are without peer!

Senate Leadership In Both Parties Dragging Feet On Using Force Of Law To Rein In Flock

Republican Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley opened an investigation into Flock cameras and held a hearing on the mass surveillance technologies. None of the technology CEOs, including Langley, appeared for the hearing.
Hawley did not respond to the DCNF's question about whether he was frustrated with leadership's lack of response to Flock cameras.

He did not respond because he has no interest in doing anything substantive, because he is a hack, whose motivation is pecuniary, not legislative. His popular reputation as a fierce questioner at hearings is true, but that ferocity does not extend to anything else! He is the Republican equivalent of Chuck Schumer, but without the clout!

I wonder whether his reticence about Flock is connected to their large lobbying budget?

Flock tracks your license plate. We tracked the $2M it spent on lobbying.

The company spent nearly $1.3 million between January 2025 and July 2026 on federal lobbying and at least another $1 million in statehouses across the U.S., according to OpenSecrets’ federal lobbying data and an analysis of lobbying disclosures across all 50 states. Flock has hired lobbyists in dozens of states – often former government employees passing through the political “revolving door” – including in places where weak disclosure laws mean spending totals are not publicly reported.

This is why Flock seems to be a juggernaut, barrelling down the road, destroying what is left of our civil liberties. Their lobbying efforts are bearing fruit...even with Republicans who pay lip service to the Constitution and the Bill Of Rights.

I wonder if Senator Hawley recalls the text of the 4th Amendment? You know...something about protection against searches?

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

It's adorably anachronistic in this world of total surveillance, but it is an anachronism that needs to return to the forefront of our lives. Our politicians are of course venal and grifting in the extreme, but the plain text of our governing document needs to be thrust in their faces...they need to be reminded of it when they scurry back into their offices and cash those lobbyist checks.

So forgive me if I am wholeheartedly in support of anyone who feels like taking the law into their own hands and cutting down those Flock cameras, and short-circuiting the burgeoning police/surveillance state that is being created around us!

[Crossposted at CutJibNewsletter and X/Twitter]. And if you folks who are on X/Twitter would follow me it would be much appreciated!

Posted by: CBD at 11:00 AM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Sponge!

Posted by: rickb223 at October 06, 2026 11:00 AM (sxG0y)

2 st?

Posted by: Crusader at October 06, 2026 11:02 AM (TN0g+)

3 Lol! Rookie mistake--I read the content.

Posted by: Crusader at October 06, 2026 11:03 AM (TN0g+)

4 The company spent nearly $1.3 million between January 2025 and July 2026 on federal lobbying and at least another $1 million in statehouses across the U.S.

Wow, the whores are pretty cheap.

If that was each politician, okay, but as a whole...kind of pathetic.

Posted by: Stateless - Ralphy - 105 years old! Puppy at heart! at October 06, 2026 11:04 AM (Sco7b)

5 What? The Flock!?

Posted by: muldoon, they're my dad's jokes, don't blame me! at October 06, 2026 11:05 AM (I0N4X)

6 Flock's new secret headquarters:

3284 Northside Parkway
Altanta, GA

In the Medici Building

Posted by: rickb223 at October 06, 2026 11:05 AM (sxG0y)

7 th

Posted by: Truck Monkey at October 06, 2026 11:06 AM (affD0)

8 "Ach du Lieber, if only we had Flock cameras we wouldn't have had to hire 25% of the population as snitches".

Retired STASI guy

Posted by: bill in arkansas, not gonna comply with nuttin, waiting for the 0300 knock on the door at October 06, 2026 11:06 AM (gm9Sb)

9 Be prepared for the usual defense of the surveillance state:
"If you're not doing anything illegal, why should you care?"

Of course, the proper response is Ben Franklin's most famous quote:
"Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety."

Posted by: proudvastrightwingguy at October 06, 2026 11:07 AM (MNCvZ)

10 "Our politicians are of course venal and grifting in the extreme"

Concur.

Posted by: gp at October 06, 2026 11:08 AM (Jr5Lq)

11 Investigations and hearings and then...

Posted by: Guy who always says nothing will happen and is usually right at October 06, 2026 11:08 AM (spvY+)

12 Control + F "Mitch" yields no hits.

Posted by: Where the hell is he? at October 06, 2026 11:08 AM (2Ez/1)

13 Speaking of the senate... I'm seeing a social media campaign growing ( organic or not, you can decide) to keep Senator Mike Lee from Utah OFF the short list of people that can replace Scalia, should he actually retire.

But the more I think of it...that's not a bad idea. He'd be very conservative on most judicial matters, and he doesn't seem to be compromised. It's not a coin toss if he'll vote conservatively or not.

Could he survive confirmation?

Posted by: LizLem at October 06, 2026 11:09 AM (Toos7)

14 A new map published Wednesday by a cybersecurity researcher reveals Flock’s nationwide reach is even bigger than previously known. Now, Flock is trying to get that map wiped from the internet.

Based on location coordinates from Flock’s own database, the map shows more than 170,000 cameras, plus more than 130,000 accompanying gadgets that play a part in the company’s expansive American surveillance network.

https://buff.ly/dkr6yWe

Posted by: rickb223 at October 06, 2026 11:09 AM (sxG0y)

15 The company spent nearly $1.3 million between January 2025 and July 2026 on federal lobbying and at least another $1 million in statehouses across the U.S.

Wow, the whores are pretty cheap.

If that was each politician, okay, but as a whole...kind of pathetic.
------

$20, same as in town.

Posted by: Crusader at October 06, 2026 11:09 AM (TN0g+)

16 Masterful opening paragraph CBD.

Posted by: Kratwurst at October 06, 2026 11:10 AM (v8bCu)

17 The face of the Senate will be vastly improved when Michele Tafoya is Minnesota's new senator. Her opponent, Peggy Flanagan, does have the perfect face for Halloween.

Posted by: Oglebay at October 06, 2026 11:10 AM (2ap+5)

18 to keep Senator Mike Lee from Utah OFF the short list of people that can replace Scalia, should he actually retire.

I think you mean "Alito."

Posted by: Bulg at October 06, 2026 11:10 AM (77rzZ)

19 >>> The company spent nearly $1.3 million between January 2025 and July 2026 on federal lobbying and at least another $1 million in statehouses across the U.S.
>>> Wow, the whores are pretty cheap.

There's a funny bit early on in the new season of The Gentleman about how cheaply one can buy a politician.

Posted by: LizLem at October 06, 2026 11:12 AM (Toos7)

20 I've said before, in modern times the entire approach to fourth amendment protection must be drastic penalties for violation. And none of that entirely judicially determined protection of State employed individuals, I'm no lawyer, I forget the term. Any legal citizen should be allowed to bring suit against any individual using an official capacity to violate their constitutionally protected privacy.

Posted by: From about That Time at October 06, 2026 11:13 AM (sl73Y)

21 Masterful opening paragraph CBD.

Posted by: Kratwurst at October 06, 2026 11:10 AM (v8bCu)

I hope it hints at the disdain in which I hold the Senate!

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at October 06, 2026 11:14 AM (k5CNB)

22 On any given day, it is safe to say that our representatives are self-serving grifters if not actual traitors.

Posted by: toby928(c) at October 06, 2026 11:14 AM (4NO2D)

23 12 Control + F "Mitch" yields no hits.

Posted by: Where the hell is he? at October 06, 2026 11:08 AM (2Ez/1)

He's been silent on the issue...well, hell, he's been silent on just about everything...

Posted by: Great Tits at October 06, 2026 11:14 AM (l3cgK)

24 "a gaggle of meticulously coiffed morons in $2,000 suits"

Probably more than that. High quality (but not exceptional) off-the-rack are $2k or more.

The best off-the-rack are $5k-10k. I'll bet almost all Senators are at least in this range. Why not? It ain't their money.

Custom suits? If you have to ask ....

A properly fitted suit is more important than the price you pay. A poorly-fitting $5k suit looks like ass.

Posted by: Elric The Blade at October 06, 2026 11:15 AM (iFTx/)

25 I hope it hints at the disdain in which I hold the Senate!
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo

Like Playboy "hints" at women's huge knockers.

Posted by: Bulg at October 06, 2026 11:15 AM (77rzZ)

26 If y'all lead-footed Bozos and ne'er-do-wells didn't have anything to hide you wouldn't mind being recorded and tracked. Government has your best interests at heart.

Posted by: Fall In Line at October 06, 2026 11:15 AM (EdP2u)

27 And none of that entirely judicially determined protection of State employed individuals...

Posted by: From about That Time at October 06, 2026 11:13 AM (sl73Y)

"Qualified Immunity."

That should be gutted by the courts...we need to be able to hold government employees personally liable for their violations of our rights.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at October 06, 2026 11:16 AM (k5CNB)

28 We'll tackle the Flock issue as soon as we pass the SAVE Act. One thing at a time.

Posted by: Senator For Life at October 06, 2026 11:17 AM (EdP2u)

29 27
"Qualified Immunity."

That should be gutted by the courts...we need to be able to hold government employees personally liable for their violations of our rights.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at October 06, 2026 11:16 AM (k5CNB)

======

"You can't overturn our precedent with legislation."
-the courts, 98% probability

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at October 06, 2026 11:17 AM (RWrid)

30 I retired some time ago.

Posted by: The ghost of Antonin Scalia at October 06, 2026 11:18 AM (2Ez/1)

31 Ugh Bulg, yes, Alito. RIP Scalia.

There's a comic opera about the remarkable friendship between him and Ginsburg, that apparently he liked and approved of. Still have yet to see it, maybe one day!

Posted by: LizLem at October 06, 2026 11:18 AM (Toos7)

32 Finally have the NFC South figured out: go long on Falcons and Panthers. Tampa and New Orleans are nothing but chum.

Posted by: Pudinhead at October 06, 2026 11:19 AM (KGj36)

33 >>He did not respond because he has no interest in doing anything substantive, because he is a hack, whose motivation is pecuniary, not legislative. His popular reputation as a fierce questioner at hearings is true, but that ferocity does not extend to anything else! He is the Republican equivalent of Chuck Schumer, but without the clout!

THIS

Why not spend your energy DOING SOMETHING other than mugging for the cameras during hearings?

Posted by: Lizzy at October 06, 2026 11:20 AM (rOKnE)

34 There's a comic opera about the remarkable friendship between him and Ginsburg, that apparently he liked and approved of. Still have yet to see it, maybe one day!
Posted by: LizLem

That's appropriate, seeing as how a big basis of their friendship was their mutual love of opera.

Posted by: Bulg at October 06, 2026 11:21 AM (77rzZ)

35 Shove it in their face? Would love to but our representatives can't be bothered to meet their constituents anymore.

Posted by: Ben Had at October 06, 2026 11:21 AM (nxLtX)

36 Why not spend your energy DOING SOMETHING other than mugging for the cameras during hearings?

Posted by: Lizzy at October 06, 2026 11:20 AM (rOKnE)

$$$$$

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at October 06, 2026 11:21 AM (k5CNB)

37 I saw Meticulously Coiffed Morons open for Men Without Hats on the D.C. Mall in '04.

Their lead singer forgot the lyrics and stopped singing for three full minutes.

Posted by: muldoon, they're my dad's jokes, don't blame me! at October 06, 2026 11:21 AM (I0N4X)

38 Like Playboy "hints" at women's huge knockers.
Posted by: Bulg

Noticed a consistent theme behind most of your comments. It jumps out at me often.

Posted by: Thanks For The Mammaries! at October 06, 2026 11:21 AM (EdP2u)

39 >>>I hope it hints at the disdain in which I hold the Senate! Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at October 06, 2026 11:14 AM (k5CNB)

I dunno, you seem ambivalent.

Also, if you need beautiful male nude portraits for the morning art thread, CBD, Sargent made several! Some not unearthed until after his death. And no one can deny he's a master at his craft.

Posted by: LizLem at October 06, 2026 11:21 AM (Toos7)

40 >>Now, Flock is trying to get that map wiped from the internet.

THIS KIND OF BRAZEN HYPOCRISY IS SO COMMON NOW THAT IT'S NOT FUNNY.

Posted by: BEN ROETHLISBERGER at October 06, 2026 11:22 AM (rOKnE)

41 It's so predictable that the Senate starts talking about the radical things it's going to do right before an election.

Like Kid Rock said,

People always talkin' what they gonna do,
they must want their face to maybe
Taste my shoe

Posted by: Oglebay at October 06, 2026 11:22 AM (2ap+5)

42 "Qualified Immunity."

That should be gutted by the courts...we need to be able to hold government employees personally liable for their violations of our rights.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo

An argument I use specifically for police:
End qualified immunity. Completely.

Force cops to have to INDIVIDUALLY carry liability insurance. Same as other professionals.

Too many claims and the insurance company will drop them. No insurance, no work. No ability to change departments.

Most cops go through their entire careers without being sued for civil rights violations.

Those that are legitimately sued?
There's no reason the city/citizens should have to pay for it.

And maybe, just maybe, it'll force cities and counties to hire qualified individuals.

Posted by: rickb223 at October 06, 2026 11:23 AM (sxG0y)

43 The graves for Antonin Scalia and Robert Bork are in the same cemetery within a hundred yards of each other.

Posted by: Supreme Court trivia for $200, Alex at October 06, 2026 11:23 AM (2Ez/1)

44 43 The graves for Antonin Scalia and Robert Bork are in the same cemetery within a hundred yards of each other.

Posted by: Supreme Court trivia for $200, Alex at October 06, 2026 11:23 AM (2Ez/1)

========

"Bork is such a slob!"
-Scalia

"Scalia is way too uptight!"
-Bork

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at October 06, 2026 11:24 AM (RWrid)

45 A quick perusal of the new map confirms that there are no Flock cameras in my territory. The crowd reported map showed one but I went and looked at it and it's just a regular red light camera that I think my town quit using anyway.

Posted by: toby928(c) at October 06, 2026 11:24 AM (4NO2D)

46 Flocks are called such for a reason. There is never one by itself.
Flocks are always positioned in groups allowing one to observe the other. There is no way to disable one Flock without being observed by one or more others. The cameras usually flock together in groups of four or more.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNeu-zvuQzQ

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at October 06, 2026 11:24 AM (C0oZI)

47 Land of the Free and the Home of the Knave around here.

Posted by: toby928(c) at October 06, 2026 11:25 AM (4NO2D)

48 The graves for Antonin Scalia and Robert Bork are in the same cemetery within a hundred yards of each other.
Posted by: Supreme Court trivia for $200

What cemetery?

Posted by: Bulg at October 06, 2026 11:25 AM (77rzZ)

49 if you need beautiful male nude portraits for the morning art thread, CBD, Sargent made several!

Posted by: LizLem at October 06, 2026 11:21 AM (Toos7)

My contact info is on the sidebar!

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at October 06, 2026 11:25 AM (k5CNB)

50 Keep ripping these cameras down. City/town budgets can only buy so many. Make it too expensive for them to know where I shop for groceries.

Posted by: Dr. Pork Chops & Bacons at October 06, 2026 11:26 AM (g8Ew8)

51 What knockers!!

Posted by: Gene Wilder at October 06, 2026 11:26 AM (2Ez/1)

52 Also, if you need beautiful male nude portraits for the morning art thread, CBD, Sargent made several! Some not unearthed until after his death. And no one can deny he's a master at his craft.
Posted by: LizLem

Dick Sargent was a fan of the male nude. He and Liz Montgomery were Co-Grand Marshals of the 1992 L.A. Pride Parade.

Posted by: Rainbow Warrior at October 06, 2026 11:26 AM (EdP2u)

53 So forgive me if I am wholeheartedly in support of anyone who feels like taking the law into their own hands and cutting down those Flock cameras, and short-circuiting the burgeoning police/surveillance state that is being created around us!---

OMG, CBD is encouraging illegal behavior! ( cue George Will harrumphing furiously)

Baby steps indeed.

We're not voting our way out of this

Posted by: OneEyedJack at October 06, 2026 11:27 AM (zafwz)

54 One of the core problems with congress is that interest groups will give you money and votes if you side with them against the general public, but the general public is usually too uninterested in using its voting power to punish politicians for siding with interest groups.

And to add to the mix having one party being 100% communist assholes makes this worse.

So the way the system should work is that if people want to get rid of flock cameras (or any similiar issue) they'd first vote in the primaries against supporters and then potentially in the general election as well

Posted by: 18-1 at October 06, 2026 11:27 AM (sKqQm)

55 "Flocks are called such for a reason. There is never one by itself.
Flocks are always positioned in groups allowing one to observe the other. There is no way to disable one Flock without being observed by one or more others. The cameras usually flock together in groups of four or more."

Sounds like a job for antifa!!

Posted by: Will Robinson at October 06, 2026 11:27 AM (dCMJG)

56 WHAT'S FUNNY IS THE SAME PEOPLE TELLING US FLOCK SURVEILLACE IT TOTALLY FINE STILL CLAIM THAT NO ONE CAN SAY HOW MANY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ARE IN THIS COUNTRY - IT'S A MYSTERY THAT CAN NEVER BE SOLVED!

(THE ANSWER IS "11 MILLION" AND HAS BEEN SINCE THE 1970'S)

Posted by: BEN ROETHLISBERGER at October 06, 2026 11:27 AM (rOKnE)

57 Carolina's offense looked good on SNF.

Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory at October 06, 2026 11:27 AM (Yw4Qw)

58 Liz lem, Sargent was totes gay. Great artist but he batted and most likely caught for the other team.

Posted by: Pudinhead at October 06, 2026 11:28 AM (KGj36)

59 We have weak, suborned feckless Leadership in both the House and Senate. The Senate is perhaps worse than the House. Useless eaters, consuming without producing. And yet, and yet they keep coming back to office because they know their alternatives are to horrifying to contemplate. A classic Bind Situation, and they know this well, and have used it for forever. Utterly disgusting.

Posted by: tubal at October 06, 2026 11:29 AM (Gqar8)

60 CBD has also been known to wear dungarees. And has mismatched deadbolt escutcheons!

Posted by: George Will at October 06, 2026 11:30 AM (EdP2u)

61 "Bork Bork Bork!"

/The Swedish Chef Of The United States

Posted by: muldoon, they're my dad's jokes, don't blame me! at October 06, 2026 11:31 AM (I0N4X)

62 Point the cameras at Flock employees and executives. That would solve the issue.

Posted by: NR Pax at October 06, 2026 11:31 AM (NR6c1)

63 Why not spend your energy DOING SOMETHING other than mugging for the cameras during hearings?
Posted by: Lizzy at October 06, 2026 11:20 AM (rOKnE)

Sleeves. Will. Roll.
Of that, you can be assured

Posted by: OneEyedJack at October 06, 2026 11:31 AM (zafwz)

64 Had a local pol get all jiggy and tear down some Flock cameras. Took them back to local PoPo. Yeah, he got charged for a crime. They wanted a felony, settled for a couple of misdemeanors. Happened in a small town.

Posted by: tubal at October 06, 2026 11:32 AM (Gqar8)

65 Every now and then God decides to show off and gives us a spectacularly beautiful day. Today is one of those days.

Life goes fast. Don't miss it.

Posted by: JackStraw at October 06, 2026 11:32 AM (viF8m)

66 >>Point the cameras at Flock employees and executives. That would solve the issue.

Mosques
Gay bars

Yeah, you know certain protected classes are already lobbying for exemptions from Flock surveillance.

Posted by: Lizzy at October 06, 2026 11:32 AM (rOKnE)

67 In my AO the lefties have turned against flock cameras because they believe they are being used to find illegals.

A few years ago the line was "if you aren't doing anything wrong why do you care if the government is monitoring you?"

Posted by: 18-1 at October 06, 2026 11:33 AM (sKqQm)

68 Sleeves. Will. Roll.
Of that, you can be assured
Posted by: OneEyedJack at October 06, 2026 11:31 AM

Stern letters will be sent.

Posted by: toby928(c) at October 06, 2026 11:33 AM (4NO2D)

69 A few years ago the line was "if you aren't doing anything wrong why do you care if the government is monitoring you?"
Posted by: 18-1

"But illegal aliens aren't criminals!" They screech in reply.

Posted by: NR Pax at October 06, 2026 11:33 AM (NR6c1)

70 In early October 2026, a bipartisan wave of federal legislation hit Congress.

Senator Bernie Sanders, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Senator Jeff Merkley introduced the Ban Flock Act to completely stop federal agencies from using ALPRs.

Concurrently, Senator Josh Hawley announced the Stop Flock Abuse Act to enforce a 10-day maximum data deletion law and ban facial recognition on the devices.

Due to this pressure, Flock CEO Garrett Langley was forced to alter course. Flock now implements strict search auditing and mandates a default data retention drop from 30 days down to just 7 days.

So it seems to me the socialists - not Hawley - can claim, "First!" for at least a partial win against Flock cameras before mid-term elections.
---
A separate topic but still concerning personal privacy and security, I'm horrified (not concerning myself but others) over the availability and usage of Meta Smart Glasses.

And I doubt federal enforcement can/will ever adequately protect from either, above.

Posted by: L - No nic... at October 06, 2026 11:34 AM (NFX2v)

71 60 CBD has also been known to wear dungarees. And has mismatched deadbolt escutcheons!
Posted by: George Will at October 06, 2026 11:30 AM (EdP2u)

But unlike yours he does not have the sparkly embroidered sequins sewn into his back pockets - or assless chaps in his closet.

Posted by: tubal at October 06, 2026 11:34 AM (Gqar8)

72 Posted by: From about That Time

Yep. Judges and prosecutors should not have immunity personally from illegal searches and seizures carried out on their orders. One of the problems with the 4th Amendment is that the remedy of illegal searches is suppression of evidence. That helps the guilty but the innocent get no such relief. They get violated and cannot recoup what they have lost (privacy, information, etc.).

I would also create a separate court of claims for illegal searches and seizures from the ordinary criminal justice system. Judges cannot police themselves obviously so you have to set up a different system where they cannot control it. One where the prosecutors and the judges approving and stamping these orders have to face the music if they do something illegal.

Our current representative system has set up bad incentives on purpose that protect wicked prosecutors, judges, and law enforcement. They have no skin in the game and face little if no consequence for illegal actions while ordinary citizens do.

It is time to splinter and remove the powers of the 3rd branch to be tyrannical and support others in their tyranny. Easiest way is to divide their power.

Posted by: whig at October 06, 2026 11:35 AM (E4rtv)

73 >>Sleeves. Will. Roll.
Of that, you can be assured

>>Stern letters will be sent.

Sassy soundbites during Hannity show visits.

Posted by: Lizzy at October 06, 2026 11:35 AM (rOKnE)

74 24 Not a Senator, but my old Congressman Jim Trafficant had a wonderful taste in clothing. Some said he bought it at the Goodwill or Salvation Army store, but those of us in the know knew he wore left behinds from the hobo jungle. Got his haircuts at the barber college, last guy with a chair that paid you a half buck.

Posted by: bill in arkansas, not gonna comply with nuttin, waiting for the 0300 knock on the door at October 06, 2026 11:35 AM (gm9Sb)

75 I'm not quite understanding why everyone is getting on Flock.

It's not like they are running around installing these systems without government contracts.

The politicians are funding this.

And the kicker is, these systems are subscription based per unit to the tune of 3k a pop.

As always, it's government and not industry.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at October 06, 2026 11:36 AM (XV/Pl)

76 I once saw Mark Sanfrod at a Ted Cruz campaign event in SC in 2016.

He had stains on his pants and was kind of just wandering around expecting people to pay attention to him at an event he obviously wasn't invited to. I'd met him a few times before and said hi.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at October 06, 2026 11:36 AM (RWrid)

77

There is no privacy anymore in America.

Fox has an article about Wes Henderson, Kentucky bourbon CEO and his spy cameras.

Assume everywhere you go, stay in vacation rentals, etc are loaded with spy cameras.

Posted by: four seasons at October 06, 2026 11:37 AM (/QHx4)

78 CBD has also been known to wear dungarees.
----

Do you know who's at war? Its the dungarees versus the suits Les...

Posted by: Herb Tarlek at October 06, 2026 11:37 AM (TN0g+)

79 >>A few years ago the line was "if you aren't doing anything wrong why do you care if the government is monitoring you?"

Until people like the Biden admin redefine "wrong" to include praying outside an abortion clinic of standing outside the Capital on J6, right?

Posted by: Lizzy at October 06, 2026 11:37 AM (rOKnE)

80 76 I once saw Mark Sanfrod at a Ted Cruz campaign event in SC in 2016.

He had stains on his pants and was kind of just wandering around expecting people to pay attention to him at an event he obviously wasn't invited to. I'd met him a few times before and said hi.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at October 06, 2026 11:36 AM (RWrid)

Was he pushing a shopping cart? Did he try to bum a smoke?

Posted by: tubal at October 06, 2026 11:37 AM (Gqar8)

81 67 In my AO the lefties have turned against flock cameras because they believe they are being used to find illegals.

Posted by: 18-1

True.

But they haven't shown signs they'll remove them from their gated communities, the roads around their children's schools, etc.

Posted by: L - No nic... at October 06, 2026 11:38 AM (NFX2v)

82 80
Was he pushing a shopping cart? Did he try to bum a smoke?

Posted by: tubal at October 06, 2026 11:37 AM (Gqar

=======

Almost.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at October 06, 2026 11:38 AM (RWrid)

83 25 I hope it hints at the disdain in which I hold the Senate!
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo

Like Playboy "hints" at women's huge knockers.

Posted by: Bulg at October 06, 2026 11:15 AM (77rzZ)

Wasn't there some hubbub about Playboy having a transgender playmate some years ago?

Posted by: Great Tits at October 06, 2026 11:39 AM (l3cgK)

84 Trafficant sued to call himself the turd in Washington's punchbowl. We need more of his kind of turd.

Posted by: Ted Torgerson at October 06, 2026 11:40 AM (wGerL)

85 59 We have weak, suborned feckless Leadership in both the House and Senate. The Senate is perhaps worse than the House. Useless eaters, consuming without producing. And yet, and yet they keep coming back to office because they know their alternatives are to horrifying to contemplate. A classic Bind Situation, and they know this well, and have used it for forever. Utterly disgusting.
Posted by: tubal
=======
Our representatives are a mirror (as is our entertainment, education, etc.) of our current society. And in such a fallen world, you have to realign incentives away from what is current. Donors with money have essentially bought our Congress critters and out of state donors in particular. E.g. someone like John Ossoff has raised 80-90 percent of his money from out of state for his senate run. That means the home folks have little or no hold over him and elections are not enough--assholes can do a lot of damage in a six year term (Tillis is an example).

And this system and those political donors offer an irresistible way to get politicians and their families generational wealth if they direct some of the taxpayer money to whatever legislation that the interest groups want.

Posted by: whig at October 06, 2026 11:40 AM (E4rtv)

86 65 Every now and then God decides to show off and gives us a spectacularly beautiful day. Today is one of those days.

Life goes fast. Don't miss it.
Posted by: JackStraw

What a sweet reminder. Thank you.

Posted by: L - No nic... at October 06, 2026 11:40 AM (NFX2v)

87 If I had the opportunity to slap the ever-loving shit out of John Kennedy every time he farts out some hayseed-ass corn pone folksy witticism about any issue in front of the Senate I would gleefully do it.

STFU and do your job, asshat.

Posted by: ballistic at October 06, 2026 11:42 AM (oqH4h)

88 87 If I had the opportunity to slap the ever-loving shit out of John Kennedy every time he farts out some hayseed-ass corn pone folksy witticism about any issue in front of the Senate I would gleefully do it.

STFU and do your job, asshat.
Posted by: ballistic at October 06, 2026 11:42 AM (oqH4h)

He is a Temu Mark Twain.

Posted by: tubal at October 06, 2026 11:43 AM (Gqar8)

89 Life goes fast. Don't miss it.
Posted by: JackStraw

What a sweet reminder. Thank you.
Posted by: L - No nic.

Jack, it goes even faster if you're higher than Cooter Brown, so maybe dial it back just a tad.

Posted by: Toasted, My Own Self at October 06, 2026 11:44 AM (EdP2u)

90 Trafficant sued to call himself the turd in Washington's punchbowl. We need more of his kind of turd.
Posted by: Ted Torgerson

"Beam me up, Scottie!"

Posted by: Bulg at October 06, 2026 11:44 AM (77rzZ)

91 80 76 I once saw Mark Sanfrod at a Ted Cruz campaign event in SC in 2016.

He had stains on his pants and was kind of just wandering around expecting people to pay attention to him at an event he obviously wasn't invited to. I'd met him a few times before and said hi.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison
=======
This is a very good example of fallen ruins caused by his own actions. Sanford ruined his social reputation by self sabotage with the shady lady from Argentina and then ruined his political reputation for being a TDS retard when given a second chance.

Now he is like Harold Stassen, doomed to run again and again and lose as a failed pol (referencing his latest flop in a SC election).

Massie did something similar on a more compressed time scale.

Posted by: whig at October 06, 2026 11:44 AM (E4rtv)

92 Just a reminder that five of our worst senators (Mitch, Cassidy, Cornyn, Ernst, and Tillis who is literally a Democrat recruited to run as a Republican) are gone next year.

Even with them, Thune got the OBBB through which supercharged DHS and deportations.

If GOP holds the Senate, replacing at least four of the five above and maybe even adding someone like Rogers in MI, the Senate shifts remarkably rather instantly.

If the GOP manages to hold the House as well...could be interesting.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at October 06, 2026 11:45 AM (RWrid)

93 81 67 In my AO the lefties have turned against flock cameras because they believe they are being used to find illegals.

Posted by: 18-1

True.

But they haven't shown signs they'll remove them from their gated communities, the roads around their children's schools, etc.
Posted by: L - No nic... at October 06, 2026 11:38 AM (NFX2v)

Oh yes, they are totally removing them at and around schools b/c that's a hotbed for illegal kids and American kids of illegals...my county just outlawed them forever on school property for the illegals reason...

Posted by: Nova Local at October 06, 2026 11:45 AM (tOcjL)

94 "Every now and then God decides to show off and gives us a spectacularly beautiful day. Today is one of those days"

He could have picked a day when I'm not at the dentist.

Posted by: fd at October 06, 2026 11:46 AM (GTesq)

95 >Sleeves. Will. Roll.

Many a harrumpf will be heard.

Posted by: t-bird at October 06, 2026 11:46 AM (8Zc4w)

96 How big is a flock camera lens as compared to, say, an aspirin?

Posted by: RI Red at October 06, 2026 11:47 AM (Ml6De)

97 Trafficant the Turd was kinda loopy.

Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory at October 06, 2026 11:47 AM (Yw4Qw)

98 Kennedy is thinking of running for President, so you can get a heapin' helpin' of cornpone every day.

Posted by: Can't Wait! at October 06, 2026 11:47 AM (EdP2u)

99 87 If I had the opportunity to slap the ever-loving shit out of John Kennedy every time he farts out some hayseed-ass corn pone folksy witticism about any issue in front of the Senate I would gleefully do it.

STFU and do your job, asshat.
Posted by: ballistic
========
He is a vicious old bastard that did not defect to the GOP until 2007. He will be all cornpone in public and then in the backrooms be a vicious weaselly backbiter.

Our current Congress including GOP have so many pieces of human excrement floating about that reality show casting directors would flinch about casting them in a show.

Posted by: whig at October 06, 2026 11:47 AM (E4rtv)

100 In my AO the lefties have turned against flock cameras because they believe they are being used to find illegals.

Posted by: 18-1

Yeah, in theory anyway.

This is why I'm not 100% against Flock. We literally let millions of undocumented a-holes and criminals into our country with no way to track them, We have millions of muslims with no way to establish meeting patterns to might show us who is plotting against the US. We have leftist groups committed to violence that are being organized by Chinese, Russians and the WEF among others. We have easily approached military bases all around the country.

If if if they were or are being used properly, I'm not really against their use. We know they've been abused, so if legal to do, those folks should be punished.

If I had to guess, all it's going to take is another mass casualty attack against us or massive jihad riot and Flock cameras will be everywhere forever.

I'd like us to set the rules and circumstances for their specific use, instead of pretending that spying on pre-schoolers is the same as spying on radical mosques for "fairness".

Posted by: naturalfake at October 06, 2026 11:48 AM (YSUhf)

101 If I had the opportunity to slap the ever-loving shit out of John Kennedy every time he farts out some hayseed-ass corn pone folksy witticism about any issue in front of the Senate I would gleefully do it.

STFU and do your job, asshat.
Posted by: ballistic
========
He is a vicious old bastard that did not defect to the GOP until 2007. He will be all cornpone in public and then in the backrooms be a vicious weaselly backbiter.

Our current Congress including GOP have so many pieces of human excrement floating about that reality show casting directors would flinch about casting them in a show.
Posted by: whig at October 06, 2026 11:47 AM (E4rtv)
__________

Corn Pop >>> Cornpone

Posted by: Elric The Blade at October 06, 2026 11:48 AM (iFTx/)

102 Trafficant the Turd was kinda loopy.
Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory

Entertaining, though. Rush used to play clips of him a lot. I think he even referred to him as "our favorite Democrat."

Posted by: Bulg at October 06, 2026 11:49 AM (77rzZ)

103 67 In my AO the lefties have turned against flock cameras because they believe they are being used to find illegals.
----

Flocks are being used to track illegals. Observe where they are posted; they are posted at places where illegals are known to gather, ie Home Depot and Lowes parking lots and on the streets, through intersections they must travel to arrive at said destination. They are placed at other points of travel in the same manner for the same reason, entrapment of illegals.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at October 06, 2026 11:49 AM (C0oZI)

104 97 Trafficant the Turd was kinda loopy.
Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory

He was linked to organized crime as a sheriff in one of the most mobbed up areas in Ohio. Youngstown. So he knew the Feds were on his tail all while he was in Congress (I think he was the sort to take the money and see nothing on mob issues which is what the Fed nailed him for).

Posted by: whig at October 06, 2026 11:49 AM (E4rtv)

105 1) I think it's funny that most of the anti-Flock is probably being funded by their rivals, the police body cam folks. Axom or somesuch.

2) We wouldn't be in this place if the SCOTUS hadn't been populated with statist assholes who hate, hate, hate cars and the fact that them damned lessers dare think they can go where they want when they want.
So they gutted the 4th over the last 10 decades and there's barely any left.

3) no one but no one believes Flock are being used to stop crime. That's such high bullshit of stacked lies.
There are--and never will be--any arrests* of Ja'Quan and Che'neel after another round of "reparations" liberated from the local merchants.
But now Betty Smith dared roll through a stop sign at an empty intersection one Sunday morning and now she owes $250 for failing to stop.

*and if there ever all, the entire NGO complex will activate to dismiss their charges and remove those cameras from anywhere near the ghetto.

Posted by: People's Hippo Voice at October 06, 2026 11:49 AM (3cUTc)

106 Jubilation T Cornpone

Posted by: tubal at October 06, 2026 11:49 AM (Gqar8)

107 Inspector General: Joe Biden’s DHS Knowingly Allowed Millions of Visa Overstay Illegal Aliens to Remain in U.S., ‘Including Those Deemed High Risk to National Security’

Posted by: SMOD at October 06, 2026 11:49 AM (RHGPo)

108 He was linked to organized crime as a sheriff in one of the most mobbed up areas in Ohio. Youngstown. So he knew the Feds were on his tail all while he was in Congress (I think he was the sort to take the money and see nothing on mob issues which is what the Fed nailed him for).
Posted by: whig

Yep. Forgot crooked. I grew up 45 minutes from Youngstown. It was all crooked there.

Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory at October 06, 2026 11:51 AM (Yw4Qw)

109 I wish I had something intelligent to add to yet another glaring example of our Constitutional rights being trounced by the Federal Gov't, who has little to give by way of actually caring about preserving those rights. Our gov't is run by very wealthy sectors who have massive budgets for lobbying the very creeps and useless subwits (a great description) that we elected to protect us. What a joke. And I agree with CBD, who always hits it out of the ballpark...we perhaps have the worst-ever elected legislative body in D.C.

Posted by: Lady in Black at October 06, 2026 11:51 AM (qBdHI)

110 Carolina's offense looked good on SNF.

Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory at October 06, 2026 11:27 AM (Yw4Qw)

They're not bad but the Lions secondary is historically awful

Posted by: ... at October 06, 2026 11:51 AM (bijW1)

111 104 Being from the Mahoning Valley, Trafficant was mobbed up, as were the Little Sisters of Mercy, the Girl Scouts, any number of paper boys, and city government.

Posted by: bill in arkansas, not gonna comply with nuttin, waiting for the 0300 knock on the door at October 06, 2026 11:53 AM (gm9Sb)

112 Now he is like Harold Stassen, doomed to run again and again and lose as a failed pol

Posted by: whig

lol, it would make a great Twilight Zone episode, better than the octogenarian failures that keep run and winning.

Posted by: Auspex at October 06, 2026 11:56 AM (Y8DZL)

113 If, as Texas (and a few other states IIRC) has done, to extend the Castle Doctrine to include your vehicle.

And that doctrine is sound as your vehicle is no less valuable to your livelihood, life and liberty in this age as your home.

Then the strict application of the 4th that applies to your home should also apply to your vehicle.

Posted by: People's Hippo Voice at October 06, 2026 11:57 AM (3cUTc)

114 Old School organized crime vs New School organized crime.

Posted by: tubal at October 06, 2026 11:57 AM (Gqar8)

115 More early vote signs that Democrats are just...not enthused this year.

https://x.com/WisPolitics/status/
2107472331996037361

Mail in voting is down 18% from 2022.

This is a pattern we've seen in OH, VA, GA, and NC. A mix of states with different levels of important races.

Blue districts tend to be further down than red districts.

The post-hoc explanation is that Democrats decided, en masse, to forgo mail in voting this year in favor of in person early voting. Why? Because of the news items from a a few weeks ago where Trump destroyed the USPS or something.

Well, OH started in person early voting today.

Compare the crowd from this morning:

https://x.com/10TV/status/
2107453624058032541

Maybe 25 people.

20 minutes after opening on the same first day of early in person voting from 2024:

https://x.com/ShillcockGeorge/status/
1843631146133012794

The enthusiasm seems...selective at this point.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, discovering British horror with Hammer Films at October 06, 2026 12:01 PM (RWrid)

116 Assume everywhere you go, stay in vacation rentals, etc are loaded with spy cameras.

Posted by: four seasons at October 06, 2026 11:37 AM (/QHx4)
___

No spy cams in my AO.

Gotta go at least 35 miles to hit the nearest one.

Posted by: SMH at God's mercy at October 06, 2026 12:01 PM (W14bs)

117 116 Assume everywhere you go, stay in vacation rentals, etc are loaded with spy cameras.

Posted by: four seasons at October 06, 2026 11:37 AM (/QHx4)
___

No spy cams in my AO.

Gotta go at least 35 miles to hit the nearest one.
Posted by: SMH at God's mercy at October 06, 2026 12:01 PM (W14bs)

Rolla , Poplar Bluff. Here, Lebanon ( pronounced Lebnun) or Osage Beach.

Posted by: tubal at October 06, 2026 12:03 PM (Gqar8)

118
Re the lunar occultation of Jupiter early this morning. Here's an amateur time lapse video that's pretty darn good:

https://t.ly/X1cN5

Note how overexposed the Moon (and Jupiter) are. This is to allow you to see Jupiter's 4 Galilean moons all line up like ducks in row during the event.

There will be even better images/time lapses coming soon, I'm sure.

Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley (w6EFb) at October 06, 2026 12:04 PM (w6EFb)

119 Rolla , Poplar Bluff. Here, Lebanon ( pronounced Lebnun) or Osage Beach.
Posted by: tubal at October 06, 2026 12:03 PM (Gqar

___

Yep.

Posted by: SMH at God's mercy at October 06, 2026 12:05 PM (W14bs)

120 Flock is lobbying hard, very hard, to have the authorities take down the various anti-Flock websites.

For your security.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at October 06, 2026 12:07 PM (RORbl)

121 I'm always amazed how little money it takes to buy these whores off.

$2 million TOTAL in lobbying dollars, and probably 80% of the country is against Flock cameras? It's like what a single Senate campaign spends in a few days.

Of course, it doesnt help Trump is on the record saying he "likes" Flock cameras.

Posted by: Leupold at October 06, 2026 12:07 PM (TsQV5)

122 119 Rolla , Poplar Bluff. Here, Lebanon ( pronounced Lebnun) or Osage Beach.
Posted by: tubal at October 06, 2026 12:03 PM (Gqar
___

Yep.

Posted by: SMH at God's mercy at October 06, 2026 12:05 PM (W14bs)

My 4-G Grandpappy was killed by Osage Indians in Missouri...

Posted by: Great Tits at October 06, 2026 12:08 PM (l3cgK)

123 Of course, it doesnt help Trump is on the record saying he "likes" Flock cameras.
Posted by: Leupold

Probably uses them on his properties.

Posted by: Bulg at October 06, 2026 12:09 PM (77rzZ)

124 Flock is lobbying hard, very hard, to have the authorities take down the various anti-Flock websites.

For your security.
Posted by: Martini Farmer at October 06, 2026 12:07 PM (RORbl)

Which is why anyone with an interest in the matter should take copies of the content on any anti-Flock sites they find, and be ready to post it on other channels if the need arises.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at October 06, 2026 12:09 PM (i9VX2)

125 Everybody sing: My country ‘‘tis of ther

Posted by: Hokey Pokey at October 06, 2026 12:09 PM (4exrq)

126 The enthusiasm seems...selective at this point.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison
===
Welp, we know a percentage of mail in ballots are fraud--it is the easiest way to game the system. And USPS personnel were involved in the scam as were the ballot harvesters from vacant lots and USPS dead letter offices when delivered to places like Wal Mart.

It is possible that this decline does not represent real people at all but simply reduced fraud due to fear of getting caught. I think this is why that judge issued the decision in S. Florida in time for the election. Dems want illegals to vote and for all their cheat mechanism to feel safe.

And I suspect if you go through all these federal judges' communications and meetings, you will find that Dem judges issuing these ruling have illegal ex parte backchannel conversations with people like Marc Elias as to what and how to rule plus when.

Same with that recently revealed and illegal collusion of Minnesota federal district court judges on immigration-all but one were participating in a scheme where they shared information among themselves ex parte as to how to rule on specific cases rather than ruling on the evidence presented in court.

Posted by: whig at October 06, 2026 12:09 PM (E4rtv)

127 123 Of course, it doesnt help Trump is on the record saying he "likes" Flock cameras.
Posted by: Leupold
---------
If you had nearly been assassinated several times, you might feel differently too.

Posted by: whig at October 06, 2026 12:11 PM (E4rtv)

128 Rolla , Poplar Bluff. Here, Lebanon ( pronounced Lebnun) or Osage Beach.
Posted by: tubal

Out by Fort Lost In The Woods.

Posted by: rickb223 at October 06, 2026 12:11 PM (sxG0y)

129 119 Rolla , Poplar Bluff. Here, Lebanon ( pronounced Lebnun) or Osage Beach.
Posted by: tubal at October 06, 2026 12:03 PM (Gqar
___

Yep.
Posted by: SMH at God's mercy at October 06, 2026 12:05 PM (W14bs)

OT story - was up in Osage Beach a while back. A woman, I assume, was walking down a sidewalk dressed in a contractor size trash bag ( I think it’s called a burkah ), pushing a baby carriage. Anyway, a guy was walking his dog on the sidewalk approaching her. The trash bag became agitated, not knowing what to do. The guy just kept walking past her. His dog was fascinated by her apparel. Entertaining.

Posted by: tubal at October 06, 2026 12:11 PM (Gqar8)

130 122 119 Rolla , Poplar Bluff. Here, Lebanon ( pronounced Lebnun) or Osage Beach.
Posted by: tubal at October 06, 2026 12:03 PM (Gqar
___

Yep.

Posted by: SMH at God's mercy at October 06, 2026 12:05 PM (W14bs)

My 4-G Grandpappy was killed by Osage Indians in Missouri...
Posted by: Great Tits at October 06, 2026 12:08 PM (l3cgK)

The Osage were no pushovers.

Posted by: tubal at October 06, 2026 12:12 PM (Gqar8)

131 Of course, it doesnt help Trump is on the record saying he "likes" Flock cameras.

Posted by: Leupold at Octo er 06, 2026 12:07 PM (TsQV5)

I understand... He's looking at it with a crime prevention perspective..

Posted by: It's me donna at October 06, 2026 12:13 PM (+gK6I)

132 lol tubal

Posted by: SMH at God's mercy at October 06, 2026 12:13 PM (W14bs)

133 Nude frat bro dicks

Posted by: Elric The Blade at October 06, 2026 12:13 PM (iFTx/)

134
Interesting tech article at Fox.

Report reveals major university, U Wisconsin, helped build China's vehicle spy grid.

Posted by: four seasons at October 06, 2026 12:19 PM (/QHx4)

135 9 Be prepared for the usual defense of the surveillance state:
"If you're not doing anything illegal, why should you care?"

Be prepared for my response: “beside the point.”

More to the point:
The local SO has my name because I have an LTC
TX DPS knows all about me because they issue the LTC
The Feds know all about me because of clearances and I still have a commission

So fucking what? Flock still has no business butting me under surveillance.

Posted by: Cow Demon at October 06, 2026 12:45 PM (XUHiS)

136 120 Flock is lobbying hard, very hard, to have the authorities take down the various anti-Flock websites.

For your security.
Posted by: Martini Farmer at October 06, 2026 12:07 PM (RORbl)

Bang on your reps and remind them that they are beholden to elections and an electorate, not an evil company.

Posted by: Cow Demon at October 06, 2026 12:47 PM (XUHiS)

137
This is why I'm not 100% against Flock. We literally let millions of undocumented a-holes and criminals into our country with no way to track them, We have millions of muslims with no way to establish meeting patterns to might show us who is plotting against the US. We have leftist groups committed to violence that are being organized by Chinese, Russians and the WEF among others. We have easily approached military bases all around the country.

Those areas were not under surveillance by cameras or otherwise before Flock came along?

Posted by: Cow Demon at October 06, 2026 12:51 PM (XUHiS)

138 So the Senate is the Klown Kar Klan?

Posted by: DinsdalePiranha at October 06, 2026 01:35 PM (XNGMa)

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