Jeff Danziger lives in New York City. He is represented by CWS Syndicate and the Washington Post Writers Group. He is the recipient of the Herblock Prize and the Thomas Nast (Landau) Prize. He served in the US Army in Vietnam and was awarded the Bronze Star and the Air Medal. He has published eleven books of cartoons and one novel. Visit him at DanzigerCartoons.
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Attorney General Ashley Moody, left, and Gov. Ron DeSantis, center
Reprinted with permission from Alternet
When Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) filed his lawsuit in hopes of overturning the 2020 presidential election, appellate attorneys in Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody's office reportedly wasted no time mocking the frivolous legal effort.
According to The Tampa Bay Times, multiple lawyers had critical reactions to the lawsuit as they believed it likely would not go far. The publication reports that one lawyer described it as "bats--t insane" while another lawyer simply said it was "weird."
"Bats--t insane, which is why (Texas' solicitor general) is not on it," said Christopher Baum, senior deputy solicitor general. "Must be the only guy in the Texas AG's front office who didn't quit/wasn't fired for alleging that Paxton committed crimes."
The attorneys also criticized the reasoning behind Paxton's actions considering he was inserting himself into a legal issue outside of his state.
"What's the theory for how one state has standing to allege Bush v. Gore violations against another state …," Chief Deputy Solicitor General James Percival pondered as he referenced the lawsuit filed amid Florida's recount for the 2000 presidential election.
"'Because,'" Baum replied.
"It also seems weird to cite Marbury v. Madison for the proposition that the court should get involved in a political dispute," Percival said.
The remarks came just one month after several of Paxton's top aides asked federal investigators to review complaints of "improper influence, abuse of office, bribery and other potential crimes by Paxton," the Austin-American Statesman reported.
In response to the latest reports, a spokesperson for Moody's office has dismissed the claims about the attorneys' alleged remarks. In a statement released this week, Lauren Cassedy put the conversations into perspective describing it as office discussion about current events.
"Clearly this was water cooler conversation by a few employees in response to breaking news and prior to any request to join a jurisdictional brief," Cassedy wrote. "There was strong legal analysis to support the Supreme Court hearing and deciding this case on such a novel issue.
"As the Attorney General has previously said she wanted the Supreme Court to review and decide this matter to prevent future confusion and erosion of voter confidence," Cassedy added.
Marjorie Taylor Greene
Reprinted with permission from Alternet
Many MAGA Republicans have been claiming that the January 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol Building wasn't an insurrection. But when far-right Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia appeared on Real America's Voice this week, she seemingly admitted that the January 6 rioters were insurrectionists.
"If you think about what our Declaration of Independence says," Greene told Real America's Voice, "it says to overthrow tyrants."
.@mtgreenee "Jan. 6 was just a riot...and if you think about what our Declaration of Independence says, it says to… https://t.co/xMjyQHSebT— The Republican Accountability Project (@The Republican Accountability Project) 1635262134.0
