As you may have heard, Joni Ernst, the Iowa pig-farmer who has somehow found herself in congress, had a town hall the other day in which she tried to justify the massive cuts to medicaid and medicare her party is endorsing. Someone in the audience shouted out that people were going to die. Ernst dismissed that with the comment, Well, we all are going to die.
They weren’t making an existential comment, they were pointing out that these cuts were going to directly cause the death of thousands or even millions of people in the near future.
Ernst has now posted a truly epic apology video, one that will live on in the annals of disgraceful, clueless apology videos. She could only have made it worse by bringing out a ukulele, but she does win extra points for recording it in a graveyard.
I would like to take this apology to sincerely apologize for a statement that I made yesterday at my town hall. I was in the process of answering a question that had been asked by an audience member when a woman who was extremely distraught screamed out from the back corner of the auditorium, ‘People are going to die,’ and I made an incorrect assumption that everyone in the auditorium understood that yes we are all going to perish from this earth. So, I apologize and I’m really, really glad I did not have to bring up the subject of the tooth fairy as well. But for those that would like to see eternal and everlasting life, I encourage you to embrace my lord and savior Jesus Christ.
I’m sure everyone in the audience already knew that they were mortal. The concern wasn’t that they were going to die someday in the future, but that they’d rather not die right now, you fucking clueless kook.
And they call atheists “arrogant.”
I do appreciate that she’s the one who juxtaposed belief in Jesus with belief in the tooth fairy.
but if we all die, who’s gonna pay for the tax breaks for the rich? we have to think of how we can pay for their healthcare.
wait, if we all die, Soylent Green!
That was not an apology, it was a United States Senator using her government position to promote (her) religion. Because she played the Jesus card her provincial constituents must forgive her. Whatta scam, just call on Jesus and all problems get solved. No need to worry about consequences.
Typical GOP non-apology. “OH I AM SO SORRY,” pretending to miss the point “I could not have POSSIBLY imagined that you the audience could be SO STUPID!”
Voters who want down-home authenticity should have elected one of the pigs.
🤔 Strangely, Representative Ernst seems in no great rush to get herself home to her Jesus.
Moreöver, I’ve been wondering how 😒 someone might react, were their home invaded, they called the emergency services and received the response “well, we all are going to die.”
And they rather not die now needlessly just because they can’t get healthcare. I suspect that as a retired Lieutenant Colonel (US Army/Reserve) Joni enjoys the benefits of life-time US Army medical care as well as the benefits from her Senate seat. So, what’s she got to worry about. No wonder she’s so tone deaf.
A bit of buyer’s remorse popping up by some Trump voters now, as they realise they will get their faces eaten by the leopard after all. But this comes 7 months too late, and I question if it would result in a Democratic win even if there was to be a midterm election, which I doubt very much.
She is insulting the people who elected her.
Not once but twice.
And deliberately tries to confuse the issue.
Yes, we are all going to die.
That is not in question and is not the problem.
The issue is when we will die and why.
We would all want to live as long as possible and not die early from lack of medical care.
I can’t imagine why anyone would vote for her after this. But then again, I can’t imagine why anyone voted for her and the GOP in the first place.
And remember, she also voted for Hegseth after expressing her “concern.” As an army officer, she knows better than most how unqualified he is for his job.
Remember, if you sit in a boat and the good senator is carried away from the shore by currents, just encourage her with shouts about “we will all die anyway”.
I’ve heard that one before. The Republicans aren’t going to the Nexus though; and that’s somewhat tragic, if you think about it. They’re bringing all this misery upon us, but they’re not going to profit from that in any way.
She’s gone full on MAGA, no admission of error, no apologies, everyone else is wrong, so, shut the fuck up and get out of my way. The assumption being people will soon forget. The real head spinner is that she’s up for reelection in 2026 and may be voted back in for another 6 years. I sincerely hope not. But, it is Iowa.
@ ^ drdrdrdrdralhazeneuler : Except financially & in terms of power and influence and ability to infict their sadistic cruelty on others..
Sigh..
IF only it were true that they wouldn’t profit. If only..
Let’s just hope PZ doesn’t embrace this tooth fairy.
And in response to @5 and @8, two rather ironic counterpoints:
• Isn’t it rather ironic that the retired (reservist/National Guard) Army officer benefits from socialized medicine? That’s what the retiree-based-full-care system is. Or, at least, aspires to be: It’s so badly underfunded and bureaucratically hamstrung by the “service-connected injuries/conditions” nonsense for non-retirees that even if it were fully funded, it wouldn’t have the right mix of providers available.
• Never underestimate the tendency of overrigid overspecialization to warp worldviews, especially among those no longer practicing in the field (just relying on what they used to do). This is what happens every time an individual with a physics/engineering degree some time in the past — who is almost never involved in current research even in their own fields — pontificates on The Science involved in, say, incomplete genetic expression. (It’s also what happens every time lawyers whose only experience is in dealing with the interests of large commercial entities are confronted with civil rights issues relating to “the little people,” but whatever.)
This is one of the defining characteristics of Guard/Reserve service: Because members aren’t always on active duty, their training (and experience) is hyperfocused on immediate “job requirements” — which, for officers, is A Big Problem (with no realistic solution short of requiring all officers to be full-time active duty, subject to reassignment and redeployment “for the convenience of the service”). Need I point out that Hegseth’s last several posts were also Reserve/Guard component specializing in public affairs, and just let the analysis percolate through?
@4 Aachen on the Plains
Actually, it’s Senator Ernst.
Reproduced from the Infinte Thread
Stephen Colbert has some things to note and say about Ernst’s crap here in his latest monologue. Under 15 mins long.
@1 that would be “dead peasants insurance”, a system in which someone largely unrelated to the person in question takes out a life insurance policy on the person in question, then cashes in big when that person dies. Currently highly regulated in the US but I imagine that will change because “freedoms” and $$$ in billionaire eyes.
https://www.bankrate.com/insurance/life-insurance/dead-peasant/#why-do-companies-buy-dead-peasant-life-insurance
https://doyledivorcelaw.com/blog/dead-peasant-insurance-policies-coli/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporate-owned_life_insurance
@4 & 9
Personally I am hoping for a Paul Pelosi moment in her future where underpaid 911 services tell her “well, we are all going to die anyway”.
Don’t worry, all she’ll have to do is promise to hang all LGBTQ people, send all Blacks back to the plantations, and make Jesus president and they’ll forget tHe cuts.
The fucking cornpone hicks always do.
@18
Try to remember that the religious right only worships Republican Jesus
Republican Jesus
-Feed only the poor that look like us & pass the drug test
-Give your money to those who are already wealthy and privileged
-Blessed shall be those who take away healthcare from the sick and the meek
-If you get hit, hit back harder
-The rich and the powerful shall inherit the earth
-Do not kill. Unless they really deserve it.
-Do not give unto them aid, for their country is a shithole
-If they are in need and are strangers, deport them
-Punish those from other nations that seek asylum. Take away their children and put them in cages.
-Do unto others before they do unto you
And then there’s this:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1851144400/anti-fake-christians-atheists-jesus-sky?ls=s&ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=Republican+jesus&ref=sr_gallery-1-7&frs=1&sts=1&content_source=172bc7b61bf2d99303fcbcbf61b1483c34184ccf%253A1851144400&organic_search_click=1&logging_key=172bc7b61bf2d99303fcbcbf61b1483c34184ccf%3A1851144400
But Revelations 13:16-17 tells us
“They shall wear the mark of the beast upon their foreheads”
but a warning that it was a red MAGA hat would have been appreciated. Sadly, Revelations forgot to mention the rhinestone flag pin.
“I encourage you to embrace my lord and savior Jesus Christ.”
Pig Castrator Earnst
Mark 10:21, Luke 12:32-33, Luke 14:33, Luke 18:23, Matthew 19:20-21, Matthew 6:24-25
Sell all you have and give to the poor! Jesus commands. You obey.
I just fired off an email to Piggy Castrator Eanst. Sell all you have and give to the poor. Jesus commands, you obey! If these politicians want to bleat about us all being Christians, they need to actually do so, to the letter. This shall be my new hobby.
A former Australian Prime Monster, Scott Morrison did just that during an interview with a right wing conservative friendly Australian TV program in an attempt to polish up his shitty image. ScoMo as he was known presided over Robodebt, the worst attack on marginalised Australians for at least a generation. When most of the East coast was on fire and whole towns were being evacuated he went on holiday in Hawaii. When he returned to salvage his reputation by showing his face in the burnt out regions he attempted to shake hands with a woman who had lost her home and livestock. She swatted his hand away faster than Melania swatted away Trumps. One exhausted firefighter covered in sweat and soot told him in no too uncertain terms to f*#k off. He is also connected to Australia’s largest Pentecostal church which also has a suspect reputation.
He now works as vice chairman for a US weapons company alongside a former Trump adviser and for a venture capital company headed up by Mike Pompeo. This was a reward for a multi-billion dollar deal for Australia to buy used American nuclear submarines as a replacement for aging Australian submarines. These submarines will be well past their use-by date by the time the nuclear subs arrive, if they ever do.
During the interview to show his everyman dad creds he pulled out and played a ukelele, very badly. This prompted the following satirical video. https://youtu.be/csnzJ6bl8_k
It’s the God’s Not Dead 7 plot.
A Christ-fearing, persecuted U.S. Senator from Iowa tries to explain her ideas to a town hall. A demon-possessed heckler in the seething mass cries out, “We are death and your kingdom will be ours in the end!” Momentarily bewildered, in the heat of the moment she misspeaks and the social media demons get a taste of blood.
Will Pastor Dave (Divorced A. R. White) help her craft a conterargument video in a graveyard? Will the Chinese exchange student have something to do in this movie? Will a hall full of potential converts be brought to Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit through their mobile phones? Will a legion of Demoncrats hurl themselves off a cliff in their madness after the power of Christ compels them? Find out, this summer of 2026.
@22 You forgot that he grabbed other people’s hands and tried to force them to shake his.
https://youtu.be/kePvZkV-Zcs?si=4K8MQDKchw6Ah8hf
Reginald Selkirk @14
Yeah, my memory betrayed me there — mea culpa.
And no-one said “you first Joni?” What a missed opportunity.
@22. garydargan :
I didn’t know about that – at least not that first part of it about what Morriscum is doing now. Disgusted but not surprised. I did notice even the clueless losing Gestapotato Dutton campaign had enough sense kept him well outta sight and memory during our last election.
@ gijoel : It backfired on him massively and deservedly.
@28 Abso-fucking-lutely. I think this song sums up my feelings about Scotty from Marketing.
Another reminder that animal ag is fascism’s best friend, and its strongest template for cruelty and exploitation. Ernst is a former pig “farmer” who bragged about castrating baby pigs (which they do without any anesthesia btw) and promised to do make the politicians in Washington “squeal.”
Really glad to be vegan, and not supporting this in any way.
@14 Reginald Selkirk wrote: Actually, it’s Senator Ernst.
I reply: Actually, it should be ‘ignorant xtian terrorist jebus freak ernst’.
I’m not mad, I’m angry and disgusted at how far down the death spiral these aholes are pushing what’s left of this country.