Now and then I like to recap here when I am the curator for Mike’s Blog Round-Up at Crooks and Liars. As you guys know, this is a real labor of love for me, and I get to run around to single-shingle bloggers; Digby and Kos are fine bloggers (and excellent writers who have made a career of it), but lots of us small fish could use some amplification (fish with amplifiers is a thing, right?) and it is amazing to me TEN YEARS LATER that C&L still lets me have a bash at the first post of the morning. It’s beyond an honor.

Scissorhead Big Bad Bald Bastard once called me the godfather of small blogs, and I kinda like that! So I try to live up to it during my shift at Crooks and Liars.

Monday:

Welcome to February, Crooks and Liars! Today we size up the political landscape, and realize that the Republicans are as crazed as a beagle in a vacuum cleaner factory.

Infidel753 tells us that the Republican civil war is already over.

What Would Jack Do says that the GOP is America’s clown car. No argument here!

Notes to Ponder argues with the Freedom of Speech, and yes, Marjorie Taylor Greene is exhibit A.

Bonus Track: Because we’re all about pop culture, Open Culture announces that PBS American Masters has release 1,000+ hours of uncut, never-before-seen interviews, including with Patti Smith, David Bowie, Neil Young, and many, many more.

Round-up by Tengrain who blogs at Mock, Paper, Scissors. You can follow Tengrain on the Twitters, too. Send tips, requests, and suggestions to mbru@crooksandliars.com (with For MBRU in the subject line).

Tuesday:

We’re only 2 days into the shortest month of the year and already the Republicans are setting a land-speed record for bad faith.

Dave Dubya’s Freedom Rants gives us an accounting of the many times that the Republican Party has been unrepentant.

The Carpentariat details the bad-faith counterproposals that the Republicans are offering.

Crazy Eddie’s Motie News has a 360-degree piece up on Gamestop that helps us to understand exactly what is going on. Thanks!

And speaking of Gamestop, Fritinancy gives us the etymology of the word we’ve been hearing: Stonks.

Bonus Track: Because we’re all about Pop Culture, Giant Freaking Robot tells us about the time Robin Williams had an entire Star Trek episode written specifically for him.

Wednesday:

I think it was Shakespeare who said, “The time is out of joint,” or maybe it was Marty McFly? Anyway, our bloggers today do a little bit of time traveling.

Left Jabs time travels to 3 weeks ago.

Stinque gives a review of the first 10 days of President Biden’s administration.

Max’s Dad has a simple request for Chuck Schumer.

Bonus Track: Because we’re all about Pop Culture, Miss Cellania takes us to the 1977 debut of Star Wars. So, so good.

If you have not yet read the TRIAL MEMORANDUM OF THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN THE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL OF PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP, you can time travel to January 6, 2021.

Thursday:

So while twice-impeached ex-Prznint Stupid is still at large in these Unites States and it seems like the DOJ is looking into RICO charges for the insurrectionists, our bloggers today are examining culpability.

The Rude Pundit knows why Republicans want to ignore the insurrection.

Hackwhackers wants to help find one of the insurrectionists. Maybe you can help?

Juanita Jean’s looks into a smoking gun from the insurrection.

Bonus Track: The Bluebird of Bitterness presents… How Ikea Was Invented. I’ve been in that meeting, I swear.

Friday:

With Q-Spiracy theorist Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (GQP – GA) driving the news cycle, our bloggers today visit Georgia and consider Black History Month!

Lawyers, Guns & Money tells us that Georgia is exploring new voter suppression techniques.

Speaking of Georgia, eVille Times tells us about the Devil going down to Georgia. Oh, wait. It was the NYTimes.

The Psy of Life looks at racism during Black History Month, and offers some tips White People Can Do To End Racism.

Bonus Track: Bad Newspaper blog found some ill-advised MLK Day ads. What were the advertisers thinking?

Saturday:

Prznint Stupid might be gone, but the mayhem remains.

Progressive Eruptions says, “Once a crook, always a crook.”

3CHICSPOLITICO details why we need a new voting rights act that cover the ENTIRE country. I couldn’t agree more!

40 Years in the Desert examines the recent vote in the House to strip Marjorie Taylor Greene (GQC – Georgia) of her committee assignments.

Michael-in-Norfolk opines about Sen. Josh Hawley: scared of that!

Bonus Track: Because we’re all about the culture, The Internet Archive has digitized all of the issues of Punk Planet. As they say, “Punk Planet was a 16,000 print run punk zine, based in Chicago, Illinois, that focused most of its energy on looking at punk subculture rather than punk as simply another genre of music to which teenagers listen. In addition to covering music, Punk Planet also covered visual arts and a wide variety of progressive issues — including media criticism, feminism, and labor issues.”

Sunday:

So the question of the week is “How did we end up here,” and the answer is: “How could we not?” Our bloggers this week have shown us how the insurrection, an emboldened fascist political party was inevitably going to morph into the GQP given the past 40 years. Thanks a lot, Saint Ronnie.

Big Bad Bald Bastard posits that it all began with Gamergate

Lotus presents the Rules for Right Wingers.

Hopes & Fears suggest that Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has ulterior motives.

Shower Cap summarizes the week as only he can.

Bonus Track: She Who Seeks follows-up to our Ikea post earlier in the week.

That’s a wrap for me; I hope to be back soon! Thanks for sharing part of your day with me!

Here’s a little behind-the-scenes: I really wanted to use this video somewhere, because it fascinated me. It’s a musician breaking down Lady GaGa’s performance, and while I used to be an okay piano player, I never learned half of the chords and music theory this guy just drops. I second guessed myself all week (too nerdy! too obscure! no one cares!), thinking it could go into the Bonus Track… and so now I’m sharing it with you, here.