A hero appears when we truly need one, and this hero gifts us a perfect phrase to sum up the rapturous, joy some people take in calling out the foibles that befall our fellow humans. For years, we have used the word “schadenfreude” the “the experience of pleasure, joy, or self-satisfaction that comes from learning of or witnessing the troubles, failures, pain, or humiliation of another”. The word epicaricasy means about the same thing, but isn’t nearly as mellifluous. Then, comes our hero, Senator John Fetterman to bestow upon us the gift of the phrase “recreational cruelty” and we are blessed.

Fetterman was hospitalized for six weeks for depression last year and upon his return to the Senate seems to have gone from Bernie-Bro to Populist. He has even proclaimed the heresy of NOT being a Progressive, cue swooning from the Squad:

In the 2022 campaign, Fetterman’s ties to Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., prompted GOP opponent Mehmet Oz to tell voters he’d be a mere “sidekick” for the democratic socialist. But Fetterman’s recent stances point to an unorthodox brand of blue-collar liberalism, with a dash of outsider populism, in a purple state that is expected to be hotly contested again in the 2024 elections.

In an interview, the first-term Pennsylvania Democrat said his critics shouldn’t be surprised.

“I’m not a progressive,” Fetterman told NBC News. “I just think I’m a Democrat that is very committed to choice and other things. But with Israel, I’m going to be on the right side of that. And immigration is something near and dear to me, and I think we do have to effectively address it as well.”

RECREATIONAL CRUELTY

Congresswoman Lauren Boebert (R-GOP) has been troubled since the first day of her Freshman term. She heckled Biden at the State of the Union, her son got a minor girl pregnant, Lauren and her husband are getting divorce, Lauren and a date got caught canoodling during a live theater performance and now the teen-dad son has been charged with a list of felonies. Here is the New York Post take on this family drama:

Rep. Lauren Boebert feels her oldest son “should be held accountable” for his latest brush with the law as new details emerged about his alleged involvement in a string of credit card thefts.

Tyler Boebert, 18, and his underage friends are accused of breaking into several cars in Rifle, Colorado, to steal wallets and credit cards that were used for purchases at local gas stations, Starbucks, McDonald’s and the online Chinese fast fashion brand Shein, according to court documents released Wednesday.

The younger Boebert, who became a teen dad last year after impregnating a 15-year-old, is facing 22 charges, including five felonies, in the case.

-snip

Tyler Boebert was caught on surveillance footage from a gas station where a stolen card was used and identified by an officer who recognized him “based on previous encounters” and the fact that he was wearing a hoodie from Shooter’s Grill — his parents’ now-shuttered restaurant.

In 2022, the teen was hit with a “careless driving causing bodily injury” ticket when he flipped his father’s SUV into a Garfield County creek bed, injuring his 19-year-old friend, according to Westword.

Holy freaking smokes. More from the Washington Examiner:

Tyler Jay Boebert is facing four felony counts of criminal possession of ID documents and one felony count of conspiracy to commit a felony, along with 15 other misdemeanor and petty offenses. The charges are connected to vehicle trespasses and property thefts. His mother expressed support for her son but said he would be held accountable.

“It breaks my heart to see my child struggling and, in this situation, especially when he has been provided multiple opportunities to get his life on track,” she said in a Wednesday statement. “I will never give up on him and I will continue to be there for him. As an adult and father, Tyler will take responsibility for his actions and should be held accountable for poor decisions just like any other citizen.”

Naturally, X/Twitter, the repository of the worst feces spillage, went right for Boebert and family:

pic.twitter.com/B6v6FGn0Gh

— Kaylan_TX (@Kaylan_TX) February 29, 2024

If Tyler Boebert made a se.x tape with a MINOR & that’s one of his felony charges…then why was he let out without paying bond?!?!?

Lauren Gropert has been arrested multiple times. So has her son. So has her ex. So has her mom. #BoebertCrimeFamily pic.twitter.com/f7nlun8Rfj

— Art Candee (@ArtCandee) February 29, 2024

JOHN FETTERMAN GIFTED US THE PHRASE

More from the Washington Examiner:

Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) defended Rep. Lauren Boebert’s (R-CO) family against attacks pouring in from Democrats, condemning the “recreational cruelty” against her.

Boebert’s family became the subject of scrutiny again after her son, Tyler Jay Boebert, 18, was arrested on multiple felony counts over a string of thefts. While many critics took the opportunity to hit Boebert’s credibility over the affair, Fetterman came to her defense.

Fetterman and Boebert have gone after each other hammer and tong on social media. BUT there is a line that should be drawn. The line is before recreational cruelty.

Here is the Fetterman tweet and a respnse:

When your kids are screaming out for help, perhaps it's time to focus on your kids rather than vain ambitions???

— Milenka~ (@MilenaAmit) February 29, 2024

There is something we can all agree on. Mr. and Mrs. Boebert need to grow up and work together to say their family. The rest of us needn’t engage in RECREATIONAL CRUELTY.

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