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Thursday Open Thread

Thanks to Peter G. for letting me know we need a new open thread. I'll be back over the weekend.

All topics welcome.

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    Pramila Jayapal (5.00 / 1) (#2)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 30, 2021 at 05:56:53 PM EST
    seems very good at this "explaining thing" that democrats are not usually very good at.

    She is truly the tip of the spear.

    Rockeffer family: WV needs the recollection (5.00 / 1) (#8)
    by MO Blue on Thu Sep 30, 2021 at 09:17:02 PM EST
    We need more resilient infrastructureto withstand increasingly frequent downpours. In New Orleans, the levees that were upgraded after Hurricane Katrina stood up to Hurricane Ida. In other areas, Ida, which could become the costliest weather-related disaster in US history , underscored the need for more improvements. Since 1980, the US has sustained almost 300 weather and climate disasters, costing almost $2 trillion. These figures will rise unless there is a concerted effort to mitigate the climate crisis.
    Yet Sen. Manchin suggests putting a pause on the reconciliation bill, which would threaten the infrastructure bill and jeopardize the Senator's own goals outlined in his pending bill, the American Jobs in Energy Manufacturing Act of 2021.
     ...
    The climate crisis is already here and intensifying. Why wait for things to get even worse? The costs of recovering from extreme weather events is likely to become dramatically more expensive as well. Investing in more resilient infrastructure now will ultimately be safer (and cheaper) than waiting to rebuild after each disaster. Sen. Manchin should be leading the charge to act--not undermining it.

    Rockefellers have a message for Joe Manchin



    Parent
    8 months ago on January 19, 2021, ... (5.00 / 1) (#10)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Oct 01, 2021 at 05:42:24 AM EST
    ... it was Sen. Joe Manchin himself who suggested that the federal government spend up to $4 trillion on infrastructure. I guess he must've had his fingers crossed at the time.

    Meanwhile, little did any of us realize as we closely followed the 2018 U.S. Senate race between GOP incumbent Martha McSally and then-Democratic challenger Kyrsten Sinema that the contest was actually the political equivalent of a shopping mall fight between two bratty and entitled adolescent white girls.

    Because fast forward to today, and we find now-Sen. Sinema - having pocketed over $750,000 in political contributions from Big Pharma lobbyists - trolling her own increasingly alienated Arizona Democratic supporters like some stuck-up prom queen, rather than engaging them like an adult:

    Frank Thorp, NBC News: "What do you say to progressives who are frustrated they don't know where you are?"

    SINEMA: "I'm in the Senate."

    Thorp: "There are progressives in the Senate that are also frustrated they don't know where your are either."

    SINEMA: "I'm clearly right in front of the elevator."

    Manchin is the most disingenuous Democrat in the U.S. Senate, while Sinema is the most embarrassingly immature. Together, their past assurances to their Democratic colleagues mean sh!t.

    It's incredible, given the obvious precariousness of the present political moment for our country and democracy, that these two birds would not only fail to rise to the occasion and answer the call as the echoes of history demand, but would instead further channel the ghosts of DLC past and party like it's 1999.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    IMO, Manchin wants to (5.00 / 2) (#11)
    by MO Blue on Fri Oct 01, 2021 at 06:36:45 AM EST
    tank the reconciliation bill entirely and make sure it never passes. Not only has he stated that it must be scaled to an unacceptable level but must also include the Hyde amendment.

    Sinema is beyond redemption.  

    Parent

    I think he will eventually (none / 0) (#12)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 01, 2021 at 06:54:39 AM EST
    come around.  You really can't believe any particular comment because as D points out he has been all over the map.  It's pretty clear he just wants the attention.

    She, on the other hand, I completely agree with you.  She has to go.  She has to be primaried.   AZ is not WV.  We might not be able to primary him but we can primary her.  And she has to go.  I don't care how she votes on this or anything else.

    She's gotta go.

    Parent

    Agreed. (none / 0) (#17)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Oct 01, 2021 at 03:29:06 PM EST
    Personally, I think that Senate video of Sen. Sinema's patronizing curtsy to the Senate Clerk, as she literally cast her thumb's down on a $15/hr. federal minimum wage, is going to come back to haunt her during a 2024 Democratic primary. Sinema apparently styles herself as the second coming of the late Sen. John McCain, who she's cited as a role model. And in one particular respect, she can lay claim to that as I'll explain.

    While mainstream media remains hopelessly nostalgic for McCain's so-called "feisty independence," many of us also remember his propensity to be a remarkably condescending, judgmental and self-absorbed a$$hole who was actually quite unpleasant to listen to and watch when he was like that.

    Far too often, McCain embraced his a$$hole persona with a fierce and stubborn determination, and that was likely his fatal flaw during his two campaigns for the presidency. Both George W. Bush and Barack Obama deftly turned his prickly personality against him, leading voters to question whether McCain possessed the necessary temperament for the White House.

    But on a number of occasions over the years, McCain could indeed suppress his inner petulant child and rise to the moment for the sake of the country. He did it to provide effective political cover to President Clinton's then-controversial decision in 1994 to recognize the government of Vietnam and open a U.S. embassy in Hanoi. He did again in the waning days of the 2008 presidential campaign, when he publicly chastised Republicans who were questioning Obama's citizenship and patriotism.

    Kyrsten Sinema's problem is that she's channeling John McCain's problem child, while kicking Sen. McCain's statesmanship to the curb. And like you, I really don't see that changing any time soon. Given recent events, she's simply not worth any of the time we'd need to witness that gradual political evolution on her part. Far better to instead find someone else who doesn't still have to grow up.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    If you wan a good laugh (none / 0) (#33)
    by MO Blue on Sat Oct 02, 2021 at 03:38:59 PM EST
    Sinema is whining about lack of trust.

    The Hill


    Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) on Saturday slammed the decision to delay a vote this week on the bipartisan infrastructure deal that she helped negotiate, calling it "inexcusable."


    Parent
    Boo hoo (none / 0) (#34)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Oct 02, 2021 at 05:01:24 PM EST
    Biden Throws In With Left

    October 2, 2021 at 4:08 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard 157 Comments

    "For well over a year now, President Biden's vaunted negotiating style largely boiled down to this: I'm with you," the New York Times reports.

    "After he vanquished Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont in the Democratic primary, he brought the liberal icon's ardent supporters into the fold by embracing much of the senator's platform even as he ran on unifying the country. When moderate Democrats came to call, he used the tones of centrism to assure them of his conciliatory bona fides."

    "But when Mr. Biden ventured to the Capitol on Friday to help House Democrats out of their thicket, he had to choose sides. He effectively chose the left."



    Parent
    Love to be a fly on the wall (none / 0) (#35)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Oct 02, 2021 at 05:04:57 PM EST
    at her big fundraiser tonight.  Some how I think when she scheduled this she was expecting to be in a different place in this process at this point.

    Parent
    Salon (none / 0) (#36)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Oct 02, 2021 at 05:08:24 PM EST
    Great idea (none / 0) (#37)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Oct 02, 2021 at 05:22:52 PM EST
    let Kyrsten cook for a month

    Pelosi Sets New Deadline for Infrastructure Bill

    October 2, 2021 at 4:04 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard 95 Comments

    Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) on Saturday set a new deadline of Oct. 31 for the House to pass the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill, The Hill reports.



    Parent
    Get used to it (none / 0) (#45)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Oct 04, 2021 at 06:47:51 AM EST
    "Sen. Kyrsten Sinema was confronted by proponents of the democratic Build Back Better bill who followed her as she entered a public restroom on Sunday morning," the Arizona Republic reports,

    "As of Sunday evening, the video had been watched more than 2.8 million times."



    Parent
    Back to the gym! (5.00 / 3) (#3)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 30, 2021 at 06:08:18 PM EST
    after 7 weeks

    A pleasantly empty gym.

    The local news reported tonight that 85.3% (5.00 / 1) (#28)
    by Chuck0 on Fri Oct 01, 2021 at 09:22:08 PM EST
    Of PA adults have gotten at least one Covid shot. I think that is,a pretty good number for getting us to herd immunity. My company laid down the law on Thursday. All employees must be vaccinated by Dec 5. Including all remote workers. That means people in MI, KY, CA,PA, NY and NH. Probably TX too. I gave zero sympathy for anyone who ends up unemployed for no vaccine.

    Speaking of Texas, American Airlines ... (5.00 / 1) (#30)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sat Oct 02, 2021 at 11:53:28 AM EST
    ... just informed its employees that COVID vaccinations or weekly tests are now required for work, with no opt-out. As I said before in earlier thread, the time for asking everyone nicely is over.

    Parent
    Please (5.00 / 2) (#31)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Oct 02, 2021 at 12:05:54 PM EST
    LOL! (none / 0) (#76)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Oct 08, 2021 at 01:34:24 PM EST
    That pretty much sums it up. Few sympathize with such willful ignorance and stupidity. No doubt, steps are underway on the GOP right to recast these morons as victims of liberal wokeness.

    Parent
    Yep. My daughter-in-law (5.00 / 4) (#40)
    by Towanda on Sun Oct 03, 2021 at 11:19:30 AM EST
    is a VP (of an international renewable energy company) and told us the measures she will take to enforce the vaccine requirement.

    She also is an immigrant (now a citizen) whose home country also is firm about restrictions, so she has not seen her family for almost two years -- and her parents have not seen their granddaughter since she was a newborn, and they had to cut short their stay to head home before that country closed down.

    My son resigned from his job to be a stay-at-home dad and keep their family safe, because his company would not enforce even masks, while hers has allowed her to work from home throughout.

    My daughter-in-law is outa f*cks to give. People will be fired.

    And companies that keep their workers safe can find new hires.

    Parent

    The Way Down (5.00 / 1) (#29)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Oct 02, 2021 at 08:28:01 AM EST
    HBOMAX
    The Way Down' Documentary Trailer Tells the True Story of the Cult of Gwen Shamblin
    BY ERICK MASSOTO
    PUBLISHED SEP 23, 2021
    The HBO Max original docuseries premieres its first part on the platform next week.

    This story about an insane Christian diet cult, cant even type that with a straight face, will hold your attention.  The terrible things they did to people, children particularly - a child was beaten to death following their instructions for discipline- is not even the creepiest part.

    That is the "normal people" former members who have turned on the "church" but tell incredible stories about what they did and saw before it dawned on them they were doing really crazy shi+.

    The Way Down: God, Greed and the Cult of Gwen Shamblin is directed by two-time Emmy winner Marina Zenovich. The filmmaker is no stranger to chronicling lives; she has directed documentaries about prominent figures such as Roman Polanski, Richard Pryor, Robin Williams, and Lance Armstrong.

    HBO Max will release the first three parts of the docuseries on September 30. The final two episodes are set to come in early 2022. Check out the trailer and poster below:



    Tonight on TCM (5.00 / 1) (#32)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Oct 02, 2021 at 02:14:20 PM EST
    TCM Celebrates Fleischer Animation's 100th Anniversary

    Both parts 1 and 2 are on tonight.  Set your DVRs

    Suggestions (5.00 / 1) (#38)
    by Jeralyn on Sun Oct 03, 2021 at 04:02:59 AM EST
    Netflix:

    Cocaine Cowboys (the Willy and Sal Story)
    Vicenzo
    Cartel de los Sapos: Origens (New series that is a prequel to El Cartel and Cartel de los Sapos -- it's the family story of the two brothers who founded and led the Cali Cartel, with changed names to avoid defamation suits. Not great casting, but way better than Narcos).

    Hulu:

    9 Perfect Strangers (Nicole Kidman, Melissa McCarthy and Bobby Carnivale)

    Discovery Plus: Race Around the World (Seasons 1 and 2); the 24/7 House Hunters International Channel

    Hulu and Discovery Plus come with ad-free versions, as does Peacock and CBS for a few dollars more.

    Parent

    Thanks for the Fleischer tip (none / 0) (#41)
    by Peter G on Sun Oct 03, 2021 at 01:16:44 PM EST
    We really enjoyed it, especially the earliest stuff. Love "Out of the Inkwell," where the cartoon characters basically fight with the cartoonist for control. As for the later, it was too much Popeye and not enough Betty Boop for me.

    Parent
    Just watched this (none / 0) (#46)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Oct 04, 2021 at 09:19:01 AM EST
    That Popeye cartoon, Sinbad,  which I had seen hundreds if not thousands of times must have been a restored print.  Of all the times I've seen it I've never seen it like that.  

    It was like seeing the restored Sistine Chapel.  It looked garish and extreme.  

    Parent

    Blocked (5.00 / 4) (#59)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Oct 06, 2021 at 08:12:48 PM EST
    Federal Judge Blocks Texas Abortion Law

    October 6, 2021 at 9:12 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard 14 Comments

    "A federal judge late Wednesday blocked enforcement of a Texas ban on abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, a legal blow against a novel law that has severely limited the procedure statewide," the Wall Street Journal reports.

    "U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman in Austin issued a preliminary injunction blocking the law, saying the state had pursued `an unprecedented and aggressive scheme to deprive its citizens of a significant and well-established constitutional right.'"

    "His order came in a case brought by the Justice Department, which sued Texas last month after abortion-rights advocates were unable to obtain a court order against the Texas restrictions."



    Federal District Juidge Pitman's (5.00 / 1) (#60)
    by KeysDan on Thu Oct 07, 2021 at 10:37:30 AM EST
    injunction presents a fact-finding, fact-based 113 page ruling that comprehensively addresses the Texas law (SB 8).

    From biology lessons, including "fetal heartbeat" through legal primers, such as the state's scheme to distance itself from the law's consequences ("private actors, aka vigilantes, are state actors or work in concert with the state").  And, state courts are an arm of the state, including judges and clerks.  Indeed, the law depends on the state courts for enforcement. The Courts are a necessary component of operation of SB 8.

    The DOJ presented an excellent case for the injunction, arguing successfully for standing to sue the state on the basis of (1) the Texas law impairs the US responsibilities under federal law to provide abortions (e.g, requirements of US Department of Prisons; and no exemptions for rape or incest under the Texas law would not interfere with requirements in certain immigration cases).  (2) The federal government can sue when a state
    violates the government interest in upholding the Constitution and federal sovereignty.

    The judge underscores that a person's right under the Constitution to chose to obtain an abortion prior to fetal viability is well-established. The state was fully aware that depriving its citizens of this right by direct action would be flagrantly Unconstitutional so the State contrived an unprecedented statutory scheme to do just that.

    Judge Pitman stated: "above all, it is the intentional design of the law by state actors for the chief purpose of avoiding judicial review that sets it apart and makes it particularly appropriate for this Court to enjoin."  He added: that "Other courts may find a way to avoid this conclusion is theirs to decide.  This Court will not sanction one more day of this offensive deprivation of such an important right."

    Unlike the sorry, lazy-a$$ reactionary Supreme Court majority, this judge had hearings and obtained evidence.  No 11:58 pm one-page go-ahead for the Texas law. And, contrary to Justice (I am not a political hack) Alito's claim, the evidence presented showed that even in the few weeks since this shadowy ruling, the right to abortion was, in effect, overturned.

    (In a footnote, Judge Pitman uses the term "person" since "the Court recognizes that not all pregnant people identify as women).

    The remaining concern is for the retroactive liability set forth in SB 8.  The Texas law disallows several defenses, including continued liability even if the act was lawful at the time of the abortion, but overturned at some later point.  Does not sound right, but then--
    Texas.

     

    Parent

    I guess (none / 0) (#61)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 07, 2021 at 11:27:27 AM EST
    the next court in line is a very conservative one.  

    Parent
    Yes, the (none / 0) (#62)
    by KeysDan on Thu Oct 07, 2021 at 12:58:53 PM EST
    Fifth Circuit (in New Orleans) has five Clinton/Obama appointments, six Trumpers, the remainder, Bush and Reaganites.   Likely to fare better if a Texas billionaire than a Texas woman.  

    It surely will wind up at the Supreme Court, but both courts would be wise to just give an attaboy to Judge Pitman and hope everyone will forget their infamous midnight ride over women because they could not figure out SB 9 and who to enjoin. Even Chief Justice Roberts dissented to that one-- not his style--- better to boil the frog slowly when taking away rights.  

    And, that Mississippi case that flat-out asks to overturn Roe could get decided before Texas.  But still that deputizing vigilante has thingie needs to be addressed, as Judge Pitman notes a similar tact could be taken on Second Amendment issues.  A nice Texas model for many a Stasi type law.

    Parent

    The Fifth Circuit (none / 0) (#89)
    by KeysDan on Fri Oct 08, 2021 at 08:31:43 PM EST
    Restored Texas SB 8,  the vigilante abortion law.  Back to the Supreme Court.  

    Parent
    The 5th Cir's new "administrative stay" (5.00 / 4) (#96)
    by Peter G on Sat Oct 09, 2021 at 11:46:05 AM EST
    is a grotesque misapplication of that emergency procedure. The idea that the urgent situation here, requiring emergency action by the appeals court, is federal interference with a "duly enacted" state statute, rather than the state's blatant and shameless interference with Texas women's constitutional rights is just ludicrous.

    Parent
    I was (5.00 / 1) (#97)
    by KeysDan on Sat Oct 09, 2021 at 12:23:02 PM EST
    wondering about the quick action by the 5th circuit.. just two days--it almost takes that long to study Judge Pitman's ruling.  How does this fast-tracking occur?  Especially in the context of  long timelines in cases of enforcing subpoenas in a timely manner.  It took two years, almost, to get Don McGhan to testify before the House Judiciary.  And, now there is similar concerns for the Select Committee on 1/6.  

    Parent
    Quick action explained (none / 0) (#98)
    by jmacWA on Sat Oct 09, 2021 at 02:55:09 PM EST
    The needs of the GOP are always greater and more important than the needs of the Democratic party, and therefore the country.  Since the GOP seems driven to push the country into the ground.

    Parent
    The only thing decided quickly (none / 0) (#100)
    by Peter G on Sat Oct 09, 2021 at 06:14:21 PM EST
    (as I thought my comment had made clear) was which side should have the benefit of the status quo while the request for a stay is heard and decided (next week some time, presumably) and then while the appeal to the 5th Cir is heard, which presumably will take some months. Three separate steps. Any of those three rulings can in theory also be reviewed by the Supreme Court.

    Parent
    Not a surprise sadly (none / 0) (#90)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 08, 2021 at 08:40:16 PM EST
    I have noticed what seems to me an odd thing just since this TX abortion law.  Meaning that's the first time I noticed.  The advocates are consistently saying "pregnant people".  The plight of pregnant people in TX.  I would have expected pregnant women.  Are they talking about expectant fathers or is there some gender dimension I am missing or just uninformed about?

    Parent
    Google is our friend (none / 0) (#92)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 08, 2021 at 09:04:59 PM EST
    Honestly, how likely is it that a trans-man (none / 0) (#95)
    by Peter G on Sat Oct 09, 2021 at 11:00:50 AM EST
    would become pregnant? I think that's the possibility that "pregnant person" is trying to account for.

    Parent
    Goodbye... (5.00 / 3) (#63)
    by desertswine on Thu Oct 07, 2021 at 07:59:58 PM EST
    Ndakasi.   RIP

    I saw this earlier (none / 0) (#64)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 07, 2021 at 08:02:40 PM EST
    Got a little lump in the throat

    Parent
    Allen West, candidate for governor of Texas.. (5.00 / 1) (#102)
    by desertswine on Sat Oct 09, 2021 at 11:52:49 PM EST
    has covid,and he's not vaccinated.

    He tweeted that he and Angela West, who tested positive Friday, had received monoclonal antibody injections, which are used to treat patients in the early stages of a COVID-19 infection.

    Posts to his Twitter account earlier in the day said Allen West had "a low grade fever and light body aches" and that he was "taking Hydroxychloroquine and Ivermectin" -- two treatments shown to be ineffective against COVID-19.


    Thoughts (none / 0) (#103)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Oct 10, 2021 at 08:07:40 AM EST
    I have thoughts. (5.00 / 1) (#108)
    by Chuck0 on Sun Oct 10, 2021 at 04:02:06 PM EST
    But can't share them here.

    Parent
    Apparently (none / 0) (#104)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Oct 10, 2021 at 08:42:54 AM EST
    Angela had a vaccine and is not going to the hospital and Allen didn't have a vaccine and is going to the hospital. Don't know why she is receiving the antibody treatment though.

    Parent
    I read that we wrote (5.00 / 1) (#109)
    by Chuck0 on Sun Oct 10, 2021 at 04:17:31 PM EST
    "x-rays show COVID pneumonia, not serious."

    His doctors should inform him that the "serious" part takes time. It was a week before my breathing got so bad I had to be transported to the hospital and admitted. It doesn't start right away. He could survive. I did. But, I did not contract the delta variant. It didn't exist yet. The delta variant definitely appears to be more lethal.

    Parent

    And (none / 0) (#105)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Oct 10, 2021 at 08:43:57 AM EST
    I would not be surprised to find out that Allen died in a week or so.

    Parent
    He may die... (5.00 / 1) (#106)
    by desertswine on Sun Oct 10, 2021 at 12:50:09 PM EST
    but he won't have any intestinal worms.

    Parent
    And, (none / 0) (#107)
    by KeysDan on Sun Oct 10, 2021 at 01:12:52 PM EST
    if he survives we will ask, why the long face?

    Parent
    It might be the worst thing (none / 0) (#123)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Oct 12, 2021 at 12:06:40 PM EST
    if this guy beat Abbot in the primary and ran against Matthew Mcconaughey

    Texas gubernatorial candidate Allen West (R) "was released from the hospital after three days of treatment for Covid," the Daily Beast reports.

    Even though he was not vaccinated, he promptly told his followers not to be afraid of the virus that has killed more than 700,000 Americans.



    Parent
    Um (5.00 / 1) (#124)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Oct 12, 2021 at 01:49:51 PM EST
    might NOT be the worst thing

    Parent
    A preprint study, hyped (5.00 / 1) (#111)
    by KeysDan on Mon Oct 11, 2021 at 01:11:44 PM EST
    by anti-vaxxers, claiming that 1 in 1000 recipients of Covid vaccines may get inflammation of the heart muscle (Myocarditis) has been withdrawn.

    The rate of myocarditis was calculated by dividing the number of Covid vaccines delivered in Ottawa by the number of incidences of the heart condition. The researchers initially said that the number of vaccines delivered was 32,379, when it was actually 854,930.

     The miscalculation of the amount of vaccines delivered resulted in a risk overestimated by 25X.

    "Our reported incidence appeared vastly inflated by an incorrectly small denominator, i.e, number of doses administered over the time period of the study", in a statement by the researchers at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. The study had not yet been peer-reviewed and has been retracted.

    Certainly, an unfortunate mistake, but errors or misinterpretation of the results do occur, re-enforcing the importance of peer-reviewing research papers before publication. And, of course, such preliminary findings enable anti-vaxxers to pick up and run with them.

    The problem is, (5.00 / 1) (#112)
    by Zorba on Mon Oct 11, 2021 at 03:26:57 PM EST
    as you said, that the anti-vaxxers will keep on and on citing this, without acknowledging the retraction and the huge mistake the original authors made.
    The more shame on them for publishing this in MedRxiv, before it had been peer reviewed.  

    Parent
    Lessons of becoming a septuagenarian (5.00 / 1) (#120)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Oct 12, 2021 at 07:52:59 AM EST
    As I quickly close in a n 70 I have learned that living well is indeed the best revenge.

    But living long doesn't svck in that department either

    NOT Sure (5.00 / 1) (#125)
    by jmacWA on Tue Oct 12, 2021 at 03:39:52 PM EST
    who is older, but we are within a couple of days of each other.  I am the 5th... SO one of us gets to tell the other if it TOTALLY sucks :)

    Parent
    Ha (none / 0) (#126)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Oct 12, 2021 at 05:13:24 PM EST
    You can tell me.  You got three days on me.

    I think I just want to get it over with.

    Parent

    Get back to me (5.00 / 1) (#127)
    by Zorba on Tue Oct 12, 2021 at 05:50:34 PM EST
    in a few years when you are approaching your mid-70's, like Mr. Zorba and I are.  ;-)

    Parent
    Zorba, you're not really old (5.00 / 3) (#131)
    by fishcamp on Tue Oct 12, 2021 at 08:31:36 PM EST
    until you hit 80...

    Parent
    I'm going to go with (5.00 / 3) (#139)
    by jmacWA on Wed Oct 13, 2021 at 05:01:30 AM EST
    you're not really old until you feel old.  At this point I am still pretty healthy and though moving more slowly both physically and mentally I don't really feel old unless I look in a mirror.

    Parent
    Low wattage light bulbs (5.00 / 5) (#140)
    by MO Blue on Wed Oct 13, 2021 at 05:44:07 AM EST
    in the bathroom does wonders in getting rid of wrinkles. If you only look at yourself in the bathroom mirror you never need to look old.

    Alternative facts are not all bad. :-)

    Parent

    Yeah (5.00 / 1) (#141)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Oct 13, 2021 at 07:45:01 AM EST
    The three big gro lites on a timer for the plants in my bathroom leave no place to hide.

    Parent
    I'll do that (none / 0) (#128)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Oct 12, 2021 at 07:46:08 PM EST
    this one seems different.  Even more than 60.  Which was different.  The idea of being 70 is frightening and kind of incomprehensible.

    I can no longer die young.  For one thing.  

    Parent

    Which is why you needto get out of (none / 0) (#132)
    by oculus on Tue Oct 12, 2021 at 08:58:24 PM EST
    Dodge for #70.

    Parent
    Meaning what? (none / 0) (#133)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Oct 12, 2021 at 09:15:10 PM EST
    I actually plan to visit friends in another city but it's kind of coincidental.  If that's what you mean.

    I was planning to go for Halloween but my dog sitter needed a delay.

    Parent

    Exactly what I mean. (none / 0) (#137)
    by oculus on Tue Oct 12, 2021 at 09:54:36 PM EST
    Ah (5.00 / 1) (#138)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Oct 12, 2021 at 10:18:30 PM EST
    Well, I didn't really mean that kind of frightening.  But I guess.  I'm going fir the weekend and it's on Monday.  I only realized that after I made plans.  Have not decided I am staying thru monday.

    Not much fir birthday celebrating historically.  That said.  It is special.

    Parent

    Actually, I always thought (none / 0) (#148)
    by Zorba on Wed Oct 13, 2021 at 02:56:56 PM EST
    that 30 was kind of special, because a few days before my 30th birthday, my mom told me that I should stay at 29, because she was staying at 39 and my grandmother was staying at 49.
    Well, okay then...

    Parent
    Solidarity (5.00 / 3) (#153)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 14, 2021 at 06:39:58 AM EST
    IATSE was my union too (none / 0) (#154)
    by fishcamp on Thu Oct 14, 2021 at 07:48:55 AM EST
    for 20 years as a cameraman.

    Parent
    Our oldest daughter is also a member (none / 0) (#155)
    by Peter G on Thu Oct 14, 2021 at 08:38:16 AM EST
    as a theatrical lighting designer and former master electrician.

    Parent
    GOP fascism on the march. (5.00 / 1) (#163)
    by KeysDan on Thu Oct 14, 2021 at 02:12:23 PM EST
    At a rally last night for GOP VA governor candidate Glenn Youngkin, the Pledge of Allegiance was recite4 to an American Flag that was said to have been flown at "the peaceful" rally with Trump on January 6.

    Youngkin and Democrat Terry McAuliffe are in a tight race for governor.  While Youngkin was not present at the rally in his honor, he did receive warm fuzzies in a telephone call from the former guy.

    At the failed Beer Hall Putsch in Munich in 1923, a flag carried by one of the thugs who was killed was soaked with his blood. This flag was subsequently used in Nazi ceremonies and was known as the Blood Flag (Blutfahne).

    Even Glenn understands this is bad (none / 0) (#165)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 14, 2021 at 03:43:59 PM EST
    he is supposed to be trying to distance himself from this.

    Parent
    Donald who? (none / 0) (#166)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 14, 2021 at 03:55:43 PM EST

    Glenn Youngkin (R) wouldn't say whether he wants former President Donald Trump to campaign for him in the final weeks of Virginia's gubernatorial election and distanced himself from a controversial right-wing rally supporting his candidacy the night before, NBC News reports.


    Parent
    Glenn should be (none / 0) (#167)
    by KeysDan on Thu Oct 14, 2021 at 05:11:30 PM EST
    asked if he sees any parallels in the GOP rally ceremonial flag used in his honor and the Blutfahne. (Blood Flag, Swastika).

    Parent
    The Terry Mac (none / 0) (#172)
    by Ga6thDem on Sat Oct 16, 2021 at 02:31:13 PM EST
    people on Twitter were literally doing cartwheels and dancing on Glenn's grave over this one. It seems at least they think Youngkin is political roadkill. And not saying that he wants Trump to campaign with him doesn't help him with Trump's base.

    Parent
    This is good (5.00 / 2) (#168)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 14, 2021 at 08:37:39 PM EST
    `tis the (5.00 / 1) (#171)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Oct 16, 2021 at 07:39:18 AM EST
    What the heck is wrong with cops in this country? (5.00 / 3) (#175)
    by Chuck0 on Sun Oct 17, 2021 at 05:19:57 PM EST
    (Besides the obvious stuff). Why are they fighting vaccine mandates so hard? They want support from the public, yet see no problem endangering our health. COVID is the number 1 cause of death among cops now. I had a cop at my door recently. My wife asked him point blank if he was vaccinated (he wasn't wearing a mask). He replied no. I immediately ordered off my porch and onto the sidewalk. I talked to him through the closed screen door from inside the house.

    Chicago police are threatening to quit. I say let them go. They don't seem to do much to stop crime there anyways.

    For anyone who interacts with the public, I say no COVID vaccine, no job. You can all starve.

    Someone needs to put up (none / 0) (#176)
    by jondee on Sun Oct 17, 2021 at 06:04:30 PM EST
    a bunch of Trump Got Vaccinated billboards in strategic locations all around the country and see what kind of difference that makes.

    It would be hard for many to resist following the example of the anointed-by-God alpha ape.

    Parent

    Nah (5.00 / 1) (#177)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Oct 17, 2021 at 06:59:35 PM EST
    They literally booed him live for suggesting it.

    My plan, Biden should sign an executive order banning police from being vaccinated.

    Or better yet, anyone else.  After tomorrow if you are not vaccinated you can not be vaccinated.

    That would totally do it.  They would be kicking the doors of RXs down

    Parent

    Love the name (none / 0) (#1)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 30, 2021 at 05:53:07 PM EST
    Hi.  We are Moms For Liberty and you have to stop doing A,B,C,D,E and F

    group wants to ban discussion of a famous Norman Rockwell anti-segregation illustration

    This comes after other reports that Moms for Liberty is demanding a variety of other content be removed from schools. Among the content they object to are books about Galileo for being unfair to the church, and a picture book of seahorses for supposedly being overly sexualized.



    This is not a winning strategy (5.00 / 1) (#24)
    by Chuck0 on Fri Oct 01, 2021 at 08:49:43 PM EST
    or position. The local school board in my district tried this cr@p. Issuing a sweeping book ban. They put out a list of books that teachers could not teach use. I live Pennsyltucky. The backlash was swift. Students protested daily. It was all over the news. The local city library made a point of making all those books available. An organization was formed that had a event at a local park to give those books away free. Thousands of books. They were gone in no time. I don't usually vote in the school board election. I pay school taxes but don't know the candidates. I do this time. One knocked on my door last weekend. We had a nice conversation. My next door neighbor, whose kids are out of school, has a election sign for that candidates slate. My boss has a kids in high school in this district and her I talked about this. I promised I would vote in the school board election in November. The book ban created a ground swell of opposition to the current board.

    This is similar to nearby Dover and the Intelligent Design case. That entire school board was voted out after they lost the lawsuit against them. One they should never had defended with taxpayer dollars.

    I realize it's TN, but I think this will backfire on them. And btw, the book ban was rescinded here. The opposition was overwhelming. Those board members are gone in November.


    Parent

    How much the strategy wins (none / 0) (#27)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 01, 2021 at 09:09:38 PM EST
    will have to do with location probably.  I'm sure in more urban areas pushback can work.  In many more rural areas there is no pushback.

    Parent
    It strikes me (none / 0) (#4)
    by Zorba on Thu Sep 30, 2021 at 06:25:53 PM EST
    That they should call themselves Moms for Censorship.  Or Moms for Ignorance.

    Parent
    No kidding (none / 0) (#5)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 30, 2021 at 06:40:24 PM EST
    Love this part

    because it makes their students "feel discomfort" with their own whiteness.

    Yeah, well, the whole entire point is about being made to "feel discomfort" with you own skin color.

    So go Norman.  It's totally working.

    I wonder if Look magazine or whoever would publish that illustration today.  My bet is no.

    Parent

    You have to click (none / 0) (#6)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 30, 2021 at 06:42:15 PM EST
    The Norman Rockwell link to see the whole thing.  RAW STORY would never post that image on their front page.

    Parent
    Here's a better image (none / 0) (#7)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Sep 30, 2021 at 06:46:07 PM EST
    Ruby Bridges looks very small indeed, (none / 0) (#9)
    by desertswine on Thu Sep 30, 2021 at 09:52:42 PM EST
    walking in the midst of those giant federal marshalls, who are so big, that their heads do not fit into the picture.

    Parent
    Travels with Charley (5.00 / 1) (#20)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 01, 2021 at 04:39:31 PM EST
    John Steinbeck wrote: "The show opened on time. Sound the sirens. Motorcycle cops. Then two big black cars filled with big men in blond felt hats pulled up in front of the school. The crowd seemed to hold its breath. Four big marshals got out of each car and from somewhere in the automobiles they extracted the littlest negro girl you ever saw, dressed in shining starchy white, with new white shoes on feet so little they were almost round. Her face and little legs were very black against the white."

    "The big marshals stood her on the curb and a jangle of jeering shrieks went up from behind the barricades. The little girl did not look at the howling crowd, but from the side the whites of her eyes showed like those of a frightened fawn. The men turned her around like a doll and then the strange procession moved up the broad walk toward the school, and the child was, even more, a mite because the men were so big. Then the girl made a curious hop, and I think I know what it was. I think in her whole life she had not gone ten steps without skipping, but now in the middle of her first step, the weight bore her down and her little round feet took measured, reluctant steps between the tall guards. Slowly they climbed the steps and entered the school." -Travels With Charley

    link

    Parent

    Bit of an interesting turn (none / 0) (#42)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Oct 03, 2021 at 03:24:51 PM EST
    I posted that article on Facebook and a FB friend chimed in.   The friend is, I might as well use her name because I'm going to talk about the book she co-wrote, Nancy Steinbeck.  I happen to know her because she lives with one of my oldest friends.  Here locally.  She is credited with co-authoring a book about Steinbeck with her late husband, John Steinbeck IV(I think). The book is The Other Side of Eden.  I have never read it but the reviews I could find are not terrible.  As I understand it some criticized it because they didn't like some of the things said about the great man.

     Anyway, she contacted someone else on FB who she has become acquainted with who also wrote a book on Steinbeck.  Bill Steigerwald who wrote a book called Dogging Steinbeck that retraces and investigates how much of Travels With Charley actually happened.  Apparently after a rough reception his book has earned some respect over the years like Penguin being convinced to move it from fiction to non fiction.

    His version is interesting.  You can investigate it easily enough.  The man himself is a problem for me and I let Nancy know it as soon as I saw her post to him on FB.  The first few FB posts included a repost from "dr"Scott Atlas and posts trashing the 1619 project.  I told her I would probably not believe anything he said and she said she totally understood but that his research on her former father in law was solid.  In her opinion.

    Anyway, he just responded,

    Bill Steigerwald
    Hello Nancy -- sorry, just saw this (too much golfing fun/torture was had). Based on what I know/learned/deduced, I believe Steinbeck really did go to New Orleans to witness the ugly and daily anti-integration protestsby white mothers and others at the William Frantz elementary school in the fall of 1960. Little Ruby Bridges was escorted to class each morning by federal marshals, and based on detail and emotional power of Steinbeck's description of the scene, it's very hard to believe he wrote it based on newspaper or TV reports. In my book 'Dogging Steinbeck' I recount what Steinbeck saw and felt and what x-rated things he heard the white mothers shouting (they were edited out of his original draft of "Charley"). Everyone loves the New Orleans scenes for their power and passion. Here's what I said in Dogging Steinbeck: "Going to New Orleans to see the Cheerleaders in action was the only deliberate act of journalism Steinbeck made on his entire trip, and it paid off. It gave his book of fictional encounters, musings and memories some needed punch and passion and a newsy edge. Not to mention a welcome dose of reality.
    "Being where real people are doing real things always has a way of producing strong writing, whether you're a newspaper reporter covering a house fire or a great novelist covering a race war. Steinbeck's 'Cheerleaders' scenes, unlike any other in the book, prove it. In probably less than an hour, he found a powerful ending for "Charley" without having to rearrange the real world much at all."

    For what it's worth.  It was an interesting conversation.  I did not know about the questions about the total accuracy of the stories of Travels With Charley.  Which I think I did read long ago.  

    Parent

    Like a tragic (none / 0) (#13)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 01, 2021 at 06:55:55 AM EST
    Peanuts cartoon,

    Parent
    Ok fine, eye roll (none / 0) (#14)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 01, 2021 at 07:10:51 AM EST
    I guess we will just have to make do with only and additional 2 trillion.  

    ;)

    I would guess that was always close to the actual target.

    Democrats Now Eyeing $2 Trillion Bill

    October 1, 2021 at 6:40 am EDT By Taegan Goddard 44 Comments

    Wall Street Journal: "Lawmakers and aides said Mr. Manchin's desire for a $1.5 trillion price tag on the social policy and climate bill didn't reflect the current negotiations. Some aides said they expected a new agreement could come in around $2 trillion."



    I think it (none / 0) (#15)
    by KeysDan on Fri Oct 01, 2021 at 10:53:19 AM EST
    would be smart to take the $2 Trillion number, or try for $2.5 Trillion, but fund the program over seven years rather than 10., as set up for the $3.5 Trillion reconciliation package. This will cover this term of the Biden Administration and the next (which is a likely probability for the incumbent barring a Republican insurrection).  

    And, should the Republicans win the presidency in 2028, they will just reallocate these large sums of money to projects such as building The Wall, or some criminal enterprise.

    Parent

    Re-linked (none / 0) (#23)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 01, 2021 at 05:33:45 PM EST
    Biden Re-Links Infrastructure and Reconciliation Bills

    October 1, 2021 at 4:48 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard 351 Comments

    President Biden told the House Democratic caucus that bipartisan infrastructure package "ain't going to happen until we reach an agreement on the next piece of legislation," Punchbowl News reports.

    Said Biden to reporters: "It doesn't matter when. It doesn't matter whether it's six minutes, six days or six weeks. We're going to get it done."



    Parent
    "Mom, I got nothing behind my back." (none / 0) (#16)
    by KeysDan on Fri Oct 01, 2021 at 12:16:46 PM EST
    Alito's turn to claim he is not a political hack. The third Supreme Court Justice to be defensive in the same number of weeks: Justice Barrett claimed so in a speech in Louisville at the Mitch McConnell Center and introduced by Mitch; Justice Thomas at Notre Dame, Sept 17, 2021. And, now Alito, also at Notre Dame.

    Justice Alito's hour-long rant was of an aggrieved victim and his tone was combative, taking on critics of the"shadow docket".  Not really a shadow docket, just an Emergency Docket.  And, the media has created the impression that a "dangerous cabal" is deciding important cases.

    Alito rejected the "false and inflammatory" claim that the Court nullified Roe v Wade in that screwy Texas "Fugitive Uterus" decision. Ignoring that the effect of the ruling has been to deny abortions to most women in Texas.

    As for that "emergency docket", aka Shadow Docket, Alito stated the emergency docket ruling at 11:58 pm to allow the Texas law to remain in effect was necessary because the law was to go into effect at 12 midnight. However, this was a full day after the deadline allowing the law to take effect. Apparently, mixed in a little mendacity to boot.

    As for those people he chastened for asserting that the Court is a "dangerous cabal", he might check with Justice Thomas, who said at his Notre Dame speech that the Supreme Court may be the most dangerous branch of government.  But, don't be alarmed, it still works.


    And as we morph into the Ottoman Empire...... (none / 0) (#18)
    by desertswine on Fri Oct 01, 2021 at 04:03:01 PM EST
    Mail delivery for many Americans will slow starting on Friday, part of Postmaster General Louis DeJoy's blueprint for overhauling the U.S. Postal Service.

    Almost 4 of 10 pieces of first-class mail will see slower delivery, according to Paul Steidler, senior fellow at the Lexington Institute and an expert on the postal service. That "means mail delivery will be slower than in the 1970s," he said, calling DeJoy's plan "disastrous."


    Bring (5.00 / 1) (#19)
    by FlJoe on Fri Oct 01, 2021 at 04:29:17 PM EST
    back the pony express! Although I suspect it's modern equivalent will be Uber-Mail.

    Parent
    Can anyone give me a REASONABLE (none / 0) (#21)
    by MO Blue on Fri Oct 01, 2021 at 04:59:26 PM EST
    explanation of why DeJoy still has his job.

    Parent
    I can. (5.00 / 1) (#25)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Oct 01, 2021 at 08:51:51 PM EST
    With the enactment of the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970, the U.S. Post Office was reformed and reconstituted in 1971 as the U.S. Postal Service, an autonomous federal agency which at that point was no longer under the direct control of the executive branch.

    As such, the U.S. Postmaster General is no longer a member of the presidential cabinet. The president only has power to appoint the members of the USPS Board of Governors, subject to Senate confirmation. A USPS governor's term is nine years.

    The Board has sole authority over USPS personnel matters, which includes the hiring and firing of the agency's CEO and executive director.  are Trump appointees, who were confirmed by a Mirch McConnell-led Senate.

    Parent

    I think there is a way to fire the board (5.00 / 1) (#43)
    by MO Blue on Sun Oct 03, 2021 at 04:05:55 PM EST
    Pursuant to Title 39, the USPS Board of Governors' central responsibility is to "represent the public interest" and its members may be removed by the President "for cause."

    USPS Board of Governors allowing DeJoy to use the postal service as an arm of the Republican Party and destroying the  Postal System seems to give the President plenty of reason to remove them for cause.  

    Parent

    Oops. Sorry about that. Let's try it again. (none / 0) (#26)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Oct 01, 2021 at 09:03:39 PM EST
    With the enactment of the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970, the U.S. Post Office was reformed and reconstituted in 1971 as the U.S. Postal Service, an autonomous federal agency which at that point was no longer under the direct control of the executive branch.

    As such, the U.S. Postmaster General is no longer a member of the presidential cabinet. The president only has power to appoint the members of the USPS Board of Governors, subject to Senate confirmation. A USPS governor's term is nine years.

    The Board has sole authority over USPS personnel matters. The Postmaster General serves at the pleasure of the governors for an indefinite term and the Deputy Postmaster General serves at the pleasure of the governors and the Postmaster General.

    Six of the nine current USPS governors are Trump appointees, who were confirmed by a Mitch McConnell-led Senate. The other three are Biden appointees. And that's why Louis DeJoy is still U.S. Postmaster General, and will be until President Biden can count to five.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    I was thinking the same (none / 0) (#22)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 01, 2021 at 05:10:44 PM EST
    I mean I know they are busy but how long does it take to escort him out of the building.

    Parent
    A suspect was arrested in the case of a man who... (none / 0) (#39)
    by desertswine on Sun Oct 03, 2021 at 11:16:10 AM EST
    attemped to burn down a Texas Democratic Party headquarters.

    Damage was minimal. Patrons at a bar across the street saw the fire and quickly put it out. Security cameras were installed after a graffiti incident last year. Faircloth is charged with 2nd degree felony arson 3rd degree felony possession of a prohibited weapon.


    Three of the four endorsed Repub candidates (none / 0) (#44)
    by Peter G on Sun Oct 03, 2021 at 07:51:34 PM EST
    in our upcoming local school board election -- formerly non-partisan -- are endorsed by this outfit, whose "cause" is apparently fighting the scourge of anti-racism. Two of the three are former leaders in the local Tr*mp campaign. (Which succeeded in getting almost 20% of the vote in the Township, btw. Just to give you a flavor of the attitude here.) And one of those two offered to organize a bus for January 6, and when there was not enough local support (even most of our Republicans here are not crazy) referred those who responded to another place where they could sign up. The third member of the ticket is a professor of theology at a local Catholic university. I am looking forward to another 80-20 election, or maybe it will just be 70-30.

    Ya gotta give the right (5.00 / 3) (#50)
    by jondee on Mon Oct 04, 2021 at 02:16:21 PM EST
    credit- if 'credit' is the right word. They latch onto a set of interconnected wedge issues, like 'public school indoctrination','wokeness', and gender identity and publicly belabor and run it into the ground it like a starved pitbull with a bone.

    To some extent, they now even have people like Maher and Sam Harris pushing the narrative that focusing on the inconvenient details of American history promotes wokeness and division - as if the right-wing billionaires and their Dark Money and bs astro-turfing weren't pushing division with their war on the idea of the public good.

    Parent

    Facebook seems to be having (none / 0) (#47)
    by Militarytracy on Mon Oct 04, 2021 at 11:44:09 AM EST
    A lot of issues today.

    Yes (none / 0) (#48)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Oct 04, 2021 at 12:33:02 PM EST
    Me too

    Parent
    Boom (none / 0) (#51)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Oct 04, 2021 at 04:11:03 PM EST
    If only (none / 0) (#52)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Oct 04, 2021 at 04:56:47 PM EST
    Marsha Marsha Marsha! (none / 0) (#49)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Oct 04, 2021 at 12:58:34 PM EST
    GOP Senator Complains of Socialist Plot

    October 4, 2021 at 1:11 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard 174 Comments

    Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) told Fox Business that the infrastructure bills are part of a Democratic plot to take over America with socialism in one vote.

    Said Blackburn: "They want government control of your kids."

    She added that the legislation will also close churches.



    Marsha is (none / 0) (#53)
    by KeysDan on Mon Oct 04, 2021 at 05:08:50 PM EST
    an older senator (age 69) than Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene (age 47) which has given her more time to sharpen her wackiness and learn to dispense it in a more measured way.  But, she is among the more dangerous fascists around.

    Parent
    But seriously (5.00 / 2) (#55)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Oct 04, 2021 at 05:23:57 PM EST
    I think this is a good sign.  This is desperation.  They are beginning to understand this is going to happen.

    Expect lots more of this.  I was just reading about the massive stealth lobbying push by business and industry to kill parts of this.  The friends of Joe and Kyrsten.  Huge amounts of money is going into it.  And into pockets of legislators.

    Parent

    Personally (none / 0) (#54)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Oct 04, 2021 at 05:17:00 PM EST
    I have no interest in anyone's children.  But sign me up for the Churches thing.

    Parent
    I've always said (none / 0) (#56)
    by jondee on Mon Oct 04, 2021 at 06:17:18 PM EST
    you can get just in touch with Satan and Marx out in nature as you can in any stuffy, old Satanic/Marxist Church.

    Parent
    It's already succeeding! (none / 0) (#58)
    by Chuck0 on Tue Oct 05, 2021 at 06:54:48 PM EST
    The church on the corner, about 4 doors from my house closed about 2 months ago. Building is for sale. It would make a killer house.

    Actually it closed from lack of business. I think the congregation was down to about 9 on Sundays. Not a lot of Lutherans around here.


    Parent

    The Murderbot Diaries (none / 0) (#57)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Oct 05, 2021 at 06:47:43 PM EST
    This is a series of SciFi books.  I am about half way through the second and I'm really enjoying it.
    This is from wiki.  It says "soap operas".  Listening to it I had imagined more like serial prestige tv.  It's very funny.  I really identify with the main character who only want to get rid of the humans so he can watch tv.

    The Murderbot Diaries is a science fiction series by American author Martha Wells published by Tor.com. The series is about an artificial construct designed as a Security Unit, which manages to override its governor module, thus enabling it to develop independence, which it primarily uses to watch soap operas. As it spends more time with a series of caring people (both humans and fellow artificial intelligences), it starts developing friendships and emotional connections, which it finds inconvenient

    6 books

    Murderbot (none / 0) (#70)
    by Steve13209 on Fri Oct 08, 2021 at 10:52:56 AM EST
    I've read all six and enjoyed every one. I encourage all sci-fi lovers to try this series.

    Parent
    I expected (none / 0) (#91)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 08, 2021 at 08:59:52 PM EST
    someone must surely being developing this for a series or movie.  But not that I can find.  People are pushing the idea but no takers so far.  As far as I can tell.  Which is amazing  considering how hard they are scraping the bottom of the barrel for streaming product.

    I think it is perfect for a streaming series.  With a tv addicted robot as the central character.

    Weird choice for a name.  I have to think some are put off by a series called Murderbot Diaries.  Even if it says he was a complete failure as a Murderbot in like the first page.  It's not what I expected from the name.

    Parent

    Could some one explain why Trump (none / 0) (#65)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 07, 2021 at 08:05:38 PM EST
    has not been charged with Seditious Conspiracy?


    Senate report details Trump's efforts to use DOJ to overturn election results


    18 U.S. Code § 2384 - Seditious conspiracy
    U.S. Code
    Notes
    prev | next
    If two or more persons in any State or Territory, or in any place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, conspire to overthrow, put down, or to destroy by force the Government of the United States, or to levy war against them, or to oppose by force the authority thereof, or by force to prevent, hinder, or delay the execution of any law of the United States, or by force to seize, take, or possess any property of the United States contrary to the authority thereof, they shall each be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both


    My question,too. (5.00 / 1) (#66)
    by KeysDan on Thu Oct 07, 2021 at 09:19:00 PM EST
    I suppose it can be said that it is easier to charge than convict.  But, there clearly is enough for the DOJ to pick up on the senate report to make the case.   Hopefully, Merrick Garland has been on it and this report provides more grist for the mill.  

    Trump just continues. The putsch 1.0 failed but putsch 2.0 is well underway.  Today Trump told his henchman to defy the Congressional 1/6 subpoenas.  Sounds like obstruction of Congress.  

    Trump needs to be subject to the disqualification for federal office as set forth by Section 3 of the 14th Amendmennt.  If not a conviction for insurrection, Trump has clearly given aid and comfort to the enemies of the democracy...just with his blowing of kisses of love to the seditionous and violent mob on Jan 6 and his active coercion of DOJ officials to throw the election.  Calling Merrick Garland!

    Parent

    The 5 page Republican response (none / 0) (#67)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 07, 2021 at 09:29:12 PM EST
    to this from Chuck Grassly basically says it is all moot because he did not succeed.  That's not what the law says

    conspire to overthrow, put down, or to destroy



    Parent
    Grassley announced (none / 0) (#72)
    by KeysDan on Fri Oct 08, 2021 at 12:23:12 PM EST
    that he will be seeking his eighth senatorial term in the 2022 election (he will be 89 in 2022 and 95 when he completes his term). To succeed in a fascist party, such as the Republican Party, one must align with stupidity. This comes easy to Grassley, e,g,, his running battle with the History Channel.  And, now his toadying up to the former guy.

    Lawrence O'Donnell points out another scary part---the young lawyers on his staff (Grassley is not a lawyer) who came up with this wacky thinking will be around for a long time,  maybe the future Brett Kavanaughs or Squi.  When troglodytes such as this senator take leave there  will be a fresh lot to take his place.

    Parent

    He right about that (none / 0) (#74)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 08, 2021 at 12:52:36 PM EST
    for a while now Trump has frightened me way less than the roughly 25-30% percent of the country, including apparently the entire Republican Party sans Liz and her committee sidekick, who are excited about leaving liberal democracy behind.

    I'm a hopeless optimist but it's a good time to be 70.  Being 20 would be absolutely terrifying.  I almost can't imagine.  No wonder they are so crazy.  

    Parent

    Trump started the process (none / 0) (#75)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 08, 2021 at 01:06:37 PM EST
    but it was really the pandemic and their response to it that has made me realize that as much as I always thought my brothers and sister were right wing nuts (they were all vaccinated early) they are nothing compared to their children and grandchildren.

    It's a little scary to realize you really don't want to have anything to do with most of your family.  And that very soon, I am the youngest child, it will be no one in my family.  Living.  Ever again.  
    I have in some ways I had not appreciated been close to them.  That's over.

    And I'm not alone.  It's happening all over.  Someone said recently, it's like the f'ing Civil War.  Brother against brother.

    Parent

    Point me to the evidence that he agreed (none / 0) (#71)
    by Peter G on Fri Oct 08, 2021 at 12:22:59 PM EST
    with some other person (the meaning of "conspired") that force should be used ("by force") to prevent certification of the electoral count. Evidence that could persuade an impartial jury beyond a reasonable doubt, that is. Isn't that what this statute requires?

    Parent
    It is true, (5.00 / 1) (#78)
    by KeysDan on Fri Oct 08, 2021 at 02:39:36 PM EST
    that to charge Trump with a crime(s) involves tough decision-making--applicable criminal statutes, enough evidence to present to a jury, and weighing considerations for comity, including the distinct possibility of violent civil discord by Republicans.  

    But, it should not be a tough decision to fully investigate Trump, not only by the House Select Committee, but also, by the Department of Justice.  Trump continues to assault the foundations of liberal democracy--out in the open.  He is attempting to interfere in the House investigation, instructing his henchman to defy lawful subpoenas, on spurious reasons, such as executive privilege, and client/lawyer confidentiality, even though none of the latest four horseman are lawyers.  All to run the clock on this Congressional session and stymie the investigation.

    The Attorney General needs to support aggressively the House investigation and get on its own horse to investigate Trump.  True, there is the usual no comment on an ongoing investigation meme, but remaining totally silent was a fatal flaw, in my opinion, of Mueller and his report.

     Silence ignores the political dimension, frustration, and warnings to wannabe and other insurrectionists.  Mr. Garland does not have to give a press conference every morning when taking the garbage out in a black plastic bag, as did Ken Starr, but something, please.

    Parent

    Yes, that (none / 0) (#79)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 08, 2021 at 02:56:41 PM EST
    As far as I know there have not been sedition charges against the people who stormed the capital.  But there have been charges.

    And those people, as they have said themselves, were just doing what Trump, Rudy, Mo and others told them to do.

    If the law only holds the holds the small fish accountable the law should be changed.

    IMO


    Parent

    When I explain why I have problems (none / 0) (#82)
    by Peter G on Fri Oct 08, 2021 at 03:58:37 PM EST
    shoe-horning Tr*mp's conduct into the box of "seditious conspiracy," I am not saying he has committed no crimes. Just not (so far as I can see) that one in particular. So your comment, it seems to me, does not follow from mine.

    Parent
    That was not a reply to you (none / 0) (#83)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 08, 2021 at 04:35:37 PM EST
    The comment you replied to asked a question.  Which you answered.  I guess.  I guess I even agree having just read about Aaron Burr.
    Fine, why has he not been charged with any of the other crimes he has committed.  
    Clearly he has broken several election laws.  GA just being one example.

    I think that was Dans point.  And mine.

    Parent

    You are the lawyer (none / 0) (#73)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 08, 2021 at 12:45:47 PM EST
    but if you are asking my opinion I don't see how repeatedly trying to get election officials to fraudulently charge voter fraud to overturn an election, by force as in termination, could not be said to

    conspire to overthrow, put down, or to destroy

    the elected government.

    Parent

    I do not think that "by force" can be (5.00 / 1) (#77)
    by Peter G on Fri Oct 08, 2021 at 02:32:13 PM EST
    understood in this context to mean anything other than "by violence against person or property." Criminal conspiracy does not mean tacit or vocal support, approval, or encouragement. It means agreement before the fact that a specific crime be committed or criminal objective achieved. This is not about who I like or agree with (or despise) politically or personally. It is about the properly narrow criteria of criminal law. Our side does not and should not jump from "I oppose that person and his political faction" to "Lock her up." We are not totalitarians.

    Parent
    Yes. we are not totalitarians. (5.00 / 1) (#88)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Oct 08, 2021 at 06:44:32 PM EST
    "There should be no question regarding war with Germany. Germany is already at war with us! It should not take a disaster as great as France suffered in '70 [the 1870 Franco-Prussian War] to bring us to our senses."
    - Former President Theodore Roosevelt, Letter to British archeologist Arthut Weigall (February 7, 1917)

    But we may well find ourselves at the mercy of totalitarians, if we don't start moving immediately and aggressively to counter the looming and active threat that's presently facing our democracy and its institutions. What follows is my opinion only.

    I very much respect both the law and those who practice and uphold it. But I don't think anyone wants to be remembered as the legal equivalent of the hapless British quartermaster at the Battle of Isandlwana in 1879, who had stubbornly insisted upon the proper, orderly but otherwise frightfully slow protocols for distributing ammunition to the units, which enabled the Zulu impi to press upon, overwhelm and eventually kill the beleaguered British troops as they broke ranks and fled because they had run out of bullets.

    Allowing violent GOP right-wing insurrectionists to plead out to misdemeanor charges of illegal parading after they had attacked the U.S. Capitol as part of an attempted GOP coup d'etat is utter folly. Frankly, it smacks of a rather appalling attempt at appeasement, an act of equivocation in the face of the threat posed by those far-right politicians who've already proved themselves willing and able to incite their mobs to violence. They've done it at least once, and they'll certainly do it again unless or until they're otherwise dissuaded or immobilized.

    Even as events were spiraling out of control in this country back in 1859-60, very few people at the time took seriously the looming threat of attempted secession and a subsequent civil war. Likewise, we appear to have a not-insignificant number of Democrats - including, sad to say, my old friend Rep. Ed Case (D-HI) - who still insist on behaving as though these are normal times, when they're clearly not.

    The now-ample evidence of sedition and even treason is right there in front of us, staring back at our faces. Trump and the Republicans have clearly crossed the Rubicon. They are moving to seize power and to achieve that end, they're willing to stomp on American democracy until it's as flat as a pancake.

    We're dealing with irrational political extremists and violent bullies here, who have repeatedly chosen to escalate to the point of confrontation rather than de-escalate. It's becoming increasingly likely that the only thing these white wingbats will ultimately respect is brute force.

    Isaac Davis (Woody Allen): "Has anybody read that Nazis are gonna march in New Jersey? Y'know, I read this in the newspaper. We should go down there, get some guys together, y'know, get some bricks and baseball bats and really explain things to them."

    Party Guest: "There is this devastating satirical piece on that on the Op Ed page of the Times. It is devastating."

    Isaac Davis: "Well, a satirical piece in the Times is one thing, but bricks and baseball bats really get right to the point."
    - Woody Allen and Marshall Brickman, "Manhattan" (1979)

    Now, I'm not advocating that we start rounding up our political opponents and incarcerating them upon mere suspicion of wrongdoing. Rather, we need a president, an attorney general and an administration who are willing to apply the full force, might and weight of federal law in order to bring the wingbats back down to Planet Earth and get them to start seeing reason. And at this point in time, the effort needs to be coercive.

    We certainly have both just cause and and an opportunity right now to do so. But honestly, we're not going to get there by merely slapping their wrists and then convincing ourselves that surely, they'll now stand down and back off once we've taught them a lesson and shown them leniency.

    Otherwise, I fear that we'll soon be confronted with a situation in which the militant GOP right compels us through the threat of violence to either submit, or retaliate in kind to defend ourselves. You can't bring a letter opener or a penknife to a likely gunfight, and then expect a positive outcome.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    Well, it looks to me that nothing (none / 0) (#93)
    by desertswine on Fri Oct 08, 2021 at 09:50:54 PM EST
    meaningful is getting done as we amble slowly into fascism.

    Parent
    Yep! (2.00 / 1) (#94)
    by RickyJim on Sat Oct 09, 2021 at 09:43:16 AM EST
    I might even start posting again why the US needs a brand new Constitution, despite the hostility I get when I do.

    Parent
    That Great Orange Turd.. (5.00 / 2) (#68)
    by desertswine on Fri Oct 08, 2021 at 12:33:50 AM EST
    needs to be in prison.

    Parent
    The optimist in me (none / 0) (#69)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 08, 2021 at 07:31:20 AM EST
    hopes the feds have taken no action because they expect the state of GA to do it thinking it would be better for the country if if was a state and not the Federal govt.

    Parent
    150 years ago today ... (none / 0) (#80)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Oct 08, 2021 at 03:06:18 PM EST
    ... on October 8, 1871, after a tinder-dry summer, an early-season cold front with unseasonably high winds swept westward across the entirety of Lake Michigan and became the twin catalyst for the two costliest fires in American history at Chicago, IL and Peshtigo, WI.

    The Great Chicago Fire began in an area southeast of downtown, and the high winds and the predominance of wooden structures in the city quickly turned a localized fire at the O'Leary family's barn in the 6th Ward into a major conflagration that quickly crossed the Chicago River and spread northward. By the time the flames subsided two days later, the tragedy killed about 300 people, consumed about 3.5 square miles of the city center, destroyed some 17,500 buildings and left over 100,000 Chicago residents homeless.

    Obviously, the Great Chicago Fire is the much better known of the two events. But the Peshtigo Forest Fire north of Green Bay was actually far larger and deadlier, killing somewhere between 1,500 and 2,500 people, completely incinerating twelve entire communities and ultimately burning an area the size of Rhode Island, including nearly half of the Door Peninsula.

    The death toll for the Peshtigo disaster remains entirely uncertain because all local records were lost to the firestorm. Of the 1,749 residents of the village of Peshtigo per the 1870 U.S. census, rescuers could account for only 30% of them after the tragedy. At least 350 unidentified bodies were buried there afterward in a mass grave, because there was nobody left alive to identify them.

    But such was the remoteness of the Peshtigo region and relatively primitive state of mass communications in 1871 America that in the immediate wake of the twin disasters, both Wisconsin Gov. Lucius Fairchild and Milwaukee Mayor Harrison Ludington hastened to provide material aid south of the state line to Chicago, initially unaware of the simultaneous catastrophe that had likewise enveloped the northeastern corner of their own state. The entire scope of the Peshtigo tragedy would not become fully known for weeks afterward, in part because the rural communities did not have a media source comparable to the Chicago Tribune to dramatize the event.

    There has been some longstanding speculation, first broached in 1883, that the Chicago and Peshtigo disasters were cause by a cosmic event, specifically the breakup of Biela's Comet in 1852 and the subsequent collision of one of its remnant pieces with earth nineteen years later in 1871.

    This hypothesis was actually the subject of an overwrought 1997 documentary "Fire From the Sky" (which aired initially on TBS and can be seen on YouTube), and 2004 research paper by Robert Wood, "Did Biela's Comet Cause the Chicago and Midwest Fires?", which was published in 2004 by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. But most experts discount the possibility of a cosmic catalyst and lean instead toward a combination of meteorological conditions and human factors that triggered the twin tragedies.

    Whether or not Mrs. O'Leary's cow kicked over a lantern in her Chicago barn has never been established. But lots of anecdotal evidence suggests that the Great Chicago Fire did indeed ignite at the O'Leary barn, and the high winds that night did the rest. Further, farmers in northern Wisconsin had also been burning forest to clear land for crops, and the same high winds off Lake Michigan likely triggered that maelstrom in Peshtigo.

    History is fascinating.

    A visit to the tiny Peshtigo Museum (5.00 / 2) (#170)
    by Towanda on Thu Oct 14, 2021 at 10:37:36 PM EST
    is so saddening,

    A more likely theory on why the Peshtigo conflagration was so all-consuming -- people died sheltering in the river, as even that provided no relief -- is from Increase Lapham, a marvelous scientist in Milwaukee, better known as the father of the U,S. weather Service, Lapham carefully chronicled weather conditions daily in the region for decades.

    His data showed that Peshtigo was hit by a tornado -- a too-common Wisconsin phenomenon -- at the same time as the fire. The result was the horrifying huge, swirling columns of fire that survivors (especially a minister whose memoir includes many, fitting Biblical allusions) described.

    Btw, if ever you go to Peshtigo, down the road from the museum is a must stop, Mickey Loo's -- a true, untouched  1950s diner, nit a faux replica. The original Horlicks malted milk machines are stilll used to make wonderful milkshakes.

    Parent

    Thank you for the head's up. (none / 0) (#174)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sat Oct 16, 2021 at 07:41:52 PM EST
    Could it be possible that the firestorm itself spawned that tornado? I know that big fires in SoCal have occasionally created their own major high wind patterns and gusts.

    For aure,sI'll definitely check out the Peshtigo Museum when we head up that way next June. My niece attended UW-Green Bay and after graduation decided to stay in the area, having met a nice young man from Sturgeon Bay to whom she's now engaged to marry. So we'll be in nearby Door County. I'm looking forward to it. Springtime in Wisconsin is lovely.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    Easy peasy (none / 0) (#81)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 08, 2021 at 03:28:55 PM EST
    Webb unfolds like an exotic space flower

    I had not realized it will take half a year after launch.

    Bannon might be the first referral (none / 0) (#84)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 08, 2021 at 04:44:09 PM EST
    The House select committee will "swiftly consider" making a criminal referral for Steve Bannon if he continues to defy their subpoena.

    Bannon's lawyer told House investigators that former President Donald Trump had instructed him not to comply on the basis of executive privilege, but committee chairman Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS) and Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) said they would not wait for a court to settle the dispute, reported Politico.

    "We will not allow any witnesses to deny a lawful subpoena or attempt to run out the clock, and we will swiftly consider a criminal contempt of Congress referral," the pair said in a statement.

    The lawmakers said former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and former Defense Department chief of staff Kash Patel have been engaging with the committee, while longtime Trump aide Dan Scavino still has not been served with his subpoena.



    BAnnon's (none / 0) (#85)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Oct 08, 2021 at 05:32:34 PM EST
    lawyer sounds ridiculous. He listens to what Trump tells him to do. I don't know but I thought once you were out of office you could no long evoke executive privilege.

    Parent
    Even if he could (5.00 / 1) (#86)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 08, 2021 at 05:40:28 PM EST
    it would not apply to Bannon as I understand it.  Who has not had an executive branch job since 2017.

    Parent
    But I agree with what Elie Mystal just said (5.00 / 1) (#87)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 08, 2021 at 06:10:19 PM EST
    The House select committee will "swiftly consider" making a criminal referral

    "Swiftly" would have been at 12:01 this morning.

    Parent

    Dan gets served (none / 0) (#101)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Oct 09, 2021 at 08:05:35 PM EST
    Ex-Trump Aide Dan Scavino Finally Served Subpoena

    October 9, 2021 at 2:28 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard 33 Comments

    Former Trump aide Dan Scavino has been served his subpoena from the House Select Committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol after an extended struggle to find him, CNN reports.



    Parent
    Cancer victim... (none / 0) (#99)
    by desertswine on Sat Oct 09, 2021 at 04:16:23 PM EST
    Raymond T. Odierno, a retired Army general who commanded American and coalition forces in Iraq at the height of the war and capped a 39-year career by serving as the Army's chief of staff, has died, his family said Saturday. He was 67.

    We had a pretty good shake at 11:50am ... (none / 0) (#110)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Oct 11, 2021 at 02:40:28 AM EST
    ... this morning with a 6.2-magnitude earthquake just off the Ka'u coast about 80 miles southwest of Hilo, followed by numerous aftershocks for several hours afterward. I could literally hear it coming; for several seconds prior, it sounded in the distance like a large truck was coming down the road and then everything suddenly started shaking.

    Geologists at the University of Hawaii have since determined that the temblor was due to a shift in the tectonic plate on the ocean floor, and is not an indicator of an imminent eruption of Mauna Loa. It was felt as far away as Honolulu, 230 miles from the epicenter.

    Aloha.

    This drives me nuts (none / 0) (#113)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Oct 11, 2021 at 05:59:27 PM EST
    "Former Trump White House strategist Steve Bannon's choice to buck a subpoena from the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol could tee up a big decision for a Justice Department determined to strike an independent tone," The Hill reports.

    "The House committee has said it may refer Bannon for criminal prosecution by the Department of Justice if he doesn't appear for a deposition slated for Thursday."

    "Such a move would place Attorney General Merrick Garland in the center of a debate over whether to go after a former right-hand man of Donald Trump after vowing to restore the reputation of a department that was deeply politicized under the prior administration."

    Seriously.  Worried about politicization?

    I mean it's The Hill.  So......
    But this is the way everything is better no reported.

    Check out USA Today

    "Democrats shouldn't expect the racially diverse coalition who helped defeat former President Donald Trump and win the Senate to automatically show up in the next nationwide election," USA Today reports.

    "Black, Hispanic and Asian voters may have loathed Republicans, according to a major review of the 2020 election cycle, but they still need to be convinced to show up to the polls, and Democrats lacked a core argument about the economy or returning the country to normal in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic."

    Again, seriously.

    I'm not sure this country deserves saving.

    Nobody (none / 0) (#114)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Oct 11, 2021 at 06:54:33 PM EST
    "expects" that coalition to show up. There is a reason why people are already working on 2022 here in GA and have been working on 2022 pretty much since right after the 2020 presidential election. The GA GOP is sweating bullets here because their voting base is dying either by COVID or just old age and the fact that we have a high number of newly registered voters.

    Totally get what you say about saving the country. It is like the media is actually courting fascism. I guess they think it would be "fun". Apparently they don't realize that fascist dictators love to murder journalists. They seem to think they are "special" and it won't affect them.

    Going now to look at more real estate in Mexico.

    Parent

    Ha (none / 0) (#115)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Oct 11, 2021 at 07:01:02 PM EST
    I guess the thinking is they not murder the uncooperative ones.

    That would probably not be The Hill.  Or USA Today.

    Parent

    Grrrr (none / 0) (#116)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Oct 11, 2021 at 07:01:58 PM EST
    they ONLY murder the uncooperative ones.

    Parent
    I'm am so sick (none / 0) (#117)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Oct 11, 2021 at 07:06:42 PM EST
    of hearing how the supposed people have not been sufficiently motivated to get off their azz and vote

    What is happening is so clear.  So obvious and blatant.  It's not a difficult or arcane problem the country clearly faces.

    If that's not enough for them they will get the government they deserve.  We all will.

    Parent

    And (none / 0) (#121)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Oct 12, 2021 at 08:22:51 AM EST
    everybody getting said government is unfair but I doubt they care. Honestly the Branch Bernidians think it would be fun for all this to happen because it would usher in the glorious revolution or some such. If 8 years of George W. Bush and 4 years of Trump didn't teach them something nothing will.

    Parent
    But Democrats are in disarray, don'tcha now? (none / 0) (#173)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sat Oct 16, 2021 at 07:15:07 PM EST
    There's another shopworn media trope that can be retired.

    Parent
    So many (none / 0) (#118)
    by KeysDan on Mon Oct 11, 2021 at 09:03:02 PM EST
    who should know better, do not seem to grasp the domestic cold war in which the country is engaged.  The Republican  party is not an American political party--it is opposed to a diverse democracy and in favor of authoritarian and fascist government.

    Democrats, such as Charles Blow, NYTimes progressive columnist , rightly sound the alarm on voting rights and suppression legislation, yet turn around and criticize President Biden for not living up to all of his promises and warn that voters will stay home.  Not recognizing their own voter suppression advocacy, in effect.  Not even giving credit for what has been accomplished just by defeating Trump, not to mention the pandemic economic relief and vaccination program---a program actively undermined by Republicans at every opportunity.  And one that continues.

    The challenge is  to save democracy for all, including those who are ignorant of what is at stake.  

    Parent

    It's a lovely thought (5.00 / 1) (#119)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Oct 12, 2021 at 07:29:55 AM EST
    but when the ignorant are to ignorant to get off the sofa and vote it's a problem.  To save democracy.

    When these same people blithely blame Biden because the cult is insane and refuses to get vaccinated it's a problem.

    These journalist are happy to say Biden has failed the country on Covid completely ignoring the fact that was always the goal of the cult.  Who are willing to die to make Biden "fail"

    We can blame republicans as much as we want.  The fact it it's not their fault if the left is too flaky and stupid to vote because Biden didn't deliver every single thing on their wish list.  With literally the smallest majority margin possible.

    Gene Robinson wrote a great op-Ed a couple of days ago asking how stupid can a country get and survive.  You know what, it's not just Republican stupid that's a threat.

    Parent

    Interesting (none / 0) (#122)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Oct 12, 2021 at 12:02:37 PM EST
    Pelosi Floats Alternative to Lifting Debt Ceiling

    October 12, 2021 at 12:07 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard 53 Comments

    Speaker Nancy Pelosi suggested that the Treasury Department should be able to lift the debt ceiling on its own and that Congress would then have the power to overrule it, Punchbowl News reports.

    Said Pelosi: "That seems to have some appeal to both sides of the aisle because of the consequences to people for not lifting it."



    A conspiracy theory you can love (none / 0) (#129)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Oct 12, 2021 at 07:56:46 PM EST
    I blame (none / 0) (#130)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Oct 12, 2021 at 08:06:51 PM EST
    the LiMu Emu

    Parent
    This is disturbing, as we spent much of Sunday (none / 0) (#134)
    by Peter G on Tue Oct 12, 2021 at 09:21:10 PM EST
    at the John James Audubon Center northwest of Philadelphia. Fascinating figure, Audubon. Pioneering, revolutionary artist and naturalist, as well as lifelong faker, liar and plagiarist ... both.

    Parent
    But (5.00 / 1) (#136)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Oct 12, 2021 at 09:33:09 PM EST
    I did notice when I was searching an official response on the Audubon site

    Parent
    I dunno (none / 0) (#135)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Oct 12, 2021 at 09:27:24 PM EST
    I guess it would have been disturbing a couple of years ago.  Now it just seems quaint.  As far as conspiracy theories go.

    That kept popping up in my newsfeed with things like, is this real,  is this a joke, is this performance art?   Andy Kaufmans name came up.

    I think it might be all three.  The first 3.

    Parent

    This isn't new (none / 0) (#159)
    by coast on Thu Oct 14, 2021 at 12:45:17 PM EST
    This has been around for a long time.  Son bought a shirt with it on it several years ago and he had to explain it to me.  He and his friends saw it as a joke, but apparently it has legs.

    Parent
    The Great Homophobic Space Telescope (none / 0) (#142)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Oct 13, 2021 at 09:05:53 AM EST
    Ive been a fan boy of this so I guess i have to mention this.  
    To be clear i hate that its called the James Webb Space Telescope.  That would not have been my choice for a name.  It seems clear the guy did shi++y things to gay people in the 60s.  You would think they could find someone worthy of the honor who did not.  Its also at least worth remembering that doing shi++y things to gay people was hardly unusual in 1963.  Particularly something as close to government as NASA.

    That said, I kind of dont give a shi+ what you call it.  Call it the Space Telescope.  Call it Bozo the Telescope.

    i hate that the most widely known fact about this incredible piece of technology is the name kerfuffel.
    Thank you NASA.  Maybe at least get the mirrors to line up this time.


    NASA's James Webb telescope will explore the universe.



    Executive Order 10450, (5.00 / 2) (#143)
    by KeysDan on Wed Oct 13, 2021 at 01:14:53 PM EST
    signed by President Eisenhower, May 27, 1953, to "clean house" after the long Democratic reign and as a part of the cold war, deemed homosexuals (sic) to be security risks and became the trigger for the Lavender Scare.

    Alongside communism, "sexual perversion" by government officials were declared a security threat and were vigorously investigated and fired. Or, were not hired in the first place.

    Over the next 40 years, the longest witch-hunt in American history took place, with tens of thousands of federal workers losing or denied jobs. And, devastating careers and lives.

     The investigation tactics involved intrusive and grueling questioning about personal lives and deployed surveillance and vigilante-type reports. The executive order also covered the private sector for those holding government contracts.

    Moreover, the US government urged foreign governments to conduct similar programs to ferret out gays and lesbians and have them fired.

    President Eisenhower's Executive Order was in effect, until 1995 when it was overturned by President Bill Clinton.

    The issue of naming the Telescope as with naming monuments in public parks, is complicated and a "one-size-fits-all" may not be appropriate.

     James Webb was head of a federal agency and made substantial contributions to its programs. He was an administrator of the day and may well have been complicit. Professor David K. Johnson, the historian who wrote the book "The Lavender Scare" upon which the movie is based, does not believe Webb was a witch-hunt leader, but he no doubt, was complicit in carrying it out during his tenure.

    I agree that another name might have been found for this governmental accomplishment, but, James Webb can be judged and recognized in the context of the circumstances and time period.  The kerfuffle, if that is what it is, rather than a reasonable discussion, has drawn the expected claims of p.c. or wokeness, whatever that all means.  

    From my perspective "cancel culture" is misunderstood.  It should be "consequence culture". The recent example of Joe Gruden, resigning from the Raiders (private sector) after evidence (albeit ten years ago) for homophobic, racist and misogynistic writings is clearly a horse of a different color.

    Or, of course, the case of Robert E. Lee. The Confederate General who left the US Army to join and lead the enemy army and, was charged as a traitor, and lost his US citizenship never to be restored--all to maintain the right of a state to own other human beings. This should never be honored.

    Parent

    Note: (5.00 / 1) (#144)
    by KeysDan on Wed Oct 13, 2021 at 01:27:58 PM EST
    Robert E. Lee's citizenship was restored by an act of Congress and signed by President Gerald Ford, in 1975. Reasons include his efforts, after the civil war, to unite and re-establish peace and harmony. Did I mention this was in 1975?

    Parent
    There is a series on Apple+ (none / 0) (#145)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Oct 13, 2021 at 02:16:25 PM EST
    called For All Mankind.  It's really the story of the country told through the early space program.  It's an "alternate history".  But it's very accurate about this subject.  Two of the central characters carry on a long term relationship and eventually marry to hide their true lives.  They go through all kinds of hell that I'm sure is very honest about what was happening.

    It's just one small reason to recommend the show.  Which I love.

    The primary hook is imagining what would have happened if Russia had narrowly beat us to the moon.  It of course changed everything that came after.  Resulting on a more sensible and sustained program.

    Also John Lennon survives the assassination attempt.  

    Parent

    This is the best explanation (none / 0) (#146)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Oct 13, 2021 at 02:44:47 PM EST
    of what and how and why I have seen.  It's 30 minutes

    link

    Parent

    Doe anyone who watches Jeopardy (none / 0) (#147)
    by desertswine on Wed Oct 13, 2021 at 02:53:49 PM EST
    think that it looked like the long-time champ threw the game.  He missed some very easy questions.

    I was kind of thinking the same thing. (none / 0) (#149)
    by Chuck0 on Wed Oct 13, 2021 at 05:23:18 PM EST
    Maybe he was just tired of being there. He is a grad student. He may have wanted to finish his dissertation.

    Parent
    There's no way he should have missed... (none / 0) (#164)
    by desertswine on Thu Oct 14, 2021 at 02:22:12 PM EST
    that final jeopardy question, even tho he couldn't win at that point.  Maybe we should be expecting a scandal in a couple of months.

    Parent
    Hey republicans (none / 0) (#150)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Oct 13, 2021 at 06:54:11 PM EST
    how's that cult working out for ya,

    Trump Threatens to Have Republican Voters Stay Home

    October 13, 2021 at 5:21 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard 302 Comments

    Donald Trump put out a statement saying that if "we don't solve the Presidential Election Fraud of 2020" -- which he falsely claims to have "thoroughly and conclusively documented" -- then "Republicans will not be voting in `22 or `24."

    He added: "It is the single most important thing for Republicans to do."



    Can we extend Republicans not voting (5.00 / 4) (#156)
    by MO Blue on Thu Oct 14, 2021 at 11:21:26 AM EST
    until 2040 or so?

    At my advanced age, I will definitely be dead by then. Living the remainder of my life without Republicans in power would be marvelous.

    Parent

    A genius. A very stable genius. (none / 0) (#152)
    by Peter G on Wed Oct 13, 2021 at 09:11:41 PM EST
    I always thought so. I mean, how many people could work that many contradictions and self-defeating absurdities into no more than 30 words?

    Parent
    This is helpful (none / 0) (#151)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Oct 13, 2021 at 08:13:24 PM EST
    Catholic Troops Can Refuse COVID Vaccine, Archbishop Declares

    Catholic U.S. troops should be allowed to refuse the COVID-19 vaccine based solely on conscientious objection and regardless of whether abortion-related tissue was used in its creation or testing



    Subpoenas and 1/6 Select Committee (none / 0) (#157)
    by KeysDan on Thu Oct 14, 2021 at 11:38:44 AM EST
    With regard to enforcement, I am having a Susan Collins moment---I am troubled.  Why the absence of clarity for  the Committee's nest steps for  those who ignore lawful subpoenas.   At the time of issuance, a plan was surely in place for the likely event of defiance.  So why not make these plans publicly known-- referral to the DOJ for civil prosecution -- move to have them.sit in jail until they respond, or referral to the DOJ for criminal prosecution.  Why the vagueness of " we will use all the.tools available to us" .

    It would seem that explicitly stated consequences would give pause and serve as encouragement to testify.  Of course, respondents can exercise their Fifth Amendment rights, but the goal of the deviants seems not just to provide no information, but also to degrade the congressional investigation and oversight authority.

    Too much attention, as well on Brannon, who will obstruct and cause chaos at every turn.  If forced to appear he will plead the fifth anyway.  Focus on others, of which there are many.

    And, another troubling issue is the DOJ.  All question of it not  pursuing Congressional referrals needs to be removed pronto. Merrick Garland should announce that the Department will act quickly on any such.referrals.  This, too, should go a long way toward getting attention for compliance,  maybe even voluntary compliance.  No time for timidity, we are talking putsch here!

    I'm not sure Garland (5.00 / 1) (#158)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 14, 2021 at 12:04:31 PM EST
    is the man for the moment.  He must also be approving of the absurdly short sentences prosecutors are seeking in the insurrection cases.

    But I don't think he can hide from this.  I actually think they will go after people.  Today is really the (very late, IMO) starting gate since they are just now in contempt.  

    I actually think being aggressive now, right now, to the surprise of most would not be bad strategy.

    Parent

    The (5.00 / 1) (#160)
    by FlJoe on Thu Oct 14, 2021 at 12:49:07 PM EST
    just started the process for criminal contempt against Bannon.


    Parent
    They probably (none / 0) (#162)
    by KeysDan on Thu Oct 14, 2021 at 01:18:54 PM EST
    needed to wait until they did not actually show up for the deposition ,rather than not complying with the submission of documents-- ar least for a stronger case,  And, it does seem that some of the charges and sentences are too light.  But, the DOJ is likely going for charges that will stick, or going for cooperation as they, hopefully, reach for the big enchilada.

    In many of these cases, it would probably be difficult to convince a jury of invasion-like entries when the police removed the barricades and held the doors open for them. Losing  cases would not be good.

      Crawling through windows or breaking down doors is another thing. I fault the DOJ and Merrick for taking the Mueller route of silence.  This was not only a criminal enterprise, but political-- attempting to overthrow the duly elected government. This is not just for the courtroom.

    Now that Bannon has been referred for criminal contempt, we will see how aggressive the DOJ acts.

    Parent

    What?? (none / 0) (#161)
    by coast on Thu Oct 14, 2021 at 01:08:11 PM EST
    Paying for food and gas is a "high class problem".  That's according to Jason Furman, former chairman of President Obama's Council of Economic Advisers, and retweeted by current WH Chief of Staff Ron Klain.

    In a four-sentence (none / 0) (#169)
    by KeysDan on Thu Oct 14, 2021 at 09:43:09 PM EST
    order, the US Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit refused the DOJ request to reinstate an earlier court ruling by District Court Judge Pitman that temporarily lifted the ban on Texas SB 8, the "Fugitive Uterus" law.

    This order follows a temporary decision last week by the same three-judge panel to reinstate the ban, less than 48 hours after it was suspended by the lower court.  

    The 2-to-l order was backed by Judge James Ho, a nominee of the former guy, Judge Catharina Haynes, a nominee of Bush the Lesser, and dissenting: Judge Carl Stewart, a nominee of President Bill Clinton. The order did not detail the court's reasoning, in contrast to the 113-page, comprehensively discussed ruling of Judge Pitman.

    If this is what happens (none / 0) (#178)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 22, 2021 at 03:27:58 PM EST
    I will attempt to donate the 800 to anyone who primaries Fascist Barbie from AZ.

    -- Plans to expand Medicare to include dental, vision and hearing aids are being pared back. Biden said he likes the idea, but with Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona objecting, the proposal is "a reach." Instead, Democrats, he said are looking at offering seniors an $800 voucher to access dental care as well as another program for hearing aids that Sinema may support. However, the vision care component, Biden said, has been harder to resolve and there is no consensus yet.