Patterico's Pontifications

10/15/2021

Weekend Open Thread

Filed under: General — Dana @ 7:31 pm



[guest post by Dana]

Let’s get started!

First news item

Speech protected at Yale University? Eh, not so much:

Free speech is in jeopardy yet again at Yale University, where law school administrators met with a student multiple times to pressure him to apologize for language he used in an email that offended some of his classmates. The incident illustrates how university officials can seek to intimidate students into silence and conformity through obscure procedures and veiled threats of punishment…

Even if Eldik and Cosgrove privately intended their serial meetings to be part of a voluntary and informal conflict resolution procedure, their conduct was more than just an attempt to persuade or convince. It was an abuse of power and a clear departure from what Yale boasts are its core values. The university’s excuse that no formal investigation occurred is woefully inadequate.

Perhaps Eldik and Cosgrove meant to refer only to destructive actions others might take if Colbert refused to prostrate himself and utter a forced apology. But to the ears of any reasonable student, some of these remarks were at best negligent, and at worst veiled threats. Eldik and Cosgrove were, at best, exceedingly vague about the process the student was undergoing and what consequences he might face if he failed to cooperate. Their fleeting assurances that the process wasn’t adjudicatory or punitive became less and less reliable. Listen, you can do whatever you want. And by the way, that’s a nice legal career you’ve got ahead of you. Would be a real shame if something happened to it.

The fact that Colbert’s speech was protected seemed to be of no concern to Eldik and Cosgrove — or of much less concern than placating Colbert’s angry classmates and avoiding bad publicity.

Second news item

Strange bedfellows:

Multiple major Democratic donors, as well as a political action committee run by John Bolton, have given money to Republican Rep. Liz Cheney’s reelection bid as she has positioned herself as the main GOP critic of former President Donald Trump…

Team Cheney, Liz Cheney’s joint fundraising committee, received donations in the third quarter from Ron Conway, a longtime Democratic donor and angel investor, and John Pritzker, a member of the wealthy Pritzker family. He is the cousin of J.B. Pritzker, the Democratic governor of Illinois, and Penny Pritzker, former U.S. Commerce secretary.

Conway has given his biggest donations to Democrats, while contributing to a select few Republican-led efforts. He was one of President Joe Biden’s top campaign bundlers during the last election cycle. Pritzker has a net worth of over $2 billion and has repeatedly given to Democrats over the years.

Unsurprising:

Third news item

Trump revels in Trump:

The former president’s threat drew winces among GOP operatives and U.S. senators gathered for a donor retreat for the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) in Palm Beach, Fla., this week. Many still blame Trump for the loss of two U.S. Senate seats in Georgia in runoff elections early this year, saying his false claims of fraudulent ballots kept people from coming to the polls.

“It gives everyone cold sweats over the Georgia situation and the prospect he could have some impact again,” said one top party strategist, who like others interviewed for this report, spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe private conversations…

In a private speech at the retreat Thursday, Trump cast himself as the GOP’s savior, saying he had brought the party back from the brink of disaster and helped Republicans hold seats on Capitol Hill — failing to mention that the party lost the White House and control of both the House and Senate under his presidency.

“It was a dying party, I’ll be honest. Now we have a very lively party,” he said, to a room of senators, donors and lobbyists, according to a recording of the event obtained by The Washington Post, before boasting of all the endorsements and telephone town halls he had done in the 2020 cycle.

Fourth news item

Shoo-in:

A week after Mayor de Blasio announced plans to scrap the city’s gifted and talented program in public schools, his likely successor Eric Adams said he’d expand the existing program significantly.

Instead of having families sign up for gifted and talented tests, which typically occurs when children are four, he would instead make the tests the norm, with an option for parents to opt-out.

He also vowed to expand the program to under-served neighborhoods and said he’d offer the test more frequently and not just when kids are four.

“We should allow all children to opt-out of taking the test. That’s number one,” he said Friday morning on CNN. “Number two, we need to expand. The gifted and talented program was isolated to only certain communities. That created segregation in our classroom. And then we need to test our children throughout their educational experience — not only at age four, age six, age 10 — let’s continue to test them as well.”

Fifth news item

Katie Couric cancels own credibility:

Former Today anchor Katie Couric admits that she purposefully edited out comments that the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg made in their 2016 interview.

In the interview — which was published by Yahoo News, where Couric was global news anchor at the time — she asked Ginsburg about then-San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick and others who refused to stand during the playing of the national anthem before NFL games. Replied Ginsburg: “I think it’s really dumb of them.”

“Would I arrest them for doing it? No,” Ginsburg elaborated. “I think it’s dumb and disrespectful. I would have the same answer if you asked me about flag burning. I think it’s a terrible thing to do, but I wouldn’t lock a person up for doing it. I would point out how ridiculous it seems to me to do such an act.”

Couric then asked, “But when it comes to these football players, you may find their actions offensive, but what you’re saying is, it’s within their rights to exercise those actions?”

“Yes,” said Ginsburg. “If they want to be stupid, there’s no law that should be preventive. If they want to be arrogant, there’s no law that prevents them from that. What I would do is strongly take issue with the point of view that they are expressing when they do that.”

Couric writes that the day after their sit-down, the Supreme Court’s head of public affairs emailed her, saying Ginsburg had “misspoken” and asking that those comments not be in her pending story.

Couric notes that she asked a fellow journalist what to do, and David Brooks, the New York Times columnist, advised her that Ginsburg may not have understood the question. Couric said she was conflicted because, as a Supreme Court Justice, Ginsburg’s thoughts were important for people to hear, but as a fan, she allowed her personal politics to influence her editing decision.

Whether one agrees with RBG’s criticism or not, the last thing she sounds is confused about the question. On the contrary…

Sixth news item

President Biden: Off with their heads!:

President Joe Biden on Friday said those who refuse subpoenas from the House select committee investigating the January 6 riot at the US Capitol should be prosecuted by the Justice Department.

Asked by CNN’s Kaitlan Collins what his message is to those who refuse subpoenas from the panel, Biden said, “I hope that the committee goes after them and holds them accountable.”
Pressed on whether he thinks those people should be prosecuted by the department, the President said, “I do, yes.”

Oh:

“My Justice Department will make decisions based on the facts,” Biden told TIME in an interview in December before he was named Person of the Year with his Vice President Kamala Harris. “They’re the people’s lawyers; they’re not my lawyers. I’m never going to pick up the phone and say, “Pardon so-and-so,” or “Go out and prosecute so-and-so.”

Seventh news item

Absolutely read the whole thing:

Beating someone one time for being a Christian might not be “religious persecution.” Jailing someone briefly for being a Christian might not be. Threatening once to punish someone if he returns to church might not be. Third Circuit: Sure, guys, but all three together maybe could be, right?

Eighth news item

Priorities, priorities:

…Donald Trump has been obsessed with challenging and changing election laws. Should he find himself back in the White House, his allies are hoping to turn that obsession into legislative action…[A]s talk of such a campaign has grown more concrete, so too has speculation over what type of agenda he’d actually pursue.

Some answers can be found in the work being done by America First Policy Institute, a nonprofit think tank stacked with former Trump administration officials. Among the group’s 20 main policy priorities, which include trade, immigration and education, is promoting more comprehensive voter restrictions in the name of election integrity. Officials describe it as a priority.

MISCELLANEOUS

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Have a great weekend!

–Dana

326 Responses to “Weekend Open Thread”

  1. Happy Friday, Happy Weekend!

    Dana (174549)

  2. New Navy Guidance Will Discharge Sailors Refusing COVID-19 Vaccination Without Exemption

    All active-duty Navy personnel must be vaccinated by Nov. 28 or face separation, according to a Navy administrative message released Wednesday.

    Any active-duty Navy service members who do not get fully vaccinated or do not have an approved or pending exemption will be processed for an honorable separation without involuntary separation, according to NAVADMIN 225/21, released by Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. William Lescher and Chief of Naval Personnel Vice Adm. John Nowell.
    ………
    Those who are separated for refusing the vaccine will be discharged with no lower than a general discharge under honorable conditions, according to the Navy release.

    Those refusing the vaccine cannot be promoted, advance, reenlist or execute orders outside of ones involving separation. Any officer who refuses to be vaccinated will have any promotions delayed.
    ……..
    Navy personnel can request an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Having COVID-19 in the past or having a positive serology test for the disease will not exempt a service member, the Navy said in an August administrative message.
    ……. ..
    As of Wednesday, 94 percent of active-duty sailors have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, with 99 percent having received the first dose, according to the Navy.
    ………

    There have been a total of 83,648 COVID-19 cases within the Navy, including active-duty and civilians, according to the service. Of those cases, 164 resulted in deaths.

    There have been 14 active-duty deaths out of 48,231 cases.

    There have been more deaths due to COVID-19 than other health or mishap-related injuries and deaths over the same time period, according to NAVADMIN 225/21.
    ………..

    Rip Murdock (3d1266)

  3. The speech that “offended” was banal in the extreme, and only offended due to the illiteracy (or mendacity) of the unnamed accuser. IF anything, it is the Black Law Students Association that owes all of Yale an apology for creating a controversy out of nothing.

    I think the real problem was that the Native American being a Federalist Society member.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  4. Pro-impeachment lawmaker Adam Kinzinger admits he may have to quit over redistricting

    https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/kinzinger-review-options-illinois-redistricting-b1939325.html

    LOL. He probably is glad that he doesn’t have to suffer a resounding defeat to a Trump candidate. His baby killing bed fellows did him a solid.

    I wonder how many congressional seats in Illinois would have been lost if Trump’s citizenship question was allowed on the census? Congress could have lost an actual Republican if you Illinois had to give up any more seats.

    BuDuh (4a7846)

  5. @2: COVID (and any other contagious disease) is a big problem on a warship. Even if people aren’t dying, it has the potential of taking whole sections of the crew out of service at the wrong time. And don’t start me on submarines.

    The Navy has the perfect right (if not duty) to insist that available vaccinations be given for any communicable disease. I would go so far as to suggest that any sailor who refuses for ANY reason, even health, should be separated as incompatible with Navy service.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  6. I wonder, though, if there are any sailors who are unable to get vaccinations for health or belief reasons? Would they not have been separated already for any of the other vaccinations they’d been ordered to get?

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  7. Trump cast himself as the GOP’s savior, saying he had brought the party back from the brink of disaster

    He misspelled “victory” there.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  8. President Joe Biden on Friday said those who refuse subpoenas from the House select committee investigating the January 6 riot at the US Capitol should be prosecuted by the Justice Department.

    Wait. I thought when a president makes statements like this regarding criminal prosecutions, it exerts undue influence over the course of justice.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  9. I’m kind of harsh, but the Cha Liang story didn’t move me. Probably because he submitted the 5 identical form letters from friends and relatives.
    I’ve met a lot of immigrants and every once in a while I get asked to help out with a letter about being allowed to rejoin a spouse or family member. Its usually been pre-written by a really bad immigration lawyer’s even worse assistant.
    They go on about how I {your Name here} has(sp) seen heartbreak so intense that {Edna Luisanto} no longer enjoys bowling, poetry or the zoo. The pain of {Enda Luisantao} losses is so great that she can no longer sow diapers for her sainted Grandfather who is in his last days. My name here is worried that {Chachi Lang} will be beatened dead twice over if return to China is given and the Luisitania Edno will die.

    Truly yours,
    My Name Here

    steveg (e81d76)

  10. Migrant sisters aged four and six left by themselves near US-Mexico border

    The migrant girls, aged four and six, were spotted wandering alone south of the Morelos Dam on Wednesday afternoon, the U.S. Border Patrol’s Yuma Sector reported on its Facebook page.

    An agent conducting a patrol tour of the area was worried about girls’ wellbeing and immediately went over to them.

    The officer grabbed each child by their hands and moved them over to a safer part of the terrain that ‘is (an) often-used crossing point by unaccompanied migrant juveniles.’

    ‘The girls were taken into custody and attempts will be made to reunite them with family,’ the Yuma Sector said.

    while we reunite them with the family that abused them, any american who does this would be put in jail

    JF (e1156d)

  11. One, thank goodness for FIRE.
    Two, Katie Couric has a history of selective editing that advances her liberal agenda. She should fully retire.

    Paul Montagu (5de684)

  12. Probably because he submitted the 5 identical form letters from friends and relatives.

    That may be, but if they beat him. Then they jailed him, then they said if you come back we’ll mess you up, it is probably 1000% more of a case than the folks on the southern border. Even if you exclude the letters entirely he has a solid case.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  13. I wonder how many congressional seats in Illinois would have been lost if Trump’s citizenship question was allowed on the census?

    The reason Trump’s citizenship question was not on the census is because he is an incompetent jerkoff who did not know how to legally get it on the census, although it would have been easy to do so and would not have involved lying to the Supreme Court either.

    nk (1d9030)

  14. Pete Buttigieg’s high class problems

    “It’s time for Pete Buttigieg to truck off down the road from the Department of Transportation — if, that is, he turns up for work again and can find a driver. It’s shameful even by the standards of the federal government for the head of a department to disappear during an emergency. It’s ludicrous for a technocratic Democrat in a technocratic administration.

    The smart set are explaining away the supply-chain fiasco as middle-class false consciousness. ‘Most of the economic problems we’re facing (inflation, supply chains, etc.) are high class problems,’ says Ron Klain, Biden’s chief of staff.

    That’s right, Ron: if the peasants can’t find vegetables on the shelves, let them eat the rich. Because only the rich worry about commodity prices rising faster than at any time since 2008. Only the rich notice when the price of gasoline, vegetables and baby formula rises and rises. And only the rich — or at least the expensively-educated, which tends to mean the same thing these days — are literate enough to worry about the increasingly probable knock-on effect on inflation.

    Twenty years ago, American politicians sold globalization to their voters by promising that Brazil would become like us. Today, we are becoming like Brazil: a low-trust society with apparently insurmountable differences of class and race, in which the rich live in private spaces defended by a militarized police force, and politics has deteriorated into a theatrical.

    Which brings us to another reason Biden’s team might have appointed Buttigieg to Transportation. Buttigieg may be deeply pale and stale, but he is also gay. When he was appointed in February 2021, the media didn’t acclaim him as an expert. They acclaimed him as a civil rights hero.“

    https://spectatorworld.com/topic/pete-buttigieg-problems-supply-chain-ron-klain/

    There are conservatives who voted for this.

    Obudman (ee9b82)

  15. @8 Kevin, it is and he shouldn’t have said that on general principle. In this specific case, where the crime in question is entirely related to congressional over site powers im less bothered because he’s establishing a precedent that can be applied to his advisors in 2025. 🙂

    Time123 (9f42ee)

  16. So Cha Liang starts up out of a sound sleep in the middle of the night and reaches over and urgently shakes his sleeping wife’s shoulder.

    “Honey, honey, wake up!” he says.

    His wife, half-groggy but alarmed, asks “What’s wrong?”

    He says, “I just had the most wonderful dream”.

    “What?” she asks.

    “Yes, yes!” he exclaims. “I dreamed that I was a law student at Yale Law School, and I sent out an invitation for a party, and some students complained because I used the word “traphouse”, and I had to meet with an Assistant Dean and some other person three or four times, and there were emails, and phone calls. and letters, …! It was awesome!”

    “Well”, says his wife, underwhelmed but not wanting to dampen his good mood, “was it a nice party?”

    “I don’t know”, he says. “I woke up before we had it.”

    “Ordeal”. That’s what FIRE called it. The Yale Law School fracas. “An ordeal”.

    nk (1d9030)

  17. https://ijr.com/former-south-philly-judge-elections-charged-4-year-voter-fraud-scheme/

    Cash payments for votes in Philly. Say it isn’t so.

    We were told this never happens.

    NJRob (eb56c3)

  18. https://jimtreacher.substack.com/p/whew-occupying-government-buildings

    Oh look, it’s an insurrection. Wonder how long they’ll be held in prison. Yeah, who am I kidding.

    NJRob (eb56c3)

  19. https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2021/10/there-will-soon-be-no-more-ads-denying-climate-change-on-google/

    Since google adsense runs the internet, this effectively silences all dissent.

    NJRob (eb56c3)

  20. George Will on the book about Robert E. Lee.

    Paul Montagu (5de684)

  21. A Conservative MP, David Amess was assassinated yesterday

    The MP for Southend West was stabbed at Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea, in Essex. He was there for one of his regular Friday meetings with his constituents.

    Just 15 minutes before the attack, the 69-year-old was standing on the church steps, chatting and laughing with locals.
    . . .
    At 13:50 on Friday, Essex Police confirmed a 25-year-old man had been arrested immediately at the scene on suspicion of murder, and that a knife had been recovered.

    Government sources have told the BBC he is a UK national who, from initial inquiries, appears to be of Somali heritage.

    So, it is probably a terrorist attack — and it is worth noting that Sir David is a member of the Conservative Friends of Israel

    In 2016, a Labour MP, Jo Cox, was murdered in a similar fashion by a neo-Nazi.

    (Note on terminology: American politicians have townhalls; British politicians have “surgeries”, in which they meet informally with small groups of constituents.)

    Jim Miller (edcec1)

  22. The reason Trump’s citizenship question was not on the census is because he is an incompetent jerkoff who did not know how to legally get it on the census, although it would have been easy to do so and would not have involved lying to the Supreme Court either.
    nk (1d9030) — 10/16/2021 @ 4:21 am

    Yes. This bears repeating. Trump suffers from BIS (bad investor syndrome): An investor suffers bad losses due to an inability to chose good stocks, then continues to suffer bad losses due to the inability to choose good stock advisors.

    Old aviation joke:

    If you want to make a million dollars in an airline, start with two million.

    felipe (484255)

  23. -Sigh- I forgot to close quotes.

    nk (1d9030) — 10/16/2021 @ 5:00 am

    Yep. This is why the young should never ignore the lessons learned (“stories” told) by their elders. Ideally, this domestic education prepares the new generation to recognize chronic and persisting errors, abuses, and attacks on freedom while providing context for their relative trials, thus giving meaning to their suffering. If only there were some way to do this in formal education…

    felipe (484255)

  24. We were told this never happens.

    No one said fraud doesn’t occur. You made that up.

    Paul Montagu (5de684)

  25. I agree with Liang decision, and I note that Judge Bibas is a Trump appointee. How disloyal.

    Paul Montagu (5de684)

  26. Paul, It hasn’t been shown to happen on a scale sufficient to impact most elections. The amount of votes you can practically steal seems to a few hundred. The margins on statewide elections is typically beyond that. Turnout, gerrymandering and making it harder for people for people of the other party to vote seem to have more pay off. The risk is huge at the individual level and the reward isn’t there.

    Time123 (ba34af)

  27. Hey, Sammy! Do you know if there have been any use of the phrase “systemic voter fraud” other than explanations of how it is a myth?

    I think it would be fruitful for GOP to try turning the discussion into “Institutional corruption and election fraud.”

    felipe (484255)

  28. Kevin @ 8,

    Especially as Biden said he was determined to restore the DOJ and stay out of their business:

    “My Justice Department will make decisions based on the facts,” Biden told TIME in an interview in December before he was named Person of the Year with his Vice President Kamala Harris. “They’re the people’s lawyers; they’re not my lawyers. I’m never going to pick up the phone and say, “Pardon so-and-so,” or “Go out and prosecute so-and-so.”

    (I added this quote to the post.)

    Dana (174549)

  29. If it does not reelect Trump, it’s systemic vote fraud and a rigged election, too, but when you think about it, that’s only proof of the moral soundness of Jesuit casuistry: “If the end is lawful, then the means are also lawful.”

    nk (1d9030)

  30. The full House has to vote to refer a citation for contempt to the DOJ. It is after that, that the DOJ exercises its discretion.

    nk (1d9030)

  31. Andy Marlette portrays Governor DeSantis in a way that some Trumpistas will find flattering.

    (If you are a devotee of a pathological liar, you are likely to admire another man who is a clever liar.)

    Jim Miller (edcec1)

  32. Per Jon Stewart:

    “People that talk about cancel culture never seem to shut the f*ck up about it”

    Ah, so he wants to cancel them then…

    Dana (174549)

  33. Why I prefer “Trumpista” to all the possible alternatives: I think it captures the personal adoration that so many Trump followers feel for the man. In modern times, you often find similar phenomena in Latin America: “Peronista”, “Fidelista”, Chavista, et cetera.

    That personal tie is both natural, and inappropriate, in a democracy, where citizens should be loyal to principles, not people. American elected officials take oaths of loyalty to the Constitution, not a man or woman.

    (It was more common in the past. It is no coincidence that our two greatest political novels, “All the King’s Men” and “The Last Hurrah”, portray such personal leaders — and that neither is a modern novel.)

    Jim Miller (edcec1)

  34. Michael Gerson has some thoughts for the governors of Florida and Texas:

    In this light, it’s hard to blame the small group of workers who have been misled into believing that liberty is the right to infect your neighbors with a deadly pathogen. The main fault lies with the media outlets that spotlight and elevate such people, and with political figures who seek their political dreams by encouraging lethal ignorance.

    In the latter category, the Republican governors Ron DeSantis of Florida and Greg Abbott of Texas are the repellent standouts. If the coronavirus could vote, these men would be governors for life.

    Hard, but fair, I would say.

    Jim Miller (edcec1)

  35. That personal tie is both natural, and inappropriate, in a democracy, where citizens should be loyal to principles, not people.

    It’s even more inappropriate when that person so openly puts his own ego and interets at the center of his moral code. It’s weird that so many people can look at flagrant selfishness and routine dishonesty and insist they’re seeing the purest patriotism and the most authentic concern for ordinary Americans (after he started his campaign saying “our wages are too high”).

    Radegunda (5642a0)

  36. Don’t write off Kinzinger…he may have a shot in 2 of the distrcts. Marie Newman (3rd, old Lipinski district) might have too much upper downstate and exurban exposure that overlaps Kinzinger’d true residence.

    Also if a black east st. Louis type runs for D in the Champaign-Springfield-Metro East crescent, pearl clutchers in the first 2 markets might be persuaded to have an NT congressional presence instead of what could be a 5th black D congressman in the state. Rodney Davis might also stay and fight there as well. They should run as right-lean independents to avoid

    urbanleftbehind (c80d6a)

  37. @34, Yeah Gerson lays it out pretty bluntly….a related video interview is here https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/ex-aide-to-bush-issues-dire-warning-about-trump/vi-AAPtODY

    I wish some of the Trumpista here would honestly address the concerns of Trump in 2024….and why the rest of us should not be shocked, alarmed, and repulsed by his post-election antics. From the moment that Trump mocked McCain’s military service….I have kept saying, well, here finally is where good Republicans will ditch this grifter….yet, I keep mis-underestimating them. The excuse is generally, “the Left is worse” but it just never comes back to why the Right can’t be better….why we’re locked in to a personality worship that comes with lawlessness and a general nastiness that is eroding our national fabric?

    I get the enfeebled lament….where do we start? Especially when so few elected Republicans have the courage to speak out…and those that do….are pilloried in right-wing media and are treated like enemies….traiters. Right-wing media wants the adrenaline of a Trump run….not because it’s good for the country…but because…in some cases…it personally elevates individuals to “advisor” status….but overall it’s money, clicks, views…drama. Some here will incessantly see greed with pharmaceuticals….yet are blind to it in promoting Trumpism. I never see the JF’s, mg’s, BuhDuh’s, FWO’s, or NJRob’s wrestle with what a Trump 2nd term with 3rd-string yes-men in the cabinet would be like? We saw what the DoJ devolved to….wasn’t that a bit different than usual politics? I suppose the answer is that partisanship is everything….and they prefer a corrupt Republican who gives them some culture war sound-bite wins…to anything normal that might require them keeping their pants on….or any more evil Democrat.

    In the end, we have to decide who we are as a people…who we want to be…..what we want to be remembered supporting. For me, that’s not Trumpism and all its narcissistic excesses. I would like to understand better why others here are coming to an almost defiant other conclusion…..why is my read wrong?

    AJ_Liberty (a4ff25)

  38. “Since google adsense runs the internet, this effectively silences all dissent.”

    No it doesn’t.

    Davethulhu (88395a)

  39. JUST IN – Delta Air Lines ditches “divisive” #COVID19 vaccine mandate, CEO Ed Bastian announces

    “CEO Bastian: “We’re proving that you can work collaboratively with your people, trusting your people to make the right decisions, respecting their decisions, and not forcing them over the loss of their jobs.””

    Sanity, freedom and common sense slowly being restored.

    Obudman (ee9b82)

  40. “In this light, it’s hard to blame the small group of workers who have been misled into believing that liberty is the right to infect your neighbors with a deadly pathogen.”

    Who’s going to tell him the vaxxed also pass on the pathogen?

    Obudman (ee9b82)

  41. I never see the JF’s, mg’s, BuhDuh’s, FWO’s, or NJRob’s wrestle with what a Trump 2nd term with 3rd-string yes-men in the cabinet would be like?

    I would never defend this scenario; it garners no support from me.

    I do have an honest question for you. What do all the breaks in your sentences represent? Are the “….” to be taken as deep breaths? Or dramatic pausing? I have difficulty reading your comments so it was quite by chance that I read this one and noticed that I was mentioned.

    To be clear, I am being serious. When I read comments I always end up with an idea of the emotion behind the comment and I try to take that into account so I can do my best to not be insulting in my reply no matter how insulting the comment may have appeared. After a while it simplifies who I completely tune out. For example, I have not read a comment from nk in a long while. His comments were consistent enough that my mental picture of the person behind the comment led my to conclude that this is a person I would never associate with.

    I have had other dialogues with you, AJ, that have been both good and bad, but your comments seem to come from a non-hysterical perspective. Anyways I hope my question is offensive to you and if it is I apologize.

    BuDuh (4a7846)

  42. Whoops.

    I hope it ISN’T offensive…

    BuDuh (4a7846)

  43. @41, “What do all the breaks in your sentences represent?”

    Pauses….just as you might find in regular conversation. Much of the time you could probably put in a period or a comma. I suppose at times it could also be for emphasis, so ideas don’t get swallowed up in a too-long sentence. Didn’t figure it would be distracting….but do understand the TLDR impulse.

    AJ_Liberty (ec7f74)

  44. Especially when so few elected Republicans have the courage to speak out…and those that do….are pilloried in right-wing media and are treated like enemies….traiters.

    This is what’s most depressing. Up to sometime in 2015, it was not uncommon for people on the right to have civilized debates over the virtues and shortcomings of any candidate claiming to speak for their side. But the Trump-worshipers quickly took the position that no one else could save America except for a narcissistic reality TV star, and therefore anyone who criticized him was basically a traitor to Real America.

    One after another, thought-leaders on the right adopted the same position, not merely expressing favor for policy positions but turning the person of Donald Trump into the True North of patriotism. Policy is very much secondary: if at some point you decide that Trump crossed a line and you need to take a stand on principle, you’ll be branded an enemy even if you actively supported just about every policy of Trump up to then. If you haven’t endorsed his every delusional fantasy and abetted all his efforts to remain in power illicitly, or at least excused them vigorously, it means you’ve joined the perfidious Deep State. If you think Bill Barr and Christopher Krebs had no reason to lie when they declared the election result to be legitimate, that means you’re dishonest. You’re an enemy.

    Another habit of the Trumpy right is to trash all the pre-Trump Republicans they used to defend, and present their policies and actions in the worst possible light. Trumpistas have made such odd claims as that Trump was the first presidential candidate in generations to care about the well-being of the average American instead of just serving the interests of elites — as if they don’t remember the days when conservatives who are now Trumpistas mocked G. W. Bush’s “compassionate conservatism,” and before that his father’s “kinder, gentler” trope. Before, it was only Dems who screeched that Bush 43 was heartless because he spoke about the problem of sustainability in entitlements; then the Trumpy “intellectuals” decided that Trump was being much more compassionate by simply ignoring the problem.

    Radegunda (5642a0)

  45. Stephen King:

    It’s simple: throw the style book out. If you hear a pause in your head, the comma goes in (see what I did there?). If you don’t you don’t.

    But I’m a little old school, AJ. I also text in complete sentences with complete words and few acronyms. It’s just how I was trained as a technical writer.

    Paul Montagu (5de684)

  46. “What do all the breaks in your sentences represent?”

    The ellipses make your comments instantly recognizable. Don’t change. Embrace your uniqueness!

    Radegunda (5642a0)

  47. It is often diffcult to know when a person is truly being principled or is simply a good actor who is able to consistently portray personal animus as principle.
    Rep. Kinzinger falls into that category for me. Kinzinger is about to get a tough lesson. The Democrats said “thanks for the fun, punk” and redistrict him. He’s probably lost too many GOP votes to overcome that. This should make him happy if he is principled first, if he is angry, he will lash out.
    The bright side for Kinzinger is he’ll be getting out of that world of awful people. Maybe Liz Cheney and him can work together in the future, but probably not. How could either be sure the other in not going to back stab them? It’s going to be like the old story… why give a scorpion a ride across the river, why take that chance?

    steveg (e81d76)

  48. “The ellipses make your comments instantly recognizable. Don’t change. Embrace your uniqueness!”

    That’s what I’m saying. It’s like telling Twain to cut down on the apostrophes….or Lewis Carroll to ease up on the exclamation marks….they’ll get my ellipses out of my dead cold hands.

    AJ_Liberty (ec7f74)

  49. a good actor who is able to consistently portray personal animus as principle.

    How did Kinzinger “consistently” do such a thing? He voted for Trump and took no public stand in opposition to him before the effort to overturn an election. Kinzinger clearly knew he was courting political risk by taking a stand — as did Liz Cheney. It’s comforting for MAGAland to paint them as cynics or as people overtaken by “hate,” but such portrayals fly in the face of obvious facts.

    How could either be sure the other in not going to back stab them?

    So the smearing of Kinzinger and Cheney deepens: They’re backstabbers! Except that they took a stand right out in the open, and explained their reasons.

    The premise behind your ugly portrayal of them is that they owed personal allegiance to Donald Trump, no matter what he did. Not to the Constitution of the United States, but to Trump. So a man who flew combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan is not a true patriot because he wouldn’t say that whatever Trump does must be defended to the hilt, regardless of damage to the country.

    You’ve illustrated my point that the GOP and most of what purports to be conservatism today is hardly more than a weird cult of personality. Anyone who defends Trump is seen as a true patriot and a virtuous person. Anyone who ever says he was wrong in some way must be vilified.

    Radegunda (27012e)

  50. Trump has got to be working for the Democrats. There are a lot of people who are not enchanted with Biden’s performance and even less so with his Politburo’s policies, but they’re not going to vote Republican as long as Trump is there.

    The other thing are the mid-terms. Usually, the sitting President is running against himself. If this is a reprise of Trump vs. Biden, Trump will lose again. His endorsed candidates may (only may) win in safe Republican seats, but the Democrats will sweep all the swing seats.

    nk (1d9030)

  51. I’m pleased to see Democrats donating to Cheney’s campaign. I suspect that far more than what we know are doing likewise.

    Dana (174549)

  52. Trump has got to be working for the Democrats.

    He doesn’t want the GOP to win without him. Nor do the ardent Trumpistas. They endorsed his “I alone can fix it” conceit and exalted him as the only person who could save America and the only one who could revive an allegedly dead party. Trump didn’t want Republicans to win Senate seats in Georgia after the state voted against him. He can’t stand knowing that someone might have more public approval than himself.

    Radegunda (27012e)

  53. “People that talk about cancel culture never seem to shut the f*ck up about it”

    What does that even mean? People who talk about anti-racism never seem to shut up about it; people who talk about global climate catastrophe never seem to shut up about it; people who talk about stolen elections never seem to shut up about it. Generally, people who have a certain hobby-horse tend to drone on and on about it, for instance me and the California High Speed Rail Authority.

    JVW (ee64e4)

  54. Great pictures as usual, Dana.

    JVW (ee64e4)

  55. JVW,

    I took Stewart’s comments ironically. Without a speck of self-awareness, he implies that a group of people who complain about cancel culture never shut up about it and that they should shut up about it. IOW, he is cancelling them for merely talking about the subject.

    Dana (174549)

  56. P.S. Thx, JVW.

    Dana (174549)

  57. In the “what does this even mean” category:

    “It was a dying party, I’ll be honest. Now we have a very lively party,”

    Do Republicans now believe that the sign of a healthy and effective party representing mostly conservatives is whether it’s “lively”? What, like the liveliness at the Capitol on Jan. 6? Because if that’s the measure of a successful political party, wouldn’t the Democrats carry that crown (see: summer of 2020 protests)?

    Anyway, it’s pretty sad and pathetic that the titular head of the GOP is measuring success by liveliness and not by enacting policy, and reflecting the longstanding values and foundational issues of the party.

    Dana (174549)

  58. I just watched that Jon Stewart video you linked. He strikes me as (1) being old, tired, and grouchy and (2) having no clue what the hell he is talking about. I’ve always thought of the guy as colossally overrated as an intellectual, and I think I am being proven right.

    JVW (ee64e4)

  59. @50 @51 sounds more like cheney is working for democrats

    JF (e1156d)

  60. 41- Can I get in nk’s club?

    mg (8cbc69)

  61. I remember the 3rd rate misfit mittens walking out of the Whitehouse with no job.

    mg (8cbc69)

  62. CBS News: Showdowns loom as police, prison guards and airport workers resist vaccines

    tHE fLIghT CAncElatIOns hAD nOThiNg to Do WIth VAccInE ManDATes!!

    Ovudman (ee9b82)

  63. (I should have mentioned that I owe the insight on “personal” leadership to Walter Bagehot. In “The English Constitution” he says that monarchies are the most natural form of government, because they are the easiest for an ordinary person to understand.

    Although much of his analysis is politically incorrect (and some of it is just plain wrong) I think his general point is correct. It explains why, among other things, most stable democracies are constitutional monarchies, and why Congress usually has lower ratings than the president.

    Our Constitution requires more of both voters — and leaders — than do the constitutions of nations such as Denmark.)

    Jim Miller (edcec1)

  64. Today, a reminder arrived in the mail, illustrating just how complex our politics can be: the 112 page King County Local Voters’ Pamphlet. Granted I can skim over most of it, since I am not in those other districts, but it is still not what I would call a quick read.

    (It can be entertaining. In, if I recall correctly, 2018, a Democrat running for the Senate against Maria Cantwell proposed that we solve the North Korean problem with 30,000 cruise missiles. His only publicity, as far as I know, was in that voters’ pamphlet, but he received several thousand votes.

    And then there is a perennial candidate, GoodSpaceGuy. He’s not in the pamphlet this year, though he does appear to be running for county executive.)

    Jim Miller (edcec1)

  65. #57 The Republican Party may be lively these days, but it is smaller since Trump came on the scene — and weaker. When he took office in 2017, Republicans controlled the House and Senate; now, they control neither, and have lost capable leaders, who will not be easy to replace.

    And the Trump stench will cling to the party from years to come, making it harder to come back, even if he decides to golf full time, and leave government to those who are qualified for it.

    Jim Miller (edcec1)

  66. https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/576997-baltimore-police-union-tells-officers-to-not-reveal-coronavirus-vaccine
    NJRob (1d8526) — 10/16/2021 @ 2:50 pm

    Fire them! If they think the public can get along without them when they’re dead or incapacitated with Covid, what are we doing paying them to go around spreading it to the public in the meantime?

    nk (1d9030)

  67. #39 Obudman – Thanks for that warning about Delta. We now know to avoid that airline, even if we are vaccinated.

    Jim Miller (edcec1)

  68. It explains why, among other things, most stable democracies are constitutional monarchies

    The figureheads remind the people that their leaders could be worse.

    nk (1d9030)

  69. #67 COVID, police killer

    Covid-19 has been the No. 1 killer of law enforcement officers in 2020 and 2021. According to the Officer Down Memorial Page, which tracks the on-duty deaths of police officers in the United States, more than 470 have died as a result of contracting the virus in the line of duty since the start of the pandemic. That is more than four times as many officers who have died from gunfire. Among the covid-19 fatalities: Louisiana Police Lt. DeMarcus Dunn, 36, who died the day before his wedding; Edgardo Acosta-Feliciano, 48, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer who leaves behind a wife, a daughter and two sons; Michael Weiskopf, 52, a traffic homicide investigator for the St. Petersburg police remembered for his kindness in dealing with people involved in serious crashes. None had been vaccinated.

    There was a similar case here in Washington state. His family put out a statement, after his death, saying the state trooper was not opposed to vaccines, but just hadn’t gotten around to having the shots.

    Requiring them may save some officers’ lives, a good thing.

    Jim Miller (edcec1)

  70. https://hotair.com/jazz-shaw/2021/10/16/seattle-reaches-stage-3-emergency-over-police-shortage-n422865

    Here are more cops for you to fire nk.

    Oh wait, they’re at a level 3 crisis already.

    Guess you just want to watch the world burn.

    NJRob (662684)

  71. 41- Can I get in nk’s club?
    mg (8cbc69) — 10/16/2021 @ 2:48 pm

    Heh! I had to go to BuhDuh’s comment at 41 to see what you were talking about, mg.

    For example, I have not read a comment from nk in a long while. His comments were consistent enough that my mental picture of the person behind the comment led my to conclude that this is a person I would never associate with.

    I had noticed that the VPN guy keeps telling us what he likes and what he doesn’t like, as though this were some kind of dating site, but I guess that there are other commenters here, like BuDuh, looking for kindred spirits.

    Anyway, club-shmub, you’re in a class of your own and illegitimi non corburundum.

    nk (1d9030)

  72. I read nk and mg’s comments. AJ and norcal as well, DRJ when Jupiter and Saturn line up and she comments that day.

    Most of the trolls… I just scroll on by. Same reason I comment less. I’m a little more self aware of my tendency to be a dick.

    Dustin (92e1f8)

  73. And I don’t consider NJ to be a troll, I should add. Pissed off too much, but there’s a pretty clear distinction between the guys who just came to discuss stuff, and the guys who came to derail stuff.

    Dustin (92e1f8)

  74. That is a very sad to read link, Jim. May they Rest In Peace.

    Although it may lack the proper respect for the fallen, the link might make a more powerful statement if it separated the deaths prior to the availability to be fully vaccinated(not the date that the vaccine was available) as well as the vaccination status of the deceased after that availability.

    BuDuh (4a7846)

  75. Thanks for the response, AJ.

    BuDuh (4a7846)

  76. Over half of those diagnosed will develop ‘long COVID’

    HERSHEY, Pa. — A disturbingly high percentage of people who recover from symptomatic COVID-19 continue to struggle with lingering “long COVID” symptoms for months after the fact. It’s been a worrying trend since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. Now, researchers from Penn State report that over half of the 236 million people with COVID-19 worldwide since the pandemic began since will indeed experience long COVID symptoms.

    Study authors warn that governments, doctors, and health care organizations should all prepare themselves for an ever-increasing number of long COVID patients in need of treatment for a variety of physical or psychological symptoms. According to the new report, both adults and children may experience several potential health issues for as long as six months post-recovery.

    The team analyzed a total of 57 prior studies focusing on COVID-19 patients during this project, encompassing 250,351 unvaccinated adults and children with COVID-19 between December 2019 and March 2021. Among that entire group, 79 percent ended up needing hospitalization for their infection. Most of those hospital patients lived in high-income nations with an average age of 54 years-old. Researchers assessed each person’s post-COVID health on three occasions: one month after recovery, two to five months afterward, and six or more months later.

    Now there are some flaws here, as one had to get officially diagnosed to be in the study and many who contracted Covid did not seek medical intervention. It is also limited to the unvaccinated, so it does not make any claims about “breakthrough” infections. It is also slightly biased towards younger people since more older patients died and were therefore excluded.

    But still, the study says that many who recover will have to deal with health problems going forward.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  77. but there’s a pretty clear distinction between the guys who just came to discuss stuff, and the guys who came to derail stuff.

    Indeed.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  78. The reason Trump’s citizenship question was not on the census is because he is an incompetent jerkoff who did not know how to legally get it on the census

    This is my main problem with Trump. He is the literal definition of “opportunity cost.” He simply occupied the Oval Office without having a clue how to get things done. All he could run was his mouth. Meanwhile, the other guys were eating his lunch and leaving him to rant about his lunch being missing.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  79. I wonder. If people were given a choice between a Covid vaccine shot, and a Covid VIRUS shot, which would they choose?

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  80. Without a speck of self-awareness, he implies that a group of people who complain about cancel culture never shut up about it and that they should shut up about it

    I could replace “cancel culture” with a number of things, left and right. Sometimes the same topic for both.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  81. CBS is re-running the first two shows of Ghosts. I read some more about it. This was done in the UK (very small number of episodes per season) starting in 2019.

    But they copied some of the exact same background of the ghosts!

    Sammy Finkelman (c49738)

  82. #76 Good point, BuhDuh. Here’s a link to the Officer Down site, which might have some information. (I don’t know if police officers were given priority for vaccinations in most states, as they should have been. I do recall that my mailman was ticked because Governor Inslee hadn’t given mail deliverers priority.)

    Jim Miller (edcec1)

  83. They re-ran the season premiere of B Positivr, and they are re-running the season premiere of The United tates of Al. I had wondered how they would handle it or if they could even continue the show.

    They set the show back in August ad Al and tthe Marines get Al’s sister – who works for an international medical group – out of Afghanistan. Al feels maybe he hurt her by getting her that job She winds up in Turkey where she had been planning to go when things started looking bad,

    One point missing – he should worry that he can’t stay in contact with the rest of his family.

    These last two were not in the newspaper TV listings, so t must have been a late decision by CBS to re-run premiere’s of Thursday shows especially those with plot developments. They’re promoting theirshows.

    Sammy Finkelman (c49738)

  84. #74
    Dustin
    You’ve earned a lot of respect from me… when I was the dick, you were kind.

    steveg (e81d76)

  85. . Liz Cheney can’t lose her seat to redistricting, unlike Adam Kinzinger, who says that if it is really bad, he’ll look around to see if there is some other office he can run for.

    State Senator?

    Challenge Tammy Duckworth (and other Republicans) for United States Senate?

    Sammy Finkelman (c49738)

  86. #49

    OK, they are front stabbers.
    At some point they both went outside the tent and decided to piss in. What were their true motivations, not just their spoken explanations? My experience with “principled” people has ended too often with finding their skeleton collection closet. I like principled people who resign, go on to the next gig and refuse to say anything bad about the situation they left, even if it was a s#*t show.

    Why don’t we watch and see what Liz and Adam do after leaving the House?

    steveg (e81d76)

  87. felip e 27.

    Hey, Sammy! Do you know if there have been any use of the phrase “systemic voter fraud” other than explanations of how it is a myth?

    This is a possible early use by a Trump Republican but I am not sure who actually used the phrase: (She may have said only “real systematic claims”

    https://www.foxnews.com/politics/mcenany-democrats-seized-on-a-pandemic-to-create-voter-fraud-epidemic

    The path to challenging “systemic voter fraud” during the 2020 presidential election is through the courts, Trump campaign adviser Kayleigh McEnany said Saturday.

    There are sometimes certain phrases that are only used by one side of the argument,

    Republicans make false charges; Democrats don’t want anyone to ask any questions about how fraud would be prevented,

    I mean Election Day registration? What are the safeguards? If someone had to be vouched for another registered oter, possibly connected by telephone, that would be a safeguard. Or a limit per precinct er day after which they go through more steps.

    Sammy Finkelman (c49738)

  88. @80 no, the reason why the citizenship question wasn’t on the census is because judge roberts sided with the liberals in a 5-4 decision

    not the first time, see obamacare

    another bush legacy

    JF (e1156d)

  89. Kevin @78. They’re talking about hospitalized patients, not merely symptomatic ones. So it’s 50% of 15% to 20% of infectionw, and they’ve also given a generous definition of long Covid.

    Sammy Finkelman (c49738)

  90. 81. Kevin M (ab1c11) — 10/16/2021 @ 5:36 pm

    If people were given a choice between a Covid vaccine shot, and a Covid VIRUS shot, which would they choose

    Good question. They should ask it in a poll.

    I think around 5% to 10% would choose the virus, figuring that, of course, it would be a carefully calculated limited dose, would give stronger immunity, and might be safer than the vaccine, which is strange and unnatural, and that if things went wrong they could always get the monoclonal antibodies (except for people who prefer ivermectin or even Hydroxychloroquin

    Sammy Finkelman (c49738)

  91. #88 Actually, it isn’t clear that Liz Cheney will lose. She is faced, lucky for her, with many challengers, so she could win the primary with less than a majority of the total vote. In 2016, for example, she won the primary with less than 40 percent of the vote.

    Would she then win the general election? I think so, though not by her past margins. (And, given how close the fight for the House is likely to be, it is possible that the Republican leadership would then give her at least surreptitious support.)

    If this Ballotpedia article is up to date, she currently has no fewer than six challengers — after three dropped out, following the Trump endorsement.

    The primary is on August 16th, 2022, so much could happen between now and then. And the filing deadline isn’t until May 27th, 2022.

    (Trump, Jr. tried and failed to get the Wyoming legislature to change the rules to allow run-offs in primaries.)

    Jim Miller (edcec1)

  92. If people were given a choice between a Covid vaccine shot, and a Covid VIRUS shot, which would they choose

    It seems there should be a 3rd choice where people can be tested for existing immunity.

    BuDuh (06d3f1)

  93. Joe Biden March 2020:

    “Donald Trump’s ‘Remain In Mexico’ policy is dangerous, inhumane and goes against everything we stand for as a nation of immigrants. My administration will end it.”

    The Hill – today:

    “Biden to re-implement Trump’s ‘Remain In Mexico’ in November”.

    https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/department-of-homeland-security/576893-biden-to-reimplement-trumps-remain

    Obudman (ee9b82)

  94. For at least six years, the district clerk in Brazoria County used a highly unusual and possibly illegal system to assemble jury panels. Under state law, jurors are supposed to be selected at random from the pool of those who’ve been called to jury duty. But Rhonda Barchak, a Republican who served as district clerk in the fast-growing county that stretches from the Houston suburbs to the Gulf Coast, had her own method. Barchak, who resigned in late August after having held the post since 2010, divided up jurors by geographical region, and then by race, to assemble panels for criminal, civil, and family-law trials. As a result of her idiosyncratic system, thousands of verdicts could potentially be overturned, and the county could face an avalanche of lawsuits claiming wrongful convictions.

    Brazoria County district attorney Tom Selleck first acknowledged what he termed “irregularities” in an August 25 public statement, writing that “jury trial panels may have been assembled in a manner inconsistent with applicable statutes and laws.” Two days later, Selleck announced that he had asked the Texas Rangers’ Public Integrity Unit to investigate. “The law requires jurors be selected at random,” said Selleck, also a Republican, “and it is this process that is alleged to have been conducted improperly.”

    Civil rights activists, who have protested several times in front of the Brazoria County courthouse, allege that Barchak was rigging juries to put non-white defendants at a disadvantage. While Barchak has remained silent since stepping down, her attorney, Chip Lewis, gave Texas Monthly an account—published here for the first time—of her method of selecting jurors, asserting that her only aim was to assemble a “representative cross section” of the county’s population.

    https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/brazoria-county-jury-panels/

    Davethulhu (88395a)

  95. @80: “He simply occupied the Oval Office without having a clue how to get things done”

    @90: “why the citizenship question wasn’t on the census is because judge roberts sided with the liberals”

    Well, it’s true that Roberts sided with the liberals, but the question is “why”. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross testified that the question was added to help enforce the federal voting rights (VRA) laws (this explanation is required because of the Administrative Procedures Act). The majority of the Court believed that this was pretext….and the actual driving goal was to suppress minority population counts….and aid the GOP in redistricting. So, I believe, Kevin’s point is that Trump’s census guy Ross left a trail that tarnished their justification and that a more competent secretary/administration would not have fumbled the football.

    Now subsequent controlled studies on the census survey call this suppression claim into question; ie, it didn’t suppress the population reporting as much as previously claimed. Still, the point of the census is population….not citizens (or voters) actually….as anyone who remembers the 3/5 compromise. So actually the point is to count all legal and illegal residents…as counterintuitive as that may sound in determining representation. It’s unclear whether the study showed that the illegals actually answered the citizenship question honestly. If not, what does the question actually accomplish, I wonder?

    The Trump administration should have done its rulemaking well in advance and put forth reasons that could withstand scrutiny. Both Bush 43 and Obama were able to get rule changes that stood up in court. The Trump team couldn’t put forth an answer that didn’t seem pretextual…and they lost their case. Most of the census questions seem to stray from the Constitutional intent of counting residents…but that ship has sailed….

    AJ_Liberty (a4ff25)

  96. I like principled people who resign, go on to the next gig and refuse to say anything bad about the situation they left,

    IOW, you like “principled” people who don’t actually stand up for principle. And you believe that Republicans should never speak ill of Donald Trump, even after “going on to the next gig.”

    Cheney and Kinzinger aren’t merely in a “situation” that became uncomfortable for them. They are elected leaders with responsibilities — not to the president, not to a political party, but to the Constitution and the nation. One responsibility of Congress is to held the president accountable for malfeasance. That responsibility isn’t nullified when the president represents the same political party. It isn’t nullified by the fact of the president being a cult figure with rapidly loyal devotees.

    I suspect that if the party labels were different, legislators who refused to criticize misdeeds by a president of their own party would be viewed as cowards and cynical hacks.

    Radegunda (7f4ba9)

  97. While the Trump GOP works dilgently to dismantle our democratic system of governance, it’s reassuring to know that at least the Dems have their steely gaze riveted on what really matters:

    I hate to pick on California laws again, but damn. They make it easy: under another newly minted law, large retailers will be required to have “gender neutral” toy section by 2024. The proposal came after a state Assemblyman heard about a ten year old girl who asked “why some toys were off limits to her as a girl but would be ok to play with if she were a boy?” Rather than wonder why no one explained that the toys were not, in fact, off limits to anyone unless their parents said so, we will micromanage store displays instead.

    We’re so scrεwed.

    lurker (59504c)

  98. He simply occupied the Oval Office without having a clue how to get things done

    One theme I’ve heard from various people in the administration is that he would given instructions that were crazy or dangerous or illegal, and officials would slow-walk them until he forgot what he had asked for. But if officials could go about their business without Trump’s involvement, things would go okay.

    Radegunda (7f4ba9)

  99. It seems there should be a 3rd choice where people can be tested for existing immunity.

    To the strain that was going around 9 months ago.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  100. And this seems to be the disconnect. “Natural immunity” are the antibodies that your body’s chaotic immune system stumble upon that helps to resist the exact strain of the virus you contracted.

    It is NOT the same as the vaccine, which is targeted at a common denominator found in every, or nearly every, strain.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  101. nk – What would you ask a retired Brigadier General who graduated from West Point, who is a professor in Artificial Intelligence and has served the country 30 years? He and his wife are our newest neighbors! WtF did I do….

    mg (8cbc69)

  102. nk – What would you ask a retired Brigadier General who graduated from West Point, who ….

    I don’t know, mg. What’s the custom of your locality?
    — “How are you?”
    — “How do you do?”
    — “Hey, how’s it going?”
    — “How you doing?”

    In my judgment, it’s advisable not to ask too many questions because people might think you’re asking because you want to know the answers.

    nk (1d9030)

  103. Kevin you have it exactly backward which is why natural immunity works and Pfizer is below 50 percent.

    NJRob (8a4f08)

  104. Let’s Go Brandon!

    Rip Murdock (141030)

  105. Here’s a story I hadn’t heard before, about an American nurse, doing the right things:

    There are many heroes associated with the Harrow and Wealdstone rail crash of 1952. Many medics, rail staff, passers-by and passengers stepped forward to offer any help they could in what turned out to be the worst peacetime rail accident in British history.

    And none more so than Lieutenant Abbie Sweetwine, a black American nurse who became known as ‘The Angel of Platform 6’.

    (I found this story in one of the comments over at Political Betting. Here’s her Wikipedia biography.)

    Jim Miller (edcec1)

  106. Going back to the first item, Kathleen Parker has some suggestions for Yale

    Incidents of diversity extortion aren’t rare. We read about them often enough to wonder where it might end.
    . . .
    As for Yale, perhaps its other law students should file a complaint with the school’s powerful Alumni Association about the adverse effects on their educations of zealous administrators who are most in need of a 360-degree view — perhaps as their cars depart New Haven for parts unknown.

    Jim Miller (edcec1)

  107. Capitol Police officer charged with trying to help a January 6 rioter avoid law enforcement
    ………
    Prosecutors say officer Michael Angelo Riley — who worked with the K-9 unit and has been with the department for nearly 25 years — told an unnamed rioter to remove online photos of him at the Capitol to avoid criminal charges, according to the indictment filed in US District Court on Thursday.

    Riley is accused of sending dozens of messages to the rioter.

    “I am a Capitol Police officer who agrees with your political stance,” Riley wrote in one message with the unnamed person, as quoted in the indictment. “Take down the part about being in the building they are currently investigating and everyone who was in the building is going to be charged. Just looking out!”
    ………
    Riley and the unnamed rioter became Facebook friends on January 1, the indictment says. On January 7, the day after the insurrection, the officer messaged the other person and advised him to take down photos of himself at the Capitol building, prosecutors said.

    “It was a total s**t show!!!” Riley said in a message obtained by prosecutors. “Just wanted to give you a heads up… we had over 50 officers hurt, some pretty bad.”
    ……..
    “Next time you want to come to DC just call me, you can stay at my house on the shore for free and bring your daughter to the museums,” another of Riley’s messages read. “If you want to see the capitol buildings, let’s do it legally next time.”

    The FBI arrested the accused rioter on January 19. On January 20, he told Riley about his interview with the FBI, and Riley deleted all of their direct messages later that day, according to the indictment.
    ………..

    Rip Murdock (141030)

  108. MG,

    Thanks for the American Thinker piece.

    NJRob (8a4f08)

  109. 100 Capitol Rioters Have Pleaded Guilty. Here’s What Their Cases Show About The Jan. 6 Investigation.
    ……….
    One hundred is an arguably arbitrary number, since the total number of people charged with participating in the riots keeps growing and prosecutors haven’t announced a target for when the investigation will end. The FBI has hundreds of photos posted online of people they’re still trying to identify.

    But 100 is a nice round number, and a large enough pool to understand the deals that prosecutors have offered in the months since the attack on the Capitol, who is taking them, and what both sides are getting in return. BuzzFeed News is publishing a database of documents filed in connection with these pleas, including the agreements that outline the terms and separate statements of the criminal conduct that defendants are admitting to.
    ……….
    ………. Prosecutors are securing a steady stream of convictions as they continue to track down more suspects and defend against legal challenges to some of the more complex cases they’ve already brought.
    ………
    “It’s become evident to me in the riot cases … that many of the defendants who are pleading guilty are not truly accepting responsibility. They seem to me to be trying to get this out of the way as quickly and as inexpensively as possible and stating whatever they have to say in guilty pleas and hoping to get probation and leave,” (US District Judge Thomas) Hogan said.
    ……….
    Most of the 100 rioters to take a deal have pleaded guilty to the least serious crime they were charged with: parading, demonstrating, or picketing in the Capitol, a class B misdemeanor that carries a maximum sentence of six months in jail. Defendants pleading guilty to that crime or disorderly conduct in the Capitol (also a class B misdemeanor) are getting a few benefits: avoiding a trial on multiple charges, some of which carried more potential prison time; a chance to argue to a judge for credit for accepting responsibility early; and, in some cases, an agreement from prosecutors to advocate for a light sentence.
    ……….
    Most people appearing before judges to plead guilty have been polite and contrite. In a few cases, defendants made a last-ditch effort to insist that they weren’t as bad as other rioters or that what they did wasn’t as serious as it looked on paper.
    ………
    Prosecutors have defended offering misdemeanor plea deals, explaining to judges that defendants should get credit for coming forward early to resolve cases in such a resource-intensive investigation……..
    ……….
    Prosecutors have focused early plea offers on cases involving the least serious offenses. The vast majority of guilty pleas — 80 out of 100 — have involved defendants charged solely with misdemeanor crimes from the start.

    A much smaller number of defendants — 5 out of 100……..were charged with a felony but pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor. In more than half of all prosecutions filed to date, defendants have been charged with at least one felony for obstructing an official proceeding, which has a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Prosecutors have typically pursued that charge for defendants who expressed an intent to disrupt Congress or who made it farther into the building.
    ……….
    The remaining 15 plea deals involve at least one felony. Of those defendants, seven agreed to fully cooperate with investigators and delay sentencing until they finish giving the government whatever it wants — a sign that prosecutors have extended early plea offers to more serious offenders when they believe that person has something of value to give in return. Cooperation can include sharing evidence, speaking with law enforcement, and testifying before a grand jury or at trial. None of the cooperators has a sentencing date, which means the government isn’t done with them yet.
    ………..
    Only 18 defendants have been sentenced, too small a number to draw conclusions about the full spectrum of consequences for people who participated in the riots. Defendants pleading guilty to felonies for assaulting police or conspiring in advance to attack the Capitol will almost certainly spend time in prison. Some people who pleaded guilty to misdemeanors have received prison time and some have not. Some defendants are challenging the lawfulness of the felony charge for obstructing Congress, and if the government loses that fight it could dramatically reshape the landscape of these cases going forward.
    ………

    Rip Murdock (141030)

  110. BuDuh (06d3f1) — 10/16/2021 @ 7:46 pm

    It seems there should be a 3rd choice where people can be tested for existing immunity.

    I keep on reading these news stories about people who decided late to take the vaccine and sometimes it is because they got Covid and recovered.

    Not only do they probably not need the vaccine at that point, it is also useless, and not even the equivalent of a booster shot because it comes so soon after the infection. It might make sense after around three months, both to bolster immunity, and to possibly get rid of long Covid.

    The vaccine is against the Wuhan flu but the vaccine should work almost as well against any variant) it mutates less frequently than the flu.

    Now what is the variant you can call the “Wuhan flu?”

    The “Wuhan flu” is the “L” strain which was subsequently categorized as the original, and the “S” strain which spread further in China and was milder, distinguished by its D614G mutation – is considered the first significant mutation.

    But I think they’ve got the order wrong, thanks to Chinese secrecy and misinformation – the Chinese government has made the gene sequences of the first cases top secret – of course the fact that it secret is also a secret.

    The “S” strain was first, and milder, and spread further in China (and came from the first lab leak) and “L strain was second and came from a leak at the time (Dec 2, 2019) when the Wuhan Centers for Disease Control moved to its new location close to (within about 300 yards) of the Huanan Wholesale Seafood Market

    The S strain and the L strain are parent (or grandparent or great grandparent) and child but uncle and nephew. One is not directly descended from the other. Ergo, that means two separate lab leaks.

    It would be an additional nightmare for the government of China the outside world realized this.

    China now wants to be Covid free in the hope that they can later persuade eople that it originated outside of China.

    Sammy Finkelman (c49738)

  111. NJRob (8a4f08) — 10/17/2021 @ 7:02 am

    NJRob is correct, Kevin. You have it backwards.

    The “money-quote” starts at 10:03, but I start the video link, above, much earlier to provide greater context.


    Further distilled.

    Vaccines: Produces immune response against 2 antigens

    Natural immunity: Produces immune response against 20 antigens.

    felipe (484255)

  112. Reading Between The Lines Of Plea Deals In The Capitol Riot Cases
    …………
    The documents also show what rioters are willing to admit they did, building an uncontested record of how each person contributed to the chaos and violence that day — and what motivated them to join in the attack.

    Here’s what we’ve learned from the first 100 plea deals and what to look for as the prosecution effort — which stands at more than 630 federal cases and counting — presses on.
    ………
    Nearly every Jan. 6 defendant, regardless of whether they’re also accused of more serious criminal activity, faces the same four baseline charges: two class-B misdemeanor counts for demonstrating in the Capitol and disorderly conduct, and two class-A misdemeanor counts for being in a restricted building and disruptive activity. The class-B crimes have maximum sentences of six months in prison while the class-A crimes carry up to a year. Most of the 100 plea deals feature a misdemeanor, not a felony. One judge has questioned the decision by prosecutors to let most rioters plead guilty to a class-B crime, since in those cases judges don’t have the authority to order longer-term court supervision.
    The agreements explain that prosecutors can bring new charges in the future if they learn about violent conduct. …….
    ……..
    Congress sets maximum sentences for federal crimes, but the US Sentencing Commission gives judges detailed guidance to decide what’s appropriate in each case. These guidelines assign numerical values to each offense as well as other factors that might come into play, such as the severity of the crime, a defendant’s past criminal record, and whether the person accepted responsibility. Those numbers are added up and the final value corresponds to a range of recommended prison time. That range isn’t binding on judges, but they’re supposed to give it a lot of weight to keep things consistent across the criminal justice system.

    These sentencing guidelines calculations help explain why people charged with the same crime in connection with the same event can face different amounts of prison time. ……..
    ……….
    The sentencing guidelines don’t apply to the class-B misdemeanors most Capitol riot defendants have pleaded guilty to. That means judges are free to hand down any sentence within the six-month maximum.

    Some rioters have received prison time, some have received home confinement, and some have received probation. In recommending sentences for a misdemeanor plea, prosecutors are parsing the details of what each defendant is accused of doing before, during, and after the riots. The government has argued for stiffer penalties for people who urged on other rioters or who didn’t express remorse after, for example.

    The vast majority of Capitol riot defendants have been allowed to go home after being charged and arrested. Once they plead guilty, whether they can stay out of jail pending sentencing is up to the judge. In misdemeanor plea deals, prosecutors have agreed to not ask judges to revoke a defendant’s release conditions. ……..
    ………
    ………Cooperation can mean anything from talking to the FBI and turning over evidence to testifying before a grand jury or at trial. It also delays sentencing so that defendants can get as much credit as possible for whatever help they give the government.

    At least 60 people who pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor agreed to cooperate with the feds, too, but to a lesser extent — they’re letting the FBI take a look at anything they posted on social media about the riots or sitting for an interview. The evidence in the investigation has drawn heavily from messages, photos, and videos from Facebook, Parler, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, and other platforms. It’s an unusual provision, since usually cooperation is all or nothing. At a plea hearing in August, one judge described the partial cooperation condition as something she’d “typically never seen, to be honest.”

    Prosecutors have placed a price tag on the damage that rioters caused to the Capitol on Jan. 6 — $1,495,326.55 — and they’re requiring defendants who plead guilty to help cover that. In misdemeanor cases, defendants have agreed to pay $500 in restitution. In felony cases, most defendants have agreed to pay $2,000. It’s ultimately up to judges to decide how much money defendants should pitch in, and they can also separately impose a fine as another form of punishment. ………
    ………..

    Rip Murdock (141030)

  113. Beating someone one time for being a Christian might not be “religious persecution.” Jailing someone briefly for being a Christian might not be. Threatening once to punish someone if he returns to church might not be. Third Circuit: Sure, guys, but all three together maybe could be, right?

    The reason the immigration judges don’t want to call it persecution, is that they want the number of people who qualify for asylum to be limited.

    That undermine the whole concept of asylum. You cannot ave both conditions and de jure ir even de facto quotas.

    It was political persecution if it wasn’t religious persecution. They didn’t target all Christians in that district in that manner, but they targeted this person because they believed his religious beliefs were motivating his opposition to government decrees that impacted him personally, so stopping his practice was the way to get him to stop.

    Sammy Finkelman (c49738)

  114. At least 60 people who pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor agreed to cooperate with the feds, too, but to a lesser extent — they’re letting the FBI take a look at anything they posted on social media about the riots or sitting for an interview

    So what are they not doing?

    Testifying?

    I can understand making access easy to all messages but not doing an interview but what;s lleft out here.

    I think this shows the prosecutors are not seeking some kind of political revenge. They just want to understand how this happened and who were the ultimate instigators, and they may have some information or clues about that. And they’re not into blaming Donald Trump. Donald Trump had quite a different game plan – for a constitutional coup. (except he was checkmated – this time – no matter what moves he made)

    Sammy Finkelman (c49738)

  115. 104/ The comments seem to mention more the truck driver hours of sleep rule than any emissions rule – I dodn’t read dpwn yet to find n emissions rule.

    ..a driver is not going to go sit in line and not be paid, and then run out of hours and face some very steep fines if caught. The only guys being paid to sit are company drivers in most cases, it is rare for a brokerage to pay an owner operator in these conditions to sit. Sure, they may throw you a hundred bucks, a nice gesture but meaningless when I need to generate at minimum $75 an hour to stay above water. My target rate, no matter the load, is always $100+. Anything less than that, I’m just wasting my time.

    Also, something you need to know, this container freight is considered low rung, garbage freight that pays little to nothing, especially when fuel is over $4 a gallon. It is easy to see why there are few folks in my industry coming to their rescue, you get what you pay for…

    The nly emission ting I saw so far was this:

    In California older trucks have to pass “emission standards” of newer trucks resulting in a loss of 50 percent of “that” workforce to remove the containers from their ports.

    To summarize, there are a number of things reducing the number of trucks which are possibly making the backlogs worse because there is some free time not used. You have rules, which in the current circumstances, aren’t practical.

    Sammy Finkelman (c49738)

  116. French President Macron has announced plans to build small modular nuclear reactors by 2030. British Prime Minister has announced a similar plan for Britain, with, I think, a less ambitious target date.

    It’s time for Bill Gates to get out to Wyoming and do what he can to speed up the efforts by his company, Terrapower, to produce these new American reactors.

    (Incidentally, the federal government has been backing these efforts quietly, even under Obama.)

    Jim Miller (edcec1)

  117. Under the new California law they will still be able to have separate boys’ toys and girls’ toys sections, but if so, stores will also have to have mixed or gender neutral section. You would put games there, at least. It maybe helps marketers more than anybody else. It maybe could cause stores to make their toy sections larger.

    Sammy Finkelman (c49738)

  118. nk- If he didn’t get fired by Obama, I should already know the answer.

    mg (8cbc69)

  119. Kevin may not agree with me on this, but I think that Wyoming’s fight over Liz Cheney shows another Trump opportunity cost. Instead of praising the wonderful taste of Trump boot polish, Republican leaders (and voters) in Wyoming should be discussing how to speed up the replacement of their dying coal industry with nuclear power.

    Jim Miller (edcec1)

  120. Mahalo, NJRob.

    mg (8cbc69)

  121. Coal will only be used for Christmas presents this season, Jim.

    mg (8cbc69)

  122. And none more so than Lieutenant Abbie Sweetwine, a black American nurse who became known as ‘The Angel of Platform 6′.

    Jim, I saw a video about that event about a week ago. I think it was something YouTube served up because of the genre I had been listening to. I haven’t put in the right key words to bring up the same video again, but its main theme was how the contingencies of the day, including the presence of military medics, led to the application of combat medical practices in a civilian situation, and eventually to the institution of paramedics. Because there were so many injured and not enough ambulances, doctors began treating people on the spot, with Sweetwine organizing triage. The lipstick labeling was genius.

    Afterward, it became clear that many injured people who died en route to hospital could be saved with care before they were transported.

    Radegunda (803a6e)

  123. https://freebeacon.com/policy/soros-drops-1-million-on-anti-police-effort-in-austin/

    Soros being the destroyer of civilization yet again.

    NJRob (eb56c3)

  124. Summer moved on, and the way it goes you can’t tag along, *
    so,
    Our lives will be forever autumn. **

    * Morten’s loooong note is amazing. Also, Pal and Mags are great songwriters.
    ** The cover is better than the original. (Fight me.) That voice really glows. And you get the Cheshire accent in the speaking intro.

    Radegunda (803a6e)

  125. #121 I think that, too, is another example of opportunity costs. California legislators should be investigating why boys are having so much trouble in school, and elsewhere, not nit-picking toy displays. (When Christina Hoff Sommers came out with her book, “The War Against Boys”, I bought a copy, but never got around to reading it, partly because the title struck me as over the top. I now am not so sure about that.

    (For the curious: I loaned my copy to a niece who has three sons.)

    Jim Miller (edcec1)

  126. Antibody tests can’t give answers you want about covid-19 immunity.
    ………
    In most cases, however, getting an antibody test to determine immunity is a fool’s errand, infectious-disease doctors agree. The tests for antibodies, also known as serology tests, do not provide the answers that most people are seeking.
    ……..
    The tests might indicate the presence or even the level of coronavirus-fighting antibodies in the bloodstream, but scientists don’t yet know what number of antibodies provide protection from covid-19. Antibodies are protein molecules the immune system produces to neutralize viruses or bacteria that have entered the body.

    Antibody levels do help health-care providers establish whether a patient has immunity against other, more familiar infectious diseases, such as measles and hepatitis A and B. But doctors say our relatively short experience with covid-19 hasn’t yet provided the same information.
    ………
    Another problem with coronavirus antibody tests, doctors say, is that they are not standardized, so values associated with antibody tests in one version might not be the same as another.
    ……..
    Some antibody tests are able to assign a numerical value to an individual’s antibody levels, although the numbers are not uniform from one manufacturer’s test to another. The level above which a person can be considered to have sufficient immunity is unknown.
    ……..
    Antibody testing can determine whether someone has been exposed to coronavirus or has received any of the vaccines used against the virus. Some tests detect antibodies created in either case. Others only detect antibodies that are generated by exposure.
    ……..

    Rip Murdock (141030)

  127. Both Bush 43 and Obama were able to get rule changes that stood up in court. The Trump team couldn’t put forth an answer that didn’t seem pretextual…and they lost their case.

    It’s always bad when your argument doesn’t pass the “Do you think we’re stupid?!” test.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  128. Marine’s court-martial highlights the military straining to deal with partisan politics
    ……..
    ……… (T)here was (Lt. Col. Stuart) Scheller the conservative cause — a political vehicle for some lawmakers to attack the Biden administration and its handling of the withdrawal from Afghanistan. The fact that Scheller disobeyed lawful orders and leveled his criticism at civilian and military leaders while he was in uniform, actions that any administration would find intolerable, mostly went unaddressed.

    Testifying on his behalf were some of the most controversial members of Congress, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R.-Ga Insurrectionist.), who has no military experience. She told the military court that President Biden should be impeached for his management of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and questioned why Scheller was on trial.

    Scheller, a 17-year infantry officer who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, pleaded guilty to contempt toward officials, disrespect toward superior commissioned officers, willfully disobeying a superior commissioned officer, dereliction in the performance of duties and conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman. As part of his plea deal, Scheller signed an 11-page stipulation of facts in which Marine prosecutors detailed 27 instances in which Scheller violated laws or regulations as a military officer.

    On Friday, Scheller was sentenced to a letter of reprimand and $5,000 in forfeited pay. The Marine Corps sought a stiffer docking of pay but did not attempt to force him out with a negative discharge that would mean a loss in benefits. Instead, he’ll resign his commission.

    ………(D)espite orders to stop, he continued to post his criticisms on social media for weeks, taking aim at officials that included Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin; Gen. David H. Berger, the commandant of the Marine Corps; and Marine Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr., the chief of U.S. Central Command.
    ………
    On Thursday, Scheller said that he knew he was breaking the law and wanted to take responsibility for doing so. But in a fiery, 20-minute statement, he also doubled down on his comments, saying that his criticism was not about politics and that he came to the conclusion that senior leaders were unwilling to have an honest discussion about their shortcomings.
    ………
    (Lt. Col. Troy Campbell, the Marine Corps prosecutor) challenged the implication that the Marine Corps had immediately cast him out. Scheller’s commanders sought several times to intervene and correct Scheller’s behavior before throwing him in the brig for nine days in pretrial confinement, the prosecutor said.

    In court, Greene and two other Republican members of Congress – Reps. Louie Gohmert of Texas and Ralph Norman of South Carolina (R-Insurrectionist) – were called by the defense to testify after Scheller already had pleaded guilty. They sought to reframe the debate as not about Scheller’s actions as an officer, but about the failures and political motives of senior U.S. officials, raising some incidents that had nothing to do with Afghanistan or Scheller.
    ……
    Gohmert, appearing outside the courthouse Thursday evening, insisted that he was not politicizing the case by appearing.
    ……..
    Scheller may receive a honorable discharge or a general discharge under honorable conditions, depending on the decision of the Secretary of the Navy.

    Rip Murdock (141030)

  129. Vaccines: Produces immune response against 2 antigens

    Natural immunity: Produces immune response against 20 antigens.

    Utter nonsense.

    1) Vaccines target the common-denominator spike protein found in most strains. It varies somewhat in newer ones, but not so much that the vaccine is ineffective.

    2) Natural immunity produces antibodies that attack the exact single strain the body’s defenses see. Different people will develop different antibodies to the same invading virus — the body’s defenses are — like every other mechanism in nature — chaotic and have a great deal of trial-and-error and random chance.

    I encourage you to explain how the body develops antigens to strains that it has not seen. It very much stops when it has developed a defense that is adequate to the task at hand.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  130. Clarification: The mRNA and adenovirus vaccines target the spike protein. There are some old-style killed (or weakened) virus vaccines that are specific to a few strains. None of them are approved in the US, but are approved in some countries, notably in Asia.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  131. Kevin may not agree with me on this, but I think that Wyoming’s fight over Liz Cheney shows another Trump opportunity cost

    The GOP civil war that Trump has stoked is, of course, another opportunity cost. They could, instead, but working together against the socialists.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  132. OT: Why are so many CA state workers unvaccinated?

    Oct. 15—The COVID-19 vaccination rate is lower among California state workers than among the state’s general population, according to data from the state Human Resources Department.

    Fewer than two-thirds of state workers — about 62% — were vaccinated as of Oct. 7, according to preliminary figures provided by department spokeswoman Camille Travis. That compares to a rate of about 72% among all Californians, according to state data.

    I guess Trump’s minions are secretly infiltrating the California bureaucracy. Who knew?

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  133. Vaccines target the common-denominator spike protein found in most strains. It varies somewhat in newer ones, but not so much that the vaccine is ineffective.

    Gee, y’think?

    I encourage you to explain how the body develops antigens to strains that it has not seen. It very much stops when it has developed a defense that is adequate to the task at hand.

    I have no doubt you would like for me to explain your nonsense. Nonsense that does not occur to me.

    The body doesn’t develop antigens to strains it has not seen. This is true for both natural immune response and vaccine induced response – duh. Immune response does not “very much” stop once it develops an adequate defense, as it continues to produce antibodies for a period of time as serology tests confirm, even though science has not determined what numbers are adequate to confer a particular amount of immunity.

    Natural immunity produces antibodies that attack the exact single strain the body’s defenses see.

    This is true, and you are asking the word “single” to do more lifting that is credible, because it would be erroneous to conclude that this means that the immune response must excludes any other variant. Would you like to explain how it does?

    felipe (484255)

  134. ” to do more lifting that than is credible”

    I was thinking “to do more lifting that it can credibly do”

    felipe (484255)

  135. Fewer than half of Republicans now support requiring childhood vaccinations for infectious diseases
    ………
    ……..Asked specifically about childhood vaccine mandates for COVID-19, 79% of Democrats are in favor and 9% are opposed, compared to 25% and 63% for Republicans.

    While the overall drop in support for childhood vaccine mandates is small, that is the net result of a 13-percentage-point decline in Republican support to 46%, and a 5-point drop in Independent support, being partially offset by a 6-point increase in Democratic approval.
    ………
    Fewer than half of Republicans (47%) describe vaccines in general as “very safe,” 25 points lower than the share of Democrats who describe them that way.

    Partisan differences on getting the COVID-19 shot also are substantial. In this poll, 56% of Republicans say they have been fully vaccinated, compared with 79% of Democrats. One-third of Republicans say they will not get vaccinated, compared to just 5% of Democrats. Most Republicans who are fully vaccinated support childhood vaccine mandates (61% to 22%), but by more than two to one (59% to 24%), Republicans who say they will not get the COVID-19 vaccine oppose requiring childhood vaccinations against infectious diseases.
    ………
    Top lines and cross tabs.

    Rip Murdock (141030)

  136. Building a Socialist computer.

    felipe (484255)

  137. Large Majorities Across Parties Favor Allowing the Federal Government to Negotiate Drug Prices, Even After Hearing Common Arguments About It
    ………
    Initially 83% of the public say they favor allowing the federal government to negotiate with drug companies to lower drug prices on behalf of people enrolled in Medicare beneficiaries and private plans. This includes 91% of Democrats, 85% of independents, and 76% of Republicans, as well as majorities of seniors (84%), who would be most affected by such a provision.

    To gauge the potential impact of a national debate over the proposal, the survey asked the public to assess a summary of key arguments being made for and against the plan. Those arguments do little to move the share of the public that favors or opposes the proposal, though affected the intensity of support among Republicans. While Republican support held steady (76% to 71%), the share who “strongly favor” it dipped (44% to 28%).

    When asked specifically about each argument, most (84%) of the public, including three-quarters (78%) of Republicans, say the argument in favor – “this is needed because Americans pay higher prices than people in other countries, many can’t afford their prescriptions, and drug company profits are too high” – is convincing.

    On the other side, a third (33%) say the argument against – “this would have the government too involved and will lead to fewer new drugs being available in the future” – is convincing. This includes nearly half (45%) of Republicans.

    The public also rejects the argument that high prices are necessary for supporting research into new drugs.
    ………
    The poll also reveals that the public does not have a lot of confidence in Washington to address the issue.
    ……..
    Top lines.

    Rip Murdock (141030)

  138. Kamala Harris and Terry McAuliffe blatantly breaking the law by showing a video endorsement in hundreds of black churches in Virginia.

    NJRob (eb56c3)

  139. Kamala Harris and Terry McAuliffe blatantly breaking the law by showing a video endorsement in hundreds of black churches in Virginia.

    What law?

    Rip Murdock (141030)

  140. The GOP civil war that Trump has stoked is, of course, another opportunity cost. They could, instead, [be] working together against the socialists.

    The Trumpite agenda revolves, finally, around the premise that all true patriots will always defend Donald Trump, no matter what. His appalling behavior following the election seriously tested that premise, and unfortunately most of the prominent “conservative” opinion-leaders chose to keep their moral compasses aligned with Trump and treat his conservative critics as perfidious enemies. Most of the GOP appears happy to be the Party of Trump first and foremost.

    The crazy cult worship, plus the growing antipathy to democratic governance, the civil-war fantasies, the flirtation with caesarism, the ethnonationalism, the hypocrisy around claims to care about religious morality and the common good — all that discourages a unified, effective opposition to leftist policy agendas. Of course the Trumpers blame the anti-Trumpers. But it’s the Trumpers who chose to make Donald Trump himself the measure of patriotic virtue — contra their old mantra of “policy not personality!”

    Now the Trumpers think we should get behind their stragegy for overturning democratic elections in the future — while they claim to be the only authentic voices of “the American people.”

    Radegunda (803a6e)

  141. #143

    The churches would be breaking the law and risking their tax free status.

    steveg (e81d76)

  142. #143

    Johnson Amendment is a more than 60-year-old federal law (named for then-U.S. Sen. Lyndon B. Johnson who sponsored it) that protects the integrity of both elections and nonprofits by ensuring that tax-exempt organizations – including houses of worship – don’t endorse or oppose political candidates. Endorsements risk corrupting the charitable or religious mission of nonprofits, not to mention their tax-exempt status.

    I’m not a fan of politics at the pulpit, but I’d just go elsewhere. Not a fan of the Johnson Amendment either

    steveg (e81d76)

  143. @145-

    NJRob specifically accused Harris and McAuliffe.of violating “a” law, not the churches. And the churches would not be violating their tax exempt status-a number of conservative churches endorsed Trump and nothing happened to them. Politicians frequently appear in person in churches, how is a video different?

    Rip Murdock (141030)

  144. The Trump cult must pledge to their holy relics.

    Rip Murdock (141030)

  145. Rip knows the law. He also knows the leftists who have taken over government will never enforce it against their voters.

    Fraud.

    NJRob (1929af)

  146. #136

    I’ve been thinking all along that many Democrats are lying about having been vaccinated and/or don’t want their children vaccinated.
    72% of eligible Californians are fully vaccinated and the vaccination rate is meandering around 80-120K vaccinated per day with around 11,000 children a day becoming eligible

    steveg (e81d76)

  147. Is it against the law to encourage others to break the law?

    Probably not in this instance, but I do consider it bad form to encourage ministers to violate a law like this one.

    steveg (e81d76)

  148. “Rip knows the law. He also knows the leftists who have taken over government will never enforce it against their voters.”

    On May 4, 2017, Trump signed the “Presidential Executive Order Promoting Free Speech and Religious Liberty.” The executive order does not repeal the Johnson Amendment, nor does it allow ministers to endorse from the pulpit, but it does halt the enforcement of its consequences by directing the Department of Treasury that “churches should not be found guilty of implied endorsements where secular organizations would not be.”

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnson_Amendment#Repeal_efforts

    Davethulhu (88395a)

  149. Rip knows the law.

    Actually, I don’t. Assuming you are referring to the Hatch Act, it covers only government employees, not politicians.

    Rip Murdock (141030)

  150. by ensuring that tax-exempt organizations – including houses of worship – don’t endorse or oppose political candidates.

    But there are ways to affect elections even without that.

    Mark Zuckerberg did and spent over $400 million.

    https://www.npr.org/2020/12/08/943242106/how-private-money-from-facebooks-ceo-saved-the-2020-election

    His nonprofit gave grants to local election officials to make things easier to vote, but much more in Democratic leaning areas.

    https://nypost.com/2021/10/13/mark-zuckerberg-spent-419m-on-nonprofits-ahead-of-2020-election-and-got-out-the-dem-vote/

    In 2016 he unintentionally helped Trump because he arranged for both candidates to be offered help in targeting ads – each candidate would only have Facebook employees who wanted them to win. Trump accepted the help, but Hillary didn’t trust Facebook to keep the ads confidential and so rejected the help.

    Sammy Finkelman (c49738)

  151. And the Hatch Act doesn’t cover persons like McAuliffe, who is not a federal employee. Otherwise, I have no idea what NJRob is talking about.

    Rip Murdock (141030)

  152. Kevin M (ab1c11) — 10/17/2021 @ 11:35 am

    I encourage you to explain how the body develops antigens to strains that it has not seen. It very much stops when it has developed a defense that is adequate to the task at hand.

    Most strains or varients are not very different from each other and Covid mutates less than flu. The body develoos more than one antibody and any time it gets challenged it develops more varieties. The differences that cause a difference in the seriousness of the virus are usually very small mutations in the right place.

    Sammy Finkelman (c49738)

  153. Rip Murdock (141030) — 10/17/2021 @ 10:47 am

    Antibody levels do help health-care providers establish whether a patient has immunity against other, more familiar infectious diseases, such as measles and hepatitis A and B. But doctors say our relatively short experience with covid-19 hasn’t yet provided the same information.

    That means they haven’t nailed down just what means what.

    This is all excuses. It could be done.

    So what f different tests exist now? You know what each tests tells you.
    ………

    Sammy Finkelman (c49738)

  154. Kamala Harris and Terry McAuliffe blatantly breaking the law by showing a video endorsement in hundreds of black churches in Virginia.

    NJRob (eb56c3) — 10/17/2021 @ 12:31 pm

    Another fact free post from NJRob, pulling it out of his whatever.

    Rip Murdock (141030)

  155. Akwafina, call your agent…this could be your “Dog Day Afternoon

    https://news.yahoo.com/ny-attorney-general-investigation-love-014100918.html

    urbanleftbehind (c2e573)

  156. Rip,

    If you have trouble reading I’d be happy to help you.

    You are having difficulty understanding what facts are?

    NJRob (435b38)

  157. Rip,

    If you have trouble reading I’d be happy to help you.

    You are having difficulty understanding what facts are?

    NJRob (435b38) — 10/17/2021 @ 3:59 pm

    I asked you a simple question-what law. You refused to answer, asserting I already knew, which is incorrect. I have no idea what “law” you talking about, so I assume you’re just making it up.

    Rip Murdock (141030)

  158. Five times as many police officers have died from Covid-19 as from gunfire since start of pandemic
    …….
    There were 245 law enforcement deaths from Covid-19 in 2020, according to (the Officer Down Memorial Page (ODMP).

    The coronavirus has become the leading cause of death for officers despite law enforcement being among the first groups eligible to receive the vaccine at the end of 2020. The total stands at 476 Covid-19 related deaths since the start of the pandemic, compared to 94 from gunfire in the same period.
    ……..

    Rip Murdock (141030)

  159. Others have already told you the law that they are breaking and you’ve already had your leftist sympaticos tried to cite excuses by saying Orange Man bad.

    So keep the clown nose on. It’s more entertaining.

    NJRob (435b38)

  160. One of Trump’s top targets has outraised the opponent he backs to oust her. She’s not the only one
    Four Republican lawmakers who voted to impeach or convict former President Donald Trump over his role in the January 6 attack on the US Capitol outraised the candidates he has endorsed to oust them, new campaign filings show.
    ……..
    ……. Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, one of seven Senate Republicans who voted to convict Trump in February, raised nearly $1.1 million in the July-to-September quarter, more than twice the $465,945 collected by Kelly Tshibaka, who Trump endorsed earlier this year…….

    In addition, Murkowski ended September with more than $3.2 million in cash reserves — more than 10 times the amount Tshibaka had remaining in her campaign account.
    …….
    ……..(Rep. Liz) Cheney topped the fundraising among the 10 House Republicans who backed Trump’s impeachment, bringing in $1.7 million, new filings show. It marked the second-largest fundraising quarter of Cheney’s House career.

    Her Trump-endorsed opponent, attorney Harriet Hageman, joined the race on September 9 and raised nearly $302,000 in the three weeks before the books closed on the quarter, or a pace of about $100,000 a week.

    Hageman would need to increase that pace to match the fundraising strength of Cheney — who has consistently topped seven figures in quarterly fundraising this year. Cheney ended September with more than $3.6 million in the bank to Hageman’s $245,000.
    ……….
    In Washington (state), meanwhile, Herrera Buetler raised $523,591, surpassing the $452,132 collected by Joe Kent, a US Army veteran endorsed last month by Trump.

    And in Michigan, Upton raised $292,943 in the third quarter, topping the $115,585 collected by Steve Carra, a Michigan state lawmaker also endorsed by Trump in September.
    ………
    Trump has not yet endorsed challengers to six other House Republicans who voted for his impeachment.
    ………
    The power of incumbents .

    Rip Murdock (141030)

  161. @163-

    You and the others are wrong-no law is being broken. Churches have always welcomed politicians, even Republicans.

    Rip Murdock (141030)

  162. Akwafina, call your agent…this could be your “Dog Day Afternoon”

    https://news.yahoo.com/ny-attorney-general-investigation-love-014100918.html

    urbanleftbehind (c2e573) — 10/17/2021 @ 3:37 pm

    I like the cut of your jib, ULB. I’ll bet she could rock a role like that. Plus, a heavy drama would help Akwafina avert typecasting.

    Saw The Farewell not too long ago, and enjoyed it. Akwafina’s Chinese is amusing. She sounds like a non-Chinese person speaking Chinese.

    norcal (b9a35f)

  163. If you are the kind of cynic who thinks that one should never believe anything until it is officially denied, you’ll treat this as a confession:

    Unprompted, he [Trump] brought up an unsubstantiated claim he had interactions with prostitutes in Moscow before he ran for president.

    “I’m not into golden showers,” he told the crowd. “You know the great thing, our great first lady — ‘That one,’ she said, ‘I don’t believe that one.’ ”

    (For the record, I am not that kind of cynic, but I do think it is amusing to see Trump bring this subject up. And, in that rambling diatribe, he again told us how much he likes “Czar” Putin, and respects “Emperor” Xi. If he had anything good to say about any democratic leader, the article does not mention it.)

    Jim Miller (edcec1)

  164. ‘That one,’ she said, ‘I don’t believe that one.’

    But she believes the others. I wonder if the reason she doesn’t leave Trump is her fear that he might “primary” her in some way.  

    norcal (b9a35f)

  165. 168. I assume the reason she doesn’t leave him can be summed up in one word: prenup.

    lurker (59504c)

  166. I’m never going to pick up the phone and say, “Pardon so-and-so,

    Poor choice of words. DOJ doesn’t issue pardons.

    But it prepares the paperwork and may make recommendations.

    Sammy Finkelman (c49738)

  167. “I’m not into golden showers,” he told the crowd. “You know the great thing, our great first lady — ‘That one,’ she said, ‘I don’t believe that one.’ ”

    Trump brings it up because it’s the most implausible of all and he hopes it rubs off onto every other thing he’s been accused of, true or false or an assessment of a character flaw.

    But what is he saying?? That one Melania doesn’t believe. But other things?

    Sammy Finkelman (c49738)

  168. RIP Gen. Colin Powell USA, Ret. (84). Complications due to COVID-19.

    Rip Murdock (141030)

  169. @142, NJRob, I agree with you that this is a continuing violation of the Johnson rule. But if I understand it correctly it’s the church, not the politician that’s in violation.

    We should start cracking down on the tax expert status of all churches and religious leaders that politic from the pulpit.

    But we won’t. Neither political party would stand for it. I mean, what would your reaction be the first time the so much as investigated a Christian church that that wasn’t predominantly black?

    Time123 (9f42ee)

  170. Interesting story about the closings of drug stores in San Francisco. Thesis is that crime is less of a factor then lower foot traffic driving less of a need for as many locations and this being part of a planned site reduction.

    Even if it’s not responsible for closing Walgreens stores I think the law that essentially de-criminalized shoplifting is a bad one.

    https://thecolumn.substack.com/p/4-major-plot-holes-in-the-organized

    Since 2017 Walgreens SEC filings to investors make it clear there is an effort to close stores, which has been reported on since 2019. Every one of the company’s quarterly reports since 2018 has included some version of this statement:

    On October 24, 2017, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a plan to implement a program (the “Store Optimization Program”) to optimize store locations through the planned closure of approximately 600 stores and related assets within the Company’s Retail Pharmacy USA segment upon completion of the acquisition of certain stores and related assets from Rite Aid. The Company continues to expect to close approximately 750 stores and related assets, of which substantially all have been closed as part of this program. The actions under the Store Optimization Program commenced in March 2018 and are substantially completed with remaining activities expected to complete by end of fiscal 2020. The Store Optimization Program is expected to result in cost savings of approximately $350 million per year to be fully delivered by the end of fiscal 2020.

    Time123 (9f42ee)

  171. 168. I assume the reason she doesn’t leave him can be summed up in one word: prenup.

    She has it soft.

    nk (1d9030)

  172. 170. Well, this could be a reason to invade part of Mexico.

    Sammy Finkelman (b434ee)

  173. 170. SF:

    That one Melania doesn’t believe. But other things?
    I think this category is limited to accusations about women. Stormy Daniels, Karen McDougal, Donald Trump trying to seduce amarried woman, Donald Trump trying to separate a couple, going after the woman (rbefore Melania and after Marla Maples)

    It doesn’t mean she believes every single accusation. But that one she doesn’t take into consideration at all.

    Sammy Finkelman (b434ee)

  174. “Smith was arrested during a June 22 school board meeting several weeks after he says his daughter was raped by a gender-fluid student in a school bathroom. The student, a 15-year-old boy, was charged in that case with two counts of forcible sodomy and later arrested. He was then fitted with an ankle monitor and transferred to another school in Ashburn, where he was accused of committing another sexual assault against another female student in October.

    Biberaj told Fox 5 on Friday the decision to transfer the student to a different school came because he didn’t have a prior history of such behavior at the time, and she asked the public to “be patient” and refrain from judgment until “all the facts” in the case come to light.

    Meanwhile, Smith’s attorney has announced plans to sue the school district over its handling of the case and his own arrest at the school board meeting. He was sentenced in that case to 10 days in jail, all suspended, contingent on a year of good behavior.

    The Daily Wire’s article appears to suggest Biberaj motives for prosecuting the case are political, claiming she is “known for leniency and alternatives to incarceration” in other cases. She came under fire earlier this month for dismissing of hundreds of domestic violence cases after an accused wife-beater out on bond allegedly murdered his wife with a hammer. An advocacy group called Virginians for Safe Communities is leading a recall effort against Biberaj because of that case.”

    Loudoun County prosecutor who sought to jail father of girl allegedly raped at school tied to Soros, McAuliffe

    https://www.foxnews.com/politics/loudoun-county-prosecutor-soros-mcauliffe

    Obudman (3ad45c)

  175. 173. Due to Covid?! When somebody dies oor gets sick from an infection, people always ask if it is was Covid.

    Now the question: Was he vaccinated?

    https://www.facebook.com/GenPowell/posts/10159730388391719

    General Colin L. Powell
    2 hrs ·
    General Colin L. Powell, former U.S. Secretary of State and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, passed away this morning due to complications from Covid 19. He was fully vaccinated. We want to thank the medical staff at Walter Reed National Medical Center for their caring treatment. We have lost a remarkable and loving husband, father, grandfather and a great American.

    The Powell Family

    He was. Which vaccine? When? And he didn’t die from Covid
    but from Covid complications” How long was he sick? When did he first get Covid?

    Sammy Finkelman (b434ee)

  176. 170. Well, this could be a reason to invade part of Mexico.

    To make them take Texas back? We can’t do that. It would violate the secret covenant in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hildago. Mexico gave up California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah and Colorado in exchange for the United States agreeing to keep Texas and 20 million dollars.

    nk (1d9030)

  177. covid “colin powell” -dies -died -dead -die (before Oct 5) found nothing in the top links about him evver having Covid but did find two or three other mentions. (also passes away and in a foreign language)

    Things like: https://web.musc.edu/about/news-center/2021/09/21/heroic-nurse

    Notable past recipients include former Navy Lt. and U.S. presidential candidate H. Ross Perot as well as former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell…During this time, Powers has steadily risen in the ranks – she’s currently a major – while taking part in dangerous missions like the one in the Middle East as well as humanitarian deployments to El Salvador after Hurricane Mitch and most recently, Texas, a state hit particularly hard by COVID.

    Sammy Finkelman (b434ee)

  178. @179, I think everyone at the school who didn’t properly handle the first assault is culpable. I also think the father’s behavior (threatening another parent, refusing to follow a lawful order, & threatening a police officer) merited arrest. Probation seems harsher then I’ve have liked, but not an inappropriate sentence.

    Time123 (9f42ee)

  179. @180 He was also being treated for multiple myeloma (which affects immune system) and Parkinson’s

    Angelo (b6eda5)

  180. Colin Powell had been suffering from a rare blood cancer that diminished the body’s ability to fight infections,

    So the vaccine was probably near useless for him.

    Sammy Finkelman (c49738)

  181. Time123 @174:

    @142, NJRob, I agree with you that this is a continuing violation of the Johnson rule. But if I understand it correctly it’s the church, not the politician that’s in violation.

    We should start cracking down on the tax expert status of all churches and religious leaders that politic from the pulpit.

    But we won’t. Neither political party would stand for it. I mean, what would your reaction be the first time the so much as investigated a Christian church that that wasn’t predominantly black?

    My beef with NJRob is that he knee-jerked accused Harris and McAuliffe of breaking the law, not the churches. In addition, the Trump Administration suspended enforcement of the Johnson Amendment, see Davethulhu’s post at 152.

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  182. Good Oped by Brad Raffensperger who earned a good deal of credibility with his handling of the 2020 election.

    https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/op-eds/hr-4-undermines-our-elections-and-our-election-workers

    Time123 (9f42ee)

  183. Time123,

    you have the sitting Vice President and the attempted Governor of Virginia flagrantly ignoring the law and you want to hold the churches accountable? When we tell our politicians that they are above the laws they create, what does that tell the public?

    NJRob (eb56c3)

  184. Time123,

    you have the sitting Vice President and the attempted Governor of Virginia flagrantly ignoring the law and you want to hold the churches accountable? When we tell our politicians that they are above the laws they create, what does that tell the public?

    Where in the Johnson Amendment does it hold persons responsible for producing a video? (Hint: nowhere.) The law puts onus on the church for showing the video, not the producers.

    In fact, both Youngkin and McAuliffe have campaigned in churches.

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  185. Separate thread on Colin Powell.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  186. @188 i think you missed Time123’s point, Rob, which is that you’re a racist for bringing this up

    this is his argument for everything

    JF (e1156d)

  187. Even if it’s not responsible for closing Walgreens stores I think the law that essentially de-criminalized shoplifting is a bad one.

    Walgreens tends to overbuild. Where I live in NM, there are Walgreens on all 4 of the major-street corners that define the neighborhood in which I live.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  188. JF,

    I saw it and ignored it because it was a squirrel. I’ve learned when a bad faith argument is presented what’s the point in allowing them to go down the rabbit hole rather than debate the actual subject at hand.

    NJRob (eb56c3)

  189. you have the sitting Vice President and the attempted Governor of Virginia flagrantly ignoring the law and you want to hold the churches accountable? When we tell our politicians that they are above the laws they create, what does that tell the public?

    NJRob (eb56c3) — 10/18/2021 @ 9:16 am

    First, Maybe I’m mistaken about the law. My understanding is that it restricts the action the Churches are allowed to take, not the politician. Do you think I’m reading the law incorrectly?

    Second, I don’t think this law has actually been enforced much. (See info below) I’m agreeing with you that if it’s on the books it should be enforced. Though to be honest I don’t see how this doesn’t run afoul of the first amendment.

    Third, I was pointing out that if the government enforced a rule that impacted church’s tax exempt status, based on your comment history, I think you would be apoplectic.

    From a 2017 article

    https://www.npr.org/2017/02/03/513187940/the-johnson-amendment-in-five-questions-and-answers

    Despite the controversy surrounding the Johnson Amendment, the Internal Revenue Service has not been especially active in enforcing it. Since 2008, the Alliance Defending Freedom has organized “Pulpit Freedom Sunday,” encouraging pastors to give explicitly political sermons in defiance of the law.

    The IRS, however, has rarely moved to take away a church’s tax exemption. According to the alliance, as reported by the Washington Post, only one of more than 2,000 Christian clergy deliberately challenging the law since 2008 has been audited, and none has been punished.

    Time123 (9f42ee)

  190. 191/188, they copied the Mattress Store strategy? And with that one, I thought it was more indicative of bedbug infestation prevalence in certain areas than of a real estate asset aggregation strategy.

    urbanleftbehind (d4e48a)

  191. Here’s the rule from the IRS website.

    https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/charitable-organizations/the-restriction-of-political-campaign-intervention-by-section-501c3-tax-exempt-organizations

    Seems clear to me that it applies to the tax exempt entity and not the politician.

    Under the Internal Revenue Code, all section 501(c)(3) organizations are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office. Contributions to political campaign funds or public statements of position (verbal or written) made on behalf of the organization in favor of or in opposition to any candidate for public office clearly violate the prohibition against political campaign activity. Violating this prohibition may result in denial or revocation of tax-exempt status and the imposition of certain excise taxes.

    Certain activities or expenditures may not be prohibited depending on the facts and circumstances. For example, certain voter education activities (including presenting public forums and publishing voter education guides) conducted in a non-partisan manner do not constitute prohibited political campaign activity. In addition, other activities intended to encourage people to participate in the electoral process, such as voter registration and get-out-the-vote drives, would not be prohibited political campaign activity if conducted in a non-partisan manner.

    On the other hand, voter education or registration activities with evidence of bias that (a) would favor one candidate over another; (b) oppose a candidate in some manner; or (c) have the effect of favoring a candidate or group of candidates, will constitute prohibited participation or intervention.

    Time123 (9f42ee)

  192. @188 i think you missed Time123’s point, Rob, which is that you’re a racist for bringing this up

    this is his argument for everything

    JF (e1156d) — 10/18/2021 @ 9:36 am

    As usually you didn’t understand what was said. In this case my point is that NJRob has regularly been sensitive to any negativity towards Christianity. I assume (perhaps incorrectly) that he’s less concerned when it’s a black church because those largely support his political opponents.

    Time123 (9f42ee)

  193. What I don’t understand is why NJRobb cares so much about these possible violations of the Johnson Amendment. I have known about these violations for decades, and never thought them important enough to write about. And I don’t doubt that they occur in almost every kind of religious group.

    (And, as someone who actually believes in free speech, I have always had my doubts about this particular limitation on free speech.)

    I could, with not much difficulty, think of a hundred issues that are more important to us, beginning with the growing threat from China, the efforts by Putin to undermine our democracy, the terrible toll of COVID, and so on. And, given a few days, I could probably come up with a thousand more important issues.

    But this wouldn’t make even that second list.

    Is it because Democrats are doing some of it? Would he care if Republicans were campaigning this way — as some no doubt are? Would he care if it were happening in mostly white churches?

    (One of the issues that would make my top 100 list is the growing violence in American politics — and the leaders, on the both left and right — who tolerate it, if committed by their side.)

    Jim Miller (edcec1)

  194. It was another “when did you stop beating your wife” question.

    But some animals are more equal than others and Time continues thinking that politicians who flagrantly violate the law are fine as long as they are leftists because they won’t enforce the laws against their allies.

    NJRob (eb56c3)

  195. And you can tell it’s effective just like how the left likes to cover up rapes in schools to push their corrupt agenda because they keep trying to change the subject.

    NJRob (eb56c3)

  196. Here’s an issue that actually is important — and not just to Californians:

    California is racing to secure large amounts of power in the next few years to make up for the impending closure of fossil-fuel power plants and a nuclear facility that provides nearly 10% of the electricity generated in the state.

    The California Public Utilities Commission has ordered utilities to buy an unprecedented amount of renewable energy and battery storage as the state phases out four natural-gas-fired power plants and retires Diablo Canyon, the state’s last nuclear plant, starting in 2024.

    It is my impression — and those who know more about California’s electrical problems should feel free to correct me on this — that the regulators have made it almost impossible for utilities to operate rationally in the state. While, of course, blaming the utilities for the problems caused by that regulation.

    Jim Miller (edcec1)

  197. But some animals are more equal than others and Time continues thinking that politicians who flagrantly violate the law are fine as long as they are leftists because they won’t enforce the laws against their allies.

    NJRob (eb56c3) — 10/18/2021 @ 10:18 am

    Last time I’ll try to make this clear

    I agreed we actually enforce this law. You must have missed that.

    1. The law doesn’t apply to the politician. It applies to the church. The penalty would be against the churches tax exempt status.
    2. The law has been regularly violated and never enforced. Your complaint about selective enforcement is baseless.
    3. If this were enforced you’d be one of the loudest to complain.

    Time123 (9f42ee)

  198. Is it because Democrats are doing some of it? Would he care if Republicans were campaigning this way — as some no doubt are? Would he care if it were happening in mostly white churches?

    AFAIK NJRob has never had a problem with anything MAGA does.

    But not only did evangelical churches openly violate this law Trump strongly encouraged it a few years ago. I don’t know that Rob was aware, but I doubt he can show evidence he opposed it at the time. Nor do think i likely that he’ll call for those churches / politicians to be sanctioned now.

    Time123 (9f42ee)

  199. Phasing out 1970s-era nuclear power plants makes some sense, especially in an earthquake-prone area.

    The hatred of natural-gas-fired plants is from the extreme Greens who have nothing better to do than show up at regulatory hearings. Never mind that natural gas is a by-product of oil drilling and is burned at the well-head of tit cannot be sold.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  200. * of tit

    if it

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  201. Two of the funnier campaign violations from my memory: In 1976, Jimmy Carter, campaigning in the Oregon primary, passed out bags of peanuts. This turned out to violate a law against bribing the voters. (I believe his campaign paid a fine.)

    Somewhat later — and I am sorry I can’t remember the details — a candidate from outside Minnesota had an event at an old folks home. Being a hospitable sort, he served them coffee and doughnuts — which was a violation of Minnesota law. (As I recall, the local prosecutor was, with difficulty, persuaded not to bring criminal charges.)

    Jim Miller (edcec1)

  202. If the Johnson Amendment is good law, it should be enforced. If it is bad law, it should be enforced rigorously until it is repealed.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  203. Kevin – One of the things I learned from Shellenberger’s “Apocalypse Never” is that the Sierra Club favored Diablo Canyon when it was being built. And Shellenberger thinks they were right to do so.

    (I had known that the Sierra Club favored nuclear power, decades ago — for environmental reasons — but hadn’t known about that particular project.)

    Jim Miller (edcec1)

  204. What silicone sister with her manager mister spent four years or so telling her “congregation” that to say no to Trump is to say no to God?
    OR
    Who have been Trump’s most ardent supporters?

    No Trump supporter has the moral authority to complain about mixing religion with politics.

    And with SPAM at $3.49 a can and barely four stingy servings of apple Danish at $5.00, I seriously question some comrades’ priorities.

    nk (1d9030)

  205. School vouchers, yeah, that’s the ticket!

    Miami [private] school says vaccinated students must stay home for 30 days to protect others, citing discredited info

    Because the taxpayers should pay to have the children of dipsticks taught by dipwiddles.

    nk (1d9030)

  206. Kevin and Jim, I agree that the Johnson amendment should be enforced. But I’m not sure it’s good law.

    Pro: Tax exempt status is privilege and the government can set requirements on privileges. In this case a restriction on political speech.

    Con: It’s a restriction on political speech and those are generally bad and should be eliminated .

    I think I’m leaning towards it not being a good law.

    This is really the part of the news article Rob posted that I thought was most interesting.

    That and the irony of the commenter most sensitive to slights against Christianity calling for the enforcement of a law that would strip churches of their tax exempt status. But I think he’s just not clear on what the law actually says.

    Time123 (9f42ee)

  207. Well, there is already one thing that automatically triggers strict scrutiny and that is a law that discriminates against speech or religion on its face; and there should be one more, and that is anything enacted by LBJ.

    nk (1d9030)

  208. Nk, but does the fact it’s a tax expert status requirement get around that?

    Time123 (9f42ee)

  209. Well, yes, that would be the counter-argument. Strict scrutiny is not insurmountable, it’s only the standard of analysis.

    nk (1d9030)

  210. Time123,

    You have yet to properly read my remarks. I’ve gone after the corrupt politicians using the pulpit to promote their propaganda. I’m not going after the church for a reason.

    It’s clear the politicians don’t expect the law to be followed when it benefits them. That’s the problem.

    Why you can’t figure that out is beyond me.

    NJRob (139fb2)

  211. But look it this way: If a law is so vague (or clearly discriminatory) that one tax exempt can join Trump’s White House religious propaganda corps and say “To say no to Trump is to say no God” and get away with it, but another tax exempt can show a political ad in a church and not get away with it, then that law just might be unconstitutional, and then it’s up to Congress to let Section 501(c)(?) stay on the books without it, or repeal the whole law.

    nk (1d9030)

  212. https://hotair.com/ed-morrissey/2021/10/18/silent-disgrace-where-is-the-national-media-on-abandoned-americans-n423134

    More than three dozen Connecticut residents are still trying to leave Afghanistan after American forces withdrew. Elected officials, relief organizations, and veterans groups are trying to get them out.

    “Their school teachers are calling me asking me where are the students. The 10-year-old student from New Haven who is stuck in Kabul is sending me voicemail messages,” Chris George, executive director of IRIS said.

    George is talking about some of the 43 Connecticut residents stuck in Afghanistan.

    “They’re running out of food and yes, they are running out of hope,” George said.

    Where are the national headlines?

    NJRob (139fb2)

  213. Why was there a ten year old American student in Kabul at the time of US withdrawal in the first place?

    aphrael (4c4719)

  214. Why was there a ten year old American student in Kabul at the time of US withdrawal in the first place?

    Recall that it was summer, and many Afghani families now living in the U.S. (some with children who are natural-born U.S. citizens) had traveled back to Afghanistan to visit their families. Yes, it sounds like a ridiculously dumb decision in retrospect, but it’s a reminder of how certain the Biden Administration was that the Afghan military would keep a lid on things for a few months.

    JVW (ee64e4)

  215. Well, there is already one thing that automatically triggers strict scrutiny ……and there should be one more, and that is anything enacted by LBJ.

    Including the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the The Civil Rights Acts of 1964 (forbidding job discrimination and the segregation of public accommodations) and 1968 (prohibiting discrimination in sale, rental, and financing of housing based on race, creed, and national origin)? Seriously?

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  216. @216, Honestly I think you’re confused about what this law actually says.

    Time123 (9f42ee)

  217. Most of NJRob’s claims are confused and don’t hold up to scrutiny.

    Rip Murdock (141030)

  218. 205. Aren’t there wells drilled principally or just for natural gas. How many times have I read that natural gas got abundant because of fracking?

    Sammy Finkelman (02a146)

  219. At least the African-American here survived (quite well) this encounter with law enforcement in NYC
    https://twitter.com/i/status/1449785411883225106

    steveg (e81d76)

  220. Including the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the The Civil Rights Acts of 1964 (forbidding job discrimination and the segregation of public accommodations) and 1968 (prohibiting discrimination in sale, rental, and financing of housing based on race, creed, and national origin)? Seriously?

    Sure. Why not? If they pass strict scrutiny, we’ll have more than political leanings as a reason to like them.

    nk (1d9030)

  221. Time123,

    I’m absolutely clear on the law. Its also clear that you refuse to hold politicians accountable for their actions as you are trying to say this is a church issue instead of the corrupt politicians pushing it.

    But that’s because you support the politician.

    NJRob (e1fd69)

  222. NJRob, why do you keep saying I support the politicians and don’t want to hold them accountable when I keep telling you think we should enforce this law? What part of that is confusing you?

    Time123 (9f42ee)

  223. This whole church/politician discussion may hinge on who decided to show the video in the churches. If it was the church’s decision to show the video, how can the politician be blamed for it?

    norcal (b9a35f)

  224. NJRob wants to see the law as he wants it to be, not as it is. Even Jonathan Turley is confused.

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  225. Watched president cellar dweller stumble across the whitehouse lawn today in a medical haze, concentrating extremely hard on each step. Your progressive future on full exhibition.

    mg (8cbc69)

  226. Rip, I think he’s wrong on the law. But Im curious why he keeps ignoring that I’ve repeatedly said I support enforcement of the law, or repealing it.

    Time123 (9f42ee)

  227. Churches are the community centers in black communities. (Greek communities too, BTW.) In LBJ’s day and today. If you’re a politician trying to connect with black people, that’s where you go. To the churches. I remember that Christine Todd Whitman’s campaign strategist got into trouble for saying that a bit too frankly.

    nk (1d9030)

  228. @223 wasn’t that Rollins? Didn’t he say on the record they’d paid ministers off not to get out the vote?

    Time123 (9f42ee)

  229. It was Rollins. But what he said is that they gave the ministers “walking around money” to get out the vote for Whitman.

    nk (1d9030)

  230. Ed Rollins’ claim about the 1993 New Jersey gubernatorial election was very strange. I think he was blackmalled by Bill Clinton into saying that in 1993.

    During the Carter Administration ED Rollins had been dean of the faculty and deputy superintendent at the National Fire Academy at FEMA, and so knew quite a bit about fires, including obscure facts or places the official teaching was wrong and maybe what fire investigators were for sale. He had undermined Ross Perot in 1992 to the advantage of Clinton. And whoever understands what I am saying will understand.

    Sammy Finkelman (c49738)

  231. Breaking-
    Washington State coach Nick Rolovich, assistants fired for cause over COVID-19 vaccine mandate
    Washington State football coach Nick Rolovich has been fired for cause after refusing to take the COVID-19 vaccine and being noncompliant with both state and university policies, sources tell CBS Sports’ Dennis Dodd. Rolovich sought, and appears to have been denied, a religious exemption from those mandates, which required employees be vaccinated against COVID-19 by Oct. 18 if they wished to continue working.

    A number of Washington State assistant coaches have also been terminated, the names of which have not yet been released. Defensive coordinator Jake Dickert will serve as the team’s interim coach, according to ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura. The Oregonian’s John Canzano first reported Rolovich’s status.
    ………

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  232. Con: It’s a restriction on political speech and those are generally bad and should be eliminated .

    I’m not sure, but I may be prohibited from donating to a federal campaign. Government contractors (as individuals) are so prohibited, and I am consulting to one.

    There is this idea that those who are sucking on the teat should not be contributing to the folks who operate the teat, but public employee unions donate bunches, so it’s just odd.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  233. https://abc7ny.com/thomas-jefferson-city-council-new-york-save-our-statue/11139323/%3Cbr%20/%3E

    NEW YORK CITY (WABC) — The New York City Public Design Commission voted unanimously Monday to move a controversial 188-year-old statue of Thomas Jefferson from the City Council chambers a City Hall.
    However, where that statue will be moved to remains up in the air.

    Communists continue to try and erase history just as I foretold when people here were wishy washy over protecting historical statues of American history.

    NJRob (eb56c3)

  234. NBA player Brandon Goodwin recently admitted that he suffered from blood clots after getting the COVID-19 vaccine in a health crisis that ended his season and compromised his career. Adding insult to injury, the Atlanta Hawks player said that the NBA told him not to talk about his ordeal.

    Goodwin, who recently turned 26, said that shortly after getting the vaccine, he got sick and never fully recovered from it. He experienced constant back pain and was extremely tired in games. In his team’s back-to-back games in April against the Philadelphia 76ers, he said he felt like he couldn’t even run up and down the basketball court; when his back pain continued to get worse, he decided to see a doctor and found out that he had blood clots. This all occurred within the space of a month.

    NJRob (eb56c3)

  235. Rob, please check out the following article detailing the effects of contracting covid on elite athletes: https://www.sbnation.com/nba/2021/3/3/22292213/athletes-covid-recovery-stories-jayson-tatum-mo-bamba-asia-durr

    A quick excerpt (relevant to the south siders)

    Moncada, one of the top prospects in baseball, finally had a breakout season in 2019 when he hit .315 with 25 home runs for Chicago. He tested positive for the virus before starting the shortened season the next year and saw his numbers steeply decline. Moncada ended 2020, hitting .225 with six home runs. His OPS fell from .915 to .705. He detailed his experience with the virus in September 2020:

    “Definitely my body hasn’t felt the same after the virus. I feel a lack of energy, strength, it’s just a weird feeling. It’s different.”

    “When I got to Chicago, before I tested positive, I was feeling strong and with energy. Now, it’s like a daily battle to try to find that strength, that energy to go through the day.

    This shouldn’t be a battle of anecdotes. It should be quantifiable whether there are more risks associated with the vaccine or with getting covid and dealing with its long-term effects. I would hate to persuade a reader to adopt a health care stance….not on the best data or what might be in that individual’s best interests…but based on political calculations or anecdotes. Just sayin’….

    AJ_Liberty (a4ff25)

  236. A person would get more blood clots from the virus. Caused by the immune response.

    Sammy Finkelman (c49738)

  237. Sammy, I remember his book from a long time back….I think he admitted he’d just straight effed up

    Time123 (9f42ee)

  238. I really like Thomas Jefferson’s writings and I think the should keep the statue up. But I’m not crazy enough to equate giving him fewer accolades with ‘erasing our history’.

    Time123 (9f42ee)

  239. “Chicago: 36% of cops missed the deadline to report their vaccine status, and many threatened to retire.

    In a memo, Police Superintendent David O. Brown said officers choosing to retire rather than follow orders “may be denied retirement credentials”—even if previously qualified.”

    Imagine these people making your medical decisions.

    Obudman (3ad45c)

  240. I think we should give New York back to The Netherlands. They can put up a statue of Mata Hari. In her “working outfit”.

    nk (1d9030)

  241. Imagine these people making your medical decisions.

    Imagine a cop having the power to pull you over and infect you and your entire family with Covid-19 and shoot you if you resist. They can make all the medical decisions they want away from contact with the public.

    Anyway, it’s all theater. We in Chicago see it constantly. The mayors talks tough to impress their constituency, the union bosses talk tough to impress their constituencies, and in the end they sign their pre-understood sweetheart deals and taxes go up.

    nk (1d9030)

  242. AJ, If you want data check this out https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#covidnet-hospitalizations-vaccination

    Shows a massive difference in outcomes between the vaccinated and non-vaccinated for covid hospitalizations.

    https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/safety/adverse-events.html

    This link https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/safety/adverse-events.html discusses the adverse effects. They’re measured at an order of magnitude less frequent as hospitalizations from Covid.

    They also have charts for deaths by age group https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#rates-by-vaccine-status
    But you’ll have to select what you want to look at since I can’t embed the chart or graphics on a comment.

    Time123 (9f42ee)

  243. I don’t have a lot of empathy for someone who has spent their life enforcing the rules who is unhappy when they don’t like a rule that’s applied to them.

    But if you’re earned your retirement benefits those shouldn’t be taken from you.

    Time123 (9f42ee)

  244. “Communists continue to try and erase history just as I foretold when people here were wishy washy over protecting historical statues of American history.”

    First and foremost, I believe that local people voting should control what is publicly displayed. If someone in NY doesn’t want to see a statue of Thomas Jefferson in the Council Chambers….however misguided (and bizarre) I might personally think that is…they should have that prerogative. Is there a slippery slope…where we might see monuments taken down in Washington…..or maybe Washington itself needs to be renamed with “District of Columbia” paying too much respect to Christopher Columbus? We certainly have to be cautious about tearing apart shared “history”…even if there is some small controversy…. and not replacing it by anything substantive.

    I certainly have more concern over reducing the stature of the founding fathers over racial prejudices than I do over Civil War monuments that seem at times to be only about romanticizing the South. But much of this monument-cleansing is about hyper-sensitivity and focusing on minutia, rather than the current elephants in the room. There are bigger cultural and social problems that we could be working on. Jefferson was complex….his relationship with Sally Hemings and his unwillingness to free his slaves are marks against him….but being the architect of the Declaration of Independence and an important early President transcends this….just as Martin Luther King’s public accomplishments ought to transcend his personal peccadillos. Statues inspire curiosity about history. They inspire learning about the heroes and the rogues. It is good to openly debate who actually qualifies as a villain. There’s rarely a perfect hero and that should be OK….

    AJ_Liberty (a4ff25)

  245. It amuses me that people who danced with joy when Trump messed with FBI agent McCabe’s retirement benefits are now concerned about some unknown Chicago cop’s.

    Anyway (yes, again, you can never have too many “anyways”), that is absolutely, positively, nothing but theater. The Illinois pension system is ironclad. It’s gone to the Illinois Supreme Court, whose judges are also in it, so you can guess what the decision was. Your rights vest with your first paycheck and they remain the same. Any changes after your hire do not affect you. If these guys could retire before Da Mare’s order, they can retire now.

    nk (1d9030)

  246. Yesterday I got a 2021 quarter. The front was like the way it was till 1998. The year was in the front.

    The back was (Washington) crossing the Delaware.

    Sammy Finkelman (c49738)

  247. “AJ, If you want data ”

    No I’m more than convinced….I want people to objectively look at the data and draw the right conclusions.

    AJ_Liberty (a4ff25)

  248. AJ_Liberty (a4ff25) — 10/19/2021 @ 5:19 am

    Jefferson was complex….his relationship with Sally Hemings and his unwillingness to free his slaves are marks against him….

    The relationship wasn’;t rea;;y bad. The fact that he didn’t marry her, or at least conceal her origins instead of keeping her a sl;ave was. There was also the fact that it started when she was 16 or 17 but that wasn’t a game stopper in those days. More important, she was his dead wofe’s half sister.

    Jefferson , I think,spread a lot of false rumors as part of his concealment. He – and I think it was him – spread a story about “Dusky Sally” – when Sally was not dusky.

    Now, he had written in “Notes on Virginia” published in 1784 (before this relationship began and before he would have had a motive for lying) that attraction was unaccountable but that he was not attracted to black woman. So his friends cold tell people that she couldn’t be his paramour because if she was dusky he wouldn’t do it. He also spread a story about there being a son named Tom, born about 1790, who could be seen on his plantation. But Tom (their first child) had probably died.

    People shouldn’t go around looking to identify him with someone else (who had descendants) and indeed the DNA doesn’t match.

    Jefferson was excellent at coverups and making secret plans. There was a reason Alexander Hamilton didn’t like him. But he thought he was a whole lot better than Aaron Burr.

    I don’t know if the story Jefferson openly told about his having promised his wife not to remarry was true or art of a cover story..

    but being the architect of the Declaration of Independence and an important early President transcends this….

    That’s what he’s famous for – not for owning slaves and spending all his money or for doing the wrong (safer for him) cover up with regard to his mistress.

    Sammy Finkelman (c49738)

  249. AJ, I didn’t mean to imply you weren’t convinced. But I just found those charts and they’re pretty cool. 🙂 so I wanted to share. I’d have pointed Rob at them, but I don’t think that’s how he’s making up his mind.

    Time123 (9f42ee)

  250. Sammy, we don’t know if his relationship with Hemings was a happy consensual one or not. We do know she was his property and he was free to do with her as he pleased. We also know that he didn’t free her or her children (all blood relatives of his) until his death and that those were the only slaves he freed at his death.

    As I said, I really like his writings and I think he deserves recognition for much of what made our early nation great. But this part of his life is, perhaps literally, damning.

    Time123 (9f42ee)

  251. Hercules killed his wife and children. His music teacher too. And any number of Amazons and other mythological creatures just minding their own business. Heroes and saints are two different things. That’s why there are two words to describe them.

    These Jefferson slanders popped up during the Lewinsky affair, to dilute the accusations against Clinton. Now they’ve become a cause celebre by grievance mongers who’d have to stand on King George’s shoulders to kiss Jefferson’s ass. What history book will the clowns be in and for what?

    nk (1d9030)

  252. Don’t talk to investigators without a lawyer.
    Also if you’re running for office be picky about who you take donations from.

    https://www.axios.com/nebraska-congressman-expects-indicted-c797820e-28d7-419e-b2f4-7c771c12dc1e.html

    Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-Neb.) told supporters on Tuesday he expects to be indicted on allegations he lied to federal investigators.

    Driving the news: In a video uploaded to YouTube, the congressman sat with his wife and dog in a vintage pickup truck as he announced federal prosecutors in California “accused me of lying, and are charging me with this.”

    “We will fight these charges. I did not lie to them,” Fortenberry added.
    A spokesperson referred to the video when Axios called for comment.
    The backstory: Fortenberry was one of a number of congressional Republicans who received what authorities said were illegal contributions in 2016 from a Lebanese-Nigerian billionaire.

    He said in his video that FBI agents approached him in 2019 to ask about the donations, and that he ended up sitting for multiple interviews.
    “I feel so personally betrayed. I thought we were trying to help,” Fortenberry said of his conversations with investigators.
    Catch up quick: Axios reported this month that Fortenberry was soliciting funds for a new legal defense fund with warnings he was under FBI investigation.

    Time123 (9f42ee)

  253. 187.

    in Georgia, replace a subjective signature match system criticized by both Republicans and Democrats with objective photo ID verification.

    Photo ID is not objective, or else states wouldn’t have rules against someone having two or three copies of their driver’s licenses.

    Current Georgia law requires proof of citizenship through a driver’s license or a passport,

    A driver’s license is not proof of citizenship. It’s proof of legal residence and maybe of address. What is proof of citizenship is a birth certificate or naturalization papers. Birth certificates are not considered proof of identity any more. The fact of the matter is, citizenship is virtually never checked – but voting or maybe just registering to vote can get a non-citizen in trouble. (states, by the way, have the power to allow non citizens to vote. They just don’t. They can prohibit non citizens from owning land. They don;t do that now. They can ake them ineligible for civil service jobs. This is usual. They can discriminate or not discriminate in many ways. The one thing a state can not do is grant citizenship. And that was put in the constitution so that a person who was a citizen in one state was a citizen in all and so that Pennsylvania, say, could not grant citizenship to someone who lived in Maryland and affect how Mary;and treated certain persons. (It’s more complicated than that)

    H.R. 4 contains a provision, which should be of bipartisan concern, allowing absentee ballots to be returned by email.

    This is dangerous and also compromises ballot secrecy. It is especially bad is absentee ballots take priorrity over in person ballots. They should never be logged in first. Which means they should not be examined and counted until after Election Day.

    Election workers will be counting ballots for weeks after Election Day, effectively turning every election into New York- and California-style weekslong counting fiascoes.

    Except that invariably they also want to count absentee ballots first.

    Sammy Finkelman (c49738)

  254. Time123 (9f42ee) — 10/19/2021 @ 6:10 am

    Sammy, we don’t know if his relationship with Hemings was a happy consensual one or not.

    She went back with him from France, where she could have remained free. It is also said (by Madison Hemings) that he promised her children would be free and he seems to have accomplished that by letting tow of them “escape” and freeing two of tem and Sally in his will.

    We do know she was his property and he was free to do with her as he pleased.

    Once she was back in Virginia.

    We also know that he didn’t free her or her children (all blood relatives of his) until his death and that those were the only slaves he freed at his death.

    But he did that.

    As I said, I really like his writings and I think he deserves recognition for much of what made our early nation great. But this part of his life is, perhaps literally, damning.

    Too much of his lifestyle was at stake. He knew slavery was wrong though. He kept it pout of the Northwest Territories.

    Sammy Finkelman (c49738)

  255. Men in general in thsose days could do with their wives as they wished. They had little independent use of property. Of course they had family usually.

    In the 1830 census, Sally and her two youngest children were listed as white. But apparently that got more difficult. The second surviving child, a daughter Harriet, “escaped” to Philadelphia and kept her background secret, so much so that we don’t know today who she married and who her children were

    He gave his children from her only a practical education, not intellectual. They didn’t blame him, I think for not leaving them any money because he had no money left.

    Sammy Finkelman (c49738)

  256. I think he did know slavery was wrong, but couldn’t stomachs the cost of eschewing it personally.

    Time123 (9f42ee)

  257. Time,

    you want to cherry pick one set of data, but ignore VAERS reporting that’s another set of data. You have your preconceived notions and are sticking to them. Don’t pretend otherwise.

    NJRob (eb56c3)

  258. For further evidence on how the government lies constantly, look no further than Fauci going on TV to spread the lie that the J&J shot was always meant to be more than 1 shot. That’s not how anyone who took the shot was told it to be so.

    Government thinks they are Darth Vader.

    NJRob (eb56c3)

  259. Thomas Jefferson did not believe the slaves were less than human beings. He compared the situationto that of a despot – an absolute monarch.

    Sammy Finkelman (c49738)

  260. NJRob, if you’d bothered to follow the link on adverse effects you’d see that it does reference information reported from. VAERS. So you’re wrong when you said I ignore that data.

    Time123 (9f42ee)

  261. @266, I doubt that made any difference to the people he owned.

    Time123 (9f42ee)

  262. NJRob (eb56c3) — 10/19/2021 @ 7:21 am

    For further evidence on how the government lies constantly, look no further than Fauci going on TV to spread the lie that the J&J shot was always meant to be more than 1 shot.

    Actually, that’s the truth. But they only applied for one shot because they were concerned that maybe the body might develop immunity to the carrier virus ad a second shot wouldn’t help, and to speed up approval. The wait between the two Pfizer or Moderna shots should never have been three or four weeks. It should have been at least three or four months. But they wanted to speed up government approval. They didn’t go for one shot because they didn’t know how effective it wold be and knew that the more effective (compared with a placebo) it was, the greater the chances of gaining FDA approval.

    That’s not how anyone who took the shot was told it to be so.

    That was the lie.

    Or rather the lie was that whatever the FDA said had a factually sound basis. Everybody treated J&J as one and done when in reality one shot of Pfizer or Moderna conferred stronger immunity than one shot of J&J. But a person who had one shot of Pfizer or Moderna was not treated as fully vaccinated while someone who had one shot of J&J was. (this discrepancy was not secret)

    People were also told don’t choose between vaccines. The storage conditions were also treated as real requirements. The expiration dates were treated as real. Until they were extended. Then the new extended dates were treated as real limits.

    Government thinks they are Darth Vader.

    Sammy Finkelman (c49738)

  263. 268. Time123 (9f42ee) — 10/19/2021 @ 7:31 am

    I doubt that made any difference to the people he owned.

    Yes it did. Because Jeffwrson knew that an absolute monarch doesn’t really have absolute power. He must make rules. he people are governed just as people in a limited monarchy are governed. France was an absolute monarchy. But the king could not get away with just anything, without creating difficulty for himself. HE HAD TO MAKE AND KEEP SOME PROMISES. He had to establish a system of rewards.

    Jefferson knew his power went no further than that of an absolute monarch. (they didn’t have secret police developed in those days, or a system set up like that in China)

    Sammy Finkelman (c49738)

  264. Government thinks they are Darth Vader.

    No, they want what they say to be treated as absolute truth, or the best educated guess you can make.

    When it’s not so.

    Sammy Finkelman (c49738)

  265. Thomas Jefferson:Monticello::Louis XIV:France

    Sammy Finkelman (c49738)

  266. 244. Time123 (9f42ee) — 10/19/2021 @ 4:34 am

    Sammy, I remember his book from a long time back….I think he admitted he’d just straight effed up

    ED Rollins’s book?

    Sammy Finkelman (c49738)

  267. Government thinks they are the Wizard of Oz.

    Sammy Finkelman (c49738)

  268. This Wikipedia article on “walking around money” is brief, but, as far as I know, accurate. Here’s what they say about Ed Rollins:

    After the 1993 New Jersey gubernatorial campaign, Republican Christine Todd Whitman’s campaign manager Ed Rollins was accused of boasting that he had given $500,000 in street money to black churches in New Jersey in exchange for their keeping their congregation from voting for incumbent James Florio. Rollins later retracted his claims, saying that his comments were taken out of context. Subsequent investigations by the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office and Federal Bureau of Investigation found no wrongdoing on Rollins’ part, finding that his original claims were braggadocio.

    Note that walking around money, or street money, as it is also called, was not illegal in New Jersey, at the time — though obviously subject to abuse.

    Jim Miller (edcec1)

  269. https://quoteinvestigator.com/2018/04/16/tax

    Taxation Is the Art of Plucking the Goose without Making It Squeal

    Now Thomas Jefferson demanded more from his people than Louis XIV did from most of the population of France, but he still had to avoid squealing.

    All that the state of Virginia did was make him an absolute monarch over people and mostly, over some land. It didn’t tell him how to get work out of them.

    Sammy Finkelman (c49738)

  270. 276. This judge’s order is the result of misinformation on the Internet. For most vaccinated people cannot transmit serious disease to anybody, and children don’t get serious cases. This judge has bought into a lot of misinformation. But I don’t expect Facebook to characterize some prevalent government sponsored claims as disputable.

    But Family Court is close to totalitarianism anyway, and maintained that way by its secrecy.

    Sammy Finkelman (c49738)

  271. 275.

    finding that his original claims were braggadocio.

    That’s the best explanation they could find, because it wasn’t true. But how did it make sense for him to say that?

    I think ED Rollins was blackmailed by Bill Clinton into saying something that supported the Democratic Party narrative about Republicans being engaged in voter suppression.

    Maybe it’s safe now for him to speak the real truth, although I suppose he won’t at least until he fully retires. I hope Clinton lives to see it.

    Sammy Finkelman (c49738)

  272. #265 Robb – You might want to review Hanlon’s Razor.

    (It has an amazing range of applicability, especially if you add ignorance and misinformation to stupidity. I think, for instance, that it explains Derek Chauvin’s actions.)

    Jim Miller (edcec1)

  273. https://thehighwire.com/news/san-francisco-closes-in-n-out-burger-after-defying-citys-vaccine-rule/

    In-N-Out Burger’s Chief Legal and Business Officer, Arnie Wensinger, is set to release a statement after the San Francisco Department of Health closed one of the Top California Burger Restaurant’s locations.

    “Today, the San Francisco Department of Health closed our restaurant…” he wrote. According to Wensingers statement, In-N-Out Burger employees were allegedly “not preventing the entry of customers who were not carrying proper vaccination documentation.”

    Beyond the famous California institution’s location “properly and clearly” posting signage to communicate local vaccination requirements, the SFDH has attempted to require In-N-Out Burger employees to act as health police and enforcement personnel for the city.

    He explains, “After closing our restaurant, local regulators informed us that our restaurant Associates must actively intervene by demanding proof of vaccination and photo identification from every customer…barring entry for any Customers without proper documentation.”

    That’s a nice business you have there. Shame if anything would happen to it.
    Mob or government? You decide.

    NJRob (eb56c3)

  274. Southwest drops plan to put unvaccinated staff on unpaid leave starting in December

    https://www.cnbc.com/2021/10/19/southwest-vaccine-mandate-unpaid-leave-exemptions.html

    Freedom and common sense still showing signs of life.

    Obudman (3ad45c)

  275. 280. Jim Miller (edcec1) — 10/19/2021 @ 8:21 am

    Hanlon’s Razor….especially if you add ignorance and misinformation to stupidity. I think, for instance, that it explains Derek Chauvin’s actions.)

    Derek Chauvin had done something at least roughly similar (albeit probably against police rules) at least half a dozen times without killing anyone, and there was widely circulated material among policemen advocating that. It could go a little toward the question of reckless disregard for human life, although not negligence or felony murder because there’s a limited degree of stupidity and reliance on what you read that you’re allowed to have. Someone telling another person that the person he’s stepping on has no pulse is something that can’t just be ignored regardless of what someone read. Although by that time maybe it was too late. But there were other warnings.

    Chauvin just wanted to have an easier, and less stressful, task. His job, as he perceived it, was taking George Floyd to the precinct or wherever he was supposed to be taking him. He may very well have wanted to render him unconscious and rely on his union to keep him out of trouble for doing that. His motive was that he didn’t want to work,

    Sammy Finkelman (c49738)

  276. NJRob:

    That’s a nice business you have there. Shame if anything would happen to it.
    Mob or government? You decide.

    Mob, because the government:

    1) States things outright, and doesn’t hint, since it is not illegal.

    2) Isn’t looking for a payoff.

    Now if a politician said that, it would be something else.

    That restaurant was just too visible.

    Sammy Finkelman (c49738)

  277. 265. 280. The stupidity s that they think they should shade the truth. There’s also stupidity in coming to the decisions they do as to what to do about the disease.

    Sammy Finkelman (c49738)

  278. More common sense:

    News: After GOP backlash, Ds to weaken Treasury’s new bank reporting plan so it applies to accounts w/ +$10K/yr in new *non wage income*, rather than +$600.

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2021/10/18/democrats-irs-bank-reporting/

    There are ‘conservatives’ who voted for the original change.

    Obudman (3ad45c)

  279. I wonder. If people were given a choice between a Covid vaccine shot, and a Covid VIRUS shot, which would they choose?

    Dennis Prager answers.

    [A]fter the virus has killed more than 700,000 Americans, Prager has revealed that he’s been actively trying to get a coronavirus infection all along.

    On Monday, the 73-year-old host of “The Dennis Prager Show” told his audience that his plan worked. Prager said he tested positive for the coronavirus last week.

    “I have engaged with strangers, constantly hugging them, taking photos with them knowing that I was making myself very susceptible to getting covid,” he said. “Which is — indeed, as bizarre as it sounded — what I wanted, in the hope I would achieve natural immunity and be taken care of by therapeutics.”

    Contradicting studies and recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Prager told his audience that natural immunity was more effective than getting the vaccine, saying a covid infection was “what I hoped for the entire time.” The CDC recommends that people get vaccinated even after contracting the virus — officials point to an August study that showed unvaccinated people who already had covid were twice as likely to be reinfected as those who had been fully vaccinated after contracting the virus.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  280. @288: “Freedom and common sense still showing signs of life.”

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  281. Kevin M (ab1c11) — 10/19/2021 @ 10:48 am

    Contradicting studies and recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Prager told his audience that natural immunity was more effective than getting the vaccine, saying a covid infection was “what I hoped for the entire time.” The CDC recommends that people get vaccinated even after contracting the virus — officials point to an August study that showed unvaccinated people who already had covid were twice as likely to be reinfected as those who had been fully vaccinated after contracting the virus.

    You’re comparing people who only had Covid with people who had Covid and the vaccine!

    The problem with his strategy is how can he guarantee he will only get a dose of virus sufficient to act like a vaccine but not something more?

    I suppose he was careful in monitoring this, and arranged tto get synthetic antibodies at a point in the infection when it would kill the virus but not interfere with his gaining immunity.

    Sammy Finkelman (c49738)

  282. I suppose he was careful in monitoring this, and arranged tto get synthetic antibodies at a point in the infection when it would kill the virus but not interfere with his gaining immunity.

    You imbue him with a rationality I don’t see.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  283. BTW, should people fired for not getting a vaccine get unemployment (which usually is not available if you have been fired for cause)?

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  284. We are still seeing the effects of the Biden administration’s $20/hr floor on wages.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  285. We are still seeing the effects of the Biden administration’s $20/hr floor on wages.

    Kevin M (ab1c11) — 10/19/2021 @ 3:10 pm

    I’d read that states that cut benefits early (which I think was a good idea) didn’t see any change in employment figures from states that kept benefits. But I haven’t seen data to prove that one way or another. Have you?

    Time123 (9f42ee)

  286. #292 Kevin – In Washington state, they won’t get unemployment benefits, for just that reason.

    Jim Miller (edcec1)

  287. States That Cut Unemployment Benefits Saw Limited Impact on Job Growth
    …..
    Nonfarm payrolls rose 1.33% in July from April in the 25 states that ended the benefits and 1.37% in the other 25 states and the District of Columbia, the Journal analysis of Labor Department data showed. The payroll figures are taken from a government survey of employers. The analysis compared July totals with April, before governors in May started announcing plans to end or reduce the benefits during the summer.
    ……
    Take Texas and California, two states with large populations and diversified economies. Texas, which reopened in March and terminated benefits at the end of June, saw 1.45% payroll growth in July from April. California, which lifted all restrictions in mid-June and has maintained enhanced benefits, saw a 1.73% gain.

    Arizona, which cut the extra $300-a-week benefit in July, and New Mexico, which maintained all federal benefits, saw payroll employment gains of 2.63% and 2.50%, respectively, over the April-to-July period.
    ……..

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  288. 283

    reckless disregard for human life,

    The phrase I was looking for was “depraved indifference to human life”

    Maybe not so if he relied on something like a policemens’ magazine.

    Sammy Finkelman (c49738)

  289. #300 – One of the Simpson Halloween episodes?

    Jim Miller (edcec1)

  290. Call me crazy, but I loved the 1984 version of Dune, and I’m not the only one. My favorite lines.

    The Spice strike brings the universe to its knees. Paul teaches his army to use voice guns. And–I can’t stress this enough–hard men with glowing blue eyes spontaneously pound drums during a vaguely erotic knife fight between Paul and Sting. The victor is the one who randomly remembers a Bible quote. Also, Paul now has a rapidly aging baby sister who might be pure evil, played by 8-year-old Alicia Witt. The score by Toto–synths and strings and horns and guitars cranked to 11–is why God gave us ears.

    At the end, my wife turned to me and said, “It was less confusing than Tenet.”

    Who knew that that Hallmark gal Alicia Witt was that creepy little sister in Dune. And I forgot that Toto was involved in the soundtrack. Damn.
    Mrs. Montagu and I are definitely going to see this one, but I may have to sneak in Tenet first. It’s in my DVR.

    Paul Montagu (5de684)

  291. 301 – How did you have time to break away from david french?

    mg (8cbc69)

  292. 301- I imagine you salivating when reading the words “Russian Rye”.

    mg (8cbc69)

  293. Interesting panorama views I don;t know how these were chosen or collected and \i don’t know how this was done.

    https://synagogues-360.anumuseum.org.il/tour/zeizmariai (One of eight remaining old wooden synagogues in Lithuania as of 2011. Itr’s interior is gutted – all you can see is where the windows and doors were/

    https://synagogues-360.anumuseum.org.il/tour/congregation-bnai-isaac (synagogue in South Dakota – former church building.

    Sammy Finkelman (b434ee)

  294. Additional reporting from Jesse Singal. Still a lot of unknowns, but you can still rest assured that the daily wire isn’t a very good news source. Read for yourselves.

    https://www.blockedandreported.org/p/police-logs-contradict-some-of-the

    Time123 (9f42ee)

  295. @306 not a very good news source

    by that you mean they lied about border patrol horse whips? russian bounties? hunter laptop “hoax”?

    oh, the loudoun county rape

    looks like they didn’t know a sro is a cop

    i didn’t either, nor did you, but the dad was supposed to

    everything else they got right, and if not for their reporting the story would still be ignored, and i guess you think it should

    if you’re told your kid’s rape is to be handled “in house” you’d probably just nod your head and saunter away

    you do you

    the school board’s lies are still lies, and another kid still got raped

    but, the only thing that went wrong in your world is the daily wire’s reporting

    what a ridiculous take

    JF (e1156d)

  296. Singal is a solid news source who was once smeared by left-wing crybullies.

    Paul Montagu (5de684)

  297. @307, they deceived their readers, apparently on purpose. I’d say that makes them not a very good news source. I don’t expect you to care about that.

    Time123 (a5a857)

  298. @308, he’s been repeatedly smeared.

    Time123 (a5a857)

  299. @309 BS

    the daily wire’s response is spot on:

    The sheriff’s statements and dispatch logs bolster The Daily Wire’s investigation. By “in house,” Mr. Smith meant that the case was being handled by personnel who work in the school full-time and not a team of police specialists capable of collecting evidence necessary to support a criminal prosecution. These official records confirm that this was, in fact, the case, and they raise new troubling questions about why a team of outside police officers was apparently called to handle an “upset parent,” but not an alleged rape of a student. We stand by Luke Rosiak’s reporting.

    it’s too bad the daily wire turned over a rock that you just wish had been left alone so the school board can continue to lie and let a rapist find another victim

    JF (e1156d)

  300. @309 lol since you don’t care that the school board deceived parents about a rape, your concern about any daily wire hairsplitting “deception” is a joke

    JF (e1156d)

  301. Prices of printed newspapers:
    The New York Times used to cost 60 cents (on a weekday) in 1998 (and I remember when it was 15 cents around 1970 and I think had gone up from 10 cents but I may have things a bit wrong here.)

    It is now $3.00 on a newsstand ($2.06 for home delivery)

    The Wall Street Journal was $1.00 in 2001 and 2004. It is now $4.00. (The Sat/Sun paper is supposed to be $5,00 but a Rite Aid by mistake charged me only $4.00 a few weeks ago probably because the bar code is the same pr whoever entered the rice thought it was the same) Home delivery varies and may depend on if you got a promotional rate years ago – they only slowly raise the price.

    Both papers were much wider 20 years ago.

    The New York Times first reduced the number of columns (8 to 6) in 1976 and that’s when it was divided into sections, too, I think.

    There have been enormous price increases and reduction in pages for the New York Post and New York Daily News, too. The New York Post is now $2.00. The New York Daily News, which is in financial trouble, recently raised its price to $3.00

    Sammy Finkelman (c49738)

  302. JF, The daily mails update is not an accurate presentation of facts, as is shown in the piece I linked. You’ve repeatedly accused me of holding views that I don’t hold and made accusations about my views that aren’t supported by anything I’ve said on the topic. You’ve also added no new information, or thought, to topic so I’m going to go back to not taking you seriously and dismissing you comments as dim witted trolling.

    Time123 (9f42ee)

  303. @314 lol

    If he’d just complied with the officer’s directions he wouldn’t have been arrested. Violent protestors really need to learn to work within the system and follow direction from the police.
    Time123 (9f42ee) — 10/12/2021 @ 4:59 am

    JF (e1156d)

  304. That doesn’t support any of the accusation you’ve made.

    Also, do you disagree with it? If so do you have a list of things that justify threatening citizens, threatening the police and ignoring lawful orders? I know Antifa feels that your grievance is relevant, but I disagree with them.

    Time123 (9f42ee)

  305. @317 until the facts were pointed out to you, your sole take on the story was that the father was violent and should’ve been arrested

    you even compared him to antifa in your next comment

    if one looks for any indication that you gave a damn about the school board’s lies and lack of action which resulted in another assault they’d have to ignore your own words and read your mind

    if I’m less concerned with justifying the dad’s actions and more concerned with how the school board justifies theirs

    JF (e1156d)

  306. * if I’m

    JF (e1156d)

  307. Paul, I also liked the 1984 version, especially the director’s (un)cut. There were a few scenes I didn’t care for but all in all it was very true to the book. I’m interested to see what the new version will add.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  308. Although Dune was not “the greatest movie ever made.” Even for SF. Blade Runner, for one

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  309. @317 until the facts were pointed out to you, your sole take on the story was that the father was violent and should’ve been arrested

    No, i also said that what happened to him and his daughter is tragic and that anyone involved in a cover up needed to resign, if not be charged.

    At this point I’m. not clear what the timeline is. At this point it seems clear that the school (correctly) alerted the police who opened an investigation. News sources that aren’t as unreliable as the daily mail should start covering this. It would be good to know what’s actually happening.

    But you’re correct that I base my thinking on facts. you should try it some time.

    Time123 (9f42ee)

  310. “No, i also said that what happened to him and his daughter is tragic and that anyone involved in a cover up needed to resign, if not be charged.”

    here is the thread

    fact: you didn’t say anything even approaching that

    maybe you should write for the daily wire instead of criticizing them

    JF (e1156d)

  311. I’m more irked that Twitter banned DPRK News than their banning of Trump. Ridiculous.

    Paul Montagu (5de684)

  312. 313. Actually, I discovered now that the Wall Street Journal is now $5 (when bought on the newsstand or in a store) every day of the week. (a very recent price increase from $4 Monday through Friday)

    Sammy Finkelman (c49738)

  313. I found a sheet of paper on which were written transactions from credit cards or maybe bank accounts I got by telephone and wrote down as I heard them. It is about 15 to 20 years old

    On some August 12, four weeks Monday to Sunday (I know that’s what it was) of the New York Times cost $40.80. It is now $80.00. They told me I could object the last time they raised it, but I never got that e-mail.

    Sammy Finkelman (c49738)

  314. https://pjmedia.com/news-and-politics/matt-margolis/2021/10/23/twitter-suspends-gop-congressman-for-saying-rachel-levine-is-a-man-n1526403

    No different than Big Brother or Soviet demoralization where they will force you to say something you know is a lie in order to exist in society. And once you accept that lie, you’ll believe anything.

    You love Big Brother.

    NJRob (eb56c3)


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