Patterico's Pontifications

7/15/2022

Weekend Open Thread

Filed under: General — Dana @ 3:15 pm



[guest post by Dana]

Let’s get started!

First news item

Russian terror attack far from the frontlines:

Missiles hit a car park of a nine-storey office block in Vinnytsia, to the south-west of Kyiv and a long way from the heart of the fighting in Donbas. at around 10:50 (07:50 GMT), Ukraine’s State Emergency Service said.

Residential buildings were also hit in the centre of Vinnytsia, which has a population of around 370,000. There was little chance of finding survivors, a senior regional emergency service official told local TV. At least three children were among more than 20 killed.

“Every day, Russia kills civilians, kills Ukrainian children, carries out missile attacks on the civilian facilities where there is no military target. What is this, if not an open act of terrorism?” Mr Zelensky said in a statement on social media.

Second news item

Joe Manchin says NO to more inflation:

Sen. Joe Manchin on Thursday dealt a devastating blow to Democrats’ hopes for sweeping legislative action this year, telling Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and his staff “unequivocally” that he won’t support the climate or tax provisions of a Democratic economic package…

The two had been negotiating for months, and Schumer, a New York Democrat, had made a number of concessions to pare back the climate provisions to appease Manchin, whose support is critical in an evenly decided Senate.

…Manchin disputed the characterization that he had blown up the negotiations with Schumer but said that he asked that they wait until the July inflation numbers came out and pursue this after August recess.

“I said, ‘Chuck until we see the July inflation figures, until we see the July, basically Federal Reserve rates, interest rates, then let’s wait till that comes out so we know that we’re going down a path that won’t be inflammatory, to add more to inflation,’ ” Manchin told Hoppy Kercheval on Talkline. “He says, ‘Are you telling me you won’t do the other right now?’ I said, ‘Chuck, it’s wrong, it’s not prudent to do the other right now.’ “

Who needs Congress when you can rule by executive Beast Mode!:

Sheldon Whitehouse…The conspiracy-obsessed Rhode Island senator tweeted last night a list of laws he wants Biden to enact through the agencies, on the theory that, “with legislative climate options now closed, it’s now time for executive Beast Mode”

There’s a lot the Biden administration could be doing on climate change:
1. A robust social cost of carbon rule with broad reach.
2. Require carbon capture from all major emitters.
3. Stricter limits on co-pollutants from coal- and gas-fired power plants
4. Stronger emissions controls on cars/light trucks and heavy-duty vehicles.
5. Put lower emissions front and center in procurement (e.g. electrify USPS).
6. Hunt methane leaks with new satellite technology and enforce.
7. Tell DOJ to evaluate tobacco-style climate litigation (DOJ won big!).
8. Dozens of smaller regs across DOE, DOI, EPA, DOD, OMB (“thousand cuts”).
9. Call out corporations who block climate action in Congress (“good guys” too).
10. Use existing executive branch trade and tariff authority to establish a carbon border tariff for imports from countries with worse relative carbon emissions, based on industry carbon density.
Free at last. Let’s roll. Do it all and start it now.
With legislative climate options now closed, it’s now time for executive Beast Mode.

Third news item

Indiana doctor who performed an abortion on 10-year old victim followed law:

After Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita threatened to go after the license of an Indiana physician who provided an abortion to a 10-year-old rape victim from Ohio, documents obtained by FOX59 through a public record request proved the physician not only filed a terminated pregnancy report but filed the report within the required timeframe.

The terminated pregnancy report, obtained by FOX59’s Angela Ganote, shows that Caitlin Bernard, an Indiana obstetrician-gynecologist, reported the abortion on July 2, two days after the abortion was performed and within the three days required for terminations to be reported to the Department of Child Service and the Indiana Department of Health.

In the report, Bernard also indicated that the child suffered abuse.

Related: National Right to Life abortion legislation:

…according to the general counsel for the National Right to Life…Jim Bopp, an Indiana lawyer who authored the model legislation in advance of the Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade, told POLITICO on Thursday that his law only provides exceptions when the pregnant person’s life is in danger.

“She would have had the baby, and as many women who have had babies as a result of rape, we would hope that she would understand the reason and ultimately the benefit of having the child”…

While Bopp’s model legislation, which was released in advance of the Supreme Court’s ruling late last month, encourages states to ban all abortions unless necessary to save the life of the pregnant person, it notes “it may be necessary in certain states to have additional exceptions, such as for a women pregnant as a result of rape or incest.”

“Unless her life was at danger, there is no exception for rape,” Bopp said. “The bill does propose exceptions for rape and incest, in my model, because that is a pro-life position, but it’s not our ideal position. We don’t think, as heartwrenching as those circumstances are, we don’t think we should devalue the life of the baby because of the sins of the father.”

God help us. Ten years old is just that. A child. What makes me sick is that lost in the hurly-burly political machinations, a little girl was the victim of a heinous life-altering violent crime that violated her to the very core of her being. On top of that, she has endured a procedure that, while I believe was necessary for her sake, no child should ever have to endure. In the aftermath, there will be every sort of emotion ebbing and flowing throughout the course of her life as she matures. As such, what a dreadful shame that she has being victimized all over again by assholes who have falsely claimed that the story was a lie and/or chose not to wait for corroboration or tracked down her family because their own political and/or journalistic aspirations were the priority. Not the heart and soul of a child.

Fourth news item

What he promised on the campaign trail:

MITCHELL: Mr. Vice President, the CIA has concluded that the leader of Saudi Arabia directed the murder of U.S.-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The State Department also says the Saudi government is responsible for executing nonviolent offenders and for torture. President Trump has not punished senior Saudi leaders. Would you?

BIDEN: Yes, and I said it at the time. Khashoggi was, in fact, murdered and dismembered, and I believe on the order of the crown prince. And I would make it very clear we were not going to, in fact, sell more weapons to them, we were going to, in fact, make them pay the price and make them, in fact, the pariah that they are. There’s very little social redeeming value of the — in the present government in Saudi Arabia.

And I would also, as pointed out, I would end — end subsidies that we have, end the sale of material to the Saudis where they’re going in and murdering children, and they’re murdering innocent people. And so they have to be held accountable.

So much for “pariah” as MBS gets the prestige of the world seeing a U.S. President visiting him in person:

And, as Jake Tapper reminds us:

Director of National Intelligence: “Assessing the Saudi Government’s Role in the Killing of Jamal Khashoggi” February 11, 2021

“We assess that Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman approved an operation in Istanbul, Turkey to capture or kill Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi…” The IS-member Saudi team that arrived in Istanbul on 2 October 2018 included officials who worked for, or were associated with, the Saudi Center for Studies and Media Affairs (CSMARC) at the Royal Court…At the time of the operation, CSMARC was led by Saud al-Qahtani, a close adviser of Muhammad bin Salman, who claimed publicly in mid2018 that he did not make decisions without the Crown Prince’s approval…Also on the team: 7 members of MBS’s “elite personal protective detail” that “exists to defend the Crown Prince, answers only to him, and had directly participated in earlier dissident suppression operations in the Kingdom and abroad at the Crown Prince’s direction.”…The Crown Prince viewed Khashoggi as a threat to the Kingdom and broadly supported using violent measures if necessary to silence him.”

Are President Biden’s abysmal poll numbers and party frustration any surprise:

Historic, global inflation and high gas prices have driven his popularity to lows that could threaten Democrats’ chances of retaining control of Congress this fall.

Amid calls from activists for Biden to show more urgency on issues such as abortion and gun reform, the White House has fired back, calling those who want more action on abortion “out of step.”

But a wide majority of Democrats in a New York Times/Siena College poll published this week – 64% – said that they want someone other than Biden to represent them in the 2024 presidential election.

Among those Democrats, the top reason they wanted another standard-bearer was because of Biden’s age (33%), followed by his job performance (32%). Further down the list, 4% cited his ability to win, and 3% pointed to his mental acuity.

UPDATE: President Biden brought up the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman:

“With respect to the murder of Khashoggi, I raised it at the top of the meeting, making it clear what I thought of it at the time and what I think of it now,” Biden told reporters. “I was straightforward and direct in discussing it. I made my view crystal clear.”

As you would expect, MBS hit back at Biden’s comments:

MBS, denied responsibility for the killing of Khashoggi at the kingdom’s Istanbul consulate. Biden said he indicated that he disagreed with MBS, based on US intelligence assessments, according to the source.

In response to Biden bringing up Khashoggi, MBS cited the sexual and physical abuse of prisoners at Iraq’s Abu Ghraib prison by US military personnel and the May killing of Palestinian American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in the occupied West Bank as incidents that reflected poorly on the US, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, the Saudi foreign minister, told reporters on Saturday.

“The Crown Prince responded to President Biden’s remarks on … Khashoggi after quite clearly — that this crime, while very unfortunate and abhorrent, is something that the kingdom took very seriously (and) acted upon in a way commiserate with its position as a responsible country,” bin Farhan said. “These are issues, mistakes that happen in any country, including the US. The Crown Prince pointed out that the US has made its own mistakes and has taken the necessary action to hold those responsible accountable and address these mistakes just as the kingdom has.”

Ultimately, Biden’s trip to the “pariah state” and fist bump with MBS doesn’t seem to have benefitted the US at all:

Fifth news item

Eventually, the crazy works its way to the surface:

A federal judge is siding with the Sun Prairie School District in a lawsuit filed by two Black parents who objected to their children’s middle school assignment that asked students how they would punish a slave in ancient Mesopotamia.

Dazrrea Ervins and Priscilla Jones claimed the Black History Month assignment [Ed. how they would punish a slave was on a Black History Month assignment??? Are you kidding me??!!] in February 2021 violated their civil rights as well as those of their children, Zavion Ervins and George Brockman.

The question was not part of the school district’s curriculum on ancient Mesopotamia. Three teachers came up with the assignment on their own, according to an internal investigation. The teachers were placed on administrative leave and later resigned…

U.S. District Judge James Peterson… said the parents failed to show evidence that their civil rights or those of their children were violated by the assignment.

“A reasonable jury certainly could find that its content and timing were offensive, insensitive and justifiably upset students and their families,” Peterson wrote. “But a hostile environment claim requires much more than a single upsetting episode.”

Sixth news item

Running and screaming from the left:

“My perspective is, the single most important thing to focus on in the social system is the economic system,” he tells me. “It’s class.”…“I’m just a social democrat, man. Trying to make the world a better place.”

To hear [Rudy] Teixeira tell it, CAP, and the rest of Washington’s institution-based left, stopped being a place where he could do the work he wanted. The reason, he says, is that the relentless focus on race, gender, and identity in historically liberal foundations and think tanks has made it hard to do work that looks at society through other prisms. It also makes people nervous about projects that could be accused of giving short shrift to anti-racism efforts.

“I would say that anybody who has a fundamentally class-oriented perspective, who thinks that’s a more important lens and doesn’t assume that any disparity is automatically a lens of racism or sexism or what have you … I think that perspective is not congenial in most left institutions,” he says.

Seventh news item

United Kingdom issues Level 4 heat advisory for first time:

Britain’s weather forecaster issued its first-ever red “Extreme Heat” warning for parts of England on Monday and Tuesday when temperatures are forecast to reach record highs, triggering a “national emergency” alert level.

The highest ever recorded temperature in Britain was 38.7C (102 Fahrenheit) recorded in Cambridge University Botanic Garden on July 25, 2019. The Met Office said it was now forecasting temperatures of 40C for the first time in Britain.

“Exceptional, perhaps record-breaking temperatures are likely early next week,” Met Office Chief Meteorologist Paul Gundersen said, predicting a 50% chance temperatures top 40C and 80% chance a new maximum temperature is reached.

Concerns include:

Melting roads could cause congestion and leave people stranded in cars. Railways could buckle. Extreme heat on the London Underground could require bottled water to be supplied. Rising demand for electricity as people use air conditioning and fans at the same time as the heat reduces the power-carrying capacity of the system because it is harder to cool conductors.

Water shortages are a fear but if the mains supply is lost water companies are required to provide no less than 10 litres per person per day, with special attention given to the needs of vulnerable people, hospitals and schools.

Eighth news item

One hopes it continues to go in this direction:

Side-by-side maps of Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region—the frontline of the war—dated July 8 and July 12, show the number of active bombings by Russians before and after Ukraine ramped up attacks using the HIMARS precision rocket weapon system provided by Washington.

The maps illustrate a sharp decrease in the number of fires detected by NASA satellites—an indicator that long-range strikes on Russian ammunition warehouses appear to be playing in Ukraine’s favor.

On July 9, Ukrainian presidential adviser and peace talks negotiator Mykhailo Podolyak named HIMARS as one of three weapons Ukraine needs to turn the tide of Putin’s war in Ukraine, as clashes intensified in the battle for the country’s eastern Donbas region

“Do we want a turning point in the war? 3 components… HIMARS for high-precision targeting rear bases, logistics,” he tweeted. “Heavy artillery on the frontline allows matching number parity. APC [armored personnel carriers] for “breakthrough fists”… More tools faster we’ll clean our land of the Russians.”

Ninth news item

The Austin-Statesmen on why they published the unvarnished Uvalde videos:

The American-Statesman is publishing a video account of the delayed police response at Uvalde’s Robb Elementary School after a gunman walked into two classrooms and killed 19 children and their two teachers.

The video that we obtained is one hour and 22 minutes long. It is tragic to listen to and watch. Our decision to publish, along with our news partner, KVUE, comes after long and thoughtful discussions.

The Statesman is publishing two versions of the video, one that we edited to just over four minutes and highlights critical moments: the ease of gunman entering the school, how he shot his way into the classroom, the repeated sound of gunfire, and then the delay by police to stop the killer for 77 minutes as dozens of heavily armed officers stage in the school hallway before a group finally storms the classroom and kill the gunman.

We are also publishing the entire video for those who want to see what we obtained. In both videos we blurred the identity of a child who exits a restroom as the shooter approaches the classroom. The child runs back to the restroom to hide and was later rescued. We also have removed the sound of children screaming as the gunman enters the classroom. We consider this too graphic.

We also have chosen to show the face of the gunman as he enters this school. Our news organization guidelines state that we should not glorify these individuals and give them the notoriety that they seek. We chose, in this instance, to show his face to chisel away at any conspiracy that we are hiding something…

We have to bear witness to history, and transparency with unrelenting reporting is a way to bring change.

Tenth news item

Beauty cuts like a knife:

MISCELLANEOUS

Desert scene:

Have a great weekend!

–Dana

450 Responses to “Weekend Open Thread”

  1. Happy Friday!

    Dana (1225fc)

  2. Sheldon Whitehouse sounds eminently qualified to be the next Sri Lankan president.

    norcal (da5491)

  3. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh. Absolutely lovely, Dana!

    Really like your b/w imagery. Good good eye for composition; the old trick was to turn a pix upside down to review composition and focal point.

    DCSCA (814602)

  4. Under fire from foes of federal animal testing, the agency headed by COVID-19 czar Anthony Fauci has canceled a plan to start new tests of allergy medicine on beagles, some as young as 6 months.

    In a letter to Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) and promoted by the White Coat Waste Project, Fauci said that instead of dogs, the new hay fever drug will be tested on rodents.

    “Although the contract to Inimmune Corporation proposed the use of murine and canine preclinical animal models, after consultation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the company elected to proceed using two rodent models only,” wrote Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. “No experiments utilizing the canine model are being conducted under this contract.”

    https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/fauci-cancels-2418-million-drug-testing-on-beagle-puppies/ar-AAZelYa

    Unrelated:

    The Humane Society of the United States says it is working fast to transfer thousands of dogs bred for medical research from a facility in Virginia.

    On Wednesday, the Humane Society said that over the course of 60 days, they’d be transporting around 4,000 beagles in stages to shelters nationwide so they could be adopted.

    https://www.fox13now.com/news/national/humane-society-to-transfer-around-4-000-beagles-from-virginia-breeding-facility

    4000 beagles…

    (Hat Tip CTH)

    BuDuh (340919)

  5. NASA, Russian space agency sign deal to share space station flights

    https://www.cnbc.com/2022/07/15/nasa-russian-space-agency-sign-deal-to-share-space-station-flights.html

    As noted on another thread; quite appropriate given July 15 is the 47th anniversary of ASTP; the launches of the first U.S./Russian joint manned spaceflight project.

    And this bonus; a win for the United States and Russian space agency relations as well:

    Rogozin removed as head of Roscosmos as seat barter agreement signed

    ‘WASHINGTON — The Russian government dismissed Dmitry Rogozin as the head of the space agency Roscosmos July 15, the same day the agency and NASA signed a long-anticipated agreement to exchange seats on flights to the International Space Station. In a brief statement, the Kremlin announced the Vladimir Putin, president of Russia, had dismissed Rogozin as head of Roscosmos, effective immediately. In a separate statement, the Kremlin announced the appointment of Yuri Borisov, deputy prime minister of Russia, as Rogozin’s successor at Roscosmos.’ – https://spacenews.com/rogozin-removed-as-head-of-roscosmos-as-seat-barter-agreement-signed/

    DCSCA (814602)

  6. or hunted her family down because their own political and/or journalistic aspirations were the priority.

    by family, do you mean the mom who defends the perp?

    sure, let’s leave this family alone to abuse this girl

    JF (6f2bbb)

  7. During The Blitz there were many impromptu performances in Underground stations, both musical and theatre.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  8. Sheldon Whitehouse sounds eminently qualified to be the next Sri Lankan president.

    They’d be lucky to get Donald Trump and I mean that sincerely.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  9. With legislative climate options now closed, it’s now time for executive Beast Mode.

    Again, getting rid of the single-House Legislative Veto was a terrible mistake. It was the leash that Congress kept when they delegated rule-making. The Supremes killed it for what now seems ironic reasons. Whizzer White was prophetic in his dissent.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  10. Use existing executive branch trade and tariff authority to establish a carbon border tariff for imports from countries with worse relative carbon emissions, based on industry carbon density.

    Like Germany.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  11. They’d be lucky to get Donald Trump and I mean that sincerely.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9) — 7/15/2022 @ 5:13 pm

    As much as I dislike him, I give him credit for not succumbing to climate hysterics.

    norcal (da5491)

  12. or hunted tracked down her family because their own political and/or journalistic aspirations were the priority.

    by family, do you mean the mom who defends the perp?

    sure, let’s leave this family alone to abuse this girl

    JF (6f2bbb) — 7/15/2022 @ 5:07 pm

    That isn’t the reason they tracked her down and you know it. It was to score points and up their careers. Clearly, if a 10-year-old girl has been raped and had an abortion, and her story is on every front page, Social Services, law enforcement, D.A.’s office, CPS, and every other possible agency that is invested in crimes against children are already involved – before the family was located by the press.

    Note: I cleaned up the wording in the post and here in the quote.

    Dana (1225fc)

  13. So, I watched the video. Absolutely damning of the police. It was like watching McClellan prepare for battle. Early on, when there were about a dozen officers, in vests, outside the room and they heard some shots, they could not run away fast enough. Effing mall cops.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  14. Social Services, law enforcement, D.A.’s office, CPS, and every other possible agency that is invested in crimes against children are already involved

    Or should be. I think we’ll find out it was more like Uvalde.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  15. There’s very little social redeeming value of the — in the present government in Saudi Arabia.

    Except when compared to all the ones that might follow.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  16. “I would say that anybody who has a fundamentally class-oriented perspective, who thinks that’s a more important lens and doesn’t assume that any disparity is automatically a lens of racism or sexism or what have you … I think that perspective is not congenial in most left institutions,” he says.

    But just think how much easier it is to get your research accepted when they give you the conclusions before you start.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  17. Dana, that was a well-executed setup and sendup of Biden regarding the Saudis.

    Biden is a trademark political hack. That was true even before the onset of senility.

    norcal (da5491)

  18. That isn’t the reason they tracked her down and you know it. It was to score points and up their careers.
    Dana (1225fc) — 7/15/2022 @ 5:33 pm

    was the reason this story got hyped in the first place cuz those people were concerned about the girl?

    or, did they think they could use her abuse for political gain and expect everyone to just accept the story as is?

    we know how this media game gets played

    looks like we’re not allowed to know if the woman is really her mom (and if she is, my god), or if the child was an unaccompanied minor and she’s the sponsor and there’s sex trafficking going on, or if the perp had a history in Guatemala and wasn’t vetted (yeah, like no joke), among others that come to mind that the media won’t ask

    or maybe we’ll hear he was whipped by the border patrol on horseback and his PTSD manifests itself in 9year old rape, don’t blame him

    cuz you know, it’s an abortion law problem we got here

    yep, never mind, let’s leave it up to the experts and an administration that has encouraged this crap for political gain and it’s sure to get resolved like all the rest of the border chaos will

    JF (2d2ea4)

  19. was the reason this story got hyped in the first place cuz those people were concerned about the girl?

    or, did they think they could use her abuse for political gain and expect everyone to just accept the story as is?

    JF (2d2ea4) — 7/15/2022 @ 6:27 pm

    I gonna go with C) Both.

    norcal (da5491)

  20. @17. That’s an insult to political hacks. Cruz is a political hack; Pelosi is political hack; Schiff, Schummer, Hoyer, McCarthy, McConnell, Harris; Clinton—all hacks.

    Biden’s a bum.

    DCSCA (0f7c3d)

  21. Dana, while Putin’s war crimes in Vinnytsia are indeed horrific, a monumentally worse war crime is his forcible displacement of 2.5 million Ukrainians–around 6% of their total population–from their home country to Russia, which is a clear violation of International Human Law.
    Putin is not above backfilling fleeing and forcibly displaced Ukrainian populations with Russians so they can pass referendums for independence, like what they’re trying to do in Kherson.

    Paul Montagu (5de684)

  22. I absolutely agree, Paul Montagu. But then again, the world should not have any expectation that he would follow International Human Law or any other law/institution/agreement that would protect human life. He is a vicious amoral animal who will let no one stand in his way.

    Dana (1225fc)

  23. This isn’t really about any of the linked stories, but I wanted to note it anyway, esp since we’ve been talking a lot about inflation and things being terrible.

    I’ve been running all around the Sacramento metro area like a crazy person this summer, trying to get all the necessary things done that I haven’t been able to do for the last two years, and I have to say that things look really good. I used to live in a more trouble area of a Sac. community called Citrus Heights about 20 years ago and it was pretty run down at the time, but I was driving past my old apartment complex earlier this week and the whole area looks a lot better. The stores have been redone and renovated, there were cars in the parking lots and there weren’t very many empty store fronts. I drove down one of the main streets that used to have really trashed out duplexes and small houses and most of them seem to have been redone. There’s new construction going up ALL over the city and a lot of the old construction is in the process of being renovated, even down in Rancho Cordova, which had been a depressed area since the military base closed in the 90s(?). Despite whatever we are hearing about everything being awful, the city looks really prosperous right now, and really the entire area, metro, suburbs, exurbs, looks pretty good.

    Nic (896fdf)

  24. Somebody put some work into this graph. China surpassed the US in 2016.

    Paul Montagu (5de684)

  25. But then again, the world should not have any expectation that he would follow International Human Law or any other law/institution/agreement that would protect human life.

    Too true, but we still need to call it out, IMO. Putin needs to pay for this.

    Paul Montagu (5de684)

  26. Paul,

    That was a great graph to look at. I was surprised to see the rise of Indonesia in the 20-teens, and land in the top 10 in 2022. (At least I think it did. When it cycled through it immediately went black to the play again screen…) Also interesting to see when America makes an appearance and it’s straight to the top over the years.

    Dana (1225fc)

  27. 25,

    You’ll get no argument from me about this.

    Dana (1225fc)

  28. Cool photo of Mercury.

    Paul Montagu (5de684)

  29. Too true, but we still need to call it out, IMO. Putin needs to pay for this.

    It’s really too bad that Karma isn’t real.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  30. @28 the space photos are very cool but note that the colors are fake and are pretty much a PR move

    JF (1cc5a8)

  31. Cool photo of Mercury.

    It would be cool to see all sides at the same time, as Mercury has a really weird tidal resonance with the Sun. Not tidally-locked, but a 3:2 orbital beat.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  32. colors are fake

    The colors are “fake” because black pictures aren’t very interesting, or do you see well in the mid-infrared? Webb uses infrared because absolutely everything outside our galaxy is receding from us, at that causes every to shift towards red and infrared.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  33. Kevin M (eeb9e9) — 7/15/2022 @ 9:01 pm

    right, but that has nothing to do with the Mercury photo

    JF (1cc5a8)

  34. French rightly takes down Jordan Peterson’s take on Putin’s War Against Ukraine, but what caught my eye were abortion rates per country, with the Putin regime right at the top. The Mexican rate seems way low.

    Paul Montagu (5de684)

  35. @34 Just read your linked article, Paul. It was excellent. I like Jordan Peterson, but he’s wrong here. In fact, he is a prime example of what Radegunda has talked about, in that various people in the West see Putin as some bulwark of Christianity.

    norcal (da5491)

  36. right, but that has nothing to do with the Mercury photo

    You didn’t link to an article about the Mercury photo.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  37. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYnF31el-ik

    The way it was, 53 years ago this morning; the pinnacle week of the ‘American Century,’ when America peaked at truly being great. If you weren’t alive for it, worth watching to revisit the news reports of the same downm-to-earth problems then as now, enjoying a very young Ali McGraw swimming in a paper bikini… and witnessing a 36 story building being launched into the sky.

    What a magnificent day it was.

    DCSCA (901f18)

  38. https://therightscoop.com/house-democrats-vote-to-make-abortion-the-law-of-the-land-but-one-republican-decided-not-to-vote-against-any-of-it/

    Liz Cheney trying to get in good with the leftist party. Throws her “pro-life” beliefs under the bus.

    NJRob (eb56c3)

  39. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/nih-admits-fauci-lied-about-funding-wuhan-gain-of-function-experiments/ar-AAPLZIe

    Lied under oath.

    Just imagine if he was Trump when you think of a punishment.

    NJRob (61aefd)

  40. @39 Never forget; Liz is an honest and principled woman of integrity willing to sacrifice everything to stand up for what’s right and true and just and honorable and principled. Questioning her motives would be like Job questioning God.

    frosty (96639f)

  41. IF this is accurate and the she lied to protect the rapist, the abortionist should be brought up on charges.

    That’s a lot of assumptions, starting with that the child was the victim of only one molester. That’s why the police are doing DNA matches and not only with the arrestee. And even so, unless the doctor had access to Hunter Biden’s laptop on which the molester’s birth certificate has been uploaded, the doctor could only write down what she was told.

    Have you read this New York Post article? We’re delving into the sewage of a very diverse “breakfast taco” that most Americans do not even know exists.

    nk (51ae73)

  42. Biden going to Saudi Arabia is like the crack head going back to his favorite dealer.

    Rip Murdock (a78f1f)

  43. @42 i would hope the DNA tests include the woman who claims to be the girl’s mom

    but I suppose we should just leave this family alone

    JF (4be815)

  44. Ew. Figures, Oregon.

    Paul Montagu (5de684)

  45. This is good news, except for the 2030 rollout. I may have mentioned that a co-blogger of mine works for a similar operation in Corvallis, which should be our energy future.

    Paul Montagu (5de684)

  46. My favorite cartoons from this week’s Politico collection are this Ramirez cartoon, and this reminder of another Trump phone call.

    (Fans of “Minions” will find some cartoons in the collection inspired by the movies.)

    Jim Miller (406a93)

  47. That’s 3am vegetables. And for the 3am BBQ:

    urbanleftbehind (76c06d)

  48. Will Trump stop Republicans from winning control of the Senate, again? It’s possible, considering some of the candidates he is backing.

    Top Republicans, once confident about winning control of the Senate in the midterms, fear they’ll blow it after nominating several deeply flawed candidates in winnable states, according to conversations with GOP strategists, pollsters and other officials.

    Why it matters: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has been sounding this alarm for months: electing fringe candidates with checkered pasts could squander a golden chance to reclaim power. Now, McConnell is left hoping for a red wave so wide and powerful that candidate quality is irrelevant.

    The article doesn’t mention this, but most serious observers think Trump cost the Republicans the two Georgia seats in the 2020 run-offs.

    (I agree with the oddsmakers that — as of now — the Republicans are favorites to win the House.)

    Jim Miller (406a93)

  49. Court Rejects Lawsuit Against China over the COVID Pandemic
    From Missouri ex rel. Schmitt v. People’s Republic of China, decided Friday by Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh, Jr. (E.D. Mo.) (fun fact: he’s the late Rush Limbaugh’s cousin):

    ………. Plaintiff, the State of Missouri ex rel. Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt (“Plaintiff”), sues nine Chinese defendants for injuries suffered within the State of Missouri because of the pandemic…. [T]he Court determines that it has no power under the [Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act] to decide the merits of the case and dismisses the complaint for lack of subject matter jurisdiction….

    The complaint names as defendants (1) the People’s Republic of China (PRC), (2) the Communist Party of China (CCP), (3) PRC’s National Health Commission, (4) PRC’s Ministry of Emergency Management, (5) PRC’s Ministry of Civil Affairs, (6) People’s Government of Hubei Province, (7) the People’s Government of Wuhan City, (8) the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV), and (9) the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).

    The following is a broad-brush summary of the complaint’s allegations, with details added later in the opinion as needed to address the legal issues.

    Defendants engaged in research on coronaviruses at the WIV, a laboratory with known safety concerns. …….

    Defendants censored or silenced any reporting of human transmission of the virus. ………

    Defendants also delayed world-wide disclosure that it had mapped the genome of the virus, and that the virus was transmissible person-to-person. …….

    The complaint brings four alternative tort claims: Count I for Public Nuisance, Count II for Abnormally Dangerous Activities, Count III for Breach of Duty by Allowing Transmission of COVID-19, and Count IV for Breach of Duty by Hoarding PPE. Each Count is brought against all defendants, who allegedly acted in concert, and the complaint seeks monetary damages as well as injunctive and other relief….
    ………
    [T]he complaint allegations themselves establish that the core conduct was a matter of sovereign policy. The complaint cites no Chinese statute, regulation, or policy mandating any of the conduct. The conduct does not involve ministerial tasks. Rather, the allegations reflect matters of judgment and choice, e.g., delaying information, providing misinformation, suppressing information, censoring information, allowing massive public gatherings, allowing unencumbered travel, and publicly punishing citizens who sought to warn the public about the virus. And finally, the purpose of the (Federal Tort Claims Act’s discretionary function) exception is served because it prevents lawsuits (however tragic the result for the injured parties) for torts arising out of a sovereign’s exercise of public policy in conjunction with its sovereign acts…….

    Thus, the Court concludes that neither the commercial-activity exception nor the non-commercial tort exception applies. The court in Eisenberg v. People’s Republic of China (D. Mass. 2022) reached the same result, concluding that the “allegations that PRC government officials engineered COVID-19, decided to conceal information concerning its escape from a lab, and failed to prevent the spread of the virus by, among other things, permitting international air travel is not subject to the commercial activity or non-commercial tortious activity exceptions to the FSIA. Instead, [the plaintiff] has alleged non-commercial, discretionary acts or omissions by the PRC, and therefore it is not subject to suit under the FSIA.” The court added that it had “not located a single case that has determined that any exception of the [FSIA] affirmatively applies to COVID-19 damages claims to individuals based on allegations that the PRC is responsible for the spread of the virus throughout the World.”

    ………..

    <em Bad timing for Schmitt. The RCP average has him 5.3 points behind Greitens with just over two weeks before the August 2nd primary.

    Rip Murdock (a78f1f)

  50. — Grandma grows the best roses in the neighborhood.
    — Yes. We should spread her around the magnolias too.

    nk (c1be99)

  51. Vinnytsia was just one strike. There were four other terrorist attacks by missile yesterday.

    Paul Montagu (5de684)

  52. California Gun Measures Let Citizens Sue to Enforce Regulations
    ……..
    The bill (Gov. Gavin) Newsom signed—sponsored by Democratic assemblymember Phil Ting —allows individuals, the state attorney general and local governments to sue buyers, sellers, manufacturers or distributors that violate state gun laws when their products cause harm. The bill allows plaintiffs to seek damages and attorney’s fees as well as, in some cases, court injunctions to stop the weapons’ proliferation.

    The other bill Mr. Newsom has said he would sign allows private individuals to sue anyone who makes, distributes, imports, sells or transports weapons banned in California, including assault-style rifles and homemade firearms made out of kits called ghost guns. Plaintiffs could receive minimum statutory damages of $10,000 per weapon found to be in violation.
    ……….
    The two California bills are part of a broader movement by gun-control advocates to chip away at a 2005 federal law that provides gun makers with protection from liability in the unlawful use of their weapons.

    Last summer, New York enacted a law similar to the one Mr. Newsom has signed, allowing lawsuits to be filed against the gun industry for creating a “public nuisance” that endangers public safety.
    ………
    Gun rights groups say both the new California law and the bill Mr. Newsom said he would sign run counter to the 2005 federal law granting them immunity.
    ………
    Among the others (signed by Newsom) are ones that ban marketing of guns and gun-related products to minors, force more people to register “ghost guns,” and would bar anyone convicted of misdemeanor child abuse or elder abuse from owning a gun for the next 10 years.

    On Friday, California gun rights advocates sued to block the newly-signed law related to gun marketing directed at minors, arguing that it violates free speech and is “motivated by animus for ‘gun culture’ and those who participate in it.”
    ########

    Rip Murdock (a78f1f)

  53. When the “lies” are found to be truth…

    https://instapundit.com/531489/

    Colonel Haiku (259c9f)

  54. Russian observers stunned by effectiveness of U.S. HIMARS system in Ukraine
    ……….
    The HIMARS is a wheeled missile platform that can launch up to six missiles in rapid succession and then be on the move within two minutes, evading counterstrikes. It has a range of around 50 miles and it’s *fantastically* accurate due to the fact that its missiles are guided by satellite. Standard artillery may land within half a mile of the target. A HIMARS missile will land within a few meters.

    Russian milbloggers have noticed.

    As it happened yesterday I observed the strike of HIMARS at Chernobayevka, Kherson, almost in front of my eyes. I’ve been under shelling many times, but what struck me was that the whole pack, 5 or 6 rockets, landed almost into a penny. Usually MLRS fall over large areas, and at maximum distance scatter in a fan-like manner. It makes quite an impression, can’t argue with that. Especially when later that day on a trip along our way we saw cluster “Uragan’s” fall around 500m from us. It scatted over a large area, unexploded missiles remained stuck in the fields. After the Americans this doesn’t look serious. The area was later shelled with howitzers, also missed. If it was HIMARS, it would have been covered completely from the first go. So this thing is good.
    ……..

    ……….
    Igor Girkin is a Russian ultranationalist and accused war criminal who spearheaded Russia’s operations in the Donbas in 2014. He’s spent the last four and a half months complaining that the Kremlin is fighting with one hand behind its back. After taking stock of the damage caused by the HIMARS, he’s even more exasperated:

    …….
    15:47PM, 10 July 2022

    The enemy continues with powerful missile strikes in Donbas.

    Most likely, the Russian air defence which previously relatively (quite relatively) coped with the attacks with “Tochka-U” and “Uragan” turned out largely ineffective against massive strikes of HIMARS missiles. Today once again burning and detonating is Shakhtersk. Worse than last time.

    In the past 5-7 days over 10 large artillery and other munitions stockpiles were hit, several oil depots, around 10 command points and roughly as many personnel locations in our near and far rears. In addition to several air defence and artillery positions. This resulted in LARGE losses in personnel and equipment.

    P.S. I am not writing this to inform ukrs *Ukrainians* about the effectiveness of their strikes – they know it better and earlier than me. And not to “gloat” (which all kinds of pseudo-patriotic scum accuses me of). But to ask one single question:

    WHEN WILL THE RF AF START FIGHTING WITH FULL FORCE? I.e. when will destructive strikes be carried out at the transport system of the so-called “ukraine”, using which all these HIMARS, “777”, “Caesars” (and ammunitions for them) are safely brought unhindered to the combat zone?
    ………

    “Our army is led by a bunch of untrained morons,” one pro-Russian separatist wrote over the weekend, upset that ammunition dumps hadn’t been moved out of range of the HIMARS. “Stupidly vile, miserable, vindictive, petty, thieving lemmings.”

    The Wagner Group is an off-the-books paramilitary group which the Kremlin deploys into war zones like Syria and Ukraine to carry out dirty tactics. They’ve had a rough go of it lately from Ukrainian artillery too:
    ……….
    One more bit of Russian commentary, the most despairing of the bunch:
    ………
    Russia does have missile defense systems in place, but if they’ve been effective at stopping HIMARS attacks they’re keeping it a closely guarded secret:
    ……..
    Ukraine has spent its first few weeks with the system targeting Russian command posts and ammunition dumps in the Donbas. They’re not going to defeat the Russian army with 12 modest missile platforms but they can slow it down by starving it of ammunition as Putin prepares for an offensive against Donetsk, the one province left in the east that isn’t yet under Russian control. ……..
    …………

    Related:

    Military analyst explains why Russian army is scared of HIMARS


    ………
    HIMARS strike(s) can’t be intercepted by any kind of Russia’s defensive systems.

    “There’s no antidote to this type of weapons,” (Oleg Zhdanov, a military analyst told Radio NV). “It hits the target quite precisely, sometimes missing it for three meters at most, while the fire range is up to 70 kilometers. Defense solution against these systems simply doesn’t exist. The only way is running away if you see such a rocket flying in your direction.”
    ……….
    “They’re pressuring all of the countries: stop providing weapons to Ukraine,this will escalate the tensions. Funny, because Russians do their own shelling and don’t think this is an escalation. While when Ukraine gets weapons – they consider it to be an escalation,” Zhdanov explained.
    …………
    HIMARS rocket-launching systems has been able to destroy as many as 20 Russian munition depots in the Donbas area, according to estimates provided by Ivan Kyrychevsky, a military analyst who’s employed at Defense Express, a Kyiv-based magazine focused on security issues.
    ……….

    Sad! Victory to Ukraine!

    Rip Murdock (eb1a92)

  55. For a second I thought I was watching a Liberty Mutual commercial.

    Paul Montagu (5de684)

  56. The chopped-foam pillow magnate’s lawyer not only met with Trump in December 2020, urging the president to ignore judicial review and take over the election count, he put his seditious scheme in writing.
    Related, I’m not a Peter Strzok fan after seeing his weird demeanor during testimony, but I can’t argue with the following.

    Take a moment to think about the staggering counterintelligence issues in the crazy Dec 18, 2020 WH meeting. A thread.
    In the Oval Office, people advocated Trump illegitimately hold on to power, including using the military to seize voting machines.
    That group included:

    Mike Flynn, who who was paid by an organ of Russian state media to travel to Moscow to attend a dinner where he was seated next to Putin.
    Flynn later plead guilty to lying to the FBI about conversations he had with the Russian Ambassador about election interference.

    Patrick Byrne, one of several men once in an intimate relationship with convicted Russian agent Marina Butina.
    Byrne gave money to Butina after her return to Russia, where she ran for the Duma, hounded Navalny, and supported the invasion of Ukraine.

    Rudy Giuliani, who repeatedly met with and took info from sanctioned Russian agents like Andrii Derkach, despite USIC warnings to the White House in 2019 that Trump’s personal lawyer “was the target of an influence operation by Russian intelligence”

    So in this tiny meeting in the Oval Office where options to upend US democracy were advanced to the President of the United States, there were not one, not two, but three people directly linked to sanctioned and convicted agents of the Russian government.

    While I doubt Russia planned it, their efforts to gain access to Trump’s inner sanctum succeeded beyond their wildest dreams.
    And it demonstrates just how successful seemingly amateurish intelligence activity can be.

    Paul Montagu (5de684)

  57. Dear Russia:

    Just be glad you never picked a fight with us.

    Yours truly,
    America

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  58. Here’s a good thread on how bad a week the Xi regime is having. Why again are doing business with such a small trading partner as Putin?

    Paul Montagu (5de684)

  59. Good news from Hollywood, of all places:

    Recent years have proved that the US film market may not necessarily need China and that censoring their films to appease the Chinese government isn’t worth the effort anymore.

    No year has proved this trend better than 2022. This year, there have already been two major Hollywood blockbusters that opted to not pander to Chinese censors and remove scenes. The first was Top Gun: Maverick, which decided to not remove Taiwan’s flag from the final product. The Communist Party in Beijing has long claimed that Taiwan is Chinese territory, even though Taiwan is an independent self-governed island. Reports say that a Chinese backer for Top Gun: Maverick urged the studios to remove Taiwan’s flag from Tom Cruise’s bomber jacket. After the investor backed out, the flag symbol was replaced on the jacket. Now, it appears Top Gun: Maverick won’t be seeing a Chinese release. However, it seems like this won’t matter much, as it’s already the biggest box office success of the year, pulling in $599 million domestically and over $1.1 billion worldwide.

    That detail shows how much control Hollywood had given to “Emperor” Xi, and we should be grateful that Hollywood producers are now showing a little more independence.

    Who knows? They may even put out a movie that I want to see.

    Jim Miller (406a93)

  60. Xi wants a third term as party chairman. I’m thinking maybe he doesn’t get it. He’s has a couple really bad years, mostly of his own creation.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  61. Who knows? They may even put out a movie that I want to see.

    Sorry. Ingmar Bergman is dead.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  62. @59, DCCCP gives us a dose of Russian propaganda via Russia Beyond The Headlines….I’m telling ya

    AJ_Liberty (c82e21)

  63. ‘Twelve of Putin’s officers are killed’ in strike on command post in occupied Kherson as ‘Vladimir is enraged by failure of his S-400 defence system’ while US-supplied HIMARS missiles inflict critical lossesPlease
    ……….
    The attack targeted a command post in at Chornobaivka Airport, near the occupied southern city of Kherson, and is rumoured to have killed at least one general and one colonel. It is thought to have been carried out using US HIMARS rockets.

    Video shows what appears to be an ammunition dump at the base exploding, as Russian Telegram channels report Putin is infuriated at the inability of Russia’s S-400 anti-air systems to protect his armed forces.

    It comes as Ukraine readies its million-strong military for a major offensive around Kherson, aiming to recapture territory seized by Russia early in the conflict.
    ………
    Chornobaivka Airport – where the latest HIMARS attack took place – is a strategically important airfield located in Ukraine’s south that was captured by Russia in early in the war, and now serves as a military airfield.

    It is hardly the first time the airstrip has been targeted by Ukrainian attacks, as a series of bombardments early in the war destroyed dozens of helicopters and inflicted heavy losses on Putin’s men.

    But as the frontline pushed further to the west, the airfield dropped out of range of Kyiv’s men. However, with the arrival of American rocket systems it can be hit again.
    ……….
    Russian state TV war reporter Alexander Sladkov – who has links to the shadowy Wagner Group and typically posts pro-Kremlin propaganda – wrote overnight that Ukraine ‘has struck several times at our decision-making centres with results.’

    He added: ‘The centres are small but important. I will not write here where, when, how much, and who [was hit] in order not to give out military secrets.

    ‘My question is simple: when will this bull**** end?

    ‘Can you **** the military-industrial complex so that we finally have the preventive [means to stop these missile attacks].’

    One report claims Putin is so enraged that he is looking for scapegoats and turning on his own allies over the failure of the acclaimed S-400 missile defence system to perform effectively in the war.
    ………
    ‘Disassembling (sic) has begun in the Russian Defence Ministry due to the fact that the S-400…cannot properly protect airspace and is not even able to protect itself [from HIMARS attacks],’ said the report.

    ‘The technical characteristics of the flagship air defence system were overestimated many times, and the money allocated for the development of the S-400 was successfully stolen.

    ‘The deception surfaced recently, when the S-400s failed to shoot down a single HIMARS missile either in the Donbas or in the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions.

    ‘Not only that – during an attack on a military base in Ilovaisk, HIMARS missiles destroyed the S-400 complex, which was supposed to protect the area from air strikes.’
    ……….
    As Ukrainian strikes step up and Russia’s offensive in the east stalls, Putin’s generals appear to have reverted to strikes on civilian targets as a method of sowing fear.
    ……….

    This is just too bad.

    Rip Murdock (eb1a92)

  64. Day 142 of Putin’s 3 day war.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  65. Sean Spicer and Russell Vought lose lawsuit against Biden administration over Naval Board dismissal
    ……..
    Spicer and Vought were among 11 appointees by President Donald Trump to various military service academy advisory boards that President Joe Biden asked to resign last September — threatening them with removal from their posts if they refused to resign. Then-White House press secretary Jen Psaki commented at the time that the president’s objective was to ensure he had “nominees and people serving on these boards who are qualified to serve on them and who are aligned with [his] values.”

    The Board of Visitors to the U.S. Naval Academy was created by Congress to advise the President on the “state of morale and discipline” at the academy as well as its “curriculum, instruction, physical equipment, fiscal affairs, [and] academic methods.” U.S. District Court Judge Dabney Friedrich also noted that Congress specified that the “six persons designated by the President” would serve on the Board “for three years each” in staggered terms.
    But based (10 U.S. Code § 8468) governing the Board of Visitors, Friedrich ruled that executive officials were not insulated from presidential removal.
    ………

    Rip Murdock (eb1a92)

  66. Biden leaves Saudi Arabia without oil deal amid criticism for meeting with crown prince

    https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2022/jul/15/biden-says-no-immediate-deal-oil-saudi-arabia/

    DCSCA (5e692e)

  67. Biden fails to secure major security, oil commitments at Arab summit

    https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/biden-hopes-more-oil-israeli-integration-arab-summit-saudi-2022-07-16/

    Carterrific!

    … and Jimma smiled.

    DCSCA (5e692e)

  68. <blockquote€As Faith Flags in U.S. Government, Many Voters Want to Upend the System

    A majority of American voters across nearly all demographics and ideologies believe their system of government does not work, with 58 percent of those interviewed for a New York Times/Siena College poll saying that the world’s oldest independent constitutional democracy needs major reforms or a complete overhaul.

    The discontent among Republicans is driven by their widespread, unfounded doubts about the legitimacy of the nation’s elections. For Democrats, it is the realization that even though they control the White House and Congress, it is Republicans, joined with their allies in gerrymandered state legislatures and the Supreme Court, who are achieving long-sought political goals.
    ……….
    ………..(A) broad majority of Republicans share (Trump’s) views on the 2020 election and its aftermath: Sixty-one percent said he was the legitimate winner, and 72 percent described the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol as a protest that got out of hand.
    ………..
    Among all voters, 49 percent said the Capitol riot was an attempt to overthrow the government. Another 55 percent said Mr. Trump’s actions after the 2020 election had threatened American democracy. As with so many other issues, voters saw the riot through the same partisan lens as other issues.

    Seventy-six percent of Republican voters said Mr. Trump had simply been exercising his right to contest his loss to Joseph R. Biden Jr. Asked if Mr. Trump had committed crimes while contesting the election, 89 percent of Democrats and 49 percent of independent voters said yes, while 80 percent of Republicans said he had not.
    ………
    Among Democrats, 84 percent said the Capitol attack was an attempt to overthrow the government and 92 percent said Mr. Trump threatened American democracy.
    ……….
    More than half of all voters surveyed, 53 percent, said the American political system was too divided to solve the nation’s problems, an increase from 40 percent in a Times/Siena poll from October 2020. The sentiment is now most acute among Black voters and the youngest voters.

    The lack of faith is starkest among the young, who have little to no memory of a time when American politics didn’t function as a zero-sum affair. Nearly half — 48 percent — of those surveyed between the ages of 18 and 29 said voting did not make a difference in how their government operates.
    ……….
    The Supreme Court, which has long guarded its reputation as above politics, is widely viewed as a political body, the poll found. Nearly two-thirds of those polled said the justices’ rulings were based on their political views, not on the Constitution, a belief shared by 88 percent of Democrats and 39 percent of Republicans.
    ………
    ……… The poll found that just 34 percent of voters were very or somewhat confident that major newspapers and television networks reported accurately and fairly about news and politics.

    Just 7 percent of those polled said they got most of their news from a major national newspaper. Only 1 percent said they turned to a local newspaper. Among Republicans, 29 percent said Fox News was their primary news source.

    The level of confidence in the mainstream media is lowest among voters who find their news through social media.
    ……….

    Rip Murdock (eb1a92)

  69. Saudi Arabia doubles second-quarter Russian fuel oil imports for power generation

    https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/exclusive-saudi-arabia-doubles-q2-russian-fuel-oil-imports-power-generation-2022-07-14/

    Fist-bump worthy, eh, Helsinki Joe?! So much for taking folks behind the gymnasium. Try Black Prince diplomacy instead: leave it to a Brit to teach an old Yank how to properly ‘fist-bump’ a gang of thieves in a ‘closed door’ meeting:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wf16WUYLfpQ

    DCSCA (5e692e)

  70. South Dakota Gov. Noem: No special session on abortion
    South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem said Friday that she has reversed her initial plan to call a special legislative session this year after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

    When the Supreme Court’s decision first leaked in May, Noem tweeted that she would “immediately call for a special session to save lives” if Roe was overturned. South Dakota already had a trigger law that immediately banned abortions after the ruling came out in June.
    ……..
    “In the last few weeks, it has become clear that South Dakota is the most pro-life state in the nation,” Noem said in a statement, pointing to a ban that allows a woman to have an abortion only if it will save her life, as well as a website she launched that directs pregnant women to state resources.

    Noem said she has the support of top lawmakers, as well as influential anti-abortion groups, in holding off legislative action until next year.
    ………
    One group of contrarian Republican lawmakers, which recently organized themselves as the South Dakota Freedom Caucus, was critical of Noem’s change of plans. Earlier Friday, the caucus chairman, Republican Rep. Aaron Aylward, had said an immediate special session was necessary “to close the loopholes” in South Dakota’s abortion ban.
    ##########

    MAGAWorld not amused.

    Rip Murdock (eb1a92)

  71. RIP, Bobby East, 3 time USAC national driving champion, 34, murdered Wednesday

    Days later, police later shot and killed Trent William Millsap, 27, a homeless man on parole, who allegedly stabbed the three-time US Auto Club (USAC) champ, in a SWAT raid, according to law enforcement sources, TMZ reports.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  72. DC, you left out the important part

    Saudi Arabia has agreed to boost oil production following President Joe Biden’s meeting with the Saudi Crown Prince, according to a report by a Saudi news site.

    24Live tweeted that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had agreed to boost production by about 4 million barrels a day to 13 million barrels during a speech at the opening of a summit with Arab leaders.

    Despite Biden’s stumbling, bumbling and mumbling during his travels, bin Salman is going to increase production by 44%. This is good news for our economy and bad news for your buddy Vlad the Russian Ruler.

    Paul Montagu (5de684)

  73. I’ve added an update to the fourth news item (President Joe’s adventures in the pariah state).

    Dana (1225fc)

  74. Fulton County DA sends ‘target’ letters to Trump allies in Georgia investigation

    In the latest sign that she is moving rapidly in her investigation into Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election, Fulton County, Ga., District Attorney Fani Willis has sent so-called target letters to prominent Georgia Republicans informing them they could be indicted for their role in a scheme to appoint alternate electors pledged to the former president despite Joe Biden’s victory in the state, according to legal sources familiar with the matter.

    …….. Among the recipients of the target letters, the sources said, are GOP state Sen. Burt Jones, Gov. Brian Kemp’s running mate for lieutenant governor; David Shafer, the chairman of the Georgia Republican Party; and state Sen. Brandon Beach.

    Jones and Shafer were among those who participated in a closed-door meeting at the state Capitol on Dec. 14, 2020, in which 16 Georgia Republicans selected themselves as the electors for the state, although they had no legal basis for doing so. Shafer, according to a source who was present, presided over the meeting, conducting it as though it were an official proceeding, in which those present voted themselves as the bona fide electors in Georgia — and then signed their names to a declaration to that effect that was sent to the National Archives.

    ……. Willis, in an interview, declined any comment on the target letters. But she confirmed she is considering another potentially controversial move: requesting that Trump himself testify under oath to the special grand jury investigating his conduct.
    ………
    ………(D)etails about the events in Georgia have attracted particular scrutiny, both by Willis’s grand jury and by the U.S. Department of Justice, whose prosecutors in Washington also recently subpoenaed the GOP electors from the state.

    Among those details was an email from Robert Sinners, who served as the Trump campaign’s Election Day coordinator in Georgia, which was sent to the would-be electors on the day before the Dec. 14 meeting. In the email, Sinners urged them to act with “complete secrecy” and to refuse to speak to any members of the news media about what they were doing. If asked, they were to say they were attending a meeting with Jones and Beach, the two state senators.

    “I must ask for your complete discretion in this process,” Sinners wrote at the time, according to the Washington Post, which first reported on the email. “Your duties are imperative to ensure the end result — a win in Georgia for President Trump — but will be hampered unless we have complete secrecy and discretion.”
    ……..
    Prosecutors appear to be focusing on the secrecy of the meeting as evidence of consciousness of guilt on the part of the Trump electors. But defense lawyers will argue …… . that they had a valid reason to act as they did: to preserve the Trump campaign’s legal rights in the event that one of its legal challenges to Biden’s victory in Georgia prevailed. (The theory was that the state Legislature would not have time to formally name new electors before the Jan. 6 deadline, when Congress was due to certify the Electoral College vote.)
    ………..

    Rip Murdock (eb1a92)

  75. As Faith Flags in U.S. Government, Many Voters Want to Upend the System

    Constitutional reforms I would like to see:

    1. Congressional seats are filled in each state by an at-large election, with each voter getting ONE vote. Top however-many are elected. This solves the gerrymandering problem quite totally, and makes term-limits unnecessary in many states. In a state like California any candidate that can gather up 2% of the vote will be elected, so ethnic, religious and political minorities can gain representation they would not otherwise get. There is a high probability that most voters will have a Congressperson of their choosing, increasing their connection to the system.

    2. A third (pseudo) legislative house, whose job is to approve, amend or reject prospective regulations. Seats in this house would be filled by Dutch auction, with both public and private bidders competing for seats. Why pretend? Besides, this would ensure that the members would be qualified to deal with regulatory proposals.

    3. Fix the size of the Supreme Court, with any added seats filled one at a time, a decade apart.

    Additionally, I would suggest a state-splitting commission, looking to expand the number of states by about 50%, by splitting larger states so that no state has over 6-7 million people, with a grand compromise plan as the goal. This would make the Senate more democratic and the Electoral college closer to the popular vote, while retaining the stabilizing aspects of state-by-state voting.

    I tend to march to a different drummer…

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  76. Here’s some good news from Ukraine:

    Grain ships have begun sailing to Ukrainian ports on the Danube River near Romania.

    The safe passage of eight cargo vessels from the Black Sea to the river ports of Reni and Izmail along the Danube-Black Sea Canal is a profoundly important development for Ukraine’s economy. The ships soon should sail back along the same route—and then out of the Black Sea via Turkey’s Bosphorous Strait.
    . . .
    The two-month Ukrainian operation to destroy the Russian garrison on Snake Island, which ended in victory for the Ukrainians on June 30, made the grain exports possible. Snake Island is just 20 miles from the Danube Delta, where the river flows into the Black Sea.

    These river ports don’t have the capacity of seaports leik Odesa, but this will still help.

    According to the article grain “exports swelled to 2.5 million tons in June—half the pre-war total.”

    Jim Miller (406a93)

  77. The level of confidence in the mainstream media is lowest among voters who find their news through social media.

    Also, the level of confidence in social media is lowest among voters who find their news though the mainstream media. Can anyone explain why?

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  78. N.Y. men who pepper-sprayed officers on Jan. 6 sentenced to 44 months
    ……….
    Cody Mattice, 29, of Greece, N.Y., and James Mault, 30, of Brockport, N.Y., both wept as they stood before Chief U.S. District Judge Beryl A. Howell and asked for leniency, apologizing for their actions and saying they hoped to return soon to their families and young children. But Howell noted that prosecutors had already cut them a reasonable deal by dropping charges that could have led to far more prison time, and she imposed the sentences requested by the government. Only four other Jan. 6 defendants have been sentenced to longer prison terms.

    Text messages obtained by the FBI showed that Mattice and Mault planned for violence on Jan. 6, initially expecting resistance from antifa. They texted family members during the mayhem, and then congratulated each other in the days after the riot, which temporarily halted the certification of the presidential election.
    ……..
    Mattice was a stay-at-home dad and Mault was an iron worker when they began texting on Jan. 2 about driving to President Donald Trump’s “Stop the Steal” rally on Jan. 6, discussing taking pepper spray, helmets, a baton and a high-powered fire extinguisher with them. Once in D.C., court records show, Mattice recorded video of Mault on the National Mall saying they were “getting ready to go march on Capitol Hill. … It’s about to be nuts.”

    At the West Plaza near the Capitol, Mattice recorded Mault shouting at officers to join the mob, prosecutors said in a sentencing memorandum. “What we’re doing is right,” Mault yelled, “or there wouldn’t be this many … people here.” Soon, the two men began snatching bike racks the police were using as barricades, pulling them away from police officers and helping push the mob through the police line up to the Capitol, photos and videos obtained by the government show.

    ……… Mattice texted his fiancee to say, “me and james literally just got everyone to push, I fought off like 4 or 5 cops and we stand … victorious,” according to court records. His fiancee, Ashley Choate, replied, “omg babe glad you’re having fun and are okay.”

    During the sentencing, Choate stood to address the judge. But Howell immediately challenged her on the texts, reading her the one in which Mattice claimed he stood victorious. “Were you cheering him on, with all these events on Jan. 6?” the judge asked.

    “That was not my intention,” Choate said. “I know it sounds like that.”
    ……..
    …….. (B)oth men were handed small canisters of pepper spray by other rioters and aimed them at police officers defending the Capitol, photos show. When questioned later by the FBI, Mattice denied using pepper spray, and Mault said officers were “letting people into the Capitol building.” They also denied taking any violent action against the police at the West Plaza, and claimed they had been swept up to the Capitol by the massive mob, court records state.
    ………
    Both men pleaded guilty in April to felony assault on police officers, with a sentencing enhancement for spraying chemical agents at police. Mattice and Mault both apologized to a D.C. police officer who was hit by the spray. Both men have been held in jail since their arrests in October.

    “I was very stupid and ignorant, and I lost myself that day,” Mattice said through tears. “And I’m extremely embarrassed.”

    “My friends and I went to the Capitol on Jan. 6 with the best intentions,” Mault said. “What happened was our protest got terribly out of hand, I fell into the mob mentality, and I didn’t think about what I was doing.”
    ………
    That’s just too bad.

    Rip Murdock (eb1a92)

  79. Sorry for the lack of blockquotes on post 81.

    Rip Murdock (eb1a92)

  80. According to the article grain “exports swelled to 2.5 million tons in June—half the pre-war total.”

    Putting an Aegis cruiser or two into the Black Sea, to defend the freedom of commerce, couldn’t hurt. Perhaps Antietam and Shiloh, to make a point about resolve.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  81. A thought experiment:

    Suppose that Trump’s coup had succeeded. Pence does what Trump wants and the whole election ends up in the House, where Trump appears to have a victory locked up.

    But there are protests. On the say of the House vote, 3 million well-armed Americans descend on Washington, and attempt to stop the House vote by force. Would this insurrection be wrong? If they pushed aside, or pepper-sprayed Capitol police to achieve their goal, would they be wrong? If they took Congress hostage after a bloody shootout, would they be wrong?

    Does right and wrong depend on what people believe? What “actually is”? Who wins in the end?

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  82. https://nypost.com/2022/07/16/james-madison-sidelined-by-woke-history-in-his-own-home/

    Leftist billionaires spending money to rewrite American history and destroy America from her founding.

    NJRob (f5e3e7)

  83. Facing trial, Bannon vows to go ‘medieval,’ but judge says meh
    Former Trump adviser and right wing podcaster Stephen K. Bannon promised the contempt of Congress charges against him would become a “misdemeanor from hell” for the Biden administration, but after judicial rulings against his proposed defense, legal experts said his trial set to start Monday could be more of a quick trip through court.
    ……..
    At a recent hearing that left Bannon’s legal strategy in tatters, his lawyer David Schoen asked U.S. District Court Judge Carl J. Nichols, “what’s the point of going to trial if there are no defenses?” The judge replied simply: “Agreed.”

    The exchange was a remarkable comedown for the combative, bombastic Bannon team that live-streamed his declaration, “we’re taking down the Biden regime” as he surrendered to the FBI in late 2021 on charges he had illegally flouted the House committee probing Jan. 6.
    ……….
    “Obviously everyone’s entitled to a trial, but usually if you go to trial there’s some kind of legal or factual dispute that needs to be resolved,” (Randall Eliason, a George Washington University law professor and former federal prosecutor) said. “The judge’s point is, there aren’t really any here … In those instances, going to trial becomes what prosecutors sometimes call a long guilty plea.”

    Bannon’s case, while high profile and politically significant, is a legal rarity. Over the last four decades — even when Congress referred such an instance of alleged contempt of Congress to the Justice Department for prosecution — they were rarely charged, and those that did lead to convictions or pleas came undone.……..

    Unlike Bannon and (Peter Navarro also indicted), Mark Meadows and (Daniel) Scavino engaged in months of talks with the committee over the terms and limits of potential testimony and executive privilege claims. Meadows also turned over thousands of text messages and communications with members of Congress and other White House aides before ending negotiations and withdrawing his appearance for a deposition. …….
    ……..
    Jury selection in the case is due to begin Monday, and the trial is likely to be brief — prosecutors say their case will take a day, and given the judge’s limitations on which witnesses Bannon can call and what issues he can raise, it’s unclear how long Bannon’s own case may take, or if he will testify.
    ……..
    If convicted, Bannon’s potential punishment is unclear. The two misdemeanor contempt charges are each punishable by at least 30 days and up to one year in prison. Court records show that the three similar contempt of Congress cases that have been charged in D.C. federal court since 1990 all resulted in guilty pleas, but none of those individuals received jail time under plea deals with prosecutors. Two were pardoned by a president of their party and the third was allowed to withdraw his plea and admit to a lesser charge in a sentencing mix-up by prosecutors.
    ……….

    Rip Murdock (eb1a92)

  84. @75. Nice try, Paul:

    US not expecting Saudi Arabia to immediately boost oil output

    JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia :The United States does not expect Saudi Arabia to immediately boost oil output and awaits the outcome of an OPEC+ meeting on Aug. 3, the U.S. national security adviser said on Friday, lowering expectations as U.S. President Joe Biden visits the kingdom.

    “I don’t think you should expect a particular announcement here bilaterally because we believe any further action taken to ensure that there is sufficient energy to protect the health of the global economy, it will be done in the context of OPEC+,” Jake Sullivan said.-

    https://www.todayonline.com/world/us-not-expecting-saudi-arabia-immediately-boost-oil-output-1945426

    Was raised in the oil biz myself w/access to senior executive ops and dealing w/Arabs; the general public- including yourself- really doesn’t understand how the industry operates, wheels and deals. Talk is desert wind w/Arabs; production and timing is everything — and key. And it’s not so much bbls pumped but refining capacity available that limits product availability- like gasoline. And in summer months, existing refineries in Europe and the U.S. retool to produce heating oil for winter consumption which poeaks and when gasoline consumption is lower. How it gets to market for distribution is key as well, be it pipeline or partially refined product off-loaded from tanker to tank farms or to reach smaller ports which cannot manage supertanker ops.

    The key indicator in this is the Saudi increase in purchase of Russian crude for their own use— thereby directly financing Putin’s war– allowing existing Saudi reserves to reach market at their discretion and at top petrodollar. They control the flow. And Xi’s China is now in the Saudi market mix as well:

    Saudi Arabia is in talks to sell oil to China and be paid in yuan, according to the Wall Street Journal.

    For nearly 50 years, the world’s top oil exporter has traded crude exclusively in US dollars. Relations between Saudi Arabia and the US have deteriorated under the Biden administration.

    And worse: U.S. Selling Oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to the Highest Bidding Companies

    The Biden administration is trying to increase the global supply of crude oil and reduce gasoline prices by tapping the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve – the federally owned stock of emergency crude oil. About 1 million barrels of crude oil from the reserve are being made available each day for sale to the highest bidding company. Some of the companies have then chosen to export some of the oil to countries around the world, including China.

    https://www.factcheck.org/2022/07/u-s-selling-oil-from-the-strategic-petroleum-reserve-to-the-highest-bidding-companies/

    Joe doesn’t know what the hell he’s doing; he’s a professionsal sh-t shoveler but he can’t spin this failed trip into a win at all– and industry people know it. He’s coming home with nothing but hot desert air.

    DCSCA (adb8ed)

  85. Ultimately, Biden’s trip to the “pariah state” and fist bump with MBS doesn’t seem to have benefitted the US at all

    Exactly, Dana.

    DCSCA (adb8ed)

  86. Susan McDougal successfully defended herself on a criminal contempt of court charge, the judge gave her wide latitude and she made Ken Starr, and his alleged persecution of her, the center of her defense.

    So, there are defenses. Just not everyone gets to use them.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  87. US not expecting Saudi Arabia to immediately boost oil output

    Doesn’t matter. Expectations of future prices drive decisions. Clearly there is little upside in prices for crude oil, so I expece prices to come down some. For now.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  88. Saudi Arabia is in talks to sell oil to China and be paid in yuan, according to the Wall Street Journal.

    And worse: U.S. Selling Oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to the Highest Bidding Companies

    Oil is fungible. Other factors, such as transportation costs may drive these decisions. Are you arguing that the US Reserve should sell at a discount?

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  89. @90. It’s not so much the physical crude [though Saudi LSC is the best, cost-effective base to refine with] it’s the available refining capacity. He’s just blowing smoke; it’s mid-July; summer supplies are more or less set at near peak now– his team should be concerned w/winter and heating oil reserves. It’s gonna cost Americans a lot more to stay warm. Attaboy, Joe!

    DCSCA (adb8ed)

  90. @91. No, the SPR is meant for emergency U.S. domestic use; he’s peddling access to bidders overseas. The product is fungible once in the system but the quality of the product dictates refining costs and timing.

    DCSCA (adb8ed)

  91. In the latest sign that she is moving rapidly in her investigation into Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election, Fulton County, Ga., District Attorney Fani Willis has sent so-called target letters

    Rip Murdock (eb1a92) — 7/16/2022 @ 12:22 pm

    18 months later is rapid? You go girl!

    norcal (da5491)

  92. Susan McDougal successfully defended herself on a criminal contempt of court charge, the judge gave her wide latitude and she made Ken Starr, and his alleged persecution of her, the center of her defense.

    So, there are defenses. Just not everyone gets to use them.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9) — 7/16/2022 @ 1:36 pm

    The jury deadlocked on the criminal contempt charge (7-5 for acquittal) and she was acquitted of obstruction of justice in 1999. The contempt case was unresolved when she was pardoned by President Clinton in 2001.

    Source

    Rip Murdock (eb1a92)

  93. 92- Winter is for burning wood.

    mg (8cbc69)

  94. McKesson, AmerisourceBergen and Cardinal Health Not Liable for Opioid Crisis in West Virginia, Court Rules

    U.S. District Judge David Faber rejected arguments by Cabell County and the city of Huntington that the distributors should be held liable for the public-health crisis because they ignored evidence that prescription drugs were being diverted for illegal use.

    “While there is a natural tendency to assign blame in such cases, they must be decided not based on sympathy, but on the facts and the law,” Judge Faber wrote in a 184-page ruling……..

    The judge said conduct by the distributors…….. couldn’t be deemed a public nuisance under the law because the plaintiffs didn’t prove their actions caused the opioid crisis. He said overprescribing by doctors, dispensing of excessive prescriptions by pharmacists and diversion of the drugs to illegal usage were all “intervening causes beyond the control of defendants.”

    A bench trial in the case took place last year and was closely watched around the country as a test of public-nuisance claims by state and local governments seeking to hold companies up and down the opioid supply chain responsible for drug addiction. Thousands of similar cases against drug manufacturers, distributors and pharmacies have had mixed success at trial and resulted in billions of dollars in settlements.

    The three distributors, plus drugmaker Johnson & Johnson, have agreed to pay $26 billion to settle claims nationally, but West Virginia communities opted out of that deal to go their own way.
    ………..
    A judge in Orange County, Calif., last year rejected arguments that four drugmakers helped fuel the opioid crisis there.

    A jury in New York ruled in favor of communities and the state last year in a similar case there, finding Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. liable for creating a public nuisance.
    ………

    Rip Murdock (eb1a92)

  95. Citing terrorism, U.S. seeks 15-year prison sentence in Jan. 6 case
    …….
    The request for Guy W. Reffitt, a recruiter for the extremist Three Percenters movement who led rioters at the Capitol, is roughly one-third longer than the nine to 11 years recommended under advisory federal guidelines.

    Reffitt was convicted March 8 of five felony offenses, including obstruction of Congress’s meeting to certify the 2020 presidential election, interfering with police and carrying a firearm to a riot, and threatening his teenage son who turned him in to the FBI.

    The defense for Reffitt, a 49-year-old former oil industry rig manager, asked for a below-guidelines sentence of two years in prison.…….

    “Reffitt sought not just to stop Congress, but also to physically attack, remove, and replace the legislators who were serving in Congress,” prosecutors wrote. They called his conduct “a quintessential example of an intent to both influence and retaliate against government conduct through intimidation or coercion,” the statutory definition of terrorist violence subject to harsher punishment.

    Reffitt “played a central role” at the head of a vigilante mob that challenged and overran police at a key choke point, and conventional sentencing rules are of “inadequate scope” to account for the range of his offenses, they wrote in a 58-page sentencing memo.

    A jury found that Reffitt traveled to D.C. from his home in Wylie, Tex., with an AR-15-style rifle and semiautomatic .40-caliber handgun and repeatedly stated his intention to come armed with a handgun and plastic handcuffs to drag lawmakers out of the building. After returning from Washington, he threatened his children not to turn him in to authorities.
    ……..
    The longest sentence in a Jan. 6 case handed down to date is about five years for a Florida man who pleaded guilty to attacking police with a fire extinguisher and wooden plank.

    Prosecutors may be hoping Reffitt’s trial judge sends a clear signal to the roughly 330 defendants still awaiting trial on felony charges and who may still be considering whether to accept a plea deal or gamble before a jury. About 70 people have pleaded guilty, and 10 including Reffitt have been convicted at trial.
    ……..

    Reffitt was convicted of two counts of civil disorder, and one count each of obstruction of an official proceeding, entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a firearm, and obstruction of justice. Each of the two obstruction charges carry a statutory maximum of 20 years in prison. The charge of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a firearm carries a statutory maximum of 10 years. Each of the two civil disorder charges carry a statutory maximum of five years in prison.

    Rip Murdock (eb1a92)

  96. The jury deadlocked on the criminal contempt charge (7-5 for acquittal) and she was acquitted of obstruction of justice in 1999. The contempt case was unresolved when she was pardoned by President Clinton in 2001.

    So? The point was that she successfully defended against the charge. A hung jury and no retrial is a success.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  97. @85: Talk about sedition!

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  98. @100 Kevin, don’t you just love it when a thread goes dead after your comment?

    Oh…wait.

    norcal (da5491)

  99. Indeed.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  100. https://townhall.com/tipsheet/mattvespa/2022/07/16/how-saudi-arabia-just-humiliated-joe-biden-n2610354
    The Saudis have been killing people forever, Now we care? Only because Trump was president. Anyone else – not a big deal.

    mg (8cbc69)

  101. mg, you should really start a wake up service serving the Eastern and Central Time Zones.

    urbanleftbehind (7bbaab)

  102. But DC, I thought you paleo retro Buchananites like FoxNews.

    Paul Montagu (5de684)

  103. Khamenei adviser says Tehran ‘capable of building nuclear bomb’

    Tehran is technically capable of making a nuclear bomb but has yet to decide whether to build it, a senior adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei told Al Jazeera’s Arabic service on Sunday.

    Tehran will also directly respond against Israel should its security be targeted, the report says citing the advisor.

    “In a few days we were able to enrich uranium up to 60% and we can easily produce 90% enriched uranium … Iran has the technical means to produce a nuclear bomb but there has been no decision by Iran to build one,” Kamal Kharrazi said.

    I think THIS is a bit more humiliating to Biden and his party’s approach to Iran than any fist-bump with a despot.

    I wish that some US president would make clear to North Korea and now Iran that we are no longer bound by our obligations towards them, under the Non-proliferation Treaty, regarding non-use of nuclear weapons against non-nuclear states.

    Just say it flat out: You want to play with nuclear weapons? OK, then.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  104. Then remind them of our policy on non-first-use. Namely we don’t have one. Not that it will matter, as Israel will beat us to it.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  105. From the same jpost article:

    Just recently, the US-Israel agreement on the Jerusalem Declaration of the US-Israel Strategic Partnership includes a joint stance against Iran’s nuclear program and regional aggression, stating they will utilize “all elements of national power” to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

    Last Saturday, the US and Saudi Arabia agreed on the importance of stopping Iran from “acquiring a nuclear weapon,” during a visit by US President Joe Biden, a joint statement carried by the Saudi state news agency (SPA) said.

    What a stellar trip, Joe.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  106. Lt General Hertling links to US Ambassador to OSCE Carpenter’s summary of the Moscow Mechanism report, which details Putin’s vast array of war crimes. The Russian Federation is a signatory to the Geneva Conventions. Hertling…

    This report on and evidence of war crimes committed by RU is staggering:

    • Systemic, planned, deliberate & indiscriminate attacks on civilians
    • Establishment of formal torture chambers & extrajudicial executions
    • Mass forcible transfer & use of “filtration centers”
    • Widespread mass rapes & indiscriminate murders, including these acts against 100’s of children
    • Approved looting & resale of stolen personal property
    • Conscription of Ukrainians to fight AGAINST their fellow citizens
    • Use of banned weapons against UA & Ukraine citizens
    • Precision targeting of hundreds of protected infrastructure: Schools, hospitals, water and energy plants, military medical treatment centers
    • The theft of thousands of tons of grain as part of a with a planned attempt to exacerbate famine in other regions/countries.

    All wide-scale & flagrant breaches of the rules of land warfare & established international law…and morality:
    It is relatively easy to tie all these acts to specific violations of International Humanitarian Law under the Geneva Conventions & its additional protocols.

    Paul Montagu (5de684)

  107. @106. And the RINO blows his horn:

    Biden to reporter asking if he regrets MBS fist bump: ‘Why don’t you guys talk about something that matters?’

    President Biden was asked on Sunday if he regretted fist-bumping Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman upon returning from his trip to the Middle East. “Why don’t you guys talk about something that matters? I’m happy to answer a question that matters,” Biden said. – FoxNews.com

    … said Joey to aides:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOHMg7IkzHU&t=3s

    DCSCA (e34ba3)

  108. Trump is a RINO, as is Buchanan. Buchanan at least had the honesty to join a different party.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  109. @112. … cried the desperate flea brushed out of the tail that no longer wags the dog.

    DCSCA (e34ba3)

  110. After Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita threatened to go after the license of an Indiana physician who provided an abortion to a 10-year-old rape victim from Ohio, documents obtained by FOX59 through a public record request proved the physician not only filed a terminated pregnancy report but filed the report within the required timeframe.

    The terminated pregnancy report, obtained by FOX59’s Angela Ganote, shows that Caitlin Bernard, an Indiana obstetrician-gynecologist, reported the abortion on July 2, two days after the abortion was performed and within the three days required for terminations to be reported to the Department of Child Service and the Indiana Department of Health.

    In the report, Bernard also indicated that the child suffered abuse.

    But she said the father was a minor, aged about 17. She was protecting the family. Saying the father was a minor probably meant there would be no serious criminal investigation, I would guess.

    Sammy Finkelman (b7dc9b)

  111. if Ivana Trump had worried less about spilling her coffee, and more about making it safely down the stairs, she probably wouldn’t have been so badly hurt that she died. Her hip hurt. She probably had slower reaction time than she would have had 10-15 years ago, and her blood vessels were weaker so that suffered from internal bleeding.

    Sammy Finkelman (b7dc9b)

  112. There is hope… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sP2tUW0HDHA

    Colonel Haiku (c8b69a)

  113. Completely off topic:

    I was asked by someone in Los Angeles if a solar-panel system could save them money. WHen I looked at the numbers using current system costs, I was astounded. The answer is:

    If one owns a single-family house in Los Angeles that has a half-way decent rooftop exposure you are a complete effing idiot if you don’t install solar.

    Why?

    Residential solar is tiered in L.A. The middle tier costs $0.28/kWh including tax. The top tier is the same cost outside the summer months, when it goes up to $0.37/kWh. Neglecting the higher summer rate (air conditioning), how much does one save with a 6 kW solar system?

    6kW * 5.5 hours (see note 1) = 33 kWh per day of “free” electricity on average. At 28 cents/kWh, that’s $9.25 saved per day, or about $275 saved per month, or $3300/year (see note 2).

    A 6kW solar system costs about $16,000, less any tax credit you may qualify for. If you can claim the full tax credit (see note 3), that will drop about $4K from the cost. But neglecting any tax credit, this puts the payback period at 5 years. Less if electric rates rise (as they will).

    I really don’t know why every house doesn’t have solar in Los Angeles. L.A. has one of the highest electric rates and a LOT of sunshine, and even if you don’t have the money you probably have the equity.

    ———

    Note 1: 5.5 hours is a blended factor that accounts for lower sunlight/bad angles in the morning and evening, along with differing day lengths during the year. You will do better in the summer and not as well in the winter.

    Note 2: Not counting the additional summer savings from the higher summer rate, or some lesser potential savings at the base rate of 21.5 cents/kWh that applies for the first 12 kWh/day.

    Note 3: A federal tax credit (26% in 2022, 22% in 2023) is available, but only to the extent you owe taxes (“non-refundable”). There may be additional credits or programs in CA and Los Angeles that reduce the cost. Solar panels are exempt from property tax in CA.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  114. * Residential solar ELECTRICTY is tiered in L.A.

    GAH!

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  115. The Proud Boys tried to instigate others, but avoid criminal liability themselves. Doesn’t sound like people who expected to succeed in obtaining a pardon.

    https://www.nytimes.com/video/us/politics/100000008392796/rile-up-the-normies-how-proud-boys-breached-the-capitol.html

    https://www.nytimes.com/spotlight/us-capitol-riots-investigations

    Sammy Finkelman (b7dc9b)

  116. That is so bad a mistake, I will repost it:

    Completely off topic:

    I was asked by someone in Los Angeles if a solar-panel system could save them money. WHen I looked at the numbers using current system costs, I was astounded. The answer is:

    If one owns a single-family house in Los Angeles that has a half-way decent rooftop exposure you are a complete effing idiot if you don’t install solar.

    Why?

    Residential electicity is tiered in L.A. The middle tier costs $0.28/kWh including tax. The top tier is the same cost outside the summer months, when it goes up to $0.37/kWh. Neglecting the higher summer rate (air conditioning), how much does one save with a 6 kW solar system?

    6kW * 5.5 hours (see note 1) = 33 kWh per day of “free” electricity on average. At 28 cents/kWh, that’s $9.25 saved per day, or about $275 saved per month, or $3300/year (see note 2).

    A 6kW solar system costs about $16,000, less any tax credit you may qualify for. If you can claim the full tax credit (see note 3), that will drop about $4K from the cost. But neglecting any tax credit, this puts the payback period at 5 years. Less if electric rates rise (as they will).

    I really don’t know why every house doesn’t have solar in Los Angeles. L.A. has one of the highest electric rates and a LOT of sunshine, and even if you don’t have the money you probably have the equity.

    ———

    Note 1: 5.5 hours is a blended factor that accounts for lower sunlight/bad angles in the morning and evening, along with differing day lengths during the year. You will do better in the summer and not as well in the winter.

    Note 2: Not counting the additional summer savings from the higher summer rate, or some lesser potential savings at the base rate of 21.5 cents/kWh that applies for the first 12 kWh/day.

    Note 3: A federal tax credit (26% in 2022, 22% in 2023) is available, but only to the extent you owe taxes (“non-refundable”). There may be additional credits or programs in CA and Los Angeles that reduce the cost. Solar panels are exempt from property tax in CA.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  117. God help us… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntRuONq3E7M

    Colonel Haiku (c8b69a)

  118. “Systemic failures” in Uvalde shooting went far beyond local police, Texas House report details
    ……….
    No one was able to stop the gunman from carrying out the deadliest school shooting in Texas history, in part because of “systemic failures and egregious poor decision making” by nearly everyone involved who was in a position of power, a new investigation into the shooting has found.

    On Sunday, a Texas House committee is releasing the most exhaustive account yet of the shooter, his planning, his attack and the fumbling response he provoked.
    ……….
    It explains how the gunman, who investigators believe had never fired a gun before May 24, was able to stockpile military-style rifles, accessories and ammunition without arousing suspicion from authorities, enter a supposedly secure school unimpeded and indiscriminately kill children and adults.

    In total, 376 law enforcement officers — a force larger than the garrison that defended the Alamo — descended upon the school in a chaotic, uncoordinated scene that lasted for more than an hour. The group was devoid of clear leadership, basic communications and sufficient urgency to take down the gunman, the report says.
    ……….
    The report also reveals for the first time that the overwhelming majority of responders were federal and state law enforcement: 149 were U.S. Border Patrol, and 91 were state police — whose responsibilities include responding to “mass attacks in public places.” There were 25 Uvalde police officers and 16 sheriff’s deputies. Arredondo’s school police force accounted for five of the officers on the scene. The rest of the force was made up of neighboring county law enforcement, U.S. Marshals, and federal Drug Enforcement Agency officers.

    The investigators said that in the absence of a strong incident commander, another officer could have — and should have — stepped up to the task.
    ……….
    ………. At its core, the committee report echoes criticisms made previously by police tactics experts: that instead of following the active doctrine developed after the 1999 Columbine High School massacre, which dictates that officers immediately confront active shooters, police at Robb Elementary retreated after coming under fire and then waited for backup.

    “They failed to prioritize saving the lives of innocent victims over their own safety,” the committee said in its report.
    ………
    The report criticized other officers and law enforcement agencies, many of them better trained, for failing to fill the leadership vacuum left by Arredondo’s inaction.

    “In this crisis, no responder seized the initiative to establish an incident command post,” the committee wrote. “Despite an obvious atmosphere of chaos, the ranking officers of other responding agencies did not approach the Uvalde CISD chief of police or anyone else perceived to be in command to point out the lack of and need for a command post, or to offer that specific assistance.”
    ………
    ………(T)he report said Border Patrol agents decided they would breach the classroom without seeking permission from Arredondo. That team killed the gunman at 12:51 p.m., ending the standoff.

    Despite the collective failure of police to act decisively, the committee uncovered individual instances where officers acted boldly without instruction.
    ………
    Multiple witnesses told the committee that employees often left doors unlocked, while teachers would use rocks, wedges and magnets to prop open interior and exterior doors. This was partly because of a shortage of keys.

    “In fact, the school actually suggested circumventing the locks as a solution for the convenience of substitute teachers and others who lacked their own keys,” the report said.
    ………
    ….…..(T)he shooter was able to easily scale the fence and enter the school through a series of unlocked doors.“Had school personnel locked the doors as the school’s policy required, that could have slowed his progress for a few precious minutes — long enough to receive alerts, hide children, and lock doors,” the report found.

    The question of locked doors came into play again when law enforcement arrived and assumed they couldn’t break down the doors of the classroom to reach the gunman.

    They would fumble for several minutes in search of a key, and other equipment to break down the door, that is now believed to have been unlocked the entire time.
    ………

    Rip Murdock (eb1a92)

  119. You really have to watch the uncut video (or at least the first 15 minutes) to understand what a complete fukup this was.

    While most of the kids were shot a couple minutes before police arrived, the police could have been giving first aid a couple minutes later and some of the children could have survived.

    But no. There is at least one scene of utter cowardice that makes it clear the kids were doomed.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  120. Kevin M (eeb9e9) — 7/17/2022 @ 12:30 pm

    I really don’t know why every house doesn’t have solar in Los Angeles. L.A. has one of the highest electric rates and a LOT of sunshine, and even if you don’t have the money you probably have the equity.

    People don’t do these calculations, and probably nobody is running advertisements – maybe because they can’t handle any more business.

    Can this be paid for by borrowing in such a manner so there will be extra out of pocket monthly costs?

    Sammy Finkelman (b7dc9b)

  121. The sheer cowardice is at 8:30 into the video.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  122. Can this be paid for by borrowing in such a manner so there will be extra out of pocket monthly costs?

    You can pay for it with personal credit, vendor credit, home equity (and there is a LOT of that in Los Angeles) or through a lease. For those that cannot make use of the tax credit (e.g. retired people), a lease with option to buy may make more sense (the lessor gets the credit and passes some of that along). There are also setups where a company owns the panels on your roof and sells you electricity from them at a set rate.

    If you plan on selling the house, the straight ownership options make most sense.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  123. probably nobody is running advertisements

    I wonder. How many people actually see local TV advertising any more? Between streaming, DVRs, Blu-Ray and other forms of content acquisition, local OtA TV has a much smaller portion of the market. And online we have ad-blockers.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  124. Fox News star Tucker Carlson flirts with presidential run in Iowa speech
    ………
    Carlson used the (Family Leader Summit in Des Moines) to blast transgender athletes, high energy prices (and wind turbines), make a glancing mention to Jan. 6 (an issue which hasn’t engaged voters on the right), before ultimately pivoting to an attack on corporate America. The speech ultimately focused on the kind of pocketbook issues that have been engaging many voters this year, themes very familiar to his large cable audience.

    Carlson began with a classic tell used by many politician seeking Iowa votes, touting his many trips to the state over the years.
    ………
    “He’s definitely flirting with it, 100 percent,” said Jon Schweppe, policy director for the social conservative group American Principles Project.
    …………
    Populist conservatives have long yearned for Carlson to launch a bid for the White House, even kicking up chatter through the end of Trump’s time in office. In 2020, New York donors toyed with the idea of supporting a bid by Carlson in 2024, and conservative pundits have long pushed for him to jump in.
    ………
    Regarding President Biden and former President Donald Trump, who Carlson did not mention directly, he said, “Nobody on either side has an ironclad claim to the nomination.” During an extended riff on conservatives valuing mainstream media opinions, he hit former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, who was in Iowa last month, for tweeting words of condolence for George Floyd in 2020.

    “I’ve always liked Nikki Haley, I would tell it to her face, ‘I like you, I don’t want you in charge of anything,’” Carlson said. “Because the second things get intense … I want a leader who can still think clearly.”
    ……….
    His speech, albeit booked six months earlier, lands at a time when the Republican nomination for president seems like it could be a jump ball — Trump’s slipping poll numbers and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s steady climb in popularity have led many analysts to deem the GOP no longer under Trump’s control.
    …………

    Rip Murdock (eb1a92)

  125. Trump-Tucker 2024. Get your lies at both ends!

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  126. Fred Kerley is world’s fastest man after leading 1-2-3 finish for USA
    ………
    Kerley cemented all-time status Saturday night at Hayward Field. In a 100-meter final drenched in red, white and blue at the world track and field championships, Kerley seized the title of fastest man in the world by inches over countrymen Marvin Bracy-Williams and Trayvon Brommel. Kerley finished in 9.86 seconds, 0.02 seconds ahead of both bronze medalist Bromell and second-place Bracy-Williams, who led until the last five meters. Kerley’s lean gave him the crowning achievement of an ascendant career and the Americans a podium sweep.
    ……….
    Kerley is one of three men, along with South African Wayde van Niekerk and American Michael Norman, who have run 400 meters in less than 44 seconds, 200 meters in less than 20 seconds and 100 meters in less than 10 seconds. Add up their best performances in each race using World Athletics’ scoring system, and Kerley’s score is the best.
    ………
    By the time he settled into the blocks in Lane 4 on Saturday night, Kerley had made himself the overwhelming favorite. Four Americans qualified for the eight-man final, with reigning world champion Christian Coleman finishing sixth.

    Kerley bolted from the blocks, but the field stayed with him. On the outside in Lane 8, Brommel inched ahead of the pack. Bracy-Williams, running to Kerley’s left in lane 3, seized a small lead. At the finish line, Kerley lunged and stretched his neck. The trio knew they had produced a sweep. They weren’t sure of the order. Kerley jogged to the top of the track and stared at the board.

    “I didn’t know until I looked at the clock,” Kerley said. “It said Fred Kerley, No. 1.”
    ………,

    Rip Murdock (eb1a92)

  127. But she said the father was a minor, aged about 17. She was protecting the family. Saying the father was a minor probably meant there would be no serious criminal investigation, I would guess.

    Sammy, a 27-year old illegal immigrant was arrested and he confessed to raping the child.

    Paul Montagu (5de684)

  128. Kevin M:

    While most of the kids were shot a couple minutes before police arrived, the police could have been giving first aid a couple minutes later and some of the children could have survived.

    There were some shoots fired very late.

    But no. There is at least one scene of utter cowardice that makes it clear the kids were doomed.

    They weren’t doomed. Some survived, mostly by hiding aand playing dead. One teacher played dead, but got shot (less seriously than his first wound) later.

    Salvador Ramos Jr seems not to have wanted to fire unnecessary bullets, like as if he didn’t know how many people he might get a chance to kill. Was he thinking he was going to escape?

    The sheer cowardice is at 8:30 into the video.

    Retreating might nake sens if they were outgunned, or had no immediate battle plan, but they could have fired some bullets just to distracct him and keep him busy.

    Sammy Finkelman (b7dc9b)

  129. Paul Montagu (5de684) — 7/17/2022 @ 2:04 pm

    Sammy, a 27-year old illegal immigrant was arrested and he confessed to raping the child.

    The abortion doctor in Indiana tried to protect him, by saying the father was about 17 because the mother didn’t want to press charges (possibly because if she did more then mothers if pregnant 10 year old girls might be reluctant to seek medical treatment)

    Sammy Finkelman (b7dc9b)

  130. “‘I like you, I don’t want you in charge of anything,’” said CNN, MSNBC and PBS suits when they fired Tucka.

    DCSCA (59ca1b)

  131. Eight years ago yesterday

    On this day 8 years ago Russian army shot down Malaysian MH17 Boeing killing 313 people. Russian terrorists made happy photos with debris as a background, and their girlfriends looted the site for cosmetics and proudly wrote about it on social networks.

    Paul Montagu (5de684)

  132. Sammy, a 27-year old illegal immigrant was arrested and he confessed to raping the child.

    Paul Montagu (5de684) — 7/17/2022 @ 2:04 pm

    I don’t know the timeline but it looks like this only happened because of the focus brought to the case. The irony here is that the pro-abortion lobby wanted to play a gotcha game and gave us another example of how dishonest and morally bankrupt they are.

    frosty (497886)

  133. CNN, MSNBC and PBS suits

    A wretched hive of scum and villainy would be harder to find.

    frosty (497886)

  134. DC, there’s “good” Peter Principle like Joe Torre (Yanks were the 4th team he managed) and, if that’s your thing, Tucka C, and well we all know about bad Peter Principle.

    urbanleftbehind (d5b707)

  135. @139. A wretched hive of scum and villainy would be harder to find.

    Except it’s not; see the RNC, the DNC, the U.S. Congress, the Heritage Foundation; SCOTUS… and the Biden Administration Cabinet– for starters.

    Don’t blame the messengers, frosty.

    ______________

    @140. Failing up?!?! See Squinty McStumblebum for details. 😉

    DCSCA (59ca1b)

  136. “A wretched hive of scum and villainy would be harder to find.”

    Other than, to begin with, “Emperor” Xi’s regime, “Czar” Putin’s kleptocratic oligarchy, the Iranian theocracy, North Korea’s Kim, Donald Trump’s inner circle, and on, and on, down to the average street gang.

    Jim Miller (406a93)

  137. https://nypost.com/2022/07/16/hunter-biden-laptop-shows-meetings-with-joe-business-partners/

    Hunter Biden met with his father at least 30 times at the White House or the vice president’s residence, often just days after he returned home from overseas business jaunts.

    The breakfasts, lunches and other gabfests between 2008 and 2016 raise questions about whether Hunter was relaying messages to his father on behalf of foreign clients, and cast new doubt on the president’s repeated denials that he had any role in his son’s shady overseas business dealings.

    The meetings were found in a review of the personal calendar on Hunter Biden’s abandoned laptop.

    The guy NeverTrump threw their lot in with. Pretending this crook was moral will forever be a stain on the conscience of NeverTrump.

    NJRob (eb56c3)

  138. It looks as if Steve Bannon will soon learn the truth of the third item in my little list: Following Donald Trump risks your wealth, your health, and even, for a few, your liberty.

    Former Trump adviser and right wing podcaster Stephen K. Bannon promised the contempt of Congress charges against him would become a “misdemeanor from hell” for the Biden administration, but after judicial rulings against his proposed defense, legal experts said his trial set to start Monday could be more of a quick trip through court.

    At a recent hearing that left Bannon’s legal strategy in tatters, his lawyer David Schoen asked U.S. District Court Judge Carl J. Nichols, “what’s the point of going to trial if there are no defenses?” The judge replied simply: “Agreed.”

    (Links omitted.)

    For a smart guy, Bannon has done some remarkably stupid things.

    Jim Miller (406a93)

  139. A wretched hive of scum and villainy would be harder to find.

    Unless you’re a “lawmaker” in Texas:

    Texas lawmakers say Uvalde response was result of “systemic failures and egregious poor decision making”

    “Other than the attacker, the Committee did not find any ‘villains’ in the course of its Investigation,” the report said. “There is no one to whom we can attribute malice or ill motives. Instead, we found systemic failures and egregiously poor decision making.” – https://www.cbsnews.com/news/uvalde-report-texas-house-school-shooting-today-2022-07-17/

    Unreal.

    DCSCA (878f35)

  140. IDEK Frosty thinks that the prochoice people telling the truth about everything proves they are dishonest and NJRob thinks that having meals with your parents is scandalous. Is it opposite day at patterico?

    Nic (896fdf)

  141. Nic (896fdf) — 7/17/2022 @ 3:46 pm

    Nic claiming that a 27 year old really is 17 is telling the truth, and Eric Schwerin (the president of Hunter Biden’s investment company Rosemont Seneca Partners) is demented Joe’s apparently new illegitimate son shows that it’s not opposite day, and it even might be Nic Being Nic Day.

    JF (7e768a)

  142. @125. the ‘fukup’ was editing out the screams of the helpless victims– which is what this tragedy was all about- while leaving the audio of the astonishingly rapid burst gun fire in.

    DCSCA (878f35)

  143. There were some shoots fired very late.

    What part of the word “most” don’t you understand?

    As far as the police reaction, they stood there and let the wounded kids bleed out. Cowardice. Utter cowardice.

    I love the part of the state report that notes that there were more armed cops at the school than there were defenders at the Alamo. It Texas, that’s utter damnation.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  144. Credit where due: Microsoft is finding our internet enemies, and warning us about them.

    For example:

    In brief SMBs, beware: Microsoft said this week it has discovered a North Korean crew targeting small businesses with ransomware since September of last year.…

    The group, which calls itself H0lyGh0st, appears to be primarily motivated by money, Microsoft Threat Intelligence Center (MSTIC) researchers said. After the gang gets its eponymous malware onto a victim’s network, it follows the standard ransomware playbook: encrypt files, and demand a Bitcoin payment to restore the data.

    Bitcoin does seem to be useful . . . to crooks, of all kinds.

    Jim Miller (406a93)

  145. possibly because if she did more then mothers if pregnant 10 year old girls might be reluctant to seek medical treatment

    That’s funny. A joke, right? Mom was concerned about other people? Sure. I have this bridge….

    It’s going to come out that the little girl’s mother was in a relationship with the rapist, and may even have know about what he was doing with daughter. When she ended up pregnant, it couldn’t be hidden, although one has to ask why it took so long to get her to the doctor.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  146. A wretched hive of scum and villainy would be harder to find.

    Wretched hives of scum and villainy are pretty easy to find, actually. Especially in board rooms or the upper reaches of government.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  147. Kevin – the part where you didn’t say that some people might have been shot only after the police arrived — not just that they could have been saved.

    Sammy Finkelman (b7dc9b)

  148. One set of threats:

    The elected county recorder and the elections director in Arizona’s Yavapai County are resigning after more than a year and a half of threats and heated criticism from backers of former President Donald Trump who accept his lie that he lost the 2020 election because of fraud.

    And another set:

    Appearing on MSNBC on Saturday morning, podcast host Dean Obeidallah joined in with fill-in host Sam Stein to pile on House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy for remaining silent after a member of his own caucus was flooded with death threats against himself, his wife and his children.

    Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Il) is still a Republican member of the House until the midterm elections where he will not be on the ballot, and the Illinois Republican recently released audio of vile death threats he has been getting because he sits on the Jan 6th committee investing the insurrection egged on by Donald Trump.

    No doubt there are a few Trumpistas who have said such threats are unacceptable in a democracy, but it would be good if there were more than a few, and better if “leaders” like McCarthy led on this issue, instead of maintaining a cowardly silence.

    Jim Miller (406a93)

  149. Bitcoin does seem to be useful . . . to crooks, of all kinds.

    In Neal Stephenson’s excellent REAMDE (sic), the opening subplot has a bunch of Chinese ransomware hackers demanding payment in in-game “gold” in an online World of Warcraft type game, which allows “gold” to be cashed out anonymously.

    Of course. the ransom-payers have to go to a certain “place” in the game to pay, which is suddenly surrounded with numerous gangs of thieves…

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  150. It’s not terribly important, but the original Star Wars quote is: “You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy.” (Without the “more”, it doesn’t make sense, so, if you are like me, you added it, without noticing the omission.)

    Jim Miller (406a93)

  151. Donald Trump focused his message towards stupid people (not that all of his supporters were stupid), couching his every speech in short words and simple ideas.

    Stupid people tend to also be stubborn people, and suspicious of all those high-and-mighty smart-asses.

    So it’s no surprise that they are unlikely to accept Trump’s loss when their hero says he wuz robbed.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  152. Jim Miller (406a93) — 7/17/2022 @ 4:15 pm

    bidenistas might want to lead by example on this issue

    JF (7e768a)

  153. the astonishingly rapid burst gun fire

    Yes, this was a full-auto weapon, something the gun-grabbers don’t want said. If he bought it that way, the seller needs to face multiple felony-murder charges. If he didn’t, whoever sold him the kit does.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  154. Jim Miller (406a93) — 7/17/2022 @ 4:15 pm

    I really appreciate you telling me what Axios, MSDNC, and other leftist sites are thinking about. I’d never know the leftist spin otherwise.

    Thanks again.

    NJRob (eb56c3)

  155. Also off-topic: It’s becoming clear that trying to fight a disease that mutates in a matter of months with a vaccine-approval process that takes at least a year is failing badly. It’s not that the existing vaccines are bad, but that the disease they were designed to block no long exists. Now, mRNA vaccines can be developed swiftly, but the existing testing process prevents them from coming to market before they are, again, obsolete.

    Of course, untested vaccines are going to have fewer takers, and pharma companies have lawyers that suggest they not do that anyway. Clearly we need a new paradigm. Computer sims? Volunteers? Magic? It’s really hard to say except maybe not magic.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  156. There once was a Dementia patient from Nantucket
    With a VP who would ——
    His son full of crack
    And loonie wife ding bat
    To America they say just go fugket

    mg (8cbc69)

  157. POTUS Donald J. Trump was the most effective barrier contraceptive against the onslaught of Marxist sperm this country has ever known. We sure could use him now considering that Republicans just “saying no” isn’t working.

    mg (8cbc69)

  158. Somewhere I hear the words “Precious Bodily Fluids!”

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  159. More on Iran:

    Prime Minister Yair Lapid of Israel urged the United States on Thursday to show Iran that it would take military action if Tehran continued its nuclear enrichment program, highlighting Israel’s opposition to U.S.-backed efforts to persuade Iran through diplomacy alone.

    Mr. Biden and Mr. Lapid, who is serving as an interim prime minister until elections in November, also discussed the matter during a meeting as part of the president’s four-day visit to Israel and Saudi Arabia.

    “Words will not stop them, Mr. President,” Mr. Lapid said of the Iranian leadership at a news conference afterward. “Diplomacy will not stop them. The only thing that will stop Iran is knowing that if they continue to develop their nuclear program, the free world will use force.”

    …Mr. Biden had earlier sought to calm Israeli fears of a potential new Iran nuclear deal, promising not to give in to a key demand by Tehran and assuring Israelis that he would use force if needed to stop Iran from developing a bomb.

    I’m seeing the dog wagging sometime in mid to late October.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  160. Chief: 3 dead in Indiana mall shooting; witness kills gunman
    ……..
    The man entered the Greenwood Park Mall with a rifle and several magazines of ammunition and began firing in the food court, Greenwood Police Department Chief Jim Ison said.

    An armed civilian killed the man, Ison said at a news conference. In total, four people were killed and two were injured, he said.
    ………

    Another reason states should allow open/conceal carry of firearms. That civilian saved many lives.

    Rip Murdock (eb1a92)

  161. @166 In a country awash in guns, and no options short of a police state to eliminate them, we rely on good guys with guys taking out bad guys with guns.

    In the meantime, we need to work on improving our culture.

    norcal (da5491)

  162. @166/@167.

    … and Putin smiled.

    DCSCA (39509e)

  163. Putin would smile at the very thought of someone as enabling to his agenda as DCSCA.

    norcal (da5491)

  164. thinks that the prochoice people telling the truth about everything

    LOL, please. The “prochoice people” are notorious for parroting the stat that Roe has majority support, while doing everything they can to obfuscate the other stat that “abortion without restrictions all through the pregnancy” has never gained more than 20% support even after 50 years of Roe. As Kevin has repeatedly pointed out, support for abortion past the first trimester drops off a cliff, particularly in the 3rd trimester short of a real, actual threat to the mother’s life–which is so rare as to be on the margins.

    It’s certainly supported heartily by the mass media, though, particularly in Hollywood, which made the practice a cottage industry going back decades–which is probably why they’re so flabbergasted that their neo-Carthaginian child sacrifice cult doesn’t have more support.

    Factory Working Orphan (2775f0)

  165. @FWO@170 Context. Frosty was talking about the issue of the little girl from Ohio and I was responding to that.

    Nic (896fdf)

  166. Another reason states should allow open/conceal carry of firearms. That civilian saved many lives.

    Rip Murdock (eb1a92) — 7/17/2022 @ 6:16 pm

    It also shows how some stick-figure loser with an AR-15 and an itch to make a name for himself can get dropped like a bad habit by a someone with a simple handgun. Now they need to take the next step and start desecrating these freaks’ corpses after they get gotten. Turn enough of these guys’ bodies in to hamburger for putting the community in danger, and some of these incels will start to think twice before going after innocent people with their poverty pony ARs.

    Factory Working Orphan (2775f0)

  167. @FWO@170 Context. Frosty was talking about the issue of the little girl from Ohio and I was responding to that.

    Nic (896fdf) — 7/17/2022 @ 8:45 pm

    It doesn’t change the decades-long nature of the pro-abortion side’s arguments.

    Factory Working Orphan (2775f0)

  168. @169 …said Ike Clanton. You really don’t get it, do you.

    DCSCA (3d06d8)

  169. San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Deputy Hospitalized After Being Shot Twice

    https://www.nbclosangeles.com/

    DCSCA (3d06d8)

  170. FOW-172, a bailiff acting as JJE at a pretrial hearing would a welcome development as well.

    urbanleftbehind (d5b707)

  171. @FWO@173 It does, however, mean that what you were responding to something that wasn’t my comment.

    Nic (896fdf)

  172. @172. Colorful. But think 21st century creative; suggest a naked truth; a harness ’round their bat and balls hitched to a war-surplus helium-filled weather balloon– and released to ascend for an inning w/t Angels– at 45,000 feet. Hardly cruel and unusual punishment and great practice for police drones observers. ‘Course our Ike Clanton clan are more 19th century minded and prefer packin’ heat to administer that 1881 O.K. Corral-style justice. 😉

    DCSCA (3d06d8)

  173. Another reason states should allow open/conceal carry of firearms. That civilian saved many lives…

    In the meantime, we need to work on improving our culture…

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGJxhMMvjYU&t=87s

    DCSCA (05d8e0)

  174. The supreme court is taking a case where state legislatures say they have constitutional right to ignore the will of the voters and give their electoral votes for whoever they choose! The voters and the courts have no say in the matter. 12th amendment. Also they can ignore voter approved anti gerrymandering laws or state constitution requirements by state supreme court. The legislature is supreme and can ignore governor vetos courts or the voters. If the six conservatives agree does anyone think the american people will do nothing?

    asset (720bf8)

  175. In a country awash in guns, and no options short of a police state to eliminate them, we rely on good guys with guys taking out bad guys with guns.

    Because the cops will be out in the hallway.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  176. Turn enough of these guys’ bodies in to hamburger

    I would rather they were captured, given a quick trial then hanged publicly. Then fed to pigs.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  177. @180, and yet you probably approve of the National Popular Vote Compact which does the exact same thing.

    You’re late to the party, though, our host blogged about that last week, with more attention to the facts.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  178. Turn enough of these guys’ bodies in to hamburger…

    It’s been done:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5-yjO26ih0

    DCSCA (5d5510)

  179. It’s not terribly important

    Jim Miller (406a93) — 7/17/2022 @ 4:21 pm

    Apparently it is terribly important to you and DCSCA who felt the need to engage it twice. Here’s a little clue, it was a bit tongue in cheek. I’m having a little fun with the idea that a bunch of suits at CNN, MSNBC, or PBS are in a position of trust and authority.

    Yes, I know propaganda is important to both of you. Thanks for helping me illustrate that. But appealing to authority isn’t a firm foundation for an argument and appealing to those people as authorities is ridiculous.

    And now the question is which one of you will say some version of “except it’s not” first.

    frosty (497886)

  180. @FWO@170 Context. Frosty was talking about the issue of the little girl from Ohio and I was responding to that.

    Nic (896fdf) — 7/17/2022 @ 8:45 pm

    Nice try but pro-abortion people didn’t tell the whole truth there either.

    This story with the 10-year old is a situation where team pro-abortion should consider cutting its losses. Everyday it looks more like a ghoulish fixation on using the tragedy with this little girl to push your agenda that killing, on average, over 1000 babies a day is both necessary and good.

    frosty (497886)

  181. More bad news on COVID in the US: The weekly average of cases is up 15.2 percent, the weekly average of hospitalizations is up 6.7 percent, and the weekly average of deaths is up 30.5 percent. (From the Washington Post, which has been making all its COVID coverage free.)

    The latest variant to plague us, BA.5 is more transmissible than previous variants.

    All that said, the daily averages are still far below previous peaks; for example, there were an average of 432 deaths per day in the last week, far lower than thousands we saw at peaks. But the trend is not our friend.

    And COVID continues to affect health care, all over the world:

    The coronavirus pandemic coincided with the worst backslide in global vaccination coverage in a generation, according to new data from the United Nations. This came despite a historic effort to develop and distribute billions of coronavirus vaccines during the pandemic.

    The new data, released late Thursday by UNICEF and the World Health Organization, showed that average global childhood coverage for vaccines developed for 11 key diseases had fallen from 71 percent in 2019 to 68 percent in 2021, marking the first time in over 30 years that the metric had fallen.

    One of the dismaying things about this pandemic is that so few of us have the courage to face the problem, squarely. That’s not new. There is surprisingly little literature on the Black Death in Europe, and most prominent American historians mostly ignored the 1918 flu epidemic in the years after it hit.

    We can, to some extent, forgive our ancestors, who had far less knowledge available. The germ theory of disease was not widely accepted until the 19th century, and we didn’t have pictures of viruses until Siemens invented the electron microscope in the 1930s.

    But now, knowing more, we should do better than they did, in coping with pandemics.

    Jim Miller (406a93)

  182. https://www.sanmarcosrecord.com/news/fbi-raids-retired-san-marcos-couples-home

    Federal agents raided the home of a retired San Marcos couple in connection with the violent protest at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

    Lora DeWolfe and Darrel Kennemer were startled when FBI agents, during the pre-dawn hours on June 22, broke through their gate leading up to their home which sits on seven acres in rural Hays County.

    DeWolfe said she thought it may have been a deer that tripped the alarm on the gate as she arose to check. What she saw was a white unmarked vehicle speeding up to their house with headlights on, but no flashing lights — and no sirens sounding.

    “I told Darrel — it’s not a deer,” DeWolfe said.

    Kennemer, concerned, sprung out of bed, grabbed his AR-15 and stepped onto the porch wearing only his briefs.

    The couple watched as several other vehicles, estimated between 20-30, poured onto the property, including one armored vehicle with a battering ram.

    FBI agents demanded Kennemer “drop his rifle” as they exited the approaching vehicle. Kennemer responded asking if officials had a warrant, and to show him.

    Agents instead began tossing a series of flashbang grenades at the 67-year-old after which Kennemer realized a group of targeting lasers on him that forced him to lay down his weapon.

    The couple was placed into handcuffs, taken away from their house, and questioned while their home was being searched.

    Kennemer said it wasn’t only members of the FBI present, but ATF and SWAT, too.

    “All present I would say upwards of 100 agents, at an astronomical cost to the taxpayer, were on site,” Kennemer said. “The warrant wasn’t even a ‘no knock’ warrant. It could have been served with a simple knock on our door during daylight hours.”

    Thanks Liz Cheney.

    NJRob (eb56c3)

  183. The Lizard is such a patriot.

    Colonel Haiku (db3e37)

  184. Continuing good news on US CO2 emissions. They have been declining, steadily, since near the end of the Bush administration. And that is in spite of our population growth and economic growth during that time. (We could have done even better, had we built more nuclear power plants, as I have urged for years. But opinion is changing on the subject, and, more and more, people are coming to agree with me.)

    Of course, our progress on reducing CO2 has been more than erased by the surges in other nations, notably China.

    Jim Miller (406a93)

  185. #188

    The artcle is interesting — and compiled completely from interviews with the two individuals. (Meaning the damning stuff about the warrant not being presented isn’t answered by the FBI). What Liz Chaney has to do with it is a mystery.

    The FBI does overkill. Shock and awe is the intent.

    Of course, someone hauling out a semi-automatic in a situation like this is…well, if I were the FBI, I would have my weapons trained on you too. They don’t know that you will not start firing on them.

    Appalled (165ad4)

  186. Yes, and CNN didn’t even get a reach around…

    Colonel Haiku (db3e37)

  187. Having just finished it, I can recommend, to most of you, Philipp Dettmer’s Immune, which describes our immensely complex immune systems. But I should give you this warning: His writing style may put some of you off, as it did me — at first.

    Here, for example, are two brief selections from his chapter on the skin:

    So your skin does everything it can to be a real hellhole. From the perspective of bacteria, it is a dry and salty desert filled with geysers that spit out toxic fluid and flush enemies away.

    But not all bacteria. We have, on the average, 10 billion bacteria on our skins, at any given time.

    And we need them!

    You can think of these bacteria as a sort of barbarian horde in front of the gates. Your body has built a huge border wall and invited barbaric tribes to settle in front of it. They get to live off the land and enjoy free resources and space as long as they respect the border.

    This is not the kind of style commonly found in books on complex scientfic subjects. But, as I worked through the book, I came to appreciate his metaphors, because they make it easier for me to remember essential points.

    Jim Miller (406a93)

  188. This reminds me Nicholson in As Good As It Gets, singing “Always look on the bright side of life”.

    You couldn’t make this up

    Last night Russian state TV ran a report on the unexpected ‘benefits’ of having your son killed in Ukraine

    You can buy a Lada with the compensation given to you by the state!

    Paul Montagu (5de684)

  189. Jim, I don’t believe the upswing in Covid cases is all that newsworthy, at least not until there’s an upswing in Covid deaths. Right now, the 7-day moving average is 251, the lowest level since over a year ago, 7/9/2021.

    Paul Montagu (5de684)

  190. @186, OH law forces a 10YO rape victim to grow and deliver a baby. Do you feel that’s a just law or acceptable public policy?

    Time123 (c9a505)

  191. Nicholson in As Good As It Gets, singing “Always look on the bright side of life”.

    Better: Life of Brian

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  192. Jim, I don’t believe the upswing in Covid cases is all that newsworthy

    It is, in this sense: It is incredibly easy for this strain to be transmitted. So, go ahead and take that plane trip or see that movie or go to that concert, but don’t say you weren’t warned.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  193. Paul – Here’s the latest data from the Washington Post. According to them, COVID deaths are averaging 308 per day, up 31 percent from a week ago. And this is the summer. (I wonder how many of those cases were caught in air-conditioned places, but haven’t looked at the data, state by state, for clues.)

    (As you may know, authorities in our area are considering restoring some mask requirements — and I have begun to wear a good one when, for example, I go into a Fred Meyer’s.)

    Jim Miller (406a93)

  194. Jim,

    I notice you’ve been quiet about the NIH admitting Fauci lied when discussing funding gain of function research overseas.

    Yet you love to talk COVID. Why is that?

    NJRob (eb56c3)

  195. After Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita threatened to go after the license of an Indiana physician who provided an abortion to a 10-year-old rape victim from Ohio, documents obtained by FOX59 through a public record request proved the physician not only filed a terminated pregnancy report but filed the report within the required timeframe.

    He threatened her with HIPAA, too. A person might naturally wonder why the digestive system acting as Indiana’s Attorney General would be so upset at a doctor for snitching out a pedo. Is Rokita a Moabite or an Ammonite name? (Jocasta’s grandchildren did not leave any progeny.)

    But she said the father was a minor, aged about 17. She was protecting the family. Saying the father was a minor probably meant there would be no serious criminal investigation, I would guess.

    How could you plausibly guess that, Sammy? How could the doctor possibly know anything more than what she was told by the child and “the family”?

    nk (a6ef70)

  196. By the way, everyone. Watch this story:

    https://www.axios.com/2022/07/15/burt-jones-fani-willis-georgia-trump-2020

    The Fulton County DA is doing things in her Trump election interference investigation that is making certain Republicans uncomfortable. (Lindsey Graham, and now the GOP candidate for Lt Governor here in Georgia) What happens next will probably tell us if anything will ever come of all the purported legal moves against the Donald and his minions. If the judiciary moves against her, the answer is likely no.

    Appalled (fa627b)

  197. Jim, data on excess deaths looks good right now.
    But last summer was good also. If we’re going to see another surge excess deaths won’t show it quickly.

    https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/covid19/excess_deaths.htm

    Hospitalizations lag by less and they look pretty good for areas I’ve sampled.

    Time123 (71ce5d)

  198. @185. You may want to put down the mirror. The “authority” you’re so spooked about is a radio, interweb and TeeVee talk show host. That’s all. An entertaining opinionator on those platforms who is only broadcasting because his program content draws a huge audience around which those savvy, smart suits at profit-driven platforms peddle advertising to generate revenue. You know- Reaganomics! No audience; no revenue: no gig.

    Perhaps you should listen to this a little more closely and recognize the audience for what it is… because the suits know who they’re marketing their product to:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGJxhMMvjYU&t=87s

    “TeeVee said that?” – Homer Simpson

    DCSCA (c3bb6b)

  199. I’m seeing the dog wagging sometime in mid to late October.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9) — 7/17/2022 @ 6:03 pm

    Israel getting the US to do its dirty work.

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  200. Planned mass shooting at arena thwarted

    A 28-year-old man distraught over a breakup with his girlfriend was arrested after police alleged he planned to shoot people leaving an event at an arena in downtown Memphis, Tennessee, according to authorities. – https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/planned-mass-shooting-at-arena-thwarted-police/ar-AAZFTNO#:~:text=Planned%20mass%20shooting%20at%20arena%20thwarted%3A%20Police%208,arena%20in%20downtown%20Memphis%2C%20Tennessee%2C%20according%20to%20authorities.

    DCSCA (c3bb6b)

  201. I love the part of the state report that notes that there were more armed cops at the school than there were defenders at the Alamo. It Texas, that’s utter damnation.

    The Texas of 1836 was Jacksonian Democrats, Sam Houston, and Davy Crockett. The Texas of 2022 is Trump Republicans, Gregg Abbott, and Pete Arredondo. Περασμενα μεγαλεια να θημασαι και να κλες.

    nk (b41288)

  202. GOP May Nominate a Pro-Secession Christian Nationalist for Maryland Attorney General

    Michael Peroutka thinks American leaders must “take a biblical worldview and apply it to civil law and government.”

    He’s a former board member of the neo-Confederate League of the South, has said he’s “still angry” that Maryland was blocked from seceding during the Civil War.

    He thinks public education is a communist plot, says laws protecting abortion and gay marriage are illegal and unenforceable because they violate God’s law, and called the concept of the separation of church and state a “great lie.”

    And on Tuesday, he may win the Republican nomination for Maryland’s attorney general.
    ……..
    …….A mid-June survey by Goucher College found Peroutka leading ( former federal prosecutor Jim) Shalleck by 17 percent to 11 percent, with more than 70 percent of Republican primary voters undecided.
    …….
    Either Republican faces an uphill battle—it’s been a century since a Republican won a race for Maryland attorney general. But mainstream Republicans worry that if Peroutka wins the GOP nomination, he could badly damage the rest of the ticket.

    “I think he probably has a better chance at building a time machine and traveling back and actually fighting in the real Civil War than becoming Maryland’s attorney general. Unfortunately for normal Maryland Republicans who are running, having someone like him on the ticket would do nobody any favors,” said Maryland Republican strategist Doug Mayer, a Shulz adviser and former Hogan aide.
    ……..

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  203. Quite correct, nk at 201. And Rokita is NWI “Region” trash (IOW, not some Little House or Father Murphy extra you see at Union Station) who sold out for statewide adulation.

    urbanleftbehind (c2ebec)

  204. frosty: “This story with the 10-year old is a situation where team pro-abortion should consider cutting its losses.”

    Time: “OH law forces a 10YO rape victim to grow and deliver a baby.”

    Yes, this is when the spin machine is at full speed. We were first told that the media had acted unprofessionally and pushed a false narrative from an unscrupulous doctor who likely made it all up. And that Biden acted irresponsibly in peddling the story. Well that all crashed down. So as to not impugn their prognostication, team spin vectored over to the illegal alien and crazy liberal mother angles to try to move the story away what the Ohio law actually caused. Then we get a re-attack on the doctor to see if she did the proper reporting. More disappointment. Then we move over to whether a 10yr rape victim would de facto qualify for a medical abortion under the law. I forget if it was Popehat or who, but that line of argument leaked gas quickly as “10yr old” isn’t a medical condition and it’s unclear what changes if the victim is say 12 years old. Abortion doctors will err on the side of not going to jail. But we now get the cherry on the top by just declaring victory and telling the opposition they need to cut their losses. As Time correctly reminds, is no-rape-exception REALLY where Ohio wants to be on the question? I’m sure some small percent of voters say “yes” but that’s sure a tough one to sell to the majority.

    AJ_Liberty (ec7f74)

  205. “smart suits at profit-driven platforms peddle advertising to generate revenue. You know- Reaganomics!”

    How is that not just…you know…capitalism? Maybe media works differently in your mother country….Stalinomics!

    AJ_Liberty (ec7f74)

  206. RIP pop artist Claes Oldenburg (93).

    Rip Murdock (c1b246)

  207. @Time123 @frosty
    @AJ_Liberty:

    As Time correctly reminds, is no-rape-exception REALLY where Ohio wants to be on the question? I’m sure some small percent of voters say “yes” but that’s sure a tough one to sell to the majority.

    AJ_Liberty (ec7f74) — 7/18/2022 @ 10:28 am

    You and Time123 is doing a bit of sleight of hand here.

    While in abstract, I do think that’s a worthy question for OH politicians and voters to address, but it has no bearing on the 10yo rape victim.

    She fell well into the “health of the mother” exception, as a 10yo is almost assuredly unable to carry the child to full term physically, but even faces enormous physiological change that a 10yo would be at severe risk to sustain.

    whembly (b770f8)

  208. I believe the Ohio Attorney General. No competent OB-GYN would testify that a full-term pregnancy would not pose severe detriment to the physical health of a ten-year old girl.

    No, don’t believe the abortionists on this. “The family” did not travel to Indiana because they could not get an abortion in Ohio. It traveled to Indiana in hopes of avoiding detection of the girl’s abuse by Ohio law enforcement.

    nk (1d9030)

  209. @214 nk, I do believe there’s something to that story.

    Did we find out if the mother was also an illegal immigrant?

    The story seems to have died down quite a bit…

    whembly (b770f8)

  210. How could you plausibly guess that, Sammy?

    I remember watching a CSI episode where they enhanced an image of a hockey game, taken from a VHS tape, and read something sticking out of the pocket of a fan in the stands.

    Sammy’s insight sometimes feels like that.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  211. @214: Indeed. For the same reason they lied about the rapist. Momma didn’t want boyfriend to go to jail.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  212. Whembly, IANAL but from my read of the OH law the 10 year old could not legally terminate her pregnancy until the danger to her health were present. The health of the mother doesn’t apply to her situation.

    From the OH law:

    Medical emergency” means a condition that in the physician’s good faith medical judgment, based upon the facts known to the physician at that time, so complicates the woman’s pregnancy as to necessitate the immediate performance or inducement of an abortion in order to prevent the death of the pregnant woman or to avoid a serious risk of the substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function of the pregnant woman that delay in the performance or inducement of the abortion would create.

    IANAL but per the law she couldn’t have terminated the pregnancy legally. Nor could the doctor legally performed one.

    So, this outcome, 10 year old rape victim has to go to another state to terminate her pregnancy, is in line with the OH law.

    Time123 (54a8a1)

  213. #217

    And sometimes it’s confirmation bias writ large. The deduction thing is fun (and many of us play at it), but if it perpetually leads you to contrarian results, you may not be as Sherlock Holmes as you think you are.

    Appalled (fa627b)

  214. @211. If you gotta ask it’s above your paygrade, corporal. Start w/t demise of the Fairness Doctrine, Agarn: Reaganomics!

    “Who says I’m dumb?!” – Corporal Randolph Agarn [Larry Storch] ‘F-Troop’ ABC TV 1965-67

    DCSCA (befc98)

  215. Time,

    I think a doctor can reasonably claim that 1) a given 10yo cannot carry a baby to term without serious risk and 2) that aborting when she did is MUCH safer than waiting another 3-4 months until the actual danger manifests.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  216. @218 Time. I’m telling you, I work in the healthcare industry.

    There’s more to this story (see nk’s last post above).

    Furthermore, no pediatrician would encourage a 10 yo (impregnated at late 9yo) would recommend a full term carry.

    The risks is simply too much on a 10yo body, to the point that even if the 10yo was encouraged to carry, BOTH of the lives would be at really serious risks. Yes, history is filled with rapes this young (and even younger!***) and had to carry the pregnancy to term. But, it killed either the mother or baby (or both) in a much, MUCH higher rate then even young mothers in their teens.

    ***ick… some people really just deserves to be woodchippered…feet first***

    I’m about as anti-abortion extremist as you can get, and even I know that there are very good clinical, practical reasons why a 10yo shouldn’t be encouraged to carry to term. Medical doctors knows this too, especially those practicing in the ER or even at places offering abortion services.

    *side bar: This just goes to show how macabre the healthcare industries can get. I’ve been involved in numerous lean-six process analysis with clinicians, administrators, attorneys, and state agencies to actually “game plan” horrid scenarios like these. This is done so that there’s no “paralysis of indecision” with situations like this because at the end of the day, the patient’s wellbeing takes supremacy.

    whembly (b770f8)

  217. Zelenskiy Ousts Ukraine’s Security Chief and Top Prosecutor

    The head of the State Security Service Ivan Bakanov, a childhood friend of Zelenskiy whose appointment in 2019 was criticized over his lack of experience, was removed from his post amid questions over how Russian forces managed to take to the southern region of Kherson. Iryna Venediktova, installed as prosecutor general in 2020, is also a long-time Zelenskiy ally, who was a lawmaker on his party list.

    Ukraine continues to identify people who “work for the enemy, who leak information to the enemy in the sixth month of the war,” Andriy Smyrnov, deputy chief of Zelenskiy’s staff, said Monday in televised comments.’ – Bloombergnews.com

    From one Z to another: “Something familiar; Something peculiar; Something for everyone: A comedy tonight!” – Pseudolus [Zero Mostel] ‘A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum’ 1966

    DCSCA (befc98)

  218. Interesting substack:
    https://damonlinker.substack.com/p/how-do-you-solve-a-problem-like-donald


    Far more likely, I fear, is the prospect of Trump responding to the political system treating him as a criminal while running for the nation’s top job by turning himself into an all-American folk-hero: an outlaw who takes a stand against the corrupt powers that be in the name of the people. This would be a presidential campaign consisting entirely of Trump railing against the courts, any electoral process that would deny him a victory, and every member of the establishment—public or private, Democrat or Republican—who doesn’t join him in lambasting federal law enforcement.

    We should be doing everything in our power to avoid such a destructive scenario.

    How do you avoid that scenario?

    Could we get behind someone like DeSantis or Youngkin to convince Trump not to run?

    whembly (b770f8)

  219. possibly because if she did more then mothers if pregnant 10 year old girls might be reluctant to seek medical treatment

    Kevin M (eeb9e9) — 7/17/2022 @ 4:10 pm

    That’s funny. A joke, right? Mom was concerned about other people? Sure. I have this bridge….

    There’s a typo there, and it comes out sounding a bit garbled. Just one letter is wrong,

    It should be:

    possibly because if she did more then mothers o pregnant 10 year old girls might be reluctant to seek medical treatment

    There should also be a comma after the word “more”

    It should have read:

    The abortion doctor in Indiana tried to protect him, by saying the father was about 17 because the mother didn’t want to press charges (possibly because if she [the abortion doctor in Indiana] did more [than strictly legally required – and she’s not required to be accurate about the age of the man who impregnated the 9 or 10 year old girl] then mothers of pregnant 10 year old girls might be reluctant to seek medical treatment)

    Kevin M: It’s going to come out that the little girl’s mother was in a relationship with the rapist, and may even have know about what he was doing with daughter. When she ended up pregnant, it couldn’t be hidden, although one has to ask why it took so long to get her to the doctor.

    I think the whole idea of going to Indiana was partially so that the identity of the rapist, or even maybe the fact of the pregnancy, was so to keep the facts hidden. Ohio law didn’t really prohibit an abortion in such a case – or at least it is not clear that it was being interpreted – we’re told it was because the girl was just past six weeks pregnant.

    Sammy Finkelman (b7dc9b)

  220. Try 3:

    possibly because if she did more, then mothers of pregnant 10 year old girls might be reluctant to seek medical treatment

    The abortion doctor was not going to do anything that could cause another mother who heard of this to delay the abortion.

    Sammy Finkelman (b7dc9b)

  221. An interesting thing that adam Schiff said the other day: Something worse than Trump running fir president and winning would be Trump running for president and losing.

    Sammy Finkelman (b7dc9b)

  222. Whembly, I appreciate your expertise in this area and I agree with you about the inevitable outcomes. But I don’t think the law in OH is written to support this common sense decision that you and I agree on.

    It seems written to prevent abortion until there’s no other possibility. A pregnancy that will eventually kill the 10 year old isn’t a medical emergency until death or irreversible harm is imminent. But this is where I’d really appreciate a legal opinion.

    You work in the industry. In your opinion what do you think a care provider is going to do in this situation? Take the risk and treat the patient or dodge the risk and send them across state lines?

    Time123 (54a8a1)

  223. @224, I could back Youngkin pretty easily. Desantis is a much tougher sell.

    Time123 (54a8a1)

  224. whembly, I don’t disagree that the abortion should be allowed for a 10yr old…it’s just that the exemption will be at the discretion of the prosecutor. It’s not codified….and the principle then becomes a little sketchy. What if it’s a 12yr old? It would seem that the facts of the case ought to rule. There have been 10yr olds that have given birth (the number is small but not zero). It is undoubtedly risky. Does the law guide the prosecutor in how to make that decision? What are the thresholds? The law states the harm must be substantial AND irreversible. Would any sane abortion provider risk that ambiguity and criminal liability and do the abortion? Remember, that decision would have had to come before all of this public reassurance that a provider would not be prosecuted. If everyone agrees with this, then put it into the law so people don’t have to guess…otherwise ambiguity leads to this result.

    AJ_Liberty (ec7f74)

  225. @229

    You work in the industry. In your opinion what do you think a care provider is going to do in this situation? Take the risk and treat the patient or dodge the risk and send them across state lines?

    Time123 (54a8a1) — 7/18/2022 @ 11:53 am

    In all the institutions that I worked for, spanning multiple states: I have a hard time believing the provider WOULDN’T recommend the 10yo to abort, as it’s not even a risk. It’s easily defensible, even under OH current law.

    Furthermore, encouraging a patient to “go somewhere else” due to legal considerations (ie, avoiding disclosure laws) or because of financial reasons, would break numerous state AND federal laws.

    So, I’m tell you this: As nk alluding to earlier, there’s waaaaay more to this story than it appears and I wish folks on both sides of the abortion debate would stop trying to use this child as a political football.

    whembly (b770f8)

  226. @230: Wouldn’t you support DeSantis, in lieu of Trump running?

    It’s okay to play “prevent defense” here. 😉

    whembly (b770f8)

  227. @223, If they’re the only 2 in the primary I’d vote for Desantis for sure. But that’s that just voting against Trump. It’s not voting for DeSantis.

    In a DeSantis / Biden showdown the option of leaving that bubble blank becomes a possibility.

    Time123 (54a8a1)

  228. Whembly, thank you for the POV on how the case would function within the medical industry. It will be interesting to see what develops further.

    Time123 (54a8a1)

  229. @231 AJ_Liberty: These kinds of laws, which is especially prevalent in Healthcare, is not unusual. They’re purposely broad.

    I’m curious what Patterico would say, as this is more in his wheelhouse, but from my perspective in my industry at least, so long as there’s a colorable reason that the provider’s discretion meets the definition of the law, prosecutors would be reluctant to take that providers to court (really, the hospital’s own legal team) because the prosecution would have to argue that they know the clinical situation better than the provider.

    whembly (b770f8)

  230. #225

    Y’know another possibility?

    Simple ignorance of the law in Ohio. The Mother had heard that no way, no how would the child receive an abortion in Ohio and she took off to Indiana before doing any more research.

    And another possibility?

    The mother did not want to ask around in Ohio because she did not want to go whateve draconian process is imposed by Ohio.

    And another possibility?

    She did not want her daughter put through whatever questions she imagined Ohio might ask. (That would include your suggestion of the underaged boyfriend, but could include others)

    Appalled (fa627b)

  231. A clever plan to foil a 2024 coup attempt quietly advances

    ……..(A) bipartisan group of senators is close to agreement on a separate, crucial way to protect our democracy: reforming the Electoral Count Act (ECA) of 1887.

    That arcane law governs how Congress counts presidential electors. If senators resolve last-minute differences, a stolen 2024 election might become substantially less likely.

    A serious threat to our democracy is this scenario: A state legislature appoints a slate of presidential electors in defiance of the state’s popular vote, and one chamber of Congress, controlled by the same party, counts those electors. Under current law, those electors would stand, potentially tipping a close election.
    ……..
    This week, the senators are expected to reach a deal on ECA reform. Trump revealed the ECA’s vulnerabilities by pressuring his vice president and congressional Republicans to invalidate electors appointed for Joe Biden in several states, as part of a plot to get them to appoint new electors for Trump.

    And so, ECA reform’s highest-profile elements would address those vulnerabilities. This would include clarifying the vice president’s role as purely ceremonial, expressly stating that the position has no power to invalidate electors or delay their count.

    It would also include raising the threshold for Congress to object to a slate of electors. Right now, only one member from both the House and Senate can force a vote on whether to cast out electors. The reform would require one-fifth of each chamber to force that vote.
    ……..
    ……(I)magine if a state legislature, with the backing of the governor, claims widespread-but-fictional election fraud as a pretext to violate that previously established process — and to appoint electors for the candidate who lost the popular vote.

    If one chamber of Congress — say, the House of Representatives controlled by the same party those state actors and that candidate belong to — counts those electors, they’d become valid.

    That’s even if the Senate objects to those electors. Under the current ECA, both chambers must object to electors to invalidate them. If one objects and the other counts them, they stand.
    ………
    ……..According to two sources familiar with the talks, here are some of these solutions, though they’re in flux or could drop out entirely:

    Presidential electors must be appointed by the manner the state’s laws dictated before Election Day. This would prevent a state legislature and governor from appointing sham electors after the voting.

    If a state appoints a slate of electors before a deadline — the sixth day before the presidential electors meet — it overrides any electors appointed after that deadline. This would also avert post-vote shenanigans.

    The governor of each state must certify the electors before that deadline. If a governor violates this duty, the aggrieved candidate can appeal to a three-judge panel of two circuit court judges and one district court judge.

    The slate of electors deemed the legitimate one by the federal courts is conclusive.

    Congress must count the slate of electors deemed the legitimate one by this revised process for states. This means if the federal courts deem one set of electors operative, Congress must count them, and must not count other electors, even ones certified by a state legislature or governor.

    If an election is disrupted by a disastrous event, the state legislature cannot simply appoint electors. It can only extend the voting period. This averts another scenario — a legislature finds a pretext to declare the voters failed to reach a decision, and appoints electors itself — which the current ECA might allow.

    ……….

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  232. AJ_Liberty (ec7f74) — 7/18/2022 @ 10:28 am

    If you were rooting for the rape story to be true because it validated your worldview you might want to take a step back and reflect.

    As Time correctly reminds, is no-rape-exception REALLY where Ohio wants to be on the question? I’m sure some small percent of voters say “yes” but that’s sure a tough one to sell to the majority.

    As has been pointed out this is a sleight of hand but for an additional reason. The shift from 10 yo rape victim to to the more broadly defined no-rape-exception wasn’t exactly subtle. It’s been the underlying motivation that drove the story from the beginning. That’s why we see you shifting the age and moving the goalposts and just asking questions.

    If you’re using the rape of a 10 yo girl to expand the scope of the argument and drive your agenda you should probably do more than take time to reflect.

    frosty (aab7fb)

  233. @Sammy A 10 yr old being raped (or even just molested) by a 17 yr old is still considered very serious CSA, a fact that the doctor would’ve known, so there wouldn’t have been any reason for the doc to list him as 17 instead of 27 unless that was the info the mother gave her. (message brought to you by a mandated reporter 😛 )

    Nic (896fdf)

  234. Appalled (fa627b) — 7/18/2022 @ 12:26 pm

    i think it works out better for this woman if she’s actually not the mother

    but, you assume she is — for some reason

    she might very well be, who knows

    i just don’t like to assume the worst in people

    JF (d9d793)

  235. @240, And your answer to the question I asked is?

    Time123 (54a8a1)

  236. our laws are failing to adapt to the most crazy scenarios our border lawlessness can throw at us

    look inward, people

    JF (d9d793)

  237. Obi-Thom-De-Jefferson scolds Daughter Darth:

    “I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical. Unsuccessful rebellions indeed generally establish the encroachments on the rights of the people which have produced them. An observation of this truth should render honest republican governors so mild in their punishment of rebellions, as not to discourage them too much. It is a medecine necessary for the sound health of government.” ― Thomas Jefferson, Letters of Thomas Jefferson

    DCSCA (befc98)

  238. If you were rooting for the rape story to be true because it validated your worldview you might want to take a step back and reflect.

    bingo, frosty

    JF (d9d793)

  239. Appalled (fa627b) — 7/18/2022 @ 12:26 pm

    Here is the original story:

    On Monday three days after the Supreme Court issued its groundbreaking decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, Dr. Caitlin Bernard, an Indianapolis obstetrician-gynecologist, took a call from a colleague, a child abuse doctor in Ohio.

    Hours after the Supreme Court action, the Buckeye state had outlawed any abortion after six weeks. Now this doctor had a 10-year-old patient in the office who was six weeks and three days pregnant

    So

    Simple ignorance of the law in Ohio. The Mother had heard that no way, no how would the child receive an abortion in Ohio and she took off to Indiana before doing any more research.

    Maybe but she was already talking to a doctor in OH.

    The mother did not want to ask around in Ohio because she did not want to go whateve draconian process is imposed by Ohio.

    The mother was already asking around OH. Or at least questions were being asked in OH by someone.

    She did not want her daughter put through whatever questions she imagined Ohio might ask. (That would include your suggestion of the underaged boyfriend, but could include others)

    Same.

    One of the many unfortunate aspects of this case is the degree to which pro-abortion advocates want to simply ignore the rapist. I’m still convinced that the only reason the guy was arrested was because the story blew open. This last comment possibly seems to imply that it’s a good thing IL asks fewer questions of rape victims.

    frosty (aab7fb)

  240. Hi JF,

    When I used “Mother”, I am referring to the parent of the 10-yr old, who I figure is not the decisionmaker here.

    Appalled (fa627b)

  241. @240, And your answer to the question I asked is?

    Time123 (54a8a1) — 7/18/2022 @ 12:46 pm

    Can you be more specific?

    frosty (aab7fb)

  242. OH law forces a 10YO rape victim to grow and deliver a baby. (Exception for medical emergency requires imminent death or harm) Do you feel that’s a just law or acceptable public policy?

    Time123 (36726a)

  243. #245

    What do you think, DCSCA. Think we need some armed rebellion? Or you afrad that might disrupt our comfortable lives?

    Appalled (c291bf)

  244. @251. Your Royalist Redcoat is showing; never met an American yet who wasn’t rebellious.

    DCSCA (437fca)

  245. Armed rebellion, turning people into hamburger. Getting pretty violent here. Usually I am the one accused of advocating violence here! I said this would be dred scott II.

    asset (e69b2c)

  246. #251

    Well, I do like tea and my mother in law was UK (never got US citizenship, either).

    But the key word is “armed” and you never answered the question.

    Appalled (c291bf)

  247. At one time, it was common for politicians who opposed abortion generally to allow for three exceptions: incest, rape, and the life of the mother. With the hardening of attitudes among both pro-life and pro-abortion activists, support for those three exceptions seems to have diminished. (I don’t know if there are any recent polls on the subject, but I would not be surprised to learn they still have the support of a large majority of voters.)

    Jim Miller (406a93)

  248. Um — make that #252…

    Appalled (c291bf)

  249. Here is where it is reported that te Indiana abortion doctor Dr. Caitlin Bernard, said the abuser was 17:

    https://www.indystar.com/story/news/health/2022/07/14/ohio-abortion-10-year-old-indiana-todd-rokita-dr-caitlin-bernard/65373626007

    The Indiana physician who provided abortion services to a 10-year-old Ohio girl who was raped disclosed the abortion in a form filed with the Indiana Department of Health and the Department of Child Services, according to documents obtained by IndyStar through a public records request….

    ….Indiana law requires health care providers to report abortions they perform to the Indiana Department of Health, including whether the patient indicated they were seeking an abortion as a result of being abused, coerced, harassed or trafficked. Failure to do so is a misdemeanor.,,

    ….Bernard filed the required abortion disclosure, known as a “terminated pregnancy” form, on July 2, two days after she performed the girl’s abortion, according to a copy of the form IndyStar received Thursday from the state health department. State law requires the forms to be filed within three days for patients under age 16.

    The form shows Bernard indicated the girl was seeking an abortion as a result of being abused.

    Kathleen Delaney, an attorney for Bernard, said in a statement that her client “took every appropriate and proper action in accordance with the law and both her medical and ethical training as a physician.”

    “She followed all relevant policies, procedures, and regulations in this case, just as she does every day to provide the best possible care for her patients,” Delaney said. “She has not violated any law, including patient privacy laws, and she has not been disciplined by her employer. We are considering legal action against those who have smeared my client, including Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita, and know that the facts will all come out in due time.”

    The form Bernard filed with the state shows the girl was 6 weeks pregnant at the time of her abortion.

    The form indicates the doctor did not know the age of the “father.” In such cases, doctors are required to enter an “approximate age,” according to a person familiar with the electronic filing system. Bernard entered “17.”

    IndyStar obtained copies of all pregnancy termination forms submitted to the state health department from June 24, the day of the U.S. Supreme Court decision, to July 11, 2022. The 10-year-old victim is among seven patients younger than 18 who received abortion care in Indiana during the time period. She’s also the youngest to receive care, and the only juvenile whose abortion was listed as the result of abuse, according to the documents.

    All told, Indiana doctors reported performing 144 abortions in the time period. That doesn’t necessarily capture all of the abortions performed during that time period, because the state gives doctors 30 days to submit the forms when the patient is 16 or older.

    Sammy Finkelman (1d215a)

  250. @253. You’ll notice Obi-Thom-de-Jefferson didn’t quill ‘armed’ rebellion; Appalled did. Such is the mindset of Royalist Redcoats with the drawn bridge raised, cowering in the castle. 😉

    DCSCA (437fca)

  251. @254. Except it was.

    The Force is weak with this one, eh Daughter Darth? 😉

    DCSCA (437fca)

  252. “If you were rooting for the rape story to be true because it validated your worldview you might want to take a step back and reflect.”

    Hey, I was more than comfortable in waiting for the facts of the story to come out. My world view isn’t so brittle that I have to always assume my political opponents are villains. You and JF assumed the story was false…and were celebrating when the fact checkers were unsure. In the end, you were wrong….and the journalists were correct. Some people would just admit they were wrong and move on….others need to keep rationalizing….

    AJ_Liberty (ec7f74)

  253. You’ll notice Obi-Thom-de-Jefferson didn’t quill ‘armed’ rebellion……

    Then what’s the point?

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  254. #258

    This is also from Jefferson:

    “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.”

    Both quote come from the time of Shays’ Rebellion, which most definitely was armed.

    So, DCSCA, are you adopting Jefferson’s platform as your own?

    Appalled (c291bf)

  255. OH law forces a 10YO rape victim to grow and deliver a baby. (Exception for medical emergency requires imminent death or harm) Do you feel that’s a just law or acceptable public policy?

    Time123 (36726a) — 7/18/2022 @ 1:10 pm

    I’ve already said that I don’t believe that’s what the law requires. But you shouldn’t be surprised that you can find legal analysis on both sides of an issue. Here’s an example:

    That doesn’t clarify how the 10-year-old would have qualified for an abortion under this exception, so we spoke with Professor of Law and Bioethics Sharona Hoffman from Case Western Reserve University to try and sort this out. She said it’s not clear.

    “The language here is ‘medical emergency’, which would suggest that the person does not have time to go to another state,” Hoffman said.

    There are concerns about how doctors will be able to treat their patients under this law. Since much of the medical emergency exception is left up to a doctor’s discretion, there’s a gray area. Doctors could face a fifth-degree felony charge if someone questions their decision down the line, putting them in a tough spot.

    “They have to engage in a calculus,” Hoffman said. “They have to balance the patient’s best interests against their own best interest and think about whether doing a procedure will result in a risk of prosecution for themselves. And that is very dangerous.”

    Emphasis mine.

    This is the sort of legal analysis the pro-abortion crowd loves. But let’s think about it for a minute. I think OH law says something about a physician’s good faith medical judgment several places and I thought I saw a reasonableness standard in there somewhere. The person in this article, and you, would have everyone believe that this creates a legal gray area. Yes, it’s the same legal gray area doctors operate in everyday. Someone presents with one condition you give them a drug and they die. Was there something you didn’t know? Did you make the correctr decision? Did you make it in time? Was that malpractice? Negligence? There are always concerns about how doctors comply with the law. But they’ll need a lot more than someone just asking questions down the line before they’re really facing a fifth-degree felony. The article, and the Professor probably, are also playing a bit of a trick with fifth-degree felony since most people probably think that’s even worse than one of those first-degree felonies (spoiler alert: it isn’t).

    So sure, push the FUD. Obviously, everything is just so unclear and vague, at least to the pro-abortion crowd, that we need to get rid of all of these pesky limitations and restrictions.

    An irony buried in this situation is that somehow the pro-abortion crowd is simply unable to see the natural and continuous sequence from fertilized egg to, what they describe as, a person but is completely able to imagine how a female who is physically unable to carry a baby to term because of the imminent, and very real, risk doesn’t have a medical emergency. In both cases they imagine a discontinuity that they can’t locate but they’re certain exists. The 10yo had a medical emergency. She simply had more time to deal with it than a person having a heart attack.

    frosty (aab7fb)

  256. Hi Sammy,

    OK, I see where you got “age 17” from. Consider that subject closed.

    Appalled (c291bf)

  257. The point is girl is 10 years old. The other stuff is just excuses. Their will soon be others. The border issue will be hard for democrat party to overcome however as the left is using it as a cudgel over the democrat establishment.

    asset (e69b2c)

  258. @262. =yawn= whined the Royalist Redcoat…

    “I do not know whether it is to yourself or Mr. Adams I am to give my thanks for the copy of the new constitution. I beg leave through you to place them where due. It will be yet three weeks before I shall receive them from America. There are very good articles in it: and very bad. I do not know which preponderate. What we have lately read in the history of Holland, in the chapter on the Stadtholder, would have sufficed to set me against a Chief magistrate eligible for a long duration, if I had ever been disposed towards one: and what we have always read of the elections of Polish kings should have forever excluded the idea of one continuable for life. Wonderful is the effect of impudent and persevering lying. The British ministry have so long hired their gazetteers to repeat and model into every form lies about our being in anarchy, that the world has at length believed them, the English nation has believed them, the ministers themselves have come to believe them, and what is more wonderful, we have believed them ourselves. Yet where does this anarchy exist? Where did it ever exist, except in the single instance of Massachusets? And can history produce an instance of a rebellion so honourably conducted? I say nothing of it’s motives. They were founded in ignorance, not wickedness. God forbid we should ever be 20. years without such a rebellion.1 The people can not be all, and always, well informed. The part which is wrong will be discontented in proportion to the importance of the facts they misconceive. If they remain quiet under such misconceptions it is a lethargy, the forerunner of death to the public liberty. We have had 13. states independant 11. years. There has been one rebellion. That comes to one rebellion in a century and a half for each state. What country before ever existed a century and half without a rebellion? And what country can preserve it’s liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is it’s natural manure. Our Convention has been too much impressed by the insurrection of Massachusets: and in the spur of the moment they are setting up a kite to keep the hen yard in order. I hope in god this article will be rectified before the new constitution is accepted.’ – Thomas Jefferson

    https://www.monticello.org/site/research-and-collections/tree-liberty-quotation

    The question is, are you denying the quiller of wisdom behind The Sacred Scrolls? The Founding Fathers were Gods, you know– even on the second try. 😉

    DCSCA (437fca)

  259. @261. Let’s ask Ashli Babbitt.

    DCSCA (437fca)

  260. Given DCSCA’s standard that those who support Ukraine should sign up and fight, can we expect him to lead the rebellion?

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  261. @268. Only fools support corrupt Ukraine– and Congress is loaded with them. T’is not an American fight to finance. But feel free to volunteer, Rip; camo-up and join the turf war. Moran is always recruiting fresh gangsters for cannon fodder to battle Capone. Some top mob job openings there now, too. Be a Z Buddy- get a gig. Just remember the Ukrainian government, one of the most corrupt in Europe aside from Russia- has mandated that men aged 18 to 60 are not allowed to leave the country. You know– “democracy.”

    DCSCA (437fca)

  262. @261. Let’s ask Ashli Babbitt.

    DCSCA (437fca) — 7/18/2022 @ 1:58 pm

    Non-sequitur. How does an unarmed rebellion succeed, as Jefferson’s quote was about the definitely armed Shay’s Rebellion?

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  263. Frosty, Not entirely clear if you’re saying “Yes public policy should allow her to terminate her pregnancy” or not.

    Also, i posted how this law defines a medical emergency and unless I’m reading it incorrectly the child in question wasn’t there yet.

    Time123 (54a8a1)

  264. @269-

    Another non-sequitur. Unwilling to “camo up” and lead the rebellion here?

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  265. #266

    So DCSCA is a believer in unarmed rebellion and believes Jefferson was as well (because didn’t he lay that all out in casual correspondence with his friend Madison) and faults Liz Chaney for being upset that armed people came into the capitol and why isn’t she in accord with Jefferson’s belief in the periodic unarmed rebellion?

    Taking DCSCA seriously is often the short pathway to a long migraine.

    Appalled (c291bf)

  266. @270. Except it’s not. Ask Ashli Babbitt; the Redcoated Royalists were certainly armed. But then, as Ob-Thom-de-Jefferson noted, ‘What signify a few lives lost in a century or two?’… and we know he was a Foundiung Father; a God. Might wanna as MLK about rebellions– or your grandma who burned a bra or two as well.

    DCSCA (437fca)

  267. #266

    Jefferson is the author of the Declaration of Independence which, courtesy of Lincoln, the Reconstruction Amendments, and Supreme Court usage, is the mainspring of so many of our liberties.

    He also was comfortable owning slaves and using them for his, um, comfort. He also said stupid stuff. Neither Liz Chaney and I have to agree with stupid stuff. Since you keep coming back to this quote, though, I fugure that you do. Since you sometimes like the passive agressive path to enlightenment, it’s a little hard to tell whether you own this statement(with qualifications), or figure smebody else has to.

    Appalled (c291bf)

  268. @273. Try more mustard on that pretzel, Dr. Zaius–and review your Sacred Scrolls:

    ‘Beware the beast Man, for he is the Devil’s pawn. Alone among God’s primates, he kills for sport or lust or greed. Yea, he will murder his brother to possess his brother’s land. Let him not breed in great numbers, for he will make a desert of his home and yours. Shun him; drive him back into his jungle lair, for he is the harbinger of death.’

    DCSCA (437fca)

  269. Appalled, have you ever known DCSCA to concede a point?

    norcal (da5491)

  270. @275. “He [Thomas Jefferson] also said stupid stuff.”

    ROFLMAOPIP! Heresy, Dr. Zaius!

    But then, that happens in the ‘course of human events.’ 😉

    DCSCA (437fca)

  271. #277

    No. But he makes an awesome pretzel sometimes refusing to do so.

    Appalled (c291bf)

  272. Neither Liz Chaney and I have to agree with stupid stuff.

    Your Redcoats are showing; neither you nor Liz Cheney quilled the Declaration of Independence, either.

    DCSCA (437fca)

  273. #280

    Nope — that was Joe Biden for his 5th grade class in rhetoric.

    Appalled (c291bf)

  274. @272. Rebellion? Wholly support bra burning and by all means serve Brett caviar at the bar so he’s closer to the Heineken on tap.

    DCSCA (437fca)

  275. Time123 (54a8a1) — 7/18/2022 @ 2:10 pm

    Frosty, Not entirely clear if you’re saying “Yes public policy should allow her to terminate her pregnancy” or not.

    I think I answered this question but you’ve misstated the law. I think it’s important to deal with that first. The law and public policy in OH allows for the abortion in this case. Do you agree with that or no?

    Also, i posted how this law defines a medical emergency and unless I’m reading it incorrectly the child in question wasn’t there yet.

    You didn’t have anything about that in @250. I looked at your other posts but I don’t understand what you are trying to say in the emphasized section above.

    frosty (aab7fb)

  276. Indiana’s law was more liberal than Ohio’s, even though Indiana is amore conservative state, because Indiana did not have a trigger law nor a test case law passed to give the Supreme Court a chance to overturn challenge Roe, but it’s expected to severely restrict abortion in a special legislative session scheduled to start on July 25.

    Partial timeline from previous article and this one:

    https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/crime/2022/07/18/10-year-old-abortion-ohio-girl-indiana-gerson-fuentes/10068034002

    (Also another source)

    Wednesday, June 22: Police in Ohio made aware of the rape through a referral by Franklin County Children Services “that was made by her mother.” I suppose that means a report by her mother about the pregnancy. Children Services workers are mandated reporters. Mother probably said male was unknown.

    Friday June 24: Roe overruled. Trigger Ohio law prohibiting (most) abortions when fetal heart activity is detected goes into effect.

    Monday June 27: Dr. Bernard contacted by doctor in Ohio, who probably did not want any legal questions raised about it.

    Wednesday, June 29: Girl travels to Indianapolis, Indiana, and has a consultation. I don’t know what the old Indiana law requires, but Dr. Bernard also probably wants to obtain (verbal) consent from the girl even though it may not be legally required.

    Thursday, June 30: Abortion is performed, probably medication abortion, which may take a day or two to be complete.

    Friday July 1: Story that included this case published in Indianapolis Star.

    https://www.indystar.com/story/news/health/2022/07/01/indiana-abortion-law-roe-v-wade-overturned-travel/7779936001 (Note: Story was updated July 8)

    Saturday July 2: Bernard files the required “terminated pregnancy form” with the Indiana Department of Health and the Department of Children Services. Police obtain genetic material from the Indianapolis clinic the same day.

    (Yes, she apparently goes to the newspapers first.)

    While under Ohio public records law, police reports generated from a mandatory reporter and involving accusations of child abuse may not be released until the case is finished, this does not apply to some other kind of records in Indiana.

    Wednesday July 6: 10-year old girl gets interviewed by Ohio detectives and identifies 27-year old Gerson Fuentes as the man who impregnated her.

    Friday July 8: President Biden talks about it, saying it was reported “just last week” that “a 10-year-old girl was a rape victim….and she was forced to have to travel out of the state to Indiana to seek to terminate the pregnancy and maybe save her life.”

    Tuesday July 12: Search warrant requiring Fuentes to supply DNA is served on Fuentes. (supplying physical material does not violate the 5th amendment rule against self-incrimination. That applies only to verbal testimony. It’s not being forced to a witness)

    Fuentes is also interviewed at that time. Fuentes acknowledges vaginal contact with the girl on at least two occasions (probably thinking he is not admitting the key point) and is arrested (because that’s enough to violate the law.)

    Presumably he was not given a Miranda warning because the results of the test had not come back so they weren’t yet prepared to arrest him unless he confessed to a crime.

    Meanwhile, skepticism grows and the Wall Street Journal publishes an editorial questioning the whole thing:

    https://www.wsj.com/articles/an-abortion-story-too-good-to-confirm-joe-biden-ten-year-old-girl-indiana-ohio-caitlin-bernard-11657648618

    All kinds of fanciful tales travel far on social media these days, but you don’t expect them to get a hearing at the White House. That’s nonetheless what seems to have happened Friday as President Biden signed an executive order on abortion.

    …. Mr. Biden repeated a tale making the rounds on social media in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to overrule Roe v. Wade. He said a 10-year-old girl he didn’t identify by name was forced to travel from Ohio to Indiana to have an abortion because Ohio now prohibits abortion after a fetal heartbeat is discovered. The girl had been raped, he said, and Ohio law now includes no abortion exceptions in cases of rape or incest…

    Wednesday July 13: The Columbus Dispatch reports that a Columbus, Ohio, man named Fuentes has been charged with the rape of a 10-year-old Ohio girl who traveled to Indiana for an abortion.

    Wall Street Journal publishes a editorial correcting what the previous day’s editorial said.

    Thursday July 14: IndyStar receives copy of the “terminated pregnancy” form Dr. Bernard filed in Indiana stating the “approximate age” of the father was 17.

    Sammy Finkelman (1d215a)

  277. I actually got age 17 from a third hand source — I think I was taking a little risk that it wouldn’t be backed up, so I searched for it.. It hadn’t been contradicted though.

    Sammy Finkelman (1d215a)

  278. The next January 6 hearing will be on Thursday night at 8 pm ZEDT and will focus on 187 minutes (till Trump finally made a public call for the rioters to leave the Capitol) That was not actually the end, and they had started leaving before-were being pushed out..

    There may be another one or two in September in conjunction with an interim report. Probably more a presentation than a hearing.

    And of course another hearing is always possible if they encounter a witness they want to put on.

    Sammy Finkelman (1d215a)

  279. “Jim,

    I notice you’ve been quiet about the NIH admitting Fauci lied when discussing funding gain of function research overseas.

    Yet you love to talk COVID. Why is that?”

    ======================

    That is so dry I had to visit the fridge for a frosty Spindrift Grapefruit water. Damn funny!

    Colonel Haiku (74e76e)

  280. That is so dry I had to visit the fridge for a frosty Spindrift Grapefruit water. Damn funny!

    Colonel Haiku (74e76e) — 7/18/2022 @ 3:01 pm

    Have you tried Spindrift iced tea with lemon flavor? It beats the others I’ve tried.

    Hear me now and thank me later.

    norcal (da5491)

  281. “Only fools support corrupt Ukraine”

    Good to hear from Vlad

    AJ_Liberty (ec7f74)

  282. Federal prosecutors drop charges against Colbert team members arrested at Capitol

    Federal prosecutors have declined to prosecute members of a production team associated with Stephen Colbert’s late-night comedy show who were arrested last month on Capitol Hill.

    A production team involved with The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, which airs on CBS, had been charged with unlawful entry had a court date set for next month after being arrested by Capitol Police while filming segments for cigar-smoking puppet Triumph the Insult Comic Dog handled by comedian Robert Smigel.

    https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/federal-prosecutors-drop-charges-colbert-team-members-arrested-capitol

    Ashli Babbitt remains unavailable for comment.

    DCSCA (03aa96)

  283. Ukraine has stopped Russian advances, at least for now:

    The Russian Ministry of Defense notably did not claim any new territorial gains on July 17. ISW continues to forecast that the end of the operational pause will be characterized by a fluctuating and staggered resumption of ground offensives.

    (Emphasis added.)

    It is too early to start planning victory parades, or preparing for Putin’s trial, but with the continuing inflow of new weapons — which have proved superior to Putin’s — we have reason to hope that, within months, Putin may be clearly defeated, something every decent person would celebrate.

    There is more and more evidence that Putin is running short of men, too, as this strange story illustrates:

    A report that was broadcast on Russian state television Sunday highlighted how a Russian couple was able to buy “a nice new car” using money they received after their son was killed in the Ukraine war.

    According to the article: “Last month, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree that would provide a payment of $81,500, equivalent to 5 million Russian rubles, to the families of members of Russia’s National Guard who died in Ukraine or Syria, Reuters reported.”

    Ukraine claims tha the Russian death toll has “reached about 38,450”. (Generally, total casualties are several times higher than deaths.)

    Jim Miller (406a93)

  284. Sorry, I like some sweetener. Try Honest Tea & Lemonade.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  285. Hard to gain territory when the highest ranking surviving officer is a Lieutenant.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  286. @290. Only fools, Agarn:

    “Putin knows if I am president of the United States, his days of tyranny and trying to intimidate the United States and those in Eastern Europe are over.” – Squinty McStumblebum, 2019

    =mike-drop=

    DCSCA (03aa96)

  287. #194 Paul – I see you commented about that car-for-Russian-soldier-death story before I did. I hadn’t noticed that, when I wrote my comment. My apologies for not linking to your comment.

    Jim Miller (406a93)

  288. Sorry, I like some sweetener. Try Honest Tea & Lemonade.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9) — 7/18/2022 @ 3:37 pm

    Yes, but if Haiku is drinking Spindrift Grapefruit then he’s not exactly into sweet beverages.

    norcal (da5491)

  289. Hey, I was more than comfortable in waiting for the facts of the story to come out.
    AJ_Liberty (ec7f74) — 7/18/2022 @ 1:39 pm

    have the facts of the story come out?

    why don’t you outline what happened then, for everyone’s benefit, from wherever you think the story started until it ended

    JF assumed the story was false…

    nope

    …and were celebrating when the fact checkers were unsure

    i was celebrating that fact checkers were dragged kicking and screaming into fact checking it

    what does it tell you that a week later they couldn’t confirm it?

    JF (e2952a)

  290. Sigh.

    I see two types of conversation that are virtual constants.

    1) Talking past each other

    2) Motte and bailey

    At some point, one gets a sense of those who engage in good faith, and those who have egos so big they just bob and weave.

    norcal (da5491)

  291. I see two types of conversation that are virtual constants.

    There are some who are simply asserters, often with some ideology tinting their facts.

    There are some who are simply asserters, but their facts come from a Ouija board and/or a canned statement generator.

    There are those that flood the discussion with cherry-picked facts to further there ideological beliefs. At times, they will admit that the thing they forwarded is flawed.

    There are some who attempt to argue based on ideology, but will admit that some fact or idea that doesn’t favor their ideology is true, however grudgingly.

    There are those who actually seek answers to questions, are not wedded to any strict ideology, and will promptly admit when they are wrong. But they don’t come here.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  292. I had the Arizona Ice Tea Arnold Palmer 1/2 and 1/2 yesterday. DCSCA would like it, it’s inspiration being a near-Yinz from Latrobe PA.

    urbanleftbehind (543008)

  293. I’m an iced tea, junkie, ULB. (For a long time, it felt like something decadent, due to my Mormon upbringing.) I brew it fresh. Sometimes I add sugar and lemon, and other times I drink it straight. It has to be really good to drink it straight, however.

    The best I ever had was at a diner in Alhambra, CA. I went to the company that supplied the diner its tea and coffee, and bought a large amount of tea. To my chagrin, it did not taste like the stuff I had at the diner. Now the diner is closed, and it feels like I’m on a forever quest for that special glass of tea.

    Tejava, a bottled, unsweetened tea sold in grocery stores, is good, but it’s gone through the bottling process. I suspect the health benefits of freshly brewed tea are superior.

    norcal (da5491)

  294. @301.Pittsburgher by birth; Latrobe just up the road. An Arnold Palmer is a sweet summer treat. BTW, Arnie had lines to the Rolling Rock brewery run into his place back in the day. Them little green bottles of heaven are a fine brew indeed.

    DCSCA (f4c5e5)

  295. Tejava, a bottled, unsweetened tea sold in grocery stores, is good, but it’s gone through the bottling process.

    My GF and love the original Tejava. We buy it by the case.

    Rip Murdock (c1b246)

  296. My GF and I….

    Rip Murdock (c1b246)

  297. At Least 120 Republican Nominees Deny The Results Of The 2020 Election
    ………
    How did we arrive at that number?

    Categorizing candidates’ stances on the legitimacy of the 2020 election is not a straightforward exercise. Sure, some Republicans openly state the race was stolen, while others (a much smaller number) have unambiguously accepted the legitimacy of President Biden’s victory. But many have tried to walk a fine line between the two — for example, by accepting the results but still expressing concern about mass voter fraud, or by winking at the idea that the election was stolen without saying so outright. So we’ve ended up putting candidates into one of six categories:

    Those who have explicitly said the 2020 election was illegitimate and/or took legal measures to try and overturn the election.

    Those who raised questions or concerns about the election but haven’t outright denied or affirmed it.

    Those who have accepted Biden’s victory but have still raised questions or concerns about fraud.

    Those who have accepted Biden’s victory without reservations.

    Those who have refused or avoided directly answering questions about the election (e.g., by changing the subject when asked about it.

    Those for whom no information is available.

    After doing that for all 1,148 Republican candidates for these offices in nominating contests through the end of June, here are four observations we have so far.

    1. Half of Republican nominees have at least flirted with denying the election

    ……(O)ut of 340 Republican nominees for Senate, House, governor, attorney general and secretary of state so far, 120 are full-blown election deniers (35 percent)…… An additional 48 nominees (14 percent) have expressed doubts about the election despite the multitude of evidence that it was legitimate. …..
    ……..

    2. And that’s almost certainly an undercount …

    …….. We were unable to find a stated position on the 2020 election for 37 percent of Republican primary candidates (421 out of 1,148) and a quarter of GOP nominees (84 out of 340). That means that our finding of the number of nominees so far who believe the 2020 election was fraudulent is almost certainly an undercount……
    ……..

    3. Denying the election is most common in House races — and rarest in secretary of state races

    ……..(N) nominees for the U.S. House were the likeliest to embrace Trump’s lies about the election. Full-blown election deniers constitute 40 percent (105 out of 263) of Republican nominees for the House thus far. By contrast, they constitute between just 18 and 22 percent of Republican nominees for the other four offices. ……
    …….,
    …….Republican gubernatorial nominees are more conspiratorially minded than Republican Senate nominees, despite Senate elections being just as high-profile as gubernatorial elections. Only 18 percent (four out of 22)3 of the GOP’s Senate nominees so far have fully rejected the election’s legitimacy, and only 9 percent more (two out of 22) have questioned it (a total of 27 percent). ……..
    ………

    4. But denying the election isn’t a guaranteed win

    Being a candidate who claims the 2020 election was stolen is a bit like being endorsed by Trump (and, unsurprisingly, these two pools of candidates tend to overlap) — it can help in the right race, but it’s not a guaranteed winning strategy. Often, other electoral factors override the appeal an election-denying candidate might have — especially when that’s all they really have to offer voters.
    ………

    ………

    Rip Murdock (c1b246)

  298. Apollo 11 Flight Log, July 18, 1969: Entering the Moon’s Gravity

    53 years ago today…

    https://www.space.com/26568-apollo-11-moon-mission-day-3.html

    DCSCA (10cf77)

  299. My GF and love the original Tejava. We buy it by the case.

    Rip Murdock (c1b246) — 7/18/2022 @ 6:36 pm

    I love the taste so much that I bought some Tejava home-brew tea bags at roughly $1 per single cup bag. Yes, that’s right. A bag that brews eight ounces of tea.

    It didn’t taste like the bottled Tejava at all. I’m so disappointed.

    norcal (da5491)

  300. These German elitists are losers and are probably still scurrying around trying to convince everyone that Trump was wrong
    https://twitter.com/i/status/1548624330396934144

    steveg (b96d2e)

  301. @310 I understand that laughter can help warm the body. Should come in hand this winter.

    norcal (da5491)

  302. Good guy with a gun as the solution to school mass shootings vindicated in indiana mall. Only 3 people killed before gunman! So armed civilians running around schools is the solution to the problem of school shootings. right?

    asset (543b65)

  303. @311. Sure! If you live in Tombstone, Arizona circa 1880.

    DCSCA (10cf77)

  304. @311. Malls routinely have security guards on patrol walking the retail floors- and some anchor brick & mortars have their own security teams a foot as well.

    No mention of any of them in this at all.

    DCSCA (10cf77)

  305. 312 sarcasm to subtel?

    asset (543b65)

  306. I actually don’t like Tejava — it has a weird, somewhat astringent, aftertaste. I dislike Gold Peak because it is even more that way. For unsweetened tea, the only thing I like is the Lipton, believe it or not.

    I dislike ALL “tea with lemon” and most sweet teas. The Arizona Arnold Palmer tends to be artificially sweetened — enough said. The only A.P. I like is the Honest half-sweet one. I buy that from Amazon by the case.

    As for brewed tea, there are so many good choices. I was surprised recently that the mundane Lipton tea gab makes a fairly good tea. I tend to go for a Twining or maybe Constant Comment.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  307. Malls routinely have security guards on patrol walking the retail floors

    Some of them were moonlighting in Uvalde.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  308. asset, if 400 armed police could not take down one shooter (and really, watch those cowards on video) then, yes, arming janitors is a better idea than relying on the Uvalde police.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  309. I actually don’t like Tejava — it has a weird, somewhat astringent, aftertaste.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9) — 7/18/2022 @ 11:20 pm

    I didn’t cotton to it at first, but now that I’ve acquired the taste I consider it superior to any other bottled or canned iced tea. It’s so good it doesn’t need any sweetener.

    Rip and his girlfriend know what I’m talking about.

    norcal (da5491)

  310. https://dailycaller.com/2022/07/18/biden-transgender-health-and-human-services-rachel-levine-empower-kids-sex-changes/
    Those who did not vote for Trump voted for this bastardina in a dress. Idiots.

    mg (8cbc69)

  311. 288… Thanks, I’ll give that a try.

    Colonel Haiku (d9fc01)

  312. asset (543b65) — 7/18/2022 @ 9:03 pm

    You know who else needs to worry about armed civilians? Or, let me say it differently, armed owners of private property and small businesses.

    Do armed civilians make you worry about getting your riot on?

    frosty (cc4cc3)

  313. With Colbert’s team getting a “get out of jail free” card it once again shows how politicallyy motivated the Jan 6th prosecutions are. Anyone getting charged for tresspassing into the capitol should cite the prosecutor dropping these cases as proof of these political prosecutions. Those that committed violence are a different matter.

    NJRob (584a7c)

  314. Rep Pete Meijer had a bill proposed to reform the emergency powers act.

    https://twitter.com/repmeijer/status/1549364031814881281?s=21&t=WZiDZX6HeDMEhg5AlBD2UA

    While sadly doomed (he’s a Republican) this would an excellent reform.

    Time123 (38dd39)

  315. when you’ve lost Trevor Noah
    “the president’s approval rating is now hovering somewhere between long-Covid and the Uvalde Police Departments”

    JF (4ded11)

  316. @324, Once again I’ll remind you. No one not named biden felt joy that biden won. He was purely the least bad alternative when compared to trump.

    Had he run unopposed he’d have lost.

    Time123 (38dd39)

  317. Time123 (38dd39) — 7/19/2022 @ 6:51 am

    the reason why you own him hardly matters

    JF (4ded11)

  318. @325 I know this is a mantra that soothes the soul. But I’m wondering in what practical way he’s the least bad alternative on Russia, the economy, constitutional integrity, inflation, energy, crime, corruption, competence, foreign relations, ability to complete sentences, ability to walk around without getting lost, etc. His approval rating is horrible for a reason and that’s in spite of the fawning media coverage.

    And, in the hopes of being clear, I’m not saying DT was good at those things.

    This notion that you’d rather see JB/KH turn everything they touch to crap instead of entertain the possibility that DT wouldn’t doesn’t seem like a winning strategy.

    frosty (aab7fb)

  319. Biden is a placeholder….an oddity of history. He’ll share the fate of LBJ….unmarketable. The DEMs will find an alternative but their bench is unremarkable…maybe a couple of past governors but no one that screams excitement.

    However, if the GOP runs Trump, the DEMs won’t need much. Trump in the primary will likely drive the contest to who can out looney the next. Good people will be marginalized as he did in 2016.

    We might get DeSantis, though I fear he might be peaking a little early and will fall due to fatigue and fear that no one will like him in the swing states. Maybe Haley rises…Youngkin is a little short on experience….Pence is too weak…..eventually it will be anyone but Trump….hopefully someone who doesn’t subscribe to vast voter fraud theories and can get us beyond populist platitudes…..

    AJ_Liberty (c82e21)

  320. Please fish 329 out of moderation. I discovered a new blocked word.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  321. This notion that you’d rather see JB/KH turn everything they touch to crap instead of entertain the possibility that DT wouldn’t doesn’t seem like a winning strategy.

    Frosty, this is the problem with two terrible candidates are on offer. Sometimes, when the evils are so great, it is hard to find the lesser one.

    Biden ran a lying campaign about working for all Americans, and seemed rational and “Presidential”, then governed from the enviroweenie Left and showed his age.

    Trump, otoh, presented himself (particularly at the first debate) as an unhinged talkradio ranter. He pretty much did everything he possibly could do to lose, including a don’t-get-out-the-vote campaign.

    The problem with running for re-election is that we have the first term as background, and Trump’s ability to repel all capable people from his administration and his inability to get things done was there for all to see.

    I hope both parties find better choices in 2024. I don’t see many of offing for Democrats — they aren’t going to run Manchin — but the GOP can do far better than Donald Trump.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  322. He’ll share the fate of LBJ….unmarketable

    LBJ won 1964 in a massive landslide. What lost in 1968 was not LBJ, but Vietnam.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  323. https://freebeacon.com/campus/parent-who-exposed-pornographic-library-books-sues-after-school-bans-him-from-property/

    A Maine parent is suing his local school board after he was banned from district property for speaking out against school library books that promote transgenderism and pornography.

    In the wake of those complaints, Shawn McBreairty received a criminal trespass notice from the school district, according to a copy of the notice and the lawsuit. The Maine father of two daughters, who has campaigned against sexualized lesson plans in public schools, said during an April school board meeting that the books were “grooming students on premature sexual ideology,” referencing a pornographic book the library marked as appropriate for all age groups.

    The school board demanded that McBreairty leave for playing a recording of a conversation between him and Chairman Heath Miller, saying his descriptions of the books involved “vulgarity and obscenity.” McBreairty said government-run school libraries should not offer the books, which the school board deemed too inappropriate to discuss among adults, to minors.

    Someone want to justify this?

    NJRob (eb56c3)

  324. Biden is a placeholder….an oddity of history. He’ll share the fate of LBJ….unmarketable

    LBJ was a masterful politican, Agarn. Persuasive; powerful. Vietnam was his self-inflicted would.

    Biden’s not even in his league.

    He’s a bum.

    DCSCA (dbe01a)

  325. ^would = wound

    DCSCA (dbe01a)

  326. Kevin M (eeb9e9) — 7/19/2022 @ 8:45 am

    Sometimes, when the evils are so great, it is hard to find the lesser one.

    Let’s put a pin in this.

    Biden ran a lying campaign about working for all Americans, and seemed rational and “Presidential”, then governed from the enviroweenie Left and showed his age.

    Not trying to misquote you here but this puts a lot on seemed, i.e. that he looked rational. But all of the signs were there for anyone who wanted to see them.

    Trump, otoh, presented himself (particularly at the first debate) as an unhinged talkradio ranter. He pretty much did everything he possibly could do to lose, including a don’t-get-out-the-vote campaign.

    This is also a presentation issue. Trump’s policies were functional independent of whatever image was presented. This also seems a bit like a POV or confirmation bias issue.

    So, if we go back to that pin, I don’t see many people making an attempt to find the lesser evil. In both cases most of the discussion around these two is not just inaccurate, it’s dishonest.

    frosty (aab7fb)

  327. However, if the GOP runs Trump, the DEMs won’t need much.

    Much? They have nothing. ‘Lest HRC answers the call for VP.

    If Trump runs, he’ll win… and he’ll simply ‘go Gipper’ and throw the famed ‘Hail Mary’:

    ‘Are you better off now than you were four years ago?’

    Nope.

    Unless you’re Daughter Darth w/a neoconned-Halliburton inheritance.

    DCSCA (dbe01a)

  328. Someone want to justify this?

    NJRob (eb56c3) — 7/19/2022 @ 8:50 am

    Groomers gotta groom. The number of children available to pdfiles hasn’t kept up with demand so steps are being taken.

    frosty (aab7fb)

  329. 328, I think DeSantis might look to several combinations of states in the North-East, get everything not NY or MA, by trying to sell himself as a historical milestone to the real life Jon Bon Jovi and fictional Meadow Soprano voters (left of center Eyetalians, such that remain or haven’t moved to FL). That’s one way to overcome Rust Belt pettiness against Sun Belt candidates

    urbanleftbehind (504b65)

  330. Appeared rational policy wise but certainly not in the mental and brain function sense. It helped Biden to simply not be Bernie, Jay Inslee or Eric the Red Swall_wswell.

    urbanleftbehind (504b65)

  331. @339. He’s a bum — always has been. And a creep. This generation of young journalists gave him a pass when pros in years past nailed his lying ass for plagiarism. Perpetually incompetent and the consummate senatorial windbag, as Brit Hume called him to his face- the bum has been a creep swamp creature from an illrelevant state for half a century, swam with other swamp creatures for decades– has an unelected wife who makes excuses for his swamp creature incompetence and a corrupt, swamp creatured, drug and sex-addicted kid who reflects how poorly he was raised by his politician parent. He’s a total POS. And meow: a cat would bury him.

    DCSCA (dbe01a)

  332. @331, the analogy was with 1968…and I’m not sure how you can disentangle LBJ from his handling of Vietnam. To lose your party means he lost their trust on the issue. Biden’s lack of sharpness is losing the trust of DEMs now.

    “I don’t see many of offing for Democrats”

    Mark Warner on paper is better than most DEMs, but he’s probably not liberal enough for the base. Hickenlooper might fit in that boat too but he’s a bit odd…and got zero traction last time in a weak field. Tim Kaine isn’t loved by the hard left but might be willing to jump in where Warner might not want the hassle. I can’t imagine that they won’t want to press Harris as hard as they can. She’s cultivated Hillary’s likability. Abrams needs to win and do the governor job before she can generate broader appeal. I disagree with all of them policy wise so I’m hoping the GOP comes through. There needs to be as much negativity as possible toward Trump…it would be a generational disaster for the GOP to nominate him again…..

    AJ_Liberty (ec7f74)

  333. THU during primetime, the country is going to see what Trump did for 187min while the Capitol was attacked by his supporters. They will see advisor after advisor…including family members….calling for him to act. A simple tweet or video could have altered the event…maybe even saved Ashli Babbitt’s life. There’s just no good way to spin it. Some will keep their heads in the sand….many more will peel away. Who wants to defend that? Many will want an untainted horse.

    AJ_Liberty (ec7f74)

  334. 342

    Do you really think they’ll watch? So much of these hearings have the feel of an infomercial. Because of the media experts insistence on not leaving things to chance, this feels like the Hamilton Burger part of a Perry Mason episode, without the cross examination.

    Appalled (8789bc)

  335. Goebbels would be proud AJ.

    NJRob (eb56c3)

  336. Why are you comparing AJ to a Nazi? That’s completely uncalled for.

    Time123 (5d9c6f)

  337. @343, the hard core will not watch…..I popped in on Gutfeld for a laugh a couple of weeks back and he was essentially saying if you’re cool, you’re not going to watch any of it. FNC message received. Hannity can’t afford any more of his chats highlighted by Liz Cheney.

    The thing is, how do you explain 187min of the President not acting? I mean not even sending out a tweet to not assault the cops. Nothing, zilch, nada, nichts. What is the other side of that? The intelligence coming in to his advisors was the best available from people inside the capitol and law enforcement. Trump knew there could be weapons going into the Capitol. He could see the chaos on TV. We now know that the VP and senators at a time were only seconds separated from the encroaching mob. This could have easily gotten worse with circumstances modified only slightly.

    If people are fine with the President sicking a mob on people he’s angry with, where does that principle end? Purposefully staying ignorant is no excuse. Many Republicans will watch and others will be pulled in via twitter and social media. If Trump has an alternative theory, then let him address the nation (finally) and detail it. The ostrich approach and the in-your-face-lies does conjure a certain historical goose-stepping regime…..

    AJ_Liberty (ec7f74)

  338. Time,

    I compared propaganda to propaganda. That you would misrepresent that isn’t surprising. You love to call names then pretend to be misunderstood and play the victim.

    NJRob (fbe422)

  339. AJ,

    Now do Nancy Pelosi who was actually in charge of security.

    Tbanks for playing.

    NJRob (fbe422)

  340. #346

    Purposefully staying ignorant is no excuse.

    Actually, there is a concept in economics and political science called rational ignornace. Basically, it’s people deciding they don’t need to know the details of everything because politics is not their life. When they figure something is important, they’ll engage. As DCSCA will likely lecture to you, we are long past the idea of “Must See TV”.

    The 1-6 committee seems intent on making their hearings look like a mid-tier Netflix documentary, rather than a typical hearing. I already know that Trump took 187 minutes to act. So does most of the country. If the 1-6 committee is going to give us 2 hours of bad, very bad, and a few extra details that are tacky but probably not criminal — the political junkies will watch and, since I think we’ll still be in the MLB All-Star Break, I might sample. But the only time the hearings seemed like they were getting at anything important was in Cassidy Hutchison’s testimony — because it showed some actual criminality in what Trump did and it was linked to the subject of the hearing.

    Trump belongs to the ages and hopefully the lawyers. I will trust the news, and this group, to extract anything worthwhile on Thursday. And hope the people’s wisdom takes care of the rest.

    Appalled (2c819a)

  341. woke Portlandistan prosecutors, who won’t prosecute Antifa and BLM thugs and smash and grab drug addicts, decide to get tough on a couple of carefully picked defendants and get their a$$ handed to them

    JF (8116bc)

  342. i don’t hear the abortion folks talking about the 10 year old girl anymore

    i guess since she got her abortion everything is fine now

    JF (8116bc)

  343. New Yorkers on the Cape are driving around with masks on.
    lol

    mg (8cbc69)

  344. John Froines (80) has died. One of two Chicago Seven defendants acquitted at trial in 2968.

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  345. @349. The 1-6 committee seems intent on making their hearings look like a mid-tier Netflix documentary, rather than a typical hearing

    Very poor casting [Daughter Darth ain’t no Sam Ervin]; very poor production [at times,. technically sloppy as well]… so you get poor TeeVee. And you have ABC Brit James Goldston to thank for the flop, by way of the real power behind the Biden throne: Susan Rice, of course– married to former ABC News executive producer Ian Officer Cameron.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Goldston

    Rice? Cameron?? Goldson??? ABC???? There are no coincidences.

    DCSCA (903a59)

  346. i don’t hear the abortion folks talking about the 10 year old girl anymore

    i guess since she got her abortion everything is fine now

    JF (8116bc) — 7/19/2022 @ 1:40 pm

    There is still the on-going investigation of the doctor, and this:

    Doctor in 10-year-old’s abortion case takes legal step against Indiana AG
    ……..
    Kathleen DeLaney filed a notice of tort claim against (Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita) on behalf of her client, Caitlin Bernard, for “false and misleading statements” about the obstetrician/gynecologist in the days after she shared how she helped the child, who traveled to Indiana for an abortion.

    “Mr. Rokita’s false and misleading statements about alleged misconduct by Dr. Bernard in her profession constitute defamation per se. The statements have been and continue to be published by or on behalf of Mr. Rokita and the Office of the Attorney General,” the notice reads. “To the extent that these statements exceed the general scope of Mr. Rokita’s authority as Indiana’s Attorney General, the statement forms the basis of an actionable defamation claim against Mr. Rokita individually.”

    Even after Gerson Fuentes was charged last week with rape in the case, Rokita questioned Bernard about whether she had reported the procedure to state officials, as required by law. Records obtained by The Washington Post show that Bernard reported the girl’s abortion to the relevant state agencies before the legally mandated deadline to do so.

    A spokesperson with the attorney general’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.

    Bernard is seeking unspecified damages to help cover security costs, legal fees, reputational harm and emotional distress, according to the notice. If Rokita does not investigate or settle the claim in the next 90 days, then Bernard could file a defamation lawsuit.

    The notice comes as a separate misconduct complaint alleges that Rokita intended to “harass and intimidate” doctors who perform abortions when he publicly cast doubts about whether Bernard complied with state law. The newly filed complaint from Lauren Robel, the former dean of Indiana University’s Maurer School of Law, is expected to trigger a probe by the state’s Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission after Rokita claimed last week on Fox News that Bernard had a “history of failing to report” abortions in child-abuse cases and rapidly launched an investigation into her licensure.
    ……..
    “Mr. Rokita either knew the statements were false or acted with reckless disregard of the truth or falsity of the statements,” the notice reads. “Statements that Dr. Bernard has a ‘history of failing to report,’ which Mr. Rokita indicated would constitute a crime, made in the absence of reasonable investigation, serve no legitimate law enforcement purpose. Given the current political atmosphere in the United States, Mr. Rokita’s comments were intended to heighten public condemnation of Dr. Bernard, who legally provided legitimate medical care.”
    ##########

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  347. John Froines (80) has died. One of two Chicago Seven defendants acquitted at trial in 2968.

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 7/19/2022 @ 1:52 pm

    That’s 1968.

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  348. “I compared propaganda to propaganda. ”

    “Now do Nancy Pelosi who was actually in charge of security.”

    My irony meter just exploded.

    Davethulhu (0b1e86)

  349. Rep. Bennie Thompson, chairman of the House Jan. 6 committee, tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday and is experiencing mild symptoms, but the prime-time (8 PM EDT) hearing will take place as scheduled on Thursday, with two Trump Aides who resigned shortly after January 6, 2021 to give live testimony: Ex-NSC official Matthew Pottinger, and ex-deputy press secretary Sarah Matthews.

    No word on whether Bennie Thompson will be present.

    The Secret Service says they have no additional text messages to deliver. Agents were supposed to upload their texts to an internal agency drive prior to a planned mid-January 2021 reset and replacement of staff phones, but many agents failed to do so. Whatever they had, they turned over already.

    Sammy Finkelman (1d215a)

  350. Look at what blue states have already done to seize power and control under the b.s. of a national health emergency. Now think about that same manipulative intent spread throughout the entire country by weaponizing federal agencies with advanced regulation toward a national climate emergency. The entire country turned into a California style-controlled energy economy. If you didn’t vote for Trump you own this. Newsome will be POTUS. Canrtafordya here we come.

    mg (8cbc69)

  351. @360. Rest easy. It’s ‘transitory.’

    Like life itself. 😉

    DCSCA (1652ba)

  352. Transitory is a moderation term now?

    DCSCA (1652ba)

  353. Several thoughts about the Ohio -> Indiana abortion case.

    1. People should have realized it had to be true, because the entire pro-abortion lobby would not go out on a limb like that, and Biden’s staff probably had independent confirmation, even if that had involved breaking of a confidence, but it didn’t, since without the name it was probably legal too disclose this. This is not like the lies that Biden commonly tells, which revolve around his own experiences.

    2. The response to the public information requests, which was done not only by the Indianapolis Star but by the Fox59 television station was suspiciously fast, and they were probably told in advance that if they asked they would get it.

    This reminds me of something that happened while Eliot Spitzer was Governor of New York State, when a New York Freedom of Information Law request for list of state subsidized travel by then State Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno was responded too very quickly.

    https://www.villagevoice.com/2007/09/25/the-truth-behind-troopergate

    https://gothamist.com/news/bruno-wants-truth-spitzer-says-bruno-wanted-choppers

    3. Somewhere I read that the mother of the 10-year old girl did not want to press charges, but I don’t know when or what that actually means. It might merely mean that she declined to be a witness. But there was apparently no investigation when the pregnancy was first reported on June 22.

    4. It was an Ohio doctor who contacted Dr. Caitlin Bernard in Indiana – I would not know if this was expected by the mother or not.

    5. It’s probably correct that Dr. Bernard did not have any reason to know the age of the father, although the form she was legally required to file after completing the abortion demanded an answer.

    6. Nobody would probably have read the form if the girl wasn’t under age 16.

    7. Ohio police probably first verified that that they had the right sample by taking the girl’s DNA before obtaining a search warrant for Gerson Fuentes’ DNA.

    Sammy Finkelman (1d215a)

  354. Appalled (2c819a) — 7/19/2022 @ 1:24 pm

    But the only time the hearings seemed like they were getting at anything important was in Cassidy Hutchison’s testimony — because it showed some actual criminality in what Trump did and it was linked to the subject of the hearing.

    You mean Trump’s supposed grabbing at the steering wheel? I think her testimony it actually tended to clear Trump of intentionally instigating the attack on the Capitol, because he would not have wanted to go there if he thought there would be any disturbance.

    It is conceivable that he expected it at another time but not that afternoon. He had already arranged for a delay in the certification.

    Meanwhile this committee thinks that two telephone calls with Steve Bannon on January 5, one in the morning, one after dark at night, might be evidence of Trump’s plotting, since Steve Bannon predicted trouble on January 5. It is consistent with a whole lot of other scenarios also.

    Trump belongs to the ages and hopefully the lawyers. I will trust the news, and this group, to extract anything worthwhile on Thursday. And hope the people’s wisdom takes care of the rest.

    Trump has the slowly diminishing support maybe of 35% of the population, and heavy opposition by everyone else. he problem is it might be a question in many voters’ minds of who is worst. If anything can get a third party candidate going it’s rematch.

    Sammy Finkelman (1d215a)

  355. 353. 356.

    One of two Chicago Seven defendants acquitted at trial in 2968….

    That’s 1968.

    Actually that’s 1969.

    The Chicago 7 trial was in 1969.

    Sammy Finkelman (1d215a)

  356. Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 7/19/2022 @ 3:01 pm

    7. Ohio police probably first verified that that they had the right sample by taking the girl’s DNA before obtaining a search warrant for Gerson Fuentes’ DNA.

    I haven’t seen any reporting that they collected the DNA of Fuentes. He confessed but independent of that I’m not sure what they would compare his DNA against. Based on the timeline we’ve got now there’s no relevance to a rape kit to collect DNA. It’s also not clear whether the abortion procedure used in this instance would have preserved any DNA of the baby. I’d also be interested in whether the mothers DNA matched the 10yo.

    6. Nobody would probably have read the form if the girl wasn’t under age 16.

    I’ll go back and review the timeline but I’m not sure anyone would have read this form absent the spotlight this got when it blew up in the press.

    5. It’s probably correct that Dr. Bernard did not have any reason to know the age of the father, although the form she was legally required to file after completing the abortion demanded an answer.

    It sounds like someone had to provide an age. It sounds like that person lied.

    4. It was an Ohio doctor who contacted Dr. Caitlin Bernard in Indiana – I would not know if this was expected by the mother or not.

    This is a confusing part of the story I don’t understand. The OH doctor was an abuse specialist. Why would she contact an IL doctor for an abortion without the permission of the girls guardian? What’s the backstory on the interaction with this abuse specialist?

    3. Somewhere I read that the mother of the 10-year old girl did not want to press charges, but I don’t know when or what that actually means. It might merely mean that she declined to be a witness. But there was apparently no investigation when the pregnancy was first reported on June 22.

    This “press charges” is generally a myth. Criminal charges are made on behalf of the state. The mother doesn’t get to decide whether charges are filed. This failure to investigate should be investigated. Raping 10yo girls under any circumstance should be investigated.

    frosty (2a4007)

  357. One peculiar thing from Uvalde:

    First, I read that a policeman missed a chance to kill the attacker early on when he decided he might hit some children.

    Later I read that he had asked for permission to fire.

    Now I read that that was the wrong person – it was a coach getting some children away. He was dressed in black. (but if he didn’t have a rifle, he would not be the shooter and more certainly not be putting the children in imminent danger.)

    Sammy Finkelman (1d215a)

  358. House passed the respect for marriage act, which (a) repeals doma, (b) codifies a rule requiring states to give full faith and credit to out of state marriages regardless of the race or gender of the spouses, and (c) requires the feds to recognize any state-legal marriage … by 267-157, with 47 Republican votes.

    aphrael (4c4719)

  359. frosty (2a4007) — 7/19/2022 @ 3:20 pm

    I haven’t seen any reporting that they collected the DNA of Fuentes. He confessed but independent of that I’m not sure what they would compare his DNA against.

    They probably did collect the DNA because the Columbus Dispatch reported reported that they had obtained a search warrant

    After that [July 6] interview [of the girl, during which she identified Fuentes], [Columbus police detective Jeffrey] Huhn testified, detectives obtained a search warrant for a DNA sample from Fuentes. Police served that warrant July 12, at which point detectives interviewed Fuentes.

    Now he could not refuse to give a sample.

    They’d compare the DNA to the products of conception obtained from the Indiana abortion clinic on July 2. They must first have confirmed that the sample was hers, then interviewed the girl on July 6. When she identified the father on July 6 the next thing was to see if he had been the father.

    But before they could get the results,, he admitted having vaginal contact of some kind with the girl. That was enough to arrest him.

    You have to read together the scattered facts that appear in various articles.

    You have to read together the scattered facts that appear in various articles. Based on the timeline we’ve got now there’s no relevance to a rape kit to collect DNA.

    No rape kit. A paternity test, or something similar to it. There was nothing they had to go on on June 22.

    It’s also not clear whether the abortion procedure used in this instance would have preserved any DNA of the baby.

    That’s what the Columbus Dispatch says they did (without explaining further)

    Police obtained genetic material from the Indianapolis clinic July 2, Huhn testified.

    Sammy Finkelman (1d215a)

  360. @frosty@366 or anyone else who wants to know how mandated reporting works. Just informational. Here’s how mandated reporting works in CA, it’s pretty similar in other states, but there are variations and there are probably additional requirements for health professionals:

    A 12 yr old student tells me they are having sex (it doesn’t matter what the gender of the student is or how old their partner is, age 12 or younger is always a reportable in CA). I do not need to tell the student or their parents that I am making the report, but I can choose to do so.

    I fill out the suspected child abuse form.

    Within 24 hrs (preferably within 12 hrs. I personally always call same day.) I call and make the report to CPS, which takes my verbal report and puts it into their system. I put the name of the person I made the report to on my form.

    Within 72 hrs (preferably within 24 hrs, I always send it same day.) I either fax or send the form in (I fax it), keeping a copy for my records (you do not have to keep a copy, but it’s best to do so).

    I may or may not get a call back from CPS or the police, or our school safety officer may come talk to me, asking me the location of the student if it is during the school day, and a worker or an officer may talk to the student. This may take place on the day I make the report, or at a later time.

    At some point in time, I will be sent a resolution report that tells me the result of my report. This usually is weeks or sometimes months later.

    Nic (896fdf)

  361. I’d also be interested in whether the mothers DNA matched the 10yo.

    That might be interesting but isn’t essential to the story.

    The fact that she is denial could add to the probability that she is indeed the girl’s mother.

    It’s not the first time it’s happened that a man had relations with a woman and her daughter, even though that could be considered a form of incest and is forbidden in the Bible.

    (And the daughter being that young doesn’t exclude it, if he’s inclined that way. She was past puberty, probably thanks to the electric light bulb.)

    See: https://mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0318.htm

    Lev 18:17 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter; thou shalt not take her son’s daughter, or her daughter’s daughter, to uncover her nakedness: they are near kinswomen; it is lewdness.

    It’s also mentioned in Lev 20:14

    And if a man take with his wife also her mother, it is wickedness: they shall be burnt with fire, both he and they; that there be no wickedness among you.

    David Koresh did it, although I doubt that’s why the FBI killed him. It wasn’t because of the Bible study he’d encouraged the negotiators to discuss. It was to protect “Friend of Bill” Jay William Buford, head of the BATF in Little Rock, Arkansas who had murdered three of his own men in front of KWTX-TV (Channel 10 in Waco) television cameras (all covered up of course) Buford was one of the principal planners of the raid and probably wanted dead federal agents so that no questions would be asked about the raid, so then later Bill Clinton could appoint him to a high position in the FBI after ATF was folded into it. Not because they’d been assigned to Clintons security as Bill Clinton astonishingly claimed in a speech to Treasury Department employees on March 17, 1993.

    One day Bill Clinton will have his comeuppance for this, while he is still alive. There is a lot of circumstantial evidence.

    Sammy Finkelman (1d215a)

  362. “One peculiar thing from Uvalde”

    You should probably just assume that every statement by the Uvalde police is a lie unless it has been independently verified.

    Davethulhu (0b1e86)

  363. SF: 6. Nobody would probably have read the form if the girl wasn’t under age 16.

    I’ll go back and review the timeline but I’m not sure anyone would have read this form absent the spotlight this got when it blew up in the press.

    The form was filed a day after it had already appeared in the press.

    SF: 5. It’s probably correct that Dr. Bernard did not have any reason to know the age of the father, although the form she was legally required to file after completing the abortion demanded an answer.

    It sounds like someone had to provide an age. It sounds like that person lied.

    She had to provide an age on the form. But it’s not that she actually had to know in order to have done the abortion.

    SF: 4. It was an Ohio doctor who contacted Dr. Caitlin Bernard in Indiana – I would not know if this was expected by the mother or not.

    This is a confusing part of the story I don’t understand. The OH doctor was an abuse specialist. Why would she contact an IL doctor for an abortion without the permission of the girls guardian? What’s the backstory on the interaction with this abuse specialist?

    I find I don’t know the sex of the Ohio doctor. The abuse specialist might have been just one employee in a clinic (Planned Parenthood?)

    It might have been with the permission of the girl’s guardian. She couldn’t very well be taken there without it.

    And then there’s the question of who paid for the trip. To use an out of state doctor she probably had Medicaid.

    This failure to investigate should be investigated. Raping 10yo girls under any circumstance should be investigated

    Well, you could say there were no leads, but it seems like nobody attempted to interview the girl until July 6.

    Perhaps the doctors said it would be traumatizing (and that the father was likely a teenager) That would be enough to stop an interview

    Now the motive of the Ohio doctors might have been not discourage anyone from coming to see them to handle to handle the pregnancy.

    Sammy Finkelman (1d215a)

  364. “It sounds like someone had to provide an age. It sounds like that person lied.”

    I’m assuming you’ve seen the form in question, so I’m curious how you think it’s a lie.

    Davethulhu (0b1e86)

  365. Short lived is not on the agenda, DCSCA.
    These hacks on the left will not give up. They play with big balls. And they print money.

    mg (8cbc69)

  366. 378. Davethulhu (0b1e86) — 7/19/2022 @ 4:14 pm

    You should probably just assume that every statement by the Uvalde police is a lie unless it has been independently verified.

    By now, definitely. Not just Uvalde police but anyone connectedwith law enforcement who lived in the area,

    The later stories may be more in the direction of accuracy.

    It might be that a police officer wanted to say it is someone else’s fault Salvador Ramos got in, even though maybe he knew better.

    Here’s another thing peculiar I noticed.

    One policeman basically claimed that he thought it might be a false alarm. And what really had happened was a staged accident by migrant smugglers. (apparently they are common but this is the first time I heard of these “bailouts?”)

    https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/17/us/uvalde-shooting-report.html

    A lockdown alert was sent to school staff at the school, according to the report, but the staff might not have acted with urgency during the lockdown because of the frequent alerts related to nearby police chases and deliberate crashes of vehicles suspected of carrying undocumented migrants, known as “bailouts.” Not seeing any injured students in the hallways, one sergeant told the committee he thought it might be a “bailout” situation, the report said.

    Sammy Finkelman (1d215a)

  367. Some people tried to get themselves described as heroes:

    https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/15/us/uvalde-police.html

    Top Uvalde officials wanted to highlight the heroics of officers at Robb Elementary. The state police director refused to do so.

    Give this article

    Steven McCraw, the director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, has said that officers had enough firepower to confront the gunman within three minutes of his entering the school in Uvalde.
    Steven McCraw, the director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, has said that officers had enough firepower to confront the gunman within three minutes of his entering the school in Uvalde.Credit…Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The New York Times

    J. David Goodman
    By J. David Goodman
    July 15, 2022
    HOUSTON — Days after the massacre at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, the leaders of the grieving city fumed during a closed-door meeting with Steven McCraw, the state’s top police official.

    They objected to Mr. McCraw’s public criticism of the response by city police officers to the May 24 massacre that killed 19 children and two teachers and, in a one-page document, laid out their own version of events, one that praised the officers for initially rushing to the gunfire and saving hundreds of other children in the school.

    The document prepared by Uvalde officials and labeled “narrative” was obtained by The New York Times after a public information request. Its account of events differed in significant aspects from the one described by Mr. McCraw’s agency, the Department of Public Safety, which is leading the police investigation into the shooting and the law enforcement response.

    The Uvalde officials pushed the document across the table to Mr. McCraw, asking him to publicly endorse it, according to a state police official who requested anonymity to describe the meeting on June 2. Mr. McCraw refused.

    It seems like Uvalde was run on the principle of government “by the public employees, of the public employees and for the public employees.”

    Sammy Finkelman (1d215a)

  368. I’m assuming you’ve seen the form in question, so I’m curious how you think it’s a lie.

    In my case, I never saw it, but only read one or two (not completely consistent) descriptions of something on the form.

    There was apparently a place on the form that asked for the age of the father. I assume this would mostly have been of interest if the girl was under the age of consent. If she was not the doctor had three months to file the form.

    Here is one place

    https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/14/us/10-year-old-abortion-caitlin-bernard-indiana.html

    But a document obtained by The New York Times appears to contradict Mr. Rokita’s assertion. The document, a “Terminated Pregnancy Report” filed with the Indiana Department of Health and the Department of Child Services, states that Dr. Bernard provided abortion medication — a two-pill combination that can be taken at home or in any location and is authorized for use in the first 10 weeks of pregnancy — to a 10-year-old patient on June 30. The report was dated July 2, which puts it within Indiana’s three-day reporting requirement….

    …The form filed by Dr. Bernard lists the approximate age of the father as 17. Doctors often make their best guess when the pregnancy is the result of abuse, and little may be known about the perpetrator.

    Sammy Finkelman (1d215a)

  369. US CO2 emissions have been declining steadily since late in the George W. Bush presidency.

    That’s in spite of a growing population and, over that time period, a growing economy.

    We don’t get much credit for that among those who worry about climate problems.

    (Does Bush deserve some credit for that? Probably some.)

    Jim Miller (406a93)

  370. Biden claimed that he brought up Khashogi at the top of the meeting. It could be.

    Then it could go like this:

    Biden: I think you had someone killed in an embassy/

    MBS: No, I didn’t have anything to do with that.

    Biden: I think you did.

    Now that that’s out of the way, we can discuss oil production.

    MBS: I can’t go above 13 and that will take a few years and I must consult other members of OPEC.

    Biden: But in principle you agree.

    Sammy Finkelman (1d215a)

  371. Almost no air conditioning in residential buildings in the UK. Near record high (101) since weather records were kept, and possibly will reach 106 later .

    105 in Paris. 110 (they earlier said 117) in Spain and Portugal and many deaths

    Sammy Finkelman (1d215a)

  372. Maybe we haven’t seen the form because it gives the name of the girl.

    Sammy Finkelman (1d215a)

  373. Trump’s policies were functional independent of whatever image was presented

    It did not matter WHAT Trump’s policies were, as he could not get them implemented even with both houses of Congress. Even his Executive Orders failed.

    Sure, he had opposition inside the government, but so did Reagan (Reagan never even had the House), yet he cut the top tax rate from 70% to 28%, opened the world to trade, and broke the back of the Soviet Union, financially and militarily in Afghanistan.

    Trump could not get a litlle wall built. Reagan got one torn down.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  374. “You should probably just assume that every statement by the Uvalde police is a lie unless it has been independently verified.”

    …and that’s no lie.

    Colonel Haiku (8b99b0)

  375. Trump’s policies were functional independent of whatever image was presented

    Shorter: You misspelled “dysfunctional.”

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  376. I compared propaganda to propaganda. That you would misrepresent that isn’t surprising. You love to call names then pretend to be misunderstood and play the victim.

    There are lots of propagandists. You picked the most noxious one. Just random chance?

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  377. Ex-NSC official Matthew Pottinger

    Pottinger is the “China hand” who tried to get Trump to take strong action regarding Covid in January 2020. Trump did just enough to being doing something, but not enough to have an effect.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  378. “In my case, I never saw it, but only read one or two (not completely consistent) descriptions of something on the form.”

    This was the original report (fox59 are the ones who did the foia request): https://fox59.com/indiana-news/abortion-report-confirms-indiana-doctor-followed-law-after-ag-vowed-investigation/

    It has a screenshot of the form (kind of small but readable) at the bottom.

    Davethulhu (0b1e86)

  379. The entire country turned into a California style-controlled energy economy.

    I could not ask for anything better for November. “Enough rope”

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  380. “Trump belongs to the ages”

    I’m reminded of Edwin Stanton’s line about Lincoln.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  381. aphrael (4c4719) — 7/19/2022 @ 3:27 pm

    While I think it’s unnecessary, and would need to see the actual language, I would probably vote for such a bill. I think that it’s important to honor existing contracts and while Obergefell progress though the courts was more than a little ugly (the plaintiff in district court cannot appeal? Really? How come they had standing in disgtrict court?) it’s old news now. This is what settled law looks like.

    Not completely sure about forcing all states to accept what other states do without some boundaries. Never know what Utah has in mind. Or California.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  382. I either fax

    What is this “fax” you refer to? Is that something new?

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  383. @372. Don’t even go there- figuratively speaking. My VR friend is physically there now trying to ferret through meetings and political BS to focus on the surviving families of dead to establish aid before the politicval footballedrs take over and the media moves on to the next slaughter. It’s a mess.

    DCSCA (f57529)

  384. Now do Nancy Pelosi who was actually in charge of security.

    So was McConnell. The 3-member Capitol Police Board comprises the Capitol Architect and the Sergeants-at-Arms (who respectively report to the Speaker and Senate Majority Leader) from both houses of Congress. Funny how there’s so much silence as to McConnell’s responsibility for Capitol grounds security.

    Paul Montagu (5de684)

  385. We don’t get much credit for that among those who worry about climate problems.

    The US has brought its emission back down to the 1970-1990 level (the 70s and 80s had some wild economic swings). But Germany’s emissions are down to the pre-WW2 level, and the UK is down to a level last seen in 1898 (sic).

    China has been doubling its emissions every 15 years since 1975.

    https://ourworldindata.org/co2-emissions

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  386. Kevin M — the actual text of section 3 (which discusses the state recognition aspect) https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/8404:

    (a) In general.— No person acting under color of State law may deny—

    (1) full faith and credit to any public act, record, or judicial proceeding of any other State pertaining to a marriage between 2 individuals, on the basis of the sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin of those individuals; or

    (2) a right or claim arising from such a marriage on the basis that such marriage would not be recognized under the law of that State on the basis of the sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin of those individuals.

    (b) Enforcement by Attorney General.—The Attorney General may bring a civil action in the appropriate United States district court against any person who violates subsection (a) for declaratory and injunctive relief.

    (c) Private right of action.—Any person who is harmed by a violation of subsection (a) may bring a civil action in the appropriate United States district court against the person who violated such subsection for declaratory and injunctive relief.

    (d) State defined.—In this section, the term ‘State’ has the meaning given such term under section 7 of title 1.

    ————-
    i was oversimplifying. 🙂 the actual text is that they can’t refuse full faith and credit on the basis of certain criteria, including the race and sex of the individuals involved.

    question: could they deny based on *gender* rather than sex? 🙂

    aphrael (46a864)

  387. Observation. There’s something decidedly creepy- if not unsportmanlike intrusive- about a kibitzing Fox sportscaster up in a stadium broadcast booth literally holding a one-on-one conversation in the ear of a pitcher- who is answering him back- as he’s hurling a 95 mph., baseball at a batter in the middle of the game.

    DCSCA (abf41e)

  388. China threatens harsh response if Pelosi visits Taiwan. My question is not “Should Pelosi go? But “Should McCarthy, Schumer and McConnell go with her?”

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  389. question: could they deny based on *gender* rather than sex?

    Sex, as I understand it, is biological and objective. “Gender” is, um, fluid and subjective. It’s kind of hard to put that into law, and why should they when “sex” covers it well enough.

    My concern had to do with other differences among states. Common-law marriage, divorce, property rights, etc.

    At some point I do think states should be different. Travel is simple enough today that those who are unhappy in one state can move to a different state. Sure, not everyone can, but considering how many homeless end up in warmer climes, it’s not that difficult if you want it enough.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  390. I guess some state might pass a law forbidding marriage between “genderqueer” and “omnigender” but I doubt it could be enforced, if only because the definitions are easily evaded.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  391. #398 Kevin – An excellent idea.

    Jim Miller (406a93)

  392. I’m assuming you’ve seen the form in question, so I’m curious how you think it’s a lie.

    Davethulhu (0b1e86) — 7/19/2022 @ 4:17 pm

    This was asked and answered back around @263. I’m curious how you don’t think it was.

    frosty (9f960b)

  393. DCCCP: “Observation. There’s something decidedly creepy- if not unsportmanlike intrusive- about a kibitzing Fox sportscaster up in a stadium broadcast booth literally holding a one-on-one conversation in the ear of a pitcher- who is answering him back- as he’s hurling a 95 mph., baseball at a batter in the middle of the game”

    Yeah, in my mind, that guy needs to be laser-like focused and not dividing his attention. I had to switch channels. Some things are just wrong….

    AJ_Liberty (c82e21)

  394. “I’m glad we have a president who can ride a bicycle.” – Pete Buttigieg

    Too bad he can’t walk up steps.

    DCSCA (abf41e)

  395. “This was asked and answered back around @263”

    I don’t see how 263 answers it. You’re discussing “good faith medical judgment” which is particularly ironic considering that your position has consistently been “the doctor is lying.”

    “I’m curious how you don’t think it was.”

    From the article linked by Sammy @378

    The form filed by Dr. Bernard lists the approximate age of the father as 17. Doctors often make their best guess when the pregnancy is the result of abuse, and little may be known about the perpetrator.

    You have jumped (without evidence) to the conclusion that the doctor knows who the perpetrator was, who then decided to lie about their age for no discernable reason.

    Davethulhu (0b1e86)

  396. https://www.firstpost.com/business/from-pakistan-to-panama-countries-which-could-go-the-sri-lanka-way-economic-crisis-inflation-10926321.html

    Nice to see an already unstable nuclear pwoer on the list along with Egypt which is a cornerstone in any Middle East peace

    Wonderful time to have a further diminished Chauncy the Gardener in the oval office

    steveg (31d5f1)

  397. @Kevin@392 😛 It’s a confidential report, so, while they’ve given us a fillable PDF, they won’t let us send it to them electronically.

    Nic (896fdf)

  398. Davethulhu (0b1e86) — 7/19/2022 @ 6:34 pm

    The site doesn’t like my longer post so I’ll try this one.

    I think you win both the making things up and the mind reading award for today.

    frosty (2a4007)

  399. Ukraine graft concerns resurface as Russia war goes on

    ‘WASHINGTON (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s dismissal of senior officials is casting an inconvenient light on an issue that the Biden administration has largely ignored since the outbreak of war with Russia: Ukraine’s history of rampant corruption and shaky governance.

    As it presses ahead with providing tens of billions of dollars in military, economic and direct financial support aid to Ukraine and encourages its allies to do the same, the Biden administration is now once again grappling with longstanding worries about Ukraine’s suitability as a recipient of massive infusions of American aid.

    Those issues, which date back decades and were not an insignificant part of former President Donald Trump’s first impeachment, had been largely pushed to the back burner in the immediate run-up to Russia’s invasion and during the first months of the conflict as the U.S. and its partners rallied to Ukraine’s defense.

    But Zelenskyy’s weekend firings of his top prosecutor, intelligence chief and other senior officials have resurfaced those concerns and may have inadvertently given fresh attention to allegations of high-level corruption in Kyiv made by one outspoken U.S. lawmaker.

    It’s a delicate issue for the Biden administration. With billions in aid flowing to Ukraine, the White House continues to make the case for supporting Zelenskyy’s government to an American public increasingly focused on domestic issues like high gas prices and inflation. High-profile supporters of Ukraine in both parties also want to avoid a backlash that could make it more difficult to pass future aid packages.

    U.S. officials are quick to say that Zelenskyy is well within his right to appoint whomever he wants to senior positions, including the prosecutor general, and remove anyone who he sees as collaborating with Russia.

    Yet even as Russian troops were massing near the Ukrainian border last fall, the Biden administration was pushing Zelenskyy to do more to act on corruption — a perennial U.S. demand going back to Ukraine’s early days of independence.

    “In all of our relationships, and including in this relationship, we invest not in personalities; we invest in institutions, and, of course, President Zelenskyy has spoken to his rationale for making these personnel shifts,” State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters on Monday.

    Price declined to comment further on Zelenskyy’s reasoning for the dismissals or address the specifics but said there was no question that Russia has been trying to interfere in Ukraine.

    “Moscow has long sought to subvert, to destabilize the Ukrainian government,” Price said. “Ever since Ukraine chose the path of democracy and a Western orientation.’ -AP.com

    Yankee Doodle suckers.

    … and Bugs Moran smiled.

    DCSCA (110a9f)

  400. Earlier I said that all the requested Secret Service text messages on January 5-6 were deleted. Turns out that, out of the thousands of texts sent out those particular days, the J6 Committee received one single text message.
    My mistake. I take full responsibility for my error.

    Paul Montagu (5de684)

  401. They’re undermining our democracy!

    Colonel Haiku (898da7)

  402. I forgot to mention in the Guardian link that the Secret Service text messages were deleted “11 days after Congress first requested the communications and two days after agents were reminded to back up their phones.”
    Agents should not have had to back up their phones. The data should’ve automatically been in the cloud without agents consciously doing so.

    Paul Montagu (5de684)

  403. OT-

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBdyzTvA3oA

    53 years ago today, July 20, 1969, when America truly was great…

    DCSCA (f3c489)

  404. You’re right, Haiku. It’s Soviet Russia here.

    Dershowitz: I have been punished severely. I can’t speak at the library at Martha’s Vineyard… I have been silenced..

    Paul Montagu (5de684)

  405. “I’m glad we have a president who can ride a bicycle.” – Pete Buttigieg

    Except your party needs an LBJ, who rode a horse; or an FDR, who rode a wheelchair, Pete.

    DCSCA (f3c489)

  406. A word about the Greenwood Park Mall shooting in Indiana.
    The three who were murdered had Hispanic surnames, this in a town that is 96.5% white and 1.9% Hispanic. The shooter was a 20-year old punk who I won’t name.
    The name of the “bystander” who shot the shooter dead is 22-year old Elisjsha Dicken, who was with his 19-year old girlfriend and was (fortunately) legally carrying a Glock pistol. This part is exceptional.

    At 5:57:03 p.m., Elisjsha Dicken, an armed bystander, fired on the shooter from 40 yards away, according to police. Within 15 seconds from when the shooting began, Dicken fired 10 rounds hitting the shooter as the shooter tried to retreat into the bathroom but collapsed and died.

    An autopsy found the shooter was shot eight times and none were self-inflicted.

    That’s what you call a good shoot. Cheers to the young man. He’s a genuine hero.

    Paul Montagu (5de684)

  407. And Elisjsha Dicken had had no formal police or similar training.

    What are those two extra letters j and s doing in his name? It can’t be pronounced.

    Sammy Finkelman (b7dc9b)

  408. https://mobile.twitter.com/RNCResearch/status/1549755395601829889

    All those who supported Biden and called him the rational choice over Trump need to pay for this consequence.

    NJRob (512902)

  409. @416. …said Matt Dillon. Nothing to cheer about. It’s what keeps Xi grinning and Vlad smiling. Malls routinely have security guards patrolling the retail floors- and some anchor brick & mortars stores have their own security teams a foot as well. No mention of any of them in this at all, given the failures revealed in Uvalde.

    DCSCA (99a134)

  410. And Elisjsha Dicken had had no formal police or similar training.

    Not much is publicly known about Dicken yet, beside the fact that he was legally—though permitless—carrying a 9-millimeter Glock gun. In Indiana, carrying a gun no longer requires a permit as of July 1, as of the “constitutional carry” bill.

    But he was technically not allowed to bring a gun to the mall. Greenwood Park Mall, where the shooting happened, is a weapons-free location, according to its code of conduct. But in the circumstances of Sunday’s shooting, the mall issued a statement expressing gratitude towards Dicken’s intervention.

    “We grieve for the victims of yesterday’s horrific tragedy at Greenwood Park Mall. Violence has no place in this or any other community. We are grateful for the strong response of the first responders, including the heroic actions of the good Samaritan who stopped the suspect,” the statement said.

    Source.

    How did the gun-free zone work out for the three victims? Not so well.

    He’s called a “Good Samaritan” because his first name is too hard to pronounce. 😉

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  411. Good news for all patriotic Americans, especially Republicans:

    In October 2021, a Quinnipiac University poll found that an overwhelming 78 percent of Republicans said they wanted to see Trump run in 2024. By February, that share had slipped to 69 percent in a CBS News-YouGov poll. In June, it was down to 53 percent, according to a Politico-Morning Consult poll. And last week, a New York Times-Siena College poll found that just 49 percent of Republicans say they would support Trump for a third nomination, while a 51 percent majority wants someone else.

    That is a 29-point decline over the past nine months. Trump still has more support than any potential challenger, but more and more Republicans are considering alternatives for 2024.

    The trend is our friend. (I hope most of you won’t mind if I mention that I have been predicting this decline. And I will go further, and predict that it will continue, for at least another 10 or 15 points.)

    Unlike Donald Trump, Marc Thiessen, who wrote those paragraphs, is both a conservative, and a real Republican.

    (According to, among others, Vanity Fair, Trump may run because “The former president is reportedly banking on a White House bid to stave off criminal charges.”)

    Jim Miller (406a93)

  412. Woman says she carried dead fetus for 2 weeks after Texas abortion ban

    Apparently, the Texas AG interprets the TX abortion law as treating any D&C as an abortion unless it is PROVEN otherwise. Women in Texas who are suddenly carrying a dead fetus cannot get it removed by the normal D&C unless they have 3 ultrasounds to prove that it’s not just pining for the fjords. This can take a while and be expensive.

    Biden has issued orders that such surgeries are allowed, but Paxton is suing to block the order.

    Now, it may be that Paxton is attempting to discourage mail-order chemical abortion pills, but women DO have spontaneous abortions, and it can be dangerous or fatal to let a dead fetus decompose in the womb. There are also liability issues around ectopic pregnancies and the like, where come doctors just won’t treat them the same way any more.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  413. I can’t speak at the library at Martha’s Vineyard… I have been silenced..

    I was shushed at a library once. The trauma….

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  414. “I’m glad we have a president who can ride a bicycle.” – Pete Buttigieg

    We had one not so long ago who ran miles every morning he could. I wanna see Biden, or Buttigieg run a couple of miles with some Marines.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  415. All those who supported Biden and called him the rational choice over Trump need to pay for this consequence.

    NJRob (512902) — 7/20/2022 @ 12:21 pm

    How much do I owe? Where do I send the check? Just know that if you expect me to pay you for the dumbassery of the guy I voted for, you don’t have enough money to compensate me if your guy succeeds in his ongoing quest to overthrow our democratic system of governance.

    Bad policies vs losing our democracy? Yeah, I proudly stand behind my choice. I’ve yet to see a cogent excuse of yours.

    lurker (cd7cd4)

  416. Here’s a “remarkable” British pattern:

    So now we know that the next Conservative leader and Prime Minister will be either Liz Truss or Rishi Sunak. They became the names that will be put to the party membership in a postal ballot the result of which we should get in early September.

    One of the things about these two is that both of them are graduates from the University of Oxford. This is remarkable because the last time that a graduate of a university other than Oxford went on to win a general election was in 1935.

    The the only non Oxford graduates to win general elections over the past 83 years, Winston Churchill and John Major, did not go to university.

    Rishi Sunak
    Liz Truss

    Sunak had a US “green card”, until quite recently.

    Jim Miller (406a93)

  417. 53 years ago today, July 20, 1969, when America truly was great…

    50 years ago, when Apollo 18 did not launch as planned, when NASA started shedding talent.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  418. All those who supported Biden and called him the rational choice over Trump need to pay for this consequence.

    After 4 years of the man-pig, you need to show just how Trump would have done better, on average. Sure one or two things, but when he let Rocket-boy continue with this H-bomb plans (and losing Mattis as the result), he proved himself to be a total ignoramus on foreign policy. Biden might be no better, but he is also no worse.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  419. An autopsy found the shooter was shot eight times and none were self-inflicted.

    Further, with the bathroom behind him, it was probably not likely that stray rounds would hit bystanders. That’s more tactical awareness than some cops have. I also like the fact he made sure his target was going down.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  420. “The former president is reportedly banking on a White House bid to stave off criminal charges.”

    Hitler attacked Stalin to avoid a challenge in Europe.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  421. https://hotair.com/john-s-2/2022/07/20/auto-draft-7-n484085

    Leftists using government force to arrest and persecute citizens for thw crime of standing up against leftism.

    Now where have we seen that before?

    NJRob (ee8ad8)

  422. Kevin,

    On economic policy, which is where Americans live or starve, Biden is far FAR worse.

    That the best you can say about Biden is that he “might” be a wash on foreign policy (I disagree) speaks volumes.

    NJRob (ee8ad8)

  423. It has been one f**cking disaster after another ever since Biden’s moronic moves in Afghanistan last August. Wake the EFF up and smell the catfood, NeverTrumpenellas

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  424. The New Yorker excerpt was rather long

    Sammy Finkelman (1d215a)

  425. “I also like the fact he made sure his target was going down.”

    Same energy here: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/crime/article/Grand-jury-declines-to-indict-man-accused-in-17315147.php

    Too bad his target turned out to be a 9 year old girl.

    The shooting unfolded around 9:45 p.m. when Earls, 41, opened fire on the man as he fled the parking lot. Earls believed that the robber had opened fire on him. At the same moment, the Alvarez family was driving along Winkler Drive.

    Earls mistakenly believed the thief was fleeing in the family’s vehicle.

    Earls fired multiple shots at the vehicle, striking the back window — and Arlene as she sat in the backseat with headphones on. Earls was arrested shortly after. The child died the following day.

    Somehow the prosecution failed to indict.

    Davethulhu (0b1e86)

  426. Kevin M (eeb9e9) — 7/20/2022 @ 2:10 pm

    I disagree. We were promised that anything was better than Trump and that Biden was clearly better. There was none of this no better and no worse nonsense in the run up to 2020.

    So, no, no one has to show Trump would have done better.

    frosty (19e6ad)

  427. Davethulhu (0b1e86) — 7/20/2022 @ 2:43 pm

    No one has found any dirt yet on Dicken so the hive mind decided to go with a different tactic?

    frosty (19e6ad)

  428. At least it didn’t get pushed under the carpet. Paper ballots please!

    https://twitter.com/wbaltv11/status/1549850638414188545

    Colonel Haiku (d900e5)

  429. @438, they have paper ballots. What they can’t find are the flash drives from the scanners.

    Time123 (492698)

  430. Mr. Ziegler was an aide to Peter Navarro, which explains a lot.

    Paul Montagu (5de684)

  431. “No one has found any dirt yet on Dicken so the hive mind decided to go with a different tactic?”

    I think you win both the making things up and the mind reading award for today.

    Davethulhu (0b1e86)

  432. @441 What did I make up? Has someone found dirt on Dicken? It’s a different tactic than going directly at him. It’s not a bad way to attack the good guy with a gun narrative. It doesn’t require any mind reading.

    frosty (de62c2)

  433. Just another black ops, mg…

    Colonel Haiku (d900e5)

  434. 443. Since the vaccine only creates immunity against the spike protein portion of the virus, there are likely to be more mutations there than in the whole virus, so natural infection should work better.

    Against the “Wuhan flu” one dose of the virus was not as good on average as an infection, but two doses were better even though the doses were spaced too closely together (ideal is more like 6 to 8 months . It’s like remembering how to spell a word – if you study that you’ve got to let a little time go by)

    Sammy Finkelman (1d215a)

  435. 444 445. The Federalist wants me to at least agree to a free trial.

    Halper might have become a spy, but he never got a job in the 2016 Trump campaign What’s the new developent?

    Sammy Finkelman (1d215a)

  436. The (last?) hearing begins at 8 pm. It goes into 187 minutes from when the disturbance began till when Trump made a public call to the people in the Capitol to leave.

    Sammy Finkelman (1d215a)

  437. Actually, that 187 minutes counted from when Trump left the podium at the Ellipse till he went out to give his recorded sppech tweet just after 4 pm

    But the hearing actually went on to talk about when Trump left the dining room (after 6) and even into the speech he delivered late the next day (January 7)

    They couldn’t let go of the misinformation and implied misinformation.

    The truth spilled over in the excerpts quoted or things alluded to but many people could go away with a lot of wrong impressions (which would not, of course, get corrected by pro-Trump people because they’d rather tell easy lies)

    One thing wrong: His tweet/speech at 4:07 or so was not Trump’s first (grudging) attempt tp quell the violence (it just wasn’t considered good enough, and, as someone in the mob said, which the committee played, telling them not to attack the police sounded like it was OK to attack members of Congress!

    Except for the fact that the police were in the way, so as a practical matter it amounted to a plea not to harm members of Congress also — and not just by implication, but explicitly because he also enjoined them to be peaceful.

    They still have this absurd hypothesis that Trump wanted to go to the Capitol to lead the charge on Congress (and that he needed that to stop the counting when he had already arranged with numerous members of Congress to stall it down for a minimum of 12 hours.)

    Sammy Finkelman (1d215a)

  438. I can’t find any transcript of the earing on the Internet yet. Video, yes but no transcript except for C-SPAN closed captioning maybe.

    Sammy Finkelman (1d215a)


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