Patterico's Pontifications

7/29/2022

Weekend Open Thread

Filed under: General — Dana @ 11:20 am



[guest post by Dana]

Let’s start the Weekend Open Thread with a funny first news item!

On manhood or some such jibber-jabber:

Related:

Missouri U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley is writing a book called “Manhood: The Masculine Virtues Americans Need,” building off a speech he gave at a conservative conference claiming the political left is waging a war on masculinity. “The American Founders believed that a republic depends on certain masculine virtues,” the book’s description on Amazon says. “Senator Josh Hawley thinks they were right. In a bold new book, he calls on American men to stand up and embrace their God-given responsibility as husbands, fathers, and citizens.” His office did not respond to a request for comment. The book’s announcement comes after Hawley was mocked by the U.S. House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, which showed a video of him running out of the U.S. Senate chamber as lawmakers, reporters and staff were being evacuated.

Second news item

Yet another case of disappearing text messages:

Text messages for Donald Trump’s top homeland security officials in the days leading up to the attack on the Capitol are missing, according to the Washington Post. Citing internal emails and four anonymous sources, the outlet claims that texts from Trump’s acting homeland security secretary, Chad Wolf, and acting deputy secretary Ken Cuccinelli, in a critical period before January 6, 2021, have vanished. The Department of Homeland Security reportedly informed the agency’s inspector general in February that the data was irretrievably lost in a government phone “reset” after they left their positions in January last year.

Third news item

China warns President Biden:

Beijing’s statement on the call warned in reference to Taiwan that “those who play with fire will perish by it.” A senior U.S. official briefing reporters on the call wouldn’t confirm whether Xi used that exact language, but confirmed the leaders discussed their “differences” over Taiwan.

…It’s no surprise that Taiwan was top of the agenda, with Beijing threatening “serious consequences” if House Speaker Nancy Pelosi follows through on a planned visit to the self-governing island.

The Chinese government has repeatedly vowed to take control of the island, by force if necessary, and it reacts furiously to any gesture that seems to treat Taiwan as an independent state. The senior administration official declined to say whether and how Pelosi’s potential visit was discussed on the call. But the official did say that Beijing and Washington had “managed” their differences over Taiwan for over 40 years.

The official confirmed that Biden told Xi the U.S. maintains its “One China Policy,” while stressing that “the United States strongly opposes unilateral efforts to change the status quo or undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.”

Fourth news item

Oh:

The White House responded to second-quarter negative GDP growth with a full slate of events and a well-coordinated message: Despite what everyone is saying, the U.S. economy is not in a recession.

President Joe Biden appeared in public twice Thursday, and both times he delivered the same carefully crafted remarks, contending that current low unemployment rates, coupled with new investments in manufacturing, make it impossible for the economy to be in a recession.

“Let me just give you what the facts are in terms of the state of the economy,” Biden said in a speech that was billed as remarks on the latest budget bill in Congress. “Number one, we have a record job market, and record unemployment of 3.6%, and businesses are investing in America at record rates.” He then listed several companies planning to build factories in the U.S. before concluding, “that doesn’t sound like a recession to me.”

I guess it depends on who the current POTUS is:

For a more detailed look at what makes a recession, look here.

Fifth news item

Best of luck on the uphill climb:

Dozens of former Republican and Democratic officials announced on Wednesday a new national political third party to appeal to millions of voters they say are dismayed with what they see as America’s dysfunctional two-party system.

The new party, called Forward and whose creation…will initially be co-chaired by former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang and Christine Todd Whitman, the former Republican governor of New Jersey. They hope the party will become a viable alternative to the Republican and Democratic parties that dominate U.S. politics, founding members told Reuters.

[…]

The new party is being formed by a merger of three political groups that have emerged in recent years as a reaction to America’s increasingly polarized and gridlocked political system. The leaders cited a Gallup poll last year showing a record two-thirds of Americans believe a third party is needed.

Related:

Politics is always a balancing act between strategy and sacrifice, calculation and compromise. Voting for Jorgensen or some other third-party candidate may seem tempting, or may even seem to have a certain logic to it. Like the Conscience Whigs before them, some Never Trump Republicans may feel themselves to be in a bind. Do they refuse to join the Biden coalition in the hopes of winning the longer war for the soul of conservatism? Do they ease their consciences by writing in Mitt Romney while effectively casting aside their votes? Do libertarians and other voters tempted by third-party candidates hold on to their purist convictions while knowing victory is impossible? Or do they compromise their principles to stop a man whom they have denounced as a threat to the very foundations of the republic? As frustrating as it may be, successful American politicking has always been coalitional.

Sixth news item

Protections for migrants crossing Southern border into the U.S.:

The Biden administration on Thursday authorized completion of the Trump-funded U.S.-Mexico border wall in an open area of southern Arizona near Yuma, where four wide gaps make it among the busiest corridors for illegal crossings.

The Department of Homeland Security said in a statement that the work to complete the project near the Morelos Dam will better protect migrants who can get hurt slipping down a slope or drown walking through a low section of the Colorado River.

The area is the third busiest crossing for migrants who can easily walk across the river to surrender to border officials.

Related:

Washington, D.C., mayor Muriel Bowser has asked that the D.C. National Guard be activated indefinitely to help the district respond to an influx of illegal immigrants arriving by bus, according to a report.

Bowser’s request to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and President Joe Biden comes as more than 150 buses from Arizona and Texas have brought more than 5,000 migrants to Washington, D.C. in the past three months.

Buses began bringing migrants from Texas border communities in mid-April under instruction from Governor Greg Abbott. Texas has sent more than 125 buses to D.C. One month later, Arizona began sending buses as well.

“With pledges from Texas and Arizona to continue these abhorrent operations indefinitely, the situation is dire, and we consider this a humanitarian crisis — one that could overwhelm our social support network without immediate and sustained federal intervention,” Bowser wrote.

[…]

“This mission would begin as soon as possible and continue indefinitely until the city relieves them,” she said. “To be clear, I recognize the magnitude of this request. But the Governors of Texas and Arizona are making a political statement to the federal government, and instead, their actions are having direct impacts on city and regional resources in ways that are unsustainable.”

Pretty sure the governors of Texas and Arizona would agree that such direct impacts on city and regional resources are absolutely unsustainable.

Seventh news item

Rep. Liz Cheney is out with a new political ad that is brief and to the point. (I’m unable to link to the video, so for now, here is the text of the ad which is a compilation of her competitors’ comments at last month’s candidate debate):

HARRIET HAGEMAN: “We have serious questions about the 2020 election.”

*BUZZER*

ROBYN BELINSKY: “And when I talked to Mike Lindell he did say there was a small, small portion of voter fraud in this state.”

*BUZZER*

ANTHONY BOUCHARD: “The system to steer people. We know for a fact that all the major Internets do that.”

*BUZZER*

LIZ CHENEY: “We’ve got to elect serious leaders. We have to elect leaders who will take their oath of office seriously. Leaders who won’t simply say what they think people want to hear.”

*CHIME*

Meanwhile, Cheney’s campaign continues to receive big donations from Californians:

Californians have contributed more to Republican Rep. Liz Cheney than donors from any other state, including her Wyoming home, as the outspoken Trump critic faces an increasingly perilous reelection bid.

Many California donors, including Hollywood and Silicon Valley moguls, vehemently disagree with most of Cheney’s policies but applaud her fight against former President Trump’s false claim that he won the 2020 election.

Cheney’s vote to impeach Trump after the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection and her prominent role as vice chair in televised House committee hearings into the attack have boosted her status nationally, even as they have hurt her in Wyoming, where she trails her GOP primary opponent by double digits. In heavily Democratic California, that has translated into donations totaling about $1.2 million.

And while Cheney trails Hageman by by 22 percentage, she remains resolute in her decision to hold Trump accountable and honor her oath to the Constitution:

“If I have to choose between maintaining a seat in the House of Representatives or protecting the constitutional republic and ensuring the American people know the truth about Donald Trump, I’m going to choose the Constitution and the truth every single day,” Cheney said recently on CNN.

[Pre-emptive strike: This is not the same as Democrats putting money behind Trump-backed-MAGA-loyalist-election-denier-conspiracy-theorist candidates in order to be positioned to win more easily in November. Cheney is not an election-denier, nor did she try to overturn election results. To the contrary.]

Eighth news item

President Biden picking and choosing according to his stripes:

President Joe Biden on Friday nominated Julie Rikelman, who argued the case for the Mississippi clinic before the Supreme Court in the case that led to the overturning of the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling, for a post on an US appeals court.

Rikelman’s nomination comes a month after the Supreme Court ruled there is no longer a nationwide right to obtain an abortion. Rikelman represented the Mississippi clinic — the last in the state — that challenged a state law barring abortion after 15 weeks.
As part of his 24th round of judicial nominees, Biden nominated Rikelman for the Boston-based 1st US Circuit Court of Appeals.

[…]

Rikelman currently serves as senior litigation director for the Center for Reproductive Rights and is considered one of the best abortion rights attorneys in the country. Biden’s move suggests an effort to bolster the bench with an expert on the issue at a time when more than half the states are prepared to ban if not further restrict the procedure.

Ninth news item

Troglodyte: Before an audience of young Republicans, Rep. Matt Gaetz make use an opportunity to tout Republican women who have bravely come forward to testify under oath before the Jan. 6 Committee but instead chose to attack…womens’ physical appearances:

Because the subject of abortion is a joking matter to him, and I guess young Republicans too. Anyway, 1955 is calling and wants its sexist pig back.

Tenth news item

Hero:

The Lafayette police department in Louisiana shared a press release on their social media that recounted how a pizza delivery man saved five children from a house fire.

According to the press release issued Friday, Nick Bostic, 25, was driving past Union Street early Monday, when he noticed a house on fire.

He quickly parked near the house and entered it from the backdoor. He then called out to wake the house’s residents who he assumed might be unaware of the escalating fire. He found four children in the bedroom and woke them up. They all rushed outside, but then Bostic was told that a six-year-old was still inside.

Bostic stepped inside the house once again to look for the child. By the time he found the child, Bostic had inhaled much smoke. However, he managed to hold the child and jump out of a window. The child was unharmed and Bostic was flown to Indianapolis for treatment.

P.S. Josh Hawley and the Claremont Institute guy might want to take note here.

Have a great weekend!

–Dana

546 Responses to “Weekend Open Thread”

  1. Hello.

    Dana (1225fc)

  2. Buses full of the recent illegal immigrants should be sent to each “sanctuary city”, especially those located in the Beltway/ACELA corridor. Sounds wholly appropriate.

    Mayor Bowser has an opportunity to make good on her open invitation and other like-minded mayors should be given that same opportunity.

    Colonel Haiku (50ef72)

  3. “Late Monday, Grassley issued a news release citing “multiple FBI whistleblowers, including those in senior positions,” who raised “the alarm about tampering by senior FBI and Justice Department officials in politically sensitive investigations,” including “investigative activity involving derogatory information on Hunter Biden’s financial and foreign business activities.” According to the Iowa Republican, the whistleblowers alleged that Washington Field Office Assistant Special Agent in Charge Timothy “Thibault and other FBI officials sought to falsely portray as disinformation evidence acquired from multiple sources that provided the FBI derogatory information related to Hunter Biden’s financial and foreign business activities, even though some of that information had already been or could be verified.”
    The news release added that “in August of 2020, FBI supervisory intelligence analyst Brian Auten opened an assessment, which was used by a team of agents at FBI headquarters to improperly discredit and falsely claim that derogatory information about Biden’s activities was disinformation, causing investigative activity and sourcing to be shut down.” The FBI headquarters team allegedly placed their assessment findings in a restricted access subfolder, effectively flagging sources and derogatory evidence related to Hunter Biden as disinformation while shielding the justification for such findings from scrutiny,” according to Grassley.

    The Iowa senator claimed that “Thibault also reportedly ordered the closure of a stream of information related to Hunter Biden and sought to improperly mark the matter within FBI systems in a way that would prevent it from being re-opened in the future.” “The FBI headquarters team allegedly claimed that reporting from the stream was at risk of disinformation,” but the whistleblowers told Grassley, “that all of the information obtained through that stream was already verified or verifiable.”

    The FBI whistleblowers’ charges, if accurate, are devastating and mean that at a time that Hunter Biden was already reportedly under investigation by the Delaware U.S. Attorney’s Office, rather than work with the agents already investigating then-candidate Joe Biden’s son, FBI headquarters initiated its own “assessment.” Then, according to the whistleblowers, agents improperly shut down sources, falsely framed evidence as disinformation, and hid the reasoning for that determination from other FBI agents behind restricted areas.”

    https://thefederalist.com/2022/07/26/fbi-jeopardized-national-security-by-calling-verified-hunter-biden-evidence-disinformation-whistleblowers-say/

    Colonel Haiku (50ef72)

  4. No, this promotional video of Putin’s Russia is not satire, but this rejoinder video is.

    Paul Montagu (062b7e)

  5. The New York Times magazine had an article a few weeks ago (July 10 issue) about circadian cycles and medicine and food – or at least it attempted to be that.

    https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/06/magazine/circadian-medicine.html

    It actually amounted to a collection of assorted facts not put together in any particular order. Too many things about all topics are written that way. College graduates got used to writing term papers that way – collect notes, write them up, and they think it is good. Nothing could be truly more disorganized. There’s no thinking about what it means. (But I don’t mind it, and the only unifying theme is that there’s something there to know. But I’d like to know more.

    I think the writer did not even realize that some of the effects was related not to the time of day but to the relation of the time of eating food versus time of sleep, even though she cited several things that indicate that . (digesting food during sleep interferes a little bit with the benefits of sleep, I think)

    It had a lot of interesting stray facts – that’s what it was, a collection of many stray facts, with some history of the research scattered through it inserted in any which place – stray facts that maybe someone could put together in their own way. So it’s good, really for someone prepared to read this as 30 different snippets. I maybe find it a bit serendipitous and anyway the writer doesn’t have any idea how the facts might fit together, even a little bit..

    But I don’t think wound healing is better in the morning – maybe the injury is less – but healing I think takes place during sleep.

    It also noted that sometimes the best time for men is the worst time for women for taking some drugs but did not go into further detail. It was talking about chemotherapy drugs for cancer snd did not mention a single name of a cancer drug.

    One point – maybe the only point in the article – was that time of day matters, but she indicated that on the other hand it’s virtually impossible to research, (and drug companies are not interested in researching it) and it’s virtually impossible to expect someone not interested in taking things on a timetable to do it.

    One excerpt:

    A new drug usually takes at least a decade to develop. Hogenesch thinks that we could take advantage of our biological clocks to improve the efficacy and reduce the side effects of the drugs we already have. In August 2019, he and his colleagues published a paper in Science noting that the circadian half of our genome includes many targets of the roughly 2,000 prescription drugs available in the United States. Very few of those medicines have been tested clinically at multiple times of day. Only four of the top 50 most-prescribed drugs come with F.D.A.-approved recommendations for when they should be taken.

    Hogenesch had hoped that pharmaceutical company executives would read the Science paper and be inspired to retest their existing drugs with timing as a variable. Besides improving those on the market, the companies might also find that experimental drugs that did not work well enough to obtain federal approval previously would do so if given at a different hour. Hogenesch says he has personally raised the paper’s conclusions with executives from at least two major drug companies. Their response: “ ‘That’s really interesting. Great paper,’” Hogenesch says. “And then they change nothing.” That may be because it’s easier to make drugs that remain active all day in the body than it is to get people to take a pill, or multiple pills, at specified times.

    Sammy Finkelman (1d215a)

  6. We can add this Putin war crime to the pile of others.
    For those poo-pooing that sanctions against the Putin regime aren’t working, wrong.
    Dr. Snyder has an assessment on the state of Putin’s war. I won’t say that Russia is winning or losing, but Putin is clearly in a quagmire of his own making, and he may well lose Kherson, a city that controls a significant amount of the water supply to the Crimean region.

    Paul Montagu (062b7e)

  7. Paul Montagu (062b7e) — 7/29/2022 @ 12:01 pm

    this promotional video of Putin’s Russia is not satire

    Maybe it is <b? satire, or a burlesque, except that whoever did it being paid by the target of the satire.

    When someone wants to promote lies they may not always realize what is absurd.

    Cheap taxis as an important point?

    Sammy Finkelman (1d215a)

  8. Sammy, it could be a promotional video intended for domestic consumption, trying to convince Russians that their country is not a sh-thole, despite sh-thole the country is.

    Paul Montagu (062b7e)

  9. BTW, the “Winter is coming” line at the end of the promotional video sounds more like a threat a al Games of Thrones than an exhortation to act now.

    Paul Montagu (062b7e)

  10. If Pelosi had stones, she’d tell Xi to mind his own f-cking business as she doesn’t take orders from authoritarian communist regimes.

    Paul Montagu (062b7e)

  11. @10. If Pelosi had stones, she’d tell Xi to mind his own f-cking business as she doesn’t take orders from authoritarian communist regimes.

    Oh please… just their influence-peddling money:

    Beijing Nancy: Pelosi Shifted Her China Stance as Her Family Scored Beijing Deals

    ‘House Speaker Nancy Pelosi softened her previous criticisms of China’s communist regime as her husband and son scored big business deals in China…’

    https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2022/01/26/beijing-nancy-pelosi-shifted-her-china-stance-as-her-family-scored-beijing-deals/

    Confucius say Speaker on top of Hill not on level: ‘$$$$ Ka-Ching $$$$’

    DCSCA (0ffd97)

  12. CPAC is no longer conservative, it’s right-wing…RWPAC.

    Not welcome at CPAC:
    George W. Bush
    Mitt Romney
    Liz Cheney
    Adam Kinzinger
    Larry Hogan
    Pro vaccine individuals

    Welcome to CPAC:
    Viktor Orban
    Marjorie Taylor Greene
    Tulsi Gabbard
    Matt Gaetz
    Sarah Palin
    Mike Lindell

    This comment may be more applicable in Patterico’s recent post.

    Paul Montagu (062b7e)

  13. Re: First item-

    Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene: ‘Toxic Masculinity’ Should Be Top Military Requirement
    ……..
    “They purged the military,” the extremist congresswoman said during an appearance on the “Dear America” podcast hosted by Graham Allen, a right-wing media personality and Army veteran.

    “The warriors are leaving,” Allen said.

    “Absolutely,” Greene added. “Why do they want to be there? They’re going through woke training. Their toxic masculinity is completely not accepted, even though, what are the military for? I would think toxic masculinity would be a No. 1 requirement.”

    “They should be like, ‘Are you a toxic male? Please sign up,’” she added.
    ………

    Graham wondered whether the outcome of the Uvalde, Texas, school massacre would’ve been different if we “wouldn’t have lost all our warriors” due to COVID-19 vaccination policies.

    “Now we have to ask the same question about our military,” he said.
    …….

    Rip Murdock (726b13)

  14. At this point, not only should Pelosi go to Taiwan, but also Schumer, McConnell and McCarthy.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  15. Not welcome at CPAC:

    Neocons.

    DCSCA (d53178)

  16. On the 9th news item: Matt Louis Gaetz, II doesn’t have any children.

    And he had to have help from an associate, Joel Greenberg, to get dates, an associate who is now under indictment for sex trafficking. If the investigators are right, Gaetz often (usually, always?) had to pay girls to go out with him.

    So perhaps he is not the best person to discuss others’ attractivness. (Those young Republicans should find better speakers in the future. And someone should tell them that homely people vote, too.)

    Jim Miller (406a93)

  17. Some effort ought to be made on Project Thor. Launch costs are way down. We’d need to open some tungsten mines in the US on the down-low, but that’s doable.

    If we ever have to go to war with Russia or China, being able to smash their ground-based missiles with fast, non-nuclear weapons would be a good thing. We already know how to take out their subs. Without those, bombers are a poor bluff.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  18. More Matt Gaetz:

    Pence’s former chief of staff hits back at Matt Gaetz, saying he’ll likely be ‘in prison for child sex trafficking’ — in what looks like a growing schism in Trumpworld
    ……..
    Speaking on Sunday at the right-wing group Turning Point USA’s student conference, Gaetz downplayed Pence’s qualifications as a leader and emphatically said, “Our America is proudly ultra-MAGA.”

    Gaetz added: “Let me just say what everyone here knows: Mike Pence will never be president.”

    In an interview with CNN, Short brushed off the comments and lobbed an insult of his own.

    “I don’t know if Mike Pence will run for president in 2024, but I don’t think Matt Gaetz will have an impact on that — in fact, I’d be surprised if he’s still voting,” Short said. “It’s more likely that he’ll be in prison for child sex trafficking by 2024, and I’m actually surprised that Florida law enforcement still allows him to speak to teenage conferences like that.”
    …….

    Ouch!

    Related:

    Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) was among the 20 House Republicans who voted on Tuesday against a bill that seeks to combat human trafficking.

    The legislation, titled the Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act, passed in a 401-20 vote, with all opposition coming from Republicans. …….
    ………
    Gaetz was joined by GOP Reps. Brian Babin (Texas), Andy Biggs (Ariz.), Lauren Boebert (Colo.), Mo Brooks (Ala.), Ken Buck (Colo.), Andrew Clyde (Ga.), Louie Gohmert (Texas), Paul Gosar (Ariz.), Marjorie Taylor Greene (Ga.), Andy Harris (Md.), Jody Hice (Ga.), Thomas Massie (Ky.), Tom McClintock (Calif.), Mary Miller (Ill.), Troy Nehls (Texas), Ralph Norman (S.C.), Scott Perry (Pa.), Chip Roy (Texas) and Van Taylor (Texas).
    ………

    The usual suspects, insurrectionists all.

    Rip Murdock (726b13)

  19. CPAC is no longer conservative, it’s right-wing…RWPAC.

    Actually, it’s PPPAC — Pro-Putin PAC

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  20. #12 Does Victor Orban know that Sarah Palin is a race mixer, since Todd Palin has a Yup’ik great grandmother?

    Jim Miller (406a93)

  21. If Pelosi had stones, she’d tell Xi to mind his own f-cking business as she doesn’t take orders from authoritarian communist regimes.

    But she does, just not Xi’s.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  22. Prediction: total abortion ban states will find the voters are not amused.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  23. If the investigators are right, Gaetz often (usually, always?) had to pay girls to go out with him.

    Incel alert.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  24. Mayor Bowser has an opportunity to make good on her open invitation and other like-minded mayors should be given that same opportunity.

    I wish no ill will on the present livelihoods of my fellow citizens but it’s probably a good bet the G-11s and beliw that Mayor Bowsers core constituency could stand to take a fire up their butte for the competition potential.

    urbanleftbehind (289742)

  25. Kevin, since you’re here, a question: What do you think would be an appropriate punishment for Trump?

    (I would be satisfied with a time-out — as long as it lasted at least ten years. And he had to spend much of that time sitting in a corner.)

    Others, of course, are welcome to give their thoughts, since this is an open thread.

    Jim Miller (406a93)

  26. Texas take note – tone down the fire and brimstone jibber jabber on absorption and voila- https://www.foxnews.com/politics/biden-admin-quietly-approves-construction-us-mexico-border-wall-near-yuma-arizona

    urbanleftbehind (289742)

  27. Karnak says house arrest at Mar a Lago, anything untoward will be met with a Scarface final scene remake

    urbanleftbehind (289742)

  28. It’s more than a little weird that the inaugural LIV golf tournament (financed with dirty Saudi money) also happens to be Ivana’s final resting place.

    As usual, conspiracy theory ran strong in Trump when he–in defense of him taking dirty Saudi money–hinted lied that “nobody’s gotten to the bottom of 9/11”. Please GOP, nominate someone else.

    Paul Montagu (062b7e)

  29. More acceptable as a trade for Brittney Griner would be these two:

    https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-07-28/hawaiian-couple-charged-using-fake-identities-of-dead-children/101278098

    Faded polaroid photos allegedly show the pair wearing the uniforms of former Russian Spy Agency the KGB.

    A “close associate” said Ms Morrison lived in Romania while it was part of the Soviet Union, Mr Muehleck said.

    Mr Morrison’s lawyer, Megan Kau, said her client had never lived in Romania, and that she and Mr Primrose had posed for photos in the uniform as a joke.

    They are probably Russian spies. Just the kind that Putin would recruit – finding out nothing.

    Romania was not part of the Soviet Union but Moldova was.

    Sammy Finkelman (1d215a)

  30. @14. Too late. But the ballsy, one-upmanship move would be keeping Nancy home– and the President of the United States going to Taiwan in her place. Go ahead, Xi, risk a shoot down of AF1 or her escorts– and the POTUS. But alas, Bunker Joe ca barely find the bathroom.

    Reagan didn’t go to war w/Russia in ’83 when KAL-007 was shot down with a mere conservative congresscritter from Georgia, Larry McDonald, aboard– who at the time was also the second president of the conservative John Birch Society. And lest we forget Dubya’s Dilemma:

    U.S. says sorry, China to free crew

    – U.S. ‘regret’ over pilot’s death
    – 24 air crew to travel home
    – China to question U.S. surveillance

    https://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/apr/11/china.usa

    “The target is destroyed.” -Major Gennadiy Osipovich, Soviet pilot, Su-15 interceptor that shotdown KAL-007, 1983

    DCSCA (d53178)

  31. If he stays at Bedminster well beyond the end of the LIV event, he might be signaling his way of dealing with the “DeSantis same state negation of electoral vote” problem.

    urbanleftbehind (289742)

  32. Its public knowledge that the hesd of Saudi intelligence was sudeenly fired ten days before September 11, 2001, after nearly a quarter of a century.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turki_bin_Faisal_Al_Saud

    …From 1979 to 2001, Prince Turki was the director general of Al Mukhabarat Al ‘Ammah, Saudi Arabia’s intelligence agency, resigning the position on 1 September 2001, some ten days before the September 11 attacks in which 14 Saudi nationals hijacked commercial American airliners. Prince Turki subsequently served as ambassador to the Court of St. James’s and the United States.[1]

    …Prince Turki’s resignation was unexpected since his term had been extended on 24 May 2001 for another four years.[18][19] He was replaced by Nawaf bin Abdul Aziz in the post who had “no background in intelligence whatsoever.”[20] The New York Times later reports: “The timing of Turki’s removal—August 31—and his Taliban connection raise the question: Did the Saudi regime know that bin Laden was planning his attack against the US?”[21]

    Maybe they knew something, but they didn’t have enough tie to find out what was going on and stop it, all the while keeping it secret from the United States.

    Sammy Finkelman (1d215a)

  33. Paul – I would not think it amiss were you to copy your #120 from the previous post, here. That is an important story.

    Jim Miller (406a93)

  34. The DOJ just indicted a Russian FSB agent for engaging in a “years-long malign influence campaign targeting American politics — alleging that he used American groups in Florida, Georgia and California to sow discord and push pro-Russia propaganda.”

    Another somewhat appropriate trade for Brittney Griner

    Sammy Finkelman (1d215a)

  35. Done, Jim.
    Here’s some breaking news. The DOJ just indicted a Russian FSB agent for engaging in a “years-long malign influence campaign targeting American politics — alleging that he used American groups in Florida, Georgia and California to sow discord and push pro-Russia propaganda.”

    Ionov “allegedly orchestrated a brazen influence campaign, turning U.S. political groups and U.S. citizens into instruments of the Russian government,” Matthew Olsen, head of the Justice Department’s national security division, said in a written statement.

    In 2017 and 2019, Ionov allegedly monitored and supported the campaigns of two Americans running for local office, identified in court papers only as Unindicted Co-Conspirator-3 and Unindicted Co-Conspirator-4. Before the 2019 primary, Ionov allegedly wrote to a Russian official that he had been “consulting every week” on one campaign. After one of the candidates advanced to the general election, a Russian intelligence officer allegedly wrote to Ionov that “our election campaign is kind of unique” and asked, “are we the first in history?” Ionov later sent the intelligence officer details about the election, referring to that candidate as the one “whom we supervise.”

    In 2016, according to authorities, Ionov paid for the St. Petersburg group to conduct a four-city protest tour in support of a “Petition on Crime of Genocide Against African People in the United States” — a document the group had previously submitted to the United Nations at Ionov’s behest.

    Charging documents did not identify the group, but officials familiar with the case said it was an organization known as Uhuru House, which is run by the African People’s Socialist Party. Uhuru House did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment.

    It’ll only be a matter of time before the other traitorous groups and individuals are identified.

    Paul Montagu (062b7e)

  36. $26 It is less well-known that it ought to be, but George W. Bush proposed, and Congress passed, without much fuss, contruction of miles of border walls. I think they play a small, but necessary, part in border security, but are not nearly as imprtant as, for example, E-Verify.

    Research shows that E-Verify harms the labor market outcomes of illegal immigrants and improves the labor market outcomes of Mexican legal immigrants and U.S.-born Hispanics, but has no impact on labor market outcomes for non-Hispanic white Americans.[6] A 2016 study suggests that E-Verify reduces the number of illegal immigrants in states that have mandated use of E-Verify for all employers, and further notes that the program may deter illegal immigration to the United States in general.

    The effectiveness of border walls by themseves is limited because there are so many possible ways around, through, below, and over them. If you can’t think of at least a dozen, without much effort, you aren’t trying very hard.

    Jim Miller (406a93)

  37. “Democrats are complaining that Biden is showing no signs of “engagement” with the duties of his office and doesn’t answer their phone calls.

    Allies to President Biden are voicing frustration about the political operation inside the White House as the midterm elections draw closer and the president readies for a possible reelection bid.
    The allies say the lack of a “personal touch” from Biden has left them underwhelmed, with calls going unanswered, simple requests lacking a reply and little — if any — proactive outreach from staff inside the White House.

    “The most important thing is people just want to feel engaged,” said a longtime Biden ally, one of a dozen sources interviewed by The Hill who say Biden needs to do more to build support for the party and for his own political prospects to successfully run for reelection.”

    https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/3577211-biden-allies-say-enthusiasm-gap-fueled-by-lack-of-engagement-personal-touch/

    And there’s this…

    https://rumble.com/v1dur7x-tucker-carlson-this-is-horrible-for-all-of-us.html

    Colonel Haiku (c8bfe8)

  38. They’ve got things to the point where, in certain locations, it largely can’t be done without the help of the Mexican drug cartels.

    Previously, coyotes only had to pay a “tax” and many people got through on their own.

    https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/25/us/migrant-smuggling-evolution.html

    Previously, migrants entering Laredo, Texas, waded across the river on their own and faded into the dense, urban landscape. Now, according to interviews with migrants and law enforcement officials, it is impossible to cross without paying a coyote connected to the Cartel del Noreste, a splinter of the Los Zetas syndicate.

    Smugglers often enlist teenagers to transport arrivals to stash houses in working-class neighborhoods. After they gather several dozen people, they load the migrants onto trucks parked in Laredo’s vast warehouse district around Killam Industrial Boulevard.

    Rigs hauling migrants blend with the 20,000 trucks that travel daily on the I-35 freeway to and from Laredo, the country’s busiest land port. Border Patrol agents posted at checkpoints inspect only a fraction of all the vehicles to ensure traffic keeps flowing.

    Sammy Finkelman (1d215a)

  39. Cheney is suppprting a leftist propaganda war. Makes sense for the left to fund her quixotic campaign.

    NJRob (858c6b)

  40. It’s not the entire “left” that is supporting Cheney. I don;t think her ads are good enough They are merely a cute way to show what side her oppponents are on.

    Sammy Finkelman (1d215a)

  41. I am not male, so it’s possible that I have been misinformed, but my impression was that thumbs, and in fact entire hands, often get action from young (and even older) men.

    (also, Matt Gaetz is quite unattractive. His forehead looks like it’s about to collapse onto his cheekbones, entirely blocking his eyes. So he probably shouldn’t be talking about other people’s looks)

    In related thoughts, the manliest guy I know is a Bernie Democrat and the most traditionally masculine republican in my family did not vote for Trump.

    Nic (896fdf)

  42. The problem with the migrants in DC is only a failure of the local government to meet its (charitable) commitments, and that because some people are being taken to places where they have no family, and it is sudden.

    This will resolve itself, and not by causing more people to die and therefore deter others from coming.

    Sammy Finkelman (1d215a)

  43. @39. Nah. Daughter Darth’s just a desperate, clinging Neocon on her way down to her doom… just like Dr. No:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiX2m7VAIHI

    DCSCA (cf871c)

  44. 28- It is the 3rd LIV Golf Tournament.

    mg (8cbc69)

  45. https://www.wsj.com/articles/redefining-the-r-word-recession-biden-economy-advisers-gdp-nber-semantics-poltics-gramm-rudman-hollings-11658951723

    Economists have long defined a recession as “a period in which real GDP declines for at least two consecutive quarters,” to quote the popular economics textbook by Nobel laureates Paul Samuelson and William Nordhaus. This definition isn’t perfect, but it describes almost every downturn since World War II.

    With expectations of low or even negative growth for the first two quarters of 2022, President Biden’s Council of Economic Advisers has been trying to blunt the news by disavowing this textbook definition. It is “neither the official definition nor the way economists evaluate the state of the business cycle,” reads a post on the White House website. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen endorsed the claim on NBC over the weekend.

    In place of the standard economic definition of a recession, administration officials point to the business-cycle dating committee of the National Bureau of Economic Research as the “official recession scorekeeper.” It’s a highly convenient move for them. While the nonpartisan NBER employs a robust set of indicators to pinpoint recessions, it does so retrospectively. The great recession of 2007-09, for example, had already been under way for a year before the NBER released its determination. Sometimes recessions end by the time NBER classifies them, and this built-in delay limits the utility of NBER scorekeeping for real-time policy decisions…

    ….There is no federal statute that appoints the NBER as the official arbiter of recessions. Quite the contrary, the federal government has historically followed the conventional textbook definition. The Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act of 1985, which attempted to rein in the deficit by triggering mandatory sequestrations in federal agencies, introduced a recessionary escape clause for tough economic times. If the Congressional Budget Office projected a recession, Congress could fast-track a vote to suspend the sequestrations. The law defined a recession as a period when “real economic growth is projected or estimated to be less than zero with respect to each of any two consecutive quarters.” The CBO could also trigger a suspension for “low growth” if the change in GDP dropped below 1% for two quarters.

    Although the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act succumbed long ago to the profligate pressures of deficit spending, its “two consecutive quarters” standard may be the closest thing to an official definition of recession. Derivative language still appears in the federal statute books, and it has long been used as a basis for other counter-recessionary measures governing federal employment. Canada and the U.K. also employ the two-quarter definition to designate the onset of a technical recession, further attesting to its legitimacy. Where did this quick and dirty definiton of arecession come from?

    https://www.wsj.com/articles/as-night-follows-day-stagflation-day-follows-the-2020-21-stimulus-recession-fed-fomc-interest-rates-gdp-output-inflation-11658773238

    The White House is working hard to pre-debunk the idea that a negative growth number will mean the U.S. is in recession. In an unusual statement late last week its economists noted: “While some maintain that two consecutive quarters of falling real GDP constitute a recession, that is neither the official definition nor the way economists evaluate the state of the business cycle.”

    As it happens, the president’s economists are right. The origin of the idea that a recession is defined by two consecutive quarters of declining output is unclear. My favorite theory is that, in a neat bit of political symmetry for today, the definition was invented by President Lyndon B. Johnson’s advisers to prove that after a bad run of economic news, the U.S. wasn’t in a recession.

    Second article links to:
    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/recession/3917367/Definition-of-a-recession-drawn-up-on-back-of-an-envelope.html

    Sammy Finkelman (1d215a)

  46. Leftist California congresstrash, Linda Sanchez, gives the middle finger to Republicans on the same site as fellow leftist shot Republican Congressman Steve Scalise.

    https://nypost.com/2022/07/29/rep-linda-sanchez-flips-off-gop-dugout-at-congressional-baseball-game/

    NJRob (426b8e)

  47. The dc immigration bussing issue shows the problem with the federal system when one state does this to another state or dc. Again showing the problem with the conservative view of limited (legal) action in striking back.

    asset (2388a6)

  48. Kevin, since you’re here, a question: What do you think would be an appropriate punishment for Trump?

    Any situation that results in his being barred from politics. Not just running for office, but barred from engaging in political discourse.

    This would require him to be convicted of a crime, which could be commuted with conditions, or be charged with one and plead out with a suspended sentence.

    I see no purpose in jailing him — his crimes are all seditious and a proper punishment for sedition is STFU.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  49. But if that’s not possible: half-hanged, drawn and quartered.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  50. anything untoward will be met with a Scarface final scene remake

    That didn’t work out so well for Scarface.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  51. I want the people who broke the law supporting his plan prosecuted as well.

    Time123 (4dba4b)

  52. @46: I’d have my pitcher throw behind her head.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  53. If trump gets an all black jury in d.c. (if no change of venue) conviction possible ;but trumpsters and the states they control would not put up with that. This is why system is reluctant for political show trials.

    asset (2388a6)

  54. NJ Rob:

    Scalise was shot at a practice in Alexandria, VA, not Nationals Park in south DC. And she didn’t unleash the middle finger until she had passed by 1/2 of the players…she either heard a moo sound from someone in particular or saw Mayra Flores or Mike Garcia (R vendidos in her view).

    Bad enough shes probably always been the fat sister to marginally attractive and down to flick Loretta Sanchez.

    urbanleftbehind (289742)

  55. The SCOTUS leaker keeps leaking– this time, hot gas out the aft end of his service module:

    Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito defends abortion ruling, slams critics at religious event

    July 29 (UPI) — U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, a conservative member of the court and the one who wrote the ruling last month that struck down legalized abortion nationwide, defended the decision and slammed world leaders who opposed it in a keynote speech in Italy.

    Alito was the one who penned the decision striking down Roe vs. Wade in a related Mississippi case on June 24, and was the author of the draft that leaked to the press in May that indicated the high court would overturn the 49-year-old landmark law. In a keynote address in Rome that was put on by the University of Notre Dame Law School, the 72-year-old justice who was appointed to the seat by former President George W. Bush in 2006 defended the ruling and took aim at critics, including Britain’s Prince Harry and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

    The 35-minute speech at the religious liberty summit last week featured Alito’s first public remarks since the highly controversial abortion ruling last month. Alito criticized Johnson for denouncing the ruling as a “big step backwards” and seemed to imply that the leader’s opinion on the matter had something to do with his resignation this month. “I had the honor this term of writing I think the only Supreme Court decision in the history of that institution that has been lambasted by a whole string of foreign leaders who felt perfectly fine commenting on American law,” Alito said at the summit, which was help on July 21.

    “One of these was former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, but he paid the price.” At times, the bearded Alito turned to sarcasm in his commentary — especially in his remarks about Prince Harry, who warned in a speech at United Nations headquarters in New York City this month of “the rolling back of constitutional rights here in the U.S.,” which he said contributed to “a painful year in a painful decade.” Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle moved to California a couple years ago after resigning from their royal duties. “What really wounded me, what really wounded me,” Alito said sarcastically, “was when the Duke of Sussex addressed the United Nations and seemed to compare the decision … with the Russian attack on Ukraine. “Despite this temptation I am not going to talk about cases from other countries.”

    Throughout much of the speech, the Catholic Alito championed religious rights and warned about the decline of faith in America, where he said “hostility to religion” is becoming more evident. “The problem that looms is not just the indifference to religion, it’s not just ignorance about religion,” he said. “There’s also growing hostility to religion, or at least the traditional religious beliefs that are contrary to the new moral code that is ascendant in some sectors.”

    Alito and other conservative members of the Supreme Court were heavily criticized at the end of their term last month for multiple highly divisive rulings, such as the abortion decision and others that struck down a gun safety law in New York and gutted the federal government’s authority to restrict climate-changing greenhouse carbon emissions. The rulings, plus another that gave teachers the right to pray on school grounds, were widely seen as major victories for conservatives and religious rights supporters.’ – https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2022/07/29/abortion-samuel-alito-speech-supreme-court/7661659093955/

    A zealous, byzantine, be-robed Catholic in ancient Rome; kissing other be-robed butts in the cult; maybe a ring or two– and singing the ‘Vatican Rag’… hit it, Tom:

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

    DCSCA (9d864e)

  56. If trump gets an all black jury in d.c.

    Bannon didn’t get much help from MAGA. I was actually surprised he didn’t ask for a bench trial, but then he was planning on a blame-the-cops defense.

    Trump probably could not change the venue as nowhere nearby is much better. His best strategy would be to claim entrapment and subpoena Pelosi, Biden and other actors, claiming that they not only allowed the violence to happen, but weakened the police presence to make it more certain.

    Doesn’t matter though, he’ll never go to trial. A deal would be cut.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  57. Putting dots together, with scissors:

    Xi has a problem. His 2nd term as party boss has not gone well. Covid is bad enough, but China’s Number One customer has decided they’ll buy somewhere else and foreign capital is fleeing. His buddy Putin is fully engaged in pissing off Number One and Number Two customer and asking Xi for help, which he grudgingly gives. Rock, hard place.

    Now, he’s crushed Hong Kong, and the flood of capital outward hasn’t yet occurred, but he still needs a big win before Party Congress in a few months.

    So, Taiwan. All the world’s semiconductor fabs and all that nice cutting edge equipment that he cannot buy for China. National sovereignty. What could be better for his ascension to Chairman, but a short, victorious war.

    And here comes Nancy, right on time. If he plays his cards right, he can attack Taiwan, blame it on Pelosi, and get MAGA in the US to take his side.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  58. Former Covington Catholic Student Nick Sandmann Loses Defamation Lawsuits Against CBS, ABC, NYT, and Others
    ………
    Sandmann’s cases against ABC News, Rolling Stone magazine, CBS News, newspaper and television station owner Gannett, and The New York Times are now officially listed as “terminated” on the court record.

    Sandmann sued the five organizations in question — and a few others, including CNN and NBC — on March 2, 2020. The lawsuits alleged that various articles and broadcasts defamed Sandmann by characterizing his actions toward Nathan Phillips, a Native American activist, on Jan. 18, 2019 in Washington, D.C., as nefarious. …….
    ………
    All parties moved for various forms of summary judgment, and a judge agreed to dismiss the cases by agreeing with the five media defendants and disagreeing with Sandmann’s attorneys. ……..
    ……….
    (Senior U.S. District Judge William O. Bertelsman) noted that CNN “filed an early motion to dismiss which the Court granted” on July 26, 2019.

    “In that opinion, the Court held that none of the statements were actionable for various reasons: some were not ‘about’ Sandmann; some were statements of opinion; and/or some were not subject to a defamatory meaning,” Bertelsman recalled.

    ……….. Sandmann filed a motion to reconsider; the judge agreed to resuscitate the matter on “narrow” grounds. At issue in the resurrected case were “Phillips’s statements that Sandmann had ‘blocked’ Phillips and ‘would not allow him to retreat,’” the judge wrote.
    ………..
    CNN settled with Sandmann in January 2020; NBC settled in December 2021.…….
    ……….
    Bertelsman noted that “the only evidence filed in the record consists of: (1) Sandmann’s deposition; (2) a declaration under oath by Phillips; (3) seven declarations under oath by persons in attendance at the incident; and (4) a collection of video recordings taken at the National Mall that day.”
    ………..
    In analyzing the remaining legal issues, Bertelsman said some of Sandmann’s legal arguments were “without merit.”

    As noted above, the Court expressly held that while the allegations of Sandmann’s complaints passed the ‘plausibility’ test at the pleading stage, and that discovery should be had on the context of Phillips’s statements, the actionability of the statements would be revisited on summary judgment,” Bertelsman wrote. “Sandmann’s insistence that the Court cannot now revisit this legal issue is ironic considering that he vigorously, and successfully, moved the Court to reconsider its initial ruling in The [Washington] Post case”.

    “In sum, the law of the case doctrine does not preclude this Court from reconsidering anew on summary judgment legal issues raised at the pleading stage………

    ………..
    Specifically, as to the claim that Sandmann “blocked” Phillips from advancing, Bertelsman ruled as follows:

    Applying the above legal authorities, and with the benefit of a more developed record, the Court concludes that Phillips’s statements that Sandmann “blocked” him and “wouldn’t allow [him] to retreat” are objectively unverifiable and thus unactionable opinions.Instead, a reasonable reader would understand that Phillips was simply conveying his view of the situation. And because the reader knew from the articles that this encounter occurred at the foot of the Lincoln Memorial, he or she would know that the confrontation occurred in an expansive area such that it would be difficult to know what might constitute “blocking” another person in that setting.

    Judge Bertelsman then criticized Sandmann’s lawyers for arguing a premise that the evidence doesn’t support:

    Interestingly, plaintiff’s responsive memorandum to the joint motion for summary judgment argues that “blocking” is factual because “it involves the oppositional position of two human bodies in a confined space.” ………But, as the videos depict, the area where this encounter occurred was a huge, outdoor setting, not a confined space.

    …………
    Later, Bertelsman suggested that the press did little more than to report Philips’ version of the events. Phillips’ version of the events were opinions, not facts, the judge concluded.

    “The media defendants were covering a matter of great public interest, and they reported Phillips’s first-person view of what he experienced,” the judge wrote. “This would put the reader on notice that Phillips was simply giving his perspective on the incident.”

    “Therefore, in the factual context of this case, Phillips’s ‘blocking’ statements are protected opinions,” Bertelsman rationed. “This holding moots all other motions before the Court.”

    ……….
    Sandmann, who has at times tweeted about the lawsuits he filed, has not tweeted about the dismissal as of the time of this report.

    Rip Murdock (726b13)

  59. So, if I have an opinion that a private citizen “X” is a child-rapist, and a credulous NBC reporter reports on the Nightly News that “X is a child-rapist”, they”re just quoting my opinion and it’s not actionable?

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  60. Those two sisters attended my high school – after me, thankfully.

    Bring back Ed Royce.

    Colonel Haiku (b3fab2)

  61. 2 months in and if the supreme leaker was indeed a Justice, the liberal reporter at Politico who broke the story and published the draft opinion now has kompromat on her or him. That is one heckuva “Get out of Jail Free Card”.

    mg (8cbc69)

  62. The problem, I think, is that the rule of decision is Kentucky law and Kentucky does not have a cause of action for false light defamation, if I recall correctly. So even though the media painted Sandmann and the other kids as racists, they could only sue for express defamatory statements asserted as facts, and not the general impression (false light) given out.

    nk (77422f)

  63. I read an article earlier this week that said that part of the problem was that Sandman himself had written/said that he’s seen Phillips walking in his direction and other people getting out of Phillips way and had decided that he wasn’t going to and stood his ground. IANAL, though, and I don’t know how much that would/wouldn’t affect the case.

    Nic (896fdf)

  64. So, if I have an opinion that a private citizen “X” is a child-rapist, and a credulous NBC reporter reports on the Nightly News that “X is a child-rapist”, they”re just quoting my opinion and it’s not actionable?

    Kevin M (eeb9e9) — 7/29/2022 @ 4:17 pm

    My guess is that the person you name as a child rapist would sue you, not the reporter.

    Rip Murdock (726b13)

  65. 2 months in and if the supreme leaker was indeed a Conservative Justice, the liberal reporter at Politico who broke the story would have accidentally left her laptop in the MSNBC newsroom.

    fify

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  66. Bad enough shes probably always been the fat sister to marginally attractive and down to flick Loretta Sanchez.

    urbanleftbehind (289742) — 7/29/2022 @ 3:14 pm

    Knowing Chicano culture, I’m sure she’s been called a gordita more than once.

    Factory Working Orphan (2775f0)

  67. My guess is that the person you name as a child rapist would sue you, not the reporter.

    For my opinion that the reporter mistook as fact?

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  68. Man’s 63-month prison term matches longest for Capitol riot
    ………
    Mark Ponder, a 56-year-old resident of Washington, D.C., said he “got caught up” in the chaos that erupted on Jan. 6, 2021, and “didn’t mean for any of this to happen.”

    “I wasn’t thinking that day,” Ponder told U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, asking her for mercy before she sentenced him to five years and three months in prison.

    That was three months longer than the prison sentence requested by prosecutors. And it’s the same sentence that Chutkan gave Robert Palmer, a Florida man who also pleaded guilty to assaulting police at the Capitol.
    ……….
    Chutkan said Ponder was “leading the charge” against police officers trying to hold off the mob that disrupted Congress from certifying President Joe Biden’s electoral victory.

    “This is not ‘caught up,’ Mr. Ponder,” she said. “He was intent on attacking and injuring police officers. This was not a protest.”

    Chutkan has consistently taken a hard line in punishing Capitol rioters. ………
    ………..
    In April, Ponder pleaded guilty to an assault charge punishable by a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Federal sentencing guidelines called for a prison term ranging from nearly five years to just under six years, but Chutkan wasn’t bound by those recommendations.
    ……….
    Defense attorney Joseph Conte said Ponder was “caught up in the madness that was January 6.” Conte asked for a sentence below the guidelines range.
    …………
    Ponder swung a pole at a Capitol police officer on the Capitol’s West Plaza, breaking it against the officer’s shield. After retreating into the crowd, Ponder grabbed a sturdier pole colored in red, white, and blue stripes. He used it to assault two other officers, hitting one of them in the left shoulder, before police detained and handcuffed him.

    Outnumbered officers released Ponder because they couldn’t get a police vehicle to transport him. They told him to leave the Capitol, but Ponder stayed and joined a mob of rioters clashing with police at a tunnel.
    ………
    After his arrest, Ponder told FBI agents that he typically supports police but viewed the officers as “part of the problem” that day.

    “At some point in time, the way this country is going, you gonna have to pick a side,” he said, according to prosecutors.
    …………
    Ponder has a substantial criminal record spanning three decades, including a 2008 conviction for bank robbery, according to prosecutors.

    More than 840 people have been charged with federal crimes for their conduct at the Capitol on Jan. 6. Over 350 riot defendants have pleaded guilty or been convicted by a jury or a judge after trials.

    More than 220 of them have been sentenced, including approximately 100 who received a term of imprisonment. Ponder is the 15th to be sentenced to a prison term exceeding one year.
    …………

    I’m sure having a “substantial” criminal record didn’t help his case. That, and drawing a hanging judge.

    He will have 5.25 years to ponder his actions.

    Rip Murdock (726b13)

  69. It has to be something like that, otherwise we couldn’t say that Trump keeps saying that the election was rigged and stolen.

    On the other hand, Dominion Voting Systems’ suit against Fox News is being allowed to proceed on the lies that Fox’s talking heads made up of their own accord and not merely reported as those of third parties.

    nk (77422f)

  70. For my opinion that the reporter mistook as fact?

    Kevin M (eeb9e9) — 7/29/2022 @ 5:28 pm

    I don’t think your analogy is correct; but you could be sued for defamation if you are identified in the story as the source. And calling someone a child rapist is pretty egregious if you don’t have proof, especially if the person is not a public figure.

    Rip Murdock (726b13)

  71. If Sandmann thought he was defamed by Phillips when Phillips said he was “blocked”, he should have sued Phillips. But he didn’t because Phillips didn’t have deep pockets (and that was Phillips’ opinion, which isn’t actionable) but the media companies did. And it turns out reporting Phillips’ opinion isn’t actionable either.

    Rip Murdock (726b13)

  72. 68. You can’t win a plea. And this guy pleaded guilty. Never plead guilty!

    nk (77422f)

  73. I don’t think your analogy is correct

    Hmm … I stated up front that it was an opinion. Saying “I think he’s a child rapist”, and having a reporter repeat it, isn’t the same as going on Fox and repeating it myself, of course.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  74. Hmmm .. fell for the thread hijack.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  75. 28- It is the 3rd LIV Golf Tournament.

    You got me, mg.

    Paul Montagu (062b7e)

  76. Confucius say Speaker on top of Hill not on level: ‘$$$$ Ka-Ching $$$$’

    DCSCA (0ffd97) — 7/29/2022 @ 12:36 pm

    Okay. That made me laugh.

    norcal (da5491)

  77. It’s an open thread. But not a particularly interesting story.

    What’s the stuff of spy novels is the Brittney Griner story.

    Let’s understand right off that taking cannabis oil on a plane is a federal crime in America too. (As opposed to hemp oil.)

    So what’s the deal? I think Griner is a McGuffin. Our real aim is Paul Whelan whom the Russians are holding as our spy. And the Russians real aim may be Viktor Bout, the arms dealer, as reported; or it could be an FSB assassin in prison in Germany, and Viktor Bout is also a McGuffin.

    I see the respective intelligence services not being able to work out a secret swap and throwing it to the politicians and the news media.

    nk (77422f)

  78. @61. … and he’s just dying to tell you he ordered the Code Red. 😉

    DCSCA (5a2a4e)

  79. I feel bad for Brittney Griner, but not that bad. As a well traveled person my advice on recreational drugs and travel is: Do not take recreational drugs to foreign countries. Do Not Take Recreational Drugs to Foreign Countries. DO NOT TAKE RECREATIONAL DRUGS TO FOREIGN COUNTRIES!

    (also don’t take them across state lines. What happens in your state may not be what happens in the state next door.)

    Nic (896fdf)

  80. Hmm … I stated up front that it was an opinion. Saying “I think he’s a child rapist”, and having a reporter repeat it, isn’t the same as going on Fox and repeating it myself, of course.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9) — 7/29/2022 @ 6:03 pm

    Saying someone is a child rapist or someone “blocked” someone else are two different things. An interesting experiment.

    Rip Murdock (726b13)

  81. Jonah on Hawley’s Manhood

    I’m having a minor crisis. I have an indefensible fondness for double entendre, and this causes dismay among some of my Dispatch colleagues. As Anthony Weiner no doubt said to Huma in a very different context, I’m not proud of it and I try to keep it in check, but sometimes I just can’t help myself; it’s like it has a mind of its own. On some occasions, however, it’s as if the news is trying to entrap me. When I was just starting out as a blogger, the House of Representatives launched an investigation into Chinese espionage in the United States. It was a bipartisan effort, spearheaded by Reps. Christopher Cox (R-California) and Norm Dicks (D-Washington). I still giggle about the Cox-Dicks probe, but I will refrain from going deep into all that. When Rep. Dick Swett was in office, I would often yell at my muse, “Not today, Satan.” When George W. Bush promised to take out Mullah Omar, I couldn’t stop making jokes about punishing or pounding the one-eyed cleric.

    But not since the Toobin Missile Crisis of 2020 have I been so sorely tempted by irresponsible, sophomoric wordplay. Sen. Josh Hawley has a book coming out titled Manhood. I would love to see the internal discussions at Regnery about how to market Josh Hawley’s Manhood. How many times did the editors say, “Let’s keep it short,” or, “Hawley’s Manhood is running implausibly long.”

    To the substance…

    I agree with those who complain that we have a masculinity crisis in this country. The problem is that the people shouting the loudest about it subscribe to a definition of manliness I find repugnant because it deliberately erases manliness properly understood. Manliness isn’t supposed to be about testicle tanning—-I can’t wait for the chapter of Josh Hawley’s Manhood on that—it’s supposed to be about the courage to do right when all the incentives are to do wrong. Re-read Kipling’s poem “If-” and you’ll see there’s nothing in there about owning the libs.

    This new manliness celebrates the will to power, personal gratification, and the rejection of virtues in service of self-assertion and the conquest of others. “We need strong men,” Klingenstein insists without a trace of irony.

    No! We need good men.

    Good men are strong, but what makes them strong is their goodness. The Ubermensch rejects the constraints of virtue (and of history, theory, doctrine, etc.) in favor of a self-made, self-serving morality in this world, for there is no world to come as a reward. “You have your way. I have my way. As for the right way, the correct way, the only way, it does not exist,” spoke Nietzsche’s Zarathustra.

    Jonah also mentions the Claremont Institute, which is having the same manhood crisis as Hawley.

    Paul Montagu (062b7e)

  82. I agree with those who complain that we have a masculinity crisis in this country.

    Matt Gaetz sure doesn’t; he’s a ‘Back-To-The-Future’ kinda fella w/an eye for the Cinderella ladies circa 1955 and knows a thumb is a pantsuit is just a fire hydrant by another name for your wolfhound to pee on. 😉

    DCSCA (5a2a4e)

  83. Man tied to officer’s attack pleads guilty to lesser charges
    ……….
    A federal grand jury indicted George Pierre Tanios last year on felony charges that he conspired with a Pennsylvania man, Julian Elie Khater, to assault and injure Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick with chemical spray during the riot on Jan. 6, 2021.

    Tanios, 40, pleaded guilty to two misdemeanors, each of which carries a maximum sentence of one year of imprisonment.
    ………
    Prosecutors also have extended an offer for Khater to plead guilty to felony assault charges. If he accepts the offer, estimated sentencing guidelines will recommend a prison term ranging from six years and six months to eight years and one month. Khater hasn’t decided whether to accept that plea offer, one of his lawyers said Wednesday during a virtual hearing.

    The medical examiner’s office in Washington, D.C., determined in April 2021 that Sicknick, 42, suffered a stroke and died from natural causes.
    ……..
    U.S. District Judge Thomas Hogan is scheduled to sentence Tanios on Dec. 6. Hogan said the estimated sentencing guidelines for Tanios range from no jail time to six months of imprisonment for both counts. Tanios was jailed for about five months after his arrest and could get credit for time served.

    Khater has remained jailed while awaiting a trial in October on felony charges, including assaulting a federal officer with a dangerous weapon. Prosecutors’ offer to Khater would require him to plead guilty to that charge. The offer expires on Aug. 17.

    Tanios, of Morgantown, West Virginia, and Khater, of State College, Pennsylvania, weren’t charged in Sicknick’s death. …….

    Sicknick and other officers were standing guard behind metal bicycle racks as the mob of pro-Trump supporters stormed the Capitol. Prosecutors have said Khater sprayed Sicknick and other officers with bear spray after retrieving a canister from Tanios’ backpack.
    ……..
    Tanios pleaded guilty to two counts: entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds and disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds. Both are misdemeanors punishable by a maximum sentence of one year of imprisonment and a fine of up to $100,000.
    ……….
    A trial for Khater is scheduled to start on Oct. 5.
    ……….

    Rip Murdock (726b13)

  84. Capitol rioter accused of attacking a photographer and pulling a stun gun on cops strikes plea deal that could land him in prison for nearly 4 years
    ………
    Federal court documents show 55-year-old Alan Byerly could face up to three years and ten months in prison after he pleaded guilty to assaulting, resisting, and impeding police, and striking, beating, and wounding a photographer on federal grounds.

    Shortly after 2 p.m. on the day of the insurrection, rioters pulled an Associated Press photographer down a flight of stairs outside the Capitol building, court documents show.

    After watching the interaction, Byerly joined three other rioters in pushing, shoving, and dragging the journalist, according to the court documents. He then continued to grab, push, shove, and drag the journalist away from the stairs.

    Shortly after this, Byerly approached a group of police officers who were forming a barrier, court documents show. Unprovoked, he drew a stun gun — which he purchased before the riots — and activated it, according to the court filings.

    Police managed to take the gun from Byerly, who continued to assault them. He eventually grabbed an officer’s baton and escaped the scrum with the help of another rioter, according to court documents.
    ………..

    Shortly after 2 p.m. on the day of the insurrection, rioters pulled an Associated Press photographer down a flight of stairs outside the Capitol building, court documents show.

    After watching the interaction…….

    Physically assaulting someone is now “an interaction”?

    Rip Murdock (726b13)

  85. Homosexuals are spreading monkeypox through rampant promiscuity and the CDC won’t tell them to knock it off because “protected class.”

    Why should anyone believe a word they say anymore?

    NJRob (eb56c3)

  86. Judge: Wisconsin probe found ‘absolutely no’ election fraud
    ………
    Dane County Circuit Judge Valerie Bailey-Rihn awarded about $98,000 in attorneys’ fees to the liberal watchdog group American Oversight, bringing an end in circuit court to one of four lawsuits the group filed. Vos’s attorney, Ron Stadler, said he was recommending that Vos appeal the ruling.

    The fees will be paid by taxpayers, which is why the judge said she was not also awarding additional punitive damages against Vos. Costs to taxpayers for the investigation, including ongoing legal fees, have exceeded $1 million.
    ……….
    All of American Oversight’s lawsuits stem from records requests it made to Vos and Michael Gableman, a former Wisconsin Supreme Court justice hired by Vos in June 2021 to investigate the 2020 presidential election won by President Joe Biden. ……..
    ……….
    Biden’s victory by nearly 21,000 votes has withstood recounts, multiple state and federal lawsuits, an audit by the nonpartisan Legislative Audit Bureau and a review by a conservative activist law firm, the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty. An Associated Press review of Wisconsin and other battleground states also found far too little fraud to have tipped the election for Trump.

    Vos and Gableman have suffered a series of defeats at the circuit court level in the American Oversight lawsuits. Along the way, both were found to be in contempt for refusing to comply with court orders to turn over records. Bailey-Rihn, presiding over her last hearing before retiring, expressed frustration Thursday.

    ……… “The reality is, whatever records there were, they were either destroyed or they weren’t kept. The problem for this court is no one knows when those records were destroyed.”

    State law requires lawmakers like Vos to retain records after an open records request for them has been filed. They can, and do, delete records if there is no pending open records request.

    Gableman testified in another case that he routinely deleted records that he thought were not a part of the investigation. That resulted in American Oversight filing a fourth lawsuit alleging those deletions were against the law. That case, along with two others, is still pending.
    ……….
    “This whole case has been about trying to shine a light on government,” Bailey-Rihn said. What it revealed, she said, was that in the early days of Gableman’s probe, he was being paid $11,000 a month by taxpayers “to sit in the New Berlin library to learn about election law because he knows nothing about election law.”
    ……..
    She said Vos and others have shown they believe they have no obligation to comply with the state open records law, they don’t understand it, they don’t follow the attorney general’s guidance and they leave it to people who aren’t trained on the law to deal with it.
    ……….

    The coverup is always worse than the crime.

    Rip Murdock (726b13)

  87. Speaking of Wisconsin, I don’t see how this works post Waukesha Christmas parade. Ron Johnson said he’d vote for the gay marriage bill, so maybe the Tammy Baldwin brigade is content.

    urbanleftbehind (29417f)

  88. Pro-Trump influencer upset after documents detailing ‘substantial’ cooperation with FBI are released
    ……….
    Brandon Straka, a self-described former liberal who founded the #WalkAway movement in support of Republicans, was sentenced to three months of home detention and a total of three years of probation in January. His relatively light sentence was in part due to what his lawyer described as “significant” cooperation with the FBI investigation into the Jan. 6 attack.

    Documents detailing his cooperation were placed under seal when they were filed ahead of his sentencing, but a coalition of media companies that includes NBC News filed a motion this week requesting they be unsealed.
    ……..
    But the documents provided to the media coalition, in an apparent error, included the underlying attachments that were meant to be kept under seal for the time being. Early Friday, Straka’s attorney filed a motion requesting a hearing on the release of the documents “without Court approval.”

    ……… Straka took to the right-leaning social media platform GETTR and posted a two-page letter expressing outrage at what he described as a “leak.”

    According to the unsealed documents, some of the information that he provided to the FBI was derogatory in nature and could support criminal charges. But his GETTR post ignored that, and he instead wrote that the majority of the people he spoke to the FBI about were his friends and that he didn’t say anything negative about them.

    Among those named in the unsealed court documents: “Stop the Steal” organizers Ali Alexander, Amy Kremer, Kylie Kremer and Cindy Chafian.

    The list also featured Simone Gold, an anti-vaccine advocate whom Straka specifically identified as a friend in his GETTR post.
    ………
    According to prosecutors, however, Straka is really underselling the assistance he provided in their prosecution of the woman he now calls a friend. The Department of Justice wrote in its own memo that Straka gave federal investigators critical information in the case because he “provided the government with voicemail messages that he received from Gold” that were “valuable in the government’s prosecution.” Gold was sentenced to two months in federal prison in June.

    Straka, according to the government, also provided “beneficial” information about a man who, like him, was also present outside the Capitol and “was not previously identified by the FBI prior to Straka’s identification.”……..
    ……….
    Although he admitted in a signed court document as part of his plea, that it was “true and accurate” that he said “take it, take it” as rioters attempted to steal a Capitol Police officer’s shield, he’s since tried to downplay the behavior he admitted, and strongly implied that he was lying when he signed the plea deal.

    “I’m being accused of shouting ‘Take the shield, take the shield,’ which I can’t disprove,” Straka said in a YouTube interview last month, posted shortly after his home detention ended. “In the statement of offense, it was a condition that I basically confess to all of the things that I originally accused me of … I told my attorney I cannot sign this … My option was take the deal as written or go to trial, and I took the deal.”

    The facts that he admitted are inconvenient for his career, as he said during his sentencing hearing: “My followers don’t condone violence and all of them stand up to back the blue… My followers would never tolerate me advocating violence.”

    During the sentencing hearing, Friedrich — a 2017 Trump appointee — said it was “very hard to accept what Mr. Straka wants me to believe,” given his extensive social media posts about Jan. 6, and that his story that he was “completely oblivious” to the violence at the Capitol before he headed down to the building didn’t ring true.
    ……….

    Oops.

    Rip Murdock (726b13)

  89. “Homosexuals are spreading monkeypox through rampant promiscuity and the CDC won’t tell them to knock it off because “protected class.””

    https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/response/2022/index.html

    “Why should anyone believe a word they say anymore?

    Why should anyone believe you?

    Davethulhu (c93f9f)

  90. ……. Ron Johnson said he’d vote for the gay marriage bill, so maybe the Tammy Baldwin brigade is content.

    urbanleftbehind (29417f) — 7/29/2022 @ 8:22 pm

    Johnson is running for reelection (after he said he wouldn’t) so I wouldn’t put too much stock in that. MAGAWorld is not amused.

    Rip Murdock (726b13)

  91. Trollthulu,

    not a word about homosexual promiscuity though 98% of cases can be traced to them and multiple partners. Why is that?

    NJRob (eb56c3)

  92. OAN, a Dependable Trump Promoter, Faces a ‘Death Blow’
    ……..
    By the end of this week, (One America News) will have lost its presence in some 20 million homes this year. The most recent blow came from Verizon, which will stop carrying OAN on its Fios television service starting Saturday. That will starve the network of a major stream of revenue: the fees it collects from Verizon, which counts roughly 3.5 million cable subscribers. In April, OAN was dropped by AT&T’s DirecTV, which has about 15 million subscribers.

    OAN’s remaining audience will be small. The network will soon be available only to a few hundred thousand people who subscribe to smaller cable providers, such as Frontier and GCI Liberty, said Scott Robson, a senior research analyst at S&P Global Market Intelligence. OAN also sells its programming directly to users through its OAN Live and KlowdTV streaming platforms, but those products most likely provide a fraction of the revenue generated by traditional TV providers.

    “I really think this is the death blow for the network,” Robson said.
    ……….
    ………. (T)he fees from its deals with Verizon and AT&T provided a substantial stream of income — about $36 million a year, by some estimates. …….

    All this comes at a particularly bad time for OAN, which is based in San Diego. The company and the Herring family that backs it face defamation lawsuits over the network’s claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from Donald Trump.
    ……….
    For OAN, the litigation has so far not gone well, as judges have rejected its attempts to have the cases dismissed. In one ruling, a judge concluded that OAN had acted “maliciously and consciously” in perpetuating falsehoods about Dominion and that its chief White House correspondent, Chanel Rion, had failed to exercise even the most minimal journalistic scrutiny.
    ……….

    Sad!

    Rip Murdock (726b13)

  93. https://www.theepochtimes.com/twitter-censors-all-content-from-the-epoch-times_4631372.html

    The communists cannot allow opposing views to be spoken out loud.

    NJRob (eb56c3)

  94. NY wants a different name for m0nkey pox?

    Schlong COVID

    Colonel Haiku (21281a)

  95. “Why is that?”

    It’s not an STD.

    Davethulhu (c93f9f)

  96. Russian media roundup:

    Kremlin TV Says if Putin Ran For U.S. President, He’d Win—and Trump Would Be His Veep
    ……….
    Emboldened by the likes of Tucker Carlson, whose show on Fox News is consistently translated and featured on Russian state television, the Kremlin’s mouthpieces are assuring everyday Russians that millions of Americans would rather side with Russian President Vladimir Putin than U.S. President Joe Biden. (Back in 2018, Russian state media had a field day with two men at a Trump rally in Ohio, who were photographed wearing shirts that say “I’d rather be a Russian than a Democrat.”)

    During Thursday’s broadcast of The Evening With Vladimir Solovyov, one of the program’s recurring guests, Yaakov Kedmi—also known as Yasha Kazakov—an Israeli former politician and diplomat……. (spoke) about American citizens, (asking) “In who do they trust? If tomorrow Putin announced his candidacy for the president of the United States, who in the U.S. could compete with him in popularity?” Foreign Policy Analyst Alexander Kamkin quickly added, “And Trump would become his Vice President.”

    During Wednesday’s broadcast of the state TV show 60 Minutes, host Evgeny Popov……. repeated the propaganda tropes about U.S. elections being “fake, unfair, and falsified” and threatened Americans about the upcoming elections: “The best is yet to come! Wait for it, Americans!”

    ………. Moscow is indeed funding and controlling these operations. An indictment unsealed by the Justice Department on Friday in Tampa, Florida, charged Aleksandr Ionov, a Russian national, working on behalf of the Russian government and in conjunction with the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), with allegedly orchestrating a foreign malign influence campaign that used various U.S. political groups to sow discord, spread pro-Russian propaganda, and interfere in elections within the United States.
    ………..
    Since the Kremlin is pinning its hopes on the upcoming midterm elections and Russian state media experts anticipate major changes to the U.S. foreign policy if the Republicans were to take control of both the House and the Senate, state media chatter about Russia’s planned interference is far from trivial. Some crimes are committed in broad daylight—and openly plotted on live television.
    ########

    Rip Murdock (726b13)

  97. But also:

    https://www.cnbc.com/2022/05/23/cdc-officials-sound-alarm-for-gay-and-bisexual-men-as-monkeypox-spreads-in-community-.html

    “The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Monday alerted gay and bisexual men that monkeypox appears to be spreading in the community globally, warning people to take precautions if they have been in close contact with someone who may have the virus and to be on the lookout for symptoms.

    Dr. John Brooks, a CDC official, emphasized that anyone can contract monkeypox through close personal contact regardless of sexual orientation. However, Brooks said many of the people affected globally so far are men who identify as gay or bisexual. Though some groups have greater chance of exposure to monkeypox right now, the risk isn’t limited only to the gay and bisexual community, he cautioned.”

    Davethulhu (c93f9f)

  98. Many California donors, including Hollywood and Silicon Valley moguls, vehemently disagree with most of Cheney’s policies but applaud her fight against former President Trump’s false claim that he won the 2020 election.

    who believes this bullsh*t?

    if Liz were running against James McGovern, or any of the other democrats who tried to deny 2016 electoral votes for Trump, every donation would go to McGovern

    they support Liz cuz she helps democrats, and if there’s one thing Californians of every political stripe are good at it’s getting Democrats elected

    JF (a6d404)

  99. @93 twitter is not the communist party. It is capitalism in action. Find a need fill it get paid for it. You are free to start your own twitter and there are no communists to shoot you for doing it.

    asset (2855d2)

  100. MAGAWorld is not amused.

    MAGAWorld: Electing Democrats since 2018.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  101. DO NOT TAKE RECREATIONAL DRUGS TO FOREIGN COUNTRIES!

    It was bad enough bringing two cases of Cuban Cohibas into the US, back in the day.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  102. not a word about homosexual promiscuity though 98% of cases can be traced to them and multiple partners. Why is that?

    HIV stared the exact same way. And the band played on.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  103. It’s not an STD.

    In the sense that it is not only transmitted that way. But wait, neither is HIV then.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  104. https://www.theepochtimes.com/twitter-censors-all-content-from-the-epoch-times_4631372.html

    The communists cannot allow opposing views to be spoken out loud.

    NJRob (eb56c3) — 7/29/2022 @ 8:57 pm

    Too bad Twitter’s “savior” has bailed on the deal.

    Rip Murdock (726b13)

  105. Hypocrisy in action:

    PA GOP lawmaker attends gay son’s wedding shortly after voting against gay marriage bill
    ………. Democrats have begun crafting and submitting bills that would federalize a number of potentially state-level issues (if more rulings are overturned) including one that would legalize same-sex marriage across the country. That bill hasn’t come up for a vote in the Senate yet, but it already passed the House by a comfortable margin. Still, a significant number of GOP congressmen voted against it. One of those was Pennsylvania Congressman Glenn Thompson. He’s been running hard to the right on a number of social issues, so perhaps that shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. What was startling, however, was the news that only three days after voting against the bill that would legalize gay marriage at the federal level, he attended the wedding of his son (who is openly gay) to another man. This has been making him the focus of all the wrong sorts of attention.
    ……….
    Like I’m sure many of you did, I wondered at first if this was just a case of family loyalty being played out in the media. After all, even if Thompson doesn’t believe that gays and lesbians should be allowed to marry, this is his own son we’re talking about. He could probably bite his tongue, play his part in the event, and wish his son and his new husband well, right?

    But that doesn’t seem to be the case at all. Thompson’s press secretary released a lengthy statement on behalf of her boss. In it, she said that Thompson and his wife were “thrilled to attend and celebrate their son’s marriage.” She went on to say that the Thompsons were “very happy” to welcome their new son-in-law “into their family.”

    That really doesn’t sound like someone who is morally opposed to gay marriage, does it? ………
    …………

    Rip Murdock (726b13)

  106. Is Griner Californian?

    mg (8cbc69)

  107. Paul – Henrik Stenson and Patrick Reed lead after 1 round at – 7.

    mg (8cbc69)

  108. https://twitter.com/mcmoynihan/status/1552303845048569856

    In 1997 90% of black teens said racism had little to no effect on their lives. Then the leftist, racial grievance industry got busy.

    NJRob (eb56c3)

  109. HIV stared the exact same way. And the band played on.

    Monkeypox! They don’t want to say it straight out!

    That it is homosexual male sex tourists with a yen for foreign matter who travel to sh!tholes, contract it from male prostitutes, and bring it back to the First World where it is passed on to the general population through casual contact. By handshake or just by boarding the same elevator depending on the number of exuded from the infected person.

    A disease for which almost nobody under the age of 50 has been vaccinated. To get the younger people Covid could not get.

    nk (7a97bf)

  110. number of *virons* exuded from the infected person

    nk (7a97bf)

  111. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11063829/Baby-Formula-crisis-starts-getting-WORSE-parents-accuse-Biden-forgetting-them.html

    The American media is no longer reporting on the fact that parents cannot find formula to feed their babies. I wonder why that is?

    NJRob (056bf7)

  112. Is Griner Californian?

    mg (8cbc69) — 7/30/2022 @ 2:50 am

    No, she is from Texas.

    Rip Murdock (726b13)

  113. Second news item
    Yet another case of disappearing text messages:

    the people who care about this are the same people who didn’t care about cell phones entirely wiped clean by Weissmann and crew

    JF (a6d404)

  114. In 1997 90% of black teens said racism had little to no effect on their lives. Then the leftist, racial grievance industry got busy.

    NJRob (eb56c3) — 7/30/2022 @ 5:24 am

    It was already busy, in the sense that this stuff had been making its way through academia for several years by that point. I went through grad school around the time of that article, and had to slog through question-begging discourses on “whiteness” as part of the curriculums.

    I suppose its possible that it might not have broken out in to the mainstream given how esoteric most academic studies are, but the 2000 election and the Iraq war catalyzed a lot of classroom radicalization by the Boomer college professors that were finishing out their careers, and the Gen-X and Millennial students who took their places in the professor chairs are even more leftist than those guys were.

    That article is notable because I distinctly remember it appeared we were finally on the cusp of entering a legitimate post-racial society during that time, where, for the most part, no one except a marginal group of racist cranks cared what skin color you were as long as you worked hard, followed the rules, and treated people decently. That pretty much got blown to hell in the 2000s.

    Factory Working Orphan (2775f0)

  115. Trump Botched His ‘Coup’ By Not Marching To Capitol Jan. 6, Says Expert On Autocrats

    Donald Trump may have remained in power despite losing the presidential election had he marched with his supporters to breach the U.S. Capitol during last year’s insurrection, according to an expert on fascist leaders and movements.
    ……….
    “If you’re having a coup and summoned everybody, and you expect to be anointed as the head of a new illegitimate government, you have to be there,” New York University History Professor Ruth Ben-Ghiat told (CNN back in June 2022).

    “There’s a phase in coups,” explained Ben-Ghiat, author of the book “Strongmen: From Mussolini to the Present.” They’re “violent, quick, and then you have your pronouncement of the new order. That’s why he [Trump] was trying to get there.”
    ………
    (Coup is) “It’s the right word for something that’s the result of a process that started — in a sense it started before November 2020 because Trump had been trying to discredit elections for several years, and forming his personality cult so the faithful would rally when he summoned them,” she said.
    ………..
    Ultimately, she said, Trump “went nuclear and did what autocrats have done in the past, and used violence, and summoned these people there to right this ‘monstrous’ wrong on his behalf.”
    ……….

    Trump is very passive-aggressive, threatening bold actions (firing the acting Attorney General; threatening to send the National Guard to Portland in 2020; appointing Sidney Powell to investigate election “fraud”; marching to the Capitol) and failing to follow through and blame others. A tough leader makes the tough calls.

    Rip Murdock (726b13)

  116. US Senate Primary Battles in Missouri: Republican Schmitt Surges as Greitens Drops; Democrats Busch Valentine and Kunce in Tight Race for Nomination

    The final Emerson College Polling/The Hill survey of very likely voters for the Missouri Republican primary finds Eric Schmitt with a 12-point lead for US Senate over his closest competitor with 33% of the vote. Vicky Hartzler follows with 21% and Eric Greitens in third with 16%. Seventeen percent of voters are undecided. These undecided voters were asked who they are leaning towards supporting next week. When their support is allocated to the candidates total support, Schmitt’s lead expands to 39%, Hartzler 25%, and Greitens 18%. Since the June Emerson College Polling Missouri survey, Greitens lost ten points, Schmitt gained 13 points, and Hartzler gained 5 points.

    Voters see Greitens as the least favorable candidate among GOP primary voters: 61% have a somewhat (11%) or very (50%) unfavorable view of the former Governor, while 33% view him somewhat (15%) or very (17%) favorably. Conversely, 61% have a very (34%) or somewhat (27%) favorable opinion of Schmitt, 28% hold a somewhat (7%) or very (21%) unfavorable opinion. Hartzler’s favorability is more split: 46% have a very (20%) or somewhat (26%) favorable view of the Representative whereas 35% have a somewhat (15%) or very (20%) unfavorable view of her.
    ………..
    President Biden holds a 17% approval among Republican primary voters and 73% among Democratic primary voters. Seventy-nine percent of GOP voters disapprove of the job the president is doing compared to 11% of Democratic voters. ……… Senator Josh Hawley has a 66% approval among GOP voters, and 26% disapproval rating. Democratic primary voters overwhelmingly disapprove of Hawley: 93% disapprove and 4% approve.
    ……….

    Poll top lines.

    Rip Murdock (726b13)

  117. Someone is having the shock of their life this morning.

    Rip Murdock (726b13)

  118. “Josh Hawley is writing a book called Manhood”

    I’m sure the strongman admirers among us can’t wait to get their tiny hands on Hawley’s Manhood, though I fear that doing-the-right-thing in the face of considerable opposition will not figure prominently in the book. I am curious if there will be an entire chapter on the manliness of fleet-footed retreat in response to an advancing hoarde.

    Still, I’m eager to see how Hawley might frame manliness and the role of such virtues as character, dignity, honesty, courage, modesty, and responsibility. Or will we see a defense of the profane, crudity, and self-interested conquest. How will Manhood handle Trump and leadership? Alas, I will have to wait for someone else to inspect Hawley’s Manhood and determine if it stands up to critical review. As of now, he appears to only have an incidental and distant relationship with the topic…..

    AJ_Liberty (dfbf73)

  119. CNN Poll: January 6 hearings haven’t changed opinions much, but most agree Trump acted unethically
    ……….
    ………. (A) public consensus has emerged that former President Donald Trump acted at least unethically in trying to hold on to his office after the 2020 election (79% feel he acted either unethically or illegally, including 45% who believe his actions were illegal), that he encouraged political violence in his public statements ahead of January 6 (61%) and that he could have done more to stop the attack once it had begun (77%).

    All told, the poll finds that 69% of Americans consider the January 6 attack to be a crisis or major problem for American democracy. That’s up slightly since earlier this year, when 65% said the same. More broadly, 54% say they see American democracy as under attack, about the same as the 52% who felt that way earlier this year.
    ………..
    ………(M)ajorities across party lines agree that his conduct in trying to remain in office was at least unethical and that he could have done more to stop the attack. Nearly all Democrats (97%) and a broad majority of independents (83%) say Trump acted unethically or illegally in trying to remain in office, but so too do a majority of Republicans (55%). And likewise, 55% of Republicans say Trump could have done more to stop the attack once it began. Eight in 10 independents (81%) and 93% of Democrats say the same.

    Asked whether then-Vice President Mike Pence or Trump did more to act in the best interests of the country on January 6, most Americans (67%), including broad majorities of Democrats (91%) and independents (64%), say Pence had the nation’s interests more at heart. Republicans split on the question, however, with 52% saying Trump did more to protect the country’s interests and 46% saying Pence did.

    ………. About 8 in 10 Republicans (79%) say Trump’s statements did not encourage violence, while 66% of independents and 94% of Democrats say they did.

    That said, a broad majority continue to reject the falsehood that the 2020 election was stolen: 69%, a new high in CNN’s polling, say that Biden legitimately won enough votes to win the presidency in 2020. Still, most Republicans continue to say that Biden’s win was not legitimate (66%). ……..
    ……….
    ………. (A) majority of Republican and Republican-leaning registered voters now say they do not want Trump to be their party’s presidential nominee in 2024 (55% say they want a different candidate)……..

    ……… The new poll finds three-quarters of Democratic and Democratic-leaning voters (75%) want the party to nominate someone else in 2024, a sharp increase from 51% earlier this year.
    ………..

    Related:

    (Fox and Friends) Co-host Steve Doocy on Thursday repeated a CNN poll’s findings that 55% of Republican and Republican-leaning registered voters do not want Trump to be their party’s presidential nominee in 2024.

    Doocy’s colleague Brian Kilmeade seemed very concerned about the reaction from one viewer in particular: Trump himself.

    “If the former president is watching, you should know those are just the numbers you are relaying,” Kilmeade said, emphasizing that Doocy “didn’t come up with those numbers.”

    Doocy then remarked that he thought the poll was “fascinating,” prompting Kilmeade to snark that CNN is “right as often as Halley’s Comet comes by.”

    Doocy’s response: “So, you are saying all we talked about for the last four minutes is not accurate?
    ……….
    “I’m just saying, Donald Trump is watching,” Kilmeade continued. “If Donald Trump is watching, just let him know we didn’t come up with that number. That’s what the poll said.”
    ……….
    Naturally, Twitter users had strong reactions to the groveling.
    ………..

    Rip Murdock (726b13)

  120. Would someone with a subscription to the WSJ give us the gist of Rove’s column on Trump fund raising, please?

    (Enough so that we know the conclusion, but not enough to violate copyright laws.)

    Jim Miller (406a93)

  121. and anyway, according to Cheney’s new friends and donors, Hawley is clearly unqualified to write a book on manhood cuz he isn’t a biologist nor was his name Joanne a year ago

    JF (a6d404)

  122. threatening to send the National Guard to Portland in 2020;

    How would that specifically have been a “bold action”? Presidents throughout US history have used military authority, both in fact and in threat, to enforce laws, keep peace, and protect government property in drastic times. Washington in the Whiskey Rebellion, Harding during Blair Mountain, Eisenhower at Little Rock, LBJ at Detroit, and Bush during the LA riots. Considering the Soros-funded, Antifa-aligned Multnomah County DA was playing catch-and-release with the rioters, National Guard intervention should have been the least Trump did in response to what was going on there.

    Factory Working Orphan (2775f0)

  123. I am curious if there will be an entire chapter on the manliness of fleet-footed retreat in response to an advancing hoarde.

    Perhaps the chapter will be based on the neocons’ decades-long flight in terror from the cultural horde of the MTV crowd and left-wing activists from 1990-2015.

    Factory Working Orphan (2775f0)

  124. What’s the latest from Portlandistan, you say?

    Jeana and Mark Menger sleep with their car keys near their bedside, and they have a plan.

    Should a man who has frequented the community refrigerator full of free food on their Portland street make good on his vow to burn down their bungalow, they will climb out their bedroom window and drive off to safety.

    this is really amazingly compassionate and altruistic on a certain level, but maybe there’s a reason why kids and young families aren’t mentioned in the story

    they probably fled this block a long time ago

    JF (a6d404)

  125. @115: Of course, had Trump gone to the Capitol and exhorted his followers, and it failed to put him back in power, it would have been a quick impeachment and indictment for treason.

    And, of course, had it succeeded, none would dare call it treason.

    But it could not succeed. Power is too distributed, it would all play out on TV so lying about it wouldn’t be easy. And the armed forces are not blindly obedient to the guy at the top.

    As someone who watched all of this unfold, the moment the crowd breached the building the Rubicon was crossed. Had Trump crossed it himself, there would be no turning back. Treason either prospered, or all would call it treason.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  126. Would someone with a subscription to the WSJ give us the gist of Rove’s column on Trump fund raising, please?

    It’s a dollar a week if you know how to ask.

    But anyway, Rove is complaining that Trump is sitting on $121 million in campaign cash and spending very little. Apparently, he cannot use it for a 2024 presidential run unless he announces before the midterms, something the GOP establishment wouldn’t tolerate. So far he’s spent less than $1 million on current candidates combined.

    Rove wants him to loose the cash in favor of candidates that are struggling, such as JD Vance in solid red Ohio.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  127. Rip Murdock (726b13) — 7/30/2022 @ 8:04 am

    this happened, like vote fraud in maricopa county happened

    JF (a6d404)

  128. I’d skip on last meal for an up close glimpse, but Alabama don’t play around unless you can lug a football:

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11062013/Alabama-reporter-told-LEAVE-execution-officials-complained-skirt-SHORT.html

    urbanleftbehind (10609c)

  129. Florida; home of Little Marco and this angry plastic boob:

    DeSantis to legacy media: You are not welcomed here

    https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/desantis-legacy-media-not-welcomed-100143311.html

    Now you know why they’re called ‘falsies.’ Leave media bashing and streetwalking to smiling, entertaiining professionals, like The Donald, ‘boobie.’

    DCSCA (990a3d)

  130. 115,126. If Trump could manage a coup, he would not need a coup. He would more easily have managed his reelection.

    Maybe he could use that as a defense, like Sammy is always claiming. He did not conduct a coup. He wailed loudly for a coup: “Mommy! Daddy! I want a coup! I want a coup! I want a coup! Mommy!” But Santa (Russian Christmas is on January 7) did not bring him one.

    Trump is what he is, it’s his followers who perplex me. This is the chief law enforcement officer of the United States, the commander-in-chief, to many the most powerful man in the world, sniveling constantly that he could not keep his reelection from being rigged and stolen. And they still believe in him. Unbelievable!

    nk (7a97bf)

  131. Continetti is right, every single word. This…

    I’m not in the habit of saying that Nancy Pelosi is right. But if she wants to visit Taiwan next month as part of a congressional delegation to several countries in the Indo-Pacific, she really ought to go. Canceling the trip now would be a capitulation to tyranny.

    Canceling now would mean that Congress buckled in the face of Chinese threats and the Biden administration wavering. It would establish the principle that Beijing has veto power over the travel plans of senior U.S. officials. It would tell the world that America is more interested in mollifying Xi Jinping than in supporting the democratically elected Tsai Ing-wen. It would be another example of self-deterrence, Biden-style. And America would be weakened.
    […]
    China’s rhetoric has grown harsher as it has grown stronger. Earlier this year, when Pelosi first scheduled a visit in April, a Chinese government spokesman called it a “malicious provocation.” He pledged that China would respond “resolutely.” Then Pelosi got COVID. She had to cancel.

    Last week the Financial Times reported that the trip was back on and rescheduled for August. Once more, the jackals in Beijing began to howl. The enslavers of Xinjiang, the oppressors of Hong Kong, the bullies of the Indo-Pacific acted as if they were the victims. Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian threatened that China would “take determined and forceful measures to firmly safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.” The Chinese propaganda machine spoke forebodingly of consequences for the United States. A former editor of Global Times, the Chinese Communist Party’s version of Pravda, wrote of Pelosi, “If the U.S. can’t restrain her, let China restrain her & punish her.”

    Punish her? Any hostile action taken against the speaker of the House of Representatives, no matter her party and no matter the circumstances, would be an act of war. Is China willing, much less prepared, to provoke armed conflict with the United States over a co-del? If so—and I doubt it—then China is itching for a fight and will ramp up its demands no matter what Pelosi decides.

    And he’s right about Biden’s anemic reaction.

    As usual, President Biden is not helping. Asked about the controversy on July 20, he said that “The military thinks it’s not a good idea right now” and “I don’t know what the status of it is.” Thanks for letting the world know what the joint chiefs are telling you, Joe. And what a way to go to bat for a fellow Democrat. Another command performance.

    Biden’s mention of his upcoming call with Xi—it took place on July 28—suggested that he doesn’t want Congress to get in the way of presidential diplomacy. That’s understandable. The elected branches always compete for foreign-policy influence and prestige. There probably ought to have been closer coordination between the speaker’s office and the White House. But once the visit became the object of China’s vitriol, the only sensible response was to close ranks and defend Pelosi’s right to travel where she pleases, when she pleases.

    Why? Because China’s aim isn’t just to stop Pelosi. It wants gradually to isolate Taiwan by coercing the United States into abandoning a longtime ally. It wants to replace the United States as the preeminent power in the Indo-Pacific. Giving China what it wants now helps it achieve its goals. If Pelosi can’t visit Taiwan, then surely other U.S. officials will think twice before traveling there. And if Beijing calls the shots for Washington, D.C., why should other regional governments take us seriously?

    Paul Montagu (062b7e)

  132. …like vote fraud in maricopa county happened

    What vote fraud? What’s your proof?

    Paul Montagu (062b7e)

  133. #126 Kevin – Thanks for the info on the Rove column. (I’ve thought of getting one of those dollar a week WSJ subscriptions, but have too much to read already. I believe Amazon will sell you e-singles for some newspapers, but haven’t checked recently.

    Jim Miller (406a93)

  134. This could be a reason why Russians produced their mockworthy “come to Russia” video.

    What do we know about Russians who left Russia after February 24th? Majority of new migrants settled in Turkey (24.9%),Georgia (23.4%)and Armenia (15.1%).43% of the sample plan to stay in these countries,18% plan to move on,35% felt confused,3% plan to return to Russia.
    […]
    New migrants are much younger and on average much better off financially. Among those who were employed, 45% worked in IT industry, 16% – in the arts and culture sector, 16% were managers, 14% -accountants and teachers, and 8% – journalists.

    That’s a serious brain drain.

    Paul Montagu (062b7e)

  135. Breaking- Biden tests positive for Covid again, will restart isolation despite no new symptoms

    President Joe Biden tested positive for Covid-19 once again after consecutive days of testing negative for the virus, his physician said. Biden is experiencing no new symptoms and “continues to feel quite well,” Dr. Kevin O’Connor said in a memo shared by the White House. But he will nevertheless “reinitiate strict isolation procedures,” the presidential physician wrote. – CNBC.com

    Has his damn dog been tested????

    Translation: sickly, befuddled old POTUS is now conveniently unavailable to be pounded by America’s press for deliberately lying about recession and everything else he’s gotten wrong and unable to go one-up Xi and replace Nancy to risk his near 80 year old ass gonig to Taiwan.

    Memo to Xi: ‘Taiwan’ on, kid- the island is your for the taking. Memo to Vlad- flood Texas w/illegals and install nuke-tipped missiles in Central America. Nobody is home to block either of you– or blink.

    DCSCA (990a3d)

  136. 51 years ago today, July 30, 1971: when America was truly was great:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxqKlDsgMzc&t=757s

    “The Falcon is on the plain at Hadley.”

    DCSCA (990a3d)

  137. Biden tests positive for COVID-19, returns to isolation

    WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden tested positive for COVID-19 again Saturday, slightly more than three days after he was cleared to exit coronavirus isolation, the White House said, in a rare case of “rebound” following treatment with an anti-viral drug. – AP.com

    Rare? Fauci double-dipped. So he’s been a ‘Typhoid Mary’ to anybody around him for the past 72 hours.

    “I’m not going to shut down the country. I’m not going to shut down the economy. I’m going to shut down the virus.” – Squinty McStumblebum, 10/30/20

    Why don’t you just take ‘the bug’ behind the gymnasium, Joey. Give it a good ‘corn-popping.’ Oh. Right. The bug would beat your sorry old ass into the ground.

    Idiot.

    DCSCA (990a3d)

  138. DCSCA

    America is a great country not just back in 1971

    Waverly Tn 2020 poor area flooded houses destroyed – 2 semi trailers of food, clothes building materials every week for the last 2 years are distributed free in the parking lot of the local Walmart – by some to this day is unknown

    Il 2022 in a recent mass shooting a 2-year-old lost both his parents Millions went to a go fund, me page the grandparents spread it around the other victims families

    I got about 567,000 more examples

    Space is great – people are greater

    EPWJ (89cf50)

  139. @138. An empire in decline that has to keep telling itself and the world it’s great through words, not deeds…

    isn’t.

    DCSCA (854e86)

  140. What vote fraud? What’s your proof?
    Paul Montagu (062b7e) — 7/30/2022 @ 12:00 pm

    it’s somewhere near the rainbow colored unicorn, next to the proof that trump staged a coup

    JF (a6d404)

  141. @1238. Il 2022 in a recent mass shooting a 2-year-old lost both his parents Millions went to a go fund, me page the grandparents spread it around the other victims families

    FYI – don’t tell me about something I sadly know far too much about already. And BTW, The HP funds are running out of $ already– and there are scammers at work in Illinois trying to steal $ away from victims/survivors.

    DCSCA (854e86)

  142. it’s somewhere near the rainbow colored unicorn, next to the proof that trump staged a coup

    Actually, it’s parked between Joey’s gas-guzzling Corvette and the Tomb of the Covid Virus he shut down.

    DCSCA (854e86)

  143. JF, how many fraudulent votes have they found so far? Lmao.

    Time123 (fb9b72)

  144. No one cares if joebama has covid but It would be mighty patriotic of joebama to get his head checked.

    mg (8cbc69)

  145. so far, more fraudulent votes than trump indictments

    JF (a6d404)

  146. Double Vaxxed, Double Boosted, Loaded with Paxlovid, Joe needs a shrink.

    mg (8cbc69)

  147. Biden’s popularity goes up when he is in isolation and kept from public interaction. Look for him to have COVID now, through the 2024 elections.
    and beyond….

    mg (8cbc69)

  148. So either he lied about testing negative or those vaccines are worthless.

    mg (8cbc69)

  149. @145 Got a number? Because they’ve gotten hundreds of indictments a against the scumbags that assaulted the capital.

    time123 (25ac8d)

  150. Yes, nk, this:

    Trump is what he is, it’s his followers who perplex me. This is the chief law enforcement officer of the United States, the commander-in-chief, to many the most powerful man in the world, sniveling constantly that he could not keep his reelection from being rigged and stolen. And they still believe in him. Unbelievable!

    They can make no defense for him, they know he’s a bad person, a corrupt and amoral individual, and yet they can’t quit him. I guess I wonder what they’re getting that keeps them loyal to him. There are only deflections and what aboutisms in response to the question. Nothing substantive, nothing that would merit their loyalty. It’s a sad one-sided relationship where people are being used by him, lied to by him, and yet they keep saying more.

    Dana (1225fc)

  151. I’ve been catching up on Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

    Russia’s latest atrocity is castrating POW’s on camera and sharing the videos online. I’m not going to link for obvious reasons.

    Russia really is getting desperate.

    So far they’ve seized contested territory.

    In exchange they’ve

    -Alienated much of the world and become a pariah state.
    -Pushed Finland and Sweden into Nato.
    -Created a reason for a permanent US military base in Poland.
    -Killed a lot of Russian soldiers and destroyed a lot of equipment.
    -Seen western powers ship advanced arms into Ukraine as fast as the locals can learn to use them.
    -Exposed the weakness of their military and the weapons systems.
    -Seen orders for Russian weapons to other countries shrink.
    -Demonstrated that their military culture, in addition to be vile, is ineffective.
    -Seen one of their capital ships sunk in the black sea.

    I hope this ends quickly with their defeat and serves as a cautionary example to authoritarian dictators elsewhere that you can’t successfully re-draw international borders with a gun.

    thanks for listening to my TED talk.

    time123 (25ac8d)

  152. @146. Double Vaxxed, Double Boosted, Loaded with Paxlovid, Joe needs a shrink.

    .. and now, w/t DNC, on double-secret probation:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUUzA56zG2U&t=1s

    “You’re not going to get COVID if you have these vaccinations,” – Joe Biden, July 21, 2021 And he catches Covid. Twice. With apologies to Dean Wormer, Endlessly wrong, hair-sniffing creepy and sh-t-shoveling stupid is no way to go through life, son’.

    Please predict it will never, ever rain in California again, Joe.

    DCSCA (da0503)

  153. I have 2 posts caught in moderation if any of the mods have a chance to dig them out.

    Time123 (fb9b72)

  154. The question of whether Pelosi should go to Taiwan is an interesting one. I thought she should go and make a plain stand against Xi and his oppressive dictatorship. It would call his bluff, show China we won’t back down, show support for Tawian before the world, and reassert America’s strength and power. But then I read Allahpundit’s reasons against it, and now I’m torn:

    1. Xi Jinping is a de facto dictator, not just any ol’ apparatchik sitting atop the politburo for a spell. He has something to prove.

    2. China’s economic growth is slowing thanks to its insane “zero COVID” policy. So is its population growth thanks to its insane “one child” policy. Xi needs a distraction to paper over those failures. And if China is destined to decline, it may be now or never to take Taiwan. “How ignorant of history do you have to be not to see Xi’s urgent need for a new source of legitimacy for the CCP, now that economic growth can no longer provide it?” Ferguson wonders. “It is not strong, confident powers that start wars; it is weakening powers that know time is not on their side.”

    3. China’s military is *much* more formidable than it was 25 years ago. They can sink U.S. aircraft carriers. Their ballistic missiles can reach Guam. One worried expert noted recently that “A 2018 congressionally mandated assessment warned that America could face a ‘decisive military defeat’ in a war over Taiwan, citing China’s increasingly advanced capabilities and myriad U.S. logistical difficulties. Several top former U.S. defense officials have reached similar conclusions.” War with China over Taiwan would be difficult even in the best of circumstances. But with the Pentagon distracted by Ukraine and the U.S. economy sliding into recession and bedeviled by inflation, a war now could be devastating domestically.

    4. China is learning from Russia’s mistakes and knows that Taiwan isn’t nearly as well defended as Ukraine is. Ferguson quotes Chris Coons: “One school of thought is that the lesson is ‘go early and go strong’ before there is time to strengthen Taiwan’s defenses. And we may be heading to an earlier confrontation — more a squeeze than an invasion — than we thought.”

    And I would also throw in that I believe Pelosi’s visit would indeed ratchet up Xi’s anger enough to invade sooner rather than later. And unfortunately, the Taiwanese are not in a position to push back much more than just a little. And since Biden promised to defend Taiwan if China invades, our military could be drawn in.

    Dana (1225fc)

  155. Time123 @ 153,

    Done.

    Dana (1225fc)

  156. Thank you Dana. I appreciate it.

    Time123 (fb9b72)

  157. In addition to the castration and murder of a Ukrainian POW, the Russian fascist invaders bombed a prison, murdering dozens of Ukrainian POWs, another obvious and blatant war crime. It was a “happy coincidence, none of the Russian guards were killed or injured.”
    The Russian Embassy in UK practically cheered on their war criminal countrymen.

    Paul Montagu (062b7e)

  158. It has little to do with Trump for me, it is how I’ve been played by the richard cranium hacks in law, gubmint, medical, pharmaceutical, military, media and on and on.

    mg (8cbc69)

  159. My weekly report from the Washington Post on COVID: Seven day averages: Cases are up to 130,045 (+3.3%), hopitalizations are up to 44,028 (+1.3%), and deaths slightly down to 434 (-0.2%). So, the good news is that only about 3,000 of our fellow Americans died of COVID this last week.

    Some think these deaths are not worth our notice, because they are occurring predominately among those who choose not to get vaccinated, or take other precautions. I disagree.

    Jim Miller (406a93)

  160. Got a number? Because they’ve gotten hundreds of indictments a against the scumbags that assaulted the capital.
    time123 (25ac8d) — 7/30/2022 @ 2:29 pm

    the number of those scumbags charged with a coup are zero

    so, yeah

    maybe you need to read the comment I was responding to

    JF (a6d404)

  161. Russia really is getting desperate.

    Time123, when do you think russia will throw in the towel?

    So far they’ve seized contested territory.

    In exchange they’ve

    you forgot:
    – caused inflation
    – caused a recession that we can’t call a recession
    – doubled gas prices
    – caused supply chain issues
    – caused a market crash
    – caused covid
    – caused monkeypox
    – caused a baby formula shortage
    – caused homelessness
    – caused an uptick in crime
    – caused border chaos
    – caused the LIV tour
    – caused the drought
    – caused an approval rating below Uvalde cops

    JF (a6d404)

  162. @122-

    threatening to send the National Guard to Portland in 2020;

    How would that specifically have been a “bold action”? Presidents throughout US history have used military authority, …….

    Factory Working Orphan (2775f0) — 7/30/2022 @ 9:06 am

    The point is that Trump made the threat but failed to follow through.

    Rip Murdock (726b13)

  163. the number of those scumbags charged with a coup are zero

    so, yeah…..

    JF (a6d404) — 7/30/2022 @ 3:46 pm

    The number charged with seditious conspiracy Is 16 (so far): five Proud Boys and eleven Oath Keepers.

    Rip Murdock (726b13)

  164. Jim,

    still see you posting constantly on the virus of Wuhan origin, but not a word about Fauci lying under oath or the agency admitting they funded gain of function research overseas.

    Why is that?

    NJRob (eb56c3)

  165. maybe you need to read the comment I was responding to

    JF (a6d404) — 7/30/2022 @ 3:46 pm

    Never gonna happen.

    NJRob (eb56c3)

  166. Rip Murdock (726b13) — 7/30/2022 @ 4:15 pm

    Rip, sounds like you’re upset that trump isn’t actually the authoritarian fascist thug president you keep telling us he is

    JF (a6d404)

  167. @164 Jim has a covid porn addiction

    be kind, NJRob

    JF (a6d404)

  168. Would someone with a subscription to the WSJ give us the gist of Rove’s column on Trump fund raising, please?

    Jim Miller (406a93) — 7/30/2022 @ 8:47 am

    Try this.

    Rip Murdock (726b13)

  169. So, I got Covid, Biden got Covid, Fauci got Covid. We all took Paxlovid and we all had a negative test after a few days, finished the 5 day regiment, and then a few days later tested positive again.

    Pfizer calls this “rare” but from where I sit, it’s three out of three. And in my case I was not asymtomatic either time.

    The 5-day regimen is too short.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  170. Dana
    ISS is an institute like Janes that carries a running inventory of the war making capabilities of variouus countries. Read the massive weapon systems that the Taiwanese have.

    from my copy Taiwan has from page 301:

    tanks:

    565 Main battle tanks upgraded to brave tiger – a ultra high tech turret with the best 120mm tank cannon – able to engage and destroy 4 miles out any tank in the world including the M1A3

    ANTI TANK WEAPONS:
    325 TOW UNITS (THE USA HAS LESS)
    estimated 1500 manpats
    Recoilless rifles: 1200

    ARTILLERY: 2093

    53 6IN Automatic naval guns
    14 8IN Automatic naval guns
    225 1M09 with 48 and 72 more being delivered (the best artillery in the world)

    450 155M towed
    thousands of motars

    HELICOPTERS 112 COBRA AND APACHE

    NAVY 26 DESTROYERS AND FRIGATES
    44 MISSILE BOATS
    34 ARMED PCGC

    AIRFORCE 478 FIRST LINE FIGHTER/BOMBERS

    MISSILES
    199 LONG RANG STEALTH EMP CAPABLE SUB ATOMIC Moab’s
    these will take out fleets, cripple industrial parks, obliterate refineries – they cannot be intercepted
    650 anti naval missiles – with self guidance
    300 patriot – 4900 other area anti aircraft missiles

    they have 88,000 army 14500 marines 45000 airforce

    24 hr reserves – 40,000 72 hrs 250,000

    Even without our help the CCP has as much chance of conquering Taiwan as I have winning arguments

    EPWJ (89cf50)

  171. Rip Murdock (726b13) — 7/30/2022 @ 4:15 pm

    Rip, sounds like you’re upset that trump isn’t actually the authoritarian fascist thug president you keep telling us he is

    JF (a6d404) — 7/30/2022 @ 4:38 pm

    I’m not upset about anything, I’m just pointing out he proposes bold actions but doesn’t follow through. One might call him a loser.

    Rip Murdock (726b13)

  172. If Trump could manage a coup, he would not need a coup. He would more easily have managed his reelection.

    I cannot argue with that. His message could have been: “Folks, go down and vote early! Get one of those mail in ballots and mail it in. DO NOT WAIT until the last minute, or we might lose.”

    But it wasn’t.

    Showing up sober for the first debate might have helped, too.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  173. I have 2 posts caught in moderation if any of the mods have a chance to dig them out.

    Yet all of DCCCP’s posts come through.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  174. @170: The problem is that Taiwan cannot replace those weapons (or ammunition) quickly. They have limited manpower. China can make weapons and ammunition as they go, and can probably make more soldiers at a sustainable rate as well.

    A war between China and Taiwan would be one of attrition and one that China must win, absent military allies like the US.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  175. Kevin

    China relies on foreign chips – no new airplanes, ship weapon systems, tanks – it took china 25 years to build an invasion force that would be sunk in minutes.

    The Taiwanese have 200 huge sub atomic MOABS even if 75% are intercepted these 50 will destroy the power grid and refineries

    Not going to happen

    EPWJ (89cf50)

  176. @173. Hmmm. As do yours… 27 of 175 so far. Dribble before you shoot, eh, Kev. 😉

    DCSCA (3588e4)

  177. The Taiwanese people don’t care and the Army is a joke.

    ……..
    Among the most pressing concerns are poor preparation and low morale among the roughly 80,000 Taiwanese who are conscripted each year and the nearly 2.2 million reservists.

    Xiao Cheng-zhi, a 26-year-old from central Taiwan, said his four months of basic training that ended last year mainly involved sweeping leaves, moving spare tires and pulling weeds. Aside from some marksmanship training, he said, his classes were meaningless.

    Mr. Xiao dismissed his cohorts as strawberry soldiers, a term used in Taiwan to describe young people raised by overprotective parents who bruise easily. While he said he is willing to serve, he doubted the island would stand much chance against China’s People’s Liberation Army.
    ………….
    …………. Public opinion polls and interviews suggest many Taiwanese expect the U.S. to take charge if serious danger arises.

    Two young men described how they had put on extra weight to get disqualified from military conscription, a practice some Taiwanese youths say is common. One said he stuffed himself with large meals every four hours for a month, including McDonald’s combo meals, to gain enough pounds to be exempted.
    ………..
    An unpublished government report commissioned by Taiwan’s defense ministry, which was reviewed by The Wall Street Journal, found a culture of paperwork that cut into combat training. It said “endless misconduct and mismanagement” had weakened young people’s willingness to join the forces.
    ………..
    Currently, the U.S. maintains a policy of “strategic ambiguity,” in which it aims to prevent conflict by declining to say what it would do if clashes break out. Some U.S. foreign-policy experts want the U.S. to explicitly commit to intervene if China attacks Taiwan. Others worry that even small gestures by Washington could provoke Beijing and entangle the U.S. in foreign trouble.
    ………..
    Taiwan used to require about two years of mandatory service for men. It now requires four months. After that, they become reservists, with some, though not all, called up again every one or two years for a refresher course that usually lasts five to seven days. The period will be extended to two weeks beginning next year. Plans to phase out conscription entirely have been stalled by difficulties in attracting volunteers.

    Ronan Fu, a former second lieutenant at the Taiwanese Reserve Command and assistant research fellow at the Institute of Political Science at Academia Sinica, a state-funded think tank, questions whether young people have a strong enough sense of duty. While training has improved somewhat recently, he said, “adult men in Taiwan don’t actually want to fight.”

    A 2019 survey found around half of Taiwanese would be willing to fight to defend the island, but polls also show most don’t expect they will ever have to.
    ……….
    Recruitment also has been undermined by the view that China wouldn’t invade because it would be too damaging for its international standing, or because nations such as the U.S. would intervene.

    “If China dares to make any trouble, wouldn’t the rest of the world issue sanctions against it?” said Ian Su, a 25-year-old insurance broker from the central county of Changhua who trained as a signal operator last year.
    …………

    I wonder if those opposed to our involvement with Ukraine will as vociferous in opposing much deeper US involvement in defending Taiwan. Taiwan is second only to Israel in its influence on Congress. I’m sure the Senate Minority Leader won’t have a problem sending US troops to Taiwan.

    Rip Murdock (726b13)

  178. In 1997 90% of black teens said racism had little to no effect on their lives. Then the leftist, racial grievance industry got busy.

    […]

    The American media is no longer reporting on the fact that parents cannot find formula to feed their babies. I wonder why that is?

    NJRob (056bf7) — 7/30/2022 @ 7:33 am

    Hey Rob, here’s some more grist for your outrage mill. How dare they?

    lurker (cd7cd4)

  179. China Holds Live-Fire Drills Near Taiwan as Pelosi Heads to Asia

    “(Bloomberg) — China held live-fire military drills in the Taiwan Strait on Saturday as US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi prepared to arrive in Asia. The exercises took place off the coast of Fujian province opposite Taiwan. A warning issued by the local maritime safety agency said the drills would be conducted near Pingtan, a county about 130 kilometers (81 miles) from Hsinchu city across the strait in northwestern Taiwan. It was the first live-fire drill announced by the agency in at least a year.

    Pelosi on Friday said she’s “very excited” about the prospect of an upcoming trip to Asia, while refusing to confirm any of her itinerary — including whether she’ll visit Taiwan. Reports that her travel would include a stop in Taiwan had sparked a furious reaction in China, which regards the self-governing island as part of its territory.

    Beijing has warned there will be consequences if Pelosi visits, including a defense ministry statement that implied China might use military force in response. She was scheduled to depart Friday, according to people familiar with her plans. “The Chinese mainland will definitely put up a sturdy fight to the end to thwart Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, without fear of any escalation,” Hu Xijin, a hawkish commentator and former editor-in-chief of the Communist Party’s Global Times newspaper, said in an editorial for the publication. The US and Taiwan “must fully understand that the red line is a high-voltage one that they cannot step on,” he said. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussed Taiwan at length on Thursday in a more than two-hour phone call. The island is the biggest flash point in the relationship between Beijing and Washington.

    Neither side said in statements whether Pelosi’s possible Taiwan stop came up. But a person familiar with the discussion said Xi made clear to Biden how big a problem it would be for Pelosi to visit Taiwan — and Biden made clear to Xi that Pelosi makes her own decisions as speaker, and that he can’t control another branch of government… About a third of the population of Pelosi’s district in San Francisco is of Asian ancestry, and she said that “as a West Coast person, we see that as our home, we’re part of that as well.” ” – bloombergnews.com

    DCSCA (3588e4)

  180. The point is that Trump made the threat but failed to follow through.

    Rip Murdock (726b13) — 7/30/2022 @ 4:15 pm

    So you’re getting in a lather about something that other Presidents have done in similar situations, but didn’t actually happen?

    Factory Working Orphan (2775f0)

  181. Hey Rob, here’s some more grist for your outrage mill. How dare they?

    lurker (cd7cd4) — 7/30/2022 @ 5:26 pm

    Was that supposed to mean something?

    Or was that your attempt to squirrel and distract since you cannot defend or excuse the left for once?

    NJRob (fbe422)

  182. I’m not upset about anything, I’m just pointing out he proposes bold actions but doesn’t follow through. One might call him a loser.

    Rip Murdock (726b13) — 7/30/2022 @ 4:54 pm

    Sounds more like you’re talking out of both sides of your mouth in this instance.

    Factory Working Orphan (2775f0)

  183. I think we could all use a laugh, and I’ve had much laughter recently with my 90-year-old mother. This is one of her stories.

    My mother had a front row seat to the most infamous Mormon mission of all time, which was the Paris, France mission in the late 50s. She was a missionary there from 1957 to 1959. While she was there, she started sympathizing with William Tucker, a fellow missionary who was conducting a mission within the mission–he persuaded several other missionaries to adopt his version of fundamentalist Mormonism, which included polygamy.

    It became a big scandal. Top brass from Salt Lake City went over and excommunicated several of the missionaries, including Tucker. Fortunately, my mother didn’t go beyond sympathizing, so she managed to avoid excommunication. (She also passed the loyalty test by assenting that the President of the official Mormon church was the prophet of God. The guilty missionaries would not similarly assent.)

    My mother maintained her interest in polygamy even after her mission, and talked to her brother about it. This uncle was an English professor at BYU (Mitt Romney was one of his students), and was a very learned and funny man.

    He tried to dissuade my mother from engaging in polygamy, and told her it was immoral for a man to have more than one woman. My mother wanted to emphasize that this was not a man having an affair, but having extra wives. She said, “But how can it be adultery if it’s with your wife?”

    My uncle, ever the comedian, and whose marriage was rather dull and unhappy, said, “That’s what I’d like to know!”

    Later, after marrying my father, my mother again expressed a wish to be a plural wife. My dad said no. Go figure.

    My mother never got her wish of living polygamy, and no longer believes in it, but you can’t fault her for lack of effort.

    norcal (da5491)

  184. The point is that Trump made the threat but failed to follow through.

    Rip Murdock (726b13) — 7/30/2022 @ 4:15 pm

    So you’re getting in a lather about something that other Presidents have done in similar situations, but didn’t actually happen?

    I would have supported using federal troops in Portland to end the protests. I saw them keeping the peace twice in Los Angeles.

    Rip Murdock (726b13)

  185. In a banned tweet, a top state-media commentator reportedly said China could ‘forcibly dispel Pelosi’s plane’ and shoot it down if it flies to Taiwan
    ………
    In a now-banned tweet, Hu Xijin, a commentator with the Chinese-state-owned Global Times, wrote, “If US fighter jets escort Pelosi’s plane into Taiwan, it is [an] invasion. The [People’s Liberation Army] has the right to forcibly dispel Pelosi’s plane and the US fighter jets, including firing warning shots and making tactical movement of obstruction.”

    “If ineffective, then shoot them down,” Hu added, per the New York Post.

    The Guardian dubbed Hu “China’s troll king” and its “most famous propagandist” in a 2021 profile. Hu was formerly the editor-in-chief and party secretary of the Global Times, where “he helped establish a chest-thumping new tone for China on the world stage,” said The Guardian.
    ……….

    Rip Murdock (726b13)

  186. Growing number in GOP back Pelosi on possible Taiwan trip
    ………
    Pelosi’s supporters include a conservative Republican senator, at least two former Trump administration officials and the last speaker of the House to make the trip to Taiwan, also a Republican. They are urging Biden to back the trip even as China threatens a forceful response if she goes.
    ………
    “Speaker Pelosi should go to Taiwan and President Biden should make it abundantly clear to Chairman Xi that there’s not a damn thing the Chinese Communist Party can do about it,” Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., said Monday. “No more feebleness and self-deterrence. This is very simple: Taiwan is an ally and the speaker of the House of Representatives should meet with the Taiwanese men and women who stare down the threat of Communist China.”
    ……….
    (Former House Speaker Newt) Gingrich himself tweeted support for Pelosi on Monday: “What is the Pentagon thinking when it publicly warns against Speaker Pelosi going to Taiwan? If we are so intimidated by the Chinese Communists we can’t even protect an American Speaker of the House why should Beijing believe we can help Taiwan survive. Timidity is dangerous.”

    Mark Esper, a defense secretary during the Trump administration, said Monday that he had recently returned from Taipei and that more high-ranking U.S. officials should visit to help shape U.S. policy in the region. He also stressed that China should not have veto power over where U.S. officials travel.

    “I think if the speaker wants to go, she should go,” Esper said on CNN’s “New Day.”

    Meanwhile, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, a Republican who served in the Trump administration, tweeted on Sunday: “Nancy, I’ll go with you. I’m banned in China, but not freedom-loving Taiwan. See you there!”
    ……….

    Rip Murdock (726b13)

  187. Was that supposed to mean something?

    Or was that your attempt to squirrel and distract since you cannot defend or excuse the left for once?

    NJRob (fbe422) — 7/30/2022 @ 5:58 pm

    “For once?” I challenge you to show where I ever, outside your florid imagination, defended or excused the left.

    I’ll wait.

    *crickets*

    Thought so.

    No Rob, as I believe was obvious I was poking fun at your incessant and comically aggrieved outrage. I’m old enough to remember when self-respecting conservatives would be embarrassed to be seen bathing in such abject victimhood.

    lurker (cd7cd4)

  188. The 5-day regimen is too short.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9) — 7/30/2022 @ 4:50 pm

    Here is the full episode:
    https://youtube.com/watch?v=hBzHMpPS5Kg

    For those with limited time, here is the punchline:
    https://youtube.com/watch?v=p8rOKw1FTX0

    BuDuh (340919)

  189. Biden tests positive for COVID-19, returns to isolation

    WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden tested positive for COVID-19 again Saturday, slightly more than three days after he was cleared to exit coronavirus isolation, the White House said, in a rare case of “rebound” following treatment with an anti-viral drug. – AP.com

    I told you so this would happen.

    Becas=use they stopped the treatment after five days. They won’t deviate from the protocol.

    I mentioned Fauci.

    So he’s been a ‘Typhoid Mary’ to anybody around him for the past 72 hours.

    No, he’s probably not contagious. The Covid tests are extremely sensitive.

    Sammy Finkelman (b7dc9b)

  190. https://twitter.com/JosephWulfsohn/status/1553274816144228352

    So first we had trashy Congressthing Linda Sanchez giving the middle finger to her peers and now we have another Congressthing cursing out a citizen.

    Heck of a group on the left. But let’s keep going with the circular firing squad.

    NJRob (eb56c3)

  191. NJRob (eb56c3) — 7/30/2022 @ 4:31 pm

    but not a word about Fauci lying under oath or the agency admitting they funded gain of function research overseas.

    It depends on the meaning of the phrase “gain of function”

    Fauci said that meant making a virus more ifective to humans, not taking a virus that didn’t infect people at all and mutating it so that it coulld infect people.

    Sammy Finkelman (b7dc9b)

  192. Thought so.

    No Rob, as I believe was obvious I was poking fun at your incessant and comically aggrieved outrage. I’m old enough to remember when self-respecting conservatives would be embarrassed to be seen bathing in such abject victimhood.

    lurker (cd7cd4) — 7/30/2022 @ 6:48 pm

    Victimhood? Acknowledging that race problems are created out of whole cloth by the left to keep minorities under their thumb and divide the nation so they can loot and plunder it. And you just try and troll and distract. Pathetic. Troll.

    NJRob (eb56c3)

  193. It depends on the meaning of the phrase “gain of function”

    Fauci said that meant making a virus more ifective to humans, not taking a virus that didn’t infect people at all and mutating it so that it coulld infect people.

    Sammy Finkelman (b7dc9b) — 7/30/2022 @ 6:54 pm

    He lied under oath. No arguing what the “definition of is is.”

    If he was Trump he’d be brought up on charges already.

    NJRob (eb56c3)

  194. https://therightscoop.com/busted-blatant-propagandists-cnn-caught-red-handed-deliberately-sowing-hate-and-smearing-entire-town-as-racist/

    Yep. The police didn’t walk about because the city manager was black. If they had, they’d have done it when the previous city manager was black.

    Here’s the 17th paragraph.

    Leftist media lies and race baits to sow discord.

    But Lurker just says I’m stirring outrage and tries to ignore what they actually did.

    NJRob (eb56c3)

  195. No Rob, as I believe was obvious I was poking fun at your incessant and comically aggrieved outrage. I’m old enough to remember when self-respecting conservatives would be embarrassed to be seen bathing in such abject victimhood.

    lurker (cd7cd4) — 7/30/2022 @ 6:48 pm

    I’ve noticed that several commenters here are in a constant state of Chicken Little aggrievement and alarmism. They think we are on the highway to hell. They are acutely tuned in to all the extreme things that extremists do, and propose extreme measures (civil war, secession, AOC, Trump) to address them. You see, if we don’t resort to authoritarianism, we’ll fall prey to authoritarianism.

    I don’t think they’re bad people. I believe they want what’s best for our country. They just see the world through a very agitated lens. It’s an emotional thing.

    They’re always quick to point to the latest outrage, not realizing that the vast majority of people are not extremists.

    norcal (da5491)

  196. I’ve noticed that several commenters here are in a constant state of Chicken Little aggrievement and alarmism. They think we are on the highway to hell. They are acutely tuned in to all the extreme things that extremists do, and propose extreme measures (civil war, secession, AOC, Trump) to address them. You see, if we don’t resort to authoritarianism, we’ll fall prey to authoritarianism.

    I don’t think they’re bad people. I believe they want what’s best for our country. They just see the world through a very agitated lens. It’s an emotional thing.

    They’re always quick to point to the latest outrage, not realizing that the vast majority of people are not extremists.

    norcal (da5491) — 7/30/2022 @ 7:08 pm

    Now do NeverTrump. Come on. You can do it.

    NJRob (eb56c3)

  197. Paul Montagu (062b7e) — 7/29/2022 @ 12:16 pm & @ 12:20 pm

    Sammy, it could be a promotional video intended for domestic consumption, trying to convince Russians that their country is not a sh-thole, despite sh-thole the country is.

    Isn’t it in English? Maybe to convince whoever paid fr=or t=it that they produced a useful piece of propaganda, y aimed at Russians residing in the United Kingdom.

    BTW, the “Winter is coming” line at the end of the promotional video sounds more like a threat a al Games of Thrones than an exhortation to act now.

    Isn’t that from Garry Kasparov?

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFsAdH6b48Y

    Sammy Finkelman (b7dc9b)

  198. Norcal,

    so you believe race relations are better now than they were 25 years ago? You believe the left isn’t agitating to divide people by race, sex, identity, social status, etc? You believe that the left isn’t more radical and doesn’t want to take away freedoms from America that would’ve been unheard of just 2 decades ago? That leftist institutions believe in free speech and differences of opinions on how to lead?

    NJRob (eb56c3)

  199. I wonder if those opposed to our involvement with Ukraine will as vociferous in opposing much deeper US involvement in defending Taiwan.
    Rip Murdock (726b13) — 7/30/2022 @ 5:23 pm

    i wonder why ukraine war keyboard commando’s don’t care about yemen

    unlike ukraine and Yemen, Taiwan has strategic importance to the U.S. given its chip manufacturing

    ukraine’s strategic importance is nato scoreboarding and vogue magazine covers, and what else?

    JF (a6d404)

  200. Ignore the naysayers, Nancy Pelosi. Go to Taiwan.
    ………
    ……. The free world would be shaken if Taiwan were to fall into China’s grasp.

    That’s exactly why Pelosi should go. Our Asian allies look to us to defend them against China’s threat, and a visit by Pelosi would signal that Taiwan’s quest to remain free is supported by top U.S. leaders. She would not need to say anything that contradicts prior U.S. policy, which has historically been ambiguous as to whether it would go to war to defend Taiwan if China invades. Her presence would simply send a message that within that ambiguity, the balance tilts toward Taiwan.

    …….. The more the United States moves toward acknowledging Taiwan’s de facto independence, the harder it will be for China to fulfill its aims without risking a war with the world’s leading superpower.

    …….(O)ur generals don’t want to risk a confrontation with China while we are engaged in supplying weapons to Ukraine. The U.S. military certainly is not prepared to fight two major wars simultaneously; risking a Chinese invasion of Taiwan while also indirectly fighting Russia clearly puts the military on edge.

    But that concern should force the United States to think more clearly about the connection between its global commitments and its military capacity. If the United States is to lead a global alliance of democracies, as Biden and most of the foreign policy establishment want, we simply need a bigger and more modern military. …….

    It would also be bad for U.S. policy if Pelosi now failed to visit the island in the face of Chinese bullying. Our allies have increasingly asked us to make clear commitments to defend Taiwan if China attacks. Nations such as Japan would surely view Pelosi canceling her visit as a sign that the United States is unwilling to test China’s resolve. That sends a message of weakness, which Biden will not want to try to counteract. …….

    U.S. ambiguity with respect to Taiwan served U.S. interests so long as China was weak. Americans could trade with Taiwan and China, enriching all parties, without the risk of an invasion. Now that China is militarily and economically strong, that straddling act no longer suffices. China will not back down: It will push us to choose between relations with it or defending Taiwan. ……..

    Defending Taiwan is in our national interest. Pelosi’s quiet presence in Taipei would put us one step closer to finally acknowledging that — and taking that commitment seriously.
    ########

    Rip Murdock (726b13)

  201. They’re always quick to point to the latest outrage, not realizing that the vast majority of people are not extremists.
    norcal (da5491) — 7/30/2022 @ 7:08 pm

    give them a primetime special to air their outrage and blow off steam, and they might ease off

    or, they might get even more aggrieved

    let’s see

    JF (a6d404)

  202. i wonder why ukraine war keyboard commando’s don’t care about yemen

    I have no understanding or interest in Arabic tribal politics. If they kill each other, who cares?

    Rip Murdock (726b13)

  203. ukraine’s strategic importance is nato scoreboarding and vogue magazine covers, and what else?

    Keeping an expansionist Russia at bay.

    Rip Murdock (726b13)

  204. You believe the left isn’t agitating to divide people by race, sex, identity, social status, etc?

    NJRob (eb56c3) — 7/30/2022 @ 7:14 pm

    I believe both sides use anything they can to get an edge, including race. Biden did it when he said the Republicans would put black people back in chains. Trump did it when he said a Hispanic judge wouldn’t give him a fair trial.

    I used to be all stressed out because I only saw one side of it, but these days I just call BS wherever I see it.

    norcal (da5491)

  205. JF (a6d404) — 7/30/2022 @ 7:15 pm

    I’m sure if China invaded Taiwan you will become a “keyboard commando” In support of intervention.

    Rip Murdock (726b13)

  206. Keeping an expansionist Russia at bay.
    Rip Murdock (726b13) — 7/30/2022 @ 7:23 pm

    you may as well fear expansionist Mexico

    Russia still hasn’t taken Kiev after nearly six months

    and six months from now you’ll be saying the same nonsense

    JF (a6d404)

  207. The free world would be shaken if Taiwan were to fall into China’s grasp. That’s exactly why Pelosi should go.

    San Francisco- or hell; would be a better place for her to go. An 82 year old woman on her way out isn’t goint to rattle Xi– but he may just giver her – and her plane, some flak. =sarc=

    No, damnit. The POTUS should go. And a youngert, healthier one would.

    Ike went to Korea; LBJ and The Big Dick went to Vietnam; Reagan went to Berlin– and Moscow; Dubya went to Iraq. Biden cowers in his Wilmington bunker. That’s the truth, ‘Jack.’

    DCSCA (6b65ac)

  208. As China Rattles Sabers, Taiwan Asks: Are We Ready for War?
    ………
    Taiwan’s defenses are, by many accounts, ill-equipped and understaffed. Its president, Tsai Ing-wen, has vowed to defend the island, but she has struggled to impose a new strategic vision on the uniformed leadership.

    Taiwan spends billions on fighter jets and submarines, yet its conscripts barely get enough ammunition for training. The mandatory military service is seen by many as too short, and the reservist program, insufficiently rigorous. The military is building a professional force, but has struggled to recruit and retain highly skilled soldiers.
    ……….
    Underlying Taiwan’s defense dilemma is a question left unanswerable by design: Will the United States send military forces to Taiwan’s aid? ………
    ………
    ……… American officials and some Taiwan strategists have recently accelerated efforts to push Taiwan to instead amass a large number of smaller weapons. That includes naval craft such as the ships in the drill that can quickly lay sea mines to block forces trying to land.
    ………
    An all-out assault on Taiwan, involving air, naval and land forces, would be more complex than Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but some American and Taiwanese defense officials think that in the coming years Beijing would be able to pull it off.

    The hope is that if deterrence fails, the so-called porcupine strategy could allow Taiwan to buy time for the United States to possibly help. President Tsai said in 2019 that Taiwan would be able to hold out for 24 hours, and that China would then face international pressure.
    ………
    Should China invade, Taiwan’s defenses will almost certainly crumble unless the United States and its allies help. ………..
    ………..

    Taiwan has based its survival on US intervention. Unless the US forward deploys its forces in Taiwan, they will likely arrive too late to prevent an attack by China. It is likely such a war could result in a nuclear exchange.

    Rip Murdock (726b13)

  209. It is likely such a war could result in a nuclear exchange.

    Rip Murdock (726b13) — 7/30/2022 @ 7:54 pm

    I doubt it.

    norcal (da5491)

  210. It is likely such a war could result in a nuclear exchange.

    Nope. Unlikely at all. The Cuban Missile Crisis would have taught you that if you’d lived through it– it sure castrated LeMay’s bloodthirsty desires. MacArthur’s a few years earlier as well; nobody’s going to vaporize anybody over Taiwan any more than Truman was going to make Korea glow in the dark w/t Chinese running amok across the peninsula. Basic geography is working against Taiwan. Ig the PRC wants it- they can taker it. Keeping it and controlling it is the issue. How’s that working in Hong Kong?

    DCSCA (a8d3c3)

  211. Troll.

    NJRob (eb56c3) — 7/30/2022 @ 6:56 pm

    Still waiting for you to back up your baseless assertion that I’m an apologist for the left. I’ve lost track of how many times you’ve name-called, mischaracterized my comments and/or misstated my positions. But sure, I’m the troll.

    lurker (cd7cd4)

  212. The Webb Telescope Shows We Don’t Need Astronauts to Explore the Cosmos
    ………
    While human hearts understandably lie with human exploration, robots offer the chance to explore the closest objects in the solar system more safely, more effectively and far more cheaply than astronauts can. …….

    But as far as government policy and public spending are concerned, we believe that, for the next 20 years or more, we should rely on highly capable spacecraft equipped with the best artificial intelligence, getting general commands from Earth but largely capable of maneuvering on their own. Robotic exploration also costs money, of course. But compare the $9.7 billion that NASA spent over 24 years to create the Webb telescope with the $93 billion that NASA plans to spend on developing its Artemis program of astronaut-bearing rockets through 2025, when it hopes to land the first woman and the first person of color on the moon.

    ……….. In November, NASA Inspector General Paul Martin estimated that the $4 billion in costs attached to each of the first four Artemis launches alone were “a price tag that strikes us as unsustainable.” The Webb telescope’s operating cost is projected at about $175 million a year.

    In March, Jim Free, NASA’s associate administrator for exploration systems development, gave a congressional subcommittee the agency’s ultimate goal: “Getting two people to Mars, on the surface for 30 days, getting them there and back safely.” ……..

    But humans already have been exploring Mars remotely by way of more than 50 robotic spacecraft, each of which spent many months without requiring any of the water, food, oxygen and support systems that astronauts need. Some of these spacecraft succeeded in their missions; others failed, disappointing astronomers but causing no catastrophe comparable to the loss of astronauts, as occurred in the two U.S. space shuttle tragedies, which claimed 14 lives.
    ……….
    The development, launch and operation of the Perseverance and Curiosity rovers each cost approximately $2.5 billion. Estimates to send astronauts on an Apollo-like voyage to Mars start at $250 billion and reach $1 trillion. ………
    ……..
    The real question is how much we really need astronauts to visit other worlds, as opposed to just wanting them to do so. The obvious advantages of robots will only increase with developments in our technology and artificial intelligence. Still, humans respond most deeply to other humans; this basic truth provokes proclamations that we are destined to send humans to Mars. The counterargument is that we are indeed driven to explore but, fortunately, no longer must do so in person.

    For now, logic and scientific need suggest that we should continue to refine our robotic capabilities and send these emissaries to explore the solar system’s planets and moons. Those determined to keep sending astronauts into space can make a strong emotional appeal, but as the public awe over the Webb images shows, robot explorers can make a powerful case too.
    ########

    Rip Murdock (726b13)

  213. is likely such a war could result in a nuclear exchange.

    Rip Murdock (726b13) — 7/30/2022 @ 7:54 pm

    I doubt it.

    norcal (da5491) — 7/30/2022 @ 7:57 pm

    Willing to take that bet?

    Rip Murdock (726b13)

  214. Now do NeverTrump. Come on. You can do it.

    NJRob (eb56c3) — 7/30/2022 @ 7:12 pm

    Lol. You’re so consumed by tribal animosity that you whatabouted norcal’s comment without apparently noticing that he directed it as much at the left as at the right. You’re a hammer in a universe of Leftist/NeverTrump nails, and the nails are closing in! Your obsession with your perceived enemies is every bit as unhinged as theirs (the actual tribal leftists that is, not the moderates, RINOs and other apostates you reflexively lump in with them) is with you. You flatter and need each other. It would be tragic if it wasn’t so dopey.

    lurker (cd7cd4)

  215. Still waiting for you to back up your baseless assertion that I’m an apologist for the left. I’ve lost track of how many times you’ve name-called, mischaracterized my comments and/or misstated my positions. But sure, I’m the troll.

    lurker (cd7cd4) — 7/30/2022 @ 8:21 pm

    Yet again you attempt to distract and change the subject. Proving once again what I said.

    NJRob (eb56c3)

  216. https://www.city-journal.org/in-portland-the-sexual-revolution-starts-in-kindergarten

    By the end of fifth grade, the curriculum explicitly asks students to make a “commitment to change,” according to the dictates of gender ideology. Students receive a list of six commitments, including: “I commit to learning more about what LGBTQIA2S+ words mean and how they have changed over time”; “I commit to learning about the history and leadership of Black trans women”; “I commit to practicing pronouns and correcting myself EVERY time”; “I commit to attending QSA/GSA and being a leader at my school”; and “I commit to watching and reading books, movies, and TV shows that have LGBTQIA+ characters.” In other words, they commit to becoming political activists for queer theory and the broader sexual revolution.

    But so many want to pretend that it’s just politics as usual or they actively support this garbage and attack anyone who speaks out against it or shows people what they are doing.

    NJRob (eb56c3)

  217. The Webb Telescope Shows We Don’t Need Astronauts to Explore the Cosmos

    We don’t need pilots in airplanes either- military or civilian; who needs crewed ships and subs; nor engineers on trains; and soldiers?? Let the machines go for trhe glory. And in sports– the Jetsons showed us how much fun robotic football teams can be… certainly who needs surgeons- robots can cut you up; driverless cars – that sounds safe. Yes, let the machines live, fight– and never die for us– even have sex for us…sounds like the plot lines for several classic Star Trek episodes.

    “People have always gone where they have been able to go. It’s as simple as that.” – Michael Collins, CMP, Apollo 11

    DCSCA (40e39f)

  218. @212. Postecript; BTW- which robot was it that repaired the Hubble Space Telescope in 1993 on orbit?? Don’t recall its name… Dick Covey, Ken Bowersox, Kathryn Thornton, Story Musgrave, Claude Nicollier, Jeff Hoffman and Tom Akers would like to know, too.

    DCSCA (40e39f)

  219. Yet again you attempt to distract and change the subject. Proving once again what I said.

    NJRob (eb56c3) — 7/30/2022 @ 8:38 pm

    The subject of me defending and apologizing for the left is one that you raised. And you’re the one trying to change it now that you’ve been challenged to produce an iota of evidence in support of your BS accusation.

    lurker (cd7cd4)

  220. The real question is how much we really need astronauts to visit other worlds…

    Does the WSJ know newspapers are obsolete?

    Might want to ask Dave Scott abput astronauts visting other worlds; he landed on the moon at Hadley Rille 51 years ago this very day. And his comments as he first stepped on to the moon:

    As I stand out here in the wonders of the unknown at Hadley, I sort of realize there’s a fundamental truth to our nature. Man must explore. And this is exploration at its greatest.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gHivrcJ-YY&t=2s

    DCSCA (40e39f)

  221. Halley’s Comet Could Damage NASA’s $10 Billion Webb Telescope Next Year

    Over the next two years the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) will fly through dust and debris left in the inner solar system by Halley’s comet. Scientists are working on mitigation solutions right now to avoid a repeat of what happened in May 2022 when the $10 billion space telescope was damaged by a micrometeroid.

    https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamiecartereurope/2022/07/25/revealed-halleys-comet-could-damage-nasas-10-billion-webb-telescope-next-year/?sh=1d81dbd8566f

    DCSCA (755266)

  222. Russia says it’ll withdraw from International Space Station after 2024
    ……….
    Russia’s newly appointed head of space agency Roscosmos announced the decision in a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, saying that the agency will instead focus on building its own orbital station.
    ………
    Russia has set sights on launching its own project, but Roscosmos has for years struggled financially, and the cash inflow has been hindered after the U.S. shifted from using Soyuz rockets to lift their astronauts to the station and turned to SpaceX for these services.

    In his Tuesday announcement, Borisov admitted that the Russian space industry is struggling as it also needs to replace many foreign technologies that are no longer available because of sanctions.

    “I see my main task, together with my colleagues, is not to lower, but to raise the bar, and, first of all, to provide the Russian economy with the necessary space services,” Borisov said. “This is navigation, communication [services], data transmission, meteorological, geodetic information, and so on.”

    Russian state media previously reported that Rocket and Space Corporation Energia is preparing a draft design of the station, dubbed Russian Orbital Service Station, that should be completed in the third quarter of 2023.
    ……….

    Good luck! Don’t let the hatch door hit you in azz on the way out!

    Rip Murdock (726b13)

  223. @222. =sigh= Do try to keep up, Rip:

    Russia Now Says It Will Stay on International Space Station Until at Least 2028

    The head of Russia’s space agency on Tuesday announced the country’s intent to withdraw from the International Space Station after 2024. A day later, Roscosmos officials clarified to NASA that Russia will remain involved with the ISS until at least 2028, according to Reuters.

    The year 2028 is when Russia believes a Russian-specific orbital station will be built. NASA, meanwhile, envisions ISS operations continuing until 2030, a goal affirmed by the White House last year. Though after that, in 2031, the agency says it will “deorbit” the station by basically dropping it into the Pacific Ocean.

    https://www.cnet.com/science/space/russia-now-says-it-will-stay-on-international-space-station-until-at-least-2028/

    DCSCA (755266)

  224. We’ll see.

    Rip Murdock (726b13)

  225. @224. We have seen it– since ASTP in 1975. Then into the Shuttle/Soyuz/Mir phase through the 90s on to the ISS assembly and operation. Spaceflight is part of Russian culture, Rip. Not so in America. They’ve been at it longer and more consistently than America’s start-stop-start-stop projects, too. It’s the start/stop and ‘gaps’ by the U.S. that cause the costs to soar in the U.S. aerospace industry. Russia has been flying the same basic rocket and Soyuz spacecraft for over 50 years. As the old VW ad says… ‘It’s ugly. But it gets you there.’

    DCSCA (755266)

  226. It’s happening: DeSantis now within eight of Trump in national primary poll
    ……..
    If Trump wasn’t worried about DeSantis before, he should be now
    ……..

    Which of the following seven candidates seeking the 2024 Republican Primary nomination for president would you vote for or lean toward? (RANDOMIZE)
    N=414) n Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney ————————–3.14%
    Former NJ Governor Chris Christie ————————— 1.45
    Florida Governor Ron DeSantis —————————– 34.06
    Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley ———————— 2.66
    Former Vice President Mike Pence ————————– 7.00
    Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo ——————– .72
    Former President Donald Trump —————————- 42.75
    Undecided———————————————————-10.00
    Refused————————————————————— .23
    Source

    Congratulations to Nikki Haley, Chris Christie, and Mike Pompeo on running behind Liz Cheney.

    Forty-two percent is not a good showing for the man who owns the Republican Party, particularly when the second-place candidate is less than 10 points behind. As others have noted, despite the crowded field tested here by Suffolk, this isn’t 2016 redux in which Trump locks down his 40 percent and the rest splits roughly evenly among a dozen candidates. This is a de facto two-man race. And because it is, we can guess which of those two would get the lion’s share of the votes that are currently going to Haley et al.

    In fact, we don’t have to guess. Suffolk also polled voters on who their second choice is. When that percentage is combined with the numbers above, DeSantis leads outright.
    ………
    Dig into the crosstabs on the first-place vote and you’ll find that support for the two candidates divides along educational lines. Among Republicans who didn’t finish college, Trump leads DeSantis by double digits. But the two are tied at 40 percent apiece among college grads and DeSantis leads by 16 among postgrads. Unsurprisingly, differences of opinion are similar when you focus on income. ……..

    It’s MAGA versus the country-clubbers in 2024, except DeSantis might be able to poach just enough from Trump’s base to tip the primary.
    ……….
    Interestingly, Fox also snubbed Trump on Tuesday when he delivered his first speech in Washington since leaving office but did cover Mike Pence’s speech earlier that same day — in its entirety, carrying the address live…….when Trump spoke at a rally for Kari Lake in Arizona at 10 p.m. ET last Friday, Laura Ingraham’s show opted not to cover it. Her special guest that night instead was … Ron DeSantis.
    ………..

    Rip Murdock (726b13)

  227. We’ll see if Russia can have a space program going forward without foreign technology. Even they acknowledge that will be a problem.

    Rip Murdock (726b13)

  228. I wonder if those opposed to our involvement with Ukraine will as vociferous in opposing much deeper US involvement in defending Taiwan. Taiwan is second only to Israel in its influence on Congress. I’m sure the Senate Minority Leader won’t have a problem sending US troops to Taiwan.

    Of course they will, and by blaming Pelosi and Biden, MAGA will be right there, talking about how Taiwan is corrupt.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  229. My mother never got her wish of living polygamy, and no longer believes in it, but you can’t fault her for lack of effort.

    The way things are going, I suspect some Mormons and Muslims are rethinking their position.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  230. China relies on foreign chips

    China has the tools to make stuff down to 14nm. They just cannot buy the extreme-UV (EUV) machines needed to make features as small as 5nm. But you really don’t need those bleeding-edge devices to make an airplane go. Matter of fact, I very much doubt that any production jet fighter in the world has anything much smaller than 25nm.

    Now, if they had Taiwan, and nothing bad happened to those fabs, it would be CHina, not the rest of the world, in the semiconductor driver’s seat.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  231. Because they stopped the treatment after five days. They won’t deviate from the protocol.

    Guy I know got his doctor to prescribe an additional course of Paxlovid due to all the people having rebound. He took it for 8 days and was done.

    Here is what I think is going on: The FDA testing to demonstrate safety were for a five-day regimen. With the versions of the virus they had then, five days was enough for almost everyone. With the current, more virulent strains, Paxlovid doesn’t knock them completely out, and the virus comes back before the (very separate) immune system antibodies ramp back up.

    But they can’t go past the five days of safety because FDA spank. So, they keep trotting out their 3% statistic from testing against Covid-2020, but its a lie and they all know it.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  232. Now do NeverTrump

    Why? Those are the sane people.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  233. The free world would be shaken if Taiwan were to fall into China’s grasp. That’s exactly why Pelosi should go.

    There would be a fairly immediate and world-wide depression. It would be worse than Manhattan being nuked (except for people in Manhattan). People do not understand just how insanely fragile the entire electronics industry has become wrt Taiwan. All our eggs are in that basket.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  234. @227. We’ll see if Russia can have a space program going forward without foreign technology. Even they acknowledge that will be a problem.

    It’s an issue in terms of globalization- but not a problem in terms of technology. Engineering, perhaps. It certainly wasn’t an issue for 55 years– starting with Sputnik in 1957. They’ll fly fine– and if they need a partner- China is there; their own Shenzhou is a spacecraft is a knock off of the Russian Soyuz. Worry less about their space program; focus on America’s.

    DCSCA (cdf0e2)

  235. @228. The U.S. has interests in Taiwan; Ukraine… not so much— unless your name is Biden.

    There real concern is the POTUS in charge is so incompetent at projecting American power, the perception of weakness alobng w/a history of getting it wrong for decades is now rooted in responses from adversaries. And w/respect to Taiwan, he’s close to putting the U.S. in the position of sh-tting or getting off the pot over strategic ambiguity w/an increasingly strong and defiant China. And Russia now has China’s back on any move. My Marine neighbor war gamed this on Palau last year and indicated the outcome in several scenarios was not favorable for the U.S. Supply chain issues were a significant problem for U.S. support– but Taiwan itself was easily occupied. Basic geography is in their favor as well. But holding it and controlling it will be the real problem. But should Xi makes a move- the suggestions were he’ll succeed initially. So how deeply does the U.S care to commit– and where, be it economic or kinetic will tell the tale. But it’s coming. All the more reason to crater further aid to Ukranne– it’s a waste of reources for the U.S. w/o American interest in play, as in Taiwan.

    DCSCA (cdf0e2)

  236. Willing to take that bet?

    Rip Murdock (726b13) — 7/30/2022 @ 8:24 pm

    Yes, because if there is a nuclear exchange, you won’t be around to collect on the bet. 😛

    norcal (da5491)

  237. https://pjmedia.com/news-and-politics/robert-spencer/2022/07/30/priorities-u-s-military-base-is-hosting-a-drag-show-n1617034
    Our military is a waste of tax-payer money. Fricking disgusting. And the rinos cheer the diversity. Pathetic.

    mg (8cbc69)

  238. https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2022/07/naming_things.html
    And the legacy republicans are silent. Not a word from McConnell and the Romneycrats.

    mg (8cbc69)

  239. Lurker, that was a hilarious and accurate description of Rob.

    Time123 (7c00bf)

  240. Why? Those are the sane people.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9) — 7/30/2022 @ 11:40 pm

    Helping elect leftists including the vegetable currently occupying the Presidency and voting against their own political, social and economic interests is sane? Interesting.

    NJRob (eb56c3)

  241. Lurker,

    you targeted me to distract from how the left has created racial tensions that don’t exist. When I post how radical the left has become you distract and attack the messenger. That’s how you support the left.

    Carry on troll. And join your moby friend in Time123.

    NJRob (eb56c3)

  242. I disagree that a Chinese invasion of Taiwan is either imminent or in the best interest of China.

    First, the Chinese economy is strongly dependent on semiconductor chips provided by TSMC in Taiwan (which is itself dependent on chemical inputs from US and US-friendly nations). An invasion could either unintentionally decimate the foundary capabilities or set into play an intentional sabotage of the facilities (this would have to be a priority play for Taiwan). Either scenario cripples the Chinese economy. Even if they can get the fabs reasonably in tact, China would still need to find the steady supply of both raw inputs and highly specialized workers. This operates against China’s long-term desire to have an independent cutting-edge fab capability. The uncertainty of how this plays out is too big of a risk for China to take now as its economy surges and its military capabilties advance.

    Taiwan has been investing in China too. There is a mutual dependence that war irritates in uncertain terms. And what precisely would be driving China to take this big risk right now? The Biden-obsessed here always project their own neuroses onto every international situation…where the center of the universe alternates between Washington DC and San Diego (with a healthy hat tip to Moscow).

    The long-term US interest is to have the TSMC capability distributed around the globe….perhaps to Japan and, desirably, to the US. Obviously this takes time, huge amounts of money, and a skilled workforce. Of course Taiwan likes its security leverage as is….with forces in Japan, Guam, and Australia seving as a deterrent (with the possibility of the Phillipines as new leadership emerges there).

    One could argue that this isn’t fundamentally about the fabs for China. This is about slapping down dissent…and nationalism. Still I think China’s long-term plan takes precedence over political jousting. Maybe in 5 years something changes the dynamic. Right now, everyone loses too much in a military confrontation that still cries out stalemate…..

    AJ_Liberty (dfbf73)

  243. I disagree that a Chinese invasion of Taiwan is either imminent or in the best interest of China.

    an invasion of ukraine wasn’t in the best interest of russia either

    don’t sell demented joe short

    JF (a6d404)

  244. the lead up to 2024 should be a blast

    ‘We live in an Orwellian hell-scape’: Facebook fact-checks top economist for stating America IS in a recession after Biden refused to admit it

    Facebook placed a ‘fact-checking’ label on a post written by a top economist stating that the United States is now in a recession – a move he termed ‘Orwellian’.

    Two consecutive quarters of negative growth is the standard definition of a recession, and Phillip Magness, the research and education director at the American Institute for Economic Research, posted on Facebook a commentary about the country now being in a recession.

    The post – which is no longer visible – was marked by Facebook’s fact checkers as being misleading.

    ‘We live in an Orwellian hell-scape,’ he tweeted.

    ‘Facebook is now ‘fact checking’ anyone who questions the White House’s word-games about the definition of a recession.’

    JF (a6d404)

  245. On Rupert Murdoch’s shift away from Trump. Murdoch is following a rule common in old-style Chicago politics: “Don’t back no losers.” Rupert is a practical man, and can see the steadily declining support for the Donald. And Donald’s temper tantrums won’t affect Murdoch at all, will probably just amuse him.

    Jim Miller (406a93)

  246. Somebody must never have played 20 questions, or never won at the game. Joe Biden is obviously an animal, not a “vegetable”.

    Jim Miller (406a93)

  247. Some Republicans fear party is too extreme on ab
    ………..
    ………Republicans call Democrats extreme for opposing restrictions on abortion later in pregnancy, as a fetus nears viability. They also say their opponents are stoking unfounded fears that the Supreme Court’s ruling could pave the way for rollbacks of other rights — a bid to distract from the economic concerns likely to dominate the election.

    Even in tight swing-state races, some candidates have embraced sweeping abortion restrictions. The leading GOP candidate for Senate in Arizona, Blake Masters, has called for a federal “personhood” law banning abortion nationwide. Asked about Georgia’s ban on abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, Republican Georgia Senate nominee Herschel Walker said this spring that he generally opposes exceptions.

    In Wisconsin, Democrats have hammered Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) for his statements on abortion, including his comment that the end of Roe “might be a little messy for some people.” He recently put out a lengthy statement saying he supports exceptions for rape and incest and free contraception for those that cannot afford it; this month he also said he has “no reason to oppose” a federal bill protecting same-sex marriage rights now under consideration in the Senate.
    ……….
    Republicans have cited a range of reasons for opposing the contraceptives bill, which was blocked in the Senate on Wednesday, saying it would make religious groups violate their beliefs and also allow the use of abortion-inducing drugs.

    A federal bill to prevent states from banning travel for abortion also met Republican opposition in the Senate this month…….
    ………..
    Charles Moran — the president of the Log Cabin Republicans, a national group for gay conservatives — pointed to significant GOP support for the federal same-sex marriage bill as evidence of progress. Forty-seven House Republicans joined Democrats to pass the measure, and supporters in the Senate have been working to get 10 GOP votes.

    Approval in the Senate, Moran said, would be “a huge benefit for us as conservatives … because when we go to gay and lesbian voters in November, the Democrats are not going to be able to say, well, the Republicans are going to try to take away your gay marriage.”
    ……….

    Related:

    Indiana Senate narrowly passes near-total abortion ban


    ……….
    The bill would prohibit abortions from the time a fertilized egg implants in a uterus. Exceptions would be allowed in cases of rape and incest, but a patient seeking an abortion for either reason would have to sign a notarized affidavit attesting to the attack.
    ………..
    The legislation’s passage “is a huge step forward in protecting the life of the unborn children in our state,” (said GOP Sen. Sue Glick of LaGrange, who authored the abortion bill), in a statement after the bill’s approval.

    “We have put together a bill that would not criminalize women and would protect the unborn whose voices have been silenced for the past 50 years under Roe v Wade,” she added.
    ……….

    To paraphrase Sen. Barry Goldwater, “extremism in the defense of life is no vice.”

    Rip Murdock (e39e4b)

  248. Correcting formatting:

    Indiana Senate narrowly passes near-total abortion ban

    ……….
    The bill would prohibit abortions from the time a fertilized egg implants in a uterus. Exceptions would be allowed in cases of rape and incest, but a patient seeking an abortion for either reason would have to sign a notarized affidavit attesting to the attack.
    ………..
    The legislation’s passage “is a huge step forward in protecting the life of the unborn children in our state,” (said GOP Sen. Sue Glick of LaGrange, who authored the abortion bill), in a statement after the bill’s approval.

    “We have put together a bill that would not criminalize women and would protect the unborn whose voices have been silenced for the past 50 years under Roe v Wade,” she added.
    ……….

    To paraphrase Sen. Barry Goldwater, “extremism in the defense of life is no vice.”

    Rip Murdock (e39e4b)

  249. lurker: “Lol. You’re so consumed by tribal animosity that you whatabouted norcal’s comment without apparently noticing that he directed it as much at the left as at the right. You’re a hammer in a universe of Leftist/NeverTrump nails, and the nails are closing in! Your obsession with your perceived enemies is every bit as unhinged as theirs…is with you”

    I think this nails it. Do we need to dial back the tribal animosity and chart a different course? Yes, we fundamentally disagree about priorities and solutions, but we are in the same boat and tossing each other over the side doesn’t solve anything. We need to find commonality….and lumping everyone on the other side as “evil” makes that impossible.

    Now does this tribal animosity apply to “NeverTrump”? In a real way, Trump is part of that same problem…promoting division, distortions of reality, and the ultimate tribal litmus test: you must support me no matter how much crazy I spew. Arguing against Trump and his influence in the GOP IS an argument against blind and radicalized tribalism.

    It’s not that the weaponizing of race is not important. It is, but 70% of the country does not take an extreme view about it. The 15% poles want a civil war….no one else does. The majority does not want the democratic system to implode because the extremes can’t see beyond their hate. Winning the internet isn’t making our country stronger…..

    AJ_Liberty (dfbf73)

  250. One person was killed on January 6, 2021 and the government was the executioner.

    Colonel Haiku (cf8fc6)

  251. in the event that DeSantis wins the nomination, i hope every NeverTrumper has their go packs ready

    JF (a6d404)

  252. Votes received by the Democrat candidate:

    2008 Obama = 69.5 million votes

    2012 Obama = 65.9 million votes

    2016 Clinton = 65.9 million votes

    2020 Biden = 81.3 million votes

    Colonel Haiku (cf8fc6)

  253. page C38 news, for those still interested:

    No bond for accused rapist of girl who traveled for abortion

    A man accused of raping and impregnating a 9-year-old Ohio girl who traveled to Indiana for an abortion was ordered held without bond Thursday by a judge who cited overwhelming evidence and the fact that he apparently is living in the U.S. illegally.

    The girl confirmed that Fuentes attacked her, Fuentes confessed to Columbus police detectives, and DNA testing of the aborted fetus confirmed Fuentes was the father, Franklin County Prosecutor Dan Meyer and detective Jeffrey Huhn said in court Thursday.

    JF (a6d404)

  254. norcal (da5491) — 7/30/2022 @ 6:08 pm

    Your mom could’ve converted to Islam. Polygamy issue solved. Allahu Akhbar!

    Paul Montagu (062b7e)

  255. The difference between Yemen and Ukraine is that Yemen is in a sectarian civil war, with the Saudis supporting the Sunnis. There have not launched an invasion to conquer Yemeni territory, and they have not bogusly claimed that Yemen was always a part of the Saudi regime.
    There is no civil war in Ukraine. Putin started his invasion in 2014, in two regions, and has only expanded his imperialism to the rest of the country.

    Paul Montagu (062b7e)

  256. Helping elect leftists including the vegetable currently occupying the Presidency and voting against their own political, social and economic interests is sane? Interesting.

    The people who are helping to elect leftists are the ones insisting that the GOP run jackass fukwit thieves as candidates. #Nevertrump opposes such, and anything that happens after that is the fault of the Trump-lovers.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  257. set into play an intentional sabotage of the facilities (this would have to be a priority play for Taiwan)

    Or for the US, in extremis.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  258. One could argue that this isn’t fundamentally about the fabs for China. This is about slapping down dissent…and nationalism. Still I think China’s long-term plan takes precedence over political jousting. Maybe in 5 years something changes the dynamic. Right now, everyone loses too much in a military confrontation that still cries out stalemate…..

    In about 3 months, Xi will be making his play for dictator-for-life. This after a fairly terrible few years where he has alienated his major customers, spread plague around the world, seen foreign investors flee and treated his own industries and subjects badly enough to get them to public protest. His remaining friends are Putin, Kim and some African dictators.

    Nothing would work better for him than a “short, victorious war.”

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  259. Kevin M,

    You’re smarter than that. The way to win hearts and minds is to support your candidate and to give reasons why that candidate is worthy of support from others. The constant NeverTrump drumbeat only turns people off and reflexively makes people support him more.

    Also makes those NeverTrump attacks seem personal since they are so vindictive and irrational.

    I think DeSantis is an excellent candidate for 2024 and worthy of support. He’s done an excellent job growing Florida and encouraging people to see why the Republican system of governance works. Try that for a shot

    NJRob (7e7f99)

  260. 253… correction…

    I forgot Roseanne Boyland… who was beaten to death by the Capitol Police outside the Capitol Building after she’d been beaten unconscious.

    Colonel Haiku (cf8fc6)

  261. Why it’s as if these NeverTrumpers think we’ve forgotten their words and actions over these last 5 and 1/2 years, Rob.

    Colonel Haiku (cf8fc6)

  262. I forgot Roseanne Boyland… who was beaten to death by the Capitol Police outside the Capitol Building after she’d been beaten unconscious.

    False, and it’s a smear on law enforcement.

    Paul Montagu (062b7e)

  263. @263: I cannot think of anything more likely to turn this country into a leftist sh1thole than the actions of Trump and his supporters insisting that they, and only they, are the alternative.

    Voters have to pick the lesser of two evils. Increasing the evil of one side will not improve its results.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  264. I forgot Roseanne Boyland… who was beaten to death by the Capitol Police outside the Capitol Building after she’d been beaten unconscious.

    Colonel Haiku (cf8fc6) — 7/31/2022 @ 10:10 am

    Didn’t she have an OD?

    Trump (left winger and fake fam values conservative who loved hillary, drugs, and prostitutes, saved the budget zero bucks and finished zero walls) did everything he could to amp up the situation. his fangirls should switch to decaf before listening to him.

    One point I want to give NJRob is that Desantis didn’t dodge the draft, but served with distinction. He didn’t sleep with gross porn stars while his wife was recovering from giving birth. He didn’t hand out huge checks with his name on them right before an election. Desantis never said Hillary was the best at anything. Florida has weathered many problems very well, and Trump has never had a successful term of office, nor ever been the most popular candidate in any election.

    Dustin (f01c00)

  265. R.I.P. Bill Russell, 88

    Game over.

    DCSCA (0545cd)

  266. Also makes those NeverTrump attacks seem personal since they are so vindictive and irrational.

    Bottom-of-the-deck, out-of-the-gamers. Welcome to 1964.

    DCSCA (0545cd)

  267. RIP NBA legend Bill Russell (88).

    Rip Murdock (e39e4b)

  268. Drone explosion hits Russia’s Black Sea Fleet headquarters

    A small explosive device carried by a makeshift drone blew up Sunday at the headquarters of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet on the Crimean Peninsula, wounding six people and prompting the cancellation of ceremonies there honoring Russia’s navy, authorities said.
    ………
    There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the drone explosion in a courtyard at the naval headquarters in the city of Sevastopol. But the seemingly improvised, small-scale nature of the attack raised the possibility that it was the work of Ukrainian insurgents trying to drive out Russian forces.
    ………
    Ukraine’s navy and an adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the reported drone attack underlined the weakness of Russian air defenses.

    “Did the occupiers admit the helplessness of their air defense system? Or their helplessness in front of the Crimean partisans?” Oleksiy Arestovich said on Telegram.

    If such an attack is possible by Ukraine, he said, “the destruction of the Crimean bridge in such situations no longer sounds unrealistic” — a reference to the span that Russia built to connect its mainland to Crimea after the annexation.
    ………..

    Sad!

    Rip Murdock (e39e4b)

  269. Doctor: Biden tests positive for COVID for 2nd day in a row

    WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden tested positive for COVID-19 for the second straight day, in what appears to be in a rare case of “rebound” following treatment with an anti-viral drug. – AP.com

    Rare? the imbecile has access to the best medical care in the world. Old Fauci double-dipped. Double Vaxxed, double boosted; like father, like son, shot up w/drugs a la Hunter and dosed w/Paxlovid.

    “I’m not going to shut down the country. I’m not going to shut down the economy. I’m going to shut down the virus.” – Squinty McStumblebum, 10/30/20

    Idiot.

    DCSCA (0545cd)

  270. RIP, Bill Russell, at 88.
    I went to his Sonics basketball camp my sophomore year, while coaching there. When I shook his hand for a photo op, it was amazing the size of his hands.

    Paul Montagu (062b7e)

  271. Demented DeSantis. First he goes after Mickey Mouse–now drag queens:

    DeSantis, citing a 1947 law on crossdressing, seeks to revoke a restaurant’s liquor license after a video surfaced of children attending a drag brunch

    Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has filed a complaint against a Miami restaurant that hosts a weekly drag brunch after children were seen at the event. According to The Hill, the video was posted by LibsofTikTok, a right-wing social media account. In the complaint obtained by the news organization, DeSantis alleged R House violated state law and cited a 1947 state Supreme Court ruling that “men impersonating women” in a “suggestive and indecent” fashion is a public nuisance.

    https://www.businessinsider.com/desantis-files-complaint-at-miami-restaurant-drag-brunch-2022-7

    Has he ever heard of Key West? Wanna shutter a state tourist haven and drag queen metropolis, too?? Can you read a map, Ron??? It’s in Florida.

    https://www.dragqueenshow.com/key-west-drag-queen-show.html

    DCSCA (0545cd)

  272. hey the troll is mad

    Dustin (f01c00)

  273. “Our goal should be that in twenty years those who voted for Trump are too uncomfortable to share that fact in public….We may not always be able to change someone’s beliefs, but we can sure as hell make it politically, socially, economically, and sometimes physically costly to articulate them.”

    —- Mark Bray, PANTIFA

    Brothers in Arms, NeverTrump.

    Colonel Haiku (cf8fc6)

  274. the other troll is also mad

    Dustin (f01c00)

  275. Celtics with Russell playoff games against the Lakers were games memories were made of. Growing up in SoCal, our support went to the Lakers, but win or lose (the losses were tough!), we knew we were watching greatness.

    Colonel Haiku (cf8fc6)

  276. DeSantis2024!!

    Colonel Haiku (cf8fc6)

  277. Bill Russell won eleven (11!) NBA championships with the Celtics, including 8 in a row, then two more as Celtics coach.

    I think that 8-peat is one of those records that will never be broken.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  278. Republican nominee for Maryland attorney general hosted 9/11 conspiracy radio shows
    ………
    Michael Peroutka, a candidate best known for his ties to neo-Confederate organizations, made the remarks on The American View, a radio show he co-hosted, in October 2006 while discussing the fifth anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack.

    “What happened on 9-1-1, I told you that I had been doing some research and watching some videos,” Peroutka said during one of the episodes reviewed by CNN’s KFile. “And I said that if the buildings in New York City, the World Trade Center buildings, came down by demolition charges – that is to say – if there was this evidence that there was that something was preset there, then the implications of that are massive,” said Peroutka.

    “I’ve been doing some reading and doing some studying, and I believe that to be very, very true,” he added, before further suggesting the work was done by controlled explosives.

    “The other thing that just is so striking to me, I can’t get it out of my brain, and that is the vision of Building 7 falling faster than the speed of gravity, right? Building 7, which no plane hit,” said Peroutka. “And all of a sudden Building 7 falls, very consistent with what they call controlled demolitions or controlled charges because that building from the top down falls faster than if you had thrown a hammer off the top of the building.”
    ………
    “That begs the question that if there are preset charges in Building Seven, what’s to stop there for being preset charges in Buildings 1, 2 8, 9, and 27?” said Peroutka. “Are there charges in every building in New York City? Is everyone ready to be brought down whenever some elite bureaucrat decides that he’s gonna pull it?”

    Peroutka also called the 9/11 terrorist attacks an “inside job,” saying “you can’t have an explosion in the basement that’s done by the hijacker on the airplane” and claimed that the official account of the 9/11 attack was the real “conspiracy theory.”

    The campaign did not address Peroutka’s previous conspiracy theories when asked for comment, but Macky Stafford, Petroutka’s campaign coordinator, told CNN in a statement that the “primary election results demonstrate that Maryland Republicans are dissatisfied with their current leadership.”
    ………
    In other episodes of Peroutka’s radio show reviewed by CNN’s KFile, Peroutka also cast doubt that the Pentagon was hit by American Airlines Flight 77, asking where the video is showing this “incoming attack, plane or missile,” later saying that it is “very plausible that a missile that looked like a plane hit the Pentagon.”
    ………..
    (His late co-host and former presidential campaign adviser, John Lofton) said, “Ah, but see the missile thing. Then you gotta count for the remains and the body parts and show how all those people got inside the missile. How all those passengers–”

    “I saw the pictures. There was, there was nothing that looked like a body or luggage or anything in there,” Peroutka interrupted. “And the pictures that I saw – if there are pictures, John – that show body parts or luggage or even a seat of an airplane that’s consistent with Flight 77, that particular airplane. If there’s anything that’s consistent with that, I haven’t seen a picture of it.”
    ……….
    “Unless a plane hit the Pentagon, how would the remains of anybody on that flight get into the Pentagon?” asked Lofton.

    “I didn’t say they got into the Pentagon. I couldn’t see them in the Pentagon. There wasn’t any – I’ve never seen any evidence that anything like a body or a passenger or passenger’s luggage or anything that’s consistent with the Flight 77 is in the Pentagon. If there are such pictures, I’d like to see them. Now, you could clearly understand that somebody whose loved one was lost on that plane, very possibly, could have gotten some piece of forensic evidence that indicated that their loved one was in fact deceased. But who says that came from the Pentagon?”

    Peroutka then said this was the first time he had heard that the remains of the deceased were found at the Pentagon.
    ………..

    Rip Murdock (e39e4b)

  279. Here’s the thing that Trump’s base doesn’t understand:

    There are two kinds of political parties, major parties and minor parties, and they can be told apart by how they behave and whose votes they seek.

    A major party attempts to get as many people as possible, from the center to the other edge of their beliefs. It does so by feilding candidates who have wide appeal.

    A minor party attempts to carry a pure message to voters, and does not attempt to woo the center, or really anyone not aligned with the minor party’s narrow ideology. It tends to drive members out who do not toe the line, and purity tests are common. Often, these purity tests result in moving the party further out on the fringe.

    Some times major parties are captured by one wing that attempts to emulate a minor party to some degree. They drive out “squishes” who don’t Believe, call them X-in-name-only pretenders, and generally narrow thei base of the party to members of the single wing.

    The GOP did this with Goldwater, and now with Trump, the Democrats with McGovern and maybe soon with AOC. It doesn’t work, and it makes the major party lose elections it did not need to lose. Taken to an extreme, the party may collapse as the GOP has in California.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  280. Case in point 282. How in the world do the expect to win? It’s not impossible; they have a GOP governor. But instead they’ve gone for what is politely called the “fringe” with a candidate who will mostly poison the waters for other candidates now and for some years to come.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  281. Your father was a wise man, norcal. He understood what Brigham Young learned too late: “How many women can you live with?”

    nk (90349c)

  282. The GOP did this with Goldwater, and now with Trump, the Democrats with McGovern and maybe soon with AOC. It doesn’t work, and it makes the major party lose elections it did not need to lose. Taken to an extreme, the party may collapse as the GOP has in California.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9) — 7/31/2022 @ 11:42 am

    The only thing the GOP has going for it is that the democrats are extremely divisive and destructive. Crime in our cities is terrible. Inflation is terrible. Social policies are largely disgusting, like horrible.

    The GOP ran a lot of idiots and still does, and they don’t really care about spending less money or limited government, so im not sure what the point of the GOP even is anymore, but when democrats claim to be uniters, they wind up running around being extremely divisive 80-90% of the time.

    If Biden had finished the wall and returned fiscal policy to Bill Clinton levels, and gotten himself out of the way of most issues, picked one pet issue to get something for his lefties, he would have been added to Mt Rushmore. Instead he’s easily one of the worst presidents, and I’d say that’s three in a row that were totally unworthy.

    Any president recognizing the moment here, that the idiots are too loud and most of us want politics to chill, would be beloved.

    Dustin (f01c00)

  283. Mark Bray, PANTIFA

    Isn’t that the same Mark Bray who whined when his child-molesting, grandma-slapping, drug-addled allies tried to chase down and kill a kid who had a gun and knew how to use it?

    Factory Working Orphan (2775f0)

  284. It just may be…

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  285. Dustin

    Desantis was a rear rear rear echelon legal advisor – He was based in Qatar spent a few days in iraq – Desantis like many lawyers in the military used their service to be a politician.

    DeSantis isnt doing well in Florida, his Trump light schtick is wearing thin

    EPWJ (89cf50)

  286. Dustin, when you say social policies are you referring to culture war issues ( gay marriage, Trans bathroom use etc) or are you referring to social spending on food assistance, Medicare, and the foster care system?

    Time123 (36ad30)

  287. Bill vs Wilt
    as good as it gets

    mg (8cbc69)

  288. Desantis was a rear rear rear echelon legal advisor…

    Maybe, but let’s not forget that DeSantis’ chief GOP rival bagged out of military service because of a phony baloney bone spurs excuse, while DeSantis enlisted and earned a Bronze Star.

    The records provided to the Phoenix reference Iraq and the Arabian Peninsula, and DeSantis’s duties in the months on or around 2007 and 2008 were described as special operations, special reconnaissance, intelligence and foreign internal defense operations.

    DeSantis was awarded a bronze star medal for meritorious service from October 2007 to April 2008, the records show.

    Given that DeSantis is younger, fitter and hinged, the choice between the two should be obvious.

    Paul Montagu (062b7e)

  289. #193 norcal – Thanks for that story, which reminded me of a prediction I made some years ago: I thought the next big thing in that area, after gay marriage, would be polygamy.

    (I completely missed the whole “trans” thing, though I had a warning from science fiction writer Gregory Benford. In his novel, “Across the Sea of Suns, the protagonist, Nigel Walmsley, begins in a relationship with two women, one of whom at some point becomes a “man”.)

    My thinking was fairly simple: The most common form across cultures appears to be monogamy for most, polygamy for a few wealthy and powerful men. (There are, of course, societies with polyandry, where one womn is married to two or more men, but they are rare.) And before anyone automatically thinks LDS, my favorite example of the latter in the United States is the late Hugh Hefner. And so, since polygamy was already present here on a small scale, I expected it would be legalized.

    But so far, if there is a significant polygamy legalization movement, I haven’t seen any signs of it. For which I am grateful.

    (Why was I wrong? I think now that I underestimated the power of feminists, most of whom, I believe, would oppose polygamy.)

    Jim Miller (406a93)

  290. R.I.P. Nichelle Nichols, aka Lieutenant Uhura on classic “Star Trek.” series. She was 89.

    All hailing frequencies open; Ad Astra.

    DCSCA (e437a0)

  291. I’m also fairly sure that DeSantis will not bury his first wife at his golf course for the tax write-off.
    Credit to Trump’s CPAs for creative accounting.

    Paul Montagu (062b7e)

  292. This one’s too good to pass up.

    Paul Montagu (062b7e)

  293. 231. Kevin M (eeb9e9) — 7/30/2022 @ 11:34 pm

    Here is what I think is going on: The FDA testing to demonstrate safety were for a five-day regimen. With the versions of the virus they had then, five days was enough for almost everyone.

    Five days was picked by Pfizer – they maybe tried different numbers of days in Phase I trials, and opted for the minimu effective dose, I don’t know.

    This is an antiviral – it should work equally well against all versions.

    But the version of the virus might make a difference with regard to the immune response. There’s less immunity. There’s also less with older people. So in that way it might make a difference.

    The FDA took no account of the seriousness of the case (except to say don’t give it when it is most needed – after five days and the infection is still raging) and they took no account of the question if someone was vaccinated or not or how often.

    With the current, more virulent strains, Paxlovid doesn’t knock them completely out, and the virus comes back before the (very separate) immune system antibodies ramp back up.

    There’s also the fact this virus has a way of hibernating.

    But they can’t go past the five days of safety because FDA spank.

    Fauci got a second course of treatment. But Biden is even more loyal to the protocol – he’s getting nothing now.

    So, they keep trotting out their 3% statistic from testing against Covid-2020, but its a lie and they all know it.

    Was that tested in vaccinated people or unvacccinated peopple? If this was done in 2020, aand not 2021, there would have been virtually o vaccinated people/

    By the way, in September, there should be a booster available that is targeted against Omicron also.

    Sammy Finkelman (b7dc9b)

  294. On a related subject, I think, norcal, that your mother may have wanted the “sisterhood” in such realtionships. I think I have seen a mild form of that desire in my favorite Kirkland park.

    When I have ridden by Tot Lot on my bicycle, I have almost always seen a group of women, three or four typically, watching a larger group of small children.

    The women who use it think it’s a wonderful design. (I agree, and sometimes stop for a minut or two, just to admire it.)

    Jim Miller (406a93)

  295. Ad Astra and Godspeed. Fictional or not, “Uhura” was a role model for many black girls of that era, back when racial harmony seemed within reach.

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/obituaries/2022/07/31/nichelle-nichols-uhura-star-trek-dead/

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  296. 295. How much of his golf course was declared ac emetery? I read he had the Roman Catholic Church declare an area consecrated ground. This must have been a tiny part of it.

    Trump most likely had her buried there for the privacy. The Reagans are buried on the grounds of the Reagan library/

    Sammy Finkelman (b7dc9b)

  297. Trump most likely had her buried there for the privacy. The Reagans are buried on the grounds of the Reagan library/

    Sammy Finkelman (b7dc9b) — 7/31/2022 @ 1:28 pm

    If she actually signed off on it in her will, it probably doesn’t matter much at this point. I know they continued to talk and apparently she was actually one of the few people he really trusted, but I’m more surprised that she would have even agreed to be buried on a Trump property, as opposed to an upscale cemetery in NYC.

    Factory Working Orphan (2775f0)

  298. DeSantis isnt doing well in Florida, his Trump light schtick is wearing thin
    EPWJ (89cf50) — 7/31/2022 @ 12:47 pm

    The RCP average has DeSantis at +8.8 over Crist in the Governor’s race. And this poll has identified him as one of the most popular Republican politicians in America.

    That’s not doing well? It’s his moment.

    Rip Murdock (e39e4b)

  299. And DeSantis is +12.8 over Fried. Game over.

    Rip Murdock (e39e4b)

  300. @300/301 – The Big Dick and Pat are planted in the yard of his birth shack in Yorba Linda on the grounds of his library. Any guesses on the hubby and spouse planted in Grant’s Tomb in Manhattan? 😉

    DCSCA (c092ae)

  301. I endorse #286.

    As to NBA center GOAT, I think I would still give the nod to Kareem over Russell. I may even put Wilt above Russell even though Russell dwarfed him in terms of titles. Russell played on better teams. Heck, I may even put Shaq over Russell in terms of dominating the position and longevity. Different eras, but Shaq against Russell would have been quite the show. Still, Russell seems to have been a class act since his playing days and his title record will be one of the toughest ever to top.

    DeSantis seems poised to pick up Trump’s mantle (or is it his jock strap?)…and I’m sure FWO loves his culture warring. It’s early. I understand he must establish his MAGA bonafides, but right now he looks to be setting up to be the President of the Red States of America. The good news for him is that his competition looks pretty weak and he has plenty of time to work on being actually likable…like many of our commenters here….but I have hope…

    AJ_Liberty (5f05c3)

  302. @303. He’s as shallow as the Everglades and just as swampy. Filet of Rick Perry seasoned w/Little Marco sauce. Won’t last 12 minutes in a debate w/professionals on a national stage.

    DCSCA (c092ae)

  303. R.I.P. Bernard Cribbins, 93

    For those of us familiar w/truly gifted British comedians, Cribbins was a very funny face and voice across multiple mediums back in the day. Among his many credits- the ITV series, ‘Cribbins’ (1969–70) , which I fondly remember watching weekly; appearances on the TV series, ‘The Avengers’ (1968), ‘Fawlty Towers’ (1975) multiple ‘Doctor Who’ episodes and some fine supporting roles in such films as ‘The World of Suzie Wong’ (1960) ‘The Mouse on The Moon’ (1963) ‘Carry On Jack’ (1963) ‘Carry On Spying’ {1964) ‘Casino Royale’ (1967) Alfred Hitchcock’s ‘Frenzy’ (1972) and many more British films. A gifted talent for sure; his legacy: laughter.

    DCSCA (c092ae)

  304. I’m more surprised that she would have even agreed to be buried on a Trump property, as opposed to an upscale cemetery in NYC.

    I guarantee you that Trump will not be buried on any property open to the public.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  305. R.I.P. Pat Carroll, 95, veteran actress of stage, TV and film. Voice Of Ursula In ‘The Little Mermaid’ and familiar for roles on ‘Laverne & Shirley’ & ‘ER’ among others.

    They’re dropping like flies; fade to black.

    DCSCA (c092ae)

  306. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11066709/Republican-Senator-Ron-Johnson-says-no-faith-FBI-investigate-Hunter-Biden.html

    Wisconsin GOP Senator Ron Johnson said he does not trust the FBI to investigate Hunter Biden
    Meanwhile federal authorities are conducting an unrelated tax probe into Hunter Biden’s business dealings
    It follows a letter he sent to Justice Department officials claiming to have explosive whistleblower allegations of a cover-up
    He claimed the agencies were trying to stop investigations into Joe Biden’s son
    His fellow GOP lawmaker Sen. Grassley demanded FBI and DoJ answer the whistleblower allegations last week in a similar memo
    Grassley, in letter to agencies, cites ‘highly credible’ whistleblowers claiming damning information on Hunter Biden was downplayed ahead of 2020 election
    Whistleblower alleges that was a ‘scheme’ to ‘undermine derogatory information connected to Hunter’ by falsely flagging it as disinformation

    A scandal of unprecedented proportions ignored by the domestic media. And they’ll continue to do so till they are told it’s time to dump Biden.

    NJRob (eb56c3)

  307. @308. Ivana Trump was laid to rest in a private family plot at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, NJ. The Donald knows real estate and can likely opt to be planted there. Bedminster is lovely; lived in nearby Basking Ridge as a youth. Just pay the green fees for a visit. One thing’s for sure- every house cat on the planet knows how to bury our Joe.

    DCSCA (c092ae)

  308. Hunter Biden and his laptop is a “scandal of unprecedented proportions”?
    Good grief.
    The guy is a loser who had the dumb luck to have a dad who is now president. I’ll be surprised if he’s indicted for anything more than tax fraud and lying about his guns.

    Paul Montagu (062b7e)

  309. Any president recognizing the moment here, that the idiots are too loud and most of us want politics to chill, would be beloved.

    There were 6 Presidents in the 20 years before Lincoln. Two died quickly, one invaded Mexico, and the other three were terrible. Civil war followed.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  310. DC, Trump National Golf Club Bedminster is a private club. You have to do more than pay green fees to get onto the grounds, like book a wedding, become a member or find a member who will let you play a round with him/her.
    Trump getting buried there is probably in his best interests, as it will minimize people pissing on his grave.

    Paul Montagu (062b7e)

  311. Rip
    Old polls, Florida is extremely hard to poll. No governor has won in a landslide in quit awhile. So its going to be a nail biter to the end.

    EPWJ (89cf50)

  312. @314. That depends on if you’re just visiting the plots. The concession and souvenir stand should be a sweet moneymaker, too. Oh, that Capitalist Donald– he can’t take it with him– but he’ll take you anyway. 😉

    DCSCA (1343eb)

  313. @314. Trump getting buried there is probably in his best interests, as it will minimize people pissing on his grave. B-b-but, Russia says he likes them golden showers. 😉 Besides, hasn’t stopped pigeons and assorted fowl from fouling The Big Dick and Reagan crypt.

    DCSCA (1343eb)

  314. Joe Manchin hails expansive bill he finally agrees to as ‘great for America’

    ‘West Virginia Democratic senator Joe Manchin on Sunday hailed the legislation he almost killed off, calling the rewritten $739bn bill he agreed to last week to pay down U.S. debt and tackle the climate crisis “great for America”. Manchin, on a tour of all five Sunday morning TV politics talk shows, told CBS’s Face the Nation that the energy and climate deal he’s now supporting will tackle inflation because it will be “aggressively producing more energy, to get more supply, to get the prices down”. Republicans charge that the deal would in fact add to inflation, currently running at a 40-year-high.

    But the centrist Democrat said he hoped his Senate colleagues would “take a good look at the bill”, which also controversially boosts planet-heating fossil fuels, an industry that has made Manchin very wealthy.’ – guardian.com

    They’re all the same.

    Storm the castle.

    DCSCA (1343eb)

  315. Nichelle Nichols Helped NASA Break Boundaries on Earth and in Space

    Actor Nichelle Nichols, who died July 30, 2022, didn’t just break new ground on “Star Trek” by playing one of the first leading recurring Black female characters on U.S. television. A decade after the show ended, she did the same for NASA, appearing in a promotional film aimed at recruiting women and people of color to apply to be astronauts, as she recounted in a 2012 visit to NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. The next astronaut class, appointed in 1978, included Guy Bluford, the first Black American in space, and Sally Ride, the first American woman in space.

    https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nichelle-nichols-helped-nasa-break-boundaries-on-earth-and-in-space/

    “Not bad for government work.”

    A genuine Space Angel.

    DCSCA (1343eb)

  316. Paul

    Desantis wasn’t awarded a bronze star for military action. It was an administrative award given to all Jag officers who served in the middle east.

    Desantis is maga discliple

    EPWJ (89cf50)

  317. You’re right, EPWJ. It would’ve much more noble for DeSantis to plead a case of bone spurs and skip serving his country.

    Paul Montagu (062b7e)

  318. DCCCP: “Won’t last 12 minutes in a debate w/professionals”

    Do you mean hookers? As a Trump fluffer, I assume you mean hookers. I mean, it’s hookers, right? Am I missing something….

    AJ_Liberty (dfbf73)

  319. Indeed Kareem, AJ. The sky-hook was a work of art.

    mg (8cbc69)

  320. Wonder where McConnell will be put to rest, Paul.

    mg (8cbc69)

  321. Rip
    Old polls, Florida is extremely hard to poll. No governor has won in a landslide in quit awhile. So its going to be a nail biter to the end.

    EPWJ (89cf50) — 7/31/2022 @ 3:27 pm

    We’ll see.

    Rip Murdock (e39e4b)

  322. DeSantis spokesperson didn’t report all foreign agent activities to DOJ, could be criminally liable
    ……..
    Florida Gov. DeSantis’ spokeswoman Christina Pushaw registered as a foreign agent on June 6th, 2022, under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).

    But when she did register, public records prove conclusively that she materially omitted a significant amount of her past foreign lobbying activities when belatedly registering with the United States Department of Justice’s National Security Division last month. …….
    ………
    Christina Pushaw is required by FARA to register her activities within 10-days of agreeing to be a foreign agent and prior to starting.

    Yet, she registered four and a half years late, long after starting that she belatedly disclosed her paid relationship with the foreign principal Mikheil Saakashvili, the now-imprisoned former President of Georgia.
    ……….
    Her disclosures reveal the now-Press Secretary to the Florida Governor’s extensive ghost-writing campaign for Saakashvili and his wife.

    Pushaw also reported her personal publication of her political propaganda to further Saakashvili’s goals in a prominent GOP-aligned think tank’s editorial journal, but her writing lacks legally required disclosures under FARA, another violation of the law.
    ………
    (Her resume) proves conclusively that she says she was a foreign lobbyist for a second foreign principal that she hasn’t disclosed to the DOJ.

    The fifth bullet point in her listing as a Campaign Strategist for former Georgian presidential candidate Gregory Vashadze reads: “Managed strategic communications with international (US/EU) stakeholders, including government officials and multinational election observation missions (OSCE, Parliamentary Assemblies, etc.); wrote weekly memos for stakeholders; briefed diplomats, U.S. officials and monitoring delegations.”

    The last line specifically denotes that she lobbied American government officials on behalf of a Vashadze, a foreign principal.
    ……..
    “When you’re undertaking those activities for a foreign politician, I think they require registration because you’re contacting the US government on behalf of a foreign politician,” said Richard Painter, who served as chief ethics counsel in the Bush White House. “That goes to the core of what FARA is all about. It seems to me that needs to be disclosed.”

    “There are two sets of issues,” Painter explained, “the reporting under the FARA and whether they met the statute. It’s obligatory, and failure to report can be criminal.”

    “There’s a second issue,” the former White House ethics counsel said, continuing to outline the pitfalls of being a late registrant with the DOJ and making an incomplete filing, “is that when you do file a report with the US government, any part of the government, and it’s false. If you knowingly make false statements to any part of the US government, then you can be in violation of 18 USC 1001, the false statements statute.”
    ………

    Rip Murdock (e39e4b)

  323. @322. Am I missing something….

    Yes, Agarn. You ‘crack wise;’ your betters crack ‘wise.’

    DCSCA (01b574)

  324. @314. Trump wanted to build a family mausoleum on his golf course complete with ‘imposing obelisks.’ After officials called the plans ‘overwhelming and garish,’ his ex-wife was laid to rest in a modest grave instead.

    “…More than 15 years ago, Trump began planning a family cemetery on the Bedminster, New Jersey, property. The size and design of the project has changed over the years, but this month his ex-wife Ivana became the first person known to be buried on the property.

    Originally, Trump’s plans for the mausoleum — where he would eventually be interred — included a 19-foot-high, classical-style stone structure to be built at Trump National Golf Club, which features two courses, local news site NJ.com reported in 2012.

    The mausoleum would have included “four imposing obelisks surrounding its exterior and a small altar and six vaults inside,” according to NJ.com. But, after encountering opposition from city officials who called the design “overwhelming and garish,” Trump floated the idea of redesigning the structure as a “mausoleum/chapel,” The Washington Post reported. Plans for the large-scale mausoleum were ultimately scrapped and Trump proposed several other cemetery redesigns, including a 284-plot portion of the golf course with burial sites available for purchase. No such cemetery has yet been built, but the presence of burial grounds on the golf course property could offer tax breaks to the business.

    Ivana Trump was laid to rest on the property earlier this month in a modest grave in a grassy area behind the first hole of one of the courses, “not too far from the main clubhouse,” The New York Post reported. She died following a fall in her Upper East Side home on July 14.’

    https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-family-grave-mausoleum-bedminster-new-jersey-golf-course-2022-7

    DCSCA (01b574)

  325. Maybe his wife has a family plot on Taiwan, mg.

    Paul Montagu (062b7e)

  326. I’ll be surprised if he’s indicted for anything more than tax fraud and lying about his guns.

    “I’m proud of my son.” – Joe Biden 9/29/20

    “I trust his judgment.”- Nancy Pelosi, 8/25/21

    Great! Happy landings in Taiwan, sweetie.

    DCSCA (01b574)

  327. Trump Can’t Be Blamed by Militia Group at Jan. 6 Trial, US Says
    ……..
    Trump, whose supporters laid siege to the US Capitol to prevent the peaceful transition of power to Joe Biden, didn’t have the authority to order such an attack and therefore can’t be used in a so-called public-authority or entrapment defense, the US said in a filing Friday in Washington.
    ……….
    “President Trump did not have the authority to permit or authorize a conspiracy to forcibly oppose the authority of the government or the execution of the laws of the United States, nor could he have lawfully sanctioned the attack on the United States Capitol on Jan. 6 or any of the other criminal conduct allegedly perpetrated by defendants,” the US said in the filing.
    ……….
    The US also asked the judge to bar the defendants “from arguing that any failure to act by law enforcement rendered their conduct legal,” which would undercut a frequent argument by accused rioters that since some police didn’t try to stop them, they effectively had a green light to enter the Capitol. Police officers were vastly outnumbered.
    ………..

    Rip Murdock (e39e4b)

  328. There’s some Chinese Maverick piloting his Chengdu-20 just itchin’ to take Polaroids of a terrified Nancy screaming at the window as he gives her a wing-waggle on final approach into Taipei Songshan Airport.

    DCSCA (01b574)

  329. “President Trump did not have the authority to permit or authorize a conspiracy to forcibly oppose the authority of the government or the execution of the laws of the United States, nor could he have lawfully sanctioned the attack on the United States Capitol on Jan. 6 or any of the other criminal conduct allegedly perpetrated by defendants,” the US said in the filing.

    That does not mean that President Trump did not engage in such a conspiracy.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  330. I wonder what portion of Trump’s remaining defenders think that Trump should have prevailed in overturning the election. I also wonder what portion of those defenders want a President Trump who acts “forcefully” against “traitors” in a second or subsequent term.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  331. Crude, but funny:

    “Everyone has shunned them,” Maher said. “Trump, of course, invites them in. I played in a Saudi golf tournament once. My handicap was they beheaded my caddy.”

    There are reports that the loser isn’t drawing big crowds, even with the help of the Saudis:

    Thin crowds were reported at the Saudi-backed LIV Golf tournament taking place at former President Donald Trump’s New Jersey club this weekend—with tickets reportedly being sold for as little as $1 online.

    If true, that’s a fairly substantial markdown.

    As he so often does, the loser is working with foreigners — and against an American organization.

    Jim Miller (406a93)

  332. Arizona 2022: Dead Heat in Republican Gubernatorial Nomination; Masters With 18-Point Lead in for US Senate Nomination

    The final Emerson College Polling survey of the Arizona Republican primary finds Karrin Taylor Robson in a statistical dead-heat in the race for party nominee for Governor against Kari Lake, 47% to 46%. Just 4% are undecided heading into Tuesday’s election. When these voters indicate who they are leaning towards, the race remains in deadlock, Taylor Robson leads Lake 49% to 48%.
    ………
    Voters were asked if they are more or less likely to vote for a candidate who maintains that Donald Trump won the 2020 election and that it was stolen from him. A plurality of voters (39%) say they are more likely to vote for a candidate who maintains this belief, while 28% say they are less likely, and 33% say it makes no difference.

    “Among those who are more likely to vote for a candidate who maintains Trump won in 2020, Lake holds 76%, and among those who are less likely to vote for a candidate who maintains Trump won, Taylor Robson holds 79%. For those who say it makes no difference on their vote, Taylor Robson leads Lake by eleven points, 52% to 41%,” noted (Spencer Kimball, Executive Director of Emerson College Polling).
    ……..
    In the Republican primary to face US Senator Mark Kelly this November, Blake Masters leads with 40% support, an 18-point lead over his closest competitor Jim Lamon (22%), followed by Mark Brnovich at 14%, and Michael McGuire at 12%. Nine percent are undecided. When undecided voters are asked who they lean towards, Masters maintains his lead over Lamon, 42% to 24%.
    ………..

    Rip Murdock (e39e4b)

  333. Jim Miller (406a93) — 7/31/2022 @ 6:56 pm

    hey Jim, are Dubya and the Saudis still BFFs?

    JF (a6d404)

  334. Nichelle Nichols wanted to quit Star Trek after the first year, then something happened:

    When she took the role of Uhura, Ms. Nichols said, she thought of it as a mere job at the time, valuable as a résumé enhancer; she fully intended to return to the stage, as she wanted a career on Broadway. Indeed, she threatened to leave the show after its first season and submitted her resignation to Roddenberry. He told her to think it over for a few days.

    In a story she often told, that Saturday night she was a guest at an event in Beverly Hills, Calif. — “I believe it was an N.A.A.C.P. fund-raiser,” she recalled in the Archive interview — where the organizer introduced her to someone he described as “your biggest fan.”

    “He’s desperate to meet you,” she recalled the organizer saying.

    The fan, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., introduced himself.

    “He said, ‘We admire you greatly, you know,’ ” Ms. Nichols said, and she thanked him and told him that she was about to leave the show. “He said, ‘You cannot. You cannot.’”

    Dr. King told her that her role as a dignified, authoritative figure in a popular show was too important to the cause of civil rights for her to forgo. As Ms. Nichols recalled it, he said, “For the first time, we will be seen on television the way we should be seen every day.”

    On Monday morning, she returned to Roddenberry’s office and told him what had happened.

    “And I said, ‘If you still want me to stay, I’ll stay. I have to.’”

    https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/31/obituaries/nichelle-nichols-dead.html

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  335. Bill Russell (basketball player) RIP

    Sammy Finkelman (b7dc9b)

  336. Here’s a good Bill Russell highlight reel.
    I didn’t realize how well he could run the floor, and the dude had hops, the kind of quick hops that are highly effective in basketball.
    If only he developed a shooting game, say from 20 feet on in. His eleven championships say well enough, but he could’ve been even better if he had a jumper.

    Paul Montagu (062b7e)

  337. Kevin, awesome story about Ms. Nichols.
    Her role was cutting edge for the 1960s, that a black woman was treated as an equal on the bridge. The Kirk-Uhuru kiss was a milestone in television history.

    BTW, Strange New Worlds is really good, the best Star Trek series since Enterprise, IMO. They did a really good job portraying Captain Pike, Spock, Uhuru and Nurse Chapel.

    Paul Montagu (062b7e)

  338. @342. Old news. It’s in her memoir, ‘Beyond Uhura,’ published in 1994, pgs., 164-165. It’s an excellent read and encourage you to get a hold of it. Her work w/NASA recruiting minorities and particularly women into space work was truly inspiring. She made personal appeals, narrated films, PSAs, worked with Alan Bean at the agency on it; attended the ‘Enterprise’ shuttle landing tests at Edwards AFB and was appointed to the board of the NSI, the National Space Institute, a space advocacy group–the first of its kind– established by Dr. Wernher von Braun to help maintain the public’s support for the United States space program, post Apollo, after America had walked on thew moon– and walked away from it. She was a perfect fit for conveying the crossover and promise between the fiction, potential and realities of HSF ops. She’ll be missed– and remembered.

    DCSCA (407f99)

  339. I didn’t much care for Enterprise, sad to say. I called it “Canadians in Space.” Didn’t care for Voyager either. I did like the first season of Discovery though, and I hope to watch my recordings of SNW sometime soon.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  340. @344 star trek enterprise is the best of the star treks. T’Pol make the show work with Sato in support.

    asset (cbc49e)

  341. @333 let her die the hero’s death. AOC would make a better speaker.

    asset (cbc49e)

  342. Just when you think that the GOP is going to follow the Trumpian lemmings off the cliff, AOC rides to the rescue, leading the Woke lemmings off another cliff.

    Note to the Woke: I know you cannot abide laughter, as everything is so SERIOUS, but we’re not laughing WITH you anyway.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  343. Jim -Ticketmaster sells tickets for the pga. Ticketmaster is well funded by the Saudis. And thats just one company. How about that Chinese communist tour the pga started up? Hypocrisy is what the pga is all about. And slow play, which is unwatchable every week.

    mg (8cbc69)

  344. That Nike swoosh seem to be ubiquitous, and not just in sports. It shows the total lack os awareness, or care, about the issue of slave labor or lack of use of American labor. I refuse to wear it or many other similar symbols of the worst in our economy.

    mg (8cbc69)

  345. Re: Hunter Biden —

    Remember Billy Carter, Neil Bush, Nixon’s brother, LBJ brother? Family members trading on the name of the President (whoever he might be) is an old, old, old problem. Since the whole Trump clan and business traded on that family name, I guess you wouldn’t call that a unique problem.

    If folks who were wrought up about Hunter Biden’s issues didn’t tend to not notice when Trump fails to disentangle himself from his businesses, I’d care a lot more about this.

    Appalled (fa627b)

  346. Good to know. Explains a lot.

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  347. 313 Kevin M (eeb9e9) — 7/31/2022 @ 3:08 pm

    There were 6 Presidents in the 20 years before Lincoln. Two died quickly, one invaded Mexico, and the other three were terrible. Civil war followed.

    I count seven, if William Henry Harrison was one of them, and you need to include him if you wat to say two died. This was a period of time when to serve only one term it was considered proper, starting from Polk. Polk died within half a year of leaving office from cholera. Taylor also died from cholera, maybe=be on purpose killed by someone who followed medical news and controversy from England

    You can say three were terrible: Tyler, Fillmore and Buchanan, and one was forgotten.

    Sammy Finkelman (b434ee)

  348. When Biden said that he brought up the question of Khashoggi with the Crown Prince and the Sausis denied it, I was inclined to believe him. Maybe he brought up very quietly when they were introduced to each other – like he said “at the top of the meeting”

    But now the same thing happened with regard to his conversation with the ruler of China, Xi. He said he brought up the Uyghurs (slave labor and genocide) and they say no, it didn’t happen.

    I think the odds are higher now that Biden made up this conversation. He may have decided that the safer course is not to bring it up – because it might possibly abruptly end the conversation or reduce his chances of getting an agreement on something – but to say that he did.

    Or he forgot or never found what he felt was the right opening. Or he never planned to bring up these human rights considerations but then responded to criticism that he had not by saying that he did.

    Also Biden’s press secretary wouldn’t say how the Chinese responded (with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Biden said MBS denied it and he said he didn’t believe him and then they went on from there. (?)

    Sammy Finkelman (b434ee)

  349. Appalled (fa627b) — 8/1/2022 @ 6:05 am

    what’s the latest on ginni thomas?

    JF (a6d404)

  350. deshaun watson suspended for six games

    it isn’t the saudis ruining american sports

    JF (a6d404)

  351. 332. 334. This is not to say that there is factual basis for them saying Trump told them to do it, but he can’t give them the right, so it’s no defense.

    In another case, Bannon was not allowed to even argue advice of counsel, or that he thought he was required not to testify. In any case, he could have shown up in person and claimed privilege – the point has not usually been pressed.

    Bannon also did not comply with a subpoena for documents, but I don’t know if he responded with a denial of their authority to demand them.

    Sammy Finkelman (b434ee)

  352. 355 JF: I dunno. You tell me.

    The complaints of Democrats, through their support of MAGA candidates because they are “beatable”, forfeit any consideration of their Clarence Thomas obsession.

    Appalled (225220)

  353. Worth reading: Peter Meijer’s article, “Why the Democrats Are Funding My Far-Right Opponent”:

    Tomorrow I’m facing off against John Gibbs in the Republican primary for Michigan’s Third Congressional District. The race is close. Internal polling has us within single digits of another. But Gibbs and I couldn’t be more different.

    I am a staunch defender of the Constitution and the rule of law.

    And John Gibbs is a Trumpista, and so opposed to both.

    Oh, and “the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) launched a $435,000 ad buy to promote the election-denying Gibbs in the final days leading up to our primary.”

    And they have done similar things in other primaries this year.

    (Bari Weiss’s Common Sense has become a must-read, for me.)

    Jim Miller (406a93)

  354. I called it “Canadians in Space.”

    Hey hoser, what’s wrong with that, eh?

    Paul Montagu (062b7e)

  355. So Meijer is a liar and a name caller. Good to know and good reasons not to support him.

    NJRob (0977f5)

  356. I am telling you, comrades, the horrific (for them) 155 million voter turnout in 2020 scared both parties witless and they are now both doing their best to turn off the rational voters and agitate their respective bases. It is what has always worked best for them and they want their ward-heeling back.

    nk (acb8eb)

  357. Really? Peter Meijer is the liar here?? Gibbs called and wants his identity back:

    A senior adviser at the Department of Housing and Urban Development spread a false conspiracy theory that claimed Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign chairman took part in a Satanic ritual, a CNN KFile review of his tweets show.

    […]

    On Twitter, Gibbs made multiple references to a conspiracy theory started by far-right bloggers claiming Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta took part in a Satanic ritual. Tweets from Gibbs, archived on the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine, show him promoting the conspiracy four times between October 31 and November 5 of 2016, using the hashtag #SpiritCooking. The hashtag originated from an email of Podesta’s released by WikiLeaks, which members of the far-right claimed, without evidence, that Podesta was involved in a Satanic ritual that involved bodily fluids.

    […]

    When radio host Wayne Dupree, who is known for spreading a conspiracy theory that the Sandy Hook school shooting was a hoax, tweeted that Clinton was losing black voters’ support because her campaign manager took part in “Satanic #SpiritCooking,” Gibbs quote tweeted him, writing, “True, true, and true. #Trump #SpiritCooking #BlackLivesMatter.”

    In another tweet, Gibbs targeted artist Marina Abramovic, whom bloggers claimed was part of the conspiracy, writing, “Marina Abramovic, woman at the center of #SpiritCooking scandal, has a Twitter handle that ends in 666. You can’t make this stuff up.”

    When far-right commentator Milo Yiannopoulos was facing backlash for comments he made endorsing sex between young boys and older men, Gibbs called the comment “indefensible,” but added the controversy might “tame his ego a bit, and helps focus his outrageousness on leftists & cucks, not the good guys.”

    In another tweet from October 2016, Gibbs also defended Ricky Vaughn, an alt-right figure who often tweeted anti-Semitic sentiments, when Twitter banned Vaughn, an anonymous user, from the platform.

    “#Twitter down big today because they banned Ricky? #FreeRicky,” he wrote.

    In a February 2016 tweet, Gibbs said the Democratic Party had become the party of “Islam, gender-bending, anti-police” and the party of people who accuse others of racism.

    And more recently:

    Gibbs says he does not believe Joe Biden was legitimately elected and considers Trump the greatest president in his lifetime. At Thursday’s town hall, he would not commit in advance to accepting the outcome of Tuesday’s primary, promising that “we’re gonna go after it and pursue it” if any “shenanigans” occur.

    Dana (1225fc)

  358. I also read the Common Sense article by Peter Meijer (which Jim linked to at 359), and I don’t see any lies from the candidate. Perhaps you should clarify for readers, NJRob, why you called Meijer a liar.

    Dana (1225fc)

  359. So Meijer is a liar and a name caller. Good to know and good reasons not to support him.

    NJRob (0977f5) — 8/1/2022 @ 7:50 am

    That’s not the issue. The issue crops up in this passage:

    Watching this unraveling inside my party has been utterly bewildering. The only thing that has been more nauseating has been the capacity of my Democratic colleagues to sell out any pretense of principle for political expediency—at once decrying the downfall of democracy while rationalizing the use of their hard-raised dollars to prop up the supposed object of their fears.

    It’s utterly pointless to complain about Democratic hypocrisy here or anywhere else; Meijer might as well be parroting the old neocon line “Dems r duh reel raycists!” from the 2000s. If he actually believed that his colleagues weren’t going to do anything in their power to get him out of office, that doesn’t make him a liar or a name caller, it makes him incredibly naive.

    While it’s all well and good for Meijer to call the Democrats out for funding his opponent’s campaign against him, the real question is, what is he going to do about it if he wins the primary (and presumably, the general since that’s Amash’s old district)? Continue to believe that these people are going to treat him in good faith, or recognize that they will smile to his face while looking for a chance to stab him in the back? Hopefully instead of uselessly complaining about Dem hypocrisy, because they don’t care about anything other than pushing their political agenda, he’ll have enough self-awareness to recognize that “principle” doesn’t mean squat if you don’t have the power to enforce it.

    Factory Working Orphan (2775f0)

  360. Ultimately, Meijer needs to recognize that any appeal to Americanism by the Democrats is hollow–and it’s empirically so, because he helpfully cites several examples in his article of his colleagues venally justifying their own double standards–not just because they’ll abandon it for political expediency, but because they don’t really believe in it, anyway, and that he shouldn’t trust them any farther than he can throw them.

    Factory Working Orphan (2775f0)

  361. 365,

    You seem to assume that his vote to impeach Trump was to get the approval of Democrats. That echoes the same wrong line of thinking I just read over at a very Trumpy website. Because Rs voted to impeach does not mean that they did it to get the approval of Ds. It means, as they have repeatedly said, their oath to the Constitution compelled them to do the right thing. And because Meijer says that it’s more nauseating to see the capacity of the Dem colleagues to sell their souls for political expediency doesn’t mean that he was naive and didn’t already know their ends-justifies-the-means mentality. It’s just that when we see it so cravenly displayed, it is disconcerting. Even Democrats currently holding office are shocked and disgusted by the dangerous and hypocritical strategy of their own campaign arm. And they aren’t being quiet about it either.

    Dana (1225fc)

  362. I count seven,

    You are right, of course. And best of the ones that weren’t Polk or dead was Millard Fillmore, who managed to put off civil war for a decade.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  363. You can say three were terrible: Tyler, Fillmore and Buchanan, and one was forgotten.

    Three were terrible, Tyler, Pierce and Buchanan. Fillmore was capable enough to lead the Senate (and Congress) into the Compromise of 1850, which defused the issue of slavery within the Mexican Cession, at least for another 10 years.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  364. Oh, and “the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) launched a $435,000 ad buy to promote the election-denying Gibbs in the final days leading up to our primary.”

    And while Republican donors cannot give more than a pittance to the GOP candidate, the DCCC can spend as much as they want on dirty tricks against the other party. This seems to me to be a fine argument against the constitutionality of campaign donation limits.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  365. You seem to assume that his vote to impeach Trump was to get the approval of Democrats.

    No, I understand he sincerely believed in his vote and that getting Democrat updoots had nothing to do with it. That’s beside the point. He clearly assumed his Democratic colleagues actually believed all the Americanist rhetoric they were spouting at the time, and is now trying to grapple with the realization that this isn’t actually the case.

    And because Meijer says that it’s more nauseating to see the capacity of the Dem colleagues to sell their souls for political expediency doesn’t mean that he was naive and didn’t already know their ends-justifies-the-means mentality.

    Nothing in his article indicates that he wasn’t taken completely by surprise by this.

    Even Democrats currently holding office are shocked and disgusted by the dangerous and hypocritical strategy of their own campaign arm. And they aren’t being quiet about it either.

    This has been going on for YEARS. They sure didn’t have a problem with it then.

    Factory Working Orphan (2775f0)

  366. “Even Democrats currently holding office are shocked and disgusted by the dangerous and hypocritical strategy of their own campaign arm. And they aren’t being quiet about it either.”

    Pull the other one…

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  367. Haiku, Do you really think that asking the opinion of a redneck dressed in the American flag will get you a typical voter response?

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  368. Pelosi is going to go to Taiwan Tuesday-Wednesday. I very much doubt that China will “shoot her plane down” (and if they do, the proper response is to bar ALL Chinese-made goods from the United States for the next century).

    But I think that, if anything happens, it will be an invasion, and we should put a stop to it with first a warning, and if that fails, a nuclear weapon. Might as well start there rather than risk getting there by escalation.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  369. #371 – If you read Dana’s linked article — always a good idea — you’ll find several elected Democats, objecting to the tactic of backing Trumpistas. And there are more who object, but are not willing to be named.

    Jim Miller (406a93)

  370. The Federalist is a bunch of Trumpist hacks. Just a better-written Gateway Pundit. The Federalist Society should sue for trademark violation.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  371. Haiku, Do you really think that asking the opinion of a redneck dressed in the American flag will get you a typical voter response?

    Kevin M (eeb9e9) — 8/1/2022 @ 9:34 am

    It’s no less typical than what we’d get from some suburban yuppie, university egghead, or Martineztown gangbanger.

    Factory Working Orphan (2775f0)

  372. OTOH, the MSM — a hive of scum and villainy — is getting set to declare Biden’s “Build Back a Bit” plan to be a major win, even if it is 10% of what he wanted and barely passed by 51-50 under a special rule.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  373. #371 – If you read Dana’s linked article — always a good idea — you’ll find several elected Democats, objecting to the tactic of backing Trumpistas. And there are more who object, but are not willing to be named.

    Jim Miller (406a93) — 8/1/2022 @ 9:42 am

    I did read the article, your pompous, condescending presumptions to the contrary. And I’ll repeat–“This has been going on for YEARS. They sure didn’t have a problem with it then.”

    And if they are not willing to be named, they’re not exactly standing on principle, are they?

    Factory Working Orphan (2775f0)

  374. It’s no less typical than what we’d get from some suburban yuppie, university egghead, or Martineztown gangbanger.

    Two of those three are productive members of society. What do you have against suburbanites, yuppies or educated people?

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  375. @351. It’s not so much Hunter’s transgressions as it is The Big Guy’s blatant and repeated, lying denials of any knowledge, discussions and influencial decisions regarding Hunter’s business dealings. If there’s ever been a fella deserving face time w/t MSM ‘behind the gymnasium’ to chat about ‘kickbacks’ – it’s Joey.

    DCSCA (ef3d6c)

  376. Two of those three are productive members of society.

    So what? It doesn’t make their opinions any more valid than the redneck’s.

    What do you have against suburbanites, yuppies or educated people?

    The same thing you have against rednecks–they’re not my people. And I say that as someone who spent several years growing up in a bedroom community suburb, and who possesses a master’s degree.

    Factory Working Orphan (2775f0)

  377. Trumpland bulges into only a fraction of our space-time continuum, and only into selected spots. In places where people find it necessary to get vaccinated secretly without their neighbors knowing, what they tell pollsters and reporters and how they mark their ballots in the privacy of their homes or the election booth are two different things.

    nk (3dd63d)

  378. @384: That explains a lot. That it is really just a projection by gibbering horrors from beyond space-time brings most of it into context. I just wish far fewer people were possessed.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  379. “Haiku, Do you really think that asking the opinion of a redneck dressed in the American flag will get you a typical voter response?”

    No less typical or valid than the opinion of a pendejo on the streets of Albuquerque.

    Colonel Haiku (2cf2e3)

  380. The same thing you have against rednecks

    Oh, I don’t have anything against rednecks who aren’t dressed in the flag — something that lies between disrespectful and pretentious.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  381. I’d say the same thing about a university egghead dressed in the flag.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  382. Pelosi is going to go to Taiwan Tuesday-Wednesday. I very much doubt that China will “shoot her plane down” (and if they do, the proper response is to bar ALL Chinese-made goods from the United States for the next century).

    Seriously? China might be willing to pay that price. The only proper response would be a military response.

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  383. Oh, I don’t have anything against rednecks who aren’t dressed in the flag — something that lies between disrespectful and pretentious.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9) — 8/1/2022 @ 10:01 am

    Dressing in the American flag is hardly disrespectful or pretentious. Maybe you don’t agree with their motivations for doing so, but I’d rather converse with a redneck dressed in the flag than a neo-marxist college professor who hates it and calls it a symbol of oppression.

    Factory Working Orphan (2775f0)

  384. “The Federalist is a bunch of Trumpist hacks. Just a better-written Gateway Pundit. The Federalist Society should sue for trademark violation.”

    I’d ask you to now do the Bulwark or teh Dispatch, but they receive most of their funding from leftwing monied mooks, so that would be a case of apples and oranges.

    Colonel Haiku (2cf2e3)

  385. Whaddaboutism.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  386. Didn’t think so…

    Colonel Haiku (2cf2e3)

  387. Dressing in the American flag is hardly disrespectful or pretentious.

    Yes, yes, it is, according to The Flag Code.

    nk (3dd63d)

  388. So Meijer is a liar and a name caller.

    I know Dana already asked, but what lies, Rob?
    What name calling?

    Paul Montagu (062b7e)

  389. Yes, yes, it is, according to The Flag Code.

    nk (3dd63d) — 8/1/2022 @ 10:14 am

    If burning the flag is protected under free speech, then wearing a bandanna and overalls with a flag design (which is what the “redneck” was actually wearing) is hardly any more offensive towards that principle.

    Factory Working Orphan (2775f0)

  390. @394. Give it a rest. My late grandfather worked w/some congresscritters on the flag code back in the late ’60s. Per the ‘code’:

    ‘The United States Flag Code establishes advisory rules for display and care of the national flag of the United States of America. It is Chapter 5 of Title 4 of the United States Code (4 U.S.C. § 5 et seq). Although this is a U.S. federal law, the code is not mandatory: it uses non-binding language like “should” and “custom” throughout and does not prescribe any penalties for failure to follow the guidelines.’

    So you can eat potato salad off your red, white and blue paper plates on July 4, wipe your mouth w/stars & stripes napkins, cheer NASCAR racers crashing wearing flag-emblazoned garb and cheer daredevils like the late Evel Knievel risking life and limb their Yankee Doodle jumpsuits.

    DCSCA (d4aea7)

  391. Pelosi is going to go to Taiwan Tuesday-Wednesday. I very much doubt that China will “shoot her plane down” (and if they do, the proper response is to bar ALL Chinese-made goods from the United States for the next century).

    Great, some enterprising fool with a silkscreen machine is already lining up his RBG / Nancy P Tshirt orders.

    urbanleftbehind (d6b9a5)

  392. @398. OTOH, it certainly would be the sad loss of a fine and expensive Boeing aircraft. 😉

    DCSCA (d4aea7)

  393. The rules on the flag may be advisory, but that doesn’t mean that wearing the flag as clothing isn’t disrespectful. Or pretentious. And don’t let Rick Monday catch you doing it.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  394. but that doesn’t mean that wearing the flag as clothing isn’t disrespectful. Or pretentious.

    It’s not. As it’s velcroed on the shoulders of U.S. military personnel and stitched into the shoulders of spacesuits and emblazoned on the back of jackets and motorcycle gas tanks.

    … and dead Peter Fonda smiled.

    DCSCA (d4aea7)

  395. So what about on swimwear/underwear?

    urbanleftbehind (d6b9a5)

  396. According to the U.S. Federal Flag Code, the American flag cannot be worn as a costume or athletic uniform.

    Except it is:

    https://www.businessinsider.com/heres-why-the-american-flag-is-reversed-on-military-uniforms-2017-5

    Hey! You out there!!!! Don’t tear those tags off of your sofa cushions either or you’ll be fined and go to the pokie! 😉

    DCSCA (d4aea7)

  397. @402. Paper cups, paper napkins, pinwheels, streamers, bunting, disposable packaging, newspaper ads…

    Too funny.

    DCSCA (d4aea7)

  398. This is absolutely repulsive, disgraceful, disrespectful and a damned unpatriotic display of the red, white and blue.

    http://keeperofstories.blogspot.com/2016/12/what-we-see-into-america.html

    Not.

    Attagirl, Raquel!

    DCSCA (d4aea7)

  399. So what about on swimwear/underwear?

    If she’s a looker, salute.

    Paul Montagu (062b7e)

  400. The Raquel welch thing doesn’t preclude underwear though I think it has the same vibe as a certain Van Heusen shirt commercial from the late 80s.

    Ok, what about a certain Black Crowes album cover (also imagine better personal care) or the famous Sarah Palin with machine gun gif?

    urbanleftbehind (d6b9a5)

  401. Fook that. These days you’d probably get a trannie, with the swimwear most likely a bikini.

    http://ace.mu.nu/archives/j6fundraisingoperation.jpg

    Colonel Haiku (2cf2e3)

  402. “https://thefederalist.com/2022/08/01/3-big-blunders-that-show-mitch-mcconnell-is-not-the-legislative-genius-he-thinks-he-is/
    The almighty hack arama.”

    Every legislative success the Republicans have had in the last 10 years traces its roots to McConnell.

    Davethulhu (c93f9f)

  403. So what about on swimwear/underwear?

    If she’s a looker, salute.

    Paul Montagu (062b7e) — 8/1/2022 @ 11:31 am

    Attention! But then again, she is playing a transsexual in the movie.😉

    Rip Murdock (e39e4b)

  404. Every legislative success the Republicans have had in the last 10 years traces its roots to McConnell.

    Indeed. I’m a big fan of McConnell. And for more than the mere competence reasons that ‘thulhu mentions. He is the sane center of the Congressional GOP.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  405. No budget Mitch is worthless as teats on a boar.

    mg (8cbc69)

  406. Wonder if Joe Manchin found the same horse head in his bed as nojustice roberts?

    mg (8cbc69)

  407. 382. DCSCA (ef3d6c) — 8/1/2022 @ 9:52 am

    It’s not so much Hunter’s transgressions as it is The Big Guy’s blatant and repeated, lying denials of any knowledge, discussions and influencial decisions regarding Hunter’s business dealings.

    I don’t think he denied any knowledge, or meant to. He said he never discussed Hunter’s business dealings with Hunter and I don’t think he did, except in the most general terms.

    He wasn’t interested, except that Hunter should not break the law. He wasn’t getting any of the money. Hunter lied to his business partners about “the Big Guy” having a 10% stake in Oneida Holdings. At that time, 2017, with Joe Biden out of office, there was no legal reason to conceal ownership (the Clintons did not so in similar circumstances) But Hunter had a reason for pretending Joe was part of the deal if he was not. The whole scheme rested on Joe’s ability to influence things

    It looks stupid, bribing someone who was out of office, but Ye Jianming (Chinese: 叶简明) wanted to build his own center of power and be the indispensable man for some foreign connections and he was going after people other people ignored. Xi Jinping did not like that and had him arrested and his Global Fortune 500 company subsequently died. (all before Joe Biden started his comeback.)

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ye_Jianming

    He has been under detention in China since March 2018 on charges of bribery…According to South China Morning Post and AsiaNews, the order for the investigation came from Chinese Communist Party general secretary Xi Jinping.[..In October 2018, it was reported that prosecutors alleged Wang Sanyun, former Communist Party Secretary of Gansu province, had accepted bribes from Ye Jianming in 2011.

    Now Joe Biden did get involved to the point of approving Tony Bobulinski to watch over what Hunter did and make sure it stayed legal. But Hunter, and Joe’s brother Jim, cut him out. Joe was too busy with other things to notice.

    That’s not the only thing Hunter did but that’s what’s been getting the most attention.

    Sammy Finkelman (1d215a)

  408. First Jan. 6 defendant convicted at trial sentenced to more than 7 years
    ……..
    Guy Reffitt, a recruiter for the right-wing Texas Three Percenters movement, was convicted March 8 of five felony offenses, including obstruction of Congress as it met to certify the 2020 election result, interfering with police and carrying a firearm to a riot, and threatening his teenage son, who turned him in to the FBI. Prosecutors said Reffitt led a mob while armed at the Capitol and asked a judge to sentence him to 15 years after applying a terrorism sentencing penalty.

    U.S. District Judge Dabney L. Friedrich condemned Reffitt’s conduct in handing down an 87 month (7.25 years) sentence, saying at a five-hour hearing that his views espousing political violence were “absurd,” “delusional” and “way outside of the mainstream.”
    ……..
    The judge said that in a democracy, people vote their conscience in an election booth, not through violence.

    The defense for Reffitt, a 49-year-old former oil industry rig manager, asked for a below-guidelines sentence of two years in prison. ………
    ………
    But Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jeffrey Nestler and Risa Berkower said Reffitt’s conduct was exceptional.

    Reffitt “played a central role” at the head of a vigilante mob that challenged and overran police at a key choke point, a stairway leading up from the Lower West Terrace, before the initial breach of windows near the Capitol’s Senate Wing Doors at 2:13 p.m., prosecutors said. After the riot, Reffitt warned his son and 16-year-old daughter that “if you turn me in, you’re a traitor, and traitors get shot,” his son testified at the trial.
    ……..
    Reffitt recorded himself at a rally led by President Donald Trump at the Ellipse saying he was ready to drag lawmakers including House Speaker Nancy A. Pelosi (D-Calif.), and then Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) “out kicking and screaming,” with “her [Pelosi’s] head hitting every step on the way down.”
    ……..
    ……..Friedrich refused to apply the discretionary terrorism sentencing enhancement……

    Still, the judge said Reffitt took on a “self-appointed leadership role” outside the Capitol, encouraging and waving on a crowd behind him as he confronted police while carrying a handgun and megaphone. Reffitt was also wearing bulletproof body armor, a helmet, and had plastic flex-cuffs, Friedrich said.

    Friedrich said the fact that Reffitt was armed made his case “very different from all others prosecuted to date,” heightening the risk of serious injury to police “who courageously defended the Capitol, as well as to everyone else present that day.”

    “Patriots honor and respect the rule of law,” the judge added, rebuking Reffitt. “There are plenty of people who feel that democracy isn’t working for them. There are unfortunately a lot in the United States right now who feel that way. But in a democracy, the answer to that frustration is not rebellion.”
    ……..
    Friedrich’s sentence of Reffitt fell at the bottom of the 87 month to 108 month prison term called for under advisory federal guidelines for his conduct, the judge said.
    ……..

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  409. There are several things I noticed about the January 6 committee.

    One is that someone there is trying to be honest (against some opposition) and the testimony has been limited to being about things that are true/

    We can see this alsoin considering what is scheduled for the next episode(s) in September. This will focus on what Trump did after January 6, and the abortive attempts to by some members if administration, including Betsy Devos — and maybe Mike Pompeo – to invoke the 25th amendment. (Mike Pompeo maybe at least let someone talkto him without shutting them off right at the beginning)

    They are running out of honest things to explore.

    Sammy Finkelman (1d215a)

  410. And since Biden promised to defend Taiwan if China invades, our military could be drawn in.

    I think US intervention is a for gone conclusion, no matter what Biden says. Protecting Taiwan has always been our secret policy. The Taiwanese population’s laissez-faire attitude towards their own defense is predicated on that fact. See the articles at posts 177 and 208.

    And Taiwan is probably the most politically influential nation after Israel; the Senate Minority Leader would certainly back any intervention.

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  411. Some of us work for a living.

    So much to unpack, but his actions working with radical leftists and pretending to believe them proves the lie to his constitutionalist beliefs. His name calling is in the article as he infers that by calling himself a constitutionalist and contrasting himself to others.

    Since the election of Donald Trump—and especially since January 6—Democrats have claimed that democracy is under grave threat. Party leaders like Sean Maloney, the head of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, have claimed that we are in an existential conflict between defenders of democracy and advocates of authoritarianism. “It’s not just about Trump,” Rep. Maloney said late last month on MSNBC. “It’s about a MAGA Republican movement that is defined by serious, serious things like the attack on our democracy.” He warned: “It’s going to be those MAGA Republicans who take away your rights, your benefits and your freedoms.”

    So you would think that the Democrats would look at John Gibbs and see the embodiment of what they say they most fear. That as patriots they would use every tool at their disposal to defeat him and similar candidates that they’ve said are an existential threat.

    NJRob (8378f3)

  412. It’s only riffs by some members of the committee. sometimes accompanied by video, that have tried to prove or say things that are probably not true, like that Trump spent 187 minutes doing nothing.

    Let’s look at one of them:

    https://www.rev.com/blog/transcripts/full-jan-6-committee-hearing-day-8-transcript

    Ms. Cheney: (10:13) …. And as you will see today, Donald Trump’s own White House council, his own White House staff, members of his own family, all implored him to immediately intervene to condemn the violence and instruct his supporters to stand down, leave the Capital and disperse.

    She confounding different things, Condemning the violence and asking the demonstrators to disperse.

    Trump, in fact, made one or two tweets, saying they should “stay peaceful” and that they should not attack police before what they count as his first intervention..

    These things are only alluded to. when they can be used in a way to condemn Donald Trump (it somehow not being noticed that it makes some that tweet accusations against Trump – that he waited 187 minutes – into a lie. That tweet is mentioned only indirectly, and the time it was sent is not mentioned, so people might miss the contradiction between that and the oft-repeated statement that he did nothing for 187 minutes.

    Adam Kinzinger: (01:32:53)

    In this video, you’ll see surveillance footage from the Rotunda that shows a group of Oathkeepers…

    Speaker 20: (01:33:48) Trump just tweeted: “Please support our Capitol Police.” They are on our side. Do not harm them.

    Speaker 21: (01:33:56) [one of the men in the mob -SF]

    That’s saying a lot by what he didn’t say. He didn’t say not to do anything to the Congressman. [the sord probably should be Congressmen -SF]

    Speaker 20: (01:34:03)
    Well, he did not ask him [him?] to stand down. He just said, stand by the Capitol Police.

    Trump’s His 4:17 speech (which was incorporated in a tweet – others around him wanted that pre-recorded lest he type something unexpected) was not his first attempt to address the disturbance.

    Now e=what he did is probably not what any decent person would have done – someone else would have been in a panic to stop the riot – but it is not like he wanted it.

    Trump simply didn’t want to give up on whatever help the crowd could give him. It wasn’t till 4:17 that he told them to leave the area.

    Sammy Finkelman (1d215a)

  413. Why Was Wonder Woman’s Costume Based on the American Flag?

    https://www.cbr.com/wonder-woman-costume-why-based-american-flag/

    Disgusting!!!!

    Not.

    DCSCA (fcd436)

  414. Trumpsters only believe in the will of the people if it agrees with them if not then their minority will rule the majority. People who don’t agree with them have no “right” to vote hence voter suppression. When the rethuglicans talk about illegal votes they mean democrats not illeal aliens voting. Paul weyrich said this. Now they want their republican controlled legislature not the voters to decide who gets the states electoral votes. Establishment hacks like sean maloney are pushing Jan.6 riot for cheap political gain not concern for democracy.

    asset (1cbdbb)

  415. It should be noted that the whole demonstration was illegal as it had no permit. Covid rules limited the size of demonstrations so Ali Alexander had obtained permits for 8 or 9 of them consisting of 50 people each.

    But Trump could not be expected to know such details and the Capitol Police also prepared for more than 400 to 500 people.

    Trump was predicting claiming hundreds of thousand of people were at the Ellipse and therefore the Capitol.

    https://www.rev.com/blog/transcripts/donald-trump-speech-save-america-rally-transcript-january-6

    Donald Trump: (02:44)

    The media will not show the magnitude of this crowd. Even I, when I turned on today, I looked, and I saw thousands of people here, but you don’t see hundreds of thousands of people behind you because they don’t want to show that…..

    At the Capitol it didn’t even reach 10,000 but he was telling members of Congress to expect hundreds of thousands.)

    https://www.rev.com/blog/transcripts/jan-6-committee-hearing-day-7-transcript

    Stephanie Murphy: (02:02:17)
    There were also concerns among members of Congress. We have a recently released recording of a conversation that took place among Republican members in the US Capitol on the eve of January 6th. This is Republican Congresswoman Debbie Lesko from Arizona who led some of the unfounded objections to the election results.

    Rep. Debbie Lesko: (02:02:39)

    I also asked leadership to come up with a safety plan for members. I’m actually very concerned about this because we have, who knows, how many hundreds of thousands of people coming here. We have Antifa. We also have quite honestly, Trump supporters who actually believe that we are going to overturn the election. And when that doesn’t happen, most likely will not happen, they are going to go nuts.

    The worry was what would happen after this was all over, not right away.

    As I said it might be partly because of this that they arranged for it to be over about 3 am the next day.

    Sammy Finkelman (1d215a)

  416. New Times Square Billboard Lists Biden Administration Failures

    Washington, D.C. (June 1, 2022)—Today, the Job Creators Network (JCN) put up another billboard in the heart of Times Square spotlighting the failures of the Biden administration. The billboard coincides with an op-ed published under President Biden’s byline announcing his “plan” to fight inflation. The billboard features a picture of President Biden with the headline “THANKS FOR NOTHING, JOE!” and goes on to list problems plaguing the American people, including: Soaring Gas Prices, Falling Real Wages, Sky-High Inflation, Baby Formula Shortages, Stock Market Turmoil, Border Chaos

    https://www.jobcreatorsnetwork.com/press_releases/new-times-square-billboard-lists-biden-administration-failures/

    DCSCA (fcd436)

  417. asset (1cbdbb) — 8/1/2022 @ 1:52 pm

    When the rethuglicans talk about illegal votes they mean democrats not illegal aliens voting.

    No they mean illegal aliens (whom they don’t distinguish from other non-citizens present in the United States.) Or absentee ballots marked by somebody other than the voter in question. Or totally fake votes cast by nobody. It’s all imaginary, anyway.

    There could come a time when they’ll say there are citizens who should not be citizens but we’re along way away from that now and we might not go ther

    Sammy Finkelman (1d215a)

  418. So much to unpack, but his actions working with radical leftists and pretending to believe them proves the lie to his constitutionalist beliefs. His name calling is in the article as he infers that by calling himself a constitutionalist and contrasting himself to others.

    That’s weak, Rob, pathetically weak.
    You’re basically saying that Meijer is a liar because–despite him not saying anything actually untruthful, by your own admission–he associated with “leftists”, which somehow makes him a liar. This is a classic case of guilt-by-association, and it’s the kind of quintessential tribalism I’ve come to expect from the Trump claque. In effect, you’re saying that it doesn’t matter if Meijer says truthful things, he’s a liar by whom he hobnobs.
    Equally silly and ridiculous is that, by saying he’s a “staunch defender of the Constitution and the rule of law”, he’s somehow name-calling. He did not call himself a “constitutionalist” as you wrongly alleged.
    C’mon Rob, do better.

    Paul Montagu (062b7e)

  419. @418. I think US intervention is a for gone conclusion, no matter what Biden says.

    My Marine neighbor spent six months on Palau last summer gaming this scenario out. The endgames weren’t very encouraging for the U.S. Logistics issues prevailed. Supply chain and so forth were found to be a real problem. Distance as well. The geography favors the PRC edge on simply controlling access and ops, a la Hong Kong. But direct U.S. military confrontation is up to the CIC– and nobody has any confidence in the decision-making skills of old Joe, especially given his half-century of always being wrong on foreign policy issues. His incompetence can get us in a shooting war PDQ.

    DCSCA (fcd436)

  420. I really like Rep. Meijer. Even if I don’t agree with him on everything His record of public service is impressive. Seeing the Democrats funding his worthless primary challenger is stomach churning. I hope rep Pete crushes him in the primary and wins the general by 20 points.

    From a pure politics standpoint I understand why the Dem’s are doing this, They can try to paint the challenger as a nutter and that will help them in the general. But it’s bad for the country to put more Maga people in power and what they Dems are doing risks that.

    Time123 (623f64)

  421. The rules on the flag may be advisory, but that doesn’t mean that wearing the flag as clothing isn’t disrespectful. Or pretentious. And don’t let Rick Monday catch you doing it.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9) — 8/1/2022 @ 10:42 am

    Rick Monday was taking a flag from commie wastes of carbon molecules who were trying to burn it, not wearing flag-themed overalls.

    Factory Working Orphan (2775f0)

  422. Also, the idea that university professors can be classed as productive members of society is a belly-laugh. 80% of them or more are mental masturbators and neurotics who produce literally nothing of actual value. You could cut entire departments of social sciences, arts, and humanities, and nothing of substance would be lost. In fact, doing so would end up saving taxpayer dollars, not only on the front end with the professors, instructors, and grad students, but on the back end with all the deans, administrators, and consultants that are dipping their fingers in the revenue pie.

    An electrician produces more value for their labor in a single day than the average academic does in a decade.

    Factory Working Orphan (2775f0)

  423. Factory Working Orphan (2775f0) — 8/1/2022 @ 9:48 am

    And if they are not willing to be named, they’re not exactly standing on principle, are they?

    I’d think the opposite — if they don’t let their names be used it can only be if it is a a matter of principle — or an attempt to make themselves look better in the eyes of the reporter, but I’d say it is probably genuine that the people talking to the reporter don’t like this at all.

    Before the people this happened with were not quite that bad in their eyes so you didn’t get this but people have grown scared that they are helping create a Frankenstein monster.

    In Missouri there’s some PAC going against the worst Republican..but this is being done by actual Republicans.

    It’s been advertising all over Missouri TV and actually seems to moving the needle.

    https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/31/opinion/missouri-senate-eric-greitens.html )Op-ed or editorial)

    On Tuesday, Republican voters in Missouri will send a signal to G.O.P. leaders nationwide about what they will and won’t accept in a top candidate in the party’s current, Trumpian era: Namely, do they want a Senate nominee who exists in a perpetual swirl of scandal, including fresh accusations of domestic violence?….

    ..But efforts to nudge Mr. Greitens out of the race only ticked him off and provided fodder for his martyr self-mythologizing. He looked to be a classic example of how the G.O.P. had lost control of its MAGA monster.

    Until late last month. That’s when a group of Republicans rolled out a super PAC, named Show Me Values, aimed at bringing down Mr. Greitens. Just a few weeks — and an estimated $6 million in ad spending — later, the effort seems to be working. Multiple polls show the former governor’s support slipping, dropping him behind a couple of his opponents. The state’s attorney general, Eric Schmitt, appears to have taken the lead. He, too, is an election-denying Trump suck-up. But at this point the G.O.P. is operating on a curve; simply weeding out those alleged to be abusers and other possible criminals can feel like a major achievement….

    …It was around the time of the RINO hunting ad that the Show Me Values PAC was announced. Team Greitens responded with characteristic invective. “These swamp creatures and grifters know their time at the trough is finished,” said Dylan Johnson, the campaign manager. “That’s why they’re scared of America First champion Governor Greitens.”

    Whatever its roots, fear is a powerful motivator. Show Me Values began gobbling up ad time like Skittles, becoming the race’s biggest spender on TV. The spots detailing the abuse allegations by Mr. Greitens’s ex-wife appear particularly devastating. It seems that, with the proper message — and money to drive that message home — even the most flamboyant MAGA candidates can perhaps be deflated….

    Sammy Finkelman (1d215a)

  424. …but that doesn’t mean that wearing the flag as clothing isn’t disrespectful. Or pretentious.

    Disrespectful! Pretentious! Disgusting! Horrid! There outta be a law…

    https://flagoftheusa.tumblr.com/post/645486017885995009/raquel-welch-in-us-flag-shirt

    NOT!

    DCSCA (fcd436)

  425. “But it’s bad for the country to put more Maga people in power and what they Dems are doing risks that.”

    However, it will be horrible for the country – perhaps ruination – to put more Make America Go Away Democrats in power, and more and more Americans are waking up to that evidence supported fact.

    It’s a beautiful thing!

    Colonel Haiku (2cf2e3)

  426. In Michigan, Betsy Devos appears to have reconciled with Trump, hoping he will stop a really bad candidate for Governor.

    https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/30/us/politics/michigan-primary-governor-trump.html

    A handwritten letter from Betsy DeVos, last seen trying to remove Donald Trump from office, elicited an 11th-hour endorsement. But is that enough to make peace among Michigan’s warring Republicans?

    ….“I hear that some have implied that my family and I are working against you in Michigan,” Ms. DeVos wrote in looping cursive on personal stationery. “That is fake news. Those telling you that are doing so for their own personal gain.”

    She added that her preferred candidate, Tudor Dixon, a former conservative media personality, was “the only one who can stand toe to toe with ‘that woman from Michigan’” — Mr. Trump’s sobriquet for Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat whom Republicans desperately want to topple.

    Here’s the letter:

    https://int.nyt.com/data/documenttools/betsy-de-vos-s-letter-to-donald-trump/29069a0346259573/full.pdf

    And Trump did endorse Tudor Dixon.

    The primary is tomorrow.

    More from the New York Times news article: <blockquote For much of the spring and summer, Ms. DeVos and her billionaire relatives — the most influential Republican family in Michigan — have been at war with Mr. Trump’s followers in the state, choosing different sides in consequential primaries for the state Legislature and endorsements at the state party’s convention.

    The former president’s late nod in the governor’s race only compounded the confusion and heightened the suspense about what his followers would do on Primary Day. Just the day before the endorsement, eight of his chosen down-ballot candidates sent him an open letter urging him not to do political business with the DeVos family….

    ,,,,,All told, Republicans are in danger of bungling what earlier this year appeared to be a promising opportunity to oust Ms. Whitmer. The party’s strongest two candidates were jettisoned from the ballot because of a signature-forgery blunder. The resulting field, aside from the untested Ms. Dixon, includes one candidate facing misdemeanor charges related to the Capitol riot and another dogged by years-old lawsuits over allegations that he made racist and sexually explicit comments to employees.

    At the same time, Michigan Republicans have elevated two Trump-endorsed election deniers to run for attorney general and secretary of state — key posts overseeing the election machinery in a vital 2024 presidential battleground state. Candidates had paid petition gatherers who cheated. It sounds like there’s not a primary for certain races,

    Sammy Finkelman (1d215a)

  427. The Chinese government lies about everything,including what is playing with fire.

    Sammy Finkelman (1d215a)

  428. https://www.ifitshipitshere.com/american-beauty-flag-inspired-fashion/

    Rita Hayworth in a flag??? Mae West??? Lovely Raquel??? Pamela Anderson??????? Ann Miller????? Brooke Shields???? Sarah Jessica Parker????? Lynda Carter????? Cindy Crawford????? Heidi Klum????? Meg Ryan????? Katy Perry????? Tina Fey??????? and OMG—- Miss Piggy??????

    Disgusting! Horrible! Pretentious!

    Not.

    DCSCA (fcd436)

  429. Where does the idea come from that Trumpshould ahvesent in some military force on January 6?

    Sammy Finkelman (1d215a)

  430. Nancy Pelosi and “The Last Hurrah”: For some years I have flattered myself that I could predict 80-90 percent of what Pelosi would do, from what I learned from Edwin O’Connor’s novel (and from Mike Royko’s biography of the original Richard Daley, “Boss”) about political machines.

    Here, for example, is an example from “The Last Hurrah”: The political boss is explaining to his nephew that it is necessary to have stands on foreign policy, even running for mayor in a city that resembles Boston. (Massachusetts, not the British one.):
    “When you come right down to it, there are only two points that really count.”
    “Such as . . . ?”
    Skeffington held up two fingers. “One,” he said, ticking the first, “All Ireland must be free. Two, he said, ticking the second, “Trieste belongs to Italy. They count. At the moment the first counts more than the second, but that’s only because the Italians were a little slow in getting to the boats. . . .”

    You may — or may not — admire the practical politics in those two stands. They won him support, without him ever being expected to deliver anything tangible.

    And now the connection to Pelosi. She is the daughter of a Baltimore boss and learned from her father. San Francisco has more of a tradition of machine-style politics than most West coast cities. San Francisco’s Chinatown claims to be the largest outside of Asia. http://www.sanfranciscochinatown.com/

    So Pelosi has practical political reasons for supporting Taiwan. But I will concede that she may be making this visit in part for principled reasons, too. Whatever her reasons, I’m glad she is going.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Last_Hurrah

    (Cross posted at Politcal Betting.)

    Jim Miller (406a93)

  431. Nancy Pelosi’s long history of opposing Beijing
    ………
    Two years after protestors were crushed by Communist Party forces in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, the then-California representative visited the capital city.

    Slipping away from her official escorts along with two other members of Congress, she went to the city square without the permission of her Chinese hosts.

    There, they unfurled a small, black banner. “To those who died for democracy in China,” the hand-painted banner read.

    The police closed in quickly, roughing up reporters who were covering the event and chasing the lawmakers out of the square.
    ……..
    Most recently, she issued a statement to mark the 33rd anniversary of the protests this year, calling the demonstrations “one of the greatest acts of political courage” and slamming the Communist Party’s “oppressive regime”.

    At a meeting with then-Chinese Vice-President Hu Jintao in 2002, Ms Pelosi tried to pass him four letters expressing concern over the detention and imprisonment of activists in China and Tibet, and calling for their release.

    Mr Hu refused to accept the letters.

    Seven years later, Ms Pelosi reportedly hand-delivered another letter to Mr Hu – by then President of China – calling for the release of political prisoners including prominent dissident Liu Xiaobo.
    ………
    Ms Pelosi has opposed China’s bids to host the Olympics Games as far back as 1993 on the basis of its alleged human rights abuses.

    She was one of the lawmakers that unsuccessfully urged then-US President George W Bush to boycott China’s Summer Olympics opening ceremony in 2008.

    This year, the Speaker of the House again led calls for a “diplomatic boycott” of Beijing’s 2022 Winter Olympics over the treatment of Uyghur Muslims in China.

    “For heads of state to go to China in light of a genocide that is ongoing – while you’re sitting there in your seat – really begs the question, what moral authority do you have to speak again about human rights any place in the world?” she said.
    …….
    Over the years, Ms Pelosi has also pushed for China’s trade status to be linked to its human rights record, and to attach conditions to China’s entry to the World Trade Organization.

    The policy has been controversial: Mr Bush vetoed legislation related to this several times, while former President Bill Clinton initially supported but later abandoned it, saying broader American strategic interests justified the reversal.
    ##########

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  432. Good News:

    AP sources: US operation killed al-Qaida leader al-Zawahri

    A CIA drone strike has killed al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahri in Afghanistan, according to five people familiar with the matter.

    Current and former officials began hearing Sunday afternoon that al-Zawahri had been killed in a drone strike, but the administration delayed releasing the information until his death could be confirmed, according to one person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the matter.

    White House officials declined to confirm al-Zawahri was killed but noted in a statement that the United States conducted a “successful” counterterrorism operation against a significant al-Qaida target, adding that “there were no civilian casualties.”

    President Joe Biden is expected to discuss further details of the operation in a 7:30 p.m. EDT address to the nation.

    An American ground team was present in Afghanistan to support the strike and has since pulled out, a senior intelligence official said.
    ……….

    That’s just too bad.

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  433. Where does the idea come from that Trumpshould ahvesent in some military force on January 6?

    The Capitol Police, whose chief starting requesting National Guard support at 12:58pm, eleven minutes before Trump finished his speech.

    Paul Montagu (062b7e)

  434. From Paul’s link:

    Despite contradicting accounts, cell phone records show that Sund first called the House Sergeant at 12:58 p.m, and again four other times: at 1:05 p.m., 1:34 p.m., 1:39 p.m. and 1:45 p.m. to request National Guard support.

    I got the impression, from the way you wrote your comment, that Sund was calling the Executive branch. It seems his requests were stalled in the Legislative branch.

    BuDuh (340919)

  435. #441 – That is good news. And I just had this mischievous thought: Perhaps we should deny that we help locating him from top people inside the organization.

    Jim Miller (406a93)

  436. Correction: “. . . we had help . .”

    Jim Miller (406a93)

  437. al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, aged 71, reportedly killed over the weekend by an unmanned drone strike in a residential neighborhood in Kabul, Afghanistan. U.S. says there were no civilian casualties. U.S. now confident of his death. President Biden to address the nation at 7:30 pm Eastern Daylight Time. It was maybe first announced just as as a successful anti-terrorism operation but reporters learned more details..

    Zawahiri had last been seen on video on connection with the last September 11 anniversary, and they weren’t sure when that was taped and U.S. had been uncertain if he was still alive. He was the last known major planner of the September 11, 2001 attacks who was not dead or captured.

    Taliban claim this is a violation of international law and the Doha agreement. Don’t know if they specifically said Zawahiri was killed.

    Sammy Finkelman (b7dc9b)

  438. I hear that the Afghans are complaining about violations of agreements.

    So sue us.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  439. Carrier USS Ronald Reagan, F-35B Big Deck Operating Near Taiwan as Pelosi Arrives in Singapore; China Renews Threats

    Two U.S. capital ships and their escorts are operating in the Western Pacific near Taiwan, USNI News has learned.

    Aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) and big deck amphibious ship USS Tripoli (LHA-7), with Marine F-35B Lighting II Joint Strike Fighters embarked, are operating in the vicinity of Taiwan, on the edge of the South China Sea ahead of a Western Pacific visit from U.S. House Speaker Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to the region, according to the Aug. 1 edition of the USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker……
    ……..
    ……..(a) senior defense official told USNI News the ships, escorts and their air wings – already in the region – were prepared to linger as a contingency option. On Monday, Beijing implied there would be a military response if Pelosi traveled to Taiwan.
    …….
    As of Monday, Japan-based Reagan is in the Philippine Sea after transiting the San Bernadino Strait on Saturday following a port visit to Singapore and operating in the South China Sea. California-based Tripoli is in just south of Okinawa. Tripoli has been embarked with up to 20 F-35Bs. ……..
    ……….

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  440. Biden confidant: “We are Reagan”

    “We are Reagan,” a top confidant of President Biden tells Axios. “We had a big plan. We are getting it in place.”

    https://www.axios.com/2022/07/31/biden-modeling-reagan-reelection-strategy

    So “the plan” is run up debt, die– and leave mess for the kids to clean up.

    Got it.

    DCSCA (c6fc55)

  441. So Meijer is a liar and a name caller. Good to know and good reasons not to support him.
    NJRob (0977f5) — 8/1/2022 @ 7:50 am

    Any supporter of Donald Trump is clearly, emphatically not averse to supporting a liar and name-caller.
    It’s particularly hilarious to hear Trump fanatics pretend to be offended by find name-calling.

    Radegunda (4739b1)

  442. CIA blow up Arab.

    “At my direction…” – sez Joe.

    Bullsh-t.

    DCSCA (c6fc55)

  443. Surprise, Arizona! Dead voters weren’t a thing in 2020, despite what Cyber Ninjas said

    Attorney General Mark Brnovich has wrapped up his investigation into Cyber Ninjas’ claim that hundreds of dead voters cast ballots into the 2020 election.

    To the surprise of absolutely no one, he concluded that the Senate’s auditors didn’t know what they were talking about.

    The ninjas, as part of their five-month audit, reported that 282 dead voters cast ballots in the November 2020 election.

    After hundreds of hours of investigation, the AG’s office found that 281 of those 282 voters were alive and kicking when they cast ballots.
    …….
    AG investigators also checked out four other reports of nearly 6,500 supposedly dead people who either cast ballots or were on the voter registration rolls. They came up with “only a handful of potential cases,” all of them isolated instances.

    Brnovich said some of the claims were “so absurd the names and birthdates didn’t even match the deceased, and others included dates of death after the election.”
    ……..
    The Trump-endorsed candidates on Tuesday’s ballot are obsessed with the 2020 election. Undermining confidence in our elections is their claim to fame and, they believe, their ticket to power.

    Kari Lake (running for Governor), Mark Finchem (Secretary of State) and Abe Hamadeh (Attorney General) all have have called for 2020 election to be decertified.

    On Sunday, Hamadeh promoted a tweet from Steve Bannon, in which Bannon promises that once the threesome is in office, Arizona’s 2020 vote will be counted (yet again) and Biden electors decertified.
    ………

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  444. Rick Monday was taking a flag from commie wastes of carbon molecules who were trying to burn it, not wearing flag-themed overalls.

    Did you take one of Sammy’s literal pills, FWO? I saw Monday do that live. The point being there are folks who don’t feel right about desecrating the flag. YMMV.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  445. No budget Mitch is worthless as teats on a boar.

    Well, someone is.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  446. Seeing the Democrats funding his worthless primary challenger is stomach churning. I hope rep Pete crushes him in the primary and wins the general by 20 points.

    After he wins the primary, he should sue the Secretary of State, claiming he is also the Democrat nominee.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  447. Did you take one of Sammy’s literal pills, FWO? I saw Monday do that live. The point being there are folks who don’t feel right about desecrating the flag. YMMV.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9) — 8/1/2022 @ 4:57 pm

    Wearing flag-themed overalls is hardly desecration. Same with veterans who get flag tattoos.

    Factory Working Orphan (2775f0)

  448. And speaking as one of the few commenters here that actually did serve during GWOT, I’m not going to get worked up over someone who thinks wearing a flag bandanna is cool. If I see them dragging an actual flag on the ground, I’ll be more than happy to snatch it out of their hands.

    Factory Working Orphan (2775f0)

  449. Flag tattoos, patches, etc are different than dressing up in it. But whatever. All those women that DCSCA posted should take those flags off right this moment!

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  450. Trump endorses ‘ERIC’ in Missouri primary, a name shared by rivals

    The Republicans competing for the U.S. Senate nomination in Tuesday’s primary here spent their final day of campaigning in a familiar state of suspense — checking their phones for a statement from Donald Trump.

    But by day’s end, the former president injected more chaos into an already tumultuous race, simply endorsing “ERIC” — a first name shared by two rival candidates — former governor Eric Greitens and state Attorney General Eric Schmitt — as he suggested he was leaving it to voters to choose between them.
    ………
    “There is a BIG Election in the Great State of Missouri, and we must send a MAGA Champion and True Warrior to the U.S. Senate, someone who will fight for Border Security, Election Integrity, our Military and Great Veterans, together with having a powerful toughness on Crime and the Border,” Trump wrote in a statement. “I trust the Great People of Missouri, on this one, to make up their own minds, much as they did when they gave me landslide victories in the 2016 and 2020 Elections, and I am therefore proud to announce that ERIC has my Complete and Total Endorsement!”
    ………
    The day’s events amounted to a new dose of turmoil in a race that has been filled with it. Greitens, who governed this state for 16 months before he resigned amid personal and political scandals and has more recently faced domestic violence accusations that he denies, has campaigned as a martyred outsider who wrestled in the same “swamp” as Trump. To stop him, GOP-aligned donors had poured at least $6 million into a super PAC, Show Me Values, with ads that highlight the accusations of abuse and warn that he isn’t fit to represent Missouri.

    “We’ve got all the right enemies,” a defiant Greitens told an evening crowd at a house party here last week. “What that tells me is that they recognize that our campaign is a threat to business as usual.”
    ……..
    “Are you going to vote for the former governor who’s abused his wife and his kid, assaulted his child, and quit on Missouri?” said Schmitt at a rally with supporters in Columbia last week. The attorney general, who has pushed for Trump’s support as he’s risen in limited public polling, was referencing allegations from Greitens’s ex-wife, which the candidate had called a distraction, after separate accusations that forced him from office in 2018 resulted in no charges against him.

    “This man is a quitter,” said Schmitt. “And when the going gets tough, he got going.”
    ……..
    “Eric Schmitt is the establishment candidate,” said Kym Franklin, a 55-year old social worker who supports Greitens. Waiting for the former governor to speak at a Saturday rally, at a sports bar where neon marked the “stairway to heaven” and the “highway to hell,” she compared the ex-governor to ex-presidents. “They both got railroaded, and we the people who voted for them got robbed.”
    ……..

    Trump again is unable to make up his mind.

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  451. So, what does the USA do if China actually launches an invasion of Taiwan?

    1. Go to the UN Security Council and complain?
    2. Interdict with air power from our carriers?
    3. Strike Chinese mainland staging areas from our carriers?
    4. Use non-nuclear long-range assets against interior Chinese targets?
    5. Set off an H-bomb in the South China Sea as a warning?
    6. Declare war?

    (Maybe 5 and 6 should be reversed)

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  452. @460. So, what does the USA do if China actually launches an invasion of Taiwan?

    Lose Yankee-Doodle face.

    The China of 2022 has proclaimed their intentions on their ‘long march’ into the 21st century and will not suffer such an embarrassment.

    DCSCA (c6fc55)

  453. Eric Greitens

    @EricGreitens
    ·
    53m
    I just had a GREAT phone call with President Trump, I thanked him for his support!

    Together we will MAGA & Save America! 🇺🇸

    https://mobile.twitter.com/EricGreitens/status/1554250320842264583?cxt=HHwWjsC4ndOb55ErAAAA

    The Wa Poo bit on the trolling..

    BuDuh (340919)

  454. So, what does the USA do if China actually launches an invasion of Taiwan?

    1. Go to the UN Security Council and complain?
    2. Interdict with air power from our carriers?
    3. Strike Chinese mainland staging areas from our carriers?
    4. Use non-nuclear long-range assets against interior Chinese targets?
    5. Set off an H-bomb in the South China Sea as a warning?
    6. Declare war?

    (Maybe 5 and 6 should be reversed)

    1,2,3,4; also use submarine launched Tomahawks against military targets. And “send in the Marines” as well as Special Forces. Use B-52s and B-1s with standoff weapons.

    Then bend over and kiss your a– goodbye.

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  455. Taliban claim this is a violation of international law……

    Call a cop.

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  456. The Senate is the least involved party in the budget process of the three branches of government — you know, offense, defense, and special teams the President, the House, and the Senate, according to Tommy Tuberville.

    All revenue bills must originate in the House. The Senate can only oppose them or propose amendments. I have explained this before, but ignorance is obdurate.

    The Office of Management and Budget, which is under the President, tells the House what the President wants to do and how much money he wants to do it. The House votes on it after tacking on its own pork. Then it goes to the Senate which does likewise.

    nk (6ba007)

  457. Then bend over and kiss your a– goodbye.

    Closest target to me is 25 miles away. And it’s not on their short list.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  458. But I don’t expect China to invade Taiwan. I expect them to seize the Tawian-held island of Kinmen (Quemoy), that is only a few miles off the Chinese mainland and sits at the mouth of Xiamen’s bay. By any reasonable law, it’s Chinese territory, it’s indefensible and there is no way anyone cares much.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  459. #450. It’s hilarious, but it is also a little sad to see so many Trumpistas ignore the loser’s endless lying and name calling, while pretending to worry about what other politicians say.

    Years ago, I came up with this simple comparison, and I think it has held up well: Obama told at least an order of magnitude more falsehoods than George W. Bush, and Trump has told at least an order of magnitude more falsehoods than Obama did. But followers of Obama and Trump are alike in that few will admit that their idol has feet of clay. (And I use that religous metaphor deliberately.)

    (Biden? I would say that he is about the same as Obama, though less clever about his falsehoods.)

    Jim Miller (406a93)

  460. Crud rises only when you stir it. Otherwise, it settles to the bottom. That’s why the persistence of Trumpism. Without the roiling, it’s back to the bottom of the societal pit for them.

    nk (6ba007)

  461. Biden? I would say that he is about the same as Obama, though less clever about his falsehoods.

    Biden’s lies come from a committee.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  462. Trump would lie even when the facts were clearly otherwise. I saw him being interviewed and the played a clip of him saying something just the day before, and he denied saying it. He got away with it because his supporters didn’t care (and in fact supported the lie (“In yo’ face, mo’fo!”)). The Amen corner for the Devil.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  463. The Amen corner for the Devil.

    Wilmington. Or is it Scranton this week.

    DCSCA (99a55c)

  464. I got the impression, from the way you wrote your comment, that Sund was calling the Executive branch. It seems his requests were stalled in the Legislative branch.

    My mistake. DC Mayor Bowser called the NG for support at 1:34pm. Sund made a direct call at 1:49pm. Given the chain of command and what Trump was watching in the WH executive dining room, Sammy had the answer to his question.

    Paul Montagu (062b7e)

  465. Senate GOP backtracks after veterans bill firestorm
    ……..
    Republicans insist their decision to hold up the bill, which expands health care for veterans exposed to toxic substances while on active duty, was unrelated to the deal on party-line legislation that top Democrats struck last week. The GOP blocked the bill hours after Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) announced an agreement on a health care, climate and tax package — angering Republicans who thought the Democrats-only plan would be much narrower.

    Regardless of their reasoning, the GOP was quickly forced to play defense against both Democrats and veterans’ advocates who were caught off-guard by Republican delaying tactics after the party greenlit a nearly identical bill in June.
    ……..
    Republicans say they blocked the bill because of concerns spearheaded by Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) over what the retiring senator called a “budgetary gimmick” — language that he argued could allow certain funds to be used for programs unrelated to veterans’ health care. That language was in the bill when it initially passed the Senate in an 84-14 vote, before a technical snag forced the chamber to vote on it again.
    ……..
    The amendment explanation has done little to curb Democratic charges that the GOP turned a non-controversial plan to help veterans exposed to Agent Orange and toxic burn pits into a political football. Democrats have questioned the turnabout sharply given that 25 Republicans voted to block the bill over the budgetary issue only on its second trip to the floor, not its first.
    ………..
    Importantly, even if Toomey gets a vote, his amendment isn’t expected to have enough support to ultimately get included — leaving Republicans with the same veterans bill most of them voted to block last week. And some are still saying they’re not willing to kill the legislation over the amendment push.
    ……..
    Those disputes largely flew under the radar until last week, when the bill crashed on the floor. Veterans advocates groups had flown into Washington expecting to celebrate final passage — instead, it became a press conference to rail against the GOP senators who held it up.
    ……….

    Republicans should know that veterans are very well organized and vote, even if the Senators were correct on principle. Unforced error.

    Rip Murdock (e39e4b)

  466. @425 Your wrong rethugs mean democrats voting. The only prosecutions for someone else but voter marking ballot have been republicans in pa. and fla. As for phantom ballots remember in 2016 when trump had an investigation of more then 300,000 illegal aliens voting in ca. that was shutdown when they couldn’t find any. The charges of fraud have been investigated and thrown out of court for no evidence and lying trumpsters prosecuted in some cases. Also media have checked out trumpsters charges like d’souza cell phone pings. The only phony mail in drop boxes were place by republican party in ca. You need evidence not self serving BS! By the way their is provable corruption of the ballot process that cost trump the election by keeping the green party off the ballot that I have pointed out numerous times here.

    asset (9ade2f)

  467. Holocaust ‘doesn’t even compare’ to abortion deaths, says GOP nominee for Illinois governor
    ………
    “I believe that abortion is one of the greatest atrocities of our day and I believe it’s one of the greatest atrocities probably forever,” Bailey said in the video. “The attempted extermination of the Jews of World War II doesn’t even compare on a shadow of the life that has been lost with abortion since its legalization.”

    A state senator representing southeast Illinois, Bailey was endorsed by former president Donald Trump in the GOP primary. Bailey defeated his moderate opponent after receiving a boost from Democratic groups betting that he would be a weaker candidate in the general election against Democratic incumbent J.B. Pritzker. Bailey represents the same region as U.S. Rep. Mary Miller, who praised Nazi leader Adolf Hitler at a rally near the Capitol on the morning of January 6, 2021. Miller later apologized.
    ……….

    Bailey’s campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday.……..
    ………..
    Bailey found himself in hot water for comments made in another Facebook Live video last month in which he said, less than two hours after the deadly mass shooting in Highland Park, a Jewish suburb of Chicago, that people should “move on” and “celebrate — celebrate the independence of this nation.” He apologized for the comments.

    Bailey found himself in hot water for comments made in another Facebook Live video last month in which he said, less than two hours after the deadly mass shooting in Highland Park, a Jewish suburb of Chicago, that people should “move on” and “celebrate — celebrate the independence of this nation.” He apologized for the comments.

    Bailey found himself in hot water for comments made in another Facebook Live video last month in which he said, less than two hours after the deadly mass shooting in Highland Park, a Jewish suburb of Chicago, that people should “move on” and “celebrate — celebrate the independence of this nation.” He apologized for the comments.
    ……….

    Nazi analogies always seem to followed by an “apology”. Maybe he should stop streaming on Facebook.

    Rip Murdock (e39e4b)

  468. Sorry for the repetitive paragraphs.

    Rip Murdock (e39e4b)

  469. I’m glad Zawahiri is dead; I was cool with him being gone from the earth the last six times we were told Zawahiri was dead. Get all those professional jihadists removed, good. However, that has nothing to do with the seriously sketchy background of this story. This is a pantomime playing out for public consumption, and the same strings visible on the Zelenskyy puppets are glowing on the shoulders of this deep state announcement.

    mg (8cbc69)

  470. Any supporter of Donald Trump is clearly, emphatically not averse to supporting a liar and name-caller.
    It’s particularly hilarious to hear Trump fanatics pretend to be offended by find name-calling.

    Radegunda (4739b1) — 8/1/2022 @ 4:26 pm

    Yet you’re of the group who claims Trump’s personal foibles are what make him unsuitable for office. Clearly, that’s not the case. You just don’t like that he actually pushed conservative causes and helped move the culture war to the right as we saw with the final overturning of Roe and reduced illegal aliens invading the nation. Guess that strong economy was too much for ya too.

    NJRob (eb56c3)

  471. “In the most comprehensive study to date of what motivated the Trump supporters to attack the Capitol, Shorenstein Center researchers found that 20.6 percent of the rioters, a plurality, were motivated to take part in the riot because they supported Trump,” reports The Harvard Crimson. “Another 20.6 percent of the rioters cited Trump’s fraudulent claims that the 2020 presidential election was rigged as their primary reason for participating in the Jan. 6 riot.”

    ….

    “The documents show that Trump and his allies convinced an unquantifiable number of Americans that representative democracy in the United States was not only in decline, but in imminent, existential danger,” the study said. “This belief translated into a widespread fear of democratic and societal breakdown, which, in turn, motivated hundreds of Americans to travel to DC from far corners of the country in what they were convinced was the nation’s most desperate hour.”

    Thank you, Horatio!

    nk (d384c2)

  472. https://wattsupwiththat.com/2022/07/27/new-surface-stations-report-released-its-worse-than-we-thought/

    A new study, Corrupted Climate Stations: The Official U.S. Surface Temperature Record Remains Fatally Flawed, finds approximately 96 percent of U.S. temperature stations used to measure climate change fail to meet what the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) considers to be “acceptable” and uncorrupted placement by its own published standards.

    The report, published by The Heartland Institute, was compiled via satellite and in-person survey visits to NOAA weather stations that contribute to the “official” land temperature data in the United States. The research shows that 96% of these stations are corrupted by localized effects of urbanization – producing heat-bias because of their close proximity to asphalt, machinery, and other heat-producing, heat-trapping, or heat-accentuating objects. Placing temperature stations in such locations violates NOAA’s own published standards (see section 3.1 at this link), and strongly undermines the legitimacy and the magnitude of the official consensus on long-term climate warming trends in the United States.

    “With a 96 percent warm-bias in U.S. temperature measurements, it is impossible to use any statistical methods to derive an accurate climate trend for the U.S.” said Heartland Institute Senior Fellow Anthony Watts, the director of the study. “Data from the stations that have not been corrupted by faulty placement show a rate of warming in the United States reduced by almost half compared to all stations.”

    NOAA’s “Requirements and Standards for [National Weather Service] Climate Observations” instructs that temperature data instruments must be “over level terrain (earth or sod) typical of the area around the station and at least 100 feet from any extensive concrete or paved surface.” And that “all attempts will be made to avoid areas where rough terrain or air drainage are proven to result in non-representative temperature data.” This new report shows that instruction is regularly violated.

    Corruption at all levels of government.

    The green revolution, as practiced by watermelons, is the 2nd biggest scam placed on society only to be outdone by calling the western society the most racist in the world.

    NJRob (eb56c3)

  473. Inflation is hitting everywhere.

    Jim Miller (406a93)

  474. “China hinted darkly of retaliation if Nancy set foot in Taiwan in every media outlet. Now they’ve gotta do something.”

    —- Richard Fernandez

    Colonel Haiku (4c9ead)

  475. Wearing a bandanna and overalls with a flag design is definitely protected speech.

    It’s also disrespectful of the flag.

    Both can be, and are, true at the same time.

    aphrael (4c4719)

  476. In addition to the Harvard/CAP poll results in nk’s post 482, there’s more:

    The third most common reason for attacking the Capitol: a desire to start a civil war or an armed revolution, according to the study. Almost 8 percent of defendants indicated it was their main motivation.
    ……..
    Other common reasons for breaching the Capitol included participating in an event of historical significance, engaging in peaceful protest, and committing acts of violence.

    The QAnon conspiracy theory was one of the lesser motives, the study found, only motivating 4.1 percent of defendants to storm the Capitol. ……
    ……..
    The study stated that the absence of defendants’ court documents citing QAnon as a primary motivation for participating in the Jan. 6 attack “does not necessarily mean that the Capitol stormers did and do not, by and large, subscribe to the conspiratorial beliefs associated with QAnon.”

    “This fact could simply be the result of most law enforcement officers deciding that the defendants’ conspiratorial beliefs were not relevant to their crimes,” the study added.
    ……..
    “But it does seem clear to us that the largest portion of the attackers whose documents we analyzed, were compelled — at least in part — by their desire to support Donald Trump and their belief in his lies about the election,” (Kaylee Fagan, one of the study’s authors) added.

    While the court documents reviewed by the study’s authors may not have said “I came to the Capitol to start an insurrection,” the willingness to support Trump’s desire to overturn the election had the same effect as wanting to overthrow the legitimately elected President.

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  477. Arriving at a pre-defined conclusion/narrative.

    Colonel Haiku (8b99b0)

  478. Pelosi sporting a pink pantsuit matching the nations flower color the plum looks like she should stay.

    mg (8cbc69)

  479. what’s with laughing eyes?
    the Pink Pantsuited Pantload
    get the Smirnoff drip 💧

    Colonel Haiku (711a32)

  480. Fly-By-Nite Diplomacy; the courage of darkness.

    DCSCA (7bbad3)

  481. Wearing a bandanna and overalls with a flag design is definitely protected speech.

    It’s also disrespectful of the flag.

    Both can be, and are, true at the same time.

    aphrael (4c4719) — 8/2/2022 @ 8:51 am

    No, they aren’t. Wearing a bandanna and flag overalls isn’t any different than when a fan paints their face with the flag during the Olympics. It’s no different than wearing the gear of your favorite sports team, only in this case you’re wearing the colors of your country.

    In no sane society is wearing the colors of your own country disrespectful, except in a nation that hates itself.

    Factory Working Orphan (2775f0)

  482. Arriving at a pre-defined conclusion/narrative.

    Colonel Haiku (8b99b0) — 8/2/2022 @ 9:12 am

    Since the study is based on court records, I don’t see how the study could reach a pre-determined conclusion, unless the court records are false.

    In this qualitative study, we analyze federal court documents related to the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol, in an effort to identify, categorize, and quantify the most frequently cited reasons for participating in the breach of the Capitol Building. We describe the beliefs, ideologies, fears, conspiratorial narratives, and other themes that most often contributed to the decision to participate in the attack, and present representative excerpts from court documents. In order to estimate the relative popularity of each motivation, researchers coded the contents of 469 charging and sentencing documents, representing 417 defendants. These excerpts provide a unique window into the defendants’ thinking and plans in the weeks and days before the attack, as well as in its aftermath.

    Source

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  483. @490. She does the Joe Biden shuffle all too well; at 82, could barely walk. In five or ten years she’ll be dead and gone– but any diplo-damage she does will live on.

    DCSCA (7bbad3)

  484. Apparently Xi is running American Taiwan policy here.

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  485. “I’m sure glad that she went.” – Chuck Grassley

    He’s 88.

    The Old-Pol-Rule: make mess; die- leave it for the kids to clean up.

    DCSCA (7bbad3)

  486. Juan Soto has been traded to the San Diego Padres.

    This ends Soto’s four-year run with the Nationals, the team that signed him as a teenager out of the Dominican Republic in 2015. Soto, still only 23, has packed that tenure with a World Series ring, a National League batting title, two Silver Slugger awards, two top-five finishes in MVP voting and a pair of all-star appearances. In July, he won the Home Run Derby at Dodger Stadium, adding to a résumé that should belong to a midcareer star, not someone who can’t rent a car without underage fees.

    Soto is just so decorated and so young, and he’s following the statistical tracks of all-time players such as Mickey Mantle, Ken Griffey Jr. and Mike Trout……..

    Sad!

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  487. Nancy Pelosi’s Taiwan Trip Sparks Protest in Her Hometown

    House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s planned controversial stop in Taiwan prompted protests in her hometown of San Francisco, where anti-war activists and leaders of the city’s Chinese community demonstrated against the Democratic congresswoman’s trip.

    On Monday, ahead of the visit, roughly 100 people gathered outside Pelosi’s office at the San Francisco Federal Building to urge her to cancel the stop on her Asia trip, which protesters said would unnecessarily inflame a “potential war” with China. Demonstrators—who were seen holding signs that read “U.S. hands off Taiwan,” “Stop the provocations,” and “No war on China”—urged Pelosi to cancel the trip to Taiwan, which had not been confirmed at the time of the protest. They asked her to, instead, “focus on the real challenges of inflation, climate crisis and economic distress facing the American People.” However, the pressure from American protesters did apparent little to change Pelosi’s mind. The House Speaker touched down in the capital of Taipei on Tuesday morning.

    Although Pelosi’s visit has drawn bipartisan support from lawmakers who want to see the Democrat defend Taiwan, President Joe Biden has cautioned that the stopover is “not a good idea.” And China has warned that it would respond with “forceful measures” if she goes through with the trip. Tuesday’s stopover makes Pelosi, an outspoken critic of China’s human rights abuses, the first House Speaker to visit Taiwan since Newt Gingrich went in 1997. Pelosi traveled to the island nation in 1999 but did not hold her leadership post at the time.

    The division over Pelosi’s trip to the Indo-Pacific region was also apparent at the protest on Monday, where a small group of counter-protests also gathered and accused the main demonstration of supporting communism.

    “Big protest at the Federal Building going on right now. Chinese mainlanders shouting that there is no Taiwan, it’s only one China,” journalist Roland Austinat tweeted. “My hats off to three or so counter-protesters, standing next to them with actual hand-written signs.”

    Julie Tang, a retired San Fransisco Supreme Court judge, told the San Francisco Standard that, as a longtime supporter of the House Speaker, she was “disappointed” about Pelosi’s trip. “We have donated to her, we’ve supported her throughout these years, but we are so disappointed that what she’s doing is totally against the welfare and the well-being of the community—in particular Chinese Americans,” Tang said.

    Tang added: “She does not listen to us. She’s going with the flow, going with pushing U.S. hegemony to contain China. For what? We don’t get anything out of it.” -newsweek.com

    DCSCA (7bbad3)

  488. “PLA will conduct important military exercises and training activities including live-fire drills in six regions surrounding the #Taiwan island from Thursday to Sunday.”
    @globaltimesnews

    DCSCA (7bbad3)

  489. Apparently Xi is running American Taiwan policy here.

    If by “here” you mean this site, it’s just a couple of creepy-crawlies who should have stayed banned, anyway. If you mean America, Pelosi just showed him that he does not, I think. But maybe he can regain face by making a “beautiful deal” in 2025.

    nk (aa192f)

  490. In no sane society is wearing the colors of your own country disrespectful, except in a nation that hates itself.

    Ya’ll is conflating. It’s wearing the flag that is forbidden. You know, that red white and blue thing with 50 stars and 13 stripes?

    Red white and blue bunting is recommended. As are other red white and blue designs such as USA patches and decals that we see. In place of the flag. For decoration and identification.

    nk (aa192f)

  491. 493… Study authors Joan Donovan, Kaylee Fagan, and Frances E. Lee…

    Donovan is director of research at the Shorenstein Center. Fagan is a research fellow of Shorenstein. Lee is a professor of politics and acting chair of the political department at Princeton University.

    Colonel Haiku (cdcc46)

  492. Apparently Xi is running American Taiwan policy here

    .

    If by “here” you mean this site, it’s just a couple of creepy-crawlies who should have stayed banned, anyway. If you mean America, Pelosi just showed him that he does not, I think. But maybe he can regain face by making a “beautiful deal” in 2025.

    nk (aa192f) — 8/2/2022 @ 10:47 am

    It applies to both, and it’s not just the usual trolls here. The handwringing about China’s “feelings” by people like Thomas Friedman, Biden, and others is embarrassing. Much better is this from the WaPo last month.

    Of course these are the same people who will demand the US defend Taiwan in the event of an attack, something the Taiwanese people won’t do themselves. See posts 177 and 208 above.

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  493. 493… Study authors Joan Donovan, Kaylee Fagan, and Frances E. Lee…

    Donovan is director of research at the Shorenstein Center. Fagan is a research fellow of Shorenstein. Lee is a professor of politics and acting chair of the political department at Princeton University.

    Colonel Haiku (cdcc46) — 8/2/2022 @ 11:04 am

    Your point being what? That a study conducted by the Shorenstein Center employed 2 out of 3 of the study’s authors and an outside academic?

    Shocking!

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  494. 504… Any with an interest can do a little research on the Shorenstein Center, it’s work in the past and these folks and draw their own conclusions.

    Colonel Haiku (cdcc46)

  495. Pelosi just showed him that he does not, I think.

    Pfft.

    “Old people are pushy
    They don’t have much time
    They’ll shove you at the coffee shop
    Cut ahead in the buffet line

    They’ll buy two for a dollar and 50
    Then they’ll argue with the checkout girl
    They’ve lived so much behind them
    They’re tryin’ to slow down this god damn world…”

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHIpM0_SJEA&t=2s

    DCSCA (f1ae9e)

  496. ‘It’s little old lady from San-Fran-cisco
    The little old lady from San-Fran-cisco
    (Go granny, go granny, go granny, go)
    Has a DUI hubby fat from inside trading
    (Go granny, go granny, go granny, go)
    But parked on the tarmac is a government jet
    It’s a brand new shiny Boeing airliner, yet!
    And everybody’s sayin’ she’s got quite the ego
    That little old lady from San-Fran-cisco
    (She talks real fast, waves her hands real hard)
    She’s the terror of Market Street through Chinatown
    It’s the little old lady from San-Fran-cisco…

    DCSCA (f1ae9e)

  497. Trump yesterday endorsed “ERIC” for the Republican nomination for Senator from Missouri , but he didn’t say which Eric, and two Erics thanked him.

    I had thought maybe they’re trying to make fun of him, and somewhere else he indicated whom he was talking about, but it seems from the tweet put on his replacement for Twitter, he did not but intentionally intended to be delphic!

    https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/trump-declining-to-pick-one-candidate-endorses-eric-in-tuesday-s-us-senate-primary/article_c6a9e43c-3d30-56b5-aa50-c39a09a41878.html

    In a statement posted after 5 p.m. Monday on Truth Social, a blogging site similar to Twitter, Trump wrote, “….I trust the Great People of Missouri, on this one, to make up their own minds, much as they did when they gave me landslide victories in the 2016 and 2020 Elections, and I am therefore proud to announce that ERIC has my Complete and Total Endorsement.”

    More:

    https://www.newser.com/story/323699/trump-endorsement-in-senate-primary-is-a-tale-of-3-erics.html

    Greitens and Schmitt both claimed the vague Trump endorsement in social media posts, and a request for clarification from the Trump camp hasn’t made things any clearer. They told NBC simply that the “endorsement speaks for itself.”

    There’s also a third possible Eric and even a fourth one.

    Sammy Finkelman (1d215a)

  498. More about the Zawahiri killing:

    The United States knew where he was a few months ago, when he moved in with his family. They were probably tracking the family. Zawahiri’s protectors probably assumed that the U.S. didn’t know where he was, but they were only trying to killl him without killing anyone else.

    They discovered that Zawahiri was in the habit of going out on a balcony alone. The United States studied this and two small models of the house were built and taken to the Situation Room to be viewed by President Biden so he could ask understand what they were talking about detailed questions about the operation. They wanted to be careful not to collapse the house so that no one else in Zawahiri’s family would be killed or injured.

    President Biden gave final approval to the operation, he said, “a week ago” which would mean approximately Monday, July 25, and it took until Saturday morning that they both had the opportunity and had a good shot.

    Two specially designed (or rare) Hellfire missiles were fired at him. They were called sword bombs because it could tear through metal and walls (not to mention a person) without creating the kind of damage that could damage a structure. Thin slices, I guess. It doesn’t use explosives.

    After the attack, Zawahiri’s family was evacuated from the house, and attempts were made to remove any evidence that Zawahiri had ever been there.

    The $25 million bounty on Zawahiri’s head was for the 1998 embassy bombings.

    I don’t think it was Zawahiri who chose to go to Kabul. I think he was sent there by members of Pakistan’s rogue military intelligence , the ISI, (till then he’d been somewhere in Pakistan for years) because they thought that they’d have better cover if he was in Afghanistan. If his location got discovered, we’d blame the Taliban.

    The removal of all traces of Zawahiri sounds similar to what happened after Osama bin Laden was killed 11 years ago – the house in Abbottabad, Pakistan, near Pakistan’s version of West Point, was demolished – they didn’t want any trace that bin Laden had ever been there and similarly here.

    Sammy Finkelman (1d215a)

  499. 301. Factory Working Orphan (2775f0) — 7/31/2022 @ 1:47 pm

    If she actually signed off on it in her will, it probably doesn’t matter much at this point. I know they continued to talk and apparently she was actually one of the few people he really trusted, but I’m more surprised that she would have even agreed to be buried on a Trump property, as opposed to an upscale cemetery in NYC.

    I think the decision would be in the hands of her children unless she authorized someone else to make the decision, or she made her wishes known in some legally enforceable way. Donald Trump had clearly had this idea in mind for some time, although the need to act on it was sudden.

    Although she married again twice (both ended in divorce and the spouses have since died) she did consider herself the real Mrs. Trump.

    She got very isolated toward the end, only seeing household staff and health care workers. She was last seen by outsiders at 6 pm the night she died, (not 4:35 pm when her housekeeper and someone else left for the day) when some health aide took her out on the street for her (daily?) walk. A restaurant owner saw her but she did not go in (because she would have to go down some steps, she generally did not go in) She ordered something to be delivered.

    She had cancelled a trip to the Hamptons because of her knee or hip.

    https://nypost.com/2022/07/15/ivana-trump-couldnt-make-it-out-of-house-two-weeks-ago-pal

    She didn’t want to see a doctor about it because she said that every time she sees a doctor she gets more sick.

    Having her walk or exercise probably was stupid. I think exercise or physical therapy probably wouldn’t help her if there were physiological reasons for the deterioration in her mobility.

    She died when she fell down the stairs in her dwelling while holding a cup of coffee. Walking down the stairs while trying not to spill the coffee, was just a bridge too far for her.

    Sammy Finkelman (1d215a)

  500. Dr. Scott Gottlieb on how monkeypox was treated too much like an exclusively sexually transmitted disease and ow there were many more cases than were diagnosed and now it’s escaped:

    July 17, 2022 Face the Nation:

    https://www.cbsnews.com/news/scott-gottlieb-transcript-face-the-nation-07-17-2022

    ….We’re probably detecting just a fraction of the actual cases because we have a very, we had for a long time a very narrow case definition on who got tested. And by and large, we’re looking in the community of men who have sex with men and STD clinics. So we’re looking there, we’re finding cases there. But it’s a fact that there’s cases outside that community right now. We’re not picking them up, because we’re not looking there. This has spread more broadly in the community. I wouldn’t be surprised there’s thousands of cases right now..

    ….this isn’t going to explode like COVID. This is a slower moving virus, which is why we could have gotten control of this if we had been more aggressive up front, and we made a lot of the same mistakes that we made with COVID with this – having a very narrow case definition not having enough testing early enough, not deploying vaccine in an aggressive fact- fashion to ring vaccinate. But now this is firmly embedded in the community. And while it’s not going to explode, because it’s harder for this virus to spread, it’s probably going to be persistent, you’ll-you’ll have this as a sort of a fact of life, maybe spreading as a sexually transmitted disease, but also breaking out of those settings.,.

    ….What we’re seeing right now is people aren’t presenting with a widely diffused rash, but sometimes just a small number of vesicles. So I think it’s being confused with other vesicular rashes, Herpes, Coxsackie could cause a vesicular rash, certainly chickenpox. Right now, anyone who presents with a particular rash that can’t be explained by another etiology [should be considered a possible case of monkeypox, but isn’t] . So a rash that causes vesicles, should be tested for monkey pox, whether they come from a high risk community or not. That’s the way we’re going to snuff this out. We didn’t have enough testing to do that. Now CDC has gotten in place more testing this probably adequate testing to broaden it to-to accomplish that. So we should be doing that physicians should be sending off these tests.

    Sammy Finkelman (1d215a)

  501. About Covid vaccines:

    there’s going to be a vaccine based on B-4 that the manufacturers are developing right now. There is a bivalent vaccine based on B-1 on the shelf right now that we could be deploying, we’re not. That probably would be more protected against this B-4 variant and B-5 variant. We- they’ve made a decision so far not to deploy that but to wait for the B-4 variant vaccine that’s going to be available this fall. Right now, if you’re above the age of 50 and you haven’t had a dose of vaccine this year, you probably should get one, and as sequencing is good, get a dose now if you’re someone who’s at high risk and come back and get one later

    Thery;re still one variant behind.

    Sammy Finkelman (1d215a)

  502. More by Dr Scott Gottlieb o monkeypox:

    https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/30/opinion/monkeypox-public-health-failure.html

    …The C.D.C. had gone through its standard playbook, ticking through its protracted checklist.

    Compared with the agency’s botched rollout of a test for the coronavirus, the monkeypox test came at warp speed. But the virus spread even faster. If ‌American leaders wanted to quash the outbreak, ‌‌the United States should have been testing all people who presented with what was presumed to be atypical cases of diseases like genital herpes and zoster infection; both can cause rashes that sometimes resemble monkeypox. That might have required 15,000 tests a week, by my rough estimate. From mid-May to the end of June, the U‌‌nited States tested only about 2,000 samples.

    Q. How many cases of atypical rashes occur all the time?

    Our country’s response to monkeypox ‌‌has been plagued by the same shortcomings we had with Covid-19. Now if monkeypox ‌gains a permanent foothold in the U‌nited States and becomes an endemic virus that joins our circulating repertoire of pathogens, it will be one of the worst public health failures in modern times not only because of the pain and peril of the disease but also because it was so avoidable. Our lapses extend beyond political decision making to the agencies tasked with protecting us from these threats. We don’t have a federal infrastructure capable of dealing with these emergencies.

    ….Early on, similar to the early days of Covid, testing access for monkeypox was limited, despite ample evidence that monkeypox was spreading in the United States. The Strategic National Stockpile was meant as a hedge against viral contingencies, but when the coronavirus struck, it lacked adequate supplies of testing equipment, ventilators and masks. With monkeypox, the government hadn’t stockpiled enough of the only vaccine, Jynneos, that was indicated for prevention of the disease and considered safe for use. The United States had on hand fewer than 2,400 doses in mid-May, mostly as a hedge against the risk of smallpox, which was the vaccine’s other indication…

    The C.D.C. …isn’t a crisis organization. It lacks the infrastructure to mobilize a rapid response and is too hidebound and process driven to move quickly. Its cultural instinct is to take a deliberative approach, debating each decision. With Covid, the virus ‌‌gained ground quickly. With ‌‌monkeypox, which spreads more slowly, typically through very close contact, the shortcomings of C.D.C.’s cultural approach haven’t been as acute yet. But the shortfalls are the same.

    Sammy Finkelman (1d215a)

  503. Republicans should know that veterans are very well organized and vote, even if the Senators were correct on principle. Unforced error.

    Rip Murdock (e39e4b) — 8/1/2022 @ 8:04 pm

    It shows how desperate the Dems are, that they think dragging Stewart’s tired old leathery backside out to mock Republicans like it’s still 2005, is going to move the needle on this at all. He’s always been an insincere concern troll, whose sole contribution to the political landscape was poisoning 1.5 generations in to believing that political disagreement was not only something to be avoided at all cost, but that any argument pushing back against his left-liberal political ideology was “extreme” and “divisive.”

    Veterans do not vote as a political bloc, and if any are honestly going to get worked up about this because of Stewart’s kayfabe histrionics over the Dems not wanting to go over amendments in a bill and using veteran care as a cover for their oily mendacity, they were probably already partisan Democrats to begin with.

    Factory Working Orphan (2775f0)

  504. Kevin M (eeb9e9) — 8/1/2022 @ 6:18 pm

    Biden’s lies come from a committee.

    Only when it comes to public issues and the naming of bills.

    Sammy Finkelman (1d215a)

  505. Republicans fold:

    GOP agrees to deal on veterans bill
    Senate Republicans have reached an agreement to pass legislation expanding benefits for veterans who are suffering illnesses due to toxic exposures, after they blocked the bill last week and sparked outrage from the veteran community and comedian Jon Stewart.
    ……..
    “We expect to have an agreement on the PACT Act with amendments,” Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said. “I believe it will pass and pass this evening. So, that’s very good news.”
    ………
    Schumer said that the Senate will vote on three amendments to the bill, with 60 votes being needed to pass those bills. The upper chamber will then move to finally pass the bill.
    ……..
    Twenty-five Republicans who initially voted to advance the bill in June changed their votes.
    ……..
    The upper chamber passed the bill by a vote of 84-14 in June, and the House last month passed the bill by a 342-88 vote.
    ……..

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  506. Yesterday, President Biden repeated this sentence three times in his speech:

    “No day shall erase you from the memory of time.”

    I don’t understand what it means.

    He said this was a quotation from Virgil (Roman poet, who write the Aeneid, in imitation of Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey) and was engraved or inscribed at the September 11th memorial at Ground Zero.

    Biden repeated it two times one after the other, and then with a slight variation (changing “you” to “them”) separately from saying it was a quotation from Virgil.

    https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2022/08/01/remarks-by-president-biden-on-a-successful-counterterrorism-operation-in-afghanistan

    President Biden spoke outdoors on a balcony because he still isolating from other people in confined spaces because he has tested positive for Covid.

    Sammy Finkelman (1d215a)

  507. I don’t understand what it means.

    81 million people probably understand.

    BuDuh (340919)

  508. Here is something, which also includes a picture):

    https://www.911memorial.org/connect/blog/look-museums-memorial-hall

    This quote from Book IX of “The Aeneid” by the Roman poet Virgil suggests the transformative potential of remembrance and is indicative of the museum’s mission to honor and remember the victims of the attacks of September 11, 2001 and February 26, 1993. Each letter was forged from pieces of recovered World Trade Center steel by New Mexico artist Tom Joyce.

    I still </b? don’t understand what it means.

    I get the drift, maybe, but I don't see how it might mean something like never forget.

    Sammy Finkelman (1d215a)

  509. Oh.. I would like to delete my sarcastic comment at 3:19pm. I read Sammy’s comment quickly and concluded it was typical Biden gibberish that wooed the most voters ever. So I made a wisecrack.

    I had no intention of disrespecting any of the 9/11 victims. None. And now that I understand where the quote is from, whether it makes sense to Sammy or not, I apologize for writing something so callous.

    BuDuh (340919)

  510. It’s all right. It’s not a bad wisecrack because the meaning of this is unclear and that should have been thought of.

    This just doesn’t sound like ordinary English Maybe it is a bad (but standard) translation of the original Latin.

    And means something like “The day will never come that you will be erased from memory” or “The passage of time will not cause you to be forgotten from the memory of man”

    Which is optimistic.

    Sammy Finkelman (1d215a)

  511. “Woke” people, in print, make arguments as to why a different opinion cannot e tolerated even to be heard and that’s what leads to tech platform censorship and “cancellation” It especially occurs with anything that has a medical or health angle. And it’s no good.

    Sammy Finkelman (1d215a)

  512. Possibly somewhat ghostwritten (he’s 91)`article by George Soros in the Wall Street Journal

    https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-i-support-reform-prosecutors-law-enforces-jail-prison-crime-rate-justice-police-funding-11659277441

    We need to acknowledge that black people in the U.S. are five times as likely to be sent to jail as white people. That is an injustice that undermines our democracy.

    This is a very serious fallacy.

    The disparity between residents of different neighborhoods is probably even greater. Many more people who resided, at the time of their initial arrest, in South Central Los Angeles are in prison than those who resided in Beverly Hills.

    Clearly something is wrong with that, no?

    And Starbucks stores should not be closed more in certain locations. Because how can people cumulatively behave worse in certain places than others, when all are making individual choices between good and evil?

    Not so. Because people are influenced by their friends and acquaintances.

    Is the out of wedlock birth rate also a sign of people unfairly judging other people?

    More Soros:

    The most rigorous academic study, analyzing data across 35 jurisdictions, shows no connection between the election of reform-minded prosecutors and local crime rates.

    Another bit of specious reasoning.

    It takes time for changes in policy to affect the crime rate.

    The most important variable is the background crime rate.

    Things have gotten worse in many places (and in some places stated to drop again) but it’s nowhere like it was in 1990.

    The funds I provide enable sensible reform-minded candidates to receive a hearing from the public. Judging by the results, the public likes what it’s hearing.

    No, it’s because people are largely not aware of what candidates think.

    Sammy Finkelman (1d215a)

  513. “The timing could not be worse. Dear reader: The Ukraine war is not over. And privately, U.S. officials are a lot more concerned about Ukraine’s leadership than they are letting on. There is deep mistrust between the White House and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky — considerably more than has been reported.

    And there is funny business going on in Kyiv. On July 17, Zelensky fired his country’s prosecutor general and the leader of its domestic intelligence agency — the most significant shake-up in his government since the Russian invasion in February. It would be the equivalent of Biden firing Merrick Garland and Bill Burns on the same day. But I have still not seen any reporting that convincingly explains what that was all about. It is as if we don’t want to look too closely under the hood in Kyiv for fear of what corruption or antics we might see, when we have invested so much there. (More on the dangers of that another day.)”

    https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/why-is-the-white-house-quietly-griping-about-zelensky-now/

    Colonel Haiku (ea1c88)

  514. @525. So Joe’s WH is getting fed up with by Moran?!?!?

    “They don’t call him ‘Bugs’ for nothing.” – Al Capone [Jason Robards] ‘The St. Valentines Day Massacre’ 1967

    DCSCA (9344d5)

  515. I still don’t understand what it means.

    I get the drift, maybe, but I don’t see how it might mean something like never forget.

    Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 8/2/2022 @ 3:21 pm

    It just means that the victims will be remembered forever as long as the story of their existence survives.

    The line is about a couple of Trojan youths and friends who were tasked with entering the enemy camp and killing them while they slept, but neglected the mission and got caught by a returning patrol when they began looting instead. One of them is caught and killed rather quickly, and his friend did a suicide rush to try and keep his body from being mutilated. In the poem, Virgil was saying that as long as people read the Aeneid, they wouldn’t be forgotten.

    Factory Working Orphan (2775f0)

  516. On the whole, Ukraine appears to have the edge against Putin in the most recent battles:

    Russian forces are reportedly continuing to transfer troops from northern Donetsk Oblast to support defensive positions in southern Ukraine and may be halting the Slovyansk campaign for the time being. The Ukrainian Main Military Intelligence (GUR) Representative Vadym Skibitsky stated that Russian forces withdrew airborne tactical groups from Donetsk Oblast and redeployed the units to occupied Kherson Oblast territories two weeks ago.[1] Skibitsky added that Russian forces are also redeploying elements of the Eastern Military District (EMD) operating in Slovyansk to southern Ukraine and are transferring a large number of troops to Crimea to prepare to defend occupied Kherson and/or Zaporizhia Oblasts against Ukrainian counteroffensives.

    If Ukrainian forces retake Kherson, in the south, it would be a heavy blow to Putin — and to his fans in the West.

    Jim Miller (406a93)

  517. RIP Vin Scully, another legend has passed on.

    Paul Montagu (062b7e)

  518. Jim Miller, when do you think Russia will throw in the towel?

    JF (a6d404)

  519. JF – I wish I could give you an answer to that question, but I don’t know enough about either the people around Putin, or Putin’s psychology, to say. I do look at the Institute for the Study of War site regularly to get some idea of how the war is going, which is why I think Ukraine has an edge. (If I had to use a sports analogy, I would say Ukraine is leading by a field goal late in the first quarter, or early in the second quarter.)

    There is one thing I can tell you from what I have learned, reading about the Eastern front in World War II. Ukraine has two “mud seasons”, spring and fall, when movement gets much harder for wheeled vehicles (and even some tracked vehicles). If either side is losing near the end of the summer, they may think they can recuperate during that season, and then counter-attack when the ground freezes.

    Jim Miller (406a93)

  520. I’ll answer JF’s question, Jim: It’s over when Putin is dead and/or deposed, and the little Russian despot is going to drag his country down with him in the process, IMO.

    Putin’s war right now is a battle of wills, and we have the resources for our will to prevail. Most Ukrainians are fighting for their existence as a country, so they’re motivated and Putin is stuck in a quagmire of his own making.

    Haiku brought up that the Biden WH is concerned about Zelenskyy, but the reality is that Zelenskyy needs to be concerned about Biden, what with our president’s gross incompetence in cutting and running out of Afghanistan.

    Paul Montagu (062b7e)

  521. RIP Vin Scully, another legend has passed on.

    As a Dodger fan from the day they came to Los Angeles, this really hits hard.

    Kevin M (eeb9e9)

  522. @533. He had a good run; plenty of hits; few errors. Days like this you appreciate a talent you took for granted would always be around. A broadcasting voice pure and smooth. Like golf losing Palmer… and broadcast news losing Cronkite.

    DCSCA (9344d5)

  523. Eliminating the leaders of terrorist groups might make them worse.

    The leader is often cautious and wants to retain control so doesn’t approve every idea. Or they may turn into criminal gangs. Like Jesse James did.

    https://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/ny-oped-the-downside-of-killing-al-zawahiri-20220802-quufza7uojhp7f5b3d2yk764q4-story.html

    It turns out that militant leaders often restrain the rank-and-file, so taking them out can make their groups even more extreme in their targeting choices.

    Without the leader communicating which targets to avoid, punishing transgressors and vetting out rogue operatives, they’re freer to act on their own initiative to attack civilians.

    This kind of thing should probably be done more strategically. Like the Taliban did.

    In this case Zawahiri anyway wasn’t running operations.

    Sammy Finkelman (1d215a)

  524. Fauci said that [gain of function] meant making a virus more infective to humans, not taking a virus that didn’t infect people at all and mutating it so that it could infect people.

    193. NJRob (eb56c3) — 7/30/2022 @ 6:57 pm

    He lied under oath. No arguing what the “definition of is is.”

    But that exactly what he did. He had a heated argument while he was testifying. Rand Paul, I think, tried to say that Fauci had supported gain of function research, and he said that rand Paul didn’t know what he was talking about – that he didn’t know what the definition of gain of function research was.

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

    And this was true – that it is was true that, back a few years before, Fauci had used that definition, maybe to get around a policy restriction. Fauci said other people had approved that definition.

    Paul tried to imply that the grant that Fauci funded created SARS without actually saying so.

    Rand Paul said he wasn’t saying that his grant created the virus. He didn;t know, but it could have. Fauci that is not true. He said given what the grant used it was molecularly impossible. Fauci said that grant could not have done it. Rand Paul was also falling back on the idea that Fauci funded a bad lab.

    Of course the Chinese lab did what it wanted, anyway, or what some mad scientist got them interested in doing, Dr. Ralph Baric of the University of North Carolina.

    https://www.technologyreview.com/2021/07/26/1030043/gain-of-function-research-coronavirus-ralph-baric-vaccines

    Baric released a statement clarifying that according to the NIH, the research in question did not qualify as gain-of-function, none of the SARS-like coronaviruses he’d used in the experiments were closely related to SARS-CoV-2 (the original virus behind the covid pandemic), and his collaboration with the Wuhan Institute of Virology had been minimal.

    Yet that did little to quell questions about the role Baric’s research may have played in furthering scientists’ ability to modify coronaviruses in potentially dangerous ways. Such questions have dogged Baric since 2014, when he became the reluctant spokesperson for gain-of-function research after the NIH declared a moratorium on such experiments until their safety could be assessed, temporarily halting his work.

    Sammy Finkelman (1d215a)

  525. Somewhere I read, but cannot find again that the drone strike that killed Zawahiri was done at 6:38 or 6:39 pm Saturday Eastern time.

    And that this was Sunday morning in Kabul and that Zawahiri liked to go out on to the balcony and read in the morning.

    But Afghanistan is GMT + 4:30 and does not use daylight savings time and so is currently 8 1/2 hours ahead of Washington. Which would make it 3:09 am in Kabul. But sunrise in Kabul is about 5 am now. So something s wrong here.

    Sammy Finkelman (1d215a)

  526. Zawahiri is reported to have moved to Kabul in the fall (not that long after Afghanistan came under the control of the Taliban again) and was reunited with his family, or part of his family in that house earlier tis year. His family members had moved in earlier. It was also a safe house, used for secret Taliban meetings – not clear how long this went on. The house was owned (officially that would be) by a close associate of the Taliban Interior Minister, who is a member of the Haqqani network.

    There had been a strike that killed members of his family a long time ago, in December, 2001 – his first wife and 2 of their 6 children. Biden was more cautious. The particular model of drone, intended to kill single individuals has probably been used less than 6 times. Zawahiri was living there with his wife (or a wife) and a daughter and the daughter’s children.

    hey first briefing was in April, and later on July 1. Bide gave his final signoff on Monday, July 25. Then it was just a matter of time till Zawahiri and the drone were in the right place.

    The family was quickly evacuated after the strike, and blown out windows covered with tarp, streets blocked off and stores closed. This was an upscale portion of Kabul previously used by foreign diplomats, now more by high Taliban figures.

    Still secret is from what location the drone took off, and how they knew. The Taliban are probably afraid the location had been bugged.

    Sammy Finkelman (1d215a)

  527. Correction: 537

    Somewhere I read, but cannot find again that the drone strike that killed Zawahiri was done at 6:38 or 6:39 pm Saturday Eastern time.

    Actually it was 9:48 pm Saturday night, or 6:18 am Sunday morning, Kabul time.

    More than one hour after sunrise.

    I saw the time in the New York Times of Tuesday, but here’s the best source:

    https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/press-briefings/2022/08/01/background-press-call-by-a-senior-administration-official-on-a-u-s-counterterrorism-operation

    SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: Thanks, everyone, for joining us this evening.

    At 9:48 p.m. Eastern Time on July 30th, 6:18 a.m. Kabul Time on July 31st, the United States undertook a precision counterterrorism operation in Kabul, Afghanistan, at the President’s direction.

    That operation targeted and killed al Qaeda’s current leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri. Zawahiri was Osama bin Laden’s deputy during the 9/11 attacks and his successor in 2011, following bin Laden’s death during a U.S. counterterrorism mission. Zawahiri continued to pose an active threat to U.S. persons, interests, and national security. …

    Sammy Finkelman (b7dc9b)

  528. In February, 2020, the Talia=ban had refused to agree not to give al Qaeda leaders and members asylum. But they did pledge not to let their territory be used as a base President Biden seemed to imply a little that Zawahiri was still threatening the United States. But he wasn’t doing much more than making videos. There were some attempts to restart terrorist training camps in Afghanistan but the people involved in anti-terrorism consider al Qaeda’s presence in Yemen and part of Africa more of a useful base for them.

    Sammy Finkelman (b7dc9b)

  529. The monkeypox virus might be renamed by the World Health Organization because it is supposed to be stigmatizing, but they’ll probably keep both the “monkey” and the “pox” maybe renaming it to Orthopoxvirus monkeypox. (with a different short informal name?)

    Sammy Finkelman (1d215a)

  530. four current and former Louisville officers federally charged with falsifying information to obtain the search warrant that led to the 2020 raid that resulted in the death of Breonna Taylor.

    https://www.newser.com/story/323799/new-breonna-taylor-charges-involve-secret-garage-meeting.html

    Garland repeated details that emerged at the time of Jaynes’ firing: that Jaynes said he had verified through a US Postal Inspector that packages were being delivered to Taylor’s apartment in the name of her ex-boyfriend, Jamarcus Glover, a suspected drug trafficker. The info had actually come from Shively Police, not the postal inspector, and the Shively police said postal inspectors had said the opposite: that no packages were delivered.

    In new allegations, Garland said Jaynes and Goodlett met in a garage on May 17, 2020, about two months after Taylor was killed, to discuss how to cover up their actions, per the Washington Post and CBS News. CBS reports the meeting was allegedly spurred by news reports that mentioned the postal inspector wasn’t confirming details in the search warrant application. Per charging documents, the pair allegedly agreed to falsely tell investigators that a postal inspector had casually referenced Glover getting packages at Taylor’s address…

    ….As for the other officers involved in the raid, Garland noted that “the officers who ultimately carried out the search at this Taylor’s department were not involved in the drafting of the warrant, and were unaware of the false and misleading statements they contained.”

    Garland just had to charge a policemen who wildly fired shots, but didn’t kill anyone, and was tried and acquitted in sate trial

    Isn’t it enough to determine that the search warrant was unjustified?

    And ow we need to find the motive. To help the informant, who maybe was actualy protecting the drug dealer?

    https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/local/breonna-taylor/2022/06/30/breonna-taylor-case-ex-detectives-lmpd-firing-upheld-judge/7765953001/

    In the affidavit, which he swore to before a judge, Jaynes wrote he’d verified through a U.S. Postal Inspector that Taylor’s ex-boyfriend Jamarcus Glover, a suspected drug trafficker, was having packages delivered to her apartment.

    But Jaynes had actually spoken to another officer, Sgt. Jonathan Mattingly, who had gotten information from Shively Police, not the postal inspector.

    And, according to those Shively officers, postal inspectors said there were no packages.

    Sammy Finkelman (1d215a)

  531. This story is dismaying. American researchers developed some promising battery technology. But American manufacturers aren’t using it to make batteries:

    But that’s not what happened. Instead of the batteries becoming the next great American success story, the warehouse is now shuttered and empty. All the employees who worked there were laid off. And more than 5,200 miles away, a Chinese company is hard at work making the batteries in Dalian, China.

    The Chinese company didn’t steal this technology. It was given to them — by the U.S. Department of Energy. First in 2017, as part of a sublicense, and later, in 2021, as part of a license transfer. An investigation by NPR and the Northwest News Network found the federal agency allowed the technology and jobs to move overseas, violating its own licensing rules while failing to intervene on behalf of U.S. workers in multiple instances.

    The Dempartment of Energy has now terminated the license, and is investigating how this could have happened. (I can think of several possibilities, none of them pleasant.)

    Jim Miller (406a93)

  532. In 2012, Yang applied to the Department of Energy for a license to manufacture and sell the batteries.

    The agency issued the license, and Yang launched UniEnergy Technologies. He hired engineers and researchers. But he soon ran into trouble. He said he couldn’t persuade any U.S. investors to come aboard.

    “I talked to almost all major investment banks; none of them (wanted to) invest in batteries,” Yang said in an interview, adding that the banks wanted a return on their investments faster than the batteries would turn a profit.

    But China was willing.

    In other words, Yang wanted to do an initial public offering. But going public has stopped for smaller companies. The Wall Street Journal blames Sarbanes-Oxley but a letter to the editor also blames more efficient stock trading.

    https://www.wsj.com/articles/sarbanes-oxley-ipo-public-private-company-business-regulation-small-cap-11659476300

    In the 1980s and ’90s, smaller investment banks offered smaller IPOs and made a market in the stocks after the deal closed. They did this not only to support their clients, but also because it was profitable. Under the old over-the-counter trading system, spreads were large, but that made it attractive to trade these smaller-cap stocks and ensured that there would be a market.

    Under progressively tighter best-execution regulations, together with the decimalization that eliminated the cushion in a one-eighth or even a one-sixteenth spread, it became unprofitable to trade small-cap stocks, and the number of market makers willing to try shrank dramatically. Without aftermarket liquidity, smaller IPOs became impossible to sell. Once again, in regulators’ zeal to improve the market, they killed it.

    By forcing private companies to stay private for longer, regulators reduced the public’s access to information about those companies, locked retail investors out of opportunities, restricted promising young companies’ access to capital and empowered venture-capital and private-equity funds, which have virtually no reporting requirements.

    What about private equity?

    There are also special purpose acquisition comoanies, now going into a bit of adecline)

    https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/spac.asp#:~:text=A%20special%20purpose%20acquisition%20company%20(SPAC)%20is%20a%20company%20without,merging%20with%20an%20existing%20company.

    Sammy Finkelman (1d215a)

  533. The law of unintended (? – it benefited bigger companies, protecting them from new competitors) consequences.

    Sammy Finkelman (1d215a)

  534. Congrespeople Jerrold Nadler and Carolyn Maloney were polling just about dead even (31% in their August 23 primary with someone who ran against Carolyn Maloney kin the last two elections and almost won coming in at 25% but Nadler did very bad ina debate.

    He said he had impeached Bush z twice and couldn’t remember the number of the Congressional district (it’s the same as Maloney’s current one -12th)

    Nadler was clearly reaching for it and abandoned the attempt I don’t know how many people would noticed.

    https://nypost.com/2022/08/02/jerrold-nadler-stumbles-through-debate-opening-against-suraj-patel

    Biden doesn’t have these difficulties.

    Nadler might have been having a very bad day maybe,

    Nadler would have been better off running on the southern portion of his old district (now the 10th it used to be called the 8th) even though he does not live there. But a good portion of his district was in Brooklyn, and he grew up in Bensonhurst, which used to be his district.

    Sammy Finkelman (1d215a)


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