Weekend Open Thread
[guest post by Dana]
Let’s go!
First news item
Assigning Anne Frank graphic novel to 8th graders lands teacher out of a job:
A Texas teacher has been fired after a middle school class was assigned to read a graphic novel adaptation of “The Diary of Anne Frank” that officials say had not been approved by the school district.
The Hamshire-Fannett Independent School District announced that a teacher had assigned an eighth-grade class to read a passage from “Anne Frank’s Diary: The Graphic Adaptation,” which includes passages Frank wrote about female and male genitalia, and a possible attraction to women. The unabridged version of Frank’s diary has been removed from schools in Texas and Florida this year after complaints from parents over the book’s sexual content…
An investigation is trying to determine whether the adaptation of Anne Frank’s diary had been approved. District officials maintain that the graphic adaptation was never approved, but the book was on a reading list sent to parents at the beginning of the school year, according to KFDM, a CBS and Fox affiliate in Beaumont that was the first to report the story.
Anne Frank was 13 years old when she received her diary and began writing in it. Kids in the eighth grade are usually 13 years old. While I’m pretty sure today’s kids can handle something Frank wrote at the same age, I can also see where students might be embarrassed hearing the graphic text read aloud in a classroom of boys and girls. But rather than it having to do with something like girls being ashamed of their bodies, an embarrassed reaction could easily be a kid’s natural modesty in action. And that’s not a bad thing. Especially in this day and age. But it seems silly, and perhaps unlawful(?) to fire a teacher over this, given the confusion over the reading list.
Second news item
A devastating snippet from Jeffrey Goldberg’s new profile of Mark Milley in The Atlantic:
Milley had chosen a severely wounded Army captain, Luis Avila, to sing “God Bless America.” Avila, who had completed five combat tours, had lost a leg in an IED attack in Afghanistan, and had suffered two heart attacks, two strokes, and brain damage as a result of his injuries. To Milley, and to four-star generals across the Army, Avila and his wife, Claudia, represented the heroism, sacrifice, and dignity of wounded soldiers.
It had rained that day, and the ground was soft; at one point Avila’s wheelchair threatened to topple over. Milley’s wife, Hollyanne, ran to help Avila, as did Vice President Mike Pence. After Avila’s performance, Trump walked over to congratulate him, but then said to Milley, within earshot of several witnesses, “Why do you bring people like that here? No one wants to see that, the wounded.” Never let Avila appear in public again, Trump told Milley. (Recently, Milley invited Avila to sing at his retirement ceremony.)
Unsurprising.
Third news item
New Jersey Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez was charged on Friday with corruption-related offenses for the second time in 10 years.
Menendez and his wife, Nadine Arslanian Menendez, are accused of accepting “hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes” in exchange for the senator’s influence, according to the newly unsealed federal indictment.
Prosecutors allege the bribes included gold, cash, home mortgage payments, compensation for a “low-or-no-show job” and a luxury vehicle.
This is the second set of corruption charges levied against Menendez by the Justice Department in a decade. He previously fought off conspiracy, bribery and honest services fraud related to alleged personal favors.
Menendez is up for reelection next year…
In June 2022, FBI agents executed search warrants on Menendez’s home and found more than $480,000 in cash, “much of it stuffed into envelopes and hidden in clothing, closets, and a safe.”
Agents found envelopes of cash inside jackets bearing Menendez’s name. Their search found home furnishings, a luxury vehicle and gold bars all provided by the businessmen.
No word if they found anything in his bathroom…
Menendez railed against the charges, sounding alot like that Witch Hunt guy:
For years, forces behind the scenes have repeatedly attempted to silence my voice and dig my political grave. Since this investigation was leaked nearly a year ago, there has been an active smear campaign of anonymous sources and innuendos to create an air of impropriety where none exists,” he said.
You can read the indictment here.
Fourth news item
Two years ago, Kevin McCarthy welcomed President Zelensky with open arms, not so much this year. Good to see a media outlet that I wouldn’t expect to take issue with McCarthy’s behavior, take issue with McCarthy’s behavior:
Speaker Kevin McCarthy dissed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday, not only refusing to OK a joint address to Congress, but even forcing the visitor to meet with House Republicans off the chamber’s floor.
Bush league, Kevin.
…we get that many of his members have turned all-out against US aid to Ukraine; keeping Zelensky at arm’s length spares him considerable flak.
(In reality, a huge chunk of “Ukraine aid” gets spent at home, on modernizing US ordnance as we send older equipment over there — and that modernization is vital to beefing up our neglected defenses.)
More important: Russia’s imperialist war of aggression needs defeating.
If the Kremlin wins, it’ll move on to bullying other neighbors in Central Europe, threatening NATO members and risking a conflict that would draw in US troops.
And would-be conquerors will imitate Vladimir Putin, as the entire world order decays.
America and the West will pay a far higher price than we are paying now.
Fifth news item
A no-brainer “yes” at the one year mark of Mahsa Amini’s death:
One of the bills approved on Tuesday, the Mahsa Amini Human Rights and Security Accountability Act (MAHSA Act), would apply sanctions to Iran’s supreme leader and president. The legislation is named for the 22-year-old Kurdish woman whose death and alleged abuse while in the custody of Iran’s morality police almost a year ago for improperly wearing her hijab, or head covering, sparked historic anti-government protests across Iran.
The National Union for Democracy in Iran (NUFDI), an Iranian-American group opposed to the regime and a supporter of the bill, said in a statement that the MAHSA Act would help reveal the true nature of the Islamic Republic.
“[The Islamic Republic of Iran] is not a partner worthy of engagement, but a brutal dictatorship whose opponents — the freedom-loving people of Iran — deserve America’s solidarity,” NUFDI said. “Holding the regime’s supreme leader and president accountable for their crimes against humanity with the human rights sanctions in the MAHSA Act has been met with overwhelming support from the Iranian-American community and is a needed first step in offering maximum support to the people of Iran in their quest to establish a secular democracy that will secure their fundamental rights and ensure American security.”
Guess which women voted against this? Reps. Cori Bush (D-MO) and Ilhan Omar (D-MN).
A rebuke Freedom fighter Masih Alinejad:
We the women of Iran will never forget that an American congresswoman who enjoys freedom of choice, voted against women of Iran who are getting killed for demanding freedom of choice.
@Ilhan! You sided with our killers by voting against #MahsaAct
The US House passed a bill, tightening sanctions on Iran’s Supreme Leader and President. Votes against were cast by Ilhan Omar. As we approach the anniversary of Mahsa Jina Amini’s death at the hands of the morality police, this timely bill aims to hold the Islamic Republic accountable for its crimes. The broad support for this bill moves us towards a freer Iran. Regrettably, the Biden administration released $6 billion to Iran, establishing a questionable form of diplomacy. I hope the Senate will pass this bill, reflecting our commitment to freedom and human rights.
It’s disheartening to see an American woman who enjoys freedom of choice, who should be advocating for women of Iran who face, prison, lashes, rape, chemical attack and get killed for demanding the same freedom to choose their own dress code, voting against a bill designed to support Iranian women. Yet, this doesn’t surprise me. When I was the target of transnational repression, she campaigned against me for the crime working freelancers for Voice of America media broadcasting. We, Iranian women, will never forget. Mahsa isn’t just a daughter of Iran; she’s a beacon for women globally who stand against dictators. It’s astonishing that while the world stands with Mahsa and Iranian women, you side with the oppressors. The bill was meant to sanction those responsible for atrocities under the Islamic Republic.
We will continue our fight against the gender apartheid regime of Iran, but the history will judge those of you who could help us but decided to side with the religious dictatorship.
I call on all women across the globe to join us to end the gender apartheid regime in Iran. We deserve to have a secular democracy no, not an Islamic terrorist regime.
Sixth news item
Turmoil in Kevin McCarthy’s conference:
Speaker Kevin McCarthy sent his House members home for the week without a clear plan to avoid a looming government shutdown after hardliners in the Republican conference once again scuttled his spending plans, delivering an embarrassing floor defeat for GOP leadership for the second time this week.
The Republican leader slammed his far-right flank for wanting to “burn the place down,” after conservatives dramatically bucked McCarthy and GOP leadership on a procedural vote over a Pentagon funding bill, throwing the House into total paralysis. And now, members are not set to return to session until Tuesday as the possibility of a shutdown at the end of next week appears ever more likely.
“It’s frustrating in the sense that I don’t understand why anybody votes against bringing the idea and having the debate,” McCarthy told reporters.
McCarthy sold his soul. The bill always comes due.
Seventh news item
President Joe Biden has told his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, that the United States will provide a small number of long-range missiles (ATACMS) to aid the war with Russia, three U.S. officials and a congressional official familiar with the discussions told NBC News on Friday.
The officials, who were not authorized to speak publicly, did not say when the missiles would be delivered or when a public announcement would be made…
The congressional official said there was still a debate about the type of missile that would be sent and how many would be delivered to Ukraine.
The long-range missiles will give Kyiv the ability to strike targets from as far away as about 180 miles, hitting supply lines, railways, and command and control locations behind the Russian front lines.
Good.
Eighth news item
Huh:
Joe Biden’s re-election campaign is deploying California Gov. Gavin Newsom to the second Republican presidential debate next week in Simi Valley, Calif., Biden campaign advisers tell Axios…Donald Trump isn’t likely to attend the GOP debate Wednesday, but Biden’s team also is deploying top officials — including campaign manager Julie Chávez Rodríguez — to contrast the president’s agenda with what they call “MAGA Republicans’ extreme and out of touch views.”
Chávez Rodríguez and DNC chair Jaime Harrison will host Latino organizing events including one focused on Latino men, Biden campaign advisers told Axios.
The DNC also is hiring a plane to fly over Southern California reading “2024 GOP: A Race for the Extreme MAGA Base,” according to a Biden adviser.
Biden re-elect spokesperson Kevin Munoz told Axios: “The campaign response builds off the strong and effective plan from the first debate with a clear north star: Push back on Republicans’ lies and highlight their extremism at every turn.”
MISCELLANEOUS
I could watch this all day long:
Baby elephants don't learn to control their trunks until they’re about a year old. pic.twitter.com/HVk5hcZuLP
— Wonder of Science (@wonderofscience) December 20, 2021
Have a great weekend!
–Dana
Happy Friday!
Dana (932d71) — 9/22/2023 @ 11:53 amRegarding Milley in The Atlantic, physical appearances are important to Trump, like how Xi looked the part of a Chinese premier, or that Milley had a “tanklike build and four-star eyebrows”, or that McMaster looked like a “beer salesman” and not some national security guy.
Paul Montagu (d52d7d) — 9/22/2023 @ 1:23 pmSixth news item:
Between Tommy Tuberville’s gumming up the military nomination process and McCarthy’s failure to control his conference to do something as basic as passing a rule to even consider a bill, Congressional Republicans are showing they are unable to govern.
Especially in case of House. McCarthy’s inability to implement the debt ceiling agreement he negotiated (which included budget caps) with the White House shows he has lost control of his conference. His only hope is to convince Democrats to provide some votes (and they have no reason to so), which could lead to his ouster as Speaker (unless, of course, he is again saved by the Democrats.) But being “saved” by the opposition will come at a very high price.
All it takes is one House member (paging Matt Gaetz!) to submit a motion to vacate. If Gaetz doesn’t, all his bluster is just theater.
Rip Murdock (1b9322) — 9/22/2023 @ 1:28 pmFirst News Item:
The Holocaust is not part of in state’s Grade 8 guidelines. World History isn’t taught until high school.
Rip Murdock (1b9322) — 9/22/2023 @ 1:49 pm480K in cash? I’d be worried about having more than 1K in cash in my home.
From the description, it sounds as if the cash consisted of the usual “small, unmarked bills”, too. And some of it was stored where, for example, a cleaning woman might run across it.
Jim Miller (afc9a4) — 9/22/2023 @ 2:33 pmThe Holocaust is not part of in state’s Grade 8 guidelines. World History isn’t taught until high school.
That’s interesting. And I find it very curious that the Washington Post article which Dana links to doesn’t tell us what class this was in. Was it history class, was it English class, what it something else?
I think I’ve gotten on this high horse elsewhere in this blog over the years, but I’m really not a fan of assigning graphic novels to teenagers. By that age they really ought to be reading grown-up books with print and absolutely minimal illustrations, and the goal should be to try and train them to keep their easily-distracted minds engaged. But here’s how the experts cited by the WaPo disagree with me:
Apologies to the New York Times Book Review reviewer, but I’m not as sanguine about dumbing down our educational standards just because we’re raising a generation that is psychologically addicted to constantly seeing colorful content on their ubiquitous mobile devices. What if it turns out that this is the reason the teacher is being let go? Would it surprise any of us that given we’re talking about Texas, the WaPo would be purposefully evasive about the reasons that the teacher was let go and would make an attempt to frame this in the “dumb red state hicks hate Jews and thus want to keep their racist white children from learning about how evil the Nazis truly were”?
JVW (1ad43e) — 9/22/2023 @ 2:34 pmFrom the Still No Republican Standouts To Overtake You-Know-Who Thread:
And what (and how large) is Haley’s “independent base” that would frighten off Trump in selecting her VP? Five percent of Republican voters?
As I’ve said before, Haley, like Pence, can put her opinions in the vault for four years in order to be first in line to succeed Trump. A small price to pay, and with the added benefit of being the automatic front runner in 2028.
LOL!
Rip Murdock (1b9322) — 9/22/2023 @ 2:36 pmThat’sthe problem.
There is no censorship.
Everything is either permitted, or else grounds for cancellation.
People are supposed to realize on their own what should be censored.
versions was published in 1986.
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 9/22/2023 @ 2:38 pmIncidentally, the famous short diary is actually an amalgam of parts of two surviving manuscripts neither of which survived in full.
. The first is the genuine contemporary diary – the other is her novelization, written in 1944. Otto Frank thought she only changed the names. That novelization has Hello Kitty (not in the original diary) and her hearing about gas chambers(or the equivalent) from the BBC in October 1942She knew about that in 1944And there was only one real dream. It’s under two different dates in the short diary because Otto Frank didn’t understand what he had,
The full text of all versions was published in 1986.
https://www.amazon.com/Diary-Anne-Frank-Critical/dp/0385240236
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 9/22/2023 @ 2:41 pmIt is unusual for a Speaker of the House to lose a vote on a rule.
To state the obvious: Unusual because, if the whip organization is any good, they would know they were going to lose, and so wouldn’t stage a vote.
Assuming, that is, the leaders can count, and few, if any, of the followers are lying to the whips.
Jim Miller (afc9a4) — 9/22/2023 @ 2:41 pmThat means it is not by Anne Frank, not in 1942-4, and not what she was preparing for publication in 1944.
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 9/22/2023 @ 2:42 pmMaybe Kevin McCarthy has a good whip count but is gambling he can change votes.
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 9/22/2023 @ 2:43 pmBetween Tommy Tuberville’s gumming up the military nomination process and McCarthy’s failure to control his conference to do something as basic as passing a rule to even consider a bill, Congressional Republicans are showing they are unable to govern.
I don’t think these two are equivalent. Sen. Tuberville is of course a member of the minority party in the Senate. He put a hold on the military nominees because he objected to the Democrat majority’s attempts to ram them all through in cluster votes. Call it petty, call it vindictive, whatever, but this isn’t anything that Democrats haven’t already done when they were the minority party. So I disagree with your assessment that Sen. Tuberville’s power move shows that Republicans can’t govern. It just shows that Republicans know how to force the majority party to capitulate when they try to use their slender majority to run roughshod.
JVW (1ad43e) — 9/22/2023 @ 2:45 pmThat means it is not by Anne Frank, not in 1942-4, and not what she was preparing for publication in 1944.
Salient point, Sammy. Though since it has the blessing of the Anne Frank estate I would hazard a guess that they borrow heavily from the verbiage in her own writings.
JVW (1ad43e) — 9/22/2023 @ 2:48 pmNo, he has placed the holds due to his objection to DoD’s abortion travel policy.
The process of mass confirmations of non-controversial military nominees has been the procedure of both parties.
Rip Murdock (1b9322) — 9/22/2023 @ 2:55 pmAnother democrat corporate stooge (hopefully) bites the dust. Another AOC acolyte should be appointed.
asset (25ea2e) — 9/22/2023 @ 2:59 pmNo, he has placed the holds due to his objection to DoD’s abortion travel policy.
The Democrats could easily have done six months ago what they are doing today: they could have voted on the nominees one by one. But of course that would leave them less time for fundraising dinners and appearances on various talk shows, so they tried to do the bulk voting. Alternatively, they could have dropped their silly abortion travel policy which was a ridiculous pander to left-wing activists. As I see it, Tommy Tuberville won this argument the moment Chuck Schumer called for cloture votes on each individual nominee.
JVW (1ad43e) — 9/22/2023 @ 3:09 pmI do agree TT is petty and vindictive, especially for a Senator who doesn’t live in the state he represents.
Rip Murdock (1b9322) — 9/22/2023 @ 3:16 pmTrain Keeps A-Rollin’
The Massachusetts Republican primary will be held on Super Tuesday. Current polling is very thin, the most recent being March-April timeframe, showing Trump at 59% and +41 over DeSantis.
Rip Murdock (0dfcb6) — 9/22/2023 @ 4:14 pm@Rip@4 Anne Frank is generally part of the 8th grade English curriculum.
There are no high quality full time teachers available at this time of year. Everyone is on a 10 month contract and you generally can’t break it without risking your certification. They might be able pick up a new graduate at the semester, but I wouldn’t choose to work for that district if I were a new teacher. The new teachers have plenty of choices because there’s a HUGE teacher shortage. They also may end up paying out the fired teacher’s contract through the end of the year, since the book was on the reading list.
Nic (896fdf) — 9/22/2023 @ 4:41 pm@Rip@4 Anne Frank is generally part of the 8th grade English curriculum.
Considering that Anne Frank wrote her diary in Dutch, making 8th graders read it, no matter the quality of the translation, is not only sadism, it is pointless.
How do they pick the crap they assign to kids to read? There has to be a lot of payola from the publishing houses. There just has to be.
nk (751136) — 9/22/2023 @ 4:58 pmI read essays by Henry David Thoreau on John Brown in school.
asset (25ea2e) — 9/22/2023 @ 5:59 pm@nk@21. It’s been part of the 8th grade English curriculum for at least 40 years. And I read Les Miserable in my 10th grade English class. English (language arts) curriculums tend to include a fair amount of world literature.
@asset@22 I read Thoreau (though not re John Brown) in 11th grade American lit class.
Nic (896fdf) — 9/22/2023 @ 6:16 pmLiterature. For forty years.
You put your thumb on the gist of my peeve.
When will they put How To Avoid, the 1965 classic by Norman F. Dacey, on the reading list?
nk (751136) — 9/22/2023 @ 9:01 pmYikes! How To Avoid Probate. I thought that clause looked kind of short.
nk (751136) — 9/22/2023 @ 9:03 pmBut rather than it having to do with something like girls being ashamed of their bodies, an embarrassed reaction could easily be a kid’s natural modesty in action
There is also the possibility that some of these 13yos are immature.
Kevin M (ed969f) — 9/22/2023 @ 10:13 pmI expect CNN will have Newsom host their replay of GOP Debate moments.
Kevin M (ed969f) — 9/22/2023 @ 10:17 pmDown goes desatan! Ron now polling 5th in republican primary in new hampshire as voters get to know this thug.
asset (25ea2e) — 9/23/2023 @ 1:43 amNewsom vetoes bill that would require parents to affirm child’s gender identity in custody battles
Rip Murdock (5a5f7f) — 9/23/2023 @ 7:49 amNewsom vetoes bill that would require parents to affirm child’s gender identity in custody battles
As I predicted. It’s utter poison outside of CA and he has ambitions.
Kevin M (ed969f) — 9/23/2023 @ 7:55 amStenberger lurched uncontrollably into the truth.
Rip Murdock (509171) — 9/23/2023 @ 11:45 amTrump Civil Litigation Watch
Justice Arthur Engoron has previously estimated that if the civil fraud trial starts on Oct. 2, 2023 it could last until just before Christmas.
Rip Murdock (509171) — 9/23/2023 @ 1:52 pmI’ve updated the Menendez post with a link to the indictment.
Dana (932d71) — 9/23/2023 @ 3:44 pmMcCarthy Folds (Again) on Ukraine
More evidence of a Republican Party that can’t govern on its own, even when it has a majority. This will really set off MAGA voters and increase calls for a motion to vacate against McCarthy. It only takes one-paging Rep. Gaetz!
Rip Murdock (509171) — 9/23/2023 @ 3:52 pmBiden Administration is slow walking the weapons needed to expel Russia from Ukraine
steveg (fbbdb3) — 9/23/2023 @ 9:07 pmBiden is afraid of starting world war III if putin gets desperate. As I have said before if putin doesn’t win he loses and if ukraine doesn’t lose it wins. The weaker armed forces won in cuba, vietnam, and afganistan (twice) Russian soldiers are fighting for what? So they don’t get shot their own side? We had the same problem with arvin, Iraq and afganistan. In our revolution the hessians had to be guarded so they didn’t desert. The taliban in afganistan andal quida in Iraq/syria did quite well against america’s hessians. Military history is my side.
asset (c359ed) — 9/24/2023 @ 2:48 amhttps://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2023/09/biden-poll-disaster.php
Rip of the “forever poll posting to demoralize Republican voters” somehow forgot this humdinger of a poll.
NJRob (e3b98d) — 9/24/2023 @ 5:38 amWhy are the polls that I post “demoralizing”?
Rip Murdock (509171) — 9/24/2023 @ 8:12 amTim Scott slams Trump, other GOP presidential candidates for being ‘wrong’ on abortion
Except for abortion, Scott has no positions. “It’s a great country with boundless opportunity” is not a position, it’s cheerleading. He’s kinda dim, too.
Kevin M (ed969f) — 9/24/2023 @ 8:27 amIn just the last week, Donald Trump called Florida’s six-week abortion ban “terrible,” refused to endorse national restrictions, blamed abortion opponents for Republicans’ 2022 election disappointments and pledged to compromise with Democrats on the issue if elected.
On this, he’s right. As are Haley and Christie. Pence and Scott seem to have problems getting past their Bible, and that may work in some places but it’s no better than the leftist dogma.
Kevin M (ed969f) — 9/24/2023 @ 8:29 amShock poll:
https://wapo.st/48rBCP5
Kevin M (ed969f) — 9/24/2023 @ 8:31 amNote how the WaPo spins this terrible no good awful news as an “early stage” poll. I don’t remember that kind of qualification in earlier polls more friendly to their candidate.
Kevin M (ed969f) — 9/24/2023 @ 8:33 amSuccess!
While this is a great achievement by NASA, did anyone call the Wildfire team?
Rip Murdock (509171) — 9/24/2023 @ 8:35 amWhy I don’t expect Biden to be the nominee.
Rip Murdock (509171) — 9/24/2023 @ 8:37 amOn handling immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border, Biden’s rating is even lower, with 23% approval.
Hmmm. Which Democrat candidate offers a better border policy? Newsom? If anything, he’s more spineless there than Biden.
Kevin M (ed969f) — 9/24/2023 @ 8:43 amThe polls I highlight are of interest to those that intend to vote in the Republican primaries. I could care less about how a Democratic president is perceived. You, on the other hand, seem fascinated about it.
Rip Murdock (509171) — 9/24/2023 @ 8:45 amI don’t really care who the Democrats nominate. It’s their problem.
Rip Murdock (509171) — 9/24/2023 @ 8:47 amMeanwhile, the ProPublica arm of the DNC accuses Justice Thomas of attending events hosted by people who dislike Donald Trump. Of course, that’s not how they frame it.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/propublica-buries-its-clarence-thomas-news-media-bias-political-ethics-de06903d
Kevin M (ed969f) — 9/24/2023 @ 8:50 amThe polls I highlight are of interest to those that intend to vote in the Republican primaries.
You seem more interested in highlighting the futility of opposing Donald Trump.
Kevin M (ed969f) — 9/24/2023 @ 8:51 am“On this, he’s right. As are Haley and Christie. Pence and Scott seem to have problems getting past their Bible, and that may work in some places but it’s no better than the leftist dogma.”
You have to change hearts and minds….and that requires a lot of virtue and hard work. It’s easier to just take rigid positions that tend to ignore polling, the 10th amendment, and the principle of federalism that the Right has advocated for the past 40 years. Being aggressive on abortion in the face of votes and in the face of polling in swing states….is NOT in the words of Pence…leadership….it’s hubris. Let this legal issue coalesce and settle, while persuading people through compassion and works. Otherwise it’s just laziness sold as virtue.
AJ_Liberty (52a7c9) — 9/24/2023 @ 8:57 amMike Martin has a useful Ukraine update. They’re making steady progress.
Paul Montagu (d52d7d) — 9/24/2023 @ 8:59 am“The Post-ABC poll shows Biden trailing Trump by 10 percentage points”
Hopefully it’s the pressure needed for a shakeup on the Democrat side. People still vote their pocketbook and Democrats are wish casting that high gas and food prices aren’t an issue. Add in that Biden looks old and declining, and Harris looks no more Presidential. They’re in a tough spot and either Biden or Harris will have to rise up and choose the country over their ambition. I’m not optimistic. But when you lose Davis Ignatius, that’s telling.
Now I don’t put a lot of faith in this poll because Trump’s support will erode as the GOP field consolidates and his date with justice approaches. He’s deluded and there is almost too much material out there to craft ads and make a case (ie, we’ve not yet seen any sort of concerted effort to define him). I’ve disagreed with Andrew McCarthy often on his legal spin but his assessment that Trump can’t win is spot on. When the BS is put aside, Trump’s instability is a national security risk that is unjustified. We’ll get there.
AJ_Liberty (52a7c9) — 9/24/2023 @ 9:09 amAs things stand now, any consolidation will be around Trump. His supporters will be immune to any negative ads by the Lilliputians, as Trump voters aren’t Haley, DeSantis, Ramaswamy, etc. voters.
And as Trump seeks to delay his trials, it will be more and more likely that Trump will win the nomination before any convictions.
Rip Murdock (509171) — 9/24/2023 @ 10:06 amOne could argue that when it comes to human life, these things shouldn’t constrain the government from protecting it from conception.
Rip Murdock (509171) — 9/24/2023 @ 10:11 amThis is the situation:
1. The virtually required position for Democratic politicians is far too permissive on abortion: no limits on abortion and a persistent argument by groups that it is impossible to draft a law that does not stop what you don’t want to stop. Democrats are somewhat divided on whether abortions should be facilitated by government.
2. The standard Republican position is too restrictive for most people, but nit as out of line with public opinion as the Democratic position,
3. People prefer a law that is too liberal than one which is too restrictive, even if it would only affect rare cases.
Sammy Finkelman (d64529) — 9/24/2023 @ 10:34 amMenendez was being bribed by the Egyptian government, not by businessmen! The businessmen were a method. And the initial bribe he got was a woman who became his wife. She may have lied to him
And the FBI took its time.
Sammy Finkelman (d64529) — 9/24/2023 @ 10:37 amJVW (1ad43e) — 9/22/2023 @ 2:48 pm
It;s a graphic novel – a kind of comic strip. It is supposed to relate the events mentioned in the diary, plus maybe have some thought bubbles, with much stuff invented.
It is now almost three generations – make it two. The people who authorized it never knew Anne Frank, or her father or friends, and, at best were mostly interested in that she should be portrayed favorably – in the author;s lights, It sounds like a travesty.
Sammy Finkelman (d64529) — 9/24/2023 @ 10:44 amFlashback December 2021-Allahpundit on Dobbs:
Paragraph breaks added.
Rip Murdock (509171) — 9/24/2023 @ 11:03 amMore:
Rip Murdock (509171) — 9/24/2023 @ 11:25 amFacing Reality:
My emphasis.
Rip Murdock (509171) — 9/24/2023 @ 11:55 amIt’s only a shock because it’s such an outlier in the RCP average. Polls conducted within the same timeframe show Trump and Biden between 0-4 points of each other. And even with this poll included in the average, Trump’s lead is still just 1.2 points over Biden.
Rip Murdock (509171) — 9/24/2023 @ 12:14 pmWe’ll see if the numbers are repeatable in future polls. If not, it’s junk.
Rip Murdock (e23e29) — 9/24/2023 @ 12:17 pmIf Republicans control Congress and the White House, they’ll have no choice but to try to ban abortion in blue states.
Rip, you argue for federal bans (or exceedingly short and heavily-qualified limits that amount to bans), not because the voters generally want them, but because the Republicans might momentarily have the power to enact them. This is called “hubris.” If the voters find their legislature passing laws they don’t like, they will attempt to change that legislature. Of course, since you like gerrymanders, maybe they can’t. But don’t pretend this is democratic action. It’s merely a regime.
You also leave out other factors: The desire for abortion enablers like PP to offer “abortion services” in red states. As more and more red states impose strict limits or bans, they will add pressure to elect more moderate people to the legislatures to at least extend limits to something they can work with.
There will also be movement on the Left in Congress to find a national consensus, as was done in Europe in the last 50 years (while we were just sniping at each other). You say that Congress will be subjected to pressure, which is true, but it will come from both sides.
Kevin M (ed969f) — 9/24/2023 @ 12:30 pmEvery time I go to the grocery store I see prices of non-seasonal staple goods (e.g. a can of chili) are up 40-50% from a year ago. But the government keeps telling me I’m mistaken. That does not improve my opinion of what they tell me.
Kevin M (ed969f) — 9/24/2023 @ 12:34 pmNo, I argue for national restrictions because it’s the right and moral thing to do. From Allahpundit’s post:
Notice how the author calls abortions “terminations” and not “killings.”
Rip Murdock (509171) — 9/24/2023 @ 12:37 pmWhich is why national legislation is needed. Congress members are less susceptible to such pressures since they are only one of 535.
Rip Murdock (e23e29) — 9/24/2023 @ 12:43 pmThe GOP will not get 60 Senate votes…probably not in my lifetime. And given that Republicans in the northeast are notoriously moderate, especially on social questions, there might not even be a majority willing to vote for uniform abortion bans. It’s not a question of leadership as Mike Pence suggests, but where the electorate is at. It’s not always useful for a President to lock into a specific ban if you view the President as the individual who might help broker compromise between factions. It’s my passe view that the President should represent all of the people and not just the interests of his/her base. Setting unrealistic legislative expectations is part of how we arrived at an angry base that is willing to choose “leaders” who will lie and cheat. I see no point in exacerbating the situation.
Again, pro-lifers should be thinking consolidation. If they lose enough national elections, they will lose Dobbs. Proposing harsh bans within states and murmuring about national bans will do little to win national elections. There might even be a poll or two that speak to this that we haven’t seen consulted.
AJ_Liberty (5f05c3) — 9/24/2023 @ 12:44 pmAs we’ve seen with judicial nominations (and the filibuster itself) rules can be changed or abandoned.
Rip Murdock (509171) — 9/24/2023 @ 12:55 pmAnd that takes only a majority.
Rip Murdock (509171) — 9/24/2023 @ 12:58 pmDemocrats are defending 23 of the 33 seats that are up in 2024. If the Republicans can win 11 in what should be a banner election for them, it’s possible.
Rip Murdock (509171) — 9/24/2023 @ 1:20 pm@61, Unquestionably, current commerce clause doctrine is broad, but it does not give Congress a blank check. Raich included a comprehensive regulatory scheme and the argument that home-use marijuana was indistinguishable from marijuana illegal moved interstate. It’s reasonable to expect this fungibility distinction differentiates Raich from banning an abortion procedure where there is no enforcement dilemma (and no comprehensive scheme). Congress can also ban certain economic transactions if there are jurisdictional elements that require an interstate component or a substantial effect. The partial-birth ban employs this. Still, the federal government is limited to enumerated powers. All others, including a general police power, is left to the states. Few argue that the federal government could enact a general law against murder. If obtaining an abortion procedure is viewed as economic activity that affects interstate commerce, then that supports an awful broad view of federal power and a rather limited view of the tenth amendment. Conservative Republicans used to be against this. No more?
AJ_Liberty (5f05c3) — 9/24/2023 @ 1:28 pmSo no limits on the commerce clause…AND no filibuster limiting the passions of the majority. Some conservative.
AJ_Liberty (5f05c3) — 9/24/2023 @ 1:30 pm“If the Republicans can win 11 in what should be a banner election for them, it’s possible.”
That’s funny. I’ll take that bet. I see polls and evidence aren’t constraining you from saying crazy stuff after all.
AJ_Liberty (5f05c3) — 9/24/2023 @ 2:10 pmList of Russian threats to use nuclear weapons
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/F6xsA0fW0AA5dQ7?format=jpg&name=120×120
steveg (faa4c9) — 9/24/2023 @ 2:11 pmI haven’t seen any Senate polls, so I have idea what the state of race is the 23 states Democrats are defending.
Rip Murdock (509171) — 9/24/2023 @ 2:54 pmNot in the cause of defending life.
Rip Murdock (509171) — 9/24/2023 @ 2:56 pmSo no limits on the commerce clause…AND no filibuster limiting the passions of the majority. Some conservative.
He’d tear down all the laws to get at the Devil.
Kevin M (ed969f) — 9/24/2023 @ 3:00 pmIf abortion is such a moral evil, why not employ all the necessary means to end it?
Rip Murdock (509171) — 9/24/2023 @ 3:04 pmHowever, I do agree that it won’t happen in our lifetime. Trump’s idea of a “grand compromise” or Haley’s search for a “national consensus” will be equally futile.
Rip Murdock (509171) — 9/24/2023 @ 3:09 pmTrump’s idea of a “grand compromise” or Haley’s search for a “national consensus” will be equally futile.
Because it only happened that way in every other first world country, so it’s clearly unpossible.
Kevin M (ed969f) — 9/24/2023 @ 3:36 pm“If abortion is such a moral evil, why not employ all the necessary means to end it?”
You could make the same argument for supporting Trump over Biden. The ends…ending Roe…justifies the means. What’s the difference?
AJ_Liberty (72b526) — 9/24/2023 @ 5:50 pm@42 “their bible? The bible is quite clear a fetus is not a baby. Exodus chapter 21.
asset (43d58e) — 9/24/2023 @ 8:52 pm@80 By any means necassary (malcolm X) has consequences as he found out. Its easy to deal with squishes on abortion. Not so easy to deal democrats ready to give you a post natal abortion political or otherwise. The gun issue is the same. Not everyone is ready to just whine about guns killing children. Conservative protection by the corporate establishment democrat party (clinton/biden/pelosi wing of the party) is crumbling before your eyes. The democrats will soon elect leftys who will make AOC look like a moderate.
asset (43d58e) — 9/24/2023 @ 9:03 pm@42 “their bible? The bible is quite clear a fetus is not a baby. Exodus chapter 21.
Someone told you this?
Kevin M (ed969f) — 9/24/2023 @ 10:08 pmAs far as a fetus is concerned, when it can easily survive outside the womb (30+ weeks minimum), the mother may have a right to have it removed, but she does NOT have a right to choose killing it as her method.
Kevin M (ed969f) — 9/24/2023 @ 10:10 pm@86/87 No I read it in the king james version. There are no rights only privileges that have to be defended or taken away.
asset (43d58e) — 9/24/2023 @ 10:54 pm“The bible is quite clear a fetus is not a baby. Exodus chapter 21.”
Though divinely inspired, we are talking about classical antiquity and an ignorant understanding of fetal development at best. The typical health treatments involved incantations, magic herbs, amulets, and charms. This wasn’t exactly a scientifically enlightened period of time, with no offense to the Greek philosophers. However, in addition to not talking about abortion, Jesus did not give any big reveals regarding science generally and would have abided the superstitions of his time. Given that Jesus himself was an unplanned pregnancy, I would bet that he would have a strong sympathy for the mystery and promise of life. And given the low life expectancy of the era and the pragmatic urgency to build one’s tribe to fight off enemies, I would suspect that Jesus would not be pro-elective abortion.
The argument is better posed as with what we know in our time, is abortion prior to viability moral? Then, if it’s immoral, should it be illegal? Biblical pronouncements are informative but must be weighed against the biases, prejudices, and ignorance of the first and second centuries.
AJ_Liberty (5f05c3) — 9/25/2023 @ 7:40 amAncient Chinese proverb say: “Duck quacking in pond make more sense than troll driveling on internet.”
The “Exodus” asset is throwing up is the passage about what happens when two guys mix it up, and in the course of their affray they accidentally cause a pregnant woman to have a miscarriage.
I guess when it’s illegal to burn crosses on people’s lawns, the next best thing is to pervert Scripture. The left has no more compunction about doing that, in order to promote their agenda, than their counterparts on the right.
nk (cdecec) — 9/25/2023 @ 8:29 am@89: And what do we do about witches? Clearly THEY have no rights.
Kevin M (ed969f) — 9/25/2023 @ 9:00 amClearly we have to see if they float. Monty Python has taught me that much.
AJ_Liberty (5f05c3) — 9/25/2023 @ 10:23 amAverage monthly border crossings pre-Biden: 38,000.
Average monthly border crossings during Biden: 191,000.
He’s enabling and aiding an invasion. And people support this.
https://www.powerlineblog.com/ed-assets/2023/09/Border-crossings.png
NJRob (eb56c3) — 9/25/2023 @ 10:39 amHuman life isn’t at stake.
Rip Murdock (5ac5ae) — 9/25/2023 @ 10:40 amGiven the fact that the two sides to the abortion debate are unwilling to compromise (one side wants unlimited abortion rights while the other is opposed to any abortions), I find it hard to believe that there is any middle ground for such a “grand bargain.” I don’t know of any pro-life organizations that would agree to accept a reduction in abortion versus a complete ban, or any pro-abortion organization that would accept restrictions beyond 15 weeks. It’s a fool’s errand to think that they would agree.
Other societies make their own choices; but the US cuts its own course. For example, all EU countries forbid the death penalty, yet it is allowed here.
Rip Murdock (b2fc3a) — 9/25/2023 @ 10:56 amyet it is allowed here.
Not in my state, nor (effectively) in yours.
Kevin M (ed969f) — 9/25/2023 @ 11:14 amQuestion: Should McCarthy resign and let Gaetz have it, demanding that GOP primary voters choose MAGA or sanity?
Answer: The shutdown is going to happen, and rather than taking the blame themselves, they should let MAGA take the “credit” cleanly. It’s about time for the GOP to split and we find out whether it is the MAGA Party or something we can vote for.
Kevin M (ed969f) — 9/25/2023 @ 11:18 amWhich, of course, is unrelated to your point. Your position is that the US should adopt the European position on abortion, but I am sure you would not agree to the US adopting their position on the death penalty or gun control.
Rip Murdock (b2fc3a) — 9/25/2023 @ 12:09 pmI agree, but most voters won’t see the difference between MAGA and other Republicans.
Rip Murdock (b2fc3a) — 9/25/2023 @ 12:22 pmComedy Gold!
Rip Murdock (b2fc3a) — 9/25/2023 @ 12:35 pmYou’ve got to wonder why Ron DeSantis will debateGavin Newsom while his campaign is in free fall for the Republican presidential nomination.
Rip Murdock (b2fc3a) — 9/25/2023 @ 12:47 pmThis is how you do insurrection
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/F64bzMxW8AECcfU?format=jpg&name=360×360.
And hide it in a monastery
steveg (7e7b76) — 9/25/2023 @ 2:16 pm@89/90 Take it up with the bible. Calling names doesn’t address your problem with the bible.
asset (764731) — 9/25/2023 @ 2:19 pmI am sure you would not agree to the US adopting their position on the death penalty or gun control.
The history of the US on both topics is markedly different.
There has never been widespread gun ownership in Europe. Even in its heyday, guns were tightly controlled in Europe, and the lower classes were always shut out. In the US there are more guns than people.
The death penalty in aristocratic Europe was harshly applied and a tool for maintaining class supremacy. Public hangings were common and the penalty for many crimes. In the US the death penalty was curtailed much earlier as there was no aristocracy that feared for its status. We don’t have the legacy of Tyburn or the guillotine.
The only real difference, however, regarding abortion is that our discussion was frozen for 50 years and 30% of the population divided into armed camps. The other 70% mostly don’t fall into the all-or-nothing groups and support early-term elective abortions but not late term ones. Which is where Europe settled, too.
So, your analogies are to different circumstances while the matter at hand is quite similar.
Kevin M (ed969f) — 9/25/2023 @ 2:26 pmRip_
Maybe because it is billed as a red state vs. blue state event? Governor of red state vs. Governor of blue state, two very similar states in terms size of economy, size of population, diversity of population. The other Red State governor in the primary race is Burgum of North Dakota a state with ONE House District. ND has almost 800,000 people, but they are 21,000,000 less than FLA.
It would be like asking Patrick (our host) to come on from LA County and debate the DDA from Alpine County about homicide clearance rates
steveg (7e7b76) — 9/25/2023 @ 2:39 pmSherrod Brown has said that Menendez should resign.
Rip Murdock (ad52c3) — 9/25/2023 @ 3:03 pmThey only want him to resign so that someone else can be appointed. If the governor was Republican, Biden’s DoJ would never have filed.
Kevin M (ed969f) — 9/25/2023 @ 3:07 pmAs I said, America cuts its own course through history and does not need to emulate anyone.
Rip Murdock (ad52c3) — 9/25/2023 @ 3:19 pmWhich doesn’t explain why Brown and Fetterman are the only two Democrats (and as far as I can tell, no Republicans) called for his resignation. As to the other senators, it’s a case of ‘there but for the grace of G0d go I’ and/or professional courtesy.
Rip Murdock (ad52c3) — 9/25/2023 @ 3:26 pmAs I said, America cuts its own course through history and does not need to emulate anyone.
And, as I said, on abortion the situation is similar, on the two other issues you distracted with, the situations are much different.
Kevin M (ed969f) — 9/25/2023 @ 3:31 pmWhich doesn’t explain why Brown and Fetterman are the only two Democrats
Who told Fetterman to do it. and why didn’t they tell Feinstein?
Kevin M (ed969f) — 9/25/2023 @ 3:32 pmFugitive witnesses on hunter biden gal luft and patrick ho tipped of by F.B.I. and allowed to flee the country so they couldn’t testify against hunter biden. This is like when reagan hid key witness (FBI agent) against william renhquest out in the pacific ocean so he couldn’t testify that renhquest lied to congress.
asset (764731) — 9/25/2023 @ 4:00 pmRIP David McCallum, “ Illya Kuryakin” of The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (90).
Rip Murdock (b2fc3a) — 9/25/2023 @ 4:11 pm@95 we had a grand compromise on slavery where negotiations started at cemetery ridge july 3 1963 and finished at appomattox. 80% oppose ban on abortion. Right to lifers are lucky that no democrat is running on post natal abortions.
asset (764731) — 9/25/2023 @ 4:11 pm@113 daily death count for us boomers.
asset (764731) — 9/25/2023 @ 4:12 pmWhether the abortion situations are similar makes no difference, as again, America makes its own decisions and sets its own course.
Rip Murdock (5ac5ae) — 9/25/2023 @ 4:14 pmhttps://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2023/09/22/businesses-ask-biden-for-help-dei-attacks/70922291007/
The type of twisted, racist propaganda being pushed by tue left and printed as gospel by the media while people enjoy the circular firing squad.
NJRob (acf065) — 9/25/2023 @ 4:58 pmComedy Gold!
Rip Murdock (ad52c3) — 9/25/2023 @ 5:16 pmWhy the tea party was taken over by populist trumpsters. In 2009 the republican party was discredited by bush and neo-con artists. The surviving economic libertarian free traders led by a cnbc host activated upset goppers over Obama policy. At the start the movement was led by the koch brothers and donor class who funded the leaders. The movement slowly morphed from economic issues like deficit spending and foreign policy into social issues that had brought the ignorant southern white trash democrats into the republican party. By 2012 the tea party was floundering with the nomination of mitt romney a traditional economic libertarian free trade conservative giving phony lip service to social issues. Then trump stands up to the donor class money trying to buy the 2016 GOP nomination for the free traders. As AOC said they got the money ;but we (TRUMP) have the people. Populist republican majority smash the 16 dwarfs and anoint Trump to lead a populist base party saying the dwarfs want to cut soc. security and medicare I will protect it and replace Obama care with something better not do nothing. Economically conservatives and populists are completely different and only non economic libertarian free trade conservatives support social issues and most just do it to get populist votes. If you understand this you will see never trumpers are beating a dead horse!
asset (764731) — 9/25/2023 @ 5:29 pm@118 if you want real comedy gold try sen. melendez explanation why he had a million dollers in cash and gold hidden in house! (NBC NEWS)
asset (764731) — 9/25/2023 @ 5:41 pmI did hear it. Hilarious!
Rip Murdock (b2fc3a) — 9/25/2023 @ 8:16 pmTrafalgar Group National Poll September 2023
Rip Murdock (b2fc3a) — 9/25/2023 @ 8:31 pmNew Hampshire Poll (PDF):
Trump 45
Haley 15
DeSantis 11
Christie 10
Ramaswamy 6
Scott 3
Burgum 1
NH GOP Primary Likely Voters (MoE 3.2% (but that is not simply additive))
From the cross-tabs it’s unclear which is the bigger cult: the hard-core Trumpies or the Never-Trump-and-your-little-dog-too bunch.
Kevin M (ed969f) — 9/25/2023 @ 10:12 pmUnder the main federal gun law, 18 U.S.C. 922, it is illegal for merchants to sell firearms to people who are under indictment for crimes carrying sentences of more than a year. Indicted defendants are also barred from shipping or receiving any weapons that have crossed state lines.
Whether this will stand up after Bruen is not obvious.
Kevin M (ed969f) — 9/25/2023 @ 10:20 pmWhether the abortion situations are similar makes no difference, as again, America makes its own decisions and sets its own course.
Sure, and the course will be exactly the same as every other first world country because the situations are identical, if delayed. Rip NOBODY agrees with your little rump caucus on this one.
Kevin M (ed969f) — 9/25/2023 @ 10:22 pmThis Dispatch piece from AllahNick is a must read. The paywall is down, or at least it was when I read it. (If someone already linked it and I didn’t notice, apologies for the duplication.)
lurker (cd7cd4) — 9/26/2023 @ 2:08 am@126 fairey dust again! Trump supporters don’t like him and democrats support Democrats. Minority voters are increasing in ga.
asset (aaecab) — 9/26/2023 @ 2:35 am@126, Allahnick’s post cuts to the chase. Trump’s unhinged social media posts should be featured in the upcoming GOP debate. They won’t. Candidates and moderators will say “we have to move beyond this and talk about the issues…and our 9-point plans to save the universe”. Except, none of it matters if the party nominates a deluded candidate. None of it. Trump IS the issue as long as he is 40 points ahead and spouts the insane stuff that he continues to spout.
Like felipe here, too many people believe that Trump will be checked or that everything he says is just theater. We hear, he doesn’t REALLY mean that, he’s just trolling to get a response. And if he does mean it, he wouldn’t last a second because he would get impeached and removed. Pfffft. You mean like after his inspired riot at the Capitol to disrupt the electoral vote count…so he could substitute his votes? Some accountability! Liz Cheney understands accountability.
Again, my biggest Trump concern is national security and includes the abandonment of Ukraine and the corresponding emboldenment of China, the practical abandonment of NATO, the abandonment of South Korea, and his weird fetishness with using nuclear weapons. Again…HE’S DELUDED…and he’s egged on by 50% of the GOP who somehow finds that fact funny or weirdly a feature, not a bug.
The problem is that his social media posts are not that much different than Trump’s most strident defenders on Talk Radio and on blogs. This exaggerated bravado is unfortunately the norm there. This is why so many like Trump, he talks like them. There is no commitment to the truth and honesty. It’s a soap opera and fake wrestling match wrapped up in one. Unless people sober up and take his rants seriously, we might test what happens to our system when a deluded maniac is put in charge. I suspect we won’t be laughing for long.
AJ_Liberty (51886b) — 9/26/2023 @ 4:49 amThank you for the link to Nick Catoggio’s article, lurker.
As John Brown wrote on the flyleaf of his Beecher’s bible, I wonder who composes these rants for Trump. He always had good ghost writers.
On his own, his speed is only up to “fat pig”, “little rocket man”, and “you’re the puppet”. “Retribution” is two syllables more than his atherosclerotic brain can hold.
nk (68cbc2) — 9/26/2023 @ 5:39 amTrump should have bought the gun and made himself a test case. Also, it would have been illegal for Trump to buy the gun since he is not a South Carolina resident. The gun would need to be transferred to a Florida FFL holder before Trump took possession.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 9/26/2023 @ 11:14 amI don’t care whether anyone agrees with my position, but I can think of some here who might.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 9/26/2023 @ 11:16 amAbandon Ship! Abandon Ship!
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 9/26/2023 @ 11:29 amThe thing to note about AllahPundit is that he hid behind that childish moniker for years. But, like him, I also worry about a second Trump presidency. Federal power might very well be abused to target his opponents. Stories unflattering to him might get suppressed. Science might get tossed out the window to prop up a politically convenient theory about a pandemic which killed millions. Inflation might run rampant. Interest rates might rise to harmful levels. The Dow might crash into a bear market. We might get drawn into a military quagmire costing us hundreds of billions. Border security might descend into chaos. I really hope we can stop Trump, so we can avoid all that.
lloyd (c90050) — 9/26/2023 @ 12:55 pmNot under Trump-I’m sure Ukraine funding and support will disappear on “day one.”
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 9/26/2023 @ 12:57 pmBenson’s Law
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benford%27s_law
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 9/26/2023 @ 1:18 pmThe vaunted peer review does not check for fraud, although it could be done without contacting the would-be authors – it only looks for something like “worthiness”
Here is a link to a front page Wall Street Journal article about some people who find fraud in papers: (This appeared in the September 25, 2023, print edition as ‘Debunkers Bust Bad Scientists’.)
https://www.wsj.com/science/data-colada-debunk-stanford-president-research-14664f3
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 9/26/2023 @ 1:29 pmRobert menendez on why I hid gold because I come from cuba even though I was born in New York and have never lived in cuba. I am still working on how I got the mercedes benz. I support Israel so anyone who asks me to resign is anti-semetic! If your jewish and ask me to resign your anti-hispanic like AOC!
asset (d84249) — 9/26/2023 @ 1:54 pmIn 2023 alone, Trump has been judged in a court of law to be a liar, a sexual abuser and, today, a fraudster.
Paul Montagu (d52d7d) — 9/26/2023 @ 2:23 pmWill his being an adjudicated fraudster today do anything to block his path to the 2024 GOP nomination? No, because my political party is a cult.
The gold is better explained than the currency.
There are people who keep currency at home in case of emergency (power lines go down, ATMS and credit card transactions don’t work) but that would be about $3,0000 or $4,000, maybe $20,000. This argument was crafted by his lawyer, His family left Cuba in 1953 and probably did not personally experience confiscation.
Menendez knows the difference between the United States and Cuba. He could say he is worried about banks closing but there is deposit insurance, and money can be divided among banks.
He *could* more plausibly say he wanted to hide money in the event of a divorce, which would at least not be criminal. He got divorced from his first wife in 2005. He is claiming he was hiding money back then. It’s probably too late to re-open any proceedings.
Besides it probably doesn’t check out. If he’s been saving this money for years (and not such a good idea even with low inflation for most of the past 30 years, although admittedly, federally insured bank deposits didn’t pay any interest of worth either) they’d be old bills. Possibly you might have the idea they could be a collectible. But they were probably all new bills. He won’t be raising this defense in court. It’s just for the curt of public opinion. And DNA from one of other indicted people was on some of the bills or envelopes. And other money was sewn into his clothing – which is going pretty far. Like he intended to cross a U.S. border with more than $10,000 in currency.
I know he was indicted for also being bribed by the Egyptian government but I think all the money came from the Egyptian government, at least indirectly.
There was this man who got an exclusive contract to import halal certified meat (exclusive from anywhere in the world!) into Egypt. Previously four U.S. companies had been involved. They lost that business just like that. To a new company. This was a method to funnel money to him. The only U.S. role maybe was the Department of Agriculture not lodging a protest.
Menendez also wrote a letter for the Egyptian government to send to fellow Senators. Possibly not a violation of FARA since lobbying maybe doesn’t apply to Senators and he was in the background.
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 9/26/2023 @ 2:31 pmPaul Montagu (d52d7d) — 9/26/2023 @ 2:23 pm
And in 2021, on his way out of office, Trump pardoned Dr. Salomon Melgen, the eye doctor/Medicare billing fraudster who gave gifts to Menendez.
https://apnews.com/general-news-f3b2469f62be5e0dc6b132ae06731ef0
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 9/26/2023 @ 2:41 pmFrom the Wall Street Journal article I cited @130:
This is a paywalled, but readable, link:
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0956797611417632
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 9/26/2023 @ 2:48 pmAlso from there:
Note: What Christine Blasey Ford, the woman who testified against Justice Brett Kavanaugh in 2018 described as her specialty amounts to virtually the very definition of p-hacking, but nobody picked up on it.
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 9/26/2023 @ 2:52 pmBut not for such a person to buy one.
In any case, in all probability, Trump was only pretending to buy a gun.
What would he need to buy a gun in South Carolina for? And he fakes a lot of things. At least attitudes.
And it would be illegal for him to take it across a state line.
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 9/26/2023 @ 3:20 pmTrump’s unhinged social media posts should be featured in the upcoming GOP debate. They won’t. Candidates and moderators will say “we have to move beyond this and talk about the issues…and our 9-point plans to save the universe”. Except, none of it matters if the party nominates a deluded candidate. None of it. Trump IS the issue as long as he is 40 points ahead and spouts the insane stuff that he continues to spout.
I disagree. This is red meat for debate moderators and several on the stage will be anxious to dig in. Christie, obviously. Pence, to further separate himself from Trump. Maybe even Haley, if she feels it will reflect well on her presidentialness.
Trump’s statements about Milley, his threats to pull the broadcast licenses from NBC and to investigate MSNBC for “treason” need to be seen for what they are: unhinged rantings of a madman.
I think that’s relevant to the debate. “How many would support an unhinged madman for the presidency if he gets the nomination?”
Kevin M (ed969f) — 9/26/2023 @ 4:46 pmmore than a dozen others issued statements calling on Menendez to step aside.
“Senators, raise your hands if you would support Senator Menendez for re-election if he wins the NJ Democrat nomination”
All hands go up.
Kevin M (ed969f) — 9/26/2023 @ 4:49 pmNot under Trump-I’m sure Ukraine funding and support will disappear on “day one.”
That’s how the real quagmire starts.
Kevin M (ed969f) — 9/26/2023 @ 4:50 pmTrump Civil Litigation Watch:
Ouch!
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 9/26/2023 @ 5:00 pmThe Lilliputians have already conceded that point when they signed the pledge to support the Republican Party nominee. Trump’s new statements are no different that previous threats.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 9/26/2023 @ 5:02 pmHere’s an interesting bit from Trump’s NY state fraud case:
“In defendants’ world,” he wrote, “rent-regulated apartments are worth the same as unregulated apartments; restricted land is worth the same as unrestricted land; restrictions can evaporate into thin air.”
Oddly, in cases involving rent control and “Takings”, these statements are also true.
Kevin M (ed969f) — 9/26/2023 @ 5:22 pmIt remains to be seen if Engoron’s judgement passes appellate review. It is not inconceivable that the judge, like the AG, has serious political entanglements. I’m not very fond of a state system that ignores the 7th Amendment.
Kevin M (ed969f) — 9/26/2023 @ 5:31 pmCBS News Poll 9/26/23
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 9/26/2023 @ 5:47 pmFCC to reimpose “net neutrality”
But read the whole thing. Among other things, the “Major Questions Doctrine” seems to be more in favor now.
Kevin M (ed969f) — 9/26/2023 @ 5:54 pmIf you don’t know anyone in politics in New York, you have no friends. What are some of Judge Engoron’s “political entanglements” (outside of minor campaign contributions)?
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 9/26/2023 @ 6:11 pmWho knows, but just because Trump is paranoid doesn’t mean no one is out to get him. Letitia James campaigned on “getting Donald Trump.” This is why we have appeals courts. I’m really no fan of Trump, but refusing him due process and the Rule of Law would be hypocritical.
Kevin M (ed969f) — 9/26/2023 @ 6:21 pmRIP baseball Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson (86).
Rip Murdock (b2fc3a) — 9/26/2023 @ 6:24 pmHe’s had plenty of both, and benefited from a two-tiered system of justice to boot. With his indictment record, he certainly would be in jail now if he were an ordinary citizen.
Rip Murdock (b2fc3a) — 9/26/2023 @ 6:28 pmSen. menendez still needs help on the mercedes benz gift. So far all he has is I was jogging and this mercedes benz had a sign on it saying take me I’m yours! Keys are in the ignition.
asset (59fb9d) — 9/26/2023 @ 6:34 pmThe New York judge’s ruling against Trump today was by summary judgment which means it will be reviewed de novo on appeal. The appeals court will look at all the things the trial judge looked at, as well as anything else that catches their eye on the record, and make their own, independent, decision. No deference.
nk (2c953f) — 9/26/2023 @ 6:47 pm– Orin Kerr
lurker (cd7cd4) — 9/26/2023 @ 9:17 pmStates are not ignoring the Seventh Amendment, the Supreme Court has not incorporated it against the states, though states may have their own constitutional provisions regarding jury trials.
Source Footnotes omitted.
Rip Murdock (b2fc3a) — 9/26/2023 @ 9:29 pmhttps://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/immigration/biden-august-border-record-illegal-crossing-attempts
Ramping up the destruction of our nation. Working as intended.
NJRob (eb56c3) — 9/27/2023 @ 2:30 amhttps://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12564663/Shocking-moment-brazen-masked-kids-LOOT-Footlocker-Lululemon-Apple-stores-Philadelphia-descends-anarchy-footage-showing-cops-brawling-thieves-punching-one-face.html
When you encourage criminal behavior, you get more of it. How many will be set free by leftist DA’s to terrorize again?
NJRob (eb56c3) — 9/27/2023 @ 3:17 am@162, I hope they catch and prosecute everyone involved in that.
Time123 (cd3a04) — 9/27/2023 @ 6:42 amNJRob (eb56c3) — 9/27/2023 @ 3:17 a
That should be:
When you don.t discourage criminal behavior, you get more of it, all other things being equal.
It’s not just DA’s. They just raised the equilibrium level for crime,
It is also state legislature, and judicial rulings. They don’t take action against people below the age of 18, and there’s a whole thing to lower the age of criminal responsibility.
What actually encourages crime is the friends and acquaintances of the perpetrators.
Sammy Finkelman (101a42) — 9/27/2023 @ 8:01 amhttps://freebeacon.com/latest-news/just-6-percent-of-new-sp-jobs-went-to-white-applicants-in-the-wake-of-george-floyd-analysis-shows/
Prima facie evidence that DEI and other racist policies are nothing more than anti-white racism.
NJRob (eb56c3) — 9/27/2023 @ 10:01 amThomas Lincoln’s two marriages:
His first, in 1806, to Nancy Hanks (who became Abraham Lincoln’s mother) was, for the time and place, lavish:
The feast matched their fancy clothes. (On the way home, they bought some kitchen utensils, three skeins of silk for Nancy, and three pounds of tobacco for Tom.)
His second was practical. About a year after Nancy died of milk sickness, at 34, Tom left his two surviving children:
They headed back in his wagon, with her furniture and her three children. When they arived home, Tom told Abe: Here’s your new mammy.” And Abe and his stepmother got along wonderfully in the years that followed.
(From Sandburg’s one-volume biography of Lincoln, published in1954.)
Jim Miller (1d5886) — 9/27/2023 @ 1:24 pmThomas Lincoln knew something that many moderns have forgotten (or never learned).
Megan McArdle knows it, too:
In my estimate, this is the worst problem we have, domestically. And far too many of our leaders are unwilling to talk about it, directly.
Jim Miller (a41107) — 9/28/2023 @ 12:35 pmJim Miller (afc9a4) — 9/22/2023 @ 2:33 pm
Where is the description?
A mixture of 20s, 10s and 5s?
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 9/28/2023 @ 2:49 pmFamous several hundred year old tree chopped down in England by a 16-year old with a chainsaw
https://www.newser.com/story/340744/a-nation-grieves-over-felling-of-iconic-tree.html
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 9/28/2023 @ 2:52 pmWoman age 52 (born circa 1971) first mistakenly declared dead by Social Security in 2007 can’t get all reports of her death corrected despite fact that Social Security corrected it – or at least gave her a letter. She loses jobs etc
https://www.newser.com/story/340702/for-over-16-years-woman-has-tried-to-prove-shes-still-alive.html
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 9/28/2023 @ 2:57 pmhttps://www.newser.com/story/340680/criminal-opportunists-blamed-for-philadelphia-looting-spree.html
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 9/28/2023 @ 3:33 pm