Weekend Open Thread
[guest post by Dana]
Let’s go!
First news item
These rich old white guys want to become your next president:
“I’m in very good health. I just won two club championships, not even senior two regular club championships,” said Trump. “To do that, you have to be quite smart and you have to be able to hit the ball a long way. And I do it. He doesn’t do it. He can’t hit a ball 50 yards. He challenged me to a golf match. He can’t hit a ball 50 yards. I think I’m in very good shape.”
BIDEN: I’d be happy to have a driving contest with him. I got my handicap when I was vice president down to a six. By the way, I told you before, I’m happy to play golf. If you carry on bag, think you can do it?
TRUMP: That’s the biggest lie that he’s a six handicap of all
BIDEN: I was eight handicap….
TRUMP: I’ve seen you swing I know you swing…Let’s not act like children.
BIDEN: You are a child!
Second news item
Despite numerous calls for him to step down, including from liberal columnists at the New York Times (see: Thomas L. Friedman and Nicholas Kristof), President Biden told reporters at a Waffle House last night that “we did well at the debate”.
Third news item
While CNN fact-checked the debate and found that President Biden made nine false or misleading claims during the debate, Donald Trump took the gold prize by making 30 false or misleading claims:
Trump made more than 30 false claims at the Thursday debate. They included numerous claims that CNN and others have already debunked during the current presidential campaign or prior.
Trump’s repeat falsehoods included his assertions that some Democratic-led states allow babies to be executed after birth, that every legal scholar and everybody in general wanted Roe v. Wade overturned, that there were no terror attacks during his presidency, that Iran didn’t fund terror groups during his presidency, that the US has provided more aid to Ukraine than Europe has, that Biden for years referred to Black people as “super predators,” that Biden is planning to quadruple people’s taxes, that then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi turned down 10,000 National Guard troops for the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, that Americans don’t pay the cost of his tariffs on China and other countries, that Europe accepts no American cars, that he is the president who got the Veterans Choice program through Congress, and that fraud marred the results of the 2020 election.
Trump also added some new false claims, such as his assertions that the US currently has its biggest budget deficit and its biggest trade deficit with China. Both records actually occurred under Trump.
(Go to link above to check out all of the links provided by Daniel Dale to support his claims.)
Fourth news item
House Republicans are ramping up their efforts to enforce a subpoena against Attorney General Merrick Garland, with multiple avenues in play after the Justice Department said it would not bring charges against Garland following a House vote to hold him in contempt of Congress.
“We’re going to be as aggressive as we can and use every tool in our arsenal,” House Speaker Mike Johnson said of the effort to enforce the subpoena at a news conference on Wednesday.
GOP lawmakers are seeking audio recordings of President Biden’s interview with special counsel Robert Hur concerning the president’s handling of classified documents, which came as part of an investigation that wrapped earlier this year. The House Judiciary and Oversight committees demanded that the Justice Department provide the tapes as part of their impeachment inquiry into the president. But the president asserted executive privilege over the recordings in May.
Fifth news item
The Supreme Court ruled Friday that cities can ticket homeless people for camping in public even when there is no alternative shelter available, a decision that could drastically alter the lives of hundreds of thousands of Americans without a permanent place to live.
The justices sided 6-3 with the Oregon city of Grants Pass, which had asked the high court to review a lower court’s decision blocking the enforcement of a public camping ordinance after determining that banning camping where shelter beds were limited amounts to cruel and unusual punishment.
From Sotomayor's Grants Pass dissent:
"Sleep is a biological necessity, not a crime. For some people, sleeping outside is their only option. The City of Grants Pass jails and fines those people for sleeping anywhere in public at any time, including in their cars, if they use…
— Steve Vladeck (@steve_vladeck) June 28, 2024
Sixth news item
Good:
Schools in New York City are planning to ban the use of mobile phones amid concerns over children’s mental health.
America’s largest schools system announced the move on Wednesday following a detailed consultation with medical professionals.
“Our kids are fully addicted to these phones, we’ve got to do something about it,” said David Banks, New York City schools chancellor, in an interview with broadcaster NY1.
Seventh news item
A divided US Supreme Court threw out a decades-old legal doctrine that empowered federal regulators to interpret unclear laws, issuing a blockbuster ruling that will constrain environmental, consumer and financial-watchdog agencies.
The 6-3 decision, which came in a fight over a fishing-industry regulation, is a long-sought triumph for opponents of big government. The court overturned Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council, a 1984 ruling that Democratic administrations had used as a legal building block for new regulations.
The latest ruling raises new questions about longstanding rules as well as the power of agencies going forward, particularly in emerging fields including cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence. It puts more onus on Congress to directly tackle policy issues and gives lower-court judges a mandate to rein in regulators when they exceed their authority.
The Supreme Court majority said the Chevron decision improperly transferred the power to interpret the law from the judiciary to federal agencies. Under Chevron, judges were required to defer to agencies that offered a reasonable interpretation of an unclear statute.
“Chevron was a judicial invention that required judges to disregard their statutory duties,” Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the court.
Eighth news item
U.S. journalist Evan Gershkovich will stand trial for espionage in Russia on Wednesday in a court whose proceedings are classified as a state secret.
No reporters, friends, family members or U.S. embassy staff will be allowed into the courtroom in the city of Yekaterinburg where Gershkovich, 32, faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
Have a great weekend.
—Dana
Hello.
Dana (917e26) — 6/28/2024 @ 8:20 amI’ll move this here:
BuDuh (8df1cf) — 6/28/2024 @ 8:27 amGood morning, Dana.
BuDuh (8df1cf) — 6/28/2024 @ 8:27 amBiden allies say president is ‘sharp,’ special counsel criticism is ‘B.S.’
Definitely not lying about conditions at the border…
BuDuh (8df1cf) — 6/28/2024 @ 8:32 am(from other thread)
RCP Betting odds (President):
55% Trump
Kevin M (a9545f) — 6/28/2024 @ 8:37 am19% Biden
10% Newsom
5% Harris
Fact-checkers are biased towards trusting Democrats. Never interesting. It’s not that Trump doesn’t lie a lot — he’s a clumsy liar, too — but that Biden does too and is better at it.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 6/28/2024 @ 8:40 amThe Supreme Court ruled Friday that cities can ticket homeless people for camping in public even when there is no alternative shelter available, a decision that could drastically alter the lives of hundreds of thousands of Americans without a permanent place to live.
Good. One of the reasons I left Los Angeles (there were many) was that the city was allowing camping in all my nearby parks, and the streets were lined with decrepit RVs and their refuse pitches. The only place in my council district that had police removing campers was in a few blocks around my city councilman’s home (posted as no RV parking, too).
Kevin M (a9545f) — 6/28/2024 @ 8:43 amThere is no constitutional right to live by the beach. Really there isn’t. There are plenty of places to move to if “sleeping” is your basic need. But that is not is what is going on, and I’m sorry for people’s delusions.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 6/28/2024 @ 8:46 amPlease ignore the source (she is a vomit inducing psycho), and watch the short video that doesn’t include her:
BuDuh (8df1cf) — 6/28/2024 @ 8:47 amTrump’s repeat falsehoods included his assertions that some Democratic-led states allow babies to be executed after birth
Yes, Trump’s TalkRadio hyperbole is off-putting. But Democrats HAVE opposed laws that protected live births from failed abortions. Obama voted against one in Illinois.
Also, Biden asserted that Democrats do not support late-term abortions, but the state I live in passed a law — the moment a Democrat became governor — to allow abortions for any reason at any time. There was a private clinic in Albuquerque that advertised elective abortions up through 32 weeks until they caused the death of a late-term patient. Now they advertise 25 weeks.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 6/28/2024 @ 8:57 am> There are plenty of places to move to if “sleeping” is your basic need.
Because of course you can afford to travel to those places, and of course you can get a job there if you give up the job you have now.
aphrael (1797ab) — 6/28/2024 @ 8:59 amFrom Wayback machine link above:
Kevin M (a9545f) — 6/28/2024 @ 9:00 amBecause of course you can afford to travel to those places, and of course you can get a job there if you give up the job you have now.
The people sleeping rough in West LA moved there because the weather is nice and the city is a codependent.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 6/28/2024 @ 9:01 amI find it troubling that liberals are so cannibalistic of their own programs that they will allow the LA Metro transit system to become homeless housing, parks to become homeless housing, nature reserves to become homeless housing. Then they wonder why no one cares about these things any more.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 6/28/2024 @ 9:05 amI find it troubling that conservatives think it’s appropriate to throw people in jail for not being able to afford housing, and that they don’t understand that the *very act of doing that* makes it harder for the person to ever obtain housing again.
aphrael (1797ab) — 6/28/2024 @ 9:17 amaphrael, how many homeless camps are there near you? For most people it colors their view.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 6/28/2024 @ 9:19 amaphrael, do you think that most unhoused people are there through economics, high rents and/or bad luck?
Kevin M (a9545f) — 6/28/2024 @ 9:22 amNo reporters, friends, family members or U.S. embassy staff will be allowed into the courtroom in the city of Yekaterinburg where Gershkovich, 32, faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
Yekaterinburg is where the Tsar Nicholas and his family were sent into exile after the Reds took St. Petersburg. And it was there that the Romanov family was murdered.
JVW (b02843) — 6/28/2024 @ 9:25 amInteresting tweet from Byron York, explaining how the Biden Administration outfoxed themselves and ended up subjecting the President to his humiliation last night. If we can believe Donald Trump — which of course deserves a lot of caveats — then he really did have good instincts regarding the potential for a Biden disaster on the debate stage. Here is what former President Trump told Byron York:
JVW (b02843) — 6/28/2024 @ 9:31 amChadha *1983) removed a 50 year-old check on agencies (the single-house veto) from Congress, giving the Executive unfettered power to write regulations that Congress had deferred to them with that check in place.
Chevron removed long-standing judicial review from those same agencies “interpretation” of their deferred powers.
The combination of the two was a massive abdication to federal regulators and a serious undermining of democracy and the Rule of Law. Suddenly, in some loosely defined areas, unelected bureaucrats had the power to alter wide areas of the economy and individual people’s lives.
This is just the pendulum swinging back.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 6/28/2024 @ 9:33 amThat should have been Chevron (1984)
Kevin M (a9545f) — 6/28/2024 @ 9:34 am@18: The Star Chamber
Kevin M (a9545f) — 6/28/2024 @ 9:36 amKevin M (a9545f) — 6/28/2024 @ 9:05 am
The problem is that they can’t deliberately set aside some places for homeless encampments because they don’t meet standards, and they can’t build housing because it’s too expensive and there’s no end to it.
But if they are not responsible for setting it up, then it’s OK with them.
They could find some unused space in the LA transit system that could be satisfactory to some homeless, or some unused park space or nature reserve. But that would be authorizing it – and would insurance allow?
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 6/28/2024 @ 9:40 amTrump is of course wrong that China would pay the tariffs. They are a sin tax on Americans who want to buy Chinese products.
But … China’s way to compete is to lower their prices to compensate for the tariff, or provide products good enough to justify the higher cost. If so, they are in a way paying the tariff.
The problem of course is that it’s likely that domestic suppliers of the competing products will increase their prices, given the tariff cover, resulting instead in inflation and no net discouragement to those wanting the Chinese product.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 6/28/2024 @ 9:43 amBut if they are not responsible for setting it up, then it’s OK with them.
Shorter: You never need a permit to do nothing.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 6/28/2024 @ 9:44 amOf course Donald Trump told a bunch of quarter-truths, half-truths, and untruths during the debate. It is who he is. But Charlie Cooke points out that the biggest lie in politics which was pushed heavily over the past four years, is that Joe Biden has the mental acuity to serve as President:
If Donald Trump is elected President in November, the Democrat establishement — which includes the mainstream media — needs to cogitate long and hard over how their own mendacity contributed mightily to his victory.
JVW (b02843) — 6/28/2024 @ 9:45 amThey could find some unused space in the LA transit system
If you’ve ever been to Tokyo, they do this and patrol the F out of it. There are wide underground connectors in major subway stations (e.g. Shinjuku) where the homeless are allowed a small space along the walls. Which they are expected to keep orderly and clean and not interfere with foot traffic. The station facilities can (MUST!) be used for sanitary needs. I actually saw two cops hustling some homeless guy away who was trying to pull his pants back up. It appeared he had been trying to crap in the open.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 6/28/2024 @ 9:51 amBut in LA they are living in the trains, which decreases paying ridership.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 6/28/2024 @ 9:52 am. . . and they can’t build housing because it’s too expensive and there’s no end to it.
And the dirty little secret is that very few (if any) urban progressives want homeless shelters built in their neighborhoods. It’s really easy to be in favor of housing the homeless in principle, but to not want it to be anywhere you like to frequent.
Let me just say too that I do have compassion for those who are struggling through tough economic times and don’t have a support group, and I do favor efforts to find shelter for families with children. But where I live, virtually all of the street vagrants have issues with alcohol and drugs. My parish provides meals to the homeless twice a week, and when I have been there and have interacted with some of the people we are trying to help I have on several occasions heard a variation on “well, I would go to the Salvation Army Center [or some other local private shelter] but they won’t let me use cannabis, which I need for my [insert alleged malady here].” It’s just absolute bullstuff, but we’ve gotten to the point where the needy believe that they can dictate the terms of the charity they deign to receive.
JVW (b02843) — 6/28/2024 @ 9:57 amKevin, at 20, it’s hilarious to me to watch conservatives embrace the idea that yes, really, they DO want judges to be philosopher-kings.
aphrael (1797ab) — 6/28/2024 @ 9:59 am> But if they are not responsible for setting it up, then it’s OK with them.
Not so, unfortunately; anyone attempting to build a shelter gets shut down by local NIMBY activists who don’t want it in their neighborhood because it will bring their property values down and make them feel unsafe. Even in cities like San Francisco which allegedly believe in supportive housing, nobody is willing to have it next to them.
aphrael (1797ab) — 6/28/2024 @ 10:01 am> “well, I would go to the Salvation Army Center [or some other local private shelter] but they won’t let me use cannabis, which I need for my [insert alleged malady here].” It’s just absolute bullstuff,
the thing is, that particular drug *is* useful for a number of different maladies, and it’s a bad policy decision to insist that people with such maladies give it up in order to obtain housing.
aphrael (1797ab) — 6/28/2024 @ 10:03 am@KurtSchlichter
“Wow. This has to be the worst 24 hours for the Democrats since Appomattox”
BuDuh (8df1cf) — 6/28/2024 @ 10:06 am> resulting instead in inflation
oh, yeah. the trade war Trump is going to start will result in runaway inflation that makes the Biden-era inflation look like nothing. and we can combine it with massive cuts to government social programs, too, justified by the need to balance the budget after we cut taxes again.
it’s a grim future, and it’s basically locked in now.
aphrael (1797ab) — 6/28/2024 @ 10:11 amOver at The Spectator, Yascha Mounk also blames the Democrats for brazenly lying about Joe Biden’s mental acuity:
And he has an interesting rejoinder to the idea of “yeah, but Trump is an existential threat to the nation”:
JVW (b02843) — 6/28/2024 @ 10:21 amHaving seen how better Seattle is without the tents and encampments, I support the USSC decision on Grants Pass, OR.
BTW, Mrs. Montagu and I have slept in Grants Pass, but at an AirBnB in the country. Beautiful area, definitely Trump country.
Regarding the USSC decision on the issue that Dana didn’t talk about (the J6 rioters), Ryan Goodman that the obstruction charges only affected 6% of the defendants.
Paul Montagu (977b50) — 6/28/2024 @ 10:21 amhttps://x.com/rgoodlaw/status/1806717273287360630?s=46&t=Enscg8JjQytl9HJp0OtcWA
He also lays out a four-point program to potentially “save” the Democrats, though it is nearly impossible to imagine much if any of this to come to fruition:
Number one remains something of a possibility, but I would instead imagine that we’ll be regaled with tales of how severe the “cold” that President Biden is suffering through truly is (even though this highlights the fact that a run-of-the-mill illness takes on much more significance in an elderly man like Joe Biden), and we will be assured that he has made a full recovery and that people who meet regularly with him are reporting back how engaged and focused he really is. And I will also bet that come September if the race is still relatively close, the Biden campaign will find a reason to cancel the second debate.
JVW (b02843) — 6/28/2024 @ 10:31 am> how many homeless camps are there near you? For most people it colors their view.
How do you define near? I live in the bay area, there are homeless camps everywhere.
But that doesn’t mean I want the people in them in jail, or subject to fines that they’ll never be able to pay. I want us to use tools that improve the situation rather than tools that make it harder for people to get out of the situation … and fines and jail make it harder, not easier, for the economically displaced and mentally ill to get into stable housing.
aphrael (1797ab) — 6/28/2024 @ 10:31 amaphrael (1797ab) — 6/28/2024 @ 10:01 am
That’s still official, because it requires permits and people can move to stop it.
When I said not responsible, I meant no OK from government.
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 6/28/2024 @ 10:36 amIf there’s no OK they can’t be moved from place to another where they will disturb fewer people.
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 6/28/2024 @ 10:38 amthe thing is, that particular drug *is* useful for a number of different maladies, and it’s a bad policy decision to insist that people with such maladies give it up in order to obtain housing.
We ought to be well past the point when we delude ourselves into believing that every pothead is just trying to treat his glaucoma or anxiety or arthritis. Nobody would believe a dude who claimed that he had to have a shot of vodka every 30 minutes in order to calm his nerves, so let’s stop pretending that the street guy who self-medicates with cannabis isn’t also very likely to abuse alcohol and be attracted to other opioids too.
Do you really think the Salvation Army wants a shelter full of people who are hitting their vape pens every 20 minutes? Would you feel comfortable letting them out during the day to roam around town on their own, then assume they will be just fine when they come back in the evening?
JVW (b02843) — 6/28/2024 @ 10:39 am> Do you really think the Salvation Army wants a shelter full of people who are hitting their vape pens every 20 minutes
Does the salvation army want it? No. Do I think they’re dumb for caring? Yes.
> anxiety
I know multiple people who use THC to help control their anxiety, and i’ve been around these people enough to be able to see the *positive* difference in them when they are using compared with when they aer not.
> let’s stop pretending that the street guy who self-medicates with cannabis isn’t also very likely to abuse alcohol and be attracted to other opioids too.
Since the overwhelming majority of the people I know who self-medicate with cannabis abuse neither alcohol nor opioids, why would I assume that homeless people who are self-medicating with cannabis *would*?
And since the overwhelming majority of the people I know who self-medicate with cannabis *are actually experiencing positive mental health benefits from doing so*, why would I think it is appropriate to insist that homeless people would be better off without that self-medication?
aphrael (1797ab) — 6/28/2024 @ 10:45 amDon’t worry, Dems, an MSNBC host who advised Joe Biden back in 2020 insists that he was just a bit off last night and will have better days.
The President “fell short” because at this point he is quite simply incapable of stringing together a cogent thought and then communicating it to the public. The “fire” we saw at his “triumphant” SOTU address back in February merely tells us is that Joe Biden is at his best when he’s being a grouchy old bastard reading large print from a teleprompter in a dark room where he does not have to answer questions or engage in any sort of back-and-forth with an interlocutor or an antagonist. What his desultory performance last night confirmed is that he is not up for any sort of event in which he has to think on his feet or explain what it is he actually believes.
This is exactly the sort of attitude which leads me to conclude that Democrats absolutely deserve to lose in November, even though the thought of four years more of Donald Trump fills me with dread. But four more years of the progressive establishment continuing to lie their way into desperately clutching on to power is even worse.
JVW (b02843) — 6/28/2024 @ 10:55 amKevin M (a9545f) — 6/28/2024 @ 9:43 am
That one is a permissible error rather than a lie, and shouldn’t be lumped with other lies, as a lot of people can honestly fall into that mistake.
This sort of thing is known among economists as the “incidence of taxation.”
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/05775132.1979.11470501 (can’t cut and paste with this browser)
https://www.jstor.org/stable/23398836
Of course there’s room for disagreement on how much of a tax is shifted and we can also just ignore it and assume that any tax is eventually laid on GDP so we just go by something like 20% of GDP.
By the way, for corporations to pay taxes at least has the virtue of simplifying things for most people.
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 6/28/2024 @ 10:58 amit means that, at a minimum, he can understand what he’s reading .
Well most of the time.
When he expects applause, and doesn’t get it, he’ll reach for something, like trying to read the word: “Pause”
Sammy Finkelman (e0dccb) — 6/28/2024 @ 11:02 amJVW, we are all “binned” into in and out groups. Inside of a group, people clap each other on the back constantly…and the ideas get more extreme. The opponents more evil.
In Swift’s “Gulliver’s Travels,” there was a wonderful place where the enlightened leaders were great. But the “flappers” held a fan over the leaders’ eyes, ears, or mouth. Only when the flappers thought it was best, did the leaders see, hear, or speak. So who really are the leaders?
That’s what we have now. It’s not new; Swift was writing about bureaucrats.
And here we are.
Honestly, I wish that both RNC and DNC had a brokered convention.
#NoneOfTheAbove
Simon Jester (c8876d) — 6/28/2024 @ 11:02 amSince the overwhelming majority of the people I know who self-medicate with cannabis abuse neither alcohol nor opioids, why would I assume that homeless people who are self-medicating with cannabis *would*?
I guess what I’m getting at, aphrael, is that they aren’t truly using cannabis under the instruction and supervision of a physician or a psychiatrist; they are merely using it as an excuse to feed their opioid addiction, and then claiming that it is for medicinal purposes. That’s why I compared it to the rummy who insists that he uses alcohol only “to calm my nerves.”
It would be interesting if the legalized weed lobby stepped up and opened up their own private homeless shelters. Naturally, they would allow residents to use the products which have helped make their fortunes. I would love to see just how well that worked out for them; if they could trust their residents to self-medicate responsibly or if it devolved into a s***show similar to the tent cities in your town and in mine.
JVW (b02843) — 6/28/2024 @ 11:02 am> as an excuse to feed their opioid addiction
what opioid addiction? THC isn’t an opioid and its mechanism of action is nothing like that of opioids.
I *think* what you’re trying to say is that these people are addicted to THC and are making up excuses to justify their addiction.
Maybe that’s true. I’m skeptical, though, because i’ve known enough people for whom THC has significant positive mental health impact that, for me to believe what you believe, would require me to either (a) doubt the evidence in front of me of the positive benefits to people I know, or (b) assume that homeless users are for some reason less likely to experience the positive benefits and must therefore be lying when they claim to be experiencing them.
I see no good reason to do either.
aphrael (1797ab) — 6/28/2024 @ 11:07 amTake the money that would be spent jailing people and build more housing.
Sam G (87ab56) — 6/28/2024 @ 11:10 am> This is exactly the sort of attitude which leads me to conclude that Democrats absolutely deserve to lose in November, even though the thought of four years more of Donald Trump fills me with dread. But four more years of the progressive establishment continuing to lie their way into desperately clutching on to power is even worse.
On the one hand, I agree with you that the Democrats deserve to lose (even though I will vote for anyone who stands a chance of defeating Trump, including people I think deserve to lose).
On the other hand … dude, it’s not the progressives that are the problem here. The progressives didn’t want Biden in 2020 and would by and large prefer someone else right now.
It’s the *mainstream democratic establishment*, the people that have basically run the show in the party since the Clinton years, who are responsible for this disaster. The progressives barely have a seat at the table.
This conflation of the center-left establishment people and the progressives is no more realistic a representation of reality than the way people on the left conflate Mitt Romney and Lauren Boebert into the same nightmare fantasy of the far right.
aphrael (1797ab) — 6/28/2024 @ 11:11 am> Take the money that would be spent jailing people and build more housing.
That would be fantastic. But in California that means sweeping away the ways people can obstruct building more housing. Almost nobody wants to allow more housing anywhere near them.
aphrael (1797ab) — 6/28/2024 @ 11:12 amKevin, at 20, it’s hilarious to me to watch conservatives embrace the idea that yes, really, they DO want judges to be philosopher-kings.
Then you misread Chadha and seem to confuse judicial review with legislating from the bench.
Chevron said that courts could not interpret law if an agency had interpreted it already, in a way that was a *possible* meaning of the statute, even if it was not a likely or traditional one. Clawing back the power to interpret law through judicial review is not legislating themselves, but reinforcing the words that Congress passed.
One of the terrible things about the ability of agencies to read powers into laws that aren’t there is that it is difficult to fix an interpretation so that the agency cannot willfully find the same powers again. Judges, at least, have rules to go by when reading statutes.
Chadha said that the “single house veto” — a power that Congress had reserved when delegating to FDR — was unconstitutional. The theory behind the veto was that regulations were laws made on Congress’ behalf and a law that either House disapproved of would fail. But the Court accepted the argument that disapproving a regulation required a “no you can’t do that” law to be passed and signed by the President, neatly locking all the previously delegated power to the Executive branch for all time. It was a terrible decision and gutted Congress’ power to control what was law.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 6/28/2024 @ 11:30 amIncluding some he repeated a number of times.
One was that Joe Biden was allowing “millions” of people to come in here from “prisons, jails, and mental institutions” to come into the United States and destroy our country.
He repeated the idea a number of times, so Joe Biden finally remembered a (weak) refutation that there was no data to support that.
How many people who accepted that claim are going to believe that, even though it is undoubtedly true?
Biden said:
He should have said:
This is not the Mariel boatlift! And even there many people were genuine political refugees. There were people who had been in relationships with children of members of the government where, if they were boys, they were charged with rape, and if the unwanted partner was a girl, she was charged with prostitution. They were later told they would be released in they agreed to leave Cuba.
And there were people who had stolen trivial amounts of things from the government. There were genuine criminals, who usually had tattoos like gang members do in Latin America, and specific tattoos, but the immigration people who encountered them often relied on self reporting and ignored what other passengers were telling them. The Cuban government forced the people who came to take their relatives over to take these people too. And nobody paid any fare.
Fidel Castro was not interested in harming the United States – just in sending people who, the United States would reject, which is not the same thing.
One category was homosexuals, who were then prohibited from immigrating. Now it is 180 degrees reversed – they get preference because they get entitled to asylum. Not that it did many of them any good. This was in 1980 and many came down with AIDS in the United States and died while in Cuba, while they might have been locked up they might not have gotten AIDS.
Another thing that had Trump been asked would hsve revealed that he knew that this business of people being released from prisons and mental institutions was a lie.
The migrant smuggling is being done by cartels, don’t you agree? (because U.S. policy and Mexican officials have made it almost impossible for someone to come over the border without paying)
Do you think anyone just released from a prison has money to pay?
And how many people do you think are in mental institutions and what kind? You’re scaring people about the mentally disabled.
Bu Biden mostly fixed on something Trump had said about veterans, because migrants were allegedly being favored over veterans and he defended his record on veterans and Trump followed him over into that digression.
nd luxury hotels? Luxury prices maybe but no more luxury hotels.
And how were they damaging Social Security? You might have an argument about Medicaid (Medicare is contribution program) but how could any of them affect Social Security except possibly to be taxed?
Sammy Finkelman (e0dccb) — 6/28/2024 @ 11:31 amI *think* what you’re trying to say is that these people are addicted to THC and are making up excuses to justify their addiction.
What I mean is that your average homeless street vagrant THC user also uses plenty of other opioids, pretty much any that he or she can get his or her hands on. But because cannabis (like alcohol) is legal, they try to frame themselves as just being medical marijuana users.
JVW (b02843) — 6/28/2024 @ 11:32 am@51 I’m in the East Bay, and lived in the Bay Area my whole life. That’s exactly right, our local politics is the problem when it comes to housing. Prop 13 does us no favors.
Sam G (87ab56) — 6/28/2024 @ 11:33 amThe reason why California has more homeless – besides being the most populous state, with decent weather – isn’t due to drug issues but housing policy. Drug abuse is rampant in areas like West Virginia, and yet they have lower homelessness – because they have cheap housing.
Sam G (87ab56) — 6/28/2024 @ 11:35 amKevin M (a9545f) — 6/28/2024 @ 11:30 am
Bit there’s a way, and it can take effect when the presidency changes hands and Congress is in the control of the opposite party.
Allow a law to be passed negating a regulation. This law is an exception to the filibuster rule in the Senate. he only thing is it has to be done within six months of when the regulation became effective’
https://regulatorystudies.columbian.gwu.edu/congressional-review-act
Another possibility would require new regulations to be passed into law by Congress to become effective or effective for more than a short time.
Sammy Finkelman (e0dccb) — 6/28/2024 @ 11:39 amOn the one hand, I agree with you that the Democrats deserve to lose (even though I will vote for anyone who stands a chance of defeating Trump, including people I think deserve to lose).
On the other hand … dude, it’s not the progressives that are the problem here. The progressives didn’t want Biden in 2020 and would by and large prefer someone else right now.
It’s the *mainstream democratic establishment*, the people that have basically run the show in the party since the Clinton years, who are responsible for this disaster. The progressives barely have a seat at the table.
Yeah, I guess you’re right that I am unfairly conflating the Establishment with progressives. But that said, the Democrat establishment has bent over backwards to try to pander to the progressive left by adopting their style if not exactly their substance. That’s how we get nonsense like Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, and other Dem leaders donning kente cloth and kneeling in supplication for the martyrdom of St. George Floyd of Fentanyl. It’s why the party, including ultra-Establishmentarian Joe Biden, went hog wild for transgenderism over the past four years. And it’s the locus of the party tying itself in knots over the Palestinian question, and trying to tell Israel how to manage a war to avenge the worst mass killing of Jews since the Holocaust.
So while the progressives perhaps aren’t the majority of the party, they have certainly had a very powerful influence on Democrat policies for the past four years.
JVW (b02843) — 6/28/2024 @ 11:41 amNot so, unfortunately; anyone attempting to build a shelter gets shut down by local NIMBY activists
There are places to build shelters that don’t do this, and particularly transitional housing for people who actually ARE bad-luck cases. Converting a warehouse in a light-industrial area, for example, especially if it is close to buses or trains, would be good for those seeking work and needing low-cost ways to get around.
But THIS is opposed by the do-gooders, who argue that these are not good living environments, far from groceries, etc. The YIYBY crowd, to coin a phrase.
But why do you object to those who don’t want sketchy people hanging out near their kid’s schools?
Kevin M (a9545f) — 6/28/2024 @ 11:43 amDrug abuse is rampant in areas like West Virginia, and yet they have lower homelessness – because they have cheap housing.
That is a part of it for sure, but you seem to be entirely overlooking the fact that states like California tolerate, support, and even subsidize homelessness. Other places that are far less tolerant of camping out in public, openly selling and using drugs, prostitution, and public drunkenness, urination, and defecation don’t end up having the level of homelessness of the places that turn a blind eye to it.
JVW (b02843) — 6/28/2024 @ 11:46 amTrump is of course wrong that China would pay the tariffs.
One could as easily point out that Biden is wrong on who pays “the employer’s half” of the FICA tax. From the employer’s point of view, it’s part of the employee’s wage. The employee may get a benefit from not paying income tax on it, but it’s all the same to the employer.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 6/28/2024 @ 11:46 amESPN is a joke:
JVW (b02843) — 6/28/2024 @ 11:49 amSince the overwhelming majority of the people I know who self-medicate with cannabis abuse neither alcohol nor opioids, why would I assume that homeless people who are self-medicating with cannabis *would*?
Because people who are homeless are more likely to be engaging in self-destructive acts than people who are not. The “homeless” thing being the best indicator of that.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 6/28/2024 @ 11:49 amHarry has been such a prince in his service to others. Usally between champagne brunch and teatime.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 6/28/2024 @ 11:51 amDrug abuse is rampant in areas like West Virginia, and yet they have lower homelessness – because they have cheap housing.
I live in Albuquerque, home of Breaking Bad, and this is true here. There is some homelessness still, even though housing is about 5 times cheaper than Los Angeles. The homeless we have are the hard-core homeless; either unable to cope with self-care, or hopelessly addicted to destructive substances and/or behavior. But anyone with any kind of career job can buy a house without a struggle. I have cops and teachers on my block. Wasn’t that way in Los Angeles. Young people have hope here.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 6/28/2024 @ 12:00 pmThis is clearly shutting the barn doors after the horses are scampered off.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/28/politics/video/joe-biden-age-concerns-debate-donald-trump-digvid
Still, it is eloquent. Pity we didn’t see this last night. There’s a part of me that figures this is a poignant political goodbye rather than a ringing argument for four more years.
Appalled (b73db7) — 6/28/2024 @ 12:00 pmI’m in the East Bay, and lived in the Bay Area my whole life. That’s exactly right, our local politics is the problem when it comes to housing. Prop 13 does us no favors.
How is Prop 13 to blame? Is it because if only the state had more revenue from property taxes they would almost certainly be building a great deal more housing, never mind the fact that we have lavishly funded the Homeless Industrial Complex to the tune of billions of dollars over the past decade? Or is it because young families and senior citizens would be driven out of the state to escape ridiculously high property tax bills, and that would allow the government to seize abandoned buildings via eminent domain and then convert them into homeless shelters?
JVW (b02843) — 6/28/2024 @ 12:00 pmIt helps to have laws that encourage new housing, although we are starting to get NIMBYs of the “pull the ladder up after me” variety.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 6/28/2024 @ 12:01 pmJVW (b02843) — 6/28/2024 @ 11:41 am
They didn’t discuss the war much in the debats, but Biden indicated his strategy:
https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/27/politics/read-biden-trump-debate-rush-transcript/index.html
And Trump said:
I don’t know what that is supposed to mean, except that maybe Biden is satisfying neither Israel nor the enemies of Israel.
Anyway, Trump took issue with Biden’s claim that Israel wants to end the war. And Biden thinks that as soon as they kill Sinwar and his top people, Hamas, or perhaps its desire to wage war and stay in power, will go poof. I think that’s what some Arab country is telling them.
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 6/28/2024 @ 12:09 pmThe most expensive, and worst, housing is that constructed by government. The next worst and expensive housing is that constructed under heavy government mandates.
Only government can find a way to spend $700K on studio apartments.
In ABQ they build new 1500-1800 sf houses and sell them for under $400K. Larger homes are in the 4s.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 6/28/2024 @ 12:14 pmSome people think that Biden was deliberately sabotaged (not given vitamins etc.) in order to try to get him to quit.
I suppose you could call these people LGTBQ [Let’s Get Biden To Quit] (a weeks or months old joke)
In reality, the people who prepped him for the debate could be the same sort of geniuses who persuaded French President Emmanuel Macron to call snap elections for Parliament.
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 6/28/2024 @ 12:16 pm66. Appalled (b73db7) — 6/28/2024 @ 12:00 pm
What was the temperature in the studio and outdoors, or what did he eat or drink?
Sammy Finkelman (e0dccb) — 6/28/2024 @ 12:22 pm@60 those are symptoms of the underlying issue
Sam G (87ab56) — 6/28/2024 @ 12:25 pmSent a bit early: the underlying issue being our housing policy, and the subsidization homelessness and the non-profits that claim to serve them (which are often fraud rackets) because that is preferred over just allowing dense housing in our cities.
Sam G (87ab56) — 6/28/2024 @ 12:27 pmHouse Judiciary advances contempt resolution against Biden’s ghostwriter
Deleting evidence. Defying a congressional subpoena. The Rule of Law folks must be having a fit.
lloyd (241e96) — 6/28/2024 @ 12:32 pm#72
Judging by Biden’s cough during the clip I posted, I believe the story that he has a cold. This is the one and only time I will think that someone would have been better off with COVID.
Appalled (b73db7) — 6/28/2024 @ 12:32 pmProp 13 is a problem because it disincentivizes selling your property. If we had proper land/property taxation, we’d see more development or at least turn over in terms of which houses people live in. An example: an elderly couple still living in their family home instead of downsizing.
It’s somewhat similar to rent control, if you think about it – both policies lead to less development and growth.
Sam G (87ab56) — 6/28/2024 @ 12:32 pmStill, it is eloquent. Pity we didn’t see this last night. There’s a part of me that figures this is a poignant political goodbye rather than a ringing argument for four more years.
You just can’t compare speaking in front of an adoring crowd of campaign supporters and either reading from a prepared text or giving off-the-cuff casual remarks with having to face down an antagonist and answering difficult questions on policy and international events. Donald Trump can be funny and disarming when he is
I doubt very much that President Biden can hold his own in tense negotiations with Xi or Putin or even more friendly figures like Claudia Pardo, Benjamin Netanyahu, and Prince Mohammad. Trump might be no prize there, but I would imagine he is enough of an asshole that he wouldn’t do anything too stupid. If nothing else, Trump could just sit there and spout his usual nonsense while Biden would likely have his mind wander off into some far-away place and would not be able to complete his thoughts.
JVW (b02843) — 6/28/2024 @ 12:33 pmProp 13 is a problem because it disincentivizes selling your property.
I’m not sure I follow. I can see why it would be a disincentive to add on to your home, at least to the degree that the addition triggers a tax reassessment, but other than desiring to pass along your home to a child or grandchild via a family trust I don’t see why anyone wouldn’t sell it when the time is right. Even in my town, where we beat Gavin Newsom in court over state attempts to undermine single-unit housing, there is no shortage of single-home lots which are being turned into two or more townhomes.
JVW (b02843) — 6/28/2024 @ 12:42 pm@74 The underlying issues are blue states that enable drug abuse (see Oregon measure 110) and the thinking that the mentally ill can function in society. If housing were free, they would still be doing hard drugs and the mentally ill would still be mentally ill. Mass transit, downtowns, public parks have become no-go zones for anyone doing a basic risk-reward calculation. This is simply insane.
lloyd (241e96) — 6/28/2024 @ 12:43 pmJVW —
Given the cadence, those remarks were from a prepared text.
I understand your point, but believe that Trump is a Putin/Kim Jong Un fanboy, and would not represent US interests in tense negotiations with Xi or Putin, because he want them to like him and he wants to be like them. That puts me close to nk on the neverTrump spectrum, but I think you knew that.
I doubt the Democrats are going to find a replacement. That’s the result of a very bad VP decision in 2020 that is now unfixable.
Appalled (b73db7) — 6/28/2024 @ 12:45 pmAppalled (b73db7) — 6/28/2024 @ 12:32 pm
Biden’s people said he took a Covid test and it was negative.
I bet that they didn’t take any kind of a test to see what it was We might be a little bit better off if that was done more often. DRJ had tests done so it is possible.
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 6/28/2024 @ 12:46 pmHere’s a good rundown of the golf part of the debate. I lament where our great country is going.
Paul Montagu (d4d407) — 6/28/2024 @ 12:53 pmFrom SCOTUS blog:
The court ruled on Thursday that the Securities and Exchange Commission’s routine practice of imposing fines in its administrative proceedings, used to penalize securities fraud, violates the Seventh Amendment “right of trial by jury” in all “suits at common law.” Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for a 6-3 majority in Securities and Exchange Commission v. Jarkesy that the SEC cannot continue to handle this cases in house without a jury. The decision will have a far-reaching impact on dozens of federal administrative agencies that use similar processes.
Justice Sonia Sotomayor, joined by Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson, dissented. Reading from the bench on Thursday, Sotomayor called the majority’s decision Justice Sonia Sotomayor, joined by Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson “a devastating blow to the manner in which our government functions.”
Bold emphasis is mine
Dear Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson. Exactly. Our government was functioning outside the Constitution, which means it was behaving badly and needed a blow delivered in the form of a 6-3 spanking
steveg (71265a) — 6/28/2024 @ 1:23 pmSeveral SCOTUS 6-3 spankings, thanks to Trump’s appointments.
lloyd (241e96) — 6/28/2024 @ 1:31 pm> I’m not sure I follow. I can see why it would be a disincentive to add on to your home, at least to the degree that the addition triggers a tax reassessment, but other than desiring to pass along your home to a child or grandchild via a family trust I don’t see why anyone wouldn’t sell it when the time is right. Even
Unless you are subject to the specific exemption for senior citizens, it’s very likely that if you sell and move without moving out of the region, your taxes will go up.
aphrael (1797ab) — 6/28/2024 @ 1:34 pmThere are actually only two weeks till Joe Biden is officially nominated because it is necessary to name him that early in order to be on the ballot in Ohio. legal complications start not on August 19 but with the Zoom nomination, although there will be an unofficial (and dramatic sounding) roll call of the states in August.
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 6/28/2024 @ 1:47 pmCorrection: Actually the deadline is actually August 7.
Sammy Finkelman (e0dccb) — 6/28/2024 @ 1:53 pmThat part of the debate was surreal, Paul Montagu. I actually had to do some investigating to truly ascertain how good of a golfer each man is. There are plenty of results when you search on “Biden golf handicap” and “Trump golf handicap.”
Trump carries a handicap of 2 to 3, which was legitimately calculated through tournament play, but it’s from around eight years ago so there is no telling if he still plays up to that now. Golf Digest also points out that Trump’s best scores were all obtained during good weather months.
Biden reports a handicap of roughly 7. Golf Digest seems to accept him at his word, though they do note that videos from his play suggest that he would be closer to a 10 or 12. Former President Bill Clinton was notorious for taking mulligans and improving his lie (what an appropriate phrase) while on the course, and then reporting a score for the round based upon his various shortcuts. It would not be at all surprising if Joe Biden does the same. Biden apparently didn’t start playing golf until 2001, by which time he was already 57, so a handicap that low would be pretty decent in light of his late start. But like Trump, Biden’s lack of a reported score since 2018 suggests he’s probably no longer playing at his previous level. Last year, Golf Digest had Biden at a 10 handicap.
JVW (b02843) — 6/28/2024 @ 1:53 pmWhat prevents the “homeless” from going to West Virginia?
BuDuh (8df1cf) — 6/28/2024 @ 2:33 pmI have a comment that gets thrown straight out without going to moderation. I will try chopping it to bits to figure out what word is possibly doing this.
BuDuh (4214e4) — 6/28/2024 @ 2:43 pmOr:
Hmmmm… What to believe?
[This is the earlier comment from you which went into the Spam folder rather than the Moderated comments folder. I suppose that the link included in the comment goes to a site that WordPress believes is a spamming site. – JVW]
BuDuh (4214e4) — 6/28/2024 @ 2:45 pmThe always ridiculous Elie Mystal kicks off the biannual “listen to the simple wisdom espoused by my young child which cuts through the fog of political chicanery and spin” season with a real howler:
Enjoy reading the various responses which clown on his reliance on this tired, tired trope.
JVW (b02843) — 6/28/2024 @ 3:07 pmHey, are there any names that Nick Kristof is leaving out as he mulls over potential replacements for Joe Biden? Maybe he really was serious about his whole “liberals have wrecked the West Coast” column after all.
JVW (b02843) — 6/28/2024 @ 3:59 pmThe left got together and decided this is the frame and the spin.
Barack Obama – “Bad debate nights happen. Trust me, I know. But this election is still a choice between someone who has fought for ordinary folks his entire life and someone who only cares about himself. Between someone who tells the truth; who knows right from wrong and will give it to the American people straight — and someone who lies through his teeth for his own benefit.”
1. “This election is still a choice between someone who has fought for ordinary folks his entire life and someone who only cares about himself” No it is not. I would agree that Trump cares about himself first- who doesn’t. There are very very few truly selfless people in Washington DC and Biden most certainly is not one of them. Arguably the most grossly self centered, self serving, disgusting lie during the debate was Bidens lie that whitewashed the deaths of 13 Americans in Afghanistan
2. Between someone who tells the truth; who knows right from wrong and will give it to the American people straight — and someone who lies through his teeth for his own benefit.”
Obama must have been one of those people who watched with the sound off. During the debate, Biden lied about what he did and didn’t do, lied about what Trump did and didn’t do.
Biden didn’t appear to know right from wrong and didn’t give it to the people straight even when talking about the ultimate sacrifice, which he lied through his teeth about.
Biden ran for President in 1988 and it fell apart due to plagiarism (a form of a lie where one falsely claims work of another as their own), and lies about his accomplishments that Biden dismissed as an “exaggerated shadow” of past mistakes. That odor of mendacity had not worn off by 2008 but now he’s “Honest Joe? Please
”
This election is a choice between two people who care primarily about themselves, who lie about themselves and others. Trumps flaws are on full display as always, Bidens are under full cover up as always – it is just that one of the big lies and cover ups was exposed last night
Here is Mayorkas covering up and lying about an old fraud
steveg (33c23c) — 6/28/2024 @ 4:46 pmhttps://x.com/i/status/1756759133678940627
The NYT editorial board is saying Biden should release his delegates. That’s how big a train wreck it was last night.
Paul Montagu (977b50) — 6/28/2024 @ 4:53 pmhttps://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/28/opinion/biden-election-debate-trump.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare
Trump Indicted For Murdering Elderly Man On CNN.
lloyd (b3a053) — 6/28/2024 @ 4:58 pmIf I had the ear of the DNC leadership, I’d be pushing for Claire McCaskill to come off the bench, but I kind of like the idea of a guy from Ohio like Brown. For VP, Harris is a problem. There’s no confidence in her within the establishment part of the party, and less the further toward the center you go.
If Biden had chosen Mayor Pete (can’t be bothered to look up how to spell his last name), then it wouldn’t be as ugly a conversation as today. Brown was on the list for VP but just didn’t want to do it.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 6/28/2024 @ 5:11 pmThanks, JVW. All I changed was the spelling of the drug by adding spaces and then it posted. I didn’t alter the link.
Bizarre.
BuDuh (4214e4) — 6/28/2024 @ 5:35 pmsteveg has it right @95.
Biden knows where he’s going, and he knows it will be soon just not exactly when, and does not give a hoot what he leaves behind. He will not drop out of the race and he will not drop Harris; and the party will not even try to drag them out, it will just keep on saying rich Corinthian leather.
We proles (speaking for myself) can only hope that NJRob’s optimism is right, that the election is meaningless, and that the nation will continue to function under the governance of the bureaucrats.
nk (2836cd) — 6/28/2024 @ 5:36 pmPaul Montagu (977b50) — 6/28/2024 @ 4:53 pm
When a Democrat President has even lost the New York Times, it’s time to step aside.
The people who benefit from propping up Biden as President (yeah, Jill, I’m looking at you, and the Cabinet, advisors and other White House staff) should be ashamed of themselves.
My elderly mother said back in 2020 that Biden looked like he was in a trance. If that was a trance, last night was a coma.
Pull the plug on this clown show now, and put up somebody who has a better chance of beating the con man.
norcal (32d83c) — 6/28/2024 @ 6:24 pmProp 13 is a problem because it disincentivizes selling your property.
A recent change allowing transfer of the assessment after sale (modified for buying higher-valued property) fixed that. The only disincentive was that your next property would be taxed MUCH higher. Now it won’t.
Now, is this fair to new residents? Yes and no. Long-time residents have paid over the years for schools and other infrastructure that newcomers are getting “for free.” Sure that’s only part of the picture, but it IS part of the picture.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 6/28/2024 @ 6:40 pmThe biggest strength of Prop 13 is it doesn’t tax people on “paper profits” in value of their homes. The old system used to force retired people to sell to pay the increased taxes when they really had no interest in the supposed gains.
The biggest failure of Prop 13 is that it ignores people who actually realize the increased value of their property through home equity loans. One way to fix that would be to treat any loan taken against the property, above the Prop 13 assessment, as an assessment event just like a sale.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 6/28/2024 @ 6:45 pmWhat prevents the “homeless” from going to West Virginia?
Santa Monica is much nicer that Wheeling.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 6/28/2024 @ 6:47 pmIf I had the ear of the DNC leadership, I’d be pushing for Claire McCaskill to come off the bench, but I kind of like the idea of a guy from Ohio like Brown.
Please, no senators. And particularly no wonky senators. Going after Trump with a wonk is just asking to lose. Governors make the bets presidents, which is why so very few (Harding, Kennedy and Obama) sitting senators become president.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 6/28/2024 @ 6:52 pmWhitmer has success in a purple state. Beshear has success in a (very) red state. Newsom is a governor, all right, but he’s never won a competitive state-wide election (and besides, he’s the poster boy for everything wrong).
Kevin M (a9545f) — 6/28/2024 @ 6:54 pmThis election is a choice between two people who care primarily about themselves
I think it’s a bit unfair to say that Trump only cares about himself. There are 1000 other billionaires in the country who don’t offer to serve. Trump has taken up the banner of a lot of people who were ignored by the two parties for decades. Now, maybe that’s simply a hustle, but they kinda still like him.
Will he produce if elected? He might. Obama disappointed a lot of black folks who put out for him.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 6/28/2024 @ 7:00 pmBeshear is our Governor, he’s fine, but he’s really no better than that. He gets credit for actually being bipartisan in a state that isn’t, supermajorities in both houses for the GOP, but he’s fine. Young, and a 2 time gov, would make him pretty decent as a veep.
Being in NKY, or the OH-IN-KY tri-state, a very red part of the country Brown gets quite a bit of positive vibes from the local GOP because he brings the $$’s back to Ohio. He and DeWine get along well too, and still wins in a +8 Trump state, so he’d be OK.
I don’t get the wonk issues. I want a wonk this time, we’ve had way too much “personality” over the 30 years.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 6/28/2024 @ 7:09 pmRemember Dukakis?
Kevin M (a9545f) — 6/28/2024 @ 7:27 pmI guess asset is off trying to figure out how AOC can replace Biden.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 6/28/2024 @ 7:36 pm36 is less than 30.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 6/28/2024 @ 7:41 pm?
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 6/28/2024 @ 7:41 pmSotomayor wise Latinx “Sleep is a biological necessity, not a crime. For some people, sleeping outside is their only option”
Pooping is a biological necessity and your porch seemed like my best and only option.
Seriously though, what about when sleeping outside is the only option chosen.
Move it along laws create a motivational imperative to find and choose options to sleeping outside
From SCOTUS Blog: Justice Sonia Sotomayor dissented, in an opinion joined by Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson. She argued that the majority’s ruling “focuses almost exclusively on the needs of local government and leaves the most vulnerable in our society with an impossible choice: Either stay awake or be arrested.”
Impossible.
The only choice.
The only choice is impossible.
I’m confident there are possible choices. If there are not in Grants Pass, hop that freight and head for greener pastures
Grants Pass is one of those small hub cities in the west that draw wanderers and drifters.
steveg (33c23c) — 6/28/2024 @ 7:46 pmThere is the I-5, US-199, State 99, and a railroad yard. All near a safe piece of river. I’ve ridden freights through there, don’t think I’ve ever stopped there, but those are hobo amenities.
When I was roaming around there were vagrancy laws, loitering laws and those kept a person from squatting on public or private land.
Recently in LA youth soccer teams had scheduled games on the soccer fields at a city park. The kids showed up to play and the homeless squatters refused to move off the field so the kids league eventually cancelled the season
OK, more recently.
Biden is all about programs, budgets and is always talking about how much money “he” has spent. He’s not wonkish of late because, well, he gets confused. But I don’t see him as Mr Personality.
Or Gore, but he lost. Or Obama, who was dialed into the details of things. Paul Ryan wasn’t exactly glib with the numbers.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 6/28/2024 @ 7:51 pmSteve, This was my neighborhood park when I left L.A.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 6/28/2024 @ 7:55 pmClinton, Bush, Obama, Trump, Obama-lite…Joe from Scranton. Those are the presidents over the last 30 years. Every one is a personality not a wonk. Biden might have been a wonk 30 years ago, but in 2020 he was pure personality and not Trump.
Trump is still going to lose to Biden and other, but might be president. Competence matters, give me the nerd.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 6/28/2024 @ 7:56 pmEcho Park was kind of terrible until 2010 or so, then it got the urban gentrification treatment that almost all of close in LA got. Then Covid.
Same thing happened in Vegas and Phoenix, just a big problem in the summer. Salt Lake got slammed, especially since they didn’t have the cycle of deterioration to the same degree, sameysame in Austin and Nashville, supposed examples of the anti-LAX/SFO.
Seattle and Portland had it much worse, and Vancouver, good lord, Victoria too.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 6/28/2024 @ 8:03 pmR.I.P. Martin Mull
Icy (5a5e0b) — 6/28/2024 @ 8:11 pmObama was a personality? I guess to some. Biden is incessantly talking about programs and money. Sure, he’s folksy, but he’s also (um, was also) very involved in programs. He’s the kind of guy who would know (would have known) the answer to how much was being spent on child-care and with which programs.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 6/28/2024 @ 8:11 pmJudge Merchan seems to be even more tone deaf if this is true
“Five mental health professionals, some of whom already accused Donald Trump of being “dangerous,” prepared a risk assessment for New York state Judge Juan Merchan to consider in his July 11 sentencing decision on Trump, according to forensic psychiatrist Dr. Bandy X. Lee, a longtime critic of the former president.
Their risk assessment could be a factor in the severity of Merchan’s sentence for Trump in Manhattan Criminal Court, which could be up to 20 years in prison for all 34 felony counts on which he was convicted last month.”
“Lee edited the book “The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump: 37 Psychiatrists and Mental Health Experts Assess a President,” first released in 2017. In May, she published a new book titled “The Psychology of Trump Contagion: An Existential Threat to American Democracy and All Humankind.”
So what are the odds that:
1. Video and/or audio will be found of Lee armchair “diagnosing” Biden as being totally fit to serve.
Oh wait. Here we go.
“The reason why so many people see problems with Joe Biden is that Donald Trump is projecting his mental symptoms on to Joe Biden so he can deny his own symptoms”
2. Lee finds Trump -again from the armchair- to be an existential threat to all humankind
Uh oh
“In May, she published a new book titled “The Psychology of Trump Contagion: An Existential Threat to American Democracy and All Humankind.”
Her first book on Trump?
“The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump: 37 Psychiatrists and Mental Health Experts Assess a President” [from their armchairs]
The kangaroos seem to be taking themselves very seriously in their twitter bios
“Psychiatrist expert on violence who compiled Kelly’s “owner’s manual” on Trump and may have prevented nuclear war”
“Kelly” is said to be former WH Chief of Staff John Kelly who was reported to have “secretly consulted the book as a guide for dealing with Trump”.
Democrats and a few Republicans (hmmmm, total mystery who those R’s were) wanted to form a panel of experts to evaluate Trump. A panel with this woman on it.
steveg (33c23c) — 6/28/2024 @ 9:11 pmMerchand putting Trump in prison before any appeal would set off a serious constitutional crisis.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 6/28/2024 @ 9:29 pmThat’s not how criminal courts work.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 6/28/2024 @ 9:36 pmWhich isn’t how they work?
Kevin M (a9545f) — 6/28/2024 @ 10:03 pmSo, we’ve been talking about what would be the best replacement team for Team D, but what are THEY thinking? There’s a whole host of far-left “progressives” who would like nothing better than to elect someone who’ll outlaw cars and raise taxes to 97%.
So, how about Newsom-AOC?
Kevin M (a9545f) — 6/28/2024 @ 10:11 pmNo one is advocating outlawing cars and doubling taxes. That’s simply a lie.
You can disagree with some policies, it’s like Trump saying your taxes are going up 400%. Lies.
There’s plenty of issues that the progs are way off base on, but nothing like these strawmen, they’re fake arguments.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 6/28/2024 @ 10:21 pmSee, when leftist policies mandate rules that don’t exist, like abaurd mileage efficiency numbers thar would effectively ban all gas powered cars, that’s not the same thing as banning cars. They just need to create the magical car powered on leftist dreams
Klink’s conservative case for defending leftists strikes again.
NJRob (eb56c3) — 6/29/2024 @ 3:23 amIf Henry Ford could have profitably sold gasoline-electric hybrid Model Ts for $290 in 1920 — the technology was there — we all would have grown up with gasoline-electric hybrids. As it was, we had to be satisfied with diesel-electric locomotives and oil-burning steamships.
The keyword is profitably. The powerband of the internal combustion engine vs. the powerband of the electric motor is no match for the profit and loss curve. Consumers will get what manufacturers make money selling them.
nk (2836cd) — 6/29/2024 @ 5:17 amnk (2836cd) — 6/29/2024 @ 5:17 am
Well said nk. I’m so glad G*D made you.
felipe (44e42a) — 6/29/2024 @ 7:02 amTrump can’t appeal until he is sentenced, but the odds of a prison sentence (let alone actual incarceration) are probably close to nil. My guess is that he would receive a large fine and possibly community service, perhaps working in an immigrant shelter. 😉 At worst, he could receive a suspended jail term.
Trump’s age, security concerns, the nonviolent nature of his offenses, and yes, the fact he is a major presidential candidate would preclude prison.
Even if Trump was sentenced to prison, he would remain free pending appeal, which could take years.
Rip Murdock (c27dcc) — 6/29/2024 @ 7:25 amThe whole (unsourced) idea that outside psychiatrists will influence sentencing is pretty ridiculous. It certainly would factor in any appeal; and is blatantly unethical for any doctor to render an opinion without examining the patient.
Rip Murdock (c27dcc) — 6/29/2024 @ 7:34 amUnsurprising:
Bannon’s fellow Trump White House advisor Peter Navarro is scheduled to be released from prison in mid-July.
Rip Murdock (c27dcc) — 6/29/2024 @ 8:01 amNo one is advocating outlawing cars and doubling taxes. That’s simply a lie.
You are correct that the first sentence is a lie. Also an unwise lie, since *some* are suggesting those things or similar. Remember, there ARE fringes.
Have you see the New Green Deal, which clearly favors public transportation over private? Have you seen the laws in several states ending ICE sales after a date certain?
Even Joe Biden wants to raise taxes by $7 trillion over the next 10 years and folks like asset call him a corporate stooge. Imagine what the hard left of the Democrat Party wants to do.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 6/29/2024 @ 8:13 amSo, I’ve been thinking about my reaction to the debate, which was “pretty much as I expected” and the reaction from Democrats, both in the press and in private conversations.
I could sum up this response as “Who knew?!”
But I knew. Many of us were unsurprised that Biden was diminished. Hur pointed it out, Twitter posters have been all over it with videos from his campaign stops. But the Biden party line has been that it’s all false, that Biden is doing just fine. That party line continues, btw.
The real scandal is that, outside of Fox et al, the press has been covering for Biden. Now that they can’t do that any more, they are acting all surprised.
BUT THEY KNEW.
The GOP (not just Trump) ought to be making their lives living Hell for lying to the public to support their guy. Yes, we need a free press, but we also need a truthful press. The more I think about this, the more outraged I become.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 6/29/2024 @ 8:21 amThat would require the Vice President and Cabinet to initiate the process under Section 4; a highly unlikely scenario. And if President Biden disagrees with the decision of the Cabinet, he can send a written declaration to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the House Speaker that no disability exists. And if the VP and a majority of the Cabinet still thinks the President is unable to carry out his duties, they send another message to Congress. It would then be up to Congress to decide by a two-thirds vote of who should be President.
It’s all very unlikely.
Rip Murdock (c27dcc) — 6/29/2024 @ 8:24 amAs for how reasonable the Green Left is, this 1 minute lampoon is 14 years old now, but still works.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 6/29/2024 @ 8:25 amIt’s all very unlikely.
And even trying it would doom his chances of re-election, so his cabinet is not going to go their. The only effect it would have is getting Harris dropped from the ticket. So, not all bad.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 6/29/2024 @ 8:26 am*there
Kevin M (a9545f) — 6/29/2024 @ 8:26 amYou could say the same thing about Republicans supporting Trump. I’ve heard nothing about the debate that would make me vote for either candidate. A pox on both.
Rip Murdock (442183) — 6/29/2024 @ 9:24 amThe PRESS did nothing to cover for Trump. It’s not that the Democrats hid his infirmities, it’s that the PRESS hid them.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 6/29/2024 @ 10:13 amGood news: The Supreme Court’s decision to support our civil rights laws is having some effect on our colleges and universities. And beyond.
The article uses “race-neutral” to describe compliance with civil rights laws. Which are popular with with voters even in states such as California and Washington. Both states banned racial preferences in voter intiatives, twice.
Jim Miller (9ace55) — 6/29/2024 @ 10:38 amI’ve been working with our legal counsel on how the ruling may effect our product strategy gathering race and gender data for AI training. One of the inputs into training today is that the LLM’s actually show a pretty dramatic difference between age cohorts, race, and gender; so where we want to personalize our alpha of AGI for Financial Service does the ruling make it more or less problematic. It doesn’t effect the core business logic, but it actually changes how we lay out the user experience.
Part of it is also who’s user, each age cohort seems to want dramatically different experiences. When there’s a collision between expectations and such an underlying legal requirement, it’s a giant pain in behind. We’ll probably just create a document the user checks, because that’s kind of why you create TOSs, but I hate complex TOS so that’s another collision.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 6/29/2024 @ 11:10 ampolling company asked 800 people to give 1-2 word responses about the debate and created these
Biden: https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/06/28/16/86700347-0-image-a-17_1719587697275.jpg
Trump: https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/06/28/16/86700339-13580793-image-a-18_1719588632562.jpg
Interestingly many people saw Trump as scary and liar, which seem to be assessments they brought with them to the debate
steveg (33c23c) — 6/29/2024 @ 12:37 pmI should not have said “many” people saw Trump as liar.
steveg (33c23c) — 6/29/2024 @ 12:41 pmIt is very interesting to see the thoughts people brought with them
In these two you will see the Trump as LIAR really stuck
https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/06/28/16/86700341-13580793-image-a-19_1719588637230.jpg
https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/06/28/16/86700343-13580793-image-a-20_1719588642777.jpg
steveg (33c23c) — 6/29/2024 @ 12:45 pmAre those of Americans, or of Brits? Because that the groups find “scary” differs.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 6/29/2024 @ 12:52 pm*what
Kevin M (a9545f) — 6/29/2024 @ 12:52 pm@140:
What most people miss is that the decision just said that you couldn’t just work off a “race” checkbox. You could work off an individual’s race as it combined with his other individual experiences. In short, you had to treat a black inner-city kid differently than the offspring of two black Harvard-educated lawyers.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 6/29/2024 @ 12:55 pmSad!
Rip Murdock (c28559) — 6/29/2024 @ 1:27 pmNJ kicking Trump where it hurts.
Rip Murdock (c28559) — 6/29/2024 @ 1:34 pm“The GOP (not just Trump) ought to be making their lives living Hell for lying to the public to support their guy.”
There were outlets that ran regular stories over the past couple of years about Biden’s cognitive decline. (These outlets have also run stories about Trump’s cognitive decline.) The same outlets were focusing on Covid lab origins while the Glenn Kessler’s were calling it a debunked conspiracy theory. They were also investigating Hunter’s laptop when others dismissed it as Russian misinformation and banned any mention of it. They also highlighted the border mess long before Democrat mayors and governors suddenly discovered it. The lie is that there is serious objective media as opposed to silly misinformation media, which is a lie that’s been going on for many decades. Radical leftist Susan Sontag, of all people, called it out more than forty years ago. Updating to present day:
There’s nothing new. It’s been going on and will continue to go on.
lloyd (f51ee4) — 6/29/2024 @ 2:12 pm#145 KevinM
“JL Partners polled 805 independent voters immediately after the debate”
I assumed they meant Americans
steveg (33c23c) — 6/29/2024 @ 2:16 pmIndeed, but you only linked to the images which said nothing about who they polled. Your link in the other thread is clearer.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 6/29/2024 @ 2:22 pmThere’s nothing new. It’s been going on and will continue to go on.
Yes, but rarely is it so blatant and obvious. It is hard for the MSM to say that they didn’t KNOW. How could they not?
Kevin M (a9545f) — 6/29/2024 @ 2:25 pmThis is a man who has SERIOUSLY declined in the few months since the SotU. RBG-level chutzpah.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 6/29/2024 @ 2:26 pm#130 Rip
The whole (unsourced) idea that outside psychiatrists will influence sentencing is pretty ridiculous. It certainly would factor in any appeal; and is blatantly unethical for any doctor to render an opinion without examining the patient.
The source is Bandy X. Lee’s Substack, but sorry for not providing it earlier. https://bandyxlee.substack.com/p/dangerousness-risk-assessment-of
I have to say that I misunderstood Lee as implying Merchan asked for this assessment from Bandy X. Lee and/or the 5 who contributed to this assessment. They might have sent it unsolicited and if so, it should be binned.
“The most eminent living psychiatrists in existence have assembled in a panel to give their recommendations to the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, for Donald Trump’s sentencing on July 11, 2024.”
“Generally, the purpose of a pre-sentencing report or evaluation is to provide information that can help the court to determine the degree to which a person convicted of breaking a law or laws, especially if they are crimes that rise to the level of felonies, presents a risk of repeating the same or similar crimes—and, worse, of committing even more serious felony crimes.
A forensic psychiatrist or psychologist may first begin by evaluating how serious the crimes were that a particular convicted criminal committed.”
From the assessment (I bolded the end, because it has a few semi-reasonable ideas)
… the only way to protect our democracy, and the legal and electoral structure without which it will cease to exist, from the defendant’s attempt to destroy it—the crime of which he has just been convicted—is to restrain him by any means that the laws of sentencing permit: up to and including incarceration, for as long as those laws permit. Anything less than that would be insufficient to protect our nation, and indeed the entire world, from criminal behavior on a scale that we have never seen before in our history, committed by a man who is totally unrepentant and uninhibited about doing so.
Standardized, evidence-based violence risk assessment tools agree with our assessment. The defendant scored 8 (from a score range of -26 to +38) on the Violence Risk Appraisal Guide–Revised (VRAG-R) and 35 (prorated at 36, from a maximum score of 40) on the Psychopathy Checklist–Revised (PCL-R). These scores indicate a significant need for specific deterrence (even without consideration of general deterrence, which the VRAG-R does not measure) and a full diagnosis of psychopathy, which is highly predictive of violence. A diagnosis of mass murderers and serial rapists, psychopathy means that he is capable of mass atrocities, without limit. Early containment of this tendency will help curb escalations of future violence. Also important factors are his denial of guilt, his lack of remorse, his contempt of court by threatening and inciting violence against judge, jury, and prosecutors, and his use of this criminal conviction to attack the justice system and the rule of law in general.
In the words of Michel Foucault, a philosopher who wrote Discipline and Punish (originally published in French in 1975): “How can one link absolutely in the minds of men the idea of crime and the idea of punishment, if the reality of the punishment does not follow, in all cases, the reality of the offense?… One must punish enough to prevent repetition.” It should not be overlooked that he still has pending cases of election fraud, conspiracy against the government, and theft of classified documents that has endangered national security. It is also notable that he has been adjudicated to be guilty of sexual assault, likely rape.
And of the two types of deterrence for felonies – specific and general – general deterrence is of great significance, because of Donald Trump’s conduct and how vigorously his more than 74 million followers echo his message. Therefore, the sentence should not only be sufficient for specific deterrence but also for general deterrence.
…
The United States requires all high-ranking military officers to submit to an annual fitness-for duty evaluation including full medical and psychiatric examinations. Unfortunately, this rule does not apply specifically to the Commander in Chief. In determining an appropriate sentence for the former president, the Court has a unique opportunity to protect public safety and national security by requiring him to undergo a comprehensive evaluation of his mental status and dangerousness by an impartial panel of experts. A comprehensive evaluation of his mental status should be mandatory, as will a complete physical examination including brain imaging by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We understand that he may be hospitalized for this purpose, in a designated facility for up to thirty days. Once complete, the results are to be provided to an impartial panel of experts, who will monitor his progress and evaluate his dangerousness.
steveg (33c23c) — 6/29/2024 @ 2:45 pmI don’t want Trump within a 1,000 miles of the White House, but if he wins I want his DOJ to indict Leticia James, Arthur Engoron, Alvin Bragg, and Juan Merchan under the Ku Klux Klan Acts for violation of his civil rights under color of law.
It will not be retribution. It will be Darth Vader bringing balance to the Force by wiping out the Hutts.
nk (a63fc9) — 6/29/2024 @ 3:27 pm155
There are no “outside” psychological experts. The DoC only uses psychiatrists that have been contracted and certified to provide the service. All convicts are required to have an exam, and the DoC doesn’t employ full-time experts in this area, hence contractors.
Even the mental health folks in prisons are generally contracted out to 3rd parties. Maximus, Accenture, Deloitte, etc, all provide contractors to do this, many cover quite a few regions, so NJ/NY/CT/PA might share a resource.
So this is just a red herring.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 6/29/2024 @ 3:41 pm157. And if Trump had strangled Stormy Daniels in that hotel room, it might call for such flexing of the psychiatric muscle.
A chicken droppings misdemeanor inflated to 34 felonies by casuistic legal contortions, and “proven” by the testimony of a gossip peddler, a convicted shyster, and a faux sex performer, does not.
What would they recommend for jaywalking?
nk (a63fc9) — 6/29/2024 @ 4:18 pmforgot the /s.
But Trump’s going to get between 2 weeks per served consecutively to 6 months per served concurrently. He’s going to be free til the final appeal, then house arrest. Whether that’s at the Tower of Babel or the White House, we’ll see. If it’s the latter than it will be ignored and NY will do what exactly?
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 6/29/2024 @ 4:25 pmThis is disqualifying, so can we flush one of these turds? Then we’d be halfway to flushing both. House arrest for 6-12 months for the other one that starts in Jan, would be a good reason.
Sanity can still be restored.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 6/29/2024 @ 4:55 pmIt’s called Sundowning.
nk (89beab) — 6/29/2024 @ 5:02 pmMy dog has it, so does my 85 year old mother, and the president I assume.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 6/29/2024 @ 5:36 pmHouse arrest for 6-12 months for the other one that starts in Jan, would be a good reason.
The man has an army.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 6/29/2024 @ 7:46 pmWhat would they recommend for jaywalking?
Well, it would be jaywalking to avoid being charged for spitting on the sidewalk, hence a felony. It might be a separate felony for each step of the jaywalk.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 6/29/2024 @ 7:48 pmMy dog has it, so does my 85 year old mother, and the president I assume.
At least Biden avoided saying the same thing every 7 minutes. Or I think he did.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 6/29/2024 @ 7:49 pmI have to say that I misunderstood Lee as implying Merchan asked for this assessment from Bandy X. Lee and/or the 5 who contributed to this assessment. They might have sent it unsolicited and if so, it should be binned.
Usually courts avoid asking people with proven biases to decide things. It’s called “reversible error.”
Kevin M (a9545f) — 6/29/2024 @ 7:52 pmUsually courts avoid asking people with proven biases to decide things. It’s called “reversible error.”
Says the stale, old, probably white male, while placing his antiquated, racist, microaggressions onto my body and our democracy.
If some on the left get their way with the courts this won’t be considered an error, much less reversible
steveg (58963e) — 6/29/2024 @ 8:18 pmI am not stale.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 6/29/2024 @ 8:19 pmI consider myself musty thank you
steveg (58963e) — 6/29/2024 @ 8:25 pmFrom the hosts Twitter:
“The case why it’s OK to vote for Joe Biden even if he has declined significantly is that Donald Trump is a corrupt criminal who would sell out our allies and threaten democracy.”
Fair enough case, but Joe Biden is a vacuum that the unelected administrative state has to fill without oversight from the Executive. There will be unknown consequences, increasing consequences as that unsupervised, unaccountable power vacuum within the executive goes on and the d**** of consequences rarely arrives lubed.
I’m prepared, so to speak, for the arrival of the consequences of either after four years of each and hope not to be shocked by the magnitude.
A positive about our country, not Trump is that his two worst things were arguably Ukraine call impeachment, Jan6 and we bounced off those as a nation pretty well
steveg (58963e) — 6/29/2024 @ 9:07 pmHow does impeachment of the executive work if the executive is known to be mentally incompetent?
steveg (58963e) — 6/29/2024 @ 9:23 pmRobert Hur answered part of the question, but what about actions taken by the President’s personnel and executive privilege?
The magnitude of the privilege, the discretion of action requirements of mentally incompetent executive from the executive “deep state” is unfathomable.
At least with Trump I know who to hold accountable. (WOW. We really are at a low bar) I guess it doesn’t matter if history notes that Trump screwed the US pooch or if they find it to be the licenses taken by the mentally incompetent Biden’s Administration. We get to pick up the pieces and fix it best we can
NBC
steveg (58963e) — 6/29/2024 @ 9:30 pmPresident Joe Biden is expected to discuss the future of his re-election campaign with family at Camp David on Sunday, following a nationally televised debate Thursday that left many fellow Democrats worried about his ability to beat former President Donald Trump in November, according to five people familiar with the matter.
Fox
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/heritage-working-election-legal-challenges-case-biden-pulled-from-dnc-nomination
“We are monitoring the calls from across the country for President Biden to step aside, either now or before the election, and have concluded that the process for substitution and withdrawal is very complicated,” Executive Director of The Heritage Foundation’s Oversight Project Mike Howell said in a statement. “We will remain vigilant that appropriate election integrity procedures are followed.”
steveg (58963e) — 6/29/2024 @ 9:33 pm“The case why it’s OK to vote for Joe Biden even if he has declined significantly is that Donald Trump is a corrupt criminal who would sell out our allies and threaten democracy.”
Just saying it louder doesn’t make it any more convincing. Hectoring people with the same claims over and over is how Joe Biden was already losing this.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 6/29/2024 @ 9:38 pmNo, Democracy is *Not* on the Ballot; Biden and Trump are.
Among his points:
Kevin M (a9545f) — 6/29/2024 @ 9:42 pmIt should be pointed out that of the 4% who say that “elections/election reform/democracy” are their top concern, many of them mean “to stop the steal.”
Kevin M (a9545f) — 6/29/2024 @ 9:44 pmwe bounced off those as a nation pretty well
J6 didn’t even have a dead-cat bounce. It hit like a lead balloon and people were far more disgusted than anything. As in “These people are bat-sh1t crazy”, not “where do I sign up.”
Kevin M (a9545f) — 6/29/2024 @ 9:47 pmAs for Biden, it’s time for a delegation of Democrats to visit the man and explain things like Goldwater did with Nixon.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 6/29/2024 @ 9:49 pm@26
They won’t.
The only thing that matters is Democrats get/remain in power.
They will ALWAYS justify the means to met that end.
I just wish the Republicans and their voters recognize that… as, it explains so much about Democrats.
whembly (279d5e) — 6/30/2024 @ 4:59 am@30
It’s really funny to me that folks like you just keeps missing the point as to what exact Loper is about (the one that overturned Chevron).
whembly (279d5e) — 6/30/2024 @ 5:02 am@98
*waves*
Missourian here…
Yeah, you don’t want McCaskill either. She’s almost as incompetent as Harris.
whembly (279d5e) — 6/30/2024 @ 5:17 am@136
That’s scandal #1.
Scandal #2 is that it’s obvious that we have a “figurehead” president, and the executive branch is really being decided/ran by unelected officials in the Whitehouse.
Scandal #3, is how people will still vote for Biden knowing the state he’s currently in.
whembly (279d5e) — 6/30/2024 @ 5:24 am@156
…
“under the Ku Klux Klan Acts for violation of his civil rights under color of law.”
Can you elaborate plz?
whembly (279d5e) — 6/30/2024 @ 5:28 amTITLE 18, U.S.C., SECTION 242
Whoever, under color of any law, statute, ordinance, regulation, or custom, willfully subjects any person in any State, Territory, Commonwealth, Possession, or District to the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured or protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States, … shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both; and if bodily injury results from the acts committed in violation of this section or if such acts include the use, attempted use, or threatened use of a dangerous weapon, explosives, or fire, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both; and if death results from the acts committed in violation of this section or if such acts include kidnapping or an attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill, shall be fined under this title, or imprisoned for any term of years or for life, or both, or may be sentenced to death.
nk (f77af1) — 6/30/2024 @ 5:32 amThe truth is finally dribbling out.
Paul Montagu (eeff72) — 6/30/2024 @ 8:04 amThe time of day is important as to which of the two Bidens will appear.
They should have had him sleep to 4 in the afternoon then.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 6/30/2024 @ 8:18 am“The truth is finally dribbling out.”
Oh yeah, finally. Finally! For those in their bubble, I suppose.
That’s from 2021.
lloyd (b1b536) — 6/30/2024 @ 8:42 am#187. Every president gets blasted by grieving Gold Star families. Trump is the only one who blasts them back.
lurker (c23034) — 6/30/2024 @ 8:48 amRIP satirical singer, songwriter, and novelist Kinky Friedman (79):
Rip Murdock (c28559) — 6/30/2024 @ 8:57 am@188 The point was about echo chambers, but you made it about Gold Star families. The quote could be from any of the many stories outside air quote serious media over the years that pointed to Biden’s cognitive decline.
lloyd (b1b536) — 6/30/2024 @ 8:59 am@184
Yes, yes… I understood the law you were pointing to…
But, was asking what, specifically the “…the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured or protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States” were done by Trump’s opponents?
whembly (279d5e) — 6/30/2024 @ 9:39 am@185
So we have a part-time POTUS.
Lovely.
Hope the world stops for POTUS during 10am to 4pm eastern time.
/s
whembly (279d5e) — 6/30/2024 @ 9:41 amThe difference is that sources in the White House are saying it.
Paul Montagu (e167e7) — 6/30/2024 @ 9:51 amBut, was asking what, specifically the “…the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured or protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States” were done by Trump’s opponents?
“Mandating his presence in a courtroom for long periods while being tried on wholly trumped up charges” would be my guess. His freedom of movement and speech were curtailed, both of which are constitutional rights.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 6/30/2024 @ 9:54 am[emphasis mine]
How long have you been suspicious, Paul. By your use of “finally” and your satisfaction that it is now confirmed by reliable sources, my guess is that you have felt that Biden has been unfit for some time.
BuDuh (d6a398) — 6/30/2024 @ 9:59 am@194
??
Aren’t you required to attend, in person, federal criminal cases?
The gag on speech might have legs, but I struggle to see how much support he’d get.
whembly (4887ac) — 6/30/2024 @ 10:14 amMalicious prosecution, unlawful detention, jeopardy to liberty and property, subornation of perjury, making false entries in the public record (the court docket) with the intent to unlawfully influence the election ….
nk (ded266) — 6/30/2024 @ 10:24 amAren’t you required to attend, in person, federal criminal cases?
The point is that, *IF* the charges were bogus, then the mandate that he attend the trial was a deprivation of rights.
Now, I think it’s a stretch that the charges can be proven to be fraudulent, and that the required attendance is therefore a deprivation of rights, but you asked “what can there possibly be?” and I answered that.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 6/30/2024 @ 10:26 ammaking false entries in the public record (the court docket) with the intent to unlawfully influence the election ….
Nice one.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 6/30/2024 @ 10:26 amSotomayor’s comment has got to be one of the most intellectually dishonest things I’ve ever read. Yes, sleep is indeed a biological necessity and it even is not a crime. That doesn’t mean you can sleep wherever you please.
WHS (76600f) — 6/30/2024 @ 11:06 amMore Trump Administration prosecution fantasies:
What section of the US Code covers “election interference?” For example, for the signatories of the Hunter Biden laptop letter, what USC section did they violate? What section of the criminal code did President Biden and DHS Secretary Mayorkas violate regarding the border?
It’s about as likely as the judges and prosecutors in New York being charged with a crime. Is there any case law that suggests that governmental officials in enforcing state civil or criminal law against an individual is a “deprivation of rights” under 18 USC 242? If that is true, then any defendant can claim their rights have been violated.
And 18 USC 242 is not the Ku Klux Klan Act, that is codified under 42 USC sections 1983, 1985, and 1986.
Rip Murdock (c28559) — 6/30/2024 @ 11:25 amBased on this analysis, I don’t see how 18 USC 242 would apply to Leticia James, Arthur Engoron, Alvin Bragg, or Juan Merchan. The idea seems to be a stretch.
Rip Murdock (c28559) — 6/30/2024 @ 11:40 amLe Pen’s far right set for big win in first round of French election
lloyd (1e6d2c) — 6/30/2024 @ 1:17 pmWHS (76600f) — 6/30/2024 @ 11:06 am
They all say things that are wrong.
She could have made a better point by saying that this was a law that some people found impossible or unreasonable to obey, and that you can’t have such a law (why?).
Yes they could go outside the jurisdiction, but what’s stopping all nearby jurisdictions from passing such a law?
And do they mean to enforce such a law in the event of an earthquake?
Sammy Finkelman (c2c77e) — 6/30/2024 @ 1:35 pmEven if it did not destroy all houses, it is recommended that people stay outside and in the open when aftershocks are expected,
Like I said to Lloyd, BuDuh. This isn’t hard, and I didn’t use big words.
Paul Montagu (7b8b7c) — 6/30/2024 @ 1:47 pmAnyone with eyes to see and eyes to hear can observe Joe’s physical and mental diminution.
Good news for LePen is bad news for Ukraine.
Paul Montagu (c9abf8) — 6/30/2024 @ 1:52 pmhttps://x.com/kremlintrolls/status/1513445358373941251?s=46&t=Enscg8JjQytl9HJp0OtcWA
https://x.com/rooseveltted/status/1807409784276033816?s=46&t=Enscg8JjQytl9HJp0OtcWA
For me, I’m still NeverTrump and NeverPotato.
Paul Montagu (c9abf8) — 6/30/2024 @ 1:57 pmObama’s defense of Biden, wherein Obama stated that he himself knows what it’s like to have a bad debate, was a red herring.
It’s not that Biden had a bad debate. Rather, it was that Biden’s senescence was painfully obvious for all to see. I don’t necessarily need a President who is a good debater. I just want one who has his marbles more than six hours a day.
norcal (226e65) — 6/30/2024 @ 2:00 pmWelcome to the Free World:
They had a tough journey in their rickety boat, including an encounter with a North Korean patrol boat that could have stopped them — but didn’t.
(As the article notes, the names used are aliases. The Kim dynasty is not big on mercy.)
Jim Miller (354efc) — 6/30/2024 @ 2:22 pmYes… but when did it dawn on you was the question.
BuDuh (4214e4) — 6/30/2024 @ 3:42 pmHere’s what I want to know. Were those times when Biden shook hands with the air during the golden six hours or afterwards?
norcal (226e65) — 6/30/2024 @ 3:48 pmYears ago. He was camped out in his basement in the 2020 campaign for more than just Covid reasons, IMO.
Ironic that a person who’s been NeverTrump and NeverBiden from the get-go is in a “bubble”. Pretty silly.
Paul Montagu (78d8f9) — 6/30/2024 @ 6:55 pmSo…absolute immunity for official acts, but none for unofficial acts. I presume an attempted coup falls under the latter.
Paul Montagu (7b8b7c) — 7/1/2024 @ 7:45 am@213 Nope… reading the ruling Paul.
It specifically calls out Trump “pressuring” Pence and is communication to the acting AG as covered with immunity.
In the current indictment, I think the only thing left as possible legal exposure is his rotunda campaign speech on J6?
Still, the case is not going to be completed before the election, due to the defense’s ability to appeal any immunity claim rejections at the district court.
whembly (86df54) — 7/1/2024 @ 7:59 amI don’t see how pressuring Pence to cancel certified state votes, thereby violating the 12th Amendment, is an official act.
Paul Montagu (7b8b7c) — 7/1/2024 @ 8:14 amFrom what I am reading, this is almost more rewarding to Obama and his actions in 2016.
BuDuh (a6b63d) — 7/1/2024 @ 8:17 am@215
The government is going to have to overcome the presumed immunity for acts a POTUS to “twist the arms” of his VP to do “x”. Even though desired act by the VP wasn’t ultimately done.
That’s going to be a high bar for Smith to overcome, and even if he gets a favorable ruling that Trump is not immune, Trump’s defense can appeal again.
Thus, no matter how this shakes out, it’s unlikely that the DC Smith case would even start before the Nov election.
whembly (86df54) — 7/1/2024 @ 8:19 am@216
Every past President for that matter.
There are still folks out there who wants Dubya to be criminally charged.
whembly (86df54) — 7/1/2024 @ 8:20 amIndeed.
BuDuh (a6b63d) — 7/1/2024 @ 8:22 amAs for the NetChoice decision, regarding the Facebook et al objection to limits on content moderation, the Court observes that 1) facial challenges to laws are hard to win, 2) neither party seems to have addressed many of the salient points, and 3) the Circuit courts failed to address the cases as facial challenges. Accordingly, they are sent back with instructions to do better.
Also, although they don’t have the information they want, it’s pretty clear that the Texas law will fail when they do have it and that they don’t think much of the Fifth Circuit’s First Amendment jurisprudence.
Parts of the Florida law may survive.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/1/2024 @ 8:24 amVia the immunity syllabus:
whembly (86df54) — 7/1/2024 @ 8:26 amSome tid bits from the ruling:
whembly (86df54) — 7/1/2024 @ 8:36 amTrump’s immunity:
whembly (86df54) — 7/1/2024 @ 8:39 am@Paul… here’s the VP certification part… Trump is at least presumptively immune:
whembly (86df54) — 7/1/2024 @ 8:41 amProbably the Jack Smith’s strongest charge, is remanded back to district court to apply the “official v. unofficial” test:
whembly (86df54) — 7/1/2024 @ 8:44 amAs to his J6 speech, “are likely to fall comfortably within the outer perimeter of his official responsibilities”, but is remanded for more fact finding if government wants to pierce this immunity:
whembly (86df54) — 7/1/2024 @ 8:46 amThis will go back to the DC Circuit, where they will conclude that none of the acts for which Trump was indicted were official, and the USSC should have the good sense to deny cert after Trump, but the clock is effectively run out.
If Biden really wants to test this ruling, all he has to do is is send out his SEAL team to not only take out Trump but also three or four of the conservative USSC justices and have the Democrat-led Senate replace them with liberals. Biden could then say he did it for national security reasons, for the good of the country. The newly constituted court would affirm his acts, because there’s presumptive you know. Sure, Biden may get impeached, but won’t get convicted. This is the fascist path that was started by Trump and his attempted coup, and given cover by his enablers.
Paul Montagu (7b8b7c) — 7/1/2024 @ 8:47 amThis is pretty clear in defense of “Presidential communication immunities”:
whembly (86df54) — 7/1/2024 @ 8:48 am@227
Tell me you didn’t read the ruling, without telling me you didn’t read it.
Oh wait, you just did.
“If Biden really wants to test this ruling, all he has to do is is send out his SEAL team to not only take out Trump but also three or four of the conservative USSC justices”
whembly (86df54) — 7/1/2024 @ 8:50 amThat is absolutely not an official presidential core acts.
SCOTUS emphatically states that impeachment is meant for sitting president, not including formers:
whembly (86df54) — 7/1/2024 @ 8:52 amFinal syllabus section:
whembly (86df54) — 7/1/2024 @ 8:55 am(e) This case poses a question of lasting significance: When may a
former President be prosecuted for official acts taken during his Presidency? In answering that question, unlike the political branches and
the public at large, the Court cannot afford to fixate exclusively, or
even primarily, on present exigencies. Enduring separation of powers
principles guide our decision in this case. The President enjoys no immunity for his unofficial acts, and not everything the President does is
official. The President is not above the law. But under our system of
separated powers, the President may not be prosecuted for exercising
his core constitutional powers, and he is entitled to at least presumptive immunity from prosecution for his official acts. That immunity
applies equally to all occupants of the Oval Office.
This seems like a teacher (SCOTUS) admonishing the lower courts that there is no “O r a n g e M a n B a d” exception.
Ultimately this case is delayed by sloppy indictments presented to a non-curious judge who passed it off to an irresponsible court of appeals.
Sad!
BuDuh (a6b63d) — 7/1/2024 @ 8:56 amWhy is this stupid hypothetical, that was created by Judge Flo Pan, ever used as a potentially persuasive argument?
BuDuh (a6b63d) — 7/1/2024 @ 9:01 am@227 “If Biden really wants to test this ruling, all he has to do is is send out his SEAL team to not only take out Trump but also three or four of the conservative USSC justices and have the Democrat-led Senate replace them with liberals.”
That’s a lot of trouble to go through when you can just put Trump in prison. Too bad the timing just didn’t work out as intended, but Merchan still has a card to play. Keep your hopes up.
lloyd (7935a8) — 7/1/2024 @ 9:10 amLOL! If Obama was subject to prosecution for killing an American Al-Qaeda terrorist, then why didn’t the Trump Administration charge him? I’ve never found any legal commentary supporting such a prosecution.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 7/1/2024 @ 9:12 amDerp.
It would be Obama’s sicking the DOJ on Trump. But you knew that..
What is your purpose, Rip? It is far from enlightenment of a dim comment section. It seems more like tooting a horn by blowing hard. Feels good?
BuDuh (a6b63d) — 7/1/2024 @ 9:15 amAt least Putin puts his opponents in prison first before whacking them. As a country, we should strive to do better.
lloyd (7935a8) — 7/1/2024 @ 9:16 amThere goes the argument that the failure to enforce immigration laws is a criminal offense.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 7/1/2024 @ 9:16 amRip is always rooting for a particular side.
BuDuh (a6b63d) — 7/1/2024 @ 9:18 am@238
Yup… pretty much.
Now… is it impeachable?
Probably…
whembly (86df54) — 7/1/2024 @ 9:24 am@238 “There goes the argument that the failure to enforce immigration laws is a criminal offense.”
There goes the argument no one was making.
It can still be a high crime and misdemeanor, as judged by Congress, which is how the Founders intended.
lloyd (7935a8) — 7/1/2024 @ 9:26 amI’m pretty sure even Rip’s claims of being “pro-life” is just what he considers a parody of a real pro-life Christian.
NJRob (e8ac00) — 7/1/2024 @ 9:26 amFor Rip:
SCOTUS does a good job in forming prospective prosecutors from politically “stretching” the law to meet their partisan agendas.
whembly (86df54) — 7/1/2024 @ 9:28 amThis is the fascist path that was started by Trump and his attempted coup, and given cover by his enablers.
So, it’s OK then because we fantasize* that Trump would have done it.
————————-
* building on an extreme hypothetical mentioned in argument only for illustration
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/1/2024 @ 9:31 amWhooooo… the majority is deftly smacking down the dissents here:
whembly (86df54) — 7/1/2024 @ 9:31 amTo say that “no one is above the law” neglects Congresspeople who libel while speaking on the floor, or who evade misdemeanor arrest because Congress is in session. Or people at all levels of government with “qualified immunity.”
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/1/2024 @ 9:37 am
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/1/2024 @ 9:38 amlibelslanderI don’t see how pressuring Pence to cancel certified state votes, thereby violating the 12th Amendment, is an official act.
I don’t either, but I can see that it’s not a slam dunk and it depends greatly on the degree to which Pence (and VPs in general) are independent actors not subject to the will of the Executive.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/1/2024 @ 9:40 amYou have implied (several times) that the killing of Anwar al-Awlaki makes Obama criminally liable, but you’ve never made an argument with supporting facts. The killing was well within the authority of the 2001 Authorization for the Use of Military Force.
Source. Footnotes omitted.
I just knew you would bring up this today. 😉
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 7/1/2024 @ 9:46 amLindsey Graham: If Trump Wins Mayorkas, Biden Likely Will Be Prosecuted
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 7/1/2024 @ 9:52 amAre you a student of the Klunk school of putting words in people’s mouths?
Go find where I have ever said anything remotely close to that. It isn’t in my memory bank.
BuDuh (a6b63d) — 7/1/2024 @ 9:59 amActually my views on abortion are based on the fact that two of my sisters have aborted their children because they were “inconvenient” at the time.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 7/1/2024 @ 10:00 amhttps://www.foxnews.com/politics/michigan-governor-warned-biden-campaign-her-state-no-longer-winnable-report
Great news.
NJRob (e8ac00) — 7/1/2024 @ 10:02 amIronic, you telling me I didn’t read it. The presumptive immunity applies to non-core “official acts”, those outside core constitutional duties. Of course Trump and any other president going forward will declare everything they do is or was “official”, thus creating the presumption, thus requiring a factual case be made to overcome it.
Paul Montagu (383f45) — 7/1/2024 @ 10:42 amPlease show me where I said any of that is OK. I threw out an extreme scenario to communicate “not OK”.
Paul Montagu (383f45) — 7/1/2024 @ 10:46 am253. The Democratic Party is said to have given up, in the sense of not building big campaign, on Georgia [16] , Arizona [11] and Nevada [6] and trying to replace them with North Carolina [16]
North Carolina = Georgia but Arizona and Nevada assume a loss of 17 Electoral votes. Michigan is 15 this election (down from 16 in 2020) and Pennsylvania 19 (down from 20) Wisconsin 10 Biden won 306-232 in 2020 and can afford to lose only 36 to avoid a tie and there are some Electoral votes lost to reapportionment.
270 to win [https://www.270towin.com] has the state of the election now 235 at least leaning Republican, 226 leaning Democratic and 77 tossup, the tossups being Georgia, Arizona, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin. 16+11+6+19+15+10 = 77 Electoral votes With North Carolina in the Republican column and Virginia [13] in the Democratic column. (Biden won Virginia in 2020 with 54.15% of the vote)
Trump is within sight of carrying New Jersey [14] according to Republicans, and he hopes even to carry New York, like Ronald Reagan did in 1980, but this may be because he is originally from New York.
Nikki Haley says that she said months ago and still hold to it that Biden will not be the Democratic nominee.
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 7/1/2024 @ 11:16 amPlease show me where I said any of that is OK. I threw out an extreme scenario to communicate “not OK”.
You went pretty far down that path for the Democrats, then justified it by saying that Trump started it.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/1/2024 @ 11:19 amWhich he didn’t, any more than Palin said she could could see Russia from her house.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/1/2024 @ 11:20 am215. Paul Montagu (7b8b7c) — 7/1/2024 @ 8:14 am
Had Pence attempted that it would have been an official act (not a private one) but unconstitutional.
There was lobbying and arguing with Pence, not pressure or threats.
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 7/1/2024 @ 11:22 amNikki Haley says that she said months ago and still hold to it that Biden will not be the Democratic nominee.
The commercials they are running don’t depend on Biden being the nominee.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/1/2024 @ 11:22 am“Russia has bombed itself at least 119 times over the last 4 months.
steveg (40d13a) — 7/1/2024 @ 11:26 am9 bombs, including a FAB-3000kg bomb, and an R-77 air-to-air missile fell on the Belgorod region in the last 4 days, destroying 5 houses”
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/1/2024 @ 11:20 am
Tina Fey said that on Saturday Night Live.
And yet today this error lives on given a little help from Sarah Palin (who did say you could see Russia from Alaska, in an attempt to boost her foreign policy credentials)
New York Governor Kathy Hochul can see Canada from her home.
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 7/1/2024 @ 11:30 amKevin M (a9545f) — 7/1/2024 @ 11:22 am
Has this changed any in the last few days?
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 7/1/2024 @ 11:31 amSCOTUS emphatically states that impeachment is meant for sitting president, not including formers:
It does no such thing. All it says is that it need not be a prerequisite for prosecuting former presidents and even if failure to remove leaves prosecution postponed, it does not immunize. Impeachment is a political act, not a judicial one.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/1/2024 @ 11:31 amI’m not so sure Sammy, per the Syllabus…
I take that to mean that crapping on the 12th Amendment could be “manifestly and palpably beyond” Trump’s authority, whether Pence went along with it or not.
Paul Montagu (383f45) — 7/1/2024 @ 11:49 amMy apologies. I was thinking of someone else here.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 7/1/2024 @ 12:12 pmNow just over 30 years ago:
https://patterico.com/2014/06/13/20-years-ago-today/
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 7/1/2024 @ 2:16 pmHappy Canada Day to our friends up north.
When the 9/11 attack happened, Canada responded with Operation Yellow Ribbon, for which we should be grateful. I especially admire the spontaneous response of the people of Gander, Newfoundland.
Jim Miller (0db57a) — 7/1/2024 @ 3:17 pmThere’s some kind of a virus going around – not Covid, and probably not bird flu, light estin, folic cid, oranges, pineapple tidbits probably helps. And water,
Sammy Finkelman (c2c77e) — 7/1/2024 @ 4:09 pmR.I.P. Ismail Kadare.
A magnificent writer. I read his The Drums of Rain, also published as The Castle and as The Siege, in Greek more than 30 years ago and it made a great impression on me, awakening an interest in things Greek and Albanian of which I had only vague knowledge until then.
nk (a71d91) — 7/1/2024 @ 6:33 pmStraight talking honest Joe, Executive of the Executive branch of the USA- Not A Liar TM sends out WH Press Secretary and she goes totally rogue every day and claims Joe is just fine mentally, grocery prices and gas prices are down. Straight Talking Joe TM never corrects the record
Every President does it. And we accept it. Weird.
steveg (8dac75) — 7/2/2024 @ 3:42 pmEvery President does it. And we accept it. Weird.
steveg (8dac75) — 7/2/2024 @ 3:42 pm
Americans just aren’t that astute. I’m amazed the country works as well as it does, to be honest.
norcal (df08ac) — 7/2/2024 @ 4:02 pmActually, Ohio changed that law in June (finally!) reducing the time the candidate had to be known from 90 days to 65 days (thus September 1) but the DNC is going ahead with their zoom nomination in July anyway.
I think Karl Rove (on WABC radio Cats & Cosby 5-6pm show today) is wrong that the delegates are normal Democrats This was probably heavily tilted toward “progressives” (after all they were bound to vote for Biden anyway) They could reward people with being delegates.
So if there is to be a replacement, the people in charge of the DNC would probably rather have it be the national committee rather than the convention delegates.
Sammy FInkelman (e4ef09) — 7/2/2024 @ 4:32 pmShe said today that Joe Biden did not take any medicine for the old. Probably true, as they wouldn’t want to slow down his mind.
Sammy FInkelman (e4ef09) — 7/2/2024 @ 4:33 pmMacron evidently thought his party would come in second and win most runoffs. but the left wing united.
Another possible thought was that he wanted Marine Le Pen’s party to win now if she was going to win so she would lose in 2027.
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 7/2/2024 @ 4:44 pmfor the cold!
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 7/2/2024 @ 4:44 pmSo here’s something curious. My brother, who has heretofore been a resident of MAGA world, recently told me he’s thinking about not casting a vote for President this year.
The reason? He’s afraid Trump will sell out Ukraine, which will encourage Russia (and China, vis-a-vis Taiwan) to seek more territory, which will result in the U.S. getting involved in war(s), which will result in a draft, which will result in his young daughter getting drafted due to potential legislation expanding the draft to women.
This strikes me as rather tortured reasoning, but any anti-Trump vote (or non-vote) is welcome.
norcal (df08ac) — 7/2/2024 @ 5:01 pmEven though I think Biden should step aside due to his senescence, I would still vote for him over Trump, because I don’t see the people running his administration being as dangerous to democracy and global stability as Trump 2.0.
Like Bill Maher, I would vote for Biden’s head in a jar of blue liquid before I’d vote for Trump.
norcal (df08ac) — 7/2/2024 @ 5:09 pmClarence Thomas is 76. Samuel Alito is 74. At 69, John Roberts might be in the running too for retirement too.
These gerbils do not want a Democrat President to appoint their replacement. If Biden/Harris win, they better win resoundingly. Otherwise, it will be a reprise not of 2020 but of 2000. And they will find a way to give the election to Trump.
nk (b24d23) — 7/2/2024 @ 5:57 pmSo if there is to be a replacement, the people in charge of the DNC would probably rather have it be the national committee rather than the convention delegates.
AOC! AOC!! AOC!!!
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/2/2024 @ 7:00 pmAnd they will find a way to give the election to Trump.
That’s a libel with no foundation.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/2/2024 @ 7:01 pmThe DNC has no ability to replace the candidate.
Good, if profanity-filled, read on the history of the Democratic Party’s candidate selection processes at https://lbjvantagepoint.com/the-white-house-tapes/f/a-brief-history-of-the-democratic-partys-nomination-system
SamG (4e6c22) — 7/2/2024 @ 7:09 pmTheir wives will make them.
nk (a40d3e) — 7/2/2024 @ 7:10 pmWe dodged a bullet in 2020 with a 4-4 Court and Anthony Kennedy as the fourth Republican, but it’s now 6-3 and three are Trump appointees.
Vote for the pickled head! It’s important.
nk (a40d3e) — 7/2/2024 @ 7:14 pmGuess who.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 7/2/2024 @ 7:50 pmDem Leaders Write ‘I Hereby Resign From The Presidency, No Takebacks’ On Biden’s Teleprompter.
lloyd (a3fdf9) — 7/2/2024 @ 9:34 pmUncle John Trump from MIT?
Trump knows the intellectual caliber of his supporters. Unfortunately, it turns out, he also knows the integrity and intellectual honesty of the judiciary, but we refused to believe him because he only criticized the ones who were against him.
nk (615b2c) — 7/3/2024 @ 4:25 amIt’s an opinion. That makes it constitutionally incapable of being libel. Calling it a libel with no foundation is a falsehood with no foundation.
lurker (c23034) — 7/3/2024 @ 4:36 amMe too. I’d take any Biden variant over Trump. To be fair, I’d also take Biden’s head in a jar over Biden.
lurker (c23034) — 7/3/2024 @ 4:43 amThis 1956 Heinlein novel gives me some reason for encouragement about Joe Biden as president. Let me repeat, some
In the US — and, I would guess — in most other large democratic nations, prominenet politicians are best understood as teams that can function reasonably well, even when the top person is having problems.
(I do worry about the current Defense Secretary.)
Jim Miller (7b1f74) — 7/3/2024 @ 6:57 amSo many former conservatives showing their true colors. Vote for the leftist plutocracy. It’s important.
NJRob (998b3c) — 7/3/2024 @ 7:17 amThis 1956 Heinlein novel
Is an actor going to replace him?
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/3/2024 @ 8:05 amBiden is thinking about it.
Biden Told Ally That He Is Weighing Whether to Continue in the Race
How do I know this is true?
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/3/2024 @ 8:06 amThe Snuffleopoulos interview will not be live and will be edited (actually, chopped into parts) for broadcast in several segments. So, if he has trouble with pointed questions like “What did you have for breakfast?” the viewer probably won’t see them.
A bar so low he can shuffle over it.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/3/2024 @ 8:09 amPrediction: Biden is going to free his delegates. The question remains whether Trump will do that, too.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/3/2024 @ 8:11 amThe DNC has no ability to replace the candidate.
So, if the nominee dies in September, they just run a dead candidate? Or try to reconvene the convention?
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/3/2024 @ 8:13 amTrump knows the intellectual caliber of his supporters.
If he gets the vote of everyone with a 2-digit IQ, he wins.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/3/2024 @ 8:17 am@296 the candidate’s name remains on the ballots, because ballots are state responsibilities. Example from earlier this year: a Democratic candidate died in April and won in June.
Sam G (80a2a9) — 7/3/2024 @ 8:21 amTo add to 298: early voting starts in September. Ballots will have already been set.
Sam G (80a2a9) — 7/3/2024 @ 8:22 am#292 In the novel, the Bonforte team is able to carry on, after he had been kidnaped — and before the actor was hired.
Similarly, if Antony Blinken is doing his job, I worry a little less about our diplomacy than I would otherwise.
And, so on.
Jim Miller (f98654) — 7/3/2024 @ 10:00 am296. Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/3/2024 @ 8:13 am
depending on the state, they replace him or just runa dead candidate.
A situation like this occurred in 1872. Although in that case, Horace Greeley died between the November election and the casting of the Electoral votes.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1872_United_States_presidential_election
3 (of the 11) electoral votes were cast for Greeley in Georgia and rejected, but 8 cast for him in Texas were accepted. The challenge in Texas was based on different ground (irregularities) OOr do I understand that Wikipedia article wrong?
Sammy Finkelman (c2c77e) — 7/3/2024 @ 11:28 amOdds Biden will free his delegates: slightly greater than zero.
Odds Trump will free his delegates: far less than zero.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 7/3/2024 @ 12:47 pmWhy would Trump free his delegates? What possible motivation would he have to do so?
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 7/3/2024 @ 12:48 pmMichael Weiss has an update from his Estonian source wrt Putin’s War Against Ukraine.
In short, Putin’s assault on Kharkiv failed (losing 1,000 troops a day), new weapons to Ukraine are “achieving parity” against Russian aggression, Russian missile and drone attacks are relatively low (presumably due to production issues), Ukrainian energy infrastructure took a hit, F-16s still aren’t in operation there, and Ukrainians are hamstrung by Biden’s limits on strikes in Russian territory. There haven’t been any notable gains or losses in territory since Ukraine reclaimed Kherson, and there probably won’t be any changes in 2024.
A note on populations…
North Vietnam (1970): 18.5 million
USA (1970): 203 million
Afghanistan (1980): 12.5 million
USSR (1980): 262 million
Ukraine (2024): 38 million
Paul Montagu (e7d63b) — 7/3/2024 @ 12:52 pmRussia (2024): 144 million
Incorrect. Under Democratic Party rules:
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 7/3/2024 @ 12:55 pmYes, they can fill a vacancy on the national ticket, but this has no effect on state election laws, and you have a problem with ballots mailed out early, especially to military voters stationed overseas.
Whether the state party can change the a name on the ballot has nothing to do with what the national party does.
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 7/3/2024 @ 1:38 pmThree people keeping mostly quiet:
1. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer
2. House Majority Leader Hakeem Jeffries
3. Kingmaker (in 2020) Representative James E. Clyburn (D-S.C.)
Schumer is reported to have dissuaded Senator
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 7/3/2024 @ 1:48 pmJoe Manchin from going on a Sunday interview show last Sunday and saying that Biden should quit (even though Manchin is officially no longer a Democrat. But then neither is Senator Angus King)
Question:
Assume that Biden will release his delegates and not pick a successor. Does he also resign, giving Harris her moment in the sun, for better or worse? Then, if the convention chooses someone else, they can truthfully say that she had her best shot.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/3/2024 @ 4:54 pmYes, they can fill a vacancy on the national ticket, but this has no effect on state election laws,
And they end up running countless ads like “A vote for Biden-Harris is a vote for Whitmer-Beshear” or whatever. And still people get to the polls wondering why Biden is on the ballot.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/3/2024 @ 5:00 pmOne of the co-authors of “Seven Days in May” wrote a novel about a fill-in candidate after the GOP nominee dies 6 weeks before the election, trailing by 10 points with no money left. Nobody wants the sure loss, so the RNC picks an unknown. They give him a script and write him off, but he has other plans.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/3/2024 @ 5:05 pmDark Hose by Fletcher Knebel (1973)
Peggy Noonan on the Biden problem
Biden Can’t Spin His Way Out of This
But read the whole thing
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/3/2024 @ 5:07 pm*Dark HORSE
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/3/2024 @ 5:08 pmDoom and gloom tomorrow for the Conservative Party across the Atlantic:
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 7/3/2024 @ 5:53 pmThe Tories are being punished for incompetence, ideological rigidity, inflation and high intere3st rates. Good thing that cannot happen here.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/3/2024 @ 6:34 pmThe New York Times story that goes back and firth about the problems in connection with switching candidates that has some unknown people close to Biden among its sources still has this Ohio ballot problem as a consideration even though it was fixed a month ago. The fact it ws fixed has mostly slipped by people, (this is one of those things where if you read it once, you know it is true) and political insiders have to be lying to the reporters, putting lies into their explanations of their supposed calculations
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/03/us/politics/president-biden-donald-trump-campaign-2024-democrats.html
But this is an outright lie.
https://www.wvxu.org/2024-06-03/dewine-signs-biden-ohio-ballot-fix-and-foreign-money-ban-he-asked-for-in-special-session
This Ohio deadline claim was also in another New York Times story, which was corrected online:
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/03/us/politics/biden-drop-out-2024-
election.html
The upshot of this is that New York Times cannot trust its inside the WHite House sources even about known facts,
Sammy Finkelman (c2c77e) — 7/4/2024 @ 8:57 amAnd the fact that they’ve been in power for the past 14 years. They’ve grown stale.
Rip Murdock (bf8ea8) — 7/4/2024 @ 9:08 amTrump gained about 3 percentage points after the debate, and especially gained with young males with less education.
Biden actually gained a bit with women and independents.
Sammy Finkelman (c2c77e) — 7/4/2024 @ 9:13 amAnd the fact that they’ve been in power for the past 14 years. They’ve grown stale.
Twelve of the last 16 here.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/4/2024 @ 9:26 amThe way out for the Democrats. They have until Labor Day, when campaigns traditionally start.
1. Sotomayor resigns.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/4/2024 @ 9:29 am2. Harris appointed to Court.
3. Gretchen Whitmer appointed VP.
4. Biden resigns.
Will Biden’s collapse allow Trump to pick a more MAGA VP?
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/4/2024 @ 11:02 amThank you for the tip. I’ve already read the first couple of chapters. NJRob would really like it.
nk (9a8070) — 7/4/2024 @ 11:37 amThe Economist…
The Dems’ willingness to play Weekend at Bernie’s with Joe tells me the Donkey Party is more like the GOP than they’re willing to admit.
Paul Montagu (3a796b) — 7/4/2024 @ 1:35 pmWhere does the media’s willingness come into play, Paul?
Do people believe they have clean hands in all of this? Does The Economist?
BuDuh (951507) — 7/4/2024 @ 1:59 pmOne, I already said “Catoggio is right in every respect”, which covers MSM complicity.
Two, thanks for telling me you didn’t read the Economist link. Quote: “The Economist first said in 2022 that Mr Biden should not seek re-election because he was too old.”
Paul Montagu (3a796b) — 7/4/2024 @ 2:13 pmWhat does that have to do with his cognitive state?
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-B-AUfGPgLs
BuDuh (d43404) — 7/4/2024 @ 5:22 pmCataggio correctly points out that the cover-up was not a strategic plan, as such would be suicidally stupid. Instead it was backed into after the facts began to leak out from the inner circle and in the face of the “threat” of Donald Trump. It was not so much to protect Joe Biden but to thwart the hated Trump.
That doesn’t actually make it better, but it shows how the mainstream media has been co-opted and corrupted by the Democrat Party. It’s not like they were willing conspirators so much as predictable fellow travelers.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/4/2024 @ 7:07 pmOne good piece of news from the UK elections: George Galloway has lost his seat in Parliament.
(Technically he lost it when Parliament was dissolved for the snap election, but he failed to win his riding today).
Kevin M (a9545f) — 7/4/2024 @ 7:10 pm