Weekend Open Thread
[guest post by Dana]
Let’s go!
First news item
This little one’s sweet face has not left my mind since I first saw his photo after having been taken hostage by Hamas on Oct. 7. So many prayers and so much hope that he and his 5-year old brother are still alive and will be released:
The youngest hostage still in captivity in Gaza, Kfir was just shy of 9 months old when he was kidnapped during the Hamas-led terrorist attack Oct.7, 2023. On Saturday, he turned 2, having never known a birthday outside captivity.
Along with his 5-year-old brother, Ariel, and his parents, Yarden and Shiri Bibas, Kfir is among the 33 hostages expected to be freed during the first phase of the ceasefire deal, according to the Israeli government. But it is unclear if the toddler is still alive.
If they are no longer alive, with all my heart I hope that they passed quickly and painlessly.
With that, we await next release of hostages scheduled for Saturday.
Second news item
Congressman Andy Ogles introduced a House Joint Resolution to amend the Constitution of the United States to allow a President to be elected for up to but no more than three terms. The language of the proposed amendment reads as follows:
‘‘No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than three times, nor be elected to any additional term after being elected to two consecutive terms, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.’’
“President Trump’s decisive leadership stands in stark contrast to the chaos, suffering, and economic decline Americans have endured over the past four years. He has proven himself to be the only figure in modern history capable of reversing our nation’s decay and restoring America to greatness, and he must be given the time necessary to accomplish that goal. To that end, I am proposing an amendment to the Constitution to revise the limitations imposed by the 22nd Amendment on presidential terms. This amendment would allow President Trump to serve three terms, ensuring that we can sustain the bold leadership our nation so desperately needs,” said Congressman Ogles.
Third news item
Trump still demonstrating his cluelessness about the war in Ukraine, or perhaps, demonstrating his allegiance to Putin:
Zelenskyy, I will say, he wants to settle now. He’s had enough. He shouldn’t have allowed this to happen either. He’s no angel. He shouldn’t have allowed this war to happen.
Good grief, this is so absurd. Obviously, Putin began this war by illegally invading a sovereign nation. Additionally, and most ridiculously of all, there was no way for Zelensky to stop the invasion from happening. The President sounds stupid.
Fourth news item
The best laid plans. . . :
A federal judge in Seattle on Thursday signed a temporary restraining order blocking President Donald Trump’s executive order on birthright citizenship.
U.S. District Judge John Coughenour heard a request by four Democratic-led states to issue a temporary restraining order against the executive order signed by Trump that purports to limit birthright citizenship — long guaranteed by the 14th Amendment — to people who have at least one parent who is a United States citizen or permanent resident.
“I have been on the bench for over four decades,” said Judge Coughenour, who was nominated to the bench by President Ronald Reagan in 1981. “I can’t remember another case where the question presented is as clear as it is here. This is a blatantly unconstitutional order.”
Fifth news item
Um, wut?:
Mississippi state Sen. Bradford Blackmon, a Democrat, introduced a bill this week that would seemingly ban men from masturbating or engaging in other sexual acts when they have no “intent to fertilize an embryo.”
The bill, titled the “Contraception Begins at Erection Act,” would make it unlawful for “a person to discharge genetic material without the intent to fertilize an embryo.” It includes exceptions for sperm donation and using contraception to prevent fertilization.
. . .Blackmon referred to the high number of state legislative bills introduced in recent years that target women’s access to reproductive health care, specifically abortion and contraception.
“All across the country, especially here in Mississippi, the vast majority of bills relating to contraception and/or abortion focus on the woman’s role when men are fifty percent of the equation,” he wrote. “This bill highlights that fact and brings the man’s role into the conversation. People can get up in arms and call it absurd but I can’t say that bothers me.”
[Addition by JVW]
Sixth news item
The great Bill Melugin, probably the best media source on immigration and border issues and an enviably handsome son-of-a-gun to boot, went on a ride-along with the Boston office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. His report can be found in this Tweet:
EXCLUSIVE: We were given exclusive access to ICE’s elite Boston team as they went into sanctuary jurisdictions and targeted the “worst of the worst” criminal illegal aliens, including a combative Haitian man who said he won’t go back & screamed “F**k Trump, Biden forever!”. Other… pic.twitter.com/wQ43sv5MBf
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) January 23, 2025
I’ve been noticing how relatively circumspect the mainstream media has been with respect to kvetching about these ICE round-ups. Clearly at some level they realize the folly of taking the side of rapists, thieves, and gangbangers just to placate the open borders crew. At most they are engaging in mild handwringing over the idea that actual citizens might temporarily be detained in the excitement. If I am the RNC I am creating an advertising campaign based upon the Haitian criminal singing the praises of Joe Biden and Barack Obama, presumably for supporting sanctuary cities and lax immigration policies, and I would be running it in every market which is home to a sanctuary city or state.
—Dana
Hello.
Dana (77d5eb) — 1/24/2025 @ 7:53 amAbsolutely, positively hard pass too, and Congressman Ogle should be ruthlessly mocked for that.
If it were to pass… the next election would be Barak Obama and Trump.
Just… no.
whembly (a18973) — 1/24/2025 @ 8:02 amFourth News Item:
Hmm! How far back does that go?
Let’s say Frederick and Elizabeth migrate to the United States undocumented because Fred is a stateless person having been stripped by Bavaria of his citizenship. They have a son Fred born in the Bronx.
Fred marries Mary Anne a migrant from Scotland. Fred and Mary Anne have a son Donald born in Queens.
If Mary Anne has a green card (permanent resident) Donald has birthright citizenship. If not, not.
Pretty ingenious, Mr. Donald. Roy Cohn level. And the J6 defendants think it was them he really wanted to pardon, too.
nk (0e42cd) — 1/24/2025 @ 8:32 amTwo word description of Trump’s second term:
“Daddy’s home”
but he may be a bit drunk.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/24/2025 @ 8:34 amThat’s not how constitutional amendments work. Both would be long dead by the time the states actually put it on the ballot and voted on it.
It’s pure performance art.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 1/24/2025 @ 8:37 amGood grief, this is so absurd. Obviously, Putin began this war by illegally invading a sovereign nation. Additionally, and most ridiculously of all, there was no way for Zelensky to stop the invasion from happening. The President sounds(?) stupid.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 1/24/2025 @ 8:37 amLet’s say Frederick and Elizabeth migrate to the United States undocumented
Damn few immigrants in that era had passports. Frederick arrived at a port of entry, was registed as an immigrant and allowed entry. END OF DISCUSSION.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/24/2025 @ 8:38 am@5, No, Obama would not be eligible under that narrow extension. Only Trump and Grover Cleveland would qualify. But good luck with that; you’d have to find 290 Representatives and 67 Senators, then 38 states that wanted to help Trump.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/24/2025 @ 8:43 amIf they are no longer alive, with all my heart I hope that they passed quickly and painlessly.
And Israel should put his face on a postage stamp signifying the evil of Hamas.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/24/2025 @ 8:45 amThe President sounds stupid.
Perhaps ignorant. Anyone who echos that line is both.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/24/2025 @ 8:46 amDamn few immigrants in that era had passports. Frederick arrived at a port of entry, was registed as an immigrant and allowed entry. END OF DISCUSSION.
Prove it!
I have my grandfather’s Ellis Island records. Does Trump has his?
nk (0e42cd) — 1/24/2025 @ 8:52 amThinking about the birthright citizenship thing, I suspect that this is just a troll of the opposition; something that they can spend all their energy lambasting while his real “reforms” slide through.
Another way to look at this is in the difference between Trump’s first and second terms. In the first term, he surrounded himself with competent people well-versed in government, then found himself negotiating with them to get any proposal through, often ending in lukewarm precompromised ideas that thrilled no one.
In his time-out, he has had plenty of time (and experience) to create a detailed plan. No more compromising with himself before proposing his plan of action. Let the other side do the compromising. And so, the birthright citizenship plan, which might lead to — at most — some small reform regarding children of tourists and the like. But mostly to consume the air in opposition rooms.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/24/2025 @ 8:54 amI have my grandfather’s Ellis Island records. Does Trump has his?
Wikipedia does.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/24/2025 @ 8:55 amWouldn’t it be a hoot if Mary Ann got her green card by virtue of her marriage to Fred then considered a birthright citizen but not under Trump’s definition of birthright citizenship?
We would have the first non-citizen President. Twice.
How is that for “exceptional”? Famous too.
nk (0e42cd) — 1/24/2025 @ 8:56 amI have my grandfather’s Ellis Island records. Does Trump has his?
Wikipedia does.
That’s from 1885. He then went to the Yukon, that’s in Canada, and then back to Bavaria where he married Elizabeth, and came back in 1905. Any residence he may have established in 1885 was voluntarily relinquished.
nk (0e42cd) — 1/24/2025 @ 9:03 amThe key phrase to Andy Ogles’ big wet kiss to Trump’s arse is this…
…which means Trump would be qualified to run again but not Clinton, not GW Bush and not Obama. Blow up this blatant MAGA political bullsh-t.
Paul Montagu (3bccc6) — 1/24/2025 @ 9:07 amAny residence he may have established in 1885 was voluntarily relinquished.
Really? He was allowed re-entry. Or do you argue that he and Elizabeth sneaked in?
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/24/2025 @ 9:07 amAny residence he may have established in 1885 was voluntarily relinquished.
Although that was the argument they tried with Wong Kim Ark.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/24/2025 @ 9:08 amAnd BTW, Clinton and Bush and Obama are all younger than Trump.
Paul Montagu (3bccc6) — 1/24/2025 @ 9:12 amReally? He was allowed re-entry. Or do you argue that he and Elizabeth sneaked in?
Das ist die Frage. That is the question.23
nk (0e42cd) — 1/24/2025 @ 9:43 amAlthough that was the argument they tried with Wong Kim Ark.
Sigh. Wong Kim Ark is what Trump thinks he can overrule.
nk (0e42cd) — 1/24/2025 @ 9:46 amAnd another thing for Ginni and Martha Ann to consider, what would be the effect on Trump’s judicial appointments were he to be ruled ineligible to have ever been President?
nk (0e42cd) — 1/24/2025 @ 9:50 amAnd BTW, Clinton and Bush and Obama are all younger than Trump.
So what? Go read that proposed amendment. You only get 3 terms if you haven’t had two in a row already.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/24/2025 @ 10:04 amA little bit of hope to share. I was chatting with one of my research students.
Remember that I do NOT discuss politics on campus. Period. My JOB is to support all of the students, and they know it.
Anyway, the student was despondent over Trump 2.0. I told her that we need to find a way to not call people with whom we disagree names; doing so only drives extremists and division. We need to convince people with whom we disagree that our ideas are worthwhile.
She said, “I had just that thought. So I am trying to set up a discussion group on campus where people can discuss their differences.”
I reminded her of the official reviewing my department who did not like the term “safe space.” She preferred “brave space.” A place where people felt that their opinions, when when disagreed with, were respected.
I’m proud of her.
Simon Jester (c8876d) — 1/24/2025 @ 10:19 amThat is the point, Kevin. Under Ogles’ Trump-asskissing proposal, Trump gets a 3rd term while Clinton and Bush and Obama do not.
Paul Montagu (3bccc6) — 1/24/2025 @ 10:32 amAgreed: no 3rd term for anyone anymore.
As for Ukraine: perhaps he means what you’re not considering: that if Zelensky had not provided “cover” for Biden/Burisma etc, and had outed Hunter’s involvement there, Trump would have been relected in 2020.
And neither the disastrous withdrawl from Afghanistan, or the later invasion would have occurred–as it did not occur while T was president. He is saying, ‘you should have been honest and open and not shielded Biden, who blundered so badly the invasion occurred.’
Harcourt Fenton Mudd (0c349e) — 1/24/2025 @ 10:33 amWhen Zelenskyy first campaigned for office, among other things he advocated negotiations with Russia to settle their differences, peacefully.
Jim Miller (3faf1e) — 1/24/2025 @ 10:40 amSo, Trump will throw the entire Ukraine nation to the wolves because they didn’t help him embarrass Biden? That’s remarkably petty and it’s a poor defense for Trump’s behavior.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/24/2025 @ 10:57 amThere was no “cover” or “outed”. Hunter ended his 5-year term at Burisma around the same time Zelenskyy was elected, and there’s no evidence that Hunter’s easy-money deal with Zlochevsky was illegal.
Was it sleazy, with Hunter trading in on his dad’s name for a buck? Yes.
Was it illegal? No, unproven.
Also, Trump’s “favor” included this nonsense about Crowdstrike, where there was never a there there.
This is true, but negotiations went nowhere, which is not surprising as Putin is the bad actor, violating Minsk, international law, Geneva Conventions, Budapest, 1997 treaty, etc.
Medvedchuk actually is a traitor, having a daughter whose godfather is none other than Vlad Putin.
Paul Montagu (3bccc6) — 1/24/2025 @ 11:07 amPaul,
What does it matter what basis or lack thereof there is for Trump’s pique? This is a nation of 37 million* people that Trump is going to throw to the Devil because he didn’t get his way. The underpinnings of that crime aren’t worth discussing.
———
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/24/2025 @ 11:14 am* down from 45 million in 2018
The bill, titled the “Contraception Begins at Erection Act,” would make it unlawful for “a person to discharge genetic material without the intent to fertilize an embryo.” It includes exceptions for sperm donation and using contraception to prevent fertilization.
So then every month or thereabouts a menstruating woman is in violation of this law too in less she is using contraception?
JVW (7728d0) — 1/24/2025 @ 11:16 amBoth Andy Ogles and Bradford Blackmon are exactly what is wrong with today’s politics: preening and showboating legislators looking for social capital and “likes” from the entirely-too-online crowd and the dumbest parts of their base rather than public servants looking to solve pressing problems. Rep. Ogles, or at least someone in his office, must know there is not a snowball’s chance in hell that this Constitutional Amendment will pass through Congress, let alone be ratified by 38 states, but he gets hardcore MAGA to cheer for this silly idea.
Same goes for State Senator Blackmon. I doubt that he desires this bill to pass — and frankly, the leadership of the Mississippi Senate ought to fasttrack this bill and bring it up for a vote just to see if Sen. Blackmon himself dares vote “aye” — but he knows that some left-wing feminist groups will cheer him on and probably present him with some sort of “allyship” award. I know nothing about Bradford Blackmon, but it wouldn’t surprise me if he has a problematic relationship with women in his own life, just because guys who try so hard to come off as male feminists so often do; witness Bill Clinton, Ted Kennedy, Eliot Spitzer, and so many others as choice examples.
JVW (7728d0) — 1/24/2025 @ 11:24 amTrump:
Dana:
This first part of this is aimed at Putin. Trump is claiming that Zelenskyy wants to settle. It has the merit of being true.
The part about Zelensky that he should not have allowed this to happen, seems to be premised on the idea that if he had made some (acceptable of course) concession to Russia, Putin would not have invaded.
There was no such offer from Putin on the table, but what Trump is doing here is either trying to justify some previous statement of his, (which is something Trump perennially does and he’s not stopping doing that) or to appeal to some of his MAGA base which believes that Ukraine is responsible for the war (by being willing to join NATO or something.)
Those last three sentences can basically be ignored. The key point is Trump trying to persuade Putin that what he can get is something acceptable to himself, and won’t be hard.
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 1/24/2025 @ 11:35 amActually what I understand the executive order signed by Trump does is prohibit the federal government from issuing either passports or Social Securiy cards (both issued by the federal government) to people whom he claims are not U.S> citizens. He cannot alter citizenship criteria – but what’s more he cannot defy an Act of Congress and Congress has specified when they are issued. I think there are court cases (as well as intent of Congress) that limit when citizenship is given up and there must e laws and probably rulings that prevent a president from refusing to give some citizens Social Security cards. And there are no records normally available that would tell if someone filed to meet the criteria he outlines.
States do not record citizenship or permanent residency status of parents on birth certificates.
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 1/24/2025 @ 11:44 am[Addition by JVW]
Sixth news item
The great Bill Melugin, probably the best media source on immigration and border issues and an enviably handsome son-of-a-gun to boot, went on a ride-along with the Boston office of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. His report can be found in this Tweet:
I’ve been noticing how relatively circumspect the mainstream media has been with respect to kvetching about these ICE round-ups. Clearly at some level they realize the folly of taking the side of rapists, thieves, and gangbangers just to placate the open borders crew. At most they are engaging in mild handwringing over the idea that actual citizens might temporarily be detained in the excitement. If I am the RNC I am creating an advertising campaign based upon the Haitian criminal singing the praises of Joe Biden and Barack Obama, presumably for supporting sanctuary cities and lax immigration policies, and I would be running it in every market which is home to a sanctuary city or state.
JVW (ad022a) — 1/24/2025 @ 11:48 amThe fact that these roundups of illegal alien criminals began mere days after Donald Trump was inaugurated makes it clear that it was Joe Biden (or whoever was operating in his name) who was preventing this from occurring all along.
JVW (cce405) — 1/24/2025 @ 11:53 amAre you kidding? It’s Trump’s whacked mentality that he’s still blaming Zelenskyy for a war that Putin is wholly responsible for. Crowdstrike was one part of Trump’s denial that Putin engaged in “sweeping and systematic” cyber-propaganda attack on America, and Crowdstrike was one of those ways to deflect responsibility from Russia to Ukraine, thereby absolving the bully and blaming the victim, and Trump is still playing that stupid game.
Paul Montagu (3bccc6) — 1/24/2025 @ 11:56 amKevin M (a9545f) — 1/24/2025 @ 10:57 am`
That’s not what he’s trying to do. He’s trying to knock some sense into Putin. The person he’s threatening is Putin, not Zelensky.
Of course, Trump just has to endorse previous lies or assumptions by his MAGA folks.
Look at what Trump sent out the other day:
He’s threatening Putin, not Zelenskyy.
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 1/24/2025 @ 12:04 pmJVW (cce405) — 1/24/2025 @ 11:53 am
We don’t know that. They wanted budget increases (and it is promised budget increases and diplomatic action and backup that’s causing this now. )
The media is mostly playing stenographer
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 1/24/2025 @ 12:07 pm28: He is not saying he’ll throw anyone to the wolves. He is saying ‘you got into this mess” for a reason. People construing this as “he’s stupid” just miss what he is saying.
Q: is it better to resolve this war now or wait to see if it ends by use of Russain superior numbers and total defeat in Ukraine? Or if Russia uses nuclear or germ warfare?
And in the event of either of those horrifics, will those who hubristically encouraged the war to continue and not settle, will they urge US intervention with troops? Have you run that by the younger generation?
Of course its possible the war will continue statically, w/o change. Historically, not a good bet (America won’t come in to WWI; no one will develop a superweapon in WW2).
Harcourt Fenton Mudd (0c349e) — 1/24/2025 @ 12:12 pm38 Sammy: yes, and he’s trying to let Putin save face, a concept some do not grasp. I hope it works. Continued war is not a good thing.
Harcourt Fenton Mudd (0c349e) — 1/24/2025 @ 12:14 pmOh dear, National Review has come out against the confirmation of Little Aloha Sweetie as Director of National Intelligence:
As someone who grew up in a town with a long history of mafia involvement, well — let’s just say that gangsters are people too.
But I’ve always thought that Little Aloha Sweetie would be better suited as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
JVW (06c685) — 1/24/2025 @ 12:14 pmWe don’t know that. They wanted budget increases (and it is promised budget increases and diplomatic action and backup that’s causing this now. )
ICE was able to arrest the 30 hardened criminals in Boston without budget increases, and without any help from local law enforcement. The idea that federal agencies need more money to engage in the tasks they are chartered for is a tired Democrat canard. Imagine if every single large municipality were to arrest 30 hardened illegal alien criminals this weekend. If Boston is only the 25th largest municipality, then it is not inconceivable that we could arrest and deport over 1,000 criminals by the end of this month, without increasing the budget at all.
JVW (d10a72) — 1/24/2025 @ 12:19 pmICE try to raid chicago elementary school as child run terrified to hide behind their teachers who lock class room door to keep ICE out. Ann Frank is crying in heaven.
asset (da1ca2) — 1/24/2025 @ 1:30 pmJVW (d10a72) — 1/24/2025 @ 12:19 pm
Sammy Finkelman (93572e) — 1/24/2025 @ 1:42 pmI’m waiting for someone to propose raiding a hospital, and someone else to oppose it, and then the person opposing it being reported by a colleague in the government,
Sammy Finkelman (93572e) — 1/24/2025 @ 1:44 pmWhy are you surprised? It fits in with his vows of retribution against his perceived persecutors.
Rip Murdock (c222c5) — 1/24/2025 @ 1:57 pmI dare say once Trump’s deportation plans are fully implemented it will cost billions. More than doubling the number of detainee beds, opening new detention facilities, using military aircraft for deportation flights, increasing the number of Border Patrol agents, conducting raids on worksites, schools, churches, etc. on a national scale all takes money.
Rip Murdock (c222c5) — 1/24/2025 @ 2:15 pmDana – I think this may be the link you intended in Item 1: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/israel-hamas-war-ceasefire-youngest-hostage-kfir-bibas-rcna188705
Thanks much for reminding us about this story.
Jim Miller (66a035) — 1/24/2025 @ 2:35 pmCredi to Kevin, for suggesting earlier that the Loser’s birthright citizenship executive order may be a ploy used to distract attention from EOs that have more chance of not being blocked.
(I have thought for some time that the Loser often puts up wild talk for much the same reason bombers began using “chaff” in WW II.)
Jim Miller (66a035) — 1/24/2025 @ 2:40 pm47. Really? You don’t see it as anymore than pique? And you’re prepared to let the war drag on (at the expense of lives adding up daily), until Russia prevails with numbers, uses some escalation or US troops have to become involved? On the hope that Ukraine will prevail? That Putin will tire? As one of our sage commentators says, hope is not a strategy.
48: Billions: But what is it costing now to host, feed, house, educate, care for etc the millions of illegals filling NYC, Denver and Chicago – -to name only 3? Denver’s hospitals are asking for a federal bailout. NYC says it can’t take anymore.
And how many more US lives must be lost to violent unvetted migrants? I can’t believe that you want to just keep up what we’ve been doing. Or do you want to seal the border and pretend millions of illegals aren’t here?
Harcourt Fenton Mudd (0c349e) — 1/24/2025 @ 2:49 pmI would also include the cost of bounties to be paid to citizens who call a proposed tip line to inform on potential illegal immigrants.
Rip Murdock (c222c5) — 1/24/2025 @ 2:52 pm“I would also include the cost of bounties to be paid to citizens who call a proposed tip line to inform on potential illegal immigrants.”
How about a tip line to report employers of illegal immigrants? Probably just an oversight.
Davethulhu (14e9e4) — 1/24/2025 @ 2:54 pmI really doubt that is the case, otherwisede why would Trump appoint Stephen Miler as deputy chief of staff for policy? In addition, Trump has been advocating for a change to birthright citizenship since his first term.
Rip Murdock (c222c5) — 1/24/2025 @ 2:55 pmAre you kidding? It’s Trump’s whacked mentality that he’s still blaming Zelenskyy for a war that Putin is wholly responsible for.
And you are arguing facts to his supporters? Why would you do that? It annoys them, it annoys me and it probably annoys the facts.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/24/2025 @ 3:11 pmFor those who want to discuss recent US budget deficits factually, here’s a useful graph. As you can see, the largest deficit — by far — occurred while the Loser was in office.
(For the record: I have long thought that directly crediting a president for reductions in deficits, or blaming him for increases, is often silly. Congress, after all, has the power of the purse. And events outside both often are more important than either. Moreover, both are bound by the decisions of past administrations and Congress, such as the increases that we social security recipients received this month.
Some years ago I got a call from the Gallup organization. The caller asked whether I approved of the president’s management of the economy. Which reminded me that presidents do not manage the economy, and probably shouldn’t.)
Jim Miller (66a035) — 1/24/2025 @ 3:12 pmThe point is that Trump doesn’t care if the proposals are going to go forward. He spent his entire first term worrying about that, and in the 4 years on the beach he’s decided “Eff it.”
No more negotiating with his advisors. Let Trump be Trump! and see what flies.
And yes, the crazier stuff will consume all the opponents oxygen and they’ll eventually run out of energy.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/24/2025 @ 3:15 pmIf Trump is trolling his opponents he’s also trolling his supporters who agree with his views on birthright citizenship.
Rip Murdock (c222c5) — 1/24/2025 @ 3:35 pmAs well as his “border czar.”
Rip Murdock (c222c5) — 1/24/2025 @ 3:37 pmApparently there is already one, but it covers all sorts of illegal stuff.
Rip Murdock (c222c5) — 1/24/2025 @ 3:50 pmWorksite enforcement is included, so go for it. What could possibly go wrong?
Rip Murdock (c222c5) — 1/24/2025 @ 3:52 pm“I would also include the cost of bounties to be paid to citizens who call a proposed tip line to inform on potential illegal immigrants.”
1-800-GESTAPO?
nk (b42367) — 1/24/2025 @ 4:00 pmImmigration is the one area where Trump has Democrats by the short hairs. Both Trump and Biden were complicit in inflation, but Biden owns the immigration mess.
norcal (a72384) — 1/24/2025 @ 4:01 pmOut of 11M? Nobody would notice.
Rip Murdock (c222c5) — 1/24/2025 @ 4:18 pmAt some point that will change.
Rip Murdock (c222c5) — 1/24/2025 @ 4:19 pmIt also a pointless argument, given that Biden is no longer President. It’s Trump’s problem now, and we should hope his deportation plans succeed.
Rip Murdock (c222c5) — 1/24/2025 @ 4:34 pmSpeaking of whacked mentality, it’s not just about Trump’s wrongheaded perspective on Putin and Ukraine and Zelenskyy, it’s his pining for a bygone tariff era of economic paradise that never happened.
Um, no.
Bottom line, Trump was making sh-t up about the economic success of an economy where our government’s primary revenue source was tariffs, because he’s wrongheadedly fixated on tariffs that will only add to inflation and hurt our GDP. The next four years will be the same as his first term, full of lies and bullsh-t and tall tales and gish-galloping.
Paul Montagu (3bccc6) — 1/24/2025 @ 4:53 pmTechnology always has a solution :
Rip Murdock (c222c5) — 1/24/2025 @ 5:31 pmOut of 11M? Nobody would notice.
Rip Murdock (c222c5) — 1/24/2025 @ 4:18 pm
Karoline Leavitt
@PressSec
🚨TODAY: The Trump Administration arrested 538 illegal immigrant criminals including a suspected terrorist, four members of the Tren de Aragua gang, and several illegals convicted of sex crimes against minors.
lloyd (7c838f) — 1/24/2025 @ 7:10 pm6:20 PM · Jan 23, 2025
Hegseth approved by Senate with Vance as tiebreaker.
Dana (2d6695) — 1/24/2025 @ 7:19 pmCongratulations to Hegseth.
Blasey Ford hardest hit.
lloyd (7c838f) — 1/24/2025 @ 7:24 pmAs far as making a dent in the total number of illegal immigrants in the US (approximately 11M), deporting a thousand aliens a month for a year would be hardly noticeable.
I never said “who cares,” I did say that we should hope that Trump’s deportation plans succeed.
Rip Murdock (c222c5) — 1/24/2025 @ 7:27 pmMeanwhile, Democrats continue being the reason we got Trump:U.S.
nk (af0f2b) — 1/24/2025 @ 7:40 pmImagine if every single large municipality were to arrest 30 hardened illegal alien criminals this weekend. If Boston is only the 25th largest municipality, then it is not inconceivable that we could arrest and deport over 1,000 criminals by the end of this month, without increasing the budget at all.
Uh, that supposes that we’re talking about some random subset of illegal immigrants, instead of all the rapists, thieves, murders, and others that the pro-immigration side is trying to protect but who we know consists of some of the worst people imaginable.
What if this was about — you know — the seriously worst offenders? That’s kind of the whole point of this. Are you against ICE removing the worst offenders, or to you is it never enough?
JVW (2b125e) — 1/24/2025 @ 9:00 pmNot at all, but it’s only a start.
Rip Murdock (dda1b5) — 1/24/2025 @ 9:08 pmMescalaro apache demanded proof of citizenship by ICE agent claiming under 14th amendment that native americans are not u.s. citizens. Where will they deport him too? The reservation? (DU)
asset (e32ff9) — 1/24/2025 @ 9:17 pm@73 trump adm. sends in the SS to gage reaction to elementary school raid and can claim not ICE.
asset (e32ff9) — 1/24/2025 @ 10:36 pmTrump fired all the IGs.
The GOP is utterly corrupt.
Time123 (61c8c5) — 1/25/2025 @ 9:41 amThe DEMs were bad but just, wow.
Time123 with the usual leftist take.
There are more than 70 IGs, and he fired 17 of them. Math is hard.
(Reagan fired all of them when he took office, then ended up reinstating about half.)
lloyd (270105) — 1/25/2025 @ 9:57 amWow, lloyd is ok with it. Everyone whose surprised by that speak up.
Time123 (61c8c5) — 1/25/2025 @ 10:02 amNo, I’m not okay with you lying about what happened. Otherwise, I gave no opinion.
lloyd (270105) — 1/25/2025 @ 10:15 am@lloyd@79 According to the article Time linked, it appears to be illegal to fire any of them without informing both the house and the senate 30 days in advance of the reason for firing them.
Nic (120c94) — 1/25/2025 @ 10:16 am@82 That wasn’t what Time123 was falsely hyperventilating about.
lloyd (270105) — 1/25/2025 @ 10:40 amHi Lloyd, you’re correct he only fired 17 of them at one time and without following proper procedure. My “all of them” was hyperbole on my part. There isn’t much of a difference in the distinction and I incorrectly assumed commenters here would understand that and follow my point. I’m sorry I confused you. I’ll be more literal in the future.
Time123 (61c8c5) — 1/25/2025 @ 10:47 am@lloyd@83 It’s what I found concerning in the article.
Nic (120c94) — 1/25/2025 @ 11:12 amKristi Noem has been confirmed as DHS Secretary by a bipartisan Senate vote of 59-34. Dogs hardest hit.
Rip Murdock (dda1b5) — 1/25/2025 @ 11:12 amRip, they will be if she has anything to say about it!
Time123 (61c8c5) — 1/25/2025 @ 11:19 amKlassless Patel.
Paul Montagu (3bccc6) — 1/25/2025 @ 11:32 amAbout those sacked IGs….
Trump already flouted the notice provision of the law, so I don’t rule out Trump picking loyalists outside the chain.
Paul Montagu (3bccc6) — 1/25/2025 @ 12:18 pmNeedless to say, President Trump cannot “get rid of FEMA” by executive order; it would require an act of Congress. In addition, I doubt states that have natural disasters (which is mostly all of them) wouldn’t want to take on the full cost of recovery. States like Texas, Florida, and Louisiana have faced multiple hurricanes in a single year that cost billions of dollars each.
Rip Murdock (c222c5) — 1/25/2025 @ 12:33 pmIf Trump is trolling his opponents he’s also trolling his supporters who agree with his views on birthright citizenship.
I think there it’s more of a case of “Maybe the horse will sing.”
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/25/2025 @ 12:42 pmICE try to raid chicago elementary school
Again, no link, just fever-dreams from some chat room.
What really happened?
Once more we see that the fear-mongers have succeeded in scaring little kids.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/25/2025 @ 12:46 pmHegseth approved by Senate with Vance as tiebreaker.
Mitch McConnell voting no. And here I was told he’d be a reliable rubber-stamp.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/25/2025 @ 12:51 pmWow, lloyd is ok with it. Everyone whose surprised by that speak up.
Anyone surprised by Time’s counting 17 as “all”, or thinking this is unusual, raise their hands.
It is true that the lame duck Congress imposed new rules in December 2022, but not only is that unconstitutional, it was the act of the departing Democrat house majority. Trump is right to ignore it.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/25/2025 @ 12:59 pmTrump already flouted the notice provision of the law, so I don’t rule out Trump picking loyalists outside the chain.
Whatever the constitutionality of imposing rules on the Executive firing of his appointees, they are eventually gone even if this is functionally a 30-day notice. All Presidents do this (next up will be USA’s, with the normal history-blind eruption of concern).
As for him appointing flunkies to these jobs, the President’s appointees are all Senate-confirmed positions. Note that many IGs are agency-appointed and not subject to this discussion.
The number may not be 17, either. The NYT is saying 12.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/25/2025 @ 1:07 pmWhile visiting Pacific Palisades, President Trump offered conflicting statements about federal aid for the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles County:
As I have previously mentioned, Los Angeles does not receive any water from the federal Central Valley Project. It provides water to the farms in the Central and San Joaquin Valleys.
Los Angeles
Rip Murdock (c222c5) — 1/25/2025 @ 1:07 pmstealsreceives its water (for the past 112 years) from the Owens Valley (via the Los Angeles Aqueduct) which on eastern side of the Sierra Nevada and the Colorado River (since the 1930s via the Colorado Aqueduct) through the regional Metropolitan Water District.And as a backbencher, he influenced no one else.
Rip Murdock (c222c5) — 1/25/2025 @ 1:09 pmIn addition, I doubt states that have natural disasters (which is mostly all of them) wouldn’t want to take on the full cost of recovery. States like Texas, Florida, and Louisiana have faced multiple hurricanes in a single year that cost billions of dollars each.
Further, the cost and impact of these disasters reach across state borders.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/25/2025 @ 1:11 pmI assume under Trump’s proposal those states would be required to deal with any spillover impacts.
Rip Murdock (c222c5) — 1/25/2025 @ 1:16 pmWater supply isn’t an issue right now in Southern California.
It was in the Palisades fire, as a tear in the cover of Palisades reservoir caused it to be emptied 18 months ago due to CA environmental rules, and the bidding process on a new cover had not yet been completed.
A 117 million gallon reservoir, built to defend the Palisades and nearby areas from wildfires, was bone dry. All other sources combined to provide less than 2% of that amount and firefighters had to leave when the hydrants ran dry.
This had nothing to do with the delta smelt, of course. A different moronic state environmental rule was responsible.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/25/2025 @ 1:16 pmhttps://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Aqueduct
BuDuh (4214e4) — 1/25/2025 @ 1:16 pmI assume under Trump’s proposal those states would be required to deal with any spillover impacts.
His proposal, like a lot of what comes out of his word-hole, was just venting over some anti-Trump elements in FEMA refusing to help people with Trump signs before the election.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/25/2025 @ 1:18 pmMcConnell’s “no” vote was pretty safe, as I assume he knew that the outcome would be tied and Vance would cast the deciding vote. Not a profile in courage; I don’t recall any stem winding speech denouncing Hegseth.
Rip Murdock (c222c5) — 1/25/2025 @ 1:20 pmIf San Francisco is so concerned about needing water to keep the delta’s salinity down, they can devert their own stolen water from Hetch Hetchy, rather than from the aqueduct.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/25/2025 @ 1:20 pmDifferent project.
Rip Murdock (c222c5) — 1/25/2025 @ 1:24 pmThe California Aqueduct is not a source of water for the City of Los Angeles.
Rip Murdock (c222c5) — 1/25/2025 @ 1:27 pmYou wrote “Los Angeles County” at the beginning of the same comment where you concluded “ Los Angeles
stealsreceives its water (for the past 112 years) from the Owens Valley (via the Los Angeles Aqueduct).”Your did not make any distinction, so I doubt the article did either. It was your typical rushed expertise that usually ends up appearing as an exploding cigar.
I do hope you go to great lengths to “prove” you were correct the whole time. That is always fun to read.
Later..
BuDuh (4214e4) — 1/25/2025 @ 1:37 pmhttps://www.ladwp.com/who-we-are/water-system/sources-supply
Ouch!
BuDuh (4214e4) — 1/25/2025 @ 1:42 pmOuch! is right……..
Rip Murdock (c222c5) — 1/25/2025 @ 1:43 pm🤣
😂😂😆🤣😂😂🧐🤔😐
BuDuh (4214e4) — 1/25/2025 @ 1:45 pmOur Senate confirmed an unqualified political hack to run the Defense Department. That’s not even small comfort, Kevin, it’s no comfort.
Paul Montagu (3bccc6) — 1/25/2025 @ 1:55 pmIGs may Senate-confirmed, but the notice and appointment provisions are statutory law, passed by Congress and signed by the president, and with good reason, because IGs are supposed to have a degree of detachment and independence.
What could possibly go wrong?
Rip Murdock (c222c5) — 1/25/2025 @ 1:58 pm98- the proposal obviously contemplates state administration of disaster aid, and there is no reason federal money can’t be used to fund those efforts if needed. But there is no reason to have a bloated federal agency that flies in to reserve hotel rooms, give anti-harassment training to firefighters, etc., and makes delivery of aid more complicated than it needs to be.
Harcourt Fenton Mudd (78ba62) — 1/25/2025 @ 2:01 pmDecember 2021:
https://www.ladwpnews.com/ladwp-shares-urgent-message-of-water-conservation-as-the-state-announces-a-0-initial-allocation-of-water-from-the-state-water-project/
Maybe unlocking water from the North is a real thing.
BuDuh (4214e4) — 1/25/2025 @ 2:03 pmDitto on his TikTok EO on Day One. Trump managed to violate both his oath and the Constitution at the same time.
Rip Murdock (c222c5) — 1/25/2025 @ 2:04 pmOr maybe Trump wants strengthen federalism by devolving responsibility to the states, something conservatives should favor.
Rip Murdock (c222c5) — 1/25/2025 @ 2:08 pmI take Trump at his word that he believes states should fund their own recovery from disasters; his comments are pretty clear and don’t need any interpretation. Until the inevitable walk back.
DOGE’s two trillion dollars in savings has to come from somewhere.
Rip Murdock (c222c5) — 1/25/2025 @ 2:15 pmThinking charitably, Trump could be referring to his memory of the shelved Delta Conveyance Project. Water from the “Twin Tunnels” would have found its way into the State Water Project system, which is connected to LA County via this system as mapped
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e5/California_State_Water_Project.png/1024px-California_State_Water_Project.png
Lake Castaic at one of the ends of the map is a LA DWP holding/distribution reservoir
There is a nice water museum (LADWP) at Pyramid Lake up on the 1-5 Grapevine that gets about 10 visitors a day- most to use the cleanest restroom on the hill
steveg (cdf9e5) — 1/25/2025 @ 2:47 pmKevin, I’m interested in your thoughts about Trumps actions, if you have any beyond disdain at my hyperbolic description of it.
I think firing that many IG’s without following the legally prescribed process is corrupt. Especially so if you look at the ones that he fired. I’m happy to elaborate on why I think that, but we’ve been talking long enough that I assume you have a pretty good idea of where I’m coming from. You seem to be supportive of it which I find surprising. So I’m curious what your thoughts are?
Time123 (61c8c5) — 1/25/2025 @ 3:17 pmTrump’s proposal to have states take the responsibility for funding disaster recovery is straight from Project 2025:
My emphasis.
Rip Murdock (c222c5) — 1/25/2025 @ 3:35 pmThe description is of a prescribed process, not a legally prescribed one. The legally prescribed process for a sitting President regarding the removal of employees/IG’s who serve at the pleasure of the Executive is for the President to issue an Executive Order directing removal or to simply do nothing and stay the course. The legally prescribed process for the Executive to remove employees of the legislative branch is to go through the leadership of the legislative body
steveg (cdf9e5) — 1/25/2025 @ 3:41 pmhttps://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF11546
I suppose you could say the “legally prescribed process” for the Executive removal of IG’s always involves “in writing,” “notice” and I suppose the legislative branch could quibble over words like “substantive”
The removal procedure for presidentially appointed IGs is
found in Title 5, Section 403(b), of the U.S. Code. The
section reads in part:
An Inspector General may be removed from office
by the President. If an Inspector General is removed
from office or is transferred to another position or
location within an establishment, the President shall
communicate in writing the substantive rationale,
including detailed and case-specific reasons for any
such removal or transfer to both Houses of
Congress (including the appropriate congressional
committees), not later than 30 days before the
removal or transfer. Nothing in this subsection shall
prohibit a personnel action otherwise authorized by
law, other than transfer or removal.
President Reagan’s Removal of All Inspectors
steveg (cdf9e5) — 1/25/2025 @ 4:13 pmGeneral
During presidential transitions, turnover of most political
appointees is the norm. New Presidents have the authority
to remove IGs at the start of their Administrations and make
their own nominations. However, following such action at
the start of the Reagan Administration, practice has
disfavored removal of IGs during presidential transition
120: that is what P2025 says, and good point: it may be what he has in mind. Maybe a way to nudge CA and other sanctuary states to tend to their basic obligations and not divert billions to migrants, bullet trains to nowhere, state poets, and litigating with the Trump DOJ,
Harcourt Fenton Mudd (78ba62) — 1/25/2025 @ 4:51 pmAnd Florida, and Texas, Louisiana, and……
Rip Murdock (dda1b5) — 1/25/2025 @ 5:10 pmAs much as you may want him to, President Trump’s suggestion that states bear the cost of recovering from of their natural disasters wouldn’t be limited to states you don’t like. It would be a national policy.
Rip Murdock (dda1b5) — 1/25/2025 @ 5:45 pmOur Senate confirmed an unqualified political hack to run the Defense Department. That’s not even small comfort, Kevin, it’s no comfort.
It’s the Constitution. What you are saying is that you can’t or won’t accept the election outcome.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/25/2025 @ 6:17 pmDonald Trump won because he promised to tear down the Establishment structure. And he is setting about doing it. My problem is that I don’t think he’ll be able to establish a new structure in its stead. But maybe Vance can.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/25/2025 @ 6:18 pmKevin, I’m interested in your thoughts about Trumps actions, if you have any beyond disdain at my hyperbolic description of it.
See my last two posts. I really don’t find it very useful to critique his every move; I’m just spectating right now as he breaks stuff.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/25/2025 @ 6:20 pmAs far as Project 2025, it was aiming at devolving and or privatizing federal power. In principle I support this. In practice, well, it depends. Many things the feds do, the states can do better; education comes to mind. Some things, like TSA, are constitutionally suspect for any level of government to do (“show us your papers and let us search your belongings”) and private companies can do it without the State being involved.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/25/2025 @ 6:25 pm125: fine with me! Enough of diverting $ to vanity projects instead of basic needs.
But disaster aid does not have to be 100% like it is now or nothing: the feds can share $ but eliminate FEMA–give states the $ and let them administer it. Why do we need a federal agency involved in auding NC? Or CA?
Harcourt Fenton Mudd (3901c6) — 1/25/2025 @ 7:19 pmSome things, like TSA, are constitutionally suspect for any level of government to do (“show us your papers and let us search your belongings”) and private companies can do it without the State being involved.
Like they did on 9/11/2001?
The profit motive is barely tolerable in a free market where the consumer can buy or not buy. Not in a captive market where there is no other choice, and absolutely never when it comes to keeping hijackers and bombs off of airplanes.
nk (e53f7a) — 1/25/2025 @ 7:31 pmThanks Jim Miller @49.
Dana (3ba2ae) — 1/25/2025 @ 7:42 pmLike they did on 9/11/2001?
You can put some rules on, like a $30/hr minimum wage. You could also let the airlines hold the liability bag, and show they are insured. It wasn’t the “profit motive” that caused 9/11, it was the lesson of PanAm/Lockerbie not being made much clearer.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/25/2025 @ 10:28 pmThe profit motive is barely tolerable in a free market where the consumer can buy or not buy. Not in a captive market
Well, right now it IS a captive market, in several ways. If TSA screws up, they’re immune to suits since they aren’t really responsible for keeping you safe, just like cops don’t have to actually try. But still, how far are you willing to go? TSA on trains and busses? Checkpoints on the interstate? Franklin had an attitude about this.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/25/2025 @ 10:32 pm#132 Dana, you’re welcome. I’m glad when I can help out, even in some small way.
Jim Miller (a3980f) — 1/26/2025 @ 5:05 amKevin, thank you for the explanation. I get what you’re saying.
Time123 (da21cc) — 1/26/2025 @ 6:07 amI think firing that many IG’s without following the legally prescribed process is corrupt. … You seem to be supportive of it which I find surprising. So I’m curious what your thoughts are?
Sorry for any disdain that came across, it wasn’t intentional.
First, the December 2022 act by Congress was partisan in the extreme, as it was done by a Congress that had just lost the election and it only put a burden on the next GOP administration.
Second, both IGs and USAs are traditionally turfed after every transfer of power, and imposing “you can’t fire them” rules is probably unconstitutional, as much as it has been tried over the years.
Third, many IGs are even less protected, appointed by and serving at the pleasure of agency/commission heads and needing no Senate confirmation. The notice law does not apply there, either. I find this more worrisome and hardly unique to this administration.
Fourth, the outrage seems tied to a general distrust of Trump and/or Republicans. Democrats do the same things and *crickets*. While I am not particularly trustful of Trump (and did not vote for him), the whole “peaceful transfer of power” suggests that you actually transfer power.
Fifth, and probably most important, I am unconvinced that few if any IGs actually do anything meaningful, other than maybe cutting down on outright embezzlement. While keeping partisan opponents in those positions may increase oversight, it won’t be in support of the public.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/26/2025 @ 7:32 amThe link in Item 1 is broken
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/26/2025 @ 9:21 amI’ve said before that Krugman is a third-rate pundit but a first-rate economist (with a Nobel to show for it), and his latest is no exception, but it is relevant to see his economics on energy, and so is the quote below…
And something about birds and driving whales crazy.
It’s his administration, but I think the smarter policy is “all of the above”, not just “drill baby drill”, provided there are CO2 controls at coal plants. Trump barely mentions nuclear, despite the latest technology being safe and with near zero carbon footprint. If he wants to focus on clearing out regulations, nuclear would be a great starting point, especially with the proliferation of AI, which requires a much bigger grid than we have now.
Paul Montagu (3bccc6) — 1/26/2025 @ 9:44 amhttps://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/unleashing-american-energy/
BuDuh (4214e4) — 1/26/2025 @ 10:11 amI read it last week, BuDuh, and that’s his single mention of nuclear, a one-off, practically an afterthought.
On one side of his mouth, he’s on the pro side and then he goes the other way…
I’d like to see Trump put his money where his mouth is on Small Modular Reactors.
Paul Montagu (3bccc6) — 1/26/2025 @ 11:02 amThe assistant IG (that replaces the deposed IG) has to give a “state of the inspection” report to Congress within 15 days. So we will see what the last few years have been up to. If there are problems that have surfaced, its easy enough to appoint a new IG. A good IG with an exceptional investigation might even get re-instated.
This is a good time for an incoming president to get to see the inside details of ongoing inspections and make appropriate decisions going forward.
As someone pointed out upthread, next wailing and gnashing will be over the wholesale removal of US Attorneys (like Biden, Obama)
steveg (c55fba) — 1/26/2025 @ 11:08 amThe question isn’t whether state governments would be better at administering federal disaster assistance, the question is why should the feds should provide any assistance at all. The implicit guarantee of federal assistance discourages states from enacting policies that would mitigate damage and loss of life. It is essentially a bailout for states and individuals who have made bad decisions.
Rip Murdock (c222c5) — 1/26/2025 @ 11:19 amOne problem is the excessive regulation placed on the nuclear power industry.
Rip Murdock (c222c5) — 1/26/2025 @ 11:26 amAt best IGs are redundant; Congress, through the General Accountability Office and committee oversight, has the necessary authority to oversee agency actions.
Rip Murdock (c222c5) — 1/26/2025 @ 12:02 pmIndeed. It’s why I said above, “If he wants to focus on clearing out regulations, nuclear would be a great starting point…”
Paul Montagu (3bccc6) — 1/26/2025 @ 12:11 pmWind power has actually been a huge success story, a major source of rising U.S. energy production
The investment cost of a wind station would be prohibitive were it not for the subsidies. Without the subsidies they would all operate at a loss. Most arguments for wind power talk about how profit is less important than protecting the environment.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/26/2025 @ 12:16 pmOne problem is the excessive regulation placed on the nuclear power industry.
Yes and no. I would bar any further construction of a 1950s-era reactor. Their failure modes are terribly destructive. That being said, a type-approval of modular reactors, using closed fueling systems and fuel that cannot be used in bombs, would be a great step forward. Regulations on something you make a lot of are much less onerous than on custom-built designs that have to be proven out individually.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/26/2025 @ 12:20 pmhttps://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/113896070273857964
BuDuh (d7a1ee) — 1/26/2025 @ 12:24 pmTo my mind, IGs are the bosses of what cops would call “internal affairs” and most of the time it’s making sure that no one is violating petty ethics rules (e.g. not getting lunch paid by a supplier, etc). A lot of forms and box-checking. Only rarely are they investigating high-level malfeasance.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/26/2025 @ 12:24 pmEnhanced Customs and Border Protection Inspections of all Colombian Nationals and Cargo on national security grounds.
Columbian travelers have long been on the DEA’s watch list. It is rare that an unconnected Columbian will get a visa, and those who do are greeted with deep suspicion at the customs station.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/26/2025 @ 12:27 pmI guess there will have to be some refusnik camps in West Texas.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/26/2025 @ 12:28 pmA better path is to simply close our borders to Columbia. No goods, no people, no internet connections.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/26/2025 @ 12:29 pmApparently his was the better path, Kevin…
https://www.zerohedge.com/economics/trump-slaps-colombia-sweeping-sanctions-travel-ban-after-two-deportation-flights-are-not
If true… of course.
BuDuh (d7a1ee) — 1/26/2025 @ 12:35 pmApparently. The point was that making exceptions, even with an ally, makes the whole deportation thing impossible. All of this is the fault of those who ignored US immigration law for so long, and particularly the fault of Joseph Biden and his open-border policy.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/26/2025 @ 12:56 pmThey object to military flights, it seems. I wonder if the US is going to invoke the Civil Reserve Airfleet authority. I also wonder if ultra low-cost carriers might be interested in supporting these flights.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/26/2025 @ 1:01 pmBrazil slams US after dozens of deportees arrive handcuffed
People who attempt to cross US borders without permission ARE criminals. Perhaps that hasn’t been clear in the past. While I don’t think that hand and foot restraints are required in most cases, they might be in some.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/26/2025 @ 1:09 pmYeah, I saw that after my post. My bad.
In exchange for speeding up the licensing process and reducing nuclear power plant regulations, the federal government should repeal the Price Anderson Act, which limits the liability of licensed nuclear power operators from damages caused by a nuclear accident. For example:
How the primary and secondary limits are determined is available at the link. This would be a good time to reconsider Price-Anderson, as it expires on December 31, 2025.
Rip Murdock (c222c5) — 1/26/2025 @ 1:13 pmKevin M (a9545f) — 1/25/2025 @ 10:28 pm
It was confusing deterrence (which worked extremely well for about 30 years) with security. It was deterrence that prevented airplane hijacking.
Sammy Finkelman (6b0d4e) — 1/26/2025 @ 1:13 pmNew York Times story:
Alzheimer’s research is riddled with scientific dishonesty.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/24/opinion/alzheimers-fraud-cure.html
I;d say the root causes are peer review
Sammy Finkelman (6b0d4e) — 1/26/2025 @ 1:19 pm(which does not look for fraud, but does look for anything that goes against the scientific consensus, plus the fact that liars are the most respected people, and also the lack of funding ssources with different ideas, funding research based on different premises,
Wishful thinking:
Rip Murdock (c222c5) — 1/26/2025 @ 1:29 pmIt’s not like the illegal immigrants can’t be replaced by US citizens. Companies that depend on them should raise wages and improve working conditions.
Rip Murdock (c222c5) — 1/26/2025 @ 1:32 pmBrazil’s position is a no go. 100+ criminals unrestrained on a plane?
steveg (c55fba) — 1/26/2025 @ 1:39 pmNot happening.
As Columbia’s top export to the US in 2023 was oil (coffee was number 4 and 1/3 the dollar value), it will be interesting to see what happens to its price tomorrow.
Rip Murdock (c222c5) — 1/26/2025 @ 1:48 pmCorrection:
As Columbia’s top export to the US in 2023 was oil (coffee was number 4 and
Rip Murdock (c222c5) — 1/26/2025 @ 1:51 pm1/31/4 the dollar value)…….Along with disaster relief, crop insurance and farm subsidies in general should be devolved to the states.
Rip Murdock (c222c5) — 1/26/2025 @ 2:02 pmUS military deportation flights should sent to Colombia (or any country) and dare the recipient countries to stop them. Alternatively, the flights should be escorted by US fighters.
Rip Murdock (c222c5) — 1/26/2025 @ 2:17 pmColombia President backed down and is now sending his own presidential plane to pick up the illegal aliens.
whembly (90f71e) — 1/26/2025 @ 2:24 pmSource?
Rip Murdock (c222c5) — 1/26/2025 @ 3:18 pmYou can start at my 12:35pm
BuDuh (d7a1ee) — 1/26/2025 @ 3:26 pmEven if true, there are approximately 200,000 Colombians that need to be deported. By the time he’s finished, he will need to buy a new plane.
Rip Murdock (c222c5) — 1/26/2025 @ 3:36 pmLOL! A tweet that you really didn’t believe by someone using a movie character’s name and without a link? That’s reliable.
Rip Murdock (c222c5) — 1/26/2025 @ 3:42 pmThere are still people in the UK with a sense of humor.
Jim Miller (6a4b17) — 1/26/2025 @ 3:53 pmAgain, even if true or if Colombia decides to accept civilian flights with deportees, the United States shouldn’t be humiliated this way. Trump should insist that recipient countries must allow our aircraft to land, no matter if they are military or civilian; otherwise they will suffer the consequences.
Rip Murdock (c222c5) — 1/26/2025 @ 4:13 pmThe left-wing Colombian president shouldn’t have picked this fight and, in this case, Trump was right to slam the Colombian leader for turning away our flights. There’s no meaningful distinction whether they come here by military transport or civilian jetliner.
The top country they export to is the US, and it’s not even close. Conversely, Colombia is our 28th largest trading partner.
Paul Montagu (3bccc6) — 1/26/2025 @ 4:13 pmThey are way more dependent on us economically than we are on them.
We should start spraying their coffee crop with defoliants.
Rip Murdock (c222c5) — 1/26/2025 @ 4:27 pm“We should start spraying their coffee crop with defoliants.”
What the f*ck is wrong with you?
Davethulhu (3c35ce) — 1/26/2025 @ 5:29 pmWell, you know, Trump is 78 years old. Closer to 79. He does not have a lot of time to destroy our partnerships and alliances with The Americas and Europe, and leave us isolated with Russia and China oozing in to fill the vacuum.
nk (c17f03) — 1/26/2025 @ 5:29 pmRip is a real world solutions guy, Dave. He is just saying things that impartial fact guys say.
BuDuh (d7a1ee) — 1/26/2025 @ 5:35 pmMore support for a “debunked conspiracy theory” (according to Glenn Kessler and other liars in the media)
C.I.A. Now Favors Lab Leak Theory to Explain Covid’s Origins
Based on a report done during the Biden administration and not released until a Trump appointee took over. Biden knew Fauci lied, which is why he pardoned him.
lloyd (300f95) — 1/26/2025 @ 5:40 pmDoctors agree with Luigi Mangione that drug companies are causing patient deaths by denying treatment putting profits over patient lives. (DU) Guardian. Put in sources to make Kevin M. happy.
asset (8b3de0) — 1/26/2025 @ 6:07 pm“Based on a report done during the Biden administration and not released until a Trump appointee took over. Biden knew Fauci lied, which is why he pardoned him.”
Surely now is the time to start believing the CIA.
Davethulhu (3c35ce) — 1/26/2025 @ 7:11 pmDavethulhu, you can set aside your worries since the conclusion predates Trump 47.
It’s just that it took a Trump appointee to decide to make it public.
lloyd (300f95) — 1/26/2025 @ 7:31 pmIf a nuclear accident similar to the 2011 Fukushima disaster involving three reactors at a single site happened here
First a huge earthquake, then a tsunami, then you have your pumping engines out where the tsunami can drown them, then you have your bosses telling you not to take the reasonable precautions because it would make them look bad.
That kind of accident can’t really happen here, except maybe the last part. And it really can’t happen in Germany, which has neither earthquakes nor tsunamis.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/26/2025 @ 7:32 pmIt’s not like the illegal immigrants can’t be replaced by US citizens. Companies that depend on them should raise wages and improve working conditions
Indeed. And pretty much exactly what MAGA has in mind.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/26/2025 @ 7:33 pmColombia President backed down and is now sending his own presidential plane to pick up the illegal aliens.
The objection is to the use of military planes with little to no care as to the conditions of the transportees. Handcuffs and leg-irons might make sense for hardened criminals, but not necessarily for maids and fruit pickers.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/26/2025 @ 7:35 pmHe does not have a lot of time to destroy our partnerships and alliances with The Americas and Europe
He has said that he views most of those as “Let’s see what we can get from Uncle Sugar.”
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/26/2025 @ 7:38 pm(DU) Guardian. Put in sources to make Kevin M. happy.
That’s not sources. That’s pointing at the sky.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/26/2025 @ 7:39 pmIt’s called sarcasm.
Rip Murdock (c222c5) — 1/26/2025 @ 7:45 pmOne, who cares what the Colombian President thinks; and two, I thought we were deporting harden criminals first.
Rip Murdock (c222c5) — 1/26/2025 @ 7:48 pmNot sure why replacing illegal immigrants with American citizens should be a partisan issue. MAGA is correct in this instance.
Rip Murdock (c222c5) — 1/26/2025 @ 7:52 pmIndeed; and the CIA has said they have “low confidence” in their conclusion.
Rip Murdock (c222c5) — 1/26/2025 @ 7:54 pmWhy should the President of Columbia (or any country) dictate how we deport their citizens? As I noted above, we should go ahead and deport their citizens on military flights and dare the countries to do something about it. To concede is a humiliation.
Rip Murdock (c222c5) — 1/26/2025 @ 8:04 pm@192 Apparently, they and the FBI have lower confidence in the wet market theory.
Low confidence wasn’t the reason Fauci, fact checkers and the media expressed
lloyd (f1ac6b) — 1/26/2025 @ 8:09 pmhigh confidencecertainty about the wet market theory, nor was it the reason the lab leak theory was banned from public discussion.As I also noted in my post 171, there are around 200K Colombians illegally here in the US; so it’s gonna take a lot of flights back and forth by the Colombian President’s plane to ship them all back.
Rip Murdock (c222c5) — 1/26/2025 @ 8:13 pmColombia folds:
Rip Murdock (c222c5) — 1/26/2025 @ 8:33 pmI think the message should be that we tolerated the influx for too long, and Biden’s
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/26/2025 @ 10:57 pmtreasonopen gaming of US law was the last straw.The two-unit Diablo Canyon nuclear power station is built between two earthquake faults (one of which lies 2.5 miles offshore) and is located right on the coast as it uses seawater for cooling. So they face a theoretical tsunami threat.
Of the existing US nuclear power plants, only a few are single units, most are in pairs, while there is at least one three-unit plant and a brand new 4-unit plant. So using a Fukushima type disaster (3-unit plant that lost its power supply) is still a relevant model as a worst case scenario for the US.
As you said, a tsunami in the United States is the least likely threat to a nuclear power plant (except for Diablo Canyon.) But nuclear power plants have other catastrophic failure points: operator error, maintenance failures; hidden construction faults; external power failures; sabotage; etc. with the damage caused any one of them to be backstopped by the taxpayers. The nuclear industry has around long enough that they shouldn’t socialize their insurance costs onto the American taxpayers.
Rip Murdock (c222c5) — 1/26/2025 @ 11:33 pm@RIP@174 Not that I’m against return people to their country of record, but why should an independent country allow one of our airplanes into their airspace if they don’t want it there? Sending an airplane into someone else’s airspace is an act of military aggression unless we have permission. Spraying poisonous chemicals on their crops is an act of war.
Nic (120c94) — 1/26/2025 @ 11:50 pmAs noted above, the comment about spraying Colombia’s coffee plantations was sarcasm. However, the US needs to establish political dominance over the home countries that have used the US as a safety valve to relieve the social tensions within their societies. If the recipient countries want to start a war with the US, that’s their choice.
Rip Murdock (c222c5) — 1/27/2025 @ 2:03 amThey just need to remember if they shoot down on of incoming transport planes, they will be killing their own citizens.
Rip Murdock (c222c5) — 1/27/2025 @ 2:04 amNot that I’m against return people to their country of record, but why should an independent country allow one of our airplanes into their airspace if they don’t want it there?
1) Allowing their people into our country was the start of this, and our airplanes arriving there is the eventual consequence.
2) Making exceptions, or separate accommodations with every country, is the road to dysfunctional failure.
3) These are people who have been charged with and/or convicted of multiple crimes. Some of them are very dangerous. Flying them home business class wasn’t in the cards.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/27/2025 @ 6:09 am@202
Need to look at the details.
Did he learn from his mistakes the last time he tried this?
whembly (c87394) — 1/27/2025 @ 7:17 amThat is actually his BS from 2024. I posted it as a dunk.
BuDuh (aa5c67) — 1/27/2025 @ 7:38 amWhen the earlier Mussolini invaded the tiny kingdom of Greece, the end result was that the Greeks got the Dodecanese Islands back from Italy which had occupied the islands since 1912.
It would be to-die-laughing-funny if Il Duce della Quinta Strada started a war with Colombia, and the Colombians after “Afghanistaning” Hegseth’s Fox News military got Panama back.
nk (10f26d) — 1/27/2025 @ 8:48 amApparently it’s standard operating procedure:
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 1/27/2025 @ 9:12 amThis should of interest to anyone concerned with health:
Which led, eventually, to an organization.
Jim Miller (283714) — 1/27/2025 @ 9:36 amWhat a typical ICE deportation looks like
I’ll bet those “diplomatic negotiations” will get a lot easier now after the US forced Colombia to capitulate.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 1/27/2025 @ 9:36 amRip Murdock (c222c5) — 1/26/2025 @ 7:48 pm
did you also think that they were deporting to Colombia people they just arrested? Because I don’t, but that’s what Homan wants people to think.And incidentally, it was the suspension of the issuance of visas to people from Colombia that did it – a very powerful tool hat is also harmful to the USA ) This is a tactic that should be employed for more important things – and isn’t. He doesn’t want to give other countries ideas.
Mexico refused to let U.S. military planes land also, but Trump did nothing, because he (or Miller) judged that Mexico wouldn’t cave (he’s threatening 25% tariffs anyway – and he didn’t want to suspend visas to Mexicans, which for one thing could be done by Mexico as well and disrupt commerce)
Sammy Finkelman (c9bb32) — 1/27/2025 @ 10:02 amIt’s not like the illegal immigrants can’t be replaced by US citizens. Companies that depend on them should raise wages and improve working conditions
That is a throwaway line.
Give me a number and describe the conditions
7 sick days? + 3 Personal days? + 10 days vacation (3 days after year one, 1 day per year after that maxing out at 10)?
Starting wage $20 hr $40,000 year? Paid holidays NY Day, Christmas eve and Christmas, Thanksgiving day and Friday after, Memorial day, 4th, Labor day
Must be able to lift 50lbs. Not seeing citizens applying.
What is the plan?
steveg (cdf9e5) — 1/27/2025 @ 10:15 am$30hr and no lifting?
steveg,
That sounds like most of Amazon’s warehouse workers.
They get a LOT of citizens applying.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/27/2025 @ 10:45 amI heard an interview of the man who wrote this book.
How Could This Happen: Explaining the Holocaust Hardcover – April 8, 2014
by Dan McMillan (Author) It sounds good.
https://www.amazon.com/How-Could-This-Happen-Explaining/dp/0465080243
The most important fact people get wrong is that they think people who participated in were motivated by hate. (This is not true for Germans) It was cold indifference to murder,
The interview can be heard here in Hour 3 (not at the start of Hour 3) on January 27, 2025
https://wabcradio.com/podcast/the-other-side-of-midnight-with-frank-morano/
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 1/27/2025 @ 11:11 amConstruction in So Cal?
In my own narrow world. I do not see citizens applying, even though the starting wages are $20-22
We’ve got fast food living wage law at $20- mom and pops are closing.
Home builders have been getting $1000 a square foot because people here demand high end finishes, and labor overhead remains higher than most.
Some estimate that around 70% of the burned-out homeowners in the Palisades will have to sell their lot, take the insurance payout, and move.
steveg (cdf9e5) — 1/27/2025 @ 11:13 amThere will be plenty of job offers in an environment of immigration crackdown. I’m guessing the construction trades do not go through a demographic shift and the fake documents just get better
The interview starts 17 and a half minutes into the audio podcast
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 1/27/2025 @ 11:23 amhttps://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce3lynk8493o
The last 4 women released were lookouts (some just trained and not on duty)
15 of these women were killed on October 7, 2023. Seven were kidnapped and taken to Gaza some wounded. One was rescued 3 weeks later. One was wounded in a bombing raid and taken to Shifa hospital, where she was killed. Hamas claimed she was killed in a bombing raid, which Israel does not believe. In the last released a civilian was supposed to be released first. She was apparently held by Islamic Jihad. Israel said this violated the terms of the agreement so they said people would not be able to o to the north of Gaza until that happened (but they released 50 people from prison as specified – it was 50 for women soldiers and 30 for civilians)
Incidentally, 70 of the 200 released Saturday were from the West Bank or Jerusalem but were exiled somewhere. This must have been specially negotiated. Previously, after Israel exiled some people to Lebanon they were forced to take them back and it had become a point of Arab negotiation not to exile anyone. This accounts for some of the opposition to President Trump’s proposal to get 1 million too 1 1/2 million people from Gaza )half or three quarters) to go to Egypt or Jordan, at least temporarily. (this would of course make resumption of the war easier)
https://www.newser.com/story/363247/hamas-says-8-hostages-of-first-33-to-be-freed-are-dead.html
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 1/27/2025 @ 11:39 amThe State of CA is saying 1/3 of construction workers are immigrants. Not sure what that means, but here, that number probably is 3/4 immigrants.
steveg (cdf9e5) — 1/27/2025 @ 11:40 amAnd there is concern regarding where this administration will find the money for deportation operations.
BuDuh (aa5c67) — 1/27/2025 @ 11:44 amIt’s not like the illegal immigrants can’t be replaced by US citizens.
Doesn’t matter. Removal of everyone illegal would reduce GDP (the total size of the U.S. economy) by 8% according to Bloomberg.
https://censor.net/en/news/3532496/the-return-of-illegal-migrants-could-reduce-us-gdp-by-8
That would also reduce federal tax receipts by approximately 8% because no matter who is taxed, the percentage of the economy that is collected in taxes remains about the same.
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 1/27/2025 @ 11:45 amThe Republican Party is not noted for supporting an increase in the minimum wage, or raising construction costs by requiring that “prevailing wages” (union wages) be paid – yet their excuse for getting rid of illegal (and reducing the number of legal) immigrants is that it would reduce wages.
The Democratic Party is also kind of taking a different position than usual here.
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 1/27/2025 @ 11:51 amBecause of extensive reading, I know a little bit more than Dan McMillan – still I learned a little from the interview.
I think Hitler wanted to kill all the Jews (this is what he write privately) because he believed that the Jews were the source of the concept of a conscience among people.
(This was important to him to eliminate because he wanted a 1,000 year Reich – he wanted buildings he built to stand) and people would despise him and worse if they still thought that murder was wrong. And he needed to kill lots of people if he was to rule the world.
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 1/27/2025 @ 12:22 pmI don’t know and I don’t care.
Rip Murdock (c222c5) — 1/27/2025 @ 12:23 pmWhy is it important?
Rip Murdock (c222c5) — 1/27/2025 @ 12:25 pmAlso, the decision to start murdering all the Jews and the decision to invade the Soviet Union were one and the same thing and that decision was made in the spring of 1941, An attempt to murder all the Jews without conquering the Soviet Union would have been futile his eyes.
Also, Auschwitz was in Germany, not Poland, at the time. because Hitler had annexed it – and Lodz also. hat is why they were not covered by his order to murder every last remaining Jew in Poland in November, 1943 – although they didn’t kill every last remaining Jew in the Majdanek concentration camp during the Majdenek massacre.
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 1/27/2025 @ 12:29 pmRip Murdock (c222c5) — 1/27/2025 @ 12:25 pm
The whole point of the publicity campaign is a lie.
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 1/27/2025 @ 12:30 pmhttps://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/20/business/medals-paris-olympics-lvmh.html
When they change something, they forget to pay attention to (or test) the basics.
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 1/27/2025 @ 12:35 pmThere is no market for medical costs. Everything is either priced too high or too low. Cross subsidies are created by legislation – that leaves some people out or has perverse effects when anything is changed.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/16/health/insulin-prices-federal-clinics-340b.html
This was a loophole that apparently legislators paying attention let stand
Sammy Finkelman (e4ef09) — 1/27/2025 @ 12:46 pmAgain, I don’t care whether the Colombian deportees were non-criminal immigrants or not, only that they were deported.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 1/27/2025 @ 1:06 pmIt’s important to his voters that Trump is seen as fulfilling a campaign promise. It’s also important that his voters have faith that the democratic process is working for them.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 1/27/2025 @ 1:09 pmThat’s to be negotiated between the employer and the marketplace of workers. In an employer finds they are unable to hire workers at X dollars and Y conditions, then they should probably change X and Y.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 1/27/2025 @ 1:13 pmSammy
So, where did the deported Colombians and Brazilians come from?
steveg (cdf9e5) — 1/27/2025 @ 1:20 pmProbably from State prisons and county jails in states that were predisposed to cooperate with Trump’s program.
Most likely? Florida DeSantis pre-announced his 100% support.
They could have started collecting 150+ prisoners and detainees before the inauguration.
Makes sense and saves money because even though FLA charges/fines inmates $50 a day, I doubt the Colombians were current on their incarceration reimbursement bill
Massachusetts won’t cooperate but they should- they spend $307,000 per inmate annually (prevailing wage I’m sure)
https://usafacts.org/articles/how-much-do-states-spend-on-prisons/
steveg (cdf9e5) — 1/27/2025 @ 1:32 pmNative Americans on reservations are being detained by ICE who demand they show proof of citizenship. (CNN) Where will they deport Native Americans too?
asset (5b3c4a) — 1/27/2025 @ 1:37 pmEveryone in CA that holds a home inurance policy is about to get an assessment
CA Fair plan
Insured costs are projected to be $40 Billion
In March of 2024, FAIR Plan had a surplus of only $200 million and it likely hasn’t risen to sufficient levels over the subsequent year. (Some news reports indicate that the surplus has risen to $377 million).
“You can never go below your surplus level. If you do, you need an assessment or you’re bankrupt,” according to Glombicki.
How does the assessment work? Glombicki explained that the insurance companies would get assessed a certain figure. If the assessment is $1 billion or less, insurance companies can only pass on 50% to their clients, he said. “However, 100% of the first dollar (and up) after $1 billion can be passed along.”
Glombicki pointed to a problem with the assessments, which all California homeowners insurers must pay. “You won’t be necessarily in a fire zone, but you can be paying for that risk of being in the fire zone,” he said.
Another problem for the FAIR Plan is that there could be a reinsurance protection gap.
“FAIR Plan’s $2.5 billion reinsurance has a deductible of $900 million, higher than the $700 million cash on hand
steveg (cdf9e5) — 1/27/2025 @ 1:54 pmhttps://www.insurancejournal.com/news/west/2025/01/16/808564.htm#:~:text=In%20March%20of%202024%2C%20FAIR,billion%20can%20be%20passed%20along.%E2%80%9D
steveg (cdf9e5) — 1/27/2025 @ 1:56 pmConstruction in So Cal?
In my own narrow world. I do not see citizens applying, even though the starting wages are $20-22
Construction in SoCal requires being able to speak Spanish. Half the workers cannot speak English and Anglos have to learn Spanish to be contractors or foremen or, well, anything. Payscales are depressed by, um, recent arrivals having lower wage expectations.
Things started changing in the 80s, and most non-union construction workers found payscales dropping and a noticeable preference by contractors to hire illegals under the table. Fast forward 40 years and even the established, US-born workers are Hispanic. The Spanish-only workers are generally illegals.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/27/2025 @ 3:51 pmI’m guessing the construction trades do not go through a demographic shift and the fake documents just get better
The illegals will disappear. It’s not fake documents that get people hired, it’s low cost. But even the second-generation Hispanics would like higher wages, and if that means turfing the illegals, then so be it.
The problem with Anglos getting hired is that few have the experience any more. Most who were in the biz moved, changed jobs, or started drinking heavily. And got older.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/27/2025 @ 3:55 pmAnother problem for the FAIR Plan is that there could be a reinsurance protection gap.
The Legislature will make it work.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/27/2025 @ 3:56 pmDoesn’t matter. Removal of everyone illegal would reduce GDP (the total size of the U.S. economy) by 8% according to Bloomberg.
You gotta love politically-driven static analysis. Only measure the wages of the departing workers, never consider the increased wages of existing workers or the new wages of entry-level workers who now have opportunity. Also ignore the costs of unemployment insurance, food stamps and Medicaid for the no-longer-marginal employees.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/27/2025 @ 3:59 pmShorter: always distrust Bloomberg.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/27/2025 @ 4:00 pmMassachusetts won’t cooperate but they should- they spend $307,000 per inmate annually (prevailing wage I’m sure)
And all those federal subsidies that make that possible will disappear.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/27/2025 @ 4:01 pm@234: Everything he says that doesn’t have a link is either a lie or hopelessly distorted.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/27/2025 @ 4:02 pmRemember: Trump won Hispanic districts that had high influx of “refugees.” Why? Because the Hispanic citizens voted to be rid of the newcomers.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/27/2025 @ 4:04 pmMeanwhile, the acting AG has fired an unknown number of lawyers who worked on Jack Smith’s staff, saying that he “does not trust these officials to assist in faithfully implementing the President’s agenda.”
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/27/2025 @ 4:30 pm@Kevin@203 Generally speaking, countries don’t stop their citizens from leaving to go elsewhere.
Nic (120c94) — 1/27/2025 @ 4:38 pmThe new USA in DC, Ed Martin (a “Stop the Steal” partisan) is now investigating how prosecutors came to use the Oxley-Sarbanes obstruction charge against J6 participants, not that the Supreme Court said it was misapplied. I guess the idea is whether civil rights were violated.
Meanwhile, Mr Martin has intervened in Judge Mehta’s courtroom to get the judge to rescind an order against Stewart Rhodes entry into the District, correctly arguing that unconditonal means unconditional.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/27/2025 @ 4:40 pmGenerally speaking, countries don’t stop their citizens from leaving to go elsewhere.
But apparently they stop them from being brought back home for cause.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/27/2025 @ 4:41 pmKevin M (a9545f) — 1/27/2025 @ 6:09 am3)
Only slightly more than half of those arrested the other day in New Jersey had been charged with any sort of crime.
Sammy Finkelman (c9bb32) — 1/27/2025 @ 4:51 pmThey picked up 49 Venezuelans at a Tren de Aragua invitation only party in Adams County, CO
steveg (cdf9e5) — 1/27/2025 @ 5:27 pmEven with the invite, I’ll bet there were some attendees without criminal convictions.
Don’t hang out with criminal illegal aliens- its a dumb choice
@kevin@248 countries can stop other countries from entering their sovereign territory without permission. And yes, this does make it less convenient for us to return them. However, diplomacy exists.
Nic (120c94) — 1/27/2025 @ 5:30 pmI’m sure that diplomacy will get easier after Trump threatened tariffs and visa sanctions on Colombia.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 1/27/2025 @ 5:44 pmNo interest in finding out Biden pardoned a child murderer.
I’m surprised.
NJRob (eb56c3) — 1/27/2025 @ 6:25 pmHad they received their final notice of removal? If so,, then that was their ticket out of the country.
Rip Murdock (c222c5) — 1/27/2025 @ 6:58 pmDiplomacy exists, even when countries like Columbia pretend that it doesn’t.
Documents reviewed by CNN show Colombia had previously approved the flights, though Colombian President Gustavo Petro disputed he had authorized them – and US officials claim the authorization was revoked once the planes were en route.
lloyd (48f243) — 1/27/2025 @ 7:30 pm@255 Second paragraph is from the link and should be in quotes.
lloyd (3e3bf1) — 1/27/2025 @ 7:31 pmHowever, diplomacy exists.
Diplomacy is the art of threatening people politely.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/27/2025 @ 7:45 pmHowever, diplomacy exists.
It doesn’t really matter, as Trump will be conquering them all in his third term.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/27/2025 @ 7:47 pmThere were over 6 million illegal border crossings during the first 3 years of Biden’s term. Returning all these folks to their home country will require some fortitude on our part, and it should come as no surprise that Trump intends for it to happen one way or the other.
It will be interesting to see how Venezuela responds.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/27/2025 @ 7:52 pmDumb, doing this to a fellow democracy and free-market economy, and it’s a move that’s pro-ChiCom.
Paul Montagu (3bccc6) — 1/27/2025 @ 8:14 pm@kevin@257 Sometimes, sure.
Nic (120c94) — 1/27/2025 @ 8:15 pmDemocrats Once Again Concerned About Who Will Pick Their Crops.
lloyd (48f243) — 1/27/2025 @ 8:23 pm@262 Democrats who are concerned because their corporate establishment deep state donor class masters fear they(establishment corporate democrats that are called communists here) and their running dogs in the corporate media are being discredited and will lose their control of the democrat party to the left. The wall street bankers and multi national corporations know how vulnerable they are to left take over of the democrat party.
asset (c871f1) — 1/27/2025 @ 8:39 pmArt of the deal: Venezuela will take their citizens back in exchange for sanctions relief.
Rip Murdock (dda1b5) — 1/27/2025 @ 9:36 pmFarmers are going to be real happy today. All their workers are being deported or are self-deporting. And now all their farm subsidies are being paused through OMB memo.
Appalled (2a990a) — 1/28/2025 @ 6:09 amHeritage sellout, which has moved from supporting conservative policies to “whatever Trump says it is” policies.
What Trump proposed for FEMA reads almost verbatim from Project 2025, despite distancing himself from it during the campaign, saying he didn’t know anything about it.
More from the Dispatch, where Kevin Roberts moved the organization from traditionally conservative to right-wing, infused with Pat Buchanan.
Paul Montagu (3bccc6) — 1/28/2025 @ 7:08 amArt of the deal: Venezuela will take their citizens back in exchange for sanctions relief.
Or maybe Trump just does a Panama.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/28/2025 @ 7:51 amFarmers are going to be real happy today. All their workers are being deported or are self-deporting. And now all their farm subsidies are being paused through OMB memo.
OTOH, Mexican crop imports have a tariff. And farm subsidies ought to be scrapped, as they were in the Clinton era. You can’t make significant cuts in spending and keep farm subsidies.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/28/2025 @ 7:53 amHeritage has been pretty awful for some time now.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/28/2025 @ 7:55 amRegarding #1:
Israel Says 8 of the 26 Hostages Listed for Imminent Release Are Dead
Eight of the 26 hostages that Hamas is expected to release in the coming few weeks are no longer alive, according to Israeli officials.
Late on Sunday, Hamas provided Israel with long-awaited information about the status of the hostages listed for release during the first phase of the cease-fire agreement in the Gaza war. The move followed intense negotiations over the weekend to resolve a dispute that had threatened to derail the deal.
Under the cease-fire deal, 33 hostages were to be released in the first phase in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Seven have already returned home, after more than 15 months in captivity in Gaza. Three civilian women were freed on Jan. 19, the day the provisional cease-fire came into effect, and four female soldiers were released on Jan. 25.
An Israeli government spokesman, David Mencer, said on Monday that Hamas had provided a list indicating that 25 of the 33 hostages were alive and that eight had been killed.
“The list from Hamas matches Israel’s intelligence,” Mr. Mencer added.
The list did not specify who was alive and who was dead by name, but it provided numbers that accorded with more detailed information already in Israel’s hands, according to two Israeli officials.
…
The Israeli military has expressed grave concern for the lives of Ms. Bibas and her children, though their deaths have not been confirmed.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/28/2025 @ 8:20 amThat last post should have been blockquoted
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/28/2025 @ 8:21 amRegarding Trump’s freeze on aid and spending, laws schmlaws.
Article II, Section 3 says the president “shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed”. A lot of Trump’s stuff is going to move up to the Supreme Court, thanks to his Roy Cohn approach to litigation.
Paul Montagu (3bccc6) — 1/28/2025 @ 9:02 amDoes that include making sure that no one is abusing existing laws?
BuDuh (7a5fe0) — 1/28/2025 @ 9:08 amCaroline Kennedy warns senators of ‘predator’ RFK Jr. in searing letter
I don’t want to hear another word about dogs on roofs or getting shot.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/28/2025 @ 9:54 amArticle II, Section 3 says the president “shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed”. A lot of Trump’s stuff is going to move up to the Supreme Court, thanks to his Roy Cohn approach to litigation.
Yeah, Trump is unique here. Biden strictly enforced the immigration and college loan laws.
the President has inherent constitutional authority to impound. That argument is a loser
So they say. You could argue that Congress has the sole authority to pass laws, but regulatory agencies do it all the time and when Congress tried to withhold a right to selectively veto these delegated powers, the courts said they could not.
Bet you the Supremes are divided.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/28/2025 @ 10:01 amI expect Trump to do some serious vetoing. I also expect the idea of the line-item veto to recur.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/28/2025 @ 10:03 amI think that Trump will argue that the “Power of the Purse” involves authorizing spending (or withholding it), not compelling spending.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/28/2025 @ 10:05 amIt sounds like you already have an answer, so spill it. He does have a DOJ, no?
Paul Montagu (3bccc6) — 1/28/2025 @ 10:35 amHe does have a DoJ. And an OMB.
I am sorry you think I am trying to trick you.
BuDuh (7a5fe0) — 1/28/2025 @ 10:57 amKevim
people who go to work at Amazon often don’t like to get dirty. The Amazon workers also lift 50lbs onto a dolly, not their shoulder
steveg (cdf9e5) — 1/28/2025 @ 11:48 amBy means of having a financial stake in anti-vaccine lawsuits,
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/rfk-jr-hes-anti-vaccine-profit-off-vaccine/story?id=118137375
Sammy Finkelman (ccd9dc) — 1/28/2025 @ 12:11 pmOklahoma will demand proof of citizenship for all children entering grade school. (AP) Ga. rethug congresscriter says children should work in mcdonalds instead of school lunches. (NBC)
asset (f92915) — 1/28/2025 @ 1:56 pmNothing to see here, just move along:
She just lost her credibility with the American public.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 1/28/2025 @ 2:32 pmWhat is your answer?
Paul Montagu (3bccc6) — 1/28/2025 @ 5:18 pmQ:
A:
BuDuh (7a5fe0) — 1/28/2025 @ 5:26 pmOh, and BuDuh, I didn’t saying anything about “trying to trick”, you sounded like you already had an answer to your own question, and you did.
Paul Montagu (3bccc6) — 1/28/2025 @ 5:40 pmOk. Well, thanks anyways.
BuDuh (7a5fe0) — 1/28/2025 @ 5:47 pmTikTok has their ChiCom-controlled algorithms that can monitor the activities of 170 million Americans, and DeepSeek has its answers about the ChiCom cultural genocide of the Uighers and Xi’s stance on Taiwan. It’s all of a piece.
Paul Montagu (3bccc6) — 1/28/2025 @ 7:03 pmDeepSeek is open source, and doesn’t require an internet connection.
Davethulhu (a8f269) — 1/28/2025 @ 7:41 pmPrediction: RFK Jr will not come close to being confirmed. The vorpal blades are out and they are going snicker-snack. Trump promised him the nomination, but losing it will be his own damn fault.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/28/2025 @ 11:31 pmWhat mainstream site is most virulently anti-Trump? NYT? WaPo? CNN?
For my money it’s this one, cherry-picking the worst of Trump: https://drudgereport.com/
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/29/2025 @ 8:55 amOooof:
whembly (b7cc46) — 1/29/2025 @ 1:44 pmOpen source, yes, but I don’t see how it doesn’t require an internet connection, considering that all the data goes back to ChiCom servers.
Link. Normally, I wouldn’t give a pro-Russian hack like David Sacks the time of day, but he has some expertise.
Paul Montagu (3fa619) — 1/30/2025 @ 9:01 amWhat Republicans have announced they will vote no?
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 1/30/2025 @ 9:43 amTrump is blaming DEI and Biden for the DC crash. Me, I blame the Army for sending a helicopter smack dab through the normal landing glide slope at Reagan National.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/30/2025 @ 10:03 amCongress granted regulatory agencies discretion; and they can pass laws rescinding agency discretion. The Congressional Review Act allows Congress to overturn agency actions within a certain timeframe.
It will be tough to get the required two-thirds of Congress (and 3/4 of the states) to pass a constitutional amendment.
If the President on his own can authorize or withhold spending, (in direct contravention of Article I of the Constitution), what’s the point of Congressional appropriation power? Trump may argue it, but I think even Alito and Thomas would blanch at that claim of power.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 1/30/2025 @ 10:07 amWhat Republicans have announced they will vote no?
Bill Cassidy appears to be opposed.
The usual 2 ladies will oppose.
Rand Paul is anti-vax and proud of it. He thinks vaccines cause schizophrenia.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/30/2025 @ 10:09 amI had to re-watch Gabbard’s opening statment.
@JVW, you’d like this one…
Then she laid out what she thought was the real objection that Democrats had with her. She said she was accused of being a “puppet” of multiple different people by Democrats.
Then at the end, the coup de grâce “What truly unsettles them is I refuse to be THEIR puppet.”
Bruh…
whembly (b7cc46) — 1/30/2025 @ 10:11 amI expect McConnell to vote no on all of the loonie nominees. If he voted no on Hegseth, I cant seem him doing otherwise on Kennedy or Gabbard. Possibly Patel. Four votes will sink any of them.
Kevin M (a9545f) — 1/30/2025 @ 10:12 amI expect all three to be confirmed 51-50.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 1/30/2025 @ 10:23 amIt doesn’t.
You can download the model and data set and run it on your hardware. Our product is similar to this, you have your data set and their data set and LLM execution logic.
You can enable it to update the logic and their data set phoning home to “update”, by default it doesn’t appear to upload anything. I’d not bet on that, but the source code is public so if you want to review it, go for it. I’ve assigned 2 engineers to do that in Feb as their primary duty, their initial view is that it’s less of an AI product than an RPA/ML product, but that’s true across the board. We are branding lots of stuff as AI, but there are currently zero AI models that exist that do the things that the general public thinks AI is.
I’m sold that for general intelligence we’ll need a quantum (see what I did there?) leap in compute. We’d need a Level 1 Kardashev society based on existing compute models, maybe even Level 2.
Colonel Klink (ret) (96f56a) — 1/30/2025 @ 10:40 amAs with Hegseth, McConnell’s vote will be irrelevant.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 1/30/2025 @ 10:56 amAt the Bulwark, regarding Putin’s War Against Ukraine, Brian Stewart critiques a Blame America First book that takes the “realist”–actually, appeasement–approach to the war. One excerpt:
This plays into the “realists” false concession that Putin’s claims are legitimate, which they’re not because, wrt Russia, NATO has always been a defensive alliance, and that neither NATO or Ukraine ever threatened Russian borders. All the threatening has come from Putin.
Also unmentioned is that, at one time, Putin was not disagreeable about NATO’s eastward expansion, Ukraine included, saying the following in May 2002.
After Putin’s 2014 invasion, the little Russian terrorist lied that the US made promises about not supporting NATO’s eastward expansion, but that was debunked by Gorbachev himself, who was in the room with James Baker.
This is still relevant because a Putin apologist is trying to get a job running the DNI.
Paul Montagu (1888f5) — 1/30/2025 @ 12:28 pm