Yesterday, my ballot arrived in the mail! In addition to the fiscal measures I already mentioned (and have already researched), it does contain candidayes for my school board. I will have to google them So I won’t be returning it immediately. But I will as soon as possible. Also, as promised, I did listen to the entire Garland interview, and I have two takeaways to suggest: first, that she asked very good questions. Almost everything we really want to know. (And, of course, the ones we really, really want answers to do involve ongoing investigations – so, only indefinite answers.) But the second thing was that, I never really thought about it, but he is still working on last year’s budget. And that means there are things he can’t do before getting his own budget, because the funds are just not there. No, neither of them said that – but I gathered it from what they did say.
Cartoon –
Short Takes –
Wonkette – John Birch Society Is BACK BABY, And They’re … Trying To Block Entrances To Your Kid’s School!
Quote – The JBS YouTube account, which has a shocking 85.1 thousand followers, is filled with videos with titles like “Bidens New World Order Agenda!” and “Installing the New World Order” and “COVID’S Lies Push People To Action,” because apparently the virus is a sentient being now. There is a whole series on the Illuminati and what those rascals been up to for the past several hundred years.
Click through for details. This is certainly something I never wanted to read or hear. But … we should have expected it. We should have known that if humanity as a whole were actually capable of evolving beyond this evil, we would not have seen any of it in our lifetimes.
The New Yorker – Attorney General Merrick Garland, Interviewed by Jane Mayer
Quote (from text intro) – At the 2021 New Yorker Festival, the investigative journalist Jane Mayer sat down for a conversation with Merrick Garland, the longtime federal judge now serving as President Biden’s Attorney General. Mayer asked about the central role that the Department of Justice plays in some of the most critical issues of our time: racial justice, domestic terrorism, threats to voting rights and abortion access, and the looming power of Big Tech companies.
Click through for podcast. As I type I have not listened yet (but will have done so by the time this posts.) An investigative reporter for The New Yorker has to be more than competent just to keep that job.
HuffPost – Progressives Resist Nancy Pelosi’s Plan For ‘Fewer Things’ In Budget Bill
Quote – At a press conference on Tuesday, Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) reiterated that message. “If we need to cut some of them back to fewer number of years, we’d be willing to do that,” she told reporters. “Why is that? Because we are not going to pit child care against climate change. We’re not going to pit housing against paid leave. We’re not going to pit seniors against young people.”
Click through for story. Of course shorter terms are a gamble. But that gamble is based on making a good show of what we can actually do when we get the chance. I think it’s a gamble well worth taking.
Food for Thought –
13 Responses to “Open Thread for October 13, 2021”
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Good for you. We got our ballots in the mail last week, and I am asking questions, to get info on the candidates.
Cartoon: UGH! They take pride in stooping low, don’t they?
Wonkette: Hard to believe that those members believe all this. Crazy shenanigans, imho.
HP: That’s good news. Good article, hope that the divide between the two caucuses can come to a decision, and to proceed accordingly should the bill get smaller.
FFT: YIKES!
THIS JUST IN: “The exchange of gifts between the Trump White House and foreign governments was a mess! Among the issues: Saudis gave Trump White House white tiger and cheetah furs that USFWS office of Law Enforcement has now discovered were fakes that had been dyed.” ~Michael Schmidt ~ H/T Joanne Dixon ~
2. “We are grateful to @Refugees for their tireless work in Pakistan, a country that has generously hosted Afghan refugees for more than four decades. The United States welcomes efforts by Pakistanto accept and protect Afghans at risk.” ~ Wendy R. Sherman, DepSecState ~
3. “NEWS: Biden has waived executive privilege on initial set of documents produced at request of Jan 6 Select Cmte. Trump legal team sought to block some, but Biden WH counsel says in letter to National Archives obtained by NBC: “These are unique and extraordinary circumstances.” ~ Mike Memoli ~
4. “Doocy: “Do you know if this hospital might have been having staffing shortages because they have a vaccine mandate?” Psaki: “I would love for you to account to me where that is the issue more so than the number of unvaccinated who are filling emergency rooms and ICU beds” ~ acyn ~
5. “CONFIRMED: The WH today formally blocked an attempt by former President Donald Trump to withhold documents from Congress related to January 6th attack. In a letter to the National Archives, White HouseCounsel Dana Remus rejected Trump’s attorneys’ attempt to withhold documents.” ~ Yamiche Alcindor ~
John’s UPDATE: 1 Hour ago:
“Recovery update:I just slept 10 hours. Felt incredible.No post-op tests/appointments so taking full rest day.If you need me I will be on the porch.All tweets will be prescheduled, so know I am being wise and resting while the rest of you save the world.Peace today.”
What a coincidence. I also spept 10 hours – and needed every minute. The ability to schedule in advance is a Godsend wherever it exists, and particularly to people who for some reason (like recovering from surgery) need to keep odd hours. I wish I could do it in my email, but I don’t know of any way to pay for that feature without getting a lor of other features I don’t want anything to do with.
This just in from John P. – 10 hours ago…
“This time last week I was bleeding profusely all over my hospital room and terrified, feeling I’d never get discharged.
Today, I took a long walk, relaxed on the porch, and got driven to dinner and a movie by my 16-year old son.Long way to go, but I feel incredibly grateful.”
TJI #1 – Leave it to Trump** (and crew) not to know when something is fake! (I wonder whether Melania or Ivanke had a suspicion. Maybe not. Apparently it was actual fur, just not the kind it was cracked up to be.)
TJI #2 – Looks as though the administration has not forgotten those who weren’t in time to be included in the initial rush.
TJI #3 – Good.
TJI #4 – She is damned good. And can she ever think on her feet! Baby Dooce is a joke.
TJI #5 – Yup.
TJI #1 – No doubt about it: The pelts weren’t the only thing FAKE & DYED in that exchange.
TJI #4 & #5 – I love me some strong, smart women like Jen Psaki & Yamiche Alcindor!
Comment from Mitch –
‘Toon: If there were such a real person, about which there is serious academic doubt, he certainly was no blond haired, blue eyed, Aryan!
Wonkette: OMG! Well, they certainly show that American bigotry and intolerance NEVER did dissolve!New Yorker: I do not spend the time to listen to podcasts, just sayin’.
Huffpost: As I understand it, cutting back the time frame makes the bill cheaper. Sinema is being threatened with being primaried, by the very folks who
helped her get her sleazy ass into the senate in the first place. Arizona appears to be a really tricky place for a Dem, and that race will be very interesting, in ’24. That is, of course, if we “…can keep” the Republic, as per Ben Franklin.
FFT: Would be funny, if not so real!
Mitch
Wonkette: People must be totally insane to read or believe the sites crap.
TNY: I will play the podcast later. Do care about what Garland had to say.
Huffpost: Sounds to me that she’s willing to help get this bill passed. Wish the stubborn ones would just work with them and get it passed.
Food for Thought: Despicable.
Nice that you’re getting you ballot taken care of.
Hope you had a nice afternoon. Take care. Thanks Joanne
John Birch Society Is BACK BABY, And They’re … Trying To Block Entrances To Your Kid’s School!
George Wallace tried this ploy once. It didn’t go so well for him …
Attorney General Merrick Garland, Interviewed by Jane Mayer
(Maybe there’ll be a transcript in the magazine itself.)
Progressives Resist Nancy Pelosi’s Plan For ‘Fewer Things’ In Budget Bill
I just hope we don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good.
Pres. Biden & Democrats really need to get these bills passed!
I’m hoping for one … but there was a lot he couldn’t say.
Wonkette: This is utterly depressing.
TNY: I don’t have time to listen to his excuses, which undoubtedly are eloquent and well-thought-out.
HP: Progressives rock! Cutting back in number is giving in to the GQP. As soon as Democrats show signs of willingness to play the Republican game, all will be lost and none of Biden’s items on the bill will pass. Cutting back in time for some options is indeed a gamble worth the risk unless it is the first step in further cuts, i.e. the first step in playing the game.
FFT: Little has changed, if any, it was for the worst.
Cartoon:Exactly true—and TRULY sad. Wonkette: I have commented a couple times IRL this year that JBS was likely popular in this MAGA area. OK, they likely ARE still! Seems like COVID vaccines are the new fluoride. (The closest I know to anyone blocking the school was a woman who sat down in front of school buses during a teachers strike.)In Korea, the Korean teachers knew about what ol’ Geo. Wallace did! The history we all carry,LOL! AG interview: Will get to it later. Jane Mayer will be worth it. HP: Sure hope a good bill can be worked out. FFT: Spot on. Thanks, JD. Everyone take care.
TJI: Former guy says for GQP to NOT VOTE in ’22 or ’24! Bc peeps not buying the BIGLY LIE. Last nite Rachel M. had to credit him for bringing Ds and Rs together in agreement,finally! LOL! Yes, do it, baby—-start this year;get on it like your “lord & master” said. WTH