Open Thread November 4, 2022

 Posted by at 11:40 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Nov 042022
 

Yesterday, PolitiZoom reported that Trump** has filed a new lawsuit against Letitia James, the Attorney General of New Yourk. He filed it in FLorida, because reasons. He refers to hmself throughout as “President Trump” as if “President” were his first name. But none of that is the punch line. The punch line is that, in footnote 12, beginning on page 32, he complains about the cost to society of “frivolous lawsuits.” My heart goes out to comedians and cartoonists. How in the world can anyone compete with that level of whatever it is? Also, Paul Peliso was released from the hospital after surgeries to mend his injuries. Good news.

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Washington Post (free link) – Capitol Police cameras caught break-in at Pelosi home, but no one was watching
Quote – The 911 call and the struggle inside the home that followed have led to charges of attempted homicide of the speaker’s husband, and attempted kidnapping of the speaker, who is second in line to the presidency. The incident has also put a spotlight on the immensity — and perhaps the impossibility — of law enforcement’s task to protect the 535 members of Congress at a time of unprecedented numbers of threats against them…. An external review ordered by Pelosi shortly after the January 2021 attack found that there were more than 230 vacancies in the two months after the insurrection and recommended that the Capitol Police eventually increase the size of its force by roughly 850 officers. That would take years, given that about 100 officers leave or retire each year, and the force is now accepting only about 1 in every 16 candidates.
Click through for article. I am not slamming the Capitol Police. They have 1800 cameras, and while they are not completely unsupervised all night, mu understanding is that the supervision staff consists of two pwople. At lest the cameras providid evidence.

Letters From An American – November 2, 2022
Quote – “Anecdotal data point,” conservative commentator Tom Nichols tweeted this afternoon, “Had lunch with an old friend, a fellow former [Republican] (but not in politics or media or anything) and he said that things feel different after the Pelosi attack. Not sure why. I feel the same thing; not sure that it’ll matter, but have that same sense.”… Nichols is right: something feels different.
Click through for full letter. We need some hope – I hope Heather and Tom are right – but at least the excerpts from President Biden’s speech may help

Food For Thought

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Open Thread November 3, 2022

 Posted by at 7:04 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Nov 032022
 

Yesterday, A new story came out about a new political assault. The victim was a candidate for the Pennsylvania State House, which is about as far down the ballot as one can get, unless the municipality elects its dog catcher. But this attack also included an elderly man (69) and blows to the head causing unconsciousness. This is getting ridiculous. Crooks and Liars picked the story up from the local paper; there’s been no national coverage that I know of. Which makes me wonder how many other candidates for downballot offices are getting assaulted and we never hear about it.

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Civil Discourse – A Tale of Two Arizona Voter Intimidation Cases
Quote – The lawyers at Protect Democracy, which represents the League of Women Voters, were busy assembling the evidence. It appears that it was the evidence they were able to put in front of the court in the second case that persuaded Judge Liburdi to reach a different outcome. The League requested an injunction to stop the voter intimidation and attached affidavits that set forth such serious claims that the Judge ordered a hearing, which took place [Novrmbrt 1]. I’m told that the testimony was very powerful…. The best part of the order requires the group to post, both on their website and on their Truth Social page, accurate information about Arizona drop box voting laws and a copy of the court’s orders. I’m imagining a lot of heads exploding when they’re told…the truth.
Click through for full article. Legal representation and the way evidence is presented matters as much as the evidence itself, and maybe more.

Crooks and Liars – Judge To True The Vote Founder: Comply Or Go To Jail
Thursday’s hearing, which took place on the 11th floor of the federal court building in downtown Houston, was the first time either Engelbrecht or Phillips have appeared in court in the matter. Engelbrecht and Phillips testified only after the judge demanded they do so — Hoyt needed their testimony so he could rule on whether the pair should be held in contempt of court for refusing, for weeks, to hand over information he’d ordered they produce to the plaintiffs.
Click through for details. The Arizona intimidators are comparable to Jan 6 participants. These two are more at the Roger Stone-Mike Lindell level.

Food For Thought

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Video Thread 11/2/22

 Posted by at 11:54 am  Blog News, Personal
Nov 022022
 

Glenn Kirschner – Trump’s taxes; fed charges for Paul Pelosi attacker; Officer Dunn testifies at Oath Keepers trial

The Lincoln Project – Pelosi Attack

Meidas Touch – Sarah Palin makes HUMILIATING ADMISSION about Campaign as it SWIRLS THE DRAIN

MSNBC – Litany Of Trump Legal Entanglements Grows Ever Longer As Trump Org Criminal Trial Begins

Liberal Redneck – Voting Republican to Save the Economy

Beau – Let’s talk about a poll on climate inaction…. [It’s not every day you hear Beau distinguish so sharply between the parties]

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Open Thread November 2, 2022

 Posted by at 6:49 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Nov 022022
 

Yesterday, another update from Axios was interesting. You may remember that Lindsay Graham filed an emergency appeal of his subpoena to testify for Fani Willis’s grand jury, and Justice Clarence Thomas granted him a temporary stay. Subsequently, two othwer temporary stays were granted on emergency appeals – one by Justice Kagan (and I forget for whom that was), and more recently still, one by Chief Justice Roberts for Trump**. Even before the third stay, a legal expert pointed out that the granting of a temporary stay on an emergency appeal is normal, that the full court would have to concur in order for it to stand, and that that was extremely unlikely in both of the first two cases (and the third had not het happened.) Well, this update proved that expert correct in the case of Lindsay Graham. He has been told he must testify. Expect the second and third temporary stays to end up being just that – temporary. On a completely different toipc, if you watch TV or stream any news, you will probaby hear many pronunciations of the name “DePape.” But I note that the local police (who would be the ones who have actuallt spoken to him) are pronouncing it in three syllables, with the accent on the middle one. Sor of like “De-Poppy” (or “duh-Poppy.”) The inference is that they got that pronunciation from him, and that he knows how to pronounce his own name.

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Popular Information – “What happens when you put ideologues in charge of a university”
Quote – “It looks like the right-wing fantasy of what happens when you put ideologues in charge of a university,” Colson told Popular Information. Colson was one of 33 employees, most tenured faculty, that were terminated from [Emporia State University in Kansas] last month. The firings were made possible through a state-wide policy change introduced in early 2021 by the Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR), the board that oversees Kansas’ public colleges and universities. The other five public universities in Kansas declined to violate the principles of tenure to cut costs.
Click through for story. If I were thinking about going to college again (which I’m not – I have credentials I haven’t even used yet already), I would be seriously considering a HBCU just to avoid this crap.

The 19th Explains: How two Supreme Court cases could end affirmative action in colleges
Quote – Women represent about 60 percent of enrollment in universities and colleges around the country. Among Black students, women make up about 64 percent of bachelor’s degrees and 71 percent of master’s degrees. College-degree attainment for Latinas also outpaces Latinos. About 27 percent of Latinas have a college degree compared to about 21 percent of Latinos. As a result, any decision the Supreme Court makes on affirmative action will disproportionately impact women of color. Advocates for equity in education are concerned about what the upcoming decision could mean for groups of qualified students who are already underrepresented in the country’s most competitive schools.
Click through for details. They are already hearing oral arguments on one, and you will not believe what Clarence Thomas asked an attorney to explain. Proof in the Video Thread, not in today’s but in tomorrow’s.

Food For Thought

Incidentally, “poll watcher” is, at least in Colorado, a legitimate term, But it’s nothing like what Republicans are doing. Ther are duplicate records of voters by name only on small papers with a hole punched in them. A poll watcher is entitled to look through those, make a few notes, then leave. There can be one from each party who visits each precinct (although one person might be a watcher for more than one precinct.) The purpose is so that parties can look far names missing of people who need assistance getting to the polls, and offer it – and not bother those who don’t need it. The watchers are not allowed to talk to anyone except the election staff, and any conversation they do have with staff may not interfere with the staff’s duties. Election staff are trained before the election as to what poll watchers may and may not do. In any election I have ever worked, I and the staff working with me have been conscientious to maintain good order.

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Open Thread November 1, 2022

 Posted by at 6:52 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Nov 012022
 

Yesterday, I got an update from Axios that there are now Federal charges against David DePape (he had already been charged at the state level). This does not constitute double jeopardy because federal and state are separate “sovereigns.” This is a good sign. Also Faithful America (you mem remember they recently put up a web page against false peophets) now has a new page – 20 Resources to Resist Christian Nationalism. And, I’m sorry to say, even if we win the midterms in landslides, we are going to need every oone of those 20. Well, at least I gor=t confirmed to see Virgil this Sunday. I really like having the confirmation early.

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Civil Discourse – In Praise of the Federal Judiciary
Quote – Judge Berman Jackson unflinchingly defined who the good guys are and who the bad guys are. That’s a line that has become blurred in public discourse as the former president and his supporters make claims about the people who overran the Capitol and engaged in violence that range from calling them tourists to insisting they were patriots exercising their rights. But today Mr. Head heard the truth from the bench about Officer Fanone, and it’s important for all of us to hear it too: “[Fanone] was protecting the very essence of democracy, the peaceful transfer of power after a democratic election. He was protecting America. That’s who Officer Fanone was. That’s what Officer Fanone was doing. You made choices over and over again to go after him and not disengage.”
Click through for essay. Judge Berman Jackson is, sadly, not the entire Federal Judiciary (if only they were all at least as good as she), but she is certainly a fine representative of it. Her name has come up repeatedly this year, and always for something praiseworthy.

Project on Government Oversight – Study Shows POGO’s Oversight Trainings Increase Congressional Capacity
Quote – Designed for veterans and beginners alike, our monthly seminars feature lessons from some of the most accomplished current and former congressional oversight experts and practitioners, and provide opportunities for congressional staff to ask questions in an off-the-record environment. Although seminars are generally targeted toward committee staff, much of the information shared during these seminars is also helpful to staff in personal offices in their investigations. These nonpartisan training sessions are open to Hill staff regardless of party, chamber, or position, and we also welcome staffers from the Government Accountability Office and Congressional Research Service. These seminars feature current and former members of Congress or congressional staffers from both parties, and we do our best to get panelists from both the House and Senate.
Click through for article.  POGO is justifiably proud of their training program(s). It’s too bad that, if the GOP takes over, it will probably have to be scrapped.

Food For Thought

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Open Thread October 31, 2022

 Posted by at 6:42 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Oct 312022
 

Yesterday, the lead article in Colorado Public Radio news was that the state House Minority Leader (Republican) had died, suddenly and unexpectedly, at the age of 55. Nine days before the election. Cue conspiracy theories in 3… 2… 1…. When he took that office, he was described as “right in the middle,” which in today’s Republican party I would normally translate to “maybe halfway sane.” But according the the Speaker, the Marjority Leader, and the Governor, he was better than that. This is not good news.  Also yesterday, it was announced that Bolsonaro LOST in Brazil.  Com one, Americans – if Brazil can do it, we can too!

Cartoon – Nameless for the animation

Short Takes –

Democratic Underground (tblue37) – Neal Katyal’s mom dressed as RBG for Halloween:
Quote – My 87-ish year old mom going out to party tonight as RBG. Meanwhile I’m at my desk reading RBG opinions prepping for oral argument in my death penalty case Tuesday.
Click through for picture and some comments. I simply couldn’t resist.

Crooks and Liars – Marge Sent Ominous Tweet Hours Before Violent Attack On Paul Pelosi
Quote – On Thursday night, controversial Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who asked former President Donald Trump for a pardon before he disgracefully left office, tweeted an ominous message.”Just wait until tomorrow,” Rep. Sporkfoot tweeted [that] night.
Click throough for article. I hate to give her even the tiniest amount of oxygen, but this…

Food For Thought

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Open Thread October 30, 2022

 Posted by at 6:44 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Oct 302022
 

Yesterday, the radio opera was Aida, by Verdi, from the Los Angeles Opera. Several years ago, the Met broadcast Aida one Saturday with Violeta Urmana (who is absolutely competent, but not, IMO, terribly exciting.) Peter Gelb announced from the stage that Ms. Urmana was unwell and the role would be sung by Latonia Moore (of whom I hd never heard, and that was probably true for most of the audience.) Before the first act was over, I was on Google looking her up – I was that impressed. I knew she would, before too long, be a star in her own right, not a backup. In this broadast, she was the star, singing Aida as an established diva in her own right. I’m not always right in my predictions – but boy, was I right about this. The opera is so well known I don’t think I have to say much about it. It’s set in ancient Egypt because it was commissioned for and premiered for the openong of the Suez Canal. It doesn’t exactly make the Egyptians look like the good guys – but that’s also true of the Ethiopians – the only really good guys are Aida herself and Radames, both of whom are torn by conflicting loyalties. Amneris is pretty sneaky – but she is torn also. The opera is famous for the Triumphal March and for all the animals on stage (sometimes including elephants.) With these broadcasts, one can go on line and see some still photos from the production – sometimes just one or two, sometimes more. This one had 20. But if you were to look at them, if you tried to figure out the relarionships from what they looked like, you’d be fooled. The casting is the most color-blind I think I have ever seen. It warms my heart.

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Short Takes –

International Campaign for Tibet – Chinese woman’s racist WeChat post calls for Tibetans in Lhasa to be “wiped out”
Quote – Tibet is one of the clearest cases of institutional racism in the world today. Chinese authorities have spread racist narratives about Tibetans. A Chinese state media report on Tibet in 2008 asserted that prior to its “liberation” (meaning Tibet’s conquest by Chinese armies), “Tibet remained a society of feudal serfdom under a theocracy, one even darker and more backward than medieval Europe.” A Chinese state media report also claimed in 2021 that Chinese rule has taken Tibet “from a society under feudal serfdom to socialism, from poverty and backwardness to civility and progress.”
Click through for article. Nothing is ever black and white – and that includes racidm, or tribalism. It must once have had some survivak vakue, since it’s apparently hard wired – at least in some of us. If only there were an easy answer.

Wonkette – We Wish We Were Half As Fierce As This Tennessee Mom Throwing Out The Homophobic Christian Trash
Quote – Those [six examples given] are just the local news stories our pal JoeMyGod has aggregated about (white heterosexual) conservative Christian leaders abusing children in the past week. It’s kind of a thing he does, aggregaing those stories. And the numbers are staggering. And [censored] MAGA trash wants to lead a Nazi-style campaign against drag queens and trans kids and public school teachers who tell those kids it’s OK and that they’re not going to hell for who they are? Want to call drag queens and loving teachers “groomers”? Go eat a sidewalk.
Click through for story and video. I put this here because it so perfectly expresses what I feel (and you probably do also) about Christofascism and those who peddle it. And it has CC. If you cannot see Twitter videos, cuts from it are on YouTube here and here, but not the complete version.

Food For Thought

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Open Thread October 29, 2022

 Posted by at 7:16 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Oct 292022
 

Yesterday, Paul Pelosi, Nancy’s husband, was assaulted and injured in their San Francisco home. And Joyce Vance was right on it, with an article about the crime of assaulting a Federal official’s family member – before they even had time to question the attacker and report details. By now, of course you’ve likely seen some details. Some of hese Substck subscriptions, even non-paid ones, can certainly make a reader of them look knowledgeable (even when the author is clearly pissed.)

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Letters From An American – October 26, 2022
Quote – Today the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) warned banks that surprise overdraft fees and depositor fees for customers who deposit a check that bounces are “likely unfair and unlawful under existing law.” The CFPB is also looking into credit card fees. The Federal Trade Commission has started a rule-making process that addresses surprise fees for event ticketing, hotels, funeral homes, and so on; earlier this year, it brought actions against junk fees in the auto industry that are awaiting finalization.
Click through for column. Its primary focus is the economy, but there are a couple of other topics (the last is amusing.)

ProPublica – That Cardboard Box in Your Home Is Fueling Election Denial
Quote – Dick and Liz Uihlein of Illinois are the largest contributors to Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano, who attended the Jan. 6 rally and was linked to a prominent antisemite, and have given to Jim Marchant, the Nevada Secretary of State nominee who says he opposed the certification of Joe Biden’s election victory in 2020. They are major funders to groups spreading election falsehoods, including Restoration of America, which, according to an internal document obtained by ProPublica, aims to “get on God’s side of the issues and stay there” and “punish leftists.”
Click through for article. I had never heard of ULine until a couple of years ago, when they were one of a very few companies which had an unusual item (disposable pipettes.) Not too long after that I heard about the family being RWNJ, and flagged the name in my records.

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