China – Page 2 – Politics Plus

Video Thread 8/15/22

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 12:16 pm Open Thread, Politics

Aug 152022

Glenn Kirschner – Search warrant shows Trump’s classified documents crimes. It’s time to hold him accountable

Meidas Touch – BREAKING: Top Republicans lie and claim NUCLEAR SECRETS ‘planted at Mar-a-Lago’ and NOT A BIG DEAL

The Lincoln Project – Last Week in the Republican Party Augugt 9, 2022

No Dem Left Behind – The U.S. Economy is Doing Great Globally…

MSNBC – News from Mallory McMorrow – “What Happened In Kansas Is Going To Happen Here In Michigan.”

Beau – Let’s talk about China extending their exercises….

Open Thread August 6, 2022

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 7:18 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Aug 062022

Yesterday, my mechanic confirmed that the car won’t be ready till next week (which was certainly no surprise, but it’s nice to be clear.) I did a little dealing with things on my front porch so I can get more out there for the charity pickup scheduled for the 24th. There’s still a lot to move out there … but I got a start which will help considerably.

Cartoon –

Short Takes –

Crooks & Liars – Keith Olbermann’s Countdown Is Back — As A Podcast
Quote – The premiere episode of Countdown With Keith Olbermann steals from a) all his other programs b) Beethoven and Bach and c) Peter Finch as Howard Beale in the film “Network” – only with Olber-Beale screaming “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take Trump any more!”
Click through for more information. I didn’t put this in the video thread because it’s an hour program (including some commercials, and sound only, and no CC that I could find), but I did listen, so you don’t have to, unless you want to. I know a number of people here do like Keith. He vents the same frustrations we all share.

Wonkette – Nancy Pelosi Goes To Taiwan, Uh Oh, That’s A Warrin’!
Quote – Wednesday, Pelosi, the first woman speaker, met with President Tsai Ing-wen, Taiwan’s first woman president (America continues to hang its head in shame). She noted that a group of (male) Congress members had visited Taiwan in April and cast some fierce shade on China’s current bluster. “They made a big fuss because I’m the speaker, I guess. I don’t know if that was a reason or an excuse,” she said. “Because they didn’t say anything when the men came.” ’Nuff said.
Click through for story. I used Wonkette’s take becuse I am ambivalent. I respect both Pelosi and Biden and don’t know enough about this aspect of foreign policy to try to secod-guess either of them. (I do know she did invite Republicans and was turned down.)

Food For Thought

Open Thread for November 26, 2021

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 7:21 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Nov 262021

Yesterday was, of course, Thanksgiving Day in the United States. I hope everyone had a wonderful day whether or not you are in the United States. Tomorrow, I will be going to see Virgil. I think I’m ready.

Cartoon –

Short Takes –

The New Yorker – Could One Shot Kill the Flu?
Quote – For decades, scientists have dreamed of what some call a “universal” flu vaccine—one that could target many strains of the virus. A universal vaccine would save countless lives not just this year but every year; as those numbers add up, it would become one of the greatest medical breakthroughs in history. Until recently, it’s been beyond the reach of molecular biology. But new technologies are extending our abilities, and researchers are learning how to see through the flu’s disguises. Without knowing it, we’re living on the cusp of a remarkable scientific achievement. One of the world’s longest pandemics could soon be coming to an end.
Click through for complications. It’s not a certainty – but it is a possibiity -and that is progress. If you re paywalled out, feel free to email me and I’ll send a pdf.

Crooks and Liars – Justice For Ahmaud Arbery: ALL 3 Defendants Found GUILTY
Quote – The jury was not representative of the community, with 11 white and only 1 Black member, which was a concern that even the judge raised. They deliberated for roughly 10 hours and there was concern that this could be a Kyle Rittenhouse or George Zimmerman repeat. But JUSTICE PREVAILED.
Click through for details. I put up a tag Wednesday when this was announced, but I wanted to featureit also. It’s important.

The New Yorker – Peng Shuai and the High Stakes of Business in China
Quote – The post was up for about ten minutes before the state’s well-oiled machinery of censorship kicked into gear and took it down. Comments on Peng’s account were locked. Screenshots of her sixteen-hundred-word post, which were spreading, were scrubbed. Her name disappeared from Internet searches. Emojis and words related to the case did, too. For a while, even the word “tennis” was blocked. Behind the state’s erasure of Peng’s presence on the Chinese Internet was another urgent and troubling question: What would happen to her?
Click through for the story which is not at all simple. I never expected to be looking to “The Sporting Scene” for a short take, but pf coourse, she’s not the first sports woman, and will not be the last, whose life clashes in some way with authoritarian leadership.

Food for Thought –

COVID-19 Fact and Fiction #28

Posted by Lona Goudswaard at 10:52 pm Politics

Oct 082020

The world is dealing with an unprecedented health crisis caused by a new virus. With new insights in the way COVID19 spreads, in the way the virus behaves and in the way to deal with the pandemic every day, it is now more important than ever to safeguard the information we share is accurate and fact-based.

This article is not based on information of fact-checkers but it is a so-called Short Take from an article published today on the SCIENCE section of ABC News on how COVID-19 disinformation is used to attack Beijing by a group that has strong ties to Steve Bannon, Donald Trump’s former White House Chief Strategist.

Although the article on the ABC News site is written for Australia, the connections to the US and China warrant it to be noted in this series as yet another way COVOD-19 is used in political strategies. I urge you to read the full article on the ABC News site.

Anti-Beijing group with links to Steve Bannon spreading COVID-19 misinformation in Australia

ABC Science By technology reporter Ariel Bogle and Iris Zhao

Former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon and Chinese businessman Guo Wengui have joined forces on a number of media platforms. (Getty Images: DON EMMERT/AFP)

When Christine’s mother asked her for help printing political pamphlets about COVID-19, it took her by surprise.

She already knew her mum belonged to a new political group that aims to take down the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Christine expected the fliers might be pro-US President Donald Trump or anti-Chinese Government.

She didn’t expect that they would contain COVID-19 health misinformation.

“I was pretty disgusted,” Christine said. “I didn’t actually know it was misinformation that could be harming people.”

Christine says her mother is involved with the New Federal State of China movement, which operates in Australia in part under the name Himalaya Australia.

The movement was launched on June 4 this year — the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre — by controversial Chinese businessman Guo Wengui and former White House strategist Steve Bannon.

Now it appears to be growing its activity in Australia. In recent weeks, pamphlets with a Himalaya Australia logo have turned up in letterboxes across Australia, while at the same time the group has grown its online presence.

A pamphlet with the Himalaya Australia logo found in a Sydney postbox.(ABC News: Supplied)

Donald Trump used his return to the Oval Office yesterday to promote the experimental cocktail of drugs he received during his treatment for COVID-19, while warning China will pay a”big price for what they’ve done” to the United States.

Coincidence? With many Twitter accounts besides Mr Guo’s own media platforms regularly sharing anti-CCP and pro-Trump posts and videos, the movement has a global reach.

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