Open Thread for July 26, 2021

 Posted by at 6:47 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Jul 262021
 

Yesterday was Sunday … which usually means a slow newsday – and this was no exception. So I don’t have a lot. But there’s always something.

Cartoon –

Short Takes –

Medium – Ken Starr, Brett Kavanaugh, Jeffrey Epstein and Me
Quote – It was a an interview I watched in 2020 with one of Baylor’s aggrieved accusers that helped me understand how I could have been blind for so long to the pattern of misogyny coursing through Starr’s career. Describing a meeting with Starr about her ordeal, she said that he shed a tear along with her, made her feel heard, but did nothing to help get justice for her or the many other female students who came forward with allegations. Unless you count what he said in one interview, “We grieve for what happened. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t say it’s a new day. That’s the biblical perspective that we try to live up to here at Baylor University.” Shamelessly and effectively, he shoved rape allegations under the carpet in the name of Christianity.
Click through for complete story (you get 2 articles free per month, so maybe “print” if you want to be able to reference it.) I always used to think a person’s sex life did not affct his abiity to govern – and I still think so provided misogyny is not a part of it.

The Guardian – Tennessee man died from heart attack after ‘Swatting’ over Twitter handle
Quote – “Emergency responders were dispatched, and when they arrived at Herring’s home, guns drawn, they called for Herring to walk toward them, keeping his hands visible. As he did so, Herring, 60, appeared to lose his balance and fell to the ground, unresponsive. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital; cause of death was determined to be a heart attack.”
Click through for details. We’re familiar with “Sex sells,” and “If it bleeds it leads.” Maybe weneed a new saying regarding the amount of media attention triggered by pur craziness.

Democratic Underground – “And there, people, is the story of why I hate people. And why I love people….”
Quote – “I guess I look nice. Approachable. Like I wouldn’t rip your head off. I am nice, most of the time. But not always. And I lost my temper.”
Click through. It’s not terribly long. And I figured we needed a feel-good story after those horror stories above.

Food for Thought:

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Open Thread for July 21, 2021

 Posted by at 7:00 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Jul 212021
 

Those of us who remember polio, measles, mumps, rubella, chicken pox, and all that went with them, may sometimes have trouble getting through to (and in the process become frustrated by) nnti-vaxxers, who don’t remember that. Roald Dahl (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and other masterpieces) lost a daughter to measles – to measles encephalitis, to be precise. He wrpte about the experience years after, and someone at Democratic Underground found the piece and shared the story. Of course it’s a huge hanky alert. But if you can think of anyone who might be helped by hearing or reading it … you’ll find it at the link. Dahl was ot a perfect human being (for one thing, he was known to be anti-Semitic.) But no one deserves that.

Cartoon –

Short Takes –

Acosta Warns Of A Five Alarm Fire – Coups, Hitler, Voter Suppression
Quote – What will you do if a second insurrection happens? What if they are successful in taking over the government? We are standing there, rule book in hand, screaming at the other side to FOLLOW THE RULES, while they shoot us with mace and bear spray, fire assault rifles at us, cover their faces with war paint, and scream “MAGA MAGA MAGA!”
Click through for story and video. Of course he’s right. I hope people who need to listen do listen. And that they don’t disregard him because he doesn’t yell or scream.

APNews – New chief selected for Capitol Police after 1/6 insurrection
Quote – The decision comes as the Capitol Police and other law enforcement agencies are struggling to determine the best way to secure the Capitol and what direction to take the 2,300-person force that guards the building and the lawmakers inside it and functions as mashup of a national security agency and local police department…. The Capitol Police Board, which includes the House and Senate sergeant at arms and the Architect of the Capitol, is charged with oversight of the police force and led the search.
Click through. The 1/7 interim appointment was not intended to be permanent.

The Hill – Trump ally and ex-campaign adviser Thomas Barrack charged with secretly lobbying for UAE
Quote – “The conduct alleged in the indictment is nothing short of a betrayal of those officials in the United States, including the former President,” Lesko said. “Through this indictment, we are putting everyone — regardless of their wealth or perceived political power — on notice that the Department of Justice will enforce the prohibition of this sort of undisclosed foreign influence.”
Click through for more.  Also, Glenn Kirschner discusses this in today’s video thread. Incidentally, there’s been a story floating that the Biden DOJ declined to prosecute Wilbur Ross for lying to Congress. That’s false. It was the Trump** DOJ which did that.

Food for Thought:

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Video Thread for 7/12/21

 Posted by at 11:59 am  Open Thread, Politics
Jul 122021
 

Glenn Kirschner – AG Garland Said This Country Protected HIS Family. It’s now Time For Him To Protect OUR Families

Meidas Touch – Former SDNY Asst. US Attorney: The Trumps Will Turn on Weisselberg—and EACH OTHER

The Lincoln Project

Don Winslow – Don Winslow Films – #LaurenBoebertIsAMonster

CNN – [John Dean] says he’d pay to handle Trump’s deposition. I have a very sift spot forpeople who have made mistakes, including extremely stupid ones, and LEARNED from than and turned around. John is one. Another is Monica Lewinsky.

Liberal Redneck – I’m from TN and LAWD I CAN’T STAND MARSHA BLACKBURN. (Taylor Swift is acually a liberal.)

Beau – Boebert is no Einstein, but I have administered GED testing and read the tests and getting it is NOT easy. And, yes, apparently it took her several tries to get it. However, it still is not that easy (and it certainly is not the same questions every time one tries) and Istill assert that GEDs are respectable and arw to be respected by Democrats, among others. And certaily by the military. I don’t know whether the military is accepting GED students now, but at the time I was working with it they weren’t. I have advised GED grads nterested in the military to go to the nearest and cheapest community college and take and pass one course – any course. Then, their educational level becomes “some college” and bypasses the GED question altogether. And I still consider that good advice. (But I hope Boebert doesn’t take it.)

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Open Thread for July 8, 2021

 Posted by at 7:00 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Jul 082021
 

Yesterday was quiet enough – in fact it was significantly more quiet than usual because I now have no phone service at all on my land line … so no robocall rings. But the technician supposedly comes today. Hopefully that will provide resolution.

Cartoon –

 

Short Takes –

The Daily Beast – Opinion – Former Murdoch Exec: Fox News Is Poison For America
Quote – Fox News has caused many millions of Americans—most of them Republicans (as my wife and I were for 50 years)—to believe things that simply are not true. For example, Yahoo News reports that 73 percent of Republicans blame “left-wing protesters” for the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. Of course, that is ludicrous. All one has to do is look at the pictures or videos of the attack to see that the violent mob was comprised of Trump supporters. Similarly, a poll by SSRS in late April found that two-thirds of Republicans either believe or suspect that the election was stolen from Trump—60 percent saying there is “hard evidence” that the election was stolen. As noted above, this ridiculous notion has been thoroughly refuted. But millions of Americans believe these falsehoods because they have been drilled into their minds, night after night, by Fox News.
Click through for more. This is a “Consider the source” story. This dude is in a position to know what he is talking about, even though he gives Rupert too much benefit of the doubt (reminds me of the KMart ads aimed at WalMart claiming Sam would have been ashamed. No, he wouldn’t have.)

The Hill – Eric Adams wins New York City mayoral primary
Quote – “Now we must focus on winning in November so that we can deliver on the promise of this great city for those who are struggling, who are underserved, and who are committed to a safe, fair, affordable future for all New Yorkers,” he said…. The race is the first in which the board sought to implement ranked-choice voting, which allows voters to list five candidates in order of preference.
Click through for some details. I disn’t follow this race, but did follow the Manhattan DA Dem primary, which Alvin Bragg won.Hopefully they will work together well.

Reuters – Judge finds U.S. 60% responsible for 2017 Texas church mass shooting
Quote – In a decision released on Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez said the Air Force did not use reasonable care when it failed to enter Devin Patrick Kelley’s plea to domestic violence charges in a database used for background checks for those buying firearms. Rodriguez said the government bore “significant responsibility” for harm to victims of the Nov. 5, 2017 massacre at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, 31 miles (50 km) east of San Antonio.
Click through for background. Even if you remember it, it’s been a while, and a lot has happened in the meantime.

Food for Thought

Link to story in Common Dreams

 

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Video Thread for 7/7/21

 Posted by at 12:00 pm  Open Thread, Politics
Jul 072021
 

Glenn Kirschner – Why the Trump Org Criminal Charges May Open the Indictment Flood Gates: A Matter of Precedent

Meidas Touch – John McCain’s Private Reaction to Trump’s Attack on POWs

The Lincoln Project – Remember

The Franklin Project – Get Empowered with Close Up

Rebel HQ – Trump OUTED By BOMBSHELL Evidence! (<- I didn’t write this and don’t consider it a bombshell But it is solid.)

Founders Sing – HE’S INDICTED & IT FEELS SO GOOD

Beau – Let’s talk about DOD mandated vaccines….

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Video Thread for 7/6/21

 Posted by at 12:15 pm  Open Thread, Politics
Jul 062021
 

Glenn Kirschner – 545 Insurrectionists Now Charged as New Court Filing Reveals Assault on New York Times Reporter

Now This News – Extremist Group Takes Over TikToker’s New Home     

Robert Reich – What Does Patriotism Really Mean?

The Franklin project – Bringing Civics to Life

This Tiny Kitten Grows Up Racing Around Her House Like A T-Rex

Keith Olbermann – OLBERMANN VS…THE 4TH OF JULY TRUMPIAN WHITE SUPREMACISTS PARADE IN PHILADELPHIA.

Beau – Let’s talk about the New York Times documentary about the 6th….

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Video Thread for 7/5/21

 Posted by at 12:12 pm  Open Thread, Politics
Jul 052021
 

Glenn Kirschner – Trump’s Statements at FLA Rally Can be Used as Incriminating Evidence in DA Vance’s Tax Prosecution

The Lincoln Project – Independence Day

Now This News – Birds Aren’t Real Movement Says Birds Are Government Drones

Vote Vets – Independence

The Franklin Project – Organization Spotlight: Raise Your Voice with Deliberations.US (This is a model which works – but which requires people to participate.)

Woman Gives Toys to a Wild Magpie — and He Invites His Friends Over to Play

Beau – Let’s talk about the DHS bulletin….

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Video Thread for 7/3/21

 Posted by at 12:47 pm  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Jul 032021
 

Glenn Kirschner – Trump Org/Weisselberg Indictment Suggests 2 Other “Trump Employees” Also Up for Possible Indictment Two remarks – first a quibble – nothing here “begs the question.” Glenn means it “raises” or “poses” or “suggets” the question. “Begging the question” something completely different. Second, after this (and Richard Wagner and James Livine and others) I surely hope I never again have to hear anyone say that “Music is ennobling.”

Meidas Touch – Traitors

Now This News – Biden on Surfside Florida Condo Collapse (Hanky alert, as if you couldn’t figure that out.)

Vote Vets – Rep. Moulton and Rep. Auchincloss Discuss Evacuating Afghan Interpreters

Ring of Fire – Homeland Security Warns Of Future Violence From Angry Trump Supporters. (Beau also addressed this – I’ll get to his in a few days – it needs reminders from time to time)

A Cat’s Guide to Training Your Human

Beau – Let’s talk about the Republican investigation into the NSA….

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