Open Thread February 20 2026

 Posted by at 6:00 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Feb 202026
 

Yesterday, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested for (insider financial) misconduct in office. This may be the most spectacular news out of the UK since Charles I was beheaded. This link is to a video lasting over an hour, but scroll down and you can get some details about what’s happening and will happen. Not all the details which make the whole thing so inspiring to listen to, but some. The irony that a constitutional monarchy appears better able to deal with a rogue in the (family) government than we do is not lost on Adam or Vicky or me. But the key to this ability is not the monarchy or the lack of it, but the Constitution – and respect for it – or the lack thereof. Also, next week, possibly as early as Monday, the Senate will vote on the Boundary Waters permission to mine, and, if it passes, these waters, which by the way Canada also borders, will be turned into literal battery acid. And every other state will, in time, suffer similar losses of public lands. The linked video is long, but it is “from the horse’s mouth” since it features Senator Tina Smith of Minnesota.

Another win for the rule of law. The law in question is late – and yes, justice delayed is justice denied – but it’s still better then never.

Law Day here is not until May 1 (as the rest of the world celebrates Labor Day.) But it appears we are having our own little law day here.

https://www.cpr.org/2026/02/16/fire-storm-and-avalanche-concerns-all-at-once-weird-weather-week-ahead-in-colorado/
From Monday, reminding me of the quip attributed to Mark Twain that “Everypne talks about the weather, but no one does anything about it.” Well, yes, Mr. Clemens. And that’s exactly why we are here.

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Open Thread June 24 2025

 Posted by at 6:00 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Jun 242025
 

Yesterday, Bowers News Media reported “n a welcome development, Senate parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough has ruled against the provision in the House-passed version of the Republican megabill that would have made it more difficult for federal judges to enforce contempt charges. This means that, at least right now, there are no provisions in the megabill that would reduce the power of the courts.” I don’t think he can fire her – but I hope she has security.

Since this from The Intercept is an ex post facto analysis, I figured it could wait a few days. Also, there’s little if anything we don’t already know. But seeing it in print kind of gives it an authority it would otherwise not carry. And that is why the betrayal of the mainstream media is so tragically important.

This is an “Oregon leads the way” story from Democratic Underground. I don’t know whether the poster is the writer, and DU is strict about copyright infringement, so I am “printing” it to a pdf. Let me know if the link is broken and I’ll send that to you.

I’m afraid I think this is a good idea – and maybe not just now. They are obviously out to get anyone who in any way makes like more bearable for non-billionaires, and they are out there regardless of who is in office, and too many of them are armed.

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Open Thread May 17 2025

 Posted by at 6:00 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
May 172025
 

Yesterday, an email I received from a PAC supporting Social Security informed me that “Musk claimed that millions of dead people were collecting Social Security benefits, and that 40% of all phone calls to Social Security’s 800 number were scams. Musk’s DOGE implemented a new system to catch this fraud, and now, the results are in. Out of over 110,000 new claims made by phone, TWO were found to be likely fraudulent. That’s not 40%. That’s 0.0018%. What’s worse is, Musk’s system slowed down each of those new claims by about 25%.” I am not surprised, and neither are you. But it’s nice to have numbers. Also yesterday, the trailer about the documentary about Robert Reich was released. And finally, the Supreme Court said to the regime (to paraphrase The Contrarian) stop trying to circumvent the system and start following the law. Seven to two. We shall see.

I saw this elsewhere first, but Joyce Vance, as a former Federal prosecutor is more knowledgeable than the other article. They did go to the trouble of a grand jury, which I would have expected them to attempt to skip. I don’t actually think it’s a good sign.

This was also published elsewhere … but Harry Litman saw it in the Atlantic, so that (the archived version with no paywall) is what I am linking to. It’s by J. Michale Luttig, who is one of the last of the generation of Republicans who were wrong about economics but still had honor. We saw him testify to the January 6 committee, and we’ve seen him a few times since also. You won’t be able tolisten to it here if you prefer listening – if you subscrive to the Atlantic, you can listen to it there. I hope it reaxhes at least some of the audience for whom it is meant, which isn’t really us. But it’s factual and well written.

 

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Open Thread May 16 2025

 Posted by at 6:00 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
May 162025
 

Yesterday, I had a bit more paperwork to do for the prison. It took longer than I wished – but it was a bit easier than the first two because instead of having to go the the website ands turn a pdf into a jpg so I could type into it, the prison emailed me a blank word document. Obviously I have saved copies of everything. I’m pretty sure that’s the last one.

I don’t remember subscribing to The Intercept – I presume it happened because I signed something- but I have not seen this lede story anywhere else, and I don’t think it should be ignored, so I’m sharing. Feel free to browse down, and if you go to another page, browse down it also. They have a lot of information.

Harry Litman at Talking Feds on a story that is definitely not getting ignored – so much is being discussed I thought I’d bring an actual Constitutional lawyer to address it.

And if you want to listen to another lawyer, here’s a  Michael Popok (Legal AF, Meidas Touch) a variety of legal issues. You can also see it on YouTube, but if, like me, you aren’t paying YouTube, this is a way to skip the ads, even if you aren’t paying Meidas either..

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Open Thread May 15 2025

 Posted by at 5:54 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
May 152025
 

Yesterday, my doctor’s visit went smoothly. We made a couple of minor med changes, and she wants to see me again in a couple of months with new blood work just before it. I can go ahead and get revaccinated for shingles and TPD but that has to be done at a pharmacy for Medicare to cover it. Well, I can do that. Otherwise, we are still feeling our way so I won’t go into detail. (And being brief because it took up time.)

I don’t think I’ve ever seen or heard Joyce Vance being sarcastic before. She’s very good at it. I’d like to see more if it.

This is the second in a series from the Contrarian on how courts can hold the Kumquat Kakistocrat accountable. Because it’s anything but easy. This article discusses Criminal Contempt, how it works, what can go wrong, what to do if it starts to go wrong.

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Open Thread April 30 2025

 Posted by at 6:00 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Apr 302025
 

Yesterday, the Contrarian posted a “Words and Phrases We Could Do Without,” as it sometimes does. The phrase was “Golden Age.” Of course what the Rockmelon Regime actually wants to duplicate is actually the “Gilded Age” – and I have a personal story about how different that is. I have never cared for turkey, but my aunt always made it for Thanksgiving and we always went to them for Thanksgiving = they came to us for Christmas. The part of the turkey I could basically stand was the part no one else wanted – the tail (you have probably heard some bigoted nicknames for it – I certainly have.) The first Thanksgiving I was not there because I was in the USMC, my uncle decided that a cute was to say “we missed you” would be to “gild” the tail of the turkey, mount it on a little block of wood, and send it to me, so he did just that. Of course he didn’t use actual gold, but gold paint – however, I suspect the results would be the same had he used actual gold – you can gild a turkey’s ass, but you can’t prevent it from rotting. And that’s why the term “Gilded Age” is so appropriate. However, if “Gilded” bothers Republican snowflakes, may UI suggest “Fools’ Golden Age” as a possible alternative? Also, this Borowitz is from Sunday but I haven’t completely trained tutamail yet on what is and isn’t spam, so I just found it – and can’t resist sharing.

I just found this Heather Cox Richardson also. You may have seen the information, but I don’t know who is better than a great historian to analyze it.

The ACLU put this up and out on Monday. But since today, Wednesday, is the actual Day 100, I don’t consider it terribly late. there’s a donate screen, but you can just scroll down past it. I suspect everyone who has the means is already giving.

Robert Reich mentioned Al Gore as one of the past Presidents and Vice Presidents he had not heard speaking publicly about the Rockmenlon Regime. Then he found this. I figure if he missed it, we probably all missed it – know I did – so here it is.

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Open Thread April 15 2025

 Posted by at 6:00 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Apr 152025
 

Yesterday, Harvard at least stood up to the regime. I’m pretty sure they are the first (at least the first household named university), but I hope will not be the last. And at that, it decided not to use the language “will not negotiate” in the rejection letter. Axios broke the story and by now has more details. Most of my sources yesterday were fixated on the economy, and I certainly am not trying to blow off the possibility of another Great Depression. But it is Robert Reich, IMO, who has the real story – and it isn’t good.

Robert Reich has the direst warning yet. And I might also refer to Harry Litman. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote during the Civil war: “The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, with peace on earth, good will to men.” It’s a nice thought, but peace and good will will not by themselves turn the trick. Accountability is needed. Has our democracy onl exisited up till now because the Nuremberg Trials were held? Would stronger enforcement of Reconstruction have prevented the 1939 Nazi rally at Madison Square Garden? Will we ever learn that no consequences means no accountability, and no accountability means the poison never leaves. White supremacists – not all of whom are whie, sadly – ARE the enemy, along with misogynists (and I should add that there is massive overlap.)

This from Heather Cox Richardson on April 9 because that was an important anniversary. Its relevance is not limited to that day – far from it. We are still dealing with consequences of decisions made then.

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Open Thread March 21 2025

 Posted by at 5:47 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Mar 212025
 

Yesterday, I hid a boatload of fonts and downloaded a couple of my favorites. I already discovered on the previous computer that not only are the English fonts that come with Windows 10 all alike and equally boring, but that, with all the non-English fonts displaying, it takes forever to find the right font for the project (if it’s even there.) I had been coping by constructing memes on the 8.1 and either bringing them to the 10 on a flash drive, or just uploading them to PP from the 8.1 and searching for them if they had been pushed down from the top. I don’t have all the fonts I will want yet, but i have a good start, and I need to be choosy, since paint can only show so many before sending me to font jail.

This from Wonkette was posted Wednesday. And there’s a lot in it. Now that the Clementine Caligula figures he’s not accountable to anyone, I don’t know how much it will really do to slow him down. But at least there are people with some authority who are trying.

Harry Litman has more to say about Justice Roberts’s social media post. He makes the implications of it pellucidly clear. I agree that the Roberts who made that post is the Roberts we need. But it’s not enough.

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