The Economy – Politics Plus

Open Thread December 8 2025

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 5:52 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Dec 082025

Yesterday, I read Joyce Vance‘s analysis of the case against the alleged pipe-bomber Brian Cole (Jr.) She begins with the same question we all asked: “Can we trust the FBI and this Justice Department after years of watching Donald Trump denigrate and politicize those previously independent agencies?” And then goes into detail. Lots of detail. Bottom line, it looks as though even this DOJ got something right for a change. (And that that was the result of finding actual work done by the previous DOJ, not their own.) Included in the analysis is that many people have some degree of prejudice in favor of direct evidence over circumstantial evidence. I tend the opposite way myself. Objects are less inclined to lie than people.

I tend to get nervous about Democrats making promises, and then being prevented from keeping them by Manchins and other holdouts. Sure, we can do all of these, if we have a dependable veto-proof majority. Otherwise, we might be able to accomplish some, but nowhere near all of this. But all of it certainly needs doing – Robert Reich has that absolutely right.

Yes, Pearl Harbor Day was yesterday (I recognized it with a photo of the Pearl Harbor Memorial.) But this by Steve Schmidt, and the other by Heather Cox Richardson, were not available in time to post for yesterday. And I think they need to be seen.

From The New Republic. We don’t hear about this much – or at least I don’t. But it is correct. If this is still going on, it needs to stop.

Belle Bonds

Cat

Open Thread November 19 2025

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 6:00 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Nov 192025

Yesterday – well, that escalated quickly. The Senate sent the “release the files” bill to the Orange Oligarch’s desk for signature by 5:30 EST. (I received the Axios update at 3:35 MST, and assume it took 5 minutes or more to get it sent. I could be wrong – but not by more than 5 minutes.) I expected it to pass both Houses, but not today. People would not be in Congress if they did not love to talk. I also thought it had a good chance of being veto-proof. I did not expect it to pass with only one negative vote in both houses.

On Sunday, before the House Vote took place, Epstein survivors once again gathered on the Capitol steps, this time with photos of themselves contemporary with the abuse. It appears many people are viewing them as grown women in attempts to discredit, or at least soften, the trauma they endured. (Megyn Kelly is an example.) I really cannot address this – so just imagine a string of (expletive deleted)s, and supply whatever you wish to fill in. I will say I fully agree with Haley Robson’s assessment of the Apricot Antichrist’s reversal.

As Common Dreams demonstrates, it would be nice if we could manage to listen to Bernie. He has enough experience, and has paid enough attention to other nations’ methods of dealing with health care that he knoews what works. He has also done enough town hallls across the nation recently enough that he knows what is popular.

I’m very glad I didn’t include yesterday the news of Jesse Jackson being on life support – because it ain’t so. Yes, he turned 84 in October, so he’s not exactly youthful – he has Parkinson’s and PSP (which is definitely no walk in the park) – but he’s stable and with his family. The article includes a facsimile of the statement from his family (in very small print so I confess not to have read it all).

Open Thread October 17 2025

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 6:00 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Oct 172025

On Wednesday, after posting, I found this link to Newsweek with all kinds of background information on those who were in the Young Republicans group chat. Also Wednesday, Cleveland’s “Burning River Brigade” posted this. (Its manifesto is at the YouTube site, and is also worth reading.)

Dan Froomkin of Press Watch is definitely singing my song – although he left out one of the verses (the one on misogyny). But not knowing whether it’s more effective in the long run to get where we are going piecemeal or all at once – and suspecting that piecemeal may be more effective in the long run – I’m not really complaining, but just pointing that out.

Vanity Fair has an excerpt from Virginia Roberts Giuffre’s memoir. It details her initial meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell, and some of what happened next.

If you didn’t want to watch the video with Jack Smith I linked to yesterday, but are still curious about what Jack had to say, Harry Litman has written his reaction to it here at the Talking Feds Substack. He doesn’t shy away from admitting how painful it is to be reminded of how it used to be compared to how it is now.

Open Thread September 25 2025

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 6:00 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Sep 252025

Yesterday, The Resistance PAC and Win Without War were circulating a petition to use the 25th Amendment, but also to hold the Orange Oligarch accountable for treason. The suggested basis was his putting troops into American cities. As I assume we all know by now, the Constitution limits the definition of treason to making war on the US, or providing aid and comfort to anyone making war on the US. I think his putting the military into US cities is iffy, especially since apparently Jan 6 didn’t qualify – but at least it’s not totally unreasonable under the definition (and his working on changing “Defense” to “War” adds a little plausibility.) So i went ahead and signed this one. Not that it will go anywhere, nor am I recommending anyone else to sign it. Just explaining my reasoning. Also, Adelita Grijalva has won handily the special election for the House seat of her late father Raul in Arizona (she got 71% of the vote.) And I don’t want to hear a word about nepo babies. Yes, her highest elected office previously was for County Supervisor, but she’s not totally without experience. And then – there’s this. (Don’t click with liquid in your mouth.)

Wonkette discusses the Poopypants Pasha’s plans to profit from immigration. Is everything about money with him, or is everything just about him? Or can he tell the difference?

I suppose I could bring back the Furies, or chat with Themis, on this. But I think most of us already know the general outlines of the history of the FBI, as shared by The Conversation. The devil, however, is in the details – literally.

And I’m adding this from NBC News with the caveat that we have very little knowledge yet because I expect to se a lot of misinformation and want us to be prepared.

Open Thread September 1 2025

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 6:00 am Holiday, Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Sep 012025

Yesterday, after Saturday was rough, I slept till 2 pm- and started nodding off at about 4 pm. Normally, Trinette would have been by, but she has had a cold and doesn’t want to expose me to anything. If and only if she feels well enough, she’ll come today. Also over the weekend, a really beautiful fundraising email for Zoe Lofgren, authored by Liz Cheney, was sent out. Of course there’s no link. But Liz called Zoe “an unsung hero” for the Constitution, said she is “a thoughtful and serious member, and she operates with zero ego ‑‑ a rarity in Congress,” and that she “has been a source of wisdom and good judgment for me and many Members in Congress.” Her closer was “Although we don’t share many views on politics or public policy, I can assure you that we need Zoe in Congress and on the frontlines as we continue to protect and secure the future of our democracy.” Knowing, as we do, exactly how much they do disagree on policy, that’s one glowing recommendation.

From the Root. If you thought this was over, it isn’t. Chance may be gaining weight, but his respiratory issues are likely to be lifelong – however long that may be. I don’t even know what to wish for little Chance and his heroine of a grandmother.

This from The New Republic was referred by Daily Dose of Democracy. I think everyone here has a pretty good idea of what makes an economy healthy and why – but it isn’t necessarily all that easy to explain to people who for one reason or another have it backwards. I think this is a helpful analysis. I seldom if ever read The New Republic, but I checked that is has a strong reputation with the watchdogs for publishing just the facts.

Open Thread August 9 2025

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 6:00 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Aug 092025

Yesterday, thankfully, the inbox was way down.

Oddly, since I normally prefer reading to videos, I think I’d rather listen to Heather Cox Richardson than read her letters/ Even though she says “um” a lot. I think part of that is her enthusiasm. Even when she has warnings to give, it can feel like she’s giving a pep talk. I listened to all 41 ½ minutes of this one, digressions, and ums, and all, and there was little in it that I hadn’t heard or read elsewhere, but I still felt enlightened afterwards. You may feel differently, but here’s the link if you want to try. (If you don’t, ignore it.)

I am absolutely in agreement with Robert Reich here. Eternal vigilance is the price, not only of freedom, but of equity. If they distort it one way, the only way we can restore it is to distort it ourselves. We didn’t get that during reconstruction (any of the reconstructions) – but we need to learn it now.

This is from Wonkette, and not unexpected, I would guess. One old saying which is absolutely true is that “Figures don’t lie. But liars do figure.

Open Thread July 23 2025

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 6:00 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Jul 232025

Yesterday, Virgil did call, and I broke the news to him about Joe’s death. He took it well. As I said, it was not unexpected. Today is his birthday, so I also told him Happy Birthday early. I also have a card on the way to him – it has attitude, but it is perfect for him since he so often tells me I am the best thing that ever happened to him. It says “Happy Birthday from the best decision you ever made.” I’m sure it will give him a smile.

Robert Reich puts the use of non-government individuals to influence power into the context which now exists, and addresses how that is different from the lobbying system we had all become so accustomed to, and how much more it is like the reign of the “Sun King.”

This article is from Malcolm Nance’s Substack “Special Intelligence.” If you aren’t familiar with Malcolm Nance, it’s time you were, so I am also linking to the Wikipedia article on him. The dude knows what he speaks and/or writes about. And even though what he writes about here is next to impossible to take seriously, it’s still important. MAGA and/or QAnon people have taken action in the past about propositions which were too ridiculous to take seriously, and people have been endangered and hurt, even killed, by those actions.

Open Thread July 7 2025

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 6:00 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Jul 072025

Yesterday, Trinette came by. Unless she’s out of town, she comes by on the Sunsays when I don’t visit Virgil and helps me with anything I need that is too strenuous for me. And we chat. It’s both stimulating and relaxing for me and she also enjoys it. She inspired me to put a sign up on the storm door saying “Coution: Retired person inside. Knows everything and has plenty of time to talk about it.” Yeah, someyimes it’s like that. But the keeps coming and keeps staying to hear stuff, so it can’t be all that painful.

This is a simple joke but also an allegory for something far more complex. And I recommend reading the comments too – they have some potential refinements, most of which would make an even more accurate allegory. Sigh.

The May Day Movement, which has organized prior nationwide protests, has two more events being set up. The first is for July 17 – I have mentioned it, but I don’t think I knew till now it’s being called a “Good Trouble Event” and will focus on John Lewis’s memory. The second is for September 1; it’s still in the planning stages but they are already looking for signups for it also. Yes, the two sites linked have different names, but working together is so much a part of this resistance movement, I believe all are connected.

Steve Schmidt notes that there are still decent people here, and, maybe even more necessary, people elsewhere who are aware of us.

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