The Washington Post offers tips on how to keep your EV battery running in frigid temperatures. The link at the end of this graf is supposed to be a "gift link" (from me, Marie Burns, the giftor!), meaning that non-subscribers can read the article. Hope it works: https://wapo.st/3u8Z705
Thursday
Mar312016
The Commentariat -- March 31, 2016
Afternoon Update:
Timothy Cama of the Hill: "The United States and China are pledging to sign last year's Paris climate change agreement as early as possible. President Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed Thursday that their representatives will approve the deal on April 22, Earth Day. It's also the earliest date on which countries can sign it. Though the agreement was crafted in December, it does not enter into force until 55 countries with at least 55 percent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions are on board."
Nahal Toosi of Politico: "Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy [D] and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are in a war of words over the Democrat's request that the State Department investigate alleged human rights violations by Israeli and Egyptian security forces. Leahy and 10 House members sent a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry on Feb. 17 that lists several examples of alleged Egyptian and Israeli 'gross violations of human rights,' including extrajudicial killings, that should be examined.... Leahy's signature drew special attention because his name is on a law that conditions U.S. military aid to foreign countries on those countries' human rights records. 'In light of these reports (of suspected abuses) we request that you act promptly to determine their credibility and whether they trigger the Leahy Law and, if so, take appropriate action called for under the law,' the letter states."
AP: "Ted Cruz's presidential campaign is trying to knock opponent John Kasich off Montana's primary by questioning signatures the Ohio governor's campaign submitted to qualify for the ballot - another subplot in the unfolding political drama to derail Donald Trump's presidential bid."
** The Banana Republic of Trump. Brian Beutler muses on the various ways a Trump presidency might play out. Well-worth reading. CW: What struck me, though Beutler doesn't directly mention it, is how our governmental institutions offer little protection against a single unstable individual -- if the electorate first gives him/her the means to do so -- could take over & destroy the entire system. It's a flawed system, one that's easily exploited by people of bad faith. This isn't a surprise; it's been evident at least since Newt Gingrich became Speaker of the House.
Back to the Future. Michael Barbaro of the New York Times: "Bookended by advertisements for Trojan condoms and Malibu Ultra Light cigarettes, [a 1990] interview in Playboy magazine is a remarkably prophetic document.... Donald J. Trump sat down with Glenn Plaskin, a celebrity columnist, and ... enumerated a grievance-filled economic agenda, a searing denunciation of weak-kneed American leadership and a keen understanding of his appeal to blue-collar Americans that uncannily resemble the White House campaign he is waging today...."
We're Still Checking. Toby Eckert of Politico: "Donald Trump's campaign released a letter from his tax attorneys Wednesday night saying Trump's personal tax returns 'have been under continuous examination by the Internal Revenue Service since 2002,' a reason the GOP presidential candidate has cited for not releasing his returns. The March 7 letter from Sheri A. Dillon and William F. Nelson says audits of Trump's returns for 2009 'and forward' are ongoing and says all of the audits are 'consistent with the IRS' practice for large and complex businesses.'" ...
... CW: What is "consistent with IRS practices" is that the agency will repeatedly audit an individual whose earlier audits have found the taxpayer had underpaid his taxes. This letter doesn't help Trump except with his base; rather, it suggests he consistently cheats on his taxes. Big surprise.
... CW: The dramatic doomsday music is awful, even if we are in for a dramatic doomsday. Amy Chozick of the New York Times: "Priorities USA Action, the main 'super PAC' bolstering Mrs. Clinton's bid, worked with Planned Parenthood, whose political action arm has also endorsed Mrs. Clinton, on the ad.... The 30-second online spot, directed at female women voters in Florida, Ohio and Washington, D.C., uses Mr. Trump's remark to MSNBC, which he later backed away from, as an impetus to attack his longer history of comments about women."
Daniel Strauss of Politico: "In a statement, the Sanders campaign said it expected to get on the ballot [in the June 14 Washington, D.C. primary]. 'We did what the D.C. law requires in order to get Bernie on the ballot and we are confident he will be on the ballot,' communications director Michael Briggs said." See related stories under Presidential Race.
*****
David Nakamura & Steven Mufson of the Washington Post: "President Obama welcomes world leaders to Washington on Thursday for a two-day summit on nuclear security that aims to refocus global attention on an issue he has called a top priority but on which his administration has had limited success." ...
... President Obama, in a Washington Post op-ed: "Of all the threats to global security and peace, the most dangerous is the proliferation and potential use of nuclear weapons. That's why, seven years ago in Prague, I committed the United States to stopping the spread of nuclear weapons and to seeking a world without them. This vision builds on the policies of presidents before me, Democrat and Republican, including Ronald Reagan, who said 'we seek the total elimination one day of nuclear weapons from the face of the Earth.'"
Michael Shear of the New York Times: "President Obama on Wednesday commuted the sentences of 61 federal prisoners convicted of drug and firearm crimes, extending his efforts to reshape a criminal justice sentencing system he has said is unduly harsh, unfair to minorities and outdated. More than a third of the prisoners who will soon be released were serving life in prison as a result of federal sentencing laws that imposed severe punishments for the distribution of cocaine and other drugs." (Also linked yesterday afternoon.) ...
... ** New York Times Editors: "While that's better than nothing, it is nowhere near the action needed to rectify the injustice suffered by thousands of low-level, nonviolent inmates who still languish in federal prison, serving sentences far longer than what would be imposed under today's laws. Keeping people like this locked up for years costs not only taxpayers, but society as a whole.... If Attorney General Loretta Lynch is interested in meaningful pardon reform, she should support moving the process out of the Justice Department." ...
... Gregory Korte of USA Today (March 28): "The Obama administration instructed Justice Department attorneys to neglect applications for presidential pardons to give priority to the Justice Department's initiative to release low-level offenders from prison, the former pardon attorney said in her resignation letter early this year. That inaction was one of several issues that former Pardon Attorney Deborah Leff cited in her letter, which was obtained by USA TODAY after making a Freedom of Information Act request. Leff resigned in January after less than two years as the official responsible for making clemency recommendations for the president."
Sabrina Tavernise of the New York Times: "The Food and Drug Administration ... relax[ed] the requirements for taking a medication that induces abortion, a move that is expected to expand access to the procedure. The move was a victory for abortion rights advocates who had been fighting laws in states like Texas, North Dakota and Ohio that required providers to follow the requirements on the original F.D.A. labels for the drug when conducting abortions by medication." (Also linked yesterday afternoon.)
Washington Post Editors: "Tuesday's news ... showed why keeping the court understaffed for any significant length of time would be bad for the law, the court and the country. Even if we might agree with some of the results, a quarter of a presidential term is a long time to go without a full Supreme Court. Senate Republicans should consider Merrick Garland's nomination immediately." ...
... Linda Greenhouse: "At its core..., Zubik v. Burwell, is a case about religion's role in civil society. The plaintiffs are betting on an expansive interpretation of a federal statute, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. And here's where hijacking comes in. What's being hijacked is not the religious objectors' insurance plans, but the Religious Freedom Restoration Act itself."
James Queally & Richard Winton of the Los Angeles Times: "The FBI has agreed to help prosecutors gain access to an iPhone 6 and an iPod that might hold evidence in an Arkansas murder trial, just days after the agency managed to hack an iPhone linked to the San Bernardino terror attacks, a local prosecutor said Wednesday." CW: If you thought the feds would limit their knowledge of de-encryption technology -- whether obtained from the manufacturer, from hackers or from their own techies -- to terrorism cases or suspected terrorist activity, you can now put that thought in your deep memory bank of "Things I Once Believed." ...
... Rich McCormick of the Verge: "The FBI originally argued that if Apple complied and helped it access Farook's phone, it would not use the method again, but in figuring out another way into the device the FBI can now theoretically help unlock other iPhones of the same family, up to and including the 5s."
James Downie of the Washington Post: "... even if Obamacare were the train wreck that Republicans claim it has been, their failure to unite around a replacement would then be all the more incredible. Two thousand and two hundred days after Obamacare became law, there have been zero Republican votes on a replacement."
Annals of "Journalism," Ctd. E.J. Dionne: "... the demography of [President] Obama's support explains why a relentless media focus on Trump and the Republican primaries entirely warps the message coming from Americans as a whole. Obama's approval rating is at 89 percent with Democrats and 50 percent among independents. But it stands at only 12 percent with Republicans and 9 percent among conservative Republicans. Yet the voices of conservative Republicans are being amplified beyond all reason by the obsession with Trump and the GOP's struggles."
Annals of Journalism, Ctd. Al Jazeera America is closing down. Tony Karon delivers the network's valedictory address. CW: the layout of the Website was part of the problem. Early on, I tried to patronize the site & seldom found any timely stories. They later changed the layout format, but they didn't make articles or videos more accessible. In fact, this morning I was looking for an Al Jazeera story I knew about from another source, & absolutely couldn't find the story on Al Jazeera's site.
Presidential Race
The Republican party is coming apart at the seams, & Dan Balz of the Washington Post is here to tell you all about it. CW: "Boo-hoo," says Balz; "Boo-fucking-hoo," say I. (Actually, this is a pretty good summary of where the party is -- or are, since they're all over the place. ...
... Jesse Byrnes of the Hill: "Instead of helping to unify the GOP behind a candidate, as the primary process typically does, the race has instead created deep wounds between the candidates that are unlikely to heal." CW: Yeah, we're all having a sad.
** Arden Farhi of CBS News tracked down the originator of the petition to allow attendees to carry arms into the Republican convention. His name is Jim, and he's "a self-described liberal Democrat who intends to vote for Hillary Clinton should she become the Democratic nominee. He isn't affiliated with a campaign or any advocacy group.... Jim says he wrote the petition knowing it was somewhat preposterous -- that law enforcement would never allow the Republican presidential candidates inside an arena with potentially thousands of armed individuals." CW: Do read the petition if you haven't already, & you'll see what 52,000+ Americans think is logical. Well, no wonder; it's what politicians & the NRA have been telling them for decades. Jim's original goal was 50,000 signatories; I see he's upped it to 75,000. ...
... Update: Nora Kelly of the Atlantic has more on the petition & the originator of the petition, whose name is Jim Ryan. "He got some rave reviews: One commenter called it 'one of the best satirical pieces since "A Modest Proposal,"' the seminal Jonathan Swift work that criticizes anti-Irish sentiment in Great Britain." CW: It is impossible to forget that we're dealing in the politics of the absurd, & no group is more absurd than the NRA, though many of its supporters try to match or best them; to-wit: ...
You know what? If I'm in that room and let's say we have two or five or 40 people with guns, we're going to do a lot better because there's going to be a shootout. -- Donald Trump ...
... Gail Collins: "Two important points here: Even in the confines of Second Amendment aficionados, you don't normally hear the term 'we’re going to do a lot better because there's going to be a shootout.' Plus, note the suggestion that people would be safer with an armed Donald Trump in the building.... If you want to know where [Ted] Cruz stands on a reasoned approach to handling weapons, I suggest you take a look at the video in which he demonstrates how to cook bacon by wrapping it around the barrel of an assault rifle. ('Mmmm, machine gun bacon.')
Trip Gabriel of the New York Times: "The danger signs are mounting for Donald J. Trump in Wisconsin: Right-wing radio hosts are flaying him, Gov. Scott Walker and other elected Republicans have endorsed Senator Ted Cruz, and a new poll showed Mr. Cruz with a 10 percentage-point lead in the state before Tuesday's primary. The Stop Trump movement may never have another opportunity like the one here, where resistance to Mr. Trump was running high even before his campaign became consumed by a new round of controversies, from his mocking of Mr. Cruz's wife to the arrest of his campaign manager to his comments in favor of punishing women who get abortions."
Philip Rucker & Robert Costa of the Washington Post: "If Donald Trump secures the Republican presidential nomination, he would start the general election campaign as the least-popular candidate to represent either party in modern times. Three-quarters of women view him unfavorably. So do nearly two-thirds of independents, 80 percent of young adults, 85 percent of Hispanics and nearly half of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents.... His success among a segment of the Republican electorate stands in contrast to his weaknesses in a general election decided by all voters."
"Dangerous Donald." Dana Milbank: "Trump is accustomed to steamrolling bankers, employees and reality-show contestants alike. But what explosion might result if this unpredictable man were president and world leaders, or Congress, told him 'No'?" ...
... Freedom of the Press. CW: Milbank adds a tidbit I missed: "Trump defended Lewandowski by saying the reporter's pen could have been 'a little bomb' or a knife." The next thing you know those reporters Trump likes to keep in a pen will be deprived of their writing & recording devices, any one of which might contain "a little bomb." ...
... Here's another disturbing tidbit that's fallout from the Lewandowski case. Margaret Hartmann: "Former Breitbart reporter Michelle Fields ... tells the Blaze that she's moved out of her apartment because she's been receiving threats and no longer feels safe. Fox News and BuzzFeed inadvertently published her address and phone number along with Lewandowski's arrest report, and while the outlets have redacted her personal information she's still getting disturbing messages on her phone. It's like a real-life version of a pro-Trump comments section, but scarier and harder to ignore." Emphasis added.
Michael Finnegan of the Los Angeles Times: "Donald Trump was merciless Wednesday in his portrayal of how poorly Wisconsin has fared under its Republican governor, Scott Walker.... It was an unlikely approach for Trump to take just as Marquette Law School was releasing a poll that found 80% of likely voters in Wisconsin's Republican presidential primary on Tuesday approve of Walker's job performance. 'I wouldn't do this, except that he endorsed this guy Cruz, and Cruz would be a terrible president,' Trump told the crowd in a theater at St. Norbert College.... Trump recalled Walker visiting him at his Manhattan office and giving him a plaque to show gratitude for giving him at least $50,000 in campaign contributions. 'We're trying to find it; it's on the bottom of a pile of plaques.'..."
Jordan Fabian of the Hill: "White House press secretary Josh Earnest on Wednesday condemned ... Donald Trump for standing by his campaign manager after he was charged with battery.... 'I am confident that neither President Obama nor President Bush would tolerate someone on their staff being accused of physically assaulting a reporter, lying about it and then blaming the victim,' Earnest told reporters.Earnest said Trump's response to the Lewandowski incident, as well his other controversial actions, is 'completely outside the realm of acceptable behavior.... I am also confident in telling you nobody is particularly surprised that that's behavior that Mr. Trump doesn't just seem to tolerate, he seems to encourage,' he added." (Also linked yesterday afternoon.) ...
... Nick Gass of Politico: "Karl Rove, David Axelrod and David Plouffe are not taking kindly to Donald Trump's speculation that they roughed up reporters worse than his own campaign manager Corey Lewandowski. The three former strategists told Politico Wednesday morning that Trump is not only flat-out wrong, he's also irresponsible.... During a telephone interview with 'Fox and Friends,' co-anchor Brian Kilmeade asserted that campaign managers "should not be putting their hands on reporters," remarking, "Karl Rove didn’t do it. David Plouffe didn't do it, David Axelrod didn't do it. That's why you have Secret Service and that's why you have your own security.' 'OK and you don't know that they didn't do it, because I guarantee you they did, probably did stuff that was more physical than this,' Trump replied. 'More physical, because this is not even physical. And frankly, she shouldn't have her hands on me. Nobody says that. But she shouldn't have her hands on me.'" Emphasis added. ...
... CW: No, Nick, that wasn't "speculation" on Trump's part. That was an out-and-out accusation that Rove, Plouffe & Axelrod physically, severely abused reporters. Even though those guys are public figures, they have grounds to sue Trump. Since Trump likes lawsuits so much, they should sue his ass for defamation. ...
** Dara Lind of Vox writes an excellent piece on how Trump's handling of the Lewandowski case demonstrates why he would be a terrible -- or as Dana Milbank writes, "dangerous" -- president. CW: BTW, Lind includes a Trump tweet with a photo I hadn't seen before: a close-up of Michelle Fields' hand that is holding that pen-bomb. In the photo, it appears the side of her pen-bomb hand may be grazing Trump's suit sleeve. Trump later said she "grabbed" him, & after that said she "hit" him.
... Peter King for Feminist of the Year. Christopher Massie of BuzzFeed: "Republican Rep. Peter King of New York defended Corey Lewandowski on Tuesday after new video emerged from the incident showing Lewandowski grabbing a reporter's arm and pulling her backwards at a Donald Trump event in early March.... 'This thing with Corey Lewandowski,' King said on Imus in the Morning. '... You know, before I saw the video yesterday, I thought he had hit her with a baseball bat or something. I haven't practiced law in a while but I never heard of somebody being charged for touching someone on the arm, unless you're talking about some kind of a sexual thing.'" (Also linked yesterday afternoon.) ...
... No, No, Donald Trump for Feminist of the Year. Nolan McCaskill of Politico: "Donald Trump on Wednesday suggested that women should be punished for seeking abortions if the procedure is outlawed." CW: I can't tell from the reporting (here or elsewhere) whether or not Trump said abortion would be illegal, but he seems to imply it. (Also linked yesterday afternoon.) ...
... Update 1: Becca Andrews of Mother Jones: "Donald Trump said Wednesday that he wants to ban abortions, and that women who get abortions illegally should be punished. At a taping of an MSNBC town hall that will air later, host Chris Matthews pressed the Republican presidential front-runner Trump for his thoughts on abortion policy. Trump said he's in favor of an abortion ban, explaining, 'Well, you go back to a position like they had where they would perhaps go to illegal places, but we have to ban it,' according to a partial transcript from Bloomberg Politics."
... Update 2: Matt Flegenheimer & Maggie Haberman of the New York Times: "The comment, which Mr. Trump later recanted, attracted instant, bipartisan criticism -- the latest in a series of high-profile episodes that have shined a light on Mr. Trump's feeble approval ratings among women nationally. In this case, Mr. Trump also ran afoul of conservative doctrine, with opponents of abortion rights immediately castigating him for suggesting that those who receive abortions -- and not merely those who perform them -- should be punished if the practice is outlawed." ...
... An amazing turnabout for someone who's never wrong because he "talks mostly with himself" & "has a very good brain." Ed Kilgore recounts & explains the instant evolution of Trump's position on "punishing women." Worth a read. ...
... AND this is humorous. Margaret Hartmann: "Two Trump surrogates rallied to the candidates' defense. Chris Christie said Trump 'obviously misspoke,' though it's unclear how he knew this since he claimed he didn't see the ubiquitous video of Trump's remark. Dr. Ben Carson, who's been too honest for his own good recently, explained that Trump was just caught off guard and forgot to dodge the question. 'What you develop with experience is how to answer that in a way that is not definitive,' he told CNN's Erin Burnett."
... Tim Murphy of Mother Jones: Donald Trump's Muslim ban "just got worse." He told Chris Matthews of MSNBC that he'd allow exceptions for his rich Muslim friends. ...
... Wherein Donald Trump tells Chris Matthews the U.S. might have to nuke Paris or London or Berlin or some other European place(s). Hey, he already dislikes Angela Merkel -- but not because she's a woman! -- so what the hell? Ka-boom!
Priscilla Alvarez of the Atlantic: "In an unprecedented move Wednesday, the National Border Patrol Council announced that it is endorsing Donald Trump, a candidate it touts as 'bold and outspoken as other world leaders who put their country's interests ahead of all else.' The National Border Patrol Council, a labor union representing 16,500 agents, has refrained in the past from making such endorsements, but cited the 'lives and security of the American people' as reason enough to break with precedent." CW: Lunkheads. (Also linked yesterday afternoon.)
John Rollert, for the Atlantic, reads Trump's 1987 book The Art of the Deal: "For almost nine months now, the national negotiation for 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue has been underway, and it bears the signal traits of so many of Trump's commercial endeavors: It is long on instincts, short on details, and subject to a remarkable amount of turmoil." Thanks to P.D. Pepe for the link.
Oliver Laughland of the Guardian: Protesters try to outmaneuver the Trump camp, so far with minimal success. In Janesville, Wisconsin, one "group was photographed and aggressively questioned by supporters in the line, who then tipped security off about their presence. The fact the group had a single black member, who stuck out in the overwhelmingly white crowd, appeared to have alerted suspicions, [a protester] said. 'It's like people are little vigilantes.'"
T. A. Frank writes an amusing piece for Vanity Fair on Paul Ryan's non-candidacy for the nomination. ...
... Just how could the Reluctant Ryan -- or any Not-Trump -- become the nominee? Sasha Issenberg of Bloomberg explains "how to steal a nomination from Donald Trump. Donald Trump has spent much of his campaign selling himself as a maker of great deals. But in the next phase of the campaign, the author of The Art of the Deal may be confronted with the ultimate dealmaking challenge, gaming the rulebook and horse-trading for delegates at what could be a contested convention. And if that situation comes to pass, it's one in which his opponents have a distinct advantage going in." CW: Paul Ryan is running the convention. How conveeeenient.
Victor Morton of the (right-wing) Washington Times story: "Because of an error by the D.C. Democratic Party, Sen. Bernard Sanders' name is not on the ballot, according to a report by WRC-TV, the local NBC affiliate." Thanks to Ophelia M. for the lead. I don't know if Morton got his facts straight, but he has definitely done some reporting on it. ...
... A blogpost by Hannah Wise in the Dallas Morning News tells the same story.
Eric Levitz of New York: Hillary Clinton kicked off her New York primary campaign at the "live at the Apollo.... New York offers Clinton a chance to effectively end Sanders's hopes in April.... She then outlined her case against Sanders, or as she insisted on calling him throughout her speech, 'my opponent.'... Clinton doesn't have a better platform for combating bigotry than her opponent. But she has a rhetorical dexterity that Sanders has often lacked. Her elucidation of bigotry's evils spurred some tears and much cheering at the Apollo. Sanders has three weeks to gin up an enthusiasm gap in the Empire State. He's going to need all the time he can get."
Senate Race
Lisa Hagen of the Hill: "President Obama and Vice President Biden on Wednesday endorsed Democratic Senate candidate Katie McGinty, another sign that the party's establishment is coalescing behind her in a contentious Pennsylvania primary battle. The endorsements give the former gubernatorial chief of staff a huge boost ahead of the April 26 primary, where the candidates will vie for the chance to take on Republican Sen. Pat Toomey." (Also linked yesterday afternoon.)
Beyond the Beltway
Alan Blinder of the New York Times: "'I have no intentions of resigning,' said [Alabama Gov. Robert] Bentley, a Republican in his second term.... Within hours, Rebekah C. Mason, the governor's senior political adviser and the woman with whom he engaged in suggestive conversations, captured on tape, said she had quit. And by day's end, it was uncertain whether it would be politically feasible for Mr. Bentley, 73, to remain in office in this state, which has a gaudy history of scandal but has been in something of a morals-driven meltdown since the governor's admission last Wednesday. Some lawmakers are talking of impeaching Mr. Bentley. The governor's former pastor spoke of 'church discipline' and said that Mr. Bentley was no longer a member of the Tuscaloosa congregation where he was once a deacon."
WGN-TV: "She could have reached out and touched it. That's how close Tina Dorschel was to the Florida panther that nearly brushed her leg as it charged past, speeding down a boardwalk in Florida's 13,000-acre Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary."
... CW: I've embedded this video only because (a) it made the news & got lots of hits after Dorschel posted it to her Facebook page, (b) it happened close to my home -- Corkscrew Swamp is east of Naples, Florida, (c) nature walks frighten me because nature; (d) I'm a short-timer here. The new editorial staff could rightly delete it. It wouldn't hurt my feelings any.
... CW: Ha ha. The video itself was deleted by the user. Serves me right.
News Ledes
New York Times: "Dame Zaha Hadid, the Iraqi-born British architect whose soaring structures left a mark on skylines and imaginations around the world and in the process reshaped architecture for the modern age, died in Miami on Thursday. She was 65."
Washington Post: "Five key members of the U.S. women's soccer team have filed a federal complaint against the U.S. Soccer Federation to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, alleging wage discrimination. In the complaint, the players cite USSF figures from last year showing that they were paid nearly four times less than men's players despite generating much more revenue."
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Reader Comments (28)
Here's the video where Trump aborts:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/donald-trump-abortion-women-punishment_us_56fc2a99e4b083f5c606880d
Here's something I have been concerned about re: Hillary's stance on Israel. Whether she will modify her position if and when she becomes president is up for grabs. Below an interesting piece addressing her involvement.
When a kiss is just a kiss: Hillary Clinton's march to the radical right on Israel by sandy Tolan:
href="http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/a_kiss_was_just_a_kiss_hillary_clinton_radical_right_israel_20160331">http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/a_kiss_was_just_a_kiss_hillary_clinton_radical_right_israel_20160331
Once upon a time when Donald was still dancing along on that yellow brick road looking for all the world like a blond tousled scarecrow he realized that yes, indeed, he did have a brain––in fact he now tells us more times than necessary––"I have a very good brain"––and wonder upon wonders many believe this.
John Paul Rollert, an ethicist of note, reads "The Art of the Deal" and concludes: "Trump succumbs to the age-old temptation to see capitalism not as an economic system but as a morality play."
http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2016/03/an-ethicist-reads-the-art-of-the-deal/475605/
Let me try that link to the Hillary piece again:
http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/a_kiss_was_just_a_kiss_hillary_clinton_radical_right_israel_20160331
Watching the exchange between DT and Chris Matthews via the Rachel Maddow show, DT shows himself once again as a spoiled brat who says the first thing that pops into his head, and believes it must be the right thing.
I suspect he has had people reinforcing this view all of his life, saying "Yes, sir. Thank you sir. May I please have another" like the caricature of Chris Christie in the SNL cold open several weeks ago.
In business, DT has had the luxury of walking away from poor decisions, letting the lawyers and minions clean up the mess. He has a Huuuge case of affluenza.
If this were just fun and games, I would nominate Sarah Palin as his running mate. Their level of discourse is about the same, and she has a proven record of giving up when the going gets tough. On second thought (a phrase unfamiliar to DT) I encourage him to choose SP. With the "unfavorables" of the two of them together, we could see the largest landslide for the Democratic candidate Evah! It'll be Incredible!
Well, well. Isn't this special.
Alabama Governor Robert (I din' boink that lady) Bentley has been booted out of his church, the First Baptist Church Tuscaloosa. Those crazy Christians! It seems his "not boinking" ways have put him in Dutch with his former holy roller pals. Funny, I thought the whole idea of Christianity was to welcome sinners into the fold, not kick them out. Oh well. In any event, he was already in trouble for not obeying his pastor when he was commanded to instruct everyone in the state to ignore the rulings of a federal judge regarding the legalization of marriage for everyone.
If you ask me, the latter is much worse than the former, from the Christian point of view, or at least what seems to be the Christian point of view. Stepping out on one's spouse, unregulated fornication, all forms of adulterous behavior, D I V O R C E, multiple marriages, and the like are far more routine in red bible thumping states than in the confines of lib'rul blue states. If people were tossed for screwing around churches all across the south would be half empty. But allowing icky gays to get married? Why, that'll keep you out of heaven!
Which brings me to a larger issue, touched upon in RC world now and then, which is the inordinate, eye watering influence of a relatively small minority of evangelical Christians over public policy and law in this country.
Every year the Supreme Court docket is littered with religious "liberty" bills and demands that Christians not be held accountable for ignoring settled law that applies to all the rest of us. The fact is that it's not liberty for all religions. Others have tried it. Remember Scalia sticking it to Native Americans who took their religious complaints to the Supremes? He pretty much laughed in their faces. Nope. It's only for Christians. And not even all Christians. Just evangelicals. The ones who are always crying "victim".
In the last 24 hours we had the likely candidate for president from the Republican Party declaring that women who sought abortions should be punished. Punished! Legally and probably with jail time. Punished!! (if that ain't a moralistic, reeking of the Bible expression, I don't know what is) Why? Religion, that's why. Evangelical enmity towards other Americans who won't kowtow to their medieval bullshit.
Oh, and the other Republican candidate for president? He might not want to punish women in the exact same way, but he has plenty of punishment planned for everyone if he gets his way and turns this country into a theocracy. A theocracy based on evangelical Christian rules.
Welcome to America, 1016.
Oops. Forgot the link for the Gov. NoBoinkHer comment, above. Oh, and not only was NoBoinkHer booted, but his paramour as well. The lady he's not boinking. Never heard of being tossed out of a church for not boinking, but you never know...
Greetings, One & All.
This item flew past me - was it posted on RC yesterday? - from the right-hand side of Marie's site:
The DNC ("D" as in "Debbie"?) omitted Sanders from the DC Primary ballot!?! Claiming a tardy submission of paperwork!?!
(Whereas HRC's submissions were both inclusive and on time!?!)
I need a second cup of java with Excedrin -
@Akhilleus: And let us not forget that time Scalia argued in court that the Christian cross represents or "honors" people of all religions (and, I extrapolate, of no religion). The linked back-and-forth is extraordinary.
Marie
@Ophelia M.: I wasn't aware of the D.C. ballot situation. Here's a Washington Times story: "Because of an error by the D.C. Democratic Party, Sen. Bernard Sanders’ name is not on the ballot, according to a report by WRC-TV, the local NBC affiliate."
Thanks for the heads-up. This is going to be a major scandal if the party thinks it's going to get away with it. I didn't know about it. Perhaps you saw something in one of the ledes in the right-hand column, tho so far, there's been scant reporting on it. That's likely to change.
Marie
PD Pepe -
Thank you for linking TruthDig's Hillary/Israel piece.
' . . . some of Israel’s fiercest and most eloquent critics are Jews . . . '
Likewise, American Jews.
As with the (paltry and inaccurate) reporting of NYC's yuuge - and peaceful - Anti-War (Iraq) Marches, "inconvenient truths" are warped, discredited or dispensed with entirely.
Linda Greenhouse observes that "The National Rifle Association is beginning to run out of places to demand that people be allowed to bring their pistols, having already thrown down the gauntlet on bars, kindergartens, airports and college campuses."
Hmmm. I have a suggestion.
How about insane asylums? Don't those people have Second Amendment rights? There are plenty of insane and dangerous people walking around packing heat who are not restrained in asylums. Why should some nuts have all the fun and not all of the nuts?
A good first step would be to arm everyone walking into the Quicken Loans arena this summer for the Confederates' National Convention. This way you demonstrate your complete support for carrying loaded weapons into the last bastion of gun free zones left in America: nut houses.
And, you get off to a great start by ensuring that the largest collection of lunatics on the planet will all be carrying loaded weapons in the same place at the same time.
Not only that, one of the presidential contenders promises a shoot out!
Ratings, baby. Ratings. Can't you see the Fox slo-mo replays? "Look! There's Sarah Palin. She tried to nail one of the bad guys (a protester) with her double barrel, but missed and took out six delegates from Iowa. Folks, this is a freakin' melee! Clouds of gunpowder, weapons going off everywhere. We're trying to find Donald Trump....Oh wait...there he is...hiding under a table! It looks like he...can we get a close up shot of that please? Yes he did. He shit his pants. It looks like he's trying to load shotgun shells into a gold plated Glock. Now where's Ted Cruz? Oh, there he is, with one of the Duck Dynasty guys. They've just killed about a dozen delegates from New England. Must have thought they were Democrats. What a show! John Kasich is asking for calm and look, Louie Gohmert just shot him in the ass with his Saturday Night Special. I think he was aiming for that black security guard. Oh well..."
Dear Maria & the RC Community
Over the few days while my mother was breathing her last, I sensed something amiss with our community—comments shut down, trolls, I don’t know. Needless to say I’ve had a lot on my mind, but didn’t want March 31 to go by without a comment (perhaps only my second in my time as a RC regular reader).
Like so many of the rest of you, I came to this site through Marie’s comments on the NYT. Her expert choices, summaries, and commentaries (along with contributions from the rest of the community that has developed) have enriched my life and helped keep me reasonably sane and informed as in general our public discourse has deteriorated.
I offer my heartfelt thanks to all of you, and live in hope that our community will continue—there are so many creative, thoughtful minds involved. If someone is keeping track, please put me down as someone who would be willing, in the future, to be involved in keeping this going.
Dear Linda, I am so sorry about your mother. It's a very hard time when it happens to all of us.
And I am sorry also to say goodbye to RC. Marie pulled me in also, as well as Kate! Bless the NYT for being the steering mechanism. I since quit reading them and read RC for the best in synopses. I'm not sure anyone can do it better, and I am not adept enough to try. Blessings on anyone who can. But until then, happy trails, Marie. You have been a treasure.
Oh, god...pass the Pepto.
The Times today printed a holier than thou op-ed from Mr. Svelte, Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Hypocrite) about the importance of the Voting Rights Act and how awful it was that those terrible Supremes killed it.
Boo-hoo, Jimmy.
But wait, he has a solution. Hoo-fucking-ray! You may recall that Little Johnny and the Dwarfs decided that southern states with a history of discrimination and voting shenanigans didn't need to be precleared anymore. They decided that that was old hat stuff and besides, the good ol' boys would be fine with lettin' them nigras vote now. Right? Oops. Guess not. Three seconds after the decision was announced, voter suppression schemes all across the country went into overdrive.
But ol' Jim has a plan, and here it is: "Under [the Sensenbrenner] bill, a state or jurisdiction could be subject to preclearance if a court ruled that it had discriminated against voters on the basis of race five or more times in the most recent 15 years."
Got that? States have 15 years to demonstrate that they're not behaving well and letting the darkies vote. After that, well, maybe we'll have to do something. Because voting is important, dammit!
But until 2031, Confederates can all relax because the current voter suppression plans now underway and gaining steam with every new election, can make sure they don't have to worry about not being re-elected, because voting rights. And blacks. And the Constitution.
Good job, Jim! And hey, nice op-ed. How come we never heard any of this when the Supremes were thinking about gutting the Voting Rights Act? Huh?
This is like saying that people shouldn't let cows kick over lanterns, a couple of years after the Chicago fire, and giving the residents 15 years to make sure that shit doesn't happen anymore. The title of this piece of crap is "Suppress Votes???? I'd Rather Lose My Job!" Good one Jim. But guess what? Under your plan, you'll be planted before you lose your job because it lets Republican election rigging and vote suppression remain in place for 15 years. Plenty of elections can be stolen in that time.
Hey Jim, here's a big piece of pie and ice cream. Now go away, like a good boy, okay. Have some more pie. Attaboy.
Dear Linda From Denver,
I am saddened to learn of your Mother. And trust that you have loved ones who can be there for you when you need & wish them to be . . . and who will also understand when there may be times you wish to be alone with your deeply personal thoughts and feelings.
I hope you will take care of yourself in little (or large) ways.
And feel free to do, say and be - - *whatever* your inclination - -
from Moment-To-Moment
There is no Right or Wrong way.
Fondly,
Ophelia
@In fairness to Svelte Sensenbrenner, he has been a long supporter of the Voting Rights Act. His new "solution" sure sucks, tho.
Marie
Marie,
I get that it seems like a big deal for any Republican to express even a mild support for the Voting Rights Act. My larger problem is, first, why isn't Sensenbrenner going on Fox to say this stuff? Why isn't he publishing op-eds in the Washington Times (NYT readers, for the most part, are not the ones demanding that voting rights be curtailed). If he has done those things (I've never heard about it, but I'm not a Fox or WT regular--but I'm guessing the wingnuts would have been up in arms about it, and that I might hear) great. But that brings me to another question: if he really does want clean and fair elections, why is he still a Republican?
Thank you, Marie, for what you have given to the 'Reality Based Community', of which I proudly count myself a member. As have so many others, I came to the RC community via your comments on the NYT. I know from my daily readings how much of your time is spent reading, analyzing, aggregating, linking and commenting on news that matters. You have said that you spend 8 to 12 hours a day doing this. I could not do what have done daily if I worked 36 hours a day.
This must have been a labor of love for you? But labors of love can take too much from a person after a time. As much as I will miss clicking on the link to this website to spend time with you and the others of the RC community (I'm talking about you Ak, PD, Kate, Ken and the other regular commenters), I understand and support your decision to end it. I know that you have many other activities and endeavors in you life. Enjoy them to the fullest. As a retiree who wakes up in the morning with nothing to do but finds at the end of the day that I have only done half of it, I appreciate all that I have. I joke about having nothing to do as my life is full of rewarding activities as well as a supportive group of friends and family. Although just a RC 'lurker', I considered the RC community as part of that group.
If the group decides to continue, I will attempt to support it in any way possible. If the Facebook suggestion were to be acted on, I would request that I be allowed to join.
Sadly, goodbye and farewell to you all,
Jerry Newman
San Diego
I Lost My Job and Was Replaced by a Giant Turd but Now I'm Back.
Hey kids, looks like Fuzzy's back in town.
According to a Times news brief linked above (right side), Fuzzy Gregory is coming to a CNN channel near you. Just what we need: another slow pitch softball pitcher to lob big fat tomato cans at guests, avoid the tough questions, and remind everyone that Both Sides are to blame.
Just in time for one of the most momentous election seasons in recent memory.
Gregory, by the way, has been hired by Jeff Zucker, who, after his tenure at NBC (a debacle by any measure--the network slipped from number one across the board to last place) is now at CNN and has decided that the way back to ratings Valhalla is Trump, Trump, Trump, and more Trump.
He's hired a number of rabid Trump supporters and put them on as news "consultants". You may recall asshole Jeffrey Lord who defended Drumpf's comments about Mexicans as rapists and murderers, who announced that Republicans are the true supporters of civil rights, and who declared that the KKK was a liberal terrorist group. Zucker has also hired professional ninny Kayleigh McEnany who is so out it when supporting Trump on air, she prompts other CNN panelists to laugh out loud.
So Greggers makes sense for CNN. They cover the waterfront on politics: Insanity to inanity.
There's a reason so many people hate the media.
With the contest ending tomorrow I thought I'd submit a few names for potential running mates if Hair Drumpf gets the nomination. I've been racking my brain (or what's left [right?] of it) to identify them given that that is the last thing I would want.
1. Tom Cotton was a thought I had during my flight home last Friday before I read that he was already jockeying for position for the position. Could give military cred to the Donald and instigated the letter in opposition to the Iran deal.
2. Louie Gohmert, just because he's crazy and from Texas he could attract some of the other crazy people from Texas and the south/southwest.
3. Not Scott Walker because he's already proven himself to be a loser for president.
Despite Drumpf's misogynistic statements and behavior I would not put it past him to name a woman to (try to) redeem himself with female voters, so:
1. Joni Ernst, who's doesn't come across being as complete a whack job as Sarah Palin, another loser. It would make a great bread bags to riches story! If someone pisses off the Prez, he could sic Joni on them to exercise her knife skills.
2. Liz (Darth Vaderette) Cheney, name recognition and free advice from the Dick with somebody else's heart.
3. Ann Coulter, only because she's as nasty a piece of shit as Drumpf.
And last but not least, someone who he could say that all the blah and LGBT people love him - RuPaul. He can sing, he can dance (like all blah people) and he looks gorgeous! Another reality show star and supermodel who could fill in when Melania isn't available. He could even be the main act for the yu-u-u-ge Inaugural Ball that is sure to take place when Drumpf wins!
Thank you, Marie! As I sit here fighting the tears for all that is lost, I remain forever thankful for all you have done. I too have been a mostly silent participant. Like others I quit reading the Times and followed you to RC. Marie, you always said what I was feeling and thinking more clearly than I could have ever done. The other regulars often did the same. I wish you well Marie. Finally, I would like to thank you all for forcing me to think. My life is richer for having known you all.
Drew Gross
Thank you for all you have done. I have enjoyed your links and all of the comments for many years. Please include me in whatever follows Marie's amazing site. Best to you Marie. Cheers!
Dear Marie,
You established an enlightening, passionate, and articulate community. I will miss your posts, comments, and the Commentariat. It's been wonderful being a silent, but supporting observer of this dynamic neighborhood. Best good fortune to you as the future unfolds.
From the hinterland, respectfully,
MFen
Thank you to everyone who contributed to this marvellous news site. Thank you especially to Marie. The impact of the site is a function of all the many contributors, and all the many readers, who also contribute by being there and being informed. It is reassuring to know that there are people out there somewhere, open to facts, logic, discussion.
Also thinking of Barbarossa. I lived in Atlanta and wish you as well as can be. We mostly keep our private lives out of these threads, but we live our lives in context, and form our opinions from those contexts. A kindness, a generosity of spirit shines through these commentaries, mixed with a delightful erudition and mischievousness.
Between me and insanity, stand my friends. Thank you.
I'd be pleased to join you if you try to continue this good work.
It's a right shame that the weak kneed librul guvmint has once again overreached its authority and banned weapons from the OK Corral. And hypocritical of the brave leaders of the Confederacy to suppress their outrage at this appalling act. Just proves that the pinko, commie, Kenyan usurper does want to take away their guns. How can they comply so meekly?
I think they are entirely consistent with their beliefs that forced birthers want to criminalise and punish women who seek terminations. They believe abortion is murder, and should be punished as such. I think they should stick to their guns (!). But what about men who procure abortions, or who persuade and coerce women to have abortions (e.g. Scott Desjarlais)? Accomplices to murder. There have been a few cases where red states have tried to prosecute women for this "crime", and been partially successful. LA Times states "Granted, as many as 20 state statutes technically made it a crime for the woman to participate in her own abortion. But these were not enforced." We should be horrified that these statutes exist. But the LA Times is wrong and again, and trump is not out of step with confederate policy and even law. That's why I think they should say it so we can see clearly exactly what they are about.
Marie,
Awesome post of the Florida panther!
Thank you to Marie and all the commenters here. My every day starts with a cup of tea and RC. Like many here, I found Marie on the NYT several years ago. Marie et. al., are household names in my home. I hope RC continues in some form. With mucho gratitude and appreciation, Julie