The Commentariat -- July 29, 2021
Late Morning Update:
Ben Casselman of the New York Times: "The U.S. economy grew 1.6 percent in the second quarter, returning to prepandemic size.... That is a remarkable achievement, exactly a year after the economy's worst quarterly contraction on record. After the last recession ended in 2009, G.D.P. took two years to rebound fully.... Vaccinations and federal aid helped lift the U.S. economy out of its pandemic-induced hole this spring. The next test will be whether that momentum can continue as coronavirus cases rise, masks return and government help wanes.... Other economic measures remain deeply depressed, particularly for certain groups: The United States still has nearly seven million fewer jobs than before the pandemic. The unemployment rate for Black workers in June was 9.2 percent." ~~~
~~~ Rachel Siegel & Andrew Van Dam of the Washington Post: "The U.S. economy was officially back and fully recovered from the coronavirus pandemic as of June, although a recent surge in cases could bring new uncertainty. The economy grew at an annual rate of 6.5 percent in the quarter ending in June, below forecasts of at least 8 percent, as coronavirus vaccinations and unleashed consumer spending added momentum to the recovery. The lower-than-expected figures reflect an economy struggling with supply-chain backlogs that have hamstrung business productivity by lowering inventories of basic goods and materials and pushing prices higher, economists say."
John Wagner of the Washington Post: "President Biden on Thursday called on Congress to act 'without delay' to extend a national eviction moratorium that is set to expire Saturday. The White House said Biden is not able to act on his own because of a Supreme Court ruling. In a statement, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Biden would have 'strongly supported' a move by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to again extend a moratorium that began nearly 11 months ago in response to the pandemic, particularly given the spread of the delta variant of the coronavirus." The AP's story is here. And here is Psaki's statement.
The New York Times' live updates of Covid-19 developments Thursday are here: "The 27 member states of the European Union altogether have now administered more coronavirus vaccine doses per 100 people than the United States, in another sign that inoculations across the bloc have maintained some speed throughout the summer, while they have stagnated for weeks in the United States."
Isaac Stanley-Becker of the Washington Post: "... the communications by Turning Point USA and its affiliate, Turning Point Action, reflect the increasingly hard line [against Covid vaccinations] taken by the group, which describes itself as the 'largest and fastest-growing youth organization in America' and claims a presence on more than 2,500 college and high school campuses. Its dire warnings about a government-backed inoculation program -- now a major theme of its Facebook ads, which have been viewed millions of times -- illustrate how the Trump-allied group is capitalizing on the stark polarization around vaccine policy. Experts say the messages, many of which steer online audiences to donation pages, threaten to undermine vaccine confidence among young people, who have already proved particularly reluctant to roll up their sleeves." MB: I suppose when a kid or someone he infects dies, that a "Turning Point."
Marie: How stupid are the pod people that they can't figure out that they & their GOP masters are drags on society, the economy, health & well-being, U.S. leadership & prestige, you-name-it?
Here's more on that New York state senate candidate/Capitol insurrectionist (a Hill story is linked below): ~~~
~~~ Andrea Salcedo of the Washington Post: "Moments after Daniel Christmann climbed through an open window to get into the Capitol on Jan. 6, the former New York state senate candidate took out his phone to record the insurrection for his Instagram followers, prosecutors said. That afternoon, Christmann walked around the building taking videos he posted to his @dannyforsenate account, according to a 19-page criminal complaint that was unsealed Wednesday. In the following days, private messages obtained by federal authorities show Christmann bragged about participating in the riot, explaining to those messaging him on Instagram how he reached unauthorized areas. When Christmann later became aware that authorities arrested two people he knew who were inside the Capitol on Jan. 6, he began reaching out to Facebook friends to ask them to delete any videos showing him on the grounds that day...."
The New York Times' live updates of the Tokyo Olympics are here.
Arizona. Rosalind Helderman of the Washington Post: "A private contractor [Cyber Ninjas] conducting a Republican-commissioned review of 2020 presidential ballots in Arizona's largest county announced late Wednesday that it has collected more than $5.7 million in private donations to fund the process. The controversial ballot review, which included a hand recount of Maricopa County's nearly 2.1 million ballots and a review of ballot tabulating machines, has been underway since April. It was ordered by the state's Republican-led Senate, which agreed to spend $150,000 in taxpayer money to fund the audit. But the Senate allowed Cyber Ninjas, a Florida-based firm hired to lead the process, to collect donations as well."
~~~~~~~~~~
** Tony Romm of the Washington Post: "Senate Democrats and Republicans banded together on Wednesday to advance a roughly $1 trillion proposal to improve the country's aging infrastructure, overcoming months of political deadlock on one of President Biden's signature economic policy priorities. The day of breakthroughs began with news of a deal, as a bipartisan bloc of 10 negotiators coalesced around a package to upgrade the nation's roads, bridges, pipes, ports and Internet connections. The announcement from some of the group's leaders, including Sens. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), capped off a series of frenetic talks that nearly collapsed amid behind-the-scenes battles about the new spending and how to pay for it. With that once-elusive agreement finally in hand, the Senate hours later then took its first formal legislative step. Lawmakers voted 67-32 to put themselves on track to begin debating infrastructure reform this week, clearing the first of many hurdles toward adopting a proposal that the White House has described as historic." ~~~
~~~ Emily Cochrane & Jim Tankersley of the New York Times: "The 67-to-32 vote, which included 17 Republicans in favor, came just hours after centrist senators in bot parties and the White House reached a long-sought compromise on the bill, which would provide about $550 billion in new federal money for roads, bridges, rail, transit, water and other physical infrastructure programs. Among those in support of moving forward was Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican leader and a longtime foil of major legislation pushed by Democratic presidents. Mr. McConnell's backing signaled that his party was -- at least for now -- open to teaming with Democrats to enact the plan. The deal still faces several obstacles to becoming law, including being turned into formal legislative text and clearing final votes in the closely divided Senate and House. But the vote was a victory for a president who has long promised to break through the partisan gridlock...." ~~~
~~~ CNN's story is here. It is an update of a story linked yesterday. Politico's story is here. ~~~
Joe Biden is the President who showed the real art of making a deal. -- Cedric Richmond, advisor to Joe Biden, on MSNBC Wednesday night ....
~~~ AND the Vote Was a Big Defeat for the Marqués de Mar-a-Lardo. Olafimihan Oshin of the Hill: Donald "Trump lambasted Senate Republicans for reaching a deal with their Democratic counterparts on "major issues" involving an infrastructure proposal.... 'Hard to believe our Senate Republicans are dealing with the Radical Left Democrats in making a so-called bipartisan bill on "infrastructure," with our negotiators headed up by SUPER RINO [Republican in name only] Mitt Romney,' Trump said. Trump said any passage of such a measure would be a win for the Biden administration and Democrats, alluding to such a vote being 'heavily used in the 2022 election.' 'It is a loser for the USA, a terrible deal, and makes the Republicans look weak, foolish, and dumb. It shouldn't be done. It sets an easy glidepath for Dems to then get beyond what anyone thought was possible in future legislation,' the former president said." ~~~
~~~ Meredith McGraw of Politico: Donald Trump "encouraged GOP lawmakers to abandon the talks [on the infrastructure bill] and criticized Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) for even entertaining them. Senate Republicans have said, in interviews, that they have directly asked the former president not just to tone down his criticism but to actually support the infrastructure deal.... The former president has threatened lawmakers who support the deal..., 'Republican voters will never forget their name, nor will the people of our Country.'... Trump's efforts to derail any infrastructure package have, so far, mostly been met with a shrug on Capitol Hill.... Trump tried and failed to pass an infrastructure bill so many times over the course of his presidency that his attempts were reduced to a punchline. Now out of office, Trump is trying to ensure that ... Joe Biden suffers the indignity of the 'infrastructure week' jokes as well.... The self described dealmaker came to realize the trickiness of negotiating a massive spending package in Washington, and he repeatedly sabotaged his own efforts to reach a deal by spinning off track with self-inflicted political controversies."
Katie Williams & Maegan Vazquez of CNN: President "Biden made his first formal remarks to staff at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence on Tuesday -- an address at a moment of quiet but profound change for a workforce that was buffeted by the fierce political winds of the Trump era. After four years of bitter criticism by ... Donald Trump, who accused the intelligence community of 'Nazi'-like practices and said top leaders should 'go back to school,' the intelligence community has sought to quietly return to business-as-usual under a decidedly more conventional president. And Biden, in turn, has vowed to never politicize the intelligence community's work, installing senior leaders who are seen as far less overtly partisan than either of Trump's final two national intelligence directors. 'You've served the American people no matter which political party holds power in Congress or the White House,' Biden told staff at the ODNI. 'It's so vital, so vital that you are and should be totally free of any political pressure or partisan interference. It's basic. And I want to be absolutely clear that my administration is getting us back to the basics.... I'll never politicize the work you do. You have my word on that,' he added." (Also linked yesterday.)
Josh Gerstein & Zach Montellaro of Politico: "The Justice Department on Wednesday issued another warning aimed at states conducting or considering audits of ballots tallied in last year's election, reminding election authorities that allowing ballots to be mishandled can violate federal law. While the Biden administration 'guidance' document carries no formal legal weight and may not strike fear into local officials, the Justice Department used the release of the legal analysis to press their campaign of saber-rattling against Republican-led audits of the 2020 vote in Arizona and other states, as well as voting changes many GOP-controlled states are pursuing as part of purported anti-fraud efforts. 'Jurisdictions have to be careful not to let those ballots be defaced or mutilated or lost or destroyed as part of an audit,' said a Justice Department official.... 'Election audits are exceedingly rare. But the Department is concerned that some jurisdictions conducting them may be using, or proposing to use, procedures that risk violating the Civil Rights Act,' the memo says. 'We are keeping a close eye on what's going on around the country,' the official said, alternately referring to the reviews as 'audits' or 'so-called audits.'" More on the Arizona fraudit linked under Beyond the Beltway.
Mychael Schnell of the Hill: "GOP Rep. Andrew Clyde (Ga.) defended his description of rioters walking through the Capitol on Jan. 6 appearing to look like a 'normal tourist visit' during a committee meeting on Tuesday. The heated exchange occurred hours after four police officers appeared before the select committee probing the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.... Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), a member of the select panel, confronted Clyde during a Rules Committee meeting about his previous comments regarding the insurrection, in which he said people 'would actually think it was a normal tourist visit' if they had not known the footage was from Jan. 6. 'Do you stand by your statement that they were tourists?' Raskin asked Clyde. The GOP lawmaker, however, refused to answer the question, claiming that Raskin had read an 'interpretation' of his statement.... [Raskin read back Clyde's original statement.] 'And I stand by that exact statement, as I said it,' Clyde responded." Includes video. MB: Photos taken January 6 show Clyde helping to barricade the House doors against the advancing horde normal tourists. (Also linked yesterday.)
Taegan Goddard of Political Wire: "Rep. Mo Brooks (R-AL) told Slate he had been wearing body armor at the 'Save America' rally before the Capitol attack on January 6.... Said Brooks: 'I was warned on Monday that there might be risks associated with the next few days. And as a consequence of those warnings, I did not go to my condo. Instead, I slept on the floor of my office. And when I gave my speech at the Ellipse, I was wearing body armor.'" OR, as Jim Newell of Slate, who interviewed Brooks, put it in a tweet, "... Mo Brooks was wearing body armor when giving his very peaceful Ellipse speech at the very peaceful 1/6 rally' Newell's interview, which is firewalled, is here.
** Josh Dawsey & Devlin Barrett of the Washington Post: "... Donald Trump called his acting attorney general nearly every day at the end of last year to alert him to claims of voter fraud or alleged improper vote counts in the 2020 election, according to two people familiar with the conversations. The personal pressure campaign, which has not been previously reported, involved repeated phone calls to acting attorney general Jeffrey Rosen in which Trump raised various allegations he had heard about and asked what the Justice Department was doing about the issue.... Rosen told few people about the phone calls, even in his inner circle. But there are notes of some of the calls that were written by a top aide to Rosen, Richard Donoghue, who was present for some of the conversations..., people said. Donoghue's notes could be turned over to Congress in a matter of days, they added, if Trump does not file papers in court seeking to block such a handover. In addition, both Rosen and Donoghue could be questioned about the conversations by congressional committees examining Trump's actions in the days after the election.... ~~~
~~~ "The phone calls came in late 2020 and early 2021, when Trump and his supporters were furiously pressing for officials at all levels of the government to intercede in the usually routine process of certifying the election results -- asking them to either launch new investigations, support unverified allegations of fraud or manipulation of vote counts, or otherwise throw up roadblocks to Democrat Joe Biden becoming president." MB: At the same time, of course, Trump was also pressuring local elections officials, state legislators & Mike Pence to change or refuse to certify the official presidential election results. So after he failed in his attempts to manipulate the levers of the government he headed to flip the election results, Trump resorted to encouraging a popular insurrection to unlawfully install him for another term. I think Trump's "state of mind" and "intention" on January 6 are pretty clear.
John Wagner of the Washington Post: "Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) acknowledged Wednesday that he spoke with ... Donald Trump on Jan. 6, increasing the likelihood that he will be called to testify before the House select committee investigating the attack on the Capitol by Trump supporters. 'I spoke with him on Jan. 6,' Jordan, a staunch Trump ally, said during an interview with Spectrum News, in which he was asked to clarify previous comments about whether the two had communicated on the day of the attack."
Caroline Vakil of the Hill: "A former New York state Senate candidate is facing four charges in connection to his alleged role in the Jan. 6 riot, CNBC reported. Daniel Christmann was arrested on Wednesday in Brooklyn and faces charges of knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or ground; disorderly conduct in a Capitol building; and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. According to a federal criminal complaint..., footage was found of Christmann entering the building through a window. The complaint also shows comments that Christmann made on his Instagram account where he confirmed that he had entered the Capitol."
Jeanna Smialek of the New York Times: "The Federal Reserve on Wednesday offered the most direct signal yet that it will begin to dial back its emergency support for the economy in the near future, as its chair, Jerome H. Powell, made it clear that policymakers will do so deliberatively and with plenty of warning. Fed officials voted to leave both of their key policy supports intact before wrapping up their two-day July meeting, holding interest rates near zero and continuing government-backed bond purchases unabated. Those two tools fuel economic demand by making money cheap to borrow and spend. But they spent the meeting debating when and how to slow the bond-buying program, which is expected to be the first step toward a more normal policy setting as the economy rebounds strongly from its pandemic stupor. A decision isn't imminent, but officials used their July policy statement to signal that one is coming."
Devlin Barrett of the Washington Post: "Federal prison officials have allowed Larry Nassar, the former USA Gymnastics doctor accused of sexually abusing hundreds of girls and women, to avoid paying financial penalties that are part of his sentence -- even as he spent more than $10,000 from his Federal Bureau of Prisons account while behind bars, according to a new court filing. The spending details are contained in a prosecutor's motion Wednesday that seeks to force the Bureau of Prisons to turn over Nassar's current prison account balance to help cover a court-ordered payment of $5,300 to the federal Crime Victims Fund.... The Washington Post reported last month that the bureau allows inmates to keep unlimited amounts of money in their accounts and effectively shields much of that money from collection..., leaving the Justice Department in the odd position of having to file court cases to force one of its own agencies to turn over money owed to crime victims or for other debts."
Ben Cohen & Jerry Greenfield, in a New York Times op-ed, explain why they're proud that the company they founded -- Ben & Jerry's -- and which they no longer control, decided to end the sale of their ice cream in Palestine's occupied territories.
Annals of, uh, Journalism, Ctd. Their Goal Is Spit-Takes. Katie Robertson of the New York Times: "Gawker is back. Again. The website known for blunt, gossipy coverage of celebrities, tech entrepreneurs, media figures and anyone else with an inflated ego went live on Wednesday, two years after a failed reboot attempt. The editor in chief is Leah Finnegan, a former executive editor of The Outline, a news site that shut down last year. She has also worked as an editor at Gawker and The New York Times. 'The current laws of civility mean that no, it can't be exactly what it once was,' Ms. Finnegan wrote of Gawker in a note to readers published Wednesday, 'but we strive to honor the past and embrace the present. We are here to make you laugh, I hope, and think, and do a spit-take or furrow your brow,' she continued, asking readers to consider the site's new incarnation 'with an open mind and an open heart.'"
The Pandemic, Ctd.
It's Official. Kevin McCarthy Is a Moron. Marianna Sotomayor & John Wagner of the Washington Post: "House Republicans on Wednesday angrily criticized a new order from the Capitol Hill physician to wear masks inside the Capitol due to the spread of the delta variant of the coronavirus, leading Speaker Nancy Pelosi to call House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy a 'moron' over his argument that the decision was not based on science. Many House Republicans refused to wear masks on the House floor during a series of morning votes, before they called for the chamber to adjourn as GOP members rebuffed attempts by staff to get them to put on a mask.... '... The threat of bringing masks back is not a decision based on science, but a decision conjured up by liberal government officials who want to continue to live in a perpetual pandemic state,' McCarthy tweeted shortly after [Capitol physician Brian] Monahan sent his email [outlining the new policy] Tuesday night. Asked Wednesday morning by NBC News about McCarthy's comment, Pelosi responded: 'He's such a moron.'... Many Republicans have declined to say whether they have been vaccinated, although they represent areas with the biggest spikes in infections."
Margaret Talev of Axios: "The most hardcore opponents of coronavirus vaccination -- the group who say they'll never get one -- tend to be older, whiter and more Republican than the unvaccinated Americans who are still persuadable, according to an analysis of our Axios/Ipsos Coronavirus Index." MB: Can't figure out why that is. ~~~
~~~ Oriana Gonzalez of Axios: "Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) plans to use money from his reelection campaign to run radio ads on over 100 Kentucky stations in the coming days to promote getting vaccinated for COVID-19, Reuters reports."
The New York Times' live updates of Covid-19 developments Wednesday are here.
Marie: In Tuesday's thread, Akhilleus pointed out that Rep. Margie Greene (GQP-Ga.) is upset that some liberal-type establishments may start banning potential customers with "staff infections." I meant to point that out earlier Wednesday, but I guess I let myself accidentally forget because I recently wrote "phase" where I meant "faze." My excuse is I don't have a staph to correct my spelling errors.
U.K. Karla Adam & William Booth of the Washington Post: "Coronavirus cases are plummeting in Britain. They were supposed to soar. Scientists aren't sure why they haven't.... The trajectory of the virus in Britain is something the world is watching closely and anxiously, as a test of how the delta variant behaves in a society with relatively high vaccination rates. And now people are asking if this could be the first real-world evidence that the pandemic in Britain is sputtering out -- after three national lockdowns and almost 130,000 deaths." The article includes several theses for the reason for the drop in cases -- including the possibility is that Brits just aren't getting tested.
Beyond the Beltway
Arizona. Allan Smith & Jane Timm of NBC News: "The Republican serving as liaison between the Arizona state Senate and the private company conducting a partisan ballot review said Wednesday that he intended to resign, then walked it back. Ken Bennett, a former Arizona secretary of state, said he'd decided to resign when it became clear he would not regain access to the Phoenix fairgrounds where the private company, Cyber Ninjas, continues its examination of millions of ballots cast last November in Maricopa County.... Bennett ... was first barred from entering the audit site Friday after he shared some results with outside election experts, according to The Arizona Republic. Those experts told the paper that what they reviewed indicated the auditors' vote tally was in line with the results reported by the county.... Bennett's announcement comes as another public-facing element of the audit -- its Twitter account ... -- was permanently suspended by Twitter along with seven other pro-audit accounts that promoted ... Donald Trump's lies about last fall's vote. The suspensions were first reported by BuzzFeed News." MB: So everything is going very smoothly.
New York. Luis Ferré-Sadurní & William Rashbaum of the New York Times: "One of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's top lawyers, a central figure in the state attorney general's investigation of the governor, will resign from her post next week just as the sexual harassment inquiry may be nearing an end. Judith L. Mogul has served as special counsel to the governor since 2019 and was one of the senior Cuomo aides who handled a sexual harassment complaint lodged by Charlotte Bennett, a former executive assistant to Mr. Cuomo." Mogul was one of two staff to whom Bennett had related her allegations against Cuomo.
Way Beyond
Japan. The New York Times' live updates of the Olympics games Wednesday are here.
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Reader Comments (20)
The select committee currently investigating the violent attempted overthrow of the United States would be remiss not to subpoena the criminals who supported and helped whip up the mob of Trump thugs, white supremacists, and racist pigs (lots of overlap there).
This would include Greco-Roman-sexual-assault cover up boy, Gym Jordan, and Mr. Peacenik in Kevlar, Mo Brooks, as well as the Fat Fascist himself. There are likely many more and chances are slim to none that a single one will tell the truth (one of the officers who defended the Capitol—and many undeserving co-conspirators—testified about a phone message he received from a Trumpist traitor that those who tell the truth in Trump’s Amerika should fear for their lives), but it would be an excellent idea to haul their treasonous asses before a microphone and allow them to perjure themselves.
Plus, since not a one of them will suffer any legal consequences, as many of Fatty’s brownshirts now face, some measure of discomfort, and the creation of an official record are absolutely necessary since Trump is still out there inciting further violence for his personal benefit. Not a week goes by that he doesn’t surpass his own world record for evil.
Leaving town again for a while so dropped this in the newspaper hopper as a parting gift.
"Because many sense that the law in the United States does not treat everyone equally, the question of equal treatment frequently invites indignant responses.
But when complaining about the law’s unfair application, our respect for facts should always precede our displeasure.
Sunday’s letter contrasting the treatment of those who participated in the Jan 6 insurrection in Washington D. C. with the supposed treatment of those who joined last years’ Black Lives Matter demonstrations around the country presents a perfect example of indignation coming first.
The writer implies that unlike the insurrectionists, the vandals who set fires, damaged businesses and buildings and looted during the BLM demonstrations did not run afoul of the law. But even a cursory internet search tells us that is not true. Hundreds have been charged with crimes associated with BLM demonstrations—in Madison, Wisconsin; Portland, Oregon; Las Vegas, Nevada, and elsewhere.
But comparing the number of arrests, eventual convictions and punishments meted out to vandals or insurrectionists (not that the Jan. 6 insurrectionists didn’t do some vandalizing of their own) distracts from the central problem with our unequal justice system.
No matter where you look, money has the loudest voice in our nation’s courts.
It talks when the poor who are unable to raise bail are jailed awaiting trial, sometimes for months.
It talks when wealth allows some to delay the legal process so long that they avoid punishment for years, if not forever.
It talks when large corporations shrug off fines levied for their bad, even criminal behavior—sometimes billions of dollars-- as just another cost of doing business (businessinsider.com).
Whether the BLM-associated vandals or the insurrectionists deserve more outrage might be open to debate.
That the many wealth-based disparities in our justice system should be the target of everyone’s righteous indignation is not."
FACEBOOK'S BROKEN VOWS: Jill Lepore
Mark Zuckerberg first brought out his mission statement as this:
"to give people the power to share and make the world more open and connected."
Later he changed it to this:
"to give people the power to build community and bring the world closer together."
Lepore says both versions, like most mission statements are baloney!
She goes on to explain that the word "mission" comes from the Latin for "send." In English historically, a mission is Christian and means sending the Holy Spirit out into the world to spread the word of God: a mission invokes saving souls. You may find this essay as compelling as I did.
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/08/02/facebooks-broken-vows
And here on earth I'm wondering whether Mitch was visited by one of those holy spirits who told him he better spread a little of whatever savvy is left in him lest he be forever coined as "the Grim Reaper." His radio plea for idiots to get vaccinated is noteworthy.
And Ken's "money talks" is heard loud and clear to even those whose hearing is compromised. ( liked your poem from yesterday–-a man of many talents)
Ken,
Not to make light of BLM related property destruction, but those participating in the BLM protests were standing up against the very real problem of unequal, and in too many cases, deadly treatment of black Americans by often militarized police.
The insurrectionists were attacking the Capitol based on 100% untrue, fabricated fairy tales spun by a con man to invalidate a legitimate and fair election so that he might stay in power even after American voters said “Sayonara, asshole”.
And one more thing. Property destruction is bad, but it in no way compares to loss of life. BLM supporters never went to those protests with plans to murder anyone.
Trump’s thugs did. And death followed in their wake.
Big difference.
Another loss for the Big Loser
In Texas (of all places), a Trump pick in a special election lost, prompting some R’s to consider the very real fact that Fatty is “not bulletproof”. It must kill him to suffer a loss in Texas after his lowness decreed who shall be the winner.
He loses the election, loses in Congress, and now in the blood red state of Texas.
Underdone Trump steak, anyone?
https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-bled-tonight-texas-reaction-trump-pick-defeated-house-runoff-1613817
After reading Ak's comments I once again express my shock and despair at anyone who would not be shaken, horrified and deeply saddened by the testimonies of those policeman. The division between the "ice water in veins" group with warm human beings with hearts is on display in the biggest way today in ways we could not imagine even when we had "what's his name" playing King for today for four years.
PD,
Thanks for the tip. Jill Lepore is always a pleasure to read, always informative and enlightening. A gift in the dark days of confederate lies, violence, and all around perfidy, too often aided and abetted by social media titans to enrich themselves.
Akhilleus,
Good point. As you know better than most, writing is choosing.
What to say, how to say it. What to keep in. What to leave out. All challenges heightened by the 300 word limit the local newspaper imposes.
In discussing the protests, the insurrection, whatever, I would have liked to make the distinction you make between a legitimate expression of outrage, prompted by real wrongs, and one ginned up by a fascist nitwit and carried out by his nitwit followers, whose main if unstated complaint arose from their hazily felt sense of white grievance.
Rather than diving into that mare's nest, though, chose to head in one of my favorite directions and take another swipe at more of the pathological effects of all that filthy lucre.
How the racist, deep-state works in North Carolina: https://www.chron.com/news/article/Inside-the-dramas-at-UNC-Chapel-Hill-Boards-16348397.php.
Ken et al., I can only speak for Minneapolis, where we have an activist-insider. Many, maybe most, of of the vandals associated (in the press) with BLM were opportunists, and many were young white men. The black residents in those neighborhoods were in the front lines of defense against them.
C625: From a '72 graduate of UNC (the Jesse Helms years), and 10 years a professor at a major state university, here is a long rant from an Aussie professor that sums up the problem with our universities as well, public and private:
https://www.counterpunch.org/2021/07/28/academentia-the-organization-insanity-of-the-modern-university/
My only quibble, other than its un-edited length, is his need to mansplain the root of "adadementia."
Sorry, "academentia,"
must disicpline my copy editor.
As the daughter of a professor of European history, who was teaching in colleges during the 60s through the 80s, I was eager to read the "rant" about Academentia. I found it snotty and unreadable. My husband is a retired college administrator in finance (treasurer--) This rant was just another exercise in whining, which academics are really good at producing. My dad made almost no money, I taught in a small college also, made no money, and that has not continued through the years. Academics complain about money, prestige, time spent doing their jobs (teaching or research--)and having no time to themselves. They are a lot like congresspeople, whose work days begin on Tuesday and end on Thursday and the rest of the time they devote to fundraising or bragging. Most of the time this devolves down into teachers below the college level, whose salaries and opportunities have really improved, and they are excellent at whining also. Apparently everyone thinks they are owed the summer off always, and the money to enjoy themselves during that time. Sorry, but I did not finish the article with its offensive comparisons/snide language of corporations and managers. No one works as little as academics and besuited congressmen, especially right-leaning ones, and that is the truth.
Pardon the question, but: one of the objections I hear about the C-19 vaccine is that it's "only approved for emergency use". Anybody know anything about the criteria for it to be approved for general use?
Thanks.
Ken,
Choice is most certainly a major component of writing, of cooking (what to add, how much, and how long to cook it), and of life itself. We can’t choose everything in writing (not enough space), or life (not enough time), and definitely would not want to try it in cooking (I once tried out a chocolate omelette! Yikes!).
Often, I re-read a post and find myself wishing I had excised the last two or three points which, in a latterly editorial mode I find have dissipated my original point . Even though Trump and the traitors present a target rich environment, Sometimes it’s better to focus on that one odd looking rowboat crewed by one or two mutineers than attempt to cover the waterfront in Trump’s Treason’s Harbor (apologies to Patrick O’Brian).
You, my friend, do a nice job of sticking to the point.
Worry not.
Whyte,
Your post offers some intriguing considerations but I’m not sure I’m clear on your description of what happened in your city (something that requires serious historical aplomb). Are you saying that certain protesters were opportunistic young white men who were bearded by black residents unhappy with their protests?
Contemporary media reportage is too often as fraught with inaccurate fustian bombast as the worst of the Faux Fairy Tales.
More about this later.
Good summary of what we don't know about Merrick Garland's Justice Dept. and where it's headed.
https://www.vox.com/2021/7/29/22594393/merrick-garland-trump-prosecutions-justice-department
My thought: He took a darn tough job.
BTW, if I don't get back to RC today, I'll say now I'm relying on you all to keep the country safe while off the net again for the next few weeks.
@Jeanne: Some academics may fit your description, but my wife is not one of them. There have been terms where she rises at 5am and collapses into bed after 10pm every weekday, ten weeks straight, with a treat of rising at 6am on the weekends. The time is spent on grading, writing and/or reviewing the lectures, actual teaching, office hours (including weekends), and significant committee work where she takes personally disadvantageous positions to make life better for every employee of the college. The summer is when the research program gets advanced. She will spend three days of our 10-day vacation hiding out and working on research in August because the new term is looming.
She will readily acknowledge that she is paid a good salary, one that has allowed us to have a mortgage-free house and get our two children through college without debt, but compared to people who "earn" salaries with more zeroes after her salary, I doubt you would fine one that works harder than she does.
Nisky—. She sounds wonderful. Too bad they are not all so dedicated. Am jaded by meeting too many that give academics a reputation. When I taught, I earned $8600/year and earned every penny. Your wife is exceptional.
To Andrew Clyde, (T-Ga) Just to get closer to home, I'll equate your peaceful tourists in the Capitol on 6 January with the tour group General Sherman took from Atlanta to Savannah in 1864-65, okay?