by
JanieM
This quotation, apparently from Clickbait’s favorite fixer Michael Cohen, highlights some interesting issues about the current state of our information culture.
I tried from the time of the 2016 election to never type a certain name, for reasons related to the passage at the link. I have also spent minimal time listening to Clickbait — I can’t stand the sound of his voice, the sight of his orange face and hair, or the vicious lying word salad that comes out of his mouth. But I have also been far too fixated, both on the circus he has generated and on the internet in general. Retiring from my job didn’t help; now I don’t even have programming deadlines to make me stop staring at yet another comment thread on the two or three blogs I read, or the two or three Twitter users I look at fairly regularly, or the handful of news sites I get headlines from. I have had spells of abstinence, where I’ve stayed away even from Obsidian Wings, but my will power fails every time. If I were being simple-minded I would say that the internet is ruining us. But it’s also a great treasure, so . . . it’s complicated.
Maybe more on that in the comments, but if that’s not a conversation starter, then here’s another one.
The statistics in this article about active court cases related to voting are depressing. I saw a clip yesterday (sorry, didn’t keep the link) of a Biden campaign lawyer saying he was absolutely sure that this election was going to be conducted successfully. But it’s hard to keep the faith in the face of the kind of information cited in the linked article.
Also, in cranky mode, and even though I think the author is probably right overall, I don’t like his “we this” and “we that,” a dozen times worth in one article. I think “we” is a weasel word, because which “we” is he talking about? This country is not a functioning “we” — there is no consensus about a single thing he writes about in that article; if there were, he wouldn’t have had to write it.
If it isn’t one damned thing it’s another.
Open thread.
1. Pre-emptive self-flagellation: I myself used the word “us” (i.e. “we”) in the post. Sue me.
2. I have often wished we could have a national day of abstinence, where no one would pay the slightest bit of attention to whats-his-name or his family or his entourage of thieving murderous grifters for an entire twenty-four hours. No film, no quotes, no names mentioned. I bet he’d have a coronary. Of course, the media would never go along with it, nor would the 40+% of the country that adores him.
1. Pre-emptive self-flagellation: I myself used the word “us” (i.e. “we”) in the post. Sue me.
2. I have often wished we could have a national day of abstinence, where no one would pay the slightest bit of attention to whats-his-name or his family or his entourage of thieving murderous grifters for an entire twenty-four hours. No film, no quotes, no names mentioned. I bet he’d have a coronary. Of course, the media would never go along with it, nor would the 40+% of the country that adores him.
did i say “if”?
i expect all conservatives to immediately renounce their hateful ideology and vote for Joe Biden.
lol
did i say “if”?
i expect all conservatives to immediately renounce their hateful ideology and vote for Joe Biden.
lol
goddamn gremlins borked my html
— fixed
goddamn gremlins borked my html
— fixed
This is at least the 2nd time that the alt.right committed or incited violence they then blamed on “Antifa.”
I don’t expect the information to change any Trumpist minds. It’ll just be more “fake news!” to them.
I’m not sure about any change in the reporting, either. The MSM never changes its established narrative until it doesn’t matter anymore.
This is at least the 2nd time that the alt.right committed or incited violence they then blamed on “Antifa.”
I don’t expect the information to change any Trumpist minds. It’ll just be more “fake news!” to them.
I’m not sure about any change in the reporting, either. The MSM never changes its established narrative until it doesn’t matter anymore.
The three biggest wildfires in the history of Colorado all burned/are burning this year. The only good news is that the elevations where they are still burning are supposed to get 8-12 inches of snow tomorrow. I really sympathize with California, though, where so much of their fire burns at elevations where there’s a lot more air.
The three biggest wildfires in the history of Colorado all burned/are burning this year. The only good news is that the elevations where they are still burning are supposed to get 8-12 inches of snow tomorrow. I really sympathize with California, though, where so much of their fire burns at elevations where there’s a lot more air.
Some experiences should just NOT be shared with friends!
This weekend, we’ve got cooler temps and cloud cover. Unfortunately combined with extra low** humidity and high winds. The fire warning map in Northern California is totally red, edge to edge. (Although, to be precise, there are some spots that are, and a few that aren’t quite, “explosive.” So, some variation.)
And big chunks of the population here (that’s people, not just area) will be getting preemptive power shut offs the next three days. Golden opportunity to demonstrate empathy, for those politicians blessed with it. Or even just the ability to simulate it. I confidently predict commentary (ignorant commentary, at that) from the White House on Western states forest management instead.
** That’s “extra low” as in single digits. For reference, the Sahara generally manages 20%
Some experiences should just NOT be shared with friends!
This weekend, we’ve got cooler temps and cloud cover. Unfortunately combined with extra low** humidity and high winds. The fire warning map in Northern California is totally red, edge to edge. (Although, to be precise, there are some spots that are, and a few that aren’t quite, “explosive.” So, some variation.)
And big chunks of the population here (that’s people, not just area) will be getting preemptive power shut offs the next three days. Golden opportunity to demonstrate empathy, for those politicians blessed with it. Or even just the ability to simulate it. I confidently predict commentary (ignorant commentary, at that) from the White House on Western states forest management instead.
** That’s “extra low” as in single digits. For reference, the Sahara generally manages 20%
Although there’s been an increase in the number of acres burned by wildfires in recent years, the number of acres burned each year was about four times as many as now a hundred years ago. But part of the higher count was due to the forest service including controlled burns in the southern pine forests in its wildfire counts.
Although there’s been an increase in the number of acres burned by wildfires in recent years, the number of acres burned each year was about four times as many as now a hundred years ago. But part of the higher count was due to the forest service including controlled burns in the southern pine forests in its wildfire counts.
I confidently predict commentary (ignorant commentary, at that) from the White House on Western states forest management instead.
I want to know why Ivanka and Don Jr. haven’t been out here raking their forests, at least on some of the weekends…
I confidently predict commentary (ignorant commentary, at that) from the White House on Western states forest management instead.
I want to know why Ivanka and Don Jr. haven’t been out here raking their forests, at least on some of the weekends…
But do they even know how to operate one?
But do they even know how to operate one?
But do they even know how to operate one?
If not, I’m sure the stable genius can show them how.
But do they even know how to operate one?
If not, I’m sure the stable genius can show them how.
I’d rather burn to death than have these subhuman death-loving murderous vermin running my country:
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2020/10/23/1988908/-National-Park-service-approves-permit-for-superspreader-Christian-event-on-DC-Mall
Rake the mall of the subhuman republican debris.
They breath death in and they breath death out.
I’d rather burn to death than have these subhuman death-loving murderous vermin running my country:
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2020/10/23/1988908/-National-Park-service-approves-permit-for-superspreader-Christian-event-on-DC-Mall
Rake the mall of the subhuman republican debris.
They breath death in and they breath death out.
“breathe”
The only way to save America from genocidal EVIL is to stop the killers from breathing altogether.
“breathe”
The only way to save America from genocidal EVIL is to stop the killers from breathing altogether.
Longish, but GOP killers breed even more more killers:
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/10/26/trumps-labor-secretary-is-a-wrecking-ball-aimed-at-workers
Longish, but GOP killers breed even more more killers:
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/10/26/trumps-labor-secretary-is-a-wrecking-ball-aimed-at-workers
Thullen — I’ve told you before that I don’t like ObWi being used as your own private septic system, especially the death and killing talk, however cleverly, marginally indirect you’ve made it.
I can’t tell you to stay away from ObWi in general, but I would prefer that you stay out of my threads. Thanks.
Thullen — I’ve told you before that I don’t like ObWi being used as your own private septic system, especially the death and killing talk, however cleverly, marginally indirect you’ve made it.
I can’t tell you to stay away from ObWi in general, but I would prefer that you stay out of my threads. Thanks.
Reverting to Janie’s OP, I was interested in the quote from Michael Cohen. Does he purport to have written this himself, as I seem to gather skimming on Amazon? If so, I find him more literate than I would have expected from an erstwhile buddy of Trump, and the guy we have all heard threatening journalists on recorded phone calls. It’s not important of course, but it did just surprise me a bit.
Reverting to Janie’s OP, I was interested in the quote from Michael Cohen. Does he purport to have written this himself, as I seem to gather skimming on Amazon? If so, I find him more literate than I would have expected from an erstwhile buddy of Trump, and the guy we have all heard threatening journalists on recorded phone calls. It’s not important of course, but it did just surprise me a bit.
I think we’ve talked in the past about people with surprising combinations of talents/pastimes/etc. Like Frank Ryan, who was the quarterback of the Cleveland Browns *and* a math professor at Case when I was a kid. (There was a story within the past couple of years about a guy who quit the NFL to pursue his math PhD. He didn’t want to keep risking his brain playing football.)
Well — I suppose Cohen could be a smart guy who also decided to be a crook (I mean, they’re not all as stupid as Clickbait, even if he’s a savant in some way or other), or a crook who happens to be smart….
I think we’ve talked in the past about people with surprising combinations of talents/pastimes/etc. Like Frank Ryan, who was the quarterback of the Cleveland Browns *and* a math professor at Case when I was a kid. (There was a story within the past couple of years about a guy who quit the NFL to pursue his math PhD. He didn’t want to keep risking his brain playing football.)
Well — I suppose Cohen could be a smart guy who also decided to be a crook (I mean, they’re not all as stupid as Clickbait, even if he’s a savant in some way or other), or a crook who happens to be smart….
I suppose Cohen could be a smart guy who also decided to be a crook (I mean, they’re not all as stupid as Clickbait
It has often been regretted that intelligence and character are not necessarily positively correlated.
The good news is that, contra the (mostly 1800s?) literary theme, lots of intelligent people are of good character. Michael Cohen simply didn’t happen to be one of them.
I suppose Cohen could be a smart guy who also decided to be a crook (I mean, they’re not all as stupid as Clickbait
It has often been regretted that intelligence and character are not necessarily positively correlated.
The good news is that, contra the (mostly 1800s?) literary theme, lots of intelligent people are of good character. Michael Cohen simply didn’t happen to be one of them.
And Brian May, of course, has a PhD in astrophysics.
Since this is an open thread, and there are at least some jazz lovers among us, and a change of tone rarely comes amiss, I thought it a good idea to give you this poem, by the poet Adrian Mitchell, late of this parish, who also wrote Oh What a Lovely War, and To Whom it May Concern (Tell me Lies about Vietnam):
Goodbye.
He breathed in air, he breathed out light.
Charlie Parker was my delight.
He is probably most famous for another short poem, about his wife, set on an unlovely commercial road called High Holborn (the L is silent), which has probably been seen by more people than any of his other work, since it was one of the poems featured on tube trains in that fab event, Poems on the Underground:
Celia, Celia
When I am sad and weary
When I think all hope has gone
When I walk along High Holborn
I think of you with nothing on
And Brian May, of course, has a PhD in astrophysics.
Since this is an open thread, and there are at least some jazz lovers among us, and a change of tone rarely comes amiss, I thought it a good idea to give you this poem, by the poet Adrian Mitchell, late of this parish, who also wrote Oh What a Lovely War, and To Whom it May Concern (Tell me Lies about Vietnam):
Goodbye.
He breathed in air, he breathed out light.
Charlie Parker was my delight.
He is probably most famous for another short poem, about his wife, set on an unlovely commercial road called High Holborn (the L is silent), which has probably been seen by more people than any of his other work, since it was one of the poems featured on tube trains in that fab event, Poems on the Underground:
Celia, Celia
When I am sad and weary
When I think all hope has gone
When I walk along High Holborn
I think of you with nothing on
PS I realize that it’s also a kind of bias on my part to think that it’s surprising if a football player is smart.
In fact, in the tiny amount of time I have spent watching pro football, I’m amazed at the things the players do beyond just their physical talent. The complexity of the playbook; the pass routes; the quarterbacks who can hit the receivers on the button after all that bobbing and weaving, and the receivers who are right where they’re supposed to be at the exact right moment, with all the other guys in the way and trying to stop them — I guess it’s just not the same kind of intelligence that I imagine you need to do a PhD in math. And some people do have both, where “PhD in math” stands in for any kind of non-football talent.
With Michael Cohen, in relation to GftNC’s first comment about him, there’s another whole topic of people who write well and people who don’t. Lots of smart (in other ways) people can’t write a decently flowing paragraph to save their lives. (As I know from having edited their drafts at work.) Interestingly, I don’t think those people hang out much in blog comment threads.
PS I realize that it’s also a kind of bias on my part to think that it’s surprising if a football player is smart.
In fact, in the tiny amount of time I have spent watching pro football, I’m amazed at the things the players do beyond just their physical talent. The complexity of the playbook; the pass routes; the quarterbacks who can hit the receivers on the button after all that bobbing and weaving, and the receivers who are right where they’re supposed to be at the exact right moment, with all the other guys in the way and trying to stop them — I guess it’s just not the same kind of intelligence that I imagine you need to do a PhD in math. And some people do have both, where “PhD in math” stands in for any kind of non-football talent.
With Michael Cohen, in relation to GftNC’s first comment about him, there’s another whole topic of people who write well and people who don’t. Lots of smart (in other ways) people can’t write a decently flowing paragraph to save their lives. (As I know from having edited their drafts at work.) Interestingly, I don’t think those people hang out much in blog comment threads.
Have just discovered I misinformed you. Adrian Mitchell apparently did not write Oh What a Lovely War. I could have sworn he did. Maybe some of the songs? Oh well.
Have just discovered I misinformed you. Adrian Mitchell apparently did not write Oh What a Lovely War. I could have sworn he did. Maybe some of the songs? Oh well.
Also, I was revealing my bias when I reported that Brian May had a PhD in astrophysics. It looked like I thought rock stars couldn’t be bright, but actually I meant that (since he abandoned it to become a rock star, and only completed it not that long ago) I was amazed he had the perseverance and stamina to finish it, when the temptations of rock star life would tend to militate against it. Not in his case, apparently.
Also, I was revealing my bias when I reported that Brian May had a PhD in astrophysics. It looked like I thought rock stars couldn’t be bright, but actually I meant that (since he abandoned it to become a rock star, and only completed it not that long ago) I was amazed he had the perseverance and stamina to finish it, when the temptations of rock star life would tend to militate against it. Not in his case, apparently.
What amazes me about the Brian May story is that he was able to take his physics studies up again so many years later. I suppose if he kept up with the subject matter to a reasonable extent in the meantime that’s not so surprising, but still, it’s pretty cool that he did it either way.
What amazes me about the Brian May story is that he was able to take his physics studies up again so many years later. I suppose if he kept up with the subject matter to a reasonable extent in the meantime that’s not so surprising, but still, it’s pretty cool that he did it either way.
I wasn’t ever a sports spectator, and was not in the high school or college sports crowd. But when I grew up, I followed the sportsmanship of children in my life, and realized how amazing athletic skill and knowledge is. It’s like craftsmanship, but using the body as the tool of the craft. It can coexist with other kinds of knowledge, or not – like music or art.
I’m actually very partial to Michael Cohen, and believe that he’s redeemed himself (or could be on the way to doing so). People are flawed, and they get caught up in things. I won’t give everyone a pass, and I’m glad he’s doing some time, but I don’t think he’s at all soulless, which I do believe some of Trump’s other apparatchiks are.
I wasn’t ever a sports spectator, and was not in the high school or college sports crowd. But when I grew up, I followed the sportsmanship of children in my life, and realized how amazing athletic skill and knowledge is. It’s like craftsmanship, but using the body as the tool of the craft. It can coexist with other kinds of knowledge, or not – like music or art.
I’m actually very partial to Michael Cohen, and believe that he’s redeemed himself (or could be on the way to doing so). People are flawed, and they get caught up in things. I won’t give everyone a pass, and I’m glad he’s doing some time, but I don’t think he’s at all soulless, which I do believe some of Trump’s other apparatchiks are.
I don’t think he’s at all soulless, which I do believe some of Trump’s other apparatchiks are.
Which is why Cohen was able to recognize that he messed up. And say so. Some of the others give the impression that they think they will turn to stone (perhaps almost literally?) if they ever admit to even the possibility of error.
Horrifying as Trump is, the kind of person who is attracted to such a piece of work is perhaps worse.
I don’t think he’s at all soulless, which I do believe some of Trump’s other apparatchiks are.
Which is why Cohen was able to recognize that he messed up. And say so. Some of the others give the impression that they think they will turn to stone (perhaps almost literally?) if they ever admit to even the possibility of error.
Horrifying as Trump is, the kind of person who is attracted to such a piece of work is perhaps worse.
Murkowski shows her true colors.
I wonder what she got for it. It wasn’t even necessary for the confirmation, right? Like Susan Collins’s “I spit in your face” speech after Kavanaugh. She could have just voted, but no, she had to rub it in.
Murkowski shows her true colors.
I wonder what she got for it. It wasn’t even necessary for the confirmation, right? Like Susan Collins’s “I spit in your face” speech after Kavanaugh. She could have just voted, but no, she had to rub it in.
Bush derangement syndrome, Trump fatigue, a pegged outrage meter….these are signs of a righteous moral compass. Take two aspirin and vote in the morning.
Bush derangement syndrome, Trump fatigue, a pegged outrage meter….these are signs of a righteous moral compass. Take two aspirin and vote in the morning.
Brian May is way better than I am at the things I’m best at. What a jerk.
Brian May is way better than I am at the things I’m best at. What a jerk.
Have just discovered I misinformed you. Adrian Mitchell apparently did not write Oh What a Lovely War. I could have sworn he did. Maybe some of the songs? Oh well.
I was of the opinion that the songs are all (censored*) versions of actual parodies from WW1 with only the dialogues/narration added for the stage production.
*although less so than the BBC versions (that iirc inspired the stage production). Even the film did not fully restore the original vulgarities.
Have just discovered I misinformed you. Adrian Mitchell apparently did not write Oh What a Lovely War. I could have sworn he did. Maybe some of the songs? Oh well.
I was of the opinion that the songs are all (censored*) versions of actual parodies from WW1 with only the dialogues/narration added for the stage production.
*although less so than the BBC versions (that iirc inspired the stage production). Even the film did not fully restore the original vulgarities.
Hartmut, I believe you’re right. I’ve always been a particular fan of the neatness and jauntiness of “O death, where is thy sting-a-ling-a-ling, O grave thy victory?”, but it looks like I will have to relinquish any notion that Mitchell wrote it. He did write (from the translation) the Marat/Sade, which was also a hugely influential piece from the same period, so maybe that was what I was thinking of. (By the way, FWIW, in that poem about Charlie Parker, I do not find the rhyme “light/delight” satisfactory, but I find the first line “He breathed in air, he breathed out light” very beautiful.)
Further to the Cohen business, my thoughts are these. I have no idea whether he is “soulless” or not, and obviously I am extremely glad that he turned against Trump and is trying to damage him. But I differentiate between people who repent because of principle or revelation (road to damascus, if you will), and those who do so because they have lost the favour and support of their previously enabling patron. Hearing the actual threats Cohen made on Trump’s behalf on the tape that journalist made, and hearing about so many others, he seems to me to be a pretty scummy character (only confirmed by his having chosen to be so closely connected to Trump for so long), and I am disinclined to think he has had a complete personality transplant. Vindictiveness at having been abandoned explains it much better to me, and while I am glad to see it because it accords with my wishes, it does not (at all) make me like or trust him.
Trump abandoned him, because Trump has no loyalty and it suited him.
Cohen turned on him like Grima Wormtongue (I think someone else made this comparison too).
The character of each is revealed by their actions.
“There is nothing I so much covet as that I should be like myself and they like themselves.”
Hartmut, I believe you’re right. I’ve always been a particular fan of the neatness and jauntiness of “O death, where is thy sting-a-ling-a-ling, O grave thy victory?”, but it looks like I will have to relinquish any notion that Mitchell wrote it. He did write (from the translation) the Marat/Sade, which was also a hugely influential piece from the same period, so maybe that was what I was thinking of. (By the way, FWIW, in that poem about Charlie Parker, I do not find the rhyme “light/delight” satisfactory, but I find the first line “He breathed in air, he breathed out light” very beautiful.)
Further to the Cohen business, my thoughts are these. I have no idea whether he is “soulless” or not, and obviously I am extremely glad that he turned against Trump and is trying to damage him. But I differentiate between people who repent because of principle or revelation (road to damascus, if you will), and those who do so because they have lost the favour and support of their previously enabling patron. Hearing the actual threats Cohen made on Trump’s behalf on the tape that journalist made, and hearing about so many others, he seems to me to be a pretty scummy character (only confirmed by his having chosen to be so closely connected to Trump for so long), and I am disinclined to think he has had a complete personality transplant. Vindictiveness at having been abandoned explains it much better to me, and while I am glad to see it because it accords with my wishes, it does not (at all) make me like or trust him.
Trump abandoned him, because Trump has no loyalty and it suited him.
Cohen turned on him like Grima Wormtongue (I think someone else made this comparison too).
The character of each is revealed by their actions.
“There is nothing I so much covet as that I should be like myself and they like themselves.”
so . . . it’s complicated.
Indeed.
so . . . it’s complicated.
Indeed.
Vindictiveness at having been abandoned explains it much better to me, and while I am glad to see it because it accords with my wishes, it does not (at all) make me like or trust him.
This is certainly a fair assessment.
I’m no fan at all of our criminal justice system, but the thought that people might get a comeuppance through the court system, and have a chance to find some redemption by paying their debt to society is an attractive notion (even if mostly fictional), and Cohen seems deserving of its benefit.
Vindictiveness at having been abandoned explains it much better to me, and while I am glad to see it because it accords with my wishes, it does not (at all) make me like or trust him.
This is certainly a fair assessment.
I’m no fan at all of our criminal justice system, but the thought that people might get a comeuppance through the court system, and have a chance to find some redemption by paying their debt to society is an attractive notion (even if mostly fictional), and Cohen seems deserving of its benefit.
There’s a lot of good stuff from the various writers who have contributed to bobbyp’s link, and I haven’t finished it yet. But for some reason I particularly liked the way this, by Daniel Dennett, was expressed, although in a way it says nothing new:
George Orwell warned us that the Ministry of Truth in a totalitarian state could brainwash the citizenry with a heavy-handed onslaught of propaganda and torture, but it turns out that even in an apparent democracy, using methods that all can see (no secret torture chambers, no burning of books and newspapers) people can be put into a dreamlike state of misinformation from which they cannot readily be aroused by the most evidence-rich and eloquently posed alarms. Wake up, wake up, my fellow Americans! Can you not see what these people are doing to our precious and fragile democracy?
There’s a lot of good stuff from the various writers who have contributed to bobbyp’s link, and I haven’t finished it yet. But for some reason I particularly liked the way this, by Daniel Dennett, was expressed, although in a way it says nothing new:
George Orwell warned us that the Ministry of Truth in a totalitarian state could brainwash the citizenry with a heavy-handed onslaught of propaganda and torture, but it turns out that even in an apparent democracy, using methods that all can see (no secret torture chambers, no burning of books and newspapers) people can be put into a dreamlike state of misinformation from which they cannot readily be aroused by the most evidence-rich and eloquently posed alarms. Wake up, wake up, my fellow Americans! Can you not see what these people are doing to our precious and fragile democracy?
Can you not see what these people are doing to our precious and fragile democracy?
problem is, everyone has their own definition of “these people”.
Can you not see what these people are doing to our precious and fragile democracy?
problem is, everyone has their own definition of “these people”.
Apparently Brian May’s Ph.D. advisor said, when Mr. May had completed his dissertation, “He could have been a great astronomer. But I really like Queen, so I can’t complain about the choice he made.”
Apparently Brian May’s Ph.D. advisor said, when Mr. May had completed his dissertation, “He could have been a great astronomer. But I really like Queen, so I can’t complain about the choice he made.”
Swamped here, don’t want to look at stuff over there. Just observe that Cohen, because of pics like the one heading this article
https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/michael-cohen-heading-back-to-prison-due-to-planned-tell-all-book-deal-report/
gave of a vibe of someone out of the Sopranos. I think that’s why people are surprised by his book (to the point of ‘did he really write it’) It’s too bad, but if he hadn’t been Trump’s fixer, he would have never been in this position, so I’m not inclined to feel bad.
Swamped here, don’t want to look at stuff over there. Just observe that Cohen, because of pics like the one heading this article
https://lawandcrime.com/high-profile/michael-cohen-heading-back-to-prison-due-to-planned-tell-all-book-deal-report/
gave of a vibe of someone out of the Sopranos. I think that’s why people are surprised by his book (to the point of ‘did he really write it’) It’s too bad, but if he hadn’t been Trump’s fixer, he would have never been in this position, so I’m not inclined to feel bad.
If anyone here had any doubts still, lol, it’s been proven GOP closely resembles autocratic parties like Fidez (Hungary) and AKP (Turkey):
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/oct/26/republican-party-autocratic-hungary-turkey-study-trump
The trouble is that this has been going on since 2000 and Trump is the symptom as well as the cause. If Biden wins, the problem only goes away in part.
If anyone here had any doubts still, lol, it’s been proven GOP closely resembles autocratic parties like Fidez (Hungary) and AKP (Turkey):
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/oct/26/republican-party-autocratic-hungary-turkey-study-trump
The trouble is that this has been going on since 2000 and Trump is the symptom as well as the cause. If Biden wins, the problem only goes away in part.
Sorry it’s: Fidesz
Sorry it’s: Fidesz
“Rule of thumb? If nobody in any position of authority feels the need to provide information, it’s a decent bet you aren’t in a functional democracy anymore”
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/10/minority-rule-exhaustion-powerless.html
“Rule of thumb? If nobody in any position of authority feels the need to provide information, it’s a decent bet you aren’t in a functional democracy anymore”
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/10/minority-rule-exhaustion-powerless.html
If Biden wins, we get a totalitarian socialist government led by the Biden crime family.
If Trump wins, we get another four years of representative democracy. Trump is actually one of the best Presidents in American history, and one of his greatest achievements is the reform of the corrupt judiciary.
If Biden wins, we get a totalitarian socialist government led by the Biden crime family.
If Trump wins, we get another four years of representative democracy. Trump is actually one of the best Presidents in American history, and one of his greatest achievements is the reform of the corrupt judiciary.
welcome to Bizarro world
welcome to Bizarro world
There is a piece in the Guardian about a radio talkshow host and how he has changed from being a kneejerk arguer, who always had to be right and had the tools to “prove” it, to a different kind of person. I gather he is a bit of a lefty, but I have never listened to his show. We have talked here about this sort of phenomenon sometimes. I thought it interesting, although his methods would certainly alienate many people who probably could benefit.
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/oct/25/james-obrien-i-saw-everything-as-a-fight?fbclid=IwAR0BOjhkG80MpukuQbfsGRnARUhPF22RQTns1qX2ZK5XYrLf4D-7k2WyoVI
A few years ago, O’Brien noticed he often entered arguments just to win them, and that winning arguments had become more important to him than accepting what was right. On the radio he could be cruel or dismissive to callers, especially those who proved his own arguments wobbly. “I found it almost impossible to retreat from any position,” he writes in How Not To Be Wrong, his new book, “even if I’d only arrived at it five minutes ago.
There is a piece in the Guardian about a radio talkshow host and how he has changed from being a kneejerk arguer, who always had to be right and had the tools to “prove” it, to a different kind of person. I gather he is a bit of a lefty, but I have never listened to his show. We have talked here about this sort of phenomenon sometimes. I thought it interesting, although his methods would certainly alienate many people who probably could benefit.
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/oct/25/james-obrien-i-saw-everything-as-a-fight?fbclid=IwAR0BOjhkG80MpukuQbfsGRnARUhPF22RQTns1qX2ZK5XYrLf4D-7k2WyoVI
A few years ago, O’Brien noticed he often entered arguments just to win them, and that winning arguments had become more important to him than accepting what was right. On the radio he could be cruel or dismissive to callers, especially those who proved his own arguments wobbly. “I found it almost impossible to retreat from any position,” he writes in How Not To Be Wrong, his new book, “even if I’d only arrived at it five minutes ago.
welcome to Bizarro world
Yup. Talk about the lunatics have (currently) taken over the asylum.
welcome to Bizarro world
Yup. Talk about the lunatics have (currently) taken over the asylum.
trolling the libz is the highest holy obligation in the GOP cult.
trolling the libz is the highest holy obligation in the GOP cult.
In its majestic equality, cleek’s law requires rich GOPers and poor MAGAts to catch Covid, push for ever more tax-cuts for Wall Street billionaires, and lie shamelessly in all fora, to ‘own the libz’.
In its majestic equality, cleek’s law requires rich GOPers and poor MAGAts to catch Covid, push for ever more tax-cuts for Wall Street billionaires, and lie shamelessly in all fora, to ‘own the libz’.
trolling the libz is the highest holy obligation in the GOP cult.
when will they learn that we can’t handle the truth?
trolling the libz is the highest holy obligation in the GOP cult.
when will they learn that we can’t handle the truth?
Just so, and thus me, graduating early from the autocracy training program, from Nigel’s Lithwick link, as BOB (Bill) SYKES (Sikes) cues himself up:
“I am just here to note that the inchoate rage and despair are real, and that even the possible resounding defeat of Lindsey Graham in his race for his Senate seat may not be enough to cure it. I am also here to remind you that some of the reflexive reaction to the daily reminders of your own powerlessness—including your possible hopelessness, blame-shifting, and the ritual saying of “who cares”—really is the reaction they are trying to elicit. It is the object of the exercise. You’re now in the autocracy trainee program. Mitch McConnell’s court coup is designed not just to decrease your political power but to teach you that you should expect yet more political powerlessness. That is how they are trying to ensure that even though there are more of you than there are of them, it doesn’t matter and they still get to call the shots.”
Aye, it’s you, Bill Sikes, trying to sic your dog on the ham sandwich, neither of whom are having any of it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4yp-XFGszw
SYKES thinks he’s put the button on it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJSqkwyL1Zo
Just so, and thus me, graduating early from the autocracy training program, from Nigel’s Lithwick link, as BOB (Bill) SYKES (Sikes) cues himself up:
“I am just here to note that the inchoate rage and despair are real, and that even the possible resounding defeat of Lindsey Graham in his race for his Senate seat may not be enough to cure it. I am also here to remind you that some of the reflexive reaction to the daily reminders of your own powerlessness—including your possible hopelessness, blame-shifting, and the ritual saying of “who cares”—really is the reaction they are trying to elicit. It is the object of the exercise. You’re now in the autocracy trainee program. Mitch McConnell’s court coup is designed not just to decrease your political power but to teach you that you should expect yet more political powerlessness. That is how they are trying to ensure that even though there are more of you than there are of them, it doesn’t matter and they still get to call the shots.”
Aye, it’s you, Bill Sikes, trying to sic your dog on the ham sandwich, neither of whom are having any of it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4yp-XFGszw
SYKES thinks he’s put the button on it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJSqkwyL1Zo
The cult thing used to be somewhat hyperbolic. It’s becoming less so and more literally true from what I can tell. This is a few months old, but describes a problem that is getting even worse rather than fading away as time goes on.
https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2020/0723/A-conspiracy-theory-goes-to-Washington-Three-questions-about-QAnon
I see with increasing frequency people I know on social media discussing Illuminati-like child sex-trafficking rings run by Washington elites. It’s unbelievably nuts.
The cult thing used to be somewhat hyperbolic. It’s becoming less so and more literally true from what I can tell. This is a few months old, but describes a problem that is getting even worse rather than fading away as time goes on.
https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2020/0723/A-conspiracy-theory-goes-to-Washington-Three-questions-about-QAnon
I see with increasing frequency people I know on social media discussing Illuminati-like child sex-trafficking rings run by Washington elites. It’s unbelievably nuts.
“The cult thing used to be somewhat hyperbolic.”
Win or lose, we ain’t seen nothin’ yet.
“The cult thing used to be somewhat hyperbolic.”
Win or lose, we ain’t seen nothin’ yet.
“It’s unbelievably nuts.”
Yeah, well just wait until they find out that that metal foil in the grocery isn’t TIN foil, so is worse than useless for mad hattery.
You actually have to go to a specialty metal supplier for TIN foil, must be some sort of Derp State conspiracy.
Me, I prefer the INDIUM foil haberdashery. When I’m not just thulium-ing around, that is.
“It’s unbelievably nuts.”
Yeah, well just wait until they find out that that metal foil in the grocery isn’t TIN foil, so is worse than useless for mad hattery.
You actually have to go to a specialty metal supplier for TIN foil, must be some sort of Derp State conspiracy.
Me, I prefer the INDIUM foil haberdashery. When I’m not just thulium-ing around, that is.
The puke funnel flooding the zone with shit narrows a bit, but won’t that just increase the velocity of the shit?
https://www.lawyersgunsmoneyblog.com/2020/10/when-the-gang-that-couldnt-ratfuck-straight-met-rupert-murdochs-actual-journalists
The puke funnel flooding the zone with shit narrows a bit, but won’t that just increase the velocity of the shit?
https://www.lawyersgunsmoneyblog.com/2020/10/when-the-gang-that-couldnt-ratfuck-straight-met-rupert-murdochs-actual-journalists
https://washingtonmonthly.com/2020/10/24/the-gop-conspiracy-mentality-will-only-become-more-dangerous-when-they-lose-power/
Win or lose, it will be Billy Bob Sikes all the way down forever.
Troublesome Creek still gonna burn, even after the blizzard.
https://washingtonmonthly.com/2020/10/24/the-gop-conspiracy-mentality-will-only-become-more-dangerous-when-they-lose-power/
Win or lose, it will be Billy Bob Sikes all the way down forever.
Troublesome Creek still gonna burn, even after the blizzard.
John Thullen, I asked you to stay out of my threads. Since you won’t, and I can’t block you selectively just from my threads, I’m temporarily blocking you in general, until I can consult with counsel.
John Thullen, I asked you to stay out of my threads. Since you won’t, and I can’t block you selectively just from my threads, I’m temporarily blocking you in general, until I can consult with counsel.
until I can consult with counsel.
I’m not sure this place has counsel on staff, but FWIW I am fine with Janie’s action here.
We all love you, man, but you gotta respect boundaries.
until I can consult with counsel.
I’m not sure this place has counsel on staff, but FWIW I am fine with Janie’s action here.
We all love you, man, but you gotta respect boundaries.
It’s unbelievably nuts.
As far as I can tell, there is absolutely no upside in trying to talk people out of that stuff. If they believe it, or even willing to give it an interested hearing, they’ve already gone through the looking glass.
Something like a quarter to a third of the people in this country have lost their freaking minds. They’ve exchanged their natural capacity for basic critical thought for… I’m not sure what to call it. Some kind of Kool-aid.
I’m not sure what they get out of it, but apparently it has an appeal.
I have no solution to offer here. Just suggesting that trying to walk people back from that crap is probably not gonna be all that useful. People have to figure stuff out for themselves.
Nothing surprises me anymore.
It’s unbelievably nuts.
As far as I can tell, there is absolutely no upside in trying to talk people out of that stuff. If they believe it, or even willing to give it an interested hearing, they’ve already gone through the looking glass.
Something like a quarter to a third of the people in this country have lost their freaking minds. They’ve exchanged their natural capacity for basic critical thought for… I’m not sure what to call it. Some kind of Kool-aid.
I’m not sure what they get out of it, but apparently it has an appeal.
I have no solution to offer here. Just suggesting that trying to walk people back from that crap is probably not gonna be all that useful. People have to figure stuff out for themselves.
Nothing surprises me anymore.
Nothing surprises me anymore.
Somehow, I’m not buying that. For instance, suppose (as is at least possible) Biden takes Texas next week. I’ll bet you will be at least mildly surprised.
It’s not the likeliest scenario, I admit. But at 1 chance in 3 (see here) it is entirely within the realm of possibility.
Nothing surprises me anymore.
Somehow, I’m not buying that. For instance, suppose (as is at least possible) Biden takes Texas next week. I’ll bet you will be at least mildly surprised.
It’s not the likeliest scenario, I admit. But at 1 chance in 3 (see here) it is entirely within the realm of possibility.
I’d be surprised if Biden took Oklahoma or Alabama.
I’d be surprised if Trump took MA or CA.
Other than that, whatever nerve endings are usec for registering surprise have long since burned out.
I’d be surprised if Biden took Oklahoma or Alabama.
I’d be surprised if Trump took MA or CA.
Other than that, whatever nerve endings are usec for registering surprise have long since burned out.
would you be surprised to learn that there is water on the moon ?
would you be surprised to learn that there is water on the moon ?
Would you be surprised to see that the font of liberalism (NOT!)** that is the New Hampshire Union Leader has endorsed . . . Biden? Yet they have. Even while saying
** See where they say “Trump has many admirable accomplishments from his first term in office. We can find much common ground with Trump supporters, including judicial appointments, tax policy, support for gun rights, even inroads to Middle East peace.”
Would you be surprised to see that the font of liberalism (NOT!)** that is the New Hampshire Union Leader has endorsed . . . Biden? Yet they have. Even while saying
** See where they say “Trump has many admirable accomplishments from his first term in office. We can find much common ground with Trump supporters, including judicial appointments, tax policy, support for gun rights, even inroads to Middle East peace.”
See the footnote where they also say:
As if anything whatsoever will get done if there’s still an R majority in the Senate. I suppose in this case I should be grateful for small favors. Talk about the lesser evil….
See the footnote where they also say:
As if anything whatsoever will get done if there’s still an R majority in the Senate. I suppose in this case I should be grateful for small favors. Talk about the lesser evil….
I’m not surprised – the Union Leader somewhat famously declined to support DJT in 2016, and Biden is about as middle of the road as you can get.
That said, the ghost of William Loeb may be spinning a bit in its grave.
I’m not surprised – the Union Leader somewhat famously declined to support DJT in 2016, and Biden is about as middle of the road as you can get.
That said, the ghost of William Loeb may be spinning a bit in its grave.
Coming to an election race in your polity soon? Let’s make it not happen, ok?
Coming to an election race in your polity soon? Let’s make it not happen, ok?
My ballot arrived the day after my County Recorder put it in the mail. I filled it out and dropped it in a conveniently located collection box. 24 hours after I dropped it I checked online and it had been received and my signature verified, so I know it will be counted.
I am already tired of reading about election screw-ups (and regard an hours-long line as a screw-up) out East. This isn’t supposed to be hard.
My ballot arrived the day after my County Recorder put it in the mail. I filled it out and dropped it in a conveniently located collection box. 24 hours after I dropped it I checked online and it had been received and my signature verified, so I know it will be counted.
I am already tired of reading about election screw-ups (and regard an hours-long line as a screw-up) out East. This isn’t supposed to be hard.
I am already tired of reading about election screw-ups (and regard an hours-long line as a screw-up) out East
patience.
the west’s time will come.
I am already tired of reading about election screw-ups (and regard an hours-long line as a screw-up) out East
patience.
the west’s time will come.
I am already tired of reading about election screw-ups (and regard an hours-long line as a screw-up) out East.
I live in eastern MA, if you went any further east, you’d get wet. My experience was the same as yours.
The screw-ups I’m aware of are largely due to deliberate attempts to keep people from voting. That, and NYC, which is just too densely populated a place for a high-turnout election to be anything other than chaotic.
What screw-ups are you reading about?
I am already tired of reading about election screw-ups (and regard an hours-long line as a screw-up) out East.
I live in eastern MA, if you went any further east, you’d get wet. My experience was the same as yours.
The screw-ups I’m aware of are largely due to deliberate attempts to keep people from voting. That, and NYC, which is just too densely populated a place for a high-turnout election to be anything other than chaotic.
What screw-ups are you reading about?
the west’s time will come.
Speaking for my state rather than California, you just don’t hear anyone complaining about discarding ballots from people who (a) don’t understand the instructions, or (b) aren’t able to follow the instructions, or (c) don’t take advantage of the in-person voting option where an official will basically hold their hand all the way through. And we have a cure period: if your ballot arrives without a signature, you will be notified and given an opportunity (up to ten days after the election, IIRC) to correct the problem.
Not much to do about late. The number of late VBM ballots can be determined. We know that in-person election day voting undercounts “late” because no one has a way to count the people who put off voting and then decided they were too sick, or too tired, or couldn’t stand in line that long.
Worth adding… PA has been (and still is, I think) in court trying to decide what “late” means. CA has a clear definition, no one is trying to change it, the courts aren’t futzing with it. PA has a screw-up by my standard; CA doesn’t.
the west’s time will come.
Speaking for my state rather than California, you just don’t hear anyone complaining about discarding ballots from people who (a) don’t understand the instructions, or (b) aren’t able to follow the instructions, or (c) don’t take advantage of the in-person voting option where an official will basically hold their hand all the way through. And we have a cure period: if your ballot arrives without a signature, you will be notified and given an opportunity (up to ten days after the election, IIRC) to correct the problem.
Not much to do about late. The number of late VBM ballots can be determined. We know that in-person election day voting undercounts “late” because no one has a way to count the people who put off voting and then decided they were too sick, or too tired, or couldn’t stand in line that long.
Worth adding… PA has been (and still is, I think) in court trying to decide what “late” means. CA has a clear definition, no one is trying to change it, the courts aren’t futzing with it. PA has a screw-up by my standard; CA doesn’t.
No, in Massachusetts, even this year, what they automatically sent all registered voters was an application for a mail ballot. I didn’t get an application; I got a ballot. At least as I understand it, you had to go through an added step that I didn’t. Am I reading the descriptions wrong?
No, in Massachusetts, even this year, what they automatically sent all registered voters was an application for a mail ballot. I didn’t get an application; I got a ballot. At least as I understand it, you had to go through an added step that I didn’t. Am I reading the descriptions wrong?
As if anything whatsoever will get done if there’s still an R majority in the Senate
Exactly. What f*cking planet are these people living on? How pathetic and limited an understanding of what is actually wrong, and is necessary to put it right.
As if anything whatsoever will get done if there’s still an R majority in the Senate
Exactly. What f*cking planet are these people living on? How pathetic and limited an understanding of what is actually wrong, and is necessary to put it right.
If only we had some data to go on, rather than just anecdata! Lo and behold, the OP links to an article about election-related lawsuits:
The Stanford-MIT Healthy Elections Project, mentioned in the article with a link which I have copied in this sentence, lists all of the lawsuits collected by the project and links to information about them. Some of the suits involve several states, and I don’t know how the author of the article I quoted did his counting, but in terms of the “state” column, my tally is 16 rows for California (whether any of them have to do with “late” ballots I don’t know). Also 23 for Arizona (some from before this year), ten from CO, 34 from TX, 8 from NV, 10 from MT.
I’m not going to dig deeper to see what all these suits are about. But they are certainly not confined to the degenerate “east.”
A lot of litigation is being initiated by guess who.
If only we had some data to go on, rather than just anecdata! Lo and behold, the OP links to an article about election-related lawsuits:
The Stanford-MIT Healthy Elections Project, mentioned in the article with a link which I have copied in this sentence, lists all of the lawsuits collected by the project and links to information about them. Some of the suits involve several states, and I don’t know how the author of the article I quoted did his counting, but in terms of the “state” column, my tally is 16 rows for California (whether any of them have to do with “late” ballots I don’t know). Also 23 for Arizona (some from before this year), ten from CO, 34 from TX, 8 from NV, 10 from MT.
I’m not going to dig deeper to see what all these suits are about. But they are certainly not confined to the degenerate “east.”
A lot of litigation is being initiated by guess who.
I am already tired of reading about election screw-ups (and regard an hours-long line as a screw-up) out East.
Then don’t read about them.
Also, just so we’re clear, Texas, which adorns that lawsuit list almost three dozen times, is not “out East.” 😉
Reminds me of a time when I was hiking in the Olympics, and we encountered a bear that circled the clearing where there where we were camping all afternoon. Some local guys were also camping there, and everyone was speculating about what kind of bear it was. Someone said what if it’s a grizzly, and someone else said, “Can’t be, the grizzlies are all back east.”
In my parlance, we were from “back east.” This kid meant Colorado.
I am already tired of reading about election screw-ups (and regard an hours-long line as a screw-up) out East.
Then don’t read about them.
Also, just so we’re clear, Texas, which adorns that lawsuit list almost three dozen times, is not “out East.” 😉
Reminds me of a time when I was hiking in the Olympics, and we encountered a bear that circled the clearing where there where we were camping all afternoon. Some local guys were also camping there, and everyone was speculating about what kind of bear it was. Someone said what if it’s a grizzly, and someone else said, “Can’t be, the grizzlies are all back east.”
In my parlance, we were from “back east.” This kid meant Colorado.
Argh. Typos, sorry.
Argh. Typos, sorry.
I am already tired of reading about election screw-ups (and regard an hours-long line as a screw-up) out East. This isn’t supposed to be hard.
Where are you living now, Michael Cain (sorry – forgot)? I have to admit to being completely intrigued by your experience with the state legislature, and also glass-eyed at the details of some of the things you talk about.
Anyway, maybe the fact that you’re tired of Eastern bs is payback for the latter?
Just kidding (or just being the horrible me). I really would like to know more about your culture shock, if any.
I am already tired of reading about election screw-ups (and regard an hours-long line as a screw-up) out East. This isn’t supposed to be hard.
Where are you living now, Michael Cain (sorry – forgot)? I have to admit to being completely intrigued by your experience with the state legislature, and also glass-eyed at the details of some of the things you talk about.
Anyway, maybe the fact that you’re tired of Eastern bs is payback for the latter?
Just kidding (or just being the horrible me). I really would like to know more about your culture shock, if any.
Okay, time for my part of CA to burn now. Miles away and not much danger to us, but the smoke is damned annoying.
Okay, time for my part of CA to burn now. Miles away and not much danger to us, but the smoke is damned annoying.
Stay safe, nous. It’s scary stuff.
Stay safe, nous. It’s scary stuff.
but the smoke is damned annoying
I wish Hillary had won.
but the smoke is damned annoying
I wish Hillary had won.
If Hilary had won:
1) a lot fewer people would have died on this mess.
2) McConnell et al would be loudly proclaiming that the high death rates were all her fault.
3) Someone better than Trump (but not much) would be the favorite to win next week, as covid-19 put paid to Clinton’s term in office.
4) the result of 3 would not be pretty.
If Hilary had won:
1) a lot fewer people would have died on this mess.
2) McConnell et al would be loudly proclaiming that the high death rates were all her fault.
3) Someone better than Trump (but not much) would be the favorite to win next week, as covid-19 put paid to Clinton’s term in office.
4) the result of 3 would not be pretty.
4) the result of 3 would not be pretty.
Not a bad take on what would’ve been. No proof, of course.
Also, there’d be a few hundred thousand more to talk about it.
4) the result of 3 would not be pretty.
Not a bad take on what would’ve been. No proof, of course.
Also, there’d be a few hundred thousand more to talk about it.
Also (not that I’m AT ALL immune from egregious misspelling errors) but Hillary Clinton spells her name with two ls. I do the same thing constantly with many people’s names, but for some reason this bugs me greatly because of her being in the public conversation for thirty years.
Let’s try harder. Me especially.
Also (not that I’m AT ALL immune from egregious misspelling errors) but Hillary Clinton spells her name with two ls. I do the same thing constantly with many people’s names, but for some reason this bugs me greatly because of her being in the public conversation for thirty years.
Let’s try harder. Me especially.
Actually, that was a simple finger check, rather than straight ignorance. (So many ways to accomplish the same erroneous end….)
Actually, that was a simple finger check, rather than straight ignorance. (So many ways to accomplish the same erroneous end….)
All good, wj. Today, October 26, Hillary Clinton’s birthday. Happy Birthday, Madame President!
All good, wj. Today, October 26, Hillary Clinton’s birthday. Happy Birthday, Madame President!
I am not a lawyer but this sounds bad. I would like to think it is just someone on Twitter overreacting, but I can’t tell.
https://twitter.com/mjs_DC/status/1320873994032205824
I am not a lawyer but this sounds bad. I would like to think it is just someone on Twitter overreacting, but I can’t tell.
https://twitter.com/mjs_DC/status/1320873994032205824
Is this a surprise or something? We’re f’d with the courts, Donald.
Is this a surprise or something? We’re f’d with the courts, Donald.
I got a ballot. At least as I understand it, you had to go through an added step that I didn’t.
Yes. I got an application. I sent it back, postage pre-paid. They sent a ballot. I filled it out and dropped it in the ballot drop-off in my town.
Or, my wife did, actually. It was all of about 2 miles away, because we live in a dreaded overbuilt East Coast metropolitan area, and pretty much everything we need to do is 5 miles or less away. Plus, it’s MA, and we aren’t into the whole one-drop-off-box-per-country BS.
A couple of days later, I checked the status. Accepted. I.e., received, signature verified via the yeomanlike services of our town clerk, and vote counted.
So, I mis-spoke. Our experiences differed, by the single step of mailing in my ballot application. To be honest, I didn’t really experience that as an impediment to voting.
Also, too, Coney Barrett has been confirmed as a SCOTUS justice.
If the (D)’s win a majority in both the House and the Senate, I look forward to an expansion of the SCOTUS bench. Mitch McConnell has richly earned the enmity of more than half the nation, and (R)’s and conservatives in general will get to pay the price.
What was it that Kavanaugh said about reaping the whirlwind?
I got a ballot. At least as I understand it, you had to go through an added step that I didn’t.
Yes. I got an application. I sent it back, postage pre-paid. They sent a ballot. I filled it out and dropped it in the ballot drop-off in my town.
Or, my wife did, actually. It was all of about 2 miles away, because we live in a dreaded overbuilt East Coast metropolitan area, and pretty much everything we need to do is 5 miles or less away. Plus, it’s MA, and we aren’t into the whole one-drop-off-box-per-country BS.
A couple of days later, I checked the status. Accepted. I.e., received, signature verified via the yeomanlike services of our town clerk, and vote counted.
So, I mis-spoke. Our experiences differed, by the single step of mailing in my ballot application. To be honest, I didn’t really experience that as an impediment to voting.
Also, too, Coney Barrett has been confirmed as a SCOTUS justice.
If the (D)’s win a majority in both the House and the Senate, I look forward to an expansion of the SCOTUS bench. Mitch McConnell has richly earned the enmity of more than half the nation, and (R)’s and conservatives in general will get to pay the price.
What was it that Kavanaugh said about reaping the whirlwind?
I am not a lawyer but this sounds bad.
Kavanaugh is not a jurist. He is a partisan tool. By that, I do not mean I disagree with his judicial findings, I mean his career has largely been spent not on the bench, but as a (R) partisan tool.
The SCOTUS is diminished by his presence there.
I am not a lawyer but this sounds bad.
Kavanaugh is not a jurist. He is a partisan tool. By that, I do not mean I disagree with his judicial findings, I mean his career has largely been spent not on the bench, but as a (R) partisan tool.
The SCOTUS is diminished by his presence there.
A lot of you read Balloon-Juice already, but for those who don’t, they have morning and evening weekday picture threads that are usually travel-focused, and always fun. WaterGirl, who took over posting them when Alain died, recently asked people to submit sets of photos that might help folks stay chill over the next couple of weeks.
Tonight is the first set, and they are beautiful pictures and a lovely way to offset the breathless panic at Donald’s link.
I’m done with breathless panic.
A lot of you read Balloon-Juice already, but for those who don’t, they have morning and evening weekday picture threads that are usually travel-focused, and always fun. WaterGirl, who took over posting them when Alain died, recently asked people to submit sets of photos that might help folks stay chill over the next couple of weeks.
Tonight is the first set, and they are beautiful pictures and a lovely way to offset the breathless panic at Donald’s link.
I’m done with breathless panic.
The SCOTUS is diminished by his presence there.
He recently wrote an opinion citing Bush v Gore as precedent.
Hard to top that as pure unadulterated hackery.
The SCOTUS is diminished by his presence there.
He recently wrote an opinion citing Bush v Gore as precedent.
Hard to top that as pure unadulterated hackery.
We need a plan B.
Plan A is to win the Presidency and the Senate. Reform the courts, save healthcare, do something about the pandemic (although we’ll be blamed for all of the no inevitable deaths), save the economy (although we’ll be blamed for the fact that the help didn’t come soon enough).
But there is a huge likelihood that it won’t happen that way, that we’ll lose the Presidency, Senate, or both. We need to figure out what we’ll do then.
We need a plan B.
Plan A is to win the Presidency and the Senate. Reform the courts, save healthcare, do something about the pandemic (although we’ll be blamed for all of the no inevitable deaths), save the economy (although we’ll be blamed for the fact that the help didn’t come soon enough).
But there is a huge likelihood that it won’t happen that way, that we’ll lose the Presidency, Senate, or both. We need to figure out what we’ll do then.
For those of you seeking less deeply unhinged positions than mine, there’s this.
For those of you seeking less deeply unhinged positions than mine, there’s this.
bobbyp: Did someone say you’re unhinged? Certainly not me.
bobbyp: Did someone say you’re unhinged? Certainly not me.
Travel pics? Okay. Here’s one from our trip to Iceland three years ago.
https://assets0.ello.co/uploads/asset/attachment/6265447/ello-optimized-de73d33f.jpg
Oh for a time machine…
Travel pics? Okay. Here’s one from our trip to Iceland three years ago.
https://assets0.ello.co/uploads/asset/attachment/6265447/ello-optimized-de73d33f.jpg
Oh for a time machine…
I am not a lawyer but this sounds bad. I would like to think it is just someone on Twitter overreacting, but I can’t tell.
No, it’s not.
The Rehnquist concurrence (which was not adopted by the court in Bush v Gore), effectively declares the Supreme Court as having veto power over states’ election rules. Which is to put it mildly, not what the Constitution says.
Slates article sets it out:
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/10/barrett-election-bush-v-gore-vengeance.html
I am not a lawyer but this sounds bad. I would like to think it is just someone on Twitter overreacting, but I can’t tell.
No, it’s not.
The Rehnquist concurrence (which was not adopted by the court in Bush v Gore), effectively declares the Supreme Court as having veto power over states’ election rules. Which is to put it mildly, not what the Constitution says.
Slates article sets it out:
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/10/barrett-election-bush-v-gore-vengeance.html
Which article, as Stern point out, was kind of prescient, being published immediately before the decision.
Which article, as Stern point out, was kind of prescient, being published immediately before the decision.
Personally, I feel that vote-by-mail is not a good way to conduct elections. After all, there is no way to verify who has filled the ballot, nor that the voter has not acted under duress, or for payment. The vote is really free only when it is secret so that you can’t show it to anyone even if you want.
In Finland, we have advance balloting instead of vote-by-mail: every municipality has polling stations open for about two weeks prior to election day. When you go to vote, they check your ID, and give you the ballot. You vote in a booth, get your folded ballot stamped, and put seal it into an envelope. After this, you sign a form that you have voted, and seal the form and the ballot into a second envelope that is then mailed by the poll workers (or, if you are voting in your home community, taken directly to the polling place). Your use of suffrage is recorded into a national on-line database, preventing you from voting again, while allowing you to vote in advance anywhere in the country. This means that your vote is secret.
But then again, we don’t have voter registration, either. That is done via the national population registry: you are always registered to vote where you live.
Personally, I feel that vote-by-mail is not a good way to conduct elections. After all, there is no way to verify who has filled the ballot, nor that the voter has not acted under duress, or for payment. The vote is really free only when it is secret so that you can’t show it to anyone even if you want.
In Finland, we have advance balloting instead of vote-by-mail: every municipality has polling stations open for about two weeks prior to election day. When you go to vote, they check your ID, and give you the ballot. You vote in a booth, get your folded ballot stamped, and put seal it into an envelope. After this, you sign a form that you have voted, and seal the form and the ballot into a second envelope that is then mailed by the poll workers (or, if you are voting in your home community, taken directly to the polling place). Your use of suffrage is recorded into a national on-line database, preventing you from voting again, while allowing you to vote in advance anywhere in the country. This means that your vote is secret.
But then again, we don’t have voter registration, either. That is done via the national population registry: you are always registered to vote where you live.
Presidents have even more dictatorial powers than we realized. Cool.
https://harpers.org/archive/2020/11/the-enemies-briefcase-secret-powers-of-the-presidency/
Might be a good idea to rein in this crap if we ever get the chance, even if a “ good” President is in office. We probably won’t.
Presidents have even more dictatorial powers than we realized. Cool.
https://harpers.org/archive/2020/11/the-enemies-briefcase-secret-powers-of-the-presidency/
Might be a good idea to rein in this crap if we ever get the chance, even if a “ good” President is in office. We probably won’t.
If I were being simple-minded I would say that the internet is ruining us
nothing simple about that. it’s perfectly true.
the internet provides more information and pseudo-information than any person can handle; it makes lies as easy to find as truth; and it holds nobody accountable for any of it.
if you want to believe something, the internet will assist you. if you want to avoid critics and nay-sayers, it will help you. if you want to join a bubble, it will find one for you; if you want your own bubble, it will inflate one for you.
it’s a choose-your-own-reality machine.
If I were being simple-minded I would say that the internet is ruining us
nothing simple about that. it’s perfectly true.
the internet provides more information and pseudo-information than any person can handle; it makes lies as easy to find as truth; and it holds nobody accountable for any of it.
if you want to believe something, the internet will assist you. if you want to avoid critics and nay-sayers, it will help you. if you want to join a bubble, it will find one for you; if you want your own bubble, it will inflate one for you.
it’s a choose-your-own-reality machine.
another reason to hate football.
another reason to hate football.
The Rehnquist concurrence
Rehnquist made his bones by keeping brown people from voting.
We’ve been fighting the same bullsh*t battles in this country for 250 years, and we’re not done yet.
The Rehnquist concurrence
Rehnquist made his bones by keeping brown people from voting.
We’ve been fighting the same bullsh*t battles in this country for 250 years, and we’re not done yet.
nous — great picture.
*****
“We can’t live in this bubble” was the theme of a protest outside the Maine CDC a couple of weeks ago. The newspaper online linked a video, which I couldn’t bring myself to watch until yesterday, and even then I could only stand about 1 minute of the 6 or 7. “It’s gone on too long!” a woman ranted.
I wonder how people like this handled rationing in WWII. I know there were black markets, and people traded and gave away ration cards (an old guy my mother worked with gave her his ration tickets for shoes; she had a thing about shoes…) But surely yelling “Wah wah wah wah wah it’s hard we can’t keep going it” only works in some kinds of difficulties.
If “We can’t live in a bubble” means you’re choosing to die outside it, go for it. Unfortunately, it means “We can’t live in a bubble and you can die for it for all we care.
Maine is the last green state on the COVID Exit Strategy map. My county has gone from 16 active cases on 9/30 to 69 today. A lot of Maine’s spread has been seeded from churches.
God said so, I guess. If I were going to believe in a deity, I think I’d want one who wasn’t such a dumbass.
nous — great picture.
*****
“We can’t live in this bubble” was the theme of a protest outside the Maine CDC a couple of weeks ago. The newspaper online linked a video, which I couldn’t bring myself to watch until yesterday, and even then I could only stand about 1 minute of the 6 or 7. “It’s gone on too long!” a woman ranted.
I wonder how people like this handled rationing in WWII. I know there were black markets, and people traded and gave away ration cards (an old guy my mother worked with gave her his ration tickets for shoes; she had a thing about shoes…) But surely yelling “Wah wah wah wah wah it’s hard we can’t keep going it” only works in some kinds of difficulties.
If “We can’t live in a bubble” means you’re choosing to die outside it, go for it. Unfortunately, it means “We can’t live in a bubble and you can die for it for all we care.
Maine is the last green state on the COVID Exit Strategy map. My county has gone from 16 active cases on 9/30 to 69 today. A lot of Maine’s spread has been seeded from churches.
God said so, I guess. If I were going to believe in a deity, I think I’d want one who wasn’t such a dumbass.
“It wasn’t an easy decision [to play], but I feel that it was the right decision for us.”
said the mother.
“It wasn’t an easy decision [to play], but I feel that it was the right decision for us.”
said the mother.
Yeah, the Maine CDC protest had a mother, quoted in the newspaper article, lamenting the fact that masks were teaching her children to be afraid, and that “We have a right to choose.”
(One of the most destructive thought trains being fed to people in certain bubbles is that they can declare what their “rights” are. Separate topic.)
I wrote a letter to the editor asking, among other things, if she thought she had a “right to choose” which side of the road she drove on, or which red lights she had to stop for. I proposed that we do things to take care of ourselves and each other that are so habitual as to be invisible, and that masks are just a new, minor, and temporary one of those things. I suggested that she teach her kids not that masks are about fear, but that they’re about generosity and taking care of each other.
I doubt it will change anyone’s mind.
And yes, what cleek said. A lot of the agitation about kids’ sports in Maine is coming from parents. Kids too, mind you, but a lot of parents are pushing hard.
Yeah, the Maine CDC protest had a mother, quoted in the newspaper article, lamenting the fact that masks were teaching her children to be afraid, and that “We have a right to choose.”
(One of the most destructive thought trains being fed to people in certain bubbles is that they can declare what their “rights” are. Separate topic.)
I wrote a letter to the editor asking, among other things, if she thought she had a “right to choose” which side of the road she drove on, or which red lights she had to stop for. I proposed that we do things to take care of ourselves and each other that are so habitual as to be invisible, and that masks are just a new, minor, and temporary one of those things. I suggested that she teach her kids not that masks are about fear, but that they’re about generosity and taking care of each other.
I doubt it will change anyone’s mind.
And yes, what cleek said. A lot of the agitation about kids’ sports in Maine is coming from parents. Kids too, mind you, but a lot of parents are pushing hard.
Lurker: while allowing you to vote in advance anywhere in the country
So do you vote separately for local elections? Or can every town have a ballot for every other town, on demand?
A lot of places in the US have something like what you’re describing (early voting, or absentee-in-person voting, they’re not exactly the same thing in terms of when votes are counted), in addition to in-person-on-election-day and/or mail-only voting.
Don’t forget, you live in a country of less than six million people. The US has 330 million, with 50 semi-separable state entities complicating the picture. I think the challenges are a little different in each place.
Maybe we should have a cage match between Lurker and Michael Cain. Vote by mail! Don’t vote by mail! Etc.
Lurker: while allowing you to vote in advance anywhere in the country
So do you vote separately for local elections? Or can every town have a ballot for every other town, on demand?
A lot of places in the US have something like what you’re describing (early voting, or absentee-in-person voting, they’re not exactly the same thing in terms of when votes are counted), in addition to in-person-on-election-day and/or mail-only voting.
Don’t forget, you live in a country of less than six million people. The US has 330 million, with 50 semi-separable state entities complicating the picture. I think the challenges are a little different in each place.
Maybe we should have a cage match between Lurker and Michael Cain. Vote by mail! Don’t vote by mail! Etc.
some people leave “You’re not the boss of me!” behind when they graduate kindergarten.
some, not.
lately, in my own life, I find I’m battling two things:
Have we no sense of decency?
Jury is still out.
some people leave “You’re not the boss of me!” behind when they graduate kindergarten.
some, not.
lately, in my own life, I find I’m battling two things:
Have we no sense of decency?
Jury is still out.
The whole fear thing drives me nuts. Are you a big chicken for wearing a seat belt? Should you be chastised for being afraid to drive if you wear one? Or is it a dispassionate, rational action?
Another problem is that a lot of Americans are under the impression that they’re in a lock-down simply because there are any COVID-related restrictions at all. We’re not talking about the kind of stay-at-home orders and the shutdown of non-essential businesses we had for something like a month and a half back in the spring, which was the closest the US, or at least parts of it, came to the kind of lock-down they had in, say, Italy.
If people would just wear their damned masks and avoid gathering indoors, we’d be in so much better shape. But even those relatively minor changes in behavior are too much to ask. Why are we so f**king dumb?
The whole fear thing drives me nuts. Are you a big chicken for wearing a seat belt? Should you be chastised for being afraid to drive if you wear one? Or is it a dispassionate, rational action?
Another problem is that a lot of Americans are under the impression that they’re in a lock-down simply because there are any COVID-related restrictions at all. We’re not talking about the kind of stay-at-home orders and the shutdown of non-essential businesses we had for something like a month and a half back in the spring, which was the closest the US, or at least parts of it, came to the kind of lock-down they had in, say, Italy.
If people would just wear their damned masks and avoid gathering indoors, we’d be in so much better shape. But even those relatively minor changes in behavior are too much to ask. Why are we so f**king dumb?
A lot of the agitation about kids’ sports in Maine is coming from parents. Kids too, mind you, but a lot of parents are pushing hard.
Parents using their kids to live out their own sports fantasies, without reference to whether the kids are interested. That’s been a thing since at least my childhood, over half a century ago. The only difference I’m seeing this time around is that, in addition to the kids bodies taking punishment (sometimes permanent damage), they can bring home medical problems to share.
A lot of the agitation about kids’ sports in Maine is coming from parents. Kids too, mind you, but a lot of parents are pushing hard.
Parents using their kids to live out their own sports fantasies, without reference to whether the kids are interested. That’s been a thing since at least my childhood, over half a century ago. The only difference I’m seeing this time around is that, in addition to the kids bodies taking punishment (sometimes permanent damage), they can bring home medical problems to share.
The whole fear thing drives me nuts. Are you a big chicken for wearing a seat belt? Should you be chastised for being afraid to drive if you wear one? Or is it a dispassionate, rational action?
Our culture has a recurring problem noticing that “brave” and “reckless” aren’t the same thing.
We not only don’t do well there, we have some challenges weighing the benefits that come from taking a particular risk. (Well, except for the folks who are sure that it is cowardice to even consider benefits when thinking about risks.)
The whole fear thing drives me nuts. Are you a big chicken for wearing a seat belt? Should you be chastised for being afraid to drive if you wear one? Or is it a dispassionate, rational action?
Our culture has a recurring problem noticing that “brave” and “reckless” aren’t the same thing.
We not only don’t do well there, we have some challenges weighing the benefits that come from taking a particular risk. (Well, except for the folks who are sure that it is cowardice to even consider benefits when thinking about risks.)
hsh: Are you a big chicken for wearing a seat belt?
You’re younger, so maybe you missed this part, but I bet wj can remember just this kind of whining when seat belts became mandatory.
Somewhat parallel, I had an argument with an acquaintance in college who thought helmet mandates for motorcycle riders was the height of tyranny. “It’s my risk to take,” he said. I pointed out that scraping him off the pavement and taking care of him for the rest of his life if he broke his neck might cost the community at large something too. He was unmoved.
hsh: Are you a big chicken for wearing a seat belt?
You’re younger, so maybe you missed this part, but I bet wj can remember just this kind of whining when seat belts became mandatory.
Somewhat parallel, I had an argument with an acquaintance in college who thought helmet mandates for motorcycle riders was the height of tyranny. “It’s my risk to take,” he said. I pointed out that scraping him off the pavement and taking care of him for the rest of his life if he broke his neck might cost the community at large something too. He was unmoved.
Make sure that those “motorcyclists without a helmet” have an up-to-date organ donor card, and they might even be a societal benefit.
As for seatbelts, the “story” that convinced ME was hearing how seatbelts were invented in the 1950s by an Air Force guy, because too many of his ‘trying to go supersonic’ test pilots were dying in car accidents.
(for those who aren’t aware, when a plane goes from subsonic to supersonic, the controls REVERSE: when you’d normally pull back the stick to head upwards, the plane goes downward. So all those highly-tuned reflexes betray the unwary. Plus planes shaking themselves to pieces during the trans-sonic turbulence. Took many dead test-pilots to figure out.)
Not to mention he was riding his motorcycle on roads he didn’t build, without which he wouldn’t be riding a street bike at all. Would he have preferred outlawing motorcycles on public roads, I wonder?
Make sure that those “motorcyclists without a helmet” have an up-to-date organ donor card, and they might even be a societal benefit.
As for seatbelts, the “story” that convinced ME was hearing how seatbelts were invented in the 1950s by an Air Force guy, because too many of his ‘trying to go supersonic’ test pilots were dying in car accidents.
(for those who aren’t aware, when a plane goes from subsonic to supersonic, the controls REVERSE: when you’d normally pull back the stick to head upwards, the plane goes downward. So all those highly-tuned reflexes betray the unwary. Plus planes shaking themselves to pieces during the trans-sonic turbulence. Took many dead test-pilots to figure out.)
Not to mention he was riding his motorcycle on roads he didn’t build, without which he wouldn’t be riding a street bike at all. Would he have preferred outlawing motorcycles on public roads, I wonder?
Maybe we should have a cage match between Lurker and Michael Cain. Vote by mail! Don’t vote by mail! Etc.
Since I took my meds today, I suggest a compromise. Federal elections should be a 1 week paid holiday with voting stations for every 5,000 people.
Stuff like this, on the other hand, is driving me off the edge. This is Orban stuff, the fideszilation of our democracy. This is basically saying, “fuck you, we can do what we want”. They don’t even have to try to make it look good.
Maybe we should have a cage match between Lurker and Michael Cain. Vote by mail! Don’t vote by mail! Etc.
Since I took my meds today, I suggest a compromise. Federal elections should be a 1 week paid holiday with voting stations for every 5,000 people.
Stuff like this, on the other hand, is driving me off the edge. This is Orban stuff, the fideszilation of our democracy. This is basically saying, “fuck you, we can do what we want”. They don’t even have to try to make it look good.
You’re younger, so maybe you missed this part, but I bet wj can remember just this kind of whining when seat belts became mandatory.
Yup. It was some kind of horrid commie plot. Seriously. I remember hearing the seatbelt laws described in exactly those terms. Never did get clear why our country’s enemies would care, but….
You’re younger, so maybe you missed this part, but I bet wj can remember just this kind of whining when seat belts became mandatory.
Yup. It was some kind of horrid commie plot. Seriously. I remember hearing the seatbelt laws described in exactly those terms. Never did get clear why our country’s enemies would care, but….
there is no way to verify who has filled the ballot, nor that the voter has not acted under duress, or for payment. The vote is really free only when it is secret so that you can’t show it to anyone even if you want.
As Janie notes, the US is a big country, and states have a lot of discretion about how they run elections.
In MA, where I live, vote by mail works like this:
Somebody – typically town clerk – opens the outer envelope and verifies the signature on the inner envelope against your signature in the voter registry.
If they match, the inner envelope is opened and your ballot removed and counted.
I suppose a pernicious town clerk could keep track of who voted for who, based on the signature on the inner envelope and the ballot inside.
Barring that, there is no way for anyone to know who you voted for.
The procedure for voting in person is actually less secure, you just show up, tell the nice poll worker your name and address, and they look to see if somebody with that name is registered at that address. No ID, no signature.
So all in all, vote by mail is arguably less prone to fraud.
All of that is specific to Massachusetts.
there is no way to verify who has filled the ballot, nor that the voter has not acted under duress, or for payment. The vote is really free only when it is secret so that you can’t show it to anyone even if you want.
As Janie notes, the US is a big country, and states have a lot of discretion about how they run elections.
In MA, where I live, vote by mail works like this:
Somebody – typically town clerk – opens the outer envelope and verifies the signature on the inner envelope against your signature in the voter registry.
If they match, the inner envelope is opened and your ballot removed and counted.
I suppose a pernicious town clerk could keep track of who voted for who, based on the signature on the inner envelope and the ballot inside.
Barring that, there is no way for anyone to know who you voted for.
The procedure for voting in person is actually less secure, you just show up, tell the nice poll worker your name and address, and they look to see if somebody with that name is registered at that address. No ID, no signature.
So all in all, vote by mail is arguably less prone to fraud.
All of that is specific to Massachusetts.
Federal elections should be a 1 week paid holiday with voting stations for every 5,000 people.
I’ll sign off on this.
Federal elections should be a 1 week paid holiday with voting stations for every 5,000 people.
I’ll sign off on this.
On idiotic reactions to public safety regulations, I remember a certain amount of controversy on breathalysers for alcohol percentage (although not as much as there was about seatbelts). On the other hand, we don’t have quite the mad “freedom” fetish that you guys have in the US (of course, there may be historical reasons for that), although we are famously bloody-minded.
OT, so I loved this review of Martin Amis’s new book, from the NYT:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/26/books/review/martin-amis-inside-story.html?action=click&module=Well&pgtype=Homepage§ion=Book%20Review
I have a problematic relationship with his novels, but I loved Experience unconditionally, and thought it a) absolutely the best thing he had done and b) fascinating on his past and relationships (e.g. Kingsley, Larkin etc). Based on what I had heard about this, I wasn’t sure I would read it, but after this review I will.
On idiotic reactions to public safety regulations, I remember a certain amount of controversy on breathalysers for alcohol percentage (although not as much as there was about seatbelts). On the other hand, we don’t have quite the mad “freedom” fetish that you guys have in the US (of course, there may be historical reasons for that), although we are famously bloody-minded.
OT, so I loved this review of Martin Amis’s new book, from the NYT:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/26/books/review/martin-amis-inside-story.html?action=click&module=Well&pgtype=Homepage§ion=Book%20Review
I have a problematic relationship with his novels, but I loved Experience unconditionally, and thought it a) absolutely the best thing he had done and b) fascinating on his past and relationships (e.g. Kingsley, Larkin etc). Based on what I had heard about this, I wasn’t sure I would read it, but after this review I will.
lately, in my own life, I find I’m battling two things
right there with you.
lately, in my own life, I find I’m battling two things
right there with you.
Considering seat belts, the other main contributor to the opposition was fear not to be able to untangle after the crash and to burn alive in your wrecked car. Cars were a greater fire hazard then indeed, although not as much as Hollywood tends to present it.
Over here in Germany ‘freedom of the road’ (Freie Fahrt für freie Bürger!) has about the same unreasonable support as gun rights in the US. No need to invoke a commie plot. Speed limits and the fuel price were the third rail for decades (admittedly vehicle fuel is significantly more expensive due to taxation than in the US, although higher engine efficiency and far lower total weight more or less compensate for that).
Considering seat belts, the other main contributor to the opposition was fear not to be able to untangle after the crash and to burn alive in your wrecked car. Cars were a greater fire hazard then indeed, although not as much as Hollywood tends to present it.
Over here in Germany ‘freedom of the road’ (Freie Fahrt für freie Bürger!) has about the same unreasonable support as gun rights in the US. No need to invoke a commie plot. Speed limits and the fuel price were the third rail for decades (admittedly vehicle fuel is significantly more expensive due to taxation than in the US, although higher engine efficiency and far lower total weight more or less compensate for that).
Why are we so f**king dumb?
because there’s so much money in keeping people that way
Why are we so f**king dumb?
because there’s so much money in keeping people that way
I have a problematic relationship with his novels….
Ok with me to read them…just wear your seat belt and use your turn signals 🙂
I have a problematic relationship with his novels….
Ok with me to read them…just wear your seat belt and use your turn signals 🙂
The seatbelt analogy is imperfect, as around 70% of the efficacy of masks is preventing infected folk spreading the virus.
Most masks worn by the public are much less effective at actually protecting from airborne aerosol than they are at preventing its production.
IOW not wearing them in public spaces is a badge of selfishness.
The seatbelt analogy is imperfect, as around 70% of the efficacy of masks is preventing infected folk spreading the virus.
Most masks worn by the public are much less effective at actually protecting from airborne aerosol than they are at preventing its production.
IOW not wearing them in public spaces is a badge of selfishness.
He recently wrote an opinion citing Bush v Gore as precedent.
Hard to top that as pure unadulterated hackery.
Better than that (Slate):
…George W. Bush’s 2000 election legal team—which included Barrett, Kavanaugh, and Roberts—argued during that contested election that ballots arriving late and without postmarks, which were thought to benefit Bush, must be counted in Florida.
He recently wrote an opinion citing Bush v Gore as precedent.
Hard to top that as pure unadulterated hackery.
Better than that (Slate):
…George W. Bush’s 2000 election legal team—which included Barrett, Kavanaugh, and Roberts—argued during that contested election that ballots arriving late and without postmarks, which were thought to benefit Bush, must be counted in Florida.
The seatbelt analogy is imperfect,
I don’t think anyone said it was. Maybe you could propose a perfect one, though………
The seatbelt analogy is imperfect,
I don’t think anyone said it was. Maybe you could propose a perfect one, though………
Blah, I don’t think anyone said it was perfect.
(I’m taking my haste and typos out to an appointment now…)
Blah, I don’t think anyone said it was perfect.
(I’m taking my haste and typos out to an appointment now…)
Maybe we should have a cage match between Lurker and Michael Cain. Vote by mail! Don’t vote by mail! Etc.
My friend the anthropologist and I also discuss the pronounced regional split on vote by mail in the US. The 13-state West has been moving to more and more vote by mail over the last 25 years (that far back, permanent absentee ballot lists). This year >90% of ballots cast regionally will be distributed by mail. For assorted reasons, it is unlikely that there will be less vote by mail in the future. Outside the West, not so much.
Everyone’s first guess about why vote by mail is popular is “Look at the size of those states! It must be hard for people to get to a voting place.” That turns out not to be the case — the very large majority of the West’s population is in urban and high-density suburban areas.
My friend and I think that it’s a combination of different factors. One of the peculiarly Western things is ballot initiatives. Having initiatives on the ballot has always made in-person voting more time consuming. Too many people don’t prepare in advance but feel obligated to vote on those policy questions. Everyone I’ve ever talked to about it says that they much prefer spreading the (large) ballot out on the kitchen table and working through it.
Probably a Ph.D. dissertation in there somewhere.
Maybe we should have a cage match between Lurker and Michael Cain. Vote by mail! Don’t vote by mail! Etc.
My friend the anthropologist and I also discuss the pronounced regional split on vote by mail in the US. The 13-state West has been moving to more and more vote by mail over the last 25 years (that far back, permanent absentee ballot lists). This year >90% of ballots cast regionally will be distributed by mail. For assorted reasons, it is unlikely that there will be less vote by mail in the future. Outside the West, not so much.
Everyone’s first guess about why vote by mail is popular is “Look at the size of those states! It must be hard for people to get to a voting place.” That turns out not to be the case — the very large majority of the West’s population is in urban and high-density suburban areas.
My friend and I think that it’s a combination of different factors. One of the peculiarly Western things is ballot initiatives. Having initiatives on the ballot has always made in-person voting more time consuming. Too many people don’t prepare in advance but feel obligated to vote on those policy questions. Everyone I’ve ever talked to about it says that they much prefer spreading the (large) ballot out on the kitchen table and working through it.
Probably a Ph.D. dissertation in there somewhere.
Maybe you could propose a perfect one, though…
Sadly, no. I think analogies, mine included, tend make things less clear, not more.
And if I came across as rude, apologies.
Maybe you could propose a perfect one, though…
Sadly, no. I think analogies, mine included, tend make things less clear, not more.
And if I came across as rude, apologies.
In the US regulations pressed manufacturers into developing more fuel-efficient engines. Once they had done so, they realized they could build bigger vehicles with bigger engines and still stay within their fleet fuel efficiency requirements.
In the US regulations pressed manufacturers into developing more fuel-efficient engines. Once they had done so, they realized they could build bigger vehicles with bigger engines and still stay within their fleet fuel efficiency requirements.
The seat belt analogy was meant only to address the attribution of an emotional state to the wearer as is done with masks. Nothing more – not even the freedumb thing, which it might also work for.
The seat belt analogy was meant only to address the attribution of an emotional state to the wearer as is done with masks. Nothing more – not even the freedumb thing, which it might also work for.
Nigel — no, you weren’t rude, maybe just hasty. But I was being snarky unnecessarily. I didn’t think any analogy had been made at all, except to the way people complain. And I see that hsh has just said that….
Off I go. I’m the one who should apologize, so — consider it done. Snark gets the better of me too often.
Nigel — no, you weren’t rude, maybe just hasty. But I was being snarky unnecessarily. I didn’t think any analogy had been made at all, except to the way people complain. And I see that hsh has just said that….
Off I go. I’m the one who should apologize, so — consider it done. Snark gets the better of me too often.
Michael Cain:
Maine has a relatively easy path to citizen initiatives and people’s vetoes as well, though in my experience/opinion we never have too many on the ballot at once.
But what makes our ballots much longer once a year, and nicer to do at home, is that town meeting, the traditional NE form of town government, has evolved, at least in my town, to where the ballot is now on paper and secret.
When I moved here, and for a long time afterwards, you had to go to town meeting and stay for endless hours to vote on town business, dozens and dozens of warrant articles. The trade-off for the time commitment was that you did indeed get a direct voice, and a direct vote, on how the town was run, to a very nitty-gritty level.
But it got to be harder and harder for people to do that, especially when town meeting went on half the night. Ultimately it was only a small, well-connected in crowd making the decisions.
So instead of just transitioning to having a town council and getting rid of town meeting and direct involvement entirely, we transitioned to keeping an extensive town meeting warrant, but voting on it by secret ballot. Once a year it makes a VERY long ballot.
For the record, we also have a “Select Board” — which does the day to day business.
I was quite taken with town meeting when I first moved here, but it suffers from the same phenomena that any kind of group decision-making does: we’re not trained in it, most of ust aren’t very good at it, many of us aren’t very articulate on our feet, and the louder voices and grabbier personalities end up dominating.
Not for the first time I’ll say: I’d happily replace some of the traditional school curriculum with some lessons in handling conflict, group process, etc.
Michael Cain:
Maine has a relatively easy path to citizen initiatives and people’s vetoes as well, though in my experience/opinion we never have too many on the ballot at once.
But what makes our ballots much longer once a year, and nicer to do at home, is that town meeting, the traditional NE form of town government, has evolved, at least in my town, to where the ballot is now on paper and secret.
When I moved here, and for a long time afterwards, you had to go to town meeting and stay for endless hours to vote on town business, dozens and dozens of warrant articles. The trade-off for the time commitment was that you did indeed get a direct voice, and a direct vote, on how the town was run, to a very nitty-gritty level.
But it got to be harder and harder for people to do that, especially when town meeting went on half the night. Ultimately it was only a small, well-connected in crowd making the decisions.
So instead of just transitioning to having a town council and getting rid of town meeting and direct involvement entirely, we transitioned to keeping an extensive town meeting warrant, but voting on it by secret ballot. Once a year it makes a VERY long ballot.
For the record, we also have a “Select Board” — which does the day to day business.
I was quite taken with town meeting when I first moved here, but it suffers from the same phenomena that any kind of group decision-making does: we’re not trained in it, most of ust aren’t very good at it, many of us aren’t very articulate on our feet, and the louder voices and grabbier personalities end up dominating.
Not for the first time I’ll say: I’d happily replace some of the traditional school curriculum with some lessons in handling conflict, group process, etc.
you had to go to town meeting and stay for endless hours
haha!!
We try to keep our town meeting to one night, but it often spills over into two, or even three if there’s a lot on the warrant.
There’s about 20k people in town, maybe 1,000 people show up for town meeting. Probably less than that.
Every year since 1635. Even this year, it was outside under a tent.
you had to go to town meeting and stay for endless hours
haha!!
We try to keep our town meeting to one night, but it often spills over into two, or even three if there’s a lot on the warrant.
There’s about 20k people in town, maybe 1,000 people show up for town meeting. Probably less than that.
Every year since 1635. Even this year, it was outside under a tent.
Every year since 1635 — that makes me cry.
Long may it continue.
Every year since 1635 — that makes me cry.
Long may it continue.
Town meeting for a town of 20k is really impressive. I could be wrong, but I don’t think any of the towns in Maine that are that big (all nine of them, ha ha) still have town meeting. My town is about 2500.
Fun article about town meeting.
Town meeting for a town of 20k is really impressive. I could be wrong, but I don’t think any of the towns in Maine that are that big (all nine of them, ha ha) still have town meeting. My town is about 2500.
Fun article about town meeting.
So instead of just transitioning to having a town council and getting rid of town meeting and direct involvement entirely, we transitioned to keeping an extensive town meeting warrant, but voting on it by secret ballot. Once a year it makes a VERY long ballot.
Do you still have to go to the meeting in order to cast your ballot?
So instead of just transitioning to having a town council and getting rid of town meeting and direct involvement entirely, we transitioned to keeping an extensive town meeting warrant, but voting on it by secret ballot. Once a year it makes a VERY long ballot.
Do you still have to go to the meeting in order to cast your ballot?
Every year since 1635.
Wow. I’m really impressed. That’s as amazing to me as the white cranes (which were breeding in England for the first time since the battle of Agincourt) were to you all. In fact more amazing, because once humans facilitate things, cranes be cranes. Whereas in terms of people choosing to do their civic duty, I too (along I think with russell and cleek, and probably others here) am losing faith in an awful lot of humanity. I spoke with a sweet, very bright boy (30!) who used to be my ward (long story) who’s working in Utah. He said he’s not going to vote, he doesn’t want to be involved in politics anymore, and it wasn’t only because the result in Utah was a foregone conclusion. He comes from a fairly crazy, rightwing family, so actually if he did vote it might be for Trump, but still, I was pretty depressed by the attitude.
Every year since 1635.
Wow. I’m really impressed. That’s as amazing to me as the white cranes (which were breeding in England for the first time since the battle of Agincourt) were to you all. In fact more amazing, because once humans facilitate things, cranes be cranes. Whereas in terms of people choosing to do their civic duty, I too (along I think with russell and cleek, and probably others here) am losing faith in an awful lot of humanity. I spoke with a sweet, very bright boy (30!) who used to be my ward (long story) who’s working in Utah. He said he’s not going to vote, he doesn’t want to be involved in politics anymore, and it wasn’t only because the result in Utah was a foregone conclusion. He comes from a fairly crazy, rightwing family, so actually if he did vote it might be for Trump, but still, I was pretty depressed by the attitude.
Do you still have to go to the meeting in order to cast your ballot?
No, you don’t. Same rules as voting in general — you can vote absentee-in-person, absentee-by-mail, or on the specific day. So it’s really not the same thing anymore in that sense, but it still carries on the custom of voters getting a quite detailed say, e.g. over specific expenditures.
Do you still have to go to the meeting in order to cast your ballot?
No, you don’t. Same rules as voting in general — you can vote absentee-in-person, absentee-by-mail, or on the specific day. So it’s really not the same thing anymore in that sense, but it still carries on the custom of voters getting a quite detailed say, e.g. over specific expenditures.
He said he’s not going to vote, he doesn’t want to be involved in politics anymore, and it wasn’t only because the result in Utah was a foregone conclusion.
The 2018 wave was big enough that Salt Lake City and its inner suburbs elected a Democrat to the US House despite the Utah gerrymander. I think Utah is going to be very interesting in about ten years. The population is growing like crazy and there are a lot of young highly-educated people winding up there.
One of my measuring sticks for western states is to look at the sort of initiatives getting on the ballot and getting passed. In 2018, all three of medical marijuana, expanded Medicaid, and an independent redistricting commission made the ballot and passed. (The legislature subsequently futzed with the marijuana and Medicaid laws.) Warning signs for the Republicans, perhaps.
He said he’s not going to vote, he doesn’t want to be involved in politics anymore, and it wasn’t only because the result in Utah was a foregone conclusion.
The 2018 wave was big enough that Salt Lake City and its inner suburbs elected a Democrat to the US House despite the Utah gerrymander. I think Utah is going to be very interesting in about ten years. The population is growing like crazy and there are a lot of young highly-educated people winding up there.
One of my measuring sticks for western states is to look at the sort of initiatives getting on the ballot and getting passed. In 2018, all three of medical marijuana, expanded Medicaid, and an independent redistricting commission made the ballot and passed. (The legislature subsequently futzed with the marijuana and Medicaid laws.) Warning signs for the Republicans, perhaps.
I think Utah is going to be very interesting in about ten years. The population is growing like crazy and there are a lot of young highly-educated people winding up there.
The company I work for opened an office in Salt Lake in 2019. It’s becoming a tech hub, along with a number of other cities around the country that are (a) nice places to live and (b) a lot cheaper to live in than San Francisco, NYC, or Boston.
That will change the political dynamics. Not completely, but some. Or even a lot.
Warning signs for the Republicans, perhaps.
The (R)’s are on their way out. Maybe the (D)’s are, too – things seem to be shifting around, who knows where they will all land.
But the (R)’s are stinking up the joint on their way out the door.
“Stand athwart history and yell stop” is not a position with a rosy future.
I think Utah is going to be very interesting in about ten years. The population is growing like crazy and there are a lot of young highly-educated people winding up there.
The company I work for opened an office in Salt Lake in 2019. It’s becoming a tech hub, along with a number of other cities around the country that are (a) nice places to live and (b) a lot cheaper to live in than San Francisco, NYC, or Boston.
That will change the political dynamics. Not completely, but some. Or even a lot.
Warning signs for the Republicans, perhaps.
The (R)’s are on their way out. Maybe the (D)’s are, too – things seem to be shifting around, who knows where they will all land.
But the (R)’s are stinking up the joint on their way out the door.
“Stand athwart history and yell stop” is not a position with a rosy future.
Not enough follow up details from the article writer on the scenarios, but this sounds about right to me as well, and with the same caveats about seeing this too readily:
https://www.vice.com/en/article/qjp48x/is-the-us-already-in-a-new-civil-war
The election is not going to solve our problems. We are just getting started with the confrontations.
Not enough follow up details from the article writer on the scenarios, but this sounds about right to me as well, and with the same caveats about seeing this too readily:
https://www.vice.com/en/article/qjp48x/is-the-us-already-in-a-new-civil-war
The election is not going to solve our problems. We are just getting started with the confrontations.
That is remarkable, russell. It’s perhaps not unconnected with the decline of organised religion in the UK that it seems so from our perspective ?
The whole topic of structures, and training for community engagement which JanieM raises is a very interesting, and to me slightly alien one.
On the notion of partisan strife, even civil war, this is perhaps worth a read.
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/10/how-we-got-voters-to-change-their-mind/616851/
That is remarkable, russell. It’s perhaps not unconnected with the decline of organised religion in the UK that it seems so from our perspective ?
The whole topic of structures, and training for community engagement which JanieM raises is a very interesting, and to me slightly alien one.
On the notion of partisan strife, even civil war, this is perhaps worth a read.
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/10/how-we-got-voters-to-change-their-mind/616851/
JanieM,
We have separate national and local elections, but even local elections take place on a nationally decided day, so you can vote in advance in your local election anywhere in the country.
The ballot is always the same: a piece of paper with a large empty ring. You write the candidate’s number inside. In any single election, there is only a single office that is being fulfilled: president, parliament, European Parliament or municipal council. All local offices other than municipal council are elected by the council.
With an American ballot, the system would be indeed unworkable.
JanieM,
We have separate national and local elections, but even local elections take place on a nationally decided day, so you can vote in advance in your local election anywhere in the country.
The ballot is always the same: a piece of paper with a large empty ring. You write the candidate’s number inside. In any single election, there is only a single office that is being fulfilled: president, parliament, European Parliament or municipal council. All local offices other than municipal council are elected by the council.
With an American ballot, the system would be indeed unworkable.
is-the-us-already-in-a-new-civil-war
granted, i wasn’t alive at the time, but today’s violence and division doesn’t seem much worse than what we had in the civil-rights-era .
is-the-us-already-in-a-new-civil-war
granted, i wasn’t alive at the time, but today’s violence and division doesn’t seem much worse than what we had in the civil-rights-era .
odds n ends
Utah. Just an impression, but the LDS, while conservative, isn’t quite a perfect fit for the rest of conservatism. Plus the fact that so many go on missions, which then has them come back with a different sense of the world than the average conservative. Michael and Russell point out the changing demographics and it is interesting that some of that change is because of the Mormon church. Any company that needs to have ready access to a multi-lingual employee base considers Salt Lake first and the state leans into that, the language education in Utah is pretty amazing
https://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/20/us/language-programs-flower-in-utahs-schools.html
elections It’s quite interesting here in Japan, all ballots have to be handwritten and the name has to be legible (which probably rules out me voting here) In fact, politicians with names that use difficult chinese characters often use a listed name in hiragana, the syllabic script.
odds n ends
Utah. Just an impression, but the LDS, while conservative, isn’t quite a perfect fit for the rest of conservatism. Plus the fact that so many go on missions, which then has them come back with a different sense of the world than the average conservative. Michael and Russell point out the changing demographics and it is interesting that some of that change is because of the Mormon church. Any company that needs to have ready access to a multi-lingual employee base considers Salt Lake first and the state leans into that, the language education in Utah is pretty amazing
https://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/20/us/language-programs-flower-in-utahs-schools.html
elections It’s quite interesting here in Japan, all ballots have to be handwritten and the name has to be legible (which probably rules out me voting here) In fact, politicians with names that use difficult chinese characters often use a listed name in hiragana, the syllabic script.
Italian Marxists are the worst.
Italian Marxists are the worst.
I thought this was interesting – It Pays to Believe Obviously Untrue Things
https://unherd.com/2020/10/why-do-people-believe-such-complete-rubbish/
I thought this was interesting – It Pays to Believe Obviously Untrue Things
https://unherd.com/2020/10/why-do-people-believe-such-complete-rubbish/
Interesting stuff about Salt Lake City. The company I worked for has several offices, one in Brussels. The guy who ran that office for quite a few years was an American Mormon who was very fluent in French after spending his missionary years in France.
He was (is) a great guy, but I never knew him well enough to ask about the thing I was most curious about, which was: what on earth do the French make of young American men trying to convert them? 😉
Interesting stuff about Salt Lake City. The company I worked for has several offices, one in Brussels. The guy who ran that office for quite a few years was an American Mormon who was very fluent in French after spending his missionary years in France.
He was (is) a great guy, but I never knew him well enough to ask about the thing I was most curious about, which was: what on earth do the French make of young American men trying to convert them? 😉
granted, i wasn’t alive at the time, but today’s violence and division doesn’t seem much worse than what we had in the civil-rights-era.
It’s not the violence that worries me. It’s the polarization and the regime cleavage. We have the civil rights movement and the red scare combined, with the NRA paranoia freakout and Operation Rescue to amp up the Manichean militancy. Our politics have federalized and factionalized. And we have millions more guns than in the ’60s and most of those millions are specifically anti-personnel in nature. Oh yeah, and instead of three national networks that are centrist, we have hyperpartisan tv and radio media nationwide feeding the fear that researchers say fuels the run up to civil conflict.
The violence is just the part above the water.
granted, i wasn’t alive at the time, but today’s violence and division doesn’t seem much worse than what we had in the civil-rights-era.
It’s not the violence that worries me. It’s the polarization and the regime cleavage. We have the civil rights movement and the red scare combined, with the NRA paranoia freakout and Operation Rescue to amp up the Manichean militancy. Our politics have federalized and factionalized. And we have millions more guns than in the ’60s and most of those millions are specifically anti-personnel in nature. Oh yeah, and instead of three national networks that are centrist, we have hyperpartisan tv and radio media nationwide feeding the fear that researchers say fuels the run up to civil conflict.
The violence is just the part above the water.
From GftNC’s link:
That is all.
(More seriously, it was a good read. That just tickled my humerus.)
From GftNC’s link:
That is all.
(More seriously, it was a good read. That just tickled my humerus.)
On the civil war thing, this is also an interesting and mildly encouraging read.
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/10/28/arizona-republicans-bipartisan-429392
On the civil war thing, this is also an interesting and mildly encouraging read.
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/10/28/arizona-republicans-bipartisan-429392
A new, more-positive both-siderism: Both sides are tired of the extreme political divisiveness that we’ve been living with. Not everyone, of course. I imagine the accelerationists mentioned in nous’ Vice link love it. But maybe enough people that there will be some kind of movement away from people living in different realities based on their politics.
I’d like to have some sliver of hope.
A new, more-positive both-siderism: Both sides are tired of the extreme political divisiveness that we’ve been living with. Not everyone, of course. I imagine the accelerationists mentioned in nous’ Vice link love it. But maybe enough people that there will be some kind of movement away from people living in different realities based on their politics.
I’d like to have some sliver of hope.
I’d like to have some sliver of hope.
Me too.
Glad you enjoyed the link, hsh.
I’d like to have some sliver of hope.
Me too.
Glad you enjoyed the link, hsh.
The Politico piece is definitely worth a sliver of hope. I think a lot depends, though, on how long it takes to transform the grassroots. It took 40-50 years of radicalization to get us to the brink here, and most of the really hard shift into partisanship took a decade to gain enough of a foothold to become a movement.
If we can delay the radicalized for a decade or so, we may be able to start turning this around. But turning is also going to motivate the radicalized to be more extreme, so…
I’ll just sit here and curate my stress levels.
The Politico piece is definitely worth a sliver of hope. I think a lot depends, though, on how long it takes to transform the grassroots. It took 40-50 years of radicalization to get us to the brink here, and most of the really hard shift into partisanship took a decade to gain enough of a foothold to become a movement.
If we can delay the radicalized for a decade or so, we may be able to start turning this around. But turning is also going to motivate the radicalized to be more extreme, so…
I’ll just sit here and curate my stress levels.
The sociopathy is off the scale.
And this is just a spokesperson.
https://twitter.com/therecount/status/1321435418987024384
The sociopathy is off the scale.
And this is just a spokesperson.
https://twitter.com/therecount/status/1321435418987024384
I’d like to have some sliver of hope.
I think most people are reluctant to shoot other people.
So, we have that going for us.
I’d like to have some sliver of hope.
I think most people are reluctant to shoot other people.
So, we have that going for us.
Sometimes the firm determination not to know stuff just amazes me. Although, by now, it shouldn’t.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/10/28/white-house-covid-outbreak-investigation-contact-tracing/
(For accuracy, that article label should include the words “decision not to do”.)
Sometimes the firm determination not to know stuff just amazes me. Although, by now, it shouldn’t.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/10/28/white-house-covid-outbreak-investigation-contact-tracing/
(For accuracy, that article label should include the words “decision not to do”.)
I’ll just sit here and curate my stress levels.
This, from your link, gives me some stress, nous. It looks like it could be an American phenomenon, perhaps substituting “not far enough right” for “leftist.”
Too many scenes of police letting militia types go about their business and evidence the nexus between them for me to think the law will be enforced neutrally.
I’ll just sit here and curate my stress levels.
This, from your link, gives me some stress, nous. It looks like it could be an American phenomenon, perhaps substituting “not far enough right” for “leftist.”
Too many scenes of police letting militia types go about their business and evidence the nexus between them for me to think the law will be enforced neutrally.
I saw that too, hsh, and thought of the MI militias and the Constitutional Sheriffs and the like. It’s a worry.
Makes you wonder what would have happened if the RUC were on the side of the IRA.
I saw that too, hsh, and thought of the MI militias and the Constitutional Sheriffs and the like. It’s a worry.
Makes you wonder what would have happened if the RUC were on the side of the IRA.
time for the left to get its own police!
#ratchet-it-up!
time for the left to get its own police!
#ratchet-it-up!
blast form the past…
Anonymous , who wrote that NYT op-ed telling the world that Trump was a loon, has been revealed.
everyone who guessed “Former Homeland Security chief of staff Miles Taylor”, step up to collect your prizes.
blast form the past…
Anonymous , who wrote that NYT op-ed telling the world that Trump was a loon, has been revealed.
everyone who guessed “Former Homeland Security chief of staff Miles Taylor”, step up to collect your prizes.
So a very dear old friend who was always R has been since 2016 a Trumper. We decided then not to discuss politics, under the circumstances. But today she has told me that the estimate of the votes so far in Florida, in which the Rs are starting to close the gap (but are still 235,000 behind), is based on registered Ds and Rs, and that there are two million votes cast so far by people with no party affiliation, so no one has a good idea of how that vote was split. Does this sound correct or likely to you all?
So a very dear old friend who was always R has been since 2016 a Trumper. We decided then not to discuss politics, under the circumstances. But today she has told me that the estimate of the votes so far in Florida, in which the Rs are starting to close the gap (but are still 235,000 behind), is based on registered Ds and Rs, and that there are two million votes cast so far by people with no party affiliation, so no one has a good idea of how that vote was split. Does this sound correct or likely to you all?
Sounds plausible. I’m sure a lot of the projections are based on polls rather than party affiliation, but at this point I don’t think anyone knows where FL is going to land.
Sounds plausible. I’m sure a lot of the projections are based on polls rather than party affiliation, but at this point I don’t think anyone knows where FL is going to land.
Google provides.
Too lazy to try to format. Her 2 million number is not reflected here, but her 235000 isn’t far off from what these numbers show.
Google provides.
Too lazy to try to format. Her 2 million number is not reflected here, but her 235000 isn’t far off from what these numbers show.
Huh. Of course, given who she supports, she may currently not trust polls. Thanks russell.
Huh. Of course, given who she supports, she may currently not trust polls. Thanks russell.
Official numbers here. A bit less than 1.5 million votes cast so far by voters with no or ‘other’ party affiliation.
Official numbers here. A bit less than 1.5 million votes cast so far by voters with no or ‘other’ party affiliation.
Look at PA.
In fact, you can stick any (? I’ve tried half a dozen) two-letter state abbreviation into that link and get whatever state you’re interested in.
Look at PA.
In fact, you can stick any (? I’ve tried half a dozen) two-letter state abbreviation into that link and get whatever state you’re interested in.
Given who she supports, she may not trust official government statistics, either. So why is she quoting any numbers at all…..?
Given who she supports, she may not trust official government statistics, either. So why is she quoting any numbers at all…..?
Gosh, Janie, thanks. I should have looked that up myself, rather than lazily casting the ObWi runes.
Gosh, Janie, thanks. I should have looked that up myself, rather than lazily casting the ObWi runes.
It’s a tragedy and an object lesson. She has a genius-level IQ (we were kids together), used to work in politics at a high level, and despite being R used to have a grasp of reality and be perfectly rational. She is now fully in the bubble. I suppose given our age it’s possibly a symptom of mental deterioration, but it’s so common among Rs that I wonder if it’s partly the whole RWNJ media bubble, and partly confirmation bias.
It’s a tragedy and an object lesson. She has a genius-level IQ (we were kids together), used to work in politics at a high level, and despite being R used to have a grasp of reality and be perfectly rational. She is now fully in the bubble. I suppose given our age it’s possibly a symptom of mental deterioration, but it’s so common among Rs that I wonder if it’s partly the whole RWNJ media bubble, and partly confirmation bias.
I spent the afternoon walking in the woods with a friend down near the coast, about 80 minutes’ drive away. There were lots of political signs en route, but, just like around where I live, there were lots more for Clickbait and Rs than for Ds. I saw one house with a bunch of signs strung out along the road — couldn’t read them all because I was driving too fast, but one said, in effect, vote for Rs to stop the child trafficking.
Clickbait and his minions have been doing superspreader appearances in District 2 lately — they must really want that one electoral vote. The orange one himself, Pence, one of the sons, I forget who else. Someone is lying, or was lied to, or both, I’m sure we’ll never know which. A physician’s assistant is in both quarantine and hot water. If only they were exposing only themselves to the virus….
For that matter, Biden surrogates have been up there too, but their events follow COVID rules. Kind of fascinating that that one electoral vote is so enticing.
I spent the afternoon walking in the woods with a friend down near the coast, about 80 minutes’ drive away. There were lots of political signs en route, but, just like around where I live, there were lots more for Clickbait and Rs than for Ds. I saw one house with a bunch of signs strung out along the road — couldn’t read them all because I was driving too fast, but one said, in effect, vote for Rs to stop the child trafficking.
Clickbait and his minions have been doing superspreader appearances in District 2 lately — they must really want that one electoral vote. The orange one himself, Pence, one of the sons, I forget who else. Someone is lying, or was lied to, or both, I’m sure we’ll never know which. A physician’s assistant is in both quarantine and hot water. If only they were exposing only themselves to the virus….
For that matter, Biden surrogates have been up there too, but their events follow COVID rules. Kind of fascinating that that one electoral vote is so enticing.
I’m going to laugh my way to perdition. You couldn’t even make this up as a spoof.
I’m going to laugh my way to perdition. You couldn’t even make this up as a spoof.
I guess someone did make it up as a spoof…? But the fact that it’s hard to tell is also sad.
I guess someone did make it up as a spoof…? But the fact that it’s hard to tell is also sad.
@JanieM, I think it’s more a matter of where can he go with the Covid spikes and get 4k people largely w/o masks for the cameras…
@JanieM, I think it’s more a matter of where can he go with the Covid spikes and get 4k people largely w/o masks for the cameras…
Michael Cain — good point. Too bad we can’t put all the mask-scorning superspreaders in one place together for the duration.
Michael Cain — good point. Too bad we can’t put all the mask-scorning superspreaders in one place together for the duration.
her 235000 isn’t far off
That’s something like 3.5% of the votes cast so far, which are not quite half of all registered voters in FL.
And yes, if she’s counting by party registration, the number of independent voters dwarfs the difference between the (R)’s and the (D)’s.
FL is a toss-up. The election is something of a toss-up, TBH, in spite of what the national polls look like.
It’s going to come down to the swing states, and probably to a fairly narrow set of voters in those states.
This could, perhaps, be a lesson to all of the people who love the Electoral College because it makes sure “their voice isn’t drowned out”, but it probably won’t be.
In any case, if anyone has time and is so inclined to participate in GOTV efforts, now’s the time.
her 235000 isn’t far off
That’s something like 3.5% of the votes cast so far, which are not quite half of all registered voters in FL.
And yes, if she’s counting by party registration, the number of independent voters dwarfs the difference between the (R)’s and the (D)’s.
FL is a toss-up. The election is something of a toss-up, TBH, in spite of what the national polls look like.
It’s going to come down to the swing states, and probably to a fairly narrow set of voters in those states.
This could, perhaps, be a lesson to all of the people who love the Electoral College because it makes sure “their voice isn’t drowned out”, but it probably won’t be.
In any case, if anyone has time and is so inclined to participate in GOTV efforts, now’s the time.
I don’t believe anyone loves the Electoral College because it makes sure their voice isn’t drowned out.
People like the Electoral College if it favours their views and interests over democracy. And they dislike it if it doesn’t.
I don’t believe anyone loves the Electoral College because it makes sure their voice isn’t drowned out.
People like the Electoral College if it favours their views and interests over democracy. And they dislike it if it doesn’t.
It Pays to Believe Obviously Untrue Things
There’s a certain irony in this article being published by Unherd – to put it mildly.
It Pays to Believe Obviously Untrue Things
There’s a certain irony in this article being published by Unherd – to put it mildly.
I knew nothing about Unherd when I read the piece from a friend’s twitter feed, although I had a not-very-close look around after reading it. I thought, nonetheless, that the piece was interesting and satisfactorily explained certain phenomena. Why, what do you have against it, novakant? I have become more and more aware of people dismissing articles and views because they dislike or disapprove of the ideological bent of writers or editors, and it is starting to make me wonder if this isn’t how one ends in a bubble. I’m not necessarily saying that’s what you’re doing, novakant, but this issue has been increasingly on my mind.
I knew nothing about Unherd when I read the piece from a friend’s twitter feed, although I had a not-very-close look around after reading it. I thought, nonetheless, that the piece was interesting and satisfactorily explained certain phenomena. Why, what do you have against it, novakant? I have become more and more aware of people dismissing articles and views because they dislike or disapprove of the ideological bent of writers or editors, and it is starting to make me wonder if this isn’t how one ends in a bubble. I’m not necessarily saying that’s what you’re doing, novakant, but this issue has been increasingly on my mind.
from skimming the front page, UnHerd seems like one of those sites that wants to be a place where people who think of themselves as broad-minded thinkers can publish political things that don’t really fit on more partisan outlets. fine. there’s a place for that.
and, then i looked at the Mission Statement:
nailed it!
and then there’s an article gushing about the brilliance of self-help guru Jordan Peterson!
mm hmm.
not my cup of chai, but it’s fine.
from skimming the front page, UnHerd seems like one of those sites that wants to be a place where people who think of themselves as broad-minded thinkers can publish political things that don’t really fit on more partisan outlets. fine. there’s a place for that.
and, then i looked at the Mission Statement:
nailed it!
and then there’s an article gushing about the brilliance of self-help guru Jordan Peterson!
mm hmm.
not my cup of chai, but it’s fine.
Thank you for that, cleek. But based on what you say, I wondered whether such views and such an article put it beyond the pale for me, so I went back on to look around. There were many pieces the point of which I dislike, but some interesting and surprising ones (podcasts with surprising public people talking frankly about their lives), and then I saw this review by Tanya Gold, a journalist I always find interesting, of a new book about Boris Johnson.
https://unherd.com/2020/10/who-created-boris-johnson/
When the real history of Johnson’s rule is written there will be three villains at least beyond Stanley Johnson: the English public school system which supplies the Tory Party with inept leaders; the media, who collude in this and the raising of Johnson, for sport and profit; and the voters, who, with indifference or salaciousness, tolerate it.
Thank you for that, cleek. But based on what you say, I wondered whether such views and such an article put it beyond the pale for me, so I went back on to look around. There were many pieces the point of which I dislike, but some interesting and surprising ones (podcasts with surprising public people talking frankly about their lives), and then I saw this review by Tanya Gold, a journalist I always find interesting, of a new book about Boris Johnson.
https://unherd.com/2020/10/who-created-boris-johnson/
When the real history of Johnson’s rule is written there will be three villains at least beyond Stanley Johnson: the English public school system which supplies the Tory Party with inept leaders; the media, who collude in this and the raising of Johnson, for sport and profit; and the voters, who, with indifference or salaciousness, tolerate it.
sounds kindof Intellectual Dark Web-by to me.
sounds kindof Intellectual Dark Web-by to me.
the fact that anybody with such a following must be onto something
Like, say, Q?
Sheesh.
the fact that anybody with such a following must be onto something
Like, say, Q?
Sheesh.
Further to this very discussion, on hearing that Jeremy Corbyn had been suspended from the Labour Party on the publication of a report on anti-semitism, I read this interesting set of talking points from a site called Engage:
https://engageonline.wordpress.com/?fbclid=IwAR1mFrfzuUp-FM3yoiZ7qpn4zn0JWy66eFOiMLWmYx3KUvhHruSsSNiA2CU
So then I went looking to see who they are, since it seems to be an article of faith with all the lefties I know that Jeremy Corbyn is not anti-semitic, and the whole issue was fabricated to smear him. So this is from About Us:
Engage, the group for which this web site is a focal point, was created to arm people with arguments and facts that they could use to counter the propaganda of the boycott campaign within the Association of University Teachers. Engage grew from a being a resource for that particular campaign into being a resource that aims to help people counter the boycott Israel campaign in general, as well as the the assumptions and misrepresentations that lie behind it.
Engage is a left wing campaign. We “support” neither Israel nor Palestine; we support a cosmopolitan or internationalist politics that supports those who fight for peace and against racism within both nations. We are not a “Jewish” campaign, whatever that might mean. We do not speak “as Jews” but as socialists, liberals, trade unionists or academics. A number of the people centrally involved in Engage are not Jewish.
There are plenty of people in the world who fly the Israeli flag, defend whatever Israel does, and regard Palestinians as being incurable rejectionists, terrorists or fundamentalists. There are plenty of others that fly the Palestinian flag and regard Israel as being an “oppressor” state, an essentially, unchangably racist, illegitimate, imperialist or apartheid state.
Engage comes out of a socialist tradition that maintains a skeptical view of nationalism. We do not see nationalism as necessarily racist or evil, but neither is it our own tradition; we are not nationalists. To the extent that nationalism defines community, and as far as nationalism represents a collective response to oppression, or a means of self-defence, we recognise that nationalism sometimes plays a positive role. Yet nationalism always also has potential to exclude those who are not thought of as being part of the nation and it has the potential to set one nation against another. This does not mean that we hope that nationalism (or particular nations) can be wished away or artificially destroyed. It means that our perspective is not one that puts any particular nation first, but one that aspires to a world in which people can enjoy guaranteed rights irrespective of national identity.
Engage is a single issue campaign. It focuses on one issue, antisemitism, and is therefore concerned also about the demonization of Israel, and of Jews who don’t think of themselves as anti-Zionists. We believe that a new commonsense is emerging that holds Israel to be a central and fundamental evil in the world. We disagree with this notion and we think that it is dangerous. The danger is that this kind of thinking may well lead to, and license, the emergence of a movement that is racist against Jews in general.
Our focus is on this issue but our view of the world is one that opposes all racism equally. We oppose racism against black people or Muslims as strongly as we oppose racism against Jews. We oppose commonsense notions that demonize lesbians and gays as strongly as we oppose those that demonize Israel. We oppose damaging and dangerous myths about women as strongly as we oppose those about Jews. We oppose exclusions of Palestinians as strongly as we oppose those of Jews.
So our politics is consistent, cosmopolitan, internationalist, even if our campaign focuses on one issue. We are not primarily concerned with the Israel/Palestine conflict. Engage was not born in Israel or in Palestine, but in Britain, to fight against an exclusion that was supported by our own trade union – an exclusion of Israeli Jews and of nobody else.
I think the world is very complicated, and I welcome different, nuanced views. Which is not to say that other people have to think the same!
Further to this very discussion, on hearing that Jeremy Corbyn had been suspended from the Labour Party on the publication of a report on anti-semitism, I read this interesting set of talking points from a site called Engage:
https://engageonline.wordpress.com/?fbclid=IwAR1mFrfzuUp-FM3yoiZ7qpn4zn0JWy66eFOiMLWmYx3KUvhHruSsSNiA2CU
So then I went looking to see who they are, since it seems to be an article of faith with all the lefties I know that Jeremy Corbyn is not anti-semitic, and the whole issue was fabricated to smear him. So this is from About Us:
Engage, the group for which this web site is a focal point, was created to arm people with arguments and facts that they could use to counter the propaganda of the boycott campaign within the Association of University Teachers. Engage grew from a being a resource for that particular campaign into being a resource that aims to help people counter the boycott Israel campaign in general, as well as the the assumptions and misrepresentations that lie behind it.
Engage is a left wing campaign. We “support” neither Israel nor Palestine; we support a cosmopolitan or internationalist politics that supports those who fight for peace and against racism within both nations. We are not a “Jewish” campaign, whatever that might mean. We do not speak “as Jews” but as socialists, liberals, trade unionists or academics. A number of the people centrally involved in Engage are not Jewish.
There are plenty of people in the world who fly the Israeli flag, defend whatever Israel does, and regard Palestinians as being incurable rejectionists, terrorists or fundamentalists. There are plenty of others that fly the Palestinian flag and regard Israel as being an “oppressor” state, an essentially, unchangably racist, illegitimate, imperialist or apartheid state.
Engage comes out of a socialist tradition that maintains a skeptical view of nationalism. We do not see nationalism as necessarily racist or evil, but neither is it our own tradition; we are not nationalists. To the extent that nationalism defines community, and as far as nationalism represents a collective response to oppression, or a means of self-defence, we recognise that nationalism sometimes plays a positive role. Yet nationalism always also has potential to exclude those who are not thought of as being part of the nation and it has the potential to set one nation against another. This does not mean that we hope that nationalism (or particular nations) can be wished away or artificially destroyed. It means that our perspective is not one that puts any particular nation first, but one that aspires to a world in which people can enjoy guaranteed rights irrespective of national identity.
Engage is a single issue campaign. It focuses on one issue, antisemitism, and is therefore concerned also about the demonization of Israel, and of Jews who don’t think of themselves as anti-Zionists. We believe that a new commonsense is emerging that holds Israel to be a central and fundamental evil in the world. We disagree with this notion and we think that it is dangerous. The danger is that this kind of thinking may well lead to, and license, the emergence of a movement that is racist against Jews in general.
Our focus is on this issue but our view of the world is one that opposes all racism equally. We oppose racism against black people or Muslims as strongly as we oppose racism against Jews. We oppose commonsense notions that demonize lesbians and gays as strongly as we oppose those that demonize Israel. We oppose damaging and dangerous myths about women as strongly as we oppose those about Jews. We oppose exclusions of Palestinians as strongly as we oppose those of Jews.
So our politics is consistent, cosmopolitan, internationalist, even if our campaign focuses on one issue. We are not primarily concerned with the Israel/Palestine conflict. Engage was not born in Israel or in Palestine, but in Britain, to fight against an exclusion that was supported by our own trade union – an exclusion of Israeli Jews and of nobody else.
I think the world is very complicated, and I welcome different, nuanced views. Which is not to say that other people have to think the same!
Unherd’s brand is built upon the idea that the media (or the public) is suppressing some set of ideas for political or normative reasons. And while that is not an unreasonable position to take, I disagree with the implied argument that the problem is one of gatekeeping and that people who seek out alternative news sites are wiser and more open. That’s just soft conspiracy thinking and it’s own brand of anti-elite gatekeeping.
What we need is better sites with more transparency that practice (and teach) critical media literacy.
Unherd’s brand is built upon the idea that the media (or the public) is suppressing some set of ideas for political or normative reasons. And while that is not an unreasonable position to take, I disagree with the implied argument that the problem is one of gatekeeping and that people who seek out alternative news sites are wiser and more open. That’s just soft conspiracy thinking and it’s own brand of anti-elite gatekeeping.
What we need is better sites with more transparency that practice (and teach) critical media literacy.
What we need is better sites with more transparency that practice (and teach) critical media literacy.
Can’t argue with that. And for the avoidance of doubt, I do not pretend to have such literacy. I aspire to, though.
What we need is better sites with more transparency that practice (and teach) critical media literacy.
Can’t argue with that. And for the avoidance of doubt, I do not pretend to have such literacy. I aspire to, though.
I don’t believe anyone loves the Electoral College because it makes sure their voice isn’t drowned out.
If I ask people why they feel strongly about retaining the EC, they invariably say it’s because they want their voice to not be drowned out by the people who live in great big cities.
So, I take them at their word.
No doubt some of them would have a different opinion if the EC wasn’t furthering their interests policy-wise. Some of them probably would not. I don’t know how many of each there would be.
then there’s an article gushing about the brilliance of self-help guru Jordan Peterson!
I continue to struggle to understand the appeal of Jordan Peterson.
To each, their own.
I don’t believe anyone loves the Electoral College because it makes sure their voice isn’t drowned out.
If I ask people why they feel strongly about retaining the EC, they invariably say it’s because they want their voice to not be drowned out by the people who live in great big cities.
So, I take them at their word.
No doubt some of them would have a different opinion if the EC wasn’t furthering their interests policy-wise. Some of them probably would not. I don’t know how many of each there would be.
then there’s an article gushing about the brilliance of self-help guru Jordan Peterson!
I continue to struggle to understand the appeal of Jordan Peterson.
To each, their own.
Admittedly just skimming, and not wanting to get snagged by this hook:
1. I can’t tell, on a few minutes’ effort, whether that Engage site recognizes any distinction between anti-semitism and criticism of Israel for actual policies and actions. It seems to me that they skirt very carefully around that question, but maybe I just didn’t dig deep enough. (And am not going to. It is not within my top 10,000 concerns at the moment, I’m just doing this for the sake of possible conversation here.)
2. There’s a commenter at BJ named Tony Jay who writers rarely, but when he does, he’s hilarious and AFAICT sharp about Boris, Brexit, and anything else he might choose to write about. He posted a couple of comments today about the Corbyn situation:
https://www.balloon-juice.com/2020/10/29/open-thread-the-death-cult-its-enablers-so-many-clowns-in-the-car/#comment-7927955
https://www.balloon-juice.com/2020/10/29/open-thread-the-death-cult-its-enablers-so-many-clowns-in-the-car/#comment-7928083
I’d be curious to know what the UK folks here think of his comments.
Meanwhile….back to seesawing between worry and hope for next Weds.
Admittedly just skimming, and not wanting to get snagged by this hook:
1. I can’t tell, on a few minutes’ effort, whether that Engage site recognizes any distinction between anti-semitism and criticism of Israel for actual policies and actions. It seems to me that they skirt very carefully around that question, but maybe I just didn’t dig deep enough. (And am not going to. It is not within my top 10,000 concerns at the moment, I’m just doing this for the sake of possible conversation here.)
2. There’s a commenter at BJ named Tony Jay who writers rarely, but when he does, he’s hilarious and AFAICT sharp about Boris, Brexit, and anything else he might choose to write about. He posted a couple of comments today about the Corbyn situation:
https://www.balloon-juice.com/2020/10/29/open-thread-the-death-cult-its-enablers-so-many-clowns-in-the-car/#comment-7927955
https://www.balloon-juice.com/2020/10/29/open-thread-the-death-cult-its-enablers-so-many-clowns-in-the-car/#comment-7928083
I’d be curious to know what the UK folks here think of his comments.
Meanwhile….back to seesawing between worry and hope for next Weds.
Jordan Peterson
Had to Google.
Jordan Peterson
Had to Google.
2. FWIW, Tony Jay seems to say exactly what most of my more lefty friends say. I can’t help wondering why they are prepared to completely ignore the evidence of e.g. female labour MPs who left Labour party meetings in tears after what they described as anti-semitism. If it were just criticism of Israeli government policies, it seems to me unlikely to have provoked such a reaction. What doesn’t help is that “Zionist” has become a codeword which many closet anti-semites use to insult and monster Jews, and the litany of Jeremy Corbyn “gaffes” on this matter is a bit too long to convince.
1. This is really interesting. I assumed from that Engage stuff that there was no possible doubt that they were differentiating between anti-semitism and “criticism of Israel for actual policies and actions”. But Janie feels they skirted very carefully around this question, so I have looked again. This:
We support those who campaign for Palestinian rights and we believe that what we have to say would strengthen, not weakens, their campaigns. We also support the Israeli peace movement, weak and disorientated as it may be. [Support for the Israeli peace movement seems to me by definition a criticism “of Israel for actual policies and actions”]. We believe that the demonization of Israel weakens the Israeli peace movement and pushes Israelis who are for peace into the arms of the Israeli right. It is obvious that a boycott of Israeli Jews, and only Israeli Jews, will be understood by Israelis as a racist attack on them – and boycotts therefore strengthen Israeli hawks at the expense of the peace movement.
seems to me to be absolutely clear, and the opposite of any endorsement (and by implication at least the criticism) of rightwing, settler-type Israeli policy. And I would add that they are absolutely correct about the last sentence I quote here; I have seen this exact phenomenon apply to Israeli Jews I know well, and whose views I have seen evolving over many years.
What is interesting to me is the Engage site’s use of the words “Jews who don’t think of themselves as anti-Zionists”. This has real resonance for me, because on the one hand I think it is entirely illegitimate to take by force (or politicking) a land already occupied by another people, on the other hand I think that for Jews after 1945 there were no good choices. Consequently, I am hard put as to whether to call myself an anti-Zionist. It seems to me they try to cover themselves by disavowing nationalism, which presumably would mean a one-state solution which is neither Jewish not Palestinian, but this (like so much else in the ME) seems unattainable with the current state of human evolution
2. FWIW, Tony Jay seems to say exactly what most of my more lefty friends say. I can’t help wondering why they are prepared to completely ignore the evidence of e.g. female labour MPs who left Labour party meetings in tears after what they described as anti-semitism. If it were just criticism of Israeli government policies, it seems to me unlikely to have provoked such a reaction. What doesn’t help is that “Zionist” has become a codeword which many closet anti-semites use to insult and monster Jews, and the litany of Jeremy Corbyn “gaffes” on this matter is a bit too long to convince.
1. This is really interesting. I assumed from that Engage stuff that there was no possible doubt that they were differentiating between anti-semitism and “criticism of Israel for actual policies and actions”. But Janie feels they skirted very carefully around this question, so I have looked again. This:
We support those who campaign for Palestinian rights and we believe that what we have to say would strengthen, not weakens, their campaigns. We also support the Israeli peace movement, weak and disorientated as it may be. [Support for the Israeli peace movement seems to me by definition a criticism “of Israel for actual policies and actions”]. We believe that the demonization of Israel weakens the Israeli peace movement and pushes Israelis who are for peace into the arms of the Israeli right. It is obvious that a boycott of Israeli Jews, and only Israeli Jews, will be understood by Israelis as a racist attack on them – and boycotts therefore strengthen Israeli hawks at the expense of the peace movement.
seems to me to be absolutely clear, and the opposite of any endorsement (and by implication at least the criticism) of rightwing, settler-type Israeli policy. And I would add that they are absolutely correct about the last sentence I quote here; I have seen this exact phenomenon apply to Israeli Jews I know well, and whose views I have seen evolving over many years.
What is interesting to me is the Engage site’s use of the words “Jews who don’t think of themselves as anti-Zionists”. This has real resonance for me, because on the one hand I think it is entirely illegitimate to take by force (or politicking) a land already occupied by another people, on the other hand I think that for Jews after 1945 there were no good choices. Consequently, I am hard put as to whether to call myself an anti-Zionist. It seems to me they try to cover themselves by disavowing nationalism, which presumably would mean a one-state solution which is neither Jewish not Palestinian, but this (like so much else in the ME) seems unattainable with the current state of human evolution
Had to Google.
Me, too. After reading, I thought I had read something about or from him before. I now have a vague recollection of thinking he was a jerk.
Had to Google.
Me, too. After reading, I thought I had read something about or from him before. I now have a vague recollection of thinking he was a jerk.
he really hates “Cultural Marxism” !
which means he’s a doofus.
he really hates “Cultural Marxism” !
which means he’s a doofus.
Too bad we can’t put all the mask-scorning superspreaders in one place together for the duration.
Could improve the gene pool, too.
Actually, Trump’s rallies seem likely to take some steps in that direction as well. However inadvertently.
Too bad we can’t put all the mask-scorning superspreaders in one place together for the duration.
Could improve the gene pool, too.
Actually, Trump’s rallies seem likely to take some steps in that direction as well. However inadvertently.
now that he has defeated the Virus, Trump’s manly essence cures all who come near him.
now that he has defeated the Virus, Trump’s manly essence cures all who come near him.
1. Trump’s manly essence — ewwwwww. Can anything be creepier?
2. I know about Jordan Peterson mostly from Crooked Timber having had a go at him more than once. But also because his thoughts are all too attractive to a couple of people I know.
3. GftNC, thanks for the lengthy and thoughtful reply. As I said, I didn’t spend too much time onthe site, but it’s still not as absolutely clear to me as it is to you just what they’re up to.
E.g. in the passages you quoted, there’s this: We believe that the demonization of Israel….
“Demonization” is quite a loaded word. And again, it either answers the question I’m asking (not in a good way from my POV), or, at best, obscures the answer.
Is the boycott “demonization” by definition? I have seen it very persuasively argued at Crooked Timber that it is not (not in those exact terms, but in effect).
But then, it doesn’t surprise me if a fraught issue like this is the death of nuance on all sides.
As to Corbyn’s gaffes, that I will take your word for, since I don’t follow this stuff. In light of that vantage point…whither the Labour Party? It doesn’t look like the balances are falling out in the same way in the UK as they seem to be right now in the US. I mean, I think Biden has a real chance of winning, and even though there’s a horrible mess to be cleaned up, and the fight is long from over, millions have rallied and said: An end to this criminal, lethal, Clickbait BS. That doesn’t seem to be happening in the UK, and if Tony Jay is right that Labour is being further weakened by the minute, when/how is it likely to happen? Giving a due nod to the fact that your system is quite different from ours.
1. Trump’s manly essence — ewwwwww. Can anything be creepier?
2. I know about Jordan Peterson mostly from Crooked Timber having had a go at him more than once. But also because his thoughts are all too attractive to a couple of people I know.
3. GftNC, thanks for the lengthy and thoughtful reply. As I said, I didn’t spend too much time onthe site, but it’s still not as absolutely clear to me as it is to you just what they’re up to.
E.g. in the passages you quoted, there’s this: We believe that the demonization of Israel….
“Demonization” is quite a loaded word. And again, it either answers the question I’m asking (not in a good way from my POV), or, at best, obscures the answer.
Is the boycott “demonization” by definition? I have seen it very persuasively argued at Crooked Timber that it is not (not in those exact terms, but in effect).
But then, it doesn’t surprise me if a fraught issue like this is the death of nuance on all sides.
As to Corbyn’s gaffes, that I will take your word for, since I don’t follow this stuff. In light of that vantage point…whither the Labour Party? It doesn’t look like the balances are falling out in the same way in the UK as they seem to be right now in the US. I mean, I think Biden has a real chance of winning, and even though there’s a horrible mess to be cleaned up, and the fight is long from over, millions have rallied and said: An end to this criminal, lethal, Clickbait BS. That doesn’t seem to be happening in the UK, and if Tony Jay is right that Labour is being further weakened by the minute, when/how is it likely to happen? Giving a due nod to the fact that your system is quite different from ours.
Another view on the accusations against Corbyn—
https://www.jewishvoiceforlabour.org.uk/statement/rebuttals/#1
Another view on the accusations against Corbyn—
https://www.jewishvoiceforlabour.org.uk/statement/rebuttals/#1
The blog post containing the link above—
https://www.patheos.com/blogs/writingfromtheedge/2019/11/as-a-british-jew-im-not-fearful-of-a-corbyn-government-but-im-horrified-at-how-antisemitism-is-being-used-against-him/
The blog post containing the link above—
https://www.patheos.com/blogs/writingfromtheedge/2019/11/as-a-british-jew-im-not-fearful-of-a-corbyn-government-but-im-horrified-at-how-antisemitism-is-being-used-against-him/
Thanks Donald…..
Thanks Donald…..
speaking of the EC…
did you know that the best reason for keeping it is that it keeps most states from mattering at all thereby reducing the number of states where parties will be tempted to get into electoral shenanigans?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/10/29/electoral-college-recount-meltdown/
well, now you know!
speaking of the EC…
did you know that the best reason for keeping it is that it keeps most states from mattering at all thereby reducing the number of states where parties will be tempted to get into electoral shenanigans?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/10/29/electoral-college-recount-meltdown/
well, now you know!
And I’m sure “we” could do nothing to remedy or prevent or address any of that stuff.
And I’m sure “we” could do nothing to remedy or prevent or address any of that stuff.
Corbyn’s gaffes
Perhaps it’s just me, but I generally take “gaffes” to mean accidental mis-statements or poor phrasing.
Whereas, in so far as I can tell from half a world away, Corbyn’s anti-Semitism appears to be what he actually thinks. His “mistake” being (again, from what I can tell from here) to have let his actual views become public.
Corbyn’s gaffes
Perhaps it’s just me, but I generally take “gaffes” to mean accidental mis-statements or poor phrasing.
Whereas, in so far as I can tell from half a world away, Corbyn’s anti-Semitism appears to be what he actually thinks. His “mistake” being (again, from what I can tell from here) to have let his actual views become public.
“ on the one hand I think it is entirely illegitimate to take by force (or politicking) a land already occupied by another people, on the other hand I think that for Jews after 1945 there were no good choices”
I happen to agree with that. In the 30’s and 40’s there were no good choices for Jews fleeing persecution. And at the same time the Palestinians should not have been forcibly expelled. Both sides have used terrorist tactics. All these things and various others are true. And only an idiot or fanatic or antisemite would think Israel is the leading evil in the world or whatever Engage claims anti Zionists are supposed to think. It’s more of a run of the mill country with a crappy human rights record, but one idealized in the US, including by our Democratic candidates ( who I fervently hope win). Trump is popular in Israel.
In the US and I suspect Britain, it is possible to publish murderous anti Palestinian racism in leading newspapers. I’ve given examples before from the NYT. There are some pro Palestinian types who are antisemites, but you find them on the internet where literally everything can be found— they aren’t given space in the NYT.
“ on the one hand I think it is entirely illegitimate to take by force (or politicking) a land already occupied by another people, on the other hand I think that for Jews after 1945 there were no good choices”
I happen to agree with that. In the 30’s and 40’s there were no good choices for Jews fleeing persecution. And at the same time the Palestinians should not have been forcibly expelled. Both sides have used terrorist tactics. All these things and various others are true. And only an idiot or fanatic or antisemite would think Israel is the leading evil in the world or whatever Engage claims anti Zionists are supposed to think. It’s more of a run of the mill country with a crappy human rights record, but one idealized in the US, including by our Democratic candidates ( who I fervently hope win). Trump is popular in Israel.
In the US and I suspect Britain, it is possible to publish murderous anti Palestinian racism in leading newspapers. I’ve given examples before from the NYT. There are some pro Palestinian types who are antisemites, but you find them on the internet where literally everything can be found— they aren’t given space in the NYT.
wj — If you have time, check out Donald’s links.
wj — If you have time, check out Donald’s links.
donald,
i read the link…a very good squib with a host of links to delve further into it, if one is so inclined. thank you.
donald,
i read the link…a very good squib with a host of links to delve further into it, if one is so inclined. thank you.
To take one of the accusations against Corbyn: that he laid a wreath at the grave of a Black September terrorist.
Donald’s link denies the allegation out of hand. “[Corbyn] did indeed attend a wreath-lying ceremony in 2014 where victims of the 1985 Israeli airstrike against the headquarters of the Palestine Liberation Organisation in Tunis were remembered…While wreaths may also have been laid at other graves, Corbyn did not participate in these ceremonies. Nor are any of the graves those of Munich perpetrators, who are mostly buried in Libya. None is buried in Tunis.”
But photographs of Corbyn holding a wreath are not at the 1985 memorial but by the graves of Palestinians killed in 1991 and 1992 in Tunis and Paris. The grave he’s standing at is that of Salah Khalaf, who was assassinated in Tunis in 1991 by a Palestinian associated with the Abu Nidal organisation
And Salah Khalaf was the prime mover in the formation of the Black September Organisation. According to a book written with his extensive co-operation, he planned and commissioned the Munich massacre.
None of which proves that Corbyn is anti-semitic; I think he’s not. It’s just that he loves being lauded by people he sees as leftist freedom fighters, and he’s not very interested in facts. He ignored some ugly anti-semitism in the Labour party, not because he agreed with it but because he didn’t care enough to see it for what it was.
To take one of the accusations against Corbyn: that he laid a wreath at the grave of a Black September terrorist.
Donald’s link denies the allegation out of hand. “[Corbyn] did indeed attend a wreath-lying ceremony in 2014 where victims of the 1985 Israeli airstrike against the headquarters of the Palestine Liberation Organisation in Tunis were remembered…While wreaths may also have been laid at other graves, Corbyn did not participate in these ceremonies. Nor are any of the graves those of Munich perpetrators, who are mostly buried in Libya. None is buried in Tunis.”
But photographs of Corbyn holding a wreath are not at the 1985 memorial but by the graves of Palestinians killed in 1991 and 1992 in Tunis and Paris. The grave he’s standing at is that of Salah Khalaf, who was assassinated in Tunis in 1991 by a Palestinian associated with the Abu Nidal organisation
And Salah Khalaf was the prime mover in the formation of the Black September Organisation. According to a book written with his extensive co-operation, he planned and commissioned the Munich massacre.
None of which proves that Corbyn is anti-semitic; I think he’s not. It’s just that he loves being lauded by people he sees as leftist freedom fighters, and he’s not very interested in facts. He ignored some ugly anti-semitism in the Labour party, not because he agreed with it but because he didn’t care enough to see it for what it was.
I imagine (and hope) it will not surprise anybody to hear that all the accusations, and rebuttals, made in Donald’s link, are familiar to me from the media and from discussions with my various lefty, Jewish friends, almost all of whom defend Corbyn. (The last point in the briefing for canvassers, however, relates to the EHCR investigation, which has now been concluded, and its report published. It was Corbyn’s comments today about it, claiming that the whole antisemitism issue in Labour had been “dramatically overstated” that led to his suspension).
As it happens, I myself have been reluctant to think him an actual, personal, anti-semite, and to the extent that this has been exaggerated in order to have a stick with which to beat him, I disapprove. But the trouble is, as I said, there is just too much of it. I think he has assumed that because of his history of anti-racism everybody will understand that he is not an anti-semite, but because of the pernicious new use of Zionist as a weasel word to express anti-semitism, allied to the reflexive anti-Zionism of the left, and because he is, after all, not very bright and not very careful (have you actually looked at the mural?), he has been guilty of at least appearing to authorise the anti-semitism of some of his followers.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/24/jeremy-corbyn-antisemitism-labour-zionists-2013-speech
Regarding the “demonisation” of Israel, I am very sorry to say I do not think this is much of an overstatement. No doubt it has been eagerly latched onto by existing anti-semites, but the ability to distinguish between the actions of the Israeli government and attitudes of individual Jews is very severely compromised in much of our public discourse.
I imagine (and hope) it will not surprise anybody to hear that all the accusations, and rebuttals, made in Donald’s link, are familiar to me from the media and from discussions with my various lefty, Jewish friends, almost all of whom defend Corbyn. (The last point in the briefing for canvassers, however, relates to the EHCR investigation, which has now been concluded, and its report published. It was Corbyn’s comments today about it, claiming that the whole antisemitism issue in Labour had been “dramatically overstated” that led to his suspension).
As it happens, I myself have been reluctant to think him an actual, personal, anti-semite, and to the extent that this has been exaggerated in order to have a stick with which to beat him, I disapprove. But the trouble is, as I said, there is just too much of it. I think he has assumed that because of his history of anti-racism everybody will understand that he is not an anti-semite, but because of the pernicious new use of Zionist as a weasel word to express anti-semitism, allied to the reflexive anti-Zionism of the left, and because he is, after all, not very bright and not very careful (have you actually looked at the mural?), he has been guilty of at least appearing to authorise the anti-semitism of some of his followers.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/24/jeremy-corbyn-antisemitism-labour-zionists-2013-speech
Regarding the “demonisation” of Israel, I am very sorry to say I do not think this is much of an overstatement. No doubt it has been eagerly latched onto by existing anti-semites, but the ability to distinguish between the actions of the Israeli government and attitudes of individual Jews is very severely compromised in much of our public discourse.
And what Pro Bono said, particularly in his last paragraph.
And what Pro Bono said, particularly in his last paragraph.
I agree that Corbyn isn’t very bright, or anyway that has been my impression. In fact, in an earlier post that I didn’t send I said that he struck me as a typical far lefty who romanticizes freedom fighters and isn’t very bright, but I see no evidence that he is vicious. If anything, he seems like a marshmallow. I almost sent a picture of him in the late 80’s protesting the Iranian government for its mass executions.
But speaking of romanticizing freedom fighters, would someone regard an American politician who honored Rabin as an anti- Palestinian racist? The analogy is exact. Salad Khalaf was a terrorist who later advocated peace talks. Rabin was an ethic cleanser who later as Prime Minister ordered the Israeli security forces to break protestor’s bones. I have a friend who wishes AOC had gone to the Rabin event and then ripped into him, but I think that would have been inappropriate.
https://www.972mag.com/yitzhak-rabin-oslo-accords-aoc/
https://www.972mag.com/yitzhak-rabin-oslo-accords-aoc/
I had mixed feelings about AOC’s decision to pull out of the event to honor Rabin and frankly I would not be crazy about Corbyn honoring a former terrorist, but it is the same issue. I suspect that precisely none of the people who criticized Corbyn for visiting Khalaf’s grave would condemn an American politician for honoring Rabin.
I agree that Corbyn isn’t very bright, or anyway that has been my impression. In fact, in an earlier post that I didn’t send I said that he struck me as a typical far lefty who romanticizes freedom fighters and isn’t very bright, but I see no evidence that he is vicious. If anything, he seems like a marshmallow. I almost sent a picture of him in the late 80’s protesting the Iranian government for its mass executions.
But speaking of romanticizing freedom fighters, would someone regard an American politician who honored Rabin as an anti- Palestinian racist? The analogy is exact. Salad Khalaf was a terrorist who later advocated peace talks. Rabin was an ethic cleanser who later as Prime Minister ordered the Israeli security forces to break protestor’s bones. I have a friend who wishes AOC had gone to the Rabin event and then ripped into him, but I think that would have been inappropriate.
https://www.972mag.com/yitzhak-rabin-oslo-accords-aoc/
https://www.972mag.com/yitzhak-rabin-oslo-accords-aoc/
I had mixed feelings about AOC’s decision to pull out of the event to honor Rabin and frankly I would not be crazy about Corbyn honoring a former terrorist, but it is the same issue. I suspect that precisely none of the people who criticized Corbyn for visiting Khalaf’s grave would condemn an American politician for honoring Rabin.
Correction— Rabin was Defense minister when he ordered the beatings.
Correction— Rabin was Defense minister when he ordered the beatings.
If the Israel of 1948 had a valid claim to Palestinian lands, then Argentina had a valid claim the the Falklands Islands.
If the Israel of 1948 had a valid claim to Palestinian lands, then Argentina had a valid claim the the Falklands Islands.
Here is the Wikipedia article on the wreath ceremony.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corbyn_wreath-laying_controversy
The Israeli operation to get all the people involved in Munich probably hit some people who had nothing to do with it, including that waiter in Norway. Asad AbuKhalil wrote a long angry rant about that 15 years ago after the Spielberg movie.
http://angryarab.blogspot.com/2005/12/spielberg-on-munich-humanization-of.html
Here is the Wikipedia article on the wreath ceremony.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corbyn_wreath-laying_controversy
The Israeli operation to get all the people involved in Munich probably hit some people who had nothing to do with it, including that waiter in Norway. Asad AbuKhalil wrote a long angry rant about that 15 years ago after the Spielberg movie.
http://angryarab.blogspot.com/2005/12/spielberg-on-munich-humanization-of.html
THE MAIN THING FOR “THE LEFT” RIGHT NOW IS TO DEFEAT TRUMP AND CRUSH THE FASCIST GOP.
Then the knives can come out…LOL…..vote early, vote often.
Good luck to all of us.
THE MAIN THING FOR “THE LEFT” RIGHT NOW IS TO DEFEAT TRUMP AND CRUSH THE FASCIST GOP.
Then the knives can come out…LOL…..vote early, vote often.
Good luck to all of us.
That’s the main thing for “the left”. And also for moderates. And even for serious conservatives.
We’ll doubtless have big fights on numerous topics afterwards. But first we need to get rid of the disaster we’ve got.
That’s the main thing for “the left”. And also for moderates. And even for serious conservatives.
We’ll doubtless have big fights on numerous topics afterwards. But first we need to get rid of the disaster we’ve got.
I see that Greenwald is busy trying to up his profile again in October Surprise land (no links for him).
I really don’t know about him anymore. He and Taibbi are both playing the martyr journalists and I’m not buying.
I see that Greenwald is busy trying to up his profile again in October Surprise land (no links for him).
I really don’t know about him anymore. He and Taibbi are both playing the martyr journalists and I’m not buying.
No argument about the need to get rid of Trump. Four years of a cruel fascist buffoon is enough.
Some writer at Jacobin mentioned that Tony Blair and David Cameron went to Sharon’s funeral. Apparently so did Biden. Wtf was Biden there? Sharon was a butcher. But sure, Corbyn is a monstrous insensitive creep who visited a cemetery where there were victims of an Israeli air strike, along with ( depending on who you read), a terrorist.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_and_funeral_of_Ariel_Sharon
Yes, I want Biden to win, but Westerners have no standing to lecture anyone about honoring murderers. Perhaps there will be a commission to investigate the underlying attitudes at work.
No argument about the need to get rid of Trump. Four years of a cruel fascist buffoon is enough.
Some writer at Jacobin mentioned that Tony Blair and David Cameron went to Sharon’s funeral. Apparently so did Biden. Wtf was Biden there? Sharon was a butcher. But sure, Corbyn is a monstrous insensitive creep who visited a cemetery where there were victims of an Israeli air strike, along with ( depending on who you read), a terrorist.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_and_funeral_of_Ariel_Sharon
Yes, I want Biden to win, but Westerners have no standing to lecture anyone about honoring murderers. Perhaps there will be a commission to investigate the underlying attitudes at work.
We can have our own views on the merits of laying a wreath on the grave of Salad Khalaf (aka Abu Iyad). My point was that, in this instance where the narrative can be tested with photographic evidence, Corbyn and his defenders are simply lying.
And Donald, “depending on who you read” is in the Trumpian realm of “alternative facts”. The rant you linked to is in no doubt about Abu Iyad.
We can have our own views on the merits of laying a wreath on the grave of Salad Khalaf (aka Abu Iyad). My point was that, in this instance where the narrative can be tested with photographic evidence, Corbyn and his defenders are simply lying.
And Donald, “depending on who you read” is in the Trumpian realm of “alternative facts”. The rant you linked to is in no doubt about Abu Iyad.
I see that Greenwald is busy trying to up his profile again in October Surprise land (no links for him).
he’s a deep fraud.
I see that Greenwald is busy trying to up his profile again in October Surprise land (no links for him).
he’s a deep fraud.
There can be multiple motives for attending a funeral…The most obvious is to “honor” the deceased. Another is “duty”, as in “it’s part of my job to show up”. Yet another is to make sure that the deceased is “really, most sincerely, dead”. And yet another is like the FBI showing up at a mob funeral to make note of the other attendees.
There can be multiple motives for attending a funeral…The most obvious is to “honor” the deceased. Another is “duty”, as in “it’s part of my job to show up”. Yet another is to make sure that the deceased is “really, most sincerely, dead”. And yet another is like the FBI showing up at a mob funeral to make note of the other attendees.
“ Deprnding in who you read” was me not sure about who was buried there, so an expression of my ignorance given that I only encountered this debate about where this person was buried yesterday. If the issue is whether Corbyn is lying, I don’t know if he knew the history of the people at the site. Politicians habitually lie when criticized and it would not surprise me to find out that Corbyn is among that number As for his defenders, I suspect that one tells the lie and others pass it on thinking it is true.
As for merits, actually, that is the important issue. Corbyn is accused of antisemitism because he placed a wreath on the grave site of a terrorist. It’s the usual hypocrisy about which murders count as crimes.
“ Deprnding in who you read” was me not sure about who was buried there, so an expression of my ignorance given that I only encountered this debate about where this person was buried yesterday. If the issue is whether Corbyn is lying, I don’t know if he knew the history of the people at the site. Politicians habitually lie when criticized and it would not surprise me to find out that Corbyn is among that number As for his defenders, I suspect that one tells the lie and others pass it on thinking it is true.
As for merits, actually, that is the important issue. Corbyn is accused of antisemitism because he placed a wreath on the grave site of a terrorist. It’s the usual hypocrisy about which murders count as crimes.
Donald has gone from:
But sure, Corbyn is a monstrous insensitive creep who visited a cemetery where there were victims of an Israeli air strike, along with ( depending on who you read), a terrorist.
to
Corbyn is accused of antisemitism because he placed a wreath on the grave site of a terrorist.
which seems pretty different to me. However, when Donald says
It’s the usual hypocrisy about which murders count as crimes.
I agree with him wholeheartedly, despite seeing that sometimes heads of state (or their surrogates) have to attend funerals of people they despise. In the cause of realpolitik, as well as the overwhelming need to get Trump out, we have here on ObWi an unlikely coalition of far lefties, liberals and conservatives. Let’s hope it’s reflected in the rest of the US.
Donald has gone from:
But sure, Corbyn is a monstrous insensitive creep who visited a cemetery where there were victims of an Israeli air strike, along with ( depending on who you read), a terrorist.
to
Corbyn is accused of antisemitism because he placed a wreath on the grave site of a terrorist.
which seems pretty different to me. However, when Donald says
It’s the usual hypocrisy about which murders count as crimes.
I agree with him wholeheartedly, despite seeing that sometimes heads of state (or their surrogates) have to attend funerals of people they despise. In the cause of realpolitik, as well as the overwhelming need to get Trump out, we have here on ObWi an unlikely coalition of far lefties, liberals and conservatives. Let’s hope it’s reflected in the rest of the US.
By the way, I don’t think I ever thanked Janie for her link to the election early voting statistics. That, along with FiveThirtyEight, is currently my obsession.
You know how they always say the birthrate goes up nine months after a power cut? If they had a way of counting diseases caused by acute stress (elevated cortisol) and knew how long they took to manifest, I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that this election is similarly responsible for such a spike (notwithstanding that the last three and a half years have been amazingly stressful as well).
By the way, I don’t think I ever thanked Janie for her link to the election early voting statistics. That, along with FiveThirtyEight, is currently my obsession.
You know how they always say the birthrate goes up nine months after a power cut? If they had a way of counting diseases caused by acute stress (elevated cortisol) and knew how long they took to manifest, I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that this election is similarly responsible for such a spike (notwithstanding that the last three and a half years have been amazingly stressful as well).
Shifting gears a bit, this is from the NYT via Yahoo. (I always appreciate getting NYT content for free.)
https://news.yahoo.com/celebrity-vetting-helping-president-defeat-190700504.html
Some excerpts:
WIODT? (What if Obama did this?)
Shifting gears a bit, this is from the NYT via Yahoo. (I always appreciate getting NYT content for free.)
https://news.yahoo.com/celebrity-vetting-helping-president-defeat-190700504.html
Some excerpts:
WIODT? (What if Obama did this?)
IOKIYAR
IOKIYAR
(I always appreciate getting NYT content for free.)
I thought everyone got NYT content for free. Silly me.
Seriously, the NYT downloads the content to your computer. They just include stuff that makes reading it inconvenient sometimes.
(I always appreciate getting NYT content for free.)
I thought everyone got NYT content for free. Silly me.
Seriously, the NYT downloads the content to your computer. They just include stuff that makes reading it inconvenient sometimes.
but the lawmakers said they sought to exclude celebrities who had supported gay rights or same-sex marriage or who had publicly disparaged President Donald Trump.
So they had Ted Nugent and Jack Nicklaus. Quite a line-up.
Oh wait, Bob Kraft and maybe Brady.
but the lawmakers said they sought to exclude celebrities who had supported gay rights or same-sex marriage or who had publicly disparaged President Donald Trump.
So they had Ted Nugent and Jack Nicklaus. Quite a line-up.
Oh wait, Bob Kraft and maybe Brady.
Free of more effort than clicking on a headline.
Free of more effort than clicking on a headline.
I am bemused by patterns (or lack thereof) in my state. GftNC referring to the early voting stats reminded me of this.
Maine has two Congressional districts. ME-2 is heavily rural and tends R. ME-1 is more “urban” (such as it is), and coastal. Also wealthier. And tends heavily D.
Currently ME-2 is represented by Jared Golden-D, who in 2018 beat the 2-term incumbent, Bruce Poliquin-R, in a ranked-choice runoff (i.e. Jared didn’t get >50% on the first round). (N.b. Mainers have voted twice to keep ranked choice. Rs don’t want to accept that result but are at a roadblock via the courts at the moment.)
Per Ballotpedia, Prior to Poliquin’s defeat, no incumbent had lost an election for Maine’s 2nd District seat since 1916.
Jared Golden is a youngish vet, very likeable (genuinely, I think; I know some folks who went to college with him, which he did, btw, after his military service). He says some things I roll my eyes over, and my kids remind me that he’s trying to get elected and stay elected in ME-2. I would vote for him happily — certainly against any R. In a primary we’d have to see who was running. But — I’m not in ME-2, so it doesn’t matter.
Clickbait won ME-2 by 10% in 2016, though Obama won it by 3% and 5% in 2012 and 2008 (again per Ballotpedia; and I believe the district boundaries were redrawn in 2013, but I don’t know any details about that).
Clinton won ME-1 54% to 39% and the state by a few %, but she didn’t get 50% overall, interestingly.
ME-1 has been represented by Chellie Pingree-D since 2008. For the record, she lost badly to Susan Collins in the 2002 Senate race. But no opponent has come close in Chellie’s Congressional races.
So now — Biden is way ahead (mid-teens) in the polls statewide and in ME-1 (upper teens). He’s even a little bit ahead in the polls in ME-2. Both D Congressional candidates are ahead: Golden +27 and Pingree +25 in the latest Colby College poll (see 538, I’m not going to link in detail). So Jared Golden has blasted through ME-2’s traditional R-ness for the moment; I don’t think the Rs are bringing their best. Ha ha, I don’t think they have much resembling “best” anymore.
Except: Susan Collins is in a statistical tie with Sarah Gideon. Despite the fact that the state is leaning heavily D in all the other races, even ME-2 which went for Clickbait by 10% last time — old Susan is still holding her own.
I live here, and I honestly don’t get it.
We’ll see if or by how much the polls are wrong….I know it’s just polls, but still, the discrepancy between the Senate race and the others is just weird.
P.S. to add to all her other execrable deeds, Collins’s campaign is pissing on Gideon for not having lived in Maine all her life. A third of the damned state didn’t live here all our lives, I just don’t see how she thinks that’s a net vote-getter. But then…….there’s a lot I don’t see these days, especially about Collins.
I am bemused by patterns (or lack thereof) in my state. GftNC referring to the early voting stats reminded me of this.
Maine has two Congressional districts. ME-2 is heavily rural and tends R. ME-1 is more “urban” (such as it is), and coastal. Also wealthier. And tends heavily D.
Currently ME-2 is represented by Jared Golden-D, who in 2018 beat the 2-term incumbent, Bruce Poliquin-R, in a ranked-choice runoff (i.e. Jared didn’t get >50% on the first round). (N.b. Mainers have voted twice to keep ranked choice. Rs don’t want to accept that result but are at a roadblock via the courts at the moment.)
Per Ballotpedia, Prior to Poliquin’s defeat, no incumbent had lost an election for Maine’s 2nd District seat since 1916.
Jared Golden is a youngish vet, very likeable (genuinely, I think; I know some folks who went to college with him, which he did, btw, after his military service). He says some things I roll my eyes over, and my kids remind me that he’s trying to get elected and stay elected in ME-2. I would vote for him happily — certainly against any R. In a primary we’d have to see who was running. But — I’m not in ME-2, so it doesn’t matter.
Clickbait won ME-2 by 10% in 2016, though Obama won it by 3% and 5% in 2012 and 2008 (again per Ballotpedia; and I believe the district boundaries were redrawn in 2013, but I don’t know any details about that).
Clinton won ME-1 54% to 39% and the state by a few %, but she didn’t get 50% overall, interestingly.
ME-1 has been represented by Chellie Pingree-D since 2008. For the record, she lost badly to Susan Collins in the 2002 Senate race. But no opponent has come close in Chellie’s Congressional races.
So now — Biden is way ahead (mid-teens) in the polls statewide and in ME-1 (upper teens). He’s even a little bit ahead in the polls in ME-2. Both D Congressional candidates are ahead: Golden +27 and Pingree +25 in the latest Colby College poll (see 538, I’m not going to link in detail). So Jared Golden has blasted through ME-2’s traditional R-ness for the moment; I don’t think the Rs are bringing their best. Ha ha, I don’t think they have much resembling “best” anymore.
Except: Susan Collins is in a statistical tie with Sarah Gideon. Despite the fact that the state is leaning heavily D in all the other races, even ME-2 which went for Clickbait by 10% last time — old Susan is still holding her own.
I live here, and I honestly don’t get it.
We’ll see if or by how much the polls are wrong….I know it’s just polls, but still, the discrepancy between the Senate race and the others is just weird.
P.S. to add to all her other execrable deeds, Collins’s campaign is pissing on Gideon for not having lived in Maine all her life. A third of the damned state didn’t live here all our lives, I just don’t see how she thinks that’s a net vote-getter. But then…….there’s a lot I don’t see these days, especially about Collins.
Last post on this, probably—
Gftnc—
Here is the Wikipedia link—
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corbyn_wreath-laying_controversy
According to that, Corbyn was participating in a commemorative ceremony for the victims of the Israeli air strike in a part of the cemetery which also contains the grave of Khalaf. Corbyn stood in the area where people traditionally stand in that ceremony, according to the article. He laid a wreath. My impression from the article is that he was honoring the victims as well as high ranking PLO officials, one of whom was Khalaf. Incidentally, the air strike was aimed at a PLO headquarters site and for all I know killed some people guilty of terrorism, along with innocent civilians.
Because of this he is accused of honoring a terrorist and is therefore displaying his antisemitism.
I think this is a typical example of double standards, sometimes unconscious and sometimes explicitly racist. People like Rabin and Sharon are portrayed as “ warriors” who became peacemakers ( with less plausibility in the case of Sharon). Westerners are “warriors”, Palestinians are terrorists even if both are murderers. It’s been that way in the US, though the politics of the I- P issue have changed on the left wing of the Democratic Party, beginning with Sanders in 2016. AOC was actually pressured into not attending a conference honoring Rabin. Liberal Zionists think this was a mistake, seeing Rabin as a hero. I am not sure what I think about her decision, but I am sure that most Westerners still use an unconscious double standard. It’s the privilege of living in a more powerful country.
If Rabin were buried near a cemetery containing the Israeli victims of a Palestinian terrorist attack and some politician laid a wreath in a ceremony commemorating all of them, it would not have been even slightly controversial in most Western circles except that some lefties would complain. In the US the pro- Palestinian side is starting to have an impact, but mostly just on people like Sanders and AOC. A genuinely decent NYT columnist (Roger Cohen)was upset that AOC backed out of the Rabin event, because he doesn’t think of Rabin primarily as the ethnic cleanser or bone breaker.
Last post on this, probably—
Gftnc—
Here is the Wikipedia link—
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corbyn_wreath-laying_controversy
According to that, Corbyn was participating in a commemorative ceremony for the victims of the Israeli air strike in a part of the cemetery which also contains the grave of Khalaf. Corbyn stood in the area where people traditionally stand in that ceremony, according to the article. He laid a wreath. My impression from the article is that he was honoring the victims as well as high ranking PLO officials, one of whom was Khalaf. Incidentally, the air strike was aimed at a PLO headquarters site and for all I know killed some people guilty of terrorism, along with innocent civilians.
Because of this he is accused of honoring a terrorist and is therefore displaying his antisemitism.
I think this is a typical example of double standards, sometimes unconscious and sometimes explicitly racist. People like Rabin and Sharon are portrayed as “ warriors” who became peacemakers ( with less plausibility in the case of Sharon). Westerners are “warriors”, Palestinians are terrorists even if both are murderers. It’s been that way in the US, though the politics of the I- P issue have changed on the left wing of the Democratic Party, beginning with Sanders in 2016. AOC was actually pressured into not attending a conference honoring Rabin. Liberal Zionists think this was a mistake, seeing Rabin as a hero. I am not sure what I think about her decision, but I am sure that most Westerners still use an unconscious double standard. It’s the privilege of living in a more powerful country.
If Rabin were buried near a cemetery containing the Israeli victims of a Palestinian terrorist attack and some politician laid a wreath in a ceremony commemorating all of them, it would not have been even slightly controversial in most Western circles except that some lefties would complain. In the US the pro- Palestinian side is starting to have an impact, but mostly just on people like Sanders and AOC. A genuinely decent NYT columnist (Roger Cohen)was upset that AOC backed out of the Rabin event, because he doesn’t think of Rabin primarily as the ethnic cleanser or bone breaker.
Even in a Trump administration (albeit probably only because he’s not paying attention), genuine progress is getting made in some areas.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/air-force-women-pilots/2020/10/30/a9b665bc-ec54-11ea-a21a-0fbbe90cfd8c_story.html
Even in a Trump administration (albeit probably only because he’s not paying attention), genuine progress is getting made in some areas.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/air-force-women-pilots/2020/10/30/a9b665bc-ec54-11ea-a21a-0fbbe90cfd8c_story.html
I have no difficulty at all in believing that Corbyn didn’t know whose grave he was honouring. That’s what he’s like, and that lack of attention to what’s going on was a big part of Labour’s problem with anti-semitism.
I do have a problem with the wildly dishonest defence of Corbyn (the one Donald linked to several comments back).
If Corbyn had made a carefully considered and explained decision that it was appropriate to lay a wreath at the grave of Salah Khalaf, or even to attend Ariel Sharon’s funeral, I wouldn’t attack him for it.
Meanwhile, Donald has had another go at the facts of the wreath-laying, relying on Wikipedia. Here‘s an examination of what happened by a reputable UK source.
I have no difficulty at all in believing that Corbyn didn’t know whose grave he was honouring. That’s what he’s like, and that lack of attention to what’s going on was a big part of Labour’s problem with anti-semitism.
I do have a problem with the wildly dishonest defence of Corbyn (the one Donald linked to several comments back).
If Corbyn had made a carefully considered and explained decision that it was appropriate to lay a wreath at the grave of Salah Khalaf, or even to attend Ariel Sharon’s funeral, I wouldn’t attack him for it.
Meanwhile, Donald has had another go at the facts of the wreath-laying, relying on Wikipedia. Here‘s an examination of what happened by a reputable UK source.
For those following early voting data, here’s a whole bunch about Texas, ht Betty Cracker at BJ.
For those following early voting data, here’s a whole bunch about Texas, ht Betty Cracker at BJ.
And actually, if you scroll down that twitter stream, he’s looking at a bunch of other states as well.
And actually, if you scroll down that twitter stream, he’s looking at a bunch of other states as well.
Janie, what’s striking about all those reports is how very, very many of the mail in ballots already returned are from people who didn’t vote at all in 2016.
Texas is most striking because they’ve already exceeded their total 2016 votes. But even places like Arizona and North Carolina are on track to arrive at dawn of Election Day with their 2016 numbers already exceeded. We’re close to that here in California, too. I’m thinking that working the polls Tuesday (which I am) may be exceptionally quiet compared to previous elections. Guess I’ll take a book….
Janie, what’s striking about all those reports is how very, very many of the mail in ballots already returned are from people who didn’t vote at all in 2016.
Texas is most striking because they’ve already exceeded their total 2016 votes. But even places like Arizona and North Carolina are on track to arrive at dawn of Election Day with their 2016 numbers already exceeded. We’re close to that here in California, too. I’m thinking that working the polls Tuesday (which I am) may be exceptionally quiet compared to previous elections. Guess I’ll take a book….
what’s striking about all those reports is how very, very many of the mail in ballots already returned are from people who didn’t vote at all in 2016.
Yes, that’s absolutely amazing. The early voting numbers per se could be explained away as having to do with the virus. But the fact that so many people are voting who didn’t before, well, fingers crossed that they are coming out of the woodwork because they have just about had enough.
what’s striking about all those reports is how very, very many of the mail in ballots already returned are from people who didn’t vote at all in 2016.
Yes, that’s absolutely amazing. The early voting numbers per se could be explained away as having to do with the virus. But the fact that so many people are voting who didn’t before, well, fingers crossed that they are coming out of the woodwork because they have just about had enough.
fingers crossed that they are coming out of the woodwork because they have just about had enough
Oh God, I alternate between thinking (hoping) this, and thinking it’s rabid loonies coming to the defence of their man. The anxiety is too much.
fingers crossed that they are coming out of the woodwork because they have just about had enough
Oh God, I alternate between thinking (hoping) this, and thinking it’s rabid loonies coming to the defence of their man. The anxiety is too much.
speaking of Texas (and Israel) …
is it true that, in Norway, “Texas” is used a way to something is out of control or crazy: “that part was totally Texas!” ?
and is “Chicago” a word used in Israel to mean “unruly” ? “Ma po ze, Chicago?”
and in Finland, is “Nevada” a place you tell people to go when you want them to go the fnck away? “se on huitsin nevadassa” ?
speaking of Texas (and Israel) …
is it true that, in Norway, “Texas” is used a way to something is out of control or crazy: “that part was totally Texas!” ?
and is “Chicago” a word used in Israel to mean “unruly” ? “Ma po ze, Chicago?”
and in Finland, is “Nevada” a place you tell people to go when you want them to go the fnck away? “se on huitsin nevadassa” ?
That link is great, cleek. 😉
Who knew?
It’s kind of like when we say “Where did you think he went, Timbuktu?”
And I bet there are lots of others that are not occurring to me right now.
“Clean your plate, there are children starving in ______” — changes from one generation to the next, although I don’t know if parents use that one anymore. I think it was China when I was a kid.
That link is great, cleek. 😉
Who knew?
It’s kind of like when we say “Where did you think he went, Timbuktu?”
And I bet there are lots of others that are not occurring to me right now.
“Clean your plate, there are children starving in ______” — changes from one generation to the next, although I don’t know if parents use that one anymore. I think it was China when I was a kid.
I just read your link. A really damning highly detailed examination of wreath laying. Yeah, I can see where this matters. Truthfully, no, I can’t.
But I am glad that the real issue here turns out to be Wreathgate— the coverup. It’s not really about antisemitism or who kills whom or whose deaths matter and whose do not—it’s because someone at some point said that Khalaf was buried elsewhere and now some of us pass the misinformation on. This is what has really driven the Corbyn issue.
One of my sources had one fact wrong. I don’t know where that misinformation came from, but I see it passed on in a couple of places, so it is probably an interesting example of how convenient falsehoods get spread. It would b convenient for Corbyn defenders if Khalaf had been buried elsewhere. One person writes it and others repeat it.
My criticism of Corbyn overlaps with some here, but not entirely. My impression of him is that he is well – intentioned, but bumbling. If I were a far left Brit I would find him exasperating. He needs better staff work. Frankly, he needs to be both smarter and meaner.
Toughness wouldn’t work given that he is a bit dim, so it is just as well Corbyn is a pushover. But what was needed was a tougher, meaner Corbyn who would know exactly what he was doing and would defend his far left positions without trying to make everyone happy, because fundamentally I do not for one second believe the more conservative Labourites and press people who portrayed him as Satan actually believed it. They didn’t want a socialist on economics and they didn’t want his Chomsky style view of the Western nations as imperialist powers and so they portrayed him and his supporters as a writhing mass of antisemites.
I followed some of “ what was going on”. More links later. But one part of it was pushing the party into adopting the IHRA definition of antisemitism with all of its examples and when Labour hesitated, this was supposed to indicate more antisemitism. But nobody sympathetic to the Palestinian cause would support the IHRA definition and all of its examples.
A lot of people on the left, from what I could tell 3000 miles away, defended Corbyn’s character, but found him exasperating. I didn’t folllow Brexit, but I gather he was a mess on that issue. If people want to call him incompetent, I would find it impossible to dispute it.
I need to read the British press. It appears to be so terrible it almost makes me feel proud of ours. Loved the competition in the first few lines of this Twitter thread.
https://twitter.com/adamjohnsonNYC/status/1322247526171529216
I just read your link. A really damning highly detailed examination of wreath laying. Yeah, I can see where this matters. Truthfully, no, I can’t.
But I am glad that the real issue here turns out to be Wreathgate— the coverup. It’s not really about antisemitism or who kills whom or whose deaths matter and whose do not—it’s because someone at some point said that Khalaf was buried elsewhere and now some of us pass the misinformation on. This is what has really driven the Corbyn issue.
One of my sources had one fact wrong. I don’t know where that misinformation came from, but I see it passed on in a couple of places, so it is probably an interesting example of how convenient falsehoods get spread. It would b convenient for Corbyn defenders if Khalaf had been buried elsewhere. One person writes it and others repeat it.
My criticism of Corbyn overlaps with some here, but not entirely. My impression of him is that he is well – intentioned, but bumbling. If I were a far left Brit I would find him exasperating. He needs better staff work. Frankly, he needs to be both smarter and meaner.
Toughness wouldn’t work given that he is a bit dim, so it is just as well Corbyn is a pushover. But what was needed was a tougher, meaner Corbyn who would know exactly what he was doing and would defend his far left positions without trying to make everyone happy, because fundamentally I do not for one second believe the more conservative Labourites and press people who portrayed him as Satan actually believed it. They didn’t want a socialist on economics and they didn’t want his Chomsky style view of the Western nations as imperialist powers and so they portrayed him and his supporters as a writhing mass of antisemites.
I followed some of “ what was going on”. More links later. But one part of it was pushing the party into adopting the IHRA definition of antisemitism with all of its examples and when Labour hesitated, this was supposed to indicate more antisemitism. But nobody sympathetic to the Palestinian cause would support the IHRA definition and all of its examples.
A lot of people on the left, from what I could tell 3000 miles away, defended Corbyn’s character, but found him exasperating. I didn’t folllow Brexit, but I gather he was a mess on that issue. If people want to call him incompetent, I would find it impossible to dispute it.
I need to read the British press. It appears to be so terrible it almost makes me feel proud of ours. Loved the competition in the first few lines of this Twitter thread.
https://twitter.com/adamjohnsonNYC/status/1322247526171529216
“Clean your plate, there are children starving in ______” — changes from one generation to the next,
in my house it’s “finish your wine, there are sober kids in Africa”
“Clean your plate, there are children starving in ______” — changes from one generation to the next,
in my house it’s “finish your wine, there are sober kids in Africa”
Cleek’s post reminds me of an expression from my youth when I lived in Phoenix – “BFE,” which stands for bum f**k Egypt, referring to the middle of nowhere. I guess it was a matter of being in a hot desert.
Cleek’s post reminds me of an expression from my youth when I lived in Phoenix – “BFE,” which stands for bum f**k Egypt, referring to the middle of nowhere. I guess it was a matter of being in a hot desert.
“Clean your plate, there are children starving in ______”
My always witty eldest sister, when about six, replied to this with “Name three.”
“Clean your plate, there are children starving in ______”
My always witty eldest sister, when about six, replied to this with “Name three.”
Just throwing this out there.
Happy election, all.
Just throwing this out there.
Happy election, all.
C’mon, you’ve got to be able to laugh:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/oct/30/trump-election-nigel-farage-campaign-us-president-britain
How poignant to see Kent garagiste Nigel Farage interfering in the US election, much in the way a drop interferes in the ocean. Farage is appearing at the odd rally for his emotional support president, Donald Trump, which tells its own story about where the US leader is at, psychologically speaking, for the final days of his campaign. On Wednesday, Trump gibbered to a crowd: “I’m glad I called him up.” So is Nigel’s agent.
Nigel was brought on stage in Arizona by Donald, where the latter introduced him as “the king of Europe”. In fairness, he could just as easily have got away with passing Farage off as the duke of Ruritania or the sultan of Jupiter. Still, in for a penny, in for a pound, and Trump went on to hazard that Farage was “one of the most powerful men in Europe”, even though Nigel’s an unemployed radio DJ and has spent a good part of the past four years hanging round the old US-of-A hoping to get a 40-minute 6pm “dinner” invitation to eat a well-done steak with a self-confessed sex offender.
Ah, not absolutely her best work, but we have to take what succour and comfort we can in times such as these.
C’mon, you’ve got to be able to laugh:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/oct/30/trump-election-nigel-farage-campaign-us-president-britain
How poignant to see Kent garagiste Nigel Farage interfering in the US election, much in the way a drop interferes in the ocean. Farage is appearing at the odd rally for his emotional support president, Donald Trump, which tells its own story about where the US leader is at, psychologically speaking, for the final days of his campaign. On Wednesday, Trump gibbered to a crowd: “I’m glad I called him up.” So is Nigel’s agent.
Nigel was brought on stage in Arizona by Donald, where the latter introduced him as “the king of Europe”. In fairness, he could just as easily have got away with passing Farage off as the duke of Ruritania or the sultan of Jupiter. Still, in for a penny, in for a pound, and Trump went on to hazard that Farage was “one of the most powerful men in Europe”, even though Nigel’s an unemployed radio DJ and has spent a good part of the past four years hanging round the old US-of-A hoping to get a 40-minute 6pm “dinner” invitation to eat a well-done steak with a self-confessed sex offender.
Ah, not absolutely her best work, but we have to take what succour and comfort we can in times such as these.
Then again, engaging with Farage on his own terms is like trying to debate a fart or conduct a symposium with cystitis. Though operationally pointless and redundant now, he somewhat horrifyingly endures – a vestigial tail on our body politic.
Then again, engaging with Farage on his own terms is like trying to debate a fart or conduct a symposium with cystitis. Though operationally pointless and redundant now, he somewhat horrifyingly endures – a vestigial tail on our body politic.
FWIW Chomsky believes Trump is the worst criminal in human history – top that centrists 🙂 but seriously, it’s a fun interview and he makes some good points:
https://www.newyorker.com/news/q-and-a/noam-chomsky-believes-trump-is-the-worst-criminal-in-human-history
FWIW Chomsky believes Trump is the worst criminal in human history – top that centrists 🙂 but seriously, it’s a fun interview and he makes some good points:
https://www.newyorker.com/news/q-and-a/noam-chomsky-believes-trump-is-the-worst-criminal-in-human-history
Thanks GftNC, Marina Hyde sure is a relief in these times.
Thanks GftNC, Marina Hyde sure is a relief in these times.
FWIW Chomsky believes Trump is the worst criminal in human history – top that centrists 🙂
But Hillary was a hawk! Not to be rude this close to the election, but you’re not voting, so the dig is all good, and all in good fun, right?
FWIW Chomsky believes Trump is the worst criminal in human history – top that centrists 🙂
But Hillary was a hawk! Not to be rude this close to the election, but you’re not voting, so the dig is all good, and all in good fun, right?
And in return, novakant, I enjoyed that Chomsky interview – you were right, it was fun.
And in return, novakant, I enjoyed that Chomsky interview – you were right, it was fun.
I need to read the British press.
I don’t mean to jump on this point, but I read the Guardian (a lot) for a number of reasons, and that leads me to follow up on other things. I often think that some (not all) of our (as in everyone, not just me and Donald) are because of how we get to these debates. The right wing press in the UK is the same group of people who tapped the phone of the parents of a murdered young women in order to further the storylines they wanted to push. It seems like a no-brainer that they would want to do anything they can to promote problems within the Labour party, so anything that is reported, you have to make sure who is saying it and why. Which is exhausting. I’m still not sure what is the ‘real’ story, but I tend to treat this story like an argument in someone else’s family, there is no way you are going to figure it all out so you go on your instincts. I have to admit, it doesn’t seem like a huge surprise that all of this comes up as the Conservatives are getting hammered for their policies. The timing as well is so suspicious, with Corbyn making his statement just before Starmer is set to deliver a speech, which he has no time to revise, and has people jumping on it to find discrepancies. Perhaps this puts me in the conspiracy theory end of the spectrum, but a more cautious wait and see attitude would allow some investigation. And certainly, the UK has bigger fish to fry with a no-deal brexit looking like a distinct possibility. my 2 cents
I need to read the British press.
I don’t mean to jump on this point, but I read the Guardian (a lot) for a number of reasons, and that leads me to follow up on other things. I often think that some (not all) of our (as in everyone, not just me and Donald) are because of how we get to these debates. The right wing press in the UK is the same group of people who tapped the phone of the parents of a murdered young women in order to further the storylines they wanted to push. It seems like a no-brainer that they would want to do anything they can to promote problems within the Labour party, so anything that is reported, you have to make sure who is saying it and why. Which is exhausting. I’m still not sure what is the ‘real’ story, but I tend to treat this story like an argument in someone else’s family, there is no way you are going to figure it all out so you go on your instincts. I have to admit, it doesn’t seem like a huge surprise that all of this comes up as the Conservatives are getting hammered for their policies. The timing as well is so suspicious, with Corbyn making his statement just before Starmer is set to deliver a speech, which he has no time to revise, and has people jumping on it to find discrepancies. Perhaps this puts me in the conspiracy theory end of the spectrum, but a more cautious wait and see attitude would allow some investigation. And certainly, the UK has bigger fish to fry with a no-deal brexit looking like a distinct possibility. my 2 cents
In the military, bum f**k Egypt was where we were told we would be station if we didn’t get our act together.
In the military, bum f**k Egypt was where we were told we would be station if we didn’t get our act together.
I didn’t have that much fun with the Chomsky interview, so would definitely appreciate being enlightened. I do know, though, that Michael Klarman (cited therein) lives”>http://madifonbyfashion.blogspot.com/2010/08/”>lives in the house of the late Julia Child! Also I met him once, and members of his family more than once. They are lovely people. (Much deserving of their (now) house.)
I didn’t have that much fun with the Chomsky interview, so would definitely appreciate being enlightened. I do know, though, that Michael Klarman (cited therein) lives”>http://madifonbyfashion.blogspot.com/2010/08/”>lives in the house of the late Julia Child! Also I met him once, and members of his family more than once. They are lovely people. (Much deserving of their (now) house.)
Yikes. Messed up the the link.
Yikes. Messed up the the link.
So, novakant, as I recall, you just didn’t want to think about Hillary.
Chomsky supported Hillary. He did so in a holding nose way. I just wonder: if you know you’re doing the right thing, as opposed to doing the other thing, it seems to me that doing it with all your heart would be the thing to do (caveats assumed, and for later, after the crucible).
Anyway, Chomsky!
So, novakant, as I recall, you just didn’t want to think about Hillary.
Chomsky supported Hillary. He did so in a holding nose way. I just wonder: if you know you’re doing the right thing, as opposed to doing the other thing, it seems to me that doing it with all your heart would be the thing to do (caveats assumed, and for later, after the crucible).
Anyway, Chomsky!
Not sure about other takes on the Chomsky interview, but Chotnier (as he has done with others) pokes a bit at the discrepancies in Chomsky’s positions over time. Chomsky is famous for never admitting that he was wrong (you can see that with him claiming that the Harper’s statement that he lent his signature to was so totally anodyne, it just proves that he is right) Chotnier gets in a few jabs, but Chomsky either ignores them or doesn’t notice them (“You’re famous for signing any petition sent to you.” “Quite a lot of them.”)
If you didn’t catch the Harper’s letter debate, here are a couple of links
https://www.counterpunch.org/2020/07/10/harpers-and-the-great-cancel-culture-panic/
https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2020/07/harpers-letter-free-speech/614080/
https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2020-07-09/cancel-culture-harpers-letter
Not sure about other takes on the Chomsky interview, but Chotnier (as he has done with others) pokes a bit at the discrepancies in Chomsky’s positions over time. Chomsky is famous for never admitting that he was wrong (you can see that with him claiming that the Harper’s statement that he lent his signature to was so totally anodyne, it just proves that he is right) Chotnier gets in a few jabs, but Chomsky either ignores them or doesn’t notice them (“You’re famous for signing any petition sent to you.” “Quite a lot of them.”)
If you didn’t catch the Harper’s letter debate, here are a couple of links
https://www.counterpunch.org/2020/07/10/harpers-and-the-great-cancel-culture-panic/
https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2020/07/harpers-letter-free-speech/614080/
https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2020-07-09/cancel-culture-harpers-letter
A slightly unusual request from my side. Coming Monday I have to attend the first session of a course in chemistry didactics and we got an advance task to ask people in our social environment what assumptions/prejudices people have about chemistry at school and chemistry teachers.
Unfortunately, I essentially lack such a social environment even absent Corona (I could as well be a hermit). Could anyone of you here maybe give a short feedback on the topic? Thank you.
A slightly unusual request from my side. Coming Monday I have to attend the first session of a course in chemistry didactics and we got an advance task to ask people in our social environment what assumptions/prejudices people have about chemistry at school and chemistry teachers.
Unfortunately, I essentially lack such a social environment even absent Corona (I could as well be a hermit). Could anyone of you here maybe give a short feedback on the topic? Thank you.
I tend to assume that chemistry teachers aren’t very social. ;^)
I tend to assume that chemistry teachers aren’t very social. ;^)
I tend to assume that chemistry teachers aren’t very social.
For three summers in the 1970s I worked as one of the low-level staff at an ag field lab in Nebraska (peons, we called ourselves; by my third summer I was Head Peon). (One of the better-funded projects was part of a global study to answer the question, “Where is all the CO2 that we’re dumping into the atmosphere going, the measured levels should be much higher?”) I got the gig the summer after I finished high school. The head guy for keeping the equipment running lived in the same town and he went to the chemistry teacher for a recommendation, because the chemistry teacher knew everyone in town.
I tend to assume that chemistry teachers aren’t very social.
For three summers in the 1970s I worked as one of the low-level staff at an ag field lab in Nebraska (peons, we called ourselves; by my third summer I was Head Peon). (One of the better-funded projects was part of a global study to answer the question, “Where is all the CO2 that we’re dumping into the atmosphere going, the measured levels should be much higher?”) I got the gig the summer after I finished high school. The head guy for keeping the equipment running lived in the same town and he went to the chemistry teacher for a recommendation, because the chemistry teacher knew everyone in town.
A Frazzled World Holds Its Breath While the U.S. Chooses Its Leader
One of the headlines in today’s NYT. Speaking to friends, and monitoring myself, the anxiety levels are off the chart. I don’t dare think how bad it must be for you all. Forget levitating the Pentagon, if that sort of thing stood a chance of working, the the combined will of the whole world (probably with the exception of Israel and Saudi Arabia) is with you.
A Frazzled World Holds Its Breath While the U.S. Chooses Its Leader
One of the headlines in today’s NYT. Speaking to friends, and monitoring myself, the anxiety levels are off the chart. I don’t dare think how bad it must be for you all. Forget levitating the Pentagon, if that sort of thing stood a chance of working, the the combined will of the whole world (probably with the exception of Israel and Saudi Arabia) is with you.
Looking on the bright side, Biden’s chances on 538 have reached 90%.
This doesn’t include the possibility of a Supreme Court coup if it’s close, but it is pretty conservative about uncertainty in the polls, eg it gives Trump a 2% chance of getting above 50% of the vote: I’d put that at maybe 0.1%.
Looking on the bright side, Biden’s chances on 538 have reached 90%.
This doesn’t include the possibility of a Supreme Court coup if it’s close, but it is pretty conservative about uncertainty in the polls, eg it gives Trump a 2% chance of getting above 50% of the vote: I’d put that at maybe 0.1%.
Forget levitating the Pentagon, if that sort of thing stood a chance of working, the the combined will of the whole world (probably with the exception of Israel and Saudi Arabia) is with you.
Thank you. I refuse to be optimistic because of the jinx.
Forget levitating the Pentagon, if that sort of thing stood a chance of working, the the combined will of the whole world (probably with the exception of Israel and Saudi Arabia) is with you.
Thank you. I refuse to be optimistic because of the jinx.
what assumptions/prejudices people have about chemistry at school and chemistry teachers.
I’d expect that chemists, whether teachers or otherwise, would be strong on precision and measurement.
what assumptions/prejudices people have about chemistry at school and chemistry teachers.
I’d expect that chemists, whether teachers or otherwise, would be strong on precision and measurement.
the the combined will of the whole world (probably with the exception of Israel and Saudi Arabia) is with you.
And Turkey. Or at least Erdoğan personally.
the the combined will of the whole world (probably with the exception of Israel and Saudi Arabia) is with you.
And Turkey. Or at least Erdoğan personally.
Pro Bono, I know, I have been obsessively checking 538. But on the other hand, I watched Andrew Neil’s new show at the urging of someone very worried, and although a) he is an open rightwinger and b) the guy he was interviewing was the editor of the US Spectator, and a Brit to boot, nonetheless Neil is a respectable journalist and I would guess neither of them is pro-Trump. The other guy was in Pennsylvania, and he said that most people agreed that there was something very funny about the polls, that despite what they showed Trump signs outnumbered Biden signs by huge margins (and some ObWi people have been saying the same). Now granted, Dems might not be putting signs out, and this is casting the runes rather than anything approaching science, but after last time I am terrified given what is at stake.
Pro Bono, I know, I have been obsessively checking 538. But on the other hand, I watched Andrew Neil’s new show at the urging of someone very worried, and although a) he is an open rightwinger and b) the guy he was interviewing was the editor of the US Spectator, and a Brit to boot, nonetheless Neil is a respectable journalist and I would guess neither of them is pro-Trump. The other guy was in Pennsylvania, and he said that most people agreed that there was something very funny about the polls, that despite what they showed Trump signs outnumbered Biden signs by huge margins (and some ObWi people have been saying the same). Now granted, Dems might not be putting signs out, and this is casting the runes rather than anything approaching science, but after last time I am terrified given what is at stake.
“ So, novakant, as I recall, you just didn’t want to think about Hillary.
Chomsky supported Hillary. He did so in a holding nose way. I just wonder: if you know you’re doing the right thing, as opposed to doing the other thing, it seems to me that doing it with all your heart would be the thing to do (caveats assumed, and for later, after the crucible).”
Not really. First, people should be honest about what they think and if you are voting lesser evil, say so while stressing how evil the greater evil is, which Chomsky did in slightly hyperbolic terms.
But on the pragmatic level, if you are trying to persuade far lefties to vote for Clinton or Biden, you make the case in their terms. Yes, mainstream Democrats are terrible, but there is space to work and push them left. Don’t fake enthusiasm. People on the far left will just roll their eyes and ignore you.
I actually am feeling a bit of enthusiasm personally, not for Biden, but just to get the gargantuan sociopathic toddler out of our freaking lives. Clickbait is an apt term, but it needs to be harsher. I don’t have any alternative to suggest, but that asshole is not only bad for what he has done, but for making 95 percent of all political discussion revolve around him.
“ So, novakant, as I recall, you just didn’t want to think about Hillary.
Chomsky supported Hillary. He did so in a holding nose way. I just wonder: if you know you’re doing the right thing, as opposed to doing the other thing, it seems to me that doing it with all your heart would be the thing to do (caveats assumed, and for later, after the crucible).”
Not really. First, people should be honest about what they think and if you are voting lesser evil, say so while stressing how evil the greater evil is, which Chomsky did in slightly hyperbolic terms.
But on the pragmatic level, if you are trying to persuade far lefties to vote for Clinton or Biden, you make the case in their terms. Yes, mainstream Democrats are terrible, but there is space to work and push them left. Don’t fake enthusiasm. People on the far left will just roll their eyes and ignore you.
I actually am feeling a bit of enthusiasm personally, not for Biden, but just to get the gargantuan sociopathic toddler out of our freaking lives. Clickbait is an apt term, but it needs to be harsher. I don’t have any alternative to suggest, but that asshole is not only bad for what he has done, but for making 95 percent of all political discussion revolve around him.
but for making 95 percent of all
politicaldiscussion revolve around himbut for making 95 percent of all
politicaldiscussion revolve around himI thought of calling Clickbait a black hole which sucks all light and attention into its event horizon, but black holes are awe- inspiring and it is just too flattering a comparison. Trump is more of a cosmological trash fire. That joke doesn’t quite work either. I got nothing.
I thought of calling Clickbait a black hole which sucks all light and attention into its event horizon, but black holes are awe- inspiring and it is just too flattering a comparison. Trump is more of a cosmological trash fire. That joke doesn’t quite work either. I got nothing.
Malevolent Maelstrom?
I decided on Clickbait early on, before I knew the full horror. Would welcome a more accurate replacement, but would rather he would just disappear beyond an event horizon. Then again, the media will never stop talking about him, so ugh.
Malevolent Maelstrom?
I decided on Clickbait early on, before I knew the full horror. Would welcome a more accurate replacement, but would rather he would just disappear beyond an event horizon. Then again, the media will never stop talking about him, so ugh.
Trump signs outnumbered Biden signs by huge margins
where i live, there are almost no Biden signs, only Trump signs. but as you approach cities, you can see the clear, sharp border where Biden signs start appearing, and then as you get closer to the city, Trump signs disappear. and then there are only Biden (and BLM) signs.
i know most of the houses on my road are Dems; but none of us have any signs out.
i think the hardcore Trump supporters are FAR more enthusiastic than any of the Biden fans – huge Trump signs, and big clusters of them. some houses look like they’re decorated for a holiday. not so many big Biden signs (and those that are out have all been spray painted over with racist graffitti).
so the question is : are there enough hardcore Trump supporters out there to give him the state? (probably)
Trump signs outnumbered Biden signs by huge margins
where i live, there are almost no Biden signs, only Trump signs. but as you approach cities, you can see the clear, sharp border where Biden signs start appearing, and then as you get closer to the city, Trump signs disappear. and then there are only Biden (and BLM) signs.
i know most of the houses on my road are Dems; but none of us have any signs out.
i think the hardcore Trump supporters are FAR more enthusiastic than any of the Biden fans – huge Trump signs, and big clusters of them. some houses look like they’re decorated for a holiday. not so many big Biden signs (and those that are out have all been spray painted over with racist graffitti).
so the question is : are there enough hardcore Trump supporters out there to give him the state? (probably)
Trump signs outnumbered Biden signs by huge margins
In my area, I’ve seen neither Trump nor Biden signs. Perhaps both sides think it would be a wasted effort.
Trump signs outnumbered Biden signs by huge margins
In my area, I’ve seen neither Trump nor Biden signs. Perhaps both sides think it would be a wasted effort.
Perhaps both sides think it would be a wasted effort.
Here in California, signs for the presidential election would definitely be a waste of time. So what we have are floods of signs for more local races.
Perhaps both sides think it would be a wasted effort.
Here in California, signs for the presidential election would definitely be a waste of time. So what we have are floods of signs for more local races.
for me, chemistry class was a mix of things. the chemistry teacher was perhaps the most uncharismatic person I’ve ever known, and I think he was kind of phoning it in by the time I had him as a teacher. on one occasion, he gave the same exact lecture two days in a row. so boredom was a factor.
but, there was the frisson of danger when we lit the bunsen burners, and the labs were mostly successful and did interesting stuff involving colors and smells, so that was pretty cool. even the bookwork was ok, making the atomic weights balance out was a fun puzzle.
it was a class about understanding how certain things work, which is always interesting.
Clickbait is an apt term, but it needs to be harsher.
Britons chime in.
Also the Scots.
there’s a bit of overlap, I think, but still lots of choose from.
“uncooked pastry” is perhaps my favorite.
for me, chemistry class was a mix of things. the chemistry teacher was perhaps the most uncharismatic person I’ve ever known, and I think he was kind of phoning it in by the time I had him as a teacher. on one occasion, he gave the same exact lecture two days in a row. so boredom was a factor.
but, there was the frisson of danger when we lit the bunsen burners, and the labs were mostly successful and did interesting stuff involving colors and smells, so that was pretty cool. even the bookwork was ok, making the atomic weights balance out was a fun puzzle.
it was a class about understanding how certain things work, which is always interesting.
Clickbait is an apt term, but it needs to be harsher.
Britons chime in.
Also the Scots.
there’s a bit of overlap, I think, but still lots of choose from.
“uncooked pastry” is perhaps my favorite.
when i was applying to college, i applied for chemistry. but i changed to computer science the summer before i went off.
probably should have seen it coming – my senior chemistry project was a BASIC program that would give you the name of the chemical, given the formula (and vice versa, maybe).
when i was applying to college, i applied for chemistry. but i changed to computer science the summer before i went off.
probably should have seen it coming – my senior chemistry project was a BASIC program that would give you the name of the chemical, given the formula (and vice versa, maybe).
I cannot think of a name which conveys the horror, and is short enough. A black hole of orange malevolence, corruption and mediocrity? Not snappy enough…
I cannot think of a name which conveys the horror, and is short enough. A black hole of orange malevolence, corruption and mediocrity? Not snappy enough…
“I cannot think of a name which conveys the horror, and is short enough.”
In years to come, calling someone a “TRUMP” will be considered an unforgivable insult, methinks.
“I cannot think of a name which conveys the horror, and is short enough.”
In years to come, calling someone a “TRUMP” will be considered an unforgivable insult, methinks.
he’s ruined card games for years to come
he’s ruined card games for years to come
he’s ruined card games for years to come
There are just too many good people to use “Donald” instead as an insult.
he’s ruined card games for years to come
There are just too many good people to use “Donald” instead as an insult.
And in the UK, “trump” is an onomatopaeic word for fart (as verb or noun), among that portion of the population who prefer using euphemisms for such things. I am not among them, but it is apparently very common.
And in the UK, “trump” is an onomatopaeic word for fart (as verb or noun), among that portion of the population who prefer using euphemisms for such things. I am not among them, but it is apparently very common.
There are just too many good people to use “Donald” instead as an insult.
Apparently that consideration doesn’t matter when it’s a “Karen.”
There are just too many good people to use “Donald” instead as an insult.
Apparently that consideration doesn’t matter when it’s a “Karen.”
Hmm, I don’t remember seeing this before (although of course it’s not surprising, but forewarned is forearmed):
huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/alec-challenge-trump-loss-corporations_n_5f99cf20c5b61d63241ee6dd?ri18n=true
A powerful corporate-funded right-wing organization that includes state legislators and lobbyists was already mobilizing early this year to overturn a possible election loss by President Donald Trump, according to a videotape of an official discussing the plan.
Hmm, I don’t remember seeing this before (although of course it’s not surprising, but forewarned is forearmed):
huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/alec-challenge-trump-loss-corporations_n_5f99cf20c5b61d63241ee6dd?ri18n=true
A powerful corporate-funded right-wing organization that includes state legislators and lobbyists was already mobilizing early this year to overturn a possible election loss by President Donald Trump, according to a videotape of an official discussing the plan.
GftNC, I don’t know who you’re forewarning and forearming. Do you think Biden’s campaign doesn’t know about this crap? Or are you just forewarning yourself, emotionally?
Maybe a bit of an antidote to the proliferating panic-mongering.
Maybe Bob Bauer doesn’t know what he’s doing, or he does know what he’s doing but even an army of lawyers won’t be enough. Because sometimes the good guys do lose, no matter how well-prepared they are.
But I’d say: Chill. There’s not a damned thing you can do to change what’s going to happen next week. Neither is there a crystal ball to tell us what’s going to happen next week. Every bloviator on earth thinks they know what’s going to happen next week. But actually, they don’t.
The one thing we know for sure is that there’s going to be trouble. But there’s already trouble.
From “Zorba the Greek”:
Life is trouble.
GftNC, I don’t know who you’re forewarning and forearming. Do you think Biden’s campaign doesn’t know about this crap? Or are you just forewarning yourself, emotionally?
Maybe a bit of an antidote to the proliferating panic-mongering.
Maybe Bob Bauer doesn’t know what he’s doing, or he does know what he’s doing but even an army of lawyers won’t be enough. Because sometimes the good guys do lose, no matter how well-prepared they are.
But I’d say: Chill. There’s not a damned thing you can do to change what’s going to happen next week. Neither is there a crystal ball to tell us what’s going to happen next week. Every bloviator on earth thinks they know what’s going to happen next week. But actually, they don’t.
The one thing we know for sure is that there’s going to be trouble. But there’s already trouble.
From “Zorba the Greek”:
Life is trouble.
“ There are just too many good people to use “Donald” instead as an insult.”
Yeah, I can’t get behind that one. The “ Karen” insult is unfair too. I have a cousin named that— totally undeserved.
“ There are just too many good people to use “Donald” instead as an insult.”
Yeah, I can’t get behind that one. The “ Karen” insult is unfair too. I have a cousin named that— totally undeserved.
GftNC, I don’t know who you’re forewarning and forearming. Do you think Biden’s campaign doesn’t know about this crap? Or are you just forewarning yourself, emotionally?
I didn’t think it was me doing the forewarning and forearming; I hadn’t seen it before and it alarmed me alright (particularly because it related to attempts before even the elevation of Amy Coney Barrett), but I guess (now you ask and I have to think about it) I hoped and supposed that the people who did need to see it had already done so, and were therefore forewarned and forearmed.
As for chilling, the memory of the day after the Brexit referendum and then the day after Trump’s victory are branded on my mind. It feels almost unbearable to contemplate a possible Trump victory, despite the indubitable sense you talk about it. And you have to live there, of course. But to think about the speeding up of the destruction of American democracy that would ensue, seems earth-shattering to me, and the latest in a long line of disasters for the world, and its human population.
I’m sorry to be such a gloom merchant, and I certainly don’t want to make anybody feel worse, but being told to chill can do that to you!
GftNC, I don’t know who you’re forewarning and forearming. Do you think Biden’s campaign doesn’t know about this crap? Or are you just forewarning yourself, emotionally?
I didn’t think it was me doing the forewarning and forearming; I hadn’t seen it before and it alarmed me alright (particularly because it related to attempts before even the elevation of Amy Coney Barrett), but I guess (now you ask and I have to think about it) I hoped and supposed that the people who did need to see it had already done so, and were therefore forewarned and forearmed.
As for chilling, the memory of the day after the Brexit referendum and then the day after Trump’s victory are branded on my mind. It feels almost unbearable to contemplate a possible Trump victory, despite the indubitable sense you talk about it. And you have to live there, of course. But to think about the speeding up of the destruction of American democracy that would ensue, seems earth-shattering to me, and the latest in a long line of disasters for the world, and its human population.
I’m sorry to be such a gloom merchant, and I certainly don’t want to make anybody feel worse, but being told to chill can do that to you!
I admit to a certain fondness for an approact the The Economist apparently toyed with (while designing their cover this week):
DonaldTrump
Don’t indeed.
I admit to a certain fondness for an approact the The Economist apparently toyed with (while designing their cover this week):
DonaldTrump
Don’t indeed.
Well, as I recall before the last election the Economist published a list of the 20 worst disasters that could befall the world, and I think Trump winning was 2 or 3. They got that right.
Well, as I recall before the last election the Economist published a list of the 20 worst disasters that could befall the world, and I think Trump winning was 2 or 3. They got that right.
Here are the things I assume about the election this year.
1. Trump is going to lose the popular vote, probably by a larger margin than he did in 2016
2. Trump is probably, but not definitely, going to lose the electoral college, but that will be closer than the popular vote
3. Trump is going to do his utmost to fuck with the election to extract a “win” out of (1) and (2).
(3) will probably involve legal challenges to votes sent by mail, especially if they are not received by the end of day on November 3, and even if they are received but not counted by end of day on November 3.
His SCOTUS appointees are already laying the groundwork for all of that.
All of this is in spite of the fact that our process for electing the POTUS allows for a period of time after Election Day to resolve any outstanding discrepancies or challenges, and assumes that those will exist.
Basically I’ve long since prepared myself for the likelihood that this will be the ugliest election of my lifetime. Violence and loss of life are distinct possibilities. I expect that some people will have to literally risk their lives to vote, and I’m not talking about COVID, which of course is also a thing.
That’s my take on it. I’ll be pleased to be wrong.
Trump has brought all the freaks out of the woodwork. They’ve enjoyed their moment in the light of day, and they won’t go back willingly.
Here are the things I assume about the election this year.
1. Trump is going to lose the popular vote, probably by a larger margin than he did in 2016
2. Trump is probably, but not definitely, going to lose the electoral college, but that will be closer than the popular vote
3. Trump is going to do his utmost to fuck with the election to extract a “win” out of (1) and (2).
(3) will probably involve legal challenges to votes sent by mail, especially if they are not received by the end of day on November 3, and even if they are received but not counted by end of day on November 3.
His SCOTUS appointees are already laying the groundwork for all of that.
All of this is in spite of the fact that our process for electing the POTUS allows for a period of time after Election Day to resolve any outstanding discrepancies or challenges, and assumes that those will exist.
Basically I’ve long since prepared myself for the likelihood that this will be the ugliest election of my lifetime. Violence and loss of life are distinct possibilities. I expect that some people will have to literally risk their lives to vote, and I’m not talking about COVID, which of course is also a thing.
That’s my take on it. I’ll be pleased to be wrong.
Trump has brought all the freaks out of the woodwork. They’ve enjoyed their moment in the light of day, and they won’t go back willingly.
I’ll go along with those 3. Although I suspect that Biden’s Electoral College margin will actually be larger than his popular vote margin.
I also expect that
4. The Democrats will take control of the Senate.
5. The partisans on the Supreme Court will decide that they’d prefer not to have the Court enlarged and otherwise tweeked.
To avoid that, in recognition of 4, they will refrain from doing exceptionally crazy things to screw up the presidential results in Trump’s favor. (Being aware that, with both houses of Congress in their control, the Democrats can impeach and remove Trump and Pence if necessary. Or even remove Justices, if it comes to that.)
I expect Kavanaugh to write nutty minority positions. I just don’t expect him to find 4 other Justices who are self-destructive enough to join him in playing that ultimately losing hand.
I’ll go along with those 3. Although I suspect that Biden’s Electoral College margin will actually be larger than his popular vote margin.
I also expect that
4. The Democrats will take control of the Senate.
5. The partisans on the Supreme Court will decide that they’d prefer not to have the Court enlarged and otherwise tweeked.
To avoid that, in recognition of 4, they will refrain from doing exceptionally crazy things to screw up the presidential results in Trump’s favor. (Being aware that, with both houses of Congress in their control, the Democrats can impeach and remove Trump and Pence if necessary. Or even remove Justices, if it comes to that.)
I expect Kavanaugh to write nutty minority positions. I just don’t expect him to find 4 other Justices who are self-destructive enough to join him in playing that ultimately losing hand.
i think i’m ready to use the label fascist.
i think i’m ready to use the label fascist.
I must say however, that that Bob Bauer piece is somewhat reassuring. Fingers and toes majorly crossed.
I must say however, that that Bob Bauer piece is somewhat reassuring. Fingers and toes majorly crossed.
The group began yelling profanities and obscenities and then blockaded the entire Biden entourage.
or maybe not fascist. maybe they’re more Marxist, trying to cancel Biden, literally.
but no, that’s not possible because that’s only something the left does.
The group began yelling profanities and obscenities and then blockaded the entire Biden entourage.
or maybe not fascist. maybe they’re more Marxist, trying to cancel Biden, literally.
but no, that’s not possible because that’s only something the left does.
Whatever you call them, what they are is empowered thugs and arseholes.
Whatever you call them, what they are is empowered thugs and arseholes.
The main reason I avoid to apply ‘fascist’ to Jabbabonk himself is that for me it implies an actual political belief system, which He clearly lacks. Jabbabonk behaves like Mussolini but there is no ‘idea’, no ‘vision’ behind it. Corrupt as they were the Italian fascists left quite something of use behind (and be it the draining of the Pontine marshes, a huge and lasting strike against malaria even outside Italy). I could not name one thing spontaneously that Jabbabonk will leave behind that will be of practical use for the general public in half a century.
The GOP uses fascist tactics because they work but at heart the leadership are parsaites and cleptocrats.
For the likes of Miller the term ‘fascist’ is fully appropriate though.
The main reason I avoid to apply ‘fascist’ to Jabbabonk himself is that for me it implies an actual political belief system, which He clearly lacks. Jabbabonk behaves like Mussolini but there is no ‘idea’, no ‘vision’ behind it. Corrupt as they were the Italian fascists left quite something of use behind (and be it the draining of the Pontine marshes, a huge and lasting strike against malaria even outside Italy). I could not name one thing spontaneously that Jabbabonk will leave behind that will be of practical use for the general public in half a century.
The GOP uses fascist tactics because they work but at heart the leadership are parsaites and cleptocrats.
For the likes of Miller the term ‘fascist’ is fully appropriate though.
Whatever you call them, what they are is empowered thugs and arseholes.
No objection from my side there.
Whatever you call them, what they are is empowered thugs and arseholes.
No objection from my side there.
which He clearly lacks
seems to me he has a very strong belief system: it’s the American “conservative” mythology (which is a million stories based on the same theme: “Libz R bad”) combined with his own howling narcissism and greed.
and his followers worship him and all his works with a militant and violent furor. and they want him to rain terror and pain on liberals. he’s happy to oblige and to thank them when they take the initiative to terrorize the bad people themselves.
fascism, or close enough.
which He clearly lacks
seems to me he has a very strong belief system: it’s the American “conservative” mythology (which is a million stories based on the same theme: “Libz R bad”) combined with his own howling narcissism and greed.
and his followers worship him and all his works with a militant and violent furor. and they want him to rain terror and pain on liberals. he’s happy to oblige and to thank them when they take the initiative to terrorize the bad people themselves.
fascism, or close enough.
And for a moment of light (possibly minion-related) relief, the Ram’s Horn Squid!
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/31/science/rams-head-squid-cephalopod.html?action=click&module=Well&pgtype=Homepage§ion=Science
And for a moment of light (possibly minion-related) relief, the Ram’s Horn Squid!
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/31/science/rams-head-squid-cephalopod.html?action=click&module=Well&pgtype=Homepage§ion=Science
What GftNC said at 9:08 AM.
What really saddens me is that there’s nobody really visible any more except the thugs. And yes, I’m counting folks like McConnell as thugs — it’s just about power with them, whether physical or political.
What GftNC said at 9:08 AM.
What really saddens me is that there’s nobody really visible any more except the thugs. And yes, I’m counting folks like McConnell as thugs — it’s just about power with them, whether physical or political.
seems to me he has a very strong belief system: it’s the American “conservative” mythology
I don’t think so. He’s using the “conservative” (/reactionary) mythology. His personal history suggests that he’s definitely onboard with the racism part. But in general, he’s just as comfortable with limousine liberal views. To the point of donating money to liberal politicians until very recently.
seems to me he has a very strong belief system: it’s the American “conservative” mythology
I don’t think so. He’s using the “conservative” (/reactionary) mythology. His personal history suggests that he’s definitely onboard with the racism part. But in general, he’s just as comfortable with limousine liberal views. To the point of donating money to liberal politicians until very recently.
he has a very strong belief system
From his public statements and behavior, I take Trump’s strongly held beliefs to be:
He is a special person with special genes and remarkable talents and abilities.
What counts in life is winning. Losers are chumps.
People, but especially people named Trump, are entitled to whatever they can grab and get away with.
The most important quality in other people is their support for and loyalty to Trump.
he has a very strong belief system
From his public statements and behavior, I take Trump’s strongly held beliefs to be:
He is a special person with special genes and remarkable talents and abilities.
What counts in life is winning. Losers are chumps.
People, but especially people named Trump, are entitled to whatever they can grab and get away with.
The most important quality in other people is their support for and loyalty to Trump.
He, Trump is the pustule. MAGAts are the plague. Whether He or they are “conservative” by some dictionary definition is irrelevant.
If He and they “win”, sane people will face a choice: meekly submit or violently resist. Non-violent resistance might be preferable, but it requires greater moral courage. It requires telling MAGAt friends, neighbors, even family members, to fuck off. It requires boycotting businesses, small and large, whose owners refuse to take a stand against the MAGAts — even at great personal inconvenience. It requires making “good trouble” when we’d rather be watching a ball game. It requires taking “politics” personally. And Americans are not so devoted to democracy as all that.
–TP
He, Trump is the pustule. MAGAts are the plague. Whether He or they are “conservative” by some dictionary definition is irrelevant.
If He and they “win”, sane people will face a choice: meekly submit or violently resist. Non-violent resistance might be preferable, but it requires greater moral courage. It requires telling MAGAt friends, neighbors, even family members, to fuck off. It requires boycotting businesses, small and large, whose owners refuse to take a stand against the MAGAts — even at great personal inconvenience. It requires making “good trouble” when we’d rather be watching a ball game. It requires taking “politics” personally. And Americans are not so devoted to democracy as all that.
–TP
man, “conservatives” are really upset at how a bunch of Trump fans blocked a NJ highway with their trucks – a stunt Don Jr prompted and Sr applauded.
they’re really going to turn on Trump now!
oh well!
man, “conservatives” are really upset at how a bunch of Trump fans blocked a NJ highway with their trucks – a stunt Don Jr prompted and Sr applauded.
they’re really going to turn on Trump now!
oh well!
Let the lawsuits begin…
“More than 100,000 votes already cast in Houston could be invalidated on the eve of the election if a federal court looks favorably on a last-minute lawsuit filed by Texas Republicans.”
Republicans Are Trying To Cancel More Than 100,000 Votes in a Deep Blue Part of Texas: A lawsuit filed just days before the election asks federal courts to toss out all the votes already cast at drive-through polling stations in Harris County.
Let the lawsuits begin…
“More than 100,000 votes already cast in Houston could be invalidated on the eve of the election if a federal court looks favorably on a last-minute lawsuit filed by Texas Republicans.”
Republicans Are Trying To Cancel More Than 100,000 Votes in a Deep Blue Part of Texas: A lawsuit filed just days before the election asks federal courts to toss out all the votes already cast at drive-through polling stations in Harris County.
As the article notes:
Still, considering how prevalent straight party line voting has become, those ballots could also have an impact on details like the makeup of the Texas legislature. The one which will do redistricting after the census. Which may actually be the motivation behind the lawsuit — although of course they can’t say so in a Federal lawsuit.
As the article notes:
Still, considering how prevalent straight party line voting has become, those ballots could also have an impact on details like the makeup of the Texas legislature. The one which will do redistricting after the census. Which may actually be the motivation behind the lawsuit — although of course they can’t say so in a Federal lawsuit.
The Texas supreme court today ruled for the second time that the Harris County drive-through voting could continue. The federal judge has scheduled an emergency hearing for tomorrow morning. I’ll be surprised if that judge is willing to effectively overrule the state supreme court’s interpretation of state law.
The Texas supreme court today ruled for the second time that the Harris County drive-through voting could continue. The federal judge has scheduled an emergency hearing for tomorrow morning. I’ll be surprised if that judge is willing to effectively overrule the state supreme court’s interpretation of state law.
I’ll be surprised if that judge is willing to effectively overrule the state supreme court’s interpretation of state law.
But maybe not as surprised as you would have been a couple of weeks ago:
I’ll be surprised if that judge is willing to effectively overrule the state supreme court’s interpretation of state law.
But maybe not as surprised as you would have been a couple of weeks ago:
IOW, the ground is being laid.
Whether it turns out to be granite or quicksand remains to be seen.
IOW, the ground is being laid.
Whether it turns out to be granite or quicksand remains to be seen.
…the rule that the Supreme Court of the United States has the final word on questions of federal law but the highest court in each state has the final word on questions of state law.
The federal courts hear cases involving state law when federal statute or the Constitution are also involved. In the case in federal court, the Republicans claim that only the state legislature can make election laws — and that they can’t delegate that authority. IANAL, but at least one of the problems with that theory is that in the Arizona v. Arizona case a few years ago, the SCOTUS ruled that “legislature” in that context means “the legislative process as defined in the state”.
Granted, of the majority in that 5-4 decision, RBG and Anthony Kennedy are gone, replaced by justices with a considerably different viewpoint. Reversing Arizona recreates the same problem that that decision was trying to avoid: for 100+ years, states have written election laws that would now be tossed.
…the rule that the Supreme Court of the United States has the final word on questions of federal law but the highest court in each state has the final word on questions of state law.
The federal courts hear cases involving state law when federal statute or the Constitution are also involved. In the case in federal court, the Republicans claim that only the state legislature can make election laws — and that they can’t delegate that authority. IANAL, but at least one of the problems with that theory is that in the Arizona v. Arizona case a few years ago, the SCOTUS ruled that “legislature” in that context means “the legislative process as defined in the state”.
Granted, of the majority in that 5-4 decision, RBG and Anthony Kennedy are gone, replaced by justices with a considerably different viewpoint. Reversing Arizona recreates the same problem that that decision was trying to avoid: for 100+ years, states have written election laws that would now be tossed.
IAAL, and I agree with JanieM on this. The Supreme Court 5 will figure out some way to rule to swing the election for Rs if it’s only a matter of a couple of states where their ruling will make a difference in either the Presidential or Senate race.
I am done with assuming that the Supreme Court will rule in any manner consistent with law and principle, especially with regard to elections, so there’s no point even trying to figure out what the law or precedent is if they can make the difference. Hope I’m wrong, or that the election is such an obvious blowout that this isn’t tested.
IAAL, and I agree with JanieM on this. The Supreme Court 5 will figure out some way to rule to swing the election for Rs if it’s only a matter of a couple of states where their ruling will make a difference in either the Presidential or Senate race.
I am done with assuming that the Supreme Court will rule in any manner consistent with law and principle, especially with regard to elections, so there’s no point even trying to figure out what the law or precedent is if they can make the difference. Hope I’m wrong, or that the election is such an obvious blowout that this isn’t tested.
The Supreme Court 5 will figure out some way to rule to swing the election for Rs
Seems like that’s the plan.
If it goes that way, we’ll see if people are up for good trouble, or if they’d rather watch a ball game.
Could go either way.
It’s gonna be a weird week, and then a weird couple of months until January 20. And then, perhaps an extremely weird four years after that, depending.
I wake up, there’s food in the fridge, I still have a job, for now at least. My wife and I are basically healthy.
I offer the universe my thanks, and carry on.
Beyond that, it’s kind of a jump ball. I have no idea where this all ends up.
Stay safe everyone, and try not to let it get too far inside your head.
The Supreme Court 5 will figure out some way to rule to swing the election for Rs
Seems like that’s the plan.
If it goes that way, we’ll see if people are up for good trouble, or if they’d rather watch a ball game.
Could go either way.
It’s gonna be a weird week, and then a weird couple of months until January 20. And then, perhaps an extremely weird four years after that, depending.
I wake up, there’s food in the fridge, I still have a job, for now at least. My wife and I are basically healthy.
I offer the universe my thanks, and carry on.
Beyond that, it’s kind of a jump ball. I have no idea where this all ends up.
Stay safe everyone, and try not to let it get too far inside your head.
I’ve been pretty adamant about how I think packing the court is a game theory loser. But Kavanaugh has just about convinced me there’s no choice.
the next few days will be my test.
If they make it clear that the court will be nothing but a GOP sniper nest, then I say PACK THE FUCKER TO THE BRIM. If they can manage to resemble an actual Court, then we’ll see
I’ve been pretty adamant about how I think packing the court is a game theory loser. But Kavanaugh has just about convinced me there’s no choice.
the next few days will be my test.
If they make it clear that the court will be nothing but a GOP sniper nest, then I say PACK THE FUCKER TO THE BRIM. If they can manage to resemble an actual Court, then we’ll see
the next few days will be my test.
could play out longer than a few days, but yes.
I’d support adding two to the court. The “conservatives” get to keep their majority, but it puts Roberts back in the hot seat as sensible swing vote. So, not a total “F*** you”, more of a shot across the bow. A rebalancing.
Biden, should there be a POTUS Biden, should stay the hell out of it. It’s Congress’ prerogative and Congress’ play.
the next few days will be my test.
could play out longer than a few days, but yes.
I’d support adding two to the court. The “conservatives” get to keep their majority, but it puts Roberts back in the hot seat as sensible swing vote. So, not a total “F*** you”, more of a shot across the bow. A rebalancing.
Biden, should there be a POTUS Biden, should stay the hell out of it. It’s Congress’ prerogative and Congress’ play.
When Angus King is talking about adding members to SCOTUS, you know they’ve pushed it too far:
He’s using the word “rules” loosely, of course, but his final point is the big one. I don’t think bygones are going to be bygones this time, if we get a “this time.”
Stay safe everyone, in every way that you can over the next days and weeks.
When Angus King is talking about adding members to SCOTUS, you know they’ve pushed it too far:
He’s using the word “rules” loosely, of course, but his final point is the big one. I don’t think bygones are going to be bygones this time, if we get a “this time.”
Stay safe everyone, in every way that you can over the next days and weeks.
An interesting – if not exactly uplifting, sorry – take here:
The danger now seems less that Biden loses, and more that a far-Right leader who’s much more competent than Trump emerges within the next four to eight years. A leader who will capitalise on the long-lasting damage caused by the pandemic, and who’s smarter about leveraging myths of American ‘freedom’ to oppress and exploit others. Someone who more successfully pigeonholes the Democrats as the party of the rich elite, which is what they’re increasingly becoming. As Biden infamously told wealthy New York donors at a fundraiser in June, “nothing will fundamentally change” if he’s elected.
https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/trump-will-lose-problem-what-comes-next/
An interesting – if not exactly uplifting, sorry – take here:
The danger now seems less that Biden loses, and more that a far-Right leader who’s much more competent than Trump emerges within the next four to eight years. A leader who will capitalise on the long-lasting damage caused by the pandemic, and who’s smarter about leveraging myths of American ‘freedom’ to oppress and exploit others. Someone who more successfully pigeonholes the Democrats as the party of the rich elite, which is what they’re increasingly becoming. As Biden infamously told wealthy New York donors at a fundraiser in June, “nothing will fundamentally change” if he’s elected.
https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/trump-will-lose-problem-what-comes-next/
cleek, I’m impressed. A change of mind when facts on the ground change is a mark of (as the I Ching used to say) “the superior man”. And in return I will say that perhaps this kind of attitude will have the justices themselves thinking more carefully.
Other than that, the only thing to say to you all is “be careful out there”. The thoughts and prayers of the world are with you.
cleek, I’m impressed. A change of mind when facts on the ground change is a mark of (as the I Ching used to say) “the superior man”. And in return I will say that perhaps this kind of attitude will have the justices themselves thinking more carefully.
Other than that, the only thing to say to you all is “be careful out there”. The thoughts and prayers of the world are with you.
But there’s hope as well:
https://twitter.com/mattyglesias/status/1323240859878461440
“The Acceptance and Expression of Prejudice during the Trump Era” which is available today for free. The key argument of the book is that Trump does not just *reflect* but actually *causes* ugliness in American public debate.
the main reason why people are so likely to take cues about norms from politicians – namely, that they can reasonably infer that the fact that those politicians have been successful means that support for their expressions of prejudice is widespread among their fellow citizens.
If people take Trump’s success as a signal about the acceptance of prejudiced rhetoric, then they would likely take his defeat – and the defeat of other prejudice- peddling politicians – as an equally strong counter-signal. Furthermore, such a defeat should also dissuade other politicians from following in Trump’s footsteps.
But there’s hope as well:
https://twitter.com/mattyglesias/status/1323240859878461440
“The Acceptance and Expression of Prejudice during the Trump Era” which is available today for free. The key argument of the book is that Trump does not just *reflect* but actually *causes* ugliness in American public debate.
the main reason why people are so likely to take cues about norms from politicians – namely, that they can reasonably infer that the fact that those politicians have been successful means that support for their expressions of prejudice is widespread among their fellow citizens.
If people take Trump’s success as a signal about the acceptance of prejudiced rhetoric, then they would likely take his defeat – and the defeat of other prejudice- peddling politicians – as an equally strong counter-signal. Furthermore, such a defeat should also dissuade other politicians from following in Trump’s footsteps.
Democrats as the party of the rich elite
so there must be, what, 70M rich elites in the US?
what a country!
Democrats as the party of the rich elite
so there must be, what, 70M rich elites in the US?
what a country!
But Kavanaugh has just about convinced me there’s no choice.
“Game theory”, bah, but welcome (perhaps) aboard. The Dems should have packed the Court in 1976 in retaliation for the illegal Court packing by Nixon, and they should have packed it HARD.
We’ve lived with a conservative court ever since, and its hideous rulings have had a terrible adverse impact on economic, political, and racial equality and justice.
See Adam Cohen’s book, “Supreme Inequality”. A good read.
But Kavanaugh has just about convinced me there’s no choice.
“Game theory”, bah, but welcome (perhaps) aboard. The Dems should have packed the Court in 1976 in retaliation for the illegal Court packing by Nixon, and they should have packed it HARD.
We’ve lived with a conservative court ever since, and its hideous rulings have had a terrible adverse impact on economic, political, and racial equality and justice.
See Adam Cohen’s book, “Supreme Inequality”. A good read.
….but it puts Roberts back in the hot seat as sensible swing vote.
Roberts is not “sensible”. He is an ideologue who knows better than to overreach. The Long Game is his play. Don’t get played.
….but it puts Roberts back in the hot seat as sensible swing vote.
Roberts is not “sensible”. He is an ideologue who knows better than to overreach. The Long Game is his play. Don’t get played.
He is an ideologue who knows better than to overreach.
To me, knowing better than to overreach is a form of being sensible.
I’m not that interested in his motivation. In the context of SCOTUS rulings, I’m interested in outcomes.
And the two new seats could go to Garland and Obama. One for payback, one just to watch MAGA heads explode.
I try to be a nice person, but I’m finding myself provoked by current events.
He is an ideologue who knows better than to overreach.
To me, knowing better than to overreach is a form of being sensible.
I’m not that interested in his motivation. In the context of SCOTUS rulings, I’m interested in outcomes.
And the two new seats could go to Garland and Obama. One for payback, one just to watch MAGA heads explode.
I try to be a nice person, but I’m finding myself provoked by current events.
And the two new seats could go to Garland and Obama. One for payback, one just to watch MAGA heads explode.
Well, if you are willing to go that far, why leave the thugs with a majority? Add 3 seats to make it 6-6: Garland, Obama, Hillary Clinton.
Sit back and watch the fur fly.
Shelby County is an outrage. Citizens United overturned precedent in order to kiss the ass of corporate power. Sebelius was a constitutional joke.
All the handiwork of “sensible” John Roberts.
He is not sensible. He is dangerous.
And the two new seats could go to Garland and Obama. One for payback, one just to watch MAGA heads explode.
Well, if you are willing to go that far, why leave the thugs with a majority? Add 3 seats to make it 6-6: Garland, Obama, Hillary Clinton.
Sit back and watch the fur fly.
Shelby County is an outrage. Citizens United overturned precedent in order to kiss the ass of corporate power. Sebelius was a constitutional joke.
All the handiwork of “sensible” John Roberts.
He is not sensible. He is dangerous.
I have read recently that the number nine for the Supreme Court was picked to reflect the number of circuits at the time. I think whatever that number makes perfect sense. And yes, it would give the majority of Americans a “majority”. It’s about time.
And, sure, Garland could be chosen since he was once acceptable to both sides. The other three should be qualified jurists whose experience has demonstrated their ability to understand issues affecting impoverished and marginalized people, while also understanding white color crime, environmental law, and intellectual property.
I have read recently that the number nine for the Supreme Court was picked to reflect the number of circuits at the time. I think whatever that number makes perfect sense. And yes, it would give the majority of Americans a “majority”. It’s about time.
And, sure, Garland could be chosen since he was once acceptable to both sides. The other three should be qualified jurists whose experience has demonstrated their ability to understand issues affecting impoverished and marginalized people, while also understanding white color crime, environmental law, and intellectual property.
A bit of a different subject, a New Yorker article on Asian Americans and politics. Interesting stuff
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/11/02/are-asian-americans-the-last-undecided-voters
A bit of a different subject, a New Yorker article on Asian Americans and politics. Interesting stuff
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/11/02/are-asian-americans-the-last-undecided-voters
In other words, 13 justices.
In other words, 13 justices.
And the two new seats could go to Garland and Obama. One for payback, one just to watch MAGA heads explode.
I don’t know how healthy Chief Justice Roberts is. But my fantasy has been for Obama to take the path of President Taft: go on to be Chief Justice. He’s young enough to make that viable.
And it would have the side benefit of making MAGA heads explode.
And the two new seats could go to Garland and Obama. One for payback, one just to watch MAGA heads explode.
I don’t know how healthy Chief Justice Roberts is. But my fantasy has been for Obama to take the path of President Taft: go on to be Chief Justice. He’s young enough to make that viable.
And it would have the side benefit of making MAGA heads explode.
picking Garland because he’s acceptable to the GOP seems like less of a plus than it did pre-McConnell Rule.
picking Garland because he’s acceptable to the GOP seems like less of a plus than it did pre-McConnell Rule.
picking Garland because he’s acceptable to the GOP seems like less of a plus than it did pre-McConnell Rule.
Yeah, he can only be on there if we add four in all.
picking Garland because he’s acceptable to the GOP seems like less of a plus than it did pre-McConnell Rule.
Yeah, he can only be on there if we add four in all.
Well, if you are willing to go that far, why leave the thugs with a majority?
two chickens seems like more than enough to count before the hatching is done.
too many, most likely, but every once in a while it’s fun to indulge in wishful thinking.
no rest until all of this is settled.
Well, if you are willing to go that far, why leave the thugs with a majority?
two chickens seems like more than enough to count before the hatching is done.
too many, most likely, but every once in a while it’s fun to indulge in wishful thinking.
no rest until all of this is settled.
I like sapient’s point about 13 circuits, 13 Supremes.
Also, is John Roberts the Chief for as long as he’s on the Court? Or could the next president say: “Scoot down the table, John, here’s the new Chief”?
My guess is that that’s another one of those “norms” (if it is indeed a “norm” rather than something more comcrete) that McConnell et al. would ignore as if it never existed, but that the Dems will respect even if they do expand the court.
Also — given that the term “court-packing” has such a…shall we say complex…history, I think I’m going to say “expanding” from now on. I’m sure the whole world will follow suit, just like it did with “Clickbait.” 😉
I like sapient’s point about 13 circuits, 13 Supremes.
Also, is John Roberts the Chief for as long as he’s on the Court? Or could the next president say: “Scoot down the table, John, here’s the new Chief”?
My guess is that that’s another one of those “norms” (if it is indeed a “norm” rather than something more comcrete) that McConnell et al. would ignore as if it never existed, but that the Dems will respect even if they do expand the court.
Also — given that the term “court-packing” has such a…shall we say complex…history, I think I’m going to say “expanding” from now on. I’m sure the whole world will follow suit, just like it did with “Clickbait.” 😉
today’s Structural Racism Quiz:
white yahoos block a multi-lane highway with the Trump caravan.
black people march across their town, with a permit, to vote.
which of them get the pepper spray and arrests ?
[ ] the black people
[ ] the Trump supporters
today’s Structural Racism Quiz:
white yahoos block a multi-lane highway with the Trump caravan.
black people march across their town, with a permit, to vote.
which of them get the pepper spray and arrests ?
[ ] the black people
[ ] the Trump supporters
no rest until all of this is settled.
LOL…it hasn’t been settled since 1789. Outlook for attaining that state is, um, tenuous.
Stay safe and centered (read that somewhere).
no rest until all of this is settled.
LOL…it hasn’t been settled since 1789. Outlook for attaining that state is, um, tenuous.
Stay safe and centered (read that somewhere).
I like sapient’s point about 13 circuits, 13 Supremes.
Likewise. There’s much to be said for establishing a principle, beyond just tactical convenience, for setting the number of Justices.
I like sapient’s point about 13 circuits, 13 Supremes.
Likewise. There’s much to be said for establishing a principle, beyond just tactical convenience, for setting the number of Justices.
two chickens seems like more than enough to count before the hatching is done.
***
no rest until all of this is settled.
Two too many, in fact. The evil eye is ever vigilant for such chicken-counting…
two chickens seems like more than enough to count before the hatching is done.
***
no rest until all of this is settled.
Two too many, in fact. The evil eye is ever vigilant for such chicken-counting…
The thing with the number of SCOTUS justices and circuit courts started because SCOTUS justices used to also sit on the circuit bench.
Originally there were three circuit districts, one for each broad geographic area of the country – Eastern, Middle, Southern. Two SCOTUS justices would sit on each circuit bench, so there were six SCOTUS justices.
That was subsequently expanded to nine as additional circuits were added.
It was never one to one (I think), and SCOTUS justices don’t sit on circuit courts anymore. So the tradition may not be relevant, and might never have justified 13 justices in any case.
Not trying to rain on anybody’s parade, and given the deliberate and sustained effort by conservatives to populate the federal bench (at all levels) with doctrinaire justices I have no problem with (D)’s doing whatever they need to do to re-balance that.
But I’m not sure the one-SCOTUS-justice-per-circuit-court thing is historically correct.
The thing with the number of SCOTUS justices and circuit courts started because SCOTUS justices used to also sit on the circuit bench.
Originally there were three circuit districts, one for each broad geographic area of the country – Eastern, Middle, Southern. Two SCOTUS justices would sit on each circuit bench, so there were six SCOTUS justices.
That was subsequently expanded to nine as additional circuits were added.
It was never one to one (I think), and SCOTUS justices don’t sit on circuit courts anymore. So the tradition may not be relevant, and might never have justified 13 justices in any case.
Not trying to rain on anybody’s parade, and given the deliberate and sustained effort by conservatives to populate the federal bench (at all levels) with doctrinaire justices I have no problem with (D)’s doing whatever they need to do to re-balance that.
But I’m not sure the one-SCOTUS-justice-per-circuit-court thing is historically correct.
LOL…it hasn’t been settled since 1789.
Tru dat.
Realistically, no rest, full stop. Which is kind of a PITA but it is what it is.
We’re divided by the same stuff we were divided by 50 years ago. Or 90 years ago, for that matter. Probably longer.
Yes, lots of progress since then, but some folks just can’t let it be.
LOL…it hasn’t been settled since 1789.
Tru dat.
Realistically, no rest, full stop. Which is kind of a PITA but it is what it is.
We’re divided by the same stuff we were divided by 50 years ago. Or 90 years ago, for that matter. Probably longer.
Yes, lots of progress since then, but some folks just can’t let it be.
But I’m not sure the one-SCOTUS-justice-per-circuit-court thing is historically correct.
You’re probably right about this – don’t have time at the moment to do research, so thanks. But more circuits means more appeals. The Supreme Court takes very few cases compared to the number presented for appeal, and the percentage has become less over time.
The population of the US now is obviously much greater, and there are constant complaints about crowded dockets in the federal courts. It makes sense to expand the number of judges for a lot of reasons, including to balance the court more equitably.
But I’m not sure the one-SCOTUS-justice-per-circuit-court thing is historically correct.
You’re probably right about this – don’t have time at the moment to do research, so thanks. But more circuits means more appeals. The Supreme Court takes very few cases compared to the number presented for appeal, and the percentage has become less over time.
The population of the US now is obviously much greater, and there are constant complaints about crowded dockets in the federal courts. It makes sense to expand the number of judges for a lot of reasons, including to balance the court more equitably.
It makes sense to expand the number of judges for a lot of reasons, including to balance the court more equitably.
Works for me.
And now, to avoid the attention of the vengeful gods, I will hold off on any further chicken-counting until this mess is settled.
I don’t think anybody in this crowd needs a reminder to vote, but if you do, DON’T FORGET TO VOTE. Mask up if you go in person, stay safe.
Be cool everybody. This stuff is more than important, but try not to let it take up too much space in your head. Go outside, take a walk, have a (safe and socially distanced!) chat with your neighbors. Pet your dog if you have one.
Life is gonna go on one way or another. Do what you need to do to keep yourself sane so you can keep on making your corner of the world a better place.
It makes sense to expand the number of judges for a lot of reasons, including to balance the court more equitably.
Works for me.
And now, to avoid the attention of the vengeful gods, I will hold off on any further chicken-counting until this mess is settled.
I don’t think anybody in this crowd needs a reminder to vote, but if you do, DON’T FORGET TO VOTE. Mask up if you go in person, stay safe.
Be cool everybody. This stuff is more than important, but try not to let it take up too much space in your head. Go outside, take a walk, have a (safe and socially distanced!) chat with your neighbors. Pet your dog if you have one.
Life is gonna go on one way or another. Do what you need to do to keep yourself sane so you can keep on making your corner of the world a better place.
“And it would have the side benefit of making MAGA heads explode.”
Nagahapen. Too little inside, surrounded by impenetrable bone.
Shaped charges required.
“And it would have the side benefit of making MAGA heads explode.”
Nagahapen. Too little inside, surrounded by impenetrable bone.
Shaped charges required.
One bit of joy for me in this election that I meant to mention earlier was that I got to vote to legalize marijuana for recreational use in my home state. It’s the little things, right?
One bit of joy for me in this election that I meant to mention earlier was that I got to vote to legalize marijuana for recreational use in my home state. It’s the little things, right?
It was never one to one (I think), and SCOTUS justices don’t sit on circuit courts anymore. So the tradition may not be relevant, and might never have justified 13 justices in any case.
It’s not that I care whether there is a tradition. It’s just that, as a matter of avoiding devolving into a straight tit-for-tat power game, I’d like to see something that looks like an objective standard. Want to add more Supreme Court justices? Add more circuit courts. Still quite doable, of course. But at least a bit of a disincentive.
It was never one to one (I think), and SCOTUS justices don’t sit on circuit courts anymore. So the tradition may not be relevant, and might never have justified 13 justices in any case.
It’s not that I care whether there is a tradition. It’s just that, as a matter of avoiding devolving into a straight tit-for-tat power game, I’d like to see something that looks like an objective standard. Want to add more Supreme Court justices? Add more circuit courts. Still quite doable, of course. But at least a bit of a disincentive.
“And it would have the side benefit of making MAGA heads explode.”
Nagahapen. Too little inside, surrounded by impenetrable bone.
OK, implode. Picky, picky, picky….
“And it would have the side benefit of making MAGA heads explode.”
Nagahapen. Too little inside, surrounded by impenetrable bone.
OK, implode. Picky, picky, picky….
Not counting chickens, just riding a favorite hobbyhorse.
I’ve gone on more than once, including fairly recently, about the population increase since 1790 in relation to the House. Someone said the House is unwieldly already, we can’t make it bigger, but IIRC Michael Cain said sensible things about how it’s entirely possible to make it less unwieldly.
Anyhow, sapient also makes a good point relating population to the size of the Court (re: the # of appeals that get generated vs how many they can take etc.).
As with Congress, some creativity would be required to figure out how to apportion appeals to subgroups etc. But nothing, it seems to me, out of the realm of feasibility.
Not counting chickens, just riding a favorite hobbyhorse.
I’ve gone on more than once, including fairly recently, about the population increase since 1790 in relation to the House. Someone said the House is unwieldly already, we can’t make it bigger, but IIRC Michael Cain said sensible things about how it’s entirely possible to make it less unwieldly.
Anyhow, sapient also makes a good point relating population to the size of the Court (re: the # of appeals that get generated vs how many they can take etc.).
As with Congress, some creativity would be required to figure out how to apportion appeals to subgroups etc. But nothing, it seems to me, out of the realm of feasibility.
This writer favors packing the SC, but the article is also useful for outlining other ideas for court reform ( which he opposes as inadequate),
https://jacobinmag.com/2020/11/supreme-court-packing-democrats
I don’t know what I think. I am certainly open to packing. Assuming Biden wins.
This writer favors packing the SC, but the article is also useful for outlining other ideas for court reform ( which he opposes as inadequate),
https://jacobinmag.com/2020/11/supreme-court-packing-democrats
I don’t know what I think. I am certainly open to packing. Assuming Biden wins.
From Donald’s link:
The first paragraph makes it seem like the guy is not in touch with reality. Abolish the filibuster? Okay, not that hard for the Senate to change its own rules. Abolish the Electoral College? A whole other kettle of fish.
The second paragraph actually makes sense and provides some useful debating points, which I will take note of for future conversations.
And now I’m in that state where the phrase “court packing” affects me like the scratching of fingernails on a chalk board. “Packing” basically accepts a framing that treats it as a political ploy. “Expanding” is more in keeping with the second paragraph quoted above.
From Donald’s link:
The first paragraph makes it seem like the guy is not in touch with reality. Abolish the filibuster? Okay, not that hard for the Senate to change its own rules. Abolish the Electoral College? A whole other kettle of fish.
The second paragraph actually makes sense and provides some useful debating points, which I will take note of for future conversations.
And now I’m in that state where the phrase “court packing” affects me like the scratching of fingernails on a chalk board. “Packing” basically accepts a framing that treats it as a political ploy. “Expanding” is more in keeping with the second paragraph quoted above.
He also wants to amend or replace the Constitution, so yeah, he is daydreaming on some of those points. I’d be a little worried about what we would get with a new Constitution.
He also wants to amend or replace the Constitution, so yeah, he is daydreaming on some of those points. I’d be a little worried about what we would get with a new Constitution.
Democrats should also strongly consider impeaching Supreme Court justices
That is something I think that should be used with extreme care.
I can certainly see a case for impeaching and removing an incompetent partisan hack like Kavanaugh. On the other hand, while I have a very low regard for Justice Thomas’ opinions, I am reluctant to say that he falls to the level that would warrant removal.
Democrats should also strongly consider impeaching Supreme Court justices
That is something I think that should be used with extreme care.
I can certainly see a case for impeaching and removing an incompetent partisan hack like Kavanaugh. On the other hand, while I have a very low regard for Justice Thomas’ opinions, I am reluctant to say that he falls to the level that would warrant removal.
Artificial Intelligence (TM) already performs many tasks formerly consigned to humans, even in the legal world — e.g. “discovery”. Will judging eventually succumb? Will we get AI judges after, or before, self-driving cars?
Would AI judges disagree amongst themselves like human ones, looking at the same facts, law, and precedent, usually do? If not, why would you need more than one of them? If yes — if it matters which AI judge fills a seat — then what would its confirmation hearing be like, I wonder?
Presumably AI nominees would have no history of drunken debauchery or religious fanaticism, but I could be wrong:)
–TP
Artificial Intelligence (TM) already performs many tasks formerly consigned to humans, even in the legal world — e.g. “discovery”. Will judging eventually succumb? Will we get AI judges after, or before, self-driving cars?
Would AI judges disagree amongst themselves like human ones, looking at the same facts, law, and precedent, usually do? If not, why would you need more than one of them? If yes — if it matters which AI judge fills a seat — then what would its confirmation hearing be like, I wonder?
Presumably AI nominees would have no history of drunken debauchery or religious fanaticism, but I could be wrong:)
–TP
the GOP will frame the issue as ‘packing’ (also they’ll claim it’s unconstitutional and illegal and against the will of the people).
the press will accept the frame, because they will run as fast as they can back to treating the GOP as the responsible party of sober adults.
the GOP will frame the issue as ‘packing’ (also they’ll claim it’s unconstitutional and illegal and against the will of the people).
the press will accept the frame, because they will run as fast as they can back to treating the GOP as the responsible party of sober adults.
Will judging eventually succumb? Will we get AI judges after, or before, self-driving cars?
before.
but like all AI, they will be flawed because everything they ‘know’ will depend on what they were taught. the debate will become “Justice XPS8700 was trained on Data Set LibertyLawv2097.12″ Can we really trust it with our future?”
Will judging eventually succumb? Will we get AI judges after, or before, self-driving cars?
before.
but like all AI, they will be flawed because everything they ‘know’ will depend on what they were taught. the debate will become “Justice XPS8700 was trained on Data Set LibertyLawv2097.12″ Can we really trust it with our future?”
like all AI, they will be flawed because everything they ‘know’ will depend on what they were taught.
That, as always, will be a key problem. I can program an AI judge which will reliably come to legal conclusions that I favor. OR that will reliably come to conclusions that I dislike. One thing I think we can reliably see (at least currently) is that the folks who end up in Congress, and thus would presumably confirm particular AIs, are pretty clueless about computer technology in general and things like AIs in particular.
Also, we have over time seen judicial views evolve on a variety of issues. How would we determine when the AI’s views should change? If you look at how far Congress lagged the courts on everything from Civil Rights (in the 1950s) or gay rights (across the last half of the last century), leaving it to Congress to drive progress seems like a poor choice.
like all AI, they will be flawed because everything they ‘know’ will depend on what they were taught.
That, as always, will be a key problem. I can program an AI judge which will reliably come to legal conclusions that I favor. OR that will reliably come to conclusions that I dislike. One thing I think we can reliably see (at least currently) is that the folks who end up in Congress, and thus would presumably confirm particular AIs, are pretty clueless about computer technology in general and things like AIs in particular.
Also, we have over time seen judicial views evolve on a variety of issues. How would we determine when the AI’s views should change? If you look at how far Congress lagged the courts on everything from Civil Rights (in the 1950s) or gay rights (across the last half of the last century), leaving it to Congress to drive progress seems like a poor choice.
The link I provided also referenced Samuel Moyn’s ideas ( which the Jacobin writer opposes). His link was to a New Republic article, but in case you exceed your free article limit, here is an interview with him at NPR.
https://www.npr.org/2020/10/22/926809395/what-might-the-supreme-court-look-like-in-the-future
The link I provided also referenced Samuel Moyn’s ideas ( which the Jacobin writer opposes). His link was to a New Republic article, but in case you exceed your free article limit, here is an interview with him at NPR.
https://www.npr.org/2020/10/22/926809395/what-might-the-supreme-court-look-like-in-the-future
Would AI judges disagree amongst themselves like human ones, looking at the same facts, law, and precedent, usually do?
Different AI algorithms, trained on the same data set, often yield different results when run against the same test data. In fact, sometimes the same algorithm, trained twice using the same data set, produces different results. One of the common training methods is, after all, called stochastic gradient descent: random numbers are intentionally tossed into the training process.
An obvious follow-on question is, “But won’t all the courts be using the same software?” Trust me when I say that legislators are notoriously difficult to convince to spend money on software. Different states will perform upgrades to software and hardware at different times, perhaps years apart.
A more interesting question is, “What do we do the first time a prisoner files suit on the grounds that if s/he were tried by the current version of the software, they would be found not guilty?”
Would AI judges disagree amongst themselves like human ones, looking at the same facts, law, and precedent, usually do?
Different AI algorithms, trained on the same data set, often yield different results when run against the same test data. In fact, sometimes the same algorithm, trained twice using the same data set, produces different results. One of the common training methods is, after all, called stochastic gradient descent: random numbers are intentionally tossed into the training process.
An obvious follow-on question is, “But won’t all the courts be using the same software?” Trust me when I say that legislators are notoriously difficult to convince to spend money on software. Different states will perform upgrades to software and hardware at different times, perhaps years apart.
A more interesting question is, “What do we do the first time a prisoner files suit on the grounds that if s/he were tried by the current version of the software, they would be found not guilty?”
they will run as fast as they can back to treating the GOP as the responsible party of sober adults
Alas, I bet this is true. How to prevent this, while also at the same time restoring confidence in decent journalism, is a conundrum. The size of the task confronting the Dems, if they are able to win the presidency and the senate, and confronting the sane portion of the American public, is dauntingly monumental.
they will run as fast as they can back to treating the GOP as the responsible party of sober adults
Alas, I bet this is true. How to prevent this, while also at the same time restoring confidence in decent journalism, is a conundrum. The size of the task confronting the Dems, if they are able to win the presidency and the senate, and confronting the sane portion of the American public, is dauntingly monumental.
The size of the task confronting the Dems, if they are able to win the presidency and the senate, and confronting the sane portion of the American public, is dauntingly monumental.
it truly is.
i hope the maximalists who are expecting everything to change on day one can find a way hang on at least through the mid-term. this stuff is going to take time and energy.
The size of the task confronting the Dems, if they are able to win the presidency and the senate, and confronting the sane portion of the American public, is dauntingly monumental.
it truly is.
i hope the maximalists who are expecting everything to change on day one can find a way hang on at least through the mid-term. this stuff is going to take time and energy.
if there’s a ‘current’ version, that implies there was a previous version and something had to change. will people convicted by v[N-1] be able to appeal to the new version?
if there’s a ‘current’ version, that implies there was a previous version and something had to change. will people convicted by v[N-1] be able to appeal to the new version?
My “AI judges” comment was a tongue-in-cheek way of pointing out that The Law depends on which humans get made into judges. The right-wing piffle about “originalism” or “textualism” or “strict construction” is designed to fool the gullible into believing otherwise. Personnel is policy. We all know it. The right wingers revel in it and boast of their staffing coups to each other, while piously professing to have “principles” unlike us hippie libruls. What they have is goals, not principles. Somebody tell The Village.
–TP
My “AI judges” comment was a tongue-in-cheek way of pointing out that The Law depends on which humans get made into judges. The right-wing piffle about “originalism” or “textualism” or “strict construction” is designed to fool the gullible into believing otherwise. Personnel is policy. We all know it. The right wingers revel in it and boast of their staffing coups to each other, while piously professing to have “principles” unlike us hippie libruls. What they have is goals, not principles. Somebody tell The Village.
–TP
Btw, thank you for your answers on the chemistry (teacher) question! 🙂
Btw, thank you for your answers on the chemistry (teacher) question! 🙂
Telling justice Thomas that he’ll be replaced by Anita Hill could be the way to give him a stroke or heart attack. If that doesn’t work make her his colleague for a time.
OK, that joke is anything but new.
Telling justice Thomas that he’ll be replaced by Anita Hill could be the way to give him a stroke or heart attack. If that doesn’t work make her his colleague for a time.
OK, that joke is anything but new.
Btw, thank you for your answers on the chemistry (teacher) question! 🙂
Sorry I didn’t answer, Hartmut. It has been so long since I took chemistry that I’m pretty sure any stereotypes I knew about are long replaced. I liked my chemistry teacher in high school, and didn’t take it after that. Since my lab partner was really funny and great, I was always happy to be in chemistry class!
Btw, thank you for your answers on the chemistry (teacher) question! 🙂
Sorry I didn’t answer, Hartmut. It has been so long since I took chemistry that I’m pretty sure any stereotypes I knew about are long replaced. I liked my chemistry teacher in high school, and didn’t take it after that. Since my lab partner was really funny and great, I was always happy to be in chemistry class!
The only sane decision. But still worth noting that it got taken correctly.
He apparently has some doubts about drive-thru voting. But he’s not about to toss the votes of people who used the method already. (With the Texas Supreme Court having said it was OK.)
So the odds that Biden makages to score an upset in Texas just jumped.
The only sane decision. But still worth noting that it got taken correctly.
He apparently has some doubts about drive-thru voting. But he’s not about to toss the votes of people who used the method already. (With the Texas Supreme Court having said it was OK.)
So the odds that Biden makages to score an upset in Texas just jumped.
I’ve mentioned trying to stay “chill” a couple of times in this thread.
russell offered a similar suggestion, in his inimitable russell style, at noon today:
Here are two things that might help that project along:
1. A crank judge in Texas does the right thing.
2. The Lincoln Project offers a last-day motivator. Go ahead, I dare you not to cry.
(P.S. I see wj beat me to it about the TX decision.)
I’ve mentioned trying to stay “chill” a couple of times in this thread.
russell offered a similar suggestion, in his inimitable russell style, at noon today:
Here are two things that might help that project along:
1. A crank judge in Texas does the right thing.
2. The Lincoln Project offers a last-day motivator. Go ahead, I dare you not to cry.
(P.S. I see wj beat me to it about the TX decision.)
Since I was the person who reacted so spikily to being advised to chill, I apologise. As has become obvious, this stuff has been taking up “too much space in my head”, in russell’s excellent phrase. I am not at all good at shifting that kind of stuff (which is why I am absolutely hopeless at mindfulness), but the news about the Texas judge has cheered me up. As for the Lincoln Project ad, it didn’t make me cry (This Land is Your Land always does that), but it sure made me long to do a road trip – America is beautiful, and full of wonderfulness as well as the other stuff.
Since I was the person who reacted so spikily to being advised to chill, I apologise. As has become obvious, this stuff has been taking up “too much space in my head”, in russell’s excellent phrase. I am not at all good at shifting that kind of stuff (which is why I am absolutely hopeless at mindfulness), but the news about the Texas judge has cheered me up. As for the Lincoln Project ad, it didn’t make me cry (This Land is Your Land always does that), but it sure made me long to do a road trip – America is beautiful, and full of wonderfulness as well as the other stuff.
Technically, the district judge ruled that the plaintiffs lacked standing. He also ordered Harris County to keep the memory cards from the machines used for drive-through voting separate from other cards in case of an appeal.
Technically, the district judge ruled that the plaintiffs lacked standing. He also ordered Harris County to keep the memory cards from the machines used for drive-through voting separate from other cards in case of an appeal.
The Lincoln Project has got me like that more than once (and again!). I’m sure glad they’re making their ads for our side this time.
The Lincoln Project has got me like that more than once (and again!). I’m sure glad they’re making their ads for our side this time.
And by a very strange stroke of something, after posting my last comment I watched University Challenge which is our version of the quiz game which I think in the US might be called College Bowl, and the answer to one of the questions was This Land is Your Land, and the final question (which none of them had time to answer) was “What was the final word on the following slogan on Woody Guthrie’s guitar – This machine kills…..
Perhaps I am going mad, but I’m choosing to take this as an omen.
And by a very strange stroke of something, after posting my last comment I watched University Challenge which is our version of the quiz game which I think in the US might be called College Bowl, and the answer to one of the questions was This Land is Your Land, and the final question (which none of them had time to answer) was “What was the final word on the following slogan on Woody Guthrie’s guitar – This machine kills…..
Perhaps I am going mad, but I’m choosing to take this as an omen.
Experiment….
Experiment….
Janie – some wonderful landscapes! I loved many, but the eerie one of the trees reflected in the water, and looking as if they’re shrouded in something like spanish moss – wow! I wonder what this experiment was about? Is it mindfulness, or at least taking our minds off stress and tension?
Janie – some wonderful landscapes! I loved many, but the eerie one of the trees reflected in the water, and looking as if they’re shrouded in something like spanish moss – wow! I wonder what this experiment was about? Is it mindfulness, or at least taking our minds off stress and tension?
The experiment was to see if we could still post photos in comments. See new thread.
The experiment was to see if we could still post photos in comments. See new thread.
Ah, thank you.
Ah, thank you.
Experiment….
We’ve been moving. View out one of our new windows last Monday. Today, OTOH, was brilliant sunshine and a high of 74. Front Range Colorado, where “What season are we having today?” is a perfectly reasonable question to ask before getting dressed.
Experiment….
We’ve been moving. View out one of our new windows last Monday. Today, OTOH, was brilliant sunshine and a high of 74. Front Range Colorado, where “What season are we having today?” is a perfectly reasonable question to ask before getting dressed.
Michael — great shot. I can see it in my reined in Firefox (NoScript is running) but I can’t see it in Chrome, where supposedly my settings are less repressive, although I do have AdBlockPlus running.
Michael — great shot. I can see it in my reined in Firefox (NoScript is running) but I can’t see it in Chrome, where supposedly my settings are less repressive, although I do have AdBlockPlus running.
IIRC, the default security settings for Chrome are if the main page is secured (as Obsidian Wings is these days) the browser won’t load embedded content from unsecured sites (my stuff hosted at GoDaddy). Firefox, OTOH, only warns you that some of the content is unsecured.
I just can’t bring myself to pay what they want for an SSL certificate.
IIRC, the default security settings for Chrome are if the main page is secured (as Obsidian Wings is these days) the browser won’t load embedded content from unsecured sites (my stuff hosted at GoDaddy). Firefox, OTOH, only warns you that some of the content is unsecured.
I just can’t bring myself to pay what they want for an SSL certificate.
Thanks, Michael. I’ll dig into my settings when I get time.
Thanks, Michael. I’ll dig into my settings when I get time.
The Vienna attack is all over the news, but this hasn’t gotten much coverage – awful:
Kabul University: 22 dead, more wounded as gunmen storm campus
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-54750839
The Vienna attack is all over the news, but this hasn’t gotten much coverage – awful:
Kabul University: 22 dead, more wounded as gunmen storm campus
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-54750839