Bob Cesca Interviews Eric Boehlert [PODCAST]

Politics • Views: 23,874

MP3 Audio

On today’s episode of The Bob Cesca Show’s Interviews From Earth One: NSFW! You might recognize Eric from his work with The Daily Kos, Media Matters, Rolling Stone, Shareblue and, of course, The Stephanie Miller Show. Eric’s a news media critic and an accomplished author. His most recent book, Bloggers On The Bus, documented how the blogs and social media influenced the 2008 election. Today we’ll talk with Eric about the Trump crisis, impeachment, the news media coverage of both sides, and a lot more. Follow Eric on Twitter and read his latest at The Daily Kos.

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251 comments
1
Backwoods_Sleuth  Apr 11, 2019 • 10:25:57am
2
lawhawk  Apr 11, 2019 • 10:28:16am
3
Eclectic Cyborg  Apr 11, 2019 • 10:30:18am

re: #2 lawhawk

Of course, it’s always some “contractor” or “consulting firm” or “independent third party”.

Nobody wants to fucking take the blame for anything anymore.

4
Targetpractice  Apr 11, 2019 • 10:30:31am

From downstairs:

re: #371 Decatur Deb

And the whistleblower route is not a get-out-of-jail card. Ellsberg was charged to the value of 115 years, and beat it mostly because the prosecutors muffed the case. That was for secrets that were politically embarrassing rather than a real threat to national security.

Ayep, Ellsberg only avoided jail because the prosecutors have been caught so blatantly violating the law to try to put him behind bars that the judge had no choice but to dismiss the charges. I genuinely doubt that the case against Assange is so dependent upon dirty tricks that he’s going to walk.

5
Dave In Austin  Apr 11, 2019 • 10:35:24am

Hmmm. I need to ponder on this one but for now I’m going to name ducky “Pantry”.

6
Targetpractice  Apr 11, 2019 • 10:36:12am

re: #5 Dave In Austin

Hmmm. I need to ponder on this one but for now I’m going to name ducky “Pantry”.

[Embedded content]

“It followed me home.”

7
Dave In Austin  Apr 11, 2019 • 10:37:25am

re: #6 Targetpractice

“It followed me home.”

Can we eat it??!!

8
wrenchwench  Apr 11, 2019 • 10:37:45am

re: #5 Dave In Austin

Hmmm. I need to ponder on this one but for now I’m going to name ducky “Pantry”.

[Embedded content]

Did ‘Pantry’ hatch there?

9
Belafon  Apr 11, 2019 • 10:38:01am

re: #5 Dave In Austin

Hmmm. I need to ponder on this one but for now I’m going to name ducky “Pantry”.

[Embedded content]

I see the potential for a bird version of Romeo and Juliet.

10
Scottish Dragon  Apr 11, 2019 • 10:38:44am

re: #5 Dave In Austin

Hmmm. I need to ponder on this one but for now I’m going to name ducky “Pantry”.

[Embedded content]

OMG KYOOT!

11
Dave In Austin  Apr 11, 2019 • 10:39:17am

re: #8 wrenchwench

Prolly. The more I looked at this, I finally came up with: “No thanks, I’m full”.

12
Khal Wimpo (the extinguisher of tiki torches)  Apr 11, 2019 • 10:43:09am

There’s a hair & makeup department just praying that this gets done

… if the Avengers movie had a hair & makeup department controlled by RuPaul…

13
wrenchwench  Apr 11, 2019 • 10:43:40am

re: #11 Dave In Austin

Prolly. The more I looked at this, I finally came up with: “No thanks, I’m full”.

That cynical-looking owl may have detected some KYOOT and suddenly turned vegetarian. Or maybe insectivore.

14
Eclectic Cyborg  Apr 11, 2019 • 10:44:26am

Via Bloomberg:

“To pay for college, Amy Wroblewski sold a piece of her future. Every month, for eight-and-a-half years, she must turn over a set percentage of her salary to investors. Today, about a year after graduation, Wroblewski makes $50,000 a year as a higher education recruiter in Winchester, Va. So the cut comes to $279 a month, less than her car payment.

If the 23-year-old becomes a star in her field, she could pay twice as much. If she loses her job, she won’t have to pay anything, and investors will be out of luck until she finds work.

Wroblewski struck this unusual deal as an undergraduate at public Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind. To fund part of the cost of her degree in strategy and organizational management, she sidestepped the common source of money, a student loan. Instead, she agreed to hand over part of her future earnings through a new kind of financial instrument called an income-sharing agreement, or ISA. In a sense, financiers are transforming student debtors into stock investments, with much of the same risk and, ideally, return.”

Because NOTHING can possibly go wrong with this…

15
Backwoods_Sleuth  Apr 11, 2019 • 10:45:49am

re: #13 wrenchwench

That cynical-looking owl may have detected some KYOOT and suddenly turned vegetarian. Or maybe insectivore.

maybe…just maybe…that duckling is the hongry one

16
gocart mozart  Apr 11, 2019 • 10:46:30am
17
retired cynic  Apr 11, 2019 • 10:51:49am

Judd Legum has an important article up!

Inside Trump’s manipulative new Facebook strategy

Brad Parscale spreading more evil.

18
Eclectic Cyborg  Apr 11, 2019 • 10:52:00am

I swear if something happens to Omar or AOC as a result of all this GOP hate I’m going to go nuclear.

19
The Vicious Babushka  Apr 11, 2019 • 10:59:19am
20
Feline Fearless Leader  Apr 11, 2019 • 11:02:55am

re: #5 Dave In Austin

Hmmm. I need to ponder on this one but for now I’m going to name ducky “Pantry”.

[Embedded content]

If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, but hoots like a owl… what is it?

21
Man, DangerMan  Apr 11, 2019 • 11:05:00am

re: #19 The Vicious Babushka

[Embedded content]
Trump in 2016: “I love Wikileaks!”
Trump today: “New phone, who dis?” #TheResistance #Resist #Wikileaks

In the campaign he referred to WikiLeaks about 140 times

I can find a link to that stat when I’m not on a phone

22
The Vicious Babushka  Apr 11, 2019 • 11:06:46am

Spring Cleaning Update:

vMFiznorM/HAhQOAdP0rQdu4itdaORpgN7WWhUVS86GVp+rV545dPAfJTsvO3fmB7eTfOovsTy/uZY0iCRHxjbt2mYbyrofxeLK8Hch5hngYIR7ZZkedKnxylre8O6Sh7Q7ZnTAa/UDUcxh8WDakWPE8WlT5xWLqduXljWmj0deO8K52ZOAKQ0HecMHZs9LZG+00sLbauDzIdAZ/put61+kNw8CjfYDu6Teeh0UmoNbN3TF6PF222skkQC1lSUtYA/wqRkpnPM++tvJ4J0UZNg==

23
KGxvi  Apr 11, 2019 • 11:10:42am

re: #1 Backwoods_Sleuth

In 2018, right-wing extremists were behind almost ALL US domestic terrorist killings. Why don’t you go do something about that?

Because it’s his base?

If a politician spoke even once about white nationalists and right wing extremists the way they do about Muslims (we need to go into their neighborhoods and houses of worship and find out what is going on… how did he become radicalized?)… the GOP would lose their fucking minds.

24
Backwoods_Sleuth  Apr 11, 2019 • 11:10:50am
25
Eclectic Cyborg  Apr 11, 2019 • 11:11:35am

re: #24 Backwoods_Sleuth

I’ve seen thundersnow a few times in my life. Wild stuff. Always interesting to watch.

26
calochortus  Apr 11, 2019 • 11:11:57am

re: #22 The Vicious Babushka

Spring Cleaning Update:

[Embedded content]

tLNiFx7HoZt9xb3CmiFQNxU28B9eBzH5uMZfIas81gOn5hk65K2zywlKj//gKlCNHpdOax3d9tsmgHwjii/WnKQDfqdwdXYGwg9qrlSO67wGz049oTmEouU+p0FlHfYRTB/DYhLa1z4lWRVeDzcnxJSR2bBP/+w2db6TuW8hA5dPUWNyhxWfqeBo60cXV8za3VISXKG0J+qmlk4zP74hUiX8bvS1M2rs8vsfx95ej/icFyCVrx1XEo/pO8awLskrCkTZDM5/ShGFgp8Wvzez4oUD9/eVUcCFnKLbBA1pK56c4Gp22DURkJB8oGekDU4PM9MS5/PDiPZjjtmnyC5V3FdWaqSFddHbZdYTPQnc+d30LjARJe9KFCo+V4BgPj9XUKvbzEByYxs0wQ+diRd6fw==

27
Joe Bacon 🌹  Apr 11, 2019 • 11:13:02am

re: #2 lawhawk

[Embedded content]

Republicans don’t have to take responsibility for anything because they are above the law.

28
Man, DangerMan  Apr 11, 2019 • 11:14:21am

re: #21 Man, DangerMan

In the campaign he referred to WikiLeaks about 140 times

I can find a link to that stat when I’m not on a phone

we deliver:

YouTube

29
Joe Bacon 🌹  Apr 11, 2019 • 11:15:15am

re: #14 Eclectic Cyborg

21st Century Indentured Servants…

30
Eclectic Cyborg  Apr 11, 2019 • 11:17:12am

re: #29 Joe Bacon 🌹

21st Century Indentured Servants…

Bingo. But hey, at least they aren’t stuck with student loans, right?

////

31
mmmirele  Apr 11, 2019 • 11:24:17am

I was surprised to see the David Crosby liked one of my tweets ranting about how Evangelical churches treat single adults.

32
Eclectic Cyborg  Apr 11, 2019 • 11:35:13am

re: #31 mmmirele

I was surprised to see the David Crosby liked one of my tweets ranting about how Evangelical churches treat single adults.

[Embedded content]

I’m a Christian myself but I’ve always found it odd that God would say “No sex before marriage and no masturbation either”. I mean, I get that obviously people, especially women, married younger in Biblical times. Still though, to say that young people must abstain from intercourse while at the same time providing them no alternative avenue for sexual release seems like a plan that is destined to fail.

For what it’s worth, I don’t personally believe the Bible expressly prohibits masturbation. Jesus never specifically mentioned it and the scriptures usually used to justify it as inappropriate are often misinterpreted.

Also, I’m sure it would not shock you to know that the vast majority of Christians I know ended up having sex before marriage. Funny, that.

33
Mike Lamb  Apr 11, 2019 • 11:35:26am

re: #19 The Vicious Babushka

[Embedded content]

Oh shit…he actually got booted and was arrested? I only said that shit because I thought he’d never be arrested! Assange was a coffee boy!

34
A hollow voice says, Oringes...  Apr 11, 2019 • 11:36:20am

On “fecal feces,” it’s a translation of “heces fecales,” and that first word doesn’t just mean feces.

35
lawhawk  Apr 11, 2019 • 11:40:34am
36
Backwoods_Sleuth  Apr 11, 2019 • 11:45:42am

re: #35 lawhawk

“illigally”

37
Scottish Dragon  Apr 11, 2019 • 11:47:24am

re: #32 Eclectic Cyborg

I’m a Christian myself but I’ve always found it odd that God would say “No sex before marriage and no masturbation either”. I mean, I get that obviously people, especially women, married younger in Biblical times. Still though, to say that young people must abstain from intercourse while at the same time providing them no alternative avenue for sexual release seems like a plan that is destined to fail.

For what it’s worth, I don’t personally believe the Bible expressly prohibits masturbation. Jesus never specifically mentioned it and the scriptures usually used to justify it as inappropriate are often misinterpreted.

Also, I’m sure it would not shock you to know that the vast majority of Christians I know ended up having sex before marriage. Funny, that.

Medieval theologians considered prostitution to be a necessary component of society.

38
Eclectic Cyborg  Apr 11, 2019 • 11:52:11am

re: #37 Scottish Dragon

Medieval theologians considered prostitution to be a necessary component of society.

Not only that, but many practices considered to be “sexually deviant” in Biblical times are not so today. I do not believe scripture was meant to be rigid. No “living document” should ever be rigid.

39
Backwoods_Sleuth  Apr 11, 2019 • 11:55:32am

Kellyanne is an idiot

40
Man, DangerMan  Apr 11, 2019 • 11:56:06am

re: #21 Man, DangerMan

In the campaign he referred to WikiLeaks about 140 times

I can find a link to that stat when I’m not on a phone

actually the number keeps going up:

Trump mentioned Wikileaks 164 times in last month of election, now claims it didn’t impact one voter

164 times in the last month of the election

41
ericblair  Apr 11, 2019 • 11:56:50am

re: #35 lawhawk

Ecuador has illigally terminated Assange political asylum in violation of international law. He was arrested by the British police …

The Russian government loves babbling on about imaginary violations of international law as well. It works since 99% of the population hasn’t the foggiest what international law is or isn’t.

42
Backwoods_Sleuth  Apr 11, 2019 • 11:57:22am
43
Jay C  Apr 11, 2019 • 11:59:12am

re: #2 lawhawk

[Embedded content]

Amazing, isn’t it, how virtually every derogatory, defamatory, inflammatory and/or outright lie-mongering statement put out by Republicans seems to be “someone else’s” fault? I mean, SRSLY: who vets these “consultants”….?*

*[//sarc]

44
Rocky-in-Connecticut  Apr 11, 2019 • 12:01:35pm

re: #27 Joe Bacon 🌹

Republicans don’t have to take responsibility for anything because they are above the law.

Well, sort of correct. the modern Republican Party guided by Libertarians now don’t have to take responsibility for anything because taking responsibility has been completely dropped from the ideology.

Libertarianism is about Freedom… only. Responsibility for their actions has nothing to do with them and is nothing but a barrier in the way of entitled profit. Any responsibility is either socialized or denied in the first place.

When is the last time a modern Republican has used the word “responsibility” in a personal conduct or business context in public?

45
lawhawk  Apr 11, 2019 • 12:02:40pm

re: #42 Backwoods_Sleuth

All will get rubber stamped into the judiciary. The GOP is intent on remaking the judiciary in its own regressive image.

46
Scottish Dragon  Apr 11, 2019 • 12:03:27pm

No, just no. My God.

Actually, it’s worse than what it sounds like.

47
Shiplord Kirel, Friend of Moose and Squirrel  Apr 11, 2019 • 12:09:07pm

FB friend:

Assange is not only expendable, he’s a liability now.
He should be careful not to drink any tea he’s offered, and to stay away from small aircraft, stairwells, or the roof of any tall building.

48
Eclectic Cyborg  Apr 11, 2019 • 12:18:20pm

re: #46 Scottish Dragon

No, just no. My God.

[Embedded content]

Actually, it’s worse than what it sounds like.

“A role player will be in the room in a chair secured with chains and fastened with combination or key locks,” she said. “Teams must answer SHARP related questions to unlock their teammate and escape the room.”

The crux of it is that this chained-down role player is meant to be a survivor needing resources ― not a battle buddy in danger of being assaulted.

“The description is meant to be a play on words,” Savage said. “The role player represents a sexual assault victim and the chains represent obstacles the victim may face. The idea is that a victim doesn’t have to be alone while going through the process.”

For example, soldiers might have to come up with the phone number to report an assault, or be tested on their knowledge of the particulars of restricted versus unrestricted reporting.

Surely they could have come up with a better metaphor for breaking free of sexual assault.

Imagine being at the table and hearing: “Hey guys, I’ve got an awesome idea!” followed by this.

Sigh…

49
makeitstop  Apr 11, 2019 • 12:19:06pm

re: #47 Shiplord Kirel, Friend of Moose and Squirrel

FB friend:

I was thinking the same thing. The longer Assange is in the UK, the worse his chances are of leaving.

50
Old Liberal  Apr 11, 2019 • 12:20:22pm

re: #32 Eclectic Cyborg

I’m a Christian myself but I’ve always found it odd that God would say “No sex before marriage and no masturbation either”. I mean, I get that obviously people, especially women, married younger in Biblical times. Still though, to say that young people must abstain from intercourse while at the same time providing them no alternative avenue for sexual release seems like a plan that is destined to fail.

For what it’s worth, I don’t personally believe the Bible expressly prohibits masturbation. Jesus never specifically mentioned it and the scriptures usually used to justify it as inappropriate are often misinterpreted.

Also, I’m sure it would not shock you to know that the vast majority of Christians I know ended up having sex before marriage. Funny, that.

Which brings one to the entire “forgiveness “ angle and whether one feels sufficiently regretful to earn forgiveness which is supposedly freely given. And since we are to forgive 70 times 7 I guess you can fuck at least 490 times without worry. YMMV

51
Scottish Dragon  Apr 11, 2019 • 12:21:49pm

re: #48 Eclectic Cyborg

The crux of it is that this chained-down role player is meant to be a survivor needing resources ― not a battle buddy in danger of being assaulted.

“The description is meant to be a play on words,” Savage said. “The role player represents a sexual assault victim and the chains represent obstacles the victim may face. The idea is that a victim doesn’t have to be alone while going through the process.”

For example, soldiers might have to come up with the phone number to report an assault, or be tested on their knowledge of the particulars of restricted versus unrestricted reporting.

Surely they could have come up with a better metaphor for breaking free of sexual assault.

Imagine being at the table and hearing: “Hey guys, I’ve got an awesome idea!” followed by this.

Sigh…

I maintain that this is:

1) a 1978 Mad Lib gone badly wrong

2) Some poor sonafabitch got tasked with this 2 days ago and put this idea out after 8 hours of drinking because the CoC was demanding something …

3) This is really expert trolling and it isn’t real

52
ObserverArt  Apr 11, 2019 • 12:24:53pm

re: #36 Backwoods_Sleuth

“illigally”

At least they don’t seem to have ill eagles.

53
Barefoot Grin  Apr 11, 2019 • 12:25:26pm
54
lawhawk  Apr 11, 2019 • 12:25:43pm

Israel’s Beresheet lander was in process of trying to land on the moon, and Plait just noted that things just went sideways:

55
Archangelus  Apr 11, 2019 • 12:26:02pm
56
Old Liberal  Apr 11, 2019 • 12:27:17pm

re: #45 lawhawk

All will get rubber stamped into the judiciary. The GOP is intent on remaking the judiciary in its own regressive image.

However the Federal Court can be expanded by Congress, correct? He who packs last packs best?

57
William Lewis  Apr 11, 2019 • 12:28:09pm

re: #50 Old Liberal

Which brings one to the entire “forgiveness “ angle and whether one feels sufficiently regretful to earn forgiveness which is supposedly freely given. And since we are to forgive 70 times 7 I guess you can fuck at least 490 times without worry. YMMV

The thing people don’t get is the use of metaphor and hyperbola in Jesus teaching. 70 times 7 simply means “always” by giving a large number. No one would ever actually keep track of that number, rather it simply means God will always forgive those who are sorry (aka repent) and so should you. Always.

As my priest put it, God doesn’t need to have his mind changed about us. We already have grace once we wake up and accept it. No - that is the problem - we have to change our minds about God and understand that not only are we worthy of being forgiven, we already are. Most humans, however, before they can make that leap of faith (if you’ll forgive the phrase) need a scapegoat to hang all their sins upon. That’s where the sacrifice of Christ actually comes into play. God didn’t need it but humans did.

58
Mike Lamb  Apr 11, 2019 • 12:29:42pm

re: #39 Backwoods_Sleuth

Kellyanne is an idiot

[Embedded content]

From the story:

Craig is the first known major Democratic figure to be charged in one of the probes stemming from Mueller’s investigation.

Craig was a partner at the New York-based law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, which assisted GOP lobbyist and former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort in his work lobbying for pro-Russia politicians in Ukraine.

“Major democratic figure”? What? He was the former White House counsel. White House counsel is an important position, but calling him a major democratic figure is more than a stretch.

The indictment, of course, had nothing to do with his time as White House counsel. The headlines, while accurate, are grossly misleading.

59
ObserverArt  Apr 11, 2019 • 12:30:22pm

re: #44 Rocky-in-Connecticut

Well, sort of correct. the modern Republican Party guided by Libertarians now don’t have to take responsibility for anything because taking responsibility has been completely dropped from the ideology.

Libertarianism is about Freedom… only. Responsibility for their actions has nothing to do with them and is nothing but a barrier in the way of entitled profit. Any responsibility is either socialized or denied in the first place.

When is the last time a modern Republican has used the word “responsibility” in a personal conduct or business context in public?

Oh come on!

I’m sure the Republicans use the word “responsibility” all the time.

When criticizing Democrats for things like the budget, taxes, health insurance, the military…

60
Old Liberal  Apr 11, 2019 • 12:31:15pm

re: #57 William Lewis

The thing people don’t get is the use of metaphor and hyperbola in Jesus teaching. 70 times 7 simply means “always” by giving a large number. No one would ever actually keep track of that number, rather it simply means God will always forgive those who are sorry (aka repent) and so should you. Always.

As my priest put it, God doesn’t need to have his mind changed about us. We already have grace once we wake up and accept it. No - that is the problem - we have to change our minds about God and understand that not only are we worthy of being forgiven, we already are. Most humans, however, before they can make that leap of faith (if you’ll forgive the phrase) need a scapegoat to hang all their sins upon. That’s where the sacrifice of Christ actually comes into play. God didn’t need it but humans did.

I’ve heard that before but I thought I’d get Anymoused” if I said you have unlimited regretful fucking. Only about 10% of mine were regretful.

61
Archangelus  Apr 11, 2019 • 12:32:09pm
62
ObserverArt  Apr 11, 2019 • 12:32:12pm

re: #49 makeitstop

I was thinking the same thing. The longer Assange is in the UK, the worse his chances are of leaving.

Don’t worry Eddie Snowden will have his buddy Vlad keep Julian safe.

63
Dave In Austin  Apr 11, 2019 • 12:35:24pm

Is it particularly vile out today or is it just me?

64
retired cynic  Apr 11, 2019 • 12:35:25pm

Black Hole Photo, at last!

.
.
.
.
.
.

65
Shiplord Kirel, Friend of Moose and Squirrel  Apr 11, 2019 • 12:37:31pm

re: #49 makeitstop

I was thinking the same thing. The longer Assange is in the UK, the worse his chances are of leaving.

Getting to him would be a tall order, but not impossible if it were a high enough priority. There is much to gain and not a lot to lose for them. In the worst case, getting caught red-handed, they could at least mitigate the damage by ordering their global network of conspiracy stooges to screech “false flag” practically in unison.

66
Backwoods_Sleuth  Apr 11, 2019 • 12:38:54pm
67
Archangelus  Apr 11, 2019 • 12:39:00pm

re: #64 retired cynic

Black Hole Photo, at last!

.
.
.
.
.
.

[Embedded content]

No, THIS is the real black hole, in greater resolution…. /

;)

68
ObserverArt  Apr 11, 2019 • 12:39:14pm

re: #63 Dave In Austin

Is it particularly vile out today or is it just me?

Well its now 81° here in Columbus on April 11th, and I find that too hot for the time of the year.

Oh, wait…you mean the political scene, right?

Been bad for awhile, but Trump seems to have opened up more chaos now that he is trying to stifle the Mueller Report, so that brings out all the Trump supporters and it has gotten worse the last two weeks.

69
Chrysicat  Apr 11, 2019 • 12:39:30pm

Please, someone here, talk me off this ledge. I was feeling a whole lot better until I learned of the parent tweet to this one.

70
Dave In Austin  Apr 11, 2019 • 12:39:55pm

Here’s the blank

71
Scottish Dragon  Apr 11, 2019 • 12:40:37pm

re: #70 Dave In Austin

[Embedded content]

David Letterman really looking like hell these days…

72
lawhawk  Apr 11, 2019 • 12:42:04pm

re: #69 Chrysicat

The DOJ could charge him with espionage and conspiracy to commit espionage. They could consolidate charges from the Manning case through later events, including the 2016 election interference.

Could they charge him for publishing information? That’s a possibility, but the DOJ could also just go for the conspiracy charges to avoid the 1A questions.

73
Dave In Austin  Apr 11, 2019 • 12:43:27pm

re: #68 ObserverArt

Not particularly the weather….. ;0/

74
KGxvi  Apr 11, 2019 • 12:43:54pm

re: #56 Old Liberal

However the Federal Court can be expanded by Congress, correct? He who packs last packs best?

Yes. But there is also near constant turn over within the judiciary. Either because lower court judges retire, die, or take senior status. At the district court level (trial courts), from 1981 through 2016 (Reagan through Obama) the average number of appointments was 143 per term. Trump is currently at 58 district court judges essentially 60% through his term, so he’s actually behind the pace.

At the Circuit Court level (appellate courts) the average has been 34 judges per term. That’s where Trump is way ahead, as he’s appointed 37 judges so far. Those appointments are, arguably, the most important judicial appointments because - as Justice Sotomayor was criticized for saying (even though she was right) - those are the courts where a lot of judicial policy is crafted. The Supreme Court will usually fashion a rule/test, but it’s often the appellate courts that use those rules/tests to put meat on the bone.

(handy chart here)

(edited to clear up a point)

75
Chrysicat  Apr 11, 2019 • 12:44:05pm

re: #71 Scottish Dragon

David Letterman really looking like hell these days…

Oh, yeah.

Assange looks 60-plus there, not under-50.

Which is strange, as I could have sworn he still looked “like himself” when the last pic of him and his cat was taken.

76
Dave In Austin  Apr 11, 2019 • 12:44:05pm

re: #71 Scottish Dragon

Don’t bring Dave into it……

77
Backwoods_Sleuth  Apr 11, 2019 • 12:45:14pm
78
KGxvi  Apr 11, 2019 • 12:46:18pm

re: #66 Backwoods_Sleuth

Which border?

79
Backwoods_Sleuth  Apr 11, 2019 • 12:46:35pm

re: #75 Chrysicat

Oh, yeah.

Assange looks 60-plus there, not under-50.

Which is strange, as I could have sworn he still looked “like himself” when the last pic of him and his cat was taken.

The cat, apparently, was taken away to a cat rescue sanctuary some time ago.

80
ObserverArt  Apr 11, 2019 • 12:46:53pm

Breaking Ohio news.

Mike DeWine just signed Ohio’s Heartbeat abortion restriction law.

Fuck DeWine. I hope the women of this state that voted for this little career “taker” politician understand what they did to their sisters in this state.

And the men that voted for him…fuck you too. Assholes.

81
Backwoods_Sleuth  Apr 11, 2019 • 12:47:22pm

re: #78 KGxvi

Which border?

I’m sure trump has no clue.

BTW…look at Bolton and Huckaboo over at the right looking all smug.

82
Backwoods_Sleuth  Apr 11, 2019 • 12:48:53pm
83
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Apr 11, 2019 • 12:49:53pm

re: #78 KGxvi

Which border?

Russia also borders on N Korea… for 17 kilometers along the Tyumen River. I once pointed out to my Finnish friends that only ONE COUNTRY separates them from Kim Jong Un

84
Old Liberal  Apr 11, 2019 • 12:50:24pm

re: #74 KGxvi

Yes. But there is also near constant turn over within the judiciary. Either because lower court judges retire, die, or take senior status. At the district court level (trial courts), from 1981 through 2016 (Reagan through Obama) the average number of appointments was 143 per term. Trump is currently at 58 district court judges essentially 60% through his term, so he’s actually behind the pace.

At the Circuit Court level (appellate courts) the average has been 34 judges per term. That’s where Trump is way ahead, as he’s appointed 37 judges so far. Those appointments are, arguably, the most important judicial appointments because - as Justice Sotomayor was criticized for say, rightly - those are the courts where a lot of judicial policy is crafted. The Supreme Court will usually fashion a rule/test, but it’s often the appellate courts that use those rules/tests to put meat on the bone.

(handy chart here)

Yes but the Congress can expand every level, so they can balance back to pre dumpf time. Any single judge is a problem but at least panels could be more balanced, correct? Twenty judges instead of 10 in a court?

85
Backwoods_Sleuth  Apr 11, 2019 • 12:50:25pm

moron

86
KGxvi  Apr 11, 2019 • 12:51:15pm

re: #83 Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))

I’m sure he’s talking about the Korean borders, but I’m not entirely sure why. Also, can we use that quote out of context to rile up Q that he’s using Russian and Chinese military to guard the US border? Or would they actually be ok with that?

87
Backwoods_Sleuth  Apr 11, 2019 • 12:52:11pm

re: #86 KGxvi

I’m sure he’s talking about the Korean borders, but I’m not entirely sure why. Also, can we use that quote out of context to rile up Q that he’s using Russian and Chinese military to guard the US border? Or would they actually be ok with that?

Shades of Red Dawn…

88
Backwoods_Sleuth  Apr 11, 2019 • 12:52:47pm
89
Belafon  Apr 11, 2019 • 12:53:12pm

re: #69 Chrysicat

As someone pointed out somewhere I read, the charge against him is that he pushed for the other person to go looking. It’s one thing to receive information obtained illegally, it’s quite different to tell them how to get it.

90
ObserverArt  Apr 11, 2019 • 12:54:12pm

re: #86 KGxvi

I’m sure he’s talking about the Korean borders, but I’m not entirely sure why. Also, can we use that quote out of context to rile up Q that he’s using Russian and Chinese military to guard the US border? Or would they actually be ok with that?

Haven’t you heard?

Most of the people that back Trump, and most likely the Q-nuts even more, think Trump can do no wrong. They are okay with anything he does and some have even agreed that if Trump’s shoots someone out on 5th Avenue it was probably for a good reason.

91
Belafon  Apr 11, 2019 • 12:54:27pm

re: #88 Backwoods_Sleuth

If God can fit in your head, he isn’t a god

92
Backwoods_Sleuth  Apr 11, 2019 • 12:55:01pm
93
Old Liberal  Apr 11, 2019 • 12:55:58pm

re: #80 ObserverArt

Breaking Ohio news.

Mike DeWine just signed Ohio’s Heartbeat abortion restriction law.

Fuck DeWine. I hope the women of this state that voted for this little career “taker” politician understand what they did to their sisters in this state.

And the men that voted for him…fuck you too. Assholes.

“What Happened to Ohio” is the new “What Happened to Kansas. Religion marries racism and authoritarianism to create fascism.

94
Belafon  Apr 11, 2019 • 12:56:22pm

re: #92 Backwoods_Sleuth

They might have more luck if they had referenced exhonorations that occurred after released information.

95
Citizen K  Apr 11, 2019 • 12:56:58pm

re: #80 ObserverArt

Breaking Ohio news.

Mike DeWine just signed Ohio’s Heartbeat abortion restriction law.

Fuck DeWine. I hope the women of this state that voted for this little career “taker” politician understand what they did to their sisters in this state.

And the men that voted for him…fuck you too. Assholes.

And once again, we’re reliant on an increasingly crammed court system to save us, where Trump is getting all the freedom to reshape the judiciary in his image.

We’re increasingly getting to a point where Abortion may not just be outlawed for most of the nation, but we may get more laws like the one in Texas demanding execution as punishment passing through and being upheld. And that fucking terrifies me. The backslide is so fucking rapid.

96
Backwoods_Sleuth  Apr 11, 2019 • 12:58:16pm

One of my earlier canine companions used to do this all the time. He’d let loose with a long squeaky fart, look around and then stare at his butt with a look that said “WTF WAS THAT???”

97
KGxvi  Apr 11, 2019 • 12:58:30pm

re: #84 Old Liberal

Yes but the Congress can expand every level, so they can balance back to pre dumpf time. Any single judge is a problem but at least panels could be more balanced, correct? Twenty judges instead of 10 in a court?

Yeah, Congress can add more judges at any level (assuming the president signs the bill or there’s a veto override, court size is statutory). One issue is that as it currently stands at the appellate level you have three randomly assigned judges to hear a case. In theory that can be changed to 5 or 7 or some other number. But currently most circuits have 11-15 judges (the Ninth has the most with 29; the First only has 6, and the 6th and 5th have 16 and 17 respectively).

Among active circuit court judges, 52 were appointed by Obama, 70 were appointed by either GWB or Clinton, 16 by Reagan and GHWB, and there’s one Ford appointee hanging on. The next president (assuming they take office in 2021) will mostly be replacing Reagan, GHWB, and early Clinton appointees. So it’s fairly likely that the next Democratic president is going to be able to rebalance the court just because of the ebbs/flows of history.

The much more troubling aspect of the McConnell court packing scheme is that a lot of these judges are either unqualified or have legal views well outside the mainstream. But as I’ve said in the past, as long as there’s a majority to confirm nominations, there isn’t much that can be done.

98
lawhawk  Apr 11, 2019 • 12:59:04pm
99
Backwoods_Sleuth  Apr 11, 2019 • 1:00:02pm
100
ObserverArt  Apr 11, 2019 • 1:00:26pm

re: #96 Backwoods_Sleuth

[Embedded content]

One of my earlier canine companions used to do this all the time. He’d let loose with a long squeaky fart, look around and then stare at his butt with a look that said “WTF WAS THAT???”

Karl has that “who did that” look going in the image with the Tweet.

101
Backwoods_Sleuth  Apr 11, 2019 • 1:03:45pm
102
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Apr 11, 2019 • 1:03:53pm

re: #99 Backwoods_Sleuth

Why are you using this photo of President Obama to report on the indictment of Greg Craig for conduct Craig engaged in as a private lawyer after he left the White House? Seriously @thehill. Clean this up.

The narrative and the spin now is that the Trump campaign was the victim of spying and nefarious activity on the part of the Obama administration.

They are really getting good traction with this and are going to run with it for all it’s worth.

PS; remember how they always referred to “Clinton supporter Harvey Weinstein” in any reports on him?

103
Backwoods_Sleuth  Apr 11, 2019 • 1:04:25pm
104
Backwoods_Sleuth  Apr 11, 2019 • 1:05:27pm

re: #102 Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))

The narrative and the spin now is that the Trump campaign was the victim of spying and nefarious activity on the part of the Obama administration.

They are really getting good traction with this and are going to run with it for all it’s worth.

PS; remember how they always referred to “Clinton supporter Harvey Weinstein” in any reports on him?

105
ObserverArt  Apr 11, 2019 • 1:06:27pm

re: #102 Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))

The narrative and the spin now is that the Trump campaign was the victim of spying and nefarious activity on the part of the Obama administration.

They are really getting good traction with this and are going to run with it for all it’s worth.

PS; remember how they always referred to “Clinton supporter Harvey Weinstein” in any reports on him?

Investigation now means spying.

106
Backwoods_Sleuth  Apr 11, 2019 • 1:06:57pm
107
lawhawk  Apr 11, 2019 • 1:07:51pm

So, this is how it’s going to be….

Mueller was a plant and part of the conspiracy against Trump, but hey look, Obama WH counsel is indicted on FARA violations, so it’s all good. It’s all Obama’s fault so let’s look there instead.

These trolls are all over spewing this nonsense.

1) Greg Craig was in the Obama WH.
2) Craig left the Obama WH and went to Skadden Arps (a huge law firm in NYC with international reach).
3) Craig goes and works with Manafort on various issues.
4) Manafort gets caught in Mueller’s net, including on FARA violations as an undeclared foreign agent.
5) Craig is likewise caught for FARA violations.

None of this relates to Obama or the Obama WH. It relates to Craig going and doing work for Manafort that was in violation of FARA. He became an unregistered foreign agent, just as surely as Manafort was.

The argument that this somehow doesn’t reflect badly on Trump is wasted on these trolls, since Trump hired Manafort and has been Manafort’s buddy for 30 years (along with Stone). All these guys are in Trump’s circle because they play fast and loose with the law. That’s what Trump does, and he wants people just like him advising him.

Trump was warned about Flynn by Obama - who also got hit with FARA violations by Mueller, before he essentially cleaned up that in his filings/plea deal. Trump ignored Obama and hired him to key positions, including on the transition and the NSA.

So tell me again how this is somehow Obama’s fault or it falls on Obama that a guy who used to work in Obama’s WH did crimes after he left the Obama WH?

108
Old Liberal  Apr 11, 2019 • 1:09:09pm

re: #97 KGxvi

Yeah, Congress can add more judges at any level (assuming the president signs the bill or there’s a veto override, court size is statutory). One issue is that as it currently stands at the appellate level you have three randomly assigned judges to hear a case. In theory that can be changed to 5 or 7 or some other number. But currently most circuits have 11-15 judges (the Ninth has the most with 29; the First only has 6, and the 6th and 5th have 16 and 17 respectively).

Among active circuit court judges, 52 were appointed by Obama, 70 were appointed by either GWB or Clinton, 16 by Reagan and GHWB, and there’s one Ford appointee hanging on. The next president (assuming they take office in 2021) will mostly be replacing Reagan, GHWB, and early Clinton appointees. So it’s fairly likely that the next Democratic president is going to be able to rebalance the court just because of the ebbs/flows of history.

The much more troubling aspect of the McConnell court packing scheme is that a lot of these judges are either unqualified or have legal views well outside the mainstream. But as I’ve said in the past, as long as there’s a majority to confirm nominations, there isn’t much that can be done.

Thanks. Love the factual statistics you presented

109
Backwoods_Sleuth  Apr 11, 2019 • 1:10:31pm

Junior has no idea what constitutes a twitter ratio

110
BlueGrl21  Apr 11, 2019 • 1:12:25pm

re: #91 Belafon

If God can fit in your head, he isn’t a god

I’m a Christian too and I think God really doesn’t give a shit about what two(+) consenting adults choose to do anywhere.

111
Man, DangerMan  Apr 11, 2019 • 1:13:40pm

re: #109 Backwoods_Sleuth

The President needs to open up the libel laws. I’m getting sick of this. Time to make moves against these people.

ms owens: the executive branch does not write laws

112
freetoken  Apr 11, 2019 • 1:14:56pm

re: #111 Man, DangerMan

ms owens: the executive branch does not write laws

If only Hitler was in control…

113
Jay C  Apr 11, 2019 • 1:14:58pm

re: #109 Backwoods_Sleuth

[Embedded content]

Junior has no idea what constitutes a twitter ratio

And “libel laws” - and the President’s role therein - can be safely added to list of “Things Candace Owens Knows Nothing About But Still Shoots her Mouth Off Over”.

Which list has got to be getting pretty long by now….

114
Backwoods_Sleuth  Apr 11, 2019 • 1:18:18pm
115
BlueGrl21  Apr 11, 2019 • 1:19:18pm

re: #111 Man, DangerMan

ms owens: the executive branch does not write laws

* Head hits desk *

Does even one of them have any clue as to how the branches of government work?

116
Eclectic Cyborg  Apr 11, 2019 • 1:20:17pm

re: #111 Man, DangerMan

ms owens: the executive branch does not write laws

It just ignores them.

117
Backwoods_Sleuth  Apr 11, 2019 • 1:20:17pm

re: #115 BlueGrl21

* Head hits desk *

Does even one of them have any clue as to how the branches of government work?

hahahahahahahaahahahaaaaaa

118
Backwoods_Sleuth  Apr 11, 2019 • 1:23:30pm

found this to use for future rhetorical questions: ؟

119
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Apr 11, 2019 • 1:23:58pm

re: #115 BlueGrl21

* Head hits desk *

Does even one of them have any clue as to how the branches of government work?

They know that most of their target audience does not.

120
Belafon  Apr 11, 2019 • 1:24:22pm

re: #109 Backwoods_Sleuth

Junior has no idea what constitutes a twitter ratio

Is Candace going to sue Candace for saying she likes Hitler when she doesn’t, or is she going to sue Candace for saying she doesn’t like Hitler when she does?

121
lawhawk  Apr 11, 2019 • 1:25:15pm

Well…. this is … unsurprising.

Hannity thinks this might somehow protect him from scrutiny or criminal prosecution? If anything he should realize that the Internet is forever, and there are ways of recovering all those tweets.

122
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Apr 11, 2019 • 1:25:30pm

re: #120 Belafon

Is Candace going to sue Candace for saying she likes Hitler when she doesn’t, or is she going to sue Candace for saying she doesn’t like Hitler when she does?

whatever suits their rhetorical purpose at the moment

123
Backwoods_Sleuth  Apr 11, 2019 • 1:26:57pm
124
jaunte  Apr 11, 2019 • 1:27:45pm

re: #109 Backwoods_Sleuth

She’s going to keep pretending it’s a NORMAL response, when asked a question about nationalism, to say Hitler’s main mistake was extending his Make Germany Great Again By Eliminating Untermenschen concept outside German borders, and anyone who claims she’s normalizing Hitler is taking it out of context.

125
Backwoods_Sleuth  Apr 11, 2019 • 1:28:57pm
126
Backwoods_Sleuth  Apr 11, 2019 • 1:31:16pm
127
Man, DangerMan  Apr 11, 2019 • 1:31:47pm

re: #118 Backwoods_Sleuth

found this to use for future rhetorical questions: ؟

are you asking us or telling us ؟

128
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Apr 11, 2019 • 1:33:53pm

re: #110 BlueGrl21

I’m a Christian too and I think God really doesn’t give a shit about what two(+) consenting adults choose to do anywhere.

at least in private and in their spare time…

129
Backwoods_Sleuth  Apr 11, 2019 • 1:34:53pm
130
Man, DangerMan  Apr 11, 2019 • 1:35:15pm

re: #124 jaunte

She’s going to keep pretending it’s a NORMAL response, when asked a question about nationalism, to say Hitler’s main mistake was extending his Make Germany Great Again By Eliminating Untermenschen concept outside German borders, and anyone who claims she’s normalizing Hitler is taking it out of context.

so it’s ok to kill arbitrarily as long as you stay within the lines?

131
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Apr 11, 2019 • 1:35:53pm

re: #124 jaunte

She’s going to keep pretending it’s a NORMAL response, when asked a question about nationalism, to say Hitler’s main mistake was extending his Make Germany Great Again By Eliminating Untermenschen concept outside German borders, and anyone who claims she’s normalizing Hitler is taking it out of context.

the whole alt-right movement is about portraying fascism and white supremacism as just points along the political spectrum and not as anathema to everything America stands for and has even fought wars against.

132
Backwoods_Sleuth  Apr 11, 2019 • 1:36:37pm
133
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Apr 11, 2019 • 1:37:37pm

re: #130 Man, DangerMan

so it’s ok to kill arbitrarily as long as you stay within the lines?

they just made the mistake of keeping meticulous records and not destroying them all in time…

There are records of local occupation forces sending invoices for the cost of the bullets they used to execute civilians.

134
Backwoods_Sleuth  Apr 11, 2019 • 1:39:00pm

Adam is running for governor

135
Backwoods_Sleuth  Apr 11, 2019 • 1:40:25pm

good grief

136
Belafon  Apr 11, 2019 • 1:41:12pm

re: #135 Backwoods_Sleuth

good grief

There’s you an ad. And I would use to mean he’s going to kick everyone off of Medicare.

137
Man, DangerMan  Apr 11, 2019 • 1:41:58pm

re: #58 Mike Lamb

From the story:

Craig is the first known major Democratic figure to be charged in one of the probes stemming from Mueller’s investigation.

Craig was a partner at the New York-based law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, which assisted GOP lobbyist and former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort in his work lobbying for pro-Russia politicians in Ukraine.

“Major democratic figure”? What? He was the former White House counsel. White House counsel is an important position, but calling him a major democratic figure is more than a stretch.

The indictment, of course, had nothing to do with his time as White House counsel. The headlines, while accurate, are grossly misleading.

let’s take that rhetorical thingy out for a test drive:

if it’s good, proper, and ‘whew we finally got one’ to indict a ‘major democratic figure’ with lying to federal officials, does that hold for republicans who lied to federal officials, and/or congress ؟

138
DodgerFan1988  Apr 11, 2019 • 1:45:55pm

So-called Mainstream Media, stop calling it an abortion ban law and call it for what it really is, women control law.

139
Eclectic Cyborg  Apr 11, 2019 • 1:47:29pm

re: #129 Backwoods_Sleuth

Remarkably well preserved.

140
Dread Pirate Union AFL-CIO  Apr 11, 2019 • 1:47:57pm

re: #121 lawhawk

Well…. this is … unsurprising.

[Embedded content]

Hannity thinks this might somehow protect him from scrutiny or criminal prosecution? If anything he should realize that the Internet is forever, and there are ways of recovering all those tweets.

No, there’s always copies.

141
Jay C  Apr 11, 2019 • 1:51:17pm

re: #133 Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))

they just made the mistake of keeping meticulous records and not destroying them all in time…

There are records of local occupation forces sending invoices for the cost of the bullets they used to execute civilians.

And there was a constant correspondence, during the war, from officials of the German railway company, dunning various agencies (Gestapo, SS, etc.) over the rates and cost of the transport of victims to the various extermination camps, like Auschwitz.

Which, I think, was resolved by agreeing to class said victims as “freight”, rather than “passengers”…

142
Backwoods_Sleuth  Apr 11, 2019 • 1:52:55pm
143
jaunte  Apr 11, 2019 • 1:54:29pm

re: #142 Backwoods_Sleuth

“It was a statement you’d expect to come from the President’s private Attorney General.”

144
jaunte  Apr 11, 2019 • 1:55:55pm
145
Man, DangerMan  Apr 11, 2019 • 1:56:24pm

re: #143 jaunte

“It was a statement you’d expect to come from the President’s private Attorney General.”

better would have been ‘from the president’s private attorney.”

146
Backwoods_Sleuth  Apr 11, 2019 • 1:57:40pm

O_o

147
Backwoods_Sleuth  Apr 11, 2019 • 1:58:27pm
148
Mike Lamb  Apr 11, 2019 • 2:00:45pm

re: #146 Backwoods_Sleuth

[Embedded content]

O_o

OK…I’m willing to cut Manchin a lot of slack because he’s a Dem senator in a blood red state, and he’s miles better than any GOP alternative. With that said, what in the living fuck is he doing with this? This is one where I feel like the DNC could say, “Hey Joe, you want our money and support, and to trade off the “D” behind you? You endorse our candidates.”

149
freetoken  Apr 11, 2019 • 2:01:27pm

re: #138 DodgerFan1988

The atavists are so out of place in the 21st century, but because they have exploited the existential angst of humans to garner support for outdated ideas there are enough said voters to bring about this nonsense.

Notice this story from three years ago:

Scientists Grow Full-Sized, Beating Human Hearts From Stem Cells

If a beating heart is what defines a “person”, are those lab grown organs persons?? What about if we grow human organs, such as hearts, inside of other mammals, like pigs, which we can do now?

What anti-abortionists are hiding, in almost all cases, is their belief in magic, namely, that they are magical beings that were created either before they were conceived, or at time of conception.

This runs contra to anything and everything we have discovered so far - that mammals develop brains throughout gestation, and organs develop before cognition.

But to accept that we are colonies of cells that gain cognition and self awareness over time is something anti-abortionists can’t accept, because it takes the magic away.

150
Eclectic Cyborg  Apr 11, 2019 • 2:01:44pm

Why must we be stuck with Joe Manchin? He’s just a Republican with a D beside his name.

151
Man, DangerMan  Apr 11, 2019 • 2:02:47pm

re: #144 jaunte

House Ways and Means member Bill Pascrell is suggesting holding Steve Mnuchin in contempt of Congress over Trump’s tax returns: “The way Mnuchin talked and the way he writes, he’s very dismissive of the legislative branch of government.

Pascrell suggests contempt of Congress for Mnuchin over Trump’s tax returns
He also questioned why Mnuchin responded instead of the IRS Commissioner.

i think this was a tactical error.
if they’d left it alone the could have hung Rettig out either way

instead mnuchin inserted himself in between congress and the irs because he/they thought he’d have more clout in shutting this down faster.

what he did instead was make himself responsible by becoming the roadblock

proof? look how fast they’ve started talking contempt of congress.

152
Eclectic Cyborg  Apr 11, 2019 • 2:04:14pm

Wouldn’t they need some GOP votes for a contempt finding?

153
Dave In Austin  Apr 11, 2019 • 2:04:55pm
154
Man, DangerMan  Apr 11, 2019 • 2:05:15pm

re: #150 Eclectic Cyborg

Why must we be stuck with Joe Manchin? He’s just a Republican with a D beside his name.

until we gain a large enough D count in the senate without him that he doesnt matter, he matters.

155
Man, DangerMan  Apr 11, 2019 • 2:07:44pm

re: #153 Dave In Austin

In a sovereign decision Ecuador withdrew the asylum status to Julian Assange after his repeated violations to international conventions and daily-life protocols. #EcuadorSoberano

interesting all those yammering heads yelling this morning that it was ‘illegal’ and ‘unfair’ to revoke a claim for asylum

hmmm…

156
ObserverArt  Apr 11, 2019 • 2:09:53pm

re: #150 Eclectic Cyborg

Why must we be stuck with Joe Manchin? He’s just a Republican with a D beside his name.

You’ve asked that how many times?

You live in a state that would as you said never vote for a Democrat. You should know why. I bet you’d take a Joe Manchin in your state.

Sure he is an ass. But he does vote with Democrats a lot of times too.

And keep in mind, you need the D numbers to get control of the Senate so we can have the Senate leadership. At that point we can ignore Manchin or sit on his damn head.

157
jaunte  Apr 11, 2019 • 2:11:04pm

Lawfare:

“…Today, Congress more often relies on the criminal contempt statute. As we explained before,

2 U.S.C. § 192…makes it a misdemeanor to refuse to testify or produce documents. Under 2 U.S.C. § 194, the committee and full chamber of Congress must certify the contempt referral, which is sent to a U.S. Attorney ‘whose duty it shall be to bring the matter before the grand jury for its action.’ Notably, a criminal contempt charge was certified against Attorney General Eric Holder, but the U.S. Attorney refused to bring it before the grand jury.
lawfareblog.com

158
Jay C  Apr 11, 2019 • 2:12:18pm

re: #150 Eclectic Cyborg

Why must we be stuck with Joe Manchin? He’s just a Republican with a D beside his name.

Because it’s West Virginia. He’d be replaced by a Republican with an (R) beside his name.

159
Backwoods_Sleuth  Apr 11, 2019 • 2:14:37pm
160
Backwoods_Sleuth  Apr 11, 2019 • 2:17:59pm
161
jaunte  Apr 11, 2019 • 2:20:10pm
162
ObserverArt  Apr 11, 2019 • 2:21:22pm

re: #159 Backwoods_Sleuth

[Embedded content]

Katie comes prepared and makes bigwigs look really stupid and a problem in this country.

Good job.

I happen to think some of these new Democrats are going to cut into some of Trump’s base. Even some of those idiots may start to understand why Katie asked these questions and what party is looking out for the little people.

163
Romantic Heretic  Apr 11, 2019 • 2:25:29pm

re: #41 ericblair

The Russian government loves babbling on about imaginary violations of international law as well. It works since 99% of the population hasn’t the foggiest what international law is or isn’t.

And when it is explained to them they don’t like it.

164
jaunte  Apr 11, 2019 • 2:28:32pm
165
ObserverArt  Apr 11, 2019 • 2:29:22pm

And then it hit me…

Elton Barr…he writes the hits for Trump
166
Eclectic Cyborg  Apr 11, 2019 • 2:31:46pm

re: #165 ObserverArt

Hold me closer, Tiny hander….

167
Hecuba's daughter  Apr 11, 2019 • 2:32:10pm

re: #162 ObserverArt

Katie comes prepared and makes bigwigs look really stupid and a problem in this country.

Good job.

I happen to think some of these new Democrats are going to cut into some of Trump’s base. Even some of those idiots may start to understand why Katie asked these questions and what party is looking out for the little people.

Do you actually think Trumpsters will listen to this exchange? Or will they instead get an edited version from their Fox sources, if even that? Please — these people are uneducable. They hear what they want to hear; they see only lies or distortions. I don’t know if Fox hosts Democratic town halls (other than Bernie or Tulsi or Yang or Williamson) whether they might get an inkling of the truth but I wouldn’t bet on it.

168
Joe Bacon 🌹  Apr 11, 2019 • 2:34:15pm

re: #167 Hecuba’s daughter

Do you actually think Trumpsters will listen to this exchange? Or will they instead get an edited version from their Fox sources, if even that? Please — these people are uneducable. They hear what they want to hear; they see only lies or distortions. I don’t know if Fox hosts Democratic town halls (other than Bernie or Tulsi or Yang or Williamson) whether they might get an inkling of the truth but I wouldn’t bet on it.

Won’t work with brainwashed Jesusbot relatives who drink the Prosperity Gawspell Kool Aid. They always defend the rich because Pulpit Pimp Preacher tells them that Gawd blesses those who love him with riches!

169
Shiplord Kirel, Friend of Moose and Squirrel  Apr 11, 2019 • 2:34:47pm

re: #153 Dave In Austin

“And I am fed up with playing host to a feces-smearing hermit who also spies on my family.”

170
Shiplord Kirel, Friend of Moose and Squirrel  Apr 11, 2019 • 2:38:18pm

Can you imagine the sense of relief among the Ecuadoran embassy staff?

“We’re finally rid of that creepy bastard and his nasty cat and his weird friends. PARTY TIME!”

171
KGxvi  Apr 11, 2019 • 2:39:21pm

re: #162 ObserverArt

Katie comes prepared and makes bigwigs look really stupid and a problem in this country.

Good job.

I happen to think some of these new Democrats are going to cut into some of Trump’s base. Even some of those idiots may start to understand why Katie asked these questions and what party is looking out for the little people.

For reference in Porter’s district rent for a one bedroom is around $1900/mo and a 2 bedroom will run you $2400-2600/mo. But then again, the median income in Irvine (which is most of her district, but not all) is $97.5k/yr

172
Hecuba's daughter  Apr 11, 2019 • 2:39:33pm

re: #168 Joe Bacon 🌹

Won’t work with brainwashed Jesusbot relatives who drink the Prosperity Gawspell Kool Aid. They always defend the rich because Pulpit Pimp Preacher tells them that Gawd blesses those who love him with riches!

And it won’t work with the Netanyahu worshippers or libertarians who care only about low taxes.

173
ObserverArt  Apr 11, 2019 • 2:39:58pm

re: #167 Hecuba’s daughter

Do you actually think Trumpsters will listen to this exchange? Or will they instead get an edited version from their Fox sources, if even that? Please — these people are uneducable. They hear what they want to hear; they see only lies or distortions. I don’t know if Fox hosts Democratic town halls (other than Bernie or Tulsi or Yang or Williamson) whether they might get an inkling of the truth but I wouldn’t bet on it.

Even idiots can look at their bank accounts.

Sometimes the word gets around too. How many of Trump’s base want the ACA and not Obamacare?

How did that happen?

Fox told them to hate Obamacare, and they do. But they love the ACA because it too helped their bank accounts. Fox can’t control that, and neither can the Republicans.

Simple cost of living and a decent living wage is no different than good health insurance.

And did I say all Trump backers? No. I said some of Trump’s base.

174
jaunte  Apr 11, 2019 • 2:48:50pm
175
Backwoods_Sleuth  Apr 11, 2019 • 2:48:50pm
176
A hollow voice says, Oringes...  Apr 11, 2019 • 2:50:14pm

re: #173 ObserverArt

Even idiots can look at their bank accounts.

Sometimes the word gets around too. How many of Trump’s base want the ACA and not Obamacare?

How did that happen?

Fox told them to hate Obamacare, and they do. But they love the ACA because it too helped their bank accounts. Fox can’t control that, and neither can the Republicans.

Simple cost of living and a decent living wage is no different than good health insurance.

And did I say all Trump backers? No. I said some of Trump’s base.

Also, Fox viewership in 2018 was about 2.2 million in prime time.

177
makeitstop  Apr 11, 2019 • 3:08:26pm

Everybody’s getting into the Weezer-related covers game nowadays. Here’s Todd Rundgren doing ‘Hashpipe.’

Todd Rundgren “Hashpipe”

Word has it that TR and Rivers are working together. Maybe Todd will cheer the little fella up some.

178
KGxvi  Apr 11, 2019 • 3:10:51pm

re: #176 A hollow voice says, Oringes…

Also, Fox viewership in 2018 was about 2.2 million in prime time.

Then they tell two friends and they tell two friends and they tell two friends…

179
gocart mozart  Apr 11, 2019 • 3:22:03pm
180
A hollow voice says, Oringes...  Apr 11, 2019 • 3:26:06pm

re: #178 KGxvi

Then they tell two friends and they tell two friends and they tell two friends…

Oh, sorry, I forgot we’re not supposed to suggest that everyone might not be brainwashed, and it’s not all hopeless. My bad.

181
HappyWarrior  Apr 11, 2019 • 3:26:06pm

re: #179 gocart mozart

[Embedded content]

The Texas GOP has a lot more in common with those who want Sharia than Rep Omar does. And unlike Trump she’s actually into holding the KSA accountable.

182
teleskiguy  Apr 11, 2019 • 3:29:17pm
183
KGxvi  Apr 11, 2019 • 3:30:18pm

re: #180 A hollow voice says, Oringes…

Oh, sorry, I forgot we’re not supposed to suggest that everyone might not be brainwashed, and it’s not all hopeless. My bad.

It was a joke on my part.

184
FormerDirtDart 🍕🐀  Apr 11, 2019 • 3:30:50pm

OK, what are everyone’s guesses on how many boosters SpaceX stick the landing?
1, 2 or 3?

185
gocart mozart  Apr 11, 2019 • 3:31:15pm
186
FormerDirtDart 🍕🐀  Apr 11, 2019 • 3:31:21pm

re: #184 FormerDirtDart 🍕🐀

OK, what are everyone’s guesses on how many boosters SpaceX stick the landing?
1, 2 or 3?

Oh yeah
T-minus 4 minutes

187
KGxvi  Apr 11, 2019 • 3:32:15pm

re: #181 HappyWarrior

The Texas GOP has a lot more in common with those who want Sharia than Rep Omar does. And unlike Trump she’s actually into holding the KSA accountable.

Saw a quote that someone testifying before the Texas legislature said something along the lines of “god’s law says…”

188
FormerDirtDart 🍕🐀  Apr 11, 2019 • 3:33:19pm

T-minus 2 now

189
Backwoods_Sleuth  Apr 11, 2019 • 3:33:24pm

oooooh

190
Dave In Austin  Apr 11, 2019 • 3:33:39pm

re: #186 FormerDirtDart 🍕🐀

Link please!

191
ObserverArt  Apr 11, 2019 • 3:33:44pm

re: #184 FormerDirtDart 🍕🐀

OK, what are everyone’s guesses on how many boosters SpaceX stick the landing?
1, 2 or 3?

Ooooo…forgot…running to link in. They haven’t launched yet I hope!

192
gocart mozart  Apr 11, 2019 • 3:35:36pm

And another

193
FormerDirtDart 🍕🐀  Apr 11, 2019 • 3:35:51pm

All sorts of VROOM

194
FormerDirtDart 🍕🐀  Apr 11, 2019 • 3:36:54pm

re: #193 FormerDirtDart 🍕🐀

All sorts of VROOM

through Max-Q

195
FormerDirtDart 🍕🐀  Apr 11, 2019 • 3:39:00pm

Side boosters heading home

196
FormerDirtDart 🍕🐀  Apr 11, 2019 • 3:39:34pm

Main core separated, 2nd stage up and running

197
Khal Wimpo (the extinguisher of tiki torches)  Apr 11, 2019 • 3:40:34pm

re: #178 KGxvi

Then they tell two friends and they tell two friends and they tell two friends…

… and don’t forget the real big devil lurking, which is AM talk radio, blanketing the workplaces of millions of uneducated white men spinning wrenches, smearing Bondo, and driving forklifts.

Warehouse down the street from me has it set to “Grandma Volume” all day, every day.

The friendly guys get angrier and angrier as the day goes on, and they’re told how much they should be resentful.

198
ObserverArt  Apr 11, 2019 • 3:41:44pm

re: #195 FormerDirtDart 🍕🐀

Side boosters heading home

Love the four camera shots.

199
FormerDirtDart 🍕🐀  Apr 11, 2019 • 3:43:33pm

Nailed both at the Cape

200
FormerDirtDart 🍕🐀  Apr 11, 2019 • 3:45:01pm

re: #198 ObserverArt

Love the four camera shots.

I’d like to see the fairings return/landings

201
teleskiguy  Apr 11, 2019 • 3:45:06pm
202
teleskiguy  Apr 11, 2019 • 3:45:46pm

Them’s some scary melons.

203
FormerDirtDart 🍕🐀  Apr 11, 2019 • 3:46:21pm

Yes, they landed the center core down range (way down range) on the boat

204
Dave In Austin  Apr 11, 2019 • 3:46:52pm

3 for 3 looks like a total success….. Drinks all around!

205
FormerDirtDart 🍕🐀  Apr 11, 2019 • 3:47:35pm

re: #204 Dave In Austin

3 for 3 looks like a total success….. Drinks all around!

206
William Lewis  Apr 11, 2019 • 3:47:41pm

re: #204 Dave In Austin

3 for 3 looks like a total success….. Drinks all around!

Wait till the payload is successfully where it needs to be.

207
ObserverArt  Apr 11, 2019 • 3:47:54pm

Wow. All three boosters recovered. The two side boosters side by side, which looked like a sci-fi movie landing on the cape, and then they put the middle booster on the drone ship out on the ocean. Freaking incredible.

208
teleskiguy  Apr 11, 2019 • 3:48:27pm

I reported this tweet to Twitter. Use the long form. These assholes are putting children’s lives in danger.

209
FormerDirtDart 🍕🐀  Apr 11, 2019 • 3:51:43pm
210
Belafon  Apr 11, 2019 • 3:53:56pm

re: #208 teleskiguy

211
teleskiguy  Apr 11, 2019 • 3:56:59pm

I used all 280 characters.

212
Eclectic Cyborg  Apr 11, 2019 • 3:59:47pm

re: #209 FormerDirtDart 🍕🐀

Jesus fucking Christ.

We have no functioning DOJ anymore. If these keeps up laws will become totally meaningless.

213
Blind Frog Belly White  Apr 11, 2019 • 4:07:50pm

WebMD email title: “Signs That You Might Have A Parasite”

And I thought,
1) Nobody did the dishes
2) Long blond hairs in the sink
3) All the leftovers are gone.
4) No dessert lasts longer than a single night.
5) The garbage can is full.
6) You keep running out of razor blades

214
Eclectic Cyborg  Apr 11, 2019 • 4:10:38pm

re: #213 Blind Frog Belly White

LOL.

One of my favorite scenes from House was where he told a woman that she had a “parasite” then goes on to explain said parasite and how it will grow and start to commune with other parasites and cost an insane amount of money.

The woman was pregnant.

215
FormerDirtDart 🍕🐀  Apr 11, 2019 • 4:10:42pm
216
Blind Frog Belly White  Apr 11, 2019 • 4:12:40pm

I read about Trump’s talking about Assange’s arrest:

“It’s not my thing. I know there is something having to do with Julian Assange. I’ve been seeing what’s happened with Assange… I know nothing really about him. It’s not my deal in life.”

And all I could think was…

“One book, entitled ‘Wikileaks and Me (Wikileaks Is Really My Thing, Baby), by Donald J. Trump’.”

217
Colère Tueur de Lapin  Apr 11, 2019 • 4:12:41pm

re: #211 teleskiguy

Well said, Teleski, well said.

We are living idiocracy. Here’s a thing my kid posted to faceplant that you may find illuminating.

218
Shiplord Kirel, Friend of Moose and Squirrel  Apr 11, 2019 • 4:13:03pm

This new model protects you from windmill noise cancer and other Deep State shenanigans.

219
FormerDirtDart 🍕🐀  Apr 11, 2019 • 4:17:11pm
220
Backwoods_Sleuth  Apr 11, 2019 • 4:23:37pm

JFC

221
Blind Frog Belly White  Apr 11, 2019 • 4:24:19pm

re: #219 FormerDirtDart 🍕🐀

[Embedded content]

“…a 9-9-9 plan for the border”?

You mean, simplistic, ill-conceived, and totally inadequate to the goal it’s supposed to achieve?

Maybe he can put it all in a 3-page bill for Trump to sign….

Now, mind you, Cain may have been on to something with the idea of the 3-page bill, given Trump’s 1st grade reading level and mayfly-on-meth attention span. But 3 pages might be asking too much of the old guy.

222
FormerDirtDart 🍕🐀  Apr 11, 2019 • 4:24:22pm
223
FormerDirtDart 🍕🐀  Apr 11, 2019 • 4:25:52pm
224
Blind Frog Belly White  Apr 11, 2019 • 4:26:39pm

re: #222 FormerDirtDart 🍕🐀

Meanwhile, Mrs. FBW and I await the news from our accountant. Hitherto, our Federal refund has always covered our State tax bill and then some. I’m figuring we’ll probably end up not only owing because of the reduced withholding, but also paying more overall because of the SALT deduction going away.

225
Targetpractice  Apr 11, 2019 • 4:34:59pm

re: #210 Belafon

[Embedded content]

There’s a reason that families used to have as many kids as they could pop out. When half those kids might not live to see adulthood due to a variety of childhood illnesses and injuries that could strike them dead at an instance, you didn’t take the chance. The so-called “nuclear family” is yet another modern reality that we’ve taken for granted.

226
FormerDirtDart 🍕🐀  Apr 11, 2019 • 4:35:26pm

re: #224 Blind Frog Belly White

Meanwhile, Mrs. FBW and I await the news from our accountant. Hitherto, our Federal refund has always covered our State tax bill and then some. I’m figuring we’ll probably end up not only owing because of the reduced withholding, but also paying more overall because of the SALT deduction going away.

I actually fared better than I expected. I assume it was due to the doubling of the individual exemption

227
FormerDirtDart 🍕🐀  Apr 11, 2019 • 4:36:44pm

Hadn’t heard their mission failed

228
wrenchwench  Apr 11, 2019 • 4:42:23pm

NM’s second freshwoman congresswoman has declined to run for the Senate seat of Tom Udall, who will retire in 2020. The 5th term congressman who sits in the seat vacated by Udall in 2008 will run for the nomination to take his seat again. Not my district, but I’m hoping there’s someone to his left who could be the nominee and win. He’s got the old family name going for him, would be hard to beat, which is good in the general.

229
Blind Frog Belly White  Apr 11, 2019 • 4:48:25pm

re: #225 Targetpractice

There’s a reason that families used to have as many kids as they could pop out. When half those kids might not live to see adulthood due to a variety of childhood illnesses and injuries that could strike them dead at an instance, you didn’t take the chance. The so-called “nuclear family” is yet another modern reality that we’ve taken for granted.

People do not remember the time - which was within the lives of some - when infectious disease was one of the, if not THE biggest killer of people. Or when child mortality was around 50%. Boomers have a vague recollection of having the measles and having to stay home from school for a week. What they don’t remember was of the 500,000 kids a year who came down with measles in the 1950s, 4-500 of them died.

It’s not as benign as a lot of people remember it being.

230
teleskiguy  Apr 11, 2019 • 4:49:05pm

This is a great podcast, BTW. Great talk.

231
Blind Frog Belly White  Apr 11, 2019 • 4:49:29pm

re: #227 FormerDirtDart 🍕🐀

Hadn’t heard they lost their mission failed

[Embedded content]

Good on ‘em for trying!

232
A hollow voice says, Oringes...  Apr 11, 2019 • 4:59:45pm

re: #229 Blind Frog Belly White

People do not remember the time - which was within the lives of some - when infectious disease was one of the, if not THE biggest killer of people. Or when child mortality was around 50%. Boomers have a vague recollection of having the measles and having to stay home from school for a week. What they don’t remember was of the 500,000 kids a year who came down with measles in the 1950s, 4-500 of them died.

It’s not as benign as a lot of people remember it being.

Actually, I think most boomers — or at least the “leading edge” of the cohort do remember (one of my classmates had lasting effects from polio, and such). I think the real denialism (is that a word?) starts somewhat later.

233
Backwoods_Sleuth  Apr 11, 2019 • 5:05:34pm

re: #232 A hollow voice says, Oringes…

Actually, I think most boomers — or at least the “leading edge” of the cohort do remember (one of my classmates had lasting effects from polio, and such). I think the real denialism (is that a word?) starts somewhat later.

I’m old enough that I remember thalidomide children. There was one in a neighbor’s family when I was in grade school in Buffalo.

234
Colère Tueur de Lapin  Apr 11, 2019 • 5:06:20pm

re: #229 Blind Frog Belly White

People do not remember the time - which was within the lives of some - when infectious disease was one of the, if not THE biggest killer of people. Or when child mortality was around 50%. .

The current population is ignorant of a time before vaccines, antibiotics, and modern sanitation. The last one will probably not be forgotten, the first is being rejected, the middle one will probably be useful for another 50 years. Then people will start dying from minor cuts, etc., again.

235
A hollow voice says, Oringes...  Apr 11, 2019 • 5:06:29pm

re: #224 Blind Frog Belly White

Meanwhile, Mrs. FBW and I await the news from our accountant. Hitherto, our Federal refund has always covered our State tax bill and then some. I’m figuring we’ll probably end up not only owing because of the reduced withholding, but also paying more overall because of the SALT deduction going away.

Likewise, except that my federal refund was usually just a bit less than my state bill. A few years back, I started making significant investment income (thanks, Obama!), and I started to have tax bills from both, with occasional (tiny) penalties.

This year, between the higher standard deduction and lower earnings across the board (thanks, Trump!), I’m back to the matching game.

236
steve_davis  Apr 11, 2019 • 5:07:42pm

re: #9 Belafon

I see the potential for a bird version of Romeo and Juliet.

re: #14 Eclectic Cyborg

Via Bloomberg:

“To pay for college, Amy Wroblewski sold a piece of her future. Every month, for eight-and-a-half years, she must turn over a set percentage of her salary to investors. Today, about a year after graduation, Wroblewski makes $50,000 a year as a higher education recruiter in Winchester, Va. So the cut comes to $279 a month, less than her car payment.

If the 23-year-old becomes a star in her field, she could pay twice as much. If she loses her job, she won’t have to pay anything, and investors will be out of luck until she finds work.

Wroblewski struck this unusual deal as an undergraduate at public Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind. To fund part of the cost of her degree in strategy and organizational management, she sidestepped the common source of money, a student loan. Instead, she agreed to hand over part of her future earnings through a new kind of financial instrument called an income-sharing agreement, or ISA. In a sense, financiers are transforming student debtors into stock investments, with much of the same risk and, ideally, return.”

Because NOTHING can possibly go wrong with this…

You know, I’ve thought about something like this. I wondered if we could simply provide “free” education with the stipulation that perhaps for a time, we could then take back a small part of salary or earnings. There would be people who would go to college and earn next to nothing (me! yaaaay!!), but also people who go to college and then become internet wizards at 25, making billions of dollars, part of which could then go back into the system. It would be humane in that people could pay on a sliding scale which would go to zero in the event of poverty, and it wouldn’t be forever.

237
steve_davis  Apr 11, 2019 • 5:08:30pm

re: #15 Backwoods_Sleuth

maybe…just maybe…that duckling is the hongry one

maybe just maybe he or she is alive because he does one helluva job of eating the owl.

238
Old Liberal  Apr 11, 2019 • 5:08:55pm

re: #232 A hollow voice says, Oringes…

Actually, I think most boomers — or at least the “leading edge” of the cohort do remember (one of my classmates had lasting effects from polio, and such). I think the real denialism (is that a word?) starts somewhat later.

We were once a nation which admired science, supported science and believed in the scientific method. Mainstream religion was dedicated to finding ways to fit science into religious belief. Until the fundamentalist groups hooked enough people. I know there are loons on the left but they aren’t fighting to keep that Old Testament religion. Science is the enemy of most religion because you can’t have authoritarianism without authority.

239
Backwoods_Sleuth  Apr 11, 2019 • 5:11:41pm
240
Patricia Kayden  Apr 11, 2019 • 5:13:38pm

re: #132 Backwoods_Sleuth

Thank goodness for the ACLU. They’re almost always on the right side.

241
makeitstop  Apr 11, 2019 • 5:13:47pm

re: #239 Backwoods_Sleuth

Illinois Senate passes bill that would keep Trump off 2020 ballot unless he releases tax returns

New York and California, take note.

242
steve_davis  Apr 11, 2019 • 5:14:03pm

re: #38 Eclectic Cyborg

Not only that, but many practices considered to be “sexually deviant” in Biblical times are not so today. I do not believe scripture was meant to be rigid. No “living document” should ever be rigid.

there’s a strong case to be made that Paul’s discussion of homosexuality was specifically in regards to the temple prostitutes. Greece itself was a country in which relations between men were considered the only real ones, as men were rational and able to engage on a level that men simply couldn’t with irrational, emotional women. Even Plato gives at least one shout-out to enjoyment of late teen boys in a dialogue. He was possibly drunk at the time, because many of those dialogues happened after the participants had engaged in a good deal of diluted wine drinking to mellow everybody out.

243
Patricia Kayden  Apr 11, 2019 • 5:14:18pm

re: #239 Backwoods_Sleuth

Good. That would apply to Sanders too if he doesn’t reveal his taxes by then.

244
Decatur Deb  Apr 11, 2019 • 5:14:48pm

re: #232 A hollow voice says, Oringes…

Actually, I think most boomers — or at least the “leading edge” of the cohort do remember (one of my classmates had lasting effects from polio, and such). I think the real denialism (is that a word?) starts somewhat later.

For scale: The 1952 U.S. epidemic was the worst outbreak in the nation’s history. Of nearly 58,000 cases reported that year, 3,145 people died and 21,269 were left with mild to disabling paralysis. (wiki)

The article on Salk, going well beyond his vaccine, makes good reading. He basically reverse-engineered medical science and backed into Applied Anthropology.

245
FormerDirtDart 🍕🐀  Apr 11, 2019 • 5:14:59pm
246
Backwoods_Sleuth  Apr 11, 2019 • 5:19:51pm

former president of The Club For Growth and trump’s latest choice for the Federal Reserve…

*thud*

247
gocart mozart  Apr 11, 2019 • 5:19:55pm
248
A hollow voice says, Oringes...  Apr 11, 2019 • 5:21:19pm

re: #238 Old Liberal

We were once a nation which admired science, supported science and believed in the scientific method. Mainstream religion was dedicated to finding ways to fit science into religious belief. Until the fundamentalist groups hooked enough people. I know there are loons on the left but they aren’t fighting to keep that Old Testament religion. Science is the enemy of most religion because you can’t have authoritarianism without authority.

It’s closer to the truth to say we were a nation of cranks and loonies who couldn’t get along with our fellow (mostly rational) European neighbors and came here to pursue our various pathologies in peace — until a huge lump of European intellectuals fleeing Nazis arrived and cleaned up our intellectual and educational act (with the help of our own need to outscience the nazis, and later, the soviets). Now our enemies are gone, that generation has died, and we’re trying to revert to type. It remains to be seen whether the nerds will win out over the yahoos.

249
Blind Frog Belly White  Apr 11, 2019 • 5:24:15pm

re: #232 A hollow voice says, Oringes…

Actually, I think most boomers — or at least the “leading edge” of the cohort do remember (one of my classmates had lasting effects from polio, and such). I think the real denialism (is that a word?) starts somewhat later.

I’m talking specifically about measles, though. I’m pretty sure I had measles as a kid, but I don’t remember when, and in fact don’t remember having it (them?). I remember having the mumps, and I remember having chicken pox.

Regarding Polio, people my age (born in 1957) would only remember polio as something we were vaccinated against, and something we might have heard about (March of Dimes, kids in iron lungs, etc.). I never knew anyone who had a polio-caused paralysis until I was over 30, and Mrs. FBW was working with a woman whose left arm was paralyzed. And I didn’t notice it till she pointed it out to me.

Older Boomers, who were already in school by the time of the Polio Vaccine might remember quarantines every summer, but that was all gone by the time I hit grade school in 1963.

250
Old Liberal  Apr 11, 2019 • 5:27:19pm

re: #248 A hollow voice says, Oringes…

It’s closer to the truth to say we were a nation of cranks and loonies who couldn’t get along with our fellow (mostly rational) European neighbors and came here to pursue our various pathologies in peace — until a huge lump of European intellectuals fleeing Nazis arrived and cleaned up our intellectual and educational act (with the help of our own need to outscience the nazis, and later, the soviets). Now our enemies are gone, that generation has died, and we’re trying to revert to type. It remains to be seen whether the nerds will win out over the yahoos.

Can’t refute that. I guess the US had a 30 year window of professional journalism and advancement of science from 1945 to 1975 or so. Glad I lived through most of that but sure makes it hard to adjust to idiocracy.

251
Feline Fearless Leader  Apr 11, 2019 • 7:08:54pm

re: #241 makeitstop

New York and California, take note.

Would that keep Sanders off the ballot as well?


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