;)
February 13, 2022
Late Morning Update:
The New York Times' live updates of Covid-19 developments Sunday are here.
Michael Scherer & Josh Dawsey of the Washington Post: "... clashes between Republican leaders and the candidates Trump has embraced have been playing out across the country with growing ferocity in recent months, a chaotic sign that Trump's once unchallenged hold on the party and rank-and-file supporters is waning, even if by degrees. The former president's power within the party and his continued focus on personal grievances is increasingly questioned behind closed doors at Republican gatherings, according to interviews with more than a dozen prominent Republicans in Washington and across the country, including some Trump advisers. Many spoke on the condition of anonymity because there remains significant fear of attracting Trump;s public wrath.... Behind the scenes Trump has pushed back on aides, and even screamed at advisers, who have told him not to focus so much on re-litigating the last election.... "
~~~~~~~~~~
The New York Times is liveblogging developments in the Ukraine/Russia crisis.
Rachel Pannett of the Washington Post: "After a call between President Biden and Russian leader Vladimir Putin on Saturday produced no breakthrough, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will take his turn try to avert a Russian invasion of Ukraine with meetings in Kyiv and Moscow. Scholz, who has faced criticisms his government is not doing enough to support Ukraine, is due to meet President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Monday and with Putin in Moscow on Tuesday, as Western allies scramble to deter a possible Russian attack. Diplomats and citizens of Western countries were departing Kyiv on Sunday after U.S. warnings that an invasion could happen at any time."
Steve Hendrix, et al., of the Washington Post: "President Biden in an hourlong call on Saturday warned Russian President Vladimir Putin of 'swift and severe costs' if Russia attacks Ukraine, the White House said. The conversation came as most personnel began evacuating from the U.S. embassy in Kyiv amid intensifying warnings that Moscow could launch an immediate assault." The AP's story is here. (Also linked yesterday afternoon.)
Tattling on Vlad. Julian Barnes & Helene Cooper of the New York Times: "In recent weeks, the Biden administration has detailed the movement of Russian special operation forces to Ukraine's borders, exposed a Russian plan to create a video of a faked atrocity as a pretext for an invasion, outlined Moscow's war plans, warned that an invasion would result in possibly thousands of deaths and hinted that Russian officers had doubts about Mr. Putin. Then, on Friday, Jake Sullivan, President Biden's national security adviser, told reporters at the White House that the United States was seeing signs of Russian escalation and that there was a 'credible prospect' of immediate military action.... All told, the extraordinary series of disclosures -- unfolding almost as quickly as information is collected and assessed -- has amounted to one of the most aggressive releases of intelligence by the United States since the Cuban missile crisis.... In effect, the administration is warning the world of an urgent threat, not to make the case for a war but to try to prevent one." ~~~
~~~ TikTok Intel. Paul Sonne, et al., of the Washington Post: "Russian President Vladimir Putin and top Russian officials for months have been denying that Moscow is preparing to mount an invasion of neighboring Ukraine. But videos posted to TikTok and other social media platforms tell another story. In areas of Russia and Belarus near the Ukrainian border, onlookers have uploaded hundreds of videos showing sophisticated Russian weaponry and military vehicles speeding by on railways, highways and local roads toward positions near Ukraine.... The scenes..., military analysts say, appear to indicate that the Russian buildup could be entering its final stages before an invasion. Here is what they are watching."
Marie: A while back, we learned comedian Dave Chapelle thinks "comedy" includes making fun of trans people. Now, we learn Chapelle doesn't seem to like poor people, either, or at least he made a potent NIMBY pitch (NYT link) against them in the Ohio town where he owns a home. I'm sorry to say, Dave Chapelle appears to be a dick.
The Pandemic, Ctd.
The New York Times' live updates of Covid-19 developments Saturday are here.
Rand Paul Is a Dick. Timothy Bella of the Washington Post: "As many anti-vaccine and anti-mandate protesters in trucks continue to paralyze Canada's capital and block border crossings, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said he hopes truckers would come to the United States as soon as this weekend to clog up streets in Los Angeles during the Super Bowl or next month to Washington.... 'Civil disobedience is a time-honored tradition in our country, from slavery to civil rights to you name it.... I hope the truckers do come to America, and I hope they clog up cities.'... Paul's feelings toward the trucker convoy are much different than his sentiments about Black Lives Matter protests in recent years. After a crowd of D.C. protesters in 2020 yelled at Paul to say the name of Breonna Taylor, who was shot by police in Louisville, the senator claimed his 'life was in danger' and denounced Black Lives Matter demonstrators as a 'crazed mob.'"
Canada. Miriam Berger, et al., of the Washington Post: "A standoff between police and protesters from the self-styled 'Freedom Convoy' opposing coronavirus vaccine mandates continued Sunday near a vital U.S.-Canada border crossing, even as crowds reportedly started shrinking overnight and one arrest was made. After law enforcement enforced an injunction ordering truckers and their supporters to leave, and ticketed and towed vehicles, a defiant core of protesters mostly remained on foot as temperatures dropped below freezing. The blockade of the Ambassador Bridge, a key trade corridor that connects Windsor, Ontario, to Detroit, which has disrupted traffic and the flow of goods since Monday, has not ended. Disruptions are still plaguing other vital cross-border arteries -- from Coutts, Alberta, which connects to Montana, to Surrey, British Columbia, which connects to Washington state." ~~~
~~~ Rob Gillies & Mike Householder of the AP: "A tense standoff at a U.S.-Canadian border crossing crucial to both countries' economies appeared to be dissolving peacefully Saturday as Canadian police moved in to disperse the nearly weeklong blockade and demonstrators began leaving without resistance. Many demonstrators drove away from the Ambassador Bridge spanning the river between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, as scores of police approached shortly after dawn. They had spent the night there in defiance of new warnings to end the blockade, which disrupted the flow of traffic and goods and forced the auto industry on both sides to roll back production." (Also linked yesterday.) ~~~
~~~ The story has been updated. New Lede: "Protesters opposed to COVID-19 vaccine mandates and other restrictions withdrew their vehicles from a key U.S.-Canadian border bridge Saturday though access remained blocked while other demonstrations ramped up in cities across Canada, including the capital, where police said they were awaiting more officers before ending what they described as an illegal occupation."
France. Deutsche Welle: "Protesters in cars and vans converged on Paris to protest the government and for a variety of populist causes.... Parisian police mobilized on Saturday, firing tear gas at one point on the Champs Elysees and issuing more than 200 citations in an effort to disrupt French motorists from converging on the city. Despite police efforts, by early afternoon Saturday, vehicles involved in the so-called protest convoy had made it past police and caused traffic jams around the Arc de Triomphe in the center of the city.... The primary demands of the French protesters are for the government to withdraw the vaccine pass requirement to enter many public places and for assistance with energy bills as costs soar." (Also linked yesterday afternoon.)
Beyond the Beltway
Pennsylvania Senate Race. Joe Levine of the New York Post: "A tree-trimming company partly owned by Dr. Oz and his wife Lisa's family was fined $95 million by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency over a scheme to knowingly employ illegal immigrants. The fine against Asplundh Tree Experts Co. was the largest ever levied in ICE history according to a 2017 agency press release.... The company was co-founded by Carl Asplundh, the maternal grandfather of Lisa Oz and remains controlled by family members. Dr. Oz is listed as a 'shareholder' in the company.... Dr. Oz, a cardiothoracic surgeon and Oprah protege, injected some star power into a closely-watched GOP Senate primary in Pennsylvania.... 'Neither Dr. Oz nor Lisa Oz have even worked at the company or had any involvement in decision-making regarding its business practices, period,' said campaign spokeswoman Erin Perrine." (Also linked yesterday afternoon.) ~~~
~~~ Marie: Not long ago, Asplundh spent about half a day removing trees from around power lines that run across my property. As far as I heard, the workers all spoke with standard American accents. P.S. I can't believe I'm citing a New York Post story. I wonder if Rupert Murdoch has a dog in the Pennsylvania Senate hunt -- a dog not named "Oz."
Texas. Fredreka Schouten of CNN: "A federal judge has temporarily blocked several Texas counties from pursuing criminal charges against public officials who encourage voters to use mail ballots in next month's primary election. The preliminary injunction marks a victory for officials in Harris County, home to Houston, who argued that the controversial provision in a new Texas election law barred them from helping voters.... US District Court Judge Xavier Rodriguez rejected arguments from the Texas Attorney General's Office that blocking enforcement of that provision could sow confusion among voters, who already have begun to mail in ballots ahead of the state's March 1 primary. The injunction 'does not affect any voting procedures,' Rodriguez wrote. 'It simply prevents the imposition of criminal and civil penalties against officials for encouraging people to vote by mail if they are eligible to do so.'" ~~~
~~~ Alexa Ura of the Texas Tribune: "A new Texas law that keeps local election officials from encouraging voters to request mail-in ballots likely violates the First Amendment, a federal judge [Xavier Rodriguez] ruled late Friday.... The injunction applies to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and local county prosecutors in Harris, Travis and Williamson counties."
News Ledes
CNN's live updates of the Winter Olympics are here. The AP's liveblog is here.
Share Article
Reader Comments (15)
Hurry before the country runs out of printing paper and glue (so said
the former president* about his latest picture book.)
It's "Our Journey Together" and is rated PG 13 because of language
not suitable for kids under 13 years old.
Amazon sells it for $74.99 plus shipping or if you desire a signed
copy by the grifter himself, it's $1749.99.
He's charging $1675.00 per sharpie signature. Who goes to a book
signing and pays the author to sign his book? Cult members?
I have a title for his next book----"Presidenting for Dummies."
https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/us-judge-strikes-biden-climate-damage-cost-estimate-82833167
There are so many things wrong with this decision.
On the one side we have the oil and gas industry’s profitability and a Louisiana’s economy largely based on taxing that extractive industry.
On the other, the nation’s and the world’s health.
The judge who was all in for fossil fuels called pricing carbon reasonably “artificial..”
What is artificial--as in just made up-- is pretending that carbon emissions have little or no cost to anyone.
One of the lawyers arguing for the industry and state said the Biden carbon-pricing rule would have the government picking winners and losers.
That tired argument misses all the possible points.
Right or wrong, government is not the final arbiter. Reality is, and because of silly decisions like this one, we all continue tolose.
@Forrest Morris: Your title for the next Trump opus magnum, "Presidenting for Dummies" is almost perfect. After all, it will be ghost-written for the Dummy-in-Chief, and I suppose his dimwittedness makes him an expert of a sort. But I still think I'd add an asterisk to your title: "Presidenting* for Dummies."
@Ken Winkes
Cain's decision is just one more proof that professional standards for judges are abysmally low. And how appropriate that the judge favoring the forking up (sic) of our planet's biosphere bears the name 'Cain'! Downright biblical!
That anyone - especially a State attorney general - can express shock that government picks winners and losers - and that anyone can buy into that nonsense - is a reflection of how incredibly ignorant so many people (and especially lawyers?) are about government. As anyone who has reflected on the subject should realize with relief, that is precisely what government is about. Always has been, always will be. A government that doesn't pick winners and losers is no government at all. Landry's use of that talking point is one more proof that proffessional standards for politicians are abysmally low.
@Ken Winkes & @Adrift: Of course, you're both right. Ken, you left an important sentence fragment from the ABC News Story out of your argument: "Friday's ruling by Cain, a Trump appointee...."
Heard a new one yesterday. When I brought up climate change, the immediate response was we can't do that until we feed and house all the people. Third place, hummm. Clean, green, and carbon neutral are sort of the afterthoughts like safety was for GM or health was to tobacco companies. It used to be that you didn't bring up religion in conversation; now it is politics. Do you think the Koch bros./Murdoch network wins from this arrangement?
MARYBEADS JABBER IN THEIR GIRDLES:
This line from Joyce's '"Ulysses' was just one of the phrases that produced a head wringing effect from Maureen Dowd who, after having been hit in her Uber by a van on her way to class at Columbia U. where she is studying for a masters in English Lit ( Colm Toibin is her teacher--lucky lass!). After she gives us other examples of Joyce-Jocularity, she brings us back to our current ways and means and says:
"The only thing that can save President Biden and the Democrats now is Republicans showing how fringy and far out they've gotten."
I wouldn't refute that but the fact we appear to have a goodly amount of our populace fringy and far out presents a problem––bigly.
But I so enjoyed her foray into Joyce and how she weaves it into her column:
"Stephen Dedalus, Joyce's self-portrait captures our incomprehensible politics in a remark that burns brighter than ever:
'History is a nightmare from which I am trying to awake' "
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/12/opinion/ulysses-joyce-trump.html
And––since it's Sunday, got to get my licks in here: The heading above delights me no end––always read that as Joyce seeing all those nuns he encountered with their rosary beads and religious jabber naked except for their girdles.
I forgot to mention that Jr. started his own publishing company
(with somebody else's money?) solely to publish the future family
books. Would that be "Pulp Fiction?
Wonder if he'll be publishing any of his cousin Mary's books.
I’m wondering if Fatty will decide to finally read a single book. He would be the perfect audience for a book called “Presidenting* for Dummies” since he doesn’t know fuck all about it in the first place. On second thought, maybe the book should be titled “Presidenting* for a Dummy”, since none of his drooling thugs or sycophantic boot licking lackeys would ever read it.
But on third thought, he might as well not break his streak of never having read a book. He won’t need whatever he might learn (protect the constitution, don’t be a crook, treason is out, no fucking over your own country for personal gain or to help a foreign power) since he’ll never be president again. His delicate snowflake fee-fees couldn’t handle LOSING again.
Maybe “Post-Presidenting for Loser Dummies”.
@Forrest Morris: Yes, the NYT has a big feature today on how avidly Trump & the Family continue to monetize the presidency*. While it's a given that Trump, et al., are greedy monsters, I blame the marks as much as the Trumps.
Apparently nitwits paid up to $30,000 to a "charity" (which was Trump) to get their picture taken with him at a party in Naples, Fla. How stupid is that? Any decent person who had $30,000 they thought should be spent charitably, would give the $30K directly to a real charity that wasn't Trump.
As for all those nitwits who voted for Trump & the ones who buy MAGA hats & books from Junior's publishing empire (gee, Junior gave Dad a multi-million-dollar advance on his picture book) -- if they're American citizens, they have a "duty of care" to their country. That duty would include selecting a competent person to run the country, not the clown-car driver. No one who votes for & otherwise backs Donald Trump can call himself a patriot. Trump is the symptom; the nitwits are the problem. They make me sick.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/12/us/politics/donald-trump-business-interests.html
Couldn't read all of it, discouraged by my rising gorge.
But did read enough to confirm my belief cemented over the last five years that P.T. Barnum was poor at math.
His estimate that there is a sucker born every minute was wildly wrong. 525,600 minutes/year leaves millions of suckers unaccounted for.
WHO DAT?
There's a paradox in memory science: Empirical evidence and life experience both suggest older adults have more knowledge of the world. However, they perform worse on memory tests. This interesting article explains the disparity.
https://www.nbcnews.com/science/science-news/memory-issues-older-people-result-clutter-rcna15133
@Ken Winkes: You're right, but I think your arithmetic is off. There are 525,600 minutes in a year, but you didn't consider the fact that voters have a long life-time to vote. Let's just make a conservative estimate and say they have a 50-year voting life. So that's 525,600 x 50 = 26,280,000 fools who are eligible to vote, using P.T. Barnum's estimate. That's a little more than a third of the number of people (74,223,000 [rounded up]) who voted for Trump in 2020.
Ergo, I calculate it would probably be more accurate to say, "There's a fool born every 15 seconds" (assuming we're talking only about American fools. Or "every 10 seconds," if you want to be on the safe side.
P.S. If you don't consider voting age, but just stick with P T Barnum's original hypothesis, then there are 41,522,400 fools born in the U.S., based on a life expectancy of 79 years. Still not enough, as you say.
Just read the new update re: Republican stance re: Fatty's fury on anyone who disses him or is counter to his choice of candidates. To realize the fear Fatty has instilled in so many still amazes me. But it does sound like this might be "waning"? to realize once again that this sick, demented, dumb, arrogant human being was able to hold sway over so many for so long will be catnip for historians to grapple with while we little people continue to cross our fingers––the ones we would like to poke in eyes that wear those glasses that are rose colored and cloudy.
Of course, you're right, Marie.
Thanks for extending my math.
Does seem, though, we were thinking alike, commenting similarly on the same article at near the same time.
Still, we both came up with "millions" as our answer, in either case confirmation that we are indeed surrounded by fools...some, as said earlier, on Federal benches...