The Commentariat -- July 5, 2021
~~~ Kevin Ambrose of the Washington Post: "The weather [in Washington, D.C.] this Fourth of July was perfect for a picnic followed by an amazing D.C. fireworks show. Mild temperatures and cool breezes provided comfortable conditions. Unlike in recent years, which featured high humidity with threats of showers and storms, the weather this year cooperated nicely. And smoke from the fireworks exited to the northeast rather quickly and never obscured the show."
Late Morning Updates:
Michael LaForgia, et al., of the New York Times: "Florida's high-rise building regulations have long been among the strictest in the nation. But after parts of Champlain Towers South tumbled down on June 24, killing at least 24 people and leaving 121 unaccounted for, evidence has mounted that those rules have been enforced unevenly by local governments, and sometimes not at all. Miami-Dade County officials said last week that they were prioritizing reviews of 24 multistory buildings that either had failed major structural or electrical inspections required after 40 years or had not submitted the reports in the first place. But the county's own records show that 17 of those cases had been open for a year or more. Two cases were against properties owned by the county itself. The oldest case had sat unresolved since 2008."
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Zach Montague of the New York Times: "On the day that President Biden had long anticipated as a milestone in the fight against the coronavirus, the White House hosted a celebration to both commemorate the July 4 holiday and herald the administration's progress toward overcoming the pandemic. In bringing together some 1,000 people for the largest planned event of Mr. Biden's presidency, the White House has been forced to walk a fine line, striving to signal progress toward restoring normalcy while still acknowledging the dangers of a pandemic that continues to claim hundreds of lives a day.... 'Two hundred and forty five years ago, we declared our independence from a distant king,' he said during the event. 'Today, we're closer than ever to declaring our independence from a deadly virus. That's not to say the battle against Covid-19 is over. We've got a lot more work to do.'" (This is an update of a story linked yesterday afternoon.)
News about Former Presidents
(Well, President & President*)
** Jimmy & Rosalynn Smith Carter reflect on 75 years of marriage. (Also linked yesterday.) An AP story is here.
Daniel Shaviro in Just Security on the Trump Organization-Allen Weisseberg indictments: "This is no mere fringe benefits case. It is a straight-out fraud case, claiming that the defendants kept double books: phony ones to show the tax authorities, and accurate ones to be hidden from view.... It is not just a state and local income tax fraud case. It is also -- via New York State fraud, conspiracy, and grand larceny statutes -- a federal income tax fraud case. The indictment's first three and longest counts detail a 'scheme to defraud' the federal Internal Revenue Service, including through a 'conspiracy' with multiple 'overt acts,' and the commission of 'grand larceny.'... If the Manhattan DA can prove the facts asserted, this is not a trivial case, or one that ordinarily would not be brought, or one that bespeaks political bias, or is just about pressuring a witness whom the DA wants to 'turn.'" Emphasis original.
Martin Weil of the Washington Post: "An arrest has been made after a vehicle was reportedly driven toward a crowd of pedestrians on the Washington Monument grounds on Saturday evening, the U.S. Park Police said. The vehicle struck a security barrier about 7:30 p.m. on the southeast side of the grounds and no pedestrians were injured, the park police said. Thousands were expected to gather on the grounds for the July 4 fireworks. The park police said Jack Joseph Dessin, 38, of New Jersey, was arrested on charges of assault with a dangerous weapon (automobile) and destruction of government property."
Kevin Draper of the New York Times: "In comments still rippling through [ESPN], the reporter Rachel Nichols, who is white, said Maria Taylor, who is Black, earned the job to host 2020 N.B.A. finals coverage because ESPN was 'feeling pressure' on diversity." Draper discusses the whole hoo-hah. MB: Since I don't follow ESPN, I have no idea whether or not Taylor got her job because she's a woman, but -- sports coverage being what it is -- there's a good chance that she did. In any event, even if Taylor is right about "diversity pressure" (and here again, I have no idea), this is not something a prudent person says out loud, even when she's pissed off, which apparently she was. (Also linked yesterday.)
The Pandemic, Ctd.
The New York Times' live updates of Covid-19 developments Sunday are here: "President Biden had hoped to turn the Fourth of July into a celebration not just of the nation's independence, but of reaching his administration's ambitious goal to have 70 percent of adults at least partly inoculated against the coronavirus before the holiday. He didn't quite make it. As of Friday, only about 67 percent of Americans 18 and older had gotten at least one dose of a vaccine, according to a New York Times tracker. Almost 60 percent of all adults were fully vaccinated, and the highly contagious Delta variant was creating hot spots, particularly in states with low vaccination rates, like Missouri." (Also linked yesterday.)
Arkansas, Utah & West Virginia. GOP Governors Try to Close the Trump Covid Gap. Amy Wang & Nick Miroff of the Washington Post: "GOP governors implored their residents on Sunday to get vaccinated against the coronavirus, as polling shows that vaccine hesitancy has been driven by Republicans and as the virus's new, more contagious delta variant has caused recent upticks in covid-19 cases in areas with low vaccination rates. Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) on Sunday expressed concern about possible 'trouble; ahead for Arkansans if the state did not accelerate its vaccination rate.... Gov. Jim Justice of West Virginia ... said, '... When it really boils right down to it, they're in a lottery to themselves.... We have a lottery that says if you're vaccinated we're going to give you stuff. Well, you've got another lottery for them, and it's a death lottery.'... Gov. Spencer Cox (R-Utah) ... called the vaccination gap among Republicans 'troubling' and said 'hopefully reason will rule.'... [Donald Trump's] endorsement of vaccination has been inconsistent, and he has continued to promote questionable covid treatments and to denigrate many health officials...."
Washington, D.C. Rachel Chason of the Washington Post: "Just six months ago, the covid-19 unit at Sibley Memorial Hospital was full and doctors at the Northwest D.C. hospital were grappling with a winter surge in pandemic patients. Today, the 25-bed ward is empty, said Michael Lee, the hospitalist medical director. There have been virtually no covid-19 patients for four weeks. It's a trend that doctors say they are seeing across the D.C. region as vaccinations have led to increased immunity, sending hospitalizations and deaths plunging.... In D.C. as of Friday, no coronavirus-related deaths had been reported since June 19 and just 10 intensive care unit beds were occupied by covid-19 patients, according to The Washington Post's tracker. Both Maryland and Virginia have seen similar declines in hospitalizations and deaths -- with Maryland on Friday reporting that there were fewer than 100 people hospitalized, the lowest recorded level since the pandemic began."
Beyond the Beltway
Pennsylvania. Hate-Mongers on Parade in the Cradle of Democracy. NBC 10 Philadelphia: "A group of white supremacists marched in front of Philadelphia City Hall Saturday night, drawing jeers from onlookers, as well as small scuffles. Approximately 200 members of the group Patriot Front wore white face coverings, khakis, blue shirts and tan hats and waved flags with their group insignias. They were seen approaching from Market Street before walking in front of City Hall around 10:45 p.m. Some could be seen holding shields as watchers-on shouted at them, demanding they leave Philadelphia." (Also linked yesterday.)
Texas Could Have an Even Worse Governor. Patrick Svitek of the Texas Tribune: "Texas GOP Chairman Allen West announced Sunday he is running for governor, challenging fellow Republican Greg Abbott.... Since his election as Texas GOP chair in July of last year when he soundly beat then-incumbent James Dickey, West has criticized Abbott's coronavirus response and sought to push the governor's legislative agenda further to the right. Abbott has mostly ignored West's attacks. But the governor has increasingly catered to his right flank in recent months...."
Way Beyond
Vatican/Italy. Frances D'Emilio of the AP: "Pope Francis 'reacted well' to planned intestinal surgery Sunday evening at a Rome hospital, the Vatican said, without giving much detail about the pontiff's condition. In a statement late Sunday, a Holy See spokesman, Matteo Bruni, said the 84-year-old Francis had general anesthesia during the surgery necessitated by a narrowing of the large intestine. The written statement, which came shortly before midnight, was notable for its scarcity of medical detail."
News Ledes
A Big Holiday Weekend in the NRA-USA. CNN: "At least 150 people were killed by gun violence in more than 400 shootings across the country during the Fourth of July weekend as major cities nationwide confront a surge in violent crime, according to data compiled by the Gun Violence Archive. The data, which includes the number of shooting incidents and gun violence victims nationally over a 72-hour period from Friday through Sunday, is still evolving and will be updated."
The New York Times' live updates of developments Monday in the condo collapse in Surfside, Florida, are here.
AP: "Rescuers were given the all-clear to resume work looking for victims at a collapsed South Florida condo building after demolition crews set off a string of explosives that brought down the last of the building in a plume of dust." ~~~
~~~ The New York Times' live updates of developments Sunday in the condo collapse in Surfside, Florida, are here: "The remaining part of a collapsed building in South Florida was demolished in a burst of explosives that took the unstable structure down in seconds, after officials worried that it might not withstand the powerful winds of an approaching tropical storm and that rescue workers could be endangered. The demolition, which took place at 10:30 p.m. on Sunday, came after officials warned residents to stay inside in case dust and other particles polluted the air, and as anguished families continued to await news in the search for 121 people missing since the building in Surfside collapsed more than a week ago. Rescue efforts had halted for much of the weekend amid growing worries about the unstable structure." ~~~
Weather Channel: "Tropical Storm Elsa is soaking Jamaica and Cuba and is expected to track toward Florida, where impacts from heavy rain, gusty winds and storm surge are likely early this week."
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Reader Comments (8)
From what I understand, the Pope suffered from diverticulitis––-a most unpleasant malady involving the colon.
Looks like the Trump-pees ain't gonna get a pass on their biggest scam--the "screw you" operation. These fat cats feasting for decades on the tax invasion catnip will finally have to reckon with all their gigantic spit balls of fur. Sad! But when that happens I am going to celebrate in some monumental way––-haven't decided what exactly but it will be like winning a road race–-you're spent but have beat the odds––finally! after four grueling years and counting.
@PD Pepe: What would please me more than winning the lottery would be to see Trump cuffed & -- even better -- in an orange jump suit. I don't think that will ever happen, but a girl can dream. If it happens, the moment will probably appear on a continuous loop on Reality Chex for a long time.
As somebody -- maybe Daniel Shaviro in the essay linked above. but maybe John Amato of CNN -- explained, Trump claim of ignorance is ridiculous. Everybody who lives in NYC knows you have to pay an extra tax for the privilege. So pretending that Allen Weisselberg -- and Trump -- had no idea that giving him secret access to a NYC apartment was violating tax law is downright ridiculous. So are the other claims Trump made about "fringe benefits." But it is kinda great he admitted to the crimes, even tho he's claiming ignorance they were crimes. This has worked for him as a P.R. ploy, but I doubt "Who knew?" will work as well in a court of law.
Ignorantia juris non excusat…asshole.
Pretending to be ignorant of the law is not in any way exculpatory. Even though it’s true that no one (presumably, even judges) can be knowledgeable about every law on the books (in Washington, it’s illegal to attach a vending machine to a utility pole…there goes that idea!) the thought behind this very old legal premise is that if it were okay to get out of something by claiming ignorance, who would ever say different?
Thus, the rule of law, for it to be of any use at all in maintaining an orderly society, must be assumed to be universally understood. So if you try to sell a pickle in Connecticut that doesn’t bounce, you’re out of luck, proceed straight to the hoosegow with the offending item. Arraignment will be at 9:00 am promptly.
So the Fat Felon cannot try to wiggle away from legal problems by claiming ignorance. He may be largely ignorant of a lot of things, but no one keeps as tight a grip on their corporate shenanigans who isn’t aware of applicable laws.
He’s a crook. Always has been. And if we don’t get to see his fat ass perp-walked, I’ll settle for Junior and the idiot brother to be cuffed and paraded around.
In March 2016, Trump told a rally crowd, “I know more about taxes than any human being that God ever created.”
Nobody knows more than Donald.
RAS,
My 10 year old is a pretty smart kid, but sometimes he gets a bit ahead of himself in what he thinks he knows (he’s 10 after all), I sometimes have to point out that the best way to learn something is to avoid thinking you already know it because that mindset prevents you from really learning a subject or skill (how to drill a pilot hole, the best fingering for a Beatles song, how to hit to the opposite field). He gets this (mostly). Which makes him far smarter than Donald Trump who, by constantly claiming to know more than everyone about everything, learns little and knows less.
Except maybe how to be a lying asshole.
Donald Trump: not as smart as a 10 year old.
AK: Your son is mighty lucky to have parents like you and your wife. I still recall how you stopped to give that homeless man some money when you and son were out and about some years back. At 10 he has absorbed your humanity and stance on life and will carry it like a precious legacy for the rest of his life. Lucky lad–--we wish more kids had the same.
@RAS: Thanks. I'm sending these citations to Cy Vance. His office may find a good use for them one of these days.
PD,
We’re lucky. He has a kind heart. He’s never forgotten that there are people out in the world who have it really tough. You can model good behavior for kids but a good heart is not something that’s handed down. I think you have it or you don’t. Look at someone like Trump who was handed everything in life, never wanted for a thing, and here he is in his mid 70’s still feeling like everyone owes him something, like he did it all himself, and to hell with people who aren’t living in luxury like he is.