I agree regarding the young. I think leaders are emerging from Gen Z & late Millenials right now. They are not afraid to be plain-spoken & they know who to call out. I'm a fan.
Well, I took today off so I wouldn't have to go back to work after being gone for the weekend. That's why I'm making silly asides in the newsie pieces, instead of just the open thread.
"Black voters make up a larger share of Mississippi's 2.95 million residents (about 37%) and typical November electorate (about a third) than in any other state. More than 9 out of 10 of them typically vote Democratic but turn out at a lower rate than white voters, especially young generations, according to strategists in both major political parties. White voters opt by a 4-1 ratio or more for Republicans. Younger white voters trend slightly less Republican, but they're also less likely to vote."
As lobbyists of the political center insist, with unlimited advertising funds, that Scott Colom must "move to the center," he would be much better advised to reach out to previously unlikely voters. This calls for unabashed social-democratic principle, not noncommittal centrism.
For my part, I do not believe a politically centrist voting bloc exists in Mississippi, or really anywhere else. There maybe a lot of sheep who can be easily persuaded to vote for anybody who speaks up about what they believe and sounds like they mean it. But these sheep are not centrists.
That piece from "The Existentialist Republic" is a reminder for me to tell you, yet again, about piece of shit NIH director Jay Bhattacharya. He had a piece in the right-wing rag "Imprimis" in which he had the unmitigated gall to berate those opposing the complete dismantling of public health initiatives in this nation by telling them to have "epistemic humility". A motherfucking Trump official telling someone to have epistemic humility is like a grizzly bear telling someone not to shit in the woods.
Reforming the Court while Trump is still in office would be a formidable task. He would have to sign any law a Democrat controlled Congress would write, and then the Court gets to rule whether it is Constitutional. But Congress needs to overturn Citizen United which allowed unlimited dark money funding in elections. Congress needs to imposing the strict ethics rules that guide government employees on the Court. Congress needs to assert that results, not intentions matter when it comes to the 14th amendment. And Congress needs to assert that all states must get pre-approval for changes in a state's election laws to prevent disadvantaging minority voters. And Congress needs to assert that J6 was an act of insurrection.
"The women who serve the MAGA fascists in the White House are apparently very tired from always having to look “MAGA perfect” all the time. Tiny violin."
Tiny stringed instruments indeed - unless the pressure is on the regular household staff (and I mean the housekeeping staff, kitchen staff, etc.) I really don't give a fuck. But those staffers who work not for a president but for the White House, those people I feel for. Hope they're not being pressured to have The Look.
I saw that NYT article about the MAGA twerp's outrage that ICE came after HIS wife. My reaction was like Evan's only moreso.
A few days ago, Spartacus Olsson concluded his long-runnjng Death of Democracy series detailing the years between Hitler's ascent in 1933 and the invasion of Poland in 1939. As he ponders his next big project, he has invited input on what the follow-up to Death of Democracy should be.
I would like to hear more about Luise Solmitz, the Hamburg diarist who Olssen quoted almost as often as William Shirer during this last series. She was a smug middle-class Nazi until she learned that her husband was secretly a jew. And then she struggled with her feelings for years, badly wanting to gloat over all of Hitler's vile accomplishments even as her own children were persecuted.
She finally broke with the Nazis a few months after Kristallnacht. And, as Sparty left her story, it was still totally unclear whether she had ever learned a damned thing about Nazi evil, or just didn't like that they ate HER face. I wanna hear more. I kinda consider Solmitz a test case. If she can't learn, then what hope is there for our MAGAs to rejoin humanity?
It's tough terminology that I really debated using (and still do). See, there are two problems with it.
1) These hateful little trolls have always been a part of humanity. A substantial part. Whenever it was, whatever they were called, whether they were even noticed at all, they were there.
2) Maybe not such a great idea to deny the full humanity of anyone, even rhetorically? We kinda know where that leads.
I dunno. It really bugs me. On the one hand, it seems insane to let people like this make important decisions. On the other hand, if you don't, you're just another variety of fascist. It's a structural weak spot n liberalism that just cannot be removed.
I try very hard to avoid hating other people v. disagreeing with them, but the hyperspeed of information or outright propaganda seems to be unspooling a great deal of shared culture or affiliation. With nothing to bind us, we default to hostility when we are frightened. (I know I'm scared). When FOX talking heads insult the military or the government promotes extrajudicial killings, we are down to drifting on bits of flotsam with no terra firma in sight. Let's try to make life rafts & pull each other out of the wreckage.
It's the silo effect, and we're subject to it, too. Personally, I don't think we're gonna redeem many MAGAts. I think the best we can hope for is occasional support from them, solely based on their personal gripes when they bump up against the consequences of voting for fascist control.
One thing we should probably look at is Germany's postwar journey to becoming a stable, liberal democracy. I’m not expert on that, but I do understand that it wasn't postwar de-Nazification that accomplished that, it was the efforts of the next generation of Germans, the ones who were too young to be seduced by Nazism in any adult way, but did grow up surrounded by it's effects and consequences. It's another reason why I think we need to really focus on what we're telling the youngs. We probably can't fix this, ourselves, only (maybe) buy some time. But they might.
There are still a lot of Peronistas in Argentinia. A small percent of U.S. voters will hang on to the MAGA fantasy forever. Forget appealing to them, I say.
None. There is no hope. They will be the ones drowning as the Titanic sinks, playing their instruments and denigrating everyone fleeing for the lifeboats as being "woke"
I’m not sure that's a good metaphor. Not many people were denying the ship was sinking by the time it got to the band playing on deck stage. Or any, not long after that. By then, they were either trying to get on the remaining lifeboats or deliberately sacrificing themselves so others could.
I think if you wanna turn the Titanic into a metaphor for our time, you should probably look at Bruce Ismay, or maybe even the officers of the Titanic (without singling anyone out, the whole thing was kind of a clusterfuck from start to finish).
Help name some boisterous bear cubs, why not? Your hed gif info: https://martiniambassador.substack.com/p/rub-a-dub-griz-twins-in-the-tub
And meme chat: https://open.substack.com/chat/posts/dfa0b347-992a-492b-b2f8-0205a4eaf26e
Amanda Whurlizer and Tanner Boyle, because those are two bad news bears.
Yogi and Booboo seem like obvious choices.
Um, the hed gif info made me tear up this morning.
Feels like a happy one, but it surprised me.
Check out this place, which is not far from where I live:
https://kilhambearcenter.org/
I follow them on IG they have great post!
Bear cubs!
Bear cubs!
Bear cubs!
Bear cubs!
Getting really crazy
In the bear tub! Bear tub!
Montague for the nerdy male and Fanny for the female because she is good at showing her ass.
Bearly enough room for two.
"Help name some boisterous bear cubs"
Dulux Super 3
(I don't know where the third one is, but around somewhere)
I suggest Fred and Barney!
Yay! Babby bears enjoying their bath time! They are both very cute right now....
Freedom and Liberty
Two bear cubs enter, one bear cub leaves
Cubby McCubface, Beary McBearface
Bathing baby bears!
Martini is the cute one.
Glambassador is the smart one.
There's too many kids in this tub.
There's too many elbows to scrub.
I just washed a behind that I'm sure wasn't mine
There's too many kids in this tub.
- Shel Silverstein
We need more Shel -
Mitch mcConnell has been brain dead for two months. His staff will keep issuing votes and messages indefinitely. Anybody remember Strom Thurmond?
Probably has been said already, but I wonder if the reason Clarence Thomas hasn't done Stanford is they lol when they hear his appearance fee.
I agree regarding the young. I think leaders are emerging from Gen Z & late Millenials right now. They are not afraid to be plain-spoken & they know who to call out. I'm a fan.
I'm not what you'd call one of them sciencey guys, but I know we've got a few of those wandering through the Wonkeverse.
So, what happens if an ICE agent zaps a protester with a shock glove whose wearing a chainmail undershirt?
Only asking because Ms. O makes chainmail jewelry, and I was wondering if I should suggest she branch out into protest wear.
Some metals conduct electricity better than others...
This Friday is the Gav/Fukui Memorial San Francisco monthly get together.
Fuck.
I can't believe this.
6PM
Eclipse Restaurant and Bar in the Hyatt Regency Embarcadero.
The group usually sits behind the bar, but things may play out differently.
Look for a woman in a wheelchair--that's me.
Also look for Rebecca, she's planning on being there too also.
I'd love to see any and all of you...
Well, I took today off so I wouldn't have to go back to work after being gone for the weekend. That's why I'm making silly asides in the newsie pieces, instead of just the open thread.
From PBS:
"Black voters make up a larger share of Mississippi's 2.95 million residents (about 37%) and typical November electorate (about a third) than in any other state. More than 9 out of 10 of them typically vote Democratic but turn out at a lower rate than white voters, especially young generations, according to strategists in both major political parties. White voters opt by a 4-1 ratio or more for Republicans. Younger white voters trend slightly less Republican, but they're also less likely to vote."
As lobbyists of the political center insist, with unlimited advertising funds, that Scott Colom must "move to the center," he would be much better advised to reach out to previously unlikely voters. This calls for unabashed social-democratic principle, not noncommittal centrism.
For my part, I do not believe a politically centrist voting bloc exists in Mississippi, or really anywhere else. There maybe a lot of sheep who can be easily persuaded to vote for anybody who speaks up about what they believe and sounds like they mean it. But these sheep are not centrists.
Monday Tab's and Coffee ☕💯👍
That piece from "The Existentialist Republic" is a reminder for me to tell you, yet again, about piece of shit NIH director Jay Bhattacharya. He had a piece in the right-wing rag "Imprimis" in which he had the unmitigated gall to berate those opposing the complete dismantling of public health initiatives in this nation by telling them to have "epistemic humility". A motherfucking Trump official telling someone to have epistemic humility is like a grizzly bear telling someone not to shit in the woods.
The tab about Canada trying to kick out our ambassador? I looked to see who the ambassador was. Pete Hoekstra. So, that makes sense.
Inquiring minds want to know: did Kelly Loeffler make that leprechaun she captured give her a pot of gold?
Reforming the Court while Trump is still in office would be a formidable task. He would have to sign any law a Democrat controlled Congress would write, and then the Court gets to rule whether it is Constitutional. But Congress needs to overturn Citizen United which allowed unlimited dark money funding in elections. Congress needs to imposing the strict ethics rules that guide government employees on the Court. Congress needs to assert that results, not intentions matter when it comes to the 14th amendment. And Congress needs to assert that all states must get pre-approval for changes in a state's election laws to prevent disadvantaging minority voters. And Congress needs to assert that J6 was an act of insurrection.
Firefly reference in Tabs? Yes please. (I'll be in my bunk.)
Here's a tiny nice times for this foggy Monday morning: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/supreme-court/supreme-court-declines-trump-appeal-e-jean-carroll-award-rcna592887
I do wonder what will happen with the other case. I'll confess that I thought it was over and done with, but I see it has also been appealed.
Supremes Tell Dumold to Pound Sand is is a much nicer headline.
"The women who serve the MAGA fascists in the White House are apparently very tired from always having to look “MAGA perfect” all the time. Tiny violin."
Tiny stringed instruments indeed - unless the pressure is on the regular household staff (and I mean the housekeeping staff, kitchen staff, etc.) I really don't give a fuck. But those staffers who work not for a president but for the White House, those people I feel for. Hope they're not being pressured to have The Look.
Trump doesn't even see them. No one in the administration does.
given their nastiness, that’s probably better
I saw that NYT article about the MAGA twerp's outrage that ICE came after HIS wife. My reaction was like Evan's only moreso.
A few days ago, Spartacus Olsson concluded his long-runnjng Death of Democracy series detailing the years between Hitler's ascent in 1933 and the invasion of Poland in 1939. As he ponders his next big project, he has invited input on what the follow-up to Death of Democracy should be.
I would like to hear more about Luise Solmitz, the Hamburg diarist who Olssen quoted almost as often as William Shirer during this last series. She was a smug middle-class Nazi until she learned that her husband was secretly a jew. And then she struggled with her feelings for years, badly wanting to gloat over all of Hitler's vile accomplishments even as her own children were persecuted.
She finally broke with the Nazis a few months after Kristallnacht. And, as Sparty left her story, it was still totally unclear whether she had ever learned a damned thing about Nazi evil, or just didn't like that they ate HER face. I wanna hear more. I kinda consider Solmitz a test case. If she can't learn, then what hope is there for our MAGAs to rejoin humanity?
Magats were never part of humanity to begin with. They've always been hateful little trolls.
It's tough terminology that I really debated using (and still do). See, there are two problems with it.
1) These hateful little trolls have always been a part of humanity. A substantial part. Whenever it was, whatever they were called, whether they were even noticed at all, they were there.
2) Maybe not such a great idea to deny the full humanity of anyone, even rhetorically? We kinda know where that leads.
I dunno. It really bugs me. On the one hand, it seems insane to let people like this make important decisions. On the other hand, if you don't, you're just another variety of fascist. It's a structural weak spot n liberalism that just cannot be removed.
See: Karl Popper's Paradox of Tolerance.
I try very hard to avoid hating other people v. disagreeing with them, but the hyperspeed of information or outright propaganda seems to be unspooling a great deal of shared culture or affiliation. With nothing to bind us, we default to hostility when we are frightened. (I know I'm scared). When FOX talking heads insult the military or the government promotes extrajudicial killings, we are down to drifting on bits of flotsam with no terra firma in sight. Let's try to make life rafts & pull each other out of the wreckage.
It's the silo effect, and we're subject to it, too. Personally, I don't think we're gonna redeem many MAGAts. I think the best we can hope for is occasional support from them, solely based on their personal gripes when they bump up against the consequences of voting for fascist control.
One thing we should probably look at is Germany's postwar journey to becoming a stable, liberal democracy. I’m not expert on that, but I do understand that it wasn't postwar de-Nazification that accomplished that, it was the efforts of the next generation of Germans, the ones who were too young to be seduced by Nazism in any adult way, but did grow up surrounded by it's effects and consequences. It's another reason why I think we need to really focus on what we're telling the youngs. We probably can't fix this, ourselves, only (maybe) buy some time. But they might.
There are still a lot of Peronistas in Argentinia. A small percent of U.S. voters will hang on to the MAGA fantasy forever. Forget appealing to them, I say.
None. There is no hope. They will be the ones drowning as the Titanic sinks, playing their instruments and denigrating everyone fleeing for the lifeboats as being "woke"
I’m not sure that's a good metaphor. Not many people were denying the ship was sinking by the time it got to the band playing on deck stage. Or any, not long after that. By then, they were either trying to get on the remaining lifeboats or deliberately sacrificing themselves so others could.
I think if you wanna turn the Titanic into a metaphor for our time, you should probably look at Bruce Ismay, or maybe even the officers of the Titanic (without singling anyone out, the whole thing was kind of a clusterfuck from start to finish).
Lol. "Wonkette. Come for the snark, stay for the literary criticism" ;-)