Out this week.
Probably next.
Please stick with me.
Symptoms are mitigated by vaccine. So there’s that.
I am grateful to science.
The vaccine kept me out of the hospital or the morgue.
We lost half a dozen relatives to this damn COVID thing.
Confession: I’m ashamed at my out loud laughs at what could be serious injuries.
However, they really did have it coming!
In Letters from an American, historian Heather Cox Richardson looks at the Declaration of Independence as a radical document, limited by a constricted definition of “all men”, but expanded with time and the evolution of social morality.
In the Civil War, the ideals in the Declaration were threatened by an illegal rebellion in denial of founding principles.
Key observation about the political right: They can say they love this nation, while betraying almost everything central to its beauty: diversity, plurality, equality—and the indoctrinated cult will lap it up because they need the story to be true.
Wisconsin conservative James Wigderson compares the state of our ideals with Independence celebrations in the past, focusing on America’s 1976 bicentennial, and concludes we have triumphed over far worse times than we face today.
Our US Senator from here in Missouri, Josh Hawley, quoted Patrick Henry in support of a Christian nation. Turns out the quote was a fraud. My own reaction:
This could easily have been adequately researched, even by those of us who actually live and work in Missouri.
Over in Washington, you do have a Senate staff, right?
— Burr Deming – @BurrLand01@mastodon.world (@BurrLand01) July 6, 2023
tengrain at Mock Paper Scissors goes a little deeper and discovers that the actual source that inspired Senator Hawley was YIKES! Worse than I thought!
Hackwhackers looks at Bidenomics for June, comparing the economic performance that was predicted by experts with what actually happened, and proves that one picture is worth almost half a million jobs.
News Corpse reports President Biden’s reaction to Hunter Biden’s drug addicted behavior, and the Fox/Republican reaction to Joe Biden’s reaction:
Both attack the President for a lack of family values.
Key attack (From Congressman James Comer): And his own son pled guilty to two tax evasion charges and one [count of] illegal possession of firearms. This is a terrible example of leadership in the White House.
Key description (from Fox anchor Rachel Campos-Duffy): …the biggest political scandal in modern history, as far as I’m concerned.
Key actual value (noted by News Corpse): …Comer’s implication of nefarious intent regarding strengthening gun regulations, even though Hunter was found to have violated them, proves that Biden is committed to equal justice under the law, even if it means holding his son to account.
Key additional point (mine):
Investigative reports have only uncovered a father’s continuous unconditional love, combined with a calm insistence on each step of recovery and acceptance of responsibility. When dealing with addiction, this strikes me as a parental model to be admired.
It was a dark, quiet night. Most people were asleep. The next day was July Fourth, so many had the day off from work. Alas, one man was not asleep.
Dave Columbo explains democracy to an extra-terrestrial:
This week, the Supreme Court rejected the Republican idea that state legislatures should be able to overturn election results they don’t like:
Key worthwhile few seconds:
Winning oral argument against that proposal by Neal Katyal.
It is rejected by the Articles of Confederation, rejected by the early state constitutions, rejected by the founding practice, especially, New York where judges vetoed federal election bills. It’s also rejected by this court, and cases such as Smiley and Hildebrandt.
A woman, who had religious reasons for discriminating against a gay couple by not designing a website advocating gay marriage, gets a ruling in her favor from the United States Supreme Court.
It turns out to be a “hypothetical” case on many levels:
The web designer was not really a web designer, not having ever learned to design websites.
The gay couple did not actually exist.
The referenced “gay” man was surprised to find himself named in the suit.
He is not gay.
There was no wedding. He was already married. Had been for years.
Happily married, with a woman.
He never contacted the “web designer”.
In fact he was an experienced web designer himself, with no need for any outside help with a non-wedding.
Well, anyone can make a mistake, and it’s not as if she lied to authorities about something classified. Besides, she might, in the future, get web design skills. She might develop a legal need to discriminate against hypothetical couples.
For as long as I can remember, organized crime figures were often convicted and put into prison on the basis of recordings in which they boasted about their crimes.
Tommy Christopher reminds us of the latest excuse after Donald Trump’s own incriminating recording, an excuse past crime figures never thought to make. Tommy traces Trump’s novel defense to its likely source on Fox.
Key excuse: The audio leaves little doubt that Trump was representing to others that he was waving sensitive papers around at that meeting, which he now claims was mere “bravado” for his guests.
In MadMikesAmerica, Michael J. Scott turns on his television and is startled to see Donald Trump – no longer energized as he carries his rage, bluster, and (yes) bravado. Instead, he seems burdened and tired, staring into the abyss and seeing prison time glaring back.
Key image: It appears that the reality of his situation is slowly dawning on him – a realization that protestations, threats, and power can’t always shield one from American justice.
So Putin pal or former pal Yevgeny Prigozhin and his troops may or may not be moving toward Moscow in what may or may not be an insurrection in Russia.
Key tradeoff: If military leaders can be blamed for Russia’s poor performance in Ukraine, it diverts from Putin’s responsibility for his initial, catastrophic mistake with the invasion. Playing factions off against another may help Putin in the short term, but not if he hopes to defeat Ukraine
tengrain at Mock Paper Scissors shows mr Trump bragging to Bret Baier on Fox about how tough he was with Putin on Ukraine. Donald plays both parts of a telephone argument, with his Putin side and his brave tough Presidential side getting very angry.
tengrain is definitely amused, although seeming much more than skeptical.
Key editorial comment: Well, golfing, watching himself on TV, posting hundreds of comments online, and those cult rallies, do take up time. Furthermore, his complaint that there were “many things” in the boxes that were personal really amount to only wearable items(“Golf shirts, clothing, pants, shoes“).
Key observation from MSNBC’s Nicole Wallace: …he’s so addled he’s talking about stuffing his pants in with his desk stuff. I mean, that’s not a good look either. Why were his pants in with his papers? He sounds like a crazy hoarder.
Wisconsin conservative James Wigderson pictures lawyer reactions to the Trump interview:
Key satiric nonquote: In a statement, Rupert Murdoch criticized the Fox personality Bret Baier for “disseminating information that was recklessly and unforgivably true.”
Dave Dubya goes to legal detail – including criminal code citations – in explaining the actual indictment content.
Dave does research ordinary mortals don’t do but want done, and makes it understandable.
Key clever snark/explanation combo – – –
(on 18 U.S. Code § 2071 – Concealment, removal, or mutilation generally): My theory on why this charge isn’t included is the penalty would apply to an election. Supposedly the FBI is loath to “interfere” in elections, right, James Comey?
Hackwhackers joins the online question. Why did mr Trump keep, shuffle, and hide so many documents?
Answer: Possible, not probable.
Not to be excessively unkind, but a sale would require an organizational skill way above his level of executive ability.
Key conclusion: He may have taken them thinking he could sell them during desperate financial moments or use them to blackmail someone, but it wasn’t his primary purpose in taking them.
Key assault on truth: But the lie that Biden had anything to do with Trump’s predicament will persist because of the liars who support Trump.
Some side drama in the courthouse:
Donald Trump has been energetically attacking President Joe Biden, Attorney General Merrick Garland, and the Department of Justice.
But his most vitriolic attacks have been directed at Special Prosecutor Jack Smith and his wife.
His wife? Yeah, his wife.
At the Tuesday arraignment, there were some glaring contests. The Palmer Report paints the picture. As he marched out of the courtroom, Donald Trump made a show of glowering at reporters.
Key bewilderment: The head of security for the federal courthouse acknowledged that he and his team have “no leads whatsoever” as to who took the documents.
Key What About: Neither Biden or Pence talked with aides and lawyers about hiding them, lying to the Feds and discussed schemes to avoid complying with the return demands.
I happen to have a thought:
Dave Columbo goes Republican and articulates the MAGA case for Trump:
Hard to imagine the courage of those who risk their lives to get secret information to the US about impending terrorist or military threats
Asking us to keep their identities secret.
Accepting our promise that we will.
Even harder to image the reaction when those secret sources find out an ex-President stored information in a bathroom or shower or ballroom or desk.
Pictures of documents spilling out, strewn on a floor.
And Republicans arguing that, yeah, he did it but it was all okay.
Now, step right up. Risk your life and warn us of impending dangers to our country and its citizens.
The barbershop team discovered their client's head-shaving was due to chemotherapy. They showed immense support and compassion. Truly heartwarming! 🙏 pic.twitter.com/BIkdcDKP61
Key suspicions: The question that haunts the minds of many in the hushed corners of political discourse is this – who else, apart from the Saudis, was at the receiving end of Trump’s criminal largesse? Was this a solo performance, or were other shadowy actors hidden behind the scenes?
Fox's Mark Levin: "President Trump is 76 years old. If the Department of Justice gets its way, he will die in federal prison." pic.twitter.com/wH2gUJtWiM
Key lowest standard of any patriot: So, yeah, I have a problem with espionage against the US and the willful sharing of our classified secrets, whoever is doing that but especially if I think it’s for malicious reasons. Why wouldn’t anyone else?
I (um) have an opinion about the Trump age problem:
Yeah. Old age.
If he is convicted, he may have trouble serving the entire sentence.
Fortunately, our legal system is flexible. He will be allowed to serve as much as he can.
— Burr Deming – @BurrLand01@mastodon.world (@BurrLand01) June 9, 2023
Ted McLaughlin at jobsanger has the poll numbers and demographics on which Americans think Donald Trump is guilty of serious crimes and which say he should not be elected if convicted.
Disaffected and it Feels So Good watches Congressional Republicans investigate wrongdoing by President Joe Biden. Past accusations have blown away upon investigation like dry leaves in the wind. And current charges seem to be fading as evidence evaporates. So Republican members are attacking news outlets for ignoring them.
Mainstream media has been burned before, so this time they are waiting for more than bluster. Republicans are livid because: No evidence? That’s what they WANT you to think.
Key experience: I suffered, took the abuse, tried to fight the bullies who had the backing of the teachers. All on top of being abused at home. If I only had someone to talk to about it all, any positive role model to turn to. So much a lifetime of harm I could have been avoided / saved from if I had just had someone to go to who was LGBTQ+ friendly.
Child labor protections, indigenous children, and the right to have your vote count are on the table this month. Imani Gandy and Jessica Mason Pieklo of Rewire News Group discuss four extremely important, underreported legal decisions that will hit our country from a corrupted Supreme Court in June.
Imani Gandy is happy to be wrong in one prediction:
I’ve never been so happy to be wrong.
I wrote this in December after oral arguments in Merrill. If you you want to know what the case is about and why it’s a big deal that Roberts sided with the libs, read this. https://t.co/aq3wPFLfxIpic.twitter.com/ICYEXTbgSM
— 🤌🏾 Imani Gandy 👆🏾 (@AngryBlackLady) June 8, 2023
Key rights implication: This leaves intact the ability of plaintiffs to sue when states appear to discriminate against minority voters. Similar lawsuits are pending in ten different states.
At The Moderate Voice retired U.S. Air Force Major Dorian de Wind and family were able to devote this year’s Memorial Day at a monument honoring seven specific crew members very near where they died in France during World War II.
Key homage: It was singularly emotive to be able to honor our heroes so close to where they fell, yet so far away from home
Botocchio, at Vagabond Scholar, likes the newest film version of All Quiet on the Western Front, and it’s anti‑war message, but feels it could have been stronger had it been more faithful to the book. The 1930 film was better.
Review of the review: Detailed, engaging, well reasoned.
Key principle: One of the cardinal rules of good adaptation is that, if you change something, make it better.
Key decision: There’s no reason you can’t watch both (and read the novel as well), but unless you can’t stand old movies, if you could see only one version, I’d go with the 1930 one.
A reminder that Social Security and Medicare were not all that Republicans wanted to cut this week. Veteran’s benefits were also at issue:
The battle is not over for what Republicans still regard as entitlements:
McCarthy suggests new commission could look at Social Security and Medicare cuts!
— Joe Biden is YOUR President! #BidenHarris2024 (@SheDidItRight22) June 1, 2023
In Letters from an American, noted historian Heather Cox Richardson reviews the Biden victory in defeating the Republican default. The President casts it as a bi-partisan effort, reducing Republican bruised feelings, and preserving his ability to negotiate future agreements.
It turns out demands issued by Republicans contradicted their supposed focus on deficit reduction.
Key illustration: The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) said that the $21 billion cut in funding to the Internal Revenue Service, for example, will result in $40 billion in lost revenue, increasing the deficit by $19 billion.
You might get the feeling, as do I, that Dave Columbo and Laura High are not really talking about their family budget. Okay, it’s a good, non-technical illustration of the semi‑near default:
CalicoJack, in The Psy of Life, has a notable lack of sympathy for a Florida teacher who made and published a video saying the South should have won the Civil War. He seems to have gotten an unfriendly reaction from students, fellow teachers, and occasional parents.
The teacher has filed a complaint against …well… everyone.
Although this satire by the Borowitz Report predates the actual Twitter disaster, it does wear well. Ron DeSantis hoped to use contrast to seem like a human person by appearing next to Elon Musk.
Key alternatives: According to an aide, the campaign considered a shortlist of other foils, including Mickey Rourke, Dennis Rodman, and Ginni Thomas.
A long-time conservative notable went on the Fox Network and got righteously indignant at political criticism directed at Casey DeSantis, spouse of Ron. After all, Republicans have never gone after the spouses of Democrats. driftglass covers the shocked reaction as the host reminds him about Michelle Obama.
News Corpse watches as the Fox Network finally recognizes that the greatest problem faced by mr Trump is not Ron DeSantis.
Key increasingly obvious fact: Donald Trump does not have magic powers. He can’t magically delay his criminal trials, just as he couldn’t delay his E. Jean Carroll civil trial. Nor can he just “decide” not to go to prison after he’s been sentenced to prison.
Key cautious adjustment: It looks like we may finally be turning that corner – sort of. A news publication called The Messenger, which is run by former journalists from Politico, just ran this headline: “Could Trump Go to Prison? It’s Not Out of the Question.”
Key insight: The “tree of liberty is watered with the blood of patriots” types never seem to note that in a representative government, sometimes your particular flavor of “patriot” isn’t winning elections and violence isn’t so much a revolutionary action as a pity party gone badly wrong.
Key factor: The announcement warned that a key factor in potential violence is “perceptions of the 2024 general election cycle,” a reference to disinformation suggesting that U.S. elections are rigged. This false allegation is a staple of former president Trump’s political messaging.
PZ Myers has a thought about ex-General Michael Flynn’s new dating and reproductive website especially for anti-vax folk. The selling point is that you too can preserve your blood purity.
Professor Myers is reminded of POE: Purity of Essence.
Key danger: The closer we get to trial and conviction, though, the more shrill and bombastic Trump will become and more violent MAGA will become. His one weapon is stochastic terrorism.
Key motivation: Because the only thing media corporations care about is this strictly, cold-blooded profit-and-loss calculation: how they can most efficiently hook the marks, and how they can keep ’em coming back for more.
News Corpse is justified in slamming the Fox Network on this one. Fox aired reports on veterans being booted out of hotels to make room for migrants. Turns out that the entire story was a scam set up and paid for by the CEO of an advocacy group. A couple of local reporters did a little checking and uncovered the whole thing.
That little bit of checking could just as easily been done by Fox.
Elon (Twitter) Musk has a name-calling response to what seems to be reasonable criticism:
Did your brain fall out of your head, Yglesias? The choice is have Twitter throttled in its entirety or limit access to some tweets. Which one do you want?
And gets a harsh reply from Cato Institute’s Julian Sanchez
This is cowardly horseshit, of course. Back when Twitter was run by people with balls, they routinely refused to comply with these demands, and fought them in court. https://t.co/ibSzFVwIOH
— @normative@bsky.social (@normative) May 15, 2023
Key challenge: Talk like “my truth” vs “your truth”, “alternative facts”, and suchlike must be forcefully denounced as the bullshit it is. Claims about reality are either true or false. A statement like “the 2020 election was stolen from Trump” is either true or not true — it cannot be true for some people and false for others. The Earth is not flat for members of the Flat Earth Society and spherical for everyone else.
Key example: If you design an airplane based on some idiosyncratic “your truth” about mathematics and the laws of physics instead of based on the single, solid objective truth of those things that science has established, it will crash, if it even gets off the ground at all.
Key exception: It’s important to distinguish between this and ordinary differences of opinion, even stark ones. A person who believes Trump was the best president ever, or that different races should be kept segregated, or that Hitler was justified, is manifesting the kind of differences of viewpoint people have always had, even if extreme ones.
Dave Columbo leaves comedy long enough to ask a few non-gotcha questions:
M. Bouffant at Web of Evil notices a new, most accurate yet, description of US Senator Josh Hawley, whom we here in Missouri sent to Washington.
Vixen Strangely at Strangely Blogged is not sympathetic as she watches nationally known conservatives twist themselves into knots trying to claim that even self-proclaimed white supremacists are not really white supremacists.