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Tuesday Open Thread

Yesterday, U.S. federal judge in Tampa, Kathryn Kimball Mizelle, appointed by Trump ruled the masks aren't necessary on airlines. Then today:

the Biden administration announced that the Transportation Security Administration will no longer enforce the federal mandate requiring masks in all U.S. airports and on board aircraft.

Effective immediately, masks are optional for all airport employees, crew members and customers inside U.S. airports and on board all aircraft domestically, as well as on most international flights.

Is anyone here canceling airline flights because of it?

Looks like we need a new open thread. Here it is, all topics welcome.

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    UGGH (5.00 / 1) (#1)
    by jmacWA on Tue Apr 19, 2022 at 03:27:51 PM EST
    This simply shows that we will never be done with Trump until every judge he put on the Federal bench is gone.

    Elections have consequences, and we are paying the price even after the odious Trump is gone; and the GOP would gladly run him again.

    My best friend for the last 13 or so years (5.00 / 2) (#2)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Apr 19, 2022 at 04:49:48 PM EST
    has gone to his reward.  I'm sad.  But he had a long run and when he started going down hill it happened in a way so he did not suffer.  But I'm leaving this comment to mention the sympathy card I got from the vet today.

    It was my first visit to them.  I've had some trouble finding a vet I liked and trusted.

    I've had a few friends put down.  Never got a card before.  I thought it was nice.

    Very thoughtful (none / 0) (#3)
    by KeysDan on Tue Apr 19, 2022 at 05:18:48 PM EST
    on the part of the vet.  My sympathies.

    Parent
    Our current and previous vets (none / 0) (#6)
    by Peter G on Tue Apr 19, 2022 at 07:17:21 PM EST
    had the same practice of sending cards. Not in the same envelope with the bill for the euthanasia and cremation services. I haven't counted exactly, but my wife and I have probably had nearly a dozen dogs over the 45+ years that we've been together.

    Parent
    After posting this (none / 0) (#7)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Apr 19, 2022 at 07:30:08 PM EST
    I'm hearing this is not uncommon.  But I have also sadly been through probably almost a dozen and never got a card.  And I've lived all over the country.

    It's a very good idea.  Even strictly from a marketing point of view.  

    Is it a more recent thing?  

    Parent

    I wouldn't say recent. Not that I have (none / 0) (#10)
    by Peter G on Tue Apr 19, 2022 at 09:18:35 PM EST
    a full record of it, but I'd say we've received such cards from our vet for the last 20 years or so.

    Parent
    When we had to have our cat Hoover put down.. (none / 0) (#8)
    by desertswine on Tue Apr 19, 2022 at 08:24:00 PM EST
    the online petfood etc store chewy.com, where we had been buying his food, sent us flowers.

    Parent
    Sorry to read you (none / 0) (#17)
    by MO Blue on Wed Apr 20, 2022 at 01:56:34 PM EST
    lost your friend. They provide much love and are sorely missed when they are gone.

    Parent
    The ruling of (5.00 / 3) (#5)
    by KeysDan on Tue Apr 19, 2022 at 06:15:20 PM EST
    Judge Mizelle is wild.  It seems that her ruling is a misreading, either inept or willful, of the law that permits the CDC to make and enforce regulations that in its professional judgment are necessary to prevent the introduction, transmission, and spread of communicable diseases.  

    Regulations may be promulgated to enable this obligation including examples such as for sanitation--- the anchor to the ruling in that her interpretation of sanitation is based on a definition found in an old dictionary.  However, sanitation, in the public health sense, includes the process of filtration...the purpose of masking.

    Moreover, the ruling vacates the mask ruling across the nation.  Not just for the plaintiffs or the region.  "A limited remedy would be no remedy at all" the judge unconvincingly posits. Of course, she could have issued an order for just the plaintiffs who claimed masks presented an issue, had a card laminated for thirr presentation to the airline personnel.  After all, this was not a class action suit!   The ruling is as if the young, inexperienced judge accepted some notes from the Federalist Society.

    The CDC mask mandate was to expire May 3 unless renewed., so the ruling is likely not to be appealed.  And, generally, federal district rulings are not binding precedents. But, this ruling is a harbinger, I believe, of the fascist goal of dismantling regulations.

     The DOJ may appeal if the CDC finds an extension necessary beyond the May expiration, but the mask policy has become unpopular. Americans are over diseases.

     It is often noted that ventilation on airplanes is effective, which is, in large measure true, but public heath becomes jeopardized if the person seated next to sneezes or coughs on you.  Not much social distancing in airplane seating configurations. And, then there are those flights picking up cruise ship passengers.

    There was good reason why ... (5.00 / 2) (#9)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue Apr 19, 2022 at 08:41:18 PM EST
    ... the American Bar Association bestowed the rare rating of "not qualified" upon Kathryn Kimball Mizelle, when she was first nominated to the federal judiciary by Trump in Sept. 2020. She was five years out of law school and only an associate at a law firm, and there was some question as to whether she had ever set foot in a federal courtroom prior to her appointment.

    But in my estimation, the true culprits here are Mitch McConnell and those Republican senators who confirmed a 33-year-old ideologue and novice to a lifetime appointment as a federal judge, absent any compelling reason whatsoever to do so. Trump was going to do what Trump always did; they certainly didn't have to ratify it.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    Though she was employed by Jones Day and (none / 0) (#11)
    by oculus on Tue Apr 19, 2022 at 09:21:24 PM EST
    previously was federal government lawyer.

    Parent
    Well, she's not very good. (5.00 / 1) (#12)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Apr 20, 2022 at 05:03:24 AM EST
    Did you read her opinion? Science, shmience. This is a woman on a mission. In search of what is anybody's guess.

    Parent
    I don't think anyone is saying that (5.00 / 1) (#13)
    by Peter G on Wed Apr 20, 2022 at 09:55:05 AM EST
    she is not a well-qualified apprentice lawyer. (Although in the last five years or so, the Jones Day law firm looked like a revolving door for Trumpists in and out of government policy jobs for which their experience was questionable). She clerked for three lower court federal judges (two appellate) and then on the Supreme Court for Thomas. Those jobs presuppose academic credentials, and suffice to be hired by any federal agency or corporate law firm for an overpaid, entry-level position. At age 33, however, she was absolutely not qualified  by experience or seasoning to be appointed for life to be a federal district (trial court) judge.

    Parent
    Must admit one of her degrees (5.00 / 1) (#14)
    by oculus on Wed Apr 20, 2022 at 12:02:43 PM EST
    is from a school unknown to me.

    Parent
    Jones Day was Trump's Go-To Law Firm (none / 0) (#38)
    by Jeralyn on Thu Apr 21, 2022 at 08:54:06 PM EST
    until after the election in 2020. They were outside counsel for his 2016 and Trump 2020 campaigns. According to Wikipedia, the Trump campaigns paid Jones Day more than $20 million in fees between 2015 and 2020. In 2017, they had at least 14 lawyers working for the Trump campaign. After the election in 2020, they issued  this statement announcing they were no longer representing Trump or his campaigns.

    The firm has more than 2,500 lawyers. She worked there for 10 months. As a lawyer, she never tried a case as lead or co-counsel.

    She belongs to conservative organizations and clerked for Clarence Thomas.

    Parent

    Wow, re how much money (none / 0) (#75)
    by oculus on Mon Apr 25, 2022 at 10:10:58 PM EST
    Jones Day got from Trump campaign, if they collected.

    Parent
    A funny thought when I read (none / 0) (#32)
    by Jack E Lope on Thu Apr 21, 2022 at 03:14:24 PM EST
    And, then there are those flights picking up cruise ship passengers.

    Working title for the movie: $hit$ on a Plane. I doubt they'll get Samuel L. Jackson.

    Parent
    Racism is real and alive (5.00 / 4) (#24)
    by MKS on Wed Apr 20, 2022 at 10:33:34 PM EST
    Today, I had a telephone conversation with someone was a real, bonafide racist.

    He was otherwise intelligent and describing a dispute in a calm, logical manner.  He said the other side would be difficult because of their "race."  He continued that the employees of the other side did not speak English but were "Mexican or Asian."  And, I should not expect a reasonable response from the owner of the other company because she was "Chinese" and would chase money relentlessly.

    In another recent incident, I also found a flyer on our doorstep a month ago for "European" housekeepers.   I guess Spanish-speaking maids are just too overwhelming for some people.  

    I guess I am surprised.  I believe Trump gave these people permission to say out loud what they always believed.

    I am so totally bewildered by the anti-Latino crap I hear quite frequently.  It comes up often with people becoming very threatened by hearing Spanish being spoken.

    My frame of reference is so different.  I grew up as a kid in El Paso, which at that time was I think about 50-50 Latino (and now is over 80%) Latino. I am totally Anglo, but once upon a time, I could pass for Latino, and always got a kick out of that.

     I could speak Spanish without an Anglo accent, but had an accent of some sort.  And when I had a moustache and wore a white straw Stetson, I had Latino written all over me. True Mexicans thought I was from Argentina--I guess the European still shone through in some way.

    And, while a kid in El Paso I always wondered what it would be like to be around "minorities," it never occurring to me that Latinos were "different" or a minority.

    Today, even with my atrophied language skills, when I throw off a Spanish phrase or two to native Spanish speakers, it still makes me smile a little when I see their reaction:  they start to naturally converse with me in Spanish, and then a look of surprise comes over their faces, when they realize that it was me, Mr. Anglo, they are talking to.

    People will also say how they can't stand Mexico.  I don't get that, either.  I love Mexico.  It can be such a warm, wonderful place to be, with great food, and wonderful land and people.  True, recent times and drug violence have ruined much, but that is not the part that many Anglos don't like.

    But some Anglos just freak out over Latinos....feel like they are going to get knifed or something.


    Yes about Trump (5.00 / 4) (#28)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Apr 21, 2022 at 08:03:21 AM EST
    In a way what he did was a kind of community service.  Thanks to him these people, I interact with them all the time unfortunately, no longer feel any need to wear a hood verbally, so to speak.

    We now know what and for the most part who they are.  The choice we have has never been more clear in this country since the 1860s.

    I just hope the left is capable of responding to it.

    Parent

    Trump (5.00 / 3) (#29)
    by KeysDan on Thu Apr 21, 2022 at 09:55:18 AM EST
    let the genie out of the bottle, but he was not the genie.

    Parent
    For example (5.00 / 2) (#55)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Apr 24, 2022 at 07:25:05 PM EST
    No one close to main stream would ever have said this in, say, 2015.  They might have thought it but they would have been smart enough to dog whistle.

    Now dog whistles are for dogs.


    Michigan candidate says a family is made up of a 'white Mom, white dad and white kids'

    He is a former county Republican party chairman.

    Parent

    Gaslit starts Sunday (5.00 / 2) (#31)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Apr 21, 2022 at 01:46:56 PM EST
    Julia Roberts seems an unlikely choice ... (none / 0) (#34)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Apr 21, 2022 at 04:12:14 PM EST
    ... to play Martha Mitchell but hey, judging by the network promos she appears to pull it off quite nicely.

    Parent
    Not that unlikely (none / 0) (#35)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Apr 21, 2022 at 04:48:31 PM EST
    Watching the first episode (none / 0) (#54)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Apr 24, 2022 at 05:15:35 PM EST
    It's great.  Darker than I expected.  And funnier.  It might be the first version of the story to capture the cynicism of the moment.

    Sean Penn is great.

    Parent

    Sweet (5.00 / 1) (#43)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Apr 22, 2022 at 05:39:43 PM EST

    Madison Cawthorn Photos Show Him Wearing Lingerie
    April 22, 2022 at 5:43 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard 251 Comments

    Photographs obtained by Politico "appear to show Madison Cawthorn, the embattled Republican congressman from North Carolina who recently accused his GOP colleagues of inviting him to orgies, wearing lingerie in what appears to be a party setting."

    "Cawthorn was raised in a conservative Baptist community in Henderson County, North Carolina, and has staked his political persona on arch-traditional Christian principles and the insistence of the importance of a kind of hypermasculinity."



    That's fine with me (5.00 / 9) (#49)
    by Peter G on Fri Apr 22, 2022 at 08:36:45 PM EST
    as long as he isn't allowed to use a men's rest room. I have a constitutional right not to be made to feel uncomfortable.

    Parent
    That really needs a (none / 0) (#44)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Apr 22, 2022 at 05:40:57 PM EST
    Hope the (5.00 / 2) (#52)
    by KeysDan on Sat Apr 23, 2022 at 02:48:32 PM EST
    Voters give Maddy a "pink slip", and that it is his size.

    Parent
    LOL! (none / 0) (#46)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Apr 22, 2022 at 07:08:30 PM EST
    That said, I also think dressing up in women's lingerie is the least of Rep. Madison Cawthorn's problems right now. Most immediately, he has a pending May 6 court date in Cleveland County, NC for driving with a revoked license, and it's apparently not the first time he's done so. He's also got two other pending court dates for speeding on separate occasions. Traffic court judges tend to frown on repeat offenders who behave with impunity.

    Parent
    Happy Earth Day... (5.00 / 1) (#48)
    by desertswine on Fri Apr 22, 2022 at 08:13:03 PM EST
    Russian Oligarchs going down... (5.00 / 1) (#50)
    by desertswine on Sat Apr 23, 2022 at 11:08:52 AM EST
    Nor is it safe to be a Russian general. (5.00 / 2) (#51)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sat Apr 23, 2022 at 01:47:49 PM EST
    From The Guardian, with further details to follow:
    "Two Russian generals have been killed near Kherson, the Ukrainian ministry of defence's intelligence directorate has said. Another is in critical condition. The Ukrainian military on Friday hit the command post of Russia's 49th army near occupied regional capital Kherson, according to the statement."

    That raises to 10 the number of Russian generals killed by Ukrainian military strikes since the start of Putin's war in February. Furthr, an estimated 20,000 Russian military personnel have been killed and 41,000 wounded.

    On the Ukrainian side, their military has lost about 5,000 dead and 13,000 wounded. The number of civilian casualties is presently unknown, but likely to be in the tens of thousands. And a further 4.8 million Ukrainians, mostly women, children under 18 and the elderly, have fled their country during that same period. Of that number, about half are in Poland.

    This crisis is heartbreaking to watch.

    Parent

    These are the third and fourth... (none / 0) (#53)
    by desertswine on Sat Apr 23, 2022 at 05:41:28 PM EST
    oligarchs to go down since the invasion began.

    Ali Velshi reports on four separate instances of Kremlin-connected, extremely wealthy Russians with ties to the oil industry who have died by suicide since Russia's war in Ukraine began.  I mean "suicide."

    Parent

    UPDATE: (none / 0) (#149)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sun May 01, 2022 at 10:04:33 PM EST
    "Are you ready, hey,
    Are you ready for this?
    Are you hanging on the edge of your seat?
    Out of the doorway the bullets rip
    To the sound of the beat, yeah!
    Another one bites the dust.
    Another one bites the dust.
    And another one gone, and another one gone,
    Another one bites the dust.
    Hey, I'm gonna get you, too!
    Another one bites the dust."
    - John Deacon, "Another One Bites the Dust" (Queen, The Game, 1980)

    This week we say adios to Maj. Gen. Andrei Siminov, commander of the Russian 2nd Arms Corps and head of the army's electronic warfare effort. He was killed yesterday, along with 100-150 of his men, when his command post outside the city of Izium (east of Kharkiv) was sited in the crosshairs of mobile Ukrainian artillery batteries. The bombardment - seen here from a Ukrainian drone - also destroyed more than 30 Russian armored vehicles and tanks.

    They're losing one general per week.

    Parent

    UPDATE No. 3: What happened in Izium? (5.00 / 1) (#161)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon May 02, 2022 at 08:24:25 PM EST
    Based partly on monitoring of Russian social media, Global Defense Corp. is reporting that Gen. Valery Gerasimov had suffered a shrapnel wound in his right leg in the Ukrainian attack and was evacuated. It has yet to be confirmed by other sources

    Further, they're also reporting that most of the 200+ Russians killed alongside Maj. Gen. Andrei Siminov in that attack at Izium on Saturday night were fairly high-ranking military officers. As a result, Russian offensive operations in the area appear to have stalled until regional command problems get unsnarled and re-established.

    Also, reports today from European intelligence sources appear to strongly suggest that Russian forces have been driven out of the strategic town of Staryi Saltiv 40 km. east of Kharkiv. If confirmed, then Ukrainian forces will have effectively cut the primary Russian supply route to Izium, which will no doubt add to the logistical nightmare that has enveloped the Russian war effort.

    I'll add further information and clarifications as  I learn more. Aloha.

    Parent

    UPDATE No. 2: Ukraine was hunting big game. (none / 0) (#150)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon May 02, 2022 at 06:23:59 AM EST
    It appears that Gen. Valery Gerasimov, the Russian military's chief of staff and the country's highest ranking uniformed officer, was on an unannounced site visit to the front lines near Izium when Ukrainian forces got word of his whereabouts and launched that punishing artillery barrage, which demolished the Russian regional command post.

    Alas, Gen. Gerasimov had already departed the site and was returning to Russia when the attack occurred, but Maj. Gen. Andrei Simonov and over 200 Russian troops were killed. From the New York Times:

    "The presence of such a high-ranking official on the front lines is highly unusual and comes amid what Western military analysts describe as increasing disarray within Russian forces. Even with dramatically scaled down objectives, Western officials and analysts say the Russian military continues to struggle with logistical problems and coordination among its troops, while facing persistently fierce resistance from the Ukrainians."

    I bet that's the last time Gen. Gerasimov visits the front.

    Parent

    A little help (5.00 / 1) (#198)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed May 04, 2022 at 06:53:32 PM EST

    U.S. Intelligence Is Helping Ukraine Kill Russian Generals
    May 4, 2022 at 7:47 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard 1 Comment

    "The United States has provided intelligence that has helped Ukrainians target and kill many of the Russian generals who have died in action in the Ukraine war," the New York Times reports.

    "Ukrainian officials said they have killed approximately 12 generals on the front lines, a number that has astonished military analysts."

    "The targeting help is part of a classified effort by the Biden administration to provide real-time battlefield intelligence to Ukraine. That intelligence also includes anticipated Russian troop movements gleaned from recent American assessments of Moscow's secret battle plan for the fighting in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, the officials said. Officials declined to specify how many generals had been killed as a result of U.S. assistance



    Parent
    While it's entertaining to watch (5.00 / 1) (#56)
    by Chuck0 on Mon Apr 25, 2022 at 08:35:32 AM EST
    GQPers pillory one another, the GQP PA Senate primary and gubernatorial TV ads are just getting excruciatingly absurd.

    The orange crime boss groveling is cringeworthy.

    Hopefully this bodes well for Mr. Fetterman and Mr. Shapiro. The GQPers will have so thoroughly trashed one another that PA keeps a Dem in Harrisburg and sends another Dem to the US Senate.

    I would love (5.00 / 4) (#58)
    by MO Blue on Mon Apr 25, 2022 at 08:53:48 AM EST
    to see Fetterman in the Senate. He was impressive in his response to the whole chaos of the election.

    Parent
    That is looking like (none / 0) (#57)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Apr 25, 2022 at 08:49:02 AM EST
    our only hope nationally.

    Parent
    Check it out in GA (none / 0) (#59)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Apr 25, 2022 at 08:57:26 AM EST
    "All the madness we see from the Biden administration... all that started here in Georgia when our governor caved and allowed radical Democrats to steal our election," he said.


    David Perdue Opens Georgia Primary Debate by Declaring Election Was Stolen



    Parent

    Why Fetterman? (none / 0) (#60)
    by Peter G on Mon Apr 25, 2022 at 12:06:25 PM EST
    I was surprisingly unimpressed by Fetterman at last week's debate. He came off as a not-too-bright, self-centered (annoying habit of referring to himself as "we" and not appreciating how others perceive him), ill-prepared stiff. At the same time I was quite impressed (again, surprisingly, given his youthfulness) with Malcolm Kenyatta. Charming, quick, on-point to every question, bright, well-informed. Being Black and from Philadelphia, might he generate enough of an enhanced turnout in the City to carry the day in the general election?

    Parent
    I singled out Fetterman (5.00 / 1) (#70)
    by Chuck0 on Mon Apr 25, 2022 at 04:25:31 PM EST
    because he leads in the polls, and I prefer him to Lamb. Lamb should stay in his current seat in Congress. We need him there.

    Though I would gladly vote for Kenyatta, he is not garnering much attention outside the Philly area. He is not polling with the same strength as Lamb and Fetterman.

    Full disclosure, I have contributed to the Fetterman campaign.


    Parent

    I did not watch the debate (none / 0) (#61)
    by MO Blue on Mon Apr 25, 2022 at 02:39:16 PM EST
    so I have no basis to agree or disagree with your current assessment. I liked the way he handled the interviews regarding the aftermath of the 2020 election and Republican claims that the election was not legitimate because of all the fraud.

    According to a Franklin & Marshall College Poll released Thursday source only 4% said they'd support state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta. IMO, the race is between Fetterman and Lamb. It is my belief that Fetterman will support the policies that are important to me while I do not trust Lamb to do so. Case in point, Lamb's supporters are attacking Fetterman's position on healthcare and that is a definite red flag to me and one that would disqualify him from receiving my vote if I lived in PA.

    Parent

    The only argument our friends are making (none / 0) (#62)
    by Peter G on Mon Apr 25, 2022 at 03:02:52 PM EST
    for Lamb is that he is more "electable" and (1) any Democrat is better than any of the Republicans; (2) (even more important) a Democratic majority in the Senate is essential to the common good, even if some of the Democrats are wishy-washy on key issues; and (3) Lamb is no Manchin; he would support and did support strong voting rights legislation and Build Back Better, f'rinstance. iow, he is "good enough" and most likely to win the General. On the other hand, I heard him say "Speaking as a prosecutor ...." when answering a question on crime, even though he is not a prosecutor, and has not been for years; he is a member of Congress. And he was invoking the slippery position of "decriminalization" of cannabis, rather than legalization with regulation.

    Parent
    I've read their arguments and I don't agree with (5.00 / 1) (#63)
    by MO Blue on Mon Apr 25, 2022 at 03:37:15 PM EST
    their assessment that Lamb is more electable and that he can win the seat and Fetterman will lose it. Of course, that might change if Lamb's supporters and the establishment Dems continue with their attacks labeling Fetterman a socialist. Fetterman is very popular now  and these attacks may have the end result of ensuring that the primary winner (Fetterman) will lose the general election due to Democratic efforts. I often think that some Dems would rather lose the seat than see a slightly liberal candidate win. Fetterman might be slightly left of center but is in no way the raging leftist his Dem opponents are trying to label him.

    Parent
    From what I read (none / 0) (#77)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Apr 26, 2022 at 05:43:20 AM EST
    on social media FWIW the 1st complaint is the Fetterman association with Bernie due to Andrew Gilliam's loss in Florida in 2018 with the landscape not being as favorable in 2022. As far as I know though Fetterman has not had Bernie campaign for him recently.

    The 2nd complaint is that Fetterman pulled a gun on an African American and therefore there may not be enough of a turnout in places like Philly & Pittsburgh to push Fetterman over the line.

    Parent

    Fetterman was re-elected (5.00 / 3) (#78)
    by MO Blue on Tue Apr 26, 2022 at 08:59:19 AM EST
    by the majority-Black city after the incident cited. If anyone has data on how much support Lamb has in the AA community vs Fetterman, I would be interested in the actual facts vs feelings. I looked but evidently my google skills were not up to the task.

    IMO, the choice will be between Fetterman and Lamb. Per article on debate:

    All the candidates except Lamb said they don't believe major spending initiatives under President Joe Biden have contributed to inflation.

    Lamb basically both sided it saying the deficit hawks have valid points.

    Lamb spoke most forcefully about the need to continue supporting Pennsylvania's oil and gas industries.

    "Talking about repealing the federal gas tax or clean technologies of the future and all of this other stuff -- it sounds great. Not a single one of them will result in you walking out one day and paying a lower price at the gas pump," he said. "That will happen if we increase production."

    Source

    My takeaway from the article:

    I'm not fond of a Democratic candidate validating Republican talking points, leaning towards deficit reduction through cutting social programs and promoting increased oil and gas production.

    Parent

    My mail in ballot came yesterday. (5.00 / 6) (#80)
    by Chuck0 on Tue Apr 26, 2022 at 01:14:32 PM EST
    I marked mine Fetterman.

    One of the GQP gubernatorial candidates keeps spouting about ending "illegal" mail ballots. My take away is that he wants to take away my right to vote. I am not physically able to stand in line waiting to vote. I have long COVID lung problems and knee and hip issues.


    Parent

    The Rs in PA assert that mail-in ballots (5.00 / 4) (#82)
    by Peter G on Tue Apr 26, 2022 at 03:27:46 PM EST
    are "illegal" based on one of the most absurd legal arguments I've ever heard by serious lawyers:  Our state constitution states that elections must be conducted "by ballot or by such other method as may be prescribed by law." It further requires that the state legislature must by law provide absentee ballots for those "unable" to access the polls on election day due to disability or because they will be absent from the district for reasons of "duty, occupation or business." The R's now claim that the latter provision bars allowing mail-in or absentee ballots on any other basis, that is, that it sets not just a floor but also a ceiling. So, for example, it would be illegal to allow someone an absentee ballot because of urgent family reasons, or a planned vacation, or because they are married to someone on military duty, or because their disability makes it difficult or dangerous to go to the polls, but not impossible. I am approximately 95% sure that our state Supreme Court, which has their challenge under submission at the moment, will laugh it out of court.

    Parent
    I have to correct myself. (none / 0) (#97)
    by Chuck0 on Wed Apr 27, 2022 at 08:41:49 AM EST
    Saw Dave White commercial last night. He said mail in voting is "corrupt" not illegal.

    I would like him to explain to me what makes my vote "corrupt". Other than the fact it will never be cast for him.

    Parent

    Did you not receive a cash pay-off (5.00 / 1) (#98)
    by Peter G on Wed Apr 27, 2022 at 09:55:33 AM EST
    from George Soros for your mail-in vote? I'm shocked!

    Parent
    I have it on good authority (none / 0) (#99)
    by MO Blue on Wed Apr 27, 2022 at 12:23:11 PM EST
    that space lasers are going to be used to prevent mail in votes in 2022.

    Parent
    Well (none / 0) (#81)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Apr 26, 2022 at 02:50:19 PM EST
    Lamb is right about lowering gas prices in the now. However my gripe is how many times are we are going to allow ourselves to be jacked around by the oil companies? Honestly this has happened at least 4 times since I was in middle school in the early 70's.

    Parent
    Fetterman is not the Bernista candidate (5.00 / 1) (#79)
    by Peter G on Tue Apr 26, 2022 at 11:37:55 AM EST
    That is Alex Khalil, and she is polling at under 4% in a four-person field. Although, to be fair, she sounded pretty good at last night's debate.

    Parent
    Don't know (none / 0) (#66)
    by KeysDan on Mon Apr 25, 2022 at 03:56:52 PM EST
    if this is the year for Mr. Kenyatta, but he would be my choice if I was a PA voter.  He is young and definitely a comer.

    Parent
    Trevor Noah, (5.00 / 2) (#129)
    by KeysDan on Sun May 01, 2022 at 02:08:14 PM EST
    was great hosting and roasting at the Correspondents Dinner last night.  But, President Biden was in his element and in command of the room--self-effacing (e,g., Calvin Coolidge was the first president to attend such a dinner in 1924, when I was first elected to the senate).  And, with barbs.(e,g,. I am the first president to attend in six years---due to the plague, and then two years of Covid.).  
    Worth a YouTube google.

    I agree (none / 0) (#131)
    by MO Blue on Sun May 01, 2022 at 02:40:46 PM EST
    Trevor Noah and the President were both great.

    Noah's bit on Desantis was right on and might also have the added benefit of setting TFG's hair on fire. Biden's comment about not roasting the GOP since there was nothing he could say about the GOP that McCarthy hasn't already put on tap was very funny. On a more slightly more serious note the bit about all the Fox folks proving that they were vaccinated and boosted was not only true but a great sound bite, IMO.

    Parent

    My favorite parts (none / 0) (#134)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun May 01, 2022 at 03:35:11 PM EST
    were Noah calling out the press to think about journalists in Russia and to use their freedom for good. I personally saw that as a slam on "access journalism"

    The one about Fox News and Biden saying he would have Ron Klain tell them what to say every day and the camera went over to Fox and they were not laughing. LOL.

    Then we can't make fun of the GOP because Kevin McCarthy has already done it on his tapes.

    Parent

    Now (5.00 / 3) (#160)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon May 02, 2022 at 08:11:05 PM EST

    Supreme Court Has Voted to Overturn Abortion Rights
    May 2, 2022 at 8:42 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard 112 Comments

    "The Supreme Court has voted to strike down the landmark Roe v. Wade decision," according to an initial draft majority opinion circulated inside the court and obtained by Politico.

    "The draft opinion is a full-throated, unflinching repudiation of the 1973 decision which guaranteed federal constitutional protections of abortion rights and a subsequent 1992 decision - Planned Parenthood v. Casey - that largely maintained the right."

    Writes Justice Samuel Alito, for the majority: "Roe was egregiously wrong from the start."

    He adds: "We hold that Roe and Casey must be overruled. It is time to heed the Constitution and return the issue of abortion to the people's elected representatives."

    A draft Supreme Court opinion leaking is extremely rare. In fact, I cannot remember it ever happening.

    politico

    That the (5.00 / 5) (#162)
    by KeysDan on Mon May 02, 2022 at 08:41:12 PM EST
    SC will overturn Roe, in accord with Alito's draft opinion is unsurprising.  What is not only surprising, but also, disconcerting. Is the leaking of this draft in its entirety and the motivation for its leaking. And, the impact of this leak on the credibility of an already politically besieged Court.

    If the Chief Justice was not, at the time of the conference vote, on board for the overturn the writing for the majority would have been assigned by Thomas, the most senior AssociateJustice.

    The leak could be by someone who agrees with the draft to roll-out the decision and let us get used to it by the time the decision is published.  Or, by someone opposed to the overturn of Roe to garner popular outrage in an attempt to get the opinion altered.  

    Neither is good, only showing the Court majority is composed of hacks. They have the power of the number of votes and it's damn the torpedos full speed ahead.  Past time for Court unpacking!


    Parent

    I haven't read through the draft (5.00 / 1) (#165)
    by MO Blue on Mon May 02, 2022 at 09:10:21 PM EST
    But saw this twitter comment on DKos:

    Mark Joseph Stern
    @mjs_DC
    ·
    49m
    Alito's draft opinion explicitly criticizes Lawrence v. Texas (legalizing sodomy) and Obergefell v. Hodges (legalizing same-sex marriage). He says that, like abortion, these decisions protect phony rights that are not "deeply rooted in history." https:/politico.com/f?id=00000180-874f-dd36-a38c-c74f98520000

    DKos

    I don't pretend to be a lawyer but...If this is accurate, the zealots in the states and on the SC may make it once again be against the law to be gay and eliminate same sex marriage. Scary times.

    Parent

    Any unenumerated (5.00 / 2) (#172)
    by KeysDan on Mon May 02, 2022 at 09:46:18 PM EST
    constitution right the SC majority disagrees with is at serious risk.  Perhaps, the only right that may be safe for awhile is that decided by Loving v Virginia--striking down miscegenation laws    While privacy rights are also foundational to Loving, the hacks will likely conjure up reasons because Ginni and her Best Friend.

    Parent
    I found it interesting that the leaked draft (5.00 / 2) (#184)
    by Peter G on Tue May 03, 2022 at 11:36:24 AM EST
    was dated in February and was expressly marked "1st Draft."  It is now May. There is no way that that exact document is what is presently under consideration. The current draft may be basically the same, or may be significantly different in any of a dozen ways. Particularly WRT what is says about other "unenumerated rights," "liberty," "privacy" cases from Griswold (1965) to Loving (1967) to Lawrence (2003) to Obergefell (2015), and a lot in between. To articulate as a starting point that the Constitution contains no mention of "abortion" is the weakest and silliest of premises, imho. The Constitution also never mentions "privacy" or "family" or "contraception" or "marriage" or "childrearing" or "wiretaps" or "education." Equally bizarre is the argument that at the time of adoption of the Bill of Rights, or of the Fourteenth Amendment, nearly every state treated abortion (under some circumstances) as a crime. At the time of adoption of the 14th Amendment most states had segregated schools, too.  And treated fornication as a crime.  And required the recitation of Christian prayers in public schools. And banned the sale of books that described people engaging in sex acts. And barred women from becoming lawyers. That cannot possibly be a correct test of what rights the Constitution protects today.

    Parent
    In fact, what the Bill of Rights does expressly (5.00 / 1) (#187)
    by Peter G on Tue May 03, 2022 at 01:42:47 PM EST
    state is this: "The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people." U.S. Const., amend. IX. So to assert, as Justice Alito does as his starting point, in the first draft at least, that the Constitution contains no mention of "abortion rights," as if that were highly significant, is itself a flouting of the plain language of the Constitution itself, and of one of the few interpretive principles articulated in the document itself, or so it seems to me.

    Parent
    In the end (none / 0) (#188)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue May 03, 2022 at 01:55:07 PM EST
    in kind of means what 5 of them say it means, right?

    At least until it's meaning is changed with legislation.

    Parent

    Well, yes and no (none / 0) (#191)
    by Peter G on Tue May 03, 2022 at 03:17:40 PM EST
    For all intents and purposes, practically speaking, you could say the Constitution means what any five Justices say it means at any given time. That doesn't mean I have to defer to them or agree that it's correct.  And more important, no, the meaning of the Constitution cannot be changed by "legislation." If you're talk about rights, the Constitution sets a floor below which Congress (or the States) cannot go, but which can be enhanced or exceeded by legislation (assuming the legislation itself is constitutional, that is, within the legislative power and in furtherance of a legitimate policy interest). But I would not say that such legislation changes the meaning of the Constitution.

    Parent
    You seem unconvinced that individual states (none / 0) (#193)
    by oculus on Tue May 03, 2022 at 05:42:15 PM EST
    are the keeper of our rights.

    Parent
    That's covered in the Tenth Amendment (none / 0) (#194)
    by Peter G on Tue May 03, 2022 at 07:08:51 PM EST
    on top of the Ninth. ("The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people." U.S. Const., amend. X.) The Alito theory (that is, the Bork theory) also fails to account for the deliberate choice by the Framers of the 14th Amendment to use the broad and inherently undefined term "liberty" to describe the realm of person freedom and autonomy that the States could not infringe.

    Parent
    I am Certainly Uncovinced (none / 0) (#195)
    by RickyJim on Tue May 03, 2022 at 07:38:50 PM EST
    that all states are.  What examples did you have in mind when states acted as keeper of our rights?  When they seceded from the union?

    Parent
    I forgot to tag my sarcasm. (none / 0) (#197)
    by oculus on Wed May 04, 2022 at 12:36:11 AM EST
    hope it doesn't end up (none / 0) (#168)
    by leap2 on Mon May 02, 2022 at 09:25:47 PM EST
    being something like what happened in Colombia back in the day. The GQP and the hack Supreme Court is really pushing people's buttons hard in that direction.

    Parent
    Hard to believe (none / 0) (#171)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon May 02, 2022 at 09:32:28 PM EST
    this was done by someone against abortion.  Seems more likely someone trying a warning flare.   To get a heard start in responding before the election instead of only hearing this in June or whenever it would be released.

    Parent
    Yes, I (none / 0) (#174)
    by KeysDan on Mon May 02, 2022 at 09:54:55 PM EST
    lean toward the leak being motivated by those opposed to overturning Roe.  But, those in favor of its overturn may feel that abrupt release of such opinion in June along with January 6 hearings and final report at about the same time may be a strategic overload on Republican electoral prospects.

    Parent
    Or they might have feared (none / 0) (#176)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon May 02, 2022 at 09:59:41 PM EST
    The news might be lost or pushed off front pages once the hearings start if it all happened in June.  Seems much better to me to have a month of talk of this before DC is overtaken by what I think will really be explosive hearings.

    Parent
    This morning (none / 0) (#182)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue May 03, 2022 at 09:06:18 AM EST
    a lot of the talk is about how it was likely someone on the right because maybe there was a vote wobbling and they wanted to get their thinking out there to make it harder for them to change their mind or seem to be caving to public outrage.

    God forbid they should care about public outrage.

    Parent

    I read that (5.00 / 4) (#163)
    by MO Blue on Mon May 02, 2022 at 08:53:35 PM EST
    Not exactly a surprise based on the current make up of the court. According to the article, Alito used some pretty strong language in his opinion. The only good news that I can come up with on this development is that the decision will be enacted prior to the 2022 election. The speculation that Roe would be overturned has not IMO generated an overwhelming strong reaction. Hopefully, that will change when it becomes a reality.

    Parent
    If there is a GOP (5.00 / 1) (#164)
    by MKS on Mon May 02, 2022 at 09:06:54 PM EST
    controlled House and Senate and GOP President, then there could be national legislation banning abortion in all the states--all 50.

    And, the GOP saying just return the issue to the States is lying.  They have already passed national legislation--on late term abortion.

    Trump President.  GOP House.  GOP Senate. No abortion rights in California or New York, etc.

    Parent

    You and I both know (5.00 / 3) (#166)
    by MO Blue on Mon May 02, 2022 at 09:14:14 PM EST
    they will not stop with abortion. Birth control, sexual freedom and gay marriage will all be on the line and they won't stop until they become felony offenses.

    Parent
    As you say (none / 0) (#170)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon May 02, 2022 at 09:26:49 PM EST
    If there can be a silver lining it's that this revelation might be enough for all the whining left to STFU about all the things they have not yet gotten and start thinking about all they could lose before November

    Parent
    The left is of the opinion (5.00 / 1) (#175)
    by MO Blue on Mon May 02, 2022 at 09:59:20 PM EST
    that passing people and family centric policies such as affordable prescription drugs, health care, day care, a living wage etc. is good politics and not passing policies that the Democrats campaigned on is bad politics. I share that opinion. Although, I would modify my focus somewhat and have those conversations and lobbying within the conference.

    From articles I read, it seems Biden and many of the establishment Dems are planning to have running against Trump as the main focus of 2022. Personally, I believe that is a huge mistake. I think the emphasis needs to be on the policies that the Republicans plan to implement if they take control of the government. Raising taxes, phasing out SS and Medicare, eliminating affordable health care, overturning Roe, making birth control, sexual freedom, same sex marriage (possible interracial marriage) illegal and subject to criminal penalty. Attacking them on the number and types of sexual predators and perpetrators of violence against women and proponents of killing their political opponents they choose as candidates and staff personnel (past and present) needs also to be a prime topic.

    Parent

    I agree (none / 0) (#177)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue May 03, 2022 at 07:49:57 AM EST
    That said (none / 0) (#179)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue May 03, 2022 at 08:33:41 AM EST
    There is having that opinion and then there is refusing to get off your azz and vote for democrats because Joe Manchin stopped a lot of stuff everyone but him wanted.  That disengagement was and is a huge danger.  And a stupid one.

    As if that will teach those gutless democrats.

    I said before what democrats need to do is make people understand what it would mean to them if the Republicans take over.

    This will help a lot do that.  I think.

    Also, about Trump, I agree they should not run against him.  That said running against Trumpism seems like a pretty good choice.  

    He appointed three of the justices doing this.  But he could not have done it without Mitch.

    Parent

    More on Mitch (5.00 / 1) (#181)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue May 03, 2022 at 08:52:10 AM EST
    More than any one person in the country Mitch McConnell is responsible for this.  That should be in every commercial and every discussion of this topic.

    Mitch literally stole two seats on the court.  Seats  that should have been traditionally filled by a democrat.

    If he had not gotten away with that this would not be happening.

    Blame Alito, blame Trump, blame them all but never forget Mitch did this.

    And it's only a taste of what he would do.

    Raise you hand if you (are dumb enough to) believe republicans will not get rid of the filibuster as soon as it's a problem.

    Parent

    Yes (none / 0) (#183)
    by FlJoe on Tue May 03, 2022 at 09:21:44 AM EST
    don't run against tRump but running against tRumpism is a must. There will be plenty of crooks and whackos running across the country and the Democrats should make it clear that they are coming for you.

    I could even envision a zombie themed advertisements.

    Parent

    I think the label needs to be changed (5.00 / 2) (#185)
    by MO Blue on Tue May 03, 2022 at 12:57:53 PM EST
    from TRupism to Republicanism. The entire Republican Party needs to be labeled as extreme right wing zealots who support violence, violent and perverted candidates, who disregard the country's laws and support radical policies that put the government in your bedroom and threaten your health, life and financial well being.

    The Republicans label the entire Democratic Party as socialists regardless of a candidate's true position.  IMO, Dems need to do the same. All R's are radical, all want to take away your rights and freedoms and all put themselves and their supporters above the law.  

    Parent

    Yes (5.00 / 1) (#189)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue May 03, 2022 at 01:58:45 PM EST
    Any republican should be every republican.  They have done it to us for years but it has worked for them when it might not work as well for us.  For several reasons.  From the discipline of the politicians to the gullibility of the voters.

    Parent
    Including (none / 0) (#190)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue May 03, 2022 at 02:00:42 PM EST
    the pearl clutching republican women who voted for every one of these clowns pretending they are now shocked SHOCKED at what has happened.

    Parent
    BTW, it may be way past time (5.00 / 1) (#186)
    by MO Blue on Tue May 03, 2022 at 01:27:01 PM EST
    for moderate and conversation Dems and their PACS to stop labeling other Dems as socialists if they want to get or keep state and federal government majorities.

    Parent
    I'd rate this 50 (none / 0) (#192)
    by jmacWA on Tue May 03, 2022 at 03:45:59 PM EST
    If I could.  It's way passed time.  It's also way past time for the media to do the same, the so called liberal media is WAY right of center IMO

    Parent
    Not theoretical (5.00 / 1) (#167)
    by MKS on Mon May 02, 2022 at 09:17:26 PM EST
    The WaPo has an article that the national GOP will push for a national ban at six weeks.  Joni Enrst is   a sponsor.

    GOP Presidential candidates are purportedly being asked to sign on to a national ban.

    Parent

    If I were a young (5.00 / 2) (#169)
    by MO Blue on Mon May 02, 2022 at 09:26:16 PM EST
    person, I would seriously be looking at options on where to move out of this country. If the GOP takes control, I don't want to live under their authoritarian rule. I'm afraid that they, once in power, would take whatever unconstitutional steps necessary to remain in power indefinitely.

    Parent
    The DOJ just announced (none / 0) (#4)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Apr 19, 2022 at 05:39:42 PM EST
    they will challenge the mask ruling but only if the CDC says they should.

    Do it (none / 0) (#20)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Apr 20, 2022 at 05:20:02 PM EST

    The CDC has recommended that the Justice Department appeal a federal judge's decision that struck down the mask mandate on public transportation, the Washington Post reports.



    Parent
    DOJ is doing it. (5.00 / 1) (#23)
    by KeysDan on Wed Apr 20, 2022 at 08:40:41 PM EST
    Based on the CDC's recommendation the DOJ will appeal the decision of the district court.  The appeal may be more for the future than the current conditions since a stay request was not included, at least at this point.

    Parent
    Disney is out with Republicans, but still: (none / 0) (#15)
    by KeysDan on Wed Apr 20, 2022 at 12:06:58 PM EST
    "It's a Small World".  The now infamous Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle--who questioned the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention to control and prevent disease.  No masks--(sanitation, as set forth in the regulation only means measures to clean something, and masks don't clean anything), is married to:

    Chad Mizelle, who held for periods of a year or two, positions as Acing General Counsel for the Dept. of HHS in TFG's Administration, Associate Counsel and Deputy AG for TFG.

    Chad is reported to be a close ally of Stephen Miller, assisting with the violent crackdown on racial justice protestors. And, of course, a stint (as with his wife) with Jones Day where he focused on helping clients"navigate complex regulatory regimes". Regulations, those pesky things.

    Chad is a graduate of the University of Florida and Cornell Law (magna cum laude). He was a clerk for Appellate Court Judge David Sentelle, the pal of the wingnut late Republican Senator, Jesse Helms.

    Sentelle may be remembered for his replacement of Robert Fiske with Ken Starr to investigate allegations against President Clinton regarding "Whitewater." And, being a party of a panel to overturn convictions of Ollie North and John Poindexter of the Iran Contra scandal during the Reagan/Bush administrations. Neil Gorsuch also clerked for Judge Sentelle.

    Chad Mizelle now works at Jared Kushner's new investment firm--the one that just received $2 billion from Jared's dear friend, the Bone Saw Prince. An investment made against all the recommendations of the Prince's investment advisors.

    And the wife.  A graduate of Lakeland Christian School, Covenant College AB (motto: All things Christ Preeminent), and University of Florida, JD.
    A member of the Federalist Society, Jones Day, Clerk for Clarence Thomas. Judgeship confirmed, at age 33,  after Trump's loss in November 2020. Received praise from Republican Senator Mike Lee (R.Ut) who, apparently, took time out from his ongoing efforts to overthrow the government. It would be unsurprising if Ginni and Best Friend had a big hand in her nomination to the federal bench.

    All Democrats boycotted her vote in the Judiciary Committee, and confirmed 49 R, 41 D. The next 50 years are going to be tough.

    I also had not heard of (none / 0) (#25)
    by Peter G on Wed Apr 20, 2022 at 10:46:34 PM EST
    "Covenant College," but I will say, having been an assistant professor years ago at two lowish-ranked institutions, that the best few students at such schools are the equal (at least) of the average students at the "best" (most selective) schools. Not saying anything specific here about Kimball Mizelle, as I don't know her academic record.

    Parent
    My thinking (none / 0) (#30)
    by KeysDan on Thu Apr 21, 2022 at 10:10:28 AM EST
    is that Mizelle is smart, as is her husband,  As such, they have been identified as being young, worthy Christo-fascists to be advanced.

     Kathryn to a federal judgeship and Chad to a financial position of great consequence at Jared's new financial adventure. As we know, Bone Saw Arabia has high expectations with special accountability procedures.

    Parent

    In a study reported (none / 0) (#16)
    by KeysDan on Wed Apr 20, 2022 at 01:54:10 PM EST
    in Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology, peope who get Covid have a greater risk of developing diabetes up to a year later.

     Epidemiologists, Al-Aly and Yan Xie, using a method used to show that Covid increases the risk of kidney disease, heart failure and stroke, found that those who had Covid were about 40% more likely to develop diabetes up to a year later than those in control groups.

    Almost all cases detected were type 2 diabetes, in which the body becomes resistant to or does not produce insulin.

    The chances of developing diabetes rose with increasing severity. However, even people who had mild infections and no previous risk factors for diabetes had increased odds of developing the disease.  Those with a high body-mass index had more than double the risk

    While more than 180,000 medical records were used in the study, the Veterans Administration groups deployed were mostly older white males and the findings may not translate well  to other groups of people.

     More research is needed to clarify long-term trends and the risks may be different in younger people.  However, it is clear that not all that needs to be known about Covid is known (cf. Rumsfeld known unknowns).   Anyone for masks?


    that is frightening (5.00 / 3) (#39)
    by Jeralyn on Thu Apr 21, 2022 at 08:57:18 PM EST
    and just another reason the U.S. shouldn't just say we'll learn to live with COVID. There are way too many unknowns, and it doesn't just affect seniors.

    Parent
    Worth a watch (none / 0) (#18)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Apr 20, 2022 at 02:02:24 PM EST
    Tucker Carlson (none / 0) (#19)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Apr 20, 2022 at 02:18:23 PM EST
    That does not work (5.00 / 1) (#26)
    by Peter G on Wed Apr 20, 2022 at 11:10:37 PM EST
    unless you add ultraviolent light.

    Parent
    Did you (5.00 / 1) (#27)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Apr 21, 2022 at 07:15:44 AM EST
    Tucker Carlson's homoerotic imagery ... (none / 0) (#33)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Apr 21, 2022 at 04:07:26 PM EST
    ... conjures up the like-minded visions of Nazi-era artists Gerhard Keil and Albert Janesch and their stylized Aryan athletic ideals of the 1930s, which were commissioned by the Third Reich and are on exhibit at the Kunsthalle Rostock (Rostock Art Gallery) in Warnemunde, Germany.

    Parent
    In a TV interview with Dan Abrams, (5.00 / 1) (#36)
    by KeysDan on Thu Apr 21, 2022 at 06:01:17 PM EST
    on August 29, 2007, Tucker Carlson tells the story still fresh in his mind about what occurred twenty years previously when he was "bothered" by a guy in a public restroom in Georgetown Park.

    "I went back with someone I knew and grabbed the guy by the---you know, and grabbed him, and hit him against the stall with his head, actually."

    Of course, real men get a buddy and go back and beat someone up.  Real men commit hate crimes and brag about them.

    Parent

    I wonder who would win (none / 0) (#40)
    by Jeralyn on Thu Apr 21, 2022 at 08:59:02 PM EST
    if you put him in a fight club with Amber Heard.

    Parent
    Just when we were still recuperating (none / 0) (#41)
    by ladybug on Thu Apr 21, 2022 at 09:31:26 PM EST
    from today's crazy episode of Depp vs Heard...

    Parent
    Amber (none / 0) (#45)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Apr 22, 2022 at 06:22:49 PM EST
    I think.

    Parent
    That would likely be the producer who ... (none / 0) (#47)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Apr 22, 2022 at 07:12:46 PM EST
    Jeralyn: "I wonder who would win if you put him in a fight club with Amber Heard."

    ... sells the broadcast rights to HBO.
    ;-D

    Parent

    Scary (none / 0) (#21)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Apr 20, 2022 at 05:23:45 PM EST
    The New Right
    April 20, 2022 at 6:00 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard 8 Comments

    Vanity Fair looks at the reshaping of the Republican Party by profiling Curtis Yarvin, a 48-year-old ex-programmer who "has done more than anyone to articulate the world historical critique and popularize the key terms of the New Right."

    "Political reporters, at least the ones who have bothered to write about Yarvin, have often dismissed him as a kook with a readership made up mostly of lonely internet weirdos, fascists, or both. But to ignore him is to underestimate how Yarvin's ideas, or at least ideas in conversation with his, have become foundational to a whole political and cultural scene that goes much deeper than anything you'd learn from the panels and speeches at an event like NatCon. Or how those ideas are going to shape the future of the American right."

    link

    Latest police taser fail case (none / 0) (#22)
    by McBain on Wed Apr 20, 2022 at 06:46:53 PM EST
    to get national attention.
    The fatal shooting of Patrick Lyoya is at 19:02 if you want to avoid that part.  

    Familiar tragedy where someone is detained/questioned by police, he tries to talk his way of it.  When that doesn't work he runs.  When the cop catches him he struggles with him and tries to grab the taser.  Cop shoots and kills.  

    As with most of these police shootings the media downplays or ignores the grabbing the taser part.  I think most, unbiased use of force experts will say it was justified.  

    As I've often said, we need better non lethal methods of dealing with situations like this.  Maybe more wrestling/martial arts training?  Ideally better tasers/stunning devices.  In this case, had their been two cops instead of one, Lyoya might still be alive.  Perhaps that's a money issue.

    The Kremlin's official line ... (none / 0) (#37)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Apr 21, 2022 at 07:11:55 PM EST
    ... is that the Russian warship Moskva mysteriously caught fire, likely due to some careless sailor who decided to smoke a cigarette next to the ship's magazine, and that the Black Sea flagship's entire 500-man crew had been rescued just before it sank into the Black Sea.

    Unofficially, it appears as though at least 40 sailors died and more than 100 others were wounded when the Moskva was struck broadside by Ukrainian missiles while on patrol off the Ukrainian port city of Odessa.

    And therein lies the conundrum of Moscow's propaganda campaign as it collides head-on with the stark reality of Russia's increasingly disastrous war with Ukraine, and desperate family members plead with Putin's government regarding the fate of their missing sons and brothers who were on the Moskva when it was attacked.

    And further, that's not the only problem confronting Vladimir Putin's regime. Per these maps prepared by Australian military analyst Nathan Ruper:

    (Areas of Russian control are shown in red, and Ukrainian control in blue. These were determined by tracking the GPS-identified geocoordinates of various Russian and Ukrainian troop movements on the ground.)

    Several times today, I heard the newsreaders and cable hosts on CNN and MSNBC refer to "the continued Russian advance in eastern Ukraine." But again, the stark reality is that the Russian advance for the most part stalled out a month ago, and its gains in eastern Ukraine have since been incremental at best.

    What we've instead seen over the past month was the Russian army's rout at the Battle of Kyiv and its subsequent chaotic withdrawal from northern Ukraine, the Ukrainian army's relief of the besieged cities of Chernehiv and Sumy and now, Ukrainian people's growing confidence in their own military's ability to eventually assert its will over a poorly motivated, relatively disorganized and increasingly demoralized enemy.

    Through his own hubris and recklessness, Putin now finds himself in a potentially serious debacle of his own making. A Russian military defeat in Ukraine could undermine his own once-seemingly impregnable political position, particularly as angry parents and families of dead and missing Russian military personnel demand accountability for what happened. and that could embolden potential domestic rivals, including some in his own inner circle, to make a play for power themselves at his ultimate expense.

    It therefore concerns all of us to pay close attention to forthcoming events as they play out in Ukraine over the coming weeks, because a destabilized Putin regime can also result in an unpredictable Russia. If Putin falls, we literally have no idea what might arise in Moscow to take his place, nor do we have any real say in such an outcome. All we can do is be on guard.

    Aloha.

    Here's a rather disturbing story ... (none / 0) (#42)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Apr 22, 2022 at 11:40:35 AM EST
    ... from The Guardian about the effectiveness of Russian troll farms in spreading disinformation within a gullible populace.

    Researchers analyzed the ten most shared posts on Facebook mentioning Bucha in 20 countries and found 55 posts that disputed evidence of Russian atrocities against that town's civilian population.

    Those particular posts were shared 208,000 times in a single week, compared with 172,000 shares of posts during that same period that that did not question the veracity of images emerging from Bucha.

    Democracies are often undone by their own citizens' intellectual flatulence.

    So this happened (none / 0) (#64)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Apr 25, 2022 at 03:47:43 PM EST

    Twitter accepts Elon Musk's buyout deal
    PUBLISHED MON, APR 25 20222:50 PM EDTUPDATED 37 MIN AGO

    I expect this means Cheeto will be returning.  Hard to imagine twitter becoming a more wretched cesspool than it already is but it probably will.

    As pointed out (none / 0) (#65)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Apr 25, 2022 at 03:49:13 PM EST
    it's a private company.  He can and will do whatever he wants.

    Parent
    Whatever (5.00 / 1) (#68)
    by KeysDan on Mon Apr 25, 2022 at 04:13:48 PM EST
    happened to that wealth  tax idea?  When an American oligarch can buy controlling interest in a social platform for $44 billion because of his idea of "free speech" and to inflict his libertarian brand, something is wrong.

      As for his Tesla, it seems to me to be a mid-quality General Motors type vehicle in the $30,000 range with $50,000 in high tech/ electronics.  But good non-marketing marketing. My next car will be electric, but one from an automaker with 100 years experience.

    Parent

    Oligarchy (5.00 / 1) (#76)
    by jmacWA on Tue Apr 26, 2022 at 04:55:22 AM EST
    When an American oligarch can buy controlling interest in a social platform

    Lately I have begun to think that with the Electoral College, the money allowed in politics by our Supreme Court, and the fact that politics is now more about sport than governing (at least to one of the parties) that our system is now destined to become an oligarchy.

    Parent
    I think "controlling interest" is it (none / 0) (#69)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Apr 25, 2022 at 04:24:44 PM EST
    A public company is one thing.  Clearly bad enough but a private enterprise with that kind of power is a different kind of thing.

    IMO

    Parent

    Highly leveraged. (none / 0) (#74)
    by oculus on Mon Apr 25, 2022 at 10:02:23 PM EST
    Elon (none / 0) (#67)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Apr 25, 2022 at 04:11:10 PM EST

    "Free speech is the bedrock of a functioning democracy, and Twitter is the digital town square where matters vital to the future of humanity are debated. I also want to make Twitter better than ever by enhancing the product with new features, making the algorithms open source to increase trust, defeating the spam bots, and authenticating all humans. Twitter has tremendous potential I look forward to working with the company and the community of users to unlock it."

    -- Elon Musk, on acquiring Twitter.



    Parent
    Just heard (none / 0) (#72)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Apr 25, 2022 at 05:36:37 PM EST
    He is paying 1/3 more than it's currently worth to get a controlling interest.

    Parent
    The FOX NEWS love fest (none / 0) (#73)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Apr 25, 2022 at 05:44:28 PM EST
    on Musk is something.  If by some miracle he doesn't do what they (and I) expect it will be funny to watch how fast they turn on him.

    Parent
    Why not? (none / 0) (#84)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Apr 26, 2022 at 04:28:26 PM EST
    I already hate and ignore Twitter.  I think the people most terrifies of his return are republicans.

    Let your freak flag fly Donald.

    Collins Says Trump Should Be Allowed on Twitter
    April 26, 2022 at 5:00 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard 43 Comments

    Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) said that Donald Trump's Twitter account should be reinstated, the HuffPost reports.

    Said Collins: "Although I obviously don't agree with a lot of President Trump's tweets, I do think he should have his account back. To me, it's ironic that we allow Russian government sites to be on Twitter but we don't allow President Trump."



    Parent
    What she said (none / 0) (#86)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Apr 26, 2022 at 06:27:35 PM EST

    Twitter should have died long ago -- let Elon Musk take it out back and shoot it

    ....of the Matrix. His reasoning is sympathetic enough: Life in the "real world" is a miserable slog, with crap food, bad clothes and uncomfortable lodgings. Inside the Matrix, however, life is far more comfortable -- even if it's all an illusion. "I know this steak doesn't exist," Cypher explains, but he is willing to give up his compatriots in order to experience it.

    It's a compelling scene that helps explain that kind of existential tradeoff. Viewers are meant to ask themselves if they would really give up freedom -- which, let's face it, can sometimes seem like an abstract ideal -- in exchange for a really good steak. Most of us, no doubt, believe we wouldn't take that trade. But if you spend even 15 minutes on Twitter, you realize how many people are willing to be sucked into an evil alternate reality created by computer algorithms that appear to hate the human beings they feed upon -- even without offering a delicious cut of meat steak as bait. All it takes is endless, asinine conversation, driven and dictated by the worst people in our society.



    Parent
    Jon Stewart was honored with (none / 0) (#71)
    by Chuck0 on Mon Apr 25, 2022 at 04:27:45 PM EST
    the Mark Twain Prize for Humor last night in Washington, D.C. No one is more deserving.

    I miss Jon on the Daily Show. He is truly an American treasure.


    I'm learning that (none / 0) (#83)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Apr 26, 2022 at 04:23:29 PM EST
    I'm learning that living with a Jack Russell means you are re lucky recipient of almost daily gifts.

    Fortunately there seems to be an "offering place" for his gifts.  The middle of the living room floor.  Wouldn't want me to miss them.

    But the dog door is totally worth watching where I walk barefoot.

    Mice lizards frogs and now Chip or Dale.  I could never tell them apart.  And it's not even summer yet.

    My cousin's Jack Russell ... (none / 0) (#95)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Apr 27, 2022 at 02:07:51 AM EST
    ... does the same thing. Last week she brought him a fresh quail that made the mistake of wandering into the backyard. Do you have quail or pheasants around your place? Jack Russells are birddogs at heart. They'll leap into the air to grab birds that are too slow on takeoff when trying to make their getaway.

    Parent
    Yes (none / 0) (#96)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Apr 27, 2022 at 06:43:26 AM EST
    I have also received a bird.  It was not a quail.  Just an unfortunately slow bird.

    He is just so damn fast


    Parent

    Some say it's best to have (none / 0) (#100)
    by fishcamp on Wed Apr 27, 2022 at 12:32:41 PM EST
    Two Jack Russells to keep each other busy.  I've heard they take a long time to run out of energy, but still fun to have.

    Parent
    I don't think two would be good (none / 0) (#101)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Apr 27, 2022 at 12:52:49 PM EST
    from my experience so far.  Maybe.

    Everything you have heard is true.  He is a dynamo.  But if you just relax and let him go it's great.  Really.  He is smart and funny and affectionate and very easily trained.  

    Easily the most entertaining animal I have ever lived with.

    It's true what they say.  They are performers.  

    Parent

    Some adjustments have been necessary (none / 0) (#102)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Apr 27, 2022 at 03:31:26 PM EST
    for example I had to find a new home for my arowana.  Which is an eel like fish.  I learned one of the things they were bred to do is kill snakes.  I expect to find a dead snake in my living room when the warm weather brings them out.  Looking forward to that.  Not.

    But the arowana really looked like a 2.5 ft snake swimming around in the take and it drove him absolutely crazy.  Like over the edge.  I had to cover the tank for a month till I could find her a new home.  I was worried he would break his teeth on the glass.   She is probably happier now in a 250 gallon tank.

    He is still obsessed with the fish but that's ok.  They are tiny and can't jump out of the tank when he  freaks them out.  

    The arowana did.  Three times since he arrived.

    Parent

    Dog likes to fish (none / 0) (#105)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Apr 27, 2022 at 03:42:35 PM EST
    Doesn't seem to bother (none / 0) (#106)
    by Peter G on Wed Apr 27, 2022 at 04:53:15 PM EST
    the fish at all

    Parent
    Not those fish (none / 0) (#107)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Apr 27, 2022 at 04:59:36 PM EST
    Should say not THAT fish (none / 0) (#108)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Apr 27, 2022 at 05:08:06 PM EST
    That is a sucker catfish.  It's defense mechanism is to become a rock.  It's also now the biggest thing in the tank.  The little quick ones are more skittish.

    Parent
    MY friend's Jack Russell (none / 0) (#103)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Apr 27, 2022 at 03:37:46 PM EST
    kills skunks. He killed 4 of them last year in her yard. He apparently decided bringing them in the house was a bad idea but he still stunk. He pretty much stunk all summer long.

    Parent
    Gawd (none / 0) (#104)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Apr 27, 2022 at 03:41:18 PM EST
    Something I had not thought of.  

    Parent
    So pathetic (none / 0) (#85)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Apr 26, 2022 at 05:56:05 PM EST
    And this is a second offense (none / 0) (#88)
    by Peter G on Tue Apr 26, 2022 at 07:50:55 PM EST
    the article says

    Parent
    It's so obviously done to get his name (5.00 / 1) (#92)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Apr 26, 2022 at 08:09:40 PM EST
    In the news.

    I wonder if it was packed with the bustiers and garter belts.

    Parent

    Yes, Maddy (none / 0) (#94)
    by KeysDan on Tue Apr 26, 2022 at 09:21:08 PM EST
    needed a gun tote'n real man narrative to wash out that metrosexual, Tim Curry-wannabe story.

    Parent
    Why is he not in federal detention pre-trial? (none / 0) (#110)
    by oculus on Thu Apr 28, 2022 at 10:34:43 PM EST
    Cawthorn was not arrested at all (5.00 / 2) (#112)
    by Peter G on Fri Apr 29, 2022 at 12:55:30 PM EST
    Most people that TSA catches with guns in carry-on (this happens to hundreds of folks, alarmingly) are issued an administrative fine, and not arrested. The presumption is that the gun is legally possessed and otherwise legally carried, and was just honestly forgotten or overlooked in the carry-on when leaving for the airport. I'm ok with that approach. But Cawthorn's a second offender. TSA's generous presumption seems a lot less warranted the second time.

    Parent
    Cawthorn is heaping self inflicted injuries (none / 0) (#111)
    by MO Blue on Thu Apr 28, 2022 at 10:56:42 PM EST
    on top of all the horrible, bad press he has been getting lately. Someone might just think that his Republican colleagues are out to get him.

    Republicans might be able to kill someone on 5th Ave. but not be able to publicly disclose Republican orgies and cocaine parties.

    Parent

    The Republican (none / 0) (#113)
    by KeysDan on Fri Apr 29, 2022 at 03:16:00 PM EST
    Coke and Orgy Club that is not to be talked about is not to be talked about.  Republicans are to focus on calling Democrats pedophiles and groomers.

    Parent
    I'm not a fan of the (5.00 / 3) (#114)
    by MO Blue on Fri Apr 29, 2022 at 05:37:01 PM EST
    "When they go low. We go high:" theory of politics. IMO, the Dems need to reference the numerous convictions and guilty pleas of Republican politicians and their staff. The current list is extensive. Among the group, were the two Republicans who were convicted of child porn and the messages where one fantasized about raping babies.

    Parent
    I agree (5.00 / 1) (#116)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Apr 29, 2022 at 07:42:46 PM EST
    And not just that.  They need to start talking about all the crazy shite they are doing and saying.  And passing into law.  People need to understand that these dangerous morons will be running they country if the win the congress.

    And what that means to them.

    So far you would never know any of this is a threat or a problem.  

    It boggles the mind to imagine what they, republicans,  could do to democrats with the PR weapons democrats have been given to use against republicans.

    Crickets.  I think they are relying too much on the coming hearings.

    Parent

    In every Democratic interview, (5.00 / 3) (#124)
    by MO Blue on Sat Apr 30, 2022 at 04:25:45 PM EST
    Sen. Rick Scott's proposals to raise taxes on lower and middle class families and phase out Medicare and Social Security should be emphasized. Make each and every Republican own that agenda  no matter what they say now. Republican sexual deviants, abusers of women, attendees of coke parties and orgies who want to increase your taxes and take away your health insurance and SS need to be the topic from now through the 2024 election. repeat...repeat...repeat. The silence on these topics by Dems is deafening.

    Parent
    I agree (none / 0) (#118)
    by Ga6thDem on Sat Apr 30, 2022 at 06:45:51 AM EST
    and the GOP has an accused child sex trafficker on the Judiciary Committee.

    Parent
    Poor Maddie (none / 0) (#117)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Apr 29, 2022 at 07:43:33 PM EST

    Pressure Mounts on Cawthorn as Scandals Pile Up
    April 29, 2022 at 7:08 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard 176 Comments

    "Besieged by multiplying scandals and salacious accusations, Representative Madison Cawthorn, Republican of North Carolina, is under mounting pressure from both parties to end his short career in Congress," the New York Times reports.

    "In rapid succession, Mr. Cawthorn, who entered Congress as a rising star of the party's far right, has been accused of an inappropriate relationship with a male aide, insider trading and falsely suggesting that his Republican colleagues routinely throw cocaine-fueled orgies. This week, he was detained at an airport, where police said he tried to bring a loaded handgun onto an airplane, the second time he has attempted that."

    "That came just days after pictures surfaced of him wearing women's lingerie as part of a cruise ship game, imagery that might not go over well in the conservative stretches of his Western North Carolina district and would seem to be at odds with his public stance against transgender rights. And last month he was charged with driving with a revoked license for the second time since 2017."



    Parent
    These (none / 0) (#119)
    by Ga6thDem on Sat Apr 30, 2022 at 06:48:03 AM EST
    "good people" of Western North Carolina knew plenty of bad stuff about Cawthorn before sending him to the house like he lied about going to the naval academy & his Hitler admiration. Maybe the Hitler admiration was a plus.

    Parent
    John Bennett. (none / 0) (#87)
    by KeysDan on Tue Apr 26, 2022 at 06:42:06 PM EST
    Chairman of the Oklahoma  Republican Party and candidate for US Congress, has called for the execution ,by firing squad, of Dr. Fauci.   A trial before hand is fine.

    He is a Pentecostal pastor (5.00 / 1) (#89)
    by MO Blue on Tue Apr 26, 2022 at 07:54:46 PM EST
    So many self identified Christians in the Republican Party are some of our countries most blood thirsty people. This hunger for the blood of others is not reflected in the teachings of Christ.  

    Parent
    I try not to single out particular religions (none / 0) (#91)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Apr 26, 2022 at 08:05:37 PM EST
    because they all kind if look the same to me but the Pentecost are into some seriously dangerous and crazy shite.  Way to many around here.

    Parent
    Some days it seems like the crazies (5.00 / 2) (#93)
    by MO Blue on Tue Apr 26, 2022 at 08:34:29 PM EST
    have taken over the entire country and get more and more  extreme every day.

    Parent
    What, you have some kinda problem (5.00 / 2) (#90)
    by Peter G on Tue Apr 26, 2022 at 08:00:03 PM EST
    with ordinary political discourse?

    Parent
    Mellisa Lucio granted stay of execution (none / 0) (#109)
    by McBain on Thu Apr 28, 2022 at 09:33:00 AM EST
    Congratulations to her lawyers and supporters...
    The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals on Monday granted a stay of execution for Melissa Lucio, halting her execution scheduled for Wednesday and sending her case back to the trial court to review new evidence...

    ...Lucio, her family, advocates and attorneys say she was wrongfully convicted of capital murder in the 2007 death of her toddler Mariah...

    ...At trial, prosecutors argued Lucio was an abusive mother who likely caused the injuries that brought about her daughter's death. But Lucio and her attorneys said Mariah's injuries stemmed not from abuse but from a fall down a staircase outside the family's second-floor apartment two days prior to her death.

    After seeing a documentary I believe a new trial is very appropriate. Her case included the typical lengthy interrogation of a poor, uneducated person  you often see in wrongful convictions.  

    A broad masking study (none / 0) (#115)
    by Abdul Abulbul Amir on Fri Apr 29, 2022 at 05:48:41 PM EST
    The link below is to a correlation study of mask compliance to outcomes. Correlations were null or slightly positive for both morbidity and mortality.

    Link

    Curious (none / 0) (#120)
    by BGinCA on Sat Apr 30, 2022 at 01:11:59 PM EST
    about Cureus. Have you researched the credibility of this journal?Seems like cherry picking.

    Parent
    Looks like an open source (none / 0) (#121)
    by MO Blue on Sat Apr 30, 2022 at 02:38:00 PM EST
    website where anyone can submit papers without peer review.

    Parent
    Looks like an open source (none / 0) (#122)
    by MO Blue on Sat Apr 30, 2022 at 02:38:26 PM EST
    website where anyone can submit papers without peer review.

    Parent
    Sorry (none / 0) (#123)
    by MO Blue on Sat Apr 30, 2022 at 03:40:05 PM EST
    For double post.

    Parent
    I was going to check out their website but I got.. (none / 0) (#125)
    by desertswine on Sat Apr 30, 2022 at 10:42:28 PM EST
    a warning from Webroot -

    WEBROOT - CAUTION This site may contain content that could affect your online security.

    - so, I didn't.

    Parent

    I wish (none / 0) (#128)
    by MO Blue on Sun May 01, 2022 at 02:02:15 PM EST
    I had that info before I clicked on it.

    Parent
    well, (none / 0) (#130)
    by leap2 on Sun May 01, 2022 at 02:34:57 PM EST
    we had the info of who posted the link. That should give an idea of being wary.

    Parent
    Good point (none / 0) (#132)
    by MO Blue on Sun May 01, 2022 at 02:50:02 PM EST
    "a broad (none / 0) (#133)
    by KeysDan on Sun May 01, 2022 at 03:07:57 PM EST
    masking study".  I thought it might be a misogynist rwnj talking point or conspiracy theory.  More likely than JFK, Jr. on the Republican ticket. MT Greene, after all, is worried about the Gazpacho police, and Cauthen probably thinks Sing Sing is a choral group.  


    Parent
    It was founded in 2009 by a neurosurgeon (none / 0) (#180)
    by Jack E Lope on Tue May 03, 2022 at 08:38:53 AM EST
    ...who happens to have had an article he wanted published...and it was in the first edition of cureus, that year.  The article does not appear to meet the current standards that cureus claims to set.

    It seems like a vanity publisher, maybe.  But it does not appear that the website is trying to advance any particular point-of-view - I think they're just trying to make it easier for MDs to publish.  

    Parent

    Mask compliance, as measured by self-reporting (none / 0) (#178)
    by Jack E Lope on Tue May 03, 2022 at 08:26:00 AM EST
    The mask-compliance numbers were self-reported - that is, people were asked whether they wore masks. I do not think that anybody who died from Covid-19 responded to that poll.

    In states with mask mandates, a higher percentage of people answered that yes, they do wear masks when in public (or whatever the question was).   That self-reported rate-of-compliance was used to compare to fatality rates.

    Early in the spread of Covid-19 in the US, masks were in short supply, morbidity rates were higher (and dropped as we learned more about treatment) and the initial spread was largely in cities & metropolitan areas.  It appears those deaths count against the later mask-wearing in the states with mandates.

    Someone could cherry-pick in the opposite direction.  Over time, as masks became more-available and more-commonly-required, fatality rates fell.  Each time mask mandates are lifted, infection rates rise (without even asking people if they still wear masks).

    Parent

    The final episodes of Ozark have dropped (none / 0) (#126)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun May 01, 2022 at 12:46:54 PM EST
    I won't see that until I rotate streamers in a month but Better Call Saul is excellent.

    I'm liking Gaslit which has a new one today.  

    Outer Range on on Prime and Halo on Paramount are both great.

    I had to binge watch all 7 episodes (5.00 / 1) (#138)
    by Chuck0 on Sun May 01, 2022 at 06:02:32 PM EST
    yesterday, as it was my last day of Netflix. I do the same, rotate streaming services in and out. I'll probably pick Netflix back up in July. After Peaky Blinders is released.

    Parent
    Was it great (none / 0) (#141)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun May 01, 2022 at 06:18:50 PM EST
    Don't tell me.

    Parent
    Yes, great (none / 0) (#144)
    by MKS on Sun May 01, 2022 at 06:52:31 PM EST
    Now, no more Ozark accents....

    Parent
    My son (none / 0) (#154)
    by MKS on Mon May 02, 2022 at 12:40:37 PM EST
    a true Millennial, binged watched the whole enchilada (final episodes) in one day.

    Parent
    Undercover. (none / 0) (#127)
    by KeysDan on Sun May 01, 2022 at 01:53:37 PM EST
    a Belgian production ( good dubbing and captions) is very good.   A three season series, 10 episodes in each.

    Parent
    Yes (none / 0) (#135)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun May 01, 2022 at 03:52:37 PM EST
    It is

    Parent
    Outer Range (none / 0) (#145)
    by MKS on Sun May 01, 2022 at 06:56:21 PM EST
    I started watching because I thought it would be good western like Yellowstone.  

    But it is more Stephen King than anything else.  And really good.

    Parent

    I think t's the best thing (none / 0) (#148)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun May 01, 2022 at 08:49:08 PM EST
    on right now.  Great cast.  Halo is also great.  You might think it's sort of derivative of Mandalorian but Halo was first by many years.

    Parent
    The lady Sheriff (none / 0) (#153)
    by MKS on Mon May 02, 2022 at 12:38:52 PM EST
    is interesting.  

    Dealing with a murder in the context of the supernatural.....She is competent and diligent but is being overwhelmed by the bizarre.

    Parent

    An out lesbian mom sheriff (none / 0) (#155)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon May 02, 2022 at 12:44:48 PM EST
    among cowboys, an interesting choice.  And native too.

    Parent
    But still has the (none / 0) (#157)
    by MKS on Mon May 02, 2022 at 01:40:52 PM EST
    small town common sense and decency aspect to her....Very intriguing...

    Parent
    Who could have predicted ? (none / 0) (#136)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun May 01, 2022 at 03:56:39 PM EST
    Me, actually.  For a couple of years now.  And you should not underestimate him.  He's a lot smarter than Desantis.  And he has not been the worst governor.  He pulled off some pretty surprising things.  He expanded Medicaid in a very clever way and always took COVID seriously.

    He is in many ways the conservative anti-Trump?

    I get it. (5.00 / 1) (#139)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun May 01, 2022 at 06:08:15 PM EST
    I saw him on one of the Sunday shows and he said we shouldn't punish businesses just because they disagree with us. In other words taking a shot at DeSantis. He also didn't sign some whack job bill your legislature put forward.

    One of the never trumpers I know said it is time for a woman. My thought is who? Liz Cheney is hated by conservative voters. Nikki Haley is a terrible politician. I should have asked him who he had in mind when he said that.

    Most of the conservatives I know and through social media love DeSantis. They see him like Trump as a great defender of "Christian Values". All these idiotic stunts DeSantis has been doing are nothing more than to endear him to the GOP voting base. It seems to be working. However it's a long time before any primaries and a lot could happen.

    Parent

    IMO (5.00 / 2) (#140)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun May 01, 2022 at 06:16:43 PM EST
    We should hope they nominate Desantis.  Not Asa.  Hutchinson could have serious cross over appeal.  Desantis is a replay of Trump trying to win with just frightened old white people.  No attempt at appeal to the middle.

    Parent
    And, all (none / 0) (#142)
    by KeysDan on Sun May 01, 2022 at 06:49:02 PM EST
    the charisma of that smeared on the Capitol walls by the Republican insurrectionists.  

    Parent
    DeSantis spoke out (none / 0) (#158)
    by KeysDan on Mon May 02, 2022 at 02:52:57 PM EST
    today, whining about how badly he was treated by comedian Trevor Noah at the White House Correspondents Dinner Saturday night. DeSantis was sore that he was lied about at that roast.

      Attempting to divide and conquer--those who get a joke and those who are too dull to even try.  And, to pit the humorless DeSantinista's against  the humorous NYC and DC elites. Ron needs to work on his egg-shell ego.  Mein Kampf alone does not a library make;  don't burn all the light-hearted books, save a couple.

    Parent

    DeSantis (none / 0) (#159)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon May 02, 2022 at 06:27:41 PM EST
    really looked ridiculous with that response. You know, there are some things that you should just ignore or either make a joke about. This was one of those times.

    Parent
    There (5.00 / 3) (#173)
    by FlJoe on Mon May 02, 2022 at 09:51:40 PM EST
    is somewhat of a Scott Walker stink about Desantis, just a mean spirited little humorless little man, whose only strength is their ability to bully.

    maybe it's just wishful thinking, but just as Walker played well in Wisc and failed on the national stage
    DeSantis will also fall flat. tRump at least had some show biz chops, DeSantis is a toad.  

    Parent

    Well (none / 0) (#196)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue May 03, 2022 at 07:44:26 PM EST
    he seems to be running away from any questions about Roe v. Wade being overturned. Walker came off as a serial killer during the GOP debates. DeSantis comes off IMO as a desperate Trump wanna be even to the point of getting a spray tan.

    Parent
    The GOP is all (5.00 / 1) (#146)
    by MKS on Sun May 01, 2022 at 07:05:35 PM EST
    about "being in your face," and "fighting back."

    Cultural reactionaries.....Ugly, hateful stuff.

    And, I digress, but where do they want trans people to go the restroom?  I asssume the answer is they want them "to hold it."   A male trans person who was a woman, and looks like a man, and they want that person to go to the Ladies Room?   Really, they want someone who looks male, dresses like a male, and may have full beard to go in the Ladies Room?

    No, these very "Christian" people want the trans people to go away.....

    And, I digress more.  The latest Supreme Court case about the coach who had to pray on the 50 yard line after each football game.  It was a public school.  He complained the school officials wanted him to pray in a "closet."

    Complaining about praying in a "closet."  And this guys says he is a Christian.  Does he not know that Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount that the "hypocrites" make a big spectacle of praying in public. Instead, Jesus said to pray in a "closet."  That was the exact word in the KJV version.

    "Christians?"  No, just right-wing social clubs celebrating their privilege and arrogance, and hating on those who are different.

    Parent

    IMO (none / 0) (#151)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon May 02, 2022 at 09:12:32 AM EST
    Howdy said it best when he said "scared white people" which is basically what it is. White supremacy has been a foundational belief of conservatism as long as I can remember.

    how on earth are they going to control who goes in a bathroom? Bathroom legislation is nothing more than laws that make conservatives feel good because they have no practical application unless you have bathroom police examining the genitals of every person entering the bathroom.

    I am beyond sick of the whole conservative culture war nonsense. It has been going on pretty much my entire life.

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    There's not much bathroom etiquette (none / 0) (#156)
    by fishcamp on Mon May 02, 2022 at 12:55:39 PM EST
    on a small fishing boat when you're out there for the entire day.  They actually make toilet seats for those five gallon buckets.

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    Forgot the quote (none / 0) (#137)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun May 01, 2022 at 04:01:46 PM EST

    Hutchinson Mulls Run for President
    May 1, 2022 at 11:26 am EDT By Taegan Goddard 274 Comments

    Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) said that he's weighing a White House bid in 2024 and that he would still consider running even if former President Donald Trump enters the race, CNN reports.

    Said Hutchinson: "You've got to get through, of course, this year. But that's an option that's on the table."

    He added: "I've made it clear: I think we ought to have a different direction in the future. I think he did a lot of good things for our country, but we need to go a different direction."



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    He is smooth (none / 0) (#143)
    by MKS on Sun May 01, 2022 at 06:51:07 PM EST
    And can appear reasonable.....Humble demeanor....

    Just a quick look by me....Probably all false....but he can look good.

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    He really not a bad guy (none / 0) (#147)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun May 01, 2022 at 08:44:19 PM EST
    for a Republican we could do a lot worse.  Which makes me think he might not win a primary.  

    He actually is sort of reasonable by modern Republican standards.

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    Yeah (none / 0) (#152)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon May 02, 2022 at 12:24:15 PM EST
    but is the GOP base receptive to that kind of candidate? I think eventually they might be but not right now. It's going to take cycles of losses before they get the message.

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