Video Thread 12/26/2021

 Posted by at 12:04 pm  Open Thread, Politics
Dec 262021
 

Glenn Kirschner – Time for the Military Leadership to Return Mike Flynn to Active Duty and Court-Martial Him (I might just add that retirees and active duty military are paid out of the same budget. I’m not saying that that [Dod] budget is not inflated – just that retireepay is a huge chunk of it, and why DoD doesn’t use that fact as a public selling point is beyond me. But it does bolster the military’s ability to recall retirees to active duty at will.))

Don Winslow – #JoeManchinsBrotherSuedHim

Robert Reich – The Oligarchy’s Ultimate Political Weapon

VoteVets – Maj.Gen.(Ret.) Paul Eaton Discusses WaPo Op-Ed & 2024 Insurrection Threat With Wolf Blitzer on CNN

The Lincoln Project – The Trump Vaccine

Really American – COVID-19 vaccine

Beau – Let’s talk about Sherman and Atlanta….

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Open Thread for December 26, 2021

 Posted by at 6:40 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Dec 262021
 

Yesterday, I visited Virgil. It was special to be able to see him on Christmas, and he returns all greetings including special holiday greetings. The Sergeant who heads up the visitation team got the day off (and I really can’t think of anyone who deserves it more. For part of the time, the warden personally filled in for him. Don’t get me wrong – prison is still prison and no one wants to be there.. But there are some employees who have hearts and consciences. Although the time of sunset hadn’t changed (or rather it changed and then changed back) I left a little later and it didn’t work badly. There are still some (and one in particular) dangwr spots, but with proper equipment most of the drive is much better. The mast ten minutes of my drive were in “civil twilight,” which is when the sun is over the horizon, but there is still enough light to see by – you don’t need your lights on to see better, but you do to be seen better.) I can handle that. It only lasts a half hour, though (both morning and evening). Then there’s another half hour of “nauticak twilight” where there is still some reflected light but you need headlights. There might be more light reflected off of a water surface, but on land it’s not the best time to driver. Sunrise is still getting later, abd some of the drive out is becoming a bit more hazardous, but it should start getting earlier soon, which will also help.

Cartoon –

Short Takes

Crooks and Liars – HERO: All In A Day’s Work For Sixth-Grader Davyon Johnson
Quote – His principal, Latricia Dawkins, told the local paper, “He is just a kind soul and well-liked by his peers and staff alike.” His mom, LaToya Johnson, is proud but not surprised. She said her son wants to be an EMT, just like his uncle Wendell Johnson.
Click through for story. One more good news story can’t hurt.

Democratic Underground – The President and First Lady stop their motorcade to look at a Biden themed Christmas tree...
There are a few words, but mostly pictures Great pictures. Click through for them.

Mother Jones – The Mother of All Vaccines May Be Closer Than You Think
Quote – Now, after three coronavirus-sparked health crises in the last 20 years—SARS, MERS, and COVID-19—researchers are working to develop so-called universal coronavirus vaccines for the next outbreak. While COVID-19 vaccines are an incredible feat of science—they were created faster than any vaccine in history—researchers say it wasn’t fast enough. Kevin Saunders, the director of research at the Duke Human Vaccine Institute, points out that hundreds of thousands of Americans died from COVID-19 infections while vaccines were being developed and approved. If we have a universal coronavirus vaccine ready to go in the future, even if it isn’t perfect, he says, it could cut down on hospitalizations and deaths, and buy researchers time to hone a virus-specific vaccine.
Click through for much more. The Walter Reed team has gone the farthest to date, but they are not alone, and others are also getting close. Now THAT’s good news.

Food For Thought:

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Video Thread 12/25/2021

 Posted by at 11:57 am  Open Thread, Politics
Dec 252021
 

Glenn Kirschner – Rep. Scott Perry Refuses to Provide Information/Evidence to the Jan. 6 Committee; Subpoena Time

politicsrus Manchin 2 HD

Robert Reich – The Columbia University Strike: My Son Gives an Insider’s Look

Caffeinated – What To Do with Joe Manchin & Krysten Sinema…

The Lincoln Project – Who GAF About Christmas?

Parody Project – It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like – Uh-Oh! (I wanted a Chrsimas song here – this wasn’t it. But I’ll get to the other one before New Year’s.)

Beau – Let’s talk about Biden, Hunters, and trophies….

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Open Thread for December 25, 2021

 Posted by at 6:38 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Dec 252021
 

Yesterday, I mostly worked at getting my Christmas geese in a row  so there’d be no interruptions.  A package came whoch they had told me to expect on Monday, and I almost wish it hadn’t (but not quite)  By the time you reat this, I’ll be on the road.  It’s expected to be sunny with a high of 56°F, but that doesn’t mean I won’t need gloves on the way there .  I’ll comment when I get back – not the instant I walk in the door but as soon as I get to the computer.

Cartoon – I never thought TC was naughty in any way, myself.

Short Takes

The Hill – Flynn suit against Jan. 6 committee dismissed over procedural errors
Quote – A federal judge on Wednesday dismissed former national security adviser Michael Flynn’s lawsuit against the House Jan. 6 select committee for failing to follow procedural rules in filing his case, but said he would have an opportunity to make corrections and re-submit it to the court. U.S. District Judge Mary Scriven said in an order issued just one day after the lawsuit was filed that, among other things, Flynn’s lawyers failed to show that there was an imminent need for the court to intervene against a set of subpoenas from the select committee aimed at the retired general and his phone provider.
Click through. I figured from the headline he’d be allowed to resubmit, but that may be OK. It just needs to be dismissed again on more solid ground – like lack of atanding.

The Revelator – What’s Working: The Revelator’s 12 Favorite Solutions Stories of 2021
Quote – Writing about the environment these days can be tough. There’s more bad news than good. Climate-fueled disasters, new extinctions, science denial — we’ve covered some topics this year that will make your heart sink. But there’s a lot of encouraging news, too. As we look back at 2021, we want to revisit the stories that gave us hope, introduced new solutions, and highlighted the people hard at work on some of the most challenging issues of our day.
Click through for all twelve headlines with links.

Second Nexus – GOP Rep. Who Opposed Certifying Biden’s Election On Jan. 6 Now Regrets Vote, Calls Trump A ‘Coward’
Quote – But even after their very lives were threatened, more than a hundred members of the House, along with seven Republican Senators, voted to toss out the electoral votes of at least one state. Among them was Republican Tom Rice of South Carolina, but in a recent interview, Rice expressed regret for his vote…. It’s worth noting that, when the House voted a week later to impeach Trump for inciting an insurrection, Rice was one of only 10 House Republicans who voted in favor.
Click through. Second Nexus is one of George Takei’s sites (ha has several,) Eric Swalwell speaks for Rice, which carries weight with me (but it’s still pretty much too little – and too late.)

Food For Thought:

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Video Thread 12/24/2021

 Posted by at 11:42 am  Open Thread, Politics
Dec 242021
 

Glenn Kirschner – Congress Contemplates Criminal Referrals For Trump and Company for Crimes of January 6

MSNBC – Why Biden Is Winning Big, Even With A Bad Hand (We need better messaging)

No Dem Left Behind – Gearing up for the New Year with Richard Ojeda and NDLB

VoteVets – Brig.Gen.(Ret.) Steven Anderson Discusses WaPo Op-Ed & 2024 Insurrection Threat on CNN OutFront

The Lincoln Project – Santa Trump

Now This News – Dinosaur Egg Has 72M-Year-Old Embryo

Beau – Let’s talk about the Newsweek article and Trump….

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Open Thread for December 24, 2021

 Posted by at 7:03 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Dec 242021
 

Yesterday, my second cousin Ann, whom I haven’t seen for just over 21 years, phoned to say Merry Christmas. She doesn’t use email, so we have been out of touch for that long, except for Christmas cards, and we havn’t been very chatty in those. I had just finished typing today’s first short take, and I told her about it, and she said that was a wonderful Christmas gift from me. I hope everyone feels that way. I certainly thought it was a BFD.  I tried for all good news today, so I have probably left something out … but I hope I can do it again tomorrow.

Cartoon –

Short Takes

Crooks and Liars – WOW: Walter Reed Scientists Develop A Universal Covid Vaccine
Quote – The achievement is the result of almost two years of work on the virus. The Army lab received its first DNA sequencing of the COVID-19 virus in early 2020. Very early on, Walter Reed’s infectious diseases branch decided to focus on making a vaccine that would work against not just the existing strain but all of its potential variants as well.
Click through for more. Of course thos would take longer than the strain-targeted vaccines to develop. I’m surprised it’s even possible. WO# indeed.

Law & Crime – Ex-Cop Kim Potter Convicted of All Charges for Shooting and Killing Daunte Wright
Quote – To convince the jury of the highest count, first-degree manslaughter, the state was required to prove that Potter caused Wright’s death during the commission of a lesser offense. Here, the lesser alleged offense was the reckless handling or use of a firearm. That lesser offense had to be proven in full and beyond a reasonable doubt as follows, according to the jury instructions the judge read before deliberations. Notably, the state was required to prove that Potter’s actions were a “conscious and intentional” act:
Click through for story. It is a step in the direction of accountability for police. Although it does sound like this one knew from the get-go that she was responsible, which is unusual.

AP News – Tribes Lacking Water see glimmer of hope with massive bill
Quote – Now, there’s a glimmer of hope in the form of a massive infrastructure bill signed last month that White House officials say represents the largest single infusion of money into Indian Country. It includes $3.5 billion for the federal Indian Health Service, which provides health care to more than 2 million Native Americans and Alaska Natives, plus pots of money through other federal agencies for water projects.
Click through fpr details and scope. It is a crying shame that native Americans, who as a groupdid more over more centuries to preseve clean and ample water supply are among the groups being cheated out of it. The bill referred to here is the infrastructure bill which already passed and has been signed into law. May it be a lifeline.

Food For Thought:
I’m not going to put the actual image here (you’ll see why) but trust me, it is very, very funny.

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Video Thread 12/23/2021

 Posted by at 11:35 am  Open Thread, Politics
Dec 232021
 

Glenn Kirschner – Trump Weaponizes Courts, Again: Sues NY AG Tish James in Effort to Stop Investigation of Trump Org

Thom Hartmann – Manchin Sours Bill But Biden Has Powerful Option

No Dem Left Behind – Happy Holidays from Richard Ojeda and NDLB!

VoteVets – Maj.Gen.(Ret.) Paul Eaton Discusses WaPo Op-Ed & 2024 Insurrection Threat With Chris Hayes on MSNBC. MGen Eaton has a good point. Sane people don’t tend to imagine the unimaginable (and aren’t very good at it when we try.) It comes much easier to wingnuts. I do thing the Pentagon’s announcement about revising rules and regulations with the goal of eliminating “expremists” is probably in part a response to that Op-Ed (or at least the announcement is; they were probably already working on it.) VoteVets has a series of clips on two of the three generals discussing this OpEd. I may post more.)

The Lincoln Project – Last Week in the Republican Party

Really American – Manchin BACKSTABS His Own Consituents

Beau – Let’s talk about BBB, the GDP, and Manchin….

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Open Thread for December 23, 2021

 Posted by at 7:05 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Dec 232021
 

Yesterday just sort of melted away – gone before I knew it.  I did get some amall things accomplished, but nothing to write home about.  Of course going to see Virgil is far up front in my mond!  Oh, and Pat has company, so she’ll be a little scarce for a couple of days.

Cartoon –

Short Takes

Mother Jones – Mike Lindell Is Donating MyPillows to Kentucky Tornado Victims
Quote – But not to worry citizens of Kentucky. Mike Lindell is on the case! The founder of the MyPillow empire—and a MAGA world luminary—says he’s donating 10,000 pillows to Kentucky tornado victims. Those lucky souls may not have a house or a job, but they will now have pillows that Costco won’t sell anymore.
C,ick through for a little more insnity. This sounds like a business tax deduction to me. He will write them off as a donation at full retail value (which he could never possibly get for that many) and likely end up paying no taxes. I wouldn’t be surprised if he had calculated the number to give with that in mind – just enough to zero out his taxes and not one pillow more.

Crooks and Liars – Surprise! Wingnuts Find A Vaccine They Like — Guess Why!
Quote – But apparently the J&J shot is good now because we’re saying that it isn’t — mainstream scientists have determined that it’s less effective than the mRNA vaccines against the Delta and Omicron variants, and it’s sometimes responsible for dangerous blood clots…. We don’t like the J&J shot anymore — so of course Wolf does.
Click through for more.  What is more dangerous than an educated idiot? No, that’s not the beginning of a joke – it’s a serious question.

Wonkette – Jan. 6 Committee Invites Coup- Curious Rep. Scott Perry In For A Little Chat
Quote – It’s nice of Thompson to let witnesses know up front that he’s already got ’em by the short and curlies, in case Perry wasn’t already on notice that the committee had a whole bunch of his comms after Vice Chair Liz Cheney read that text saying, “Please check your signal” during the vote to hold Mark Meadows in contempt. The Washington Post confirms that Perry sent that text to Meadows, who turned it over to the committee as a non-privileged document before he stomped off and quit cooperating. So Perry knows that Thompson and Cheney already have at least some of his comms.
Click through for more. Not that they don’t all sound alike.

Food For Thought:

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