Glenn Kirschner – Chinese spy balloons, Jim Jordan, and the debasement of the House & Senate Judiciary Committees
The Lincoln Project – Built Back Better
Farron Balanced – Trump Threatens To Help Democrats If Republican Voters Reject Him
Armageddon Update – Book Banning
Bearded Dragon Comes Running When His Mom Calls Him
Beau – Let’s talk about a laptop and a change of strategy….
Yesterday, President Biden delivered the 2023 State of the Union address. For the first time, the mother of a black person shot and killed by police was present. Today the 19th has the story. Until I can get the link up, here’s the link to the back story. In case it takes me too long, here’s the link to The 19th front page, where it will surely be included. I did watch the speech live. I was a little surprised at how wek=ll the Republicans behaved – not 100% courteous, but at least they didn’t riot or do anything physical. There were certainly some very touching stories. Joe of course was 100% polite. I thought he did well at hitting his accomplishments. I hope it sinks in. I didn’t hang around the the Republican response. I was abit wrung out by the speech, plus I had a pretty good idea what she was going to say.
Cartoon –
Short Takes –
Crooks & Liars – Hunter Biden Goes On Offense, Demands Rudy Get ‘Laptop’ Probe
Quote – Among the letters, which were obtained by NBC News, was one sent … asking the Justice Department’s National Security Division for an investigation into “individuals for whom there is considerable reason to believe violated various federal laws in accessing, copying, manipulating, and/or disseminating Mr. Biden’s personal computer data,” including Rudy Giuliani, who was Trump’s lawyer at the time.
Click through for story. C&L basically says “It’s about time.” I would suggest that the action coming now was prompted by the fact that the House is now in a position to take action, as opposed to just spreading disinformation, so now it’s necessary. And I might add, just think how strong a person has to be to ignore all that crap for so long.
The New Yorker – Sending Help Instead of the Police in Albuquerque
Quote – In the southeastern corner of Albuquerque, near a wide mountain pass that opens onto an expanse of arid high plains, Sean Martin and Isaiah Curtis drove toward a Blake’s Lotaburger, a regional fast-food chain. Behavioral-health workers with Albuquerque Community Safety, a new city department, they respond to calls, mostly from 911, about nonviolent crises involving mental health, homelessness, or substance use. A.C.S. responders are trained to connect people from some of the city’s most vulnerable populations with professional help. In doing so, they also reduce those residents’ interactions with local law-enforcement agencies, which in recent years have had the second-highest fatal-shooting rate among major American cities.
Click through for details. THIS is the kind of police reform – defunding if you will, but actually reallocation of funding – that we have been agitating for. It’s been a pleasure watching New Mexico turn bluer after having Susanna Martinez for Governor (sort of like having Jeanine Pirro for Governor.) There are steps back of course, but the trend is positive.
Food For Thought
Glenn Kirschner – House Republicans FINALLY focus on what’s important to ordinary Americans – Hunter Biden’s laptop?! (I’ve seen the suggestion that it tells us they are trying to get Hunter to suicide. Let that sink in/))
NBC News – U.S.-China situation isn’t ‘1:1 comparison’ with last Cold War: Buttigieg
Twitter (shared by PoliticsGirl) White Comfort
This TikTok from @highlyvibey really got me thinking about how our society has socialized us to prioritize “white comfort”. A term I’m not even sure I’d heard before. pic.twitter.com/wgMdkBNJxC
— PoliticsGirl (@IAmPoliticsGirl) February 5, 2023
Farron Balanced – Republicans In Congress Swap Out Flag Lapel Pins For AR 15 Pins
Cat Does The Funniest Thing When His Parents Get Him A New Brother
Beau – Let’s talk about legislation in Massachusetts and ethics….
Glenn Kirschner – Pence conceals Trump crimes then profits off them in book; the need to reform ethics in government (It’s likely called misprision because that word, which originally meant just “take wrongly,” was from its inception mostly applied to actions of government officials. For the rest of is, there’s “aiding and abetting” and “accessory before/after the fact.”)
Meidas Touch – Jan 6 Insurrectionist gets BRUTAL sentence and COLLAPSES in Court (as a former Marine myself, I say it’s a step in the right direction. It probably includes concurrent service. Consecutive would have been better.)
Politics Girl – Fund the IRS (Like me, you probably learned this at your mother’s knee. Yet there are still peole who don’t get it.)
Armageddon Update – Really?
Woman Pulls “Aggressive” Dog From The Shelter Minutes Before It’s Too Late
Beau – Let’s talk about the Colorado River and deals….
Yesterday, it was pretty quiet – until late last night, when there was (literally) earthshaking news – from Turkey ans Syria. To quote Heather Cox Richardson, ”
A deadly 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Turkey late tonight has caused damage in Syria, and was felt in Lebanon, and Israel, as well. It has collapsed buildings, sparked fires in ruptured gas lines, and prompted Italian authorities to warn of potential tsunami waves. Aftershocks, including one of 6.7 magnitude and another of 5.6, have continued to hit in the wake of the first quake. Millions of refugees from Syria’s civil war and internally displaced persons live in the region of the epicenter, in tents and other temporary housing. It is winter there.” Winter in the Mediterranean is not the same as winter in the Colorado Rockies, but it is still no picnic. At least our President is on top of it.
Cartoon –
Short Takes –
Crooks & Liars – With A One-Word Answer, Maxine Waters Startles GOP ‘Colleague’
Quote – “You can’t condemn socialism?” Reschenthaler said. “In your opening remarks, you were talking about Putin, Kim Jong Un and Xi. You know what they all have in common, right?” “Trump,” Waters said.
Click through. Auntie Maxine – making Black History since 1938
The 19th – Two years in, Biden has prioritized nominating women of color as judges
Quote – While Jackson’s historic confirmation was the most visible sign of systemic change in the judiciary, the president has prioritized diversity throughout the federal court system. Biden’s judicial appointees are the most diverse of any U.S. president to date in terms of race, gender and professional background. Of the judges appointed by Biden in the past two years, 75 percent are women, 47 percent are women of color and 67 percent are people of color.
Click through for details. Few white people are in a position to make Blck History – and of those few, most don’t (or do it wrong.) I’m pretty sure Joe doesn”t expect (or care about) being named in Black HIstory. He’s just doing the right thing.
Food For Thought
Glenn Kirschner – McCarthy wields speaker gavel for political revenge; removes Schiff, Swalwell & Omar from committees
The Lincoln Project – Nikki Haley
Thom Hartmann – The Racist Origins of the Anti-Abortion Movement Exposed (are there any American laws that are NOT racist?)
MSNBC – Rep. Plaskett: We’ll be a “truth squad” on Congress’ new Weaponization Committee
Tiny Feral Kittens Learn To Accept Love
Beau – Let’s talk about Social Security and why the GOP is going after it….
Glenn Kirschner – Trump’s desperate and dangerous posts, and DOJ’s deafening silence
Black History (James Baldwin schools Paul Weiss on Dick Cavett’s show)
“Why must you always concentrate on color?”
As always, this answer from James Baldwin is what you were looking for. Must watch.#BlackHistoryMonth pic.twitter.com/YsJcsmyxsT
— Qasim Rashid, Esq. (@QasimRashid) February 1, 2023
MeidasTouch – Federal Judge makes most SCATHING & HILARIOUS Order Against Oath Keepers Ever- (long, yes, but not terribly repetetive, and very funny)
The Lincoln Project – Default
Rescue Chicken Shares A Bedroom With Her Human Sister (hanky alert)
Beau – Let’s talk about M&Ms….
Glenn Kirschner – Rep. Jim Jordan demands details of pending DOJ investigations. DOJ tells Jordan to ‘pound sand.’
The Lincoln Project – Last Week in the Republican Party – January 31, 2023
Ring of Fire – Ted Cruz Refuses To Apology For Spreading Pelosi Conspiracies
Really American – Chip Franklin RIPS Conservative talking heads over their CREEPY obsession with M&Ms sexuality.
This Cat’s Favorite Word Is Exactly What You’d Expect
Beau – Let’s talk about the Constitution and mixed messages….