Politics Plus

Yesterday, the radio opera was L’Elisir d’Amore by Donizetti. If I remember correctly, that was included in the summer lineup, I think from China, and I think I remember it was an American Old West setting – cowboys and a snake oil salesman and recruiting for the Civil War. So there’s not much to add. I can mention that the characters are straight out of the Italian Commedia dell’Arte and that their names are part of the humor – “Nemorino” means “little nobody,” Sergeant “Belcore” means “beautiful heart” (that would be only on his own mind, as his character is the “braggart soldier,”) and Dr. “Dulcamara” means “bittersweet.” Commedia dell’Arte heroines were spared from this, so Adina is just Adina. The one thing that has always bugged me about this ooera, although it’s necessary to the plot – wouldn’t you think of a love potion as something you’d give to the object of your affections to change his or her feelings? That’s certainly how it works in “Tristan und Isolde,” and in Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” and just about everywhere else. But in this, Nemorino drinks the potion himself to make Adina fall in love with him. Somehow it works. Also (via Heather Cox Richardson), Representative Bill Foster (D-IL), an award-winning physicist with real credentials, tweeted a welcome to the Science Committee to George Santos as a “Nobel prize winner” who also received a math prize “for his groundbreaking work with “imaginary numbers.” I’m not sure that “poorly educated” MAGAts know that “imaginary numbers” are an actual thing – but even those of us who do can be sure Foster is not talking about that kind of “imaginary numbers.” And I hesitate to say the DOJ trolled Gym Jordan when all they did was explain that they cannot reveal any information on ongoing investigations, but they’ll be happy to help with crafting legislation when it’s just pure fact, but it’s going to sound like “Keep your nose out of grownup matters, little boy, and do your own job. We’ll help – you obviously need help.”

Cartoon – 22 1/22 Roe also Rabbit RTL

Short Takes –

The Daily Beast – Russia’s Shadow Army Exposed and Humiliated by Bogus ‘Recruit’

The New York Times (no paywall – The U.S. will name the Wagner mercenary group a transnational criminal organization.
Quote – The United States has decided to designate the Russian private military group Wagner as a significant transnational criminal organization, the White House said on Friday, a move that will expand the number of nations and institutions that can be prevented from doing business with the company “Our message to any company that is considering providing support to Wagner is simply this: Wagner is a criminal organization that is committing widespread human rights abuses,” John Kirby, the White House national security spokesman, told reporters at a news briefing.
Click through to one or both. The first link will demonstrate how they operate on deceit (and throw their own under the bus). The second is more about what we are trying to do about it.

Crooks & Liars – GOP Congressman Greg Steube Falls Off His Roof
Quote – You know, I’ll bet Kevin McCarthy just might start to worry about getting rid of proxy voting. Yesterday Florida congress critter Greg Steube fell off his roof and is in the hospital, which leaves Kevin with a two-vote margin. His caucus might start to get Manchin-and-Sinema-type ideas!
Click through for story. From Susie Madrak’s keyboard to God’s iPhone. We’d only need to flip two. Or, I won’t wish them injuries or death, but if we could only flip one, and one could be arrested and detained long ehough, we’d have the votes to raise the debt ceiling right there. Yeah, I know, McCarthy won’t bring it to the floor.  Except he might.  He has already shown willingness to bring a vote to the floor without having the votes – what was it, 15 times?

Food For Thought