Glenn Kirschner – Republican representatives say, “smoke ’em if you got ’em,” reintroduce carcinogens into Congress
MSNBC – Why the stakes of the debt ceiling fight are so high
Thom Hartmann – Was The FBI Started To Stop Black Revolution?
Ring of Fire – Trump Wanted To Nuke North Korea And Blame Another Country
Friendly Stray Cat Gets An Uber Home
Beau – Let’s talk about Special Counsel updates….
Yesterday, the radio opera was “Fedora” by Umberto Giordano. It’s his second-best-known opera, the best-known one being “Andrea Chenier,” set during the French Revolution. “Fedora, based on a play by Sardou (right up there with Victor Hugo and David Belasco as an operatic inspiration) set in Russia in the 1880s, a time and place when the local political bogeyman was “Nihilism.” Fedora is a Russian noblewoman whose feance is killed on the eve of their wedding. After the arrival of the police and on-stage questioning of the servants, she comes to the conclusion that Count Ipanov did it – he was a nihilist sympathizer and her fiance a trarist. Learning Ipanov has gone to Paris, she decides to go there and attempt to seduce him to get a confession. Well, she gets a particl confesion, and invites him to come to her room and tell her the whole story. While awaiting him, she writes and posts a “come-and-get-him” letter to the police in Russia. When he arrives, he tells her that her fiance and his wife were having an affair, and that he caught them in flagrante and killed him (and he shot first). Between this news and the fact that Ipanov is basically a decent guy, she falls in love with him. But it’s too late – the letter is already gone. Eventually she has to confess that the “Russian woman” whose information sicced the cops on him is she – whereupon she takes poison and dis. It’s a “diva vehicle” which has been championed by Maria Callas and Mirella Freni, among others. An influential singer certainly can use her or his influence to get an opera performed which has been overlooked, but ultimately it’s the operagoers who decide whether any opera, new or revived, will make it into standard repertory. After those two strong attempts in the 20th century I’m not expecting this one in the 21st century to succeed, but I could be wrong – it’s a very strong cast. The Met audience is changing, if the choices each season are any indication. It’s becoming moch more interested in new operas, and much more open to the work of black composers, and to women conductors. There are still many who are older and fond of the old standard rep, which definitely shows up when there is voting on what old recording should be played on the “Listeners Choice” weekend. But that audience is dying off, and in any case, I suspect there are more than one would expect who, like me, are very open to the new stuff. Maybe if I live long enough a star tenor will come along who believes in “The Great Gatsby” by John Harbison, and I can hear it once more. Or a star baritone who believes in “An American Tragedy” by Tobias Picker, and I can hear it for the first tiem – since the mamager of the local radio station when it was a matinee was too cowardly to air it when it was broadcast.
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PolitiZoom – Closest Trump Allies Assert Biden was Set Up in Docs Case – Why?
Quote – Little did I know as I wrote yesterday that two of Trump’s closest allies in the public sphere, blowhard Sean Hannityjob and failed Surgeon General aspirant Adm. Ronny Jackson would take to the airwaves and do precisely what I decided to do not – circulate conspiracy theories about the placement and uncovering of the classified documents in question…. Now why, when the simple facts, as known, in the case are already so damaging to the President, would two of his biggest and most ardent supporters take to the airways to suggest in any way that Biden was not responsible for the security breech?
Click through for story. I admit it occurred to me, and, based on Lona’s comment on Thursday’s video thread, it appears to have occurred to her. Of course the idea that the setup could have been done by Democrats is pure projection. You might, if you looked really hard, find a Democrat or two who might contemplate it, but it would not be anyone in leadership, and the leadership would not permit it even if someone had the temerity to suggest it. Do they know that it was done, done by them, and are they pre-emptively trying to look innocent?
HuffPost – Here’s The Real Agenda Behind The Republican Debt Ceiling Threats
Quote – As McCarthy explained it, “one of the greatest threats we have to this nation is our debt,” noting that the ratio of public debt to gross domestic product ― a widely used metric for measuring the federal government’s debt levels ― had not been this high since World War II…. It’s absolutely true that the debt-to-GDP ratio hasn’t been this high since World War II (or at any other time in U.S. history). But it was so high back then because the U.S. faced a once-in-a-lifetime crisis that required a massive, sudden, one-time burst of spending. That’s precisely what just happened because of COVID-19, and why deficits (which lead to debt) suddenly spiked.
Click through for details. McCarthy is being extremely disingenuous (which is the polite way to say “attempting deliberate fraud.”)
Food For Thought
Yesterday, as I’m sure everyone knows by now, the January 6 Committee voted to send criminal referrals to the Justice Department for Donald J. Trump**, John Eastmaan, “and others.” It also voted to refer to the Hoouse EthicsCommittee four Congressmen; these were not identified in the hearing, but Politico says they are Kevin McCarthy, Scott Perry, Jim Jordan, and Andy Biggs.
And now for something completely different – The New Yorker has a new puzzle. It’s a jigsaw puzzle, 36 pieces and I can’t say it’s teribly difficult – it isn’t time-limited, though it will tell you your time. But after it’s done, there’s a second challenge – to name 8 famous New York buildings. That’s probably not much challenge if you live there, but I could only name one; though I found several which were distinctive, I didn’t know their names.
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Common Dreams – The 50-Year Takeaway From Middle-Class America
Quote – Instead, through decades of financial manipulations orchestrated by neoliberal economists and financial experts and political leaders, the tremendous wealth generated by our country’s productivity has been redirected to a special few who deem themselves innovators and self-made success stories. To add to the insult, business-backed media has convinced many Americans that this is the beauty of capitalism, that any hard-working individual can be a billionaire, and that any concession to social responsibility is anti-American, bordering on communism. So, as a result, many of us accept our grotesquely unequal distribution of wealth as a natural result of progress.
Click through for article. Yet another issue which could have been avoided through education. Public education needs to be defended as fiirecely as does democracy – because, without the one, we will lose the other, and with it, everything.
New Mexico Political Report – How anti-abortion pregnancy centers can claim to be medical clinics and get away with it
Quote – The women later discovered they weren’t at the abortion clinic they’d intended to visit, but at the similarly named Women’s Help Center, one of more than 2,500 crisis pregnancy centers across the country that aim to discourage people from getting abortions. Henderson, then in her early 70s, wasn’t a “cancer doctor,” as she allegedly informed one client, or indeed any type of licensed medical professional. Her only medical experience was as a radiation therapy technologist, and her license had expired 10 years earlier…. [A]s the newly unearthed Jacksonville case highlights, beneath the veneer of medical professionalism is an industry that state and federal authorities have done almost nothing to regulate. Only a few states require pregnancy centers that provide medical services to be formally licensed as clinics, a Reveal investigation has found. And, because their views are grounded in a particular ideological viewpoint, the centers aren’t subject to many other rules designed to protect patients – rules that would require them to be transparent about their operations and medical credentials.
Click through for details. This is likely to get worse before it gets better (which it will not do at all withot a lot of work, investigation, and legislation.)
The Daily Beast – Want to Win in Politics? Be More Like Nancy Pelosi and Mitch McConnell.
Quote – Establishment elites may not be popular, but they get shit done. And my unpopular hot take is that we need more of them to win elections, not to mention to grease the gears running our governmental machine. Recent events underscore this reality. Yet, take a close look at how the two major parties treat their elites. Are they vilified or celebrated? Look no further than the difference between how Republicans are treating Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and how Democrats are treating outgoing Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.
Click through for full argument. I know, it would be challenging to find two people more different (restricting the pool to non-criminals). But there are parallels. And while I couldn’t be like Nancy myself, I can recognize her qualities and aregue for them to be demanded whe selecting our leadership.
Food For Thought
(Yes, that’s Theodore Roosevelt)
Yesterday, I pretty much didn’t do anything. Didn’t even have any profound thoughts. I did notice that Weather Underground thinks I may get some snow tonight, but it’s only a maybe, and even if it happens, there shouldn’t be very much. I did work on some cartoons a bit.
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Robert Reich – The Fed is Dead
Quote – The Fed [met Tuesday. Wednesday], presumably, it will [have raised] interest rates again in its continuing attempt to stem inflation by slowing the economy. But the Fed’s rate hikes aren’t working. Despite seven straight increases in just nine months, totaling a whopping 4.25 percentage points — a pace not seen since the Fed’s inflation fight in the 1980s — price increases are still hovering near four-decade highs. The Consumer Price Index measure climbed 7.1 percent in November compared to a year earlier. The Fed’s rate hikes are slowing the economy, but not prices. Why not?
Click through for full facts. We have Robert Reich, and we have Paul Krugman, and both know what they are talking about. I cannot grasp why Democrats aren’t paying attention.
Mediaite – Rachel Maddow’s Podcast ‘Ultra’ is Headed to Hollywood as Steven Spielberg Acquires Film Rights
Quote – The show has consistently been among the top ten podcasts on Apple, in the weeks since its premiere. Now, it’s in the hands of Spielberg. Although the Hollywood legend is not set to direct the film, he will produce the movie adaptation alongside Bridge of Spies producer Kristie Macosko Krieger. According to Deadline, the talks to purchase film rights to the podcast became a bidding war in recent months with Maddow taking meetings with high-level Hollywood execs in an attempt to find the show, which she wrote and hosted, a perfect home.
Click through for details. I am tickled about this. Withe Spielbergs’s name (and I expect him to do a great job), this story will reach many people who would never otherwise even know it existed. I can’t wait to see who gets cast for Coughlin
Food For Thought
Glenn Kirschner – Mike Pence reveals in his book that he refused to report/covered-up Donald Trump’s election crimes (While I agree that was wrong – who was he going to tell? Bill Barr? Jeffrey Clark? Anyone else in Donald Trump**’s Justice Department? Yes, he could have talked to Biden’t DOJ once it existed. Or, yeah, a Federal judge.)
MSNBC – Huma Abedin: Everything Has Now Changed For Biden
Thom Hartmann – You Won’t Believe What Far Right Did To Stop Midterm Votes For Democrats (sorry it’s so long.)
Ring of Fire – Trump Staffers Admit To Treating Him Like A Toddler To Appease Him
Liberal Redneck – 2022 Midterm Results
Beau – Let’s talk about the economic power of the parties…
Yesterday, it was pretty quiet, but I didn’t have alot of ambition. Previouslt I had made up the cartoons needed through the 10th, and update the one for the 15th because that was simple, but I still need to make them for the 13th, 18th, 21st, 24th, 27th, 28th, and 29th. i have the content ans artwotk, I just have to put them all together, but I really didn’t feel up to it. Oh well, there’ll be time next week. Today, of course, I have an opera to listen to, and will get ready to go see Virgil tomorrow.
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Daily Beast – Republicans Are Bad for the Economy. Here’s Why.
Quote – The poll indicated that concerns about the economy and inflation are “much more likely to drive voters towards Republicans.” But that impulse is not only ill-considered, every bit of available evidence makes clear that the GOP is the wrong party to which to turn if you seek better U.S. economic performance in the future. In fact, it is not close. When it comes to the economy, the GOP is the problem and not the solution. If anything, it is a greater obstacle to our economic well-being today than it has ever been.
Click through for article. It drives me crazy that this is not obvious to every man, woman, and child in America. I learned it at mo mother’s knee (Yes, it’s been true that long.)
Robert Reich – Why I still think John Roberts is the worst Chief Justice since Roger Taney
Quote – I do not expect this Court to uphold affirmative action, notwithstanding the clear precedent for doing so. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. — the conservative least likely to champion dramatic change in the court’s precedents — has for his entire legal career opposed what he has called the “sordid business” of dividing Americans by race, including affirmative action As Special Assistant to the Attorney General in the Reagan Justice Department, Roberts argued that affirmative action was bound to fail because it required the “recruiting of inadequately prepared candidates.”
Click through for full opinion. Taney is infamous for the Dred Scott decision. But that wasn’t all.
Food For Thought
Glenn Kirschner – Trump’s taxes; fed charges for Paul Pelosi attacker; Officer Dunn testifies at Oath Keepers trial
The Lincoln Project – Pelosi Attack
Meidas Touch – Sarah Palin makes HUMILIATING ADMISSION about Campaign as it SWIRLS THE DRAIN
MSNBC – Litany Of Trump Legal Entanglements Grows Ever Longer As Trump Org Criminal Trial Begins
Liberal Redneck – Voting Republican to Save the Economy
Beau – Let’s talk about a poll on climate inaction…. [It’s not every day you hear Beau distinguish so sharply between the parties]
Yesterday, Paul Pelosi, Nancy’s husband, was assaulted and injured in their San Francisco home. And Joyce Vance was right on it, with an article about the crime of assaulting a Federal official’s family member – before they even had time to question the attacker and report details. By now, of course you’ve likely seen some details. Some of hese Substck subscriptions, even non-paid ones, can certainly make a reader of them look knowledgeable (even when the author is clearly pissed.)
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Letters From An American – October 26, 2022
Quote – Today the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) warned banks that surprise overdraft fees and depositor fees for customers who deposit a check that bounces are “likely unfair and unlawful under existing law.” The CFPB is also looking into credit card fees. The Federal Trade Commission has started a rule-making process that addresses surprise fees for event ticketing, hotels, funeral homes, and so on; earlier this year, it brought actions against junk fees in the auto industry that are awaiting finalization.
Click through for column. Its primary focus is the economy, but there are a couple of other topics (the last is amusing.)
ProPublica – That Cardboard Box in Your Home Is Fueling Election Denial
Quote – Dick and Liz Uihlein of Illinois are the largest contributors to Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano, who attended the Jan. 6 rally and was linked to a prominent antisemite, and have given to Jim Marchant, the Nevada Secretary of State nominee who says he opposed the certification of Joe Biden’s election victory in 2020. They are major funders to groups spreading election falsehoods, including Restoration of America, which, according to an internal document obtained by ProPublica, aims to “get on God’s side of the issues and stay there” and “punish leftists.”
Click through for article. I had never heard of ULine until a couple of years ago, when they were one of a very few companies which had an unusual item (disposable pipettes.) Not too long after that I heard about the family being RWNJ, and flagged the name in my records.
Food For Thought
