Saturday, September 05, 2015
Because They Think He Pisses Off Liberals
Conservatives basically support anything/anyone they think pisses off liberals. They aren't very good at understanding what pisses off liberals, so usually it's more hilarious than enraging. No liberals would not be happy with President Trump, though that's less about President Trump being worse than the rest of the people in the clown car and more about being flabbergasted that those idiots voted for Trump just to piss us off.
If any conservatives want to offer up a policy-based case for Trump then I'm open to it, but I haven't yet seen one (that some liberals have pointed out that he isn't always so bad on the issues, recent events aside, doesn't count as a conservative case). Otherwise it's all attitude.
If any conservatives want to offer up a policy-based case for Trump then I'm open to it, but I haven't yet seen one (that some liberals have pointed out that he isn't always so bad on the issues, recent events aside, doesn't count as a conservative case). Otherwise it's all attitude.
Foreign Policy Is Hard
I don't know what to say about this, so I'll offer it without comment.
U.S. officials have not come to a firm conclusion about Russia's military intentions in Syria. But they fear Moscow will help Assad's forces attack the government's opponents, some of whom the U.S. backs. The increased Russian involvement could extend Assad's hold on power and further prolong a civil war that has pitted shifting alliances of dozens of armed factions, including the Islamic State militant group, against the government in Damascus.
"It's obviously a big concern," one official said. "If they're moving people in to help the Syrian government fight their own fight, that's one thing. But if they're moving in ground forces and dropping bombs on populated areas, that's an entirely different matter."
We Helped To Build That
The US isn't the only or direct cause of the refugee crisis, but we haven't exactly been helping things very much lately. Yes we armed a bunch of moderate rebels and then they disappeared with their weapons and then we armed a bunch more and then they disappeared with their weapons. One day we'll get that right I suppose.
We could take in some refugees maybe? I suppose that's unpossible, because even though we were told the people in the Middle East were all just earning for peeance and freeance if only we just took out their bad leaders, we're also told that they're all very scary brown mooslims, like the president, so that makes them all potential supervillains.
Foreign policy is complicated apparently. We'd better get Tom Friedman down to the White House so we can figure it out.
We could take in some refugees maybe? I suppose that's unpossible, because even though we were told the people in the Middle East were all just earning for peeance and freeance if only we just took out their bad leaders, we're also told that they're all very scary brown mooslims, like the president, so that makes them all potential supervillains.
Foreign policy is complicated apparently. We'd better get Tom Friedman down to the White House so we can figure it out.
Friday, September 04, 2015
American's Worst Humans
William "Too Fucking Many Names But Not Actually Bill O'Reilly" O'Reilly.
Shorter O'Reilly: A man who is married to an African-American woman must acknowledge how horrible they are.
Glad we're in that post-racial world.
Shorter O'Reilly: A man who is married to an African-American woman must acknowledge how horrible they are.
Glad we're in that post-racial world.
More Seriously
One of those days, which I've had several of lately, when blogging has been unpossible. Talk amongst yourselves!
Thursday, September 03, 2015
On A Dime
An "amazing" thing about the British tabloids/press in general is their ability to switch perspectives essentially overnight while still keeping their readership. The "migrants" were bad, until they were good. Or something.
I don't claim to know how to solve the world's problems, but I suspect that we could spend a bit less on "humanitarian bombs" and a bit more on "taking in refugees" and probably at least help a few more people than we do. I understand the urge (sometimes somewhat noble, sometimes not) to go after the bastards in charge, but ultimately the point is, supposedly, to help the people. The US is a giant country. We can take in way more refugees than we do, and the moral case for doing so doesn't even depend on the fact that we've helped to nudge them out of their homes.
I don't claim to know how to solve the world's problems, but I suspect that we could spend a bit less on "humanitarian bombs" and a bit more on "taking in refugees" and probably at least help a few more people than we do. I understand the urge (sometimes somewhat noble, sometimes not) to go after the bastards in charge, but ultimately the point is, supposedly, to help the people. The US is a giant country. We can take in way more refugees than we do, and the moral case for doing so doesn't even depend on the fact that we've helped to nudge them out of their homes.
The Way We Live
It is the Onion, but it isn't, really.
PHILADELPHIA—Saying it would give local youths a wider range of academic options, Philadelphia public school officials expressed high hopes Thursday for the recently opened Edison Magnet School, a new pilot initiative that caters to students who are interested in an adequate education.
Though still in its earliest experimental stages, the specialized high school has reportedly attracted students from across the city who share a desire to receive the kind of competent instruction in math, reading, and science unavailable in more traditional American classrooms.
It Feeds the Rich While it Buries the Poor
Ayn Rand's weirdo fantasies were, you know, fantasies, but at least John Galt was (in fantasy) a supergenius who invented a perpetual motion machine or something similar (hey, it's been awhile since I read it, maybe it was something to do with extracting energy from the precious bodily fluids of the great unwashed). Not sure what the other few million will do when they opt out. I'll take a chance that we can do without their mad skills.
Better Luck Next Year
No worries, the ponies will eventually arrive.
Better raise interest rates, just in case.
The unemployment rate is low by any historical standard at 5.3 percent. Businesses are complaining of worker shortages in industries including health care, construction and trucking. Household-name companies like Walmart and McDonald’s have announced increases to their pay for low-wage workers.
Add those together, and it would seem to point to 2015 as being the year American workers start seeing substantially larger paychecks. The only problem: There is no real evidence in the economic data that this is happening.
Better raise interest rates, just in case.
What are we doing here, that is the question. And we are blessed in this, that we happen to know the answer. Yes, in this immense confusion one thing alone is clear. We are waiting for Godot to come—
A Martyr Is Born
Wingnut welfare won't last very long, but it'll be nice while it does.
ASHLAND, Ky. — A federal judge here on Thursday ordered a Kentucky clerk jailed for contempt of court because of her refusal to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
It's Torture
I know I shouldn't be surprised, but I am surprised that this barbaric practice has persisted for so long. We've known for a long time that it destroys minds.
If mass incarceration is one of modern America’s deepest pathologies, solitary confinement is the concentrated version of it: far too many people locked up for far too long for no good reason, at no clear benefit to anyone.
The practice “literally drives men mad,” Justice Anthony Kennedy of the Supreme Court said in an appearance before Congress last March, highlighting the case of a California man isolated for 25 years. In July, President Obama became the first president to denounce the use of solitary. Locking people up alone for years or decades, he said, “is not going to make us safer. That’s not going to make us stronger. And if those individuals are ultimately released, how are they ever going to adapt?”
Generation Screwed
It's a bit more acute in London than most places in the US, but the basic story is the same. Education costs and student loans are crushing. There's no realistic way for people in their 20s to save money a deposit for unaffordable homes, let alone plan to start families. Their parents had it better. But The Kids Today and their unwillingness to grow up...
Wednesday, September 02, 2015
Trump'd
They only thing I can conclude is that "they" don't like him because he's the biggest threat to wingnut welfare, or at least its current recipients.
Jeb "Anchor Babies" Bush
An actual paragraph appearing in the liberal New York Times.
Ask Michael Schiavo about that inclusive, big-hearted governor.
Then there's that big-hearted party and the health care of 50% of the population.
Mr. Bush is at his most animated discussing policy. And the only thing he may be more passionate about than issues is his conviction that the Republicans must become an inclusive, big-hearted party that appeals to people’s hopes rather than their resentments.
Ask Michael Schiavo about that inclusive, big-hearted governor.
Then there's that big-hearted party and the health care of 50% of the population.
I, for one, don’t think Planned Parenthood ought to get a penny, though. And that’s the difference, because they’re not actually doing women’s health issues. They are involved in something way different than that.
Rich Guys Can't Make Other Rich Guys Look Bad
It's the 1st Law Of Rich Guys or something.
Do Not Be Mean To Football.
In the end even Sony, which unlike most other major studios in Hollywood has no significant business ties to the N.F.L., found itself softening some points it might have made against the multibillion-dollar sports enterprise that controls the nation’s most-watched game.
In dozens of studio emails unearthed by hackers, Sony executives; the director, Peter Landesman; and representatives of Mr. Smith discussed how to avoid antagonizing the N.F.L. by altering the script and marketing the film more as a whistle-blower story, rather than a condemnation of football or the league.
Do Not Be Mean To Football.
Mittens!
Come back!
Romney himself has become one of Trump’s most vocal detractors inside the party. “He’s someone to whom civility means a lot. The whole Trump thing really bothers him,” a close Romney adviser told me — and some Romney-ites are only too happy to talk up the prospect of their man jumping into the race if the Establishment fails to stop Trump, whose support in Iowa and New Hampshire is currently greater than Jeb Bush's, Scott Walker's, Marco Rubio's, Chris Christie's, and John Kasich's combined.
Morning Thread
Digby is not too impressed with the Pope's ruling that parish priests will be allowed to absolve women of the sin of abortion, but only if they are truly repentant. Meh.
Tuesday, September 01, 2015
Then People Won't Like Them
I'm pretty skeptical about the technology, but given all the road ragers out there, driverless cars that prioritize safety too much won't be very popular. People like the illusion of control, and they like cutting off their fellow humans due to some perceived slight.
Clap Louder, Little People
Someone involved in popeocalypse plannigadmitted that they were deliberatly trying to scare people away in order to reduce attendance. Mission accomplished
Stop Killing Unarmed People
It really should be the basic standard. No weapon, no real threat, most of the time.
Monday, August 31, 2015
I Think I'd Do Ok
I'm sympathetic to the idea that being filthy rich can be socially isolating, but, you know, I think I'd figure it out.
Maybe if he gives me most of his moneys we can try it out? Maybe a reality show Trading Places kind of thing? What say you, Mortimer?
Maybe if he gives me most of his moneys we can try it out? Maybe a reality show Trading Places kind of thing? What say you, Mortimer?
Mooooar Parking
The solution to all of Camden's ills is always more parking. Spend a bunch of money to "revitalize" the waterfront by building giant parking lots. Give a bunch of tax money to "lure" a company from a neighboring suburban municipality? Surround it with parking!
Anything which encourages drive-in/park/drive-out behavior does nothing for surrounding businesses or street life. Camden has its problems, but the solution isn't trying to turn into Cherry Hill.
Anything which encourages drive-in/park/drive-out behavior does nothing for surrounding businesses or street life. Camden has its problems, but the solution isn't trying to turn into Cherry Hill.
Chipping American Tourists
One of my favorite things is when countries enact what are essentially retaliatory measures against American Visa requirements for their visitors to the US. $200 and a visit to a consulate that only exists in one city and is only open 2 hours per week? Fine, we'll do that too. Obviously it isn't my favorite thing if I have to deal with it, but I appreciate the response. Also, too, I have a UK passport so I can usually evade such things.
When we start chipping all visitors, countries will start doing the same to us. That will be hilarious.
When we start chipping all visitors, countries will start doing the same to us. That will be hilarious.
Sunday, August 30, 2015
The Third Wall Is The Wall On The US-Iran Border
My friends at LGM are obviously unaware that Iran has a border with everyone.
Sunday Crass Commercialism
In the continuing series of "Atrios actually reads a few books" I did enjoy the Harold Fry book and the Queenie Hennessy "sequel." Not high literature, but strangely affecting. Probably just getting old.
The Life of the Poors
My very good friend (okay, I met her at a pub once), Dawn Foster, writes about how poverty sucks.
High On Own Supply
The Blairite faction of New Labour seems to have missed the part that they've been out of power and everyone hates them now because aside from "we won elections!!!" they don't actually boast about their success.
Elect us because we can win elections! 3) profit!!!
Caroline Flint, a candidate in the Labour deputy leadership contest, has put herself on a collision course with Jeremy Corbyn by claiming that she would use the strength of being directly elected to force the next leader to learn the lessons of the electorally successful Blair years.
Elect us because we can win elections! 3) profit!!!
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