Thursday, March 31, 2016
Never Read The Comments
It's one of those conventional wisdom things that one should never read the comments. And, yeah, you assholes are usually off topic and sometimes assholes to each other, but for the most part we manage to keep this stupid community together. I'm thankful for that.
The Worst Day On The Internet
That would be tomorrow. I actually think April Fools' Day jokes can be funny! But most of us aren't actually that clever or funny.
The Bigger Story
Many years ago I was a minor affiliate - not really a part of, just in the orbit - to a news story that ran that I knew, with as much certainty as one can know of these things, to be false. To be honest, I can't even remember what the story was. Brain is swiss cheese at this point. But I do remember the reaction of the journalist - and I also don't remember who that journalist was! - which was, essentially, sources don't lie to us because if they do we will burn them. In all of my years of media watching, I have seen precisely one source be burned. Oddly, that was Howard Kurtz burning Ann Coulter. Journalists never burn their sources, and so their sources are free to lie.
And that lying is quite often the bigger story. It never gets reported.
And that lying is quite often the bigger story. It never gets reported.
UNFAIR
Republicans/conservatives have two big tricks. One is that when they're being assholes, it's the fault of Democrats. They were mean first! They forced us to be mean back!
The other is that whenever one of them says something stupid in an interview, it's because the interview was UNFAIR.
The other is that whenever one of them says something stupid in an interview, it's because the interview was UNFAIR.
The Left Is Always Wrong
I'm much more of a Lefty than I used to be, but also retain enough of my economist brainwashing roots that I'm not going to be joining the communist party any time soon (this is a joke, The Left in America is not communist). I'm much more of a Lefty sympathizer than a Lefty (though a bit of both) because in a system where compromise tends to rule, it's important to pull that compromise position to the Left.
I'm struck by how everything The Left does is wrong. Not just in terms of policy, but tactics. Running a third party candidate is wrong (I actually agree with this generally!), running in a major party primary is wrong, protesting is wrong, protesting the wrong way is wrong, not protesting is wrong, having a journal of important Lefty ideas is wrong, not catering to the feefees of Real Americans is wrong, proposing legislation is wrong, objecting to racism and sexism is wrong. There's a longer list, I'm sure, but self-styled "moderates" chastise Lefties no matter what they do. Given that The Left might be represented by about 5 people in Congress (I made that number up, it's probably not even that large), it's pretty silly.
I'm struck by how everything The Left does is wrong. Not just in terms of policy, but tactics. Running a third party candidate is wrong (I actually agree with this generally!), running in a major party primary is wrong, protesting is wrong, protesting the wrong way is wrong, not protesting is wrong, having a journal of important Lefty ideas is wrong, not catering to the feefees of Real Americans is wrong, proposing legislation is wrong, objecting to racism and sexism is wrong. There's a longer list, I'm sure, but self-styled "moderates" chastise Lefties no matter what they do. Given that The Left might be represented by about 5 people in Congress (I made that number up, it's probably not even that large), it's pretty silly.
Nice Things
Why we can't have them.
The Justice Department’s Office of the Inspector General (IG) determined “collectively, the DEA and DOD spent more than $86 million to purchase and modify a DEA aircraft with advanced surveillance equipment to conduct operations in the combat environment of Afghanistan, in what became known as the Global Discovery Program. We found that more than 7 years after the aircraft was purchased for the program, it remains inoperable, resting on jacks in Delaware, and has never flown in Afghanistan.”
Wednesday, March 30, 2016
Trump Said A Thing
Paraphrasing, there should be some form of punishment for women who have abortions. I differ slightly with some liberals over what anti-choicers want. I think many of them see pregnancy and childbirth as the appropriate punishment for the crime of having sex with someone other than me. They want to regulate abortion clinics out of existence, and then the punishment for having an abortion would be having an unsafe abortion like the good old days, but that isn't the same as wanting to jail women for having abortions. In other words, the punishment would be chance of death or serious injury. I don't get how this in any way makes sense, but it seems to be the basic worldview.
No not all anti-choicers have precisely the same views, of course, but the movement...
No not all anti-choicers have precisely the same views, of course, but the movement...
Trump Can Win
I find the liberal and usually more subtle conservative commentariat's assertions that Trump Can't Win (the general election) to be a bit weird. I wouldn't bet on him winning against Democratic candidate X. The polls certainly don't look very favorable for him. So, yes, I agree about betting against a Trump victory. But Trump can win. Don't kid yourselves.
Generation Lead
What the hell is wrong with people?
Police in Janesville, Wisconsin are searching for two men who attended Donald Trump’s raucous town hall Tuesday night in the small post-industrial town: one accused of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl who was protesting Trump, and another man who pepper sprayed the 15-year-old and a 19-year-old woman. Both women were taken to local hospitals.
What A Sucky Blog
Some days I get up and spend 2 hours trying to come up with something to write about or even just link and fail. I'm not as lazy as you think I am. Sometimes it's just a big fail.
Tuesday, March 29, 2016
Everybody on the Internet is Wrong
What I've found frustrating about the internet discourse surrounding the Dem primary is that so little of it has been about anyone actually trying to persuade someone. It's all "I am right, you are wrong." Yes it's the internet. No this should not surprise me. This is how internet discourse usually works. But I've found the level of "my internet-fu has not convinced you because you are stupid" to be weird. Some people like Clinton. Some people like Sanders. Donate money, make calls, knock on doors if you really want to make a difference. Arguing on the internet isn't going to make any difference. As I've said, I'm a Sanders sympathizer. I'm not trying to hide that. But there are good reasons to support Clinton. If I went all in on one side or another I'm sure I'd convince precisely zero people to vote for candidate X. Activism should be productive, not just narcissism.
Friend
Practically every day I get an email from Debbie Wassermen Schultz. She usually calls me friend. I suppose that's sweet, but we aren't friends. The emails have a panicked tone, but more than that they have an entitled tone. She has primary opponents! This is not right! We must give all of our moneys to DWS to vanquish the usurpers!
Whatever I think of her, whoever runs her email is horrible.
Whatever I think of her, whoever runs her email is horrible.
Pretty Sure It Will Be Fine
California will survive.
I'll bet $15 it will increase teen unemployment a tiny bit, but otherwise... all good.
California is on the verge of making itself a guinea pig in a bold economics experiment.
By moving toward a plan to raise the statewide minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2022, the state could raise living standards for millions of workers. But it could also increase unemployment among some of the very same economically marginal workers the wage increase is intended to help.
I'll bet $15 it will increase teen unemployment a tiny bit, but otherwise... all good.
Monday, March 28, 2016
Microphones
There's a lot of "NOT OUR FAULT" coming out from "the media" about Trump. I agree and disagree. That Trump is beloved by plenty of Republican primary voters is not surprising, and is not the fault of "the media." That news outlets violated their usual norms and let Trump just phone in, and that cable news just put the camera on him anytime he had a public event, is. He might have done as well without their help, but they helped him.
Shit Is Fucked Up And Bullshit
I'm not the first person to make this observation, of course. Even BoBo Brooksy has started to figure it out. But the reason Republican voters like Trump is because shit is fucked up and bullshit. I don't think those voters have the right understanding of just why just shit is fucked up and bullshit, but they're right in believing that it is. There have been 3 recessions in my adult life. Each time, it seemed like things were going to hell. Each time, an asset bubble (internet, real estate) turned things around for awhile. Except this last one. We never really recovered from the Great Recession, and it doesn't seem like we ever will.
Trump'd
The Republican freakout about Trump is funny, because as I've said it has nothing to do with policy. Sure they could freak out about the couple of issues on which he's arguably to the left of Republican orthodoxy, but they don't do that. He's your racist uncle that you've been catering to for 40 years and for some reason that bothers them. OK, I actually do know why. They don't know who the wingnut welfare will go to when Trump rules America, but they can't say that.
The Worst Architecture In The World
I'm pleased that someone finally said it. The Apple building, especially, looks like something from a Planet of the Apes movie (early ones). And I used to work where one of those movies was filmed. The buildings were horrible. A stupid person's vision of what the future should be like. I have no idea why these companies are like "yah, man, that 1960s vision of the future is so cool." It wasn't cool then. It isn't cool now. And we still don't have jetpacks.
Morning Thread
Since I'm retired, it's whatever day I want it to be. In my own mind, at least. For the rest of you, it's Monday, March 28, 2016.
Sunday, March 27, 2016
Nobody Could Have Predicted
Everybody wins!
Probably gives Fred Hiatt a boner.
Syrian militias armed by different parts of the U.S. war machine have begun to fight each other on the plains between the besieged city of Aleppo and the Turkish border, highlighting how little control U.S. intelligence officers and military planners have over the groups they have financed and trained in the bitter 5-year-old civil war.
The fighting has intensified over the past two months, as CIA-armed units and Pentagon-armed ones have repeatedly shot at each other as they have maneuvered through contested territory on the northern outskirts of Aleppo, U.S. officials and rebel leaders have confirmed.
Probably gives Fred Hiatt a boner.
Saturday, March 26, 2016
Woot
Sadly I've lost most of my Kerry Booby Gifs. Damn linkrot. Maybe they're on an old hard drive somewhere. I should try to find them because some of them were brilliant, but just so the world knows that before Birdie Sanders there was Booby Kerry.
George Bush Did One Thing Right
I find it rather disturbing how it's "controversial" that Obama thinks terrorist attacks mean we shouldn't blame all Muslims. Obviously white people (and people of all races) kill people with guns in this country every day, but aside from that, there was a guy who also made an attempt to diminish anti-Muslim bigotry after a major terrorist attack that actually happened in our country. You might remember it. The guy's name was George W. Bush. Sure then he decided to invade Iraq which kind of invalidated all of that, but after 9/11 he genuinely made an effort to not blame "Muslims" or "Islam" for what happened.
Friday, March 25, 2016
Would You Like To Have A Beer With The Guy Who Supposedly Doesn't Drink?
Every now and then when I worry our politics has become even more stupid I remember that from 2000.
I'm not quite sure that it's reassuring, but...
I'm not quite sure that it's reassuring, but...
Boinking
There are some exceptions - especially closeted gay politicians who are fiercely anti-gay in their rhetoric and their votes - but otherwise I don't really care who politicians boink. If they're married, it's between them and their spouses, and the truth is plenty of people have open or "don't ask don't tell" marriages.
All About The Careers
Sure Trump's a bit idiosyncratic for a Republican, but opposition to him is really just about having the wingnut welfare system being disrupted. I don't quite understand the Kasich opposition. Seems like he'd keep it in place. But maybe not enough young Heritage staffers signed up early enough.
Thursday, March 24, 2016
All The World's A Stage
Sometimes I think people fail to realize that we all have our roles to play. I don't advocate dishonesty, but it's my role to complain from The Left in hopes that things get pulled a little bit more to the left (recognizing that my superpowers are limited). Other people have their roles. It's how this game is played.
Trump'd
It will be very interesting to see how the press deals with the Donald once he's the nominee. So far they've been pretty cool with his racism, misogyny, and anti-Semitism. While they sort of frown at his candidacy in general, cable news gives him constant free coverage that no other candidate gets. As the GOP frontrunner he deserves coverage, of course, but not the crazy level of coverage he's been getting.
Mad Cow
I was in the UK in the aftermath of the first major Mad Cow outbreak, and it was basically thought that the UK and maybe all of European beef industry was over for awhile. Restaurants served kangaroo instead, which is good! Hopefully this is just an isolated thing.
France's agriculture ministry confirmed on Thursday that a case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), also known as mad cow disease, had been discovered in the northeastern region of Ardennes.
Wednesday, March 23, 2016
Also, Too, Pointless
Airport security is about preventing planes from being hijacked or blown up. We can question the effectiveness of existing practices, but that is their purpose. Yes airports are places where large numbers of people gather. Other places: malls, churches, the market near me, state fairs, amusement parks, subway stations, concerts, numerous festivals, parades, etc. Even more absurd security at airports would just divert any potential attacks to outside whatever new perimeter that is created or to other places. I get trying to stop people from blowing up planes, but you can't realistically stop them from blowing up the parking lot.
It's neither achievable or practical. If people want to blow themselves up or are willing to get caught, you just can't stop them. Maybe you can stop them from blowing up a plane. You can't stop them from killing people. And here you don't even need to know how to build a bomb, you just need a local gun dealer.
But despite a series of episodes in recent years that have targeted transportation hubs worldwide, security experts predict that the latest attacks will revive — but not resolve — a thorny public debate about the benefits of ever more costly and intensive screening systems meant to identify terrorists among the millions of people who travel each day.
“It’s always about achieving a balance between what is achievable and what is practical,” said Norman Shanks, a consultant and former manager of airport security at Heathrow Airport near London.
It's neither achievable or practical. If people want to blow themselves up or are willing to get caught, you just can't stop them. Maybe you can stop them from blowing up a plane. You can't stop them from killing people. And here you don't even need to know how to build a bomb, you just need a local gun dealer.
Elections
I used to pay more attention to elections, including House races. I even raised a lot of money for them from you, dear readers! I admit I got a bit fed up eventually. One reason is that trying to win in a relatively red district often necessitates supporting someone who isn't exactly liberal (I still think this is less true than people think, but that's how it works in practice). The other is hearing enough stories - and occasionally experiencing it firsthand - about how horrible the DCCC is. They recruit horrible candidates even in blue districts and nudge better ones out. And then lose and we all wonder why!
The Dems are still bad at this game. I don't know what incentives they need to make them better.
The Dems are still bad at this game. I don't know what incentives they need to make them better.
Tuesday, March 22, 2016
Stop It
We live in gun nut America, where the conventional wisdom is that everyone should be packing all the time. Did I say everyone? Well, of course not EVERYONE, not certain types of people in certain neighborhoods. Stop & Frisk is just a license to harass minorities for reasons which make absolutely no sense in the context of our gun nut culture.
A third of the hundreds of thousands of pedestrian stops Philadelphia police officers conducted last year were done so illegally. More than half of the time, officers frisked civilians without having the legal right. Yet less than 1 percent of those pat-downs produced a weapon.
Black residents, by far, were affected by these practices more than any other group.
These are some of the findings of the latest progress report of the Philadelphia Police Department's stop-and-frisk program, which has been overseen by a federal court monitor since 2012.
I Read The News Today Oh Boy
Got up this morning and flipped on the shower radio to hear some security muckity muck (former CIA? NSA? didn't quite catch it) talking about how Europe needs to increase its border controls and share more intelligence. Then I realized something had happened. The bombings in Brussels are horrible. I used to live close to that subway station. But calling for more border controls in the Schengen Treaty area is like calling for more border controls between the states. Once you think about it that way, you realize how ridiculous it is. Is a passport check between Pennsylvania and Delaware really going to stop terrorism? Also, too, no one actually knows who did this yet. Maybe they were Belgian citizens or legal residents! Pretty sure border controls aren't going stop them!
Also have heard calls for more airport security, like moving the security out front. Airports are symbolic targets, but they aren't the only places that have crowds (see, for example, Paris terrorist attacks). People who are willing to blow stuff up and are either willing to blow themselves up or don't much care if they are caught are going to find targets. No security can stop that, just divert it. We have airport security (mostly stupid, but still) to stop plane hijackings/bombings. You can't stop people from blowing stuff up in the lobby any more than you can stop people from blowing up stuff in your local mall. If people want to do it, they're going to.
The deep security state will inform us that if only we give them the tools (and the money, of course the money) they'll stop this stuff. Strangely, they never stop this stuff.
Also have heard calls for more airport security, like moving the security out front. Airports are symbolic targets, but they aren't the only places that have crowds (see, for example, Paris terrorist attacks). People who are willing to blow stuff up and are either willing to blow themselves up or don't much care if they are caught are going to find targets. No security can stop that, just divert it. We have airport security (mostly stupid, but still) to stop plane hijackings/bombings. You can't stop people from blowing stuff up in the lobby any more than you can stop people from blowing up stuff in your local mall. If people want to do it, they're going to.
The deep security state will inform us that if only we give them the tools (and the money, of course the money) they'll stop this stuff. Strangely, they never stop this stuff.
The Climate, It's Changing
I'm scheduling this post late at night which means I'm too tired/lazy to do any research. I have memory! I might be wrong. I'll do the research and update tomorrow. But my memory is back in in the dark ages of 2000, there was a clique of prominent people who agreed climate change was real and suggested that spending ONE HUNDRED BILLION DOLLARS to fix it was unaffordable.
ONE HUNDRED BILLION DOLLARS was probably an absurdly low estimate, but what's obviously more absurd is that it wouldn't have been worth that much to solve the problem.
ONE HUNDRED BILLION DOLLARS was probably an absurdly low estimate, but what's obviously more absurd is that it wouldn't have been worth that much to solve the problem.
Monday, March 21, 2016
What's It All About Then
This post is going to be mostly babble, but there are things I often really don't understand. Why are some countries our buddies when they are completely horrible and other countries which are at worst much less horrible aren't? Sure I get all the possible reasons, but sometimes I really just don't get it. The governments and human rights records of some countries are hideous and we hug them and praise them. Blah blah blah realpolitik, economic interests, geopolitical strategery, but sometimes those things don't add up in a way I understand.
Rock to the Roll
I'm a high information voter. I don't say that to claim I'm smart. You, dear readers, can make the judgment about my intelligence on your own. But it's my job to pay attention to this stuff, so I do. If I were a low information voter - and I don't mean that as an insult, most people rationally don't pay all that much attention to that stuff - I would vote for the Democrat on the ballot because?
Whether it's Clinton or Sanders, I'm not sure that message has actually been sent yet.
Whether it's Clinton or Sanders, I'm not sure that message has actually been sent yet.
Telegraph
I do not understand why campaign people tell the press what their "strategy" is. It's so weird.
Sunday, March 20, 2016
My Obsessions
One thing about having a blog which requires regular posts is that you have to have obsessions. I get that not all readers are interested in my obsessions of the week, but it's really the only way to keep this truck stop running. I gotta pick something and run with it. Otherwise I run out of things to say. I'm basically an introvert, in case that wasn't obvious.
Damn Dams
I've been reading various stories about this for a couple of months or so. I can't quite figure out (from the news reports that I have read) just what is the barrier to fixing (or trying to) it? "We" (the US) seem to be very concerned, though I haven't seen that we're so concerned that we're offering to pay for it. Maybe I've missed it.
Saturday, March 19, 2016
Trump'd
In a way, Trump is like the mirror universe of what centrism (which is a Washington pundit unicorn) is supposed to be. He's socially conservative and economically liberal. Okay he doesn't fit neatly into either of those categories. He's not religious. He probably doesn't care much about gay rights either way. He loves the Richie Riches, at least the ones who are nice to him.
He's racist (in rhetoric, who knows or cares what he actually thinks) and he's not calling to dismantle the minimal welfare state this country has. I have no idea what President Trump would be like. Quite bad, probably! But he isn't Fred Hiatt's idea of who a president should be, which is interesting.
He's racist (in rhetoric, who knows or cares what he actually thinks) and he's not calling to dismantle the minimal welfare state this country has. I have no idea what President Trump would be like. Quite bad, probably! But he isn't Fred Hiatt's idea of who a president should be, which is interesting.
The Kids Today Are Horrible
It's a common theme in newspaper articles. Perhaps not the best way to stop the average age of their readers from increasing by one year every year?
Friday, March 18, 2016
Confessions Of A Young Ayn Rand Fan
I admit that I was. I'll also admit that I think reading Ayn Rand was good for me! I don't think Ayn Rand novels are generally a force for good in the world. Reading her novels did not make me more conservative. They did not make me more libertarian. But I did grow up in an environment (not my parents, other social factors) in which being selfless was a bit too much hailed as an unambiguous good, and selfishness was derided. Atlas Shrugged is an 1100 page piece of crap, but The Fountainhead isn't the worst thing in the world.
Rand didn't make me a conservative, but at that moment in my life she did teach me that having my own wants and needs didn't make me evil. I'm not saying that was her entire message, just that it was the message I heard.
Rand didn't make me a conservative, but at that moment in my life she did teach me that having my own wants and needs didn't make me evil. I'm not saying that was her entire message, just that it was the message I heard.
Afternoon Deep Thoughts
The youngs think the olds are clueless. The olds think the youngs are clueless.
The Youngs Are Stupid
I don't care who you vote for in this primary. As I'm someone sympathetic to The Left I'm somewhat sympathetic to Bernie, who currently is The Left, but I think there are good reasons to vote for both Clinton and Sanders. I'm sympathetic to The Left because many years of watching this stuff (cough Obama cough) has taught me if you want to end up in the mythical center you'd better start on the left. But I have zero interest in advocating for either candidate.
Besides being sympathetic to The Left, I'm sensitive to how The Left is treated by the press and basically all of our mainstream institutions. Like crap. That might be ok if The Right were treated similarly, but they aren't. The Right are always treated with deference, and their nutcases of the week are always given glowing profiles in all of our mainstream news outlets.
Anyway, my related pet peeve is the way the youngs are talked about these days. Have you heard about these millienials? Or these hipsters? We're not sure who they are or how old they are but they're young and ridiculous and stupid! They're youngs! They're all so poor because they're lazy and just want a medal for leaving their parents' basements!!! And their ipods and their saggy and/or skinny jeans and their hippity hop!
The merger of these things is how Sanders supporters are treated with contempt because they are young. They must be stupid! They've never even voted before! Um, ok. I'm seeing more of this from, if not actual Clinton campaign people, those who could reasonably described as surrogates (prominent people who might not have a campaign role, but not internet randos). Stop telling the kids to get off the lawn. It isn't going to help your cause.
Besides being sympathetic to The Left, I'm sensitive to how The Left is treated by the press and basically all of our mainstream institutions. Like crap. That might be ok if The Right were treated similarly, but they aren't. The Right are always treated with deference, and their nutcases of the week are always given glowing profiles in all of our mainstream news outlets.
Anyway, my related pet peeve is the way the youngs are talked about these days. Have you heard about these millienials? Or these hipsters? We're not sure who they are or how old they are but they're young and ridiculous and stupid! They're youngs! They're all so poor because they're lazy and just want a medal for leaving their parents' basements!!! And their ipods and their saggy and/or skinny jeans and their hippity hop!
The merger of these things is how Sanders supporters are treated with contempt because they are young. They must be stupid! They've never even voted before! Um, ok. I'm seeing more of this from, if not actual Clinton campaign people, those who could reasonably described as surrogates (prominent people who might not have a campaign role, but not internet randos). Stop telling the kids to get off the lawn. It isn't going to help your cause.
Thursday, March 17, 2016
Remember When We Used To Talk About Religion And Politics?
You know, how Democrats needed to learn to use Evangelical code words to win elections? That this advice came from paid consultants who were self-described Evangelicals always seemed a bit gross to me, but whatever.
I'm not sure exactly what 2005 me said about this. I supposed I could look it up in the archives! But time traveling me going back to 2005 would say this: the religion/politics connection is just another flavor of tribalism. Republicanism is highly tribal. You aren't going to win those people over (not all religious people, I mean religious people who are tribal Repuublicans) by mouthing a few code words. You might (might!) win them over by promising them nice things that will improve their lives.
Most religious people aren't very religious. It's just their tribe.
I'm not sure exactly what 2005 me said about this. I supposed I could look it up in the archives! But time traveling me going back to 2005 would say this: the religion/politics connection is just another flavor of tribalism. Republicanism is highly tribal. You aren't going to win those people over (not all religious people, I mean religious people who are tribal Repuublicans) by mouthing a few code words. You might (might!) win them over by promising them nice things that will improve their lives.
Most religious people aren't very religious. It's just their tribe.
Inflation Is Just Around The Corner
Not Uncle Alan Greenspan's biggest fan, but he did do one thing right. In an only Nixon can go to China way, he didn't hike rates as soon as unemployment went below 6%, which is what conventional wisdom at the time told him to do.
There's no reason to fear inflation until we actually have inflation. There's much less reason to fear inflation generally, even when we have some. 2% is a stupid inflation target. But even with that, killing inflation is easy. We know that. Central bankers should know that. You hike rates, steeply if "necessary." The costs of "high" inflation (which we will never have) are minimal relative to the costs of the misery of unemployment and stagnant wages.
Still even if we think the costs of >3% inflation are too much to tolerate (they aren't, but even if we believe that), stopping inflation rather quickly is pretty much that easiest thing the Fed can do. They should know this. They do know this. I don't get it.
There's no reason to fear inflation until we actually have inflation. There's much less reason to fear inflation generally, even when we have some. 2% is a stupid inflation target. But even with that, killing inflation is easy. We know that. Central bankers should know that. You hike rates, steeply if "necessary." The costs of "high" inflation (which we will never have) are minimal relative to the costs of the misery of unemployment and stagnant wages.
Still even if we think the costs of >3% inflation are too much to tolerate (they aren't, but even if we believe that), stopping inflation rather quickly is pretty much that easiest thing the Fed can do. They should know this. They do know this. I don't get it.
Bork'd
It has faded, some, but for a very long time the narrative of the Villagers was that everything was just grand in Washington until those mean Democrats didn't confirm Bork and then tipnronnie couldn't go have beers anymore. Whenever the Republicans would behave badly, violating what was previously a standard political norm, Bork would be invoked as a justification. Democrats are always to blame for the bad behavior of Republicans, you see.
Both Sides
If Democrats treated a Republican SC nominee this way, the press would lose their shit. The press still loses their shit about Bork, who was given hearings and a vote, and was completely nuts, 30 years later.
Wednesday, March 16, 2016
Wednesday Night
My occasional plea. In November we should vote for Democrats because...?
I know the answer because I pay attention to this stuff 24/7. It isn't the best answer, but I know what it is. But most of the rest of the population?
I know the answer because I pay attention to this stuff 24/7. It isn't the best answer, but I know what it is. But most of the rest of the population?
The Rubio Presidency
He's been in office for 8 or 9 months, and so far things have been pretty good. What do you think?
Trump Is The Greatest Man History Has Ever Known
Yah liberals eat shit sandwiches and vote for the lesser of two evils all of the time, but it is fun to watch the institutional right stamp its feet and pretend they won't support Trump in the Fall. They all will. Every one of them.
Hot Takes
One thing I hate about paying too much attention to all of this crap is the way Conventional Wisdom is presented as immutable fact, rather than just consensus opinions. They aren't the same thing.
The Weirdest Thing of the Campaign
I know I harp on this a bit too much, but the Rubio promotion was so bizarre for this whole primary campaign. Any journalists want to have a drink and tell me why it happened?
Vacation's All I Ever Wanted
Bertha gets a lot of them.
Tunnel-boring machine Bertha has reached the maintenance stop known as “Safe Haven 3,” just before its spring dive underneath the Alaskan Way Viaduct.
The giant drill traveled about 300 feet in the past three weeks, the Washington State Department of Transportation said in an update Monday afternoon.
This haven is a concrete box that was built in 2013, so that crews could reach the giant cutting face, to perform repairs and replace drill teeth.
Morning Thread
Another round of voting done. Interesting that Rubio actually had more delegates than Kasich, yet Rubio is the one to drop out.
I think I'm going to be very tired when all this ends.
I think I'm going to be very tired when all this ends.
Tuesday, March 15, 2016
As Predicted By Everyone Except People Who Are Paid Immense Amounts Of Money To Predict This Stuff
Bye Marco. I like water too.
I usually don't link to Politico on principle, but this is the kind of thing the savvy political press is supposed to be savvy about when it actually matters. To be fair, there were some earlier stories about how the Rubio campaign wasn't actually running a campaign, but for some reason they never actually penetrated the skulls of the pundits who are generally paid a lot more money than actual journalists.
I usually don't link to Politico on principle, but this is the kind of thing the savvy political press is supposed to be savvy about when it actually matters. To be fair, there were some earlier stories about how the Rubio campaign wasn't actually running a campaign, but for some reason they never actually penetrated the skulls of the pundits who are generally paid a lot more money than actual journalists.
Gonna Be A Yuge Night For Rubio
I normally don't care too much about this stuff, but I actually wouldn't mind a big shot campaign journalist writing about the various pressures to promote Rubio that they obviously faced. "Pressures" might be too strong a term, but, maybe nudges?
I don't get everything right, but that Rubio was not deserving of all of the press promotion he got is one thing I did. I don't say this to pat myself on the head, I more say it to be like: wasn't this obvious?
I don't get everything right, but that Rubio was not deserving of all of the press promotion he got is one thing I did. I don't say this to pat myself on the head, I more say it to be like: wasn't this obvious?
Heckuva Job
Something one of my disseration advisers said back in the dark ages stuck with me. Basically it was that it's almost inevitable that there's going to be a "corruption tax." Various people will find ways to put their fingers in the cookie jar, contracting procedures are never quite right, etc. But it's one thing if everything just costs 20% or even 50% more than it should, and another thing if we overpay and get shitty public services. It's one thing to overpay the local monopoly politically connected trash company, it's another if they don't bother to pick up the trash.
For some reason public transit construction costs are absurdly expensive, relative to the rest of the world, in this country. OK, maybe we just have to pay the price, but the product shouldn't be so shitty.
For some reason public transit construction costs are absurdly expensive, relative to the rest of the world, in this country. OK, maybe we just have to pay the price, but the product shouldn't be so shitty.
The Pattern
The precise nature of the social contract varies from country to country, so the details aren't always precisely the same, but in general terms in Europe and the US, policies are screwing the young in favor of the old. In some places I think this is less calculated by politicians - just side effect - and in some places it's completely calculated, but either way The Kids Today are being screwed in a variety of ways.
The demographic time bomb isn't what most people write about. It's that 20 years from now, nobody who is 45ish will have any money.
The demographic time bomb isn't what most people write about. It's that 20 years from now, nobody who is 45ish will have any money.
History's Greatest Monsters
Much of Philly has very narrow streets. It's an old city by American standards. Billy Penn laid out the street grid long before we decided to give half of our streets over to mostly free car storage. But the mostly free car storage isn't enough. People (especially delivery vehicles, but not just) double park. In some places this is merely annoying, but where it isn't annoying is on bus routes. The buses cannot pass. Therefore people on the buses, likely 40 or so, cannot move. It also means the cars behind the buses cannot move. For some reason we tend to care more about the latter than the former, even though it usually involves fewer people, but both bus riders and drivers are inconvenienced. The drivers tend to blame the buses, because they're the big ass vehicles that are blocking their paths, but the buses aren't to blame. It's the people who illegally double park screwing shit up for everyone. Sure the city should probably provide more loading zone spaces, and it has done that to some extent, but of course people illegally park in the loading zones, too, then complain about their traffic tickets.
Elections About Nothing
It's fashionable for the professional democrats (not the Professional Left) to blame Dem voters, a concept which, without evidence, quickly morphs into The Left, for not turning out for midterm elections. There has only been one midterm election in my memory which was actually about something, and that was in 2006. It wasn't about something because the professional democrats made it that way, it was because Iraq turned into an undeniable shitshow and the Dems almost didn't have a choice. Reality forced them, kicking and screaming, into running a national election. The midterms are usually a battle between one party which promises to kick the undeserved in the nuts, and another party which doesn't promise the nut kicking but doesn't promise anything else either. People like the idea of other people getting kicked in the nuts. That's not nice, but it's true.
That's the election strategy, coupled with forcing candidates to spend all of their time until Labor Day or so raising money, and then spending it all on TV ads. ZOMG we lost again! The Left didn't vote! Vote for what?
2016 is not a midterm election. but...
That's the election strategy, coupled with forcing candidates to spend all of their time until Labor Day or so raising money, and then spending it all on TV ads. ZOMG we lost again! The Left didn't vote! Vote for what?
2016 is not a midterm election. but...
Monday, March 14, 2016
Good
Seems like a reasonable sentence, assuming the events unfolded as I understand them (wasn't there, can't know).
A Philadelphia judge has refused to cut a jail sentence imposed on a suburban police chief's daughter in a group attack on a gay couple.
Kathryn Knott will continue to serve a five- to 10-month jail term in a case that prompted the city to add sexual orientation to its hate crime laws.
Cokie Roberts Has Never Expressed An Opinion On Politics Before
Except, uh, that's her job? And she does it all the time?
All political analysis other than reciting poll numbers is opinion. Some opinions are acceptable, some are not.
All political analysis other than reciting poll numbers is opinion. Some opinions are acceptable, some are not.
I Fought The Law
In the mid-Aughts or so, a degree from a top law firm was seen as a ticket to basically anything. Maybe you could be a law professor (and law schools were seen as ka-ching ka-ching for universities). Or you could go into biglaw and be a partner in 5 years. Or you could find jobs in government, or lower paid but still lucrative enough dogooder opportunities. I know someone who left behind a successful career in non-law academia to go to law school just before the bust hit. He doesn't have major student loans, but he's still fucking miserable. Wrong decision.
And, yes, the plight of highly paid serfs is much less of an issue than the plight of lowly paid serfs, but when even the "elite" are getting screwed it's a sign that shit really is fucked up and bullshit. No one makes partner anymore. They pulled up the ladder.
And, yes, the plight of highly paid serfs is much less of an issue than the plight of lowly paid serfs, but when even the "elite" are getting screwed it's a sign that shit really is fucked up and bullshit. No one makes partner anymore. They pulled up the ladder.
Another Morning Thread
Apparently the Virgin Ben has resigned from Breitbart.com because they're even bigger assholes than he is?
We live in strange times.
We live in strange times.
Morning Thread
Last time I checked, it's Monday morning. That's what usually follows Sunday evening, unless there is a memo I didn't get.
Sunday, March 13, 2016
Therapy
Every now and then I have to revisit this column to reassure myself that I'm not insane and that it was actually written.
On the contrary, I thought. We are a good country, attempting to do a good thing. In a post-Sept. 11 world, I thought the prudent use of violence could be therapeutic. The United States had the power to change things for the better, and those who would do the changing -- the fighting -- were, after all, volunteers. This mattered to me.
They're All Horrible
At some point in time I just checked out completely on self-described Republicans. Sure there are a few "sensible conservatives" roaming the wilderness who I don't agree with on most things but who also reject the current Republican party (if not loudly enough in most cases), but I basically feel no need to even listen to anyone who is still on Team R at these days. The Monster Raving Loony Party is much more sensible.
Most People Have Better Things To Do
Even at the height of this sucky blog's popularity I knew that most people had never heard of or read political blogs. Sure "everybody" uses the internet now, much more than then, but most people still have better things to do than obsessively follow politics online.
I have some sort of meta point here, but I'll leave it to the readers to figure it out.
I have some sort of meta point here, but I'll leave it to the readers to figure it out.
In Praise of Daylight Saving Time
For some reason it became cool to hate it. Obviously people have their own lifestyles and therefore their own perfectly reasonable opinions on the subject. It might be annoying for you! Still I think it became trendy to hate on it for reasons I don't quite get.
Anyway, I like that it's light out later. And at least in my geographic spot the sun still comes up fairly early
Anyway, I like that it's light out later. And at least in my geographic spot the sun still comes up fairly early
Saturday, March 12, 2016
Those Were The Days
I wish I had some deep thoughts on the latest happenings, but I really don't. I admit I'm not entirely a fan of protesting political rallies. I'd prefer protesting the media outlets that give the Donald nonstop media coverage. But I'm also not a fan of telling The Left what to do. People who won't otherwise be heard need to scream somehow, and there aren't many options. The Donald is deliberately unleashing scary forces. It's WWE, a choreographed battle between Trump fans and his enemies.
Friday, March 11, 2016
Unsurprising
My longtime unproven theory is that one problem with modern chains/franchises is that local managers/owners really have little control over their businesses. The main thing that they control, or at least the main thing they can quantify and write down on the report that gets sent up to HQ, is labor costs. Almost everything else they can claim is beyond their control, whether or not it is. So the incentive to minimize reported labor costs is huge, even if it isn't actually good for revenues and profits. The mother ship basically controls the product and the marketing. It doesn't take a rocket surgeon to get that higher wages will likely reduce turnover, which will in turn likely improve service quality.
McDonald’s CEO Steve Easterbrook, who took the helm in 2015, has since moved swiftly, closing hundreds of weak stores, bringing back all-day breakfast, and simplifying the chain’s menu, reducing bottlenecks in serving customers quickly. But improving the customer experience hinges on workers being on board with all these changes, hence the raises.
“It has done what we expected it to—90 day turnover rates are down, our survey scores are up—we have more staff in restaurants,” McDonald’s U.S. president Mike Andres told analysts at a UBS conference on Wednesday. “So far we’re pleased with it—it was a significant investment obviously but it’s working well.”
The move reportedly created friction with franchisees, who hire and pay their own workers, as they felt pressure to match the wage hikes. Still, there are early signs it is paying off: In October, McDonald’s reported its first quarter of comparable sales gains in two years. The company built on that growth with a huge 5.7% increase in the following quarter.
Bankruptcy For Some
There are problems (warning, link has auto on video because the internet hates you).
Investors are facing $19 billion in energy defaults as the worst oil crash in a generation leaves drillers struggling to stay afloat.
The wave could begin within days if Energy XXI Ltd., SandRidge Energy Inc. and Goodrich Petroleum Corp. fail to reach agreements with creditors and shareholders. Those are three of at least eight oil and gas producers that have announced missed debt payments, triggering a countdown to default.
Butterfly Wings
I do hope that this blog manages to convince at least a few people that bombing the shit out of people is not the most cost effective (or effective) way of helping them.
It's the only hammer we have, apparently.
Onward to Davos.
It's the only hammer we have, apparently.
Onward to Davos.
Nukes
All the cool kids like to scoff at dirty hippies who point out that nuclear energy isn't all that safe, even leaving out the unsolved detail of what to do with the waste. We've had two major catastrophic nuclear power plant events in my lifetime. It isn't safe.
Five years after a powerful earthquake and tsunami struck, causing three reactors at Fukushima to melt down, that goal is the focus of a colossal effort at once precarious and routine. A veneer of stability at the plant masks a grueling, day-to-day battle to contain hazardous radiation, which involves a small army of workers, complex technical challenges and vexing safety trade-offs.
Fukushima has become a place where employees arrive on company shuttle buses and shop at their own on-site convenience store, but where they struggle to control radiation-contaminated water and must release it into the sea. Many of the most difficult and dangerous cleanup tasks still lie ahead, and crucial decisions remain unsettled.
Thursday, March 10, 2016
They Make Movies
You might remember Robert Greenwald from such films as Xanadu, Outfoxed, Xanadu, Uncovered, Xanadu, Iraq for Sale, and Xanadu, but he has a new movie.
Also, Xanadu.
Also, Xanadu.
No One Left To Bomb
I do think we've gone without a Hitler of the Week for awhile. I suppose we're just supplying the arms and letting other people do the bombing these days, but I guess that's minor progress.
I'd make some snarky remark about how it'd be nice if we helped people by, you know, helping them, but we can't even come up with a hundred million bucks to save kids from lead poisoning in Flint, so...
I'd make some snarky remark about how it'd be nice if we helped people by, you know, helping them, but we can't even come up with a hundred million bucks to save kids from lead poisoning in Flint, so...
When Did It Ravel
The guy has negative charisma, basically checked out of his Senate job, is known mostly for supporting citizen path legislation that the base hates, and never had any chance of winning this primary. This article is just "if only he'd been good he'd win as pundits said he would!".
I don't like the the theater criticism version of politics, but the entire candidacy of Marco Rubio was premised on the idea that he was a dreamboat. And, you know, he wasn't. He's repulsive.
I don't like the the theater criticism version of politics, but the entire candidacy of Marco Rubio was premised on the idea that he was a dreamboat. And, you know, he wasn't. He's repulsive.
Wednesday, March 09, 2016
Best Not To Have One
Both the Donald and Bernie get shit for supposedly not having appropriate "foreign policy teams." The Foreign Policy Community in DC is really where the Very Serious People live. They're the deep state, and if you say the wrong thing Fred Hiatt will let them plant an op-ed about how unserious you are. They're the nexus of the security state, the military industrial complex, and international oligarchs. Big War, Big Finance, Big Exploitation, Big Tax Avoidance, Big Assholes.
Not saying that one should be ignorant about foreign affairs, just that one should not take advice from the Very Serious People who for some reason are in charge of dispensing it. Not clear they know anything about anything anyway.
Not saying that one should be ignorant about foreign affairs, just that one should not take advice from the Very Serious People who for some reason are in charge of dispensing it. Not clear they know anything about anything anyway.
Sprung
My intertubes kept going out and it was a very nice day so I actually went outside for a bit.
I got nothin'.
I got nothin'.
Shit Is Fucked Up And Bullshit
The Kids Today just have it so good what with their skinny jeans and their ipods and their hippity hop.
A top official at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on Tuesday said student loan companies are at risk of breaking the law if they place people in default when the co-signer of their loan dies or declares bankruptcy, signaling that the bureau may start legal action.
These “auto defaults” leave borrowers with no choice but to repay the full balance or ruin their credit, making it difficult to purchase a home or car. The practice occurs in the private student loan market, where banks and other financial firms provide education financing with loan contracts that give them the right to trigger a default, even if the loan is being paid on time. Despite asking lenders to strip the clause from their contracts, bureau officials say many have not and are skirting the law by unfairly invoking the clause.
NADER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
One of the narratives being pushed for months is that Sanders voters won't vote for Clinton in the general election. Is this true? I have no idea. Is this true? Nobody has any idea. A few randos on the internet are not data. I thought the PUMAs were funny in 2008 but I didn't think they were actually a nationwide movement. But the broader point of this narrative is that Sanders voters are somehow illegitimate. They are not loyal Democrats. They don't matter.
The important thing is that the responsibility to win elections is on the candidate, not the voters. It's the candidate's job - with the help of hundreds of millions of campaign funds - to get them to the polls and to pull the lever for them. Making excuses for a loss many many months out is really weird. Blaming the voters - which Democrats love to do - is gross. Stop it. Also, too, midterm elections. Every time I say "this is an election about nothing" and then they blame the voters for not showing up. Show up for what?
The important thing is that the responsibility to win elections is on the candidate, not the voters. It's the candidate's job - with the help of hundreds of millions of campaign funds - to get them to the polls and to pull the lever for them. Making excuses for a loss many many months out is really weird. Blaming the voters - which Democrats love to do - is gross. Stop it. Also, too, midterm elections. Every time I say "this is an election about nothing" and then they blame the voters for not showing up. Show up for what?
Tuesday, March 08, 2016
Cleaning Up Messes
I know our bothsidesdoit national press corps will never stop pretending to not notice, but there is a pattern of Democrats having to clean up the messes that Republicans left behind.
It's dated now, but my favorite example for awhile was Christie Todd Whitman. She didn't destroy New Jersey, but she cut taxes and deferred pension payments. State pensions are something the press tends to notice when Democrats are in power, because Democrats, but it's often Republican governors who stiff the pension funds and then when Democrats come back into power suddenly it's a major crisis that needs to be addressed. Responsible Republican governance.
It's dated now, but my favorite example for awhile was Christie Todd Whitman. She didn't destroy New Jersey, but she cut taxes and deferred pension payments. State pensions are something the press tends to notice when Democrats are in power, because Democrats, but it's often Republican governors who stiff the pension funds and then when Democrats come back into power suddenly it's a major crisis that needs to be addressed. Responsible Republican governance.
It's Rubio's Moment
I guess there's some more voting and stuff today? Rubio will win by coming in 5th, as usual. His path to the nomination is secure. Like Karl Rove, I have The Math.
Elites
The only reason "elites" give a shit about Trump is that he doesn't kiss their asses. No lunch at the Applebee's salad bar for David Brooks and the Donald!
I'm not saying that's a reason to cheer him on, just that the rebellion by people who think they should and/or do run the country is hilarious.
I'm not saying that's a reason to cheer him on, just that the rebellion by people who think they should and/or do run the country is hilarious.
Elites
Good luck with that.
Hilarious.
Marco Rubio wins Florida. John Kasich wins Ohio. Ted Cruz notches victories in the Midwest and Mountain West. And the results in California and other states are jumbled enough to leave Trump three dozen delegates short of the 1,237 required — forcing a contested convention in Cleveland in July.
The slide show, shared with The Washington Post by two operatives advising one of a handful of anti-Trump super PACs, encapsulates the newly emboldened view of many GOP leaders and donors. They see a clearer path to stopping Trump since his two losses and two narrower-than-expected wins in Saturday’s contests.
Hilarious.
Monday, March 07, 2016
Pam Spaulding Needs Food, Badly
Pam of the late Pam's House Blend has been dealt the triple or quadruple whammy of shit (health problems, job loss due to health problems etc.) and because this is Amerka there's no easy way to climb back up out of that. Consider throwing a few dimes her way.
Progress
I suppose it's undeniable that whatever the reality, the new less criminal approach to drugs is due to the fact that it's increasingly seen as a white people problem. Still, it's progress.
I used to be more stupid about the criminalization of drug use for various reasons. The War On Some People Who Use Some Drugs has been a complete horror show, screwing things up both here and abroad. Just end it. Decriminalize everything. The consequences can't be worse than the current state of affairs.
I used to be more stupid about the criminalization of drug use for various reasons. The War On Some People Who Use Some Drugs has been a complete horror show, screwing things up both here and abroad. Just end it. Decriminalize everything. The consequences can't be worse than the current state of affairs.
Flint
For many years some idiot with a sucky blue blog kept suggesting that contrary to popular delusion, there were many "shovel ready projects." Specifically, you could dig up just about every street in the nation and replace the pipes and it would be a worthwhile project.
In the specific context of the stimulus, there was reason to be focused on "shovel ready projects," but I don't think the people who were focused on them knew what they were doing. This was an obvious one.
In the specific context of the stimulus, there was reason to be focused on "shovel ready projects," but I don't think the people who were focused on them knew what they were doing. This was an obvious one.
Sunday, March 06, 2016
The Great Grift
Just give us lots of money, Marco. You'll be preznit. We promise. No it doesn't require any work or an actual campaign apparatus. Just give us money.
As I've said, there is more information than polling that SAVVY political analysts might be able to use. The fact that Rubio didn't actually run a campaign should have been a clue.
“They have no infrastructure,” said Scott Reed, who is unaffiliated with any campaign but serves as the chief political strategist for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “His campaign hasn’t been able to keep up with his candidacy. . . . They don’t have the operation in the states to help him get over the top. He should be a finalist going all the way to California, and he’s not.”
As I've said, there is more information than polling that SAVVY political analysts might be able to use. The fact that Rubio didn't actually run a campaign should have been a clue.
Lazy, Sunny, Sunday Afternoon
I did all my "must do" chores and about 80% of the others. That's enough.
Saturday, March 05, 2016
Manufacturing Reality
As I've written before, the obvious even seemingly coordinated attempts to create frontrunners of the week in the Republican primary by the press have been hilarious. It was a real thing in 2012. Practically every candidate did have a moment when polls legitimately showed them surging or even being the temporary frontrunner. This time the press just made it up. Jeb was the presumptive favorite, Rubio the favored notJeb, and then everyone else would SURGE by hitting 6% in the polls or whatever. It's Fiorina's week! Kasichmentum! Christie's coming to town! Watch out for Gilmore! (okay at least that last one didn't actually happen, or at least I didn't notice if it did). The point is that these narratives were usually entirely unsupported by any polling. I'll concede that polling isn't everything, but it's almost all of the useful information we have about this stuff. To just throw it out the window is to write politics fanfiction. Which I guess is what they're paid to do.
The Grifters Win No Matter What
There really is a place for a tl;dr piece about how Republican campaign consultants just don't give a shit about winning. In fact, if they lose every 4 years they can get 17 more people to climb into the clown car every time. I think Dem consultants are guilty of this to some extent, too, but it's transparently ridiculous on the R side.
They Lab Rats Don't Just Die
I knew some neuroscientists who worked with rats. They, you know, sliced and diced them.
Morning Thread
Echidne has some fun explaining the last Republican debate to an alien. Vertical tubes, oh my!
Friday, March 04, 2016
Nobody Gives A Shit Who You're Voting For
2000 wasn't pre-internet, but it was proto-internet, and one genre it gave birth to was the long essay about WHY I AM VOTING FOR X (usually Nader). These weren't persuasion pieces, these were ME pieces. I question the effectiveness of most persuasion pieces at this point, but they're still a different genre. The ME pieces are just navel-gazers. Nobody cares. They're boring. Vote for who you want.
You Fucked Up - You Trusted Us!
Years ago I had an opportunity to speak at a retirement income conference. The title of the panel was something like "Beyond Social Security." My role was to say Beyond Social Security - MOOOOOOOAAARRRR SOCIAL SECURITY. Anyway, everyone involved - even the conservative guy (it's Washington, you always have to have a conservative guy)- admitted that nobody had any money to retire on and this was a big problem. But I was the crazy guy advocating for the most insane solution, while everyone else was suggesting various nibbling around the edges strategies. State savings plans! More tax benefits for savings! Essentially, just trying to modify the 401(k) slightly in hopes that it would work for The Kids Today.
But nothing's going to help current and near-retirees other than increasing Social Security benefits. Amazingly old people vote, and perhaps if there was a political party willing to (justifiably!) pander to their needs they might get some of those votes.
Years ago the fact that old people vote made me more sanguine about the prospects for Social Security and Medicare. And, yes, we have managed, so far, to not destroy them. But there is a retirement crisis which is only going to get worse. The 401(k) experiment failed. We have to do something for the people who were failed by it, unless you delight in seeing homeless 70somethings, coming to a suburban neighborhood near you.
But nothing's going to help current and near-retirees other than increasing Social Security benefits. Amazingly old people vote, and perhaps if there was a political party willing to (justifiably!) pander to their needs they might get some of those votes.
Years ago the fact that old people vote made me more sanguine about the prospects for Social Security and Medicare. And, yes, we have managed, so far, to not destroy them. But there is a retirement crisis which is only going to get worse. The 401(k) experiment failed. We have to do something for the people who were failed by it, unless you delight in seeing homeless 70somethings, coming to a suburban neighborhood near you.
Bubblelicious
It's true that Europeans generally know a hell of a lot more about our politics than we know about theirs, but the idea that anyone in Europe should have heard of Marco Rubio before he ran for president is absurd.
Jobs
+242K, unemployment at 4.9%.
Good news, but all the babble about jayyyab creeaturz doesn't matter as long as the Fed is going to take away the punchbowl every time jobs are actually created.
Good news, but all the babble about jayyyab creeaturz doesn't matter as long as the Fed is going to take away the punchbowl every time jobs are actually created.
Thursday, March 03, 2016
Clown Car Chronicles
Mittens didn't run because he was scared of Jeb, and now he's saying mean things about Trump who he courted for an endorsement in 2012.
I don't think any of these people are very smart.
I don't think any of these people are very smart.
How Did That Happen
The great mystery to me of this election cycle was how "everyone" - meaning many "serious" conservatives AND liberals - thought Rubio was the one Democrats should fear. I remember this guy. His name used to be Rick Lazio.
Wednesday, March 02, 2016
Trump's Poodle
The entertaining thing last night was watching Chris Christie standing behind his new boss looking like he'd just eaten a shit sandwich.
Why Don't You Put Me On TV Instead Of Putting Me In Jail?
Good plan.
The other perps took the plea deal and got... community service. No PSAs as far as I know.
Judge Roxanne Covington will hear a resentencing motion next week for Kathryn Knott, the Bucks County woman convicted of simple assault and related charges in the 2014 beating of a gay couple in Center City.
...
"She's learned that words and actions have a much more far-reaching impact and effect than she ever thought possible," Brennan said. "She learned that your life can change on a dime. I think, rather than warehouse her in jail for a few months and that be the end of it, perhaps some community service or a public service announcement might be more proactive and productive in addressing the larger issues that this case dealt with."
The other perps took the plea deal and got... community service. No PSAs as far as I know.
Klantics
There's a longer version of this post in my brain but it's not coming out right, so I'll just remind people that through its history the Klan wasn't just an anti-African-American terrorist organization, it was an anti-Semitic one as well.
I Was Right All Along
Maybe I'll write my epic 2016 Democratic primary post and schedule it for the day after election day and see how it holds up.
Morning Thread
I wonder if there will be any discussion of the Super Tuesday results? Nah, not really.
Tuesday, March 01, 2016
Clowns to the Left of Me, Jokers to the Right
The fate of our country is a bit more important than my feefees and eyeroll count, but I will certainly be glad when primary season is over. I just see so many people making transparently ridiculous and often contradictory arguments for their one true candidate. I'm all for hacks doing what they can do get their candidate elected, but arguing with randos on the internet about it is just about Being Right, not about actually electing your candidate. Go phone bank, knock on some doors. Anything else.
I Didn't Do It
Morning Joseph wasn't covering Trump, he was promoting him.
Now he wants to pretend otherwise.
Obviously, for the sake of journalistic integrity, MSNBC should give him 10 more hours on the air per day.
Now he wants to pretend otherwise.
Obviously, for the sake of journalistic integrity, MSNBC should give him 10 more hours on the air per day.
Bye Asshole
I've seen too many cases (not all this bad) of complete assholes who know nothing about higher ed being brought in to shake things up and they proceed to try to destroy the places.
Newman came to the Maryland campus in 2015 with plans for sweeping changes, such as boosting enrollment, shoring up the university’s finances and raising its national profile. His blunt business manner — he had been in the financial industry for his entire career — was welcome to some and jarring to others. Several people were abruptly fired and escorted off campus, and retiree benefits were cut in the fall. But the real turmoil began this year after the student newspaper, the Mountain Echo, reported that Newman had planned to cull struggling freshmen early in the semester, before a federal reporting deadline, to improve the university’s retention rate.
No students left the school as a result of the survey, but Newman’s remarks after some faculty members expressed concerns about the plan shocked many; he said a professor was thinking of the students as cuddly bunnies but that they had to drown the bunnies, “put a Glock to their heads.”
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