Sunday, March 31, 2019
Spring Fundraising Funstravaganza Week Day 6!
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This Is Trump's Team of Advisers
This is an actual banner from "Fox & Friends Weekend." 6:03am today. I double checked because I didn't believe it at first. Hat tip @BadFoxGraphics pic.twitter.com/tTNH0Y7a25
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) March 31, 2019
Saturday, March 30, 2019
There's Cheating And Then There's Cheating
I don't really understand the culture of golf, but there's cheating and then there's Trump.
Spring Fundraisng Funstravaganza!
I almost forgot. You're supposed to give me all your money. The guy who saved Social Security? That was me.
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Probably not really but David Dayen said so and he is the smartest person on this very online hellscape so who am I to argue.
Support this site!
Probably not really but David Dayen said so and he is the smartest person on this very online hellscape so who am I to argue.
This Only Goes One Way
UK politics has become a fun house mirror version of our own. The latest is that a prominent Tory was voted down by his local committee - the equivalent of losing a primary - and all the Labour members are publicly weeping about it. They won't weep for you, idiots.
Friday, March 29, 2019
You Have Tea And No Tea
I am mad no one ever gets this reference.
Theresa May’s Brexit deal (withdraws agreement) has just been defeated… again… loses 286-344
— Hadas Gold (@Hadas_Gold) March 29, 2019
Spring Fundraising Funstravaganza Day the..um. 4th!
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Think You Missed The Point Of Your Own Argument, My Dude
Second, even draconian tax hikes will not impact ability of wealthy to be influential politically. If you took away half wealth of billionaire, would still be able to invest $50M a cycle in political activity w/o dipping into capital. 4/5
— Lawrence H. Summers (@LHSummers) March 28, 2019
Morning Thread
We're re-watching Game of Thrones in preparation for the new season. Best bit, so far, watching King Joffrey (the little shit) get poisoned.
Thursday, March 28, 2019
Thursday Night
I woke up being barely able to walk for some reason. Getting old is not good. (I am fine this will pass but WTF).
Dumbasses
If you are an elite person who travels in elite circles you believe that while your peers aren't all geniuses, they must be the most genius of people.
But this is not true. Going to school near Boston does not guarantee you are a brain genius.
But this is not true. Going to school near Boston does not guarantee you are a brain genius.
Trump Is My President
This is the worst timeline.
But, really, it wasn't dumb poors that voted for him, it was guys who own car dealerships. We gotta reckon with the fact that our meritocracy promotes con artists.
But, really, it wasn't dumb poors that voted for him, it was guys who own car dealerships. We gotta reckon with the fact that our meritocracy promotes con artists.
I Wonk So Hard
If you want to give people nice things, you shouldn't obsess about how much it costs. The Americans Wonk Class is bad. Also they are dumb.
Walkies
At a mobility event today I met an auto industry rep who told me "to enable AV's we need a period of increased urban law enforcement so pedestrians know what they can't do. Then they'll change behavior."
— David Zipper (@DavidZipper) March 28, 2019
I was so stunned I could barely respond "I think that's a horrific idea."
It is this type of thing which makes me obsess about this issue. And I have a couple insider sources (ooooh I am a real journalist) who confirm these concerns. The self-driving car people see pedestrians as a problem. I don't really understand how you can think urban taxis are your business model and also think walking is the enemy. Cities are made of pedestrians. Well, cities other than Phoenix, anyway. I pay a dumb mortgage so I can walk to a concert, like I did last night.
Thursday, Thursday
Lacking internet for a day has made me very confused. It's March, also, too? What the hell.
Wednesday, March 27, 2019
The Way Forward Is Clear Then
Every motion loses
— Alex Wickham (@alexwickham) March 27, 2019
No deal loses 160-400
Common Market 2.0 loses 188-283
Efta/EEA loses 65-377
Customs union loses 264-272
Labour alt plan loses 237-307
Revoke A50 loses 184-293
2nd referendum loses 268-295
Managed no deal loses 139-422
Area Man Needs Food, Badly
Day 2!
Give me all your money unless you need it for something more important.
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Tuesday, March 26, 2019
On Screen
This is random thought blogging because I have a blog so I can do that...
I am just old enough that the early generation of screen stars was still alive, mostly. They became bit players on bad tv shows, like the Love Boat, and occasionally the reinvented themselves for new more respectable old people careers. Largely what I remember is that they were the object of jokes. Especially the women. You know, Elizabeth Taylor got fat!!!! was a joke comedians dined on as I had no idea who Taylor was.
We have not entered some new woke Nirvana, but that "actors get old like the rest of us" is more widely understood is probably a thing, even if it's mostly because the biggest generation is old people.
I am just old enough that the early generation of screen stars was still alive, mostly. They became bit players on bad tv shows, like the Love Boat, and occasionally the reinvented themselves for new more respectable old people careers. Largely what I remember is that they were the object of jokes. Especially the women. You know, Elizabeth Taylor got fat!!!! was a joke comedians dined on as I had no idea who Taylor was.
We have not entered some new woke Nirvana, but that "actors get old like the rest of us" is more widely understood is probably a thing, even if it's mostly because the biggest generation is old people.
Spring Fundraising FUNSTRAVAGANZA
Fortunately I don't currently need a new kidney, so this is not a charity ask. This is, as always, your NPR subscription money ask. Less David Brooks, more making fun of David Brooks!
Give me all your money unless you need it for something more important.
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Brexit Sympathies
Most of The Discourse in the US about the heartland versus the coasts is dumb, in part because it's coastal elitists who are running this conversation and, proving their own point, not actually including the voices of the forgotten heartland, except the ones which cater to their prejudices. While the discourse is mostly dumb, the issue is less dumb. It shouldn't be about old white guys in diners who aren't comfortable with all the wimmen and gayz and coloreds, it should be about the fact that the local airport can't take you anywhere anymore, and if it does it'll cost you an absurd amount of money. For example.
On a related note, public transit in London is mostly awesome if it is under the thumb of TFL. If it isn't, it's often a disaster. In the rest of the country, public transit is mostly a disaster because none of it is under the thumb of TFL. Privatization for thee, not for me. The rest of the country has reason to be mad and while Brexit is not the answer, it was the answer some savvy people gave to them.
Lessons for our own country are, also, too, obvious.
On a related note, public transit in London is mostly awesome if it is under the thumb of TFL. If it isn't, it's often a disaster. In the rest of the country, public transit is mostly a disaster because none of it is under the thumb of TFL. Privatization for thee, not for me. The rest of the country has reason to be mad and while Brexit is not the answer, it was the answer some savvy people gave to them.
Lessons for our own country are, also, too, obvious.
The Story
I have no idea what it is but... wow.
Charges against Jussie Smollett have been dropped by the state and his record has been wiped clean. pic.twitter.com/lHpLvBGc3S
— 𝕊𝕥𝕖𝕡𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕚𝕖 𝕎𝕒𝕤𝕙 (@WashNews) March 26, 2019
America's Worst Newspaper
The New York Times.
The linked issue is more important, but while we love to joke about little "mistakes" like sending a stringer NINETY MILES AWAY to darkestPeru Philadelphia where said stringer discovers a hitherto unknown "Little Italy" section of the city because a chain restaurant has "Little Italy" in its name, these errors show a newspaper that considers using the fucking google to be beneath them.
Rocky running through an area not called Little Italy which is nowhere near "Maggiano's Little Italy."
The linked issue is more important, but while we love to joke about little "mistakes" like sending a stringer NINETY MILES AWAY to darkest
Rocky running through an area not called Little Italy which is nowhere near "Maggiano's Little Italy."
SPRING FUNDRAISING FUNSTRAVAGANZA DAY 1
Even real websites have figured out that google takes all the money now so it is down to you, dear readers, to make this all possible. The various subscription tiers allow you free access to all the wonders of this mighty blog.
Give me all your money unless you need it for something more important.
Give me all your money unless you need it for something more important.
Monday, March 25, 2019
Monday Crass Commercialism
A friend wrote a book. You should probably pre-order it. Women fighting Nazis.
D-Day Girls: The Spies Who Armed the Resistance, Sabotaged the Nazis, and Helped Win World War II
D-Day Girls: The Spies Who Armed the Resistance, Sabotaged the Nazis, and Helped Win World War II
Even JK Wasn't That Dumb
2. The 'Grand Wizards' (the new name for the Chequer's daytrippers apparently) also had another meeting this morning, were they discussed again whether they could get on board to back PM's deal and there was no firm conclusion
— Laura Kuenssberg (@bbclaurak) March 25, 2019
Takes of Fire
— Jukt Microdicks (@Mobute) March 25, 2019
Along with eSports, I never quite understood the Avenatti as Resistance Hero bubble.
Balls and Strikes
A problem with wanting to empower certain institutions and individuals as being above the fray objective referees is that there are no take backsies. Can't grant them that position and then complain about the result after the fact.
Insulin
It's cheap to make and some people will die within a week without it. I don't know the full story of how the drug companies are getting away with charging absurd amounts of money for this, but if I were a crusading member of Congress on a relevant committee I'd be hauling in every involved exec to testify every day until they lowered the price down to cost.
It isn't some fancy new miracle drug technology. It's old and the production process is cheap and if you are concerned with people with diabetes instead of the feefees of "stakeholders" (rich evil dudes), you will do this.
It isn't some fancy new miracle drug technology. It's old and the production process is cheap and if you are concerned with people with diabetes instead of the feefees of "stakeholders" (rich evil dudes), you will do this.
eSports
Creeping oldmanism means there are more and more things you just find it hard to understand. I try to stop short of complaining. I don't really care that the kids are doing freaky weird shit on my lawn. I'm just not sure why they are.
Architecture firm Populous designed the 60,000-square-foot venue, which will be home to the Philadelphia Fusion, an esports team owned by Comcast Spectacor that competes in the Overwatch League. The league wants its teams to play in their home markets next year. The Fusion are looking at playing at other venues in Philadelphia while the new esports venue is being built.
Up To The Dems
As I said, Republican Daddies aren't going to save us. If Dems think Trump has done impeachable things, or things worthy of impeachment hearings, they should do it. Otherwise they can subpoena people about all of the other crimes.
A few months ago they didn't have any power and trying to cajole the GOP Daddies and Impartial Referees (unicorns both) to Do The Right Thing was all they could do. Now they have power. Use it.
A few months ago they didn't have any power and trying to cajole the GOP Daddies and Impartial Referees (unicorns both) to Do The Right Thing was all they could do. Now they have power. Use it.
Sunday, March 24, 2019
What Would Make You Vote For A Republican?
I brought this up previously in this context of Roy Moore, who actually lost! My mostly serious point was that if you're a Republican it of course makes sense for you to vote for Roy Moore. Roy Moore is a bad guy and we don't want to reward/promote bad guys, but individual senators mostly don't have all that much power and if you really think the Senate should be run by Republicans, then voting for the guy who is going to put Mitch in charge of things makes a lot of sense.
Governors and presidents are a bit different. They do have a lot of individual power and more ways to implement idiosyncratic policies that don't precisely align them with the prevailing party ethos. Voting for a truly awful person, even one that shares your party affiliation, is likely to have awful consequences. But, also, too voting for a Republican, especially given the current crop of Republicans, is likely to have awful consequences!
So just how bad would a Democrat have to be for you to vote for the Republican for governor? For president?
We mock the "27%ers" but can we really blame them? Sure we can blame them for being Republicans, but over and above that?
Governors and presidents are a bit different. They do have a lot of individual power and more ways to implement idiosyncratic policies that don't precisely align them with the prevailing party ethos. Voting for a truly awful person, even one that shares your party affiliation, is likely to have awful consequences. But, also, too voting for a Republican, especially given the current crop of Republicans, is likely to have awful consequences!
So just how bad would a Democrat have to be for you to vote for the Republican for governor? For president?
We mock the "27%ers" but can we really blame them? Sure we can blame them for being Republicans, but over and above that?
The Dream Deferred
Oh well.
I still think there's a nontrivial chance this never opens. Probably will! But...
In a picture posted Monday, the caption says “Follow us for exclusive updates on all things American Dream. Coming Fall 2019!”
In other posts that include pictures from inside the 3 million square foot complex, three different Instagram users asked when it will open, and the response from the American Dream Instagram account was “fall 2019.”
American Dream’s newly-hired Public Relations Director, Dana McHugh, declined to comment on whether the Instagram account is official. An email address and phone number associated with the account match those of a former public relations agent working on behalf of the development. When asked about the contact information, McHugh said that agent is no longer with the company.
I still think there's a nontrivial chance this never opens. Probably will! But...
Sure, Jan
Are flying cars ready for takeoff? New Morgan Stanley Research estimates a $1.5 trillion market by 2040.
— Morgan Stanley (@MorganStanley) February 20, 2019
And when there's too much congestion in the air we can run our flying cars through a tunnel.
Majority Majority
Roughly speaking there's no majority in Parliament for any Brexit deal that the EU would take that can also have the support of a majority of Tories (and/or the support of May). In other words you could get support for a "soft Brexit" with some combination of Labour/Tory votes, but that isn't going to be on the table because it lacks support from the majority of the majority.
And it's March 25 and all of this was going to have been sorted by last October.
And it's March 25 and all of this was going to have been sorted by last October.
Saturday, March 23, 2019
Saturday Almost Lunch
Quality of life here in the urban hellhole is largely determined by the sets of things that are within 5, 10, 15, and 20 minute walks. Some things don't need to be that close, and some things are much more useful if they are. The new 5 minute walk supermarket is +1.
Republican Daddies And The Impartial Referees Won't Save Us
When the Dems are powerless I get throwing their hopes at such people "doing the right thing" (oh whatever happened to that Lindsey Graham???), but now they have power. Not limitless power. But they have the power to issue subpoenas and get tax returns. "The Mueller report is coming!!!" has been their excuse and for awhile "but we need to see what's in the Mueller report!!!" will be their excuse and then they will be out of excuses because they are the only ones who might possibly do the right thing.
Theresa May's Not Going To Remove Herself
Certainly no sympathy for the World's Worst Prime Minister, but imagining the sight of a bunch of idiot manboys (I mean just look at the picture) asking her to resign gets me close.
The idiot manboys have power too, and none of them have demonstrated that they're any more competent than May. If they want her out they can have a vote.
The idiot manboys have power too, and none of them have demonstrated that they're any more competent than May. If they want her out they can have a vote.
Morning Thread
From what I can see, lots of chatter, but no substance on the Mueller Report. Which leaves us in the same holding pattern.
Friday, March 22, 2019
The End Of The Trump Presidency
I guess the Dems can stop saying they're waiting for the Mueller report.
Foxy
There's certainly no reason to go on Fox News unless you're going to treat it as hostile, but I agree people who want to be on the side of good should not be granting any legitimacy to it at all.
There was no golden age when Fox was good, or even much better than now, but the explicit support of white nationalism at a time when we have an explicitly white nationalist president and an administration populated with them, makes it not just bad but dangerous. Very dangerous.
It’s not interested in legitimate journalism as much as it’s interested in promulgating right-wing nationalism, and this raison d’etre means that attempts to puncture the bubble are self-defeating. The narrow goal of a liberal, or a credible reporter, who appears on the network may be to present an alternative, factual viewpoint, but within the Fox ecosystem they can only function as foils, cast to lend the network credibility it doesn’t deserve. Journalists who try to break through walls of the Fox News echo chamber can only end up reinforcing them.
There was no golden age when Fox was good, or even much better than now, but the explicit support of white nationalism at a time when we have an explicitly white nationalist president and an administration populated with them, makes it not just bad but dangerous. Very dangerous.
DOT People Who Know What They're Talking About
Actually that's giving them more credit than necessary. They just have eyes.
Tesla fans are super brain geniuses compared to the Boring/Loop fans, but there have been numerous press reports about Musk's Journey To The Center of the Earth which have skipped over this simple fact (most, in fact, I had to research a lot to make sure it was true): Musk's super exciting Boring company, thus far, has done nothing but dig a tunnel with an off the shelf used tunneling machine from China. So many press reports made it sound as if it was some sort of exciting new invention. No. It's a machine they bought.
“It’s a car in a very small tunnel,” Michael McLaughlin, Virginia’s chief of rail transportation, told members of the Commonwealth Transportation Board’s public transit subcommittee on Wednesday.
...
The officials from Virginia who met with company leaders and took a drive through the tunnel in January say nothing they saw would lead them to change their approach to transit in the near term.
“I think there’s a lot of show going on here,” said Scott Kasprowicz, a Commonwealth Transportation Board member who made the trip with McLaughlin and public transit chief Jennifer Mitchell.
“I don’t mean to suggest that they don’t have a serious plan in mind, but I don’t consider the steps they’ve taken to date to be substantive. They’ve purchased a used boring machine. They’ve put a bore in the neighborhood where they developed the SpaceX product, and they’ve taken a Model 3 and put guidewheels on it and they’re running it through the tunnel at 60 miles per hour.
Tesla fans are super brain geniuses compared to the Boring/Loop fans, but there have been numerous press reports about Musk's Journey To The Center of the Earth which have skipped over this simple fact (most, in fact, I had to research a lot to make sure it was true): Musk's super exciting Boring company, thus far, has done nothing but dig a tunnel with an off the shelf used tunneling machine from China. So many press reports made it sound as if it was some sort of exciting new invention. No. It's a machine they bought.
No You're Stupid
I alternate between being glad other countries are as dumb as ours or being horrified. Either way, recent years have shown that elites in the UK - and the Tories especially - are so so stupid. And in the UK the Tories are supposed to be the smart ones, because they've all been to Eton and Oxbridge, while at least a few members of Labour are graduates of lowly places like Durham.
Where Do They Go From Here
I've never really known what the major players in Brexit want. What would they decide, if any of them were actually the decider? What does May want? What do the supposed hardcore Brexiteers want? What do the Labour MPs (or TIG) whose position on the whole thing seems depend on how they can be the most mad at Corbyn on that particular day want?
Presumably May's deal will go down in flames for the 3rd time and then April 12 will be the new crash out date...unless? I have no idea.
Presumably May's deal will go down in flames for the 3rd time and then April 12 will be the new crash out date...unless? I have no idea.
Running A Message Board Is Hard
No this is not a criticism of you, dear readers, but it is actually true, and it's hard in ways that people who have never done it do not understand but since the dawn of online communications it is something that people rediscover over and over again.
Someone, though I forget who, on the twitter box made this point recently, that after pretending for a decade that it wasn't a message board, Facebook is finally realizing that it is one and it comes with all of the troubles that running a message board comes with that some of us have understood forever. Twitter, too, though not in precisely the same way.
That's separate from facebook's "hand over all your data and private messages to anyone who waves a fiver under Zuck's nose" issues, but it is one of their issues.
Someone, though I forget who, on the twitter box made this point recently, that after pretending for a decade that it wasn't a message board, Facebook is finally realizing that it is one and it comes with all of the troubles that running a message board comes with that some of us have understood forever. Twitter, too, though not in precisely the same way.
That's separate from facebook's "hand over all your data and private messages to anyone who waves a fiver under Zuck's nose" issues, but it is one of their issues.
Morons and Cowards
Indeed.
The first lesson is the importance and rarity of sound, realistic judgment on foreign policy — above all in the use of military force. Washington Post columnist Max Boot is right that a big majority of the political class and population at large supported the Iraq War, but the implication is the opposite of what he claims. Far from being a difficult decision that was understandable at the time, this support betrays only that the American political class is suffused with morons and cowards.
LEAVE JOHN MCCAIN ALOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONE
In about 5 years John McCain's name recognition will be down to Jake Tapper and the visitors to his John McCain shrine.
Exaggeration, of course, but nobody but reporters (very objective ones) thinks what Donald Trump says about John McCain matters to anyone.
Exaggeration, of course, but nobody but reporters (very objective ones) thinks what Donald Trump says about John McCain matters to anyone.
Thursday, March 21, 2019
And Then?
France and Belgium want a May 9 Brexit deadline.
Any later and the UK has to have EU elections.
Of course no one has any idea what exactly is supposed to happen between now and May 9. They're going to kick the can BUT WILL THE CAN KICK BACK???
Any later and the UK has to have EU elections.
Of course no one has any idea what exactly is supposed to happen between now and May 9. They're going to kick the can BUT WILL THE CAN KICK BACK???
Fortunately They Don't Need Unanimity
Oh wait they do.
I’m told by an EU official that there’s a proper battle royal under way among the EU27 over extension end date, it’s “lively in the room”. Some UK allies (Denmark) want it pushed back to June 30, others (France) want it earlier than May 22 #EUCO
— Tom Newton Dunn (@tnewtondunn) March 21, 2019
Take Power And Then...
If you don't use it, you'll lose it, as we see over and over again.
Democrats always think the opposite, that the danger is in using power. They're wrong. Or, at least, you've done something while you could.
Well we'll just ride this one out until the next election. And then the next one. And then the next one.
There are babies in cages.
An odd disconnect has opened up in the Democratic approach to President Trump. On the one hand, Democrats rhetorically treat his presidency as a rolling national emergency, as an existential threat to our democracy.
Yet on the other hand, in several crucial ways, Democrats are badly muddling that message, by refraining from doing what might be described as the congressional oversight equivalent of breaking the emergency glass.
Democrats always think the opposite, that the danger is in using power. They're wrong. Or, at least, you've done something while you could.
Well we'll just ride this one out until the next election. And then the next one. And then the next one.
There are babies in cages.
Who Indeed
There will possibly come a moment when the Trump scandals boil over and become so immense and unignorable that our great purveyors of conventional wisdom will decide, as they always do, that it's just time for the country to move on and heal. For the good of the people and democracy or some shit. Bygones.
So who paid Trump Victory for their photos?
Yang isn’t saying — but she and three associates with an Asian-American political group donated a total of $135,500 to Trump Victory in the weeks leading up to the event. None of those associates would comment either. One of them told the Miami Herald she could not recall making a $25,000 donation listed in her name and address.
Corbyn Derangement Syndrom
Much of the politics in Britain these days isn't even about Brexit. It's about how most of the elite political class (Tories, most of the press, and the Blairites in Labour) hate Jeremy Corbyn. The guy isn't beyond criticism and certainly if you don't agree with his politics you aren't going to like him. Brits have a slightly more open if still complicated and confused version of our own "what does it mean to be a journalist instead of an advocate" question. But it really is at the point where if Corbyn wears a hat one day they decide that's evidence he's unfit, and if he doesn't wear a hat one day they decide that's evidence he's unfit.
In terms of Brexit, what the political press wanted (including the ones who are paid to be racist liars for right wing publications, mostly) was an Oxford debate between the anti-Brexit forces and the pro-Brexit forces, with the former led by a Labour leader who wanted nothing more than to dissolve his own party and form a new third party containing anti-Brexit Tory and Labour members, which would otherwise be basically a Tory party. The anti-Brexit forces would defeat the other side with Facts and Logic, Ben Shapiro-style, and somehow Brexit would be over. It's their version of the third party fantasies our press has here. Maybe Howard Schultz is a UK citizen?
In terms of Brexit, what the political press wanted (including the ones who are paid to be racist liars for right wing publications, mostly) was an Oxford debate between the anti-Brexit forces and the pro-Brexit forces, with the former led by a Labour leader who wanted nothing more than to dissolve his own party and form a new third party containing anti-Brexit Tory and Labour members, which would otherwise be basically a Tory party. The anti-Brexit forces would defeat the other side with Facts and Logic, Ben Shapiro-style, and somehow Brexit would be over. It's their version of the third party fantasies our press has here. Maybe Howard Schultz is a UK citizen?
"Streamlined"
Someone needs to talk to the California Department of Labor.
Good thing the employees aren't [record scratch] taking lunch breaks.
While declining to elaborate on how many people were working underneath the tent or who from the Tesla accompanied the tour, Ives said his group viewed a "robust" and "streamlined" production process.
"In terms of the tent, this is not a situation where you have workers taking lunch breaks and relaxing," Ives said. "You sense at Fremont this is a company that has pressure on the manufacturing process, just given underlying demand they're seeing in Europe and China."
Good thing the employees aren't [record scratch] taking lunch breaks.
In California, an employer may not employ an employee for a work period of more than five hours per day without providing the employee with a meal period of not less than thirty minutes, except that if the total work period per day of the employee is no more than six hours, the meal period may be waived by mutual consent of both the employer and employee
And That's Why Ari Fleischer Is My New Bipartisan Secretary of Defense
Fuck off, Joe.
Biden’s supporters say his national security credentials will be a major net plus — especially in a field dominated by candidates more versed in the Green New Deal than the Iran nuclear deal https://t.co/d5qflGqC0H
— POLITICO (@politico) March 20, 2019
Wednesday, March 20, 2019
Hostile Environment
Poor May.
Trump says that he gave John McCain the kind of funeral that he wanted....and didn't get a thank you for it.
— Katherine Faulders (@KFaulders) March 20, 2019
Brain Worms
I think it's hilariously sad that the one thing that makes reporters upset about Trump is that he says mean things about John McCain, but recently Trump has been talking about McCain as if he...isn't dead? Even when he's talking about his funeral!
Trump says that he gave John McCain the kind of funeral that he wanted....and didn't get a thank you for it.
— Katherine Faulders (@KFaulders) March 20, 2019
Deeply Held Religious Beliefs
It's a bit - but not entirely - a relic of the past, but bigotry aside, it's quite amazing how much any con artist with a cross was treated as some sort of reverential figure in our political press for decades. And while it is somewhat a relic of the past, it'll return just as strongly as soon as President Pence puts on the blessed tiara of power, because there's nothing the Sabbath Gasbags love talking about more than Jesus and politics.
Deal Or No Deal Or No Brexit
9 days to go and we're at the same place we've been all along.
The press is mostly pushing this as "deal or no deal" but I think rescinding Article 50 (bye bye Brexit) is also still a possibility (whether likely or not).
And I still haven't figured out how Parliament actually can vote again on the deal given that the Speaker said they can't (which they can override... but it's another step...)
In the light of his consultations, he says a short, extension will be possible.
But it will be conditional on a positive vote on the withdrawal agreement in the Commons.
The press is mostly pushing this as "deal or no deal" but I think rescinding Article 50 (bye bye Brexit) is also still a possibility (whether likely or not).
And I still haven't figured out how Parliament actually can vote again on the deal given that the Speaker said they can't (which they can override... but it's another step...)
Whatever Happens, It Was May's Cunning Plan All Along
Pretty sure this will be the spin of a nontrivial portion of the UK press.
Brexitpalooza
From what I can tell from skimming the news... May wants to delay until June 30. The EU is saying "suck it, no" you only get until May 23. Macron is making noises about no delay without some more meaningful purpose behind it. May either will or won't resign if she does not get her way on some unspecified thing.
Tuesday, March 19, 2019
Stand Down
I've been on the fringes long enough to know that Democrats hate activists they don't think they can control, and would generally have them not exist (as an organized force).
There isn't one single reason for this. There are understandable reasons, misguided reasons, and corrupt ones. But they tend not to want "your" help except fundraising and between Labor Day and Election Day every 2 years.
But it also left resistance to Trump with a clear leader and focal point, and House Democrats do not appear to be particularly interested in grassroots resistance work. They didn’t try to tap energy in the streets around the state of emergency or their own flagship political reform bill. And after vowing on the campaign trail to directly confront Trump’s corruption, in office they’ve proven surprisingly lackadaisical about going after his taxes and have apparently decided it would be inappropriate to go after Trump’s family even though the family angle is central to the nexus of corruption.
It’s not entirely clear why this demobilization is happening — grassroots leaders I’ve spoken to suggest it’s more a diminished sense of threat plus a lack of strategic focus from party leaders rather than a deliberate strategy — but it’s hurting Democrats in tangible ways.
Demobilization is a dangerous trend
One veteran operative who’s deeply involved in party-aligned work on corruption issues tells me he thinks congressional leaders have deliberately demobilized the resistance because they’re so afraid of the impeachment issue. Other Pelosi critics I’ve spoken to on the Hill paint a picture that’s more sins of omission — the top ranks of Democratic leadership are in a weakened state and simply not doing much of anything (Pelosi just hired a new chief of staff in perhaps a sign that she felt things were not going well) on a strategic level.
There isn't one single reason for this. There are understandable reasons, misguided reasons, and corrupt ones. But they tend not to want "your" help except fundraising and between Labor Day and Election Day every 2 years.
Sure, Elon
I mostly don't care about Tesla but I'm fascinated with how much bullshit this company spews. And it's one thing to be a bit full of shit about your new hand blender or some other low cost practically disposable consumer item, and another thing to be constantly full of shit about a nontrivial budget item like a high end automobile.
If your ordering system can't handle what would be, maximum, THOUSANDS OF ORDERS, I'm not too sure about that whole self-driving car thing you keep talking about.
Due to unusually high volume, Tesla was unable to process all orders by midnight on Monday, so the slight price rise on vehicles is postponed to midnight Wednesdayhttps://t.co/peahQBSRtd
— Tesla (@Tesla) March 19, 2019
If your ordering system can't handle what would be, maximum, THOUSANDS OF ORDERS, I'm not too sure about that whole self-driving car thing you keep talking about.
Walls of Weird
Back in the old days The Left was filled with crazy conspiracies like "maybe the Iraq war is about oil?" and wow The Left was crazy.
The Republican party is now basically run by people who believe that Trump is a messiah figure sent here to shut down a global pedophile ring run by Hillary Clinton and that gun control advocates stage mass shooting events.
The Republican party is now basically run by people who believe that Trump is a messiah figure sent here to shut down a global pedophile ring run by Hillary Clinton and that gun control advocates stage mass shooting events.
Extend and Pretend
NEW - Theresa May will request an extension to A50, her spokesman confirms: “The PM will be writing to Donald Tusk before the European Council in relation to an extension.” Pressed on what she’ll say, he adds, “you’ll have to wait for that letter”.
— Heather Stewart (@GuardianHeather) March 19, 2019
But for how long...
Monday, March 18, 2019
Humor
I'm not sure if it's the lead or what but I picture Trump fans rolling with hysterical laughter every time he comes up with some dumb nickname and suddenly all the bad sitcoms of my youth make sense.
Related: there are actual people who wax nostalgic about television from an era in which television, with some notable impressive exceptions, was so horrible that the planet is pretty much doomed once the signals reach alien civilizations. They're gonna wipe us out and I can't blame them.
Related: there are actual people who wax nostalgic about television from an era in which television, with some notable impressive exceptions, was so horrible that the planet is pretty much doomed once the signals reach alien civilizations. They're gonna wipe us out and I can't blame them.
How To Do An Interview
For years people in the US have been a bit to impressed with what I'd call the "BBC interview." Which at least once upon a time (the BBC is getting weirder and worse) seemed good because interviewers were less deferential to important people and more willing to be aggressive with questioning. Over time I became a bit less enamored with that, generally, because I realized that the "BBC sneer" was aimed at everyone almost equally. It was more attitude than substance, and didn't distinguish well enough between the truly powerful and the not so powerful in its application. A way to make the interviewer seem tough rather than actually eliciting information most of the time.
This is how you do an interview.
This is how you do an interview.
Progress
Chasten Buttigieg is 29 years old. It would be a bit hard to explain in 2004 or 2008 or even 2012 that "there's this guy running for president who has a youngish husband and nobody treats it as weird or controversial." I'm not saying anti-gay bigotry (any more than misogyny or anti-Kenyan racism) has faded from this great land of ours (MAGA!) but it's progress that the mainstream press, at least, does not frame every story about Buttigieg as being about his controversial gayness.
And, yes, objectitudinal journalists decide what is controversial or not with every story they file.
And, yes, objectitudinal journalists decide what is controversial or not with every story they file.
Getting Worse
Nothing pains me more than Trump making me have to agree with Bill Kristol occasionally (this is not serious, of course things like baby cages pain me more), but Trump was indeed having quite the normal one yesterday and as Bill said on the twitter box, he's obviously getting worse.
Brain worms are slow little creatures and not all that hungry. It takes them a long time to complete their meal. But they keep on keeping on.
Brain worms are slow little creatures and not all that hungry. It takes them a long time to complete their meal. But they keep on keeping on.
Sunday, March 17, 2019
The Air Is Humming
My president is having quite the normal one today. Wonder what's pissing him off?
Bored Mayors
The last mayor of Philadelphia clearly hated his job and spent much of the time auditioning for a position in the Obama administration which he never got. Bill de Blasio clearly hates his job.
I don't think being mayor of a large city is a job for everyone. I'd hate being mayor! Also I wouldn't run for mayor. But what I don't get is trying to be the mayor of, say, New York City, and then thinking, ugh, this sucks, what I really want to do is... run for president! Or even go be Deputy Secretary of Whateverthehell. Go cash out for real! Go get some nice low-show jobs and corporate board positions or whatever. My point is that maybe these government jobs with big responsibilities and less then stellar renumeration...aren't actually for you?
I don't get it.
I don't think being mayor of a large city is a job for everyone. I'd hate being mayor! Also I wouldn't run for mayor. But what I don't get is trying to be the mayor of, say, New York City, and then thinking, ugh, this sucks, what I really want to do is... run for president! Or even go be Deputy Secretary of Whateverthehell. Go cash out for real! Go get some nice low-show jobs and corporate board positions or whatever. My point is that maybe these government jobs with big responsibilities and less then stellar renumeration...aren't actually for you?
I don't get it.
Stop This
A very common thing from online people since the New Zealand tragedy is something like:
I don't know why people think they are entitled to be self-appointed content moderators.
(No I have no interest in watching the video and the general idea that people shouldn't seek it out and watch it is good but if you think this is important advice then obey it.)
You should not watch the video. It is what the murderer wants.
Also, I watched the video. It is horrific.
I don't know why people think they are entitled to be self-appointed content moderators.
(No I have no interest in watching the video and the general idea that people shouldn't seek it out and watch it is good but if you think this is important advice then obey it.)
Saturday, March 16, 2019
Acceptable Bigotries
I gave George W. Bush credit for one thing. After 9/11 he legitimately dampened the fast igniting kitchen fire that could have led to an explosion of Islamophobic violence across the country. Of course we know what happened after that, but at that moment... he did ok.
But it's still been festering in this country and internationally, and certainly no one suffers reputational or professional repercussions from promoting it. The UK media is a cesspool. Even, or frankly especially, the BBC.
You can only do loving profiles of "dapper Nazis" if you bizarrely pretend they only hate certain people, and that it's ok if those are the people they hate. I'm not sure when we started pretending Nazis didn't hate Jews, or how that's even possible, but "we" do somehow and our new Nazis are ok as long as they emphasize the rest of it.
But it's still been festering in this country and internationally, and certainly no one suffers reputational or professional repercussions from promoting it. The UK media is a cesspool. Even, or frankly especially, the BBC.
Something has plainly gone very wrong at @BBCNewsnight. This evening—on the day of the racist murder of Muslims in #Christchurch—they gave a platform to racist hate organisation Generation Identity. Would you explain your decision @esmewren? I’ll be making a formal complaint. pic.twitter.com/RdQcfxAeF1
— Tom Kibasi (@TomKibasi) March 15, 2019
You can only do loving profiles of "dapper Nazis" if you bizarrely pretend they only hate certain people, and that it's ok if those are the people they hate. I'm not sure when we started pretending Nazis didn't hate Jews, or how that's even possible, but "we" do somehow and our new Nazis are ok as long as they emphasize the rest of it.
Friday, March 15, 2019
False Flag
Limbaugh isn't the influence he once was, but nor is he any worse now than when he was that influential.
Tough
Believe them or not, think they're important or not, but the stories about Klobuchar's staff treatment are not about someone who is "tough," they're about someone who has anger issues and who bullies the people she can bully, the ones who need her paychecks to eat.
"If you are a boss, you have to have high standards, and that is what I have always had. And that doesn't mean it's a popularity contest all the time," she said. "And so I've had high standards for myself, high standards for our staff, and mostly I'm going to have high standards for the country."
She added: "One can always do better, and that means you want to be sure that you are listening to people if they felt that something was unfair, or they felt bad about something. But I still think that you have to demand good product. When you're out there on the world stage and dealing with people like Vladimir Putin, yeah, you want someone who's tough. You want someone that demands the answers and that's going to get things done, and that's what I've done my whole life."
Mysteries
I keep saying versions of this, but while I get Trumpism I just do not get how any 20something especially looks at that gross old dude and thinks "wow, he is my leader." For anything.
Dangerous Dum Dums
Bari Weiss brought "the intellectual dark web" to the New York Times and is reasonably assumed to be responsible for every alt-right friendly thing on their opinion pages. Also she occasionally writes really really stupid not very precocious 8th grader level stuff, like her My Trip To Australia piece, which should be embarrassing to all who work there and yell at readers for not buying subscriptions.
I'd like to say she is embarrassing to all who work there, but she's just a rather obvious manifestation of the general mindset so I doubt it. It's a problem when the most important newspaper in the country hires dangerous dumdums, and they hire many of them.
remembering how bari weiss said australian politics was all chill and mates etc https://t.co/EQnpfUtzpt
— libby watson (@libbycwatson) March 15, 2019
I'd like to say she is embarrassing to all who work there, but she's just a rather obvious manifestation of the general mindset so I doubt it. It's a problem when the most important newspaper in the country hires dangerous dumdums, and they hire many of them.
New Zealand Horrors
Most people are merely armchair warriors with fantasies, but too many of them like this movie.
Thursday, March 14, 2019
Promise Something
I'll accept bullshit. It's politics. But it can't be "what I'm for is the stuff that's good and what I'm against is the stuff that's bad and also unity because America." Vote for Howard Schultz if that's your bag, baby.
I Bet He Babysits His Kids Sometimes
Beto tells a coffee shop crowd that he just talked with his wife, Amy. “She is raising, sometimes with my help,” their three kids. Then says he’s running for president for his kids, and theirs.
— Matt Viser (@mviser) March 14, 2019
There was a moment a while ago when The Society of People Who Thought Their Careers Would Benefit From A Beto Campaign took a break from yelling at everyone for supporting white dudes to yelling at everyone for not supporting Beto for President even though he wasn't running yet.
Yes I'm cynical but I'm not dumb about this stuff and I get tired of people talking their book on the teevee and pretending they aren't.
How About I Just Say Who Is Bad
It's great that primary season is now longer than time itself, because trying to run this place without you all wanting to kill each other and me is extra fun then. Still I gotta say something:
Biden, Beto: bad. go away.
Biden, Beto: bad. go away.
Wednesday, March 13, 2019
Planes Fall Down
While I am not expert in such matters, or most others, I'm glad someone with Trump's ear convinced him* to ground the 737s that might be a bit to into killing their passengers
*I have no idea if such things are always run by the president but however these things are actually decided, we'd be better off with headlines suggesting the agency in charge (FAA) did it, and not the brain worm addled bribe taker.
*I have no idea if such things are always run by the president but however these things are actually decided, we'd be better off with headlines suggesting the agency in charge (FAA) did it, and not the brain worm addled bribe taker.
MANAFORT
Got some more prison time and, also, too, capping off his day with new indictments from New York State.
Wow Apparently A Negotiation Has Two Sides
One doesn't have to think the EU is pure and good and wonderful to think that it has its own interests and institutional desires. The opposite, in fact. All along most of the hardcore Brexiteers have failed to acknowledge the contradiction between their belief in the tyranny of Europe and their belief that the EU will just abide by whatever agreement they come to between each other. And they're still doing it.
I voted and decided each of you should give me a thousand dollars.
Gavin Williamson, the defence secretary, and Chris Grayling, the transport secretary, told the prime minister in cabinet that she should not whip against the so-called Malthouse B plan, which is favoured by a coalition of Eurosceptics and former remainers.
This would involve leaving without a deal, signing up to a two-year “standstill agreement” with the EU and then moving to World Trade Organization terms. However, the EU has repeatedly ruled out a transitional period without a deal and underlined that point again on Tuesday.
I voted and decided each of you should give me a thousand dollars.
Sure, Elon
I suspect his glorified people mover will be inferior to existing people movers, though often those aren't particularly impressive because they are installed by people who also don't get what their purpose is, but I'll be more than a little surprised if "he" builds it by Dec. 31, 2019.
Might be a good "proof of bad concept" when 5 years from now people wonder where that bricked up elevator in the convention center used to go. Las Vegas might be doing us all a favor!
Looking forward to building a Boring Company tunnel in Vegas. Assuming to be operational by end of year! https://t.co/cSSO4SJ140
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 12, 2019
Might be a good "proof of bad concept" when 5 years from now people wonder where that bricked up elevator in the convention center used to go. Las Vegas might be doing us all a favor!
How Dare They Publish My Words
Occasionally private email exchanges are released and while it's hilariously dumb when reporters think they can just stamp "off the record" on the top of all correspondence and think everyone has an obligation to obey it because Journalistic Ethics, I also think it's fair that people generally think they have a reasonable expectation that email is a bit like a private conversation. No law or ETHICS IN JOURNALISM is being violated if, say, some journalist sends me an angry email and I publish it on this blog, but I would understand that it was a bit of a dick move to do so.
But there's an additional thing which makes no sense at all, where conservatives (especially) act as if things they said on one prominent public radio or TV outlet are somehow off limits because it isn't their main branded one. What is said to Bubba the Love Sponge and his listeners is supposed to stay there. And, no, there's no expectation of privacy there. It's not email. It's not even an overheard conversation on a train. It's a publicly available broadcast!
But there's an additional thing which makes no sense at all, where conservatives (especially) act as if things they said on one prominent public radio or TV outlet are somehow off limits because it isn't their main branded one. What is said to Bubba the Love Sponge and his listeners is supposed to stay there. And, no, there's no expectation of privacy there. It's not email. It's not even an overheard conversation on a train. It's a publicly available broadcast!
Tuesday, March 12, 2019
Or Said They Did
I can't tell what these people actually believe or if they're just conning investors.
I was thinking a bit why all of this has been so dumb, and one reason is that the barrier isn't (yet) even just that they can't build a reasonably cheap car, it's they can't build one at all. If I said, "here's eleventy trillion dollars, put a single level 4+/5- self-driving car on the road that would truly work well enough to be a robo taxi that would operate more cheaply than one with a driver within 18 months" I'm pretty sure it couldn't be done. Maybe I'm too pessimistic. Maybe they could with eleventy trillion! But the point is you aren't going to be rolling these things off the assembly line at $100,000 a pop any time soon because you couldn't even roll them off the assembly line at $100,000,000 a pop.
It isn't about making the technology more efficient or cost-effective or whatever, it's about making the technology at all. It just does not exist. They can't say, "well, we can do this, but sadly the sensors cost $10,000,000 per car so we need to figure out how to make them more cheaply." They just can't do it.
Uber thought it would have 75,000 autonomous vehicles on the roads this year and be operating driverless taxi services in 13 cities by 2022, according to court documents unsealed last week. To reach those ambitious goals, the ridesharing company, which hopes to go public later this year, was spending $20 million a month on developing self-driving technologies.
The figures, dating back to 2016, paint a picture of a company desperate to meet over-ambitious autonomy targets and one that is willing to spend freely, even recklessly, to get there. As Uber prepares for its IPO later this year, the new details could prove an embarrassing reminder that the company is still trailing in its efforts to develop technology that founder Travis Kalanick called “existential” to Uber’s future.
I was thinking a bit why all of this has been so dumb, and one reason is that the barrier isn't (yet) even just that they can't build a reasonably cheap car, it's they can't build one at all. If I said, "here's eleventy trillion dollars, put a single level 4+/5- self-driving car on the road that would truly work well enough to be a robo taxi that would operate more cheaply than one with a driver within 18 months" I'm pretty sure it couldn't be done. Maybe I'm too pessimistic. Maybe they could with eleventy trillion! But the point is you aren't going to be rolling these things off the assembly line at $100,000 a pop any time soon because you couldn't even roll them off the assembly line at $100,000,000 a pop.
It isn't about making the technology more efficient or cost-effective or whatever, it's about making the technology at all. It just does not exist. They can't say, "well, we can do this, but sadly the sensors cost $10,000,000 per car so we need to figure out how to make them more cheaply." They just can't do it.
No Deal And No No Deal
Tomorrow that will be the case, anyway.
I have no idea what happens next.
I have no idea what happens next.
Senior EU official tells me UK now has 3 options:
— Alberto Nardelli (@AlbertoNardelli) March 12, 2019
1) leave with no deal on March 29
2) ask for extension (dependant on reason, length & EU27 unanimity)
3) revoke article 50
“There will be no further talks,” the source says.
Our story on tonight's vote: https://t.co/rbjbBUTraG
And She Lost
Not really surprised, but I thought there was a pretty good chance they would "come around" in the end.
MPs reject May's Brexit deal for second time by majority of 149
Theresa May’s deal has been defeated again by 391 votes to 242 - a majority of 149
And If They Do
Beutler:
If, for whatever unlikely reason, Republicans ever do turn on Trump and decide to take his presidency down, they'll overnight position themselves as the principled crusaders for justice, who had to act when the impotent flailing democrats refused.
And as full as shit as they would be with this, they'd have a point.
What Pelosi really did was affirm that Democrats long ago gave the Republican Party a silent veto over whether Trump should be held accountable for anything. Back in May of last year, when Democrats were still in the minority, House intelligence committee chairman Adam Schiff insisted, “there will be no impeachment, no matter how high the crime or serious the misdemeanor,” unless “Democratic and Republican members of Congress can make the case to their constituents that they were obligated to remove him.”
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler adopted a similar standard recently, and yesterday he endorsed Pelosi’s view. “She laid down a number of conditions—it has got to be bipartisan, the evidence has to be overwhelming—which is what I’ve been saying.”
Pelosi, Schiff, and Nadler are seasoned politicians who don’t say much that’s unrehearsed. Their position that passing articles of impeachment—a process that requires a simple majority in the House—must be bipartisan sends a clear message to House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and other GOP leaders: that the key to Trump’s continued impunity is for Republicans to simply continue doing what they’ve been doing all along—ignore or celebrate his misconduct, attack the investigators, lie as much as it takes to keep Trump’s base of support from falling through the floor.
If, for whatever unlikely reason, Republicans ever do turn on Trump and decide to take his presidency down, they'll overnight position themselves as the principled crusaders for justice, who had to act when the impotent flailing democrats refused.
And as full as shit as they would be with this, they'd have a point.
The Wind Blows So Many Ways
I'm not in tune enough with UK politics to know precisely who is voting which way for what reason. As in...voting they way the believe...voting to please their constituencies... voting for their careers for other more complicated reasons... etc.
We'll know soon what the outcome is!
We'll know soon what the outcome is!
Catnip
Nothing gets the chattering classes - wealthy elites obsessed with where they went to college and how they got in and how they paid for it and how YOU and other undeservings did same - excited like a college admissions scandal.
Shameless
What a country.
Usually it's the also famous wife of the famous husband who goes unnamed.
BOSTON -- Actresses and chief executives are among 50 people arrested in a nationwide college admissions cheating scam, authorities announced Tuesday.
...
They allege that Huffman and her husband "made a purported charitable contribution of $15,000...to participate in the college entrance exam cheating scheme on behalf of her eldest daughter. Huffman later made arrangements to pursue the scheme a second time, for her younger daughter, before deciding not to do so."
Usually it's the also famous wife of the famous husband who goes unnamed.
Describing My President
For some reason I have little interest in these types of things from most writers (it's me, not them), but David Roth is good.
I once asked the internet hive mind why people cheat at golf, a game that you are basically playing against yourself unless there are sponsors and real money is involved. The answer was that it's a show of dominance. The supposed alpha male (the boss) cheats, and the supposed betas (his employees or other social underlings) let him cheat and that's the point. Not winning, but forcing people to let you get away with cheating, to look the other way when you are obviously doing it, and then congratulate you for doing so. And that's why Trump loves golf, because that's the only type of activity that makes him happy.
But also it’s just absolutely fucking out of the question that Trump won the title fair and square. Physically, the man looks like some sort of hideous British dessert—some sort of meringue that’s been boiled for a day inside a pair of men’s underpants and somehow tastes exactly like baloney—and stands like he’s in the middle of a windstorm. A thin rivulet of beige liquid has been leaking from his ears since at least 2014. He is plainly in no condition to win any golf club’s golf championship—or even, as Golf.com’s Michael Bamberger reports, a co-championship, a distinction that didn’t make it onto the little plaque that Trump had screwed onto his locker at Trump International. And yet the plaque is there, and Trump is listed as the co-champion alongside a 58-year-old Trump International club member named Ted Virtue.
Virtue held that title outright, Bamberger writes, until “Trump ran into him at the club, according to multiple sources who recounted the story. Having some fun with him, Trump said something like, ‘The only reason you won is because I couldn’t play.’” Trump challenged Virtue to a nine-hole match-play playoff—that is, each hole scored independently and worth one point—for the title. “As in nearly all amateur golf rounds, no rules official was on hand. Golf’s tradition calls for players to police themselves and, if necessary, one another. Trump won. In victory a magnanimous Trump said to Virtue something like, ‘This isn’t fair—we’ll be co-champions.’”
I once asked the internet hive mind why people cheat at golf, a game that you are basically playing against yourself unless there are sponsors and real money is involved. The answer was that it's a show of dominance. The supposed alpha male (the boss) cheats, and the supposed betas (his employees or other social underlings) let him cheat and that's the point. Not winning, but forcing people to let you get away with cheating, to look the other way when you are obviously doing it, and then congratulate you for doing so. And that's why Trump loves golf, because that's the only type of activity that makes him happy.
Grifters Gonna Griftt
Two million here, two million there...
For $1.99 million I will do this study myself!
Elon Musk's futuristic vision for hyperloop transit could be in the works for a Pennsylvania route between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission has awarded a $2 million contract for a feasibility study on a cross-state hyperloop tunnel, with additional stops in Harrisburg and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
For $1.99 million I will do this study myself!
Brexit Vote Day
I admit I find that the vote hinges on the so-called "backstop" which is kind of a fiction about a fiction rather hilarious, but stupid people and herd behavior brings us to funny places.
I try not to make predictions, especially about the future, but I'll predict...May wins!
I try not to make predictions, especially about the future, but I'll predict...May wins!
Monday, March 11, 2019
Brexit Vote Day Tomorrow!
I tuned out of the day to day for a bit to avoid madness, but May's big vote is tomorrow. What will happen???
THIS IS JUST WHAT HE PROMISED!!!
I'm sure sophisticated political observers, like you, dear readers, were capable of predicting that any "nice things" that Trump promised during the campaign were, at best, bullshit, but it just isn't true that he spent 18 months promising only the bad things. So when you see this:
Remember what he actually said was:
Trump’s “Budget for a Better America” also includes dozens of spending cuts and policy overhauls that frame the early stages of the debate for the 2020 election. For example, Trump for the first time calls for cutting $845 billion from Medicare, the popular health care program for the elderly that in the past he had largely said he would protect.
Remember what he actually said was:
I was the first & only potential GOP candidate to state there will be no cuts to Social Security, Medicare & Medicaid. Huckabee copied me.
What's It About Then
Some people running, or thinking about running, for president are just running for Vice President, or perhaps just trying to increase their name recognition to get something like a Cabinet position (that our jobs in the Cabinet often go to people with prestige names instead of just people who are competent is a bit weird and I don't see enough people writing about this).
But de Blasio will never be chosen for VP, and mayors who hate being mayors and just see it as an audition for a federal job, as de Blasio seems to, are quite obviously not the people you want to hire for a Cabinet position. I mean, if mayor of New York is not enough fun for you, why the hell would Labor Secretary be?
People are weird.
But de Blasio will never be chosen for VP, and mayors who hate being mayors and just see it as an audition for a federal job, as de Blasio seems to, are quite obviously not the people you want to hire for a Cabinet position. I mean, if mayor of New York is not enough fun for you, why the hell would Labor Secretary be?
People are weird.
NEW YORK — New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio may be thinking of running for president, but many of those closest to him aren’t on board.
As de Blasio touted his liberal record in Iowa and South Carolina in recent weeks, nearly three dozen former and current aides, consultants and allies who spoke to POLITICO panned the idea or doubted that the mayor would run for the Democratic nomination. Aside from the few people working on the nascent effort, only two said de Blasio should run.
Prestige Magazines
Atlantic Editor proud of fact that the magazine's editors apparently don't do anything.
New @davidfrum cover story just published: “America was built on the revolutionary idea, never fully realized, that those who labor might also govern—that every worker should be a voter... The immigration surge has the effect of setting this ideal back.” https://t.co/xEaTQ1UIgx
— Adrienne LaFrance (@AdrienneLaF) March 11, 2019
Sunday, March 10, 2019
The Spin Room
One of my bad calls in life was thinking that Tucker, while an asshole, wasn't really worse than that. I did not expect he'd evolve into the host of the White Power Hour or, well, this.
McGovern
I suppose it's finally faded now, but for most of my adult life, liberal pundits of a certain generation seemed to see everything through the lens of an election that happened when I was 9 months old. And I'm not all that young anymore.
Now, gather around, children, and let me tell you about the Iraq war...
Now, gather around, children, and let me tell you about the Iraq war...
Saturday, March 09, 2019
Still Dreaming
The latest on one of my more boring obsessions.
The American Dream will not be opening next month.
The opening date, originally projected for April, has been pushed back to at least late spring, Gov. Phil Murphy said at a press conference on Friday.
"First of all, it’s happening. American Dream is happening," Murphy said. "To the best of my knowledge, the last time I asked, it had slipped, I had thought, closer to June."
Emoluments
We have a horribly corrupt government but in a way which lets us pretend that NO OTHER COUNTRIES ARE CORRUPT because at the federal level the "leave an envelope of money on the table" version hasn't really been a thing. Until now.
Yang, who goes by Cindy, and her husband, Zubin Gong, started GY US Investments LLC in 2017. The company describes itself on its website, which is mostly in Chinese, as an “international business consulting firm that provides public relations services to assist businesses in America to establish and expand their brand image in the modern Chinese marketplace.” But the firm notes that its services also address clients looking to make high-level connections in the United States. On a page displaying a photo of Mar-a-Lago, Yang’s company says its “activities for clients” have included providing them “the opportunity to interact with the president, the [American] Minister of Commerce and other political figures.” The company boasts it has “arranged taking photos with the President” and suggests it can set up a “White House and Capitol Hill Dinner.” (The same day the Herald story about Yang broke, the website stopped functioning.)
Friday, March 08, 2019
Who Cares What I Think
No one ever really did. And that's good!
Let's hope the next president doesn't care what Mr. David Brooks thinks, either.
Let's hope the next president doesn't care what Mr. David Brooks thinks, either.
Howsabout A Pre-Happy Hour Thread
Oh, what the heck, it's Friday! Not too early to have a wee sip of wine.
Friday Random Deep Thought Blogging Continued
Even the best sci-fi/fantasy/superhero tv/movie projects are filled with nonsensical babble. It takes great actors to make that actually work.
And Then It Was Revealed That "Donald Trump" Is Actually... Hillary Clinton In A Wig!
The writers of this show are so ridiculous.
Luxury Canned Goods
Totally random Friday thought, but it's my blog so I can do what I want. I'm sure there are good explanations - I can think of some! - but a weird thing about the US is that we don't really have those. Yes, sure, you can go to a specialty shop and buy anything, including $50 imported marmalade or whatever, but mostly the idea that there's a better caliber of canned goods is not a part of our food culture. In other countries, $20 cans of cockles, or similar, are a normal thing, as is opening up the tin and serving it to your impressed guests.
Exception: all escargot (almost) is canned in the US, even at fancy restaurants.
Exception: all escargot (almost) is canned in the US, even at fancy restaurants.
Like Spock
Holmes didn't just fudge the numbers or cook the books or have a wee accounting scandal. She made the whole thing up and conned a bunch of old gross thirsty rich and prestigious white men into investing in her nonsense and promoting her.
Like Tim Draper.
Bloomberg’s @mcbridesg asked @TimDraper if he’d back Elizabeth Holmes again:
— Sam Dean 🦅 (@SamAugustDean) March 8, 2019
“I’d back her as chief science officer, not CEO. Good question.” pic.twitter.com/DJqguX9wGA
Like Tim Draper.
Thursday, March 07, 2019
American's Worst Humans
Bill de Blasio.
I'm not even so pissed about the "not being a regular subway rider" thing, but the "driven to the subway for the subway photo op" thing.
There are indignities to urban living that even a 24/7 chauffeur can't fix, but they're offset by other things. If you don't even enjoy walking two blocks, I can show you the other 90% of the country where you would be much happier.
I'm not even so pissed about the "not being a regular subway rider" thing, but the "driven to the subway for the subway photo op" thing.
There are indignities to urban living that even a 24/7 chauffeur can't fix, but they're offset by other things. If you don't even enjoy walking two blocks, I can show you the other 90% of the country where you would be much happier.
There Are Some Excellent Journalists At Fox
"Real" reporters always take to the twitter machine to defend Fox for reasons I don't fully understand. My best spin is they're friendly with the Fox reporters who they see at the White House or wherever, and they seem like sane people, so Fox must not be all bad. None of them ever actually watch Fox News, of course, or point to those incredible scoops that would have led to democracy falling if those fine reporters had never delivered them.
The best spin is too kind, as the more plausible explanation is that teevee "reporters" get paid quite well, there aren't that many of those jobs, and if you can score one then your retirement is set.
But even if there are decent reporters at Fox (this is basically bullshit, but ok), they're just there to give the rest of the operation the sheen of respectability that amazingly convinces all of those other hard-hitting reporters so concerned with the reputation of their sister network.
The best spin is too kind, as the more plausible explanation is that teevee "reporters" get paid quite well, there aren't that many of those jobs, and if you can score one then your retirement is set.
But even if there are decent reporters at Fox (this is basically bullshit, but ok), they're just there to give the rest of the operation the sheen of respectability that amazingly convinces all of those other hard-hitting reporters so concerned with the reputation of their sister network.
Sherrod Brown Out
Not running for president. I always liked the guy but his presidential noises were putting him on team "nicer things aren't possible" which was both bad and off brand.
People On The Internet Are Wrong
Everybody has stupid uninformed opinions. Some of us even decide to share them to the world on a thing called a "weblog." But it's when you're exposed to the thinking of the masses on a topic that you actually do know a little bit about that you despair for the state of the world. Not so different than reading The Economist, really, with pseudonyms replacing anonymous bylines.
Because I have bad hobbies, and something has to keep me enraged all day (my secret is I'm always angry), I read various internet forums on certain subjects. My latest is Musk-related program activities. And, sure, the Teslas have their idiotic fanboys who are dumb but at least Tesla is a real product that does much of what Elon claims it does. The self-driving car nonsense is going to help destroy that company, however. But, wow, the people who are into his tunnel projects. They are so dumb.
And what gets me is these are people who, from what I can tell, would never ride one of Musk's vanity-subway-that-isn't-a-subway projects even if it worked as their underground Jetsons fantasies tell them, for the same reason they've never ridden an actual subway. It's still a steel box on wheels in a tunnel that you have to share with other people. Just a worse one.
Because I have bad hobbies, and something has to keep me enraged all day (my secret is I'm always angry), I read various internet forums on certain subjects. My latest is Musk-related program activities. And, sure, the Teslas have their idiotic fanboys who are dumb but at least Tesla is a real product that does much of what Elon claims it does. The self-driving car nonsense is going to help destroy that company, however. But, wow, the people who are into his tunnel projects. They are so dumb.
And what gets me is these are people who, from what I can tell, would never ride one of Musk's vanity-subway-that-isn't-a-subway projects even if it worked as their underground Jetsons fantasies tell them, for the same reason they've never ridden an actual subway. It's still a steel box on wheels in a tunnel that you have to share with other people. Just a worse one.
20 Virgins And A Mule
Democrats in the House, especially, too much see their jobs as a drama which plays out on the cable television shows that air constantly in their offices. One that they don't write.
25 years later, and the second time they've taken it back, the psychological wounds of losing the House in 1995 are still there.
25 years later, and the second time they've taken it back, the psychological wounds of losing the House in 1995 are still there.
Wednesday, March 06, 2019
But How Will Democrats Reach The People Least Likely To Vote For Them
Shouldn't have been a consideration.
The Democratic National Committee has decided to exclude Fox News Channel from televising any of its candidate debates during the 2019-2020 cycle as a result of published revelations detailing the cable network’s close ties to the Trump administration.
Sounds Good. Does It Have Lasers?
People who make transportation decisions are so stupid.
Who cares, waste your money, but imagine thinking that people getting into cars, which don't even have the advanced speedy boarding technology your local amusement park ride does, is some efficient way to move lots of people quickly. We're talking 45 seconds minimum to board 4 people.
Las Vegas’ tourism agency announced Wednesday it is recommending that an enterprise backed by the divisive billionaire receive a contract to build and operate an underground tunnel system through which autonomous electric vehicles would whisk people around a mega convention center, and in the future, possibly the city’s famous casino-filled corridor.
If approved, the system just over a mile long would open by January 2021 at the facility, which hosts more than 1 million people every year. The Musk-owned Boring Company would build the project costing from $35 million to $55 million.
...
Details of the project are not final. But Hill said the system will probably have three or four stations, at entrances to the convention center’s halls. People would be carried in electric vehicles moving through parallel tunnels, each running in one direction.
The fleet could include Tesla’s Model X and Model 3 and a vehicle with capacity for about 16 people, Hill said. All vehicles would be autonomous, meaning they won’t have backup human drivers.
Who cares, waste your money, but imagine thinking that people getting into cars, which don't even have the advanced speedy boarding technology your local amusement park ride does, is some efficient way to move lots of people quickly. We're talking 45 seconds minimum to board 4 people.
Bending The Cost Curve
One of the Obamacare-wonk-era obsessions was "bending the cost curve" in part by making sure we all had "skin in the game." Discussing ACA is hard because anything that you suggest is "bad" people blame on Lieberman, Baucus, and Republicans, and exonerate Obama and everyone else involved. "Best we could do." I don't know what "the best we could do" was, but I do know that much of Obamacare wasn't simply some sort of pragmatic attempt to court the 60th vote. It was baked into the design philosophy.
We do spend way too much on health care in this country. We spend what other countries do in *public* money and then that much again in private money for the privilege of imminent financial insolvency every time those of us with even good insurance go to the doctor. But me, voter, does not give a shit about "bending the cost curve." I give a shit about "bending my cost curve."
You can see the problem with "bending the cost curve" by making sure people have more "skin in the game" from a political and, yes, moral perspective.
I already pay too fucking much to buy health insurance executives yachts. I don't need to pay any more.
Pragmatic centrists often like to think of themselves not just being smart on policy, but on the politics. Please David Brooks, please the world. But high deductible high copayment plans are not smart politics, unless you're trying to hasten the revolution.
We do spend way too much on health care in this country. We spend what other countries do in *public* money and then that much again in private money for the privilege of imminent financial insolvency every time those of us with even good insurance go to the doctor. But me, voter, does not give a shit about "bending the cost curve." I give a shit about "bending my cost curve."
You can see the problem with "bending the cost curve" by making sure people have more "skin in the game" from a political and, yes, moral perspective.
I already pay too fucking much to buy health insurance executives yachts. I don't need to pay any more.
Pragmatic centrists often like to think of themselves not just being smart on policy, but on the politics. Please David Brooks, please the world. But high deductible high copayment plans are not smart politics, unless you're trying to hasten the revolution.
Endgame
I still don't really know what the desired semi-reasonable outcome is for Theresa May or really any of the Brexiteers.
It's clear what May wants is to kick out all of the foreigners (as many as possible) and the rest doesn't much matter to her, but I still don't get what she/they want within the framework of sort of realistic possibilities.
The EU isn't going to "back down" because they just don't give a shit and why should they?
It's clear what May wants is to kick out all of the foreigners (as many as possible) and the rest doesn't much matter to her, but I still don't get what she/they want within the framework of sort of realistic possibilities.
The EU isn't going to "back down" because they just don't give a shit and why should they?
Morning Thread
Last time this cycle I'll link to The Halifax Examiner, I promise. Here's Bousquet on writing about the big stories that he does so well:
Many thanks to Suzanne Rent, Philip Moscovitch, and Erica Butler for filling in for last week's Morning Files.I've been proud of the work the Examiner has published of late, not just my own work but also the other writers' work. It feels like we've hit a nice stride, and I hope we can maintain it and maybe even improve up on it.Of course, that requires consistent and growing income. Your subscriptions make this work possible. Your subscriptions pay for the ever-increasing legal bills that allow us to push the reporting into difficult areas. Your subscriptions pay for the guest writers for Morning File, which in turns free up some of my time so I can dive into longer investigative pieces. And your subscriptions pay the salaries and expenses of freelance writers who are doing excellent work. For those who have brought us this far, you have my sincere appreciation.And for those who have been putting it off, this would be an excellent time to subscribe. Thanks much!</blockquote>
Tuesday, March 05, 2019
So Many Crying Consultants Weeping At Their Yacht Catalogues
Bloomberg's out, making those who signed on with Schultz seem extra smart!
Hucksters
Pretty confident this isn't going to happen, but I guess there's still a month to go!
If Elon wants to sell cars to suckers and take money from dumb investors, fine. Not my problem. But when he starts dangling this Jetson stuff as an alternative to an sensible transportation planning, I get a bit annoyed.
The best timeline he mentioned was based on a coast-to-coast demo drive from California to New York without the driver touching the wheel.During his TED talk yesterday, Musk reiterated that this demo drive is still planned for 2017:“November or December of this year, we should be able to go from a parking lot in California to a parking lot in New York, no controls touched at any point during the entire journey.”But Musk also said that while the driver wouldn’t have to touch the controls, he doesn’t think that it would be at a level where someone could just fall asleep at the wheel. When asked when he thinks that will be, he said about 2 years away.It would mean that between the end of the year and around 2019, Tesla could have a level 4 autonomous system enabled in second generation cars – meaning the vehicles can drive themselves without a driver as backup, but not in all conditions or environment.
If Elon wants to sell cars to suckers and take money from dumb investors, fine. Not my problem. But when he starts dangling this Jetson stuff as an alternative to an sensible transportation planning, I get a bit annoyed.
Outgrowing Ideology
Reagan was lines of cocaine, but this Clinton-era stuff was injecting speedballs into your eyeballs. From 1999.
Ideology is other people.
Greenspan has a theory about what holds them together: In analytical people self-esteem relies on the analysis and not on the conclusions. That must be it. The three men have a mania for analysis that has bred a rigorous, unique intellectual honesty. In the Reagan Administration economic policymaking was guided not by analysis but by conclusions--specifically a belief in so-called supply-side economics. No matter what the data showed, the results among Reagan-era economists like Arthur Laffer were always the same: tax cuts and less regulation were the solution. Rubin, Greenspan and Summers have outgrown ideology. Their faith is in the markets and in their own ability to analyze them. It's unusual, Greenspan says. In Washington usually you come to the table, and everyone meets, and no one changes their mind. But with us, you have something else.This pragmatism is a faith that recalls nothing so much as the objectivist philosophy of the novelist and social critic Ayn Rand (The Fountainhead, Atlas Shrugged), which Greenspan has studied intently. During long nights at Rand's apartment and through her articles and letters, Greenspan found in objectivism a sense that markets are an expression of the deepest truths about human nature and that, as a result, they will ultimately be correct. Greenspan jokes that Rubin, with his background in arbitrage, may be slightly more skeptical because of his experiences with market imperfections. But they all agree that trying to defy global market forces is in the end futile. That imposes a limit on how much they will permit ideology to intrude on their actions.
Ideology is other people.
Capitalism
Really the only respectable way to obtain worry free health insurance in our meritocracy is to marry your rich older boss.
Monday, March 04, 2019
The Game
I neither totally agree with, nor think it should excuse outlets even if true, the idea that Dems/left issues get shitty news coverage because they're just bad at the game. Still, skillfully playing the game helps.
I Know It's Hard. It Isn't My Job To Do The Work.
I don't think you can wave a wand and make our health care system better. "We" need to shrink the % of our GDP that goes to our absurdly expensive health care system. "We" need to figure out who is going to take the haircut and how. And we need a system such that when we get sick we go to the damn doctor instead of having to set up gofundme accounts. As "we" transition from where we are now to there, it might be complicated and expensive, especially if "we're" going to ensure that everybody (basically) is as happy or more during the transition.
But isn't my damn job. Every other comparable country in the world manages to deliver superior health care at a far lower cost. That part is off the shelf. The transition is the hard part, but it doesn't have to be hard for "me." It doesn't have to be expensive for "me." Other people can take care of that shit. That's what the wonks should work on, not how to make me have more skin in a game which already involves my literal skin.
But isn't my damn job. Every other comparable country in the world manages to deliver superior health care at a far lower cost. That part is off the shelf. The transition is the hard part, but it doesn't have to be hard for "me." It doesn't have to be expensive for "me." Other people can take care of that shit. That's what the wonks should work on, not how to make me have more skin in a game which already involves my literal skin.
Why Do We Have To Suffer
The better Beutler:
The wrong idea out there is that any transition to a new thing might be A) complicated and costly and therefore B) unpopular. A) is probably true. B) is only true because in our neoliberal world few can imagine that the complications and costs don't actually have to fall on individual voters who are already busy spending two hours on the phone with Comcast.
Why should voters bear the costs? The government can eat the costs and take care of the complexity and I can show up to the doctor with my medicare card and have it be paid for.
The "wonks" want every damn person in their country to play their Fantasy Health Care System video game because that's fun to them. The rest of us just want to go to the doctor without going bankrupt and then not even being able to discharge our medical debts in bankruptcy (thanks, Kindly Old Uncle Joe Biden and many of the rest of the Democrats). The way to avoid a costly unpopular transition is to not have it be costly and complicated... for us. It doesn't have to be. Why should it?
wonk voice: what people *really* want to do is shop for health insurance every year within a narrow time window on a nonfunctioning website powered by hamsters and Windows ME.
That question routinely vexes most Democratic single-payer supporters, which is why her staff quickly softened her statement to note that she and other Democrats who support Medicare for all also support back-up plans, like a Medicare buy-in or a public option. People don’t like to be told that their health plans will go away. The basic unpopularity of that proposition—people don’t get to keep what they have—is perhaps the biggest political hurdle Medicare for all supporters face, and should their objectives prove untenable it makes sense for them to have contingency plans.
But it also makes sense for Democrats to fight for their ideals in the most compelling possible way, and as close as Harris came, I think she could have gone further. Before falling back to second-best options, single-payer supporters should try to persuade people who worry about losing their current health plans that they’ll be immediately and permanently better off if they make the jump—if we all do so, together, all at once, and then never again.
The wrong idea out there is that any transition to a new thing might be A) complicated and costly and therefore B) unpopular. A) is probably true. B) is only true because in our neoliberal world few can imagine that the complications and costs don't actually have to fall on individual voters who are already busy spending two hours on the phone with Comcast.
Why should voters bear the costs? The government can eat the costs and take care of the complexity and I can show up to the doctor with my medicare card and have it be paid for.
The "wonks" want every damn person in their country to play their Fantasy Health Care System video game because that's fun to them. The rest of us just want to go to the doctor without going bankrupt and then not even being able to discharge our medical debts in bankruptcy (thanks, Kindly Old Uncle Joe Biden and many of the rest of the Democrats). The way to avoid a costly unpopular transition is to not have it be costly and complicated... for us. It doesn't have to be. Why should it?
wonk voice: what people *really* want to do is shop for health insurance every year within a narrow time window on a nonfunctioning website powered by hamsters and Windows ME.
Our Sister Network
Surprising no one except Jake Tapper and too many Democrats.
As for this article subtitle:
"Everybody" knows Fox is a joke now, but it isn't really any different than it was during the Bush years (the Obama years were when people whould should have known better finally started to realize). Glorification of Dear Leader was its thing then, too, it was just not as obvious because all the other networks weren't doing anything much different post 9/11.
In addition, a former Trump campaign aide says that a Fox contact gave him advance notice of a different debate question, which asked the candidates whether they would support the Republican nominee, regardless of who won. The former aide says that the heads-up was passed on to Trump, who was the only candidate who said that he wouldn’t automatically support the Party’s nominee—a position that burnished his image as an outsider.
As for this article subtitle:
Fox News has always been partisan. But has it become propaganda?
"Everybody" knows Fox is a joke now, but it isn't really any different than it was during the Bush years (the Obama years were when people whould should have known better finally started to realize). Glorification of Dear Leader was its thing then, too, it was just not as obvious because all the other networks weren't doing anything much different post 9/11.
Sunday, March 03, 2019
Donald Trump Promised A Better Health Plan
You knew that was bullshit, I knew that was bullshit, everyone should have known that was bullshit. But he did.
I don't want politicians to promise bullshit, but patiently explaining to stupid voters that better things are not possible in the richest country in the world doesn't get any fans except the Washington Post editorial board.
I don't want politicians to promise bullshit, but patiently explaining to stupid voters that better things are not possible in the richest country in the world doesn't get any fans except the Washington Post editorial board.
Afternoon Thread
I am going to once again link to The Halifax Examiner, published by Tim Bousquet. Back in 2016, Tim wrote a multi-part investigative story, Dead Wrong, looking into the murder of Brenda Way and dozens of other young women in Halifax. During the course of his investigation, Tim became convinced that the wrong man had been tried and convicted of Way's murder. It took years of work by Project Innocence and Tim turning the spotlight on the miscarriage of justice, but last week the wrong man was cleared of all charges and released from prison.
This is independent journalism at its finest. Unfortunately, stories like Dead Wrong and the more recent John Risley's South African Adventure cost a lot of money to produce, hence the subscription button.
This is independent journalism at its finest. Unfortunately, stories like Dead Wrong and the more recent John Risley's South African Adventure cost a lot of money to produce, hence the subscription button.