in other news of the day, looks like wapo’s come up with new synonyms for “tortured” — “mistreated” and “coercive treatment.” odd, wonder why the kid gloves.
On Monday, Hong Kong’s highest profile trial since the 2020 crackdown will begin. Li’s testimony will be key to the government’s case against Jimmy Lai, the billionaire media mogul and founder of Apple Daily,the independent newspaper that has now been shut down. Lai is charged under the national security law with “colluding with foreign forces.” The Hong Kong authorities will use the prosecution to paint a narrative of the 2019 protests as a U.S.-directed plot aimed at destabilizing China, instead of the grass-roots-organized demonstrations they were, lawyers and analysts familiar with the case say.
Li, a 33-year-old gifted programmer who during the protests became a significant player in international lobbying and fundraising efforts, has already pleaded guilty under the national security law for his own role in the democracy movement, and he is expected to tie Lai to an alleged foreign conspiracy against Hong Kong and China.
But Li was mistreated while in Chinese custody, a year-long Washington Post examination of the case found, raising questions about whether his testimony will be voluntary and reliable. The Post’s reporting reveals previously undisclosed details about the coercive treatment of the 12 escapees, especially Li, by Chinese authorities, and Li’s reemergence and continued detention in Hong Kong after seven months of isolation in China.
also in wapo two days ago ms petri’s Opinion | GOP baffled that ‘We Don’t Care if You Die’ is not a winning slogan – The Washington Post “Republicans struggle as they keep getting forced to talk about abortion” Politico headline, Dec. 15 Huh! It turns out “Well, with luck, you probably won’t die being forced to give birth to a nonviable fetus over the objections of your doctor!” — even if you say it in a warm, human-sounding way ― is not actually what people want to hear when deciding how to cast their votes. Fascinating! People keep hearing stories like that of Kate Cox, whose medically recommended abortion to end a nonviable pregnancy and preserve her fertility was shut down by the Texas Supreme Court, and saying, “Wait, is that actually your policy? Jesus!” and it turns out that “Yup!” or “Pretty much!” is not a winning answer. Also not great: “Please hold while the Supreme Court figures out if it wants to impose even more restrictions on what medical care you are allowed to receive!” Nobody would wish this to happen on anybody,” Ron DeSantis said this past week during a CNN town hall — which is true, except in the strict, limited sense that policies the governor and presidential aspirant has signed into law in Florida have imposed that exact situation on people. I guess it’s the thought that counts! Maybe he imposed it, but he didn’t wish it. Nikki Haley said “we have to humanize the situation,” which, I guess, are words! “So, you want a 13-year-old to be forced to bear her rapist’s baby at tremendous physical and emotional cost?” has one easy answer: “No!” And if you aren’t allowed to say that, that’s a problem! A messaging problem, of course. “Wait, you seriously don’t want any exceptions, and you are going to weaponize government against people with reasonable medical needs?” is a question to which “Don’t worry your pretty little head about it” is not a great answer. Or maybe they could stop trying to dehumanize half the population? No. It’s the words. It’s got to be the words. There’s no changing the underlying policy.… Read more »
UN security council to vote on ceasefire call
The United Nations security council will vote on Monday on a new resolution calling for an “urgent and sustainable cessation of hostilities” in Gaza, as Washington shows growing impatience with key ally Israel.
Agence France-Presse reports that the vote comes days after the US blocked a previous security council resolution that would have called for a “humanitarian ceasefire” in the battered Palestinian territory. But in the general assembly, the UN’s 193 members voted overwhelmingly for a ceasefire, with 153 in favour.
The coming security council resolution was introduced by Arab countries that had come away from last Tuesday’s general assembly vote bolstered by such broad international support, though the latest text’s fate remains uncertain.
The new draft, drawn up by the United Arab Emirates, calls for an “urgent and sustainable cessation of hostilities to allow safe and unhindered humanitarian access in the Gaza Strip”.
It also affirms support for a two-state solution in the region and “stresses the importance of unifying the Gaza Strip with the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority”.
In a move criticised by Israel and the US, the draft does not explicitly name Hamas, though it does call for the “immediate and unconditional release of all hostages” and condemns “all indiscriminate attacks against civilians”.
The security council has faced sharp international criticism as it has passed only one resolution on Gaza since the start of the war, in which the 15-member body called for “humanitarian pauses”, after five other resolutions were rejected, including two because of US vetoes.
According to diplomatic sources, negotiations on the new text continued on Sunday in an effort to avoid another impasse, days after US president Joe Biden warned that Israel was at risk of losing international support due to its “indiscriminate” bombing of Gaza.
Livin on the road my friend, is gonna keep you free and clean Now you wear your skin like iron Your breath as hard as kerosene You weren’t your momma’s only boy, but her favorite one it seems She began to cry when you said goodbye And sank into your dreams Pancho was a bandit boy, his horse was fast as polished steel He wore his gun outside his pants For all the honest world to feel Pancho met his match you know on the deserts down in Mexico Nobody heard his dyin words, ah but that’s the way it goes
All the Federales say, they could’ve had him any day They only let him slip away, out of kindness I suppose
Lefty he can’t sing the blues all night long like he used to The dust that Pancho bit down south ended up in Lefty’s mouth The day they laid poor Pancho low, Lefty split for Ohio Where he got the bread to go, there ain’t nobody knows
All the Federales say, they could’ve had him any day They only let him slip away out of kindness I suppose
The boys tell how old Pancho fell, and Lefty’s livin in cheap hotels The desert’s quiet, Cleveland’s cold And so the story ends we’re told Pancho needs your prayers it’s true, but save a few for Lefty too He only did what he had to do, and now he’s growing old
All the Federales say, they could’ve had him any day They only let him go so long, out of kindness I suppose
A few gray Federales say, they could’ve had him any day They only let him go so long, out of kindness I suppose
John Oliver discusses Elon Musk, the influence he has over more than just his businesses, and the perfect place for him and Mark Zuckerberg to finally have that cage match.
Anybody watch Willie Nelson 90th Birthday Special on CBS last night? It was fun. Had no idea he has a son, Lukas, whose singing voice sounds just like his Dad, kinda spooky.
We did watch the Willie special, though a bit later than y’all since we’re in mountain zone. I too was amazed by Lukas, and thinking what a gift but also a burden for Willie’s kids.
Also, I’d completely forgotten about Jamey Johnson who I remember being a newcomer and promising star back in the day when he appeared on Imus. Then he went off the radar it seemed. I’m glad to know he’s made it.
I guess this is a defense, but still scary…FOX host Brian Kilmeade on Trump’s blood poisoning claim: “He’s just trying to say we want to keep America, America.”
I sure hope we see some well researched reporting on what Trump’s “largest mass deportation in history” actually means, what it would look like. Also explore what Stephen Miller means in proposing “detainment camps”
Sounds like SFB is resurecting his 2016 campaign.
I do not understand the polling in Michigan. The elections there should
have Michigan squarely in the Democratic column. What am I missing that makes
Trump to at least appear successful.
I am in the they are all racists camp.
In the days after 9/11, there were extra church services everywhere. I dropped in on a non-denominational church in the evening, because it was close, and they were preaching fear. I went to a Methodist church on Sunday, and Pastor Lee had spoken with Muslims (and it seems someone was there, but I don’t recall him speaking), and it was the opposite experience. One of the pastor’s grandparents had been in a Japanese internment camp. He just wanted everyone to take a beat and not be fearful and reactionary/hateful.
There was a woman in my hometown who was of Japanese descent. Her family had moved from Hawaii to the mainland. His property was confiscated, they ended up in an internment camp, and she (or the family) had somehow been separated.
My grandmother sent me a clipping from my hometown newspaper about the woman’s background (which was not common knowledge until the article in the paper), and that she had found her sister. This was in the late 80s, so not as easy to track down people.
The article also mentioned that she and her husband had to go to Colorado to get married, because they allowed inter-racial marriage.
Only cis, white, men with no moral compass are exempt what Orange Adolf and the Project 2025 nazis have in store for this country. If they aren’t also wealthy, they’ll just be seat fillers at GQP fascist rallies.
And to that point, the media is either sleeping on the job or complicit in the fascist agenda, because they should be warning everyone about Project 2025 and tRUMPsky’s plans every, single day.
“The poll lends further credence to the warnings Arab and Muslim community leaders in Michigan and beyond have been issuing for weeks: that Biden’s handling of the war in Gaza could cost him a state thathe won by just 150,000 votes in 2020 and is home toan estimated 240,000 Muslims.”
Couple that with folks who think the Ukraine isn’t in their backyard, so why should they care what horrors Russia commits (and pay for it), and that is having an impact on polls.
I was listening to a run of the mill NPR Saturday afternoon radio show, “Live from Kerrville “ along about ‘74, maybe. I was recording because I was looking for new tunes to learn the words to and the next guy was Townes, whom I’d never heard of. So while I was recording I was introduced to a completely new thing.
He knocked my socks off and stood ‘em in the corner. Few years later I moved to Nashville and was able to job around with him a bit as the record people were experimenting with him to have a whole band, and one of the guys called me in. He usually just toured around with a bass player. Anyway it was an enjoyable summer, but Townes just wasn’t meant to have a band. He recorded a few things with sidemen but his best stuff was all him. He was one of the most naturally funny guys I’ve ever met.
Fuming over setback to casino smoking ban, workers light up in New Jersey Statehouse meeting “With prospects for a smoking ban in Atlantic City’s casinos looking hazier than ever, workers who want smoking banned took matters into their own hands, lips and lungs…” “Members of the United Auto Workers union disrupted a meeting of a state Assembly committee that had been scheduled to take a preliminary vote on a bill to ban smoking in the casinos by lighting cigarettes and blowing smoke toward legislators.” “They say it’s OK for secondhand smoke to be blown in our faces all day, every day,” Vicente said afterward. “We wanted to know if it’s OK if we did that in their workplace. They said it was inappropriate and not allowed here.” “Angry workers said they want the state’s top Democratic leadership to force a vote on the original bill that would impose a total smoking ban, but the likelihood of such a vote remains unclear.” “…he expects to introduce the new bill next year after the current legislative session ends. It would prohibit smoking at table games; gradually reduce smoking at slot machines over 18 months, with specific distances between table games and the nearest smoking-permitted slot machines; and give the casinos 18 months to build enclosed rooms where gamblers could still smoke, but which would be staffed by employees who volunteer to work in them.” Hmmm, volunteer to work in an enclosed room full of smokers? That reminds me of a job I had decades ago, in a call center with 300 people per shift, the other 299 who seemed to be chain smokers. It was every asthmatics dream. I didn’t last long. Then, I went to an office where smoking was allowed for awhile. Eventually, there was a smoking lounge downstairs, and then the smokers were booted outside. “But the casinos oppose a smoking ban on competitive grounds, saying Atlantic City would lose business and jobs to casinos in neighboring states where smoking is permitted. Workers dispute that, citing research showing business improved at numerous casinos after a smoking ban.” What the… Read more »
It is a bit stunning. CNN host scripts for Trump segments all day lead with “he is increasingly using Nazi propaganda”. It is clearly a network decision to do this, not just renegade hosts.
“…last week was that a jury in San Francisco had found Google guilty on all counts of antitrust violations stemming from its dispute with Epic Games, maker of the bestselling Fortnite, which had lodged a number of complaints related to how Google runs its Play store, an Android app market with a revenue of about $48bn (£38bn) a year.”
“…something very rare happened – a tech giant actually lost a big case in a US court. Second, the case was decided by a jury, not (as often happens in such cases) by a judge. Third, it showed that venerable antitrust (ie anti-monopoly) laws such as the Sherman Act still work.”
“In 2020, Tim Sweeney, the founder of Epic Games, began encouraging players of Fortnite to pay Epic directly for purchases of in-game items, rather than using systems developed by Google and Apple. Both tech giants promptly kicked Fortnite out of their app stores.”
“Sweeney then sued both for, as one expert put it, “monopolising the on-ramp to the phone”. He lost the Apple case, appealed, and it is now with the supreme court. But last week, he won in San Francisco. How come?”
“The tempting answer is that the Apple case was originally decided by a judge, whereas the Google one involved a 10-person jury.”
“There may have been no rocket scientists on that San Francisco jury, but its members were clearly able to figure out what that kind of corporate behaviour means.”
Mainstream media having no qualms about flatly saying he’s using Nazi language, channeling Hitler and the like — that strikes me as a major turning point. I really do think they get it now, that the man is a threat to the nation. But I’m not sure who to bet on.
That drunk driver that hit a parked SUV in the presidential motorcade brought something to light. The Secret Service needs to do a better job at keeping POTUS Joe safe. They were slow to react, and it didn’t seem like the area was very secure.
The need to keep VP Harris safe, too.
The other weasely, little looks-like-a-Nazi-in-waiting, MAGAt Mike, is probably chomping at the bit.
It’s time to start capitalizing Nazi now, too, because they aren’t pretending not to be any more.
Nikki’s campaign found my cell phone. I’ve never previously received anything from a republican campaign. Haven’t opened it. Mr. Ivy says report it as spam.
“The Supreme Court is re-entering the debate on abortion, as it agreed this week to hear an appeal from the Biden administration about access to the abortion pill mifepristone.”
“While an argument date isn’t set, a decision will likely come in June, almost exactly two years after the same justices overturned Roe v. Wade.”
“By deciding to take up the case, the Supreme Court is now in a position to weigh in on abortion even after its conservative majority said that question would be left to elected officials.”
“Whatever the court decides could have sweeping ramifications. While the pills will likely stay on the market, there could be some significant changes to access, even in states where abortion remains legal and protected.”
“Option 1: SCOTUS upholds the entirety of the Fifth Circuit decision
This would be a victory for the Alliance Defending Freedom, the far-right group representing the anti-abortion providers in the case, especially since the justices did not take up its challenge to mifepristone’s original approval.”
“Option 2: SCOTUS reverses the Fifth Circuit’s decision
This is what the White House and Danco Laboratories, the pharmaceutical industry and abortion-rights advocates are asking the high court to do.”
“Option 3: Something different
It’s possible the justices could uphold some post-2016 changes but invalidate others.”
And, whatever they decide, it will remind (any who need reminding) of their decision against women in Roe. If they judge to further restrict women’s human rights, it’ll give POTUS Joe an even bigger bounce.
“Gov. Greg Abbott signs bill making illegal immigration a state crime”
“The new law would authorize police to arrest people they suspect crossed the Rio Grande between ports of entry.”
“Senate Bill 3 earmarks $1.54 billion in state money to continue construction of barriers along the 1,200-mile border, and allows the state to spend up to $40 million for state troopers to patrol Colony Ridge, a housing development near Houston that far-right publications claim is a magnet for undocumented immigrants.”
“The money would be added to at least $1.5 billion in contracts the state has issued since September 2021 to build about 40 miles of border barrier. As of August, Texas had erected 16 miles of steel bollard barriers in Starr, Cameron, Val Verde and Webb counties.”
“Senate Bill 4 creates a state crime for illegally crossing the border from Mexico — a new law that is likely to force a legal showdown with the federal government.”
“…SB 4 that makes illegally crossing the border a state crime is unconstitutional because immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility.”
“…30 former immigration judges appointed by both Republican and Democratic administrations said the bill is unconstitutional.”
“The new law faces a potential roadblock if the Mexican government refuses to accept certain migrants when they’re deported. Professors and a former Mexican immigration official have said Mexico is under no obligation to accept non-Mexican immigrants deported by Texas.”
“When asked what Texas would do if Mexico does not accept migrants deported by the state, Abbott said at the news conference: “We’re going to send them right back to Mexico.”
BID, lol, I’m toying with the idea of feigning interest in Nikki for the purpose of thwarting Plumpty. Like my old boss said, maybe you can’t stop ‘em but you can sure slow ‘em down.
Ivy – I’ve voted in Republican primaries before, to vote against someone getting to the general, and this may be one of those times, too. But which turd would be the lesser evil?
this day in history:
2019 Impeachment Day of loser guy (and what spur house GOPers’ to do likewise in remembrance).
but dems have an ace in the hole: santa
Attribution: A Democrats’ Wish List by Bruce Plante, PoliticalCartoons.com
in other news of the day, looks like wapo’s come up with new synonyms for “tortured” — “mistreated” and “coercive treatment.” odd, wonder why the kid gloves.
Witness against Hong Kong mogul Jimmy Lai was mistreated, reporting finds – The Washington Post
also in wapo two days ago ms petri’s Opinion | GOP baffled that ‘We Don’t Care if You Die’ is not a winning slogan – The Washington Post “Republicans struggle as they keep getting forced to talk about abortion” Politico headline, Dec. 15 Huh! It turns out “Well, with luck, you probably won’t die being forced to give birth to a nonviable fetus over the objections of your doctor!” — even if you say it in a warm, human-sounding way ― is not actually what people want to hear when deciding how to cast their votes. Fascinating! People keep hearing stories like that of Kate Cox, whose medically recommended abortion to end a nonviable pregnancy and preserve her fertility was shut down by the Texas Supreme Court, and saying, “Wait, is that actually your policy? Jesus!” and it turns out that “Yup!” or “Pretty much!” is not a winning answer. Also not great: “Please hold while the Supreme Court figures out if it wants to impose even more restrictions on what medical care you are allowed to receive!” Nobody would wish this to happen on anybody,” Ron DeSantis said this past week during a CNN town hall — which is true, except in the strict, limited sense that policies the governor and presidential aspirant has signed into law in Florida have imposed that exact situation on people. I guess it’s the thought that counts! Maybe he imposed it, but he didn’t wish it. Nikki Haley said “we have to humanize the situation,” which, I guess, are words! “So, you want a 13-year-old to be forced to bear her rapist’s baby at tremendous physical and emotional cost?” has one easy answer: “No!” And if you aren’t allowed to say that, that’s a problem! A messaging problem, of course. “Wait, you seriously don’t want any exceptions, and you are going to weaponize government against people with reasonable medical needs?” is a question to which “Don’t worry your pretty little head about it” is not a great answer. Or maybe they could stop trying to dehumanize half the population? No. It’s the words. It’s got to be the words. There’s no changing the underlying policy.… Read more »
the guardian
pogo & sturge, in re “pancho and Lefty”
Now you wear your skin like iron
Your breath as hard as kerosene
You weren’t your momma’s only boy, but her favorite one it seems
She began to cry when you said goodbye
And sank into your dreams
Pancho was a bandit boy, his horse was fast as polished steel
He wore his gun outside his pants
For all the honest world to feel
Pancho met his match you know on the deserts down in Mexico
Nobody heard his dyin words, ah but that’s the way it goes
All the Federales say, they could’ve had him any day
They only let him slip away, out of kindness I suppose
Lefty he can’t sing the blues all night long like he used to
The dust that Pancho bit down south ended up in Lefty’s mouth
The day they laid poor Pancho low, Lefty split for Ohio
Where he got the bread to go, there ain’t nobody knows
All the Federales say, they could’ve had him any day
They only let him slip away out of kindness I suppose
The boys tell how old Pancho fell, and Lefty’s livin in cheap hotels
The desert’s quiet, Cleveland’s cold
And so the story ends we’re told
Pancho needs your prayers it’s true, but save a few for Lefty too
He only did what he had to do, and now he’s growing old
All the Federales say, they could’ve had him any day
They only let him go so long, out of kindness I suppose
A few gray Federales say, they could’ve had him any day
They only let him go so long, out of kindness I suppose
Townes wasn’t full Townes unless he was playing in a bar.
And so….all you ever wanted to know about Pancho and Lefty…..and maybe then some.
john on the X man from twiXterville
John Oliver discusses Elon Musk, the influence he has over more than just his businesses, and the perfect place for him and Mark Zuckerberg to finally have that cage match.
Anybody watch Willie Nelson 90th Birthday Special on CBS last night? It was fun. Had no idea he has a son, Lukas, whose singing voice sounds just like his Dad, kinda spooky.
We did watch the Willie special, though a bit later than y’all since we’re in mountain zone. I too was amazed by Lukas, and thinking what a gift but also a burden for Willie’s kids.
Also, I’d completely forgotten about Jamey Johnson who I remember being a newcomer and promising star back in the day when he appeared on Imus. Then he went off the radar it seemed. I’m glad to know he’s made it.
Thanks, Sturge, for your research. I will dig into that.
I guess this is a defense, but still scary…FOX host Brian Kilmeade on Trump’s blood poisoning claim: “He’s just trying to say we want to keep America, America.”
Obvious translation: “Keep America White”
Like drinking poison and expecting someone else to die.
I sure hope we see some well researched reporting on what Trump’s “largest mass deportation in history” actually means, what it would look like. Also explore what Stephen Miller means in proposing “detainment camps”
They don’t care what they have to do to GEt detainment camps or who has to go into them—-like little toy soldiers they just WANT them.
Such sad little people.
Training and employment for modern day concentration camp workers is his new jobs plan.
HBO drama series that laid it bare.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Years_and_Years_(TV_series)
Sounds like SFB is resurecting his 2016 campaign.
I do not understand the polling in Michigan. The elections there should
have Michigan squarely in the Democratic column. What am I missing that makes
Trump to at least appear successful.
I am in the they are all racists camp.
In the days after 9/11, there were extra church services everywhere. I dropped in on a non-denominational church in the evening, because it was close, and they were preaching fear. I went to a Methodist church on Sunday, and Pastor Lee had spoken with Muslims (and it seems someone was there, but I don’t recall him speaking), and it was the opposite experience. One of the pastor’s grandparents had been in a Japanese internment camp. He just wanted everyone to take a beat and not be fearful and reactionary/hateful.
There was a woman in my hometown who was of Japanese descent. Her family had moved from Hawaii to the mainland. His property was confiscated, they ended up in an internment camp, and she (or the family) had somehow been separated.
My grandmother sent me a clipping from my hometown newspaper about the woman’s background (which was not common knowledge until the article in the paper), and that she had found her sister. This was in the late 80s, so not as easy to track down people.
The article also mentioned that she and her husband had to go to Colorado to get married, because they allowed inter-racial marriage.
Only cis, white, men with no moral compass are exempt what Orange Adolf and the Project 2025 nazis have in store for this country. If they aren’t also wealthy, they’ll just be seat fillers at GQP fascist rallies.
And to that point, the media is either sleeping on the job or complicit in the fascist agenda, because they should be warning everyone about Project 2025 and tRUMPsky’s plans every, single day.
crackers – I think the Israel/Gaza war is impacting Joe’s numbers.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/poll-shows-biden-support-slumping-michigan-muslims-rcna123732
“The poll lends further credence to the warnings Arab and Muslim community leaders in Michigan and beyond have been issuing for weeks: that Biden’s handling of the war in Gaza could cost him a state that he won by just 150,000 votes in 2020 and is home to an estimated 240,000 Muslims.”
Couple that with folks who think the Ukraine isn’t in their backyard, so why should they care what horrors Russia commits (and pay for it), and that is having an impact on polls.
I was listening to a run of the mill NPR Saturday afternoon radio show, “Live from Kerrville “ along about ‘74, maybe. I was recording because I was looking for new tunes to learn the words to and the next guy was Townes, whom I’d never heard of. So while I was recording I was introduced to a completely new thing.
He knocked my socks off and stood ‘em in the corner. Few years later I moved to Nashville and was able to job around with him a bit as the record people were experimenting with him to have a whole band, and one of the guys called me in. He usually just toured around with a bass player. Anyway it was an enjoyable summer, but Townes just wasn’t meant to have a band. He recorded a few things with sidemen but his best stuff was all him. He was one of the most naturally funny guys I’ve ever met.
I’ve been watching Lucas Nelson developing for a number of years now. He seems to be well grounded, all in all.
Ivy, your comment earlier inspired me to TwiXt: “Funny how the guy panicking over immigrants poisoning our blood once proposed we all drink bleach’
Craig, thanks, glad to be of service.
Fuming over setback to casino smoking ban, workers light up in New Jersey Statehouse meeting “With prospects for a smoking ban in Atlantic City’s casinos looking hazier than ever, workers who want smoking banned took matters into their own hands, lips and lungs…” “Members of the United Auto Workers union disrupted a meeting of a state Assembly committee that had been scheduled to take a preliminary vote on a bill to ban smoking in the casinos by lighting cigarettes and blowing smoke toward legislators.” “They say it’s OK for secondhand smoke to be blown in our faces all day, every day,” Vicente said afterward. “We wanted to know if it’s OK if we did that in their workplace. They said it was inappropriate and not allowed here.” “Angry workers said they want the state’s top Democratic leadership to force a vote on the original bill that would impose a total smoking ban, but the likelihood of such a vote remains unclear.” “…he expects to introduce the new bill next year after the current legislative session ends. It would prohibit smoking at table games; gradually reduce smoking at slot machines over 18 months, with specific distances between table games and the nearest smoking-permitted slot machines; and give the casinos 18 months to build enclosed rooms where gamblers could still smoke, but which would be staffed by employees who volunteer to work in them.” Hmmm, volunteer to work in an enclosed room full of smokers? That reminds me of a job I had decades ago, in a call center with 300 people per shift, the other 299 who seemed to be chain smokers. It was every asthmatics dream. I didn’t last long. Then, I went to an office where smoking was allowed for awhile. Eventually, there was a smoking lounge downstairs, and then the smokers were booted outside. “But the casinos oppose a smoking ban on competitive grounds, saying Atlantic City would lose business and jobs to casinos in neighboring states where smoking is permitted. Workers dispute that, citing research showing business improved at numerous casinos after a smoking ban.” What the… Read more »
It is a bit stunning. CNN host scripts for Trump segments all day lead with “he is increasingly using Nazi propaganda”. It is clearly a network decision to do this, not just renegade hosts.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/dec/16/epic-games-fortnite-antitrust-win-google-app
“…last week was that a jury in San Francisco had found Google guilty on all counts of antitrust violations stemming from its dispute with Epic Games, maker of the bestselling Fortnite, which had lodged a number of complaints related to how Google runs its Play store, an Android app market with a revenue of about $48bn (£38bn) a year.”
“…something very rare happened – a tech giant actually lost a big case in a US court. Second, the case was decided by a jury, not (as often happens in such cases) by a judge. Third, it showed that venerable antitrust (ie anti-monopoly) laws such as the Sherman Act still work.”
“In 2020, Tim Sweeney, the founder of Epic Games, began encouraging players of Fortnite to pay Epic directly for purchases of in-game items, rather than using systems developed by Google and Apple. Both tech giants promptly kicked Fortnite out of their app stores.”
“Sweeney then sued both for, as one expert put it, “monopolising the on-ramp to the phone”. He lost the Apple case, appealed, and it is now with the supreme court. But last week, he won in San Francisco. How come?”
“The tempting answer is that the Apple case was originally decided by a judge, whereas the Google one involved a 10-person jury.”
“There may have been no rocket scientists on that San Francisco jury, but its members were clearly able to figure out what that kind of corporate behaviour means.”
It begs the question, do the MAGAs want Nazism? Do they know what it is? They’re waving the swastikas and sieging the heils, for cryin’ out loud.
Excellent. The Georgia election workers have sued Rudy again, for continuing to slander them…
https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/18/politics/georgia-election-workers-giuliani/index.html?s=03
Ivy, ignorance is Democracy’s worst enemy. When people start thinking autocracy is better because it is more efficient, we are in trouble.
BTW I’m not sure what the rules are but I now always capitalize Democracy.
Mainstream media having no qualms about flatly saying he’s using Nazi language, channeling Hitler and the like — that strikes me as a major turning point. I really do think they get it now, that the man is a threat to the nation. But I’m not sure who to bet on.
It might be nice if they would at least hint at some of the treasonous smelling stuff now and again
Lord, save us from those who would save us.
https://www.axios.com/2023/12/18/lindsey-graham-trump-migrant-poisoning-remarks
You know who is having qualms about denouncing Orange Adolf’s Nazi rhetoric? DuhSantis and Nikki.
The only one with the sense to call him out is Chris Christie.
Ron DiSantis and Nikki Hayley, it seems, are Nazi enablers.
That drunk driver that hit a parked SUV in the presidential motorcade brought something to light. The Secret Service needs to do a better job at keeping POTUS Joe safe. They were slow to react, and it didn’t seem like the area was very secure.
The need to keep VP Harris safe, too.
The other weasely, little looks-like-a-Nazi-in-waiting, MAGAt Mike, is probably chomping at the bit.
It’s time to start capitalizing Nazi now, too, because they aren’t pretending not to be any more.
Nikki’s campaign found my cell phone. I’ve never previously received anything from a republican campaign. Haven’t opened it. Mr. Ivy says report it as spam.
https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/4362706-how-the-supreme-court-could-restrict-access-to-abortion-pills/
“The Supreme Court is re-entering the debate on abortion, as it agreed this week to hear an appeal from the Biden administration about access to the abortion pill mifepristone.”
“While an argument date isn’t set, a decision will likely come in June, almost exactly two years after the same justices overturned Roe v. Wade.”
“By deciding to take up the case, the Supreme Court is now in a position to weigh in on abortion even after its conservative majority said that question would be left to elected officials.”
“Whatever the court decides could have sweeping ramifications. While the pills will likely stay on the market, there could be some significant changes to access, even in states where abortion remains legal and protected.”
“Option 1: SCOTUS upholds the entirety of the Fifth Circuit decision
This would be a victory for the Alliance Defending Freedom, the far-right group representing the anti-abortion providers in the case, especially since the justices did not take up its challenge to mifepristone’s original approval.”
“Option 2: SCOTUS reverses the Fifth Circuit’s decision
This is what the White House and Danco Laboratories, the pharmaceutical industry and abortion-rights advocates are asking the high court to do.”
“Option 3: Something different
It’s possible the justices could uphold some post-2016 changes but invalidate others.”
And, whatever they decide, it will remind (any who need reminding) of their decision against women in Roe. If they judge to further restrict women’s human rights, it’ll give POTUS Joe an even bigger bounce.
Ivy – Burn some sage, too.
https://www.texastribune.org/2023/12/18/texas-governor-abbott-bills-border-wall-illegal-entry-crime-sb3-sb4/
“Gov. Greg Abbott signs bill making illegal immigration a state crime”
“The new law would authorize police to arrest people they suspect crossed the Rio Grande between ports of entry.”
“Senate Bill 3 earmarks $1.54 billion in state money to continue construction of barriers along the 1,200-mile border, and allows the state to spend up to $40 million for state troopers to patrol Colony Ridge, a housing development near Houston that far-right publications claim is a magnet for undocumented immigrants.”
“The money would be added to at least $1.5 billion in contracts the state has issued since September 2021 to build about 40 miles of border barrier. As of August, Texas had erected 16 miles of steel bollard barriers in Starr, Cameron, Val Verde and Webb counties.”
“Senate Bill 4 creates a state crime for illegally crossing the border from Mexico — a new law that is likely to force a legal showdown with the federal government.”
“…SB 4 that makes illegally crossing the border a state crime is unconstitutional because immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility.”
“…30 former immigration judges appointed by both Republican and Democratic administrations said the bill is unconstitutional.”
“The new law faces a potential roadblock if the Mexican government refuses to accept certain migrants when they’re deported. Professors and a former Mexican immigration official have said Mexico is under no obligation to accept non-Mexican immigrants deported by Texas.”
“When asked what Texas would do if Mexico does not accept migrants deported by the state, Abbott said at the news conference: “We’re going to send them right back to Mexico.”
SCOTUS is gonna be busyyyy.
BID, lol, I’m toying with the idea of feigning interest in Nikki for the purpose of thwarting Plumpty. Like my old boss said, maybe you can’t stop ‘em but you can sure slow ‘em down.
Ivy – I’ve voted in Republican primaries before, to vote against someone getting to the general, and this may be one of those times, too. But which turd would be the lesser evil?
BID, thinking that would be Nikki or I wouldn’t even consider it. Maybe Christie but he’s too far behind to be a threat to Plumpty.
Yep, too soon to tell.
NEW THREAD