David Horsey’s op ed D.C. chain saw massacre | The Seattle Times which accompanied the cartoon above: There is a key phrase to remember when contemplating a reorganization of the federal government: accountability over efficiency. One reason government bureaucracies may appear bloated and inefficient compared to private industry is because there are long ranks of federal workers tasked with making sure that the people’s tax dollars are being spent according to the dictates of law and regulations. We should be glad of that because, if a government is not accountable, it is corrupt. Another thing to keep in mind is that, unlike the private sector where the primary task is to make as much money as possible with the least amount of investment, the work of the government is to provide services, not to turn a profit. Neither a national park nor a foreign embassy nor an aircraft carrier is a business. Preserving the nation’s natural wonders, conducting the nation’s diplomacy and projecting the nation’s power — those are worthy endeavors apart from whatever economic benefit they may bring. It is not at all clear that the two tech geniuses President-elect Donald Trump has put in charge of reorganizing the government understand any of that. The initial ideas put forward by the two men, Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, betray a rather childish understanding of the role of government agencies and departments and how much our society relies on the jobs performed by federal workers. Musk and Ramaswamy talk as… Read more »
let’s pause for a moment during the hurry and scurry of happy holiday planning to consider, empathize and have great compassion for the current federal employees who now face a fearsome future let alone a bleak winter.
The idiocy of sfb and his grifters showed up in the first go around when he declared that Department of Agriculture should be where agriculture exists, or at least the West Slope of the Rockies in Colorado. That is where an agency which provides information and data used by various departments and agencies in D.C. was sent. Most of the people retired or quit, leaving an agency in trouble for many years. Due to how that great idea worked out there were no more moving programs or agencies away from D.C. People working in D.C. region are here because this is where their efforts are required.
I expect the group that is supposed to destroy the federal government will do worse.
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/nov/30/elon-musk-government-efficiency-self-enrichment “Levin suggested that Trump could order Bead funding to be withheld indefinitely as soon as he takes office, even though Congress has authorized the funding.” “Doing so would violate the 1974 Impoundment Control Act, a law Trump fell afoul of in his first term that ultimately resulted in one impeachment. But Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, who will co-lead the commission to reduce the size of the federal government, argued in a Wall Street Journal editorial last week that Trump should pursue impoundment when he deems it necessary.” “Mr Trump has previously suggested this statute is unconstitutional, and we believe the current supreme court would likely side with him on this question,” they wrote. *** “Musk had set his sights on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) long before Trump’s victory. The NTIA administers federal grant funding for the Bead program.” “Without a government subsidy, rolling fiber optic lines down country roads to serve a handful of houses at a time is usually too cost-prohibitive for an internet service provider. But to companies like AT&T or Verizon, a government subsidy to a local internet service provider also looks like the government funding the competition.” *** “After years of negotiation, lawsuits and politicking, the FCC and the NTIA settled on a modern definition for broadband service: 100 megabits per second (Mbps) download speeds, 20Mbps upload speeds, with less than 100 milliseconds of latency.” “Right now, Starlink doesn’t meet that standard. It has been getting slightly… Read more »
You are right Pat. Federal employees have plenty to fear, and the cruelty is the point:
“We want the bureaucrats to be traumatically affected,” said Trump cabinet pick Russell Vought. “When they wake up in the morning, we want them to not want to go to work because they are increasingly viewed as the villains. We want their funding to be shut down.”
I was at my sister’s house on Thanksgiving. Her next door neighbor is a hardcore Trumpster. His latest big flag that he has flying in front of his house says: Trump Won By A Lot!
FDA still on the job. For now. https://www.9news.com/article/news/health/cucumber-recall-salmonella-colorado/73-c3e5d968-47e3-4eb1-b70b-6634b85a3af2? DENVER — The Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella infections linked to cucumbers grown in Mexico. The FDA said as of Nov. 26, 68 people infected with Salmonella have been reported in 19 states, including Colorado, which has between 7 and 9 cases. There have been 18 confirmed hospitalizations nationwide, but no deaths have been reported. On Nov. 27, Arizona-based SunFed Produce initiated a voluntary recall of all sizes of American/slicer cucumbers that were grown by Agrotato, S.A. in Sonora, Mexico. SunFed Produce distributed recalled products to retail and food service customers in 26 states, including Colorado. The cucumbers could have been distributed in other states as well, the FDA said. People should check their refrigerators and freezers for recalled cucumbers from SunFed Produce. They may have a sticker that says “SunFed Mexico.” If you find them, the FDA said you should throw them away and clean and sanitize any surfaces they touched. If you bought whole, fresh American/slicer cucumbers between Oct. 12 and Nov. 26 and can’t tell where they are from, the FDA said you should contact the place where you bought them and ask if they are part of the recall or throw them away. Illness usually occurs within 12 to 72 hours after eating food that is contaminated with Salmonella, the FDA said, and the symptoms usually last for four to seven days.… Read more »
For Ambassador to France Trump picks Jared Kushner’s father Charles, who hired a prostitute to seduce his brother-in-law, recorded their sexual encounter, and sent the tape to his sister in retaliation for his brother-in-law’s cooperation in his felony conviction. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Kushner
Okay Iron Bowl so far. But there have been times I fell asleep during half time when Alabama was ahead, only to wake up an hour later to find them losing by 20 points. Roll Tide. 🏈
Craig – I hope government employees will go to work as an act of resistance to all that Putin’s puppets stand for. Support group for government employees!
https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/30/middleeast/analysis-syria-assad-rebels-intl-latam/index.html “The illusion of Assad’s grip on Syria shatters, as Russia, Iran and Hezbollah let their guard down” “Hafez al-Assad died in June 2000. He wasn’t immortal after all. His regime, however, lives on under the leadership of his son Bashar al-Assad.” “But Syria’s allies – Iran, Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Russia – came to the rescue. For the past few years the struggle in Syria between a corrupt, brutal regime in Damascus and a divided, often extreme opposition seemed frozen in place.” “Yet it was an illusion of regime victory, suddenly shattered this week after the opposition, led by the once al-Qaeda affiliated Jabhat al-Nusra – rebranded as Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham – launched an offensive out of Idlib province and in just 72 hours managed to storm all the way to the center of Aleppo.” “By Saturday evening, Syrian accounts on social media were buzzing about government forces collapsing across the northern part of the country, with rebels advancing on the central city of Hama. It was there, in early 1982, that Bashar’s father had his army and intelligence services slaughter thousands of his opponents, ending an uprising led by the Muslim Brotherhood.” “Beyond all this, there is the basic reality of longevity. The Assad dynasty has been in power for 53 years, since 1971. While its mere survival is an accomplishment, it has little else to show for it.” “Time and time again since 1971 the Assad dynasty has survived internal and external challenges and lived to fight… Read more »
“New York Times: Pete Hegseth’s mother wrote him an email in 2018 accusing him of mistreating women”
“Penelope Hegseth told her son in the email that there are “many” women whom he has “abused in some way” and encouraged him to “get some help,” according to the email published by The Times.
“According to The Times’ report, Penelope Hegseth wrote, “I have no respect for any man that belittles, lies, cheats, sleeps around and uses women for his own power and ego. You are that man (and have been for years) and as your mother, it pains me and embarrasses me to say that, but it is the sad, sad truth.”
“Penelope Hegseth sent the email to her son on April 30, 2018, according to The Times’ report — around six months after the alleged assault. The email was sent in connection with her son’s divorce from his second wife, The Times reported.”
Why Kash Patel is exactly the kind of person who would serve in a second Trump administration
“When Trump entertained naming Patel deputy director of the FBI, Attorney General Bill Barr confronted the White House chief of staff and said, “Over my dead body.”
“It wasn’t a question of ideology. He wasn’t a zealot like Stephen Miller, trying to make the bureaucracy yield to his agenda. Rather, Patel appeared singularly focused on pleasing Trump. Even in an administration full of loyalists, Patel was exceptional in his devotion. This was what seemed to disturb many of his colleagues the most: Patel was dangerous, several of them told me, not because of a certain plan he would be poised to carry out if given control of the CIA or FBI, but because he appeared to have no plan at all—his priorities today always subject to a mercurial president’s wishes tomorrow.”
“Labour MP hit by barrage of racist abuse after calling Musk to give evidence
A senior Labour MP was targeted by a barrage of racist and sexist online abuse from supporters of Elon Musk after demanding that the billionaire give evidence to Parliament.”
“Mr Musk has responded by saying that UK MPs “will be summoned to the United States of America to explain their censorship and threats to American citizens”.
*What are the odds his heart gives out from the party drugs? (assuming he has a heart)
Mr. Trump’s planned nomination of Mr. Patel has echoes of his failed attempt to place another partisan firebrand, Matt Gaetz, atop the Justice Department as attorney general. It could run into hurdles in the Senate, which will be called on to confirm him, and is sure to send shock waves through the F.B.I., which Mr. Trump and his allies have come to view as part of a “deep state” conspiracy against him.
“On Thanksgiving, the Republican posted an edited image of Norman Rockwell’s 1943 Thanksgiving painting “Freedom From Want” on social media.”
“In Vance’s version, the man at the head of the table is Donald Trump, the woman is Vance, and the turkey is a Republican-dominated electoral map of the country.
*It may have been weird, but it had a purpose. Word is spreading that this wasn’t the landslide they have claimed, so there isn’t really a mandate. This was a chance to show that mostly-red map…but corn and cattle do not vote. That red area is sparsely populated, but it’s a lot of red. (The pic reminds me of the billboard on “Schitt’s Creek.”)
Ivy – The way this is going, I hope there is a deep state (or a guardian angel or fairy godmother or…) if they can wrangle the Putinasties and ensure there is actually another fair election.
David Horsey’s op ed D.C. chain saw massacre | The Seattle Times which accompanied the cartoon above: There is a key phrase to remember when contemplating a reorganization of the federal government: accountability over efficiency. One reason government bureaucracies may appear bloated and inefficient compared to private industry is because there are long ranks of federal workers tasked with making sure that the people’s tax dollars are being spent according to the dictates of law and regulations. We should be glad of that because, if a government is not accountable, it is corrupt. Another thing to keep in mind is that, unlike the private sector where the primary task is to make as much money as possible with the least amount of investment, the work of the government is to provide services, not to turn a profit. Neither a national park nor a foreign embassy nor an aircraft carrier is a business. Preserving the nation’s natural wonders, conducting the nation’s diplomacy and projecting the nation’s power — those are worthy endeavors apart from whatever economic benefit they may bring. It is not at all clear that the two tech geniuses President-elect Donald Trump has put in charge of reorganizing the government understand any of that. The initial ideas put forward by the two men, Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, betray a rather childish understanding of the role of government agencies and departments and how much our society relies on the jobs performed by federal workers. Musk and Ramaswamy talk as… Read more »
let’s pause for a moment during the hurry and scurry of happy holiday planning to consider, empathize and have great compassion for the current federal employees who now face a fearsome future let alone a bleak winter.
Elon Scrooge and his partner Vivek Marley prowl the streets of D.C.
Brilliant.
The idiocy of sfb and his grifters showed up in the first go around when he declared that Department of Agriculture should be where agriculture exists, or at least the West Slope of the Rockies in Colorado. That is where an agency which provides information and data used by various departments and agencies in D.C. was sent. Most of the people retired or quit, leaving an agency in trouble for many years. Due to how that great idea worked out there were no more moving programs or agencies away from D.C. People working in D.C. region are here because this is where their efforts are required.
I expect the group that is supposed to destroy the federal government will do worse.
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/nov/30/elon-musk-government-efficiency-self-enrichment “Levin suggested that Trump could order Bead funding to be withheld indefinitely as soon as he takes office, even though Congress has authorized the funding.” “Doing so would violate the 1974 Impoundment Control Act, a law Trump fell afoul of in his first term that ultimately resulted in one impeachment. But Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, who will co-lead the commission to reduce the size of the federal government, argued in a Wall Street Journal editorial last week that Trump should pursue impoundment when he deems it necessary.” “Mr Trump has previously suggested this statute is unconstitutional, and we believe the current supreme court would likely side with him on this question,” they wrote. *** “Musk had set his sights on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) long before Trump’s victory. The NTIA administers federal grant funding for the Bead program.” “Without a government subsidy, rolling fiber optic lines down country roads to serve a handful of houses at a time is usually too cost-prohibitive for an internet service provider. But to companies like AT&T or Verizon, a government subsidy to a local internet service provider also looks like the government funding the competition.” *** “After years of negotiation, lawsuits and politicking, the FCC and the NTIA settled on a modern definition for broadband service: 100 megabits per second (Mbps) download speeds, 20Mbps upload speeds, with less than 100 milliseconds of latency.” “Right now, Starlink doesn’t meet that standard. It has been getting slightly… Read more »
While Elon Musk rails against the federal governmen his SpaceX and Tesla companies get more than $15 billion a year in government contracts. And he’s got his eye on capturing billions in federal spending for rural internet expansion for his slow-speed Starlink satellite system. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/nov/30/elon-musk-government-efficiency-self-enrichment?CMP=share_btn_url
You are right Pat. Federal employees have plenty to fear, and the cruelty is the point:
https://www.propublica.org/article/video-donald-trump-russ-vought-center-renewing-america-maga?utm_campaign=propublica-sprout&utm_content=1732975203&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter
today’s meme…
The natural outcome of Reagan’s campaign of antigovernment rhetoric. What took so long?
Actually, America has always been the anti-government government.
Live Free and Die. Texas can still claim that motto. New Hampshire won’t mind.
I was at my sister’s house on Thanksgiving. Her next door neighbor is a hardcore Trumpster. His latest big flag that he has flying in front of his house says: Trump Won By A Lot!
Guess what I’m eating for supper.
Just getting started, move the furniture back against the wall, it is time to dance.
https://youtu.be/uq6XNIJVDcM?si=2-3-kuguFhO6Auq1
FDA still on the job. For now. https://www.9news.com/article/news/health/cucumber-recall-salmonella-colorado/73-c3e5d968-47e3-4eb1-b70b-6634b85a3af2? DENVER — The Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella infections linked to cucumbers grown in Mexico. The FDA said as of Nov. 26, 68 people infected with Salmonella have been reported in 19 states, including Colorado, which has between 7 and 9 cases. There have been 18 confirmed hospitalizations nationwide, but no deaths have been reported. On Nov. 27, Arizona-based SunFed Produce initiated a voluntary recall of all sizes of American/slicer cucumbers that were grown by Agrotato, S.A. in Sonora, Mexico. SunFed Produce distributed recalled products to retail and food service customers in 26 states, including Colorado. The cucumbers could have been distributed in other states as well, the FDA said. People should check their refrigerators and freezers for recalled cucumbers from SunFed Produce. They may have a sticker that says “SunFed Mexico.” If you find them, the FDA said you should throw them away and clean and sanitize any surfaces they touched. If you bought whole, fresh American/slicer cucumbers between Oct. 12 and Nov. 26 and can’t tell where they are from, the FDA said you should contact the place where you bought them and ask if they are part of the recall or throw them away. Illness usually occurs within 12 to 72 hours after eating food that is contaminated with Salmonella, the FDA said, and the symptoms usually last for four to seven days.… Read more »
For Ambassador to France Trump picks Jared Kushner’s father Charles, who hired a prostitute to seduce his brother-in-law, recorded their sexual encounter, and sent the tape to his sister in retaliation for his brother-in-law’s cooperation in his felony conviction. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Kushner
Ivanka was only barely good enough to marry into the family.
What is Chris Christie getting?
Okay Iron Bowl so far. But there have been times I fell asleep during half time when Alabama was ahead, only to wake up an hour later to find them losing by 20 points. Roll Tide. 🏈
Ivy – Did the fight on the sidelines wake you up?
Craig – I hope government employees will go to work as an act of resistance to all that Putin’s puppets stand for. Support group for government employees!
Oof! Kash Patel is heading up the FBI. I hope there’s internal surveillance on him.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/30/middleeast/analysis-syria-assad-rebels-intl-latam/index.html “The illusion of Assad’s grip on Syria shatters, as Russia, Iran and Hezbollah let their guard down” “Hafez al-Assad died in June 2000. He wasn’t immortal after all. His regime, however, lives on under the leadership of his son Bashar al-Assad.” “But Syria’s allies – Iran, Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Russia – came to the rescue. For the past few years the struggle in Syria between a corrupt, brutal regime in Damascus and a divided, often extreme opposition seemed frozen in place.” “Yet it was an illusion of regime victory, suddenly shattered this week after the opposition, led by the once al-Qaeda affiliated Jabhat al-Nusra – rebranded as Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham – launched an offensive out of Idlib province and in just 72 hours managed to storm all the way to the center of Aleppo.” “By Saturday evening, Syrian accounts on social media were buzzing about government forces collapsing across the northern part of the country, with rebels advancing on the central city of Hama. It was there, in early 1982, that Bashar’s father had his army and intelligence services slaughter thousands of his opponents, ending an uprising led by the Muslim Brotherhood.” “Beyond all this, there is the basic reality of longevity. The Assad dynasty has been in power for 53 years, since 1971. While its mere survival is an accomplishment, it has little else to show for it.” “Time and time again since 1971 the Assad dynasty has survived internal and external challenges and lived to fight… Read more »
This goon makes Matt Gaetz look sane.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/30/politics/pete-hegseth-mother-email-new-york-times/index.html
“New York Times: Pete Hegseth’s mother wrote him an email in 2018 accusing him of mistreating women”
“Penelope Hegseth told her son in the email that there are “many” women whom he has “abused in some way” and encouraged him to “get some help,” according to the email published by The Times.
“According to The Times’ report, Penelope Hegseth wrote, “I have no respect for any man that belittles, lies, cheats, sleeps around and uses women for his own power and ego. You are that man (and have been for years) and as your mother, it pains me and embarrasses me to say that, but it is the sad, sad truth.”
“Penelope Hegseth sent the email to her son on April 30, 2018, according to The Times’ report — around six months after the alleged assault. The email was sent in connection with her son’s divorce from his second wife, The Times reported.”
BID, that was wild.
THE MAN WHO WILL DO ANYTHING FOR TRUMP
Why Kash Patel is exactly the kind of person who would serve in a second Trump administration
“When Trump entertained naming Patel deputy director of the FBI, Attorney General Bill Barr confronted the White House chief of staff and said, “Over my dead body.”
“It wasn’t a question of ideology. He wasn’t a zealot like Stephen Miller, trying to make the bureaucracy yield to his agenda. Rather, Patel appeared singularly focused on pleasing Trump. Even in an administration full of loyalists, Patel was exceptional in his devotion. This was what seemed to disturb many of his colleagues the most: Patel was dangerous, several of them told me, not because of a certain plan he would be poised to carry out if given control of the CIA or FBI, but because he appeared to have no plan at all—his priorities today always subject to a mercurial president’s wishes tomorrow.”
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2024/10/kash-patel-trump-national-security-council/679566/
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2024/11/30/labour-mp-hit-by-barrage-of-racist-abuse-after-calling-musk/
“Labour MP hit by barrage of racist abuse after calling Musk to give evidence
A senior Labour MP was targeted by a barrage of racist and sexist online abuse from supporters of Elon Musk after demanding that the billionaire give evidence to Parliament.”
“Mr Musk has responded by saying that UK MPs “will be summoned to the United States of America to explain their censorship and threats to American citizens”.
*What are the odds his heart gives out from the party drugs? (assuming he has a heart)
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/jd-vance-trump-thanksgiving-post_n_6749b89be4b02079326a8393
“If Vice President-elect JD Vance wants people to stop calling him weird, he might want to stop doing stuff like this.”
“On Thanksgiving, the Republican posted an edited image of Norman Rockwell’s 1943 Thanksgiving painting “Freedom From Want” on social media.”
“In Vance’s version, the man at the head of the table is Donald Trump, the woman is Vance, and the turkey is a Republican-dominated electoral map of the country.
*It may have been weird, but it had a purpose. Word is spreading that this wasn’t the landslide they have claimed, so there isn’t really a mandate. This was a chance to show that mostly-red map…but corn and cattle do not vote. That red area is sparsely populated, but it’s a lot of red. (The pic reminds me of the billboard on “Schitt’s Creek.”)
Ivy – The way this is going, I hope there is a deep state (or a guardian angel or fairy godmother or…) if they can wrangle the Putinasties and ensure there is actually another fair election.
NEW THREAD by trail friend Jack