A Tale of Two Citizens

IT WAS THE BEST of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way—in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.

[Charles Dickens – A Tale of Two Cities opening paragraph]

An updated plot in today’s revision thickens, twists and takes unexpected turns.

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94 thoughts on “A Tale of Two Citizens”

  1. But wait, there’s more! Another election plot twist | The Seattle Times

    by David Horsey

    After a long, uninspiring slog through early campaign months that seemed certain to set up a rematch between the two aging candidates who battled each other in the 2020 presidential election, the game has been dramatically changed by three pivotal events.
    First was the debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump in which Trump’s nonsensical statements were overshadowed by Biden’s weak voice, faltering manner and jumbled thoughts. The president’s performance sent Democrats into panic mode as polls showed huge majorities perceived Biden as too old to carry on in his job. Doom awaited the Ds in November.
    Then, two days before the Republican National Convention, a would-be assassin took a shot at Trump, clipped the ex-president’s ear and gave the Republican nominee an opportunity to claim that he was saved by the grace of God. The RNC proceeded with Republicans convinced that their nearly martyred candidate was destined for victory.
    But now, the biggest twist in the plot has happened. Pressured by top Democrats and finally convinced that his chances to win had become negligible, Biden has withdrawn from the race and has endorsed his vice president, Kamala Harris, for the nomination. With the party rapidly uniting around their much-younger candidate, Democrats are elated, Republicans are in a tizzy and voters have a choice they never expected.
    In a campaign year like this, it is only natural to wonder what wild wrinkle in the scenario may come next, because something unexpected surely will.

  4. The internet is exploding with memes referencing the Vice President, Jake Tapper aspires to be as brat as Stephen Colbert, and Donald Trump can’t seem to land a blow against his new opponent in the presidential race.

  6. Let the courts be flooded with lawsuits!  sfb filed one with Federal Election Commission that candidate Harris and candidate Biden illegally transferred campaign funds that were donated to the Biden-Harris campaign.  There is supposed to be logic in the verbiage, but as it came from the sfb legal team it may not be human logic.
     
    What will be the next of many possible cases? We know that at least the big far right anti-American group is planning on many, possibly at state and federal levels.  Maybe we will see “individuals” filing claiming their vote for Biden-Harris was not for Harris only?  So many ways to abuse the courts.  This should be interesting.

  7. VoteVets, giving a little nudge to powers-that-be, put this out yesterday:

    VoteVets endorsed @CaptMarkKelly, a true leader who knows what it takes to get the job done. From his service in the U.S. military to his time as a NASA astronaut, and now as Senator and loving husband to Gabby Giffords.

  8. Tie Russia around their necks.  It’s important they pay a price for being Russian toadies.

    starsandstripes

    The Treasury Department is ordering the nation’s banking industry to start disclosing its holdings of Russian assets, with the goal of eventually seizing those billions of dollars in assets and selling them to aid the devastated Ukrainian economy.

    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

    Badd Company:
    BOOM!

    Another big thing I’ve been waiting for!!

    There’s a Big Hammer Coming!

    I did warn long ago “If anyone has money tied to any Russians whether wittingly or unwittingly, I suggest you distance yourself and go see Jack”

    Or call the
    @FBI

  9. I’ve always loved that Dickens opening along with Shakespeare’s lines to Richard III

    Now is our winter of discontent made glorious summer by this son of York.

    Let’s see what the daughter of Oakland can do to improve the political weather.

     

     

  11. Tired vs inspired
    Low energy vs high energy
    Chaos vs unity
    Grievance vs hope
    Cynicism vs optimism
    Senile vs cogent
    Criminality vs the rule of law
    One represents a bright future, the other a terrible past. We are not going back.

  13. My question from last night: Can Orange Adolf just Scaramucci JD Vance?  What would Nikki Hayley voters (who hate tRUMPsky) do if he could swap JD for Nikki? 
     

  14. https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/24/europe/russia-moscow-troops-signing-bonus-intl-hnk/index.html

    “Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin introduced the one-time signing bonus of 1.9 million rubles (about $22,000) for city residents who join the military, according to a statement on Tuesday.”

    “Anyone taking up the offer would earn as much as 5.2 million rubles ($59,600) in their first year of service, the statement added.”

    “Those willing to join the fight in Ukraine can also receive one-time cash payments of about $5,690-$11,390 for injuries, “depending on the severity,” and the family of a soldier killed in action could be paid $34,150.”

    “While Russia’s casualty numbers remain shrouded in secrecy, estimates say the death toll among troops is high. More than 70,000 soldiers were likely killed or wounded in May and June alone…”

  15. yahoo news:

    Mark Kelly’s mother, Patricia, served with Flagler County Police Department in Florida

    Besides becoming the first female police officer at the West Orange Police Department, Patricia Kelly also served with the Flagler County Police Department. An injury prompted her to retire and move to Texas to be near her grandchildren, according to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.

    Patricia Kelly also was a prison guard and an Essex Park County (New Jersey) police officer.

    She died in April 2012 of lung cancer.

    “She is the only woman in the world who raised twin astronauts. She raised two sons, not just brothers but twins, who flew up into the heavens,” said her husband, Richard Kelly.

  16. There’s some brou·ha·ha brewing as to whether Brian Kilmeade said “colored” vs. “college” in referring to Kamala’s upcoming sorority speech.

  17. I can’t grasp the tension in the VP hopefuls’ minds right now, In a few days, we’ll know.  I prefer Andy or Josh but any one of the pool will work towards a November squeak-by victory for the ages.  If perchance Joe’s VP would have been a man, no doubt it would be Gretchen Whitmer, but no, no 2-woman ticket would fly in this nation.  It should, but politics is politics.
    Vance calling Harris a lazy government check collector made him look plain stupid.  Well, the first poll I saw had Trump up 46–45.  Then I saw a poll, Harris 50==45 over Trump.
    Craig, are you on the scene for today’s protests in DC?  

  18. Well I’ve tried 2 comments with the words rush ya in them, both of which simply disappeared.  They were about rush ya being a thread in America history 2016-2024.  

  20. From the tower meeting with the dirt on Hillary guy, to the congressmen as Soviet guests that Independence Day, to hell-sinky, to state secrets in the Mar-a-Stucco shit rooms.
    Tie that thread’s loose ends and you’ll snare some traitors.

  22. Rush ya head agent wears orange makeup, tells his guru Putin to “do anything in the hell you want, O My Hero! ”  I blog on a lady’s blog who resides in Grosse Pointe, Michigan.  She is training hard with flippers for her swim to Canada should Orangie steal this election.  I might join her.  Maybe I’d need an inner tube though. 

  23. https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/23/climate/kamala-harris-on-climate-energy/index.html

    “Climate action has run through Harris’s career for decades. As California’s attorney general, Harris sued big oil companies like BP and ConocoPhillips, and investigated Exxon Mobil for its role in climate change disinformation. While in the Senate, she sponsored the Green New Deal resolution. And as vice president, Harris made the crucial tie-breaking vote to pass Democrats’ historic climate bill.”

  25. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/jd-vance-annoyed-debate-kamala-harris-rcna163074
    “I was told I was going to debate Kamala Harris,” Vance said here Monday during his first solo event as former President Donald Trump’s running mate. “And now President Trump is going to get to debate her? I’m kind of pissed off about that, if I’m being honest with you.”
     
    Orange Adolf would gladly let JD debate Harris for him, aaand she’d wipe the floor with JD, too.

    He’s not “pissed,” because a holier-than-thou…oh, wait, there’s nothing holy about a Christian nationalist.  Anyway,  Harris’ VP pick will wipe the floor with JD.  No worries.

    Harris/Kelly 2024
    Upward Together

  27. From what I can figure out, jd Vance had sex with a couch.   And is sidekick to a Russian assey.

  30. Shapiro is a mistake. 
    Scranton Joe Biden can get PA.  

    Shapiro = Cooper = Tim Kaine (drag on the ticket)

    Craig  –  I really hope your sources are wrong.

  31. They could bounce Vance, he could “withdraw voluntarily”.  Maybe if King Dippy won, God forbid, he’d have to have a VP confirmed by Senate, i dunno

    (…and i told you, leak Shapiro, announce Kelly 🤫)

  32. Do you know how much psychological testing astronauts have to go through. Kelly would be a steady hand.  
    He’s got name recognition, he comes from a border state that we also need, and he’s got military experience.
    Don’t throw it away.  It’s Independents we need and Harris/Kelly can them.   I seriously doubt Harris/Shapiro can get enough of those voters. 
    Harris/Kelly 2024
     

  33. Craig, are they saying the Mark Kelly-story is a red herring? 
    Can not John Fetterman bring in PA?

  34. btw just because we want Kelly doesn’t mean Kelly is interested 
     
    he’s a heaven-sent VP candidate with that bio and resumé

  36. speaking of bios, for contrast:

    Ogles later studied at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU), where he failed every course taken in the fall of 1995 and the fall of 1998; he returned to the university in 2007 and graduated with a 2.4 grade point average, with a Bachelor of Science in Liberal Studies.[3][4]The Washington Post described Liberal Studies as “a general education degree typically for those who cannot settle on a major”; NewsChannel 5 gave a similar description.[4][5] Ogles said in late February 2023 that his failed university courses were due to “an interfamilial matter” that led him to abandon his studies “to financially support my family during a difficult time”; and that he eventually completed his studies with online courses.[6][7]

    Disputed education details
    edit
    After Ogles became a congressman in 2023, his congressional biography claimed that he received his degree from MTSU, “where he studied policy and economics.”[3][4][8] Ogles’ claim was questioned by NewsChannel 5 in February 2023, which published an investigatory report detailing that in a 2009 resume and also in a background check of unspecified date, Ogles claimed to have an MTSU degree in international relations, with minors in psychology and English.[3]NewsChannel 5 additionally reported that MTSU declined to confirm Ogles’ degree, referencing a federal law allowing students (like Ogles) the ability to block the release of academic records.[3] Ogles later spoke to WWTN radio, calling for everyone to “lock down your transcripts … so you’re not a victim of identity theft.”[4] In other comments to WTTN made on February 21, 2023, Ogles said that he does not remember “saying I had an economics degree … because I’ve been quite clear that I studied political science and international relations”, while maintaining that he studied political science from “the economic perspective”.[9]
    On February 26, Ogles said that he was “mistaken” in claiming to have an MTSU degree in international relations, and claimed that he requested his college transcript the week before, and only learned then that his degree was actually in Liberal Studies.[4][6][10]NewsChannel 5 called Ogles’s statement “apparently preemptive” because Ogles “ignored our requests for comment” after the media outlet obtained his MTSU transcript from an old job application.[4] On February 27, NewsChannel 5 published Ogles’s transcript, which showed that Ogles took only one economics course at a community college, scoring a C pass, while he passed nine (and failed several other) political science courses at MTSU.[4] By February 28, Ogles’s congressional biography was edited to simply state: “Andy obtained his degree from MTSU

    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Ogles

  39. He opposed some pro-union legislation , i think that’s an asset, would demonstrate diversity of opinion

  40. I have been for Shapiro even when an open convention was being discussed, so I hope your sources are right.  What’s this about Kelly’s anti-union stance being a positive?  Oh hell no!  Lots of action right now with invective over Netanyahu’s speech. Talib’s sign had it right.  When Netanyahu said his forces killed hundreds of Hamas and “practically zero civilians”, and then said only 24 civilians in Rafah, I swore.  50 specialist doctors have been recently blown to bits by the IDF, and for each one, hundreds of civilians.  Netanyahu and Trump will both be imprisoned soon, if right is right. Correct me if I am wrong; I heard 80% of Israelis want Netanyahu OUT.  Wow, it’s quite a ruckus there in Washington, DC, fires, loud protests against Netanyahu, lots of Israel supporters who want this war to end, and they blame Netanyahu for allowing October 7 to even happen.  Netanyahu’s pledge to keep the war on full volume is his own political stunt to stay out of prison. Nadler really giving Netanyahu hell now, calling him dishonest and referring to Netanyahu’s call to assassinate Rabin in 1994.

  41. Dex, I heard it was only 70% but otherwise I agree. Based on what I’m reading, reviews of Bibi’s production are mixed.

  42. https://www.newarab.com/news/who-josh-shapiro-harris-potential-pro-israel-running-mate

    “Despite Shapiro’s support for liberal causes and policies, his staunch support for Israel amid the brutal war on Gaza has attracted huge attention in recent months.”

    “This is significant given Biden’s strong support for Israel could lose him votes in key swing states like Michigan, which has a significant Arab and Muslim American population, as well as among younger voters, people of colour, and progressives.”

    “In December 2023, a few months after Israel launched its war on Gaza, Shapiro reiterated his support for Israel’s military’s actions…”
    “Israel not only has a right, they have a responsibility to rid the region of Hamas and the terror that Hamas can perpetrate,” he said at the time.

    “Some have accused Shapiro of stifling free speech, after he ordered state employees to avoid “scandalous” conduct over pro-Gaza protests.”
     
     
    Do NOT put Shapiro on the ticket. He’ll be called Genocide Josh and it will sink Harris.

  43. Interesting day/week and not just on the political side.
    Last week my small stock fund started out performing the large stock S&P 500.  It was about time and an indicator that maybe the economy is reaching everyone. A good thing for incumbents.
    Amazon just offered me  $200 credit if I applied and was accepted for their credit card, with Chase bank. If I use that card for purchases I get 5% rebate.  Given that I have a long history of paying off my card every month and am already a loyal customer of Amazon. Weird, But I took the free money.
    I’m in an interesting position in life, I get a lot of free stuff from my bank, cash back from my credit cards. As I told my niece I have no idea what she deals with. She was moving out of town and I loaned her the money to do so. We were discussing the best way to get the payments to me. I started to make a suggestion, then I realized that I had no clue what her world was like. For me everything is free but not so for her. I  told her use what ever method that cost the least and got the money to me. And just let me know what info she needed. 
    BTW the $200 gift card offer was for an $10 purchase. When I put out my Joe flag yesterday I noticed my American flag was a bit faded looking. It had been out there for a year in all kinds of weather. I bought another one on Amazon for $10 to replace it. I don’t think I paid that much last year, inflation.
    Jack

  44. kelly said he’d support that pro-union bill if it came down to needing his vote, but he had concerns about it and would only if his vote necessary at the time which it wasn’t.  given his history and that both his parents were in police unions, he’s absolutely NOT anti-union. 

  45. thanks, patd

    Johnson knew exactly the environment he’d create by inviting Netanyahu, that’s why he did it, fucking GOP chaos agents, every last one 

    While we workshop slogans and messages, they are honing their racist code. i won’t repeat any, but i see what they’re doing 👁️

    btw people, we don’t have to shit on our own candidates, “deep bench of qualified candidates”, not “let’s make GOP arguments for them”

    y’all do y’all tho, just my opinion

    for example: i don’t know which from a deep bench of very qualified candidates the presumptive nominee Harris will pick, but i do know that the GOP VP candidate once tweeted, “i wonder what percentage of the American population has Trump sexually assaulted?”

    lol. good one JD 🤜🤛

    (actual quote: “In October 2016, Vance tweeted, “What percentage of the American population has @realDonaldTrump sexually assaulted?”” https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2024/07/23/politics/kfile-jd-vance-believed-donald-trump-sexual-assault-allegations-2016 )

    When Bibi calls the protesters “useful idiots”, he doesn’t mean for Hamas, he means for Republicans, getting played like a fiddle

    that smile on Johnson’s face is “holy shit, it worked! Too easy!”

    (my grandmother would call that a “shit-eating grin”)

  49. Seeing all these ridiculous efforts to make something negative out of Kamala’s laugh I keep thinking how we never see Trump laugh at all. Isn’t that one of the signs of a sociopath?

  50. His only sense of humor comes out of making fun of others. He has no feelings, only defense mechanisms. His “real self” is well defended against intruders that would expose him as “small.” 

  53. Do MAGAt/Republicans really expect to attract Independents with misogyny and racism? 

  55. Was landing some hits on Kamala they wrote for him but then lost interest and started talking about crowd sizes. He lost the thread on defining Kamala, got distracted, just talking about himself.

  56. After a long detour Trump gets back to Harris: “Kamala wants to get rid of cows for climate change, and then people, there will be no more people”

  57. We have had a few days to absorb or accept that our Vice President and 2025 presidential candidate is a woman of color.  Some seem to think this is important.  What is very disturbing is that a few of us think “so what?” when many others find it important.  We should not have to think about a woman, a woman with not white parents, is running to be president of these United States.  It is a big SO WHAT!
     Every day, and it is now ever hour, we are reminded how racists the magat/republican party is.  The only way to take care of this is to keep fighting.

  59. Despite his rambling gibberish their campaign theme is clear though — she’s a San Francisco super liberal who wants open borders and high taxes.

    The race to define her is on. The winner wins it all.

    It’s very early but along with her strong attacks I’d like to see more self-definition. She has an inspiring story.

  60. Orange Adolf is for open borders when he can exploit it.  
    Orange Adolf is cutting taxes for billionaires.
    The response is pretty easy.  He’s still planning to his base (and talking to himself, apparently), which is not going to attract Independents.
    Biden/Kelly 2024
     

  63. There’s a bit of makeup on his face but slightly better job that T’s makeup artist does.

  68. The makeup didn’t cover the bruise very well. 
     

    There are some who probably still don’t know that he’s served all these years despite a speech impediment.

  69. I am wondering why he has this case of laryngitis.  I fear he has recently been diagnosed with some debilitating illness – throat cancer? – that was shocking news and has left him in a bit of a depression realizing that he had to resign.  

  70. Biden:

    “I believe my record as president merits a second term. But nothing can come in the way of saving our democracy. That includes personal ambition. So I decided the best way forward is to pass the torch to a new generation.”

  71. Claymont. That may be the site of the library. Spittin’ distance of the PA line. 

  74. My favorite part:

    “Nowhere else on earth could a kid with a stutter from modest beginnings in Scranton and Claymont one day sit behind the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office as president of the United States. But here I am. That’s what’s so special about America.”

  75. I don’t think this was planned …. but the answer to why he didn’t step aside much earlier, or even refuse to run for a second term, IMHO, is that he couldn’t do it too early, otherwise Kamala being the nominee would not have been a given, and the Dem’s would have wasted lots of money and good will having a contested battle.  And the candidate ONCE AGAIN would have been a white male, and I truly believe that Biden wants more than anything to be his legacy that he paved the way for women and persons of color to be in more leading roles in our government than ever before.  I think he truly thought, as did all (or most) of us before the debate, that he actually still had the energy, youthful vigor, and fire in the belly to complete this campaign and serve a 2nd term, or at least a good portion of it.  Something happened health wise to him, or a diagnosis was given, in the past 45 days and has caused his health to decline rapidly.  

  76. Ivy I thought about that and hopefully the lingering laryngitis is due simply and only to him battling Covid.  

  77. We haven’t heard any updates recently about Jimmy Carter, but it goes without saying we need Joe around for a while longer in the club of former presidents, one with dignity unlike the most recent member.

  80. MJ, good takes there. All along I was relying on Jill, and took on faith that if she thought he could go for a second term I would set aside my deep reservations because it never made sense to me that we could elect someone who would end up closer to 90 than 80 at the the end of his term. Honestly, I’m a bit miffed with her.

  81. back to veeping, optics-wise Mark might be the better choice since he’s 5’8″ and the other guys are at least 6 if not more.  she’s 5’2″ (with heels maybe 5’5″) and a tall running mate standing next to her sends a subliminal message of sorts.

    any way she needs to pick someone that she feels most comfortable with and that can step-in as prez on moments notice.   

  83. Yes Craig … I felt too that Jill would be the voice of reason about his abilities ….. BUT again, there may have been a calculated delay in the resignation and the staunchness with which he (his camp) continued to insist that he would not drop out.  I think it was pointed out that he requested that Schummer “give him one week” and it was one week after that meeting when the announcement was made.  By the way, who loves Caitlin (ROLL TIDE!!) Collins as much as I do?

  84. Dr. Jill Biden
    @DrBiden
    To those who never wavered, to those who refused to doubt, to those who always believed, my heart is full of gratitude.
    Thank you for the trust you put in Joe—now it’s time to put that trust in Kamala.
    Love,
    Jill

  85. Yes MJ i do think if this all works out Kamala might be better off with a short campaign and a guaranteed nomination.

    I too like Caitlin btw. She’s the rare combination of a highly skilled reporter and an able host. Her career should outlive CNN because i don’t see how they’re going to survive with such horrible ratings.

  86. Here it comes. I’ve thought this before and been wrong but surely this 1980’s throwback to LIBERAL LIBERAL LIBERAL has run its course by now.

    Ted Cruz: “Kamala can’t have my guns. She can’t have my gasoline engine. And she sure as hell can’t have my steaks and cheeseburgers.”

  87. one last quote from today’s hate fest… Trump in North Carolina:

    “Every week will bring a never-ending stream of illegal alien rapists … we’ll form a massive dragnet to scour the nation for the monsters who are murdering and raping children all over the world.”

  89. why was trump ‘ dazed’ after the shooting?  wouldn’t he be having an adrenaline response?  he lost like 3 tablespoons of “blood” or whatever the WWE uses these days

    Do any of your wounds completely heal in a week and a half? mine don’t

    security had assailant sighted, didn’t immediately evacuate, let him take shots, THEN neutralized him?? 🧐

    https://m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/world-news/hulk-hogan-injured-during-bloody-brawl-with-ring-rival-ric-flair/28503449.html

    look familiar?

    if it was so superficial that it healed so quickly, why not show it off at the RNC like a badass?

  90. tRUMPsky IS an adjudicated rapist, so once again, every accusation is an admission of guilt. 

    The real threat of Project 2025/Agenda 47 is dangerous, and the average person not paying attention right now will understand that when the case is made and the media follows up.  

    Independents won’t like the idea of a dictator, of further loss of rights (Amendment 14 to be “interpreted” by Orange Adolf via EO),  billionaires getting permanent tax cuts, and chaos ensuing from deregulation, grift and greed.  

    IMO, Biden holding out until after the RNC was genius.   

    I love POTUS Joe

    Harris/Kelly 2024
    Upward Together

  91. Notice that Biden was surrounded by his loving family tonight.  

    In comparison, poor Tiffany got the brush-off from Adolf at the RNC, Barron was MIA (at least I don’t recall seeing him), and Melania and her frozen smile probably got paid to be there.

  93. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/haley-voters-for-harris-cease-and-desist-nikki-haley-kamala-harris/
    “The “Haley Voters for Harris” political action committee, which had been working withPresident Biden’s and rebranded to support Vice President’s Kamala Harris’ campaign, has gotten a cease and desist letter from former United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley.”
     
    “In response, the Haley Voters for Harris group said they are reviewing the letter with legal counsel, and that they “do not claim to represent Ambassador Haley or her views.”
     
    “In several battleground states, Haley’s raw vote total outnumbered the 2020 general election margin between Mr. Biden and Trump. In Pennsylvania, where Mr. Biden won by more than 80,000 votes, Haley got 16.6% of the vote, 158,000 votes, in the GOP primary this year.”
     
    “The Haley Voters for Harris group has suggested Harris pick a moderate for her running mate, and cited specifically Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear.”
     
     
     

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