Remember their July 4th celebration in Moscow in 2018? or how about the Russian-linked campaign cash linked to Republicans in 2022? and what about the two GOP presidential candidates who currently cozy up to Putin?
Given their recent history, any chance they will heed this warning as reported in The Guardian:
“Russian loyalists in Moscow celebrated when Republicans voted to block Ukraine’s aid last week,” the US president said at a joint press conference with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Washington on Tuesday. “The host of a Kremlin-run show said: ‘Well-done Republicans, that’s good for us.’”
Biden added: “If you’re being celebrated by Russian propagandists, it might be time to rethink what you are doing. History will judge harshly those who turned their back on freedom’s cause.”
stephen last night speaks of the scrupled and un-scrupled in case you missed it:
The former president’s draft tweets and direct messages are among the data sought by special counsel Jack Smith, and some of the world’s worst people will be interviewed on Tucker Carlson’s new streaming network.
Attribution: Baby Shark by Pat Bagley, The Salt Lake Tribune, UT
Morning Report — Zelensky leaves US empty-handed | The Hill
Scruples.
Who knew that McCarthy was RIGHT about Russian communists in our government.
The halls of Congress are crawlin’ with Russian double agents and collaborators.
The Russians are HERE! The Russians are HERE!
The saddest thing about the Mueller report getting mischaracterized and sidelined is how its intricate detailing of Russian meddling in our politics was overlooked, and is still a guide to what is happening today.
I’ve posted the report on our site at
https://trailmix.cc/home/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Mueller_Report.pdf
A good starting place is page 14 under the header: “RUSSIAN ACTIVE MEASURES SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN”
The facts laid out in the report are compelling, supporting its conclusions:
— “Key Findings of the Mueller Report“, American Constitution Society
What happened with that investigation about the computer server that tied tRUMPsky’s campaign to a Russia’s Alpha Bank?
The most horrifying movie trailer, because it could happen: Civil War. “What kind of an American are you?”
I always pay attention to Fiona Hill — Politico just did an interview, she says “the decision of whether Ukraine wins or loses is now on us — almost entirely. As Congress debates how much more money to authorize for Ukraine’s assistance amid growing Republican opposition, she says that what we are really debating is our own future. Do we want to live in the kind of world that will result if Ukraine loses?”
— Politico: Veteran Russia Watcher Deeply Alarmed, What Happens If Putin Wins
The first thing SFB did when he got into office was invite Russian spies to the oval office
and gave them classified information on the middle east which endangered Israels defense.
You’d think conspiring with Russia would be treason at the very least.
Sadly, I daresay, it fits into their prophecies for the Second Coming or whatever it is they want coming.
James Carville on Netanyahu: “I’ve worked on campaigns in Israel, I know, 61 members of the Knesset can do anything they want. Why am I still looking at him? Why is he still there? This was the greatest intelligence failure at least since 9/11. Meanwhile he was trying to take over the judiciary to stay in office and keep his ass out of jail”
Sturge, treason is their thing. Ms. Katherine was correct yesterday in pointing out they’re the descendants of the Confederacy. Only now they’re not confined to the South. I saw confederate bumper stickers when I lived in PA, not far from Gettysburg, and that was more than 30 years ago.
Time again for Professor Heather C Richardson’s book.
HOW THE SOUTH WON THE CIVIL WAR
Oligarchy, Democracy, and the Continuing Fight for the Soul of America
https://global.oup.com/academic/product/how-the-south-won-the-civil-war-9780197581797?cc=us&lang=en&
She’s a national treasure. Her newsletter keeps me informed and enlightened, past, present and future.
A good refresher on the roots of this schema is Jim Webb’s book, Born Fighting.
“…it explores how the Scots-Irish culture of isolation, hard luck, stubbornness, and mistrust of the nation’s elite formed and still dominates blue-collar America, the military services, the Bible Belt, and country music.”
https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/born-fighting-how-the-scots-irish-shaped-america_james-webb/269214/#edition=3534547&idiq=4509047
The Biden Boom!
— Prices on goods are in deflation, now lower than when he took office. That’s used cars, televisions, computers etc. Gonna be a cheaper Christmas.
— Average incomes up 4% while overall inflation up only 3%
Wall Street dude Steve Rattner on MSNBC: “I’ve never seen such a dramatic disconnect between the actual state of the economy and how people feel about the economy”
Just watch Fox News for half an hour, that explains it. Listening to their lies you’d think this is the Great Depression.
Book Two
CRACKER CULTURE, Grady McWhiney, University of Alabama Press
https://www.chaucersbooks.com/book/9780817304584
Another historian making her mark for the record is Dr. Lindsey Chervinsky.
https://www.lindsaychervinsky.com/about
The old South is the new entire nation.
https://www.amazon.com/Honor-Violence-South-Bertram-Wyatt-Brown/dp/0195042425
Apparently Bebe did know what Hamas was up to but conspired not to tell. Apparently all the people Carville knows didn’t bother to tell him that He had a reason but it’s not clear what it is
They really need to get rid of him now.
Thanks, Sturge. That was another one in my old bookcase. I sold back much of my book collection when we moved, plus many old ones from my Civil War aficionado stepdad when he passed. Some might still be lurking around the back shelves of the 2nd and Charles in Hoover, AL.
today’s meme…
From the pictures, this debate on tv looks like a good opportunity to re-impeach Plumpty. See that Gymmie showed up in a coat and tie. I have it on mute while my plumber works so I don’t know what they’re saying.
John Dean (CNN) on GOP impeachment push: “What they’re doing is abusing the process. I must say I started my career as a counsel to the House Judiciary Committee which handles impeachments. I’m very familiar, I’ve watched these for 60 years and I’ve never seen more abusive use of this process that they are totally politicizing with baseless charges to try to make it difficult for a president and honor Donald Trump’s request that he be able to charge Biden in next year’s election with also having been impeached. That’s what this drill is all about”
Florida abortion activists win over Republicans in ballot measure push
GOP cannot win presidency without Florida, and right here is how they lose it…
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/florida-abortion-activists-win-republicans-ballot-measure-push-rcna129315
“Gonna be a cheaper Christmas.”
craig, sure as hell will be at my house since I’m breaking decades of tradition and NOT roasting a goose. can’t believe those scrawny birds are priced at $100+ now. tiny tim & co will just have to do with an 89cent-a-lb ham which i plan to decorate with fruit cake fruit leftover from last year’s baking frenzy. and any ham leftovers will go into new year’s hoppin’ john. BAH HUMBUG!
Mika and Joe went a bit bonkers about bibi this morning. poor richard haas had a hard time getting a wise word edgewise on the subject.
President Joe Biden appeared Tuesday to offer his harshest criticism yet of the Israeli government since Hamas’ terrorist attack on Oct. 7, saying that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has a “tough decision to make.” The Morning Joe panel discusses the intelligence failure that led to the attack and why Israel needs new leadership.
Trying to take over the judiciary to keep his ass out of jail. Hmm, maybe Bibi and tRUMPsky can get adjoining cells at the Hague.
Craig – The problem with the good news on the economy, comes with the still worsening news of housing. Rent is eating up wage increases, and beyond.
This may help, eventually, by putting folks in houses, which will empty out out some apartment units to drive rents down.
https://www.businessinsider.com/housing-market-affordability-investors-hedge-funds-wall-street-democrats-bill-2023-12
“Democrats want to kick big investors out of the the housing market to improve affordability”
“A bill introduced in the Senate would require hedge funds to sell off their single-family homes over the next 10 years.”
“It would also prohibit hedge funds from owning any single-family homes at all.”
Eventually.
But, yeah, groceries and gas are much cheaper.
PatD, this article says “Because geese are not nearly as popular as turkeys or other commercially raised game birds, they command a much higher price as a specialty product.”
The Rise And Fall Of The Classic Christmas Goose
https://www.thedailymeal.com/1114749/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-classic-christmas-goose/
https://www.penncapital-star.com/energy-environment/pa-house-panel-revisits-utility-privatization-law-as-consumers-face-soaring-water-and-sewer-bills/
“Pa. House panel revisits utility privatization law as consumers face soaring water and sewer bills”
“…customers of public water and sewer utilities acquired by for-profit companies since the law took effect pay about $85 million more annually for service that they otherwise would.”
“They’re not buying the pumps and the pipes and the treatment plants. What they’re buying is the customers, which is a long-time forever revenue stream,”…
“I would say that people should see privatization for what it really is, a scam,” Bellitto said. “It is a loan, disguised as a gift, wrapped up with empty promises that must be paid back with interest through exorbitant rate increases resulting in no better service to the customers.”
Some rising costs like these water rates aren’t happening because of the Biden administration.
Too late. Besides, the real problem is with the voters, not the voted.
https://www.mediaite.com/news/fox-board-member-paul-ryan-slams-trump-hails-cheney-and-kinzinger-trumps-not-a-conservative-hes-an-authoritarian-narcissist/
Besides besides, where is he saying this? On Fox?
https://www.fastcompany.com/90982936/in-small-pennsylvania-towns-city-water-systems-are-being-privatized-and-residents-pay-the-price
“Community groups and municipal leaders say that law, an example of “fair market value” legislation, has unleashed dozens of buyout attempts as private companies have offered tens of millions of dollars for local water systems.”
“Pennsylvania’s municipalities have been at the forefront of the national movement, though an ongoing court case could slow the state’s momentum.”
“Fifteen states have enacted “fair market value” laws to boost the sale price of water systems, according to the National Association of Water Companies, an industry group. Most of those laws have passed within the past decade, with Florida becoming the latest earlier this year. Public water activists say the private water industry has lobbied hard in state capitols, while also pushing Congress to provide them with federal funding that has historically been reserved for local governments.”
“We’re seeing buyer’s remorse in a lot of communities,” she said. “Pennsylvania has become ground zero for the commoditization of our precious public water supply.”
“Roughly 97% of sewer customers in the U.S. get their service from a public system, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office. But private water companies, which control more than 10% of the drinking water market, are pushing to get into the wastewater business. In many states, “fair market value” legislation has been a key tool in that effort.”
“…privatization of any system conflicts with the human right to water.”
“Providing water is really expensive as it is,” she said. “If you then add making a profit as part of the cost of the service, it just makes it really unaffordable.”
Way back in the dim light of the passage of time, I used to make a goose at Thanksgiving or Christmas. It was usually degreased in the microwave, I had a big uwave. It was faster than doing it on the range or in the oven. Then I hung it in the tall smoker, starting around 8pm and smoking overnight. Around 9am I would take it in and tuck in the oven to finish before dinner. I would often do a couple ducks for those who did not care for goose.
Goose is very impressive when you carve at the table. They are not small. They were always a litte more expensive per pound than duck, but not nuts out of sight. Also, the grocery stores had a bin in the freezer tubs for geese, ducks and turkeys. I am not surprised that over the decades handling a big bird for smaller family gatherings fell out of fashion. That and a goose is less meat than a turkey.
Global media participating in the farce of Biden “impeachment inquiry” 🙄
Why do honest journalism when we’ll consume it either way? 🤔
it’s “formal”, forms are involved, must be legitimate 😐
The goose needs to be stuffed with prunes stuffed with pate
“James Talarico Calls Out Billionaire Mega Donors”
Two, white nationalist billionaires who are the reason Ken Paxton still has a job.
https://www.texasaft.org/policy/funding/oil-tycoons-spent-millions-to-replace-public-schools-with-private-schools-according-to-new-report/
Tim Dunn, Farris Wilks, and their wives have collectively donated over $29 million to far-right politicians and political action committees (PACs) over the last decade, according to Texas Ethics Commission (TEC) reports. Dorothy Burton, a former GOP activist and former associate of the two men, told CNN, “The goal is to tear up, tear down public education to nothing and rebuild it … the way God intended education to be.”
https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a40706999/texas-cradle-of-american-theocracy/
“…the billionaires are both especially focused on education issues, and their ultimate goal is to replace public education with private, Christian schooling. Wilks is a pastor at the church his father founded, and Dunn preaches at the church his family attends. In their sermons, they paint a picture of a nation under siege from liberal ideas. “The cornerstones of our government are crumbling and starting to come apart,” Wilks declared in a 2014 sermon at his insular church, the Assembly of Yahweh 7th Day. “And it’s because of the lack of morality, the lack of belief in our heavenly Father.” Texas’ far-right shift has national implications: The candidates Dunn and Wilks have supported have turned the state legislature into a laboratory for far-right policy…”
Tax-exempt churches, of course.
https://www.thewrap.com/abc-news-studios-state-abortion-bans-on-the-brink-trailer-video/
“The Impact of State Abortion Bans Is Exposed in Trailer for ABC News…”
“On the Brink,” which is led by ABC News anchor Diane Sawyer and senior congressional correspondent Rachel Scott, travels to Denton, Texas to uncover the pregnant women’s harrowing stories and the physicians caught in a legal web when trying to provide essential health care.”
“Some of the women say that because of the laws, they were sent home from hospitals and told to return once they became sicker — sick enough to qualify for care under the law. Many suffered severe health consequences as they got closer to the brink of death. Others fled their home states, sometimes traveling thousands of miles and spending their life savings to get health care.”
“They literally couldn’t do anything until the bloodwork said I was dying,” one woman recalled in the trailer.
Weird Al, Christmas at ground zero
NEW THREAD