August, 2017 archive
The Panderers’ Party (Updated) 0
In the Portland Press-Herald, Roger Bowen reflects on the Republican Party’s denial of objective facts. He starts with Republicans’ denial of climate change, when is already affecting Maine’s lobster industry, and moves on to other issues. Here’s a bit (emphasis added):
No surprise – America’s voting public is polarized, and partisan stances on climate change is but one example. . . .
To deny climate change is to repudiate the former president, much in the same way as to deny the beneficial effects of Obamacare, such as providing health insurance for the poor, is seen as an opportunity to reverse Obama’s success. If today’s Republican Party stands for anything, it stands for undoing Obama’s contributions to advancing the public good.
Customer Satisfaction 0
Bob Heghmann, 70, filed a lawsuit Thursday in U.S. District Court, saying the national and Virginia Republican parties and some GOP leaders raised millions of dollars in campaign funds while knowing they weren’t going to be able to overturn the law also known as Obamacare.
This suit doesn’t have a prayer, of course, as it is completely detached from objective reality.
As are most Trump supporters.
Details at the link.
How Stuff Works, Faking the News Dept. 0
At The Local, James Savage recounts how that website got embroiled in a fake news story. A snippet; follow the link for the full story (emphasis added):
The story was piffle. And despite appearances, it was not on The Local. Someone had cloned The Local, using a similar web address, and had published the story. Reuters and other international media had picked it up and re-reported it, citing The Local. The story didn’t sound outlandish and its apparent appearance in mainstream media gave it credibility.
I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again.
It beats the hell out of me how persons will unquestioningly believe stuff they see on their computer tablets when they would unhesitatingly question the same stuff if Moses brought it down from Mt. Sinai on stone tablets.
A Question of Identity 0
In a larger column about the apparent survival of the Affordable Care Act, despite Mitch McConnell’s machinations, Paul Krugman serves up this gem:
Follow the link for the rest.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
Practice makes polite.
Investigators say a St. Johns County man was killed by a “long distance shot.”
It happened at a trailer down a dirt road off State Road 16 in an area with a lot of trees and open land around it.
A family member went to check the property and discovered 51-year-old Chester Ratliff’s body on July 30, according to the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office.
Investigators believe it was an “accidental” shooting.
(snip)
Several neighbors told Action News Jax it’s not uncommon for people in this area to shoot target practice in their backyards.
“In the Pentagon, There Was General Consternation (and His Entire Staff)” 0
I’d be happier if Farron gave the source of the report to which he prefers, but I have found his facts to have been reliable in the pasto
“The Apes Are Already Here” 0
Pauly Shore channels Steven Miller (warning: language):
DudeBros 0
Well, there is some good news.
Prosecutors had accused Shkreli of repeatedly misleading investors about what he was doing with their money. Mostly, he was blowing it with horrible stock picks, forcing him to cook up a scheme to recover millions in losses, they said.
Much more at the link. The story does not mention a sentencing date.
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
Yippee-ki-yi-yay! Be polite to bovines!
On Wednesday, the Eddy County Sheriff’s Office announced another six cattle on two separate properties were shot and killed.
Investigators were called to the scene on Aug. 1 in the 600 block of Angel Ranch Road, police said.
The cows were found dead at the scene from gunshot wounds, read an Eddy County Sheriff’s Office news release.
The Bickersons Go Electronic 0
El Reg reports:
The case, just kicked off in an Illinois district court after six years of wrangling, pits Barry Epstein against his former spouse of 46 years, Paula Epstein, who filed for divorce in 2011. During their separation, Paula obtained, read and used his emails as leverage to get a favorable settlement, it is claimed.
Frankly, I don’t see how the “wiretapping” allegations can hold water between a married couple, even if they were in the midst of a divorce, but I do find it disturbing if, as clained, she shared communications between her husband and his lawyer with her own lawyer. I find even more disturbing that her lawyer didn’t tell her to stop.
Then, again, she may have done none of these things. It may just be the husband flailing about. Lots of flailing goes on during bitter divorces.
More at the link. Learn about and listen to the Bickersons. (Audio is in RealPlayer format.)
In His Salad Daze 0
He wanted more cucumbers, so he got nuts.
Details at the link.
Denial Is Not Just a River in Egypt 0
Jim Wright examines the delusions of Republicans and their apologists who keep hoping that Donald Trump will act like anyone else but Donald Trump. An excerpt:
All the warning signs were there, the sexist behavior, the tempter tantrums, the bruises and the black eyes, but they thought, you know, once we’re married he’ll come around, he’ll be okay, he’ll stop acting like this.
But Donald Trump is the very same guy today that he was yesterday, that he was two years ago, that he was a decade ago.
Donald Trump is the same horrible person he’s been his entire life.
He’s an obnoxious, ignorant, abusive blowhard enabled by wealth and privilege and if you think for one minute the power of the presidency is going to do anything but exacerbate that, then you are a goddamned fool.
Or a Republican.