Author's archive
An Unregulated Militia 0
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society,” Reprise 0
Ned Barnett runs the numbers. A snippet:
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
Yet another child is sacrificed on the NRA’s idol of lead.
One more time, “accident” and “negligence” are not synonyms.
Afterthought:
Some years ago, when I lived in Delaware, I took a defensive driving course so as to reduce my car insurance rates. (No, I didn’t have any tickets or anything like that. It was all about the Benjamims. The one ticket I ever got came later, and I richly deserved it, as I forgot to come off cruise control in time, but that’s another story.)
The Delaware state trooper who taught the course mentioned that, in the course, they no longer referred to “accidents”; rather, they referred to “collisions,” because, in almost all cases, if a driver had done something–even one thing–different, the accident collision would not have happened. (As an aside, the traffic reporters on my local NPR station do not talk of “accidents”; they talk of “crashes,” I suspect for a similar reason.)
It is well beyond time that police spokespersons and news outlets reporting on gun nut negligence should have adopted the same practice.
The Bullies’ Pulpit 0
Sam and his crew discuss the right-wing’s demonization of LGBTQ persons, the Colorado Springs shooting, and the hypocrisy of Republicans’ reaction thereunto.
The Deposit 0
Honest to Pete, you can’t make this stuff up.
Dis Coarser Discourse 0
Arnie D. Fielkow and Tracie Washington, writing at NOLA.com, have a history of political disagreements. However, writing at NOLA.com, they report that there is one thing on which they do agree. Two snippets:
(snip)
Clearly, the actions and dog-whistles of certain political leadership have empowered and legitimized bigots. Most thought neo-Nazis and the KKK were in the past, but frighteningly they have publicly re-emerged with new allies from QAnon, the Proud Boys, and others. Who would have ever thought that our nation’s Capitol would be attacked or, maybe worse, that some would try to justify one of the worst days in US history? Is this really the America we all want?
Meanwhile, Will Bunch offers a theory as to the underlying cause; follow the link for his complete essay:
Cored Values 0
Michael in Norfolk notes that Republicans, particularly evangelical they-call-themselves Christians have redefined “freedom of religion” to “freedom to religion.” A nugget from his article:
(Broken link fixed.)
“Look in the Mirror, Boy” 0
A reader of the Portland Press Herald channels Pogo in her letter to the editor.
(Syntax error corexxted.)
“Republicans Don’t Need Evidence” 0
Farron contemns the right-wing’s “litter boxes in school” lie and their gullible dupes, symps, and fellow travelers who buy into it.
Twits Own Twitter 0
Afterthought:
I spent many years as a corporate trainer, doing mostly management training. Based on how Musk has been exercising his stewardship (sewership?) of Twitter, I venture that he could benefit from the “Basic Supervisory Skills” course that I used to teach to newly promoted supervisors.
I also had the privilege to work for a number of good bosses who were an absolute pleasure to work for (and with, because a good boss knows how to make you feel as if you are working with him or her, not just for him or her); I also had three really bad ones.
I would not nominate Musk for the former category.