October, 2022 archive
“Pay Attention to the Man Behind the Curtain” 0
In Pennsylvania, practicing physicians have some–er–issues with Dr. Mehmet Oz’s campaign for a Senate seat. Here’s a bit from Philadelphia’s WHYY (emphasis added):
Follow the link for examples.
Full Disclosure:
When I lived in the Philly area, WHYY was my go-to radio station.
Devolution 0
David takes a look at how the Republican Party went from William F. Buckley to Donald Trump.
If you ignore most of the videos that I post, well, that’s your privilege. But I urge to watch this one.
The Mind Closers 0
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Maureen Downey decided to talk with some students to find out what they think about parents and others exercising their freedom of screech to keep said students from actually learning stuff about life. Here’s a bit of her column (emphasis added):
“I would ask them not even to change their viewpoint, but to keep an open mind. Even though I didn’t agree with what the parents were saying, I still listened. They refused to listen. Whenever someone would speak against book bans, they would start yelling,” said Sachdeva. “I also wish they were more informed. They were taking so many things out of context.”
“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0
Once again, we are made aware that politeness is a family value.
QOTD 0
Ted Danson, in the voice of Dr. John Becker, and Terry Farrell, in the voice Reggie Kostas:
Becker: I wanted learn more about psychos, so I went on the internet.
Kostas: Where better?
The Mechanics of Hate 0
Bernard Cohen, writing at Psychology Today Blogs, explores the work of Aaron Beck, considered the father of cognitive therapy. Among the topics Beck explored was “the cognitive basis of anger, hostility, and violence”; Cohen focuses on that aspect of his work. Given the current state of dis coarse discourse, in which many folks don’t seem happy unless they are hating, I found this a worthwhile read. Here’s a bit (emphasis in the original):
Sounds familiar, does it not?
Follow the link for the rest.
Still Rising Again after All These Years 0
The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Helen Ubinas is less than sanguine. She argues that
Follow the link for her reasoning.
Republican Family Values 0
“Republican family values” has never been anything more than a slogan, a misdirection play to distract voters from Republican political, racial, and economic values.
Backfire, a Notion of Immigrants Dept. 0
It’s almost poetic . . . .
Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar’s certifications allow the mostly Venezuelan migrants to apply for special U-visas pending his department’s investigation of the Sept. 14 flight to Martha’s Vineyard, according to an ACLU Massachusetts statement Thursday. U-visas would allow the migrants to remain in the U.S. lawfully as the criminal investigation by Salazar’s department and the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office proceeds.
In another statement, Salazar said that “based upon the claims of migrants being transported from Bexar County under false pretenses, we are investigating this case as possible unlawful restraint,” a misdemeanor.
Follow the link for the complete report.
“The Vapors” 0
PoliticalProf clutches his pearls and falls upon his fainting couch.
Plan Speaking 0
Actually, Republicans’ plan is simple.
Make the poor poorer and the rich richer.
Balloting Question 0
At the Portland Oregonian, Steve Duin wonders why anyone would support keeping Democrats in power in state and local elections, given what he sees as a poor track record*. He comes to a disturbing conclusion.
Perhaps because Republicans, nationally, are a menace.
Follow the link for his reasoning.
_______________________
*I don’t know enough about local Oregon politics to have an informed opinion.
My uninformed opinion is that, however poor the Democrats’ track record might be, the Republicans’ would certainly be worse.
Still Rising Again after All These Years 0
From the Daily Show, which reminds us that old times there are not forgotten:
Richard Nixon’s Southern Strategy has come full circle and consumed the Republican Party.
Via C&L.
Twits on Twitter 0
I see two primary issues with depending on “social” media for news.
One is the number of persons who make/fake stuff up.
The other is persons who are willing to believe stuff simply because they believe in all the news that fits–their preconceptions, that is.
I have many secondary issues, but methinks those are the primary ones.
Afterthought:
Of course, this leads to (not, for heaven’s sake, “begs”) the question, who’s more culpable, the person who sets the trap or the sucker who falls into it? Given that it’s become obvious that “social” media, is–er–not necessarily a reliable source of information, I vote for the latter.
The person who puts out fake is vile and craven, true, but the person who falls for it at a glance is worse.
That person is stupid.
“Well, Isn’t He Not Special” 0
Above the Law’s Liz Dye takes a look at the Supreme Court’s rejection of Trump’s latest ludicrous attempt to avoid accountability as regards his theft of government documents. A snippet:
Because from the very moment he filed this preposterous action, Trump’s only justification for his demands has been that he’s the former president, and so he should be treated differently from any other person in the same situation.
