I’m consolidating things. I’m fusing the Open Thread (which died in 2020) and the Political Madness thread, which has been going strong all this time, thanks to the stewardship of Lynna, into one unholy amalgam of anything goes. Almost anything goes, that is. I’m hoping Lynna will continue to inject regular antidotes to the political madness, but also it’ll be a place where all the random odd thoughts and question and socializing can go on.
This would be the 20th iteration of the political madness thread, I think, so fill this up and we’ll go on to Infinite Thread XXI.
Oh, also: The Endless Thread has been maintained on Affinity. This is not a replacement for that lovely thread!
blf says
A fairly interesting France24 video, A closer look at contraception and abortion rights in France (English). One recent development mentioned in that video, France extends free contraception benefits to women up to 25 years of age:
Lynna, OM says
blf in comment 493, man oh man, that certainly is one concentrated sludge pit of wealthy dunderheads. The Southern Poverty Law Center is right to identify a lot of those doofuses as members of rightwing hate groups. It’s scary to see them so well organized and so well funded as they spread disinformation; and as they work to keep themselves on top while everyone else is oppressed.
Lynna, OM says
There are currently 12 Republicans seeking Michigan’s gubernatorial nomination. Eleven of them apparently believe Donald Trump lost because of voter fraud, reality notwithstanding.
Link
Lynna, OM says
When it comes to Jan. 6, GOP voters give up on law and order
Lynna, OM says
Arizona’s sham election “audit” clearly didn’t turn out the way Republican conspiracy theorists hoped. Now, they’re turning on each other.
Link
Lynna, OM says
Mainstream media didn’t cover new proof of Trump’s coup because of Missing White Woman syndrome
Lynna, OM says
In ‘pandemic of the unvaccinated’ the U.S. is lapping the world when it comes to COVID-19 deaths
Lynna, OM says
Manchin throws a bomb filled with ego and dishonesty into negotiations over spending bill
Lynna, OM says
Insurrection subpoena arrives in Marjorie Taylor Greene’s inbox– she scream tweets
Lynna, OM says
Maskless audience scolds masked dad after he’s attacked by unmasked man right in front of them
blf says
A snippet from Republicans are about to lose Texas — so they’re changing the rules:
Lynna, OM says
Wonkette: “Louie Gohmert Totally Hee-Haw For Horse Paste, Not That We Ever Doubted Him”
Lynna, OM says
Wonkette: “Local GOP Proudly Endorses Sweaty Anti-Semite For Post Falls, Idaho School Board”
Overall, Idaho is populated by way too many retrograde doofuses, but there are areas of the state that are worse than others: northern Idaho.
blf says
Kat Kerr Says Those Who Stole the Election Will Be (quoted almost in full, with RWW edits in {curly braces}): in Hell
The mildly deranged penguin suggests harvesting her spittle, there are copious amounts of it, and it has to be good for something. Possibly not anything useful, but something…
Lynna, OM says
blf in comment 13:
Weed killer?
In other news:
NBC News link
Lynna, OM says
Too little, too late, but better late than never:
New York Times link
Lynna, OM says
Scientists drove a robotic surfboard into Hurricane Sam, and the waves were incredible.
Washington Post link
It was the first-ever ocean drone to intercept a major hurricane, battling 50-foot waves and winds gusting higher than 120 mph.
Akira MacKenzie says
@ 16
Why do I have the Surfari’s “Wipeout” playing in my head?
LykeX says
The Black-White Vaccination Gap May Be Gone but Republicans, Whites Still Hesitant
The ending of this one kinda got me:
Lynna, OM says
Akira @17, LOL.
Despite the Capitol Hill drama, the Democratic agenda persists
“You may have seen some headlines describing developments on Capitol Hill as a “big setback” for Democrats. I think those headlines have it backwards.”
Glass half full analysis, but I like it.
Lynna, OM says
Republicans enjoy creating chaos.
Lynna, OM says
Link
Lynna, OM says
Today marks DeJoy’s brilliant plan to slow down mail delivery—almost as good as removing mailboxes
Lynna, OM says
How Jared and Ivanka Hijacked the White House’s Covid Response
That tale is a bit self-serving but probably still true when it says that procedures in the Trump White House were mostly a “clusterfuck,” and that Jared and Ivanka threw their ill- or misinformed orders into the mix.
Lynna, OM says
Some good news: Biden’s Approval Rating Recovers Some From Last Month’s Low, An NPR Poll Finds
Lynna, OM says
Justice Samuel Alito isn’t doing the Supreme Court any favors
If Alito is concerned about public perceptions of the court, maybe he should stop delivering speeches that adversely affect perceptions of the court.
Justices Alito, Barrett, Breyer and Thomas got their feelings hurt when journalists, (and even other justices!) called them out for partisan actions, and for partisan speeches given in public. This makes me even less likely to trust their judgement.
Conservatives are fond of referring to liberals as “snowflakes,” and yet here are four conservative justices getting their delicate feelings hurt and acting like doofuses.
Lynna, OM says
This sounds like a good idea: Five Midwest states to collaborate on electric vehicle charging network
Lynna, OM says
Follow-up to comment 25.
Wonkette:
Lynna, OM says
Mississippi aid program gave little help to renters, but millions to a top law firm.
Washington Post link
Balch & Bingham’s earnings show how states — under pressure to distribute funds — can end up giving no-bid contracts to firms with close political ties.
Lynna, OM says
Remember the Barr-created Durham probe? Two years later, it’s still ongoing, but that doesn’t mean it’s going especially well.
Link
Lynna, OM says
YouTube blocks all anti-vaccine content, including things unrelated to COVID-19
That’s sounds like a difficult job for the moderators who will be tasked with removing videos.
About time. That’s all good news.
tomh says
NYT:
Covid Live Updates: California to Add Vaccine Mandate for Schools as Soon as Next Fall, Governor Says
As an aside, California allows no religious or personal belief exemptions, only legitimate medical ones.
Lynna, OM says
This “Learn from me” story reminds me of raven’s comments concerning COVID long haulers in the previous chapter of this thread.
Link
Lynna, OM says
tomh @31: “As an aside, California allows no religious or personal belief exemptions, only legitimate medical ones.” Good. That’s the way those mandates should work.
In other news: Alex Jones Has To Give Even More Money To Sandy Hook Families
JFC.
Lynna, OM says
Koch-backed group fuels opposition to school mask mandates, leaked letter shows.
Washington Post link
Lynna, OM says
WTF Kyrsten Sinema?
Link
Jean says
From her behaviour, it seems clear that Sinema is working for some conservative people and that she doesn’t expect to be re-elected. So she probably already have some sort of exit plan and it will be interesting to see where she ends up after she’s kicked out of her seat. Of course that assumes that her owners will actually come through with some pseudo position in some organization or that she doesn’t already have her payment stashed in some secret location.
KG says
Some (reasonably) good news from the UK: the transphobe candidate for the leadership of the Green Party of England and Wales, Shahrar Ali, came a poor third. I’d have preferred the runners-up, Amelia Womack and Tamsin Omond (Omond is non-binary) who are more radical than the winners, Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay, but the latter are acceptable. It’s still unsettling that 20% of those who voted, voted transphobe (that was the whole point of Ali’s candidacy), but I feared an entryist campaign might actually put him in.
KG says
Another Intercept article on the origins of SARS-CoV-2.
Lynna, OM says
KVOA News:
Lynna, OM says
Wonkette:
Link
Lynna, OM says
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte announces retirement from politics.
Washington Post link
blf says
MyPillow Guy Thinks Idaho Votes Were Switched Electronically. There Are 7 Reasons He’s Wrong:
blf says
I’m not familiar with this site, and since what is being discussed is so ridiculous, had to check they aren’t another Onion. They do not seem to be, other sites are also reporting on the ridiculousness. (I have not gone hunting for the actual social morans posts, that is, teh e-trvth (the “ground truth”), however.) In Spain, After the emergence of vaccines, “volcano deniers” appeared:
I suppose it’s possible these Verily Vacuous Volcano Vaccine Vacuum-for-brains are actually joking, but none of the sources I’ve seen are presenting them that way… and as quoted (presumably in translation) above, any joke has been lost.
tomh says
The Lily
Published by WaPo:
California will become the first state to track the violent deaths of LGBTQ people
Such a program is crucial in understanding why this community faces disproportionate violence, advocates say
Ray Levy Uyeda / September 30, 2021
Lynna, OM says
Neo-Nazi ‘active clubs’ spring up around country as handiwork of notorious fascist living abroad
“Being a part of something” strikes me as a weak excuse for being a Nazi.
Lynna, OM says
Wonkette: “‘Boogaloo Boi’ Admits He Pretended To Be A BLM Activist, Shot Up Police Station”
“Hunter admitted that he fired 13 rounds from an AK-47-style rifle into the 3rd precinct police station on May 28, 2020.” Sheesh. That’s sounds worse than “rioting.” It sounds like attempted murder.
Lynna, OM says
Thousands gather at Women’s March rallies in D.C., across U.S. to protect Roe v. Wade.
Washington Post link
Lynna, OM says
For years, the voice behind ISIS propaganda was a mystery. Now a Canadian faces criminal charges.
Washington Post link
Lynna, OM says
Boris Johnson’s government has been a reckless failure, but Keir Starmer, Labour’s new leader, hasn’t offered a convincing alternative.
New Yorker link
Trickster Goddess says
I’ve been an atheist since I was nine years old, but I was raised in a Mennonite family and most of my relatives are still believers, so I am glad to see the church leadership speaking up in support of vaccines.
No religious exemptions from COVID-19 vaccines: MC Canada
Lynna, OM says
Washington Post link
About those employer-based vaccine mandates: many people who say they will quit their jobs rather than be vaccinated do not do so. The get vaccinated. They remain employed. They stop pontificating. Only a few lose their jobs. The negative noise around mandates doesn’t match the reality.
Lynna, OM says
Trickster @50, that gives me some hope.
In another hopeful sign, the General Conference for mormons is being held in Salt Lake City. Instead of gathering thousands of mormons in indoor spaces, they have very few in-person attendees. They have fairly good social distancing guidelines in place, and the top mormon leaders encouraged the church members to get vaccinated.
In other news: Facebook is still a cesspool of pandemic hoaxes, and it’s killing people
Lynna, OM says
COVID-19 long-haulers plead for government action
Lynna, OM says
Major oil spill reaches Southern California coast
Lynna, OM says
Seriously, What’s The Deal With ‘Manifest Destiny Jesus’?
You can view the documentary online here through the end of October.
blf says
3,000 paedophiles in French Catholic church since 1950s — inquiry head:
Lynna, OM says
BILLIONS HIDDEN BEYOND REACH
Washington Post link
More at the link.
Lynna, OM says
Sanders: Sinema Is ‘Wrong’ To Call Delayed BIF Vote An ‘Ineffective Stunt’
Lynna, OM says
‘Not Going To Happen’: Jayapal Shoots Down Manchin’s Topline Counteroffer
Lynna, OM says
Follow-up to comment 51.
https://twitter.com/TheTweetOfJohn/status/1442892518488625157
blf says
Apropos of nothing, this morning I woke to my mobile going mad with four(?) messages in rapid succession. Alerts, actually, from both Météo France (the weather bureau) and the local village council, raising a literal red(!)-alert for thunderstorms and flooding. That in itself was rather amazing, I don’t recall the last time I saw a red-alert. I checked that the skylights were closed whilst the mildly deranged penguin put on a diving suit (rather odd, she’s a penguin). There duly arrived a thunderstorm with (at least where I am) not that much rain, albeit heavy. The forecast is for continuing bouts of rain… and I just got another alert from the village saying much of village is without power. Obviously, I am not.
Residents in southern France urged to stay home amid more torrential rain and floods (possibly paywalled):
I’m east of Marseille, arguably near the “eastern part of Bouches-du-Rhône”, but as per above, there hasn’t (yet?) been that much rain. The village’s schools did close for the day, however.
The mildly deranged penguin is wondering what to do with the monsters she’s collecting in the basement, Things in Steamer Trunks and so forth…
I’m making sure the mobile and phaser batteries are fully-charged.
There wasn’t any rain to speak of here, not a million kilometres from Marseille, until Sunday evening — and the heavy stuff, not that there’s been much, in my immediate area, wasn’t until today.
Lynna, OM says
New York Times link
Arizona Vote Review ‘Made Up the Numbers,’ Election Experts Say
And yet, a similar Fraudit is ongoing in Wisconsin.
Lynna, OM says
Being open and obvious about their anti-semitism.
Lynna, OM says
Under DeJoy’s plan, mail service to be ‘slower than in the 1970s’
It looks to me like they are just letting United States Post Office die while we all watch. Dejoy is the killer.
Lynna, OM says
Josh Marshall: What Really Happened Over the Weekend
Lynna, OM says
‘God’s Will Is Being Thwarted.’ Even in Solid Republican Counties, Hard-Liners Seek More Partisan Control of Elections.
People who actually know what they are doing, people can run a free and fair election, are being pushed out.
Lynna, OM says
Follow-up to comment 66.
Posted by readers of the article:
Lynna, OM says
GOP lies tied to rural Americans dying of COVID at double the number compared to urbanites
lumipuna says
Some notes on the Pandora Papers (see Lynna at 57), regarding specifically Russian oligarchs. I just noticed this old Guardian article, using the Panama Papers to shed light on the shady dealings between Vladimir Putin and some of his favorite buddies:
Long article from 2016
Rehashed and slightly elaborated in this new article in the light of Pandora Papers:
Introducing Putin’s likely ex-mistress
Putin’s close friends have included, among others, oligarchs Gennady Timchenko, Yuri Kovalchuk and Nikolai Shamalov, as well as “officially not rich people” Petr Kolbin, Sergei Roldugin and Svetlana Krivonogikh. There appears to exist an elaborate network of personal loyalty, where “real” ownership of assets is not only hidden from public but also relative in nature. Putin in particular seems to pull a lot of strings on how other oligarchs use “their” money.
I recently summarized here a Finnish news report on Valaam monastery, where Putin is regarded as a very generous patron and basically next to God himself. In another story, however, I saw a mention that the recent lavish construction projects at Valaam (for the purposes of monastic life and accommodation of VIP guests) have been (officially) funded first and foremost by Gennady Timchenko. Now, it increasingly makes sense how Putin isn’t using his “own money” super lavishly on projects like this, but rather he’s using his own people.
Timchenko, like nearly all of these players, has been on US sanction list since the Crimean crisis started. According to Wikipedia, he is a citizen of Armenia (he was born there during Soviet era), Russia (his family and main business network are there) and – Finland. Apparently, he lived here for most of the 1990s while working in oil trade, and still owns some physical assets here. Finnish language sources suggest he was naturalized* on a fast track (like many other Russian immigrants at the time) on the grounds of having some ancestry among Russia’s ethnic Finns. There has been suspicion that his claim to Finnish ancestry was fraudulent.
*Supposedly in 1999, though AFAIK Finland didn’t allow dual citizenship until 2003 so IDK?
Lynna, OM says
News that is kind of funny:
New Yorker link
Lynna, OM says
lumipuna @69:
Interesting analysis. I think you are spot on. Yes.
Putin owns his people so thoroughly that he can decide how and when they use their money.
Also, it’s kind of funny that he uses other people’s money to achieve his own ends, just like Trump.
Lynna, OM says
Remember when officials claimed they couldn’t process asylum-seekers due to capacity? That was a lie.
Lynna, OM says
Okay, that’s pretty low: Conservative news outlets and Fox News attack veteran Sen. Duckworth for disability tax break
Lynna, OM says
A redistricting story that provides some concrete details about the ways in which Texas Republicans are diluting the voting power of people of color.
Link
Lynna, OM says
International coalition arrests ‘prolific’ hackers involved in ransomware attacks
Lynna, OM says
Daily Mail Got Police Report About Corey Lewandowski, And It Is NASTY
lumipuna says
Lynna at 71: I wouldn’t quite say Putin uses other people’s money in conventional sense, because he himself had a central role in enabling his friends to hoard that money in the first place.
Quoting some key parts of the 2016 article:
lumipuna says
Speaking of Putin’s people (see my previous comment) and the Ozero group, the 2016 article has some interesting connections between shady business, oligarch networking and Russia’s colonial history. Quoting a few snippets:
Using Wikipedia and a satellite map, I found that the Igora resort is located a few miles south of Sosnovo, in other words just within Finland’s pre-WWII territory. There used to be a Finnish village named Liippua approximately at the same site, but it was evacuated during war like other Finnish settlements in the area. Some villages were left empty after the war, while others were settled by ethnic Russians and given Russian names (such as Sosnovo, formerly known as Rautu).
The Ozero dacha village is not labelled on the satellite map, but adjacent to the Igora resort there is a small cluster of nice looking houses that (according to a site map at the resort’s website) isn’t part of the resort. It’s unclear whether the abovementioned Zagorodnaya Sreda compound is part of this cluster, or separate. Russian Ozero means literally “Lake”, apparently named after the small artificial lake at the edge of the resort area.
Since Putin is from St. Petersburg, it’s not entirely surprising that he likes having some of his many (?) holiday houses around the city, particularly on the northern side, which happens to be almost entirely former Finnish territory. Some years ago, I heard he’d bought a historically important 19th century mansion called Villa Sellgren just outside Vyborg. Recently, it was mentioned he has a residence on hold in Valaam for when he likes a spiritual cleanse. Now, I learned he also has a ski resort-adjacent holiday home in Sosnovo area.
Lynna, OM says
lumipuna @77: “I wouldn’t quite say Putin uses other people’s money in conventional sense, because he himself had a central role in enabling his friends to hoard that money in the first place.” Good point.
In other news, Wonkette reports: In Which Madison Cawthorn Declares Holy War Or Something
Lynna, OM says
From Andy Borowitz: Facebook Apologizes for January 6th: “We Put the Lives of Politicians We Own at Risk”
New Yorker link
Lynna, OM says
Wall Street Journal:
Lynna, OM says
Bloomberg News:
Lynna, OM says
U.S. Postal Service dips toe in postal banking venture, looks to expand program next year
beholder says
@57 Lynna
Interesting data dump. I haven’t had time to take a close look at the Pandora Papers, but I heard rumors that not a single American oligarch or other U.S. national is listed in the trove, disproportionate to the critical role the U.S. plays in operating several of these havens.
It almost makes one wonder if this is a mass surveillance demo from the CIA or NSA, with the very pointed threat to wealthy adversaries that their fortunes will disppear overnight if they don’t play nice with Washington’s imperialist aims.
KG says
beholder@84,
Perhaps you shouldn’t be so gullible when it comes to rumours. The full list of those named has not been revealed, but billionaires Robert T. Brockman and Robert F. Smith have already been named. The papers also shed light on the secretive US trust industry – an industry which is very keen to avoid such light, and is an obvious boon to the CIA and NSA, as it means many rich and powerful foreigners have their money and data stashed in the USA. And many of the non-Americans named are prominent supporters of Washington’s imperialist aims – e.g. Tony Blair, King Abdullah II of Jordan, Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
Coward. Either you believe the CIA or NSA are behind the leak, or you don’t. Which is it?
KG says
Substitute “consider it plausible” for “believe” in the last sentence of my #85 – I concede that you might not have a definite belief in such a proposition either way, but either you consider it plausible – worth further thought or examination – or you don’t.
blf says
Follow-up to @56, French Catholic Church inquiry finds 216,000 paedophilia cases since 1950:
A snippet from Al Jazeera, French clergy sexually abused ‘over 200,000 children’ since 1950:
And two snippets from the Grauniad, French Catholic church expresses (Trigger Warning: Both of the following snippets are potentially quite distressing): after report finds 330,000 children were abused
blf says
Most Americans support resettling Afghans in US: Poll:
blf says
Apropos of nothing, he’s back! He’s back!! Yeah!!! There’s a great egg vendor — that’s all he sells (and only chicken eggs at that) — who disappeared from today’s weekly market about the beginning of July. I’d understood him to say at the time he was going on vacation (for the typical-ish French month-ish), and so expected him back sometime in August. Nope. Ok then, September? Nope… Uh-oh, has something happened? Or did I misunderstand and he retired (but he doesn’t seem to be of retirement age?)? No idea, but there he was again today, in his usual spot, with his usual excellent eggs (still all chicken). I didn’t ask anything, but along with several other customers, was delighted to see him back.
tomh says
Biden lifts abortion referral ban on family planning clinics
ASSOCIATED PRESS / October 4, 2021
Lynna, OM says
Text quoted by blf in comment 87: “Sauvé said the problem was still there.” After all this time, the problem is still there. Terrible. It seems like nothing less than dismantling the Catholic Church will make an impact.
tomh @90, That’s good news. It’s the least they can do for now. That number of “180,000 unintended pregnancies” is startling.
blf @89, so glad to see one thing returning to “normal” in your local market. I hear similar stories about the farmers’ markets in Manhattan.
My local honey supplier seems to have disappeared.
Lynna, OM says
Link
Lynna, OM says
The tally of new anti-voting laws reaches unsettling new heights
Lynna, OM says
Pence’s perspective on the Jan. 6 attack takes a farcical turn
Those extremists aren’t going to vote for Pence in a Republican presidential primary no matter what he says.
Lynna, OM says
Republicans are threatening the full faith and credit for the United States because they’re looking for a new toy to play with in the 2022 midterms.
Link
Lynna, OM says
Why Trump has a new super PAC with an unintentionally amusing name
The problem is not just that Trump’s super PAC has a funny new name, it’s also the fact that Trump needs a new super PAC at all.
Lynna, OM says
Yeah. About time.
Bar Complaint Filed Against Coup-Planning Lawyer John Eastman In California
Lynna, OM says
Link
So far, the Biden administration has not indicated that it will ignore the debt limit.
Additional commentary from Steve Benen:
Yep. I fear that they are too dumb and too self-absorbed.
Lynna, OM says
Facebook comes under stark criticism at whistleblower hearings.
Why are they understaffed?
Lynna, OM says
Aww. So sad.
Trump falls off Forbes list of America’s richest people
Lynna, OM says
Wonkette: “Coronavirus Update”
https://www.wonkette.com/coronavirus-update-four-zillion
Lynna, OM says
What’s Wrong With Kyrsten Sinema?
New York Times link
The article is by Michelle Goldberg
blf says
The Grauniad’s snark machine — albeit this is similar to slicing carrots with a chainsaw — Welcome to the Tory conference: this year staged in the Soviet-Union-on-Thames:
Lynna, OM says
5 Points On The Newly Released Testimony Of Rudy! Sidney! And The Big Lie Gang
blf says
Lynna@91, commenting on me@89, “so glad to see one thing returning to ‘normal’ in your local market.”
Amusingly (I hope!), the market today wasn’t anywheres near “normal” — it’s been pretty-much “normal” since earlier this year — but yesterday and over the weekend, this area of France was drenched in torrential rain (per France24, ‘Scenes of horror’ as torrential rains flood Marseille with water-swept trash, “According to Météo France, the national meteorological service, ‘the equivalent of several months of rain’ pounded Marseille between Sunday and Monday”; also see me@61). Presumably as a result, a lot of vendors were missing. The market was quite empty. I do hope everyone is Ok! I presume that, due to hazardous travel conditions, or having to deal with localised damage, or maybe just a case of “ah feck it” (not uncommon on rainy or especially cold days), the vendors decided to give today’s market a miss… we’ll see what the weekend markets, as well as next week’s market, is like.
(I was sort-of planning on going to Marseille this week (maybe tomorrow?), but as I typed this, it occurred to me that perhaps isn’t a very good idea at the moment.)
Lynna, OM says
blf, it sounds like you’ll have to wait for the bad weather to abate. Meanwhile, in my personal “not normal” market, the best honey is not available. I suppose I’ll have to shop for a substitute. I think all the vendors I like should live forever.
In other news: Trump lover thought Fauci should be imprisoned for trying to save his life
OMG. There’s even a “Sons of Trump, MAGA Chapter” fake motorcycle club emblem posted by the James when he was alive.
Lynna, OM says
Police union leader calls Black congressman ‘first-class whore,’ gets ‘first-class raid’ from FBI
At one point, Ed Mullins met with Trump at the White House. He posted: “Great meeting at the White House today. The Trump administration is very aware of the plight of police officers in NYC and is closely monitoring the situation. @realDonaldTrump has our backs!”
Lynna, OM says
Follow-up to comment 96.
Wonkette: “Corey Lewandowski Not Fired YOU ARE FIRED”
Lynna, OM says
blf @103, that was a very enjoyable read. The Grauniad’s snark machine, as you call it, was firing on all cylinders. I especially enjoyed, “Levelling up secretary Michael Gove could only offer vague stuff about leadership and pride, a reminder that the one thing we don’t have a shortage of is abstract nouns.”
I recently completed a project that involved rewriting promotional blurbs for a client’s product. There were so many abstract nouns in the blurbs they sent to me that when I removed them there was almost nothing left. Nothing of substance. Maybe they should go into politics.
Lynna, OM says
Religious Exemptions for Vaccine Mandates Shouldn’t Exist
Freedom of religion was never meant to excuse people from obligations that apply to everyone.
blf says
Lynna@110 quotes, “Today, 48 states and the District of Columbia allow some form of exemption.”
Eh?
That was true a few years ago (until, from memory, the 2014 Disneyland measles outbreak), when only Mississippi and W.Virginia did not have a religious / personal lunacy exemption. (My memory is both states realised an epidemic would overwhelm their fragile healthcare systems, leading to the absence of any such exemptions.) However, today, “There are 44 states and Washington DC that grant religious exemptions for people who have religious objections to immunizations. Currently, 15 states allow philosophical exemptions for children whose parents object to immunizations because of personal, moral or other beliefs”, States With Religious and Philosophical Exemptions From School Immunization Requirements. (That adds up to 59 states (give-or-take a DC), so there’s clearly some overlap, as confirmed at the link.) There’s a state-by-state breakdown at the link, and the six with neither a religious nor personal lunacy exemption are California, Connecticut, Maine, Mississippi, New York, and W.Virginia. Except for Connecticut, it looks like all of them removed the exemptions before the Covid-19 pandemic; i.e., in 2019 (Maine & New York) or earlier.
However, as noted at the link, “At this time, no state requires children to receive the COVID-19 vaccine for school entry.” However, California has just announced it “will mandate COVID-19 vaccines for students and staff, becoming the first state in the nation to require schoolchildren to be vaccinated against the coronavirus” (California becomes first state to require COVID-19 vaccine for students), albeit the mandate only applies to age groups for which there is a fully-approved vaccine (currently, 16+ years old).
From memory (i.e., Orac’s site), there is a bug in California’s medical exemption — all that is required is, basically, a “doctor’s note”. There are no further checks. That has lead to quacks selling bogus “medical exemption” notes, albeit (again from memory (Orac again)), some of the more notorious quacks doing that are now having difficulties with the state’s medical licensing board.
tomh says
Re: #111
” there is a bug in California’s medical exemption — all that is required is, basically, a “doctor’s note”. There are no further checks.”
When the law was first passed removing medical exemptions, that was indeed a loophole, but that has since been remedied. From the LA County DPH Health Update March 26, 2021.
blf says
tomh@112, Thanks for the update / correction!
From Vaccinate California Applauds Governor Newsom for Signing Senate Bill 276 and SB 714 to Protect Our Children and Communities from Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (an obviously biased but presumably fairly accurate source):
So yeah, that does indeed remove the original bug.
B.t.w., in @112, I presume instead of “removing medical exemptions” what was meant is “removing personal belief (which includes religious) exemptions”.
tomh says
blf @ 113
You’re right, that was careless. No beliefs! We don’t believe in beliefs in California.
Lynna, OM says
As school boards face threats, prominent Republicans are outraged — by the Justice Department’s willingness to help those being targeted.
Link
Lynna, OM says
Police investigating shooting at Arlington, Texas, high school; multiple people wounded
This is a breaking story. We’ll get more details later.
Lynna, OM says
All the best people:
More Republican campaign news:
Lynna, OM says
WTF is going on here?
From Josh Marshall: “AT&T and the Demon Spawn of OAN”
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/att-and-the-demon-spawn-of-oan
Lynna, OM says
Link
Lynna, OM says
Wonkette: “Ahmaud Arbery’s Killer Would Prefer Court Not Remind Jury He’s A Gross Racist”
Link
Lynna, OM says
Wonkette: “Idaho Gov. Left State, So Crackpot Lt. Gov. Lady Doing Bunch Of Crazy Bullsh*t Again”
Link
A photo of McGeachin, (with gun, bible and survivalist van), is available at the link. I question the wisdom of trying to shoot anything while holding a bible.
Lynna, OM says
A ‘Historical Event’: First Malaria Vaccine Approved by W.H.O. [New York times link]
Malaria kills about 500,000 people each year, about half of them children in Africa.
blf says
In teh “U”K, Christian TV channel fined by Ofcom over Covid conspiracy theories:
Some background from Misinformation at the pulpit:
Earlier this year they were hit with a £125,000 fine, Pastor Chris’ TV Network Fined £125,000 For COVID-19 Conspiracies In UK (April 2021):
Rather unsurprisingly, “Pastor Chris” Oyakhilome is wealthy ($50m seems to be a common estimate).
Lynna, OM says
Follow-up to comment 116.
Suspected teen gunman arrested in Texas high school shooting that injured 4, police say
The suspect, Timothy George Simpkins, was charged with multiple counts of aggravated assault with a gun.
How is it somehow better that a gun was used to settle a fight?
Lynna, OM says
Josh Marshall:
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/heres-why-mcconnell-blinked
Lynna, OM says
Follow-up to comment 118.
Link
Lynna, OM says
UK secretary slammed for not knowing what the word misogyny means
So, Raab is a misogynist with no self-awareness. He also stupid, but doesn’t know he is.
Lynna, OM says
South Carolina Death Cult Members Boo Lindsey Graham For Gently Recommending They Stay Alive
Akira MacKenzie says
@ 126
Because they either don’t recognize fascism when it’s right in front of them, they are too afraid of using the word lest they be branded “biased, or they take the attitude that’s it’s not their place as journalists to put ideological labels on individuals or organizations.
Lynna, OM says
Washington Post link
The chart is available at the link. The chart shows these federal payments are at risk: $1.7 billion in federal workers’ salaries: $1.5 billion in payments to Medicare providers; $20 billion in Social Security benefits; $5 billion in payments to Affordable Care Act marketplace insurers; interest payments on the public debt; pay for active-duty military, etc.
How does Mitch McConnell think that elders who are on a fixed income from Social Security will fare if their payments don’t arrive?
Lynna, OM says
They Are Stuck in Freezing Woods, and ‘Fortress Europe’ Won’t Let Them In
New York Times link
Lynna, OM says
We knew Greg Abbott’s border scheme was reprehensible, but we’ve just barely scratched the surface
Lynna, OM says
We knew Greg Abbott’s border scheme was reprehensible, but we’ve just barely scratched the surface
Nerd of Redhead, Dances OM Trolls says
Lynna@130
If my sister’s SSA doesn’t arrive on the 27th, she will be unable to pay the November rent for her apartment. Expect lots of noise from those being shafted. Hopefully they will blame the do nothing party.
blf says
Back in 1995, the Grauniad and Granada Television took down Jonathan Aitken, a then(? recent?) “U”K Minister. He was scamming with / bribed by the Saudis, and eventually jailed for perjury and other crimes (a synopsis from the Grauniad’s archives) after claiming to be yielding . He claimed after being released from goal he’d changed. And become some sort of a priest or similar. So it’s no surprise he seems to have been lying, Jonathan Aitken was paid £166,000 for book on Kazakh autocrat, leak suggests:
The Grauniad’s robust defence against Aitken’s libel suit is one of the cases which has earned it a reputation of a paper you don’t want to sue, they don’t roll over. Aitken is a proven liar, and apparently continues to be a liar-for-hire.
raven says
More violence against health care workers in hospitals.
This has been happening for a long time now.
The main perpetrators are Covid-19 virus deniers and antivaxxers. They get sick with the virus that doesn’t exist and end up in the hospital in serious danger of dying. Then they panic. The survival in the ICU is around 50%.
raven says
From the article I just posted above.
These assaults on health care workers by the patients and the patient’s families are common these days. They are happening dozens of times a day somewhere in the USA.
The Covid-19 denier/antivaxxer patients are hard to treat.
Since the Covid-19 virus doesn’t exist, they wait until they are very sick to come into the hospital. Since the virus doesn’t exist, they don’t believe they are infected with the virus. They are weak and having trouble breathing. They are surrounded by people in full PPE gear who look threatening to them. At some point in dawns on them that they might very well die. They panic and sometimes attack the staff.
They also die a lot. The average stay in the ICU of a dead Covid-19 patient is 6 weeks.
I’ve been reading a lot of health care websites and also the dead antivaxxer websites, the Hermancainaward and sorryantivaxxers. The unvaccinated patients they are seeing now seem to be almost 100% fundie xians. They are frequently hostile in general to the outside society and in particular to the mainstream medical system.
They aren’t very bright or educated.
One guy was an active antivaxxer. He ended up in the hospital with the Covid-19 virus. He was still posting the usual really stupid antivaxxer memes from his hospital bed. Shortly after that he crashed and ended up on a ventilator, and a few weeks later was dead.
As the vaxxers say, he took the Covid-19 plane to heaven.
raven says
It was a matter of time until an antivaxxer killed a health care worker.
And here we are.
Quite a few vaccination sites have been attacked lately as well.
blf says
raven@137(–139), If you want to be taken seriously, also include (links-to) the “(block-)quoted” sources.
tomh says
Republican support for Trump back on the rise ahead of 2024
KIRK MCDANIEL / October 6, 2021
chigau (違う) says
Where’s SC?
Paul K says
tomh @140: Whenever I see poll results about republicans, I wonder about actual numbers. Sure, 67% of them might believe something, but how many of them are there? More than two years ago? Fewer? As they’ve gotten more insane as a group, how many have stopped identifying as ‘republican’? Or (horrifyingly), how many MORE are there? Without that knowledge, these numbers lose a lot of meaning.
I know that actual numbers aren’t everything. The crazy way our districting works, or doesn’t, means that they can gain or keep power regardless of being a minority. Still, I find these polls deficient if they don’t include some way to know comparisons between the numbers in a group.
Lynna, OM says
Humor/satire from Andy Borowitz:
New Yorker link
Lynna, OM says
chigau @141, I don’t know why SC is not posting in this thread. Maybe she is just taking a break? I miss her.
Lynna, OM says
Text quoted by tomh @140:
So, still a cult.
Lynna, OM says
raven @136, 137, and 138: I’m particularly worried about threats against health care workers in Idaho, in part because I live here, and in part because the “settle all issues with a gun” culture seems to be growing.
In other news: What’s good (and what’s not) about Congress’ new debt-ceiling deal
To be sure, avoiding the Oct. 18 deadline is good news, but this is obviously a kick-the-can-down-the-road agreement.
The $480 billion figure was recommended by the Treasury Department.
Lynna, OM says
Sigh.
Head of Wisconsin ‘audit’ admits he doesn’t know how elections work
There are no Cyber Ninjas operating at the state’s behest in Wisconsin, but that doesn’t mean the Badger State’s election “audit” will be less ludicrous.
What could go wrong?
Lynna, OM says
Multiple GOP 2022 candidates haunted by domestic violence allegations
An unsettling number of Republican candidates running for Congress in 2022 have domestic-violence allegations in their background.
Lynna, OM says
Senate Drops Report On Trump’s Use Of DOJ To Stay In Power
Lynna, OM says
Top allies to Trump’s violent insurrection are ignoring Congress’ subpoenas. Jail them.
Akira MacKenzie says
@ 150
BUT the Democrat’s, afraid of right-wing reprisals and zealously trying to make sure of irreparably divided nations stays together, will let this nonsense pass the same way they let Republicans ignore subpoenas during Trump’s first impeachment.
Lynna, OM says
Humor/satire from Andy Borowitz: “Texas Temporarily Forced to Recognize Women as Humans”
New Yorker link
For more regular reporting, see also: Judge suspends Texas abortion bounty hunter law in fiery opinion, but now far-right courts take over
Lynna, OM says
Tweet O’ the Day:
https://twitter.com/FilmThePoliceLA/status/1445566038855217158
If you scroll down in the thread, you can find a short interview with “Ray,” the homeless person who shouted, “Because I’m vaccinated you dumb fuck,” at the anti-vaxxer.
Lynna, OM says
Wonkette:
Link
Lynna, OM says
As Europe Faces a Cold Winter, Putin Seizes on the Leverage From Russia’s Gas Output
New York Times link
Critics claim Russia is manipulating the flow of gas to push up prices.
Lynna, OM says
Associated Press:
Lynna, OM says
Nerd @134: “If my sister’s SSA doesn’t arrive on the 27th, she will be unable to pay the November rent for her apartment.” Yep. Most people who depend of Social Security payments do not have any extra money. They just barely get by. Sometimes they don’t quite make it and have to decide between buying food, paying rent, and paying for prescription medicine.
Mitch McConnell is evil to threaten people like that with his rhetoric about not raising the debt ceiling, and/or shutting the government down. McConnell has threatened both in the past, and he is threatening to do both now. He hasn’t dropped his threats, he just postponed them for a little while.
Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi are trying to work around Mitch McConnell in order to govern responsibly. It would help if Joe Manchin would also get out of their way.
Lynna, OM says
Sheesh! I didn’t know about bonkers “smart thermostat” conspiracy theory Clark was pushing.
Link
More at the link.
raven says
Here is a gruesome and appalling example of antivaxxer stupidity. This right wingnut guy removed his brother from the hospital AMA, against medical advice, because they wouldn’t give him Ivermectin. Not too long after they got home, he died from the Covid-19 virus.
His second to last post says goodbye to his brother. His last post calls the vaccines the mark of the beast and stupid juice.
You can tell that this guy knows zero medicine and is incapable of learning anything.
raven says
This is the source for this incident.
It is the Hermancainaward reddit.
I’m going to put a trigger warning in here. It’s as gruesome and horrible as it sounds.
https://www.reddit.com/r/HermanCainAward/comments/q3bhcd/patrick_hampton_columnist_of_the_patriot_post/?sort=new
You follow the screen shots by using the arrows at the sides of the OP to change from one to the next, sideways.
tomh says
Biden to restore protections to three national monuments slashed by Trump
MATTHEW RENDA / October 7, 2021
Lynna, OM says
Seems like a good idea to send Mike Lindell the bill:
Idaho wants MyPillow CEO to pay for costs to refute his false election fraud claim
Lynna, OM says
Possibly good news: Global Deal to End Tax Havens Moves Ahead as Nations Back 15% Rate.
NY Times link
More than 130 countries agreed to set a minimum tax rate of 15 percent as governments look to end a race to the bottom on corporate taxation.
Lynna, OM says
The New Jobs Numbers Are Pretty Good, Actually
New York Times link
They fell far short of analyst expectations, but they reflect a steady expansion that is more rapid than other recent recoveries.
Lynna, OM says
Update to comment 150:
Lynna, OM says
Josh Marshall: “Treat Trump Like the Common Perp He Is”
Lynna, OM says
Swollen dunderheads continue to fund batshit bonkers schemes:
Link
tomh says
WaPo:
Florida issues financial penalties to school districts with mask mandates
By Lori Rozsa and Valerie Strauss / October 7, 2021
Lynna, OM says
No, no, no. This is such bad news. The Texas abortion ban is back in effect.
https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/08/politics/texas-abortion-appeal/index.html
The Department of Justice can now go straight to the Supreme Court with this case, if they decide to do so. The fight is not over.
Lynna, OM says
NBC News:
Lynna, OM says
CNBC:
Lynna, OM says
The Daily Beast:
Link
Lynna, OM says
Washington Post:
blf says
To absolutely no surprise at all, teh raping children cult here in France is still claiming it must obstruct authorities, despite the recent commission report (see, e.g.,@56, and poopyhead’s post I see a pattern here), France rebukes top bishop for saying confessional secrecy trumps law in sex abuse cases:
Lynna, OM says
Black Children Were Jailed For A Crime That Doesn’t Exist. Almost Nothing Happened To The Adults In Charge.
Judge Donna Scott Davenport oversees a juvenile justice system in Rutherford County, Tennessee, with a staggering history of jailing children. She said kids must face consequences, which rarely seem to apply to her or the other adults in charge.
Much much more at the link. Included are cases of children being locked up and their medication not being given to them, children being permanently traumatized, and the county giving Davenport a budget of $3.69 million.
Lynna, OM says
Follow-up to comment 175.
Posted by readers of the article:
See also: https://twitter.com/bykenarmstrong/status/1446505198516535297
Video of this officious white woman is available if you scroll down in the thread.
County commissioners liken the jail to a business and ask often about the number of beds filled.
One commissioner, who used to work in a post office, came up with the charge of “criminal responsibility for conduct of another.”
The problem? There’s no such charge.
These kids were charged with a crime that doesn’t exist.
When forced to stop jailing so many of its own children, Rutherford County ramped up its pitch to detain kids from other places.
The county charges $175 a day for each kid they jail.
Lynna, OM says
Pennsylvania GOP advances voting restrictions designed to bypass governor
Lynna, OM says
Trump hid $70 million in losses on D.C. hotel, and he also hid payments from foreign governments.
Link
Trump is a loser on all levels.
Lynna, OM says
White House formally rejects Trump’s executive privilege claim on Jan. 6 documents
Lynna, OM says
Wonkette:
Link
Lynna, OM says
Ex-Trump aide Dan Scavino finally served Jan. 6 subpoena
Lynna, OM says
Wonkette: “Michael Flynn Says He Does Not Worship Satan”
Of course Flynn is making money off this nonsense.
Link
Lynna, OM says
The Ship That Became a Bomb
New Yorker link
Stranded in Yemen’s war zone, a decaying supertanker has more than a million barrels of oil aboard. If—or when—it explodes or sinks, thousands may die.
tomh says
Politico Playbook: GOP hands Trump the party
By TARA PALMERI / 10/10/2021
Lynna, OM says
Yellen Doubles Down On Support For Nixing The Debt Ceiling
Video of Yellen speaking is available at the link.
Lynna, OM says
Oh, FFS.
Link
Lynna, OM says
Link
blf says
How to drink your coffee in the French style (possibly paywalled):
I suspect this might be a what I’ll call a “Parisian rule”, possibly for customers paying in rubles — I’ve never observed such a thing. (I also don’t put cow juice in my bean extract, so I do lack expertise / experience here.)
Indeed, albeit no-one seems surprised when I don’t do it… albeit I also don’t pay in rubles.
Oh absolutely! A “menu” — a word which exists in Français but doesn’t have the English meaning — doesn’t exist, even for the ruble-paying customers.
Absolutly, absolute, absolutely. Even if you pay in rubles.
(My snarks about paying in rubles is a lot of English-language publications in France seem to be aimed at very wealthy individuals with mansions in Paris and Châteaux / vignobles elsewhere, when they are not on one of their superyachts…)
Lynna, OM says
New Yorker link
There’s also this:
blf says
Although, in my opinion, this goes off the rails (so-to-speak) in the last few seconds, it is otherwise rather hilarious, Wine Robots Are Taking Over Italian Vineyards (video) (The Late Show with Stephen Colbert).
Lynna, OM says
Not a surprise:
Texas Tribune link
West tweeted that he and his wife both completed monoclonal antibody treatment and were “in the observation period.”
Lynna, OM says
NBC News:
In other campaign news: Former New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman and former Department of Homeland Security official Miles Taylor (both of them are Republicans) wrote a joint New York Times op-ed today, urging GOP voters to “form an alliance with Democrats to defend American institutions.”
We Are Republicans With a Plea: Elect Democrats in 2022
Lynna, OM says
Representative Liz Cheney is correct.
Cheney Slams Scalise For ‘Perpetuating’ Big Lie: It’s An ‘Attack’ On ‘Constitutional Republic’
Lynna, OM says
Follow-up to comment 193.
Posted by readers of the article:
Lynna, OM says
Link
Lynna, OM says
Cartoon: The creature awakens
Lynna, OM says
George Clooney comments on Trump and on Biden’s shifting poll numbers:
Link
Lynna, OM says
Wonkette: “John Birch Society Is BACK BABY, And They’re … Trying To Block Entrances To Your Kid’s School!”
The John Birch Society is active in Idaho.
Lynna, OM says
Prosecutors seek detention in Navy submarine espionage case
This couple has children, so yeah, feeling sorry for the kids.
Lynna, OM says
From the opening paragraph in Eugene Robinson’s latest column: “T.S. Eliot wrote that the world ends ‘not with a bang but a whimper,’ but I fear our great nation is careening toward a third manner of demise: descent into lip-blubbering, self-destructive idiocy.”
Washington Post link
“How dumb can a nation get and still survive?”
Lynna, OM says
Sidney Powell [total dunderhead pretending to be a competent lawyer] Takes On Deep State Military Vaccines
Aspirin and melatonin???? Sheesh, this just gets worse and worse. Still both laughable and dangerous.
Link
Lynna, OM says
North Carolina’s lieutenant governor is adamant he won’t resign after calling LGBTQ people ‘filth’
Lynna, OM says
New Zealand’s sensible approach:
Link
tomh says
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott bans COVID-19 vaccine mandates by any entity
Ivana Saric / October 11, 2021
Lynna, OM says
Cruz, Hawley throwing ‘sand in the gears’ of U.S. foreign policy
This is a terrible time for the United States to be shorthanded in foreign affairs. Some GOP senators are blocking qualified nominees anyway.
Lynna, OM says
President Barack Obama will campaign with former Gov. Terry McAuliffe in Richmond on Saturday, Oct. 23. Virginia’s gubernatorial election is three weeks from today, Stacey Abrams and Jill Biden are also campaigning with McAuliffe.
Lynna, OM says
“Truly, Four Pinocchios is not enough.”
Washington Post link
Fact Checker: Trump’s never-ending parade of election falsehoods
Lynna, OM says
What can be done about Louis DeJoy’s plan to permanently slow much of the nation’s mail service? A large group of attorneys general has an idea.
Lynna, OM says
Wonkette:
[Video is available at the link.]
Lynna, OM says
Wonkette: Raiders Coach Jon Gruden Sh*tcanned Just For Being An Entire Human Garbage Dump
Lynna, OM says
Details On Why Schiff Regrets Asking Mueller To Testify On Russia Probe
A video showing Schiff’s remarks to Rachel Maddow is available at the link.
Lynna, OM says
Black man has a stroke, Boston police arrest him instead of calling an ambulance
Lynna, OM says
Bad news regarding COVID cases in Russia:
Link
Lynna, OM says
https://twitter.com/atrupar
Scroll down to also see:
Lynna, OM says
https://twitter.com/neal_katyal
Lynna, OM says
“Trump to Skip 2024 Campaign and Go Straight to Claiming He Won” by Andy Borowitz.
New Yorker link
Lynna, OM says
Yes, there are still terrible wildfires in California:
NBC News link
Video is available at the link.
Lynna, OM says
Corruption:
Link
Lynna, OM says
As Steve Benen reported:
From the Washington Post:
Washington Post link
Lynna, OM says
The Mysterious Case of the COVID-19 Lab-Leak Theory
New Yorker link
Did the virus spring from nature or from human error? The article is by Carolyn Kormann. It is both too long and too complicated (too carefully written) to excerpt.
Lynna, OM says
As reported by Steve Benen:
More information from the Associated press.
Lynna, OM says
McConnell’s debt-ceiling plan gets literally zero Republican votes
Mitch McConnell came up with a plan to give Democrats more time to pay the GOP’s debt-ceiling ransom. Zero congressional Republicans voted for it.
Lynna, OM says
What Representative Liz Cheney said:
Link
Lynna, OM says
Raising my eyebrows and making a “horror” face in response to this news:
Link
Photos of the book are available at the link.
Comments posted by readers of the article:
Lynna, OM says
Insurrectionist shoots himself in the foot (metaphorically speaking):
Link
Lynna, OM says
Follow-up to comment 176.
Hooray. Donna Scott Davenport lost her job. One of her jobs. Well-deserved consequence.
Link
Lynna, OM says
Follow-up to comment 226.
Posted by readers of the article:
Lynna, OM says
https://twitter.com/JeffBezos/status/1447563576986804229
https://twitter.com/StobiesGalaxy/status/1447991723435638793
Lynna, OM says
https://twitter.com/lawindsor/status/1447947406600032271
From Wonkette’s coverage of the video posted on Twitter:
Link
Lynna, OM says
Mostly good news for senior citizens in the USA: Social Security benefits to rise 5.9 percent for roughly 70 million people in 2022
Washington Post link