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!
KG says
UK Tories following the Republifascist playbook: photo IDs to “solve” a non-existent problem of voter fraud, and legislating for a government minister to have the power to issue orders to the currently independent Electoral Commission. They are also putting their cronies in powerful media positions, at the BBC and the communications regulator OfCom, bullying museums and universities to toe the Tory line in the culture wars they are prosecuting, pushing through new and oppressive legislation on demonstrations, official secrets and judicial review of the legality of government actions…
blf says
Pinal County [Arizona] Supervisors Vote To Reject $3.4 Million COVID-19 Vaccine Equity Grant (audio) (quoted in full):
There’s four(?) First Nations communities in the county. I don’t know to what extent they are affected by this absurdity.
blf says
First Dog on the Moon in the Grauniad (please consider supporting the Grauniad if you can), I find being a cartoonist exhausting, so imagine having a real job in a pandemic! (cartoon): “Imagine being a supermarket or healthcare worker, or any other essential job right now”.
blf says
Mars helicopter Ingenuity successfully completed its 13th flight. Data and images are still being downloaded. This flight was lower and slower than the 12th, but intended to again image the same interesting ridge features of South Séítah region, from a somewhat different angle, altitude, and position. I believe part of the intent is try and combine the new images with those from the previous flight to produce an even better stereoscopic (albeit not 360°) view of what has the scientists intrigued.
Nasa / JPL has also officially extended Ingenuity’s mission “indefinitely” (the original(?) mission extension was to have ended about now-ish, if my memory is correct).
blf says
Teh thug’s next tactic, Three near-identical Boris Vishnevskys on St Petersburg election ballot:
Image at the link. As per the above excerpt, the original Vishnevsky is the one wearing a tie.
Lynna, OM says
Cartoon: Another trip to parallel Earth.
Lynna, OM says
Millions in U.S. lose jobless benefits as federal aid expires, thrusting families and economy onto uncertain path.
Washington Post link
Too much. Too big a change happening all at once. Not good.
Lynna, OM says
Panjshir Valley, last resistance holdout in Afghanistan, falls to the Taliban
Washington Post link
Lynna, OM says
Southern Republicans Cannot Be Trusted With Public Health
New York Times link to an article written by Margaret Renki.
Lynna, OM says
AG Garland: DOJ Will ‘Provide Support’ For Abortion Clinics ‘Under Attack’
Lynna, OM says
A brief dispatch from the rural COVID front line
That’s a powerful conclusion.
LykeX says
Twitter thread:
More at the link and some decent comments, too.
snarkrates says
LykeX, Mencken said it better: “For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong.”
KG says
LykeX@11,
The best of the comments in response was this one (apar from the misues of the word “redress”:
tomh says
Metro News:
Poll: Fewer than half of West Virginians believe legitimacy of 2020 presidential election
By Brad McElhinny / September 6, 2021
Fewer than half of West Virginians believe the 2020 presidential election was legitimate and accurate.
That’s according to the latest MetroNews West Virginia Poll, which surveyed 400 registered voters August 20-25.
Forty-four percent of respondents said the election result was determined legitimately.
Forty-three percent said the result was the result of voting fraud and election rigging.
And 14 percent said they aren’t sure.
[…]
A Monmouth Poll from June showed that 32 percent of Americans continue to believe Joe Biden’s 2020 victory was because of voter fraud. Between 60 and 70 percent of Republicans nationally believe Biden won because of voter fraud, according to polling over a period of months….
Fourteen percent of the American public said they will never accept Biden as president, according to the Monmouth Poll.
Lynna, OM says
Bits and pieces of news, as summarized by Steve Benen:
Link
Lynna, OM says
Anti-Abortion Snitching Site Keeps Getting Wrecked
Lynna, OM says
No masks? Check. No vaccines? Check. No remote classes? Check. Public education ended? In progress
Lynna, OM says
Poll shows growing U.S. support for public vaccine requirements
Lynna, OM says
Update on job growth in the USA, and on reactions to the statistics:
Link
Lynna, OM says
Brazilian Authorities Question Jason Miller After CPAC Event In Brasilia
Lynna, OM says
Abbott signs Texas elections bill, Democrats file suit
Yeah. That’s the opposite of “election integrity.” Republicans are known for naming legislation with misleading titles.
Hooray! Good for Marc Elias.
Putting one sort of good thing in the bill, (expanded voting hours for 12 days right before election day), does not make up for the extremely bad measures in the bill. The early voting hours give Republicans a talking point that is misleading when you look at the overall effect of the bill, which is to disenfranchise voters.
Lynna, OM says
Wonkette:
Of course Trump’s former campaign operatives are involved. All the best people.
Link
Lynna, OM says
Proud Boys Try To Storm Vancouver, WA High School Over Mask Mandate
Lynna, OM says
https://www.wonkette.com/monty-bennett-v-wonkette
Lynna, OM says
What the Sturgis rally shows us about the delta variant.
Washington Post link to an article by Ashish K. Jha.
South Dakota has high population immunity — and still saw a huge covid surge in August.
Lynna, OM says
Taliban Names Top Government Officials as Protests Roil Afghan Capital
New York Times link
The Taliban, who promised an inclusive leadership, drew from its own ranks to fill key government positions. For the second time in less than a week, protests that included hundreds of women were crushed.
Lynna, OM says
OMG. Texas governor bizarrely vows to ‘eliminate rape’ in barely coherent defense of abortion ban
Video is available at the link.
Lynna, OM says
Link
Lynna, OM says
Possible CA Governor Larry Elder Is Slavery Apologist Who’ll Replace Dianne Feinstein With Stephen Miller
A video snippet of Larry Elder speaking is available at the link.
Lynna, OM says
Mexico decriminalizes abortion, a dramatic step in world’s second-biggest Catholic country.
Washington Post link
blf says
Lynna@18 quotes (regarding a poll in the States):
Here in France, there there has been the Health Pass (paper or app) proving full-vaccination, recent negative test, presumed immunity, etc., since early-August. It covers essentially all of the above (not sure about hotel stays, and does not cover all work / office, with the exception of medical and (long-distance?) transport staff). Despite a dwindling rabble of goosestepping loons every Saturday, it’s very popular, with (last I recall) somewhere around 67% supporting the measure. It’s certainly become quite routine (locally, at least) with people presenting their pass upon entering the restaurant, bar, or café or when the server approaches — the servers’s rarely (or so it seems) have to ask anymore. One notably good thing about the Health Pass, which I’ve flagged before, is it applies both indoors and outdoors (at restaurants, etc.). The current fully-vaccinated rate is almost 80% (of those eligible, i.e., over 12), according to the track-and-trace app (which is also the app version of the Health Pass); the Health Pass was introduced to increase the vaccination rate (then in the 40%’s with rate of jabs falling), an explanation made explicit at the time by President Macron.
blf says
This could be interesting (for me, at least), SNCF set to lose bid for regional French railway line for first time ever (possibly paywalled, thelocal’s edits in {curly braces}):
blf says
Idaho enacts ‘crisis standards of care’ protocol to battle worsening Covid:
blf says
Follow-up to Lynna@27, AOC on Texas governor’s ‘disgusting’ abortion remarks: ‘He is not familiar with a female body’ (Grauniad’s edits in {curly braces}):
Lynna, OM says
Orrin Heatlie, the Republican who’s served as the lead proponent of recalling Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom [California’s Governor], has been sidelined with the coronavirus. Heatlie is unvaccinated.
Lynna, OM says
Upcoming super spreader events being planned by Trump: Trump’s political action committee yesterday announced upcoming rallies in Georgia on Sept. 25 and Iowa on Oct. 9. Both states will host key 2022 races and Iowa will hold the first presidential nominating contest in 2024.
Lynna, OM says
Follow-up to comment 36: Literally two minutes after announcing the upcoming rallies, Trump’s political operation sent out a fundraising appeal falsely suggesting 15 million mail ballots went missing in 2020.
https://twitter.com/AaronBlake/status/1435421901380362242
As noted on Twitter by Aaron Blake.
blf says
LAPD [Los Angles gestapo] officers told to collect social media data on every civilian they stop:
There’s an image of a card at the link. The SSN section is what really raised my eyebrows, since it purports the information must be provided (if asked for), unlike the social media details. What it asserts (my transcription) is
, which is basically gobbledygook.Lynna, OM says
Sigh.
Link
Gavin Newsom’s main Republican opponent in California, Larry Elder, urged his supporters to report “anything suspicious” in the recall vote. That’s right, he now thinks he is going to lose, so he is prepping everyone to think that his loss should be blamed of voting irregularities.
“The 2020 election, in my opinion, was full of shenanigans. And my fear is they’re going to try that in this election right here and recall. So I’m urging people to go to ElectElder.com. Whenever you see anything, hear anything suspicious, go to my website. We have a battery of lawyers. We’re going to file a lawsuit in a timely fashion this time,” Elder said Sunday in an exclusive interview on Fox News “Media Buzz.”
JFC.
tomh says
Re: #39
Yeah, because in a state where it’s 2-1 registered Democrats over registered Republicans, the only way a Republican could lose is if there were fraud. That makes sense. And the Republican voters believe this!
Lynna, OM says
Link
blf says
First Dog on the Moon in the Grauniad, Ozland’s alleged-“PM” Scott Morrison got to see his kids on Father’s Day and everyone is furious at him all the time now (cartoon): “I can only talk to my dad on the phone (when I answer his calls)”. As referenced in the cartoon, Morrison has a habit of this sort of thing, secretly vacationing in Hawaiʻi during the serious Ozland fires a few years ago, and more recently abusing teh “U”K’s Covid-19 restrictions (again, initially essentially secretly). I haven’t bothered to look up the details, but (vaguely) recall in both those cases, he initially lied / covered-up, and (judging by the cartoon) is doing so again this time. I assume both he and Ted Cruz attended the Monty Python “Run Away, Run Away” lesson, but replaced the vicious rabbit comedy part with vicious rabid wholesale corruption (it’s got some of the same letters, which is enough, ain’t it?).
blf says
London transport staff warned of razors inside Covid conspiracy posters:
Lynna, OM says
Fist Fights Break Out At Missouri School Board Meeting After Universal Masking Vote
Posted by readers of the article:
Lynna, OM says
When bad things happen, that’s tragedy. When people knowingly cause them to happen, that’s evil.
See also: https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/local/education/article253945878.html
Lynna, OM says
Deranged and violent white man on a plane:
Link
blf says
Three Vermont state troopers accused of creating fake Covid-19 vaccination cards:
blf says
Blow to DeSantis as judge rules Florida cannot enforce mask mandate ban:
blf says
Charming loons, Who Is Owed Reparations? Larry Elder Argues Slave Owners Whose :
blf says
Dear madam magic sky faeries, lightening bolts suggested… Hank Kunneman Says That Questioning His False Election Prophesies Is :
blf says
US’s wealthiest 1% are failing to pay $160bn a year in taxes, report finds:
Lynna, OM says
Abbott Considering Other Measures to Prevent People from Ever Setting Foot in Texas, by Andy Borowitz
New Yorker link
Lynna, OM says
NBC News:
Lynna, OM says
The wealthiest 1% have robbed the nation with $7 trillion in tax evasion over the last 10 years
Lynna, OM says
Follow-up to comment 39.
Yep, here come the lies.
Maria Bartiromo is getting worse and worse. She recently asked Mike Pompeo if Joe Biden is mentally capable of being president. Is Maria Bartiromo mentally capable of being a journalist … or even a talking head “news” host?
Video snippets are available at the link.
tomh says
This is how you do it.
United Airlines staff with vaccine religious exemptions face unpaid leave
Noah Garfinkel
raven says
Idaho is now rationing health care due to an overloaded health care system. Overloaded with Covid-19 virus patients.
This is happening in a lot of places. They usually don’t make public announcements though. The health care for patients just goes downhill because there are too many patients and not enough staff. My friend got an email from their local hospital a few weeks ago. It said basically, don’t get sick because we are full of Covid-19 patients and won’t be able to treat you.
tomh says
Abortions in Indiana
Read the order here.
raven says
It’s refrigerated truck time again. In Cowlitz county, Washington state.
This county is in SW Washington, on the Columbia river near Portland.
It is not a good sign when the refrigerated trucks show up in your neighborhood.
snarkrates says
Lynna: “Maria Bartiromo is getting worse and worse.”
Yeah, that’s one I bet Joey Ramone wishes he could take back.
Lynna, OM says
Layoffs drop to pandemic-era low as U.S. economy improves
The last time jobless claims were this low, the effects of the pandemic hadn’t even reached the United States yet.
Lynna, OM says
Biden’s White House clears out Trump picks from military boards
The Biden administration has quietly spent the year removing Trump appointees from government posts. It’s clearly taking a while.
Lynna, OM says
Violence, lots of violence. And when the Proud Boys don’t get the violence they long for, they roam around in packs to create some.
Link
Lynna, OM says
The Proud Boys Say They Aren’t Coming. DC Is Bracing for Violence, Anyway. e
Far-right groups are warning their followers that a September 18 rally could be a government trap. FFS. The “government” didn’t organize the rally.
Weirdness all around. They don’t really know what they are doing. Whatever happens, the rightwing extremists will spin it as an FBI or “government” false flag event. Doofuses and dunderheads.
Lynna, OM says
At least 200 Afghan dual nationals, including Americans, leave from newly reopened Kabul airport.
Washington Post link
Lynna, OM says
Republican infighting:
Link
Lynna, OM says
Biden to expand vaccine requirements to frontline health workers
The six-part plan will include the order that all executive branch federal workers get vaccinated.
Lynna, OM says
Wonkette:
Link
Lynna, OM says
Trump wants all your money … again.
New York Times link</a.
Lynna, OM says
Officials face ‘a sustained campaign of intimidation’ from the far-right
There’s a “sustained campaign of intimidation” from the far-right against election officials. And public health officials. And educators. And lawmakers.
Lynna, OM says
Former President Barack Obama is featured in a new 30-second television ad in California people to vote “no” on the state’s recall ballot.
Link
tomh says
@ #71
I saw it last night on the local ABC station–pretty effective. I think Democrats are waking up to the danger. It’s looking like very little chance of the recall succeeding.
Akira MacKenzie says
@72
DON’T GIVE ME HOPE!
Lynna, OM says
Humor/satire from Andy Borowitz:
New Yorker link
Lynna, OM says
Justice Department sues Texas over restrictive abortion law
Lynna, OM says
Link
Lynna, OM says
Pennsylvania Republicans launch election ‘review’
Lynna, OM says
Kevin McCarthy wages a strange crusade against proxy voting
House Republicans were so outraged by proxy voting, they literally made a federal case out of it. Kevin McCarthy wants the Supreme Court to weigh in.
Lynna, OM says
Florida’s controversial ‘anti-riot’ law blocked by a federal court
A federal judge has blocked enforcement of Florida’s “anti-riot law,” saying it “encourages arbitrary and discriminatory enforcement.” Yep. Ron DeSantis gets slapped down by the courts … again.
Lynna, OM says
Follow-up to comment 75.
Link
Lynna, OM says
Why Republicans hope to derail Biden’s bold new vaccine policy
Republicans opposed to Biden’s vaccine plan aren’t saying the policy won’t work — because for the GOP, whether the plan is effective or not is irrelevant.
Lynna, OM says
Giuliani Pal Admits To Funneling Foreign Money Into U.S Political Campaigns
Well, that’s strange. What happened to the money? Did it go to a trumpian political candidate or not? What about the charges related to Giuliani’s efforts to have Ukranian’s manufacture dirt on Joe Biden’s son?
Lynna, OM says
Follow-up to comment 81.
The Governor of South Carolina promised Holy War in his response to President Biden’s vaccine mandates.
Link
Lynna, OM says
Some thoughts on President Biden’s recent actions:
Link
Lynna, OM says
Hurricane Ida Left a Huge Water Crisis in Her Wake
Hundreds of thousands of people still lack safe drinking water.
Infrastructure, infrastructure , infrastructure.
Lynna, OM says
Follow-up to comment 85.
About 60 percent of Louisiana’s water systems are more than a century old. Even before Hurricane Ida, many of Louisiana’s water systems were cited for routinely violating drinking water standards. About 40% of the systems that violated the law serve populations with high percentages of people of color.
Even worse:
Lynna, OM says
Stuff of nightmares.
Link
Lynna, OM says
Tweet:
She went against CDC guidelines. Getting infected with Covid is a greater risk that getting the vaccine, and that is true for pregnant women, or for women trying to get pregnant. “There is currently no evidence that any vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccines, cause fertility problems in women or men,” the CDC said.
Lynna, OM says
Wonkette:
Link
Lynna, OM says
Wonkette:
Link
Lynna, OM says
Katie Porter! One of the good ones.
https://www.wonkette.com/katie-porter-childcare-msnbc
Lynna, OM says
Humor/satire from Andy Borowitz:
New Yorker link
blf says
Magic sky faeries (ordered us to) did it! Israel to prosecute Hasidic pilgrims who faked negative Covid tests to fly home:
Congratulations to whoever tipped off the police in time to catch teh plague rats before they could further spread the infection.
tomh says
Sixth Circuit upholds block of Tennessee abortion ban
ROSANA HUGHES / September 10, 2021
Lynna, OM says
blf @93, religious extremists became a literal plague.
tomh @94, The Sixth Circuit had more sense than the conservatives on the Supreme Court.
In other news: Health care staffing CEO resigns after ties linked him to anti-mask group
KG says
More interesting stuff from The Intercept on US-funded virus research in Wuhan. Difficult to summarize – no specific evidence that SARS-CoV-2 leaked from a lab, but a lot that makes the possibility more plausible, and that raises questions for Fauci.
Lynna, OM says
There are a lot of “overdue” descriptions floating around, but I think that Biden acted fairly quickly after the official approval for the Pfizer vaccine was issued by the FDA on August 23rd. I admit to being relatively ignorant when it comes to what the Executive Branch can do, and cannot do, when it comes to issuing vaccine mandates.
Link
Lynna, OM says
Wonkette link
Lynna, OM says
How Will Jen Psaki Try To Justify Joe Biden’s Vaccine Tyranny?
‘It’s safe, effective, and free, and it will keep people from dying. Next question?’
https://www.wonkette.com
Lynna, OM says
Biden’s vaccine push wins cautious business support as political opponents fume
Even in deep red Texas, some employers embrace the president’s vaccine strategy.
Washington Post link
Lynna, OM says
Unvaccinated are 5 times more likely to be infected, and 11 times more likely to die from COVID-19
Lynna, OM says
“Woodwork squeaks and out come the freaks”
raven says
Another day, another 1,600 unvaccinated Covid-19 virus patients die.
This is what the heatlh care workers see a lot of.
Covid-19 virus deniers/antivaxxers in the hospital, very sick, about to die, and still don’t believe the Covid-19 virus exists or that the vaccine is worth getting. And then they go on to die. The staff everywhere are demoralized.
They don’t make a point of it, but the ventilators have their problems. The highest survival I’ve seen is 75%. It can be as low as 5%. A general ballpark figure is 50% live, 50% die.
raven says
I just found out someone I know slightly had Covid-19 virus and ended up in the hospital. He wasn’t antivax and in fact, had his first shot of two.
He was on a ventilator for a month and is very lucky to be alive.
After a month on a ventilator, they start thinking seriously about turning you off. Literally. At that point for a lot of patients, they can’t get off of the ventilator any more.
He is OK considering what he went through and is even back to work. He is also very paranoid about catching the Covid-19 virus again.
Trickster Goddess says
A very dear friend of mine finally got her first shot yesterday. Her hesitance wasn’t political or conspiratorial but rather stemming from past mistreatment by the medical establishment from a time when she had been hospitalized and forced to take psychiatric drugs against her will with no warning of the side effects and not being listened to when she complained about the negative effects.
What changed her mind was BC’s vaccine passport coming into effect this week. As she put it, she was pretty reluctant to get the vaccine, but not reluctant enough to disrupt her life.
I’m very relieved.
blf says
Trickster Goddess@105, Congratulations to your friend ! You write, “What changed her mind was BC’s vaccine passport coming into effect this week. As she put it, she was pretty reluctant to get the vaccine, but not reluctant enough to disrupt her life.”
Here in France, the same sort of thing happened when the Health Pass was introduced: Paper or app proving you’ve been fully-vaccinated, recently tested negative (with charges now being introduced for “convenience” testing), should be immune, etc — and is necessary to visit (inside or outside) a restaurant, bar, café; take a long-distance train; etc., and the staff now also must(?) be vaccinated. At the time the Health Pass was announced, around 40% were vaccinated and the vaccination rate was dropping, but within a week about four million signed up to be vaccinated, and now, about five weeks after it came into effect, just over 80% of the eligible population is fully-vaccinated. New cases are around 10,000 per day, and R has finally dropped to less than one (just below 0.8). All this also shows a famous poll at the end of last year which found only c.40% would get the vaccine was, fortunately, incorrect. Eyeballing the current trends graph suggests the rate is holding steady; and at the current time, the unvaccinated are about ten times more likely to test positive or wind up in ICU then the (fully?-)vaccinated. Current concern is the start of the school year and in-classroom learning, albeit masks are mandatory for both staff and students.
Every Saturday, there’s still some goosestepping eejits protesting the Health Pass, vaccines, President Macron, immigrants & other “others”, and the Chicago Cubs winning the 2016 World Series, but those protests have been a declining trend and were never very big (by French standards). Indeed, last figure I saw, about 67% approve of the Health Pass, and it’s use has become routine. There was another such stumbles here in the village yesterday; I missed it, but it didn’t sound very large and I heard some booing.
blf says
Chris Riddell in the Grauniad on teh “U”K’s alleged-“government”, The Tory cabinet of mediocrities (cartoon): “They all seem to be making it up as they go along, from immigration to social care”. Obviously “U”K-specific, but for most of it, the grist should be fairly obvious (“Where is Raab?” refers to the current alleged-FM, Dominic Raab, who all-but-disappeared as Afghanistan was collapsing and dogs & some people were being evacuated).
blf says
Republicans once called government the problem — now they want to run your life:
blf says
I was browsing the front page of The Irish Times and noticed their tracker says almost 90% have been fully-vaccinated. Congratulations! (I didn’t check if that’s for the Republic (probably) or entire island, nor did I check if that’s of the eligible or total population — any which way, it’s very impressive.) It’s not the best in Europe, several small locales (Gibraltar, etc.) and countries (famously Portugal, but also Denmark, Malta, etc.) have done better. In fact, Denmark lifts all Covid restrictions as vaccinations top 80% [of eligible], a snippet:
Denmark is also apparently no longer requiring their equivalent of the (French) Health Pass in any circumstances.
World-wide, only about 30% are fully-vaccinated.
raven says
We all know what the female slavers/forced birthers have done with the Texas abortion law.
This is right up there with the crimes against humanity of Romanian dictator Ceausescu and his abortion prohibition law. The women denied abortions are more likely to be poorer, life limited, have health problems, mental healthy problems, and be victims of domestic violence.
And victims of the fundie xians and the state of Texas.
.1. The study found that people who were denied an abortion had almost four times greater odds of being below the federal poverty level.
.2. did not terminate their pregnancy five years after seeking abortion care, found that patients who gave birth were more likely to describe their health as “poor” and reported higher rates of chronic pain.
.3. More likely to suffer from stress and mental health problems.
.4. More likely to be the victims of domestic violence.
blf says
The question GOP critics of Biden’s vaccine policy won’t answer:
blf says
Oh FFS! Jefferson County [Colorado] shuts down mobile vaccine sites after drivers repeatedly harass staff:
Because, obviously, preventing everyone from being vaccinated is gonna scare the virus away and end the pandemic.
blf says
An opinion column from Hawaiʻi, No Honor In Standing Up For What Is Wrong:
blf says
In Mississippi, doctors who spread misinformation about COVID could lose their license:
So it seems the Mississippi board has the same (self-perceived) problem as all(? most?) other health boards in the States: They “cannot” do anything except when there is a specific complaint.
† “Dr Dobbs” does not seem to be identified in the article, but is very probably Dr Thomas Dobbs, the State Health Officer.
blf says
COVID-19 conspiracy theorists ‘shamelessly’ using 9/11 anniversary to spread misinformation, experts say:
From the I News report, Covid conspiracy theorists ‘shamelessly’ using 20th anniversary of 9/11 to spread pandemic falsehoods:
I don’t recall hearing of the Yeadon kook before. Apparently, he’s very possibly the origin of teh The ex-Pfizer scientist who became an anti-vax hero (March 2021). A snippet:
nonsense. Reuters has a long story about him,He apparently wanted all vaccine trials stopped, and, according to Ye Pffft! of All Knowledge, he has “alleged that vaccines were part of a deliberate attempt at , saying recipients would die within two years.”
blf says
Conspiracy theorists protest COVID measures in Slovenia:
blf says
Oh FFS! QAnon Conspiracy Theorists Harass [Chicago] Northwest Side Hospital That Rejected Unproven Ivermectin Treatment For COVID Patient:
Perhaps anti-vaccine kooks have worms for a brain, hence the veterinary ivermectin… which makes about as much sense as using it to “treat” a case of Covid-19, rather than (usually) prevent a case, and (almost always) prevent any case from becoming serious, by using something jabbed over 5 billion times around the world. Gotta kill off all those worms that ate all teh brain cells !
blf says
A Florida councilman who denied the pandemic was real has been hospitalized with COVID-19:
† Despite being plausible, set in
since he’s an eejit — and apparently a very Very sick fool, with double pneumonia, “a lung infection that affects both lungs at the same time and can develop in cases of severe COVID-19.”tomh says
Texas attorney general sues schools for requiring masks
CAMERON LANGFORD / September 10, 2021
blf says
Why vaccine skeptics are all in on ivermectin:
FFS, even if fad-of-the-day is an effective treatment, it shouldn’t be Plan A. Plan A is an effective prevenative, which also happens to be safe and free. Weirdly, none of those fads du jour ever seem to be free…
† Set in
because in the vaccine / virus context, it very often seems to mean finding some fool of a quack or other bogus expert — or anecdotal unverified claims — to validate presuppositions or pre-formed “conclusions”.KG says
Odd that the evil Big Pharma companies have not even attempted to block the use of dexamethasone, a cheap and fairly effective treatment in severe cases of Covid-19. But I’m sure Kory can explain that.
blf says
FFS (but not unexpected)! Joe Rogan doubles down on unproven ivermectin after bout with COVID-19:
A snippet from that rejection of quack Kory’s “study” (link embedded in above excerpt):
Sounds somewhat similar to what quack Didier Raoult in Marseille did with hydroxychloroquine — not objective or balanced, poor (and also nonexistent) controls, etc. Quack Raoult also did a Wakefield, with essentially-nonexistent ethics, “experimenting” on young children. Apparently, quack Raoult then also falsely-labelled his “studies” as
, avoiding the need for ethical review. And like Wakefield, quack Raoult sicced his rabid followers on critics, reviewers, etc. (I also have a very vague memory that quack Raoult had some financial ties involving hydroxychloroquine — again, very Wakefield-ish, who was trying to discredit the MMR vaccine in favour of his(?) vaccine. However, I’ve not been able to confirm that recollection with some admittedly quick searches.)blf says
Some snippets from Northern Idaho’s anti-government streak hinders fight against Covid:
blf says
Google Cuts Off Ad Money To ‘Gateway Pundit,’ A Haven For Vaccine And Election Misinformation:
blf says
Opinion column in Colorado, Anger is the only reasonable response to COVID obstructionists:
Lynna, OM says
Even in red states, colleges gravitate to requiring vaccines and masks
Some of those colleges had to fight really hard for their mask and/or vaccine mandates.
blf says
Opinion column in Alaska, Hospital vaccine mandates make sense:
Whilst the claim by the alleged-“Mayor” is, sadly, possibly plausible (this is Alaska!), I decided to set it in Ye Pffft! of All Knowledge, “Bronson has refused to enact mask or vaccine requirements, saying that it was a matter of personal choice. He said he would not get a vaccine, calling it .”
because some quick research shows he is indeed an eejit — e.g., fromLynna, OM says
Trump’s 9/11 Statement is a Disgusting Display of Narcissism and an Insult to America
Lynna, OM says
Another home-grown terrorist pleads guilty, but claims he was just engaging in “political hyperbole.”
Link
“He had a Tavor X95 rifle, a Glock 9mm handgun and roughly 2,500 rounds of ammunition with him …” That doesn’t back up his claim of hyperbole. He was prepared to shoot Nancy Pelosi.
Lynna, OM says
Wonkette: Trump Spent 9/11 Teaching The Moonies A Thing Or Two About Brainwashing
Trump as a Moonie is weirdly appropriate.
blf says
Bulgaria, EU’s least vaccinated nation, faces deadly surge:
† Set in
because whilst the Covid-19 vaccines were developed at unprecedented speed, that never has been a good or sensible reason to be suspicious of them; e.g., the approval procedures for an EUA are essentially-identical to those for a full license. In addition, as the article notes, zillions of people have been safely vaccinated, and the vaccines are working.blf says
Lynna@130, “Trump as a Moonie is weirdly appropriate.”
Hair furor would insist on both being Moon (the founding nutcase, not the Massive Orbital Cheese Vault) and teh messiah / nouveau Adam the cult is waiting for who will “become the new head of the human race” (according to Ye Pffft! of All Knowledge). They’ve also apparently got some weird idea about “indemnity”, which hair furor would further misconstrue to his own advantage.
blf says
What would it take for antivaxxers and climate science deniers to ‘wake up’?:
† In both cases, as I currently understand it, the claim is Morricoal and Murderall are tepidly moving to consider claiming to support net zero (carbon) emissions (possibly as soon as 2050), albeit only for a few weeks until teh rabble looses interest.
blf says
Salesforce offers to help staff leave Texas as abortion law takes effect:
blf says
White House Doesn’t Deny Vaccine Mandate for Domestic Flights Could Be Coming:
Here in France, you need the Health Pass to travel on long-distance trains (e.g., TGV). Probably also applies to (long-distance) buses and (all?) domestic flights (I’m uncertain), and (with a few exceptions) cross international (intra-EU) borders.
blf says
An opinion column in Arkansas, Exasperated and frustrated:
blf says
Why Henry Ford employees suing over vaccine mandate pulled suit:
In other words they hired failed clowns for lawyers. That’s not what VAERS is for, not how it should be used, and I vaguely recall every suit attempting to use it in such a manner has been bounced out of court so fast their alleged-“lawyers” are probably still suffering whiplash.
I don’t grok what that last sentence is trying to say. Refusing medical treatment is a
? Or being refused medical treatment is a ? Or worms ate my brain cell so I need some ivermectin? Or…?blf says
Follow-up to @137, Some snippets from an earlier article, 51 Henry Ford employees sue hospital system over vaccine mandate:
There’s some creative legal and scientific reasoning which could win some fiction awards:
First off, the patients are unvaccinated. So are the alleged-“nurses”. So what is this gibberish about someone being vaccinated? Second, ever hear of breakthough infections? Third, the vaccinated can still be carriers, infecting others, even if not sick. Fourth, the vaccines are effective. And safe. (And free!) Fifth, the virus evolves. Providing new hosts for it to mutate and evolve in is so obviously counter-productive even a stooopid clown of a lawyer and
nursesquacks should be able to see that from lightyears away. Sixth, getting sick is expensive. The vaccines are free. Also, seventh, even if the mandate is , it does not cause harm. Grrrr!(The “denial of medical treatment is a
” claim is also made, but again without any explanation.)blf says
Opinion column in San Francisco, As a doctor, I don’t hate the unvaccinated. But I rage at COVID disinformation profiteers:
blf says
Chinese exile Guo Wengui uses misinformation network to push unproven drugs to treat Covid (CNBC edits in {curly braces}):
Oooooh, aaaahh, well, geesh, that’s a very difficult one to answer. I’ll go with you (Prager) are lying for 5 billion jabs, please, and behind the closed door, 99% of Covid cases in ICU being unvaccinated.
Not at all sure what that
nonsense is about.A snippet from Ye Pffffft! of All Knowledge (their(?) edits in {curly braces}):
Another oof alls teh besteristings, this loon with
.blf says
Ha! Statement by Commissioner Nikki Fried on Governor Ron DeSantis Pushing COVID Vaccine Disinformation (a PR quoted essentially in full):
Ms Fried is apparently running for Governor. Some snippets from Politico, She could take down Ron DeSantis. But that doesn’t mean the left likes her (June 2021):
blf says
Covid 19 Delta outbreak: Anti-vaxxers plan to take over Aussie town:
Ye Pfffft! of All Knowledge adds, “The Byron Shire, in which Mullumbimby is situated, is also the only remaining local government area in the Northern Rivers region to reject fluoridation of its water supply.”
The mildly deranged penguin’s alternative sign, “If you think my being vaccinated is dangerous to you, please flush your head in the toilet until all the worms you use as brain cells have been shed. Please do not use ivermectin to treat your worm-ridden brain unless you are horse.”
blf says
Greece begins mandatory testing for unvaccinated workers:
† I think that’s what the Minister meant, despite the horrible translation and not-too-informative article. Whilst the site (EuroNews) is perhaps Ok (as in not “fake”), the short articles seem rather often to be badly written, often just being (as in this case), wire reports (this one is from AP, so it’s perhaps AP which botched the clarity, not EuroNews).
blf says
I just got an SMS from my mobile operator saying 5G is now available in the village. That means the previous-injected graphene oxide microchips, which have most just been idling (except for reporting my location to the GPS & trying to convince me peas are diabolically dangerous), will now
+++ ACTIVATE=blf
activate. Soon. Any time now…*** ACTIVATED
+++ PEAS ARE EDIBLE
!!! ERROR - NEED CHEESE
+++ WHAT?
!!! NEED MOAR CHEESE
+++ FROM=bgates TO=blf "Take your horse dewormer and reboot."
/// PENGIUN CONFUSED WARNING
+++ REBOOT! REBOOT!
*** "She's the greatest
She's fantastic
Wherever there's danger she'll been there
She's the ace
She's amazing
She's the strangest she's the quirkest she's the best
Penguin
Mild Penguin
MILDLY DERANGED PENGUIN"
+++ TERMINATE LINK
*** ENDI…
blf says
me@144, …trying to convince me peas are diabolically dangerous → trying to convince me peas are not diabolically dangerous…
Probably a glitch whilst repportinininning mmmyyyy positran position to GPS.
Lynna, OM says
blf @132: “Hair furor would insist on both being Moon (the founding nutcase, not the Massive Orbital Cheese Vault) and teh messiah / nouveau Adam the cult is waiting for who will “become the new head of the human race” …” Right. Thanks for that clarification. Cult. More cult. Maximum cult.
In other news: In California, the stakes are high, and the process is weird
If recent polling is correct, the incumbent governor is likely to keep his job, but the stakes are high, and the process is weird.
blf says
School vaccine campaigns targeting students face blowback:
I’d have guessed people opposed to the Covid-19 vaccines who also be opposed to the HPV vaccine, in part since the objections to the HPV vaccine are absurd (butterfly (presumably))).
(not theAndrew isn’t the only teenager with sense:
tomh says
NBC News
Alabama heart patient dies after hospital contacts 43 ICUs in 3 states, family says
Sept. 12, 2021, 8:14 PM PDT
By Tim Stelloh
It’s time to move unvaccinated Covid cases down the list relative to normal emergencies, such as this heart attack.
Lynna, OM says
Support for Trump, Big Lie defines Republican politics
Democrats can (and will) continue to run against Donald Trump because he and his GOP loyalists have made it so easy to do so.
Lynna, OM says
Follow-up to blf in comment 134.
Link
Lynna, OM says
Why Amy Coney Barrett’s new rhetoric is so hard to take seriously
Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett is the wrong messenger, with the wrong message, speaking at the wrong place.
Clueless. Amy Coney Barrett is clueless.
Lynna, OM says
Follow-up to tomh in comment 148.
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/the-rest-of-the-story-4
Lynna, OM says
Follow-up to blf in comment 140.
Bannon, Guo-Linked Media Company Part Of $539 Million Settlement In SEC Probe
The companies pay the fines, but Bannon and Guo get off scot free.
blf says
This isn’t actually a terribly good opinion column, in that it contains some non-rhetorical errors (including about its subject matter), but does contain some decent snarking, I have a better term for the ‘vaccine-hesitant’:
That might be the reason some organisations use the term, but the medical community uses it to help distinguish those with doubts about vaccine (no matter how ludicrous the doubts) from those adamantly opposed (the “hardcore anti-vaxxers”). The difference is the merely hesitant can be convinced to change their opinion, and / or (rather more importantly), get vaccinated. The hardcore anti-vaxxers are probably a lost cause.
A “religious reason” is a valid reason to not be vaccinated? Besides going against the advice of most(?) tithe-gatherers (so-called “religious leaders”), and vaccination not being banned by any(?) religion (even the JW’s are apparently Ok with the Covid vaccine (unconfirmed)), it simply fails the most basic checks. E.g., doesn’t follow the science. Or, suppose a large religion with hundreds of millions of followers banned abortion, I mean vaccination… the results would not be good. (Several commentators take the author to task over this inclusion of “religious reason” as a valid reason to not be vaccinated.)
Smallpox existed in the wild until the late 1970s. Even in the 1960s, there were outbreaks in Europe. According to Ye Pfffft! of All Knowledge, “In the early 1950s, an estimated 50 million cases of smallpox occurred in the world each year.” Yes, a vaccine existed (and had, in one form or another, since about 1800), but with 50m cases annually, saying “[w]e had conquered smallpox” is like saying “hair furor won the election” albeit not as false.
As an aside, I rather doubt there was “no” opposition to the polio vaccine (albeit the author does admit there might have been some, and it does seem to the case the vaccine was enthusiastically welcomed). And unlike most(? all?) other vaccine rollouts, there were problems: First, the live (attenuated) polio vaccine does shed, and even now (it’s still in use since it’s easy to transport into rugged / remote areas), occasionally causes polio; and Second, in the famous “Cutter incidence” in 1955, a manufacturing error resulted in an (insufficiently attenuated) live polio vaccine, with numerous cases resulting.
Whilst referring to the vaccine hesitant, and the hardcore anti-vaxxers, as “eejits” (however you care to spell it) is understandable, always using that insulting term for both without acknowledging the differences, seems, well… idiotic.
Lynna, OM says
Man With Weapons And Allegedly Spouting White Supremacist Rhetoric Arrested Near DNC
Lynna, OM says
blf @154, “Whilst referring to the vaccine hesitant, and the hardcore anti-vaxxers, as “eejits” (however you care to spell it) is understandable, always using that insulting term for both without acknowledging the differences, seems, well… idiotic.” Yep. I like the “plague rats” description.
In other news: Biden admin appeals DACA ruling as Democrats make legislative case to parliamentarian
blf says
Follow-up to @117, Veronica Wolski,
Woman[plauge rat] Who QAnoners Demanded Hospital Treat COVID With Ivermectin, Dies:Bingo! An entire card of crackpot plague rats.
Spotted via https://www.sorryantivaxxer.com/post/veronica-wolski-64-chicago-il-qanon-conspiracy-theorist-anti-vaxxer-died-from-covid (a snippet):
blf says
Related to @120, Ivermectin frenzy: the advocates, anti-vaxxers and telehealth companies driving demand:
† The unnamed site may, on alternate Mondays for precisely 3 minutes starting at a different time each alternating Monday, be a honest trustworthy firm. But I doubt it, hence the
.blf says
Biden’s hard line on vaccine mandates draws praise and pushback:
Some snippets from the referenced history of vaccine mandates in the States (link embedded in above excerpt (August 2021, my added emboldening)):
tomh says
Texas judge issues injunction against anti-abortion group on enforcing new law
By Jessica Schneider and Ariane de Vogue, CNN
Updated 4:06 PM ET, Mon September 13, 2021
.
blf says
Unvaccinated conservative talk show host and pastor, dies of COVID-19:
I am therefore very Very happy that this genocidal-promoting nazi is fecking dead. Unfortunately, he’s probably rich enough to afford a funeral, rather than having his plague-ridden corpse incinerated as hazardous biological waste. (See below if you think this is “too” harsh or violates guidelines.)
From the Encyclopedia of American Loons (#651, August 2013):
sorryantivaxxer.com is also utterly unsympathetic, Bob Enyart, 62, Another Conservative Radio Host, anti-vaxx. “Another one bites the dust” with COVID (minor edits, unmarked, for formatting reasons):
It’s entirely reasonable, and possible, to feel sorry for the dying & dead unvaccinated, even if they refused the proven safe & effective preventative due to misinformation. Some of the misinformers also deserve sympathy, perhaps especially (albeit not exclusively) if they recant. Enyart is none of these cases. Besides being a denier and scientifically illiterate (he also denied evolution), he celebrated the death of people from AIDS, and promoted the torture of children (being convicted of doing so himself!).
Lynna, OM says
On Covid-19 crisis, Florida’s DeSantis starts to lose the plot
Instead of maintaining a vaccines-and-freedom-are-both-good posture, DeSantis participated in a deeply problematic press conference.
snarkrates says
blf, Maybe we could open up an franchise specializing in asparagus and diuretics in the vicinity of Enyart’s grave.
Lynna, OM says
Yes, President Biden’s plan to increase the number of vaccinated Americans is popular.
Link
Lynna, OM says
https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1437583096849866765
Video is available at the link.
Ted Lieu:
Nicki Minaj has over 20 million followers on Twitter. Joy Reid took her to task for disseminating disinformation.
Minaj responded with more tweets, some doubling down and some accusing Joy Reid of going after another black woman “at the request of a white man.” So, Minaj is digging that hole deeper.
Lynna, OM says
George W. Bush condemns ‘violent extremists,’ Trump pushes back
What does it say about Donald Trump that every time he hears condemnations of hatred and extremism, he instinctively assumes he’s the target?
Lynna, OM says
Larry Elder Campaign Touts Website Already Saying Newsom Won Via Voter Fraud
Yep. Biden is right. See comments 29, 39 and 49.
Lynna, OM says
Idaho Republicans sent their state into pandemic crisis. Now it’s spreading over state borders.
Lynna, OM says
Link
Lynna, OM says
Texas school district that closed down after two teachers died from COVID reopens with mask mandate
johnson catman says
re Lynna@169:
Apparently, it is not-so-simple math to the author of the article. Multiply 330 million (330,000,000) times 0.1% and you get 330,000 not 3,300,000.
Lynna, OM says
johnson catman @171, thank you for the correction. So far, more than 600,000 people have been killed by the disease. Even the math illiterate should be able to understand that.
In other news: Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett is just trolling us at this point
Amy Coney Barrett was confirmed before Ruth Bader Ginsburg was buried. And Mitch McConnell is extremely partisan. No Supreme Court Justice should accept a speaking gig at the McConnell Center.
Lynna, OM says
Wonkette: Did You Forget How Crazy Trump Was? Bob Woodward Will Remind You.
Lynna, OM says
Wonkette:
Lynna, OM says
Link for text quoted in comment 174.
Wonkette: “AOC Went To Met Gala Last Night Just To Hurt Conservative White Male Feelings”
Lynna, OM says
Follow-up to comment 173.
“Top general was so fearful Trump might spark war that he made secret calls to his Chinese counterpart, new book says.”
Washington Post link
Lynna, OM says
VoteVets, the nation’s largest progressive veterans’ organization, this morning launched a national ad campaign in support for Biden’s decision to end the war in Afghanistan. YouTube link
Lynna, OM says
Louisiana was scheduled to hold a series of local elections in a few weeks, including municipal races in New Orleans, but Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards agreed to delay the elections while the state continues to recover from Hurricane Ida.
Lynna, OM says
Link
See also: Associated Press link
Lynna, OM says
Follow-up to comment 165.
Link
tomh says
Arizona takes on Biden administration over vaccine mandate
BRAD POOLE / September 14, 2021
Lynna, OM says
Bits and pieces of news, most of which are summarized by Steve Benen:
raven says
Looks like Newsom, governor of California won the recall.
Not only that, it wasn’t even close, 2 to 1.
The likely GOP challenger was Trump+, opposed abortion and the minimum wage. In a state that has a high cost of living, the minimum wage doesn’t go very far. Without the minimum wage, a lot of people would be below a survivable wage without some sort of government aid. Which means the government ends up subsidizing low wage businesses by paying their wage bills.
blf says
Follow-up to @161 & @163, A snippet from the Gruniad’s Colorado radio host [Bob Enyart] who urged boycott of vaccines dies of Covid-19:
As the Washington Post explains, Conservative radio host who spurned vaccines, mocked AIDS patients dies of covid-19:
I took a brief look at that site (which I’m not linking to), and “promot[ing] falsehoods” is another candidate for the Understatement of the Year Award.
lumipuna says
I just saw a Finnish news photo, from this March, of some covidiot brandishing a protest sign that says covid is 99.97 % survivable. These sort of claims float around, varying in specific number, and hardly anyone bothers to discuss them seriously. Probably covidiots themselves don’t bother to care what the percentage is supposed to be, as long as the risk of death looks incomprehensibly small to borderline innumerate people and “no worse than flu” to the more educated people.
Anyway, it occurred to me that by March, covid had already killed far more than 0.03 % of entire population in many countries. For example the US was then well past 0.1 %, and now at 0.2 %, with estimated less than half (?) of population gone through infection.
blf says
Follow-up to @175, Ben Jennings in the Grauniad, On Boris Johnson at the Met Gala (cartoon). The background is that, in teh “U”K, alleged-“PM” Borris is proposing eliminating a pandemic-related increase in benefits, and also raising certain taxes. Steve Bell skewers some of this, On Thérèse Coffey and the universal credit cut (cartoon), apparently that alleged-“Minister” said all people had to do was work an extra two hours a week to make up for the benefits cut.
blf says
In dog bites man news (or, in this case, rabid loon barks news), Trump aides seek to build opposition to Afghan refugees in US:
blf says
The price of a cafe, Who are really the rudest — the French, tourists or Parisians? (possibly paywalled):
† Just to be pedantic, the sign reads (there’s an image at the link), « Bonjour, un café s’il vous plaît », which is certainly closer to how I say it (the, comma was misplaced).
Lynna, OM says
NBC Boston:
Good News.
Lynna, OM says
Oh, FFS.
Posted by Aaron Rupar on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1437903781270855681
Lynna, OM says
Why Trump is calling one of his handpicked generals a ‘dumbass’
Earlier this year, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley feared Trump was dangerously unstable. Trump is now calling Milley a “dumbass.”
Yeah, yeah. Blather and bluster away Hair Furor. You have nothing to add, but you did confirm that you are the dumbass.
Lynna, OM says
What makes Josh Hawley’s latest political stunt such a bad idea
The United States has key national security positions that need confirmed officials. Josh Hawley wants to prevent that from happening.
Hawley is throwing a tantrum.
blf says
An opinion column from Canada, A medical officer of health with no public health qualifications: Matt Strauss is an absurdly political hire:
Lynna, OM says
Follow-up to raven @183.
I was glad to see the Republican challenger (46 challengers, but really only one main guy, Larry the Doofus) in California go down in such an obvious defeat.
Looking at the bigger picture: Gavin Newsom’s victory matters (and not just in California)
GOP operatives at the national level harbored hopes of turning the California race into a bellwether. So much for that idea.
blf says
Covid kills a 9/11’s worth of Americans every three days. The vaccine mandate shouldn’t be controversial:
Lynna, OM says
Mike Pence didn’t stand up to Trump, he tried ‘over and over’ to find a way to reverse the election
Lynna, OM says
Simone Biles tells Congress ‘entire system’ enabled Nassar abuse
Lynna, OM says
Marco Rubio being a total dunderhead:
Link
Lynna, OM says
Follow-up to comment 197.
Link
Video is available at the link. Christopher Wray apologized, and he said the FBI will learn from and will correct their mistakes.
blf says
At a shall-remain-unnamed kook site I somethings visit (with suitable protections) to see what the hallucination de jour is (within that echo chamber), some new batshitery cropped up: Supposedly, because California has been thug for a long time until recently, the elections there must have been faked since, well, for a long time.
Just going by the list of past-Governors, Former California Governors, there hasn’t been an extended period of a thug-as-Governor since the 1950s. Figures. “Recently” means anything after the McCarthy era, or “Ronaddled Raygun’s backwards-looking rose-tinted glasses” (paraphrasing) as Garry Trudeau once put it in Doonesbury.
blf says
Job offer for Taliban, Lauren Boebert Says Government Should Be Run by (my added emboldening):
Reality interrupts to point out the pandemic is, as per @195, killing “a 9/11’s worth” of USAians every three days. And that it is now, in the States, a pandemic of the unvaccinated. Why shouldn’t people be angry at the selfish stoopid louts who don’t or won’t realise you’re a flaming eejit (or, with only a tiny adjustment, who can take the preventive jabs but refuse to)?!
raven says
Idaho is once again leading the way. The Idaho GOP put an antivaxxer quack doctor on their largest public health board and just recently, a week ago, September 7. This guy is just repeating mindless antivax talking points that are completely false.
At the time the Idaho GOP did this, their hospital system overloaded and failed because it was overrrun with Covid-19 virus patients. They are now exporting their problem to Washington state which is being overloaded with patients from Idaho.
blf says
Nonsense: The Unifying Theme Behind Greg Locke’s Conspiracy Theories:
Numbers is not a mathematics textbook. As Ye Pfffft! of All Knowledge points out, “The name of the book comes from the two censuses taken of the Israelites.”
The mildly deranged penguin points out he’s rather good at counting, or at least collecting, tithes:
Lynna, OM says
GOP senator embraces the wrong anti-Biden theory at the wrong time
There’s supposed to be a line between the cranks and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Jim Risch [Idaho!] seems eager to erase that line.
JFC! I heard that part of the hearing. Risch just would not let it go. He asked Antony Blinken over and over again who was given the task of turning off Biden’s microphone every time they wanted to silence him. Bogus story. Risch claims he saw it himself, that everyone has seen it, that it has happened multiple times in the past. Risch seems to think that Biden is such a fool that someone in the Democratic administration is tasked with periodically shutting off his microphone. Totally fucking batshit bonkers. Also, wildly off topic for that hearing.
Lynna, OM says
Milley Defends Efforts To Keep Trump From Potentially Nuking China
Lynna, OM says
Follow-up to comment 205.
Posted by readers of the article:
Lynna, OM says
Pennsylvania GOPers Now Seek Personal Information From Voters In Sham ‘Audit’
Lynna, OM says
LOL.
Link
Lynna, OM says
Link
Lynna, OM says
Wonkette: Trinidad And Tobago Makes Important Announcement On Nicki Minaj’s Cousin’s Friend’s Balls
blf says
Russia slams New York’s vaccine requirement for UN general assembly:
I suspect (part of) what is really going on here is Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine still hasn’t received WHO approval (as of 19 August (PDF)), and last year the FDA (and EMA?) said they were concerned about a lack of data and thought it unlikely it would gain EUA (perhaps even more unlikely now since there now is a fully-approved vaccine?).
Lynna, OM says
New Yorker link
DeSantis has earned the nickname Ron DeathSentence.
Lynna, OM says
Alaska News:
Link
Lynna, OM says
This pastor will sign a religious exemption for vaccines if you donate to his church.
Washington Post link
WTF?
Rob Grigjanis says
Just came across an absolute gem of a cryptic crossword clue (Guardian Cryptic Sep 15);
Silly bugger whose next-but-one successor was worse (6,1,4).
The Vicar (via Freethoughtblogs) says
@#215, Rob Grigjanis:
If there weren’t letter counts associated with it, you could fill it in with the name of nearly any politician from the US of the last 50-odd years. The same would be true if you omitted “next-but-one”.
blf says
As part of the implementation of France’s Health Pass related measures, all(?) healthcare workers had to be (fully?-)vaccinated by September 15. From memory, the original plan was to fire any who weren’t, but the constitutional review modified that, so it’s (for the moment) suspension without pay. Which has happened, France suspends 3,000 unvaccinated health workers without pay:
LykeX says
This year’s ozone layer hole bigger than Antarctica:
You know, just the other day, I was thinking to myself: “Why can’t we get our shit together on climate change? We managed with the ozone layer, so we should be able to do more.” And then I learn that while we may have cut back on emissions of CFCs, the hole is still there. And apparently still getting worse.
Yay humanity. What a bunch.
Rob Grigjanis says
The Vicar @216: But it has to make sense as a cryptic clue. The answer is an anagram of ‘bugger whose’ – George W Bush.
Lynna, OM says
Georgia’s Governor Kemp spurns Covid solutions, but invites ‘good ideas’
“If you have any good ideas on how we can further slow the spread, I’d be open to it,” Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said. If only he meant it.
Lynna, OM says
Biden’s ACA special enrollment period brought coverage to millions
Biden’s decision to create a special ACA enrollment period proved to be a striking success. It’s part of the ACA’s very good year.
Lynna, OM says
Nearly a year after Trump’s defeat, Republicans in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania are launching unnecessary and utterly ridiculous election “investigations.”
Link
Lynna, OM says
In April, a national poll found 70 percent of Republicans rejecting the legitimacy of Biden’s presidency. Five months later, it’s even worse.
Lynna, OM says
Twenty-four Democratic Attorneys General filed an amicus brief backing the Department of Justice’s challenge to the recent Texas abortion ban.
The Texas law needs to be stopped now! What’s with this fucking delay?
Link
Lynna, OM says
Follow-up to comments 165 and 208.
Link
At the link, you can also see tweets documenting the many ways in which Fox News is promoting the “Nicki Minaj was censored” falsehood.
Lynna, OM says
Oh, FFS.
Link
Lynna, OM says
Link
Video taken from capsule’s cupola is available at the link.
blf says
The Nasa/JPL Mars helicopter Ingenuity’s 14th flight (possibly tomorrow, Friday) will be to test higher rotor speeds in preparation for seasonal atmospheric pressure differences (even lower density) on Mars. As explained in Flying on Mars Is Getting Harder and Harder, Ingenuity has now been operating for six months(!), well beyond its planned or expected lifetime, and is now having to deal with the seasons changing on Mars: “With Ingenuity in its sixth month of operation, however, we have entered a season where the densities in Jezero Crater are dropping to even lower levels. In the coming months we may see densities as low as 0.012 kg/m3 (1.0% [lower than the designed-for 1.2%–1.5%] of Earth’s density) during the afternoon hours that are preferable for flight.” One way of dealing with the problem is to spin the rotor faster than it’s ever been tested before (not even on Earth!), up to about 2800 rpm, or 0.8 Mach (on Mars), or about 10% faster than the usual operating speed.
blf says
Alberta [Canada] reverses hands-off approach to Covid to tackle ‘crisis of unvaccinated’:
Lynna, OM says
blf @229, wow. Kenney has really changed his tune. About time. I wish some conservative politicians in the USA would follow his example.
May be relevant: There are 82,436 mormons in Alberta according to LDS church membership records. This may not count mormons who live in Alberta but who are members of even more fundamentalist versions of the LDS church (polygamists). They are very conservative.
Lynna, OM says
$99 billion in damages. That’s what Biden says extreme weather cost USA taxpayers last year. He expects that amount to go up this year. Biden says that for every dollar of infrastructure and other preventative measures the government spends, we get $6 back in savings. So, yeah, he is right. We need to make those investments.
Lynna, OM says
Sigh. Some madness from Fox News, plus commentary from Stephen Colbert as a palate cleanser.
LARA LOGAN: This is really the moment to unite. Because we’re seeing is that these issues were never about Left and Right. They’re about right and wrong and good and evil and there’s nothing more threatening to them than saying you’re going to pray for something.
TUCKER: It’s totally true! This isn’t even about vaccines, or about COVID! It’s about your dignity! And if they can force you to violate your own conscience, to put something in your body you don’t want, you are done, you have no more dignity, they control you, and that’s why they’re so insistent on doing it.
Stephen Colbert segment on YouTube
Lynna, OM says
Why Mitch McConnell is threatening to hurt the economy on purpose
A full decade after the nation’s first-ever debt ceiling crisis, Mitch McConnell and his fellow Republicans are gearing up for a dangerous sequel.
That’s a justification? Doesn’t sound like one to me.
Aiyiyiyi. Don’t “both sides” this issue.
raven says
It’s refrigerated truck time again. A lot of hospitals in Oregon are getting refrigerated trucks.
It is not a good sign when the refrigerated trucks show up in your neighborhood.
I keep wondering what goes through the antivaxxers minds when the antivaxxers around them are all getting sick and dying.
It really doesn’t look like it bothers them all that much.
raven says
The hospital systems in all of Idaho have basically failed.
This isn’t even news any more.
Idaho’s last great move was to appoint an antivaxxer doctor to their Central Health Board.
They have also been exporting patients to neighboring states and their hospitals are now full as well.
Lynna, OM says
raven @236, I have friends who live in Washington State. They tell me that it is causing real problems to have all of the hospital beds in Washington filling up with COVID patients from Idaho.
It’s a complete disaster. And, you are are right to say that Idaho appointed a doofus to their Central Health Board. The guy called vaccines “needle rape.” From the Washington Post:
Perhaps even worse:
Washington Post link
snarkrates says
Given the longstanding connection between Rethug operators and outright fraud (Faux News fan/email lists are highly coveted by fraudsters everywhere, Rush Limpdick, Jim Bakker and many others promote(d) frauds on their broadcasts…) there is NO WAY I want them having any of my personal info.
Rethugs–It’s fraud all the way down.
KG says
Good news from the UK: Appeal court overturns UK puberty blockers ruling for under-16s. The original ruling had prevented the prescription of puberty blockers to under-16s (and of course that’s when they are of most benefit to young transgender people). I expect the case to be appealed again, to the Supreme Court.
Lynna, OM says
Despite court rulings, South Dakota’s Governor, Kristi Noem, pushes for school prayer
Lynna, OM says
Oh, FFS.
Representative Elise Stefanik, a Republican from New York, abandons moderation, warns of a ‘permanent election insurrection’
Lynna, OM says
Ahead of rally, Trump goes to new lengths to defend Jan. 6 rioters
Isilzha Mir says
@239
What I’d really like to see someone ask Gov. Noem is: do you still do this? Do you still go to church twice a week? Do you read the Bible with your kids every day? Or are you one of those families that don’t do that as much any more? How much of a hypocrite are you?
Lynna, OM says
Another “Karen” is caught on video being horrible.
Link
See also: https://www.facebook.com/sean.nolte.3/posts/395019982142386
The video is posted in the comments.
Lynna, OM says
Wonkette:
Link
Lynna, OM says
Sigh.
NY Times link
Lynna, OM says
Sneaky, unethical doofuses.
How one state’s GOP created a case study in ugly gerrymandering
In theory, Ohio ended gerrymandering abuses. In practice, Republicans want to make sure the abuses continue.
WTF?!
Lynna, OM says
One in five hundred Americans has died in the pandemic, and Republicans are actively rooting for the country to fail.
New Yorker link
Lynna, OM says
Biden resumes Haitian deportations despite quake, unrest. ‘We are in utter disbelief,’ advocates say
Lynna, OM says
Wonkette:
https://www.wonkette.com/trump-still-whining-about-georgia
blf says
The Onion, Study Finds Virus Frequently Fooled By Fake Vaccine Card:
Lynna, OM says
An Unvaccinated Laura Loomer Says Her COVID Diagnosis Proves Vaccines Don’t Work
Nerd of Redhead, Dances OM Trolls says
FDA panel rejects Pfizer Covid Booster shot for the general public, but approves it for oldsters like me at 65+.
Link
Nerd of Redhead, Dances OM Trolls says
Amid COVID surge, states that cut benefits still see no hiring boost
The rethugs won’t learn from their cruelty.
More at the link.
johnson catman says
re Nerd @253:
Learn?!!! The cruelty is the point.
Lynna, OM says
Josh Marshall:
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/crumbling-firmament-2
Lynna, OM says
Vaccine requirements work: Raiders report more than 6,000 fans got the shot on game day
Lynna, OM says
Apple shut down a voting app in Russia. That should worry everyone.
Critics say Apple is not keeping its promise to hold fast when faced with government pressure.
Lynna, OM says
Wonkette: Texas Abortion Ban Architect Just Really Wants Everyone To Stop Banging, OK?
blf says
(Accidentally originally posted to poopyhead’s Anti-vaxxers are murdering children current thread; this is a reconstruction…)
Oh FFS, Albanian Broadcasters Happy to Host Antivaxxer Conspiracy Theorists:
Previously in this series of poopyhead threads, that nonsense has been dealt with. In brief: Whilst biologically possible, Anjezë Bojaxhiu is not known to have been in the States prior to the 1950s(?), making it impossible teh horrible superstitionalist theocrat was Dr Fauci’s mother.
The CDC says Covid-19 vaccinates are delivered by a gauge 22–25 needle, which are less than 1 mm in diameter. It’s possible Albanian millimetres are different than ISO’s, but only in a suitable modified space-time reality (possibly the same one hair furor imagines he inhabits?).
The mildly deranged penguin says teh lluminati confirms they aren’t interested in the vaccine’s microchips, already having full control of all Wifi, 5G, GPS, and SoC manufacturing… they not only know where you are, were, and will be, but you have, are, and will think, as well as the most important thing of all, what you’ll eat for breakfast tomorrow. Bill Gates, she says they say, is yet again so far behind the curve he thinks digital watches are yet to be invented (apologies to Douglas Adams).
blf says
Rabid wild-eyed loons roaming loose and off-leash, No, COVID wasn’t planned by FEMA to kill thousands and open concentration camps:
blf says
The French TGV (high-speed trains) turned 40 years old recently. A really groovy video (apparently, SNCF’s most recent ad), https://twitter.com/ChatardMaxime/status/1430946400993529873 (in French, but that doesn’t matter). Found via 9 things you might not know about the TGV as France’s high-speed train turns 40 (possibly paywalled).
Lynna, OM says
More wild-eyed loons (credit to blf for the descriptive phrase) sound off:
Link
Lynna, OM says
blf @261, that’s a great advertisement.
In other news about wild-eyed loons: Alaska Airlines banned a rude anti-mask lawmaker.
blf says
Follow-up to me@38, in which I noted:
I’m not alone in noticing that, LAPD to stop requesting civilians’ social security numbers after backlash:
Cheeky of the Grauniad there, from memory, I don’t recall them pointing out the highly-problematical SSN or bogus justification… they aren’t saying they did, but that synopsis is so easily misunderstandable…
blf says
Lynna@263, re @261, “that’s a great advertisement.”
One thing I learned from it is there is a Gare Rosa Parks (Rosa Parks Train Station), in Paris. It’s not actually a TGV station, but as the linked-to Ye Pffft! of All Knowledge article says:
I don’t know if TGVs run through Gare Rosa Parks, but certainly applaud both the station’s name and its inclusion in the advert.
blf says
Dealing with a wild-eyed loon (note Lynna@262, Thanks for the credit, but that is a tamer version of “swivel-eyed loon” from c.2013), The moment QAnon took the person I love most:
There seems to be quite a number of things called “Out of Shadows”. Nicole / BBC is very probably referring to some 2020 nonsense, about which I haven’t been able to find a suitably scathing takedown (after some admittedly quick searching, trying to keep my eyes from over-swiveling).
I had a very disturbing conversation with a friend in the village today. I’ve always(?) known they have some fringe beliefs — ancient astronauts comes to mind — but are a stable single-parent with a lovely teenager. Today, however, we got into a disagreement about the now-“pandemic of the unvaccinated” (they claim to be vaccinated, which I believe). They cited a friend of theirs in the local health services, who claimed most local Covid-19 patients were vaccinated. That’s not impossible — if almost everyone is vaccinated, you’d expect to eventually see that — to which I replied it might the case locally, I don’t know, but is not the case nationally or (meaning in countries with large-scale vaccination programmes) internationally. They disagreed, albeit I don’t know their “reasoning” (we both had to leave at about that point for differing reasons).
Lynna, OM says
Low expectations for Sept. 18 rally turn out to be not low enough, but meanwhile …
Some photos and video snippets are available at the link.
Lynna, OM says
Regarding the Proud Boys beating people up in LA (see comment 267), the video shows them shouting “USA” repeatedly while they beat people up.
Lynna, OM says
Apple and Google Go Further Than Ever to Appease Russia
WIRED link
KG says
I recently watched a Channel 4 documentary Did Covid Leak for a Lab in China?. You have to create an account to watch it on catch-up, but AFAIK this can be done from outwith the UK. No “smoking test tube” (as is admitted at the start), but enough circumstantial evidence that I’m persuaded that it probably did. No suggestion, I should add, that the virus was developed as a weapon, or deliberately released. Much of the same information is available in this Vanity Fair article.
Lynna, OM says
California is ending a rule that helped cause its housing crisis
Gov. Newsom signed bills ending single-family-only zoning, a step toward addressing the housing crisis.
tomh says
WaPo:
Opinion: Why I violated Texas’s extreme abortion ban
Alan Braid / September 18, 2021
Alan Braid is a physician who provides abortion care in San Antonio.
Lynna, OM says
Say what now? From Wonkette: Breitbart Columnist: Liberals Trying To Trick Trumpists Into Not Getting Vaccine So They Die
Lynna, OM says
Bankruptcy due to medical bills is going to be a major news story … again.
The days of full covid coverage are over. Insurers are restoring deductibles and co-pays, leaving patients with big bills.
Washington Post link
Large insurance companies waived cost-sharing for coronavirus care in 2020, but it has been reinstated for 2021.
tomh says
Arizona Republic:
Arizona election audit report expected to be made public Sept. 24
Ryan Randazzo and Mary Jo Pitzl / Sep 16, 2021
Lynna, OM says
Putin’s party expected to maintain its grip on the Duma as opposition complains of stolen vote.
Washington Post link
It’s the authoritarian governments that engage in election fraud and/or in voter-suppression activities.
Lynna, OM says
How Accounting Giants Craft Favorable Tax Rules From Inside Government
New York Times link
Lawyers from top accounting firms do brief stints in the Treasury Department, with the expectation of big raises when they return.
The Vicar (via Freethoughtblogs) says
Just stopping by quickly to pass along this… interesting? Alarming?… news story:
Stanford has issued a press release saying they have found that 1 in 5 hospitalized Covid patients has self-attacking antibodies. (More specifically: 20% of hospitalized Covid patients have enough self-attacking antibodies that, under other circumstances they would be diagnosed with an autoimmune syndrome.) I don’t know that that’s actually worse than otherwise, but it feels scary. I just hope it leads to a better understanding of autoimmune disease, because that stuff is horrifying anyway and it would be great if the medical efforts against Covid led to breakthroughs on that, too.
blf says
A snippet from 6 reasons France’s Covid vaccination programme improved so dramatically (possibly paywalled):
Indeed, as I keep saying, one of the clever things about the Health Pass is it’s needed to participate in important parts of what makes France France. France is now one-of the most-vaccinated nations in the EU, ahead of both the States and “U”K (exact figures depend on baseline and other details, the app is currently-reporting a week-old figure of 82% fully-vaccinated, with more recent data suggesting about 90% have now received at least one jab (both figures use a baseline of the eligible population (which, I believe, is 12+ years old here in France)).
Lynna, OM says
Oh, FFS. The photo alone is disturbing. Elevating total doofus Mike Lindell to royalty-like status. Sheesh.
Top Alabama Officials Roll Out Red Carpet For MyPillow Guy’s Voter Fraud Road Show
Lynna, OM says
Follow-up to comment 280.
Posted by readers of the article:
Lynna, OM says
blf @279, hooray for that success. I love it.
In other news, Trump Org CFO Expects More Indictments, Lawyer Says
Posted by a reader of the article:
Lynna, OM says
Amid surge of kids with COVID-19, Pfizer offers a ray of hope with vaccine news
Lynna, OM says
Cartoon: The cycle of wingnuttery.
Lynna, OM says
A Wildly Popular App for Churches Is Now an Anti-Vax Hotbed
The Christian tech company is spreading misinfo along with the Good News.
Oh, look, all the misinformation in one convenient-to-use app. It’s concentrated Stupid, and it is being fed directly into god-addled brains nationwide.
Lynna, OM says
‘Devastating’: Florida Republicans worried about 2022 as they crafted election law
Lynna, OM says
The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments about Mississippi’s 15-week abortion ban on December 1. Link
Graham found Trump election fraud arguments suitable for ‘third grade’: Woodward book. Link
Lynna, OM says
Wonkette: “Tampa Officials Shocked To Learn Evicting Black People For Basically No Reason Miiiiight Be Considered Racist”
https://www.wonkette.com/tampa-eviction
Lynna, OM says
Josh Marshall: “Kyrsten Sinema’s Final Senate Term”
Lynna, OM says
Link
Nerd of Redhead, Dances OM Trolls says
4 sequoias survive KNP Complex blaze after being wrapped in fire-resistant material.
I saw the General Sherman in person in 1960. Very impressive.
Lynna, OM says
NBC News:
Wall Street Journal:
Lynna, OM says
Another cruel ploy from Republican governors that did not work:
Axios link
Lynna, OM says
blf @291, glad to hear those trees survived!
In other news: Democratic Leadership Calls GOP Bluff: Vote For Bill, Or Risk Shutdown AND Debt Default
Lynna, OM says
Apologies. That was Nerd who alerted us to the survival of those magnificent trees. See comment 291.
Lynna, OM says
Wonkette:
Link
Lynna, OM says
Link
tomh says
Re: #272
WaPo:
Texas doctor who violated state’s abortion ban is sued, launching potential first test of constitutionality
By Ann E. Marimow / September 20, 2021
So the first lawsuit to enforce this law comes from a convicted felon in Arkansas serving a 15 year federal sentence.
Lynna, OM says
Follow-up to tomh in comment 272.
Texas doctor who violated state’s abortion ban is sued, launching potential first test of constitutionality.
Washington Post link
Lynna, OM says
tomh @298, Ha! Great minds are synchronized.
tomh says
Re: 300
:)
Lynna, OM says
https://twitter.com/johnholman100/status/1439948289680363527
Video at the link.
Lynna, OM says
https://twitter.com/SawyerHackett/status/1439976012188692496
Photos and video at the link.
blf says
Lynna@294, Thanks… 😁
I don’t specially recall ever being to see to General Sherman or the Four Guardsmen, albeit I have been in the vicinity.
I am happy to hear they — and other trees — are not currently in danger, albeit I presume the risk hasn’t passed&helllip; and the mildly deranged penguin is also happy, albeit the trees do not harbour any cheeses. (I think I need to have another talk with her about priorities, pyrotechnics, and walruses.)
quotetheunquote says
Meanwhile, in Canada…
… a federal election that really had no point has just concluded; minority Liberal government out, new Liberal minority government in. I’m just happy that we’re not stuck with a Conservative government this time, it’s quite a relief.*
One unalloyed bit of good news came out of this election – the Green party candidate won in my riding! That’s a first, I actually got the MP I voted for!
“the”
*(Their campaign slogan, for those outside of this country, was a vaguely sinister, dog-whistle-y “Secure the Future”; not exactly Nazi, but definitely Nazi-adjacent).
Lynna, OM says
Ten years after the demise of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” the Biden administration is making discharged veterans eligible for benefits.
Good news.
In the past, Republicans were on the wrong side of the issue. They still are.
Lynna, OM says
Ted Cruz plans to filibuster an extension of the debt ceiling. His rationale is based on a rather obvious lie.
tomh says
Re: #299
Another disbarred lawyer (this one from Illinois) has filed suit re: the Texas abortion ban, although this one asks the Bexar County Court to declare the law in violation of Roe and therefore unconstitutional. Apparently, disbarred lawyers have a lot of time on their hands.
These lawsuits are not what the anti-abortion forces envisioned. “Neither of these lawsuits are valid attempts to save innocent human lives,” said John Seago, legislative director for Texas Right to Life, the state’s largest anti-abortion group, which lobbied for the new abortion law. “Both cases are self-serving legal stunts, abusing the cause of action created in the Texas Heartbeat Act for their own purposes.”
Lynna, OM says
Texas restaurant owner doubles down on anti-mask policy after kicking out mask-wearing parents
Another Doofus-Dunderhead-Death Cult report.
Video is available at the link.
Lynna, OM says
Yeah, its always worse than we thought.
Link
Lynna, OM says
Teachers dying:
Link
How this happened (in part, it is anti-mask and anti-vaccine activism, plus lack of support for testing and contact tracing):
Lynna, OM says
Oh, FFS. Haven’t they already gone too far with anti-abortion legislation?
Link
Lynna, OM says
Follow-up to comment 310.
Wonkette:
Lynna, OM says
Follow-up to comment 306.
Wonkette: “Did Joe Biden Ban High Testosterone Christians From Army? Tucker Carlson Says, Sure!”
Lynna, OM says
Link for text quoted in comment 314.
In other news: Fox News Idiot Wishes Biden Didn’t Constantly Ride Bike Like Old Sad Frail Dead Bike Riding Person
Lynna, OM says
Biden, at U.N., calls for unity in addressing the pandemic and climate change.
Washington Post link
Lynna, OM says
More criminals and dunderheads from the Trump cesspool:
Link
Lynna, OM says
Follow-up to comment 310 and 313.
raven says
A new poll shows that Americans oppose the Texas female slaver/forced birther law. No surprise. Polls usually show 60-70% of Americans want abortion as it is now to be legal.
And so what. A study from Princeton years ago showed that what American citizens support has little to do with what laws get enacted and enforced. Whereas the 1% usually gets what they want.
raven says
Hard to believe.
GOP legislators in several states have proposed bills that would make getting an abortion a death penalty offense. Including Texas, Idaho, and Alabama.
Which makes sense.
If a zygote is a legal person, than abortion is murder 1.
A whole lot of forced birthers can’t wait to start executing women and abortion providers. There were 56,000 abortions in Texas last year, which is going to result in a lot of executed women. Because nothing says jesus loves you like piles of dead bodies, rivers of blood, and mass executions.
raven says
Here is another one, dead antivaxxer.
This has happened tens of thousands of time in the last 2 months.
What is noteworthy here is how they ended up in the ICU, at high risk of dying (ca. 50%), and still wouldn’t get the vaccine. Then they die.
Some of these patients have close family members who keep posting antivax lies while they are in the ICU. Then they die. And their family members keep on posting antivax lies. If watching family members die won’t motivate people to get vaccinated, what will?
blf says
More nazis overlapping with anti-vaccination loons… Far-right AfD campaigns on anti-vax platform in Germany’s Bautzen (video):
Lynna, OM says
How many “moderate” Republicans are there? That number has to be really small.
Link
Lynna, OM says
Former GOP Treasury secretaries try to steer McConnell away from cliff
Former GOP Treasury Secretaries Hank Paulson and Steven Mnuchin tried to nudge Mitch McConnell. It didn’t work.
Lynna, OM says
Mary Trump offers pointed response to Donald Trump’s new lawsuit
The New York Times and Mary Trump exposed Donald Trump as a financial fraud. Three years later, the former president is responding with a dubious lawsuit.
tomh says
Biden Puts Another Former Public Defender Onto A U.S. Appeals Court
By Jennifer Bendery
SC (Salty Current) says
Respectful Insolence – “Gov. Ron DeSantis further embraces the Great Barrington Declaration by appointing Dr. Joseph Ladapo as Florida Surgeon General.”
blf says
Having just returned from a decent lunch with vin, and then a few beers, I was vastly amused to read The 5 French habits that everyone should adopt (possibly paywalled):
And about those after-lunch beers, Artisan ales: How France became a nation of beer lovers (possibly (hic!)walled):
That’s not quite where I live, but is basically just to the North of me. I’ve been in France for sufficiently long now I can confirm the existence and availability of artisan French beers has exploded recently… The village’s own beer specialist bar (not a microbrewey, albeit there are some in the area) is hosting its second annual bierfest soon, which, judging by the first, should be grand (hic!)…
The article goes on to discuss the reasons behind the explosion, concluding:
Ireland is about 93, the States almost 73, and “U”K(? Britain) “only” 70 (from Ye Pffft! of All Knowledge, which puts the Czechs at 188, but agree the Austrians are 107 (all figures for 2019)).
† I think Falkplan is still around, and even still making printed origami maps… They’ve always been hard to find, expensive, awkward if you can’t visualise infinite transdimensional folding (a Tardis helps!), and mostly only work at close-up scales… but were(? are?) brilliantly-designed and informative.
Lynna, OM says
Trump-backed Republicans want to oversee upcoming state elections
For most American voters, secretary of state is probably a fairly obscure government office. There’s a reason that’s about to change.
Not “running” them, “ruining” them.
Lynna, OM says
John Cornyn claimed that Democrats have “refused” to work with Republicans “on a bipartisan basis.” That’s amazingly wrong.
Link
Lynna, OM says
Here come the copycats: Floridian unveils Texas-style abortion ban
Texas’ abortion ban is obviously a problem for reproductive rights. Copycats in other states are likely to make that problem vastly worse.
Lynna, OM says
Republicans are obstructionists … again.
Link
Akira MacKenzie says
@332
And the Democrats won’t learn from this experience – again.
Lynna, OM says
Josh Marshall:
Link
Lynna, OM says
https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1440811702740656134
Lynna, OM says
Link
Lynna, OM says
Abbott [Governor Greg Abbott, Texas] Is Using Cars For A Border Wall And It Looks Pretty Stupid
See also: https://twitter.com/TxDPS/status/1439358139455918082
Lynna, OM says
Federal judge rules against DeSantis ban on so-called sanctuary cities, noting hate group ties
Lynna, OM says
Oh, FFS.
Mike Flynn warns the world of dark forces putting vaccines in your salad dressing
Video of Flynn saying that the Deep State medical establishment is planning to secretly put the covid vaccine in salad dressing is available at the link.
The kernel of truth which is actually good news, and which may be what Flynn twisted into a crazy conspiracy theory:
Link
Commentary:
Lynna, OM says
Biden administration begins reimbursing Fla. school officials penalized over mask mandates
Lynna, OM says
Bannon says he discussed how to ‘kill this administration in the crib’ with Trump before Jan. 6
Lynna, OM says
Wonkette: “Susan Collins Opposes Abortion Rights Bill Based On Thing She Totally Made Up”
Link
Lynna, OM says
Pillow Idiot Says Bluetooths Stole 100K Alabama Trump Votes And Alabama Sec Of State Is MAD NOW
Lynna, OM says
Mike Pence Brags To Hungarian Fascist Pals About Births American Fascists About To Force
raven says
Xpost
Here is what it is like in Fox NoNews land, Idaho. They are now triaging patients. In one major hospital 50 out 51 Covid-19 patients are unvaccinated.
The governor recently signed a law forbidding vaccine mandates and Boise appointed an antivax quack to their Central Health board.
A lot of the patients are hostile and sometimes attack the health care workers. They are also being threatened by the families of the patients.
tomh says
Texas sued over social media censorship law
KIRK MCDANIEL / September 22, 2021
Lynna, OM says
New Yorker link
Lynna, OM says
From text quoted by raven in comment 345:
That just leaves me speechless. Going from awful to worse.
The only good news in there is that the police removed the guy making the threats.
Lynna, OM says
Tennessean:
Lynna, OM says
NBC News:
Lynna, OM says
Oh, FFS.
Washington Post:
Trickster Goddess says
Anti-vax intersecting with misogyny. (Square brackets in the original)
Man assaults Sherbrooke nurse after she vaccinated wife without his ‘consent,’ police say
blf says
Lynna@351, That (quack use of H₂O₂) sounded familiar, from Ye Pffft! of All Knowledge (my added emboldening):
blf says
Mike Lindell moves the (Salon edits in {curly braces}): goalposts again — now Trump will be back by Thanksgiving
blf says
The Onion, Unvaccinated Mom Wants To Know If You’re Coming Home For Covid This Year:
blf says
More from The Onion, Democrats Face New Hurdle After Republicans Gerrymander All Left-Leaning Voters Into Single House District:
blf says
Lynna@339, A brilliant reader’s comment to Newsweek’s Michael Flynn Spreads Conspiracy Theory on Deep State Putting Vaccines in Salad Dressing:
snarkrates says
blf@354, regarding Lindell and the other false prophets:
If you need me, I’ll be out in my garden gathering stones. I imagine I’ll have quite a pile by the end of November.
Lynna, OM says
blf @353, all down side, no up side. And people do it anyway. Almost sounds like the excerpts you posted from The Onion. Hard to tell the real stupidity from the satire.
In other news: Panel investigating Jan. 6 subpoenas top members of Trump’s team
Lynna, OM says
Schadenfreude moment: Sham audit backfires on Arizona GOP, Biden won by a wider margin>
I fully expect both the Cyber Ninja doofuses and Republicans nationwide to spin this embarrassing conclusion of the Fraudit into something that augers well for Trump. It’ll be difficult, but I still expect them to do it.
Lynna, OM says
GOP Senate hopeful characterizes pregnancies from rape as ‘inconvenient’
Lynna, OM says
Link
Anti-vax to the max. Sure, bring back mumps, measles and polio. Sheesh!
Brony, Social Justice Cenobite says
This looks like an interesting study.
https://cpost.uchicago.edu/research/domestic_extremism/
“Statistical analysis of the 250 unique counties compared to over 3,200 other counties in the United States shows that for every one percent decline in the non-Hispanic white population, a county was over six times more likely to send at least one insurrectionist.
In a representative survey of 1,000 Americans in March, believing that the rights of Hispanic and black people are overtaking white people increases odds of being in the insurrectionist movement three-fold.
In a separate survey of 1,000 conservative Americans in February, fear that Hispanic and black people will have more rights than white people increases odds of being in the insurrectionist movement two-fold.”
Seems about white.
Lynna, OM says
Ted Cruz makes the mistake of asking a law expert which voter ID laws are racist on live TV
Video is available at the link.
Lynna, OM says
According to Mary Trump, it’s Junior
johnson catman says
re Lynna @365:
Not that her opinion makes Eric any smarter, but that would have to sting Jr’s fragile ego if he had any self-awareness.
Lynna, OM says
Link
Lynna, OM says
johnson @366, ha! Good point.
In other news: Burnout and fatigue hobble CDC’s pandemic response
Pierce R. Butler says
Lynna … @ # 360: I fully expect both the Cyber Ninja doofuses and Republicans nationwide to spin this … into something that augers well for Trump.
Thereby once again, as is their compulsion, violating the First Rule of Holes.
Lynna, OM says
Pierce @369, all too true.
Actually, even Trump hasn’t come up with any convincing spin. He is relying on his old tactic of blaming the media. He blathered on and blustered about “Fraud” that we can’t see, but really he doesn’t have a leg to stand on.
Link
Lynna, OM says
Fox News bans Rudy Giuliani
Lynna, OM says
https://twitter.com/scottwongDC/status/1441431615394168840
Four videos are available at the link. Majorie Taylor Greene shouted, among other things: “Try being a Christian!” “You try being a Christian!” Dingell interjected, repeatedly jabbing the air with her finger. “And try treating your colleagues decently!”
Lynna, OM says
Yikes! Selling people online?
Link
Lynna, OM says
Kraken Lawyers Forced To Pay Back Taxpayers For Legal Bills In Crap Election Suits
So sad. They had to pay. Not enough, in my opinion.
Lynna, OM says
House Democrats pass new bill to codify Roe v. Wade protections
The Women’s Health Protection Act has gone from an afterthought in Democratic politics to a new staple of the party’s legislative agenda.
Fight on.
Lynna, OM says
Follow-up to comment 370.
https://twitter.com/jonkarl/status/1441399510123483148
“Highly respected auditors” makes me laugh.
Lynna, OM says
Florida Sen. Rick Scott, the current chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, told NBC News yesterday that his party intends to run attack ads targeting Democrats for extending the debt ceiling, as lawmakers from both parties have done for generations. “Oh, you better believe it,” the Republican senator said.
Lynna, OM says
Good point:
Link
Lynna, OM says
Latest evidence shows Trump’s team knew election lies weren’t true
Late last year, Team Trump examined election conspiracy theories and discredited them. Others on Team Trump peddled the bogus claims anyway.
Lynna, OM says
Wailing And Gnashing Of Teeth: Trumpers React To Draft ‘Audit’ Report Showing Biden Win
Okay, that’s more like it, Republicans. I expected you to come up with something similar to “this only proves that we should do more audits … audits for everyone! Audits everywhere!” Doofuses.
Lynna, OM says
U.S. falls to last place in vaccination among G-7 nations, pays a price in human lives
Brony, Social Justice Cenobite says
@Lynna 380
That’s the problem with a “fishing expedition”. They are looking for things they believe are there with no fixed idea about what looks like. So as a group and in individuals some keep fishing, some decide to stop looking.
Lynna, OM says
Bits and pieces of news.
Washington Post:
8 News Now in Nevada:
Lynna, OM says
Kayleigh McEnany targets Biden, accidentally makes Trump look worse
Kayleigh McEnany wanted to blame Joe Biden for last year’s U.S. murder rate. But Biden wasn’t president last year — but McEnany’s former boss was.
Lynna, OM says
Lauren Boebert really wants to impeach Biden, but she should have hired a proofreader first
Examples of responses are available at the link, including southpaw’s “Rep. Boebert confounds constituents by making a sign declaring she’s “each Biden.” And from Brooklyn Dad: ” I’m reading “I’m each Biden” to the tune of “I’m every woman,” but it hits different.
Lynna, OM says
Link
Lynna, OM says
Chris Hayes presented an excellent segment on his “All In” show last night.
The whole segment is excellent. The video is just over 8 minutes long. In that time, Hayes covers the historical background, Tucker Carlson’s push of replacement theory, and the current influx of Haitian immigrants (and the mistreatment of those Haitians).
Lynna, OM says
Wonkette: “The Arizona Fraudit Proved NOTHING, DO NOT TAKE BAIT.”
https://www.wonkette.com/the-arizona-fraudit-proved-nothing
Lynna, OM says
Dying crops, spiking energy bills, showers once a week. In South America, the climate future has arrived.
Washington Post link
More at the link.
Lynna, OM says
Follow-up to tomh’s comments 272 and 298, and to comment 299.
Alan Braid is known for defying the Texas abortion law. He’s spent years challenging antiabortion laws.
Washington Post link
That’s a crisis.
Lynna, OM says
Hundreds protest in Moscow claiming Russia’s election was rigged
Lynna, OM says
Anti-Discrimination Law Inconveniences Bigot, Hate Group Demands Justice
Link
tomh says
Re: Lynna @ #390
there are still heroes…
Lynna, OM says
tomh @393, right. That’s what I was thinking.
In other news, here’s an “Oh, FFS!” moment:
Link
Lynna, OM says
Steve Bannon needs to be behind bars
blf says
Lynna@394, I haven’t checked, but this sounds like the same(-ish) pack of loons, Laugh at the outrage over ‘sexy seahorses’ — but there’s nothing funny about conservatives trying to rewrite history:
Sexy Seahorses Matter!
Lynna, OM says
blf @396, it scares me that these doofuses are methodical and organized.
Lynna, OM says
Link
Does it matter if the Haitians were whipped with reins or with actual whips? People keep trying to make that distinction. If you are whipped with leather reins it still hurts.
blf says
Martin Rowson in the Grauniad, On the Tories’ immigration hokey-cokey (cartoon). Hokey Cokey is that ryhme “You put your left arm in / Your left arm out / In, out, in, out / You shake it all about …”, which is a rather good synopsis of about all teh “U”K’s alleged-“government” ever does (incompetently). In this case, the problem is a shortage of truck (lorry) drivers, due a mixture of brexit, the usual non-investment in training, the usual very poor pay and astonishingly poor working conditions, older drivers retiring, and the pandemic (which has delaying the testing / issuing of appropriate driving licenses). Brexit means it’s all-but-impossible to recruit such drivers overseas, with teh “government”, until recently, refusing to ease the post-brexit visa rules. Whilst the government has, to their credit, pointed out the shite pay and worse conditions, they haven’t actually done much-of-anything. They did recently announce a temporary(?) visa change in an effort to entice drivers from the EU, but as many people are pointing out: Why go for a short time and bad pay to a place which is going to throw you out again?
Pierce R. Butler says
blf @ # 396: … too many details about the mating rituals of seahorses.
Please recall that, in (at least some species of) seahorses, the males end up carrying the gestating young in bodily pouches. Any lifestyle so flagrantly defying The Creator’s Plan™ presents a direct and unholy challenge to Traditional Gender Roles® and the American Way of Life©!
Akira MacKenzie says
@ 396
The article linked to the spreadsheet, one of the books these fascist hausfraus object to is a book on emotions entitled “Feelings.” Why?(Sorry, I don’t know how to insert idjit quotes.)
A book on Greek mythology is singled out because it mentions “cannibalism.” They go after books that are “sad” or “depressing.” It’s not just racism and Christians fanatucism, these Stepford Wives want to erase anything in their child’s life that might be sad or scary. And they have the gall to claim leftists are emotionally fragile snowflakes who are easily triggered.
Man, the people behind Banned Books Month would have a field day with this list.
Akira MacKenzie says
Correction, that’s Banned Books Week, which I discovered starts tomorrow.
blf says
Akira MacKenzie@401, “Sorry, I don’t know how to insert idjit quotes.”
Like this:
<q class="creationist">eejit quotes</q>
Produces:
blf says
In me@399, I gave a synopsis of the current “U”K lorry (truck) driver shortage, without citing any sources. Today there’s a confirmation of my synopsis and analysis in the Grauniad, Emergency visas won’t tempt European lorry drivers to UK, say haulage chiefs:
The generally-quoted estimate for teh “U”K is a shortage of 100,000 drivers; e.g., How serious is the shortage of lorry drivers?:
Akira MacKenzie says
@ 403
Lynna, OM says
Cheney Jabs Trump After Bizarre Photoshop Attack: ‘I Like Presidents Who Win Re-Election’
Lynna, OM says
Republicans’ silence on memo that proves Trump’s Big Lie was a lie is deafening—and telling
We don’t need to ask. We know the answer.
Lynna, OM says
Link
Lynna, OM says
Biting Hospital Security Guard’s Thumb To The Bone.
Lynna, OM says
Link
Lynna, OM says
Washington Post link
blf says
Follow-up of sorts to Lynna@410, Iceland first country in Europe to have more female than male MPs:
Much of the text in above excerpt I’ve elected to elude concerns parliamentary calculations about whether or not PM Jakobsdóttir will be able to form a government.
blf says
Unsung hero: how ‘Mr Radio Philips’ helped thousands flee the Nazis:
A close shave? (Sorry, sorry, I couldn’t resist.)
Whilst the story of Chiune Sugihara is vaguely known to me, at the moment I have no recollection of Jan Zwartendijk. (Indeed, Ye Pffft! of All Knowledge‘s current article is very brief.)
blf says
Whilst perhaps an obvious article, nonetheless some good retorts, Some say COVID-19 vaccine is the (my added emboldening): Is there a connection to the Bible?
All that makes perfect sense, of course: The microchips turn you into a magnet, but that proven effect is fictional because no-one knows how magnets work — common sense which clearly shows the developers had no idea what they were doing, and who have suspiciously never gotten sick despite working with high-risk dangerous microchips, and killing off many of their BLM-guarded FEMA camp prisoners in the process. (So no need for any testing.) Oh, and hair furor personally designed the vaccines but Biden fecked-up the distribution despite pocketing zillions in bribes (and entire harems of brides), and appointed Dr Fauci as supreme commandant of those camps, supplying Big Pharma’s gestapo with billions of addition experimental subjects (including fully-formed healthy babies forcibly-aborted by AntiFa), all kidnapped in the middle of the night by secret black UN / WHO helicopters piloted by lizard people.
Obviously.
👏🏻👏🏽👏🏿👏🏾
Lynna, OM says
‘Irresponsible Beyond Words’: Pelosi Doubles Down On Slamming GOP’s Debt Ceiling Brinksmanship
Video is available at the link.
blf says
And it gets even stooooopideeer… ‘Vigilante treatments’: Anti-vaccine groups push people to leave ICUs:
The mildly deranged penguin suggests pointing out that drinking napalm and then lighting a match is a proven cheap (it’s easy to make a napalm-like substance) and effective method of eliminating any SARS-CoV-2 virus inside you or in your vicinity. The main problem, she suspects, is at least some people have an idea what napalm is (a morning air freshener), a problem solved by renaming it as, e.g., Own-A-Liberal™:
(I point out that if some does drinknapalmOwn-A-Liberal, they probably won’t be able to ignite that all-important match / cigar, and anyways, this plan will cause a run on flamethrowers, causing problems in keeping the evil equine empirebayingat bay.)Lynna, OM says
Hobby Lobby’s Museum of the Bible forced to give Iraq back prized stolen religious artifact
blf says
Lynna@417, The Gilgamesh tablet was seized by the Feds in 2019, “and New York’s eastern district court ordered its forfeiture on Tuesday [27 July 2021]”, Ancient Gilgamesh tablet seized from Hobby Lobby by US authorities; “The DoJ said that Hobby Lobby had consented to the forfeiture, ‘based on the tablet’s illegal importations into the United States in 2003 and 2014’.” Which presumably means Hobby Libby / teh fake museum / Steve Green, etc., have had no say in what happens… and according to Gilgamesh Dream Tablet to be formally handed back to Iraq, “The formal handover ceremony will take place at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC on 23 September” (the date of the article cited in @417), which is what happened.
KG says
blf@412,
Recounts mean Iceland doesn’t have a majority of female MPs. The current ideologically disparate coalition may continue, but the progressive element in it, the Left Green Party, lost 3 seats.
Meanwhile in Germany, the “centre-left” SPD (“Parlour Pinks” as the Stalinist-adjacent father of a friend of mine would call them) have narrowly beaten the “centre-right” CDU-CSU to first place, but neither is anywhere near a majority. Plausible coalitions are a continuation of the current “Grand Coalition” (CDU-CSU + SPD), or either of the two biggest parties with the Greens (who came third) and the neoliberal FDP (fourth). The FDP leader wants CDU-CSU + Greens + FDP, the Greens have been vague (the German Greens have moved a long way right from their radical roots, but might still prefer to work with the SPD, particularly as the CDU-CSU had a disastrous election, gaining their lowest share of votes and seats since WWII, while the SPD gained votes and seats). Arithmetically, a right-wing coalition between the CDU-CSU, FDP and Nazis (AfD – fifth) would have a majority, but it’s unlikely either of the other parties would work with the Nazis. An SPD + Green + Linke (“Left” – sixth) coalition would be a few seats short of a majority, I don’t know offhand whether it could function. My guess is that the final result will be SPD + Greens + FDP, but substituting the CDU-CSU for the SPD is almost as likely.
KG says
A Guardian “explainer” of the process of trying to form a coalition in Germany. If all attempts fail, the President can call a new election.
blf says
A snippet from The US has terrible family policies. How do expats fare abroad? (“Three American families in three countries [Netherlands, Ireland, and Japan] are delighted to find more generous leave and support in their new homes”):
blf says
Nicola Jennings in the Grauniad, Limited utilities (cartoon). As multiple readers have pointed out, “sorry” is not something in alleged-“PM” teh Borris’ vocabulary.
Akira MacKenzie says
@ 421
The trouble is that here in the States there are a vast number of voters who don’t measure things like literacy, health care outcomes, infant mortality, education, social benefits to judge the success of a society. (If anything, countries that have strong social welfare policies are really totalitarian hell holes that tax their citizens into poverty and take away their guns.) The only thing that matters to them is if the America GDP is high and the military is huge. Those make the USA “number one.”
blf says
Follow-up to @422 (and @399 / @404), If only the UK could panic-buy prime ministers who know what they’re doing:
Lynna, OM says
What Republicans choose to forget about their regressive tax breaks
Pat Toomey said it’s “an indisputable fact” that 2017 tax breaks created “the strongest economy” in generations. That’s demonstrably wrong.
Lynna, OM says
Despite investigation, Trump boasts about pressuring Georgia’s Kemp
Trump is under investigation for allegedly interfering in Georgia’s election process. Why is he boasting about interfering in Georgia’s election process?
Trump should shoot himself in the foot a few more times.
Lynna, OM says
Why Biden says his plan costs ‘nothing’ (and why he’s right)
When the president insists the Democrats’ $3.5 trillion plan will cost “nothing,” he has a point. It all comes down to net and gross costs.
Lynna, OM says
Republicans become more brazen about embracing ‘replacement theory’
It’s jarring to see such a racist conspiracy theory make the transition from the political fringe to prominent Republican voices.
See also comment 387.
Lynna, OM says
Booker Rips GOP’s ‘Kabuki Theater’ On Debt Ceiling
Lynna, OM says
Mitch McConnell’s hijacking of the Supreme Court is backfiring bigly
blf says
Follow-up to @399, @404, et al., EU lorry drivers will not help Britain ease its fuel crisis, union says:
Related, UK suspends competition law to get fuel to petrol stations, which basically “allow[s] companies across the oil industry to work together to keep petrol stations topped up, sharing information and optimising supply without risking breaching competition rules.”
Lynna, OM says
Can we get rid of Justice Brett Kavanaugh?
Link
The answer is, “No.” We can’t rid of Kavanaugh.
Lynna, OM says
Cheney allies flock to her defense against Trump challenge
blf says
There’s no Covid-19 here, said the police, so take down your post saying you have it, Judge rules in Wisconsin teen’s favor after sheriff threatened jail over Covid post:
Lynna, OM says
Link
See also:
https://twitter.com/shrimpJAJ/status/1366170100588404737
Video is available at the Twitter link.
Lynna, OM says
Trump administration mulled kidnapping, assassinating Julian Assange
Lynna, OM says
Wonkette: “Anti-Vax A-Holes Blow Droplets All Over Staten Island Mall, FOR FREEDOM!”
blf says
A snippet from End to freedom of movement behind UK fuel crisis, says Merkel’s likely successor [Olaf Scholz]:
Lynna, OM says
When Trump says the U.S. ‘will not survive,’ don’t look away
Lynna, OM says
Follow-up to comment 439.
Speaking of Trump, he said that Fox News worked against him last year [LOL] and that voters in the USA can’t be sure Barack Obama won re-election in 2012.
lumipuna says
“Wanna trade a full canister for empty minister?”
blf says
San Marino, a microstate (which is not in the EU (nor EEA?)) completely surrounded by Italy, is all-but-controlled by teh raping children cult. Despite furious opposition from teh cult and the ruling Christian Democratic Party (which has very Very close ties to teh cult), and a long history of misogyny, San Marino referendum ends with 77% voting to end abortion ban:
blf says
France to make tips paid by card tax free (possibly paywalled):
I didn’t realise the auto-15% was taxed !
blf says
As part of the next step in encouraging people to be vaccinated here in France, France to end free Covid tests for all in October (possibly paywalled):
The track-and-trace app is currently reporting almost 83,7% of the eligible (12+ years old) population as fully-vaccinated.
lumipuna says
blf:
That’s odd. In Finland, only medically indicated tests have been free all along. We also recently shifted to a model where fully vaccinated people are less likely to be indicate for testing, depending on symptoms and known exposure. (Reportedly, private market testing here costs at least 100 euro. I once saw a news story comparing that to the free and tourist priced testing in France specifically)
The much-talked about covid passport is still under legislative process. Apparently, it will be only used in limited circumstances, and unvaccinated people should only rarely need testing for public access. Nevertheless, some covid-19 sympathizers here complain that the passport would make vaccination “de facto mandatory”. When I open YouTube and see the generic recommendations for my area (after clearing my browser history), one of the current recommendations is a certain infamous rightwing-contrarian MP ranting about the “nazi passport”.
That’s pretty good. Finland will likely reach about that level eventually, based on first shots. The government recently announced that over 80 % fully vaccinated (expected by late October) should be enough to allow ending basically all restrictions and declaring the pandemic over. Let’s hope so.
blf says
lumipuna@445, “In Finland, only medically indicated tests have been free all along.”
My guess (comparing Finland to France) is that, despite both countries English names having an F and an an (and we get some more “an”s please, I thing we’re close to exhausting the global supply!), is the situations where(? and are?) rather different: France has a much larger population which is notoriously vaccine hesitant. A famous poll at the end of last year said only c.40% were willing to be vaccinated — which seemed to be the case until the the Health Pass was introduced, leading to the joke mentioned in @279, “when you tell the French they might die of a deadly virus they shrug, but when you tell them they can’t go to a restaurant, they queue up to get vaccinated”. There are probably other factors as well, including, as one speculative example, France being the world’s top tourist destination (pre-pandemic), meaning They™ had to keep an eye on what was happening: The apparently imported cases / variants as well as the possibly exported…
blf says
More on teh “U”K’s self-inflicted (and somewhat imaginary) fuel “crisis”, Petrol station chaos worsened by motorists filling up with wrong fuel (“More than five times as many people as usual in the UK put diesel in their petrol engine or vice versa”). I’ve seen an eejit do that — and simply don’t understand how it can happen, except for colossal stooopidy which should be grounds for permanent revocation of driving license and insurance: The pumps and hoses are clearly labelled, have a different standardised(?) colour (from memory, black for diesel, whilst petrol (gasoline) is, depending on grade, green or other), and the nozzle sizes are different, making it (again, from memory) impossible to fit petrol into a diesel (I may have that backwards). Any my own diesel (albeit in the States) had clearly marked “diesel only” in multiple obvious places (I think this tends to be true in teh “U”K but am uncertain). In the case of teh “U”K eejit I saw, their car was brand new and they weren’t yet accustomed to the difference — an excuse which is barely creditable, given the multiple precautions.
Lynna, OM says
To defend legislative failure, Tim Scott condemns an idea he endorsed
Tim Scott said he supported conditional grants for police departments. He changed his mind when Democrats agreed with him.
Lynna, OM says
Associated Press:
Commentary:
Lynna, OM says
NBC News:
Commentary:
Link
Lynna, OM says
Washington Post:
A dangerous contagion spread from the USA to Germany.
Lynna, OM says
New York Times:
Lynna, OM says
Things just went from bad to worse for MAGA election officials in Colorado
Lynna, OM says
Gerrymandering in Texas:
Link
Lynna, OM says
Sheesh.
Link
Lynna, OM says
It’s only after viral video shows cops letting dog maul handcuffed Black man that FBI investigates
OMFG. Trigger warnings for racism and wanton violence.
The police lied in their official report:
More commentary:
Video is available at the link
blf says
I just watched excerpts from Jimmy Kimmel’s show of yesterday (Trump STILL Won’t Concede, Biden’s Shockingly Hairy Shoulders & Chris Pratt Super Mario Outrage (video)), and he had a zinger. Apparently, Ben Garrison, an anti-vaxxer and nazi cartoonist, has, perhaps predictably, Covid-19. He and his wife are both apparently rather sick, albeit not hospitalised, and “the couple remain adamant they won’t accept the vaccine or hospital treatment” (Anti-vax cartoonist treats ‘rough’ case of Covid-19 with Ivermectin, zinc and beetroot juice). As Kimmel remarked (paraphrasing from memory), “Apparently, if you say Beetjuice Beetjuice Beetjuice three times, the cure for Covid appears.”
The mildly deranged penguin tried saying Cheese Cheese Cheese three times, felt hungry, and ate all the remaining cheese.
What do you say three times to stop the hiccups from laughing, that’s what I need…
Lynna, OM says
Wonkette: “Newsmax Idiot, Dennis Prager Wish US Could Marry Brazil’s Bolsonaro, Have All His Dictator Babies”
Lynna, OM says
Wonkette: “Seriously, At This Point, Would You Buy A Used Car From Kyrsten Sinema?”
Lynna, OM says
Seems like a good idea:
blf says
Right-Wing Media, Activists Slam Biden for Replacing Lee Greenwood on National Arts Council:
blf says
The Onion, GOP Stalls Government Funding Bill By Detonating 50 Tons Of Explosives Inside Capitol Building:
I’ve been trying to think up a Guy Fawkes joke / snark, but sofar my powder barrels are all damp…
blf says
More from, amusingly(ironically?), The Onion, ‘Bon Appétit’ Publishes Blank Issue After Nothing Sounded Good:
The mildly deranged penguin points out cheese works with nachos, and tuna, and tartare, and crunchy bones, and as a snack, and and and… she’s wondering what the problem is? (Other than the eggplant, of course, which like zucchini (courgette) and peas, is best killed on sight and never eaten. (My salad at lunch today contained peas… fortunately, they had been very thoroughly killed & defanged, and smothered in cheese, anchovies, and other stuff / veggies with taste and texture.))
Lynna, OM says
New Yorker link
Lynna, OM says
“Now Election Deniers Are Circulating A Fake Arizona Audit Report To Attack 2020 Results”
Link
Oh, FFS.
Lynna, OM says
Follow-up to comment 465.
Posted by readers of the article:
Lynna, OM says
Watch Arizona Congressman just tell GOP voters big lie after big lie after big lie
Videos are available at the link.
Lynna, OM says
Wonkette: “Climate Vs. Jobs? Ford And Its New $11.4 Billion EV And Battery Plants Say STFU.”
blf says
Opinion column from Kansas, At anti-vax medicine show, plenty of hokum, grift and conspiracy mongering:
Lynna, OM says
The Rise of the Liberal Latter-day Saints
Washington Post link
And the battle for the future of Mormonism
I’ll believe it when I see it.
Lynna, OM says
blf @469, this phrase from the text you quoted is a good summary: “a crowd eager to be exploited.”
That entire article was really disturbing.
blf says
To
Serve and ProtectShoot and Infect, Massachusetts Police Union Claims : Leaving Over Vaccine Mandate, But State Police Say Only One Has Quitblf says
Perhaps not a surprise, Unvaccinated Americans Blame Everyone But Themselves — Children, Vaccines And Not Wearing Masks — For Covid Surge, Poll Finds:
blf says
Forbes gets snarky, The Daily Show’s Jordan Klepper Takes On Anti-Mask, Anti-Covid-19 Vaccine Rallies (videos (plural)):
blf says
Florida Moves Forward With Punishing Local Governments Over Vaccine Mandates (Forbes edits in {curly braces}):
According to the county’s own site, there are “more than 8,000 employees”… 8000 × 5000$ = 40,000,000$.
blf says
A snippet from the Grauniad’s editorial on teh “U”K’s continuing fuel shortage, On fuel shortages: this crisis needs management:
raven says
More on the Covid-19 virus long haulers. When this pandemic winds down, if it ever does, this is going to be the next problem. I’ve certainly seen it myself many times already.
My friend lost parts of both lower limbs to Covid-19 blood clots. She now walks on artificial feet and says it is harder than it looks. She is never going to get completely over from getting Covid-19 virus.
This study is saying around 33% of the patients show long hauler syndrome.
blf says
First Dog on the Moon in the Grauniad, The ancient battle continues between birds just being alive and humans arsing about in space (cartoon), “Everyone is excited about South Australia’s bird-murdering space programme…”, but “They’re not even planning to fill the rockets with billionaires and fly them into the Sun!”
blf says
Oh FFS, Madrid leader takes issue with pope’s apology for ‘painful errors’ in Mexico:
Teh raping children cult is not something useful, there were multiple civilisations in the Americas at the time, and the invaders (both teh militrary / “explorers” and teh cult’s fanatics) promptly enslaved the First Nations.
There’s a lot more fact-free / -misleading ranting by this nazi, her current and previous führers in the Vatican, and other eejits in the article.
blf says
YouTube deletes RT’s German channels over Covid misinformation:
Putin is making threats as a result, Russia threatens to restrict YouTube over blocking of two German-language channels:
blf says
Nasa/JPL’s Ingenuity helicopter did not make its planned 14th(!) flight, albeit is safe. The flight, attempted on the 18th, was to test higher rotor speeds to deal with the seasonal thinning of the Martin atmosphere. Pre-flight tests passed, but on on the day, before liftoff, an anomaly was detected with the servos which control the blade angles and the flight auto-aborted. The problem isn’t (yet) understood, post-flight tests have (all?) passed. Ingenuity is well-past its planned, expected, and design lifetimes (at most 5 flights during 30 days of optimal flying conditions over “safe” terrain), and is now (trying to operate) outside of Earth-tested parameters.
Mars is now entering solar conjunction, when the Sun will be between Earth and Mars, basically blocking communications. This will last about two weeks, until 16th October or so, during which time Perseverance, Ingenuity, Curiosity, the orbiters, et al., will basically talk to themselves and negotiate with the Martians. They also all be doing some observational science (monitoring the weather, etc.), recording the observations for later transmission to Earth.
Lynna, OM says
Small bit of good news, however slim:
https://poll.qu.edu/poll-release?releaseid=3821
Lynna, OM says
Link
blf @481, thank you for keeping us up to date regarding Nasa/JPL’s Ingenuity helicopter. I’m a fan of that little helicopter.
Lynna, OM says
WTF
USPS advances DeJoy’s plan to make mail delivery ‘permanently slower’
Postmaster General Louis DeJoy’s plan for the USPS is moving forward. Among the changes: Some mail service will be “permanently slower.”
Rachel Maddow’s segment discussing DeJoy’s unfitness for the job, and the ways in which he has damaged the United States Postal Service, is available at the link.
Lynna, OM says
Say what now?
Mississippi AG: Curtailing reproductive rights will empower women
Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch believes women will be empowered if the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade.
Lynna, OM says
In court case, Giuliani shed new light on the Big Lie’s origins
Rudy Giuliani confirmed under oath that when he peddled election conspiracy theories, he didn’t check to learn whether they were true.
Lynna, OM says
blf @480, if Russia, (and Putin in particular), are threatening “retaliatory measures” that’s a sign that the disinformation campaign about COVID is important to them. They really think that disinformation campaign will weaken Germany, the USA, and all of the western allies. Putin thinks it is working and he wants to keep it going.
Lynna, OM says
Wonkette: “Dipsh*t Governors Showing Their Asses, Again, On Coronavirus, Again!”
Link
Lynna, OM says
Cartoon: “The shortages are all British made and British owned, and that’s something we can be incredibly proud of.”
New Yorker link
blf says
FFS, (France24 edits in {curly braces}):
Whilst some of Lexa’s statements are plausible, they are all being set in
for reasons that will become obvious (with my added emboldening)…blf says
Brazil hospital chain accused of hiding Covid deaths and giving unproven drugs (Grauniad edits in {curly braces}):
blf says
There are twice as many Ohio school board candidates than four years ago. Is COVID-19 responsible? (my added emboldening):
blf says
Top Republicans rub shoulders with extremists in secretive rightwing group, leak reveals (Grauniad edits in {curly braces}):
blf says
From the Grauniad’s current pandemic live blog:
Loosely related, The California region where Covid ‘just isn’t slowing down’:
Hey! I had a (minor) emergency operation at Mercy once. There was a very nice nurse who looked after me while I was there (overnight), albeit due to the timeframe I doubt it was Ms Briggs.
blf says
More from the Grauniad’s current pandemic live blog:
, said a Minister between smokes of his cigar in one of Parliament’s many bars. When asked about training to drive fuel lorries, he snorted,
blf says
Got him! Again. Former French President Sharkoführer, Nicolas Sarkozy given one year in prison for illegally financing 2012 election:
Some snippets from France24, Former French President Sarkozy sentenced to one year for illegal campaign financing:
That last snippet makes me wonder… Sharkoführer’s party Conservative Les Républicains forgo primary to choose candidate at party convention. A snippet:
It’s fairly easy to imagine Sharkoführer being one of the powers-that-be behind the “no primary” stunt. Les Républicains have a habit of selecting the corrupt, Fillion’s “2017 bid for presidency was torpedoed by a fake job scandal involving his wife”, clearing the way for the current President, Emmanuel Macron. (Albeit to be fair, Chirac wasn’t Les Républicains.)
blf says
My anonymous “Minister” in @495 is not-so-far from reality, from the Grauniad’s current business live blog:
slurred the Minister,
blf says
‘Prickles down the neck’: project reveals unsung female heroes of Sutton Hoo dig:
National Trust synopsis of the conservation effort, Historic image digitisation at Sutton Hoo, with a link to the now-online results.
blf says
A snippet from How France plans to tackle its lorry driver shortage (possibly paywalled):
There’s nothing at all like that in teh “U”K — an example of the worse conditions (in addition to low(er) pay) for lorry (truck) drivers.