February 3, 2018

On the frozen Weeping Rock Trail.

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At Blue Mound State Park today, we walked over the narrow bridge, along icy path, and across a frozen waterfall.

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ADDED: Meade's view of the waterfall:

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58 comments:

Achilles said...

Rosenstein designated Carter Page as a currently operating Russian agent. A Title I collection asset. Using the memo.

Rosenstein is going to jail.

You figure it out.

Michael K said...

81 in Tucson today.

Sorry.

Ann Althouse said...

If I wanted to be in Tucson right now, I would be.

Trumpit said...

The planet and her animals are still beautiful though much has been destroyed by mankind. The human race is fast approaching 8 billion souls. That is a damn tragedy. Trump rejects global warming, and reluctantly is forced to deal with its consequences such as in Puerto Rico. Birth control needs to be made available to poor people everywhere. One shouldn't be born into poverty.

eric said...

I'm really concerned about the news I'm hearing about Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein. Gregg Jarrett of Fox News is reporting that 2 sources have now told him that Rosenstein threatened the Intel Committee. It seems he told them if they don't drop their investigation of the DOJ and FBI, he was going to subpoena their calls and texts.

I really hope this isn't true. If it is, how bad have we gotten that Rosenstein thought he could make such a threat and get away with it?

YoungHegelian said...

@eric,

I really hope this isn't true. If it is, how bad have we gotten that Rosenstein thought he could make such a threat and get away with it?

Because that's exactly what J. Edgar Hoover used to do to Congresscritters who started to get in his way. He'd have agents stop by their offices & mention how the congressman had been seen in the company of floozie so-and-so & he;d better be careful or this news might get out. I remember seeing a documentary on this some years ago & you know who discussed exactly this technique? -- that wild & crazy guy, that lover Of life & all things female, that bon vivant, man about town, Walter Mondale. I kid you not. The FBI pulled this shit on the likes of Walter Mondale.

Original Mike said...

”81 in Tucson today.”

Yuck.

Kyzer SoSay said...

"Trump rejects global warming, and reluctantly is forced to deal with its consequences such as in Puerto Rico. "

8 years of practically zero hurricanes, and then a year comes along with a handful of nasty ones and suddenly we're back to "global warming", eh Trumpit?

Maybe if Puerto Rico weren't a corrupt shithole, they'd have weathered the storm a bit better.

But let's not mention that, because a lot of Democrat voters live there. Wouldn't want to point out the obvious, right?

tcrosse said...

”81 in Tucson today.”

It's a dry heat.

F said...

Is it still called a waterfall if it's frozen?

Mark Nielsen said...


That's what passes for a "waterfall" in that part of the country, eh?

Sprezzatura said...

Best: helmet

Better: walking sticks

Good: spikes that attach to shoes, like mini-crampons


Jupiter said...

Enough with the memo. Let's get back to sex, or what passes for it in these depraved times. Rose McGowan attempted to use some of her recent newsworthiness to give a book tour. At her first appearance, some asshole pretending to be a woman stood up and started shouting some ridiculous accusation at her. Everyone sat around mewling in shock and horror, uncertain which side they were supposed to be on. As she put it;

"I was VERBALLY ASSAULTED for two full minutes @BNBuzz by an actor paid to verbally assault a woman who has been terrorized by your system. And no ONE in that room did anything"

So. Is it back to being OK for men to harass Rose McGowan?

Jupiter said...

If the asshole had attempted to harass her while she was walking down the street, he would have been arrested, probably after her bodyguard roughed him up. But since he did it at a public gathering, our "tolerant" view of "protest" allows the stupid little shit to hijack a public event by claiming "victim" status, on the basis of nothing whatsoever. Really, he claims the right to misbehave and fuck up an event that someone else has devoted a lot of time and money to, because -- well, because he's demonstrably fucked up. Isn't that a good reason to allow him to self-select as the owner of any building he enters?

Kyzer SoSay said...

Trannies are just fucked in the head.

This is apparently our new normal.

Michael K said...

"If I wanted to be in Tucson right now, I would be."

Thank God. Its crowded enough.

hawkeyedjb said...

I'm in Scottsdale where it's also beautiful and warm. There are also around three bazillion people here for the big golf tournament. It's huge I tell ya, yuuuuuuge. No problem, as long as I don't want to go north. So I guess I don't.

wildswan said...

Looking at Pelosi and Wolf Blitzer after the memo came out, I notice that their faces have become very hard. The easy, condescending smiles, the glib chatter - gone. They have to persuade non-California voters that they have no right to rights along with persuading non-government workers that a better economy with better jobs is meaningless. And who is the leader for the Dems in these dark days? Hillary wants the job and is in the building applying for it. The others are piled up near the entrance chute, dithering and quivering and wondering what Hillary will do to them if they run against her.

Elliott A said...

Brrrrrr!

Howard said...

If I wanted to be on the Frozen Weeping Rock Trail right now, I would be divorced.

pacwest said...

Went to the Pheonix Open on Friday. My first time at a Pro golf tourney. Best to watch it on TV. So far of the professional events I've attended baseball is the only one best experienced in person.

Sprezzatura said...

Maybe the cold over there makes folks' brains seize up:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2018/02/03/paul-ryan-celebrated-the-tax-cut-with-a-tweet-about-a-secretary-saving-1-50-a-week/?hpid=hp_hp-more-top-stories_ryan-tweet-6pm%3Ahomepage%2Fstory&utm_term=.1eb6489767ed

Funny Twitter responses, though.

Anywho, probably not helpful to the Rs to make Pelosi's 'crumbs comment' look correct.

Of course, if this was DJT, Adams would tell us that this is a persuasion kill shot: now if you get more than $1.50 = you feel like yur a real winner, practically part of the 1%!

Sprezzatura said...

"So far of the professional events I've attended baseball is the only one best experienced in person."

I like racing live. It's a bit of a social thing-y too. But, one race in particular makes it really hard to follow the race when yur there. But, the social factor is maxed for that one. And, it seems like ya may run into Uma if she's staying around the corner.

reader said...

We were at the Phoenix Open today. I was impressed by how well it was organized. Much better than the few US Opens we have attended. Scottsdale deserves some props.

Molly said...

The photos remind me of a lesson I learned in 2 winters in Minnesota and 5 in Madison: when there's ice on the walking surface, consciously move your weight forward (shoulders over toes), so if your feet slip you fall forward (to your knees) rather than backward (on your tailbone).

And: I'll probably post this again as a comment in some more relevant blog post, but I wish the anti-Trump commenters would seriously address the points made in this type of article: http://thefederalist.com/2018/02/02/house-intel-memo-shows-just-politicized-obama-administration-become/

The point in this article really has almost nothing to do with whether Trump colluded, or obstructed, or whether Trump should be removed from office. It has to do with the implications of the memo for Obama. I would like to see a serious and thoughtful argument that it is wrong to read the memo as something that is very condemning about how the Obama administration was being run. I can imagine arguments along the lines of: "the use of the dossier supported FISA warrant(s) was not aimed at the electoral process, but only at the specific individual," "the decisions were based on career bureaucrat recommendations, not on political appointee insistence," (I'm sure there are more and perhaps better arguments: But I have to say I haven't seen any such op-ed or blog pieces along these lines -- the Nunes memo does not support the assertion that the Obama adminstration is corrupt. I do see pieces (this article, or Kim Strassel in the WSJ) that make the argument that the Nunes memo has information that condemns the Obama administration as corrupt. So (commenters) point me to blogs/ opinion pieces I've missed, or make a brief argument yourself.

wwww said...


For ice Yaktrak helps.

Pretty warm today. Polar Votex a-coming.

Ralph L said...

Looks like Madison could pay some of its homeless to rake leaves.

Good: spikes that attach to shoes
I once nailed some carpet tacks into an old pair. Only drawback was that they rusted. Now I just wait for the ice to melt.

wwww said...



Molly,

If you are interested in other critiques, read Max Boot or David French. Look at their twitter to get an idea of what others are saying if you're interested. If you're interested there's John Podhoretz, Tom Nichols & others. Look at their links or re-tweets on twitter.

Ralph L said...

Molly, that's the problem with the Deep State. They know what needs to be done, so Obama and Hillary can keep their hands clean. And in a Clinton administration, they would have been rewarded for their loyalty.

Sprezzatura said...

I no good at math but it looks like the Ryan weekly dozen bits really adds up:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2018/02/03/the-u-s-government-is-set-to-borrow-nearly-1-trillion-this-year/?utm_term=.acc3f7803356

Ann Althouse said...

We had Katoola spike attachments for our.hiking boots. It would have been stupid to hike here without them. Had trekking poles too.

tim in vermont said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Molly said...

thanks wwww for the pointers.

hawkeyedjb said...

@reader, I'm glad you enjoyed your day at the Pix open. I've always enjoyed it and thought it well-run. We have a friend who lives behind the first fairway and we can park in her driveway, avoiding the parking lots. We opted out of attending this year even though we had box seats on the 16th hole. Not feeling great, and we didn't want to take a chance on any flu bugs lurking among the quarter-million fans.

hawkeyedjb said...

That would be "PHX" Open.

reader said...

hawkeyejb I hope you feel better soon.

Molly said...

Back to wwww: are you sure you are sending me to the places that defend Obama from the implications of the Nunez memo? Because I see a lot of commentary about whether the Nunez memo is good or bad for Trump, but nothing about the implications for Obama (and O administration). In fact, I see from Podhoretz this about a proposed TV show on former AG Eric Holder: "CBS pilot. You think it'll include the slow-walk on the gun scandal, the contempt of Congress, and the criminal pursuit of AP and James Rosen?" This seems to be commentary along the lines of "Obama administration most corrupt in history". My challenge was to have commenters point me to blogposts/commentary that made the argument "the Nunez memo does not actually provide evidence that the Obama Adminstration did something wrong." I did look at Boot, French, and Podhoretz and didn't find anything like this. (Notice I'm not being belligerent: Maybe if I spent more time on these searchers I would find. But the first pages do not provide anything in the way of support for the Obama administration.

Sprezzatura said...

"We had Katoola spike attachments for our.hiking boots. It would have been stupid to hike here without them. Had trekking poles too."

Good endorsement. But, useless. Even after the perfect setup (thanks to me).

If a tree falls in the forest and nobody hears it, does it make a sound. Where are the Althouse links to Amazon, to spread safety and prosperity? Win-win.

Achilles said...

Molly said...

But the first pages do not provide anything in the way of support for the Obama administration.

Because there is no way to honestly deal with the fact that the Obama administration clearly spied on the Trump campaign and committed fraud and perjury to do it.

You are noticing the leftists are sending you to places that don't have any real answers.

It is going to get a lot more fun when Rosenstein is indicted. He is done.

tim in vermont said...

Gregg Jarrett: I can tell you a congressional source tells me that Rod Rosenstein in a meeting three weeks ago threatened Chairman Nunes and members of Congress he was going to subpoena their texts and messages because he was tired of dealing with the intel committee. That’s threats and intimidation.

Geezum. It’s one thing for an elected congressperson like DWS to threaten people like she did the Capital Police, but it’s another thing. for a plain old employee to do so.

Sprezzatura said...

TinV,

That's old news. Now Mr. Gregg Drunkard says he has a second anonymous source.

I guess we can now send the paddy wagon (or whatever the PC equiv is) over to Rod's place.

Lock him up!

Michael K said...

If you are interested in other critiques, read Max Boot or David French. Look at their twitter to get an idea of what others are saying if you're interested. If you're interested there's John Podhoretz, Tom Nichols & others. Look at their links or re-tweets on twitter.

I think you pretty much got all the Trump haters there. Good work.

At least they don't drool on the lectern.

wwww said...


Molly,

I'm giving you some of the people I've read over the past couple of days, but, no, I don't have a bibliography I can cut and paste. Weekend, kids, busy, you know the drill.

Am I sure they are skeptical of this memo to some degree? Yes. Can I point you to a specific article? no. I've seen them go by on twitter but I can't give you an exact reference. I'm not all that invested in this latest kerfluffle, so I'm not tracking it very well. Look at Rick Wilson's feed, maybe look at Josh Barro, Jeff B (esoteric CD), Evan McMullin, David Frum, Bethany S. Mandel, Charles C. W. Cooke, Dan McLaughlin, Did I already suggest David French?

Here I just saw another one -

Frum linked to Frances Townsend Former Homeland Security & Counterterrorism Advisor to President Bush '03-'08, @CBSNews Sr National Security Analyst '16 - , EVP MacAndrews & Forbes '10-present. She's got an article in the WA Post about the memo. I have not read it, but you might be interested.

Here's what I've seen linked today. Article in Time writing about Carter Page claiming he was a consultant to the Kremlin. Also seen linked on twitter articles about Page as an associate of a Russian in 2013 who was tried for espionage a few years later. Apparently the FBI has warned Page about his contacts in Russia, which he has ignored. I can't say where I've seen it, though. But take this with a grain of salt -- as I said, I'm not following it closely enough to be some sort of bibliographic reference.

I can tell you I am reading stuff that points to Page having contact with Russian spies and claiming he consulted with the Kremlin. This suggests to me there may have been reason for the FBI to want a warrant that has nothing to do with Clinton et all. It also suggests to me all this FBI attention may have started before the dossier was brought to the attention of the FBI.

Sorry I can't be more specific but maybe these people will be of interest. I"m happy to share people I read on twitter, but I'm not interested in getting into a debate about this stuff. Read it if interested. Ignore it if you're not interested.

wwww said...


I forgot Bill Kristol, Jonah Goldberg, Nick Confessore twitter.

wwww said...



We need to buy trekking poles. Mostly don't use poles, but have used our cross-country ski poles, which I know isn't wise.

I adore weather when it is about 25-30 degree F. Perfect for a walk and quite warm.

Ralph L said...

wwww, did you miss any NeverTrumpers?

wwww said...



Ralph L,
:) I forgot Mike Murphy.

Bleach Drinkers Curing Coronavirus Together said...

Very nice photos. Hope you enjoyed. :)

Yancey Ward said...

"Is it still called a waterfall if it's frozen?"

No, it is called a waterfa.

Clyde said...

Super Bowl prediction: Patriots win by more than a touchdown. Biggest disappointment of the day for most people is when they learn that #dundeemovie is actually an ad for Australia Tourism and not a real movie.

stevew said...

Rose McGowan incident: If women approached confrontation with the implied threat of physical violence perhaps the trans guy would have been more polite in his complaining.

Why do people that choose to live in warm places assume everyone that lives in cooler places wishes they didn't? Temperatures above 75 degrees F make me uncomfortable.

Corollary: dog owners nearly universally assume everyone loves dogs, especially theirs.

Rosenstein is going full J. Edgar Hoover, even threatening elected officials, allegedly.

NYT says 'some' are saying the MEMO is part of Trump's plan to undercut and possibly end the Mueller investigation. Who are these some?

-sw

tim in vermont said...

I guess we can now send the paddy wagon (or whatever the PC equiv is) over to Rod’s place.

Well, a guy with zero respect for the Constitution in a position of power like that ought to lose his job. He played into Trump’s hand. Or are you one of those people who think that the secret police are a co-equal branch of government?

tim in vermont said...

Donald Trump’s surprisingly good State of the Union speech got a record 70 to 75 percent positive poll approval from those who watched. Even if you discount (as you should) for the Trump haters who can’t bear to watch him and chose another of their 100-plus cable channels, that’s not chopped liver.

Except that it was the highest rated SOTU since early Obama.

tim in vermont said...

Those guys are all never Trumpers, but at least that have two IQ points they can rub together.

tim in vermont said...

For a little changeup, try https://www.steynonline.com

Sorry, I can’t get this Mac to hot link

Michael Barone

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/michael-barone-toward-a-trump-republicanism/article/2647767

You can just head over to Instapundit, a libertarian, culturally liberal, but not to the point of surrendering due process for the accused, law professor who is pretty pro Trump, based on the actual, you know, results of his presidency. He has lots and lots of people he links to every day.

https://pjmedia.com/instapundit/

If you want to read what mostly hard core-church going conservatives are thinking, head over to http://lucianne.com

Nobody here actually goes to StormFront, or whatever these sites are that lefties mention when they call us Nazis. Although there are a couple who do seem to go to Infowars. I don’t, it’s too unreliable. Breitbart is not really linkable in a discussion either, but they do publish stuff you wouldn’t hear otherwise, and that you can evaluate for yourself.

I wish there were a power base for centrist candidates, but I think that Trump is as close as we are going to get.

tim in vermont said...

This pretty much sums up my opinon, which is not “anti law enforcement” BTW. Why don’t you guys take that argument to a local Black Lives Matter meeting?

[From] a report by Paul Sperry in the New York Post on October 6, 2016.

"Veteran FBI agents say FBI Director James Comey has permanently damaged the bureau’s reputation for uncompromising investigations with his cowardly whitewash of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s mishandling of classified information using an unauthorized private email server," Sperry wrote.

"Feeling the heat from congressional critics, Comey last week argued that the case was investigated by career FBI agents, 'So if I blew it, they blew it, too.'

“But agents say Comey tied investigators’ hands by agreeing to unheard-of ground rules and other demands by the lawyers for Clinton and her aides that limited their investigation."


Stinks to high heavens, and God bless Trump for taking them on. And the economy is going well enough that maybe we can afford more immigration! How about that! Of course it would be nice to actually have some legal controls over it so we can manage it in the best interests of our citizens. <<--(Makes me a Nazi)

tim in vermont said...

[A] senior State Department informant walked into the Washington, D.C. FBI field office Jan. 27, 2016, upset that Comey never acknowledged receipt of crucial evidence the confidential witness had earlier provided.

Days later, Andrew McCabe was appointed deputy director of the FBI by then-President Barack Obama and then tasked with oversight of the investigation into mishandling classified information by Clinton, Abedin, Mills and other key aides.

Then, we learn Oct. 30, 2016, through a different FBI Vault disclosure that the Department of State had found by February 2016 more than 2,000 examples of mishandled classified information during Clinton’s tenure there (See pages 12,13 of the preceding link):

“In February 2016, the State Department completed its review and determined that 2,115 of the 20,940 email contain information that is presently classified.

“Out of these 2,115 emails, the State Department determined that 2,028 emails contain information classified at the Confidential level, 65 contain information classified at the Secret level, and 22 contain information classified at the Top Secret level.”


So Molly, it should disturb you that the response from Democrats is mud-slinging and name calling.

I would be a Democrat too. Not a lefty, but a Democrat, like my Dad. But his party is long dead.

tim in vermont said...

If the FBI had done it’s job in the Clinton case, it is unlikely Trump would be president, since Hillary would never have gotten the nomination.