Althouse: At the Monday Night Café...

August 10, 2020

At the Monday Night Café...

... you can write about whatever you like.

44 comments:

rhhardin said...: Australian politicians are vying to claim that they'd have imposed the second lockdown even faster than the current ones. Nobody is asking what the endgame is supposed to be before herd immunity knocks out the virus, if you don't let it run.
ABC Australia live; 8/10/20, 8:16 PM
Ingachuck'stoothlessARM said...: will an event like storming the white house be the "9/11"

that finally wakes/moves the Sleeping Majority?

Will the Left get(just got?) its "Kent State" moment?; 8/10/20, 8:21 PM
Ken B said...: Check out Jennifer Rubin's response to the shooting near the White House. I'm not gonna shed tears when someone shoots her.

Seattle city council voted huge cuts in the police. So if Trump has a brain he can tie the riots to the Democrats even more tightly now.

If you live in a blue city, move.; 8/10/20, 8:26 PM
Original Mike said...: Tornado last night about 5 miles north of us in Vilas County.; 8/10/20, 8:26 PM
Drago said...: Scott Adams: "The Biden mental competence story has now fully morphed into a Monty Python sketch about a dead parrot the owner insists is perfectly healthy. I can't even listen to people claiming Biden is perfectly fine without hearing a British accent."; 8/10/20, 8:29 PM
Ingachuck'stoothlessARM said...: what's up with all the huge explosions/fires all over?

Climate Change? Orange Man Bad??

https://twitter.com/i/status/1292947381768478720

https://twitter.com/i/status/1292933292690247680; 8/10/20, 8:30 PM
Gahrie said...: Check out Jennifer Rubin's response to the shooting near the White House.

I just finished reading her call to end the Republican Party.

She's supposed to be a conservative voice?; 8/10/20, 8:39 PM
Rt41Rebel said...: I'm informally keeping track of things that Covid19 will prove to be obsolete, unnecessary, or even stupid. So far I've got:

1) Sports
2) Living in a city
3) Going into an office for work unless it's absolutely necessary
4) Public Schools

Feel free to add on to this list.; 8/10/20, 8:40 PM
Sprezzatura said...: I know that Althouse seems to feel that a 911 would be too much dough for the budget. (Even though it’d be half of a perfect two-car solution for a lawyer. IMHO.)

Anywho obviously she’s definitely not gonna throw away money for a fun car. But, IIRC she had some sorta family connection to Pierce Arrow. Not that big dough buys happiness. But Althouse does buy nice pens. So Althouse does understand that nicer-than-necessary things can be satisfying.

Anywho, in the alternate universe where Althouse is rich she could snag:

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1934-pierce-arrow-1245-silver-arrow-coupe/

I’ve been into old school (i.e. not the postwar garbage) Packards cause a grandfather (who lived a good bit past 100) liked jabbering to me re them. I only have one, but it’s a good one.

IMHO.; 8/10/20, 8:45 PM
Enlighten-NewJersey said...: Tonight’s photograph looks like a painting. Great work!; 8/10/20, 8:52 PM
I'm Not Sure said...: Portland needs help prettifying their plywood windows.; 8/10/20, 8:57 PM
Sprezzatura said...: Drago,

A few days ago I was visiting some family. They had local news playing in the background. To me this seemed gauche cause it’s weird to do that when folks visit plus I never listen to TV news cause it seems like it’s for dumb dumbs (IMHO).

Anywho, I did catch a few things. At some point they were jabbering about Adams, though I didn’t really catch why he was being mentioned. And, at some point they talked about Liberty University, but the jabber had nothing to do w/ the unzipped pants on a yacht thing-y. Also, at the end the credits noted that this was a Sinclair product.

But the point is that I like being around so-called normal Americans. Maybe “like” isn’t the right word. Rather, I think it’s “good” for me to know that a lot of people (who are good, well meaning and not idiotic people) can be perfectly content w/ what seems like really shitty lives.

IMHO.; 8/10/20, 8:57 PM
Narr said...: Very nice image--grey is beautiful.

Things I learned today from NPR (before I could switch off):

People rioted in Chicago last night in response to a shooting by police.

Trump is asserting without evidence that mail-in balloting in November will be rife with fraud.

Narr
Who am I gonna believe, NPR or my lying eyes?; 8/10/20, 9:08 PM
narciso said...: A little too turbulent, symbolism

https://mobile.twitter.com/julie_kelly2/status/1292884160101715968; 8/10/20, 9:09 PM
Drago said...: adSs: "At some point they were jabbering about Adams, though I didn’t really catch why he was being mentioned"

That sounds about right.; 8/10/20, 9:21 PM
PluralThumb said...: So, by not putting all the eggs in one basket. Is that a warning to not have possible egg damage to the bottom eggs within the basket. I'd be more concerned if all the eggs were in a bucket. I never heard of eggs in a barrel.

I miss my overnight shifts with NPR, a peppermint large tea and a bagel or two with cream cheese.; 8/10/20, 9:31 PM
rcocean said...: I made the mistake of listening to another Trump Press Conference which always is bad for my blood pressure. God those fucking reporters, I can't make up my mind which is worse, their left-bias or their stupidity.

Trump comes back and says "Hey, I don't know anything about the shooting incident, I just got hustled away". So of course, the dumbshit reporters have to ask him 20 questions in a row about the shooting incident, forcing Trump to say "I don't know, ask the Secret service".

Then we moved on to the hostile "Gotcha" questions. One stated Trump had it wrong was was lying about an executive order on pre-existing conditions. "Congress had already passed a law", the reporter smugly stated as if that was some brilliant deduction. Trump then explained he said it was First Executive order and was done to reassure America that Republicans would protect the pre-existing clause. Reporter then looked very disgruntled as his big "Gotcha" didn't pan out.

Another was VERY SKEPTICAL about holding the RNC Speech at Gettysburg. Why, the reporters sniffed, would Trump have it there. Isn't that rather ODD? Trump then had to explain its a great part of US History etc. You can could just see the wheels turning in their heads. Gettysburg = Civil War = Confederate monuments = Racism!

I thought having the speech Gettysburg was a great idea. But outside events are expensive and hard for the Secret Service.; 8/10/20, 10:13 PM
rcocean said...: Great comment about Sasse:

"A second-rate Senator, with a third-rate mind".

Ha. That Dumbo is still prattling on about "giving too much power to the executive" and dissing Trump for issuing the executive orders. I guess he didn't read Justice Roberts decision on DACA. Why the R's ALWAYS have these grandstanding clowns, is beyond me. At least the Democrat Back-benchers support their side. They aren't bright but they're loyal.; 8/10/20, 10:17 PM
Ingachuck'stoothlessARM said...: If "You Cant Breathe" because you're looting, THEN STOP LOOTING
VIDEO: Looter Yells ‘I Can’t Breathe’ While Running Through Store and Trying to Detach Security Tags

If "You Cant Breathe" because of Faulci's Farcical Facial PATHOGEN POUCHES:

As if Masks Weren’t Contentious Enough: Dentist Warns Too Much Mask-Wearing Can Lead to Harmful ‘Mask Mouth’

If "You Cant Breathe" because of Flu Manchu, TRY HCQ
Democrat NYC councilman: Hydroxychloroquine 'saved my life'

BUT...if "You Cant Breathe" after viewing Althouse's breath-taking pics

...yer just gonna have to suffer- cate!; 8/10/20, 10:37 PM
Churchy LaFemme: said...: The Biden mental competence story has now fully morphed into a Monty Python sketch about a dead parrot the owner insists is perfectly healthy

Nitpick..

It was not the *owner* who insisted the bird had joined the bleedin' choir invisible.; 8/10/20, 10:37 PM
Churchy LaFemme: said...: Dang it, think I got my last comment backwards, but I can't see it yet..; 8/10/20, 10:39 PM
walter said...: Employees need masks even for at-home Zoom calls, Wisconsin agency says.
That must be why I've seen both a nurse and Fire/EMT worker pulling away from workplace on their motorcycles, masked but without helmets. Ride on!; 8/10/20, 10:44 PM
Sprezzatura said...: Drago,

The reason I wasn’t fully paying attention to the tube was cause it was buzzing like a street-side fridge in the background while I was chit chatting w/ so-called real Americans (who, in this situation, didn’t seem to understand that it’s weird to leave the TV on when folks (not to mention it was the folks who are your filthy rich fam (who, btw, spend a lot of effort hiding richness, but still there’s only so much ya can do, so it’s pretty obvious)) visit).

Anywho, it’s interesting to see how the con media is knit together. Sinclair is pushing Adams and Liberty U in one broadcast. But only as sub-factors to other stories. Also, it’s F-in insane that they would do the LU thing at a time w/ all the fuss re the kid w/ open pants on the yacht. Presumably that was a package that was assembled some time ago. Also presumably, the bet at Sinclair is that folks in the bubble will not know about the open pants thing-y. Cause if con media doesn’t say it = fake news!

Anywho, lots of times I worry that normal folks will get fussy if the gov keeps making policy that borrows from the future so I can be richer today. Fortunately, folks here and my family make me feel more at ease. After all, this sorta policy is just an investment in job creators, hence the benefits will trickle down and cause increased economic growth that will result in more gov revenue such that there will not be debt. Plus the cons will cut out all the waste and fraud and gov dough for slackers, so that will get rid of the need for borrowing to fund me to keeping more of what I earn. And if that sorta jabber becomes less compelling: don’t forget that libs support killing babies and selling their parts. And cons can jabber about bitter frustration re clinging re guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like you or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment. Ha ha.

In mid 2016 my gut said there’s sixteen years of this being sustainable. I still think that’s essentially right. So, twelve years to go. Even w/ Biden winning this time and w/ an R Senate staying. Biden will be inheriting a disaster (ha! DJT likes jabbering about the so-called disaster he inherited. Cool.) and a paralyzed government, so that perfectly sets up an articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking R gal to get eight years. Then......I’m less sure. Too far out. Too many variables. I dunno.

IMHO.; 8/10/20, 10:58 PM
Howard said...: Paine's Gray Sunrise; 8/11/20, 4:54 AM
Rusty said...: Original Mike said...
"Tornado last night about 5 miles north of us in Vilas County."
The sirens went off about 3:30 PM yesterday. Took a peek outside and headed for the concrete part of the building. People who have never been in one like to rubberneck. Don't do that.; 8/11/20, 5:23 AM
Rusty said...: OK. Who gave Sitter the acid?; 8/11/20, 5:25 AM
Bruce Hayden said...: "Tornado last night about 5 miles north of us in Vilas County."
“The sirens went off about 3:30 PM yesterday. Took a peek outside and headed for the concrete part of the building. People who have never been in one like to rubberneck. Don't do that.”

Definitely rubberneckers. About 30 years ago, I was a jr patent attorney in a patent firm in Denver. We were on the 11th floor in a building S of downtown (for those who know Denver - I-25 and CO Blvd). Floor to ceiling windows. The patent attorneys were all male. Most were older than I was. We all watched a tornado come through Denver, a couple miles south of us, from the offices with the floor to ceiling glass windows. Support staff, all female, were in the concrete basement. I always thought that it was an interesting statement about the difference between the two sexes.

Downtown Denver, itself, doesn’t get that many tornadoes - too close to the mountains. But eastern suburbs get some. I grew up in the western suburbs, which really are too close to the mountains. So tornados were something that happened on the evening news, but not in real life. Until I was in that law firm, and we had them come through two years in a row. My grandparents moved from OK to Denver almost 100 years ago, and one of their excuses was avoiding tornadoes. Mostly though, it was because, for them (actually for all of us), CO has much more beautiful scenery - west of the part of the state that gets tornados. We are rapidly approaching a century now of now four generations taking fall trips through the CO mountains to see the aspens, etc. That is one of the things that I miss here in MT. My partner keeps telling me about how well known MT is for its aspens. Haven’t seen anything remotely like what my kid and brothers see every fall in CO. I love my partner dearly, but after over 20 years together, I recognize when she is BSing.; 8/11/20, 6:36 AM
Kai Akker said...: ---So that’s how you evaluate evidence? You look solely at the motivations of writer. [TiminVt--carried here from prior night's cafe thread]

Yes, Tim, absolutely. When the writers have obvious propaganda purposes in mind, the credibility of the information being delivered falls. Your assumption that I have a political opinion on this subject is erroneous, btw. I want facts and I am more than ready to follow them where they lead. Fwiw, I do tend to believe that some amount of the particles are blocked by masks and that the net viral load anyone may receive matters.

But I also look at that first cruise ship on which only 20% or so of the passengers got the virus and wonder. How many of us are already protected against this virus by some prior resistance we possess? It is maddening how little we still know about this. For that matter, despite being in a large city, I only know OF people who have had the disease -- a friend of a son's co-worker, for example. Not one person I know personally has had it. Now, my circle of acquaintances has shrunk during this endless 4-week quarantine, so it is possible that someone I know has caught it and I just haven't heard yet. But among friends and relatives I see and communicate with, no one.; 8/11/20, 6:37 AM
Jersey Fled said...: Powerline has a good graph of new reported covid cases, hospitalizations, and deaths in Minnesota going back to May 1.

Note that that there is zero correlation between reported cases and deaths. None. And a very weak correlation between reported cases and hospitalizations.

Yet our betters continue to insist (without evidence) that high reported cases inevitable leads to both.

I wonder why.; 8/11/20, 6:45 AM
Kai Akker said...: @Bruce Hayden, since you were just here on this thread. Here's another leftover question from prior night's thread. Your 11:57 a.m. post described a battle of sorts between police supporters in Ft Collins, CO, and antifas. I wrote:
The next phase of Civil War II, Bruce. Interesting post. Are you ready to secede from the Blues? Or do you prefer to fight it out?

And obviously that question is for anyone. I would have scorned the idea of the lawful population seceding from the territories held by the lawless-and-stupid, six or 12 months ago. But it does seem viable in a certain way, and could be the preferable choice to having to win election after election and suffer through destructive tantrums forever. I would have to move out of my 80%-Democrat city to effect secession, and that would be at my expense, obviously. But it has started to hold more appeal in recent years. I'm thinking about it, others must be too, yes?; 8/11/20, 7:01 AM
Rusty said...: BH
Been through two of them. And yes. It sounds exactly like you're standing next to a fast freight train. It isn't the wind that kills you. It's the roofs, shingles, nails, cars etc. that kill you.; 8/11/20, 7:06 AM
Kai Akker said...: @Bruce Hayden, since you were just here on this thread. Here's another leftover question from prior night's thread. Your 11:57 a.m. post described a battle of sorts between police supporters in Ft Collins, CO, and antifas. I wrote:
The next phase of Civil War II, Bruce. Interesting post. Are you ready to secede from the Blues? Or do you prefer to fight it out?

And obviously that question is for anyone. I would have scorned the idea of the lawful population seceding from the territories held by the lawless-and-stupid, six or 12 months ago. But it does seem viable in a certain way, and could be the preferable choice to having to win election after election and suffer through destructive tantrums forever. I would have to move out of my 80%-Democrat city to effect secession, and that would be at my expense, obviously. But it has started to hold more appeal in recent years. I'm thinking about it, others must be too, yes?; 8/11/20, 7:07 AM
William50 said...: I see that Biden is plagiarizing Trump and running MAGA commercials now.; 8/11/20, 7:10 AM
Rory said...: "Are you ready to secede from the Blues? Or do you prefer to fight it out?"

The basic problem is that even if you win a fight, you're stuck in a country with tens of millions of crazy people. I think that we have serious work to do to amend the Constitution to support individual rights and federalism better. You can't get that done unless you have a clear majority of people who believe in the concept of liberty. So I think that big parts of the east and west coasts should be encouraged to spin off.

I don't know what country I'd end up in. I'm in Western Pennsylvania, which might split off from Philadelphia. If that didn't happen, some jurisdictions around me might join West Virginia, and I could end up on either side of the border.; 8/11/20, 8:05 AM
Michael K said...: Why the R's ALWAYS have these grandstanding clowns, is beyond me. At least the Democrat Back-benchers support their side. They aren't bright but they're loyal.

See the Michael Anton essay in the CRB summer issue.

The GOP is going to have to change or be replaced. First comes the November election. If that is lost, I see Civil War. I got out of California which is step One.; 8/11/20, 10:11 AM
walter said...: Kai Akker said...But I also look at that first cruise ship on which only 20% or so of the passengers got the virus and wonder.
--
From Fort Benning to Japan and Hawaii, face masks are not working; 8/11/20, 10:47 AM
Bruce Hayden said...: “@Bruce Hayden, since you were just here and antifas. I wrote:
“The next phase of Civil War II, Bruce. Interesting post. Are you ready to secede from the Blues? Or do you prefer to fight it out?”

I am too old to fight it out (3 months older than Ann). I’ve got plenty of guns and ammo, though the latter can always be improved. Here in NW MT, we are set up well to survive. It is defensible, with plenty of the necessities, such as power, food, and water. The worry is for our kids and grandkids, spread between AZ and CO. It would be a long trek up here, if they have to flee, but would on this thread. Here's another leftover question from prior night's thread. Your 11:57 a.m. post described a battle of sorts between police supporters in Ft Collins, CO, be fine if and when when they got here.

On a larger scale, I expect that it would be Blue America that would, foolishly, try to secede from the bitter Clingers in Red America. Foolishly, because Blue America lacks most of the necessities of life - notably power, food, and in CA, water. The biggest loss for Red America might very well be Pacific coast deep water ports, and esp Navy bases there. Bulk of the Army, and probably Air Force, would likely stay happily with Red America, but much of the Navy would have little choice about staying with Blue America. We would lose the ability to project power into the western Pacific (esp near China). Moreover, Blue America is much more tolerant of the ChiComs. And I expect the Chinese to take full advantage of that.

But in the west, I expect that the secession would not be as clean as the denizens of Blue America expect. The states that they control on the west coast are pretty much self sufficient in food, and up north (WA & OR) with power and water. But we have the precedent of WV seceding from VA, after VA seceded from the US. Why would they expect to be able to stick with the old, arbitrary state borders? The food and power generating portions of the Blue states on the west coast are already talking about seceding from their Blue states, either joining existing Red States, or forming their own (Red) states. Heck, a significant amount of the excess gun capacity of Spokane seems to have migrated into Idaho already.

Something else to keep in mind is that it is Blue America that really seems intent on secession, as exemplified by their rejection of western civilization and its norms. But the parts in those states most interested in it, would be least able to survive on their own. Their power is in the big cities, that are uniquely susceptible to being cut off from the necessities, such as food and power. Blow up some train bridges and high capacity power lines, and their populations would starve in the darkness. They could freeze too, with the shutdown of the oil and gas pipelines. Then, we would see the current rioting on steroids in those cities, with the strong taking the necessities of life from the weak by force. They could, of course, flee. But who wants them? Who wants a bunch of self important AntiFA soy boys, with no marketable skills, gender studies grads, and an underclass whose primary skill set appears to be theft, rape, and murder? Moreover, they don’t have the guns, nor the training, to even attempt to expand very far into the surrounding countryside.; 8/11/20, 11:58 AM
Bruce Hayden said...: I will end with something that happened to me yesterday. Asked a guy at the local mercantile yesterday if they ever ordered in guns (etc) for you. I was thinking of buying another batch of AR-15 lower receivers, as I had done with the guy across the street the year before. He said that the had a couple there for sale. A bit steep, but he knew the guy making them. Trusted him. A buddy from Iraq. Said almost as if everyone had buddies that they had fought and bled with while serving in our military. We are rapidly approaching a half century of an all volunteer military, with the bulk of the trigger pullers coming from places like this. I expect that the bulk of the supporters of the police in Fort Collins the other day were similar. A bunch of military vets, who were waiving their American flags out of the patriotism that prompted their military service.; 8/11/20, 11:58 AM
Bruce Hayden said...: Let me reiterate Dr K’s suggestion that you read The Case for Trump -
There's little wrong with President Trump that more Trump couldn't solve. Especially after my previous ramblings on civil war and succession.; 8/11/20, 12:14 PM
Kai Akker said...: Thanks, Walter, interesting reading.

----From Fort Benning to Japan and Hawaii, face masks are not working

The drawback to concluding the masks are pointless is that those, plus social distancing, are all the tools we've got! And for someone who doesn't want to chance being in that 20% or so to get it, it's a bit frustrating to think it's perfectly random or otherwise out of one's control entirely. But I have been feeling more and more like the Richard Dreyfuss character in Close Encounters, who finally tears off his mask in the supposedly toxically poisoned landscape and just starts breathing. And then they all do and it was perfectly safe.; 8/11/20, 1:37 PM
Michael K said...: But in the west, I expect that the secession would not be as clean as the denizens of Blue America expect.

That is pretty much the premise of Schlicter's book, "People's Republic". He wrote that in 2016 assuming a Hillary presidency. He is retired Army and a lawyer in west LA. He has the LA Speak down pat but assumes the state lines remain static. I would suggest that everything east of the Sierra Nevadas would join Arizona and Nevada. The blue rim of California and Washington are pretty thin.; 8/11/20, 3:26 PM
Kai Akker said...: Thanks, Bruce. I like the red secession idea because 1) I am just beyond fed up with the blues and their various forms of destruction, and would rather let them destroy their own turf while guaranteeing that they would leave the rest of us alone; and 2) the surprise effect of the move, which includes watching blues suddenly having to defend the Constitution and attempt to enforce it (and, first, read it); and 3) it is better than the shooting war they have started.; 8/11/20, 3:48 PM
Michael K said...: Actually, I meant to say that everything east of the Coast Range would join AZ and NV; 8/11/20, 5:02 PM
Kai Akker said...: ---So I think that big parts of the east and west coasts should be encouraged to spin off.
I don't know what country I'd end up in. I'm in Western Pennsylvania, which might split off from Philadelphia. If that didn't happen, some jurisdictions around me might join West Virginia, and I could end up on either side of the border. [Rory]

A lot of blue counties to work with, Rory. But West Virginia is good, too! Has its own beauty. The trouble with peaceful secession, Rexit like Brexit, is that the negotiations might take a long time. But the Blues are so loaded up with their fantasy worlds and hubris, that a little pandering to Chuck Schumer might go a long way. Special ice cream shipments for Pelosi and a contract for the hub, and maybe we could wrap it up inside six months. What an effing relief that would be!!; 8/11/20, 6:44 PM