December 14, 2020

At the Frosted Trees Café...

IMG_1735

... you can talk all night. 

AND: I changed the time on this post to put it on top of the William Barr post. I like the open thread closing the day. 

100 comments:

Qwinn said...

“Revealed: Bill Barr directly intervened to keep the Hunter Biden probe secret before the election by warning against issuing subpoenas and asking prosecutors if their staff could be trusted
- Barr sought to uphold existing DOJ policy against interfering in an election
- Cautioned against any moves that could go public such as a subpoena
- Came despite Trump and GOP lawmakers demanding Hunter probe
- Hunter Biden revealed last week his taxes were under investigation
- Democrats have accused Barr of acting like Trump's 'personal lawyer'
- Trump raged on Twitter that Barr 'will do nothing’”


Link

Remember shit like this every time leftists tell us that we're wrong because people who are supposed to be on our side aren't.

This is the result of an openly declared, and completely unresisted, long march through the institutions.

stevew said...

Winter in Madison looks lovely. Winter has not arrived in southern Maine; maybe Wednesday or Thursday, certainly no later than next Monday.

Ann Althouse said...

I put up a new post for the Barr resignation, so please go one post up to talk about Barr.

gilbar said...

there are acceptable (and unacceptable) topics for cafes now?
I get so confused

mockturtle said...

This cafe should be locked down for COVID. How many lives are you endangering by keeping it open? ;-)

Doug said...

And here I was all worried. They're only gonna cancel student loan debt for MINORITY STUDENTS. Whew, that's a relief.

Kai Akker said...

Narciso -- I read your link to someone's dissertation on the Hall-Mills double murder that influenced Scott Fitzgerald with Gatsby. Very interesting, and then I found the Wikipedia article. And the best of the books -- one of which is by celebrated rad lawyer William Kunstler (who speculated it was a KKK passion killing!) -- seems to be by a Jersey crime writer named Tomlinson. Trouble is, the few paperbacks remaining from his dedicated recreation and analysis start at $119 on Amazon. Fatal Tryst.. Quite the gory details, with -- please note hostess Althouse -- 65 page-one stories in the NY Times on the crime and trial. Thank you, Narciso! Love that NY Times. Only the best read NYT. The very best, you know.

Qwinn said...

Dominion Voting Systems has a 68% error rate. FEC permits no higher than 0.008%.

Nothing to see here.

Ingachuck'stoothlessARM said...

frost-flocked colonnade

flanks powdered promenade

frozen enchanted esplanade

The Gipper Lives said...

“This is a simple struggle between those of us who believe that man has the dignity and sacred right and the ability to choose and shape his own destiny and those who do not so believe. This irreconcilable conflict is between those who believe in the sanctity of individual freedom and those who believe in the supremacy of the state…Make no mistake about it, this is an evil force. Don’t be deceived because you are not hearing the sound of gunfire, because, even so, you are fighting for your lives.”–Ronald Reagan. Your America To Be Free, 1957

Status:

[x] true
[x] even more true now than when he said it.

We are deciding today if we will be slaves or free people. We are being weighed, measured and fitted, queued up to be stripped naked and sold in the Global Public Square. Talk of 2024 is meaningless. This was “conceived and ordered (moved, seconded, carried, and minuted) in clean, carpeted, warmed and well-lighted offices, by quiet men with white collars and cut fingernails and smooth-shaven cheeks who do not need to raise their voices.” We are being sold out today unless we reject our own enslavement, here and now.

"You may not be interested in slavery, but slavery is interested in you."

You are fighting for your life, so decide for yourself before they decide for you.

I’ve made my decision.

Michael K said...

Blogger Doug said...
And here I was all worried. They're only gonna cancel student loan debt for MINORITY STUDENTS. Whew, that's a relief.


If they limit it to minority students who graduate, that would help.

Fandor said...

If the Democrats are allowed to steal the 2020 election there will never be another.
The United Stares, a constitutional republic, will cease to exist, if it hasn't already.
We'll be run by criminals who will continue to loot, cheat and shake down the citizens of this country, until there is nothing left but prime real estate to sell.
For a time they'll be no peace.
Eventually, that will be quelled.
The internet will be silenced, except to promote "big ideas".
No blogs, no tweets, no Trump.
Everyone will have to be reeducated.
And, to paraphrase Michelle, we'll need to enact "new" traditions.
Malarky, you say.
Come on, man.
The real question is, will Ann Althouse be part of the new society, or relegated to the scrapheap of forgotten inconsequential bloggers?

Lawrence Person said...

.50 BMG vs. Heavy Metal.

FullMoon said...

Blogger Doug said...
And here I was all worried. They're only gonna cancel student loan debt for MINORITY STUDENTS. Whew, that's a relief.


Yeah, my minority neighbors who refinanced their home to pay for kids college not too happy.
Former Indian acquaintances did same and sent two kids to M.I.T. No doubt they ecstatic with the proposal.

mockturtle said...

I'm with you, Gipper.

Kai Akker said...

Look at that reversal in the stock market today. Look at the Transports rolling over so fast. But the Fed, man... the Fed will print a coupla more trillion any day now. Free money honey! Don't even think about selling; buy buy buy buy buy

Mike of Snoqualmie said...

The thing about free money is that the supply of goods and services is still the same, no matter how much money you print. With all of the nonsensical lockdowns that our idiot governors are imposing (King Jay I is typical of the Democrat governor class), the amount of goods and services is actually way down. So even if the government hands out $10,000 per person, there's nothing to buy with it. Prices go up - too much money chasing too few goods.

rhhardin said...

And the night shall be filled with music,
And the cares, that infest the day,
Shall fold their tents, like the Airedales,
And as silently steal away.

I'm Not Sure said...

"Yeah, my minority neighbors who refinanced their home to pay for kids college not too happy.
Former Indian acquaintances did same and sent two kids to M.I.T. No doubt they ecstatic with the proposal."


Anybody who plays by the rules gets screwed by the democrats. It's what they are all about.

Sally327 said...

Someone asked me today if the government could force us to get a COVID-19 shot, to which I said no. And then I said I don't think so.

I'm not an anti-vaxxer but I am also not sure we should be so convinced that this is safe or effective. I'm already reading articles about certain bad reactions if you have allergies.

h said...

I think if I had my life to live over, I'd check the "african american" or "mixed" box on every form where I was asked my race. It's not a lie, it's an application of the one-drop rule. Looking forward, the only way to eliminate race based preferences may be if everyone (or lots and lots and lots of people) register to obtain that preferential treatment.

Rosa Marie Yoder said...

Whose woods these are I think I know

Sally327 said...

I remember when student loan forgiveness proposals were tied to some kind of national service, where the debtor could essentially work off some or all of the debt. Actually those programs might still be in place, I'm not sure. But generally speaking it seems as though the current proposals don't contemplate anything like that, it's just wave the wand and the debt is gone.

I wonder if one possible scenario would be just to change the rules about discharging student loan debt in BK. That way some lawyers could still make money.

There are people who've gone into the military to take advantage of the tuition assistance. Now we'll have a scenario where those people had to serve to get that benefit whereas others will get the benefit without the service. It seems as though there will have to be something done there.

Ingachuck'stoothlessARM said...

ah-- dueling electors!

..shades of Hamilton with a Burr up his butt on the Weehawken cliffs

Are you ready to "throw down"**
...or throw up?



[**Comes from the phrase "To throw down the gauntlet", which means to issue a challenge. In medieval times a knight would throw his armored glove, or gauntlet, at the feet of another knight to challenge him to combat]

Gahrie said...

ah-- dueling electors!

..shades of Hamilton with a Burr up his butt on the Weehawken cliffs


Actually, shades of the election of 1876. That led to the Corrupt Bargain in which the Democrats gave Hayes the election, and the Republicans pulled federal troops from the Southern states.

If we had a second bargain, I would be willing to give the Democrats Biden in return for true, comprehensive electoral reform.

Mark said...

If the Democrats are allowed to steal the 2020 election there will never be another.

What do you mean "allowed." Allowed's got nothing to do with it. They didn't ask your damn permission. They don't need it. It's done.

Sally327 said...

I recently binge watched Season 1 of a show called "Tehran" on Apple TV. Very entertaining, I can recommend. I thought it did a good job of capturing the sense of country and identity that others have, which I think it might be easy to forget that sometimes. I think sometimes we assume that inside every (name a citizen of any other country) there's an American trying to get out.

narciso said...


Serious subjects

https://mobile.twitter.com/ArthurSchwartz/status/1338651476890152961

John henry said...

Mike of Snoqualmie,

We keep hearing about inflation and normally if you increase the money supply without either increasing economic activity or decreasing velocity, would cause inflation.

We saw that in the 70s continuing into the early 80s.

We have a couple of things going on that allow the govt to get away with increasing money supply: Since people are locked down, velocity is down. On the other hand, economic activity was going great up to the scamdemic and is recovering nicely even now.

30 year fixed rate mortgages are going for under 3%. Someone isn't expecting inflation to be much of an issue.

John Henry

David Begley said...

I saw “Wild Mountsin Thyme” at the theater on Sunday. Liked it very much. Also streaming on AMZN Prime.

Emily Blunt is wonderful.

mockturtle said...

H sez: I think if I had my life to live over, I'd check the "african american" or "mixed" box on every form where I was asked my race. It's not a lie, it's an application of the one-drop rule. Looking forward, the only way to eliminate race based preferences may be if everyone (or lots and lots and lots of people) register to obtain that preferential treatment.

Having found that I also have the 'one drop' [1%] I'm going to check 'mixed' every chance I get.

John henry said...

MV = PQ

John Henry

narciso said...

Say what


https://mobile.twitter.com/KurtSchlichter/status/1338661412852228097

John henry said...

Blogger David Begley said...

I saw “Wild Mountsin Thyme” at the theater on Sunday. Liked it very much. Also streaming on AMZN Prime.

Just watched the trailer at Amazon and it looks great. But at $19.95 to rent, I think I'll wait a bit to see if the price comes down.

John Henry

Qwinn said...

Mark: Permission *is* in fact required. The consent of the governed can be revoked at any time. We will let the system play out, Trump's earned the right to make his plays while he's still in a position to do so, but believe me, if an attempt to install Biden based on staggering fraud on 1/20, that consent will be irrevocably revoked by millions.

Sally327 said...

Ted Danson has a new show coming out, "Mr. Mayor", which I think is about him becoming the Mayor of LA. I saw a preview and Ted looks old and yet still looks good. So aging well I guess. Anyway, it's a comedy. I wonder how successful it will be. Are we ready to find government officials a source of humor, other than the unintentional, painful kind of humor so many of them provide for us these days.

Mike of Snoqualmie said...

John Henry:

You are quite right. The money velocity is way down. And I hope the mortgage interest rates stay way down, we're building a new house and hope to finance it at these ultra low rates.

But, you can't buy something that's not being produced because of the lockdowns, no matter how much money you have in your pocket. I've heard that all the extra money is going into savings or for paying down debt, which is a plus.

The same thing applies to all these Green Nude Eel schemes. There are not enough builders, plumbers, electricians nor wall board, lumber, etc. to "greenize" the existing home base. There's not enough power generation to power all the so-called green vehicles, which take huge amounts of rare earths to manufacture. Raw earths that have to be stripped mined in poor African countries or come from China. Poring money into these endeavors will only raise prices and require going without something else.

effinayright said...

[**Comes from the phrase "To throw down the gauntlet", which means to issue a challenge. In medieval times a knight would throw his armored glove, or gauntlet, at the feet of another knight to challenge him to combat]
*******************

Myself, I'd much more enjoy seeing crooked Biden and his crooked son, Pelosi and Schumer RUN the friggin gauntlet.

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

Our media is crap.

Our "Intelligence" personal - current and former - are all corrupt. Paid positions at CNN selling lies.


US intel veterans lied about ‘Russian plot’ — and the media bought it hook, line and sinker


Vile vile vile.

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

"If there is one thing that the Hunter Biden laptop episode has proved, it is that former directors of the CIA aren’t as adept at evaluating evidence as advertised.

Five former directors or acting directors of the CIA signed a letter asserting that the laptop, first reported by this newspaper in the weeks before the election, “has all the hallmarks of Russian information operation.”

More than 50 former senior ­intel officials, including former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, signed the letter, which was used by the Biden campaign and the media to discredit the damning e-mails about Hunter Biden’s business dealings.

The signatories should have thought better of their missive when they felt compelled to ­include the line, “We want to emphasize that we do not know if the e-mails, provided to the New York Post by President Trump’s personal attorney, are genuine or not, and that we do not have evidence of Russian involvement.”

That also should have tipped off reporters to the fact that the letter was rank speculation masquerading as informed analysis. But true to form, they happily ran with it instead."

MountainMan said...

I stumbled upon this incredibly dump proposal from the Democrats earlier this evening. I am just dumbfounded.

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

"In a complete reversal from the Cold War era, journalists in the Trump years have not only reflexively believed representations from national-security professionals about nefarious Russian plots, they have actively sought them out and promoted them.

In this case, it was former US ­intelligence officials who were spreading disinformation in an ­attempt to mislead the American public about a consequential matter touching on the front runner in an American presidential campaign. The call came from inside the house.

Anyone believing the officials, who used their past titles and long experience to lend credibility to their letter, would have been shocked to learn last week that Hunter Biden is under federal investigation for tax crimes."

****The American leftwing press are the real Soviets.*****

MountainMan said...

That "dump: in my prior comment should be "dumb". But it is suitable for the dump as well, it is so bad an idea.

Clyde said...

I was listening to my streaming music this morning on Amazon Prime Music and had the Byrds version of “Chimes of Freedom” come on. I was familiar with the Bruce Springsteen version that he recorded in the mid-‘80s for Amnesty International, but I hadn’t heard the Byrds’ version before. A little research determined that it was in their first album Mr. Tambourine Man which was released in June of 1965. I decided to listen to the whole thing. I think that the track that holds up best is “I’ll Feel A Whole Lot Better,” which Tom Petty covered with a loving homage 24 years later. There were actually two versions of the song on the album I was listening to, and the alternate janglier version felt a lot like the Tom Petty version. Most songs from the mid-‘60s sound really dated, but not that one. I ended up listening to a couple more Earle Byrds albums but that struck me as the best track, even though it wasn’t released as a single but rather as the B-side of a single.

Clyde said...

Early Byrds... damned autocorrect!

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

"Still, Democrats and the media relentlessly hewed to the Russian disinformation line. Of course, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Adam Schiff spouted it: “We know that this whole smear on Joe Biden comes from the Kremlin.” "

LOL - All negative info about ANY democrat is "Russian disinformation... from the Kremlin!"lol

Is there a bigger fraud that ADAM SCHITT(D)?

No. Well - perhaps Biden and his hack press. But a singular figure of pure lies and hack = and actual soviet style disinformation is ADAM SSHITT(D).

FullMoon said...

A true warrior..

"A 32-year-old Black Lives Matter leader who was honored by the Boston Red Sox during an August “Hats off to Heroes” ceremony, normally used to honor members of the military, was arrested Saturday in Swampscott, Massachusetts for punching an 80-year-old female Trump supporter in the chest"
https://www.outkick.com/blm-leader-honored-by-red-sox-during-hats-off-to-heroes-arrested-for-punching-80-year-old-female-trump-supporter/

Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...

MM 9:07 - tyranny. The democrats are tyrannical authoritarian assholes. They see us all as wards of the State.

Clyde said...

And speaking of Tom Petty, I’ve bee playing the hell out of Wildflowers and All the Rest, the recent re-release of the original Wildflowers album with home recordings and a live concert disc. Highly recommended for Tom Petty fans! Even has a live version of “Girl On LSD.”

Michael McNeil said...

And the best of the books … seems to be by a Jersey crime writer named Tomlinson. Trouble is, the few paperbacks remaining from his dedicated recreation and analysis start at $119 on Amazon.  Fatal Tryst.

A paperback version of this book is available at Abebooks.com (the Advanced Book Exchange — a consortium of 10,000+ used bookstores) for $14.96 — with free shipping.

narciso said...

Looks like the solar wind hack has been going on for months and krebs must have known about it.

John henry said...

Michael,

Abe books is an Amazon subsidiary. I wonder if Ann get a cut if you get to abe via the portal?

John Henry

Narr said...

I think the Prof needs a 'democracy bullshit' tag.

Here's a short passage from Professor Lukacs "Legacy of the Second World War," very relevant to some of our WWII discussions ---

Had only British and Germans not fought each other (in 1940 or 1941 or thereafter): this was the wish (and often the daydream) of many "conservatives," not only in Germany but throughout Europe, for many of them till this day. That would have allowed the Germans to clean up Russia and Communism; and so what? At the bottom of this wish (but not very deep down) was and is the belief that Communism and Russia were more dangerous (and more evil) than were National Socialism and Germany. That is a half-truth. But half-truths are more dangerous--and enduring--than lies." (p. 132 at the end of Chapter Five "The Germans' Two Wars")

His Chapter Six, "Rainbow Five," traces the development of the Germany First strategy, which originated--not in FDR's shrunken, pinko, let's-be-beastly-to-the-Germans heart--but in the wargames and studies of mid-level Army and Navy officers at the Naval and Army War Colleges. In the mid-to-late 30s.

I'll finish the book tomorrow, if not sooner. It's rich and hearty fare for a WWII student,
like all his works on the subject.

Narr
Some are due for re-reads

Mark said...

The consent of the governed can be revoked at any time.

Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.

Anonymous said...

Student Loans. Some kids get off to a slow start. Stop the compounding interest. Nobody needs to pay off the kid's debt. Let them pay off their debt. Credit cards don't ding you to death, though. Student loans do.

Geez, when I graduated, the US Congress dictated that Women would be granted Affirmative Action Preference in employment opportunities. Nobody was shy in 1983 about tellng you they only had slots for women, they were only hiring women. Who could have seen that coming?

It happened though. Ha . Ain't this boogie a mess?

narciso said...


Not really

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2020/12/breaking-fbi-texas-rangers-us-marshals-raid-solarwinds-hq-austin/?utm_source=Twitter&utm_campaign=websitesharingbuttons

narciso said...

Do they cover the riga school of diplomacy mentioned in broken piece.

Narr said...

Hercules, ntot, comments on another thread about old men and the past, and a glorious future, and advises us to face God as either Cold or Hot.

It's rare that something like this happens, to bring together several strands.

My mother's father, who died when she was about 7 as the result of losing a race with a train (and medical malfeasance if you ask the family) was known as Professor G[ ] in West Tennessee, as a schoolteacher, principal, and supervisor in small towns and rural counties. We think he may have had some classes at a small but legit college, but no degrees that we are sure of.

Working in the papers of a community leader of some sort, I came across a letter, typed on official letterhead, from my grandfather, as principal at some high school, observing that the recipient of the letter, a young teacher, was not really doing his best work lately, and besides that, he seemed "to be lukewarm in matters of faith."

I also found his name often in the old college bulletins, as supervisor of the Summer Institute of teacher in-service training. In the 1920s, so that edu-scam is nothing new.

Narr
I don't think gramps and I would have got along very well.

Qwinn said...

Did anyone know that the Fulton County Elections Chief admitted that over 100,000 ballots were "adjudicated" in Fulton County? Fully 84% of all ballots cast?

He *admitted* this.

I can't wait for the lefties here to explain to us how an 84% adjudication rate is perfectly normal and legitimate and you'd have to be looney to think there's even a whiff of fraud in the aie.

Mark said...

The fact is that the federal government is culpably complicit in the predatory lending practices called higher education financial aid. They sucker people into borrowing tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of dollars.

Then they impose interest on it and will send debt collecting leg breakers after you to get the money back. You can't pay? FU. Don't have the money? FU. You're unemployed or underemployed? FU, pay up.

Meanwhile the meter keeps running. You die? They will come after your estate. That debt is never going away. The government will sue you, the government will bankrupt you. Sleep in the effing gutter for all they care. You can be forgiven other debt in bankruptcy, but not student loans. They are forever. The loan repayments will break you, while the federal government pisses away that money in about two minutes of federal spending. It means NOTHING to the federal creditor, but they sure as hell are going to get that money.

And when you do have the money, when you do get that job, the bill is now triple what it was before because of the interest. And all this largely because the federal government dangles this easy money in front of uninformed stupid 18-22 year olds who do not and cannot comprehend exactly what they are getting into.

Mark said...

The whole higher education system (and pre-K to 12) is a scam to take from the unsuspecting fools and enrich those who are part of the system.

Mark said...

The refusal of public school teachers and administrators to open the public schools proves that the system has nothing to do with actually educating young people.

I'm Not Sure said...

"I can't wait for the lefties here to explain to us how an 84% adjudication rate is perfectly normal and legitimate and you'd have to be looney to think there's even a whiff of fraud in the aie."

They might say that but they don't believe it. In fact, they want more badly than you can imagine to get in your face and tell you that, yes- they stole the election.

Imagine Colonel Jessup in "A Few Good Men"...

Kaffee: DID YOU ORDER THE CODE RED?!
Jessup: YOU'RE GODDAMN RIGHT I DID!!!

and dial that up a couple more notches. That's democrats today.

Mark said...

Meanwhile, New York City is talking about another stay-at-home lockdown.

Welcome to Joe Biden's America.

Happy now?

Anonymous said...

The worst thing I ever did was go to college. But then, there was Grad School. Can I get an Amen?

Ingachuck'stoothlessARM said...

what ever happened to

Eric the Fruit Bat?

steve uhr said...

At 37, Rodgers is having another steller season. 39 TD and 4 INT with three games to go. Looks like Wisconsin will have two mvps this year
There offense appears unstoppable.

Sebastian said...

Just glanced at Jacobs-Biden's "dissertation."

87 pages. Described as an "Executive Position Paper."

The abstract is a string of platitudes. Actual research performed: minimal. Could use an Althouse Fisk, but too trivial.

Epstein was too kind.

Insisting that second-rate work needs special recognition is the real misogyny.

Sebastian said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Sebastian said...

Here is Jacobs-Biden's abstract, from back when Dr. Jill was still Jacobs-Biden, before she became plain Biden, for all sorts of feminist reasons:

"This Executive Position Paper (EPP) studies student retention in the community college and Delaware Technical & Community College in particular. The paper focuses on four areas of students' needs: academic, psychological, social, and physical. An overview of the paper is given, and an introduction to Delaware Technical & Community College is presented. First, the nature of the pre-tech ( developmental) population is discussed. Then, a literature review offers current research by experts in the field. In addition, the results from pre-tech students, faculty, and advisor surveys and interviews are analyzed. Statistical information underscores the problem of retaining students, and personal accounts from students provide insight as to why students drop out. Overall, problem areas are identified, and recommendations and solutions are offered and encouraged."

As I said, Epstein was too kind.

Anonymous said...

Narr, why do you address me in your historical post.

Anonymous said...

Men suited up to run to the sound of the guns, and come to the aid of the men of Benghazi. They were told to stand down. The General in charge, Hamm, said fuck this, OUR men need help. Hamm was relieved of duty on the spot. No help was sent.

Benghazi. Obama/Hillary. These things are not forgotten.

Ingachuck'stoothlessARM said...

the raid on SolarWind-- Their Orion module is used by Dominion.
Is every data packet sent to/from those machines recorded and stored?
Are those are now in the hands of authorities ?

...and Humper-- any news about his exploits?

Rosalyn C. said...

Jill Biden's first husband, Bill Stephenson, wrote an autobiography and included some details about how he and Jill had worked on Joe's first senatorial campaign. That's where Jill and Joe Biden actually met. Joe and Jill got involved and their affair got busted because they got into a fender bender accident whileJoe was driving the brown Mustang which belonged to Jill. Her husband had to be informed about the car and who was the driver. Stephenson was so angry about the cheating that he fought and won a divorce settlement which excluded Jill from any profit from the successful entertainment business he had built. She was tossed out with nothing. I suspect that experience motivated Jill to get a career of her own and perhaps why she seems to place a lot of importance of being known for having her own career. I respect that part of the story even though the PhD aspect is a bit too much inflated prestige.

We know and will probably be reminded of the malarkey that Joe concocted about how he and Jill met, allegedly after Jill was already divorced and his wife was killed in a car accident, because he happened to see a photo of her. Joe also concocted a story about how his wife was killed by a drunk driver, which was proven at the time not to be true. But Joe continued to moralize about drunk drivers causing tremendous pain to the truck driver involved in the accident for the rest of his life as well as his family. Joe's first wife tragically turned into the path his oncoming semi-truck, for no apparent reason. Someone else had to be blamed lest people wonder how she could do such a thing. Why was she so distracted, etc.?

We also know how Joe had to drop out of his bid for president in 1987 due to being caught in blatant lies. But now he's got his moment, finally. And the whole Biden family with their lives of wealth and privilege will be public knowledge. His extended family even owns the voting machines used in so many states. Is it really any surprise that he would get elected through a massive fraud? Not really much of a deviation from his lifetime's MO.

The biggest thing I don't get about Biden is exactly why did Barack Obama choose Biden as his VP? Biden got a lot out of that arrangement but what exactly did Obama get? Or is the quid pro quo about to be dispensed? Maybe it was more of an openended favor of what Biden could do for Obama on the downlow, as the expression goes.

Ingachuck'stoothlessARM said...

will we be talking about the Electoral Count Act of 1887?

Joe Smith said...

"We know and will probably be reminded of the malarkey that Joe concocted about how he and Jill met..."

Funny, Republicans have affairs and are shamed, or at least that attempt is made by the media.

Democrats have affairs and they are the 'Lion of the Senate' or the leader of the party (hey Bill).

Ingachuck'stoothlessARM said...

re our contamination question
thanks, nate!

"All voting systems used in federal elections are required to adhere to federal law and comply under 52 USC 21081 Section (5) with an error rate established under section 3.2.1 of the Voting Systems Standards
...more:
https://twitter.com/cain_nate/status/1338698204767006720

Anonymous said...

Ann Althouse: What is your deal? You open your heart to all comers, because a blog is laying it all out there. How did you attract this motley crew of commenters? Many are credentialed, many are accomplished. Some are not.

Merry Christmas Ann.

Gospace said...

I can point out a blog where commenters are openly calling for Trump to declare martial law and clear out the swamp. I don't think that's going to happen- but in my 65 years it's the first time I've seen people calling for that from the President.

What I find more interesting is speculation about the electoral college. Especially since 2 slates of electors have been sent in from several states. Apparently- the President of the Senate gets to decide which envelope to open. Lots of speculation that Pence will pick the Republican slate from any state from which 2 slates are received. Normally- I'd pooh-pooh that. Normally. But lot's of people are calling for Trump to "Cross the Rubicon". What possible motive would Pence have in assisting this?

Well, he might also want to cross it- as Democrats have given him plenty of reason to. Democrats have openly announced they're going to prosecute Trump and all his family members, AND every member of the Trump administration. Not investigate- prosecute, Who cares about proof? Not them- prosecute! Beria showed them the way a century ago. Well, guess what? Pence is part of the Trump administration. If Biden becomes POTUS- he'll be prosecuted. So let's say he opens the Republican slate from Wisconsin- and someone posts an objection. Then what? Well, he could simply ignore it. There is a law- 3 U.S. Code § 15 - Counting electoral votes in Congress, about how to proceed- but the law conflicts with the 12th amendment. The 12th amendment says the President of the Senate shall open the certificates and the votes shall then be counted. So it seems to place the power of decision in his hands. The law says that objections can be made- in writing- then the Senate and House vote separately- and both have to agree which slate to accept. The senate will be 49-49 Well- maybe 51-49. The GA governor can appoint 2 senators to fill the vacancy until the votes are counted and certified for their Jan 5th runoff. If they count as fast as they did in November- could be days before the election is decided.

At this point, I'm willing to believe anything COULD happen, but don't know what is going to happen. Seems it's been conclusively proven the Dominion voting systems were not up to par. And their results cannot be trusted- not certified or duplicated. That's not acceptable.

And Qwinn said...
Did anyone know that the Fulton County Elections Chief admitted that over 100,000 ballots were "adjudicated" in Fulton County? Fully 84% of all ballots cast?
WTF? Over. A <20,000 vote difference and 100,000 votes were decided by "adjudication"? No, not acceptable. The Chinese cure "May live in interesting times and come to the attention of important people" seems to be coming true.

Anonymous said...

Oh for Heavens sake, Trump should never declare martial law. We, the people, will though.

Readering said...

Remember, now that the Trump election litigation is dissolving, no better way to show your devotion than to contribute to Trump's GA runoff fund. At least a few cents of every dollar will go to helping Perdue and Loeffler. Under 100 cents will go to Trump's pac.



Crazy World said...

I give it until New Years 2021 before the creepy Biden and Obama’s are exposed, cheers! God bless my President and his beautiful family.

Anonymous said...

We're past PACs and politicians now.

Gospace said...

This is really interesting reading. I may have first seem a link here. I don't know where first- but just got around to reading it from another link. Well worth your while if you think you know how the electoral college works.

https://macris.substack.com/p/if-chaos-is-a-ladder-americas-election

Darrell said...

Readering--go fuck yourself. Use Biden's head. He won't notice.

mockturtle said...

Rosalyn C wonders: The biggest thing I don't get about Biden is exactly why did Barack Obama choose Biden as his VP? Biden got a lot out of that arrangement but what exactly did Obama get? Or is the quid pro quo about to be dispensed? Maybe it was more of an openended favor of what Biden could do for Obama on the downlow, as the expression goes.

Since Obama has recently been quoted as saying he wouldn't mind having a behind-the-scenes third term, I think we know the answer to that. OTOH, if Biden's 'condition' worsens to the point he can't serve then we'll have a Kamala/Barack Presidency.

Kai Akker said...

Thank you, Michael McNeil.

Ann Althouse said...

"A little research determined that it was in their first album Mr. Tambourine Man which was released in June of 1965. I decided to listen to the whole thing. I think that the track that holds up best is “I’ll Feel A Whole Lot Better,” which Tom Petty covered with a loving homage 24 years later. There were actually two versions of the song on the album I was listening to, and the alternate janglier version felt a lot like the Tom Petty version."

That may be THE most important album to me. I was so eager to get it — after strongly attaching to the single. The single came out in March and the album in June, and the wait was excruciating for me. It was through The Byrds "Mr. Tambourine Man" that I got my interest in listening to Bob Dylan (and I remember standing in the record department of Two Guys wondering if I should make the leap and spend my scarce money on "Bringing It All Back Home"). The first rock concert I went to was The Byrds.

As for Tom Petty, the first time I heard him, I thought it was just a complete copy of The Byrds and wondered how he could just come out and play like that and not own up to being a Byrds tribute band.

As to whether The Byrds seem "dated" now, I don't even know how to care. What's good enough now that anyone would want to copy? Why should anyone want things to sound like now? Now sucks, culturally.

Rusty said...

Blogger Mark said...
"The fact is that the federal government is culpably complicit in the predatory lending practices called higher education financial aid. They sucker people into borrowing tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of dollars."
The operative word in your screed is," Sucker".
Nobody forces you to take out a loan. It's up to you to know the conditions of the loan. I'm not going to vote to abolish your kids debt. If you're such a great dad help him/her pay it off.

Fernandinande said...

"Last March, Whoopi Goldberg suggested on The View that, in the case of a Biden victory at the polls, Jill should be named Surgeon General because she’s an “amazing doctor.”" -- article on the "cancellation" and exclusion of Joseph Epstein by those who claim to be "firmly committed to equity, diversity and inclusion".

Roughcoat said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Michael K said...

Professor Lukacs "Legacy of the Second World War,"

Ordered it. I have been mostly reading about WWI but I have read his book about May 1940 about 20 times.

Michael K said...

Blogger John henry said...
Michael,

Abe books is an Amazon subsidiary. I wonder if Ann get a cut if you get to abe via the portal?


They were an independent company and I used them a lot before Amazon bought them. Buying your competition is an old tactic in tech.

What has been inexplicable to me is that Sears closed their catalog order business the year Amazon started selling books online.

Narr said...

Hercules, ntot, I was just making reference to your phraseology on that earlier thread, which triggered my memory of my grandfather's letter. Not snarking or challenging.

Narr
Morning, y'all

Doug said...

The day is almost certain to come - and I dread it - when Kamala Harris is sworn in to the office of the Presidency. The ardent feminists in my family circle will be doing cartwheels about having The First Woman President. They will probably not for a moment question the evil machinations it took to get this shameless grifter (and least favorite of democrat primary voters) into the Oval Office. Won't they be proud.

Joe Smith said...

"Why should anyone want things to sound like now? Now sucks, culturally."

This is Ann's 'Get off my lawn' voice.

Love it : )

William50 said...

Why should anyone want things to sound like now? Now sucks, culturally.

Amen sister..

Churchy LaFemme: said...

Gary Usher, (a friend of Brian, who wrote the lyrics to "409" & "In My Room") produced a number of the Byrds albums with the Wrecking Crew. Apparently often the only Byrd playing would be McGuin on his 12-string.

Perhaps the most "interesting" Dylan covers were "The Wonder Who" [aka The Four Seasons] and William Shatner.

"Interesting" is a neutral, Spock-like, word..

Birkel said...

Leaving this here for Freeman Hunt:
https://thepostmillennial.com/san-francisco-to-rename-abraham-lincoln-high-school-because-black-lives-didnt-matter

Anonymous said...

This life we live is a helluva game, isn't it? Ya got to be old to appreciate it though. To young'uns, it's just normal. Oh man, normal changes so fast! No man dies in the Country he was born into. I think back to my Dad, born in '21. Depression. WWII. The glorious'50s. Died in 2005. Harry.

I read my posts and realize I'm trying to wrap things up. Young'uns can't get it, anymore that I could.

I will say this, though. Never liked Bob Dylan. 'Times they are a'changin' kinda spoke to a universal truth, but...I didn't really get the Dylan ecstasy.

The times are always changin'. ya know?