Althouse: At Winter Café...

January 15, 2024

At Winter Café...

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... you can talk about whatever you want.

72 comments:

Gusty Winds said...: Iowa. For all the bullshit Democrats give about voter ID, the difficulty of voting in person etc...(all to keep their voter fraud in place)...

Iowans have to show up in zero decree weather to caucus.; 1/15/24, 5:25 PM
Gusty Winds said...: Can you vote absentee in a caucus?? If not, that's a Nikki Haley disadvantage.; 1/15/24, 5:27 PM
Narr said...: 5+ inches of snow on the patio table. Not unheard of, but unusual.

Our little dackel hasn't had a proper walk in days. I take him out in the backyard and plop him down in the middle so he can unload and rush back in. And like the cat in the Heinlein tale, he has to be shown that there's deep snow out the front door too.; 1/15/24, 5:33 PM
rhhardin said...: If you judge a man by the contents of his mailbox you wouldn't find many desirables today.; 1/15/24, 6:04 PM
Iman said...: I got a rhyme that comes in a riddle
I-OW-a
What's I at the start and OW in the middle?
I-OW-a

Forgive me now

God made Joe
But he used a monkey to do it
Ape's in the plan
Dems are here to prove it
Joe can walk like an ape
Talk like an ape
Joe can do what a monkey do
God made Joe
Out of shit scraped off His shoe; 1/15/24, 6:13 PM
FullMoon said...: Twenty years and a day.
Photos sun or snow.
Overachiever, show -off.

In my area, we are commiserating over high fifties daytime, mid-forties overnight.; 1/15/24, 6:25 PM
Humperdink said...: Amish were out timbering today on my mountaintop "ranch". One Amish guy drove his buggy from about 15 miles away. No windshield, just a tarp in 8 degree weather. The other Amish guy rode with the draft horse trucker. Ground is finally frozen, perfect for skidding. I love watching these guys work.; 1/15/24, 6:41 PM
robother said...: Every state should have caucuses! Nothing like heading out on a miserable night to endure hours of electoral fun and games, followed by endless filling out of results and such.; 1/15/24, 6:47 PM
Iman said...: Joe Biden: the “Master of Disaster”

h/t B. Donald; 1/15/24, 6:52 PM
Rabel said...: Congratulations on the anniversary and a belated Happy Birthday, Althouse.

A suggestion (which won't be followed, I'm pretty sure) - break the streak - pick a day and don't post. It isn't worth the small amount of stress it brings on the occasional day you don't really want to report for duty or have more pressing needs.

Then it won't be a bother to you when it happens. We'll get by somehow.

Or not.; 1/15/24, 7:06 PM
MadisonMan said...: I've not been out much the past few days. Too cold. But will be heading into work before dawn tomorrow, when it'll be -10 or so. That'll be a fun walk.; 1/15/24, 7:22 PM
Wince said...: One FoxNews sentiment poll called for “Total Upheaval” at a 33% response rate.

That’d be a good name for a band: Total Upheaval.; 1/15/24, 7:26 PM
Just asking questions (Jaq) said...: I would just like to thank the Packers for one of the most fun games to watch in a while. The Jerry Jones pictures alone were timeless classics.; 1/15/24, 8:01 PM
gilbar said...: in West Union, it was (i think);
De Santis 25
Halley 20
Vivek 19
Trump 60; 1/15/24, 8:02 PM
Big Mike said...: The new Miss American is Madison March. She is notable because:

[ ] She has a degree in physics.

[ ] She is a graduate student at Harvard.

[ ] She is a US Air Force fighter pilot.

[ ] She has a black belt in Tae Kwon Do.

[X] All of the above.

So when Hollywood cast Monica Barbaro as a gorgeous, intelligent, athletic female fighter pilot in "Top Gun: Maverick", they were merely a bit ahead of the time. (Except that Madison March is a blonde and Barbaro is a brunette.); 1/15/24, 8:02 PM
Lyle Sanford, RMT said...: What a great pic! So much depth, and the sense of frozen motion made me think of a Calder mobile.; 1/15/24, 8:19 PM
Big Mike said...: Amazingly I am on the same side as a Soros DA in Houston, Texas. How'd that happen? About a year ago a young man robbed a taqueria (apparently a sort of restaurant) in Houston, and on his way out of the restaurant he was shot several times by a patron who had been robbed. The grand jury declined to return a true bill against the shooter after reviewing the security camera footage of the event.

I despise Soros DAs as a matter of principle, and in general I support people who defend themselves with firearms. However had I been on the grand jury I would have voted to send the case to trial. Once the perp is leaving the scene then lethal force is simply no longer justified. Shoot the perp on his way in, that would be justified to shoot in self defense even if the gun is not (yet) pointed at anyone. Shoot him while he is pointing a gun at someone else, justified to shoot in defense of another person. Shoot him while he is leaving, no longer justified because he is no longer a threat to kill or inflict bodily harm on an innocent person.; 1/15/24, 8:19 PM
Big Mike said...: I spent an hour clearing my sidewalk and driveway earlier this afternoon, and now it's snowing again. Crap.; 1/15/24, 8:21 PM
Narr said...: So a USAF lady officer wins the Miss America pageant. That she would even enter is sickening.

Tell me how we're not screwed.; 1/15/24, 8:24 PM
Narr said...: So a USAF lady officer wins the Miss America pageant. That she would even enter is sickening.

Tell me how we're not screwed.; 1/15/24, 8:24 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Headline- DEI in Action: FAA Pushes to Hire People with 'Severe Intellectual' and 'Psychiatric' Disabilities

It's nothing.; 1/15/24, 8:37 PM
Mark said...: Tonight's real question: just how irrelevant is Ramaswamy?; 1/15/24, 8:39 PM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: AP has a policy not to call "the winner of a race before all the polls in a jurisdiction are scheduled to close." Tonight AP/CNN/Etc. called the race after the caucus doors closed, but BEFORE all votes were cast. People could see on their phones that Trump won before voting.

Democrat media want Trump.; 1/15/24, 8:43 PM
Mutaman said...: Joe Tacopina has withdrawn from two Trump cases. Word is Trump will be replacing him with Dominic Barbara.; 1/15/24, 8:57 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Are we watching the new True Detective with Jodie Foster?

It's Jodie Foster. I have to watch out of respect.; 1/15/24, 9:00 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Via TwitterX: An open border best defense?; 1/15/24, 9:07 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Via TwitterX: Maddow can't stand an election result; 1/15/24, 9:38 PM
Drago said...: I stand w Isreal. Leftists, Mullahs, Hamas-Palistinian terrorists can suck it: "AP has a policy not to call "the winner of a race before all the polls in a jurisdiction are scheduled to close." Tonight AP/CNN/Etc. called the race after the caucus doors closed, but BEFORE all votes were cast. People could see on their phones that Trump won before voting.

Democrat media want Trump."

LOL

So much stupid crammed into a post.

Trump is on pace to win every county in Iowa.

Yeah, its a real mystery why it was called so early.; 1/15/24, 9:45 PM
Limited blogger said...: Trump dominates Iowa.

He is being very conciliatory to Ron, Nikki, and Vivek in his victory speech. Nice touch.

He is calling for the country to unite behind him.

The future is brightening.; 1/15/24, 10:00 PM
wishfulthinking said...: The new Miss America has a degree from the United States Air Force Academy in Physics. Pretty difficult to be accepted to USAFA. Even more so to graduate from it.; 1/15/24, 10:11 PM
Narayanan said...: Shoot him while he is leaving, no longer justified because he is no longer a threat to kill or inflict bodily harm on an innocent person.
=======
what if perp is on his way to second venue with success gone to his head?; 1/15/24, 10:13 PM
Big Mike said...: @I stand w Israel, I think you’re expecting a lot if you want the sort of people who write for the MSM to know the difference between polls closing and all the people having completed the voting process.; 1/15/24, 10:13 PM
iowan2 said...: As of 10:00 pm +80%

Trump 51
DeSantis 21
Haley 19
Vivek 8

No one has ever gotten 50% of the Caucus votes.; 1/15/24, 10:14 PM
Narayanan said...: Shoot him while he is leaving, no longer justified because he is no longer a threat to kill or inflict bodily harm on an innocent person.
=======
is not perp is on his way to second venue with success gone to his head?; 1/15/24, 10:16 PM
Big Mike said...: Tell me how we're not screwed.

A beautiful blonde fighter pilot who could kick your head off your shoulders and halfway into the next county turns out to be lovely enough and talented enough to win the Miss America beauty pageant and you think that’s bad? Sump’n wrong with you, sonny.; 1/15/24, 10:21 PM
Original Mike said...: "I spent an hour clearing my sidewalk and driveway earlier this afternoon, and now it's snowing again. Crap."

A whole hour?; 1/15/24, 10:24 PM
Yancey Ward said...: "Shoot the perp on his way in, that would be justified to shoot in self defense even if the gun is not (yet) pointed at anyone. Shoot him while he is pointing a gun at someone else, justified to shoot in defense of another person. Shoot him while he is leaving, no longer justified because he is no longer a threat to kill or inflict bodily harm on an innocent person."

And in that alternate universe, suppose the criminal goes into another restaurant, to rob the patrons, which he surely would have done at some point in the not distant future, and one of the customers does exactly what you wrote would make it justified, but an innocent person is killed during the justified shootout. How do you feel about letting him walk away from the first armed robbery in that case?

I am on that grand jury, no way I vote to indict him. I wouldn't have done what he did, but I am not going to judge him harshly for doing- armed robbers deserve to get put in a grave.; 1/15/24, 10:31 PM
traditionalguy said...: Somebody turn off the Global Cooling before we freeze to death.; 1/15/24, 10:40 PM
Drago said...: "Democrat media want Trump."

Except CNN and MSNBC refused to even show any of Trump's victory speech.

Other than that, its a "spot on" observation.; 1/15/24, 10:47 PM
West TX Intermediate Crude said...: Big Mike-
Like it or not, Texas Penal Code Section 9.42 allows use of deadly force when needed to prevent a thief from making off with one's property.
I despise DAs who prosecute citizens who are in compliance with the law but do something the DA does not like.

Sec. 9.42. DEADLY FORCE TO PROTECT PROPERTY. A person is justified in using deadly force against another to protect land or tangible, movable property:

(1) if he would be justified in using force against the other under Section 9.41; and

(2) when and to the degree he reasonably believes the deadly force is immediately necessary:

(A) to prevent the other's imminent commission of arson, burglary, robbery, aggravated robbery, theft during the nighttime, or criminal mischief during the nighttime; or

(B) to prevent the other who is fleeing immediately after committing burglary, robbery, aggravated robbery, or theft during the nighttime from escaping with the property; and

(3) he reasonably believes that:

(A) the land or property cannot be protected or recovered by any other means; or

(B) the use of force other than deadly force to protect or recover the land or property would expose the actor or another to a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury.; 1/15/24, 10:58 PM
Night Owl said...: I couldn't comment the other day about what my favorite Althouse posts were because I'm terrible at that sort of thing. It's like asking, what's my favorite movie or book? I just can't pick.

But one thing that jumped out in my memory was that you had written a poem about the rotunda during the Madison capital protests. It was short and silly, and I remember getting a kick out of it. You sounded like you were from my hometown brooklyn ny when you spoke that poem.

I also liked the Zeus posts and dog photos. And your sketches; the rats and from your art pads. Anything about art. The travel and sunrise photos, plus the Great Gatsby project. See what I mean; I just can't pick.

You're blog endures because -- besides the obvious fact that you post every day without fail-- you and the people who read your blog have a wide variety of interests and a tolerance and preference for reading debates on many topics. Those who stick around are not the type that faint when they read something they disagree with. Instead a lively conversation ensues , and even those of us who don't post much enjoy reading the different opinions.

It's a shame that a few disturbed people destroyed the unmoderated discussions. But even the moderated comments are better than other comment sections out there.; 1/15/24, 11:10 PM
Tina Trent said...: No more Ramaswamy. Smart time to quit and endorse Trump.

Disagree with you, Big Mike. I assume the thug who got shot also had a gun?

Nobody commits one crime, and you're making a whole lot of assumptions here -- that there wasn't some family approaching from the parking lot who could get shot outside, that the criminal didn't plan to car jack anyone to escape, that he wasn't wanted for some other horrifying act, that he now had a motive to stalk any restaurant employee or customer who might identify him, that a cop might get killed looking for him.

How could you just conclude that nobody was in danger anymore?; 1/15/24, 11:21 PM
TaeJohnDo said...: Once the perp is leaving the scene then lethal force is simply no longer justified.

Except, the perp wasn't out the door - he could still turn around, and, there were still people in front of him. The righteous defender waited until he had a clear shot, and he neutralized the threat. It is a pity the perp chose poorly.; 1/15/24, 11:27 PM
Dave Begley said...: Super disappointed. Tiny turnout in Iowa. I expected Vivek to get at least 20%.

Still voting for Vivek in the NE primary. I might vote for Bobby in the general.; 1/16/24, 12:34 AM
cfs said...: Today, I saw eleven deer in my front yard, and this evening I saw a couple of coyotes lurking around the edge of the woods. I worry about the fawns that will be born in a couple of months and hope the predators don't get them all.

Trump won 98 out of 99 counties in Iowa. DeSantis came in 2nd. Haley was third and won 1 county by one vote. By contrast realize that Trump won only 37 counties in 2016. 2024 is a brand new ballgame. Vivak suspended his campaign and endorsed President Trump.

I can't believe how cold it was and people still came out to caucus. However, I guess they are used to it. Being a southern girl I cringe and hide inside at the slightest sighting of snow or ice. We aren't equipped for it here so it is best to just hide away until it warms enough to melt.; 1/16/24, 12:37 AM
Kate said...: AP sold their soul for clicks. Just because they called the caucus correctly doesn't mean they had a right to speak before the votes happened. Yet it's all those MAGA people ruining election integrity. Disgusting.; 1/16/24, 2:52 AM
wendybar said...: These asses are sick in the head. Don't care WHAT they are protesting, they are sick humans that should be shamed.

Oli London
@OliLondonTV

Shameless pro-Palestinian activists target a Cancer Hospital in NYC.

Activists jeered and booed at patients inside the hospital.

“Make sure they hear you, they’re in the windows”.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1747073648635130007; 1/16/24, 3:15 AM
wendybar said...: All poor little Rachel has to do, is look at who is in the White House NOW, if she is so afraid of what she is spewing. There are no so blind, as those who will not see....

Collin Rugg
@CollinRugg
JUST IN: Far-left MSNBC host Rachel Maddow has a meltdown after “fascist” Donald Trump’s solid performance in the Iowa caucuses.

lol.

“I don't mean to be again, too dark as you said on this, but if we are worried about the rise of authoritarianism in this country, we are worried about potential rise of fascism in this country.”

“If we're worried about our democracy falling to an authoritarian and potentially fascist form of government. The leader who is trying to do that is part of that equation... Is a much bigger part of that equation.”; 1/16/24, 3:30 AM
wendybar said...: "Knowledge Is King.

Just before the Iowa Caucus, a CNN poll revealed that a significant majority of Iowa voters are questioning the legitimacy of Joe Biden’s “victory” in the 2020 election.

The poll, which surveyed eligible Republican voters across the state, found that 68% of respondents believe Joe Biden stole the 2020 presidential election."

EVERYBODY knows it, yet the Politico's pretend that we are the crazy ones...

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/01/ahead-iowa-caucus-68-cnns-iowa-respondents-believe/; 1/16/24, 4:02 AM
wendybar said...: "There were over 300,000 votes from the 2020 election missing or deleted from the Illinois voter data prior to the conclusion of the federal retention period of 22 months.
Over a four-year period, Illinois population decreased by 150,000, while the voter roll increased by 650,000.
Over 2.5 million people had votes cast prior to their registration dates.
More than 230,000 registrations show seemingly Illegal or illogical registration dates.
There are more than 4 million apparent registration violations out of 8.9 million registrations."

https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2024/01/illinois_citizens_group_files_formal_complaint_with_state_board_of_elections.html; 1/16/24, 4:06 AM
wendybar said...: "🚨EXCLUSIVE J6 INVESTIGATION🚨

– Thanks to new House Speaker Mike Johnson, We now have permission to release Capitol CCTV footage proving that a member of Nancy Pelosi’s security detail, Special Agent David Lazarus, perjured himself on the stand during the Oath Keepers trial.

– Lazarus was brought in to corroborate another Capitol police officer’s account claiming that he had antagonistic encounter with the Oath Keepers. But footage of Lazarus proves that he was lying.

– These lies, spread unquestioningly by the media and Democrat politicians, were used to put innocent people in prison, ruining their lives and the lives of their families. They and their attorneys did not have access to the footage at trial that Blaze Media is releasing today.

– Instead, Harry Dunn was made a hero by Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi, and as a result of his and David Lazarus’s false testimony, there are innocent people in prison.

– The government lied about this. What else are they lying about?"

https://twitter.com/i/status/1746974003317579834; 1/16/24, 4:15 AM
rehajm said...: The leader who is trying to do that is part of that equation

BREAKING NEWS: Rachel Maddow Recognizes Donald Trump as a ‘Leader’ on Live TV; 1/16/24, 4:22 AM
rehajm said...: I think Big Mike missed the imminent/immediate threat to bodily harm part but is otherwise following a sensible rule of use of deadly force.

He’s inventing his own rules and laws on the jury though. God bless Texas, not just their hearts…; 1/16/24, 4:36 AM
Captain BillieBob said...: Bills won, Trump won, Eagles lost. That’s what I call a good night.; 1/16/24, 5:48 AM
Big Mike said...: Disagree with you, Big Mike. I assume the thug who got shot also had a gun?

It was a toy pistol, modified to look like a real gun. No one faulted the shooter — or anyone else in the restaurant — for thinking it was real.

@West TX Intermediate Crude, thank you for your input. I should have realized that Texas laws might be — and are! — different than Virginia’s. I learned something. The grand jury was right, it appears.; 1/16/24, 7:02 AM
Tina Trent said...: Dave Begley: throwing away votes is how Democrats will beat us this time. If Vivek has dropped out, HE doesn't want you to vote for him. If you trust him as much as you seem to, why wouldn't you trust his judgment about his own electability?

Politics is supposed to be about winning your base's issues. Which is precisely what Vivek says, constantly. He's already endorsed Trump. You're part of the voting bloc Vivek can deliver to Trump, and probably gain a seat at the table. That will not happen if enough people think like you and waste votes on unelectable or even non-candidate candidates.; 1/16/24, 7:04 AM
Mike of Snoqualmie said...: Blogger Lem the artificially intelligent said...
Via TwitterX: Maddow can't stand an election result

1/15/24, 9:38 PM

So says the panel of fascists. Fascism is "STFU and obey us!" ideology. They can't stand that a party won't fall in line with their dogma so that miscreant party must be the party of fascism. Projection.; 1/16/24, 7:27 AM
Tina Trent said...: Mutaman: Trump was wise to hire Steve Sadow, the lawyer who likely just managed to blow up the Fani Willis show in the media and leave no fingerprints. I assume he's still Trump's Georgia counsel. He's the best defense attorney in Georgia. He doesn't even indulge in the usual ponytailed defense bar Atticus Finch fantasies. He knows what his clients are. He just wins for them.; 1/16/24, 7:32 AM
Mike of Snoqualmie said...: "Zelensky to Join Klaus Schwab for Special Address to Davos Elites"

Maybe ol' Klausy can send some bugs Zelensky's way? I'm told bugs are the wave of the future for haute cuisine. Maybe Klausy can send some of his commie largess to Ukraine.

Zelensky is a dictator, Klausy is a wannabe dictator. No aid to Ukraine, and we need a RICO suit against Klausy and his commie pals of the WEF.; 1/16/24, 7:45 AM
Iman said...: “A beautiful blonde fighter pilot who could kick your head off your shoulders and halfway into the next county turns out to be lovely enough and talented enough to win the Miss America beauty pageant and you think that’s bad? Sump’n wrong with you, sonny.”

In his defense (and giving him the benefit of the doubt), his wife was probably looking over his shoulder as he wrote that.

I hope.; 1/16/24, 7:49 AM
West TX Intermediate Crude said...: Big Mike-
You're right, Texas laws are different, and, in many ways better. The law I cited recognizes that law enforcement can't be everywhere all the time and citizens may and can participate in the protection of themselves, their families, and their property. It legitimizes vigilantism, which is a last resort; seems like a dangerous idea but has not resulted in problems in practice.

I hope that you are reconsidering your support of the DA who ignored established law to prosecute the citizens who was in compliance with it.; 1/16/24, 8:07 AM
Aggie said...: @Blogger Lem the artificially intelligent said..."Are we watching the new True Detective with Jodie Foster?"

Watched it last night. Very well done, a good suspenseful production - I'll probably watch more of it, and I watch very little TV. But I was also struck, as I thought about it.....what a lesbian rage piece, eh?; 1/16/24, 9:26 AM
Narr said...: 'A beautiful blonde fighter pilot who could kick your head off your shoulders and halfway into the next county turns out to be lovely enough and talented enough to win the Miss America beauty pageant and you think that's bad? Sump'n wrong with you, sonny."

OOOOHHHH, the 'she could kick your ass' jibe. You've really bought the feminist nonsense, haven't you?

'In his defense (and giving him the benefit of the doubt), his wife was probably looking over his shoulder as he wrote that. I hope.'

What doubt? Why hope? And don't project your own PW status on me.

I just hope there's some nekkid pix of her I can admire. Have you guys seen any?; 1/16/24, 9:47 AM
Old and slow said...: "Shoot him while he is leaving, no longer justified because he is no longer a threat to kill or inflict bodily harm on an innocent person."

Once that gun comes out, all bets are off.; 1/16/24, 10:04 AM
Big Mike said...: I hope that you are reconsidering your support of the DA who ignored established law to prosecute the citizens who was in compliance with it.

@West TX Intermediate Crude, yes, of course. And thank you again for clarifying the laws in Texas. (But if you’re ever robbed while you’re visiting here in Virginia, don’t shoot the perp on his way out the door.); 1/16/24, 10:17 AM
Original Mike said...: Blogger Dave Begley said..."I might vote for Bobby in the general."

With his stance on wind and solar? You can't be serious.; 1/16/24, 10:27 AM
Old and slow said...: It's cute that she has a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, but it really has nothing to do with her ability - or lack thereof - to kick anyone's head off. It demonstrates a considerable commitment, and a lot of effort over the course of years. My sons and I all did TKD while they were growing up, and getting the first BB was a very difficult and sometimes brutal task. Sadly, it did not turn us into stone cold killers. We did learn that getting punched and kicked is not the worst thing in the world. Most of the kids who stuck with TKD through BB were high achievers in other aspects of their lives, just like Miss America. I highly recommend martial arts for children and adults. I'm considering getting back into it and working toward my 3rd degree BB. I still won't be a tough guy though; 1/16/24, 10:32 AM
Iman said...: Narr… get a sense of humor, you old brokedick, lol…; 1/16/24, 10:38 AM
Narr said...: "get a sense of humor, you old brokedick"

OK, that made me laugh.; 1/16/24, 11:13 AM
Big Mike said...: @Narr, having married a raven-haired beauty back in 1975 who was working on a doctoral dissertation concerning the chemistry of radioactive elements, and who got “easy As” in graduate courses in nuclear physics and quantum mechanics, it does not surprise me that a woman can be both beautiful and intelligent. That Lt. March is beautiful, intelligent, plus has the skills to fly supersonic fighters is obviously unusual, but I really don’t get why you think there’s something wrong with it.

I’m not the type of feminist who tries to argue that standards should be relaxed for women (or any other identity group), but if one is good enough, then irrelevancies, like skin color or genitalia, are irrelevant.; 1/16/24, 11:18 AM
Narr said...: Who said I'm surprised that a woman can be both beautiful and intelligent, Big Mike?

I'm old fashioned, I guess, and just don't think military officers should enter pageants of any kind. What next "Mister Gay America?"; 1/16/24, 2:21 PM
Old and slow said...: Blogger Narr said...
I guess, and just don't think military officers should enter pageants of any kind.

This is how I interpreted the comment, and I agree.; 1/16/24, 4:21 PM