Althouse: Sunrise

February 23, 2025

Sunrise — 6:44.

Write about whatever you want in the comments.

32 comments:

rehajm said...: The thought of the day for me is the absurdity of criticizing the administration for asking federal employees What did you do at work last week? Mind blown...Hopefully soon we'll learn how many federal workers are actually human beings. I'll wager it's less than the current list of federal workers that are supposed to be human beings...; 2/23/25, 7:03 PM
Leland said...: 47 more months of progressives freaking out about things that are just normal for the majority of Americans.

Explain to your employer what you did in a week. How can you expect us to do this!

Hire employees that can pass an I9. Who will clean our house and mow our lawns!

Call a pregnant woman a “mom”. Bigot! They are inseminated persons!

Shutdown a 30 year old facility that can no longer be maintained. Conflict of Interest! You have contracts to maintain the facility and no one else can do it!; 2/23/25, 7:05 PM
NorthOfTheOneOhOne said...: MSNBC canceled Joy Reid's show, y'all!; 2/23/25, 7:12 PM
Mason G said...: MSNBC is run by racists? Say it ain't so!; 2/23/25, 7:18 PM
Mason G said...: "The thought of the day for me is the absurdity of criticizing the administration for asking federal employees What did you do at work last week?"

I keep thinking "So *this* is the hill you're willing to die on?" and being wrong. It'll be interesting to see what tomorrow brings.; 2/23/25, 7:21 PM
William50 said...: Every time I see a photo of George Soros I think of The Picture of Dorian Gray.; 2/23/25, 7:22 PM
Inga said...: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/gloomy-germans-vote-election-which-conservatives-are-set-win-2025-02-22/

“BERLIN, Feb 23 (Reuters) - Friedrich Merz, set to become Germany's next chancellor after his opposition conservatives won the national election on Sunday, vowed to help give Europe "real independence" from the U.S. as he prepared to cobble together a government.”

It’s typical of Trump to try to gaslight Americans into thinking that the German election results were in favor of his preferred form of Conservatism/populism/Trumpism, far from it, they want to distance themselves from Trump’s America. Merz won’t play games with Trump.; 2/23/25, 7:26 PM
Jim at said...: they want to distance themselves from Trump’s America. Merz won’t play games with Trump.

You really don't have any idea what's going on, do you?

We want the Germans to take on more of their own responsibility. That's the whole point. We're tired of being used. And it doesn't end with Germany.; 2/23/25, 7:46 PM
Breezy said...: Approximately 240,000 people were hired into the federal government in the past year. How many are actually alive and working? One can imagine an ActBlue scenario, where random people’s names and addresses were used to launder out donations from USAID or the IRA into the Democrat party coffers, only this time they’re holding down WFH seats in the USPS.; 2/23/25, 7:52 PM
Eva Marie said...: Nice ice.; 2/23/25, 7:58 PM
Enigma said...: @rehajm: Hopefully soon we'll learn how many federal workers are actually human beings.

Musk's framing is absurd, but not how you think. Federal employees and contractors -- in scaling degrees -- are required to provide SSNs, verify ID with passports or birth certificates, provide fingerprints, photos, open their criminal and banking histories to unrestricted investigations, have their education records screened for "diploma mill" status, and more. This applies to those with security clearances (everyone in the military and intelligence agencies) and public trust positions (many other agencies). These employees are vetted eight ways to Sunday before being offered a federal job, and then routinely monitored for new crime and financial issues per continuing evaluation systems.

The State does not like unknowns and hostiles inside the castle keep, even as some inside turn a blind eye toward immigration, education fraud, medical fraud, etc. outside the keep. Dunning-Kruger strike Elon.

Start here, but there are thousands of other sources:

https://help.usajobs.gov/faq/job-announcement/security-clearances; 2/23/25, 8:08 PM
Gospace said...: And Dan Bongino is now part of the FBI. Waiting for the wailing and gnashing of teeth to start... well, it's already started- waiting to see when and how it's expressed.; 2/23/25, 8:17 PM
Peachypeachy said...: Germany : good news is the far left democrats only got about 7%. Of the vote. That’s a message.; 2/23/25, 8:17 PM
Disparity of Cult said...: https://x.com/persianjewess/status/1893521856390484301?mx=2

"A teen genius with a 4.4 GPA and 1590 SAT Score—who was hired straight out of high school by Google for a Ph.D level Software Engineer position—was rejected by 16 out of 18 colleges including 5 UC Schools: Berkeley, Davis, UCLA, UCSD and UCSB. Now he’s suing for racial discrimination against 'highly qualified Asian-American candidates.'"; 2/23/25, 8:36 PM
Drago said...: Russia Collusion Cultist P-Inga: "Merz won’t play games with Trump."

Oh, really?!

LOL

And just what, specifically is your little euro-weenie leader going to do? They have no significant combat forces available. They cant even meet their minimum NATO requirements. They are the long time beneficiaries of a massive tarriff/trade imbalance with the US which Trump will yank away. Their energy costs for their people are off the charts. They are 1/4 of the way to becoming an islamic state (hey, I am starting to see why P-Inga likes them!), and on it goes.

They are threatening to go after Tesla/GigaBerlin? Fine. Poland, here we come!

So tell us geo-political and economic Wonder girl: WHERE is the leverage for your Stasi pals against Trump?

Dont be shy now! Let us revel in your "brilliance"!; 2/23/25, 8:44 PM
Drago said...: Russia Collusion CultistP-Inga: "It’s typical of Trump to try to gaslight Americans into thinking that the German election results were in favor of his preferred form of Conservatism/populism/Trumpism, "

LOL

Germany certainly did take a strong step to the right with AfD doubling its vote from the last election. Is the equivalent of the completely corrupted uniparty still in charge? Yes, as expected.

The debate for a decade has been and continues to be will enough Germans wake up to the P-Inga insanity before its too late? Personally, I think not.

But rhe only gaslighting liar around here is....you.; 2/23/25, 8:50 PM
Kakistocracy said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 2/23/25, 8:54 PM
Rocco said...: Leland sarcastically said...
Shutdown a 30 year old facility that can no longer be maintained. Conflict of Interest! You have contracts to maintain the facility and no one else can do it!

Especially if it involves keys to the bathroom.; 2/23/25, 8:55 PM
Kakistocracy said...: Trump, Musk, Vance and company have proven, yet again, just how thick they are. Yes, they helped to increase the percentage of AfD votes, but they also managed to piss off the rest of the Bundesrepublik. Musk, Trump and Vance for the AfD made no positive difference whatsoever.

Siding with the AfD and Putin only works when they win. In the current scheme of things that really matters.; 2/23/25, 8:57 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: To the Fed Gov workers, still holding their jobs by a thread tonight, hoping for the best but fearing the worst. I offer the advice I got, before I ultimately got canned as a result of the 08/09 Financial Meltdown. Look busy and keep your head down; 2/23/25, 9:02 PM
Jupiter said...: When are they going to indict Stacey Abrams?; 2/23/25, 9:06 PM
Kakistocracy said...: Warren Buffett Defends His Growing Cash Pile
The legendary investor wrote in Saturday’s annual letter that Berkshire Hathaway will never prefer cash over ‘good businesses’ ~ WSJ

Seems Buffett is playing the "Trump Short".

The current political chaos and the mostly inexperienced people now in charge will more than likely lead the US market downward from the last two years of back-to-back records.

A correction is long overdue. The current climate of policy uncertainty will cause many companies and consumers to pause major decisions until the path ahead is clearer. This invisible pausing effect by itself will contribute to an economic slowing down.

The boomers are also now entering into their required drawdown years. After 10 yrs of near zero interest rates, it's also likely a decade of some reversion to the mean lies ahead. Most investors will stay invested, but it may be wise to keep some powder dry to take advantage of select opportunities and volatility ahead.; 2/23/25, 9:10 PM
Peachypeachy said...: Really kakadoodle?
AfD doubled their vote from last time. To 20% or something.; 2/23/25, 9:10 PM
Boris Badenov said...: "they also managed to piss off the rest of the Bundesrepublik"

John Kerry/2004 just called. He wants his "global test" back.; 2/23/25, 9:11 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Reddit Video: RFK Jr. explains why Bill Gates and China are allowed to buy farmland in the U.S.; 2/23/25, 9:16 PM
Jupiter said...: "“The State Department will respond on behalf of the Department. No employee is obligated to report their activities outside of their Department chain of command,” read a notice from Tibor Nagy, acting under secretary for management at the State Department."
So. Looks like Tibor's job might be coming open soon.; 2/23/25, 9:18 PM
James K said...: The current political chaos and the mostly inexperienced people now in charge will more than likely lead the US market downward from the last two years of back-to-back records.

Cherry-picking again. The market went up far more during Trump's first term than under Biden, especially after adjusting for inflation. Having said that, trying to tie market movements to particular policies is a fool's errand. Trump has inherited Biden's disasters, and undoing the damage may involve some pain, just as in the first couple of years of Reagan's presidency after Carter's disasters.; 2/23/25, 9:23 PM
Peachypeachy said...: Bill gates is evil; 2/23/25, 9:49 PM
Peachypeachy said...: Saying the market went up after covid destruction? Like lying to a child.; 2/23/25, 9:51 PM
Peachypeachy said...: Lem… thanks for that. The treatment of animals in factory farms in the us is a disgrace; 2/23/25, 9:56 PM
Peachypeachy said...: I like watching cooking shows on YouTube.
Derek Sarno is my new favorite.; 2/23/25, 9:58 PM
Original Mike said...: "Friedrich Merz, set to become Germany's next chancellor after his opposition conservatives won the national election on Sunday, vowed to help give Europe "real independence" from the U.S."

So he's going to start paying for his own defense? That's awesome.; 2/23/25, 10:00 PM