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Monday, September 21. 2020

Exclusive: The Billionaire Who Wanted To Die Broke . . . Is Now Officially Broke

Why Are the High Holy Day Services so Long?

A book: The Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers

This CIA spy game reveals the secrets of successful teams

Rowling's Books Burned Or Banned Around The World Over Her Personal Views Of Gender

9 Years Into Common Core, Test Scores Are Down, Indoctrination Up. Common Core sucked all the energy, money, and motivation right out of desperately needed potential reforms to U.S. public schools for a decade, and for nothing.

Book Review: Obsession – Inside the Washington Establishment’s Never-Ending War on Trump

THE “SYSTEMIC RACISM” DODGE

Black Lives Matter Activist Wearing ‘Justice for Breonna Taylor’ Shirt Walked into a Louisville Bar and Murdered Three People

Portland Antifa Rioters Break Into Starbucks and Chipotle, Calling It a ‘Big Sale'

Vermont grocery store worker fired after apprehending purse snatcher

Democrats Threaten To Pack The Court, Schumer Reportedly Said ‘Nothing Off The Table’ If GOP Confirms Nominee

I was raped by whoever Trump picks to replace Ginsburg on the Supreme Court

Cuban Woman Barbara Lagoa May Be Trump’s Pick For SCOTUS…

Flashback: In 2016, Ginsburg said Senate should hold SCOTUS confirmation hearing during election year

Posted by Bird Dog in Hot News & Misc. Short Subjects at 07:56 | Comments (31) | Trackbacks (0)

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Great set of links today, Thanks!

Somebody put it best, who put it simply: Choosing a new Supreme Court Justice is a simple process that requires the cooperation of two parties: The President nominates a Candidate; The Senate votes on the Candidate, either to confirm or reject. That's it! Nothing more to it. If the Senate doesn't like the President's candidate, the votes aren't forthcoming. That's the way the system works; the rules haven't changed.

The kabuki theater we see now is just what-about-ism from both sides going back through the history of the court, where examples of just about everything are in evidence.

But it has little to do with the election year. It has nothing to do with timing. The Senate was seated 2 years ago, and the President 4 years ago, at the will of the voters. Much to the disgust of the Democrats, the President still occupies his seat. Saying that Trump shouldn't nominate someone for timing reasons is the same irrelevant nonsense as people declaring that Hillary should be President because she won the national popular vote.

It wouldn't surprise me to see Trump put Lagoa forward in a nod toward the Hispanic vote and perhaps an easier confirmation route - she'd be easier to vote for, in a few ways, if that's important.

But I think ACB is the much more talented and qualified candidate. And that might engender a truly nasty confirmation hearing, with anti-religious fervor and scorn coming from the Democrats. It might be a very timely and potent reminder to voters of the Kavanaugh smear and other unwarranted unpleasantness the country has been put through over the past 4 years.

#1 Aggie on 2020-09-21 09:46 (Reply)

It seems to me that if we cannot consider the nomination--the president cannot nominate--the best qualified candidate, then we have already lost much of what makes this country great! I grieve.

#2 Apple Pie on 2020-09-21 10:20 (Reply)

"Why Are the High Holy Day Services so long?"

You must be talking about church. Gee it's been 65 years since I've been to church. I suppose that people who choose to go to church shouldn't complain about how long the services are. Just think of the time I have not wasted in church over the last 65 years...

#3 Anon on 2020-09-21 10:35 (Reply)

High Holy Day services would be at the synagogue.

An educated, non-Jewish person would know that.
Never mind.

#4 B on 2020-09-21 10:41 (Reply)

"An educated, non-Jewish person would know that."

I don't think that makes sense. That a non-Jewish person knows anything at all about Jewish religion would either be accidental and rare or because that non-Jewish person took an active interest in Jewish religion. I confess I know little to nothing about the Jewish religion and I have a handful of degrees.

I don't know much about Islam either except they seem to hate everyone.

#4.1 Saul on 2020-09-21 19:34 (Reply)

So one can be educated, but have very little interest in the world views or metaphysical views of significant human groups and their unique histories.

A lack of curiosity, you might say.

I'll buy that.
It explains so much.

#4.1.1 B on 2020-09-21 21:11 (Reply)

Or they could be selective about what they are interested in. I also know nothing about rap music and for some reason I am really happy about that.

#4.1.1.1 Saul on 2020-09-22 00:54 (Reply)

I recently watched a video where the police arrested a man for not wearing a mask. I question the entire process. How can the governor or mayor mandate a mask for a healthy person? I can understand if they quarantined someone who was sick. But how do you "legally" infringe on constitutional rights of someone who is not sick? Where is the ACLU and lawyers? Could the government decide to mandate masks forever and arrest anyone caught outside without a mask? Do they even need a disease for them to be able to do this after all they are mandating masks for people who are healthy. Could they mandate that everyone wear burkas because someone somewhere got a sunburn?? Could they outlaw sugar because 8% of the population has diabetes. Arrest you in Starbucks for the crime of putting a spoonful of sugar into your coffee! Why not? They are arresting healthy people for not wearing a mask.

#5 OneGuy on 2020-09-21 11:07 (Reply)

I guess it's a case of exceptional measures in exceptional times. Exceptional times pass by eventually, and in our system a Constitutional challenge takes time as well. The upshot is, the police arrest people because they are empowered to as peace officers and follow instructions of the people they report to. The rules are put in place by a local official or state government and might or might not be codified into law, eventually.

If it's local, all I can say is, it really does pay to contact your local officials and make your voice heard. It does eventually get noticed (esp. election years), but you may have to work at it a little. That's where most people prefer to complain for free, then just pay the damn fine.

#5.1 Aggie on 2020-09-21 11:25 (Reply)

the thing I object to is that once you establish that the government can take on extraordinary powers in an emergency, you raise the specter of the Reichstag Fire type of emergency. Indeed that's what I think Joe Biden is implying in his campaign ads: the COVID-19 crisis is so terrible that it justifies a government takeover of the healthcare industry.

#5.1.1 Another Guy Named Dan on 2020-09-21 11:56 (Reply)

But think about it. IF (and that is really the question) it is about limiting the exposure to possible Covid-19, then WHY would you arrest someone who did not have a mask??? The ONLY possible outcome if you arrest them IF that person has covid-19 is that the covid-19 will be spread to the police, fellow prisoners, etc. The only logical thing to do would be to NOT arrest them and NOT approach them. Issue a citation for a future court appearance where they may be fined but otherwise leave them alone.

But more to the point: A governor or mayor cannot write/pass laws. If tomorrow a governor decided that the right way to save babies is to outlaw abortions the state Supreme Court, the federal circuit court and the U.S. Supreme Court would all quickly declare such a "law" unconstitutional. The ONLY reason that does not happen with the mask "law" is politics. It is clearly and irrefutably unconstitutional but politics reigns supreme in this matter.

A business could require a mask, arguably they could require a coat and tie too or shirt and shoes. In fact, constitutionally the business could require that you be a specific race or gender to enter their business. But the state (any level of government) cannot.

Could the mayor/governor require that everyone stay home? Not just with exceptions to buy food or visit a doctor. Could they require that everyone in a city or state stay home for the next 30 day or 30 months or 30 years??? I say; NO! I do not believe that they have the authority to force you to stay home for even one hour or one second. They could ask that you do if there was an emergency but they do not have the authority to force you to. Ditto for masks. The ONLY reason that they get away with the mask rule/law is because they first scared us and then implied that not wearing a mask puts OTHER people at risk. This is EXACTLY how communism gets accepted. Scare them, bully them and then rule over them after they give up.

Ask yourself; why arrest a healthy person who does not wear a mask BUT allow arsonists, looters and assaulters to not just go free but be unimpeded in their crimes for day after day and month after month? Why would you wrestle an honest citizen to the ground and tazor them and beat them up and let actually criminals run free??? When you figure out the answer to that THEN you will understand what is really going on.

#5.1.2 OneGuy on 2020-09-21 17:28 (Reply)

Here you will be cited or arrested for not wearing a mask in public. One year in prison and $5000 fine. There are special COVID police tasked with going after violators. There is also an anonymous hotline you can call to report your neighbors or others for violating the COVID rules (e.g., no public or private gatherings of any size are permitted) and the police will respond to cite or arrest them.

Police chief says her officers will cite, arrest those who ignore emergency orders

#5.2 Jim on 2020-09-21 12:24 (Reply)

That was an interesting exercise in how dishonest this entire issue is. First you will notice in the video that the lady doing sign language does not have a mask!!! How can that be?

Second: No gatherings! Except the police MUST gather to enforce this law/rule/dictate. Shouldn't those police who "gather" to enforce this farce be cited and fined???

Third: I am seeing an unsettling trend. It seems that women (governors, mayors, police chiefs are more dictatorial and unconstitutional than men in those same positions. Not a good thing... Just saying.

#5.2.1 OneGuy on 2020-09-21 17:37 (Reply)

You don't understand how your own Constitution works. This is by far the least educated political forum in America and all you people do is whinge all day every day.

#5.3 Dale EC on 2020-09-21 12:48 (Reply)

Unlike you.

#5.3.1 Aggie on 2020-09-21 14:17 (Reply)

Dale EC, a titan in the annals of non-whinging Constitutional insights.

#5.3.2 Bill Carson on 2020-09-21 15:38 (Reply)

I thought that is what the internet was for: To whinge (great word by the way). When Al Gore invented the internet, he said, go forth, sit at your computers and whinge incessantly about Global Warming anthropogenic climate change. Berate those knuckle dragging, White cisgender, capitalists fools, about how the very Constitution, that they love worship and adore, actually allows for Marxism to run rampant over every single solitary aspect of their miserable ignorant lives. Congress shall make no law...umph! What balderdash. The Supreme Court makes law!

#5.3.3 B. Hammer on 2020-09-21 16:01 (Reply)

This is by far the least educated political forum in America

Your presence here confirms that.

#5.3.4 Gringo on 2020-09-21 20:32 (Reply)

I do believe Maggie's readers would appreciate this article from First Things...
Everything old is new again...

Between 1908 and 1910, authorities recorded 19,957 terrorist acts and revolutionary robberies, doubtless omitting many from remote areas. As the foremost historian of Russian terrorism, Anna Geifman, observes, “Robbery, extortion, and murder became more common than traffic accidents.”

#6 The Distributist (Link) on 2020-09-21 11:21 (Reply)

QUOTE:

"Now, in these circumstances, the first maxim of our politics ought to be to lead the people by means of reason and the enemies of the people by terror… The basis of popular government in time of revolution is both virtue and terror. Terror without virtue is murderous, virtue without terror is powerless. Terror is nothing else than swift, severe, indomitable justice – it flows, then, from virtue."

An excerpt from Maximilien Robespierre's address to the National Convention on May 7th 1794

#6.1 Bill Carson on 2020-09-21 12:09 (Reply)

Yes, thank you for posting.

#6.2 Gringo on 2020-09-21 12:53 (Reply)

I find myself thinking of this scene from Dr. Zhivago a lot recently:

Comrade Kaprugina Delivers A Scolding

Our City Council, to increase "affordable housing," is considering imposing a penalty tax on any residential owner who is not renting out their home and instead allowing it to remain vacant. Renting out housing for B&Bs has also been declared illegal under emergency orders because it is not an "authorized essential commercial use" during the pandemic. Right now there is also a rent moratorium declaring that tenants do not have to pay rent until 2021.

Also in the mix is that many of the State's criminals are back on the streets since the ACLU forced them to be released from the prisons because of the fear of COVID. So it's very unsafe right now.

#6.3 Jim on 2020-09-21 14:52 (Reply)

So spot on it's not even funny - can't swing a dead cat without hitting a 2020 version of Comrade Kaprugina.

#6.3.1 Bill Carson on 2020-09-21 15:32 (Reply)

9 Years Into Common Core, Test Scores Are Down, Indoctrination Up: Is anyone surprised?????

The “systemic racism” dodge; Again, is anyone surprised???

Portland Antifa Rioters Break Into Starbucks: Once more, with FEELING; Is anyone surprised????

Vermont grocery store worker fired after apprehending purse snatcher: The STUPID was STRONG in Vermont.

Democrats Threaten To Pack The Court, Schumer Reportedly Said ‘Nothing Off The Table’ If GOP Confirms Nominee: Vicious vermin, they are.

Rowling's Books Burned Or Banned Around The World Over Her Personal Views Of Gender" The STUPID is STRONG all over the world. IDJITS!!!!!1111!!!!!

#7 Sam L. on 2020-09-21 11:22 (Reply)

Interesting SC nomination insights. It's long but it goes fast.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSKAf3d8_LY&feature=youtu.be&t=2240

#8 Exasperated on 2020-09-21 12:02 (Reply)

re Democrats Threaten To Pack The Court, Schumer Reportedly Said ‘Nothing Off The Table’ If GOP Confirms Nominee

They have been threatening to pack the court for some months now. My guess is they will do it whether Trump's candidate is confirmed or not.

If they cheat to win, it stands to reason they would pack the court. A court packed with ideologues to back up a left wing congress would pretty much rubber stamp anything that came before it. We could kiss our rights good bye.

Rigged elections backstopped by a packed court would pretty much guarantee Democratic control of the nation in perpetuity.

And that's their goal.

#9 feeblemind on 2020-09-21 12:32 (Reply)

The democrats are the party of court packing...it is nothing new to them.

#9.1 indyjonesouthere on 2020-09-21 13:53 (Reply)

Re: Democrats Threaten To Pack The Court

If Trump wins and has the House and Senate (as he most likely will), he should push for legislation to add six new justices. I think he should have done that already even though the Democrats ran the House. What are the Democrats going to do? After threatening for years to do the same thing, are they now going to say that it's a bad idea? In the future, are they going to try to pack the court AGAIN? That's a loser, too.

The only other option is to discredit the idea so thoroughly, as what happened to FDR, that it never is thought of again.

#10 mudbug on 2020-09-21 13:03 (Reply)

Yes. Interesting thought mudbug.

Do you think he could gather enough support in the Senate? There are three or for Squishes there that may not even vote for confirmation. Do you think they would agree to expanding the court?

#10.1 feeblemind on 2020-09-21 13:21 (Reply)

I think there are probably enough Democrats who have promoted packing the court that they would be exposed as rank partisans for voting against it so it wouldn't necessarily need a majority of Republicans, only enough who want to take this defensive move.

Certainly, this is a high risk strategy. Democrats especially and politicians in general are not known for intellectual honesty so there could be enough Democrats who could vote against it after they had banged the drum for it for years. Also, it might not be very popular with voters and could cost a lot of political capital. I'm not tuned in enough to be able to game it past my first level of analysis, but given the ruthless dishonesty of Democrats, I fear that if we don't do it, the Democrats will do it regardless the public position on it the next chance they get.

One of the brakes inherent in democratic systems is rules have to be made with the thought they could be used by the opposing party is in power. Democrats have calculated (correctly so far) that Republicans will be generally honest which gives them license to make rules that allow them to cheat. This is obvious in their voting rules (i.e. vote harvesting, vote by mail, opposing voter ID, opposing updating voting rolls, etc.). This is an unstable situation that disadvantages the honest. So for self preservation, Republicans should pack the court.

#11 mudbug on 2020-09-21 13:57 (Reply)

Oops! This was supposed to be a reply to feeblemind's #10.1 post!

#11.1 mudbug on 2020-09-21 14:03 (Reply)

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Monday, September 21. 2020

Monday morning links