Saturday’s Forum
Steven L. Taylor
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Saturday, May 25, 2024
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52 comments
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About Steven L. Taylor
Steven L. Taylor is a Professor of Political Science and a College of Arts and Sciences Dean. His main areas of expertise include parties, elections, and the institutional design of democracies. His most recent book is the co-authored
A Different Democracy: American Government in a 31-Country Perspective. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Texas and his BA from the University of California, Irvine. He has been blogging since 2003 (originally at the now defunct Poliblog).
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Wow. One of the fogies around here has usually said something by 7am.
‘Psychologically tortured’: California city pays man nearly $1m after 17-hour police interrogation
It’s downright horrific and I would have to quote the whole article to give a glimpse of what the poor man went thru. Instead, I’ll just quote…
The judge:
His lawyer:
@Kurtz: Bill J. is on vacay.
Singer Sean Kingston and his mother charged for over $1m fraud
No doubt trump idolizes them.
@OzarkHillbilly:
And, as far as we know, all the people involved are still on the force.
Something something bad apples (forgetting the end of that saying).
BTW, this happened in 2018, approximately two years before the BLM protests.
Some more info on the Singapore Airlines incident from Sylvia Wrigley.
I find it interesting that it may not have been sudden clear air turbulence. This is why there is an investigation.
There’s also a link to an NTSB study on the matter of turbulence injuries. About one fifth involve passengers, the rest are cabin crew. More salient, of the passengers injured, most did not have their seat belts on (you can find this in page 45 of the study)
In brief, most severe turbulence incidents take place on descent or approach (but not all), cabin crew are more at risk than passengers, and passengers with seat belts on had the fewest injuries.
@Kathy: My sister in law has a friend that was on the flight and she show us a text last night. He and his wife are fine, but bruised. But another couple they were traveling with sustained pretty severe injuries. She has a broken back but sensation and mobility in all extremities. He has a broke. Neck but said he can “get around”.
@MarkedMan:
This was really the most horrible accident in recent times without mass fatalities.
For those who missed the late update (sorry, I’m currently on Pacific time), apparently someone at the NPS got way out over their skis on the “Pride is politically controversial” thing and the Secretary of the Interior is not happy…
https://x.com/MSchwartz3/status/1794142967894032554
@mattbernius: A quibble:
As I recall, the first BLM protest was in Ferguson, MO with the shooting of Michael Brown in 2014. 2020 was when they reached a crescendo. That was an interesting time in ol’ St Lou.
@OzarkHillbilly:
Thanks for the correction. I didn’t realize the group had formed that early.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Lives_Matter
@mattbernius: So BLM actually came together after Trayvon Martin.
Black residents in North Carolina county sue to remove racist statue
Oh c’mon, only a snowflake could find “In appreciation of our faithful slaves.” offensive. s//
https://alaskawatchman.com/2024/05/23/denali-national-park-bridge-crew-ordered-to-stop-flying-american-flags/
All this flag waving strikes me as simply performative. I’d bet more than half these people never even stood a watch. The larger issue, as one commenter said, is that MAGA has hijacked Old Glory for its own symbolism, much as they perniciously appropriated the word “patriot.” Displaying the flag has become an act of defiance more than any gesture of inward national pride.
Of course, it’s the “libtards” who are causing all the trouble…
@DeD:
Ostentatious flag waving has been a right wing thing for as long as I have been politically aware and I am an alte cocker.
9;16am here in Los Angeles, and I’m already halfway hammered.
Manchester United – 2
Manchester City – 1
Full Time!
Winners of the FA Cup!!!
Damn good start to the weekend.
@Stormy Dragon:
I always hated the February Special Emphasis Month. Though I liked the bits of trivia I learned during the other months, sitting at musters during February and watching the frowns, scowls, and eyerolls from a particular demographic always made me loathe that time of year.
Data analysis reveals that the Hamas-aligned protests are an elite, i.e., high tuition, low Pell Grant student, university activity.
Interesting polls from Cook.
AZ, MI, WI and PA all within 3 or fewer points. NV, GA and NC look tough. Biden is within reach of 276 electoral votes.
@DeD: @charontwo:
It’s not just that they wave the flag, it’s also that we don’t.
@EddieInCA:
It’s 5 pm somewhere…
Meanwhile, here, we’re quietly celebrating that Max and Red Bull are P6 at Monaco. Though a possible grid penalty for Sainz, may move him to P5
@Michael Reynolds:
Watch Trump’s. numbers start to tumble as he gets more visibility and people start paying attention. He’s deteriorating quickly. He cannot discuss ANY policy with specifics. He only speaks on broad generalities.
Additionally, It’s shocking how many people don’t know about Trump’s fraud judgement and/or trial. It’s truly shocking.
@Michael Reynolds:
Oops, forgot NM. Make that 281.
Just won $50 on an Illinois Lottery scratch off ticket. Should I reinvest it all in tonight’s Powerball, $120,000,000 or buy gasoline futures (ie. fill the tank)?
Decisions Decisions
@Michael Reynolds: I do and have done so for over 30 years.
@Michael Reynolds:
But that’s because their Jesús book demands piety be made a show of. It’s the show that counts.
@JKB: Washington Monthly analysis
@Stormy Dragon: Actually, I read that differently. The reason to not wear your government uniform is to not imply that your participation is specifically government-sanctioned (or mandated). BUT, in this case, participation was an activity in accordance with a federally-declared Special Emphasis Month, which sure sounds government-sanctioned to me.
The message “we support LGBTQ+ Pride, but don’t want to publicize that fact” is not a very good look, though I certainly understand the desire to avoid having the Pharisees lose their sh!t over it.
@Michael Reynolds: I’m not big on performative patriotism, tho at the first Women’s march in STL I did wrap myself in the flag. Wanted to say, “It’s our flag too, MF’ers.”
Felt so ridiculous I never did it again.
@Kathy:
Actually, the Jesús guy was pretty adamant that public shows of piety are A Bad Thing.
I genuinely wonder whether the Christian Nationalists and Evangelicals for Trump think that the Pharisees were the good guys in that story… (And the Death Eaters in the Harry Potter books, and Sauron in LOTR, and…)
@DrDaveT:
Hey, at least Sauron wasn’t all ‘woke.’
@DrDaveT:
That can’t possibly be right. What about the many players and coaches who demand to hold very ostentatious prayers at midfield? They can’t be wrong about that.
If you don’t show off, who’s going to know? What, is there some kind of omniscient being somewhere who knows and sees all? And if there is, unless it will act as your publicist, who cares?
Matthew 6:5-6
5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly
@OzarkHillbilly:
That’s the theory.
We’ve seen the practice.
I kind of like use of the flag. Here is an example: https://www.etsy.com/listing/921928642/vintage-1960s-american-flag-abbie
@Kurtz:
Just filling in for Bill Jempty here:
http://www.nbcnews.com/video/florida-priest-accused-of-biting-woman-during-communion-211564613916
@CSK:
On the one hand, the woman’s flesh is far more closely related to the flesh of Jesús, than is the wheat-based concoction supposed to transubstantiate into it.
On the other hand, being bitten by a human is dangerous for other humans. Human mouths being filled with human-adapted bacteria. So the guy should be charged with assault.
@Kathy:
Priest: “I was defending myself as well as the sacraments.”
Woman: “I just wanted a cookie. That’s all.”
True dialogue.
@Michael Reynolds: Exactly. It’s my flag. I celebrate the ideals for which it stands and the fact that we are a nation found on ideals rather than territory. So I fly it proudly.
@Mister Bluster: Just remember, you haven’t won anything until you take it off the table.
@MarkedMan: They’ll take my flag pants and my pride shirt off of my cold, dead body. It’s really kind of amazing how many people genuinely tell me they love my outfit, and I’m never sure which one they’re commenting on. I just smile and say thanks. 😉 😉
@MarkedMan:..take it off the table…
Like this?
@Michael Reynolds:
I don’t think AZ or NV will be as close as the eastern pundits seem to think. This will be the second presidential election with NV’s vote by mail system, and the pundits never seem to realize that VBM makes a difference. The AZ Republicans have made every effort they can for three years to piss off the Maricopa County suburbs.
@Michael Reynolds:
Of course Sauron was woke!
How else could he be the Unsleeping Eye?
😉
Trump stops speaking at the Libertarian Convention after 30 minutes and being boo’d off stage. By the midpoint he starts to insult the Libertarian party. Despite pandering to them on a number of issues, booing continues.
Excerpts in this thread:
https://x.com/atrupar/status/1794528881606598694
Jeebus Trump, don’t make me upvote Libertarians.
That said the Von Mises caucus members are definitely gnashing their teeth at this one.
@Michael Reynolds:
What could be more ‘woke’ than The Lidless Eye?
ETA: JohnSF beat me to it, but I got the quote right. Pedant points.
Having looked at my junk mail today I was compelled to Google search “trumpinator bobblehead.”
Please whatever you do do not Google search trumpinator bobblehead.
this is a PSA from your friendly neighborhood Luddite.
ETA if you’re too proud to shop at Walmart, these guys will sell it for more $$$
https://proudpatriots.com/pages/trumpinator-bobblehead-2-024-special?utm_source=Google%20Ads&utm_source=googleads&gc_id=20805730756&g_special_campaign=true&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwmMayBhDuARIsAM9HM8cUAYQ_3cORv24xDAAarBIykRzX5dg3sbGBYOutwqrvTdC4geRA7J4aAkvGEALw_wcB.
thank you
@Matt Bernius:
Yo no xeet — can you copy and paste a few of the choice bits? I only get a 9 second video loop with no responses or comments.
@DrDaveT:..9 second video…
Same here. I do not have X account. So no log in. Don’t know if that would make a difference.
@Mister Bluster:
It doesn’t.
@CSK:..
Thank you for the reply. I wasn’t sure.
Here is a Reuters item about Trump at Libertarian Convention. My internet connection at home is through my iPhone Personal Hotspot. It works however sometimes it is very slow.
I don’t see any video in the Reuters piece but there is a still shot of some people in a fist fight on the convention floor.
So, imagine you’re on your way inthe Xtra Xpecial Xlon Xtarship for an intercontinental trip from NYC to Sidney, and then this happens.
So, between jets and rockets, there’s a big difference in how uncontained engine failures happen.
@CSK: nice job on doing Jempty’s job.
The reporter said the lady plans to prosecute. I would suggest that she press charges instead, unless she has a law degree and is gainfully employed in the right jurisdiction.