Saturday’s Forum
Steven L. Taylor
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Saturday, September 27, 2025
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16 comments
About Steven L. Taylor
Steven L. Taylor is a Professor Emeritus of Political Science and former 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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The last time the FAA allowed Boeing to self-certify their own planes, the result was the hidden MCAS function that led to two fatal crashes.
The 777X family is already five years past Boeing’s original certification date estimate. Now they can self certify, and iterate with living test subjects.
I had an interesting discussion with my maga neighbor. We are good neighbors, but not friends. I met up with her while out this morning walking with Sadie.
What was weird was how she’s all of a sudden all in on solar, wind, and anything but coal and oil. Wut?? It just whooshed past her when I noted MrT wanted to just drill, baby, drill and was killing green energy projects right and left. No response.
Also, ocean space aliens with ancient wisdom could help us out with our energy needs and it’s a mystery why this hasn’t happened already.
@becca: As Dr. T has often noted, people don’t change their minds all that often. It seems to me that this is what it looks like when they do. Mostly.
I get the impression that the high rollers are tiring of Jesus based religion and are testing out new, more macho saviors. His message really cramps their style these days.
Late Night television history.
Tonight! starring Steve Allen debuted on the NBC TV network September 27, 1954.
https://www.on-this-day.com/cgi-bin/otd/thehistoryoftoday.pl
I know I watched Steve Allen on TV in the ‘50s. I believe it was his Sunday night variety show opposite Ed Sullivan. Since we lived in the Eastern Time Zone till 1961 Tonight! would have been past my bedtime.
@becca:
Notice how an encounter with a MAGA never leaves you with the feeling that they were surprisingly knowledgeable and coherent?
@Michael Reynolds: Honestly, my interactions with people are very limited and in small doses. Less disappointment all around.
But sometimes I have to venture out. The other day we were at mr becca’s heart doc, at the bank and the pharmacy. There was a palpable feeling of unease. There were sly words when we talked about future availability of certain drugs. One doc half joked that the “walls had ears” so we better be careful what we say.
@becca:
I cannot for the life of me figure out whether your neighbor actually said this or whether it is sarcasm. Both seem equally likely.
I assume some kind of RFKJr connection if they actually said this…
Fearless Leader is apparently sending in federales to contain the raging firestorm that nonstop rioting has turned Portland Oregon into.
I’d suggest the irony is strong in her, but I’m not sure she can spell it (much less provide a definition we’d agree with).
Portland, Oregon leaders address influx of federal agents at ICE facility | kgw.com https://share.google/QeMhHZY4bSRhTsDkw
ETA – last footage I’ve seen was maybe two-three dozen protesters around the ICE facility. Please clutch my pearls Ms Bondi, these radical insurrectionists are a gonna make me swoon!
@Gustopher: she was serious. She doesn’t do sarcasm. She’s a conspiracist. Big Tucker Carlson fan.
Tim Burchett, gop tn rep, made cryptic comments recently about our mysterious ocean floors. Last time I spoke to my rural maga relatives, they were off transgender bashing and onto aliens. Could be the seeds of a new grift market.
I have been to Portland. If the National Guard would remove graffiti, that would be great.
@Slugger:
I live here (well, in the burbs. Cracker lives in the heart of downtown).
They’ll have to mobilize at least two divisions to keep up. Those crazy kids are really prolific, and really seem to appreciate a fresh canvas to graffiti up on.
@Slugger:
If I were the mayor of some city the felon was sending troops, I’d make up a long list of community beautification projects that the troops can partake in while they are there.
First Brazil, then France put a former president in jail for committing crimes. It boggles the mind, putting criminals in prison.
America has fallen way, way behind.
Talk about a bunch of bums. Stink Lewis Shitbirds are losing to the Mighty Cubs 7-3 at Wrigley in the bottom of the 8th inning. Cubs 1st baseman Michael Busch comes to the plate needing only a single to hit for the cycle. Skunks walked him depriving Bush of the opportunity!
Saint Louis LOSERS!
Video on the Taco revenge tour in court. It deals mostly with background info and NY AG James, and was released before the Comey indictment dropped. about 24 minutes long.