Winter Solstice Forum

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Steven L. Taylor
About Steven L. Taylor
Steven L. Taylor is a retired Professor 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). Follow Steven on Twitter

Comments

  1. Kathy says:

    Aw, poor Prexident Xlon the Felon’s Brain Cisgender Emperor etc. didn’t get his shutdown.

    What’s the use of being the richest asshole in the planet, if you can’t even bully the US Congress around?

    5
  2. Mikey says:

    The perpetrator of yesterday’s horrible vehicle attack on the Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany was a big fan of Musk, Alex Jones, British neo-nazi Tommy Robinson, and the neo-nazi party Alternative fuer Deutschland.

    Taleb Abdulmohsen, a Saudi Arabian doctor who had lived in Germany for nearly 20 years, quoted in Der Spiegel (it is German custom to identify suspected criminals only by first name and initial of last name):

    Taleb A. apparently shared the resentment of conspiracy stologists and agitates such as the American podcaster Alex Jones and the British legal activist Tommy Robinson. The entrepreneur Elon Musk, who expresses his and increasingly blatant sympathies for right-wing parties, was probably one of his role models: “If you listen to someone like Tommy Robinson or even Elon Musk, and even if you are ignorant of the process of Islamization, you will think the two are conspiracy theorists,” said A. “But I can say from experience, everything Robinson says, what Musk says, what Alex Jones says, or anyone who is called a radical or right-wing extremist by the mainstream media – they tell the truth.”

    More reporting from Der Spiegel:

    The presumed perpetrator A. is obviously a fan of the AfD, which resulted in an evaluation of several of his social media accounts by the SPIEGEL. Eight years ago he wrote on Twitter that he wanted to start a project with the AfD: an academy for ex-Muslims. When asked by another user why he intended to do so with the AfD, he replied: “Who else fights Islam in Germany?” He has obviously kept this opinion until the end. This June he retweeted party leader Alice Weidel, writing with typos: “The left are madmen. We need AFD to protect the police from himself.” He also addressed tweets at the time in the best-known head of the right-wing extremist “identitarian movement,” Martin Sellner. He also retweeted the right-wing extremist AfD activist Naomi Seibt with the following quote in English: “Tyranny is based on the coinage of cowards. I choose to be brave.”

    Abdulmohsen had plenty of tweets expressing support for far-right people and political organizations, but his Twitter account was suspended last night, no mystery why of course. The last thing President Musk wants getting out is that a mass-murdering terrorist is a big fan of President Musk.

    7
  3. Flat Earth Luddite says:

    @Kathy:

    Well shoot, apparently even spineless wretches recognize that if they shut it all down they might have go home and face their wretched masses, some of whom MIGHT display their displeasure in a, shall we say, physical manner?

    Nah, that can’t be it… I’m sure they’ll claim they were acting on principles!

    4
  4. Paul L says:

    I remember when Obama was embarrassed by the Snowden leaks showing that the US Government engaged in mass surveillance and had to stop defending it when his claims that they were rare and minor exceptions got disproven by further leaks.
    OTB professors: Trust the US Government because Snowdon is a traitor.

    1
  5. DK says:

    Musk says he’ll fund ‘moderate’ Democratic primary challengers

    Tech billionaire Elon Musk on Thursday claimed he will fund moderate primary challenges to incumbent Democrats in heavy-blue districts around the country.

    “Oh … forgot to mention that I’m also going to be funding moderate candidates in heavily Democrat districts, so that the country can get rid of those who don’t represent them, like this jacka‑‑,” Musk wrote Thursday night on his social media platform X.

    Ha. Illegal immigrant Musk understands Democratic Party dynamics even less than he understands the congressional budget process. Alignment with President Musk is quickest way for a candidate to lose a Dem primary.

    The African oligarch’s threats didn’t stop Republicans from defying the shutdown and debt ceiling demands of weak, tired, lame duck Vice-President Trump. Why would Democrats care? Lol

    5
  6. CSK says:

    @DK:

    Musk will have a hard time uprooting Richie Neal.

  7. becca says:

    It’s a Christmas miracle… Steve Bannon says tax the rich and corporations!
    Had to pinch myself.

    3
  8. Sleeping Dog says:

    @DK:

    I’m sure Dem reps are quivering in their boots.

    2
  9. CSK says:

    @becca:

    Where? When?

  10. becca says:

    @CSK: I saw it on Memeorandum a few minutes ago and followed several links, so apparently it’s for realz.
    It’s like everything everywhere all at once with these weirdos.

    4
  11. DK says:

    @CSK: If we see more scenes like yesterday — Trump’s weakness coupling with Musk’s incompetence to force Congress to assert its independence and reclaim its authority as the most important and powerful branch — I might even start singing Trump’s praises.

    3
  12. Not the IT Dept. says:

    @Paul L:

    Citation? Or is this the voices in your head again?

    7
  13. gVOR10 says:

    @Not the IT Dept.: Actually, I liked Paul L’s comment. He skews a factoid to suit his priors, Then he leaps from ‘the government lied about spying on citizens’, which has been true at least since J. Edgar the Hoove started the FBI, to ‘the government lies about everything’. Seems a perfect example of conservative “thinking”.

    8
  14. Kathy says:

    Has everyone recovered from the Chargers’ fair catch free kick yet?

    BTW, the last time something like this happened, at least with a successful field goal, was in 1976. the team that perpetrated it was the San Diego Chargers.

    3
  15. Dutchgirl says:

    Anyone else seriously concerned about bird flu, with serious human case confirmed? I’m really not happy about what’s happening.

    5
  16. Mister Bluster says:

    @Dutchgirl:..bird flu

    Don’t worry convicted felon President-elect Chump and his side kick Doctor Death will end the threat of bird flu on January 21, 2025 right after he ends the war in Ukraine.

    3
  17. Bill Jempty says:

    @Kathy:

    Has everyone recovered from the Chargers’ fair catch free kick yet?

    BTW, the last time something like this happened, at least with a successful field goal, was in 1976. the team that perpetrated it was the San Diego Chargers.

    I remember somebody doing it in a Miami Dolphins game around 25 years ago.

  18. Kathy says:

    @Dutchgirl:

    I’m concerned. there’s no law dictating the interval between pandemics. Thus far it appears to affect animals worse than humans, but that’s not entirely good. it gives it that many more chances to mutate.

    What worries me is no one seems to be rushing a bird flu specific shot into production, never mind wide distribution. This is easy enough with regular flu vaccine methods (though it takes time), and shouldn’t be too hard using mRNA methods as well.

    I advise getting good quality masks, preferably full N-95 with a good seal, and getting a flu shot; even a non-variant specific one might help (it can’t hurt).

    On the upside, there are flu antiviral medications, like Tamiflu. But I’ve no idea if they are effective against this strain.

    3
  19. Michael Reynolds says:

    @CSK: @becca:
    Bannon’s smart. This is where politics is going in Europe and now in the US: Left on class, Right on social issues, especially immigration.

    Democrats should co-opt the class struggle element by attacking the billionaire class: Musk, Thiel, Bezos and Trump. Sub in ‘corruption’ for ‘deep state.’ Corruption is almost always a great issue. And everyone hates billionaires. We should be banging on about small businesses versus the billionaires. Someone should be working on a documentary about Clarence Thomas’s obvious corruption and we should beat on SCOTUS as a defender of billionaires.

    On social issues for the next decade we fight a defensive effort, slow down and minimize losses, that’s the best we’re going to get.

    7
  20. Jen says:

    @DK: That’s one way to get rid of money, I guess.

    LOL. OK, Elon. Good luck electing moderate Dems in deep blue areas, that’s exactly how primaries work!

    2
  21. Scott says:

    @Michael Reynolds:

    Bannon’s smart. This is where politics is going in Europe and now in the US: Left on class, Right on social issues, especially immigration.

    Hmm… Nationalism and socialism. What could possibly go wrong?

    7
  22. steve says:

    If I am following the budget process correctly, it looks like Musk actually got what he wanted. They removed the part that would have made it difficult to profit from his activities in China. He talks a lot but who knows what he really values? Judged by his actions total spending in the budget was not an issue, just making sure he benefitted from the process seems to be his real goal. (Should it be noted that up until Musk started giving money to Trump and supporting him Trump, meaning the GOP, opposed EVs and were anti all things China.)

    Steve

    4
  23. MarkedMan says:

    @DK:

    to force Congress to assert its independence and reclaim its authority

    This! Perhaps the most profound shift in US politics over my lifetime is the total abdication of Congress. They will do almost anything to avoid making policy or clarifying existing policy after a Supreme Court ruling. They often complain of the Presidents “lack of leadership” over things they are entirely responsible for (the budget being the latest one), and many of the younger Pols don’t even seem to be aware of what Congress’ duties actually are.

    And yes, Republicans are far worse than Democrats on this, but it happens under Dem leadership too.

    6
  24. becca says:

    @steve: so what you’re saying is Musk got what he wanted and Trump got stiffed on his debt ceiling demand?
    I just don’t think the lop-sided Musk-Trump love affair has much of a future.

    3
  25. DrDaveT says:

    @MarkedMan:

    They will do almost anything to avoid making policy or clarifying existing policy after a Supreme Court ruling.

    If you’re a GOP Congressthing, why would you want to clarify anything? The current Suborned Court is a get-out-of-jail-free (literally and figuratively) for anything the administration does. If the law were clear, some things would be too obvious even for Alito and Barrett to pretend otherwise.

    2
  26. Kathy says:

    @becca:

    Who knows. Imagine how much Xlon would owe in alimony in case of a divorce.

    2
  27. Kathy says:

    @Bill Jempty:

    The news are repeating the claim of te Chargers in 1976. But who knows. One news outlet or press agency claims it, and the sheep all bleat along.

    1
  28. Paul L. says:

    @Not the IT Dept.:
    This was when Neocons were still in power in the Republican party before Nazification by ultra MAGA extremist supporters of convicted felon and adjudicated rapist Trump.
    Obama acknowledges Edward Snowden disclosures in NSA reform speech
    How Obama’s Response To NSA Spying Has Evolved

  29. MarkedMan says:

    Two takeaways from the latest budget kerfuffle, and they are the same takeaways we’ve had for at least two decades:

    First, Republicans are always lying when they claim to be about fiscal responsibility. Always. What was the only thing that had even a moderately significant financial impact taken out of the spending bill? Pharma Benefits Manager Reform. And what impact did taking it out have? It COSTS us money. But it interferes with Republican Patrons ability to fleece the public, so it had to go.

    Second, the word of a Republican means nothing. Mike Johnson, the token Speaker of the House, negotiated with Dems and his own party members and came to a deal. (Supposedly he also tried to bring Trump into it but he wasn’t interested, just told Johnson to make sure it was resolved by Jan 20.) Then Elon Musk tweeted. How hard did Johnson work to try to keep his word, given as the Speaker of the House? He, by his own admission, made a single phone call to Musk and made an attempt to convince him, but when that fell through he tossed the “deal” into the trash. Will he be doing what any other Speaker in the history of the House would have done if his caucus members made him renege on a deal and make their lives sheer hell? Of course not. He has no dignity, no spine and certainly no integrity.

    4
  30. Mister Bluster says:

    Rickey Henderson steals home.
    RIP

  31. wr says:

    @Paul L.: Wow. Turns out you can string just about any set of random words together, and if you put a period at the end it really looks almost like a sentence.

    5
  32. Michael Reynolds says:

    We are seeing in Ukraine the rapid advance of warfare into the machine-on-man and machine-on-machine future. The Ukrainians have begun using ‘ground drones’ to lay mines, to blow themselves up, to push ammo to forward positions. It’s amazing. It’s not quite the Manhattan Project, but it is the beginning of a fundamental change. The first Terminator movie is set in 2029, four years from now, with the simultaneous rise of AI, and facial recognition, disturbingly accurate.

    AI, plus drone technology, plus facial recognition, and GPS, we have to imagine that assassin drones will be in civilian hands in this country in two years or less.

    3
  33. CSK says:

    Lara Trump has self-eliminated from the Florida senatorial contest.

    1
  34. JohnSF says:

    @Michael Reynolds:
    Army people I know see the war in Ukraine as in some ways a reversion to WW1 “turned up to 11”: artillery is dominant, drones bog down offensive ops in 3d similar to machine guns in 2d.
    Attrition is again dominant.
    Armoured breach-and-exploit is now more difficult to achieve due the capability of drones to either directly, or by spotting artillery, plug the gaps.

    The difference from NATO-mode warfare seems to be the NATO focus on identifying and wrecking key command and logistic nodes.

    1
  35. JohnSF says:

    @JohnSF:
    Oh yes, and also prolific MANPADS and SAM make frontal air attack much more risky.
    But not, necessarily, properly targeted strike in depth air ops.
    Which is what NATO hopes will give it the edge.