“HILLARY CLINTON SAYS THE UNTHINKABLE” was the headline on a story at NJ.com. What did she say? She said she agreed with Mike Pence as he was quoted on a post on X by Face The Nation: Former Vice President Mike Pence says it's "unacceptable" for Donald Trump to refer to January 6 defendants as "hostages" as their cases go through the legal system: "I think it's very unfortunate at a time that there are American hostages being held in Gaza."
What strikes me as a terrible reflection on the divisiveness in the country is that she said she “can't believe I'm saying this...” and it was reported as being unthinkable that she could agree with Mike Pence on ANYTHING.
This is a sad time, when partisans can only think in partisan terms and some folks wonder why Congress can't get anything done.
Hi. I have to get to the post office and then the ballot drop box. I'm considering whether I can time it so I put the ballot in the slot at exactly noon local time. Because it's my protest vote against predetermination of election outcomes as it is practiced in this country, by the elite establishment (read: MAGA GOP) and the media (read: everybody but Mr. Stirewalt and perhaps Mr. Scoop Drucker).
If you don't hear anything more from me today, I'm sure it'll just be that I am enjoying a late lunch and catching up on more to-do items. If the cops are watching, it'll only be to make sure I can get in and out of the location without being buttonholed by overenthusiastic candidates for local offices who weren't even on my ballot because they're running in Dem primaries where all the action is. I present very little threat to anyone in that ecosystem.
I've long been fond of a writer, Ruth Graham. She wrote for Slate many years ago, and to my delight got "called up to the major leagues" at the NYT. She is a religion writer. Her column today is unlocked so if anyone wants to read it, here is the link.
We have always had to deal with spies, and some are exceptionally good at it. I wonder what the U.S. has managed to do when it comes to other countries? What’s interesting to me is how much time we spend on people like Trump and Biden, when it’s those well hidden things that are having the real impact. Of course, I still think our presidents set an agenda, and I don’t think either of these guys know what the hell they’re talking about most of the time, especially Trump.
We had a get together with the children's Godparents. There were eight of us, Katie and, the three kids (plus the oldest’ spouse) and the two godparents. I bought the Godparents a Rome calendar with Cats in it (the Cat is in the foreground, making the buildings look small), plus a cat suncatcher. They sat it down on the cedar chest, when our younger dog jumped up on it, knocking it to the ground, cracking it. SIGH! Katie plans to glue it tomorrow.
We went to a restaurant called “Black Rock”, the big deal is they can bring a heated stone to your table, so you can cook your steak yourself (I had them cook mine for me). The stones are heated to 750 degrees. We’ve been 3x, never a bad experience. They know how to cook, how to plate, how to serve. We were there a little over two hours.
Almost at the end of the meal our youngest checked his phone; there had been a shooting on campus, students asked to shelter in place. The shooting was in a parking lot, opposite side of campus from our youngest. We asked, we decided to take him back to campus anyway, he agreed to stay in his dorm (which he did…until they police gave an “all clear”…then he visited the student neighborhood until about 2am). One of his roomies went home Saturday night, instead.
Come Sunday, in meeting we heard from families with Winchester relatives (where the tornado hit). It missed all the Friends Meetings about there, but leveled 22 homes, including 4-5 from Friends families. The Wal-Mart is closed for a few days so our food pantry is loading up supplies to take up there (the director attends our meeting). This is a busy week so I may not have time to do much to help. But if they need help next week I will.
Speaking of shrewd persons, Thor the Son has been accepted into graduate school at UNC-Charlotte. He will specialize in Hydrology, he says, and is already talking about having a PhD.
He's also talking about getting a $600 Brandon Sanderson special package, with several books plus "goodies," when he gets his tax refund, and would I front him the money if the tax refund takes too long, because there's a deadline to order.
Mr. Sanderson's marketing is fantastic, as is his literary output rate.
Good morning. The temperature is just a degree or so below freezing and is supposed to rise only to the upper 30s today.
In what is the ultimate “dog bites man” story, the mothership reports that Vladimir Putin won re-election to a fifth term as president of Russia, by a 90% of the vote over minimal opposition. (A dissident who might have mounted actual opposition was barred from running). This makes Putin the longest tenured Russian leader since Joseph Stalin.
That article looks interesting. I’ll have to dig into it later.
"History Facts" says Richard Nixon was a very successful poker player as a young man. I admire that: it takes a statistical mind and a knowledge of psychology to win consistently at poker.
“HILLARY CLINTON SAYS THE UNTHINKABLE” was the headline on a story at NJ.com. What did she say? She said she agreed with Mike Pence as he was quoted on a post on X by Face The Nation: Former Vice President Mike Pence says it's "unacceptable" for Donald Trump to refer to January 6 defendants as "hostages" as their cases go through the legal system: "I think it's very unfortunate at a time that there are American hostages being held in Gaza."
What strikes me as a terrible reflection on the divisiveness in the country is that she said she “can't believe I'm saying this...” and it was reported as being unthinkable that she could agree with Mike Pence on ANYTHING.
This is a sad time, when partisans can only think in partisan terms and some folks wonder why Congress can't get anything done.
Original link: https://www.nj.com/politics/2024/03/hillary-clinton-says-the-unthinkable.html
Hi. I have to get to the post office and then the ballot drop box. I'm considering whether I can time it so I put the ballot in the slot at exactly noon local time. Because it's my protest vote against predetermination of election outcomes as it is practiced in this country, by the elite establishment (read: MAGA GOP) and the media (read: everybody but Mr. Stirewalt and perhaps Mr. Scoop Drucker).
If you don't hear anything more from me today, I'm sure it'll just be that I am enjoying a late lunch and catching up on more to-do items. If the cops are watching, it'll only be to make sure I can get in and out of the location without being buttonholed by overenthusiastic candidates for local offices who weren't even on my ballot because they're running in Dem primaries where all the action is. I present very little threat to anyone in that ecosystem.
I've long been fond of a writer, Ruth Graham. She wrote for Slate many years ago, and to my delight got "called up to the major leagues" at the NYT. She is a religion writer. Her column today is unlocked so if anyone wants to read it, here is the link.
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/17/us/evangelicals-christians-conservative-trump.html?unlocked_article_code=1.dk0.l3c4.yjd1TjjpMUbu&smid=url-share
And if no one wants to read it, here's the link anyway. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/17/us/evangelicals-christians-conservative-trump.html?unlocked_article_code=1.dk0.l3c4.yjd1TjjpMUbu&smid=url-share
We have always had to deal with spies, and some are exceptionally good at it. I wonder what the U.S. has managed to do when it comes to other countries? What’s interesting to me is how much time we spend on people like Trump and Biden, when it’s those well hidden things that are having the real impact. Of course, I still think our presidents set an agenda, and I don’t think either of these guys know what the hell they’re talking about most of the time, especially Trump.
Regarding Victor Rocha, it would seem quite ironic to imprison him at Gitmo. Although he'd still live better than 75% of his Cuban compatriots.
We are back to the real world after 4 days in the mountains with wonderful, kind people and phenomenal music.
And NC State upset Carolina to win the ACC championship!
A good weekend.
We had a get together with the children's Godparents. There were eight of us, Katie and, the three kids (plus the oldest’ spouse) and the two godparents. I bought the Godparents a Rome calendar with Cats in it (the Cat is in the foreground, making the buildings look small), plus a cat suncatcher. They sat it down on the cedar chest, when our younger dog jumped up on it, knocking it to the ground, cracking it. SIGH! Katie plans to glue it tomorrow.
We went to a restaurant called “Black Rock”, the big deal is they can bring a heated stone to your table, so you can cook your steak yourself (I had them cook mine for me). The stones are heated to 750 degrees. We’ve been 3x, never a bad experience. They know how to cook, how to plate, how to serve. We were there a little over two hours.
Almost at the end of the meal our youngest checked his phone; there had been a shooting on campus, students asked to shelter in place. The shooting was in a parking lot, opposite side of campus from our youngest. We asked, we decided to take him back to campus anyway, he agreed to stay in his dorm (which he did…until they police gave an “all clear”…then he visited the student neighborhood until about 2am). One of his roomies went home Saturday night, instead.
Come Sunday, in meeting we heard from families with Winchester relatives (where the tornado hit). It missed all the Friends Meetings about there, but leveled 22 homes, including 4-5 from Friends families. The Wal-Mart is closed for a few days so our food pantry is loading up supplies to take up there (the director attends our meeting). This is a busy week so I may not have time to do much to help. But if they need help next week I will.
Speaking of shrewd persons, Thor the Son has been accepted into graduate school at UNC-Charlotte. He will specialize in Hydrology, he says, and is already talking about having a PhD.
He's also talking about getting a $600 Brandon Sanderson special package, with several books plus "goodies," when he gets his tax refund, and would I front him the money if the tax refund takes too long, because there's a deadline to order.
Mr. Sanderson's marketing is fantastic, as is his literary output rate.
From the mothership:
Worth Your Time II: 'What Trump’s TikTok Flip-Flop Tells America'--David French
https://tinyurl.com/yc6hmswd. -or- http://archive.today/OpM35
Good morning. The temperature is just a degree or so below freezing and is supposed to rise only to the upper 30s today.
In what is the ultimate “dog bites man” story, the mothership reports that Vladimir Putin won re-election to a fifth term as president of Russia, by a 90% of the vote over minimal opposition. (A dissident who might have mounted actual opposition was barred from running). This makes Putin the longest tenured Russian leader since Joseph Stalin.
That article looks interesting. I’ll have to dig into it later.
https://historyfacts.com/famous-figures/fact/richard-nixon-helped-fund-his-first-political-campaign-by-playing-poker/
"History Facts" says Richard Nixon was a very successful poker player as a young man. I admire that: it takes a statistical mind and a knowledge of psychology to win consistently at poker.
Good morning. I don't think I can worry about Cuban spies in addition to everything else right now.