@9:00, , 7/19/19

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1

We Went to the Moon. Why Can’t We Solve Climate Change?

John Schwartz at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 2 hours ago

The original moon shoot inspired billions. Calling climate action a moon shot isn't an perefect parallel — but maybe we should try it anyway.

How many people must die to provide the political motivation?

A problem not considered here is the long lead time between carbon injection and 

planetary heating.  Thirty years ago the predicted global temperature rise was sufficiently

large that the conference lied to governments to convince them that it was not too late to act.

If carbon injection stopped now there would be something like a twelve degree centegrade

global temperature rise.

It is not a storm surge that is expected but a rise in sea level. The water will not go down.

2 

Anxious Democratic Governors Urge 2020 Field Not to Veer Too Far Left

Jonathan Martin at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 2 hours ago

“I think it scares people,” Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico said of a proposal to eliminate private health insurance. Other governors echoed similar concerns.

The Republican party has been virulently opposed to the left for all of its existance.

Republicans have preached and propagandised poisoning the electorate against any social safty

measures by government.

Any such relief will be damned as unamerican and poisoned at birth.

Debate the issues now and leave them out of the campaign against Trump.

Trump is an enemy of liberty and a stealer of babies.

3 

Call Him a Progressive, Tom Steyer Asks, but Don’t Call Him Rich

Nellie Bowles at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 2 hours ago

Tom Steyer plans to spend $100 million of his own money to take on President Trump, whether anyone wants him to or not.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conversion_of_Paul_the_Apostle

4 

Tuition-Free College Could Cost Less Than You Think

David Deming at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 2 hours ago

Making a tuition-free college education available to everyone who wants one is an immensely worthwhile — and realistic — goal, a Harvard economist says.

A college education is an investment in the students.

"There is no such thing as a free lunch."

Governments are not public corporations.

They have no obligation to have a positive cash flow.

Governments have the power to tax.

Tuition and fees are an aspect of social engineering.

Elites have been viewed as a negative in democracies.

Tuition and fees maintain an elitest structure.

5 

On Politics: Biden-Harris Rematch to Headline Second Debates

NYT > U.S. > Politics - 7 hours ago

In a live television spectacle involving cards, boxes and a triple-split-screen, CNN revealed who will face off in the next set of Democratic debates.

Formal debate between candidates is the wrong structure at this point in a campaign.

Lincoln - Douglas was a debate directly on the issues. 
Neither man was being considered as a candidate.

6 

Trump Says He May Intervene in Huge Pentagon Contract Sought by Amazon

Scott Shane and Karen Weise at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 11 hours ago

The company, long a target of President Trump, is seen as the leading competitor for a $10 billion cloud computing contract that the president said he was “getting tremendous complaints about.”

Amazon has the capacity to do the government computing at bid.

The reason it has the capacity is questionable.

Amazon should not have the ability to look at the government database.

I am uncertain how much of its own data Amazon should be allowed to consult and how the data it is allowed should be deployed.

My government is a democracy.  My mind is my autocracy and my ego is an autocrat.

People are sovereign in themselves.

7 

Examining Trump’s Claims About Representative Ilhan Omar

Linda Qiu at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 11 hours ago

Here’s what he has claimed, and what we know.

Trump is practicing politics on his loyalists.

I do not expect truth from Trump.

8 

Dr. John Tanton, Quiet Catalyst in Anti-Immigration Drive, Dies at 85

Nicholas Kulish at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 11 hours ago

A small-town eye doctor, he founded and fostered advocacy groups whose warnings on demographic change have reached the Trump White House.

I do not expect truth from Trump

9  

U.S. Imposes Sanctions on Iraqi Militia Leaders and Ex-Governors

Edward Wong at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 11 hours ago

The Treasury Department cited human rights abuses when announcing the penalties, which are partly tied to the Trump administration’s campaign against Iran.

Iraq is a sovereign nation.

10 

Trump to Nominate Eugene Scalia for Labor Secretary Job

Maggie Haberman, Noam Scheiber and Michael Crowley at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 11 hours ago

Mr. Scalia, the son of Antonin Scalia who worked in the Bush administration, is expected to bring a pro-business approach and stability to the Labor Department.

It is probable Scalia jr. is a competent lawyer.
It is possible that he will make a labor secretary.
I doubt he should get the job.

11 

Mortimer Caplin, Tactful but Tough Tax Collector, Dies at 103

Sam Roberts at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 13 hours ago

As I.R.S. commissioner in the Kennedy administration, Mr. Caplin promised to be “both reasonable and vigorous” and largely succeeded.

Even good people are not immortal.

12 

‘They Are Human Beings’: Homeland Security Faulted for Treatment of Migrant Children

Zolan Kanno-Youngs at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 13 hours ago

Lawmakers grilled the acting homeland security secretary on Thursday over the Trump administration’s “zero tolerance” policy and offensive social media posts by border agents.

The humanity of persons who are not Republicans may come as a surprise to those that are.

13

What ‘Send Her Back’ Tells Us About Trump’s 2020 Campaign

Lisa Lerer at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 13 hours ago

In the On Politics newsletter: The president’s attacks on four congresswomen, and the response by his base, gave a sense of his re-election campaign.

Trump does not understand citizenship.

14 

Trump Says U.S. Shot Down Iranian Drone as Both Nations Dig In

Thomas Gibbons-Neff, David E. Sanger and Richard Pérez-Peña at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 15 hours ago

At the White House, the president said the Navy ship Boxer was defending itself against an Iranian drone that had refused to back down after being warned.

Trump is trying to pressure Iran.
Iran is resisting.

The Obama nuclear deal is good enough.

15 

E.P.A. Won’t Ban Chlorpyrifos, Pesticide Tied to Children’s Health Problems

Lisa Friedman at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 15 hours ago

The decision not to prohibit the pesticide, which has been linked to developmental disabilities, comes after years of legal wrangling.

The sponsor would not like it.

16 

Iran’s Foreign Minister Proposes Modest Deal to End Impasse With U.S.

David E. Sanger at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 15 hours ago

The Iranian foreign minister sounded philosophical if nothing came of efforts to restart negotiations to the nuclear accord that President Trump has jettisoned.

Mohammad Javad Zarif should not need to make the offer.

17 

As America Debates Abortion, Hollywood Seeks the Realities

Cara Buckley at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 15 hours ago

Series and films depicting abortion in a matter-of-fact way have markedly increased, a scholar finds. Writers say they’re showing what they know.

Birth control is a fact and a right.
No mother is forced to abort except for life threatening conditions.

18 

Trump Disavows ‘Send Her Back’ Chant as G.O.P. Frets Over Ugly Phrase

Julie Hirschfeld Davis, Maggie Haberman and Michael Crowley at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 18 hours ago

But as the crowd chanted at his re-election rally in North Carolina, President Trump looked around and seemed to bask in the enthusiastic refrain.

The probability of a past event is unity.

19 

American to Lead NATO Intelligence as Iraq-War-Era Concerns About U.S. Linger

Julian E. Barnes at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 18 hours ago

The alliance’s intelligence arm has been a priority for President Trump, but the appointment could make NATO’s analysis look like a rubber stamp for Washington.

Yes.  The alliance is a result of Harry Truman. 

Eliminationist Rhetoric

Ian Welsh at Ian Welsh - 19 hours ago

Real polarization in a country happens when different factions don’t accept the other faction has a right to exist. When you say “traitor”, or “go back home” or “you don’t belong here” what you’re saying is that someone doesn’t have a right to exist in your country. Traitor, in particular, is a strong word: traitors […]

Sanity may return.  The question is when.
Then again the South may lose the Civil War.

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