@22:50, , 1123/19

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1

Open Thread

Ian Welsh at Ian Welsh - 2 hours ago

Use the comments to this post to discuss topics unrelated to recent posts.

Sooner is better. As soon as you can is best.

2 

Navy Is Said to Proceed With Disciplinary Plans Against Edward Gallagher

Maggie Haberman, Helene Cooper and Dave Philipps at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 3 hours ago

Top military officials threatened to resign or be fired if their plans to remove Chief Gallagher from the SEALs were halted by President Trump, administration officials said.

Not happening at last report.

3 

Veterans Join Airlines in Pushback Against Conduct Unbecoming a Support Dog

Jennifer Steinhauer at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 3 hours ago

As the number of emotional support animals aboard airliners proliferate, a veteran’s service dog sometimes gets a bad rap.

I do not want passengers and their supports separated.
The fix that occurs to me is flights that carry those pairs exclusively.
Passengers who would share those flights must do so voluntarily

4.

A Split Decision From Congress Will Leave Voters With Final Say on Trump

Peter Baker at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 5 hours ago

Unlike Presidents Richard M. Nixon or Bill Clinton, Mr. Trump will face an election after his impeachment battle if he isn’t removed from office.

If McConnell manages to retain Trump, Mitch should be removed by the next election.
The reactionary court will be more than enough trouble.

5 

Debate 5, and a Push for Black Voters: This Week in the 2020 Race

Maggie Astor at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 5 hours ago

In the absence of a clear front-runner, some lower-polling candidates were able to break through — at least for one news cycle.

"Black" voters have long and bitter experience with established power.
They will vote their best possible interest.  I will vote my best possible interest.
I hope they coincide.

6 

U.S. Commander Warns of Iranian Attack in Middle East

Eric Schmitt at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 7 hours ago

A top general said that America’s addition of 14,000 troops in the Persian Gulf since the spring would probably not deter Iran from carrying out a major strike.

Generals almost always hold political opinions.
If Iran could win by an attack on the U.S. interests, that attack would be a past event.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Iran#Pahlavi_era_(1925%E2%80%931979)
Trump does not understand diplomacy.

7 

Mike Pence Makes Unannounced Visit to Iraq

Alissa J. Rubin and Falih Hassan at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 9 hours ago

The vice president’s trip signaled the United States’ continuing engagement in the country and came 11 months after President Trump made his own surprise visit to Iraq.

Mike Pence is playing to the red states.

8 

Elizabeth Warren Has Done the Hard Part. Now Comes the Harder Part.

Matt Flegenheimer at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 12 hours ago

All summer, she was soaring, slinging buzzy plans and climbing in the polls. It’s not summer anymore.

Elizabeth Warren is praised with faint damns.

9 

Four Problems With 2016 Trump Polling That Could Play Out Again in 2020

Giovanni Russonello at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 12 hours ago

The issues that led battleground-state polls to miss the mark in the last election could reappear next year, experts warn.

Doubtful.  
The statisticians seem to have gotten things right.
The electorate is more dynamic than expected.

10 

Debate 5, and a Push for Black Voters: This Week in the 2020 Race

Maggie Astor at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 12 hours ago

In the absence of a clear front-runner, some lower-polling candidates were able to break through — at least for one news cycle.

The black voters will try to vote their interests.

11 

Can Fan Fiction Bridge the Partisan Divide?

Emma Goldberg at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 12 hours ago

Literary revisions may help us empathize with political figures across party lines.

Fan fiction often passes as history.

The partisan divide should not be bridged.

12 

A Senate Trial Could Put Trump’s Use of Aggressive Defense Tactics to Their Biggest Test

Maggie Haberman at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 19 hours ago

The president’s campaign against the Mueller report and its author is a road map of what is likely to lie ahead.

Aggressive defense tactics are the reason for the political trial in the Senate.

13 

Trump’s Long List of Inaccurate Statements on ‘Fox & Friends’

Linda Qiu at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 21 hours ago

The president was wrong or misleading or exaggerated about topics related to impeachment, Ukraine and the Democrats, among other inaccuracies.

Faux and friends is sponsored by the persons who sponsor Trump and his Republicans.

14 

Impeachment Briefing: How Republicans Are Using Hearings

Noah Weiland at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 21 hours ago

Defenders of the president are trying to make the case that the evidence is thin and the witnesses aren’t trustworthy.

The defenders of the President have e difficult burden.

15 

Bolton Teases a City Eager to Hear His Story

Peter Baker at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 21 hours ago

John R. Bolton, President Trump’s former national security adviser, said he was breaking his silence — on Twitter. But what he meant was that he was taking back control of his Twitter account. He kept quiet on Ukraine and impeachment.

"Anyone who knows Mr. Bolton should never have thought he would actually spill on Twitter. A Yale-trained lawyer, he has made clear he is waiting for a court to tell him whether he has to testify, relying on a lawsuit filed by a deputy that will be argued on Dec. 10. While former colleagues have issued public statements, Mr. Bolton’s legal team believes making any public comments could be interpreted as waiving any claim of immunity — he could hardly claim confidentiality with Congress and then tell all on Twitter."

16

Black Leader in South Bend Endorses Joe Biden Over Pete Buttigieg

Trip Gabriel at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 22 hours ago

Emphasizing the country’s need for experienced leadership, Oliver Davis, a longtime council member in the city, has been a frequent critic of Mr. Buttigieg.

"In an interview this week, Mr. Davis said that to him, Mr. Buttigieg and even Senators Kamala Harris and Cory Booker looked too risky to defeat President Trump next year. “We are at meat and potatoes time,” he said, praising Mr. Biden."

17

Ex-C.I.A. Officer Sentenced to 19 Years in Chinese Espionage Conspiracy

Zach Montague at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 22 hours ago

Jerry Chun Shing Lee, who pleaded guilty to conspiring with Chinese intelligence agents, received a lengthy sentence in a case built on circumstantial evidence and many unknowns.

The Republicans have been witch hunting.

18 

Trump Warns a Flavor Ban Would Spawn Counterfeit Vaping Products

Annie Karni and Sheila Kaplan at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 23 hours ago

The president again questioned the need for restrictions on e-cigarettes aimed at curbing use among teenagers, who tend to favor fruit and mint flavors.

A general ban on vaping would be better.

19 

Barr’s Legal Views Come Under Fire From Conservative-Leaning Lawyers

Katie Benner at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 23 hours ago

A speech by Mr. Barr last week, in which he argued that Mr. Trump had never overstepped his authority, so alarmed a group of lawyers that they felt compelled to push back publicly.

Attorney General William P. Barr is a True Believer in Trump.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/True-believer_syndrome

20 

Russia Inquiry Review Is Said to Criticize F.B.I. but Rebuff Claims of Biased Acts

Adam Goldman and Charlie Savage at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 1 day ago

A watchdog report will portray the pursuit of a wiretap of an ex-Trump adviser as sloppy, but it also debunks some accusations by Trump allies of F.B.I. wrongdoing.

It is dangerous to call Trump a liar.

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