Tuesday, December 31, 2019

@15:13, , 12/30/19, REC

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1
U.S.

Joe Biden Says He Would Comply With a Senate Subpoena, Reversing Course

Mr. Biden asserted that no “legal basis” existed for the Senate to seek his testimony in the impeachment trial, but he later told a crowd that he would comply with “any subpoena that was sent to me.”

I will vote for Elizabeth Warren if I can.

2
Opinion

Bill Barr Thinks America Is Going to Hell

And he’s on a mission to use the “authority” of the executive branch to stop it.

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=GgnClrx8N2k&list=RDAMVMnrIPxlFzDi0

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=l482T0yNkeo&list=RDAMVMl482T0yNkeo

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=nrIPxlFzDi0&list=RDAMVMnrIPxlFzDi0

3

U.S.

Behind the Ukraine Aid Freeze: 84 Days of Conflict and Confusion

The inside story of President Trump’s demand to halt military assistance to an ally shows the price he was willing to pay to carry out his agenda.

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

4
U.S.

Inside the Biggest 2020 Advertising War Against Trump

Michael Bloomberg’s presidential campaign wants to flood voters with attacks on Mr. Trump before it is too late, a lesson Republican candidates learned in 2016 when they initially ignored him.

Yes but not Mike Bloomberg.

5
New York

Why Is New York City’s Skyline Always Lit Up?

The lights are dazzling. But there are several other practical reasons that they stay on all night long.

The light gives the illusion of life.

6
New York

Intruder Screamed ‘I’ll Get You’ in Attack on Jews at Rabbi’s Home

The rampage in the New York suburbs wounded five people and traumatized the Jewish community in the region.

Insanity is a constant risk.

7
Opinion

This Has Been the Best Year Ever

For humanity over all, life just keeps getting better.

"“We are some of the first people in history who have found ways to make progress against these problems,” says Roser, the economist. “We have changed the world. How awesome is it to be alive at a time like this?”

“Three things are true at the same time,” he added. “The world is much better, the world is awful, the world can be much better.""

8
World

How a Chase Bank Chairman Helped the Deposed Shah of Iran Enter the U.S.

The fateful decision in 1979 to admit Mohammed Reza Pahlavi prompted the seizure of the American Embassy in Tehran and helped doom the Carter presidency.

The press did not do its job.

9
New York

9 Ways New York Changed That We Didn’t See Coming

As we look back at the past decade, the city that always changes still managed to surprise us.

Hardware became a zombi.

10
Opinion

The 2010s Were the End of Normal

How social media, the Great Recession and Donald Trump combined to bring out the ‘indigenous American berserk.’

Looting is destructive.



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1

U.S. Intelligence Agencies Prepare to Pull Back Officers From Africa

Julian E. Barnes at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 33 minutes ago
An expected withdrawal of military forces would lead the C.I.A. and other agencies to reduce their presence, leaving some officials and experts fearful of a gap in stopping terrorist threats.
Terrorism is the trigger of empire. 

How Big Companies Won New Tax Breaks From the Trump Administration

Jesse Drucker and Jim Tankersley at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 9 hours ago
As the Treasury Department prepared to enact the 2017 Republican tax overhaul, corporate lobbyists swarmed — and won big.
The Trump administration elects for dividends now.
Depression will follow in due course.
Weaponized Keynesianism has a price.
3  

After Another Year of Trump Attacks, ‘Ominous Signs’ for the American Press

Michael M. Grynbaum at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 9 hours ago
Threats of ‘retribution,’ more accusations of ‘fake news’ and the end of the White House briefing made 2019 the darkest yet for journalists in the Trump era.
The press is not a propaganda organ.

Biden Rebounds, Warren Slows, Sanders Rolls: The Latest on the 2020 Money Race

Shane Goldmacher at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 9 hours ago
An early look at fourth-quarter fund-raising shows Joseph R. Biden Jr. bouncing back, Elizabeth Warren lagging her previous benchmark and Bernie Sanders continuing to haul in cash.
Only votes count.

As Trump Hails Stock Market, Democrats Point to Struggling Workers

Jeremy W. Peters and Sydney Ember at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 10 hours ago
In Iowa, Democratic candidates sought to undercut President Trump’s core message of a strong economy by making the case that it isn’t working for the right people.
Trump is concerned with looking good.

John Lewis, Congressman and Civil Rights Icon, Has Pancreatic Cancer

Emily Cochrane at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 18 hours ago
Mr. Lewis said he had Stage 4 pancreatic cancer, but would return to Washington to continue work and begin treatment.
Good luck to Mr Lewis.  Nobody deserves cancer.
I thought I saw a death notice.  I do not find one.

Putin Thanks Trump for Helping Russia Thwart Terrorist Attack

Andrew E. Kramer at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 21 hours ago
The Russian president called the American president to thank him for a tip about an attack said to be aimed at St. Petersburg.
Happy New Year.

Behind the Ukraine Aid Freeze: 84 Days of Conflict and Confusion

Eric Lipton, Maggie Haberman and Mark Mazzetti at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 22 hours ago
The inside story of President Trump’s demand to halt military assistance to an ally shows the price he was willing to pay to carry out his agenda.
The presentation of the impeachment case will take weeks.

U.S. Launches Airstrikes on Iranian-Backed Forces in Iraq and Syria

Julian E. Barnes at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 22 hours ago
The strikes were a response to a rocket attack that killed an American contractor.
This is not a road to peace.
11 

Week-end Wrap – Political Economy – December 29, 2019

Tony Wikrent at Ian Welsh - 1 day ago
Week-end Wrap – Political Economy – December 29, 2019 by Tony Wikrent Economics Action Group, North Carolina Democratic Party Progressive Caucus 99 GOOD News Stories You Probably DIDN’T Hear About In 2019 [via The Big Picture 12-23-19] A giant among us has passed William Greider – in memoriam – (1936 – 2019) Tony Wikrent, December […]
The problem is the world is already committed to much more warming.
Do the homework.
This more like the picture in my head. 
The time delay of warming is not shown.
The poles are not measuring effectively is postulated.  

Inside the Biggest 2020 Advertising War Against Trump

Jeremy W. Peters at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 1 day ago

Yes but not Bloomberg.

12

They Can’t Get Enough of ‘The West Wing’ Right Now

Sarah Lyall at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 1 day ago
President Bartlet doesn’t live in the White House, even on TV, anymore. But his fans find solace in streaming an old favorite.
There exist smart people who can run a government.
They are not there now. 
13 

In Protesting Climate Change, Jane Fonda Brings Hollywood to Washington

Elizabeth Williamson at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 2 days ago
The actress was joined by her “Grace and Frankie” co-star Lily Tomlin to headline a climate rally that offered plenty of chances to get arrested, but few takers.
Congress is not there and Trump is not listening.
14 

Joe Biden Says He Would Comply With a Senate Subpoena, Reversing Course

Thomas Kaplan at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 2 days ago
Mr. Biden asserted that no “legal basis” existed for the Senate to seek his testimony in the impeachment trial, but he later told a crowd that he would comply with “any subpoena that was sent to me.”
His name would be properly spelled.
He is trumps target.  He is not shooting at Trump.
He is not involved in the impeachment.
15  

‘Nothing Less Than a Civil War’: These White Voters on the Far Right See Doom Without Trump

Astead W. Herndon at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 2 days ago
Deeply conservative, they organize online and outside the Republican Party apparatus, engaging in more explicit versions of the chest-beating seen at the president’s rallies.
Tiny numbers.
16 

Detained for a Year, American Languishes in Russian Prison

Julian E. Barnes at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 2 days ago
Members of Congress and his family members are pushing the Trump administration to step up its efforts to pressure Moscow to release Paul Whelan.
Putin is not a friend.
Maria Butina is sufficiently spanked.  Send her home.
17 

Open Thread

Ian Welsh at Ian Welsh - 2 days ago
As usual, feel free to use the comments to discuss topics unrelated to recent posts.

Happy new year.
Sooner is better.   As soon as you can is best. 
18 

Federal Judge Backs Georgia’s Purge of Nearly 100,000 Voters

Elisha Brown at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 2 days ago
The judge said the state’s move to cancel the voter registration status of inactive voters did not violate the United States Constitution.
The Judiciary has been loaded.
19 

Joe Biden Says He’d Defy Subpoena to Testify in Trump’s Senate Trial

Thomas Kaplan at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 2 days ago
Mr. Biden said Republican demands that he testify were an effort to shift attention away from the president’s own actions.
He should take all the spotlight he can get.
20 

American Contractor Killed in Rocket Attack in Iraq

Julian E. Barnes at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 2 days ago
An attack on a base near Kirkuk also injured several American and Iraqi military personnel.

It is a zone with combat pay.


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