Tuesday, July 7, 2020

@23:45, , 7/6/20

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1

Did the Popular Vote Get a Win Today?

Maggie Astor and Matt Stevens at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 53 minutes ago
A Supreme Court ruling on faithless electors could indirectly help those who want to circumvent the Electoral College entirely.
 
The electoral college exists because the founders distrusted party politics.
Faithless electors were an intentional part of the deal.
 
Party politics is now triumphant.
 

Spencer Cox Wins Utah’s G.O.P. Primary for Governor, Beating Jon Huntsman

Maggie Astor at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 2 hours ago
Mr. Cox, the state’s lieutenant governor, is expected to win the general election as well. He had the endorsement of Gov. Gary Herbert, who rose to his office after Mr. Huntsman left it.
 
Utah votes Republican and Mormon.
 

Supreme Court Won’t Block Ruling to Halt Work on Keystone XL Pipeline

Adam Liptak at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 2 hours ago
But the justices stayed the rest of a federal trial judge’s ruling striking down a permit program, allowing construction of other pipelines around the nation.
 
A half step of progress.
 

Lobbyists, Law Firms and Trade Groups Took Small-Business Loans

Jeanna Smialek, Jim Tankersley and Luke Broadwater at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 2 hours ago
The Trump administration began releasing details of which businesses received Paycheck Protection Program aid.
 
Trump's friends benefited. 
 

Supreme Court Rules States May Curb 'Faithless Electors' in Electoral College

Adam Liptak at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 3 hours ago
The court said states may require members of the Electoral College to vote for the presidential candidates they had promised to support.
 
The system was broken.
It is now destroyed.
 

Simon & Schuster Advances Publication Date of Trump Tell-All

Alan Feuer and Maggie Haberman at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 7 hours ago
The release of “Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World’s Most Dangerous Man,” by Mary Trump, is now scheduled for July 14.
 
Good. 
 

Trump Adds to Playbook of Stoking White Fear and Resentment

Maggie Haberman at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 11 hours ago
With a defense of Confederate flags and a false accusation against a Black NASCAR driver, Bubba Wallace, President Trump is focusing on racial and cultural flash points to appeal to his base.
 
Trump is a racist.
 

Vanessa Guillen’s Remains Found, Family Confirms

Christina Morales at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 13 hours ago
Remains found in Texas were confirmed to belong to Specialist Vanessa Guillen, who went missing at Fort Hood more than two months ago. Her family said she had dreamed of being in the military since childhood.
 
"A federal complaint filed Thursday alleges that another soldier — who fatally shot himself with a pistol as the police approached him — killed Specialist Guillen and then hid her body in a large box. The soldier’s girlfriend is accused of helping him dismember and burn Specialist Guillen’s remains." 
 
Let there be no next time.
 

The Coming Homelessness and Hunger Apocalypse in America

Ian Welsh at Ian Welsh - 13 hours ago
So, in June 30 percent of Americans couldn’t make their rent. July 25th, federal eviction protection ends. There may be another check, but another $1,200 (or even $2k) isn’t going to cut it, just as people couldn’t pay rent event with the $600 unemployment benefit top-up. Covid now has more active cases than the previous […]
 
The U.S. is committed to a man made disaster.
The project is a triumph of liberal democracy Rather than autocracy of the right or the left.
There are no platonic philosopher kings.
 
10 

Trump’s Us vs. Them Holiday

Giovanni Russonello at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 15 hours ago
The president uses July 4 to lay out his message of division: This is your morning tip sheet.
 
Trump should not be president.
 
11 

Biden’s Big Climate Decision: Will He Embrace His Task Force’s Goals?

Lisa Friedman and Katie Glueck at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 17 hours ago
The former vice president’s allies and some of the Democratic Party’s leading progressives have quietly started to forge common ground to shape a climate plan before Election Day.
 
The world is committed to two manmade disasters. 
Near is the Covid-19 pandemic.
Less near is global heating.
Both require immediate attention.
 
12 

Despite Coronavirus, Federal Workers Head to the Office

Zach Montague at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 17 hours ago
Federal employees are being ushered back to office buildings under inconsistent and conflicting reopening plans, against the wishes of leaders in the nation’s capital.
 
It is good that the federal government continues to function.
It is in spite of the Republican president.
Liberty for all.
 
13 

A Kennedy and a Professor Compete to Run Against a Trump Backer

Tracey Tully at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 19 hours ago
Stakes are high in the Democratic primary for a New Jersey congressional seat: The winner will face a candidate who defected from the party to support Trump.
 
I am happy some political problems are not mine to solve.
 
14 

Trump Vowed to ‘Drain the Swamp,’ but Lobbyists Are Helping Run His Campaign

Kenneth P. Vogel, Michael LaForgia and Hailey Fuchs at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 19 hours ago
Lobbyists like David Urban, whose connections start at the very top, are thriving as they help the president’s re-election effort while aiding corporate clients.
 
Swamps are ecological beneficial wonders.
Draining swamps poisons the world.
A swamp is not a good descriptor for government.
The Republicans have made a dump and are burning it.
 
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 
15 

Trump Falsely Claims ‘99 Percent’ of Virus Cases Are ‘Totally Harmless’

Roni Caryn Rabin and Chris Cameron at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 1 day ago
The president dismissed the severity of the pandemic, downplaying the effect of the disease even as infections surge across the Sunbelt and rebound in California.
 
Trump is lying as usual. 
 
16 

‘Strategic Empathy’: How Biden’s Informal Diplomacy Shaped Foreign Relations

Michael Crowley at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 1 day ago
President Trump is attacking his record on China. But for Mr. Biden, it’s part of a long history of befriending and sometimes confronting world leaders.
 
Biden is diplomatic.
 
17 

Prince Andrew Sought Washington Lobbyist to Help With Epstein Case

Kenneth P. Vogel at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 1 day ago
Lawyers for the prince consulted a lobbyist with connections in Trump foreign policy circles. No deal was struck.
 
Prince Andrew is priveleged and probably guilty.
 
18 

Week-end Wrap – Political Economy – July 5, 2020

Tony Wikrent at Ian Welsh - 1 day ago
Week-end Wrap – Political Economy – July 5, 2020 by Tony Wikrent Strategic Political Economy Pitchfork-wielding protesters descend on wealthy Hamptons estates [Page Six, via Naked Capitalism 7-2-20] More than 100 drivers and about 200 marchers paid a visit to the homes of some of the world’s wealthiest people, including ex-New York City Mayor Mike […]
 
Government should not be autocratic.
There may be good government.
It is not pure.
Tax everyone by the ability to pay.
Graduated taxes are necessary.
 
19 

A Trump-Backed Senate Candidate’s Hedge Fund Disaster

Danny Hakim at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 1 day ago
Tommy Tuberville, the football coach and leading Republican vying to take on Senator Doug Jones in Alabama, had a tumultuous foray into finance.
 
Ethical behavior is better.  
 
20 

We Now Interrupt Your Regularly Scheduled Convention Programming

Michael M. Grynbaum at NYT > U.S. > Politics - 1 day ago
Instead of the usual media circus, this summer’s made-for-TV political confabs will have a whole lot less TV.
 
I am happy to be entertained by the result.
I want to give the process less attention.
Global heating needs attention beyond a steep carbon tax in the U.S.
The U.N. needs the power to tax and collect taxes.
 
Voluntary taxes were tried under the Articles of Confederation. 
 
 
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