Friday, February 19, 2021

@19:15, , 2/18/21

 |

1

Kamala Harris: Women Leaving Work Force During Pandemic Is a 'National Emergency'
Katie Rogers, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 1 hour ago
“In one year,” Vice President Kamala Harris said, “the pandemic has put decades of the progress we have collectively made for women workers at risk.”
 
I have been amusing myself with the notion of  "The Zombi Apocalypse" as infectious Trumpism.
A generous child care allowance to psycological maturity would be a good thing.
Much of the work the pandemic has shut down was not progress.

2
House Democrats and White House Split Over Lawsuit for Ex-Trump Aide’s Testimony
Charlie Savage, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 1 hour ago
President Biden has inherited litigation over a subpoena to Donald F. McGahn II, President Donald J. Trump’s former lawyer, about the Russia investigation.
 
Trump is out. Be happy.
Worry about the future.
 
3
Native Americans ‘Left Out in the Cold’ Under Trump Press Biden for Action
Mark Walker, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 1 hour ago
After showing political clout in the 2020 election, tribal communities are hoping for more attention and money to address their long-running problems with poverty, health care and other issues.
 
The treaty obligations are real.  Now is a time to try to meet them.  Start to show real progress.
Truth and reconciliation could be a first step.
4
Democratic Lawmakers Introduce Biden’s Immigration Overhaul in House
Michael D. Shear, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 2 hours ago
Senator Bob Menendez of New Jersey and Representative Linda Sánchez of California disclosed details of the proposal on Thursday in a news conference.
 
This is not too soon.  Press forward with the necessary legislation.
It should not slow the necessary relief.
 
5
Global Chip Shortage Challenges Biden’s Hope for Manufacturing Revival
Ana Swanson, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 3 hours ago
A global shortage of a key component for cars and electronics has shuttered American factories anisd set off fierce competition to secure supplies.
 
Unknown unknowns raise the price of products.
The lack of cheap chips will cost more.  
Poor management is discovered by higher costs.
 
6
A College Program for Disadvantaged Teens Could Shake Up Elite Admissions
Erica L. Green, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 3 hours ago
An education program is immersing underprivileged students in Ivy League classes, and the students’ success has raised questions about how elite university gatekeepers determine college prospects.
 
Elite colleges exist to build elites.  Legacy admissions continue elites.
 Elites are exclusive and reactionary.
 
7
Biden’s Plan to Link Arms With Europe Against Russia and China Isn’t So Simple
Michael Crowley and Steven Erlanger, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 4 hours ago
The new president’s vow to restore the trans-Atlantic alliance is welcome, but Europeans want a more balanced relationship, with more dialogue and less diktat.
 
Trump surrendered American leadership.
Woodrow Wilson's legacy is hated by the Republican party despite Nixon's southern strategy.

8
Dolly Parton Statue Has Tennessee’s Support, but Not Parton’s
Julia Jacobs, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 4 hours ago
The state legislature was considering a bill that would kick off plans to erect the statue on Capitol grounds. She has asked that the bill be pulled.
 
Dolly Parton is wise.  A very rare quality.the

9
Should the Feds Guarantee You a Job?
Eduardo Porter, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 6 hours ago
Not long ago, the question was rarely asked. Now, politicians and economists of various stripes are willing to consider it.
 
Capitalism demands a labor surplus. 
The labor surplus depresses wages to a level where only the desperate will accept them.
Only social action allows the accumulation of personal wealth.
Unmodified capitalism is inherently unstable.

10
Rush Limbaugh, Talk Radio’s Provocateur, Dies at 70
Robert D. McFadden and Michael M. Grynbaum, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 6 hours ago
With a following of 15 million and a divisive style of mockery, grievance and denigrating language, he was a force in reshaping American conservatism.
 
If I cannot speak ill of the dead I will be silent.
 
11
Texas Grid Failure Stirs Feud Between Cities and State
David Montgomery, Simon Romero and James Dobbins, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 7 hours ago
As the state reels from power outages, Democrats look to turn the tables on the Republicans who dominate state government.
 
This is not an engineering problem.  The engineers built the systems as the Republican politicians
demanded it be built.  
Texans should remember Republicans at the polls.
 
12
Cuomo at a Crossroads: What Comes Next?
Giovanni Russonello, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 10 hours ago
We talked to our Albany bureau chief, Jesse McKinley, about a political reckoning over coronavirus deaths for the embattled governor of New York.
 
The "left" is sure of  its "purity".
Politics is never "pure".
Democrats are neither Socialists or Republicans.
Democrats, like Andrew Cuomo, run compromised governments like that of New York. 
I listened to Andrew Cuomo's briefings.   His numbers were never solid and often corrected weeks and months after they were first announced.
It is not yet time to break the alliance.
 
13 
Biden Signals He’s Flexible on Immigration Overhaul
Michael D. Shear, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 12 hours ago
After two decades of failure, advocates for the broadest possible overhaul of the nation’s immigration laws are considering a new strategy: pressing for piecemeal legislation.
 
"Habbit is habbit and not to be thrown out the window by any man.
It is to be dragged gently down the stairs; one step at a time."
                 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hal_Holbrook
 
14
Promotions for Female Generals Were Delayed Over Fears of Trump’s Reaction
Eric Schmitt and Helene Cooper, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 20 hours ago
Under a Biden administration, the nominations are expected to go from the Pentagon to the White House within weeks and then to the Senate for approval.
 
Trump is a misogynist.
 
15
For Black Aides on Capitol Hill, Jan. 6 Brought Particular Trauma
Luke Broadwater, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 20 hours ago
Black congressional staff members said the attack brought back memories of how they had tried to avoid people they felt could be prone to racist violence — only to find them at their place of work.
 
Sometimes getting out of sight is wise.
These yahoos are a problem for police.   Sometimes they are the police.

16
Biden and Netanyahu Finally Talk, but No Details Are Revealed About What
David E. Sanger, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 23 hours ago
Israel’s statement emphasized the personal relationship between the two leaders. The U.S. statement said they “discussed the importance of continued close consultation.”
 
The Iran Deal is the best bet for good behavior.
Iran is a sovereign nation.  Diplomacy has worked.  Trump did not break Iran.
 
17
Rush Limbaugh's Legacy of Weaponizing Radio Commentary
Jeremy W. Peters, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 23 hours ago
Weaponizing conspiracy theories and bigotry long before Donald Trump’s ascent, the radio giant helped usher in the political style that came to dominate the Republican Party.
 
I will not speak ill of the dead.  Thus I will not speak.
 
18
U.S. Charges 3 North Koreans With Hacking and Stealing Millions of Dollars
Katie Benner, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 1 day ago
The Justice Department unsealed charges against three intelligence officers, revealing more details about incursions on Sony Pictures and the National Health Service in Britain, and other attacks.
 
We tried to destroy North Korea. There is no peace treaty seventy years later.
 
19
Rush Limbaugh Escapes The Hell-World He Created
Ian Welsh, Ian Welsh - 1 day ago
Stirling Newberry explained the concept of a death bet: you bet that the negative consequences of your actions will occur after you are dead. Classically this explains climate change: decision makers who could have stopped it will almost all be dead before it becomes significant. Rush Limbaugh was one of the most important people in […]
 
There is truth here, 

I will do what I can to encourage sanity.

20
Biden and China: Administration Rethinks Relations
Ana Swanson, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 1 day ago
The Biden administration is under intense pressure to maintain former President Donald J. Trump’s curbs on China, even as it tries to develop a more comprehensive and effective strategy.
 
Diplomacy is the only path forward.  Keep thinking.
 
||

No comments:

Post a Comment