Miscellaneous And Off Topic Subjects

[iam416]

I don't see other Dems standing aside and letting Harris have that nomination easily and after the public gets to view her in action she'll rapidly fade just like she did the last time.

For the Republicans in 2024 I stand by my prediction that the nomination is Trump's if he wants it. DeSantis is the only Republican right now I could see beating Trump but even if he did, there's enough people in Trump's base that harbor resentments on his behalf that they could very well sit at home in November like they did for the Georgia Specials. I think DeSantis is too savvy to run directly against Trump and since he's still only 42, can easily afford to do two terms as Governor and wait to run in 2028 instead.

The only problem is Trump may wait until very, very late in the game before declaring if he's officially a candidate or not. He has a lot of incentives to do rallies and raise money without actually declaring his candidacy for as long as possible.

I think it far more likely that Harris is the Presidential nominee than DJT.

[iam416]

Inflation beat expectations again, which isn't good, but I'm sticking with my expectation that it'll start trending downwards sometime this year. Maybe in another couple months. Except for oil commodity prices have broadly been trending downwards. It takes time for that to show up in consumer prices. And the 10 year yield hasn't budged. In fact, it's gone the opposite direction if inflation was accelerating. I realize the Fed is involved there too, but still...

I tend to think you're right, but I also think it could go either way. I don't think it's entrenched as "transitory." I think it wise to be very cautious in terms of injecting trillions more into the economy.

[Jeff Buchanan]

We're in Greece this week - on a cruise ship where the CDC still says these are high risk for COVID spread. Never mind that the ship we are sailing on has sailed from Athens 4x in the last month with around 2000 guests and not one COVID case has emerged. Never mind that multiple cruise lines are sailing out of various Asian and European ports safely since July of 2020 a few before that. You have to be vaxed to board if your over 16. You get antigen tested before boarding and can't board if you test positive. Given those two mitigation measures, a cruise ship, give all the health protocols is without question the safest congregate setting in the world. But, yeah, the CDC says Americans shouldn't go on cruise ships but it's ok to go to a wedding or other large gatherings where the same kind and level of mixing occurs without any of the health protocols in place that are in place aboard a cruise ship

Greece also has it right and has, since June of 2020 when they basically opened their tourist industry, has controlled viral spread. Ship mitigation measures during this opening of 13 months duration has contained the virus. Now that vaccines have been introduced, Greece reports falling new case numbers. Disease burden by the standard metrics are manageable and down trending. Greeks have been supportive of government measures and policies. Mask compliance has been high. The government has adopted a policy of contain and manage SARS2 and COVID. Seems to be working with the tourism industry at about 75% of pre-pandemic economic activity. Brits, French and German citizens flock here to avoid EU's restrictions on mobility and access.

There are two approaches to the pandemic emerging: one of managing it without restricting mobility and economic activity and one that seeks eradication and the typically draconian measures to achieve it. Experts claim whatever way they are aligning themselves with that science is on their side. Well it's not as there is data that supports either approach. Either way a government chooses, high vax rates are critical to achieving both sides goal. Scientists agree on this so, lets get going.

Speaking of that the press, left unchallenged, is doing more to dissuade people from getting vaccinated than to persuade and promote. This morning, the NYT's reported that the J&J vaccine has been associated with a neurological condition. But wait, out of 3M doses there have been 100 cases suspected, not proven, of being caused by the J&J vaccine. IOW, it's fucking rare and benefits far outweigh the risks just like the blood clot BS. But this kind of reporting is all you need to get anti vaxers of all stripes nodding their heads and saying, told you so. Vaccines produce side effects. People die after getting them. It's normal and, Oh BTW, getting vaxed may allow the rest of us to sort-of get back to normal but, whatever. Choice is a good thing.

The bottom line on this is that it's hard to decide which combination of PH policies will do the best job in achieving desired outcomes. That's because there is no consensus among the PH and virology experts. That's because the data isn't solid enough for these scientists to take strong stands. This is not atypical. Given the huge variance in how countries are approaching the pandemic after nearly 18 months of it, it's not difficult to understand how confusing the messaging is with the press tirelessly augmenting anything bad.

[Tom W]

I think it far more likely that Harris is the Presidential nominee than DJT.

If only because of health reasons. 2024 is a long ways away and Trump doesn't exactly look like he's living a lifestyle that's particularly suitable for longevity.

But Harris is likely to end up being a bigger joke than Dan Quayle. She's so bad that it will be (even more) blatantly obvious, even to Pink Hatters, exactly HOW she got into her various positions of power.

We desperately need a new cast of characters in 2024.

[THE_WIZARD_]

Meanwhile, godspeed to those Cubans trying to rid themselves of REAL tyranny. It won't end well for them, but at least they're actually giving it a go. I'm sure AOC and the other self-proclaimed Democractic Socialists are mortified at the dissent.

I thought they were peacefully protesting lack of Covid vaxing??? Wtf?

[lineygoblue]

I'm sure The Media will have gaggles of stories about how this move is "profoundly undemocratic" or is an otherwise an act that will surely destory our country. LOL.

Good point, but I think what's probably more likely is that they'll end up promoting these nimrods as being "true American heroes, who are champions of voting rights".

I wonder if George Soros is picking up the tab for those idiots to live in the DC area while they chicken out on their responsibilities back home. DC ain't cheap.

[Dr. Strangelove]

I'll revise and resubmit to say that I think it's likelier that Trump doesn't run at all than it is that Trump decides to run and someone else beats him for the nomination.

[Tom W]

That is correct.

[iam416]

I don't disagree with any of your analysis in either post re 2024, Strangelove.. However, I really don't think DJT is going to run again. And I'm certain Harris will -- whether it's in 2024 depends on how long the Chairman can hang on to whatever marbles he has left rolling around in his noggin.

The Ds have to have a metric fuckton of better options than her, but, as you know, she's the VP and that's a damn strong position to hold going into a primary.

[lineygoblue]

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[iam416]

It's unsurprising that Vox (and other way left partisans) would side with China over the US, but to do so on climate change is unflinchingly idiotic. Yet, Vox certainly did and, of course, is hilariously wrong.

https://www.nationalreview.com/corne...limate-change/

Geraghty has lots of fun with them:

Go figure, the people who crow the loudest about being “the smartest minds, the toughest questions” turn out to be the most gullible and credulous when it comes to the promises of habitually duplicitous authoritarian regimes.

It must of have been tough for those on the left when they had to choose between the USA under DJT or China. I mean, they love authoritarian socialism and loathe DJT and, well, America. But, man, there's fighting from the low ground, then there's Picket's charge...THEN there's Custer....and THEN there's thinking China is better on climate change than the US.

Holy fucking hell.

[Da Geezer]

Kamala Harris talking about how unfair certain voter ID laws are to rural Americans because it’s virtually impossible for them to make copies of their ID is gold.

She really is the gift that keeps on giving. I mean, she’s obviously not as important a 20-something conservative blogger, so I apologize for interrupting that “news.” But, it’s still hilariously revealing. God, she’s so bad.

https://babylonbee.com/news/rural-americans-burn-kamala-harris-at-the-stake-for-witchcraft-after-she-shows-them-a-photocopier

[Tom W]

She certainly floated better than the photocopier, so she must have been either a duck or a witch. Ducks don't giggle, so it makes sense.

[Dr. Strangelove]

I forgot all about this guy.

Chicago banker found guilty on all counts and could face decades in prison. Manafort promised him a top position in the Trump Administration in exchange for letting Manafort borrow $16 million. Took the jury less than two hours.

Good reminder that Manafort always was and always will be a sleazy piece of shit. He wasn't sent to prison on mere process crimes.

https://abc7chicago.com/stephen-calk-bribery-trial-donald-trump/10884301/

[Kapture1]

I forgot all about this guy.

Chicago banker found guilty on all counts and could face decades in prison. Manafort promised him a top position in the Trump Administration in exchange for letting Manafort borrow $16 million. Took the jury less than two hours.

Good reminder that Manafort always was and always will be a sleazy piece of shit. He wasn't sent to prison on mere process crimes.

https://abc7chicago.com/stephen-calk...rump/10884301/

he also wasn't sent to prison for COLLUSION, whatever the fuck that is.