Miscellaneous And Off Topic Subjects

[THE_WIZARD_]

I had both hips replaced...only regret was not getting them done sooner. I've heard knees are much harder.

[iam416]

Yeah, as soon as my hips start to go I'm starting the process to get scheduled. I saw how bad it can get. Knees I'll hold off on.

BTW, if crash becomes opioid-addicted because he's a such a little girl he can't take a minor joint replacement, will his posts become more coherent, less coherent or remain the same?

[iam416]

Also, if I were you, Wiz, I'd look very seriously into a brain replacement or, at least, a head removal. Certainly for the latter I think we could put together a massive GoFundMe effort.

[THE_WIZARD_]

Seconded.

[Dr. Strangelove]

The insertion of an orangutan brain into Wiz's cranium would undoubtedly improve his posture, personality, and personal hygiene.

[iam416]

Captain Obvious weighs in.

[THE_WIZARD_]

Both of you can shaddup the STFU.

[THE_WIZARD_]

US Credit downgraded....Biden blames Trump. In other news....Jimmy Hoffa's body found at Mar-A-:Lago....

Biden administration officials told reporters governance issues cited by Fitch occurred during the administration of then-President Donald Trump, Joe Biden's predecessor. Still, the agency kept the rating at AAA during those years, they said.

"This is a bizarre and baseless decision for Fitch to make now," a senior Biden administration said, adding that U.S. governance, by Fitch's measures, had improved during the Biden presidency.

A general view of the White House in Washington, U.S. June 12, 2023. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo
"It simply defies common sense to take this downgrade as a result of what was really a mess caused by the last administration and reckless actions by congressional Republicans," the official said.

The official added that it would be surprising to see a significant increase in federal borrowing costs as a result of the downgrade, based on the limited market reaction so far, and a decline in rates after the 2011 downgrade.

The move drew puzzled responses from economists and analysts, who questioned the timing and said it would likely have minimal effect on Treasury debt markets.

Biden's re-election campaign spokesman Kevin Munoz and White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre blamed Trump and congressional Republicans for the downgrade.

"This Trump downgrade is a direct result of an extreme MAGA Republican agenda defined by chaos, callousness, and recklessness that Americans continue to reject," Munoz said, noting that Trump encouraged Republicans in Congress to "do the default" over the debt ceiling this year.

Yellen said the decision, which assumes a U.S. recession this year, ignores the economy's resilience.

"Today, the unemployment rate is near historic lows, inflation has come down significantly since last summer, and last week’s GDP report shows that the U.S. economy continues to grow," Yellen said.

[Dr. Strangelove]

[Dr. Strangelove]

Also not to irritate you too much, Wiz, but Fitch actually did directly cite Jan. 6th and the ongoing fallout from it as a partial reason for the downgrade.

[THE_WIZARD_]

TDS.

[Hannibal]

oftwominds-Charles Hugh Smith: What Happens When the Competent Opt Out?

Great article on the growing competency crisis.

The section on burnout pretty much perfectly describes how I feel about my company since Blackrock started ramming DEI and rainbow flags down our throats a few years ago. I'm going to retire probably five years earlier than I had previously planned.

[Jeff Buchanan]

There's an emerging position in the US v. DJT indictment that the prosecution has to prove Trump knew the conduct he engaged in was unlawful. Even if that can be established it is still circumstantial rather than direct evidence. It's called "Consciousness of Guilt" a legal concept used by prosecutors to gain a guilty finding.

The NYT, and I'm acknowledging it's anti-Trump bias, has released an annotated version of the indictment that highlights the portions of it that deal with the concept of 'Consciousness of Guilt." The NYT piece is pay-walled and you can't copy and paste parts of it. I like talent's position on allegations - he won't "buy into them" until they are "proved up." The section of the indictment (annotated) shows how Smith intends to do that. I'm no legal scholar but how this is laid out in the indictment is still circumstantial but logic sound.

I think Smith's most difficult part of getting a conviction is convincing the jury that the circumstantial evidence he's offering is strong enough to "prove up" the allegations and gain one. I think DJT is guilty as hell of committing the crimes Smith alleges he committed and should not gain access to the US presidency ever again. My view hardly matters and there is plenty of evidence that his supporters are still solidly behind him.

[Mike]

Those charges are brought in D.C., right? The jury pool will come from a population that voted 92.1% Biden and 5.4% Trump in 2020.

[THE_WIZARD_]

EFZ

Fucking joke. Trump is guilty of being a pompous ass...that's it. To paraphrase a line from Jason Aldean...."Let's prosecute Biden in a small town"