Open Thread – Wednesday January 13th 2021
BREAKING?
Lots of fucking impeachment news overnight. Ive been waiting for “the other shoe to drop” for 4 years, so I didn’t stay up to follow it. Did other shoes rain down roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream? If so, good. If not – here is what I knew as of bedtime:
- McConnell is now in favor of impeachment. Not so fast. Nobody is saying that.
- McConnell is now in favor of kicking Trump to the curb. Probably.
- McConnell is a devious fucking devil working some game? Absolutely
The good news for America is that if it is true that McConnell is trying to “get rid of the President and Trumpism from the Republican Party” then there will be no Republican Party when this is all over.
McConnell believes impeachment push will help rid Trump from the GOP, but has not said if he will vote to convict
Washington (CNN) Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has indicated that he believes that impeaching President Donald Trump will make it easier to get rid of the President and Trumpism from the Republican Party, according to a source with knowledge of the matter.
Another person with direct knowledge told CNN there’s a reason McConnell has been silent on impeachment as other Republicans have pushed back: he’s furious about last week’s attack on the US Capitol by the President’s supporters, even more so that Trump has shown no contrition. His silence has been deliberate as he leaves open the option of supporting impeachment.
DELAWARE
HB15 (no-excuse absentee voting) already passed but it is being debated again today. A constitutional amendment, the law needs to pass twice. I’m not sure calls to your Reps and Senators are in order, because I can’t imagine who would oppose something like this. (You know who would know? Author and political scientist, Claire Snyder Hall she is testifying on HB15 today and I have a brief interview with her going up this afternoon.)
The change would strike the specific excuses currently needed to vote absentee—such as being away on vacation or having a physical disability—and direct the General Assembly to enact “general laws” providing the circumstances, rules, and procedures for absentee voting.
In-person learning benefits outweigh the risks – That’s he bottom line and literal last line of this meandering, trying to have it both ways, story by the NJ’s Natalia Alamdari. My bottom line is that I’m glad that I don’t have school age kids. PLEASE be safe everyone.
“Dave’s not here, Man” Dave is off investing $18 million in Cecil County. Way to go Delaware! This is what happens when you let washed-up State Troopers control the state legislature.
SunMed Growers triples Cecil County cannabis growing facility with $18 million expansion
NATIONAL
Trump may be able to avoid prison, but there is no way he isn’t going to die a broke ass, loser.
Deutsche Bank cuts ties with Trump after Capitol attack
Deutsche Bank, which has been Mr. Trump’s primary lender for two decades, has decided not to do business with Mr. Trump or his company in the future, according to a person familiar with the bank’s thinking. Mr. Trump currently owes Deutsche Bank more than $300 million, which is due in the next few years.
The bank has concluded that, short of forgiving the debt, it has no way to extricate itself from the Trump relationship before the loans come due.
Another longtime financial partner of the Trumps, Signature Bank, also is cutting ties. The bank — which helped Mr. Trump finance his Florida golf course and where Ivanka Trump, the president’s daughter, was once a board member — issued a statement calling on Mr. Trump to resign as president “in the best interests of our nation and the American people.”
RELATED
Is the Scot’s hatred of Trump palpable? Och aye, Jimmie! www.scotsman.com
British Open Will Never Be Played at a Trump Property: Capitol riots fallout sounds the death knell for Donald Trump’s toxic brand
It is hard to put an figure on the price Scotland is paying for Donald Trump’s continuing malignant presence in this country, but the R&A’s announcement that his Turnberry resort will not host the Open Championship for the “foreseeable future” confirms that it stretches into at least nine figures.
After several years of keeping its powder dry, and issuing biannual diplomatic non-committals, golf’s governing body finally gave voice to what many long suspected – for as long as the historic Ayrshire property is besmirched by Mr Trump’s ownership, it will not host the sport’s oldest, and arguably most prestigious, tournament.
PROOF! The oppression of white men in America is bottomless. Er.. uh…never mind.
Snowflake Shaman gets his wish: Judge grants horn-headed Capitol rioter his special organic diet
WHO ARE THE SEDITIONISTS? (VIA LawyersGuns&Money)
This is a fascinating analysis from Jacob Whiton of the demographic characteristics of the districts represented by Republican members of the House who voted to throw out the results of the 2020 presidential election:
INTERNATIONAL
United States says India’s digital services tax is discriminatory
The DST imposes a two per cent tax on revenue generated from a broad range of digital services offered in India, including digital platform services, digital content sales, digital sales of a company’s own goods, data-related services, software-as-a-service, and several other categories of digital services.
Delaware as a Unit of Iceberg Measurement is so IN for 2021!
Iceberg the size of Delaware on a collision course with island off the coast of Argentina
Business
I only drink woke vodka. This observation from Drizly, an online player in the alcoholic beverage industry, has implications across business sectors.
Has Trump Put an End to Brand Neutrality?
2020 somewhat signaled the end of corporate neutrality in America, as protests rose up in cities from coast to coast, invigorating American consumers. “Beyond the impact of Covid-19 on the world, 2020 was also a transformational year in terms of social justice and the fight for equality,” says Rellas. “From the Black Lives Matter movement to awareness about immigration and women’s rights, the year had many businesses and consumers increasing consciousness of the impact of their decisions on minority groups. Businesses must lead from the front.”
In the weeks after George Floyd’s murder in May, (alcohol) consumers actively sought to purchase and support Black-owned drinks brands; McBride Sisters Collection, for example, was the second-fastest growing wine brand on Drizly in 2020. Consumer consciousness for the values of the brands and establishments they frequent will continue to be a focus in 2021, and we expect that individual businesses will be increasingly transparent about their own values in response.
Michigan plans to charge ex-Gov. Snyder in Flint water probe
Locking up criminal politicians – that would be a good precedent to set.
I love this. 4 years of bottled-up snark unleashed on the vox populi all at once!
lol. Long live the snark.
Jane Brady absolves Trump of blame for riots:
https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/politics/joe-biden/2021/01/13/delaware-gop-defend-trump-insurrection-capitol/6642427002/
BTW, who the fuck writes the headlines for the News-Journal? I mean, sure, she’s an ex-Delaware AG (and a judge, thanks to the terminal smarminess of the Minner Administration), but she is the head of the Delaware Rethuglican Party and was speaking in that capacity.
Last I heard the copy desk was in Iowa, but that might have changed.
They’re holding the roll call on impeachment right now in the House. 7 R’s have voted for impeachment so far, there are 8 who have announced that they will do so.
Up to 9 R’s now. Enough votes have been cast to successfully impeach Trump. Again.
Make it 10.
Final vote: 232-197. He’s impeached.
“Way to go Delaware! This is what happens when you let washed-up State Troopers control the state legislature.”
I have to say that if somehow the legislature could take “economic development” away from the executive branch and make it something that supports THE GROWTH of DELAWARE BUSINESSES instead of trying to poach bad actors from other states in search of lower taxes – that would be awesome.
They could support the growth of that particular business by passing marijuana legalization. Put the pressure on Carney to veto it.
Hot take: if the Senate convicts, I hope they DON’T pass the resolution that bans him from federal office again. If they do, that means he can’t run in 2024. And I hope he does run in 2024 and carries the Republicans in flames with him again.
I’m old enough to remember when everyone said Trump couldn’t win.
Best pf both worlds: he is barred from holding office, but in 2024 takes ~5% of the GOP vote as a write-in, giving the win to the first black female President. The dead-enders will write him in even if he is dead or in jail. Maybe we’ll even win Texas.