DL Open Thread: Friday, January 15, 2021

Filed in Featured, Open Thread by on January 15, 2021

A couple of idle thoughts:

I still can’t get over the fact that six out of seven Rethuglican state senators voted against a resolution congratulating Delaware’s first elected President.

Did those two Laurel rioters ride to (and maybe from) DC on a bus chartered by the Delaware Rethuglican Party? If I were a reporter, I’d be looking into that.

Regardless, we are in Bizarro World. Which is not unlike Sussex County.

One Helluva A Stimulus Plan.  Biden has gone big. $1.9 trillion big. I guess it’ll all come down to whatever Joe Manchin permits.

Trump Denied Biden Team Access To Vaccine Rollout Plans.  Uh, because there weren’t any?:

For more than a month, the Biden team pressed to attend meetings that offered “real-time information on production and distribution of vaccine” — important details for the president-elect’s advisers debating ways to bring the pandemic under control, said a transition official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss private interactions.

While health agencies’ career staff have been helpful, it was not until this week that Biden officials were allowed to attend meetings of Operation Warp Speed, the administration’s initiative to accelerate vaccine development and distribution. They were also not invited to the two Warp Speed sessions this weekend when Trump officials decided on sweeping changes to try to speed up the sluggish vaccine rollout. Nor were they briefed on those changes in advance.

While some of those policies mirrored Biden plans, others raised red flags among the president-elect’s advisers. One is a recommendation to offer vaccines immediately to tens of millions under 65 who have high-risk medical conditions — a change the Biden team fears could overwhelm state supply and already stressed sign-up systems, while creating unrealistic expectations for those eager to get inoculated.

Yes, It Was An Inside Job.  Man, we’ve only scratched the surface.  This was a planned takeover of the Capitol.  Rethugs have dropped the pretense that elections matter.

‘What A Dump’. Taxpayers pay $3K a month because Secret Service detail is barred from using one of Jared/Ivanka’s ritzy bathrooms.

One Man’s Journey To Trumpism.  A journey that ended on January 6.  This article tells you at least as much as you will learn from reading ‘Hillbilly Elegy’. And it’s shorter.

The Trump Administration’s Obsession With Family Separation.  Oh, sure, some are apologizing now.  Tell that to the families that you destroyed. An indelible stain on our history. Unforgivable.

NJ Rethug Candidate For Governor First Political Victim Of January 6? Sad.

Club For Growth Funding Election Overthrow Pols.  See who they are.

Trump’s Tech War Screws American Automakers.  This is what happens when you can’t even play one-dimensional checkers.

Retired Pa. Firefighter Arrested For Hurling Extinguisher At Cops.  None of these thugs should get bail. They’re dangerous.

Carney Waffles On Tax Increases.   Despite what appears to be solid D support for Rep. Kowalko’s bill, including from Speaker Pete Scjwartzkopf, here is the response from the Governor’s office:

“The Governor is concerned about raising taxes on any Delaware families or Delaware businesses during a pandemic and significant economic crisis,” said Carney’s spokesman, Jonathan Starkey, in the statement.

“Also because of the state’s responsible budget policy, Delaware is one of few states not facing budget challenges this year.”

Starkey also said that the governor’s office doesn’t generally speculate on whether Carney will sign legislation before it’s voted on, and that the governor is focused on the COVID-19 pandemic.

Huh, isn’t that what you just did?  Carney sucks.  Which is the kind of sophisticated analysis you can’t get anywhere else.

What do you want to talk about?

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  1. Alby says:

    Even among the invertebrates who make up the mainstream Democratic Party, Carney stands out as the most spineless. No, wait, without a backbone he can’t stand out — he can’t stand at all.

    OK, he oozes out as the most spineless.

  2. jason330 says:

    Dear John Carney and Anyone ELSE who still doesn’t think that the DEGOP is a fully trumpified, radicalized club of dangerous fuckwits – please wake the fuck up.

  3. Mitch Crane says:

    Any family or business that would be seriously hurt by such a small tax increase- is not going to make it anyway. Those opposed to this increase in a graduated tax will always find a reason to oppose. Same with the $15/hr minimum wage. In any event, if those two bills pass by significant margins, the Governor will sign them.

    • Alby says:

      In other words, if they have to votes to overcome a veto he’ll sign it. Hardly a profile in courage.

      • Mitch Crane says:

        Wasn’t implying it was.

        • Alby says:

          Didn’t think you were. Just pointing out that “significant margins” actually means “I can’t do anything to stop it.”

          Meaning, of course, that if he can stop it he will. It’s about the framing. You made it sound like he was making some kind of concession.

          He’s fucking useless. He’s Minner without the vicious revenge motive.

  4. Turns out there IS no Federal vaccine reserve. Just one more soul-crushing lie from Coons’ pal Alex Azar:

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/01/15/trump-vaccine-reserve-used-up/

    A snippet:

    “Now, health officials across the country who had anticipated their extremely limited vaccine supply as much as doubling beginning next week are confronting the reality that their allocations will not immediately increase, dashing hopes of dramatically expanding eligibility for millions of elderly people and those with high-risk medical conditions. Health officials in some cities and states were informed in recent days about the reality of the situation, while others are still in the dark.”

  5. Alby says:

    Good news, pigeon lovers. Joe the Racing Pigeon, the one found in Australia with a leg tag showing he belonged to a man in the U.S., was the victim of a counterfeiter. He’s not American at all; the leg tag was a fake, probably because racing pigeons can sell for high sums of money, and so he won’t be euthanized.

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-55667045

  6. jason330 says:

    Hawley’s approval rating underwater (in MO), with 43 percent of respondents disapproving of him and 39 percent approving. One-third of respondents had a “very unfavorable” view of Hawley, while one in five had a “very favorable” view of him.

  7. bamboozer says:

    I’m 65 and at risk, not surprised the vaccine is being botched and bungled as we only elect and hire the best idiots and incompetents in the federal government. But I live out in the sticks and am probably safe for now. Expect little improvement, Biden or not, but at least he gives a damn. As for Carney pray tell what did you expect? As ever it’s a failure fest in Washington and nary a charge of sedition to be had, as for “unity” don’t make me vomit. Again.

  8. jason330 says:

    I love this Forbes headline:

    Another Tenant Wants Out Of Donald Trump’s Wall Street Skyscraper

    It is the “Another” that fills me with glee.

    drip
    ..drip
    ….drip
    …..drip