DL Open Thread Sunday, May 30, 2021

Another day, another reason to worry that Chris Coons is going to fuck us up like the no-so-secret Republican he is. David Dayen the American Prospect reports that Coons is trying to force his pick to run the U.S. Patent Office on the White House. Why can’t we have nice things? Delaware is a bigger reason than you think.

It’s not just Coons. An entire generation of moderate Democrats — “the enemy” has always been my preferred name for them, because unlike Republicans, they pretend to be on our side — has been infected with the belief that Republicans are reasonable people, the “loyal opposition” of yesteryear. The latest dumbkopf to fall in with these Neville Chamberlains: Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, whose upcoming book sings the praises of an imaginary system under which we all get along. He makes it clear he won’t retire so Biden can name a successor, either. Thanks a pantload, Steve.

The U.S. labor shortage is actually a wage shortage, and it’s affecting mostly the hospitality industry. But employers all over the country are, in their natural cluelessness, are acting as if the pandemic never happened. Bosses want workers back in offices, because what fun is lording it over people you can’t intimidate in person, but it probably won’t be enough to save public transit as we know it.

Hey, speaking of the assholes who run things on Wall Street, they’re now lobbying to make Bitcoin “safe” for “small investors.” In other words, hold onto your wallet with both hands.

It appears Netanyahu is out as Israeli PM, which might not mitigate the current conflict with the Palestinians but does get one right-wing authoritarian asshole out of power.

The floor is yours.