DL Open Thread: Thursday, November 23, 2023
Israel: ‘At Least Two More Days Of Wanton Destruction Before Cease-Fire’. Because 5000 dead children just aren’t enough:
The Israel Defense Forces said ground troops had “continued striking” in Gaza, with airstrikes on more than 300 targets over the past day. Israel’s National Security Council director said in a statement overnight that the release of Palestinian prisoners in Israel and hostages held by Hamas in Gaza would not start earlier than Friday.
RWNJ Will Leave Congress To Destroy State University. This was wired tighter than Dr. Brainard’s ascension to the Del-Tech throne:
Republican Rep. Bill Johnson announced Tuesday that he would resign from the House next year to become president of Youngstown State University, a move that will set off a special election to replace him in an Ohio seat that shifted from purple to dark red over the last decade.
Last week, the university’s Board of Trustees unexpectedly announced that it had offered its top job to Johnson in an emergency meeting that it had called just two hours earlier. The congressman, who responded at the time that he was still considering whether to accept, does not appear to have even been publicly discussed as a potential candidate for the presidency before then.
Unhappy students, alumni, and faculty members quickly responded by focusing on Johnson’s hard-line views, his lack of academic qualifications, and the process involved in his selection. One letter from alumni objected to Johnson’s opposition to same-sex marriage, his support for Donald Trump’s Muslim travel ban, and his vote against recognizing Joe Biden’s win in 2020. The school’s faculty union also argued that no faculty, students, or staff were allowed to formally make their case about Johnson or anyone else considered for the presidency.
However, the Board of Trustees, which includes members connected to major Johnson donors, nonetheless voted 8-1 Tuesday to approve a formal contract for the new president. The vote, reports WKBN, “was met by boos and yelling from the full crowd in attendance,” but Johnson quickly announced he’d accept his new role.
Rethugs: Killing higher education one institution at a time.
Dutch Voters Veer (Extreme-) Rightward. Still a long way from an authoritarian government, though.:
The Dutch have one of the world’s most proportional, splintered multiparty systems, which means it is difficult to form a coalition, and you don’t vote for a prime minister either.
In order to form a majority, something the parliamentary website describes as “a complex and exciting process”, the leaders of political parties appoint a scout to start talks. Within a week of elections, the sitting parliament appoints an informateur to carry out detailed negotiations with the most likely candidates.
If there’s a potential alliance, the formateur – probably the next prime minister – concludes talks, divvying up cabinet and ministerial posts according to parties’ number of seats and policy preferences. They sign a coalition agreement, typically as thick as a Charles Dickens novel, present their plans in parliament and have a vote of confidence.
New Claymont SEPTA/AMTRAK To Open: Here’s hoping it will help an economic renaissance in Claymont:
Happy Thanksgiving, everybody! Always my favorite holiday.
What do you want to talk about?
