DL Open Thread: Saturday, January 16, 2021
Baghdad On The Potomac. Complete with its own Green and Red Zones:
In an unprecedented move, the Mall and much of the surrounding area is closed to the public days ahead of next week’s presidential inauguration. Hundreds of thousands of spectators typically watch the ceremonies, but this year, the Secret Service has launched a massive security operation to protect the Biden inauguration following last week’s short-lived insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
Gee, ya’ think this rises to the level of an impeachable offense? The vast majority of Rethugs don’t. BTW, Legislative Hall is becoming an armed fortress.
Escape From New York? NRA seeks to flee from its legal troubles:
Seeking an end-run around an investigation by the New York attorney general, the National Rifle Association said Friday that it was declaring bankruptcy and would reincorporate in Texas. The gun group was set up in New York after the Civil War.
The group’s effort to circumvent New York’s legal jurisdiction raised immediate questions from Letitia James, the New York attorney general and a Democrat, who is seeking to use her regulatory authority to dissolve the N.R.A. She has been conducting an investigation into corruption at the gun group since 2019.
“The N.R.A.’s claimed financial status has finally met its moral status: bankrupt,” Ms. James said in a statement Friday. “While we review this filing, we will not allow the N.R.A. to use this or any other tactic to evade accountability and my office’s oversight.”
Can deadbeats still be ‘law-abidin’ citizens’?
Capitol Police Had Been A Longstanding Bastion Of Racism. Over 250 black cops have sued them since 2001. Captain Obvious sez: “They’re not the only police department steeped in racism.” Perhaps this will hasten action to purge police departments of white supremacists. Perhaps. Any Delaware legislators reading this?
Trump Blowed Up Arizona GOP Real Good! Somewhere, Tommywonk nods his head in recognition. OK, if you insist:
Biden Has A Real Vaccine Plan. How fast and how effectively can he implement it? Gotta say, he has all the ‘best people’ working on it.
Office Of Science & Technology To Be Made A Cabinet-Level Post. To be helmed by ‘notable geneticist’ Eric Lander. Guess that Gregor Mendel was not available…although I’ve been told that the two scientists are like peas in a pod.
Over 1000 Delawareans Have Died Of Covid:
“On this day that we pass the heartbreaking milestone of 1,000 COVID-related deaths in Delaware, our hearts go out to all the families and friends who have lost a loved one to this disease,” said DPH Director Dr. Karyl Rattay in a statement. “Even as our response continues to slow the spread of COVID-19 and to increase the pace of our vaccinations, we pause today to remember all of the precious souls lost to COVID-19. May their memory be a blessing to their families and friends.”
What do you want to talk about?
Another ‘parting gift’ from Trump:
WASHINGTON — Top government scientists at the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention could face reassignment every five years under a new regulation the Trump administration issued Friday evening, a move that surprised health officials across the government…
…Under the rule, more than a dozen senior officials could lose their positions as soon as this year — including a key regulator at the F.D.A. responsible for evaluating Covid-19 drugs. Altogether, around 60 top government health officials would be subject to new employment reviews under the policy.
Although the regulation may well be reversed by the Biden administration, it is a parting shot in the Trump administration’s consistent efforts to give political appointees more sway over policy.
Here’s the full article:
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/15/upshot/trump-term-limits-scientists.html?action=click&module=Latest&pgtype=Homepage
Meaningless. It will be reversed quickly.
Some of his many orders are easy to reverse. Others, if they’ve gone through the rulemaking process, aren’t.
Change ’em anyway and let them sue. All traces of Republican Party influence on this country must be eliminated.
There are probably well over 1000 of these orders that will need to be reversed. I know that Biden’s had some people going through them.
Virtually all of them were designed to hollow out government, and to get rid of career officials.
Does anyone at Leg Hall seriously think that chain-link fencing is going to stop anybody?
All I know is that I have to take a different route to work next week and I’m not thrilled about it.
Nice genetics joke. Lol
Thanks. I thought it was hilarious. My wife? Not so much…
How is that not funny??? Like Reginald Punnett she sounds like a real square.
Kidding of course.
Heh. She enjoyed the joke. She doesn’t always like the victory dances I do when I come up with something like that.
Mustn’t be easy living with a genius. Guess I’ll have to ask her…
Boy, Trump will do anything to make sure Biden’s inaugural crowds are smaller than his were.