Iuz the Evil

The Koch network just backed Haley. Be interesting to see if she can swing it, but primaries have become ever more the selection of candidates by extreme fringe elements. She’s wildly more centrist than Trump, although obviously far to the right. I don’t think that helps her, but maybe folks are tired of the bluster. That would be at least a reduction. It’s going to be a bumpy ride this election season. I don’t feel great about another Trump-Biden matchup.

https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/israel-hamas-war-gaza-10-10-23/h_72b24198b48f49dae4a02f53b6f9da81 Israel has “released all constraints” on the IDF in their war against Hamas. The Israeli defense minister was quoted as saying, “Hamas wanted a change in Gaza, it will change 180 degrees from what he thought. They will regret this moment. Gaza will never return to what it was” This is going to be happening for a while, I think there’s very little likelihood for anything but a re-occupation by the IDF, but we will see what happens. Right now they’re shelling, have cut off power, water, and are massing forces. Oh and Israel is looking really hard for evidence of Iranian involvement (which is likely, in the opinion of most intelligence agencies I’ve seen quoted, but they currently do not have proof of this).

Now Hamas is saying they’re open to negotiating a truce. Yeah. Good luck with that.

https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/al-aqsa-storm-militants-infiltrate-israel-after-gaza-rockets-10-07-intl-hnk/index.html

Trump is unambiguously the worst candidate imaginable, utterly contemptible and deserving of public scorn. He is the closest thing imaginable to my worst nightmare, making me actually yearn for the incompetent leadership of George W Bush by comparison (who once made me say or out loud through his actions “please never again let there be a President dumber than I am”). Biden is not a good candidate. He is a good man, there is a big difference. He looks ancient, confused, and has not become more articulate as the term progressed. That isn’t to say that I do not wildly prefer his policies. The biggest failing of the Democratic Party in recent years is they have utterly failed to develop a deep bench. What are we facing right now? Kamala Harris? Gavin Newsom? Save us from that. What happened to the Barack Obama speech in the 2004 DNC? I accept that we are in a post moderate world, so my preferences are largely marginalized and irrelevant for either party. I just want people I can believe in. Like Clinton did in 2012 (admittedly after his Presidency)… If it comes to Gavin Newsom versus Donald Trump, I honestly don’t know what I’d do. I cannot cast a vote for either man, and as someone in public service I cannot begin to express what a huge statement that is for me. I’d prefer Harris, she’s at least a progressive version of GWB in my estimation. We need to do better, and that begins at the local level. Give me someone who wants to serve. Came up through public office, but isn’t a raging narcissist in the pocket of corporate interests (thank you Citizens United). Someone who can compromise, and who sees all Americans as their constituents. Not just those who voted for them. It is a difficult time for me. I accept that others may feel differently, but I can’t stand this. Ugh. I hope for a better tomorrow.

Agreed. She was an accomplished representative of California and servant to the people. I prefer to recall that aspect of her career, which in my opinion overshadowed anything after. We all have moments when we stumble, she stood strong for many years and had major accomplishments in legislative service that none of her recent contemporaries can match. RIP Senator, condolences to her family.

She’s allegedly dating Travis Kelce and is encouraging people to register to vote in high population areas. They’ll fixate on less. Oh and she’s an outspoken ally of LGBTQ groups and has been moving away from her historically apolitical positions to support progressive policies more openly. I figure they thought she was apolitical because she was secretly endorsing GOP positions, and there’s a sense of betrayal. People really really care what popular performers think about public policy and politics these days, so they’ve apparently tagged her as an adversary.

“We want to build a university our football team can be proud of” - Dr. George L. Cross, President, University of Oklahoma https://www.nytimes.com/1989/02/18/sports/sports-of-the-times-the-grapes-of-wrath-at-oklahoma.html#:~:text=Cross replied%2C ''We want,up all across the country.

Makes sense to me. I’m the first generation in my family to not have German spoken in my household growing up (2nd generation born here). Grandpa was an undocumented immigrant who came across from Canada with his father to meet up with the rest of the family. Everyone is an immigrant here, just depends on when you arrived (and if it was by boat, plane, or land bridge).

https://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill/interpretations/universalright Libraries are about freedom of speech and expression, and are definitely opposed to efforts of censorship or chilling such rights. That’s been my experience, in both liberal and conservative local jurisdictions. It doesn’t surprise me at all they oppose removing access to materials, that’s foundational to their mission.

It’s not a good thing. An independent judiciary is a safeguard against tyranny. Lest we forget: As true now, as it was then.

https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/27/middleeast/israel-benjamin-netanyahu-judicial-intl/index.html

Not for Federal charges but the POTUS cannot pardon State charges.

And our elected representatives as well…

This seems legally problematic from a Article IV, section 1 of the Constitution perspective. Section 1. Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the public Acts, Records, and judicial Proceedings of every other State. And the Congress may by general Laws prescribe the Manner in which such Acts, Records and Proceedings shall be proved, and the Effect thereof. So they can do that, but I’m not sure how it will play out (and honestly I’m not certain they’re sure about that either, this feels pretty political rather than a basis for legal proceedings).

Left my job today after 8 Years and 6 Months of public service. 4 fires, a mass shooter incident at the VA home, global pandemic response and so many Suicide/DTS/DTO incidents I literally lost count. Some of the best humans I’ve had the pleasure to work alongside, and the privilege of leading. Crazy transition. In 10 days I start my new gig (very similar to the previous one but different County). Really looking forward to the many new things I have to learn about the communities I’ll be serving, and the local priorities. Going to use the time to get my head on straight and study the community health assessment and other state/local reporting so I’m ready to go from Day 1. Very excited.

Tonight the 4th of July was saved by local industry here in Napa County. The city fireworks were canceled by the municipal “powers that be” due to pollution and (no this is not a joke) concerns about pet trauma.

This one is for Hermit.

Somebody had fun https://www.history.com/news/july-4-fireworks-independence-day-john-adams

Is this a fireworks injury thread? I was looking for the Independence Day thread… If I’m in the wrong place, I’ll just see myself out… To light off some fireworks!

https://www.politico.eu/article/france-riots-politics-boy-shot-dead-by-police/amp/ Interesting article on the French riots from Politico. “But this remains largely an insurrection without aims: a scream of fury, an anarchic rejection of even local forms of government; an act of gang-warfare writ large; a competition in performative destruction between disaffected young men in suburbs and towns across France.”

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-66084677.amp Meanwhile, in France… dang! That’s pretty intense.

Sure he is, he’s a politician. That’s what they do. I always assume a financial motivation, and am so rarely not finding that to be the case it’s doesn’t bear consideration.