Monday 25 May 2020

The Witch Doctor













It is Memorial Day today. A day where we remember all of those who sacrificed so much to keep our country free and strong. But we need to remember that it is not only our duty to remember, but to aid  and uphold the very ideals they fought so hard for. It is our duty to maintain a country for them to come back to. It is our responsibility to bring into government men and women who will match their sense of responsibility and care for our country. Charlatans should not be welcome.

110 comments:

      Lee C.   ―  U.S.A.      said...

 
We have a President who's advising that people mainline bleach, and we run out of toilet paper.  Meanwhile the Canadians have been hoarding condoms.  World gets weird in lockdown.

Lynnette In Minnesota said...

Or is that it's always been weird and just becomes more apparent during a lockdown?

Lynnette In Minnesota said...

Or is it that it's always been weird and it just becomes more apparent during a lockdown?

      Lee C.   ―  U.S.A.      said...

 
Charlotte, North Carolina just outsmarted Trump.  (Admittedly, not the highest bar to clear.)

Trump has been demanding that the Governor and the Mayor provide assurances and guarantees that the Republican National Convention will go forward as planned in August.

So, North Carolina has just thrown it back in Trump's face.  They have demanded that the Trump Campaign and the Republican National Committee submit, in writing, the plan they want the Governor and Mayor to guarantee, i.e. they want to see the plan for how the Republicans are going to organize and conduct a full-on convention in compliance with the current pandemic guidelines as issued by the state and federal government, plus they want contingency plans, alternatives, for reasonably foreseeable changes in conditions.  (The Republicans will, of course, be unable to prepare such a plan and contingencies--they've not been making plans except they've been planning on how to blame any disruption of the convention on the Governor and Mayor.  And, they're not in any shape to prepare the demanded written plans if they wanted to.  Advance planning is not among the Trump administration's actual capablilities.)

Lynnette In Minnesota said...

Well, I finally ran into one of those people who support Trump because they want to see Washington "shaken up". He would like to see term limits for Congress and more younger people elected. I could agree with those last two sentiments, but not with Trump's version of "shaking". I believe he is also a little farther to the right and actually supports some of Trump's policies as well. Although we didn't really get into that.

When he kind of panned Fauci & Birx I just said that I thought they were all right, it was Trump that was the problem. He laughed. I got the feeling he's heard that before.

But we parted amicably. I don't believe I said anything to change his mind, and I know he didn't say anything to change my view of Trump.

Lynnette In Minnesota said...

Advance planning is not among the Trump administration's actual capablilities.)

LOL!

      Lee C.   ―  U.S.A.      said...

 
      "Well, I finally ran into one of those people who support
      Trump because they want to see Washington 'shaken up'."


So they say now.  However, three and half years ago they wanted a lot more than that out of a supposedly populist candidate Trump.  He was supposedly going to reëstablish our industrial manufacturing base across the MidWest.  Didn't happen.  He was gonna restore jobs in the coal mines of West Virginia.  Didn't happen.  He was gonna restore agricultural exports to China.  Hasn't happened, repeatedly.  He was gonna finally break into the Japanese market for our agricultural products.  Didn't happen.  Etc.
That "shaken up" stuff is pretty much all he's been able to deliver on (save for the culture wars) so now they say that's why they supported him.

What you ran into is one of those people who support Trump but who won't admit (in public) to what it is that actually motivates that support.
They are willing to settle for disruption now that it's plain that's the only thing Trump can deliver.  But they originally wanted Trump to bring his "business acume" to bear on a government that didn't work the way they wanted.  Now they'll pretend to settle for a government that doesn't work at all, 'cause that's all Trump can deliver, except for the culture wars, which is what they actually settled for.

(Yeah, yeah, I know, the right-winger judges and all that stuff, but that wasn't on Trump's campaign agenda when he ran in the 2016 primaries--those objectives pre-date Trump by decades--that's the Republican Establishment orthodoxy agenda, which Republican Establishment he supposedly ran against.  He adopted that late into the 2016 campaign to get the establishment Republicans to fall in behind him after he'd kicked their butts in the primaries.  Same with the tax cuts for the top .01%, not to mention the elevation and support of international corporations.  Almost all of what he has accomplished is Mitch McConnell's agenda and was McConnell's agenda long before Trump ever stepped onto that escalator at the Trump Tower to denounce immigrants and Islam and the very unpalatable idea of allowing a black man to preside from the White House.)

      Lee C.   ―  U.S.A.      said...

 
Needs an "N on "acumen".

Lynnette In Minnesota said...

They are willing to settle for disruption now that it's plain that's the only thing Trump can deliver.

I don't really want to look too closely at what his real motivation for supporting Trump is. I won't change his mind. The only thing he was willing to admit was that the injection of disinfectant was really a stupid thing to say and that anyone who gets into office makes sure they come out with money from the deal.

You can't beat your head against a brick wall forever.

Lynnette In Minnesota said...

It appears that wearing masks has now come down to political gamesmanship thanks to our Dear Leader. Sad that America's health will remain at risk as long as we have Trump in office, as he doesn't seem to care.

      Lee C.   ―  U.S.A.      said...

 
      "You can't beat your head against a brick wall forever."

Yeah, I don't even try to talk sense to the Trumpkins anymore.  They already know what they got, and they're okay with that.  They're mostly just looking for any marginally credible enough rationalization, something they can pretend to believe in.
Not much point in carrying on discussions with such folks.

                           ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
      "It appears that wearing masks has now come down to political
      gamesmanship thanks to our Dear Leader."


Again, "yeah"; National press was slow to pick up on that one.  Trump wanted another symbol for his Trumpkins to rally 'round.  The Trumpkins, on the other hand, picked up the hints almost instantly.  They were ready, already ready.

      Lee C.   ―  U.S.A.      said...

 
Morning news says the National Guard is being called out to tamp down on violent protests in Minneapolis.  Seems the protesters are already pissed at the local police, so they're calling in the National Guard rather than send the police out to strike back at the protesters.

Lynnette In Minnesota said...

Trump's latest move to further a right wing agenda.

You will note that his order states:

The draft order instructs the Justice Department to consult with state attorneys general on allegations of anti-conservative bias. It bans federal agencies from advertising on platforms that have allegedly violated Section 230's good-faith principles.
Finally, the draft order would direct the Federal Trade Commission to report on complaints about political bias collected by the White House and to consider bringing lawsuits against companies accused of violating the administration's interpretation of Section 230.


To be a fair order it should just read any bias.

And in any case the President should not and I hope does not have the power to dictate to a media company.

Lynnette In Minnesota said...

Morning news says the National Guard is being called out to tamp down on violent protests in Minneapolis.

I hadn't heard that. It's sad that they couldn't get their point across without violence. It hurts their position.

So far the officers involved have just been fired. I don't know what charges, if any, they may decide to bring. In my opinion this incident was another where the police went too far and murder charges should be brought. There was no reason as far as I could tell from all of the video for that type of behavior.

   Lee C.  ―   U.S.A.     said...

 
      "…the President should not and I hope does not have the power
      to dictate to a media company."


I think he knows that that he doesn't have the power (yet, he's workin' on it).  He's basically making his play for the fascist vote with that move; he needs them to turn out in force for him, and he knows it.  So he's playing their favorite song list.

                           ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
      "It's sad that they couldn't get their point across without
      violence."


First I saw of it was early morning CBS broadcasting.  Later report by the local NBC affiliate had the NBC reporter making note that there were, basically, two sets of folks out there in the streets overnight.  There were the protesters, and then later came the looters, who showed up later, apparently intending to take advantage of the situation.

   Lee C.  ―   U.S.A.     said...

 
Post Script:  I don't think Twitter's scared of him.  Zuckerberg maybe, but Twitter doesn't seem to fear him hardly at all.

Lynnette In Minnesota said...

Later report by the local NBC affiliate had the NBC reporter making note that there were, basically, two sets of folks out there in the streets overnight.

I think there still are. And, maybe, a third element. There are people out peacefully protesting and those who are looting and setting fire to businesses on Lake St. The last two are why the National Guard was called out. But I have to wonder if there isn't an anarchic group coming out too. There was graffiti on buildings, one tag which said "Shut Down the Federal Reserve". Don't ask me what that has to do with George Floyd's death.

Lynnette In Minnesota said...

Post Script: I don't think Twitter's scared of him. Zuckerberg maybe, but Twitter doesn't seem to fear him hardly at all.

Twitter knows Trump needs them. They are his forum.

      Lee C.   ―  U.S.A.      said...

  
      "They [North Carolina] have demanded that the Trump
      Campaign and the Republican National Committee submit, in
      writing, the plan they want the Governor and Mayor to
      guarantee…
[with any necessary contingency plans]…"
      Lee C. @ Tue May 26, 08:58:00 pm ↑↑

In response the RNC has sent the Governor a two page letter rather than an actual plan, with no mention of any contingency plans should plague conditions change between now and August, and bearing a conspicuous disavowal of any agreement or buy-in by the Trump campaign.
My guess is that ain't gonna get Trump the "guarantee" he wanted.

   Lee C.  ―   U.S.A.     said...

 
The Trump administration was, up until this morning, spending a lot of money in black neighborhoods and on black oriented media, trying to up his percentage in the next election from the 8% he got in the 2016 election.  It was pretty rough going, but his campaign is flush with cash and has to spend it somewhere.  Nevertheless, that was up until this morning.

I think he can pretty much kiss that money of now.

   Lee C.  ―   U.S.A.     said...

 
"…kiss that money off now.

Lynnette In Minnesota said...

It looks like there has been more rioting and looting overnight in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Around 170 businesses have been destroyed or damaged. One of those was a pharmacy, which people being interviewed are describing as a critical business in their community. The Mayor evacuated the third precinct building when it appeared that the rioters were going to overwhelm the area. He was more concerned with preserving lives, than buildings. Sadly, all this does is rain more pain and anguish on a community that is already hurting.

The Mayor responded in an interview this morning to Trump's usual moronic tweets deriding the Mayor as weak and stating that he'd be fine with sending in troops with the instruction to shoot any looters. The Mayor basically said that weakness is not taking responsibility for your own actions and criticizing those who are in the midst of a crisis.

This should not be about Trump. Yet he insists on opening his mouth(or fingers) and inserting himself into this tragic event.

Lynnette In Minnesota said...

"…kiss that money off now.

Yes. Trump has shown himself more concerned with businesses than with people.

   Lee C.  ―   U.S.A.     said...

 
It appears that George Floyd and the cop who killed him knew each other, had known each other for several years.  They both worked as bouncers for the same Minnesota night club.

I find that most curious.  And I wonder if any of the other officers involved (who were diligent in protecting the killer cop from the gathering crowd while the cop slowly asphyxiated Floyd), I wonder if any of them knew Floyd personally as well.

Marcus said...

It did seem like an outright murder this time. I have seen other video where you might questing the cop but where the black man in that case behaved in a manner that you might also excuse the cop. Not so here. Choking a man who’s handcuffed and pacified already to his death is murder. That one cop should for sure be in lockup awaiting trial and his 3 companions in for serious scrutiny.

Lynnette In Minnesota said...

It appears that George Floyd and the cop who killed him knew each other, had known each other for several years. They both worked as bouncers for the same Minnesota night club.

I find that most curious.


Yes, me too. Actually I was just coming here to mention it. If I were investigating this whole thing I would look into that. This may not have been the usual cop on black man violence. It may have been personal. In which case the third degree murder charge may need to be raised to second or first.

Lynnette In Minnesota said...

It did seem like an outright murder this time.

It certainly looked like it.

Lynnette In Minnesota said...

There is talk going around that all of the protests, looting, and other random acts of violence in response to the killing of George Floyd is not all home grown. The word is that there have been people coming here from out of state. That might explain a little more the lack of concern for community businesses and people by some of the protesters.

      Lee C.   ―  U.S.A.      said...

 
      "The word is that there have been people coming here from
      out of state."


Not an unreasonable thing to suspect; wouldn't be a novel situation.  We are plagued in this country with a small body of semi-pro anarchists who descend on just about any new site of legitimate protest and try to turn it into a war zone.  (It's something the locals too often forget to guard against, organize against, when they begin to organize their public protests.)  The traveling anarchists don't usually show up until the second or third night (some travel time required after they've identified a legitimate local protest that they want to infiltrate and expect will go on long enough for them to get there.)

   Lee C.  ―   U.S.A.     said...

 
In a move he claims will punish China for its recent oppressions in Hong Kong, Trump announced hsi executive order imposing economic sanctions against Hong Kong on Friday.  No new moves against China (lest they cut their imports of American Farm Products again, as they've already done the first five months of this year), just new sanctions on Hong Kong.

‾\_(◦ ◦)_/‾ 

Marcus said...

Semi pro anarchists, yeah sounds like a good description of ANTIFA. Got some of em here too.

      Lee C.   ―  U.S.A.      said...

 
Most American self-described "ANTIFA" members are radical left-wingers rather than anarchists.  Although there's no law against a person claiming membership in both groups, most "ANTIFA" in America ain't anarchist types.

Lynnette In Minnesota said...

The traveling anarchists don't usually show up until the second or third night...

Yes, I think that fits the timing of the more violent protests. They leave the locals to pick up the pieces of their ruined neighborhoods, which is about what's going on today.

Where I live, which isn't in the Cities, the local Walmart and Target closed as a precaution. The Walmart opened up eventually but Target is still boarded up. I think that is a little extreme for this area. I haven't heard of any mass protests(violent or peaceful) here, yet. And most of the violence happens at night. They could have accomplished the same thing by just shortening their hours rather then closing for the whole day.

      Lee C.   ―  U.S.A.      said...

 
NBC Nightly News says that white supremacist groups have moved into the Twin Cities and are behind some of the burning and looting (hoping that the blame would fall on the local black population).

Lynnette In Minnesota said...

I'm hearing something similar. Some of those arrested so far have been from out of state. It hasn't always been easy to identify who they are because they are refusing to give information to the police.

There is a story circulating about a white guy wearing a gas mask using a hammer to break windows at a Auto Zone. The business was subsequently burned.

We have had peaceful protests today conducted by the local community. One fellow even went so far as to say if he saw anyone with a hammer they would have him to deal with. Many people have come out to clean up what they can.

They have set a curfew for tonight of 8:00PM and MNDOT has closed major highways into the Cities.

Lynnette In Minnesota said...

They have deployed state troopers in the State Capitol building as there was a threat against it. There also National Guard troops on the streets nearby.

I think there are a lot of people in the community, not just in law enforcement, who are fed up with outside elements destroying a community where they do not live.

And perhaps that is why the authorities were caught so flat footed in their response to the violence. They were expecting anger, yes, they were expecting protests, yes, but they weren't expecting people to destroy neighborhoods. They weren't expecting people from out of state to come in in such force.

   Lee C.  ―   U.S.A.     said...

 
Actually that was the CBS Weekend News I saw that on (they have guest hosts on the weekends in celebration of the coronavirus or something--anyway it makes it harder to identify the broadcaster just by looking at the TV for a few minutes)

Lynnette In Minnesota said...

The Governor is speaking now asking all Minnesotans to stay home. Don't go out to see what's going on. While he wouldn't go so far as to Tweet if you loot we'll shoot, he is making it clear in his understated Minnesota way that anyone who is intent on destruction will be dealt with.

I honestly never thought I'd see this in my state in my lifetime.

Hmmm...pictures of National Guard vehicles driving down the highway. Nobody else on the road. Weird.

It's Minnesota against the anarchists.

      Lee C.   ―  U.S.A.      said...

 
      "I honestly never thought I'd see this in my state in my lifetime."

We've got a President who stokes anger and resentment among his followers.  It's not unexpected that those on the other side politically react to that in-your-face anger of the Trumpkins with a reciprocal anger and resentment of their own.
You get both sides angry and then the radicals (both left-wing, right-wing, and anarchists) will use that as both cover and fuel.

The fish rots from the head down.

Marcus said...

Trump for sure isn’t a President who can heal a nation and bridge divides. Largely he’s been a disappointment. He’s scored some wins imo but on a whole I have to give him two thumbs down. I still think he’ll get a second term though. Sleepy just hasn’t got the energy to beat him. I don’t think him being “not Trump” will be enough and I don’t even know what else he’s running on. Obviously that’s enough for some folks, like y’all, but I don’t think y’all have the numbers.

Marcus said...

Informative about the violent protesters:

https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/05/30/george-floyd-protests-riots-violent-outside-agitators-minnesota/5291658002/

      Lee C.   ―  U.S.A.      said...

 
      "He’s scored some wins imo…"

Name "some"; just a few; at least a couple.

      "I don’t think him being not ‛Trump’ will be enough…"

Being "not Bush" got Obama a Nobel Peace Prize.

                           ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
  
      "If those guys [extreme right-wingers] turn up, they will
      claim to be there to protect business."


The analyses I'm seeing suggest they've already shown up, and they are instead claiming to not actually be there.  (And threatening "journalists who photograph them.")

But, I'm mostly interested in those few "wins" you credit to Trump.  What are those?

Lynnette In Minnesota said...

I have read that 43% of the people arrested in Minneapolis have been from out of state. The rest were from Minnesota. I come away with two things there. Yes, there are probably some people from Minnesota involved in the violence, but I would say that most of the local protesters have been peaceful and have no intent of further adding pain to their communities by damaging local businesses. The other thing I will say is that if we have people coming in from out of state who are adept at sewing anarchy and violence they are also probably adept at avoiding arrest. To avoid being caught you only have to run faster than the guy with you.

Marcus said...

Two conservative Justices to the Supreme Court would be the two major wins, imo that is. Then some stuff on trade also. Not enough to get excited about really.

Lynnette In Minnesota said...

Trump for sure isn’t a President who can heal a nation and bridge divides. Largely he’s been a disappointment.

I agree with you. Although I might say that I never expected much from him in the beginning so "disappointment" probably wouldn't be the word I would use. I would say he has been appalling.

Marcus said...

Lynnette, basically the arson and the fighting w police is an outside thing mostly. It’s “professional” rioters who get it started and some locals tag along. The looting is a domestic thing by blacks (mostly) who are rightfully pissed off but also taking advantage of the riots to get free stuff.

Marcus said...

I expected better of him. Silly me I suppose.

You really haven’t had an especially good one since Bush Sr. Ok, I guess Bill was sorta ok also to be fair.

Lynnette In Minnesota said...

sewing

Okay, that bugged me. That should read "sowing". I garden for heaven's sake.

Marcus said...



“ lee: The analyses I'm seeing suggest they've already shown up, and they are instead claiming to not actually be there. (And threatening "journalists who photograph them.") “

Probably faulty analysis. Probably just white Antifa and some left leaning pundits want to claim they’re right wing extremists in disguise.

Not really in the mindset of right wing extremists to be shy about what they represent. I have a hard time believing that suddenly changed.

Lynnette In Minnesota said...

It’s “professional” rioters who get it started and some locals tag along. The looting is a domestic thing by blacks (mostly) who are rightfully pissed off but also taking advantage of the riots to get free stuff.

Yes, I think you are right. And those are the people who really need to be arrested to slow and stop the violence which will bring some sort of calm back to the community. For the locals it's a double blow. A man is dead and their community is almost destroyed.

      Lee C.   ―  U.S.A.      said...

  
      "Two conservative Justices to the Supreme Court…"

Those were clearly Mitch McConnell's wins, they clearly did not belonging to Trump.  It was McConnell that held open the empty seat on the Supreme Court for over a year, until after Trump was sworn in.  And it was McConnell who had the presence of mind to kill the filibuster rule going into the new Congress so those Justices could, for the first time ever, be confirmed by a simple majority vote, without which neither of those guys would have been remotely close to confirmable choices.

AND it was the Heritage Foundation which drew up the list of Federalist Society judges from which Trump has been allowed to make picks.  (This list pre-dates Trump by many years.)  These are old-line "establishment" Republican priorities.  Trump doesn't give a shit about conservative judges.  Trump wants malleable "machine" judges, hacks who'll issue the opinions Trump wants.  To the extent that he was obliged to pick old-line Federalist Society judges it represents a concealed loss to Trump not a win.

So, that's the best ya got?

Marcus said...

Right wing my ass

https://twitter.com/laralogan/status/1266903067129241603?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1266903067129241603&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fdailystormer.su%2Friotquest-the-endless-adventure-continues-towards-eternity%2F

      Lee C.   ―  U.S.A.      said...

 
      "I have a hard time believing that suddenly changed."

This isn't Georgia or any such place that we're talkin' 'bout here.  Ya don't pull out the Confederate Flag and wave it around in the black areas of Minneapolis, not if you want to walk out on your own two legs.  You especially don't do that right after the police have murdered a black man in plain sight in the full daylight.

      Lee C.   ―  U.S.A.      said...

 
I understand that Trumps' advisors are in dispute about whether or not he should "address the nation" on the subject of the police killing black men (specifically focused on the killing of George Floyd).
This is almost certainly a very bad idea.  Trump isn't exactly empathetic and doesn't know how to fake it.

And then again some of his advisors instead want him to go all high "law and order" on camera, be "forceful" and "condemn the violence".
This is almost certainly an even worse idea; much, much worse idea.

He needs to just shut up, quit tweeting about it, and go play golf, hide out 'til its all over.
That would be his best option.
He probably isn't going to do that though.

   Lee C.  ―   U.S.A.     said...

 
OOoooᴏᴏkay…

I just noticed that, after missing his early morning Twitter window, Trump has spent his early afternoon tweeting on the subject of "law and order" and "LONG TERM jail sentences" and of labeling Antifa as a terrorist organization (since Antifa isn't actually organized in America this will prove to be rather tricky business, something akin to labeling "liberals" as a terrorist organization).

Well, if there was to be a "much, much worse idea" floating about, I guess we should have counted on Trump to latch hold of it.

      Lee C.   ―  U.S.A.      said...

 
I've noticed a recent up-tick in right-winger essays in right-winger publications claiming that this week's black led protests against cops killing unarmed blacks (mostly black men, but not exclusively men) are actually black led protests against government quarantine orders and against the wearing of respiratory/medical masks in public.
(The WashingtonExaminer, a loyal Republican/right-winger publication makes the case in an Op-Ed they published today.  Other recent essays have been even more explicit about the argument and even less tethered to common-sense.)

I kid you not.

      Lee C.   ―  U.S.A.      said...

 
 
In spite of having far fewer people out on the streets and available for killing, police killings in 2020 have pretty much kept pace with prior years.  The killer cops haven't slowed down hardly at all.

      "As of May 17, 375 people had been shot and killed by
      on-duty police officers in 2020—about the same rate as other
      recent years despite the coronavirus pandemic,…"

      New Republic

Black men are still almost three times as likely to be shot by police as are white men, and unarmed black men are almost six times more likely to be killed by police than are unarmed white men (on a per capita basis).

      Lee C.   ―  U.S.A.      said...

 
Post Script:
 
Just by the way:

      "Black men are still almost three times as likely to be shot by
      police
[almost certainly shot prior to being taken into custody]
      as are white men, and unarmed black men are almost six
      times as likely to be killed as are unarmed white men."
↑↑

Just in case you haven't figured out what the means, it means that a black man's chances of surviving an encounter with the police go down after he is successfully taken into custody; his chances of survival do not improve if he surrenders himself into police custody; they get worse.

The prey learn where the danger from the predators is the most intense.  They learn to be wary around the water holes.  They learn to be skittish around clumps of shrubbery or tall grass that can provide cover to the predators.

Black folks learn too.

Marcus said...

And cops learn also by the way.

Lee: "Those were clearly Mitch McConnell's wins, they clearly did not belonging to Trump."

Still, if Hillary had won we would have gotten completely different justices. So Trump winning was what made two conservative ones possible.

      Lee C.   ―  U.S.A.      said...

 
      "And cops learn also by the way."

The predatory cops do.  Whether (or what) the civilized cops learn is a whole 'nother question.  It's detrimental to their survival to actually notice the predatory cops, so they're evolutionary inclined to not see shit happenin' right in front of them.

      "So Trump winning was what made two conservative ones possible."

There is that.  So, Trump's great wins are that he won and promptly sold out to the "establishment" Republicans he'd run against.  (Kinda what I've been telling Lynnette--soon as Trump loses they'll dump on his very memory; winning is the only thing they credit him.  He can't keep that up he's nothing to them.)

      Lee C.   ―  U.S.A.      said...

 
Not too long ago there were internal Trump administration warnings (leaked) that the premature opening of businesses across America could result in a death rate as high as 3000 per day, average, by the 1st of June.  NYT  Well, it's the 1st of June and the death rate is instead actually down, to around 1,000 per day on average.  NYT--roughly half way down the page

Marcus said...

Lee: “ There is that. So, Trump's great wins are that he won and promptly sold out to the "establishment" Republicans he'd run against. (Kinda what I've been telling Lynnette--soon as Trump loses they'll dump on his very memory; winning is the only thing they credit him. He can't keep that up he's nothing to them.)”

I wouldn’t disagree with any of that.

Btw I thought Pence was someone the establishment wanted to keep a check on Trump but a greater sycophant I have never seen before. When I see him talking during these corona task force sendings it’s so cringe I sometimes just turn the tv off. Trump I like watching in a way that I like sometimes to watch a funny cartoon, but watching Pence is just painfully embarrassing the way he sucks up to Trump. It’s kinda like “why don’t you just drop your pants and bend over?”

      Lee C.   ―  U.S.A.      said...

 
Pence turned out to not be especially competent at being Governor of Indiana.  He was a favorite to lose his bid for reëlection, maybe even lose in the primary, when Trump tagged him as his running mate.  Pence began to think that was going to be his salvation, his rebirth into relevance in the Republican Party.

I think he's toast too once they're done with Trump.  (Of course, I think the Republican Party won't recover either, maybe it'll survive as a constrained and constraining regional party, but I think it's pretty much on its last legs as a national political party.)

Lynnette In Minnesota said...

...actually black led protests against government quarantine orders and against the wearing of respiratory/medical masks in public.

They certainly have that backwards. Unless, of course, the protesters identify as Republicans. And I am thinking that will shrink rather rapidly on Trump's popularity with the white supremacist groups and his mishandling of this latest crisis.

I am also thinking that Amy Klobuchar will not get the VP pick, but that perhaps Michelle Obama would be a brilliant pick. If she were at all interested.

Lynnette In Minnesota said...

Well, it's the 1st of June and the death rate is instead actually down, to around 1,000 per day on average. NYT--roughly half way down the page.

Speculation is that this virus will act like the flu, decrease in summer and come back in the fall. So those numbers may not be a surprise to some.

Lynnette In Minnesota said...

Derek Chauvin's wife has filed for divorce and has refused any alimony.

There is some speculation as to the internal workings of that marriage. As in she is perhaps using his arrest as a good opportunity to get out of a "bad relationship".

      Lee C.   ―  U.S.A.      said...

 
      "Michelle Obama would be a brilliant pick. If she were at
      all interested."


Biden has agreed with those sentiments in the past, and even gone further and said that Michelle, in spite of not having any direct government job experience, has had quite enough vicarious experience so as to already meet his stated criteria of "capable and competent for actually being and serving as President from day one" should something happen to him (a nod to his advanced age) and she's had enough vetting from FoxNews and Brietbart and the rest so's she'd not have to go through it again with his Veep selection team.  It's hers if she'd take it.
But, Biden seemed to have his own pipeline into Michelle's thinking on that matter and was seemingly certain that there's not a tinker's chance in hell that she'll ever change her mind and accept an offer to be his Veep should he make the offer.

      Lee C.   ―  U.S.A.      said...

 
      "And I am thinking that will shrink rather rapidly on Trump's
      popularity with the white supremacist groups…"


He seems to be edging towards a public call to machine gun down some protesters, in an effort to shore up that white supremacist support.

   Lee C.  ―   U.S.A.     said...

 
Trump seems eager to shoot him some niggers.  But, none of the Governors in any of the effected states will "ask" for federal military assistance no matter how much pressure he applies.  So, he's ordered the deployment of active duty federal troops from Fort Bragg (M.P.s) to Washington D.C. to "police the streets".  Because D.C. isn't a state, Trump doesn't have to wait for the Governor to request federal assistance--he can impose federal assistance over the objection of D.C.'s Mayor (which is almost certainly what he's done, although those details haven't been reported yet).

Lynnette In Minnesota said...

But, none of the Governors in any of the effected states will "ask" for federal military assistance no matter how much pressure he applies. So, he's ordered the deployment of active duty federal troops from Fort Bragg (M.P.s) to Washington D.C. to "police the streets".

Bullies are at heart cowards. I think he's just scared.

      Lee C.   ―  U.S.A.      said...

 
      "Bullies are at heart cowards."

Most bullies.  Some are just mean bastards who enjoy hurting people.  They do it for the fun of it.  (I discovered this when I was younger and listened to those platitudes you've been sold on.  Then one day I ran across the guy who was simply sadistic and actually enjoyed beating me up every time--I had to learn to fight better to stop him, bravery turned out to be an insufficient response to his sadism.  However, you're right about Trump being a wuss bully, and being scared about this turn of events; but he's also a sadist, and that is important here.)

      Lee C.   ―  U.S.A.      said...

 
@ Marcus:

A white supremacist group has been identified on Twitter, by Twitter, as running up a false flag of allegiance to ANTIFA whilst trying to promote violent protests and pushing a probably self-generated rumor about suppression of a news blackout intended to conceal rioting in the nation's capital.  NBCNews

I figure it unlikely that white supremacists would pretend to be ANTIFA affiliated on-line, on Twitter, but would forgo the opportunity to pretend to be ANTIFA on the ground in the chaotic middle of a protest turned violent.

However, I will entertain your arguments to the contrary.  If you still want to make any such arguments

      Lee C.   ―  U.S.A.      said...

 
Statistics compiled by The WashingtonPost indicate that daily U.S. deaths from the coronavirus have started to rise again.

Lynnette In Minnesota said...

They have started warning anyone who participated in a demonstration to get tested. I would assume that it may take a while for the virus to show up in any such test, so perhaps waiting a bit might be best.

Lynnette In Minnesota said...

Then one day I ran across the guy who was simply sadistic and actually enjoyed beating me up every time-

For guys it seems to be physical. For girls it is more deceptive. But mean spirited, and as you say, sadistic all the same. It is something that, for some, is taught at an early age. While I can't say for sure I suspect Trump was one of those.

Lynnette In Minnesota said...

A white supremacist group has been identified on Twitter, by Twitter, as running up a false flag of allegiance to ANTIFA whilst trying to promote violent protests and pushing a probably self-generated rumor about suppression of a news blackout intended to conceal rioting in the nation's capital.

This should not come as a surprise to people. Anyone can pose as anything on the internet and the average user would not be the wiser. It is why everything should be fact checked by the reader or viewer themselves.

Marcus said...

Lee:

“I figure it unlikely that white supremacists would pretend to be ANTIFA affiliated on-line, on Twitter, but would forgo the opportunity to pretend to be ANTIFA on the ground in the chaotic middle of a protest turned violent.

However, I will entertain your arguments to the contrary. If you still want to make any such arguments”

Much, much easier to do on Twitter than irl. Of course I can’t prove a negative, I can’t prove that some of the whites out there are agents provacuteurs from the right. But I still find it unlikely, and if there are some they are few and insignificant in the larger aspect of things.

You might note that a massive amount of the videos coming out are blacks looting. As I’ve said before I believe some of the wanton destruction such as arson DO have a significant amount of white culprits, and they would be largely Antifa. I mean look at the areas they happen, not exactly white rightwinger turf. But say Portland, we KNOW Antifa are big there.

But all in all the whites who are there are just an accelerant, or maybe the fire starters,, it’s the blacks doin the bulk of the mayhem. Just watch the video.

      Lee C.   ―  U.S.A.      said...

 
      "Much, much easier to do on Twitter than irl"

I find that unconvincing.  In both cases they're white folks from out of town.  Too easy to pretend anything they might want to pretend (other than pretending to not be white folks)

      Lee C.   ―  U.S.A.      said...

 
      "But all in all the whites who are there are just an accelerant,
      or maybe the fire starters…"


Or window breakers.  I've seen white guys breaking windows and then moving on as the local blacks step up to help themselves.  No reason they can't be white supremacists just as easy as radical leftists.  They don't carry insignia into those escapades.

Marcus said...

Then we can get back to the numbers about which race is killing which in the greatest numbers and you’ll find that the most a black man have to fear is not a white man, not a cop, but another black man. The most a white person has to fear is in absolute numbers a white man but per capita a black man is far more dangerous. Hispanics, Asians, what have you, the greatest danger is a black man. And this is from y’all’s own justice department. And you KNOW it’s true. You will of course bicker like a bitch about it but you KNOW it’s true.

(I never understood the mindset of people who for ideological reasons bicker like whipped bitches against something they know are facts, must be hard to be so downtrodden and browbeaten that you cant even say what you know is true)

Marcus said...

Loki this:

https://samtiden.nu/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Criminal-Victimization-US-grafik-2.jpg

I’d say: WHITE LIVES MATTER!!!

Marcus said...

Blacks are almost 10 times more likely to commit violent crime against whites, in the us, than vice versa. Them are absolute numbers. When you faction in there are 5 times more whites than blacks in the us then per capita blacks commit about 50 times more violent acts against whites than vice versa.

Is it any wonder whites are weary around blacks, especially young black males? Is it strange police are too? Not justifying this latest case of police brutality that I have already deemed murder, but perhaps the blacks in the us should look not only to blame whitey but to their on community.

Why is it no one wants to live in a neighborhood when they become a large portion of it? Why is there “white flight”? Is it because plain hatred for the color brown or is it something these blacks tend to bring into the communities they enter?

      Lee C.   ―  U.S.A.      said...

 
      "but per capita a black man is far more dangerous…"

Black people are, on average, far poorer than white people and disenfranchised from the justice system (which tries to ignore black folk perils so far as they can).  Poorer people are, across the board, more (physically) dangerous.  (Rich people hire it done, usually by poorer people.)

Control for wealth and social status and the "black man is far more dangerous…" notion fades clear away.

      Lee C.   ―  U.S.A.      said...

 
      "Blacks are almost 10 times more likely to commit violent
      crime against whites…"


White folks ain't generally gonna try to rob black folks on account of the black folks don't got enough money.
     
      "When you faction in there are 5 times more whites than blacks
      in the us then per capita blacks commit about 50 times more violent
      acts against whites than vice versa."


Years ago I got a book entitled "How to Lie with Statistics".  I read it.  Long time back.  You are in dire need.  Look for the title; if you see it, buy it.  If you buy it, READ IT.

Marcus said...

White liberals holding a party and trying to cheer for black hoodlums on the street below:

https://twitter.com/GSpellchecker/status/1267938077256962056

LOL, They thought they were brothas. Not so much.

      Lee C.   ―  U.S.A.      said...


And it's not escaped my notice that you decided to play games with numbers as means of changing the subject--I did notice that.  But, you were about played out there anyway, so it didn't much matter.

Marcus said...

Haha, bickers like a whipped puppy, despite knowing I’m right. So sad...but funny!

Marcus said...

So how do you factor in newly arrived Asian immigrants then. Folks with little or no money. Starting small restaurants or dry cleaner shops, instead of smokin crack and blaming all ills on whitey?

They are poor too. Why don’t they go out and rob and rape and do assaults?

      Lee C.   ―  U.S.A.      said...

 
You ain't even close to right.  White folks are at much more danger from other white folks than they are from black folks.  And we both know that.  You trying to massage the numbers don't fool folks--at least not those of us who are smarter than you.

      Lee C.   ―  U.S.A.      said...

 
Learn to read.  Then go back and look for the words "control for…social status".  But, maybe you want to learn statistics better before you try reading.  Or not--I'm not sure which order would help you the most; ya need both.

Marcus said...

So in the USA whites are a majority and you have far more per capita black killings of whites than vice versa. In South Africa you have a black majority and you still have an insanely larger degree of blacks killing whites than whites killing blacks, per capita.

Where in the world are blacks apt to be more fearful of whites than the other way around? In straight up numerics?
.

      Lee C.   ―  U.S.A.      said...

 
      "Where in the world are blacks apt to be more fearful
      of whites than the other way around?
"

You didn't want to ask that question, but I'll answer it before you figure out why.  (Then you'll figure out why.)

Blacks in America are far more likely to be killed by white people the other way 'round.  It's just so. Logically then, blacks in America should fear white people more than whites fear blacks.

Pick the year 2015, 'cause that came up first when I googled it up.  500 whites killed by blacks that year.  229 blacks killed by whites.  For that to work out as anywhere close to equivalent we'd have to have almost half as many blacks as whites, but we got only 13% blacks.  link  Any random individual American black person is more apt to be killed by whites than the other way round.

Marcus said...

That’s just fake news and you know it. I posted actual numbers from y’all’s Justice Department and here’s the numbers:

https://samtiden.nu/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Criminal-Victimization-US-tab14.jpg

And like I say you KNOW this but bicker like a bitch, sine you’re an old white male somewhere in the boondocks not even knowing modern fa6 America. You don’t know the reality of being a white kid in a majority colored school. You old fucking sellouts I hope you’ll see the black hoard on your doorstep one day and you’ll likely will. Then let’s see you arguing when a bat is swung at your old white haired head by some Ebonic who hates you just because..

      Lee C.   ―  U.S.A.      said...


So, rage and invective and ad hominems.  Guess that means you know I won, else you'd be a little bit calmer.  Very good.

Ciao for now.

Marcus said...

13% of population kills 500 out of 60% of population.

60% of population kills 239 out of 13% of population.

Lee: the 60% are clearly more violent and should be feared by the 13%.

When in reality it means that:

230 / (320.000.000 * 0.6) = 0,0000024 whites kill a black in a given year in the us.

500 / (320.000.000 * 0.13) = 0,00001202 blacks kill a white in a given year in the us.

Now: 0.00001202 / 0.0000024 = 5

So even using y’all’s numbers any black is 5 times more likely to kill any white than vice versa. And I question where you get your numbers bc it’s likely worse than that.

      Lee C.   ―  U.S.A.      said...

 
"How to Lie With Statistics"; buy it; READ IT.  It's very short, almost pamphlet length, and very readable.

Marcus said...

Could be your numbers are correct but when you go from killings to “violent crimes” it shoots up a whole lot more. White on black rape for instance is almost unheard of (statistically) while the opposite is far from uncommon. Probably same with muggings.

Still, blacks on average kill 5 times more whites than the other way around.

And if you REALLY want to dig into this you should take into consideration black on black murders and you’ll find that any racial component into Black Death by murder is pretty insignificant.

Marcus said...

There is zero wrong w my math. Those are true stats, not lies. Disprove it by setting up your own statistics not by obfuscating w book recommendations. Most likely YOU read that book and didn’t quite understand it. Bc you cannot math.

      Lee C.   ―  U.S.A.      said...

 
      "There is zero wrong w my math."

Ya think so do ya?  Let's just take a peek at your math then.  We'll strip out the leading zeros, which only serve to confuse the issue.  And we'll overlook your bad arithematic (there weren't 320 million Americans in 2015)

      "230 / (320.000.000 * 0.6) = 24 whites kill a black in a given
      year in the us."


Look at that again.  Your math tells us that in 2015 only 24 whites killed a black.  And yet we know that there were 229 blacks killed by whites that year, so you've tried to prove to us that those killer white people racked up black bodies at the average rate of about 10 each.

No need for me to go over the other equation beyond noting that you have 1,202 blacks killing a grand total of 500 dead white folks (sharing?)

And you're tellin' me that I can't do math?

Get real; get the book; READ THE BOOK.

Marcus said...

Are you that dense? My 0.0000024 figure wasn’t about how many blacks were killed by whites. We already know that figure was 239 (according to you, which I went with). My figure was divide the numbers of blacks killed by whites by the number of whites to get a ratio of white on Black Death.

Marcus said...

And for the record, the number of 320.000.000 Americans is insignificant. The math would be the same if I said there were 100.000.000 Americans. Do the math. Replace the number 320 w 100 in the above equations and you get the same result, a factor of 5.

Damn, sometimes I miss Pete.

      Lee C.   ―  U.S.A.      said...

 
Petes was mostly good at red-faced bluster and yelling, which impresses you tremendously I've noticed, which is likely a good part of the reason you were originally impressed with Trump as well with Petes.  But Petes couldn't actually do much math, but you were so much worse than even he, you couldn't tell.

Marcus said...

Pete: really good at math

Me: pretty good at math

Lee: cannot math

Lynnette: undecided but probably cannot math

Marcus said...

And then there were the old regulars. Bruno, An Italian, even John the communist, and of course Bridget, they were probably all better at math than you Lee even if they were worse than me. ( and w a civil engineering degree I ought to be better than most, but I defer to Pete being better than me) You on the other hand cannot math. At all. It’s really ludicrous to see you try. Like watching a child try at a grown up game.

Marcus said...

Even the most basic first degree equations and you fail to recognize the outcome.

And we’re not even into third degree equations or curve analysis even in the two axis spectrum never mind the third, and you’re already proving yourself inept.

It’s difficult to explain to someone like you lee since you’re to dim witted to understand the explanation.

Marcus said...

In college (gymnasium) I had a 4/5 grade in math. I then completed a 5 year civil engineer study in mechanics, completing a lot of ma5h classes on a level you’ve never even thought about Lee. Trust me you look like an old dodger w the mind of a small child every time you try to do math up in this motherfucker.

      Lee C.   ―  U.S.A.      said...

 
One more time I'll try to teach you a little math.

Just for the sake of clarity, I'll cut out a few zeros to make it easier to read.

Figure three hundred thousand citizens; 13 percent black, 60 percent white makes for thirty nine thousand black citizens and a hundred and eighty thousand white citizens.

Out of that 180,000 ÷ 500 = 360.  Figure it a one chance in 360 that any given white person in our imaginary American grouping here will be one of those killed by a black person.

39,000 black people; out of that 229 will be killed by a white person.  39,000 ÷ 229 = 170 plus a little bit.  One chance in 170+ that any given black person will be one of those killed by white people.

1/170 is a lot more than 1/360.  Ergo:  In America black folks are much more likely to get killed by white folks than vice versa.  (By about double.)

Even someone who claims to have once trained as a civil engineer should be able to figure that out.

Unknown said...

Lee: “ 1/170 is a lot more than 1/360. Ergo: In America black folks are much more likely to get killed by white folks than vice versa. (By about double.)”

Maybe but whites are still 5 times as many which your calculations suspiciously ommitts so even by your (flawed) calculations any black is still 2.5 times more likely to kill any white than vice versa.

I have it at a 5 times more likely ratio given conservative input, it’s likely around 7-8 irl.

Do you REALLY believe what you’re shilling? That whites are more prone to gun violence than blacks in the USA? There were 80 murders in Chicago alone last weekend, black on black all of them and white violence is the issue?

      Lee C.   ―  U.S.A.      said...

 
      "…so even by your (flawed) calculations…"

Explain the supposed "flaw" you've imagined up.

      "any black is still 2.5 times more likely to kill
      any white than vice versa."


That's not true.  Control for wealth and socio-economic status and then after you have those numbers, you come back to us and show us the comparisons for blacks overall and your controlled group of white persons (a sub-group of all American white persons, whose average wealth is equal to the average wealth of the average black person--and, of course, you'll need to control for socio-economic status as well as pure wealth, i.e. family economics and family economic history).
Until you do that the best you can say is the average kill rate for all American blacks is higher than the average kill rate for all American whites.  Read that again, 'cause you've displayed a defect in your reading skills as well as in your math abilities.  Average of "all whites", not any white.
(Now, that last point I would have readily conceded, but that point doesn't satisfy your narrative's need.  You've been trying hard to stretch your proof to cover what the numbers don't cover, and I know you've got a deep seated psychological need for that.  But, no matter how desperately you need it, it still don't prove true.)
  
      "Do you REALLY believe what you’re shilling? That whites are
      more prone to gun violence than blacks in the USA?"


I had not specified gun violence.  Back to your reading deficiencies I reckon.

      Lee C.   ―  U.S.A.      said...

 
      "Maybe but…"
      Marcus @ Sat Jun 06, 01:51:00 pm ↑↑

Ain't no damn "maybe" about it.  My numbers are right; my conclusions drawn from those numbers are unassailable.  You're just trying to dodge the fact that you can't figure out the math on your own.