Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

New McCarthy, same old McCarthyism.

In after Baud. Damn.

Too often we hand the biggest microphones to the cynics and the critics who delight in declaring failure.

They love authoritarianism, but only when they get to be the authoritarians.

Weird. Rome has an American Pope and America has a Russian President.

Is trump is trying to break black America over his knee? signs point to ‘yes’.

He wakes up lying, and he lies all day.

Fucking consultants! (of the political variety)

Republican speaker of the house Mike Johnson is the bland and smiling face of evil.

People really shouldn’t expect the government to help after they watched the GOP drown it in a bathtub.

Celebrate the fucking wins.

When tyranny becomes law, rebellion becomes duty. ~Thomas Jefferson

They punch you in the face and then start crying because their fist hurts.

Second rate reporter says what?

We are learning that “working class” means “white” for way too many people.

If you’re gonna whine, it’s time to resign!

Stop using mental illness to avoid talking about armed white supremacy.

We’re watching the self-immolation of the leading world power on a level unprecedented in human history.

Impressively dumb. Congratulations.

Let me eat cake. The rest of you could stand to lose some weight, frankly.

Authoritarian republicans are opposed to freedom for the rest of us.

When you’re a Republican, they let you do it.

American history and black history cannot be separated.

When I was faster i was always behind.

You are here: Home / Open Threads / Monday Morning Open Thread: February – First Month of 2021, or Last Month of 2020?

Monday Morning Open Thread: February – First Month of 2021, or Last Month of 2020?

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Imbolc (aka, St. Brigid’s Day) is one of the traditional pagan cross-quarter festivals, equidistant between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. In a world lit by fire, it’s not really the beginning of spring, but it’s a point from where folks could hope to make it through the hungry days and into the bright hopes of green grass and longer days. Seems particularly relevant this year, for some reason…

Reader Interactions

178Comments

  3. 3.

    satby

    Good morning. My semi- retirement comes to an end with a return to the market until I can sell my booth and a five day a week schedule again. Online store reopened too. Retirement, I’m doing it all wrong.

    I hope Biden and the Democrats continue to jam the Rs up as well as they have since 1/20. It really is a joy to see.

  8. 8.

    Baud

    President Biden’s taking a partnership approach to governing with VP Harris, relying heavily on her advice and input with whom aides and allies said there’s a mutual respect that’s evident in their interactions behind the scenes and in public

    They say that, but I haven’t once seen Harris look up at Biden with adoring puppy dog eyes.

  9. 9.

    John S.

    @debbie: Fuck Hannity. He had absolutely no problem with *rump acting like God Emperor, but of course now he’s going to find those pearls to clutch.

  10. 10.

    Baud

    WaPo decides to play NYT for the day.

    Ten Senate Republicans propose compromise covid relief package, posing challenge for Biden

  14. 14.

    sab

    If Melania hadn’t fucked up the Rose Garden would that first picture of Biden even have been possible?

  17. 17.

    mrmoshpotato

    @Baud:

    Ten Senate Republicans propose compromise  useless covid relief package, posing challenge for Biden showing themselves to be heartless bastards 

    Fixed

  18. 18.

    debbie

    @Baud:

    Biden’s only challenge will be figuring how far to toss them out of his office after listening to their bullshit.

  20. 20.

    John S.

    @Baud: Yeah, that’s some compromise. Biden proposes getting Italian food for dinner, and the GOP proposes tire rims and anthrax. If Biden doesn’t meet them halfway, then he wasn’t serious about unity — and he’s a big meany poopy head, and the GOP won’t want to play with him any more.

  21. 21.

    Baud

    Wisconsin pharmacist who destroyed more than 500 vaccine doses believes Earth is flat, FBI says

    Makes it easier to thrown him off the edge of it.

  23. 23.

    debbie

    My understanding is that the GOP compromise removes most of the funding for reopening schools. Shame them on this, Joe.

  24. 24.

    Geminid

    @Baud: Biden and Harris have a meeting with the ten Republican Senators scheduled for 5pm today, according to Politico Playbook.

  26. 26.

    CarolDuhart2

    @debbie: A GOP offer that is a third of the proposed 1.9 Trillion?  1400 dollar checks now just 1000?  Unemployment payments down to 300 from 400?  Who do they think the Dems are anyway? And how long did it take for Biden to stop laughing?

  27. 27.

    Dorothy A. Winsor

    @Baud: Cripes. How did that guy get a pharmacy degree

    ETA: Looking at him and the imbeciles shutting down vaccine distribution at Dodger Stadium, it’s not enough that they don’t want the shot. They don’t want anyone else to get it. I guess that’s freedumb?

  30. 30.

    David ??Merry Christmas?? Koch

    Kansas City Chiefs rout AFC opponents posing challenge for phenom Mahomes

    Obama wins Nobel Peace Prize posing challenge to legacy

    Ella Emhoff wins major modeling contract posing challenge to her natural curls.

  33. 33.

    John S.

    @CarolDuhart2: Republicans are really concerned about adding to the deficit that they blew a giant fucking hole in with their tax cuts sloppy wet kiss to the rich and corporations.

    ETA: Oh, and as a result of said tax cut, the richest 600 people in America have become $1.1 trillion richer during the pandemic, so they could almost pay for Biden’s plan without really cutting into their massive fortunes.

  35. 35.

    sab

    @debbie: @satby:

    My old job talked me into another tax season if I can do it remotely. The two mothers on staff with school age children also insisted on another remote year.

    Do these Republicans even talk to their wives about how to reopen the economy?

  37. 37.

    debbie

    @sab:

    They see harming recovery as their road back to power. Goodness, that’s almost as unAmerican as storming the Capitol!

  39. 39.

    mrmoshpotato

    @debbie:

    They see harming recovery as their road back to power. Goodness, that’s almost as unAmerican as storming the Capitol! 

    SSDDA – Same shit, different Democratic administration

  43. 43.

    debbie

    @sab:

    People are spending entire days trying to sign up for vaccinations. My group hasn’t started yet, but I don’t know how I’m supposed to work and click/refresh over and over at the same time.

    Today is my 10th anniversary at this job. ? Part of me really wants to be retired.

  44. 44.

    Skepticat

    There’s another brain-eating virus loose in the world.

    NAYPYITAW, Myanmar — Myanmar military television said Monday that the military was taking control of the country for one year, while reports said many of the country’s senior politicians including Aung San Suu Kyi had been detained.

    An presenter on military-owned Myawaddy TV made the announcement and cited a section of the military-drafted constitution that allows the military to take control in times of national emergency. He said the reason for takeover was in part due to the government’s failure to act on the military’s claims of voter fraud in last November’s election and its failure to postpone the election because of the coronavirus crisis.

  45. 45.

    DianeB

    I always preferred Candlemas to Imbolc, mostly because I like the sound of the former and could never accurately pronounce the latter (I think it’s “im-mo-luc” rather than “im-bolk”). The return of the light, and the first day (as I recall) when one would actually notice. Blessed be to all as Wheel turns.

  46. 46.

    sab

    @debbie: My husband got us onto the Discount Drug Mart waiting list about two weeks ago. They claim they will call back when we are eligible for appointments. They have touched base with us twice since, but once was to please call and cancel if we get shots somewhere else.

  51. 51.

    satby

    @Baud: Has he lost his license yet? If I had a loved one die unexpectedly at that hospital would be getting a lawyer to request all the relevant records right now. Because that certainly wasn’t his first go at “fixing” things he wasn’t a believer in.

  57. 57.

    mrmoshpotato

    @sab:

    This year I am worrying about getting to the other side of Groundhog Day. 

    Bill Murray has some bad news for you…

  62. 62.

    mrmoshpotato

    @sab:

    No, no, no. Everyone knows that is a political not scientific question. 

    Ok.  “Why are you an asshat politically who believes Earth is flat when every other planet is round?”

  71. 71.

    patroclus

    There are some times that I just love British sports commentators.  There was one on MSNBC that just described a goal in Chelsea’s W yesterday as “he unleashed a shot that found the goal just like a Jewish space laser.”  LOL

  72. 72.

    trnc

    “Joe Biden waited nearly four decades to become the most powerful man in the free world. Now that he is, he’s making himself scarce.”

    Just in case anyone is wondering, the Politico article Kilgore Trout lifted this from is not critical of Biden. It says he’s avoiding the spotlight while he’s working on important things and sending experts out to talk about stuff instead of hogging the media like DT did. I like KT, but I’m not sure he or she read the article.

  73. 73.

    scribbler

    I think I could have made a good pagan.  All those days of ritual and celebration to help you through the cold dark months.

  74. 74.

    Frankensteinbeck

    @Baud:

    It’s worked for them in the past.

    While I don’t deny an element of strategy, it’s important to recognize that they truly believe in fucking over everyone but the rich as a cause.  They are so dedicated to it that they were willing to lose the Senate and some of their jobs to pass no COVID relief for ten months.  The cruelty is the point, beyond even political considerations.

    EDIT – Hell, even beyond racism.  The “I want to watch you suffer” attitude born in resentment of minority equality has taken on a life of its own.

  75. 75.

    satby

    @Geminid: my son in Chicago said they had 11 inches on the ground when we talked yesterday evening. It was still snowing, but flurries then and he didn’t think it would add to the accumulation. We got about 5 inches here in S.Bend, not so bad.

  76. 76.

    Geminid

    Republican Claudia Tenney seems to be closing in on a victory in the NY 22nd Congressional race. After a batch of Oneida County ballots were counted, her unofficial lead grew to 122 votes, out of over 300,000 votes cast. Also on Friday, Judge DelConte ruled adversely on several challenges by Democrat Anthony Brindisi. While DelConte has not publically ruled on all contested ballots, it is thought that a Tenney victory is likely.       From Syracuse.com.

  77. 77.

    Kristine

    @Geminid: 6 inches or so here in far NE Illinois. Most of it fell Saturday night through early Sunday morning, followed by light snow through most of Sunday. Hoping this snow layer slows down the daffodils and irises, which were starting to pop mid-January because it was so mild.

  80. 80.

    Enhanced Voting Techniques

    I am going to predict that the GOP is going to fight this Covid bill every step of the way and when it passes congratulated Trump on this wonderful piece of legislation.  The American Right is going into level of double speak that would shock even a ’30s Stalinist.

  82. 82.

    satby

    @Kristine: yeah, I saw on the radar that the lake effect was blowing westward off Lake Michigan rather than the usual eastward wind, so the city got the brunt of the storm instead of Indiana and Michigan.

  83. 83.

    Joey Maloney

    If Susan Collins is So Very Concerned about what the covid relief package will do to the deficit, Biden should propose repealing last session’s gigantic tax giveaway. That should help.

  86. 86.

    satby

    @rikyrah: yes. Second next Monday. But as I said in the COVID thread, people need to get whatever vaccinations are offered to them, not to hold out for a specific one.  J&J seem to be setting up a longitudinal study following vaccine recipients, look to see if one is local to you. I was a subject in two studies decades ago, they’re only mildly inconvenient and you get bonus health care!

  87. 87.

    patroclus

    Just 11 inches here on the North Side, but it’s kind of hard to say because the eastern winds were so strong that some of the drifts are over 2 feet.  And this weekend, they’re saying it’s going to drop to 15 below and we’re likely to get more snow.  I wish we had some Jewish space lasers to melt it.

  90. 90.

    Ken

    @Baud: ​ I haven’t once seen Harris look up at Biden with adoring puppy dog eyes.

    Yeah, and where are the cabinet meetings where Harris and all the cabinet secretaries spend the whole time saying what a wonderful job Biden is doing? Has this administration no understanding of the office?

  94. 94.

    Soprano2

    @debbie:  They see harming recovery as their road back to power.

    I figure that’s the plan – delay the package until the last one is almost ready to expire, then make it so small and short-lived that it really doesn’t help much of anything, then in 2022 campaign on the idea that “See, Biden and the Democrats didn’t do anything to help you, elect us and we’ll fix that!”. It’s extremely cynical, and would be effective if only Biden wasn’t willing to completely ignore their insulting offer.

  95. 95.

    JoyceH

    @germy: Ex-presidents get allowances for travel and office expenses. A Trump isn’t going to leave that money on the table, it’s not in their nature. Melania was always going to have an entourage. This way our tax dollars will pay for the salaries of a few of them.

  97. 97.

    Soprano2

    I heard a weird story this morning. Our state legislature in MO is controlled by Republicans, who have supermajorities in both chambers. (The House already had to shut down for a week due to COVID, since the Republicans won’t mandate mask wearing and won’t wear them).  I think because of that, they had the Governor, who is also a Republican, move his State of the State address to the Senate chamber, and House members watched remotely. This morning, the governor released a letter saying that the House did this to humiliate and embarrass him, and that they are being hypocritical since they won’t control COVID in their chamber (this, from the man who won’t mandate anything around COVID, instead saying it’s up to individual communities!). I have no idea what this Republican-on-Republican fighting is about, but I’m ready to watch!

  98. 98.

    stinger

    @DianeB: I prefer another early name: Iomelc (ewe-milk, ewe being pronounced “yo” in ye olden days, even by my farmer dad sometimes). Lambing season begins this time of year.

    Rather than Candlemas, which reflects the Catholic church’s takeover of pagan holidays, I also sometimes call it Candelen or Kindling, which references the gradual brightening of days (supplemented by candles and fires).

    And the actual cross-quarter day, if you count to the midpoint between the winter solstice and the spring equinox, is approx. Feb. 4 — the same with the other CQ days — they’re not on the first of November, or August, or May. Just a peeve of mine.

  99. 99.

    JCJ

    @Baud: Last night the story on the local news was not just that he belie8the earth is flat, but also that the sky was placed by The Government to prevent us from seeing god.

  101. 101.

    Bruuuuce

    @Baud: CNN, too. Headline: “GOP Covid rescue proposal may have a fatal catch”, but the big (sobbing) laugh is in the subhead: “Biden must now see whether the smaller Republican counteroffer is in good faith or a bluff-calling exercise”

    The last Republican I can think of who negotiated in good faith was Eisenhower, though to be fair, some later ones were honest (about their desire to destroy anyone not themselves).

  102. 102.

    Anya

    I thought Hannity and his network were arguing the media is giving Biden favorable treatment and softball questions, what’s all this backlash then?

  103. 103.

    raven

    I’m watching the roof dudes replace the roof next door. There have been huge holes in the shingles for a couple of years so it’s going to be interesting when they strip it and see what’s what underneath. I can’t imagine that there are not rotted rafters and what the ceiling is like. . . ???

  104. 104.

    Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes

    @Baud:

    Bucks to doughnuts says that this clown was haunting the low-pay hospital overnight shift because he’s also one of those guys who won’t dispense oral contraceptives to women because abortion in a retail setting.

  105. 105.

    Geminid

    @Frankensteinbeck: If Brindisi loses, he will certainly appeal. Judge DelConte’s adjudication of this election contest has been very meticulous, and he seems to have played it straight, so his rulings may well stand. DelConte was elected in 2019 to the N.Y. Supreme Court bench, Oswego County, running as a Democrat.

    New York will lose a congressional seat in the upcoming reapportionment. I’ll be interested to see how Democrats in Albany treat the 22nd when they redistrict. Adding Ithaca to the 22nd could turn it blue. The legislature might do this if it does not hurt a neighboring Democrat.

  106. 106.

    mrmoshpotato

    @JCJ:

    Last night the story on the local news was not just that he belie8the earth is flat, but also that the sky was placed by The Government to prevent us from seeing god. 

    Hmmm.  I propose we launch this nutcase into interstellar space, so he can test his theory.

  107. 107.

    Anya

    @germy: Their staff was Lowest of low quality when they were in the White House and were using our money, can you imagine the quality now that they can’t use the tax payer funds?

  109. 109.

    Ken

    @Anya: I thought Hannity and his network were arguing the media is giving Biden favorable treatment and softball questions, what’s all this backlash then?

    “Do I contradict myself?
    Very well then, I contradict myself,
    (I am large, I contain multitudes),”
    — Walt Whitman (and/or Bob Dylan)

  110. 110.

    artem1s

    @Baud:

    Ten Senate Republicans propose compromise covid relief package, posing challenge for Biden

    don’t suppose WaPo pointed out the fact that it’s taken them 8-9 months to finally bring something to the table?  I’m sure we’re not going to be surprised at anything in their pile of poo. But I am going to love team Biden taking it apart and throwing some sunshine on MRomey’s idea of helping ‘his’ people (corporations are suffering too!).

    I wonder if some of them are trying to sneak in dollars for His Excellency’s crappy hotels.  Maybe even a waiver so President Traitor and his tots can keep the helipad at Mar-A-Shithole.

    This is going to be fun actually.  I’ve been really looking forward to the day when VP Kamala pulls out the ‘this is a big f*ckng deal’ gun during one of her pressers. Don’t care how much the usual butthurt suspects whinge about corporatist shills selling us all to Wall Street – I’m not letting them break my faith in these guys to do their job.  They don’t care if Sean Hannity mean tweets at them, and it is glorious.

  111. 111.

    germy

    @Anya:

    I thought she still had a taxpayer allowance for this.

    EDIT:

    Or what JoyceH said:

    Ex-presidents get allowances for travel and office expenses. A Trump isn’t going to leave that money on the table, it’s not in their nature. Melania was always going to have an entourage. This way our tax dollars will pay for the salaries of a few of them.

  112. 112.

    Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes

    On the totally fun and not creepy front, my pre-op consult today revealed that my ortho may well be using “donor tissue” on my quad tendon repair.

    Gross.

    Hope it was somebody nice.

  113. 113.

    Anya

    @germy: Former first ladies do not receive any money from the government but if Trump dies she’ll be entitled to receive 20,000 “The widow of a former President is authorized to receive an annual pension of $20,000. “

  115. 115.

    Another Scott

    reut.rs/3oDKWYj

    (Bush officials trying to make a splash by leaving the GOP.)

    Kinda late, isn’t it? But, yay I guess. (And yet another indication of how the DC press is wired for Republicans.)

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  117. 117.

    Barbara

    Well, Biden clearly learned at least one thing from Obama, which was not to pooh pooh the District’s response to snow. “What, they closed school for THIS?”
    Of course, there is no in-person school right now, but still, it’s a touchy subject around here.

  118. 118.

    germy

    my daughter was wearing a flannel hoodie so I said “hey, the 90’s called” and she replied “yeah cause they couldn’t text” and godDAMMIT I’m getting really tired of my kids owning me

    — Grant Tanaka (@GrantTanaka) January 29, 2021

  119. 119.

    Anya

    @Ken: She would off him if she could get away with it. Not to say that she’s any better. I think she’s as bad.

     

    @germy: she has first whack him.

  120. 120.

    Barbara

    @Another Scott: ​  I don’t know exactly what significance this has, but I assume it represents the hollowing out of the party in areas that aren’t always visible but that keep it together especially when the president is Democratic, like former officials who might be relied upon for placing departing staffers, or to serve as contacts or hosts for raising money. Even within that article, you see the denial of some who are staying, saying that it’s important to effect change from within and that quitting only helps the Democratic Party. Like what helps or hurts the country is not even a thing for these people.​

  122. 122.

    Enhanced Voting Techniques

    @Skepticat: Ah, mistake on the Military part, Aung San Suu Kyi notorious for terrorizing the Myanmar military with women’s underwear.

  130. 130.

    Immanentize

    @germy: As much as Ryan pissed me off with his Dago comment, that is probably a good Dem candidate for Ohio.

    KAY?!  CALLING KAY!

  132. 132.

    germy

    this thread probably belongs in one of the Sunday morning garden chats, but it’s a wonderful story:

    In the 1950s, #LangstonHughes had a small flower patch in the front of his home. Fascinated with greenery in Harlem, he was adamant about a perfect backyard garden and ivy that grew up his brownstone walls. Eventually, the patch was destroyed by neighborhood children—playing. pic.twitter.com/TSrBa1Ly6G

    — Erica Buddington ✨ (@ericabuddington) February 1, 2021

  135. 135.

    leeleeFL

    @Soprano2:  A popcorn-worthy move for certain! Funny how the when the face-eating leopards come to THEIR homes, they get pissy! Whocoodanode?

  137. 137.

    Barbara

    @Immanentize: ​ That comment was seriously stupid but I think he thought his own Italian heritage gave him the right to use that particular slur. This is based on my own experience growing up not too far from his district, and the kids with Italian names I knew, who referred to themselves that way from time to time, usually in jest when some kind of Italian food or custom was under discussion. It would be like, “Wait, your mom makes what for Christmas dinner?” (Something with anchovies or another Italian delicacy like squid that didn’t quite make it into the pantheon of Italian-American cuisine.) “Oh, yeah, we’re a family of D______s.”
    However, the ship that might have made that comment acceptable at one time has sailed and there is no generational privilege that sustains it.​

  139. 139.

    leeleeFL

    @JCJ: THAT is brandy-new to me, and I have heard some serious weirdness in my lifetime!  How is it possible to get a degree in Pharmacy when science is alien to you!  WTAF?!

  140. 140.

    Geminid

    @Anya: She might whack him Russian style, with an accomplice. Melania: “Donald! You still haven’t worn that nice underwear Karl Rove sent you for Christmas.”

  148. 148.

    Anya

    @germy: Thank you for sharing this. I love Lansgton Hughes. My dad got me a collection of his poems and short stories when I was 15 and ever since I’ve loved his work and I think I’ve read everything about him.

  149. 149.

    Ken

    @leeleeFL: Is there all that much science in pharmacy work any more?  It’s not like the old days when they were mixing up pills and ointments from scratch.

  153. 153.

    Ceci n est pas mon nym

    @mrmoshpotato:

    My mobster trash husband died, and all I got was the massive debt he owes to the Russkies.

    That’s actually the plot of some pretty good books and movies, like one of our favorites, Saving Grace. Melania could do worse than using her way with plants (as illustrated in her tearing down the Rose Garden and her unforgettable Christmas arrangements) to grow a greenhouse full of high-quality weed.​

  154. 154.

    Kristine

    @Ken: I worked with pharmacists and PharmDs in Big Pharma for years. They are still taught compounding, even though it’s not often a needed skill. But they also learn a lot of toxicology, other bio sciences, etc. It’s a 5-year professional science degree. Then they need to pass their state licensing exam and maintain their license via work (drug store, usually) and CEUs.

  156. 156.

    Ceci n est pas mon nym

    @Ken: ​ It falls on the pharmacist to understand drug interactions and advise patients based on their knowledge of everything the patient is taking.

    My wife teaches in a pharmacy school, and I understand it’s a fairly demanding degree though I don’t know what they take. Not physics apparently. And apparently not the germ theory of disease.

  157. 157.

    Ken

    @leeleeFL: @Kristine: @Ceci n est pas mon nym: I don’t intend to denigrate the profession.  They do have to be able to understand and explain the drug labels, which is a major responsibility (especially the explain part).

    EDIT: And as Ceci points out, knowing the drug interactions is incredibly important, especially since the pharmacist may be the only point where all the customer’s prescription information comes together.

  158. 158.

    Barbara

    @Amir Khalid: The church two blocks from me hosted a conference on recent scholarship in geocentrism (as in, the sun revolves around the earth) within the last 15 years.  Cue Voltaire: “Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.”  Brandenburg is a case in point.

  159. 159.

    Benw

    @debbie: the colossal hypocrisy of the Republicans pretending to be just a regular old conservative party who has always been just a regular old conservative party is going to be somewhat annoying

  162. 162.

    leeleeFL

    @Ken: My GrandDaughter is considering getting her degree in Pharmacy.  She got a job as a tech at my suggestion, after finding nursing not her cup of tea after she started working as a MedTech.  Patient contact was draining….we thanked FSM for that when COVID came to town!

    She loves this job!

  164. 164.

    Woodrow/asim

    @debbie: This is all about Performative Bipartisanship.

    In reality, they want Joe to Bend The Knee. They want to feel powerful, and wanted, and special, because for decades, they’ve been told they are special — both by interests in the GOP, and in the media.

    And yes, that used to work. For all the flaws in the old system, you could move some stuff to the goalposts.

    But they helped wreak the old system. Clinging to it now is just BS, a way to defend continuing to tear down what little comity we have left, in the name of wanting more power.

    It’s horrific to watch.

  169. 169.

    Hildebrand

    Here is a change of pace for this open thread:

    My son submitted his proposal for candidacy in his PhD program (Molecular Engineering) at the University of Chicago.  His coursework is done, so this is the last big hurdle to be ABD (all but dissertation) – of course, in this program, that means about three years of lab work and writing the diss.

    I read his proposal, and as much as I can even begin to understand it, it is fascinating stuff (the math, physics, and chemistry are so far beyond me it’s embarrassing).

    So, spare a thought or prayer for him as his committee decides whether to sign off on it.

  175. 175.

    dnfree

    @Baud:  I have seen this photo of Harris standing over Biden at the desk interpreted on right-wing sites as her giving the orders and watching to be sure he does it right.

  176. 176.

    Another Scott

    @Immanentize: She was in an impossible situation.  I’m honestly surprised that she lasted this long. Yes, I was disappointed when she came just short of justifying the genocide (“they’re not Burmese” is how I remember her talking about it early on) and how she tried to defend the generals at The Hague. But she didn’t get where she was without understanding real politik.

    NEW statement from Biden on military coup in Burma: The US "removed sanctions on Burma over the past decade based on progress toward democracy. The reversal of that progress will necessitate an immediate review of our sanction laws and authorities, followed by appropriate action" pic.twitter.com/b0385lCsCC

    — Natasha Bertrand (@NatashaBertrand) February 1, 2021

    The generals are playing the “fool around and find out” game, it seems to me.

    It’s definitely something to watch. Fingers crossed for the democrats in Burma/Myanmar.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  177. 177.

    Soprano2

    @debbie: NPR just reported that the 10 are “disappointed” Biden didn’t come to them. WTF?

    They misunderstand who has the upper hand in this negotiation. They’re so used to Democrats bending under their false offers that they don’t know how to act when someone uses their own hardball tactics on them.

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