It’s a Tragic Sign of Our Times That Any Secretary of State Is Now Forced to Use War Preparation Tactics to Ensure Ballot Access.
I’ll be sharing bits of article in the various Arizona posts, but the article’s subheading summarizes it best:
The state Republican party is undaunted by electoral defeats of those claiming voting is rigged – and election officials are bearing the brunt of their fury.
The opening paragraphs set the scene:
“On a glorious spring day in Phoenix, in an atrium beneath the majestic cupola of the old state capitol, the secretary of state, Adrian Fontes, is celebrating Arizona’s 112th birthday…..
There is only one discordant note on this otherwise joyous day: who is that person standing silently and alert behind Fontes? Why is Arizona’s chief election administrator, responsible for the smooth operation of November’s presidential election, in need of a bodyguard?
“It’s very sad,” Fontes said. “It’s a sad state of affairs that in a civil society, in one of the most advanced civilizations that anybody could have imagined, we have to worry about physical violence.”
.
We are $200 into our 5th Angel match, this one for $1,000, anonymous. Matching up to $50 per person for donations noted in the comments or sent to WaterGirl via email. Thank you, Balloon Juice angels, and all who are donating!
Totally open thread.
lowtechcyclist
Just tossed in $50.
WaterGirl
Just seeing a bit of the Parnas testimony. Wow.
Mr. Bemused Senior
@WaterGirl: “Fox cuts coverage.” Tee hee.
Chetan Murthy
@WaterGirl: The chances that Parnas wasn’t (isn’t ?) involved in criminal enterprises are pretty slim. But I have to respect that after he got himself out of that TFG crime spree (sure, they were throwing him under the bus, but still ….) he’s been pretty stalwart in calling a spade a spade. He’s doing his duty as an American, and I can only respect that.
Baud
@WaterGirl:
That chyron is remarkable neutral.
(not actually a) Dr. Th0th Evans
I think it’s fairly tragic that Guardian sub-head writers don’t know the expression “bearing the brunt”. “Veering” the brunt my eye.
WaterGirl
@Mr. Bemused Senior: This one is totally damning.
My rough transcription of a few lines, for those who don’t want to click on twitter.
Jamie Rankin: “Was Guiliani aware that these people were doing the bidding of Russia?
Parnas. “Absolutely.”
Jamie Rankin: “So he had no hesitation to spreading lies that were concocted by Russian agents?”
Parnas: “None. As long as it fit the narrative.”
NotMax
Autocorrect strikes again?
WaterGirl
@(not actually a) Dr. Th0th Evans: Dammit! I fixed that. Veering looked wrong, so I went back to the article, say that it indeed was supposed to be “bearing”, and I changed it. Pinky swear. Fixing again now.
edit: Now I remember. WordPress was taking forever to save, so I checked and my wireless had dropped out, so I went back to my wireless, and that’s when I lost the edit. At least I’m not crazy! :-)
WaterGirl
@WaterGirl: Can’t fix the spelling of Rudy’s name b/c an edit of a comment with a tweet will strip off the video.
WaterGirl
@Baud: It’s my fervent hope that all charges to Hunter Biden are ceremoniously dropped at some point, with an apology.
Even if it’s the political equivalent of “Tell your sister you’re sorry.”
Sorrr-yyyy. In the tone that shows you are not the slightest bit sorry.
Make them say it.
If this were Law & Order, wouldn’t they have the “fruit of the poisonous tree” problem?
Chetan Murthy
@WaterGirl: WG, what do you mean
?? I thought the problem was all this “evidence” was just fabricated ? Or do you mean the evidence of Hunter’s many and vast crimes (having a big schlong, so I understand from Rep. MT (thirsty AF) Greene) ?
WaterGirl
I read that Trump is starting to panic because he had been counting on Chubb for the funds for the half a billion dollar bond. Apparently Chubb decided that he’d better require collateral, which made it a no go.
Do we think that perhaps Chubb didn’t like his 15 minutes of fame for supply the E. Jean Carroll funds? Has anyone seen anything to explain the change of heart?
wjca
I’m wondering when Fox converts their “live” coverage to 30 second delay. Just so they can cut away before some embarrassing comment gets out to their viewers.
WaterGirl
@Chetan Murthy: I was suggesting that since the whole investigation of Hunter Biden started with his “business dealings with Ukraine” that everything they looked into and found wouldn’t have been found at all if it hadn’t all started with a smear.
edit: Ugh. Marge has no shame. And then she showed his photo a second time. Marge is not right in the head.
Chetan Murthy
@WaterGirl: Ah, ok. Now I see what you mean and yeah, “fruit of the poison tree”. Truth is, Hunter is gonna be owed an apology b/c anybody else in his position would have been ignored.
cain
My employer is hosting Joe Biden to celebrate today’s announcement of the CHIPS act with 8 billion investment to Intel Corp. Go Joe!
The event is in Chandler, AZ. The Governor Katie Holmes is celebrating for the state of Arizona.
This will help solidify for Arizona that the Feds and Joe are helping America while improving our national security.
TBone
Speaking of fury, there was a “go fuck yourself” incident caught on live mike 😆
https://crooksandliars.com/2024/03/mccaul-apologizes-after-telling-darrell
TBone
@cain: wonderful!
Harrison Wesley
@(not actually a) Dr. Th0th Evans: It’s a term from Italian Renaissance painting, I believe.
cain
@TBone: Dems representing! Rep Greg Stanton representing – and he’s a great speaker!
cain
I remember when Obama, showed up at work one day. Good times.
KrackenJack
@WaterGirl: Sounded as though Chubb was the only one of the brokers that would consider real estate-backed loans, but they decided against it. Not surprising given the short time frame and the – ummm – opacity of TFG’s finances. Bad publicity may well have weighed in at the margins, but there’s plenty of reasons to say no.
Still wondering where the Trump Org court monitor is in all this. Wouldn’t they have to review and approve any encumbrances on his assets?
opiejeanne
@WaterGirl: Did you see that among the companies TFG asked to cover the half billion $$$ was Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway?
I laughed.
Jackie
@WaterGirl: And Parnes named names: Sen Ron Johnson and Rep Pete Sessions – who is in the room!
I’m truly AMAZED the GQP allowed him to testify!
cain
This is one big Dem event – they say bipartisan – but not a single Republican is here.
Wolvesvalley
Just sent another $50 to WorkerPower AZ. :-)
wjca
Like a real billionaire, with great financial analysis skills, would consider it for an instant.
Side note, how is it that TIFG doesn’t have a company selling shares in the Brooklyn Bridge?
BenInNM
Put in $25
Baud
@cain:
👍
WaterGirl
@KrackenJack:
I would think so, but I have no idea what the details of the rules are.
WaterGirl
@opiejeanne: I did see that! I thought it was interesting, to say the least. Desperate times, desperate measures?
WaterGirl
@Jackie:
That was my exact thought, too! Shocked. It’s so damning.
Did they think that maybe he was “on their side”?
WaterGirl
@lowtechcyclist: @Wolvesvalley:
Thank you both!
edit to add:
@BenInNM: Thank you!
Frankensteinbeck
@WaterGirl:
Ah, someone finally realized that Trump’s plan for repaying the bond was… don’t. He sees a bond loan as a way of skipping out on the fine entirely. Let the bond company pay when he loses the appeal, then when they demand money shrug and ignore them. Same as he’s done most of his life.
JPL
Dear Attorney General James,
Please take trumps plane.
WaterGirl
@Frankensteinbeck: Yep! What’s amazing is that Chubb didn’t know that before he ponied up nearly 100 million bucks.
cain
Damn, they got the folks from Gila River Indian Community – remembering whose land this was from. Even they are getting in on this with a traditional basket dance. Fantastic.
ETA the entire event was kicked off by the Diversity and Inclusion officer at Intel, a black woman
(kind of makes you feel good you work for Intel, but there is definitely moronic crap we do which I am reminded of every day :D
Jay C
@WaterGirl:
It’s just typical of today’s Republicans: even when their sham “investigations” blow up in their faces and expose their fundamental mendacity, they just shrug and go as before, relying on RW media to edit out the embarrassing bits, and keep on spouting the Party Line…
Frankensteinbeck
@WaterGirl:
I think he managed to find someone he has contacts with dumb enough to go “Sure, my buddy Trump is good for it.” The person who approved it owed Trump a personal favor, apparently. I guess he couldn’t sign off on a much larger amount so casually.
WaterGirl
Oops, just realized I hadn’t added a pair of boots when we hit $15k this morning!
WaterGirl
@Frankensteinbeck: Oh, to be able to think of $83 million as a mere $83 million.
edit: I will never think of Chubb Insurance the same way. I wonder if they lost any big clients.
Geminid
Fun Adrian Fontes facts: 1) In the 1990s, Fontes served four years in the Marine Corps and finished up as a marksmanship instructor. 2) Fontes’ ancestors moved to what is now southern Arizona during the 1740s.
WaterGirl
@Frankensteinbeck: That gave me a thought, so I’ll ask everyone here:
If you were a billionaire…
and IF you spent your entire fortune on the election, you could be certain that we’d have a DEM president and a DEM House and a DEM senate, with really good margins…
BUT you would be left with only your house and your car, social security, and $100k in the bank…
Would you spend it all to save democracy?
Frankensteinbeck
@WaterGirl:
Yeah, seriously. I’m glad Carroll will be paid, but Trump plans to completely skate on that one. Since we’ve heard that over $100 million is not normally approved, I bet the other Chubb people had to look at the $500 million loan and went “FUCK no, not without serious collateral.” And of course, Trump won’t provide that. It would mean he can’t just skip out on paying.
I hope so, but who truly knows until the moment arrives?
Suzanne
I will note that Adrian Fontes is a mensch. When he was County Recorder, he personally helped me with an issue with SuzMom’s voter registration. I have also interacted with him at Party fundraising events and he is good (and smart, funny) people.
JPL
@WaterGirl: Since I’m a billionaire, can I assume the house is worth millions? If that is so, then I could sell the house and purchase something less expensive. That might make a nice retirement possible, so sure.
WaterGirl
@Frankensteinbeck: I like to think that I would, too.
WaterGirl
@JPL: Haha. You are so practical! Good thinking.
WaterGirl
@Suzanne: I always appreciate the stories from people who knew some of these big shots before they were big shots. It gives a good view of character.
Though I do think that money and power can change people, so it’s not guarantee. But still a good indicator!
Citizen Alan
@WaterGirl: Would we have a filibuster-proof majority of GOOD Dem Senators? Then yes. I would volunteer to be homeless for the rest of my life if we got a liberal supreme court out of it.
Frankensteinbeck
@WaterGirl:
I would be screaming and angry about it, if I could make myself do it. Definitely a case of ‘forcing myself to do it because it’s morally correct.’
karen marie
@JPL: Nah, let him kep the plane. It’s old and poorly maintained. He’ll need somewhere to sleep when MaL, Trump Tower and Bedminster are sold off to pay his multiple fines.
WaterGirl
Please please please can Bill Barr get caught up in all this?
Suzanne
@cain: My house in AZ was right behind that Intel plant on Chandler and Rural.
BeautifulPlumage
@WaterGirl: Yes.
Russia proves that even oligarchs can get on the wrong side of authoritarians and have accidents. Money won’t buy you security if it’s not a democracy.
Chief Oshkosh
@WaterGirl: WOWEE WOW WOW!
Christ, he even POINTS AT AND NAMES CONGRESSMEN IN THE ROOM who were part of the Russian disinformation campaign!!!
(And specifically names Sen. Ron Johnson)
And flat-out states that Fox News was the ONLY major US media outlet that run the disinformation stories from the get-go.
Schumer should really be drawing up censure (or worse) for Johnson right now. Hell, demand his resignation TODAY and let RoJo whine about it on Fox.
WaterGirl
@Citizen Alan: Yes. 61 Dems. Good Dems. No Sinemas, no Manchins.
UncleEbeneezer
@WaterGirl: So you’re saying “Trump admits he can’t get a chubbie?”, lol
WaterGirl
@BeautifulPlumage: That’s a smart take, too.
HumboldtBlue
WaterGirl
@UncleEbeneezer: LOL – groan.
Chief Oshkosh
@WaterGirl: The hits just keep on comin’ with this guy. Speaking of hits, Parnas should have a security detail; he’ll need it.
BeautifulPlumage
@HumboldtBlue: so Comer showed up in person today? The look on his face before the camera pans him out of the frame shows he is definitely not a happy camper.
HumboldtBlue
@BeautifulPlumage:
Mad, he was foot-stompin’ mad.
WaterGirl
@BeautifulPlumage: Comer must not be very smart if he thought they were going to come out of this looking good.
Unless he thought that Democrats were total “pussies” who would be stupid enough to boycott the committee (as the Rs did for Jan 6) or would lie down without a fight, there’s no other way this could have ended.
Chetan Murthy
@Chief Oshkosh: Wait, I listened to the Parnas clip a couple of times, didn’t hear that. Are my ears deceiving me? Did you listen to some other clip?
WaterGirl
@Chetan Murthy: Did you listen to both of the clips I added? At #2 and #7?
HumboldtBlue
The GOP (in this case Ohio) are sending their VERY best, I mean their VERY best. This guy Moreno is SO smart, he’s telling fellow republicans to vote for his opponent. BRILLIANT!
Chief Oshkosh
Sure hope that Parnas’ testimony gets wide play on TV news and in the press. It was staggering. I don’t know the proper procedures, but at some point the named Congress members should be investigated for espionage activities. It just cannot be legal for a sitting Congress member to intentionally aid in entering into the record lies and disinformation provided by foreign sovereigns.
Ken
That’s all right. We’ve all gotten so used to variations like “Ghouliani” that anything close is acceptable.
Gin & Tonic
@WaterGirl: For those who are unaware, Firtash is effectively under house arrest in Vienna fighting extradition to the US. Toensing and di Genova are the attorneys working that case.
Chief Oshkosh
@Chetan Murthy: It’s in the second clip, presented in comment #7.
WaterGirl
@HumboldtBlue: Are we sure he wasn’t a hostage? His eyes were blinking faster than I can make mine blink if I really work at it.
KayInMD (formerly Kay (not the front-pager))
I put in $25. Let’s call it a birthday present for my husband. ;-)
WaterGirl
@Gin & Tonic: Wait, when you say that “Toensing and di Genova are the attorneys working that case”, which side of the case do you mean?
Were they on the DOJ side? Or are they attorneys for Firtash?
Also, since you are good with all the details, was Lev Parnas the guy they arrested at an airport?
WaterGirl
@KayInMD (formerly Kay (not the front-pager)): Thank you!
Ken
That’s the Adderal-Ketamine mix. They’re all on it now, to show solidarity with Trump and Musk.
WaterGirl
@Ken: Maybe?
He also seemed to have a weird make-up thing going on with his left eye. (Right eye as we are looking at the video.) It looks like there’s a big circle of white/cream makeup. ??
He did not look healthy.
Marcopolo
OT but there are a few places putting out “4 years ago today” stories every day & TODAY is the day the Trump admin told state governments that instead of having the feds coordinate pandemic supplies (and invoking the defense production act to goose production) that they were on their own in locating PPE & other things (like ventilators) causing price spikes from competing bids for scarce products. Not to mention no rational allocation of what was out there going to where it was most needed. Feel free to remind folks of this. Most of us don’t remember the grainier details of this pandemic mismanagement.
Also, Rep Comer truly is the gift that keeps on giving. Seeing the clips from today’s Biden impeachment hearing made me lol several times! Maybe the best part was hearing Lev Parnas’ testimony but the funniest was the GOP witness testifying from the jail he was locked up in!
Chetan Murthy
@Chief Oshkosh: Thank you! I swear, I listened to that clip TWICE before reading your comment and didn’t hear Parnas name Johnson & Sessions. Prompted by your comment here, I listened to it AGAIN, and of course, there it is, he names them. My ears are going … my ears are going!
Again, thank you!
KayInMD (formerly Kay (not the front-pager))
@WaterGirl:
They were working for Firtash (is that the way you spell his name? doesn’t look right. Oh well, we all know who we mean).
Marcopolo
Also, pretty sure the timing of this was to spite Drumpf as he attempts to find financial backers:
Look 👀 at the amount: plenty to meet TFG’s needs & it’s going to non-profit charities!
HumboldtBlue
For some much more positive news, meet the first black woman to take command of Norfolk Naval Base, the largest in the world.
Capt. Janet Days
Jackie
@JPL: Do you realize TIFG has not ONCE traveled out of the USA since he was booted out of the WH?
I wonder if his precious plane is incapable of safely flying overseas. I have been curious as to why he hasn’t visited his golf courses in Scotland in four plus years?
WaterGirl
@Marcopolo: hahaha
Geminid
@HumboldtBlue: Moreno said this before the primary and it was directed at Dolan voters, but it still presents a good line of attack for Democrats.
HumboldtBlue
@Jackie:
He flew to Scotland last year.
KayInMD (formerly Kay (not the front-pager))
@Jackie:
He was called by the Democrats. I’m not sure the Repubs could prevent them from calling him, could they?
Chief Oshkosh
@Chetan Murthy: It is sort of hard to believe that he named names, isn’t it? Good for him, I say.
Timill
@Jackie: Well, it was undergoing overhaul for most of 2022, and he’s been a bit busy since then..
ETA: Obviously not busy enough.
WaterGirl
Holy fuck. Parnas better not stand near any windows.
TBone
Open thread – For Womens’ History Month, Governor Richards at full power (video included):
https://digbysblog.net/2024/03/20/gov-ann-richards-was-a-hero/
Geminid
@HumboldtBlue: Norfolk Naval Base offers tours to the public and I think I’d like to take one sometime. I’ve seen the base from the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel. It’s a couple miles away but the aircraft carriers really stand out..
TBone
@HumboldtBlue: the great Janey from Scotland 🤣
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=m6OnaABhiAQ
(Janey Godley)
Chetan Murthy
@WaterGirl:Yes, I sure hope he’s got a well-briefed and experienced personal security detail. FFS.
HumboldtBlue
@WaterGirl:
wow.
zhena gogolia
@WaterGirl: 👀😬😳
HumboldtBlue
@Geminid:
Oh, you should do it.
@TBone:
She’s hilarious
Jackie
@HumboldtBlue: Comer’s facial expressions and his fidgeting and squirming… 😂
WaterGirl
@zhena gogolia: No kidding!
Jackie
@Chetan Murthy: I heard the same. Maybe it was a different clip, but Parnas named names and it was a thing of beauty!
WaterGirl
@Jackie: I hope some ears are perking up at the DOJ.
I also hope some people in the House and Senate are suddenly feeling very nervous.
UncleEbeneezer
Ugh…Just had to unfriend/block an activist/friend I’ve known and worked with since 2017. I have no patience for anyone whose Progressive Purity (on ANY issue: not Gaza, not Immigration, not anything) has them encouraging people to not vote for Biden in November. Fuck! That!! BULLSHIT!!!
The stakes are simply too damn high and you are either a part of the coalition to protect Democracy, Voting Rights, Abortion, LGBTQ Rights, Ukraine etc., or you are not. All of these things are under existential threat if Trump wins in November.
I want nothing to do with anyone who fails to recognize that or is serving as a Useful Idiot™ for Putin, Trump and creeping Fascism.
WaterGirl
I am starting to hope that we are beginning to see the “suddenly” part of:
Gradually, and then suddenly.
cain
CEO of Intel, hands the podium, native american (Navajo nation) sheet worker union member to introduce Joe Biden. I can’t remember the last time a CEO did that. Classy move.
Dude is very nervous. lol. But so real.
Biden walking to the podium with Union members walking alongside him.
Biden talking without notes and using his big voice – this man is very sharp. Even the other folks had to use notes
There is a large flag – but no “Mission Accomplished” :D
Jackie
@HumboldtBlue: Oh. Somehow I missed that. Too bad the plane didn’t break apart on the return flight.
HumboldtBlue
@Jackie:
I was with you and had to look it up. I thought he had one planned and then cancelled or something like that.
Jackie
@KayInMD (formerly Kay (not the front-pager)): I thought as the majority, they have the right to deny the minority witnesses? But, I could be misremembering the rules.🤷🏼♀️
cain
@WaterGirl: The GOP shooting themselves in the foot repeatedly. This investigation is turning into a gift that keeps giving.
Frank Wilhoit
@cain: The money goes straight into the pockets of Intel executives. The fab will never open, as it cannot be staffed. Same, even more so, with the one around the corner from me, here in A’ha’a.
coin operated
@WaterGirl:
I would leave enough in the bank that would pay me $100K in interest yearly but otherwise the rest of the money would be spent on saving Democracy
And, because I’m playing with F/U levels of cash, I’d be downright mean and dirty to the theocrats. They’d fondly look back on the days of Soros bashing as “the good times”
Scout211
. . .
So I guess that was yet another reason why there were the “closed door” hearings.
Gin & Tonic
@WaterGirl: Toensing and di Genova were/are Firtash’s lawyers. Parnas and his buddy Fruman were arrested at the airport.
Having had the misfortune of seeing many loud clueless American men in Kyiv, I laugh every time I think of Rudy there. Might as well carry a sign saying “I’m a mark.”
TBone
@Gin & Tonic: 💙🔥🤡
Jackie
Off topic, but YAY!!!
circular reasoning
@Chief Oshkosh:It just cannot be legal for a sitting Congress member to intentionally aid in entering into the record lies and disinformation provided by foreign sovereigns
I’m reading Rachel Maddow’s book, “Prequel” right now and that is exactly part of what Nazi sympathizers in Congress were doing with German propaganda. Then using the fact that it was in “the congressional record” to allow them to send copies of their speeches, at US tax payer expense, out to the masses!
Jackie
@Scout211: You left out the “best part:”
BAAHAAAHAHAAA!
Scout211
Scout211
LOL
Baud
@Jackie:
That’s a big fucking deal.
WaterGirl
@Frank Wilhoit:
I don’t understand what you are suggesting. No idea what a “fab” even is. Can you say more.
Chetan Murthy
@WaterGirl: “fab” is “semiconductor fabrication plant”. The chip foundry. I also am interested in why Frank thinks the plant will never staffed. The reason that jumps out immediately is “Arizona”. But I can’t believe AZ is that horrible. I mean, Blogfather found it quite congenial!
rockstar
In for $25 more, thanks @Watergirl: !
gwangung
@Chetan Murthy: Well, I know they’re building a hell of a lot of factories out there. As well as housing, roads, shops and other structures. Impacting housing prices there.
gvg
@Jackie: I think he was booed when he last visited Scotland. They don’t like him and said so.
His plane was not flyable when he left office, if it is flying now (I think I have seen it in pictures taking him to rallys) then he has to have spent money on repairing it. It didn’t get flown while he was in office. I don’t think he planned on ever leaving office….he made comments while running the first time and all the while he was in office that IMO should have made him unelectable. It was always clear he didn’t respect the Constitution and thought being elected made him King.
Isua
I just put in $25. Thank you!
topclimber
Two Hamiltons and one Lincoln have joined the fight!
That’s $25. Could theoretically have been one Lincoln and one Andy Jackson, but no way is that latter guy part of my team.
Jackie
@Baud: I’m fairly sure that will be alluded to in some way! 😉
Maybe a “hot mic” moment as Biden whispers in Obama’s ear – or even visa versa since Biden’s the boss now! 😁
Jeffro
@Scout211: thank you for the great link!
(off to go post, tweet, etc where folks can see it and wonder, “Wait…Fox didn’t have this hearing on today…I wonder why?”)
HumboldtBlue
Jared Moskowitz embarrasses the GOP again!
KayInMD (formerly Kay (not the front-pager))
@Jackie:
Maybe? I think they can just prevent them from issuing subpoenas though, not calling witnesses. But you may be right.
At any rate, Comer has been such a rake-stepper that nothing he does surprises me.
Dorothy A. Winsor
@HumboldtBlue: I love that guy.
HumboldtBlue
@KayInMD (formerly Kay (not the front-pager)):
And Moskowitz provides the rake yet again.
The Kropenhagen Interpretation
Translation: JW was screaming to cut away from the hearing and put a muppet, himself, on screen.
Gretchen
@Marcopolo: the thing I still want explained from that time is that governors were having PPE shipped in disguised trucks, like food trucks, because the feds were intercepting and confiscating shipments. It was never explained what happened, but my guess is that Kushner was selling it secretly to his buddies. I was especially furious about this because my SIL was a respiratory therapist in a slammed hospital in NY, and they were so short of masks he got one a week and had to keep it in a paper bag between shifts.
The Kropenhagen Interpretation
Adventures in unthreaded comments…
Jeffro
@HumboldtBlue: I love him so much and I say again, t-shirts are needed!
RASKIN &
CROCKETT &
MOSKOWITZ &
(insert your other fave House Dem Oversight member here)
Geminid
@HumboldtBlue: What I’d really like to do is watch one of those aircraft carriers sail by the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. That’s mostly a causeway-type bridge but it has two tunnels so ships can sail through. The tunnels come up on artificial islands, and one has a fishing pier where people can hang out all day and night and watch ships.
The problem is the Navy doesn’t say exactly when the ships will sail, so I might have hang out all day, all night and all the next day before a carrier went by. But there are other ships to watch, and there’s fishing.
Right now a surer bet would be to watch the Huntington-Ingalls Shipyard in Newport News. They’re testing the new John F. Kennedy’s electromagnetic catapault. Onlookers can watch multi-ton wheeled weights get flung out into the James River at high speed.
SiubhanDuinne
@HumboldtBlue:
OMG, that was priceless!!
WaterGirl
@rockstar: Thanks so much!
WaterGirl
@Isua: Thank you!
@topclimber: Thanks, and thanks for the laugh!
WaterGirl
And those two donations get us to another pair of boots. yay!
Jackie
@HumboldtBlue: President Biden needs to give Moskowitz a medal😂
Hob
@gwangung: Intel already has a large facility in Chandler, AZ. The CHIPS funding in AZ is partly for improving that one, and partly for building two new ones. It’s very unclear from Frank’s post what location he’s referring to. But even if he’s correct that a new plant won’t be able to go into production because of lack of staffing (even though a big chunk of the funding is also devoted to job training programs), it doesn’t follow that the funding goes “straight into Intel executives’ pockets”— building a plant is obviously a large industrial project putting money into the local economy through construction and other services. Unless Frank has reason to believe that Intel can simply not do the construction or the training at all and still pocket the money.
Ksmiami
@wjca: lol Buffet is a pro-choice Dem. I’m sure he loathes fraud fool Trump
CarolPW
Donated $50.
Matt McIrvin
@Gretchen: I still consider that an act of mass murder. Trump wanted us to die in the blue states and he was going to help the coronavirus along.
WaterGirl
@CarolPW: Thank you!
WaterGirl
@Matt McIrvin: @Gretchen:
They have a lot to answer for.
Formerly disgruntled in Oregon
@Frank Wilhoit: That’s not actually how the CHIPS act works.
Granted, uninformed cynicism can get you pretty far… but not in this case.
WaterGirl
@Formerly disgruntled in Oregon:
That has serious potential as a rotating tag.
wjca
@HumboldtBlue:
Well, apparently the Democrats were encouraging voting for him in the primary. So it seems only fair that he should encourage voting for them in the general. Symmetrical, you know.
KSinMA
Chipped in $50 to Worker Power AZ.