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You are here: Home / Archives for Open Threads / Because of wow.

Because of wow.

Open Thread: Occam’s Razor Suggests He *Is* That Dumb…

by Anne Laurie|  October 30, 201911:50 pm| 40 Comments

This post is in: Because of wow., Impeachment Inquiry, Republican Stupidity, Republican Venality, Trumpery, All Too Normal, Ever Get The Feeling You've Been Cheated?

… And his fellow Repubs ain’t looking too smart right now, either.

To quote John Adams (born OTD in 1735):

“The most abandoned minds are ingenious in contriving excuses for their crimes.” https://t.co/acy22btnjJ

— Windsor Mann (@WindsorMann) October 30, 2019

WSJ ed board: Trump's too inept for a quid pro quo.

Trump: ‘What are they talking about, if I wanted to do quid pro quo, I would’ve done the damn quid pro quo.’https://t.co/JZWPUcR7Li

— Noah Shachtman (@NoahShachtman) October 30, 2019

… The [Wall Stree Journal]’s esteemed board argued that any talk of impeaching Trump is silly, in large part, because this president is likely too bumbling to execute that kind of scandalous quid pro quo.

“Intriguingly, Mr. [Bill] Taylor says in his statement that many people in the administration opposed the [Rudy] Giuliani effort, including some in senior positions at the White House,” the editorial board wrote. “This matters because it may turn out that while Mr. Trump wanted a quid-pro-quo policy ultimatum toward Ukraine, he was too inept to execute it. Impeachment for incompetence would disqualify most of the government, and most presidents at some point or another in office.”

Trump, a routine morning reader and skimmer of several newspapers’ print editions, saw this editorial—which was obviously meant to defend him—last week. And the president promptly began complaining about it to some of those close to him…

“He was clearly unhappy. He did not like the word ‘inept,’” the first source added…

This is Bill Taylor:

In a previously unreported exchange, Schiff asked Taylor if deal was essentially that Zelensky needed to announce investigations and he would get WH visit and security assistance. Schiff asked, "Isn't that the very definition of a quid pro quo?"
"I don't speak Latin," Taylor said

— Manu Raju (@mkraju) October 30, 2019


(Okay, maybe that was meant for sarcasm… )

“I am not too dumb to do crimes,” is a cool claim from a President. https://t.co/DGR4ZauLXq

— Schooley (@Rschooley) October 30, 2019

So basically we just keep calling him stupid and he’ll confess to everything he’s been accused of and stuff we don’t even know about yet. Easy enough.

— The Volatile Mermaid (@OhNoSheTwitnt) October 30, 2019

Open Thread: Occam’s Razor Suggests He *Is* That Dumb…Post + Comments (40)

Saturday Morning Open Thread: Memories Made Visible

by Anne Laurie|  October 26, 20194:48 am| 191 Comments

This post is in: Because of wow., Racial Justice, RIP, Women's Rights, All we want is life beyond the thunderdome

Statues are powerful things. When we cast figures in bronze, we immortalize their contributions to history.

It took far too long for Sojourner Truth, Susan B. Anthony, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton to join Central Park's 23 male statues, but I'm so glad we're finally here. https://t.co/JEL8MbhcUc

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) October 23, 2019

New York’s Central Park to erect first sculpture honoring women https://t.co/oPFswerkZP

— The Guardian (@guardian) October 21, 2019

… [A] city commission voted on Monday to erect a monument depicting three pioneers in the fight for women’s rights: Susan B Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Sojourner Truth.

The likeness of Truth, an escaped slave and abolitionist, was belatedly added to the sculpture in response to criticism that African American suffragists were initially excluded.

“This statue conveys the power of women working together to bring about revolutionary change in our society,” said Pam Elam, president of the monumental women not-for-profit of volunteer advocates, historians and community leaders, which has gained key support from the Manhattan borough president, Gale Brewer.

The organization’s statue fund privately raised $1.5m to create and maintain the new monument and for an associated educational program.

The work will be dedicated in August 2020 on the Mall, an elegant park promenade lined with American elm trees. Next year marks 100 years since American women won the right to vote…

[The 19th Amendment was passed in 1919, but not ratified until August 1920.]

***********

Barack Obama on Elijah Cummings: "His life validates the things we tell ourselves about what’s possible in this country — not guaranteed, but possible … We have the capacity, the chance, as individuals and as a nation, to root ourselves in good soil."
Via CBS pic.twitter.com/6E90sRIhrz

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) October 25, 2019

***********

My friend @DreadScottArt got sick of civil war reenactments, and decided to stage a slave rebellion reenactment.

On 11/8-9, hundreds of reenactors will march on New Orleans and recreate the the largest slave rebellion in US history. https://t.co/VsNEiNMDJ1

— Molly Crabapple?? (@mollycrabapple) October 26, 2019

Saturday Morning Open Thread: Memories Made VisiblePost + Comments (191)

Monday Morning Open Thread: Wonderful

by Anne Laurie|  October 14, 20195:11 am| 108 Comments

This post is in: Because of wow., Impeachment Inquiry, Open Threads, Sports

Simone Biles now holds the record for most world medals by a gymnast. Here she wins her 25th world medal.pic.twitter.com/HDaPotLVkv

— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) October 13, 2019

When @Simone_Biles won her first World’s AA title, my co-coach was worried that she had peaked too early for Rio. My response was “maybe she will become the greatest of all time”. So proud of you today (and all days) Simone! pic.twitter.com/ZWKci2VzSV

— Aimee B (@Salto_Coach) October 13, 2019

The best quote I’ve seen was in USAToday — “Simone Biles sets the standard in gymnastics and maybe any sport you can name”:

… “She’s incredible,” [Coach] Landi said. “You don’t want to look at (the medals), just. We were here to do the job. The goal is to hit four out of four, every day, day after day… “

Heck, most days I’m satisfied if I can hit three out of four. Some days, I settle for two — okay, one — plus some earnest efforts…

***********
Mandatory political content, for the hard to please:

Ahead of this week's subpoenas and depositions, new documents obtained by Axios show how Democrats are taking the impeachment inquiry in two tightly focused directions: Ukraine and obstruction of justice. https://t.co/gFN14JUrF2

— Axios (@axios) October 13, 2019

Monday Morning Open Thread: WonderfulPost + Comments (108)

Respite Long Watch Open Thread: Hokkaido Master Craftsman Builds A Desk

by Anne Laurie|  October 13, 20196:44 pm| 147 Comments

This post is in: Because of wow., Japan, Nature & Respite, Open Threads

(via Rick Wilson’s twitter feed, of all unlikely places)

Respite Long Watch Open Thread: Hokkaido Master Craftsman Builds A DeskPost + Comments (147)

Late Night Open Thread: (Slightly NSFW) Like & Share

by Anne Laurie|  October 9, 20191:31 am| 37 Comments

This post is in: Because of wow., Impeachment Inquiry, Republican Venality, Russiagate, Let A Thousand Watergates Bloom

holy shit watch this pic.twitter.com/QSrB69WdN8

— Adam Parkhomenko (@AdamParkhomenko) October 8, 2019

Late Night Open Thread: (Slightly NSFW) Like & SharePost + Comments (37)

Tuesday Morning Open Thread: Overcast, Chance of Tantrums

by Anne Laurie|  October 8, 20194:52 am| 148 Comments

This post is in: Because of wow., Open Threads, Republican Stupidity, Republicans in Disarray!, Sports, Trumpery

There you have it, folks! ?? @Simone_Biles successfully landed her signature double-double dismount on beam today and the element will be named the "Biles" from now on. #Stuttgart2019 pic.twitter.com/BO38BaCQ8g

— Team USA (@TeamUSA) October 5, 2019

Your morning awesomeness.

***********

Your morning awfulness…

Trump campaign aides on conference call say 37 states have made changes to primary process.

They say it’s not about blocking a GOP Trump challenger.

It’s about helping win the general. They want the GOP convention to be a "4-day television commercial," not an internal debate.

— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) October 7, 2019

show full post on front page

Trump’s former ghostwriter:

I have never, ever seen Trump as out of control as he was in today's press conference. It shows up as anger, but underneath he is really terrified.

— Tony Schwartz (@tonyschwartz) October 2, 2019

we have reached the foreclosure sale portion of the trumps presidency

— m i t h (@ManlnTheHoody) October 7, 2019

Trump is basically in suicide by cop mode, impeachment wise.

— Schooley (@Rschooley) October 7, 2019

Yesterday the Trump campaign announced a rally in Louisiana for Friday, which is the day after his rally in Minneapolis, which means two rallies in one week in the midst of all *waves hands around aimlessly* this, so get ready.

— Miriam Elder (@MiriamElder) October 7, 2019

(Mike Luckovich via GoComics.com)
.

Tuesday Morning Open Thread: Overcast, Chance of TantrumsPost + Comments (148)

An Actual Profile In Courage and Heroism: The Anniversary of Neerja Bhanot’s Bravery and Sacrifice Should Not Go Unremarked

by Adam L Silverman|  September 23, 20199:38 pm| 47 Comments

This post is in: Because of wow., Foreign Affairs, Open Threads, RIP, Silverman on Security

Neerja Bhanot Pan Am Trust

(Neerja Bhanot)

I meant to get to this on the 20th, but all the excitement from Infrastructure Week got me carried away with other matters.

Thirty-three years and three days ago, Neerja Bhanot, a 23 year old flight attendant, risked and ultimately sacrificed her life protecting the passengers of Pan Am 73, during an attempted and thwarted highjacking by Islamic extremists before the plane could take off from Karachi, Pakistan.

From the Pan Am Historical Foundation’s tribute page:

Remembering Neerja Bhanot on hijacked Pan Am Flight 73. She died heroically, saving Pan Am passengers from terrorists on Sept. 5, 1986.

Neerja Bhanot was senior flight purser on the Empress of the Seas, a  Pan Am 747 hijacked at Jinnah International Airport in Karachi by four armed men from the Abu Nidal organization en route to Frankfurt and New York. During a 17-hour ordeal, she helped the three-member cockpit crew escape in order to ground the plane so it could not be flown. Bhanot hid passports of passengers so the hijackers could not determine passenger nationalities. She also managed to open the emergency door assisting a number of passengers to escape from the plane. As the hijackers opened fire on passengers and crew, Neerja Bhanot lost her life shielding three children from bullets.

In 1987, she became the youngest and first woman recipient of the Ashoka Chakra award, India’s highest civilian decoration for bravery.

In 2004, the Indian Postal Service issued a stamp in her honor* (http://www.wnsstamps.post/en/stamps/IN036.04)

In 2006 she was awarded the 2006 Special Courage Award by the US Department of Justice. (Read more at Times of India.)

In 2016 a film entitled “Neerja” was released, portraying her herioc life.

Today the Neerja Bhanot Pan Am Trust continues to do great work in memory of this amazing woman. You can learn about the Neerja Awards and the trust at https://www.facebook.com/The-Neerja-Bhanot-Page-109643142413675/

Here’s some more details about her in an excellent Twitter thread:

2) This week in September 1986, Flight Attendant Neerja Bhanot, 23 of Chandigarh, India, was shot dead while shielding three children on the hijacked Pan Am Flight 73.

— Terry (@TerranceCreamer) September 20, 2019

4) When the terrorists demanded to know who the Americans were on the flight so they could execute them, Bhanot gathered all the passports and hid those belonging to Americans under seat cushions.

— Terry (@TerranceCreamer) September 20, 2019

6) She was one of the last people onboard and found three children still hiding. As Neerja led the children to safety, the surviving terrorists spotted the children and opened fire on them. Neerja jumped in the way of the bullets and was mortally wounded.

— Terry (@TerranceCreamer) September 20, 2019

8) The 2016 Indian Hindu-language biographical thriller drama, Neerja, is about her life.

— Terry (@TerranceCreamer) September 20, 2019

The world could use more Neerja Bhanots!

Open thread.

An Actual Profile In Courage and Heroism: The Anniversary of Neerja Bhanot’s Bravery and Sacrifice Should Not Go UnremarkedPost + Comments (47)

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