Mis-Dis-Mal is back to fight again, which itself "represents a tacit admission that the informal networks formed at major universities and research organizations" (and especially at Homeland Security, the NYT omits) to police speech lost the political battle last year. https://t.co/WZiSm9KXiH
— TSB (@TweetingTSB) April 26, 2024
Friday, April 26, 2024
Miss Dismal Is Back And This Time It's a Grudge Match
Thursday, April 25, 2024
C'mon Man!©, Pay Attention Or Don't Use a 'Prompter
Every Nacht is Kristallnacht at Columbia University
It’s Kristallnacht on Kampus as Mayor Adams blames mysterious outside agitators. https://t.co/vhjb7WVdU5
— TSB (@TweetingTSB) April 23, 2024
On the one hand, it is staggering to see this sort of open and raw antisemitism in the U.S. (and UK, Australia, Canada, etc.).
On the other hand, the more the population of the U.S. resembles, say, the General Assembly of the UN, the more it will exhibit the common attitudes of the General Assembly toward Israel, not to mention toward the U.S. in particular and Western civilization at large.
BTW, while not every criticism of Israel can be regarded as antisemitism, what we see today on Columbia and many other locations meets the definition.
Secret Service Agent on Veep Detail Snaps "Entirely"
Herczeg also screamed at the special agent in charge (SAIC), rattling off the names of female officers on the vice president’s detail and claiming they would show up and help her and allow her to continue working. At that point, other agents on the scene believed Herczeg was suffering from a mental lapse, and the superior officer, SAIC, approached her to tell her she was relieved from the assignment.
“That’s when she snapped entirely,” one source recounted.Appparently, she hadn't snapped entirely until the other agents at the scene needed to remove her pistol and handcuff her.
Monday, April 22, 2024
Fun, Fun, Fun, 'til Their Daddy Takes Their T-Bird Away
"NPR gives a masterclass on how not to do damage control" (@TheHillOpinion) https://t.co/zUTkJPdLwH
— The Hill (@thehill) April 22, 2024
"when you depend upon an act of Congress to help keep the lights on ... NPR, whose response to Berliner is a lot like its reporting: one-sided, tone-deaf, ill-advised and insanely self-important ... the breathy staccato ubiquitous in its on-air programming"And the author winds up with this bottom-line proposition:
"[NPR] is free to believe that it’s a balanced and even-handed news organization. But it is not entitled to taxpayer support. Is it really too much to ask that NPR indulge in its delusions on its own dime? It’s a fair proposition."
Saturday, April 20, 2024
We Don't Need No Thought Control (Hey! NPR! Leave That News Alone!)
Bill Maher Issues Wake-Up Call to All Democrats Who Think the NPR Story Is Not a Big Deal
— The Vigilant Fox 🦊 (@VigilantFox) April 20, 2024
"NPR is to them [Republicans] what this country would be if it was a permanent democratic governorship."
"Of the 87 people working in editorial positions there, 87 are Democrats. Even if… pic.twitter.com/6GbSwqMLA0
Thursday, April 18, 2024
As a Young Boy, Joe Biden Dreamed of Choosing Freedom Over Democracy - D'oh!
The choice is clear: Freedom over Democracy any day. https://t.co/6VGibKafV2
— TSB (@TweetingTSB) April 18, 2024
Sunday, April 14, 2024
NYT Election Poll Has No Good News For Biden
Who did you vote for in the 2020 presidential election between Donald Trump and Joe Biden?
Donald Trump - 36%
Joe Biden - 43%And,
If the 2024 presidential election were held today, who would you vote for if the candidates were [Biden and Trump]:
Donald Trump - 46%
Joe Biden - 45%Well, well, well. An interesting number of Biden voters from 2020 say they will vote for Trump this time.
Saturday, April 13, 2024
FBI Gets the Most Expensive Government Office Building Ever - Twice!
To support the funding for a new FBI headquarters, the Biden administration proposes setting up a Federal Capital Revolving Fund.
Under this proposal, Congress would appropriate the total amount of money needed for the project upfront. GSA would then repay the revolving fund, over the course of 15 years, by taking out about $233 million each year from the Federal Buildings Fund.
Wednesday, April 10, 2024
Video Released From Ecuador's Forced Entry Into Embassy of Mexico
Tuesday, April 9, 2024
State Department Internal Dissent Memos Continue as Usual (The Independent Can Reveal)
State department staff sent at least eight internal dissent memos to express disagreement with US policy on Israel and Gaza during the first two months of the war, The Independent can reveal.
A further memo was sent last month from the US embassy in Jordan, warning of increasing instability across the region due to Israel’s ongoing war, according to a person familiar with the matter, bringing the total number to at least nine.
Such a high number of internal dissent memorandums – a formal process by which staff can express concerns internally to a policy – highlights the widespread opposition within the department to the Biden administration’s support for Israel’s war in Gaza.But, what's this? If you read 30 paragraphs into that 33-paragraph story you find some context:
There were an average of almost nine dissent messages per year sent to Washington between 1972 and 2017, according to the Foreign Service Journal.So there have been nine internal dissent memos so far in the last half year, as the Independent can reveal, compared to an average of "almost nine" (so then, eight?) per year over the last half century.
Saturday, April 6, 2024
Greta Thunberg Arrested Again, This Time With Two New Friends
Greta got arrested again..
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) April 6, 2024
pic.twitter.com/3htVinp001
Kirby: But That Was in Another Country!
"But that was in another country; and besides the wench is dead."Well, technically, that was first said in Christopher Marlowe's play, The Jew of Malta, but forgive me for hearing it when Kirby said the same thing in longer form:
“Well, look, these are events that happened three years apart, two different geographic locations, two different countries, two different sets of circumstances, two different types of threat[s] that were being evaluated, and [two completely] different militaries that were involved, with two different chains of command. So, I think we’ve got to be careful comparing both events too closely."The only difference that matters between those two particular mistakes in war is that Israel immediately and honestly took responsibility for their mistake and held those who committed it to account. We did neither.
Wednesday, April 3, 2024
You Have Read of the Alien and Sedition Acts, Haven't You?
100% right. https://t.co/Z606OP9Msa
— TSB (@TweetingTSB) April 3, 2024
How To Admit a Mistake in War, And How Not To
Contrast this responsible statement with Gen. Milley’s “righteous strike” excuse. https://t.co/ygPbmH77eX https://t.co/zEbrzBTlAv
— TSB (@TweetingTSB) April 3, 2024
Off-Broadway Security Theater Opens in the NYC Subways
Evolv claims its AI-equipped scanners use “safe, ultra-low frequency, electromagnetic fields and advanced sensors to detect concealed weapons.” The company’s CEO has said the machines can detect any type of weapon, from guns to bombs to large tactical knives. But the 2022 pilot — as well as industry testing and more recent probes by the Federal Trade Commission and the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as a class-action lawsuit filed by shareholders — suggests Evolv’s scanners are far less effective than advertised.That lawsuit alone ought to be enough to bring down the curtain on this latest production of security theater. It credibly alleges Evolv paid for 'independent' testing and also revised test reports before they were made public. In short, the thing doesn't work.
Saturday, March 30, 2024
A Split Screen News Story For the History Books
AP's "Indefensible Abuse and Atrocious Inhumanity" Wins an Award
"The very photographing itself an act of indefensible abuse and atrocious inhumanity." https://t.co/SioVhVindB
— TSB (@TweetingTSB) March 30, 2024
Tuesday, March 26, 2024
Assange Gets Half a Step Closer to Being Extradited
LONDON, March 26 (Reuters) - WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's extradition to the United States from Britain was put on hold on Tuesday after London's High Court said the United States must provide assurances he would not face the death penalty.-- snip --[His lawyer's objections had been] that Australian-born Assange arguably would not be entitled to rely on the First Amendment right to free speech as a non-U.S. national and, while none of the existing charges carried the death penalty, he could later face a capital offence such as treason, meaning it would be unlawful to extradite him.-- snip --The judges invited the U.S. authorities to provide assurances on these matters, saying if they were not forthcoming by April 16, then Assange would be granted permission to appeal.However, they rejected his lawyers' argument the case was politically motivated or that he would not receive a fair trial.
Monday, March 25, 2024
UN: Why So Choosy About Which Atrocities You Condemn?
Israel's Ambassador to UN proposes an alternative Resolution to the one just passed (2728) calling for a ceasefire, thanks to U.S. not vetoing—and there's a plot twist. pic.twitter.com/0kVDIDvBBO
— Daniel Roth (@daniel_c_roth) March 25, 2024
Saturday, March 23, 2024
Recognizing One, Two ... How Many Palestinian States?
Ireland, Spain, Malta and Slovenia standing ready to recognise the Palestine state has given Palestinians "hope," [Palestinian ambassador to Ireland Dr Jilan Abdalmajidits] has said.
Earlier, in a joint-statement, the four countries' prime ministers said they were ready to recognise the Palestine state when the "circumstances are right".You may wonder what, exactly, are those circumstances? And who decides when they are 'right?'
"We agreed that the only way to achieve lasting peace and stability in the region is through implementation of a two-state solution, with Israeli and Palestinian States living side-by-side, in peace and security," the statement said.
Thursday, March 14, 2024
First Saudi Male AI Robot Gets Handsy With Female Reporter
All too humanoid. First Saudi AI robot cops a feel at a press conference. https://t.co/RizqleDFDV
— TSB (@TweetingTSB) March 14, 2024
Monday, March 11, 2024
Latest Update From Embassy Haiti: Still Evacuating Non-Essential Staff
At the request of the Department of State, the U.S. military conducted an operation to augment the security of the U.S. Embassy at Port-au-Prince, allow our Embassy mission operations to continue, and enable non-essential personnel to depart.
This airlift of personnel into and out of the Embassy is consistent with our standard practice for Embassy security augmentation worldwide, and no Haitians were on board the military aircraft.
Our Embassy remains focused on advancing U.S. government efforts to support the Haitian people, including mobilizing support for the Haitian National Police, expediting the deployment of the United Nations-authorized Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission, and accelerating a peaceful transition of power via free and fair elections.
As announced in September 2023, the Department of Defense is postured to provide robust enabling support for the MSS, including planning assistance, information sharing, airlift, communications, and medical support.Haitians please note that "no Haitians were on board," meaning, we are not taking sides in your local conflict.
'Barbecue' and his gang are showing impressive muzzle discipline in that photo, and I even see some of them with fingers straight and off the trigger. They have my vote for next government leaders. https://t.co/KWUal8mz91
— TSB (@TweetingTSB) March 10, 2024
Thursday, March 7, 2024
"The Washington Elite" Benefit From DOD-Run VIP Medical Care
Through a unit at the White House, government personnel were routinely allowed to receive treatment under aliases, providing no home address or insurance information. For some of them, the care was free, as Walter Reed had no way to bill for it or waived charges.
White House officials, senior military and other national security leaders, retired military officers, and family members have all benefited. The Washington elite could jump the line when filling prescriptions, book appointments through special call centers, and receive choice parking spots and escorts at military hospitals and other facilities, including Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, according to the Pentagon’s inspector general.
At Walter Reed, the program is available to Cabinet members; members of Congress; Supreme Court justices [think RBG]; active-duty and retired generals and flag officers and their beneficiaries; members of the Senior Executive Service who retired from the military; secretaries, deputy secretaries, and assistant secretaries of the Department of Defense and military departments; certain foreign military officers; and Medal of Honor recipients.
Saturday, February 24, 2024
Carter-Baker Commission: "Absentee Ballots Remain the Largest Source of Potential Voter Fraud.”
In response to these concerns [of photo identification, new voting technology, and growing numbers of absentee and mail ballots], former President Jimmy Carter and former Secretary of State James A. Baker, III, agreed to co-chair a bipartisan commission, housed at Washington D.C.’s American University, to examine these and other outstanding election reform issues. The final report, titled “Building Confidence in U.S. Elections,” stressed the important role of elections in the nation’s democracy and made a series of recommendations, including:
* A national system to connect state and local voter registration lists
* Voter identification based on a universally available REAL ID card
* Policies to improve voter access for all communities, as well as innovations like vote centers and voter information lookup sites
* Stronger efforts to combat fraud, especially in absentee voting
* Auditable paper backups for all voting technologyThe Carter-Baker Commission report is downloadable here.
Ukraine Encounters Unforeseen Problem - Rodent Damage to Weapon Systems
Rodents incapacitate millions in eco-friendly military equipment in Ukraine: the unforeseen problem https://t.co/8JaPBQ4Mek
— TSB (@TweetingTSB) February 24, 2024
Weaponry systems in Ukraine, many of which were supplied by European countries, have been rendered unworkable, not due to Russian interference, but because of damage caused by mice and other rodents. Seemingly, these creatures have developed a preference for cable insulation made of corn fiber over synthetic materials. This predilection leads to malfunctioning electrical installations, rendering the expensive equipment essentially worthless, and requiring rapid overhauling.
-- snip --
Several European countries have supplied a wide range of weapon systems. However, the dilemma of ensuring electrical insulation durability has become a sticking point for newer equipment. This issue affects a multitude of nations where ESG (Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance) guidelines are making their way into the arms industry.Something will have to give. Either tear out the eco-friendly wiring, or consider all those lovely weapon systems to be expendable.
Friday, February 23, 2024
Give That Prime Minister a MAGA Hat
Albanian PM goes MAGA in front of Blinken: “And despite the rhetoric, despite the colorful way to confront adversaries, I don’t see that NATO was weakened … Every country continued to put more money and to put more effort in increasing the NATO budget.” https://t.co/ReBLBWRptP
— TSB (@TweetingTSB) February 23, 2024
But one thing I can say, I had the privilege to be prime minister for Albania in NATO when the former president was there. And despite the rhetoric, despite the colorful way to confront adversaries, I don’t see that NATO was weakened. On the contrary, what was decided before continued to be the case. Every country continued to put more money and to put more effort in increasing the NATO budget. So now, elections are elections, Trump is Trump. American politics is American politics. But I think United States is something more than that. And what makes United States one of a kind in the – in our community of countries and of people all around the world is that United States cannot and will never, in my view, shy away from what are the principles and the values to be protected, whatever it takes. And so I’m not afraid of anything, but of stopping or wavering to continue and protect ourselves through protecting the right of Ukrainians to live in their country, to have their own house intact, to have their children grow there, and to have a common future with everyone else, without being threatened to be wiped out from maps based on ninth, thirteenth, fifteenth, whatever century. Because if this Pandora box opens then I can tell you we have a lot of maps in this region, but we have to see the future, and it’s only the future that will unite us.
So no, I don’t think that NATO will be weakened. I don’t think the United States will shy away from their role and from their leadership. I then that when elections will be over, American business is American business.
Red State Tom Joad and the Gripes of Wealth
“Well, maybe like Biden says, a fella ain’t got no income of his own, but on’y a piece of what he leaves you have — an’ then—“
“Then what, Tom?”
“Then it don’ matter. Then I’ll be all aroun’ in Texas or mebe Florida. I’ll be everywhere a fella can keep some-ah his money. Wherever they’s a fight to lower tax rates, I’ll be there. Wherever they’s a cop beatin’ up a robber, I’ll be cheerin’ him on. If Biden knowed, why, I’ll be in the way guys yell when they’re mad at guv-a-mint — I’ll be in the way kids laugh when they’re goin’ to school with no loans an’ they know a job’l be ready. An’ when our folks keep the stuff they earn an’ live in the houses they bought–why, I’ll be there. See?”
That's even more touching than the original text, I think.
Sunday, February 11, 2024
FBI Agents Abroad "Spendin' Gs, Glocks Poppin' Like Ozone"
A Bit Strong, IMHO, Protestor Tells HRC "You Will Burn!"
Saturday, February 10, 2024
FBI Agents Abroad Find Commercial Sex An Unfortunate "Cultural Thing," End Up Resigned Or Retired
Six FBI officials working on assignment overseas solicited or had sex with prostitutes, including at a karaoke bar, a massage parlor, and a gentlemen's club, and then were not forthcoming when questioned by investigators, according to a document released by the Justice Department's internal watchdog.
The DOJ's Inspector General's Office made public in 2021 a barebones, one-page summary of its findings that FBI officials had accepted "commercial sex" while on duty abroad, but it did not disclose any details on the misconduct itself.
Now, in response to a Freedom of Information Act request, the Inspector General's office has released what's known as a Report of Investigation that dates to Oct. 20, 2021. The 37-page document is heavily redacted, including all references to the identities of the FBI officials as well as the country or countries where the misconduct took place, but it provides a wealth of new details about the six officials' actions.It seems that our heroes, the traveling FBI agents, frequently accepted opportunities for commercial sex offered to them by their overseas law enforcement counterparts.
In that same section of the report, an FBI official whose name is blacked out told investigators that he has paid for commercial sex but there have been "zero occasions" where a foreign country has "tried to leverage him as a result of their providing him with a prostitute, adding this is a 'cultural thing unfortunately.'"I can see how that might happen. It's after work, the locals take our FBI agent out to a cop bar for drinks, then show him the local sights, and end the night with a freebie sent up to his hotel room compliments of his new buddies.
The officials' actions violated multiple FBI policies, including failing to report contacts with foreign nationals, and failing to report their own misconduct as well as their colleagues' misconduct.
The report says three of the officials implicated in the report resigned, two retired and one was removed from his position.
Lots of Old-Man-Yelling-At-A-Cloud Energy But No Rebuttal of Special Counsel's Report
Biden was combative, forcefully rejecting Hur’s claims that he has a poor memory. But the president was also repeatedly inaccurate, making three claims that were clearly contradicted by [Department of Justice special counsel] Hur’s report.Specifically, CNN notes three times POTUS made what can only be characterized as false claims concerning where his "willfully retained" and shared classified documents have been all these years, how they were stored, and what level of sensitivity they had.
Saturday, February 3, 2024
"Wake Up, Mister Jalamneh, it's Time For Your Shot"
"Hamas confirmed that Jalamneh was one of its members. The Jenin Brigade, which includes a number of Palestinian armed resistance groups, said in a statement that two of the three men were members of Islamic Jihad" (it says right here).
Sunday, January 21, 2024
Socializing Costs to Maximize Private Profit (In the Name of Compassion, Of Course)
Maine State Housing Authority budgeted nearly $3.5 million to cover the rents of 60 migrant families in five buildings in Brunswick for two years.
They are expected to eventually get permission to work and start earning to pay their own way.
The state is also allocating $100,000 to help dozens of Brunswick migrants process their asylum applications and secure work permits.
A bus service is in the works to help the migrants get into town.In other words, the Maine State Housing Authority and other official bodies are providing a bald-faced example of government picking up the social costs of that cheap labor some businesses love so much, especially those in the construction, agriculture, retail, and hospitality industries.
“When big companies use the Walmart loophole to force workers on to Medi-Cal, taxpayers pick up the tab,” said California Labor Federation head Art Pulaski. Medi-Cal is the state’s health care program for the poor, elderly and disabled.
“Today we are putting legislators on notice that it’s time to hold big corporations accountable to pay their fair share for health care like the rest of us.”That fine statement was issued back in 2013. You could say the same thing today only now the problem is coming from our elected officials instead of Wal-Mart.
Friday, January 12, 2024
Sadder But (Maybe) Wiser, HRC's Seminar Students Give Her a Poor Review
HRC word cloud - WaPo (2015) |
The student said it felt like Clinton became less relatable as the semester continued.
-- snip --
The student said she believed Clinton could have "been more honest" with the students.
"Usually whenever you start to… get to know [politicians] more on a personal basis, you start to like them a little bit more because they become more humanized. Over the course of the semester, though, I feel like Hillary Clinton became more of a politician than she was at the end."I'm shaking my head ruefully. She thought Hillary would be relatable and honest? Has it been her experience that politicians become humanized when you sit in a chair and listen to them?