ICE has set quotas, and it is easier to fulfill those with non-criminals who're naive enough to trust in the system (and e.g. show up when called upon for hearings etc.) Parents are also easier to get through their children (either the parents get arrested when they come to take home their kids from school or kindergarten or the kids get arrested and used has hostages to lure out the parents).
Which reminds me of Ephraim Kishon. He (being a Jew) was hiding in Budapest at the end of WW2. When the Red Army arrived, he like many others came out to greet them as liberators and found himself arrested and marched in the direction of Siberia. The Soviet general had a quota of prisoners to report to Stalin and took anyone he could get. All the Nazis had gone into hiding, so they were mostly safe. Kishon managed to escape during the march and later heard that in his place a farmer got taken right from his field to get the already reported numbers correct again.
Looked it up again. The Orestes-Neoptolemos affair is ambiguous in the sources. Either Hermione was the (unwilling) bride of Neoptolemos and Orestes tried to get her for himself (and slew Neoptolemos) or she was Orestes' fiancee, Neoptolemos tried to rape her and Orestes slew him for that. Again, no one asked the girl about her opinion.
Btw, here's the vase painting of Neoptolemos beating Priamos to death with the body of Priamos' grandson Astyanax: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datei:Amphora_death_Priam_Louvre_F222.jpg
There are other stories with Odysseus either killing Astyanax or agitating for it in order to prevent him from growing up and taking revenge (Neoptolemos often involved though).
Actually reading both epics does not leave much sympathy for any of the male 'heroes'*. I wonder in what way Odysseus would explain his 1 year with Kirke and 7 years with Kalypso to his wife (Homer being very explicit about those relationships being sexual and the latter ending with the 7-years-itch). And other sources have Odysseus killed by his son with Kirke who then marries Penelope while his legitimate son Telemachos marries Kirke in turn.
In the Iliad Odysseus is the most active in suppressing protests from the common soldiers. Interestingly, in non-Platonic sources about the trial of Socrates, the philosopher is accused of citing these verses in his agitation against Athenian democracy.
He is, in some sources, also the main culprit in maltreating the women of Troy (and together with Neoptolemos organizes the sacrifice of Polyxena to the spirit of Achilles).
Orestes tries to justify the murder of his mother with the theory that sons are not blood related to their mothers (them being only seed vessels) and later murders Neoptolemos to steal his wife. Neoptolemos beats Priamos to death at the sanctuary altar with the body of Astyanax, his grandchild and son of Hektor (there are vase paintings of the scene).
Authors of post-antiquity had their work cut out to sanitize all of that.
What I find telling is that the Romans (with very few exceptions**) vilify Odysseus. Not for the deeds we find objectionable to-day but for using his brains instead of raw violence as a proper hero would do.
*Medea (for the female side) being an interesting case of developing from a Greek victim in the oldest to a foreign villain in the younger sources. Jason is an a-hole in all ancient sources I know.
**Apuleius being one in his 'the god of Socrates'
The play dates from the Peloponnesian war (after the catastrophe of the Sicilian expedition that had decimated the Athenian stock of young men) and a period of political turmoil in Athens (violent conflicts between oligarchs and democrats).
It is almost certain that it was read politically even then. Raison d'etat against the individual liberty, the youth manipulated by a deceitful and incompetent leadership etc.
Even if the DHS budget gets slashed, what would stop His Orangeness to just transfer funds from elsewhere*? Iirc he already does so in other places** and SCOTUS has essentially said that nothing can be done about it.
* "Defense" will get its usual boost, so it's not as if there is no money available.
** and refuses to spend funds Congress has specified for use.
"Ve haf vays of making you (look like) cry(ing)"
Our agentz are sooo tuff, that ve can make the worst of the worst (certainly all members of Friends of Antigua) look like frightened old n-word ladies. Gif us moor time and ve make them look like toddlers and infants next. Ve haf az of jet not decided whether to add or remove bullet holes buy our magick Ey-Aye.
Weimar was also far progressed beyond imperial Germany in cultural things (including full equal rights for minorities, in particular Jews, and full equality for women seeming just around the corner).
Then came the Nazis and after WW2 a conservative restauration under Adenauer. Women reached de jure equality not before the 1970ies (before that husbands still had veto power despite nominally equal rights as per the West German constitution).
A throwback of a half or even a full century is thus easily possible and the US reactionaries have imo a fair chance to achieve that in our lifetimes.
Maybe this is what Bannon meant when he advised King Lear Jet to flood the zone with shit.
The cheapest way to dye the shirts brown.
Someone needs to update this classic:
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datei:Hubert_Lanzinger_Der_Bannertr%C3%A4ger_(The_Standard_bearer)_Oil_on_plywood_ca_1934-36_Adolf_Hitler_as_knight_Denazified_hole_in_Hitler%27s_face_scrathes_US_Army_Center_of_Military_History_USHMM_No_known_copyright_restrictions_2450324-2396x2.jpg
Caveat: His Orangeness has the stature of neither the Austrian painter nor the Italian he tries to imitate in public. He is just another case of history repeating itself as a farce (or Grand Guignol just with less taste and brains). But cheap imitations can be lethal too.
I still think His Orangeness would be a better (ridiculous) fit for the painting above
Well, he floated the idea of exchanging Greenland for Puerto Rico, so the Greenlanders could be moved there. If we follow BP, there is a large walrus population in the Caribbean.
(as a reminder: https://www.csmonitor.com/From-the-news-wires/2010/0609/BP-s-gulf-oil-spill-response-plan-lists-the-walrus-as-a-local-species.-Louisiana-Gov.-Bobby-Jindal-is-furious)
Maybe His Orangeness' whisperers will soon call for a renewal of the Chinese Exclusion Act (and SCOTUS wil overturn its overturning of the same) and demand that South American countries also enforce it in their territories and expect them to obey under Maduress. Since Greenlanders are genetically East-Asian too (essentially Mongols in kayaks), that would also serve as legal basis for their eviction once Greenland has come Heim ins Reich. [/s???]
Some current quotes from GOPsters:
(via maddowblog)
Republican Rep. Roger Williams of Texas, for example, appeared on NewsNation just two days after Good’s death and told viewers, “People need to quit demonstrating, quit yelling at law enforcement, challenging law enforcement, and begin to get civil. And until we do that, I guess we’re going to have it this way. And the people that are staying in their homes or doing the right thing need to be protected.”
A fellow Texan, GOP Rep. Wesley Hunt, also told Newsmax last week, “The bottom line is this: When a federal officer gives you instructions, you abide by them and then you get to keep your life.”
If the US leaves NATO, I wonder if Canada will withdraw from the bilateral arrangements.
Which would deliver the pretense for the intended annexation.
It's insane but that's the kind of logic I expect those people.
Btw, I do not believe for a moment that Canada in that scenario would receive statehood since that would almost guarantee a Dem takeover of both house and senate.
wjca, The original plans to acquire Greenland was to put Canada into a pincer between newly acquired Alaska, the US and Greenland and then to take over either by persuasive coercion or outright violence.
At the moment I do not believe Canada to be in play yet. Once an annexation of Greenland leads to the break-up of NATO, Canada would probably be seen as an easier target than now.
* When university philosophy professors are told to avoid Plato, academic freedom is losing: “Martin Peterson, a philosophy professor at Texas A&M University, was thunderstruck when he was told on Tuesday that he needed to excise some teachings of Plato from his syllabus. It was one way, his department head wrote in an email, that Dr. Peterson’s philosophy class could comply with new policies limiting discussion of race and gender.”
Would be new to me that Plato was a liberal. But of course the Allegory of the Cave could be (mis-)interpreted as woke.And in the same book he contemplated equal rights for the women of the ruling class. On the other hand his idea of "Unable to work for three days? You should commit suicide in order not to be a burden on society!" would fit well with RW economics.
I guess that Venezuela is seen as different from Iraq because Venezuelans (papist Latino weaklings) are not expected to put up as much or as successful a resistance as the sand n-words in the Middle East. The US looks at a long tradition of controlling South American countries via right-wing authoritarian proxies who use death squads.
Btw, legally the UK has first rights to buy Greenland. After the US in the past tried to purchase Greenland several times with implied threats that a refusal to sell could lead to a hostile takeover, Denmark turned to the UK for help and there is a legal agreement that, if Greenland would be sold, the UK has right of first refusal. Of course, at the time the UK was as or even more powerful than the US. Not that His Orangeness knows or cares.
I suppose the Canadians and the Danes feel some temporary relief that the crazies are still looking south for the moment.
Be careful, it could just be a clever (good joke!) distraction, so the strike will come as a surprise.
Again more seriously: It was no joke about other threatened states likely ramping up air and ground defenses around their seats of government. But that could serve as justification to not go for abduction next time but outright assassination, if need be by air dropped ordnance.
His Orangeness is said to already have phoned Maduro's temporary successor and it is strongly implied that this included death threats in case of lack of unconditional surrender to His demands.
Just heard on the German radio that Rubio is now talking openly about copying the Caracas action in Cuba and Nicaragua and justifying it with those states conducting warfare against the US by swamping the country with immigrants.*
Well, in that case he should of course get immediately arrested and treated as a hostile agent who wormed himself into a high position in government (they used to hang such people in the past, didn't they?).
More seriously, those potential targets would be well advised to bolster the air and ground defenses around their seats of government (and I assume they are already at it).
*that would serve, I assume, as the next excuse not to involve congress. If there already is a war, congress does not need to declare it, so His Orangeness is free to do as he wants.
What jurisdiction does the SDNY have over the president of another country?
According to SCOTUS it has none over the US president. Let's see what 5-dimensional pretzel the gang of 6 will produce about this (if it ever goes there).
Btw, it's quite ironic that the case is given to a blue state court that His Orangeness used to constantly demonize for 'going after' Him.
Michael Cain, I thought the snark about 'just executing a warrant' was obvious enough. The pretense, whether it was cocaine and submachine guns or counterfeit aspirin and single shot soft air rifles, is simply ridiculous. They could as well justify their actions with him jaywalking, not paying for a bus ticket or parking violations. It was an act of war without war being declared or congress even discussing anything that could serve as a legal pretense. And it was another test case what he can get away with. Will he try a fait accompli with Greenland next? I think that has ceased to be a mere academic question after to-day. I think it would actually take less military effort to sweep in and take over than what they did in Caracas.
Well, he just executed the arrest warrant from the Southern District of NY for among other things illegal possession of firearms and intent to acquire such. Where in the constitution does it say that one needs a congressional approval for that?
Let's see how much pocket change Maduro has to buy a pardon.
Of course, if is state charges, that would require a transfer to the feds first.
Meanwhile, His Orangeness has declared that the official government of Mexico is not actually in charge of the country but the cartels and that will have consequences soon. Hm, a few days ago he declared that Columbia would be next. Such inconsistency. Not to forget similar threats towards Iran. As usual the open support of the US and Israel for the protestors in Iran gives the radicals on both sides* the licence/license/pretense to use indiscriminate violence.
Btw, Israel is currently facing some headwind with a plan to introduce a capital crime that can only be committed by Palestinians.
China and Russia are delighted, I presume, about the current events. It's exactly what they need for their own propaganda.
Will His Orangeness compare his dict-napping in Venezuela to Israel's capture of Eichmann given that he in essence accuses Maduro constantly of murdering millions of US citizens (per year or per month?)?
marching band is seen as a ‘girly’ thing in Japan.
Ever seen Girls and Panzer? ;-)
(For those who are not accustomed to the franchise: The premise is that "sensha-do" (tanking) is a 100% female thing and a prestige sport for girls who battle it out in WW2-era tanks) Lots of marching music there.
Isn't this in a sense a claim that one of HIS followers did the deed*?
Not even true but would be typical. It has to be about HIM.
The trolls take another angle: Biden's drug and immigration policy.
Without Sleepy Joe there would be no drug problem and no drug dealing and pet eating darkies in the country, so the son would never have gone down the dark path. Of course in that case it would be the liberal upbringing (or violent video games or satanic rock-n-roll or...).
Btw, some trolls have the audacity to compare HIS spoilt (b)rats favorably to Reiner's son (no drugs there and they would never go after HIM).
*which would make it by definition righteous, so no problem there.
The Roman magistrate song
Tune: The Major General's Song (Gilbert&Sullivan: The Pirates of Penzance)
Chorus: |: His name is Marcus Tullius Cicero :|
Cicero: My name is/Indeed I'm Marcus Tullius Cicero
1. I am the very model of a proper Roman magistrate although of origin a poor provincial legal advocate
I came to Rome with country drawl, behaved and clothed/dressed still/quite prissily
Then came to fame defending the oppressed poor folks of Sicily.
I beat that Asianic fop, illustrious Hortensius
The greatest advocate till then, an omen so portentious
That gave my standing quite a boost. I moved to better neighbourhood [neighbourhood! maidenhood? hazelwood? Oh, of course!]
I can/could afford now finally some furniture of citrus wood
I ran the course of honors through and "suo anno" at each stage
An akin meteoric rise you'll seek in vain on his'try's page See, does/did not turn my origin as studied legal advocate me into a fine model for a proper Roman magistrate?
2.
I love the lengthy period with con- and subjunctives galore
I best each verbal labyrinth as Theseus did the minotaur
I know my ornaments and tropes from zeugma to apostrophy
I practice hypotyposis that leads to eucatastrophe
I shun the tmesis like the plague, don't mix en- with hypallage
Against non-cretic clausulae I have an aching allergy
Occasions for anacoluth or sentence aposiopese...
[mayonaise? Calliopese? Alcibiades?... Eureka/I've got it/Ah, but of course!]
And don't insinuate insinuations are just lies - oh, please.
I can explain the difference twixt alleg'ry and metaphor
and can provide for evr'y term the context that it matters for
This stanza has too many lines, I humbly do apologise
[eulogize?...extemporize? Nobel prize?... Something more epic!]
But with this topic dear to me the words swell like Apollo's rise
No one can yet convict me of abuse of inconcinnity
My subtle sense of tone does truly verge on pure divinity So I from modest origins, a mere provincial advocate, became the very model of a brilliant Roman magistrate
3.
I dabble in philosophy, in dreams I talk to Socrates
Of rivals I am as devoid as medicine's Hippocrates
A challenger compared to me sounds Numid or Iberian
I'd win a dispute easily no matter what criterion.
I can force words to do my will, of Latin mine is mastery
Comparable my aptitude to expert sculptor's plastery
I keep my gestures dignified, at least when on the senate floor
[senate floor...janitor?...penny whore?...Ah! Of course!]
Avoid the roll-of-eyes and row-of-arms, I'm not a semaphor.
A homo novus though I am, by birth a mere equestrian
I soared through toil and eloquence past nobles more pedestrian So out of plainest origins a paltry legal advocate arose as very model of a palmy Roman magistrate
4.
I have a slave named Tiro who brought forth the art stenography
And who, if fates permit, one day will publish my biography
He notes down ev'ry word that in the public or at home I've said
And of course in the most august assembly here in Rome, senate!
Although with voters common I will be at times gregarious
I find the populares faction utterly nefarious
So without doubt I throw my lot in with the noble optimates [optimates! obstinates? pots and plates?... I've got it!]
For what they're always aiming at "best for the state" approximates
I love the toga candida and the elections annual
My brother Quintus was so kind to write the winner's manual With this assistance I was spared a certain loser's tragic fate Became with vote unanimous of Rome the highest magistrate
5.
I can declaim in Greek like born in Athens or in Miletos
I showed that rascal Catiline who really is in Rome the boss
Some say his motivation was just violated vanity
But then to start a coup attempt was madness and insanity
He clearly was a bolshevik, although I don't know what that means,
and right against the mos maiorum but that's normal for such fiends
I then got hailed as savior of our sacred fatherland
[fatherland...rather bent?...leather scent?...EUREKA]
but squinting sods did disagree and planned my triumphs there to end.
Thus afterwards you exiled me through that tribune so odious
Who had exchanged his honest name for that of vulgar Clodius With fire denied (and water too) exiled to places desolate I fell down from the lofty peak of supreme Roman magistrate
6.
It's said the perfect orator a good man is well versed in speech
And for him who has mastered this no thing to aim for 's out of reach
I climbed through efforts tireless the heights of Attic oratory
I penned some self-promoting but unsuccessful epic poetry
The way I use the language shall one day be made canonical
Which given no bum talks like this should be seen as ironical
Categorise my style as neither Asian nor atticist
[pacifist, can't resist? Oh, me stupid!]
I walk the golden middle course, am not baroque but classicist
I made the Latin language shine and stay for all eternity
To form with Persian, Greek, Sanskrit forever a fraternity And thus despite my origin as country bumpkin advocate my eloquence made me the model of a Roman magistrate
7.
Indeed it was an/the orator who first united as a group
the cultureless humanity fed up with bitter acorn soup
He taught them all there was to know and how to found a/the city state
He was the natural candidate to serve as its first magistrate
We know that our first Roman king - Quirinus Romulus - could wield
The word as well as any sword. The eloquence served as his shield
Then Numa his more peaceful heir could do away with sagum red
[garum fed?...Boba Fett?... Ouch! It' s so obvious]
Inspired by Camena's source/spring he governed in the toga clad
And this tradition it holds true while seven centuries have passed
If to my precepts/teachings you will hold, for many more it's going to last To Rome despite my origins as rural legal advocate The gods called me as model both as orator and magistrate
8.
The orator before all things must never ever be a bore
And even on the dullest topic find his mark and hit full score
But this be done/he does with dignity, avoiding all cheap stage effects
And with quick wit the heckling claque's intrusions craftily deflects
An orator worth of the name of ev'rything has ample gist
And, if he hasn't, he can still make use of an exempla/example list
But I digress - I often do - but this is not the lecture hall
Please don't take it as flattery me saying that I love you all
What is this world, if not a stage, for each of us a part to play?
[part to play...hard to pay...start to say?...I got it.]
And I was given billings prime to take the lead and save the day
For not by chance for Roma's sake in time mine was the consulate
The vilest plot I could unveil and just before it was too late. The gods send forth as champion me, an unknown rusty advocate In time of need to take the role of lucid Roman magistrate
9.
The Parthians do not fear me yet for my strategic genius
No blade I bathed in human blood for I am rather squeamish, yes
Of British cooking I stay clear, a parcel one calls them of rogues
The Gauls I hate for drinking beer (exception made for Allobroges)
No sword is worn within Rome's walls, the sanctified pomerium
Removed from fasces is the axe, no soldier holds imperium
And though I lack the clever stratagems of Quintus Fabius [fabulous, platypus? Ah, that's it!]
And cannot tell apart, ye gods, a spatha from a gladius
I am no blood-stained warrior. The tongue is mighty, not the sword
I have steered through the roughest seas the ship of state to safest port Therefore, despite of origin a humble legal advocate I am the very model of a glorious Roman magistrate
10.
Republican I am at heart, I hate all things tyrannical
Despite nice news of victories both Gallic and Britannical
I would not take - if offered one - a seat in a triumvirate
Political shenanigans of "great men" get me quite irate
My idol is Demosthenes the great Athenian orator
I do philippics just like him and give Rome's fetid foes what for
I hate that guy Marc Anthony and call him many nasty name
[lasting shame?...ghastly maim? Misplaced my head again...Duh!]
A scoundrel very wanton he, too fond of wine, whore, slut and dame
Not worthy of his noble birth, a moral stain on Roma's face
Defiler of all honest things, in short a total gross disgrace! Compare that to my humble self, this Arpinate and advocate Possessing moral stamina, apt for a Roman magistrate
*Comment archive for non-registered commenters assembled by email address as provided.
On “Moral insanity”
ICE has set quotas, and it is easier to fulfill those with non-criminals who're naive enough to trust in the system (and e.g. show up when called upon for hearings etc.) Parents are also easier to get through their children (either the parents get arrested when they come to take home their kids from school or kindergarten or the kids get arrested and used has hostages to lure out the parents).
Which reminds me of Ephraim Kishon. He (being a Jew) was hiding in Budapest at the end of WW2. When the Red Army arrived, he like many others came out to greet them as liberators and found himself arrested and marched in the direction of Siberia. The Soviet general had a quota of prisoners to report to Stalin and took anyone he could get. All the Nazis had gone into hiding, so they were mostly safe. Kishon managed to escape during the march and later heard that in his place a farmer got taken right from his field to get the already reported numbers correct again.
On “Feeling Philoctetes”
Looked it up again. The Orestes-Neoptolemos affair is ambiguous in the sources. Either Hermione was the (unwilling) bride of Neoptolemos and Orestes tried to get her for himself (and slew Neoptolemos) or she was Orestes' fiancee, Neoptolemos tried to rape her and Orestes slew him for that. Again, no one asked the girl about her opinion.
Btw, here's the vase painting of Neoptolemos beating Priamos to death with the body of Priamos' grandson Astyanax: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datei:Amphora_death_Priam_Louvre_F222.jpg
There are other stories with Odysseus either killing Astyanax or agitating for it in order to prevent him from growing up and taking revenge (Neoptolemos often involved though).
"
Actually reading both epics does not leave much sympathy for any of the male 'heroes'*. I wonder in what way Odysseus would explain his 1 year with Kirke and 7 years with Kalypso to his wife (Homer being very explicit about those relationships being sexual and the latter ending with the 7-years-itch). And other sources have Odysseus killed by his son with Kirke who then marries Penelope while his legitimate son Telemachos marries Kirke in turn.
In the Iliad Odysseus is the most active in suppressing protests from the common soldiers. Interestingly, in non-Platonic sources about the trial of Socrates, the philosopher is accused of citing these verses in his agitation against Athenian democracy.
He is, in some sources, also the main culprit in maltreating the women of Troy (and together with Neoptolemos organizes the sacrifice of Polyxena to the spirit of Achilles).
Orestes tries to justify the murder of his mother with the theory that sons are not blood related to their mothers (them being only seed vessels) and later murders Neoptolemos to steal his wife. Neoptolemos beats Priamos to death at the sanctuary altar with the body of Astyanax, his grandchild and son of Hektor (there are vase paintings of the scene).
Authors of post-antiquity had their work cut out to sanitize all of that.
What I find telling is that the Romans (with very few exceptions**) vilify Odysseus. Not for the deeds we find objectionable to-day but for using his brains instead of raw violence as a proper hero would do.
*Medea (for the female side) being an interesting case of developing from a Greek victim in the oldest to a foreign villain in the younger sources. Jason is an a-hole in all ancient sources I know.
**Apuleius being one in his 'the god of Socrates'
"
The play dates from the Peloponnesian war (after the catastrophe of the Sicilian expedition that had decimated the Athenian stock of young men) and a period of political turmoil in Athens (violent conflicts between oligarchs and democrats).
It is almost certain that it was read politically even then. Raison d'etat against the individual liberty, the youth manipulated by a deceitful and incompetent leadership etc.
On “Moral insanity”
Even if the DHS budget gets slashed, what would stop His Orangeness to just transfer funds from elsewhere*? Iirc he already does so in other places** and SCOTUS has essentially said that nothing can be done about it.
* "Defense" will get its usual boost, so it's not as if there is no money available.
** and refuses to spend funds Congress has specified for use.
On “Rememory”
"Ve haf vays of making you (look like) cry(ing)"
Our agentz are sooo tuff, that ve can make the worst of the worst (certainly all members of Friends of Antigua) look like frightened old n-word ladies. Gif us moor time and ve make them look like toddlers and infants next. Ve haf az of jet not decided whether to add or remove bullet holes buy our magick Ey-Aye.
"
Weimar was also far progressed beyond imperial Germany in cultural things (including full equal rights for minorities, in particular Jews, and full equality for women seeming just around the corner).
Then came the Nazis and after WW2 a conservative restauration under Adenauer. Women reached de jure equality not before the 1970ies (before that husbands still had veto power despite nominally equal rights as per the West German constitution).
A throwback of a half or even a full century is thus easily possible and the US reactionaries have imo a fair chance to achieve that in our lifetimes.
On “An open thread”
Maybe this is what Bannon meant when he advised King Lear Jet to flood the zone with shit.
The cheapest way to dye the shirts brown.
Someone needs to update this classic:
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datei:Hubert_Lanzinger_Der_Bannertr%C3%A4ger_(The_Standard_bearer)_Oil_on_plywood_ca_1934-36_Adolf_Hitler_as_knight_Denazified_hole_in_Hitler%27s_face_scrathes_US_Army_Center_of_Military_History_USHMM_No_known_copyright_restrictions_2450324-2396x2.jpg
Caveat: His Orangeness has the stature of neither the Austrian painter nor the Italian he tries to imitate in public. He is just another case of history repeating itself as a farce (or Grand Guignol just with less taste and brains). But cheap imitations can be lethal too.
I still think His Orangeness would be a better (ridiculous) fit for the painting above
On “¿Qué quieres decir cuando dices China, por favor?”
Well, he floated the idea of exchanging Greenland for Puerto Rico, so the Greenlanders could be moved there. If we follow BP, there is a large walrus population in the Caribbean.
(as a reminder: https://www.csmonitor.com/From-the-news-wires/2010/0609/BP-s-gulf-oil-spill-response-plan-lists-the-walrus-as-a-local-species.-Louisiana-Gov.-Bobby-Jindal-is-furious)
"
Maybe His Orangeness' whisperers will soon call for a renewal of the Chinese Exclusion Act (and SCOTUS wil overturn its overturning of the same) and demand that South American countries also enforce it in their territories and expect them to obey under Maduress. Since Greenlanders are genetically East-Asian too (essentially Mongols in kayaks), that would also serve as legal basis for their eviction once Greenland has come Heim ins Reich. [/s???]
On “An open thread”
Some current quotes from GOPsters:
(via maddowblog)
Republican Rep. Roger Williams of Texas, for example, appeared on NewsNation just two days after Good’s death and told viewers, “People need to quit demonstrating, quit yelling at law enforcement, challenging law enforcement, and begin to get civil. And until we do that, I guess we’re going to have it this way. And the people that are staying in their homes or doing the right thing need to be protected.”
A fellow Texan, GOP Rep. Wesley Hunt, also told Newsmax last week, “The bottom line is this: When a federal officer gives you instructions, you abide by them and then you get to keep your life.”
On “Moving towards Epiphany”
If the US leaves NATO, I wonder if Canada will withdraw from the bilateral arrangements.
Which would deliver the pretense for the intended annexation.
It's insane but that's the kind of logic I expect those people.
Btw, I do not believe for a moment that Canada in that scenario would receive statehood since that would almost guarantee a Dem takeover of both house and senate.
"
wjca, The original plans to acquire Greenland was to put Canada into a pincer between newly acquired Alaska, the US and Greenland and then to take over either by persuasive coercion or outright violence.
At the moment I do not believe Canada to be in play yet. Once an annexation of Greenland leads to the break-up of NATO, Canada would probably be seen as an easier target than now.
On “An open thread”
From maddowblog:
* When university philosophy professors are told to avoid Plato, academic freedom is losing: “Martin Peterson, a philosophy professor at Texas A&M University, was thunderstruck when he was told on Tuesday that he needed to excise some teachings of Plato from his syllabus. It was one way, his department head wrote in an email, that Dr. Peterson’s philosophy class could comply with new policies limiting discussion of race and gender.”
Would be new to me that Plato was a liberal. But of course the Allegory of the Cave could be (mis-)interpreted as woke.And in the same book he contemplated equal rights for the women of the ruling class. On the other hand his idea of "Unable to work for three days? You should commit suicide in order not to be a burden on society!" would fit well with RW economics.
On “2026, as f**ked up as 2025”
I guess that Venezuela is seen as different from Iraq because Venezuelans (papist Latino weaklings) are not expected to put up as much or as successful a resistance as the sand n-words in the Middle East. The US look
sat a long tradition of controlling South American countries via right-wing authoritarian proxies who use death squads."
Btw, legally the UK has first rights to buy Greenland. After the US in the past tried to purchase Greenland several times with implied threats that a refusal to sell could lead to a hostile takeover, Denmark turned to the UK for help and there is a legal agreement that, if Greenland would be sold, the UK has right of first refusal. Of course, at the time the UK was as or even more powerful than the US. Not that His Orangeness knows or cares.
"
I suppose the Canadians and the Danes feel some temporary relief that the crazies are still looking south for the moment.
Be careful, it could just be a clever (good joke!) distraction, so the strike will come as a surprise.
Again more seriously: It was no joke about other threatened states likely ramping up air and ground defenses around their seats of government. But that could serve as justification to not go for abduction next time but outright assassination, if need be by air dropped ordnance.
His Orangeness is said to already have phoned Maduro's temporary successor and it is strongly implied that this included death threats in case of lack of unconditional surrender to His demands.
"
Just heard on the German radio that Rubio is now talking openly about copying the Caracas action in Cuba and Nicaragua and justifying it with those states conducting warfare against the US by swamping the country with immigrants.*
Well, in that case he should of course get immediately arrested and treated as a hostile agent who wormed himself into a high position in government (they used to hang such people in the past, didn't they?).
More seriously, those potential targets would be well advised to bolster the air and ground defenses around their seats of government (and I assume they are already at it).
*that would serve, I assume, as the next excuse not to involve congress. If there already is a war, congress does not need to declare it, so His Orangeness is free to do as he wants.
"
What jurisdiction does the SDNY have over the president of another country?
According to SCOTUS it has none over the US president. Let's see what 5-dimensional pretzel the gang of 6 will produce about this (if it ever goes there).
Btw, it's quite ironic that the case is given to a blue state court that His Orangeness used to constantly demonize for 'going after' Him.
"
Michael Cain, I thought the snark about 'just executing a warrant' was obvious enough. The pretense, whether it was cocaine and submachine guns or counterfeit aspirin and single shot soft air rifles, is simply ridiculous. They could as well justify their actions with him jaywalking, not paying for a bus ticket or parking violations. It was an act of war without war being declared or congress even discussing anything that could serve as a legal pretense. And it was another test case what he can get away with. Will he try a fait accompli with Greenland next? I think that has ceased to be a mere academic question after to-day. I think it would actually take less military effort to sweep in and take over than what they did in Caracas.
"
Well, he just executed the arrest warrant from the Southern District of NY for among other things illegal possession of firearms and intent to acquire such. Where in the constitution does it say that one needs a congressional approval for that?
Let's see how much pocket change Maduro has to buy a pardon.
Of course, if is state charges, that would require a transfer to the feds first.
Meanwhile, His Orangeness has declared that the official government of Mexico is not actually in charge of the country but the cartels and that will have consequences soon. Hm, a few days ago he declared that Columbia would be next. Such inconsistency. Not to forget similar threats towards Iran. As usual the open support of the US and Israel for the protestors in Iran gives the radicals on both sides* the licence/license/pretense to use indiscriminate violence.
Btw, Israel is currently facing some headwind with a plan to introduce a capital crime that can only be committed by Palestinians.
China and Russia are delighted, I presume, about the current events. It's exactly what they need for their own propaganda.
*I do not include the civilian protestors.
On “Moving towards Epiphany”
Will His Orangeness compare his dict-napping in Venezuela to Israel's capture of Eichmann given that he in essence accuses Maduro constantly of murdering millions of US citizens (per year or per month?)?
On “Weekend music thread #08 How do you get to Carnagie Hall?”
Ever seen Girls and Panzer? ;-)
(For those who are not accustomed to the franchise: The premise is that "sensha-do" (tanking) is a 100% female thing and a prestige sport for girls who battle it out in WW2-era tanks) Lots of marching music there.
On “Author, author?”
Isn't this in a sense a claim that one of HIS followers did the deed*?
Not even true but would be typical. It has to be about HIM.
The trolls take another angle: Biden's drug and immigration policy.
Without Sleepy Joe there would be no drug problem and no drug dealing and pet eating darkies in the country, so the son would never have gone down the dark path. Of course in that case it would be the liberal upbringing (or violent video games or satanic rock-n-roll or...).
Btw, some trolls have the audacity to compare HIS spoilt (b)rats favorably to Reiner's son (no drugs there and they would never go after HIM).
*which would make it by definition righteous, so no problem there.
On “Open Thread”
The Roman magistrate song
Tune: The Major General's Song (Gilbert&Sullivan: The Pirates of Penzance)
Chorus: |: His name is Marcus Tullius Cicero :|
Cicero: My name is/Indeed I'm Marcus Tullius Cicero
1.
I am the very model of a proper Roman magistrate
although of origin a poor provincial legal advocate
I came to Rome with country drawl, behaved and clothed/dressed still/quite prissily
Then came to fame defending the oppressed poor folks of Sicily.
I beat that Asianic fop, illustrious Hortensius
The greatest advocate till then, an omen so portentious
That gave my standing quite a boost. I moved to better neighbourhood
[neighbourhood! maidenhood? hazelwood? Oh, of course!]
I can/could afford now finally some furniture of citrus wood
I ran the course of honors through and "suo anno" at each stage
An akin meteoric rise you'll seek in vain on his'try's page
See, does/did not turn my origin as studied legal advocate
me into a fine model for a proper Roman magistrate?
2.
I love the lengthy period with con- and subjunctives galore
I best each verbal labyrinth as Theseus did the minotaur
I know my ornaments and tropes from zeugma to apostrophy
I practice hypotyposis that leads to eucatastrophe
I shun the tmesis like the plague, don't mix en- with hypallage
Against non-cretic clausulae I have an aching allergy
Occasions for anacoluth or sentence aposiopese...
[mayonaise? Calliopese? Alcibiades?... Eureka/I've got it/Ah, but of course!]
And don't insinuate insinuations are just lies - oh, please.
I can explain the difference twixt alleg'ry and metaphor
and can provide for evr'y term the context that it matters for
This stanza has too many lines, I humbly do apologise
[eulogize?...extemporize? Nobel prize?... Something more epic!]
But with this topic dear to me the words swell like Apollo's rise
No one can yet convict me of abuse of inconcinnity
My subtle sense of tone does truly verge on pure divinity
So I from modest origins, a mere provincial advocate,
became the very model of a brilliant Roman magistrate
3.
I dabble in philosophy, in dreams I talk to Socrates
Of rivals I am as devoid as medicine's Hippocrates
A challenger compared to me sounds Numid or Iberian
I'd win a dispute easily no matter what criterion.
I can force words to do my will, of Latin mine is mastery
Comparable my aptitude to expert sculptor's plastery
I keep my gestures dignified, at least when on the senate floor
[senate floor...janitor?...penny whore?...Ah! Of course!]
Avoid the roll-of-eyes and row-of-arms, I'm not a semaphor.
A homo novus though I am, by birth a mere equestrian
I soared through toil and eloquence past nobles more pedestrian
So out of plainest origins a paltry legal advocate
arose as very model of a palmy Roman magistrate
4.
I have a slave named Tiro who brought forth the art stenography
And who, if fates permit, one day will publish my biography
He notes down ev'ry word that in the public or at home I've said
And of course in the most august assembly here in Rome, senate!
Although with voters common I will be at times gregarious
I find the populares faction utterly nefarious
So without doubt I throw my lot in with the noble optimates
[optimates! obstinates? pots and plates?... I've got it!]
For what they're always aiming at "best for the state" approximates
I love the toga candida and the elections annual
My brother Quintus was so kind to write the winner's manual
With this assistance I was spared a certain loser's tragic fate
Became with vote unanimous of Rome the highest magistrate
5.
I can declaim in Greek like born in Athens or in Miletos
I showed that rascal Catiline who really is in Rome the boss
Some say his motivation was just violated vanity
But then to start a coup attempt was madness and insanity
He clearly was a bolshevik, although I don't know what that means,
and right against the mos maiorum but that's normal for such fiends
I then got hailed as savior of our sacred fatherland
[fatherland...rather bent?...leather scent?...EUREKA]
but squinting sods did disagree and planned my triumphs there to end.
Thus afterwards you exiled me through that tribune so odious
Who had exchanged his honest name for that of vulgar Clodius
With fire denied (and water too) exiled to places desolate
I fell down from the lofty peak of supreme Roman magistrate
6.
It's said the perfect orator a good man is well versed in speech
And for him who has mastered this no thing to aim for 's out of reach
I climbed through efforts tireless the heights of Attic oratory
I penned some self-promoting but unsuccessful epic poetry
The way I use the language shall one day be made canonical
Which given no bum talks like this should be seen as ironical
Categorise my style as neither Asian nor atticist
[pacifist, can't resist? Oh, me stupid!]
I walk the golden middle course, am not baroque but classicist
I made the Latin language shine and stay for all eternity
To form with Persian, Greek, Sanskrit forever a fraternity
And thus despite my origin as country bumpkin advocate
my eloquence made me the model of a Roman magistrate
7.
Indeed it was an/the orator who first united as a group
the cultureless humanity fed up with bitter acorn soup
He taught them all there was to know and how to found a/the city state
He was the natural candidate to serve as its first magistrate
We know that our first Roman king - Quirinus Romulus - could wield
The word as well as any sword. The eloquence served as his shield
Then Numa his more peaceful heir could do away with sagum red
[garum fed?...Boba Fett?... Ouch! It' s so obvious]
Inspired by Camena's source/spring he governed in the toga clad
And this tradition it holds true while seven centuries have passed
If to my precepts/teachings you will hold, for many more it's going to last
To Rome despite my origins as rural legal advocate
The gods called me as model both as orator and magistrate
8.
The orator before all things must never ever be a bore
And even on the dullest topic find his mark and hit full score
But this be done/he does with dignity, avoiding all cheap stage effects
And with quick wit the heckling claque's intrusions craftily deflects
An orator worth of the name of ev'rything has ample gist
And, if he hasn't, he can still make use of an exempla/example list
But I digress - I often do - but this is not the lecture hall
Please don't take it as flattery me saying that I love you all
What is this world, if not a stage, for each of us a part to play?
[part to play...hard to pay...start to say?...I got it.]
And I was given billings prime to take the lead and save the day
For not by chance for Roma's sake in time mine was the consulate
The vilest plot I could unveil and just before it was too late.
The gods send forth as champion me, an unknown rusty advocate
In time of need to take the role of lucid Roman magistrate
9.
The Parthians do not fear me yet for my strategic genius
No blade I bathed in human blood for I am rather squeamish, yes
Of British cooking I stay clear, a parcel one calls them of rogues
The Gauls I hate for drinking beer (exception made for Allobroges)
No sword is worn within Rome's walls, the sanctified pomerium
Removed from fasces is the axe, no soldier holds imperium
And though I lack the clever stratagems of Quintus Fabius
[fabulous, platypus? Ah, that's it!]
And cannot tell apart, ye gods, a spatha from a gladius
I am no blood-stained warrior. The tongue is mighty, not the sword
I have steered through the roughest seas the ship of state to safest port
Therefore, despite of origin a humble legal advocate
I am the very model of a glorious Roman magistrate
10.
Republican I am at heart, I hate all things tyrannical
Despite nice news of victories both Gallic and Britannical
I would not take - if offered one - a seat in a triumvirate
Political shenanigans of "great men" get me quite irate
My idol is Demosthenes the great Athenian orator
I do philippics just like him and give Rome's fetid foes what for
I hate that guy Marc Anthony and call him many nasty name
[lasting shame?...ghastly maim? Misplaced my head again...Duh!]
A scoundrel very wanton he, too fond of wine, whore, slut and dame
Not worthy of his noble birth, a moral stain on Roma's face
Defiler of all honest things, in short a total gross disgrace!
Compare that to my humble self, this Arpinate and advocate
Possessing moral stamina, apt for a Roman magistrate
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