Friday, January 11, 2019
DOUBLE WHAMMY
Good thing I stocked up on booze because my home town's going to be hit hard this weekend. The first major snow of the season is officially underway and that's apparently going to be followed by an attack by Godzilla. So if you're headed toward the STL, you might need to change your travel plans.
Thursday, January 10, 2019
THROWING OUT THE GARBAGE
Florida will rid itself of one particularly useless and incompetent employee.
Newly minted Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) will soon fire Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel over his mishandling of the police response to the Parkland shooting in February 2018.
DeSantis's office has not confirmed these plans, but people with knowledge of the situation told The Miami Herald that Israel's days were numbered. The sheriff plans to fight the matter in court, and will request a trial before the Florida state senate. Presumably, that body's Republican majority will back DeSantis and give Israel the boot.
The firing would be long overdue. Israel's tenure was marked by incompetence, corruption, and gross mismanagement. While he is not responsible for the actions of Nikolas Cruz, the deranged teenager who killed 17 of his former classmates and teachers at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School last year, nor is he directly responsible for his deputies' failure to respond properly, Israel was ultimately the man in charge. His office staff was poorly trained, their equipment malfunctioned, and their security protocols failed, according to the state's 458-page report on the shooting.
One might have expected a sheriff who presided over such a disaster—a disaster very possibly made worse by his office's myriad failures—to come across as apologetic, or at the very least humbled. But Israel has remained defiantly confident. In fact, he called his own leadership "amazing," and gave the following non-response when CNN's Jake Tapper asked him if he would have done anything differently: "If ifs and buts were candy and nuts, O.J. Simpson would still be in the record books."
Newly minted Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) will soon fire Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel over his mishandling of the police response to the Parkland shooting in February 2018.
DeSantis's office has not confirmed these plans, but people with knowledge of the situation told The Miami Herald that Israel's days were numbered. The sheriff plans to fight the matter in court, and will request a trial before the Florida state senate. Presumably, that body's Republican majority will back DeSantis and give Israel the boot.
The firing would be long overdue. Israel's tenure was marked by incompetence, corruption, and gross mismanagement. While he is not responsible for the actions of Nikolas Cruz, the deranged teenager who killed 17 of his former classmates and teachers at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School last year, nor is he directly responsible for his deputies' failure to respond properly, Israel was ultimately the man in charge. His office staff was poorly trained, their equipment malfunctioned, and their security protocols failed, according to the state's 458-page report on the shooting.
One might have expected a sheriff who presided over such a disaster—a disaster very possibly made worse by his office's myriad failures—to come across as apologetic, or at the very least humbled. But Israel has remained defiantly confident. In fact, he called his own leadership "amazing," and gave the following non-response when CNN's Jake Tapper asked him if he would have done anything differently: "If ifs and buts were candy and nuts, O.J. Simpson would still be in the record books."
49ERS
California Governor Gavin Newsom is picking up right where Jerry Brown left off. Driving California off the cliff. In his inaugural address yesterday, he announced that California will provide sanctuary and healthcare for all…those here illegally that is.
Gov. Gavin Newsom announced sweeping proposals to tackle the state’s healthcare needs shortly after taking office on Monday, outlining a dramatic Medi-Cal expansion that would cover young immigrant adults who are in the U.S. illegally, require that all consumers in the state carry health insurance and increase subsidies for middle-class families to help those who need it.
So the United States should start planning for the establishment of camps to house Californians fleeing their new socialist state's tyranny. Got it. Oh, and while we're at it, this country might want to scout locations for all the Callee businesses that will be relocating to this country.
California's business environment has gone from bad to worse, with thousands of businesses pulling up stakes and moving elsewhere. But don't take our word for it. Just ask the 1,800 companies that either relocated or "disinvested" in the formerly Golden State in 2016.
A new report from business-relocation expert Joe Vranich says that the business climate has gotten so bad that, for the first time ever, he is actively telling clients "to leave the business-hostile state because its business climate continues to worsen."
Can't wait.
Wednesday, January 9, 2019
MCJ CAPTION CONTEST
Last evening, UNITED STATES PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP delivered an address on the Mexican border situation. Since I already knew what he was going to say, I didn't waste my time watching it. Since I already knew what they were going to say, I also didn't see the Democrat response from Chuckie Baby and Nanner McBotox (that's Chuckie on the left).
Anyway, I figured that picture cried out for a caption contest. So here goes. Put your entries, as many as you want, in the comments. I can't guarantee that you'll actually win anything other than my approval but if I particularly like something, I may be able to arrange some kind of actual prize or other (employees of MidConJo Enterprises and their families are not eligible).
I'll get you started.
Ruth, that funeral director did a wonderful job with your parents.
Son, this flag obsession of yours has got to stop.
Seriously, Chris? You flunked math?
We seem to recall telling you that you were to be home at midnight.
I'll keep this around for a couple of weeks. Good luck.
UPDATE: Just thought of another one.
American Gothic? Try American Craptastic.
UPDATE: He doesn't know it yet but @exjon comes in with:
Your father and I aren't angry with you, just ... disappointed.
Anyway, I figured that picture cried out for a caption contest. So here goes. Put your entries, as many as you want, in the comments. I can't guarantee that you'll actually win anything other than my approval but if I particularly like something, I may be able to arrange some kind of actual prize or other (employees of MidConJo Enterprises and their families are not eligible).
I'll get you started.
Ruth, that funeral director did a wonderful job with your parents.
Son, this flag obsession of yours has got to stop.
Seriously, Chris? You flunked math?
We seem to recall telling you that you were to be home at midnight.
I'll keep this around for a couple of weeks. Good luck.
UPDATE: Just thought of another one.
American Gothic? Try American Craptastic.
UPDATE: He doesn't know it yet but @exjon comes in with:
Your father and I aren't angry with you, just ... disappointed.
Monday, January 7, 2019
Sunday, January 6, 2019
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD...
SHUT. THE. HELL. UP.
Buying clothes in High Street shops and sitting comfortably in train and plane seats are things some people take for granted.
But not for much longer, as lingerie blogger Cora Harrington says these things mean you probably benefit from “thin privilege”.
"Lingerie blogger," Gracie? Really?
"Lingerie blogger," Gracie? Really?
In a detailed Twitter thread, Cora says, “You don’t have to ‘feel thin’ to have thin privilege". It just means you're not on the receiving end of other people's fatphobia, and you don't find it difficult to do everyday things because of your size.
Cora says she doesn't feel the burden of explaining thin privilege should just be placed on plus-size people.
She tells BBC Three: "I really feel that when we're talking about inequalities in society, it should not always be the responsibility of the person who might be affected to be the one who brings those topics up in conversation. There's this added trauma that comes from, first, being disadvantaged by something, and then, second, having to justify your existence to so many hostile people.
Maxim: if everybody is "privileged," then nobody is. Which is kind of progress, I guess.
Maxim: if everybody is "privileged," then nobody is. Which is kind of progress, I guess.
Friday, January 4, 2019
WHY YOU GOT TRUMP ON TRUMP
Utah's newest senator on the sitting president.
The Trump presidency made a deep descent in December. The departures of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and White House Chief of Staff John F. Kelly, the appointment of senior persons of lesser experience, the abandonment of allies who fight beside us, and the president’s thoughtless claim that America has long been a “sucker” in world affairs all defined his presidency down.
It is well known that Donald Trump was not my choice for the Republican presidential nomination. After he became the nominee, I hoped his campaign would refrain from resentment and name-calling. It did not. When he won the election, I hoped he would rise to the occasion. His early appointments of Rex Tillerson, Jeff Sessions, Nikki Haley, Gary Cohn, H.R. McMaster, Kelly and Mattis were encouraging. But, on balance, his conduct over the past two years, particularly his actions last month, is evidence that the president has not risen to the mantle of the office.
To a great degree, a presidency shapes the public character of the nation. A president should unite us and inspire us to follow “our better angels.” A president should demonstrate the essential qualities of honesty and integrity, and elevate the national discourse with comity and mutual respect. As a nation, we have been blessed with presidents who have called on the greatness of the American spirit. With the nation so divided, resentful and angry, presidential leadership in qualities of character is indispensable. And it is in this province where the incumbent’s shortfall has been most glaring.
Uh...not so much, no. Unless you seriously believe that President Romney would have fought hard or at all for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.
The word you're looking for here, Willard, is "results."
The Trump presidency made a deep descent in December. The departures of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and White House Chief of Staff John F. Kelly, the appointment of senior persons of lesser experience, the abandonment of allies who fight beside us, and the president’s thoughtless claim that America has long been a “sucker” in world affairs all defined his presidency down.
It is well known that Donald Trump was not my choice for the Republican presidential nomination. After he became the nominee, I hoped his campaign would refrain from resentment and name-calling. It did not. When he won the election, I hoped he would rise to the occasion. His early appointments of Rex Tillerson, Jeff Sessions, Nikki Haley, Gary Cohn, H.R. McMaster, Kelly and Mattis were encouraging. But, on balance, his conduct over the past two years, particularly his actions last month, is evidence that the president has not risen to the mantle of the office.
To a great degree, a presidency shapes the public character of the nation. A president should unite us and inspire us to follow “our better angels.” A president should demonstrate the essential qualities of honesty and integrity, and elevate the national discourse with comity and mutual respect. As a nation, we have been blessed with presidents who have called on the greatness of the American spirit. With the nation so divided, resentful and angry, presidential leadership in qualities of character is indispensable. And it is in this province where the incumbent’s shortfall has been most glaring.
Uh...not so much, no. Unless you seriously believe that President Romney would have fought hard or at all for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.
The word you're looking for here, Willard, is "results."
Wednesday, January 2, 2019
COMES THE DAWN
Has Israel finally figured it out?
Israel will officially no longer be a member of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, or UNESCO, on Tuesday.
“Israel will not be part of a body that continually rewrites history, including by erasing the Jewish connection to Jerusalem,” Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon told JNS. “UNESCO is manipulated by Israel’s enemies and continually singles out the Jewish state for condemnation.”
The UN agency has been subject to criticism of anti-Israel bias and distortion of historical sites, such as Jewish ties to the Western Wall and Temple Mount.
In September, Israel declined to partake in UNESCO’s conference on antisemitism “due to the organization’s persistent and egregious bias against Israel,” said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Israel will officially no longer be a member of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, or UNESCO, on Tuesday.
“Israel will not be part of a body that continually rewrites history, including by erasing the Jewish connection to Jerusalem,” Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon told JNS. “UNESCO is manipulated by Israel’s enemies and continually singles out the Jewish state for condemnation.”
The UN agency has been subject to criticism of anti-Israel bias and distortion of historical sites, such as Jewish ties to the Western Wall and Temple Mount.
In September, Israel declined to partake in UNESCO’s conference on antisemitism “due to the organization’s persistent and egregious bias against Israel,” said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
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