Trump “is somebody who is trying to destroy our country” Democrats need to look themselves in the mirror when former Republicans from the Lincoln Project are standing behind Joe Biden more steadfastly than they are. We need to look beyond the players to the broader stakes in this election and make clear to voters what they are. “I will take an old man with a cold over a narcissitic sociopath with a dictator kink any day,” said Ryan Wiggins, the group’s chief of staff. “We have got the Democratic nominee’s back because Trump cannot be president of this country ever again.” “Our answer is to go out and find the bad guys and punch them in the face,” insists Rick Wilson. “You can never take your foot off the gas in attacking Donald Trump.” When you’ve cut your opponent over the eye, work the eye! “Only one of the two main presidential candidates poses an existential threat to democracy,” said MSNBC’s Ali Velshi Saturday. So take a deep breath and hold that thought.
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Taniel at Bolts with a short primer on today’s runoff in France. France is holding its parliamentary elections today. Clear stakes: Will far-right end up governing France? And if it fails, what possible coalition will end up governing given fragmentation? You can follow me for results starting at 2pm ET; but a quick context 🧵: Let’s start with: In France, president runs the show… as long as their party controls the Assembly. If presidential party loses that control, the president has few domestic powers—no veto, for instance. This isn’t a US-style split government. That’s why stakes today so high. Macron called these just 4 weeks ago. Decision shocked his own allies. He already lost his gamble: His bloc is sure to lose seats & its tentative control on Assembly.
Fascists always understand the power of the really big show.
(Or maybe a bot…) It’s just impossible for these people to believe that their fetid ideas are not what people want. I get that they don’t care but they can’t win democratically. I worry about what comes nest once they get that through their heads. Let’s hope the center left of the US has enough sense to do the same. I wish I was more sure that they do.
After decades of lobbying and advocacy by Canadian trade unions, the federal Parliament unanimously passed legislation to ban the use of replacement workers (or ‘scabs’) during strikes and lockouts in federally regulated industries (covering about 1 million workers in industries like including finance, interprovincial transportation, and telecommunications). The legislation will take effect in June, 2025. It was supported by all [...]
It’s interesting to see the likes of David Frum recognize the imbalance in the media after all these years. People who read this blog have seen this for about three decades now. A thread: “Donald Trump tried to overthrow an election by violence.” That’s old news, we already reported that. “As president, Donald Trump directed tens of millions of tax dollars to his own pockets.” Old news. “Russian intelligence helped elect Trump by illegal means. Trump welcomed the help.” Russia, Russia. “He was proven in court to have raped a woman.” Civil proceeding, not criminal – and sexual assault, not rape. Besides … old news. (cont’d) “Two dozen other women say Trump attacked them. There’s literally a recording of him boasting about it!” Old news, we litigated all that in 2016. “There’s new news just unsealed about Trump and Jeffrey Epstein!” Salacious gossip, beneath our editorial standards. (cont’d) “You don’t have to focus on the sex stuff.
Good luck dude. Your whole inner circle and entourage are involved in Project 2025. The guy whose in charge of the RNC platform, Russell Vought who was also his budget director, has been named by the Republican National Committee as the policy director for the 2024 platform committee. He wrote the chapter on the executive office of the president for Project 2025 and is said to be in charge of planning for the first 180 days of a new Trump administration. Come on. How about this from Trump extremely close associate John McEntee: Also: Everyone’s saying that Trump is running from the Heritage Foundation president saying that this is a second American revolution and there will be no bloodshed if “the left allows it.” But I think it’s about this: I wrote all about his freakout about the abortion issue this morning. He does not want to be associated with the right’s extreme position on abortion because he knows it’s deadly. The last thing he cares about is threats of violence. He makes them himself all the time.
How about the nuclear policy? He is, of course, all in on this. Because he knows about nuclear weapons. His uncle taught at MIT and he has the same genes. From 1986. (Trump hasn’t had a new idea in almost 40 years.) Trump's eagerness to surrender to Russia is nothing new. Even amidst total collapse of the USSR, Trump wanted to "negotiate", bowing to Moscow rather than just beating the bastards, which we did and can do again. 1986 pic.twitter.com/66n6gFUVA6 — Jay in Kyiv (@JayinKyiv) July 4, 2024
Even setting aside his grotesque character, flagrant criminality and rank stupidity, Trump’s mind is also slipping precipitously. And that combination is a thousand times worse than Biden could ever do. It would be nice if the media could keep some perspective on all this. But since Trump is impervious to criticism because he’s a sociopath, they’ve decided to turn their ire on Biden instead. It’s so much more pleasant to have the right patting you on the back than issuing death threats.
Critters get hot too A PSA for pet owners: Practice basic summer safety NEVER LEAVE YOUR PETS IN A PARKED CAR Not even for a minute! Not even with the car running and air conditioner on. On a warm day, temperatures inside a vehicle can rise rapidly to dangerous levels. On an 85-degree day, for example, the temperature inside a car with the windows opened slightly can reach 102 degrees within 10 minutes. After 30 minutes, the temperature will reach 120 degrees. Your pet may suffer irreversible organ damage or die. Learn how to help a pet left inside a hot car by taking action or calling for help. Local law enforcement can follow this handy guide [PDF] on how to proceed. Print our hot car flyer and spread the lifesaving word. Download the PDF Watch the humidity “High humidity amplifies the negative impact of high temperature on your pet—and in combination, these factors magnify the danger zone,” says Dr. Barbara Hodges, DVM, MBA, of the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association. “When animals pant, moisture from their lungs evaporates and helps reduce their body heat.