Notices by Trojan Duck (todwest@mastodon.world)

I have a feeling May 30 will be declared a national holiday in the coming years. Just a hunch.

@tokyo_0 I have never used any of these apps. Uber, Door Dash, etc. If the restaurant doesn't deliver, I pick it up. But I'm fortunate to have a car. Not sure how I would feel if I didn't. I'd probably end up using them, despite my resistance to this kind of disruption-for-disruption's-sake 'innovation.'

@tokyo_0 I completely agree. I'm saying that it's far more likely to be an exception than a new rule. And, of course, there are all the killings we haven't heard about. I'm guessing it happens fairly frequently, and most of the time they get away with it completely. Corporations too. It's just possible that Boeing is killing off whistle-blowers, though this is really more of a conspiracy theory at this point. But it's not entirely implausible. See: Karen Silkwood.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_Silkwood

@tokyo_0 I don't see this as a new trend, especially since they were caught, in this case and the one in Canada (though the latter plot was successful). Chile assassinated dissident Orlando Letelier in Washington D.C. in 1976, so this is not without precedent. In Chile's case, the Americans were okay with the outcome given that Nixon/Ford backed Pinochet. At the same time, blowback is what we deserve for all our decades of meddling in the affairs of other countries.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassination_of_Orlando_Letelier

@tokyo_0 In the 1950's, the highest marginal interest rate on income in the U.S. was 91 percent. This forced high earners to reinvest their income or lose it to Uncle Sam. It was 70 percent as recently as Carter. The American economy boomed during that era because the federal government was flush with cash to build projects like the interstate highway system. But no one wants to tax high earners anymore and here we are.

@jeffowski FDR's Second Bill of Rights, or a version thereof (he conveniently died ten months after announcing this.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Bill_of_Rights

The reason it hasn't been produced is because he has just enough self awareness to realize that he'd end up looking like a tired old bigot.
https://deadline.com/2024/04/john-cleese-channel-4-cancel-culture-show-canceled-1235889934/

@WarnerCrocker Okay. I still disagree. Again, if the Ukraine aid bill is the only thing Jeffries accomplishes, it will be more than worth it. Johnson will never let that bill reach the floor. Never.

@WarnerCrocker There are at least a few more GOP members who have hinted that they might resign for tactical reasons in order to hamstring their own caucus -- because they are so disgusted. It's not too late for them to quit. Not sure how likely it is, but we are in uncharted waters.

@WarnerCrocker Well, they won't need to. All they have to do is await the outcome of the GOP circular firing squad. No telling how that may fall. But there will be more 'retirements' if Johnson is ousted. At that point it will be anybody's game given the thin margin.

@WarnerCrocker I don't disagree with you that there is little downside to doing nothing. But if the opportunity comes, they will make Jeffries speaker. To do otherwise is unthinkable. They are champing at the bit.

@WarnerCrocker That's five months. A lot can be done in five months.

@WarnerCrocker Jeffries will call them into session and get things done. They have a pile of bills ready to go. They wouldn't need more than 2-3 weeks. If Johnson is ousted, expect several more summary retirements by GOP members. But I think they will stick with him, so it will be a moot point.

@WarnerCrocker Yes, but our caucus is functional. You're assuming the dysfunction the GOP has experienced will carry over. I can assure you that this isn't the case on the House side. Obviously, Sinema and Manchin are a wildcard in the senate, but let's get the bills to reconciliation and see what we can do. I don't disagree that there is little downside to giving the GOP the rope to hang itself, but the needs of the American public outweigh that. Grab the gavel and don't look back.

@WarnerCrocker I disagree. If Dems have a chance to seize control of the House they should grab it with both hands. They can potentially put a lot good legislation on Biden's desk prior to election day, and that will only help politically.

@tokyo_0 @glynmoody You would think the so-called left-wing party would be leading the calls for a cease fire, not the near-fascist party the Conservatives have become. Make it make sense.

@tokyo_0 @glynmoody Tories outflanking Labour on the left. We live in a very stupid timeline.

@jeffowski Reputation washing

@WarnerCrocker He's still on the hook for the full amount.

@tokyo_0 Thare are old settler tales here in the U.S. about people who essentially starved to death because rabbits were the only food source they could catch.