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May 03, 2022 11:43 PM UTC

Wednesday Open Thread

  • 63 Comments
  • by: Colorado Pols

“My experience has been that work is almost the best way to pull oneself out of the depths.”

–Eleanor Roosevelt

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63 thoughts on “Wednesday Open Thread”

  1. One year ago the fuel cost per mile to operate my trucks was $.71 per mile. This week it is $.93 per mile. 

    One year go the driver cost per mile was $.63. This week the driver cost per mile is $.73.

    Not complaining, I just wanted to thank all of you for paying more for everything you purchase. It keeps my men employed.

    Thanks Democrats!

    1. You should thank the oil companies for record profits during a time of global upheaval.  BP wrote off 25bil in Russian investments and still had record profits in the 1st quarter of 2022.  Hopefully the oil companies will use some of their profits to develop some of their more expensive leases.  Oh and don't expect prices to decrease if Republicans regain Congress this year.  Only an imbecile would think like that.

    2. What crap, PP.

      Demand keeps your men employed…not the cost of stuff. You’re even stupid at being stupid.

      Democrats have nothing to do with the price of your fuel. Check Exxon Mobils’ profits. Chevron is raking it in, too. 

      Credibility..?..you have none.

            1. ECON 101 might suggest that if you're not making a profit you're going broke.  Yet, you're still here.  Are you just lying or stupid? 

              1. In my original post, I said nothing about profit. I’m just glad you are sucking it up and paying the inflation tax on everything you purchase so my trucks stay busy. No need to cut back on spending.

                Thanks Democrats.

            2. Pear, there have been references linked here on Pols that show reasoning for the increase in fuel prices. It's the free market at work. Companies have been under pressure from investors to show greater profitability. Thus, nobody is increasing production in any great degree right now since more production = more supply then leading to lower prices. 

              Biden has no ability to force producers to drill on the hundreds of thousands of acres of undeveloped leases just in the Western US alone.

            3. I didn't say they equate. You can certainly have demand and no profit, or even a loss, but I don't know of a situation where you can have profit without demand.

            1. Do you treat all appreciated assets in your business in the same way or is this particular valuation method cherry-picked just for this certain talking point?

                1. So then I'm going to assume you also aren't depreciating your fixed assets, either accelerated or fixed, and your balance sheet might be overstated.

                  Might want to check with your accountant.

              1. Maybe one day we will be able to fix that. You never know, who thought the switch between daylight savings time and standard time could be abolished.

                1. Didn’t Ttumpy already try a version of this?  Discounting value for taxes and inflating value for bank loan applications? I’m guessing your banker has a particular interest in the increased value of your property if your profits are under pressure?

              2. PP…

                Did you ever consider not making up shit? There are many ways to ascertain the value of your home.

                Try to think before you type…

                No…maybe that's asking too much.

                 

              3. Yeah, I'm going to storm into the Boulder County assessor's office today and tell them I won't accept any more new increased property valuations of my house because I haven't sold it. It's an idea so crazy it just might not work at all…

  4. Quoting again from that Kate Riga piece "The Draft Opinion Is An Untempered Victory Lap Reveling In Roe’s Demise"

    I really like the part where Alito claims “The court short-circuited the democratic process by closing it to the large number of Americans who dissented in any respect from Roe,”

    Umm. If you don't want an abortion, don't have one!

    And Kate Riga's final comment slips in the dagger: "This is not the language of someone trying to bridge America’s divisions. It’s the language of someone who’s won, gloating to an audience that can do little about it. "

    Political forecasting out of the way, Alito all but crows at Roe’s demise. 

    “Roe was egregiously wrong from the start,” he writes. “Its reasoning was exceptionally weak, and the decision has had damaging consequences. And far from bringing about a national settlement of the abortion issue, Roe and Casey have enflamed debate and deepened division.”

    That abortion rights deepened divisions is a wild swing to take, given that this decision would knowingly set up a country bifurcated between states that allow abortion access and those that prohibit it. But he gets in his jabs where he can. 

    In his use of the phrase “egregiously wrong,” he’s also echoing Kavanaugh, who applied the characterization to the decisions upholding Japanese internment and greenlighting state-sanctioned segregation — infamous cases that blight the Court’s history.

    Alito moves from disingenuousness to flat-out lying in his eagerness to detail the suffering of the anti-abortion movement. 

    “The court short-circuited the democratic process by closing it to the large number of Americans who dissented in any respect from Roe,” he writes.

    1. And Josh Marshall, incisive as ever, cuts to the chase. “Alito’s Opinion is Traditionalism Masquerading as Originalism“

      It’s long been a truism that the precedents that would need to be toppled to overturn Roe v Wade would put in jeopardy or remove the underpinnings of rights to contraception, same sex marriage and a whole range of reproductive, erotic and matrimonial autonomy and freedom this country has long taken for granted. This is based on the jurisprudence of a “right to privacy” which is the basis of numerous court decisions going back to the 1960s. In a way it is antiseptic and structural. To do away with Roe you need to do away with the right of privacy and doing away with the right of privacy means a whole raft of other decisions fall. But reading Alito’s decision he didn’t want to leave it to that. He dismisses the privacy jurisprudence out of hand and then focuses his argument on these rights not being “deeply rooted in this Nation’s history and tradition” or “implicit in the concept of ordered liberty.”

      One can convincingly argue that Alito and his fellow believers are consummate judicial activists, routinely finding new rights and injunctions in the constitution that aren’t explicitly stated and went unattested for decades or centuries after they were written. But even Alito recognizes that there are interpretive frameworks that address new issues not explicitly referenced in the constitution. That’s in this decision. But he keeps coming back to “history and tradition” as what really seems like a separate basis of authority. Basically old school values. And lots of rights won’t make that cut.

      1. Josh Marshall calls for clarity in Democratic Party messaging:

        If the plan is to use Roe as the mobilization tool to hold the Congress in 2022 I guarantee you the way to do it is for the President to say right away that if the Democrats hold the House and pick up (for the sake of conversation we’ll say) two Senate seats that next January they’ll pass a law codifying Roe as it existed circa January 2021. That makes everything crystal clear. None of the opaque nonsense about what “the Democrats” can do if they’re “in control.” Control of the House and two additional senators. That mobilizes people. That gives a specific goal. It makes a clear promise. It can even be reduced to some simple catch phrases: “The House plus two.”

        2. I will add, just as Schumer is going to have a vote on implementing Roe via legislation, he should have a vote on changing/eliminating the filibuster.

          That's fine if it loses 52/48 or even 53/47, because it then makes clear how many Senators are needed.

          1. Not a silver bullet, so much as a strong motivator for women and young people to get off their butts.

            I know too many young people who have the attitude that "It doesn't matter which party". Well, time to wake up and smell the Alito Stench, as Sotomayor said so eloquently.

            They're not just coming for your personal medical decisions, they are coming for your birth control, your marriage rights, your voting rights, your bedroom rights. Alito claims that privacy is not in the Constitution, therefore all of these are at risk,

          2. Great idea.  How would you deal with inflation which is a combination of pent up demand post pandemic, supply backlogs of everything that is shipped from China and a shooting war that is disrupting fuel and food supplies around the world?  Please proceed governor.

            1. At least the Federal Reserve Board is trying to do something…

              Watch Live: Powell Shoots Down Bigger Fed Rate Hikes – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

              Under traditional Keynesian economics, anti-inflationary fiscal policies consisted of tax increases and spending cuts to reduce deficits.

              However, none of that has been applied for the last 45 years. As Dick Cheney once so eloquently said, "Reagan proved that deficits don't matter." 

              So, we are stuck with relying on monetary policy as the sole tool in addressing inflation. 

              1. Focus and pay attention to the details.

                The Federal Deficit isn’t causing inflation. Are you saying that federal borrowing is competing with private business to squeeze investments and drive up interest rates? AFAIK corporations are swimming in cash and are saving rather than borrowing and investing.

                And tax increases… What? Tax increases affect the economy depending on who gets the increase or decrease. If you give a millionaire a tax break, he saves it, with zero affect on the economy. If you give a poor person a tax increase, they will avoid spending, thereby causing deflation… Is that what you want?

                As you say, Federal Reserve interest rate setting has the greatest impact (indirectly) on the economy via killing the housing market. Mortgage rates skyrocket; houses become unaffordable, and construction industry craters. Probably not what you want, either.

                Specifically the present inflation reflects a post-pandemic surge in people purchasing goods (Amazon & Gasoline), while continuing to avoid services (Restaurants, Hotels). One requirement to reduce inflation would be to decrease consumer spending on goods, which are still benefiting from very high demand but suffering from supply chain disruptions. (Let’s get PP to ship more cargo).

                Immediate impact on oil prices: Release strategic oil reserve, allow Iran and Venezuela to sell oil. Arrest the evil butcher-prince of Saudia Arabia.

                Medium term impact on oil prices: Increase gasoline taxes by a $1 a gallon in order to fund strategic investments in renewables, electric transportation, and electric infrastructure. 

                One thing Biden could do is remove tariffs, at least from all of our allies and friends. 

                1. “As you say, Federal Reserve interest rate setting has the greatest impact (indirectly) on the economy”

                  No, I’m saying that it is the only thing that may have any impact on the economy.

                  Otherwise, economic policy is running inertia and will continue to run on inertia. Spending continues at its current pace. And tax revenue will continue to come in at its less-than-enough to cover the spending side of the ledger.

                  There was time when the two parties would meet in the middle. The GOP would have to agree – and insist that they only did so kicking and screaming – to a tax increase and the Dems would have to agree to some spending cuts.

                  I have to say that the Dems are more amenable to agreeing to spending cuts than the GOP is to tax increases.

                  Look at what happened to the last GOP president who agreed to such a bargain:  George H.W. Bush in 1990. And he was crucified in 1992 for breaking his idiotic “read my lips” promise.

                  And who can forget that last GOP presidential primary debate where each candidate was asked if he/she would agree to $1.00 in tax increases for $9.00 in spending cuts, and each said, “No.”

                  So yes, we will just continue on our merry way.

                  PS For what it is worth, I agree with you on the tariffs. I’m a big free-trade guy. But Biden won’t do that because of the blowback from the MAGA crowd screaming about cheap imports putting hard working Americans in MAGA-world out of their assembly line jobs.

        4. Maybe this will be the year for "clarity" in Democratic messaging. Hey, people are not going to read the LONG list of Dem successes even though it's accurate and amazing. 

          Messaging (one definition): " . . . messaging represents how a brand communicates to its customers and highlights the value of its products. 'Messages' refer to not only the actual words and phrases used by a brand in advertising but also feelings and emotions associated with what they say."

  5. Now that the Ohio primary has declared a victor and the Monarch of Whore-a-Lago has his Buckeye puppet this would be a good time to remind everyone to send Tim Ryan a little love.  

      1. The interesting thing about this election is that a lot of votes were cast prior to the SCOTUS leak.  The race wasn't flipped on the last day of voting.

      2. The idiot went way too far in his outlandish rhetoric, especially when he said a rape victim should just "lie back and enjoy it."

        1. Ann Richards got elected governor of Texas in 1990 because her Republican opponent said that rape was like lousy weather. You just have to wait for it to pass.

           

    2. Ohio confuses me:

       * Trump endorsed Vance for the open Senate race, Vance wins the primary, and headlines all insist Trump has got juice with the voters. 

       * Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose said the election was clean, Biden won, and anyone claiming something different needed to show evidence.  Trump went to Ohio two weeks ago and declared that the U.S. had a "fake, phony election."  Trump, in the next week,endorsed LaRose, LaRose won over his conservative conspiracy theorist opponent.

       * Trump did not endorse in the Ohio governor’s race, where Republican Gov. Mike DeWine — one of the first prominent Republicans to acknowledge President Joe Biden’s victory — won

    1. nina turner ain't the squad.  She is a Stalinist twit who refused to back Hillary over Trump.  The squad supported Hillary after the convention, which is why I respect the squad.

  7. Tina Peters filed her May 2 campaign finance report yesterday. She claims to have raised $155,000 and still have $101,000 cash on hand. Also, is apparently paying  her own way on  the MyPillow plane ( airfare listed as expense). About half of  the large contributions appear to be from people out of state.
    Still don’t know what happened with the $16,000 loan for Peters’ Clerk campaign, but a new $5,000 loan is listed. 

    1. That beats the other Republican candidates by a lot but is still about a third of Griswolds.  It's going to uphill after the primary for whoever wins the Republican nomination.

    1. Watched the excerpts. Among other things, Lopez wants to do away with mail in voting. Said it's patriotic, or something like that, to stand in line to vote.

      1. “You have said specifically on this issue that you are pro-life, without exceptions for rape and incest and life or health of the mother,” Clark said. “Additionally, in 1993, you were arrested for violently assaulting your then-pregnant wife. Some people might see those two things at odds, but they both involve you exerting control over a woman’s body. Is that what Coloradans want from their governor?”

        Kyle "Mack the Knife" Clark. 

         

    2. Way to go for the education vote! Lopez would cut education budget by 30% by lowering sales tax, saying it will inspire teachers to “be creative”! Also, he wants to “get the teacher’s union out of the classroom”.  Okeedokee. 

      1. Making teaching a lot less attractive in a state where we can't find enough teachers already seems like solid educational policy. /s

    1. Cautiously optimistic, skinny. McConnell is the perennial problem on all things related to marijuana:

      Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) could also play a role in blocking the SAFE Banking Act’s inclusion. He didn’t nominate any of the bill’s nine Senate Republican co-sponsors to the conference committee, and in a statement he attacked House Democrats’ efforts to include “marijuana banking” in the package. 

  10. Nobody has done more for Christianity, no one has done more for religion of all types, than me.

    ~ Old, incontinent, morbidly obese Adderall junkie/serial rapist who until Jan. 2021 used to live in the White House

    That there brings back memories of vile scumbucket Laura Bush proclaiming on national television that NO ONE feels worse about U.S. military personnel dying in Iraq and Afghanistan than Laura and her scumbucket husband.

    1. Nobody has done more for Christianity, no one has done more for religion of all types, than me.
       

      Particularly the religions that promote multiple marriages, grabbing women by their lady parts and screwing porn stars! 

  11. In a-fool-and-his-money-are-lucky-enough-to-get-together-in-the-first-place news, Sloebert has "written" and is now taking advance orders for a book. I presume it's a pop-up book, but have no independent verification.

    [Insert tasteless joke about Sloebert's hubby's "pop-up book" here.]

    1. The book could be a best seller if it is written in the style of a mystery

      Initial chapter: how could someone like Boebert steal the primary election victory from Tipton? 

      Or the next chapter: how could a new Republican nominee have a meeting (or some sort of interaction) with the President in the Black Hills within a week?

      A chapter on hi-jinks outwitting apparent election law enforcement.

      A chapter on becoming involved in a planned insurrection to keep an election loser in office

      I'd be interested in a "as told to" story like that,  I liked the Hiaasen books set in Florida and the south … a similar saga of politics in Colorado could be great.

       

      1. CD3 was asleep and a minority won because of that.  CD3 folks! …. if there are any here vote CORAM in primary no matter your affectioned party. Get that embarrassment of a traitor out. 

        1. coloradosane…

          You seem to have appeared with one message. That usually indicates a troll working for a campaign. If you are on payroll, I can respect that. But, let me be so bold as to offer some unsolicited advice. 

          Your username is presumptuous. Just sayin'.. But the real problem is you are a nameless, faceless, entity on a public blog.

          To date, you have not addressed my stated concerns about Corams' connections and proclivities. Perhaps, you might consider telling us about yourself.

          Why should we listen to you, pray tell? 

           

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