Friday Grab Bag: Biden Bets His Presidency, QANON Has It Backward, Next Month's VA Election Is Already Rigged:
They say that the first six months of a president’s term are more productive and important than the next three and a half combined. Absent a war… or a pandemic, one can feel its truth. With no war on the horizon and the pandemic already here to stay, Biden’s worn out his six months and is now entering the 10th putting everything he has on the line.
He has been compared to an FDR Democrat. He’s proposed a New Deal for the 21st Century. And the man who was supposed to be the ultimate centrist has embraced the title. As of yesterday, he believed he had enough Democratic support - plus Manchin and Semina (Whatever party they form) to get his $1.75 Trillion “Welcome to the 21st Century, Build Back Better” plan (Joining Europe and China, which have been there a while). He cannot fail at this. But betting on anything Democrats do is always dicey, Democrats are infamous for defeating themselves even when it seems impossible. If Biden has to hold Manchin and Semina in the White House for two weeks without food, so be it, he needs his victory, or he’ll have to win a war. No one wants a war.
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File this under, “Who Could Ever Have Predicted?”
Recall that one of Qanon’s primary tenets was that global leaders such as the Clintons and Obamas were part of an elite that trafficked children to exploit and abuse in the worst possible ways?
They got it backward, which will shock exactly no one:
Vice News reports that QAnon promoter David Todeschini, who goes by the name "David Trent" on the internet, spent five years in prison two decades ago after he was found guilty of coercing an eight-year-old boy into sexual activity.
In an interview with Vice, Todeschini confirmed that he was the man behind QAnon influencer David Trent, and he threatened to sue Right Wing Watch, which originally ran the story about his past conviction for pedophilia.
Maybe it was on his mind as to what these global elites could be doing. Obviously, there is nothing funny about even making accusations about molesting children. But when it’s the first thing that comes to mind when accusing hated people, it might be a hint.
I did a lot of law school but never knew that you could sue people for publishing the truth about you. Interesting.
Mark Levine Gets Early Start in Calling Any Terry McAuliffe Win in Virginia Rigged
This is how one starts a dictatorship or autocratic government. The first step is to undermine all faith in elections. Once that is done, one makes rules up so that one party is virtually guaranteed wins (almost always the minority party), and then if an opposing party wins (say a Dem in 2024) declare the election “rigged,” refuse to recognize it, and be prepared to fight ruthlessly until you either win or you lose, the stakes are laid out beforehand.
Mark Levine is getting an earlier start than usual, according to Mediaite, just to ensure that people understand, McAuliffe cannot legitimately win:
The host cited a Fox News article that noted that McAuliffe has hired a law firm founded by Marc Elias, an attorney who has been involved in a number of prominent election challenges over the years. Levin referenced former Senator Al Franken (D-MN), who retained Elias and was successful in his election challenge, winning by 312 votes.
“So they’re going to try and steal the election,” Levin said.
Conservatives have noted that McAuliffe has previously said former President George W. Bush “stole” the 2000 election, and has not backed off that rhetoric, even when confronted about it in recent weeks.
ENOUGH POLITICS/POLITICAL CULTURE. IT IS FRIDAY AND THAT MEANS ONE THING, THE FRIDAY PICK SIX:
Much Ado About the Friday Pick Six
Best Football Game of the Weekend: #6 Michigan v. #8 Michigan State 11:00 a.m. FOX
Quote of the Week: Mark Twain, “In the first place, God made idiots, that was for practice. Then he made school boards.
Best Science Video of the Week:
Much Ado You Should Listen to: Elvis Costello Sings Penny Lane at White House Tribute to Paul McCartney (Under Obama)
Best Dog Tweet of the Week: Taking Matters into his own paws:
Random thoughts: If it suddenly rained for 2 days straight in California it would help but not do too much. The earth is too dry, almost like rock, the water will run right off the hills and dry forest and straight into creeks, rivers, ocean. Rain in Arizona and Colorado would at least fill the reservoirs.
I cannot watch baseball anymore. Every ten minutes changing pitchers, 2 minutes of commercials, even the World Series is simply unwatchable.
I shouldn’t watch football, not with all the new discoveries about traumatic brain injury. But I love the culture around football at least as much as the game. Anyone who has ever been on a college campus or an NFL parking lot before a game knows what I mean.
Katie Porter better be president of this country someday or we don’t deserve the Republic we believe ourselves to be.
Anticipate saying “President Mahlia Obama,” at some point, too. Unless you’re like 95 years old.
Have a great weekend everyone. We are still figuring this stuff out and getting better every day. It won’t be long before we have cool logos, launch advertisements, and charging for accounts. If I can get 1,000 subscribers (doable), I think I can make a living, and things will get even better. Please tell your friends, even though we’re still experimenting. And in the name of all that’s holy, start commenting below. I am wrong, a lot. Say it!
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jmiciak@yahoo.com and on Twitter @JasonMiciak