Good article about the benefits of tax cuts. It's not about lowering the tax burden on rich folks, but about freeing up investment capital.

Biden would be wise to keep the lower corporate tax rate (21%) from the Trump years than to raise it to his proposed 28%.

Also, Paul Krugman is predicting boom years during the Biden presidency. And, despite his Noble Prize in economics, he's been ideologically blind and wrong with almost every economic prediction he's ever made.

Damn it! It's a Nobel Prize. Although it is also a noble prize.

Conan, I think the best case scenario is stagflation for the next four years.

I don’t want to envision the worst case scenario.

In Doudna's case, it was noble.

But Arafat got one, too.

I despise and distrust CNN, and this is the freakout outcome of thousands of such challenges in this events. Nonetheless....

Who knew the intersection had been closed all this time?

These people are religious: They believe in spirits haunting sanctified ground. I'm reminded of that line from Larkin, "Up at the holy end."

Does anyone remember a saying to the effect of 'Those who don't believe in God will believe in anything'?

Sometimes I wonder if this is just the biggest troll in humanity's history because this resembles the brown eyes vs blue eyes experiment applied at national level

https://mobile.twitter.com/SwipeWright/status/1346868611965620224

Raddy's vest-busting pride!

He's a *billionnnnnnnnaire*! With a cell phone! Are YOU a billionaire with a cell phone?

No? You're a thousandaire with Honda Civic?

Ha!

WELL THEN, I THINK WE ALL SEE WHAT'S GOING ON HERE...

Trumps adoring superfans, living the dream.

Of course they will deny the request. They don't want to shoot their own undercover agents pretending to be Trump supporters.

BREAKING: A source tells me The Defense Department has just denied a request by DC officials to deploy the National Guard to the US Capitol.

https://mobile.twitter.com/byaaroncdavis/status/1346908166030766080

Seriously, look at the way they parade through the capitol building and the angle of the photos they're taken.

Anybody else doing that would have had a mountain of security personnel on top of them like in an NFL game, or lying on the floor with more holes than a colander.

BTW, this is a must read if you want to understand what is going on:

https://archive.org/stream/RulesForRadicals/RulesForRadicals_djvu.txt

I looked at the first sentences, and it seemed to presume that I'm horny for revolution.

This is not necessarily so.

No, to me, Raddy will always be the voice of the Trump revolution, because he wants to Make America Great Again!

BTW, does anyone know what Raddy's driving nowadays? Because if it's not enviable, I might have to completely recompose my worldview.

I looked at the first sentences, and it seemed to presume that I'm horny for revolution. ~ Crid at January 6, 2021 3:37 PM

It's a common failing of revolutionaries and leftists to assume that no one could possibly disagree with them; that they speak for the masses.

Senator Loeffler says that, due to today's events, she can no longer object to the certification of Joe Biden as the winner of the 2020 presidential election.

Whatever legitimate arguments existed that this election was compromised, in whatever way, have been thrown to the ground and stomped into mush by this action. Now, Congress has no choice but to certify Biden/Harris the winners, even if actionable evidence of election fraud were to be discovered. Accomplishing the removal of so polarizing a figure must be done under the guise of a lawful transition.

Whatever legacy these idiots wanted Trump to have has been destroyed by this ill-considered action. They may very well have gotten him re-impeached, and this time ejected, within whatever time he has left. He'll almost certainly go down as the president who precipitated a "dark day in the history of the United States Capitol," according to VP Pence.

They've also discredited Trump's disinterested defenders, the ones who weren't willing to throw him under the bus for personal failings, but judged him on policy.

Trump's hubris has made him complicit, if not instrumental, in his own downfall. Never a good wordsmith in extemporaneous speechifying - witness "stand down" - he put his foot in it when he used his video response to reiterate the election fraud charges instead of simply sticking with telling the protestors ("rioters" to CBS) to "go home."

Watching news reporters be-clown themselves over this has been an amusing side show. CBS News anchor, Nora O'Donnell, has rediscovered the word, "riot."

" lying on the floor with more holes than a colander"

**The woman fatally shot inside the U.S. Capitol Wednesday has been identified as Ashli Babbitt, a friend confirms to Fox News. Babbitt was a 14-year veteran who served four tours with the Air Force and resided in San Diego**

✓ Conan the Grammarian at January 6, 2021 6:18 PM

https://twitter.com/cjciaramella/status/1346996280573243393

One thing abut the Capitol Police is they're exempt from FOIA requests because they're part of the legislative branch

NPR Politics @nprpolitics
Circa 8pm est
JUST IN: A law enforcement official familiar with the investigation tells NPR’s @johnson_carrie that the alleged shooter of the woman on Capitol Hill today was a senior Capitol Police officer, and that the woman, who has since died, was unarmed.

https://trib.al/d9fy51T

It wasn't a coup or an insurrection or anything of the kind.

This was a bunch of lonely losers putting on fun costumes to pretend to take command of something. It's not like there was a shadow operation ready to step into the offices and initiate a bold new era of American government. These were idiot urchins, rampaging in a school cafeteria. No one ever described Trumpism as anything bigger than 'I Hate Hillary.' It wasn't about ideas, it was about undersexed (adult) children of divorce pretending to take part in something. How's that wall coming along?

As for the man himself, every prosecutor, plaintiff and business competitor on the planet, and they are legion, cannot *wait* for Trump's immunities, formal and otherwise, to lapse.

Anybody wanna hear how I feel about the enthusiasts of the Game Show Grifter?

We needn't worry for the future of genuine conservatism. People will return to it because we're running out of money, and because it's the only game in town for human freedom. It doesn't need cheerleaders.

Lenona's Arcamax—

Latin America watches with alarm as extremists breach US Capitol
Politics / Political News / Jan 06, 2021

MEXICO CITY — In Latin America, a region not unfamiliar with assaults on democracy, the attack by pro-Trump extremists on the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Wednesday prompted widespread alarm —and dark reminders of ...Read more

Look at the depiction of Trump in the flag at left.

What exactly is going on in this guy's dream life?

If there were a lefty flag like that, would you be any less impressed?

Conan Says:

"They've also discredited Trump's disinterested defenders, the ones who weren't willing to throw him under the bus for personal failings, but judged him on policy."

Any of Trump's defenders were always discredited.

His personal failings were never the trivial things you and others tried to make them out to be.

He was always an authoritarian... and his most ardent supporters were always ready and willing to follow his directions regardless of their legality.

There is a reason he instructed these idiots to "stand by" during a live televised debate.

One cannot align themselves with a mentally deranged would-be despot because you happen to enjoy their policy proposals.

If one actually believes in our constitution and democratic form of government then the "mentally deranged would-be despot" portion of his personality should not have been considered mere quirks that could be dismissed as easily as him simply being a bit rough around the edges.

This is who Trump always was... this is what his most devoted followers always were (these are in fact the so-called deplorables that many spoke about).

Is he "presidential" enough for you yet Conan?

I made an honest attempt to explain that you wouldn't like where all of this was going... you just wouldn't listen.

Now what do you have to show for it?... Democrats have the presidency and they hold the majority in the House and the Senate.

Republicans have been largely shamed and exposed by recent events.

In addition, Trump is likely to be removed from office and charged criminally... it is also possible that Republican members of Congress who gave encouragement to this nonsense will be unseated by their associated chambers of Congress.

At the end of the day Lindsey Graham was correct when he said the following:

"If we nominate Trump, we will get destroyed.......and we will deserve it."

2022 isn't going to be any better for Republicans either... the party sold whatever remaining integrity it had to an orange faced conman.

Did you 'participate in the American tax system' yesterday?

…Perhaps through your "published works"?

Chinese, right?

Shame about Hong Kong....

Oh look. Artie's here with some more of his "look at me, I'm so prescient" gas-baggery, despite the fact that most of his so-called predictions are lifted almost directly from the media. Like Nora O'Donnell, he imagines himself to be a modern-day Cassandra, now thoroughly and finally vindicated.

You imagine this as an attempted coup, Artie. It was not. This was a bunch of undersexed, under-educated morons demanding to be heard, but with nothing to say. They'd elevated Trump to mythical status and were angry that their superhero was no longer president. Once inside the Capitol, the mob took selfies - like a dog running into a room and forgetting why he'd gone in there.

The real result of this nonsense will be that lefties will claim the Trump Republicans attempted a coup. They will use that as an excuse to impose left-wing governance on the country and demonize the opposition party. Authoritarianism is one party rule, not a guy in a buffalo hat getting a selfie.

As I told you earlier, Artie, even if Trump had wanted to make himself a dictator, he could not. He simply didn't have the support of people who could make that happen. Despite his temper tantrum to the contrary, no one of any consequence in his own party is backing his play to overturn the election.

And they shouldn't. As I said before, while there is plenty of evidence of election chicanery - in several states - none of it is actionable from the standpoint of arbitrarily overturning the election. Hanlon's Razor applies here: "Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity."

When the Ace of Spades falls out of the sleeve of the winner, the other players have a valid reason to ask about cheating; not a right to outright lynch the winner, but certainly a right to question the outcome.
_____

Artie worries about Trump being an authoritarian but is apparently okay with Democrats in Congress using this unrest as an excuse to unseat their elected Republican colleagues. So, Artie's okay with one-party rule, as long as it's his party.
_____

In the wake of this, Trump needs to concede, especially now. Like Al Gore in 2000, he can accept the court's decision, but not agree with it. If he had any regard for the country or regret for the furor he stirred up, he'd resign in the wake of this to calm things down. He won't. He'll pout and stomp and insist he won - not just won, but won by a landslide - and continue his tantrum, effectively destroying whatever good will his economic and foreign policies bought him in conservative circles.

> his so-called predictions are
> lifted almost directly from
> the media

It's all he/she knows of us. Like most Chinese and other foreigners, he/she is enchanted by the Hollywood massages from of these sources, without recognizing that both the story and storytelling are more audacious than anything that could have come from his or her own culture.

We're the beautiful 21-year-old woman, Orion is the 14-year-old dying to taste the excitement.

> like a dog running into
> a room and forgetting why
> he'd gone in there.

✅

Conan Says:

"You imagine this as an attempted coup, Artie. It was not."

Sure Conan... when a bunch of BLM protestors spray painted a building you were ready to hang them high... but when a bunch of right-wing Trump supporters breach the capitol building during the electoral vote count causing every member of Congress to have to be evacuated... it's not an attempted coup.

"The real result of this nonsense will be that lefties will claim the Trump Republicans attempted a coup. They will use that as an excuse to impose left-wing governance on the country and demonize the opposition party."

Of course... the real problem for you is ALWAYS the political left... even when the political right attempts to murder people in the capitol.

Even when people on the political right attempt to kidnap and murder democratic governors... etc...

The reason Democrats will govern is because they won elections.

The reason Republicans will not govern is because they stopped trying to govern a long time ago. All they have been doing in recent years is fomenting a seditious mob... and the mob just showed up at their door step.

There are times in life when you should be humble and eat a little crow.

Unfortunately, just like Trump... you cannot acknowledge that you have been completely and utterly wrong.

As I told you years ago... you weren't going to be happy after the results of the 2020 election.

It's not going to get any better for you, because you are deeply partisan and cannot acknowledge that the political right is deeply disturbed at the moment.

"Artie worries about Trump being an authoritarian but is apparently okay with Democrats in Congress using this unrest as an excuse to unseat their elected Republican colleagues. So, Artie's okay with one-party rule, as long as it's his party."

I am okay with unseating ANY member of Congress that attempted to find political advantage in inciting a seditious invasion of the capitol.

Those unseated members of Congress should be replaced in a manner consistent with their state law. There is no reason to think they would be replaced by Democrats.

I just want people in office who take their oath to the Constitution seriously.

You should want the same thing and stop prioritizing "team red"... country over party Conan... it isn't that difficult.

You're not American… Why do you care whether Coney is 'partisan' or not?

Wherever you live, whatever the specifics of your particular hole in Hell, it's obvious that you're in love with the Conester, and needful of his recognition as a peer thinker. It doesn't matter that his culture, his language and its purposes are happening completely above your understanding. America is enchanting, and you want in!

Sorrah....

Crid,

Why is it that right-wing loons such as yourself believe you get to determine who is American and who isn't?

Perhaps I should be questioning your citizenship because almost everything from folks like you is projection.

Can you please show your long form birth certificate to the group?

Lifetime Democrat, you blithering Chinaman. (Or Chinawoman.)

I've actually met a couple handfuls of people from Amy's blog over the years, always on the North American soil of the finest nation the world has ever known: The United States of America.

The food, the drinking, the settings and incidental fulfillments… Morning, afternoon and night, these gatherings were always warm and rewarding.

But best of all was the conversation between righteous Americans, a voltage of enchantment unavailable to you in whatever tawdry cubbyhole of social and political underdevelopment you call home.

That's gotta suck!

But you're "a live-and-let-live kind of guy" with a "spouse" and "published" stuff who's not afraid of "brass tacks."

So we expect you'll power through.

And we expect that you'll be back in a few days like a weaselly little brother, desperate to sit at the table amongst the bigger kids… Who are stronger, smarter, richer, more courageous, better attuned, and unimpressed by your youthful neediness.

You're just not from America, muffin. Whatever time you're spending here would be better given to the local people in your life who need to develop their own patterns of integrity in the American style, however distant it might be.





Chinese, right? I knew it.

Have you ever said anything nasty about Xi Jinping?

This just sounds like you, Orion....

Crid,

Someone who actually cares about the United States of America would be far more upset that the President just incited a seditious mob to breach the capitol building... than they are about their conspiracy theory claims about the national origin of a random internet poster.

One of us clearly cares about the Constitution and the other is busy trying to play down the event as if it were nothing at all.

"It wasn't a coup or an insurrection or anything of the kind.

This was a bunch of lonely losers putting on fun costumes to pretend to take command of something."

That is what you had to say about all of this Crid.

It just came out today that at least 6 of those "lonely losers" were elected Republican officials.

Is this sinking in for you yet Crid?... some of the traitors are elected officials within the Republican party.

The first woman who died was a member of the air force and had children.

You so desperately want to downplay this event you need to retreat into a world of delusion.

You aren't on the right side of history here... and neither is Conan.

Until you accept the reality that there are significant numbers of people on the political right who are extremely violent and ready to act... you will never recognize what is going on.

You've lived in a fantasy world for far too long at this point... even an attempted insurrection apparently won't break you out of the stupor.

Your thoughts about politics, specifically of American politics, and most specifically my own are of no interest. You're a foreigner, and a child besides.

Have you ever shaken the hand of person who wasn't your own color?

One of us clearly cares about the Constitution and the other is busy trying to play down the event as if it were nothing at all. ~ Artemis at January 7, 2021 6:50 PM

Well, thank God you "care" about the Constitution, Artie. Where would we be without people like you "caring" about our Constitution? The rest of us just use it as toilet paper.

"It's a bird. It's a plane. No, it's Artemis, defender of Truth, Justice, and the American Way! He cares about the Constitution."

Remember, Artie, when you get your super suit made, no capes.

Conan Says:

"Where would we be without people like you "caring" about our Constitution? The rest of us just use it as toilet paper."

The only folks trying to use the Constitution as toilet paper are the very same traitorous scum you keep trying to make excuses for.

You keep insisting that what those folks did by occupying the capitol building with weapons and causing the members of Congress to all have to be evacuated for safety was something less than an attempted coup and something less than sedition.

The elements of the crime of seditious conspiracy include using force to delay or hinder the execution the law... which was exactly what these folks intended to do and succeeded in doing.

Furthermore, seditious conspiracy involves occupying by force federal property... which was exactly what these folks intended to do and succeeded in doing.

That they were eventually driven out doesn't change any of this.

You desperately want these right-wing folks to be something other than seditious traitors... unfortunately that is exactly what they are and you need to come to terms with that.

That they were eventually driven out doesn't change any of this. ~ Artemis at January 8, 2021 7:07 AM

They walked out, Artie, with the police holding the doors for them on the way out.

...traitorous scum.... ~ Artemis at January 8, 2021 7:07 AM

Artie, you toss around words like "traitor," "treason," and "seditious" when it's right-wing mob occupying a federal building, but use words like "equality," "protest," and "peaceful" when it's a left-wing mob attacking a federal building with fireworks and Molotov cocktails.

Conan,

You are an uninformed idiot.

They murdered a police officer.

How do you feel about murder in your own country, Artie?

You should describe one to us.

Orion. Sorry. I have trouble keeping foreigners names straight.

They murdered a police officer. ~ Artemis at January 8, 2021 12:07 PM

Those left-wing mobs murdered a retired police chief. And you were silent.

It's not the murder that bothers you, it's the political affiliation of the murderers.

Conan,

I wasn't silent... the death of that retired police chief was horrible (his name was David Dorn by the way).

Did they actually ever charge and identify the attacker?

How have you concluded that he was murdered by "left-wing mobs"?

According to official reports the individual charged with murder was Stephan Cannon.

There was no "left-wing mob" that murdered David Dorn.

Why is it that you have defined the murder performed by an isolated individual involved in a crime as a murder by an entire mob of left-wing folks?

As I've said, you are so deeply partisan you cannot see straight.

The officer murdered at the Capitol last week was indeed murdered by a mob of right wing extremists.

The video evidence shows those people acting in concert with one another.

And yet you seem to want to transform David Dorn's situation into a mob situation as well... it wasn't... he was murdered by one guy.