FLAKE APPRECIATION DAY UPDATES
This Is In Reference to SNOW, People! SNOW From the Sky! Geez ...
-As Ex-President Trump XCI continues to campaign to what still appears to be a romp in the Republican Primaries, his emerging platform of becoming America's First Full-Fledged Dictator is coming into further and further focus. In a speech in New Hampshire over the weekend, Trump repeated the answer he gave to Sean Hannity that he intends to be a dictator "for the first day only" - and the line is not only now standard in his ramblings, merchandise is now being sold with the line. So too (the line if not the merch yet) is the Hitler line that the GOPMAGA Party must vote against those who are "poisoning the blood of our country" - which essentially is everyone not white, Christian, male, and anyone who has yet to piss off Trump. For good measure, Trump also cited the one person he has never joked or ragged on - Vladimir Putin - as a role model who is doing more to protect freedom then Democrats, who he is now projecting as being the real enemies of democracy and voting and apple pie and all that.
-Meanwhile, President Biden is finally reportedly getting annoyed at his slagging poll numbers against Trump, meeting with aides and election team after pardoning the Thanksgiving turkeys asking what can be done in response. There has been a ratcheting up of social media posts pointing out Trump's authoritarian love letters as well as continuing Republican attacks on abortion rights in states like Texas, while also trying to break the code as to why Americans continue to feel like their personal lives are worse than they probably actually are.
-For proof of the above conundrum, consider crime. The newsletter Semafor writes that nationally, crime rates continue to track at a 20- and 30-year low in most states and cities - yet, when polled, most Americans across party lines actually "feel" like crime is rampant and out of control, which of course becomes a drag on polling of incumbents like Biden. Similar polling dogs Biden when it comes to the economy, though the report that the Federal Bank is likely to begin dropping interest rates in 2024 thanks to the harnessing of inflation rates - YES THAT IS CORRECT - could result in lower interest on mortgages, auto loans, and credit cards.
-Another reminder: in 2011, polling at this time had Barack Obama trailing both Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney heading into that year's election is a reminder that today is NOT Election Day, nor is tomorrow. (To say nothing of Trump's upcoming trials and clear actual cognitive and physical decline and inability to even pack high school gyms these days).
-As international pressure mounts against Israel's unrelenting bombing and attacks on Gaza City, and the Israeli military reels after it was reported three Israeli hostages attempting to surrender themselves to the Army while waiving a white flag were instead shot and killed by Israeli soldiers, Benjamin Netanyahu continues to defiantly pursue a maximum-violence strategy that also includes military occupation of Palestine and a complete refusal to even consider a two-state long-term solution to the crisis. While polling continues to be horrible for Netanyahu in Israel, political opposition has yet to coalesce around a potential opponent. The world watches ...
-Ukrainian forces have begun backing off military operations in their war against Russia while awaiting further funding from allies that have hit roadblocks thanks to Putin allies. In Europe, while the European Union overrode objections from Hungary to begin negotiations to allow Ukraine in the EU, diplomats from Putin ally Viktor Orban did block $56 billion in aid to Ukraine. In the U.S., Senate negotiations continue to inch along as GOPMAGA allies there demand aid to Ukraine (and, actually, Israel) be yoked to border security provisions, with some reports indicating a deal before the end of 2023 now seems unlikely, and 2024 efforts will be complicated with dual budgets needing to be passed and UltraMAGAts demanding time be wasted on a Biden 'impeachment' 'inquiry'. Stay tuned ...
-... and, still and forever, SLAVA UKRAINI!
-THIS JUST IN: Pope Francis has announced that, for the first time ever, the Catholic Church will recognize same-sex couples as couples, though he stopped just short of full recognition of same-sex marriage. The announcement comes as the Pope, who is now wheelchair-bound, has begun openly discussing what will happen at the end of his papacy. Pope Francis, 87, has recently shaken a flu and has discussed other ongoing health concerns.
-Closing with schadenfreude news, for those wondering whether Rudy Giuliani's $148 million fine he must pay to GA election workers Ruby Freeman and Shae Moss for slandering them, the answer is yes. GA has a law that says if Rudes wanted to appeal, he would need to essentially deposit much of the money up front, which may not be possible if reports indicating he's near bankruptcy are true - and that's unclear as there are other stories that claim he has millions in off-shore accounts. But given he is also on the hook for two other defamation suits connected to voting machines AND gearing up for the criminal trial involving the GA electors (and not on the try-to-get-cooperation list), Rudy's crack legal team (including one whose hair cut bore a weird resemblance to Gary Oldman's hair style in THE FIFTH ELEMENT) may have their work cut out for them. Because, also, jail time may be on the table if he cannot pay.
-Sweat more oil, you reptile ...
-On this date in 1620, the Mayflower landed in Plymouth, MA. On this date in 1777, the first Thanksgiving Day was observed. On this date in 1865, the Thirteenth Amendment abolishing slavery became official. On this date in 1972, Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger resume bombing of North Vietnam to attempt to bring the Viet Cong to the negotiations table. And on this date in 2019, Ex-President Trump XCI became the third President in American history to be impeached for his attempt to blackmail Volodymyr Zelenskyy to try to get political dirt on now-President Biden.
-Notable premieres: THE NUTCRACKER (1892), HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS (1966 cartoon), CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG (1968), AVATAR (2009).
-Happy Birthday to Franz Ferdinand (the Archduke, not the band), Paul Klee, Robert Moses, Fletcher Henderson, George Stevens, Abe Burrows, Willy Brandt, Betty Grable, Ossie Davis, Gene Shue, Jacques Pepin, Roger E. Mosley, Alan Rudolph, Keith Richards, Steven Spielberg, Gillian Armstrong, Leonard Maltin, Elliot Easton, Ray Liotta, Ron White, Brad Pitt, Charles Oakley, Steve Austin, Tommy Davidson, Cowboy Troy, DMX, Rob Van Dam, Sia, Katie Holmes, Christina Aguilera, Ady Barkan, and Billie Eilish.
-Rest in Peace/Rest in Power to Heywood Broun, Bobby Jones, Mark Goodson, Sam Wanamaker, Chris Farley, Robert Bresson, Kirsty MacColl, Joseph Barbera, Jack Linkletter, Mark Felt, Phil Cavarretta, Vaclav Havel, Zsa Zsa Gabor, and Terry Hall.
-Feed the Worms: Mass murderer Joseph Stalin and ultra-racist baseball guy Ty Cobb entered Earth on this date. Gangster Jack "Legs" Diamond bought it on this date.
-The Number One Album in America on this date ... in 2023, THE WORLD EP.FIN:WILL by ATEEZ ... in 2013, BLAME IT ALL ON MY ROOTS: FIVE DECADES OF INFLUENCES by Garth Brooks ... in 2003, THE DIARY OF ALICIA KEYS by Alicia Keys ... in 1993, DOGGYSTYLE by Snoop Dogg ... in 1983, CAN'T SLOW DOWN by Lionel Richie ... and in 1973, GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD by Elton John.