KISS AND MAKE UP DAY UPDATES
Forgiveness is One of My Catholic Upbringing Takeaways I Still Embrace Wholeheartedly
-Dang, but there is STILL a residual high from the Democratic National Convention out there, despite many in the mainstream political media starting to snipe at Kamala Harris' campaign, what with her refusal to do a sit-down interview or stand-up press conference with the mainstream media and her embrace of "Joy!" as an undercurrent in her campaign. But, despite the New York Times not appreciating the use of "joy" as a theme, there may be something to be said for enthusiasm and optimism (albeit tempered by not getting smug, because Democrats gonna Democrat, amirite?!), especially in a race against one of the most benevolent and bullying figures that ever lorded over American politics ...
-Consider that the ratings for the DNC consistently beat the RNC numbers throughout the week ... or that another $82 million was raised for the Harris/Walz campaign, bringing the just-over-one-month-old fundraising tally to a jaw-dropping $540 million and counting ... or that polling continues to now favor Harris, as do many European betting houses ... in other words, metrics say there is reason for joy!
-Another consideration is how Democrats are reacting to whatever MAGAGOP attacks come at them, no matter how cruel. You have all by now likely seen the tears-of-joy reaction of Gus Walz to his father's acceptance speech ("THAT'S MY DAD!!"), which to most normals like us may have brought a tear or two on ourselves. But for MAGAGOPers like Milwaukee talk choad Jay Weber and emaciated gargoyle Ann Coulter, Gus' tears were objects of mockery and an attempt to attack Walz' masculinity, which has been a note many white male MAGAts have used to justify who they see as the ultimate Alpha Male - one Republican Presidential Nominee Weird Old Convicted Felon Ex-President Trump (R-apist).
-The reaction from Democrats has generally been universal defense of Gus and a promise to counterattack and argue that in fact it's Walz and his compassion that is the true mark of masculinity. That claiming of what being a man is in a political context is a theme that also wove through the White Dudes for Harris Zoom earlier this month (and both Weber and Coulter struck their posts after they even got flack from some areas of the Right). Fighting righteously and joyfully for a good kid and a good reason!
-Then there is the continuing-to-flail Trump, who attempted to create an event Friday night in the battleground state of Arizona (at an event that his campaign managed to stage in a way to make it look like there was a crowd, for a change in 2024) to 'accept' the 'endorsement' of another weird self-described alpha male, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. But aside from mainstream press trying to flog the endorsement as a Game Changer (most believe at most the endorsement will shift something like 0.2% of the vote), the event featured two more pieces of rake-stomping: several speakers, including Kari Lake and a police officer, being obnoxiously told to stop talking to let Trump take the mike; and bringing out RFK Jr. over the Foo Fighters' "My Hero," which was both cringily on the nose and (as you can guess) another use of a song by Trump without obtaining permission to do so first, as representatives of the Foos made very clear in a press release that also promised that Trump's campaign will pay royalties - and that the Foos will donate said royalties to Harris.
-While we're still on the topic of unauthorized use of music, a federal judge has ordered Trump to appear before him on a court to address questions related to a lawsuit filed by the estate of Isaac Hayes over Trump's unauthorized use over a number of years of the Hayes-written "Hold On I'm Coming," which has been Trump's exit music for at least the last four years or so. The Hayes estate is looking for over $3 million and an order to stop using that or any other version of the song (the one used by Trump is the iconic Sam and Dave version).
-Can it be any wonder, then, that despite all that is going on - including a CNN report you may have missed that, surprise surprise, details all the monies Trump is skimming off from his campaign into his pockets - the Washington Post just dropped a story in which unnamed members of the Trump entourage are grousing that Trump is "stewing and playing golf" and sporadically prepping for his September 10 debate (Trump's debate prep team includes "Democratic" turncoat Tulsi Gabbard and Uber-MAGAt Matt Gaets (Hey GiRl, FL)) instead of actually campaigning, particularly in the swing states, of which there are becoming more and more of (as Harris and Walz will have a GA swing-through in a couple of weeks).
-That all of this was accomplished in a convention in which the Harris campaign had about three weeks to create from more or less scratch (remember, President Biden was the presumed nominee until July 21?!) is quite the testament to the themes and iconography. It was not perfect - the DNC's refusal to allow a Palestinian speaker who would have pointedly called for a harder line on Israel in their war against HAMAS while still endorsing Harris being the glaring blot - but when even most right-wing commentators admit that the convention and Harris' speech were the best in modern convention history, and that may of the features may reshape how they are produced in the future - well, why not one more day to revel before getting to the work of getting the voting?
-Oh, and one more gloat: WAY TO GO CHICAGO! With the expected (or dreamt of?) scenes of chaos from Israel/Palestine protestors failing to materialize and a week of absolutely perfect weather, the city showed out in a way only Chicago can, and arguably buried once and for all the infamous 1968 Democratic Convention into the history books where it belongs.
-So while all THAT was going on ...
-Israel and Hezbollah exchanged missile attacks last night, with Israel claiming it had discovered intelligence reports of a "major" invasion in the northern part of the country and launched a pre-emptive attack, with Hezbollah reportedly launching over 200 missiles at Israel. No reports of casualties or damage right now, but observers who have worried about what would amount to a second front of armed conflict in the Middle East are now more worried than ever that the conflict may well be at hand.
-Ukrainian military forces continue their surprise counteroffensive in the Eastern province of Kursk, with some reports that a second offensive a little further south near the city of Kharkiv may also be underway. All of that coming as Vladimir Putin claims that Russian forces have begun a counteroffensive of their own near the city of Pokrovsk. The situations remain dynamic in all areas as more support will be sent by the US and countries surrounding Ukraine in the coming days. SLAVA UKRAINI!
-The Supreme Court of Venezuela ignored the protests of hundreds of thousands of people and pressure from countries around the world to "certify" what most believe was a fraudulent election that will apparently allow "President" Nicolas Maduro to remain in power. The declaration is being rejected by the U.S. and the European Union, though for the moment there does not appear to be a way to oust Maduro legally or nonviolently. Maduro is reportedly also preparing a crackdown on his opponents in the wake of the elections. Stay vigilant.
-In a move that has been long-awaited though not specific yet, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell told a group of assembled bankers in CO on Friday that "the time has come" for a cut in the interest rate. The rate has been moving up as a counterweight to stem the inflation rate, which spiked in response to the post-COVID stimulus packages passed by Biden and Democrats in 2021. Most believe at least one cut will be made some time in September - perhaps in time for voters dealing with credit card debt and challenges to finance houses to get some relief.
-Speaking of COVID, the summer spike continues as the FDA announced approval of the newest vaccine, designed to counter the newest variants and, should one get COVID, to make the symptoms as manageable as possible. No specific word on when they will be available at your doctors' office or friendly neighborhood pharmacy that can give said shots.
-Chappell Roan, the MO-born and bred singer who has become one of this summer's breakout stars, stirred up a round of controversy after dropping two videos on Instagram explaining why she was drawing hard boundary lines between herself and her fans. "I want to be an artist for a very very long time," she said, but even with seeking out fame she nonetheless said "I do not accept harassment of any kind ... nor do I deserve it." She spoke specifically about "nonconsentual physical and social interactions" and "predatory behavior" directed towards her, and the question of whether Roan's comments are whinings from a new star in diva mode or a reminder that singers are people too, no matter how famous, and that maybe just maybe all should respect that ...
-Finally, a quick scheduling note: with the Fall semesters starting for yours truly (I adjunct at three colleges here in Chicago), starting this week the M/W/F updates will be seen in the afternoons rather than the mornings, with rare exceptions AND the possibility of a shift to a Tu/Th/F schedule depending on how work flows. The Sunday updates should continue as they have, more or less. Thanks for reading, get a FREE subscription if you haven't, or leave a tip in the form of a paid subscription (of which there has not been nearly enough special features, though I will always work on that!).
-On this date in 1875, the first successful swim across the English Channel was completed. On this date in 1944, Paris was liberated by Allied forces less than two months after D-Day. On this date in 1982, Ronald Reagan deployed Marines to Lebanon. And on this date in 2012, Voyager 1 became the first human spacecraft to enter interstallar space.
-Debuts on this date: the National Park Service (1916), THE WIZARD OF OZ (1939), instant ramen soup (1958), names on the back of athletes' jerseys (1960, in the American Football League), 42nd STREET (1980), Belarus (1991), Linux (1991), THE MISEDUCATION OF LAURYN HILL (1998)
-Happy Birthday to Bret Harte, Michael Rennie, Walt Kelly, Van Johnson, Mel Ferrer, Leonard Bernstein, Monty Hall, Althea Gibson, Graham Jarvis, Sean Connery, Regis Philbin, Tom Skerrit, Wayne Shorter, Frederick Forsyth, John Badham, Rollie Fingers, Gene Simmons, John Savage, Martin Amis, Rob Halford, Elvis Costello, Tim Burton, Shock G, Blair Underwood, Joanne Whalley, Jeff Tweedy, Rachael Ray, Claudia Schiffer, Doug Glanville, Jo Dee Messina, Robert Horry, Marvin Harrison Sr., Alexander Skarsgard, Damon Jones, Bobby Berk, Kel Mitchell, and Blake Lively.
-Rest in Peace/Rest in Power to David Hume, Friedrich Nietzsche, Edouard Michelin, Alfred Kinsey, Paul Muni, Stan Kenton, Gower Champion, Truman Capote, Justice Lewis Powell, Aaliyah, Kevin Duckworth, Ted Kennedy, Neil Armstrong, John McCain, and Orval Tessier.
-Feed the Worms: Ivan the Terrible, Mega-segregationist George Wallace, and evil newspaper publisher Conrad Black entered Earth on this date. Henry Morgan, John Birch and Art Rooney bought it on this date.
-Billy Ray Cyrus, Albert Belle and Michael Cohen were born on this date. You decide if they get a Happy Birthday or if they Feed the Worms.
-The Number One Song in America on this date ... in 2024, "A Bar Song (Tipsy)" by Shaboozey ... in 2014, "Rude" by Magic! ... in 2004, "Lean Back" by Terror Squad ... in 1994, "Stay (I Missed You)" by Lisa Loeb and Nine Stories ... in 1984, "Ghostbusters" by Ray Parker Jr. ... and in 1974, "(You're) Having My Baby" by Paul Anka and Odia Coates.