I dunno what happened to everyone else. But here is another thread.
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by John Cole| 67 Comments
This post is in: Open Threads
I dunno what happened to everyone else. But here is another thread.
Comments are closed.
scott alloway
Thank you for all you have done.
cain
oh great. I made a profound statement in the last thread and now there is a new one. Thanks man! Heh. :)
laura
Just loafing around hoping the sandman sneaks up on me. A good night’s sleep would be swell for a change, especially since the someone’s back in the fold.
JAFD
Good morning, fellow Jackals !
Got letter from Essex County Board of Elections, telling me to show up, 5:15 AM, at same polling place as I worked at before. Yay!
Anyway, if you think that your Way To Fulfillment In Life may lead you to move to New Jersey and spend Election Days as a minor cog in Govenment by the People, you can prepare at
essexboardofelections.com
watching the videos ‘Preparing the Voting Machine’ and ‘Poll Worker Training’
or if you do election day stuf anywhere else, maybe you can let us know what you think, about how we do things in NJ
The Dangerman
Emergency meetup to cheer up Tamara’s Scout (perhaps with a big ass dog biscuit).
ETA: Pretty amazing that for the first time in an MLB, NBA, or NHL playoff, the visiting team has won the first 6 games (kinda surprised it’s never happened in Hockey, which seems to have some odd results occasionally).
FlyingToaster
I’ve fetched HerrDoktor home from the airport in the incessant Bwahstin drizzle; have to get candy and a subset of the Halloween decorations tomorrow because the forecast Thursday is for POURING RAIN. I’ll be lucky to see 7 trick-or-treaters.
mrmoshpotato
Sue them.
ETA – first Halloween where all the kids go as crazy hurricane reporters.
Sebastian
Baud and Momsense are back. Trump is going down the drain. The world is righting itself.
Lord Fartdaddy (Formerly, Mumphrey, Smedley Darlington Mingobat, et al.)
All tied up at three games each in Houston! There’s still hope!
janesays
Fantastic World Series. It’s the first time in pro sports history that the road team won all of the first six games in a seven game series – and that includes the NBA and NHL, too. Sucks for the fans who bought tickets, though. Hopefully the Nats become the first team ever to win the World Series entirely on the road tomorrow night.
mrmoshpotato
@Lord Fartdaddy (Formerly, Mumphrey, Smedley Darlington Mingobat, et al.): Psst….hate to break it to ya, but someone is going to win game 7. :)
MobiusKlein
Listening to Johnny Cash, reviewing code. Hoping for less smoke in the air, more electrons in the wires, and less wind.
Redshift
I hope the Nats win, but however it turns out, we’ll always have Sunday and the boos heard ’round the world.
Cacti
So, Rep. Omar voted present on the House resolution condemning the Armenian genocide by Turkey.
Curious choice for someone who holds herself out as a human rights activist.
cain
@Cacti:
That was disappointing and I don’t really know if I can accept her rationale. It makes any other screed by her about human rights feel sour.
hells littlest angel
I suppose Nicolle Wallace is not terribly popular hereabouts — and I find her to be too glib and giggly at times — but what she said on Tuesday was pretty fucking great, and I hope MSNBC thinks so, too.
Mary G
@Cacti: @cain: She seems pretty firmly on Team Turkey, because that #AllGenocidesMatter excuse was lame bullshit. Siding with a guy who sat in his armored car in DC watching his goons beat up peaceful protestors is not a good look. I’ve never lived in Bill’s Glendale, but have a lot of Armenian-American friends there who’ve been trying to get this passed for decades, always stymied by Turkey’s lobbyists and am glad it was finally accomplished. Kim Kardashian tweeted it to her 62 million followers.
West of the Rockies
@cain:
Yes, she came down on the wrong side on this one.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Mary G: It’s taken really seriously here.
Martin
@cain: I kind of understand it. It’s not like there was some new revelation about the Armenian genocide. It’s been clearly established for decades. The only reason this was brought up is to clap back at Turkey and Trump. So, okay, better late than never, but it’s a pretty weak statement of principle given that Congress has ducked it for 70 years and have ignored statements on other groups.
So what really are they trying to accomplish here other than trading political barbs? Are they trying to protect the Kurds? Well, this isn’t going to do that. So we’re going to condemn one genocide while enabling another? I mean, it’s a nice result for Armenians who have been fighting for this for ages, but that’s all it is. It doesn’t really accomplish anything. Unfortunately.
Cacti
@hells littlest angel:
Calling Ingraham/Dershowitz/Yoo chickenshit on air might be the high water mark of her career.
Mary G
@Martin: Descendants of people whose ancestors were ethnically cleaned feel vindicated. I think the base where they keep the nukes has had Congress always trying to mollify Turkey by not recognizing the drama, but now that Turkey is being genocidal again, it’s a statement that despite our so-called president, the American people are not down with this. Yes, there’s no practical value, but it is still worthwhile.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Martin:
Sure with everyone but the Turks.
Martin
@Mary G: Not sure how to equate that to ‘Team Turkey’ when she’s equating the Armenian Genocide with what are generally considered much larger and/or more heinous global genocides. Turkey denies the genocide – they don’t amplify it.
Her statement suggests to me that Congress doesn’t take the issue seriously, rather it was a ‘what can we do to piss off Turkey? Oh, I know, that Armenian thing!’ That doesn’t put her on Team Turkey, or against Armenians. It may not be the right way to handle this, but it doesn’t strike me as an unprincipled position.
mrmoshpotato
This looks really cool.
Cacti
@Martin:
“If we don’t condemn everything, we can’t condemn anything” is some weak bullshit.
Her position is a tu quoque fallacy. When did that become a point of view?
mrmoshpotato
Stuck in moderation. (Probably the hashtags.)
Martin
@?BillinGlendaleCA: But that’s her point. “It should be done on the basis of academic consensus outside the push and pull of geopolitics”. The academic consensus was settled before Trump was born. It shouldn’t matter whether Turkey denies it or Congress finds it to be a political token to hold onto in order to achieve some concession with Turkey. And the only rationale that I’ve heard about why this passed was effectively ‘Oh, yeah, we always thought it was genocide, but we always held back because we thought we might get something out of Turkey’.
So, like I said, it’s not really a statement of principle by Congress, and I think Omar is merely calling that out. Again, not sure that’s the right way to handle this, but I think that’s what it is based on her statement – not some kind of defense of Turkey and certainly not any kind of denial regarding the genocide.
cain
@Martin:
That makes sense. It’s basically a silly vote that doesnt say much. On the other hand, having voted that – this is a great way for Armenians to start talking about Turkey. It will piss off Turkey to no end. I know how very angry it gets them when talking about Armenian genocide. It will be particularly poignant given what they are doing right now. I say we should all hammer them and keep talking about the Armenian genocide. Repeatedly. What are they going to do?
Force them to confront it especially when they are in the act of doing it again. It might make them stop. But certainly, it will step on their national pride and its worth smacking them on the nose repeatedly.
cain
BTW as a NATO ally, why is Turkey in cohoots with the Russians?
Martin
@Cacti: She’s not discrediting Congress’ act. She didn’t vote against it. She’s certainly not denying the genocide or arguing that it’s okay. In fact, she’s arguing the opposite – this is serious shit, as are other genocides that Congress chooses to ignore. She just thinks that it’s not genuine. I tend to think it’s not genuine based on how it’s been explained so far. There’s no genuine consideration of the Armenians in this, it’s entirely designed to embarrass Turkey.
That’s not to say Congress can’t do something real here, but they need to do something real here. I think she’s holding her vote for that act.
Mary G
WaPo: Dread in northern Syria as U.S. troops withdraw and cease-fire ends.
It is very little, but perhaps a message to Turkey that we’re not willing to stand by as he kills an ethnic group this time? Even if the president is?
joel hanes
folly deleted.
sorry if you saw it.
Martin
@cain: Because like Trump, Erdogans only loyalty is to himself. So, like Trump, he ingratiates himself to whoever will enrich him today, not giving a shit about the consequences for tomorrow.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Martin: The point of the Congressional resolution is to condemn Turkey’s denial of responsibility for the genocide. That’s why the Armenian community has been pushing for this for years, just as the Korean community has been pushing for the Japanese government to take responsibility for their treatment of the comfort women during WW2.
Martin
@Mary G: So why didn’t Congress do that? I have a feeling the Armenians would take the vote more seriously if it helped served to prevent another disaster. Congress couldn’t find it in themselves to do that.
Mary G
Red flag warnings have been always been issued when chances of fire are very high. Now they’ve had to add another category – extreme red flag warning. No wind here yet, but my joints are screaming that a Santa Ana is coming. Wish us luck.
Mary G
@Martin I was surprised Nancy SMASH was able to get this much through. The Republicans are too scared of Twitler to cross him. YMMV – I feel it’s better than nothing. And another thing going to die on Moscow Mitch’s desk.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Mary G: Fritz was saying that the winds should start picking up by about 3am.
Martin
@?BillinGlendaleCA: I don’t question that. And I think Congress should condemn Turkey’s denial. I think the President should be on board with that. I think it should be meaningful. I think that position should carry through our ambassador to the UN. It won’t though. It won’t stop us looking the other way when the Kurds get wiped out. It is at best the most symbolic of acts, with seemingly no real concern for preventing future genocides, getting any tangible justice for Armenians, or even any real accountability for Turkey.
cain
@Martin:
Kick Turkey out of NATO. The entire point of NATO was to box the Soviet Union/Russia in. If you aren’t willing to do that then leave.
Steve in the ATL
Is this the same chick who endorsed wilmer a couple of days ago? Not a good week for her, if so.
And I once had dinner with Ballon Juice’s own Ruckus at an Armenian restaurant in Glendale. Good food and company, no mention of genocide.
Martin
@Mary G: I get the sense the conditions aren’t really any worse than we’ve had in the past, but it’s getting harder to get the public to take these seriously, plus winds seem to carry higher consequences now. It does seem that every wind event comes with a moderate to large fire now. I don’t recall that being the case 20 years ago.
Martin
@cain: I get that. I think NATO is a bit hesitant to act when the US president keeps talking about dropping out of NATO (for reasons nobody understands).
NATO isn’t really functional at the moment. Hopefully we can change that in 54 weeks.
rachel
Argh! I just got a letter from the IRS saying that I owe principal + interest on taxes due in 2018 which were paid in 2019! (I live abroad. My tax preparer said she filed for extensions, but she’s been through a serious illness and a death in her family, so it may have got by her.)
Anyway, WTF? I have the canceled check that they cashed last August!
Now what?
patrick II
You said they had to be nice.
Mary G
@Martin: The humidity didn’t get nearly as low 20 years ago, and it didn’t stay low for as long as it does now. The major snowstorm keeping TaMara’s critters inside increases our danger due to pressure differentials.
Two millibars over the record lowest isn’t business as usual, but I hope you are right. My old rheumatologist called me the human barometer, and friends kid that they call me for a forecast. I didn’t feel a thing this weekend, when the worst weather was in NorCal. Now I hurt all over.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Martin: Symbolism can be important to people that have been wronged. I think you’re reading too much into this.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Steve in the ATL: I take it you didn’t put your Turkish flag on the table.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Martin: It sure was the case 50 years ago, we used to have fires pretty much every October when the Santa Ana’s started blowing.
rikyrah
@Cacti:
Such a bad move on her part??
rikyrah
Trying to get some sleep???
Martin
@?BillinGlendaleCA: Yeah, but that cuts both ways. Omar didn’t vote against it. She didn’t oppose it. I think people are reading too much into her vote decision, and misinterpreting her statement.
Sister Rail Gun of Warm Humanitarianism
@?BillinGlendaleCA: The symbolism is important to the Armenian-Americans, yes. I somehow doubt that a former Somali refugee is blind to that. Why is this a priority for Congress now?
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Sister Rail Gun of Warm Humanitarianism: Why is a priority, one of the members of the Democratic leadership(Rep. Schiff) represents a heavily Armenian district.
Another Scott
@?BillinGlendaleCA: +1
Al Jazeera:
Omar apparently also voted against the sanctions. From what I know now, she seems to be on the wrong side on this.
Erdogan is a monster. He refused to accept the election that gave Kurdish parties substantial representation in their legislature apparently because they stood in the way of his dictatorial tendencies. What’s going on with his attacks on the Kurds may not yet be genocide, but it’s clear that his enmity toward anyone that opposes him has few bounds (witness his unhinged attacks against protesters in DC, etc., etc.).
Something I didn’t know about the replay of the Istanbul mayor election (from June):
(Emphasis added.)
Erdogan’s cynical ploy failed. He seems to strike out at the Kurds when they don’t do what he wants…
Cheers,
Scott.
WaterGirl
@rachel: If anyone more knowledgable than I am has already answered this, please disregard. Otherwise…
For each of the past 3 years, I have received a letter from the IRS saying that something was wrong with my return and that I owe them x amount of dollars plus penalties.
They always tell me that I have a month or more to write them back and dispute what they have said. Each time I think “oh no!” and then I read the details in the IRS letter and I look at my records and I know they are dead wrong. So I sit down and write a letter, calmly laying out exactly why and how they are wrong. I include a copy of anything that helps show they are wrong. 30-60 days later I receive a letter from the IRS confirming that I owe them 0 dollars.
You need to write them back and include a polite letter saying that have indeed paid what you owed and that you are enclosing the cancelled check which proves that.
My personal favorite was the latest one, in which they were wrong in 3 different ways. My letter is not fancy.
CCL
Rachel, ditto what Watergirl said. I got one of those letters several years ago saying that I hadn’t paid my 3rd quarter estimated taxes. I wrote a polite letter, included photo copies of the cancelled check and the relevant portion of my bank statement showing that the check had cleared. I believe that I received notification shortly thereafter that the situation had been “resolved.”
That was the last of it.
Good luck.
Elizabelle
@Mary G: The link for Mary’s article.
LA Times: Why the ‘extreme red flag’ winds hitting L.A. region are especially dangerous
chopper
@Martin:
you can call that out while still voting to recognize the genocide.
Ruckus
@Mary G:
If it’s going to die on moscow mitch’s desk anyway, why not make it a much better/stronger bill in the first place?
I think that is her point. We know that the senate is not going to pass any bill. Make it a good one then, point out who exactly are the bad guys here, point out the actual wrong, and state it in no uncertain conditions.
Unless that will only add more republican bullshit to the fire. At that point her present was a good thing.
Dev Null
@patrick II:
+1
Art
https://twitter.com/ObamaFoundation/status/1189305678709579776/video/1
Who says that Trump isn’t building a legacy? The O was/is a class act. Articulate, poignant, and sometimes genuinely funny. Recognizably human, and imperfect, but always appropriate and thoughtful. Obama stands out on his own independent of any comparison.
But, in contrast to the present occupant of the WH … WTF/ROFL/Existential dread … nobody has done more to make Obama look good.
I miss Obama.
Aleta
@Mary G: Thanks for that piece explaining today. My sympathy for your body’s reaction to the conditions.
rachel
@WaterGirl:
@CCL:
Many thanks to both of you!
My husband wants to get in touch with our tax preparer first and go through her, but if nothing’s happened by Monday, I’ll send a letter.
It may be better to anyway. I always get their mail a month or two late, so I may want to explain that.
J R in WV
@rachel:
Write a reply letter to the IRS disputing the taxes due and include a COPY of the canceled check … many years ago we got a similar letter because our preparer funged one of our social security numbers, doing the work too late at night. So one of us wasn’t on the books as having filed a tax return. The issue went away with the single letter pointing out the mangled number on the filed return. You want to hang on to the canceled check for future use.
They generally do good work, but sometimes things fall thru the cracks.
I see others have recommended a similar process. I still think you should send a clean copy of the canceled check, which they will be able to look up in their own records with that copy.
Ohio Mom
@Steve in the ATL: The now defunct Armenian restaurant near us would close once a year on Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day. It’s in April. So maybe you and Ruckus picked a different day to meet up.