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marmar
marmar's Journal
marmar's Journal
February 9, 2021
The local Republican parties are even crazier than the state and national ones....
(Detroit Metro Times) The Hillsdale County Republican Party voted Monday to censure Michigan Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey for condemning the armed protesters who stormed the state Capitol, surrendering to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, and other alleged “actions and inactions.”
At a tense, video-recorded meeting at a diner last week, county party members hurled insults at Shirkey for not taking a more hardline position in Lansing.
“You’re a liar,” one of the members told Shirkey.
Another said, “We’re not going to go along to get along. We’re done with it, Mike.”
Shirkey responded, “If you want to bully, go ahead and bully.”
One of the members fired back, “I call you a pussy if you call me a bully." ........(more)
https://www.metrotimes.com/news-hits/archives/2021/02/09/michigan-state-sen-shirkey-censured-by-hillsdale-county-gop-says-he-doesnt-give-a-shit?
February 9, 2021
(Bloomberg) -- Maybe you’ve heard: The pandemic is killing cities, fueling a rush to spacious houses in the suburbs. But beyond pricey New York and San Francisco, real estate demand is booming in downtowns across America.
From Pittsburgh to Detroit and Phoenix, condos and townhouses within stumbling distance of bars and restaurants are hot. Like the families now upgrading to bigger suburban homes young white-collar workers are taking advantage of record-low mortgage rates and flexible remote-work policies to move to desirable cities with relative affordability.
Home prices in urban U.S. markets rose 15% in the three months through late January, slightly ahead of the annual pace in suburbia, according to data from brokerage Redfin, based on geographic designations developed by the Census Bureau. It’s a shift from early in the pandemic, when prices were lagging behind outer areas or even falling, a sign that Covid-19 vaccines are helping to fuel demand as nightlife makes its return. ............(more)
Read more at: https://www.bloombergquint.com/onweb/housing-boom-sweeps-u-s-cities-that-aren-t-nyc-san-francisco
Housing Prices Are Booming in U.S. Cities -- Just Not San Francisco or New York
(Bloomberg) -- Maybe you’ve heard: The pandemic is killing cities, fueling a rush to spacious houses in the suburbs. But beyond pricey New York and San Francisco, real estate demand is booming in downtowns across America.
From Pittsburgh to Detroit and Phoenix, condos and townhouses within stumbling distance of bars and restaurants are hot. Like the families now upgrading to bigger suburban homes young white-collar workers are taking advantage of record-low mortgage rates and flexible remote-work policies to move to desirable cities with relative affordability.
Home prices in urban U.S. markets rose 15% in the three months through late January, slightly ahead of the annual pace in suburbia, according to data from brokerage Redfin, based on geographic designations developed by the Census Bureau. It’s a shift from early in the pandemic, when prices were lagging behind outer areas or even falling, a sign that Covid-19 vaccines are helping to fuel demand as nightlife makes its return. ............(more)
Read more at: https://www.bloombergquint.com/onweb/housing-boom-sweeps-u-s-cities-that-aren-t-nyc-san-francisco
February 9, 2021
(Salon) In November, four days after the presidential election, a humble Pennsylvania landscaping business rose to national prominence after serving as the site for a bizarre press conference, led by Rudy Guliani, to make unfounded claims of voter fraud. Now, Four Seasons Total Landscaping — which also was the site of a Super Bowl commercial for the freelance marketplace Fiverr — is getting its own documentary, it was announced Monday.
According to the press release, "Four Seasons Total Documentary" is an apolitical and feel-good "firsthand account of the rollercoaster journey that one well-meaning small business in Philadelphia went through when they agreed to host a political press conference in the midst of the most hard-fought American election in recent history."
The documentary, which doesn't have distrubution yet, comes from director Christopher Stoudt, who is teaming with producers Glen Zipper and Sean Stuart. Chris Paonessa and Kevin Lincoln are also producers.
"It's an honor and privilege to be able to help tell a story that the world has been waiting months to hear," Stoudt said in the statement. "After such a hard year, everyone needed a moment to laugh. Little did we know it would come from a press conference that took place across the street from a crematorium (down the road from a sex shop)."
The Four Seasons debacle all started with a tweet from former president Donald Trump — back before he was banned from Twitter — who wrote: "Lawyers News Conference Four Seasons, Philadelphia. 11:00 a.m." ..............(more)
https://www.salon.com/2021/02/08/the-four-seasons-total-landscaping-debacle-is-finally-getting-the-documentary-treatment-it-deserves/
The Four Seasons Total Landscaping debacle is finally getting the documentary treatment it deserves
(Salon) In November, four days after the presidential election, a humble Pennsylvania landscaping business rose to national prominence after serving as the site for a bizarre press conference, led by Rudy Guliani, to make unfounded claims of voter fraud. Now, Four Seasons Total Landscaping — which also was the site of a Super Bowl commercial for the freelance marketplace Fiverr — is getting its own documentary, it was announced Monday.
According to the press release, "Four Seasons Total Documentary" is an apolitical and feel-good "firsthand account of the rollercoaster journey that one well-meaning small business in Philadelphia went through when they agreed to host a political press conference in the midst of the most hard-fought American election in recent history."
The documentary, which doesn't have distrubution yet, comes from director Christopher Stoudt, who is teaming with producers Glen Zipper and Sean Stuart. Chris Paonessa and Kevin Lincoln are also producers.
"It's an honor and privilege to be able to help tell a story that the world has been waiting months to hear," Stoudt said in the statement. "After such a hard year, everyone needed a moment to laugh. Little did we know it would come from a press conference that took place across the street from a crematorium (down the road from a sex shop)."
The Four Seasons debacle all started with a tweet from former president Donald Trump — back before he was banned from Twitter — who wrote: "Lawyers News Conference Four Seasons, Philadelphia. 11:00 a.m." ..............(more)
https://www.salon.com/2021/02/08/the-four-seasons-total-landscaping-debacle-is-finally-getting-the-documentary-treatment-it-deserves/
February 9, 2021
Expulsion is the only remedy: Insurrectionists in Congress must be rooted out
Republicans in Congress have doubled down on Trump's attempted coup. If we tolerate that, it will happen again
By ALAN D. BLOTCKY - SETH D. NORRHOLM
FEBRUARY 9, 2021 11:00AM
(Salon) "We fight like hell and if you don't fight like hell, you're not going to have a country anymore."
These were the words of then-President Donald Trump as he addressed a large, hostile crowd in front of the White House on Jan. 6, 2021.
It has now been more than a month since Trump and his congressional allies incited and supported the insurrection against our country's democracy. It was an attempt by a mob of violent seditionists to attack the Capitol and stop Congress from affirming the Electoral College victory of Joe Biden. This was planned and orchestrated by the sitting president with the hope that he could remain in power against the will of the people. Five people died. Dozens of police officers were injured. Vice President Mike Pence and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi were in grave danger of being seized and murdered. It was an unimaginable and indescribable scene of terror. Many of the insurrectionists had tactical gear and communications equipment. They roamed the halls with zip ties hunting for Pence and Pelosi. They built gallows and chanted death threats. They beat a police officer with a pole bearing the U.S. flag. And let us not forget that President Trump chose not to intervene when the violence began. With the resources at his disposal, he easily and rapidly could have.
....(snip)....
Some congressional Republicans had reportedly given tours to the insurrectionists on Jan. 5. Eight Senators and 139 representatives supported at least one objection to the already-certified Electoral College vote. They promulgated false and fake conspiracy theories about how the election had been stolen from Trump, and cast their votes to support an authoritarian president who wanted to remain in power in defiance of the Constitution. Their entire scenario was a lie — the Big Lie — but they maintained their allegiance to their cult leader even though an insurrection against our government had occurred just the day before.
....(snip)....
It is time for us to clean house of all seditionists and traitors. We cannot allow them to remain in the sacred halls of Congress. They are a cancer that has metastasized. They are anti-democratic and anti-American outliers. Their voices and their influence must be stamped out decisively.
Please remember that not one of these congressional Republicans has shown an ounce of regret or shame for their actions on or before Jan. 6. Not one has apologized to the American people. If anything, they have fortified their position and their resolve. They continue to support Donald Trump and his abortive insurrection. They have not learned a thing. This is a collective lack of conscience shown by a large group of seditionists. .............(more)
https://www.salon.com/2021/02/09/expulsion-is-the-only-remedy-insurrectionists-in-congress-must-be-rooted-out/
Expulsion is the only remedy: Insurrectionists in Congress must be rooted out
Expulsion is the only remedy: Insurrectionists in Congress must be rooted out
Republicans in Congress have doubled down on Trump's attempted coup. If we tolerate that, it will happen again
By ALAN D. BLOTCKY - SETH D. NORRHOLM
FEBRUARY 9, 2021 11:00AM
(Salon) "We fight like hell and if you don't fight like hell, you're not going to have a country anymore."
These were the words of then-President Donald Trump as he addressed a large, hostile crowd in front of the White House on Jan. 6, 2021.
It has now been more than a month since Trump and his congressional allies incited and supported the insurrection against our country's democracy. It was an attempt by a mob of violent seditionists to attack the Capitol and stop Congress from affirming the Electoral College victory of Joe Biden. This was planned and orchestrated by the sitting president with the hope that he could remain in power against the will of the people. Five people died. Dozens of police officers were injured. Vice President Mike Pence and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi were in grave danger of being seized and murdered. It was an unimaginable and indescribable scene of terror. Many of the insurrectionists had tactical gear and communications equipment. They roamed the halls with zip ties hunting for Pence and Pelosi. They built gallows and chanted death threats. They beat a police officer with a pole bearing the U.S. flag. And let us not forget that President Trump chose not to intervene when the violence began. With the resources at his disposal, he easily and rapidly could have.
....(snip)....
Some congressional Republicans had reportedly given tours to the insurrectionists on Jan. 5. Eight Senators and 139 representatives supported at least one objection to the already-certified Electoral College vote. They promulgated false and fake conspiracy theories about how the election had been stolen from Trump, and cast their votes to support an authoritarian president who wanted to remain in power in defiance of the Constitution. Their entire scenario was a lie — the Big Lie — but they maintained their allegiance to their cult leader even though an insurrection against our government had occurred just the day before.
....(snip)....
It is time for us to clean house of all seditionists and traitors. We cannot allow them to remain in the sacred halls of Congress. They are a cancer that has metastasized. They are anti-democratic and anti-American outliers. Their voices and their influence must be stamped out decisively.
Please remember that not one of these congressional Republicans has shown an ounce of regret or shame for their actions on or before Jan. 6. Not one has apologized to the American people. If anything, they have fortified their position and their resolve. They continue to support Donald Trump and his abortive insurrection. They have not learned a thing. This is a collective lack of conscience shown by a large group of seditionists. .............(more)
https://www.salon.com/2021/02/09/expulsion-is-the-only-remedy-insurrectionists-in-congress-must-be-rooted-out/
February 9, 2021
CHARLESTON, WV (WOWK) – A man from Florida is going to prison on drug charges after mailing more than 18 pounds of methamphetamine to West Virginia.
According to United States Attorney Mike Stuart, Thomas Drew Bess, 39, of Flordia was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison on a charge of “conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.” ......(more)
https://www.wowktv.com/news/west-virginia/florida-man-sentenced-after-mailing-18-pounds-of-meth-to-west-virginia/
Florida man sentenced after mailing 18 pounds of meth to West Virginia
CHARLESTON, WV (WOWK) – A man from Florida is going to prison on drug charges after mailing more than 18 pounds of methamphetamine to West Virginia.
According to United States Attorney Mike Stuart, Thomas Drew Bess, 39, of Flordia was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison on a charge of “conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.” ......(more)
https://www.wowktv.com/news/west-virginia/florida-man-sentenced-after-mailing-18-pounds-of-meth-to-west-virginia/
February 8, 2021
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Some sports fans in South Florida were forced to find another way to watch the Super Bowl Sunday when the power inexplicably went out to their neighborhood.
“About 30 to 40 minutes before the Super Bowl started, it just went all the way out,” Bubba James told WPLG. “I see the trucks and everything, but nobody told me what happened.”
A neighbor said a man randomly started operating an excavator that was parked on the street for a project and accidentally knocked down a power line, WPLG reported. The man then hopped out and rode off on a bicycle. Police are investigating. ............(more)
https://www.kiro7.com/news/trending/florida-man-joyriding-excavator-likely-caused-neighborhoods-power-outage-before-super-bowl/KQZUFAAJ2NGZVNT43O4OCWMZRY/
Florida man joyriding excavator likely caused neighborhood's power outage before Super Bowl
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Some sports fans in South Florida were forced to find another way to watch the Super Bowl Sunday when the power inexplicably went out to their neighborhood.
“About 30 to 40 minutes before the Super Bowl started, it just went all the way out,” Bubba James told WPLG. “I see the trucks and everything, but nobody told me what happened.”
A neighbor said a man randomly started operating an excavator that was parked on the street for a project and accidentally knocked down a power line, WPLG reported. The man then hopped out and rode off on a bicycle. Police are investigating. ............(more)
https://www.kiro7.com/news/trending/florida-man-joyriding-excavator-likely-caused-neighborhoods-power-outage-before-super-bowl/KQZUFAAJ2NGZVNT43O4OCWMZRY/
February 8, 2021
(Guardian UK) Authorities in the Netherlands declared a rare “code red” emergency for the entire country as it was hit by its first proper snowstorm in more than a decade.
Storm Darcy, which has also sent temperatures plummeting across Germany, packed winds of up to 90km (55 miles) an hour and sent temperatures as low as -5C (23F).
The weather forecasting website Weer.nl said that a force-eight wind on Sunday night was measured in combination with snowfall, adding: “This officially means a snowstorm in our country.”
“It is the first snowstorm in a long time: the last snowstorm took place in January 2010,” it said. .................(more)
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/08/storm-darcy-netherlands-declares-code-red-emergency-as-rare-snowstorm-hits
Storm Darcy: Netherlands declares 'code red' emergency as rare snowstorm hits
(Guardian UK) Authorities in the Netherlands declared a rare “code red” emergency for the entire country as it was hit by its first proper snowstorm in more than a decade.
Storm Darcy, which has also sent temperatures plummeting across Germany, packed winds of up to 90km (55 miles) an hour and sent temperatures as low as -5C (23F).
The weather forecasting website Weer.nl said that a force-eight wind on Sunday night was measured in combination with snowfall, adding: “This officially means a snowstorm in our country.”
“It is the first snowstorm in a long time: the last snowstorm took place in January 2010,” it said. .................(more)
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/08/storm-darcy-netherlands-declares-code-red-emergency-as-rare-snowstorm-hits
February 8, 2021
Republican Senators aren't beholden to their base — they'll acquit Trump because they agree with him
Republicans who claim they want to "move on" are lying, since the best way to do that is bar Trump from running
By AMANDA MARCOTTE
FEBRUARY 8, 2021 5:59PM
(Salon) 'Tis the night before his second impeachment trial, and all through the Senate, cowardly Republicans are still grasping for some way to let Donald Trump off the hook while not looking complicit in his attempt to violently overthrow the government by sending a fascist crowd to storm the Capitol. (Hint: It's impossible.) So Republicans are reaching for their most potent weapon in the battle to convince the D.C. cocktail party circuit that they're still respectable statesmen: the welcoming arms of Politico, the beltway media outlet always willing to lend a sympathetic ear to pathetic excuses and amplify the silliest of GOP spin in the name of neutrality.
"Where Democrats and Republicans agree on Trump," read a Monday morning headline at Politico. "Both parties want to be rid of him. They just differ on the means."
Even without reading the full piece, one can tell this is hoary nonsense, as even the conventional wisdom holds that Republicans always make it a point to disagree with Democrats, even on basic questions of fact. "Always be 'triggering' the liberals" has eclipsed any actual ideology as their main organizing principle. Still, we here at Salon buck the trends popularized by social media and make a point to actually read an article we deign to comment on. In this case, however, it does not improve the situation.
....(snip)....
But they do not actually want to move past Trump. We know this for a very simple reason: Senate Republicans refuse to do the one thing that would put Trump in the rearview mirror, which is to convict him in the upcoming impeachment trial. Convicting Trump would bar him from ever running for office again. That's as close to a clean slate as Republicans will ever get, even though they don't deserve it. Taking away that ability from Trump de-fangs him. Without the threat of running for office, he can't make good on his threat to start a third party — or won't, as Trump doesn't do anything that isn't centered on himself and his ego. Without the ability to run for office, the playing field opens up for all those other Republicans with dreams of running for president in 2024.
....(snip)....
Don't let Senate Republicans fool you with these pantomimes of powerlessness in the face of the almighty "base." They have the power to turn Trump's already dimming light completely off. The man isn't a wizard. He's not even a successful businessman. His coup failed. He is on the precipice of total irrelevance, and only needs the gentlest of pushes to fall into the abyss, reduced to shilling fake cancer cures on his email list. ............(more)
https://www.salon.com/2021/02/08/republican-senators-arent-beholden-to-their-base--theyll-acquit-trump-because-they-agree-with-him/
Republican Senators aren't beholden to their base -- they'll acquit Trump because they agree with him
Republican Senators aren't beholden to their base — they'll acquit Trump because they agree with him
Republicans who claim they want to "move on" are lying, since the best way to do that is bar Trump from running
By AMANDA MARCOTTE
FEBRUARY 8, 2021 5:59PM
(Salon) 'Tis the night before his second impeachment trial, and all through the Senate, cowardly Republicans are still grasping for some way to let Donald Trump off the hook while not looking complicit in his attempt to violently overthrow the government by sending a fascist crowd to storm the Capitol. (Hint: It's impossible.) So Republicans are reaching for their most potent weapon in the battle to convince the D.C. cocktail party circuit that they're still respectable statesmen: the welcoming arms of Politico, the beltway media outlet always willing to lend a sympathetic ear to pathetic excuses and amplify the silliest of GOP spin in the name of neutrality.
"Where Democrats and Republicans agree on Trump," read a Monday morning headline at Politico. "Both parties want to be rid of him. They just differ on the means."
Even without reading the full piece, one can tell this is hoary nonsense, as even the conventional wisdom holds that Republicans always make it a point to disagree with Democrats, even on basic questions of fact. "Always be 'triggering' the liberals" has eclipsed any actual ideology as their main organizing principle. Still, we here at Salon buck the trends popularized by social media and make a point to actually read an article we deign to comment on. In this case, however, it does not improve the situation.
....(snip)....
But they do not actually want to move past Trump. We know this for a very simple reason: Senate Republicans refuse to do the one thing that would put Trump in the rearview mirror, which is to convict him in the upcoming impeachment trial. Convicting Trump would bar him from ever running for office again. That's as close to a clean slate as Republicans will ever get, even though they don't deserve it. Taking away that ability from Trump de-fangs him. Without the threat of running for office, he can't make good on his threat to start a third party — or won't, as Trump doesn't do anything that isn't centered on himself and his ego. Without the ability to run for office, the playing field opens up for all those other Republicans with dreams of running for president in 2024.
....(snip)....
Don't let Senate Republicans fool you with these pantomimes of powerlessness in the face of the almighty "base." They have the power to turn Trump's already dimming light completely off. The man isn't a wizard. He's not even a successful businessman. His coup failed. He is on the precipice of total irrelevance, and only needs the gentlest of pushes to fall into the abyss, reduced to shilling fake cancer cures on his email list. ............(more)
https://www.salon.com/2021/02/08/republican-senators-arent-beholden-to-their-base--theyll-acquit-trump-because-they-agree-with-him/
February 8, 2021
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki on Monday challenged Fox News correspondent to back up his question on Keystone Pipeline job losses with actual data.
During a White House press briefing, Doocy suggested that President Joe Biden had failed to keep his promise on creating green energy jobs. ........ (more)
https://www.rawstory.com/jen-psaki-peter-doocy/
Peter Doocy, you can't handle Jen Psaki......
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki on Monday challenged Fox News correspondent to back up his question on Keystone Pipeline job losses with actual data.
During a White House press briefing, Doocy suggested that President Joe Biden had failed to keep his promise on creating green energy jobs. ........ (more)
https://www.rawstory.com/jen-psaki-peter-doocy/
February 8, 2021
(Grist) One of the most popular programs from the New Deal is making a comeback, nearly 90 years later.
President Joe Biden recently signed an executive order to create a Civilian Climate Corps. The initiative, he wrote, will provide “good jobs” for young people and train them for environmentally friendly careers, putting them to work restoring public lands and waters, planting trees, improving access to parks, and of course, tackling climate change.
It’s inspired by the original Civilian Conservation Corps, one of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s signature New Deal programs launched to take on the Great Depression.
Climate advocates celebrated Biden’s move. Naomi Klein, the activist and author of This Changes Everything, said Biden’s announcement was a “hard won victory.” Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York had reportedly sold Secretary of State John Kerry on the idea of a climate corps. The resemblance to the New Deal program — it even has the same acronym, CCC — may explain why the proposal sounds like part of a Green New Deal. ...........(more)
https://grist.org/politics/bidens-civilian-climate-corps-comes-straight-out-of-the-new-deal/
Biden's Civilian Climate Corps comes straight out of the New Deal
(Grist) One of the most popular programs from the New Deal is making a comeback, nearly 90 years later.
President Joe Biden recently signed an executive order to create a Civilian Climate Corps. The initiative, he wrote, will provide “good jobs” for young people and train them for environmentally friendly careers, putting them to work restoring public lands and waters, planting trees, improving access to parks, and of course, tackling climate change.
It’s inspired by the original Civilian Conservation Corps, one of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s signature New Deal programs launched to take on the Great Depression.
Climate advocates celebrated Biden’s move. Naomi Klein, the activist and author of This Changes Everything, said Biden’s announcement was a “hard won victory.” Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York had reportedly sold Secretary of State John Kerry on the idea of a climate corps. The resemblance to the New Deal program — it even has the same acronym, CCC — may explain why the proposal sounds like part of a Green New Deal. ...........(more)
https://grist.org/politics/bidens-civilian-climate-corps-comes-straight-out-of-the-new-deal/
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