Afer the January 6, 2021, storming of the U.S. Capitol by insurrectionists intent upon preventing the counting of electoral votes and overthrowing the 2020 presidential election, the news media pointed out the Capitol Building hadn’t been attacked since the War of 1812. But this isn’t a [...]
Archive for January, 2021
Is Biden’s brother selling influence?
Biden’s youngest brother “promoted his relationship to the commander-in-chief in an Inauguration Day advertisement for the law firm he advises,” CNBC reported on Sunday, January 31, 2021. Frank Biden, who isn’t an attorney (his background is sales), is described in the CNBC s[...]
Having lost at the ballot box, Republican legislators will now try to repeal democracy
“Days after Trump left office [has it only been days? our release from captivity already seems like ages ago — Ed.], state Republicans have introduced a series of measures that would give legislators the power to overturn the will of voters, both in the 2020 presidential contest and in f[...]
1/31/21 relief bill update
The White House says the GOP’s new proposal “is not going to scratch the itch.” Economists urge more stimulus, and Wall Street is looking for a larger package, too. For details of what Biden is willing to negotiate, click here. Are Republicans serious about a bipartisan deal or mer[...]
January 31st, 2021 - 12:43 am § in Misc.
Sports stars: Cowboy bullrider and Russian pole vaulter (videos)
I doubt very many people in the academic departments of the University of Washington, or studying foreign policy at Georgetown University, or writing policy papers in Washington D.C. think tanks — the kind of people I like to imagine read this blog (even though 90% of its site traffic is to Dr[...]
Dilemma: Confront Red China with “red lines”?
That’s the argument being made by an anonymous writer of an advocacy piece just published (read it here) by the Atlantic Council, a private think tank that promotes U.S.-European alliances (read about it here). Rather than try to describe the paper, and the real-world background behind it, I&#[...]
Ex-FBI lawyer sentenced for altering Russia probe email
“A former FBI lawyer was sentenced to probation on Friday for altering an email the Justice Department relied on in its surveillance of an aide to President Donald Trump during the Russia investigation,” AOL News reported on Saturday, January 30, 2021. “Kevin Clinesmith [photo, lef[...]
January 30th, 2021 - 12:04 pm § in Health
Can you resume “normal” after vaccination?
No. A great big FAT NO. “Your behavior shouldn’t dramatically change, especially in the early days of vaccination in United States,” ABC News warned on Saturday, January 30, 2021. Read story here. Returning to “normal” will be gradual, a Duke health expert said. And soc[...]
January 29th, 2021 - 11:39 pm § in China, Foreign Affairs
Fight or flight?
From BBC (story and video here): “Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters with British national overseas (BNO) passports now face a stark choice. Do they take the opportunity, now open to them, to flee to the United Kingdom and start a new life? Or do they stay and continue to try to fight for gr[...]