Veterans Day 2024 Open Thread

13 thoughts on “Veterans Day 2024 Open Thread”

1. Heathet Cox Richardson reminds us of the origin of the recognition of the day:

   In November 1919, President Woodrow Wilson commemorated Armistice Day, saying that Americans would reflect on the anniversary of the armistice “with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations….”

   105 years later, and this upcoming Sad!-ministration is nearly certain to step away from the pride, gratitude, and sympathy with peace and justice.

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2. Trump has really awakened my inner blogger again. I don't know for how long but here's my latest two:

   1. Creating a New Paradigm for the Democratic Party Change is hard, but irrelevance is worse.
   2. Did Trump try to Overthrow the Government? Congress didn't appear to think so

   And if you're all lucky, I'll bring back my Saturday music video posts.

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3. This is for Commonwealth soldiers but I always thought it was the best epitah. Kohima is where the British stopped the Japanese from invading India.

   

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4. So, it appears that Batboy, Cornyn, and Thune are in the running for Senate Majority Leader. I suppose we can take solace in the high likelihood that none of those clowns will be anywhere near as effective as The Turtle was.

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   1. "Bat Boy," I take it, is Rick Scott. Great nickname for him.

      You are right; we shall not see anyone like "the Turtle" pass this way again. There was a lot there to hate or love, depending upon which side of the fence you stood.

      He wasn't a Lyndon Johnson but I would put him in the bottom half of Lyndon Johnson's class of leaders when it came to effectiveness.

      I've been pondering the filibuster. I'm guessing that Bat Boy, Cornyn or Thune will come under a lot of pressure from the White House to get rid of it.

      With 53 GOP senators, I'm guessing that even if McConnell (the so-called Institutionalist, although I believe it was situational) and one or two other Republicans join the Dems in trying to keep it, the 50 GOP Senators coupled with JD Vance will be enough to change the rule and abolish it.

      Of course, that assumes that the Dems unify in trying to preserve it. It's going to be hillarious watching Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders – who were so apoplectic in trying to get rid of it – suddenly discover its virtues when they are in the minority.

       

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5. So, Lee Fucking Zeldin as EPA administrator?! That boy will make Reagan appointee and all-around piece of shit Anne Gorsuch Burford look like a starry-eyed hippie.

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6. Well, it appears Trump's promise to "only be a dictator on day 1" is already history.  He's demanding that the Senate step aside and let him make all his appointments as recess appointments with zero input from the Senate.  Sheeple Republicans like Rick Scott already agreed.  "Yes sir, may I have another!"

    “Any Republican Senator seeking the coveted LEADERSHIP position in the United States Senate must agree to Recess Appointments,” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, adding that he wants positions filled “IMMEDIATELY!”

   This time, all three leading Republican contenders for the Senate majority leader seem open to it. “100% agree,” Sen. Rick Scott (R-Florida.) replied to Trump on social media. “I will do whatever it takes to get your nominations through as quickly as possible.”

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   1. Why?

      Is he worried that some of those 51 or 52 sycophants (I've excluded Lisa Murkowski) won't rubber stamp his appointees?

      And of those requiring confirmation, neither Lee Zeldin nor Elise Stefanik should trigger any opposition from the Senate GOP Conference. So far, he hasn't named anyone really exotic to a post requiring confirmation.

      I'm guessing he's got some of those more "controversial" picks on the horizon, maybe Elon Musk as Secretary of State, Jeff Clark or Ken Paxton as AG, or RFK, Jr. as Secretary of HHS and he anticipates a confirmation fight down the road.

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      1. Heaven help us all if he picks Paxton for AG.  That guy is one corrupt SOB.  And he fits the mold of the most dangerous type of military officer or beaurocrat:  stupid and hardworking.

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      2. Trump's reptile brain only knows domination.  He's the Alpha Male, not a team builder.  He requires total submission.  Dictator for Life if he can get away with it.  I think, however, his RWNJ billionaire backers will quickly dispose of him for someone they can actually control.  Trump may want to hire a few food tasters, although Big Macs are deadly enough to do the job naturally.

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7. He's now selected two House members – Stefanik and Michael Walz – for cabinet or WH positions.

   Should Mike Johnson be worried?

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   1. Boebert would be a "handy" choice to "head" the Department of Labor.  I hear she's really good at jobs.

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   2. As of Tuesday noon, AP says 205 Democrats, 214 Republicans.  The uncalled races: 8 Dems ahead, 9 Republicans ahead.

      If those numbers hold, Democrats 213, Republicans 223 — minus those chosen for Sad!-ministration II.  Seeker Johnson will be in nearly the same position as he has been, except the House MAGA crazies may be a slightly larger bloc of votes.

      I think I'm taking until January 6, 2025 to begin forming any opinion of what to do about the House and Senate.  It will be January 20, 2025 or until the end of the month to begin choosing what form of resistance to Trump/Vance will gain my support.

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