Weekend Open Thread

11 thoughts on “Weekend Open Thread”

1. Ann Telnaes, editorial cartoonist for the Washington Post has resigned. She quit after the paper rejected a panel she drew, depicting Zuckerberg, Bezos (the paper’s owner), and Patrick Soon-Shiong (owner of the L.A. Times) bowing to a statue of the Screaming Yam. How’s that for starting the weekend off with a bang, huh?      https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/03/business/media/washington-post-cartoonist-quits-after-jeff-bezos-cartoon-is-killed.html          

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   1. Thanks for the head's up on the resignation. 

      Just sorry I can't cancel my subscription again in support.

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2. I was right in thinking the Cybertruck explosion in front of the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas was sending a message to Trump and Musk.  However, I never would have guessed it was a twisted tribute to them both.  The soldier's message turned out to be one that General Jack T. Ripper would have been proud of.

   Fortunately at least, given his background, the apparent desired effect was of a "Flash bang" device, not one to cause mass casualties.

   In one of the letters, Livelsberger appears to call for an insurrection and for soldiers and veterans to go to Washington, D.C., for a “purge,” starting with peaceful means but fighting and using “any means necessary” to remove Democrats from the federal government and military.

   The second letter expands on Livelsberger’s concerns about American culture, values and wars, praising Trump as “a real President” and telling people to rally around the president-elect, Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

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   1. There's more the story here I believe. 

      The USA MSG SF operator person suspected of blowing the Tesla may not be dead.  The DNA in the tesla does not match his son his command PAO stated. Trying to give a reason for a PTSD ridden operator to take his own life. 

      His SIGNAL account secret password was changed after the explosion. Trust me if he desired he would have leveled that building.  

      He had a deep issue with a  2019 op overseen by DEA in Afghanistan that purposely targeted housing for a drug operation killing at least 14 women and children.  

      If he is a whistleblower alot of the incongruities make sense.  

      Having flown for JSOC and fought before it was formed as a USN helo borne swimmer I can say none of his background makes sense with what the public is being told.  

       

      Yes its my friends from the Ranger BN that shared this with me but it rings true in this case. More and references if I can. 

       

       

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      1. I'm certain there will be more detail.  The "not match the DNA" has a couple of possible explanations, with either being the basis for a much longer story with very different motivations.

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      2. CNN reported (clipped from MSN): [my emphasis in bold].

         The Cybertruck was detonated outside a Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas Wednesday. Livelsberger, 37, of Colorado, died in the incident and seven others were injured. Authorities on Friday said his identity had been confirmed through tattoos and DNA from relatives.

         Spencer Evans, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Las Vegas Division, said the incident appeared to be “a tragic case of suicide involving a heavily decorated combat veteran who was struggling with PTSD and other issues.”

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3. Back in the day, crafty politicians would score points with constituents by "bringing home the bacon." Looks here like Gabe is just fine with costing Colorado federal funding. Now that breakfast's over, what is the opposite of bringing home the bacon?

    

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   1. With a upcoming President that was decisively rejected in Colorado in 2024 plus a GOP-led congress that might threaten federal funding and military opportunities for Colorado (party of small government and state rights, amirite?), I can't see a good-faith effort from whoever the GOP gubernatorial nominee will be in 2026 to sugarcoat the visible damages that'll bring and distance themselves from Trump and the far-right factions that control the national and even state party. Unless the nominee is someone like Phil Scott or former Gov. Charlie Baker, the GOP will have to pretend they aren't popular in the state, including their mortal god they feverishly worship.

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4. Today's blog – Time for Europe to grow up.

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   1. Sweden is missing. They produce a lot of their own military equipment, including fighter jets.

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5. Meanwhile, "back at the ranch," a group calling itself "Colorado Advocates for Smart Wolf Policy” has filed a ballot initiative for the 2026 election to repeal the 2020 initiative that called for wolf reintroduction. The website is  smartwolfpolicyco.com .

   The proponents are Stan Van Der Werf from El Paso County and Spencer Thomas from Garfield County. A gentleman named Patrick Davis also is involved.

   One can expect "rampant sound bite emotionalism" as this issue comes together. One immediate example is a statement by the proponents: "Economic Harm: Colorado's ranchers and livestock producers, the backbone of rural communities — suffer devastating financial losses from wolf predation."

   The reality: I can't think of a single rural county in Colorado where ranching is the primary economic driver in the county. The primary economic driver in all rural counties has been transfer payments of all kinds. Such as social security and Colorado PERA payments; dividends and interest; PILT payments; and others. 

   Stay tuned for an interesting and fun ride.

    

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