https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-united-states-is-mortgaging-its-future/2018/04/19/daa35554-4409-11e8-ad8f-27a8c409298b_story.html

Republican budget(s) passed to satisfy Republican mega-donors like the Kochs (and the Mercers and the Sacklers).

Pshew. That thread.

https://twitter.com/iAmTheWarax/status/987014708170502144?s=19

«I could have done more as a leader, and not doing more will always haunt me.

But here’s what I beleive: it’s not too late to make a difference.

Together we can make this world better.

And for me, that starts with admitting I was wrong.

#iwaswrong»

Pshew. That thread.

https://twitter.com/iAmTheWarax/status/987020001973501952?s=19

«I could have done more as a leader, and not doing more will always haunt me.

But here’s what I beleive: it’s not too late to make a difference.

Together we can make this world better.

And for me, that starts with admitting I was wrong.

#iwaswrong»

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-united-states-is-mortgaging-its-future/2018/04/19/daa35554-4409-11e8-ad8f-27a8c409298b_story.html

Republican budget(s) passed to satisfy Republican mega-donors like the Kochs (and the Mercers and the Sacklers).

https://twitter.com/dissentingj/status/986744765256384512?s=20

(Thread.)

«I have seen folks continue to blast Starbucks, but please be nuanced. 1. There are thousands of stores, and one person does not indicate corporate policy — either morally or legally. 2. Starbucks has taken steps that most other corps wouldn’t do – including bias training.»

Hmm. Need to go back and read this more carefully after getting done with the 14 other shiny or looming things in my day.

https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/986733505504776192.html

This tweet and its replies are interesting.

https://twitter.com/iAmTheWarax/status/986334514006937602?s=19

So, ThinkProgress’s headline was “Neil Gorsuch voted with the liberal justices, but his opinion should chill you to the bone”, which illustrates my opinion of so much news (including social media): there’s so much melodrama. And other garbage, like “demographics is destiny” (I’m looking at you, Ronald Brownstein). Everybody wants you to click their headline, so you can see their ads. This even goes back to the “Why Johnny Can’t Read” thing of a few decades ago. We tore up our educational system because we were driven by screaming, panicky headlines.

Source: https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/4/17/17248094/neil-gorsuch-immigration-trump-supreme-court

«If the Supreme Court’s liberals — and even Gorsuch — think that civil laws don’t necessarily give the government more leeway to prosecute and punish defendants, it shows a deep discomfort with the way a lot of immigrants are being treated right now. The Court may never act on that discomfort. But it’s worth noting.»

So, yes, Gorsuch wants the government to butt out of protecting minorities and enforcing fair trade laws, etc., etc., the standard libertarian stuff. And we have to vote as if our votes make a difference (because guess what they do). But I’m really tired of manipulation and attempts at manipulation.

(Here’s the Brownstein “Demographics is Destiny” piece I referred to:

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/28579278/ns/politics-national_journal/t/dems-boosted-demography-destiny/)

Well, here, I’ll tack on something else. Remember the whole “latchkey kids” thing of the 70s? I swear, we’re like those chickens in Chicken Run, right after somebody says “nobody panic” (https://youtu.be/jVdlxwX6A7g).

https://www.stuffyoushouldknow.com/podcasts/the-satanic-panic-of-the-1980s.htm

Marvelous. One county over from me. (Of course, what would I expect?)

https://twitter.com/ddale8/status/986270440606679041

«Chesny had become eligible for a promotion to staff sergeant last September, but Marines officials say that promotion was cancelled during an investigation that led to Chesny’s discharge.»

Doesn’t say what the investigation uncovered.

«Only a single House Republican, Rep. Walter Jones of North Carolina, had endorsed any version of the legislation prior to this month»

Walter Jones again. Man, what is up with that guy? Is his district a lot less Republican than you’d expect rural NC to be?

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/04/17/mueller-protection-bill-supporters-528390

[http://cookpolitical.com/ has his district rated “Solid R”.]