Meant to say this Friday when I first saw this edition of Morning Shots. Hannah's photos are a great addition to the newsletter. I especially like the third one in B&W. It shares the spirit of comradery at Thursday's event well. Please, let's have more from Hannah!
Jordan Neely is dead because American society has failed him and hundreds of thousands, possibly millions, of people like him. The mental health system in America, the for profit health system, leaves an undue burden on poor Americans, denying them the ability to help mentally ill family members.
Jordan Neely was a mentally ill man. He should not have been on the train, having an episode, left deal with his mental illness alone.
Daniel Penny's actions, whether he felt justified at the time or not, lead to Neely's death. Choke holds are dangerous and not a consequence free way to subdue someone. Whatever law enforcement decides and the courts adjudicate Penny's actions directly lead to the death of someone. Penny looks to be accepting of the consequences, which is good.
Unfortunately Penny, like Kyle Rittenhouse and George Zimmerman before him, is being held up by the right as an example of the persecution of white supremacy. The Right is lionizing Penny as an example of the ultimate sin society can commit; holding white people accountable for their actions, especially when those actions are against the left or people of color.
None of this, though, help people like Neely. None of it gets us closer to effective treatment of mental illness. Almost 200 years after the Asylum Movement in the US, American society still has nothing to offer poor Americans when it comes to treating mental illness. That is an ultimate sin.
I listened to Tim Miller’s “Not My Party”. I hope that we don’t default but I do believe that the Freedom Caucus is calling the shots in the House. What is wrong with Republicans who don’t identify that way (supposedly). Well, we only have to look at the evolution of Lindsey Graham to see where they are ALL going. Nancy Mace, you are as much a loser as Jim Jordan.
There’s a lot happening these days. Here are my thoughts (in no particular order).
The death of the homeless guy is unfortunate but it is up to the Court to decide. I’m not taking any sides on that one.
Youngkin is dishonest and a hypocrite. Virginia deserves better.
I am appalled about the man showing up with an AR-15 at a bus stop. I understand it is in Maryland. But where in Maryland? You wonder if there is a network of these people involved is sort of “guerrilla” operations attempting to frighten people because there seems to be a pattern to terrorize people via the schools, voting, school boards, etc. leading up to the 2024 election. Has anyone ever explored that possibility?
Speaking of the "facts" on Jordan Neely, here's one that's being widely ignored by online pundits. The chokehold Penny used was the carotid choke, one he was trained to use in the Marines. The Marine training manual points out that this chokehold blocks all blood supply to the brain, and will render the subject unconscious in 30 to 40 SECONDS. Penny applied the chokehold for seven consecutive MINUTES. Marine training isn't slipshod; Penny knew exactly what he was doing. When will we see that FACT more widely circulated online and in the mainstream media?
Just listened to the NYC show on the podcast. Really enjoyed it. I have a suggestion for Bad Gay Tim Miller.
I'm not much of a musicals person myself, but I absolutely love Victor/Victoria. It's more of a movie with musical numbers than a musical per se, but it's fantastic. Brilliant performances by Julie Andrews and Robert Preston. And Lesley Ann Warren is a comic GENIUS - I am chortling out loud right now just remembering the train scene. Even Alex Karras (the football player) gives a memorable performance and he's no one's idea of a great actor. "Does your room have heat?" LOLOLOLOL!
It's directed by Blake Edwards and filled with all the stylistic touches he's known for. Give it a try - it's my favorite pick-me-up movie when I'm feeling blue.
Let's do a thought experiment here. I decide to write an article specifically about Cathy's article. I open by saying that i don't think her past matters at all in regards to how we view this article.
However, it is a fact that she wrote almost the exact article with the same conclusion about George Zimmerman for Reason after a different vigilante (Zimmerman) killed a different black man (Trayvon Martin).
Then i describe how she wrote an article about how 'the Left' made up a story about a ten year old rape victim who had to travel to a different state because the state she lived in didn't allow abortion exceptions for rape or incest. Cathy never admitted to getting her conclusions wrong.
Then i bring up her record of being very pro free speech, anti cancel culture, and saying that there should not be social consequences for words.
Of course, i do not think any of these things should influence how we view this article we're talking about. I just decided to list them. For no reason.
I cannot see how "Make America Florida" as a campaign slogan is going to appeal to anyone, except Floridians, I guess, but maybe not even them. Americans do not like to be told how to be in general, and while some people certainly do not like the states they live in, it seems to me, most people want to defend their home states for whatever the state is known for and like to think there are at least some special, unique characteristics that make their home states great. I do not think people are going to welcome the idea of their state 'becoming Florida' even if they like the authoritarian crap and culture war garbage. DeSantis just seems inept and weirder by the day.
When it comes to a serious disconnect this country has, the Penny/Nealy conflict elevates it to a head of a pin for us all to see (again). I can't help but wonder where people's Christianity goes when 'judging' this kind of situation. Nealy, in his state at the time, surely represents one of our weakest people full of daily suffering both physical and mental and Penny, likely believing he was doing his job and taking the risk to protect those around him he perceived were in danger, and relied on his military training. Those on the right who both proclaim their sacred Christian beliefs and herald Penny as a hero cannot possibly think Jesus would applaud Penny's chokehold that directly caused another man's death nor would he likely condemn him either. Those on the left seem to view Penny as another overzealous white man who took matters into his own hands, completely neglecting to address the fear Nealy's behavior caused on the train. Isn't it likely that if our country took better care of folks enduring battles like Nealy so they didn't have them at all, maybe we wouldn't see these conflicts and tragedies occur at all. I suspect, however, that we as a country will not agree to fund the programs needed to mitigate the challenges of poverty and mental illness because we just don't want to invest some of our personal money that we've earned for our families to help another's family. Isn't that what it really comes down to? The, "Why should the government take more of my money that I worked hard for to help someone who hasn't worked as hard as I have and now struggles? (or some narrative like that)" I guess that's why when I hear politicians (both sides) proclaiming their strong beliefs in Jesus, their words churn until I'm nauseous. I don't want to hear it; I want to see it.
I have a suggestion for a podcast. My perception is that in spite of everything else, Republicans are continuing to evolve and push agendas at the state level towards anti-democratic outcomes of elections. The question I would ask, for example, is if the results in a race between Biden and Trump were held in 2024 with exactly the same voter results as in 2020, would Trump win? For instance, if a state legislature has passed a law saying they can cancel the results in "suspicious" counties changing the outcome of their statewide election, could this change the overall outcome electing Trump? Or alternatively, will this throw the case to the courts delaying the decision long enough to force a vote in congress on a state wide basis? This is similar to some of the efforts plotted in 2020, but perhaps with more justification based on state legislative action. I would love to hear someone like Charlie discuss this with someone who has given this some deeper thought.
Despite the CRT Hotline business, I am prepared to hear Youngkin out. That said, if he says "trans", "drag queen", "Disney", or "woke", then I will close the door. I can *possibly* be persuadable...if Youngkin can give me a good enough presentation.
I respect Joe Biden. He has accomplished a sh*t ton in his term. That said, I do have significant concerns due to his age. If he were my 80 year old neighbour, then that is one thing. When he is the 80 year old president, then things get FAR more significant. I would vote for Gretchen Whitmer...but she is not running. I would consider Jared Polis...but he is not running. I would consider Roy Cooper...but he is not running. I would NOT consider Newsom due to bad taste in ex wives. As a Democrat, right now, my only party option is Joe Biden...and I am not exactly jumping for joy.
Ms Young's deep dive shows at least one thing very clearly: way too many Americans are looking at the world strictly through the lenses of their preferred tribe. It used to be, at least as I recall, that a majority of people tried to see the big picture, that there is more than one side to every story. Being a practitioner of "bothsideserism" was considered a good thing, that you weren't going through life wearing blinders and that the full story can only be arrived at by weighing what both sides claimed.
Unfortunately, IMO, those days are gone and will likely never return, and that the basic concept of bothsideserism has become a pejorative. If you don't hew the tribal line you can expect to be vilified and expelled from the tent.
As a country, it behooves all of us to try and break down the walls that have been erected by the less-than-moderate bomb throwers from both major parties. Admittedly, the wacks on the Right are both more extreme and visible than those on the Progressive Left, but neither side has a monopoly on trying to overreach.
It's well past time that a serious effort is made by the majority of Americans to deny the continuing existence of "what's good for my tribe is good for the country while what is good for the other tribe can only be a detriment to all of the non-believers" of their faction.
"Make America Florida" does not strike me as the mic drop that DeSantis must think it is. What an awful predicate for a campaign.
Conversely--and I can't believe I'm writing this--but a Youngkin/Biden matchup is probably the best case scenario for America. It's a shame the Republican Party apparatus isn't willing to do what the Democratic Party did in 2020 and try to stack the deck for the most viable candidate. To echo a sentiment that JVL recently espoused, a find myself kiiiiind of longing for the days of "smoke-filled rooms." We need stronger parties as a check against demagoguery and activist-pandering candidates.
Meant to say this Friday when I first saw this edition of Morning Shots. Hannah's photos are a great addition to the newsletter. I especially like the third one in B&W. It shares the spirit of comradery at Thursday's event well. Please, let's have more from Hannah!
Disney and DeSantis deserve one another.
Jordan Neely is dead because American society has failed him and hundreds of thousands, possibly millions, of people like him. The mental health system in America, the for profit health system, leaves an undue burden on poor Americans, denying them the ability to help mentally ill family members.
Jordan Neely was a mentally ill man. He should not have been on the train, having an episode, left deal with his mental illness alone.
Daniel Penny's actions, whether he felt justified at the time or not, lead to Neely's death. Choke holds are dangerous and not a consequence free way to subdue someone. Whatever law enforcement decides and the courts adjudicate Penny's actions directly lead to the death of someone. Penny looks to be accepting of the consequences, which is good.
Unfortunately Penny, like Kyle Rittenhouse and George Zimmerman before him, is being held up by the right as an example of the persecution of white supremacy. The Right is lionizing Penny as an example of the ultimate sin society can commit; holding white people accountable for their actions, especially when those actions are against the left or people of color.
None of this, though, help people like Neely. None of it gets us closer to effective treatment of mental illness. Almost 200 years after the Asylum Movement in the US, American society still has nothing to offer poor Americans when it comes to treating mental illness. That is an ultimate sin.
I listened to Tim Miller’s “Not My Party”. I hope that we don’t default but I do believe that the Freedom Caucus is calling the shots in the House. What is wrong with Republicans who don’t identify that way (supposedly). Well, we only have to look at the evolution of Lindsey Graham to see where they are ALL going. Nancy Mace, you are as much a loser as Jim Jordan.
There’s a lot happening these days. Here are my thoughts (in no particular order).
The death of the homeless guy is unfortunate but it is up to the Court to decide. I’m not taking any sides on that one.
Youngkin is dishonest and a hypocrite. Virginia deserves better.
I am appalled about the man showing up with an AR-15 at a bus stop. I understand it is in Maryland. But where in Maryland? You wonder if there is a network of these people involved is sort of “guerrilla” operations attempting to frighten people because there seems to be a pattern to terrorize people via the schools, voting, school boards, etc. leading up to the 2024 election. Has anyone ever explored that possibility?
Speaking of the "facts" on Jordan Neely, here's one that's being widely ignored by online pundits. The chokehold Penny used was the carotid choke, one he was trained to use in the Marines. The Marine training manual points out that this chokehold blocks all blood supply to the brain, and will render the subject unconscious in 30 to 40 SECONDS. Penny applied the chokehold for seven consecutive MINUTES. Marine training isn't slipshod; Penny knew exactly what he was doing. When will we see that FACT more widely circulated online and in the mainstream media?
Highly recommend Margaret Hoover’s interview of Charlie on Firing Line. https://youtu.be/0b1LZsXwKJ0
Just listened to the NYC show on the podcast. Really enjoyed it. I have a suggestion for Bad Gay Tim Miller.
I'm not much of a musicals person myself, but I absolutely love Victor/Victoria. It's more of a movie with musical numbers than a musical per se, but it's fantastic. Brilliant performances by Julie Andrews and Robert Preston. And Lesley Ann Warren is a comic GENIUS - I am chortling out loud right now just remembering the train scene. Even Alex Karras (the football player) gives a memorable performance and he's no one's idea of a great actor. "Does your room have heat?" LOLOLOLOL!
It's directed by Blake Edwards and filled with all the stylistic touches he's known for. Give it a try - it's my favorite pick-me-up movie when I'm feeling blue.
Let's do a thought experiment here. I decide to write an article specifically about Cathy's article. I open by saying that i don't think her past matters at all in regards to how we view this article.
However, it is a fact that she wrote almost the exact article with the same conclusion about George Zimmerman for Reason after a different vigilante (Zimmerman) killed a different black man (Trayvon Martin).
Then i describe how she wrote an article about how 'the Left' made up a story about a ten year old rape victim who had to travel to a different state because the state she lived in didn't allow abortion exceptions for rape or incest. Cathy never admitted to getting her conclusions wrong.
Then i bring up her record of being very pro free speech, anti cancel culture, and saying that there should not be social consequences for words.
Of course, i do not think any of these things should influence how we view this article we're talking about. I just decided to list them. For no reason.
I cannot see how "Make America Florida" as a campaign slogan is going to appeal to anyone, except Floridians, I guess, but maybe not even them. Americans do not like to be told how to be in general, and while some people certainly do not like the states they live in, it seems to me, most people want to defend their home states for whatever the state is known for and like to think there are at least some special, unique characteristics that make their home states great. I do not think people are going to welcome the idea of their state 'becoming Florida' even if they like the authoritarian crap and culture war garbage. DeSantis just seems inept and weirder by the day.
When it comes to a serious disconnect this country has, the Penny/Nealy conflict elevates it to a head of a pin for us all to see (again). I can't help but wonder where people's Christianity goes when 'judging' this kind of situation. Nealy, in his state at the time, surely represents one of our weakest people full of daily suffering both physical and mental and Penny, likely believing he was doing his job and taking the risk to protect those around him he perceived were in danger, and relied on his military training. Those on the right who both proclaim their sacred Christian beliefs and herald Penny as a hero cannot possibly think Jesus would applaud Penny's chokehold that directly caused another man's death nor would he likely condemn him either. Those on the left seem to view Penny as another overzealous white man who took matters into his own hands, completely neglecting to address the fear Nealy's behavior caused on the train. Isn't it likely that if our country took better care of folks enduring battles like Nealy so they didn't have them at all, maybe we wouldn't see these conflicts and tragedies occur at all. I suspect, however, that we as a country will not agree to fund the programs needed to mitigate the challenges of poverty and mental illness because we just don't want to invest some of our personal money that we've earned for our families to help another's family. Isn't that what it really comes down to? The, "Why should the government take more of my money that I worked hard for to help someone who hasn't worked as hard as I have and now struggles? (or some narrative like that)" I guess that's why when I hear politicians (both sides) proclaiming their strong beliefs in Jesus, their words churn until I'm nauseous. I don't want to hear it; I want to see it.
I have a suggestion for a podcast. My perception is that in spite of everything else, Republicans are continuing to evolve and push agendas at the state level towards anti-democratic outcomes of elections. The question I would ask, for example, is if the results in a race between Biden and Trump were held in 2024 with exactly the same voter results as in 2020, would Trump win? For instance, if a state legislature has passed a law saying they can cancel the results in "suspicious" counties changing the outcome of their statewide election, could this change the overall outcome electing Trump? Or alternatively, will this throw the case to the courts delaying the decision long enough to force a vote in congress on a state wide basis? This is similar to some of the efforts plotted in 2020, but perhaps with more justification based on state legislative action. I would love to hear someone like Charlie discuss this with someone who has given this some deeper thought.
Not to be a jerk but the jet in Youngkin's video isn't American. It looks like an Italian Eurofighter Typhoon. Hey...at least it's not Russian!
Brace yourselves--
Despite the CRT Hotline business, I am prepared to hear Youngkin out. That said, if he says "trans", "drag queen", "Disney", or "woke", then I will close the door. I can *possibly* be persuadable...if Youngkin can give me a good enough presentation.
I respect Joe Biden. He has accomplished a sh*t ton in his term. That said, I do have significant concerns due to his age. If he were my 80 year old neighbour, then that is one thing. When he is the 80 year old president, then things get FAR more significant. I would vote for Gretchen Whitmer...but she is not running. I would consider Jared Polis...but he is not running. I would consider Roy Cooper...but he is not running. I would NOT consider Newsom due to bad taste in ex wives. As a Democrat, right now, my only party option is Joe Biden...and I am not exactly jumping for joy.
Ms Young's deep dive shows at least one thing very clearly: way too many Americans are looking at the world strictly through the lenses of their preferred tribe. It used to be, at least as I recall, that a majority of people tried to see the big picture, that there is more than one side to every story. Being a practitioner of "bothsideserism" was considered a good thing, that you weren't going through life wearing blinders and that the full story can only be arrived at by weighing what both sides claimed.
Unfortunately, IMO, those days are gone and will likely never return, and that the basic concept of bothsideserism has become a pejorative. If you don't hew the tribal line you can expect to be vilified and expelled from the tent.
As a country, it behooves all of us to try and break down the walls that have been erected by the less-than-moderate bomb throwers from both major parties. Admittedly, the wacks on the Right are both more extreme and visible than those on the Progressive Left, but neither side has a monopoly on trying to overreach.
It's well past time that a serious effort is made by the majority of Americans to deny the continuing existence of "what's good for my tribe is good for the country while what is good for the other tribe can only be a detriment to all of the non-believers" of their faction.
And don't get me started on the No Labels Party.
fnord
"Make America Florida" does not strike me as the mic drop that DeSantis must think it is. What an awful predicate for a campaign.
Conversely--and I can't believe I'm writing this--but a Youngkin/Biden matchup is probably the best case scenario for America. It's a shame the Republican Party apparatus isn't willing to do what the Democratic Party did in 2020 and try to stack the deck for the most viable candidate. To echo a sentiment that JVL recently espoused, a find myself kiiiiind of longing for the days of "smoke-filled rooms." We need stronger parties as a check against demagoguery and activist-pandering candidates.