BS: American Presidential race 2024

Subject: RE: BS: American Presidential race 2024
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 28 Jul 24 - 12:52 PM

You have more tenacity than me BWM. I couldn't watch 65 seconds!

Subject: RE: BS: American Presidential race 2024
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 28 Jul 24 - 02:00 PM

Ha! It was a truly vile watch, Dave, but I wanted to see, as much as anything, what his tactics were to be with regard to Kamala Harris. I wasn’t disappointed - insults, calling her a ‘bum’ and ‘crooked Kamala’, taking the piss out of the pronunciation of her name, claiming she was responsible for allowing ‘millions upon millions of ‘aliens’ (WTF is it with that hate-filled word and Americans with regard to people from other countries?) to ‘flood’ into the US - just feeble, pathetic, dog-whistle schoolyard stuff. Lots of other crap about election-rigging (as you would expect), and ‘she’s going to rip your guns from your hands’ bullshit, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera…

The frightening thing is that a significant number of US voters seem to be prepared to fall for his lies and unverifiable claims, and that a significant number of those claim the moral high-ground as so-called ‘Christians’.

What a sorry mess.

I have everything crossed that KH can outflank him and win. The alternative really does not bear thinking about.

Subject: RE: BS: American Presidential race 2024
From: Black belt caterpillar wrestler
Date: 28 Jul 24 - 02:13 PM

Of course Trump is worried by her. He has been told that an anagram of her name is "I alarm a shark".

Robin

Subject: RE: BS: American Presidential race 2024
From: The Sandman
Date: 28 Jul 24 - 03:52 PM

I do not like either candidate.but since lockheed martin armaments manufacturers, have hedged their bets and contributed to democrats and republicans, it seems to me that whoever wins the armament industry will have a puppet

Subject: RE: BS: American Presidential race 2024
From: Helen
Date: 28 Jul 24 - 04:25 PM

BWM, you said it better than me. I don't think I could listen to the whole speech by Trump because it would sicken me for all the reasons you said.

There are two hopeful articles on Oz ABC News:

A remarkable new dynamic has emerged in the US election: Kamala Harris can win

(Note: the first article is a deep-dive into a lot of issues Kamala Harris faces in her election bid but appears cautiously optimistic about her chance of success.)

A surprise veepstakes excites the Democratic Party, as Kamala Harris seeks a running mate for US election

(Note: the second article reviews each of the possible VP candidates who have been suggested so far in the media.)

Subject: RE: BS: American Presidential race 2024
From: Neil D
Date: 28 Jul 24 - 11:45 PM

I keep thinking that if people really listen to the words coming out of his mouth they will quit supporting him. But when it comes to his supporters I guess, as Pete Seeger once said, they've got beans in their ears. I believe that Trump actually thinks he can take over the country as dictator. Maybe with one or more Reichstag fire type incidents. I would look for one just before the mid-terms. However, he can't set himself up as dictator without the full support of the military and I hope he can't secure it. If he does then I hope the lyrics of another song hold true:
this may no longer be
the land of the free
thank God it's still the home of the brave.

Subject: RE: BS: American Presidential race 2024
From: Helen
Date: 29 Jul 24 - 12:55 AM

Neil D, one of the main worries about Project 2025 would be if Trump and his cronies take over/make over the Dept of Justice. That would be scary.

I'm happy that he might have shot himself in the foot by choosing JD Vance as his running mate, now that his opponent is very firmly for women's reproductive rights, among other things.

Subject: RE: BS: American Presidential race 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Jul 24 - 12:51 PM

I have nothing but sympathy for Vance's wife Usha Chilukuri Vance at this point - unlike Melania as a political spouse, Usha at least has a good education. She was a Democrat until a few years ago when she married Vance. Political spouses often stop working (most do, except Dr. Jill Biden, who still teaches English at local community colleges.) As another South Indian woman attorney she has a lot more in common with Kamala than with her spouse.

Usha may be a wild card in this campaign. Melania worked as a model and spokesperson for various upscale products, so I'm not dismissing her experiences before she stepped back from it when Trump ran (though her demeanor and aura of entitlement is as unpleasant as that of her husband). Usha had a professional career as an attorney until recently, and it's a good bet there won't be nude photos of her turning up.

There's a photo out there of Kamala cooking with Mindy Kaling (on that occasion they made masala dosa) where Usha would fit right in. From the NY Times:

Ms. Harris took the marriage of cooking and politics even further during her first run at the presidency. In one YouTube video with six million views, she visited the actor Mindy Kaling’s kitchen. The two compared notes on growing up in South Indian families, made masala dosa and marveled that their parents stored spices in empty Taster’s Choice jars.

Hillary took it on the jaw when she pushed back at critics who thought she should be more a homemaker in her demeanor as first lady - her response about making cookies got a lot of flack - but to each her own. Harris's husband stepped away from his law firm and now teaches law in D.C. somewhere - we'll have to see if anyone asks Usha, should they win (heaven forbid!) what she will do.

Michelle Obama was once asked about all of the travel she did with Jill Biden when they were the White House spouses. Obama answered that during their flights Jill was "always grading papers."

I suspect the wife would make a lot better candidate than the husband, when all is said and done.

Subject: RE: BS: American Presidential race 2024
From: gillymor
Date: 29 Jul 24 - 02:09 PM

Here's hoping she contributes nothing to the reestablishment of this criminal regime or perhaps even damages it in some way.

Subject: RE: BS: American Presidential race 2024
From: Helen
Date: 29 Jul 24 - 02:39 PM

Joe Biden unveils blueprint to overhaul US Supreme Court and presidential immunity, but chances of it succeeding are slim

"In short: Joe Biden has unveiled a plan to overhaul the Supreme Court, and proposed a constitutional amendment which will eliminate broad presidential immunity from crimes committed while in office.

"His proposal for the Supreme Court would see term limits introduced for its nine justices, who would also have to abide by a new code of conduct.

"What's next: To become reality, the plan would need to pass through Congress with a two-thirds majority, something unlikely given its current divided make-up."

Subject: RE: BS: American Presidential race 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Jul 24 - 08:00 PM

Not in this term, at any rate. But the warning shot across the Supreme Court's bow has been fired.

Subject: RE: BS: American Presidential race 2024
From: Helen
Date: 30 Jul 24 - 02:51 AM

The two strategies are unlikely to be achieved in Biden's term, but just the thought of it being possible must be keeping Trump awake at night, which will elevate his blood pressure, and may make it difficult for him to think strategically. Bring it on, I say! Let the games begin.

And even if it doesn't succeed this year, maybe next year when - hopefully Kamala Harris is President - she will probably push forward with both projects and Trump will be trumped in trying to evade justice.

Like a rat in a cage.

Subject: RE: BS: American Presidential race 2024
From: Neil D
Date: 30 Jul 24 - 08:36 AM

They'll never get a 2/3 majority for term limits for justices. There have been many calls for term limits for congress, but I've never been a fan. Back in the 70s and 80s my state (OHIO) had two excellent senators, Metzenbaum and John Glenn, both liberal Dems who worked hard for working class Ohioans. They both served for many years, Metz for 19 years and Glenn for 25, and Senators become more effective with tenure. In both cases when they retired they were replaced by Republicans. One of our current senators the other being JD Vance, Sherrod Brown, has done wonderful things for Ohio workers in his 17 years in office. All 3 of these are popular enough liberals to keep getting elected in a red state. Then we had Dennis Kucinich, universally recognized as the most liberal Representative in Congress. Repubs hated his guts but he won over and over again in a working-class district. They finally gerrymandered that district out from under him.
Now as to limiting the Supremes would you have wanted to put a limit on Warren or Thurgood Marshall or RBG?
After FDR won 4 elections Republicans couldn't wait to apply term limits on the presidency then wanted to get rid of them so they could give Reagan a third term.

Subject: RE: BS: American Presidential race 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Jul 24 - 11:32 AM

I agree, term limits have knocked out some very effective politicians. From Washington State, Foley was the Speaker of the House until idiots there decided term limits were good. There was a guy who made a living running superfluous initiatives, I don't know if he had anything to do with that one. I think he finally went to jail.

The Supreme Court has justices essentially choosing their replacements by retiring in the term of a president of their own party. Except when Mitch McConnell messes it up, of course. This would make a more uniform turnover (18 years is a good long run!)

Dianne Feinstein, Democrat of California, stayed too long (especially since her governor would choose a Democrat to replace her). John McCain, Republican of Arizona, stayed till the end, but we are grateful for that, because his dramatic slow walk onto the senate floor, followed by a "thumbs down" killed the Trump attempt to reverse Obamacare (the Affordable Care Act.) Trump wasn't invited to McCain's funeral, but his best friend Joe Biden, Democrat of Delaware, was.

It didn't used to be so personal.

Subject: RE: BS: American Presidential race 2024
From: Helen
Date: 30 Jul 24 - 01:00 PM

Pros and cons and no easy answers, I guess.

Also from the same article:

"Unlike other members of the federal judiciary, the Supreme Court's life-tenured justices have no binding ethics code of conduct.

"They are subject to disclosure laws requiring them to report outside income and certain gifts, though food and other 'personal hospitality' such as lodging at an individual's residence is generally exempted.

"The court in November adopted its first code of conduct after revelations about Justice Clarence Thomas accepting undisclosed travel from a wealthy benefactor."

Subject: RE: BS: American Presidential race 2024
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 30 Jul 24 - 01:39 PM

The Judiciary should be totally independent of government. Judges at the highest level should not be aligned to political parties - otherwise, how can they possibly be relied upon to maintain impartiality?

Subject: RE: BS: American Presidential race 2024
From: Helen
Date: 30 Jul 24 - 02:10 PM

Shoulda, woulda, coulda, BWM!

Subject: RE: BS: American Presidential race 2024
From: robomatic
Date: 30 Jul 24 - 02:43 PM

There's an eternal dichotomy between serve for term and serve for life. I think it was a mistake to term limit the President. What if the Civil War had occurred during Lincoln's second term (admittedly not likely)? I think FDR was just the guy we needed for WW2 and that occurred during HIS second term, and our entry into it occurred during his THIRD term. And I think Obama could've used a third term.

Anyhow, there is a strong feeling that a strong good leader needs time to institute changes, yet a limited time to not cement himself into power.

TRMP probably is the all-time argument FOR a Presidential term limit. Currently I think there's a good argument for having Supreme Court justices serve for life. They are as close as we get to wise unattached sages, although the current selection is rather an exception than an exmple of same.

Subject: RE: BS: American Presidential race 2024
From: Helen
Date: 30 Jul 24 - 07:00 PM

Funny! But still scary.

Project 2025 director ends work on plan for Donald Trump presidency after continued attack from Democrats

"In short: The man who led Project 2025 — a controversial plan for Donald Trump's second term in office — is standing down.

"Donald Trump had distanced himself from the plan, which is not officially part of his platform, but Democrats had ramped up attacks on it and pointed out it was written by Trump allies and former staff.
What's next?

"Kamala Harris's campaign has indicated it will continue to focus on Project 2025 on the trail. But Mr Trump's campaign said the project's 'demise would be greatly welcomed'".

Subject: RE: BS: American Presidential race 2024
From: Lighter
Date: 30 Jul 24 - 08:37 PM

In my day, Supreme Court justices were expected to have inclinations.

Now they're known to have agendas.

Subject: RE: BS: American Presidential race 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 31 Jul 24 - 02:39 PM

I have a goal now, to "go high when they go low" (to quote Michelle Obama). I'm going to not send some of the caricatures in my social media posts, try to keep them to facts and reasonable representations of Trump and his ilk. Hard to do, but someone has to start (and there is so much good derogatory stuff out there - except it isn't doing anything but pile deeper in my particular silo.)

Paving the road to hell, one good intention at a time . . .

Subject: RE: BS: American Presidential race 2024
From: robomatic
Date: 31 Jul 24 - 03:06 PM

Don't worry, we'll get there!!!

Subject: RE: BS: American Presidential race 2024
From: robomatic
Date: 01 Aug 24 - 03:57 PM

I think this is a Presidential race factor, but as a political event it might call for its own thread.
This morning was announced a captive/criminal/hostage release deal involving the USA, Germany, Russia, and Turkish moderating. It was made to sound very important and Biden sounded quite alert and in charge and praised Germany for stepping up in that they allowed a convicted Russian State sanctioned assassin back to Russia.
In return Evan Gershkovich is freed, and several Germans apparently.
This would have made Biden look if not good, in charge and cognizent of events. Now that he's dropped up I'm not sure how this devolves to Kamala. I'm confident the Reps will try to frame this as badly as possible, but it shows Dems in power and in charge and dealing with allies and the world so as influence events. So far.

Subject: RE: BS: American Presidential race 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Aug 24 - 04:23 PM

I suspect that the nations such as Germany that were holding Russian prisoners (that were exchanged for the Americans and others) had in mind that doing this now steals a lot of thunder from Trump, who bragged that he alone could bring home some of these folks. If he asked.

It may have been less about Biden and more about how to stick it to Trump.

Subject: RE: BS: American Presidential race 2024
From: robomatic
Date: 01 Aug 24 - 06:41 PM

That occurred to me but what occurred to Putin? ;-)
Real fly-on-the-wall stuff!

Subject: RE: BS: American Presidential race 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Aug 24 - 05:07 PM

Harris has enough votes from the primary electors and is now officially the nominee. They may have to rubber stamp something for it to be really official, but the numbers are in and tell the story.

Subject: RE: BS: American Presidential race 2024
From: The Sandman
Date: 02 Aug 24 - 05:38 PM

Trump has shifted his policy on abortion, presumably to get votes

Subject: RE: BS: American Presidential race 2024
From: Neil D
Date: 02 Aug 24 - 09:48 PM

I hope you are wrong SRS. I would like to think that countries like Germany just wanted to get their people back, more so than trying to make anyone look good or bad by comparison.

Subject: RE: BS: American Presidential race 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Aug 24 - 10:18 PM

Germany had the high-dollar prisoner that Putin had wanted back for quite a while, the rest seems to have revolved around that. Someone so awful that giving him up meant a big hit to their judicial/justice system. Of course they wanted their people back, all of these nations wanted their people back.

Discussion last night said that these negotiations had been going on for months, and that Alexei Navalny was originally part of the package. His release seems to have concerned Putin so much that he had Navalny murdered. Then the rest went forward. I haven't pulled the Wall Street Journal's apparently detailed article about the exchange, but it may offer more insight.

Subject: RE: BS: American Presidential race 2024
From: robomatic
Date: 03 Aug 24 - 02:03 AM

I hate the idea that Navalney was killed due to the negotiations. That would be a very sour note indeed. To my mind that makes them less than worthless or Putin deserving of severe sanctions. or both.

Subject: RE: BS: American Presidential race 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Aug 24 - 11:41 AM

The remark about Navalny being part of the original negotiations didn't come from an official source, it may have been speculative. Apparently they started all of this while he was still alive, so it is a reasonable premise. I heard another description of the process involving messages passed between spies and couriers, it wasn't just diplomats seated around a table.

Trump speaking to the National Association of Black Journalists was more of his intentional stagecraft; he never intended to answer questions. He accused them of being late and rude, claimed he was the best president for Blacks since Abraham Lincoln, but as a talking head pointed out this morning, if the first question had been "Good to see you, how are the wife and kids?" he would have had the same answers. Trump’s hostility to Black journalists renews questions over how news media should cover his rhetoric His goal is to make noise and distract from Harris.

Subject: RE: BS: American Presidential race 2024
From: robomatic
Date: 03 Aug 24 - 05:49 PM

I've talked about Alexei Navalny with some folks and I think my last scribble was an overeaction
for three reasons:

1) Navalny was in prison because he returned to Russia on his own. He was there (not so much in prison, but Russia) by choice.
2) His days were probably numbered by Putin no matter what.
3) We don't know that he was part of the negotiations between the many parties that made up the August 1 exchange of perpetrators and hostages.

Subject: RE: BS: American Presidential race 2024
From: Helen
Date: 03 Aug 24 - 08:18 PM

I heard or read the same speculation about Navalny. It would have been from a "real" i.e. reputable news/media source because I don't sully myself with the disreputable media sources. LOL

I saw on the ABC (Oz) News that Trump wants to debate Ms Harris on Fox News on a different date than the previously arranged debate on the ABC America News.

My bet: 1) he's running scared, 2) he wants to talk all over the top of her, be aggressive, call her names, avoid talking policies, spread his lies, etc, etc without being called to order by his media buddies.

Subject: RE: BS: American Presidential race 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Aug 24 - 09:24 PM

FOX is safer ground for Trump, but if the arrangement was already on ABC, then his trying to change it is a power play. FOX won't do the fact checking that ABC will. And whatever they do, make him stay in his spot. He prowled around the stage and loomed over Hillary during their debate. Damned threatening.

Subject: RE: BS: American Presidential race 2024
From: Neil D
Date: 03 Aug 24 - 11:38 PM

Need another reason to vote against The Donald, he is now stating his intention to shut down Google if elected. His rationale: Google bad, very bad.

Subject: RE: BS: American Presidential race 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Aug 24 - 10:08 AM

That sounds like a dog whistle from Trump trying to get a Google billionaire to bribe him to not shut down Google.

We should learn the Harris VP pick soon.

Subject: RE: BS: American Presidential race 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Aug 24 - 07:14 PM

Robert F. Kennedy has been unravelling for years but at an accelerated rate these days. From the New York Times.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the independent presidential candidate, confessed on Sunday that he had left a dead bear cub in Central Park in Manhattan in 2014 because he thought it would be “amusing.”

Mr. Kennedy posted a video detailing the bizarre story on social media apparently ahead of an article in The New Yorker.

“Looking forward to seeing how you spin this one,” he said, tagging the magazine.

In the video, Mr. Kennedy appears to be seated in a kitchen as he casually tells the actress Roseanne Barr about the ordeal. He says that he was driving through the Hudson Valley when he saw a woman in a van hit and kill a young bear.

“I pulled over and I picked up the bear and put him in the back of my van because I was going to skin the bear,” he says. “It was very good condition and I was going to put the meat in my refrigerator.”

Mr. Kennedy then details how he had to attend a dinner at Peter Luger Steak House in New York City and then head to the airport, which meant he had to get rid of the bear. He decided to leave the bear in Central Park with an old bicycle to make it look like it had been hit by the bike.

Mr. Kennedy says that he was worried when officials investigated the crime scene, “because my prints were all over that bike.”

Ms. Barr listens closely to the story, laughing and looking shocked. Mr. Kennedy tells her that fact checkers from The New Yorker asked him about the story: “It’s going to be a bad story.”

And this man wants access to the nuclear codes?

Subject: RE: BS: American Presidential race 2024
From: Helen
Date: 04 Aug 24 - 07:26 PM

It's a shame RFK Jr wasn't picked as Trump's running mate. They are two of a kind, judging by that story.

Subject: RE: BS: American Presidential race 2024
From: robomatic
Date: 04 Aug 24 - 09:25 PM

I think the main difference between RFK and DJT is that the worm in RFKs noggin died.

Subject: RE: BS: American Presidential race 2024
From: Helen
Date: 04 Aug 24 - 09:35 PM

LOL

Worms The Pogues

Subject: RE: BS: American Presidential race 2024
From: The Sandman
Date: 05 Aug 24 - 03:11 AM

Kennedys policy that candidates should only represent those who elected them and not corporations is a good policy, ,he would get my vote

Subject: RE: BS: American Presidential race 2024
From: gillymor
Date: 05 Aug 24 - 07:45 AM

I just hope he siphons off some of Trump's crackpot vote.

Subject: RE: BS: American Presidential race 2024
From: The Sandman
Date: 05 Aug 24 - 08:06 AM

what is crackpot about not allowing politicians to be bought by corporations?
voters, elect politicians therefore elected representatives should not be bought by corporations, the laws about political funding need to be changed

Subject: RE: BS: American Presidential race 2024
From: gillymor
Date: 05 Aug 24 - 08:23 AM

You're obviously not very familiar with your chosen candidate, Sandman.

Subject: RE: BS: American Presidential race 2024
From: The Sandman
Date: 05 Aug 24 - 09:27 AM

the crackpots are those people who vote for pliticians who have been bought that includes trump and harris

Subject: RE: BS: American Presidential race 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Aug 24 - 11:01 AM

Dick, your powers of discernment are not being applied to the candidate himself. Don't send me PMs about your political views; why don't you do some research instead of lobbing one-liners into the conversation?

RFK Jr. is building a presidential campaign around conspiracy theories

Since Robert F. Kennedy Jr. launched his campaign challenging President Biden for the 2024 Democratic presidential nomination, he has given hours of interviews to podcasts, magazines and TV networks. He paints a dark, conspiratorial picture of the world, bristling with debunked theories, misleading claims and outright falsehoods.

Wi-Fi causes cancer and "leaky brain," Kennedy told podcaster Joe Rogan last month. Antidepressants are to blame for school shootings, he mused during an appearance with Twitter CEO Elon Musk. Chemicals in the water supply could turn children transgender, he told right-wing Canadian psychologist and podcaster Jordan Peterson, echoing a false assertion made by serial fabulist Alex Jones. AIDS may not be caused by HIV, he has suggested multiple times.

There's no credible evidence for any of these assertions or for Kennedy's longest-running false claims: that vaccines cause autism and are more harmful than the diseases they're designed to protect against.

Yet Kennedy is building a campaign for the highest office around these conspiracy theories and the idea that fact-checking or criticizing them amounts to censorship. His throughline is the bedrock conspiratorial premise that "they" (the government, pharmaceutical companies, the media) are lying to you — but that he is telling the truth.

"This is what happens when you censor somebody for 18 years," Kennedy told a cheering crowd at his April campaign kickoff in Boston. "They shouldn't have shut me up that long, 'cause now I'm really going to let loose on them for the next 18 months."

It's an apparent bet that the political, cultural and media dynamics that elevated Kennedy and the anti-vaccination movement during the COVID-19 pandemic can similarly propel him to the White House.

The Kennedy campaign did not respond to NPR's questions for this story.

Allegations of censorship and collusion

Kennedy isn't the first American politician to actively advance conspiracy theories. Donald Trump promoted birtherism and, later, the Big Lie that the 2020 election was stolen from him. Richard Nixon blamed Jews for orchestrating communist plots and controlling the government.

But what stands out in Kennedy's case is the sheer volume of what he has asserted over the years, from his insistence that Republicans stole the 2004 election to his claims that 5G networks are being used for mass surveillance to his belief that the CIA assassinated his uncle.

In 2021, he was named one of the top spreaders of misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines on social media. He was kicked off Instagram, along with his organization, Children's Health Defense, which was also removed from Facebook (Instagram reinstated Kennedy after he announced his presidential bid).

He told NPR that year that the social media bans had cost him "hundreds of thousands of dollars" in donations. But federal tax filings show otherwise: Children's Health Defense's revenue surged during the pandemic, from $3 million in 2019 to $7 million in 2020 to $16 million in 2021.

Today, Kennedy says the social media bans and the media's rejection of his views over the years are what galvanized him to run for president.

He accuses the White House of orchestrating his deplatforming. He is suing the Biden administration and media outlets including The Associated Press, The Washington Post, the BBC and Reuters for alleged censorship.

For Kennedy, his conviction that he's being censored is another example of the collusion between government agencies and corporations that he believes is the root of the United States' problems.

"My mission over the next 18 months of this campaign and throughout my presidency will be to end the corrupt merger of state and corporate power that is threatening now to impose a new kind of corporate feudalism on our country," he said in his April campaign announcement.

Claims of censorship have also become a core grievance of many conservatives and disaffected liberals, who see the rise of social media policies to combat harmful misinformation, conspiracy theories and election interference as infringing on their free speech rights.

From political scion to anti-vaccine crusader
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is the son of the late U.S. attorney general, New York senator and Democratic presidential hopeful Robert F. Kennedy, as well as the nephew of former President John F. Kennedy. For years, he was best known as a wayward member of a famous, tragedy-stricken family and as a crusading environmental lawyer who helped clean up the Hudson River and launched a global movement to protect waterways.

It was his work fighting mercury pollution that led him into the world of vaccine skepticism. As he tells it, after hearing from mothers convinced their children had been harmed by a mercury-based preservative in routine vaccines, he became a convert to their cause. (The preservative in question was removed from most childhood vaccines in 2001 out of an abundance of caution and was never used in the measles, mumps and rubella vaccines that were the focal point for concerns about autism.)

In 2005, he made this argument in an exposé called "Deadly Immunity" in Rolling Stone and on Salon.com. The piece turned out to be deeply compromised by errors and selective use of evidence and was eventually retracted in 2011.

Despite study after study finding no connection between vaccines and autism, Kennedy has only dug in deeper to his discredited beliefs. For years, they put him on the fringe of American public discourse — until COVID-19.

It's quite a long article, I'll stop there. NPR should be readable from outside the US.

Subject: RE: BS: American Presidential race 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 05 Aug 24 - 11:53 PM

Trump is doing one campaign event a week these days, telling people he has plenty of votes, he doesn't need more votes. His own party people are telling him to lay off of the racial slurs (at this point in the US there are so many bi-racial families that this is not a novelty, it is commonplace. My parents were Scandinavian and Irish, but all of us sibs and cousins have married Hispanic, Philippino, Japanese, and Turkish spouses - of all of the grandkids there is only one blue-eyed blonde in the bunch. We are pretty typical among our peers.)

Trump's attention is being pulled back to the courts, so I'll look for an article for the Trump trial thread to describe the weekend decision handed down by Judge Chutkan that denied the request to dismiss the case. The possible ABC debate is just days from his sentencing hearing in September in the NY hush money case.

Subject: RE: BS: American Presidential race 2024
From: Neil D
Date: 06 Aug 24 - 12:23 AM

SRS, thanks for the exposé of RFK Jr. Someone had to do it and I didn't have the energy for all the research and typing. He certainly is living proof that sometimes the apple does fall far from the tree.
It's a shame he has gone down that rabbit hole on vaccines and Covid conspiracies because otherwise he has much to recommend him. He has worked tirelessly for environmental causes for nearly 40 years and has been a strong advocate for indigenous rights. He has also spoken out on economic inequality but, sadly, he's like so many populist leaders in our history who, in spite of best intentions, go way off the tracks on certain issues (anti-vaxing) as to become a threat to our society.
There is a plus in all of this, however. Most people aren't aware of his environmentalism advocacy for the poor and working class. They are only aware of his more recent antifacts lunacy, so if he gets any votes at all they are more likely to be siphoned from Trump than Harris.

Subject: RE: BS: American Presidential race 2024
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 06 Aug 24 - 10:28 AM

Tim Walz has been selected as the Harris running mate. Governor of Minnesota, former congressman, school teacher, etc.

Subject: RE: BS: American Presidential race 2024
From: Charmion
Date: 06 Aug 24 - 11:00 AM

I know that poll-watching is the favourite form of armchair generalship in our internet-focussed society, but I so wish it were not so. The only poll that matters is the one that will be conducted with actual ballots during the actual election.

I'm reading less and less of the several news sources to which I subscribe because so many of the reports and opinion pieces focus on the latest polling and wild speculation about what it all means.

I believe (i.e., I don't know but I've been told) that such polls are conducted by telephone, suggesting that the sample skews strongly toward people who have the time and inclination to answer a telephone call from an unknown number. (My phone is set to shunt all such calls to voice mail.) I also believe that a not insignificant number of people lie to pollsters, some because they don't want to admit even to themselves what they really think, and others because they like to be transgressive when they know they can get away with it.

The rise of Ms Harris and her team is fascinating, almost eclipsing the tawdry spectacle of the Trump campaign, but I know better than to call the race now for either side, whatever the current poll numbers.

Now I'll go check the echo chamber for a backgrounder on Mr Walz.