On The Border - Of North Korea

There are reports that China is massing troops on the North Korean border. The current explanation is plausible:

As concern mounts that North Korea will use a national commemoration on Saturday to conduct its sixth nuclear test, claims the Chinese army has amassed 150,000 troops including medical teams on the border with North Korea have been repeated on the front page of China's state-owned Global Times newspaper.

...

The People's Liberation Army has recently expressed concern that northern Chinese towns were at risk of nuclear pollution from North Korea's tests, and said that contamination would not be tolerated.

"Not tolerated"? Kind of an aggressive tone which is then dialed back:

China's nuclear envoy Wu Dawei met with his South Korean counterpart Kim Hong-kyun in Seoul to discuss the North Korean crisis.

South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported the two sides had agreed that if North Korea conducts another nuclear test or missile launch, China and South Korea will carry out any future United Nations Security Council resolutions that are passed.

Well, fine - the troops are there for emergency decontamination and the Chinese response will be to work more closely with the UN. 

But in my fantasy, the US fires a few cruise missiles at North Korea and China responds by sending in its troops to defend its ally from imperialist aggression. And while they are there, they depose Kim Jong Un and replace him with a saner and more pliable heir to the throne, to wit, the son of the recently murdered half-brother of Kim Jong Un.

Obviously this is a long-shot. As best I recall the Chinese military has not demonstrated a particular flair for moving troops quickly - they are hostile but not especially agile or mobile, unless times have changed. On the other hand, in a year of surprises why not one more?

ERRATA: OK, the Chinese army looked good in 1950. But against North Vietnam in 1979, not so much. Business Insider summarizes a Congressional Research Service report from 2016:

China's ground forces

While China commands the largest ground force in the world, it is plagued by mobility problems.

China lacks sufficient transport helicopters, and still largely relies on trains for transportation across the mainland.

The ground forces mainly exist to deter and manage conflicts with China's borders, and their goal is to increase mechanization by 2020.

 The Weekly Standard covered the NoKo version of Game of Thrones.

Comments

[narciso]

Adam housley seems to think there is something actually there.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

Where is there?

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

Rice?

[JimNorCal]

http://religionnews.com/2017/04/11/in-unusual-omission-no-trump-pope-meeting-planned-during-italy-g7/

In unusual omission, no Trump-pope meeting planned during Italy G-7

In what would be a highly unusual omission, President Trump has not asked to meet Pope Francis during the president’s visit to Italy next month for the Group of Seven summit, sources said.

Trump, who Francis suggested was “not Christian” if he wanted a wall on the Mexican border, is due in Sicily on May 26-27 for a meeting of the heads of the world’s richest nations.

The two men have diametrically opposing positions on immigration, refugees, climate change and unbridled capitalism.

[JimNorCal]

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/republicans-hold-kansas-house-seat-with-late-trump-support/article/2620052

Estes won the special election race to replace former Rep. Mike Pompeo, who took over as CIA director in January. His margin of victory was in the single digits.

In recent days, Estes was buoyed by support from high-profile Republicans in a last-minute push. President Trump and Vice President Pence both recorded robocalls on Estes' behalf, while Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, campaigned with the GOP nominee at a rally on Monday.

[JimNorCal]

from Instapundit:
http://ijr.com/2017/04/841803-stunningly-detailed-2016-election-map-just-released-democrats-scared-scared/

The Most Stunningly Detailed 2016 Election Map Was Just Released—Democrats Should Be Scared, Very Scared

Ryne Rohla at Decision Desk HQ set out to model American voting patterns, not just on a national or state level, but by burrowing down to the most localized, nuanced metric available: local precincts. Because of the incredible locality and difficulty of attaining such data, few have ever attempted to map the voting populace in this way. Rohla persisted.

[RattlerGator]

Listen here, Ratzkywatzky; am I gonna have to tag you Iggy the Intransigent ???

[joan]

lyle, I had a lumbar hemilaminectomy about eight years ago. (Also, was born with scoliosis, though surgery wasn't related to that.) Checked on the Pars Defect after reading your post to see if conditions are related. Don't think they are. The Pars is with the vertebra separating. One site said the Pars Defect can improve with rest, etc., though I'm sure you've read as much as you can find about it.

At the same time I had trouble with back, the MRI's showed I had a small cyst growing on the spinal cord at site of bad disc. Pain was excruciating. Actually pain was double excruciating. After operation, the surgeon said the cyst had grown around and around the spinal cord, and he said its removal was intricate and very lengthy.

Anyway, my back surgery was successful and the recovery was fine. In just a few weeks after surgery, had physical therapy for about a month to six weeks. Just thought I'd tell you because of the miracle of successful back surgery.

[RattlerGator]

Gotta go crash. Later, Gators.

[Gentlejim]

Good news from Kansas.

That 2016 precinct election map is fantastic. Think it'll spark any clues for the progtards? Silly question..

[lyle]

Thanks, Joan. Apologies for the OT but I can't not consult the connective brainpower on this board. Indulgences appreciated.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

--Listen here, Ratzkywatzky; am I gonna have to tag you Iggy the Intransigent ???--

Shoot, if you convinced a few people to join you, RG, you could form a click. : )

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

It would be a unique click.

[joan]

This is good.

https://www.city-journal.org/html/did-revolution-just-occur-15110.html

[Gentlejim]

Would that be a unick click Iggy?

[rich]

some background on the wapo article that clarice flagged up earlier this evening ...

the politico piece
http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/09/the-mystery-of-trumps-man-in-moscow-214283

it should be noted he was bounced from the campaign late September 2016 (and vaguely recall he was overselling his actual role in the campaign) and his trip to Moscow for a speech was July 2016. He was included on a list of advisors to the Trump campaign in March 2016, but as the Politico article details, he mastered the art of never being seen [at pretty much everything he has done]. Awfully fast to get a FISA warrant in July for his Moscow speech-why not just send in a ringer to tape the speech, or ask for a transcript-pretty sure he would have complied.

So that is added to the miraculous discovery of the pinging server in Trump Tower ...

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/cover_story/2016/10/was_a_server_registered_to_the_trump_organization_communicating_with_russia.html

[Shadows on the wall.]

Heh, Crowdstrike, F. Foer. It's too early and too late to wade into that by myself. Please tell me what to think.

[rich]

https://www.seeker.com/earth/climate/harvard-researchers-are-preparing-to-geoengineer-the-atmosphere

and why do I think that this is a bad idea ... oh, that's right ... it was us that scorched the sky

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgBViHeiSKM

[rich]

Posted by: Shadows on the wall. | April 12, 2017 at 03:21 AM

just posting for background. hoping to get a nod in Clarice's Pieces this Sunday.

Not sure what to make of it. The C/S report was heavy on Russia, but they've backed off some, and the DNC didn't want the FBI to find out about the Awan Bros side gig (or side, side gig when they weren't tormenting their stepmom or running a hawala "car dealership"). The profs in the Slate report really, really wanted to be helpful (and that article circles back to that C/S report) and carefully watched a server that may or may not have been associated with a Trump business as some time past (someone had done some speculative digging on that score). And this strange Carter Page character ...

well at least we have confirmation that the Zero Administration got a FISA warrant in July. Still leaves for guessing what the June rejected one was about or the October one (Carter was gone by then).

[JimNorCal]

I'll sign up for RG's yoo-nee-kay clee-kay

[JimNorCal]

Yeah, GentleJ, good news from KS but sounds like it was MUCH closer than it should have been. Article claims single digit winin a district that went for Trump by double digits. daddy's note of caution was appropriate. Hope the GA seat is retained more easily

[-peter]

To answer Ig's question, I usually say click except when in the context it is being said might cause confusion with the sound a pen, trigger or switch might make, in which case I will give it the exaggerated French "cleek " pronunciation.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

President Trump will be interviewed by Maria Bartilomo at 6:AM Eastern Fox Business Network,

[-peter]

We know the pen is mightier than a sword but is the click of a pen mightier than that of a switch or a trigger? Or mightier than that of a clique?

[cheerleader]

The Christians have been part of Syria for two thousand years, as in Egypt, but so far none of the west's power players has said one word about about preserving them. Or have I missed something?

If Syria's political solution that it is going to work out for itself develops a new Muslim nation, as opposed to the Assad secular society, what happens to the Christians? Will they have to flee Syria?

I read this in a comment yesterday at TCT and I like it: ***And I want our foreign policy to reflect concern for Christians and a Christian way of life, not only concern for oil and commerce. ***

[cheerleader]

Being in bed with the Saudis and kicking Syria for being a brutal regime is so hypocritical.

[Davod]

"***And I want our foreign policy to reflect concern for Christians and a Christian way of life, not only concern for oil and commerce. ***

Do you really think it's about oil and commerce?

As with most things these days. It is a bit late to be thrusting Democracy on the Saudi's. You will get the Muslim Brotherhood or worse. Maybe we should push for the annexation by Iran of the Shia majority area containing most of the Saudi oil. That will certainly put the Saudi's in their place.

[cheerleader]

Maybe it isn't ALL about oil and commerce, but it certainly is MORE about oil and commerce than it is about preserving Christianity.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/saudi-military-pledges-to-share-isis-iran-syrian-intelligence-with-us/article/2619997?custom_click=rss#

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

In the words of Cheech and Chong Bruce Jenner "whacked his pee-pee" back in January.
I think we're supposed to celebrate or something.
It's kinda funny. If a troubled teen cuts some marks in him or herself we should intervene to stop their obviously disturbed behavior. If a middle aged man pays a doctor to actually skin his willy, dig a hot pocket in his crotch and stuff the skin back up in it he has just engaged in a wonderful and sacred civil right.

[cheerleader]

Of course Saudi Arabia is going to help, but bottom line is they wouldn't bat an eyelash if every Christian monument and ancient church in Syria were smashed to bits. It's illegal to even to take a Bible into Saudi Arabia.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

cheerleader,

I read something the other day which sort of made me think. Assad doesn't persecute Christians because it's a bargaining chip to keep him in power. Left to his own devices with no external threat, a guy who would use oison gas on children isn't necessarily a safe bet for continuing to leave them alone.

Assad is backed by Iran, not exactly a Christian-friendly nation. If Russia stops supporting Assad, I am not sure the Christians would be safe.

The other component of this is that we are working with Muslim countries, such as Jordan and Saudi Arabia.

Making a big deal about Christians causes problems for King Abdullah and the Saudi king. I am certain President Trump is aware of the situation in Syria, but safety of Christians is going to be a byproduct of removing ISIS, left unspoken.

[cheerleader]

Miss Marple, I read a post like that on TCT, and I disagreed with it.

I've read some articles about the relationship between al-SiSi and Assad, and they have been friends. Assad is a lot of ways like al-SiSi: both are Muslims who favor secular societies and both protect the 2000 year place of Christians in their nations.

Iran is even more friendly with Putin than with Assad, and Putin has been rebuilding all the Russian Christian churches that were smashed in Russia during Russia's athiest era.

Iran is more liberal toward Christians than Saudi Arabia. There are both Christian churches and Jewish synagogues in Iran but God forbid you should take a Bible into Saudi Arabia.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_synagogues_in_Iran

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_in_Iran

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

cheerleader,

I am not getting into an argument over this. If it isn't being mentioned, there is a reason.

And the Iranians are not our friends. I am old enough to remember when the Shah was forced out and the mullahs took over. My boss when I worked for the coal company was an Iranian Jew, and he did NOT think the mullahs were friendly to his faith. I based my belief on that personal knowledge.

[cheerleader]

Miss Marple, I doubt that Assad will any longer contribute to taking out ISIS. Before, he was damned if he didn't, but now he's both damned if he doesn't and damned if he does.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

OK, this is pretty funny.

You know those "150,000" troops to Syria rumors/stories? Did you notice that there was also a story about 150,000 troops on the Chinese/North Korean border?

A guy on Twitter discover\red that apparently that is the all-pirpose figure. He found the following stories through Google:

Poland expanding it's army to 150,000.
Putin to send 150,000 troops to Syria.
Saudis sending 150,000 troops to Yemen.
150,000 Kurdish Peshmerga enlisted
Russians massing 150,000 troops on Ukraine border

[cheerleader]

After ISIS is "defeated" it will NEVER be mentioned. Mark my words.

[cheerleader]

the "it" being the Christians in Syria, as part of Syria's political solution.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

cheerleader,

I don't have access to intelligence so I am not going to make a prediction about what Assad will or will not do. President Trump is Commander-in-Chief, Secretary Mattis is executing the ISIS strategy through the military, and I can only look at what is happening through what is reported through the White House and the Pentagon.

I can't decide based on the disinformation spread through the MSM or even through analysis on web sites, since so many (and that includes Conservative Treehouse) can be manipulated to suit unknown purposes. The Russians have a vested interest in portraying themselves as defenders of Christianity and by extension, Assad.

I am not saying they are not; I will, however, look at such claims with a degree of skepticism.

[Porchlight]

Excellent news. Melania Trump wins suit against the Daily Mail.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-04-12/melania-trump-wins-payout-and-apology-from-u-k-s-daily-mail

[rse]

sbw-last weekend we had a discussion on what collaboration means in ed and why it is not the dictionary meaning in play. Yesterday the OECD released a report on point. http://oecdeducationtoday.blogspot.com/2017/04/does-world-need-people-who-understand.html

Since I am familiar with this going back to its initiation I was already relying on these new meanings. There is your something authoritative though.

To matt's point and what daddy related, my understanding from those who are retired but who saw action at an intense level in those places is that battles in the the same geographic places that their friends died securing that bo simply gave away are especially excruciating. Soldiers subjected to that level of intensity and years of regular deployments have to have something in life later that keeps it all in perspective.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

I appreciate President Trump's caution about getting involved in Syria other than the Syrian missile strike due to chemical weapons.

Lots of mistakes created ISIS, most famously Obama's abrupt withdrawal from Iraq. Lots of people forget that ISIS is armed with a lot of stuff from the Iraqi Army that was disbanded after we took control of the country. I believe that was Bremmer's idea.

Those guys had no source of income, so selling stuff or throwing in with the nascent ISIS was their only choice. We did later offer some assistance to those people, but it was too late to get a lot of them on board.

I am a big fan of saying to oneself, "If I do this, what will happen?" Rinse and repeat.

Yesterday on Reddit I saw a guy who actually said "Economic policy shouldn't be used as a weapon." Whyever not? I think it should be and isn't used as much as it should, and I am very pleased to see President Trump using it, as he said he would during the campaign. It's a lot better to put the squeeze on North Korea that way than to go straight to all-out war.

[Pagar, a bacon, ham and sausage supporter]

Do we really need to see the red headline that Drudge has up now regarding Kim?

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Pagar,

What's it say? I am done with Drudge, too.

[Thomas Collins]

Back to United: Has anyone carefully read the transportation contract? I concede I have not. Absent careful reading of the contract, we may have been too quick to assume the airline had the right to force the passenger off. For one thing, the ability to prevent boarding shouldn't be assumed to encompass the ability to remove someone from the flight after lawful boarding. Next, I suspect, even without reading the contract, that there is a provision empowering the captain to order removal of a passenger. But that provision would likely be interpreted by a court to relate to order on the plane. There is absolutely no evidence that the passenger was disorderly before he was told he had to leave the plane. In other words, United may very well be in breach of the carrier contract.

In any event, I think Jane's legal analysis, and practical analysis of how a jury would react, is spot on. A competent, hard nosed lawyer advising United would counsel United to settle up quickly.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Are European royals copying Melania Trump's style?

http://linkis.com/www.express.co.uk/li/s29Pr

Robin of the Washington Post style section must be gnashing her teeth.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

le Frost‏ @michelelfrost

Michele Frost Retweeted Salon

This is so ignorant of how businesses function it's almost impressive

Michele Frost added,
SalonVerified account @Salon
Regulations don't actually kill jobs, despite what politicians say http://ow.ly/mRHS30aNfxk

[Threadkiller]

Here is that contract again:

https://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/contract-of-carriage.aspx?Mobile=1

United overstepped, IMO, TC.

[Thomas Collins]

Thanks for linking that, TK. I think sections 21 and 25 support your position.

I may disagree with you on Minor v. Happerset, but I agree with you on this one! :-)

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

I am telling you guys, that United thing is the ONLY issue I have ever seen that unified left, right, and center.

If I were a smart psychology type, I would figure out how to frame other issues the same way and end so much division in the country.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Donald J. Trump‏Verified account @realDonaldTrump 7m7 minutes ago

Had a very good call last night with the President of China concerning the menace of North Korea.
322 replies 730 retweets 2,692 likes

[Pagar, a bacon, ham and sausage supporter]

Miss Marple, it says "Seals are training to take out Kim," IMO, if NK did not know that before, they sure do now. I see no reason to tell them that in advance.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Donald J. Trump‏Verified account @realDonaldTrump 4m4 minutes ago

Great win in Kansas last night for Ron Estes, easily winning the Congressional race against the Dems, who spent heavily & predicted victory!

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Pagar,

Loose lips sink ships.

Disgraceful.

[Appalled]

"Seals are training to take out Kim,"

Uh oh, are we going to be losing on of our favorite commenters?

[Threadkiller]

;-) TC

[Dave (in MA)]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klooks_Kleek

[JimNorCal]

"Seals are training to take out Kim,"

That sounds hard to do. But if Kim now has a large detachment following him everywhere in order to deal with SEALS then it becomes that much easier to track him for other, less precise, munition delivery systems.

[And endangerous poley bears.]

Heh, A; I've lots of red herrings with which to distract those floppers with flippers.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

JimNorCal,

I didn't think of that. Maybe an intentional leak?

[Truthbetold5]

AP Exclusive: UN child sex ring left victims but no arrests

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/article144113799.html#0

[RattlerGator]

Shoot, if you convinced a few people to join you, RG, you could form a click. : )

Posted by: Ignatz Ratzkywatzky | April 12, 2017 at 01:11 AM

Heh.

That's the Iggy I've grown to love.

* * *

Would that be a unick click Iggy?

Posted by: Gentlejim | April 12, 2017 at 01:57 AM

Watchit, fella.

[Captain Hate]

So Cashill's piece told why we have CNN inflicted on us at every airport but it didn't tell how to get that pestilence removed. Or did I miss something? Because I want that trash gone forever.

[Threadkiller]

Maybe United can tell the "just doing our orders" brain-stems to remove CNN like they removed the hyphenated passenger.

Hand them some bats and point the way.

[Captain Hate]

Per RG and me, the only person doing his job correctly is punished:

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/man-who-filmed-united-passenger-i-dont-blame-the-security-guards-at-all/article/2619950

[henry]

Of course that guy gets punished... He makes Rahm look bad.

[RattlerGator]

In any event, I think Jane's legal analysis, and practical analysis of how a jury would react, is spot on. A competent, hard nosed lawyer advising United would counsel United to settle up quickly.

Posted by: Thomas Collins | April 12, 2017 at 08:16 AM

I'm not so sure about that. I saw a comment somewhere that made the following point:

They refused him transport. He disobeyed flight crew orders to deplane, which, I obviously need to remind, is a federal offense. He got what he asked for.

Agreed. Here is what I love about Americans. We forever engage and negotiate a balance between enforcing authoritarian standards required for society to function efficiently and asserting our individual rights.

United may in fact settle for public relations reasons. But legally, I suspect the passenger is clearly in the wrong with his refusal to de-plane because that airline contract is subservient to federal law.

The available action for him begins after he de-planes. To hold otherwise invites crazy chaos and we already have enough of that with passengers. There has to be one single authority on that plane and that's the pilot. Negotiating and pleading with passengers? Hell no. Get your ass off, take up your claim.

[Captain Hate]

Wait, it was in O'Hare? Sue everybody until they have to close that dump.

[JimNorCal]

CH: "Because I want that trash (CNN in airports) gone forever."

Is there an airport public affairs office of some sort, typically?
Could we gin up a campaign by commenting on blogs to encourage a core group to contact that office?
Are there columnists who would help publicize the campaign, in order to then activate a broader swath of the public?
In a case like this, is it better to push on one airport to start, or scatter shot many?

Asking for a friend.

[narciso]

The warrant had to have arisen out of the dossier files.

[Threadkiller]

The goon took out a 69 year old frail doctor on orders from a super computer's "random" lotto app.

While I agree that he did have his orders and he did do his job, I maintain that he is a punk that isn't to be blamed for the situation created by United.

The shutterbug does say this:

Bridges did place blame on United Airlines for provoking David Dao, a 69-year-old Vietnamese-American doctor, and escalating the situation.

As long as United pokes someone in the chest long enough for them to react, the penalty will go to the person who was poked. Sounds like the NFL.

I wonder if the person drug off the plane grew up in Vietnam?

[Threadkiller]

There has to be one single authority on that plane and that's the pilot

I didn't see him in the video.

[Hospital excuse shabby, though, probably. Just entitled.]

Almost surely so, TK; not many here 70 years ago.

[Too busy with checklist. This is on the attendant crew, who are used to being obeyed.]

Heh, I doubt anyone even asked the pilot.

[Threadkiller]

Bingo, Kim.

[henry]

Well, well. Japanese destroyers join USS Carl Vinson group on way to Korea.

[JimNorCal]

MissM: isn't there a law that prevents the US from killing foreign leaders? Certainly in the absence of a formal declaration of war. So the story is likely frivolous or a way to identify/measure what NK reaction results.

[Captain Hate]

Instead I get lectured about Sean Spicer making Auschwitz operational again:

http://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/kristine-marsh/2017/04/11/piers-morgan-christian-genocide-ought-be-dominating-cable-news

[Marlene]

Good Morning! We're still catching up from the trip home from Florida. It is rainy and gray here,mud season! Our little stream is full,the water pools in front of our property, so we have a small lake out there. Re: CNN in airports...we stopped at a service area in NJ for coffee and I was shocked to see Fox News on the TV in the cafeteria. By the way,if anyone needs info on the most disgusting rest rooms on I-95 between Florida and Maine,I can tell you. If you need a pit stop in Connecticut between 2:30 in the afternoon and 8:30 the next morning,forget about it. The buildings are closed. The state of CT must be saving money. But,I'd rather drive home than deal with the airlines. The poor dog had to listen to classic vinyl all the way home and listen to us sing. :)

[Threadkiller]

Local news just sent the helicopter to a "house fire."

It appears to be a smoldering 6×6 compost pile 100' from any structure. There are two guys with a garden hose doing a nice job of putting it out.

The helicopter chick has alerted authorities as she hands the breaking news over to the weather pencil-neck.

"Good news on that house fire in La Mesa! The wind is calm and that will be a plus for crews battling the blaze!"

If I lived in La Mesa and saw that report and missed the footage I would panic.

Idiots.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

I believe that you are right, JimNorCal.

However, it is not a law, but an executive order, according to this paper:

http://www.bc.edu/content/dam/files/schools/law/lawreviews/journals/bciclr/26_1/01_FMS.htm

[Texas Liberty Gal]

Here we go again with this "Trump team in turmoil" meme-they can't let it go.

https://www.axios.com/trump-kneecaps-bannon-2357096450.html

[Jim Eagle]

According to The Federalist, United violated its own contract, Rule 25.

I see a very wealthy Vietnamese doctor in the future.

http://thefederalist.com/2017/04/11/did-united-airlines-violate-its-own-contract-by-forcing-that-passenger-off-the-plane/

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Texas Liberty Gal,

That guy I follow on Twitter thinks that Trump is letting the newsies chase that fake news while he does other stuff under the radar.

[JimNorCal]

Problems that the Repub Party does NOT have. Which is nice.

http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/328338-obama-fingerprints-at-dnc

Last month, the Progressive Change Campaign Committee (PCCC) aired its frustration with the DNC after it announced a 30-member transition advisory committee. The PCCC believed the roster needed more liberals.

But some Democrats believe the left was well-represented on a committee that included labor activist Ai-jen Poo, Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), union activist Brian Weeks, Black Lives Matter figure DeRay McKesson, former American Federation of Teachers aide LaToia Jones, and former DNC chairman candidates Pete Buttigieg, Sally Boynton Brown and Jehmu Greene.

[Marlene]

MM @ 8:28...I think the airplane scandal has touched a nerve because flying is a PITA. The guy being dragged off the plane is an extreme example. Last September,we waited for a connection from PHL to BGR. We sat at the gate and the screen said the flight was delayed. After a few minutes,the screen said the flight was cancelled. The gate agent disappeared with no explanation. We went to the nearest service desk and got the last two seats on the late flight to BGR,which arrives about midnight. Ugh,that is why we booked the earlier flight in the first place!

[henry]

Jim, they got Poo. What's the problem?

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Marlene,

What other things are PITA?

I can see the beginnings of unifying the country if we could identify 3-4 things.

[RattlerGator]

TK, your not seeing the pilot makes my point. I mean, no one has ultimate authority on that plane until the pilot shows his or her face and verifies that yes, Mr. Passenger, you've got to get your ass off?

Hell no. And we all know it. We fall into an emotional trap in our country far too often. The video looks bad.

Damn the video.

The boy was wrong. Clearly wrong. You don't have an incontrovertible "right" to fly in your assigned seat because you bought a damn ticket. United was stupid, granted. The guy should have been compensated for his inconvenience, granted.

But he was wrong to disobey that requirement to de-plane, regardless of the reasons they gave. Period. End of damn discussion.

Someone who wants to deny this fact, explain to me the unintended consequences that will surely result from more and more passengers insisting "I have rights, I have rights" for the most ridiculous of reasons.

To hell with the contract, think it through.

[henry]

United has bumped people from inside planes before.

[Threadkiller]

Until we have verification that the pilot made the decision to toss the doc, I'm going to not rely on the authority he/she has.

The Federalist article shows that the ultimate authority for United can't get the story straight.

-1 United.

[JimNorCal]

henry: "they got Poo"

OMG, that was my thought exactly! :)

[Threadkiller]

But he was wrong to disobey that requirement to de-plane, regardless of the reasons they gave.

I agree.

Do you agree that United made no real effort to resolve this properly per the agreement they had with the doc? (I'm not concerned whether or jot you think it is relevant to the doc's disobedience. I'm concerned with the specific question.)

[Davod]

The term Unconscionabillity comes to mind.

http://www.legalmatch.com/law-library/article/what-is-an-unconscionable-contract.html

[Jane]

Interesting trend. In the United case the lawyers pretty much agree the law doesn't matter, and the non-lawyers are dying to make the case that it does.

Well most lawyers are dumb as posts so you may be right, but I'd be shocked.

[Clarice Feldman]

rich, the FBI has apparently decided not to cooperate with the Congressional intel committees, but rather to the Wa po: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/fbi-obtained-fisa-warrant-to-monitor-former-trump-adviser-carter-page/2017/04/11/620192ea-1e0e-11e7-ad74-3a742a6e93a7_story.html?hpid=hp_rhp-top-table-main_page710pm%3Ahomepage%2Fstory&utm_term=.95bf2e6b2011

[RattlerGator]

This is an incredibly good piece that should not only be read but saved and shared with friends (Joan, thank you so much for the heads up):

https://www.city-journal.org/html/did-revolution-just-occur-15110.html

The following paragraph gets at so much of the casual misunderstanding I constantly find with friends in my circle. It highlights an almost jaw-dropping level of wrongness but I assure you the thought process is prevalent:

In the play-acting world of politics, it’s not surprising that the party of the multimillionaire Clintons, who saw their opportunities and took them, or the overpaid public-sector unions should pretend that it is still the party of FDR’s working man. What *is* noteworthy is that Schumer and crew want voters to think that the interests of the rich and the bosses are not equally important; they can take care of themselves, with no one to protect them. The Framers’ worry in constructing the Constitution was exactly the opposite. The principal danger in a democratic republic, wrote Madison in Federalist 10, would be the tyranny of the majority: by which he meant that the unpropertied many would gang up on the rich few to dispossess them of their wealth by disproportionate and unfair taxation, or by inflating away the value of their money. Accordingly, the top 5 percent of taxpayers now pay almost 60 percent of federal income taxes, while many non-taxpayers receive government benefits worth the equivalent of a full-time unskilled job.

Yep, yep !!! That does define Barack "You didn't build that" Obama, does it not?

[JimNorCal]

Agree with cheerleader. If it wasn't for political correctness and the enemedia, Christian genocide would be a frequent front page story.

Repeating CHs link above.
http://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/kristine-marsh/2017/04/11/piers-morgan-christian-genocide-ought-be-dominating-cable-news

[Davod]

"There has to be one single authority on that plane and that's the pilot"

Agreed. Mind you. It is decisions like the the UAL one that form the basis for redefining the term single authority.

[Threadkiller]

Well most lawyers are dumb as posts...

I'm a non-lawyer.