The NY Times Questions Excessive Regulation?

All I can guess is that this is a last-gasp attempt by some NY Times editor to fulfill a 2017 New Years resolution - a story about excessive government regulation, the burden and small business, and how we got Trump.

I guess this story was deemed safe to share with Upper West Side progressives because for a couple of reasons. The business in question is a family apple orchard in upstate New York, which ties in to the 'farm to table, eat locally' progressive ethos. Also, although the owner is an ethnic (Native American, I infer) oppressive white patriarchal figure, he mercifully did not vote for Trump. [Edited - I initially mis-read at the photos and wondered how the owner's daughter was blond. I blame Keurig, because a poor workman blames his tools].

The message, however, is pretty clear:

When Picking Apples on a Farm With 5,000 Rules, Watch Out for the Ladders

Produce growers represent a textbook example of what businesses describe as regulatory fatigue. President Trump is tapping into the discontent.

ALTAMONT, N.Y. — For eight weeks every fall, Indian Ladder Farms, a fifth-generation family operation near Albany, kicks into peak season.

The farm sells homemade apples pies, fresh cider and warm doughnuts. Schoolchildren arrive by the bus load to learn about growing apples. And as customers pick fruit from trees, workers fill bins with apples, destined for the farm’s shop and grocery stores.

This fall, amid the rush of commerce — the apple harvest season accounts for about half of Indian Ladder’s annual revenue — federal investigators showed up. They wanted to check the farm’s compliance with migrant labor rules and the Fair Labor Standards Act, which sets pay and other requirements for workers.

Suddenly, the small office staff turned its focus away from making money to placating a government regulator.

"Placating". Interesting word choice.

The story does emphasize that the owner/operator has no problem with the spirit or impact of most of these rules. They do provide an interesting example of regulatory overkill, so I will close with a puzzle for the reader. This One Weird Trick saved the family farm!

Mr. Ten Eyck says some of the requirements are impractical. The safety plan at Indian Ladder, for example, calls for someone to check the orchard each morning for mouse and deer droppings and address the problem before picking begins. The worry is that the droppings could get attached to a worker’s shoe, get tracked onto a rung of a ladder, end up on a worker’s hands and then on the apples.

Mr. Ten Eyck says the requirement was “ridiculous” in practice — the equivalent of finding an earring in the orchard — so Indian Farms came up with an alternative to scouring the orchard every morning.

OK, really? Check the acreage each morning for mouse droppings? Anyone who has ever seen (or even attempted to imagine) mouse droppings knows they will be - steady yourself - tiny and hard to see in a grassy field.

But embrace the challenge. Rather than spend each morning looking for needles in haystacks what might they do to prevent contamination by mouse and deer droppings?

I'm still irked that I read on before trying to solve this myself (I blame ocular momentum). Anyway, spoiler in the comments.

Comments

[Tom Maguire]

How to keep what you step in off of what you touch while climbing ladders:

“We have trained the guys only to grab the rails of the ladder,” he said.

[pagar, a bacon, ham and sausage supporter]

What do the customers grab?

[Clarice Feldman]

I once had a discussion with a man who owned fruit orchards in California. He said pickers were not allowed to place their hands on the ladder rungs--I suppose this is how this orchard avoids contamination, too.

[Clarice Feldman]

Tom M beat me to it.

[Clarice Feldman]

BTW the growe told me there is virtually no difference in California between how organic and not organic fruit is grown because the state regs are so strong in either case re use of pesticides.

[Another Bob]

And somehow, mankind survived the thousands of years without mindless government bureaucrats insisting that acres of land be perfectly cleaned of mouse droppings.

SMH

[Another Bob]

Insisting, on pain of fine and imprisonment, I should add.

[Craig Pirrong]

Ten Eyck is a Dutch name. Given the location, I would imagine the family has been there for centuries. His ancestors probably killed Indians.

[Jim Eagle]

I mentioned on previous thread that when I was 12 my dad had bought a farm in Keesville, NY next to the Forrence family orchards. Largest Macintosh growers in America. These days the us over 200 Jamaicans for the 8 week harvest. H-2A visa program. The newer pickers have to work first two years with an experienced picker. There is skill in picking.

Good morning from the First Coast of sunny Florida.

[henry]

don't they ash the apples before dumping them in pies? Peculiar place, that New York.

[henry]

ash = wash

[Buckeye]

I doubt anyone can make a valid case for a single illness being directly attributed to mouse droppings that made it onto shoes, that made it unto ladder rungs, that made it unto picker's hands, that made it on to apples, that never got washed, that were eaten by some unsuspecting rube.

This is exactly why after shooting the journalists, next are the bureaucrats.

[sbw]

after shooting the journalists

I’m embarrassed to say that after reading this phrase I found myself saying, “Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition.”

[Jim Eagle]

Buckeye,

Ditto that recommendation. But I think the Ten Eyck's response by having the pickers use the side rails is only to grant the fucking beaucrat their day in the sun. I doubt a 5th generation orchard owner wouldn't use the same logic and science you did.

[Buckeye]

Certain journalists excepted:)

[henry]

The bureaucrats need a day in the sun, the native american way. staked out with eyelids cut off.

[daddy]

Nelson eats moose poops and frozen dog poops@#$%

I spend a quarter of my Nelson dog walk time picking up Nelson's turds. (I don't pick up Fry or Scouts turds since they know how not to shit in the neighbor yards.)

For dog walk turd picker uppers, picking up those turds hygienically are tough when you actually try to pick them up in outlawed plastic bags, especially when it's a hot steaming' pile at 20 F.

I suppose I wash my hands as much as any Alaskan guy or gal washes his or her hands when scooping up turds but not more so.

On average we have 40 non-human biological parasitic host species inhabiting our mouth.

So what were you guys saying again about invisible mouse turds?

[Jane]

Brought over from the last thread:

This certainly puts a new light on things:

https://www.circa.com/story/2017/08/30/politics/former-fbi-agent-battling-deputy-director-mccabe-said-there-is-a-cancer-inside-the-fbi

Essentially it suggests Mueller went after Flynn because a woman accused McCabe of harassment and Flynn defended her. So it was revenge.

Gus were you here when PUK was alive? He used to play guitar with the Beatles, back in the olden days.

[narcisoyea]

Just like they were two reasons for going after scooter Libby, for the sdny it was revenge for the mark rich defense, for others in the bureaucracy it was interfering in the alliances with certain interests from the kingdom, like the alamoudis (have you noticed their fate has not been brought up again)

[Extraneus]

Ace:

NBC Orders Its Employees to Rat Out Sexually-Harassing Fellow Employees, Or Be Fired

And reportedly you're supposed to just snitch out on mere affairs of simple office romances, too:

A source says, "Romantic relationships at work are not exactly unusual, but now NBC says it is taking a zero-tolerance approach. Staffers have been told that if they find out about any affairs, romances, inappropriate relationships or behavior in the office, they have to report it to human resources, their superior or the company anti-harassment phone line. Staffers are shocked that they are now expected to snitch on their friends.["]

Plus their are rules on hugging -- it must be a brief hug (actually, I think they should just ban hugs between people who are not relatives by blood or marriage; they're abominations) and even more silly rules about taxis and steak:

"Also there's strict rules about socializing, including [not] sharing taxis home and [not] taking vegans to steakhouses."

The most recent mutation of feminism tried to portray itself as "sex-positive," as opposed to the militantly anti-sex positioning of, say, Andrea Dworkin. They not only claimed to be totally fun and cool and into sex, but affirmatively championed pure sluttiness.

This always struck me as a marketing claim and not nearly the truth of the product being sold. Despite claiming to be the frisky, sex-positive pro-slut people, you couldn't miss the stridently anti-sex (at least anti-sex-with-men) prudery of their actual message.

More at the above link. Here's the one he's commenting on:

https://pagesix.com/2017/12/25/nbc-tightens-sexual-harassment-rules-following-matt-lauer-mess/

[narcisoyea]

This is the most recent piece I could find:

https://qz.com/1137157/saudi-arabia-purge-effect-on-mohammad-al-amoudi-and-al-waleed-bin-talals-businesses-in-ethiopia-kenya-and-egypt/

[Captain Hate]

The story about the Australian woman murdered by the Somalian cop who won't talk to investigators bothers me more than the Kate Steinle murder. I'd urge Minneapolis to straighten out their act but they're the same thieving lowlifes who stole the Washington Senators so trash behavior is bred in the bone.

[Extraneus]

College Student Expelled for Rape Found Not Guilty by Jury in 28 Minutes

“There were aspects of the investigation that were not as thorough as it could have been,” said Assistant Solicitor Drew Evans, who prosecuted the case, “and the detective acknowledged this.”

[DebinGA]

From Jane's 9:29:
"A 16-year veteran with outstanding work performance reviews and accomplishments, Gritz alleges McCabe, along with other senior management, made it impossible for her to do her job and obstructed her ability to move up the ranks. ... She eventually filed an Equal Employment Opportunity Complaint [EEOC] in 2013 for sexual discrimination and a hostile work environment against McCabe and other superiors. In 2012 she received the only negative review in her career with the FBI, and it was conducted by the same supervisor she had named in her EEOC."

[Appalled]

Ext (9:58):

Spidering out to Post and Courier story that is the original source, it sounded like the gentleman "had relations" with that woman. and she was, indeed, drunk. (If she's puking...she's probably in no shape to give consent).

The jury probably made the right decision on this, given the missing evidence, but I am feeling less sympathetic to the defendant than usual.

[Extraneus]

The prude returns.

Was the expelled defendant in a position to "give consent," or was he drinking also?

[pagar, a bacon, ham and sausage supporter]

"We’ve experienced a miracle in our day that a lot of us thought we might never see again."

http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2017/12/trumps_momentous_first_year.html

" We can now say emphatically, this is the most effective first year of any President in our lifetime, perhaps in a century."

May God Bless and protect President Trump.

[Captain Hate]

I pretty much agree with Appalled in that this guy doesn't sound like the most sympathetic person who has been railroaded by title IX driven college stupidity. But there's no doubt that he was denied due process and the jury surely decided correctly. And if the "victim" doesn't like it, too fucking bad; maybe she shouldn't have gotten so hammered and removed herself from a vulnerable situation.

[GUS]

Jane, Peter was my hero. A fine man and a guitar player. I miss him.

[GUS]

Apparently, EVE has been arrested for ILLEGAL picking. Adam could not be reached for comment

[James D.]

The story about the Australian woman murdered by the Somalian cop who won't talk to investigators bothers me more than the Kate Steinle murder.

It's absolutely appalling that the killer is allowed to simply refuse to cooperate with the investigation, and that's then used as an excise for not moving forward with the investigation.

If a private citizen shot an innocent, unarmed person, and then refused to talk to police or answer any questions about it, would that stop the DA from prosecuting them? I think not. I think if it were any of us in the cop's position, we'd be rotting away in prison for the rest of our lives. Does anyone doubt that for a second?

[Appalled]

Ext:

I miss the old fashioned idea that there were things a gentleman didn't do. I also miss the idea that maybe the family of the young lady in question should have had a vigorous discussion of the equities with the young man in question. I don't see sending the guy to jail for 10 years. I don't mind seeing him walking around campus with a broken nose for the next 6 months.

For a less prudish discussion of what seemed to be involved here, see the angel vs. devil discussion in Animal House.

[Threadkiller]

The campus he was expelled from in 2014?

[Extraneus]

REPORT: MORE Top FBI Agents Who Worked On Clinton Email Probe Rumored To Be Leaving

According to reporter Sharyl Attkisson, the exodus may not be over just yet.

“8 high ranking DOJ/FBI officials have been removed, reassigned or are rumored to be leaving incl. top agents who worked on 2 high-profile probes: Clinton mishandling of classified info, and Trump-Russia collusion investigation,”Attkisson tweeted on Tuesday.

[jimmyk]

We don't allow being drunk to excuse criminals from responsibility, so I don't see how getting drunk allows a woman to claim rape over something that happened because she got drunk. Granted it might have been rape in this case, but there still has to be evidence and proof beyond reasonable doubt. And as ext points out, he may have been drunk as well.

[Extraneus]

Two 28-year-olds get drunk and have sex, but it's the man who gets expelled, arrested, jailed, pays bail & attorney fees, and finally gets acquitted in 28 minutes, his life basically ruined. Yet the woman is the victim because she was drunk.

I miss the old fashioned idea that there was things a lady didn't do.

[jimmyk]

I miss the old fashioned idea that there were things a gentleman didn't do.

There are also old fashioned ideas about what ladies don't do, such as get drunk and go to a guy's apartment.

And note how Mike Pence was ridiculed his old-fashioned behavior regarding women other than his wife.

[jimmyk]

Ok, ext beat me to it.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

I wondered why I was the only one posting stuff. LOL!

I was still on the previous thread.

[Jane]

Gus,

I'm so glad you got to know him. I can never remember who got here when.

[Extraneus]

There are also old fashioned ideas about what ladies don't do, such as get drunk and go to a guy's apartment.

On their first date, after hooking up via OK Cupid on Valentine's Day.

[jimmyk]

Grover Norquist
‏Verified account @GroverNorquist
30m30 minutes ago

After just 3-years of employment, federal bureaucrats receive 43 paid days off - that's 8 1/2 weeks!
http://OpentheBooks.com estimates this perk costs taxpayers $22.6 billion annually.
----

I almost find this hard to believe: 7 weeks vacation plus holidays?

That's not even counting all time they spent watching porn while on the job.

[Threadkiller]

I blame Obama for the fact that they were still in college at age 28.

As far as the Animal House Angel/Devil routine, did she side with her shoulder Devil when she decided to go back to his apartment on their 1st computer generated Valentine's blind date?

[Captain Hate]

If a private citizen shot an innocent, unarmed person, and then refused to talk to police or answer any questions about it, would that stop the DA from prosecuting them? I think not.

I don't know why the DA doesn't charge both cops and if the Somali piece of shit's partner doesn't want to get convicted let him start blabbing away. Something is badly missing from this case and it's mainly the lack of people willing to do the right thing.

[Appalled]

TK:

Yep, that one. Don't agree with a preponderance of the evidence standard for that kind of decision. (I think he loses a preponderance of the evidence case, though)

[Extraneus]

College Now Offers ‘Social Justice’ Major For Students

Merrimack College, a Roman Catholic institution located in Andover, Mass., now offers social majors the chance to “turn their passion for change, human rights and a more just world into a career,” according to the major description. The course of study seeks to prepare students for advocacy and human rights work within local community organizations as well as in larger settings within national and international non-governmental organizations.

The college also began hosting “Social Justice Week” in 2013. The event offers workshops, lectures, and discussions on topics like gender pronouns, police shootings, cultural diversity and financial exclusion.

More than 100 colleges and universities in the U.S. offer “social justice” academic programs that give students credit for studying intersectionality, privilege, oppression, racial minorities and gender pronouns, according to the College Fix. The College Fix also found that 64 American colleges offer minors in social justice, 18 offer four-year social justice degrees, and 15 offer social justice master’s degrees.

What in hail is "financial exclusion"?

[Momto2]

My dad retired from Ford Motor Co. and his last job was "Government Regulations Coordinator". It was so ironic because my dad hated government regulations!

He made a very nice salary and his entire job was to make sure they complied with every single tiny regulation, to keep abreast of all new regulations, etc.

Now multiply that across all companies, large and small, and think of the price of complying!

[Threadkiller]

A buyer's remorse text got him expelled and that isn't harsh enough for the innocent man? He now needs to head back to a campus he hasn't seen in almost 4 years and walk around with a bloody nose?

[Momto2]

After just 3-years of employment, federal bureaucrats receive 43 paid days off - that's 8 1/2 weeks!

I hope this is broadcast far and wide. I think it is one of those things like the check cashing scandal that anyone can understand and instinctively know it is outrageous!

[Extraneus]

In the spirit of the season, did everyone know that there's a feature on the dwarf planet Ceres called Kwanzaa Tholus?

[Appalled]

Ext:

I understand your argument (and knew it was coming). I don't think she deserved to have sex she didn't consent to, but she ran that risk by doing what she did. But, seriously, I can see the discussion going something like this:

GIRL: Oh God, I feel sooo sick.

BOY: My apartment is right here. I have a bathroom.

GIRL: I feeel so sick...

BOY: NOT IN THE CAR!!!

GIRL: I need a bathroom...

BOY: It's OK...we're here...

[Buckeye]

Daddy,

Poogan's hot steaming piles end up in our tree lawn, the space between our sidewalk and the street.

I don't try picking them up immediately, as managing that with him tugging on the leash to go squirrel chasing is difficult. Don't know how you do it with three big 'uns.

About every 2-3 days a take a bucket and the pooper scooper out and retrieve the piles. Much easier after they have dried out a bit:)

I have noticed the neighbors tend to walk on the other side of the street.

[Captain Hate]

Momto2,

Sarbanes Oxley, by itself, exacts a huge cost on companies to address by going through batteries of useless and arbitrary "compliance tests", at the direction of consulting firms who are making out like bandits, without one cent of offsetting revenue. That the Gas Chamber of Crony Capitalism concentrates more on garbage like DACA than removing the scourge of SarBox points out its skewed agenda.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

We had a sexual and cultural revolution [vive la revolucion] that normalized behavior that has always occurred, although probably at a lower rate.
With new norms come new problems like the lack of shame of some bimbo getting puke faced drunk, screwing some relative stranger and then not being too ashamed to try to toss him in jail for behavior we've been told is normal and was not markedly different from hers.
Next step is a guy in such a situation preemptively accuses the girl of rape to protect himself.

If you lie down with a dog in your own vomit you'll get fleas that return to it...or something.

[Captain Hate]

Iggy just anally raped the English language with that mangled phrase.

[Threadkiller]

According to the news account she went to the apartment and then got sick.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

🇬🇧
🇺🇸
‏Verified account @RaheemKassam
5h5 hours ago

Prince Harry's "interview" with @BarackObama was an outright attempt to politicise our Monarchy by the former President and the BBC. Harry is a national disgrace for playing along.

[Captain Hate]

Once Elizabeth dies they should just end the monarchy.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

Back to the W discussion from the previous thread;
The minute I heard the phrase "compassionate conservatism" I viewed him with a gimlet eye, politically.
Personally I considered him quite honorable.
As a president he prevented some bad things happening but overall was a bit of a disaster.

I remained convinced he was a personally honorable man throughout Barry's rain of error.
However, his muted but unmistakable undercutting of Trump and perhaps even more so his apparently genuine affection for the foremost cad, flim flam man and scallywag of the modern era, the scabrous Billy Jeff, has largely left me less than fond of the man who will be remembered by liberty lovers everywhere as the guy who thought he had to abandon the free market to save it and that the middle east was full of nascent Jeffersonian democrats just waiting burst forth in bloom when watered with enough American blood and treasure and fertilized with enough American bodies.

[Appalled]

TK:

My reconstruction reflects the record. As does a version that she went back to the apartment and knocked back another 4 or 5. the record also implies he had relations after she was sick. Suggestive, very suggestive she was not in any shape to give consent.

Again, she went to his apartment on a first date, she went there drunk, and then passed out. That's like parking your car unlocked in a bad part of town. If the car is stolen, a crime occurred, but the victim created the circumstances that let it happen.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

--Once Elizabeth dies they should just end the monarchy.--

It may be a Rotten sentiment but, God save the Queen, cuz tourists are money.

[Extraneus]

NYT's Paul Krugman: 'Pink Pussy Hats' Are the 'Symbol of Our Delivery from Evil'

Early this year the commentator David Frum warned that the slide into authoritarianism would be unstoppable “if people retreat into private life, if critics grow quieter, if cynicism becomes endemic.” But so far that hasn’t happened.

What we’ve seen instead is the emergence of a highly energized resistance. That resistance made itself visible literally the day after Trump took office, with the huge women’s marches that took place on Jan. 21, dwarfing the thin crowds at the inauguration. If American democracy survives this terrible episode, I vote that we make pink pussy hats the symbol of our delivery from evil.

Cue the copulating barn animals.

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

--That's like parking your car unlocked in a bad part of town.--

No it's not.
It's like getting so drunk you puke and pass out and then drink some more and then report your car stolen when you forgot where you left it.

Nobody that drunk can reliably convey any record of events that an unbiased person would rely on.

[Threadkiller]

My reconstruction reflects the record. As does a version that she went back to the apartment and knocked back another 4 or 5.

Quote the portion of the record, please.

[Appalled]

Iggy:

The guy says they had sex. So, I assume they did. (Though we guys do lie about such things)

[henry]

Clint speaks up: ANYONE who is says @realDonaldTrump should stop tweeting is an enemy of the state. How else are we going to know what the fuck is going on?

https://twitter.com/ClintEastwoodLA/status/875808380279033856

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

https://www.politico.com/story/2017/12/20/house-republicans-quietly-investigate-doj-fbi-310121

This is sort of a bombshell.

[Extraneus]

That's not Clint.

[Extraneus]

At least I don't think it is. Not verified and his daughter claims he doesn't know how to tweet.

[henry]

too many fakes.

[narciso]

eastwood doesn't curse, he humiliates you otherways

[Extraneus]

Lewis Hamilton Apologises After Telling Nephew ‘Boys Don’t Wear Dresses’ in Social Media Video

Formula One champion driver Lewis Hamilton apologised Tuesday evening for posting a video to social media of him celebrating Christmas with his family, in which he tells his young nephew that “Boys don’t wear princess dresses!”. Referring to the Christmas day post which he has since deleted, Hamilton wrote on micro-blogging platform Twitter Wednesday that ” I was playing around with my nephew and realised that my words were inappropriate so I removed the post. I meant no harm and did not mean to offend anyone at all. I love that my nephew feels free to express himself as we all should.”

Continuing to disavow his instinctive reaction upon seeing his nephew wearing girls clothes, Hamilton wrote: “My deepest apologies for my behaviour as I realise it is really not acceptable for anyone, no matter where you are from, to marginalise or stereotype anyone.

“I have always been in support of anyone living their life exactly how they wish and I hope I can be forgiven for this lapse in judgement.”

[Extraneus]

The princess dress episode is not the first social media incident for the driver. Breitbart reported in 2015 after Hamilton was ordered by his race boss to take down a video and photographs of himself enjoying time on a rifle range hitting targets with an AR-15 rifle.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

http://investmentwatchblog.com/eric-braverman-ex-ceo-of-the-clinton-foundation-ceo-in-the-eric-schmidt-foundation-schmidt-resigns-from-google-trumps-executive-order-on-fire/

[Extraneus]

Ukrainian Chess Master Refuses To Wear Saudi Women’s Robe, Gives Up Title

A chess grandmaster was forced to surrender her title for refusing to wear a traditional Arab robe in a major chess tournament held in Saudi Arabia. Ukrainian Anna Muzychuk pulled out of the the King Salman World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship in Riyadh when the tournament’s organizers told her that she would need to wear an abaya, a full-length robe women must wear when they go out in Saudi Arabia.

Muzychuk’s surrender of the title on Tuesday is not the first controversy to strike the Saudi tournament. On Monday, a day before the championship began, the Israeli Chess Federation said it would seek financial compensation after Saudi authorities denied visas to seven Israeli competitors in the tournament.

“In a few days I am going to lose two World Champion titles — one by one,” the 27-year-old Muzychuk wrote on Facebook on Saturday. “Just because I decided not to go to Saudi Arabia. Not to play by someone’s rules, not to wear abaya, not to be accompanied getting outside and altogether not to feel myself a secondary creature,” Muzychuk was quoted by the Algemeiner as saying.

“Exactly one year ago I won these two titles and was about the happiest person in the chess world but this time I feel really bad. I am ready to stand for my principles and skip the event, where in five days I was expected to earn more than I do in a dozen events combined,” she added.

[Appalled]

TK:

"Past midnight, the woman went to his apartment, where she got sick."

https://www.postandcourier.com/news/quick-not-guilty-verdict-for-ex-college-of-charleston-student/article_bc40e27e-e500-11e7-88a4-1b8b1c49ad0f.html

That's the record we have. I'm not all that interested in digging up more, but you can if you like.

[Captain Hate]

Krugman wearing a pink pussy hat would look suitably distinguished.

[Threadkiller]

Just like the prosecution, Appalled, not interested in digging any deeper.

I do not see how your "'I'm feeling sick!'/'Let's go to my apartment'" scenario fits the record you took the time to find.

Would you please diagram how you made that wild assumption?

[Ralph L]

He was a big spending lib.

Just like his "Stop the bickering" father.
Better than the alternative at the time, but would we have gotten Reagan if Ford had beaten Carter?

[Captain Hate]

Better than the alternative at the time, but would we have gotten Reagan if Ford had beaten Carter?

That's a good question which there's no way to know for sure. I tend to think "no" because the GOPe would have opposed him by saying their squishes were popular with voters and Reagan risked being Goldwater 2 repeat landslide loss boogaloo

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

https://truepundit.com/meghan-markle-prince-harry-reportedly-want-obamas-wedding/

If this is true, this will be the first royal wedding I will NOT watch.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

As I have said before, I think Donald Trump knew a whole lot of stuff before he ran for the presidency. I offer as evidence this shot from the Al Smith dinner:

For tablet users:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DSB-gagXkAApaGJ.jpg

[Extraneus]

How about that champion Formula One driver groveling this low:

"I hope I can be forgiven for this lapse in judgement.”

For telling his own nephew that boys don't wear pink princess dresses.

Not even a champion race driver has the guts to say "It's none of your f'n business what I tell my nephew."

Someone wrote the other day that only retirees are free to state their opinions nowadays. Everyone else must live in fear of being tweeted out of a job.

[GUS]

Appalled is a clown.

[Jane]

FTR, Merrimack college is in North Andover, not Andover.

[Appalled]

GUS is repetitive.

[GUS]

Appalled is a clown.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/i-doubted-trump-would-give-us-a-good-supreme-court-justice-i-was-wrong/article/2644422?platform=hootsuite

But he STILL doesn't regret not voting for Trump, because of "deportment" and other poppycock like his supposed impulsiveness.

Anyone who thinks Trump is impulsive, look at that picture I just posted. Right click so you can get the full effect. He knew.

Why should I listen to Tim Carney about anything? He obviously just goes with first impressions and doesnn't do any research I DID, which is why I voted for Trump both in the primary here in Indiana and in the general. And anyone who thought Evan McMullin was a good choice should go hang up his pundit credentials and go wait tables or something, although I doubt Carney could do that adequately.

[Appalled]

As I said...

[Jane]

Clarice posted this on Facebook. The ramifications appear to be enormous.

http://investmentwatchblog.com/eric-braverman-ex-ceo-of-the-clinton-foundation-ceo-in-the-eric-schmidt-foundation-schmidt-resigns-from-google-trumps-executive-order-on-fire/

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Vice President Mike Pence
‏Verified account @VP
22m22 minutes ago

In just one year, @POTUS fulfilled promise after promise:

✓ Neil Gorsuch on the Supreme Court
✓ Repealed the Obamacare individual mandate
✓ 1.7 million new jobs
✓ ISIS on the run
✓ Largest tax cut in American history

#MAGA

[JimNorCal]

Lady chess players have reported being harassed and even groped if they try to walk around outside the hotel unaccompanied.
Many chess tournaments sponsored by rich Muslims these days.

re the "resistance" this bit from the historical record
https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-deflects-backlash-mounts-over-travel-ban-175549939.html
"After a weekend of chaos at airports, mass protests and diplomatic outcries, criticism of Trump’s proposal even came from Barack Obama, who broke his silence for the first time since leaving office.

“(FORMER) President Obama is heartened by the level of engagement taking place in communities around the country,” Obama spokesman Kevin Lewis said.

[Jane]

DId any of you watch Trump on the Apprentice and if so, were you a fan of his then?

[JimNorCal]

A warm welcome to CraigP who I haven't seen comment here before.

Posted by: Craig Pirrong | December 27, 2017 at 08:10 AM

[Appalled]

The stench of unwashed feet suggests a sock puppet has arrived.

[Extraneus]

Hillary Fans Lose Their Minds After Vanity Fair Suggests She Learn to Knit

[henry]

Jane, once or twice, and no. Thought the whole thing dumb and Ivanka's role on it creepy.

[Miss Marple the Deplorable]

Jane,

I watched some episodes and liked it, but at the time, my now ex-husband wasn't particularly fond of the show, so I wan't a regular viewer.

One hilarious thing: my democrat sister was a HUGE fan and said you could learn a lot of good business tips from watching it. She was, of course, conflicted when her idol Hillary ran against him. HA! She voted dem, of course.

[Extraneus]

Seriously? You spend your time and money making a video about @HillaryClinton instead of the dangerous monster who’s actually president and destroying America? @summerbrennan #Hillary #Trump

— Andy Ostroy (@AndyOstroy) December 27, 2017

Don't go to that link if you'd rather not get a schadenboner.

[matt]

Oh for the days of McQueen, Garner, James Hunt, Graham Hill, Wolfgang Von Tripps and the other real men of professional automobile racing.

I have been privileged to know a number of drivers, engineers, builders, etc. over the years and this PC bullshit has got to stop.

These days GP is about as exciting as a video game. Can't wait to see the first time someone's battery dies on the last lap.