Violent unrest in Iraq, Lebanon and Iran. The NY Times reports on Iran and acknowledges that the financial pressure of the new Trump sanctions are a big part of the Ayatollah's problem.
Iran is experiencing its deadliest political unrest since the Islamic Revolution 40 years ago, with at least 180 people killed — and possibly hundreds more — as angry protests have been smothered in a government crackdown of unbridled force.
It began two weeks ago with an abrupt increase of at least 50 percent in gasoline prices. Within 72 hours, outraged demonstrators in cities large and small were calling for an end to the Islamic Republic’s government and the downfall of its leaders.
...
The gas price increase, which was announced as most Iranians had gone to bed, came as Iran is struggling to fill a yawning budget gap. The Trump administration sanctions, mostly notably their tight restrictions on exports of Iran’s oil, are a big reason for the shortfall. The sanctions are meant to pressure Iran into renegotiating the 2015 nuclear agreement between Iran and major world powers, which President Trump abandoned, calling it too weak.
Most of the nationwide unrest seemed concentrated in neighborhoods and cities populated by low-income and working-class families, suggesting this was an uprising born in the historically loyal power base of Iran’s post-revolutionary hierarchy.
Left unmentioned, possibly because it is a specious cheap shot - raising gas prices doesn't seem to play well anywhere, as Macron of France and Moreno of Ecuador will attest. But Shhh! Don't tell the Green New Dealers!
And as a bonus "Hmm" - the Chinese leadership is in a quite different position from the Ayatollah, having had good long term success at delivering prosperity. But public memories can be short and I suspect glaring examples of public unrest over poor economic results gives the Chinese leaders a "There but for the grace of Mao go I" chill.
Yes Porch,imagine the split screen on TV...impeachment hearings and NH primary results. Pass the popcorn!
Posted by: Marlene | December 04, 2019 at 03:42 PM
That's what I mean, porch,
Posted by: clarice | December 04, 2019 at 03:44 PM
jimmyk,
Remember how you couldn't bring the Obama girls into anything unless it was to say how beautiful and smart they were?
I am calling her on this, because maybe in other situations it wouldn't be considered an attack, but by Obama standards it is.
Posted by: MissMarple2 | December 04, 2019 at 03:46 PM
JadedKushner - Supernatural Wisdom-PARODY
@JarradKushner
Oh look.
Sean Misko works for .@JohnEdHerbst who got a leak of the Trump/Zelensky call of July 25 on July 29.
millenniumfellowship.org/sean-a-misko/
The leak went this way:
Vindman
🔽
CIAramella
🔽
Misko ➡️ Schiff
🔽
Herbst
🔽
Kent
🔽
Taylor/Reeker twitter.com/paulsperry_/st…
https://twitter.com/JarradKushner/status/1201957485696798721
Posted by: Melinda | December 04, 2019 at 03:47 PM
Posted by: Dave (in MA) | December 04, 2019 at 03:51 PM
Whoa Nellie.
I take it Milkova is no longer at the NSC. And how is his service on Schiffs committee not a conflict of interest?
Posted by: Jack is Back (Again)! | December 04, 2019 at 03:55 PM
...Milkova s/b Misko...
Posted by: Jack is Back (Again)! | December 04, 2019 at 03:55 PM
Oh, look. It's the insane law professor and Eric Holder. I don't suppose there's any collusion or conspiracy there, is there?
Posted by: MissMarple2 | December 04, 2019 at 04:05 PM
That Karlan remark says it all about the lefties in academia doesn’t it?
Posted by: Jack is Back (Again)! | December 04, 2019 at 04:06 PM
Karlan’s Barron v. baron represented juvenile rhetorical gymnastics, not germane legal analysis.
If she is going to mistreat her audience like that, she doesn’t deserve a hearing at the hearing.
Posted by: sbwaters | December 04, 2019 at 04:09 PM
I'm assuming that Perfesser Karlan was promised a SCOTUS seat by the Chappaqua Chardonnay Chugger.
Posted by: Dave (in MA) | December 04, 2019 at 04:14 PM
Well, how about this? Agreement about 2-faced Trudeau from a Canadian political leader! Video at the link.
Posted by: MissMarple2 | December 04, 2019 at 04:19 PM
DaveinMass:
Your alliteration is fantastic.
Saw a clip of the Karlan remark wrt Barron.
Disgusting because she used it as a joke line.
15 minutes of fame are fading.
She will be remembered as s classless, vindictive frump.
Posted by: D | December 04, 2019 at 04:20 PM
I think if we appreciate that the Process Theory of Law firmly in place for decades where these speakers went to law school and teach pushes a vision where the law forces societal transformation to a Human Development vision, the testimony makes more sense.
Theories envisioning change are the point, not support for the existing state of affairs. It all goes back to Harold Lasswell and his vision hatched at Yale Law in the late 40s.
Posted by: rse | December 04, 2019 at 04:23 PM
https://neonnettle.com/news/9176-chelsea-clinton-america-is-not-the-country-i-want-my-kids-to-grow-up-in-
Is it just me or is the Omen looking more like Webb Hubbell all the time (for some unknown reason)?
Posted by: Dave (in MA) | December 04, 2019 at 04:26 PM
Video at the link. Gaetz did great!
Posted by: MissMarple2 | December 04, 2019 at 04:27 PM
Interesting, I don’t want her kids growing up here either.
GUS doesn’t have insurance? Who do I ask for at the IRS to report this?
Get better soon, GUS.
I might be in need of a new tv if I keep seeing these f’in Steyer ads. I wonder what his hedge fund activity looks like.
Posted by: Gentlejim | December 04, 2019 at 04:30 PM
It's so cute when The Omen pretends to not belong at the children's table.
Posted by: Captain Hate | December 04, 2019 at 04:32 PM
chelsea-clinton-america-is-not-the-country-i-want-my-kids-to-grow-up-in-
Well, America isn’t the country I want her kids to grow up in, either.
Posted by: James D. | December 04, 2019 at 04:34 PM
Video at the link.
Posted by: MissMarple2 | December 04, 2019 at 04:34 PM
The tweet by Andy Biggs regarding Ratcliffe and Turley was retweeted by President Trump.
Posted by: MissMarple2 | December 04, 2019 at 04:36 PM
Posted by: Dave (in MA) | December 04, 2019 at 04:37 PM
Comment on Trudeau:
I agree. He's two-faced. Sometimes blackfaced as well.
Posted by: Momto2 | December 04, 2019 at 04:44 PM
I checked the 1980 Yale Banner (class yearbook)... Karlan was in JE (same as Klobuchar ‘83), managed to look frumpy in her photo, and listed “debate team” as her activities. Plus a History major.
Totally unmemorable.
Posted by: henry | December 04, 2019 at 04:44 PM
Chelsea should move to Haiti. Her family is well known there.
Posted by: henry | December 04, 2019 at 04:46 PM
Retweeted by the President. Video at the link.
Posted by: MissMarple2 | December 04, 2019 at 04:47 PM
Justin of Canada is a doofus. The western provinces are ready to secede. Drugs are being brought in by snowmobile over the upstate New York and Maine borders. Trump isn't going to put up with Trudeau.
Posted by: Marlene | December 04, 2019 at 04:52 PM
Sadly the “conservative” western provinces are closer to our west coast in outlook re government healthcare, gun laws etc. I don’t think we want them post any breakup of Canada.
Posted by: henry | December 04, 2019 at 04:56 PM
Did you see the look on the UGLY BITCH'S face after she took her cheap shot then sat down. She seemed so proud of her ignorance. I wonder (wink wink) what she named her son.
Posted by: GUS | December 04, 2019 at 04:57 PM
@FLOTUS
A minor child deserves privacy and should be kept out of politics. Pamela Karlan, you should be ashamed of your very angry and obviously biased public pandering, and using a child to do it.
Posted by: henry | December 04, 2019 at 04:59 PM
Melania Trump
@FLOTUS
A minor child deserves privacy and should be kept out of politics. Pamela Karlan, you should be ashamed of your very angry and obviously biased public pandering, and using a child to do it.
Posted by: MissMarple2 | December 04, 2019 at 04:59 PM
That was worth a double. :)
Posted by: henry | December 04, 2019 at 05:00 PM
Wow, henry, we are on the exact same time line!
That cannot be repeated too much!
Posted by: MissMarple2 | December 04, 2019 at 05:01 PM
Posted by: Dave (in MA) | December 04, 2019 at 05:01 PM
henry,
I would like to see Melania in that gold cape stare down that creep law professor!
Posted by: MissMarple2 | December 04, 2019 at 05:02 PM
Posted by: Dave (in MA) | December 04, 2019 at 05:02 PM
Gus, if Karlan has a son she named it Pat to ease transition later in life.
Posted by: henry | December 04, 2019 at 05:05 PM
I believe I read today that Karlan's got a partner named Viola.
Posted by: Stephanie Nene Not Your Normal Granma | December 04, 2019 at 05:07 PM
They choose frumpy, unattractive women for these roles on purpose. Then when the woman's looks are inevitably attacked along with her argument, they can point to the sexism and ignore the substance.
See also: Blowsy Ford
Posted by: Porchlight | December 04, 2019 at 05:08 PM
House Hears Testimony From Renowned, Unbiased Legal Scholar Hillga Clintonheimer
Babylon Bee... gotta check out the paper of record.
OMG I'm still laughing.
Posted by: Stephanie Nene Not Your Normal Granma | December 04, 2019 at 05:12 PM
Pretty apt description:
Posted by: MissMarple2 | December 04, 2019 at 05:17 PM
Hey Chelsea, DON'T LET THE DOOR HIT YOU IN THE ASS....etc etc.
Where you gonna go you pathetic bitch.
Both her own, and her wimp hubbie are from American crime families. She can save her horse shit for someone who cares.
Posted by: GUS | December 04, 2019 at 05:18 PM
Dave and Henry, that's hilarious
Posted by: GUS | December 04, 2019 at 05:21 PM
Gaetz was en whattaya call your fuego today.
Posted by: Dave (in MA) | December 04, 2019 at 05:23 PM
Gus,take good care of your foot! :)
Posted by: Marlene | December 04, 2019 at 05:23 PM
https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/hillary-clinton-puts-lesbian-rumors-bed-never-even-been-tempted-n1096021
If Hillary says she's not Lebanese, who are we to question?
Posted by: Dave (in MA) | December 04, 2019 at 05:27 PM
Karlan was considered as one of iBama’s LGBT Bench candidates that he blew off, leaving a raft of seats for DJT.
I suspect the reason so many slots were left open is that the candidate pool was far too reluctant in producing “Honoraria” for the nominator.
Posted by: Melinda | December 04, 2019 at 05:31 PM
Robert J. O'Neill@mchooyah ·
“No one is above the law”. I’m pretty sure I
emailed that to somebody about 33,000 times.
Nothing heard...
Posted by: Dave (in MA) | December 04, 2019 at 05:32 PM
@FinCrimeEdu
Armenia ex-president Sargsyan accused of embezzling state funds.
https://twitter.com/fincrimeedu/status/1202350948816957441?s=21
Huh, go figure....
Posted by: Melinda | December 04, 2019 at 05:36 PM
Stephanie, you mean a "PARTNER" at her Law Firm.
Right???
Posted by: GUS | December 04, 2019 at 05:42 PM
I checked the 1980 Yale Banner (class yearbook)... Karlan was in JE (same as Klobuchar ‘83), managed to look frumpy in her photo, and listed “debate team” as her activities. Plus a History major.
Yet more evidence (as if any were needed) that a law degree from an Ivy league school is not merely an unimpressive credential, but a marker that the holder is someone whose resume should be immediately thrown in the trash.
Posted by: James D. | December 04, 2019 at 05:42 PM
Donald J. Trump
@realDonaldTrump
·
10m
The Fake News Media is doing everything possible to belittle my VERY successful trip to London for NATO. I got along great with the NATO leaders, even getting them to pay $130 Billion a year more, & $400 Billion a year more in 3 years. No increase for U.S., only deep respect!
Posted by: MissMarple2 | December 04, 2019 at 05:46 PM
Donald J. Trump
@realDonaldTrump
·
4m
.@NATO
has now recognized SPACE as an operational domain and the alliance is STRONGER for it. U.S. leadership ensures peace through strength and we must continue to show strength and WIN on all fronts – land, air, sea, and SPACE!
Posted by: MissMarple2 | December 04, 2019 at 05:47 PM
Thanks all for reminding me that the GOP committee members get a pick for witnesses. I actually knew that from my days in DC. Dementia setting in, I guess.
Does it occur to anyone else that the GOP has more experienced, educated, and articulate Reps on Nadler's panel than the Dems? It seems so to this dementia abled observer.
Posted by: Jack is Back (Again)! | December 04, 2019 at 05:51 PM
GUS: https://66.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lh3dnhmaHS1qcul1ho1_400.gifv
Posted by: Dave (in MA) | December 04, 2019 at 05:53 PM
James, yet at the FRUMPY CLOWN nears retirement age, she is currently 60, this cameo appearance at the CLOWN RODEO, is her finest hour. Or 15 seconds or so. Paid all along the way.
Posted by: GUS | December 04, 2019 at 05:55 PM
https://mobile.twitter.com/lsanger/status/1160122335271292930
Posted by: Captain Hate | December 04, 2019 at 05:58 PM
n
e
w
Posted by: Dave (in MA) | December 04, 2019 at 05:58 PM
Does it occur to anyone else that the GOP has more experienced, educated, and articulate Reps on Nadler's panel than the Dems?
Sheila Jackass Lee and Hank Johnson are in the committee.
Posted by: Captain Hate | December 04, 2019 at 06:02 PM
CSPAN
@cspan
·
1m
Pamela Karlan: "I want to apologize for what I said earlier about the president's son. It was wrong of me to do that. I wish the president would apologize, obviously, for the things that he's done that's wrong, but I do regret having said that."
Posted by: MissMarple2 | December 04, 2019 at 06:03 PM
New
Neue
Posted by: President-Elect Jim,SunnyvaleCA | December 04, 2019 at 06:17 PM
New
Posted by: President-Elect Jim,SunnyvaleCA | December 05, 2019 at 01:07 AM