KRUISER’S MORNING BRIEF: The Trump-Biden Heavyweight Fight Round 1 Is Finally Here. “We can be fairly certain that the president will not let any slurry falters by Biden go without mention. I actually hope he brutalizes der Bidengaffer the first time he trips on his meds.”
Tonight’s inaugural 2020 Debate Drunkblog will go live about 20 minutes before showtime on the PJ Media homepage.
IN MY NECK OF THE WOODS, PUSHBACK: Knox Co. Commission passes resolution to recommend limiting Board of Health’s power. “It started with dozens of passionate people signed up for public forum, both in favor and opposed to the Board of Health. It ended with a formal resolution that recommends limiting the board’s power and a new, citizen member of the board.”
JIM TREACHER: No, Nobody Really Cares About Trump’s Taxes.
Trump and Biden have both been participants in American public life since the ’70s. The main difference: Trump is exactly the same guy he was when he was elected in 2016, and Biden is a faint shadow of the man he was when he dropped out of the presidential race in 1988.
If Trump is too old to be president, how is anybody supposed to get excited about a guy who’s even older?
That’s why I assume Trump is going to win. All the stuff we hear about Biden — “He’s up in the polls! Trump is a ridiculous lying boob! It’s very important to my sense of self to believe Trump can’t win!” — is the same stuff we heard about Hillary in 2016.
Don’t get cocky.™
NOW OUT FROM REALCLEAREDUCATION: 2020 College Free Speech Rankings. I’m a little disappointed that the University of Tennessee didn’t make this list, especially as we have a green light rating from FIRE.
UPDATE: Oh, we didn’t make the “overall” list, but we’re #5 on the “Ranked by Conservatives” list. Given the state of the academy today, that’s probably more significant.
ANOTHER UPDATE: Robert Shibley, above, says Tennessee is #11 on the overall list, but it’s not displaying for me. In fact, it’s kind of hinky, going straight from #10 to #21:
But I’ll take it!
MORE: They’ve fixed the glitch and Tennessee shows at #11 now.
FORMER CLINTON COUNSEL LANNY DAVIS: My advice to Joe Biden on eve of the debate — be Joe Biden.
ALSO LANNY DAVIS:
It is purely rhetorically that I ask if Biden will be questioned in tonight’s debate about his support from secessionists.
DON SURBER EXPLAINS WHY THE NYT DROPPED ITS NOTHINGBURGER OF A TAX STORY NOW: “The old Gray Lady ain’t what she used to be, but she can still manage to conjure a story out of nothing. Using stolen tax returns and mirrors, the New York Times manufactured a scandal that will allow Chris Wallace to ask President Donald John Trump about his taxes at tomorrow’s debate instead of asking Biden why he and Obama used the FBI to spy on President Trump. Like any modern journalist, Wallace is relieved that he will not have to ask a substantive question.”
Meanwhile at America’s Newspaper of Record: Newsom Bans Cars To Prevent People From Escaping California.
DOJ WARNS SAN FRANCISCO: Limiting church attendance to one congregant at a time is “draconian” and a possible violation of the First Amendment. Geez, ya think???
THE WORST PART IS HOW MUCH THEY SEEM TO BE ENJOYING IT:
THAT’S DIFFERENT BECAUSE SHUT UP: Dems Love Biden’s Catholicism But Fear Barrett’s.
PERSONNEL IS POLICY: Holy Moly, the Department of Labor “gets” independent contractor issues!
But when I say AB-5 is terrible legislation it is not merely its anti-business bias. My argument with AB-5 has to do with how poorly and illogically it’s written. And mostly the fact that it literally legislates that citizens are instructed to go read case law. That’s not supposed to be how it’s done.
So I wasn’t too excited to learn the US Department of Labor was jumping on the “let’s pass legislation about independent contractors” bandwagon. Other states have implemented or sought to implement AB-5 imitation legislation and honestly I feared for the worst.
But low and behold, the proposed legislation is well thought out, clear (as a fact based issue can be), and well written.
It’s likely not a coincidence that the Department of Labor is chaired by Eugene Scalia, the son of Antonin Scalia.
Well, teachers and public schools have spent the last 6 months demonstrating that they are nonessential.
WORST POLITICAL CLASS EVER: Pouring on the Gasoline: Making threats, metaphorical or not, against one’s political opponents only makes our smoldering political atmosphere hotter.
Our political class has stopped thinking about consequences because they never personally experience any.
DECOUPLING: The U.S. just undercut China’s best shot at semiconductor independence.
The U.S. has reportedly placed China’s largest semiconductor manufacturer, SMIC, on a list of foreign companies that U.S. suppliers need special permission to work with. The move is the latest in Washington’s attempts to wield U.S. dominance in semiconductors as a weapon over China.
Beijing is rushing to create its own semiconductor supply line and, as China’s most advanced semiconductor manufacturer, SMIC represents its best shot at chip independence. But news of the ban shows how vulnerable the company remains. SMIC’s Hong Kong–listed shares plummeted as much as 7.9% on Monday, after news of the ban broke on Saturday.
More like this, please.
JOEL KOTKIN: Americans Won’t Live in the Pod: Blue-city urbanization imposes a downward mobility people don’t want and don’t need. “The push for ever-greater density and against suburban homeownership could not come at a less propitious time.”
I HAD BEEN ASSURED BY ALL THE SMARTEST PEOPLE THAT THIS KIND OF THING NEVER HAPPENS: Meet a Canadian Citizen Who Voted in American Elections.
LEFTISTS ABUSE “ETHICS” RULES. IT’S A FAVORED TACTIC. A Ridiculous Recusal Demand Aimed at Clarence Thomas. “It’s notable that King managed to get through writing this entire column without even mentioning that Justice Kagan once worked for Biden.”
EDITED BY ROB HOWELL AND CHRIS KENNEDY (AND FEATURING A STORY OF MINE): When Valor Must Hold
Fifteen tremendous authors. Fourteen extraordinary stories. One outstanding anthology.
It is a time of high adventure! A time for noble men and women to say “No!” to the evils that will befall their families and friends if they don’t rise to the task at hand. If their valor doesn’t hold, civilization will fall.
Fifteen authors have spun fourteen tales of hateful wizards, treacherous seas, and scheming foes. Of times when ancient evils roamed the Earth, looking for souls to claim, and dark prophecies foretold what would happen if the Evil Ones were allowed to succeed. This anthology has all of this and more.
When Valor Must Hold focuses on heroes worthy of facing such enemies. A tiny brownie stands up to a massive ogre. A mother races to protect her children. A hunter chases raiders. A guardian serves his king. Heroes lead forces into battle against overwhelming odds. There’s even a goblin trying to save his people by stealing dwarven rum.
Inside are fourteen fantastic stories of enemies testing the valor of heroes great and small. If their valor should fail, they will lose far more than their lives.
Will their swords shatter shields? Will their magic shine forth? Or will they see their homes and families perish when they fail? Step inside and find out!
ANY BETS ON HOW MANY ARE LEGITIMATE? THIS IS RIDICULOUS. THIS MUST BE CLEANED UP. NO EARLY VOTING EXCEPT WHEN ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY. NO SAME DAY REGISTRATION. ID. PURPLE FINGERS. IF WE CAN’T TRUST THE PROCESS, WE CAN’T TRUST ANYTHING: Over 1 Million Americans Have Already Voted in 2020 Election.
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