SPRINGTIME FOR TUCKER:
I’m much less interested in Tucker’s erstwhile historian’s insane Pat Buchanan-esque reversal of who the good guys were in WWII, than why Tucker himself decided to bring up this particular topic a couple of months before election day.
LAUGHING WOLF: A big BRAVO to whomever did the pager op, and a rundown of why.
First, it was fairly precise targeting, which limited (nothing can eliminate the possibility of) “civilian” casualties. Limiting the explosive to one or two ounces helped guarantee limitation of collateral damage. Those who are screaming otherwise, and that it was against the rules of war, are both wrong and far more upset that their favored side was hurt and that the Jews dared defend themselves instead of just lining up for the slaughter. By their words and actions, they reveal who and what they are. Make notes.
Second, if they could intercept and do this to THOUSANDS of pagers, do you think they wouldn’t be able to also use those devices to track locations, monitor communications, and more? Months of data, and just the location data alone would have revealed locations and more. Where did they meet? With whom did they meet? Where did they go when things got hot? The so-called meta data on this is tremendous on its own. If they literally did get inside their coms and were reading the mail…
Third, most interesting that the Iranian ambassador to Lebanon had a Hezballess-issued pager.
Much more at the link from one of my favorite milbloggers.
HOT, HOT, HOT!!: The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights will be turning out another not-so-great report later today—this one on crime victimization. Here is my Statement—which I hope you’ll read, including Footnote 9. We’re at kind of a low point. The Vice Chair is accusing one of my conservative colleagues of “race baiting” apparently for pointing out that African Americans are disproportionately victimized by crime. It’s all a bit loony.
KDJ: Hey Democrats, Stop Trying to Kill Our Guy. “If the Democrats, deep state, and uniparty are so secure with their candidate, why do they want to kill Trump? Because they know they are losing. Also, communists believe assassinating Trump is not only acceptable but virtuous.”
Hey, if Kamala can drop into an election late in its cycle, why can’t SMOD? If ever there was a need for a candidate who can bring real, substantive change on a large scale, now’s the time!
SOMEBODY TELL GAVIN NEWSOM:
Disinformation isn’t just a problem on the right. Here’s 20,000 likes for a quote he didn’t say. I don’t like Trump but you HELP HIM when you mislead people or get fact checks wrong. It allows folks to dismiss all the true stuff. https://t.co/XQjZFdeDzs
— Sarah Isgur (@whignewtons) September 18, 2024
ALL OVER THE PLACE: Where Is Your Home-Defense Gun?
THAT’S ABOUT RIGHT:
The economy is so great, it needs an crisis-level rate cut 2 months before the election
— zerohedge (@zerohedge) September 18, 2024
If nothing else, I suppose we’ll find out whether Bidenflation is well and truly squelched.
JAMES WEBB SPACE TELESCOPE ENTERS THE CHAT: Elon Musk’s Starlink Satellites ‘Blocking’ View Of The Universe: Report.
It isn’t that astronomers don’t have valid concerns because they do. But Earth-based astronomy is slowly going the way of the geocentric model of the universe.
LIMITED TIME DEAL: 4500 Sq.Ft Most Efficient Energy Star 2024 Dehumidifier. #CommissionEarned
KARMA, COURTESY OF MOSSAD:
Per the NYT: "Iran’s ambassador to Lebanon, Mojtaba Amini, lost one eye and severely injured his other eye when a pager he was carrying exploded…"
It was Iranian regime policy to shoot Woman, Life, Freedom protesters in the eye.
Rarely is karma so perfectly exact. pic.twitter.com/fY7JA8KltC
— Kaveh Shahrooz کاوه شهروز (@kshahrooz) September 18, 2024
THE POLITICO: Harris’ formula for national media interviews: Don’t make news.
Kamala Harris largely stuck to her script during an interview Tuesday with a panel of National Association of Black Journalists members, carefully parrying questions about hot-button issues like the war in Gaza, reparations and other critical election topics.
It was the vice president’s second high-profile national media interview since announcing her presidential run, and though she spoke passionately at times about abortion rights and other policies, she did not break much ground or stray far from her talking points during the near hour-long conversation.
* * * * * * * * *
The panel of NABJ members who moderated the interview were POLITICO Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels, Fresh Air co-host Tonya Mosley and theGrio White House Correspondent Gerren Keith Gaynor.
Which means the official Politico policy is to do nothing to get her off her talking points. “Don’t make news?” They’re perfectly content to play along.
Just think of the Politico as Democratic Party operatives with bylines, and it all makes sense.
Evergreen:
Meanwhile, in sharp contrast:
JD Vance nukes NYT reporter🔥
JD: "This is the New York Times, don't hold it against them."
NYT: "The paper of record, New York Times. What's something you're willing not to say to make a point?"
JD: "One thing I wouldn't be willing to say is that NYT is a respectable paper." pic.twitter.com/FFrcVMIXtq
— TheBlaze (@theblaze) September 17, 2024
UPDATE: Run silent, run not very deep!
SCIENCE, UNSETTLED: New study casts doubt on loneliness as a cause of many diseases.
IT’S AN ELECTION YEAR, SO…: The Federal Reserve just cut interest rates by a half point. Here’s what that means for your wallet.
The Federal Reserve announced Wednesday it will lower its benchmark rate by a half percentage point, or 50 basis points, paving the way for relief from the high borrowing costs that have hit consumers particularly hard.
The federal funds rate, which is set by the U.S. central bank, is the interest rate at which banks borrow and lend to one another overnight. Although that’s not the rate consumers pay, the Fed’s moves still affect the borrowing and savings rates they see every day.
A series of interest rate hikes starting in March of 2022 took the central bank’s benchmark to its highest in more than 22 years, which caused most consumer borrowing costs to skyrocket — and put many households under pressure.
Now, with inflation backing down, “there are reasons to be optimistic,” said Greg McBride, chief financial analyst at Bankrate.com.
However, “one rate cut isn’t a panacea for borrowers grappling with high financing costs and has a minimal impact on the overall household budget,” he said. “What will be more significant is the cumulative effect of a series of interest rate cuts over time.”
Earlier: “Trump’s arrival in the Oval Office will result in a hailstorm of bad economic data, and most of this will be due to the sudden end of statistical manipulations that have been in place for the last four years.”
CHANGE: ‘The party is over’ as Tupperware files for bankruptcy after years of troubles.
Tupperware, known the world over for its plastic food storage containers, has filed for bankruptcy after years of falling popularity and financial troubles.
“Over the last several years, the company’s financial position has been severely impacted by the challenging macroeconomic environment,” Laurie Ann Goldman, president and CEO of Tupperware Brands Corporation, said in a statement late Tuesday.
Chapter 11 bankruptcy allows companies to solve their financial problems by restructuring. “This process is meant to provide us with essential flexibility as we pursue strategic alternatives to support our transformation into a digital-first, technology-led company,” Goldman added.
Tupperware has historically sold to consumers only through so-called direct sales, most commonly at “Tupperware parties,” similar to cosmetic company Avon’s business model, and only began selling in Target in 2022. The 78-year-old brand empowered women to enter the sales business.“The party is over for Tupperware,” Susannah Streeter, head of money and markets at UK investment platform Hargreaves Lansdown, said in a note. “There is still a chance a buyer for the business can be found but, with plastic seen as far from fantastic among eco-aware consumers, revitalizing the brand will be an uphill struggle.”
Even though the brand was once a household name, it became less popular with younger consumers, in contrast with some of its competitors.
Gosh, thanks Greta. But what will brave missionaries such as Ted Striker and Elaine Dickinson use to teach proper food storage techniques to beleaguered natives in far off lands?
SARAH HOYT’S SHOCKED FACE WAS LAST SEEN LOUNGING ON THE LIDO DECK: A Disturbing Number of Democrats Think America Would Be Better Off If Trump Were Assassinated.
I DUNNO, IT’S KINDA GIVING A CYBERTRUCK VIBE: Troubled Lotus shows off wedge-like vision for an EV sportscar.
HEZBOLLAH ARE STILL WEARING PAGERS? REALLY?
#BREAKING Reports on new wave of pagers explosions in Lebanon
— Guy Elster (@guyelster) September 18, 2024
Not sure I’m buying this one until there are more reports…
Update: New indication is that today it’s exploding handheld radios.
Another update: ‘Second Wave’ Attack on Hezbollah Targets Walkie-Talkies and Other Electronic Equipment.
Related (From Ed): Why does Hezbollah still use pagers for communication?
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah had previously warned its members not to carry cell phones as Israel could use them to track the group’s movements.
As a result of this, the Iran-backed militant group, has been using pagers for communication.
Nicholas Reese, adjunct instructor at the Center for Global Affairs in New York University’s School of Professional Studies, told the Associated Press that smartphones carry a higher risk for intercepted communications in contrast to the simpler technology of pagers.
Reese said that Tuesday’s attack will force Hezbollah to change its communication strategies.
He added that survivors of Tuesday’s explosions are likely to throw away “not just their pagers, but their phones, and leaving their tablets or any other electronic devices.”
Carrier pigeons? Smoke signals? I’d say land-lines, but that’s a particularly risky strategy.
21st CENTURY QUESTIONS: If he really thinks he’s a woman, how can he be a drag queen – a man pretending to be a woman? “Alas, I fear that if we pull at that thread, the whole sweater may come unravelled. I mean, if, as we’ve been told, quite emphatically, women can’t be transwomen, on account of being, you know, women, then surely only a man can be a transwoman. Which sounds like another way of saying, a transwoman can only be a man. But hey, pile of yarn.”
UPDATE: Trans Women Are Bullies: J.K. Rowling DROPS Man Forcing a Woman to Say ‘Trans Women Are Women.’
I JUST WANT ONE THAT DOESN’T EXPLODE ON ME: Will phones someday be able to transmit smells?
KAMALA IS COMING FOR YOUR GUNS, FOURTH AMENDMENT BE DAMNED: Kamala Harris once said police could pay surprise visits to legal gun owners’ homes for safe storage checks.
Kamala: “Just because you legally possess a gun in the sanctity of your locked home doesn't mean that we're not going to walk into that home and check to see if you're being responsible.”pic.twitter.com/PpFivXGzp8
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) September 18, 2024
IF AT FIRST (OR SECOND) YOU DON’T SUCCEED…: Cops Find Explosives Near Trump Rally on Long Island.
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