More climate fun:
Given the EIA fossil fuel energy use projections plus the increasingly clear worthlessness of RCP8.5 as agitprop meme, here’s a study looking at what actual amount of future warming might be, under various possible scenarios (8.5 is not possible):
Plausible scenarios for climate change: 2020-2050

table of natural scenario impact
All of the components of natural variability point to cooling during the period 2020-2050. Individually these terms are not expected to be large in the moderate scenarios. However, when summed their magnitude approaches the magnitude of the warming associated with the moderate values of TCRE – 1.35 and 1.65 oC. If the natural cooling exceeds the expected value, or TCRE is at the low end (1.0 to 1.35oC), then there could be net cooling.

This is significant: disregarding solar or extreme long term climate cycles, 2020-2050 could well be net colder.

Three main conclusions:
We are starting to narrow the uncertainty in the amount of warming from emissions that we can expect out to 2050
All three modes of natural variability – solar, volcanoes, internal variability – are expected to trend cool over the next 3 decades
Depending on the relative magnitudes of emissions driven warming versus natural variability, decades with no warming or even cooling are more or less plausible.
If you prefer your scenarios on the high side, you can include scenarios with RCP7.0 and TCRE=2.4oC, but these values don’t change the fundamental narrative presented here. You can also add 1.2oC to the values in Table 6, to make the numbers look higher. But if you want plausible scenarios, look to my Table 6, which I think bounds the range of plausible outcomes for global mean surface temperature from 2020-2050.
But what about the 2nd half of the 21st century and 2100? Uncertainties regarding emissions are much greater in the 2nd half of the 21st century. The CMIP6 solar scenarios (Reference and Maunder) show more cooling in the second half of the 21st century. Volcanic eruptions could be larger in 2nd half of 21st century (or not). After the projected cool phase of the AMO, a return to the warm phase is expected, but there is no confidence in projecting either a warm or cold phase AMO in 2100.
Apart from the ‘wild card’ of volcanic eruptions, the big uncertainty is solar indirect effects. Based on the literature survey that I’ve conducted, solar UV effects on climate seem to be at least as large as TSI effects. A factor of 2-4 (X TSI) seems completely plausible to me, and serious arguments have been presented for even higher values. I also note here that almost all estimates of ECS/TCR from observations do not include any allowances for uncertainties associated with solar indirect effects. Scafetta (2013) included solar indirect effects in an estimate of ECS, and determined an ECS value of 1.35 oC.
Neither the effects of AMO or solar indirect effects have been included in attribution analyses of warming since 1950.
So why does this analysis ‘matter’?
For those that are urgently worried about the impacts of AGW and the need to act urgently to meet deadlines related to emissions, the natural climate variability may help slow down the warming over the next few decades, allowing for time to make prudent, cost effective decisions that make sense for the long term.
Failure to anticipate and understand periods of stagnant warming or even cooling detract from the credibility of climate science and may diminish the ‘will to act.’

Or in other words, if the present 20+ year period of failed model projections/climate disasters/climate panicmongering has been unable to radically change policy, it could get a lot worse.

Posted by: c1ue | Feb 13 2020 18:55 utc | 204

Since we know Pete is LBGT and has a husband, will he be at the same time President and First Lady?

Posted by: CarlD | Feb 13 2020 19:23 utc | 206

@juliania | 194 and Russ | 201
I am impressed. Of course I don’t know where either of you live, but Черный Крым / Black Krim tomatoes! Wow. They are delicious. No two ways about it. There are lots of other amazing varieties too, as @Russ says. Not sure about Turkish rugs, Persian rugs are far superior, though probably not appropriate in the bathroom! ))))

Posted by: Egor68500 | Feb 13 2020 19:34 utc | 208

New article on how Tulsi Gabbard is the most underrated politician in the world. Tulsi Gabbard is The Steely Dan of Politics or: Perfection Isn’t For Everyone

Posted by: Kali | Feb 13 2020 19:39 utc | 210

information_agent@188 “I think there probably is, because as things stand now it’s all hands on the establishment deck to figure out a way to thwart the campaign of Bernie Sanders from continuing to gather momentum.” There comes a point when all the losers whining about blackouts and such need to ask themselves how the great conspiracy can’t do things like make sure Biden has enough money, or for that matter, actually pick a unity candidate to kill Sanders with. The Democratic Party is cracking up. The party professionals, who are basically free-lance sales managers trying to get hired on by some big bucks donors to manage the republic on the donors’ behalf, aren’t getting the guidance/$ from the rich. The rich are basically Trumpists now, unless they want to buy out the Democratic Party as a personal vehicle. (Hello, Bloomberg, Steyer.) The “establishment” is largely for Trump, which is one reason why the media are so obedient in promoting any possible rival to Sanders. Also, it kind of dumb to focus on how Sanders is being cheated even as he’s winning it. At this point, it’s to be wondered whether the Trumpists are promoting Sanders because they’re convinced it really was the white people taking back their country that got Trump elected. (That’s a BS story that has long been promoted for nefarious reasons.)
Much of the rest is simpleminded twaddle insinuating Buttigieg controls the Democratic Party. Apparently the idea of a Buttigieg campaign person whose presence might keep caucus goers from ranting about how no gay will ever win or maybe asking if Buttigieg supporters are gay themselves, is a sinister plot of the Cultural Marxists. The Trumpery will out itself. This stuff is more blatant than Pride Day. The idea that a Navy Reserve officer is a trusted CIA agent of influence is not as nutty as the idea that a twenty something “conference director” for the Cohen Group is a player in the Deep State. The conference director is the one who supervises setting up the table, bosses the catering if any, hands out any written material, etc. It’s a glorified internship, good on the resume and contacts for ambitious would-be pols like Buttigieg….but a grey eminence? That’s nearly as funny as people pretending they aren’t freaking out over Buttigieg because the images of him and Chasten.

Posted by: steven t johnson | Feb 13 2020 19:54 utc | 212

US Senate Passes Iran War Powers Resolution Limiting Trump’s Executive Authority
LINK
Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Senate backed legislation on Thursday to limit President Donald Trump’s ability to wage war against Iran, rebuking him after a strike against an Iranian military commander and Tehran’s retaliation last month raised fears of broader regional conflict.
Eight of Trump’s fellow Republicans joined Democrats to pass the war powers resolution by 55-45. The measure would require Trump to remove U.S. troops engaged in hostilities against Iran unless Congress declares war or passes a specific authorization for the use of military force.
Trump has promised a veto and there is not expected to be enough support in the Senate to muster the two-thirds majority to override. Republicans in the chamber hold 53 of the 100 seats and rarely vote against the president.

Note: It is difficult to recover what was given away. And if Trump vetoes, there is the funding issue. Congress holds the purse..

Posted by: Likklemore | Feb 13 2020 20:09 utc | 214

Posted by: steven t johnson | Feb 13 2020 19:54 utc | 213
You’re almost as much of a moron as you are an a-hole.
Buttigieg has Seth Klarman backing him and last time I checked, that guy has stolen enough money from people’s pensions through his insider-traded hedge fund to make a difference, and Amy “Klobucharged” Klobuchar has pledged her allegiance to Israel ahead of America so you know the gravy train for her won’t stop. Trying to claim that all big money is behind Trump when anyone who pays attention knows that smart money, albeit corrupt and ill-gotten money, plays both sides so it never loses.
Also, manipulating vote totals around the periphery is a relatively low-risk approach for the powers-that-be to dampen enthusiasm for Sanders by creating the illusion these corporate, cookie-cutter candidates are actually resonating with anyone other than lickspittle, subservient, neoliberal dipsh*ts like yourself. The fact that the party is having a difficult time convincing voters that Sanders is dangerous and that they should get behind some milquetoast empty suit who’ll toe the neoliberal line isn’t as easy as it used to be now that people have developed at least a baseline understanding of what neoliberal economics really means on the ground. The fact voters weren’t even allowed to hear what Tulsi Gabbard has to say should tell everyone just how much the thumb of the establishment is on the scales of democracy during this election cycle.
Don’t you think it would make sense for you to just head out to the garage, start your car, and think about things for a while?

Posted by: information_agent | Feb 13 2020 20:16 utc | 216

Forgive me, but WTF does the US think it is doing to the Iraqi and Iranian people?
Posted by: Egor68500 | Feb 13 2020 20:08 utc | 214
Positioning itself to grab as much of their country’s resource wealth is the short version. Controlling energy sources as much as possible to boost prices enough to get US shale investors back is also part of the plan. Preparing supply for when the shale boom turns to bust is a longer term goal.
Good reads on the future of shale:
https://southfront.org/american-empire-mistakenly-believes-shale-revolution-will-continue-until-2050-and-beyond-part-1/
https://www.desmogblog.com/2020/02/03/peak-permian-oil-production-schlumberger

Posted by: Bubbles | Feb 13 2020 20:44 utc | 218

snake at 52, ha ha. At one point the bar had all its windows shattered and as it was winter.. outside diffuse yellow light shining off the paving stones, plastic bags whirling in the wind, bits of ice about, it became deserted. The patrons were saved by Okie, who opened up Le Speakeasy, down the road a ways. There it was warm and there was a cat. Black.
(true story.)
james – you are right, n. europe.

Posted by: Noirette | Feb 13 2020 20:53 utc | 220

“Medicare for All” is NOT “Universal Healthcare” as implemented for example in the UK; the difference being that under Medicare for All, the U.S. govt would have an absolute monopoly of healthcare & private medical insurance would be illegal. The majority of U.S. workers & retirees currently covered to some extent by private insurance would be up the proverbial creek without a paddle.

Posted by: duh | Feb 13 2020 21:07 utc | 222

I see much talk of whether Sanders (or any president) can actually accomplish much outside of running foreign policy and making proposals and executive orders.
Yet none has mentioned the power to appoint justices at the federal level including lifetime appointments to the Supreme Court and then the federal District Courts.
If Bernie Sanders wins, a possibility to which I have assigned about a 40/60 probability (most likely not), he will likely re-balance the SCOTUS with at least one left-leaning justice and probably a center left justice or two. If the Dims can’t manage to unseat Trump, Americans are looking at a Trumpian right wing activist judiciary for many years to come.

Posted by: Ghost_of_Banned | Feb 13 2020 21:21 utc | 224

Posted by: duh | Feb 13 2020 21:07 utc | 223
“under Medicare for All, the U.S. govt would have an absolute monopoly of healthcare & private medical insurance would be illegal.”
That would be news to the millions of US seniors currently on Medicare supplemented by private, aptly-named “supplemental insurance”.

Posted by: information_agent | Feb 13 2020 21:38 utc | 226

The SAA’s really on a roll today and tonight West of Aleppo. Here’s the latest map update in that area. Russian General Gerasimov met with his Turk opposite and said essentially you had your chance, fucked up, and now the SAA will finish the job. I hope it goes all the way to the Turk border. Also, word of negotiations to bring SDF into SAA that include moving North from Aleppo to Afrin and beyond. The incident in Northeastern Syria where the Outlaw US Empire killed a teenager will hasten its departure from the area.

Posted by: karlof1 | Feb 13 2020 21:57 utc | 228

Trailer Trash @224

So far, most posters here seem to think that hierarchy is necessary and harmless. I’m convinced that top down, hierarchical organization is the basic design flaw that results in an endless cycle of empire rise and empire fall, along with all the misery and suffering created by that destructive cycle. “Labor” should hire “Capital”, not the other way around.

Hierarchy is inevitable, rather than necessary. Improperly organized hierarchy (the only kind human governmental systems have ever had) is certainly harmful.
Sad to say, the Iron Law of Oligarchy, which was first put forward in 1911, still holds true today, despite all the now discredited SV BS about “disintermediation” and “Arab springs”.
Here is Encyl. Brit. take on it, bearing in mind that it is talking exclusively about the conditions that held in Germany (and specifically the SPD) in 1911.

First of all, the day-to-day administration of any large-scale, differentiated bureaucratic organization such as the SPD by the rank-and-file majority was impossible. Given the “incompetence of the masses,” there was a need for full-time professional leadership and top-down guidance. In theory, the SPD leaders were subject to control by the rank-and-file through delegate conferences and membership voting, but in reality they were firmly in command. The simple organizational need for division of labor, hierarchy, and specialized leadership roles meant that control over the top functionaries from below was “purely fictitious.” The elected leaders had the experience, skills, and superior knowledge necessary for running the party and controlling all formal means of communication with the membership, including the party press. While proclaiming their devotion to the party program of social democracy, they soon became part of the German political establishment. The mass membership was unable to provide an effective counterweight to this entrenched minority of self-serving party officials, who were more committed to internal organizational goals and their own personal interests than to radical social change. Michels also felt that these inevitable oligarchic tendencies were reinforced by a mass predisposition for depending upon and even glorifying the party oligarchs, because the rank-and-file had a basic psychological need for hero-worship: “Though it grumbles occasionally, the majority is really delighted to find persons who will take the trouble to look after its affairs. In the mass, and even in the organized mass of the labor parties, there is an immense need for direction and guidance. This need is accompanied by a genuine cult for the leaders, who are regarded as heroes” (Michels [1911] 1968, p. 88).

IMHO, the only way to prevent oligarchy is to keep the units of organization so small that the leadership cannot detach itself from the masses of the movement. Still, if there are a large number of small units, they must also form some kind of hierarchy, but it should be as “flat” as possible.
I think the best example of a flat hierarchy was the British rule in India. I read somewhere, but can’t call up the quote, that there was no more than three layers of bureacracy between the lowest official and the Viceroy.
There is a lot to be said for flat hierarchies. The brain has many of these. A few layers of signal processing to clean up raw input, and then the top layer fires off an interpretation into the constant competition for access to consciousness.
The internet has the bandwidth to support such organization, but TPTB kill it wherever it appears.

Posted by: john brewster | Feb 13 2020 22:04 utc | 230

@krollchem #220
The article notes that AMO (Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation – a description of North Sea temperatures which are largely a function of current flows) is likely to turn negative, which is another lowering factor (that’s the oceans part).
Volcanic activity – there is no discussion on the means, only an examination of the past 50 years vs. historical average; there were a lot fewer major volcanic eruptions in the past 50 years.
The post also talks about solar – it doesn’t take a position either way, but does look at what the effects might be if we had another Maunder Minimum.
Net net, the point is simply that the panicmonger scenarios – which were never credible to start with – are becoming even less so. And that the notion that the asymptotic warming will start “any day now” – highly unlikely.

Posted by: c1ue | Feb 13 2020 22:30 utc | 232

information_agent@217 has tried the carbon monoxide far too often and is really stupid.
Seth Klarman was a long-time Republican donor which means the chances Seth Klarman is contributing to Buttigieg to mess with the Democratic Party primaries are very high indeed. This is *not* the same thing as investing in a potential winner, which is the moronic claim of the homophobic panic mongers. Calling Buttigieg a stalking horse is not supporting him but opposing him. The problem for the homophobic dirt bags is that it’s opposing him for his politics* but not his sex life, which is their real problem. (By the way, I oppose his childish belief in capitalism. Every single Democratic Party candidate shares it, including Sanders, who *at the very most* thinks it would be good to go back to Harry Truman—the invocation of FDR is BS. FDR would work with communists and Sanders will fight them to his dying breath.)
As for the conviction that there is a massive groundswell of opposition to the rich, newsflash jackass, Donald Trump is president, and Bloomberg is rising in the polls. Only hypocrites pretend to hate Buttigieg’s not so huge support from “billionaires” even as they ignore Bloomberg and Steyer and pretend Trump isn’t the big money candidate. The support for Trump absolutely refutes psychotic propositions about masses’ principled opposition to neoliberalism. They don’t even notice how he’s reneged on his infrastructure projects. The notion Trump’s trade wars are against a neoliberal managed trade is a damned lie. Trump just believes in playing hardball to manage trade more profitably to the US. People who think Trump is standing up for America don’t hate Buttigieg for neoliberalism. The widespread feeling that the recovery isn’t really and our grand kids have less and less to hope for is not, yet, a groundswell of opposition, it’s the excuse for Trumpism. It’s not getting harder to fool people, who still haven’t figured out Trump is a decompensated fraud, an enemy of the welfare of the majority of the people of the country, a would-be outlaw who will corrupt the justice system and repress his enemies with fraudulent trials and a vile beast who encourages cruelty and plays divide and rule.
Only a witless buffoon whose mind was wrecked by irrepressible feelings when confronted by the gay guy can manage to simultaneously assert the “establishment” (party establishment? class establishment? the moronic Deep State establishment? whatever is convenient to hint at when overwhelmed by disturbing ideas “establishment?) is, whatever “establishment” it is, is incapable of picking a Democratic Party hack to crush Sanders *and* at the very same moment capable of totally repressing Tulsi Gabbard! Trumpery crossed with homophobia.

Posted by: steven t johnson | Feb 13 2020 22:45 utc | 234

@john brewster
Thank you for your carefully considered reply. The analysis of the SPD rings true for me. I have found through hard experience that the most carefully crafted organizational constitution can be subverted by “bad actors”, usually quite easily.
The key is participation. Once members think of the organization as something separate that is just providing a service, it is doomed to become useless in the class struggle. “Business” labor unions are the prime example in the US.
I dunno. Maybe humans are just herd animals after all, and doomed to prefer heroic psychopathic leaders, ’cause leading is damn hard work, and generally a huge pain in the ass.

Posted by: Trailer Trash | Feb 13 2020 22:47 utc | 236

I dunno. Maybe humans are just herd animals after all, and doomed to prefer heroic psychopathic leaders, ’cause leading is damn hard work, and generally a huge pain in the ass.
Posted by: Trailer Trash | Feb 13 2020 22:47 utc | 237
I don’t think it’s so much about preference as it is about options. One also has to take into account ability not only to understand the challenges, but to decide on what must be done to achieve a more fair distribution of power and wealth.
Further to that and re: herd animals, a favourite quote;
“The best argument against Democracy is a 5 minute conversation with the average voter.”
Winston Randolph Churchill
That my friend, and I hope I can address you as such, is so very telling. It’s not an endorsement of Churchill’s politics, it’s plucking slivers of wisdom wherever they can be found, regardless of source.

Posted by: Bubbles | Feb 13 2020 23:10 utc | 238

Bubbles @234–
Thanks for your reply! The Saker has written an essay on a topic I’ve often contemplated writing about and have discussed at times here at the bar: “Understanding why they lie and why they get away with it,” although my title and framing would certainly differ.
After an intro citing some recent prevarications, Saker gets to his main points:
“The truth is that lies have become the norm of the western political discourse.
“That is bad enough by itself. But there is worse.
“The worst is not that western politicians lie, the worst is that almost nobody cares.
“That is really scary.
“Why?
“Because in a society which expects everybody to lie, facts simply don’t matter any more.
“So that is the key question: do we care or don’t we?” [Emphasis all original]
Sure, many care as he notes. His discourse then becomes metaphysical, so it’s best barflies read it themselves instead of me invariably spinning it in some manner. What he discusses I’ve delved into before here, albeit briefly. But what he discusses greatly impacts the current political scene as reality becomes the main issue of the essay, and reality is made up of truth and facts.
Sanders is pounding reality with his gavel at every opportunity, while his challengers try to get along by using the usual blend of prevarications and waffles. That’s why I wrote above that Sanders will make lots of hay in Nevada with Trump’s lies about Social Security and Medicare, and everywhere else he goes. Indeed, that’s why he’s such a threat to the D-Party since it’s built on the lies of the Clintons and their allies. Along with Junk Economics we need Junk Politics, although I do recall several writers who tried to inform the public, William Greider’sWho Will Tell the People: The Betrayal of American Democracy from 1993! being the most memorable and still valid today.
Some of the naysayers here are sincere and honest in their cynicism; others are simply trolls. At times it’s hard to tell one from the other. IMO, the best politically active move a barfly residing within the Empire can do is form a discussion group to discuss today’s realities sans the BigLie Media crap. That’s how the 19th Century People’s Party started its trek to almost capturing the national government. Just remember that bettering your own and your family’s condition is a very conservative value and isn’t at all radical, although some today are trying to make it so, and that one of our nation’s fundamental realities is the failure to advance the wellbeing of our most basic national asset–our Human Capital. That’s a reality faced by most every person of whatever political persuasion and ought to be a very easy icebreaker to use in drumming up a conversation or beginning a group discussion. And it can always be pointed out that doing so is one of the basic rationales provided in the Constitution’s Preamble to guide the government.

Posted by: karlof1 | Feb 13 2020 23:47 utc | 240

Trailer Trash @ 237

The key is participation. Once members think of the organization as something separate that is just providing a service, it is doomed to become useless in the class struggle. “Business” labor unions are the prime example in the US.

Participation is basic. I find inspiration in the strangest places. For example, in the brutal Scifi neo-noir of the Takeshi Kovacs series. (The novel – not the worthless TV series.) There is a revolutionary named Quelcrist Falconer, and the author gives her some good lines:

People don’t do what they are supposed to do. Run Things. Take control. Look after social systems. Keep the streets safe, administer public health and education. Build stuff. Create wealth and organize data, and ensure they both flow where they are needed. People will do all of this; the capacity is there, but…they have to be switched on first. They have to be made aware.
The oligarchs are…like a closed subroutine that has gotten out of hand. A cancer if you like. They’re programmed to feed off the rest of the body no matter what the cost to the system in general, and to kill off anything that competes. That’s why you have to take them down first.
(Smashing the ruling class) is a necessary first step. Every previous revolutionary movement in history has made the same basic mistake. They’ve all seen power as a static apparatus, as a structure. It is not. It’s a dynamic, a flow system with two possible tendencies. Power either accumulates, or it diffuses through the system. In most societies, its in accumulative mode, and most revolutionary movements are only really interested in reconstituting the accumulation in a new location. A genuine revolutionary movement has to reverse the flow. And no one ever does that, because they are all too fucking scared of losing their conning tower moment in the historical process. If you tear down one agglutinative power dynamic and put another one it its place, you’ve changed nothing. You’re not going to solve any of that society’s problems, they’ll just reemerge at a new angle…You’ve got to build structures that allow for the diffusion of power, not regrouping.
Maybe constitutional democracy wasn’t the failure the people who write the history books would like us to believe. Maybe they just murdered it, took it away from us, and lied to our children about it.

Just FYI, the TV series made Falconer into an agent of the government. :slaps forehead: Can’t have TV viewers getting any ideas.
Something in this quote for everyone here: advocates taking out oligarchs, then disses revolutionaires who want to “reconstitute the accumulation in a new location”. Maybe fantasy, but well written.

Posted by: john brewster | Feb 14 2020 0:12 utc | 242

one of our nation’s fundamental realities is the failure to advance the wellbeing of our most basic national asset–our Human Capital. That’s a reality faced by most every person of whatever political persuasion and ought to be a very easy icebreaker to use in drumming up a conversation or beginning a group discussion. And it can always be pointed out that doing so is one of the basic rationales provided in the Constitution’s Preamble to guide the government.
Posted by: karlof1 | Feb 13 2020 23:47 utc | 241
First of all the proletariat need a platform to do that and that isn’t in the interests of the ‘rich’ so they aren’t about to accommodate such goals especially in the multi-billion dollar media industry they own. Even the Nazi’s understood the power of controlling the media. Erdogan and the US funded terrorists in Syria too. No Western journalists were allowed into the ‘freedom fighters’ territory lest they were willing to gamble on losing their head ..literally.
The now disgraced oracle of the Money Changers, Alan Greenspan once said, in so many words, the workers must be continuously subject to uncertainty of job security in order to make them productive.
Pretty damned elitist of him don’t you think? But the rub is, there’s truth in what he said. I was a small businessman for 20 odd years and I can say many employees don’t understand when they seek and receive employment, they have a responsibility to produce an adequate amount of work so both partners in the venture, employer and employee can benefit.
However, that doesn’t address the other side of the equation, employers abusing employees for personal gain. A balanced, centrist positions is preferred in such matters. Unions once tried to achieve that balance, but they came under attack from both sides and lost their position as arbitrators.

Posted by: Bubbles | Feb 14 2020 0:37 utc | 244

Unions once tried to achieve that balance, but they came under attack from both sides and lost their position as arbitrators.
Posted by: Bubbles | Feb 14 2020 0:37 utc | 245
‘Perceived arbitrators’ would have been a better way of saying it. Wording does of course matter. Intent even more so.
ie Drain the swamp said conman in Chief trump who then went on to fashion an admin after a New York crime syndicate, complete with Consigliere Rudy Giuliani and Enforcer William Barr.

Posted by: Bubbles | Feb 14 2020 1:04 utc | 246

an entire management stepping down? obviously not in the usa…. this can only happen is places where there is a modicum of self respect and decency..

Posted by: james | Feb 14 2020 2:02 utc | 248

@ karlof1 | Feb 13 2020 23:47 utc | 241
”I do recall several writers who tried to inform the public, William Greider’s ‘Who Will Tell the People: The Betrayal of American Democracy’ from 1993! being the most memorable and still valid today.”
Agreed, with additions: Whenever I encounter someone who wishes to understand politics and governance in the US today, I refer them to three books, in this order: Howard Zinn’s “People’s History of the United States,” Lincoln Steffen’s “The Shame of the Cities” and the above-mentioned “Who Will Tell the People.”

Posted by: AntiSpin | Feb 14 2020 2:18 utc | 250

Here’s an opinion you won’t hear much;
http://failedevolution.blogspot.com/2020/02/although-liberal-brains-are-still-in.html

Posted by: ben | Feb 14 2020 2:36 utc | 252

paul @244
Oppose Buttigieg because he’s gay? Geez, Paul, have you ever visited South Bend, Indiana? Where he was elected mayor with 8,515 votes (yes, that was the total number of votes he received in 2015). I did, last year, and . . . couldn’t begin to imagine anyone voting for him for President of the United Kennel Club, much less the United States.

Posted by: zakukommander | Feb 14 2020 4:14 utc | 254

Here’s something for you psychoh on public banking in India. I heard public banking has increased in 2020, but the article won’t load, so here’s the 2019 article.
https://www.mapsofindia.com/my-india/business/top-10-largest-public-sector-banks-in-india-2019

Posted by: ben | Feb 14 2020 4:38 utc | 256

Bubbles @216:

Do you somehow think your Sanders centric criticism is going to bring about change … ?

Criticism from Russ, myself, and others is centered on the duopoly parties and the Zionist establishment. But Sanders appears to have allied with that establishment. He has assumed the role of a ‘sheepdog’, herding progressives into the Democratic Party fold.
Please try to follow the logic:

1. The Zionist, EMPIRE-FIRST establishment “owns” the Democratic and Republican Parties (aka the “duopoly”)
2. Sanders MUST GAIN A MAJORITY OF ELECTED DELEGATES or an establishment candidate will be picked (via a ‘brokered’ convention)
3. Sanders doesn’t complain about things he should be complaining about IF HE REALLY WANTED TO WIN (media bias; election manipulation; Democratic Party identity politics; and why does he let his enemies use “socialism” as a pejorative when he could instead criticize the rightward move of BOTH Parties over the last 40 years?)
   – and –
   Sanders has unilaterally and preemptively given up any leverage that he might have to move his “democratic socialist” agenda forward (he has said MANY TIMES that “Trump is the most dangerous President” ever and that he will support any candidate that the Democratic Party runs in the General Election)
   These TWO faults, take together, amount to a betrayal of his ‘base’.

Bubbles @234:

Sander’s detractors appear to seek the perfect candidate … If anyone can articulate a better choice …

“Perfect Candidate?” You are strawmaning.
There is no “better choice” because the duopoly is gonna manipulate the election to put forward establishment candidates.
Thus, voting for Sanders is essentially a “protest vote”.
Those of us who are not enamored of being fooled AND ACTUALLY WANT TO SEE CHANGE have argued for independent Movements. Independent Movements are not tied to any Party or candidate. Pick whomever you like.
!!

Posted by: Jackrabbit | Feb 14 2020 6:40 utc | 258

According to this pro-indigenous anti-imperialist activist, AOC loves the Bolivian fascists and hates the natives.
https://www.counterpunch.org/2020/02/14/ocasio-cortez-to-constituents-on-bolivian-coup-drop-dead/
If accurate, that wouldn’t have anything to do with her ecocidal lithium imperialism, would it?

Posted by: Russ | Feb 14 2020 8:48 utc | 260

@Likklemore | 215
I have read about this elsewhere but wasn’t aware of the opportunity to veto. And, it’s been a long day, not sure what the last paragraph in the quote is saying – is the veto likely or unlikely to get the required support? If eight Repulican originally voted for are they expected to vote against in the Veto?

Posted by: Egor68500 | Feb 14 2020 11:19 utc | 262

Second Syrian helicopter shot down in the Idlib/Aleppo theatre within three days. Looks like Sultan Erdogan has been handing out MANPADS to the Al Qaeda rebels. Syria ought to reconsider its tactics, or at least use more advanced helicopters than the Mil Mi-17.

Posted by: 0use4msm | Feb 14 2020 12:57 utc | 264

Posted by: Russ | Feb 14 2020 7:24 utc | 260
The definitions of anarchy and anarchist are easy to find on the internet. I’m confident even a leading representative of boo bird land like you can do it. Bottom line is you and your compadre the talking rabbit bring nothing of value to the topic. Now be a good boy and find something useful to do.

Posted by: Bubbles | Feb 14 2020 14:19 utc | 266

John dolton appears to have difficulty following a conversation, confusing discussion about the dark ages and feudalism with later references to Bannon style burn it all down anarchy. I suppose one shouldn’t expect much from a john

Posted by: Bubbles | Feb 14 2020 14:32 utc | 268

As I’ve had posted in some Open Thread here some weeks ago, official data has finally come to the Western MSM.
Germany – and, therefore, the EU – is on its knees:
German economy stagnates as eurozone growth hits seven-year low
Don’t want to be that guy, but the game is pretty much over for Germany (and for whatever the fuck the Europeans mean by “Europe”).

Posted by: vk | Feb 14 2020 14:46 utc | 270

Bubbles @267: anarchy!!!
We can’t have nice things because … anarchy!
Every reformer has heard that same tired excuse.
Bernie is no reformer. He’s controlled opposition. He is not really a threat to the corrupt Zionist Death Cult Asshats that run the Empire.
The Establishment Doesn’t Fear Trump, And It Doesn’t Fear Bernie. It Fears You.
!!

Posted by: Jackrabbit | Feb 14 2020 15:37 utc | 272

Just for your information,here in France the leading news outlets have already been briefed about their new future presedential candidate P.Buttigieg.It is clear to many readers that anything negative about Pete is already silenced,and anything negative about your Bernie is inflated.Just wondering how they proceed to make journalists act following their orders.It’s all the much astounding,as Le Monde,picturing itself as left,should have some inclination towards Sanders,but they don’t.Of course they wanna see a homocouple in the white house,and they still think that such is the major reason for young people to vote for Pete.Even in this country,France,where people take benefits from social programs,universal health care and so on,those journalists prefer that in your country,the USA,big money goes to war,and none at all to the welfare of the people.It’s just crazy!

Posted by: willie | Feb 14 2020 15:54 utc | 274

US Democracy in action at the highest level; New Yorker Mike Bloomberg and campaign chief Tim O’Brien duke it out on twitter with fellow New Yorker @Real Donald and @Real Donald the lesser, Don junior.
Jr. posted accusations of racism against mike and set off a flame war. For your entertainment..
https://twitter.com/TimOBrien and 17 tweets on Feb 11th
“Tim O’Brien
@TimOBrien
·
Feb 11
6/x: Your mom, Ivana Trump, told her lawyer during your parents divorce that your dad kept a copy of Hitler’s collected speeches by his bedside in Trump Tower. When a reporter questioned your dad about the book in 1990, he balked and then said it was a gift.”
Award for best zinger goes to..
“Tim O’Brien
@TimOBrien
·
Feb 11
4/x: O’Donnell also described Trump as picky about who handled his cash back then. “Black guys counting my money! I hate it. The only kind of people I want counting my money are short guys that wear yarmulkes every day.”
Bloomberg responds to trump’s “mini mike” and establishes he can play name game tag too
#CarnivalBarkingClown
It rose to #16 worldwide
https://getdaytrends.com/trend/%23CarnivalBarkingClown/
Comes complete with pictures
https://twitter.com/AZVotes/status/1227952778313715713/photo/1
What would the kids say? @like real mature dudes.

Posted by: Bubbles | Feb 14 2020 17:09 utc | 276

Ben Ferguson, a conservative radio host, said he has spoken to Democratic voters on his show who are unsure if Mr Buttigieg’s sexual orientation could hamper him in defeating Mr Trump.
“There was a surprising number of Democratic voters who said it was an issue for them,” he told CNN. “The reality is what Limbaugh was talking about.”
In Iowa’s caucuses last week one voter asked to rescind her ballot for Mr Buttigieg after learning he was gay.
“I don’t want anybody like that in the White House,” she said. So, can I have my card back?”

Buttigieg’s sexuality becomes an issue
So not only is Buttigieg taking money from billionaires and other influencers, but the fact that he’s married to a man will become an issue when people who still aren’t aware of this learn about it IN THE GENERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN. He’s being funded strictly to stop Sanders momentum now and then LOSE TO TRUMP later. PERIOD! GET REAL.

Posted by: Circe | Feb 14 2020 17:26 utc | 278

Today, February 14, is the eve of a feast day in the old Russian calendar, being the feast of the Presentation of the infant Christ by his parents in the temple. On this day, the priest of my little church as a young man was freed from a concentration camp outside Dresden by the bombing that went on to obliterate that beautiful city. He made his way to the Orthodox Cathedral along with others, and all sheltered in the basement of the cathedral. On the morning of the feast they came upstairs to find the cathedral as swept by a huge wind with all its ornaments, icons, furniture in disarray. But outside, as photos attest, all as far as you could see was utterly destroyed.
They performed the liturgy.

Posted by: juliania | Feb 14 2020 18:32 utc | 280

An addition to my comment @210 on Ellen Brown’s article about Mexico’s public banking, this Matthew Ehret article picks up on Brown and adds some curious history to it. (As a note to readers, Ehret’s connected to Lyndon LaRouche’s media network, thus my saying “curious history.”) Ehret’s take on Alexander Hamilton is one that’s curious; but to be honest, I’ve always suspected some unwarranted bias against Hamilton existed but never took the time to dig into it to try and determine the truth. The article written and printed by Benjamin Franklin, “A Modest Enquiry into the Nature and Necessity of a Paper-Currency,” that Ehret cites is one I’ve never come across before (He has previously surprised me with his sources.), which references previous publications on the topic. Indeed, Franklin’s essay is rather extensive and probably of greater interest than Ehret’s. Too bad this is relayed at the end of a dying thread. I intend to write about it later at my VK space.

Posted by: karlof1 | Feb 14 2020 18:56 utc | 282

Posted by: steven t johnson | Feb 13 2020 22:45 utc | 235
Whatever second-rate troll farm you work for isn’t getting their money’s worth based on the tripe you spew here.

Posted by: information_agent | Feb 14 2020 19:45 utc | 284

Posted by: c1ue | Feb 13 2020 18:43 utc | 203
There was no ad hominem against you. Keep cool. I was only trying to understand why you didn’t see what my point was. OK, my hypothesis is not very pleasant to hear. That doesn’t mean that it must be wrong ad hominem.
Anyway, here are two more unpleasant and plausible hypotheses:
– your many first-hand experiences of cunning individuals is the consequence of your difficulties to speedily identify them during the first period.
– you’re not enough wanting to understand the disagreeing opinions.
Look at what you did basically. You just tried to disqualify my POV by unsubstantiated claims that I was parroting the Dems or Maher. You just didn’t take care it doesn’t match some facts which you already know:
– I’m French. How could I take care of the Dems’s kabuki? I don’t even know what Maher exactly is.
– I told in the comment which you answered first, that my Qanon = Bannon idea came from the Great Awakening video, when it was released one or two years ago. I was the only one to make this diagnosis at the time. I could claim that Maher is parroting myself today. It would be dumb, for sure, but at least the timeline would be consistent.
– the link between Bannon and the European nationalist-zionist is a documented fact, perfectly understood by real nationalists here in Europe. Again, this has nothing related to the Dems babbling. And I guess that most of them ignore that, since they often peddle the fantasy that Bannon is an antisemitic populist. You can check the zionism of Bannon by searching in Breitbart about Hezbollah.
– the Bannon/Cambridge Analytica story was reported in the best right-leaning French daily newspaper, which is Le Figaro. Lot of factual information, and the story does hold water.
To conclude: you need a more serious approach than this unsubstantiated (and definitely wrong) claim “Parisian Guy is only parroting Maher”

Posted by: Parisian Guy | Feb 14 2020 20:27 utc | 286

Being targeted by paid trolls is a good sign. It means that you make their paymasters nervous. Be proud of it.
Oh, I am proud of it!
So-oh, today, there’s this meme going around:
HEY EVERYONE, WANTED TO GET YOU ALL A BERNIE SANDERS FOR VALENTINE’S 💖 DAY BUT BERNIE’S NOT FOR SALE.😘
…unlike weasel Mayor Pete the Cheat that 40 billionaires 🤑 can buy.

Posted by: Circe | Feb 14 2020 21:59 utc | 288

Here’s an article of interest, “Timeline: How the DNC Manipulated 2016 Presidential Race,” although I don’t think it’s 100% complete as a lot of fraud at the primaries isn’t included. But, it is a good reminder.

Posted by: karlof1 | Feb 15 2020 1:16 utc | 290

: karlof1 | Feb 14 2020 18:56 utc | 283
Dude, previously you gave the VK address, and I have lost it.
Can you kindly re-state this?
Thanks, Wally

Posted by: Walter | Feb 15 2020 7:26 utc | 292

Circe | Feb 15 2020 8:46 utc | 294 (foreign agents in ‘lections)
PressTV > “Israel meddling in US elections, not Russians: Philip Giraldi”
In a matter from the rooted origins of the zionist intelop sometimes called Israel> Didja know that Truman beat Dewey in ’48, when everybody was sure Dewey’d win…the zionists gave in secret 2 million us bucks to the Truman campaign…and maybe some buckies stuck to the man himself… (he was corrupt in some small ways, at least…carried his family on the Senate Office payroll – stuff like that).
It was payback for the 2 million when he insisted on recognition of Israel. May Jews objected loudly too… NY Times publiched a letter about that… They saw, I think, that the zionists were much like nazis – their words in fact – read the letter – and they saw that the zionists would influenced US policy henceforth…dangerously for both the US and also for the zionists… Looks like their fears were well-founded.

Posted by: Walter | Feb 15 2020 10:14 utc | 294

Circe, your comments are the currants in the MoA currant cake. I’m not here every day, but whenever I come I see someone or the other hammering you. So let me balance that. I love reading whatever you have to say. Your passion, intelligence and sincerity are a constant treat.

Posted by: sarz | Feb 15 2020 12:33 utc | 296

@Walter #293: karlof1’s VK page is at vk.com/id580896205. You can quickly access it by clicking his name under his comments.

Posted by: S | Feb 15 2020 13:40 utc | 298

Circe@286 “And notice how he always appears soon after I post something on Sanders a negative on Buttigieg. And I’ve been commenting here for years, while I just noticed him commenting recently. Hmmmm…🤔”
The obvious conclusion is that all those years of comments weren’t objected to, that the Sanders support isn’t really objected to, that the responses have been to your BS about Buttigieg, all lies prompted by a despicable hate for the gay guy. I don’t support Buttigieg’s capitalist program, but I despise filth like you, who lie and queer bait. Your comments are conspiracy mongering; shameless disavowal of common sense; an obscenely arrogant assumption that you no more have to be consistent than your actual role model Donald Trump. If you were in any sense honest, your spiritual kinship with the likes of William Gruff should appall you, shock you into thinking. But you prefer to lie. And the most despicable thing about it is that Sanders is not being hurt by Buttigieg, Buttigieg is not going to be the nominee, Sanders’ real opposition is still Biden (whose comeback in South Carolina is already being hailed as amazing in pre-written articles*) and Bloomberg and maybe Klobuchar. You have no political motive for any of your obscenely stupid conspiracy mongering. You’re just a vicious fool who’s doing it for fun, to pander to squalid filth who shill Trumpery. Shame on you.
It is always the case that accusations of being an employee of a troll farm are an indication of failure to have any response to the ideas in a comment or jealousy that the target is good enough to get paid.

Posted by: steven t johnson | Feb 15 2020 14:37 utc | 300