By Lambert Strether of Corrente
Bird Song of the Day
Common Nightingale, Punta Camorro, Cádiz, Andalucía, Spain.
In Case You Might Miss…
(1) Democrat Inner Party considered as a wretched hive of scum and villainy.
Look for the Helpers
“Book Review: Dream! Hack! Build! – Unleash Citizen-Driven Innovation with the Power of Hackathons” [Dotneteers]. “‘Dream! Hack! Build!‘ by Ann Molin, Love Dager, Mustafa Sherif, Carolina Emanuelson, and Dr. Kristofer Vernmark is an inspiring and practical guide to leveraging hackathons for fostering innovation and addressing societal challenges. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in driving impactful change through collaborative efforts…. The book emphasizes the importance of engaging citizens in the innovation process. It provides practical examples, such as the Dream for Sweden campaign, which invited citizens to share their dreams and ideas for a better future. This approach ensures that the solutions developed are more inclusive and aligned with the needs of the community.”
My email address is down by the plant; please send examples of there (“Helpers” in the subject line). In our increasingly desperate and fragile neoliberal society, everyday normal incidents and stories of “the communism of everyday life” are what I am looking for (and not, say, the Red Cross in Hawaii, or even the UNWRA in Gaza).
Politics
“So many of the social reactions that strike us as psychological are in fact a rational management of symbolic capital.” –Pierre Bourdieu, Classification Struggles
2024
Less than four months to go!
Friday’s RCP Poll Averages:
Virginia and North Carolina added to the list. NC was never going for Biden, but Virginia? Yikes!
* * * “Some way he make himself all soft like a blob of jelly and surround me so nasty. Then he gets wet all over like with green slime. So I guess he come to some kinda awful climax.” –William Burroughs, Naked Lunch
Lambert here: I don’t have a dog in this fight, as I’ve said. After all, Biden, on my Covid beat, slaughtered hundreds of thousands of people with his policy of mass infection without mitigation. And that’s before we get to brinkmanship with nuclear powers (but yes, Lina Khan). On the other hand, the Democrats seeking to defenestrate Biden — and who, three years ago, in one of life’s little ironies, installed him, optimized the primary to elect him, and who, until a few days ago, serviced and defended him — are absolutely a wretched hive of scum and villainy, and the Democrat Party would be far better off if a cleansing fire from Heaven burnt away these podcasters, pundits, strategists, intelligence assets, donors, Flexians, and ice cream connoisseurs, along with the Wizard of Kalorama™ and his entourage. Perhaps — to shift metaphors — if these barnacles and parasites were scraped off the hull, the good ship Democrat could make some headway.
Lambert still here: Yesterday, I questioned Pelosi’s strategic genius, based on questions of the calendar. However, “The purpose of a system is what it does,” says Stafford Beer, designer of the Cybersim system for Allende (“There is ‘no point in claiming that the purpose of a system is to do what it constantly fails to do'”). If the outcome of the past few week’s machinations is Kamala coronated, and not elected, then that was the system’s purpose and Pelosi’s intent (as well as Obama’s), and probably has been a long time (note that pushing the calendar to the breaking point optimizes for a coronation, because there’s no time to put together an open convention).
Lambert here, ordering up strong drink: For a long time, I’ve examined the structure of the Democrat Party (without coming to a definitive conclusion, along with the many political scientists over the years who have also not come to a conclusion). However, one constant slogan/maxim/nugget of wisdom is that “the party decides” (and not, say, the donors). Should the “Wretched Hive” (see above) succeed in defenestrating Biden, we might revise that slogan to read “The Inner Party” decides; it is not at all clear to me that the ground troops — the precinct captains, the election officers, the organizers, loyalists generally — want to replace Biden. The anecdotes I have seen argue the reverse, as does the fact that only 36% of House electeds were willing to sign on to the letter that Wretched Hive was privately circulating. So we would have a wonderfully clarifying operational defintion of “our democracy.”
Lambert, pounding one back: If I were Biden, I’d be in Gotterdammerüng mode, and if I wanted to cut a deal with these backstabbing weasels, this would be it: The convention will nominate me (“I have done the state some service, and they know ‘t”), at which point I will graciously refuse the nomination, opening the convention. Presumably the Wretched Hive will have wired everything up by that point, so the convention won’t be open at all, and so be it.
Lambert, slamming the glass down: After Biden’s debate debacle, I introduced the framing that it was “time to take the car keys away.” This was valid (a) in that it removed all the medical jargon and online diagnosis from the discourse, and (b) reframed the discourse in terms that many, many families could understand. What I did not consider was the larger context: The car keys still have to be given to somebody, but who? The airheaded daughter among whose skills are not numbered actually driving? Any one of the sludge-brained sons who consistently drive 45 mph in the left lane? Some Junior High schooler with a learner’s permit? Who, exactly? Let’s remember that this is the stupidest timeline, and that it’s always possible to make things worse….
The DNC
“Democrats in Turmoil as Party Leaders Call for Biden To Step Aside” [Democrats in Turmoil as Party Leaders Call for Biden To Step Aside” [RealClearPolitics]. “In a letter to ‘Fellow Democrats,’ Biden cited many reasons for remaining in the race, placing particular emphasis on the argument that he was the choice of Democratic primary voters, and that it would be wrong to disregard their voice. ‘The voters of the Democratic Party have voted. They have chosen me to be the nominee of the party. Do we now just say this process didn’t matter?’ … the Democratic National Committee has taken unprecedented measures to guarantee a Biden-Harris ticket comes to fruition. There was the reorganization of the primary calendar, a historic change that slated Biden-friendly South Carolina as the first Democratic primary of the year…. There were no primary debates this year, either.” • And every single member of the Wretched Hive supported the DNC’s actions, vociferously,
Biden Circle
“Biden’s family starts discussing his possible exit plan from the 2024 race” [NBC]. “Members of President Joe Biden’s family have discussed what an exit from his campaign might look like, according to two people familiar with the discussions. The overall tone of the conversations has been that any exit plan — should Biden decide to take that step, as some of his closest allies increasingly believe he will — should put the party in the best position to beat former President Donald Trump while also being worthy of the more than five decades he has served the country in elected office, these people said. Biden’s family members have specifically discussed how he would want to end his re-election bid on his own timing and with a carefully calculated plan in place. Considerations about the impact of the campaign on his health, his family and the stability of the country are among those at the forefront of the discussions, the people familiar with those discussions said. The prospect of Biden’s considering stepping aside, much less that his family is gaming out a possible exit plan, is an extraordinary development that comes after he has repeatedly said he would not relinquish his position as the presumptive nominee of the party.” • Who are the “two people familiar”? Jill? Hunter? Unlikely.
“Biden campaign, White House deny report Biden discussing with family exit plan from 2024 race” [Just the News]. “Thee White House and the Biden campaign on Friday denied a news report that President Biden is having discussions with family members about a possible exit plan from the 2024 presidential race against GOP nominee Donald Trump. ‘That is not happening, period,’ said White House spokesperson Andrew Bates. “The individuals making those claims are not speaking for his family or his team – and they will be proven wrong. Keep the faith.”… Jen O’Malley Dillon, Biden’s re-election campaign chair, said on Friday that Biden isn’t leaving the race and he has “multiple pathways to victory” in November.
“Biden left feeling angry and betrayed by top Democratic leaders wavering on his campaign” [NBC News]. I can’t think why. “President Joe Biden feels personally hurt and betrayed by the way so many Democrats, including some of the party’s top leaders, have left him hung out to dry as he faces the biggest crisis of his political career, according to two sources familiar with his thinking. And privately, many of those leaders have expressed doubts about his path forward. Former President Barack Obama’s only public comment came the day after Biden’s disastrous debate last month, when he tweeted “Bad debate nights happen” and talked about his former vice president’s virtues. Privately, however, Obama has concerns. Bill and Hillary Clinton have done nothing publicly other than each putting out a tweet shortly after the June 27 debate. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, both of New York, as well as Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., the former House speaker, have spent weeks listening to their members’ concerns and relaying them to Biden and his campaign. Publicly, all three have said they support whatever decision Biden makes, but even behind closed doors, they haven’t told congressional Democrats to get behind Biden or given them any guidance about what they should do.” • Even if you’re a big dog, nobody cares how loudly you bark from your kennel….
Biden (D): “Biden Campaign Schedules an All-Hands as Defections Grow” [NOTUS]. “Democratic leaders signaled in their most direct terms this week that they’re prepared to leak their private conversations with President Joe Biden until he drops out of the 2024 race. And, as of Thursday, the pressure — and the leaks — were only mounting… Democrats told NOTUS on Thursday that members are holding back from an all-out jailbreak from the president, but enough lawmakers are preparing to call on Biden to step aside in the coming days so that the president gets the point. ‘It is building to a head this weekend, and we should have movement,” one House Democrat told NOTUS on Thursday. “So I think many members, out of respect for Biden, will likely wait, but a few will not because, you know, I think what they don’t want is to create any perception by Biden that the opposition is over.’ This lawmaker noted that Biden has seemed to get the message before that he has to step down as the Democratic nominee — only to ignore the opposition and forge ahead. That is why more lawmakers are preparing to go public in the coming days unless Biden indicates he will drop out. ‘We could get some signal from the White House that, you know, they’re preparing a major announcement or something like that, and then everything would freeze,’ this Democrat said. ‘But, you know, short of that, I think there will continue to be some forward motion by members of Congress who want to maintain pressure.'” • So, the pressure is leaks? That’s where we are? That’s what we know how to do?
Republican Funhouse
“The GOP’s Big Working-Class Bet” [Ruy Teixiera, The Liberal Patriot]. “Democrats seem inclined to believe that the GOP’s big bet on the working class—of which the Vance nomination is surely a part—cannot possibly pay off due to the party’s obvious hypocrisy, incoherent policy ideas, and traditional business-oriented commitments. Therefore, the GOP’s latest moves will be of little consequence. Here’s the problem: not only could the GOP’s big bet on the working class pay off—it already is paying off. Let’s go to the tape. In the July New York Times/Siena poll, Biden is losing to Trump by 23 points among working-class likely voters. In their June poll, which was closer to the running average of the polls, Trump led by 17 points among working-class likely voters. Either way, this is a massive shift from the 2020 election where Trump carried these voters by only 4 points and mostly explains why Trump is running ahead this year.”
Syndemics
“I am in earnest — I will not equivocate — I will not excuse — I will not retreat a single inch — AND I WILL BE HEARD.” –William Lloyd Garrison
Covid Resources, United States (National): Transmission (CDC); Wastewater (CDC, Biobot; includes many counties; Wastewater Scan, includes drilldown by zip); Variants (CDC; Walgreens); “Iowa COVID-19 Tracker” (in IA, but national data). “Infection Control, Emergency Management, Safety, and General Thoughts” (especially on hospitalization by city).
Lambert here: Readers, thanks for the collective effort. To update any entry, do feel free to contact me at the address given with the plants. Please put “COVID” in the subject line. Thank you!
Resources, United States (Local): AK (dashboard); AL (dashboard); AR (dashboard); AZ (dashboard); CA (dashboard; Marin, dashboard; Stanford, wastewater; Oakland, wastewater); CO (dashboard; wastewater); CT (dashboard); DE (dashboard); FL (wastewater); GA (wastewater); HI (dashboard); IA (wastewater reports); ID (dashboard, Boise; dashboard, wastewater, Central Idaho; wastewater, Coeur d’Alene; dashboard, Spokane County); IL (wastewater); IN (dashboard); KS (dashboard; wastewater, Lawrence); KY (dashboard, Louisville); LA (dashboard); MA (wastewater); MD (dashboard); ME (dashboard); MI (wastewater; wastewater); MN (dashboard); MO (wastewater); MS (dashboard); MT (dashboard); NC (dashboard); ND (dashboard; wastewater); NE (dashboard); NH (wastewater); NJ (dashboard); NM (dashboard); NV (dashboard; wastewater, Southern NV); NY (dashboard); OH (dashboard); OK (dashboard); OR (dashboard); PA (dashboard); RI (dashboard); SC (dashboard); SD (dashboard); TN (dashboard); TX (dashboard); UT (wastewater); VA (dashboard); VT (dashboard); WA (dashboard; dashboard); WI (wastewater); WV (wastewater); WY (wastewater).
Resources, Canada (National): Wastewater (Government of Canada).
Resources, Canada (Provincial): ON (wastewater); QC (les eaux usées); BC (wastewater); BC, Vancouver (wastewater).
Hat tips to helpful readers: Alexis, anon (2), Art_DogCT, B24S, CanCyn, ChiGal, Chuck L, Festoonic, FM, FreeMarketApologist (4), Gumbo, hop2it, JB, JEHR, JF, JL Joe, John, JM (10), JustAnotherVolunteer, JW, KatieBird, KF, LL, Michael King, KF, LaRuse, mrsyk, MT, MT_Wild, otisyves, Petal (6), RK (2), RL, RM, Rod, square coats (11), tennesseewaltzer, Tom B., Utah, Bob White (3).
Stay safe out there!
TABLE 1: Daily Covid Charts
| Wastewater | ||
| This week[1] CDC July 8: | Last Week[2] CDC June 24 (until next week): | |
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| Variants [3] CDC July 6 | Emergency Room Visits[4] CDC July 8 | |
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| Hospitalization | ||
| ★ New York[5] New York State, data July 17: | National [6] CDC June 22: | |
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| Positivity | ||
| National[7] Walgreens July 15: | ★ Ohio[8] Cleveland Clinic July 13: | |
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| Travelers Data | ||
| Positivity[9] CDC June 24: | Variants[10] CDC June 24: | |
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| Deaths | ||
| Weekly Deaths vs. % Positivity [11]CDC July 6: | Weekly Deaths vs. ED Visits [12]CDC July 6: | |
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LEGEND
1) ★ for charts new today; all others are not updated.
2) For a full-size/full-resolution image, Command-click (MacOS) or right-click (Windows) on the chart thumbnail and “open image in new tab.”
NOTES
[1] (CDC) This week’s wastewater map, with hot spots annotated. Worse than two weeks ago.
[2] (CDC) Last week’s wastewater map.
[3] (CDC Variants) LB.1 coming up on the outside.
[4] (ER) This is the best I can do for now. At least data for the entire pandemic is presented.
[5] (Hospitalization: NY) Now acceleration, which is compatible with a wastewater decrease, but still not a good feeling .(The New York city area has form; in 2020, as the home of two international airports (JFK and EWR) it was an important entry point for the virus into the country (and from thence up the Hudson River valley, as the rich sought to escape, and then around the country through air travel.)
[6] (Hospitalization: CDC). This is the best I can do for now. Note the assumption that Covid is seasonal is built into the presentation, which in fact shows that Covid is not seasonal. At least data for the entire pandemic is presented.
[7] (Walgreens) Still going up! (Because there is data in “current view” tab, I think white states here have experienced “no change,” as opposed to have no data.)
[8] (Cleveland) Still going up!
[9] (Travelers: Positivity) Up. Those sh*theads at CDC have changed the chart so that it doesn’t even run back to 1/21/23, as it used to, but now starts 1/1/24. There’s also no way to adjust the time rasnge. CDC really doesn’t want you to be able to take a historical view of the pandemic, or compare one surge to another. In an any case, that’s why the shape of the curve has changed.
[10] (Travelers: Variants) Same deal. Those sh*theads.
[11] Deaths low, but positivity up.
[12] Deaths low, ED up.
Stats Watch
There are no official statistics of interest today,
Tech: “CrowdStrike fixes start at ‘reboot up to 15 times’ and get more complex from there” [Ars Technica]. “Airlines, payment processors, 911 call centers, TV networks, and other businesses have been scrambling this morning after a buggy update to CrowdStrike’s Falcon security software caused Windows-based systems to crash with a dreaded blue screen of death (BSOD) error message.” • Fifteen times? That’s a lot.
Today’s Fear & Greed Index: 48 Neutral (previous close: 50 Neutral) [CNN]. One week ago: 54 (Neutral). (0 is Extreme Fear; 100 is Extreme Greed). Last updated Jul 19 at 1:57:39 PM ET.
News of the Wired
“Want to spot a deepfake? Look for the stars in their eyes” [Royal Astronomical Society]. “AI-generated fakes can be spotted by analysing human eyes in the same way that astronomers study pictures of galaxies. The crux of the work, by University of Hull MSc student Adejumoke Owolabi, is all about the reflection in a person’s eyeballs. If the reflections match, the image is likely to be that of a real human. If they don’t, they’re probably deepfakes.” • Until somebody fixes the algorithm?
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I apologize for the late start; I got wrapped round the axle invectivizing (if indeed that is a word, and it certainly should be).
The thought occurs that “Wretched Hive” might be a good subsection label going forward.
2016, 2020 and now 2024. This is surely an enduring part of the Party, fulfilling its purpose, into the foreseeable future.
>are absolutely a wretched hive of scum and villainy, and the Democrat Party would be far better off if a cleansing fire from Heaven burnt away these podcasters, pundits, strategists, intelligence assets, donors, Flexians, and ice cream connoisseurs, along with the Wizard of Kalorama™ and his entourage.
Don’t forget to salt the soil they grow from as well. And throw some concrete on top of it, pave it over with 5 inches of asphalt and maybe we can build a road that leads us to a better place.
“Help us build a bridge to the 21st century.”
– Bill Clinton, 1996
But what would be left? Or whom? Or do we care? Indeed, I think someone should, but likely not those who will, pick up the leavings and build anew.
That rose would seem to be the very showy but oddly named “Ketchup and Mustard”
I get why it is named that, those really are the colors. Still it does not do the bloom’s beauty justice, even if you adore hot dogs with those condiments.
I think you’re correct. Pretty thing, though how the blossom ages might affect its overall appeal for me. There are a couple more photos of the cultivar at High Country Roses (no affiliation).
Could be half-way fitting for fragrance too. Some roses actually do smell like ketchup.
If you are trying to make us feel sorry for Biden (and I’m sure you’re not) it’s not working. Biden was a bad person before and now he’s a senile bad person. He should be shown just as much human sympathy as he is inclined to show to his many “adversaries.” Which is to say none. IMO.
> If you are trying to make us feel sorry for Biden
Totally not. But we do need to look at persons within systems, not just persons.
Especially in this where the persons within the systems are active participants not just cogs in the wheel.
I do have to say that trying to pick a ‘winner’ between the people in the system and Biden is like being faced with Trump/Clinton or Trump/Biden again. Where is my none of the above choice? How can both lose?
Funny you could use that description other than ‘traditional’ to describe the last thirty or so years of the Democratic Party relationship with the working class. And yes, Joe Biden was a big part of that betrayal.
Scranton Joe’s relationship to his supposedly working class beginnings was always illusory. I believe that his and the party’s dismantling of the CARES Act provisions and tax breaks was so hurtful and unnecessary it ripped the final scales from many eyes. Then they had the audacity to declare Joe the new FDR. People who remember and revere the accomplishments of Roosevelt were left wondering WTH they were talking about and if they had any idea what FDR did outside of fight Hitler.
Similar to the denial that Ukraine has lost, and we really aren’t ready to go to war with either Russia or China, the Democratic inner circle are deep in denial of how badly they have lost the poor and working classes of America. Taking them for granted is one day going to be counted as one of their biggest mistakes. (Another big myth that will be coming to bite them in the nether regions is that immigrants will vote for them, especially Hispanic and Asian immigrants. They just don’t seem to have gotten that you can’t just service the donors, and keep voters loyalty.)
I big part of the talk at last night’s convention – and all week – was about inflation, low wages, the bad economy on Main Street, and what a T presidency would do to improve the economics of working people and on Main Street, including the idea of “no tax on tips.” It was sort of like B. Clinton’s 1992 run that emphasized the economy of working class people: “It’s the economy, stupid.” when C was on the campaign trail. Once in office that talk went out the window. T may do the same. The Dems, however, have no reason to criticize an opponent pol using essentially their same idea for his run. (Or maybe they do, given the comparisons.) / ;)
Two views of Vance: Matt Stoller’s Can J.D. Vance’s Populist Crusade Succeed?, and assuming you’ve got the stomach for it, Rachel Maddow’s anti-Vance rant: https://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/watch/watch-rachel-maddow-highlights-july-17-215142469629.
As to her take on Vance’s path to prominence, it’s hardly unique among lower class recruits to the ranks of the elites of all stripes and political persuasions.
Why is Hunter mentioned? Shouldn’t he be in prison already?
Or at least an ankle bracelet. No word on whether he left another bag of cocaine at the White House while advising his father not to quit.
Earlier there was a rumor that he was actually living at the White House in order to dodge Congressional subpoenas. That was before his felony trial.
The meaning of life lies not in prospering, but in the development of the soul.
Trump popularity is at its apex today, yet there are a hundred days to go.
Who among the Democrats has stood up to say “I’ve got the fire in my belly!” ?
re: the stars in their eyes
Had to laugh out loud at this one. The first thing anyone who digitally retouches photos learns — after getting the red eyes out — is how to add a sparkle to your eyes and/or teeth. Touched up photos will now be flagged as deepfakes? Too funny.
I added orts and scraps. Sorry to be a little unbalanced — in all senses — but the Wretched Hive is blotting out the sun…
Musical interlude.
Thanks for your rage Lambert, about the party. It is not over blown at all. Just look at climate change and what damage Biden did…and now Trump? The circus before the apocalypse. And then a simple thing, with the money there —can’t even be done. Newsom’s homeless budget is ‘great’ and huge! And what housing does it build off market? It’s all almost all subsidies to landlords and shelters and NGOs. Social city owned housing cannot be done. Because…would disrupt the profit and markets. Then health care. How many die a year due to lack of or costs…dying before their time? 200,000???? Most of my old friends and young friends are at a boiling point.
again leaving this link to Taibbi and Kirn’s America This week episode. utube, ~1 hr, but watching the first 10 minutes is enough. I’ve never seen Kirn so angry about something, in this case about a twt Christopher Steele posted.
RNC Recap
https://www.youtube.com/live/w1U47fr0T7M
I received this text earlier today:
Hi (Nippersmom). This is Bob volunteering with Gov. Gavin Newsom. Yes, I am a real person texting this and I hope you’ll reply.
I’m reaching out as part of an effort to make sure Democratic voters turn out in Georgia this November.
Is there any chance you’d be willing to volunteer at least once this election to help elect Joe Biden and Democrats up and down the ballot?
I’ll be here waiting for your reply. Thanks.- Bob
Wonder if they’re trying to test the waters as to how willing people they perceive as “democratic voters” really are to vote for Biden, perhaps with a view to sharing the “no” responses to convince Biden to drop out. The mention of working for Newsom suggests they want to keep him at the top of voters minds, perhaps to create support for inserting him as the replacement. Not really sure.
Unfortunately, I had to crush Bob’s hopes by informing him that I am not a “Democratic voter” and, as I do not support nazis or genocide, will not be voting Biden under any circumstances. To Bob’s credit, he did reply that he understood.
Lambert Strether: I am going to jog your metaphor.
Instead of the wretched hive, I will venture that it is colony collapse disorder. The system is collapsing under the weight of its bad faith and corruption.
More soon. This weekend I left the Undisclosed Region to visit the Undisclosed National Capital, home of maritozzi. We are not celebrating the reelection of Grifter van der Leyen (with support from the Italian Dems, who are strangely like the U.S. Dems). The nonentity Roberta Metsola was reelected chair of the Europarlamento. Like so many White Chicks, they are now proposing more war.
As Ursula would say, The prosthesis industry is on the rise, and Europe must be in the Fire front.