Open Thread WE 22 MAR 23 ~ Seals and Crocks

Submitted by QMS on Wed, 03/22/2023 - 5:19am

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International Day of the Seal
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Here's why Xi's Moscow visit is a key moment in the struggle to end US hegemony

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The issue is the existing world order itself and its current organizing principle – America’s global hegemony.

Thus, much more coordination between Beijing and Moscow can be expected. This does not presage a new military bloc in Eurasia, but instead a greater joint effort to help the world move faster toward multipolarity, which effectively means ending American global hegemony.

https://www.rt.com/news/573273-xis-moscow-visit/

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In the hollowed halls of congress ..

1972 US Congress approves the Equal Rights Amendment (still not ratified)
1988 US Congress overrides President Reagan's veto of sweeping civil rights bill

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On this day in history ..

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1784 The Emerald Buddha is moved with great ceremony to its current place in Wat Phra Kaew, Thailand.

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Credits ~
~ Inuit soapstone sculptured seal
~Illustration by Ravi Zupa
https://www.ravizupa.com

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Submitted by QMS on Wed, 03/22/2023 - 7:14am
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Today is also International Water Day. Another resource failing due to capital greed.

Further on the hegemony issue ..

From a paper issued by China about a month ago -


US Hegemony and Its Perils

Conclusion (in part)

While a just cause wins its champion wide support, an unjust one condemns its pursuer to be an outcast. The hegemonic, domineering, and bullying practices of using strength to intimidate the weak, taking from others by force and subterfuge, and playing zero-sum games are exerting grave harm. The historical trends of peace, development, cooperation, and mutual benefit are unstoppable. The United States has been overriding truth with its power and trampling justice to serve self-interest. These unilateral, egoistic and regressive hegemonic practices have drawn growing, intense criticism and opposition from the international community.

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question everything

Submitted by QMS on Wed, 03/22/2023 - 8:01am
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Regarding the Peace Movement

"But, all the same, it will not be enough to eliminate the inevitability of wars between capitalist countries generally. It will not be enough, because, for all the successes of the peace movement, imperialism will remain, continue in force - and, consequently, the inevitability of wars will also continue in force.
To eliminate the inevitability of war, it is necessary to abolish imperialism.”

-J V Stalin

https://ia801804.us.archive.org/18/items/longer-telegram-short-article/L...

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question everything

Submitted by Lookout on Wed, 03/22/2023 - 9:30am
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It is a wet one here, an illegal rain (which means it wasn't predicted). I don't mind more moisture, but it blows my mowing plan today.

The China Russia alliance is a global game changer as it ushers in a new fair world order. The US warmongers aren't happy. "A ceasefire is unacceptable!" The moronic leadership class in the US doesn't realize how bad they present themselves to the world. Round and round and down the hole.

Let's hope in a fit of rage the US doesn't start hurling nukes around. The UK pledged depleted uranium ammo to Ukraine this week. Scott talked about the ramifications.

Thanks for the OT!

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“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

Submitted by enhydra lutris on Wed, 03/22/2023 - 9:39am
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the title all the way through. Nize theme too. I really like that postere, somewhat repurposing the original quotation but excellently so. Looks like a mash-up or some variation of THIS classic, which lends extra impact.

American Strike

Imperialism must die, US hegemony too, for there ever to be peace and prosperity, global wellbeing and all that, but there is, of course, more. Those are necessary, but not sufficient, but a wonderful start if they can be brought about.

Thanks for brightening the morning.

Be well and have a good one

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

Submitted by QMS on Wed, 03/22/2023 - 10:34am
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@enhydra lutris

Given a choice, I believe most independent nations can see the benefits of a
multi-cultural world without the heavy boot of an imperial hegemony on their
necks. The CH/RU vision of autonomy thru multilateral negotiations gives us
hope for an escape from this present war-themed movie being broadcast for
the benefit of a small, greedy cabal.

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question everything

Submitted by enhydra lutris on Wed, 03/22/2023 - 11:57am
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least). The Bay Area really got an ass kicking yesterday, winds in the 70s and even 80s all over the place, due to something called the Fujiwhara effect that I've never heard of before.

But it was not just one low pressure system, at least two were rotating around one another. The rare occurrence is called the Fujiwhara Effect.

https://patch.com/california/castrovalley/s/imep1/1-dead-as-bomb-cyclone...

Somewhat wild idea, can't imagine the mechanics and interactions.

be well and have a good one

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

Submitted by snoopydawg on Wed, 03/22/2023 - 2:34pm
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@enhydra lutris

Yeppers that looks like it’s causing lots of problems

They are 30 mph here which is too bad because it’s also snowing hard and we love walking in it. It’s so quiet when it’s coming down in big fat flakes, but not when it’s this windy. Already have an inch of snow and it’s sticking.

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Submitted by enhydra lutris on Wed, 03/22/2023 - 5:41pm
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@snoopydawg

Sorry about your winds. Hope they don't get any worse for you guys.

be well and have a good one

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

Submitted by ggersh on Wed, 03/22/2023 - 12:22pm
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just listen to Kirby and the MSNBC yo-yo's go at it
about the Xi-Putin meeting

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I never knew that the term "Never Again" only pertained to
those born Jewish

"Antisemite used to be someone who didn't like Jews
now it's someone who Jews don't like"

Heard from Margaret Kimberley

Submitted by QMS on Wed, 03/22/2023 - 1:30pm
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@ggersh

Is trying to put forward the theory that RUS is the "little brother" of CHI. RUS is so isolated
and alone that they have to cower under the protection of their neighbor to the east.
Whatever happened to critical thinking skills? I understand the us vs. them meme. But,
framing this compatibility in a playground manner shows the western media as the weak
asinine reporters on global politics they are. Get a grip guys. Reality doesn't bend to your
misinformation much anymore.

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question everything

Submitted by snoopydawg on Wed, 03/22/2023 - 12:23pm
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2nd tweet

The big news today on the Trump arrest watch is that the DA didn’t give the grand jury 600 pages of possible exculpatory evidence and he has now told the jurors not to come back this week. Trump’s ex attorney gave him the pages, but he only gave the jury 3 of them.

Lots of people are saying that Trump is guilty because his ex attorney Michael Cohen has already served his prison sentence….but he was found guilty of tax evasion and lying to congress…not anything regarding the Stormy Daniels case which was thrown out already and she had to pay Trump $300,000.

It’d really show how much of a banana republic we are if Trump went to prison for campaign finance abuses while Clinton, Obama and Hillary were also guilty of the charges, but that they along with Bush, Cheney and every congress member that voted for the Iraq war walks free today. Plus Obama’s crimes against Libya and Syria which Hillary was also involved in.

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Submitted by snoopydawg on Wed, 03/22/2023 - 1:16pm
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@snoopydawg

Creating a Frankenstein monster case.

Also from Turley on the charges

It is the ultimate gravedigger charge, where Bragg unearthed a case from 2016 and, through a series of novel steps, is seeking to bring it back to life.

Of course, like the good doctor, Bragg shows little concern over what he has created in his Frankenstein indictment.

Bragg is combining parts from both state and federal codes.

He is reportedly going to convert a misdemeanor for falsifying financial records into a prosecution of a federal crime.

The federal crime is reportedly the failure to report a payment of $130,000 to former porn star Stormy Daniels to hush up an affair.

That was just before the presidential election and Bragg is alleging that it was an effective campaign donation.

Bragg is attempting something that many lawyers think is as improbable as the reanimation of the dead.

The Justice Department itself declined this prosecution and both the former chair of the Federal Election Commission and various election law experts have thrown shade on the theory.

Not only did Bragg’s predecessor, Cyrus Vance, not bring this case, but Bragg himself stopped the prosecution.

There are serious challenges to this prosecution, including an argument that time has expired under the statute of limitations.

The limit is two years for a misdemeanor and, even if he can convert this into a felony, it is not clear if he can meet the longer five-year limitation.

Bragg will have to convince a court that Trump paid the hush money for the sole purpose of the election.

Bragg is risking the reanimation of more than a cadaverous crime. Indeed, he could single-handedly reanimate the presidency of Donald J. Trump.

War crimes, the biggest war crime according to the Nuremberg Code and torture crimes and of course Pelosi said that impeachment is off the table!

I imagine if democrats had succeeded in impeaching Bush there would not only never been a Trump presidency, but there might not have been an illegal war on Libya, Syria or troops deployed in 153 countries in Africa and possibly no Ukraine coup or war. Just imagine if we held presidents accountable for their actual crimes instead of creating bogus impeachments for silly reasons. Would that close to $20 trillion spent since 2003 have been spent here at home on we the people and our infrastructure? What would that America look like?

You say that I’m a dreamer, but….

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Submitted by snoopydawg on Wed, 03/22/2023 - 1:56pm
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@snoopydawg

Watch the opening minutes of the video and see what shock and awe wrought. We destroyed every government building and water and electrical system. They are disgusted with Judith Miller still defending her lies about the war and saying that the biggest lie is that Bush lied about the reason for the war.

And how the once anti war shitlibs flipped during Obama’s tenure when he started attacking Libya based on more lies and today they are fully behind supporting the Ukraine war that is also based on lies!

The neocons responsible for the Iraq War should have been prosecuted for it but since they weren’t they are more powerful today and emboldened to create even more wars.

Thanks Pelosi you POS. You had the chance to bring justice to the millions of people in the Middle East who died because of our murderous hegemonic acts that are continuing today.

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Submitted by humphrey on Wed, 03/22/2023 - 1:16pm

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Submitted by humphrey on Wed, 03/22/2023 - 1:53pm

truth.

It can be found here.

https://seymourhersh.substack.com/p/the-cover-up

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Submitted by on the cusp on Wed, 03/22/2023 - 3:22pm

I saw the Emerald Buddha, the Standing Buddha, the White Buddha, the Gold Buddha, and The Walking Buddha.
A fantastic trip.
I hope Xi can get a peace treaty and that all orders for weapons made in the US for the war are cancelled.
I would rather beg for food than to work for Raytheon.

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"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981