Indeed, if you were looking for a state where a Republican candidate could survive such a huge scandal, it would be hard to pick a better one than Alabama.
*****
Sean Hannity-now the marquee star of the money-spinner Fox News- feels threatened (not be Rachel Maddow any more, he’s got his ratings lead back):
Fox News’ Sean Hannity on Monday night began his television show with a 20-minute rant about the liberal group Media Matters, which he claims tried to “silence” his show.
Several advertisers have pulled ads from Hannity’s show on Fox News over the anchors’ comments about allegations from several women against Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore. Hannity interviewed Moore on his radio show last week, where Moore denied any wrongdoing. Hannity said on his radio show that the allegations were serious but also suggested that at least some of the women were lying.
Monday night, Hannity singled out Media Matters, which kept track of Hannity’s comments on the matter and called on advertisers to ditch his program.
“They purposefully twist, lie, distort, propagandize, and weaponize whatever is said, whatever other people say, because they want to silence every conservative voice in the country,” Hannity said of Media Matters. “This is a dangerous time. They have been doing this somewhat successfully for years, and now it’s only getting worse.”
Several advertisers have pulled ads from Hannity’s show on Fox News over the anchors’ comments about allegations from several women against Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore. Hannity interviewed Moore on his radio show last week, where Moore denied any wrongdoing. Hannity said on his radio show that the allegations were serious but also suggested that at least some of the women were lying.
Monday night, Hannity singled out Media Matters, which kept track of Hannity’s comments on the matter and called on advertisers to ditch his program.
“They purposefully twist, lie, distort, propagandize, and weaponize whatever is said, whatever other people say, because they want to silence every conservative voice in the country,” Hannity said of Media Matters. “This is a dangerous time. They have been doing this somewhat successfully for years, and now it’s only getting worse.”
*****
But it was a different time!
Ah, yes, the Harvey Weinstein defense of “I grew up in the 60s and 70s and it was a different time then.” I mean, it didn’t really work for Weinstein, now, did it? Partly because in his case claiming that things were different then doesn’t excuse being an assaulting piece of shit now, and it’s clear he was harassing and assaulting women right up until everything blew up in his face. But also partly because, who gives a shit if it was a different time? If you raped someone in 1973, you still raped them, you asshole. Or in 1983. Or 1993. Or 2003. Or 2013. Or now. There’s never been a time that rape and assault and harassment haven’t been rape and assault and harassment.
Ah, yes, the Harvey Weinstein defense of “I grew up in the 60s and 70s and it was a different time then.” I mean, it didn’t really work for Weinstein, now, did it? Partly because in his case claiming that things were different then doesn’t excuse being an assaulting piece of shit now, and it’s clear he was harassing and assaulting women right up until everything blew up in his face. But also partly because, who gives a shit if it was a different time? If you raped someone in 1973, you still raped them, you asshole. Or in 1983. Or 1993. Or 2003. Or 2013. Or now. There’s never been a time that rape and assault and harassment haven’t been rape and assault and harassment.
*****
Steve Bannon’s view of time is taken straight from a high school AP History reading list.
*****
Hard on news that Gates, Bezos, and Buffett collectively have as much money as the next one hundred sixty million Americans is this cheering report:
The globe’s richest 1% own half the world’s wealth, according to a new report highlighting the growing gap between the super-rich and everyone else.
The world’s richest people have seen their share of the globe’s total wealth increase from 42.5% at the height of the 2008 financial crisis to 50.1% in 2017, or $140tn (£106tn), according to Credit Suisse’s global wealth report published on Tuesday.
“The share of the top 1% has been on an upward path ever since [the crisis], passing the 2000 level in 2013 and achieving new peaks every year thereafter,” the annual report said. The bank said, “global wealth inequality has certainly been high and rising in the post-crisis period”.
The increase in wealth among the already very rich led to the creation of 2.3 million new dollar millionaires over the past year, taking the total to 36 million. “The number of millionaires, which fell in 2008, recovered fast after the financial crisis, and is now nearly three times the 2000 figure,” Credit Suisse said.
These millionaires – who account for 0.7% of the world’s adult population – control 46% of total global wealth that now stands at $280tn.
At the other end of the spectrum, the world’s 3.5 billion poorest adults each have assets of less than $10,000 (£7,600). Collectively these people, who account for 70% of the world’s working age population, account for just 2.7% of global wealth.
The world’s richest people have seen their share of the globe’s total wealth increase from 42.5% at the height of the 2008 financial crisis to 50.1% in 2017, or $140tn (£106tn), according to Credit Suisse’s global wealth report published on Tuesday.
“The share of the top 1% has been on an upward path ever since [the crisis], passing the 2000 level in 2013 and achieving new peaks every year thereafter,” the annual report said. The bank said, “global wealth inequality has certainly been high and rising in the post-crisis period”.
The increase in wealth among the already very rich led to the creation of 2.3 million new dollar millionaires over the past year, taking the total to 36 million. “The number of millionaires, which fell in 2008, recovered fast after the financial crisis, and is now nearly three times the 2000 figure,” Credit Suisse said.
These millionaires – who account for 0.7% of the world’s adult population – control 46% of total global wealth that now stands at $280tn.
At the other end of the spectrum, the world’s 3.5 billion poorest adults each have assets of less than $10,000 (£7,600). Collectively these people, who account for 70% of the world’s working age population, account for just 2.7% of global wealth.
For MOTUS, that’s not enough:
On Monday, the president took time out of confounding Asian diplomats to tweet, “I am proud of the Rep. House & Senate for working so hard on cutting taxes {and reform.} We’re getting close! Now, how about ending the unfair & highly unpopular Indiv Mandate in OCare & reducing taxes even further? Cut top rate to 35% w/all of the rest going to middle income cuts?” That’s a hell of a wrench to throw into the G.O.P. plan, given how troubled it already is. To clarify, Trump is suggesting using tax reform to simultaneously repeal the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate, which would employ the savings derived from 15 million Americans going uninsured to cut income taxes on the ultra-rich. That’s remarkable not only because Republicans already tried and failed to mess with Obamacare. But it’s the call for a further rate cut that’s truly incredible: In asking for the top tax rate to come down to 35 percent—it’s currently at 39.6 percent, with the House plan keeping it there and the Senate plan bringing it down to 38.5—the president indicated that lawmakers’ current proposals don’t cut taxes enough for the wealthiest people in the country.
And he- and they- may get it:
House GOP leaders have two key advantages. First, Republicans are desperate to accomplish something big, and party leaders are telling members that the defeats last week in New Jersey and Virginia were partly spurred by voters feeling that Republicans aren’t getting enough done. (Whether this claim is true is likely less important than whether Republican members believe it’s true.) Second, party donors really want this bill to pass, and even members in Clinton districts may feel like they can’t afford to irritate their donors in an election cycle where they will likely need millions of dollars to be competitive.
*****
The *resident is envious of those 98% wins Asian dictators told him about in their elections:
One of the most accurate polls last time around. But #FakeNews likes to say we’re in the 30’s. They are wrong. Some people think numbers could be in the 50's. Together, WE will MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! pic.twitter.com/YhrwkdObhP— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 14, 2017
*****
The Wall Street Journal has a headline on a triumph the *resident didn’t celebrate on the way home from Asia:
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