Saturday’s Forum

FILED UNDER: Open Forum
Steven L. Taylor
About Steven L. Taylor
Steven L. Taylor is a Professor of Political Science and a College of Arts and Sciences Dean. His main areas of expertise include parties, elections, and the institutional design of democracies. His most recent book is the co-authored A Different Democracy: American Government in a 31-Country Perspective. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Texas and his BA from the University of California, Irvine. He has been blogging since 2003 (originally at the now defunct Poliblog). Follow Steven on Twitter

Comments

  1. OzarkHillbilly says:

    I did not have this on my 2023 Headline Bingo card:

    Man dies after being crushed while working on open-air urinal in London

    I don’t think they will put that on his gravestone.

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  2. CSK says:

    I mentioned a few weeks ago that I had come down with Covid, despit the fact that I’m vaxxed and boosted. I’m here to tell you: avoid this if you can. It’s wretched. I had a cough and nasal congestion, but the worst by far was the weakness. I could barely move, so I ended up in the hospital for three days. It’s better now, but I have to see a physical therapist.

    Stay well, please.

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  3. OzarkHillbilly says:

    @CSK: Jeebus, no wonder I still mask and still don’t out to eat. I do go to my Granddaughter’s wrestling meets but I try to sit in the least crowded section and wear a mask.

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  4. OzarkHillbilly says:

    @CSK: Also, I hope you have a return to normal soon.

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  5. CSK says:

    @OzarkHillbilly:
    Well, I’m careful, too. I think I got this on the plane to or from Florida for a sort of Christmas comdolence visit to my sister and bil, whose son died in an auto accident last September.

    @OzarkHillbilly:
    Thanks; I appreciate the good wishes.

    1
  6. CSK says:

    Tyre Nichols was an aspiring photographer. This article provides a link to his website:

    http://www.memphisflyer.com/want-to-see-tyre-nichols-memphis-check-out-his-photography-website

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  7. Sleeping Dog says:

    @CSK:

    Glad to hear that you are on the mend. I noticed you were gone for several days and wondered it you were struggling.

    1
  8. CSK says:

    @Sleeping Dog:
    Thank you. I finally sent you a reply. 🙂

  9. Sleeping Dog says:

    @CSK:

    😉

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  10. Jim Brown 32 says:

    @CSK: Damn, continue to get better!

    1
  11. CSK says:

    @Jim Brown 32:
    Thanks, Jim. I appreciate your good wishes.

    1
  12. CSK says:

    @Sleeping Dog:

    Salem, NH, particularly Route 28, must be a disaster area this afternoon. Has Trump started speaking yet? He was supposed to bloviate at noon at a high school. Attendance by invitation only.

  13. Sleeping Dog says:

    Rt 28 through Salem has always been a disaster on Saturdays.

    I believe that the auditorium that this event is being held at is on the site of the old Rockingham Park horse track, if it is Trump is likely landing in Manch-vegas and will come down I93 and will never make it to Rt 28.

    1
  14. MarkedMan says:

    @CSK: Bummer. Hope you get back to full strength quickly

    1
  15. CSK says:

    @Sleeping Dog:
    Oh, I know about Salem on Saturdays. (It’s all us denizens of Mass. stampeding the state liquor store. :D) I just meant it would be a worse disaster area than normal.

    According to a couple of different news sources, Trump was speaking to an invitation-only crowd of 200 in the Salem H.S. gym.

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  16. CSK says:

    @MarkedMan:
    I’m determined to do so, thanks.

  17. dazedandconfused says:

    @CSK:

    Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

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  18. CSK says:

    @dazedandconfused:

    Thank you.

  19. Kathy says:

    @CSK:

    I’m sorry you got hit so bad.

    Covid is kind of a Russian roulette disease. You don’t know how bad it will be, even if you’re vaccinated.

    BTW, are there asymptomatic cases still? Everyone I know who tested positive had symptoms, most of them far worse than a severe case of flu. Of course, just about all of them got tested because they already felt ill.

  20. CSK says:

    California had its fourth mass shooting this month, in an upscale area of L.A. known as Beverly Crest. Three dead, four wounded.

  21. CSK says:

    @Kathy:
    Thanks, Kathy. Good question about the asymptomatic cases. I don’t know; I was wondering that myself.

  22. JohnSF says:

    @CSK:
    Hope you recover fully soon.
    Bastard virus really seems a lottery; I know some people who are fairly frail but pulled through with just “mild cold” symptoms. Another guy, in his 40’s and fit a fiddle, it knocked sideways for a long spell.
    I’m multi-jabbed, and still mask when around other people.
    Partly habit by this point. My workplace does medical training (among other things), with lots of nurses and paramedics etc coming and going, so masking and disinfection enforcement is a routine thing.

    1
  23. CSK says:

    @JohnSF:
    Thank you, John. I recall speaking to a doctor about Covid two years ago who sighed and said: “Sooner or later, we’re all going to get it.”

    As I mentioned, I think I got it on a flight to or from Florida.

  24. JohnSF says:

    Good news from Europe!
    Petr Pavel wins the presidential election in the Czech Republic, 58.3% to 41.68%.
    Pavel stood as an indepedent; basically a liberal centrist self describing as “right of centre, with a strong social emphasis”.
    Former general, held positions of Chief of the Czech General Staff, and then Chair of the NATO Military Committee.
    Opponent was Andrej Babis, populist right candidate of the ANO party, and a fan of Trump and (more ambiguosly) Putin.
    Excellent news!
    “Pavel na Hrad!”

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  25. OzarkHillbilly says:

    @CSK: I think I got this on the plane to or from Florida for a sort of Christmas comdolence visit to my sister and bil, whose son died in an auto accident last September.

    There are no guarantees. Each of us do the best we can…. And hope we win the lottery again. Sorry about your sis and bil’s loss. I’ve come close more than once so I can imagine. At least enough to pray to a god I know doesn’t exist to spare me that pain. I have stood on that threshold more than once and I am pretty dawg damned sure I couldn’t survive it.

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  26. CSK says:

    @OzarkHillbilly:
    Yes, it’s an awful loss. I don’t think they’ll ever be the same.

  27. JohnSF says:

    Smoking Man visits Iran?
    Ammunition factory goes up in flames in Isfahan.

    According to preliminary information, the enterprise was attacked by a drone. An air defense system is operating in Ishafan.

    With various other things, including two Iranian generals linked to drone manufacture being found shot dead back in October, rather indicates that abetting attacks on Ukraine is not a risk-free activity.
    Google: factory explosion Iran 2022.
    Oh dearie me.

    Update:
    Air defence activity also in Tehran.
    Nerves, or another target?
    Hmm.

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