The Frankish Reich

I went to Ireland a couple times as a kid. I'm from an Irish American family, and my dad had that typical desire to see where his people came from. I'm talking the mid-late 70s here. Basically half a century ago. It was striking how poor it was. Horse drawn dairy carts going down the streets of Limerick. Men dressed like something out of a 1950s Irish countryside movie. Dreary, old, seemingly stuck in the past. It was fascinating for me as a kid, but I also understood why the hell people would do anything to get to America. (Much like a lot of other people today.) There's now basically zero illegal immigration from Ireland to the USA. There's probably a net out-migration. Ireland is wealthy. It is a lot more like America. I went back a few years ago. Dublin is booming with new business and immigrants from all over the world. Lots on tech company visas, lots from now-poorer EU/Schengen countries working in the bars and hospitality, and somewhat smaller numbers from developing countries working as manual workers. It is not as interesting to a standard American like me as it was 50 years ago, but that's because it is in all material ways better and more like us. Ireland made a bargain to give up some of what made it particularly "Irish" in exchange for material things. It's less ethnically Irish, far, far less Catholic, far far far more open. I do see that there was something that was lost, and I imagine that's behind some of the nostalgia and fear. Yes, crime is real and maybe it was a bit too much too soon for what was previously an extremely insular society. But joining the rest of the world economy has overall been a tremendous benefit for Ireland and its people. We need to remember that too even as they debate whether some things need to be tweaked.

I just saw the money line was Bills -330, which gives an implied 77% chance of winning. So you're right where Vegas is now. I do think the Jets will be the most improved team in football this year, and our only real competition in the division. Given that this is an early season game (where true talent probably wins out less frequently) and in NJ, if forced to bet this one I would take the Jets at +260. Which I won't do because I'd never bet against the Bills!

Let me remind you in clear terms: Mitt Romney vs. Kamala or Joe? I voting for Mitt (as I did in 2012) Marco Rubio (the 2016 version) vs. Kamala or Joe? Rubio. Yes, I am a never-Trumper, and I think the reasons for that should be obvious. Anyone who was a Mitt/Rubio Republican c. 2012-2016 should be appalled by the total capitulation of the Republican Party to one weird self-serving dotard.

Oh, for me he passed his expiration date a long time ago. It's just now that the blue-green mold is starting to show. The J6 hissy fit should've finished him off, but, well, Biden/Kamala.

The big question for me: that 2003 phony huge check signed "Trump" refers to a "depreciated" asset (young woman, no doubt) sold to Trump. The name is redacted. Presumably she is out there somewhere. And like all such things, the truth will come out. Unrelated: Trump proposed to Melania in 2004.

It is Tuesday, September 9th and the last 2 week ultimatum expired last Thursday.

It certainly can last when someone is on blood thinners. Do you use the same cover-up?

Oh, it was pretty good. Although your buddy lobbed me a softball with that "Is Nepal's J6 a Harbinger for Ireland?" post. Actually, that post was some special kind of humor all by itself.

Remember, a pal is a wonderful thing.

Hmm, still there, huh?

OK, let's hear your best. So far all I've got is so-and-so once said such-and-such several years ago.

Maybe Trump should invite the lil fooker to fight on the White House lawn patio on the 4th of July. I nominate Canelo as his opponent. Can the Mexiginger vanquish the Irish ginger? The symbolism would flummox Dan Brown. Wow. Deep. Because Ireland is kind of the Nepal of the Atlantic. I'll remember that next time I mount a challenge to Carrauntoohil, having already conquered Everest.

/ / / / / / / / / / / Delayed response to save his sensitive eyes. Let me see if I have this right: The downward revision of BLS stats during Trump's term cannot be trusted. The downward revision of BLS stats during Biden's term is obviously correct.

This will no doubt be an issue for Bill Gates when he runs for President.

Even for you, this is a preposterously ham handed attempt to divert attention from the focus of this thread.

The Ghislaine "interview" with DOJ thing is starting to smell even worse. Questions about the authenticity of the birthday book? Well, Ghislaine would know, right? Did she ask Trump for his submission? Did Trump give it to her? But now, with a little you-scratch-my-back-and-I'll-scratch-yours transfer to a minimum security women's prison, work release, and the dangling of a pardon, do you really think she'd ever say anything against Trump's interests? That "interview" was utterly unnecessary for any purpose at this time. You never, ever, ever interview the subject of the investigation at any time other than last. Here they did it first. I wonder why.

High in the air and short, kind of like punt from the opponent's 45 yard line style.

effin hilarious. Gotta love these guys. While the "birthday book" is mostly interesting due to Trump's ridiculous attempts to distance himself from it, the real news is, as usual, in the "follow the money" investigation. Heather Cox Richardson's analysis: Also yesterday, lawyers for the Justice Department asked a federal judge to keep the names of two associates who received large payments from Epstein in 2018 secret. Days before the payments, the Miami Herald had started to examine the sweetheart deal Epstein got in 2008. One associate received a payment of $100,000, and the second received $250,000. As part of his plea deal, Tom Winter of NBC News reports, Epstein got a guarantee that the associates would not be prosecuted. [Josh] Marshall calls attention to a recent interview in which Wolff said that Epstein suspected Trump was laundering money for a Russian oligarch—and indeed, Trump did flip the property to a Russian oligarch for a profit of more than $50 million a few years after buying it—and threatened to sue Trump, bringing the money laundering to light. At that point, the Epstein investigation began. According to Wolff, Epstein believed Trump had notified the police about what was going on at Epstein’s house, which he knew because he was a frequent visitor. Marshall speculates that Johnson mentioned that Trump was an informant because that information could well be in the files the Department of Justice has, and they’re trying to spin it ahead of time to make it sound like Trump was a hero. But both Wolff and Marshall note that if indeed Trump turned the FBI onto Epstein, it shows he knew what was taking place at Epstein’s properties.

Watch the cascading levels of denial: - There is no such letter. Trump never would've drawn/written/signed such a thing. It is a hoax. - OK, so there is a letter, but for some unknown reason it is "clear" that Trump did not draw/write/sign such a thing, because, well, reasons. That's where we are now. Here's where we going: - many people write or contact my office asking me to send birthday cards to my admirers, etc. Someone on my staff probably wrote something up and used an image of my signature and sent it to Ghislaine's people.

I'm sorry, Karoline, would you care to explain how the letter, which clearly exists, is somehow proven false by its release? Because to me it sure seems like your boss was lying. Again. "Unreliable" mainstream Republican Wall St Journal was ready for the LOL denials. https://www.wsj.com/us-news/law/trump-jeffrey-epstein-letter-birthday-book-analysis-0bbeeaf6?mod=WTRN_pos1 Hey, maybe you guys should get a trial subscription. Otherwise you run the risk of believing Karoline Leavitt!

So silly. There was a news story. Woman knifed to death on a train. Apparently random. It was a local story that got a lot of press. Then there was a video. A picture paints a thousand words and all that. It brought home the truly gruesome/random nature of the attack. It went viral, including nationally. This is what happens with all such things. The right wing persecution complex is getting ridiculous.

snap counts from last night: https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/buf/2025-snap-counts.htm DT: - Oliver and Daquan: both 69% of plays - Sanders: 31% - Walker: 25% I didn't notice any differences against the run, so I'm guessing Ogunjobi is the great hope here when he comes off suspension? Not so great a plan given that he's been considered stronger against the pass Given the exact same snap counts for Ed and Daquan, I think you're right.

Collinsworth nicely pointed out exactly why it matters that DBs don't respect Keon's "speed," showing how they were effectively playing him tight without the deep threat. And then Keon nicely showed how he can work around that problem, at least when the other team is protecting a lead.

If the shoe fits ...

Now it's perhaps the most ethically conflicted person in the administration - Bill Pulte, son of the homebuilder god, the guy who would profit most from lower mortgage rates - at loggerheads with Scott Bessent, the seemingly reasonable face the White House likes to send out there to calm markets. https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2025/09/08/scott-bessent-bill-pulte-blowup-00549956 Trump Boys' new club is where the action is! Bessent suggesting he and Pulte should take it outside. Pulte, of course, is the guy combing through mortgage records of Trump's political opponents.