The Frankish Reich

Yep. The White House did its (political) job there, obviously ready with the old video of Mike Lee calling for an end to social security. It was all over the news networks this morning. And Mike Lee stupidly walked into the trap by calling Biden a liar on that one. (I’ve mentioned before that I think we should be looking at how to reform social security, so I wouldn’t blame Lee if he had reacted honestly and admitted that he believes we need to take a hard look at it now. But he behaved like a politician who has just been confronted with past statements he wishes everyone had forgotten)

I read the article. It is fair overall, but infected by political spin. The facts: inflation spiraled to levels not seen for 40 years under Biden. But inflation has been coming down steadily for at least the last 6 months. Technically he said that inflation is coming down, and that’s correct. What he didn’t say is inflation is coming down after reaching a four decade high. So …. Spin from Biden, spin from his critics.

Well, to chime in on when it MAY be appropriate to comment on someone’s looks and when it definitely is not: - when playing the role of political pundit. I hear some of this “Nikki Haley is attractive” stuff and how that makes her a more appealing candidate. She is, kind of a moderately attractive not overdone woman of her age. So it would be fair to say Sarah’s looks work the opposite way. - when talking about ridiculously overdone cosmetic (or cosmetic procedures) a politician inflicted on him/herself. The “own goal” thing. Trump’s ridiculous spray on tan and combover. Biden’s teeth/hair transplant or whatever is left of it today. Pelosi’s eye thing. Or Marjorie Taylor Greene’s whatever-the-hell-that-was-supposed-to-be outfit. Or Kyrsten Sinema’s “look at me” styles. But not McConnell’s, umm, turtle face (I read somewhere that there’s a genetic thing behind that). And not Sarah’s face, which is just … her face. The one she was born with. So those are my rules. I think they’re pretty good rules to live by.

Step away from the bong, sir. True. I hate the fact that in America we still live by that old cliche that "social security is the third rail of American politcs; touch it and you die." We do need to touch it, at least to shore it up at the margins. But there you have it: Rick Scott touched it, his party owns it.

Too long, Joe. Bill Clinton started the hour-plus windbag State of the Union thing. And nobody since has been wise enough to end it.

Again: this is ungrammatical nonsense. Learn. To. Write.

The poster who embedded his preposterous tweet about how inflation is running from 10-17% right now.

Remedial writing courses are available right now at your local community college!

Inflation rate 10-17%? People just make crap up. We're running at about 6.5% year over year. Much lower month to month since the major increases -- which did cause it to tip over 10% for a short time -- happened last spring/summer.

I stand corrected on Rep Andy Biggs. He won the Publisher's Clearinghouse "you may have already won" thing. Appeared in commercials with Dick Clark and Ed McMahon. Ahh, Republican "thought leaders."

Police reform: I have family members who are cops, and I've worked with a lot of cops and other law enforcement in my career. Do we have issues like this with State Troopers? Maybe I'm forgetting a notable incident, but in general, no we don't. Why not? They are extremely well trained and very professional in executing their duties. They are an elite police force. That's the model to follow. The infamous Memphis cops were all new to the job in the last few years and can't hold a candle to our State Troopers. And it shows. Yes, reform the police. But also pay them better, make it a true career again (many cops cycle in and out of what can be a miserable job), and you'll find great recruits who understand that their job is a public service. That is something I will gladly pay a little extra in tax to get. Well, I haven't won the lottery like Andy Biggs, so I guess he's smarter than me. Must have consulted an astrologer for lucky numbers or something.

I don't think Andy Biggs understands what "coming down" means. They went up, they're coming down now. Such a difficult concept for a small mind, in Congress because (I am not making this up) he won the lottery.

Yep. It happens. It's absurd, and it would be a sound policy to ban it. https://www.minneapolisfed.org/article/2021/non-compete-contracts-sideline-low-wage-workers

Not a lie. Rick Scott - a Republican leader - has suggested changes that start chipping away at social security. I'm not saying that's a bad thing; it needs to be put on a sound actuarial footing. But it's no lie to say it. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/02/us/politics/republicans-social-security-medicare.html

"Buy American" - check "Rein in the big pharm companies/reduce prescription costs" - check "Build big infrastructure projects" - check Trump could've (did) say all of these things

Good point. Think about the Bills: our O line play was terrible. Objectively below replacement level as a group, excepting Dawkins. There is a good argument to be made that 4 league minimum salary guys would have performed about as well. And there are teams that will be doing exactly that. It is the moneyball era, NFL version. A few star/highly conpensated players (mostly QB, and then some mix of WR, edge rusher, primo CB) and minimize salary commitments everywhere else.

The Pro Bowl is long past the point of being an embarrassment

Saffold will get him killed. I know it’s flag football but he will still find a way.

I stayed with the game long after it was over, hoping to see if CMC could get something going as an option QB. I think he only got 1 snap? I think if he had practiced at QB and the staff had had a week to scheme some things up it would've been really fund to watch. He is really that good of a football player.

Just havin a little fun with the idea of NEWLY ANNOUNCED PRO BOWLER RODGER SAFFOLD! (See the thread on that … it’s pretty funny)

I’m not about to criticize the man for playing a round or four of golf is he feels fine to do it. But … remember the stories about how Josh kicked back and didn’t think about football at all last offseason? You may be on to something here. Perhaps just a tiny bit too comfortable with where he and the Bills really were this season.

Now Staley just needs to take extended bathroom breaks every time a Chargers possession begins.

True. The Cowboys got better as the season progressed, and they were pretty clearly the 3rd best team in the NFC. It’s just that this is Philly’s year (and not SF’s now for obvious reasons). Hmm, clearly the third best in their conference. I wonder what other team fits that description?

Right. It’s true in an obvious way that you are better off with a very good QB on a rookie contract than with one on a first megadeal. But there’s no prescription for team building here. “Draft a guy like Mahomes or Allen or Burrow who will be ready to perform at an elite level by his second season, ride the wave of success in Seasons 2-4, then start all over again” isn’t a recipe for success. Setting aside almost 20 years of the Pats defying the competition cycle, about the best you can realistically hope for is something like the Packers pattern since Rodgers took over: great teams, down years in which you go 7-9 while clearing deadwood/bad contracts, then a rebound to true SB competitor again. Andy Reid and Mahomes look like possible successors to the Pats dynasty, but there’s a loooong way to go before they hit that status. I’d expect the Packers/Rodgers pattern both there and in Buffalo. And that’s a pretty damn good pattern from where I sit.

Exactly. Kelce all fired up about defending the sanctity of Arrowhead, the Church Of The Chiefs with their moronic drumbeat war chant.