Where's Jackie?

Sister Toldjah got a little excited here at the prospect of the media covering Biden's dementia: "The Elephant in the Room Roars to Life."

All of this also leads to even bigger questions, such as if Biden’s mental health really is on the decline, just who is actually running this country right now?

It’s no laughing matter; it’s a very serious one, especially considering the very powerful position Biden holds. Serious enough that not even the Democrat apologists in the White House press corps can ignore it anymore.

Yeah, well, the press sure was tough on box-checker press secretary KJP but it didn't take long for the mainstream media to fall back into old patterns: "The "President" Attempted a Seance With a Ghost on Live Television. - The Propaganda Press Refused To Air Any Coverage of It Whatsoever, Or To Even Mention It."

The typical excuses emerged: "USA Today: Biden’s search for the late Jackie Walorski wasn’t memory fail but a show of empathy."

I'm not the only person who believes the mainstream media will circle the wagons for Pudding Brain:

Our propaganda press is doing everything in its power to cover up an important story the American public has a right to know about Joe Biden's demonstrated mental decline. https://t.co/7u1l0A0ahg

— Mollie (@MZHemingway) September 29, 2022

Knocking down Biden's illegal cancellation of student debt

Hot Air: "Exclusive: Attorney challenging Biden's Academia bailout says they have more than standing -- they have a solid case."

My feeling is that if anybody is granted standing in this case, it will be slapped down right quick.  This plaintiff is arguing on illegal seizure grounds that cancelling student debt will inevitably lead to a tax debt this person doesn't want.

Which is a strange position but apparently there are all sorts of legal precedents for this.

The Volokh Conspiracy took a look and found a lot to like to this legal strategy but then later followed up with this footnote:

UPDATE 3: Since I wrote the above post, the White House has said there will be an opt out from loan forgiveness for any otherwise eligible borrowers who want it. However, the administration has not actually put forward any opt-out plan for the 8 million , or explained how it will work. When and if the administration puts out an actual opt out plan, we will know more about whether it can defeat standing in this case, or not.

The counter-proposition here seems to be that "hey, if you don't want that tax liability, don't cancel your debt."

I'm not a lawyer.  I just find this intriguing. 

Extra - This guy is a laywer: "Biden’s $420B student loan boondoggle is blatantly illegal — but progressives don’t care."

More - Reason: "'Flagrantly Illegal': Law Firm Files Lawsuit To Stop Biden's Student Loan Forgiveness."

Running on empty

PJ Media: "Biden's Depletion of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve Could Be Catastrophic Soon."

Because we would need that backup supply if, say, a hurricane hits the Gulf states.

The pandemic is over

Hot Air: "CBO: Biden's student debt forgiveness will cost more than $400 billion." 

Time to go

Neo: "Putin orders fuller mobilization; many Russian men flee if they can."

Ah, yes, the historically-successful price controls

Here's former secretary of labor Robert Reich with his weekly submission to the Guardian: "Corporate greed, not wages, is behind inflation. It’s time for price controls."

Every Reich article reads like an economics major sophomore who has just smoked a bowl.  The solution to every problem is authoritarian restrictions, regardless of the law, history, or common sense.  Absolute clown show.

Martha's Vineyard edition

Lots of good memes over at Powerline poking fun at the liberal set.  Apparently, this happened:

The puppetmasters

Glenn Reynolds: "Who’s our real president? Joe Biden — or the staffers who keep walking back his comments?"

Let's fire up that 25th Amendment.

Here's Mr. "Take Responsibility" again

Yesterday:

But, folks, in addition to inheriting a failed MAGA Republican economy, we also confronted a global pandemic and Putin’s war in Ukraine, and that’s driven the global inflation we see today.

Remember: Joey won't blame others.  He'll take responsibility:

Violence comes to Sweden

Common Sense: "Two Bombings in One Night? That’s Normal Now in Sweden." - "My country just voted in a right-wing government. The almost 500 bombings since 2018 may have something to do with it." 

This article is wild.  I had no idea that shootings and bombings had gotten so out of control in Sweden:

Sweden, which has a population of around 10 million, has the highest per-capita number of deadly shootings of 22 European countries. Forty-seven people have been shot dead so far this year, which, while far from American levels of gun homicide, is extreme for Europe. Other European countries have come to look at Sweden with horror. 

I forget who said it but there's a quote about: when you paint people against illegal immigration as fascists then - guess what - people will vote for the fascists.  That's just what happened in Sweden.

Update - Found it: David Frum of the Atlantic?!?  Wow.  "If liberals insist that enforcing borders is a job only fascists will do, then voters will hire fascists to do the job liberals won't." 

Ross is a psychopath

On my commute, I often listen to a popular podcast called "Stuff you should know."  This past week, they did a series on sitcoms and a brief story on laugh tracks, noting that some shows are eerie and unnatural when the laugh track is removed.  Like this:

When Biden goes off-teleprompter

Spectator World: "Do Biden’s words even matter anymore? - As his staff once again rushes in to clarify, it isn’t clear who’s running the country"

All this confusion points to that simple question: do Biden’s words matter or not? Does his administration respect his governing authority or not? If the answer is no, then who is in charge? Is it Ron Klain, the White House chief of staff? Is it domestic policy adviser Susan Rice (who doesn’t get enough attention for her role)? Is is the White House communications team? Is it the Easter Bunny, who was called in to corral his boss during an event last Easter?

This is fine.

Extra - Power Line: "Bordering on incoherence."  This is typical fare for an off-teleprompter question.

This again

Twitchy: "Breaking: Al Gore says the world is at a ‘tipping point’ for climate action."

Keep going, chief: this could be the year!

So very accurate

The Corner: "The President Who Bombs Every Interview." 

White House: pay no attention to that old dude

Ace: "Biden Announces He Would Commit US Troops to Defend Taiwan Against China; White House Rushes Out Statement That The "President" Does Not Speak for the U.S. Government."

As you can see, this then forced the White House to once again rush out a statement contradicting the president it supposedly serves, announcing that whatever the Figurehead Puddingbrain claims on TV when he wants to sound like Magnum, P.I., he spoke without authorization and his words are null and void.

This is f------ embarrassing.

It sure is, but President Tough Guy can't help himself.

The other thing that stuck out to me in the 60 Minutes interview is how this thin-skinned dimwit responded to a little bit of pushback on inflation.  Biden tried to say that - golly - inflation only edged up "an inch" on a month-by-month basis and Scott Pelley pointed out it's still the highest rate in 40 years.  This dummy wants credit for keeping inflation from historic highs to even higher highs. You're welcome, America.

Then Biden fell back on his favorite crutch whenever challenged about the economy: the low unemployment rate.  What this has to do with the fact Americans are paying hundreds more for food is unclear but it's all he has since nobody can explain how the Inflation Reduction Act will reduce inflation.

Something something about tax credits if you spend thousands on solar panels for your roof.  Hey, ya gotta spend money to make money!

Extra - Now it's covid policy that's getting walked back: "White House says COVID-19 policy unchanged despite what President Biden said on ’60 Minutes’." 

When we said "come here" we didn't mean "here"

Michael Goodwin: "By transporting migrants, GOP governors are exposing Democrats’ hypocrisy."

Party time!

Reason: "As Inflation Soars, Biden Hosts Cringey Concert Celebrating the Inflation Reduction Act" - "All we can ask of politicians is that they stop making the situation worse by spending even more money, and that they stop celebrating the mess they've made while average Americans struggle to pay for groceries."

And....the Martha's Vineyard migrants are gone

Couldn't virtue signal for 24 hours: "Conservatives on social media mock leftists' Martha's Vineyard migrant hypocrisy." 

Bluff called

Powerline: "The GOP is learning how to fight"

And when I saw the headline that Gov. Ron De Santis had flown two planeloads of illegal immigrants to Martha’s Vineyard, and that Gov. Abbott had dropped off two busloads of illegal immigrants out front of Kamala “The-Border-Is-Secure” Harris’s residence, I thought sure this had to be another madcap satire of the Babylon Bee. But no, this actually happened.

Finally—Republicans are learning how to fight, and we’ve seen the sanctimony of “sanctuary cities” revealed for what it is. More of this please. I’ve been saying for years that southern border states should send busloads of illegal immigrants to Marin County, Evanston, Westchester, Montgomery County, Bucks County, Malibu, Boulder, Cambridge, etc. Hopefully this is only the beginning, and the pace of these resettlements to affluent blue enclaves will increase. 

A couple years ago I was at a concert at Tanglewood and somebody on stage just couldn't help but make a comment about Trump's immigration policy.  At the time, I told my kids that "nobody in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts will ever face the consequences of illegal immigration."

So I'm loving the freakout on Martha's Vineyard.  They should start dropping them off at every house here in the Pioneer Valley with one of those insufferable "nobody is illegal" signs.

Yeah, here's the catch: he won't do it

Red State: "Fetterman Finally Agrees to a Debate, But There's a Catch."

They already paid for the stuff from "Party City"

The White House planned a celebration today for the Inflation Reduction Act and then, sometime between the announcement and the actual event, the Labor Department announced inflation had risen more than expected: "Inflation rose faster than expected in August, keeping prices painfully high - Consumer price index unexpectedly climbed 8.3% in August, despite a decline in gas prices."

Should they cancel the big party?  Well, they already hired the clowns and inflated the balloons so the show must go on:

Nevertheless, given today’s inflation data, it’s perhaps a little unfortunate that the administration will be celebrating the Act later today in Washington, D.C. 

So unfortunate that it would take a heart of stone not to laugh, however bitterly.

How bad was it?  Every minute Joe Biden tried to convince the crowd that everything was peachy the stock market kept dropping until it shed over 1200 points.  Eventually, CNN had to cut away from the happy talk because the split-screen was showing the Dow average slide.

Extra - Red State: "Joe Biden Holds Surreal 'Celebration' as Stock Market Crashes and Inflation Soars."

More - Legal Insurrection: "Inflation: ‘Food at Home Index Rose 13.5 Percent Over the Last 12 Months, the Largest 12-Month Increase Since the Period Ending March 1979’." 

"We're all trying to figure out who keeps pushing these hate hoaxes"

Hot Air: "CNN: 'It feels like there was a rush to judgment' on the Duke volleyball story."

The Washington Post on Fetterman

Red State: "The Washington Post Just Scorches John Fetterman in Surprise Editorial Attack."  I know I was surprised.  Here's part of the editorial:

The campaign’s response to questions about Mr. Fetterman’s health is to point to a doctor’s note, released more than 14 weeks ago, which said “he should be able to campaign and serve in the U.S. Senate without a problem” if he takes his medications and exercises.

That’s not good enough. Mr. Fetterman is asking voters for a six-year contract without giving them enough information to make sound judgments about whether he’s up for such a demanding job. We have called for full disclosure of health records from candidates for federal office in both parties, including Donald Trump and Joe Biden, and we believe Mr. Fetterman should release his medical records for independent review.

There is zero - ZERO - percent chance that Fetterman will ever debate.  Dude just can't.  For a while, I assumed the biased mainstream media would participate in a cover-up but this editorial gives me hope.

Extra - Ace: "Fetterman is getting worse." 

This is appropriate for today

Dementia Joe shuns the press

And the press is OK with that.  Fox News: "Biden finds time to talk cars with Jay Leno, but hasn’t done TV interview with American journalist in 200 days."

Sometimes I read transcripts from the White House website and it's remarkable to see the cadence of a Joe Biden speech.  They follow a familiar pattern where he starts off with Grampa Simpson-style rambling before rehashing the exact same talking points that have been consistently debunked over and over and over again.  

That's why he won't sit down with the media since Lester Holt broke him in February and it's why the rumors that he's already "quiet quit" continue to swirl.  

Back to Delaware for the weekend!  Joe's exhausted from the four public events he had this week.

Off the rails

Legal Insurrection: "Will a Rail Strike be the “Black Swan” of the 2022 Midterm Election?" 

Rest in peace, Lilibet

Spectator: "Queen Elizabeth II made a difference — to Britain and the world - "Her commitment to duty was remarkable"

Supply v. demand

Federalist: "How Corporate Media Sold The BYU Race Narrative With Zero Corroborating Evidence." - "The real question here is not whether Richardson was telling the truth but why it took so long for anyone to investigate or corroborate her claims before blasting them to the world."

They never learn.

To be fair, she's very mockable

Another bad day for diversity hire and election denier KJP: "Karine Jean-Pierre mocked after calling Nord Stream 1 pipeline ‘Nordstrom’."

Fistbump!

How it started: "Biden gives Saudis the gesture they wanted. But he returns to Washington with little in hand."

How it's going: "OPEC+ makes small trim to world oil supplies as prices fall." 

Thanks, suckers

The Hill: "Biden’s student loan bailout treats hard-working Americans as chumps on Labor Day"

President Biden’s plan to forgive up to $20,000 of student loans per borrower is bad policy for numerous reasons. It adds nearly $1 trillion to the national debt. It fuels inflation. And it is illegal executive overreach. (The Job Creators Network Foundation’s Legal Action Fund is currently considering legal options to block it.)

The bailout is also fundamentally unfair to most Americans who never earned an associate’s or bachelor’s degree. These hard-working folks are forced to shoulder loan forgiveness for the consultant class through their tax dollars. Biden’s action, therefore, makes for an especially depressing Labor Day for ordinary workers who also face declining real wages and living standards because of historic inflation. 

The potential lawsuit by the Job Creators Network is the first legal action I've heard about.

Zero. Zero % chance this is real.

Twitchy: "Biden’s @POTUS account shares grateful DM (and for SOME reason people are NOT buying it)."

As noted, the college intern running Joe Biden's twitter account made up a fake DM.  End of story.

Nice work if you can get it

Joe Biden refuses to take questions as he leaves on yet another weekend vacation.
Biden has spent 23 of the past 32 days on vacation. pic.twitter.com/fpazqso2eU

— Andrea Jackson TV 📺🇺🇸 (@AJacksonTV) September 3, 2022

In Joe's defense, just look at this jam-packed work schedule from Wednesday:

 Wow, slow down buddy!

Whoops, looks like the overnight polls are in

NY Post: "Biden walks back attacks on Trump voters in anti-MAGA speech." 

The paper of record

Babylon Bee: "Biden Condemns Fascism In Speech While Also Debuting Attractive New Mustache."

It's gonna be a "no" from me, dawg

Ramesh Ponnuru at Bloomberg: "Republicans Need to Get Serious About Social Security" - "Party leaders don’t even have a plan to fix it — which is a pity, since benefits are growing beyond the program’s revenue."

Social Security used to be a hobby issue for me but now I'm quite content to see the whole program come crashing down.  Nobody wants to do the tough work of reform.  It would be better to see the automatic cuts kick in and see how Americans react.