NOT ACTUALLY A REFUTATION
Some people don’t want to register [for the draft] because they think “laws and government suck.” But truth be told, failure to register is punishable by a fine up to $250,000 and imprisonment up to 5 years. Also, failure to register results in a lifetime of denied benefits.
— Selective Service System on Twitter, June 28, 2019
CUTS TOMORROW AND CUTS AFTER THE ELECTION — BUT NEVER CUTS TODAY
President Trump has instructed aides to prepare for sweeping budget cuts if he wins a second term in the White House, five people briefed on the discussions said, a move that would dramatically reverse the big-spending approach he adopted during his first 30 months in office …
[But for now] Trump is advocating swiftly lifting the federal debt ceiling, which would allow for more spending and borrowing.
— Washington Post, July 19, 2019
I THINK THEY MISSPELLED “LOST”
Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo won the vote Monday to stage the 2026 Winter Games.
— Associated Press, June 24, 2019
WHAT WOULD WE LEARN IF WE HAD OUR OWN POLITICIANS’ GROUP CHATS?
889 pages of group chats [involving Puerto Rican Gov. Ricardo Rosselló and his inner circle were published] … filled with sexist, homophobic and profane language against political opponents and allies, the fiscal control board and journalists, plus conversations that possibly suggest preferential government treatment on contracts [and] information manipulation …
Rosselló … said that the private chat — the same private chat in which he threatened former New York City Council speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and called her a “whore” in Spanish and also joked about a threat against the mayor of San Juan, Carmen Yulín Cruz — was just a way to relieve stress.
— Washington Post, July 18, 2019
WHY BE IN CONGRESS, THEN?
While some Senate Republicans warned the administration this week that at least 20 GOP senators may defy Trump on Mexico tariffs if it comes to a vote, other Texas lawmakers weren’t willing to go that far.
“Im not going to vote on a disapproval of the presidents actions. Thats a longtime policy of mine,” Rep. Kenny Marchant (R‑Tex.), even as he expressed some reticence over Trumps tariff threat. “I never voted against the governor when I was in the statehouse.”
— Washington Post, June 6, 2019
WILL THEY ARREST OTHER DRUG USERS?
Of the 10 candidates [for UK prime minister], eight have admitted to doing drugs. …
[Boris] Johnson admitted to trying cocaine and cannabis in his younger days, but he told GQ in 2007 that the drugs “achieved no pharmacological, psychotropic or any other effect on me whatsoever.”
— Washington Post, June 11, 2019
DID THE SAME WEATHER CAUSE STARVATION IN SOUTH KOREA?
The survey found that abnormally high temperatures, drought in some areas and flooding in others severely reduced the 2018 fall harvest of grains including rice, wheat and soybeans, leading to food insecurity for 10.1 million of North Koreas 25.5 million people.
— NPR, June 9, 2019
CENTRAL PLANNING FOR AGRICULTURE
MEXICO HAS AGREED TO IMMEDIATELY BEGIN BUYING LARGE QUANTITIES OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCT FROM OUR GREAT PATRIOT FARMERS!
— President Trump on Twitter, June 8, 2019
PARTY TIME ON K STREET
Faced with the growing possibility of antitrust actions and legislation to curb their power, four of the biggest technology companies are amassing an army of lobbyists as they prepare for what could be an epic fight over their futures. … The industry’s troubles mean big paydays for the lawyers, political operatives and public relations experts hired to ward off regulations, investigations and lawsuits that could curtail the companies huge profits.
— New York Times, June 5, 2019
SOCIALISM
Yolanda will only give her first name and wont talk politics. She doesn’t want to jeopardize a resource that her family depends on: A food box provided to the poor by the government of [Venezuelan] President Nicolas Maduro. Distribution is controlled by local officials from the ruling Socialist Party. Rights groups say these officials monitor people and strike them off the list if they criticize the government.
— NPR, July 18, 2019
