March 6, 2018 9:24 AM
HomeMorning ReadsSecond Breakfast Reads for Tuesday, March 6

Second Breakfast Reads for Tuesday, March 6

By  Morning Reads  32 Comments

It’s day 2 of Qualifying, and all the cool kids are like:

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About Author

Teri

Teri Anulewicz is a Democrat who represents House District 42 in the Georgia General Assembly. She previously spent nearly a decade on the Smyrna City Council. A native New Orleanian and quasi-Texan, Teri graduated from Agnes Scott College in 1998. She's been a front page contributor since 2015, and she compiles each Tuesday's Morning Reads.

32 Comments
  1. Dave Bearse

    It’s been little more than a week since Kushner’s security clearance was reduced to less than that of the WH calligrapher. The wife-beater causing Kushner to lose access to top secret information was a real blow. Tick-toc. Another brick in the wall.

    Kushner, among Trump’s best and brightest, made one of the worst purchases of the century in Kushner’s area of expertise, real estate, in paying $1.8B for 666 Fifth Ave. This one is not going away.

    He’s sold nearly half interest in the building, probably at a loss, and is on the hook for half of the balance of $1.2B that is due in less than a year. Selling visas, and the secret backchannel to Russia that Kushner sought to set up, didn’t work out—There haven’t been any foreigners interested in buying into to redevelopment of the building, though foreign governments have been considering how to squeeze him. Thank goodness for the bankers Kushner hosted at the White House for fronting him cash! His grafter dad-in-law is mentoring him well.

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/kushners-overseas-contacts-raise-concerns-as-foreign-officials-seek-leverage/2018/02/27/16bbc052-18c3-11e8-942d-16a950029788_story.html?utm_term=.785adb1d2841

    • xdog

      By their actions it’s clear that Trump et al consider the 2016 election a mandate to monetize the executive branch, but Kushner’s actions seem to push that conviction into the ozone. It’s bad enough and probably illegal for Kushner to use his office to solicit investors in his fading empire; if in fact he’s punished Qatar by abetting the Saudis and Kuwaitis in their efforts to isolate the Qataris after they failed to invest sovereign funds in his business, it’s graft and abuse of authority on a scale never before seen in this country.

      I like to think I’m cynical as hell but I find these people’s disregard for the Constitution and the oaths they took astounding. Without taking a partisan stand, any election result this fall that restricts future abuse of authority by removing as many of the enabling forces in Congress as possible will be welcome.

  2. xdog

    Per Gallup, Trump is most popular in West Virginia, least popular in Vermont. I was surprised to find he was upside down by 12 points in Georgia. Seems as if it would be closer to even.

    He’s only +2 in Mississippi making it more likely a donk gets traction in at least one of the two races for Senate in what should be must-watch politics this year.

    http://news.gallup.com/poll/226454/trump-approval-highest-west-virginia-lowest-vermont.aspx?g_source=WWWV7HP&g_medium=topic&g_campaign=tiles

  3. Jack Fitz

    Kudos on the LOTR reference!

    • Will Durant

      Not just LOTR. I’m retired and still batching it this week so I just had elevensies as well.

  4. bethebalance

    Sad to hear about Atlanta Fresh.

    • bethebalance

      Yep, expected.
      I also expect s/he will lose handily. Although will probably appeal and appeal until thoroughly defeated.
      The argument, also as expected, is age discrimination.
      But the biggest problem is that the 2nd Amendment, nor the apparent Oregon law, can mandate private sale of anything.
      There is a difference between having a right, and forcing third parties to give an opportunity to exercise that right. One can exercise rights only in the context of the facts of life, which include other parties’ rights.

      • bethebalance

        If this becomes law in FL, then there may actually be a justiciable 2nd Amendment issue regarding the age limit:
        http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-florida-gun-control-20180305-story.html
        If so, I’m no Constitutional scholar, but you may hear arguments about the rights of the state to define the age of majority in different contexts, and maybe even have arguments about whether to use the 18th century definition of “infringe” vs more modern definitions. Either way, judges will be activist.

      • blakeage80

        Let’s all remember this next time a baker won’t bake a cake.

        • bethebalance

          The issues do have commonalities.

        • Will Durant

          There are some distinct differences as well. Having a cake baked for your wedding is not a constitutional right. And in Georgia there is no civil rights violation either.

          Among the many vagaries of the 2nd however we don’t have an age limitation on the right to bear arms. I suppose the portion of our population that maintain minimalist controls like the National Firearms Act of 1934 are unconstitutional will next take up the cause of preteens going to school packing heat.

  6. John Vestal

    Just a heads-up (pi)…..time to click on my username yet again. Because every two minutes…..

  9. chamblee54

    Twitter Handle of the Day: Triumph of the Shill https://twitter.com/chasen47

  11. The Eiger

    It’s a dumb way for republicans to say they cut the amount individuals will pay out of pocket for their premiums in an election year. Kind of like Obama saying he cut the deficit after he increased the deficit to over a trillion. It’s true and a lie at the same time.

    The CSR’s were always a bad way of doing business, but were better than doing nothing. When you (Congress) do nothing on health reform then also do away with the CSR’s of course premiums will go up.

    • Ellynn

      I got the mechanics. So is the Pres going to restore them? Are we doing to go the hard way (just so the Pres doesn’t have to admit he cost folks more money)?

      Right now Mitch is going, “Should’ve just given Collins that vote last December.”

      • The Eiger

        I personally don’t think that the administration will reinstate the CSR payments unless Congress acts on a larger health reform package. It would be quite dumb to give a bargaining chip that big up without getting Congress to do something.

        I know. I’m about to get attacked on doing what is right vs. using premiums as a bargaining chip, But I also live in the real world.

        • Ellynn

          Trump never changes his mind so they wont.

          The question really is what is the right thing. Anything that means I pay 500% more because of how God made me, or you paying 10% more so I or my employer can afford any covered? Everyone has a different level of self inflicted ‘right thing’. In the end I will lose so you and the US majority will win. Yeah you.

          That is the ‘real world’.

          • The Eiger

            No, I’m saying continuing the CSR payments only kicks the can down the road and the problems we have with healthcare are not one step closer to being fixed.

          • Ellynn

            Okay.

            (Did you notice I tried to keep the martyrdom civil, no attack dog wording…) Snicker.

  12. Benevolus

    OK so I checked out Hunter Hill’s website a while ago and now I get Hunter Hill ads in my internet cruising, and it’s annoying me.
    “Georgia Doesn’t Need a career Politician”. What is this about? Ethics? is the implication that someone who serves a long time more likely to get in trouble or something? I would like to figure out a way to measure that. I kinda doubt that is true. I would think inexperienced politicians are more likely to get into trouble.

    Anyway, to me it’s a silly red-meat type of statement. There is nothing inherently wrong with a “career politician”, and some things that are good about it. Many serve honorably for many years, and some serve dishonorably in a very short time. I submit that it’s mostly just a psychological trigger for people who are pissed off about their lives and want to blame someone else.

    Besides, is he trying to say that instead of a career politician what we need is a trained killer? His Army Ranger cred is the biggest part of the ads. That’s not necessarily any more qualification that “career politician”. Probably less. Running a government ain’t like the Army. So it’s more emotional triggering for those who don’t need policy substance.

    HH, just chill with the service record and blasting a bunch of people you would have to work with.

  13. Ellynn

    I’m not a fan of making yogurt. However, my co-workers wife is, and she uses this webpage

    https://tidbits-marci.com/instant-pot-yogurt/

  14. Ellynn

    Congrats to the teachers and state troopers of West Virginia who got a 5% pay increase. This moves the teachers from the 47th state for highest average teach pay to 38th and trooper pay from 45th to 39th. (How is it Georgia state troopers are 48th… with an average of $39,510?)

    https://www.apnews.com/50bbbb160df44549a3d331ebb4f10c33/West-Virginia-leaders-reach-deal-to-end-teachers-strike

  15. Ellynn

    Dear Wharton School of Business,

    I might only have a public school economics class to go by, a few flippant little masters degrees from an art college and a secondary state school (or three), yet some how after listening to todays press conference with your MBA graduate Pres. Trump, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt I have a better understanding on how global trade works then your most well know graduate. On behalf of the country, I request you either send over a tutor ASAP or have mandatory yearly continuing education requirements to maintain the standing of your degrees.

    Sincerely,
    Ellynn

    • Benevolus

      I don’t think Trump has an MBA. He got a BS in Economics, an undergrad degree, so he apparently didn’t really go to the well-respected graduate degree program.

      • Ellynn

        Like that makes it okay then… He does have the BS part down, I’ll give him credit for that.

  16. Noway2016

    This has The Dims all in a dither. Pretty sad…
    https://www.yahoo.com/news/democrats-apos-unsanitary-apos-politicians-175846776.html

    • bethebalance

      I think it’s OK as long as Paul Ryan sleeps in his full suit and tie. And sleeps at his own apartment most of the time. As an alternative, he can sleep in the gym locker room.

  17. Noway2016

    Interesting study…I’ve been told one Acetaminophen and one Naproxen, which supposedly work on different types of pain, when taken together, are just as effective as the addictive stuff. Anyway…strike that. Should be ibuprofen and acetaminophen.
    http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-opioid-painkillers-no-better-20180306-story.html

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