"Millions of those voters made known their outrage at business as usual via the the Bernie Sanders insurgency, to no avail. In November, millions of once-Democratic voters stayed home. The result: a catastrophic electoral rout – despite a hideously despised Republican nominee."
As for speculation about whether Trump will undo Obama’s progress with carbon dioxide emissions, I think the ball is now rolling too fast. Even if the EPA doesn’t regulate emissions, the invisible hand of the marketplace will prevent the totally uneconomical opening of new coal mines in Appalachia, and even Wyoming. And the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal program has been very effective in preventing the expansion, construction, and rebuilding of coal-fired power plants.
As for protectionism, there are an awful lot of dyed-in-the-wool “free” traders among congressional Republicans. As for getting cozy with China and Russia, there are plenty among them in favor of a “muscular” foreign policy.
As for cuts or major modifications to Social Security and Medicare, those would probably be political poison for Trump. Frankly, I should not be surprised if he would press for increases in benefits as payoff for his supporters—and to compensate for the campaign promises he made that are frankly impossible to keep.
Something else Trump can't change is the worldwide efforts to make practical fast-charging electrica vehicle energy storage devices. The economic incentives for the automobile companies are irresistible, and that will drive the demand (hence price and profits) for oil down both quickly and dramatically once it happens (if it does, but I think it is inevitable). And if oil prices fall even further, that is several more nails in the coffin of Big Coal. I was reading a story yesterday about a poor fellow who drove his Tesla to Los Angeles, and when he had to recharge the battery in order to make it back home without a tow truck (awwwww...), it took him an hour in line to get to the charger, then an hour to charge the battery. Folks who can afford a Tesla got it really hard, I tell you.
Bernie's empire strikes back [Click] “In state after state, supporters of the Vermont senator's presidential bid are challenging the Democratic establishment for party control.”
Catreona, thank you so much for catching that I'd missed posting about Veterans' Day!!! I'd planned a post then forgot to set that correctly. You saved the day! I'm in Nantucket presently.
Yes, the medieval ship was interesting, Cat; I remember an article in the National Geographic magazine quite some time ago about the discovery of a classic-era wreck north of Sinopoli with the mast still erect! Like for a couple thousand years! And wood lasts for a long time in the Baltic, too, because the water isn't salty enough for shipworms. But the depths of the Black Sea are frankly poisonous.
Kittens are first!
ReplyDeleteSome notes and then to bed.--Alan
ReplyDeleteDemocratic leaders on the future of their party [Click] Raúl M Grijalva, Bakari T Sellers, Zephyr Teachout, Stephanie Taylor, Ilya Sheyman.
"Millions of those voters made known their outrage at business as usual via the the Bernie Sanders insurgency, to no avail. In November, millions of once-Democratic voters stayed home. The result: a catastrophic electoral rout – despite a hideously despised Republican nominee."
Black Sea Shipwrecks [Click]
Bernie Sanders: Where the Democrats Go From Here [Click]
Great piece, as one would expect. Bernie rocks!
DeleteThe Black Sea shipwrecks were fascinating too, especially the Medieval one. Thanks, Alan!
DeleteElectric Corsets, the Original Wearable Devices [Click]
ReplyDeleteWhy Didn’t Clinton Have a Message? [Click] Or a slogan that encapsulated it?
Letting Bankers Off May Have Tipped the Election [Click] It’s something to think about, certainly.
Trump Voters Don’t Sweat Robot Outsourcing [Click] They ought to..
As for speculation about whether Trump will undo Obama’s progress with carbon dioxide emissions, I think the ball is now rolling too fast. Even if the EPA doesn’t regulate emissions, the invisible hand of the marketplace will prevent the totally uneconomical
opening of new coal mines in Appalachia, and even Wyoming. And the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal program has been very effective in preventing the expansion, construction, and rebuilding of coal-fired power plants.
As for protectionism, there are an awful lot of dyed-in-the-wool “free” traders among congressional Republicans. As for getting cozy with China and Russia, there are plenty among them in favor of a “muscular” foreign policy.
As for cuts or major modifications to Social Security and Medicare, those would probably be political poison for Trump. Frankly, I should not be surprised if he would press for increases in benefits as payoff for his supporters—and to compensate for the campaign promises he made that are frankly impossible to keep.
—Alan
Something else Trump can't change is the worldwide efforts to make practical fast-charging electrica vehicle energy storage devices. The economic incentives for the automobile companies are irresistible, and that will drive the demand (hence price and profits) for oil down both quickly and dramatically once it happens (if it does, but I think it is inevitable). And if oil prices fall even further, that is several more nails in the coffin of Big Coal. I was reading a story yesterday about a poor fellow who drove his Tesla to Los Angeles, and when he had to recharge the battery in order to make it back home without a tow truck (awwwww...), it took him an hour in line to get to the charger, then an hour to charge the battery. Folks who can afford a Tesla got it really hard, I tell you.
DeleteAlan
I'm eagerly awaiting the perfection of their driverless car! Donny Osmond demonstrated it on his FB page a while back. It looks fantastic!
DeleteSorry, Cat--blogger ate my supporting post on the last thread.
ReplyDeleteAnd so the finger-pointing begins.
ReplyDeleteYesterday John Podesta and Jennifer Palmieri John Podesta and Jennifer Palmieri [Click] blamed everyone else.
Today Clinton blamed Comey [Click]
========================
Bernie's empire strikes back [Click] “In state after state, supporters of the Vermont senator's presidential bid are challenging the Democratic establishment for party control.”
Bernie veterans also started Brand New Congress [Click]
==============================
The GoFundMe campaign for Hopewell Baptist Church [Click] continues to chug along, albeit slower now than at the beginning.
--Alan
Catreona, thank you so much for catching that I'd missed posting about Veterans' Day!!! I'd planned a post then forgot to set that correctly. You saved the day! I'm in Nantucket presently.
ReplyDeletePositive results on Tuesday [Click] Including ranked choice voting in Maine!
ReplyDeleteThese Rust Belt Democrats Saw the Trump Wave Coming [Click] And they tried to warn the Clinton campaign.
This one is the best of the lot:
Inequality Between Women Is Crucial to Understanding Hillary’s Loss [Click] “Working-class women who voted for Trump tell us a lot about feminism’s relationship to class politics.
Will Trump Break the Post–Cold War Order? [Click] An interesting read—the possibility of improvements in foreign affairs…
—Alan
Yes, the medieval ship was interesting, Cat; I remember an article in the National Geographic magazine quite some time ago about the discovery of a classic-era wreck north of Sinopoli with the mast still erect! Like for a couple thousand years! And wood lasts for a long time in the Baltic, too, because the water isn't salty enough for shipworms. But the depths of the Black Sea are frankly poisonous.
ReplyDeleteAlan