Before we begin, a programming note. I won’t be here to respond to comments until the middle of the afternoon. My wife has a medical appointment tomorrow, and that will keep us busy for a while. On top of that, as I type this it is our wedding anniversary, and I’m hoping that part of our celebration tonight will involve some, uh, strenuous physical activity. So I’ll be sleeping late and then going into town.
But there is plenty of good news today, as there is every day. Even some of the bad news you may have heard isn’t as bad as it looks at first. Let’s take a look as we start off another Thursday.
DAMAGE CONTROL
There has been some bad news this week, but maybe not as bad as it looked at first.
NEW POLL SHOWS TED CRUZ UP BY 9? nOT SO FAST
Most of you probably saw the Quinnipiac poll on Tuesday which had Cruz with a 9 point lead over O’Rourke in the Texas Senate race. But before anyone panics, it might be wise to remember that in any political race, some polls are outliers, and this appears to be the case with this poll. In fact, the three previous polls in that race showed Cruz with a lead of only 1-4 points, and yesterday a Reuters/Ipsos/ poll was the first to show Beto with a lead, although only by a tiny 2%. This is why it is so important to look at polling averages rather than individual polls. And it’s why Real Clear Politics, even before the Reuters poll, rated this one a tossup.
“tRUMP’S” NATIONWIDE WIRELESS ALERT TEST DELAYED—AND IT’S NOT WHAT YOU’VE BEEN TOLD IT IS
A lot of noise has been generated over a planned test of the cell phone “Presidential Alert” system, with way too many people saying that this is some sort of system whereby Trump can send out random nonsense messages to everyone’s phone and that it was somehow a threat to our privacy.
The test has now been rolled back to October 3, and it is not some brand new method of forcing us to receive Trumpian nonsense on our phones.
FEMA, which will send the alert, said last week that the messages would bear the headline “Presidential Alert,” and that phones will make a loud tone and have a special vibration.
The test has been scheduled to ensure that the alert system would work in the event of a national emergency, and U.S. cellphone users will not be able to opt out. The message will read: “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.”
Former President Barack Obama signed a law in 2016 requiring FEMA to create a system allowing the president to send cellphone alerts regarding public safety emergencies.
In its statement last week on the test messages, FEMA said the presidential alerts can be used only for national emergencies and the president has sole responsibility for determining when such alerts are used.
Be different from Internet hysterics and read that last sentence closely. The President, whether it’s Trump or whoever, does not initiate these messages. He or she merely has the responsibility of determining which messages will be sent out.
In fact, it is quite illegal for Trump to use the system for personal messages, and he does not possess the technology to do so on his own. Again, the messages are initiated by FEMA.
The announcement of the Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) test caused some concerns that it could be used by Trump like he uses Twitter. But in 2015, Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., introduced a bill to prevent any president from abusing the system.
"Except to the extent necessary for testing the public alert and warning system, the public alert and warning system shall not be used to transmit a message that does not relate to a natural disaster, act of terrorism, or other man-made disaster or threat to public safety, " states the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System Modernization Act of 2015.
Nor is this system a means for Trump or Russian super-hackers to invade your privacy or track you.
The 90-character emergency alert has also been confused as being received as a text message that comes through the SMS channel, but it will broadcast through area cell towers and will not be disturbed by any network congestion that could occur during an emergency.
Trump will also be unable to track the location of people or access personal phone numbers through the system.
So please don’t inundate FEMA with calls and emails about a problem that doesn’t exist. You’re making it harder for them to do their actual job.
News of the test spurred an online backlash and a flood of calls to FEMA, which has been inundated with requests to opt out of the alert — hampering the agency's ongoing emergency response to Hurricane Florence, FEMA spokesperson Jenny Burke told NBC News.
And one other thing Internet hysterics are wrong about—you can’t opt out of this by turning emergency alerts off in your phone settings. If the nation is attacked or another 9/11 happens, you’re just going to have to hear about it.
TRUMP’S ORDER TO DECLASSIFY RUSSIAN INVESTIGATION DOCUMENTS IS PROBABLY NOT AN ORDER AT ALL
Another minor Internet panic ensued after it was announced that Trump has ordered the declassifying of select documents related to the Russia investigation. But, as we all know, Trump doesn’t know how government works, and, as with other “orders” he has issued, it’s not enough for him to just say “make it so.”
In the statement, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said Trump directed the declassification of some documents and public release of others "[a]t the request of a number of committees of Congress, and for reasons of transparency."
Asked for the actual presidential directive or directives referenced in her statement, Sanders told BuzzFeed News, "There isn’t anything else, just the statement."
"A direct order from the President to declassify something doesn't trigger a declassification review, because it doesn't give the agency any authority to not declassify anything, even 'to ensure the safety of America's national security interests.' It would be an order to declassify, not an order to review," Kel McClanahan, executive director of National Security Counselors, wrote. "In essence, DOJ is treating this as a Mandatory Declassification Review request, which anyone in the country can make."
It looks like this will probably go the way of several of Trump’s other commands, and we’ll likely hear no more about it.
So remember, some things are bad, but they are rarely as bad as we’re being told. Think about that as we take our next musical break.
We just finished a stretch of 16 days of rain here (15.34” at my house), but that’s OK.
TEXAS SENATE RACE REMAINS TIGHT AS CRUZ CONTINUES STRATEGY OF SELF-OWNAGE
GEORGE W. BUSH WILL NOT HELP TED CRUZ
Despite the way that even some Democrats swooned when GWB gave Michelle Obama a piece of candy at the McCain funeral, America’s second-worst President showed his true colors this week when he defended Mike Kavanaugh and announced that he would be helping vulnerable Republicans raise money for the midterms. However, there was one line even W is unwilling to cross.
"While he prefers to consider himself retired from politics, President Bush recognizes how important it is to keep the Senate and decided to help a few key candidates," Bush spokesman Freddy Ford told Politico.
Noticeably absent from the list is Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, a Republican who is facing a surprisingly robust challenge from Rep. Beto O'Rourke, D-El Paso.
Bush reportedly dissed Cruz at a private fundraising event in late 2015 by saying, "I just don't like the guy." Bush and his wife, Laura, also haven't given to Cruz's campaigns, despite supporting other Republicans since leaving the White House, according to campaign finance records.
CRUZ MAKES WEIRD ASSERTION THAT BETO WILL BAN BBQ
Appearing at a rally on Saturday, Ted Cruz oddly claimed that a Beto victory will be the end of barbecue in Texas, saying, “If Texas elects a Democrat, they’re going to ban barbecue across the state of Texas.”
Lest anyone think he had misspoken, the campaign later doubled down, with spokeswoman Emily Miller saying, ““Texas on the brink of #AbolishBBQ if voters don’t #KeepTexasRed.” (Miller is notable for bizarrely stating that Beto is a “triple meat Whataburger who is out of touch with Texas values”, whatever that means).
Wait, did I say doubled down? Cruz went for the rare triple down on stupidity, later tweeting
Cruz did not offer any explanation of how a single US Senator could ban BBQ or anything else in a state, but maybe his strategy is to present himself as ignorant and unhinged as his new BFF Trump.
(On a side note, the action by PETA is somewhat disturbing. No one needs “help” from those loons).
WILLIE NELSON RESPONDS TO WINGNUT RAGE OVER HIS SUPPORT OF BETO
Three simple words—“I don’t care.”
Asked on “The View” about the angry comments, the county music legend had just three words for his critics.
“I don’t care,” the 85-year-old native Texan said. “I don’t care. They’re entitled to their opinion, and I’m entitled to mine.”
Nelson said that he is surprised by the backlash since he’s supported Democratic candidates his whole life. But he doesn’t mind taking flak over it.
“I love flak,” he cracked. “We’re not happy ’til they’re not happy.”
It remains unexplained why right wingers were surprised that Willie, the only person ever to outsmoke Snoop Dogg, is a liberal.
SIGNS OF HOPE ON KAVENAUGH CONTROVERSY AS TRUMP PREPARES PATH TO WITHDRAW NOMINATION
One of the best news developments of the last year is the #MeToo movement and the success it has had in making misogyny and sexual assault the new third rail of American culture and politics. The fact that Mike Kavanaugh and Senate Republicans have decided to try taking a stroll down that third rail has given us some hope that we may yet avoid the presence of Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court.
TRUMP PREPARES EXIT STRATEGY FOR KAVANAUGH NOMINATION
It appears that even Trump and his enablers are beginning to realize they made a bad pick, and the groundwork is being laid for a possible defeat as the Orange Wonder maintains a (for him) subdued stance on the whole mess.
One source says Ivanka Trump has told her father to “cut bait” and drop Kavanaugh.
Step 1: Say he is being pressured by his mistress daughter.
Another reason Trump hasn’t gone to the mat for Kavanaugh is that he’s said to be suspicious of Kavanaugh’s establishment pedigree. “‘He’s a Bush guy, why would I put myself out there defending him?’” Trump told people, according to a former White House official briefed on the conversations.
Step 2: Claim he doesn’t really like the guy anyway.
Trump also has expressed frustration with White House counsel Don McGahn, who aggressively lobbied for him to choose Kavanaugh, a source said.
Step 3: Put the blame on someone else for coming up with the whole idea in the first place.
This is classic Trump, who is fundamentally incapable of ever admitting to a mistake.
They have stepped squarely on the third rail I mentioned earlier, and if they manage to get their boy on the Court their chances of holding either house of Congress decline significantly. And if they lose this battle, it will only bolster their image as the party who hasn’t been able to accomplish anything except a very unpopular tax bill.
As former RNC chair Michael Steele said, “This sucks.”
I still tend to think that Kavanaugh gets confirmed, but I’m more hopeful than I was a week ago. Victory may be unlikely, but it now looks possible.
All of which make me think of a song (and maybe you’re beginning to see a pattern here.
KEY KANSAS REPUBLICANS ENDORSE DEMOCRAT LAURA KELLY OVER KRIS KOBACH
Kobach’s road to the Kansas statehouse got a little rougher on Tuesday, with former Senator Nancy Kassebaum adding her voice to that of former Governor Bill Graves in supporting Kobach’s Democratic opponent.
Former Republican Kansas Senator Nancy Kassebaum, who served from 1978 to 1997, endorsed Democratic gubernatorial candidate Laura Kelly over Republican Kris Kobach on Tuesday. “It seems to me that Kobach has developed a record that shows a focus on ways and how to accomplish his end goals that I think are not the best for Kansas,” Kassebaum said.
Earlier this month, former Kansas Republican Gov. Bill Graves, who held office from 1995 to 2003, also announced he was endorsing Kelly over Kobach. “Laura Kelly is the only Democrat I have ever endorsed for public office,” Graves said. “And the reason I’m doing that now is because I believe so much is at stake in the state of Kansas.”
After their state was bankrupted by Sam Brownback, it would appear that even many Kansas Republicans are not ready to elect another extremist to lead their state.
MISCELLANEOUS GOOD NEWS
TRUCKER RESCUES 64 DOGS AND CATS FROM HURRICANE FLORENCE FLOODWATERS
And he’s not done yet.
(Tony) Alsup, a 51-year-old trucker from Greenback, Tenn., was parked at a Waffle House outside Fayetteville, N.C., on Sunday night for a quick pit stop and a plate of waffles and grits. He had been on the road since Monday, when he hopped in his bus and headed toward the coast, committed to rescuing as many animals as possible ahead of Hurricane Florence.
Inside the bus, the seats have been ripped out to make room for its passengers. On the bus’s side are the words “EMERGENCY ANIMAL RESCUE SHELTER.” But it could have said “Noah’s Ark.”
In the last week, Alsup and his bus have rescued 53 dogs and 11 cats from South Carolina shelters that were in Florence’s treacherous path.
And come morning, Alsup expects to search for more.
“I’m like, look, these are lives too,” Alsup told The Washington Post during his Waffle House stop. “Animals — especially shelter pets — they always have to take the back seat of the bus. But I’ll give them their own bus. If I have to I’ll pay for all the fuel, or even a boat, to get these dogs out of there.”
Alsup, who wants to open his own animal shelter one day, has been rescuing shelter pets from floodwaters with his school bus since Hurricane Harvey ravaged the Texas coast last year. When Alsup saw on the news how numerous animal shelters had become overcrowded with lost or rescued animals, he thought he could help. He wanted to help transport the animals to vacant shelters — but he knew he couldn’t put them in a semitrailer.
“I thought, well what can I do?” he said. “I’ll just go buy a bus.”
He has since helped with rescues during Hurricanes Irma and Maria (no bus for the latter; he was feeding horses) and now during Florence.
VIRGINIA GOV. RALPH NORTHAM WILL BE HONORARY PACE CAR DRIVER AT RICHMOND NASCAR RACE
Virginia’s Democratic Governor will be honored at the Federated Auto Parts 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race on Saturday night.
Richmond Raceway (Richmond) announces Governor Ralph Northam as the Honorary Pace Car Driver for the Federated Auto Parts 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race on Saturday, Sept. 22. The 73rd Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia will be behind-the-wheel of the Official Toyota Camry Pace Car with the field of Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers in his rearview mirror.
"I'm looking forward to driving on Richmond Raceway's great track and setting the pace for NASCAR's top drivers," said Governor Northam. "Race weekend in Richmond is always a fun time, and the Richmond Raceway and NASCAR are big boosts for the local and state economy."
"It's an honor to host Governor Ralph Northam as the Honorary Pace Car Driver for the Federated Auto Parts 400," said Richmond President Dennis Bickmeier. "Governor Northam is a true car enthusiast and NASCAR fan. We look forward to welcoming the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia behind the wheel to lead the field around the iconic ¾-mile D-shaped oval at Richmond Raceway. It will be a moment he will never forget.
DONALD TRUMP, JR., CALLS HIS FATHER’S SUPPORTERS “FAT, HAPPY, AND LAZY”
And he’s supposed to be “the smart one.”
“There’s no question that we can win this, but we’re just fat, happy and lazy because we’re getting everything that we want.”
I’ve never met a Trumpanzee who was anything but angry, but I will grant that many are fat and lazy.
There’s more good news—there always is. But it’s getting kinda late, and the wife and I have certain matters to attend to. So feel free to add any more positive stories you know of, or, better yet, go out and make some good news of your own.
BTW, the first Beto-Cruz debate will be tomorrow at 7:00 PM Eastern time. It will be shown on TV stations around the Lone Star state (KXAN in Austin, KRIS in Dallas), but for most people it might be best to view it on C-SPAN. I have been unable to find a comprehensive list of all Texas stations airing the debate, but will try to do so for the next two.
Play us out, boys…