The 2024 Election, Part XXVIII. The Election.

 

And so we go, Election 2024.

November 5, 2024

Today is election day.

cont, 18:31:

The states to really watch today are the "blue wall states", which are:

Of these, the ones that are really in doubt are Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Trump needs to take these, and so does Harris, for the easiest route to 270 electoral votes.

All of the other Blue Wall states are gong for Harris without a doubt.

At the time of posting this, South Carolina, which went for Biden last go around, has gone for Trump.

November 6, 2024

Donald J. Trump, the worst President in American history, a man who sat by while his supporters stormed the Capitol, was re-elected President of the United States,  securing both the electoral vote, and the popular vote.

This is simply amazingly and depressing.  All chances for a reform of the GOP back to a conservative party have now died.

The Republicans took the Senate.

The House presently remains undetermined.

In state and local races, the following is of interest.

All the judges were retained, as expected.

The School Board did not go to the Populists.

Casperites voted for a 6th Cent to support a new animal shelter.

November 8, 2024

Projections make it clear that the Republicans will retain control of the House of Representatives, cementing what amounts to a Democratic disaster.

Donald Trump will have control of the House and Senate, or put another way, Republicans will control Congress and the Executive.  Not only that, however, but this is a largely Trumpite Republican Party now, so whatever Trump wants, he's very likely to get.

It wasn't all that long ago that Democrats dominated national votes and the Republican Party was regarded as heading to extinction unless it reformed.  It did reform, but in a direction that seemed likely to cause its demise.  Now its the Democrats that need to take a serious look at themselves and react. They should not have lost.

November 14, 2024

And while it has been suspected for some time, it's official. The Republicans won the House of Representatives.

Related threads:

The Carter Family - Can't Feel at Home

Labels: 2024 Election, Folk Music, Music

Last edition:

The 2024 Election, Part XXVII. Heading for the Last Roundup

Labels: 2020s, 2024, 2024 Election, Donald Trump, Education, J. D. Vance, Joseph Biden, Nebraska, Populism, Putin, Russia, Russo Ukrainian War, The Liz Cheney Maxim, Weird, Wyoming Freedom Caucus

Friday, November 10, 1944. The Explosion of the Mount Hood.

The USS Mount Hood, an ammunition ship, exploded at Seeadler Harbor at Manus Island in Papua New Guinea, killing all on board and damaging 22 other ships.

Imperial Japanese forces took U.S. airfields in China as part of Operation Ichi-Go.  The Japanese were gaining ground in China.

The Germans rounded up over 50,000 Dutch me in Rotterdam as slave labor, and effectively as hostages.

"Sgt. Sam S. McNealy, Morgantown, N.C., stands watch by his machine gun during the first snowfall of the year in this sector of the western front. 1st Army, Monschau, Germany. 10 November, 1944."

Last edition:

Thursday, November 9, 1944. Sorge meets his end.

Labels: 1940s, 1944, Army, Battle of Leyte, Battle of Metz, British Army, Espionage, Imperial Japanese Army, Imperial Japanese Navy, Italy, Japan, USSR, World War Two

Sunday, November 7, 1824. St. Petersburg Flood.

The horrific St. Petersburg Flood, by some measures the worst flood in Russian history, occurred.

Last edition:

Tuesday, November 2, 1824. The Blackpore Mutiny of 1824.

Labels: 1820s, 1824, British Empire, Colonialism, India, Indian Army

Today in World War II History—November 1, 1939 & 1944

Today in World War II History—November 1, 1939 & 1944: 80 Years Ago—Nov. 1, 1944: US C-47 medical air evacuation flight crashes in southern France—the crew, 15 patients, and flight nurse Aleda Lutz are killed.

Thursday, October 19, 1944. Airbase disaster.

Today In Wyoming's History: October 19: 1944  1944  A bomber from the Casper Air Base crashed killing three crewmembers.  Attribution:  Wyoming State Historical Society.

Last edition:

Wednesday, October 18, 1944. Levée en masse.

Labels: 1940s, 1944, Auschwitz, Conscription, Erwin Rommel, Greece, Italy, Nazi Germany, The Holocaust, Volkssturm, World War Two

Just two weeks ago Congress passed a bill that included funding for FEMA.

Be careful what you wish for, lest it come true!

Aesop. 

Contrary to news reports, it was not a FEMA funding bill, it was the stop gap bridge measure to keep the government open.

The hard right in Congress, including Wyoming's lone Congressman, voted against it.  Voting against such bills has been really popular in the populist street level politics of Wyoming.  And the hard right sees it as a way to force fiscal responsibility, as long as you don't want to be too cynical about it.  It'd also handicap the government if it didn't pass, of course, which some long for.

Rep. Hageman gave her reasons as follows:

Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Harriet Hageman voted in favor of H.R. 9494 - Continuing Appropriations and Other Matters Act, 2025 (CR) that would keep the federal government open through March 28, 2025 and include the SAVE Act. The SAVE Act, cosponsored by Rep. Hageman and passed earlier this year by the House of Representatives with bipartisan support, would require states to obtain proof of citizenship—in person—when registering an individual to vote and require states to remove non-citizens from existing voter rolls. The bill failed 220-202.

Representative Hageman stated, “Safeguarding our election process is critically important, especially with the open border policies of the Biden-Harris administration that have allowed over 11 million illegals to enter our country. By including the SAVE Act with government funding and extending the funding into 2025, when Republicans have a strong chance of controlling the House, Senate, and White House, America wins. We will be able to craft responsible appropriations bills that slash wasteful spending, stop the current administration’s radical climate agenda, and eliminate woke DEI programs from federal agencies – at the same time, we can ensure that only American citizens vote in federal elections.

“I am disappointed that the House was unable to pass H.R. 9494 today. While Continuing Resolutions are never ideal, securing our elections and creating an opportunity to pass conservative spending bills in 2025 created a unique opportunity. I will not support a CR that fails to include the SAVE Act.”

I'm sure her logic is likewise popular in the state, but I'd note that tying immigration to continuing spending is linking two unrelated things.  She voted against the bill that passed.

Anyhow, while this wasn't a FEMA spending bill, FEMA is part of the government and gets its money from the government, which would have closed if the CR hadn't passsed. . . .

FEMA is now addressing hurricane damage in the Southeast last week, and is about to deal with a second hurricane that looks to hit Florida with a fury not matched in a century.

Interestingly, the Trump campaign is now lying (imagine that) about disaster relief funds not making it to Appalachia.  Trump has, of course, inspired the far right and the "shut the government down" midset.

Well, what about us?

Here are the list of disasters that FEMA recognizes for this year in Wyoming:

Wyoming House Draw Fire (FM-5531-WY)

Incident Period: August 22, 2024 - and continuing

Fire Management Assistance Declaration declared on August 22, 2024

Wyoming Pleasant Valley Fire (FM-5523-WY)

Incident Period: July 30, 2024 - and continuing

Fire Management Assistance Declaration declared on July 30, 2024

Wyoming Happy Jack Fire (FM-5490-WY)

Incident Period: March 1, 2024 - and continuing

Fire Management Assistance Declaration declared on March 1, 2024

 And quite frankly, there are going to be more to come.

The Elk Fire near Dayton and Sheridan is now up to 75,000 and is only 10% contained as of this morning.  A forest fire broke out in this county yesterday afternoon.*

These fires aren't stopping until it snows, and daily temperatures are freakishly high for October.

Let's discuss subsidiarity.

Subsidiarity on this site is defined in the Catholic sense.  It is an organizing principle that things (problems, matters, politics, economics) ought to be handled by the smallest, lowest or least centralized competent authority.

Least centralized competent authority, not the least centralized authority.

The most centralized competent authority can indeed be the Federal government for large disasters, particularly multistate disasters, and ones which require large sums of money that cannot be locally obtained.

That latter is particularly the case for Wyoming.

We can't afford these disasters on our own. We can't afford to fight them.  We can't address what they destroy.

Wyomingites are on social media right now complaining that the country is ignoring us.  Well, attention works two ways.

This upcoming 2025 Legislature is likely to see the House controlled by the "Wyoming" Freedom Caucus.  The "Wyoming" Freedom Caucus basically wants to give the Federal Government the middle finger salute.  But nobody in the state wants to tell Washington "no thanks, you keep your FEMA, Highway, FAA money, we'll do it on our own".  

There's a word for lashing out when you don't get what you want, and see yourself as the center of things.

A tantrum, angry outburst, temper tantrum, lash out, meltdown, fit, or hissy fit is an emotional outburst, usually associated with those in emotional distress. It is typically characterized by stubbornness, crying, screaming, violence, defiance, angry ranting, a resistance to attempts at pacification, and, in some cases, hitting and other physically violent behavior. Physical control may be lost; the person may be unable to remain still; and even if the "goal" of the person is met, they may not be calmed. Throwing a temper tantrum can lead to a child getting detention or being suspended from school for older school age children, and can result in a timeout or grounding, complete with room or corner time, at home. A tantrum may be expressed in a tirade: a protracted, angry speech.

Wikipedia. 

“Be careful what you wish for, lest it come true!”, Aesop counseled, and for a reason.  And Sappho counseled "don't bite the hand that feeds you".

And, of course:

Pride goes before disaster, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

Proverbs 16:18.

We've been pretty proud here recently. 

Footnotes:

*A message from the Game and Fish:

Sheridan – The Wyoming Game and Fish Department advises hunters that the Elk Fire in Sheridan County continues to grow, impacting wildlife habitat and access to certain hunt areas.

 

Hunt areas impacted by the fire or associated public access closures are currently located within Elk Hunt Areas 37 and 38 and Deer Hunt Areas 24 and 25. This is an active fire situation and these areas may change. Game and Fish is maintaining a fire information page for hunters and updating it regularly.

 

As of Oct. 5, 2024, the following Access Yes areas have been closed until further notice:

 

• PK Lane Hunter Management Area. 

• Sheridan County Walk in Areas #8 and #12. 

   

Game and Fish personnel are assisting public safety officials and fire suppression efforts as requested.

 

Personnel will assess impacts to Commission-owned properties and wildlife habitat when it is safe to do so.

 

Members of the public should be extra vigilant in watching for wildlife on roadways to avoid collisions, as animals may relocate to new areas where they usually aren’t expected.

 

Wildlife are generally adept at moving away from wildfires and the department has not received reports of injured animals at this time. Members of the public who see an injured animal can report the location to the Stop Poaching Hotline at 1-877-WGFD-TIP. The hotline operates 24 hours a day and reports are sent to the nearest wildlife manager to respond.  

 

Hunters should consult the Bighorn National Forest website and Facebook page for the most current information on fire conditions and public access closures. 

 

Other resources for information about the fire, current road closures and other impacts include the Sheridan County Emergency Management Department and Wyoming Department of Transportation.

 

Hunters can call the Sheridan Regional Office at 307-672-7418 for more information.

Agitio ter consuli, gemitus britannorum . . .Repellunt barbari ad mare, repellit mare ad barbaros; inter haec duo genera funerum aut iugulamur aut mergimur.

So on this Sunday, 2024, I worked, contrary to God's injunction, like on so many others. As a result, I didn't really catch up with the horrific plight of Appalachia in the wake of Hurricane Helene.

It's awful.

Which makes this the worst, and best, time to note this.

We're headed into a legislative session, and an election season, in which the far right espouses a hatride of the Federal Government.  If you are in Appalachia, and vote for the populists, you are voting to handle this disaster on your own.  If you are in Wyoming, and voting populists, the same is true of the horrible fires we've experienced and are yet to.

If that is your view, don't ask for help, as stupid and cold as not asking for help would be.

We here are distributists, a philosophy that holds things should devolve to the lowest level possible. Here, that level is the Federal government.  Distributism works up, as well as down.

Additionally, how long will we choose to ignore the signs?  We've waited longer than we should have as it is.  There's still time to act, no matter how much it impacts your temrporary pocket books, with you being temporary as it is.

Tuesday, September 22, 1874. 1874 Hong Kong Typhoon.

 The third worst typhoon to hit Hong Kong hit on the night of September 22, 1874.

Up to 2,000 people died in Hong Kong, and in nearby China, between 10,000 and 100,000 people lost their lives.

Last edition:

Sunday, September 20, 1874. An African American Wyoming Sheep Rancher.

Labels: 1870s, 1874, Blog Mirror, Ethnicities, Kentucky, Personalities, Wyoming

Monday, September 18, 1944. Eindoven taken.

Distraught German medic at scene of German surrender, Orléans, September 18, 1944.

The 101st Airborne Division liberated Eindoven.

Lieutenant Colonel Robert George Cole, who would receive the Medal of Honor for his actions during Operation Overlord, was killed by a German sniper during Market Garden.  He was 29 years old.

Another American combatant would be killed in an action that resulted in his posthumously receiving the Medal of Honor.

The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor (Posthumously) to Private First Class Charles Howard Roan (MCSN: 504236), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for the conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with the Second Battalion, Seventh Marines, First Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Peleliu, Palau Islands, 18 September 1944. Shortly after his leader ordered a withdrawal upon discovering that the squad was partly cut off from their company as a result of the rapid advance along an exposed ridge during an aggressive attack on the strongly entrenched enemy, Private First Class Roan and his companions were suddenly engaged in a furious exchange of hand grenades by Japanese forces emplaced in a cave on higher ground and to the rear of the squad. Seeking protection with four other Marines in a depression in the rocky, broken terrain, Private First Class Roan was wounded by an enemy grenade which fell close to their position and, immediately realizing the eminent peril to his comrades when another grenade landed in the midst of the group, unhesitatingly flung himself upon it, covering it with his body and absorbing the full impact of the explosion. By his prompt action and selfless conduct in the face of almost certain death, he saved the lives of four men. His great personal valor reflects the highest credit upon himself and the U. S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his comrades.

The Battle of Arracourt commenced in France.

The US dropped supplies from B-17s to resistance fighters in Warsaw, the only such mission permitted by the Soviets.  The aircraft flew on to Soviet held territory.

It's often been speculated, not without reason, that Stalin allowed the uprising to bleed itself out as it was resulting in the deaths of a present combatant, the Germans, and a feared future one, the Poles.

The Jun'yō Maru was sunk off Sumatra by the British submarine Tradewind resulting in the deaths of 5,620 people, most of whom were Allied POWs or Japanese slave labor.  The event is one of the worst naval disasters of all time, taking into account the lives lost were largely innocent.

Last edition:

Sunday, September 17, 1944. Operation Market Garden commences.

Labels: 1940s, 1944, Animals, Battle of Arnhem, Battle of Nijmegen, Cats, Netherlands, Operation Market Garden, Operation Paravane, Palau, Paratroopers, San Marino, Tallinn, World War Two, Wyoming (LaGrange)

Something for Wyoming populists to consider.

Last week Governor Gordon asked the Federal Government for emergency funds due to the recent fires.

In today's Trib we learn that Park County, Lincoln County, Rock Springs, Carbon County, Albany County, Converse County and the city of Sheridan are sharing $3M in Federal grants for safer streets.

Nearly every sizable community receives Federal grants for Emergency Services.

Harriet Hageman, in the primary, noted the money she'd "brought back" to Wyoming, which was a neutral way of saying the money she'd brought in. The state brings in more money than it sends to the Federal government.

So, with populists about to take over the state House, maybe, it'll be interesting to see how they approach this.  With Federal money comes Federal influence. Will they eschew it, ignore it, or migrate towards the middle?

Thursday, September 7, 1944. Hungary declares war on Romania. The Chinese Army prevails at The Battle of Mount Song (松山戰役), The Shin'yō Maru incident.

Hungary declared war on Romania and invaded southern Transylvania.

Vichy's government relocated to Sigmaringen Castle in Germany.

The Japanese cargo ship SS Shin'yō Maru was torpedoed and sunk in the USS Paddle.  The ship was carrying US POWs.  688 out of 750 died.

The Battle of Mount Song (松山戰役) saw the Nationalist Chinese Army prevail, resulting in the reopening of the Burma Road.

The understrength Japanese unit had held the area for three months.

Last edition:

Wednesday, September 6, 1944. Closing in and winding down. . .

Labels: 1940s, 1944, Army, Belgium, British Home Guard, Canadian Army, French Army, Heroes, Italy, Palau, Polish Home Army, Red Army, Romania, Tartu Offensive, U.S. Navy, Warsaw Uprising, World War Two, Yugoslavia

Cliffnotes of the Zeitgeist, 65th Edition. Toilet Paper Day, Swedish immigration and emigration, Wyoming trending on Twitter.

1.  Today's day:

August 26th – National Toilet Paper Day

2.  For the first time in fifty years, more people are leaving Sweden than entering it.  

3.  Wyoming was trending this morning on Twitter for no apparent reason.  Well, two reasons.  One was the recent grass fires, which seem to be getting a lot of attention, and the other were complaints about the electoral college.

Last edition:

Cliffnotes of the Zeitgeist, 64th Edition. Things authentic and important.

Labels: Apostolic Christianity, Authenticity, Christianity, Clothing, Conservatism, Eastern Rite Catholic, Ethnicities, Music, Pop Music, Punk Music, religion, Roman Catholic, trends, Women, Zeitgeist