Flotsam and Jetsam - A Bridge too Far

A quick run around news and commentary on the Key Bridge disaster. Of eight people thought to be lost, two bodies of road workers were found in a pickup truck in 25 ft. of water.  The rest are presumed lost in the tangle of steel and road way on the bottom. Just for the record, I believe it to almost certainly be an accident and not sabotage. Ships get into to problems all the time, this time it just happened to be at a critical point. Poor maintenance, and cutting corners, both by the ship owner and the bridge authorities undoubtedly contributed, but that's the nature of the world. I would hold out only slim hope for conspiracy theorists who think the Russians, the Chinese or the Trump lovers are responsible. Balmer Sun, NTSB: Data consistent with power loss before Key Bridge strike; crew interviews ongoing. Sundance at CTH hosts NTSB Give Update on Baltimore Bridge Collapse, Investigation and Current HAZMAT Concerns for Baltimore Harbor. Short version, we're just not collecting the data, it'll be months before we can say much more, but for now it looks like an accident. Da Wire, 8 People Were On Baltimore Bridge At Time Of Collapse; Ship Issued A Mayday Before Collision: Authorities  Breitbart, No Indication of Terrorism in Baltimore Bridge Collapse, Says FBI, and they just might be playing this one straight. Bob Spencer at Front Page, Tragic Boat Accident in Baltimore — And Yet… "In Old Joe Biden’s America, nothing can be taken for granted."  NewsMax astonished that Ship That Collapsed Baltimore Bridge Was Carrying Hazardous Materials, Officials Say. You don't say? With only 10,000 containers, what are the chances? At Althouse, "The majority of the financial fallout is likely to lay primarily with the insurance industry...." ""Industry experts told FT that insurers could pay out losses for bridge damage, port disruption, and any loss of life. The collapse could drive 'one of the largest claims ever to hit the marine (re)insurance market,' John Miklus, president of the American Institute of Marine Underwriters, told Insurance Business.... The Dali is covered by the Britannia Steam Ship Insurance Association Ltd.... Britannia... told FT it was 'working closely with the ship manager and relevant authorities to establish the facts and to help ensure that this situation is dealt with quickly and professionally.'" It's gonna be a big bill. Charles@charlesbonnerjr "No surprise maritime professionals wanted a tunnel, but the government cut corners and built a bridge, now we suffer the consequences - “just a matter of time”" I have also heard that until recently, tugs stayed with ships until they passed the bridge, but that was cut due to costs. Contributory negligence? Breitbart astonished, Joe Biden: Government Will Pay ‘Entire Cost’ of Rebuilding Baltimore Bridge. Well, it is part of the Interstate Highway system. I'm sure the federal government will be happy to cash any settlement checks, but rebuilding it will be on them. At Da Signal, Distracted By Climate Change? Former Trump Transportation Official Weighs in on Bridge Collapse. They're wasting enormous amounts of time and money on climate change, but a very big ship hit the bridge. End of story. From the Wombat's  In The Mailbox: 03.27.24, 357 Magnum,  MV Dali Has Become The Conspiracy Theory Du Jour, Twitchy Baltimore Has Bigger Problems Than Just A Bridge and Transterrestrial Musings: Baltimore.

Bob Spencer at PJM, Obama Has 'Grave Concern' Biden Will Lose, Is Ready to Intervene. From TNP, Biden Camp in Panic Over RFK.  At PJM Matt Margolis sees the  DNC Goes Into Full Panic Mode About Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s Presidential Bid and Stephen Kruiser finds The RFK Jr. Running Mate Nonsense Was a Welcome Break on a Dark Day. PI, Jill Biden Outrageously Compares Florida To Nazi Germany. Ace, Joe Biden Tells Security to Let Anti-Israel Protesters Heckle Him: "They Have a Point."  Once again, he panders to the Jihad Chorus and tells security to allow an obviously-Arab woman continue rating about Israel, and then says "They have a point." From the Wombat's  In The Mailbox: 03.27.24,  Behind The Black:  Part 3: The expected tantrum of madness should Biden actually lose the election

Biden and Trump are both flying to New York tomorrow. Spot the difference. pic.twitter.com/l7Hfc8xgyS

— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) March 27, 2024

Nick Pope at Da Caller, Feds Reportedly Probed Transactions Linked To Joe Biden’s Brother In Connection With Criminal Investigation. Lincoln Brown at PJM reports DOJ Moves to Drop Lawsuit Against Dish Network After Donation to Biden Campaign. Just a coincidence, I'm sure. 

Ace, Illegitimate Tyrant Biden Is Considering Granting Amnesty and Handing Out Green Cards to Illegal Aliens, On No Authority Except The Power He Has Usurped. "Democracy's on the ballot, guys. January 6th. It was a bloodbath or something." James Varney and Abigail Degnan at RCW, The Many Ways a Porous Border Means Crime Without Boundaries. At NewsMax, Rep. John James: 'Biden's Open Border' Claims Another. 

Mary Chastain at LI, Biden Energy Dept. Giving $6 Billion for Projects Targeting Greenhouse Gas Emissions "Rhetorical question: Why are WE subsidizing these projects?! Make it stop!" Elizabeth
Dicken at the Pipeline explains How 'Green' Projects Are Looting the Treasury. 

At Breitbart, Judge Merchan Gags Donald Trump in New York Criminal Case. Sundance contributes President Trump Blasts Juan Merchan’s Conflict of Interest and Familial Opposition – Insufferable “Hush Money” Lawfare Case  "So, let me get this straight, the Judge’s daughter is allowed to post pictures of her “dream” of putting me in jail, the Manhattan D.A. is able to say whatever lies about me he wants, the Judge can violate our Laws and Constitution at every turn, but I am not allowed to talk about the attacks against me, and the Lunatics trying to destroy my life, and prevent me from winning the 2024 Presidential Election, which I am dominating? Maybe the Judge is such a hater because his daughter makes money by working to “Get Trump,” and when he rules against me over and over again, he is making her company, and her, richer and richer. How can this be allowed?" Chuck Callesto@ChuckCallesto "BOMSHELL REPORT:  Accusations emerge that Michael Cohen was HAVING AN AFFAIR with Stormy Daniels since 2006 and that the "hush money scheme was cooked up by Michael Cohen to EXTORT THE TRUMP ORGANIZATION before the 2016 election".. "Avenatti shared details of his client Stormy Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, case and the fact that her and Michael Cohen were actually having an affair since 2006." -Tony Seruga". That would explain a lot.

NYPo reports Jon Stewart benefited by 829% ‘overvalue’ of his NYC home even as he labels Trump’s civil case ‘not victimless’ "Comedian Jon Stewart ranted this week that Donald Trump’s civil real-estate case overvaluing his properties was “not victimless,” yet when it came to his own home, Stewart benefited from a similar inflation. . . .  it didn’t take long for internet sleuths to look into Stewart’s own property history, which shows his New York City penthouse sold for 829% more than its assessed value, records confirmed by The Post reveal. In 2014, Stewart sold his 6,280-square-foot Tribeca duplex to financier Parag Pande for $17.5 million. The property’s asking price at that time is not available in listing records. But according to 2013-2014 assessor records obtained by The Post, the property had the estimated market-value at only $1.882 million." At Am Spec Deroy Murdock thinks Trump Should Sue Letitia James for Sex and Race Discrimination "He must demand justice under America’s keystone civil-rights law." At Da Fed, Mark Hemingway notes New York’s Fraud Judgment Against Trump Is So Bad, Even His Biggest Critics Aren’t Defending It. 

Althouse, "Mr. Trump ended the first day of public trading $4.6 billion richer on paper...." "I'm reading "Trump’s Social Media Company Opens New Avenue for Conflicts of Interest/Ethics experts say Trump Media, now a publicly traded company, would present a new way for foreign actors or others to influence Donald J. Trump, if he is elected president" (NYT). Isn't it funny how his haters got him kicked off Twitter and — only because of that — he made his own website and 3 years later, it makes him $4.6 billion?" Don Surber calls it The greatest Trumpenfreude of all "They kicked President Trump off Twitter. That's about to make him $3,600,000,000." Althouse, It's a trap, and they fall into it.

From Am Con Peter Tonguette proposes Trump 2028 "The Twenty-second Amendment is an arbitrary restraint on presidents who serve nonconsecutive terms—and on democracy itself." Pesky constitution. At I&I, Tulsi Gabbard For VP? No, Tulsi Gabbard for SecDef. Daniel Thornton @Panamadan61 "BREAKING: Governor DeSantis has begun transporting squatters to occupy the homes of Martha's Vineyard." Babylon Bee quips DeSantis Kicked Out Of Republican Party For Accomplishing Too Many Things. Hat Hair's Capt. Ed quips back "Yeah, it's satire ... but not by much."

Stephen Kruiser again, NBC News Division Cretins Are So Awful That They're Almost Making Me Like Ronna McDaniel. Fox chortles NBC's ousting of Ronna McDaniel reinforces status as anti-Trump, pro-Biden network. "Rachel Maddow, Chuck Todd led the revolt against NBC bosses over hiring the ex-RNC chair." Sundance is amused, $600,000 For 20 Minutes Work – Ronna McDaniel Likely to Have Significant Payday After NBC Firing. 

From Behind the Black, Part 2: A further list of upcoming Democratic Party election chaos "In part one of this series yesterday I outlined one Democratic Party scenario for stealing a Trump election victory, based on the possibility that they might regain control of both Houses of Congress this year due to Republican resignations, and use that power to interfere with the election result as a lame duck Congress." From the Wombat's  In The Mailbox: 03.27.24, at  Da Fed,  Jen Psaki Lies About Lying, Biden’s 2025 Budget Spends Too Much Money On All The Wrong Things, DeKalb County GOP Calls On Georgia Election Board Member To Resign Over Lobbying Conflicts, and Leftists Bragged About ‘Fortifying’ The 2020 Election. Now They’re Flaunting Plans To Do It Again In 2024, and Mark Steyn: Peaceful Transfer of Power Update!Also at Da Fed, Exclusive: School Board Members Accuse Wisconsin Public Schools Superintendent Of Election Meddling, Wisconsin Voters Have A Chance To Rid Their Elections Of ‘Zuckbucks’ For Good and Alabama Secretary Of State Warns Of ‘Misleading’ Voter Registration Mailer By Leftist Group. George@BehizyTweets, "BREAKING: The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that mail-in ballots with no dates can't be counted by Pennsylvania election officials Democrats were fighting so that every ballot that showed up would count... this ruling stops that insanity"

From Da Wire, Virginia’s Glenn Youngkin Vetoes Dozens Of Gun Control Bills, Emerges As ‘Brick Wall’ Against Democrats.

Rick Moran at PJM VIP, DeSantis Signs Bill Restricting Social Media Access for Kids Under 14 Years Old. Nice try, but I'll bet it gets overturned. Mary Chastain again reports  the  Missouri AG Files Petition to Force Media Matters to Comply With Civil Investigative Demand. “My office has reason to believe Media Matters used fraud to solicit donations from Missourians in order to bully advertisers into pulling out of X, the last social media platform dedicated to free speech in America…” 'Bonchie' at RedState sees  '60 Minutes' Get Caught Red-Handed After Interview With 'Misinformation Expert'. Nate Hochman at Am Spec hears  The Censorship Lobby Is Worried About … Censorship? "A “misinformation research” team claims its findings are being “chilled” on social media." Free speech for them, but not us. At Insty, THE ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE IS NOW BASICALLY PRO-DEFAMATION:

The ADL is claiming that “100%” is racist and white supremacist. Beyond parody. The ADL is 100% a joke. pic.twitter.com/k34vj3uwJ5

— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) March 26, 2024

Volokh at the Volokh Report reports Private Employee's Claim That She Was Fired for Peacefully Attending Jan. 6 Events Can Go Forward, "under California statutes that protect private employees' political activity; the plaintiff claimed that "[s]he listened to speeches being made and walked to the Capitol, and then she left," and "did not participate in any rioting." From TNP, Trump SecDef Says Jan 6 Committee Threatened Him Into Silence and Secret Service, Bomb Squad Rush to Biden Advisor Home… Turns Out Someone Dumped Manure Outside.

Bill Brown at Da Fed tells How I Became A Casualty Of The Ongoing Ideological Purge In American Jurisprudence. Hat Hair's Dave Strom reports a school District Hiring 'Whiteness' Superintendent to Root Out White Supremacy. Da Wire, hears ‘BRING IT ON’: School Board President Challenges Parents Concerned Over Gender Policy Changes. Herr Professor Jacobson at LI, DoE Civil Rights Office Opens Investigation Into UW-Madison ‘BIPOC’ Fellowship After Complaint By Equal Protection Project. “OCR will investigate the following issue: Whether the University excluded applicants based on race, color and national origin from its Creando Comunidad: Community Engaged Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Fellows fellowship program (Fellowship Program) in a manner inconsistent with the requirements of Title VI.” From NYPo, Private school students get fake ADHD diagnoses for 200-point boost to SAT, ACT after tests brought back by Ivy League. Larry Sand at Am Great thinks The Plague That Besets Our Schools Is Extensive. "Armpit licking, condoms, transgenderism, and socialism are on full display." Armpit licking? 

Stacy McCain expounds on The Cruel and Stupid Lies of the Media’s Transgender Victimhood Narrative. Grayson Bakich at PJM, Canadian Man Allegedly Attacks 10-Year-Old Girl When Confronted About Being in Changing Room. O Canada!

Ace, Illinois Parole Board Lets Criminal Out of Prison Despite His Menacing a Mother With a Child; The Day After He's Set Free, He Attacks the Mother and Kills the Child "The 11-year-old boy was trying to protect his mom from this dangerous criminal, so the murderer stabbed him to death. . . .  Two members of the parole board have now resigned. But the murdered child has not been resurrected." Bill Otis at Ringside of the Reckoning sees us get Back to Mayhem with Just One Bad Idea. "Criminal justice reform" isn't getting "smart on crime." It's getting stupid -- again. And thousands of times, it's getting us hurt or dead."

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Paige For Purdue! and FMJRA 2.0: Gloom, Despair, Etc. up and garnering clicks at The Other McCain.