Flotsam and Jetsam - Bridge Clean Up Begins, Transgenders Free to Go Back to Being Invisible

At the Balmer Sun, some good news regarding the Key Bridge disaster, Workers remove first piece of Key Bridge as salvage operation continues and Temporary alternate channel to pass commercially essential vessels around Key Bridge cleanup. It looks like the serious people are temporarily in charge. But then Dan Chaitin reports Buttigieg Pledges ‘More’ Federal Assistance For Maryland Bridge Collapse After $60 Million Start. It won't be cheap. But it's time to get the deplorable guys with big toys busy, and worry about how to pay for it later. 

Sundance at CTH was aghast when the  Biden Administration Promote Transgenderism Over Easter. From Breitbart, White House Doubles Down After Declaring Easter Sunday ‘Transgender Day of Visibility’, but then sees Damage Control: Now Biden Wishes Christians a Happy Easter. Virginia Kruta at Da Wire notices Cartoon Network Goes All In On Trans ‘Day Of Visibility,’ Makes No Mention Of Easter. I assume it's because they're all gay or trans and not religious. From Spiked,  Easter doesn’t need to be ‘inclusive’. "Why are corporations running scared of the E-word?" PM,  Gov Hochul orders World Trade Center, NY landmarks lit up in trans flag colors on Easter Sunday. "Today we celebrate Transgender Day of Visibility by acknowledging the contributions that members of the transgender community." Althouse cites the White House in "Transgender Americans are part of the fabric of our Nation.... they help America thrive. They deserve, and are entitled to, the same rights and freedoms..." "You could have just looked away — turned the other cheek, as it were." At the Babylon Bee, Biden Condemns Jesus For Rising Again On Trans Day Of Visibility "Who does this Jesus think he is?" shouted an angry Biden. "Today is about dudes becoming chicks and chicks becoming dudes, not dead people becoming alive! Come on, man!" I'm glad that they can now go back to being invisible. 

PJM's Matt Margolis thinks he knows  What Biden Doesn’t Want You to Know About His Fundraising Numbers. "While Biden is clearly benefiting from big donations from corporations and left-wing interest groups, he is struggling to attract small, grassroots donations." Also, Is Joe Biden Making a Play for Florida?  Breitbart has a Poll: Majority Are ‘Worse Off Financially’ Under Joe Biden, Up 25 Points Since 2021. Fox Business reports Price of eggs, chocolate remain higher than usual amid Easter festivities. Don't you mean 'Trans Day of Visibility' festivities? Naomi Lim at WaEx reports Harris tries to chip away at her disapproval rating in preparation for November. Yeah, good luck with that. 

Dan Chaitin at WaEx, House Republican Says Committee Lawyers Don’t See ‘Specific’ Crime In Biden Impeachment Inquiry. I do. 

April Fool at the Free Bacon, Biden Says His Next SCOTUS Nominee 'Will Be An Illegal Immigrant, I Mean Undocumented'. Show me the law that says Supreme Court Justice needs to be a citizen! The El Paso Times reports El Paso judge orders release of migrants accused of 'border riot' ""It is the ruling of the court that all the rioting participation cases will be released on their own recognizance," Acosta ordered."

At Da Wire, Ex-CENTCOM Commander: ISIS Threat To U.S. Becoming Serious Because Of Biden’s Foreign Policy. The Free Bacon reports Biden Admin Coordinates With UNRWA After Congress Banned Taxpayer Dollars, State Department Says. "Cotton: 'Biden administration is trying to flout Congress’s ban on UNRWA funding'" Hat Hair's KT reminds us Thanks, Joe: Afghan Women are Not Okay, never mind the Aghan gays and trans. 

Stacy McCain has Notes on Partisanship: ‘At Some Point You Have to Join the Team That You’re On’ "Professor Reynolds quotes me as having once said the above quote, and I’m sure I did, but I couldn’t find it via Google search, and that’s OK. As I recall, it was during Barack Obama’s first term in the White House, when some Republicans were reluctant to embrace the Tea Party movement while, at the same time, some members of the Tea Party movement were reluctant to embrace the GOP. Or, to speak more broadly, there was then (as now) an apparent divide between the Establishment and the grassroots of the opposition to the Democrat-controlled regime." From Da Mail, Donald Trump beats Michelle Obama in a hypothetical 2024 election matchup by 47 points to 44, according to Daily Mail poll, but did they count the mail-in ballots yet? At Da Fed, MD Kittle is concerned that ‘Bidenbucks’ Tentacles Expand As Judge Shuts Down Lawsuit. "Critical swing state Michigan announces a ‘first-of-its-kind collaboration’ with the Small Business Administration to help drive Biden’s GOTV campaign."

Brittany Sheehan at Red State reports the Judge's Daughter Linked to Democrats Raising $93 Million Amid Trump Trial, Recusal Calls Intensify, but there's no conflict because they judge will happily rule against his darling daughters wishes, am I right? At WaEx, Judge’s rare media appearance on Trump gag order sparks controversy. "Judge Reggie Walton, an appointee of former President George W. Bush, spoke on CNN about comments Trump has made in recent days on the daughter of a judge who is overseeing Trump’s hush money case in New York." At Althouse, "Contemning and obstinately resisting authority; stubbornly perverse, insubordinate, rebellious.... Wilfully disobedient to the summons or order of a court." "The article is "Trump Launches Another Attack on Judge’s Daughter, This Time with Photos/The former president accused Judge Juan Merchan's daughter of presenting a conflict of interest, possibly violating a gag order": . . . From the NY Post article: The judge’s daughter, Loren Merchan, is president of Authentic Campaigns, a Chicago-based progressive political consulting firm whose top clients include California Rep. Adam Schiff, who was the lead prosecutor in Trump’s first impeachment trial, and the Senate Majority PAC, a major party fundraiser. Why shouldn't Trump talk about that?"

Ben Whedon at JTN reports Trump appeals decision to keep Fani Willis on 2020 election case. At ET, Fani Willis Met With Kamala Harris Before Trump Indictment. 

Chuck Callesto@ChuckCallesto "SHOCK REPORT:  Jack Smith attempting to HIDE EVIDENCE of Potential Witnesses in Trump Case." ET, Jack Smith Seeks to Shield Names of Potential Witnesses in Trump Case, because nothing screams fair trial as loud as secret witnesses. 

Althouse, "But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven." "Recalled on reading Trump's Truth Social Easter message." Bob Spencer at Front Page says Destroyers of Democracy Continue to Insist Trump Will Destroy Democracy. "A blatant case of projection." Ace, Banana Republic Status? It's Worse! More Like Stasi-On-The-Potomac "The process is the punishment, and the Biden/Obama junta, ably abetted by the Deep StateTM is conspiring to destroy the career and livelihood of an attorney whose only "crime" was representing his client . . . The heroic sacrifice of John Eastman." At TownHall, Kurt Schlichter has Some Basic Law Stuff for Conservatives Watching This Legal Chaos. "There is almost no resemblance between what is happening with Trump and the law as normally practiced among normal people in normal times. Remember, there’s a Trump Exception to all the rules and all the norms that rejects any kind of precedent and procedure, as well as simple fairness, in its pursuit of the Bad Orange Man and his allies. When you understand that, you will understand why I shake my head when people ask me my legal opinion about what’s going on. My legal opinion about what’s going on is it has nothing to do with the law at all."

Breitbart, wants you to WATCH: FBI Agent Confronting Oklahoman Says Agency Questions People ‘Every Day, All Day’ over Facebook Posts. At Reason, FBI Agent Says He Hassles People 'Every Day, All Day Long' Over Facebook Posts ""It's just an effort to keep everybody safe and make sure nobody has any ill will," he claimed." There's a law against ill will? TNP, In Biden’s America, FBI Agents Are Visiting Homes to Police Thoughtcrimes. The NYPo Ed Board says the FBI pulls a ‘Hunter Biden’ to shield ex-informant Whitey Bulger. Hiding evidence of their own complicity.

April Harding @april_harding "Matt Taibbi was asked "why doesn't he pay much attention to the sins (or threats) from "the right"?" He gave a great answer: Why I don’t spend a lot of time on the Republicans: 1) There is a enormous army of MSM reporters already going after them from every angle, with most major news organizations little more than proxies for the DNC, to the point where stations hire Biden spokespeople as anchors . . . " Herr Professor Jacobson at LI, Matt Taibbi was asked “why doesn’t he pay much attention to the sins (or threats) from “the right”?” “The Democrats’ ambitions are significantly more dangerous than those of the Republicans. From digital surveillance to censorship to making Intel and enforcement agencies central players in domestic governance … they are thinking on a much bigger and more dangerous scale than Republicans.”

At HE, Did critics read the TikTok bill? Dan Greenfield at Front Page Could China Use TikTok to Elect Biden? "85 million Americans get their news from a Chinese Communist controlled platform." Well, at least it's not MSNBC. Paul Bradford at Am Great notes Big Tech Wants To Sneak Its AI Agenda Through State Legislatures "Lawmakers should ignore the lobbying of the tech industry and approach AI regulations without any outside interference." To be fair, pretty much everybody tries to get the legislature to secretly enact their wishes. 

The NYPo decries The New York Times’ disgraceful, deceitful ‘report’ on Detective Diller’s funeral "Republicans pounce!"

At TNP a report, Journalists Keep Stealing from Air Force One. "A White House staffer and a reporter recently rendezvoused to address a recurring issue of items being taken from Air Force One – the presidential plane, according to a report from POLITICO. . .  To discourage theft, the president of the White House Correspondents’ Association, Kelly O’Donnell, reminded reporters not to take items from the aircraft, adding that items with Air Force One logos could be purchased outside the plane. However, sources indicate that collectible items available for purchase are not comparable in quality to onboard counterparts." So basically, White House reporters are scum.

Phil Holloway@PhilHollowayEsq "Quite literally, nothing is sacred and longer When St. Patrick’s Cathedral can’t celebrate Easter in peace, you know we are a nation in decline It was a mistake to let the anarchy of 2020 happen with impunity." At Breitbart, WATCH: ‘Free Palestine’, Climate Protesters Interrupt Easter Vigil at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, NYC  and WATCH: Met Police Officer Tells Jewish Woman Swastikas Should Be ‘Taken in Context’ at Anti-Israel Rally. From Campus Reform, Columbia University groups host event with Israeli-designated terror org: 'There is nothing wrong with being a member of Hamas'. "​​Groups at Columbia University in New York City hosted an event with an Israeli-designated terrorist organization, which Germany has also banned." At Da Wire, Harvard Law Students Resign From Student Govt Over Secret Ballot Anti-Israel Vote. "Harvard Jewish Law Students Association slammed the divestment resolution as antisemitic."

BIC, ‘Dilbert’ Creator Scott Adams Dismantles DEI Ideology, Slams Democrats For Using Victimization As A “Tool For Success.”   He went on, “A lack of Republicans on staff caused Twitter, Facebook, and Google to censor free speech for years before getting caught. A lack of Republican voices in the corporate news business — excluding the FoxNews bubble — allowed over 20 major political hoaxes to flourish in the past 5-7 years,” further pointing out, “The Right had a few too.” “A lack of Republicans destroyed the reputation of Harvard. Republicans would have added balance to leadership. Google’s Gemini AI — literally the future of their business — died in the crib because of a lack of Republicans on staff.” Victory Girls, FDNY: Firefighters Forced To Remove Thin Red Line Flag. Nick Arama at RedState says NY Firefighters Forced to Remove Flag for 9/11 Heroes After Leftwing Questioning, Backlash Saves Day. At Da Fed, Elaine Donnelly wonders If ‘Diversity Is Our Strength,’ Why Is Our Military So Weak? I don't think they're weak, but the leadership clearly has problems. 

At Da Caller, ‘This Is My Vulva’: Kindergarten Curriculum Teaches 4-Year-Olds About HIV/AIDS, Gender Identity. 

The Wombat has FMJRA 2.0: Adrift Somewhere In The Anacostia River up and garnering clicks at The Other McCain.

California to Ban Gas Passers

California quickly moving to wipe out the lawn care industry. Women and illegal aliens hurt worst.

Having apparently solved all other problems in the Golden State, California Governor Gavin Newsom is preparing to sign yet another bill into law designed to save humanity from itself and halt climate change in its tracks. But what is there left to do away with? He’s already shut down much of the power grid whenever it gets cloudy or the wind dies out. Cars that aren’t electric will soon be a thing of the past and there will be no new construction of gas stations allowed by the end of the decade. How much more can one man do? Plenty, as it turns out. Newsom will ban the sale of small engines that burn gasoline and the ban could be kicking in very soon indeed. This would involve everything from lawnmowers and weed trimmers to electrical generators and even chainsaws. The final date of enactment hasn’t been identified precisely, but it could be as soon as three years from now.

Back when I lived in California, hired lawn work was almost all carried out by illegal aliens. I assumed that hasn't changed.

California will soon ban the sale of new gas-powered leaf blowers and lawnmowers after Governor Gavin Newsom signed off on the new law on Saturday.

The move is aimed at curbing emissions from a category of small engines on pace to produce more pollution each year than passenger vehicles.

The gas-powered equipment to be banned uses small off-road engines, a broad category that includes generators, lawn equipment, pressure washers, chainsaws, weed trimmers and even golf carts.

Can outboard motors be far behind?

The new law will require all such products to be “zero-emission” so they will only be allowed to be sold if they run off batteries or can be plugged in. As to the ambiguity of the date of enactment, a study is currently taking place to determine the impact this will have on small businesses. Newsom wants to see the rule in place by January 1, 2024, or “as soon as regulators determine is ‘feasible,’ whichever date is later.”

So how feasible is it? According to trade associations representing lawn care companies (the vast majority of which are small businesses), it’s not feasible at all. They note that battery-powered riding lawnmowers cost, on average, twice as much as the ones using internal combustion engines. Making matters worse, the battery models are only half as efficient. They don’t have anywhere near the same range before requiring recharging as you get out of a standard model with one tank of gas. And it takes a lot longer to recharge than it does to refill the fuel tank, so major equipment will be sidelined for far longer.

How about logging? Will the chainsaws used to harvest trees be banned as well? Will state agencies be exempt?

It’s true that this bill only bans the sale of new machinery, so lawn care companies would be able to keep using their existing fleet of equipment for as long as they can keep the machines running. But eventually, all of the existing machines will have to go. The bill includes $30 million to help small businesses make the adjustment, but those same industry representatives say that we’re talking about more than 50,000 businesses in the state. That works out to approximately $600 each.

At a quick glance, you will find that a single, larger-model riding mower costs more than $2,000 for a conventional, gas-powered model. The electric versions cost twice as much. And most lawn care companies have to have more than one. This doesn’t even take into account all of the leaf blowers, lawn edgers, and hedge trimmers they use. Offering them $600 to make the transition is an insulting joke.

It’s not just lawn care that will take a hit on this, however. This will also impact the generators that people use to provide power when the lights go out. And that happens a lot in California, particularly since Newsom’s previous “green” orders went into place. As we’ve discussed here in the past, people who are on home oxygen, dialysis, or other medical equipment who lose their power can be in big trouble fast. Will the state offer them an exemption to keep their generators? I see no mention of this.

It's not just Newsome's fault, although I'm sure he was all for it. If the legislature hadn't voted for the bill, he couldn't sign it.

They voted poorly.

The Wombat has Late Night With Rule 5 Sunday: Kate Upton ready and waiting at The Other McCain. 

DNA Confirms Viking Warrior Woman

Shades of Lagertha Viking skeleton’s DNA test proves historians wrong

The remains of a powerful Viking — long thought to be a man — was in fact a real-life Xena Warrior Princess, a study released Friday reveals.

The lady war boss was buried in the mid-10th century along with deadly weapons and two horses, leading archaeologists and historians to assume she was a man, according to the findings published in the American Journal of Physical Anthropology.

Wrong.

“It’s actually a woman, somewhere over the age of 30 and fairly tall, too, measuring around [5 feet 6 inches] tall,” archaeologist Charlotte Hedenstierna-Jonson of Uppsala University, who conducted the study, told The Local.

And she was likely in charge.

“Aside from the complete warrior equipment buried along with her — a sword, an ax, a spear, armor-piercing arrows, a battle knife, shields, and two horses — she had a board game in her lap, or more of a war-planning game used to try out battle tactics and strategies, which indicates she was a powerful military leader,” Hedenstierna-Jonson said. “She’s most likely planned, led and taken part in battles.”

The discovery marks the first genetic proof that women were Viking warriors, according to science publication Phys.org.

The Viking grave was first found and excavated by Swedish archaeologist Hjalmar Stolpe in the late 1800s.

But a few years ago, osteologist Anna Kjellström of Stockholm University noticed its skeleton had fine cheekbones and feminine hip bones, researches said.

They conducted DNA analysis and confirmed it was a female.

The old stories score another victory.

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Joy Harmon up on time at The Other McCain.

Maryland Honors Chesapeake Native

Harriet Tubman

Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park Celebrates Anniversary

The Maryland Park Service is celebrating the first anniversary of the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park and Visitor Center in Dorchester County March 10 and 11, from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.

Special events are planned throughout the weekend, along with the debut of new audio-visual exhibit enhancements and a fully-stocked research library, dedicated to telling the story of the fabled American abolitionist and hero, born and raised in Maryland.

Born a slave on Brodess Farm in Dorchester County, across the Bay not far away at the edge of what is now Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, Harriet Tubman escaped to Philadelphia, but returned to save her family, and later became active in the underground railroad helping slaves escape to the north. She also served the Union Army as a spy behind enemy lines in the Civil War and as a commander of troops in combat.

Reason #5400 Trump Was Elected

Women wearing stupid hats to protest, uh, something? The #WomensMarch: Why Trump Won

Does that look like a mainstream political movement to you?

Ugly women holding up ugly signs expressing ugly sentiments — the #WomensMarch to protest Donald Trump’s presidency is perhaps the clearest explanation of why Donald Trump is president. The all-out feminist crusade mounted on behalf of Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign reminded millions of Americans of why they hate feminism. Yet it is clear today that Democrats have learned nothing from their defeat:

Wearing pink, pointy-eared “pussyhats” to mock the new president, throngs of women descended on the nation’s capital and other cities around the globe Saturday for marches and demonstrations aimed at showing Donald Trump they won’t be silent over the next four years.
They carried signs with messages such as “Women won’t back down” and “Less fear more love” and decried Trump’s stand on such issues as abortion, diversity and climate change. . . .
The march attracted significant support from celebrities. America Ferrara led the artists’ contingent, and those scheduled to speak in Washington included Scarlett Johansson, Ashley Judd, Melissa Harris-Perry and Michael Moore. The promised performance lineup included Janelle Monae, Maxwell, Samantha Ronson, the Indigo Girls and Mary Chapin Carpenter. Cher, Katy Perry and Julianne Moore all were expected to attend.

Here’s a question: If “significant support from celebrities” has a political influence, then why is Hillary Clinton not president? Practically every celebrity in Hollywood lined up behind the Democrat candidate during the 2016 presidential election, but getting support from the rich and famous didn’t seem to help her win over working-class voters in Florida, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, did it?

Nothing like wearing a pink pussy hat to show how serious you are, right?

'Toxic Little Queens' at MSNBC Rethink Baldwin Return

What? Those ‘Toxic Little Queens’ at MSNBC Don’t Want Alec Baldwin Back?

Evil Blogger Lady calls attention to the shocking news — shocking! — that the network suits aren’t eager for a return to Baldwinism:

Alec Baldwin is not welcome back at MSNBC because of his infamous angry behavior, network insiders say — including complaining that “the air at 30 Rock is too dry.”

Sources exclusively tell us that MSNBC chiefs are not exactly falling over themselves to get boisterous Baldwin back in the building. One insider said, “He would only show up at work an hour a week to prep for the show, and when he did turn up, he was in an angry mood, red-faced, and shouting at all the staff. And he said the air at 30 Rock was too dry, it was bad for his voice, he needed a humidifier.” . . .

According to Deadline.com, Baldwin’s last show hit a demo low, pulling in only 101,000 viewers aged 25 to 54 against 395,000 total viewers — a 41 percent drop from the 172,000 viewers 25 to 54 who watched the Oct. 11 debut. MSNBC suspended Baldwin this month after he hurled an anti-gay slur at a paparazzo. He apologized, “I did not intend to hurt or offend anyone with my choice of words.”

Moral of the story: You can’t be an overbearing egomaniacal a–hole on TV unless you deliver good ratings.

I think the rule of thumb at MSNBC is you can say almost anything shitty about a Republican woman, but don't dare cast any aspersions at our only reliable target audience, gay liberals. I think they need a lot more of Alec, as he reveals they way they think emote more than anyone else on staff.  It's the only thing I can imagine comparing the treatment of Martin Bashir and Alec Baldwin.  Bashir doesn't exactly draw a monstrous audience, either.

AP Blames Abortion Mill on Obama Economy

You know they have to blame on something other than the desensitization it takes to kill kids moments after they emerge from the womb.

Philly abortion clinic workers saw few options 

They say they were just doing what the boss trained them to do.

But eight former employees of a run-down West Philadelphia abortion clinic now face prison time for the work they did for Dr. Kermit Gosnell. Three have pleaded guilty to third-degree murder. And Gosnell, 72, is on trial in the deaths of a patient and seven babies allegedly born alive.

In testimony at the capital murder trial this past month, an unlicensed doctor and untrained aides described long, chaotic days at the clinic. They said they performed grueling, often gruesome work for little more than minimum wage, paid by Gosnell under the table. But for most, it was the best job they could find.
...
Unlicensed doctor Stephen Massof, 50, of Pittsburgh, said he could not get a U.S. medical residency after finishing medical school in Grenada and went to work for Gosnell as a "backup plan" after six years running a bar. He admitted killing two babies by snipping their necks, as he said Gosnell taught him to do.

Eileen O'Neill, 56, had worked as a doctor in Louisiana but relinquished her medical license in 2000 to deal with "post-traumatic stress syndrome," according to her 2011 grand jury testimony. She is the only employee on trial with Gosnell, fighting false billing and racketeering charges...

Reserved Media Seating at Gosnell Trial

And so on, a long litany of people ending up working in Gosnell's abattoir because of the poor job market, i.e, the Obama economy.

Abortion is not my issue; as I have often said (tongue firmly planted in cheek), I think all liberals should have them, on the off chance that liberalism is an inherited condition, as they are apt to claim when feeling superior.

The mainstream media has had a problem with the Gosnell trial.  They've been unwilling to cover it because it shines a bad light on the abortion industry.  The Washington Post claimed they didn't cover it (until this morning) because, well, it was just a local murder trial.  And Newtown was just a local murder as well, right? 

As noted by Megan McArdle:

I could defend myself by saying that I wasn't aware that the Gosnell trial was going on. Abortion is not my beat, and the mailing lists that I am on weren't exactly blasting the news of this trial.

But that doesn't totally let me off the hook. I knew about the Gosnell case, and I wish I had followed it more closely, even though I'd rather not. In fact, those of us who are pro-choice should be especially interested. The whole point of legal abortion is to prevent what happened in Philadelphia: to make it safer and more humane. Somehow that ideal went terribly, horribly awry. We should demand to know why.

We must keep their feet to the fire.