Meanwhile on the International front....

A guy can hope, can't he? (Then again, I doubt the next one is going to be a lot better.)

 

Natalie Wood could've used a good stroke.

 

TOO SOON!

 

Whoever replaces Xi will be an order of magnitude more authoritarian. My uncle said that's why they didn't frag their louie in Nam.

 

Do the Russians fuck with China online too or have they decided they don’t want that smoke?

 

China is their best friend right now, with Iran and North Korea getting invited to the Mean Girls table for now.

 

Premier Li Qiang is next in the chain of command, but he's both an economic policy wonk and seen as a close lieutenant of Xi Jinping who was promoted as much for his loyalty as his ability. Without Xi to give him cover, there's bound to be a knife fight to fill the power vacuum should a long-term vacancy open up at the top. The Shanghai Clique and Youth League factions are still out there despite Xi's best efforts. I'd say there's no one on the bench with the kind of maneuvering and ruthlessness Xi has showed, but then how many people saw this level of paramount leader in Xi?

As for rumors of Xi's stroke, from what I've seen so far it's as much wishcasting as fact. Given that Falun Gong and its supporters appear to be some of the biggest amplifiers of the rumor, take it with the requisite boulder of salt.

 

OK.

Now what?

Harris Offers Support for Israel but Calls Out Palestinians’ Plight After Talk With Netanyahu

 

There is absolutely nothing wrong with saying both of these things are true:

1/The U.S. supports Israel and its right to defend itself.
2/The plight of the Gaza civilians is unacceptable and Israel needs to address its role in the situation.

 

Violation of the Logan Act?

https://apnews.com/article/trump-netanyahu-gaza-war-israel-3d7a6b47060fbe51f66d82104ac5e1aa

 

No. There was a statement from the White House the other day acknowledging the visit would happen and noting that it isn’t uncommon for major party nominees to meet with foreign leaders.