Grocery Wars: News Miner 21
Notes on the proposed Kroger-Albertsons merger, furries (yes, again!), David Lane suing the police, and more.
King Weiser Interferes with Grocery Deal
Complete Colorado published my recent article in which I argue Colorado’s AG Phil Weiser is not qualified epistemologically or morally to interfere with the proposed merger between the Kroger and Albertsons grocery chains. Here is part of my argument:
True to form, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, who at one point worked antitrust for the Department of Justice, immediately politicized the proposed merger between Kroger (King Soopers, City Market) and Albertsons (Safeway). Weiser nurtures a deep-seated antipathy to economic liberty and wants government to micromanage important business operations. . . .
The only threat in this matter is coming from Weiser. He is literally threatening to unleash the force of government—ultimately backed by armed government agents—to block any business merger that he, in his Godlike wisdom, deems inappropriate. . . .
I can easily travel not only to King Soopers and to a different Safeway but to Sprouts, Whole Foods, Costco, Walmart, Target, Natural Grocers, and H Mart, among others.
Furries—Yes, Again
I keep hoping that my next write-up about “furries” in schools will be my last one. But, with ballots currently in the mail, various Colorado conservatives continue to make a huge deal about this, so I continue to comment on the matter. Read my recent post on the matter for background.
Now the racist organization VDARE has taken up the anti-furry crusade, as Kyle Clark reports. You’d think that Colorado conservatives ending up on the same side as the racists would give them pause, but that is not always the case.
Mandy Connell referenced a Twitter thread by Michelle Malkin, prompting a mini-fight with Clark.
Malkin begins her rant by talking about “furries” outside of schools. She then reviews the same lame “evidence” that I discussed in my last article, which proves, not that “furries” are a big problem in schools, but that some conservatives are caught up in a moral panic about furries.
Then Malkin smears various journalists as part of the “Pervert Media” while ignoring the fact that various news outlets have provided real evidence that a few kids have worn cat ears and the like to schools and strong evidence that generally this has not been a problem—except for conservatives obsessing about it. Again, see my last write-up.
John Oliver briefly addressed claims of furries using litter boxes in schools—which is not actually happening—in the broader context of the anti-trans movement. (There’s some overlap between furries and the LGBTQ community.)
It’s amazing to me how some conservatives just cannot let go of this obsession with furries, regardless of how crazy it makes them look.
Quick Takes
Ballots: Here’s something I recently Tweeted: “As Colorado ballots go out, here is what is top of mind for me: I don't trust any Republicans running for relevant offices, with the exception of Pam Anderson, to act for election integrity in two years, when that might really matter. The future of the country could be a stake.”
Fentanyl: No, Colorado is not “number two in fentanyl deaths,” as Heidi Ganahl has claimed. Ganahl was looking at the rate of increase in fentanyl deaths, not in per capita deaths, as Jesse Paul reports.
Ferris: Recently Lakewood police officer Ashley Ferris was recognized as the 2021 Law Enforcement Officer of the Year. While badly wounded, Ferris took out a mass-murderer. The recognition is well-deserved.
Camp Hale: As Dave Kopel reviews, Camp Hale was used not only by the 10th Mountain Division in training against the Nazis but the Tibetan resistance movement, the Chushi Gangdru. Although ultimately Mao’s forces prevailed, Kopel writes, “the Tibetan resistance made it possible for tens of thousands of Tibetans, including the Dalai Lama, to escape to India or Nepal.”
Media: Jeremy Jojola of 9News reports, “I had to get a restraining order a couple of years ago when people on the far-right showed up to my home after I reported on white supremacy groups.”
Silverman: Craig Silverman Tweets, “Thanks to @nytimes for interviewing me in connection with devastating decision of @SalemMediaGrp and @710KNUS to go all in on #MAGA.” See the story.
O’Dea: Donald Trump said Joe O’Dea is among the “stupid people with big mouths.” O’Dea responded. A Trump anti-endorsement is about the best reason I can think of to vote for O’Dea.
Oltmann: Joe Oltmann called Pam Anderson a “traitor to this nation,” Quentin Young reports. Oltmann is a buffoon but a dangerous one.
Police: “Colorado Springs police officers took a 17-year-old high school student to the ground before pepper-spraying her in the back of a police cruiser — despite the teen being unarmed and having committed no crime, a recently filed lawsuit alleges,” The Denver Post reports. Attorney David Lane said, “If there was ever going to be real accountability, these cops would be prosecuted for assault and fired from their jobs.” Reminder: I’ve called for an independent office to investigate and, where appropriate, prosecute law enforcement officers.
Housing: An affordable housing project “was among thousands of new buildings and renovations caught in an expanding web of delays at short-staffed development review and permit offices,” Jon Murray reports.
TABOR: While sending out checks owed to taxpayers, Jefferson County took the opportunity propagandize against the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights.