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“Silly Season” in Washington
The so-called “silly season” has begun in the US election campaign, that is, the last phase in which candidates often do a lot of stupid things to win in some way. Donald Trump, who is officially sick with Covid-19 and should be resting, is the grandmaster of the silly season. Now he has proven this again by unceremoniously declaring the negotiations between Republicans and Democrats in Congress over a new billion-dollar Corona aid package nearly complete via Twitter, and then a few hours later, he pretended to be. willing to compromise.
The absence of the billions would be the nightmare of every business chief and securities trader, which is why prices plummeted rapidly after Trump’s announcement. The president was not deterred by the head of the US Federal Reserve, Jerome Powell, from throwing his political grenade into the negotiating room. Shortly before Trump’s outbreak, Powell had warned that the lack of billions of fresh aid could have tragic consequences for the American economy.
It is not entirely clear what Trump is aiming at with the move. One reason could be to draw public attention to his Covid disease and his government’s apparent mismanagement in the crisis to another issue.
But it is also possible that Trump simply does not have the votes among his own people to win many billions of new dollars for American businesses in crisis and the unemployed. Several of the bargain hunters among his Republicans are strictly against doing more to the Democrats in this regard.
Anyway, it almost seems that the president wants to lose the election. The fact that there shouldn’t be an aid package, at least for the moment, should further contribute to the general malaise in the country. If fresh money does not flow into the cycle soon, this could lead to massive layoffs before elections, for example at the airlines. Voters would likely put at least some of the blame on Trump.
“Economic policy was the only advantage Trump had left,” says polling guru Nate Silver. “It could be that he blew it up himself.”
The next debate show
Donald Trump has to endure an unusual situation today, for a few hours he will not be the center of attention. In Salt Lake City the traditional television duel of deputies is scheduled: Trump’s vice president, Mike Pence, meets with the Democratic vice-candidate, Kamala Harris.
After the chaotic debate between Trump and his challenger Joe Biden last week, this duel should be a little more civilized. Pence is considered a man of manners. Kamala Harris, on the other hand, will act somewhat presidential because she wants to demonstrate to an audience of millions that if worst comes to worst, she could also take over as “Commander-in-Chief.”
Who wants to watch: The duel will begin at 9 pm on the east coast of the United States, in Germany it will be on Thursday starting at 3 am
Putin’s long arm
In secret service jargon there is the term “plausible denial”, in German called credible denial. The concept is also familiar to the Russian secret service. His best-known former employee, Vladimir Putin, developed him to some degree of perfection as president.
Whenever suspected Russian state assassins drive Putin opponents around the corner, the Kremlin chief washes his hands afterward. In the end, there is usually some way to determine that it has nothing to do with the issue. All Putin fans in the West are ready to believe him.
With “plausible denial” that is, of course, something like that when the burden of proof becomes overwhelming. In the case of the poison attack on Kremlin critic Alexej Navalny in Russia, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) now considers it proven that he was infected with a neurotoxin. Novichok Group was attacked. The federal government assumes that only state agencies can own and use Novitschok.
That is why the call for sanctions against Russia is once again loud. CDU foreign politician Norbert Röttgen calls after the broadcast of the OPCW investigation results in the Naval case and an immediate construction stop for the controversial Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline. At the same time, Röttgen warned the EU not to react too weakly to Russia.
The illegal use of the Russian nerve agent Novitschok should have “remarkable consequences,” Röttgen told SPIEGEL.
Tiergarten murder trial begins
Today, another case comes to light again, involving Vladimir Putin and the concept of “plausible denial”. The trial for the so-called Tiergarten murder begins in Berlin. A 55-year-old Russian is charged. He is said to have shot a 40-year-old Georgian man with a silenced pistol in broad daylight in Berlin. The man had been classified as a terrorist by Russia.
In its indictment, the Federal Prosecutor’s Office assumes that the accused was commissioned by “state agencies of the central government of the Russian Federation.” Federal prosecutors are likely to present various pieces of evidence in the course of the process.
The case has been contributing to the deterioration of confidence between Russia and Germany for months. If the court finds it proven that the defendant received a death warrant from Moscow, this would be another major setback for the relationship between Moscow and Berlin. Chancellor Angela Merkel has announced “consequences” for this case. A verdict is expected early next year.
Curfew in berlin
Cheap rentals, no military service, and no curfew – These three things have long been considered the most important location advantages of (West) Berlin. The cheap rents and military service has been around for a long time, as we know, now the curfew is over for now.
It was about time. Because it is about containing the crisis of the crown in the capital, to which the partygoers in particular contributed to its renewed aggravation.
The Berlin Senate has decided that most shops, as well as all restaurants and bars, must close between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. Exceptions are foreseen for pharmacies or gas stations, but the latter can no longer sell alcohol by the night. Berlin’s famous “Spätis”, the gas stations for lonely hearts, have to close.
Only five people or people from two households can gather outside during curfew. Only a maximum of ten are allowed to attend private celebrations in closed rooms instead of the 25 people above. The measures are initially applied until October 31. Violations can result in fines of 5,000 euros or more.
Loser of the day …
…They are Mark and Patricia McCloskey. The couple from St. Louis, Missouri, USA, gained some notoriety for threatening protesters with guns at a Black Lives Matter protest march. A video showing the two attorneys handling a pistol and rifle in front of their mansion in a good part of St. Louis has been shared millions of times online.
Now the McCloskeys in St. Louis have been indicted by an alleged “grand jury.” This is usually the preliminary stage of a formal process. The couple is accused of illegal use of firearms, among other things.
The irony of the story: At Donald Trump’s Republican convention, McCloskey made a brief appearance warning that the election of Joe Biden as president would bring crime to America’s suburbs. Now they could end up as convicted lawbreakers themselves.
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I wish you a good start to the day.
Your Roland Nelles
