Tweeting Like a Pro

Your semi-free guide to killing it...

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Many of my readers remain confused about how to tweet like a pro.

As we always do here on the second Wednesday of each month, here’s your copy ‘n’ paste shortcut to have game on the platform.

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* David Ignatius essential reading on why the U.S. lack of leverage over Putin doesn’t mean the Russian will necessarily invade Ukraine:

Going into Tuesday’s virtual summit, many commentators saw Putin in the driver’s seat against a weakened United States. Biden has his problems, but Putin would be very foolish if he imagined that a Ukraine war would be a cakewalk.

Draft tweet: Barring the Russians from using the SWIFT global payment system would be like using the financial nuclear option against a nuclear power. Risk/reward is hard to measure.

* That’s the sound of gridlock breaking, as Team Pelosi-Schumer solve the debt ceiling and Pentagon spending sides of the December Rubik’s Cube.

Draft tweet: Democrats unite, Republicans divided, but/and it is impossible to know yet if this snapshot moment will influence the rest of the month — or 2022.

* It doesn’t sound right now like Senator Manchin is in a super hurry to get the BBB passed.

Draft tweet: . @Sen_JoeManchin always holds at least two more cards than he lets on.

* Another credible poll, another round of data that suggests anything from a Red wave to a Red tsunami in the midterms:

Draft tweet: Team Biden says “polls will go up, and polls will go down,” but, so far, they are mostly staying the same. Ds will take hope from the pandemic, education & healthcare numbers.

* Saule Omarova’s doomed nomination to be the Biden Comptroller of the Currency was withdrawn.

Draft tweet: Eager to read in Ron Klain’s memoirs how this one happened in the first place.

*

Draft tweet: Instagram PR chief: “I know this looks brazen AND craven, but it just might work!”

* Bruce Mehlman’s latest slide deck is out now!

Draft tweet: Team Biden still looking for the cure for soft.

* Psychic John Cohan’s 35th year of predictions for me:

• Mick Jagger and Paul McCartney’s feud triggers a fistfight

• Norah O’Donnell gets her own talk show

• MeMeMeghan and Prince Empty, trial separation. He’s welcomed back home

• Matthew Perry to Ireland for contentment and finds a non-showbiz lady

• Jennifer Garner and the guy in her life John Miller make a baby

• Gayle King’s new relationship with a politician doesn’t work

• Judge Judy stars in a movie as an actress. Whaaat? I mean, please! (Even she doesn’t believe this)

• Mamie Van Doren ’50s/’60s sex symbol, now in her 90s, makes a song album

• Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher’s son Todd finds brother Alain he never knew he had

• Eva Longoria gets Oscar nom plus lawyer to sue soap operas’ Lauralee Bell

• Sean Penn sued by workers who claim he inflicted mental cruelty

Draft tweet: Only in Cindy Adams’ New York, kiddos, only in Cindy Adams’ New York.

*  Mariah Carey puts it on the line for a fast food chain.

Draft tweet: Paging Milli Vanilli.

* Oh, my.

Draft tweet: I will not have what he’s not having.

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* Uh, oh.

An Amazon Web Services outage is wreaking havoc on the e-commerce giant’s delivery operation, preventing drivers from getting routes or packages and shutting down communication between Amazon and the thousands of drivers it relies on, according to four people familiar with the situation.

Three delivery service partners said an Amazon.com Inc. app used to communicate with delivery drivers is down. Vans that were supposed to be on the road delivering packages are sitting idle with no communication from the company, the person said.

Draft tweet: Harvard Biz School case study or the opening scene of a sci-fi horror flick?

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For all the latest news all the time, check out the 24/7 website the Walking Duck.

Putin Zooms Biden

Nothing like a good video conference....

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10:00 AM      THE PRESIDENT holds a secure video call with President Vladimir Putin of Russia
                            Situation Room
                            Closed Press

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President Biden: Greetings, Mr. President, Vladimir. As they say in my country, let’s get after it.

President Putin: I will control this agenda, but nice try.

Biden: I must insist by starting out making it clear that we know exactly what you are doing with Ukraine. Encircling them on three sides with military forces, trying to destabilize them with cyberwarfare and social media propaganda.  We won’t stand for an invasion.  Europe is united against you, standing with the United States.

Putin: Your threats are empty, since we both know you will not commit to using American military force to protect Ukraine. You are a baby paper tiger.

Biden: We can sanction you back to the Stone Age, cut off your banks’ ability to convert rubles to dollars, and destroy the secondary market for your debt. We can even cut off your access to Swift, which would give you a big problem on the domestic front.

Putin: What’s mine is mine and what’s yours we will discuss.

Biden: You need to take this seriously. I know what kind of person you are. I’m under no illusions. You cannot invade Ukraine without serious consequences.

Putin: Joe, rule out NATO membership for Ukraine and we can have a serious conversation.

Biden: You know I can’t do that. We want a diplomatic solution here.

Putin: Then rule out NATO expansion. I’ve told you for years that that is the thing that freaks me out.

Biden: Macron, Merkel, Draghi, Boris Johnson, NATO, and the EU are all with me on this, we need to work through the Normandy Format to resolve this and protect Ukrainian sovereignty.

Putin: This is all quite lamentable.  You know Europe isn’t really with you when it comes to energy and trade. They will tell you what you want to your face, but facts on the ground matter. Maybe we should hold an in-person summit in Crimea in January, and you can invite your European pals and see who comes. Or maybe invite Prime Minister Modi, who sends his regards. I’m sure your CIA told you about the two dozen deals Modi and I signed yesterday on regional security, trade, and more. India has agreed on another decade of military cooperation with Russia, including buying more S-400 surface-to-air missile systems from me. Modi doesn’t give a crap about your threat of sanctions. We also agreed to a new joint venture in India to manufacture more than 600,000 of our AK-203 assault rifles. All these folks — your “allies” — are afraid of me and need me. And there’s nothing you can do about it.

Biden: We are united.

Putin: Stop your creeping expansion towards my borders. I’m going to share my screen and show you the legally-binding guarantee document I want you to sign, promising no further expansion our way, and pledging to keep specific American weapons systems out of the region. Let’s have a summit somewhere soon and get this signed.

Biden: I’ve got to deal with my legislative agenda, inflation, the pandemic, and China. I can’t be flying around the world because you want to show your suffering people a dog-and-pony display that “proves” you are still a superpower.

Putin: Guarantee my security or kiss Ukraine goodbye. As your CIA director said Monday, “I would never underestimate President Putin’s risk appetite on Ukraine.” Mr. Burns gets so much wrong, but he was for once right about that.

Biden: Let’s de-escalate through diplomacy.  Don’t cut off Ukrainian electricity or pull some other stunt to ratchet this up. I will not be intimidated. I know you.  You can’t afford more sanctions. The world is united against you.

Putin: Check your calendar, Joe. Europe is about to get really cold and they need my gas.  As you said, you have a lot of other stuff on your plate. Rattle all the sabers you want. You have zero leverage over me. Germany and France are distracted now, too.  Your aggressive and hostile rhetoric is meaningless. If you want to reduce tensions, guarantee my security.

Biden: We need to leave time to talk about strategic stability, nuclear weapons and space, and Iran.

Putin: Boring. Let me give you a long speech about a bear and a little boy who talked via Zoom. It will sound to you like an old Russian allegory. But it isn’t.

Biden: I don’t have time to listen to one of your run-out-the-clock filibusters. This call is over.

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President Biden inherited from his several immediate predecessors a near-complete lack of leverage over Russia and Putin. Despite hours of talks with allies around the world, especially in Europe, Team Biden has not increased the amount of leverage it has over Russia – in fact, by some measures, American leverage has decreased this year. Putin remains ruthless, smart, and very aware of what buttons to press -- and when -- to maximize his power at home and on the world stage.

Will Tuesday’s call increase American leverage or change the facts on the ground along the Russian-Ukrainian border?

Ask the “free” people of Crimea.

America and the West need a solution to Putin.

Team Biden hasn’t found one yet.

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For all the latest news on the Biden-Putin virtual summit and everything else, check out the 24/7 website the Walking Duck.

This Is the Week That Will Be

Hope is not a plan....

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 6, 2021
 

WEEK AHEAD GUIDANCE FOR THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 6, 2021 – DECEMBER 10, 2021

Monday, December 6, 2021 

“The President will deliver remarks on how his Build Back Better Act will lower the costs of prescription drugs for millions of Americans by finally letting Medicare negotiate drug prices, imposing a tax penalty if drug companies increase their prices faster than inflation, putting a cap on how much seniors and people with disabilities have to pay for drugs, and lowering insulin prices so that Americans with diabetes don’t pay more than $35 per month for their insulin.”

Tributes will continue to flow for the great Bob Dole, with American flags in DC and around the world flown at half-staff.

Reporters try to figure out what will happen with the defense bill, the China bill, the BBB bill, the debt ceiling, and the Biden-Harris-Klain-Pelosi-Schumer strategy to unstick the stuck.

More states announce cases of the omicron variant.

Speaker Pelosi and Leader McCarthy deal with the Rep. Lauren Boebert situation, each in their own distinctive manner.

Democrats fret about the midterms.

“Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin … to discuss defense and trade relations as India attempts to balance its ties with the United States.”

The Ghislaine Maxwell trial continues in New York.

Marc Caputo @MarcACaputo

News: Backed by Donald Trump, former Sen. Perdue plans to primary Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp by releasing a video message & filing his paperwork, as early as Monday Trump-backed former Sen. David Perdue will announce primary bid against Georgia governor this weekHe’ll take on incumbent Brian Kemp, who has been repeatedly attacked by the former president.politi.co

December 5th 2021

250 Retweets708 Likes

7 Eyewitness News @WKBW

Looking to watch the Bills-Patriots Monday Night Football game tonight? We've got you covered. How to watch the Buffalo Bills vs. New England Patriots Monday Night Football game on 7ABCThe Buffalo Bills have arguably their biggest test of the season when they take on the New England Patriots on Monday Night Football in Orchard Park, and you can watch it on 7ABC.wkbw.com

December 6th 2021

Another shoe drops in the Chris Cuomo matter (tentative).

A spokesman for Mr. Cuomo said in a text message on Sunday: “Mr. Cuomo has the highest level of admiration and respect for Mr. [Jeff] Zucker. They were widely known to be extremely close and in regular contact, including about the details of Mr. Cuomo’s support for his brother. There were no secrets about this, as other individuals besides Mr. Cuomo can attest.”

CNN said in a written statement it is disappointed with Mr. Cuomo’s characterization of events. “He has made a number of accusations that are patently false,” the network said. “This reinforces why he was terminated for violating our standards and practices, as well as his lack of candor.” (Wall Street Journal)

Tuesday, December 7, 2021 

“The President will hold a secure video call with President Vladimir Putin of Russia. The leaders will discuss a range of topics in the U.S.-Russia relationship, including strategic stability, cyber, and regional issues. President Biden will underscore U.S. concerns with Russian military activities on the border with Ukraine and reaffirm the United States’ support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.”

Another shoe drops in the Chris Cuomo matter (tentative). 

Wednesday, December 8, 2021 

“The President will travel to Kansas City, Missouri to deliver remarks on how the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law delivers for Missourians by rebuilding roads and bridges, upgrading public transit, replacing water infrastructure, and creating good-paying, union jobs.”

Another shoe drops in the Chris Cuomo matter (tentative).

“Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri will testify before Congress for the first time about how the social media app is trying to keep young people safe, amid criticism that the photo and video service is harming the mental health of teens.”

Adam Mosseri @mosseri

There's an important discussion happening right now about keeping young people safe online. I've been thinking a lot about how Instagram shows up, and I'm looking forward to sharing more of the work we're doing in the weeks ahead 🙏🏼

November 24th 2021

129 Retweets617 Likes

Thursday, December 9, 2021

“The President will host the virtual Summit for Democracy, bringing together over 100 participants, representing governments, civil society and private sector leaders. The President will deliver the Summit’s opening remarks and participate in the Leaders’ plenary.”

Friday, December 10, 2021

“The President will host the virtual Summit for Democracy, bringing together over 100 participants, representing governments, civil society and private sector leaders. The President will deliver the Summit’s closing remarks.”

West Side Story @WestSideMovie

See why critics are saying Steven Spielberg's #WestSideStory is "a love story as relevant as ever". ❤️ Get tickets to experience the must see movie event only in theaters this Friday! Fandango.com/WestSideStory

December 5th 2021

40 Retweets259 Likes

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For all the latest news all the time, check out the 24/7 website the Walking Duck.

IF…THEN

Your Sunday, pre-managed…

IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE MAIN EVENT OF THE UPCOMING WEEK IS….

…THEN READ THIS ASSOCIATED PRESS STORY:

MOSCOW (AP) — Presidents Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin will speak in a video call Tuesday, the White House and Kremlin said, as tensions between the United States and Russia escalate over a Russian troop buildup on the Ukrainian border that’s seen as a sign of a potential invasion.

Biden will press U.S. concerns about Russian military activities on the border and “reaffirm the United States’ support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Saturday, confirming the planned call after first word came from Moscow.

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IF YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT WHAT IS REALLY HAPPENING IN THE OFFICE OF THE VEEP…

…THEN READ THIS WASHINGTON POST STORY, WHICH INCLUDES THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG AND A FULL 5% OF THE REST OF THE ICEBERG, WHICH IS 5% MORE THAN MOST STORIES ABOUT THE SITUATION INCLUDE:

Critics scattered over two decades point to an inconsistent and at times degrading principal who burns through seasoned staff members who have succeeded in other demanding, high-profile positions. People used to putting aside missteps, sacrificing sleep and enduring the occasional tirade from an irate boss say doing so under Harris can be particularly difficult, as she has struggled to make progress on her vice-presidential portfolio or measure up to the potential that has many pegging her as the future of the Democratic Party.

“One of the things we’ve said in our little text groups among each other is what is the common denominator through all this and it’s her,” said Gil Duran, a former Democratic strategist and aide to Harris who quit after five months working for her in 2013. In a recent column, he said she’s repeating “the same old destructive patterns.”

“Who are the next talented people you’re going to bring in and burn through and then have (them) pretend they’re retiring for positive reasons,” he told The Post…..

Staffers who worked for Harris before she was vice president said one consistent problem was that Harris would refuse to wade into briefing materials prepared by staff members, then berate employees when she appeared unprepared.

“It’s clear that you’re not working with somebody who is willing to do the prep and the work,” one former staffer said. “With Kamala you have to put up with a constant amount of soul-destroying criticism and also her own lack of confidence. So you’re constantly sort of propping up a bully and it’s not really clear why.”

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IF YOU WANT A FAIR-MINDED ASSESSMENT OF HOW TEAM BIDEN HAS HANDLED THE PANDEMIC…

…THEN READ THE ROTH DOUTHAT COLUMN.

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IF YOU WANT TO HAVE SOME QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE SENSE OF ONE OF TEAM BIDEN’S MOST AMAZING ACHIEVEMENTS…

…THEN READ THE NEW YORK TIMES STORY ABOUT THE ADMINISTRATION’S JUDICIAL PICKS:

Mr. Biden’s nominees are extraordinarily diverse in both legal background and ethnicity. The White House and liberal interest groups have been promoting public defenders and civil rights lawyers in addition to the more traditional choices of prosecutors and corporate lawyers. According to the White House, 47 of the 64 nominees are women and 41 of them identify as people of color, allowing the administration to record many firsts across the judiciary.

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IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHO WILL PLAY FOR THE MEN’S COLLEGE FOOTBALL TITLE, AND WHO WILL ULTIMATELY WIN…

…THEN REPEAT AFTER ME: ROLL TIDE

SEC champion Alabama and Big Ten champion Michigan punched their tickets to the dance. Cincinnati, the lone undefeated FBS team, and Georgia will likely be in, barring the committee deciding otherwise. Our experts agree it will be those four in some order. (CBS Sports)

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IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE NEXT FIVE SHOES TO FALL IN THE CHRIS CUOMO MATTER WILL BE…

…THEN SHOW UP WITH YOUR GANG OF 500 MEMBERSHIP CARD AT THE WEEKLY LAURIOL PLAZA BRUNCH LATER THIS MORNING, AT THE USUAL TIME AND TABLE.

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IF YOU WANT ALL THE LATEST NEWS 24/7…

…THEN CHECK OUT THE WALKING DUCK.

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IF YOU WANT TO KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER ARTICLES YOU MUST READ TODAY BEYOND THOSE MENTIONED HERE…

…THEN RELY ON MY HAVING DONE ALL THE READING FOR YOU EARLIER TODAY AND GO SPEND TIME WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY.

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A Dog Walks Into a Newsletter...

Dogs, really....

Slow-ish news morning, so let’s review some important canine journalism terms:

DOG DAY AFTERNOON

The Associated Press:

The parents of a teen accused of killing four students in a shooting at a Michigan high school were caught early Saturday, several hours after a prosecutor filed involuntary manslaughter charges against them, officials said.

James and Jennifer Crumbley were captured in a commercial building in Detroit that housed artwork, Detroit Police Chief James E. White told a news conference. White said the couple “were aided in getting into the building,” and that a person who helped them may also face charges.

A Detroit business owner spotted a car tied to the Crumbleys in his parking lot late Friday, Oakland County Undersheriff Michael McCabe said in a statement. A woman seen near the vehicle ran away when the business owner called 911, McCabe said. The couple was later located and arrested by Detroit police.

MAN BITES DOG

The New York Times on the impossible:

All over New York City, bagel makers say, a schmear shortage is threatening one of the most treasured local delicacies: a fresh bagel with cream cheese.

DOG’S BREAKFAST

Bow wow!

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DOGS OF WAR

The Wall Street Journal:

Russian President Vladimir Putin is amassing a force expected to total 175,000 troops near Russia’s border with Ukraine, giving him the capability for a potential invasion of his neighbor by early 2022, Biden administration officials said Friday.

The officials, citing new intelligence reports that include images from spy satellites, said the Russian military buildup differs markedly from an earlier massing of troops in the spring. When completed, they said, it will be twice the size of that previous buildup. In addition, Russia has embarked on a rapid mobilization of reservists.

DOG AND PONY

The Associated Press:

If President Joe Biden’s $2 trillion social and environment package was a Broadway show, its seven months on Congress’ stage could qualify it as a hit. But lawmaking isn’t show business, and many Democrats worry that with the curtain falling soon on 2021, time is not their friend….

The longer it takes to finish the $2 trillion package, the longer it can be vulnerable to factors — predictable and unforeseen, economic and political — that might complicate Schumer’s task.

“You let things sit around here, particularly past a Christmas vacation and into an election year, and that is toxic,” said Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., a leader of her party’s progressives.

AS SICK AS A DOG

Former Montana Governor Steve Bullock pens a New York Times op-ed in which he correctly argues his Democratic Party has a problem with rural voters…and then proceeds to propose to solve the problem with a string of the most shopworn cliches you have ever read. Can you count more than 15 of them?

EVERY DOG HAS ITS DAY

The Associated Press:

As Donald Trump’s lawyers try to block the White House from releasing records to the congressional committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection, the former president faces a flurry of other investigations that could come to a head in the coming weeks and the new year.

That includes two major state criminal investigations — one in New York and one in Georgia — and lawsuits concerning sexual assault allegations, a fight over an inheritance and questions of whether he should be held personally liable for inciting the insurrection.

DOG DOES NOT EAT DOG

Via the New York Post (still looking through the newly released investigative documents from the Empire State’s attorney general): one former Cuomo aide allegedly got another former Cuomo aide to allegedly secretly record a phone conversation with yet another former Cuomo aide, after allegedly getting permission to do it from a fourth former Cuomo aide.

DOG WITH A BONE

At some point the Dominant Media is going to have to put aside the right’s focus on President Biden’s health and mind/veracity, and make some reported judgments of its own.

Cough, cough, indeed.

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DOG AND DUCK

For all the latest news all the time, check out the 24/7 website the Walking Duck.