I’m writing for tomorrow, day 85. Last night I crashed big time, making me late in getting my articles posted. I ordered my groceries from Safeway, because Store to Door shops at Fred Meyers, and this week, their specials stink. So Tuesday is a grocery delivery day.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 2:58 (average 4:47). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From The New Yorker: A recent tour of the United States-Mexico border by Texas Governor Rick Perry has had the unintended consequence of convincing thousands of immigrants that anyone can succeed in America.
After Gov. Perry and the Fox News host Sean Hannity toured the Rio Grande on Thursday, news quickly spread that the two men were actually among the most powerful in America, fueling the immigrants’ impression that the U.S. is a place where anyone can make it.
“When we learned that these two men were the governor of a large state and a top broadcaster from a major news network, it seemed too incredible to be true,” said an immigrant from Honduras, speaking on the condition of anonymity. “We all said to ourselves, if those two can succeed in America, imagine the wondrous things we might achieve.”
LOL! Andy needs to tell the poor immigrants that those two make it here only because of their willingness to sell their souls to and betray the America for the 0.1%.
From NY Times: The deal that Secretary of State John Kerry brokered to ease the Afghan election crisis with a sweeping audit of the vote was quietly built on an even more profound reshaping of the entire government system, American and Afghan officials confirmed Sunday: The sides have agreed to gradually create an empowered prime minister post after years of an all-encompassing presidency.
Nearly a decade after American officials pushed a Constitution that enshrined near-dictatorial powers for the president, it is a tacit admission that changing to a more parliamentary system — a fraught undertaking at any time — is now seen as crucial to holding the country together after years of mounting political crises and ethnic and factional hostilities, officials said.
The Bush Reich never intended the original Afghani government to be a real republic. They intended to create a fascist puppet dictatorship under Hamid Karzai, a pipeline expert working for Unocal.
From Think Progress: Last January, the two lawyers behind Speaker John Boehner’s lawsuit claiming that President Obama is not implementing Obamacare fast enough authored an article in Politico Magazine laying out the legal theory behind this litigation. Yet, this article contains a glaring misrepresentation of a recent Supreme Court decision that undermines much of the basis for this lawsuit.
David Rivkin and Elizabeth Price Foley are the lawyers behind Boehner’s lawsuit. In their Politico piece, they correctly acknowledge that the biggest obstacle to suing Obama is something known as the “standing” doctrine. Standing is the requirement that a plaintiff bringing a lawsuit must have actually been injured in some way by the person that they are suing. But neither Speaker Boehner nor any other member of Congress has been injured by President Obama’s decision to delay implementation of a provision of the Affordable Care Act requiring employers with more than 50 employees to pay a fine if they don’t offer a minimal level of health insurance coverage. Boehner has not lost his health insurance because President Obama delayed this provision. Nor has this delay cost Boehner a single cent.
Of course, all Boehner wishes to do here if to get his lawsuit tied up in the courts until after the elections. As I have said before, it is a mere pretense, and it’s only intent is to stop the Baggers from embarrassing the rest of the party by trying to impeach Obama.
Cartoon:
10 Responses to “Open Thread–7/15/2014”
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3:46 I almost fell out the window into the sea.
3:28 What a magnificent view! It reminds me of the Mediterranean but with the red brick, I think it is more likely in North or South America.
3:17 Just another day where the tomcat is too fast for this old dog.
I'm amazed I won that one.
New Yorker ~ If imbeciles like those to can succeed, they must hac=ve sold their souls to the devil ala Faust.
NY Times ~ The NeoCons still haven't learned that puppet dictatorships just don't work. Those who create them get ver rich though.
Think Progress ~ When all else fails, file a frivolous lawsuit to waste time and money.
Cartoon ~ No further comment.
5:07 Cool view.
New Yorker – Well, it certainly could happen. On the other hand, they've probably been exposed to enough corruption at home to smell it when they see it here. But – just to be on the safe side – let's keep Gohmert away from there.
NY Times – Steps in the right direction, but baby steps. I wish Afghanistan all the luck in the world. They are going to need it.
Think Progress – I certainly agree that he can't do that, but nevertheless, he is doing it. While I approve of the appeal process generally, I certainly don't approve of its use to keep a frivolous suit tied up in the courts. But what can you do. Money. Maybe the Baggers will try to impeach anyway. Who knows with crazies. But if Boehner thinks his own actions are not embarrassing the party, he needs to think again.
Cartoon – Good one.
Boehner: An empty suit files an empty lawsuit.
But if for some miscarriage of justice (and w/ the courts chockablock full of wingnuts – who knows) and standing was gifted to Boehner, it'd at least be interesting to get the Plaintiffs under oath for depositions.
Puzzle — 3:28 What a magnificent view! It reminds me of the Mediterranean but with the red brick, I think it is more likely in North or South America.
The New Yorker — Hannity and Perry, stupid is and stupid does! What more can I say.
He's got that right! Very good Andy. One today is good too!
NY Times — "You reap what you sow" is so true. The US under Baby Bush sowed a dictatorship, a seemingly US beholden dictatorship. That didn't go so well so plan B, reform the government and power structure to keep the country together after so many "years of mounting political crises and ethnic and factional hostilities."
Think Progress — I think the only injury Boehner suffered because of Obamacare was when he fell off his bar stool after hearing the most recent attempted repeal failed.
Get out the vote to show Boehner that delaying until after the election is ridiculous . . . after all, the Teabaggers have already embarrassed the party on other matters and we remember.
Cartoon — Love Inspector Goosestep! That's a keeper!
The New Yorker: I agree with your summary, TC That is, if either of then even have a soul.
NY Times: Maybe Kerry has found his calling. If he brokered this agreement, things may improve in Afghanistan. Bush planned for both Afhganistan and Iraq to be puppet governments to enrich the oil industry.
Think Progress: The only thing I can see wrong in this article is the possibility that Boehner could think that far ahead.
LOve the cartoon. It fits so well with all the nonsense being spewed by the Obama haters.
Thanks all. I overslept again!! 🙁
Inspector Goosestep will be a regular.