I’m writing for tomorrow, day 129. I’m still running behind schedule, and am writing late in the day, but at least I found some better material. Tomorrow is a Holy Day in the Church of the Ellipsoid Orb, but the Broncos meditation will not be televised, so I won’t get to watch them ride Cowboys.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 2:17 (average 4:12). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Tales:
From NY Times: After 50 days of fighting that took some 2,200 lives, leveled large areas of the Gaza Strip and paralyzed Israel’s south for the summer, Israeli and Palestinian leaders reached an open-ended cease-fire agreement on Tuesday that promised only limited change to conditions in Gaza and left unresolved the broader issues underpinning the conflict.
Hamas, the militant Islamist faction that dominates Gaza, declared victory even though it had abandoned most of its demands, ultimately accepting an Egyptian-brokered deal that differs little from one proffered on the battle’s seventh day. In effect, the deal put both sides back where they were at the end of eight days of fighting in 2012, with terms that called for easing but not lifting Israeli restrictions on travel, trade and fishing in Gaza.
As long as Israel prevents Palestinians in Gaza from conducting normal commerce, I see no chance for success. Those people will not be content to live under a permanent state of siege.
From NY Times: The trail to Rick Perry’s indictment began with way too many drinks and a drunken-driving arrest for Rosemary Lehmberg, the Travis County district attorney, that was captured in embarrassing detail on videotape.
But the conflict between Republicans who control state government and the Democratic district attorney’s office has been playing out for years, forming a complicated back story to the unfolding legal drama known as the State of Texas v. James Richard “Rick” Perry.
Mr. Perry’s powerhouse defense team filed a motion on Monday to dismiss the felony indictment, asserting that the 64-year-old governor and prospective 2016 presidential candidate was constitutionally empowered to seek Ms. Lehmberg’s resignation. Mr. Perry contends Ms. Lehmberg was unfit to remain in office after berating deputies and kicking a cell door after a drunken-driving arrest in April 2013. She served about half of a 45-day jail sentence.
Mr. Perry and his lawyers have had substantial success in the court of public opinion, contending that the charges represent an overreach that has more to do with politics than the law. But Mr. Perry’s critics note that the grand jury indictment was secured by a special prosecutor who was appointed by a Republican judge and has no clear political leanings or ties to the Travis County courthouse.
Perry is so full of it that Rachel Maddow dedicated a Debunktion Junction to him.
Those who cannot open MSNBC videos can see this on YouTube.
Did she nail him, or what?
From Politicus USA: Gallup has super bad news for Republicans. There is a link between high disapproval of congress and high voter turnout. Republicans have done a great job not only creating record high disapproval levels, their obstructionism combined with wasting money and alienating rhetoric sustained those high levels of disapproval. If you’re a Republican, you may be tempted to believe your mission was accomplished. The only problem is high levels of congressional disapproval also means high voter turnout at election time. We all know what that means in Republican land.
That’s about the best news I’ve heard all week!
Cartoon:
22 Responses to “Open Thread–8/28/2014”
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3:49 I think I got left out on a limb here.
2:57 Gee whiz. I am under 3 minutes and still get beat by 40 seconds. I don't think I can even move the puzzle pieces around fast enought to beat TomCat at this puzzle.
3:11 There's no stopping that damn puddy tat when there is Fricassée de Perruche on the menu!
I saw lunch! I caught lunch!! BURP!!
NY Times ~ I'm sure BeBe is happy that he still gets to keep the Paestinians under his thumb. This was another topic that came up with my Right-wing nut painter Saturday. He thinks it's great that the Israelis have killed so many Palestinians. He shut his ears to anything I said just like they do on Capitol Hill.
NY Times, again ~ Rachel did an excellent job, again, of ferreting out the truth. Her staff is incredible. Rick Perry could be making a phone call and tell you to your face that he isn't and expect you to believe him. Maybe another reason he didn't say anything about the other 2 DUIs is because they were men. Contributing factor along with the ethics investigation? I doubt it but I couldn't help but notice.
Politicus USA ~ That is good news. I hope people remember how fed up they are with TeapublicanT obstrucionism.
Cartoon ~ Hi dream is reverting to the nightmare it was, a throwback to the 1950s.
I agree, across the board. If I were him, I would be grieving, but that was not his way. He would have rubbed his palms together, pauses briefly, and started working to change it.
4:47 What an attitude he has!
NY TImes – One just wants to pick both sides up and separate them like a couple of toddlers. Of course that isn't feasible when both toddlers have weapons liek a US Police Department and are having so much fun using them. None of which is meant to apply to the Israeli and Palestinian people who are suffering and dying because of their leaders infantilism – and no insult meant to actual infants, either.
NY Times too – Good for Rachel. Personally, if it was noon and Rick Perry told me the sun was shining, I'd want to check it out before believung him. Yes, apparently under Texas' conctitution Rick Perry has a right to withhold funding. Under Illinois law, Rod Blagojevich also had the right and duty to name someone to replace Obama when he was elected. But neither has or had the right to demand a quid pro quo. And in Rod's case, a jury agreed. (And I still find it screamingly funny that almost 400 years ago a real-life vampire in Serbia was named Blagojevich The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. No such history on the name Perry, more's the pity.)
Politicus – Yes, that's why I have such mixed feelings about sending letters and petitions to tell them not to be a$$holes. I want them to stay a$$holes and even step it up. Until after the election. That's why last weeks rents in Alternet have me so nervous. This is indeed good news but it doesn't signal time to relax.
Cartoon – I think we need to resurrect it first. I wish that were not so.
I never respond to "Tell them not to be assholes" petitions. They are what I call, push petitions. The only part that matters is the page thay take you to right after you sign.
4:07 – Puzzle 🙄
Mr. Perry and his lawyers should be happy that Federal Crime allows for free Health Care…
It isn't that good. It won't cover a new body for him, otherwise known as an asshole transplant.
Perry, yet again proves he's a few fries short of a Happy Meal, when he says:
PERRY: "I've been indicted by that same body now for I think two counts, one of bribery, which I'm not a lawyer, so I don't really understand the details here."
http://blog.chron.com/texaspolitics/2014/08/another-perry-oops-moment/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter#26203101=0
EXCEPT of the TWO charges filed on Perry, one was NOT bribery.
Something MORE you want to share with us, Gov?
Then again, going back to his "OOPS" moment during the Repubican Debates on abolishing THREE Federal Agencies (OOPS) – remembering more than two points is clearly just too difficult for Perry.
Me? I'd coonsider voting for his glasses. The man? Not a chance!
Nameless, he is a few fries short of ANY meal!
Make that a few meals short of a fry!!
"I’m not a lawyer, so I don’t really understand the details here.” Perry 🙄
I am glad you felt well enough to do all this research today. Take care of yourself first.
NY Times: At this point I feel sorry for both Israeli and Palestinian citizens. They are all suffering. There seems to be no end to this suffering. I have been getting mail from two different friends, one defending the Israeli government, the other defending Palestine. I am not commenting on either, because I don't feel qualified to do so.
Rick Perry: Kudos to Rachel Maddow for once again deflating the balloon of gas from a politician. Rick Perry is so full of himself and other stuff that he thinks he is untouchable. This latest stunt may spare us the agony of having him run for President in 2016. I hope!
Politics USA: Ihope they are right and enough people go to the polls to get rid of the obstructionist, middle class bashing Republicans.
Cartoon: We seem to be at a standstill in race relations, not much better than when he made his speech. I have never been able to understand the racism that is so rampant in our country, nor the anti LGBT hatred.
Israel is more democratic than the US. They have far better turnout in elections. They have the government they chose.
Puzzle — 3:11 There's no stopping that damn puddy tat when there is Fricassée de Perruche on the menu!
NY Times — I my estimation, Israel won this round because it still has the Palestinians locked up, cutoff from normal lives. I am glad that the fighting is over and hopefully the death toll, but until the Palestinians are free to come and go in their own country, they have won nothing! The Israeli leadership needs to be tried for crimes against humanity without delay.
NY Times — I don't think any disputes that Perry was constitutionally empowered to seek Ms. Lehmberg’s resignation. His dream defense team, in seeking a dismissal, is trying to bamboozle the court. Perry's error that is boiling the water around his Republicanus/Teabagger ass, was threatening to wipe out the budget for the special investigation unit if she did not resign. That is not constitutionally allowed, and that is where he stepped in all sorts of bullshit. I think that Rachel, like usual, did a really great job outlining the perils of Perry. I find it so very amusing that Perry even thinks he is capable of primetime!
Politicus USA — "Make it so Mr Gallup!"
Cartoon — It never gets old does it!
It will never be the quite same as it was when I stood on the national mall as a 15 year old, but it will never lose it's meaning
Thanks TC
Thank YOU Pat!