I’m writing for tomorrow, day 37. I’m still feeling quite ill. Watching Congress has not helped.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Todays took me 5:48 (average 7:06). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From Daily Kos: [Wisconsin Gov. Scott] Walker, the son of a Baptist preacher and a practicing Christian himself, has made note of his common ground with the Jewish faith …
In an undated letter unearthed by the liberal group One Wisconsin Now … Walker told Gimbel his office would be happy to display a menorah celebrating "The Eight Days of Chanukah" at the Milwaukee County Courthouse …
The letter is signed, "Thank you again and Molotov."
Oy! The Fartfuhrer of the Fascist Republican Plutocracy of Fitzwalkerstan is a schmuck!
From NY Times: Most of the possible presidential candidates have not plunged into Washington’s debate over the Senate Intelligence Committee’s withering report on the Central Intelligence Agency’s brutal interrogation tactics — and some are ducking questions entirely, illustrating the delicate politics of national security.
These are Republicans doing the ducking. Even Hillary the Hawk opposes torture on our side.
From USA Today: In a dramatic vote late Thursday evening, the U.S. House narrowly approved a $1 trillion government spending package despite a rare uprising from House Democrats. The bill passed on a 219-206 vote.
Initially all but two Democrats voted against it. Later approximately seventy caved-in, under pressure from Barack Obama. I understand his reasons, but shame on him. The cost is too high. Tomorrow in the Senate Elizabeth Warren will be debating the tag team of Bought Bitch Mitch and the Nevada Leg Hound.
Cartoon:
28 Responses to “Open Thread–12/12/2014”
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6:28 ~ 9 days in Baltimore with my family did nothing to improve my puzzle soving skills. I got the door slammed in face today on this one.
4:12 Well, is almost 3 minutes under the average fast enough or is Lynn going to come along and slam the door in my face once again?
4:11 Well that surprised me! Jerry, I would never slam the door in your face! I would however shut the door and give you fair warning to get your nose out of the way lest it be gently altered without novocaine.
.
Beat me by a nose.
I'm amazed I beat the Monster!
I'm sorry you're feeling poorly, Tom. I spent an enjoyable 9 days with my family in Baltimore and the only thing I did on the computer was sign petitions and read emails. I can understand how watching Congress could hinder your recovery. Plutocracy is nigh.
Daily Kos ~ And a Molotov to you too, Gov. Walker, right up your kiester!
NY Times ~ They are afraid to speak up because they agree with the War Criminals who okayed the torture in the first place.
USA Today ~ I really hope Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders can claim a win for our side. The petitions I've been signing ar all in opposition of the House-approved "budget".
Cartoon ~ Ugly small minded man!
Oh Patty, when I read your comment on Walker, I had a vision of Walker holding his belly and saying "I think I consumed the whole thing!" à la Alka Seltzer commercials.
I was concerned when you were away. Glad to hear you were enjoying family and friends in Baltimore and quite safe! Welcome back!
May I do the lighting?
You can count on Walker to make "incendiary" malapropisms.
ARGH!
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6:15 average unchanged. it looked bad, but not quite 7 minutes bad, especially once one figured out that most of the black at the very edges were grooves, not metal. Had I been shown it with no description and asked what kind of design pattern it was, I would have said "Celtic."
Daily Kos – Saw it yesterday and it took me a while to figure out what he actually meant. Or maybe he really did mean a homemade incendiary. But I bet if someone wrote "Merry Kiss-ass" to him he'd be all "War on Christmas! War on Christmas!"
NY Times – But apparently Hillary the Hawk opposes the Nuremberg tribunal. I would not trust O'Malley an inch, the fracker. I'd suggest nominating Jim Wallis, but he wouldn't accept.
USA Today – We're doomed. I have been signing petitions like crazy too. But we're doomed.
Cartoon – My favorite bumper sticker in 2004 said "Re-elect Al Gore." Too bad it didn't happen.
I know we're going to lose this battle.
That's some nasty flu you've got there, TomCat. Keep taking care of yourself and do stay in bed as much as possible; it's the best thing for it. Better stay in bed a few extra days than having your Christmas ruined completely. I'm sure you'll want to spend some time with the guys in your prison volunteer group.
So Molotov to you and stay away from ducking Republicans and caving-in Democrats
Welcome Lona! 🙂
So very sorry you aren't feeling any better.
I'm not a huge fan of Hillary's , I don't trust her.
I have found the news very depressing this week. More re so than usual.
Love the above bumper sticker.
As have I, Nancy!
It was quiet amazing to see Warern lead the party last night. Why even Pelosi decided to go aganist Obama. Why? (I think she went to far) . Obama,Biden and Reed worked over time getting the votes. But will after all that will it pass? They still have other bills to get passed lke money got for the millarty.( which that kept this out to debate. But giving the banks the same non consequences that help them get away with putting us in the recession of 2008. That is just eerk but so is the people who think the 2014 elections was the way to go forward. The democrats who wanted nothing and had nothing to say about Obama but grap. The people didn't take the time to go vote. Obama has no reason to listen. He has to what he can even if he has to compromise . Because 2015 he will not be able to get anything done. (so what choice does he have? It makes me eerk to think he did this but ….
Warrern does not belittle Obama but she stands up for what is right. I have respect for her. But some of the them(without naming names) just were just belittling. Where were they in the last few yrs? When they could have spoke up and took a stand to fight? Now? 2015 the republian/tea party will try to smash Obama and he will and has to keep fighting for the American People evn if if compromise will make him sick(Why the american people voted or didn't for the Bush yrs all over again.
But if anyone can help it will be Warren,Reed and Biden.
So I guess they all should be a shamed.
Hope you are better soon Tom
Thanks Mama. The House was the best place to stop it. Now, if government shuts down, we'll get the blame.
Puzzle — 4:11 Well that surprised me! Jerry, I would never slam the door in your face! I would however shut the door and give you fair warning to get your nose out of the way lest it be gently altered without novocaine.
Daily Kos — I take umbrage with one point in this short article . . . Walker is NOT a practicing Christian. He is a right wing evangelical (yes Baptists can be evangelical) pseudo Christian, totally not ressembling an authentic Christian. Other than that, he really stepped in it, and was too stupid to know what he did and apologise. In the immortal words of Forrest Gump,"stupid is as stupid does".
NY Times — Figures that the Republicanus/Teabaggers would do a "duck and cover" over this report. Just like they blame Obama for the deficit being high, they are blaming Obama for the use of torture tactics when in fact, he put an end to them. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/11/us/politics/obama-effectiveness-cia-torture.html . I think where the problem lies is in Obama's failure to prosecute those ultimately responsible, Baby Bush and Chickenhawk Cheney. Some of the Republicanus/Teabagger 2016 presidential hopefuls are politicising the situation, calling the report partisan and unfair. Do I smell some projection here? I would dearly love to see Bush and Cheney stand trial for crimes against humanity for which this would be part. Since it would be impossible to get an unbiased jury in the US and it is likely to elicit very strong public and political reaction in the US, the trial should be conducted in The Hague.
USA Today — How does one measure the magnitude of economic and political consequences wrought by these two provisions of the bill?
On the other hand, I assume that the bill's failure would catapult the country into government shutdown, and all the fallout from that.
Personally, I think that the future damage by relaxed regulation of Wall Street and more money in politics is huge and goes past the next 2 years. It would likely affect several generations in the future.
Cartoon — How appropriate that pose of Scalia . . . it appears that he is giving everyone what has been called the Italian salute . . . which could be translated as "yuck fou". And given the events during the ensuing years with Baby Bush, Chickenhawk Cheney and their neocon cabal, SCOTUS certainly screw the American people.
I think this guaranteed the next financial meltdown.
Evil deeds seem to be just a distraction to slip in dangerous financial liabilities (Too Big to Fail).
Daily Kos: I agree with Lynne on Scott Walker. "Stupid is as stupid does"!
NY Times: No candidate who refused to come out against torture will ever get my vote. This brutal practice by the CIA is a blight on our country. Of course the Republicans are defending their practices and decrying the report being released. They don't want the American people to really KNOW what goes on in our government. I believe all who were involved in torture should be prosecuted. Period.
USA Today: I know they have to compromise to get bills passed, but this is giving Wall Street a free pass to throw taxpayers under the bus again. The increase in campaign donations could have been written by the Koch brothers.
Cartoon: Yes they did and they have been working us over ever since. SCOTUS members need term limits and most of the current group need to be impeached.
Too expensive.
I'm sorry for this headache, yet glad it was the explanation for the nonpost.
Colbert had fun with Walkers' ignorance.
Hope the Senate DEMs choose to be more like Pelosi and less like Hoyer than it may appear.
May the international response force statements from the fearful and those with flexible ethics.
Your cartoon reminds of us behavior that was a precursor of evils yet to come.
I hope you're right but doubt it.
Oh poor TC – seventeen attempts to load this piece of C2 news – and you are still ill!
Sorry but I have another migraine, have read all but lost the ability to comment….