I’m waiting for Store to Door to deliver groceries. I feel tired, but I did get enough sleep that I feel feline again. Yesterday, I felt like a dawg! Tomorrow, I’m taking my friend with cancer out to dinner. It’s a Mexican place known for Chile Verde, so I hope there are Republicans downwind.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 3:30 (average 5:31). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From Daily Kos: In a time where people genuinely want to believe that racism is dead, reality has a way of smacking us all right in the face to remind us that it’s actually alive and well. Mississippi Judge Bill Weisenberger was seen and heard by five different witnesses, both white and black, striking a severely autistic African-American man and then yelling, "Run, n*gger, run" at him in 2014.
Nine months later, a grand jury has indicted Judge Weisenberger, and charged him with "assault on a vulnerable adult." Hate crime charges, which carry stiff federal sentencing, have yet to be filed.
Several additional allegations have surfaced against Weisenberger in the last year. He is accused of imposing an illegal DUI sentence against an African American in his courtroom. The Attorney General’s office said it could not confirm or deny whether it was investigating that matter, though District Attorney Michael Guest said it had turned the matter over to the AG’s office.
Weisenberger also had a lawsuit filed against both him and the county in November. The attorney for Charles Plumpp said Weisenberger arrested and jailed her client, who is African American, on the nonexistence charge of "roaming livestock."
I’m surprised that this Republican is being brought to justice. Kudos to those Mississippians responsible.
From NY Times: President Obama surely knew that his recent executive actions to protect millions of undocumented immigrants from deportation would run into trouble as soon as a 26-state lawsuit opposing the actions landed on the desk of Federal District Judge Andrew Hanen, of Brownsville, Tex.
Judge Hanen — who last month invoked a biblical flood in describing illegal immigration into that community — has spoken out aggressively against Mr. Obama’s immigration policy in the past, saying it “endangers America” and is “an open invitation to the most dangerous criminals in society.” Indeed, his earlier opinions were the reason Republican governors and attorneys general pushed to get their suit into his district.
As expected, the judge on Monday night temporarily blocked the first of several programs Mr. Obama announced in November to offer work permits and a three-year reprieve from deportation to more than four million immigrants who are parents of American citizens and who have no criminal record.
That move — which Mr. Obama took only after years of failed efforts by Congress to pass any immigration reform — triggered the fury of congressional Republicans, who responded with threats of, among other things, impeachment proceedings…. [emphasis added]
Judge Hanen is another small part of the damage done to this nation by Crawford Caligula. I pray his partisan decision will be overturned.
From Washington Post: In the wake of Dave Fahrenthold’s great piece about Scott Walker’s college years, Democrats have begun to openly question the Wisconsin governor’s ability and readiness to be president, given that he doesn’t have a college degree.
I disagree with those Democrats who say Walker is unfit to be President, because he does not have a college degree. A college degree measures neither intellect nor ability. 25% of Politics Plus readers have postgraduate degrees, and another 48% graduated college. My lack of a college degree has not impacted my ability to reason and communicate with well educated people. The Fartfuhrer of Fitzwalkerstan has proven himself unfit to be a washroom attendant, let alone President, because he is a Koch whore. His degree is irrelevant.
Cartoon:
39 Responses to “Open Thread–2/18/2015”
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Yesterday I mentioned our weather here in Metro Vancouver making more than a few people jealous. At the other end of the country in Atlantic Canada, things are a little different. Let's just say that the Maritime groundhog was right when he signalled 6 more weeks of winter on 02/02/15. These 2 gents at least have a sense of humour.
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2015/02/17/kevin-mcgrath-dieppe-snow-video_n_6699188.html?utm_hp_ref=mostpopular
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/summerside-man-digs-snow-tunnel-to-car-1.2961293
How does this compare to your snow Patty? . . . about the same?
We are nowhere close to that. I have about 3 feet in my yard but where it's been pied up due to shoveling and snow blowing it's about 6 feet. Around my deck is the worst because I can't just push the snow off the sides anymore because of the buildup.We're expecting another 6 inches in the next 24 hours which isn't too bad. It's been frigid though with below zero temps for 8 days and more to come. During the day it goes up but never more than 20 degrees Farenheit.
In PEI, they had 55 cm in less than a day. That is almost 22 inches. That's over the top of my boots!
Good grief that's a lot of snow Patty! Thank goodness you are strong and resilient!
Patty ought to move to Oregon!!
3:31 TC saw the Pizza sign in front of the building and tripped me.
2:51 Well I stopped that pizzaholic puddy tat for you Patty! If Jerry doesn't stop me, I'll share pizza and salad with everyone!
3:35 I must be the one with the flat tire, but I will take some pizza and salad once I get a new tire.
I gladly accept your offer of pizza and salad. Thank you!
Starving pizzaholic puddies have been known to pee on big feet. 😈
Daily Kos ~ Sickening! It reads like something out of the 1950s or earlier.
Oops! I was so rattled by the first article I forgot to comment on the rest.
NY Times ~ I'm still hoping so.ething good comes of this bogus decision by Judge Hanen.
Washington Post ~ I agree with you that a college degree is not at issue here. Scott Walker is unfit to be a washroom attendant, let alone President.
Cartoon ~ We're trying to get them banned here in NY. Fracking waste from PA is being transported through NY also and we want that stopped too.
G wish you ef=very success in getting them banned.
4:32 average down to 5:27. Am I crazy, or does the way they worded the headline make it sound like "Pizza" is the name of the car designer? Wait, don't answer that. Thanks.
Daily Kos -I was surprised too, but definitely pleased. This meager excuse for a human being should certainly not be a judge anywhere. I hope losing the judgeship permanently comes with it.
NY Times – Got an email from America's Voice which basically said, keep calm and carry on. If you know anyone eligible underthe order and they don't already have this URL, you might give it to them: http://dapaquestions.org/question/how-will-federal-judges-ruling-block-daca-and-dapa-impact-people-who-are-eligible-apply Anyone who is willing to create an account can ask a queation there, and they don't ask for a lot of information to do it, though I understand someone not wanting to.
WaPo – I absolutely agree that a college degree means little or nothing. On the other hand, the circumstances surrounding his dropping out are juvenile and telling. Glen Barry, who was in his class, has a bit to say about it.
Cartoon – Yeah, I live in a blast zone. Within a half mile from a track that's used for oil trains. It's used for coal too. I have all the instructions for my executrix on my computer here, but when I learned that, I copied them to a flash drive and gave it to her. Just in case. Not much else I can do. I'm not in a position physically or financially to move. Plus, I love my house.
Am horrified at the last paragraph Joanne – will pray for your safety – and am more horrified that half a mile away from the tracks is considered to be lethal – argh!
Have just been looking at Dandelion G's news – and there is this on the subject of oil trains in the US
http://www.care2.com/news/member/901507364/3852085 (Dandelion's news on the subject)
http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/02/17/after-latest-us-oil-train-disaster-expert-says-tens-millions-living-inside-blast (the link from her news article).
Apparently 25 million Americans are living in the 'blast zone' (God bless and protect them!) and many millions more could be affected. Please – sign everything you can against this!
I've heard they go through Portland, but I don't know when or where.
Well, the interactive map is here:
http://explosive-crude-by-rail.org/
Put in your address and you will see where the tracks are – red lines (half mile) with yelow lines (between half and one mile) around them. I am just barely in the red, which is the 0.5 mile DOT Evacuation Zone, so I might survive. But the computers might not. The distance between a half and a full mile is the DOT Potential Impact Zone, whatever that means (winds might still make your house catch fire? With the winds we have around here, I'll be the zone should be wider than that!)
What's great about the site yoou posted, Joanne, is that there is also a petition to be signed. I had already done this and am nowhere near a "Blast Zone" but signed the petition and I just posted it to FB for the second time.
Puzzle — 2:51 Well I stopped that pizzaholic puddy tat for you Patty! If Jerry doesn't stop me, I'll share pizza and salad with everyone!
Daily Kos — A despicable little man who does not deserve the title of "Judge", Mississippi Judge Bill Weisenberger is a racist and should be up on hate crime charges. Couldn't find this low life in Wikipedia, but the article does say that one does not need a law degree to be a judge in Mississippi, just be a high school graduate. I suppose the state can't fire him since he has not yet been convicted. But it is wrong that he is still being paid his salary.
NY Times — Let's see, there's Judge Roy Bean , , , er Moore, Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, elected; Judge Mark Fuller, District Judge for US District Court for Middle District of Alabama annointed by Baby Bush, and now Federal District Judge Andrew Hanen, also annointed by Baby Bush. And if that isn't enough, there is Mississippi Judge Bill Weisenberger noted in the above Daily Kos article. America, what is happening?
Hanen said “…an open invitation to the most dangerous criminals in society.” I think he was talking about himself and other Republicanus/Teabaggerum judges as endangering America.
Washington Post — Personally, I'd be more concerned that he sucks . . . never mind! I notice even in business here, employers want university degrees even for bank tellers. It is thought that these people can think better. I happen to disagree. Howard Dean is out on a limb and sawing the limb off . . . on the wrong side.
This goes with what has been happening in Wisconsin.
Cartoon — Coming to a neighbourhood near you . . . puff diddy diddy . . . puff diddy diddy . . . puff diddy diddy . . . Or is it "I think I can! I think I can! I think I can!"
I fully agree.
Sounds like a rough day, I hope you didn't have to do laundry, too.
Daily Kos: How can so many racists still exist? I am glad Mississippi is going to prosecute him. Our son lives there now and keeps trying to get us to move, the weather is nicer, but not sure I am ready to live there.
NY Times: Judge Hanen is another good example of why judges should have term limits. He would be gone by now. Dubya left us a mountain of messes that are damaging our country every day.
Washington Post: I think the more important question is what kind of man is he? Does he have compassion? Apparently not. Does he care about those less fortunate than he is? Apparently not. Does he have the ability to help this country move forward and end the appalling disparity in income, or stop the give aways to corporations who don't even pay taxes? No. Having a college degree does not mean you are capable of anything, except getting a degree. It could be in finger painting. I have known people without degrees who are geniuses and can do anything, I also know a few who have Master's degrees who are idiots.
Cartoon: This is absolutely true! There was an explosion in WV yesterday from one of these. With a foot of snow to contend with, it was hard for emergency personnel to get there. One family lost their home and dozens more had to evacuate.
I do think there are some jobs for which a degree should bew required, such as doctors and lawyers.
I forgot to add, we got five more inches of snow today, no road plow has seen fit to hit our road, I have a serious case of cabin fever! No, we have not dug out.
Thank the Lord that you have not tried to dig out, Edie! It sounds as if you have had such mammoth quantities of snow that it would defeat a superhero! Please stay safe, your friends need you…. thank God for the internet! (Sorry – too many !s but I am too tired to remove them…).
We are supposed to get five to ten more inches between Friday night and Saturday morning. Most snow we have had in decades. Of course, my brother in law is convinced there is no global warming and this proves it. Thanks, Pat A. I appreciate your comment.
When I lived in Colorado, my driveway was a natural drift. Every year I tunnelled it in late fall and had a way out of my garage until spring.
I got out today for the first time since Saturday, I would go nuts if it were like this all winter.
Daily Kos – God bless and protect all those Mississippians trying to bring this 'judge' (oh dear!) to justice – the horrible racist! I hope all of his previous judgements are scrutinised severely for racist and other bias – he sounds totally insane
NY Times – I do hope President Obama succeeds – the country would benefit..
Washington Post – I agree with you totally TC – I don't have a degree due to crippling ill health for DECADES – and let anyone with a degree try and say I am thicker than them – grr!* I can hold my own in an argument with my sister (Oxford PhD and author of a book on Rhetoric [which I had to proof read – argh!!]) – and I defy most other people to do so – she could tie knots in their arguments with one hand tied behind her back!
Mind you, perhaps it is due to all the vicissitudes that we have survived that we are the wonderful people that we are today (LOL!)!
* (One time such behaviour caused me to demolish someone in argument – every other time I have stopped [out of compassion] well before we reach such a spot – but he was such a bumptious, arrogant, STUPID person that I demolished his arrogant arguments.).
Pat, you don't have a degree in snake oil? I'm shocked! 😉
Sorry TC- glad you are feeling feline again!
Thanks!
Wonder how many other states don't require law school and being in good standing with the local bar association as requirements for a judge so that the public can hold them accountable at a more local level?
Some people need the experience of college to develop analytical and logical thinking skills–Walker appears to be one.
Thanks for the back story on this court assignment–illuminating and explains why the immigrant advocacy community is still encouraging people to apply for DACA, etc.
I felt and heard the Roseville, CA munitions train explosion last century–from miles away. Not an experience I'd ever want again.
Judges and lawyers are another matter. One must demonstrate knowledge of the law.
How frightening!
Daily Kos: Throughout all of this, Weisenberger continues to be paid his full salary, and all of his previous sentencing in cases still remains valid. In spite of proposed bills requiring judges in Mississippi to have law degrees, only a high school diploma is required.
If convicted, the charge of simple assault against a vulnerable adult carries a fine of up to $1,000 or up to 5 years imprisonment, or both. The charge against him is a felony. Weisenberger should be up for hate crime charges.
On top of all of this, Weisenberger is up for reelection as a judge along with several other candidates. Time for Mississippi to step up into the 21st century and require that ALL judges have a law degree.
Yes, racism continues to be alive and well.
NY Times: Crawford Caligula, once again, has shown just how bad baby bush was as a president when he appointed Judge Hanen to the bench.
Washington Post: Who wants a Koch Whore (Scott Walker) in the White House…?
Cartoon: By all means, "RUN AWAY" if you see one of these oil tanker cars in a line-up depicted in the cartoon picture as fast as you can!
Rachel Maddow had a nice piece of this issue of tanker cars and a refinery blowing up. THE RACHEL MADDOW SHOW 2/18/15
Oil accidents cause another day of distress
Rachel Maddow reports on an oil refinery explosion in California and the continuing situation in West Virginia where an oil tanker derailment caused massive explosions on Monday.
Duration: 4:09: http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show#!#playlists
I was asked by Lona in C2 if the requirements to be a Justice Court Judge in Mississippi was a high school graduate or have a general equivalency diploma as a joke. It is not a joke. Mississippi is working to "upgrade" its court system.
Page 3
"The Mississippi Constitution requires justice court judges be a high school graduate or have a general equivalency diploma, unless elected to the office of justice of the peace prior to January 1, 1976."
https://courts.ms.gov/reports/TaskForceNarrative.pdf
See my reply to JL.
Just had to comment re. Jeb Bush defending his brother,s LIES.Difficult decision my A- -..The decision to invade Iraq was not difficult,just DELIBERATE! WMD,s no oil YES.Who cares re. the dead,disabled etc. When Cheney say jump the who damn lot of them say how high.. Lying to the American people and the United Nations.No big deal.(and Jeb knows all about it.) Some candidate for 2016!! following in W,s footsteps.Sorry TC. but I had to get this off my chest,after hearing his speech yesterday.
Avril, don't apologize. It's an Open Thread. I could not agree more.