Jun 092015
 

When the weatherman said that today would be about 10° cooler, he lied, so before I actually post this article, I will have returned from kitty solar basking.  I’m certainly blessed that I don’t have to be out and about today, but I am tired, because we had another fire alarm in the wee hours that trashed my sleep.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:00 (average 5:14).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Daily Kos: Mitch McConnell, the guy who was going to make the Senate work again and prove that Republicans can govern. When it comes to filling judicial vacancies, he’s choosing not to.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Thursday that he doesn’t expect to confirm any of Obama’s circuit court nominees for the remainder of his time in office, a blow to White House efforts to fill empty federal court seats despite working with a Republican-controlled Senate.

In an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt, McConnell was asked about judicial confirmations.

"So far, the only judges we’ve confirmed have been federal district judges that have been signed off on by Republican senators," McConnell said. Asked if he expects that to be the case through 2016, McConnell said, "I think that’s highly likely, yeah."

We have never seen such extreme examples of incompetence to govern as today’s Republican Party keep demonstrating.

From NY Times: Community leaders in Cleveland, distrustful of the criminal justice system, said Monday that they would not wait for prosecutors to decide whether to file charges against the police officers involved in the fatal shooting of 12-year-old Tamir Rice last year. Instead, they will invoke a seldom-used Ohio law and go directly to a judge to request murder charges against the officers.

The highly unusual move is the latest sign that some African-Americans in Cleveland and around the country have lost confidence in a system that they see as too quick to side with police officers accused of using excessive force against blacks.

Why are black community leaders so distrustful? Could it possibly be because police continue to murder innocent black people with impunity? I wish the black community leaders success in their strife for justice.

From Desmoines Register: When just one Iowan showed up to Rick Santorum’s 2 p.m. campaign stop at a restaurant here Monday, the winner of the 2012 Iowa caucuses made a quick decision: Might as well order lunch.

That’s one more Iowan than the King of Froth deserves!

Cartoon:

0609Cartoon

Share

  21 Responses to “Open Thread–6/9/2015”

  1. A picture of snakes remaining as dangerous despite anything others do.

    Kudos to Iowans! 

    I'm glad OH has a law permitting such a back-up system for justice when the primary route fails…suspect not all states have something similar yet wish they did.

  2. Sorry the bsaking couldn't make up for the loss of sleep due to the fire alarm, TomCat. Try to rectify it tonight.

    Daily Kos: Mitch McConnell, who's he? I bet that even those simpletons who voted him back in don't remember what he looks like or what promisses he's made to get re-elected. Not that it matters, I don't think even they expected him to keep them. The only thing he keeps on doing is obstructing Obama every which way he can. I suppose that is a full time job, yes.

    NY Times: Sometimes it is convenient that legislators haven't cleaned up and hung on to some quaint archaic laws. I wish the community leaders in Cleveland good luck in their quest to see justice donefor Tamir Rice and his family. By bypassing prosecutors who still can't decide to prosecute a cop after nearly half a year, they've taken a major step forward.

    • I agree that obsolete laws can be fun when used for justice in ways no one dreamed of for years.  This may be a parallel to constitutional provisions extended to same sex couples prevailing.

    • McConnell only shows his face in Kentucky when he is running for re election.  He has great PR people, because he keeps conning many of our citizens.

  3. 4:14 average still 5:14.  One of those dogs which in the Middle Ages would have been called a "brachet"?

    I got a Fourth-of-July sale flyer email, and I'm afraid it sent me looking for a barf bag.  I don't think I am actually ashamed of my country, but I am so terribly ashamed of the actions, and words, and opinions, of so many people in it, that it does feel like that.

    DKos – Yes, business as usual for Republicans.

    NY Times – You think it's bad that community leaders are distrustful of the justice system – read this or at least skim theough to the point where a FEDERAL JUDGE says he is distrustful of the State's justice system:  http://wellthisiswhatithink.com/2015/06/09/federal-judge-orders-albert-woodfox-unconditionally-released-after-43-years-in-solitary-confinement/  I think at this point in history you would have to be an idiot, or at least blind and deaf, to have a shred of confidence in the criminal justice system.  A big reason for the aforementioned barf bag.

    Des Moines Register – Was she even there to see him?  Maybe she just wanted lunch herself.  A girl has to eat somewhere – and if she knew of his appearance, maybe she figured it wouldn't be crowded.

    Cartoon – The motto is fine, but boy, would Repiblicans ever be surprised if those groups turned out to have teeth like the drawing!  Let's see if we can't surprise them in 2016.

    • Thanks for the giggle about the lunch Joanne

    • So what if only FOUR people finally showed up for Santorum.  The onion rings were to die for!

      NOTE TO RICK:

      It's past time for you to STOP referring to what you're doing as a "campaign" and realize it really is just a "pastime".  Kind of like putting ships together in a bottle or collecting baseball cards.  A nice hobby, but it ain't a "campaign".

      And I'd suggest you start selling all those sweater vests of yours on Ebay to try and recoup some cash.

    • Thanks for the link, Joanne. If another country had kept someone in solitary confinement for 43 years, we would be up in arms about it.  Shameful. 

  4. 3:40  This dog won't hunt!

  5. 2:51  No doggie fricassée today for you Puddy Tat!  I'd hate to be around your litterbox after that gigantic meal of horsey!  You won't need to eat for a month!

  6. We will be getting that heat the rest of the week.  Yuck.

    Daily Kos:  Nothing McConnell does surprises me anymore. His obstructionist actions have cost this country a lot of money. I can only say, I DID NOT Vote FOR HIM!

    NY Times:  I am so glad they have decided to do this.  Haven't we had four trials for police officers who murdered someone and seen the exonerated?  If I were black, I would be outraged and trying to do all that I could for justice.  Having seen the video of the twelve year old child being murdered, I cannot understand why Cleveland hasn't all ready taken action.

    Desmoines Register:  I tried to read the article but got a pop up survey that had to be completed before I could read it. I love it that only one person showed up for saintly Sanctorum though.

    Cartoon:  I love it!  Turns their "Dont tread on me" sideways, doesn't it?

  7. Puzzle — 2:51  No doggie fricassée today for you Puddy Tat!  I'd hate to be around your litterbox after that gigantic meal of horsey!  You won't need to eat for a month!

    Daily Kos — McTurtle and the Republicanus/Teabaggerum have absolutely no interest in representing their average constituents, only the wealthy and the corporations.  These are judicial appointments and as a result, they should never be seen as partisan.  If they don't get their way, the Republicanus/Teabaggerum pout and stop working (if they ever worked in the first place).  It seems they are rather like the joke about all the body parts arguing about who was the boss. The punchline: One doesn't have to be the brain to be the boss, only the asshole who passes out a lot of shit!

    NY Times — For justice to be done, it has to be seen to be done.  Obviously, it isn't being seen!  I hope this works and that the community is strong and persistent until justice is served.

    Desmoines Register — Not only did only 1 person show up, that person was the head of the county Republicanus/Teabaggerum.  To me, that is a party of none!

    Cartoon — I'd recognise that Republicanus/Teabaggerum anywhere!

  8. Daily Kos ~ Is anyone here surprised by this?

    NY Times ~ I don't blame them. I am a caucasian woman and I don't trust our Justice System anymore either.

    DesMoines Register ~ Good for the good people of Iowa! Bernie Sanders is pulling in record crowds for his speeches!

    Cartoon ~ Their new flag?

  9. Daily Kos:
    There's a new obstructionist-in-chief in town. 

    Now, with Republicans in the majority in the Senate, a new arch-obstructionist is emerging in the form of Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley. 

    Grassley is deliberately slow-walking the confirmation of all of President Obama’s nominees, keeping highly qualified, noncontroversial nominees – even ones with bipartisan support – from receiving hearings and votes in committee. 

    Sign your name: Tell Chairman Grassley to STOP the obstruction. 

    PETITION:   https://www.dailykos.com/campaigns/1241

    NY Times:
    The only way to clean-up the Cleveland Police Department is to dismiss all the officers from the highest ranking to the lowest ranking and start over with a new  hiring policy with proportional police to the population as a guideline. Better background checks, psychological testing, better training and so forth are a must.

    Desmoines Register: 
    Oh poo-ba… lol. The people in Iowa have seen Santorium before and have finally concluded and recognized that he is a loser.

    Cartoon: Better not tread on me, Bub. I'll bite back. lol.

  10. Oh Come on folks(re. Santorum) Ever group needs it perverts!.

  11. Thanks all.  I'm very tired and running late.  Hugs.

Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.