It appears that the worst of the heat wave is ending for now, with 86° forecast today followed by three days in the low 80°s. Of course it will take a couple days for this building to shed the accumulated heat. This week I have a lot of cleaning and organizing to do.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Either the site has technical issues, or there;s something wrong with my system, because all my attempts to go there have loaded a blank page. To try it yourself, click here. Please let us know if you get through.
Short Takes:
From YouTube: Racist Commercials [suitable for Republican racism]
These ads come from the British film Confederate States of America, but accurately reflect the state of racial equity we could expect if Republicans are successful in achieving their goal of establishing a permanent Republican Reich.
From NY Times: Despite the repeated horror of mass shootings in churches, movie theaters and schoolrooms, the Republican candidates running for president are remarkably quiet about how they would deal with this most pressing public health challenge.
“We define gun control real simple — that’s hitting what you aim at,” Senator Ted Cruz of Texas told a political gathering in New Hampshire earlier this year, typifying the level of pandering by the Republican field to the gun lobby.
In contrast, Hillary Rodham Clinton, the front-runner for the Democratic nomination, is taking up the gun control issue once more, 15 years after the defeat of Al Gore left her party leaders swearing off the subject as a losing cause. “We have to take on the gun lobby,” Mrs. Clinton told a New Hampshire crowd last month. “This is a controversial issue. I am well aware of that. But I think it is the height of irresponsibility not to talk about it.”
Tell that to the Republican candidates staunchly opposed to gun safety laws, like limits on ammunition used in the rapid-fire, battlefield-type weapons favored by mass shooters and a ban on unregistered weapon sales by dealers at gun shows. Mass shootings involving three or more murder victims have been on the rise in recent years, according to federal data, while gun production has more than doubled since 2008.
Republicans won’t admit it, but they really want the mass shootings to continue. They generate lots of fear, and keep NRA money flowing into the their campaign chests in return for their support of Ammosexual criminal gun rights.
From Alternet: As an unprecedented shift in public opinion brought about the legalization of gay marriage, a vigorous counter-current has been intensifying under the banner of “religious freedom”—an incredibly slippery term.
Perhaps the most radical definition of such freedom comes out of the relatively obscure tradition of Christian Reconstructionism, the subject of a new book by religious studies scholar Julie Ingersoll, Building God’s Kingdom: Inside the World of Christian Reconstructionism. As Ingersoll explains, Reconstructionists basically reject the entire framework of secular political thought in which individual rights have meaning, so “freedom” as most Americans understand the term is not the issue at all. Indeed, they argue that such “freedom” is actually slavery—slavery to sin, that is.
Reconstructionists aim to establish a theocracy, though most would no doubt bristle at that description. They do not want to “take over the government” so much as they want to dismantle it. But the end result would be a social order based on biblical law—including all those Old Testament goodies like stoning gay people to death, while at the same time justifying “biblical slavery.” These extreme views are accurate, Ingersoll explained, but at the same time quite misleading in suggesting that Reconstructionism is a fringe movement with little influence on the culture.
I agree with the author. The rabid Republican base goose steps almost entirely behind Reconstructionist Republican Supply-side pseudo-Christians (the exact opposite of authentic Christians).
Cartoon:
Cousin Pole Cat knows just how to spray them!
47 Responses to “Open Thread–8/3/2015”
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Love the cartoon. I know that the skunk is a Democrat.
I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one who can't get into JigZone today. I was afraid it was my computer, or my O/S, or my browser, or my ISP. I'll check from time to time.
YouTube – I guess these are supposed to be funny. But my stomach just won't take them today.
NY Times – Well, they come by it honestly. Their ancestors were mostly "Borderers," Scots/Irish who were so ornery some clans were actually kicked out (and of course came straight to America). The Great Performances from the Met (I think they are calling it now) yesterday was based on "The Lady of the Lake" by Sir Walter Scott, which was set during a Highlander rebellion in the 16th century. Having recently become aware that this is where the Tea Party attitudes come from (see http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/09/21/784599/-Yo-Pundits-Here-s-What-s-Up-With-the-Republicans – it's from 2009 but not out of date), I thought the fact that the lights the Highlanders were using in the field were groups of lanterns set on poles in the form of crosses made an interesting statement.
Alternet – Now these people – Christian Reconstructionists and Dominionists – I can't explain. Borderers were pretty secular, though they were deeply interested in material wealth; maybe they were seduced into this by the prosperity doctrines. Though I don't suppose it matters so much where it came from as how to get rid of it.
Cartoon – One of your cousins was quite mean to one of my tuxedo cats who was only trying to help. Apparently he (Pole) took offense at Raffles' remark about eating out of the trash. But Raffles just wanted to bring him home and adopt him. There really was no need to be violent about it.
The TPP will be passed, not matter what we the public think about it, and this proves it.
I can't get in either.
2 days in a row I haven't been able to get to the Jigzone site. I tried using IE and Chrome.
The website is down – at least according to this Website Server Checker:
http://downorisitjustme.com/
Click the link to the Puzzle –> copy the URL from the address bar at the top –> go back to the Website Checkter and paste it in the above Website Checker box –> Click "Just Me" (which does NOT highlight when you hover over it) –> Says it's down … at least at the tiime of this post
I tried on chrome, explorer and firefox and could not get in. So Houston, Jigzone has a problem!
At least I didn't get clobbered underfoot again.
I wish more Democrats would defend themselves vs Republicans the way this skunk will
Link gives me a blank, too–wish that was the ammo sales increases description.
Some people really want to ensure no one ever disagrees with them and thus are prepared to ignore Christ's call for unity despite diversity which Paul expanded upon so people would understand these differences are desirable and the foundation for a strong church.
There's some good news and some bad news and a question:
The bad news is that there's an evil public school teacher – Michelle Meyer – in Fort Wayne, IN who, upon learning that a little SEVEN YEAR-OLD boy in her class did not go to church or believe in God was then punished by Meyer by ostracizing him from his classmates, forcing him to eat lunch all by himself and not allowed to talk to his classmates.
The good news is Meyer is getting her Talibangelical christianist A$$ sued!
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2015/08/03/lawsuit-alleges-7-year-old-quizzed-on-religion-ordered-to-sit-alone-at-lunch-for-telling-classmates-he-didnt-believe-in-god/
My question, if you read the Complaint …
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2015/08/ABvM.pdf
Is why is she the ONLY party being sued? Why didn't the school district get sued?
If anyone has more info (or if I find out) – let us know.
It's from a well-respected legal blog site that I frequent. It's Libertarian and right-wing and can be very legally arcane (which I skip), but it's interesting to see what the "Dark Side" is thinking
This is a horrible way to treat a child! The school district and all supervisory personnel at that school should also be sued.
The complaint states she is being sued in her individual capacity. Would it be appropriate to sue the district in the same complaint? IANAL, but I would think the district and/or any supervisors would need to be sued in their official capacities, and it would not surprise me if a separate compliaint(s) would be required. Which may or may not happen. There are very few flies on the ACLU.
Typically ALL parties involved are named in one lawsuit at the outset. It has the advantage of enticing a "Finger Pointing" phenomenon (It wasn't US, it was THEM that did wrong).
But you're right – the ACLU is awfully good at dotting their i's and crossing their t's.
So I Googled a bit more and came across this:
http://www.journalgazette.net/news/local/courts/Religion-focus-ofsuit-vs–teacher-7378928
Going through SOME of the 1,300+ Comments at Volokh, a lawyer speculated that since the School District [1] Had no direct actions in the incident; [2] Not only did NOT defend her actions, but [3] Immediately released this statement (which was included at Volokh) they were not named:
The School District did good! And I hope they fire her after the legal wrangling is done. (Doubtful they'd do it before.)
Yes, that covers it. I do hope she gets nailed.
Other Good news: Senate blocks Planned Parenthood defunding measure
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/04/us-usa-plannedparenthood-idUSKCN0Q80DL20150804?virtualBrandChannel=11563
More good news:
Big news out of federal court in Idaho today: Ag-gag law unconstitutional
http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/boise/2015/aug/03/big-news-out-federal-court-idaho-today/
That is a TRIPLE WOW!
Great News on BOTH posts – PLUS the Ruling against the Ag-Gag (and the gay couple bonus mentioned at your Link) came out of Idaho … IDAHO!!!
Yup–I did a double-take on that myself. I think at least one other of the 8 states with Ag-gag are in the same court district, so it may affect a second state, too.
And on the 3rd one–I kinda like the extra evidence the neo-cons wasted even more taxpayer dollars trying to fight the constitution…
No–it was only at the District level…if they appeal though:
"
The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (in case citations, 9th Cir.) is a U.S. Federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:
District of Alaska
District of Arizona
Central District of California
Eastern District of California
Northern District of California
Southern District of California
District of Hawaii
District of Idaho
District of Montana
District of Nevada
District of Oregon
Eastern District of Washington
Western District of Washington
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Court_of_Appeals_for_the_Ninth_Circuit
History and what states have them (includes MT in 9th district):
Ag Gag laws emerged in the early 1990s in response to threats posed by underground activists with the Animal Liberation Front movement. In Kansas, Montana and North Dakota, state legislators made it a crime to take pictures or shoot video in an animal facility without the consent of the facility's owner.
In 2002, the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) drafted the "Animal and Ecological Terrorism Act", a model law for distribution to lobbyists and state lawmakers. The model law proposed to prohibit "entering an animal or research facility to take pictures by photograph, video camera, or other means with the intent to commit criminal activities or defame the facility or its owner". It also created a "terrorist registry" for those convicted under the law.[4] Since then, bills to ban photographing or videotaping farms without the farmers' consent have been proposed or passed in Iowa (passed), Florida (defeated), New York (died), and Minnesota (died) in 2011; in Indiana (died), Utah (passed), South Carolina (passed), Nebraska (died), Illinois (defeated), and Missouri (passed, modified) in 2012;[5][6] and in Arkansas (passed),[7] Pennsylvania, Illinois, Indiana,[8] Nebraska, New Hampshire (died),[9] New Mexico (died), Tennessee (passed, vetoed),[10][11] Wyoming,[12] California,[13] Vermont,[14] and North Carolina[15] in early 2013 (prompting Grist to ask if 2013 will be the "year of ag-gag bills"[16]). Three similar laws, more broad in scope rather than limited primarily to recording, were passed in Kansas, Montana and North Dakota in 1990 and 1991 (for more, see below).[17]
The whistleblower advocacy project Food Integrity Campaign (FIC), a campaign of the non-profit organization the Government Accountability Project calls undercover video of livestock facilities by whistleblowers essential:
Ag-gag laws have also drawn criticism on constitutional grounds by eminent legal scholars like Erwin Chemerinsky as a violation of the First Amendment for restricting unpopular forms of speech.[19]"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ag-gag
"
Sorry about the delay. I just saw these. Were there enough links for you?
Brain fade–it didn't dawn on me that it was all linked material until I'd posted it…blame it on the heat and fire smoke?
That'll work!!
Some of the best news so far this year. I only wish Edie's news was as good.
Thanks, Joanne
I agree!
You're probably right. I looked it up and Utah also has an active lawsuit going against the Ag-Gag. Probably in the same Circuit.
Not sure why none of the other states haven't sued. Maybe they will now.
My research on that who is in the circuit question is awaiting moderation…UT is in a different circuit–MT in the same circuit of those with such laws.
I am glad Planned Parenthood got a reprieve, but I know the Republicans won't stop. Despite the judges ruling on the videos, more keep showing up on Facebook and they are horrifying.
I'm covering that in today's lead article, so I'll wait to comment.
I am very glad that Planned Parenthood did not get defunded. PP do so much good for women, children and even men too. Abortion only constitutes 3% of its services.
I have a hard time understanding why the GOP/TP don't care about the health of women and children.
UPdate on my cousin, Phillip. We were able to visit him today, which worries me, because we are only cousins. He has still not come out of the coma, and he does have pneumonia. If he does wake up, he will be facing amputation of several of his fingers due to no blood going to them while his chest was open. It is unbelievable that a man who was having a bypass which is very common these days, is in such horrible condition. Please keep him in your prayers. We talked to him the whole time we were there and were encouraged to do so, his eyelids fluttered when we talked, so we hope he heard us.
TC, I hope your heat wave is ending. We have thunder, lightening, hail, and flood watches tonight.
YOutube. I could not watch all of this, it was sickening because I know there are people in this country and all over the world who would agree with these commercials.
NY Times: I agree with you, TC, they are reaping monetary benefits from the NRA every time gun lovers think they might have their guns taken away.
Alternet: Authentic Christians would never subscribe to the hatred that is emitted by these supply side Christians.
Cartoon: Good idea!
Preayers still coming your way (and I probably speak for everyone who prays, but I expect they will want to speak for themselves also).
Thanks, Joanne.
Also still lifting you all up in prayer
Thanks, jla/
Edie, I'm so sorry the nrews us so bad, and you know I will continue in prayer for him.
I hate to say this, but regardless of the outcome, yout fsmily needs to get an outside expert to ascertain how and why this happened. Not all medican professionals have the integrity to discuss their errors.
Thanks, TC. I agree with you, but his wife, who is also my very dear friend, is convinced that he has the best doctors in the world and know what they are doing. There is little I can do without hurting her.
She has to believe that to buoy her hope. Perhaps, when it's over, either way, she might be more receptive. You'll know what you can and can't say.
You Tube — I watched the video and have to say that I find it offensive. Perhaps it is satire, but too many people would not recognise it as satire. A very good friend in high school was called "jungle bunny" frequently and I saw the hurt in her eyes. Of course it would appeal to the Republicanus/Teabaggerum, the legionnaires of hate.
NY Times — I wonder how Ted Cruz would react if a mass murder happened at the school his daughters attend, and they were among the dead? Would that change his attitude as expressed in the article:
I dare say that much of the world sees Americans as being obsessed with guns, and not in a good way.
Alternet — To force all people in a large diverse country like the US to submit to narrow biblical laws is really slavery and not freedom in my opinion. The Reconstructionist pseudo Christians are imposing their faith on others, thereby making them slaves. They themselves are also slaves, although they would never see it that way, to narrow interpretations. I have heard some say "Go to a Muslim country and you aren't free to be a Christian." to which I say "That is there, it is not here." These Reconstructionists need to be sent packing!
Cartoon — Amen little brother, amen! Could you please start on Herr Harper!
Jig Zone Puzzle remains technically unavailable through several different browsers (Safari, Aurora, Roccat, TenFourFox).
YouTube: In the last part of this video, there was a popular and successful restaurant called Coon Chicken Inn from 1920s – 1950s in Salt Lake, Seattle and Portland. You entered the restaurant through a large, fat-lipped, smiling black porter with a top hat. A bit fanciful. lol. For the most part, just outright, offensive depictions of racism via satire was the main theme.
NY Times: Time to get rid of fear-mongering NRA. Over 90% of the US population want better gun safety and control laws. Maybe a Sarah Palinsane "target" on Ted Cruz might help get the point across to him. Most likely not.
Alternet: "Religious Freedom" is a misnomer if there ever was one. It really stands for outright discrimination against a number of people.
Cartoon: Republicans are no longer. They're "Kochers". lol.
I don't remember that chain Jim…but I do remember Sambo's getting the message it's theme was not going over well with people.
There was a Sambo's in nesrby Santa Rosa. They either sold out the chain or renamed it.
Thanks all.
I want to clarify my intent with thst video. Had I wanted you to be entertained by it, I would have used the humor tag, but I did not. I hoped you would feel disgust and outrage that Republican racists would enjoy it, and that it would be acceptable in as Republican Reich.
I would say that you were successful, then.
Good.