I won't say it has been a busy day, but I have not sat idle. I have this post and have finished the PP Monthly Report. The weather has been rather muggy today but no rain. Fortunately there were few fireworks around me yesterday so the furbabes were calm until this morning when a group of crows decided to dance along the peak of the garage roof. They were not happy that going out to play was not allowed. My brother and his wife will be arriving late Thursday for 2 days before boarding an Alaska bound cruise ship. As a result, I will be scarce Friday and Saturday.
Obituary — Elie Wiesel, age 87, activist and writer, Second World War death camp survivor who won a Nobel Peace Prize for becoming the lifelong voice of millions of Holocaust victims, philosopher, speaker, playwright and professor. Rest in Peace
Politico — Jackie Richter is the foul-mouthed, frank-talking owner of Heels and Hardhats, a small construction company near Rockford, Illinois. For almost half a century, she lived as a man—an existence the 58-year-old transgender woman told me felt fundamentally wrong, like always having to wear her right shoe on her left foot. But in the summer of 2010, a few years after she finished transitioning, she applied for a United States passport saying she was female. That September, she got it. This, she said recently, was the first time she felt the full support of the federal government. The document saved her business, saved her family, and—she believes—saved her life.
And for this, she credits Hillary Clinton.
"None of it would have been possible without what she did,” Richter said. “She was a forerunner on this.”
It’s not a label typically associated with the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee. Over her quarter-century of national public life, Clinton mostly has enjoyed broad support from LGBT voters, donors and activists, but many of them considered her a laggard on the litmus-test issue of marriage equality, which she didn’t endorse until 2013. And during her surprisingly drawn-out primary fight with Senator Bernie Sanders, Clinton consistently was cast as the more centrist candidate. Sanders, not Clinton, was the full-throated social revolutionary.
But five years before the Supreme Court ruled in favor of same-sex marriage and President Obama lit up the White House in the colors of the rainbow, Hillary Clinton and her staff at the State Department made a change that for thousands of people was exactly that—revolutionary.
I think that Clinton walks a line, or thinks she has to walk a line on some issues as illustrated in this quote.
Clinton, thought Julie Dorf, a senior adviser for the Council for Global Equality, was “quite comfortable” with the policy “personally.” But “politically,” Dorf told me, “she’s so much more calculating and cautious.”
She is a pragmatist, but as such, she might tend to keep some more progressive actions low key. Unfortunately, for others, that pragmatism can cloud things.
Alternet — Given all of his antics on the campaign trail, Donald Trump might seem like he's in a class by himself when it comes to pettiness. This is a man, after all, who narcissistically patted himself on the back for predicting terrorism would happen again, even as the bodies of the Orlando victims were still being identified, who celebrated the sharp drop in value of the British pound because it helped his golf course, and who has hissy fits when reporters point out his foibles and lies. He has openly talked about all the people who will regret “mistreating” him once he becomes King…uh, President…of the United States. There is little doubt that, should the unthinkable happen, President Trump would go down in history as a serial abuser of political power, hammering the final nails into the coffin of the Party of Lincoln (or the ghost of what remains of it).
But petty politicians are certainly not a new phenomenon. They existed in the past, and carry on today. And abuses of power need not always mean history-shaping acts of evil. Sometimes they can just be…well…small and petty. Here are some acts of political entitlement, some just bratty, some actually evil, committed by politicians that The Donald would, and in at least one case, does, feel right at home with:
4. Humberto Benitez Trevino, Attorney General for Consumer Protection, Mexico
Humberto Benitez Trevino received a call from his daughter Andrea in 2013, and got an earful, as she complained how Maximo Bistrot, a trendy Mexico City eatery, was being mean to her. It was lunchtime, she wanted her favorite table, and they said it was not available. Daddy sprang into action. Trevino was the official in charge of Profeco, Mexico’s Consumer Protection Agency, and clearly his daughter, a consumer, needed protection. Soon several officials from his agency showed up at the bistro, and, in short order, they found several “violations,” such as incorrect reservation policies, and mislabeling of mescal. The restaurant was closed down. Sadly for Humberto, his daughter decided to brag about the incident on Twitter. Consumer outrage at such corrupt pettiness ensued, earning daughter Andrea the nickname “Lady Profeco”. Internet memes even began to pop up. The restaurant was reopened. Oh, and Humberto was fired.
Click through for the other five petty politicians. I had a good chuckle but was surprised that Canada's former PM Stephen Harper didn't make the list. After all, "Tony Turner, a physical scientist at Environment Canada and longtime singer-songwriter in Ottawa's folk music scene, wrote the controversial tune Harperman. Turner was sent home in mid-August, according to his union, over concerns that his song breached Environment Canada's value and ethics code." (CBC) There were some suggestions from Harper that this was inapropriate. Incase you need a laugh here is the video. It is very explicit about Harper's failures.
As to those politicians noted in the article, I liked the outcome of Mexico's Humberto Benitez Trevino — You're fired!
Youtube — We can always count on John Oliver for a fresh telling of current events with a goodly dose of humour.
For your listening pleasure on this long weekend if you live in the US or Canada. Otherwise, just enjoy!
My Universe —
Boris Johnson and Trump discussing Brexit
My turn for lying in the hammock for the weekend!
7 Responses to “Squatch’s Open Thread 02/07/2016”
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I'll be glad to send you some of our rain, Lynn The sun is shining right now(1:30 AM) and the temperatures are slowly coming up to something we could equate to summer, but only after we had another drenching this morning.
Enjoy your brother and his wife's visit, however brief.
Elie Wiesel was a wonderful writer and a great humanist. It's sad that towards the end of his life the Haarez felt compelled to write: "The tragedy of Elie Wiesel. Why does such a great man keep apologizing for a government that betrays his ideals?" in February, 2015. Haarez wrote a milder, though honest, obituary after Wiesel's death yesterday: Elie Wiesel, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and renowned Holocaust survivor, dies at 87
Politico: It seems a shame that Hillary Clinton keeps her progressive side (well) hidden for pragmatic reasons. I sure hope she doesn't hide them the same way should she become America's new president.
Alternet: I keep hoping America is not going to let Drumpf rise to the top of this list of bullying, petty politicians by electing – or by letting him be elected – in November. Because the action Mexico took to deal with Trevino's abuse of power (firing him) will not be an option after Drumpf has claimed his throne.
I liked the Harper-protest song video very much, Lynn, but I kept waiting for that breach of Environment Canada's value and ethics code for which it's employee and singer/songwriter Turner was sent home. I just couldn't hear it.
Thanks for John Oliver's Last Week Tonight. The lead poisoning issue he brought up will be dealt with by Drumpf shortly. Having stated that asbestos isn't a health hazard at all but just a hoax, prompted by the lead industry and the Republicans wanting to cut precautionary measures even further Drumpf will now do exactly the same for lead. Problem solved and some cash added to his campaign box.
My Universe: Just loved the hairdos of Boris Johnson and Drumpf.
Obit: Rest in Eternal Peace, Mr. Elie Wiesel. (I think) he was on PBS a while ago, did an excellent interview about his life, and survival in the camps. The Trilogy of "Night", (Nobel Peace Prize), "Dawn", "Day", is required reading for all 8th grade students here to read his compelling stories, and his survival in the camps.
AN: Like Drumpf, McConnell needs to retire. People will be talking about Christie after he's long gone, Jersey'ites' will remember. Scary people in positions of power too.
John's video was great! His segment about lead is informative. Sad.
My Universe: 1. Oh, how funny! 2. I should get one of these for my cat. She would love it!
We had fireworks last night in the park here. Hope that you have a relaxing day, Thanks, Lynn for post.
I think your furbabies might have been even less happy had they come face to face with a crow or two. They are quite capable of self defense, and don't buy "But I just want to play!"
Obit – I was introduced to Elie Wiesel's work in the seventies by a rabbi chaplain. He was indeed a voice – the voice – of the Holocaust. And a life well lived.
Politico – Thanks for this. We need all the accurate information we can get – and it isn't always easy to get it accurate.
AlterNet – And that's just in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. One could probably go back farther in history and fare worse. Although, when there was the "divine right of kings," it was mainly "business as usual." I remember the song and the repercussions. And Susanna Martinez had a drunk-dialing incident this year where she had a hissy-fit that someone made a noise complaint against her and her loud, drunken buddies.
Universe – The kitty wigs would be cruel if it were any cats besides Shiro and a buddy. But Shiro doesn't care what you put on his head. Pure Zen. I hope the hammock kitty doesn't get seasick!
Have a great time with your family!
Elie lived a magnificent life.
I agree with you. I consider Hillary a social liberal, and an economic centrist. I think she gets too aftrad she will offend undecided voters.
Love Harperman!! We need one for the Presumptive Rectum!!
I'll get back to Oliver.
The POOR Puddy Tats!!
Elie Wiesel's death is sad. It is also sad that the people, cultures and religions that "KNOW" that the Holocaust never happened, who would, by extension "KNOW" that General Eisenhower was in some way acting in concert with the Zionists, or whomever, when he ordered the filming of the concentration camps, will never "KNOW" the humanity of this man! General Eisenhower ordered the filming "Because some day some bastard is going to say this never happened!"
Politico: Good for Jackie, good for Hillary!
Alternet: Before G.W.Bush was elected president, King richard was my go to guy for "Presidential Poster Boy of Asshole!" Nixon's bigotry included Blacks "Hippies," and Jews, at least. Duke Ellington addresses Nixon's pettiness, in person, at a White House function, in referring to the then decesaed Billy Strayhorn, and complimenting him by saying that one of the special things about Strayhorn was that "He would do the right thing, in any situation, even if he would not personally benefit from it," all the while looking directly into Nixon's eyes. McConnell certainly belongs on the list, and Christie, my very own governor, greatly disliked within New Jersey, lives on the list. When he said "I am not a bully," some years ago, the image of Nixon proclaiming "I am not a crook!" immediately jumped to mind.
Tony Turner, and his group of Unitarians rock!!
I watched a bunch of the John Oliver video with glee!
Universe: the Orange heads are wonderful, and I wish you some great hammock swinging weather.
The Boris & Donald duo are SUPERB!
(I just hope no one reports the owners of those two pooties to the ASPCA – because it's a solid case of Animal Cruelty … but damn funny!)
Shironeko can handle it. You can put just about anything on his head and it doesn't interfere with his meditation in the slightest.
http://www.catsparella.com/2011/06/shironekos-spring-floral-moment.html