Sep 292016
 

Getting my Lift permit renewed this morning took ten minutes.  Factoring-in waiting for rides, it took three and a half hours.  ARGH!!  I’m very tired, but as the effects of the Cymbalta are starting to wear off, I’m feeling a bit more human, and I know tomorrow’s appointment with Megan will limit me to a Personal Update.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:50 (average 4:44).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Daily Kos: PPP has put up a number of tweets this morning, which can be seen here

The descriptive story is here from which we learn

Colorado    4-way  Clinton 46, Trump 40, Johnson 6, Stein 2
                     2-way  Clinton 51, Trump 44

Florida        4-way  Clinton 45, Trump 43, Johnson 3, Stein 1
                      2-way   Clinton 48, Trump 45

North Carolina     4-way  Clinton 44, Trump 42, Johnson 7
                      2-way   Clinton 49, Trump 45

Pennsylvania       4-way Clinton 45, Trump 39, Johnson 6, Stein 2
                       2-way Clinton 49, Trump 44

Virginia                4-way  Clinton 46, Trump 40, Johnson 7, Stein 1
                       2-way  Clinton 49, Trump 43

Further, they polled who won the debate, in each case it was Clinton

CO  53-31
FL   52-35
NC  53-31
PA  51-32
VA  54-30

That’s great news for America, especially since it shows a shift in support away from the minor candidates, whose candidacies help Trump.

From NY Times: Congress averted a government shutdown Wednesday as the Senate and then the House approved a short-term spending bill, allowing lawmakers to avoid a crisis and return home to campaign.

The stopgap spending bill, which would fund the government through Dec. 9, had been ensnarled in a debate over financing for the lead-tainted water system in Flint, Mich.

But an agreement between congressional leaders late Tuesday — which would authorize aid for Flint as part of separate legislation for water infrastructure projects — appeared to ameliorate Democratic concerns, clearing the way for the Senate to pass the spending bill, 72 to 26. The House followed suit late Wednesday, approving the measure 342 to 85.

I’m glad a government shutdown was avoided, but I am skeptical of any measure that includes the Democratic benefits as part of future legislation, especially when Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Gary Peters (D-MI) oppose it. I am skeptical,because of the Republican track record for honoring agreements: virtually never.

From Think Progress: Donald Trump’s campaign manager appeared to unwittingly confirm an explosive Newsweek story on Thursday, telling ABC’s The View that a Trump company did indeed spend money in Cuba in 1998, in violation of a longstanding U.S. embargo that Trump has vociferously defended.

Newsweek’s Kurt Eichenwald reported on Thursday that Trump Hotels & Casino Resorts spent at least $68,000 in 1998 in Cuba, “at a time when the corporate expenditure of even a penny in the Caribbean country was prohibited without U.S. government approval.” The story notes that “with Trump’s knowledge, executives funneled the cash for the Cuba trip through an American consulting firm.” After the consultants traveled to Cuba and spent the funds, the consultants instructed Trump’s company on “how to make it appear legal by linking it after the fact to a charitable effort.”

As I have opposed the embargo of Cuba for many years, I would have supported doing business with that nation as an act of civil disobedience, as Michael Moore did, but Trump violating the law, at the same time that he campaigns to reinstate the embargo, is both hypocritical and criminal. It should disqualify his candidacy without further ado.

Cartoon:

0929Cartoon

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  14 Responses to “Open Thread – 9/29/2019”

  1. 3:50  Nuts!

  2. 5:40  When the mouse started fighting on the very first piece I (tried to) pick up, I figired (in the immortal words of Tom Lehrer), "Oh, well, what the hell."  You did well, Critter.

    DKos – Yes, this is good news.  Even though the margins are slimmer than I like to see.  One must consider the source, of course (by which I mean the states in question, not the polling.)  I take it Stein is not on the North Carolina ballot.

    Yes, one must be skeptical of any "agreements" for later legislation.  Especially if the later legislation is to benefit human beings, which the republicans always oppose.  However.

    TP – He's no doubt ganking on his supporters being to dumb to realize how despicable this was, even if it is spelled out for them.  Heck, HE may be to dumb to realize how despicable this was.

    Cartoon – A lobotomy would help most of them.

    Good luck tomorrow.  I'll be away all day myself.

  3. Puzzle — 3:25  This is one time when small nuts are better than big ones, and mine is smaller than yours Jerry!

    Daily Kos — I love it!  Past time to kick some Republican butt!!!

    NY Times — IMO, humble or not, all this does is make the Republicans look good before the election, and then right after it, they will screw with "we the people" in their usual fashion.  If Democrats don't take the House, Senate and White House on 08/11/16, be prepared for another Republican lead government shutdown.  Republicans have never kept their word!

    Think Progress — I was reading about this early this morning on the CBC and could only just shake my head.  "It should disqualify his candidacy without further ado." — AMEN!!!  The trouble is, Drumpf's arrogance and self absorption will keep him from doing what is right.  Actually, right (as in correct) and Drumpf in the same sentence is an oxymoron, a really BIG one!

    Cartoon — Oh yeah!!!

    Good luck tomorrow with Megan!

  4. DK: Nice to see!

    NYT: Promises, promises, promises!

    TP: This jackass needs his ass kicked into court, indict, indict, indict!

  5. DK: Very encouraging. Woo Hoo!!!!, Ms. Clinton!

    TP: Conway is as bad as he is. She knew he did, and she lied to cover it up. Kudos to Newsweek’s Kurt Eichenwald, for getting this story out.

    Cartoon: Yeah, that would be great, wouldn't it?

    What a tiring day for you, even though your permit processing only took 10 minutes. Hope all goes well with your meeting with Megan tomorrow. Take good care, try and get some rest, and Thanks, Tom.

  6. Why won't they let you mail in your request and a payment?  Surely they have enough proof that you need it by now!

    Short Takes:  These polls are encouraging, but I would feel better if her lead was larger.  I hope he is as gross at the next debate as this one, maybe more people will get off the fence.

    NY Times:   What Lynn said, I agree with her completely.  This is a placebo to get it out of the way of their campaign time, and they well reverse it as soon as they can, especially if Clinton wins.

    Think Progress:  Lawrence McDonnell and Stonekettle Station covered this very well.  Trump brags so much, with so little thought, he has to incriminate himself on other things as well.

    Cartoon:  This may be my favorite of all your cartoons! 

  7. Saw that Trump gave a speech on his "superior genes"?????  Shades of Hitler!  Of course that would explain why he thinks he is above the law, why his charity wasn't certified, why he can tear the Clinton's marital problems apart while thinking his own three marriages are perfect, etc. etc.  I wonder what it will take before it's enough already?

  8. Glad to hear that getting rid of the Cymbalta not only makes you feel more human (or feline?) but also gives you a bit more energy, TomCat. Let's hope Megan comes up with a new medication that leaves all that intact but significantly reduces your phantom pain and itching tomorrow.

    DK: Some light at the end of this election tunnel at last. However, the high percentage of voters Johnson still manages to draw to his libertarian self, is quite disturbing. I met a Canadian last week who had a personal encounter or two with Johnson and who told me that Johnson was such a kind and gentle man in conversation. It must be that charm, so diametrically opposite to Drumpf's loudmouthed rudeness, that makes people forget that many of Johnson ideas and opinions are just as abject as Drump's.

    NYT: Avoiding a new shutdown of Congress never made the news here, I'm afraid. Drumpf and the election is about as much as we can stomach from America. By the sound of it, the "dispute" was settled because the clock was ticking and the electoral campaigns were more important. If the past is anything to go by, it is indeed unlikely that the Republicans will honor the agreements unless their number is decimated after the election. So anyone who thinks Flint's water problem should finally be resolved knows what to do: vote blue.

    TP: Well this did make headlines on this side of the pond, at least in the UK it did, where the BBC news page ran an extensive article/analysis on it. This is considered a very serious accusation, but it also reflects the European dislike of the Republican candidate. I doubt it'll come to anything (yet again), but it'll make him even less popular, even in the party he's running for.

    Cartoon: Could you put a few more dogs in, please, TomCat? Full coverage needed.

  9. Thanks and pooped hugs!

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