I’m trying to catch up on a bit of rest today, because tomorrow, I go for my appointment with Courtney, my Physical Terrorist. As a result, please expect no more than a Personal Update tomorrow.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 4:15 (average 6:40). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From YouTube: How Democrats Take Back the Senate
The Reich on the left, Robert Reich, is right about the absolute need to wrest control of the Senate from the Reich on the right, the Republican Reich. I’m particularly proud that he listed Jeff Merkley third in his list of progressive Senators, behind only Liz and Bernie.
From The New Yorker: After learning that Donald J. Trump was still stinging from having lost an Emmy for “The Celebrity Apprentice,” the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences offered to give the former reality-show host a belated Emmy if he will drop out of the 2016 race.
“We never imagined that if we had simply given you an Emmy back in the day our current national nightmare might have been avoided,” a Television Academy spokesman said in an online video.
Displaying an Emmy statuette, the spokesman said, “Here’s your Emmy, Mr. Trump, all gold and shiny, just the way you like things to be.”
Andy, what a wonderful idea!
From Think Progress: Chris Wallace, a veteran Fox News journalist, was already a controversial choice to host Wednesday night’s final presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. Wallace is noted for his close relationship with Roger Ailes, who is currently advising Trump on the debates, prompting media experts to raise ethical questions about his involvement.
Ultimately, Wallace did win praise for holding Trump accountable on several issues and keeping both candidates on task throughout the debate. Yet as much as he tried to play things equally, several of his questions showed a clear bias towards conservative ideals, policy positions, and talking points.
Here are a few.
Abortion
Wallace frames his question using the term “partial-birth.”
“I’m going to give you a chance respond but I want to ask you Secretary Clinton I want to explore how far you believe the right to abortion goes. You have been quoted as saying that the fetus has no constitutional rights. You also voted against a ban on late-term partial-birth abortions. Why?”
“Open borders”
This quote mentioned below, often cited in conservative media, has been taken out of context.
“Mr. Trump you want to build a wall. Secretary Clinton you have offered no specific plan or how you want to secure our southern border. … We’ve learned from the Wikileaks that you said this, and I want to quote ‘My dream is a hemispheric common market with open trade and open borders,’ so that is the question…Is that your dream, open borders?”
I shared two of five examples of Wallace’s clear Republican bias. Click through for the other three.
Cartoon:
8 Responses to “Open Thread – 10/20/2016”
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4:41 I'm sure I've said this before, but Jig Zone really has a thing for oaks and acorns, don't they?
When Nameless gets back, I hope he can give us some scoop on Amendment 6 in Missouri on the November ballot? What he thinks about it, how likely it is to pass? Anything we should do if we don't live there?
YouTube – Proud you have a right to be – but I must say it seemed obvious to me that Jeff's name should be right up there!
TNY – Bribery does work. I only hope it's not too late!!!!
TP – Wallace is another one whose goal was just not to trip over his shoelaces. No wonder he got some praise. BTW, is he any relation to George? It just now occurred to me.
Cartoon – If Democrats were to bring it back, some of those Republicans would be among the very first hauled in front of it. And now that corporations are people they should be hauled up too!
DailyKos had a good analysis demonstrating how Wallace was quite proficient in promoting/showcasing right-wing talking points. Here's just an outline – click link below for full analysis:
Conservative wedge issue dream sequence to open.
Attacking Hillary first, holding off on the Trump negatives until later.
Framing his economic question in conservative terms.
Advocating for cutting Social Security and Medicare.
Ignoring the debate ground rules.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/10/19/1584737/-Chris-Wallace-did-everything-he-could-to-help-Trump-and-still-couldn-t
YT: Good video by Mr. Reich!
NYer: I read this today, and found it hilarious!!! in that Hillary mentioned this at the debate. I'm sure that DT found the Emmys were 'rigged' too, of course. LOL, Andy.
TP: I actually had to give him (Wallace), credit for keeping DT on his cracked track a few times, which was good. Clinton spoke well in all areas, (experience and knowledgeable), whereas DT went off on his tirades. Clinton was adept with her discussion in the concerns of abortion, security, the Second Amendment and trade, and explained it very well. The part where she spoke of having Chinese steel being installed for one of Trump's casinos/towers was spot on. Trump's refusal to accept the election outcome stunned me. Now, today, he's saying that he'll accept the outcome if 'he wins'. He also rudely interrupted Clinton, calling her 'such a nasty woman'. At the beginning of the debate he said "'Nobody respects women as much as I do,' so there ya go. For just a few pointers there. *Thanks, Nameless, read that this morning. Good article.
Full day for me with the little ones, at school. I thought about the debate all day long, and thought to myself, I have never lived through an election with a candidate such as DT. I can't remember where I read it (crs), but it mentioned in the article, about not just DT, but also the ones who are voting for him. Now,…that's scary too!! And with Halloween coming up too! Hope your PT goes well and by fast, so that you can go home, and rest. Enjoy your evening, take care, and Thanks, Tom.
YT: Reich has such cogent ideas!
New Yorker: Oh, my, yes, here's your toy, now go home and shove….
Rest is good, TC!
Youtube: I totally agree with Reich as usual. Kentucky has a chance to elect a real progressive to the Senate, Jim Gray. He is running against Rand Paul I hope he wins. I feel fairly confident that Hillary will win, and a Democratic Senate will help her. For one thing,it will remove Mitch McConnell from a position of power and that will stop a lot of obstruction.
The New Yorker: How I wish that was fact, not satire.
Think Progress: Chris Wallace did a better job than I expected, but this article is right he did frame some questions from the conservative viewpoint, but really, is anyone surprised? I thought she handled his questions very well. He also cautioned Trump repeatedly for interrupting.
Cartoon: They would love it, but I agree with Joanne.
I hope your physical terrorist is not too hard on you tomorrow.
Puzzle — 4:03 Oak-e dokie! I went a little nuts with this one!
Youtube — Reich is spot on! Dems MUST take the Senate or the US will have more of the past 8 years' Republican obstruction, McCain and McTurtle have both announced in the past few days that the Senate will not look at any of Clinton's SCOTUS nominations, let alone confirm them, and there are likely to be 3 or 4 in the next 4 years. Can Republicans be tried for sedition for failure to do the country's business?
The New Yorker — Damn! What a fine idea Andy.
Think Progress — My first reaction was that I thought Wallace did better than I thought he would do. However, having now had a chance to revisit some of his questions and actually take the time to analyse them, something I did not do in order to capture the responses, I see that some of them were very much couched from the conservative perspective. Interesting that even with this advantage, Drumpf shot himself in the foot on too many occassions.
Cartoon — A Republican HUAC should look at Drumpf first for his outrageous anti democratic activities.
You see your physical terrorist tomorrow, just as I see my physical Torquemada tomorrow. I somehow think that my visit will be much easier than yours though. I am feeling a bit better as far as the intercostal issues so I likely will start exercises for that tomorrow, but we'll see.
Don't let Courtney work you too hard tomorrow, TomCat.
YouTube: Listen to the man who knows what America really needs to become great(er) again: progressives. Then vote.
TNY: Why didn't the ATAS think of this earlier. Andy's so right, they could have saved America and the world a lot of trouble by giving magpie Drumpf the shiny object he's still pining for. Make him one of fool's gold, Drumpf wouldn't know the difference.
TP: No amount of bias of Chris Wallace could prevent Drumpf from shooting himself in the foot and committing political suicide, so let it go. Wallace got his ears boxed when Drumpf complained that ALL media were dishonest and corrupt. Take that, Wallace.
Cartoon: Agree with Joanne and Lynn, Republicans would be mad to reinstate HUAC now, they'd and their Führer be the first to be investigated.
Thanks all! Hugs!!