Open Thread–2/26/2012

 Open Thread, Personal
Feb 262012
 

Yesterday I spent most of the day resting, but I did clean out my email.  My nether regions still have not recovered.  I’m current with replies.  Tomorrow I shall dress in black, mourning the missing light from the Ellipsoid Orb.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 4:13 (average 5:38).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Care2: The 99% Declaration and its call for a "national general assembly" in Philadelphia in July is not affiliated with or endorsed by Occupy Wall Street, and the organizers’ plans blatantly contradict OWS’ stated principles.

Kudos to Kit at Care2 for an excellent find.  Although there are parts of the declaration, with which I agree, I feel that the writers’ manner in putting this forward, as part OWS, lacked integrity.  I have said often that the 99% declaration represents only the 25 or so people, who composed it, because it had never received any endorsement from OWS.  This is the first I have learned that OWS has disclaimed and discredited it.

From MoveOn: A Past Vice President Tried To Warn Us About This A Long, Long Time Ago

26HenryWallace

How little have Wallace’s fascists changed in their transformation into today’s Republican Party.

From The Cap Times: House Budget Committee chairman Paul Ryan is pressuring the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History because it has archived and displayed posters from last winter’s Wisconsin protests against Gov. Scott Walker’s assault on collective bargaining rights.

Ryan wants the posters removed, as do several other prominent Republicans.

The struggle for freedom by the heroic people of Fitzwalkerstan, formerly Wisconsin, has a rightful place in the history of Americans rising against oppression.  Ryan can put his attempt to rewrite history where the sun never shines.

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26Cartoon

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Anti-Libertarian Ron Paul

 Personal
Feb 252012
 

I have often wondered just how Ron Paul gets away with calling himself a Libertarian.  Many of his views conflict with the core libertarian principle that personal freedom is the highest priority.  But just as important, Ron Paul’s campaign has been little more than a front for Multiple Mitt Romney, aka Rmoney.

25PaulRmoneyRon Paul’s donors should consider asking for a refund and making donations to Mitt Romney. Paul now has an extreme truth-in-advertising problem. Money donated to Paul is not promoting the cause Paul allegedly supports. It is promoting the Romney campaign. Ron Paul should stop the holier-than-thou libertarian shtick and tell the truth to his supporters about why he is doing everything he can to make Romney the nominee. I am calling out Ron Paul. His campaign looks increasingly phony.

Fact: When Rick Perry was the greatest threat to Romney, Paul launched personal attacks against Perry, which only helped Romney. Fact: When Newt Gingrich was the great threat to Romney, Paul launched personal attacks against Gingrich, which only helped Romney. Fact: Now that Rick Santorum is the great threat to Romney, Paul launches personal attacks against Santorum, which only helps Romney. Fact: Romney is the one other candidate Paul has spoken highly of, including, shamefully, endorsing Romney’s vulture layoffs, which even Perry had the integrity to criticize.

I never thought I would say this, but Perry looks like a far more authentic conservative while Paul looks increasingly like a phony libertarian. No legitimate libertarian would act like a shill for the Romney campaign. Even Ayn Rand must be turning in her grave at the serial hypocrisy of Paul’s help for Romney!… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <The Hill>

I have thought that perhaps Paul is sucking up for a VP nomination, but only a fool would support Paul for any office.  Today it hit me.  I think that Paul is kissing Romney’s butt in the hopes of getting a VP nomination for his son Rand.

But this is not the only way Ron Paul is an anti-libertarian.  Lawrence O’Donnell had that story.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

It’s hardly libertarian to want government that is just invasive enough to shove between a woman’s legs.  Ron Paul is just another GOP Hypocrite.

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Open Thread–2/24/2012

 Open Thread, Personal
Feb 242012
 

Yesterday I spent most of the day trying to catch up.  Although I still have the runs, they are not as severe.  I am current with replies, although I answered most collectively, rather than individually.  Tomorrow I have errands to run.

Jig Zone Puzzles (4):

Tuesday’s took me 4:06 (average 4:27).  To do it, click here.  Wednesday’s took me 3:33 (average 4:25).  To do it, click here.  Yesterday’s took me 3:57 (average 5:29).  To do it, click here.  Today it took me 3:46 (average 4:58).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From MoveOn: How You Know The Republicans Are In Trouble, By Bill Maher

24maher

They must be in HUGE trouble!

From Information Week: The Obama administration Thursday announced its proposal for a Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights, and called on Congress to pass legislation that will allow the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general to enforce the framework.

The Internet-focused bill of rights would provide consumers with a say in how their personal information gets collected and used online, require businesses to be transparent about their related data usage practices, and also compel businesses to appropriately secure people’s personal data.

I would like more, but this is both good and needed.  Count on Republican obstruction.

From Raw Story: A Wisconsin state representative who supported the state’s voter ID law is now be accused of voter fraud himself.

A YouTube video titled “Proof Of Voter Fraud In The Wisconsin State Assembly” shows Republican state Rep. Joel Kleefisch getting out of his chair to electronically cast a vote for a member who was away from the Assembly floor.

Wisconsin state Assembly rule 76 clearly says that “[o]nly the members present in the assembly chamber may vote.”

The Republican lie about dead voters in SC is now thoroughly debunked.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

It’s all about setting up a GOP regime, where only the “right people” get to vote.

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Open Thread–2/20/2011

 Blog News, Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Feb 202012
 

Yesterday I rested as much as I could.  I’m current with replies.  I’m scheduled for a colonoscopy on Tuesday morning.  No worries.  It’s routine, because of my age.  Because of it, I’m likely to be gone for two days, so expect no more articles, until early Thursday morning.  This morning and early afternoon, I’ll sleep all I can.  This afternoon and tonight I’ll be taking the medications to purge me for the test.  I will not be able to sit on one place long enough to concentrate on anything, except for the place made of porcelain.  I’ll be up all night taking medicine.  During the test I’ll be under a twilight anesthetic, so I’m likely to he groggy afterwards, in addition to sleepy from being up all night.  By Wednesday I should be able to research again.  I am not looking forward to this at all.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 3:39 (average 4:23).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From CBS: Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum stood by comments he made Saturday opposing prenatal testing, saying it leads to selective abortions, and he said the president is "continuing" policies that encourage such abortions.

How much more invasive into privacy can these Republicans get?

From Minnesota Public Radio News: Mitt Romney returned to Salt Lake City on Saturday to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the 2002 Winter Games he helped lead, but the GOP presidential candidate has come under attack for urging the federal government to provide big bucks for Olympic expenses.

Republicans believe in limited government spending, but not on anything they want.

From Think Progress: During an appearance on Fox News Sunday this morning, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) couldn’t explain why the public rejects large parts of the Republican legislative agenda and instead blamed Democrats for opposing it.

 

Cantor is full of Santorum. This is why the public rejects their programs.  Republicans govern exclusively for the benefit of millionaires, billionaires and corporate criminals. They do NOT represent YOU!

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Romney Loses a Racist Hypocrite

 Politics
Feb 192012
 

Family Values Republicans have a way of proving that they believe their family values must be imposed by force on everyone else, but do not apply to their own behavior.  In the Totalitarian Corporate Plutocracy of Brewerstan, formerly Arizona, Romney had such a man as the co-chair of his campaign there.  Even before the scandal broke, Paul Babeu was problematic due to his extreme hatred of undocumented Latinos and his association with the White Supremacy movement.

19Babeau…Babeu comes with some serious baggage. Over the last two years, the federal government and local politicians have repeatedly chided Babeu for making sensationalist, unsubstantiated allegations about border violence. Babeu has called President Obama "the enemy" and said the president has come close to committing treason through his immigration policies. He has also come under criticism by for appearing on a white nationalist talk radio program that’s been a frequent platform for white supremacists.

Babeu is best known for his public advocacy on behalf of Arizona’s controversial 2010 immigration law, SB 1070. His tough talk on border crime has made him a high-profile figure on the right. He’s dubbed himself "Sheriff Paul"—a nod to fellow Arizonan "Sheriff Joe" Arpaio—and made frequent appearances on Fox News. In July 2010, in the midst of a media blitz to promote the bill, he appeared on a Memphis-based radio program called "The Political Cesspool." [Hate Group delinked] The show’s cohost, James Edwards, has been labeled a "white nationalist" by both the Anti-Defamation League and the Southern Poverty Law Center… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <Mother Jones>

You might consider a family values candidate a hypocrite, if he was also gay.  You might call a racist spokesman for the hatred of undocumented Latinos a hypocrite, if his gay boyfriend was an undocumented Latino.  And you light call a law-and-order sheriff a hypocrite, if he committed the felony of blackmail by threatening to deport his his gay, undocumented Latino boyfriend, if he did not cover up their relationship.  Ladies and gentlemen, we have a trifecta!

19Babeau2Embattled Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu, who is facing explosive allegations that he and his attorney tried to intimidate a former lover by threatening to have him deported, on Saturday quit his position as an Arizona co-chairman of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign.

“Sheriff Babeu has stepped down from his volunteer position with the campaign so he can focus on the allegations against him," Romney spokesman Ryan Williams told The Arizona Republic in a statement. "We support his decision."

Babeu, who also is running for the U.S. House in Arizona’s new 4th Congressional District, and his attorney, Chris DeRose, deny the accusations. But Babeu’s judgment also is coming under scrutiny for allegedly taking provocative photos of himself and sending them over the Internet. News of the accusations against Babeu first broke Friday in the Phoenix New Times, which also published the photos… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <Arizona Central>

To be clear, I could not care less that Babeu is gay.  I support full equality for the LGBT community.  I object to Babeu’s hypocrisy.

We should not be surprised that Babeu is a complete hypocrite for three reasons.  First, he is a Republican politician.  Second, he was chosen by Multiple Mitt.  Third, he is a favored associate of the Brewerstan Death Angel, Jan Brewer.

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Open Thread–2/19/2012

 Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Feb 192012
 

Yesterday was restful.  I both slept and researched more hours than normal.  I’m current with replies.  Today I will have to make a store run.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 3:18 (average 4:23).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From MoveOn: If Mitt Romney’s Dog Could Write A Song, It Might Go Like This

 

Romney is just as oblivious to the needs of people too!

From Care2: Apparently, the Supreme Court is now in the business of forcing states to break their own laws as long as it benefits corporations and the politicians they control. On Wednesday, SCOTUS blocked a Montana court ruling that upheld the state’s century-old limit on corporate campaign spending. So much for state’s rights…

The author does not understand the ruling, which only stays the Montana court ruling until that ruling can be appealed, opening the door for a full review of Citizens United.

From Common Dreams: A clear message has been given to the United States through the tripartite summit of Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan that Pakistan will support Iran in case of any possible aggression against it.

Moreover, Pakistan has clearly affirmed that the US will not be allowed to set up any airbases in Pakistan with the purpose of attacking Iran. The joint declaration says: "Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan will ensure respect of territorial sovereignty of each other and would not allow any threat emanating from their respective territories against each other".

What kind of insanity is it when our client, our so-called ally, and a state we oppose form a pact against this nation?  We need to pull the plug on funding Karzai, whose only qualification ever was his willingness to be a puppet for G.W. ChickenHawk and Big Oil, and get out troops out as soon as we can.  In addition we need to pull the plug on financing Pakistan.  With friends like that, who needs enemies.

From Washington Post: Ron Paul has gained 83 votes on Mitt Romney following a Republican presidential caucus in eastern Maine, where voting last week had been postponed due to bad weather. Romney still holds a 156-vote lead over Paul in statewide totals.

Thank goodness!  If Ron Paul had actually won one, the acolytes in his cult would be even more insufferable than they already are!

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Bill Moyers vs Theocons and More

 Politics, Religion
Feb 172012
 

In their campaign to keep women barefoot, pregnant and in the kitchen, Republicans are backing themselves into another no-win situation, as the nation lines up against their position.  However, instead of having the wisdom to back down, Republicans are doubling down, generating even more widespread opposition.

17Moyers

In this video essay, Bill Moyers addresses the question of how to honor religious liberty without it becoming the liberty to impose on others moral beliefs they don’t share. The recent debate over contraception coverage in Catholic hospitals and other faith-based institutions brought this question to the forefront, but then something surprising happened — a reasonable, practical, and equitable solution from President Obama…

Inserted from <Bill Moyers>

 

Moyers is right.  Religious liberty does not include the ability to impose on others moral beliefs they do not share, as Republicans are working to accomplish.

Darryl Issa (R-CA) made matters worse by forcefully excluding women from his sham hearing.

17HearingAs the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee began a hearing Thursday morning on the Obama administration’s rule mandating free contraceptive care for employees at religiously-affiliated institutions, New York Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney had a question for the panel: "Where are the women?" she asked.

"I look at this panel, and I don’t one single individual representing the tens of millions of women across the country who want and need insurance coverage for basic preventive health care services, including family planning," Maloney said. "Where are the women?"

The hearing, entitled "Lines crossed: Separation of church and state. Has the Obama administration trampled on freedom of religion and freedom of conscience?" aimed to address the White House’s ruling on contraception, and whether or not that rule infringes on religious liberty…

…In his opening remarks, Rep. Elijah Cummings, the panel’s top Democrat, argued committee chair Darrell Issa had "stacked" the panel with people who reflected only the Republican perspective, and accused the committee of perpetrating a "massive injustice" by failing to include women in the discussion.

Democrats on the committee charged that Issa "personally rejected" testimony from Sandra Fluke, a woman who had hoped to tell the story of her friend, who she says lost an ovary due to a lack of contraceptive coverage.

"Your staff told us you personally rejected Ms. Fluke’s testimony, saying that, quote, ‘the hearing is not about reproductive rights and contraception,’" Maloney said to Issa in her opening remarks during the hearing.

"Of course this hearing is about rights — contraception and birth control," she said. "It’s about the fact that women want to have access to basic health services family planning through their health insurance plan."… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <CBS>

Ed Schultz provides excellent coverage of this story and interviews both Sandra Fluke and Professor Caroline Heldman.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

I fully support the notion of freedom of religion, enshrined as it is in our Constitution, but when Republican Supply-side pseudo-Christians attempt to impose their religious dogma on you and me, they are interfering with our freedom of religion.

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