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!

Cartoon:

20Cartoon

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It pains me to announce the demise of the state of Arizona and its replacement by the Totalitarian Corporate Plutocracy of Brewerstan.  It is modeled after the Totalitarian Corporate Plutocracy of Fitzwalkerstan, formerly Wisconsin.  There are minor differences.  While the chief executive of Fitzwalkerstan is a Fartfuhrer, Scott Walker, Brewerstan is headed by a Death Angel, Jan Brewer, infamous for killing her subjects by defunding their scheduled transplant operations.  Here’s the Brewerstan flag and news from Brewerstan from John Nichols.

4Brewerstan

Two days after Ohio voters overwhelmingly rejected Governor John Kasich’s anti-labor agenda by a sixty-one to thirty-nine margin in a statewide referendum, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker jetted to Arizona to launch the next front in the national campaign to attack union rights.

After meeting with former Vice President Dan Quayle, Walker was whisked over to the Phoenician Resort in Scottsdale, where he briefed a thousand Arizona conservatives on how they could attack “the big-government union bosses.”

“We need to make big, fundamental, permanent structural changes. It’s why we did what we did in Wisconsin,” declared Walker [Koch/ALEC Group delinked], who at the annual dinner of the right-wing Goldwater Institute [Koch/ALEC Group delinked] said that compromising with unions was “bogus.”

Comparing governors who have been attacking the collective-bargaining rights of public employees with the founders of the American experiment—“just like that group that gathered in Philadelphia”—Walker told his listeners: “We need to have leaders not just in Wisconsin but here in Arizona…”

If anyone missed the point, Walker said [Koch/ALEC Group delinked]: “Tonight, you might say I’m preaching to the choir with a bunch of fellow conservatives.… I preach to the choir because I want the choir to sing. So tonight I’m asking you to sing. Tell the message in Arizona and all across America that we can do things better.”

The crowd was listening.

This week, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer—fresh from pointing her finger in the face of President Obama—and her allies in the Republican-controlled state legislature announced that they would try to outdo the anti-labor initiatives of Walker and Wisconsin’s Republican legislators.

And they did so in conjunction with the very people Walker has consulted with, spoken to and urged on in November: The Goldwater Institute [Koch/ALEC Group delinked]… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <The Nation>

Ed Schultz provided more detail and interviewed John Nichols.

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

John Nichols has the answer. To restore Arizona, recall the Brewerstan Death Angel, Jan Brewer!

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If everything works as planned, I will be asleep when this article appears, having just returned from prison after my volunteer work.  I’m writing it early in the morning of 1/26, before leaving and setting it to auto-publish so there is at least something for you at the regular time. Obviously I am not current on replies.  Friday is a rest and catch up day.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

It’s not up yet, and I shall post two on the Open Thread for the 28th.

Short Takes:

From MoveOn: The Big Secret About Mitt Romney’s Tax Plan In One Chart

27mitt-tax-graph

Talk about Rmoney!!

From Truth-Out: So what the story of Mr. Romney and the auto bailout actually shows is something we already knew from health care: He’s a smart guy who is also a moral coward. His original proposal for the auto industry, like his health-care reform law in Massachusetts, bore considerable resemblance to what Mr. Obama actually did. But when the deed took place, Mr. Romney — rather than having the courage to say that the president was actually doing something reasonable — joined the rest of his party in whining and denouncing the plan.

And now he wants to claim credit for the very policy he trashed when it hung in the balance.

That Romney lies so much that he’s a … Republican!

From Washington Post: In the end, they just didn’t have the votes.

For two legislative sessions, Indiana Democrats fought the divisive labor measure known as right-to-work. They offered amendments aimed at changing the bill. They sought to put the issue before voters in a referendum. And in their most high-profile gambit, House Democrats staged occasional boycotts to deny the Republican-dominated chamber enough members to conduct business.

But that all ended Wednesday when the minority party acceded to the mathematical reality of the Republican’s 60-40 majority in the chamber. Democrats showed up, and the Indiana House voted 54-44 to make Indiana the 23rd right-to-work state.

This is a sad day for Labor and for working people everywhere.

Cartoon:

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When Obama was running for President, he stated his intent to try to win the war in Afghanistan.  In his defense, I think that few knew just how much the total incompetence of the Republican Bush Regime had made the war unwinnable.  Nevertheless, Obama has failed to adapt to that situation.  Part of the problem is that he is working with other countries and has committed not to leave them hanging.  But conditions on the ground have gotten so bad that our allies are  tiring of this senseless conflict.

21sarkoPresident Nicolas Sarkozy of France suspended military operations as part of the American-led coalition in Afghanistan on Friday and said he was considering an early pullout of his nation’s forces after an Afghan soldier shot and killed four French soldiers on a base in eastern Afghanistan.

A Western official said Mr. Sarkozy’s threat could lay bare “real cracks in the coalition” at a time when the alliance is seeking a cohesive position to assure the Afghan government of its long-term commitment and to push the Taliban insurgents to negotiate a peace deal rather than continue fighting.

It was the second fatal attack in a month involving an Afghan soldier opening fire on French troops and came at a time when American forces are deeply concerned about increasing numbers of killings of American and other allied forces by the Afghan soldiers they fight alongside and train. It also comes as many European countries with troops here are facing unprecedented economic pressures at home and adds to public questioning of the value of continued involvement in Afghanistan.

If France, the fourth-largest troop-contributing country after the United States, Britain and Germany, were to reduce its numbers more than planned it could spur other countries to follow suit, leaving the Afghans feeling less secure, said Western and Afghan officials… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <NY Times>

When Crawford Caligula initially invaded, there were two announced goals: to capture or kill Osama bin Laden and to overthrow the Taliban.  Instead of following the primary goal, the Bush Regime installed one of their oil company buddies, Hamid Karzai, to turn Afghanistan into a puppet state and to facilitate another Republican pipeline scheme, but they lacked the competence to secure the route to build it.  If Karzai were not corrupt beyond measure, he would never have colluded with Republicans to screw his own people.  The people of Afghanistan perceive us as an invading enemy, because Bush shunned authentic freedom for their nation.

Now that the very troops we are training are turning on and killing the soldiers that are training them, it is time to recognize the futility of this war and work out a final withdrawal with our allies.  Since Obama eliminated Osama, the stated goals of our invasion have been met.  The Taliban is not in power.  Osama is dead.  Bring the troops home!

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Yesterday I slept late and didn’t get much done, except for my daily research.  I fell asleep watching the returns, so I’m running a little late.  I’m current with replies.  Tomorrow is a Higher Holy Day in the Church of the Ellipsoid Orb.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 4:20 (average 4:41).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From NY Times: President Obama will use his election-year State of the Union address on Tuesday to define an activist role for government in promoting a prosperous and equitable society, hoping to draw a stark contrast between the parties in a time of deep economic uncertainty.

In a video preview e-mailed to more than 10 million supporters on Saturday, as South Carolina Republicans went to the polls to help pick an alternative to him, Mr. Obama promised a populist “blueprint for an American economy that’s built to last,” with the government assisting individuals and businesses to ensure “an America where everybody gets a fair shot, everyone does their fair share and everybody plays by the same set of rules.”

It pains me that I’m going to miss this, but I’ll be in prison doing volunteer work at the time.

From Daily Kos: House Republicans, undaunted by the payroll tax holiday debacle that dinged their conference last month, said Friday that they were considering using the Keystone XL Pipeline as a chip in the next round of negotiations over the tax break, as part of their overall efforts to push back against White House policies this year.

This more Republican terrorism, holding the people hostage to benefit a few corporate criminals.

From PRWatch: Indiana Republicans, who hold solid majorities in the state House and Senate as well as the governor’s mansion, have once again taken up "Right-To-Work." Indiana tried passing anti-union legislation last year but the effort stalled amidst public outcry. Despite this, Right-to-Work legislation was one of the first pieces taken up by the GOP majority in the 2012 session.

Both houses fast tracked the bills — Senate Bill 269 and House Bill 1001 — hoping to push them through in the face of stiff opposition from both Indiana Democrats and labor activists. “Fast tracking” was necessary as Republicans want to put this legislation to rest before the Super Bowl here in Indianapolis next month. As game day approaches the fight over this right-to-work legislation may turn into a national discussion on the issue.

I hope Indiana Democrats stand firm on this and do whatever is necessary to stall it.  Since so many working class people are also football fans, controversy at the Super Bowl could be immensely helpful educating America that Republicans do NOT represent them.

Cartoon:

21Cartoon

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There can be no doubt that Republicans want to use their big intrusive government insert themselves between a woman and her doctor, when she is pregnant.  If that isn’t bad enough, they also want to insert themselves between husband and wife in bed, as shown by Republican opposition to birth control.  Fortunately for women, Barack Obama has stepped into the gap to support women.

21pillToday, in a huge victory for women’s health, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced that most employers will be required to cover contraception in their health plans, along with other preventive services, with no cost-sharing such as co-pays or deductibles. This means that after years of trying to get birth control covered to the same extent that health plans cover Viagra, our country will finally have nearly universal coverage of contraception.

Opponents of contraception had lobbied hard [fanatics delinked] for a broad exemption that would have allowed any religiously-affiliated employer to opt out of providing such coverage. Fortunately, the Obama administration rejected that push and decided to maintain the narrow religious exemption that it initially proposed. Only houses of worship and other religious nonprofits that primarily employ and serve people of the same faith will be exempt. Religiously-affiliated employers who do not qualify for the exemption and are not currently offering contraceptive coverage may apply for transitional relief for a one-year period to give them time to determine how to comply with the rule.

Twenty-eight states already require employers, including most religiously affiliated institutions, to cover contraception in their health plans. The only change is that now they must cover the full cost… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <Think Progress>

You can be certain that no Republican President would have done this, because Republicans do not support women’s rights.  Republicans do NOT represent you.

Thinking about the many criticisms of Obama coming from those, who would have us stay home or waste our votes on candidates who cannot win, thus helping the Republican, consider that in every case, a Republican would do the same things you are criticizing, if not worse.  In addition, the Republican would have made the wrong choice in the many decisions where Obama has done the right thing.  Therefore, the choice between Obama and a Republican is a no-brainer.  In January 2013, either Obama or a Republican will be President.  Wishful idealism will not change that fact.  There are no other possibilities.

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Ron Paul is making it a point to repeat that Americans need liberty, free from interference from the big Nanny State.  That may be reasonable, except for one thing.  Ron Paul is lying, because he has no qualms about having the Big Brother state take the liberty from and trampling the rights of individual Americans.

14paul-abortionWhen GOP presidential hopeful Ron Paul was asked today about Tuesday’s federal court ruling upholding an aggressive new sonogram law in his home state of Texas, the congressman said the requirement that women seeking an abortion first get a sonogram “should always have been a Texas state position.’’

“Like Roe v Wade should never have been heard in the Supreme Court,” he said after a midday speech and rally at the Columbia Metropolitan Airport at the Eagle Aviation Building .

Paul, who opposes abortion rights, has consistently railed against intrusive Big Brother government when it comes to other issues, especially health care reform. But it’s hard to imagine anything more literally invasive than a required sonogram.

In fact, Dr. Paul’s colleagues in the Texas Medical Association came out against the law last year, saying it “not only sets a dangerous precedent of legislation prescribing the details of the practice of medicine, but it also clearly mandates that physicians practice in a manner inconsistent with medical ethics.”… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <Washington Post>

It should come as no surprise to anyone that Ron Paul has lied about liberty.  After all, he is a Republican.  Furthermore, he is the same Republican bigot who wrote racist articles, defended their content three years after writing them, and recently said he never knew about them until ten years after writing them.  He is not fit to hold public office.

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