Open Thread April 13, 2024

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 6:00 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Apr 132024

Yesterday, Robert Reich’s column was about the Manhattan criminal charges against Donald Trump**. He explains in detail exactly why it is wrong to call it a “hush money” case. I umderstand, and I’m sure he also does, the temptation to find a way to distinguish it from all his other legal woes, so that people know instantly which case one is talking about. But it also plays into his hands. “New York election interference case” or “Manhattan election interference case” are two ways we can call a spade a spade and still make it clear what case is being alluded to.

This is a “Colorado leads the Way” story. I’m sad that it took this long. But I’m bursting with pride that it’s being done now.

Not to suggest there is such a thing as a good Republican today – but, you know, the House could have done a lot worse than Mike Johnson.

Open Thread March 30, 2024

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 6:26 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Mar 302024

Yesterday, I heard from Pat B – you may have noticed she hasn’t posted much recently. I knew her 50th wedding anniversary is this year, so I checked my calendar, and, sure enough, it is April 6 – just a week from today. I sent her a note to check if that was why we hadn’t seen her , and she responded that that is exactly why (and from the tone of her note, she is over the moon about it.) So in case anyone is wondering, Pat is just fine and will be back once she is down to earth again.

Margaret Atwood has not finished with the French Revolution. This link is to Part VII, and she promises at least one more to come. She references an opera at the beginning, but her point is essentially that there is no such thing as a good state religion. Because (my wording) religion under compulsion is null and void. And she has the solid history to convince anyone not a cultist.

Privatization strikes again. My opinion is that the town needs to recall all four councilpeople who voted for this, but particularly the one who works for the company they are looking at. That’s a conflict of interest pure and simple.

Personal Update December 27, 2023

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 1:14 pm Politics

Dec 272023

I’m afraid I really am not feeling good today. I could use one of those ginger mints Ruby gave Shaye – I hear both ingredients are good for nausea. But I just got an emal I had to pass on – Alexander Vindman’s twin is running for Congress in Virginia, and pairing up with Adam Schiff for fundraising. I personally have not given anything to the California Senate race because I don’t want to diss Katie OR Adam OR Barbara – it’s not even that they are all the same, because they aren’t – they are all distinct and each would be a fantastic Senator in diferent ways. But I’ll quote from the email from Alexander including the link.

I’m writing to ask you to split a $10 contribution today between my brother Eugene Vindman’s campaign for Virginia’s 7th congressional district and Adam Schiff’s campaign for Senate.

Please let me explain why:

In 2019, in my role on the National Security Council, I witnessed a telephone call between then-President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, during which Trump pressured Zelensky to launch a political investigation of Joe Biden as a quid pro quo to continue receiving United States military aid. I was shocked.

I alerted my brother Eugene who served as the NSC’s ethics attorney. We immediately informed our superiors and I eventually testified before a closed session of the House Intelligence Committee, on which Rep. Adam Schiff served as chair.

He led a thorough, honest investigation and eventually secured the first bipartisan vote in a Senate impeachment trial to convict a U.S. president in the history of our country. Each in our own ways, we exposed Trump’s abuse of power to the American public.

It was the right thing to do, Joanne — but we all paid the price.

Then-President Trump retaliated swiftly and fired Eugene and me from the White House, ultimately ending our decades of military service.

And Trump, the Republican Party, and the right-wing media have spent every day since seeking to take down Adam Schiff, censuring him on a partisan vote and even trying to remove him from Congress — simply for championing the rule of law.

That’s why it’s up to us to have Eugene and Adam’s backs. Because they will always have our backs in the fight for our democracy and stand up for the integrity of our Constitution like they have for years.

Just look at January 6th and the ongoing attacks on fair elections. Look at Republican attempts to strip the fundamental right to vote. Look at Trump’s plans to purge the government if he wins again.

It’s more important than ever that we have staunch voices in defense of democracy in the House and Senate. Those voices are Eugene Vindman and Adam Schiff.

So please, split a contribution of $10 or whatever you can afford today between Eugene’s campaign for Virginia’s 7th district and Adam’s campaign for Senate. Every dollar makes a difference as we approach the end-of-year FEC fundraising deadline.

Here’s one to show the anti-immigration people (not that they’ll understand it) –

Video Thread 10/6/2023

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 11:59 am Open Thread, Politics

Oct 062023

Glenn Kirschner – More plea offers extended by DA Willis in Trump’s Georgia RICO case; let the dominos fall

The Lincoln Project – About That Impeachment Hearing

MSNBC – Biden discusses efforts to ‘ease the burden of student debt’

Liberal Redneck – McCarthy Ousted

Child Raised By 5 German Shepherds

Beau – Let’s talk about Texas, Montana, and 2 cases about rights….

Open Thread for June 23, 2021

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 7:00 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Jun 232021

Yesterday was pretty quiet. And that is a good thing. Maybe I’ll have time to share a little about my character doll progress (yeah, I know – 75 and still plays with dolls. But it’s never been about the dolls, but about the styles and getting tham as close as possible to right. Remember I’m also a former theatrical costumer.)

Cartoon

Short Takes

The Hill – House to take big step on eliminating Trump-era rules
Quote – Sending the measures to President Biden’s desk would deal a blow to former President Trump’s legacy and mark the first time Congress has repealed his administration’s policies through the CRA, which allows lawmakers and a new president to get rid of rules established under a previous president if they were completed shortly before the change in administration.
Click through for more, including information on tis little-known law.

Mother Jones – Ammon Bundy Announces Run for Idaho Governor
Quote – It’s not clear how all his pending criminal cases will affect his ability to campaign.
Click through for more details – including that he may not be the most extreme candidate in the race.

Reuters – With Trump probe looming, Democrats vie for Manhattan district attorney
Quote – The candidates have largely refrained from offering specific thoughts on the Trump investigation. But Bragg has often reminded voters on the campaign trail that he helped sue the Trump administration “more than a hundred times” as a deputy in the New York state attorney general’s office. In an interview with Reuters earlier this year, Weinstein said, “Nobody is above the law, no matter who you are or what office you went on to occupy. “Whoever prevails is likely to become a target for Trump, who has dismissed the probe as a “witch hunt” and attacked Vance personally.
Click thrugh for more, including a link to why this promary is not ranked choice. My hopes are for Bragg.

Food for Thought

Joe Manchin voted in favor of advancing the voting rights act yesterday. We have all been so hard on him for refusing to, it might be nice to thank him now. Thanking people is a motivator to continue good behavior as a rule – and maybe even to improve upon it.

Well, I think I can take a few minutes to speak about my collector dolls – mostly 11.5″ fashion dolls, which is the size of a Barbie – but certainly I don’t stick to just Barbies, especially if I can find something better. I have so far made a 1904 visiting outfit doll complete with feathered hat, parasol, boots, and Gibson girl hairdo, an 1896 traveling outfit doll with the same accessories, some of which are embroidered (I did those two straight from published patterns) and have also some several flappers, a generic Jame Austen character (with a poke bonnet – a way to salvage a doll with trrperably damaged hair), a Queen of Sheba and one of her handmaidens, and an 1876 Centennial ball gown doll with period hairdo (easier than the Gibson, but not as pretty.) I am also working on, from patterns, an 1840 wedding dress including knockers, petticoat, and shoes, as well as a non-period pillow doll. I most recently finished the one in this photo – do you recognize her? The hair might have cooperated better, but then humans somethinines have that problem too. I have almost collected all the materials I need to start on Michelle Obama’s First Inaugural gown – I just hope I live long ehough to finish it.

Open Thread – 2/5/2021

Posted by TomCat at 11:35 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Feb 052021

It’s a painful day here in the CatBox. Stowing the groceries yesterday was difficult. Tomorrow please expect no more than a Personal Update. WWWendy is coming in the morning. Have a great day, and TGIF!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 4:20 (average 6:51). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Short Takes:

From The New Yorker: Calling it “the best news I’ve had in months,” Donald J. Trump has excitedly accepted congressional Democrats’ offer to star in a new, nationally broadcast television show.

Trump boasted to reporters about his new TV opportunity, which was presented to him, on Thursday, by Representative Jamie Raskin.

“It’s going to be similar to ‘The Apprentice,’ because I’ll be sitting behind a table, but it will also be a little different,” Trump explained. “Instead of me asking a lot of questions, people will be asking me the questions. That should spice things up.”

The former President said that the “most amazing” aspect of his new show would be the number of networks broadcasting it.

Dang, Andy!! Hopefully the follow up will a show about the Orange Pervert** broadcast from prison cell. It will be called: Orange** is the New Red! RESIST the Republican Reich!!

From Daily Kos: On Tuesday, the body of Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, who was killed by pro-Trump insurrectionists during the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, was laid in honor in the Capitol Rotunda. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden arrived that evening to pay their respects. Americans were able to watch the ceremony on multiple news channels—but not on Fox News. On Fox News, Sicknick’s ceremony was barely mentioned.

Instead, Fox News’ ever-frothing opinion hosts did what they do best: stoke audience panic over all number of bizarre side issues, from a barrage of far-right conspiracy theories promoted by the fascist Laura Ingraham to Sean Hannity’s important report that somebody got ejected from a Lakers game “FOR HECKLING LEBRON.”

Fox’s attempt to mostly pretend Sicknick’s ceremony was not happening did not go without notice. In fact, it seems pretty much everybody noticed it, to the point that both blasting and mocking Fox for their silence became the evening’s hot Twitter pastime.

Most of the criticism noted that Fox News had long pretended that “Blue Lives Matter,” only to have it not matter at all when it came to an officer murdered by a Trump-devoted mob. The Washington Post even put some numbers to it with an analysis of how often the network even bothered to mention Sicknick compared to competing networks, even after the network ran “thousands” of segments about other police deaths during the previous four years.

Accusing Fox News of hypocrisy over the death of police officers, however, is giving them far too much credit. Fox News is not minimizing the death of Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick because they wish to downplay the violence of Trump supporters toward police. Fox News is minimizing Sicknick’s death because they are accessories to his death. [emphasis added]

Click through! This author (Hunter) could not be more spot on! RESIST the Republican Reich!!

From YouTube (MSNBC Channel): No Apology From Greene As House Removes Her From Committees

Thanks to the 11 Republican Representatives that voted for America and against the Nazi Republican Reich. But the sad fact that there were so few of them is ample evidence to show which side the Republican Party is on. RESIST the Republican Reich!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past): Dust in the Wind

For me, this seems particularly appropriate at the moment. Ah… the memories! RESIST the Republican Reich!!

Build the Future. It Belongs to YOU!!

Open Thread – 12/13/2020

Posted by TomCat at 11:19 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Dec 132020

It’s another busy day here in the CatBox, and my back is in a lot of pain. Tomorrow is a WWWendy day, but she won’t come until late afternoon, so I’ll be in the saddle. Last I heard my Broncos were winning 13-7.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:12 (average 5:26). To do it, click here. How did toy do?

Cartoon:

Short Takes:

From Alternet: Progressives are pushing for Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to use Section 3 of the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution to avoid seating any Republican House members who have publicly supported President Donald Trump’s attempt to steal the election from Democratic President-Elect Joe Biden.

That’s because Section 3 of the 14th Amendment literally says that anyone who has tried to rebel against the Constitution after having pledged to protect it can’t hold political office. This would include any GOP House members who signed onto an amicus brief supporting Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s bogus Supreme Court case seeking to toss hundreds of thousands of votes in four swing states, so that Trump can steal a democratically decided election.

The Section reads: “No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. ”

It would be fully justified, and Pelosi ought to do it, but she won’t. No tiene los cojones! RESIST!!

From NPR: Immigration activists are gearing up for a fight to push President-elect Joe Biden to do more to counter the measures taken by President Trump that made life more uncomfortable for the 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the county.

But they may find they get less than they hope for from the Biden administration, which finds itself having to balance the demands of activists with the inherent limits on executive powers.

Biden pledged during his campaign to use those powers to reverse many of President Trump’s most controversial actions. His plan includes a 100-day moratorium on deportations, restoring protections for young immigrants brought to the country illegally as children, and eliminating Trump’s restrictions on asylum seekers.

But some immigrant-rights groups like the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services, Movimiento Cosecha and United We Dream want more.

Personally, I think we should happily accept whatever help the Biden administration gives immigrants and refugees. Then we should fight for more. RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast of Christmas): Nat King Cole – O Little Town of Bethlehem

Ah… the memories! HUGS!!

37 Days Until the Big FLUSH!!

This Great Bill Will Not Become Law!

Posted by TomCat at 9:21 am Politics

Aug 242020

The US House of Representatives passed a relief bill for the USPS. All the Democrats and even a handful of Republicans voted for it. It could not be more needed. However, this great bill will never become law in time to protect the votes of people, like Trump*, who vote by mail from postal sabotage by the Republican Reich.

The House of Representatives voted to approve funding for the U.S. Postal Service as Democrats accuse the Trump administration of sabotaging the mail service ahead of Election Day.

On Saturday, the House approved 257-150 to send $25 billion in funding to the USPS, as well as block any operational changes that were in place on Jan. 1, 2020, according to CNN. The bill isn’t likely to be supported by the Republican-majority Senate.

In her remarks on the floor, Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the cost-cutting measures implemented by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy “degrade service, delay the mail and threaten to disenfranchise voters” as more Americans plan to utilize mail-in voting during the ongoing novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

“Our Postal Service are the beautiful thread that connects our country, delivering sympathy and love, news and knowledge, peace and goodwill,” Pelosi, 80, said. “And as a grandmother, I will say, we have seen our children and grandchildren write their letters to Santa. We’ve seen messages come from the Tooth Fairy. We’ve seen photos and drawings of families taking joy in each other that no amount of social media can convey.”

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell issued a statement [Bought Bitch Midnight Moscow Mitch delinked]after the vote, calling concerns over the White House’s connections to the seeming dismantling of the USPS “conspiracy theories.”… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <People>

House Passes Bill To Send $25 Billion To Postal Service, Reverse Operational Changes

Bought Bitch Midnight Moscow Mitch and criminal Fuhrer Trump* are two turds in the same bowl. Isn’t it time to flush?

RESIST!!

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