Open Thread–2/15/2012

 Open Thread, Personal, Religion
Feb 152012
 

Yesterday I felt so tired when I returned home from the prison that I wrote this, set it to be published right after midnight, and went to bed.  The meeting was excellent.  Three new men joined our CoDA group there.  We did some insightful digging and made excellent progress.  I cannot say more without violating confidence, except that I could not be more proud of my guys.  I am not current with replies.  Today is a day for catch-up and recovery.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

It was not out yet.  I’ll put up two tomorrow.

Short Takes:

From MoveOn: What If Everyone Saw This Message From Robert Redford?

 

Keep saying NO to Big Oil!

From Business Week: The New Jersey Senate passed a bill that would allow gay and lesbian couples to marry, in the face of Republican Governor Chris Christie’s promise to veto it.

The Senate voted 24-16 in favor of the measure, sending it to the Assembly, which plans to consider it Feb. 16. Democrats, who control both houses of the Legislature, have made gay marriage a priority for 2012, two years after they failed to pass a similar bill supported by then-Governor Jon Corzine.

When Christie vetoes it, pass it again!

From Truth Dig: The prolonged Republican primary campaign appears to be taking a toll on independent voters’ faith in Mitt Romney. According to the latest Pew poll, only a minority of independents now describe Romney as “honest and trustworthy” and slightly more than half of independent voters now favor Barack Obama in a race against Romney, who led the president in that category only a month ago.

As is pointed out every four years or so, so-called independent voters typically decide presidential elections.

It’s still way too early to depend on polls, but this is positive news, especially since Obama does even better compared to the Frothmeister.

Cartoon:

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 Posted by TomCat at 12:01 am  15 Responses »  Tagged with: , , , , , , , , ,

Open Thread–2/14/2012

 Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Feb 142012
 

Yesterday I spent most of the day doing prep work for today.  I’m current with replies.  Today is a volunteer day for me in prison.  I will return home late, having missed a sleep cycle, so there may be no new articles on Wednesday, and if there are, they may be late.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 4:13 (average 4:59).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From MoveOn: In Which States Can Ellen Get Fired For Being Gay?

14ellen-states

That’s obscene!  To correct this, we need to clean out Republicans at the state level.

From CBS: Seven members of a Midwest militia group accused of plotting to overthrow the government are in Federal Court in Detroit for the start of their trial, in which jurors will decide whether federal authorities prevented an attack by homegrown extremists or simply made too much of the boasts of weekend warriors who had pledged to "take our nation back."

Opening statements were set for Monday in the trial of the militia members, known as Hutaree, who are charged with conspiring to commit sedition, or rebellion, as well as weapon crimes.

I guess this is what Republicans mean when they call for Second Amendment solutions.

From Think Progress: In a bid to fast-track approval of the Canada-to-Texas Keystone XL tar sands pipeline, Senate Republicans plan to attach an amendment mandating the pipeline’s construction onto a must-pass highway funding bill. The amendment — developed by Sens. John Hoeven, Richard Lugar, and David Vitter — is but the latest congressional push to advance TransCanada’s $7 billion project, which was rejected by President Obama last month.

Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus has publicly raised objection to the measure, arguing that it will ultimately “kill the bill.”

If you have not called both of your Senators to demand this be rejected, please do.  Republicans are holding hundreds of highway jobs hostage to blackmail America.

Cartoon:

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 Posted by TomCat at 12:00 am  13 Responses »  Tagged with: , , , , , , ,

Open Thread–2/13/2012

 Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Feb 132012
 

Yesterday I mourned the absence of light from the Ellipsoid Orb.  The timing of my day was fouled up, because one of the sites, where I post my articles, was down for maintenance, and I had to do it after I woke up.  I ran behind for the rest of the day.  I’m current with replies.  Today I organize for Tuesday’s volunteer day in prison.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

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

Short Takes:

From NY Times: Where Americans Most Depend on Government Benefits

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The darker the map color, the greater the portion of people’s personal income comes from government benefits. Note that the darkest colors are almost exclusively Republican dominated areas. The original map is interactive, so click through for much more.

From CNN: GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney won the close-watched Conservative Political Action Conference presidential straw poll on Saturday.

Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts, took 38% of the vote in the poll. Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum received 31%, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich was at 15% and Texas Rep. Ron Paul stood at 12%.

They wouldn’t let Rabid Ron buy it this year.

From Daily Kos: It’s that the Republicans have staked out a position that requires that they lie, 24/7, 365. Not shade the facts their way. Not put their own spin on the situation. Lie. Big, sloppy, and constantly.

This is one of those articles were you have to read the whole thing to understand it.  Click through for an excellent read.

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 Posted by TomCat at 12:00 am  17 Responses »  Tagged with: , , , ,

Open Thread–1/31/2012

 Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Jan 312012
 

Yesterday, I wrote a letter to the Parole Board on behalf of one of the prisoners I serve.  I also worked on the website of the non-profit group behind my prison activities.  I made a big kettle of rice and beans.  It is responsible for the green cloud that proves I support green energy.  I’m current with replies.  Today I plan to get a haircut.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 3:43 (average 4:32).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From realrepubs.com: Who wants to build a risky, dirty 1,700 mile oil pipeline across America’s heartland? Big Oil and their lobbyists, that’s who. Guess who else? Their political puppets.

The Republican presidential candidates have a lot to say about how much they love the proposed Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. But there’s a few crucial facts that just don’t seem to come out of their mouths. They don’t say that the pipeline is hauling highly toxic crude over some of our nation’s most critical water sources. They fail to mention how the first Keystone pipeline caused fourteen oil spills since 2010. And they NEVER say how much money Big Oil companies have given their campaigns.

 

Hat-Tip: CaityJ (aka Caitlin)

There can be no doubt that one party, with exceptions, opposes Keystone XL, and one demands it.

From The Onion: WAR FOR THE WHITE HOUSE!!! Diebold accidently leaks 2012 election results

 

The reality behind this issue is what makes the clip effective satire.

From PRWatch: South Carolina is again considering a bill from the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) to limit access to the ballot box. A nearly identical version of an ALEC voting bill is moving through the state Senate and comes on the heels of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) blocking South Carolina’s ALEC-inspired voter ID law as discriminatory against people of color.

It appears that there is nothing Republicans won’t do to steal the votes of students, workers, the elderly, the disabled, and especially minorities.

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 Posted by TomCat at 12:09 am  13 Responses »  Tagged with: , , , , , , , , ,

Open Thread–1/28/2012

 Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Jan 282012
 

My trip to prison on Thursday was a meeting of over 100 men.  I was pleased to learn that two of the men, that I have known for over twenty years, are coming up for parole.  I have absolute confidence that both have learned the skills they will need to stay free, as law abiding citizens, and the motivation to use them, if the parole board releases them.  I feel intense pride in and hope for them.  Yesterday I slept for most of the day.  I’m current with replies.  Today is a day of recovery and catching up.

Jig Zone Puzzles:

Yesterday it took me 4:32 (average 5:46).  To do it, click here.  Today it took me 4:49 (average 5:38).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From News OK: A state lawmaker [Oklahoma] said Tuesday he wants a serious discussion on his bill that would make it illegal in the state to manufacture or knowingly sell food or any other product intended for human consumption that contains aborted human fetuses.

This is nothing but a highly disingenuous Republican attempt to frighten voters with a totally manufactured issue.  It has absolutely no basis in reality.

From Raw Story: Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul wants to abolish all income taxes — but he says he’ll have to completely destroy the “welfare system” to do it.

During CNN’s Republican debate in Florida on Thursday, moderator Wolf Blitzer asked Paul if he agreed with the tax policies that former President Ronald Reagan put in place.

“He taxed too much,” Paul replied. “My goal is to get rid of the 16th Amendment and the only way you can do that is not run a welfare system and a warfare system.”

Ronnie the Racist includes Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid in the welfare system. in addition to food stamps and other programs to aid the needy.  He would replace income tax with a sales tax that would decrease taxes on the rich and increase them on everyone else.

From LA Times: But the secretary of state said Thursday that after decades of "being on the high wire of American politics," it’s about time for some R & R.

"It would be probably a good idea to just find out how tired I am," she joked. Then she teased: "Everyone always says that when they leave these jobs."

Clinton, during an event with State Department employees, had been asked, "What could we do to persuade you to run for vice president?" Clinton said she has enjoyed her time as the nation’s top diplomat and would continue to serve only as long as it takes for a replacement to be selected and confirmed after the election.

This may be a good thing, but I’m concerned.  She would draw a lot of support if she becomes Obama’s running mate, but the cost would be high.  She and Bill have been adept at influencing Obama to the right.  I’m not optimistic about her replace, because Senate Republicans are likely to block any choice that is not a bad one.

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 Posted by TomCat at 12:01 am  10 Responses »  Tagged with: , , , , , , ,

Open Thread–1/27/2012

 Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Jan 272012
 

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

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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.

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 Posted by TomCat at 12:01 am  10 Responses »  Tagged with: , , , , , , ,

Open Thread–1/26/2012

 Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Jan 262012
 

Tuesday I went to the prison and met with a small group of the prisoners most dedicated to change.  Because the guys dig deeply into personal issues, I can say no more, except that I could not be any more proud of them.  When I returned home, having missed my afternoon sleep, I felt exhausted, ate and went to bed.  Yesterday I listened to the SOTU speech, caught up on comments, and prepared today’s articles.  I’m current with replies.  Today is another prison volunteer day, and I’ll be working with about one hundred prisoners.  I will get home late again and will be even more tired, so it is doubtful that I will have articles for tomorrow.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Yesterday it took me 4:03 (average 5:10).  To do it, click here.  Today it took me 3:27 (average 4:42).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: A new round of criminal charges is coming soon against at least a couple of Gov. Scott Walker’s former county staffers for doing extensive campaign activity while on the taxpayers’ dime, sources say.

The charges – which should be filed by District Attorney John Chisholm’s office in the next week or two – will be part of the long-running John Doe investigation of Walker’s aides and associates during his tenure as Milwaukee County executive.

Already, the probe has led to multiple felony charges against Walker’s onetime deputy chief of staff, Tim Russell, and former county veterans official Kevin Kavanaugh. They are accused of taking more than $60,000 in donations intended for Operation Freedom, an annual event at the county zoo for veterans and their families.

Goodie!!! :-D

From Business Week: New Jersey Governor Chris Christie said he would veto a bill to allow same-sex marriage, even as Democrats in the Senate said they have enough votes to pass it.

For Republican politicians hate trumps what America wants.

From The Hill: Senate Republicans slammed their Democratic colleagues on Tuesday for not passing a budget in exactly 1,000 days, accusing Democrats of shirking their duty in a period of soaring deficits.

How ironic!  These Republican liars are accusing Democrats for not passing bills that Republicans filibustered and blocked.

From SPLC: A Georgia administrative law judge has ordered President Obama to appear at a hearing on Thursday regarding a “birther” complaint challenging the president’s eligibility for office.

Deputy Chief Judge Michael Malihi issued his decision Friday, writing that the president’s legal team “failed to enlighten the court with any legal authority” to back up its argument that no U.S. president should be compelled to attend a court hearing. They also failed to prove that attending the hearing would be “unreasonable and oppressive” and that the president’s testimony would be “irrelevant, immaterial or cumulative,” he wrote.

Orly Taitz, who filed one of the complaints and has for years led the farcical battle to prove that the president is constitutionally unqualified for office, called Malihi’s decision a “major victory.”

Teabuggery most foul!

From MoveOn: About that liberal media.

26LiberalMedia

This was immediately after Obama took office with a Democratic majority in both Houses, so by rights, there should have been more Democrats on TV that weekend.

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 Posted by TomCat at 12:00 am  19 Responses »  Tagged with: , , , , , , , ,
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