Politics Plus – Overcoming Republican insaniTEA, one day at a time.

Open Thread October 5 2026

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 6:12 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Oct 052026

Yesterday, I saw Virgil and we played cribbage. He was fighting a cold, but still, of course, glad to see me. I’ve been fighting lightheadedness for a week or two (only obe actual dizzy spell – and I was sitting down when it hit, so I just needed to hang on. I may or may not know what caused this, and am tring to backtrack on a change I made just before it started znd see whether that helps. Today is the first day of the Supreme Court’s annual season. The Brennan Center has a video up with various guests. Some interesting points were made.
It’s about 52 minutes long.

I seem to remember that in 1960 the air was full of terrified cries that a Catholic President would be an abomination because he (no one in 1960 ever considered “she”) would be loyal to the Pope, not to the Constitution. Weren’t most if not all of those cries from Republicans? Are there any Republicans left who have a grain of loyalty to the Constitution? Asking for a friend.

Sorry about the repetetive nature of some posts – but sometimes something needs to be looked at from more than one angle.

I’m not going to lie and say there were no suicides when the military had actual leadership. There are always going to be suicides in virtually every group. But large increases developing after a leadership change for the worse (far worse) tells its own story.

Open Thread October 4 2026

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

Oct 042026

Yesterday, the radio opera was Wagner’s “Das Rheingold” – the first opera of the Ring Cycle – although it was the last composed. The cycle was composed backwrds in relation to its internal timeline. Wagner originally intended Götterdämmerung to stand alone – but on reflection, decided it needed some backstory. And that happened twice more. So, now, there is definitely enough back story to follow the ring from start to finish. With the exception of the Rhine maidens and Erda, no one in it is depicted in a good light. Wotan in particular is exposed as the typical ruler who contracts for a building project and then doesn’t want to pay the price specified in the contract. It’s staged by the Chinese national opera, as every summer season has been ending with for several years now. Which is not to say all the performers are Chinese. Wotan was sung by a bass from Latvia. It worked just fine. Opera singers train meticulously to pronounce all languages – and composers write passions right into the music. Even if one is not just listening but watching a performance – given that the casy includes two dwarves and two giants – no cast is going to capture the visuals of this one. Or at least, not without CGI. Incidentally – be grateful for the Grannies. I almost posted a video with Luciano Pavarotti and Dolly Parton. It has to be AI – but whoever made it understood, I thibk, their true characters – and nailed both. OK, off to see Virgil now – will check in on return. Meanwhile, enjoy the good news.

Echo

Foxtrot

Golf I know Lona has seen this one – but maybe not everyone has.

Hotel

India

Cat

Open Thread October 3 2026

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 6:05 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Oct 032026

Yesterday, I got up early because I was afraid I was going to have to call a plumber. Instead, I managed to clear the clog myself. So, since today is an opera day, I also went to bed early. But I did watch a conversation between Harry Litman (of Talking Feds) and Timothy Snyder (author of On Tyranny and other books addressing how we got here and how we can get out.) Professor Snyder had some things to say which we are not accustomed to hearing, such as we not only need to win elections but we have to be joyful winners. I realize not everyone has 36 minutes to watch, but I do recommend at least pulling up the transcript and skimming it. Some things he considrs vital for Democratic victors if we are going to get our country back are things that many Democrats are not going to do unless we demand them.

A brief explication of how modern robber barons work.

For some reason, I sometimes get a security warning loading Lever News – but it goes away and lets me in with “refresh.” Lever News does good journalism, so the obstacle is unfortunate. Alternatively- you can just use the archive link.

Hegseth Respects an Establishment of Religion by Creating One – given the sourde, you know the title is sardonic. We have no evidence that Kegsbreath respects anything – anything at all.

Link to Video – it’s under 10 minutes – and well spent.

The cartoon today is courtesy of Andy Borowitz. Since Substack journalism is all independent, Andy also provides a link to support the cartoonist. I’m not pushing – just want to give credit where credit is due.

Open Thread October 2 2026

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

Oct 022026

Yesterday, and the day before, there was some drama happening in Tennessee. First, a federal appelate court stayed an execustion scheduled for the 30th. Then SCROTUS overrode the stay. Then there was a last desperate call for signatures to get the Governor to stay it (Yes, it must have been a state offense for which death was sentenced, but an 8th amendment lawsuit to bring it into federal court and to the Supremes.) Of course the governor didn’t, of course it was inistated, of course it went wrong. The accused, Christa Pike, survived two doses of lethal injection and was eventually taken to the hospital, and the last I heard was still alive That was Wednesday. Then yesterday, the Tennessee governor halted all executions in Tennessee. This is the second time he has halted all executions. He also called for a third-party review of the state’s lethal injection protocol (again). Of course, having as we do a moral compass, you know and I know that execution is wrong. But one would think that Republicans could at least see that (even if it works) it is also exponentially more expensive than life imprisonment. Yet here we are.

Morning Memo has multiple articles – and of course you are welcome to keep reading as long as you like – but the sections dealing with the curts and the ramificaions end where the topic turns to an ICE shooting.

48% approval is way, way too much, even in Alabama. But you gotta love the billboard.

Yes, I already addressed the Senate’s miserable failure to catch Jack Smith in a perjury trap. (I suppose that it’s incomprehensible to them that anyone would regularly and sonsistently tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. But that’s who he is.) But Harry Dunn says so much more, and says it so much better.

Archived from The Intercept – which I was able to reach and read, but it wasn’t at all obvious how to do it. Since I was far from the first to archive it, I figured I wasn’t the only one finding access dubious. And – sincw we know at least some AI agents are acting on their own, I thought it was important.

Open Thread October 1 2026

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

Oct 012026

Yesterday, I slept late enough that I didn’t get through all the news. But I venture to guess that the biggest news of the say was the hijacked plane. That is going to have repercussions – in more than one country. (But the second story was the Senator from Missouri trying to catch Jack Smith in a perjury trap which didn’t exist – because the Senator was conflating two very different basketball teams on the basis that both teams had “Hawk” in their names. Video of that is all over – and very amusing if you can stand it.

If you want to skip this because MAGA Christians and others like them have made you so sick of religion you can hardly even hear the word “Christian” without puking, please feel free. I get it. But if you can stand reading about a deeply damaged person who now leans on his faith to keep on track doing the right things (the kind of person in TomCat’s mind when he spoke of “authentic Christians”), this is an example.

Well. This is gonna leave a mark. Not that he will be able to see it – but that says lot about him and nothing about the action.

This investigation from Pro Publica has been around for awhile – I just hadn’t seen it. It’s not even a vaccination – it’s a fricking vitamin we’re talking about here. And it came yo my attention at a time when Trinette, in a couple of weeks, is going to a baby shower for a family member. I’m pretty sure her family is all too smart to decline this shot, but I’ll have to bring it up anyway.

Open Thread September 30 2026

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

Sep 302026

Yesterday,

Referred by Vote Vets and archived from the New York Times so I could read it myself (and now everyone can.) Yes, it’s big money. But it’s big money raised from ordinary people who have served or have connections to people who have served, who understand the Constitution and want to preserve it. And isn’t there a saying about fighting fire with fire? I’m worried about elected officials being beholden to billionaires. Elected officials being beholden to people who love the Constitution – not so much.

This is not a premise I am prepared to defend – it’s more of a gut feeling which sometimes (and this is one of those times) strikes me as a possibility. When an individual or a group has an outspoken enemy – or enemies – that are inarguably abhorrent – does that make a valid case that the person or group who is the target of thet enmity are clearly the good guys? For example – every antisemite – every Nazi, historical or modern – puts me in mind of Corrie ten Boom’s father, and his remark about the Nazis of the 1930s – “They have touched the apple of God’s eye.” He went on – I forget the exact wording – to say that they would have to pay for that big time. Every anti-semite – every Nazi – strikes me as evidence that the Jews always were and still are God’s chosen people. Only something supernatural can explain the existence and the intensity of hatred that is so irrational. And I have the same visceral reaction to racism and misogyny. Of course, that doesn’t make it fun to be on the receiving end of any of those. But I think it can bolster one’s courage to persevere. And this would also apply to the irrational hatred currently being directed to Democrats by MAGA. Keep persevering. We are the good guys.

I have no idea what JoJo said (or when – the “where” is probably on Substack, and though she has more than one, it certainly could be this one). But since I was just addressing courage and how to get it and keep it going – this just fit right in – and JoJo has a knack for nailing things.

Open Thread September 28 2026

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 6:01 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Sep 282026

Over the weekend, it came out that the grand jury in the Nolan Wells case returned a no bill. I get that, because law enforcement and the DA have no evu=idence (or are not releasing any that they have) to suggest anyone to charge with anything. As far as I can see, they had nothing with which to present a grand jury, and should not have convened one or presented anything to an existing one, because they have nothing. But the grand jury, or its spokesperson, added that they believe that Wells drowned. However, the autopsy found no water in his lungs – no water anywhere in his respiratory system – no water even in his stomach. But the grand jury believes he drowned? Really? Apparently Mississippi is still Mississippi is still the same Mississippi it has been since before the Civil War. Who here, wxactly, thinks whom is the dumbest?

Yes, I am fixated with AI. Because I am finding it literally impossible to wrap my head around machines which can decide on and do things completely independently of any command from any being which has consciousness. I would have expected cats to take over the world before machines. (I would also have preferred it.)

I seriously doubt that anyone here needs to see this – but when the stakes are as high as they are, I don’t want to take any chances.

Harry Dunn – one of the Capitol Police officsers (then) who defended the Capitol on Jnuary 6 – has been running for Congress – until he lost his primary. I would love to provide a link to the email he sent just after the primary was called – but there’s no link. But I will quote part of it because it’s just too much how all politics should be not to:
“Me and Adrian Boafo sat down last week. A lot of people found that surprising. He beat me in the Maryland 5th primary. We’re still friends. They shouldn’t be surprised… We stood at the same forums in southern Maryland for six months and said basically the same things. The tactics were different. The goals weren’t.” I hope Harry will not be too disheartened by this loss. I hope he willinstead run for aomething at municipal or county level – or school district level – which in addition to giving him experience will increase his electability at state or federal levels.

Open Thread September 27 2026

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 5:56 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Sep 272026

Yesterday, the radio opera was not an opera but a series of excerpts from operas. An opera house will often do this for a special anniversary – of the house or of the music director – or if a log-time music director is leaving or retiring. This one was in the last category – James Conlon is retiring after 20 years with LA opera, which is now the4th largest opera company in the US – and he did that. I am assuming it’s a retirement because he’s 76 (not that 76 is all that old for a conductor, but it’s just my guess.) Since to me the drama is the point of opera- a complete opera is always worth getting up for, even if it’s not one of my favorites. A concert, not so much – even if it’s staged scenes and not just isolated arias. So I slept through it. But I salute Conlon and what he has achieved in Los Angeles, andI wish LA Opera the best with his successor, whoever that may be.

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