Politics Plus

I’m writing early in what should (hopefully) be a one day heat spell.  It’s just after Noon, and the temperature as already 86° at my desk.  Not fun!  I wish these patches would stop sputtering out.  I’m running out of matches.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:36 (average 5:36).  To do it, click here.

Short Takes:

From Think Progress: Parts of Alberta, Canada were hit by extreme flooding the size of New York State on Friday, forcing 75,000 to evacuate their homes. Hit by heavy rain, people have abandoned their cars and low-lying residences in flooded waters Mayor Naheed Nenshi described as “an ocean at the moment.”

Across the world, cities in Germany have also been wrecked by flooding — one estimate puts the damage as high as $7.7 billion. Climate science explains that global warming leads to a 5 to 10 percent increase in rainfall, and subsequently leads to a higher risk of flooding.

As Climate Central notes in its reporting on the Calgary floods: “A study published in the journal Nature Climate Change on June 9 found that flood frequency as well as the number of people at risk of inundation from flood events are both likely to increase as the world continues to warm.”

Gee! Increasing temperatures that melt ice caps, putting more water into the world’s weather system actually increases flooding? Who would have imagined!! I know who wouldn’t have!  Scheeeesch!!

From Raw Story: A federal judge slashed 10 years off of his prison sentence of former Enron Corp Chief Executive Jeffrey Skilling on Friday, a decision that could set him free as early as 2017.

U.S. District Judge Simeon Lake reduced his term to 14 years from 24 years, accepting a deal struck between prosecutors and Skilling’s lawyers that will end years of appeals.

Under the deal, more than $40 million of Skilling’s fortune, which has been frozen since his conviction in 2006, will be distributed to victims of Enron’s collapse.

It would have been better to increase Skilling’s sentence each time he refused to return stolen funds to his victims, instead of allowing him to buy a shorter sentence with his ill gotten gains. That’s unequal justice favoring a 1% vulture capitalist.

From YouTube: Senator Jeff Merkley speaks at Netroots Nation 2013.

I promised to bring you Jeff’s keynote speech, when I could. Here it is. It’s worth the 25 minutes. Oregon leads the way!

Cartoon:

Note that even the Republican Jobs, Jobs, Jobs from coat hangers have been offshored.

Going into day 8, I’m having a major problem with my patches.  Can anyone tell me how to make the damn things stay lit? :-(  We’ve has comments from a right-wing celebrity and his militia.  You may want to revisit Free the ATF!.  Please remember the rule that here, we treat those with opposing views with respect.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:07 (average 4:25).  To do it click here.  How did you do?

Fantasy Football:

We still have room for  two more players in our lefty league.  For more info. click here.

Short Takes:

From KGO-TV: A gathering of liberal bloggers and activists is drawing some big name politicians to San Jose this weekend.

I’ll have Jeff’s video, when I can find it. Once again, Oregon leads the way!

From The Hill: Momentum has shifted in the battle over immigration reform, putting Senate Democrats in a position to pass a bipartisan bill with well over 60 votes.

Republican lawmakers predicted Thursday that as many as 15 Republicans could vote for comprehensive immigration reform legislation, putting the bill’s sponsors in striking distance of their 70-vote goal.

The bill’s sponsors scored a victory Thursday when they announced a deal with Republican Sens. Bob Corker (Tenn.) and John Hoeven (N.D.) to double the number of border patrol agents to 40,000. The compromise also mandates the construction of 700 miles of fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border and an increased deployment of surveillance technology.

Since border crossing has equalized in recent years (zero net change), doubling the border agents is a waste of money. After his failure yesterday, I doubt that Boehner will put anything forward in the House without support from a majority of Republicans.  Also, what about those politeness terrorists to the north? 😉

From Washington Post:

Former Vermont governor Howard Dean, who in 2004 lost his bid to become the Democratic presidential nominee, says he’ll consider another run for president in 2016.

Dean — an outspoken liberal — told CNN’s Peter Hamby that he will run if other candidates aren’t addressing the issues that are important to him.

“I am not driven by my own ambition,” Dean said. “What I am driven by is pushing the country in a direction that it desperately needs to be pushed, pushing other politicians who aren’t quite as frank as I am who need to be more candid with the American people about what needs to happen. I am not trying to hedge. It’s a hard job running. It’s really tough. I am doing a lot of things I really enjoy. But you should never say never in this business.”

How interesting! I’m more confident that Hillary could win the General, but Dean’s policies align more closely with my own. If he runs, I will probably support him early, knowing that he has little chance to get the nomination, and in spite of reservations about Hillary, would support her in general election over any Republican.

Cartoon:

I’m writing early, and feeling quite tired today, because a helicopter moved in low over my building at about 5:30 AM and stayed there for almost two hours.  By then I felt too angry to sleep, so I’ll write tomorrow’s (day 7) articles and return to bed.

I’m late because I overslept.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:35 (average 5:27).  To do it. click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From The New Yorker: Supporters of the United States’ twelve-year quagmire in Afghanistan cheered the news today that the U.S. would strive to achieve a seamless transfer of that quagmire to Syria, effective immediately.

Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, sought to reassure those who were concerned that the U.S. withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan signalled a wavering of the nation’s commitment to being mired in open-ended military muddles.

“I can tell you, right here and right now, that the U.S. is every bit as determined to engage in an ill-defined, ill-advised and seemingly interminable mission in Syria as we were in Afghanistan,” Gen. Dempsey said. “All that’s changing is the Zip Code.”

I’m sure Dempsey did not say that, but he should have!

From MSNBC: The New GOP Agenda

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

I never thought we’ see another serious challenge to Glen Beck for depth of InsaniTEA? Bring on the Cruz Control. Then a parade of wing-nuts piled-on.  Even the de facto head of the Republican Party, Rush Limbarf is jumping in. Obama must have super-socialist/Kenyan power to turn the conservative Republican in charge of that IRS division into an obedient zombie. Comparing these Republicans to schizophrenics is an insult to schizophrenics!

From Weird Facts: Weird Texas Law

• A recently passed anti-crime laws requires criminals to give their victims 24 hours notice, either orally or in writing, and explain to the nature of the crime about to be comitted [sic].

• One must acknowledge a supreme being before being able to hold public office.

• Up to a felony charge can be levied for promoting the use of, or owning more than six dildos.

…

Could this be why ladies from Texas can be so …um… boisterous? 😉

Cartoon: