I’m writing for tomorrow, and trying to get my body clock adjusted. I hope that you are all having a fantastic week.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 3:34 (average 4:28). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From The New Yorker: President Obama has imperiled his second term by lying to the American people, one of the nation’s foremost lying experts said Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
The accusation carried weight, observers said, coming as it did from a legendary figure in the high-stakes world of competitive lying.
He was harshly critical of Mr. Obama’s fibbing, calling it “amateurish at best,” contrasting the President’s lack of lying experience with his own half-century of dishonesty.
“The American people deserve a President who is a world-class liar,” he said. “Sadly, they do not have that President.” …
Little Lord Willard, aka Rmoney, certainly was the world champion at etching his sketch.
From NY Times: Few topics in American society have more myths and stereotypes surrounding them than poverty, misconceptions that distort both our politics and our domestic policy making.
They include the notion that poverty affects a relatively small number of Americans, that the poor are impoverished for years at a time, that most of those in poverty live in inner cities, that too much welfare assistance is provided and that poverty is ultimately a result of not working hard enough. Although pervasive, each assumption is flat-out wrong.
Contrary to popular belief, the percentage of the population that directly encounters poverty is exceedingly high. My research indicates that nearly 40 percent of Americans between the ages of 25 and 60 will experience at least one year below the official poverty line during that period ($23,492 for a family of four), and 54 percent will spend a year in poverty or near poverty (below 150 percent of the poverty line).
Most of us fall on hard times, at one time or another, and the Republican recession makes this more true now than at other times . Republicans like to couch the safety net as takers taking from makers, but that is just projection. They are describing their own welfare for the 0.1%, because we are the makers, and they are the takers. The safety net is us helping us, and we should.
From Truthdig: A new oil reservoir holding as many as 3.5 billion barrels was discovered directly beneath the 1948 armistice line that formally divides Israel from the occupied Palestinian territories. Israel has moved the border to get access to the well. Will Palestinians get a cut?
I think they will… right under the chin, unfortunately.
Cartoon:
12 Responses to “Open Thread–11/5/2013”
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Well…now, there is not anything I can add about liars that Mr. 47% has not already said and he should, being the expert he is!!! I don't htink Pres. Obama lied….but he didn't explain why some people couldn't keep their ins, policies. I realy think information on The ACA was not handled well. I think the White House did not take into account the lack of basic education those who listen to the GOP/Teabaggers have. …and the inbetweeners,just are afraid of change they don't understand. Once everything is up & running properly & info is pass by word of mouth things will get better. No The ACA isn't perfect…but…it's a 1st start to single payer.
3:14 That's the kind of hat I need.
3:10 That's the kind of hat I don't ever want! Fur belongs on animals, not people.
3:27 Who cares about the time. Women look better is fur, real or fake, than men anyway.
New Yorker ~ Hilarious. It was really funny watching Willard Sunday AM on Meet the Press. Even though he never said he was better at lying, Andy got this interview spot on. Mittens is a much better liar than President Obama. It takes years of practice.
NY Times ~ Here's the reasons for the high rate of poverty in our RICH country: "We currently expend among the fewest resources within the industrialized countries in terms of pulling families out of poverty and protecting them from falling into it. And the United States is one of the few developed nations that does not provide universal health care, affordable child care, or reasonably prices low-income housing. As a result, our poverty rate is approximately twice the European average." Mark R. Rank is spot on! Our politicians have no problem handing out welfare to the rich, only to the poor.
TruthDig ~ Oh no! Why did they even look for it there? Because they are Idiots!
Cartoon ~ He failed but the British failed to execute and mutilate him because he jumped off the scaffold from which he was to be hung and broke his own neck. that must have teed them off royally.
I know that serious political commentators in Europe are horrified at the ever widening gap between the haves and the have nots in Europe – and even more in America. It is utterly scandalous that the richest country in the world should behave so to its poor – it regularly kicks them when they are down.
The Reich Wing in America seem to have never heard the phrase "There, but for the grace of God, go I…." – they should ponder it.
6:22
Sad when the results of War Criminals hurt so many people, Veterans included…
Sadly I think you're right TC, under the chin…
WRT the Cartoon … for the record:
Puzzle — 3:10 That's the kind of hat I don't ever want! Fur belongs on animals, not people.
The New Yorker — Rmoney was the Liar in Chief, but he had a whole cabinet full of protégés, not least among them was Lyin' Ryan. Now Mr Obama is not perfect, far from it and I think he would be the first to say so, but neither is he a Rmoney protégé. Thank the lucky stars! I wonder if the share price of Etch-A-Sketch has dropped out of sight?
NY Times — Oh, I do so hope that the Washington Weenies, aka Republicanus/Teabaggers, would read this and take it to heart. But they won't. Their philosophy is profits before people.
"…Poverty is ultimately a result of failings at economic and political levels rather than individual shortcomings. …"
The way American capitalism is right now, it is a cancer that is eating away at the very fabric of American society.
Truthdig — I have absolutely no faith in the Israeli government to "play fair". To me, Israel seems to have their own version of Manifest Destiny, a destiny that specifically targets the Palestinians. I am not saying that the Palestinians are without guilt in promoting enmity. Both countries do that quite well. But there must be more concern for the Palestinians in order for there to be peace in the region.
Cartoon — Guy Fawkes, a catholic, failed to blow up the British House of Lords in 1605 as an attempt to assassinate King James I, a protestant monarch. This is part of the religious upheaval that plagued Britain at the time of the immigration of Europeans to the Americas. It is this upheaval that informed the American founding fathers as they drew their thoughts together on the Declaration of Independence an the US Constitution more than 150 years later.
I came across a little tidbit today. Notice in who's company US women stand shoulder to shoulder with. (from Huffington Post)
"Having a baby is hard work. And many women around the world aren't given the amount of time off they deserve post-delivery. But here in Canada, the true north strong and free, a lady can take up to a full year of paid maternity leave (17 weeks at 55 per cent of their salary and an additional 35 weeks after that). This contrasts vastly with The United States, Papua New Guinea, Swaziland, Liberia and Lesotho who provide no type of financial support for new mothers. "
4:30 I think that's a mannequin, not a live person, but it's psychologically right she should be ashamed to show her face if it's real fur.
New Yorker – right on again.
NY Times – Pat A – "The Reich Wing in America seem to have never heard the phrase 'There, but for the grace of God, go I….'" – of course not, they are too busy being religious to have any time for God, let alone God's grace. Jeesh! They can't do everything!
Cartoon – But at least he tried.
Amen to all, amd Kudos to Canada.