It’s a cold, busy day here at the CatBox. The snow is forecast to end in about three hours. Oh God it’s Monday!
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 3:38 (average 4:55). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From YouTube (CNN Channel): Elizabeth Warren’s new promise: No fundraisers, phone calls with wealthy donors
Kudos to Liz for following the trail Bernie blazed in 2015. The rest of the candidates should follow suit. RESIST!!
From NPR: Requiring only men to register for the draft is unconstitutional, a federal judge has ruled.
The Military Selective Service Act, or MSSA, states that males in the U.S. aged 18 through 25 must register in case the country needs a military draft. Women face no such requirement. On Friday, a federal judge in Texas ruled that a males-only draft violates the equal protection provisions in the U.S. Constitution.
While historical restrictions on women in the military may have justified past discrimination, they don’t anymore, wrote Senior Judge Gray Miller of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas. “If there ever was a time to discuss ‘the place of women in the Armed Services,’ that time has passed,” he wrote, citing an earlier Supreme Court decision.
I have always opposed the draft, because of the ease with which children of the rich and powerful can get deferments to evade service, for example, with dissolving bone spurs. I especially opposed the draft for women, because I did not realize my chivalry was a mask for residual sexism. Now I would support a draft, if and only if the progeny of the rich and powerful were first to be called and automatically designated for combat. There would ne far fewer wars. RESIST!!
From Alternet: President Donald Trump’s supporters in the right-wing media have often described Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia probe as a reckless “witch hunt” that lacks merit. Trump himself has used the phrase “witch hunt” countless times to describe the investigation. But Neal Katyal, former acting solicitor general in the Obama Administration, has a very different view. And when the attorney appeared on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday, he told host Chuck Todd, “If this is a witch hunt, Mueller has found a coven at this point.”
Bubble Bubble Toil and Trouble. Trump has made the bullshit double! RESIST!!
Cartoon:
Billionaires have been deprived of their rights under this amendment. Increase their rights to 90%!
10 Responses to “Open Thread – 2/25/2019”
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5:02 Fake ginger … but apparently the rhizome works much like real ginger.
I know TC doesn't care for Avaaz, which is fine, but this petition, if it works, could have a big effect in debunking misinformation. I thought it was at least worth sharing (and I haven't seen anyone else working on it.)
CNN – I saw this at Daily Kos as well as in my inbox, and I am delighted.
NPR – Granting that if there is a draft it needs to be fair is not the same thing as granting there should be a draft at all. I'm all for the fairness. Right now, the only thing I see that favors a draft is that the "all-volunteer military" attracts too many hawks with only one wing.
AlterNet – LOL! As I've been saying in several places today, 37 is the right number for THREE covens sharing a single leader. Or it could be two covens sharing a leader, plus a Russian-only coven whose leader is – Putin? Not that important a distinction. The important thing is to find them all. I don't foresee anyon getting pressed to death, since that requires courage and empathy. Hanging is mre appropriate for all. Incarceration for life may be even the most appropriate.
Cartoon – Only 90% marginal. Let's not fall into THAT trap!
Petition signed and shared,
Also signed, hre!
Elizabeth Warren is looking better every day. Maybe she will be the first female POTUS. I'm sure she'd be better than Madame Clinton. Sorry, Bernie, but you may lose a supporter – though I still like ya.
NPR: One drawback of equal rights for the genders/sexes.
Alternet: It may be a witch hunt, but tRump is a wicked witch.
Cartoon: Income tax would be a lot better if it were a lot fairer – i.e., a higher rate on the rich and a lot fewer write-offs that only the wealthy can take.
CNN: You go, Ms. Warren!!
NPR: I don't have any issues with it, particularly with your last sentence you wrote, Tom. I agree!!
AN: Reminds me of this…..Song of the Witches: “Double, double toil and trouble” * William Shakespeare,
(from Macbeth)
Cartoon: Word.
Hope that you stay nice and warm up there, it's a blustery 62 here….enjoy your evening, take good care, and Thanks, Tom.
*This just in: "Trump said that 'America's Favorite President' will be at his 4th of July celebration in Washington, D.C. on July 4th. Since when did he start making announcements regarding Obama's schedule?" ~ Brian K. ~
CNN: Senator Warren becomes more impressive by the day.
NPR: I'm with you TomCat.
AN: Mueller has found a coven of wicked witches.
Stay warm TomCat and have a good night.
CNN: Excellent!
NPR: Either get rid of the draft, or include all, but, then, do not tolerate sexual predation within the military!
Alternet: "Walls will not help, when the coven is within."
'Toon: A progressive tax, without the damnable loopholes would be nice!
CNN: Like what Elizabeth is saying. I too hope others go that direction. Sick of money playing a factor.
NPR: I was always against the draft I too agree with your comment, TC.
Alternet: tRump can call what Mueller is doing, a witch hunt, but have to admit that he sure has found the wicked witches and still more to come.
Cartoon: Agree with Freya that the taxes would be a whole lot better if they were a lot fairer.
4:01 Hotel rooms not suitable for these puzzles.
CNN: Good on Liz for prioritizing her time and refusing to campaign in the pocket of wealthy donors.
NPR: Another Republican judge turning the world upside-down, instead of putting an end to this MSSA and its draft provision, he now wants to extend it to women. This idiotic ruling was passed on the latest case was brought by the National Coalition For Men, an advocacy group dedicated to raising awareness of discrimination against men. Of course they had to go to Texas to find a misogynist judge who would take the case on and rule in this way, and damn the consequences.
Alternet: Guess all the coven's spells of diversion didn't work on Mueller et al.
February used to be the coldest month in The Netherlands, but apparently it has been warm and sunny for a week now and today the temperature rose to 20°C (68°F); people were sitting outside on the terraces which had already opened, drinking cold beverages. Weird.
Thanks, Hugs and BRRRRR to all! ☃