I’m not sure what happened this morning. One possibility is that lightning struck the Bonneville Dam, a major source of hydro-power on the Columbia River, upstream of Portland, causing a massive flood at all points downriver. However, the volume was insufficient and did not stink. Therefore, I have to attribute it to the other possibility. I finally Republicated. I’m still exhausted, but I’m feeling much better. The week will still be a little crazy as I’m going to the hospital on Thursday for a CAT Scan to see dust how much worse my tumors are. OGIM! Have a great day!
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 3:44 (average 5:27). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Cartoon:
Short Takes:
From Crooks and Liars: …How do we keep this sense of Democratic unity in the all-important mission of getting important things done for regular people going?
Here are my guide posts:
1. Understand that Democrats hang together or we hang separately. That old line of Ben Franklin’s at the time the Declaration of Independence was signed was not meant as a joke or clever word play: it was quite literally true and deadly serious. Unfortunately, this moment in history finds us in a similar moment, as that gallows the insurrectionists were building at the Capitol are a deadly sign that the threat is real. We Democrats need to deliver real things for real people over the next two years, or we are going to lose control of the government to a political party which just overwhelmingly rejected the idea that a president who encouraged a coup should not be punished for it.
We need to work together to get anything done, and we need to get substantial things done in order to win in 2022. With the margins we have now, there is literally no choice in the matter. We all know that opportunities for compromise with the Republicans will be few and far between, but compromise between Democrats is mandatory if we want to get anything done. So for my progressive comrades, we need to get everything we can on every bill we can, and then compromise and move on to the next chance. If we can convince the last few swing votes on at least reforming the filibuster, that should work out reasonably well for us, and even if not, there should be a lot we can get into the second reconciliation bill as well as more executive action.
…Conclusion
Passing legislation with the narrow margins in the House and Senate is going to be an intense challenge, requiring Democrats to stay together and requiring everyone to compromise and work things out in good faith. Biden has started off in much stronger political shape than the last two Democratic presidents, and we are on the verge of passing the biggest and boldest recovery package in the history of the republic. We need to methodically get that done, and then build on the success with another reconciliation bill where we can do bigger long-term things.
I’ve included the first of four guide posts and part of the conclusion. I fully agree and strongly recommend that you click through for the rest. We need to overcome the urge to in-fight. RESIST the Republican Reich!!
From YouTube (MSNBC Channel): U.S. Reaches Grim Milestone of 500,000 Covid Deaths
What a sad day. Of course Trump** virus would have killed thousands, even if Republicans were not doing everything they to give welfare for billionaires precedence while fighting to evade spending to save American lives! RESIST the Republican Reich!!
From YouTube (a blast from the past): Mr. Bojangles – Nitty Gritty Dirt Band – [With Lyrics]
Ah… the memories!! RESIST the Republican Reich!!
Don’t Let Republicans Steal YOUR Future!!
10 Responses to “Open Thread – 2/22/2021”
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Cartoon: Awww….
C&L: Excellent piece. We must do our utmost to continue to work together and win 2022. By all means in being positive, staying together, and being committed to our Democratic cause(s).
MSNBC: A crying shame. My heart breaks over this milestone. Sad.
BFTP: I absolutely LOVE this song! Thank you!
It’s amazing to what Mother Nature can do for the environment, and caring for humans. PTL, Tom, this is indeed! happy and great news. So relieved that you are coming around and feeling better !! Take good care, and Thanks for all you do. Don’t forget to get in a nap too!
*This just in: “Lauren Boebart isn’t worthy to shine the combat boots of General Honore. He is a highly decorated Army veteran having served for 37 years. He has a Master’s Degree in HR Management. Ms. Boebart earned her GED a few months before launching her campaign. ~ Paul G. ~
2. I’ve actually met General Honore once. He is a smart, even handed and unbiased person who will lead the commission perfectly well. ” ~ Timothy C. ~
3. “I have always suspected that QAnon started out as some idiots game, but then Russia took it over and weaponized it.” ~ Kate M. ~
4. “El Paso’s favorite son, Beto O’Rourke and Alexandria Ocasio Cortez and the Castro brothers are helping Texas in a lot of ways. Think before you vote! for lyin’ Cancun Cruz in ’22.” ~ Margaret W. ~
5. “Beto and Willie Nelson have teamed up to sell shirts and mugs to benefit Texas relief efforts.” *pb*
TJI #1 – When I was in Alamosa, I used to administer GED exams, which included some coordination with the teachers who prepped most candidates, and when I was not in the room (there were two of us and we took turns at the proctoring) I read some of the tests, and I developed respect for those who passed. Ms. Boebert has just undone 40 years of respect.
TJI #3 – Considering Gamergate, and all the Incels who use gaming to compensate, that is a quite believable hypothesis.
TJI #4 – This needs to be said again in 2022, and loudly, and repeatedly, and with pictures and videos. I’m pretty sure no one in the QOP can think – but they can be made to respond to pictures.
TJI #4 – Now, that’s touching. I’ll bet they get along like father and son (in an non-dysfunctional family, of course.)
TJI#: I did not know that about Boebart, but it seems to fit in with her general level of incompetence and stupidity.
TJI#3: Is there any real evidence that Russia has been involved in the Q shit? Not that I would be awfully surprised, but is there?
TJI#’s 4&5: Maybe Beto can trounce the ted-thing in the next election. Jut maybe….
WooHoo! So glad you feel better and so good to see your post. Niw, don’t overdo just because oyu feel better. Continue to take care of yourself!
Cartoon – Poor baby! But you shouldn’t be seeing hookers.
C&L – Yes indeed. Let the QOP do the infighting (and they will!), keep watching them, notice how ugly it is, and don’t do that! And I understand that progressives are frustrated, because I am one, and I am frustrated too. But AOC is at least as progressive as I am, and if she can see the need for unity, well, so must I. Incidentally, the same author posted back in November about “What Democratic Unity Would Look Like,” and it’s still valid too.
CoViD – It is indeed good to know that the vaccines are working in nursing homes. If a vulnerable population like that, in circumstances which increase the communicability to a point which those of us who aren’t in one can hardly comprehend can work, dramatically, they can work dramatically anywhere.
Blast – I was wondering whether you would get to the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. I knew a woman in Alamosa whose brother was one of their tour crew. We were about the same age then – our thirties – so gosh, she and they must be pretty old by now, because I am.
Better is good!
‘Toon: Any hooker, perhaps already compromised, would be experiencing some PTSD after being with Trump.
C&L: No doubt about it, hang together or die separately.
MSNBC: Boy are we exceptional!
BFP: A great song.
I just spoke to my Austin City cousin, and found that she and hubby are doing well; lost the pump for their above ground pool, only.
Cartoon: Good kitty,… both hookers and tRump are bad.
C&L: Agree 100% that we must all work together and do whatever we can to help keep moving forward/rebuilding.
MSNBC: Heartbreaking news. Too bad we had a leader at the time, who ignored and called it fake news for months. Otherwise, I feel we would of never loss so many. Prayers go to all that have lost love ones due to Covid-19.
Happy to hear that you’re starting to feel better. pray that you continue in that direction.
Hope you’re able to get your rest, so you’ll be ready for Thursday’s hospital visit.
Take care.
So glad your dam finally broke, TomCat, and leaving you feeling better, not worse.
4:43 No good doing these at night.
Cartoon: A wet cat is a sad thing to behold, it doesn’t matter whether it’s from a shower of rain or a Russian hooker.
C&L: Those are wise words you’ve added, TomCat. Sticking together by compromising works well if it isn’t one group that has to do the compromising all the time. Keep an eye on that but a far bigger eye on those Republicans who’ll resort to the lowest tricks to get Democrats to stop working together and start compromising with them. And as we all know that’s the last thing a Democrat should do.
MSNBC: I wouldn’t be surprised to learn in years to come that America passed that dreadful mark earlier but because the Trump administration started to hide the true numbers that mark passed silently. And that is a good thing, in retrospect. Because you wouldn’t have wanted to have Trump announce it in his special uncaring way, if at all, would you?
BFTP: A great song of which there must have been a dozen covers made over time. I wasn’t familiar with this version though I had heard of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.
MSNBC – I’m sure of your hypothesis. And that isn’t even just Trump** and his ilk’s fault. If a patient apparently recovers from CoViD and later dies from a stroke or heart attack which may very well have been COViD-induced )if it got into the endothelium), how do you count that death? I have a lot more faith in matching year-to-year death numbers against total population. It anyone doing that any more? When people were comparing those numbers, they suggested a dramatic undercount.
Thanks and Hurry Hugs to all.