It is now possible to hear an opera broadcast on every Saturday all year round, and not just during the Metropolitan Opera’s season. Yesterday’s opera is “Tosca,” by Puccini, which premiered in 1900, based on an 1887 play. In it the political is the personal, and I would ccll it prescient except that, sadly, the struggle between authoritarians and the rest of us has been going on forever. But it does, at least to me, make it more poignant to consider that what happened to Tosca and Mario (and Angelotti) could conceivably happen to any of us at any time if we fail to preserve our democracy.
Cartoon TomCat has run this cartoon every Father’s Day since at least 2010 (probably before that, but I don’t think the prior blog, which was on Blogspot, remains accessible). He always protested strongly that the litter was not his progeny.
Short Takes
INDEOENDENT (UK) – The Republican Party has turned fascist – it is now the most dangerous threat in the world. (And apparently everyone can see it except us.)
Quote: Two strategies, though never entirely absent from Republican behaviour in the past, have become far more central to their approach. One is a greater willingness to use or tolerate violence against their opponents, something that became notorious during the invasion of the Capitol by pro-Trump rioters on 6 January. The other change among Republicans is much less commented on, but is more sinister and significant. This is the systematic Republican takeover of the electoral machinery that oversees elections and makes sure that they are fair. Minor officials in charge of them have suddenly become vital to the future of American democracy. Remember that it was only the refusal of these functionaries to cave in to Trump’s threats and blandishments that stopped him stealing the presidential election last November.
Click through for the full article. Share it if you can.
Crooks and Liars – What’s The ‘Critical Race Theory’ Uproar Really About? Making Enemies For 2022
Quote : The whole campaign against CRT, in fact, appears to be primarily the work of a handful of astroturfing “dark money” right-wing organizations. And its central figure is named Christopher Rufo, a longtime right-wing think tank activist with a history of promoting various kinds of spurious enemy concoctions.
Click through for details. But remember, just because only one person is behind it doesn’t mean it hasn’t already infected multitudes. Donald Trump** ia onlt one person too.
Sad news – Champ has passed. (BTW this looks like a Twitter account worth following if one were on Twitter.)
Our family lost our loving companion Champ today. I will miss him. pic.twitter.com/sePqXBIAsE
— President Biden (@POTUS) June 19, 2021
Food for Thought
16 Responses to “Open Thread for June 20, 2021”
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The Republican Party has turned fascist – it is now the most dangerous threat in the world
And just to be clear: Although Trump steeped on the gas & raised it to warp speed, this transition of the Rethuglican Party did NOT start w/ Trump.
What’s The ‘Critical Race Theory’ Uproar Really About?
GQP absolutely needs some type of Culture War issue to gin up their ranks and raise money. “Critical Race Theory” is tailor-made to accomplish that.
I have seen Tosca several times, bit these were long ago. The powerful frequently seem to look for ways to lord it over the rest of us.
Happy Father’s Day to all to whom it fits.
Independent: Scary as all get out. I sent the article to my former N.J. federal rep., as well as Sen.Memendez. My Fl. people would only cheer, and Cory Booker did not have an e-dress available.
C&L: The need of the GQP to find threats seems to fit into the idea that conservatives are, by nature, rather anxious people, who would easily respond to even the slightest hint of a threat.
Sweet dreams, Champ. Oh my, one less deeply political issue for the GQP to have to focus on.
Can’t see FFT.
This is one f those (few and far between) times it might be handy to be on Twitter, I’ll bet you could have tweeted it to Cory. Personally, I’d like to send it to Merrick Garland.
FFT is based on the overused still from “The Great Gatsby” where DiCaprio is holding out a glass as for a toast. The text is “Happy Father’s Day. To all the dads, stepdads, and surrogate dads who bring it home every day.”
See comment #4, sorry.
Cartoon: Awwww…..I miss him!
Independent: Gulp! Scary to say the least….will be passing around to my gal pals too.
Sad news: I felt sad when I heard the news. Yes, it’s one of my TJI’s today…so sad, such a handsome and loving pup.
Food for Thought: Cheers to all the dads out there!
Thanks, Joanne for post. Hope that everyone has a good and relaxing day.
This just in: “I’ve decided to award Tucker with the distinction of bullsh*t factory employee of the month. Congrats Tucker. You did it. Nobody bullsh*ts like you when it comes to the insurrection.” ~ Jim Acosta ~
2. ” ‘Our sweet good boy’: First pooch Champ Biden dies, age 13, after months in the White House.” Our family lost our loving companion Champ today. I will miss him.” ~ Joe & Jill Biden ~
3. “As we commemorate the history of Juneteenth, as we did just weeks ago with the history of the Tulsa Race Massacre, we must learn from our history, and we must teach our children our history…It is part of American history.” ~ Vice Pres. Kamala Harris ~
4. “It pisses me off that we live in a world where a POS like Matt Gaetz can just do whatever he wants and remain in good standing in his party while someone like @AOC has to be mindful of every thing she does and every thing she says because people are just waiting to pounce.” ~ Kurt Bardella ~
5. “Remember when freezing military aid to Ukraine was an impeachable offense?” =Marco Rubio=
“Oh! no you don’t. What was impeachable was the attempted extortion. You’re so bad at this, you can’t even troll well.” ~ Rachel Vindman (wife of Alexander Vindman. Former Director of European Affairs for the U.S. Security Council. Retired U.S. Army LT. COL).
TJI #1 – Ho hum. He deserves that award every month.
TJI #2 – The full eulogy is heartbreaking. We should all strive to live so that we will deserve such a eulogy.
TJI #3 – Yes. We must.
TJI #4 – That may look like, but is not, hyposcrisy. Everyone in his party agrees with Gaetz. Many Democrats disagree woth AOC. Also Ilhan Omar.
TJI #5 – Rachel Vindman is a force of nature. I’d love to see her in public office. But Alexander might not.
I think the entire Vindman family is a force to be reckoned with. I’m just glad they’re on OUR side!
TJI #1: I’m sure Tucker will win the bullsh*t factory employee of year award hands-down too.
TJI #3: Kamala made it very clear why CRT is essential.
TJI #4:Once again, the divide across America becomes very clear. If they want to win from the GQP, Democrats should learn never to undermine those in their own party, starting with Manchin and Sinema. Closing ranks despite the party falling apart behind closed doors, is the only thing the GQP is good at.
TJI #5: You tell him, girl!
TJI #1 – I realize there are a few more months left, but I think Tucker is in good shape to be names “Bull$hit Factory Employee of the Year (Decade?)”
I have just sent it to Garland’s office, thanks for the suggestion.
Thank you so much! form all the sane ppeople in the world.+
Thanks for continuing TC’s tradition Joanne.
Tis truly scarifying times with the invented issues and nondemocratic propensities getting more obscene.
Concerned how not having Champ’s company and example will affect their other dog……..
The Bidens are the Bidens. They will be watching Major(and of course giving hoim love and whatever else he needs) and thay will either know what to do, or know whom to ask. It will be OK.
TJI#1: He gets the fecal medal every time!
TJI#2: Too bad, but, I think, 13 for a shepherd is quite a life.
TJI#3: Absolutely. And, as I understand it, many teachers are insisting that they will nautili tp their students.
TJI#4: Gaetz’s idiocy is not threatening to his party, and if some of it feeds the danger to our Democracy, thee QOP applauds, even if silently. AOC threatens the QOP just by her being.
TJI#5: I think, hope, Rubio will be sent to the dust bin of idiocy, in ’22.
Cartoon: I too miss him.
Independent: The R’s are out of their minds. Ignoring doing one damn thing about Jan 6 is a disgrace to our country. Plus I’m Sick of all of the crap they’re doing regarding Voters rights. Something has got to be done to stop them. I’ve been signing petitions for both issues. Hopefully many of these rotten R’s are voted out, with their next elections.
Sad News: Bless “Champ”. They are like part of the family.
Food for Thought: Happy Father’s Day to all the Fathers out there.
Hope you had a pleasant Sunday.
I went to see the Padres play the Reds. The Padres won 3 to 2. I like going to afternoon games that start at 1:05 over evening ones that start at 7:05 PM. That way if are tied in the ninth and go into overtime, the evening ones can run over late, ending after 11:00 PM or later.
Take care. Thanks Joanne
Happy Father’s Day to all American dads who are celebrated today. (Unlike Mother’s Day, Father’s Day isn’t universally celebrated on the same day.
Even though TomCat wasn’t a dad himself, the lovely cartoon he always used brought back so many memories of him.
Independent: A wake-up call from the UK. Apparently, seen from afar it is more clearly observed than from up close.
C&L: Koch-sponsored think tanks had to find a new subject to hate after their Antifa bid didn’t take hold and this is it. White supremacists, anyone?
@POTUS: I’m sure they’re going to miss Champ very much. I hope the Biden’s will get their cat soon, as they mentioned earlier, otherwise Major will get the full brunt of the GQP’s wrath.