Yesterday was a lazy day, except for a quick trip out for staples. It was very hot, as it will be all week, but my little AC unit kept it below 85. It was still too hot to sleep much so I’m dragging by butt. I’m current on replies. Today will be more of the same.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today it took me 4:36 (average 5:22). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From Washington Post: Hillary Rodham Clinton isn’t president, but Dick Cheney says that if she were in the White House rather than Barack Obama, then things might be different today in the country.
Cheney isn’t getting into specifics, but he does think that “perhaps she might have been easier for some of us who are critics of the president to work with.”
This couldn’t be about policy, because Obama took on Clinton’s advisers, and they are already taking the lead in policy decisions. Cheney must mean that it’s because she’s white.
From Common Dreams: At least one in seven Afghan soldiers walked off the job during the first six months of this year, according to statistics compiled by NATO that show an increase in desertion.
Between January and June, more than 24,000 soldiers walked off the job, more than twice as many as in the same period last year, according to the NATO statistics. In June alone, more than 5,000 soldiers deserted, nearly 3 percent of the 170,000-strong force.
Those Afghans are leaving for a reason. They know a losing proposition, when they see it. It’s long past the time for the US recognize this and leave.
From KATU: As he [Brad Avarkian] courts Democratic primary voters to help win the Nov. 8 special election, Avakian is trumpeting solidly liberal positions on a number of issues — ideas that could play well in the Democrat-dominated Northwest Oregon district, even if they’re less popular in a Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives. Avakian wants, for instance, to immediately end the war in Afghanistan and use the money to hire many of the 14 million out-of-work Americans to build new bridges, and upgrade airports and railways.
Brad is one of the Democrats running for David Wu’s seat in Oregon’s 1st Congressional District. The more I learn, the better I like him.
Cartoon:
19 Responses to “Open Thread–9/5/2011”
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Talk about “Penny wise & pound foolish” …
The good news is that later in the above linked New York Times article it states the Arizona Dept. of Corrections is being sued, alleging the fee is unconstitutional. I would think that even the idiots in Arizona would realize that family support is a mainstay for rehabilitation – but apparently I’d be wrong.
Have you ever read any articles on Phoenix’s infamous Sherrif Joe Arapio? He’s the one that keeps jail inmates in open-air tents, dressed in pink jumpsuits, and prides himself on feeding a prisoner on 35 cents/day — no, I’m NOT MAKING THIS STUFF UP. AZ is as close to the 4th Reich as we have in the U.S. today.
Ann, I’ve done a couple pieces on him in the past. Rick Perry is trying to get Arpaio to support his campaign.
Thanks Nameless. I got this news from one of my prison groups earlier today. Many prisoners come from families so poor that that seldom can visit due to travel costs. This added expense would prevent many from receiving any family visits.
The jobs will magically appear when that odious black man is no longer in the white house. How do you expect a sane and rational republican party to work with a non human who should still be in the chains of slavery. that would be too demeaning a position for the Massa’s to be in.
Bingo!
4:41
Yes, Hillary is white. but they would have a problem with her being a woman and we all know that.
For the country’s sake, I hope Avarkian wins the seat in Oregon. We need more like him in Congress.
Good one, Patty. You pushed me to #3 today.
Almost, Patty.
Republicans are far more bothered by race than gender. They have several female stars.
I’m not done comparing yet, but I like what I see.
I think Cheney spotted some flaws in Hiliary, that would have been a lot easier to exploit than someone with a clean history. It’s hard to sling mud when it doesn’t stick. In poker, they call it a “tell”.
That’s possible. They go to great lengths to make stuff up about Obama.
4:53 I’m number 3 today…and 75 out of 248 (302).
I left you a window. 🙂
Cheney can go pound sand — if we could get him and Sarah Palin the f*$% OUT of the news, I’d be a happy camper.
Maybe they can share a cell! 😉
Yeah for a/c!
Cheney can go pound sand.
I don’t blame them.
Too bad about David Wu.
Great cartoon!
That’s the truth!
Nor do I.
Amen!
Thanks!
Hillary Clinton — maybe white AND female. I know I was often told that I should be home raising children and not out in the business world as a manager. I don’t know if Cheney is as ultra conservative religiously as the ‘new’ crop of Republicans. Amazing that Bachmann and Palin get as far as they did being female.
Afghan desertions — Does it really surprise anyone that with all the government corruption, the Taliban and other militants targeting you as an agent of NATO, these soldiers would desert? I also heard recently that Afghani soldiers often don’t get their pay, such that it is, on time, sometimes not at all. I agree, they have the sense to leave a losing cause, and so should NATO forces.
Great cartoon. I like the puzzle too. Just wish I were faster. Oh well, at least I finish it.
Yup! Barefoot and pregnant! 😉
Agee.
Thanks. Keep at them. Takes time.