Joanne Dixon

Open Thread November 8 2025

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 6:00 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Nov 082025

Yesterday, I observed that Nancy Pelosi will retire after the 2026 midterms. But she will always be the speaker in my house, in the character doll I clothed (and styled the hair) of her in the infamous Max Mara coat, with sunglasses. Bo, I don’t yet have a picture. I’ll work on getting one.

From Wonkette, a snapshot from the history of labor in America. Granted that having to pee in a bottle because you don’t get bathroom breaks, as happens at Amazon, is not as bad as getting shot and killed or burned alive, I still don’t think we have come very far.

I found a way to link to one specific part of the TPM Morning Memo, so here it is – early theories of the election. As stated there, it’s early to be sure just what happened, but still interesting. You are welcome to scroll up and down to the rest of the memo if you like.

I don’t suppose that anyone here is even slightly considering a paid subscription to The F***ing News – but just in case, you cannot pay for it with an American Express card. They will not send your payment(s) because the name offends them. But I digress. There’s a bunch in here, but what most interested me was the middle about the “lame duck” era. I found it encouraging. It starts with a header with the Politico logo, and goes down to the two maps of Virginia – maps which clearly show that land does not vote. People vote.

Two videos today because they go together. I was born in San Francisco, but I don’t think I have ever been truly homesick until seeing the first one.

Open Thread November 7 2025

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 6:00 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Nov 072025

Yesterday, I received the link to Barry’s online obituary from Carrie. Barry and I must have been in the Marines at about the same time. Also yesterday, Nancy Pelosi announced her retirement from Congress – giving San Francisco plenty of time for candidates to show up – and there are several already. The 19th has the story, and I’m sure they are not alone.

This by Joyce Vance is as good a combination of summary and marching orders as I have seen.

Doktor Zoom from Wonkette makes an excellent point here. Maybe I’m weird, but instead of being the 80-year-old in the room who thinks they know what will worked because it always has, I’m the 80-year-old in the room saying, “We have never seen anything like this in my life and I don’t know how to cope with it. If we are going to rely on history, we need to go back to FDR’s first term election to see what worked, and even then, today’s not quite the same. We need also to listen to people who are new politics, including young ones.” Rational people have a strong tendency to believe that rational argument can educate people. It can do that for some, but not for enough to win elections (at least not in red areas.) We have to find ways to meet people where they are.

Wonkette was hot yesterday. I already bumped one from them to Saturday so as not to duplicate sourcing, but this was simply too funny (in a scary way) to wait.

Open Thread November 6 2025

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 6:04 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Nov 062025

Yesterday, Andy Borowitz had Adam Kinzinger on his show (not for the first time. The full show is only for paid subscribers, but Andy did reveal that Adam has been working on a documentary (with Meidas Touch) called “The Last Republican”, and it’s available now to stream on Apple TV, Amazon, Googleplay and YouTube, and others. I foresee more knitting in my future. Also yesterday, my inbox was very full, and so many of the emaiis were on the giddy side, that I had a bit of difficulty finding takes that were distinct. But that’s OK. We need and deserve a little giddy time.

This is about a half hour video with Joyce Vance and Steve Vladek concerning the murders being carried out by our military in the Caribbean and the Pacific (so far.) Both feel that this is a situation we should be hearing more about, and specifically more pushback from Congress on, even just for legal reasons without analyzing the moral issues. And yes, I realize that when people in their district are starving, that should be Congressfolks first priority. On the other hand, when the only Congressional voice pushing back belongs to Rand Paul, maybe not other Congressfolks’ only priority.

If you can’t spare a half an hour for Joyce Vance, you can read this instead. It’s an analysis of the case of the fellow who threw a sandwich at a Border Control agent (who are separate from ICE.) This is so unimportant that the fact of it going to trial at all is disproportionately important, which sounds like an oxymoron, but isn’t.

Huff Post discusses a concept which explains a lot about how Republicans can live with their cruelty. And I truly do think it can ensnare anyone. I have never told anyone before about this, and I won’t provide details, but I caught myself doing this once when I was about 11 or 12 – and it shamed me so tha I vowed never to do it again. But of course narcissists and Republicans have no shame – and no introspective ability -so it’s not surprising they can and do keep using it. It’s called “violent innocence.” I don’t know how or even if knowing about it can help to combat it in others, although it’s probably useful to combat the tendency in oneself, although at our ages we have probably already done that.

Open Thread November 5 2025

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 5:55 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Nov 052025

Yesterday, The news was that Dick Cheney has died. Obviously I’m no fan, and I doubt anyone here is. But he did tell Liz to “Save the Republic,” and she did work on the Jan 6 committee, and she is fundraising for Democratic candidates such as Zoe Lofgren now, and I wouldn’t mind telling her she has my sympathy. If anyone sees any such petition, please let me know. Also, it appears we won a trifecta in Virginia – a state where the Gov and Lt Gov run separately rather than on a ticket – bu we won both. And their legislative House. I’m also seeing reports that Mikie Sherrill won the Governor’s race in New Jersey, but that is not official as I type. I hope it’s correct. And Zohran Mamdami won the New York City Mayoralty.

Heather Cox Richardson starts with Nick Fuentes (and Groypers) and proceeds into other Republican officials, advisers, and influencers, all disgusting. Unfortunately, however, it’s true – you can’t tell the players without a program. This is (among other things) the program.

Robert Reich , because the current Federal government would never consider a wealth tax, is working on one to propose in California. They hope to get it onto the ballot in 2026. He says there are other states looking at it, but doesn’t mention which states.

Okay, okay, this is not news – it is Borowitz. I read the headline and mentally responded, “Don’t tease me, bro.” But actually – now is not the time for it to be good news. Don’t think they could not find someone worse!

Open Thread November 4 2025

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 6:00 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Nov 042025

Yesterday, I opened my email, and it looks like I’m going to be doing more knitting this week and next. PBS Great Performances will be streaming “The Barber of Seville”. Cedille Records (RBG’s son) will be releasing a new CD and streaming from another, both with only composers killed or exiled during the Holocaust (good thing I just ordered and received 4 boxes of tissues).

This Intercept article didn’t pop up a subscription pitch for me – possibly because it’s the first of the month? Anyway, I have held this for a bit in the chaos, but it does need to be known.

Heather Cox Richardson from last Friday is worth reading if only for the Gatsby quotation, in which Nick specified that he was speaking of “Tom and Daisy [Buchanan]’, but which Richardson rightly extends to the whole MAGA party. It’s sad but true. (Totally off topic, but I just realized that she and I have the same surname – mine just uses the nickname instead of the full first name, and has condensed the spelling.)

I posted last week a preview of the Supreme Court season, but this “The Week Ahead” specifically looks at a Nectarine Napoleon’s tariff case (one of them) and analyzes what exactly he is trying to accomplish,

HCR videos generally run at least 20 minutes and usually considerably more. So I thought I’d better grab this six minute one while it was still current.

Open Thread November 3 2025

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 5:56 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Nov 032025

Yesterday, in case anyone missed my comment, I got the email from Carrie that Barry has died. Of course she could still use suppoet, such as thoughts, prayers, or however you communicate with the universe. Also, I course, I saw Virgil and we played cribbage. The cards were not terribly cooperative; we sis have some good hands, but also a lot of bummers. For instance, at different times, both Virfil and I were dealt a habd with three pairs. That’s an automatic “WTF do I discard?” dilemma. And you know whatever you do is going to be wrong. But we still had fun. The sergeant in charge of Cisitation came to the visiting room to meet me (and ask how I put up with him – that’s kind of a women’s in-joke.)

Chris Bowers has a point. Things could indeed be worse. There are still good people in the US (you’re here, aren’t you? And if you’re not, you are in contact with people who are.) And many of us are doing what we can to help constrain him, and some of it is helping. We need to hang on to hope – without that, it will be worse.

You know, I really can’t comment on this – despite the fact I spent ten years in the Marine Corps myself and fired a gun or two in my day, I have never learned to read minds. I have learned that every living soul is different from every other one, even fraternal siblings, and that many are very complex and inconsistent. “Full of surprises” comes to mind. Just now, I know there are people worried about Graham Platner, and I cannot tell anyone what to think – I don’t know myself what to think. Although I associate this trait with “Conservatives,” many Liberals also have a habit of jumping to conclusions before all the facts are in.

This from People For The American Way is a huge challenge and I know not everyone can absorb it. But it is also something you will not find anywhere else sy this point. Going through the term, you will find articles and briefings on individual cases, but almost certainly not an overview. So I feel I need to share that it exists.

Open Thread November 2 2025

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 6:02 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Nov 022025

Yesterday, the radio opera was “Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg” by Wagner. It is his only comedy – and it’s a comedy not just because it’s a sweet love story with a happy ending. It’s also about musical pedants who fall apart if any composer does anything new – and there are many in every generation (there’s a book called “Lexicon of Musical Invective, originally published in the 1950s IIRC to record every awful thing that was said about great composers, starting with Mozart and Beethoven. It’s full of doozies – an has to keep getting reissued because the pedants just keep coming.) Historically, the meistersingers were not professional composers, but a guild of tradesmen and craftsmen who were dedicated hobbyist composers. Hans Sachs (an actual historical person) was a cobbler, for instance, and Beckmesser was the town clerk. Beckmesser is the quintessential pedant, and Wagner lets him have it every time he is on stage. I always feel for the singer who has to play that part. One has to be really smart yo play that stupid, and really self confident to withstand that much embarrassment. Hans Sachs, on the other hand, is the teacher that everyone wishes they had had in every subject. I have seen this opera once, on television, not in person, and James Morris sang Hans Sachs and really made the whole thing worth watching – all five hours. I recorded it on VCR – yeah, it was a while ago. Off to see Virgil; will of course check in.

From The Root. With the regime acting like a demolition crew and loving it, it can be easy to forget there are still plenty of good people in the world. Like Sabrina. And like I expect Riley will grow up to be.

OK, this from Democratic Underground is not good news. It is in fact not news at all. It’s just for fun.

Also from the Root, I’m calling this good news. It dates back a long time, but it was certainly news to both McCullough and Smith.

From a local TV station via The Smile, I never expected to find something like this in my own back yard. Although I probably should have. I too remember Nick Venetucci and his wife Bambi – if you weren’t inspired by them you needed your vitals checked. It should not be surprising that someone was inspired enough by him to go the distance for kids, particularly disabled kids, at Hallowe’en.

Open Thread November 1 2025

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 6:00 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Nov 012025

Yesterday, an email from “Daily Dose of Democracy” had an important message. Virginia is blue enough to want to redistrict in order to neutralize Texas and other red states which are redistricting to redder. But their Attorney General is red and will block it. The Attorney General position is on the ballot for Tuesday. The race is (thanks to Republicans) the most expensive AG race in VA history. I’m generally not inclined to donate to a race outside my own state, but this race has national implications. So I made an exception and gave a small donation through Act Blue. Here’s the link – I shortened it so it shouldn’t prefill with my information, nut if it does, it should offer you a way to replace it.

Harry Litman’s Talking Feds Substack is an outgrowth of his YouTube channel, so I thought I might be able to find this there, but no such luck. It is a bit of a complicated read, involving the fate of the Immerfut ruling on Portland, review of it by two circuits, the SCROTUS shadow socket, and leading up to a request (read demand) from the SCROTUS to the President for more information on a shadow docket case which has already elicited no ruling in over two weeks. But it also contains a glimmer of hope – which heaven knows we all need right about now. It’s not bright enough to save for Sunday, but it’s something.

I did not have to archive this – Daily Dose of Democracy’s newsletter included the already archived link. I’m sure I don’t have to tell anyone here that liars lie – but the claim investigated here is such a blatant lie that it sinks to the level of farce. In particular, I got a chuckle out of “high ranking dumb” – and then realized how much grief a father would actually feel who felt the need to sat this about his son (presumably in order to defend him.) And the farther I read, the less amusing it got. The Gamboge Garnage’s DES makes the Keystone Cops look like Scotland Yard (and Dogberry and Verges look like Holmes and Watson.).

Robert Reich is asking everyone on his mailing list to share all of these videos, and it’s a reasonable ask, so I will be doing it. It hasn’t been every day, and I don’t expect it to be, but it will be often enough that I won’t be putting “Guest Video” if it’s a normal video – I’ll just post them – it will be pretty obvious from the preview. This one, however, is a “short” and cannot be embedded, so here’s the link.

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