TomCat

Bernie Is In

Posted by TomCat at 11:59 am Politics

Feb 192019

The progressive left owes a huge debt of gratitude to Bernie Sanders. He took ideas that, according to conventional wisdom, were beyond the pale, and he made them mainstream. Medicare for all, a guaranteed minimum wage, and grass roots campaign finance are just a few of those ideas. This morning, Bernie announced his Presidential Bid for 2020.

U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, the progressive populist who mounted a fierce challenge to front-runner Hillary Clinton in the 2016 White House campaign, said on Tuesday he will again seek the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination in 2020.

Sanders, 77, a self-described democratic socialist who caucuses with the Democrats, joins an already-crowded Democratic race that includes fellow Senators Cory Booker of New Jersey, Kamala Harris of California, Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts.

The Brooklyn native announced his candidacy in an email to supporters, pledging to build a vast grassroots movement to confront the special interests that he said dominate government and politics.

Sanders said he would push for many of the same issues that powered his 2016 bid and resonated with younger voters, including universal healthcare, raising the hourly minimum wage to $15, and free public college tuition.

“Our campaign is about creating a government and economy that works for the many, not just the few,” Sanders said, asking for 1 million people to sign up to kick off his bid….

Inserted from <Reuters>

Here is Bernie’s announcement video from Bernie’s YouTube channel.

So, will I support him again, as I did in 2016? I haven’t decided yet.

There’s a lot about Bernie that I like, but there’s quite a bit about his 2016 campaign I didn’t like. For one thing, the claim that the nomination was stolen from him is not true. He missed primaries and caucuses, because his inexperienced staff missed filing deadlines. He complained about closed primaries. I support closed primaries. Republicans like open primaries, because they cross party lines to influence our results,as their candidates often run unopposed. Democrats have the right to decide on the Democratic nominee. Bernie needs to convince his followers to join. And this is my comment I left for him on YouTube.

I supported you last time. This time, I’m not sure. Although I am white, you need to learn that race matters more than class to those who still suffer the effects of Republican racism. Otherwise, you won’t get the Black vote. Without that, you can’t win the nomination.

Of one thing I’m sure. If he wins the nomination, I’ll be happy to see it.

RESIST!!

Open Thread – 2/19/2019

Posted by TomCat at 11:58 am Open Thread, Personal, Plus, Politics

Feb 192019

It’s a chilly muggy day here in the CatBox. I’m not feeling very well, as I have Republicitis. I had to take a Dulcolax, as my blue eyes are turning brown. I submitted my grocery order to Store to Door.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 4:55 (average 6:13). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From YouTube (Robert Reich Channel): Robert Reich: Who Will Be the Next President

Of course the Reich on the left, Robert Reich, is right. The only way to defeat the Reich on the right, the Republican Reich, which is wrong, is to change. We need a grass roots progressive campaign. RESIST!!

From YouTube (MoveOn Channel): Nationwide Protests Against Trump’s Fake Emergency

Kudos to all who protested nonviolently. RESIST!!

From Daily Kos: Republicans have made their strategy for the 2020 elections crystal-clear: going after the newly serving Democratic women of color in Congress. Given this, we can only anticipate conservatives becoming even more rabid over the next two years, ramping up their claims that progressive Democrats in the House are all socialists, who also happen to be anti-Semites that get a kick out of murdering unborn children. The New York Times reports that this is how Republicans hope to appeal to voters, and that they have unabashedly claimed this as their plan for victory going forward.

Of course, it’s always super fun for the GOP to make false claims about Democrats and paint them as out-of-control lefties who threaten the American way of life. But this time, it isn’t just business as usual. By pinning their hopes on this as a viable campaign and fundraising opportunity, Republicans are also hoping they can “strangle the new Democratic majority in its infancy.”

As absurd as this sounds, beware! If the Republican Reich were 1/10th as adept at governing as they are at disinformation, they would be half competent. RESIST!!

Cartoon:

As true today as it was when I made it, eight years ago.

Presidents Day Cancelled!

Posted by TomCat at 9:41 am Holiday, Politics

Feb 182019

0218PresidentsDay

Politics Plus will reinstitute the holiday,

when and if we actually have a President.

RESIST!!

Open Thread – 2/18/2019

Posted by TomCat at 9:40 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Feb 182019

It’s a cold day here in the CatBox, as Portland us under a freezing fog watch. That often brings black ice. I’m sure glad I don’t have to go out today. Oh God It’s Monday!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:33 (average 5:06). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From YouTube: The Seekers – A World of our Own

Ah the memories… A world of our one is one in which atmospheric carbon is decreasing, and every Republican politician is unemployed. RESIST!!

From NY Times: European leaders have long been alarmed that President Trump’s words and Twitter messages could undo a trans-Atlantic alliance that had grown stronger over seven decades. They had clung to the hope that those ties would bear up under the strain.

But in the last few days of a prestigious annual security conference in Munich, the rift between Europe and the Trump administration became open, angry and concrete, diplomats and analysts say.

A senior German official, who asked not to be identified because he was not authorized to speak on such matters, shrugged his shoulders and said: “No one any longer believes that Trump cares about the views or interests of the allies. It’s broken.”

The most immediate danger, diplomats and intelligence officials warned, is that the trans-Atlantic fissures now risk being exploited by Russia and China.

I have no doubt that Putin’s pervert is pushing Europe away to align with Russia. RESIST!!

From Willamette Week: In an interview this week, U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon) offered a new reason he might not run for president: fear that if he doesn’t seek reelection to the Senate, that could provide an opening for Republicans.

It sounds a little odd in a state that has elected precisely one Republican to statewide office since 2002.

Merkley told the NW Labor Press that he’s still weighing his options.

“Because others may run,” he explained. “The Republicans may get an opportunity to have a strong candidate. And I cannot let an Oregon Senate seat go to someone who is fighting for the privileged and powerful.”

Oregon does not allow a name to appear on the ballot for two different offices.

I’d like to see Jeff become better known before making a Presidential run in a year in which he does not have to give up his Senate seat to run. Assuming we win in 2020, 2028 would be a good year for it. RESIST!!

Cartoon:

Open Thread – 2/17/2019

Posted by TomCat at 1:04 pm Open Thread, Personal, Politics, Religion

Feb 172019

It’s a chilly day here in CatBox. WWWendy says hi to all, and assurer that the TomCat is de-stunk. This is today’s only article from me.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:38 (average 5:27). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From YouTube (SNL Channel): Trump Press Conference Cold Open – SNL

Once again, Alec Baldwin does a better Trump impersonation than Trump. RESIST!!

From Raw Story: Wyoming state senator says she supports the death penalty because that’s how Jesus died.

On Thursday, the Wyoming state Senate voted down a proposal to abolish the death penalty 18 to 12 — the sixth straight session in which the legislature rejected this proposal, although the margin was closer than usual as some Republicans decided capital punishment is too expensive. By far the most memorable argument in the debate, however, came from the other side, when GOP Sen. Lynn Hutchings argued Wyoming needs to keep the death penalty because that’s how Jesus died.

“The greatest man who ever lived died via the death penalty for you and me,” said Hutchings. “I’m grateful to him for our future hope because of this. Governments were instituted to execute justice. If it wasn’t for Jesus dying via the death penalty, we would all have no hope.”

As a Republican Pharisee, Hutchings wants to be able to kill Democrats, whose policies reflect the views of the real Jesus. This is the fifth of five Republican outrages last week. Click through for the other four. RESIST!!

From The Palmer Report: During his incoherent and rambling Rose Garden meltdown late last week, Donald Trump gave away a number of things that would have been better kept to himself. For instance, during a particularly deranged rant about President Obama, Trump revealed that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had nominated him for a Nobel Peace Prize. This revelation has quickly led to the whole thing being exposed as a fraud.

Because Prime Minister Abe was suddenly caught in the middle of one of Donald Trump’s international disasters, major Japanese newspaper Asahi has fired back by exposing the real story. It’s true that Abe nominated Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize – but only because the United States government asked Abe to do so. There are almost no words to describe how bad this is for Trump.

There are only two possibilities here. One is that Donald Trump had his people ask Abe to nominate him for the Nobel prize, because Trump was trying to put himself on par with President Obama, who won a Nobel prize while in office. The other possibility is that Trump’s people went behind his back and asked Abe to nominate Trump, in an attempt at making Trump think it happened organically, thus boosting Trump’s flagging spirits.

My money is on Door Number One. RESIST!!

Cartoon:

Only because it stopped!

Bill Maher from 2/15

Posted by TomCat at 12:11 pm Politics

Feb 162019

It’s that time of week again, so here are six excellent video clips from Bill’s show last night. Enjoy!

Monologue: National Emergency!

Call the nursing home? Inflict him on disabled retirees?!!? A national emergency isn’t the only thing that should be used on Trump. The Republican Reich that enables him is just as bad.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel

Chicago should celebrate on May 20. Rahmbo retiring is no loss. The other adjectives that best describe him are ones he shares with Republicans. He is the corrupt asshole that kept pushing Bill Clinton to cave-in.

John Legend: Preach

Love the song. Bill does not seem to realize that Republicans support criminal justice reform is only to save on the cost of incarceration and give the money to billionaires. The savings must be used to support programs to help former prisoners assimilate as free, law-abiding community members.

Race and Redemption

Racists don’t belong in office? The entire Republican Reich should resign!

Melania’s Rules

Fuhrer Drumpfenfarten should never be seen with just his girdle. EWWW!

New Rule: You Can’t Always Get What You Want

Not fair. Warren has native-American genes. Trump has no human genes. Our candidate will be good enough!

Six is a bonus of Bill.

RESIST!!

Open Thread – 2/16/2019

Posted by TomCat at 12:11 pm Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Feb 162019

It’s another dank sticky day here at the CatBox. I slept poorly last night and feel tired. I’m also suffering from the lack of Orb light. Tomorrow, WWWendy will be here and we have a full slate of tasks, so please expect no more than a Personal Update with no links messages on Care2.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:01 (average 5:05). To do it, click here. Hoe did you do?

Short Takes:

From YouTube (Jeff Merkley Channel): Merkley Supports Plan to Strengthen Social Security

That’s my Senator! Oregon leads the way! Scrap the cap! RESIST!!

From Alternet: Leftist scholar Noam Chomsky has a message for voters who refused to cast their ballots for Hillary Clinton to prevent Donald Trump from winning the White House: You made a “bad mistake.”

On both moral and practical levels, Chomsky told Al Jazeera‘s Medhi Hasan, the choice was clear.

“Do you vote against the greater evil if you don’t happen to like the other candidate?” asked Chomsky, who spoke out during the election against Trump’s candidacy—and in fact predicted his rise six years ago. “The answer to that is yes.”

With an argument similar to the one made by political scientist Adolph Reed prior to the election, Chomsky insists that voters did not have to ignore Clinton’s serious shortcomings in order to recognize Trump as the much more serious threat.

We’re not talking about a mere liberal here. He’s a Democratic Socialist that is well to the left of Bernie. His criticisms of Hillary were often used as ammo by the fools on the left that helped elect Trump. I didn’t like Hillary either, but once nominated, I supported her, fought for her and voted for her? Why? Putting one’s brain on hold during elections is a very foolish thing to do. Vote Blue! RESIST!!

From Think Progress: Late Friday afternoon, a flurry of activity by Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s office pulled back the curtain on their case against Donald Trump confidant Roger Stone, who last month was arrested in his Florida home and charged with lying to federal prosecutors, witness tampering, and obstruction of justice.

In documents submitted to the U.S. district court, the special counsel’s office detailed some of the evidence against Roger Stone, acknowledging for the first time they possess direct communications between Stone and Russian operatives known collectively as Guccifer 2.0, as well as WikiLeaks.

The communications were gathered in connection to an indictment that Robert Mueller brought against 12 Russian intelligence operatives last year. Those individuals, who were all members of Russia’s Main Intelligence Directorate, or GRU, operated under aliases including DCLeaks and Guccifer 2.0.

The only chance that Stone has to save his own ass is to flip on his Fuhrer and partner in treason. He should have learned from Manafart that, to the Fuhrer, loyalty is a one way street. RESIST!!

Cartoon:

A National Hero

Posted by TomCat at 11:23 am Politics

Feb 152019

Looking back at all the acts of quid pro quo, inductive reasoning makes it clear that the Resident of the United States rules more on Russia’s behalf than for the people of the US. It was not so easy to see back in the early days of the Republican Reich. Fortunately, we had a national hero in those early days. Andrew McCabe preserved the data we would need to investigate, before Republicans could make it disappear.

Andrew G. McCabe, the former deputy F.B.I. director, said in an interview aired on Thursday that top Justice Department officials became so alarmed by President Trump’s decision in May 2017 to fire James B. Comey, the bureau’s director, that they discussed whether to recruit cabinet members to invoke the 25th Amendment to remove Mr. Trump from office.

The dire concerns about the president’s actions also prompted Mr. McCabe to order the bureau’s team investigating Russia’s election interference to look into whether Mr. Trump had obstructed justice by firing Mr. Comey. The F.B.I. also began examining whether Mr. Trump had been working on behalf of Russia against American interests.

Mr. McCabe’s explosive remarks were made in an interview with “60 Minutes” scheduled to air in full on Sunday. He was promoting his memoir, “The Threat: How the F.B.I. Protects America in the Age of Terror and Trump,” which will be released next week.

Mr. McCabe said he spoke to Mr. Trump just after Mr. Comey was fired, and the next day he met with the team investigating Russia’s election interference.

“I was very concerned that I was able to put the Russia case on absolutely solid ground, in an indelible fashion,” Mr. McCabe said. “That were I removed quickly, or reassigned or fired, that the case could not be closed or vanish in the night without a trace.”… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <NY Times>

You can learn a lot more from the following two video clips.

The first concentrates on McCabe.

The second also shows part of Trump’s tantrum in reaction.

I, for one, am damn glad he was there!

RESIST!!

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