TomCat

Open Thread – 5/17/2017

Posted by TomCat at 2:13 pm Open Thread, Personal, Politics

May 172017

I'm writing late today to be sure that I'm up when Store to Door delivers my grocery order. Wendy is coming this evening to de-stink the over-humidified TomCat and help with chores. Tomorrow, please expect no more than a Personal Update tomorrow. Comcast is coming in the early morning to install an upgraded cable modem and make sure all my wireless devices function properly with it. Neighborhood House, the Nonprofit that covers around 15% of Wendy's care, is coming in the late morning for me to sign some paperwork.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today's took me 3:50 (average 4:42). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From YouTube (GQ Channel): What’s Happening in Donald Trump’s Head? | The Resistance with Keith Olbermann

I have no doubt that Fuhrer Drumpfenfarten suffers from severe, acute Narcissistic Personality Disorder. RESIST!!

From The New Yorker: Amid concerns about Donald Trump’s fitness to be President, former President Barack Obama said on Tuesday that he was willing to serve as “temp President” while Trump undergoes psychiatric evaluation.

“It would just be a temp thing,” Obama told reporters. “As soon as psychiatrists determine that Donald Trump is mentally stable and fit to serve as the most powerful officeholder in the world, I’d step aside.”

Obama said that he was a “logical choice” to serve as temp President because of his eight years in the White House. “For starters, I know how the light switches work,” he said.

Obama said that, once installed as temp President, he would look after the day-to-day running of the White House: “You know—vetoing bills, naming Supreme Court Justices, that kind of thing.”

From Andy's keyboard to God's eyes! RESIST!!

From Washington Post: Since entering office, President Trump has faced accusations that his District hotel is profiting from his presidency.

For a few minutes Monday night, projection artist Robin Bell tried to bring attention to the issue by shining light on it — a big, blue light.

Bell parked his van about 9:15 p.m. on 12th Street NW across the street from the west entrance of the Trump International Hotel. Bell and two friends then turned on a projector in the van and displayed animated anti-Trump messages about the president’s alleged conflicts of interest onto the upscale hotel’s facade.

Hotel security ordered him to shut off the projections after only a few minutes, but it was enough time for the messages to go viral on social media, garnering thousands of posts on Twitter and Facebook.

Kudos to Robin Bell. RESIST!!

Cartoon:

Cartoon 5 years old today. Republicans have not changed.

Poll Results – 6/16/2017

Posted by TomCat at 12:54 pm Blog News, Politics

May 162017

Here are the results of our “When Should Democrats Compromise?” poll. Politics Plus Polls are not scientific, because those who respond are not balanced according to demographic categories. Therefore, we do not accurately reflect the makeup of the US population. Nevertheless, our polls are usually factually accurate, and more often than not, they reflect thinking of the majority of those who actually think.

0516Poll

Since our polling site no longer enables us to copy and paste your poll comments, you may read them here.

I voted with the majority. The problem I have had with making deals with Republicans is that, over the long term, they have refused to negotiate in good faith, holding out for all for them and none for us. Trying to get them to deal, Democrats have caved-in far too often and far too deeply. But I have no objection to compromise as long as it’s fair to us, and as long as we don’t budge on core values. The only other popular choice was ‘Never’. That may offer feel-good purity, but it leaves the politically uneducated no way to tell the difference between us and the Republicans. It puts ideological purity ahead of the well being of the American people, just like those, who were willing to inflict Trump on us so they could avoid voting for Hillary to protect us.

The new poll is posted. Please vote and think about why it should inspire you to

RESIST!!

Open Thread – 5/16/2017

Posted by TomCat at 12:53 pm Open Thread, Personal, Politics

May 162017

It’s another day, and I was busy this morning with paper work. I also composed my grocery order in time for Store to Door to call for it. As usual, another day in the Republican Rectum Reich has brought a new scandal.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today;s took me 4:50 (average 6:32). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From YouTube (GQ Channel): Here’s How Trump Could Already Be Prosecuted | The Resistance with Keith Olbermann

Nixon was impeached and almost charged for covering up corruption and a 3rd rate burglary. Slick Willie was impeached and almost charged for covering up a BJ. What does Trump deserve for covering up high treason? That’s right, but Republicans refuse to obey the law. RESIST!!

From The New Yorker: Three men alleged to be prominent Russian spies inexplicably gained access to the Oval Office last week and held a high-level meeting there, according to reports.

Eyewitnesses to the meeting said that the three Russian agents spoke at length and shared sensitive intelligence material, at times laughing uproariously.

After approximately an hour, the meeting broke up, with two of the spies leaving the Oval Office and the third remaining behind.

News that agents of the Russian Federation had somehow eluded the Secret Service in order to hold a meeting in the Oval Office sent shock waves through Washington on Monday evening.

Andy, there is no satire there. RESIST!!

From NY Times: President Trump boasted about highly classified intelligence in a meeting with the Russian foreign minister and ambassador last week, providing details that could expose the source of the information and the manner in which it was collected, a current and a former American government official said Monday.

The intelligence disclosed by Mr. Trump in a meeting with Sergey V. Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, and Sergey I. Kislyak, the Russian ambassador to the United States, was about an Islamic State plot, according to the officials. A Middle Eastern ally that closely guards its own secrets provided the information, which was considered so sensitive that American officials did not share it widely within the United States government or pass it on to other allies.

Is this why Russian press was allowed in, but US press was not? Were it not his right to declassify, this would be high treason. After this, no sane leader will share intelligence with the US again . RESIST!!

Cartoon:

Flip the House. Impeach the Bastards!

Posted by TomCat at 1:25 pm Politics

May 152017

Trump’s many crimes are now so obvious that Trumbo is even bragging about them, confident that Democrats are powerless to stop him, because Republicans control both the House and the Senate. He knows that the possibility that Republicans will ever put America ahead of their own Republican Reich are nil.

For now, Democrats can only ask for the "tapes" that President Donald Trump has suggested may exist of his conversations with fired FBI Director James Comey. But if the party takes back the House next year, it can subpoena them.

The supposed "tapes" are just one of a number of issues Democrats are already plotting to pursue if they win control of Congress’ vast arsenal of investigative powers — raising the stakes on the 2018 congressional midterm elections.

"When we take back the House in 2018, Democrats are going to hold this administration accountable," said Rep. David Cicilline, D-R.I., a member of the party leadership. "And we’ll make sure there are real consequences for anyone who tries to use their elected office for personal gain…especially President Trump."…

From <NBC News>

Investigation is just the first step. The second is to impeach the bastards, including Trump, Pence, Ryan and so far down the Presidential succession queue that the President will be afraid to breathe without bipartisan support. I am assuming that, if we have taken the House, we will also have taken the Senate.

Campaign 2018 must begin NOW!

RESIST!!

Open Thread – 5/15/2017

Posted by TomCat at 1:24 pm Open Thread, Personal, Politics, Religion

May 152017

I rescheduled my Oncologist appointment for next Monday. It's to set up a series of annual exams to make sure there was no metastasis from the choroidal melanoma in my eye, now in remission. In addition I had to make a few other phone calls that burned most of my morning.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today's took me 4:15 (average 4:43). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Daily Kos (Classic 5/2014): A threatening "Mother's Day" video aimed at women calling for gun. reforms

This clip is three years old, It demonstrates that Trump is just a symptom of the diseased Republican Party. They were hateful and violent long before Fuhrer Drumpfenfarten. RESIST!!

From Think Progress: President Donald Trump outlined a deeply religious vision of America while speaking to graduates of a conservative Christian college on Saturday, invoking his own version of Christian nationalism and touting policies friendly to right-wing faithful.

Trump received a warm welcome at Liberty University, the largest Christian college in America, where most students claim a conservative evangelical faith. The venue was an especially safe one for the president, as white evangelicals offered Trump resounding support on Election Day and still view his presidency favorably. What’s more, Liberty president Jerry Falwell Jr. has been a longtime backer of Trump — recently describing him as a “dream president for evangelicals” — and lauded the businessman during his introduction for taking action on issues dear to right-wing faithful such as appointing a conservative Supreme Court justice.

FYI, "Christian Nationalism" is just a sneaky way to refer to Anti-American Dominion Theology. RESIST!!

From Robert Reich: The question is no longer whether there are grounds to impeach Donald Trump. It is when enough Republicans will put their loyalty to America ahead of their loyalty to their party.

Trump’s statements last week about his firing of former FBI director James Comey provide ample evidence that Trump engaged in an obstruction of justice – a major charge in impeachment proceedings brought against Richard M. Nixon and Bill Clinton.

It’s worth recalling that the illegality underlying Nixon’s impeachment was a burglary at the Watergate complex, while the illegality underlying Clinton’s was lying to a grand jury about sex with an intern in the White House.

Trump’s obstruction is potentially far more serious. It involves an investigation about whether Trump or his aides colluded with Russia in rigging a presidential election – the most direct assault on American democracy in history.

I agree with Robert Reich, but believe that Republicans will never put country ahead of party. That's why every Republican in office is one Republican too many. RESIST!!

Cartoon:

Have you heard from Patty?

Happy Mothers Day

Posted by TomCat at 12:20 pm Holiday, Politics

May 142017

MothersDay

Thanks and kudos to mothers.

Bless all who are one.

Bless all who have one.

This greeting excludes

Those Republicans for whom

The term ‘mother’ requires

A second, more explicit, word.

RESIST!!

Open Thread – 5/14/2017

Posted by TomCat at 12:19 pm Open Thread, Personal, Politics

May 142017

I’m trying to finish as much as I can early, because Wendy is due soon to de-stink the sticky TomCat and help with household tasks. I’ll probably publish this shortly after Noon, about four hours from now.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:58 (average 5:02). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From YouTube (SNL Channel): Lester Holt Cold Open – SNL

Dang! I never expected SNL to do straight news, but it’s all so accurate! RESIST!!

From Mediaite: Per their report, Chaffetz has actually been telling his Republican colleagues he’s heading for the Donald Trump-approved universe of Fox News.

Here’s what Elaina Plott wrote:

According to two GOP lawmakers who have spoken to Chaffetz directly and four senior House Republican aides, Chaffetz has been telling people he’ll take on what one source calls a “substantial role” in on-air talent at Fox News Channel, possibly as early as July, amplifying whispers that Chaffetz will not finish out his current term.

What landing strip could be more appropriate than the Republican Reichsministry of propaganda, Faux Noise, for the Republican coward, who ran from the House pseudo-investigation of Trump treason. RESIST!!

From NY Times: What do Paul Ryan, Mitch McConnell and other Republican leaders think a president may say or do and still deserve their enthusiastic support? We offer this handy reference list in hopes of protecting them from charges of hypocrisy in the future. They can consult it should they ever feel tempted to insist on different standards for another president. So, herewith, the Congressional Republican’s Guide to Presidential Behavior.

If you are the president, you may freely:

• attack private citizens on Twitter
• delegitimize federal judges who rule against you
• refuse to take responsibility for military actions gone awry
• fire the F.B.I. chief in the middle of his expanding investigation into your campaign and your associates
• accuse a former president, without evidence, of an impeachable offense
• employ top aides with financial and other connections to a hostile foreign power

I shared just the first six abominations. Click through for the other eleven. RESIST!!

Cartoon:

0514Cartoon