TomCat

Poll Results – 2/1/2017

Posted by TomCat at 1:31 pm Blog News, Politics

Feb 012017

Here are the results of our “New Year Resolution” 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 or will of the national majority.

0201Poll

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

As my first and only resolution in 20 years, I resolved to RESIST!!

The new poll is on Fuhrer Drumpfenfarten’s stolen Supreme Court pick. Please vote. Then…

RESIST!!

Open Thread – 2/1/2017

Posted by TomCat at 1:30 pm Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Feb 012017

I’m waiting for Store to Door to deliver my groceries. Wendy is coming this evening. I’m swamped with tasks, so please pardon my brevity.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:26 (average 5:50). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From YouTube (RWW Channel): RWW News: Alex Jones Thinks Quebec City Attack Was A False Flag

Barf Bag Alert!!

This is how Republican Supply-side pseudo-Christians try to project their own terrorism onto others. RESIST!!

From The Rachel Maddow Show: Democrats vow to block Trump SCOTUS pick Gorsuch

Senator Jeff Merkley talks with Rachel Maddow about his intention to filibuster Donald Trump’s Supreme Court pick, Neil Gorsuch, after Republicans refused to give former President Obama’s nominee a hearing.

Kudos to Jeff! Oregon leads the way! Just say NO to Neil Whoresuch! RESIST!!

From The New Yorker: Donald Trump fired the acting Attorney General, Sally Q. Yates, after learning that she had downloaded a copy of the United States Constitution to her computer, Trump told reporters on Monday night.

According to the Trump Administration’s code of ethics, established by Steve Bannon, a counsellor to the President, “possessing, reading, or referring to the United States Constitution” is a violation that is punishable by termination.

Suspecting that Yates was in breach of that rule, Bannon seized Yates’s computer at the Justice Department and discovered that she had secretly downloaded a complete copy of the 1789 document.

OK, Andy! It’s time to get back to satire. RESIST!!

Cartoon:

0201Cartoon

The Monday Night Massacre

Posted by TomCat at 1:08 pm Politics

Jan 312017

In October, 1973, Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox had done something Republican [p]Residents can’t stand. He was doing his job. He had just subpoenaed the soon to become infamous Watergate Tapes that contained more than enough criminal evidence to end the career of crooked Richard "I am not a crook" Nixon. Nixon ordered AG Elliot Richardson to fire Cox, Richardson refused, Nixon persisted, and Richardson resigned. Then Nixon order Deputy AG William Ruckelshaus to fire Cox. Ruckelshaus refused, Nixon persisted, and Ruckelshaus resigned. That made Solicitor General Robert Bork Acting AG. Bork fired Cox. This is known as the Saturday night Massacre. Now that we have a Republican in the White House that makes Nixon seem like a choir boy by comparison, it took him only ten days to fire an acting AG for doing her job.

Donald Trump has fired the acting US attorney general after she told justice department lawyers not to defend his executive order banning entry for people from seven Muslim-majority countries.

The White House said on Monday that Sally Yates had “betrayed” the department by refusing to enforce a legal order that was “designed to protect the citizens of the United States”.

Trump drafted in Dana Boente, US attorney for the eastern district of Virginia, to replace Yates as acting attorney general. The president’s official appointee, anti-immigration hardliner Senator Jeff Sessions, is yet to be confirmed by the Senate.

As the country’s top law enforcement official, Yates, who was appointed by Barack Obama, had control over the justice department’s immigration litigation office, which has handled the federal complaints filed against Trump’s order since his bombshell policy was announced on Friday.

“I am responsible for ensuring that the positions we take in court remain consistent with this institution’s solemn obligation to always seek justice and stand for what is right,” Yates wrote in a letter to justice department lawyers. “At present I am not convinced that the defense of the executive order is consistent with these responsibilities nor am I convinced that the executive order is lawful.”… [emphasis added]

From <The Guardian>

Lawrence O’Donnell discussed the incident in detail in two segment of The Last Word.

Kudos also to the other judges, who stood up for the Constitution.

Especially after this, it becomes even more important for Democrats to do everything humanly possible to impede the confirmation of Beauregard Sessions (R-KKK) for AG. There is no doubt that he will goose step in lock step with whatever the Fuhrer wants. as long as it direct hatred towards minorities, LGBT, women or Muslims. Ironically, Beauregard questioned Sally Yates at her confirmation hearing in 2015.

What a hypocrite!!

Open Thread – 1/31/2017

Posted by TomCat at 1:07 pm Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Jan 312017

It’s a new day, so thank God we’re still here in spite of the Nectarine Nuclear Nazi. I figured out how to bring summer on. Because it’s always cold at my desk, I just ordered a pair of fingerless gloves. I have a busy few days. Today I planned meals and composed my grocery list. Store to Door should call for my order shortly. Tomorrow is Grocery Delivery Day. It’s also collect the data and make the graphics for the Monthly Report Day. Finally, it’s a Wendy Day. The 2nd (Thursday) is normally Monthly Report Day, but I’ll have to put that off until Friday, because Thursday is Physical Terrorism with Courtney Day and Groundhog Day, God only knows what that poor rodent will do in a Republican Reich!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 4:42 (average 5:54). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From YouTube (GQ Channel): On Behalf of America, An Apology | The Resistance with Keith Olbermann

Amen! So well said! RESIST!!

From Daily Kos: Republican Governor Greg Abbott’s staff has had to deal with a few unusual pieces of mail over the past few weeks. After having an extreme anti-abortion law overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court last summer, sore loser Gov. Abbott couldn’t leave well enough alone. He ordered the state health department to change the rules governing how fetal tissue from abortions and miscarriages are discarded to require creation or burial. Before December 19, abortion providers were using sanitary landfills.

Since Gov. Abbott used his political power to make one of the pettiest moves to punish Texas women after losing a SCOTUS case, one woman had an idea to protest the mandated mini-funerals:

The call to protest went viral and some women followed through; soiled pads and tampons have been making appearances in Gov. Abbott’s mailbox.

Instead, women could dispose of such product in specially designed porta-potties: ones where every unit comes with a Republican in the tank!

From NY Times: In a world often hostile to migration, Canada has stood out, welcoming thousands of refugees fleeing war and seeking a haven. It has been a feel-good time for Canada, proud of its national tolerance.

On Sunday, that was upended when a man walked into a mosque and started shooting, killing six people and wounding eight. The man accused of being the gunman, Alexandre Bissonnette, was charged with six counts of murder on Monday.

The nation quickly rallied after the attack. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called it an act of terrorism, and there was a collective outpouring of remorse and empathy.

I do not believe this would have happened without the frequent examples of hate, bigotry and violence against Muslims abetted by the Fuhrer and the Republican Reich on our side of the 49th. Canada, on behalf of the Unites States, I apologize.

Cartoon:

0131Cartoon

Justice Democrats

Posted by TomCat at 12:25 pm Politics

Jan 302017

In my wanderings today, I came across something new, that at first glance, left me quite impressed. It’s an organization called Justice Democrats, and their intent is something I’ve been advocating for over ten years. The fastest way for progressives to take power is to take over the Democratic Party and transform it from within into the party we want. Here is an excerpt from their platform.

0130JusticeDemocrats

It’s time to face the facts: the Democratic Party is broken and the corporate, establishment wing of the party is responsible. Republicans now hold most state legislatures, most governorships, the House of Representatives, the Senate, and the presidency. So in 2018, hundreds of Justice Democrats will run a unified campaign to replace every corporate-backed member of Congress and rebuild the party from scratch. This is our plan.

Pass a constitutional amendment to put an end to Washington corruption and bring about election reform. Super PACs should be banned, private donations to politicians and campaigns should be banned, and a clean public financing system should be implemented to end the takeover of our government by corporations and billionaires. Americans deserve free and fair elections – free from the corruption of big money donors. The Supreme Court has effectively legalized bribery. It’s time for an Article 5 convention to take our democracy back from the brink of oligarchy. Prior to passing this amendment, all members of the Justice Party should reject billionaire and corporate donations when running for office to show the American people we don’t just talk the talk, we walk the walk. Ranked choice voting should also be implemented to make smaller parties a viable option. All provisions of the voting rights act should be reinstated, and gerrymandering for partisan gain should be banned.

Re-regulate Wall Street and hold white-collar criminals accountable. Despite engaging in systemic fraud and causing a subprime mortgage meltdown and the great recession, you can count the people from Wall Street who are in prison for their crimes on one hand. It’s time to prosecute the criminals, bring back Glass-Steagall, and re-regulate Wall Street to prevent another crash. Prison is not just for the poor and the middle class anymore. We will have cops on Wall Street, not just Main Street.

End billionaire and corporate tax dodging, fix the system to benefit middle-class and poor people. Corporations dodge $450 billion a year in taxes by using offshore tax havens. We should end this injustice, as well as chain the capital gains tax to the income tax, increase the estate tax, and implement the Buffet rule so that no millionaire CEO pays less in taxes than his or her secretary. It’s time for a tax system that benefits the middle-class and the poor, and makes the top 1% and multinational corporations pay their fair share.

Defend free speech and expression. We support the right to express unpopular opinions without fear of censorship. We support free speech on college campuses. The marketplace of ideas should be embraced. A vibrant debate is healthy for democracy, and we should cherish our first amendment. We also support net neutrality for a free and open internet.

Oppose bigotry. We must speak out against racism, sexism, xenophobia, and all forms of bigotry. Non-discrimination protections that currently apply to race, religion, and gender should be expanded to include the LGBTQ community and the atheist community. Making all Americans equal is not asking for special privileges, it’s asking for the rule of law – justice and equality for all as outlined in the United States Constitution… [emphasis original]

From <Justice Democrats>

Please click through for much more.

Cenk Uygur explained Justice Democrats.

Frankly, it’s about time someone with far more resources that I took on this idea, and I encourage you to visit their site and check it out.

Open Thread – 1/30/2017

Posted by TomCat at 12:24 pm Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Jan 302017

Since the unholy advent of the Republican Rectum Reich, the term OGIM! has taken on an unprecedented air of putrefaction. Every week brings the question: to what new level of evil will the Nectarine Nincompoop Nazi take us this week? Am I the only one shuddering at the thought?

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 6:01 (average 8:18). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Robert Reich: Donald Trump has reorganized the National Security Council – elevating his chief political strategist Steve Bannon, and demoting the Director of National Intelligence and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Bannon will join the NSC’s principals committee, the top inter-agency group advising the President on national security.

Meanwhile, the Director of National Intelligence and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff will now attend meetings only when “issues pertaining to their responsibilities and expertise are to be discussed,” according to the presidential memorandum issued Saturday.

Political strategists have never before participated in National Security Council principals meetings because the NSC is supposed to give presidents nonpartisan, factual advice.

But forget facts. Forget analysis. This is the Trump administration.

And what does Bannon have to bring to the table?

In case you forgot, before joining Donald Trump’s inner circle Bannon headed Breitbart News, a far-right media outlet that has promoted conspiracy theories and is a platform for the alt-right movement, which espouses white nationalism.

This is truly scary.

Former National Security Adviser Susan Rice calls the move “stone cold crazy.” Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who also served under George W. Bush, says the demotions are a “big mistake.”

Republican Sen. John McCain, chairman of the Armed Services Committee, told CBS News, "I am worried about the National Security Council. … The appointment of Mr. Bannon is a radical departure from any National Security Council in history.” McCain added that the “one person who is indispensable would be the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in my view.”

Here’s the big worry. Trump is unhinged and ignorant. Bannon is nuts and malicious. If not supervised by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, their decisions could endanger the world… [emphasis added]

The Reich on the left, Robert Reich, is right. The Reich on the Right, the Republican Reich, is insane. Unterfartenfuhrer Bannon is a Nazi. RESIST!!

From The New Yorker: Calling it a “medical mystery of the first order,” scientists are baffled by the ability of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Paul Ryan to stand upright without the benefit of spines.

Doctors at the University of Minnesota Medical School, who have been studying the skeletal structures of both Republicans for months, believe that their ability to stand, walk, and even break into a brisk trot when confronted by reporters’ questions is “virtually inexplicable.”

“The fact that they can do these things without the aid of spines makes McConnell and Ryan anomalies in the animal kingdom,” said Dr. Davis Logsdon. “According to everything medical science teaches us, their bodies should be collapsing to the ground in two heaps.”

Spot-in, Andy!! In toilet trout fishing terms, Bought Bitch Mitch and Lyin’ Ryan are boneless browns!! RESIST!!

From Think Progress: Donald Trump’s executive order, which blocked all citizens of seven majority-Muslim nations and refugees from any nation from entering the United States, has drawn widespread criticism from the corporate world.

Netflix CEO Reed Hastings called Trump’s order “unAmerican” and said it would “make America less safe (through hatred and loss of allies) rather than more safe.” Slack CEO Stewart Butterfield called Trump’s actions “gratuitously evil.” EBay CEO Devin Wenig said the executive order “fundamentally contradicts our company’s values and America’s values.”

Starbucks, however, is taking things a step further.

In an open letter, CEO Howard Schultz announced that, in response to Trump, Starbucks would hire 10,000 refugees.

Kudos to all these, and especially to Schultz of Starbucks. Let us remind each other, in this time that encourages unthinking knee jerking, that not all corporations, as well as all billionaires, are evil.

Cartoon:

Six Cringes from the First Week of the Reich

Posted by TomCat at 11:24 am Politics

Jan 292017

TrumpKKK

The Republican Reich, guided by the tiny, incompetent hands of Fuhrer Drumpfenfarten had an opening week with lots of outrages and idiocies. Here are just a few of the underreported ones.

6 Cringe-Inducing Moments From Trump’s First Week You Might Have Missed

Amid the mounting horrors of Donald Trump’s first week in office was a stunning amount of boneheaded ridiculousness. The president signed an executive order banning Muslims and refugees from seven countries that rivals Japanese internment camps for racism. He also continued his tantrum about inauguration crowd size and his popular vote loss. He and his puppeteer,…

Continue reading »

Open Thread – 1/29/2017

Posted by TomCat at 11:23 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics, Religion

Jan 292017

Wendy is due in about twenty minutes to sanitize and deodorize the mangy old TomCat, help with housework and cooking, and tighten some nuts and bolts on my chair, si I want to write as much of this as I can, before she arrives. I’ll finish after she leaves.

Fluffed, buffed and stuffed!!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:11 (average 4:41). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From YouTube (TYT Channel): Federal Court Stops Trump’s Muslim Ban! Gigantic Airport Protests Against Trump!

Amen Cenk! Kudos to all who are doing the right thing! RESIST!!

From USA Today: The leaders of the powerful network aligned with billionaires Charles and David Koch aim to raise and spend between $300 million and $400 million over the next two years to advance their free-market policy and political agenda, officials said Saturday.

The target, announced at the opening of the network’s annual winter gathering for donors, marks a substantial increase from the $250 million the network spent to influence political battles in the 2016 election and help Republicans retain their grip on the Senate.

Although Charles Koch refused to throw his political might behind President Trump’s candidacy, his top political operatives on Saturday signaled support for some of Trump’s actions during the first week of his presidency and a willingness to collaborate with his administration on other top Koch priorities, such as repealing the 2010 Affordable Care Act.

How many Koch suckers can they buy for $400 million? RESIST!!

From TPM:

The White House announced today that the decision not to mention Jews or anti-Semitism in its announcement commemorating Holocaust remembrance day was intentional. According to White House spokeswoman Hope Hicks, the statement made no mentions of Jews out of respect for the non-Jews who died in Nazi labor camps and death camps during World War II. Hicks told CNN: "Despite what the media reports, we are an incredibly inclusive group and we took into account all of those who suffered."

I think it far more likely that the failure to mention Jews is that the author of the Fuhrer’s statement, Unterfartenfuhrer Bannon, is a Nazi. RESIST!!

Cartoon:

0129Cartoon

This cartoon is four years old today. There are universal constants.

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