TomCat

My Christmas Greeting

Posted by TomCat at 7:34 am Holiday, Politics

Dec 252016

CMasPP

This year, once again, I wish you a very Merry Christmas, or whatever holiday is appropriate to your beliefs. I have collected a few Christmas Songs for your enjoyment, and sadly, for the first time, a warning for the coming year.

Performed by Olivia Newton John

Performed by the Harry Simeone Choir

Performed by Martina McBride

Performed by Celtic Woman

And finally, Happy Holidays to our Republican visitors. Here’s what you want most.

Finally, I must give you a warning for next year:

And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name

that sat on him was Trump, and Hell followed with him.

And power was given unto them over the fourth part of

the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with

death, and with the beasts of the earth.

RESIST!!

Open Thread – 12/25/2016

Posted by TomCat at 7:33 am Monthly Report, Open Thread, Politics, Religion

Dec 252016

I did most of the research for this article last night, so I could hit the ground running today and get a nap, before Wendy comes, so I can watch my Broncos without falling asleep. Please be sure to catch today’s lead article, my Christmas greeting to you. Hugs!!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:33 (average 8:13). To do it, click here. How did you do?

A Fascist (Republican) Nativity:

It was drawn byJoanna Wieruszewska from Poland. She asked for her brother Marek Wieruszewski to be credited with the idea for the drawing. Hat-Tip: SoINeedAName

Short Takes:

From Daily Kos (Classic 12/2014): According to Scott McConnell’s 100 Voices: An Oral History of Ayn Rand she did indeed. Unfortunately, none are included in McConnell’s 656 page book.

Fortunately, with a little help from the Ayn Rand Archives*, we’re able to present to you this exclusive, never-before-seen collection of Ayn Rand favorites.

1225ayn_rand_01

1225ayn_rand_14

I shared 2. Click through for the rest. Rand is Lyin’ Ryan’s hero.

From Raw Story: On Friday, former Green Party candidate Jill Stein—who launched a recount effort in Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania following the election of Donald Trump—asked U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch to investigate the integrity of the nation’s electoral system, the Hill reports.

“We write to urge the Department of Justice to launch an investigation into the integrity of our nation’s election system generally, and our nation’s voting machines specifically, based on the information we discovered in the course of this representation,” Stein’s counsel wrote in a letter to Lynch.

The letter urged the department to focus specifically on human and machine error that may impact voting machines in future elections.

While I agree with her request, it’s another publicity stunt. She proved that she cares nothing about the integrity of US elections every time she parroted Russian lies on Putin’s propaganda network, RT.

From Politico: As Putin climbed the ranks in the Kremlin, eventually becoming the autocratic president he is today, he and Kissinger kept up a warm rapport even as the United States and Russia grew further apart. Kissinger is one of the few Americans to meet frequently with Putin, one former U.S. ambassador recently recalled — along with movie star Steven Seagal and ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson, the likely next secretary of state.

Now, as Donald Trump signals that he wants a more cooperative relationship with Moscow, the 93-year-old Kissinger is positioning himself as a potential intermediary — meeting with the president-elect in private and flattering him in public. Like Trump, Kissinger has also cast doubt on intelligence agencies’ conclusion that Russia sought to sway the election in Trump’s favor, telling a recent interviewer: “They were hacking, but the use they allegedly made of this hacking eludes me.”

In addition to many other atrocities, Kissinger is the bastard that engineered the violent overthrow and murder of Chile’s elected President Salvatore Allende, a democratic socialist, and the takeover by Agosto Pinochet, one of the century’s most brutal fascist dictators. Kissinger organized CIA training of Pinochet’s death squads in torture, disappearing and murder of tens of thousands of Chilean citizens. He did this to exploit Chile’s copper for US vulture capitalists. As such, Kissinger will fit right in with other members of Trump’s Reich.

Cartoon:

Doing the Right Thing at Last!

Posted by TomCat at 1:35 pm Politics

Dec 242016

The United Nations has a pretty good track record for voting overwhelmingly to censure both Arab States that have supported Palestinian attacks against Israeli civilians, and Israel for atrocities against Palestinian civilian and occupation of Palestinian territory by force. The problem is that one member of the UN Security Council with veto power has consistently vetoed only the actions taken against Israel. Finally Obama directed our Ambassador to the UN to do the right thing at last.

Defying extraordinary pressure from President-elect Donald J. Trump and furious lobbying by Israel, the Obama administration on Friday allowed the United Nations Security Council to adopt a resolution that condemned Israeli settlement construction.

The administration’s decision not to veto the measure reflected its accumulated frustration over Israeli settlements. The American abstention on the vote also broke a longstanding policy of shielding Israel from action at the United Nations that described the settlements as illegal.

While the resolution is not expected to have any practical impact on the ground, it is regarded as a major rebuff to Israel, one that could increase its isolation over the paralyzed peace process with Israel’s Palestinian neighbors, who have sought to establish their own state on territory held by Israel.

Applause broke out in the 15-member Security Council’s chambers after the vote on the measure, which passed 14 to 0, with the United States ambassador, Samantha Power, raising her hand as the lone abstention. Israel’s ambassador, Danny Danon, denounced the measure, and castigated the council members who had approved it…

From <NY Times>

MSNBC Interviewed Cal Perry for an explanation of the US abstention.

Note that the resolution does nothing to harm Israel. It is merely a notice from the world that the current government’s attempts to take all the land by attrition instead of the two state solution guaranteed by treaty is illegal and immoral.

It’s important that you understand that not all Jews oppose this measure. We hear mostly about AIPAC, but that most Jews fail to understand that organization is bankrolled and at least partially dominated by non-Jewish Republicans, especially Dominionist Republican Supply-side pseudo-Christians. Here is the authentic voice of liberal American Jews.

J Street welcomes the decision today by the Obama administration to abstain from voting on a United Nations Security Council resolution, which reaffirms the need for a two-state solution and calls for a halt to actions by both sides that serve to undermine the prospects for peace.

The resolution is consistent with longstanding bipartisan American policy, which includes strong support for the two-state solution, and clear opposition to irresponsible and damaging actions, including Palestinian incitement and terror and Israeli settlement expansion and home demolitions.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict can only end based on mutual agreement between Israelis and Palestinians, and President Obama has repeatedly stated his opposition to the United Nations – or any other entity – imposing a binding resolution on the parties. He also has stated and demonstrated a commitment to vetoing UNSC resolutions that are one-sided or anti-Israel… [emphasis added]

From <J Street>

Finally, if you have any doubt, here’s the final proof. Both Netanyahu and Trump oppose it. Kudos to Obama!

Open Thread – 12/24/2016

Posted by TomCat at 1:34 pm Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Dec 242016

Just to give you an idea how busy I've been, today is a holy day in the Church of the Ellipsoid Orb, and I didn't even know it until five minutes ago. Most of the league meditates today, but my Broncos meditate with the Chiefs in one of the two Christmas games tomorrow, so I'll get to watch it. So for today, may the Orb shine its blessed light on your team. I'm running late, even thought I arose early, because I cooked the ham for tomorrow's feast with Wendy. And, of course, I'm pooped.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today's took me 2:51 (average 4:55). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From YouTube (TYT Channel): Trump Backer: Michelle Obama Should Live In Africa With Apes

Paladino, who the Reich nominated for Governor in NY, typifies the Fuhrer's Republican Party.

From NY Times: Within hours of confirming plans to appear at the inauguration of Donald J. Trump, the Radio City Rockettes were plunged into a maelstrom of social media outrage on Friday amid reports that the performers were contractually obligated to dance at the ceremony or lose their jobs.

But as the day wore on, both the Madison Square Garden Company, which manages the Rockettes, and the dancers’ union, the American Guild of Variety Artists, said that any of the dancers could opt out of the Jan. 20 performance in Washington.

1224rockettes

They should all boycott. In this position, Rockettes are far too vulnerable to be grabbed by the Peach Pervert.

From Think Progress: Officials from Donald Trump’s transition team submitted requests to at least two cabinet departments demanding they hand over the names of any government employees who are working on programs that seek to combat the rise of violent extremism, according to a report from Reuters.

The news wire obtained a copy of an email sent from members of Trump’s transition team to the State Department, asking for the identities of anyone working on anti-extremism programs. “Please indicate names of people serving in those roles and status (political or career),” the email says.

While the State Department deals largely with threats posed by foreign extremists and international terrorist organizations like ISIS, a similar request was made of the Department of Homeland Security. In addition to their work on international terrorism, DHS focuses on domestic threats as well, including the rise of right-wing extremism. A 2012 report from DHS outlined the growing threat of so-called “sovereign citizen extremists,” pockets of far-right activists who reject, sometimes violently, the authority of government… [emphasis added]

I have no doubt that the Tangerine Traitor will ask his adopted Russian daddy to prepare accommodations for them in Siberia.

Cartoon:

Support Keith Ellison!

Posted by TomCat at 10:18 am Politics

Dec 232016

Although it is usually drowned out by the horrific daily outrages perpetrated by Fuhrer Drumpfenfarten and his coming Republican Reich, another battle is being waged here in the US. It is a contest to determine the immediate future of the Democratic Party. It is imperative that the party move away from the "business as usual" wing, typified by Fancy Nancy Pelosi, Leg Hound Harry Reid and toward the Progressive Wing, typified by Bernie Sanders, Jeff Merkley, and Elizabeth Warren. For that purpose, I endorse Keith Ellison for DNC chair, and urge you to support him.

There is, unfortunately, nothing new about the assault on democracy that is playing out in North Carolina. But Democrats need to make a new commitment to defending democracy—and Congressman Keith Ellison is giving voice to that commitment.

Promising an all-out fight against efforts by North Carolina Republicans to mangle the message of the 2016 election in their state—by dramatically disempowering a newly elected Democratic governor—the contender for the chairmanship of the Democratic National Committee is proposing to remake the Democratic Party as an aggressive force not just for big-“D” Democratic candidates but for small-“d” democratic renewal.

“You gotta be in the fight,” declares Congressman Ellison. “I will be.”

Ellison recognizes that, while this fight may focus initially on North Carolina, it is a national struggle.

He also recognizes that this is an old fight. Meddling with the rules to undermine, weaken, and dismiss the will of the people is nothing new…

From <The Nation>

I urge you to click through and read the rest of this article. I also urge you to call your elected officials and tell them to choose Keith Ellison to head the DNC.

RESIST!!

Open Thread – 12/23/2016

Posted by TomCat at 10:17 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Dec 232016

I must have been really tired, because I slept nine hours last night, something I virtually never do, but instead of feeling rested, I feel "under a Republican" pooped. ARGH!! This morning, I made two kinds of stuffing for Sunday’s feast.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:55 (average 5:09). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From YouTube (Democracy Now Channel): Robert Reich on the First 100 Day Resistance Agenda Against Trump: Protest & "Boycott Everything"

Of course the Reich on the left, Robert Reich, is right, and the Reich on the right, the Republican Reich, is wrong. Boycott Everything! RESIST!!

From MSNBC-All In: Sen. Merkley: Trump ‘has the maturity of a five-year-old’

Sen. Jeff Merkley slams the president-elect’s tweet about expanding our nuclear arsenal, praising President Obama’s efforts to ‘Trump-proof’ the government.

For once I actually have to disagree with Jeff, the Senator I’m proud to have worked to elect, on one of his points. Five is much too generous an estimate of the Fuhrer’s maturity.

From Daily Kos: Quite the pattern developing here: First it was reported that Michael Flynn, Donald Trump’s pick to be national security advisor, had a meeting with the leader of a far-right Austrian political party that was founded by ex-Nazis. And now, a senior member of Trump’s transition team who was in Israel to attend “a gathering of conservative parliamentarians from the US and Europe” joined in a boycott of a high-level briefing with Israel’s deputy foreign minister after Israel refused to allow a Swedish neo-Nazi to attend the meeting:

I find it interesting that the Nincompoop Nazi supports hatred of Jews and also supports Butcher Bibi’s Zionists. I think that Zionists’ oppression of Muslims carries more weight with Trump than their Hebrew identity, as long as his Alt-Right cronies aren’t around.

Cartoon:

Millennials Organize to RESIST!!

Posted by TomCat at 2:53 pm Politics

Dec 222016

In the run-up to and the time since the election theft by Russia and the Pumpkin Plutocrat, I have often been critical of young "Berners", because so many advocated the practice of wasting votes that helped caused this tragedy. But if I slammed them for doing something stupid, it’s only fair that I praise them for doing something right, and that they are.

1222Millennials_bernie_sanders

Young Sanders Campaign Aides Plan Anti-Trump Permanent Protest Base in Washington

The organizers behind Millennials for Bernie are raising money to create an anti-Trump movement headquarters in Washington DC that will be a base for sustained resistance against the next president and his administration. "This house is supposed to be a place for everybody, regardless of what happened in the general election, to come together and fight,"…

Continue reading »

Open Thread – 12/22/2016

Posted by TomCat at 2:52 pm Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Dec 222016

I’m getting a late start today. Wendy’s plane from Lost Wages was delayed, and when she arrived, traffic was so bad that she waited an extra hour for her son to pick her up, and then it took her 2 1/2 hours to get home with her sons and niece, drop them off, and return here. As a result, I got to bed quite late. She also lost my whole $2. Crying face I slept poorly, so I needed to take a nap after doing my morning research. After lunch, I started to work on Christmas dinner. This my first major meal since I lost my leg. Being half blind doesn’t help. Today I cooled 2 lb of fresh Brussels sprouts. They were quite dirty, so I had to wash them. Then I had to trim the ends and remove the outside leaves of each sprout, before cooking them. I’ll make the stuffing tomorrow, roast the ham on Saturday, and make the stuffed potatoes and Hollandaise sauce for the sprouts on Christmas day. Yes, I’m pooped, but what else is new?

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:34 (average 5:25). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From YouTube (GQ Channel): How Our New Corporate Overlords Plan to Thrive

Here’s a special note to third party voters and stay-home non-voters who made this tyranny possible. Bend over, grab your ankles, and while you’re screaming ask yourselves why you made the rest of us suffer this with you. Then RESIST!!

From EgbertoWillies.com: Bill O’Reilly became the chief Trump white nationalist mainstream propaganda mouthpiece with this deceiving rant meant to create political dissension.

“Abolishing the electoral college,” O’Reilly said. “That is the subject of this evening’s’ Talking Points Memo.”

Bill O’Reilly then proceeded with his provocative if not downright racist rant.

BIG Barf Bag Alert!

What Republican Racist O’Lielly isn’t telling you is that when he says marginalizing white rural voters, he means making their votes count the same as those of black urban voters.

From Daily Kos: While Republicans in North Carolina thwart the democratic process of our Constitution by stripping the elected incoming governor of his powers, the Republican governor of Ohio—John “I love war” Kasich—is abusing his powers.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich on Monday signed legislation blocking next year’s special election vote on whether to raise Cleveland’s minimum wage to $15 per hour, according to his office.

Senate Bill 331 prohibits communities in the state from raising the minimum wage beyond the state’s minimum wage rate, currently set at $8.10 per hour. State lawmakers passed the bill earlier this month at the request of Cleveland city officials and others, who sought to forestall a special election on the wage hike next May.

Despite claims to the contrary, KKKasich is NOT a reasonable Republican. Combined with Republican, reasonable is an oxymoron. With or without reasonable, a Republican is just a moron.

Cartoon:

1222Cartoon

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