TomCat

Monthly Report for June 2015

Posted by TomCat at 11:34 am Monthly Report, Politics

Jul 022015

In June, Politics Plus was little changed from April and May, for which I was again too ill to provide a report..

Here is our latest summary:

Stats6-2015

Data from June 2015:

Reported period	Month Jun 2015
First visit	01 Jun 2015 – 00:00
Last visit	30 Jun 2015 – 23:58
	Unique visitors	Number of visits	Pages	Hits	Bandwidth
Viewed traffic *	8,798	27,484 (3.12 visits/visitor)	79,415 (2.88 Pages/Visit)	212,991 (7.74 Hits/Visit)	3.04 GB (116.09 KB/Visit)
Not viewed traffic *			315,608	358,347	5.55 GB

Data from June 2014:

Reported period	Month Jun 2014
First visit	01 Jun 2014 – 00:01
Last visit	30 Jun 2014 – 23:59
	Unique visitors	Number of visits	Pages	Hits	Bandwidth
Viewed traffic *	14,815	39,586 (2.67 visits/visitor)	111,345 (2.81 Pages/Visit)	372,345 (9.4 Hits/Visit)	5.17 GB (136.87 KB/Visit)
Not viewed traffic *			343,004	385,036	4.73 GB

This June was a huge decline from last year.

Here is our latest demographic data from Quantcast:

QUS6-2015

They miss a ton of raw data, but among those they can identify they are a valuable source of information. We are still mostly older, well educated, poor, and politically active.

Here is our latest ClustrMap:

CMap6-2015

ClustrMap misses a lot of, because many visits can’t be easily traced to a location. It shows only the visits from March 3 to June 23, when it was last updated.

Here are our top five articles:

Jane Smiley: Capitalist Pigs 1/17/2010 2,087
Americans Know Inequality Hurts America 5/5/2015 578
The Return of Death Panel BS 8/12/3013 441
Response to Papal Encyclical 6/19/2015 220
This Week’s Idiotic Republican Moments 6/7/2015 184

The count represents only the people who followed an external link to that specific article. I’m quite surprised and pleased that two from June made the cut, because I posted so few articles.

Here are our top non-blog/news referrers:

Care2 2,000
Google 1,306
Stumbleupon 184

Two are down. Care2 is up.

Here are our top blog/news referrers:

http://bildungblog.blogspot.com/
http://www.oakcreekforum.blogspot.com/
http://infidel753.blogspot.com/
http://hamsandwich66.blogspot.com/
http://zenman1550.tumblr.com/
http://www.synapticstew.com/
http://alterx.blogspot.ca/
http://mockpaperscissors.com/

Normally I have included fifteen here, but these eight are the only ones with two or more referrals. This is the one stat that disappoints me most, because it means that we are no longer a go-to site for bloggers. However, it’s better than last time, when we had only four. Putting their links here increases the ratings of their sites, so this “linkey love” is our thank you for their support.

Here are our top commentators. As the resident Big Mouth, I don’t count. Those who leave their URLs in their comment headers, also get “linkey-love” here.

Lynn Squance (111)
Joanne D (110)
Edie (89)
jla (87)
Patty (75)
Lona Goudswaard (63)
Pat A (61)
SoINeedAName (61)
Jim Phillips (54)
Vivian B. (37)
Jerry Critter (28)
Avril Lomas (6)
Arielle (5)
Beth (5)
Dotti Lydon (5)
Infidel753 (5)
mamabear (5)

There are over 15, because of a tie. People who submit articles to Care2 can use their submitted news link from there. These are the people that kept PP alive during my illnesses, medical appointment mayhem, and volunteer work overload.

We have 209,024 links on other websites.

As of Midnight on July 1, we have 5,605 articles and 65,291 comments.

Kudos to Yvonne White for posting the 65,000th comment.

I recommend using your own avatar. Go to Gravatar. Sign up using the email address you use to post comments here and upload the image you want to use as your avatar. Whenever you comment under that email address here or on any WordPress blog (several others too), that image will become your avatar.

To be clear, we’ve had four very weak months, and that is not your fault in any way. The main cause was severe back-to-back bouts of flu, a plethora of unrelated medical appointments, a volunteer trip and loads of volunteer work, and two extended heat waves. I can only hope that improves. The Clown Car is full and overflowing with presidential hopefuls, all of whom, without exception, will destroy this nation, if elected. Even SCROTUS is behaving mildly to make the Party appear less extreme. Whether you support Bernie or Hillary, I ask that you refrain from attacking the other and base your arguments on the good things about your choice. However, it’s open season (politically) on the Republican candidates. They and the Republican Bubble Machine will be repeating so many lies so often that we’ll be hard pressed to keep repeating the truths. I’ll do my best to assist you, by exposing the lies and presenting the truths clearly.

Thank you for all that you do, here and elsewhere. You are what keeps this site going!!

Open Thread–7/2/2015

Posted by TomCat at 11:33 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Jul 022015

The heat wave continues. I took a thermometer down the hall to the shower room with me at 4:00 AM. Because the building collects the heat the temperature was 102°. I hate taking a shower and mopping up my own sweat, before I finish drying. Portland remains under a severe weather alert for excessive heat through the weekend. I did manage, however to get about 6 hours sleep in the last 24.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 2:52 (average 5:25). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Fantasy Football Recruiting:

We still need one or two new players for Lefty Blog Friends, our fantasy football league. We’re trying to get Viv in, but are not sure if it will support her smart phone. How about you? For more information, click here.

Short Takes:

From Daily Kos: There have been so many ridiculous responses to the Supreme Court ruling on the side of marriage equality, it would be quite the challenge to pinpoint the stupidest of them all. The Who’s Who of right-wing crackpots seem to all have a bet going to see which one of them can make the most outlandish, perverse statement against all this gay marriage having. I believe we may have a real contender for top prize in Arkansas pastor Tim Brooks.

David Barton, who delights in wildly distorting American history to suit his fundamentalist Christian beliefs, founded an organization called Wallbuilders [Republican hate group delinked]. Of course they have their own radio show called Wallbuilders Live. It was on their whackadoodle airwaves that Pastor Brooks gave us what very well may have been the most over-the-top overreaction of over-the-top overreactions.

His voice rising to fever pitch, Brooks asserted that America has gone the way of Sodom and Gomorrah. He then leaps to the logical conclusion that gay people will be coming to your home, dragging you into the street, bending you over and having at you with lusty gusto.

If ever there was a case of projection, this is it. What this Republican Supply-side pseudo-Christian describes with his antichristian lies is exactly what the Republican Party is doing to the American people.

From Washington Post: …Today, as he works toward his run at the White House, Bush touts his business experience as a strength that gives him the skills and savvy to serve as the nation’s chief executive. He has said he “worked my tail off” to succeed. As an announced candidate, Bush soon will be making financial disclosures that will reveal recent business successes and show a substantial increase in his wealth since he left office as Florida governor in 2007, individuals close to the candidate told The Post.

But records, lawsuits, interviews and newspaper accounts stretching back more than three decades present a picture of a man who, before he was elected Florida governor in 1998, often benefited from his family connections and repeatedly put himself in situations that raised questions about his judgment and exposed him to reputational risk…

Criminal business dealings runs in Strike Three’s family. GW ChickenHawk’s scams are legendary, and the clan’s patriarch, Prescott Bush, committed treason. He continued to profit by selling war materials to Hitler, even after the US and Germany were at war.

From Upworthy: As if Dolly Parton wasn’t cool enough, look what she’s been doing for kids — every single month.

Kudos to Dolly! While she won’t get involved in "politics", we know that she is not a Republican, because she supports gay marriage and women’s rights. Rumor has it that she tried to be a feminist once, but when she tried to burn her bra, they had to call the fire department to put it out. Winking smile

Cartoon:

0702Cartoon

Happy Canada Day

Posted by TomCat at 12:32 pm Holiday, Politics

Jul 012015

Canada Day

Best wishes to out neighbors to the north. We offer these in the spirit of brotherhood in spite of the act of war committed against us by exporting Ted Cruz to the US. 😉

Poll Results–7/1/2015

Posted by TomCat at 12:31 pm Blog News, Politics

Jul 012015

Here are the results of our “Most Likely Clown” 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.

0701Poll

Our Polling Host no longer allows us to copy and paste your comments made when taking the poll. To read them, click here.

With the majority, I voted for Strike Three. I think this primary season will be muck like it was in 2012 for Republicans. While an overwhelming majority of the rabid base wanted anyone but Little Lord Willard, Banksters ruled by pitting the wing-nuts against each other. I think Strike Three is their choice this time.

A new poll is up.

Open Thread–7/1/2015

Posted by TomCat at 12:31 pm Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Jul 012015

I’m still feeling quite ill, but it’s a new month and I’m swamped. It’s a grocery delivery day, and I have a Monthly Report and a new poll to prepare. I did get some sleep, but need more. The record heat wave goes on and on and on.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:43 (average 5:34). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Fantasy Football Recruiting:

Short Takes:

From Upworthy: A man with a headache walks into a hospital and is whisked into the rigmarole of American health care. He’s floored by what he learns at the end of his visit. Hint: It isn’t his diagnosis. It’s his hospital bill.

Now that the battle for the ACA is won, it’s time grow it into Medicare for all.

From National Popular Vote: TELL YOUR LEGISLATORS TO SUPPORT A NATIONAL POPULAR VOTE FOR PRESIDENT

Oregon is ignored in presidential races by both parties because candidates have no reason to pay attention to the concerns of voters in states where they are comfortably ahead or hopelessly behind. Presidential campaigns are conducted in only about 9 closely divided "battleground" states — making Oregon and most other states into mere "spectators" to the presidential election.

Tell your State Legislators to support the National Popular Vote Bill. The bill would guarantee the Presidency to the candidate who receives the most popular votes in all fifty states and the District of Columbia. This would make every vote equal throughout the United States. That, in turn, would ensure that every Oregon voter would matter in every presidential election.

Click Through to find the National Popular Vote project in your state. Oregonians, click through to contact your legislators.

From MSNBC: Chris Christie political bridge burning haunts him for 2016

Robert Costa, national political reporter for The Washington Post, talks with Rachel Maddow about how New Jersey governor Chris Christie made enemies of his fellow Republicans during the Romney campaign and now works from a deficit for 2016.

Rachel leaves no stone unturned here. For the effect of PIGnocchio boarding the Clown Car, see below.

Cartoon:

0701Cartoon

A Tale of Two Courts

Posted by TomCat at 10:44 am Politics

Jun 302015

Of all the Supreme Court decisions in the closing week, the one that upset me most was the 5-4 decision that declares that death by slow torture is not cruel and unusual punishment. The dissents by Ginsburg and Breyer were the refreshing part of the decision. Using this decision as a backdrop, consider the two different Courts that may exist ten years from now.

Justice Harry Blackmun got there in 1994, after twenty-four years on the bench. For Justice John Paul Stevens, it took twenty-three years. Today, after twenty-two and twenty-one years, respectively, Justices Stephen Breyer and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, too, now recognize there is no constitutionally sufficient way to implement the death penalty.

The pair were among the dissenters from a 5-4 decision of the court this morning which held that Oklahoma death row defendants failed to prove that there was a less painful method of death available to them, and they had no right to a painless death. "Because it is settled that capital punishment is constitutional," wrote Justice Alito for the Court, “it necessarily follows that there must be a constitutional means of carrying it out. And because some risk of pain is inherent in any method of execution, we have held that the Constitution does not require the avoidance of all risk of pain."

To Justices Breyer and Ginsburg, however, enough’s enough:

In 1976, the Court thought that the constitutional infirmities in the death penalty could be healed; the Court in effect delegated significant responsibility to the States to develop procedures that would protect against those constitutional problems. Almost 40 years of studies, surveys, and experience strongly indicate, however, that this effort has failed. Today’s administration of the death penalty involves three fundamental constitutional defects: (1) serious unreliability, (2) arbitrariness in application, and (3) unconscionably long delays that undermine the death penalty’s penological purpose. Perhaps as a result, (4) most places within the United States have abandoned its use.

I shall describe each of these considerations, emphasizing changes that have occurred during the past four decades. For it is those changes, taken together with my own 20 years of experience on this Court, that lead me to believe that the death penalty, in and of itself, now likely constitutes a legally prohibited “cruel and unusual punishmen[t].” U. S. Const., Amdt. 8.

If you thought the next presidential election was crucial already, it just got a whole lot bigger. Four Justices (Kennedy, Scalia, Ginsburg, and Breyer) are between 77 and 82 years old. Elections matter… [emphasis original]

Inserted from <Daily Kos>

Click through for much more information.

Now, consider a Court in which Sturmbannführer Scalia, and Kennedy, along with Ginsburg and Breyer were replaced with Justices just like Ginsburg and Breyer. Such a Court would make Constitutional decisions. The Fascist Five Injustices of SCROTUS, Republican Constitutional VD, would have become the Toddler Tantrum Three. America would be on the mend.

On the other hand, consider a Court in which Ginsburg and Breyer, along with Scalia and Kennedy were replaced with Injustices just like Sturmbannführer Scalia, Teabag Thomas, and Scalito. Such a Court would establish permanent, totalitarian Republican Reich. The Fascist Five Injustices of SCROTUS would become the Sedition Seven. America would not survive.

In this Tale of Two Courts, which Court do you want? What are you willing to do to get it?

Open Thread–6/30/2015

Posted by TomCat at 10:43 am Open Thread, Plus, Politics, Religion

Jun 302015

I feel exhausted. My COPD is flaring up severely. Every time I try to sleep, coughing prevents it. Today I have an all MSNBC Short Takes section for you., and a second article. Tomorrow is a grocery delivery day.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 2:52 (average 4:55). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Fantasy Football Recruiting:

We still need two new players for Lefty Blog Friends, our fantasy football league. How about you? For more information, click here.

Short Takes:

From MSNBC: GOP candidates resist gay marriage

Republican presidential hopefuls vow to continue the fight against marriage equality despite the Supreme Court’s ruling. Ed Schultz, Rep. Mark Pocan, Mike Rogers and Tobias Wolff talk it out.

Hypocrites all! Mike Rogers had it right: "It looks like sheer InsaniTEA." Retention elections for SCROTUS, Republican Constitutional VD, is a terrible idea. I would support however term limits for both Democratic Justices and Republican Injustices.

From MSNBC: Who is burning black churches?

The FBI and ATF are now helping investigate a string of fires at black churches in the South since the massacre in Charleston, at least three of which are being investigated as arson, prompting #WhoIsBurningBlackChurches to trend nationally on Twitter.

Chris didn’t quite come out and say what he is thinking. I did. See my cartoon below.

From MSNBC: Top tier GOP candidate Trump dealt blow to business for Mexico remarks

Rachel Maddow reviews the latest developments in the crowded Republican 2016 primary field, including Donald Trump polling in second place nationally but suffering for his remarks about Mexican immigrants, with NBC now severing ties with him.

Kudos to NBC. Nobody has ever deserves to get fired more than Hairball does. But I want him on that debate stage to give the clown car a flat tire. I hope PIGnocchio is indicted before the debates begin, Morfan has him perfectly pegged.

Cartoon:

0630Cartoon

Open Thread–6/29/2015

Posted by TomCat at 10:57 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics, Religion

Jun 292015

I have actually slept almost four hours out of the last 24. About two hours ago, the building restoration company finished the job, loaded their equipment and left, so I hope to sleep more, to the extent that congestion from my COPD will allow. Today’s and tomorrow’s high is forecast at 88°. Every other day through 7/8 is forecast at over 90°, so I will get no relief from the extreme weather climate change engenders. Today I have an all Kos short takes section to round out this article. Lets hope I can get some sleep, because I’m bleary-eyed.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 2:42 (average 4:53). To do it click here. How did you do?

Fantasy Football Recruiting:

We still need two (maybe one) new players for Lefty Blog Friends, our fantasy football league. How about you? For more information, click here. Viv, did you get the invitation sent you from NFL.com?

Short Takes:

From Daily Kos: Republicans keep making up quotes from Founding Fathers

Barf Bag Alert!!

None of the Founding Fathers said any of these things, ofr course.

From Daily Kos: hxtp://mikehuckabee.com/… [Upchuck Huck delinked]

"The Supreme Court has spoken with a very divided voice on something only the Supreme Being can do-redefine marriage. I will not acquiesce to an imperial court any more than our Founders acquiesced to an imperial British monarch. We must resist and reject judicial tyranny, not retreat.

"This ruling is not about marriage equality, it’s about marriage redefinition. This irrational, unconstitutional rejection of the expressed will of the people in over 30 states will prove to be one of the court’s most disastrous decisions, and they have had many. The only outcome worse than this flawed, failed decision would be for the President and Congress, two co-equal branches of government, to surrender in the face of this out-of-control act of unconstitutional, judicial tyranny."

"The Supreme Court can no more repeal the laws of nature and nature’s God on marriage than it can the law of gravity. Under our Constitution, the court cannot write a law, even though some cowardly politicians will wave the white flag and accept it without realizing that they are failing their sworn duty to reject abuses from the court. If accepted by Congress and this President, this decision will be a serious blow to religious liberty, which is the heart of the First Amendment."

So basically he disqualifies himself from becoming President by imposing his religious beliefs on others. Of course he paints himself as being persecuted, that’s the really hilarious part, I get married, he is persecuted, balderdash.

RepubliSpeak Dictionary
Religious Freedom: Their freedom to force YOU to obey the gospel of hate, lies and greed taught by Republican Supply-side pseudo-Christianity, which has nothing whatsoever in common with authentic Christianity.

From Daily Kos: From The Charlotte Observer:

Charlotte Fire Department is investigating an early morning fire at Briar Creek Road Baptist Church as arson, Senior Fire Investigator David Williams said.

A 911 emergency call received at 12:52 a.m. turned into a third alarm by 1:21 a.m., with a total of 14 engines and 75 firefighters on hand to quell the flames. Williams said it took around an hour to get the fire under control.

…

The pastor at Briar Creek Road Baptist Church, Mannix Kinsey, is African American. The co-pastor is his wife, Rhonda Kinsey. About 100 people, most of them black, attend the church. It also shares the campus with two or three immigrant churches, including one whose members were born in Nepal.

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/…

Investigators can’t yet say for sure if it was a hate crime, but they have determined it was arson.

Like so many other Republican Party functions, sheets and hoods were welcome, but optional.

Late Update: SCROTUS ruled for the Arizona Redistricting Commission and for cruel and unusual punishment, condemning death penalty recipients to death by slow torture through lethal injection using experimental poisons.

Cartoon:

0629Cartoon

62 years ago, I was 5 . A stamp was $.03. Bread was $0.16. I think I’ve waited too long for another infrastructure project.

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