TomCat

Open Thread–4/3/2015

Posted by TomCat at 1:21 pm Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Apr 032015

I’m still well short of 100%, but the news at hand is too important to leave it to Republicans to misinterpret.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:52 (average 5:33). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Media Matters: CNN’s Jake Tapper grilled a lawmaker who sponsored Arkansas’ "Religious Freedom Restoration Act" (RFRA), demonstrating the hypocrisy of conservatives who deny that "religious freedom" laws are intended to protect anti-gay discrimination.

Conservative media outlets have been scrambling to defend "religious freedom" laws in places like Indiana and Arkansas, which provide a legal defense for businesses and individuals who cite their religious beliefs in order to refuse service to LGBT customers. Proponents of these two states’ RFRAs have repeatedly denied that the "religious freedom" laws would allow for anti-LGBT discrimination, despite evidence to the contrary.

During the April 1 edition of The Lead with Jake Tapper, Tapper interviewed Arkansas state Senator Bart Hester (R), a sponsor of the state’s proposed RFRA. Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson declined to sign the measure into law today, suggesting that it be reworked to more closely mirror federal law. Tapper began the interview by asking whether RFRA would allow Christian business owners to discriminate against same-sex couples if they felt serving them would violate their religious beliefs. Hester responded that RFRA doesn’t allow discrimination but would allow Christian businesses to refuse gay customers.

The result was an awkward four minute exchange during which Tapper repeatedly tried to get Hester to acknowledge that refusing service to a gay couple is, in fact, discrimination:

I’m really surprised to see CNN, Faux Lite, put a Republican on the spot to expose the hypocrisy of his bigoted hatred.

From Daily Kos: They say that Facebook has ruined April Fool’s Day, and you can see why.

But Thank God for Congressman Mike Honda (D-Calif), whose social media team has been circulating this press release today:

Rep. Honda Introduces Acronym Act to Clean up Bill Names

Bill Would Prevent Excessive Words Just to Make an Acronym

Washington, DC – Fighting what he calls “an avalanche of verbiage in the name of every bill,” Congressman Mike Honda (D-CA17) today introduced the Accountability and Congressional Responsibility On Naming Your Motions (ACRONYM) Act of 2014.

This bill will prohibit the addition of words to the title of any bill just to create an acronym. “It’s gotten ridiculous,” Congressman Honda said. “We’re getting bills that have over 10 words in the title just so they can spell something that’s supposed to be clever. The last straw was The Pension And Social Security Measuring Equivalence Permanent Linking of Everyone’s Actual Savings Environment (PASS ME PLEASE) Act, which only corrected a typo on Page 346 of the tax code.” The bill failed in a House vote along party lines.

And yes, folks. It’s an April Fool’s joke. But it’s one of those things that we wish were true. So kudos to Mike Honda, you definitely won the Internet today.

LOL!! Nevertheless acronyms can be useful. For example, consider the SPSPT, which has Lynn on their watch list.

From The New Yorker: Shortly after world powers successfully negotiated a nuclear-framework agreement with Iran, Sen. John McCain warned that a lasting peace with the Middle Eastern nation “could greatly limit our ability to bomb it.”

“President Obama is hailing this framework as something that could enhance the prospects for peace in the Middle East,” McCain told reporters at the United States Senate. “For those of us who have looked forward to bombing Iran for some time now, that would be a doomsday scenario.”

“The Iranians know well and good that if they abandon their nuclear program exactly the way we’ve asked them to, we can kiss bombing them goodbye,” he said, shaking his head ruefully. “It’s a damn shame.”

As for President Obama, McCain added, “Sometimes I think the President cares more about making the Iranians happy than about making the people who want to bomb the Iranians happy.”

Andy may not be reporting McConJob’s words, but he has his intent dead to rights.

Cartoon:

Will They Turn Out?

Posted by TomCat at 12:43 pm Politics

Apr 022015

The failure of American voters to turn out on election day has done more to contribute to the loss of freedom at the hands of Republicans and a few DINOS. In few places, if any, has this been more apparent than it is in Ferguson, MO, where official racism runs rampant to victimize the majority of the voters.

Next week, Ferguson residents have the opportunity to vote for three city council members and alter the racial makeup of local government. To do that, they’ll have to clear one major hurdle: historically low voter turnout among the city’s African American majority.

Today, five of the six standing council members who represent the city’s three wards are white, while 67 percent of Ferguson’s population is African American. Three of the five are stepping down, and four candidates vying for the positions are black (Ella Jones, Adrienne Hawkins, Wesley Bell, and Lee Smith). Due to the ward breakdown, only two black contenders can be elected, although such a victory would secure half of the council seats and triple African American representation in the office. According to Fusion, the city has only elected two black council members in the past, including Mr. Dwayne T. James, who represents Ward 2.

But to shake up the predominately white government, black voters actually have to show up at the polls — something they don’t usually do in the small municipality. During the last municipal election in 2013, only 6 percent of eligible black voters cast a ballot. After Michael Brown was killed, many believed voter registration would skyrocket ahead of the St. Louis County executive election, but those hopes were shot when Director of Elections Rita Heard Days erroneously claimed that 3,300 people registered in the weeks after Brown’s death. In actuality, 128 people did so.

Several factors explain why so few African Americans vote in Ferguson. For example, city council elections occur in odd-numbered years, meaning they don’t align with presidential, gubernatorial, or state legislative elections. With an absence of big names on the ballot, voters aren’t drawn to the polls en masse on municipal election days. The black population is also younger than the white population, and older people tend to vote. Additionally, homeowners with lasting ties to the community are usually more inclined to vote, but most of Ferguson’s black voters are renters who haven’t lived in the city for long periods of time.

Nevertheless, organizers in the area strongly believe that next week’s elections will be different, because of the virtues and failures of the candidates on the ballot…

Inserted from <Think Progress>

I have been an activist for most of my life, so beating my head against the brick wall of apathy is not new to me. I cannot remember a situation in which a community of people has seen a more obvious demonstration of the need for political change. Will they turn out? If not, they will have earned treatment they have received. The punishment for apathy is living in as victims in a Republican Reich.

Open Thread–4/2/2015

Posted by TomCat at 12:43 pm Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Apr 022015

Yesterday’s attempt to return to blogging did not go well. The site where I share articles for wider distribution can be buggy at times. Yesterday it fought me for an hour t0 upload the articles. Then it failed to deliver the notifications I sent to over 200 people. Later, the electrical outlet for my refrigerator failed. Getting at it took over two hours of hard work, and it turned out to be the only outlet in my unit that does not have an internal circuit breaker. Fortunately my groceries did not spoil. So I’m beginning the day behind the curve.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:34 (average 4:30). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From YouTube: RWW News: Bryan Fischer Says Indiana’s Law Prevents Discrimination Against Christians

Barf Bag Alert!!

This is an example of the lies that Republican Supply-side pseudo-Christians are being taught about this Republican hate-law.

From Nextgen Climate: Watch and share this video if you think climate change denial is ridiculous!

Were this to be played on the Republican Reichsministry of Propaganda, Faux Noise, the sheeple would accept it as factual.

From NY Times: Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey was indicted on bribery charges on Wednesday in what prosecutors said was a scheme to trade political favors for luxury vacations, golf outings, campaign donations and expensive flights.

The indictment, the first federal bribery charges against a sitting senator in a generation, puts Mr. Menendez’s political future in jeopardy. He faces a possible sentence of 15 years in prison for each of the eight bribery counts.

Mr. Menendez, a Democrat, angrily denied wrongdoing and vowed to fight the charges. “This is not how my career is going to end,” he said at a news conference in Newark, where supporters cheered him. “Today contradicts my public service career and my entire life.”

The federal investigation into Mr. Menendez, 61, was well known, and charges had been expected. But the accusations in the 68-page indictment are much broader and more severe than had been publicly known. The senator was also charged with conspiracy and making false statements.

For the good of the party and the nation, Menendez should step down immediately. That said, I have long thought he should be challenged in the primary, because he acts more like a Republican in other ways too.

Cartoon:

0402Cartoon

The Dream Team for 2016

Posted by TomCat at 10:03 am Holiday, Politics

Apr 012015

Poll Results–4/1/2015

Posted by TomCat at 10:02 am Blog News, Politics

Apr 012015

Here are the results of our “Capital Punishment” 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.

0401Poll

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

With few exceptions our readers are united in opposition to sponsored murder.

The new poll is up. Please vote.

Open Thread–4/1/2015

Posted by TomCat at 10:01 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Apr 012015

For those of you who have not been following my daily Personal Updates, I’m on what I hope is the trailing edge of the nastiest flu I’ve had, since I was hospitalized in 2013. Now I’m going tin try to ease myself back into a normal writing schedule. I don’t know how long that will take, and I’m still well short of 100%, so please bear with me. There will be no Monthly Report this month.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:41 (average 5:16). To di it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From The New Yorker: In a history-making decision, Gov. Mike Pence of Indiana has signed into law a bill that officially recognizes stupidity as a religion.

Pence said that he hoped the law would protect millions of state residents “who, like me, have been practicing this religion passionately for years.”

The bill would grant politicians like Pence the right to observe their faith freely, even if their practice of stupidity costs the state billions of dollars.

Andy, ‘stupidity’ is also known as Republican Supply-side pseudo-Christianity.

From Upworthy: Here’s your Hot Planet 101, courtesy of NASA. Take a minute to watch it, then we’ll see how it’s affecting life on earth right now.

Very well said. No wonder Republicans want to slash NASA’s funding.

From Daily Kos: I was inspired by Molly Weasley’s diary of the other day, A few products to boycott from Indiana. After combing through the items on the pages she linked I came up with 5 common items from Indiana that are probably used by Kossaks which we should be boycotting in the wake of SB 101.

Clabber Girl Baking Powder
Nestle: Nesquik, CoffeeMate, Boost
Red Gold canned tomato products
Bar Keepers Friend
Vera Bradley
Eli Lilly (hard to boycott if you need their meds. Go generic?)

The way to the simulation of a corporate heart is through their revenues.

Cartoon:

0401Cartoon

Personal Update–3/31/2014

Posted by TomCat at 10:53 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Mar 312015

The plan for today is to sleep, eat and prepare for grocery delivery tomorrow. The plan for tomorrow is to have a couple short articles.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 2:25 (average 5:04). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

0331Cartoon

Personal Update–3/30/2015

Posted by TomCat at 1:12 pm Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Mar 302015

I’ve continued to improve slowly, and that translates to spending the time I’m not eating or imitating the bathroom habits of a race horse horizontal. I think I be able to start writing again within a few days.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 1:56 (average 4:18). To di it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

0330Cartoon

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PHP is a programming language used to build websites. We have it at all through our hosting partner, BlueHost. In order to update it, we have to go through Bluehost. During his life, TomCat was the only one who had access to our account there. I (JD) am now the only one. I have been to BlueHost and investigated updating our PHP to 8.3 or even to 8.1. I found instructions to do so - in fact, I found two conflicting sets of instructions. I went through one set of the steps and got the message that Our site could not handle 8.3, but that it had successfully updated to 8.1. I then went back here to see what it looked like. But I couldn't get in - either as an administrator or as a reader. It was just gone. I had to reach BlueHost by phone. It was determined that Politics Plus is in fact not compatible with any version of PHP newer than the one we have. BlueHost therefore uninstalled it for me, and the site came back to normal. Of course, like everyone else, I care about security. But I also am aware that TomCat elected to use different providers for several of the services that BlueHost provides, for instance backups. We are backed up daily - but not by BlueHost. However, out PHP is through Bluehost. I feel that if they are not worried about the older version, I am not going to worry about it. I believe that our security here is all or mostly through WordFence, whom I trust.