TomCat

Open Thread–1/19/2015

 Posted by at 12:08 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics, Religion
Jan 192015
 

I’m writing for tomorrow, day 75.  I’m still pretty pooped after yesterday’s cleaning jag, but I can rest while meditating on the Ellipsoid Orb, during this High Holy Day.  I think I’ll cheer for the Packers to get back at the damn Seachickens for all the Broncos games that weren’t televised here because of them.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 2:53 (average 4:34).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From NY Times: President Obama will use his State of the Union address to call on Congress to raise taxes and fees on the wealthiest taxpayers and the largest financial firms to finance an array of tax cuts for the middle class, pressing to reshape the tax code to help working families, administration officials said on Saturday.

This has about as much chance to pass, as there is that Agent Orange will give up his Jameson. What Obama is doing here is providing an example of how to act like Democrats for Democrats.

From Kansas City Star: …Instead [of telling the hard truth], in the governor’s [Brownback] “it’s always sunny in Kansas” scenario:

▪ Tax cuts are not leading to massive revenue shortfalls (but they are).

▪ The state should continue its march to a zero income tax (never mind those pesky revenue woes).

▪ The tax cuts are leading to tremendous private-sector job growth (but most states are actually growing at faster rates than Kansas).

▪ Funding for K-12 schools is a major cause of Kansas’ budget problems (but it’s really not).

▪ The school funding formula must be radically changed (but the governor can’t tell you how).

▪ Giving him near-control of the State Supreme Court appointments would be a great idea (yikes).

▪ God is helping guide him and other elected leaders as he helps Kansas through this mess (how delusional).

The "god", who is guiding Brownback in this is Supply-side Jesus, the polar opposite of the real Jesus. Supply-side Jesus is an invention of the Republican base to justify their hatred, greed, lies, and lust for power. If Supply-side Jesus were real, he would have cloven hooves and carry a pitchfork. The people who deserve this most of all are the Democrats, who stayed home on election day.

From Washington Post: Sen. Elizabeth Warren has an explanation for the singular nature of her power.

“I’ll always be an outsider. That’s how I understand the world,” the Massachusetts Democrat said in an interview. “There’s a real benefit to being clear about this. I know why I’m here. I think about this every morning before I open my eyes, and I’m still thinking about it every night when I go to sleep.”

Being the target of that kind of focus can be an excruciating experience — the freshest case in point being investment banker Antonio Weiss, whom President Obama put forward last year as his nominee for Treasury undersecretary for domestic finance.

Initially seen as a highly credentialed and noncontroversial pick for a low-profile post, Weiss found himself up against a storm of opposition, led by Warren, who said he was yet another example of Wall Street cronyism within the Obama administration.

On Monday, Weiss wrote a letter to the president asking that his name be taken out of consideration.

The tussle sent yet another signal, maybe the clearest yet, of how Warren intends to wield her growing clout. It showed that she and her brand of populism are forces to be reckoned with — not only by Obama and his team, but also by the Democrats’ likely 2016 presidential nominee Hillary Rodham Clinton. [emphasis added]

What can I say? I Red heart Liz!!

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The State of the Union Is Pig Nuts

 Posted by at 12:01 am  Politics
Jan 172015
 

The Republican Party must be very anxious to make an impression on American voters, considering that their candidates have already opened the campaign season.  Therefore they chose the person who most truly represents who they are to gibe the Republican Response to Barack Obama’s State of the Union Address.

ErnstHatSen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) will deliver the GOP response to President Barack Obama’s 2015 State of the Union address on Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) announced at the House and Senate GOP retreat in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

"Sen. Ernst brings a unique perspective to the Senate. She is a mother, a soldier and an independent leader who serves in Washington because Americans voted for change in the last election, and Joni understands that middle-class Americans want Congress to get back to work and that they want Washington to get refocused on their concerns, instead of those of the political class,” McConnell said in a statement Thursday.

Ernst was elected to the Senate in November, becoming the first woman elected to federal office from Iowa. She said she’s "truly honored" to deliver the GOP address.

House Speaker John Boehner praised Ernst after the announcement Thursday…

Inserted from <Huffington Post>

Here’s Ed Schultz’ take on the story.

Wooo Hoooo!!  If you’d like more information on Joni Pig Nuts, I already gave her a parade.  If we’re lucky, she may castrate the Republican Party.

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Open Thread–1/17/2014

 Posted by at 12:00 am  Open Thread, Personal, Plus, Politics
Jan 172015
 

I’m writing for tomorrow, day 73.  I have a friend coming over to help me with laundry and heavy cleaning today.  (Later: she called and rescheduled for Saturday, screwing up both days).

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:02 (average 4:26).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Joanne’s Humor:

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Short Takes:

From The Nation (Hat-Tip Joanne Dixon): …The true measure of Democrats’ sincerity will determine how hard they push for these policies in the near term, and also to what extent these ideas will become part of the Democratic agenda in 2016. Should the party retain the White House and maybe even win back Congress in two years, this might decide whether Washington can actually act to slow down dangerous Wall Street trading and exorbitant CEO pay while funneling the benefits back to the middle class.

Really, it goes beyond those particular policies—are Democrats ready to take on the wealthy and corporate classes at full steam, Citizen’s United be damned?

It’s a question where progressives should resist easy answers. Loyal partisans will dutifully tell you Democrats mean business. Cynical progressives trained to thoroughly distrust the motives of any elected Democrat will tell you otherwise…

This is a tiny snippet from an extensive article.  Click through.  I can only hope that democrats are learning from and not just trolling the left, because the only other alternative, for now, is the Republicans.

From CREW: More than four years after Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) alleging former Republican Delaware Senate candidate Christine O’Donnell had converted more than $20,000 of campaign funds to her personal use, the FEC finally sued O’Donnell and her campaign treasurer, Matt Moran, for exactly that. Most astonishingly, we’ve learned that in November, the current slate of commissioners voted 6-0 – a nearly unprecedented display of unanimity – to find probable cause to believe O’Donnell and Moran had violated the law. Then last week – again in a 6-0 vote – the Commission authorized the filing of a lawsuit to recover the money.

CREW Executive Director Melanie Sloan stated, “Contrary to all of Christine O’Donnell’s whining, she is not and never was an innocent victim of partisan attacks. Rather, she was an otherwise jobless scam artist who fleeced donors to support herself.”

CREW’s September 2010 complaint, which formed the basis of the FEC’s lawsuit, alleged O’Donnell violated the Federal Election Campaign Act by illegally using campaign funds to pay rent and utility bills for a townhouse, where she lived and out of which her campaign operated.

In case you’ve forgotten Christine O’Dingbat… Barf Bag Alert!!

Kudos to CREW. Click through for details and documents. This goes to show that even the most insane Republicans consider themselves above the law. I liked Elvira’s version better.

From Daily Kos: One of the first things the new Republican-led Senate has done is moved a bill forward to approve the Keystone XL Pipeline. Ten Democratic senators and independent Angus King of Maine voted Yea, as seen above.

Five of the eleven are from states won by Mitt Romney in 2012. Angus King, Tom Udall, and Tom Carper, however, are from states President Obama won by more than 10 points.

0117DemsSenKeystone

If you own one, tear them a new asshole. Obama intends to veto the bill.

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Republican Latino Love

 Posted by at 12:48 am  Politics
Jan 162015
 

Republicans claim over and over again that they are not racist.  They keep saying that they love black folks and Latino folks, and that they will do right by them.  They say that especially Latinos should be voting for them, not for Democrats.  I say their claims should be evaluated not by what they say, but by what they do.  So look what they are doing.

0116LatinoLove

As expected, the GOP-controlled House of Representatives today passed a package of measures that would roll back President Obama’s executive actions shielding hundreds of thousands of DREAMers, and millions of parents of children who are U.S. citizens or legal residents, from deportation…

…Today’s action goes further than merely defunding Obama’s recent executive actions deferring the deportation of immigrants brought here as children (the 2012 DACA) and of millions of parents of children who are U.S. citizens or legal residents (the more recent DAPA).

It also defunds the implementation of the 2011 Morton memos. The key Morton memo doesn’t formally defer deportation or extend work permits, which Republicans have denounced as crossing from standard prosecutorial discretion into rewriting the law. Rather, it merely lays out general enforcement guidelines that direct agents and lawyers to prioritize the deportation of serious felons, repeat offenders, and serious threats to national security over that of longtime residents, minors, the elderly, or the unhealthy. This was in keeping with Obama’s shift in priorities away from the deportation of low-level offenders with jobs and/or longtime ties to communities, and towards serious criminals and the border…

Inserted from <Washington Post>

Chris Hayes has the details.

Republicans are simply blaming Obama as an excuse for their own racism. I do hope Chris is right that Latinos are listening, and remember through 2016.

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Poll Results–1/16/2014

 Posted by at 12:48 am  Blog News, Politics
Jan 162015
 

Here are the results of our “2015 Attitude” 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.

0116Poll

And here are your comments:

Showing comments 1–8 of 8.

Posted by Patty  January 14, 2015 at 2:24 am.  

 

As much as I wanted to say optimistic, I had to vote pessimistic because the GOP controls both houses and there are still DINOs around. Pres. Obama has the "veto pen" but how much will he use it?

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Posted by Rixar13  January 3, 2015 at 9:29 am.  

 

Pessimistic – Republican dominated wing nut jobs.

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Posted by Edie  January 1, 2015 at 5:23 pm.  

 

I am pessimistic, remember, I got Mitch for my senator AGAIN!

 

Posted by Joanne D  January 1, 2015 at 4:52 am.  

 

Having seen Democrats – not all, of course, but too many – snatch defeat from the jaws of victory over the past two years, I am quite worried that a GOP majority in Congress, held at bay only by the pen of one man, will lead to more of the same, and exponentially. I would live to be wrong.

 

Posted by SoINeedAName  January 1, 2015 at 4:16 am.  

 

While I’m not a "Glass-half-full" type of guy (I just think they got a glass twice as big as they needed), I am optimistic.

 

Unemployment rates tumbling

Stock market soaring

Millions more now covered with health insurance

While health care costs themselves are stabilizing

National deficit declining

Putin humbled

Gas prices in a nose dive

… So I say "Thanks Obama!" – and mean it!

 

Of course the Rethuglicans will do their best to thuck fings up … it’s what they do best – and after all, they’ve had 6 years of practice at it

 

Posted by gene  January 1, 2015 at 1:47 am.  

 

I am optimistic by nature, a glass is half full guy, if I could I surround myself with people who feel that way. Pessimists just wear me down. I liken that to Chicken Little – when the truth is the sky never does actually fall. I expect the best, deal with what comes, but do not let whatever comes, change my nature. I am happier when I am positive. In terms of this particular topic, politics, I am happy because I believe the republicans will spend the next two years showing their true colors to the world and the American people, and the President will hold them at bay with his veto pen which they cannot override. But in 2016, the whole country will have seen what they would do if given control of both branches and that will ensure another Democratic president. See? Optimism at work. :^

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Posted by Jim Phillips in reply to gene  January 1, 2015 at 2:22 am.  

 

I liked Gene’s response (see above) but in discussing with my coffee buddies at the coffee shop, I’m not that pessimistic. lol. But, I do worry…

 

Posted by Jim Phillips  January 1, 2015 at 1:39 am.  

 

The GOP/TP takeover and control of Congress – both the House of Representatives & the Senate.

I was surprised that the plurality disagreed with me on this one.  We have three branches of government.  Republicans control two.  That’s why I feel pessimistic.  If they also had the White House, I’d be very pessimistic.  If we has either the House or the Senate I’d be neutral.  I agree with Gene’s answer long term, but the poll specified this year.

There is a new poll.  Name your poison.

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Open Thread–1/16/2015

 Posted by at 12:47 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Jan 162015
 

I’m writing for tomorrow, day 72.  I’m getting a late start, because I slept late and I’ve been busy with other things, but I do have articles for you.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 2:42 (average 5:17).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Daily Kos: Mitch McConnell was full of promises last November about how things were going to be different in the Senate when he was in charge. Like how the Senate was going to start working on Fridays. That promise was broken last Thursday, the first week of the session. The other thing the Senate was going to do under his watch—open amendments. Republicans had grumbled incessantly over the last six years about how Harry Reid was a dictator who refused to allow them to offer up their amendments, almost all of which were poison pills that had little or nothing to do with the underlying legislation. Well, the worm has turned with Republicans now in power, and McConnell doesn’t like it one bit. In fact, he’s pretty whiny about it.

"Some of our colleagues on the other side continue to filibuster the motion to proceed to this bill. All senators should know that we will get on this bill today and begin the amendment process—either this afternoon by consent, or shortly after midnight without consent,” he said. […]

McConnell vowed he would not let Democrats use their ability to offer amendments to stretch out floor debates for weeks simply to burn up the calendar.

"We will conduct a fair and open amendment process but not an open-ended one," he said.

And so much for open amendments. That fair and open process apparently won’t include one proposed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) intended to put Republicans on the record about the connection between humans’ greenhouse gas emissions and global warming in the Keystone XL debate.

Speaking of greenhouse gas emissions, one of the biggest sources of methane in Washington, DC is Bought Bitch Mitch.

From The New Yorker: Citing what he called “security concerns,” House Speaker John Boehner said on Wednesday that he would do all of his drinking at the office for the foreseeable future.

Boehner said that he may have to stay at work later in order to get his drinking done, but added, “I’m doing it for the American people. They need to know that their Speaker is safe.”

I wonder if Andy equates “safe” with preserved by pickling.

From Media Matters: Fox News hosts have repeatedly denied that moderate Muslims denounce violent extremists following terror attacks, ignoring that on their very network, Muslim guests have condemned terrorism and defended their faith. Watch five Muslim guests make their case on Fox:

Barf Bag Alert!!

 

When a Muslim makes a good point, when Faux is live, we see it once only, and they hate it when anything like that slips through, as their reactions divulge.

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Open Thread–1/15/2014

 Posted by at 1:46 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Jan 152015
 

I’m writing for tomorrow, day 71.  Yesterday’s group in prison went very well.  Our CoDA group doubled in size, so I have some new guys that I had never met before.  We discussed making lists of people we have harmed and the importance of authenticity in our willingness to make amends.  Many fear this process, because people have a tendency to guilt trip ourselves.  However, done truly, it works to free us from self-crippling guilt.  It’s now late evening.  I’ve had some sleep but need more, as I had to be up for Store to Door to deliver groceries and put them away, so I’m more than ready for more sleep.  This is tomorrow’s only article.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 5:24 (average 5:25).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Daily Kos: The Albuquerque PD has shot another victim and this time its one of their department’s own officers working undercover. The circumstances surrounding this latest shooting have yet to be released.

$60 meth bust led to shooting of officer

By Ryan Boetel

It was an undercover operation to bust two men for selling $60 worth of methamphetamine, but things didn’t go as planned.

An Albuquerque police lieutenant shot a fellow officer who was working undercover in a McDonald’s parking lot near Central and Tramway just before noon Friday.

Albuquerque Police Chief Gorden Eden said Saturday the male officer remained in critical condition at University of New Mexico Hospital. He is in the intensive care unit and has undergone multiple surgeries.

Vester went into a room at the motel and came back to the vehicle with the meth, according to the complaint.

Garcia then drove to the McDonald’s nearby and gave the bust signal. It was then that the shooting took place. Witnesses said they heard around five shots. Police said the officer was shot multiple times, but the exact number wasn’t known.

In the aftermath of the shooting, the car doors where Bailey and Vester were sitting were open, but police haven’t released details about any perceived threat or why the lieutenant opened fire. The complaint makes no mention of the suspects having a gun at the scene.

Albuquerque PD were notorious for police who abuse their power, even back in the 1970s, when I used to go there on business. If you believe that it is really not known how many times police shot their fellow officer, talk to me about buying my glacier in Miami. I’m selling it for just a few $million.  They can’t use all their standard lies in this case, unless they knew he was undercover and thought he’d been talking to IA or DOJ.

From NY Times: To choose a jury in the trial of the man charged with killing 12 people in a packed Colorado movie theater, court officials mailed notices to 9,000 people in suburban Arapahoe County, casting such a wide net that residents ran about a one-in-50 chance of being tapped as potential jurors. An uncle, a father, husbands and friends of people who work in the prosecutor’s office received jury summonses. So did 12 people who are slated to be prosecution witnesses.

The numbers speak to the huge scale of a murder trial set to begin next week, more than two and a half years after a gunman sprayed bullets into a crowd of people at a midnight screening of the Batman movie “The Dark Knight Rises.”

The defendant, James E. Holmes, has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. After multiple delays, Colorado is bracing for the start of his trial, one of the most complicated and emotionally wrenching judicial proceedings the state has faced.

Isn’t a shame that the NRA and the Republican party are not codefendants in this case?

From Upworthy: The president’s a busy guy, so he only had three and a half minutes to explain what’s up. Here’s what you need to know:

Growing up, we all hear rumors about magical places.

Fantastic places. Places where the Internet actually works well. Where you can download a movie in under a minute. Where your Wi-Fi doesn’t stop working for no apparent reason whatsoever.

Maybe you read about them in storybooks. Maybe your friends whispered about them to you on the playground. Maybe your grandma told you old tales about them as she tucked you in at night. But as you grew older, more and more people told you that it was all made up, a myth for children. Those places didn’t really exist. Can you believe we all thought they did? And you nodded and laughed about how silly it all sounded in retrospect. But secretly, deep down, you always believed.

Well, those places are real. There are places that have reliable, fantastic, extremely zippy Internet!

 

To all the Internet junkies, who have Republican government, and who did not get off your butt to vote, or cast a protest vote for an independent with no chance, when a Democrat could have won: You probably won’t get this. You did this to yourselves.

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