TomCat

Where to Go on Election Day

Posted by TomCat at 12:07 am Politics

Apr 112014

If you are will be voting in a Democratic area of a Republican controlled state, you can count on experiencing long lines with hours of waiting. Republicans are doing everything they can to keep you from voting. However, I came across a new Republican tactic so egregious that it boggles the mind.

During the 2012 presidential election, voters reportedly waited on line for upwards of six hours. That wait alone is enough to deter would-be voters from going to the polls. But now residents in Florida’s most populous county will have another disincentive: they won’t be able to go to the bathroom.

Earlier this year, the Miami-Dade County Elections Department quietly implemented a policy to close the bathrooms at all polling facilities, according to disability rights lawyer Marc Dubin. Dubin said the policy change was in “direct response” to an inquiry to the Elections Department about whether they had assessed accessibility of polling place bathrooms to those with disabilities.

“I was expecting them to say either yes we have or yes we will,” Dubin said.

Instead, he received a written response announcing that the county would close all restrooms at polling places “to ensure that individuals with disabilities are not treated unfairly,” a January email stated. “[T]he Department’s policy is not to permit access to restrooms at polling sites on election days,” Assistant County Attorney Shanika Graves said in a Feb. 14 email. Elections Department officials did not immediately respond to ThinkProgress inquiries.

Dubin said he was “shocked” at this response, and not just because it suppresses the vote for everybody. The Americans with Disabilities Act also requires entities to make “reasonable accommodations” to those with disabilities. For those with a number of conditions, including diabetics and those taking diuretics, closing the restroom will make standing in that line impossible, and thus discriminate against disabled voters… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <Think Progress>

Once upon a time, Only the Larry Craig Wing of the Republican Party wanted to get you into the bathroom. If this spreads, as bad Republican ideas always do, Republicans will be trying to get you to get you to into the bathroom to get you out of the voting lines.

Here’s where to go on Election Day. Go on a Republican. 😉

0411PeeOnGOP

Open Thread–4/11/2014

Posted by TomCat at 12:07 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Apr 112014

I’m writing for tomorrow, and I don’t know why, but I feel lethargic. I’ve gotten enough sleep, and I don’t feel ill. Perhaps it’s that I’m taking Chantix again. My last attempt to quit fell apart during the moving process, so I’m trying again. Q-Day is Infernal Revenue day.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 4:21 (average 5:09). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Daily Kos: It’s still early yet, but a monster El Nino might be forming in the pacific, and it just might shake up the worlds weather for awhile. Over on the robertscribbler blog is an excellent write up describing the details of a monster Kelvin wave, which sometimes signals the start of an El Nino. Here’s what he has to say about the Kelvin wave:

The pool of 4-6+ degree Celsius above average temperatures continues to widen and lengthen, now covering 85 degrees of longitude from 170 East to 105 West. Perhaps more disturbing is the fact that the zone of extreme 6+ C temperature anomalies has both widened and extended, covering about 50 degrees of longitude and swelling to a relative depth of about 30-40 meters. This is an extraordinarily intense temperature extreme that well exceeds those observed during the ramp-up to the record 1997-98 El Nino event.

more below the fold… [emphasis original]

Click through for an in depth report on this potential El Nino and what it means to you.

From NY Times: Senate Republicans on Wednesday blocked legislation meant to close the pay gap between men and women, framing an election-year fight between the parties over whose policies are friendlier to women.

The bill was an attempt by Democrats to press what they see as their electoral advantage among women in the coming midterm elections, but they fell short of the 60 votes they needed to prevent a filibuster and advance the legislation.

Now there can be no doubt. Republicans do not want to see equal pay for people they consider property that should be kept barefoot and pregnant.

From TPM: The House has passed a GOP budget blueprint that promises a balanced federal ledger in 10 years through sweeping cuts across the federal budget and eliminating health care coverage under the Affordable Care Act.

The 219-205 vote on the nonbinding framework takes a mostly symbolic swipe at the government’s chronic deficits. Follow-up legislation to actually implement the cuts isn’t in the cards.

The plan by Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan would cut more than $5 trillion over the coming decade to reach balance by 2024. The sharpest cuts would come to health care programs for the poor and uninsured, food stamps, and array of domestic programs, including Pell Grants, education, and community development grants.

No surprises here.

Cartoon:

0411Cartoon

Prior to this, white southern racists were a bloc of Democrats known as the Dixiecrats. They were so outraged by this event that they left the Democratic Party. The Republicans, seeing there was no future in representing primarily billionaires and corporate criminals, adopted the Southern Strategy and embraced the racists’ hatred. This is how racists became the base of the Republican Party.

Republicans on Parade–4/10/2014

Posted by TomCat at 12:01 am Politics

Apr 102014

RepublicansOnParade

Here is the forty-fifth article in our Republicans on Parade series, featuring individuals who personify what the Republican Party has become. Today’s honoree is Congressman Vance McCallister (R-LA). He is honored for his demonstration of Republican family values.

This only happened because gays can get married now, I’m sure.

[Louisiana’s] Fifth District Congressman Vance McAllister, who campaigned for office last fall as a devout Christian and devoted husband and father, was caught in video surveillance two days before Christmas passionately embracing and kissing one of his congressional aides.

The aide, identified as Melissa Anne Hixon Peacock, is married to one Heath Peacock, long-time friend of McAllister as well as a big ol’ campaign donor, to the tune of $5,200. Ouch.

McAllister, thus far, has been only known as the guy who brought the Duck Dynasty guy to the State of the Union Address in January. He won his seat in a special election last fall to replace Rep. Rodney Alexander, who left the House to take a post in Gov. Bobby Jindal’s administration. McAllister clearly wanted to be known for his family values…

Inserted from <Daily Kos>

Watch McAllister talk about his values.

Watch McAllister demonstrate Republican family values.

He say’s he has repented, and made a tearful apology, the way Republican Supply-side pseudo-Christians do, whenever they get caught. But he made no apology to the aide’s husband, whose marriage is on the rocks, or to the aide herself, who has lost her job and whom he may actually have fired. How very Republican he is!

Open Thread–4/10/2014

Posted by TomCat at 12:00 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics, Religion

Apr 102014

I’m writing for tomorrow and am feeling quite groggy, having just awakened from a much needed cat nap. I did research early this morning, so I have articles now.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 4:46 (average 5:33). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From The New Yorker: A new poll released today shows that an overwhelming majority of Americans would support the idea of former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush taking up painting.

According to the poll, which has a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points, seventy-four per cent of those surveyed “strongly agreed” with the statement: “Jeb Bush painting would be a really good thing for the United States and also for the rest of the world.”

A spokesman for Mr. Bush said that, as of yet, the former governor had made no decision to start painting but would “try to make up his mind by the end of the year” at the latest.

The last thing the US needs is another "painter” from this Nazi loving family.

From Alternet: A new documentary titled “The Principle” is the latest from creationists and geocentrists. The film perpetuates the long disproven notion that the sun revolves around the Earth. It is narrated by “Star Trek’s” Kate Mulgrew, who starred as Capt. Kathryn Janeway in both “Star Trek: Voyager” and “Star Trek: Nemesis.” From the looks of the trailer, this film is the antithesis of Neil deGrasse Tyson’s scientific look at the universe in “Cosmos.”

The film was funded by the ultra-conservative, ultra-Roman Catholic Robert Sungenis, who also appears in the film. Sungenis is also known for denying the Holocaust, and for his anti-Semitic articles, which his bishop demanded he stop writing.

According to Raw Story, the film features several scientists — some without permission.

Click through for more. Sometimes you have to shake your head in disbelief that people could be so stupid. Many of the scientists quoted were taken out of context to represent the opposite of what the scientists actually believe. This ruins Voyager for me.

From Crooks and Liars: Pat Robertson is either drinking heavily before each broadcast, swilling a ton of prescription pills or hitting his head with a hammer. Because if not, he’s a very sick man and needs a long rest someplace. [BARF BAG ALERT!!]

In context, Obama was calling for religious tolerance and respect, the proper demonstration of authentic Christianity, and the polar opposite of the deception, hatred, and veiled calls for violence from this Republican Supply-side pseudo-Christian.

Cartoon:

0410Cartoon

In spite of this convention signed by the US, the USSR and seventy other countries, Republicans still sold biological weapons technology to Saddam Hussein.

Personal Update–4/09/2014

Posted by TomCat at 12:01 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Apr 092014

I had been planning on running errands today, but last night I found a note taped to my door that the building managers are working on the elevator all day today, effectively making me a shut-in for the day. So I cooked and ate a hearty breakfast, prepared and did my grocery order, dug in the deepest part of my kitty box and prepared to face Infernal Revenue. I prepared and filed online, as always, and that a far sight easier than paper forms. Nevertheless, the process is thoroughly exhausting. I’m happy to report that I owed nothing. Poor as I am, I would happy to pay taxes, if most of the money was not welfare for greedy billionaires, while less than 1% goes to helping needy people. Now I have two choices. Either I can start my early morning research now, in the late afternoon, or I can… Good NIGHT!!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:07 (average 4:40). To do it, click here. How did you do?

0409TaxCat

Energy Armageddon

Posted by TomCat at 12:19 am Politics

Apr 082014

The clock is ticking on climate change, and most of the world wants to do something about it. In spite of the Republican meme denying climate change, because that party is in thrall to fossil fuel profiteers. The reality is not hard to understand. Either we reduce the amount of carbon we are putting into the atmosphere, or we face some ugly consequences, as the leaked UN preliminary report makes clear.

World powers are running out of time to slash their use of high-polluting fossil fuels and stay below agreed limits on global warming, a draft U.N. study to be approved this week shows.

Government officials and top climate scientists will meet in Berlin from April 7-12 to review the 29-page draft that also estimates the needed shift to low-carbon energies would cost between two and six percent of world output by 2050.

It says nations will have to impose drastic curbs on their still rising greenhouse gas emissions to keep a promise made by almost 200 countries in 2010 to limit global warming to less than 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit) over pre-industrial times.

Temperatures have already risen by about 0.8 C (1.4F) since 1900 and are set to breach the 2 C ceiling on current trends in coming decades, U.N. reports show.

"The window is shutting very rapidly on the 2 degrees target," said Johan Rockstrom, head of the Stockholm Resilience Centre, and an expert on risks to the planet from heatwaves, floods, droughts and rising seas…

Inserted from <Reuters>

Click through for more including the maddening role the US plays in this disaster. This may be the biggest reason that Keystone XL must not be allowed to be completed. .My recommendations are to end all fossil fuel subsidies, institute a carbon tax, and subsidize green energy, green energy R & D, and conservation.

Open Thread–4/8/2014

Posted by TomCat at 12:15 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Apr 082014

I’m writing for tomorrow and missing sleep because they are upgrading my building’s main entrance directly below my window. The racket is horrid. I guess this will be going on for about three weeks, but when they’re done, there will be much better disabled access, a plus for me.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:00 (average 4:40). To do it click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From The New Yorker: A riveting scene unfolded in Congress today as a tearful Speaker John Boehner took to the floor of the House to tell his colleagues, “I don’t want to live in a world where seven million people get affordable health care.”

Tears streaming down his cheeks, Rep. Boehner appeared unable to maintain his composure as he delivered a speech interrupted by blubbering and sharp intakes of breath.

“What kind of a world is it where anyone can go on the Internet and get health care they can afford?” he said. “Not a world I’d care to live in, or leave to my children.”

In his satire, Andy has captured the Republican dream, a world where the labor of the people goes to fulfill the whims of the 1%, not to meet people’s needs.

From Daily Kos: Nixon’s Southern Strategy.

The Southern Strategy is a strategy for gaining political power by exploiting the greatest number of ethnic prejudices. Kevin Philips, Republican and Nixon campaign strategist, speaking about this strategy in a 1970 interview with the New York Times:

From now on, the Republicans are never going to get more than 10 to 20 percent of the Negro vote and they don’t need any more than that…but Republicans would be shortsighted if they weakened enforcement of the Voting Rights Act. The more Negroes who register as Democrats in the South, the sooner the Negrophobe whites will quit the Democrats and become Republicans. That’s where the votes are. Without that prodding from the blacks, the whites will backslide into their old comfortable arrangement with the local Democrats.

This strategy has been used since President Johnson and Democrats in Congress passed the Civil Rights Act to build the Republican party.

Examples of this strategy were evident as recently as 2008 and 2012 as Republicans took up their assault on Medicaid, Social Security, labor unions, and Obamacare – programs which, though they benefit more white seniors, retirees, women, and children, have been sold to many Americans as handouts to lazy, undeserving blacks and minorities.

Yet you never hear the "liberal media" (at least since the 1970 NY Times) talking about the use of this strategy. At least not like this:

"P (President) emphasized that you have to face the fact that the whole problem is really the blacks. The key is to devise a system that recognizes this while not appearing to." – H.R. Haldeman’s diary, President Richard Nixon’s White House Chief of Staff

This is just one of 15 things everyone would know, if there were a liberal media. Click through for the other 14.

From NY Times: The Senate is expected to easily approve legislation Monday restoring unemployment benefits to nearly three million people, throwing the bill to a divided House where Republicans favor starkly different approaches to the issue.

Six Senate Republicans joined all 55 Democrats last week to end debate on legislation that retroactively restores benefits cut off Dec. 28 and extends them through June 1, clearing the way for passage Monday.

Seven House Republicans from high-unemployment regions or swing districts plan to send the House speaker, John A. Boehner of Ohio, a letter coinciding with Senate passage to urge him to take up the Senate bill or a similar measure.

Other House Republicans are pressing to attach to the Senate bill what they call job-creation measures: building the transcontinental Keystone XL pipeline; consolidating job training programs; or raising employer-mandated health care coverage to employees who work 40 hours a week, rather than 30, as written in President Obama’s health care law.

But many House Republicans oppose passing the unemployment benefits under any circumstances, arguing that such “emergency” benefits are no longer needed nearly six years after they were first extended at the outset of the recession.

First group of Republicans are ones in didtricts that are noy Gerrymandered to the hilt. They fear for their jobs now, but they will join the second and third group as soon as the elections are over. Under no circumstances should Democrats cave-in to the Republican sedition of the second group.

Cartoon:

0408Cartoon

Crazy Republican Rants

Posted by TomCat at 1:02 am Politics

Apr 072014

The Republican Party in not competent at governing, although they are good at seizing power, because they have no ethical boundaries for the lies that they tell. When faced with public confrontations, between their statements and the true facts, they double-down on the lies and often follow with an insane tirade. other times, they launch their rants for the mere enjoyment of committing TEAbuggery! The following article provides examples:

Charles Koch writes hateful opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal, then moronic GOP senator recites it on the floor, instantly proving that pols are puppets of billionaires.

Isn’t it ftting [sic] that greedy-ass billionaire Charles Koch published his op-ed claiming he is against “cronyism and political favors” — knowing full well that he and his equally evil brother David spend hundreds of millions of dollars to purchase those favors — the same week the Supreme Court ruled that the Kochs don’t even need the cover of an organization to outright buy politicians anymore?

Money is speech, the right-wing gang bangers of the Supreme Court said, and people like the Kochs are free to lay it on just as thick as they want to.

But, Koch whined in his op-ed, just because he uses his enormous wealth to ruin the lives of all but the few of his fellow robber barons doesn’t mean that you “collectivists” get to criticize him. It hurts his feelings, waah, waah, waah!

Employing the age-old strategy of “I’m rubber, you’re glue, whatever you say bounces off me and sticks to you,” Koch called his critics despots who are un-American.

Shortly thereafter, one of his flunkies in the Senate, Kansas GOP-er Jerry Moran read this great American’s op-ed out loud and in its entirety to his fellow senators, claiming it represented “mainstream” America.

Excuse us while we go throw up, collectively… [emphasis original]

Inserted from <Alternet>

This is just one crazy Republican rant out of seven. Click through for the other six.

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