Yesterday afternoon, I woke up from a nap, tangled my foot in the covers, while sitting up, and wrenched my back. Just sitting to prepare prepare this is very difficult and very painful. I had already made the cartoon, and it’s only good for one day.
Now, Republicans say we should have stayed.
I’ve spent so much time in bed, lately, that I could not get comfortable in bed yesterday, so I have not slept at all and feel completely pooped.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 4:04 (average 4:38). To do it click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From NY Times: The effort over many years to forge an international treaty regulating the booming $70 billion annual trade in conventional weapons headed toward fruition on Wednesday with a final draft sent to the governments of all United Nations member states for approval.
Supporters, including a majority of member states, hope that the Arms Trade Treaty will be approved by consensus at a final negotiation session here on Thursday. The treaty would for the first time set international standards for conventional weapons sales, tying them to respect for human rights, the prevention of war crimes and the protection of civilians. Rights advocates have called the treaty the most ambitious attempt to stop the illicit spread of weapons that fuel deadly conflicts around the world.
I fully support international oversight of conventional weapons sales, but see little chance of ratification here, because ratifying treaties requires 2/3 of the Senate. With Republicans goose-stepping behind Wayne LaPierre and the gun industry, that isn’t happening anytime soon.
From The New Yorker: In an outburst that shocked many onlookers at the Supreme Court today, Justice Antonin Scalia said that it made him “angry beyond belief” that he had to listen to people talking about gay couples all week…
…“O.K., could we just stop talking about this stuff right now?” Justice Scalia snapped at Justice Kennedy. “I’ve told you all how I feel about this topic, and I don’t understand why we’re going on and on about it unless you all hate me.”
As the courtroom froze in dead silence, Justice Scalia seemed to gather steam, shouting, “For two days, it’s been gay this, gay that. You’re all just talking about this stuff as if it’s the most normal thing in the world. Well, it’s not, O.K.? It’s weird and it’s wrong. And just talking about it like it’s O.K. and whatnot is making me angry beyond belief.”
Although this is satire, Scalia is a walking hate crime. I wonder if he escaped from Nuremberg.
From Think Progress: During oral arguments this morning, U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts appeared to at least entertain the argument by House Republicans that gays and lesbians are too politically powerful for constitutional protection.
Roberts suggested that gays and lesbians must be “politically powerful” because politicians are “falling all over themselves” to endorse gay marriage, according to a tweet by Mother Jones’ Adam Serwer. The brief by Paul Clement, who represented the House of Representatives in defending DOMA, had reasoned that gays and lesbians are winning political battles and “have the attention of lawmakers.”
You can fertilize your veggies with that lie. The LGBT community is so powerful that states have passed amendments to deny them equal rights. Just ten years ago their sexual relations were a crime in many states. If they seem to enjoy popular support now, it is only because of a public reaction to the extremity of the discrimination leveled against them.
Cartoon:
I continue to improve gradually, and figure to be back by the weekend. I’m running late, because I overslept (a good thing).
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 3:17 (average 4:44). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From NY Times: As the Supreme Court on Tuesday weighed the momentous question of whether gay and lesbian couples have a constitutional right to marry, six justices questioned whether the case, arising from a California ban on same-sex marriages, was properly before the court and indicated that they might vote to dismiss it.
“I just wonder if the case was properly granted,” said Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, who probably holds the decisive vote, in a comment that showed a court torn over whether this was the right time and right case for a decision on a fast-moving social issue.
If SCOTUS dismiss the case on standing, I cannot disagree, because, at the time the California AG opted not to challenge the decision from the 9th Court of Appeals, that Proposition 8 is unconstitutional, I argued that she alone had the standing to challenge it. I think it most possible that they will do just that, making gay marriage legal in California, for now, without addressing the matter in other states. I would prefer SCOTUS to decide the case properly on its Constitutional merits that the right to marry should not be denied to LGBT couples anywhere, but I suspect they will duck out the back door.
From MSNBC: Why Republicans are NOT fiscally conservative.
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Once again, the Republican Party have switched their ‘Jobs, Jobs, Jobs’ bait to the War on Women. They have no money to pay teachers, but lots keep women barefoot and pregnant.
From Think Progress: As the Supreme Court weighs the merits of allowing gay and lesbian Americans the freedom to marry, right-wing anti-equality advocates are cranking the fearmongering up to 11, claiming that a world of marriage equality is one that would functionally ban Christians from practicing their religion.
Two Fox News contributors, independently and in other outlets, made dire predictions along these lines. Todd Starnes, speaking on American Family Radio, argued that “persecution [of Christians] like we have never seen it” had “already started” as a consequence of the marriage equality movement.
Where their argument fails is the implication that their right to practice religion includes the right to deny the rights of others. I’ll say this again: My rights end at the tip of your nose. That said, there is absolutely nothing offensive about the practice of Christianity. I wish I could say the same for Republican Supply-side pseudo-Christianity, but I can’t.
Cartoon:
Patty is a regular, and you’ll find her excellent comments on virtually every article, almost every day. She comes to us from Care2. This is her fifth Big Mouth Award, having also posted the 28,000th comment in January, the 31,000th comment in May, the 33,000th comment in July, and the 35,000th in September. Patty’s is still a MAJOR Jig Zone predator, and is now known as the Patty Monster. She attacks those puzzles with all the zeal of a Republican politician trying to steal a grandma’s benefits. She is a completely welcome regular here. Thank you, Patty!
I’m feeling very frustrated, because today is a prison volunteer day, and even though I’m improving, I can’t go. The wrist is improving too. I hurt it improperly lifting a big pressure cooker pot full of beans for a several day load of Pork Chili Verde. In the plus side, it’s delicious. After a couple days savoring it my apartment is smelling quite Republican. I can type, but VERY slowly.
Jig Zone Puzzles:
Yesterday’s took me 4:58 (average 5:06). To do it, click here. Today’s took me 4:45 (average 7:16). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From The New Yorker: As the Supreme Court prepared to hear two cases involving same-sex marriage this week, Justice Antonin Scalia said that he would not allow his votes to be influenced “in any way” by his lifelong fear of gays.
“As Justices of the Supreme Court, we have a sacred duty to check our personal feelings at the door,” he told the Fox News Channel. “In my case, that means putting aside my longstanding and profound fear of homosexuals.”
Justice Scalia added that he was committed “to safeguarding the rights of all Americans—even those I personally find terrifying.”
“I take my role as an impartial arbiter very seriously,” he said. “So when I hear a case, I put all feelings of abhorrence, disgust, and revulsion completely out of my mind.”
This has to be satire, because, even though it’s the lie he would tell, Herr Scalia would NEVER admit the true extent his homophobia.
From Alternet: In 1983 the poorest 47% of America had $15,000 per family, 2.5 percent of the nation’s wealth.
In 2009 the poorest 47% of America owned ZERO PERCENT of the nation’s wealth (their debt exceeded their assets).
At the other extreme, the 400 wealthiest Americans own as much wealth as 80 million families – 62% of America. The reason, once again, is the stock market. Since 1980 the American GDP has approximately doubled. Inflation-adjusted wages have gone down. But the stock market has increased by over ten times, and the richest quintile of Americans owns 93% of it.
Click through for four more examples of the extreme inequality in our nation. The Republican party has a solution. Drastically cut taxes and increase welfare for the 1%. Drastically cut earned benefits and raise taxes for the rest of us.
From Think Progress: A racist hate group at Towson University has announced plans to conduct its own nighttime police patrols on campus.
Founded last year, the White Student Union has stirred significant controversy already. The organization has been labeled a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. In addition, its founder, Matthew Heimbach (who goes by the title “Commander Heimbach”), and fellow organizer Scott Terry interrupted a minority outreach panel at the Conservative Political Action Conference this month in order to defend slavery, noting that slaveholders provided blacks with food and shelter. Terry later told ThinkProgress that African-Americans “should be allowed to vote in Africa” and he’d be “fine” living in a society where blacks are permanently subservient to whites.
I see that Republican politics are alive and well at Towson University!
From MSNBC: Lawrence O’Donnell and Chris Murphy (R-CT) discuss something even more vile than the previous Short Take.
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Words fail me, leaving me unable to express the disgust and contempt I’m feeling.
Cartoon:
My wrist is more swollen and painful today than it was yesterday. Change my name to Ulysses, so you can call me useless for short.
I’m feeling slightly better, but yesterday, I sprained my wrist while cooking and can barely type.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today I gave up after 6:24 and did not finish (average 4:55). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From Wired for Change: Over 300,000 of you have said it’s time to #CancelTheSequester – and that’s why we joined with Alan Grayson, the Other 98% and MoveOn to personally deliver your signatures *directly* to Speaker John Boehner’s congressional office, telling him in no uncertain terms: the American people have had enough and want to end this sequester, period.
Click through to sign.
From NY Times: Republican leaders in Congress regularly denounce the 2010 Affordable Care Act and vow to block money to carry it out or even to repeal it. Those political attacks ignore the considerable benefits delivered to millions of people since the law’s enactment three years ago Saturday. The main elements of the law do not kick in until Jan. 1, 2014, when many millions of uninsured people will gain coverage. Yet it has already thrown a lifeline to people at high risk of losing insurance or being uninsured, including young adults and people with chronic health problems, and it has made a start toward reforming the costly, dysfunctional American health care system.
Explaining the Republican denunciations is easy. Republicans lie. Click through for an excellent explanation.
From Think Progress: During a roundtable discussion on Friday, Fox News’ Lou Dobbs agreed with a network contributor who argued that Americans need to access military-style assault weapons to protect themselves from an Iranian invasion. [emphasis added]
Dang! Folks I guarantee that you can use the Republican Ministry of Propaganda to fertilize your veggies!
Cartoon:
24 years later, Prince William Sound is still damaged.
last night my fever broke again for the third time. I hope it stays down. I’m drinking lots of fluids, dosing heavily with C, and except for feeding myself and this limited effort, staying in bed. Soon, I hope.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 3:52 (average 4:50). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From Alternet: $16 billion.
That’s how much JPMorgan Chase has paid in fines, settlements and other litigation expenses in the last four years alone.
More than half of that amount, $8.5 billion, was paid out in fines and settlements as the result of illegal actions taken by bank executives.
$8.5 billion is almost 12 percent of the net income the mega-bank brought in during the same period.
12% is certainly low enough portion of net profit, that it can only encourage more criminal conduct from Banksters.
From Common Dreams:
In a 62-37 vote late Friday, the US Senate passed a non-binding amendment calling for the approval of the controversial Keystone XL pipeline.
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Alexander (R-TN), Yea Ayotte (R-NH), Yea Baldwin (D-WI), Nay Barrasso (R-WY), Yea Baucus (D-MT), Yea Begich (D-AK), Yea Bennet (D-CO), Yea Blumenthal (D-CT), Nay Blunt (R-MO), Yea Boozman (R-AR), Yea Boxer (D-CA), Nay Brown (D-OH), Nay Burr (R-NC), Yea Cantwell (D-WA), Nay Cardin (D-MD), Nay Carper (D-DE), Yea Casey (D-PA), Yea Chambliss (R-GA), Yea Coats (R-IN), Yea Coburn (R-OK), Yea Cochran (R-MS), Yea Collins (R-ME), Yea Coons (D-DE), Yea Corker (R-TN), Yea Cornyn (R-TX), Yea Cowan (D-MA), Nay Crapo (R-ID), Yea Cruz (R-TX), Yea Donnelly (D-IN), Yea Durbin (D-IL), Nay Enzi (R-WY), Yea Feinstein (D-CA), Nay Fischer (R-NE), Yea Flake (R-AZ), Yea |
Franken (D-MN), Nay Gillibrand (D-NY), Nay Graham (R-SC), Yea Grassley (R-IA), Yea Hagan (D-NC), Yea Harkin (D-IA), Nay Hatch (R-UT), Yea Heinrich (D-NM), Nay Heitkamp (D-ND), Yea Heller (R-NV), Yea Hirono (D-HI), Nay Hoeven (R-ND), Yea Inhofe (R-OK), Yea Isakson (R-GA), Yea Johanns (R-NE), Yea Johnson (D-SD), Yea Johnson (R-WI), Yea Kaine (D-VA), Nay King (I-ME), Nay Kirk (R-IL), Yea Klobuchar (D-MN), Nay Landrieu (D-LA), Yea Lautenberg (D-NJ), Not Voting Leahy (D-VT), Nay Lee (R-UT), Yea Levin (D-MI), Nay Manchin (D-WV), Yea McCain (R-AZ), Yea McCaskill (D-MO), Yea McConnell (R-KY), Yea Menendez (D-NJ), Nay Merkley (D-OR), Nay Mikulski (D-MD), Nay Moran (R-KS), Yea |
Murkowski (R-AK), Yea Murphy (D-CT), Nay Murray (D-WA), Nay Nelson (D-FL), Yea Paul (R-KY), Yea Portman (R-OH), Yea Pryor (D-AR), Yea Reed (D-RI), Nay Reid (D-NV), Nay Risch (R-ID), Yea Roberts (R-KS), Yea Rockefeller (D-WV), Nay Rubio (R-FL), Yea Sanders (I-VT), Nay Schatz (D-HI), Nay Schumer (D-NY), Nay Scott (R-SC), Yea Sessions (R-AL), Yea Shaheen (D-NH), Nay Shelby (R-AL), Yea Stabenow (D-MI), Nay Tester (D-MT), Yea Thune (R-SD), Yea Toomey (R-PA), Yea Udall (D-CO), Nay Udall (D-NM), Nay Vitter (R-LA), Yea Warner (D-VA), Yea Warren (D-MA), Nay Whitehouse (D-RI), Nay Wicker (R-MS), Yea Wyden (D-OR), Nay |
I’m glad I live in Oregon! If you own any of the Democrats bolded in red, please tear them a new lower orifice. Of course, I don’t have to tell you that every Republican goose-stepped in lock-step for Big Dirty Oil.
From Crooks and Liars: The sheer volume of recent wing nut quotes has forced most thinking Americans to adjust their Sanity-Preserve-O-Meter’s from "Keep Calm" to "Stun". And they probably didn’t even see what we saw. Absurdity Today, Julianna Forlano’s satiric news parody, serves up what you missed, with a side of sense.
The commentator was brilliant, but not so the Republicans. They proved the 11th Commandment. Thou shalt not commit TEAbuggery!
Cartoon:
Note that there as absolutely no relationship between liberty and InsaniTEA.