TomCat

Jan 152020
 

I watched the democratic debate last night and thought, for the most part, it was s pretty boring affair.  Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, Elisabeth Warren, Pete Buttigieg, Amy Klobuchar and Tom Steyer all sounded fairly good, with the caveat that provisions need to be made to keep candidates from buying a place on the stage with advertising, when the inability to spend the $millions Steyer did forced far more deserving candidates out of the race.  In my opinion, Warren won the debate, and Bernie was a close second, but Biden should retain his frontrunner status, because he did not make any major gaffes.

0115Debate
Warren probably won, while Biden sat above the fray

All the candidates, but in particular Bernie Sanders, were peppered with leading questions, and the most potentially interesting moment of the entire debate was confusingly mishandled [by CNN].

Sanders was asked about a conversation that allegedly happened between him and Elizabeth Warren about whether a woman could beat Trump. He responded by saying that he did not, and would not, tell Warren that a woman was unelectable. Warren was then asked how she responded to being told by Sanders that a woman could not be elected president. The discrepancy between the two accounts was not addressed. And clearly not all is well, judging by what appeared to be an argument between the two, caught on tape right after the debate ended.

The foreign policy and trade focus of the debate was welcomed, but all the candidates were allowed to vaguely posture as anti-war and skeptical of free trade without any specifics.

The night’s bigger winner is probably Warren for avoiding a big gaffe after a difficult week. And Bernie didn’t do anything to disillusion his stalwart base. But I imagine that Biden is happy to be avoiding the fray and sitting comfortably with his lead and his reliable base of older Democrats…  [emphasis added]

Inserted from <The Guardian>

Here is a clip of Bernie and Liz.

Elizabeth Warren fires back at Bernie Sanders’ denial about women candidates

 

When Bernie said he didn’t say that, the incredulity on Liz’ face was plain to see. However, I certainly don’t thing that the problem was ever Bernie. I suspect he was complaining about that possibility. The recent rehashing of it, came from the Bernie Bros, not Bernie. The way Liz defused the conflict and converted it to a strong statement for all women candidates was, in my opinion, the high point of the debate.

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Jan 152020
 

It’s a busy day, here in the CatBox.  It’s cold out, and we had a light dusting of snow.  WWWendy will come this evening to de-stink the raunchy TomCat, help with chores, and put out my out clothes for tomorrow.  Tomorrow is my preliminary appointment with the thoracic surgeon, who will excise my lung tumors.  I leave at around 7:00 AM and return around Noon.  Therefore, please expect no more than a minimal Personal Update from me tomorrow.  Happy Hump Day!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 4:44 (average 8:29).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Cartoon:

Short Takes:

From The New Yorker: Rudolph Giuliani’s offer to act as Donald J. Trump’s defense attorney at the President’s impeachment trial has received unanimous support from congressional Democrats, who are now demanding that he perform such a role.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer told reporters on Tuesday that Giuliani’s participation as Trump’s lawyer during his Senate trial was, as far as they were concerned, “nonnegotiable.”

“Rudy Giuliani has demonstrated over the past three years that he can represent the President as no one else can,” Pelosi said. “If he is not the President’s lawyer in the Senate, that would be a deal-breaker for me.”

Concurring with Pelosi, Schumer added, “My Democratic colleagues in the Senate are prepared to pay Mr. Giuliani’s hourly fees, in cash, to make this thing happen.”

Dang, Andy! That would be wonderful! With Rudy 911 representing his Fuhrer, even Bought Bitch Moscow Mitch might vote to convict and remove!  RESIST!!

From YouTube (MSNBC Channel): Shocking New Evidence Rocks Trump Impeachment Before Senate Trial

 

Marie Jovanovich should be very, very afraid. Robert F. Hyde, the Republican congressional candidate stalking her for Trump*, looks like as vile a Republican pervert as Judge Roy Moore, Injustice Kavanookie, or even the biggest pervert of all, impeached Fuhrer Trump*.  RESIST!!

From CBS: [BREAKING] House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has revealed the impeachment managers for President Trump’s upcoming Senate trial, naming the members who will prosecute the case against the president on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.

She announced her selections Wednesday morning:

  • House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff
  • House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler
  • Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren
  • Congressman Hakeem Jeffries
  • Congresswoman Val Demings
  • Congressman Jason Crow
  • Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia

Godspeed, one and all!  RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past): Pictures of Matchstick Men

 

I love the wah wah guitar in this one! Ah… the memories!  RESIST!!

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Jan 142020
 

Not long ago, Impeached Resident Donald Trump*, Fuhrer of the Republican Reich, withheld the Congressionally mandated military aid to Ukraine, and blackmailed Ukrainian President Zelensky to find or manufacture dirt on Joe Biden, arising from his son’s questionable employment at Burisma.  Burisma is the Ukrainian gas company and was notorious for corruption when Hunter was there.  But Trump* and his Reich handled the crime with such extreme incompetence, that they accomplished only Trump’s impeachment to become Trump*.  Still needing dirt on the Biden’s, the Republican Reich has called in Trump’s* boss to do the job right, Vladimir Putin [R-RU].

0114Burisma

With President Trump facing an impeachment trial over his efforts to pressure Ukraine to investigate former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. and his son Hunter Biden, Russian military hackers have been boring into the Ukrainian gas company at the center of the affair, according to security experts.

The hacking attempts against Burisma, the Ukrainian gas company on whose board Hunter Biden served, began in early November, as talk of the Bidens, Ukraine and impeachment was dominating the news in the United States.

It is not yet clear what the hackers found, or precisely what they were searching for. But the experts say the timing and scale of the attacks suggest that the Russians could be searching for potentially embarrassing material on the Bidensthe same kind of information that Mr. Trump wanted from Ukraine when he pressed for an investigation of the Bidens and Burisma, setting off a chain of events that led to his impeachment.

The Russian tactics are strikingly similar to what American intelligence agencies say was Russia’s hacking of emails from Hillary Clinton’s campaign chairman and the Democratic National Committee during the 2016 presidential campaign. In that case, once they had the emails, the Russians used trolls to spread and spin the material, and built an echo chamber to widen its effect…  [emphasis added]

Inserted from <NY Times>

Russia is trying to steal another election for Putin’s Pet Pervert, but exactly what are they up to?  Both Rachel Maddow and Lawrence O’Donnell have coverage:

Rep. Adam Schiff: NYT New Russian Hacking Report ‘Deeply Disturbing’

 

Fmr. FBI Official: ‘This Is A Full-On Attack On Our 2020 Election’

 

Here are the possibilities I see:

  1. Russia is fishing for dirt, because they think Biden would beat their puppet, Trump*.
  2. Russia thinks Trump* can beat Biden, and think their investigation will make Biden more likely to win.
  3. Russia is just trying to create chaos an confusion to frustrate American voters and turn them off to the process.
  4. Russia want’s Biden to win the nomination and found dirt on Joe and Hunter to spring as an October surprise.

The last choice worries me most, but I do have a suggestion.  Joe and Hunter should both volunteer to testify at Trump’s* impeachment trial to show they have nothing to hide.  On the other hand, if there is something to hide, Joe should drop-out now for the sake of the nation.

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Jan 142020
 

It’s an easier day here in the CatBox, but they don’t get much harder than yesterday.  Breakfast was touch and go, but I managed to keep everything down since yesterday.  I hope you all have a great day.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:33 (average 5:28).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Cartoon:

Should we upgrade that charge to treason?

Short Takes:

From The New Yorker: In a positive sign for the former New York mayor, a new poll indicates that an increasing number of Americans would vote for Michael Bloomberg if that would make him stop airing campaign ads.

The poll found that sixteen per cent of those surveyed were “somewhat likely” to vote for Bloomberg if that would convince him to stop airing ads, twenty-one per cent were “very likely” to do so for that reason, and a whopping thirty-three per cent “strongly agreed” with the statement “Seriously, I’ll do whatever he wants—please, just make them stop right now.”

By contrast, only eight per cent said that they would vote for Bloomberg’s fellow-billionaire Tom Steyer if that would make Steyer stop airing his ads.

At Bloomberg campaign headquarters, in New York, the campaign’s chief strategist, Harland Dorrinson, said that the poll numbers made it clear that “Mike’s ads are having exactly their desired effect.”

Dang Andy!  If I had a nickel for every time I’ve tuned out a Bloomberg ad, we could both retire!  RESIST!!

From YouTube (CNN Channel): Sources: Bernie Sanders told Elizabeth Warren that a woman couldn’t win

 

The “Bernie Bros” should not be attacking Liz. They should be attacking Trump*. Bernie owes Liz an apology for some of his followers’ Republican-like, anti-progressive behavior, and he needs to muzzle his troops. CNN is useless for their insistence on equalizing both sides!  RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past): Psychotic Reaction

 

Is this an advance reaction to today’s Republican Reich? Ah… the memories!!  RESIST!!

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Jan 132020
 

It’s a hectic day, here in the CatBox.  I tried to refill seven prescriptions at Walgreens (now Alliance) Mail Order Pharmacy and, after trying at the website for three days, called them.  I learned that they are no longer the preferred mail order pharmacy.  I went to the Providence website and learned that Costco Mail Order Pharmacy is now the one.  It took me over three hours to set up my account there, enter all my prescription, call my doctor, and arrange for her to fax them over to Costco.  Then Walgreen’s sent me an email that they were processing my order.  I called them back.  It turns out they assumed I wanted to pay for those prescriptions myself.  I told that poor CS gal that they should changer their name again from Alliance to Ulysses.  “Why?” she asked.  I replied, so customers can call them Useless for short!!”   ARGH!!!  Needless to say, all that cut into my research time Big Time, so this is my only article today.  Oh God, it’s Monday!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 4:06 (average 6:36). To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Cartoon:

Short Takes:

From YouTube (NBC News Channel): Defense Sec. Esper Says He ‘Didn’t See’ Intelligence Showing Threat To U.S. Embassies

 

The threat was so immediate and immanent that impeached War Criminal Trump* and the Republican Reich ordered this murder seven months agoRESIST!!

From YouTube (FiveThirtyEight Channel): If Joe Biden wins Iowa, ‘he’s off to the races’: Nate Silver

 

I’ve always respected Nate Silver, but let’s work like hell to make sure that Liz or Bernie wins Iowa for America’s sake!  RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past): Heart – “Barracuda”

 

Ah… the memories!  RESIST!!

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Jan 122020
 

It’s a queasy/busy day here in the CatBox.  I managed to keep the last three very small meals down, but not without discomfort.  It’s also another High Holy Day in the Church of the Ellipsoid Orb.  WWWendy and I shall be meditating between chores.  Good luck to both Pat and Nameless.  Please don’t fight, you two.  Have a great Sunday.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:49 (average 5:38).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Cartoon:

Back in those days, even the Democrats were Republican misogynists!

Short Takes:

From YouTube (Daily Kos Channel): Rep. Steve King blames Democrats and George Soros for his racism on the floor of the House

 

There’s one and only one reason people accuse Steve King [R-KKK] of racism on the floor of the House. The son of a bitch (apologies to dawgs) is a damn Republican racist!  RESIST!!

From YouTube (Elizabeth Warren Channel): Elizabeth Warren: No One Should Go Bankrupt Over Medical Problems

 

Nobody has to tell me how medical mayhem can drive a formerly prosperous person to economic distraction. Liz could not be more spot-on!  RESIST!!

From CNN: Australia’s beleaguered prime minister, Scott Morrison, has admitted there were things he “could have handled much better” in the bushfire crisis and will propose a royal commission into the disaster.

The prime minister has been heavily criticized for his tone-deaf interactions with fire-ravaged communities and inaction over climate change.

From what I have surmised, based on comments from Aussies, the biggest mistake was made by Morrison’s father. He should have worn a condom.  Kudos to the firefighters from Oregon and all over the world helping to fight the fires there.  RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past): Paul Revere & The Raiders – Indian Reservation HQ Sound

 

Ah… the memories! RESIST!!

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Jan 112020
 

It’s a sick day here in the CatBox.  I felt hungry this morning and ate too much too fast.  BIG mistake.  The heartburn is so severe that I can’t concentrate to do research, so I need to return to bed.  Please expect no more than a Personal Update from me tomorrow, as it’s a busy WWWendy day.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 4:59 (average 4:13).  To do it, click here.   How did you do?

Cartoon:

Vote Blue!!

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