Video Thread 11/18/22

 Posted by at 12:15 pm  Open Thread, Politics
Nov 182022
 

Glenn Kirschner – Trump’s announcement of another presidential run will have ZERO impact on criminal investigations

The Lincoln Project – It begins again

MSNBC – Liz Cheney Gets The Last Word In Arizona After Lake’s Defeat

Farron Balanced – IRS Asks Supreme Court To PLEASE Let Them Release Trump’s Tax Returns (Weeks can go by without me finding even one from both of Farron’s channels combined. As of now, I have a backlong such that I may not get to all of them before they are obsolete. Go figure.)

Puppet Regime – Rishi Sunak Doesn’t Want To Hear It

Guy Saves Bald Eagle From Drowning In River

Beau – Let’s talk about the GOP distancing from Trump….

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Open Thread November 18, 2022

 Posted by at 6:46 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Nov 182022
 

Yesterday, I slept in. When I did get up, the sun was nowhere in sight, which is reasonable, because, if there was going to be snow this week, last night would be the night. But it wasn’t the low light that kept me sleeping. It was the fact that I had accomplished a bunch of things Wednesday which I had apparently been stressing about more than I reasized, and therefor had not slept well Tuesday night, and I was unstressed and catching up. The snow, if it comes, will be mostly overnight, so by the time I know, this will have posted. I’ll try to catch y’all up.  Also, yesterday at 4:00 a.m. local, Boebert was down to less than a 600 vote lead, with more ballots than that stlll not counted.   CPR reported that some of those uncounted ballots had been in timely but deliberately held back to preserve anonymity for the late voters – which makes a lot os sense if one has ever worked Colorado elections – Colorado is an anonymity (privacy) hawk.  The only election  I ever worked whre I had the faintest clue how people voted was a small single-issue one where we hand-counted absentee ballots – and we took every precaution not to know – but the darned vote was unanimous, which defeated our precautions.

Cartoon –

Short Takes –

Crooks & Liars – The Threat Of Right-Wing Extremism Is Far From Over
Quote – [Ruth Ben-Ghiat, an expert on authoritarianism and a professor at NYU, said] we can never forget that no matter who Fox News, the Murdochs and the GOP elites get behind, that the goal is more authoritarianism, Ben-Ghiat continued. “The goal is to make it easier to have an autocratic system prevail and to convince Americans that we did have a lot of election deniers who won, that elections are too compromised and too corrupt to be a valid way of choosing leaders. And that opens the door to coup attempts and other kinds of authoritarian machinations.”
Click through for opinion and short video. People who hold authoritarian beliefs tend to be “true believer” types. They aren’t going tobe weaned away from those beliefs by one loss – or one anything. This battle is far from over.

Huff Post – ‘We Have The Votes’: The Senate Will Act This Week To Codify Same-Sex Marriage
Quote – Same-sex marriage has been legal nationwide since 2015, when the Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples are guaranteed the fundamental right to marry under the Constitution. But after the now-conservative court struck down Roe v. Wade in June ― tossing out nearly 50 years of precedent on reproductive rights ― Democrats and some Republicans are anxious about the court’s plans for weakening other civil rights.
Click through for details. They said they had the votes – and they did. They took the vote yesterday. It now goes to the House, which is still Democratic, and it will pass.

Food For Thought

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Video Thread 11/17/22

 Posted by at 11:51 am  Open Thread, Politics
Nov 172022
 

Glenn Kirschner – Cassidy Hutchinson & Mike Flynn to testify to Georgia grand jury about Trump’s election crimes

Meidas Touch – Zelensky Raises Ukrainian Flag in Kherson After LIBERATION (It’s too long, but the Kherson footage is worth hanging on for.)

The Lincoln Project – Last Week in the Republican Party, November 15, 2022

Ring of Fire – Lauren Boebert’s Seat In Danger As More Ballots Are ‘Fixed’ (by thie time this posts it may be over. But it’s a good description of the “curing” process, which 24 states allow.)

Cat Abandoned When Owners Moved Jumps Into His Rescuer’s Arms

Beau – Let’s talk about Trump in heels and Kari Lake….

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Open Thread November 17, 2022

 Posted by at 7:17 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Nov 172022
 

Yesterday, I did manage to get the trash and recyclables out to the curb for today’s pickup. Also, more updates appear to indicate that the missile hitting Poland (and killing between 2 and 5 people – depending on the source) was not intentional on anyone’s part – although it would not have happened had ussia not been shooting missiles all over Ukraine out of pure spite.  NATO is going to have to do a lot of talking and thinking about it but, no one is looking at World War III.

Cartoon –

Short Takes –

Crooks & Liars – ‘Political Contamination’: Jamie Raskin Slams 155 Election Deniers In Congress
Quote – CBS host Margaret Brennan reported on Sunday that her network had tallied election deniers who will serve in the new Congress. According to the tally, deniers of the election won 155 House seats and nine Senate seats in the U.S. Congress. That was in addition to 18 wins at the state level. “That’s a statement about the political contamination of the GOP by Donald Trump,” Raskin told Brennan. “Kevin McCarthy and other leaders in the Republican Party are now required to make a decision about whether they’re going to try rid themselves of Donald Trump and his toxic influence on the party.”
Click through for article. Let’s for the sake of argument assume they have 218 seats. 218 – 155 = 63 non-deniers, at most. I find myself wondering whether McCarthy is even Trumpy enough for them. Because if he isn’t,  he’s toast. And his replacement could be far sorse.

Politico – Biden to Pelosi: ‘I Hope You Stick’
Quote – “I hope you stick,” Biden told Pelosi in a phone call after congratulating her on the caucus’s unexpected victories and asking about her convalescing husband, according to Democrats familiar with the conversation. Pelosi interjected to note her personal considerations and Biden continued, “I know it’s family first but I hope you stick,” before Pelosi deflected again. Biden wasn’t on the ballot and Pelosi faced little challenge in her San Francisco district, but you wouldn’t have known it from their reactions to the results. The soon-to-be 80-year-old president and the 82-year-old speaker, mutual admirers with similar roots and shared grievances toward critics and wise-guy pundits, were bullish about their prospects and felt vindicated by the party’s success.
Click through for – more details than you might like. The article degenerates into comments from just about everyone but Nancy herself about what she should do. (And I’m sick of hearing about Biden’s “low approval rating.” It’s higher than Trump** EVER had in all four years.) But the mutual respect between Pelosi and Biden shines through and makes up for that.

Food For Thought

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Video Thread 11/16/22

 Posted by at 11:48 am  Open Thread, Politics
Nov 162022
 

Glenn Kirschner – Trump fails to appear on J6 subpoena; Pence details Trump’s crimes; Trump-classified docs are “mine”

MSNBC – Sen. Murphy: It Makes A Difference To Have A 51 Vs. 50 Seat Democratic Majority

Ojeda Live – BREAKING NEWS: Russian Missiles Strike Poland [I bumped another video to get this one up fast]

Really American – Context

Tiny Kitten Tackles Giant Husky When He’s Fully Grown | The Dodo

Beau – Let’s talk about how the republicans plan to raise the voting age….

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Open Thread November 16, 2022

 Posted by at 6:57 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Nov 162022
 

Yesterday, I concentrated on getting my trash and recyclables out to their respective polycarts. Hopefully, by the time today is over, I will have gotten those carts to the curb for pickup tomorrow. Also, I received confirmation to see Virgil this Sunday.  I am still treading water with my short takes.  I feel that I know what the balance of poer will be int the Senate – but I don’t know about the House.  I believe some news is due today … but not all of it.  Late breaking – I’m not going into it here, but I bumped a planned video to insert one on Russia bombing Poland.  Also late breaking, Katie Porter is up again,thank heaven.  Bu there are a lot of votes still not counted.

Cartoon –

Short Takes –

Crooks & Liars – Ann Coulter Tells Trump To ‘Shut The F—k Up, Forever!’
Quote – Right Wing pundit Ann Coulter is of course no stranger to being dissatisfied with Donald Trump. But after the GOP’s humiliating showing in the midterm elections, and ahead a possible announcement he will run for president in 2024, Coulter had a simple message for Trump: “Shut the f— up, forever.”
Click through for details. This is what happens when someone is stupid enough to believe in everything Trump** ever said, but yet smart enough to grasp that he never accomplished any of it.

NM Political Reprt – Couy Griffin confronts DuBois over appointment, derails meeting
Quote – Former Otero County Commissioner Couy Griffin caused a fuss at the Otero County Commission meeting last week when his time at the public comment table became so heated, one of the sitting county commissioners plans to file a restraining order against Griffin. Griffin was unhappy that Stephanie DuBois, a Democrat, was appointed to his old seat after Griffin was removed from office based on the U.S. Constitution’s 14th Amendment’s Disqualification Clause after his conviction related to his role in the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection in Washington, D.C.
Click through for story. Remember “Cowboys for Trump**”? GRiffin is still giving cowbays a bad name (and, for that matter, griffins – if you know your magical beasts.)

Food For Thought

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Video Thread 11/15/22

 Posted by at 11:50 am  Open Thread, Politics
Nov 152022
 

Glenn Kirschner – Trump sues J6 committee to keep from testifying. His lawsuit is bogus but his goal is delay. [Donald Trump** is a living, breathing, walking, talking “unwarranted intrusion upon the office of the Presidency.”]

MSNBC – Michael Cohen: “Donald Has A Fragile Ego So There’s Not A Diaper Big Enough For Him”

Robert Reich – What the Democrats Must Do If Republicans Take the House

John Fugelsang – Both Sides Do It! (/s)

Watch What Happens When A 14-Year-Old Dog Finally Leaves The Shelter

Beau – Let’s talk about CEOs “destroying the planet”….

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Open Thread November 15, 2022

 Posted by at 7:10 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Nov 152022
 

Yesterday, the weather forecasts that we are finally in “almost winter” (I should ixplain that Colorado’s four seasons are actually almost winter, winter, still winter, and construction.) Highs mostly in the thirties, single digit lows (one negative low), and maybe a little snow. I’ll be staying in until Sunday (assuing my visit planned for Sunday gets confirmed – I have no reason tho think it won’t; just being cautious.) Since we are still waiting for election results, I’ll continue to strive for one good news (or at least cute) story each day for a while yet. Not knowing is just as stressful now as it was before the election – at least for me – so I’m guessing it is for others too. Meanwhile, Andy does real news again.  And CPR projects that we won’t know the Boebert-Frisch result until Wednesday.  On the other hand,  a late-breaking alert from Axios – Kari fake Lake is toast.

(And – I should probably mention – my satire went a little astray Sunday.  There is no such organization as “Antifa” in the united States.  “Antifa” is short for “anti-Fascisy.”  The last time the United states had an organtization to oppose fascism was in World War II (and it was called the Army, Navy, and Marines.)  Those elderly dudes are intended to be World War II Veterans  And “their next attack” is just silly.

Cartoon – 15 1115Cartoon.jpg reworked loaded

Short Takes –

ProPublica – About the “Shadow Diplomats” Investigation
Quote – The investigation shines light on one of the least-examined roles in international diplomacy: the honorary consul. These volunteer diplomats work from their home countries to promote the interests of foreign governments, typically in places without an embassy or consulate. Many honorary consuls provide valuable services. But the system, intended to leverage the experience and connections of upstanding citizens, has empowered unscrupulous operators and imperiled vulnerable communities around the world.
Click through for full article. I had never heard of an “honorary consul” – if you have, I salute you. If you scroll down about half way you will find links to three other articles on this investigation; each addresses different details. Sigh. there’s no idea good enough but that someone will find a way to corrupt it.

People Magazine – Rep. Katie Porter’s Son Delivers Hilariously Cute Speech as Mom Awaits Results of Reelection Bid
Quote – In introducing his mom, Paul told a cheering crowd, “Right after Trump won in 2016, that was when my mom first told us that she was going to run for Congress. My brother Luke and I looked at each other and said, ‘This hobby isn’t going to last long.’ We gave it a couple of months, tops. Now, six years, three elections and two terms later — oof, we really got that one wrong.”
Click through for full speech. As I type she is holding at 53+% but only 72% of the vote is in. But, win or lose, this story is still sweet.

Food For Thought

 

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