Politics Plus

Yesterday I returned home late from my echocardiogram.  They could not get the resolution they wanted normally, so they injected me with a solution that better reflect the sound waves.  Today is my stress test.  This is today’s only article.  If I am able to catch up on replies before I leave, I will.  Tomorrow I have several hours of computer and blog maintenance planned.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 5:36 (average 6:24).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From MoveOn: The One Reagan Quote That Republicans DON’T Talk About

He may be the GOP’s St. Ronnie, but that librul couldn’t be a dog catcher in today’s Republican Party.

From NY Times: Even as the Republican establishment continued to call for Representative Todd Akin of Missouri to drop out of his Senate race because of his comments on rape and abortion, Republicans approved platform language on Tuesday calling for a constitutional amendment outlawing abortion with no explicit exceptions for cases of rape or incest.

The anti-abortion plank, approved by the Republican platform committee Tuesday morning in Tampa, Fla., was similar to the planks Republicans have included in their recent party platforms, which also called for a constitutional ban on abortions. The full convention is set to vote on the party’s platform on Monday.

Romney recently claimed to support rape and incest exceptions. He lied.

From MSNBC: GOP Adds War on Voting to Party Platform

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

The fastest route to totalitarian rule is to allow one party to decide who can vote and who can’t. Kudos to the honest Republican.

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I finally got some sleep, but I still am quite tired.  I’m not covering the Akin story, because Nameless did so in yesterday’s Open Thread.  I’m current with replies.  Tomorrow and Wednesday I have an echocardiogram, and a cardiac stress test, so I doubt I will have more that an Open Thread, if that.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 4:22 (average 5:05).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From MoveOn: BEST Song Line Of The Day: ‘I’m Mitt Romney, Let’s Go Party’

Lets make that a sour grapes party.

From Washington Post: President Obama’s Chicago team is not thrilled with Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, according to a new ebook from Politico’s Glenn Thrush. He writes that the Florida House member “grated on Chicago” from the start and Obama aides thought she “struck too harsh a partisan tone” on Sunday shows. The campaign stopped scheduling her for so many TV appearances, and when she asked why, Obama staffers showed her a focus group study on Obama surrogates’ effectiveness. She ranked last.

Personally, I like her and think an even harsher partisan tone is in order.  This may not be the case, but it’s easy to lead a focus group by the noise.

From CNN: Prominent Democrats were added to the speakers list for the upcoming Democratic National Convention Monday, two weeks before the gathering convenes in Charlotte.

Added Monday were Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who served as President Barack Obama’s chief of staff for the first two years of his presidency; Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, who won the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination; Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, chair of the Democratic Governors Association, and former Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, who acted as the chairman of the Democratic National Committee and is running for U.S. Senate.

The only one I dislike is Rahmbo,

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A Todd Akin design?

I woke up this morning feeling cold.  The temperature in my apartment had dropped all the way down to 84°.  Today should be moderately hot and then the heat wave is over for now.  I have three articles today, counting this one.  My plan for today is to rest up as much, as I can to recover from a severe sleep deficit.  If I feel up to it, I’ll catch up on comments later today.  If not, I should be back to speed tomorrow.  Next week my blogging will be intermittent, because I’ll be at the hospital for two days as an outpatient for coronary testing.  I also have a volunteer day , but may have to cancel it.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 4:03 (average 4:58).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From MoveOn: HILARIOUS! ‘Curiosity’ Rover Sends First Images From Mars

I wonder if he has an offshore bank account there too.

From NY Times: Shady money, voter suppression, shifting positions, murky details and widespread apathy.If there is a road map for a Mitt Romney/Paul Ryan win in November, that’s it. Distasteful all.

I recommend clicking through for the rest of this excellent editorial.

From MSNBC: Romney/Ryan Lies of the Week

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Perhaps it would make it easier if I listed the Romney/Ryan claims that were truthful.

[end of list]

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Yesterday I was working with about a dozen of my guys in prison.  We discussed how lack of self-esteem interferes with opting for the healthiest choices.  We also discussed how we need to realize that we cannot change others, only ourselves.  Trying to change others usually leads to manipulation, which tends to destroy relationships.  These concepts sound easy, but putting them into practice is tough, and I’m thoroughly pleased with my guys for their dedicated attempts to do so and their successes.  On the down side my bad hip took a sudden turn for the worst, and I can barely walk.  Also there is no A/C in prisoner areas, and we sweltered.  I cooled the apartment down to 82° overnight, but two of the next three days are forecast as record highs.  I have two other stories.  I’m pretty sure that I am too worn out and in too much pain to distribute links.  I don’t know if I can catch up on comments.  We’ll see want tomorrow brings.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 4:13 (average 4:56).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From MoveOn: This Girl Has A Question That’ll Stump Your Conservative Friends

For Republicans, life begins at conception and ends at birth. Otherwise, all their policies are pro death.

From CNN: Hundreds of thousands of people who entered the United States as children but without documentation can apply — beginning Wednesday — to remain in and work in the country without fear of deportation for at least two years.

This is what Obama did on the face of Republican bigotry.

From ABC: "We got a real clear picture of what they all value," Vice President Joe Biden said at a campaign event in Virginia yesterday, referring to the Republican budget conceived, in part by newly-minted vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan. "Every Republican’s voted for it. Look at what they value and look at their budget and what they’re proposing. Romney wants to let the — he said in the first hundred days he’s going to let the big banks once again write their own rules, ‘unchain Wall Street.’ They’re going to put y’all back in chains."

-Joe Biden

Republican’s have their panties in a bunch over this, probably because it’s true.

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