Politics Plus

Yesterday was my day to co-facilitate a therapy group for former prisoners.  The down side of that is that the way back to the bus stop is a three block walk up a steep hill: a real challenge for my COPD.  I’m glad I can still do it, and I suspect it’s glad it can still do me.  There’s not much left afterwards.  I am current with replies.  Today I’m only putting up one other article.  It’s my day to do volunteer work helping prisoners in Oregon State Penitentiary  learn healthy thinking and and how to transform that into pro social behavior.  The down side of that is that I get home late at night at the time I normally wake up to do my research.  Therefore, depending on how I feel, I may post no articles tomorrow, of if I can, they will be later than normal.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 3:26 (average 4:38).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From The Nation: House Speaker John Boehner has a new excuse for the dissent within the ranks of the House Republican Caucus he is supposed to lead.

The caucus, Boehner says, has been infiltrated by a cabal that hopes to take the US economy hostage in order to force political concessions from President Obama and Congressional Democrats.

How about that Agent Orange.  The brown-shirt storm troopers have been goose stepping behind him from the beginning, but now that the blackmail has not worked as planned, he’s blaming them.  He should have known they were too dumb to stop goose-stepping.

From Bloomberg: Stocks sank, dragging the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index down the most in almost two months, and Treasuries and commodities slid as a stalemate over the debt ceiling pushed the U.S. closer to default.

And so it begins.

From Think Progress: A spokesperson for Planned Parenthood confirmed today that one of their Dallas-area clinics was the target of a violent attack last night. Holly Morgan, director of media relations and communications for Planned Parenthood in Dallas said that at around 11 pm last night, the attacker(s) threw a Molotov cocktail, consisting of diesel fuel in a glass bottle with a lit rag, at the building. “It didn’t penetrate the health center office and none of the staff or patients were there, which is great,” Morgan said.

Thankfully, the responsible Republicans were as incompetent as they are hateful.

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Yesterday I cleaned up the paperwork that had piled up on my desk.  Last night I went through fits doing my research.  My internet connection, that is normally over 5 Mbps was only 500 Kbps.  I tried and tried to get videos, but could not, until they restored the service at the last minute, and I got one.  Doing my normal research was mud slow.  I am current on replies.  Tomorrow I have errands to run.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 4:22 (average 4:58).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Right Wing Watch: Michael Savage and World Net Daily have already begun floating the conspiracy theory that this weekend’s massacre and bombing in Norway was a “cover-up.” The talk show host said on his radio show today that Muslims were responsible for the attacks in Norway, and in an interview with WND doubled down on his claims, saying that he now believes that the attacks were “likely a fabrication of the Labour Party,” whose youth retreat was specifically targeted by the right-wing terrorist. Savage went on to essentially echo the rhetoric of the accused terrorist, Andres Behring Breivik, blaming “Eurosocialism,” progressivism, multiculturalism and immigration for the attacks and hoping that they lead to a backlash against Muslims.

A clear parallel to a culprit blaming the victim for the crime.

From Houston Chronicle: A spokesman for congressman David Wu says the embattled Oregon Democrat will not seek re-election next year. Spokesman Erik Dorey said Monday that Wu has not made a final determination about finishing his current term, but Dorey emphasized that Wu is focused on serving his constituents to the best of his ability.

To clarify, Wu did nothing criminal, because the girl was 18.  Nevertheless his behavior was so inappropriate that he should step down immediately.

From Think Progress: Right-wing pundits and bloggers were quick to leap to judgement that the Norwegian terror attacks were the work of al-Qaeda or an Islamic terrorist. But the news that the attacker had blond hair and blue eyes and was inspired by right-wing “counterjihad” bloggers suddenly turned the tables on many of the bloggers and supposed “terrorism experts.”

Because the Republican Party has opened their arms to embrace these hate mongers, it follows that Republicans inspired Breivik.

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Yesterday I rested, but a new heat wave kept me from getting the sleep I needed.  The temperature in my apartment just dropped to 90° at midnight.  I get the weather first up here, so you know that when I bitch about the heat, it’s coming your way.  I’m current on replies.  Tomorrow, I’ll be hunkering down, as it will be hotter.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 4:55 (average 4:44).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Bloomberg: Republicans challenged a presidential veto threat by preparing for a short-term extension of the U.S. debt limit, hardening partisan differences in the face of warnings that a stalemate risks roiling financial markets as soon as tonight.

I remember, “Don’t touch the stove or you’ll get burned.”  I did.  The difference is that I grew up.

From Politico: Rep. David Wu spoke to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and other top Democrats on Saturday about his political future in the wake of allegations of a sexual encounter with a teenager, but it is not clear whether the Oregon Democrat will step down from office.

Wu has been accused of having an “unwanted sexual encounter” with the teenage daughter of a longtime friend last year over Thanksgiving weekend. The teenager, whose identity has not been disclosed, and her family have not filed any criminal complaint against the longtime lawmaker, but the incident, the second accusation of inappropriate sexual behavior against Wu, is “extremely troubling” to Pelosi and other Democrats, say Democratic insiders.

This upsets me, because Wu is my Rep.  This will finish him, and if true, it is right that it will.  It’s especially sad, because his voting record was almost an exact match to what I wanted.

From Alternet: The Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing this week on the "Respect for Marriage Act," a bill that would essential nullify the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) that Clinton signed into law 1996. The federal prohibition means that same-sex couples—even those who live in states where their unions have been legalized—are not given the same federal protections as heterosexual pairs. They aren’t allowed to take tax write-offs or family leave, and if a same-sex spouse dies, the partner can’t collect their pension or Social Security.

I fully support this legislation.

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Yesterday, as I was about to leave to the denturist’s office, I discovered that my wallet was not in my pants pocket.  I cancelled my denturist appointment and searched for three hours.  It is lost, and I’m jumping to replace my ID Card (license for one who does not drive), credit and debit card, etc.  ARGH!   I feel so frustrated I could scream.  I ran around all day yesterday and feel totally wiped out, but I am current on replies to comments to yesterday’s article.  Today the running continues instead of volunteering at the prison.  Even though they know me well, without a photo ID, I cannot be admitted.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 4:05 (average 5:12).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Washington Post: House Republicans sought to put their stamp on U.S. foreign policy Wednesday by advancing a bill that would slash federal payments to the United Nations and other international bodies and slap restrictions on aid to Pakistan, Egypt and others.

Republicans hate the UN.  It interferes with wars for oil and conquest.

From Right Wing Watch: On his radio program today, Bryan Fischer seized upon a story out of Vermont regarding a couple that is suing an inn for refusing to host their wedding reception because they were lesbians to declare that gay rights and religious liberty cannot coexist.

Republicans believe in equal rights for Republicans only.

From Voice of America: U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says the Burma government’s human rights record “continues to be deplorable,” and calls on India to encourage Burmese authorities to engage in dialogue with pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Clinton, speaking Wednesday in India, also urged New Delhi to press the nominally civilian Burmese government to begin releasing political prisoners jailed over more than four decades of military rule.

This would be more credible if the US would cancel the exception from the US trade embargo against Myanmar for Exxon Mobile.  Myanmar’s deal with Condi’s company (they even have a tanker named after her) provides their government most of the revenue that enables them to ignore their people.

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