Politics Plus

Well, as another months comes to an end, I hope February is a healthier month for me.  I have to go out to run a couple errands today, so we’ll see how I hold up.  Comments are up to date.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it tool me 3:41 (average 4:20).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Salon: Roger Stockham, a 63-year-old California man, was arrested on explosives charges last week after police allegedly found him with M-80s in the trunk of his car in the parking lot of the Islamic Center of America, a Dearborn, Michigan, mosque.

Stockham was arraigned on Wednesday on one count of false report or threat of terrorism and one count of possession of explosives with unlawful intent, police said in a statement. Bail has been set at $500,000. The chief of police told the Detroit Free Press that Stockham has a history of anti-government feelings and he was attracted to Michigan because of its large Arab and Muslim population.

Another Republican hard at  work to kill infidels for Supply-side Jesus. 🙄

From Raw Story: More than 10,000 protesters marched against authorities in Algeria’s northeastern city of Bejaia on Saturday, organisers said, in the country’s latest rally inspired by neighbouring Tunisia.

Demonstrators marched peacefully in the city in Algeria’s Berber-speaking Kabylie region, shouting Tunisia-inspired slogans such as: "For a radical change of the regime!," a lawmaker with the opposition Rally for Culture and Democracy (RCD), Mohamed Ikhervane, told AFP.

I’ve also heard reports of protests in Sudan and Saudi Arabia.

From Huffington Post:

At a speech in Reno on Saturday, Sarah Palin said she thinks a recently discussed media boycott of her is good–because then she won’t get "blamed" for the uprising in Egypt.

According to a report by The Daily Beast, Palin made a clear reference to Washington Post columnist Dana Milbank’s widely circulated pledge not to write anything about her for the whole of February.  [emphasis added]

Palin should realize that nobody in their right mind would associate aspirations for freedom with her.

Cartoon:

OGIM!

I’m still fighting for air, but I am up to date on comments and and have some good items today.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 3:21 (3:52 average).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From NY Times: Lloyd C. Blankfein, the chief executive of Goldman Sachs, had a rough 2010. But at least he got a raise: his bonus increased by $3.6 million, according to a regulatory filing.

The firm’s board granted restricted stock valued at $12.6 million to Mr. Blankfein.

That’s quite a reward for all the misery he caused the American people with Republican support.

From Washington Independent: Rep. Michelle Bachmann (R-Minn.) proposed this week $400 billion in “real and necessary” budget cuts in federal spending to avoid raising the budget ceiling from $14.3 trillion. The cuts include capping increases in Department of Veterans Affairs’ health care spending and reducing Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) payments for veterans, all to save a total of $4.5 billion.

Batshit B is showing what Republicans mean by “Support Our Troops”.  Use them up as cannon fodder. Then dump them.

From News Hounds: Predictably, Fox News’ fear and loathing of Muslims was front and center in their coverage of the Egypt demonstrations (more on that in a later post). But Sean Hannity took partisanship to new heights – or depths – when he “asked” if there wasn’t a connection between the uprising and Democrats being in power in the U.S.A. Not that he was able to make any real connection – you know the kind he and his colleagues demanded when they attacked those who suggested there might be a link between right-wing violent rhetoric and the Tucson massacre.

I told you they would blame the left.

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What’s up?

I’m still pretty ill, but I am up to date on replies.  Yesterdays big SOTU post just wiped me out and I spent the next 18 hours in bed, except for a couple sandwich breaks.  I hope to return visits this weekend.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 3:42 (average 4:11).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Newsweek: Obama intentionally did not mention gun control in his State of the Union, but aides say that in the next two weeks the administration will unveil a campaign to get Congress to toughen existing laws.

I’m pleased to learn that he has not forgotten this important issue and the need to disarm crazies before Republican rhetoric whips them to commit violent acts.

From TPM: Sarah Palin: The Soviet Union collapsed because the Soviets spent so much money winning the space race.

I wonder if Drill Baby Death-threats has considered the effects of the arms race.

Cartoon:

Think elections when you drive today: D for ahead, R for backwards.

I’m still down and got almost no sleep last night.  I hope to catch a long nap today, so I don’t fall asleep during the SOTU.  I have not projected what Obama will say tonight, because I prefer to reply to what he does say.  I am current on comments.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 4:19 (average 5:06).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Reuters: A key climate change adviser to President Barack Obama will step down soon, administration officials said on Monday, in the latest staff departure as the White House adapts to a shift in power in Congress.

Carol Browner, White House coordinator of energy and climate policy, "will stay on as long as necessary to ensure an orderly transition," a senior administration official said.

This is a clear indication that Obama has given up on environmental legislation.  Maddening as that is, with Republicans controlling the House, it is reality based.

From Politico: Just three weeks into his congressional career, Rep. David Rivera (R-Fla.) has earned the dubious distinction of being the first member of the historic class of House GOP freshmen to find himself at the center of an ethics scandal.

The Rivera case also could prove an early and politically sensitive problem for Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor of Virginia and other top Republicans who criticized former Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s handling of scandals involving Reps. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) and Maxine Waters (D-Calif.).

The Rangel and Waters cases moved forward, while no cases against Republicans did, because Democrats on the panel voted to go after Democrats, but Republicans on the panel refused to vote against their own.  I’m not taking bets that Rivera will be charged.

From Alternet: Arizona State Sen. Linda Gray (R) argued over the weekend that gun control is not the way to prevent another shooting like the one in Tucson. The real answer, she said when asked about preventing such a shooting in the future, is to better "respect the life of an unborn."

This Republican is a fool.  Does she actually expect anyone to believe that Roe v. Wade is responsible for the shooting?!!?

Cartoon:

Warning: If you plan to watch Bachmann’s batshit-crazy response, have several barf bags handy and a large garbage can, if not a dumpster, handy for the overflow.