Yesterday I spent almost the entire day doing volunteer work, because 7th Step Foundation is introducing a new weekly CoDA group tonight intended to teach healthy relationships to former prisoners, but open to all, and I am one of the facilitators.  As a result, my backlog of comments needing replies and visits needing returns is growing again.  I hope to catch up on the replies today.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 4:11 (5:18 average).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Raw Story: In an interview with Fox News’ Chris Wallace Wednesday, Stewart complimented Chris Wallace and his team at the network on for their big win.

"Congratulations to you," Stewart told Wallace. "You guys did it. You worked hard and you pulled it off."

It seems clear to me that Stewart’s congratulations was a tongue-in-cheek accusation that Fox is the Republican Reichsministry of Propaganda, not a News Channel.  But I’ve actually heard a couple regressives (pseudo-progressives who would rather whine than work for change) complain that Stewart was selling out.

From NY Times: In one of the nation’s straggler election contests, Senator Patty Murray of Washington won the Senate race in Washington state, narrowly defeating Dino Rossi, who conceded Thursday afternoon.

Yea Patti!!

From Common Dreams: The US Department of Labor filed an unprecedented federal lawsuit yesterday seeking to close a mine operated by troubled coal producer Massey Energy Co. for continually violating safety laws.

The Labor Department has never sought an injunction to protect coal miners before, but is considering several more lawsuits, Patricia Smith, the agency’s solicitor, said during a conference call.

It’s about time!

Cartoon:

TGIF!

Yesterday I rested, and it’s a good thing I did, because I have been live blogging throughout the time I normally sleep to bring you election results.  What I do later will depend on how I feel, but right now, my eyes need toothpicks.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 4:53 (4:40 average).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Washington Post: ABC News sends over the letter that Andrew Morse, the chief of their digital division, has sent to Andrew Breitbart, pulling the plug on their much-discussed, widely-parsed-over invitation for him to join in their election night coverage.

Consumer protest does work, but only if we know who the offending company is.

From Think Progress: Last night, someone broke into a campaign office of Rep. Tom Perriello (D-VA) in Charlottesville, VA. According to a report the campaign filed with the Charlottesville police, someone entered the unoccupied office between 2 and 5:30 a.m. by busting in a window screen. The perpetrator then took information on polling place locations and deliberately distributed it in the wrong neighborhood, Perriello’s campaign says…

I can’t say whether or not this made a difference in the results, but I am confident more such incidents will surface as time goes on, because the Republican Party is without honor.

Cartoon:

Vote in 2012!

Another day, another month.  Where has it gone?  Yesterday morning I watched football and yesterday afternoon I did Blog Talk Radio with Gwen.  Today I may fall even further behind, because it’s time for the quarterly surgery on my foot.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 4:22 (4:53 average).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Religious Agony:

Short Takes:

From Waskington Post: At least seven Iraqi Christian worshipers and seven Iraqi security forces were killed Sunday night after commandos stormed a church in Baghdad where a band of suicide bombers had been holding parishioners hostage, Iraqi and U.S. military officials said.

As Iraqi troops stormed the Our Lady of Salvation Church in the upscale Karradah neighborhood shortly after 9 p.m., some of the assailants detonated suicide vests, said Lt. Col. Eric Bloom, a U.S. military spokesman.

The mayhem underscored how dangerous the Iraqi capital remains.

When I thought I had been wrong about the Bush/Republican surge being a failure. I said I was wrong.  Now that it turns out I was right, I take it back.

From News Hounds: During Sarah Palin’s appearance on Fox News Sunday yesterday (10/31/10), Host Chris Wallace cited Karl Rove’s less-than-complimentary comments about her potential presidential candidacy. Wallace was referring to a recent interview in which Rove suggested that Palin’s upcoming TLC reality television show indicated that she lacked the gravitas to become president. Palin responded by rhetorically asking, "Wasn’t Ronald Reagan an actor?"

Obviously, Drill Baby Dingbat, the Tebuggerer of the Tundra, is no Ronald Reagan.  In fact, today’s Republicans would drum Reagan out of the Reich.

Cartoon:

OGIM!

Yesterday I took the day off.  I did not reply to comments or return visits.  I needed the rest.  Today I should do better after running my errands.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 3:45 (Average 4:32).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Lefty Bloggers Plus:

Players, don’t forget to set your lineups.

Short Takes:

From Washington Post: According to people familiar with talks at the White House and among senior Democrats on Capitol Hill, breaking apart the Bush administration tax cuts is now being discussed as a more realistic goal. That strategy calls for permanent extension of cuts that benefit families earning less than $250,000 a year, and temporary extension of cuts on income above that amount.

Bad idea.  Tax cuts for the rich is the least simulative thing we can do for the economy and the only thanks we’ll get from Republicans is to be blamed for the defecit increase it will cause.

From TPM: A Republican candidate for the U.S. House from Arizona this week claimed that his opponents are busing Mexicans over the border to vote illegally in Arizona.

Jesse Kelly, who is challenging Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D) in the eighth district, said on the Mark Levin radio show Wednesday in a response to a question about "dirty tricks" that there are "rumors" of Mexicans being brought into vote.

As always, the Republican is lying. His bogus claim is the first mention of such an absurd idea.

From Portland Examiner: Tea Party targets minorities for voter intimidation and suppression.  Across the nation Tea Party thugs are planning election day campaigns to intimidate and harass potential minority voters. Already there are disturbing reports coming out of Texas, Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota of Tea Party plans for minority voter intimidation and suppression.

Claiming concerns about alleged voter fraud, Tea Party activists in a number of states are mounting well-publicized campaigns aimed at threatening and intimidating a targeted group of voters, usually in minority precincts.

Here in Oregon, we don’t have polling places, so it won’t work here, but I would strongly encourage you all to take a camera to a minority area and document any Republican violence you might encounter after you have cast your own vote.

Cartoon:

It’s Caturday so remind your cats to…

Vote!