Politics Plus

Yesterday, I got tied up in doing volunteer work.  As a result, I replied to our comments, but did not have time to return visits.  I will, but not today.  When I return home from co-facilitating a therapy group for former prisoners, I have my online grocery shopping to do, so I won’t be back to the blog until tomorrow.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 4:35.  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From CBS: Rick Scott’s narrow victory over Attorney General Bill McCollum, the preferred candidate of the Republican establishment, in the Florida gubernatorial primary could cost the GOP a key governorship in a race that could have implications for years to come.

That’s great news for Democrats.  Scott is such a loon that that they could win this.

From Alternet: The US commander of the Afghan war acknowledged Tuesday that the Taliban were expanding their footprint across the country even as international forces close in on their traditional southern strongholds.

In a word, we’re losing.

From Me:  I just saw that Lisa Murkowski just conceded the Republican nomination for the Senate in AK to Joe Miller.  That’s more ammunition for us.

Cartoon: from Cagle.com

Happy hump day!

Yesterday I managed to keep up to date with comments and returned all outstanding visits.  It took over six hours.  Today I have to go out to run a few errands, but expect that I can stay current.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 3:11.  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From LA Times: Joe Miller, the surprise leader in Alaska’s unresolved Republican Senate primary, said Sunday that the growing national debt requires a "belt tightening" that should include cutting back on federal dollars that his state receives.

Miller’s position, which he articulated throughout his campaign against incumbent GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski, comes despite Alaska’s historic reliance on federal resources.

I bet a dollar against a donut that, if this liar gets to DC, he will be a GOPig at the trough.  We’re not done with this creep yet…

From Crooks and Liars: Unemployment benefits, Social Security and Medicare are not constitutional, according to the man likely to win the Republican Senate nomination in Alaska.

The one thing I do like about the Teabaggers like Miller is that at least they come out and say what they want.  K-Street Republicans want the exact same thing, but they won’t tell the truth unless backed into a corner.

From Alternet: The United States on Sunday condemned as "deeply offensive" remarks by an influential Israeli rabbi who said he hoped Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas would "vanish from our world."

"These remarks are not only deeply offensive, but incitement such as this hurts the cause of peace."

It’s good that they condemn this hate speech, but I wish they would be so expressive about the hate speech coming from Republican Senators, Representatives, Governors and candidates for office.

Cartoon: from Cagle.com

OGIM!

Yesterday I fell further behind as advertised.  Our President (7th Step, not Obama) picked me up at my motel and dropped me off at the station.  I may shoot her.  She told me a story about how her father took the train to Portland, got stuck behind a freight train with problems, and spent over two hours for a one hour trip.  My train got stuck behind a freight train with problems, and it took over two hours for the one hour trip. Worse yet, the train unloaded almost 1/2 mile from the terminal, so already pooped, I had to walk to the terminal to get my baggage and another 1/2 mile to the transit stop.  When I finally arrived home, I didn’t unpack my bag or even set up my computer.  I poured myself into bed.  Would I do it all again?  You betcha!  The look of pride on my guys’ faces was worth it.  Today, I hope to catch up on comments, but I’m still drained, so we’ll see.  Tomorrow and Monday, I hope to catch up on returning visits.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 4:41.  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From AP Google: Alaska — Republican U.S. Senate hopeful Joe Miller apologized on Twitter and a campaign staffer was told to exercise more caution Friday after someone in Miller’s campaign sent a tweet that appeared to liken a possible party switch by Sen. Lisa Murkowski to prostitution.

The item posted on Miller’s Twitter account Friday said, "What’s the difference b/n selling out your party’s values and the oldest profession?" The tweet linked to an online article speculating on whether Murkowski would run on the Libertarian Party ticket if she loses the GOP primary to Miller.

I’d love to see a three way race here.  If either of these two wins, America loses.

From The Boston Globe: Outgoing BP chief executive Tony Hayward has refused a request by US senators to testify next month about his company’s role in the release of the man convicted of bombing Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland.

I suppose the GOBP will filibuster any attempt to penalize the company for his refusal.

From Right Wing Watch: Alveda King is claiming that her anti-gay, anti-choice activism is the true legacy of her uncle Martin Luther King’s "I Have a Bream" [sic] legacy.

Bull!  I never heard Rev. King voice a position on gay rights, but he welcomed openly gay activists to participate in Vietnam Summer.  He saw abortion as an unfortunate symptom of poverty.

Cartoon: from Cagle.com

How goes your weekend?

Yesterday I fell behind.  Because I won’t have my usual ride to Salem for my volunteer work in the prison, I’m taking the bus today, spending the night in a motel, and taking the train home tomorrow morning.  When I emailed the staff advisor to remind him to include my  O² tank, he replied that I was not on the attendees list, and it was too late to put me on it.  Now, I had advanced purchased my tickets and motel room to get a discount, so those are non-refundable.  Making this trip is a big sacrifice for me.  It took the rest of the day to get them to correct the mistake and put me back on the list.  So I did not reply to comments or return visits yesterday.  I will not today, for obvious reasons.  I may not tomorrow, because I’ll be tired out when I return home.  I will catch up this weekend.  I may not post tomorrow morning, and if I do, it will be later than usual.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 3:55.  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Washington Post: Ken Mehlman, former chairman of the Republican National Committee and the former campaign manager for George W. Bush’s 2004 re-election bid, has told his family and colleagues that he is gay.

This is the same guy that courted the rabid religious right for Potomac Pinocchio with hateful homophobia in the Republican platform.  While I applaud his present honesty, he owes the LBGT community a major apology.

From USA Today: Wal-Mart (WMT) asked the Supreme Court Wednesday to throw out a class-action lawsuit against it that the retailer says is the largest employment suit ever.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in April that Wal-Mart should face charges in court that it pays women less than men for the same jobs. The lawsuit, which covers all female workers at Wal-Mart since 1998, could cost the company billions if it loses.

Given the current makeup of SCOTUS, I’m not holding my breath, but few things could be sweeter than a $multi-billion judgment against Wal-Fart.

From Public Policy Polling: There continues to be very little change in the state of the Louisiana Senate race. PPP finds David Vitter leading Charlie Melancon by a 51-41 margin, similar to the 9 and 12 point spreads he showed in our previous two polls.

I wonder if Diaper Dave would be doing as well if Neocon Nero had not fiddled in Crawford while New Orleans drowned and whitened the city by leaving the minority areas derelict.

Cartoon: from Cagle.com

FYI, I’m not ignoring the story of the GOP inspired hate crime against a Muslim taxi driver.  I’m holding off until I have enough background to do quality analysis.