Open Thread – Page 873 – Politics Plus

Open Thread – 6/3/2010

Posted by TomCat at 1:53 am Open Thread, Personal

Jun 032010

Yesterday I kept up with comments and returning visits. I also visited several blogs. I should keep up today, but I’ve been sitting on Avatar from Net-Flix for several days now. I think I’ll actually take the time to watch it.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 3:28. To do it, click here. How did you do?

Fantasy Football:

For an invitation to join our fantasy football league, Lefty Bloggers and Friends, email me at tomcat1948@gmail.com, using the email address you intent to use to sign up for the league. TC’s Teabuggery Trashers can’t wait to take you on! 🙂

We now have four players. There are only eight slots left.

Short Takes:

From Think Progress: [Ted] Haggard announced that he would be opening a new, more inclusive church, St. James, that would be open to “gay, straight, bi, tall, short” members and would focus on “helping other people going through the most difficult times of their lives.” “I just want to help people,” he said.

Asked if his new church would take a position on homosexuality, Haggard said “we will take positions.” “I’m going to teach the bible, chapter by chapter, verse by verse,” “but I don’t want to be a political activist.” Haggard explained that the church won’t advocate a specific public policy, but would instead “encourage” members to strive towards the ideal of biblical heterosexuality and monogamy.

I don’t think Pastor Ted realized that there is no “cure”. If he were authentic, Haggard would accept people as is. As a Christian, I support people striving to fulfill their own identity. On the other hand, who knows what he’ll be doing below the water line in Ted’s baptistery.

From Washington Post: President Obama extended Wednesday a wider range of benefits to the same-sex partners of eligible federal workers, including access to medical treatment, relocation assistance, credit unions and fitness centers.

The move goes beyond a memo Obama signed last June, which permitted same-sex partners to use the government’s long-term-care insurance and other fringe benefits. The Office of Personnel Management said Tuesday that same-sex partners will become eligible for such insurance next month.

This is how it should be.

Cartoon:

See Cartoons by Cartoon by R.J. Matson – Courtesy of Politicalcartoons.com – Email this Cartoon

Have you opposed Teabuggery today?

Open Thread – 6/2/2010

Posted by TomCat at 3:31 am Open Thread, Personal

Jun 022010

Yesterday I went to the Social Security office to let them copy my birth certificate again. My machine generated ticket projected a wait of 10 minutes. 2 3/4 hours later, my turn came. I complained that I had brought my birth certificate in before. The clerk told me that, if I had, they would have it, and I would not have received the notice to bring it in. Then I showed her the receipt they gave me when I delivered the birth certificate to them in 2007. You should have seen her face. Nevertheless, I returned home in time to reply to comments and return visits. Today depends on the weather. I normally volunteer today, but we face a severe storm warning, and I don’t allow myself to get severely drenched at a bus stop with no shelter, when my health is acting up.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 3:41. To do it, click here. How did you do?

Fantasy Football:

Short Takes:

From Jerusalem Post: US President Barack Obama said Wednesday that he supports an ‘independent’ probe that would examine the events leading to Israel’s Monday raid on the Gaza-bound protest flotilla, Army Radio reported.

I have no problem with an independent investigation, as long as it is honestly done. It so, it must determine that attacking a ship in international waters is an act of piracy.

From Think Progress: Under threat of receivership and criminal investigation for its destruction of the Gulf of Mexico, foreign oil giant BP has hired a former top aide for Vice President Dick Cheney to be their new spokeswoman. Anne Womack-Kolton has been hired to be “head of U.S. media relations.” A rising star in the Bush-Cheney White House since the 2000 campaign, Womack-Kolton served as Cheney’s press secretary during the 2004 election before running public affairs in the Bush Department of Energy.

This choice could not be a stronger indication of BP’s criminal character.

From Politico: Thus, the venture capital and private equity lobbies have worked hard in the past few weeks to claim that raising the tax rate on executive compensation is less about the executives than it is about the danger to minorities, academics, pensioners, economically depressed Michigan, “the average American home,” the fight against cancer and jobs.

Huh?!!? 8O Keep taxing GOP hedge fund billionaires at 15% instead of the normal rate to help the little guys? ROTFLMAO!!

Cartoon:

See Cartoons by Cartoon by Cameron Cardow – Courtesy of Politicalcartoons.com – Email this Cartoon

Happy Hump Day!

Open Thread – 6/1/2010

Posted by TomCat at 2:00 am Open Thread, Personal

Jun 012010

Yesterday I kept up with comments, returned visits, and visited a chunk of our blogroll. Today I may fall behind, because I have to make that trip to Social Security. The Monthly Report is delayed until tomorrow, because the stats have not updated yet.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 4:52. To do it, click here. How did you do?

Fantasy Football:

Short Takes:

From Daily Kos: "In this contest of values there’s room for only one standard bearer for our party," said Ed Case. "So today I withdraw my candidacy in favor of Colleen (Hanabusa)."

With that, Ed Case has removed his hat from the ring for Hawaii’s 1st Congressional Primary race in September after a third place finish in the Special Election.

A Republican won the special election for this seat, because Democrats split their vote. This should ensure we get the seat back.

Also from Daily Kos: Tony Hayward, the chief executive officer of BP, offered another explanation for the fishermen’s illness: spoiled food.

"Food poisoning is clearly a big issue," Hayward said Sunday. "It’s something we’ve got to be very mindful of. It’s one of the big issues of keeping the Army operating. You know, the Army marches on their stomachs."

What a lying bastard! If the cause for workers’ illnesses if foot poisoning than why is BP confiscation their contaminated clothing and refusing to return it?

Cartoon:

See Cartoons by Cartoon by R.J. Matson – Courtesy of Politicalcartoons.com – Email this Cartoon

OGIT!!

Open Thread – May 31, 2010

Posted by TomCat at 3:50 am Open Thread, Personal

May 312010

Yesterday I kept up with comments and returning visits, and should do so again today.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 5:08. To do it, click here. How did you do?

Fantasy Football:

We now have two with ten spots remaining.

Short Takes:

From Common dreams: BP and federal authorities said they are now turning to a new strategy to stop the leak after admitting their "top kill" operation had failed, but it will take at least four to seven days before it can be put into place.

At least 20 million gallons are now estimated to have gushed into the ocean since the disaster unfolded five weeks ago, threatening an environmental and economic catastrophe across hundreds of kilometers of the US Gulf Coast.

Sadly there is no end to this in sight.

From Buzzflash Blog: With the Gulf Coast dying of oil poisoning, there’s no space in the press for British Petroleum’s latest spill, just this week: over 100,000 gallons, at its Alaska pipeline operation. A hundred thousand used to be a lot. Still is.

On Tuesday, Pump Station 9, at Delta Junction on the 800-mile pipeline, busted. Thousands of barrels began spewing an explosive cocktail of hydrocarbons after "procedures weren’t properly implemented" by BP operators, say state inspectors "Procedures weren’t properly implemented" is, it seems, BP’s company motto.

The only procedure that BP has mastered is lying.

Cartoon:

See Cartoons by Cartoon by Nate Beeler – Courtesy of Politicalcartoons.com – Email this Cartoon

Happy Memorial Day

Open Thread – 5/30/2010

Posted by TomCat at 2:50 am Open Thread, Personal

May 302010

After sleeping in yesterday, I replied to comments and returned visits. I see no reason I can’t stay at least up to date today.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 4:56. To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From News Hounds: A professor specializing in election law visited On The Record last night (5/28/10) and told substitute guest host Jamie Colby that no statutes were broken in the Sestak affair, that the statute Fox News personnel keep obsessively citing, Section 600 of the U.S. Code was not designed to prevent the kind of political deals that might have been made between the White House and Sestak and, for good measure, added, “The coverage on your network sounds pretty breathless. It seems to me that this is really much ado about nothing.”

That’s a major screw-up for Faux Noise. They mistakenly allowed their sheeple to hear the truth about something.

From Raw Story: As Americans prepare to honor fallen soldiers this Memorial Day, one former Oregon National Guard member is wondering why he’s being charged more than $3,000 for military gear that was lost after he was shot.

Gary Pfleider, a six-year veteran of the Guard, received a Purple Heart after he was shot by a sniper in Iraq. Some time later, he received a somewhat less gratifying award: A bill for $3,175 for military equipment that was lost when he was shipped out of Iraq for medical treatment.

Sickening! There are far too many Republicans burrowed-in at DoD.

Fantasy Football:

Cartoon:

See Cartoons by Cartoon by Mike Keefe – Courtesy of Politicalcartoons.com – Email this Cartoon

Having fun?

Open Thread – 5/29/2010

Posted by TomCat at 2:20 am Open Thread, Personal

May 292010

Yesterday I opted to take a trip to the grocery store instead of going to Social Security. As a result, I had time time to reply to comments, return visits, an visit a couple more blogs. I should have no trouble keeping up today.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 3:34. To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Raw Story: In a statement released Thursday, the Council on American-Islamic Relations said Michael Berry of KPRC 950 AM "made a call to violence" when he said he hoped someone would blow up the mosque being proposed for a location in lower Manhattan, near the site of the 9/11 attacks.

I wonder how it will be before some faithful Republican follows through on this call to violence.

From McClatchy DC: The House of Representatives agreed Friday to extend expiring jobless benefits for hundreds of thousands of workers nationwide until Nov. 30, but 1.2 million out-of-work Americans still face losing their benefits next month because the Senate left for a 10-day Memorial Day recess without acting.

The Senate isn’t scheduled to return to Washington until June 7, five days after federal funding for the benefits is to expire.

Senators from both parties should be ashamed, but especially Harry Reid, who had the power to keep the Senate in session.

From Raw Story: A neighbor of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin got so angry for what she says was unpaid bills for renovations that she decided she would try to rent her house to someone who wanted to look into Palin’s life as a result — what media reports are calling "revenge by rent."

And she did: a non fiction writer took up her offer. [MvGinniss]

One would think that, with all the $millions she is raking in from fleecing the sheeple, the Faux Noise Floozy could pay her bills.

Fantasy Football:

Cartoon:

See Cartoons by Cartoon by Cameron Cardow – Courtesy of Politicalcartoons.com – Email this Cartoon

Have a great holiday weekend.

Open Thread – 5/28/2010

Posted by TomCat at 2:35 am Open Thread, Personal

May 282010

Yesterday I overslept. Then I decided to watch Obama’s news conference. Then I decided to put off my trip to Social Security until today, if not Tuesday. Then I replied to all outstanding comments and returned visits. It took over five hours, but I am glad to be caught up again. Today well depend on whether or not I go to Social Security.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 4:42. To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From NY Times: The Atlantic hurricane season is likely to be a busy one that may spawn as many as 23 named tropical storms, including up to seven major hurricanes, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Thursday. It predicted that 8 to 14 storms would strengthen into hurricanes, with winds of 74 m.p.h. or higher. Three to seven of those could reach Category 3 status or higher — meaning they bring sustained winds of at least 111 m.p.h.

If a big one hits the Gulf it will make sure the oil from the GOP Gulf Gusher will never be cleaned up.

From Think Progress: Census Director Robert Groves said the bureau’s temporary workers knocking on doors to collect information have faced 29 threats involving a gun, four robberies and three instances of being held against their will or carjacked.

The incident of GOP inspired violence I reported yesterday was not an isolated case.

Cartoon:

See Cartoons by Cartoon by Pat Bagley – Courtesy of Politicalcartoons.com – Email this Cartoon

TGIF!!

Open Thread – 5/27/2010

Posted by TomCat at 3:15 am Open Thread, Personal

May 272010

By the time I returned home from my volunteer work yesterday, it was time for dinner and bed, so I now have two days of replying to comments and returning visits to catch up. I don’t know how much time I will have today, because I have to go to the Social Security office. The last time I was there, I went because they required me to prove my identity with an original copy of my birth certificate. I waited almost five hours for someone to make a copy of the original. Last week I received a letter from them that I have never proven my identity, and they require me to bring in an original copy of my birth certificate. ARGH!! 😯

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 4:01. To do it, click here. How did you do?

Fantasy Football:

Soon you will be invited to join the a fantasy football league, Lefty Bloggers and Friends, ob CBS Sports. I have registered the league, but have not had time to set it up yet.

Short Takes:

From CNN: BP officials may know by Thursday afternoon whether the oil company’s latest attempt to cap the runaway leak in the Gulf of Mexico is yielding results.

Cross your fingers, hope, pray, send positive energy – whatever your beliefs support that this will work.

From Jerusalem Post: Israel was sharply rebuked and accused of war crimes and serious breaches of international law in Amnesty International’s annual report, published on Wednesday.

Amnesty International is one of the few organizations I support with a small contribution. Sometimes poverty is no excuse not to help.

From Washington Post: Vaughn Ward, one of the Republican Party’s top recruits for the 2010 elections, lost his congressional primary in Idaho on Tuesday — the latest establishment favorite to falter in an election this spring.

State Rep. Raul Labrador won 48 percent of the vote in Idaho’s 1st Congressional District, which covers the north and west of the state. Ward won 39 percent; three others were well back.

Ward was the fool who plagiarized Obama’s 2004 speech almost word-for-word. Because it’s Idaho, this virtually assures another Teabagger will be in Congress.

Cartoon:

See Cartoons by Cartoon by R.J. Matson – Courtesy of Politicalcartoons.com – Email this Cartoon

Enjoy your day!

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