Politics Plus

Day 98.  I’m running late, because I had to walk to the Post Office to get a money order to donate to my guys in prison.  Their annual banquet comes up in March and April, and I like to help them defer that expense.  I hope to catch a few extra ZZZZs today.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:40 (average 5:20).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Upworthy: In case you were unaware, the giant companies that make most major medications are diabolically, ridiculously sneaky.

My doctor has told me that she does not accept money from Big Pharma. Searching the website confirms it.

From Daily Kos: Many of us want to do something that makes a difference, but funds are tight. One thing that is free and easy to do, is avoid buying from companies that support the hate monger, Rush Limbaugh. The vile Conservative radio talk show host who calls women ‘femi-nazis’ and ‘semen receptacles,’ is mostly known for spreading hate and outright lies, while promoting/inciting racism, lgbt hatred, bigotry, and misogyny. And for 25 years he has gotten away with it. But for the last two years, the general public has become more and more proactive against his type of commentary. Concerned consumers have contacted and petitioned Rush Limbaugh sponsors, and asked them to pull their advertising from his show. For those companies who opt to ignore consumers, they are not only boycotted by hundreds of thousands, they are permanently associating their company’s name/brand, in the minds of many, with a hate monger. Seems a pretty foolish business move, when you think about it.

Here is a list of 10 very loyal Rush Limbaugh sponsors. To support the boycott, one only needs to avoid buying from these companies, and spread the sponsor information. Even if you haven’t heard of these sponsors and/or don’t do business with them, by circulating their names to friends, family, and on social media, you will have an impact. Together, the public is sending a message to businesses and the media, that we do not support companies that support hate speech. Rush Limbaugh has lost thousands of sponsors due to this national boycott, which means he has lost millions in ad revenue.

I fully support boycotting Limbarf. Click through for the list.

From NY Times: The House on Wednesday passed a bill approving construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline, setting up a confrontation with President Obama, who has vowed to veto the measure.

The bill, which passed the Senate last month, headed to Mr. Obama’s desk Wednesday night.

The Republican Party is content with considering non productive legislation.  Their only purpose is to create a confrontation.

Cartoon:

Day 97.  This is extreme hurry mode, as I’m posting articles and distributing links, before leaving for volunteer work in prison.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 4:31 (average 5:56).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Daily Kos: Bill Maher had a field day with both Sarah Palin and her Republican critics. “Now that many Republicans have come forward in the last week to finally admit that, ‘okay, you were right, Sarah Palin is a crazy person, they have to ask themselves, ‘What else might I have been completely wrong about all these years?’ In case you missed it, Palin made a speech in Iowa a couple of weeks ago that cryptologists are still working on,” Maher explained on his show Real Time with Bill Maher.

 
Bill to Republicans slamming Sarah Palin… by ewillies

I think Bloody Bullseye Barbie went all the way to Baggerville. Bill was classic.

From The New Yorker: On Monday, the state of Alabama lost yet another fight to remain in the eighteenth century, extending a losing streak that dates back to the nineteenth century.

Alabama, whose first attempt to remain in the eighteenth century took place between 1861 and 1865, has never shown signs of giving up the fight, even after being dealt a string of stunning defeats in the nineteen-fifties and nineteen-sixties.

According to historians, Monday’s loss brings the number of failed attempts by Alabama to more than four thousand.

But even with this latest defeat, some of the state’s residents, such as Chief Justice Roy Moore, of the Alabama Supreme Court, remained resolute in their fight to return to a time before electricity and indoor plumbing.

Dang!!  Andy’s back to straight news, again!!

From YouTube: ‘Bears’ have own plan for Jeb Bush campaign site / LGBT, Equality

We still don’t know what bears do or don’t do in the woods, but they certainly do on the Bush!!  😀

Cartoon:

Day 95.  This is going to be a busy week, because tomorrow is haircut day, Tuesday is a volunteer day in prison.  And Wednesday is grocery delivery day.  I also just learned that a close personal friend has breast cancer, so I’m spending some time on the Johns Hopkins site to learn enough to listen intelligently.  Thoughts and prayers, please.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:42 (average 4:53).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Daily Kos: It’s all so easy if you’re part of the one percent.

(Reuters) – I asked a financial services executive recently how our retirement saving system can be considered a success, considering that all but the highest-income households are approaching retirement with next to nothing saved.

His reply: "They don’t have any money while they’re working, so why would they have any money in retirement?"

It’s just that simple. If, like 45 percent of Americans, you’re of working age and you don’t have a retirement plan, well that’s your problem.

This is how Republicans REALLY care for the rest of us.

From Haaretz: Beware: Republican Jews on the warpath

A campaign of intimidation is underway to stop Democratic lawmakers from skipping Netanyahu’s upcoming Congress speech. God, save us from our Jews.

Note that this is an Israeli source. Israelis should also beware Republican Supply-side pseudo-Christians, whose support for Israel stems from their desire to inspire an apocalyptic conflict and see all but 144,000 Jews transformed into crispy critters in their premillennial tribulation.

From Politico: The Republican 2016 presidential field includes three politicians — George Pataki, Jim Gilmore and Bob Ehrlich — who last won election when the flip phone was hot technology. Also making moves to run are John Bolton, who is best remembered as an architect of George W. Bush’s WMD strategy and has never held elected office, and Peter King, the longtime Long Island congressman who’s made his biggest headlines hitting conservatives.

And don’t forget about former Hewlett-Packard CEO and failed California senatorial candidate Carly Fiorina — another accomplished figure who’s perceived to have next to no chance of becoming the Republican standard-bearer.

Bring on the clowns! All aboard!!

Cartoon:

The Republican Party thinks it still exists.