Personal – Page 557 – Politics Plus

Open Thread–10/9/2013

Posted by TomCat at 12:26 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Oct 092013

I’m writing for tomorrow and hurrying to finish before leaving for volunteer work in prison, a CoDA group with a dozen of my guys. I hope I can stay awake, thanks to Guitar Man, who interrupted my sleep six times yesterday. Due to my need to recover, on Thursday and/or Friday, I may have just Open Threads, if that.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 4:42 (average 4:48). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Fantasy Football Report:

Here’s the latest from our fantasy football league, Lefty Blog Friends.

Scores:

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Standings:

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I’m coming up in the world, and next week, my lunch is Patty!! 😉

Short Takes:

From Upworthy: Fracking Is Pretty Hard To Understand — Until It Isn’t

It seems clear to me that the limited short-term benefits do not stand up to the unlimited long-term hazards. But the Republican Party are a bunch of mother frackers!!

From Daily Kos: TIME Magazine’s Cover

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In a Republican Reich, Republicans rule, no matter how small a minority they are. Their ultimate goal is a permanent Reich ruled by the 0.1%.

From NY Times: The bitter fiscal stalemate in Washington is producing nervous ripples from London to Bali, with increasing anxiety that the United States might actually default on a portion of its government debt, set off global financial troubles and undercut fragile economic recoveries in many countries.

Click through for the rest. Online, I know people from all over the world, and they have no trouble understanding that the latest Republican meme that a Debt Limit crisis is not really a matter for concern is pure hogwash! That must be because foreign media do a better job of covering US Politics than US media do.

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Open Thread–10/8/2013

Posted by TomCat at 1:24 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics, Religion

Oct 082013

I’m writing for tomorrow and need to catch up some sleep because Stuck on Stupid and Disability Check Queen are fighting, not again, but still. In addition I made a store run and did laundry. Tomorrow is a prison volunteer day, so expect me to be hurrying then and possibly lust Open Threads or absent Wednesday and/or Thursday.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:25 (average 4:27). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From The New Yorker: Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) raised the ante in the battle over the Affordable Care Act on Sunday, telling CNN’s Candy Crowley that “destroying the entire planet is really the best and only way to stop Obamacare.”

“Look, I’m in favor of shutting down the government and not raising the debt ceiling, but let’s not kid ourselves. Those are only half measures,” he told Crowley. “If we are really serious about stopping Obamacare, we’ll destroy the entire planet.”

Explaining his proposal to a visibly alarmed Crowley, Senator Cruz said, “Obamacare is like a parasite that needs a host to feed on. If you want to kill the parasite you kill the host, and in this case that means killing this planet. As long as there’s a planet Earth, the nightmare of Obamacare could always come screaming back to life.”

While he was not specific about how he would go about destroying the planet, Cruz said, “This is something that my colleagues and I have been working on for some time.”

In the event of a Debt Default, Andy may be prophetic.

From Alternet: Pat Robertson to elderly woman viewer: It’s your fault your husband’s health his suffering.

Always willing to comfort his flock, Pat Robertson used his “700 Club” pulpit recently to set a woman straight about priorities. Retired and living on a small pension and Social Security pension, the woman was faced with the difficult decision of whether to give money to her church or pay her husband’s medical expenses.

This whole situation is all her fault, Robertson told her. Her husband is sick precisely because her contribution to the church has been inadequate, despite a lifetime of tithing.

“Your husband has all these medical problems because the ‘devour’ has not been rebuked,” Robertson explained. “You need to rebuke him. You give your tithes faithfully and God said, ‘I will rebuke the devour,’ the person that is eating up your money and eating up your health. So you want to be healthy? That’s a promise in the word.”

This just one of ten appalling statements from the Republican madhouse in the last week alone. Click through for the other nine. As for Republican Supply-side pseudo Christian, Pat Robertson, someone needs to upset his tables and drive him from the temple with a whip of cords.

From Daily Kos: The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the bedrock of traditional Republicanism, now says that it will get involved in Republican primaries by providing financial support to incumbent Republicans who vote to reopen the government and raise the debt ceiling. In other words, if some Republicans act responsibly and then have to face tea party challengers accusing them of being RINOs, the Chamber will have the back of those reasonable Republicans. It’s a civil war within the GOP, folks.

That’s how far off the deep end the tea party and right-wing House Republicans have gone. They’ve lost the Chamber of Commerce.

This Republican sedition even hurts most of the business community. Whether this will matter, I know not, but for the Republican’s own sake, this is the best that could happen. With promised backing from the chamber, those Republicans, who said they will support a clean CR, will have no excuse for failing to sign the discharge petition.

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Open Thread–10/7/2013

Posted by TomCat at 12:11 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Oct 072013

I’m writing for tomorrow and rushing to get done in time to meditate on my Bronco’s worship in the Church of the Ellipsoid Orb.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:32 (average 5:03). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Religious Ecstasy:

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Short Takes:

From Daily Kos (Hat-Tip Nameless): Republican idea of compromise summarized perfectly in one tweet

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Does that nail it, or what?

From NY Times: The Supreme Court begins a new term on Monday, even as the landmark rulings of last term continue to reverberate. The court has agreed to hear more than 50 cases so far on disputes both familiar and fresh: from affirmative action and freedom of speech, to campaign finance and the president’s power to make recess appointments.

Tome to stock up on barf bags and blood pressure meds. Just like in Poltergeist, judicial venereal disease, aka SCROTUS, is ba-a-a-a-a-a-ck!

From MSNBC: The Rosetta Stone of TEAbuggery

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

When the Rosetta Stone of a movement centers around Christine "I am not a witch" O'Dingbat, that movement is completely off the deep end! As for the Republican legislators, who fear being TEAbuggered, putting theirs jobs on the line to represent your constituents and convincing them to vote in primaries to protect them from the Baggers is their job. Representing only a minority, because they fear fear them is simple incompetence.

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A Discharge Petition Is Worth a Try

Posted by TomCat at 1:36 am Personal, Politics

Oct 062013

While the House Republicans scurry like headless chickens trying to decide what they are will take as a reward for depriving millions of Americans of basic government services, the Democratic Party has a long shot solution called a Discharge Petition to bring the clean CR, passed in the Senate, to the House Floor. If the majority of Representatives sign it, there will be a vote, even over the objection of Agent Orange and the Republican leadership.

House Democrats announced Friday that they will try to force the House to vote on a measure to fully fund the government — and end the shutdown — with a procedural motion known as a discharge petition.

Democrats unveiled their plan at a Friday afternoon press conference. Their resolution would fund the government through Nov. 15 at the same levels as the Senate-passed continuing resolution. And, like the Senate bill, there would be no strings attached related to delaying or defunding Obamacare.

The effort, led by Reps. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and George Miller (D-Calif.), has little chance of succeeding. The process can be time-consuming and it requires members of the majority party — in this case, Republicans — to buck their party leaders and sign a petition with the minority to force a bill to the floor. But it’s one of the few things Democrats can do as the minority to try to force action.

If all 200 Democrats sign the petition, 18 Republicans would have to join them in order to hit 218 signatures, the magic number needed to move forward with the petition. Democrats already know there are at least 21 Republicans who would support a "clean" government funding bill, with no strings attached. But declaring support for such a bill and signing a petition to force it to the House floor, against the will of House GOP leaders, are two entirely different things.

During Friday’s press event, Miller exuded confidence about Democrats’ ability to round up the votes… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <Huffington Post>

There’s certainly nothing to lose by trying. It takes about a week. Rachel Maddow explored the issue,

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

It comes down to this. If the Republicans, who said they would vote for a clean CR, of only they had an opportunity, , actually sign the petition, there will be a vote and the Republican Shutdown will be over. If they refuse to sign it, they will have had the opportunity, and refused it, demonstrating that their protestations were nothing but a BS attempt to escape the consequences of their policy.

LaTourette’s suggestion to repeal the medical device tax would benefit me personally. I use an O2 generator at home, O2 tanks for out and about, an d a nebulizer, so that’s a tax that will come out of my pocket. Nevertheless, poor as I am, I prefer to pay that tax than to give Republicans even the slightest reward for harming millions of people, as they have.

Open Thread–10/6/2013

Posted by TomCat at 1:33 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Oct 062013

I’m writing for tomorrow and working on a sleep deficit because Guitar Man decided to be Bongo Man. Argh! Tomorrow is a holy day in the Church of the Ellipsoid Orb. My Broncos are meditating with Dallas, but I don’t know whether it will be televised here.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 4:55 (average 5:16). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Upworthy: TSA Announces New Screening Program. Comedian Has Hilarious, Helpful Suggestions.

Funny, but enlightening. For airport security, Sikh and ye shall find.

From NY Times: The Republican Party of Rhode Island is attracting well-deserved scorn for its plan to raise money Sunday by raffling an AR-15-style assault rifle — the same sort of modified military weapon used last December in the Newtown school massacre in neighboring Connecticut.

The rifle is the main prize at the state Republican Party’s “2nd Amendment celebration” at a rod and gun club in West Greenwich — “a family day at the range full of targets, food, prizes and fun,” but truly devoid of even rudimentary sensitivity to the carnage inflicted on Americans from weapons devised not for sport but for the battlefield.

With Republicans, some things just never change.

From MSNBC: Democrats sue to stop Republican election theft in VA.

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

If somebody is going to purge voter rolls, the time to do it is NOT a month before an election. I bet a dollar against a donut that there were not a hell of a lot of white faces in that purge list.

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Judge Republican intent accordingly.

Open Thread–10/5/2013

Posted by TomCat at 12:14 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Oct 052013

I’m writing for tomorrow, and it looks like it will stay cool enough that I will even be wearing clothes from now on. Being the nekked blogger is overrated anyway. ;-) Fantasy players be sure your lineups are set for Sunday’s games.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:47 (average 5:13). To do it, click here, how did you do?

Short Takes:

From CNN: …House Speaker John Boehner told a group of fellow GOP legislators that he won’t let the nation default on its debt, according to a House Republican.

Boehner said that he’d set aside the "Hastert Rule" — that Republicans would only bring measures up for a vote if they are backed by a majority of their caucus — and rely on Democrats to pass a measure to raise the nation’s debt limit, said the House member. This legislator attended a meeting Wednesday involving Boehner, but requested anonymity because that gathering was private…

The media seem to be reporting this as gospel, and I’m not saying it isn’t true, but I’m sure not ready to take it to the bank. Boehner said two months ago that Republicans would not shut down the government, so he has no credibility in such matters (or any other matters). In addition, this is just hearsay from an anonymous Republican (and therefore unreliable) source, not even from Agent Orange himself. Color me from Missouri on this one.

From NY Times: It is outrageous that millions of the poorest people in the country will be denied health insurance because of decisions made mostly by Republican governors and legislators. These people will neither qualify for their state’s Medicaid program for the poor nor for subsidized coverage on new insurance exchanges that are being established in every state by the health care reform law.

Their plight is a result of the Supreme Court’s decision last year that struck down the reform law’s mandatory expansion of Medicaid and made expansion optional. Every state in the Deep South except Arkansas has rejected expansion, as have Republican-led states elsewhere. These 26 states would rather turn down incredibly generous federal funds that would finance 100 percent of the expansion costs for three years and at least 90 percent thereafter than offer a helping hand to their most vulnerable residents… [emphasis added]

Isn’t it the height of hypocrisy for Republicans to cackle about how ObamaCare leaves so many poor without coverage, when in fact, they are the ones keeping those people uncovered by refusing to accept the federal funds to pay for it all?

From MSNBC: Wooo Hooo Wendy!!

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

That pink sneakers lady with the big mouth is my favorite Texan politician!

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Open Thread–10/4/2013

Posted by TomCat at 12:59 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Oct 042013

I’m writing for tomorrow, and since there is only one story dominating the news, everything today relates to the anti-American attempt at minority rule by the Republican Party. However, I will take a short break from it this evening for religious meditation in the Church of the Ellipsoid Orb.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:28 (average 4:06). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Upworthy: Senator Warren decided to get to the brass tacks about what this government shutdown is actually going to do to the country. She doesn’t mince words.

She sure tells it like it is!!

From The New Yorker: Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio) said that he was disappointed after meeting with President Obama at the White House on Wednesday afternoon, telling reporters, “The President is stubbornly refusing to end the crisis I created.”

“Government is about teamwork,” Mr. Boehner continued. “I’ve done my part by putting together an entirely optional crisis that has shut down the government and will throw thousands out of work. Now it’s up to the President to do his part by ending it.”

Mr. Boehner said that he was “flabbergasted” that the President was looking to him to bring the current government shutdown to an end: “So after doing all of the hard work to push the country to the brink, I’m supposed to pull it back, too? How about you pitching in a little, Mr. President?”

The House Speaker said that he hoped he did not have to manufacture an another entirely avoidable crisis over the debt ceiling in order to stir the President to action…

Andy’s 100% satire reflects the entire truth.

From Alternet: Sen. Mitch McConnell, Kentucky: “The president is more than willing to negotiate with the Iranians. I don’t know why he isn’t willing to negotiate with us.”

Are you sure that you want to compare Congressional Republicans to hardline mullahs? I think we’re beginning to understand which group is the more reasonable.

This is just one of ten "remarkably stupid" Republican statements about the Republican Shutdown abd ObamaCare. Click through for the other nine. Republicans or the most rabid bloodthirsty mullahs? The latter are the more reasonable by far!

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Open Thread–10/3/2013

Posted by TomCat at 12:36 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Oct 032013

I’m writing for tomorrow, and I think I’ll start counting months, instead of days. It’s over three now. I really was tired after yesterday, because I overslept this morning, and now it’s almost bedtime. Now what am I forgetting? That’s it! EAT!! ;-) Fantasy players check your lineups for Thursday night’s game.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 2:48 (average 4:24). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From MSNBC: ObamaCare or the ACA?

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

America’s big problem is that sheeple like these reproduce… and vote!!

From Raw Story: Fears were mounting Wednesday that a fight over the government’s debt ceiling will overtake the budget battle that has paralyzed Washington, threatening to trigger an unprecedented US default.

Republican lawmakers, frustrated that they have not won any concessions from Democrats over health care reform, have threatened to roll the two issues together.

That signalled [sic] not only that the government shutdown could run for two weeks, but also that there could be a battle to the brink over the borrowing limit that would frighten global markets.

Whatever damage Republicans do, caving-in to their seditious terrorism will only demonstrate to them that they can get away with doing it again. They must be taught, once and for all, that the political price they pay for anti-American behavior outweighs the benefits they hope to gain!

From Salon.com: A nuclear bomb just exploded in the world of Bitcoin libertarianism. The FBI has busted the Silk Road, the online black market emporium in which nearly anything illicit imaginable could be purchased — but only via the Bitcoin cryptocurrency. On Wednesday, the FBI arrested Ross Ulbricht, a.k.a “Dread Pirate Roberts,” a man whom they believe to be the founder and chief operator of the site, on charges of narcotics trafficking, computer hacking, and money laundering. The criminal complaint filed by the FBI also alleges that Ulbricht solicited a “murder-for-hire” hit on another Silk Road user who was attempting to extort Ulbricht.

The complaint makes for lurid and fascinating reading, along with providing a decent tutorial on how to use the Tor anonymizing network and Bitcoin currency. If the details reported in the complaint are true, over the past several years, thousands of Silk Road users bought and sold illicit substances worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Ulbricht was reportedly arrested in possession of 26,000 Bitcoins, currently worth around $3 million.

But the most interesting aspect of the complaint has less to do with its voluminous allegations of criminal activity than its implications for cyber-libertarian dogma. Countless articles about Bitcoin, the supposedly untraceable, uncrackable digital currency, have referenced the Silk Road as an example of how the crypto-currency enabled an online marketplace that could scoff at the oppressive totalitarian attention of law enforcement or the tax man.

It was easy to tell that Bitcoin, so loved by TEAbagger extremists, was a right wing scam. How? That’s easy!

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