Politics Plus

Taking yesterday off was a good idea, as I’m rested and ready to go.  I’m spending most of the day in research and writing.  I’m current with replies.  Tomorrow looks good.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 4:40 (average 5:53).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From MoveOn: Think Of This The Next Time You Fill Up Your Gas Tank.

This, not Obama, is the reason for high gas prices.  He is right that energy markets need more regulation.

From NY Times: Senior advisers to Mitt Romney said Monday that Mr. Romney, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, was merely tossing around ideas, not making policy announcements, when his chat with donors about some significant changes to the tax code was overheard by reporters at a fund-raiser this weekend.

Bullshit!

From LA Times: It was an extraordinary sight, even for Washington — a space shuttle flying over the nation’s capital atop a modified 747 on the way to its permanent new home, the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum.

It is a national shame that we have done nothing to update our capability for manned space flight in the last 31 years, since the shuttle entered service.

Cartoon:

I seem to be improving, as yesterday, I had only four trips to the throne room, and none so far today.  It appears to be a slow news day.  I’m current with replies to new articles. Tomorrow, I may have no articles, because I have a follow-up appointment with my doctor and transit time by bus/train is about 90 minutes each way.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Todays took me 3:37 (average 4:24).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From MoveOn: Economic Recovery For Whom? The 1934 Versus The 2010 Recovery

In 1934, Republicans were not intentionally sabotaging America’s workers.

From Huffington Post: Starting next year, the check will no longer be in the mail for millions of people who receive Social Security and other government benefits.

The federal government, which issues 73 million payments a month, is phasing out paper checks for all benefit programs, requiring people to get payments electronically, either through direct deposit or a debit card for those without a bank account.

The changes will affect people who get Social Security, veterans’ benefits, railroad pensions and federal disability payments. Tax refunds are exempt, but the Internal Revenue Service encourages taxpayers to get refunds electronically by processing those refunds faster than paper checks.

I understand the need for efficiency, but I hope that the SSA has a plan in place to help seniors make the transition.  In my building alone, I know a half a dozen people that I will need to help with this, because they are poor, have no bank accounts, and are not mentally together.

From AlterNet: Saturday, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, the host of the Summit of the Americas and Washington’s closest ally in Latin America, said it would be "unacceptable" to keep Cuba out of the next gathering…

…"The isolation, the indifference has shown its ineffectiveness. In today’s world, there is no justification for this anachronism," Santos said on the summit’s opening day.

Cuba has never taken part in a Summit of the Americas, a regular meeting sponsored by the US-based Organization of American States (OAS).

I don’t expect anything soon on this, because it’s a big issue with Florida’s Cuban expatriate community, and I’m sure Obama will not want to anger them in an election year.  That said, the US embargo of Cuba became obsolete with the end of the cold war, and it’s long past time to end it.

Cartoon: