Politics Plus

Yesterday I got some paperwork done, but no housework as I seem to have strained my back.  I’m current with replies.  Today I’ll try to get a haircut again.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 4:02 (average 5:12).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From NY Times: House Republican leaders appear ready to bow to election-year pressure and pass a bill banning lawmakers from using nonpublic information they hear on the job to make financial investments. The House legislation, however, is missing two vital provisions that are in the Senate bill that won overwhelming approval last week.

The first provision requires that members of the budding “political intelligence” industry — that sells information gleaned from private talks with lawmakers and staffers — register like lobbyists and disclose Hill activities. The second provision strengthens criminal law to facilitate corruption investigations of public officials.

Both these provisions deserve enactment, but the Republican majority leader, Representative Eric Cantor, struck them from the House measure.

Republicans would not want to outlaw their favorite practices.

From MoveOn: Ellen DeGeneres Fights Bigotry — And Wins!

 

Republican haters are motivators for us all. Her creed is far more Christian that the Republican Supply-side pseudo-Christian false gospel of hate.

From Reuters: President Barack Obama said on Thursday he was granting 10 U.S. states exemptions from parts of the "No Child Left Behind" education law, a move that could prove popular in an election year with parents and teachers who have criticized the law.

"After waiting far too long for Congress to reform No Child Left Behind, my administration is giving states the opportunity to set higher, more honest standards in exchange for more flexibility," Obama said in a statement.

"Today, we’re giving 10 states the green light to continue making reforms that are best for them," said Obama.

Obama is doing what he can, because Republicans refuse to act.

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Yesterday I overslept again.  I did some of my paperwork done.  I’m current with replies.  Today I have more paperwork and all the housework. 🙁

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 3:55 (average 4:56).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From MoveOn: The Secret That Haters Just Don’t Get

This is the answer to Republican bigotry.

From Crooks and Liars: Former RNC chairman Michael Steele was on MSNBC’s "NOW with Alex Wagner" this morning and used the Ron Paul "states’ rights defense" to attack gay marriage during a debate on the Prop 8 ruling with Don Choi. But when he was asked by John Heilemann how he would feel if a state passed a law saying he couldn’t marry a white woman, he went into an incoherent and belligerent rant about his skin color making bigotry against gays different from racism against blacks, and used the typical conservative tactic of feigned outrage at even being asked the question. Huh? See, he didn’t appreciate being asked THAT question when trying to justified HIS flawed position. Hey, Michael, racism and bigotry hurt.

Republicans hate prejudice, except when they are the ones using it, which is most the time.  Click through for the video.

From Think Progress: While Catholic leaders and Republicans have distorted the Obama administration’s rule requiring employers to provide contraception at no additional cost, a majority of Americans, including a majority of Catholics, support such a requirement, according to a new poll conducted by the Public Religion Research Institute. The requirement garners support from 55 percent of Americans and 58 percent of Catholics, though the number is slightly lower (52 percent) for Catholic voters.

Sorry GOP.  You can claim religious freedom when the adherents of the religion, you claim to speak for, do not want what you want to enforce!

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Note: The pictograph is the Chinese character for hate.

Early Yesterday morning I had a bout of violent nausea shortly after posting articles.  I felt better later in the day, but just queasy enough that my planned game day feast became a bowl of soup and crackers.  I watched the Super Bowl and enjoyed a good game.  The commercials were almost as entertaining as the game.  I’m current with replies.  Today I have errands to run.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 3:02 (average 4:19).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Think Progress: The past week brought heightened discussion of a potential Israeli unilateral attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities. But House Intelligence Chairman Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI), appearing on CNN’s State of the Union with Candy Crowley this morning, agreed that an Israeli attack would “light the Middle East on Fire” and could be “a real problem for the national security interests of the United States.”

On those very rare occasions where a Republican actually says something honest and sensible, it is only proper that I give credit where credit is due.

From Raw Story: Former White House press secretary Ari Fleischer will help the Susan G. Komen foundation deal with its decision to halt grants to Planned Parenthood and the subsequent PR disaster, according to the Washington Post.

Fleischer served under the Bush administration.

I’m not surprised that Komen is turning to a professional Republican liar to help them spin their dastardly deed.

From Crooks and Liars: Federal Election Commission filings released this week showed that conservatives groups are amassing an ocean of cash for the 2012 presidential campaign. Thanks to the likes of the Koch brothers, the Walton clan and other of the usual suspects on the right, in 2011 conservative SuperPAC’s outraised their liberal counterparts by more than seven to one. But if they win, rich Republican donors could more than get back the millions they invested. As it turns, just one law they are trying to buy – the elimination of the estate tax – could put billions of dollars back into their families’ bank accounts. Of course, that gaping hole would have to be filled by all other American taxpayers.

There is no doubt whatsoever about who the 1% want in power.  Don’t help them.

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t queazt

Yesterday I went to my barber, who was still out sick.  When I returned, I did my research for the day and enjoyed an extra long sleep cycle, because multiple trips up and down the stairs carrying laundry always tires me.  I’m current with replies.  Today a month’s supply of groceries will be delivered in the late morning.  Unpacking and putting it all away will take several hours.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 3:59 (average 4:30).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Truthdig: One of the most overlooked ironies today is that Israel is threatening military action to prevent Iran from continuing the same clandestine route to nuclear weapons that Israel took, just as Israeli planes destroyed nuclear reactors in Syria and Iraq to prevent those countries from following Israel’s lead.

While I support taking steps for keeping Iran from becoming armed with nuclear weapons, I also think that equal measures should be employed against Israel, until Israel gives up their nuclear weapons and submits to IAEA inspections.

From Raw Story: ‘Daily Show’ asks Gov. Rick Scott to take drug test

I bet that if Scott peed in the cup it would be 40 proof.

From Think Progress: Think Progress Green reported that Gov. Mitch Daniels (R-IN), joined the oil industry in lobbying Congress on behalf of the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline, using taxpayer dollars. Although the proposed pipeline does not go through Indiana, and few, if any, Indiana workers are expected to be employed in its construction, the state’s DC representatives received $66,000 from Indiana taxpayers to lobby Congress in the fourth quarter of 2011.

I would hope that Indiana has a law against the misappropriation of taxpayer funds to pursue a partisan political agenda.

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