Politics Plus

Yesterday I slept most of the day, and when I finally surfaced, I felt well enough to do a little research and writing.  Although excessively brief, I’m current with replies.  Today is a high holy day in the Church of the Ellipsoid Orb.

Jig Zone Puzzles:

Yesterday it took me 4:05 (average 4:57).  To do it, click here.  Today it took me 4:25 (average 5:20).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From You Tube: Hallelujah Corporations.

Hat Tip to Miss Kitty at Care2.

From LA Times: Members of the tea party movement that swept into power in 2010 may be anti-elitist in their rhetoric, but their personal finances tell a different story.

While the median average net worth in the U.S. House of Representatives was $755,000 in 2010, the comparable figure for the House Tea Party Caucus’ 60 members was $1.8 million, according to an analysis by the Center for Responsive Politics.

What better evidence could there be that the Teabaggers are top-down astro-turfed?

From Current: Keith’s Worst Persons for 1/5

There you have it: the Republican spectrum from criminal to nuts.

From Reuters: Employment growth accelerated last month and the jobless rate dropped to a near three-year low of 8.5 percent, the strongest evidence yet the economic recovery is gaining steam.

Nonfarm payrolls increased 200,000 in December, the Labor Department said on Friday. It was the biggest rise in three months and beat economists’ expectations for a 150,000 gain.

In spite of European difficulties, triggered in part by the Republican recession here, and in spite of Republican attempts to sabotage our economy at every turn,  measures taken by Democrats are finally beginning to bear some fruit.  Were it not for Republican interference, the recovery would be further along.

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Yesterday was another slow news day, so I wrote my first editorial of the year, and I thoroughly enjoyed watching Oregon best Wisconsin 45 – 38 in the Rose Bowl.  It was a fast paced game, and I was thoroughly impressed with the Badger offence.  I’m current with replies.  Today I have chores to do.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 4:00 (average 5:08).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Final Fantasy Football Report:

Here is the final report for our fantasy football league, Lefty Blog Friends.

Congrats to Rob, Dusty and Robb!

Short Takes:

From Think Progress: On New Year’s Eve, a magnitude 4.0 earthquake struck northeastern Ohio, the second quake to strike the region in a week. Saturday’s earthquake, which occurred in an area not typically known for this type of natural disaster, is being traced back to fluid injection wells at a Youngstown fracking site. According to the Akron Beacon Journal, “the quake was the 11th over the last eight months in Mahoning County, all within two miles of the injection wells.” They also point out that injection wells have been linked to earthquakes in other states as well, including Arkansas, West Virginia, Colorado and Texas.

What better reason could we have that fracking should be banned?

From Hypervocal: Small-government conservatism: Where freedom and liberty are no match for faux patriotism.

A Republican state senator from Indiana has introduced a measure that would literally fine any and all singers of the United States’ national anthem who don’t meet “acceptable” performance standards of “The Star-Spangled Banner” at any event sponsored by public schools and state universities.

Scheeeesch!  Busted for missing High C!  What Teabuggery!

From Crooks and Liars: Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) held a press conference Wednesday to take credit for lifting caps on a Family Care program designed to keep elderly people out of nursing homes. What he didn’t include in the press event was that the caps he is lifting are caps that he imposed and that he’s only lifting them because the federal government ordered him to do so.

Wisconsin, make sure everyone knows that the feds made him do it, the lying sack of…

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Yesterday was a slow day for news, and when I returned from my errands, I did some research and took a long nap.  I’m current with replies.  Today I shall cook a big meal and meditate on a very important holy day for the Church of the Ellipsoid Orb, but the meditation between the Broncos and the Chiefs will nit be televised here.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 3:56 (average 4:45).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From USA Today: Iraq’s prime minister hailed the end of the American military presence in Iraq as a new dawn for his country and urged Iraqis to preserve the unity of a nation still under attack by insurgents and beset by sectarian divisions.

I see nothing good from that nation any time soon.

From ABC: Iran said Saturday it has proposed a new round of talks on its nuclear program with six world powers that have been trying for years to persuade Tehran to freeze aspects of its atomic work that could provide a possible pathway to weapons production.

The country’s top nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili, said he has formally called on the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany to return to negotiations.

I certainly hope Iran intends to negotiate seriously.

From Think Progress: A recall of controversial Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker now appear inevitable. In just 28 days, activists collected 507,533 signatures. Organizers have until January 17 to collect 540,208 signatures, which is equal to 25% of the state’s 2010 general election turnout. To be safe, recall advocates have set a new goal of 720,277 signatures by the deadline.

Here’s excellent news to start the new year!

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