Politics Plus

Yesterday, I was still ill and spent most of the day in bed.  Nevertheless, I have a full slate of articles, and all deserve to be the lead article.  I’m current with replies,  Today depends on how I feel.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 3:57 (average 4:31).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From San Francisco Chronicle: Newt Gingrich’s network of businesses and policy groups that laid the groundwork for his presidential bid harken back to those that got him into ethics trouble and led to the biggest monetary penalty imposed on a U.S. House speaker.

The charges raised more than a decade ago revolved around allegations that the former speaker improperly used tax-exempt charitable and education organizations to advance partisan political purposes. Today, government ethics advocates say the former speaker used a tax-exempt public policy group to promote his candidacy.

Could it be more clear that Newt’s ethics have not changed a bit since he was drummed out of the House in disgrace?

From Bonamici for Congress:

Support Suzanne Bonamici!

From Alternet: On Wednesday night, Republican presidential front-runner Newt Gingrich held a fundraiser at the posh Willard InterContinental hotel in downtown Washington, DC. Waiting there for Gingrich were a few dozen protesters. Around 7 p.m., they snuck through an unlocked back door to the candlelit ballroom hosting the Gingrich affair and caused a ruckus.

Hurrah!

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Yesterday drained me pretty well.  I had to run errands and, in the process, walk about a mile and a half.  My COPD, already exacerbated from an upper respiratory infection, flared up severely.  Other than this Open Thread, I have only one article, but it’s a biggie.  I’m current, albeit brief, with replies.  Today I will be recovering from yesterday.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Yesterday it took me 5:12 (average 6:06).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Fantasy Football Report:

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

Scores:

TomCat Teabag Trashers	hugos renegades
129.16	166.58
Playing without a helmet	ManOnDogSantorum
123.86	98.46
Progressive Underdogs	Texans Will Rise Again
140.16	68.96

Standings:

						Points
Rank	Team Name	W-L-T	Pct	Streak	Waiver	For	Against
1 (1)	Progressive Underdogs	10-3-0	.769	W1	6	1562.74	1352.88
2 (2)	Playing without a helmet	8-5-0	.615	W4	5	1453.52	1297.60
3 (3)	ManOnDogSantorum	8-5-0	.615	L1	4	1425.48	1318.84
4 (4)	hugos renegades	7-6-0	.538	W2	3	1477.00	1379.24
5 (5)	TomCat Teabag Trashers	6-7-0	.462	L3	2	1510.18	1454.92
6 (6)	Texans Will Rise Again	0-13-0	.000	L13	1	939.20	1564.64

The second highest production has earned me fifth place.  ARGH! 🙁

Short Takes:

From CBS: President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced Monday that the United States will now use foreign aid as a tool to improve Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender rights abroad.

I applaud this move.  Hopefully it will do some good, including defusing C-Street Republican support for Uganda’s bill to execute gays.

From ABC: Senate Republicans rejected a new, tweaked Senate Democratic payroll tax  cut extension proposal because they say it is not, as billed by Democrats, a compromise bill.

This is exactly as I called it yesterday.  It didn’t require rocket science.

From Democratic Party of Oregon: Rob Cornilles – Anti-Choice Republican

In OR-1 support Suzanne Bonamici!

Cartoon:

Yesterday I watched the early game and napped during the afternoon one.  I’m still feeling pretty down, but it was a slow news day.  I’m current with replies.  Tomorrow I still have week old errands to run.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 2:47 (average 4:34).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Religious Ecstasy:

Short Takes:

From Economic Times: Latin American and Caribbean countries signed the "declaration of Caracas" on Saturday in Venezuela to formalise the creation of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, an economic and political bloc that excludes the US and Canada. Leaders and officials from 33 countries approved the declaration that pledges to improve ties in the region.

After over two centuries in which few countries in that region have escaped the overthrow of their governments to benefit US corporations, I’m not surprised.

From MoveOn.org: Why Scott Olsen Doesn’t Regret The Night He Was Injured By Cops At #OccupyOakland

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

Why does it not surprise me that he’s from Wisconsin?

From Philadelphia Enquirer: The House on Friday approved the second in a series of bills to limit the president’s authority to regulate business, which Republicans said was necessary for job creation and which Democrats called a political power grab.

House Speaker John A. Boehner (R., Ohio), who said the package was a top priority, will have difficulty winning final passage of the bill, which the White House has threatened to veto. Still, Republicans said the votes would highlight the government’s role in regulating business, which they have made a major campaign issue.

Is not the Republican Recession, occasioned by unmitigated corporate greed gone wild, undeniable proof that more regulation is needed?

Cartoon:

Yesterday I continued to feel pretty rank, but I’m trying to blog on a limited basis.  I’m current on today’s and yesterday’s replies. Tomorrow is touch and go.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 3:44 (average 4:54).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From MoveOn.org: 300 Economists Who Stand With #OccupyWallStreet

Occupy Economics from Softbox on Vimeo.

Once again, truth has a liberal bias.

From Houston Chronicle: Small businesses and startups that were skittish about the economy this summer started hiring in bigger numbers this fall, helping drive the unemployment rate down to 8.6 percent in November, the lowest in two and a half years.

This is such a disaster for Republicans that the Republican Ministry of Propaganda, Faux Noise, lied about it.  When they announced it, they displayed “Unemployment 9%” prominently.

From Washington Post: The White House is accusing the Democratic-controlled Senate of “political micromanagement” at the expense of national security. The comments come with a renewed threat to veto the defense bill in dispute.

The Senate passed the massive $662 billion bill Thursday night on a 93-7 vote. The measure would require military custody of suspected terrorists, even those captured within the U.S., and indefinitely detain some without trial.

Unless these items are removed in conference, it is imperative that Obama veto the defense budget, as he has said he would.

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