Politics Plus

Yesterday I did some computer work, but mostly I rested.  I did not watch the Republican Foreign Policy Debate, because I spent almost two weeks in a sick bed the last time I exposed myself to such vile garbage, and because I was asleep.  Suffice it to say that the failures of the last Republican administration brought us 9/11 and torture.  I’m current with replies.  Tomorrow I have errands to run and plan to cook as much of my Thanksgiving dinner in advance as I can.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 4:21 (average 5:13).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Fantasy Football Report:

Scores

TomCat Teabag Trashers	Progressive Underdogs
116.00	133.48
Texans Will Rise Again	Playing without a helmet
85.40	110.06
ManOnDogSantorum	hugos renegades
82.56	73.46

Standings

						Points
Rank	Team Name	W-L-T	Pct	Streak	Waiver	For	Against
1 (1)	Progressive Underdogs	9-2-0	.818	W1	6	1327.94	1163.50
2 (2)	ManOnDogSantorum	7-4-0	.636	W2	5	1229.34	1133.86
3 (3)	TomCat Teabag Trashers	6-5-0	.545	L1	4	1271.70	1169.96
4 (4)	Playing without a helmet	6-5-0	.545	W2	3	1211.28	1089.82
5 (5)	hugos renegades	5-6-0	.455	L2	2	1189.70	1155.44
6 (6)	Texans Will Rise Again	0-11-0	.000	L11	1	809.42	1326.80

This is the fourth time I have lost with the second highest score in the league. 🙁

Short Takes:

From MoveOn.org: Elizabeth Warren’s latest ad.

Republicans have good reason to fear her.

From LA Times: But in Quinnipiac’s survey of likely Republican voters, Gingrich leads the field of GOP contenders, with 26% support compared to 22% for Romney and 14% for Cain.  And he wins a head-to-head matchup with Romney, 49% to 39%.

A new CNN poll has the two tied — Gingrich wins 24% compared to 20% for Romney — within the margin of error of 5 percentage points.

I guess it’s time to Newter him again.

From Common Dreams: A new survey from Fairleigh Dickinson University has found that viewers of Fox News are less informed about world events than people who do not watch any news.

There it is.  Watching no news informs Americans better that the Republican Reichsministry of Propaganda.

Cartoon:

Yesterday and for the past several days, I have felt like something I wanted to bury in the deepest corner of my kitty box.  A nasty upper respiratory infection exacerbated my COPD to the extent that I have been literally flat on my back and largely away from my computer for all but the most necessary tasks.  I am still well short of full strength, but I shall try to return on a limited basis.  I’m current on replies, just to the extent of saying thank you.  Today I have a month’s groceries being delivered, and putting them away is a task that drains me during the best of times, so if I go missing tomorrow, don’t be surprised.  I have missed you all and am grateful to you for your patience.

Jig Zone Puzzles:

Date     My Time     Average Time     To Do Link

11/11   3:59          5:00                  Click here

11/12   3:50          3:56                  Click here

11/13   4:47          4:41                  Click here

11/14   3:35          5:12                  Click here

11/15   4:21          5:39                  Click here

11/16   4:29          5:26                  Click here

11/17   4:06          4:51                  Click here

11/18   4:07          4:29                  Click here

11/19   5:58          6:05                  Click here

11/20   4:26          5:45                  Click here

11/21   4:17          4:53                  Click here

Double Religious Ecstasy:

Fantasy Football Report:

Scores:

TomCat Teabag Trashers	Texans Will Rise Again
84.18	57.82
Progressive Underdogs	ManOnDogSantorum
122.44	141.16
Playing without a helmet	hugos renegades
143.40	78.08

Standings:

						Points
Rank	Team Name	W-L-T	Pct	Streak	Waiver	For	Against
1 (1)	Progressive Underdogs	8-2-0	.800	L1	6	1194.46	1047.50
2 (2)	TomCat Teabag Trashers	6-4-0	.600	W4	5	1155.70	1036.48
3 (3)	ManOnDogSantorum	6-4-0	.600	W1	4	1146.78	1060.40
4 (4)	hugos renegades	5-5-0	.500	L1	3	1116.24	1072.88
5 (5)	Playing without a helmet	5-5-0	.500	W1	2	1101.22	1004.42
6 (6)	Texans Will Rise Again	0-10-0	.000	L10	1	724.02	1216.74

My fortunes continue to rise, but today, my team is playing Rob, and losing.

Short Takes:

From ABC: A California university placed two of its police officers on administrative leave Sunday because of their involvement in the pepper spraying of passively sitting protesters, while the school’s chancellor accelerated an investigation into the incident amid calls for her resignation.

Officials at the University of California, Davis refused to identify the two officers but one was a veteran of many years on the force and other "fairly new" to the department, the school’s Police Chief Annette Spicuzza told The Associated Press. She would not elaborate further because of the pending probe.

I have to wonder whether or not the university officials were in on it.

From Business Week: Republican and Democratic lawmakers on the deficit-cutting supercommittee said they’re still aiming for a last-ditch agreement even as one of the panel’s leaders voiced doubts about an accord by a Nov. 23 deadline.

The supercommittee faces a “daunting challenge” as its 12 members seek to bridge gulfs over taxes and spending, Representative Jeb Hensarling of Texas, the Republican co- chairman, said today. Time is running out for a plan to carve at least $1.2 trillion out of the federal budget, he said.

The panel has been deadlocked over income-tax increases, with Democrats seeking tax increases on high earners while Republicans push for extending tax cuts enacted under President George W. Bush. Another sticking point is Republican calls for cuts, over Democrats’ opposition, in entitlement programs such as Medicare.

The best possible thing that can happen here is an impasse.  Democrats went much too far attempting to reach agreement with Republicans.

From MoveOn.org: Scott Walker is at it again.

Isn’t it frustrating that US media have ignored this story?

Cartoon: (about a week and a half out of date)

Yesterday I caught up some paperwork and got some extra rest.  I’m current on replies.  Tomorrow I have errands to run.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 3:49 (average 5:01).  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

TomCat Teabag Trashers	ManOnDogSantorum
112.52	104.18
hugos renegades	Texans Will Rise Again
121.82	52.32
Playing without a helmet	Progressive Underdogs
100.58	103.36

Standings

						Points
Rank	Team Name	W-L-T	Pct	Streak	Waiver	For	Against
1 (1)	Progressive Underdogs	8-1-0	.889	W4	6	1072.02	906.34
2 (2)	TomCat Teabag Trashers	5-4-0	.556	W3	5	1071.52	979.66
3 (3)	hugos renegades	5-4-0	.556	W1	4	1038.16	929.48
4 (4)	ManOnDogSantorum	5-4-0	.556	L2	3	1006.62	937.96
5 (5)	Playing without a helmet	4-5-0	.444	L1	2	957.82	926.34
6 (6)	Texans Will Rise Again	0-9-0	.000	L9	1	666.20	1132.56

That’s three in a row for me, but Rob will ne hard to catch.

Short Takes:

From Boston Globe: A conservative-leaning appeals court panel on Tuesday upheld the constitutionality of President Barack Obama’s health care law, as the Supreme Court prepares to consider this week whether to resolve conflicting rulings over the law’s requirement that all Americans buy health care insurance.

A panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia issued a split opinion upholding the lower court’s ruling that found Congress did not overstep its authority in requiring people to have insurance or pay a penalty on their taxes, beginning in 2014.

I think that the appeals court made the correct decision.

From Reuters: Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has told President Giorgio Napolitano that he will resign after the new budget law currently making its way through parliament is approved, the head of state’s office said in a statement on Tuesday.

The budget law is expected to be passed by the end of this month, but its passage might now be accelerated.

Napolitano said Berlusconi was aware of the consequences of a vote in parliament on Tuesday in which his center-right coalition failed to secure a majority in the lower house.

Good riddance to bad rubbish.

From The Nation: At a White House staff meeting yesterday, chief of staff Bill Daley made a surprising announcement [Murdoch delinked]: his role in the administration going forward will be reduced, and veteran aide Pete Rouse will take over day-to-day management of the West Wing. The Wall Street Journal notes [Murdoch delinked] “It is unusual for a White House chief of staff to relinquish part of the job.”

It’s unusual, but it is good news for progressives. There is no doubt that Daley’s hiring represented a tack to the right, and towards a more corporate-friendly approach, and this demotion could reflect at least a partial retreat by the White House from that approach.

This is a start, but the solution to Daley is a complete flush.

Cartoon: