Politics Plus

Yesterday I was out and about getting a vaccination, picking up a prescription and going to the store.  I do not feel quite so tired as it is cooler.  The temperature at my desk is only 86°.  I tried to do some maintenance on the site a few minutes ago, but the servers were down.  I hate it when people can’t get here.  I’m current on replies.  Today I will be appearing on the Fred and Jed Show at 3:30 PM PDT (6:30 PM EDT).

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 3:02 (average 4:31).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Washington Blade: President Obama issued a proclamation on Thursday that could prohibit those engaging in LGBT persecution overseas from entering the United States.

The proclamation bars entry of immigrant and non-immigrant aliens who organize or participate in war crimes or serious violations of human rights — which could include those seeking to pass legislation in Uganda that would institute the death penalty for homosexual acts.

Well done!  This should be called the Republican C-Street proclamation.

From Christian Science Monitor: According to Libya’s rebels, Muammar Qaddafi’s son Khamis was killed in an overnight NATO raid on the western town of Zlitan.

His death, if true, is a much bigger blow to the Qaddafi regime than that of his brother, Saif al-Arab, who was killed earlier in the war in another NATO airstrike. Saif al-Arab held no significant leadership role, unlike Khamis, the leader of the Khamis Brigade – one of the country’s most elite fighting units and most feared elements of Qaddafi’s regime.

With appropriate empathy for any innocents who loved Khamis, Qaddafi’s own crimes cre coming home to roost.

From Think Progress: Newly elected Rep. Janice Hahn (D-CA) attended a protest of about 200 in Long Beach last night, trying to raise awareness about a spate of attacks on gay men in a gay-friendly area known as the Broadway Corridor. Hahn said she believes “these kinds of hate crimes are a form of domestic terrorism.”

Good for her!

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Yesterday I went first to my denturist for adjustments.  I can chew now, but using these things will be a learning curve.  I had to cut corn off the cob.   Then I went to the grocery store for prescriptions and denture supplies.  They did not have the medicine, so I have to go back Friday.  All-in-all, I walked almost three miles.  Between the heat, lack of sleep, and this, I’m pretty well wrung out, and need to take the day mostly off.  I’m up to day on replies, but this will be my only article.  Today I’m staying home for an oxygen delivery and resting.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 3:47 (average 4:36).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Think Progress: Children at risk of abuse, patients in need of long-term care, poor residents eligible for Medicaid — they all could have benefited from greater access to health care if Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) had accepted millions of dollars in grants from the federal government. Instead, he followed the state legislature’s “well-established policy of not implementing any portion of federal heath care reform through the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.”

And yet lawmakers were willing to forego that prohibition to accept over $2.5 million in ACA money to fund abstinence-only sex education, even though the program offers students very little by way of health-related information.

Translation: It’s OK to take government money, as long as it can be diverted to Teabuggery, not used to meet real people’s real needs.

From MSNBC: Bill Maher on the Ed Show with Michael Eric Dyson

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

Part 2

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

From Right Wing Watch: Back in June when Gov. Rick Perry announced that he was hosting his massive "The Response" prayer rally and inviting all of the nation’s governors to join him, Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback immediately announced that he would attend.  But now, with the event only three days away, it appears as if Brownback might be having second thoughts and will no longer confirm him attendance.

The event is being held at Reliant Stadium, home of the NFL’s Houston Texans, which can seat 86,000 people, so obviously organizers had pretty grand plans for this event.  A spokesperson for the stadium said they were expecting 30,000-35,0000 to attend … but with only a few days to go, the number of confirmed attendees stands at about one-tenth of the stadium’s capacity.

More from Keith Olbermann on this and Romney too on Countdown.

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Yesterday I was gone most of the day for my wellness exam.  I am pleased to announce that I am still alive, but I missed sleep to go.  I also ran into a former prisoner who I helped several years ago.  It was great to see that he is still free and doing well.  I’m current on replies.  Today, I have an early appointment with my denturist to fix my lowers.  Then I need to go to the store, so I’ll be busy.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 4:02 (average 5:14).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Countdown:  Worst persons:

Coon skin? Tar Baby?  In the new Republican Party a KKK member is considered a moderate.

From Alternet: Jon Stewart Rails Against The Tea Party’s Refusal To Compromise On Debt Deal.

It’s ironic that humor can be found in the worst of situations.

From NY Times: MSNBC said Tuesday that it had signed its top star, Rachel Maddow, to a new multi-year contract, cementing her position at the cable news channel for several years.

Finally some good news!

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Yesterday I tried to follow the quagmire, while doing some housework, getting some rest, and fighting off the heat.  I overslept, so these articles are a bit late today.  I’m up do date with comments.  Today will be quite busy with collecting the data needed to prepare tomorrow’s monthly report for July.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 4:07 (average 5:16).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From The Daily Mail: Donald Trump has said that he may now run for president after all despite ruling himself out of the race just a couple of months ago.

‘The Donald’ said he will reconsider becoming a candidate if the economy ‘continues to be bad’ and ‘if the Republicans pick the wrong candidate’.

Horsefeathers!

From International Business Times: AT&T announced on Friday that it will throttle heavy users on its unlimited data plan starting October 1.

"We’re taking steps to manage exploding demand for mobile data," said the company in a statement.  The ultimate solution to the network capacity crunch, however, is "nothing short of completing the T-Mobile merger," stated AT&T.

What a load of bull.  They are throttling heavy users out of greed.  Completing the merger, which I oppose, will not increase the available bandwidth one iota, as T-Mobile’s current bandwidth is barely sufficient for their current customers.

From Reuters: The White House has one important tool in its arsenal to influence congressional talks over further deficit reduction measures in the coming months: the expiry of Bush-era tax cuts at the end of 2012.

After President Barack Obama presented the outlines of a deficit-cutting deal on Sunday, White House officials stressed that he would veto any attempt to extend the tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans beyond next year unless other measures to reform the U.S. tax code were agreed.

Obama was telling the truth as I sat in the audience in October, 2010 and he made the same promise then, but he gave in to GOP blackmail.  I can’t help but wonder what Republicans will take hostage in 2012.

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