Personal – Page 657 – Politics Plus

Open Thread–6/27/2011

Posted by TomCat at 1:22 am Open Thread, Personal

Jun 272011

Another weekend is passed, and I’m still current with replies. I have more errands to run today, so I don’t know how much I’ll be around.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 3:51 (average 5:04). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Reuters: President Barack Obama must bridge a wide gap separating his Democrats from Republicans when he meets with Senate leaders on Monday over raising the U.S. debt ceiling, but neither side seems inclined to compromise.

I hope Obama can hold off both Bought Bitch Mitch and the Nevada leg Hound.

From Reuters: A top regulator said on Sunday that a nuclear power plant threatened by flooding from the swollen Missouri River was operating safely and according to standards.

While I do not consider nuclear power safe by any means, I’m glad I stayed out of the hype surrounding this incident.

From CBS: Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., said Sunday it was not true that the U.S. government would default on its loans if the debt limit were not raised, and accused the Obama administration of using "scare tactics" to push its agenda.

Sadly, the moderator did not even challenge this batshit crazy BS.

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Open Thread–6/26/2011

Posted by TomCat at 2:55 am Open Thread, Personal

Jun 262011

Yesterday my articles were late, because I was so tired that I fell asleep at the keyboard. After my blog work was done, I had breakfast, napped, had lunch, napped, had dinner, napped and slept late so I’m running behind again. I am current on replies. Today I have errands to run.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 4:09 (average 5:14). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Fantasy Football:

Those to whom I sent notices have one more day. I’ll be posting the ID and password for Lefty Blog Friends tomorrow.

Short Takes:

From Detroit Free Press: Michigan native Mitt Romney and U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann are neck and neck in a new poll of likely participants in Iowa’s Republican presidential caucuses.

Romney, a former Massachusetts governor, claims 23%, and Bachmann, a tea partier from Minnesota, has 22%. Neither has done heavy lifting in Iowa. Retired pizza CEO Herman Cain of Georgia is in third, with 10%.

I’d be happy for us to run against either.

From The Vile Plutocrat: A group backed by 81 major companies — including McDonald’s, Lowe’s, General Dynamics, American Airlines, IBM and General Mills — is lobbying against new rules that would force disclosure of how much more their chief executive makes than the typical worker.

Is it any surprise that they don’t want us to know?

From Right Wing Watch: Despite the common refrain that the Tea Party doesn’t care about social issues like gay rights, today the Tea Party Nation emailed its members a post by right-wing activist Alan Caruba on the dangers of marriage equality and anti-bullying programs. Caruba, who once called marriage equality “an act of societal suicide,” discussed how Tea Party activists need to stop “the queering of America.”

Anyone who believes the Teabaggers aren’t about “social issues”, please send me your credit card numbers, pins, and validation codes to claim your share of a multi-billion dollar fortune. 😈

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Why Republicans Bailed on Debt Talks

Posted by TomCat at 4:27 am Personal

Jun 252011

Yesterday I wrote about how Republicans abandoned the debt talks, when it has seemed they were making progress. Since then Democrats in the meeting have spoken out explained, just what was on the table that got Cantor’s and Kyl’s panties in such a big bunch that they feared to even discuss it. The reasons won’t surprise you. The pettiness may.

Not even a surprise anymore… this is what caused Eric Cantor to bolt from the debt-ceiling negotiations entirely, rather than have to listen to such scary stories :

Democrats want to close tax loopholes that benefit oil companies, and eliminate a tax preference that gives corporate aircraft a friendlier depreciation schedule than commercial aircraft. Additionally, Van Hollen said, Democrats were proposing to phase out tax deductions and certain credits for people making more than $500,000 a year. These would be paired with a reduction in the tax burden on lower earners, by eliminating existing limitations on their deductions.

“Folks with over $500,000, we’re going to phase out your deductions and some of your tax credit,” Van Hollen said. […]

So brave, brave Eric Cantor left in a huff. Hey, we’re in a time of national crisis and everything, but reduce tax breaks for the rich, making them share the burden ever-so-slightly? Oh, we can’t have that… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <Daily Kos>

There it is. God forbid that the Koch brothers should have to depreciate their fleet of jets on the same schedule as commercial airliners, that are much more heavily used.

Rachel Maddow covers the story and relates it to Republican priorities.

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

Here’s the bottom line. Just as Rachel said it’s Robin Hood in reverse. Republicans are taking from YOU to give to the rich. They would through the whole nation under the bus to take more from you and give more to the rich. Are you going to help kick their foul seditious butts onto unemployment?

Open Thread–6/25/2011

Posted by TomCat at 4:24 am Open Thread, Personal

Jun 252011

Yesterday I did chores around the house, but I has trouble sleeping so I’m bleary eyed again. I am current on replies.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 3:02 (average 4:27). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Politico: Striking what advocates believe is a historic victory for gay rights, the New York state senate Friday approved same-sex marriage, New York a promised governor’s signature away from being the sixth and largest state to allow gays and lesbians to marry.

The 33-29 vote is an enormous victory for first-year Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat who pledged during last fall’s campaign to push for gay marriage.

A big win for the good guys!

From Reuters: Six men were indicted on federal drug charges on Friday in connection with more than 90,000 marijuana plants stumbled on by bear hunters in a remote patch of forest that local authorities described as the largest cannabis farm ever found in Oregon.

I wondered why bears in Oregon have been so happy lately. 😉

From Common Dreams: The leaders of two behemoth Karl Rove-associated unlimited donation campaign fundraising groups on Friday promised to spend $120 million against Democrats in the 2012 election cycle, much of it in the form of attack ads.

We knew it was coming. It will take millions of our voices to drown them out.

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Open Thread–6/24/2011

Posted by TomCat at 1:42 am Open Thread, Personal

Jun 242011

Yesterday was extremely busy, and I am quite pooped. Nevertheless, I’m current on replies.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 3:54 (4:43 average). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From AFP/Google: US President Barack Obama’s military commanders have said he ignored their advice for a more modest drawdown from Afghanistan and warned his decision carries risks for the war effort.

Both General David Petraeus and Admiral Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Obama’s plan to withdraw 33,000 surge troops by the end of next summer was more "aggressive" than they had recommended.

In trying to make everybody happy, he satisfied nobody.

From Think Progress: Herman Cain called reporters who quoted his infamous three-page bill pledge “stupid.” “Some of these idiotic reporters thought I was serious,” he said yesterday, the Los Angeles Times reports.

Brothers and sisters, the mark of Cain is the GOP Logo! 😉

From The Nation: In a run-off election completed this week, the nation’s 40,000 Transportation Security Administration employees voted to become members of the American Federation of Government Employees.

Not only is this a big win for labor, but union work standards will help make our nation more secure.

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Open Thread–6/23/2011

Posted by TomCat at 1:28 am Open Thread, Personal

Jun 232011

Yesterday the denturist redid my lower impression. I slept poorly because of heat, but I am current on replies… really! Thanks to Nameless for the heads up on a whole thread I missed. Today I have three routine medical appointments, so I’ll be busy all day.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 4:27 (average 5:47). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From World Car Fans: Most Republican Party candidates for president think the auto bailouts that saved GM and Chrysler and kept afloat a large part of the U.S. industrial base were a bad idea.

It’s better for us that they do.

From Alternet: The Democratic Party of Wisconsin has found a new line of attack on the fiscal life of Rep. Sean Duffy’s (R-WI), months after jibes over his claim that he was struggling to live on his $174,000/year congressional salary began to burn out.

Democrats are fond of taking on Duffy over money, and after his latest financial disclosure form was released to the press, they think they’ve found their next soft spot to poke.

Awwww… The poor widdle Wepuglican!

From Common Dreams: China has released world-famous artist Ai Weiwei on bail after more than two-and-a-half months of detention and a sustained international campaign calling for his freedom.

Chinese police have released detained artist Ai Weiwei on bail after he confessed to tax evasion and because he suffers from a chronic disease, according to the state-run news agency. (Photograph: Peter Parks/AFP/Getty Images) "I’m back with my family," Ai told the Guardian. "I am very happy. I’m fine."

He said he could not comment further on his detention as he had been released on bail, adding "please understand".

I have signed several petitions and sent emails on his behalf. I’m glad he’s home with his family.

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Open Thread–6/21/2011

Posted by TomCat at 1:40 am Open Thread, Personal

Jun 212011

Yesterday my COPD flared up, and I had a bad air day. That kept me from getting much done, but I am current on replies.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 4:43 (average 5:22). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From LA Times: President Obama plans to announce a troop reduction in Afghanistan that Pentagon and other administration officials say is expected to bring home about 10,000 personnel by the end of the year.

Well, that’s better than the 3,000 Petraeus wants, but far too few with 70,000 still left.

From Yahoo: The Supreme Court won’t hear an appeal from ACORN, the activist group driven to ruin by scandal and financial woes, over being banned from getting federal funds.

The high court on Monday refused to review a federal court’s decision to uphold Congress’s ban on federal funds for the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now.

This is an exercise on how to deny justice. The bill named ACORN specifically. What could be a better definition of a Bill of Attainder?

From The Loop 21: Republican Presidential Candidate Herman Cain (pictured) has announced that he doesn’t appreciate the idea of being labeled an “African American.” During an interview with Bloomberg, Cain said that he prefers to be called an “American,” stating that the word “African” on the front of his racial identity limits him and inaccurately describes who he is. Perhaps Mr. Cain can explain to us why there is something wrong with being connected with Africans, even when your ancestors are….well…African.

I think Cain is avoiding identification with African Americans, because deep down, he knows that he is betraying them.

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Open Thread–6/20/2011

Posted by TomCat at 1:35 am Open Thread, Personal

Jun 202011

Yesterday I had trouble sleeping, and when I finally fell asleep, I slept late. I’m current with comments, but my main articles will be late. I’m going to post this right away. If there are not three articles above it, please come back in a bit.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Yesterday it took me 3:56 (average 4:42). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Bloomberg: European governments failed to agree on releasing a loan payment to spare Greece from default, ramping up pressure on Prime Minister George Papandreou to first deliver budget cuts in the face of domestic opposition.

If the US had the EU’s structure (more like the states under the Confederation), Red States would be in trouble, because, unlike most blue states, they get more from the feds than they pay in taxes.

From USA Today: Keith Olbermann, the sharp, sarcastic and supremely self-confident commentator, is ready for action again. Five months after abruptly ending an eight-year run as MSNBC’s top-rated host, he moves his Countdown Monday [today] night (8 ET/PT) to tiny Current TV, the 6-year-old cable channel co-founded by Al Gore and Joel Hyatt, two like-minded liberals.

I hope they fix their auto-start bug soon, so I can bring you videos.

From Huffington Post: The dust has barely settled on Connecticut’s contentious 2010 U.S. Senate race to replace retiring former Sen. Chris Dodd and candidates are already back on the campaign trail, this time gearing up to replace the retiring Sen. Joe Lieberman in 2012.

The race hasn’t even been defined yet, but the prospect of no more LIEberscum is refreshing.

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