Politics Plus

I hate to start out a new month with bad news, but here it is.  As of today, Comics.com has merged into GoComics.  While the former allowed bloggers to embed editorial cartoons from some of their artists, because the embedded links brought them traffic, the latter appears to charge for each cartoon used.  Therefore, the cartoon segment of our daily Open Thread is suspended until I find a new source.  If anyone knows of one, please let me know.  I’m current on comments.  Today I will be looking for a new source and collecting the data for tomorrow’s monthly report.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 3:06 (4:26 average).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Crooks and Liars: Despite Republican challenges, six Wisconsin State Senators will be challenged in recall elections. Today the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board approved three more recalls.

Wonderful!

From Think Progress: PAUL [Rand]: I’m not for profiling people on the color of their skin, or on their religion, but I would take into account where they’ve been traveling and perhaps, you might have to indirectly take into account whether or not they’ve been going to radical political speeches by religious leaders. It wouldn’t be that they are Islamic. But if someone is attending speeches from someone who is promoting the violent overthrow of our government, that’s really an offense that we should be going after — they should be deported or put in prison.

Not only is Paul trashing the First Amendment, but also, he is suggesting that everyone who attended a speech by one of his bagger butt buddies, mentioning Second Amendment solutions, should be imprisoned.  DOH!

From Common Dreams: Oil was leaking into the sea from heavy oil tanks for reactors 5 and 6 at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant, Tokyo Electric Power Co. said Tuesday, adding the spill may have been ongoing since the March 11 quake and tsunami.

Tepco said workers at the site saw an oil slick floating on the sea at 8 a.m. Tuesday near the intakes of units 5 and 6.

The oil slick is believed to be 200 to 300 meters long.

I bet the GOBP wants some of that radioactive oil for the Gulf.

Instead a a cartoon, I may embed a Teabagger.  (That was not intended to be a factual statement.)

It’s time for people to start getting ready for summer vacations.  All too many will travel to the supermarket, because buying an extra hot dog will be all their budgets can handle.  Thanks Republicans.  Yesterday my mouth bothered me, and I took it easy as much as I could.  I’m current on replies.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 4:22 (average 5:04).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Washington Post: DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz on the Ryan Plan

I disagree on one point. You can’t sit down around the table with Republicans, because the only compromise they will make is our capitulation.

From Me: Hands Across the Hawthorne Bridge.

A magnificent response.

From Daily Kos: Whenever there is a debate about making cuts to education, both parties zero right in on teachers. But when the debate is about making cuts to health care, nobody zeroes in on doctors. A curious thing, wouldn’t you say? In both professions, the primary practitioners of the profession are seen as being ultimately responsible for the product. Educators are constantly put under pressure. They must accept cuts in pay, cuts in benefits, cuts in job security, cuts in funding for their ability to do their job. They must do more with less, always. But in the case of health care, doctors seem to escape any scrutiny whatsoever. In fact, any cut to their income no matter how insignificant, is always portrayed as doing irreparable harm to the health care system.

I certainly lack the expertise to say that doctors are overpaid and suspect that many, if not most, are not.  Rather, I think we should consider cutting teachers’ pay as doing irreparable harm to education.

Cartoon:

Recycle toilet paper, and feed needy Teabaggers.  (That was not intended to be a factual statement.)

Yesterday was pretty busy.  I had to buy a transit pass for June and pick up a prescription for more pain meds for my mouth.  I would have run out yesterday, and it’s far from healed.  In the process I walked around a mile and a half, and that left me somewhat tired.  It’s time to pack my winter clothes away and bring out my summer ones. I am current on replies.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 3:40 (average 4:35).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From LA Times: At the G-8 summit in France, Obama wins support for aid to shore up emerging democracies and movements. Aid groups are skeptical, noting that the G-8 is behind on previous financial pledges.

This was the right thing to do.

From Plastics News: Oregon has overhauled its bottle bill for the second time in the past four years, and transformed it into the most extensive bottle bill in the United States. The new version adds virtually all on-the-go beverages that range in size from four ounces to 1.5 liters, starting no later than Jan. 1, 2018.

The expanded bottle deposit law, approved by the Senate May 25, will add the same nickel deposit that currently only applies to soft drinks, beer, water and flavored water bottles to non-carbonated juices, sports drinks, energy drinks, coffees, teas and most other on-the-go beverages.

Oregon’s bottle bill is a pain in the ass, but every time I look at the roadsides here, I’m delighted and proud that we have it.

From Chicago Pride: Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest gay and lesbian rights group, has endorsed President Barack Obama for a second term, which has some people wondering if they’ve jumped the gun.

"President Obama has improved the lives of LGBT Americans more than any President in history," said HRC President Joe Solmonese in a press release. "In 2008 we were promised change and profound change is what we got."

They are right.  In spite of my objections to many of Obama’s policies, it boggles me that the “stay at home on election day” crowd ignores the many positive things he has done as well.

Cartoon:

Teabuggery is for the the birds. (Out of avian empathy, that was not intended to be a factual statement.)

Yesterday I called my dentist.  He asked a couple of questions and told me it’s normal.  Then I had one of the worst COPD attacks I have had in months.  My chest is raw.  Nevertheless, I’m current on comments.

jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 3:33 (average 4:41).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From PR Newswire: Amnesty International will observe its 50th anniversary by issuing a global call to action on Saturday, May 28, the day in 1961 when its founder published an appeal for amnesty for six prisoners unjustly imprisoned; the enormous response led to the founding of Amnesty International, today the world’s largest human rights organization. The birthday comes as the group’s defining tactic of collective action is validated as a model of transformative change across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

What an excellent organization they have been over the years.

From Think Progress: Last weekend, Rep. Dan Webster (R-FL) appeared on “Good Life 45,” a televangelist program based near his central-Florida district. At one point during the discussion, which was centered around ways to reduce government spending, Webster recalled that many of his constituents had asked about cutting foreign aid. Webster explained that the government cannot “get rid of all foreign aid” because that would endanger money for Israel.

Rather than making a policy-based argument to back up his firm belief in giving billions in foreign aid to Israel, Webster said the money is necessary to ensure “God’s hand” stays with America. “I love giving money to Israel,” Webster exclaimed. If we end the assistance to Israel, Webster continued, “we lose God’s hand and we’re in big trouble”.

For this Republican Supply-side pseudo-Christian to base governance on dogma violates the Establishment Clause.

From The Hill: Republicans on the Committee on House Administration have voted to eliminate the independent commission that was established to address election problems after the contested 2000 presidential contest between George W. Bush and Al Gore.

The reason Republicans want to do away with an agency to prevent election theft should be obvious.

Cartoon:

For safe-sex, wrap a Republican in a giant condom.  (That was not intended to be a factual statement).