Politics Plus

Yesterday getting the blog up and links posted took much longer than normal due to continued vision problems.  Today will not be as bad.  I can still barely see, but I started early and it’s a slow day for news.  I’m current on replies.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 4:02 (average 5:07).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Marietta Daily Journal: Yemen’s embattled president agreed Saturday to a proposal by Gulf Arab mediators to step down within 30 days and hand power to his deputy in exchange for immunity from prosecution, a major about-face for the autocratic leader who has ruled for 32 years.

A coalition of seven opposition parties said they also accepted the deal but with reservations. Even if the differences are overcome, those parties do not speak for all of the hundreds of thousands of protesters seeking President Ali Abdullah Saleh’s ouster, and signs were already emerging that a deal on those terms would not end confrontations in the streets.

I would be surprised if the people of Yemen will settle changing from one autocrat to another.

From The Guardian: Progressives beware. The Tories are regaining what Conservative historian John Ramsden called their "appetite for power". The sheer hunger to identify what is in their interests, and to pursue it relentlessly, was why the Tories dominated British politics in the last century and triumphed over the progressive cause.

This dominance was based on twin pillars. First, and most important, maintaining the reputation that only the Tories could be trusted with the economy. And, second, while the right wing was represented by one party, the progressive forces have been divided.

That sounds so much like here, it’s scary.

From Washington Post: Virginia Gov. Robert F. McDonnell called House Speaker William J. Howell on a Friday morning this month with startling news: The governor had vetoed a bill that would have put into place new state legislative boundaries for the next decade.

If a Republican Governor can stand up against overreaching by Republican legislators, why can’t a Democratic President?

Cartoon:

If the Easter Bunny left a Teabagger in your basket, shoot the damn rabbit!  (This was not intended to be a factual statement.)

Yesterday I did not get to go to the prison as planned.  I woke up with pink-eye in both eyes.  ARGH!  I can barely see through the tearing and stinging.  Because it is highly contagious, I could not risk my co-volunteers, and especially the guys, because the health care they get in prison is where incompetence and apathy join forces.  So I’m home tonight too, so articles will continue, but expect more typos.  I’m the King of Typo, even when I can see.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 4:09 (average 5:04).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From San Francisco Chronicle: President Obama said a Justice Department probe will examine the role of "traders and speculators" in oil markets and how they contribute to high gasoline prices.

"The attorney general’s putting together a team whose job it is to root out any cases of fraud or manipulation in the oil markets that might affect gas prices, and that includes the role of traders and speculators," Obama said Thursday in Reno.

When he’s wrong, I criticize him.  This time he isn’t.  Kudos!

From FOK News Channel: Keith tells the Donald to FOK off!

I like Wonkette, but Keith is right.  Making fun of a disabled kid is ovenoundedr the line.  That’s  the kind of slime we expect from Republicans.  Lawrence O’Donnell announced that Trump’s replacement for Seinfeld is Brett Michaels, but does not know who he ls.  He’s the aging lead singer of Poison, now famous for MTV reality shows, in which over-siliconed, hot-mess groupies compete to be his girl friend.  If that’s the best Trump can do, LOL!

From Reuters: A reputed neo-Nazi accused of planting a backpack bomb along the parade route of a Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration was newly charged on Thursday with committing federal hate crimes.

The latest charges against Kevin Harpham, 36, were added to a federal indictment originally returned last month in an alleged bombing attempt in Spokane, Washington, on January 17, a national holiday celebrating the birth of the slain civil rights leader.

That’s one Republican wou won’t get to vote for a while. 🙂

Cartoon:

I hate Fridays! (That was not intended to be a factual statement.)

Yesterday I had to spend over an hour on the phone with my bank.  I ordered some animation software from a Dutch company.  The suspected fraud, declined the approval, and put a hold on my Visa.  To straighten out I had to answer multiple questions for a woman more anally retentive than a Teabagger that thinks the Guvmint stole her dime.  It was irritating, but I’m glad they are that way.  The next few days will be hectic.  This morning I help former prisoners at a therapy group.  Tomorrow afternoon and evening, I’ll helping prisoners in the prison, and Friday evening I’ll be hosting a CoDA group that welcomes former prisoners.  Friday and Saturday’s articles may be abbreviated, late, or I may even have to take a day off.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 3:21 (average 4:07).  To do it, Click Here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Register Guard: Google Inc. has invested an additional $100 million in a clean energy project. The funding for the Shepherds Flat Wind Farm in Oregon brings Google’s total clean energy investments to more than $350 million and represents the company’s latest attempt to support reliable new ways to power its expanding data centers…

…“This will be the first commercial wind farm in the U.S. to deploy, at scale, turbines that use permanent magnet generators — tech-speak for evolutionary turbine technology that will improve efficiency, reliability and grid connection capabilities,” Google said in a blog post. “Though the technology has been installed outside the U.S., it’s an important, incremental step in lowering the cost of wind energy over the long term in the U.S.”

I am often proud of Oregon’s tendency to lead the way.

From FOK News Channel: Keith analyzes Teabuggery.

Gotta love that guy!

From Think Progress: Democrats and labor activists have filed recall petitions against two more Wisconsin state Republican senators who supported Gov. Scott Walker’s (R) bill to strip public employee unions of collective bargaining rights. Activists had already collected more than enough signatures to recall two GOP senators, and filed petitions yesterday against state Sen. Luther Olsen (R) and today against state Sen. Sheila Harsdorf (R). In all four cases, organizers collected far more signatures than the roughly 15,000 needed, and did so weeks ahead of the deadline.

The more the merrier!

Cartoon:

Happy hump day!

Yesterday I awakened around noon, turned in the TV and discovered, to my chagrin, that it wasn’t Easter.  I guess I was more tired than I thought, because I ate and slept the rest of the afternoon and evening.  I am up to date on comments.

Jig-Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 3:52 (5:01 average).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Reuters: The State Department has secretly funded Syrian opposition groups, according to diplomatic cables released by WikiLeaks, The Washington Post reported on Monday.

The cables show that the State Department has funneled as much as $6 million since 2006 to a group of Syrian exiles to operate a London-based satellite channel, Barada TV, and finance activities inside Syria, the Post said.

I’d like to think that support for democracy is behind this, but I suspect that collusion with Israel is the cause.

From Xinhua: The Tokyo Electric Power Company has also set out a detailed roadmap for ending what has become the world’s worst nuclear crisis in 25 years. The company is aiming to reduce radiation leaks at its Fukushima nuclear power plant within three months, and achieve a full shutdown in six to nine months.

I have to wonder if Tokyo Electric has been bought out by either BP or the GOBP.

From The Vile Plutocrat: Discovery Communications Inc. is launching a television network for rich guys and their toys.

[excerpt] Called Velocity, the new network will replace the current network HD Theater in some 40 million homes on Sept. 25.

They should call it the RBC (Republican Beneficiaries’ Channel).

Cartoon:

OGIM!  Yesterday really was Easter! (That was not intended to be a factual statement.)