Personal – Page 672 – Politics Plus

Open Thread–3/1/2011

Posted by TomCat at 4:36 am Open Thread, Personal

Mar 012011

Today I have to leave early for a meeting so I have only this open thread, the poll results and the lead article for you. I hope to catch up on comments before I go, if I have time. The struggle goes on.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 3:58 (4:42 average). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Crooks and Liars: A new NY Times/CBS poll was just released and the results show Americans strongly support public unions 2-1 over the Koch Brothers-paid stooge, Gov. Scott Walker.

No surprise here. Another recent poll shows that if Wisconsin citizens could vote over again, Walker would get clobbered.

From TPM:

A reporter at The Dallas Morning News says he’s been blocked from following Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s Twitter account — and he’s not the only one.

On Sunday, Tom Benning reported that when he recently tried to follow @GovernorPerry, which is described as the "Personal Twitter feed of Texas’ 47th Governor" and has over 30,000 followers, he received the following message: "Could not follow user: You have been blocked from following this account at the request of the user."

Go figure! There mist be something sleazy about a politician who evades publicity.

Cartoon:

Have a great day!

Open Thread–2/27/2011

Posted by TomCat at 6:34 am Open Thread, Personal

Feb 272011

I’m running behind today because I overslept, so I have not yet caught up on comments, but I hope to later. Yesterday I made a milk and bread run. I had to face the cigarette display again and made it. For some reason my cough has been worse than before for the last couple days.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 4:29 (5:08 average). To do it, click here.

Short Takes:

From NY Times: While heaping scorn on President Obama and the Democrats for overspending, more than 2,000 members of the Tea Party Patriots gathered here for a national conference also had strong words on Saturday for Congressional Republicans and vowed to vote them out of office next year if they did not move aggressively to cut the budget.

The Neocons, Theocons, Corporocons and Plutocons were so desperate for votes, that they danced with the devil to get them. Now they have contracted InsaniTEA.

From FOK News: ““They don’t cover the Oscars like we did in my day”

says Keith. Click through for a picture and now you know where to kind him.

From Common Dreams: The Minnesota Democrat who’s out to get rid of the Pentagon’s sponsorships for NASCAR teams says she won’t back away from her efforts and, despite GOP resistance, will broaden her fight to repeal tax breaks for track owners, too.

Next Republicans will claim that NASCAR is vital to national security.

Cartoon:

I miss the Orb!

Open Thread–2/26/2011

Posted by TomCat at 6:27 am Open Thread, Personal

Feb 262011

Another day, more cravings. I had to spend a good portion of the day yesterday under the covers. It was a very cold day for Oregon, and my apartment dropped below 60°. Comments are up top date.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 3:42 (average 4:33). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Mediaite: Keith Olbermann, the ex-MNSBC host who’s headed to Current TV as boss of all things, says his FOK News Channel website will go live tonight–most likely. In a tweet to followers of @FOKNewsChannel on Twitter, Olbermann wrote, “Bulletin: FOKNewsChannel site, humble and presumably bug-ridden though it may be, goes live tonight. Puhhhhhhrobably [sic].”

FOK stands for Friends of Keith. I’m looking forward to this.

From Reuters: The United States on Friday imposed sanctions on the Libyan government, targeting its longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi, his family and other senior officials.

President Barack Obama signed an executive order freezing any financial assets tied to Gaddafi’s government that were held by U.S. banks and institutions throughout the world.

It’s a start. More needed.

From Right Wing Watch: Opponents of marriage equality continue to demand that Republicans put up a huge fight against the Obama administration’s decision to stop defending DOMA, and Rep. Steve King (R-IA) is even threatening by tweet that “if President Obama won’t redirect Holder’s DOJ to aggressively defend U.S. DOMA law, I will move aggressively to cut their budget.”

Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council is meeting with congressional Republican leaders to plot strategy, and yesterday appeared on Bill Bennett’s “Morning in America” to discuss why he believes the Department of Justice made the decision that DOMA is unconstitutional.

Perkins initially likened Obama to a Middle East dictator for his actions on DOMA.

We knew this was coming. Republicans hate gay people.

Cartoon:

May all Republicans, who are hypocrites, forget how to vote.

Open Thread–2/25/2011

Posted by TomCat at 6:07 am Open Thread, Personal

Feb 252011

Another day of torment here. I hope that there will come a day that I don’t spend the majority of every hour thinking about a cigarette. I’m up to date on comments.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 4:15 (average 5:08). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Arizona Family: A well-known human rights activist and his colleague were arrested Thursday afternoon at the State Capitol.

It seems that state Senate Majority Leader, Russell Pearce, only allows white nativist activists in the capitol building, not Latinos.

From Channel 6 News: Space Shuttle Discovery launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Thursday afternoon to begin an 11-day mission to the International Space Station (ISS). The STS-133 mission is Discovery’s final scheduled flight.

I remember the Sputnik launch and have followed the space program since. At the rate we are destroying this planet, we should be potting more effort into finding another place to live.

From Moveon.org: On Saturday, February 26, at noon local time, we are organizing rallies in front of every statehouse and in every major city to stand in solidarity with the people of Wisconsin. We demand an end to the attacks on worker’s rights and public services across the country. We demand investment, to create decent jobs for the millions of people who desperately want to work. And we demand that the rich and powerful pay their fair share.

Health and distance keep me from attendance, but I’ll be there in spirit and encourage the rest of you to attend the event in your area.

Cartoon:

TGIF!! Day 11.

Open Thread–2/24/2011

Posted by TomCat at 6:03 am Open Thread, Personal

Feb 242011

Yesterday was just another craving day. I started to return visits, but could not focus. I’m sick of this. I’m up earlier than usual today, so I have not gotten to comments yet. I shall.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 4:08 (average 5:03). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Washington Post: "We’re all concerned about David [Wu] and his health and well-being," said Oregon Republican Party Chairman Allen Alley. "The most important thing is for David to get the help that he needs."

Bullshit! He wants the seat!

From Think Progress: But with state Sen. Bill Ketron’s (R) new Senate Bill 1028, Tennessee wins the honor of most radical response to a non-existent threat. Introduced last Thursday, the bill claims that Shariah law “continues to plague the United States generally and Tennessee in particular” and requires Muslims “to actively and passively support the replacement of America’s constitutional republic” with an Islamic state. Thus, adherence to the “legal-political-military doctrine” of Shariah law “is treasonous” and “a felony, punishable by 15 years in jail”…

One thing that Kentron clearly does not know is the Constitution.

From Mother Jones: Just when abortion rights supporters thought they had beaten a controversial bill they believe would legalize the killing of abortion providers, it has cropped up again—this time in a more expansive form that has drawn the concern of law enforcement officials.

Last week, South Dakota’s legislature shelved a bill, introduced by Republican state Rep. Phil Jensen, which would have allowed the use of the "justifiable homicide" defense for killings intended to prevent harm to a fetus. Now a nearly identical bill is being considered in neighboring Nebraska, where on Wednesday the state legislature held a hearing on the measure.

RepubliSpeak Dictionary – Pro Life: Legalized killing.

Cartoon:

Never give up! Day 10.

Open Thread–2/23/2011

Posted by TomCat at 8:30 am Open Thread, Personal

Feb 232011

Last night I smoked a cigarette, sort of, in the middle of the night. A package mysteriously appeared in my hands. I opened it and found two packs of Kent cigarettes, I brand I never smoked, and a lighter. I lit one and was thoroughly enjoying it when I woke up. ARGH!! Even my dreams are not safe! I’m up to date on comments.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 3:44 (average 4:31). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From NY Times: Rahm Emanuel, a former congressman who worked for two presidents, was elected mayor of Chicago on Tuesday, marking a new path for a city that has, for 22 years, been led by a singular, powerful force, Richard M. Daley.

Mr. Emanuel, who will take office in May, won 55 percent of the vote against five other candidates.

Poor Chicago! From Daley to Rahmbo!!

From Salon: Glenn Beck said something stupid about Jewish people, today. Just FYI. On his radio program, while discussing George Soros, Beck says Reform Judaism is "almost like" "radicalized Islam."

Glenn Beck has called Soros a Nazi collaborator and claimed that the man is bent on world domination, and now he is claiming that Reform Jews are not real Jews, because many of them tend to be liberal.

And Batshit Bachmann, Republican presidential hopeful, wants to put this loon in charge of the budget.

From USA Today: New York Republicans have tapped Jane Corwin, a state assemblywoman, as their choice to replace Chris Lee, who abruptly resigned from Congress this month amid a sex scandal.

But a Tea Party group immediately denounced the choice by the GOP chairs of seven western New York counties in the 26th Congressional District, and suggested it would seek a candidate to run against Corwin and whoever is picked by Democrats as their nominee.

The area tends to be conservative, but Democrats could steal the seat if Teabaggers revolt and we make it a referendum on Republican misuse of power.

Cartoon:

Happy hump day!

Open Thread–2/22/2011

Posted by TomCat at 6:39 am Open Thread, Personal

Feb 222011

Yesterday I hung on by the skin of my teeth. It’s been one week since I quit and there has been no letup in the constant craving. I’m up to date on comments.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 4:03 (average 4:36). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Las Vegas Examiner: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) will be addressing the full body of the Nevada Legislature today at 11:00am, and rumors of his speech have Nevada’s Brothel industry worried.

Apparently the brothel industry believes that Reid will call on the legislature to end the legal sex trade industry in all counties because it makes Nevada look sleazy to outside business’s [sic].

This could be a shrewd move on Reid’s part. What better way could there be to keep Republicans away than causing a shortage of hookers?

From Huffington Post:

22Poll

Wisconsin supports the unions.

From Think Progress: National tea party groups like Americans for Prosperity have been bussing conservative activists to Madison, WI to confront protesters there standing up to Gov. Scott Walker’s (R) union busting. But Tea Party Nation and Mark Williams, the disgraced former chairman of Tea Party Express, who was forced to resign after making offensive racial comments, are calling for a more radical approach. In an email alert to supporters sent last night, Tea Party Nation promotes Williams’ “great idea” to impersonate SEIU organizers at upcoming labor rallies in an attempt to embarrass and discredit the union

Why can’t Republicans be honest? If they were only 2% would vote for them.

Cartoon:

OGIT!

Can Oregon’s Rep. David Wu Continue?

Posted by TomCat at 8:27 am Personal, Politics

Feb 212011

David Wu has been my Congressman for six years, since I moved into my current residence. I have voted for him every election. I have spoken to him on a couple of accessions and to his staff so many times that a couple of his aides have recognized my voice on the phone. He has voted the way I wanted him to almost without exception. Therefore I have watched the rumors about his mental problems with growing concern. The situation appears to be coming to a head, and he’s clearly in trouble.

Top Oregon Democrats said Saturday that they hope Rep. David Wu is getting the help he needs following reports that his staff demanded he enter a hospital for psychiatric treatment. Most also said it’s too early to say whether they will push to replace Wu, first elected to the House in 1998.

"Before everybody starts playing the political parlor games, someone should figure out if he needs help," said state Sen. Mark Hass, D-Beaverton, echoing sentiments expressed by several political figures.

The Portland Democratic congressman, who has refused to talk with reporters about the matter, continued to stay out of public view Saturday. A woman at his Capitol Hill home refused to take a message for him from a reporter and turned out the lights when she saw the reporter outside the house later.

Still, though many Democratic officials were speaking cautiously in public, the latest reports about Wu have only intensified the backroom discussions about Wu’s political future and his odds of continuing to represent the 1st Congressional District on the Portland area’s west side.

Several potential candidates have surfaced, with Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian and state Sen. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Cedar Hills, the most frequently mentioned as the favorites of party activists… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <The Oregonian>

I urge caution. Serving in Congress as a rare progressive in the midst of right-wing insanity and blue-dog perfidy could drive anyone a few cans short of a six-pack, and while I don’t doubt that David has psychiatric issues, I would remind you that the man’s exemplary service has earned him a little time and space. I sincerely hope that David will get the help he needs to continue the fine job he has done, and if not, I remain grateful for his loyalty to the people of his district.

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