Politics Plus

Everything is still mud slow as America awakens from the New Years weekend, so I have only one other item today.  But I think it’s a good one.  We’re having a cold spell here, and I’m spending a lot of time in bed to keep warm as in out building they only turn on the central heat four hours daily, but I am up to date on comments.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 4:04 (average 4:47).  To do it, click here. How do you do?

Religious Agony:

At least we get the second pick in the draft.

Short Takes:

From Politico: House Republicans anxious to vote on a repeal of the president’s signature health care law will have to wait a little bit longer.

A repeal measure — the top priority of many newly elected freshman Republicans — won’t be on the floor this week, according to senior GOP aides…

…But a repeal bill could be on the floor as early as next week.

I think this is mostly for show.  On the off chance it gets to Obama’s desk, he’ll veto it, because it’s his signature achievement.

From Business Insider: Reports of the US$ 500mm investment from Goldman Sachs in Facebook are all over the Internets. Of course, this is a significant event, because as ‘the age of entrepreneurship’ continues to gain momentum new financial constructions and liquidity events are needed to keep the ecosystem going and growing.

Facebook denizens beware!  I can’t see the epitome of Bankster evil jumping into Facebook except to mobilize that site’s capacity to invade privacy against you.

From Alternet: US President Barack Obama signed into law Sunday a bill to compensate emergency responders sickened in the rubble of the September 11 attacks, the White House said.

This took far too long.

Cartoon:

OGIM!

I caught up on comments and plan to spend the day meditation on the last day in which the Church of the Ellipsoid Orb features all the congregations, before wild card blessedness this week.  News is still dead, but there are a couple of housekeeping items to post.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 4:39 (average 5:40).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Bloomberg: Oil surged to its highest year-end price since 2007 as the dollar weakened and gasoline and heating oil futures climbed.

Crude capped its second consecutive year of gains as the dollar dropped against the euro, boosting commodities’ appeal as an alternative investment. Oil settled above $91 a barrel after testing technical support near $89. Gasoline and heating oil advanced before the January contracts expired today.

It’s going to get far worse.  With Bernanke weakening the dollar for the Banksters, oil speculation will attract a lot of the money from the huge tax bonus for millionaires and billionaires in the Tax Capitulation Act and driving our gas prices up again.

From Washington Post: There is an "urgent need" for Senate Democrats and Republicans to put aside their bickering and fill federal judicial vacancies, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. wrote Friday in his annual State of the Judiciary report.

I suspect Roberts is frustrated that so many cases are backlogged that it limits his opportunities to trash the Constitution.

Cartoon:

May the Orb bless your team (unless it’s the Chargers).

I caught up on comments earlier and am still quite swamped.  I need to make a trip to the store.  I have my personal files migrated to 2011.  Today and tomorrow, I’ll get my blogging and home accounting files done.  I decided against a post reviewing the year, because Obama has handed is so many disappointments that I’d rather not dwell on it.  Be safe tonight.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 3:39 (average 5:12).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Take:

From Alternet: Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) recently pushed the envelope on extreme abortion analogies, arguing that pro-choicers’ vagueness about the moment when life begins is akin to haphazardly firing a gun into a crowd.

That’s a strange image coming from one whose followers bring their guns to crowdwd political events.

Cartoon:

For the last time this year, TGIF!

I caught up with comments this morning.  There were very few.  News is still hard to come by, but I have a couple interesting items for you.  My own year end chores have me busier than a psychiatrist with a ward full of Teabaggers.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 4:51 (average 4:58)(The Critter is drooling! ).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty: The Cuban Commission of Human Rights’ Elizardo Sanchez says the country’s Supreme Court has changed the sentence of a former Cuban exile convicted of murder, reducing his death sentence to 30 years in jail.

The court earlier this month commuted the death sentences for two other men to 30 years.

The decision removes the only person on death row in Cuba.

I’m pleased to see Cuba joining the civilized nations of the world. Now if only the US would follow suit.

From The Washington Independent: WorldNetDaily reports that the inclusion of GOProud, a gay Republican — or, in WND parlance, a “homosexual activist” — organization, in the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) has caused the Family Research Council and Concerned Women for America to announce they will skip the next conference, which will be held in Washington in February.

I still thing that gay folks joining GOProud is like black folks joining the KKK.

From Truthdig: “The last American soldier will leave Iraq” after the pre-negotiated 2011 deadline, regardless of any rumblings among American officials, says Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

May it be so, but I’ll believe it when I see it.

Cartoon:

Hump day is suspended until Congress reconvenes in one week.