Politics Plus

Today is International Workers’ Day, so it is fitting that we take a moment to honor those that earn or have earned their keep, rather that prey on our nation from corporate boardrooms.

Yesterday I actually caught up on comments and returning visits.  I hope to do more visiting today.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 4:44.  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From NY Times: The United States economy has expanded for three quarters in a row, the Commerce Department said on Friday, helped along by consumer spending. Now the question is, Will the jobs follow?

The broadest measure of the overall economy grew at an inflation-adjusted annual rate of 3.2 percent in the first quarter of 2010, the Commerce Department reported. It had expanded 5.6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2009 and 2.2 percent in the third quarter.

Jobs are always the last thing to turn.  This good news indicates that the economy has solidly changed direction from the downward spiral that Republican rule brought us and will again, if we are ever so foolish as to let them return to power.

From Think Progress: Today, the Wall Street Journal reports that the Arizona Department of Education “recently began telling school districts that teachers whose spoken English it deems to be heavily accented or ungrammatical must be removed from classes for students still learning English”.

Students do best when they can identify with the teacher.  I see this in my volunteer work, because being an ex-con that has made it gives me a level of credibility with prisoners and former prisoners that people who have never been there can’t have.  Using that same rationale, who could be better to teach an immigrant than another immigrant?  This is just one more example of rampant GOP racism in Arizona.

Cartoon:

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Have a great weekend.

Yesterday I caught up on comments, but go not visiting in.  I felt very tired. I got a new coffee maker.  Setting it up took a masters degree in engineering, but it was a welcome addition.  I was sick of instant, which  had been drinking since the old machine dies Saturday morning.  Today I have morning appointment.  I’ll have to see how they go.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 3:48.  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Common Dreams: In a groundbreaking decision that some say will usher in a new era of clean energy, U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said today he had approved the nation’s first offshore wind farm, the controversial Cape Wind project off of Cape Cod.

I understand that the Kennedys and other northeastern blue-bloods objected to this, because they don’t want to see it from their mansions.  Tough!

From Daily Kos: Speaking of stupid, according to Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC):

"The president is the one who put the kibosh on working together, and now he’s just trying to use the mainstream media to confuse the American people. The fact is I think he thinks Americans are stupid, and he’s going to play this out until he gets a headline in every paper that Republicans are obstructionist.”

Unbelievable!  We lefties have been tearing out our hair in frustration over Obama’s repeated and fruitless attempts at bipartisanship!

Cartoon:

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Have a great day!

I’m behind again, because I had an appointment with the Pulmonologist.  The bad news is that they refused to accept payment in chickens.  The worse news is that I have to do another sleep study next month.  Today I have more medical appointments, so catching up will be hard.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 4:05.  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short takes:

From Washington Post: The Treasury Department said Monday that it will begin selling 1.5 billion shares of Citigroup as part of a plan to divest its 27 percent ownership position in the bank.

Oh No!  Will this be the end of socialism? 😉

From Raw Story: The publisher of former President George W. Bush’s book "Decision Points" on Sunday set a Nov. 9 release date, unveiled its cover design and announced new details about it.

This is great.  In the run up to election day, the public will be reminded of the exploits of GW ChickenHawk.

From Red State Update: The boys are afraid of aliens.

Cartoon:

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What’s on tap this week?

Yesterday I caught up replying to comments.  Today, I’m feeling a little better, and unless I feel the need to rest later, I’ll try to get some visiting in.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 3:46.  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From NY Times: In Illinois, a telemarketer recently sold an elderly woman a fraudulent health insurance plan that supposedly protected her against “death panels,” the state insurance director says.

That’s criminal!  Teabuggery in the first degree!!

From Common Dreams: Vermont lawmakers made clear Friday that recently enacted federal health care reform did not go far enough toward a public model, passing legislation that could bring to the state the "public option" health insurance rejected by Washington or even a Canadian-style single-payer system.

By a vote of 91-42, the Democratic controlled House passed its own version of legislation passed earlier by the Senate. Both bills call for designing a single-payer system, in which a government agency would administer and make all payments for health care.

Vermont may become the best place in the US to live.

From Newshounds: In recent years, at least twenty Fox News personalities have endorsed, raised money, or campaigned for Republican candidates or causes, or against Democratic candidates or causes, in more than 300 instances and in at least 49 states. Republican parties and officials have routinely touted these personalities’ affiliations with Fox News to sell and promote their events.

Is it any wonder that I call Faux Noise the GOP Reichsministry of propaganda.

Cartoon:

See Cartoons by Cartoon by R.J. Matson – Courtesy of Politicalcartoons.com – Email this Cartoon

Enjoy your Sunday!