Politics Plus

Yesterday I caught up with comments, but got no visiting in.  When I finished doing my taxes, I felt like I had been dildoed with a cattle prod with no off switch. :-(  Today I have to make a grocery run for staples, but should get some visiting in.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:23.  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Raw Story: The Environmental Protection Agency has proposed an unprecedented veto to restrict or prohibit mining at a major proposed US mountaintop removal coal mining site.

If the veto is finalized, it would invalidate a permit first issued in 2007 for the Army Corps of Engineers at the Spruce No. 1 surface mine in southern West Virginia.

In explaining its decision, the EPA said Friday the Arch Coal Inc. mine would pollute surrounding water, fill over seven miles (11 kilometers) of stream, would cause "unacceptable" harm to wildlife and "directly impact" some 2,278 acres (922 hectares) of forest.

I hope they can follow through with this.

From Common Dreams: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has infuriated Washington with plans to expand settlements in east Jerusalem, on Sunday accused the Palestinians of blocking US peace efforts.

His remarks came after the Palestinians reiterated their refusal to hold even indirect talks without a complete Jewish settlement freeze.

In a scale of one to ten, that has a BS factor of 14.

Cartoon:

See Cartoons by Cartoon by John Darkow – Courtesy of Politicalcartoons.com – Email this Cartoon

OGIM!!

Yesterday I caught up on replies to comments, and returning visits.  I also visited almost every blog in our blogroll.  Today I will not do as well.  I finally got the last of the records I need so I’ll be doing my income taxes today. :-(  Pray for me.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 4:02.  To do it, Click Here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Think Progress: “I like what we have in Massachusetts, despite some flaws,” Romney said. “But what I see in Obamacare is a very different piece of legislation — and one that followed a very different track. In our case, our bill was carried out in a bipartisan basis.”

What a lame excuse.  What made the MA bill bipartisan is that he, the Republican governor, supported what the Democratic state legislature passed.  What makes federal HCR, which is almost identical, not bipartisan is the complete lack of the GOP cooperation Romney himself provided in MA.

From Daily Kos: When Tom Grimes lost his job as a financial consultant 15 months ago, he called his congressman, a Democrat, for help getting government health care.

Then he found a new full-time occupation: Tea Party activist.  […]

Mr. Grimes, who receives Social Security, has filled the back seat of his Mercury Grand Marquis with the literature of the movement, including Glenn Beck’s “Arguing With Idiots” and Frederic Bastiat’s “The Law,” which denounces public benefits as “false philanthropy.”

Well, that certainly shows that hypocrisy is alive and well in the Realm of Teabuggery.

Cartoon:

See Cartoons by Cartoon by John Trever – Courtesy of Politicalcartoons.com – Email this Cartoon

Have a great Sunday.

Yesterday was my volunteer day at the prison.  Before going in, we had a board meeting in which I was retained as Treasurer for our nonprofit group.  Once inside we attended the annual 7th Step banquet which is also next month’s agenda, because the group inside the walls has grown so large that the prison’s visiting facilities are unable to accommodate all the prisoners and their guests at once.  We got to meet the families of some of the men we help.  Their joy, even in such bittersweet, circumstances was contagious.  By the time I got home from Salem, it was about an hour before I normally get up to do my research, which is why today’s offerings are way later than my norm.  If this is the top article, please check back.  Three more are on the way, including a major piece on HCR, today’s lead story.  I shall catch up on replying to comments, but may not get much visiting in, because I’m quite exhausted, between yesterday and my sleep study on Monday night.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:40.  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Take:

How to speak Republican from http://www.speakrepublican.com/.

Cartoon:

See Cartoons by Cartoon by Pat Bagley – Courtesy of Politicalcartoons.com – Email this Cartoon

TGIF!!

Yesterday I slept quite a bit, but am still not recovered from the sleep study.  I did manage to catch up on comments and hope to return visits today, although I do have work to do in preparation for tomorrow’s volunteer work inside the prison.  It will likely be the weekend before I am fully caught up.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:27.  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Think Progress: A draft resolution is circulating among members of the House of Representatives that endorses an Israeli military attack on Iran “if no other peaceful solution can be found within reasonable time.” The resolution, written by Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) and currently being circulated for cosponsors prior to its introduction, does not clarify what is meant by a “reasonable time.”

You’d think that this would be enough craziness for this jerk, but think again.

From TPM: Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) is calling for a strong re-assertion of states rights against Congress — in the form of a Constitutional amendment to eliminate the direct popular election of Senators, and go back to the pre-17th Amendment setup of state legislatures appointing them.

Perhaps Gohmert is jealous that another village idiot missing from Texas, Neugebauer of ‘Baby Killer’ fame, who is now using his outburst to solicit contributions, is getting stealing the limelight.

Finally, I ask you to remember a significant pledge and suggest that we demand that it be honored.

I only hope Costs Rica does not declare war on us in retaliation for an attack with a Weapon of Mass Dysfunction.

Cartoon:

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

Happy Hump Day