Politics Plus

I’m writing for tomorrow and feeling more tired than I did earlier.  I’m going to take some extra rest today. but I still have articles for you.  I’m not ignoring the talk of a temporary Debt Ceiling extension.  It’s still just too tenuous to get a grip on it.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 4:13 (average 4:50).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Bernie Sanders: It is not acceptable that a handful of right-wing extremists in the House have shut down the government and are now pushing for the United States, for the first time in our history, to not pay its bills — precipitating a likely international financial crisis. It is widely believed that there now exists in the House a majority of members (virtually all Democrats and some moderate Republicans) who are prepared to vote for a clean continuing budget resolution which would immediately re-open the government. House Speaker Boehner must allow the House to have that vote.

Bernie remains the best Democrat, who isn’t one. As usual, he is spot on in his analysis that Republicans are holding America hostage.

From The New Yorker: In an escalation of the stalemate gripping Washington, House Republicans voted today to shut down the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain that controls reasoning and impulses.

The resolution, which passed with heavy Tea Party support, calls for a partial shutdown of the brain, leaving the medulla and cerebellum, sometimes referred to as the “reptilian brain,” up and running.

The Tea Party caucus cheered the passage of the bill, which was sponsored by Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, who called the measure “long overdue.”

Andy actually missed it this time. How can Republicans vote to shut down something of theirs that was never, ever started up, not even once?

From TPM: …In a thinly veiled reference to the House GOP’s relentless attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act, Kaplan noted that his beloved team "sent batters to the plate at least 40 times" in Monday’s 4-3 Dodgers win, which eliminated the Braves from the playoffs.

"But just because we couldn’t score enough runs, the Dodgers refuse to relinquish the title — and worse, they won’t even discuss it," Kaplan wrote. "LA’s stubborn refusal to even talk to us about reversing the results of this series is un-sportsmanlike and un-American. But there is an answer: If the Dodgers won’t listen to the cries of average Americans like you and me, then Congress should outlaw Major League Baseball until the Dodgers cave."

He then called on Kingston to take a stand.

"Just because the Dodgers had more hits, scored more runs, and won more games doesn’t make them right," Kaplan wrote in closing. "You can help them see that."…

Earth to Republicans! Earth to Republicans!! Hello? Is anyone home under those tinfoil hats?!!? Strike three! You’re OUT!!!

Cartoon:

Writing for tomorrow, day 76, the meeting was great, but I’m very tired.  Critter sends greetings to Critter.  There may be no articles on Friday, because of tomorrow’s medical appointment.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:34 (average 4:53).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Lefty Blog Friends Fantasy Football:

Be sure to get your lineup set by Thursday, September 5, a week away, because the regular season begins with Thursday night football.

Short Takes:

From MSNBC: 50 years after I Have a Dream, Republican racism rebounds.

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Ed sure has O’Lielly pegged! These stories from people’s day-to-day lives, make it crystal clear that, although not all Republicans are racist, institutionalized racism is a key element in the Republican plan for America. Ed says he refuses to sit silent about this. So do I, but you already know that.

From TPM: The United States’ borrowing authority will expire in mid-October, Treasury Secretary Jack Lew said Monday, informing Congress that it must raise the debt limit by then to avert a debt default which would have disastrous implications for the economy.

“Based on our latest estimates, extraordinary measures are projected to be exhausted in the middle of October,” Lew wrote in a letter to congressional leaders. “At that point, the United States will have reached the limit of its borrowing authority, and Treasury would be left to fund the government with only the cash we have on hand on any given day. … Moreover, it is not possible for us to estimate with any precision the date on which Treasury would exhaust its cash in this situation.”

Lew said the statutory debt limit had been reached on May 17 and that extraordinary measures had begun then. “As I stated in that letter, Congress should act as soon as possible to protect America’s good credit by extending normal borrowing authority well before any risk of default becomes imminent.”

This is where head of the Republican bar (& Lounge) association, John Boehner, aka Agent Orange, promises to blackmail the American people, by holding our good faith and credit hostage. We compromised with them on this once before, but instead of keeping their word and negotiating a real solution, Republicans stonewalled, thus giving us the Republican sequester. The key is to not cave-in to ANY of their ludicrous demands. If they inflict pain, because they don’t get their way, it’s part os the sad price Americans must pay for being foolish enough to believe what Republicans said in 2010.

From Crooks and Liars: James Fallows On Bombing Syria: Just Don’t Do It

I hope Cenk is wrong. The problem with Syria is simple. The US ignored it for so long that Assad has become a proxy of Hezbollah, and the rebels are dominated by Al Qaeda.  Whoever wins, both we, and more important, the Syrian people, lose.

Cartoon:

Since racists became Republicans, they have forgotten how to talk, except for Gimme and NO.