Open Thread–6/30/2014

Posted by TomCat at 1:04 am Open Thread, Politics

Jun 302014

Day 70. I’m writing for tomorrow and am feeling a bit groggy, having just awakened from a much needed nap. Where have the weekend and the month gone?

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:53 (average 4:55). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Daily Kos: Multi-millionaire Nick Hanauer is no dummy. He sees the writing on the wall.

I’d strongly suggest you read this entire piece titled "The pitchforks are coming . . . for us Plutocrats"

And what do I see in our future now?

I see pitchforks.

At the same time that people like you and me are thriving beyond the dreams of any plutocrats in history, the rest of the country—the 99.99 percent—is lagging far behind. The divide between the haves and have-nots is getting worse really, really fast. In 1980, the top 1 percent controlled about 8 percent of U.S. national income. The bottom 50 percent shared about 18 percent. Today the top 1 percent share about 20 percent; the bottom 50 percent, just 12 percent.

But the problem isn’t that we have inequality. Some inequality is intrinsic to any high-functioning capitalist economy. The problem is that inequality is at historically high levels and getting worse every day. Our country is rapidly becoming less a capitalist society and more a feudal society. Unless our policies change dramatically, the middle class will disappear, and we will be back to late 18th-century France. Before the revolution.

And so I have a message for my fellow filthy rich, for all of us who live in our gated bubble worlds: Wake up, people. It won’t last.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/…

It’s rare to see truth coming from a billionaire. Click through.

From NY Times: The Libyan militia leader charged in connection with the 2012 attacks in Benghazi that killed the United States ambassador and three others was brought to Washington early Saturday, where he entered a not guilty plea at the federal courthouse, formally opening one of the most complicated terrorism cases the Justice Department has mounted in recent years.

The suspect, Ahmed Abu Khattala, was flown to Washington by helicopter from a Navy warship that had steamed across the Atlantic Ocean from the Mediterranean Sea after he was captured by American commandos at a seaside villa near Benghazi two weeks ago.

Obama is getting away with doing exactly what he is supposed to do. Republicans must be livid!

From Crooks and Liars: This is becoming a habit for Meet the Press host David Gregory. Does anyone think he really does not know that the Republicans and their continued obstruction, blocking rebuilding our infrastructure and President Obama’s jobs plan, shutting down the government and costing the economy billions of dollars and refusing to cooperate on anything if heaven forbid it might make the president look good has harmed our economy?

Whether he does or not, it didn’t stop him from playing concern troll for John Boehner and the Republicans during his interview with former President Bill Clinton this week, from the way he framed this question to begin with, to the follow up question where he pretended to be clueless on the way they’ve governed.

David "Raps with Rove" Gregory could not have been more biased, calling the Republican Recession the “Obama economy”. On the other hand, Slick Willie did a horrible job at debunking Gregory’s BS.

Cartoon:

Obama Has Congress for Lunch

Posted by TomCat at 12:11 am Politics

Jun 292014

Speaking in Minneapolis Friday, Barack Obama answered Congressional Republicans’ threats of a lawsuit by telling the truth, He did so calmly, humorously and without rancor. In the process he demonstrated just how foolishly Republicans are behaving with crystal clarity. Watch the video, and judge for yourselves.

President Barack Obama used a campaign-style speech in the American heartland Friday to blast his Republican opponents as feckless obstructionists in Congress, saying Washington’s current gridlock “drives me nuts.”

Republicans have become so obsessed with blocking the Democratic president’s every move that he has been forced to use his executive authority to advance priorities like pay fairness, Obama said, dismissing as a stunt a threatened Republican lawsuit against him.

The White House and Republican congressional leaders, notably House Speaker John Boehner, have sparred repeatedly over Obama’s use of executive orders, with Boehner warning this week that Americans “didn’t elect a monarch or king.

The top Republican in Congress announced Wednesday he would file a lawsuit against Obama because “the president has not faithfully executed the laws” of the nation.

An unapologetic Obama ridiculed the approach, calling it a “stunt” in an interview with ABC News…

Inserted from <NY Times>

Here’s that complete video.

And here’s a link to the transcript.

It’s too bad that it took Obama several years to adapt to Republicans’ unprecedented criminal sedition, through obstruction. We would be better off had he learned earlier, but I think he is improving, at long last.

Break The Koch Machine!

Posted by TomCat at 12:10 am Politics

Jun 292014

0629KochMachine

As I have explained before, but in case you missed it there are Reichs on both the right and the left. The Reich on the right is the Republican Reich and the further right they get, the more wrong they become. The Reich on the left is Robert Reich, and he is virtually always right. Robert Reich is asking your help to break the Koch machine.

It doesn’t get much clearer than that. Please sign the petition.

Open Thread–6/29/2014

Posted by TomCat at 12:09 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Jun 292014

Day 69, an especially problematic number. I’m writing for tomorrow and am feeling tired, but well enough to blog. The Republicosis is under control, and now I need to catch up on sleep missed because of it.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:32 (average 4:47). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Daily Kos: In their fervor to ensure that the least amongst their citizens keep getting kicked in the teeth, the Republicans of Virginia have stooped to breaking and entering an executive office in order to block Medicaid expansion.

There is a time limit between delivery of documents and the Governor’s need to authorize them. So the Republican House Speaker William J. Howell authorized security to illegally enter the Governor’s office during a holiday break to ensure the clock started ticking before the Governor even knew the bill was delivered.

Is there anything the Republicans won’t do to harm the 47%?

No, there isn’t.

From The New Yorker: After announcing, on Thursday, that it would seek $500 million to help “train and equip appropriately vetted elements of the moderate Syrian armed opposition,” the White House today posted the following Moderate Syrian Rebel Application Form:

Welcome to the United States’ Moderate Syrian Rebel Vetting Process. To see if you qualify for $500 million in American weapons, please choose an answer to the following questions:

As a Syrian rebel, I think the word or phrase that best describes me is:
A) Moderate
B) Very moderate
C) Crazy moderate
D) Other

I became a Syrian rebel because I believe in:
A) Truth
B) Justice
C) The American Way
D) Creating an Islamic caliphate

If I were given a highly lethal automatic weapon by the United States, I would:
A) Only kill exactly the people that the United States wanted me to kill
B) Try to kill the right people, with the caveat that I have never used an automatic weapon before
C) Kill people only after submitting them to a rigorous vetting process
D) Immediately let the weapon fall into the wrong hands

LOL Andy! Click through. There are three more questions. Moderate Syrian rebels are like moderate Republicans in Congress. There’s a rumor that one exists.

From Crooks and Liars: Sources have confirmed that attorney Mark Mayfield has died of an apparent suicide.

Mayfield, vice chairman of the Mississippi Tea Party, and is one of the three men charged with conspiring with Clayton Kelly to photograph U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran’s bedridden wife in her nursing home and create a political video against Cochran.

Mark Mayfield of Ridgeland, an attorney and state and local tea party leader, was arrested last month along with Richard Sager, a Laurel elementary school P.E. teacher and high school soccer coach. Police said they also charged John Beachman Mary of Hattiesburg, but he was not taken into custody because of "extensive medical conditions." All face felony conspiracy charges.

It seldom happens but fore once a Republican murdered a guilty person with his gun, instead of an innocent one.

Cartoon:

0629Cartoon

Bye Bye Buffer Zone

Posted by TomCat at 12:24 am Politics, Religion

Jun 282014

Yesterday the Supreme Court handed down a rather surprising decision, disallowing the eight foot buffer zone around the entrances to Massachusetts women’s health centers that perform abortions. I understand that it may well be Constitutionally correct, but from a practical point of view the decision could have tragic ramifications. I do not understand why a much larger exclusion zone that protects the four Justices of SCOTUS and the five Injustices of SCROTUS (Republican Constitutional VD) is not also unconstitutional. The plaintiff claimed that they just wanted to have “quiet conversations” with their neighbors and fellow citizens.

The Supreme Court on Thursday unanimously struck down a Massachusetts law that barred protests, counseling and other speech near abortion clinics.

“A painted line on the sidewalk is easy to enforce, but the prime objective of the First Amendment is not efficiency,” Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. wrote in a majority opinion that was joined by the court’s four-member liberal wing.

The law, enacted in 2007, created 35-foot buffer zones around entrances to abortion clinics. State officials said the law was a response to a history of harassment and violence at abortion clinics in Massachusetts, including a shooting rampage at two facilities in 1994.

The Massachusetts law was challenged on First Amendment grounds by opponents of abortion who said they sought to have quiet conversations with women entering clinics to tell them about alternatives. “Petitioners are not protesters,” Chief Justice Roberts wrote.

The court was unanimous about the bottom line but divided on the reasoning, with Chief Justice Roberts writing a narrow opinion. The law blocked too much speech, he said, “sweeping in innocent individuals.”… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <NY Times>

I can understand their point that it is not Constitutional to exclude people with no intent to violate the women’s rights and innocent passers by, who may be transiting the zone for reasons that have nothing to do with the clinic. Of course the problem, is that Republican Supply-side pseudo-Christians are fanatical believers in a right to life that begins at conception and ends at birth. They do not believe that abortion providers and others who assist women to exercise their rights have the right to life. We know this, because they have murdered several. If you believe that the extent of their “speech” will be those “quiet conversations”, see me about the wonderful bridge I am selling. The one plus is that the decision leaves the door open to similar legislation that does not “block too much speech”.

The best coverage I have seen on this subject is from Rachel Maddow. Sadly I cannot take credit for the added portrayal of Scalia at the beginning.

That covers it well. I do not have a quick solution for this dilemma, but I do have an idea. Someone needs to file a suit claiming that the exclusion zone around the Supreme Court violates the Consxtitution, because it “blocks too much speech” and is “sweeping in innocent individuals”. Then we can see if the Justices and the Injustices think they should get to have “quiet conversations” with crazed wing-nuts with guns.

Open Thread–6/28/2014

Posted by TomCat at 12:24 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics, Religion

Jun 282014

Day 68. I’m writing for tomorrow and am feeling somewhat better, having eaten binding foods. But I’m still drained and thoroughly disappointed over missing the volunteer time with my guys. Happy first day od Ramadan to our Muslim friends.

0628Ramadan

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 2:47 (average 4:34). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From The New Yorker:

Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio) said today that he plans to sue President Obama for violating the United States Constitution with what Boehner called “his outrageous practice of accomplishing things.”

“The United States Constitution guarantees the American people that its government will be free from activity,” Boehner told reporters. “Again and again, President Obama has broken that sacred trust.”

Ripping the President for his “willful insistence on doing things,” Speaker Boehner said that his lawsuit was intended “to restore the inaction and inertia that have been the hallmarks of our democracy.”

The Speaker acknowledged that suing the President was an extreme measure, but added, “I take this step only after exhausting every other method to prevent him from getting anything done.”

LOL Andy!! I think that Agent Orange is just trying to find a time-wasting show-and-tell for his runaway Baggers that stops short of impeaching Obama, which Boehner knows would pull lazy lefty voters out of their lethargy. He doesn’t care how many taxpayer dollars it wastes.

From Daily Kos: I have often wondered where would be a good place for my young son to go one day to ride out catastrophic climate-changed earth. It is sounding more and more like there’s nowhere to go that is best suited to survive the coming catastrophe.

If climate change continues on its current trajectory, the report concluded, Midwesterners could see deadly heat-and-humidity pairings (which meteorologists call "wet-bulb temperature") two days every year by later this century.

"It will be functionally impossible to be outside, including for things like construction work and farming, as well as recreation," said climate scientist Michael Oppenheimer of Princeton University.

When the time comes, unless we can prevent it, we must remember to call those days Republican days.

From Media Matters: From the June 26 edition of Fox News’ Outnumbered:

Personally, I have never been a soccer fan, and given the abuses centered around the World Wup, I’m not inclined to become one. It would be different, if I had a personal history with the sport, but in my life, I have scored a total of one goal, and that was over fifty years ago. However, only the Republican Reichsministry of Propaganda, Faux Noise, could find a way to use America’s success as a reason to trash Obama.

Cartoon:

0628Cartoon

Personal Update–6/27/2014

Posted by TomCat at 12:01 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Jun 272014

Day 67. Sometimes the nest laid plans of mice and men, and even cats, fall by the wayside. I never made it to prison. I woke up with a severe case of Republicosis, and discovered that I am out of antidiarrheal meds. I spent the day tethered to the throne and am imitating Eveready. Sick smile

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 2:21 (average 4:44). To do it click here. How did you do?

0627TCRepublicosis

More Republican War on Voting Rights

Posted by TomCat at 12:08 am Politics

Jun 262014

There is no greater foundation for democratic republic than the right of all members of that republic to participate in choosing their representatives at the polls, that is, to exercise their right to vote. That foundation remains under attack by the Republican Party, who are trying to establish fascist one-party rule, a Republican totalitarian plutocracy in which elections exist only for show. They would prevent all who might vote against them from voting. It has become quite widespread.

According to a new report by the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law, “[n]ew voting restrictions developed since 2010 are slated to be in place in 22 states this November.”

The Republican Party have rolled back voting with a whole range of tactics from requiring identification to shortening the time to vote. Many of these states were long covered by the Voting Rights Act passed in 1965 to remedy 100 years of states denying the right to vote to people of color.

Limiting the franchise, limiting the right to vote is the most fundamental obstruction of democracy and certainly one of the most un-American things imaginable.

But not the only. This Supreme Court has allowed states to disenfranchise their own people, has equated money to free speech and corporations to people, and opened up the floodgates to unmitigated big money.

All three of these democratic assaults were committed by this John Roberts Supreme Court… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <Daily Kos>

Click through for more, please.

Unless you want to live in the functional equivalent of the Fifth Reich, we must everything we can to vote and to help those, who Republicans are trying to disenfranchise, vote. Then we must keep it up until the Fascist Five Injustices of SCROTUS (Republican Constitutional VD) have been replaced through retirement or impeachment.

Corporations are NOT people!

Money is NOT speech!

VOTE!!!

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