Open Thread – 10/9/2019

Posted by TomCat at 9:51 am Monthly Report, Personal, Politics

Oct 092019

It’s a strange, chilly, muggy day here in the CatBox. The temperature is 38° with 98% humidity. We have a freeze warning coming tonight. This is October, not January! I seem to have the Republicosis under control so far. We’ll see as the day progresses. WWWendy won’t be coming until tomorrow. Hump Day Hugs to all!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:21 (average 5:04): To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Short Takes:

From YouTube (Media Matters Channel): Fox News blames “Deep State” for the impeachment inquiry into Donald Trump

Barf Bag Alert!!

The Republican Reichsministry of Propaganda, Faux Noise, likes nothing more than whipping deplorable Republican Sheeple into a hate-filled rage! RESIST!!

From YouTube (MSNBC Channel): The Fate Of LGBTQ Equality In The Workplace

I can only hope that the five Injustices at SCROTUS (Republican anti-Constitutional VD) do not steal the rights of our LGBTQ citizens. I’m not holding my breath. I fear we’ll have to join their fight to get those rights back! RESIST!!

From NPR: Turkish forces began crossing the Syrian border on Wednesday, launching an operation in Kurdish-dominated areas of the country’s north, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced.

The Turkish offensive jeopardizes Kurdish-led forces who have been a key U.S. ally in the bloody fight against ISIS. Turkey says those same forces are linked to militant groups who stage attacks in a separatist movement against the Turkish government…

…The Turkish military is working with the Syrian National Army, Erdogan said, adding that they area [sic] targeting Kurdish fighters as well as ISIS extremists.

Thanks to the Fuhrer of the Republican Reich, our loyal allies are under the bus, and the bloodbath has begun. RESIST!!

Vote Blue!!

Trump Abandons Kurds

Posted by TomCat at 10:26 am Politics

Oct 082019

Resident Donald Trump was on the phone with Recep Tarrip Erdogan [R-TU], Republican pseudo-Muslim leader of Turkey. Erdogan must have told Trump that Trump has a very large penis, because Trump irresponsibly gave Erdogan license to attack our Kurdish allies in Syria, possibly undoing the defeat of ISIL. The Turks have a long history of massacres against Kurds, as the picture below illustrates

The commander of Syrian Kurdish forces didn’t use the word “betrayal.” But with U.S. troops withdrawing from the Turkish-Syrian border and Turkish troops poised to attack, he warned on Monday that a bloodbath could be ahead — and pleaded for continued U.S. support.

Gen. Mazloum Abdi, the commander of the Kurdish-led militia known as the Syrian Democratic Forces, said during a telephone interview from his headquarters inside Syria that Turkish troops “are preparing to cross the border” and that a major assault could come in “a matter of days.”

The Kurdish commander’s pleas that the United States not abandon an ally struck a chord in a Washington that is whipsawed by President Trump’s increasing practice of diplomacy by impulse and whim. Even Senate Republicans who usually acquiesce to Trump’s policies were vocal in protesting Trump’s move to abandon our Syrian Kurdish allies, who did most of the fighting and dying against the Islamic State.

This latest chapter of the Syrian horror story followed a White House announcement late Sunday that Trump was, in effect, leaving the border unprotected in the face of a possible Turkish attack, despite repeated U.S. pledges over the past three months that the United States would seek to forestall such an assault if the Kurds pulled back troops and heavy weapons from the border zone… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <Washington Post>

Here are two video clips that tell more.

Erratic Trump Endangers US Personnel, World Standing: Brett McGurk

With Syria Pullout, Is Trump Threatening His GOP Senate Support?

I find myself in the rare situation of agreeing with most Senate Republicans (please pass the Alka-Seltzer), while disagreeing with some friends on the left with anti-military knee-jerk reactions. Trump’s policy is an open door for ISIL to reestablish themselves. Out troops there are special forces and support troops. They are doing no fighting. They are taking no casualties. But their presence with the Kurds prevents the Erdogan from committing atrocities against them. That is a rare instance of the best use of our troops.

RESIST!!

Open Thread – 10/8/2019

Posted by TomCat at 10:25 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Oct 082019

It’s a crappy, busy day here at the CatBox. My Republicosis is back. I had to prepare my grocery list for this week, send it to Store to Door, prepare the graphics for our Fantasy Football Report, do my normal research for PP and make four five draining trips to the throne. Now I get to do the actual writing. Poopy hugs to all. ARGH!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:56 (average 5:29). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Fantasy Football Report:

Here is the latest from our own Fantasy Football league.

Scores:

5Scores

Congrats to WWWendy, Patty Monster and me for winning our games. More congrats to me for the highest score of both the week and the season.

Standings:

5Standings

Congrats to Vivian and WWWendy for leading the league.

Short Takes:

From The New Yorker: After looking at the most recent polls for the Democratic Presidential race, Donald J. Trump has ordered the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, to investigate Senator Elizabeth Warren.

“What Elizabeth Warren and her crooked kids have been doing in Ukraine is a disgrace,” Trump told reporters on the White House lawn. “This is maybe the biggest scandal in the history of our country.”

After Jim Acosta, of CNN, pointed out that there had been no reports of any involvement in Ukraine on the part of either Warren or her children, Trump responded, “You bet there’s been no reporting, because you people are even more crooked than she is.”

Trump brushed aside an official statement by the Ukrainian government indicating that Warren’s children had never set foot in the country. “That is because the Warren kids are basically spies, and everyone knows that spies are invisible,” he said. “You people are so dumb.”

Good one, Andy. I’m confident that statement is on his bucket list. RESIST!!

From YouTube (MSNBC Channel): Cambridge Analytica Whistleblower On Dangers To Democracy

I just learned that Cambridge Analytica was founded to fight radicalization. They flipped to promoting radicalization, when Mercer bought the company and put Bannon and the Republican Reich in charge. Now that they are gone, many of the fascists on their staff are working for Mark Fuckerberg at Facebook, With Facebook, the only way to win is not to play. Flush Facebook! RESIST!!

From Alternet: …“For a long time, however, making that case — pointing out that Republicans were sounding ever more authoritarian and violating more and more democratic norms — got you dismissed as shrill, if not deranged,” Krugman explains. But extremism, Krugman adds, was a feature of the Republican Party long before Trump ran for president.

“It’s important to understand that the GOP hasn’t suddenly changed, that Trump hasn’t somehow managed to corrupt a party that was basically OK until he came along,” Krugman emphasizes. “Anyone startled by Republican embrace of wild conspiracy theories about the deep state must have slept through the Clinton years and wasn’t paying attention when most of the GOP decided that climate change was a hoax perpetrated by a vast global scientific cabal.”

Krugman concludes his column on a somber note, stressing that Trumpism isn’t merely an indictment of Donald Trump, but of the Republican Party in general.

“Trump isn’t an aberration,” Krugman asserts. “He’s unusually blatant and gaudily corrupt, but at a basic level, he’s the culmination of where his party has been going for decades. And U.S. political life won’t begin to recover until centrists face up to that uncomfortable reality.” [emphasis added]

I’m so pleased that Paul Krugman agrees me. How many times have you seen me state that Trump is the Fuhrer of the Republican Party, because he’s a perfect reflection of who and what they are? RESIST!!

Vote Blue!!

Republicans on Parade – 10/7/2019

Posted by TomCat at 9:36 am Blog News, Politics

Oct 072019

Here is the one hundred sixty-seventh article in our Republicans on Parade series, featuring individuals who personify what the Republican Party has become. Today’s winner is Trump sycophant and Republican Senator Ron Johnson. He is so honored for one of the biggest episodes of simultaneous goose-stepping or side-stepping I have ever seen!

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.) gave a wild performance on “Meet the Press” Sunday, refusing to answer questions posed by host Chuck Todd, instead peddling unfounded conspiracy theories about the 2016 election. The bizarre interview is a demonstration of how President Donald Trump’s allies have responded to the impeachment inquiry by rallying around debunked theories about Democratic plots and deep state set-ups during the 2016 election, while dismissing the findings of Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference.

Johnson’s refusal to answer questions, paired with Todd’s dismay that Johnson was embracing conspiracy theories, may also explain why other Trump allies refused to go on the Sunday news shows. In the midst of a tumultuous impeachment inquiry, no administration official or GOP leader from the House or Senate accepted an invitation to appear on any of the weekends news programs.

The interview went south at the very beginning. Rather than answer Todd’s first question about Ukraine, Johnson began his appearance with a jumble of old, debunked theories in which Johnson, reading from a paper on which he had prepared his comments, seemed to claim that former FBI agent Peter Strzok and former FBI director James Comey had framed Trump. “Senator, I have no idea why Fox News propaganda stuff is popping up on here,” Todd said in response… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <Mother Jones>

I strongly recommend that you click through and read the rest of the article. Then watcj the video.

Full Johnson: GOP Attacks Press Over Trump’s Ukraine Actions

When Chuck Todd can’t get a word in, he must be up against a PhD (Piled Higher and Deeper) in Republican Bullshitology. Can there be any doubt that this Republican deserves a parade?

RESIST!!

Open Thread – 10/7/2019

Posted by TomCat at 9:36 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Oct 072019

It’s a temperate but muggy day here in the CatBox, and my poor abused butt is swinging back toward Republicosis again. I looked at our stats at our HSP, and seeing them may well be what caused the Republicosis. It’s that bad. Losing Care2 really clobbered us. It seems active, but hundreds used to read every day without I’m going to have to start exploring for ways to publicize the site. OGIM Hugs to all!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:10 (average 6:05). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Religious Ecstasy:

1006Broncos20-Chargers13

What a wonderful Orb!

Short Takes:

From NY Times: A witness who delivered key testimony in the trial of Amber Guyger — the white former Dallas police officer convicted this past week in the murder of an unarmed black man, Botham Jean — was fatally shot on Friday night, a lawyer for Mr. Jean’s family said.

The witness, Joshua Brown, 28, who had lived in the same apartment complex as Ms. Guyger and Mr. Jean, was shot several times by an unknown assailant, Lee Merritt, the family’s lawyer, said on Twitter Saturday night.

Mr. Brown’s death occurred just two days after a Dallas County jury sentenced Ms. Guyger to 10 years in prison, well short of the maximum 99 years that she could have received in the killing of Mr. Jean, a 26-year-old immigrant from the Caribbean island nation of St. Lucia.

I think I understand what happened. In the 1970’s I observed a Portland Police officer turning on his siren to run a red light and pull into the Dunkin’ Donuts in which was sitting. They almost caused an accident in the intersection. The cops ordered donuts and coffee, sat down, and ate. When I returned home I called the PD and told them what I had seen. At about 2:00 AM the next morning I received a gruff, anonymous phone call, that if I didn’t shut up and mind my own business, I would NOT stay healthy. Mr. Brown did not shut up and mind his own business, and many cops are both Ammosexual and Republican. RESIST!!

From YouTube (MSNBC Channel): 1 Big Thing: Trump’s real impeachment worry

In that case, we keep hammering on Trump’s legacy as a Nazi Pervert. RESIST!!

From YouTube (a treat for the soul): pharaon

A comment from Mitch inspired me to include this. In my youth I tried to learn to play like this, until arthritis set in in my 30s. Now all I can do is strum. RESIST!!

Vote Blue!!

Open Thread – 10/6/2019

Posted by TomCat at 8:06 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Oct 062019

It’s a busy day here in the CatBox. WWWendy will be here in about 90 minutes. We have lots of chores, as this will be a strange week. She has to go to Iowa to deal with family matters next weekend, so she’ll be coming on Thursday instead of Wednesday, the following Tuesday instead of Sunday, and then, Saturday instead of Sunday. That throws my schedule off, big time, bit I’m Happy to help her, However, I don’t advise getting downwind of me a week from Monday. This will be my only article today. Ellipsoid Orb Hugs to all.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:41 (average 5:00). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Short Takes:

From YouTube (SNL Channel): Mike Pence Impeachment Strategy Cold Open

Fire up your VPN, Lona! Even Pence’s gay hate won’t convert their stories to straight. On impeachment, the GOP’s predecessors grabbed the money and fled to South America to evade justice! RESIST!!

From YouTube (Full Frontal Channel): The Worldwide Premiere of Full Frontal’$ Totally Unrigged Primary

Whatever show she’s plugging could be most interesting. RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past): Country Joe & The Fish- Feel Like I’m Fixing To Die Rag

Ah… the memories! RESIST!!

Vote Blue!!

Impeach Pence!

Posted by TomCat at 9:55 am Politics

Oct 052019

The wheels are falling off the Republican Clown Car, and we should not be surprised that the impeachment inquiry is expanding to include the rabid pseudo-Christian, Vice-Resident Mike Pence. Here is an article on that subject by retired conservative lawyer, Martin London. He is known for his legal defense Spiro T. Agnew. He also advised Trump to resign in 2018.

The Constitution provides for impeachment of “The President, Vice President and all Civil Officers…”

The current House impeachment inquiry is focused on President Trump’s apparent effort to persuade a foreign government to interfere in the 2020 presidential election–specifically, to press Ukraine’s President Volodymy Zelensky to investigate the leading Democratic contender, Joe Biden. Trump is still the central U.S. civil officer in the spotlight, but now it seems Vice President Pence may be implicated as well.

While the President claims his July call with Zelensky was “perfect,” the House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff describes it as a “shakedown,” and a majority of the House of Representatives now support an impeachment inquiry. Pence, meanwhile, has defended the President, saying, “I think the American people have the right to know if the Vice President of the United States or his family profited from his position as vice president during the last administration.”

While we do not know precisely what Pence knew about Trump’s conversation with Biden or what he said to Zelensky when they met last month, there’s a lot we do know – and it doesn’t look good. Pence was not on the call in which Trump asked Zelensky for a “favor” — a Ukrainian investigation of Joe Biden and his son Hunter — at a time when the U.S. was withholding hundreds of millions of dollars of aid, but one of his top advisers was, and according to the Washington Post, “the vice president should have had access to the transcript within hours.” It was in this context that he flew to Poland in September and reinforced to Zelensky the Trump message that U.S. aid was still being withheld because of concerns about “corruption.”…

Inserted from <Time>

Please click through for more. It’s increasingly rare to find integrity in an analysis from a right-winger.

Rachel Maddow covered this in even more depth.

At Heart, Trump Ukraine Scandal Simple, Impeachable, Uncontested (21:48)

If Trump is removed from office first, Pence will just pardon him.

I know this is not realistic, but please allow me a moment of pipe dream fantasy. Doesn’t President Pelosi sound nice?

RESIST!!

Open Thread – 10/5/2019

Posted by TomCat at 9:54 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Oct 052019

It’s a tired day here in the CatBox. I woke up shortly after midnight, as usual, to relieve myself, but could not get back to sleep. Tomorrow is a holy day in the Church of the Ellipsoid Orb. My Broncos are Californicating themselves to meditate with the Chargers. The game won’t be televised here. May the divine Orb shine its blessed light on your team, unless they fart lightning bolts. Tomorrow is also a WWWendy Day. That yucky TomCat will need extra de-stinking! So please expect no more than a Personal Update from me tomorrow. Pooped hugs to all.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 4:07 (average 5:53). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Short Takes:

From The New Yorker: In an unexpected twist in the impeachment drama engulfing Washington, leading congressional Democrats have begged Donald Trump to stop impeaching himself so that they have something to do.

In a press conference on Friday morning, Representative Adam Schiff, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, and Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the House, both implored Trump to stop relentlessly spewing impeachable offenses, complaining that this practice was rendering their jobs irrelevant.

“Mr. President, as much as we appreciate your help, please, stop doing our work for us,” Pelosi said. “Give us a reason to get up in the morning and go to the office.”

Andy, I fear their plea has fallen on deaf ears. Committing impeachable offenses is the prime Republican pastime. RESIST!!

From YouTube (MSNBC Channel): FEC Chair Sets The Record Straight On Foreign Interference In An Election

There certainly was obvious quid pro quo there, and that is relevant. The operative word in the law is “solicit”. In laymen’s terms, that means ask for it. Trump did. Pence did. Quod erat demonstrandum! RESIST!!

From YouTube (CNN Channel): Voter confronts GOP senator: Where’s the line?

Joni Ernst just doesn’t know how to deal with Trump. That pig’s nuts are so small, that she can’t find them. RESIST!!

Vote Blue!!

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