Friday … It’s NOT Been Fun

Posted by SoINeedAName at 8:19 am Politics

Apr 212017

Well, I’m going to accost you with my lamentations – because this has NOT been a particularly fun week.

It started out fine with taking my pseudo-aunt (my aunt’s sister) to the Kansas City Zoo. She uses a walker, but we went last year in April and had a great time. We only got about half the Zoo visited last year, so we did the other half this Monday.

On leaving my VSA (Vehicle Stability Assist) warning light came on and stayed on. It does that when you spin tires on ice – but goes out once everything is back to normal – and it was a gorgeous spring day So I pulled off the road and read Owner’s Manual. It said turn off the engine and then restart the car – if it lights up again, take it in for a service.

NO LIGHT – YIPPEE!

But then not 30 seconds later, the Engine Malfunctioning Indicator light came on – and stayed on. (At least it wasn’t blinking, which means it needs immediate attention.) So I called to get a service appointment – but since it wasn’t an emergency, they gave me Wednesday.

And by Wednesday, the light had gone out – but since I’m going to Illinois next week for Mom’s cardiology appointment, I decided to take it in.

It was $79 for the diagnostic test to learn it was some “computer glitch” – probably the best I could hope for.

BUT they also said from the diagnostics that my left rear wheel bearings were shot and needed immediate replacing! That was $809 of ouch!

I will say my pseudo-aunt had heard something odd from the right rear last year on a trip that led to my replacing the right rear wheel bearings. And on the trip to the Zoo on Monday said she hear something similar but fainter from the left rear.

Then yesterday when I went to mow the lawn, my Toro would not start. So I had to rent one (hate asking the neighbors), and will take it into the shop today. There goes another boatload of money, I’m sure.

GRRRR

So this will be very brief – and there’ll be none next week when I’m in Illinois. (I’ll be taking my pseudo-aunt up, too, so she can visit her sister – my real aunt.)

Thought we could all learn a lesson in the difference between class (Thanks, Obama!) and crass (ahhhh … that’d be YOU, Twitler!).

As you probably know, Twitler invited Sarah Palin to dinner at the White House this week, and Palin brought along Ted Nugent & Kid Rock. They decided to post a couple of photos with the Hillary portrait. To contrast their demeanor, compare it to the respect Pres. Obama shows the Reagans.

Pres. Obama's official White House photographer, Pete Souza was ever so subtle, but effective, with his Instagram response:

Being respectful.

A post shared by Pete Souza (@petesouza) on Apr 20, 2017 at 12:22pm PDT

Now compare that to this …

This official White House photograph is being made available for publication by news organizations and/or for personal use printing by the subject(s) of the photograph. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way or used in materials, advertisements, products, or promotions that in any way suggest approval or endorsement of the President, the First Family, or the White House.

And to at least include a little fun, how about some feline critters demanding food service

Liz and Rachel

Posted by TomCat at 12:37 pm Politics

Apr 202017

0420maddow-warren

Last night, two progressive giants, Elizabeth Warren and Rachel Maddow got together on Rachel’s Show. In my opinion, what they had to say was too important not to share, so here it is in three segments.

Warren: Trump poised to deliver knock-out blow to middle class

Senator Elizabeth Warren talks with Rachel Maddow about following the history of the erosion of the middle class in the United States and the fight to protect the working class from Donald Trump’s agenda.

Liz clearly demonstrates how the transition from democratic republic to Republican Reich has screwed and is screwing the middle class. I look forward to an Audible version of Warren’s book.

Warren: Turn heat up on Trump Russia case

Senator Elizabeth Warren talks with Rachel Maddow about the need for a special prosecutor and an independent commission investigating possible Trump campaign’s cooperation.

Liz is right that Russian interference with the election should not be partisan. However, it is, because Republicans prefer treason to loss of power. Republicans must go. All of them must go!

Warren: ‘Democracy can’t be a spectator sport’

Senator Elizabeth Warren talks with Rachel Maddow about why Americans can’t treat democracy as a ‘once-every-four-years horse race’ and what Democrats have to do to retake power in government.

The fight to take America back must begin yesterday and have more substance than mere opposition to Republicans.

RESIST!!

Open Thread – 4/20/2017

Posted by TomCat at 12:36 pm Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Apr 202017

I’m still in a lot of pain, but I slept last night, so I can publish. For the most part, until I improve, whether or not I publish will depend on whether I slept the night before.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 2:42 (average 4:58). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From The New Yorker: Offering a stunningly blunt appraisal of the North Korean leader, Jared Kushner said on Tuesday that Kim Jong-un was a “totally unqualified person” who attained his position of power only through nepotism.

“Here you have a guy who has no government experience, and he’s in charge of the whole thing,” Kushner said, in an interview with Fox News. “It’s the craziest thing I’ve ever heard of.”

Kushner noted that, instead of working his way up and acquiring the skills necessary to do his job, the North Korean leader had been given huge responsibilities and power “only because of family connections.”

Very observant Andy. Kushner is the "how to" expert on nepotism. RESIST!!

From Daily Kos: Trump might have won the elections (which again is controversial), but he couldn’t win the hearts of the people. We believed that at least his supporters who voted for him would be happy with his performance, but a new Pew poll confirmed Trump’s low approval ratings.

Compared to Obama’s 61% during his first term, Trump scored 39%, which is the lowest approval rating for any president in his first term.

It’s worse among the minorities. 81% Blacks and 78% Hispanics disapproved of him.

63% believe Trump is too impulsive.

The ratings are worse for Ryan, who has an approval rating of 29% and disapproval rating of 54%.

I like it, but the disapproval would be most gratifying if both were unemployed. RESIST!!

From NY Times: Bill O’Reilly’s reign as the top-rated host in cable news came to an abrupt and embarrassing end on Wednesday as Fox News forced him out after the disclosure of a series of sexual harassment allegations against him and an internal investigation that turned up even more.

Woooo Hoooo!! RESIST!!

Cartoon:

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Poll Results – 4/19/2017

Posted by TomCat at 12:49 pm Blog News, Politics

Apr 192017

Here are the results of our “Justice for Traitors” poll. Politics Plus Polls are not scientific, because those who respond are not balanced according to demographic categories. Therefore, we do not accurately reflect the makeup of the US population. Nevertheless, our polls are usually factually accurate, and more often than not, they reflect thinking of the majority.

0419Poll

Since our polling site no longer enables us to copy and paste your poll comments, you may read them here.

I voted two to five, but there has been a lot of scandal since then. Time will tell.

There is a new poll posted. After you vote…

RESIST!!

Open Thread – 4/19/2016

Posted by TomCat at 12:48 pm Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Apr 192017

I’m still in a lot of pain, but I did get some sleep last night and this morning, so I’ll try to publish, while waiting for my grocery delivery. Wendy comes tonight to de3stink the TomCat.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:37 (average 5:20). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From YouTube (GQ Channel): Proof that Donald Trump is Getting Crazier | The Resistance with Keith Olbermann

If the Fuhrer is craziER, the Pope must be Catholic. RESIST!!

From The Last Word: Is the O’Reilly era at Fox News coming to an end?

New reports – including from Murdoch-owned WSJ – say Fox News may be close to cutting ties with Bill O’Reilly. NYC Public Advocate Letitia James is asking for a probe into the sexual harassment scandal. Media Matter’s Angelo Carusone also joins Lawrence O’Donnell.

Watching O’Lielly crash and burn puts a smile on my face. I’ve waited years for this. May Faux Noise, the Republican Reichsministry of Propaganda, follow him down. RESIST!!

From NY Times: Jon Ossoff, a Democrat making his first bid for elective office, narrowly missed winning outright in a heavily conservative House district in Georgia on Wednesday, throwing a scare into Republicans in a special congressional election that was seen as an early referendum on President Trump.

Mr. Ossoff received 48.1 percent of the vote, just short of the 50 percent threshold needed to win the seat, and he will face Karen Handel, the top Republican vote-getter, in a June runoff.

A documentary filmmaker and former congressional staff member, Mr. Ossoff, 30, had hoped to avert a runoff in the Sixth District, a Republican-dominated section of the Atlanta suburbs that had been represented by Tom Price, who is now Mr. Trump’s health and human services secretary. But despite his financial advantage — Mr. Ossoff had raised $8.3 million, more than quadruple that of the next-closest candidate — and a highly energized liberal base, a majority was just out of reach in a district that has not sent a Democrat to Congress since the Carter administration.

Now we need to win in December. RESIST!!

Cartoon:

Republican Terrorism in action.

Open Thread – 4/18/2017

Posted by TomCat at 12:45 pm Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Apr 182017

Last night the pain in my side kept me up most of the night. This is my only article today, and I won’t be distributing links on Care2. Please3 expect no more tomorrow.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 2:48 (average 4:10). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Daily Kos Elections: Daily Kos Elections’ 2016 presidential results for congressional and legislative districts

0418State_LegislativeHexmap

Therein lies the problems we’ve had long term and what we must correct. RESIST!!

From The New Yorker: In a major foreign-policy coup for the Trump Administration, North Korea offered to unconditionally abandon its nuclear program on Monday, after Mike Pence spent several minutes angrily squinting at the nation from just across the border.

Warning North Korea that the United States had jettisoned its policy of “strategic patience” and that “all options were on the table,” Pence fixed his steely glare on the isolated Communist nation and began furiously staring it down.

After Pence spent between five and six minutes demonstrating U.S. resolve by squinting indignantly, the government in Pyongyang released a statement indicating that North Korea’s nuclear ambitions were a thing of the past.

Dang Andy! Fat chance! RESIST!!

From YouTube (GQ Channel): Is There an Actual Tape of Trump’s Russia Collusion? | The Resistance with Keith Olbermann

LORD! Let it be so and fully exposed. RESIST!!

Cartoon:

0418Cartoon

Gutting the Establishment Clause

Posted by TomCat at 12:37 pm Politics, Religion

Apr 172017

The First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States guarantees the free practice of Religion, but forbids any government attempts to establish a state religion by giving it preferential treatment over others. In violation of the Constitution, Trump promised to make pseudo-Christians more powerful, if they ignored his ongoing perversions and helped install him as Fuhrer. Now Lyin’ Ryan is giving them their reward.

The Washington Post reported on Friday that congressional Republicans are including repeal of the Johnson Amendment in their draft “tax reform” bill.

The Johnson Amendment is a decades-old legal restriction that prevents churches, like other tax-exempt nonprofit organizations, from explicitly endorsing or opposing candidates for political office. As part of his bid for Religious Right support in the presidential campaign, Trump had promised to make conservative Christians more politically powerful by eliminating it.

The idea that this restriction has stifled the voice of conservative Christians in the public arena is, of course, ridiculous. Right-wing evangelicals and their conservative Catholic allies have vast access to the airways and the public through media empires and political organizations, and they were among Trump’s biggest boosters.

Churches already have the right to talk about issues, register voters, and even distribute voter guides produced by right-wing groups. Repealing the Johnson Amendment could turn some churches into political machines that launder donations from politically-minded donors as tax-exempt religious contributions.

That’s a terrible idea. As the Post notes, more than 4,500 nonprofits recently urged congressional leaders not to weaken or repeal the amendment. Earlier this month, nearly 100 religious and denominational groups, including PFAW’s African American Ministers in Action, sent their own letter telling congressional leaders not to make houses of worship “another cog in a political machine or another loophole in campaign finance laws.” People For the American Way is among dozens of nonprofit groups who signed a March letter saying the restriction has “helped maintain the integrity and autonomy of our religious and charitable sectors and preserve the boundary separating church and state.”…

From <Right Wing Watch>

Giving pseudo-Christian Dominionists more power over the state is only the first step they plan. The second is to use the state to force their piety codes onto YOU.

RESIST!!

Open Thread – 4/17/2017

Posted by TomCat at 12:36 pm Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Apr 172017

While I was pretty successful at keeping my lungs clear yesterday, coughing exacerbated my side in the process and am in more pain. In years past, I have had issues with tree pollen, but this year is the pits. I’ll do what I can day by day.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 4:40 (average 5:23). To do it,. click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Media Matters: Dan Rather Condemns Media Calling Trump "Presidential" For "Dropping Bombs" And "Having Missile Strikes"

Hudos to Rather! It did not take long before it became crystal clear that Trump’s war mongering was NOT necessary. RESIST!!

From Daily Kos (Classic: 10/2014): What you soon find out is that cats aren’t Republican. Here are 12 reasons why not:…

…7. Cats don’t blame black and brown cats for their troubles.

8. Cats know how to ration their resources.

9. Fat cats are not at the top of the cat hierarchy, are not cat role models, and have more trouble surviving and thriving, not less.

10. While Republicans blindly follow authority, it is said that getting Democrats to act in unison is like herding cats.

11. Cats don’t foul their own nest.

12. Cats are popular and well-liked on the Internet and elsewhere.

I shared the last six. Click through for the other six. Also, because we cats are purrrrfect, we RESIST!!

From NY Times: President Trump does not know Mike Conaway.

A Republican congressman from a long brush stroke of West Texas, Mr. Conaway recalled meeting with him at the White House with other House Republicans. And he has shaken hands with Mr. Trump, a “standard, 500-people-on-a-rope-line, shaken-hand kind of thing.”

“He wouldn’t know me from third base,” Mr. Conaway said.

Whether he has exchanged pleasantries with the president may not have mattered before, but it does now. Mr. Conaway is taking over the House Intelligence Committee’s investigation into Russian meddling in the presidential election. He is replacing Representative Devin Nunes, the California Republican whose suspiciously cozy relationship with Mr. Trump derailed the inquiry before he was ultimately forced to step aside.

Mr. Nunes’s missteps have thrust Mr. Conaway, a low-profile, old-guard Republican, into the spotlight as the accidental heir to a potentially explosive investigation swirling around a president from his own party. He said he would dutifully pursue an extraordinary allegation that he appears to find dubious: that Mr. Trump’s associates may have worked with Russian officials to disrupt the election.

Strike 1: he’s a Republican. Strike 2: he’s a Republican. Strike 3: he’s a Republican. That’s enough, but what’s the rest of the dirt on him? Pat? RESIST!!

Cartoon:

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