Open Thread – 12/28/2016

Posted by TomCat at 1:04 pm Open Thread, Personal, Politics, Religion

Dec 282016

I expect Wendy to arrive shortly to degrease the foul TomCat and help with some light housekeeping. Then I have to make a run to the bank, so this is my only article today.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 4:09 (average 5:38). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Daily Kos: An expert on Russia and an intelligence expert expressed the sad reality of how Russia and Vladimir Putin are playing Donald Trump for a fool. Vladimir Putin has been playing Donald Trump for some time and as explained by these two experts, the folks in Russia know it and are laughing at America.

The host asked Professor of International Affairs at The New School Nina Khrushcheva in this excerpted video if Trump was playing into Putin’s hands. The responses from both the professor and the intelligence expert were probative.

"He’s been playing into Putin’s hands for over a year now," replied Professor Khrushcheva. "So it is not more than he has done already."

The host said that many people have the picture of Putin sitting back and just saying ‘Oh yes.’

"And you know what," Khrushcheva continued. "This is such a correct picture. … Because I was just in Moscow and the Russians are saying, ‘Look at those fools. Look at their democracy. Absolutely, how can America lecture us on any development institutions, human rights, democracy rhetoric when they just elected Donald Trump. He is such a fool. He is such a bully. That is what America deserves. And we are going to take advantage of it.’ And that’s how Russians feel about it. And now it’s taking shape with letters from Vladimir Putin to Donald Trump with their exchange of potential nuclear armament and what not. So I think this is going to be a very interesting world to unfold in the next four years."… [emphasis added]

The Tangerine Traitor a Russian Rectum Reich!! Resist!!

From NY Times: …This downtown [Philadelphia] church [Arch Street United Methodist Church] is one of 450 houses of worship in the United States that have offered to provide sanctuary or other assistance to undocumented immigrants, according to leaders of the Sanctuary Movement. (Few congregations have the space and fortitude to risk harboring immigrants indefinitely, so others are lining up to contribute money, legal aid, food, child care or transportation.) The congregations joining this network have more than doubled since the election of Donald J. Trump — a rapid rebuttal to Mr. Trump’s postelection promise to deport two million to three million unauthorized immigrants who he said have been convicted of crimes.

Protecting immigrants is shaping up to be a priority of the religious left, an amorphous collection of people and groups reflecting many faiths and ethnicities. It has been jolted into action by Mr. Trump’s victory and his selection of an attorney general nominee who supports a crackdown on immigrants.

Kudos to the Religious Left. Here we see the difference between authentic Christians and Republican Rectum Reich pseudo-Christians, whose actions are the exact opposite of what Jesus taught. Resist!!

From The Rachel Maddow Show: Trump can launch a nuclear weapon within four minutes

Ploughshares Fund President Joe Cirincione talks with Ari Melber about widespread fear of Trump’s imminent takeover of "the most capable death machine on the planet" — America’s nuclear arsenal.

God help us! Resist!!

Cartoon:

Contrary to Republican lies, this was NOT handed down from the founding fathers.

Open Thread – 12/27/2016

Posted by TomCat at 9:55 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Dec 272016

I’m waiting for my grocery delivery from Safeway.com to arrive. It’s another slow day for news. Last night, Chris Hayes, Rachel Maddow and Lawrence O’Donnell all took the night off. My YouTube subscriptions were more nekkid than a TomCat in a depilatory factory. The Gray Lady looked anorexic. Therefore this is today’s only article. Tomorrow, I may have no more than a Personal Update. Because Wendy is off from school, she wants to come in the morning, instead of the evening. When she’s done, I have to go out to the bank, because it’s the only day this week with no rain, snow or ice forecast.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:53 (average 5:34). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Fantasy Football Report:

Here’s the latest in our own fantasy football league, Lefty Blog Friends.

16Playoffs

Congrats to Matt and Robb for making it to the championship game.

Short Takes:

From NY Times: Undeterred by a resounding defeat at the United Nations, Israel’s government said Monday that it would move ahead with thousands of new homes in East Jerusalem and warned nations against further action, declaring that Israel does not “turn the other cheek.”

Just a few days after the United Nations Security Council voted to condemn Israeli settlements, Jerusalem’s municipal government signaled that it would not back down: The city intends to approve 600 housing units in the predominantly Palestinian eastern section of town on Wednesday in what a top official called a first installment on 5,600 new homes.

The defiant posture reflected a bristling anger among Israel’s pro-settlement political leaders, who not only blamed the United States for failing to block the Council resolution, but also claimed to have secret intelligence showing that President Obama’s team had orchestrated it. American officials strongly denied the claim, but the sides seem poised for more weeks of conflict until Mr. Obama hands over the presidency to Donald J. Trump.

At that point, Butcher Bibi can complete the slaughter of the Palestinian people, while Resident Nincompoop Nazi watches and cheers. Resist!!

From Liberals Unite!: Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles) told MSNBC’s Jacob Soboroff that she would refuse to meet with Trump at the White House and vowing to “fight him every inch of the way.”

Suboroff began the interview asking if Rep. Waters agreed with Senate Minority Leader Chuch Schumer’s strategy to work with Trump whenever possible or if she thought that “Democrats are being too nice” to the president-elect.

Waters blasted Trump in response telling Soboroff: “I tell you, that has been a problem in my party. That when we are in power, we’re nice. We bend over backwards to work with people.”

Spot on Maxine! Would that all Democrats had such big brass balls! Resist!!

From Salon.com: Julian Assange — who once argued that “since unjust systems, by their nature induce opponents, and in many places barely have the upper hand, mass leaking leaves them exquisitely vulnerable to those who seek to replace them with more open forms of government” — came out with high praise for both President-elect Donald Trump and Russian dictator Vladimir Putin in an interview with the Italian newspaper La Repubblica on Friday.

I know many progressives consider this criminal a hero. This confirms my repeated claim to the contrary, since he became Putin’s stooge. Resist!!

Cartoon:

Open Thread – 12/26/2016

Posted by TomCat at 12:29 pm Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Dec 262016

Wendy arrived yesterday at 2:00 PM. In only four hours, we de-stunk the stinky TomCat, did our normal housekeeping chores, did the dreaded task and had Christmas dinner. She brought fruit salad and fudge to go with the ham, Brussels sprouts Hollandaise, stuffing, and garlic bread that I made. We had raspberry pudding cake for dessert. She gave me a Broncos T-shirt and a beautiful quilt that she made herself. I gave her an opal necklace. She doesn’t know it yet, but I also got her a Samantha Bee Thundercunt T-shirt, but it won’t be delivered until tomorrow. The only downside is that a washer malfunctioned and ate four pairs of my briefs. I was so pooped that I fell asleep during my Broncos game. Because it’s a dead day for news, and because I’m tired, this is today’s only article.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 4:08 (average 5:53). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Religious Agony:

1225Broncos10-Chiefs33

Short Takes:

From NY Times: Soon after his inauguration next month, President-elect Donald Trump will nominate someone to the Supreme Court, which has been hamstrung by a vacancy since the death of Justice Antonin Scalia in February. There will be public debates about the nominee’s credentials, past record, judicial philosophy and temperament. There will be Senate hearings and a vote.

No matter how it plays out, Americans must remember one thing above all: The person who gets confirmed will sit in a stolen seat.

It was stolen from Barack Obama, a twice-elected president who fulfilled his constitutional duty more than nine months ago by nominating Merrick Garland, a highly qualified and widely respected federal appellate judge.

It was stolen by top Senate Republicans, who broke with longstanding tradition and refused to consider any nominee Mr. Obama might send them, because they wanted to preserve the court’s conservative majority. The main perpetrators of the theft were Mitch McConnell, the majority leader, and Charles Grassley, chairman of the Judiciary Committee. But virtually all Republican senators were accomplices; only two supported holding hearings.

What Republicans did for nine months, Democrats must do for four years, using every parliamentary dirty trick in the book. RESIST!!

From Washington Post: Donald Trump is set to inherit an uncommon number of vacancies in the federal courts in addition to the open Supreme Court seat, giving the president-elect a monumental opportunity to reshape the judiciary after taking office.

The estimated 103 judicial vacancies that President Obama is expected to hand over to Trump in the Jan. 20 transition of power is nearly double the 54 openings Obama found eight years ago following George W. Bush’s presidency.

Confirmation of Obama’s judicial nominees slowed to a crawl after Republicans took control of the Senate in 2015. Obama White House officials blame Senate Republicans for what they characterize as an unprecedented level of obstruction in blocking the Democratic president’s court picks.

What Republicans did for two years, Democrats must do for four years, using every parliamentary dirty trick in the book. RESIST!!

From YouTube (White House Channel): Weekly Address: Merry Christmas from the President and the First Lady

God! I’m going to miss him! If only Republican Supply-side pseudo-Christians shared those Christian beliefs!

Cartoon!

My Christmas Greeting

Posted by TomCat at 7:34 am Holiday, Politics

Dec 252016

CMasPP

This year, once again, I wish you a very Merry Christmas, or whatever holiday is appropriate to your beliefs. I have collected a few Christmas Songs for your enjoyment, and sadly, for the first time, a warning for the coming year.

Performed by Olivia Newton John

Performed by the Harry Simeone Choir

Performed by Martina McBride

Performed by Celtic Woman

And finally, Happy Holidays to our Republican visitors. Here’s what you want most.

Finally, I must give you a warning for next year:

And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name

that sat on him was Trump, and Hell followed with him.

And power was given unto them over the fourth part of

the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with

death, and with the beasts of the earth.

RESIST!!

Open Thread – 12/25/2016

Posted by TomCat at 7:33 am Monthly Report, Open Thread, Politics, Religion

Dec 252016

I did most of the research for this article last night, so I could hit the ground running today and get a nap, before Wendy comes, so I can watch my Broncos without falling asleep. Please be sure to catch today’s lead article, my Christmas greeting to you. Hugs!!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:33 (average 8:13). To do it, click here. How did you do?

A Fascist (Republican) Nativity:

It was drawn byJoanna Wieruszewska from Poland. She asked for her brother Marek Wieruszewski to be credited with the idea for the drawing. Hat-Tip: SoINeedAName

Short Takes:

From Daily Kos (Classic 12/2014): According to Scott McConnell’s 100 Voices: An Oral History of Ayn Rand she did indeed. Unfortunately, none are included in McConnell’s 656 page book.

Fortunately, with a little help from the Ayn Rand Archives*, we’re able to present to you this exclusive, never-before-seen collection of Ayn Rand favorites.

1225ayn_rand_01

1225ayn_rand_14

I shared 2. Click through for the rest. Rand is Lyin’ Ryan’s hero.

From Raw Story: On Friday, former Green Party candidate Jill Stein—who launched a recount effort in Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania following the election of Donald Trump—asked U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch to investigate the integrity of the nation’s electoral system, the Hill reports.

“We write to urge the Department of Justice to launch an investigation into the integrity of our nation’s election system generally, and our nation’s voting machines specifically, based on the information we discovered in the course of this representation,” Stein’s counsel wrote in a letter to Lynch.

The letter urged the department to focus specifically on human and machine error that may impact voting machines in future elections.

While I agree with her request, it’s another publicity stunt. She proved that she cares nothing about the integrity of US elections every time she parroted Russian lies on Putin’s propaganda network, RT.

From Politico: As Putin climbed the ranks in the Kremlin, eventually becoming the autocratic president he is today, he and Kissinger kept up a warm rapport even as the United States and Russia grew further apart. Kissinger is one of the few Americans to meet frequently with Putin, one former U.S. ambassador recently recalled — along with movie star Steven Seagal and ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson, the likely next secretary of state.

Now, as Donald Trump signals that he wants a more cooperative relationship with Moscow, the 93-year-old Kissinger is positioning himself as a potential intermediary — meeting with the president-elect in private and flattering him in public. Like Trump, Kissinger has also cast doubt on intelligence agencies’ conclusion that Russia sought to sway the election in Trump’s favor, telling a recent interviewer: “They were hacking, but the use they allegedly made of this hacking eludes me.”

In addition to many other atrocities, Kissinger is the bastard that engineered the violent overthrow and murder of Chile’s elected President Salvatore Allende, a democratic socialist, and the takeover by Agosto Pinochet, one of the century’s most brutal fascist dictators. Kissinger organized CIA training of Pinochet’s death squads in torture, disappearing and murder of tens of thousands of Chilean citizens. He did this to exploit Chile’s copper for US vulture capitalists. As such, Kissinger will fit right in with other members of Trump’s Reich.

Cartoon:

Doing the Right Thing at Last!

Posted by TomCat at 1:35 pm Politics

Dec 242016

The United Nations has a pretty good track record for voting overwhelmingly to censure both Arab States that have supported Palestinian attacks against Israeli civilians, and Israel for atrocities against Palestinian civilian and occupation of Palestinian territory by force. The problem is that one member of the UN Security Council with veto power has consistently vetoed only the actions taken against Israel. Finally Obama directed our Ambassador to the UN to do the right thing at last.

Defying extraordinary pressure from President-elect Donald J. Trump and furious lobbying by Israel, the Obama administration on Friday allowed the United Nations Security Council to adopt a resolution that condemned Israeli settlement construction.

The administration’s decision not to veto the measure reflected its accumulated frustration over Israeli settlements. The American abstention on the vote also broke a longstanding policy of shielding Israel from action at the United Nations that described the settlements as illegal.

While the resolution is not expected to have any practical impact on the ground, it is regarded as a major rebuff to Israel, one that could increase its isolation over the paralyzed peace process with Israel’s Palestinian neighbors, who have sought to establish their own state on territory held by Israel.

Applause broke out in the 15-member Security Council’s chambers after the vote on the measure, which passed 14 to 0, with the United States ambassador, Samantha Power, raising her hand as the lone abstention. Israel’s ambassador, Danny Danon, denounced the measure, and castigated the council members who had approved it…

From <NY Times>

MSNBC Interviewed Cal Perry for an explanation of the US abstention.

Note that the resolution does nothing to harm Israel. It is merely a notice from the world that the current government’s attempts to take all the land by attrition instead of the two state solution guaranteed by treaty is illegal and immoral.

It’s important that you understand that not all Jews oppose this measure. We hear mostly about AIPAC, but that most Jews fail to understand that organization is bankrolled and at least partially dominated by non-Jewish Republicans, especially Dominionist Republican Supply-side pseudo-Christians. Here is the authentic voice of liberal American Jews.

J Street welcomes the decision today by the Obama administration to abstain from voting on a United Nations Security Council resolution, which reaffirms the need for a two-state solution and calls for a halt to actions by both sides that serve to undermine the prospects for peace.

The resolution is consistent with longstanding bipartisan American policy, which includes strong support for the two-state solution, and clear opposition to irresponsible and damaging actions, including Palestinian incitement and terror and Israeli settlement expansion and home demolitions.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict can only end based on mutual agreement between Israelis and Palestinians, and President Obama has repeatedly stated his opposition to the United Nations – or any other entity – imposing a binding resolution on the parties. He also has stated and demonstrated a commitment to vetoing UNSC resolutions that are one-sided or anti-Israel… [emphasis added]

From <J Street>

Finally, if you have any doubt, here’s the final proof. Both Netanyahu and Trump oppose it. Kudos to Obama!

Open Thread – 12/24/2016

Posted by TomCat at 1:34 pm Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Dec 242016

Just to give you an idea how busy I've been, today is a holy day in the Church of the Ellipsoid Orb, and I didn't even know it until five minutes ago. Most of the league meditates today, but my Broncos meditate with the Chiefs in one of the two Christmas games tomorrow, so I'll get to watch it. So for today, may the Orb shine its blessed light on your team. I'm running late, even thought I arose early, because I cooked the ham for tomorrow's feast with Wendy. And, of course, I'm pooped.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today's took me 2:51 (average 4:55). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From YouTube (TYT Channel): Trump Backer: Michelle Obama Should Live In Africa With Apes

Paladino, who the Reich nominated for Governor in NY, typifies the Fuhrer's Republican Party.

From NY Times: Within hours of confirming plans to appear at the inauguration of Donald J. Trump, the Radio City Rockettes were plunged into a maelstrom of social media outrage on Friday amid reports that the performers were contractually obligated to dance at the ceremony or lose their jobs.

But as the day wore on, both the Madison Square Garden Company, which manages the Rockettes, and the dancers’ union, the American Guild of Variety Artists, said that any of the dancers could opt out of the Jan. 20 performance in Washington.

1224rockettes

They should all boycott. In this position, Rockettes are far too vulnerable to be grabbed by the Peach Pervert.

From Think Progress: Officials from Donald Trump’s transition team submitted requests to at least two cabinet departments demanding they hand over the names of any government employees who are working on programs that seek to combat the rise of violent extremism, according to a report from Reuters.

The news wire obtained a copy of an email sent from members of Trump’s transition team to the State Department, asking for the identities of anyone working on anti-extremism programs. “Please indicate names of people serving in those roles and status (political or career),” the email says.

While the State Department deals largely with threats posed by foreign extremists and international terrorist organizations like ISIS, a similar request was made of the Department of Homeland Security. In addition to their work on international terrorism, DHS focuses on domestic threats as well, including the rise of right-wing extremism. A 2012 report from DHS outlined the growing threat of so-called “sovereign citizen extremists,” pockets of far-right activists who reject, sometimes violently, the authority of government… [emphasis added]

I have no doubt that the Tangerine Traitor will ask his adopted Russian daddy to prepare accommodations for them in Siberia.

Cartoon:

Everyday Erinyes #56

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 7:19 am Politics

Dec 242016

As I have said, you may assume that I have cut the stories down; that there are more which seem to call for the efforts of the Greek Furies (Erinyes) to come and deal with them, but I can't feature all of them, even all of them which are underreported. Because it's going to continue to be true for the foreseeable future. As a reminder, though no one really knows how many there were supposed to be, the three names we have are Alecto, Megaera, and Tisiphone. These roughly translate as "unceasing," "grudging," and "vengeful destruction."

Let's start with a little update. Back in May I asked the Furies – all of them – to track down John R. K. Howard of Texas for an incident in Idaho. Well, the criminal charges have been resolved (no word that I am aware of on the civil suit), and it appears that Mr. Howard will serve no prison time. So, whatever counseling he received or is receiving from the Furies appears to be all he is going to get. Barf.

There are, of course, plenty of new things going on. Just last Saturday, on Fox News, for example, "Judge" Jeanine Pirro blasted Michelle Obama. (BARF BAG AERT)

How she managed to get the education she has without learning anything – well, she is not the only one, and I don't understand any of them. Just one point, how she can say with a straight face "America rejected you" when (a) there was no one named Obama on the ballot in any state, and (b) Hillary Clinton received almost 3 million more votes than the Cheeto-faced ferret-wearing Not My President is appalling. Of course, it's Fox, so no one questioned a syllable. Megaera, you want this one?

Then in Little Rock, AR, there was a road rage story with a child getting shot. No, not the eight-year-old that was shot in the foot, this is a different one (I know it's hard to keep them straight.) This was a three year old boy, and he died of it.

Acen King and his one-year-old brother were in the back seat going shopping with Grandma when she stopped at a stop sign. Behind her, the driver of a 2003 Black Chevrolet Impala honked at her. Instead of gunning the engine for her life, she honked back. That's when the driver of the Impala got out of the car and opened fire.

Grandma (Kim King-Macon, to be precise) did not immediately realize the child was hit, so drove the the shopping center and called police from there. Acen was taken to a hospital, where he died. Incidentally he was the second young child killed in a road rage incident just in Little Rock, just in the last few weeks. (The other one was not the girl who was shot in the foot either – she is still alive).

The police (who I must admit from the story sound very distressed about this) are still looking for the Impala and its driver. Tisiphone, I'll bet you can make some progress here. And if and when you do, you might consider, instead of tipping the police directly, instead giving the tip to someone who could really, really use the twenty grand reward which is being offered.

Unfortunately, not every community has police officers who are in the least concerned about children of color. In Fort Worth, Texas, for example, this happened –

Posted to numerous social media sites late yesterday was this video of a woman and her daughter being arrested by a Fort Worth, Texas police officer. Their crime? Being angry at police officer for not confronting the subject of the complaint: the white male adult who had allegedly choked the woman’s seven-year-old son.

(For an adult to choke a seven-year old is totally illegal, BTW)

Mom tells the officer that the white guy said the kid had "defied him." (The choking is still illegal.) The guy says that "the kid threw some paper on the ground—he littered—and when the man asked the kid to pick the paper up the kid didn’t and so he choked him." Mom also explains that she and her kids have lived in the neighborhood for years, and the guy knows them and where they live, and he should have come and told her.

Then the cop says this:

Why don’t you teach your son not to litter.

Anyone besides me think this sounds a lot like "Why don't you just dress modestly?"

At which point Mom stated to raise her voice. There is some escalation, all verbal. Eventually the kid's older sister steps in fron of Mom (not towards the officer), which he decides is justification to tackle and arrest them both.

There is virtually no follow up available. The officer has been placed on "restricted duty" (=paid vacation). The department has this video as well as the officer's body cam, but that have a law there which "limits the information that may be released, including the officer's body cam footage" in an internal investigation. It would be nice to learn whether the Mom and daughter are still stuck in jail or even hospitalized. But no. That is not available.

Someone in the comments stated that this happens all the time. Someone else responded that it is not all the time but it is still too much. I submit that, even if this kind of thing does not happen in every single interaction between law enforcement and persons of color, if it happens at least once a day to someone somewhere in the U.S. (and it does), the use of the expression "all the time" is justified. What do you think, Alecto?

The Furies and I will be back.

Cross posted to Care2 at http://www.care2.com/news/member/101612212/4028048

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