Politics – Page 935 – Politics Plus

Open Thread–4/14/2016

Posted by TomCat at 1:33 pm Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Apr 142016

Yesterday Lu came for the last time. She was about four hours late, but getting the day right was an improvement. So I’m a perfumed puddy tat. My groceries came. I put them away. I also did the dreaded task! Eye rolling smile Tomorrow I have an appointment with a Retinal Ophthalmologist to check out my choroidal nevi. The appointment will take three hours, and I’ll be unable to use a computer afterwards until late tomorrow night. So expect only a Personal Update, please.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 2:51 (average 4:33). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Daily Kos: When Scott Walker came into office, he claimed that he had no interest in trying to get “Right to Work” laws passed. Unfortunately for the people of Wisconsin, Scott Walker is a liar and a terrible person. In fact, he and his fellow Republican legislators introduced an ALEC inspired written bill making Wisconsin a Right to Work state. Since the bill was signed into law, Wisconsin’s workforce has diminished by at least 10,000. Wisconsin is hemorrhaging jobs because Right to Work laws don’t have anything to do with generating living wage jobs, or much in the way of real work, at all. Three unions filed lawsuits against the bill, arguing that the law posed an unconstitutional seizure of union property, and on Friday they received some good news:

Dane County Circuit Judge William Foust agreed. He said the law amounts to the government taking union funds without compensation since under the law they must represent people who don’t pay dues. That presents an existential threat to unions, Foust wrote.

"While (union) losses today could be characterized by some as minor, they are not isolated and the impact of (the law) over time is threatening to the unions’ very economic viability," he wrote.

This judgement, [sic] calling the law unconstitutional on the grounds that it is an “existential threat,” could have some far-reaching ramifications in the many Republican-backed legislatures that really want to put the screws to the working folk of this country. The importance of this ruling also means that there will be further appeals.

This issue is far from settled, but any day the Koch-sucking Fartfuhrer of Fitzwalkerstan takes a loss at any level is a better day for America.

From Real Clear Politics:

Polling Data

Poll	Date	Sample	MoE	Cooper (D)	McCrory (R)	Spread
RCP Average	1/18 – 4/11	—	—	44.0	41.0	Cooper +3.0
WRAL-TV/SurveyUSA	4/8 – 4/11	701 LV	3.8	47	43	Cooper +4
Elon University	2/15 – 2/17	1530 LV	2.5	42	40	Cooper +2
PPP (D)	1/18 – 1/19	948 RV	3.2	43	40	Cooper +3

It looks like the Religious Reichsfuhrer of the Theocratic Republican Dictatorship of McCrorystan is also experiencing backlash from his hatred and bigoted policies.

From TPM: Donald Trump’s campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, will not be prosecuted in Florida for battery after he allegedly manhandled a reporter, Politico reported on Wednesday night, citing unnamed sources.

CNN also reported that Lewandowski will not be prosecuted early Thursday morning, citing unnamed sources.

What a travesty! Don’t get me wrong! I have no bias favoring his victim. The reporter he assaulted worked for Breitfart, a source for which I have so little regard, that I refuse to embed links to it.

Cartoon:

0414Cartoon

Religious Reichsfuhrer Pretended to Duck in McCrorystan

Posted by TomCat at 12:18 pm Politics, Religion

Apr 132016

The graphic with this article is the State Flag of the Republican Theocratic Dictatorship of McCrorystan, formerly North Carolina, led by Religious Reichsfuhrer Pat McCrory. You are probably aware that McCrorystan has taken some major economic hits over their recent display of hatred for Transgender folks who want to use the rest room. To try to stem that tide Religious Reichsfuhrer McCrory pretended to duck.

Gov. Pat McCrory of North Carolina, whose state has been the subject of withering criticism since he signed legislation limiting bathroom access for transgender people and eliminating anti-discrimination ordinances based on sexual orientation, announced Tuesday that he would strengthen workplace protections for state employees and urge the General Assembly to modify part of the law.

But he stopped short of opposing limits on which bathrooms transgender people could use, and the law will be left largely intact. Critics said his action was more cosmetic than real.

Mr. McCrory signed the legislation immediately after it was passed last month and, 20 days later, made his slight retreat with an executive order that he said would alter the equal employment policy for state workers to cover discrimination claims related to sexual orientation and gender identity.

He also said he would urge lawmakers to reverse course and allow people to bring discrimination cases in state court… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <NY Times>

Rachel; Maddow covered the story and extended it to Tennessee.

Note that neither the Times, nor Rachel came out and said McCrory’s pretense at ducking is just smoke and mirrors. I say so because it’s all talk. He hasn’t actually done anything.

It wouldn’t surprise me if xhamster is Religious Reichsfuhrer McCrory’s favorite site. Whether it is or not, threatening Bubba Bagger’s access to Republican family-values porn, could crash the state government.

It will be interesting to see what Tennessee does.

Open Thread–4/13/2016

Posted by TomCat at 12:17 pm Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Apr 132016

I’m waiting for Lu to come for her last appointment. I have found a certified replacement through the Oregon Home Care Commission. She starts Saturday, and assuming we get along, she’ll be long term. I have a big grocery order coming today, that I’ll need to put away.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 2:32 (average 4:30). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From The New Yorker: No one in the United States has taken note of the total disappearance of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who vanished from view several weeks ago.

In interviews with residents across the country, few if any Americans displayed interest in, or concern about, the whereabouts of Christie, who, until he disappeared, had been a once-prominent political figure.

“I hadn’t really thought about him until you mentioned it,” said Trenton resident Carol Foyler, echoing the opinions of many others in the Garden State.

“Huh,” she added.

Great catch Andy!! PIGnocchio has disappeared, and that’s a LOT of disappearing! What diet was he on?

From Daily Kos: A Beaumont, Texas, high school teacher was arrested last week after video emerged online of her smacking a student. Here’s the video:

Here we have another demonstration of Republican education.

From Crooks and Liars: With Ted Cruz battling it out for the Republican nomination with Donald Trump, it seems like a good time for SuperPAC head and fake historian David Barton to take a break and teach Americans how to "take back" their country, right?

And that is what he’s doing, according to Right Wing Watch.

Barf Bag Alert!!

I won’t say that’s Dominionist Republican Supply-side pseudo-Christian policy from the horse’s mouth. It’s Dominionist Republican Supply-side pseudo-Christian policy from the horses ass.

Cartoon:

0413Cartoon

Terse Tuesday Tidbits April 12, 2016

Posted by jla at 7:26 pm Politics

Apr 122016

The "madness" of California's death penalty
http://www.deathpenalty.org/article.php?id=877

Wealth doesn't trickle down – it just floods offshore, research reveals
“A far-reaching new study suggests a staggering $21tn in assets has been lost to global tax havens. If taxed, that could have been enough to put parts of Africa back on its feet – and even solve the euro crisis”
http://uslaboragainstwar.org/Article/75541/wealth-doesn-t-trickle-down-it-just-floods-offshore-research-reveals?link_id=2&can_id=5d524453ae1e6ae2fcae3072f14e2a93&source=email-uslaw-headline-news-bulletin-2016-6-april-12-2016&email_referrer=uslaw-headline-news-bulletin-2016-6-april-12-2016&email_subject=uslaw-headline-news-bulletin-2016-6-april-12-2016

“The suffering is staggering”: 6 Yemeni children killed or wounded daily in U.S.-backed Saudi war; millions face catastrophe

http://uslaboragainstwar.org/Article/75533/the-suffering-is-staggering-6-yemeni-children-killed-or-wounded-daily-in-u-s-backed-saudi-war-millions-face-catastrophe?link_id=4&can_id=5d524453ae1e6ae2fcae3072f14e2a93&source=email-uslaw-headline-news-bulletin-2016-6-april-12-2016&email_referrer=uslaw-headline-news-bulletin-2016-6-april-12-2016&email_subject=uslaw-headline-news-bulletin-2016-6-april-12-2016

South African anti-mining group continues speaking out against plans for titanium mine, calling for solidarity after assassination of founder

http://libertytreefoundation.org/news/south-african-anti-mining-group-continues-speaking-out-against-plans-titanium-mine-calling-soli

Villagers continue to peacefully protest plan for coal plant creation in their community after death caused by police violence in Bangladesh

http://libertytreefoundation.org/news/villagers-continue-peacefully-protest-plan-coal-plant-creation-their-community-after-death-caus

How Air Pollution Affects Babies Before They're Born
"Pollution is responsible for thousands of preterm births each year, according to a new study."
http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2016/03/air-pollution-premature-birth-study

U.S. Radioactive Weapons Fueling Birth Defects in Iraq

"Investigative journalist Barbara Koeppel examines how the U.S. is getting away with using radioactive weapons that are causing spikes in birth defects and cancer in both Iraqi citizens and U.S. veterans" [text and video]

http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=16024

It’s time for an ambitious national investment in America’s children
"Investments in early childhood care and education would have enormous benefits for children, families, society, and the economy"
http://www.epi.org/publication/its-time-for-an-ambitious-national-investment-in-americas-children/?utm_source=Economic+Policy+Institute&utm_campaign=5f58bb3994-EPI_News_04_08_164_8_2016&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_e7c5826c50-5f58bb3994-58013205

Hillary Met with Protests over Foreign Policy and Criminal Justice in Baltimore

"TRNN reports from a Clinton rally in Baltimore, Maryland, where demonstrators were ejected after protesting Hillary's criminal justice and foreign policy stances" [text and video]

http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=16098

More than 50 health, religious and labor groups urge Congress to reject TPP trade deal
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2016/04/12/more-than-50-health-religious-and-labor-groups-urge-congress-to-reject-tpp-trade-deal/

Some Possible Ideas For Going Forward
https://www.popularresistance.org/some-possible-ideas-for-going-forward/

Digital Exclusive: Establishment Shuffle (video)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2t-_-dj7_Nw

BEEautiful Shot at Ammosexuals

Posted by TomCat at 1:11 pm Politics

Apr 122016

I, for one, am quite pleased that Samantha Bee has returned from vacation, with her razor-edged wit, ready to slice and dice evil, wherever she finds it. As usual, she had to look no farther than the Republican Party or the Organizations it enables to make America the very worst it could be. Here, she went after the NRA.

Samantha Bee is finally back from vacation to make our late nights fun again.

The first task on her agenda? Getting her hands on the costume for Eddie Eagle, the NRA mascot for kid gun safety. Think of him like Ronald McDonald or McGruff the Crime Dog, only he spends most of his time doing terrible raps about guns.

Bee instantly discovers that the NRA – “the organization that makes it easier to get a gun than Sudafed” – does nearly everything it can to keep people from buying an Eddie Eagle costume…

Inserted from <Alternet>

If only it was as hard for Republican Ammosexual terrorists to get guns, as it was for Sam to get Eddie.

Open Thread–4/12.2016

Posted by TomCat at 1:10 pm Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Apr 122016

Yesterday, Sarah, my Prosthetist, checked out George. She ordered a new part to stabilize his ankle, and I’ll have to go back when it comes in. I had to go to the bank, because I discovered over $100.00 was missing from my desk drawer. I know it was there on Saturday, and only one other person had been in the apartment since. So I need to get another shower aide. I’m disappointed, but not angry. Desperate people do desperate things, and the money I had lent her was used up. I’ll tell her tomorrow that it is her last day. I really needed to make the change anyway, because I have not had both weekly showers on time since January, when she moved out of the building, where I used to live. I need to deal with people who add stability to my life, not destabilize it.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:38 (average 6:48). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From The New Yorker: The war of words between the two Democratic camps heated up over the weekend, as the Clinton campaign accused Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders of “blatantly attempting to win the Democratic nomination for President.”

Appearing on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” the Clinton campaign spokesman Harland Dorrinson said that Sanders’s actions in the past few weeks “left little doubt as to what his true intentions are—namely, to be the Party’s nominee.”

“He’s been raising money, he’s been running in primaries, and, yes, he’s been winning caucuses,” the Clinton aide said. “It’s time for Bernie Sanders to come clean with the American people and admit what he’s really up to.”

“It’s deeply troubling that what appeared at first to be a purely symbolic candidacy has turned into something else entirely,” he said.

In an interview on CNN, Secretary Clinton said that she would not “take the bait” when she was asked whether she thought Sanders was trying to win the nomination, but she stopped short of disavowing the accusation.

Dang, Andy!! Does Bernie have chutzpah or what?!!? The Nerve!! How dare he try to win Hillary’s nomination!! Winking smile

From Daily Kos: Vox is calling for a boycott of using any paid TurboTax product. So am I. If you’ve already filed, don’t use them again. If you haven’t yet filed, I urge you to use a different service, like Jackon Hewitt or TaxSlayer. Or go to an independent accountant.

The reason, to put it bluntly, is that Intuit, the company that owns TurboTax, has teamed up with Grover Norquist to ensure that paying your taxes is as painful an ordeal as possible.

Intuit has spent over 13 million dollars to lobby AGAINST efforts to make taxes less complicated. After all, if taxes were made simple, then why would you need to shell out big bucks to use their convoluted system? (along with their ever-increasing fees.)

One such effort they oppose is so common-sense that even conservatives are having a hard time making the case against it. (But it’s not stopping them.) It’s called a "Simple Return." Essentially, the onus would be on the IRS, not you, for filling out the tax forms.

You see, the IRS gets all of the same forms in the mail that you do. They already know what you owe, so they would be required to send you a pre-filled out tax return telling you how much you owe (or, if you overpaid, how much you will get back). With one check of the box, you could either accept it, or simply say "No Thanks" and do the taxes yourself. It’s just an option.

I support Vox in this. I use TaxAct.

From Alternet: Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant has declared April "Confederate Heritage Month," which has rightfully angered many residents in the state, “especially since the governor refuses to mention what the Civil War was really about—slavery,” The Young Turks co-host Ana Kasparian pointed out on Tuesday.

I guess that means Mississippi is now celebrating Republican Racism Month.

Cartoon:

0412Cartoon

Squatch’s Open Thread 09/04/2016

Posted by Lynn Squance at 3:18 am Open Thread, Politics

Apr 122016

This week is very busy again. I have at least one event every day, but usually more. I am trying to ready myself for the Alzheimer's Walk for Memories and raising money for research and programmes. As in the US, it is tax preparation time so that is on my list to do. And of course there is spring cleaning . . . always spring cleaning no matter what season it is!

Short Takes

Politico — Dispirited over a Republican Party primary that has devolved into an ugly, damaging fight, some of the GOP’s biggest financiers are reevaluating whether to invest in the 2016 presidential contest at all.

Among those on the sidelines: Sheldon Adelson, the billionaire casino mogul who hosted the Republican Jewish Coalition’s spring meeting at his Venetian hotel this weekend. His apparent ambivalence about 2016 was shared by many RJC members here. With grave doubts about the viability of the few remaining Republican contenders, many of these Republican donors have decided to sit out the rest of the primary entirely. And while some are reluctantly getting behind a remaining candidate, others are shifting their attention to congressional contests. …

The jewish community and @RJC honoring the great prime minister of Canada Stephen Harper – great friend of Israel

Photo from Huffington Post

While the RJC spring meeting is traditionally a celebration of Adelson, with politicians of all stripes venturing to the Venetian to pay homage, this year’s was different.

On Thursday evening, Adelson hosted some of the organization’s top officials at his palatial mansion. While former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper discussed how fractured parties can unite, Adelson listened but said little, according to three people who were present. And on Friday, rather than preside over the deliberations, Adelson and his wife, Miriam, departed for a wedding.

The lack of interest is partly rooted in exhaustion. After watching many of the party’s establishment prospects — from Scott Walker to Marco Rubio — go up in flames, many top donors say they’ve simply grown tired of opening their wallets. Some here have given to multiple candidates, only to watch them suffer defeat.

And you thought Canada was nasty refusing to take Cruz back! Now Adelson is importing Canada's Republican demagogue, Stephen Harper.

Think Progress — Nearly a week after pipeline operator TransCanada shut down a section of its Keystone line over an oil leak, the company reported Thursday thousands of gallons of oil were spilled, not less than 200 as it first said. …

After the spill was reported earlier this week, environmental groups said Keystone’s spill proves the threat that the Keystone XL expansion would have posed. They also noted that the Keystone pipeline, approved by President George W. Bush in 2008, leaked oil 12 times in its first year of operation. “TransCanada’s Keystone I disaster is a stark reminder that it’s not a question if a pipeline will malfunction, but rather a question of when. This is one of the reasons President Obama rejected the Keystone XL pipeline and it’s why he should reject all dangerous fossil fuel pipeline proposals,” Sierra Club’s Executive Director Michael Brune said in a statement.

Oil transportation largely relies on trains and pipelines. Out of those two, pipelines spill more often than trains, yet train accidents can be deadlier as trains are more likely to explode. U.S. pipelines spilled three times as much crude oil as trains over the period of 2004 to 2012, …

And Trans Canada thinks it is their right to pollute with impunity? I hope its lawsuit in federal court and their NAFTA challenge fail miserably.

Raw Story — Bill O’Reilly questioned Donald Trump’s ability to provide jobs in African-American communities during an interview on Monday by painting black Americans as being ill-equipped for the labor force.

“How are you going to get jobs for them?” O’Reilly asked. “Many of them are ill-educated and have tattoos on their foreheads, and I hate to be generalized about it but it’s true. If you look at all the educational statistics, how are you going to give jobs to people who aren’t qualified for jobs?”

Barf Bag Alert! Barf Bag Alert! Barf Bag Alert! Barf Bag Alert! Barf Bag Alert! Barf Bag Alert!

Openly racist comments . . . but that is to be expected from a pair of Republicans!

My Universe — Chilling with some friends!

Monday Morning Musings April 11, 2016

Posted by jla at 8:51 am Politics

Apr 112016

In politics it is said, that when not fueled by hope there is a vacuum for fear to fill. Since artists turn to the muses, Clio, Euterpe, Thalia, Melpomene, Terpsichore, Erato, Polymnia, Ourania and Calliope we are exploring what they can offer us for inspiration to have the hope fueling politics.

“Courage is like love; it must have hope for nourishment.”
– Napoleon Bonaparte

“Everything that is done in the world is done by hope.“
– Martin Luther

Let us first turn to some history courtesy of Clio:
Oil heir bringing Mormon-inspired sustainable city to rural Vermont

http://grist.org/cities/oil-heir-plans-mormon-inspired-eco-city-in-rural-vermont/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=weekly-static

and

Kurdish Women Struggle for a Next System in Rojava
http://thenextsystem.org/kurdish-women-struggle-for-a-next-system-in-rojava-kurdistan-northern-syria/?mc_cid=032cc22112&mc_eid=6e9dcba956

Gave me a kind of hope, how about you?

Now to Terpsichore (education):
Students Create Scholarship to Help Send Undocumented Teens to College (hat tip Joanne)
http://www.takepart.com/article/2016/04/07/college-undocumented-students?cmpid=tpdaily-eml-2016-04-07

My hope for the future in hands such as these went up, how about yours?

Erato would claim (love):

Why this 1-year-old's private plane ride from a hospital was a special one.

http://www.upworthy.com/why-this-1-year-olds-private-plane-ride-from-a-hospital-was-a-special-one?c=upw1

Did you grab a hanky like me?

On to Thalia (agriculture):

A Cure for Vile Hospital Food?
http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2016/04/stanford-hospital-cure-bad-food

Sounds good to me, how about you?

Would Ourania claim this one as celestial (is shimmering close enough)?
‘Sesame Street’ Goes Girl Power With First Afghan Puppet (hat tip Joanne-text and video)

http://www.takepart.com/video/2016/04/07/sesame-street-goes-girl-power-first-afghan-puppet?cmpid=tpdaily-eml-2016-04-07

My faith in future generations just got even stronger, how about yours?

Now for Terpsichore (brief dance videos):

MDP Keara Solo 'Resurgence'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIYakhGThHw

DANCE CANCER INITIATIVE 2014 RINGWOOD BALLET GROUP
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgP72fHJmYM

I feel hope after watching these, how about you?

Thank you dear reader for joining me on this journey of discovery and quest for hope.

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