Politics – Page 963 – Politics Plus

Squatch’s Open Thread 01/02/2016

Posted by Lynn Squance at 1:46 am Open Thread, Politics

Feb 022016

Yesterday I said "I shant be lingering to do extra tutoring or Costco runs." OK, I admit it, I lied. . . sort of. We did our English lesson and then the kids started arriving home from school. I ended up checking some math homework for Jonathan, filling out some school related forms for 2 of the kids, and snuggling Regina who got hit by a flying truck thrown by Simon (the baby) and was in tears. When I scolded Simon, he went into tears and lay claim to the other knee and arm! JD, I guess God is splitting a gut laughing!

Tomorrow is less busy, or should I say, less stressful.

Short Takes

Huffington Post — This is an interactive automaticupdateat the site where you can see in which precints a candidate leads or trails.

Iowa Democratic Caucus

Bernie Sanders was nearly tied with Hillary Clinton in the Democratic race, while O’Malley suspended his campaign before all results were counted.

Des MoinesCedar RapidsDavenportDes MoinesCedar RapidsDavenport

Candidate	SDEs∗	Delegates
Clinton	667	28 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Sanders	664	21 •••••••••••••••••••••
O'Malley	8	0

Candidate

SDEs∗

Delegates

Clinton

667

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Sanders

664

•••••••••••••••••••••

O'Malley

∗ The Iowa Democratic Party doesn't report vote counts. It reports State Delegate Equivalents (SDEs), predictions of who will attend the state-wide party convention.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

3 of 52 delegates in play in Iowa.

HuffPost counts unpledged delegates who have publicly stated their intent to vote for a candidate.

1,604 of 1,681 precincts reporting

Last updated: 9:15 p.m.

Martin O'Malley has announced that he is suspending his campaign. That leaves Hillary and Bernie to duke it out through to the Democratic National Convention.

Iowa Republican Caucus

Republican voters in Iowa turned out in record numbers for the GOP caucus, showing strong support for Ted Cruz. Marco Rubio finished a close third despite lagging well behind Donald Trump in the polls. Other candidates, like Jeb Bush, failed to gain traction with voters.

Des MoinesCedar RapidsDavenportDes MoinesCedar RapidsDavenport

Candidate	Votes	Delegates
Cruz ✓	51,047	8 ••••••••
Trump	44,837	7 •••••••
Rubio	42,577	6 ••••••
Carson	17,173	2 ••
Paul	8,361	1 •
Bush	5,165	0
Fiorina	3,442	0
Kasich	3,441	0
Huckabee	3,305	0
Christie	3,247	0
Santorum	1,768	0
Gilmore	12	0

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

6 of 30 delegates in play in Iowa.

HuffPost counts unpledged delegates who have publicly stated their intent to vote for a candidate.

1,655 of 1,681 precincts reporting

Last updated: 8:47 p.m.

Mike Huckabee annouced that he has suspended his campaign. With Upchuck Huck out of the race, it remains to be seen who else will bow out, if any, before the next round of primaries. If you ask me, Gilmore, Santorum, and Fiorina should be bowing out next.

I won't go into an analysis as I am sure that TC will have the final results and his expert indepth analysis tomorrow.

BTW, a pollster here in Canada was asking people today about what they thought of Trump in the White House. Nationally, 65% of Canadians fear that, while 80% of British Columbians don't want Trump in the White House. He sure isn't making many friends north of the 49th!

CBC — The protection of B.C.'s Great Bear Rainforest is now assured, after a decade of complex negotiations between the province, First Nations and industry.

Under terms of the agreement announced Monday morning by Premier Christy Clark, 85 per cent (3.1 million hectares) of the forested area of the northern wilderness will be completely — and permanently — protected from industrial logging. …

Great Bear Rainforest

Spirit bears are the best known part of the unique flora and fauna of the Great Bear Rainforest that will be protected under an agreement finalized in B.C. Monday. Spirit bears, also known as Kermode bears, are black bears with a unique genetic variation that gives them their cream-coloured fur. (Ian McAllister)

The Great Bear Rainforest stretches from B.C.'s Discovery Islands, north to Alaska's Tongass Rainforest. Along with Haida Gwaii, parts of which are protected under other agreements, it represents the largest tracts of intact temperate rainforest on Earth. It is home to numerous species of plant and animals, including old growth trees, orcas, grizzlies and spirit bears.

Moss-covered trees stand the test of time. (Photo: National Geographic)

From Common Dreams:

It is "one of the most visionary forest conservation plans on Earth," said Valerie Langer, solutions director at ForestEthics, one of the groups that signed on to the deal. "It is a principled approach that sets a new legal and science-based standard for sustaining healthy forests and maintains intact, old-growth that will keep millions of tonnes of carbon out of the atmosphere."

As old growth tropical rainforests in the Philipines and Indonesia have been decimated to provided space for palm plantations, so has the old growth temperate rainforest in Canada been decimated for its lumber. These are not replacable. I am very happy with this agreement and the process of inclusion that struck the agreement.

Raw Story — The New York Daily News wasted no time ripping Donald Trump’s surprise loss in Monday’s Iowa Republican caucus.

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then this is a full political science essay from the New York Daily News! Do you think that the paper is not sold on Trump?

The New Yorker — … Democrats have some messy internal business to deal with: Bernie Sanders, promoting an American version of People Power, has confirmed his capture of the Party’s under-forty wing, which means trouble for Hillary Clinton. …

Speaking on CNN as it got late, David Axelrod, President Obama’s former campaign manager, made an acute point. One of Hillary’s problems is that her campaign is largely about herself—her experience, her electability, and her toughness. “I will keep doing what I have done my entire life,” she said in her non-victory speech. “I will keep standing up for you. I will keep fighting for you.” Sanders, on the other hand, rarely mentions himself in his speeches. His campaign is all about his message of taking American back from the billionaires. And as Axelrod pointed out, it is often easier to inspire people, particularly young people, with an uplifting theme than with a resumé.

Bernie might be older than Clinton, but he is younger!

My Universe —

Celebrate the Great Bear Rainforest agreement!

Terse Tuesday Tidbits February 2, 2016

Posted by jla at 7:22 pm Politics

Feb 012016

I’m trusting TomCat to provide you with plenty for comment from Iowa’s caucuses, and results, so these are important stories that may get less attention than on other days.

Social Security would have all the money it needs were there greater income equality
“Social Security would have all the money it needs were there greater income equality in the United States. Put differently, the majority of working people have contributed less than expected to Social Security because their earnings have not grown as quickly as the highest earning Americans or as quickly as the federal government had projected. Had people’s wages increased more evenly, Social Security would be adequately funded.”
http://justcareusa.org/social-security-would-have-all-the-money-it-needs-were-there-greater-income-equality/

Stunning video of the Leuser Ecosystem
“Many people have likely heard of the Amazon or the Congo, but the lesser-known Leuser Ecosystem on the island of Sumatra, Indonesia, is just as biologically diverse, just as important to the continued survival of species, and just as important for our global climate.”

https://www.facebook.com/rainforestactionnetwork/videos/vb.8002590959/10153864528320960/?type=2&theater

Latin America to top professional working women league by 2025-Mercer
http://news.trust.org/item/20160127000319-pbaai/?source=hpOtherNews2

Brutal Repression in Egypt Exceeds Conditions Under Mubarak (video and text)
http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=15527

President Obama Roasts Donald Trump At White House Correspondents' Dinner! (2011 but worth a repeat)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8TwRmX6zs4

Julianna Forlano: Headlines! Sean Penn's Secret Weapon to Bring Down El Chappo! (video)
http://kpdailyfunnies.blogspot.com/2016/02/julianna-forlano-headlines-sean-penns.html#.Vq9L_lMrI1g

Legos™ Teaches Us How Iowa Caucuses

Posted by SoINeedAName at 2:41 pm Politics

Feb 012016

Well, at least how the Democrats do it. (Republicans use a secret ballot – you just write down a name. Please note: You got to spell out T-R-U-M-P … and NOT Hairball, The Bouffant Buffoon, Hair Furor, Mr. Wiggy Piggy, Pander Hair, Prima Donald or any other variants. Oh, and BTW – damn right I want Trump to be the GOP nominee!)

Vermont Public Radio put together a cute little YouTube video of Legos characters showing how it works. (The CC isn’t all that great, but enough to connect the dots.)

And there’s a little more detail at the Vermont Public Radio website:

To participate in the Democratic caucus in Iowa, a person must:

Be 18 years old by the day of the general election. This cycle, that means if your 18th birthday is on or before Nov. 8, 2016, you can participate in the Iowa caucus.

Be a registered Democrat. Technically the caucuses are "closed," meaning only party-members may participate, but according to the Iowa Democratic Party, it's possible to register as a Democrat on caucus night itself.

Be a resident in the precinct you plan to caucus in. While there is no minimum residency requirement, *Iowa defines residency as spending nights at your in-precinct address.*

It has a Link to a PDF explaining the arcane math used to divvy up actual delegates:

http://iowademocrats.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/IDP-Caucus-Math-One-Pager.pdf

Poll Results–2/1/2016

Posted by TomCat at 1:10 pm Blog News, Politics

Feb 012016

Here are the results of our “Establishment or Wing-nut” 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 or will of the national majority.

0201Poll

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

I voted with the majority and my belief was confirmed. as the most establishment Republican Candidate, Strike Three, just trotted out the Terry Sciavo fiasco to prove his credentials to the rabid Republican base.

There is a new poll up, but please don’t vote until the Iowa results come in. Then please vote.

Open Thread–2/1/2016

Posted by TomCat at 1:09 pm Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Feb 012016

On a scale of one to ten, today is a brutally busy day. I have a heavy load of personal tasks, like preparing my grocery order, editing a letter to the Governor for the President of our volunteer organization, arranging my lift ride for next Monday’s Podiatry appointment, and routine cooking and cleaning. In addition, I had to compose a new poll, collect all the data and make all the graphics for tomorrow’s Monthly Report, and am writing today’s articles. On top of that, I’m trying to keep track of the Iowa Caucuses. The winners I predict in Iowa are Bernie and Hateful Hairball.,

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 4:04 (average 5:54). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Daily Kos: On a May 19 CNN broadcast with Blitzer, Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders unveiled a plan to eliminate college tuition by taxing Wall Street speculation.

Sounds pretty simple and straight forward doesn’t it? Yet, Blitzer just couldn’t wrap his mind around it….. watch……https://www.youtube.com/…

That’s why Bernie is the one!

From NY Times: …Voters on the ideological edges, who dominate both parties in Iowa, have made Senator Bernie Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist, and Donald J. Trump and Mr. Cruz, whose views are anathema to Republican leadership, the standard-bearers of the left and the right.

Iowa’s left can be as right as Iowa’s right is wrong. We’ll see tonight.

From Think Progress: An important but little-discussed aspect of American elections is the built-in advantage that Republicans have in the nation’s gubernatorial races.

The reason why is simple. Turnout is far higher in years when there’s a presidential election, and that boost in turnout is predominantly reflected in minorities and young people, constituencies that tend to vote Democratic. Conversely, turnout is typically over 20 points lower during midterm elections, with far fewer minorities and young people going to the polls. But just nine states have gubernatorial elections that exclusively coincide with presidential votes, whereas 34 states vote for governor during midterm elections. (Five states vote in odd-numbered years and the remaining two elect their governor every two years.)

This bias towards midterm elections is a contributing reason why swing states that twice voted for President Obama, such as Florida, Wisconsin, and Ohio, also elected Republicans during the last two gubernatorial races.

But one of those purple states could soon shift its gubernatorial elections to presidential years: Michigan.

According to the Detroit Free Press, an unidentified group of Democrats and independents are considering a ballot initiative to move gubernatorial races by two years so as to line up with presidential elections. Other statewide races, such as those for attorney general and secretary of state, would also be moved. If the initiative comes together and is passed by voters this year, the elections could shift as soon as 2020.

This may be the end of Sturmbannführer Snyder, if he isn’t in a prison cell first. However, we need to get this on ballot measures all over the country.,

Cartoon:

0201Cartoon

Squatch’s Open Thread 31/01/2016

Posted by Lynn Squance at 2:09 am Open Thread, Politics

Feb 012016

A very light day today, thankfully, but the week ahead is busy. I spoke with my brother in Toronto this morning. He and his wife are taking an Alaska cruise leaving from Vancouver in July so they will spend a few days visiting with me and seeing my mother. This will be good as they haven't seen her for almost 3 years, or is it 4 years. Tomorrow is physio and teaching but I shant be lingering to do extra tutoring or Costco runs.

Short Takes

Alternet — Oklahoma legislators are trying to pass an expressively cruel bill that would bar depressed LGBT youngsters from seeking gay-affirming counseling at school, Slate reports.

The state House bill, proposed by Republican Sally Kern, is part of a slew of anti-gay legislation she wants to pass, which would sanction discredited gay “conversion” therapy and prevent HIV-positive people from getting married.

I was absolutely sickened by this legislation. The party of hate strikes yet again, and this time takes aim at children, children with severe mental health issues such as depression. If this legislation is passed, I hope the courts will deem it unconstitutional!

Huffington Post — Republicans have spent nearly six years promising to repeal Obamacare and, for most of that time, they have refused to acknowledge what that would mean for the millions who would lose their health insurance.

On Saturday afternoon in Iowa, for at least a few minutes, one Republican couldn't get away with it.

It happened at a Ted Cruz campaign event in Hubbard, a small town smack in the middle of the state. According to reports in The New York Times, The Washington Post and Politico, Cruz fielded a question from Mike Valde, a Democratic voter who had come to the event with a story to tell and a simple question to ask.

The story was about his brother-in-law, a barber named Mark. As Valde told it, Mark was a small business owner who worked so hard that he didn’t even take paid days off. But Mark was unable to afford health insurance until the Affordable Care Act became law. When it did, Mark bought insurance and then, when he started feeling ill, saw a physician — who promptly diagnosed him with cancer with no hope for recovery. He died last year.

Good on Valde to confront Cruz and persist in getting an answer. I think Cruz was flumoxed by Valde, such that he tried not to answer. Obamacare is not perfect but it is a step in the correct direction. There are still people not covered because many red states have refused Medicaid expansion. Others because they make too much for Medicaid coverage but still can't afford the premiums. Republicans only have the Republicare death benefit — die fast, as Rep Alan Grayson coined. Cruz was caught between a rock and a hard place and had nowhere to go.

CBC — Two parents watching over an awkward child with weight issues that's still living with them isn't really news. Unless the child in question is a king penguin.

Nero is, well, different than the adult penguins in his life. While mom, dad and the rest of the colony are decked out in their finest black and whites, the only child is big, fluffy and brown.

Did we mention big?

Nero the penguin

Nero, the first king penguin chick born at the Calgary Zoo, stands out with his fluffy appearance. (Ayesha Clough/CBC)

"He's five months, a little over five months, and he weighs around 15 and a half kilos, which means he is the heaviest bird in our colony," said Malu Celli, a curator at the Calgary Zoo. "He's heavier than his mom, who's quite a big, chunky penguin too, and he still has some growing to do."

OK, this is cuteness overload time! Nero is 5 months old and only one half kilo bigger than my 8 year old cat! I love watching penguins play, although I don't particularly like seeing them in an artificial environment such as a zoo. Play away Nero and happy puberty!

Common Dreams — "Corporate criminals routinely escape meaningful prosecution for their misconduct."

This is the damning verdict of Sen. Elizabeth Warren's (D-Mass.) report released Friday,Rigged Justice: How Weak Enforcement Lets Corporate Offenders Off Easy (pdf).

Described as "the first in an annual series on enforcement," the 12-page booklet "highlights 20 of the most egregious civil and criminal cases during the past year in which federal settlements failed to require meaningful accountability to deter future wrongdoing and to protect taxpayers and families," according to a press statement from Warren's office. …

"Justice cannot mean a prison sentence for a teenager who steals a car, but nothing more than a sideways glance at a C.E.O. who quietly engineers the theft of billions of dollars," Warren said in the op-ed.

This from the report, Rigged Justice: How Weak Enforcement Lets Corporate Offenders Off Easy, prepared by Elizabth Warren's office. Cllick through for more details.

The failure to punish big corporations or their executives when they break the law undermines the foundations of this great country: If justice means a prison sentence for a teenager who steals a car, but it means nothing more than a sideways glance at a CEO who quietly engineers the theft of billions of dollars, then the promise of equal justice under the law has turned into a lie. The failure to prosecute big, visible crimes has a corrosive effect on the fabric of democracy and our shared belief that we are all equal in the eyes of the law.

Corporate criminals like Jamie Dimon and Don Blankenship need to be held criminally accountable for the actions of their corporations. Federal agencies need to conduct robust investigations and see that all charges and penalties are pursued. Further, corporations should not be able to write-off penalties from a tax perspective. That is just plain wrong.

My Universe —

Photobucket

Dance til you drop!

Monday Morning Musings February 1, 2016

Posted by jla at 6:09 pm Politics

Jan 312016

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.

“Hope is the only bee that makes honey without flowers.”
-Robert Green Ingersoll

“Three grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love, and something to hope for.”
-Joseph Addison

“Hope is like peace. It is not a gift from God. It is a gift only we can give one another.”
-Elie Wiesel

Let us first turn to Calliope who might view this as her justice:
In 2001, one company started hiring mostly ex-cons. 14 years later, here's how it's going.
http://www.upworthy.com/in-2001-one-company-started-hiring-mostly-ex-cons-14-years-later-heres-how-its-going?c=upw1

Gives me hope, how about you?

Erato would claim this as love:
A dad created an app to help his son with autism. It saved another child's life.

http://www.upworthy.com/a-dad-created-an-app-to-help-his-son-with-autism-it-saved-another-childs-life?c=upw1

Was this a good example of how to spread hope?

Clio (guitar) would sure support this one:
See John Legend and Juanes perform a powerful song for detainees. (video and text)

http://www.upworthy.com/see-john-legend-and-juanes-perform-a-powerful-song-for-detainees?c=upw1

Not your average celebrity doing good story is it?

And then to Thalia (comedy):
Hilarious video exposes North Carolina’s rigged electoral system (NC Common Cause comedy video 1 minute)

http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/2016/01/25/hilarious-video-exposes-north-carolinas-rigged-electoral-system/

I find myself wanting humor more and more, how about you?

And Polymnia (mimicry) brings this delight for our finish:
Tyson Eberly Mime Performance(video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7ULR-yfNnk

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

Last Week’s Ridiculous Republican Moments

Posted by TomCat at 11:10 am Politics

Jan 312016

Almost every week, Republicans join a competition to see who can say the most outlandish things, and in the process, they push the envelope on just how ridiculous InsaniTEA can become. I trust that you will believe it, when I tell you that last week was no exception.

One of our favorite governors had a great idea to address the drug epidemic, chop chop.

Maine Governor Paul LePage does not like drug dealers. We learned a few weeks ago that the New England tea partier especially does not like drug dealers with names like, “D-Money, Smoothie and Shifty" who bring drugs up to his state, and then, “Incidentally, half the time they impregnate a young white girl before they leave, which is a real sad thing because then we have another issue we have to deal with down the road," LePage said. Later he surprised that people thought that was a little racist.

This week, LePage showed his usual measured approach to his state’s drug problem when he proposed that drug dealers like good ole D-Money, Smoothie and Shifty have their heads lopped off in the town square.

This proposal came about in his weekly radio address to his adoring public. First LePage argued that "the death penalty should be the law" for dealers. Then he elaborated:

"I think these people — there’s nothing good enough for these people. I think four years is not good enough, we’ve got to go to 20 years, we’ve got to keep them here until they die."

Upon further reflection, he figured that might take too long.

"If you want my honest opinion, we should give them an injection of the stuff they sell," LePage frothed. "I’m just appalled at people getting angry at me for making a comment when they protect these people. And the ACLU, mind you, is the worst organization in the state of Maine protecting these people."

The show’s hosts thought that pretty much capped off the interview and tried to mercifully conclude it, but LePage was not done.

"What I think we ought to do is bring the guillotine back," LePage interrupted. "We could have public executions.”

He is the thinking man’s governor.

Inserted from <Alternet>

How typically Republican! Maine, isn’t it time to turn the LePage? This is only the fifth of five ridiculous Republican moments listed, from last week alone! Click through to the other four.

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