Open Thread – 4/6/2019

 Posted by at 10:14 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Apr 062019
 

It’s another busy day, here in the CatBox, as I’m preparing my back passage for interface with Infernal Revenue Service.  I HATE doing taxes.  In addition, Monday is my semi-annual eye torture day of testing to make sure there has been no recurrence in my eye cancer.  Therefore please expect only a Personal Update both Sunday and Monday, with no links messages on Care2.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:13 (average 4:54).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From YouTube (MSNBC Channel): Connecticut Attorney General Suing Trump: He’s Abusing His Power

 

Kudos to CT. Build a wall around the Republican Reich! RESIST!!

From YouTube (NBC News Channel): Joe Biden Jokes About Accusations Of Inappropriate Behavior

 

Joe is so infamous for gaffes, he seems clueless. Although I’m convinced he intended no insult, some women must feel belittled by his joking about the issue. I think I said the following four years ago; what disqualifies Joe is the foot embedded in his mouth. RESIST!!

From Raw Story: The judge wrote that the “unreasonableness of Defendants’ addition of a citizenship question to the Census is underscored by the lack of any genuine need for the citizenship question.”

A federal judge in Maryland ruled Friday against the government’s addition of a citizenship question to the 2020 Census, The Washington Post reported Friday.

Judge George J. Hazel found that in deciding last year to add the question, the government violated administrative law, according to The Post. The ruling will probably be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, as is expected with two similar cases.

Kudos to the honest Judge Hazel, an Obama appointee. RESIST!!

Cartoon:

0406Cartoon

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Friday Fun: Fox news Fearmongering Fail Turns Out Funny

 Posted by at 3:27 pm  Politics
Apr 052019
 

A Fox news (sic) contributor was savagely mocked for wearing a partial bulletproof vest while reporting at the border with Mexico.  (Although it’s not clear which of the three Mexican countries that Fox thinks exist, he was at.)

Apparently, Lawrence Jones was taking his haberdashery hints from Jared’s blazer and flak jacket ensemble he wore so well a few years back.

So who wore it better?  Here is Lawrence Jones all decked out, ready to rumble …

Well, except for the fact that it’s way too small – and didn’t have the protective steel plates inserted …

Other reporters were quick to join in the mocking reminding him that it is NOT a war zone.

Thin-skinned Jones got defensive about all the mocking and tried claiming the CBP agents demand that he wear the vest.  But here’s an earlier Tweet he posted of himself and CBP agents at the border – and NONE of them are wearing body armor.

Does Fox only require reporters to don a flak jacket when they’re on camera?  Nah – it’s all part of Twitler & Fox’s plan to stoke fear and hatred at every opportunity!  Gotta keep the MAGA cult riled up, dontcha know?

But it was too hard to pass up the chance to have some fun Photoshopping that vest – and Twitter Tweeters did:

No doubt this is how Fox wants you to view him:

But this is how he actually appears …

But we have to admit that those vests can actually be quite useful …

Oh, and WRT Twitler making claims while visiting the “his new wall” that “he got built” – it isn’t and he didn’t.

This section replaced one built in the 1990’s with recycled metal scraps and landing mats.  And it was Pres. Obama who designated it for an upgrade back in 2009.

But Twitler did manage to expound about the fence with his customary eloquence:

“If you want to climb that, it’s pretty sharp up on top, too. If you want to climb that then you deserve whatever you can get, but it’s very, very hard. It’s meant anti-climb. It’s called anti-climb, so it’s a great wall and … I think it looks fantastic — very see-through, so you’re able to see the other side, which is a very important element.”

Kyrie, eleison. Lord, have mercy!

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Republicans on Parade – 4/5/2019

 Posted by at 9:59 am  Politics
Apr 052019
 

Here is the one hundred fifty-sixth article in our Republicans on Parade series, featuring individuals who personify what the Republican Party has become. Today’s winner is Republican Secretary of Labor and pervert enabler, Alex Acosta. He is so honored for letting billionaire pervert and Trump buddy, Jeffrey Epstein, to duck federal charges and avoid prison for trafficking underage sex slaves.

0405AcostaOn Wednesday, Trump Secretary of Labor Alex Acosta appeared before a House Appropriations subcommittee to, in theory, testify about his department’s proposed 2020 budget. It was inevitable that Democrats were going to use the opportunity to demand answers of Acosta after recent revelations that he was the driver of an extraordinarily lenient 2007 plea deal for billionaire pedophile Jeffrey Epstein that allowed Epstein to skirt federal charges entirely. In February, that plea deal was deemed improper by a federal court, ruling that Acosta’s team violated the Crime Victims’ Rights Acts.

Democratic Reps. Katherine Clark and Lois Frankel were not going to let Acosta skate through the hearing without addressing the simmering scandal.

“The judge found you broke the law, Mr. Acosta, when you chose not to tell the victims about this deal and you gave them the impression that the investigation was ongoing,’’ said Clark at the hearing. “Was the judge right?’’

Acosta attempted to pivot, but Clark continued. “I asked you a yes or no question,’’ she demanded.

Acosta was unwilling to say much of substance, aside from repeating his prior defenses that he takes sex trafficking “seriously” and that it was “the work of our office that made it so the world was put on notice that he is a sex offender.” That may have been a humiliation for Epstein, but it didn’t amount to much punishment; Epstein spent 13 months in county jail, but was allowed to leave the jail for up to 12 hours a day to conduct his business as normal…  [emphasis added]

Inserted from <Daily Kos>

Lawrence O’Donnell has more detail.

 

There’s a special word to describe this Republican POS: typical! I bet Trump hopes Acosta will throw a pervert party for Trump, Epstein, Robert Kraft, Judge Roy Moore, Clarence Thomas, and Injustice Kava-Nazi.

RESIST!!

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Open Thread – 4/5/2019

 Posted by at 9:58 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Apr 052019
 

It’s always busy, here in the CatBox.  It isn’t hot, but last night was so muggy that I slept poorly.  I feel very tired.  TGIF Hugs!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 4:02 (average 6:40).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From YouTube (MSNBC Channel): Donald Trump Inauguration Subject Of At Least Seven Open Investigations

 

The way Trump managed that fiasco is enough to put him in the slammer. RESIST!!

From YouTube (Late Show Channel): Raiders Of The Lost Tax Returns

 

If anything, that’s an understatement. RESIST!!

From NY Times: President Trump, ignoring his own troubled history with women and bragging about sexual misconduct, went after Joseph R. Biden Jr. via Twitter on Thursday, posting a video that mocked the former vice president for his handsy approach to politicking.

Biden will certainly have problems with this, but they should not be coming from Resident Grabber or anyone in else in the GOPP (Grand Old Pervert Party). RESIST!!

Cartoon:

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As Seen from Afar 04/05/2019

 Posted by at 2:41 am  Politics
Apr 052019
 

BREXIT IS GETTING HILARIOUS

No matter what British Prime Minister Theresa May has tried in the past two years, she wasn’t able to unify the MP’s in the Lower House behind any of the versions of her Brexit Plan. And no matter how much pressure her political opponents put on her, she wouldn’t quit either. If May doesn’t come up with some miracle solution, Britain is going to crash out of the European Union on April 12, crash meaning no deal whatsoever. The British public can do nothing but wait and, in the meantime, does what it usually does: bear it all with a stiff upper lip, protest, or make fun of it.

As usual British born John Oliver puts his finger on the sore spot in a humorous way two weeks ago (for Brexit watch up to 2:10):

However, some protesters have had it with their government thrown in absolute disarray and spending all of its time debating Brexit, and Brexit only. (New York Times) Of course, they did it with some humor too: they stripped nearly naked in the public gallery, proclaiming that climate change, not the stalemate over Britain’s withdrawal from the European Union, was the real emergency facing the country.

When PM May’s Brexit Plan was voted down for the third time (ABC news), opposition politicians declared the deal as good as dead. Labour Party legislator Ian Murray likened it to the dead parrot in a Monty Python comedy sketch.

“Her deal is no more,” he said. “It has ceased to exist. It is bereft of life. It rests in peace. It’s a deal that has been nailed to its perch. It’s an ex-parrot, it is an ex-deal.”

Even the iconic parliament buildings are straining under all this pressure. British Parliament is falling apart. No, literally (ABC News). For months, political pundits have questioned whether British Parliament is falling apart in the wake of months of Brexit chaos — and a leaky roof, it would seem, is doing little to quell those concerns.

The sheer lunacy of the Brexit process doesn’t escape the New York Times when it reports:

Politico reported the other day that the French European affairs minister, Nathalie Loiseau, had named her cat “Brexit.” Loiseau told the Journal du Dimanche that she chose the name because “he wakes me up every morning meowing to death because he wants to go out, and then when I open the door he stays in the middle, undecided, and then gives me evil looks when I put him out.”

If you can’t take a joke you shouldn’t have come to London right now, because there is political farce everywhere. In truth, though, it’s not very funny. It’s actually tragic. What we’re seeing is a country that’s determined to commit economic suicide but can’t even agree on how to kill itself. It is an epic failure of political leadership.

Well said, I’d say.

Cross-posted on Care2 HERE

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Samantha Bee from 4/3

 Posted by at 11:52 am  Politics
Apr 042019
 

It’s that time of week again, and here are four excellent video clips from Sam’s show last night.  Enjoy!

Roe V. Wade V. Everyone

 

Women’s reproductive health must be exclusively women’s choice. The Republican Reich wants government to fit between women’s legs.

Anti-Anti-Vaxxers

 

Once upon a time, I thought that Anti-Vaxxers were ‘harmless fruitcakes’. I am now convinced that only the second half of that description is true.

White at the Museum

 

Is “white culture” skin-deep or cultural bias? I think the latter.

Samantha Bee Responds to Joe Biden

 

In my day (I’m 71), behavior like Biden’s was considered acceptable, and I often hugged people innocently. If it made women uncomfortable, they never told me. As time changed, I learned about personal space and changed. I still hug people. Man or woman matters not. But now I ask, until I know it’s expected and appreciated. I think Joe was oblivious to cultural growth, and as long as he changes, he should not be pilloried for this. Spot-on Sam!

Good Show, Sam!

RESIST!!

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Open Thread – 4/4/2019

 Posted by at 11:51 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Apr 042019
 

It’s another busy day here at the CatBox.  I overslept and am running late.  WWWendy appreciates your kind wishes.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:00 (average 4:46). To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Volunteer Work:

I thought you might enjoy seeing a picture of my guys.  The Woman on the lower right is Sandi.  On the rare occasions I can go down, she takes me.

0404MyGuys

Short Takes:

From YouTube (MSNBC Channel): William Barr’s Rosy Report Spin Frustrates Mueller Investigators: NYT (23.5 min.)

 

There are lots of goodies here for people, who love exposing the truth about Putin’s Piddle Pervert and the Republican Reich. Trump’s Coverup General, Barf Bag Barr, appears to have done his Fuhrer’s bidding. I hope that we get the full report, before US voters, world-renowned for laziness and apathy, stop paying attention. RESIST!!

From YouTube (NY Times Channel): Who Is Lori Lightfoot? She’ll Be Chicago’s First Black Woman Mayor

 

I have no doubt that Lori will be an exponential improvement over the vile Rahmbo. Kudos to Chi Town. RESIST!!

From The New Yorker: German Chancellor Angela Merkel demanded that Donald Trump issue a “complete and sincere apology” to the German people, after Trump claimed incorrectly, on Tuesday, that his father was born in Germany.

“Of the many insulting things that Donald Trump could say to the German people, alleging that his father was born here is by far the most hurtful,” she said. “He must take it back at once.”

Merkel said that Germany would consider breaking off diplomatic relations with the U.S. immediately if Trump did not acknowledge “that his father was born somewhere else.”

I agree with her, Andy. Germany was right to expel Grandpa Drumpfenfarten for draft dodging. RESIST!!

Cartoon:

Dr. King had said that he expected to be assassinated by the right.  He was right.

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Who Really Steals Elections?

 Posted by at 10:01 am  Politics
Apr 032019
 

The Republican Reich are masters of projection.  One of the easiest ways we have to discover their crimes du jour is to watch what they accuse innocent Democrats of doing.  At the moment, Resident Donald Trump, who owes his Residency to his idol, Vladimir Putin [R-RU], is accusing Democrats of Election Theft.  So, who really steals elections?

 

This is what Trump said last night at an RNCC event:

We’re going to watch those vote tallies. I keep hearing about the election and the various counting measures that they have. There were a lot of close elections that were — every single one of them went Democrat. If it was close, they say the Democrat — there’s something going on. You’ve got — hey, you’ve got to be a little more paranoid than you are. We have to be a little bit careful. I don’t like the way the votes are being tallied.

In other words: Heads I win, tails you lose! Booga booga!

CNN’s New Day explained the obvious.

“So it seems to me he has a problem with the way the votes are being tallied when people he wants to win lose. That’s where he has a real problem. I didn’t hear him concerned about the rampant election fraud that invalidated an entire election in North Carolina, for instance,” John Berman said….

Inserted from <Crooks and Liars>

Here’s the video:

 

Here are ten documented examples of Republican election theft.

Removal of voters from rolls:

 

1a. Jon Husted GOP Ohio Secy of State removed 2 million nonRepublicans from voter rolls prior to the 2016 election, giving OH to Trump. Some registrations were eliminated because of a missing zip code.

 

1b. Jeb Bush and K Harris in Florida removed hundreds of thousands of voters from rolls in 2000 and 2004 giving election to G W Bush twice.

 

1c. Governor Scott Walker, Republican of Wisconsin, removed 300,000 registered voters, a crime which helped in Trump’s fraudulent win.

 

1d The NAACP has sued the Senator Burr-connected GOP establishment in North Carolina for removing blacks from the voting rolls

 

2. Gerrymandering by Republicans in many states has stolen Democratic vote power. Karl Rove has been 1 architect of this.

 

3. NH Republicans jammed handicapped Dems’ ride request lines. Some were jailed.

 

4. Nathan Sproul was employed by Mitt Romney in 2012, McCain in 2008, by Karl Rove, and by state Republican parties in Virginia, Minnesota, Colorado, Nevada, Arizona, MInnesota. In at least 8 states he ran phony voter registration drives throwing away all nonRepublicans’ registrations

 

5. In Ohio Kenyon College students were kept waiting til 4 am. In Akron’s N Hill, a Democrat city, people left in rain for 1/ hour.  Delaying poll openings or shutting them entirely is a Republican tactic.

 

6. Around the state of Ohio in 2000 available computer numbers were reduced.

 

7. Republicans in many states have shut down precincts requiring, e.g., African Americans to drive or bus 2 hours.

 

8. Republicans in many states have frequently moved precincts.  Republicans have over and over in many states opposed same day registration, automatic registration when getting a driver’s license, expanded voting hours, automatic and universal voter registration etc.

 

9. In Ohio and elsewhere some voters have not been notified of the move.

 

10. The Jacksonville Times Union in cooperation with Jeb Bush ran a special newspaper edition in African American areas instructing voters to vote every page of the ballot. 20,000 black votes were invalidated…

Inserted from <All Poetry>

I shared the first 10 examples of 114.  Click through for the other 104.

RESIST!!

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