Friday Fun: Highlights & Lowlights of Michael Cohen Hearing

 Posted by at 9:53 am  Politics
Mar 082019
 

It was just this past week that Michael Cohen began the serious process of taking down Twitler – in both open and closed House hearings – under oath.

The Twitter reactions from his televised testimony on Thursday the 27th were still pouring in last Friday, so I decided to postpone coverage until this week to see some of the more interesting ones – so let’s get started.

Cohen opened with his prepared and profoundly strong statement.

 

About the only difference I could detect between the hideous performance of Rep. Gym Jordan (R-OH) from that of Rep. Mark Meadows (R-NC) is that Meadows had a suitcoat on.

Meadows opened with “I-have-a-black-person-who-worked-for-Trump-that-I’ll-use-as­-a-PROP-to-prove-he’s-not-a-racist” routine.

But Cohen countered him expertly with being the son of a Holocaust survivor.

When Rep. Gosar (R-AZ) went with his over-sized “Liar Liar Pants On Fire” poster …

MSNBC threw some excellent shade his way:

For some, like Rep. Steube (R-FL), a check for $35,000.00 SIGNED by Trump just wasn’t enough evidence to convince him Trump was paying hush money to porn star, Stormy Daniels.  But Cohen handled him well.

Rep. Clay (Sweater-Vest) Higgins (R-LA) is a good example of the level of incompetent, ignorant scum that runs rampant in the republican party.

Of note is that Higgins, prior to being elected, was a policeman who was forced to resign because of, among other transgressions, beating a suspect while handcuffed.

There were moments of humor – one provided by Rep. Massie (R-KY) asking Cohen if anyone had offered to pay for his lawyers.

Here’s an accurate summary of how the media covered the hearings:

No, I didn’t forget Rep. Gym Jordan’s disastrous role in the hearings.  But he got so much coverage during them, and then later on SNL, I thought it’d be redundant.

Most likely our collective reaction to his “performance” is best summed up by Rep. Plaskett (D-VI) eye-roll commentary during one of his numerous interruptions of Cohen.

I don’t know how good you are at speechreading (and sadly she’s turned too far for me to make out her first piece of advice), but on her second turn she’s clearly telling Jordan: “Why don’t YOU be quiet?”

One of the saddest consequences of the Twitler years is that it forces us to root for folks we normally wouldn’t.

In closing, surprisingly enough on ABC’s “This Week” Sunday show, Chris Christie actually provided the most accurate – and problematic analysis –for the republicans’ dealing with their entire line of questioning:

That bears repeating:

“There hasn’t been one Republican yet who’s tried to defend the president on substance.  I think that’s something that should be concerning to the White House.”

As Twitler frequently says: “Let’s see what happens”.  And my bet is it will NOT be good for him!

 

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PSA: Stop What You’re Doing and Update Google Chrome

 Posted by at 3:13 pm  Politics
Mar 072019
 

If you use Google Chrome browser, you would be well-advised to update it … RIGHT NOW!

Google is urging Chrome users to update the web browser right away to patch a zero-day vulnerability that is being actively exploited.

In a Tuesday tweet, Google Chrome Security and Desktop Engineering Lead Justin Schuh said users should install the latest version of the browser—72.0.3626.121—right away.

“Seriously, update your Chrome installs… like right this minute,” he wrote.

SOURCE LINK: PC Magazine

Although it’s possible to disable Chrome’s Auto Update, it’s not easy.

However, for Updates to take effect, you have to relaunch the browser.

What your goal is to end up w/ Version 72.0.3626.121

To check to see that’s what you’re running, click on the 3 Vertical Dots in the upper right-hand corner.  Then from the drop-down menu it generates, click “Help”.  Then from the next menu click “About Google Chrome”.  And you should get a window that looks something like this (this is mine):

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Samantha Bee from 3/6

 Posted by at 9:47 am  Politics
Mar 072019
 

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

Richard Sackler Handsome Big P*nis Not a Murderer

 

Abuse of opioids certainly is a crisis, but I have to add that occasional use for pain without abuse is possible. I have averaged < 2 pills per month for years, but when I need one for severe phantom limb pain, I really need it. Nevertheless, the Sackler family are the worst abusers of all.

The Fox News White House

 

I’d actually rather watch Stormy than the Republican Reichsministry of Propaganda, Faux Noise.

A Brief History of Brexit for Americans

 

Brexit Bridiots prove that the UK also has a Republican Reich!

After a three week absence, I’m glad Sam is back!

RESIST!!

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Open Thread – 3/7/2019

 Posted by at 9:46 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Mar 072019
 

It’s a cold day here in the CatBox, but not quite as cold as it has been.  I have some good news.  The ARK comment editor was updated to compatibility with WordPress 5.1, so I reinstalled it.  It is still not as powerful as it was, when combined with TinyMCE, but it restores use of color, smileys, fonts, and several other functions.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:30 (average 4:54).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From YouTube (MSNBC Channel): DHS Secy. Kirstjen Nielsen Tries To Defend Trump Family Separation Policy

 

Republicans don’t put children in cages; The Pope is not Catholic; and bears never, ever shit in the woods. RESIST!!

From YouTube (Daily Kos Channel): Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA) equates southern border with D Day

Barf Bag Alert!!

 

Every time Republicans enact policy at the southern border, it is D-Day: Dingbat Day! RESIST!!

From Newsweek: Each year, those who observe Lent select something to abstain from for 40 days. When it comes to sugar, caffeine and alcohol, cravings may not be the only challenge people face, as a sudden lack of the addictive dietary items can affect the body and mind.

Dr. Genevieve Brauning, a doctor at the Novant Health SouthPark Family Physicians, told Newsweek that suddenly cutting caffeine, sugar or alcohol out of a person’s diet could lead to withdrawal-like symptoms.

“The acute withdrawal symptoms from addictive substances like caffeine and alcohol typically last three to seven days,” Brauning said. “It appears that sugar follows a similar pattern. But the cravings can last weeks, months, and even years.”

Click through for more info. I think I’ll give up goose-stepping with the Republican Reich, and wearing Republican sheets and hoods for Lent. 😉 RESIST!!

Cartoon:

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RICO for the Mob Boss

 Posted by at 10:18 am  Politics
Mar 062019
 

There is a Mob in this nation that is more criminal than the mafia.  They are the Republican Reich, and the Mob Boss is their Fuhrer, the Cantaloupe Criminal.  RICO is short for the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.  It gives prosecutors the power to charge a Racketeer for leading a criminal organization, even they could not prove that the mob boss was guilty of the individual crimes committed by its members.

0306trump-capone

On Tuesday night’s edition of MSNBC’s “Deadline: White House,” Nicolle Wallace laid down a bold theory of President Donald Trump’s legal situation: rather than investigating him and his allies as individuals, she said, it is possible that the whole group, along with Trump’s own family business, is being investigated as a single criminal scheme.

“A legal theory that has long been whispered about by legal experts and veteran prosecutors has spilled out into the open in the wake of Michael Cohen’s explosive testimony,” said Wallace, “the possibility that Donald Trump and the Trump Organization are being investigated as a criminal enterprise.”

“The undercurrents have been there all along, with federal law enforcement officials and lawmakers comparing Donald Trump’s conduct to that of a mob boss,” Wallace continued. As examples, she showed clips of Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA), former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, and former FBI Director James Comey all making that exact comparison.

“And in a piece out in The New York Times today, Garrett Graff describes how pursuing Trump World as a mob operation could take down Trump and his entire empire,” she said, citing a passage from the article that suggested a “corrupt enterprise” indictment of the Trump Organization could sidestep the whole issue of whether a sitting president can be indicted…[emphasis added]

Inserted from <Alternet>

Photo credit: Daily Beast

Here’s that Nicole Wallace Video (28 min.).

 

I fully agree.  Use RICO on Trump and every Republican that enables him.

RESIST!!

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Open Thread – 3/6/2019

 Posted by at 10:17 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Mar 062019
 

It’s a cold, busy day here at the CatBox.  Store to Door will be delivering my groceries, so I’ll have to unpack and stow them.  This evening, WWWendy is coming to de-stink the rancid TomCat and help with chores.  Happy Hump Day!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 5:30 (average 8:31).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From YouTube (MSNBC Channel): Lawrence’s Last Word: Lindsey Graham’s Latest Humiliation

Poo Bag Alert!!

 

Lindsey Poo humiliated himself at birth, it that is the applicable term. RESIST!!

From YouTube: My plan for 2020

 

Jeff made the right decision. He’s my Senator, and I worked to get him elected, but he needs more experience and more name recognition. I will support his presidential bid in 2028, after a Democrat spends the next eight years in the Whitehouse. In the meantime, let the Senate remain a place where Oregon leads the way. RESIST!!

From TPM: Rep. John Burt, a Republican who sits on the New Hampshire House Committee on Public Safety, had dismissive words for the Moms Demand Action volunteers who were insulted Tuesday by his peers’ decision to don pearls during a hearing on a gun safety measure.

“The anti-gun out-of-state lady and the other anti-gun folks need to get over themselves,” Burt told TPM in an email, referring to Moms Demand Action founder Shannon Watts. “This had nothing to do with them. It is to support the Women’s Defense League and the good they do to train women to protect their children.”

Bullshit!  These Republicans insulted the women in a most vile way. If you don’t understand the significance of a pearl necklace, click here. RESIST!!

Cartoon:

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Colleen Has a BIG Mouth! ;-)

 Posted by at 10:04 am  Blog News, Politics
Mar 052019
 

106-Colleen

Colleen is a relative newcomer here, having made less than 300 comments total, so we don’t know as much about her as we’d like to learn.  This is her first Big Mouth Award.  A denizen of Care2, Coleen is interested in animal welfare, human rights, environmental protection women’s rights, health, and more.

The thing that stands out most about her is the kindness and compassion with which she treats others.  She actuary found her way in, when the site was crashed to see if I was OK.  That was the 106,000 comment.  All her comments are heartfelt, and I look forward to reading many more of them.

Please join me in piling on Colleen with kudos and thanks.  She knows how to:

RESIST!!

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Open Thread – 3/5/2019

 Posted by at 10:03 am  Open Thread, Personal, Plus, Politics
Mar 052019
 

It’s another frigid day here in the CatBox.  I lost yesterday’s  comments.  To provide you a little comment flexibility, I installed TinyMCE, the most basic comment plugin.  Unfortunately, it had compatibility issues with WordPress 5.1.  When I deactivated it, it trashed the site.  Fortunately, after the last crash, I bought us a backup plugin with limited offsite storage and restored our database from yesterday morning’s backup.  Then I posted yesterday’s Open Thread again, but the ten comments to it are lost.  My apologies.  WordPress plans to incorporate WYSIWYG for comments in the next major revision, but that is months away. 🙁

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:17 (average 5:13).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From YouTube (Robert Reich Channel): Robert Reich: What’s the Real American Story

 

The Reich on the left, Robert Right, is right. The Reich on the right, the Republican Reich is the Rot at the Top and the Malevolent Community. They act on behalf the Mob at the Gates. RESIST!!

From YouTube (Vox Channel): A better way to tax the rich

 

This is good, because Vox spreads Warren’s message beyond progressive circles. RESIST!!

From Seattle Times: Gov. Jay Inslee entered the 2020 presidential race Friday, launching a longshot campaign with a focused message that he’s the only candidate who would make defeating climate change the nation’s top priority.

In a short video announcing his candidacy, Inslee repeats what has become his signature slogan in recent years: “We’re the first generation to feel the sting of climate change, and we’re the last that can do something about it.”

Over images of fire-scorched landscapes and flooding, Inslee said the nation must rise to the challenge, portraying a clean-energy revolution as a potential win for the economy and the environment.

Along with Oregon’s Kate Brown, Inslee is the most progressive governor in the US. I welcome his entry into the race. RESIST!!

Cartoon:

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