Open Thread -12/1/2017

 Posted by at 12:18 pm  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Dec 012017
 

A new month is upon us, and I’m quite busy.  I swapped out the poll and voted on the new one.  I did today’s research.  I’m writing today’s articles now.  When I’m done, I’ll make the graphics and do the research for tomorrow’s Monthly Report for November.  Then I’ll publish today’s articles and do my Care2 stuff.  Somewhere in that mix, I’ll make and eat lunch.  Finally, I’ll pop off George and rest.  All along, I’m listening to the news, waiting for the Reich to explode over Flynn flipping.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 4:31 (average 5:31).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From YouTube (Daily Kos Channel): Sen. Sherrod Brown blasts the GOP Tax cuts

 

Keep calling your Republican Senators. RESIST!!

From The Last Word: Fmr. GOP Treasury official: Tax cut bill makes no sense

Bruce Bartlett, who worked in the Reagan Treasury Dept., says Republicans are cutting taxes as if it’s a game of golf: just trying to get to the lowest number possible without thinking of the impact on the deficit or the middle class. John Heilemann also joins.

 

There’s a simple explanation for this. They haven’t "done the work", because they know that the analysis will ever say want they want. It’s not that people have no jobs. It’s that those jobs pay too little. RESIST!!

From Think Progress: During an interview with CNN on Thursday, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) was asked if he’s concerned about recent reports that President Trump has been privately questioning whether a recording of him bragging about groping women is legitimate and that he remains interested in racist conspiracy theories about President Obama’s birth certificate.

Instead of answering, Graham tried to turn the tables and attacked the media for reporting about those issues in the first place.

“You know what concerns me about the American press is this endless, endless attempt to label the guy as some kind of kook not fit to be president,” Graham said.

The notion that Trump is “some kind of kook not fit to be president” isn’t merely a media creation, however. Graham himself used those exact same words to criticize Trump during a Fox News interview in February 2016, back when he was supporting Jeb Bush.

 

Lindsey Poo earned his PhD (piled higher and deeper) in Bullshitology. RESIST!!

Cartoons:

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Friday Fun: Critter-Proofing Your Christmas Trees

 Posted by at 8:04 am  Politics
Dec 012017
 

According to the old Andy Williams’ song, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”.  Since the calendar tells we now need to “Deck the Halls”, it’s time to head to our attics, basements, closets or storage units and drag out our Christmas decorations.  And for many of us, this will be done under the vigilant supervision and “assistance” of our Critters!

So I thought it would be helpful to see how some folks go about “Critter-Proofing Christmas Trees”.  Let’s start with some of the easier ways of accomplishing this.  (And click on the photo to view it full-size)

Apparently this guy has combined minimalism with his “Bah Humbug” and cheapskate spirit into one.  He simply finds an entirely empty corner of his home, puts up a cardboard wall so high no one can see over it, and then just TELLS people it’s there to protect the “Christmas tree” behind it from his cats.

Keeping with that same minimalism and cheapskate spirit, you could get a tree so teeny, tiny that you can carry it around in a glass test tube with a cork stopper.

But why not simply put it outside?

Well, some owners are willing to compromise with their critters and meet them halfway

Or even more foolproof …

Or just surrender …

Others are willing to work out alternatives – like decorating a wall …

Or staying with wall-decorating if you happened to be “blessed” with large chunks of Astro-Turf …

Or maybe more artfully, a fancy picture frame, which I thought was quite lovely …

But if you desire something more three-dimensional, one of your tomato cages from summer gardening turned upside-down, and covered in an old piece of macramé and a green bath towel will do in a pinch.  And if you want to be extravagant, a single strand of lights adds a nice touch without going overboard …

Then there are those who have a mean streak and substitute a cactus for the Christmas “tree”.  It confronts the critters with that “I-Dare-You” feel to it …

But for those who really want an actual decorated Christmas tree, there are some options, too.  Like putting it – rather than your critter – in a cage …

 

Or if you want to be fancier, place it in a handsome vitrine

And if you’re not lucky enough to have a handsome vitrine, Saran wrap will do nicely, thank you very much …

But for those who want a more open, genuine exposure, try enlisting a couple of vacuum cleaners to serve as sentries.  (Not sure how it works with dogs, but I know my cat wouldn’t even THINK of entering the room!)

If you’re artistically inclined, you can create quite a handsome ceiling art work mimicking a Christmas tree out of ornaments …

But if you’re not artistically endowed – but are handy with tools in a “DIY” way – you can hang the tree upside down from the ceiling …

AND if you’re a truly accomplished Do-It-Yourselfer who’s exceptionally handy with tools … AND happen to have a very tall tree … AND it’s very flexible … AND you refuse to shorten it … AND you want to protect it from your pet FOX!!!

Well, there’s a solution for that one, too …

Here’s hoping all your ornaments stay in one piece, and you along with your critters enjoy Christmas in peace.

 

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Republican Fascism

 Posted by at 1:20 pm  Politics
Nov 302017
 

I started using the term Republican Reich in early in the regime of Crawford Caligula.  At that time, it was satirical, tongue-in-cheek.  But as time went on I recognized that establishing a Republican Reich, a totalitarian fascist state in which elections exist for show only and the outcome is predetermined.  Never has that come closer to fruition that it is today under Fuhrer Donald Trump.

An international politics expert who studies authoritarian regimes said President Donald Trump was already taking steps to gather tyrannical power — and he called on Americans to stop him.

Brian Klaas, an expert on global democracy and political violence, told MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” that Americans should worry about the Trump’s willingness to flout the law and attack democratic institutions.

“I’m worried about it,” Klaas said. “Retweeting a Britain First account linked to neo-Nazis and provoke a spat with our allies. You have demonization of the press and also attacking CNN, saying we should boycott them. There (are) constant ethics violations, violations of the Hatch Act.”

Klaas, the author of “The Despot’s Accomplice: How the West is Aiding & Abetting the Decline of Democracy,” said the White House press secretary had given an “Orwellian” response to questions about those anti-Muslim videos Trump retweeted from a British fascist.

“Sarah Huckabee Sanders says it doesn’t matter if it’s true, what’s true is what the president says,” Klaas said… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <Alternet>

Here’s the video.

It’s not just Trump.  I consider him a useful idiot distracting from what the Republican Party is doing and has been building for years.

RESIST THE REPUBLICAN REICH!!

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Open Thread – 11/30/2016

 Posted by at 1:19 pm  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Nov 302017
 

The end of November is upon us, and I’m about to get busier than a long-tail TomCat in a rocking chair factory.  Tomorrow, I’ll change the poll.  Then I’ll make all the graphics and collect all the data needed to prepare the Monthly Report for November.  I’ll write the monthly report on Saturday.  I’m a little slow today, because I have a new mouse and keyboard, a Microsoft Mouse and Keyboard Combo 2000.  After over five years of very heavy use, keys and buttons on the old one weren’t reliable.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:33 (average 5:13).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From YouTube (Jeff Merkley Channel): Climate Disruption Quiz Episode 8

 

I missed #3. It surprises me that Trump missed blocking the report. Oregon leads the way. RESIST!!

From YouTube (CSPAN Channel): Point of Order raised in British House of Commons regarding President Trump’s tweets

 

The tweeting twit that grabs twat has made us an international pariah again! RESIST!!

From NY Times: Gun rights legislation that would allow concealed-carry permit holders from one state to legally carry their guns to any other state passed a key House panel along party lines on Wednesday and appeared to be headed for a vote on the floor of the House.

The measure is the first gun-related legislation to move in Congress since two of the most deadly mass shootings in United States history, in Las Vegas and Sutherland Springs, Texas, and would hand a long-sought victory to gun rights advocates, including the National Rifle Association.

Representative Richard Hudson, Republican of North Carolina and the bill’s original sponsor, called the measure “a simple, common sense solution” and “one of the most important pro-Second Amendment measures in Congress.”

Democrats on the committee, along with gun control advocates and big city law enforcement officials, put up fierce opposition, warning that the bill would have disastrous effects on public safety in states and cities with more restrictive concealed carry laws. The bill, they said, tramples the rights of states to determine their own laws, but a series of amendments offered by Democrats to halt it failed.

We need to keep fighting this one. Republican Ammosexual maniacs ranging the country with concealed weapons is a huge threats to public safety. RESIST!!

Cartoon:

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"I am quite sure now that often, very often, in matters concerning religion and politics a man’s reasoning powers are not above the monkey’s."

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The Empty Chairs Scam

 Posted by at 1:04 pm  Politics
Nov 292017
 

Unless Congress passes some kind of spending measure by December 8, our government will run out of money and face another government shutdown.  With a majority in both the House and the Senate, Republicans would have no trouble doing it themselves, if they were not so incompetent that the Plutocons and the Insanity Wing refuse to compromise with each other.  Therefore they need Democratic help to pass something.  Instead of negotiating in good faith, Trump ran a scam and is putting the nation at risk.

1129chairs

Less than two weeks before much of the government runs out of money, President Trump on Tuesday escalated the threat of a shutdown, accusing Democratic congressional leaders of plotting to use their leverage to raise taxes and flood the country with undocumented immigrants.

The Democratic leaders, Senator Chuck Schumer of New York and Representative Nancy Pelosi of California, responded to the president’s provocations by pulling out of a scheduled White House meeting meant to address the thorny issues that lawmakers are facing as the end of the year approaches.

Mr. Trump then doubled down, posing for television cameras at the White House next to empty chairs and calling his would-be negotiating partners weak on crime, weak on immigration and weak on the military.

“They’ve been all talk, and they’ve been no action, and now it’s even worse,” Mr. Trump said. “Now it’s not even talk.”

The spectacle was an unpromising start to the difficult negotiations ahead, with a deadline of Dec. 8, when government funding runs out. Democrats hold significant leverage because Republicans do not have enough votes to pass a spending measure next week without some Democratic support…

Inserted from <NY Times>

Trump did far more than just falsely accusing Pelosi and Schumer.  He said that because of it, he would not make a deal with them.  Pelosi and Schumer pulled out only after he said there would be no deal.  Blaming them for not coming adds insult to injury, as Lawrence O’Donnell explains.

If Republicans want to avoid being blamed for a government shutdown, all they have to do is agree among themselves and pass a measure.  But since Republicans are incapable of governing, they can damn well apologize, stop the bullshit and negotiate in good faith.  I am not predisposed to bend over and grab my ankles to save their bacon.

RESIST THE REPUBLICAN REICH!!

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Open Thread – 11/29/2017

 Posted by at 1:03 pm  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Nov 292017
 

Store to Door was a little early, so all my groceries are unpacked and put away.  I’ve had adequate sleep, but for some reason, I think I would sleep all day, if I let myself.  The end of the month is upon us, so the next few days will be busy as hell.  WWW is coming this evening to destink the TomCat and have dinner.  I’m actually looking forward to hot dogs and sauerkraut, having turkey bird up the ying-yang.  Has everyone recovered?

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 2:49 (average 4:26).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From YouTube (Jeff Merkley Channel): Senator Merkley Speaks Out Against GOP Tax Scam

 

I don’t think I have to call Jeff to tell him how to vote, but I did call to thank him. Oregon leads the way. RESIST!!

From YouTube (Full Frontal Channel): Full Frontal’s Undercover Sting

 

Sam gives us a great parody of the O’Keefe scam to help Roy Moore discredit Moore’s victims. RESIST!!

From The New Yorker: Donald J. Trump’s use of the name “Pocahontas” at a White House event honoring Navajo veterans was not a racial slur, a prominent white expert said on Monday.

“If some Native Americans were offended by the use of this term, I’m sorry that they’re so wrong,” the expert said. “As a white person, I think I’m in a better position to know about this stuff.”

She also defended the decision to honor the Navajo veterans near a portrait of Andrew Jackson, who is widely reviled by Native Americans. “Before we held the ceremony, we consulted with a number of other white experts, and we all agreed that Andrew Jackson was great,” she said.

But Andy, Sarah Upchuckabee Sanders [pictured in article] is an expert on only one thing: the dissemination of Republican Bullshitology! RESIST!!

Cartoon:

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I started watching Keith, when he started hosting Countdown on MSNBC in 2003, and I have followed him ever since.

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Tax Scam!

 Posted by at 1:32 pm  Politics
Nov 282017
 

One of the stories still dominating the news is the last push by the Republican Party to steal $billions from poor and middle classes and give it billionaires and their giant corporations.  It just passed out of the Senate Finance Committee a few minutes ago, and it is now free for a final vote in the Senate, perhaps on Thursday.  If this passes, you’re going to need a chastity belt for your butt.  Paul Krugman calls it a tax scam.

1128tax_scam_protest

Donald Trump likes to declare that every good thing that happens while he’s in office — job growth, rising stock prices, whatever — is the biggest, greatest, best ever. Then the fact-checkers weigh in and quickly determine that the claim is false.

But what’s happening in the Senate right now really does deserve Trumpian superlatives. The bill Republican leaders are trying to ram through this week without hearings, without time for even a basic analysis of its likely economic impact, is the biggest tax scam in history. It’s such a big scam that it’s not even clear who’s being scammed — middle-class taxpayers, people who care about budget deficits, or both.

One thing is clear, however: One way or another, the bill would hurt most Americans. The only big winners would be the wealthy — especially those who mainly collect income from their assets rather than working for a living — plus tax lawyers and accountants who would have a field day exploiting the many loopholes the legislation creates… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <NY Times>

Paul Krugman goes on to evaluate the scam in detail.  Please click through to read the rest.

Chris Hayes also covered this story with David Kay Johnston and others.

Let me reiterate  when the tax cuts tank the economy, as they surely will, Republicans will expect the middle class and poor, YOU and ME, to pay for it.

RESIST THE REPUBLICAN REICH!!

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Open Thread – 11/28/2017

 Posted by at 1:31 pm  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Nov 282017
 

I’ve had another busy day, and catching up with sleep just makes me sleepier.  I ordered groceries from Store to Door.  I also spoke with the Safeway Store Manager.  She was highly apologetic and offered me $50 in compensation as an apology.  I refused, and told her I would reconsider, if they demoted the .com manager.  She said she will take my complaint to senior management and let me know what happens.  I doubt that I’ll hear back, but I take pride in refusing to be bought off over the principal that they can’t just dismiss cursing a justifiably irate crippled senior.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:09 (average 4:07).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Fantasy Football Report:

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

Scores:

12Scores

Woooo Hoooo!!  Did I put that Sasquatch under foot, or what? Winking smile

Standings:

12Standings

Congrats to Vivian and Seth, who lead the league.  Condolences to Jack, who is still eating Sasquatch toe jams.  There are only two weeks left before our playoffs.

Short Takes:

From YouTube (GQ Channel): Trump is Finished

 

On the one hand, I fully agree with Keith. On the other, I feel devastated over Keith’s retirement from political commentary. We still need his clarity, integrity, and depth. RESIST!!

From YouTube (MSNBC Channel): Elizabeth Warren: This Is Donald Trump Bringing His Chaos

 

As of 12:30 PM PST the CFBP was still in limbo. Liz spelled it out with crystal clarity. May she win the White House in 2020. RESIST!!

From The New Yorker: Casting further doubt on the authenticity of his notorious “Access Hollywood” tape, Donald J. Trump said on Monday that the voice on the tape was actually that of Hillary Clinton, imitating him.

“That’s not me on the tape,” he said. “That’s Hillary faking like she is me.”

Trump said that he had a theory to explain how Clinton came up with the infamous “locker-room talk” that appeared on the tape. “It’s so obvious that Bill came up with that,” he said.

Dang Andy!  Now that you gave him the idea, that’s coming next! RESIST!!

Cartoon:

1128TCFatBurp

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