Open Thread for July 29, 2021

 Posted by at 7:10 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Jul 292021
 

Yesterday was also fairly hot, but at least I went into it with a decent amount of sleep beforehand … and so much material backed up from Tuesday that I was actually able to spend some time in the cooler room under the good fan resting a bit.

Cartoon –

Short Takes –

Mother Jones (David Corn) – Here’s a Long List of Top Republicans the 1/6 Committee Should Question
Quote – This part of the committee’s mission [to counter Donald Trump and his cult’s whitewashing disinformation] is not that hard…. The much tougher task for the committee will be investigating what Trump and his minions did in the months, weeks, days, and even hours leading up to the assault and what actions Trump and his aides took (or didn’t take) during the seditious riot. These are key elements of the inquiry, and this is the part of the story that Trump and his henchmen do not want to be probed and publicized.
Click through for the rest. David Corn has very good political insight and doesn’t mince words.

Reuters (via US News) – U.S. Justice Dept. warns states to tread carefully in auditing elections
Quote – “I think the reason we’re issuing this as guidance is to tell jurisdictions generally that we are concerned that if they’re going to conduct these audits … they have to comply with federal law,” a Justice Department official told reporters on Wednesday, speaking on condition of anonymity. “This document sets down a marker.” The legal guidance fulfills a pledge that Attorney General Merrick Garland made in June when he vowed to aggressively enforce voting rights laws. Following that speech, the department sued Georgia, accusing the state of unlawfully violating the rights of Black voters with its new voting restrictions
Click through for story (which is in multiple outlets). About time.

NPR – 2 Colorado Police Officers Are Investigated After A Violent Arrest
Quote – A Colorado police officer has been arrested on felony charges after a video showed him using his pistol to beat a man he was attempting to arrest, choking him and threatening to kill him, and a second officer was also arrested after authorities say she failed to stop her colleague as required by a new police accountability law.
Click through, or Google for other sources. There is so much wrong with this that I can’t even.

Food for Thought:

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Open Thread for July 25, 2021

 Posted by at 7:33 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Jul 252021
 

Yesterday was pretty calm – which was a good thing, because I was finding it a challenge to keep my eyes open. At least some of that had to be the weather. My favorite aunt used to call such weather “enervating.” And I certainly felt enervated. I’m sure I am far from alone – it isn’t even all that humid here (though certainly more so than I would like it to be.) Apropos of nothing, it’s pronounced with the primary accent on the initial “e” whch is short (as in “hen”). I come by my fascination with words honestly.

Cartoon – )

Short Takes –

Crooks and Liars – President Biden’s Perfect Troll
Quote – [“reprter] “I-I-I-I-I-I’m not sure…” (That’s my transcription from the video. I may have miscounted but it’s close.)
Click through if you missed it. It’s short and very sweet.

The Hill – Freedom Caucus presses McCarthy to force vote to oust Pelosi
Quote – In the letter, the Freedom Caucus also cited other reasons why Pelosi should be removed: She has allowed remote, proxy voting by lawmakers due to the coronavirus pandemic, and she had metal detectors installed at the entrances to the House floor after the Jan. 6 attack … But their main gripe was her decision this week to essentially veto two of McCarthy’s five GOP picks for the Jan. 6 select committee: Reps. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) and Jim Jordan (R-Ohio). Both are die-hard Trump loyalists and Jordan was the founding chairman of the Freedom Caucus. In response, a furious McCarthy said Republicans would boycott participating in the committee, which kicks off its first hearing Tuesday.
Click through for details. We knew they were deusional, and thinking they might conceivably have the votes to do this certainly proves it. If they do think so. More likely, its a purity test for political theater.

AP News – Iowa Democrat Finkenauer seeking GOP Sen. Grassley’s seat
Quote – Finkenauer, despite losing her House seat in 2020 after one term, remains a youthful prospect in the Iowa Democratic Party, which has struggled to produce a new generation for statewide office. Along with 38-year-old Democrat Dave Muhlbauer, a farmer who previously announced his bid for Grassley’s seat, she is hoping Grassley’s slipping poll numbers provide an opening to revive a shrinking segment of the party’s once diverse electorate: rural voters.
Click through for more about her and about the race. I certainly wish her the very best of luck (and I fear she- or any Democrat – will need it.)

Food for Thought:

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Video Thread for 7/23/21

 Posted by at 12:15 pm  Open Thread, Politics
Jul 232021
 

Glenn Kirschner – FBI Admits Failing to Investigate 4,500 Citizen Tips About Kavanaugh’s Suitability to join SCOTUS

Meidas Touch – Marjorie the MANIAC

The Lincoln Project – Fox is Killikg Us

Armageddon Update – Armageddon Update: Waste of Space Race

politicsrus – Who Are We?

Rob Rogers – Deficit Spending

Beau – Let’s talk about 8 months, justice, and fairness…. Beau sides with you, Nameless, rather than with me.

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Video Thread for 7/14/21

 Posted by at 12:08 pm  Open Thread, Politics
Jul 142021
 

Glenn Kirschner – Donald Trump Breathes New Life Into Need for an Investigation into Justice Brett Kavanaugh

Meidas Touch – EPIC RANT: The GQP Stands for NOTHING! (no shouting)

Armageddon Update: Bothsiderism – . Best of Mitch McConnell. The first of the two episode(s?) is one to bookmark, IMO

Bruno For Congress | Rise – He is running against Kevin McCarthy in California’s 23rd District. I checked a map but can’t be sure whether Bakersfield is in it, party in it, or just outside it. Theere are a couple of National Forests in it certainly. Too bad the trees can’t vote. https://crooksandliars.com/2021/07/endorsement-california-bruno-amato-v-kevin

Vote Vets – VoteVets – Traitor Oath

Keith Olbermann – Stephen A Smith righteous rant

Beau – Let’s talk about Democrats walking out in Texas….

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Open Thread for July 8, 2021

 Posted by at 7:00 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Jul 082021
 

Yesterday was quiet enough – in fact it was significantly more quiet than usual because I now have no phone service at all on my land line … so no robocall rings. But the technician supposedly comes today. Hopefully that will provide resolution.

Cartoon –

 

Short Takes –

The Daily Beast – Opinion – Former Murdoch Exec: Fox News Is Poison For America
Quote – Fox News has caused many millions of Americans—most of them Republicans (as my wife and I were for 50 years)—to believe things that simply are not true. For example, Yahoo News reports that 73 percent of Republicans blame “left-wing protesters” for the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. Of course, that is ludicrous. All one has to do is look at the pictures or videos of the attack to see that the violent mob was comprised of Trump supporters. Similarly, a poll by SSRS in late April found that two-thirds of Republicans either believe or suspect that the election was stolen from Trump—60 percent saying there is “hard evidence” that the election was stolen. As noted above, this ridiculous notion has been thoroughly refuted. But millions of Americans believe these falsehoods because they have been drilled into their minds, night after night, by Fox News.
Click through for more. This is a “Consider the source” story. This dude is in a position to know what he is talking about, even though he gives Rupert too much benefit of the doubt (reminds me of the KMart ads aimed at WalMart claiming Sam would have been ashamed. No, he wouldn’t have.)

The Hill – Eric Adams wins New York City mayoral primary
Quote – “Now we must focus on winning in November so that we can deliver on the promise of this great city for those who are struggling, who are underserved, and who are committed to a safe, fair, affordable future for all New Yorkers,” he said…. The race is the first in which the board sought to implement ranked-choice voting, which allows voters to list five candidates in order of preference.
Click through for some details. I disn’t follow this race, but did follow the Manhattan DA Dem primary, which Alvin Bragg won.Hopefully they will work together well.

Reuters – Judge finds U.S. 60% responsible for 2017 Texas church mass shooting
Quote – In a decision released on Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez said the Air Force did not use reasonable care when it failed to enter Devin Patrick Kelley’s plea to domestic violence charges in a database used for background checks for those buying firearms. Rodriguez said the government bore “significant responsibility” for harm to victims of the Nov. 5, 2017 massacre at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, 31 miles (50 km) east of San Antonio.
Click through for background. Even if you remember it, it’s been a while, and a lot has happened in the meantime.

Food for Thought

Link to story in Common Dreams

 

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Video Thread 6/25/21

 Posted by at 1:00 pm  Open Thread, Politics
Jun 252021
 

Glenn Kirschner – NY Court Suspends Rudy Giuliani’s Law License for Stream of “Uncontroverted” Lies About the Election

Lost Class – powerful. Background on how it was made  And a petition

This is a project which Amy McGrath is working on and promoting.

VoteVets – “Take Them Too” – I truly hope and pray this gets the attention it deserves in the circlles that need to see it – and act on it.

Rocky Mountain Mike – Treason Blues

Beau – Let’s talk about veterans getting what they deserve….

Beau II – Let’s talk about Giuliani’s license….. When Mitch berought this up yesterday, ne was accurate. But apparently others are jumping to conclusions (conclusions devoutly to be wished, but conclusions not happening.)

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Open Thread for June 25, 2021

 Posted by at 7:00 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Jun 252021
 

I know all our thoughts are with Colleen, but there’s still some news too, and some commentary. Thank God It’s Friday. I guess.

Cartoon

Short Takes

Washington Post – States across the country are dropping barriers to voting, widening a stark geographic divide in ballot access
Quote – Seventy-one new laws easing voting rules are poised to benefit 63 million eligible voters in 28 states, or about one-quarter of the U.S. voting population, according to the Voting Rights Lab report, which tracked policy changes as of June 13. Thirty-one new laws in 18 states create more barriers to the ballot box, affecting 36 million eligible voters, or 15 percent of the national voting population, the report stated. Legislative debates over restrictions are underway in key states such as Texas and Pennsylvania, leaving open the possibility that new limitations affecting millions more voters still will be enacted this year.
Click through if you don’t mind fighting a paywall. Bottom line, it’s somewhat bleak,but not all break.

CNN – Why Democrats were desperate to win Joe Manchin’s vote for an already-doomed election bill (opinion)
Quote – See, now all 50 Democrats will vote to move forward with election reform legislation and all 50 Republicans are expected to oppose that move, Democrats can then go to their base ahead of the coming 2022 midterms and say something like: Every single Democrat wanted to make elections more fair and open. And every single Republican stood in opposition to that effort.
Click through for full analysis. He may be right, or there may be more, but this theory falls in well with Auntie Maxine’s vide vote request.

Crooks and Liars – Ohio Republican Who Forged His Father’s Signature To Vote Twice Calls It ‘An Honest Mistake’
Quote – “It was there with a pile of other paperwork,” Snodgrass said of the absentee ballot. “I was sleep-deprived and not thinking clearly. But I’m not going to run away from it. I was simply trying to execute a dying man’s wishes,” he added, saying that it would be wrong to characterize what he did as “just Trump voter fraud.”
Click through for a little more. Sadly they must be saving his picture for the poster for IOKIYAAR.

Bonus Headline: Americans Shocked to Learn That Giuliani Had Law License (Borowitz) You can click through also.

Food for Thought

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Open Thread for June 24, 2021

 Posted by at 7:00 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Jun 242021
 

Yesterday was quiet again. And a slow news day, which sound good, but also sends me scrambling. Colleen, sending every good wish to you for smooth surgery tomorrow, and a speedy and smooth recovery.

Cartoon

Short Takes

The Hill – Socialist India Walton scores upset victory in Buffalo mayoral primary
Quote – “We set out about a year ago to do exactly what we did. We knew that this race was going to require help from outside of our local geographic area; we knew that we needed to garner national attention to challenge a 16-year, heavily entrenched incumbent, and the people spoke,” she said on CNN.
Click through for more, though not a lot more. Being elected mayor is exactly how young, Democratic Socialist Bernard Sanders got his start in politics.

The Guardian – Michigan Republicans find no voter fraud and say Trump claims ‘ludicrous’
Quote – The Michigan Republican report released on Wednesday followed 28 hours of legislative hearings starring local and national pro-Trump conspiracy theorists such as former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani. The report labeled many of their claims “ludicrous” and called on the state Democratic attorney general to open investigations into those who may have profited from making false claims.
Click through for more.

The New Yorker – Mitch McConnell Warns That Voting Bill Would Bring U.S. to Brink of Democracy
Quote – Noting that the word “democracy” originated in ancient Greece, he vowed, “I will not sit idly by and watch a foreign form of government sneak across our border.”
Click through for straight news story.

Food for Thought

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