Fish – Politics Plus

Open Thread March 11, 2024

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 5:53 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Mar 112024

Yesterday, Trinette was by again and we got stuff done. She says hi back to all. You all know how it is with weekends and news – I selected articles which are less time-sensitive and more long-term. I did find Beau’s T-shirt – I know people wonder about them, and I do myself, so when I can find them, I’ll start sharing.

The SOTU led to some endorsements from groups representing minorities (you and I know that the Democratic Party is the only party which consistently respects minorities, but I realize what we are actually doing doesn’t always get seriously public, so it’s understandable that some need to be told/convinced). Also, someone managed to flip a union member from Trump** to Biden, and there’s a video showing how (and also a brief summary). I don’t know any Union members, and Colorado is still a “Right to Work” state although it’s now blue. But this could help someone.

Heather Cox Richardson also starts with the SOTU, but quickly pivots to SCOTUS, Roe, and misogyny in general. She wrote it on International Women’s Day, which is also three days old now, but the historical knowledge is timeless.

Open Thread February 29, 2024

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 6:03 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Feb 292024

Yesterday, apparently, Chuck Schumer, Hakeem Jeffries, and even Mitch McConnell read Mike Johnson the riot act, at the White House. When you are the Republican Speaker of the House and even Mitch gangs up against you, you are not just doing something wrong, you are doing everything wrong, and you are probably also a worm (no offense meant to earthworms, which are vital to plants.) On the personal side, I made a casserole in my crockpot which I had not made for literally decades, and found it as tasty as ever. It was something I threw together after receiving all the food allergy diagnoses of both me and Virsgil. It was a tremendous success thenm and still is.

I rooted for Alvin Bragg to win the election for DA in New York City, probably like everyone here. And also like everyone here, I was disappointed when he did not jump on Trump** immediately. And probably like everyone else, I suspected a lack of courage. Well, if it was, he appears to have grown a spine (or whatever body part you associate with courage. He has, as any same person would do in his position filed for protective and gag orders. With one exception. Joyce Vance writes:
“The threats made against Bragg personally were highly specific and graphic. They include threats to kill him, down to the type of weapon and scenario that would be used. Bragg nonetheless exempts himself from the order, and would permit Trump to continue to attack him, likely leading to more of this abuse and risk. That’s a feature that shows how reasonable Bragg’s approach is.”

Robert Reich writes on Bezos and Musk. Musk is clearly a Nazi. Bezos, I think , is just greedy, but I would not expect him to oppose Naziism if he thought he could make it pay.

I don’t claim that Heather Cox Richardson breaks down all the foreign policy considerations which are important just now – but she does discuss some you probaly didn’t know about. Not trying to be condescending – virtually no one (except professionals and maybe Beau) is ever interested in foreign policy unless something goes sour. And that’s not really the best time to start taking an interest.

(Bonus – this may give you a chuckle. Not that it’s out of character.)

Open Thread September 7, 2023

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 5:56 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Sep 072023

Yesterday, I ran across an article in the Colorado Public Radio newsletter about a fish in the Denver Zoo who was successfully treated for enteritis. I would put a story like this in the Video Thread, but there is no video. So I mention it here so that those who cherish the animal rescue videos will see it. We all should have access to health care that well thought out. Also, I did manage to get my trash and recycling carts out. Doing so raised my pulse from Tranquillo to Allegretto, but that was not as bad as taking the stuff to the carts the day before, which pushed me all the way up to Allegro.

Cartoon –

Short Takes –

CNN – ‘Let’s give it a try,’ recalls Russian pilot who defected to Ukraine in his military helicopter
Quote – The pilot, named by Ukrainian officials as Maxim Kuzminov, explained in the interview how he planned his defection and why he felt compelled to do so. “I contacted representatives of Ukrainian intelligence, explained my situation, to which they offered this option: ‘Come on, we guarantee your safety, guarantee new documents, guarantee monetary compensation, a reward,’” the pilot said, in a recording released Monday. The head of Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence, Kyrolo Budanov, revealed in August how Ukrainian officials had been able to help the pilot to defect.
Click through for story. As W. S. Gilbert pointed out in “Iolanthe, “Every boy and every gal/who’s born into this world alive/Is either a little Liberal/or else a little Conservative.” And that does not appear to be genetic – look at all the families divided over this breach. So, attractive as the idea is, getting all of one to live in one part of the world and all the other in another part, that would not last a generation. Somehow, we need to find ways to live together. But there will likely still be times when defection becomes inevitable

KGET.com – What was inside the illegal medical lab found in California? Photos show blood vials, disease samples
Quote – According to court documents, officials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tested what they could and determined that at least 20 potentially infectious viral, bacterial, and parasitic agents were present, including E. coli, malaria, and the virus that causes COVID-19. For the first half of 2023, the process of cleaning the Reedley location was stuck in court. Electrical issues were highlighted, including adding outlets for running refrigerators and freezers. There were also unmarked, highly-flammable chemicals being stored there. Officials were worried about the risk of a possible explosion, which prompted Reedley Fire Chief Jerry Isaak to send a letter to Zieba.
Click through for details, such as they are. This would be Devin Nunes’s former district. I can certainly understand not wanting something like this in one’s backyard.

Food For Thought

Video Thread 9/17/22

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 11:45 am Open Thread, Politics

Sep 172022

Glenn Kirschner – DOJ exposes Trump’s declassification BS, tells Judge Cannon they’ll seek appellate court reversal

Meidas Touch – Video RESURFACES of Trump moving IDENTICAL BOXES from Mar-A-Lago to Bedminster in May 2021

The Lincoln Project – Last Week in the Republican Party Sep. 13 ’22

MSNBC – FBI Seizes Pillow Salesman’s Phone Amid Election Security Breach Investigation

Fish Loves To Greet His Favorite Diver And Bring Her Gifts

Beau – Let’s talk about UPS and labor…. (same issues as in the railroad dispute, basically)

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