Open Thread–1/31/2020

Posted by TomCat at 8:45 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Jan 312020

It’s a muggy, tired day here in the CatBox. I missed most of my nap yesterday, due to grocery delivery, and I’m feeling really pooped. TGIF!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 4:10 (average 5:54). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Short Takes:

From Daily Kos: Sen. Rand Paul has not been getting enough attention during this impeachment process, so he executed his predictable and promised stunt on the Senate floor Thursday afternoon, submitting a question to Chief Justice John Roberts during the Q&A session that presumably contained the name of the whistleblower. Roberts refused to read the question, so Paul left the floor to have an “impromptu” press conference (and probably hit the send button on a fundraising email).

CNN’s Manu Raju reports, “At press conference, Paul says: ‘I can tell you my question made no reference to any whistleblower.’ Then Paul reads aloud his question which names a Schiff’s staff member and names the individual who has been reported as possible whistleblower—and asks about their contacts.” This was an apparent effort to get the press to publish the name, since he seems intent on getting the whistleblower killed.

It likely won’t work. One reporter asked, “With all due respect, shouldn’t you be at the impeachment hearing right now?” Of course he should have been, and the sergeant-at-arms should be putting him in the Senate jail right now.

Mitch (ours, not BBMMM) suggested a parade. For now, I’ll just remember his title: Idiot (Rand Paul), Son of Idiot (Ron Paul), Named after Idiot (Ayn Rand). Lock him up! RESIST!!

From The New Yorker: The convicted drug lord known as El Chapo said on Thursday that he was “outraged” his 2019 trial had included witnesses. He also revealed that he was demanding a new trial without them.

Speaking from ADX Florence, a maximum-security facility in Colorado, the former drug kingpin complained that his trial would have resulted in a speedy acquittal had it not been for the irritating presence of witnesses.

“If I had to point to one reason why I was convicted of all of those crimes, it would have to be witnesses,” he said. “Once the decision was made to include witnesses, things really went downhill for me.”

Andy, El Chapo does make a valid point. If the worst criminal in US History, since Benedict Arnold, gets a trial with no witnesses or documents, fairness demands that witnesses be excluded from all trials. RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past): Bob Dylan – Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door (Unplugged)

Ah… the memories! RESIST!!

Vote Blue!!

Don’t Get Your Hopes Too High

Posted by TomCat at 9:45 am Politics

Jan 292020

I remember that Democrats were about to add a public option to the ACA, commonly known as ObamaCare. Sen. Chuck “Snake in the” Grassley [R-IA], told Majority Leader Harry Reid [D-NV] that Republicans needed just a little more time to agree on their ideas to make the ACA a truly bipartisan bill. Reid agreed to hold up until after spring break. During spring break Republicans used Koch Brothers’ money to specially train, pay and send busloads od Tea Party extremists from community to community to attend Democratic town halls nationwide. These Tea Baggers, aka Koch Suckers, lectured on non-existent Democratic death panels, disrupted meetings with threats of violence and blindsided the Democratic attempt to educate the public about the ACA. They combined this with a national saturation ad campaign to spread lies about the ACA. In the end, we got the ACA, but just barely. And we did not get the public option, because we responded kindly to Republican calls for bipartisanship. Now Republicans want to talk about a “bipartisan” deal on witnesses, because Bought Bitch Midnight Moscow Mitch says he doesn’t have the votes to stop witnesses. Instead of “Snake in the” Grassley, Leningrad Lindsey Poo is his new side-kick.

President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial is shifting to questions from senators, a pivotal juncture as Republicans lack the votes to block witnesses and face a potential setback in their hope of ending the trial with a quick acquittal.

After Trump’s defense team rested Tuesday with a plea to “end now,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell privately told senators he doesn’t yet have the votes to brush back Democratic demands for witnesses now that revelations from John Bolton, the former national security adviser, have roiled the trial.

Bolton writes in a forthcoming book that Trump told him he wanted to withhold military aid from Ukraine until it helped with investigations into Democratic rival Joe Biden. That assertion, if true, would undercut a key defense argument and go to the heart of one of the two articles of impeachment against the president.

“I think Bolton probably has something to offer us,” said Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska…

Inserted from <Washington Post>

Here are a pair of video clips for you.

McConnell says votes to block witnesses aren’t there

Has there ever been a time that Bought Bitch Midnight Moscow Mitch could not rule his caucus with an iron jack boot? I can’t remember one. This smells like a lie.

Lawrence: Why Mitch McConnell Revealed He Doesn’t Have The Votes

I’m sure Lawrence is right about the motives of Bought Bitch Midnight Moscow Mitch. I also think Republicans are playing possum and planning a sneak-attack.

Republicans see that 75% of Americans and even half of Republicans want witnesses and documents. So they’re pretending to be ‘oh so very fair’ in considering that question. But they also know that virtually all their rabid base, the ones that vote in primaries, oppose witnesses and documents. So, when the time to vote on witnesses and documents comes, they will vote against and move quickly to acquit, before we realize what happened.

Remember, when Republicans say bipartisan, they mean this:

RESIST!!

Open Thread–1/29/2020

Posted by TomCat at 9:44 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Jan 292020

If not one more drop of rain falls for the rest of the month, it will still be the wettest January in Oregon history. So it’s no surprise that the CatBox has been muggy as hell. I’m feeling so moist and sticky that my wheelchair sores are back. Fortunately, it’s a WWWendy night, as I’m a VERY stinky TomCat. I’m still keeping my food down, and my Republicosis seems to be at bay. Happy Hump Day!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:12 (average 4:41). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

And Bought Bitch Midnight Moscow Mitch is up to much more than that!

Short Takes:

From Politico: …one leading Democratic presidential candidate, Elizabeth Warren, just days ago unveiled a plan that, among other things, describes how she would move quickly to staff the government if she wins the White House.

In the plan, Warren voices the fears of many Democrats. “This will be no ordinary transition between administrations,” she states. “Unlike previous transitions, we will not be able to assume good faith cooperation on the part of the outgoing administration.”

That Democrats are making transition-related moves more than nine months before Election Day underscores not only their distrust of Trump but also the reality that taking over the U.S. government is a mammoth task with high stakes.

Any government is especially vulnerable during a transition of power, and Democrats who deal with national security are among those most concerned about a Trump-to-Democrat handover.

Crawford Caligula tried to sabotage Obama’s transition, but Trump* will be far worse! As I have said before, we’re going to have to drag him from the White House amid the temper tantrum to end all temper tantrums, with a strong possibility of gunfire from Ammosexual, Fascist Republican militias. RESIST!!

From YouTube (Robert Reich Channel): Impeachment Trial: The Big Picture

Of course the Reich on the Left, Robert Reich, is right. The Reich on the Right, the Republican Reich, is wrong. They want only to goose-step with their criminal Fuhrer, Trump*. RESIST!!

From YouTube (CNN Channel): Trump unveils Middle East plan that was swiftly rejected by Palestinians

Orange Asshole speak with forked tongue. It’s so one sided that that even Haaretz called it an invitation for permanent war. In 18th century Africa, slavers used to say it was good for their victims. This is good for Palestinians in the same way… That’s the Republican way! RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past): Don McLean – American Pie (Good quality)

Ah… Lona’s memories! Thanks Lona!! RESIST!!

Vote Blue!!

Bolton Busts His Fuhrer

Posted by TomCat at 8:55 am Politics

Jan 272020

Today we proceed into the second day of Republican Fuhrer Trump’s* defense team attempts to cobble together enough lies to give Republican Senators an excuse to acquit their Fuhrer. It is not going well for them, because every time they stake out a position, more information comes out that blows their case out of the water. In response to the revelations about John Bolton’s book, I predict they will just lie and say the evidence does not exist.

We finally got a taste Sunday night of what former national security adviser John
Bolton might tell President Trump’s Senate impeachment trial — if he’s called to
testify, that is.

What we learned reinforced the potential peril for Republicans if they refuse to lethim do so.

The New York Times reported Sunday that Bolton makes a series of very big
Ukraine-related claims in an unpublished manuscript of his upcoming book, which is now slated to be released in March.

Chief among them:

Bolton writes that he heard Trump say explicitly
that the withholding of military aid would continue until Ukraine announced
an investigation involving the Bidens — implicating Trump directly in a
quid pro quo for the first time and contradicting the Trump team’s
defense.

He writes that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said
privately that there was nothing to the Trump team’s claims that
then-ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch was corrupt — suggesting this
was indeed a smear campaign and that Pompeo recognized it as such, even as
he didn’t defend Yovanovitch publicly.

He writes that he raised concerns about Rudolph W.
Giuliani’s efforts in Ukraine with Attorney General William P. Barr after
Trump’s July call with Ukraine’s president — despite the Justice Department
saying Barr learned about the call in mid-August.

He writes that acting White House chief of staff
Mick Mulvaney was present for one of Trump’s calls with Giuliani about
Yovanovtich, even though Mulvaney has told associates that he stayed out of
those conversations to protect Trump’s and Giuliani’s attorney-client
privilege.

In other words: Bolton is naming names — lots of names — and directly contradicting what top administration officials are saying.

Inserted from <Washington Post>

Adam Schiff had more to day about this.

Adam Schiff: John Bolton’s book blasts a hole in Trump defense

Sadly I fear this will do us no good. I ‘d be willing to bet that Republican Senators are far too vile and craven to allow American voters to see this testimony.

RESIST!!

Open Thread–1/27/2019

Posted by TomCat at 8:54 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Jan 272020

I’m not feeling too well this morning. I kept my breakfast and all yesterday’s meals down, but I’m suffering from a pretty severe case of Republicosis that has sent me to the throne nine times in the past twenty four hours, including twice in the middle of the night. My poor butt is so raw, it feels like Trump’s* must after a session with Putin [R-RU]. On the plus side, I put my foot down to Medical Mayhem this week. My next appointment is my cardiac stress test next Monday. Oh God! It’s Monday!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 5:01 (average 7:00). To do it click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

SCROTUS = Republican anti-Constitutional VD

Short Takes:

From Nation of Change: Democracy 21, a non-profit organization that aims to
combat the influence of private money in politics, has filed a complaint against
Attorney General William Barr for failure to comply with the Department of
Justice norms, rules and standards of conduct…

…Democracy 21’s complaint gives a detailed list of actions Barr has
taken since last year:

Barr testified before Congress, without any
substantiation, that FBI and Justice Department officials engaged in
“spying” on the Trump campaign during the 2016 presidential
election.

Barr sent a letter to Congress mischaracterizing the
Mueller report ahead of its release, leaving it as the only information
available to the public about the report for almost a month. Barr then
refused Special Counsel Mueller’s request to release the summaries included
in the report and held a press conference hours before the release of the
full report where he continued to mischaracterize it.

Barr failed to recuse himself from overseeing matters
being consideration by DOJ and related to the whistleblower complaint
about President Trump’s call with the Ukrainian President, in which Trump
mentioned Barr by name five times.

Kudos to Democracy 21. They picked a most worthy target in Barrf! I hope DOJ’s Office of Professional Responsibility and Departmental Ethics Office act on it. RESIST!!

From YouTube (538 Channel): ‘Sometimes going negative is a necessary evil’: Nate Silver

I tend to disagree. While it may be adventageous for a Democratic candidate to reveal facts about a Democratic rival, it must be done with dignity and respect, because we all need to unite behind our nominee. When attacking Republicans, no such restrictions apply, since for every decency and courtesy we have extended them in recent years, they have returned pure evil, and nothing but. RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past): Stuck in the Middle with you – Stealers Wheel

Ah… Lona’s memories! Thanks, Lona! RESIST!!

Vote Blue!!

Open Thread–1/25/2020

Posted by TomCat at 8:32 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Jan 252020

I’ve been throwing up most of the morning, but am pushing through, because I don’t want to get behind. Tomorrow is a WWWendy day, so please expect no more than a Personal Update or an Open Thread. Have a great weekend.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:24 (average 5:34). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Short Takes:

From The New Yorker: Desperately trying to change the narrative after a week of damaging presentations, Donald J. Trump’s defense team is scrambling to find an example of one law that Trump did not break, sources confirmed on Friday.

In concert with two of Jeffrey Epstein’s most prominent defenders, Alan Dershowitz and Kenneth Starr, Trump’s personal attorney Jay Sekulow has been scouring federal, state, and municipal law books in the hopes of finding one statute that Trump, for whatever reason, did not violate.

“So far, no luck,” a source close to the defense team said.

Dang, Andy! They’re going to be searching forever! RESIST!!

From YouTube (CNN Channel): Attorney: Trump caught on tape demanding ambassador’s firing

I’d recognize that pig squeal anywhere! Is there anything that the criminal Trump* has not lied about? RESIST!!

From YouTube (Adam Schiff Channel): Rep. Schiff Concludes Senate Trial Argument: Give America a Fair Trial. She’s Worth It.

Schiff was masterful. Now get ready for wall to wall lies and obfuscation from the Republican Reich! RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past): Simon & Garfunkel – Mrs. Robinson (Audio)

Ah… the memories! RESIST!!

Vote Blue!!

Open Thread–1/24/2020

Posted by TomCat at 8:47 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Jan 242020

It’s a tired day here in the CatBox. I didn’t sleep well last night, but I kept my food down all day yesterday and this morning. I’m going to do my best to force a week free of Medical Mayhem, before I let them perform more in their endless barrage of tests. Pardon my frustration, please. I’m just sick of sick. TGIF!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:52 (average 5:09). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Short Takes:

From Crooks and Liars: George Conway and his new group called The Lincoln Project created a second negative political ad targeting the vulnerable Senator from Maine, Susan Collins.

In the ad, they highlight the supposed “independent” credentials negated by her actions. They demand that Collins do her job during the Senate impeachment trial.

Amen! RESIST!!

From YouTube (MSNBC Channel): Adam Schiff Ends Day With Powerful Argument For Trump’s Removal

I think Schiff was speaking more to the American people more than to the Senators, whose ears and minds are closed. The real trial is the one in November. The onus falls on voters to send criminal Resident Trump* and the entire Republican Reich the way of the Whig Party! RESIST!!

From YouTube (a change of pace): Patsy Cline – Sweet Dreams

I’m so old that even this brings memories! RESIST!!

Vote Blue!!

Enter the Kangaroos!

Posted by TomCat at 10:27 am Politics

Jan 212020

Having received his goose-stepping orders from criminal Resident Donald Trump, aka Fuhrer of the Republican Reich, Bought Bitch Midnight Moscow Mitch has released the Impeachment Rule he received from his Fuhrer’s lawyers. Thus, he issues the proclamation: “Enter the kangaroos!”

During the impeachment of Bill Clinton, Ken Starr, now one of the major new additions to Donald Trump’s legal team, argued that a president under investigation for criminal conduct must not be permitted to use governmental authority to embargo witnesses or hide the evidence against him. Starr’s arguments before Congress as a prosecutor decades ago apply directly to the upcoming Senate trial of Donald Trump, and the assiduous efforts of Mitch McConnell and his fellow GOP Senators to engineer a sham trial.

Start with McConnell, who for weeks has insisted that the Senate will “exactly” follow the procedures employed during the trial of Bill Clinton. Under those rules, the Senate formally admitted into evidence the entirety of the extremely comprehensive record assembled by Starr’s team, and then decided whether to call additional witnesses after the parties presented their opening arguments and answered questions from the legislators.

Given that Trump has schemed to withhold potentially key witnesses and evidence, leaving the record far from complete, following the “Clinton Rules” in the Trump case makes little sense. Furthermore, on the eve of the trial Monday, McConnell laid out his proposed rules, which do not follow a key provision of the Clinton procedures. Instead of automatically admitting the House’s materials into evidence, McConnell proposes that the Senate vote on which portions, if any, of the documents and testimony assembled by the House to admit. Under the McConnell Rules, which a Republican majority is near certain to pass, the Senate will literally be able to reach a verdict without admitting any of the materials incriminating the president into evidence. [emphasis added]

Inserted from <The Daily Beast>

This has me so upset, that I made a typo in the graphic. Here are three video clips to shed more light on this travesty.

Schumer calls on 4 GOP members to ‘resist McConnell’s cover-up’

Bernstein: ‘Midnight Mitch’ and Senate embracing coverup

McConnell’s Impeachment Rules Designed To Hide The Facts: Katyal

This may be the most important article I have published. Here’s the bottom line. The differences between this sham and the Clinton trial are as follows: The Clinton Trial admitted the entire House record at the outset. The Trump* travesty lets Republicans decide whether or not to admit the House record. In the Clinton Trial, Senators debated by the light of day. In the Trump* travesty, Senators will debate in the wee hours so voters don’t see what they are doing. Unlike the Clinton trial, the Trump* travesty is designed to prevent the prosecutors from presenting witnesses and documents. Unlike in the Clinton trial, the Trump* travesty gives Republicans the prerogative to vote for dismissal at any time.

On February 4, the criminal Resident Trump* is scheduled to give the State of the Union address. He is desperate for the opportunity to lie that he was “proven innocent”, which he is not, and will never be. Therefore Bought Bitch Midnight Moscow Mitch is in extreme cover-up mode.

This will put the onus on us to try to expose everything Republicans cover up. I’ll do my best to do my share. Please join me!

RESIST!!

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