Holiday – Page 17 – Politics Plus

Video Thread 12/2/21

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 12:20 pm Open Thread, Politics

Dec 022021

Glenn Kirschner – Former DOJ Official Jeffrey Clark to Plead the 5th Amendment for Crimes he Committed w/Donald Trump

Lincoln Project – Last Week in the Republican Party

Ring of Fire – Corporations Are Using Inflation As An Excuse To Jack Up Prices For Consumers

Represent Us – Why We Should Make Election Day a Holiday (Look, I’m not opposed to making Election Day a holiday. But I am violently opposed to the idea that doing so will solve all out electoral problems. Frankly, that strikes me as elitism and privilege at its ugliest. Making Election Da a holiday will not enfranchise low income workers paid hourly in call centers, retail establishments, and places like hospitals and prisons where some one must work, holiday or no holiday. In fact, it may further disenfranchise the poorest, who are desparate to cover minimum expenses – time and a half or double time are a great incentive not to vote. Unless we also make voting by mail, no reason required, nationally available, safe, and dependable, and continue to support early voting and making more places available to vote, all the holidays on the world are not going to enfranchise the people who need it the most.)

Liberal Redneck – Liberal Redneck – SCOTUS and the “Pro-Life” Crowd

Brent Terhune – Black Friday

Beau – Let’s talk about a video for grown ups…

Open Thread for November 30, 2021

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 7:09 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Nov 302021

Yesterday, my vision was back to normal when I got up, thankfully. Oh, and happy Hanukkah to all who observe it. It’s very early this year – I have already missed two days, for which I apologize.

Cartoon –

Short Takes

Daily Kos (Kerry Eleveld) – Republicans are desperate to believe 2020 was ‘stolen’ from Trump. Nothing will dissuade them
Quote – But when it came to Republicans, 62% misstated the results of the sham audit[in Arizona], with 32% saying the so-called audit found evidence of fraud and 30% saying it probably found fraud, when in fact the report located no 2020 fraud. So even when a sham process initiated by GOP lawmakers, promoted by Donald Trump, and conducted by pro-Trump sympathizers finds no fraud, a substantial majority of Republicans reject and distort the findings.
Click thrugh for more numbers – if you need them.

AP News – Jan. 6 panel sets contempt vote for former DOJ official
Quote – The committee on Monday scheduled a vote to pursue contempt charges against Jeffrey Clark, a former Justice Department lawyer who aligned with President Donald Trump as he tried to overturn his election defeat. If approved by the panel, the recommendation of criminal contempt charges would then go to the full House for a vote and then to the Justice Department.
Click through for more. This vote is for Clark, as you see. Meadows’s turn in the barrel will come.

The American media misses the true nature of the GOP threat — but an international outlet nailed it
Quote – While I don’t care about [Candace] Owens, and neither should you, we should care about the use of the right’s rhetoric of slander, of which the word “communist” has long played a part in American history. Liberals and progressives first looked to the government as a force of social reform in the early 20th century. Around that time, the Russian Revolution occurred (1917). Since then, the American right has smeared liberals by associating their policies and objectives with godless communism.
Click through for details. As we know, left and right have nothing to do with authoritarianism, or its opposite Sadly, most people don’t know that. I’m sure that’s part of what stood in the way of seeing this.

Food for Thought –

Video Thread 11/25/21

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 12:19 pm Open Thread, Politics

Nov 252021

Glenn Kirschner – Justice in a Georgia Courtroom: Three Men Convicted of Murdering Unarmed Jogger Ahmaud Arbery

MSNBC 1 – Three Men Found Guilty In Death Of Ahmaud Arbery

MSNBC 2 – Rep. Swalwell: They Are Getting Closer To The Commander Of Insurrection, Donald Trump

The Hill – Psaki Shuts Down Reporter Who Asks About Biden Spending Thanksgiving In Nantucket Of course it was Baby Dooce)

Every Hallmark Thanksgiving Movie Ever (Hey, I looked hard for this.)

Wild Horse Immediately Recognizes His Girlfriend After Years Apart

Beau – Let’s talk about bad news for DeJoy and good news for the postal service…. Apparently this process was under Beau’s radar – wee all knew exactly how this would go, just not when. And, yes, DeJoy gifted Bloom a whole lot of money in stock. It wasn’t 4D chess. It was just a President who knows how government works.

Open Thread for November 25, 2021

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 7:14 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Nov 252021

Today is Thanksgiving. I am so thankful for all of you who come here, read, and comment. I can’t really express that in words. I hope you can get a glimmer of that.

Cartoon –

Short Takes –

The New Yorker (Borowitz) – Fauci Urges Americans to Use COVID as Excuse to Skip Thanksgiving with Horrible Relatives
Quote – Speaking from his office at the National Institutes of Health, Fauci said that the covid-19 excuse could help prevent a seasonal surge in exasperation and seething rage associated with the Thanksgiving holiday. “covid-19 could get you off the hook this year,” Fauci said. “Consider this a doctor’s note from me.”
You can click through, but that pretty much covers it.

Crooks and Liars – FINALLY: Black Family Gets Imperfect, But Historic Justice
Quote – Merritt said of the police department on Friday: “We plan to root out injustice within that system. We plan to identify the specific policies that facilitate one of the deadliest police cultures in the modern world. Kansas City will remember the name Cameron Lamb because he will be known as the beginning of the end of the deadliest police culture in the modern world.”
Click through. Beau addressed this also (In Saturday’s video thread, and here ) I surely do hope they follow through on that police quote.

Daily Kos (Walter Einenkel) – 13-year-old boy uses his Make-A-Wish to feed homeless because Mississippi officials don’t
Quote – According to Olagbegi, his family has always done service for the community. Since he was a young child, the Olagbegis would serve meals to people in need every month. After Olagbegi was diagnosed, the family had to put some of that service on hold. Make-A-Wish Mississippi’s Linda Sermons told WLBT: “We were excited this is our first philanthropic wish in our 20+ years of the chapter in the state—a huge milestone for us, but also this is the first meal that Abraham is able to serve.” Make-A-Wish helped Abraham Olagbeli begin Abraham’s Table.
Click through if you wish. Einenkel is not shy to discuss how serious the need is for more. But I can’t imagine a chld of privilege coming up with this wish myself.

Food for Thought –

Open Thread for November 23, 2021

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 6:53 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Nov 232021

Yesterday, another quiet day.I love quiet days, but it makes it difficult to find much if anything to say about them. I guess that’s all right, though.

Cartoon –

Short Takes –

AP News – Native American confirmed as head of National Park Service
Quote – Sams is Cayuse and Walla Walla and lives on the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation in Oregon. There, he gained a reputation for being unflappable. He has worked in state and tribal governments and the nonprofit natural resource and conservation management fields for over 25 years. “He is known for being steady at the helm and taking challenges in stride,” said Bobbie Conner, director of the Tamastslikt Cultural Institute on the 270-square-mile (700-square-kilometer) reservation.
Click through for more details. It took way too lokg to confirm him – but it’s done now.

Daily Kos (Tevye) – Dead Man On The Ground. Bullets Flying. Others Running For Safety. He Ran Straight Towards A Madman.
Quote – As a young man, Anthony struggled with mental health issues and drug dependency. And seven years ago, he quit cold turkey and never relapsed. He went to counseling for a few years, but he regarded two things as his savior…..his skateboarding community and his activism.Any marginalized group in his community, be it those of color, those from the LGBTQ+ community, Jews ( he was Jewish himself ), Muslims, First Nations peoples….. if you were oppressed, you had a friend, advocate and defender in Anthony. He was there for you.
Click through. Hanky alert. I can tell Tevye is angty, but he knows, none better, how to transform that anger into gried, and then into resolution.

Smithsonian – What Kind of Turkey are you?
Quote – More than just a traditional holiday trimming, the turkey is an American icon. Native to our continent, turkeys were domesticated by the ancient Maya, called a respectable “Bird of Courage” by Benjamin Franklin, and have been officially pardoned by Presidents since 1989. The Smithsonian has over 155 million objects in its collections—including a fair number of turkeys. This Thanksgiving, find your inner Smithsonian turkey by taking our short quiz!
Click through to take the quiz. I took it ans was told I am “The Dignified Turkey.” That may be the first time anyone every called me dignified – and it may also be the last!

Food for Thought –

Video Thread 11/22/21

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 12:11 pm Open Thread, Politics

Nov 222021

Glenn Kirschner – Federal Judges Say Trump is Responsible for Directing his “Pawns” on Jan. 6; Reject Bannon Delay

Reuters – Biden ‘knew he was making history’ with Harris as VP: WH

Thom Hartmann – Why Getting Pregnant Increases Your Chance of Being Murdered By 16% (No, Thom, it’s not amazing. Horrifying, yes. Amazing, not so much.)

MSNBC – Why Biden’s Build Back Better Bill Won’t Add To Inflation

Rescued Goose, Mini Horse Are Inseparable — Watch Them Get Adopted Together

Beau – Let’s talk about CRT and thanksgiving dinner….

Video Thread 11/21/21

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 12:28 pm Open Thread, Politics

Nov 212021

Glenn Kirschner – Defendant Jacob “QAnon Shaman” Chansley Sentencing to 41 Months in Prison for Capitol Attack

Meidas Touch – Kyle Rittenhouse NOT GUILTY verdict will inspire more vigilante killers

MSNBC – Media Dilemma: How To Cover Indecent Politicians Without Amplifying Them? (Sadly, Rachel is one of very,very few who even ask this question. But it’s nice for me to know that another of the very, very few is in Denver.)