Jan 032020
 

It’s a queasy day here in the CatBox, and I had trouble finding material, because the Republican war to retain power (see lead article) is dominating the news.  TGIF!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:24 (average 4:36).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Cartoon:

Drill Baby Dingbat, aka Bloody Bullseye Barbie, put a bullseye in Gabby Giffords campaign headquarters inspiring a Republican Ammosexual terrorist to shoot her and 18 others, killing 6.

Short Takes:

From YouTube (MSNBC Channel): New Unredacted Emails Contain ‘Clear Direction From POTUS To Hold: Report

 

It sounds to me like it may be time for another Article of Impeachment against Fuhrer Trump* and criminal charges against the other Republicans involved.  RESIST!!

From Common Dreams: Reproductive rights advocates on Thursday seized on an amicus brief signed by more than 200 members of Congress, including two conservative Democrats, asking the U.S. Supreme Court to consider overturning Roe vs. Wade as the latest example of the assault on women’s freedom.

The brief was signed by 168 members of the House and 39 senators. Two House Democrats joined their Republican colleagues, led by House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) in the effort—Reps. Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) and Dan Lipinski (D-Ill.).

Lipinski drew the ire of progressive Democrat Marie Newman, who is challenging him in the 2020 primary.

“His position in Congress jeopardizes the health of women in IL-03 and across the country,” Newman tweeted. “My opponent does not trust women and is not fit to represent us.”

I trust I speak for all of us at Politics Plus in endorsing Marie Newmann and any progressive challenging Collin Peterson in the primary. Damn DINOs!  RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past): White Room

 

Ah… the memories!  RESIST!!

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Bullshit*

 Posted by at 8:44 am  Politics
Dec 302019
 

Fuhrer Drumpfenfarten, aka Bone Spurs, aka Putin’s Pet Pervert will now be known throughout eternity as Trump*.  Therefore is it not appropriate to identify the lame attempts by Barrf, Bought Bitch Moscow Mitch, Faux Noise, and the rest of the criminal Republican Reich to justify those crimes as Bullshit”?

1230TrumpBarrf

 

The New York Times has a comprehensive look this morning at the timeline and actions surrounding the withholding of aid to Ukraine, and I strongly suggest you read it all. But this was the ultimate in political appointees (most with personal and professional ties to Mick Mulvaney) creating rationales to justify whatever Trump wanted: Just ignore the law! Like the political operatives they are, they had little interest in whether there was a valid legal basis for their arguments, they just wanted something that sounded good enough to sell, and came up with something that cemented Trump’s vision of himself as a monarch, unaccountable to anyone:

By late summer, top lawyers at the budget office were developing a proposed legal justification for the hold, based in part on conversations with White House lawyers as well as the Justice Department.

Their argument was that lifting the hold would undermine Mr. Trump’s negotiating position in his efforts to fight corruption in Ukraine.

The president, the lawyers believed, could ignore the requirements of the Impoundment Control Act and continue to hold the aid by asserting constitutional commander in chief powers that give him authority over diplomacy. He could do so, they believed, if he determined that, based on existing circumstances, releasing the money would undermine military or diplomatic efforts.

 

 

Inserted from <Crooks and Liars>

That certainly illustrated the need for more witnesses.  The more we discover, the more pleased I an that Speaker Pelosi [D-CA] is standing up to Bought Bitch Moscow Mitch’s bullshit*!

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Dec 292019
 

This is my only article today.  WWWendy is coming to the CatBox for chores and my de-stinking.  We have lots to do.  In addition my Broncos are televised this afternoon.  I did manage to eat a small portion of beans and rice for lunch, a small portion of soup for supper and a small donut for breakfast.  It’s a relief to go a whole day without throwing up for the first time in days!  Go Broncos!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:05 (average 4:53).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Cartoon:

Short Takes:

From Alternet: Republican Senators have not bought into Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s impeachment strategy as the Senate trial looms.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) explained the dynamic during an interview on the Connecticut Network.

“I’ve talked to anywhere from five to 10 of my colleagues who have very severe misgivings about the direction that Mitch McConnell is going in denying a full, fair proceeding with witnesses and documents. My hope is that they will say publicly what Sen. Murkowski did, and really hold Mitch McConnell accountable,” Blumenthal said, as reported by The Hill.

Earlier this week, Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) publicly questioned McConnell’s strategy during a Christmas Eve interview with local television station KTUU.

Republicans are consummate liars. I’ll believe this, if and only if they vote against Bought Bitch Moscow Mitch!  RESIST!!

From YouTube (CNN Channel): NYPD stepping up presence in Brooklyn after a series of possible anti-Semitic hate crimes

 

It appears there are more Republican hate criminals in Brooklyn than I thought!  RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past):

 

Ah… the memories!  RESIST!!

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Biden Screws the Pooch Again

 Posted by at 7:49 am  Politics
Dec 282019
 

For those who do not know, “screw the pooch” comes from Tom Wolfe’s book, The Right Stuff, and means to commit a grievous, usually fatal, error.  Joe Biden screwed the pooch by claiming that, if subpoenaed, he will refuse to testify in Trump’s* impeachment trial, as run by Bought Bitch Moscow Mitch.

1228biden

Returning to the campaign trail after Christmas, former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. on Friday stood by his comments that he would not comply with a subpoena to testify at President Trump’s impeachment trial in the Senate.

In a meeting with the editorial board of The Des Moines Register, whose endorsement in the Iowa caucuses is coveted by presidential hopefuls, Mr. Biden argued that complying with a subpoena and testifying would essentially allow Mr. Trump to succeed in shifting attention onto Mr. Biden and away from the president’s own actions.

“The reason I wouldn’t is because it’s all designed to deal with Trump doing what he’s done his whole life: trying to take the focus off him,” Mr. Biden told the newspaper. “The issue is not what I did.”

This is all about a diversion,” Mr. Biden added. “And we play his game all the time. He’s done it his whole career.”… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <NY Times>

MSNBC has more.

Joe Biden Stands By Refusing To Testify In Trump Impeachment Trial

 

Here are the problems. First, by refusing to testify Biden would break the law. Second, refusing to testify gives the appearance that he has something to hide. Third, he is giving Bought Bitch Moscow Mitch an excuse to disallow all witnesses.  Fourth, he would be doing exactly what Trump* is doing. How can a casual prospective voter tell the difference?  Even though his reasons for wanting to refuse are spot on, this is NOT the behavior of a winning candidate.

That said, should Democrats be foolish enough to nominate Biden, I will support him 100%.  Biden at his absolute worst is infinitely superior to Trump* at his absolute best.

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Dec 222019
 

It’s a busy day here in the CatBox.  WWWendy is due in about 90 minutes, and we have lots of chores to do.  Tomorrow I have my GI appointment.  I fear that they will just schedule me for tests at the lab.  I so hope I’m wrong.  I need some relief NOW!  I should be back in the saddle on Christmas Eve.  Go Broncos.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:37 (average 5:25).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Cartoon:

Short Takes:

From NY Times: American military and intelligence officials tracking North Korea’s actions by the hour say they are bracing for an imminent test of an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching American shores, but appear resigned to the fact that President Trump has no good options to stop it.

If the North goes ahead with the test in the coming days — Pyongyang promised a “Christmas gift” if no progress had been made on lifting sanctions — it would be a glaring setback for Mr. Trump’s boldest foreign policy initiative, even as he faces an impeachment trial at home.

The score? Fat Korean Maniac 2 – Fat Russian-controlled Maniac 0.  RESIST!!

From YouTube (Parody Project Channel): A REPUBLICAN CHRISTMAS – Parody | The Freedom Toast (Guest Post)

 

Magnificent! The Republican Reich hope they die soon. JD send me an update on them, please.  RESIST!!

From TPM: According to newly released documents, the White House moved to freeze military aid to Ukraine less than two hours after President Donald Trump’s July 25th call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The documents were obtained with a FOIA request by the Center for Public Integrity and published Friday night. 

“Based on guidance I have received and in light of the Administration’s plan to review assistance to Ukraine, including the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, please hold off on any additional DoD obligations of these funds, pending direction from that process,” Mike Duffey, an Office of Management and Budget official, wrote in a July 25 email to OMB and Pentagon officials. “Given the sensitive nature of the request, I appreciate your keeping that information closely held to those who need to know to execute direction.”… [emphasis added]

So what we have here is an order from imFuhrer Trump* to hold up the aid and cover up the act of doing it. That’s a criminal violation of the Impoundment ActRESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past): Rascals People Got To Be Free

 

Ah… The memories!  RESIST!!

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Dec 202019
 

The week has caught up with me, so I hope to catch some extra nap time.  Pardon my brevity.  TGIF!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:36 (average 5:12).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Cartoon:

Short Takes:

From YouTube (MSNBC Channel): Expect Trump To Seek Revenge For Impeachment: Fmr. Trump Employee

 

She should know. There’s a word for Republicans that don’t jump ship now: FOOL!  RESIST!!

From YouTube (CNN Channel): Elizabeth Warren attacks Pete Buttigieg for ‘wine cave’ donors

 

As a Liz supporter, I hate to admit it, but he was ready for her. Nevertheless, I think Mayor Pete more qualified for the post of VP.  RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past): While My Guitar Gently Weeps- George Harrison – The Beatles

 

Ah… the memories!  RESIST!!

Vote Blue!!

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Hold On!

 Posted by at 9:38 am  Politics
Dec 192019
 

Yesterday’s impeachment hearings were an exercise in boredom, until the votes that made the Fuhrer of the Republican Reich the Impeached Resident.  Now what?  Bought Bitch Moscow Mitch has made it abundantly clear that he considers his job is not to run an impartial trial, but to protect Trump.  This morning I heard him call the Articles passed in the House “constitutionally incoherent”.  He said he does not consider them worthy of consideration.  Way back during the Mueller Report days, when Nancy Pelosi still opposed impeachment, I said several times that Democrats, and honest Republicans, if there were any, should impeach Trump to present the case to the American people.  Then, they could hold the Articles of Impeachment to deny Trump his demanded acquittal in Bought Bitch Mitch’s kangaroo court.  In retrospect, it was a good idea.  If we can’t get a fair trial, hold on!

1219Hold

Moments after a historic vote to impeach President Trump, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the House could at least temporarily withhold the articles from the Senate — a decision, she suggested, that could depend on how the other chamber chooses to conduct its trial on Trump’s removal.

“We cannot name managers until we see what the process is on the Senate side,” she said, referring to the House “managers” who present the case for removal to the Senate. “So far we haven’t seen anything that looks fair to us. So hopefully it will be fair. And when we see what that is, we’ll send our managers.”

The comments came as a group of House Democrats pushed Pelosi (D-Calif.) and other leaders to withhold the articles — a notion that has gained traction among some on the political left as a way of potentially forcing Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to conduct a trial on more favorable terms for Democrats. And if no agreement is reached, some have argued, the trial could be delayed indefinitely, denying Trump an expected acquittal.

Pelosi would not answer questions about whether she was entertaining an indefinite hold on the articles — one that could prevent a trial from taking place before the next presidential election…  [emphasis added]

Inserted from <Washington Post>

Rachel Maddow and Lawrence O’Donnell have more.

Pelosi Wants To See ‘Fair’ Process Before House Sends Impeachment Articles

I found it particularly interesting that the man taking the lead on this idea is my own Representative, Earl Blumenauer [D-OR].

1219Blumenauer-Pride

…Representative Earl Blumenauer, Democrat of Oregon, said he had spoken to at least 40 Democrats who were concerned that Mr. McConnell would not conduct a fair trial, and who wanted Ms. Pelosi to delay sending the articles to the Senate until she learned more about how the proceedings would move forward.

“What is gained by accelerating this process?” he asked. He said Democrats should “let the speaker work her magic” to “get some sort of assurance, if it’s possible, that there will be a level playing field.”

In addition, some Democrats — including some of the chamber’s most progressive lawmakers — have advocated simply never sending the articles of impeachment to the Senate, to deny Mr. Trump an almost certain acquittal in the Republican-controlled chamber, where a two-thirds vote — 67 senators — are needed to convict. Ms. Pelosi has not ruled that out, but House leaders are not seriously contemplating that course, the Democratic officials said… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <NY Times>

Oregon leads the way!

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Dec 182019
 

Instead of reporting the impeachment hearing direct, as so many are, I decided to inject a note of levity, when I found a hilarious article by Alex Henderson.  in it, he illustrates just how absurd Resident Donald Trump’s [R-RU] protest letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi [D-CA] was.  He did so in five examples.

1218TrumpWitch

This Wednesday, December 18, the two articles of impeachment that the House Judiciary Committee approved against President Donald Trump — one for abuse of power, the other for obstruction of Congress — are expected to come up for a full vote in the U.S. House of Representatives. If the Democrat-controlled House votes to indict Trump on those articles (which is likely), they would go to the U.S. Senate for consideration. Trump, the day before the expected House vote, sent a long-winded, rambling letter to House Speaker Pelosi and railed against House Democrats for pursuing impeachment.

Here are some of the most absurd things Trump said to Pelosi in his December 17 letter…

…4. Trump claimed his treatment is worse than those accused during the Salem Witch Trials

In the letter, Trump compared impeachment to the Salem witch trials, writing, “more due process was afforded to those accused in the Salem Witch Trials.”

As HuffPost’s Jennifer Bendery wrote, 20 people were killed in the Salem witch trials, a fate that will surely escape the president…

Inserted from <Alternet>

I shared just the fourth of five examples.  Please click through for the other five.

Steven Colbert also poked fun at Trump over this.

Trump Complains Of “Spiteful Actions” And “Egregious Conduct” In Angry Letter To Nancy Pelosi

Since 20 witches were killed, one way we could (in jest) make his statement true is burn Fuhrer Witchenfarten at the stake 21 times!

RESIST!!

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