Open Thread–3/25/2020

Posted by TomCat at 10:23 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Mar 252020

It’s a very tired day here in the CatBox. Because I’m out of pain meds, I got almost no sleep last night. I have a dose to take tonight. I saved it, because it’s a WWWendy night. Happy Hump day to all.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:16 (average 4:17). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Jen Sorenson Cartoon:

Included with permission from and link to Jen Sorenson

Trump* Virus Update:

0325TrumpVirus

Cases: 55,081

Deaths: 785

Recovered: 379

Short Takes:

From Daily Kos: As conditions worsen and the novel coronavirus infects more people daily, white supremacists want to take advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic to advance their racist agenda. Extremist groups, including neo-Nazis, are encouraging infected members to spread coronavirus to law enforcement officials and Jewish people, according to intelligence gathered by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). According to ABC News, “members of extremist groups are encouraging one another to spread the virus, if contracted, through bodily fluids and personal interactions,” the FBI’s New York office warned in an alert Thursday.

According to the alert, racist extremists urged their followers to use spray bottles to spread bodily fluids to police officers on the street. “Anti-government folks in America love to target law enforcement as a symbol of America’s authority,” Don Mihalek, executive vice president of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association Foundation, told ABC News. “It’s just sad that that’s their focus at a time of crisis in the nation.”

The white supremacist groups also advised followers to go to “any place they [Jews] may be congregated” to spread the virus including businesses, places of worship, and markets, the alert warned. According to ABC News, white supremacists have been blaming Jewish leaders and people for both the coronavirus and global response to it for weeks. Extremists even blamed the Jewish community for the shutdown of government activities in New York, New Jersey, and California, organizations that monitor white supremacist messaging found. Social media posts by extremists and conspiracy theorists are even attempting to connect “Chinese efforts to safely dispose of victims’ bodies to cast doubt on the number of Jews who died during the Holocaust, the Anti-Defamation League reported.

Here in Portland, the police association, notorious for their racism, has often supported the white supremacist Proud Boys against the almost equally loony anarchist Antifa. It would be karma if the their Nazi Republican friends did this to them, but I hope not. The good police would be infected with the Republicans! RESIST!!

From The New Yorker: At long last invoking the Defense Production Act, Donald J. Trump has ordered the nation’s factories to begin mass-producing gallons of spray tan.

Speaking at the White House on Tuesday, Trump said that, because millions of Americans have been forced to remain indoors, the country’s stockpiles of fake-tan reserves have fallen to “dangerously low” levels.

“I sent Mike Pence out to buy some yesterday, and he went to store after store and they were all out,” Trump said. “It’s a disgraceful situation.”

Trump said that, although he had been reluctant to invoke the D.P.A., “People are going to lose their tans within days if nothing is done.”

Under the order, the specific hue of spray tan that Trump has demanded will be pumped out by retrofitted factories that normally manufacture orange paint.

Dang Andy! I don’t think it will help criminal Fuhrer Trump*. Former Speaker John Boehner, aka Agent Orange, will buy out the fake tan spray no matter how much they produce! RESIST!!

From YouTube (MSNBC Channel): Lawrence: Trump’s ‘Deadly Nonsense’ On Re-Opening The Country

Millions of dead people would not bother criminal Fuhrer Trump* or the Nazis of the Republican Reich. I don’t want to see any suicides, but I have to admit that just one Trumpicide* would not be a problem. RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past) (I used up my previous playlist and needed to find another.): Time Has Come Today(Chambers Brothers-Long Version)with no cuts to song

Ah… the memories! RESIST!!

Vote Blue No Matter Who Top to Bottom!!

Hold On!

Posted by TomCat 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!

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].

…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!

RESIST!!

Open Thread – 12/6/2019

Posted by TomCat at 9:25 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Dec 062019

It’s a quiet, lazy day here at the CatBox. All yesterday’s groceries are stashed, and except for PP and investing in ZZZZZs, my only appointment today is a visit from Providence Home Medical Equipment to pick up their O₂ concentrator between 10 AM and 1 PM. TGIF!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:11 (average 4:48). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Short Takes:

From Crooks and Liars: Don’t make light of Nancy Pelosi’s constitutional duties.

A reporter, Sinclair’s James Rosen, decided to shout a question to the House Speaker as she ended her Thursday press conference and announcement that the House will draw up articles of impeachment against Donald Trump.

He asked Nancy Pelosi if she hates the president.

Colleen alluded to this yesterday. Was it a thing of beauty, or what? RESIST!!

From YouTube (MSNBC Channel): Pete Buttigieg And The Republican Lie

I suspect Pete is lying to help him against more progressive candidates. That takes him down a notch in my estimation. The proof of the matter is in the following chart. He needs to be prepared to support the winner if the Democratic nomination no matter who it is, as do we all.

1206defecit

RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past): Lyrics~Stand By Me-Ben E. King

Ah… the memories! RESIST!!

Vote Blue!!

Open Thread – 12/3/2019

Posted by TomCat at 8:51 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Dec 032019

In case you’re wondering why I’m not out getting skewered, you won’t believe this story. Last Friday I went to the Providence website to confirm my biopsy. While I was there I noticed an unknown surgery at the hospital scheduled for Wednesday. So I called the hospital. The scheduler figured out that my anesthesiologist was scheduled for Wednesday. I suggested scheduling the anesthesiologist on Tuesday with the biopsy, since I wouldn’t be there Wednesday. She told me that she has corrected the schedule, and that they would see me Tuesday. However, she had moved the biopsy to Wednesday by mistake. On Monday the hospital called for some last minute clarification for my Wednesday biopsy. I told them it was Tuesday. They realized the scheduler’s mistake, but could not change it back. I told them I have no ride home Wednesday, so I have to reschedule the whole thing. I called to cancel my TriMet Lift bus and learned that they had scheduled me to go to the wrong place. Is Republican Incompetence spreading or what?!!? ARGH! hugs to all.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 4:40 (6:02 average). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Fantasy Football Report:

Here’s the news from our own fantasy football league.

Scores:

13Scores

Congrats to WWWendy, Patty Monster, and Squatch for winning their games. Had I only started Jackson and benched Mahomas, I would have won. Kudos to WWWendy for the week’s high score.

Standings:

13Standings

Kudos to WWWendy for leading the league.

This coming weekend is the last in our regular season. After that, we have three weeks of playoffs. Stay tuned. I’ll post the brackets with next week’s report.

Short Takes:

From YouTube (MSNBC Channel): Schiff: Intel Cmte. To Release Impeachment Report To Public

The reason the Fuhrer’s lawyers have no defense is simple. They have no defense. The miserable thing, however, is that with Bought Bitch Moscow Mitch and the Republican Reich controlling the Senate, the Fuhrer needs no defense. RESIST!!

From Washington Post: Attorney General William P. Barr has told associates he disagrees with the Justice Department’s inspector general on one of the key findings in an upcoming report — that the FBI had enough information in July 2016 to justify launching an investigation into members of the Trump campaign, according to people familiar with the matter.

The Justice Department’s inspector general, Michael Horowitz, is due to release his long-awaited findings in a week, but behind the scenes at the Justice Department, disagreement has surfaced about one of Horowitz’s central conclusions on the origins of the Russia investigation. The discord could be the prelude to a major fissure within federal law enforcement on the controversial question of investigating a presidential campaign.

Barr has not been swayed by Horowitz’s rationale for concluding that the FBI had sufficient basis to open an investigation on July 31, 2016, these people said.

This is exactly what we expect from Barrf! RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past): somebody to love-jefferson airplane

Ah… the memories! RESIST!!

Vote Blue!!

BIG Mouth Awards

Every 1,000th Comment
20 – Infidel – 7/6/2011
21 – SoINeedAName – 7/25/2011
22 – SoINeedAName – 8/17/2011
23 – Maria – 9/7/2011
24 – Phyllis – 9/29/2011
25 – Tom – 10/22/2011
26 – Lynn Squance – 11/25/2011
27 – Deborah – 12/29/2011
28 – Patty – 1/19/2012
29 – Lynn Squance – 2/8/2012
30 – Jolly Roger – 3/8/2012
31 – Patty – 5/4/2012
32 – Marva Dasef – 6/8/2012
33 – Patty – 7/8//2012
34 – Edith Belcher – 8/12//2012
35 – Patty – 9/17/2012
36 – Tasunka – 10/12/2012
37 – Lynn Squance – 11/6/2012
38 – SoINeedAName – 11/29/2012
39 – Lynn Squance – 1/11/2013
40 – Lynn Squance – 2/17/2013
41 – Patty – 3/23/2013
42 – Edith Belcher – 5/29/2013
43 – Jim Phillips – 6/29/2013
44 – Patty – 7/27/2013
45- Lynn Squance – 8/21/2013
46 – Rixar13 – 9/12/2013
47 – Rixar13 – 10/4/2013
48- Lynn Squance – 10/25/2013
49 – Patty – 11/27/2013
50 – Lynn Squance – 1/13/2014
51 – Patty – 3/7/2014
52 – Yvonne White – 4/16/2014
53 – Edie – 5/20/2014
54 – Jerry Critter – 6/23/2014
55 – Lynn Squance – 7/29/2014
56 – Joanne D – 9/5/2014
57 – Patty – 10/19/2014
58 – Arielle – 11/16/2014
59 – Pat A – 12/26/2014
60 – SoINeedAName – 1/24/2015
61 – Lynn Squance – 2/18/2015
62 – Joanne D – 3/21/2015
63 – Vivian B – 4/23/2015
64 – Joanne D – 5/23/2015
65 – Yvonne White – 6/22/2015
66 – SoINeedAName – 7/16/2015
67 – Lona Goudswaard – 8/6/2015
68 – Mamabear – 8/25/2015
72 – Judi Angell – 11/27/2015
74 – Judi Angell – 1/18/2016
75 – Jerry Critter – 1/2/2016
76 – Lona Goudswaard – 3/11/2016
77 – Lona Goudswaard – 4/4/2016
78 – Pat B – 5/5/2016
79 – Mitch D – 6/5/2016
80 – Joanne D – 7/3/2016
81 – Lona Goudswaard – 7/30/2016
82 – Mitch D – 9/2/2016
83 – Joanne D – 10/6/2016
84 – Pat A – 11/10/2016
85 – Pat B – 12/11/2016
86 – Pat A – 1/14/2017
87 – Lynn Squance – 2/18/2017
88 – Vivian Birdwell – 4/5/2017
89 – Vivian Birdwell – 5/16/2017
90 – Lona Goudswaard – 6/23/2017
91 – SoINeedAName – 7/30/2017
92 – Joanne D – 9/4/2017
93 – Pat B – 10/12/2017
94 – SoINeedAName – 11/20/2017
95 – Jerry Critter – 12/31/2017
96 – Joanne D – 2/12/2018
97 – Pat B – 3/27/2018
98 – Richard A – 5/5/2018
99 – Lynn Squance – 6/12/2018
100 – Mitch D – 7/20/2018
101 – Pat B – 8/30/2018
102 – Pat B – 10/5/2018
103 – Joanne D – 11/9/2018
104 – Animae – 12/18/2018
105 – Animae – 1/25/2019
106 – Colleen – 3/2/2019
107 – Joanne D – 4/11/2019
108 – Animae – 6/1/2019
109 – Pat B – 8/9/2019
110- Angelflowers – 09/20/2019
111 – Colleen – 11/5/2019
112 – Pat B – 12/25/2019
113 – None – My Bad
114 – Pat B – 3/24/2020
115 – Freya – 5/24/2020
116 – JL – 7/4/2020
117 – Colleen – 8/13/2020