Main Stream Media – Politics Plus

Open Thread October 28 2025

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 5:55 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Oct 282025

Yesterday, I got an email from Colorado Public Radio sharing that my Attorney General (who is also running for Governor) is all in on Colorado joining the redistricting war for the midterms. God, I love this guy. Also yesterday, I tripped over a post from a DUer who has been suffering extreme pain, and just found out that for all that time he has been suffering from shingles with no rash (only dxed because a very small rash just turned up) He is up to date on his shingles vaccinations, too, but his PCP says it’s possible to get it anyway. I think this should be more wisely known. Shingles pain can make non-suicidal people consider (and for all I know, commit) suicide.

Per Heather Cox Richandson, “NBC News reported [last Thursday] that Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s rush to get new recruits onto the street has meant they have pushed into their training program more than 200 people who have disqualifying criminal backgrounds, fail drug testing, or don’t meet the academic or physical requirements.” I’m less worried about the physical requirements, and even the drug testing (which is not perfect – and the federal Government is a little nutty about drug use) and academic requirements (I suspect we all know someone who is a highly educated idiot), but the past criminal record issue bothers me, particularly for a group which is openly looking for male white supremacists, the most under-prosecuted group in the US. And don’t stop with this quote. There’s more.

Metamucillini is wrong (no surprise there) and Canada is correct (no surprise there either). Ronald Reagan did indeed speak negatively of tariffs, and Wonkette has the reveipts in the form of a video. If you already know if this, and our dictator’s reaction, you may want to go to the link anyway to see the “tantrum gif” which may give you a smile or even a chuckle.

No, I don’t actually need any more reasons than we already have to despise the Washington Post (or Amazon, for that matter.) I am guessing that the 1800 block of E Street SE in DC is experiencing earth tremors as Sousa spins in his grave, wishing he had named that march “The Washington Monument” instead of for the Post.

Guest video from Robert Reich

Yes, I shop at King Soopers, which is Kroger. But my only alternatives are Safeway which is Albertson’s, and Walmart – which is Walmart. I’ve boycotted Walmart since it was created. After the Albertson’s=Kroger merger was denied by the courts, Albertson’s had the gall to sue Kroger for breach of contract – but that was only my last straw. I also cannot trust Safeway to follow my delivery instructions which are necessary to keep me safe (it was while taking in [I should say trying to take in] a delivery order from Safeway that I experienced the fall – two years ago tomorrow – which put me in the hospital. Incidentally, at least here, King Soopers runs its sales from Wednesday through Tuesday regularly. So I don’t shop on Tuesday for Wednesday delivery ,although one can re-check the prices on line.) Sometimes they’ll have a special, shorter, sale, such as over a weekend, but their advertising always makes that clear. And the sale tags on the shelves – the last I looked – it’s been years since I went to a store in person – always had (I grant in fine print) an end date for the sale on them. So many people today have smartphones – it really is worth it for people who have a smartphone and shop in store to open a web account and tie it to the actual store they shop at so they can compare the price on the shelf to the price on the website.

Open Thread September 8 2025

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 6:00 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Sep 082025

Yesterday, I saw Virgil and we played cribbage. We had a wide variety of hands. If you have seen the riddle that Nameless posted Saturday, and read the comments, you may note that one hand I had was quite pertinent to it. Virgil was quite forgetful, but in a good mood (he pretty much always is when I visit.) The drive was uneventful both ways – the weather and the traffic both cooperated. Also yesterday – here’s a little backstory – some months ago, one of the announcers at my local public radio station started a new program – his first themed continuing program) featuring Broadway musicals. Sometimes he’ll feature just one show, but more often it will be four or six shows which have something in common. I have missed having a regular Broadway feature – and it’s been so long since one has been available, I have gotten totally out of touch with the genre, so I listen to it pretty faithfully. Yesterday his show featured just one show – “Come From Away.” I had never heard of it nor of its writers or stars. Well, I have really missed out on something very powerful. It ran for well over 600 performances and won a bunch of awards, so it isn’t that it didn’t have publicity that I missed it – it was just me being out of the loop. I realize many people do not care for, or about, musical theater of any kind. But if you do, and if you aren’t familiar with this one, I don’t think you’ll regret looking it up.

This from The F* News suggests to me that irony may not be dead after all.

Dan Froomkin at Press Watch has the New York Times’s number. I can’t remember having heard or seen the term, “weasel word,” for a long time – possibly because the GOP hasn’t been using any, because they’ve been outright lying and misrepresenting everything. The word “great” really can’t be construed as a weasel word for “dictatorship.” And there are so many ways to spread lies.

Of course it’s not really possible to predict what someone is going to do, and it’s even harder when that someone is demented. But it is possible t recognize a playbook = especially one as well documented as that used by would-be dictators. And the Brennan Center does its homework.

Open Thread August 19 2025

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 6:00 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Aug 192025

Yesterday, I learned that Mallory McMorrow (D-MI), the state senator who got national attention for being fierce, is running to represent Michigan in the US Senate. She joins Roy Cooper (D-NC) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH), all candidates who accept no BS and are proven winners. This is exactly what we need (and could use a little more of.) Also yesterday, I woke up in more pain than usual (and the “usual” has been gradually worse for a while now.) I’m accustomed to my left knee flaring up and know how to deal with it. But when the right knee flares up too at the same time, that’s something I’m not used to dealing with. I iced the right knee and at the same time used the TENS on the right back and the left knee, and took an 80 mg aspirin (the largest I’m now allowed). The TENS helped. The ice, not so much, which didn’t totally surprise me, since the pain in the right knee feels different from he pain I get in the left one. I’m not even going to try to explain how. But anyway, I then put the TENS on the sides of the right knee. That didn’t help so I tried putting the pads n the front and back of the right knee. That helped some, but not enough to dispense with the walker. I think I’ll take one more aspirin.

I could wish that Ursula was wrong about this, but sadly, I think she has nailed it. Heck, I can even add an example – there was never even the slightest hint from the media during his presidency that JFK had Addison’s Disease.

John is actually 56 in calendar years. This makes me wonder just how tired I look at 80. No wonder I’m sleeping late so much. Please, everyone, get as much rest as you need.

I managed to squeeze a very brief note about this into yesterday’s OT, but of course I didn’t have the full story, which had not yet happened. Wonkette also covered it, but I think The F* News contains a bit more.

Open Thread December 13 2024

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 6:01 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Dec 132024

Yesterday, I got the few Christmas cards I still mail ready to go, and am mailing them today. Also, I learned Larry Krasner is running for reelection for DA in Philadelphia, and is requesting contribution. Larry was the first and is still the most prominent progressive DA in the country, which means Democrats everywhere are looking to him, and Republicans everywhere are gunning for him. If there’s any room on your Christmas list, you might want to consider him. And, yes, today is Friday the 13th. Many people say TGIF every Friday, and the number 13 should have only a positive significance for the nation founded by 13 colonies which became 13 states (and to this day we keep 13 stripes in our flag to remember that.)

Dan Froomkin at Press Watch points out the obvious – we are all furious with mainstream media because they don’t do their job – but actually it has become a job whixh is impossible to do. And in the long run, it’s we who need to keep working to change the conditions. (And, yes, it feels impossible.)

I don’t cite Crooks and Liars often any more, because they have becone difficult to read unless you pay them. Bur this article, particularly the Bluesky at the end, is worth it.

Open Thread November 27 2024

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 6:00 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Nov 272024

Yesterday, I checked to see where a small amount of money had gone – I have been a monthly donor to Adam Frisch’s campaign since he first lost to BoBo by 500 and some odd votes. Sadly, he lost again, just not to BoBo this time. I’m aware that campaigns almost always still have bills after the election, so I was going to leave it at least till the end of the yras and then maybe check with the campaign to see if they still needed it. Well, I won’t be doing that. The campaign cancelled it for me and even sent me a refund. I had no idea they would do that. I’m very impressed. And also sad to learn he apparently won’t be running again. We really could have benefitted from having a man of his principles in Congress. Sigh. Also yesterday I managed to get my phone working by switching around eleven cables attached to three boxed until I got the maximum number of green lights showing. However, my 8.1 still has no internet, and I really need it to. Where the 10 is, I have no room for anything else, so all my accessories, including the scanner/printer need to stay there. So I am still troubleshooting.

The F* News has its finger on the Christian Nationalism. I don’t know why the rest of the media cannot or will not see it or print it.

Yes, I know, two from The F* News in one day. But the first one is an important point which should not be missed, and the second is, if not exactly great news, a little better than everyone is saying.

Open Thread October 19 2024

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 6:00 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Oct 192024

Yesterday, another document was released in the insurrection case. It’s an appendix and essentially describes what Jack Smith expects to prove with which evidence, if I understand it correctly (as I type, I haven’t seen it yet.) Also, Dan Froomkin of Press Watch has published an opinion piece for Press Watch on what the mainstream media should be doing (as opposed to what they are doing.) I’m not holding my breath for anyone in the MSM or even small and local media to pick up on it. Oh. amd Robert Reich’s election video of the week is here.

A Democratic Underground member found this on the Coachella Valley Subreddit. Sadly, I’m thinking that no major news outlets will ever pick up on it. And I haven’t seen any do so yet. So I thought I’d better post it.

Been waiting a L-o-o-o-ong time for this. While I’m happy about it, I’m still sad about those before “Don’t ask, don’t tell” who were treated even worse. I worked with a couple of Lesbian enlisted who were pretty clearly a couple. Even then (late sixties) no one minded but the Corps. One was transferred, and not just transferred, but transferred to Okinawa (I was in San Diego at the time.) It was just plain cruel. The one who was left asked if I would let her use my home hone to call the other, and of course pay for the call. And of course I agreed. It was – I hate the word pathetic, it sounds so condescending, but it was that impressive how grateful she was (it may well have saved the other woman’s life. Which didn’t occur to me then. But knowing what I know now, I think it’s likely.)

I haven’t shared Andy Borowitz lately because I haven’t been terribly impressed. I don’t think he’s losing his touch at all, but I think the GOP has gotten to the point of being next to impossible to satirize because they are so extreme already. But I did get a chuckle out of this one. I’m sure most eveeryone has seen the interview or t least a clip or two from it (if not, go find one now – even Steve Schmidt had nothing but praise for Kamala.)

Open Thread August 3 2024

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 6:15 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Aug 032024

Yesterday, I started the day by looking for baby booties, and in fact found 9 pair (10 if I can find the mate to the last one.) I can’t just ignore a baby born on my birthday. So I am now ready, be it boy or girl. Also, since it was Friday, here is Robert Reich’s episode #10 of DEBUNK. In regard to Beau, since I live in Colorado, I should tell you that I followed that Democratic primary – started in advance, right after the state Democratic convention, and it appeared there were two front runners. She wiped out both of them, seemingly coming from nowhere. Not that it will make a difference in a district as red as that, but she’s remarkable.

Wonkette sent me to this article in People magazine. But The Root also had thoughts. I can’t begin to sort out my mixed feelings about this – but one thought which leaps out is “Now all the gun nuts will be saying, ‘See! We told you it wasn’t the guns!'”

I’m not sure when I subscribed to Press Watch, but I’m glad I did. What POGO (Project on Government Oversight) does for the Federal Government (some would say “to” the Federal government), Press Watch does for – or to – the main stream media. I like that – and I think the Founders would too. They were under very few illusions about what can go wrong in a democracy.