Open Thread – 12/24/2020

Posted by TomCat at 11:26 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Dec 242020

It’s a tired day, here in the CatBox. I overslept this morning, so I’m running a bit late. It’s Christmas Eve, and if you live in a red state, you need to beware. I trust that you understand that Republicans have invented a fake version of Jesus, Republican Supply-side Jesus. He uses Jesus’ name to spread the Nazi Republican pseudo-gospel of war, hate and greed. Republican Supply-side Jesus is the exact opposite of the real Jesus. The reason red state residents need to beware is that there is also a Republican Supply-side Santa. Like the real Santa, he comes down the chimney on Christmas eve, but instead of bringing presents, he steals the presents from poor and middle-class red state children, sells them, and uses the proceeds to buy presents for Republican billionaires, like new sheets and hoods to replace the ones Republicans have worn out through excessive use. So if you live in a red state, build a big fire in the fireplace, put flash-bangs in the stockings and replacer the cookies with turds. Merry Christmas Eve to you all, and SantaCat knows who’s been naughty and nice.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:43 (average 8:13). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Tracking Santa:

Short Takes:

From Daily Kos: Ever-shameless, Donald Trump is now using the pardon power to promote outright corruption. In a slew of pardons tonight, Trump used the power to sabotage convictions of private-contractor war criminals, an array of Republican elected officials caught using their office to engage in crimes, and two of Trump’s own allies who pled guilty to lying to federal law enforcement officials in an effort to block special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation of communications between the Trump campaign and Russian officials during the 2016 campaign.

Receiving pardons tonight—and surely, there will be many more coming—are George Papadopoulos and Alex van der Zwaan, who both pled guilty to lying to federal investigators probing Russian hacking and propaganda efforts on behalf of Trump. They join the previously pardoned Flynn, who pled guilty to lying as part of the same cover-up.

Also receiving pardons are three Republican congressmen caught committing crimes in office. California ex-Rep. Duncan Hunter stole donated campaign funds for his own personal use. New York ex-Rep. Chris Collins pled guilty to lying to the FBI and to attempting to commit securities fraud after being caught engaging in insider trading. Texas ex-Rep. Steve Stockman was convicted of money laundering. All three were unquestionably guilty of corruption in office; in pardoning each of the disgraced House Republicans, Trump is clearly signaling his contempt for those that would attempt to hold his political allies to account.

For good measure, and as reminder that aside from personal fealty of allies there are few things as seemingly dear to Trump’s heart as torturing or killing the innocent, Trump has also pardoned four Blackwater private contractors responsible for killing 17 civilians in Baghdad’s Nisour Square, an act that fomented terrorism against U.S. forces for years afterwards.

There’s no subtlety to these pardons, and its almost certain that they are the prelude to a host of even more egregious ones.

When I think of the egregious losses, grief and suffering these bastards caused to victims and their loved ones, I want to scream! RESIST!!

From Crooks and Liars: Holy smokes! It looks like Diaper Don was correct with his complaints of faulty election results in at least two states. But he probably doesn’t really want to draw too much attention to them.

In Delaware County, Pennsylvania,, there was a confirmed incident of voter fraud:

In the weeks leading up to the presidential election, Elizabeth Bartman and Elizabeth Weihman registered to vote as Republicans in Nether Providence Township, Delaware County officials said Monday. There was one problem: Both women had been dead for several years.

The man behind those applications, Bruce Bartman, now faces two felony counts of perjury, as well as one count of unlawful voting for successfully casting an absentee ballot for President Donald Trump in the name of Elizabeth Bartman, his long-dead mother.

Bartman was arraigned Friday and released on $100,000 unsecured bail.

His lawyer, Samuel Stretton, said the 70-year-old takes full responsibility for the crimes, and will cooperate with investigators

“In his political frustration, he chose to do something stupid,” Stretton said. “And for that he is very sorry.”.

Bartman used his deceased mother’s driver’s license to register her to vote absentee and successfully cast a ballot for Trump in her name. He tried to do the same thing for his dead mother-in-law. But in that incident, he used her Social Security number, which triggered an alert in the state’s system. Even though Bartman signed a letter confirming that she was alive, he never tried to vote for her.

How many times have I said that, when isolated instances of voter fraud do occur, the perpetrators are virtually always Republican? RESIST!!

From YouTube (MSNBC Channel): Trump Vetoes Defense Spending Bill Setting Up Showdown With Congress

The disrespect this shoes to our men and women in uniform is totally disgusting! To Trump* and the Republican Reich, our troops matter only as cannon fodder. I have no doubt the veto will be overturned. RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast of Christmas): Silent Night arranged by Dan Forrest from Beckenhorst Press

Whether or not you are one who you believes in the deity of Jesus Christ, may the celebration of his birth, albeit poorly timed, bring you peace, love, comfort and joy. This year our nation is about to be given another chance. HUGS!!

26 Days Until the Big FLUSH!!

Open Thread – 10/21/2020

Posted by TomCat at 9:59 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Oct 212020

It’s a tired day here in the CatBox. Anne is due in 45 – 75 minutes to change my patch. Tomorrow please expect no more than a Personal Update as WWWendy is coming and Store to Door is delivering groceries. Happy Hump Day!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 4:21 (average 6:42). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Trump* Virus Update:

US Cases: 8,524,139
US Deaths: 226,273
Plus all the Trump*/GOP plague murders Republicans are hiding

Short Takes:

From Alternet: Dozens of Florida voters and others residing in heavily-Democratic counties across several states have received threatening emails warning them to vote for President Donald Trump in the upcoming presidential election or suffer consequences.

Ahead of early voting, Democratic voters in Alachua County, Fla., began receiving the disturbing emails. Voters in Alaska and Arizona also reported receiving the same message.

The subject line for the email reads: “Vote for Trump or else!”

Targeting voters registered as Democrats, the email message opens with a disturbing statement telling potential voters all of their personal information has been exposed as the sender claims to have infiltrated the “entire voting infrastructure.”

The sender also warned Democrats to vote for Trump or they would “come after” them. Voters are also being told to change their political party affiliation so it can serve as confirmation of agreement to the terms of the threat.

“We are in possession of all your information (email, address, telephone… everything),” the message stated. “You are currently registered as a Democrat and we know this because we have gained access into the entire voting infrastructure. You will vote for Trump on Election Day or we will come after you. Change your party affiliation to Republican to let us know you received our message and will comply. We will know which candidate you voted for. I would take this seriously if I were you.”

Here is a perfect example of international cooperation, Republican Style. White House staffers prepare the threats, the Republican Party provides the email list, and the SVR (current name of KGB) provide the servers, and all join forces to blackmail voters with fraudulent claims. RESIST!!

From YouTube (Trae Crowder Channel): Liberal Redneck – Y’all Should Vote and Why

Amen Trey! God save our right to talk shit to idiots! RESIST!!

From YouTube (CNN Channel): He oversaw the bin Laden raid. See what he says about Trump

He is so conservative that I’m sure I would disagree him most of the time on policy issues. However, I could and would negotiate with him in good faith. A very few conservatives are people of honor and may be trusted to act that way. However, the Republican Party works on bad faith only! RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past): Simon & Garfunkel – Scarborough Fair/Canticle (Audio)

Ah… the memories! Protest like the 60s. RESIST!!

Vote Blue No Matter Who Top to Bottom!!

Losers and Suckers

Posted by TomCat at 11:02 am Politics

Sep 042020

The military and I have often been on opposite sides over the years. They have served in wars against which I have protested, and devious politicians have used them as weapons against protests that included me. So one might think I have a low opinion of service people, but that is not true. I consider them honorable people who have been used as cannon fodder for dishonest political ends in most of the conflicts in my lifetime. I have always believed that protesters should hate the wars but love the warriors. Except for one very tiny portion of heroes KIA, I would never consider them “Losers” and “Suckers”!

When President Donald Trump canceled a visit to the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery near Paris in 2018, he blamed rain for the last-minute decision, saying that “the helicopter couldn’t fly” and that the Secret Service wouldn’t drive him there. Neither claim was true.

Trump rejected the idea of the visit because he feared his hair would become disheveled in the rain, and because he did not believe it important to honor American war dead, according to four people with firsthand knowledge of the discussion that day. In a conversation with senior staff members on the morning of the scheduled visit, Trump said, “Why should I go to that cemetery? It’s filled with losers.” In a separate conversation on the same trip, Trump referred to the more than 1,800 marines who lost their lives at Belleau Wood as “suckers” for getting killed.

Belleau Wood is a consequential battle in American history, and the ground on which it was fought is venerated by the Marine Corps. America and its allies stopped the German advance toward Paris there in the spring of 1918. But Trump, on that same trip, asked aides, “Who were the good guys in this war?” He also said that he didn’t understand why the United States would intervene on the side of the Allies…[emphasis added]

Inserted from <The Atlantic>
Photo credit: The Logical Indian

Because of Trump’s historical illiteracy, he may have been thinking of opposing the WWII allies. His Fifth Reich today borrows so much from Hitler’s Third Reich, that I bet he wishes the US had joined the Axis.

Here are two videos that document this hatred of American heroes.

Trump Calls Fallen Soldiers “Losers” and “Suckers”

Outrage, But Not Surprise, At Reports That Trump Called Fallen Veterans ‘Suckers’, ‘Losers’

There are losers and suckers in military cemeteries. They are the ones who voted for Trump in 2016 before dying. But troops that vote for Trump* in 2020, after he said this and continued to support Putin [R-RU] after Putin paid bounties for dead US soldiers, are the biggest losers and suckers in US military history.

Speaking as a dying man, if Trump steals the 2020 election, I will consider death a blessing.

RESIST!!

Open Thread–7/9/2020

Posted by TomCat at 11:04 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Jul 092020

It’s a busy day, here in the CatBox. Store to Door is delivering a very large grocery order late this morning or early this afternoon. It’s big, because WWWendy’s last day is Tuesday, before she is out of town for nine days visiting relatives. So, I’ll need a nine day supply of goop. Thursday is flush your Republicans day. I hope my laxative works.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:59 (average 6:12). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Trump* Virus Update:

0709TrumpVirusMap

US Cases: 3,160,284
US Deaths: 134,920

Short Takes:

From The New Yorker: In a scandal that threatens to upend Donald Trump’s Presidency, a new book accuses Trump of paying Vice-President Mike Pence to take his coronavirus tests for him.

According to the book, “Swapping Swabs: Trump’s Pandemic of Lies,” when the subject of being tested for the virus first came up, in March, Trump started casting about for a “good test-taker” to substitute for him.

Trump considered several candidates for the ruse, including his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and the Attorney General, William Barr, but ultimately settled on Pence, who agreed to take the tests for the fee of twenty-five dollars per result.

Dang, Andy! That should not be worded as an accusation. It should be worded as a fact! RESIST!!

From YouTube (MSNBC Channel): ‘Bullying, Intimidation, And Retaliation:’ Key Impeachment Witness Vindman Retires

Lt. Colonel Vindman is a hero and a patriot. Criminal Fuhrer Bone Spurs* is a bully and a coward! RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast that was played at Woodstock): Jefferson Airplane – Volunteers (with Lyric)

Dedicated to all who were at Woodstock or wanted to be. Ah… the memories! RESIST!!

Vote Blue No Matter Who Top to Bottom!!

Open Thread–7/1/2020

Posted by TomCat at 9:04 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Jul 012020

It’s a crazy day. I’m waiting for Safeway.com to arrive, and hoped they would be here, before I publish this, but their tracking app shoes them over one hour late. They have emailed me my receipt. They are out of stock for $100 out of $190, including toilet paper. I can do without a lot of the items, but it may be a shitty week, here in the CatBox. Tomorrow, please expect no more than Personal Update. WWWendy will be here in the morning. Hump Day Hugs!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 2:59 (average 5:08). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Trump* Virus Update:

0701TrumpVirusMap

US Cases: 2,730,803

US Deaths: 130,134

Short Takes:

From YouTube (Oregonian Channel): Portland Police declare a riot on June 30, 2020

It was a riot… a police riot. They attacked demonstrators, because they were in front of the police union office protesting police violence. Sadly, policing is one of the few areas in which Oregon does NOT lead the way. RESIST!!

From NY Times: American officials intercepted electronic data showing large financial transfers from a bank account controlled by Russia’s military intelligence agency to a Taliban-linked account, evidence that supported their conclusion that Russia covertly offered bounties for killing U.S. and coalition troops in Afghanistan, according to three officials familiar with the intelligence.

Though the United States has accused Russia of providing general support to the Taliban before, analysts concluded from other intelligence that the transfers were most likely part of a bounty program that detainees described during interrogations.

Investigators also identified by name numerous Afghans in a network linked to the suspected Russian operation, the officials said — including, two of them added, a man believed to have served as an intermediary for distributing some of the funds and who is now thought to be in Russia.

The intercepts bolstered the findings gleaned from the interrogations, helping reduce an earlier disagreement among intelligence analysts and agencies over the reliability of the detainees. The disclosures further undercut White House officials’ claim that the intelligence was too uncertain to brief President Trump. In fact, the information was provided to him in his daily written brief in late February, two officials have said.

Now we have undeniable proof, both that Russia paid for the murder of US troops, and criminal Fuhrer Trump* knew about it since February, 2019. He rewarded Russia in spite of it. Criminal Fuhrer Trump* has now fallen back to his defense of last resort. He’s calling it “fake news”. RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past): he Hollies – He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother

Ah… the memories! RESIST!!

Vote Blue No Matter Who Top to Bottom!!

Donald Trump* [R-Russia]

Posted by TomCat at 11:28 am Politics

Jun 302020

The first time I covered this story, most of you were surprised to read it. Now it’s all over the news, so I’ll cover it again. Not only has criminal Fuhrer Trump* known that Russia pays bounties to Afghan terrorists for killing US troops, but also Trump’s* only response had been to fight to add Russia to and invite Putin to the G7, over the objections if our allies.

American officials provided a written briefing in late February to President Trump laying out their conclusion that a Russian military intelligence unit offered and paid bounties to Taliban-linked militants to kill U.S. and coalition troops in Afghanistan, two officials familiar with the matter said.

The investigation into the suspected Russian covert operation to incentivize such killings has focused in part on an April 2019 car bombing that killed three Marines as one such potential attack, according to multiple officials familiar with the matter.

The new information emerged as the White House tried on Monday to play down the intelligence assessment that Russia sought to encourage and reward killings — including reiterating a claim that Mr. Trump was never briefed about the matter and portraying the conclusion as disputed and dubious.

But that stance clashed with the disclosure by two officials that the intelligence was included months ago in Mr. Trump’s President’s Daily Brief document — a compilation of the government’s latest secrets and best insights about foreign policy and national security that is prepared for him to read. One of the officials said the item appeared in Mr. Trump’s brief in late February; the other cited Feb. 27, specifically.

Moreover, a description of the intelligence assessment that the Russian unit had carried out the bounties plot was also seen as serious and solid enough to disseminate more broadly across the intelligence community in a May 4 article in the C.I.A.’s World Intelligence Review, a classified compendium commonly referred to as The Wire, two officials said… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <NY Times>

If you’re wondering why Russia is doing this, it’s an act of vengeance. When Russia invaded Afghanistan, Republican Presidents in the 1980s supported Osama bin Laden and the Taliban with weapons and money to kill Russian troops. So this problem, not to mention the existence of Al Qaeda and ISEL, aka the Daesh, is a gift from the Republican Reich. Now, back to the present.

What To Know About Allegations That Russia Bribed The Taliban To Kill U.S. Troops

If you believe Kayleigh Lie-a-lot that her beloved Fuhrer was not briefed, see me about buying my bridge in NYC. However, if he ignored his Daily Brief, and his staff never brought this to his attention, that’s even worse.

RESIST!!

Open Thread–6/27/2020

Posted by TomCat at 11:42 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Jun 272020

It’s a very tired day, here in the CatBox. This building can be very difficult to find, and yesterday, the Providence Elder at Home doctor was 90 minutes late for our appointment. First, her GPS system kept sending her in circles that missed the turn to get to the building. When she finally found it and got to the street parking area on the other side of the building, she called me, and I came down to the lobby to let her into the building. However, the city’s street parking pay system was out of order. She had to download the mobile street parking app, register, and use it to pay for parking. I had to wait in the lobby for over half an hour, before she finally got to the door. Things went uphill from there. I gave her the records i keep on medications, pain management and blood sugar. I familiarized her with my condition. She checked me out, and we agreed that I’m doing pretty well for a guy with one foot in the grave. She will return monthly to check on my condition and help with any immediate needs. If I have a need sooner, I can call for an appointment. She told me that she will need to come more often as my condition progresses to help me with pain management. I’m feeling very worn out. Tomorrow, please expect no more than a Personal Update. It’s a WWWendy day, and we have lots to do. Have a fine weekend!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:11 (average 4:53). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Considering his replacement, his resignation was tragic.

Trump Virus* Update:

0627TrumpVirusMap

Except for CA, you can see where Republicans are strongest.

Cases: 2,554,470
Deaths: 127,673

Short Takes:

From The New Yorker: Donald J. Trump on Friday threatened to ban a coronavirus vaccine if it turns out that it was invented by former President Barack Obama.

Trump’s threat took members of the White House press corps aback, since there are no reports to date of Obama attempting to invent a vaccine or any other pharmaceutical.

Trump acknowledged that he was not aware of any such activities on Obama’s part, but warned that, if the former President succeeded in inventing a coronavirus vaccine, “I’m not going to let that happen.”

“If Obama came up with a vaccine, it would only be to make me look bad,” he said. “Well, guess what? I’m not going to let him get away with something cute like that. We’re going to move quite powerfully on anything Obama does in terms of a vaccine.”…

Consider this, Andy. Criminal Fuhrer Trump* is just using Obama as a smoke screen. The Republican Reich wants to block any vaccine. Since the Trump* virus death rate for minorities is disproportionately high, and since most minority voters vote for Democrats, Republicans want to kill as many as they can before the 2020 election. RESIST!!

From NY Times: American intelligence officials have concluded that a Russian military intelligence unit secretly offered bounties to Taliban-linked militants for killing coalition forces in Afghanistan — including targeting American troops — amid the peace talks to end the long-running war there, according to officials briefed on the matter.

The United States concluded months ago that the Russian unit, which has been linked to assassination attempts and other covert operations in Europe intended to destabilize the West or take revenge on turncoats, had covertly offered rewards for successful attacks last year.

Islamist militants, or armed criminal elements closely associated with them, are believed to have collected some bounty money, the officials said. Twenty Americans were killed in combat in Afghanistan in 2019, but it was not clear which killings were under suspicion.

The intelligence finding was briefed to President Trump, and the White House’s National Security Council discussed the problem at an interagency meeting in late March, the officials said. Officials developed a menu of potential options — starting with making a diplomatic complaint to Moscow and a demand that it stop, along with an escalating series of sanctions and other possible responses, but the White House has yet to authorize any step, the officials said…

Actually, the Times is incorrect on one point. Trump* did respond to Russia paying for the murder of US troops. According to the BBC, he postponed the G7 Summit from June to September, because other nations rejected his plan to allow Russia to join the G7 (G8, if they did) and Putin [R-RU] to attend the summit. That’s how much the Republican Reich cares about the murder of US troops! RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past): Bob Dylan – The Times They Are A-Changin’ (Audio)

Ah… the memories! RESIST!!

Vote Blue No Matter Who Top to Bottom!!

Republicans on Parade–6/23/2020

Posted by TomCat at 11:06 am Politics

Jun 232020

Here is the one hundred seventy-eighth article in our Republicans on Parade series, featuring individuals who personify what the Republican Party has become. Today’s winner Republican Nazi soldier and traitor, Ethan Melzer. He is so honored for plotting a jihadist terrorist attack against his own Army unit.

An American soldier has been arrested for plotting with what prosecutors describe as a “neo-Nazi cult” to attack his own Army unit.

The Washington Post reports that 22-year-old Ethan Melzer gave intelligence about his unit to a racist U.K.-based group called the Order of Nine Angles so they could help launch an attack against it.

“Melzer allegedly provided this potentially deadly information intending that it be conveyed to jihadist terrorists,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.

Strauss described the planned attack as a “murderous ambush” and said Melzer was “motivated by racism and hatred as he attempted to carry out this ultimate act of betrayal.”… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <Raw Story>

I have no doubt that our veterans will agree that our service personnel trust each other with their lives, so it’s hard to imagine a more Republican crime than this. Frankly, I hope he gets life without possibility of parole.

Note the ease in which Nazis and Islamic terrorists work together. As much as Republicans like to associate Al Qaeda and the Daesh (ISIL) with the left, the association could not be valid. These organizations are right wing. How could they be leftists when they act just like Republicans.

This does give me cause to worry about the future of brand new Acting US Attorney Audrey Strauss of the the SDNY. After Melzer committed an act that would qualify him for a high government post in the Republican Reich, criminal Fuhrer Trump* may sic Barrf on Strauss for prosecuting Melzer.

RESIST!!

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