Open Thread April 28 2025

 Posted by at 6:00 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Apr 282025
 

Yesterday, Steve Schmidt wrote about the point to which bothsiderism has brought Bill Maher. I only point to it because TomCat would be so disappointed. It is easier that ever, knowing that Bill Maher and Bill O’Reilly are DNA cousins, to see the relationship. Also yesterday, I almost forgot to post this. My credit union has changed a bunch of stuff, and it involved issuing a new card with a new number and expiration date, and yesterday was the day I had to process the change. Also Virgil needed coffee, and the only place I can order it from that he will get it was apparently put (I hope they haven’t stopped carrying it), so I had to put money in his canteen account instead, and include a note explaining why. And Trinette was over also, which is always a delight, but not conducive to remembering whether I have or have not completed routine tasks. Fortunately. the Sundays I don’t see Virgil I often stay up past midnight to email for a reservation for the following week, because it can’t be timestamped before midnight and still be within the right time frame. As a result of all of that, I finished posting it around 2 am my time.

This article from Axios is obvious to anyone who has been paying attention. Sadly, far too few Americans have. It is concise and clear and , for those not paying attention, adds three separate articles at the end which provide examples. Well, that’s not a bad way to say “I am not making this up.” Now if we can only figure out how to get it into the hands of those who need to read and understand it.

Sadly, just because someone is a Democrat, even an elected Democrat, does not necessarily mean that they are vary smart, or that they are not grandstanding. This article from The F* News is a case in point.

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Open Thread April 22 2025

 Posted by at 6:00 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Apr 222025
 

Yesterday, Pope Francis died. Besides grieving for the loss of that good man, I can’t help feeling I’ve seen this movie before, and what happens next is not good. John XXIII was succeeded by Paul VI which was not great, John Paul I died so quickly I still wonder whether his death was facilitated, and then we got John Paul II and Benedict. We badly needed Pope Francis, and we still do, but he is gone. I won’t say meeting with JD Vance killed him, but I’m sure it didn’t help. Robert Reich, on the other hand, wrote an impressive eulogy. (I am still running behind and today did not help with that BTW.)

 

The F* News caught my eye with this headline. But it is a valid story worth reading. It appears that republicans now hate “others” so much that they even hate their tourist dollars. They’d rather starve or become homeless than accept furrin money now.

This from The 19th is positive as far as it goes – let’s hope it goes and keeps going. I’m familiar with DoD schools, having volunteered with one as part of a folk music trio with a male officer and a male civilian teacher in the latter’s fourth grade classroom. Don’t ask me to sing today – old age does not improve one’s singing voice unless one practices regularly, which I didn’t. But it’s still a fond memory.

The price for this pay-per-view is $20.26, and I expect it to be well spent. I don’t know every name featured – but every name I do know is well worth a listen. The date is this Saturday. I hope that’s enough advance notice for everyone who wants to watch it.

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Open Thread April 21 2025

 Posted by at 6:00 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Apr 212025
 

Yesterday, I saw Virgil and we played cribbage. More “two double run” hands than I’ve ever seen in a sitting, but also more zero hands. I was the only visitor, and Virg was sorry for people who weren’t getting a visit. I pointed out that those people might have kids or grandkids that their family needed to spend the day with, and also that Sunday is not the only visiting day and they might have been visited on Friday or Saturday, which seemed to relieve him. It is true that most people in prisons in the US (and probably elsewhere) don’t get visited at all. I’m more tired than usual; it’s been a rough week for me. So instead of looking for an article explaining “NORRA” (which really should be spelled “NoRRA,” but we all know Republicans can’t spell – and have no feel for language), but instead I’ll recommend you do a search on it. It’s pretty much a declaration of open war on the Judiciary.

Joyce Vance writes on the mass deportation cases we have seen (and can expect to see more of.) She makes it I think as clear as anyone possibly could.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/132270244
https://www.democraticunderground.com/132270260
Here are two videos, both posted at Democratic Underground which have information – information that I wish I didn’t need to know, but since I so, I’d rather have it blunt. Both are embedded at DU so no ads for anyone who watches them there. But also no comments from YouTubers.

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Open Thread April 20 2025

 Posted by at 6:09 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Apr 202025
 

Yesterday, the radio opera was “L’Assedio di Corinto” by Rossini. This is the first opera Beverly Sills sang at the Met – and in fact we heard a recording of that debut on April 19th of 1975, exactly fifty years earlier. Fifty years. I wasn’t there, but I had heard Ms. Sills a few years earlier, at the Kennedy Center, in recital, on the tour, which was famous at the time, when she was so ill she requested no encores, but people demanded them anyway, unable to believe that anyone could sing like that but have something wrong with her voice. It wasn’t until she asked the audience in her own speaking voice to refrain from requesting encores that she was believed and her request respected. I have this opera on vinyl with her and also with Norman Treigle, who is not in this performance (Justino Diaz is.) But that’s OK – Shirley Verrett is in this performance but was not on the vinyl. The opera is not really about Corinth (which has been through some sieges) but about Missolonghi which was under siege in 1826 by Turkey. I’m pretty sure none of the main plot (about a love triangle, a domineering father, and mistaken identity) happened at either siege. or at any siege ever), but it’s Rossini, so it’s listenable, even without the shining stars of this production. Sigh. I remember some opera opera lovers and I used occasionally to refer to Sills as “Silverly Bells” – a Spoonerism, but it intended as a tribute to that voice. Now I’m feeling old. But it was worth it. Also yesterday, Wonkette reported that Barbara Lee has won her special election to be the Mayor of Oakland, CA. I don’t believe it’s been officially announced, but the numbers are clear. I can only compare what that will be like for Oakland to South Bend, IN, who had Mayor Pete for 8 years. I certainly hope they keep her in office as long as they legally can. Now, let’s help make Kasie Porter Governor of California, and I’ll think about forgiving Adam Schiff. And one more thing – At 1:00 AM EDT yesterday, the Supreme Court issued an opinion – and it was a good one. This video from the Contrarian is almost 45 minutes. But it took me less than 10 minutes before my jaw dropped. If you already know about it, fine, but if you don’t you need to.  Off to see Virgil now, will comment upon return.

And this in, of all places, Tennessee. And Dolly Parton wasn’t even there.

Colorado Public Radio published this on Good Friday, so I can share it on actual Easter. Nice not to be late, for once.

Wonkette doesn’t mention this, but I would like to point out, if you made phone calls or sent postcards or did anything at all to help keep the Supreme Court election in Wisconsin fair and prevent Republicans from getting the vote overturned in favor of the Republican candidate, give yourself a big pat on the back (just don’t break your arm.) Because you did this. Your work helped make it possible for the cOurt to rule this way. And this is an example of why I try to bring attention to special elections, recall elections, or any disputed or might-be-disputed, no matter where.

Founders

Dog

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Open Thread April 18 2025

 Posted by at 6:00 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Apr 182025
 

Today I am expecting snow in the afternoon and overnight. This is not the latest in the spring we have had snow. I remember one year in the late 90’s when we had snow during the third week of May. It wasn’t that much, but it was enough to ice the roads as I drove home from work. When I got home, I called the announcer of my local radio station and requested “Come un bel di di Maggio” (Like a lovely day in May) and she played that and also “Die Wunderschöne Monat Mai” (The amazingly beautiful month of May.) And we are not the only ones expecting un-spring-like weather. Hail is predicted over an area of the plains from roughly Iowa to Oklahoma city. They are not predicting but cannot rule out tornadoes there also. Sorry about the missed post – I did put it up when I realized it thanks to Nameless because there was so much in it, including a Borowitz. If you’ve been reading what I have put up, you’ll know I am being gut-punched by the news😢. It must not be stopping me from signing petitions, though. Yesterday I got 5 responses from my Congressman within the space of a minute, and I’m sure they are all responses to petitions and/or group sponsored letters.

This is about as straight talk as it gets. I’m going to be flippant for a moment and say, “Gee, there sure must have been a lot of people in Nazi Germany bitching about the price of eggs.” But it’s really no time for flippancy. I just get that way when I feel helpless. It’s good to know we still have some judges who are not corrupt – and I’m confident there are many more we are not hearing about because they haven’t been assigned a case like these – yet.

Personally, I don’t have anything against lawyers in general. I’ve been fortunate enough to know some really good ones – good people besides being good lawyers – and on principle I tend to assume a person is a decent human being until proved otherwise. But Joyce’s point that many Americans would have no sympathy for lawyers is probably sound (and for that matter, not just for Americans, but for just about every group since before Shakespeare’s time.) Most layers do not deserve to be treated like this. Sadly, some with firms that capitulate now are likely soon to do something that does deserve negative consequences.

More pretty much straight news from Andy (I don’t believe in the poll, but I do believe if there were one, this would be the result.)

Rachel Maddow interviews Senator Van Hollen

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Open Thread April 17 2025

 Posted by at 6:00 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Apr 172025
 

Yesterday, Senator Van Hollen (D-MD) was in my prayers all day.  He is in El Salvador to do everything he can to bring back his constituent, Kilmar Abrego Garcia. I have two D Senators, but I doubt whether either of them would do anything like that. They are hung up on “collegiality.” Senator Van Hollen did inspire me to send a single-sentence email to both my Senators, though: “So – what are you going to do when he starts disappearing people who are legally residing in Colorado?” I do hope the Senator is safe himself – that is far from guaranteed. Speaking as a white person, I wish we could bring back Ellis Island, or something like it and screen immigrants, not for tuberculosis, but for white supremacy. Not by asking them whether they are a white supremacist, but with a psych screen. Elon would never have made it through that. Just in case anyone thinks I am overreacting (I know, not likely), here’s a link with thought. Also yesterday, Judge Boasberg issued a ruling that there is cause to hold the Trump** Regime in criminal contempt, and gave them a week to come clean (turn over all information he has requested.) HuffPost has the story.

This all along is what has worried and frightened me the most. And here we are. I may be wrong, but I don’t think Marcie at Wonkette is a lawyer, so I’m also posting the same story as explained by Joyce Vance, who is a lawyer, and not just a lawyer, a former DOJ prosecutor.

Nobody says it better or clearer than Joyce Vance. She doesn’t sugar coat it, and I certainly don’t want to either. And I am about out of words of my own at this point.

May as well add Heather Cox Richardson to the chorus. I really do not think there is any way to over-report this.

John Pavlovitz weighs in also. I think this can be called a righteous rant.

Had I found this in time, I would have used it Tuesday. But it wasn’t posted until late enough Tuesday that I had already scheduled Wednesday.Here it is now.

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Open Thread April 14 2025

 Posted by at 5:56 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Apr 142025
 

Yesterday, John Fugelsang in his podcast had as guests God and Jesus from the “The God Pod” podcast. Like John himself, The God Pod is apparently serious but doesn’t take itself  seriously. I think it will make you laugh; it did me. It’s under 10 minutes and I wished it was longer. Also, Trinette was by to take my recyclables out (and trash if I had enough, but I didn’t.)Some weeks I have more that I need help with … but much or little, we enjoy each other’s company.

I hate to break it to pro-lifers, but – oh, wait, that’s not true. I am delighted to have the opportunity to break this to pro-lifers. There is another situation in which a fetus, or even a baby, is not a person. See today’s cartoon. It doesn’t appear that the medical people are using this as a defense, although they may well be and it didn’t get into the article. But this whole case is a strong argument for not letting celibate men (which, by the way, Scripture does not call for) decide the morality of reproductive matters with no input from women or even from married men.

I would file this CPR story under “No s**t, Sherlock” – but it seems to have escaped a lot of younger people, including highly educated ones, whose education may be somewhat deficient in history. In an autocracy, you don even need to f**k around to find out. Doing your job to the best of your ability appears more than enough.

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Open Thread April 13 2025

 Posted by at 5:56 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Apr 132025
 

Yesterday, the radio opera was Mozart’s “The Magic Flute.” – or I should say “Die Zauberflöte,” since it was the full opera and in German – except for a few interpolated jokes by Papageno. Such as, in the second act when he and Tamino were supposed to be refraining from food, drink, and even speech, he whistled and then sang a snippet from “New York, New York,” quoting “These little=town blues,” to be exact. I think Emanuel Schickaneder, who wrote the libretto and was the first to play Papageno, would have loved it (he was quite the card himself, and an improviser.) Today’s audience certainly did. Also yesterday, ProPublica reported that both Leonard Leo and Charles Koch are among plaintiffs (both as parts of groups) suing the the Mango Monster over tariffs. Did you ever expect to be grateful to either of those two for anything – anything at all? I certainly didn’t. Also, I chose the video I did because virtually everyone is riffing on “Who Shot The Sheriff” – besides Don Caron, the Riccardis, Founders Sing and  Patrick Fitzgerald have all covered it – with slightly different lyrics, but the same issue – tariffs.

I’d call this very good news indeed. Colorado appears to contain some very courageous people – and, more importantly, have at least some of them in positions where it is needed.

I don’t want to post a single-source open thread, so I’ll need a third one. But this one even CPR marks as good news – which they can’t do on political stories very well.

Here’s some good climate news from Wonkette. “Doktor Zoom” is the writer there who is most into climate change news, though all are to some degree.

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