Open Thread–5/2/2020

Posted by TomCat at 10:47 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

May 022020

It’s another painful day here in the CatBox. Hopefully next week’s radiation therapy will reduce pain from my spinal cancer. Tomorrow is a WWWendy Day, so please expect no more than an Open Thread or a Personal Update. Monday is a Radiation Oncology Day. Dr. Seung will be measuring me under Cat Scan for Friday’s irradiation. I do have a special article planned for Monday, but I’ll write it in advance.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 2:48 (average 5:00). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Trump* Virus Update:

0502TrumpVirusMap

Short Takes:

From The New Yorker: Gretchen Whitmer, the governor of Michigan, is “arrogantly forcing the residents of her state to remain alive,” Attorney General William Barr charged on Friday.

In a blistering takedown of the Democratic governor, Barr said that Whitmer was “depriving Michiganders of their constitutionally enshrined right to die before their time.”

Hinting that the Justice Department could soon file a lawsuit against Whitmer, Barr alleged that her “unhinged obsession with keeping her state’s residents breathing” represented “government overreach at its worst.”

Dang, Andy! That Democrat sure is blatant in her audacity! How dare she keep people alive, against the wishes of criminal Fuhrer Trump* and his pet monkey (apologies to simians everywhere), Barrf?!!? RESIST!!

From YouTube (CSPAN Channel): White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany: “I will never lie to you.

That was criminal Fuhrer Trump’s* new mouthpiece’s first lie as Press Secretary. RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past): The Beatles-She´s leaving home

Ah… the memories! RESIST!!

Vote Blue No Matter Who Top to Bottom!!

Open Thread–5/1/2020

Posted by TomCat at 11:46 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

May 012020

It’s a tired day, here in the CatBox, and my back is in a lot of pain. I’m ready for an Oxycodone, lunch and a nap, when I finish here. TGIF!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:01 (average 4:39). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Trump* Virus Update:

0501TrumpVirusMap

Coronavirus Cases: 1,099,275
Deaths: 63,972
Recovered: 156,089

Our Poll:

I owe you all an apology. What with all the medical mayhem and personal mayhem surrounding my impending demise, I neglected our poll for months, without updating it. If you would like to read the results and comments, click here. I have put up a new poll. Please vote now and in November.

Short Takes:

From Daily Kos: The concept of a living wage is apparently still unfathomable for South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, who on Wednesday promised he would do everything in his power to fight an extension of federal coronavirus relief that would give those who are unemployed an extra $600 a week, according to The Post and Courier. “I promise you over our dead bodies will this get reauthorized,” Graham said of himself and Republican Sen. Tim Scott. “We’ve got to stop this.”… [emphasis added]

Hmmm… reauthorizing an extra $600 per worker in Trump* virus relief over the dead bodies of Lindsey Graham [R-SC] and Tim Scott [R-SC] is the best idea Lindsey Poo has had this year! RESIST!!

From YouTube (Vox Channel): How to vote during a pandemic

How to vote during a pandemic of Trump* virus? Vote no matter what! Vote by mail, if possible! If not, vote VERY carefully! Finally, vote Blue, no matter who, top to bottom! Every Republican in office is one Republican too many. Flush them all! RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past): Gordon Lightfoot – If You Could Read My Mind

Ah… the memories… RESIST!!

Vote Blue No Matter Who Top to Bottom!!

Samantha Bee from 4/29

Posted by TomCat at 10:51 am Politics

Apr 302020

It’s that time of week again, and here are three excellent video clips from Sam’s show last night. Enjoy!!

Why We Need To Save The Postal Service

What do the USPS and the American middle class have in common? The Republican Reich are drooling to destroy both.

Live From Sam’s Shed… It’s MILCK!

Wouldn’t it be lovely, if she did?

Samantha Bee: Bird Expert

That’s something Sam and TomCat have in common. I love birds too! BURP!!

Thanks Sam!

RESIST!!

Open Thread–4/30/2020

Posted by TomCat at 10:49 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics, Religion

Apr 302020

It’s a crappy day here in the CatBox. I spent a lot of time on the throne this morning. The problem with eating goop is like the problem with computer programming. Goop in; goop out. I talked to Megan (my PCP) and Evelyn’s (my Oncologist) nurse this morning. We all agree that the best way to deal with Republicosis is Imodium AD. Thursday is send Republicosis to criminal Fuhrer Trump* Day!!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:09 (average 5:00). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Trump* Virus Update:

0430TrumpVirusMap

Short Takes:

From The New Yorker: Vice-President Mike Pence has started wearing a mask after Anthony Fauci told him that it will protect him from women, Fauci has confirmed.

After seeing video of a maskless Pence touring the Mayo Clinic, on Tuesday, Fauci said, “I knew I had to come up with something fast” to get through to Pence.

Fauci immediately got on the phone with the Vice-President and informed him that “clinical research” had demonstrated that a mask is “an effective female-repellent.”

I believe you, Andy. That brown-nose sycophant, Pence, would love ensure that the use of his butt is reserved exclusively for his beloved criminal Fuhrer Trump*. RESIST!!

From Alternet: Countless non-fundamentalist churches in the United States, from Catholic to Lutheran and Episcopalian, have embraced social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic and temporarily moved their activities online. But many Christian fundamentalists and evangelicals have been irresponsibly downplaying the dangers of COVID-19 and doing so with deadly results: journalist Alex Woodward, in the U.K.-based Independent, reports that the pandemic has claimed the lives of more than 30 pastors in the Bible Belt.

“Dozens of pastors across the Bible Belt have succumbed to coronavirus after churches and televangelists played down the pandemic and actively encouraged churchgoers to flout self-distancing guidelines,” Woodward reports.

What Republican Supply-side pseudo-Christians (the polar opposite of authentic Christians) fail to realize is that their false god carries a pitchfork and has horns, cloven hooves, and a pointy tail. RESIST!!

From YouTube (Robert Reich Channel): From Ukraine to Coronavirus: Trump’s Abuse of Power Continues, featuring Robert Reich

Of course the Reich on the left, Robert Reich, is right. Criminal Fuhrer Trump* exactly reflects the values and policies of the Reich on the Right, the Republican Reich. Every Republican in office is one Republican too many. RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast): If it be Your will – Leonard Cohen – Lyrics

I hadn’t heard this before, but given my current situation, it really hits home. RESIST!!

Vote Blue No Matter Who Top to Bottom!!

Without One, He Insults the Eyes!

Posted by TomCat at 9:53 am Politics

Apr 292020

Deputy criminal Fuhrer, Vice Resident Mike Pence, insulted the eyes of the nation today by refusing to wear a mask in the Mayo Clinic, proving that the Republican Reich is the place where ugly and stupid meet.

As Americans continue to seek answers about the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Stephen Colbert offered some advice Tuesday night: Maybe it’s time to stop listening to Vice President Pence.

Just hours earlier, Pence, who leads the White House’s coronavirus task force, prompted a collective outcry when he was spotted speaking to staff and patients at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., without a face mask. Many, including Colbert, noticed Pence seemed to be the only person at the medical center who wasn’t wearing some sort of face covering — an apparent violation of the clinic’s policy and a move that appears at odds with federal guidelines dictating best practices for stemming the spread of the novel virus.

“Hold on, I’ve got a mask for you right here,” Colbert said on his CBS show, staring defiantly into the camera while appearing to make a crude gesture with his hand, which was wrapped loosely in a surgical mask.

Colbert wasn’t the only person who objected to seeing the lower half of Pence’s face Tuesday. The late-night host was joined by fellow TV comics and medical professionals, all of whom roundly criticized Pence for failing to set the right example amid the pandemic by knowingly disregarding the hospital’s masking policy.

By early Wednesday, Pence’s name and “Mayo Clinic” were trending on Twitter as critics slammed the vice president for promoting “completely irresponsible public health messaging.”…

Inserted from <Washington Post>

Pence Blasted For Defying Mayo Clinic Face Mask Rule During Visit

On the other hand, Pence could be doing us a favor. First, having Pence serve jail time in a cremation urn than in a prison cell. Second, if we’re really lucky, Pence might spread Trump* virus to criminal Fuhrer Trump*. Of course, I’m employing satire, but it is a lovely thought!

RESIST!!

Open Thread–4/29/2020

Posted by TomCat at 9:52 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Apr 292020

I’m still very tired, here in the CatBox. Tonight is a WWWendy night. On my treatment, My Radiation Oncologist will measure me Monday and irradiate me Friday. Then my chemo resumes the following Monday. I’m proud to announce that I Republicated this morning. I looked into the throne, and there was Bought Bitch Midnight Moscow Mitch! Happy Hump Day!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:34 (average 5:34). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Trump* Virus Update:

0429TrumpVirusMap

Short Takes:

From The New Yorker: CNN announced on Tuesday that it will show the phone number of a national poison-control hotline whenever Donald Trump appears on the air.

Speaking on behalf of the network, Wolf Blitzer, the veteran anchor, said that CNN was adopting the new policy out of concern for “the health and safety of our viewers.”

“At CNN, we strive to keep our viewers informed. But, in order to do that, we must first keep them alive,” he said.

In order to implement the new policy, Sanjay Gupta, the network’s chief medical correspondent, will monitor CNN’s programming on a twenty-four-hour basis for any signs of Trump.

Dang Andy! How about adding the Bovine Excrement Hotline? RESIST!!

From Alternet: In the span of a couple of months, Senate Republicans have gone from bullish on their prospects in November to pretty desperate. Back in February, they were salivating over painting Democrats as the party of left-wing extremism, with Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders as its standard bearer. The GOP caucus had just giddily acquitted Donald Trump after a sham witness-free trial and senators were looking forward to touting the strength of the economy.

Then Trump spent the month on a lying spree about the soon-to-be global pandemic that would ultimately ravage American lives and livelihoods—on his watch. Democrats coalesced around the far more moderate former Vice President Joe Biden, and the economy started to plummet along with Trump’s approval numbers. Now Senate Republicans are staring down a presidential election that increasingly stands a real chance of sweeping away their slender three-seat majority.

In fact, Democrats aren’t just viable in the most talked-about Senate races in Arizona, Colorado, North Carolina, and Maine. They are now also looking at opportunities in Montana and Georgia, along with a slim glimmer of maybe hanging on to Democratic Sen. Doug Jones’ seat in Alabama.

May I live to see it happen! RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past): THE GREEN LEAVES OF SUMMER – THE BROTHERS FOUR

Ah… the memories! RESIST!!

Vote Blue No Matter Who Top to Bottom!!

Personal Update–4/28/2019

Posted by TomCat at 9:05 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Apr 282020

After several days in the hospital, the cat is back in the CatBox. Apparently my chemo wiped out my immune system, and I caught a bug that brought raving Republicosis. The first two days,they quarantined me and tested me for Trump* virus twice. I am not guilty! Then they loaded me with antibiotics. WWWendy brought me home last night. I’ll be crawling back in the saddle, barring future complications. I plan to get WWWendy and JD in touch with each other, so I don’t leave you beloved people hanging again. Hugs!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:14 (average 5:05). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Trump* Virus Update:

0428TrumpVirusMap

RESIST!!

Vote Blue No Matter Who Top to Bottom!!

Open Thread–4/24/2020

Posted by TomCat at 10:19 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Apr 242020

It’s a crappy day, here in the CatBox… literally. I woke up at 1:00 AM with severe Republicosis and almost didn’t make it. I did nor get back to bed until 2:45. I was back on the throne at 5:45. I suspect the next trip will be soon. Wish me luck, or better yet, does anyone have a spare cork? TGIF!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 2:38 (average 4:04). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

0424Cartoon

Trump* Virus Update:

0424TrumpVirusMap

Short Takes:

From Willamette Week: Forty-two percent of Oregon’s small business payrolls were covered by the federal Paycheck Protection Program last week.

The $350 billion program was designed by Congress to give companies with up to 500 employees the equivalent of two-and-half months of payroll in forgivable loans.

Oregon’s yield from the program—42 percent of eligible payrolls covered—was the third-lowest figure in the country, according to calculations by Ernie Tedeschi, an analyst at the New York investment banking firm Evercore ISI. Those findings were first published by Bloomberg News.

Tedeschi’s numbers show an imbalance: The top three states—Nebraska, North Dakota and Kansas—got an average of 79.4 percent of their small business payrolls covered. All are red states. The bottom three, Oregon, New York and California, which got an average of 40 percent, vote blue.

The picture in the article of a Portland business says it best.

0424WW

RESIST!!

From YouTube (Late Show Channel): Meet The Former Dog Breeder In Charge Of Coronavirus Response At HHS

Wouldn’t we all be better off, if criminal Fuhrer Trump* had appointed the dawg instead of the Republican asshole? RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past): George Harrison-My Sweet Lord (Studio Version) Original

Ah… the memories! RESIST!!

Vote Blue No Matter Who Top to Bottom!!

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