Open Thread – 11/9/2020

Posted by TomCat at 10:37 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Nov 092020

It’s another tired day here in the CatBox. I slept so much the night before last and yesterday that I could not sleep last night. Tomorrow morning Molly, my physical therapist, is coming back, and what I get done here depends on how long that takes. Since Trump* is headed for the drain, Woooo Hoooo it’s Monday!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:24 (average 4:23). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Religious Agony:

OK, Turd Birds. You got the win. Now put Ossoff and Warnock in the US Senate. That’s the deal!

Short Takes:

From BBC: The first effective coronavirus vaccine can prevent more than 90% of people from getting Covid-19, a preliminary analysis shows.

The developers – Pfizer and BioNTech – described it as a “great day for science and humanity”.

Their vaccine has been tested on 43,500 people in six countries and no safety concerns have been raised.

The companies plan to apply for emergency approval to use the vaccine by the end of the month.

A vaccine – alongside better treatments – is seen as the best way of getting out of the restrictions that have been imposed on all our lives.

There are around a dozen in the final stages of testing – known as a phase 3 trial – but this is the first to show any results.

It uses a completely experimental approach – that involves injecting part of the virus’s genetic code – in order to train the immune system.

I’m glad to see that Pfizer could get it up. However We’re probably at least a year before they can get it out into widespread distribution. But the biggest step toward getting control of the Trump* Virus plague is getting rid of Trump*. RESIST!!

From Crooks and Liars: As the 2020 presidential votes are being counted, Georgia has two Senate races headed to a runoff election on Jan. 5, 2021. Nothing less than the majority of the United States Senate is on the line. Jon Ossoff wasted no time kicking off his reenergized campaign as Democrats seem to have some wind at their back in the Peach State.

Go Jon, go! Here at PP, we have a secret weapon to unleash on David “Donnie’s Pet” Perdue. Freya, give him a Saguaro Suppository! RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast of freedom): Elected

There’s a 70s song that still works! Celebrate!! RESIST!!

71 Days Until the FLUSH!!

Open Thread – 8/12/2020

Posted by TomCat at 10:42 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Aug 122020

It’s a relatively comfortable day, here in the CatBox with two days in the 70°s, before the next heat wave builds to a 100°+ weekend. WWWendy and WWKristin returned safely and happy, albeit sunburned. They return your greetings and kind wishes. Tomorrow I may have no more than as Personal Update or an Open Thread. It’s a WWWendy day, but I won’t know when she’s coming until after she gets her work schedule later today. It’s also a grocery delivery day. Happy Hump Day to all!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:04 (average 5:15). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Trump* Virus Update:

0812TrumpVirusMap

US Cases: 5,309,622
US Deaths: 167,789

Short Takes:

From The New Yorker: In a rare instance of praising one of his White House predecessors, Donald J. Trump on Tuesday hailed Woodrow Wilson for opposing efforts to institute online learning during the 1918 pandemic.

“There were a lot of crybabies in 1918 saying, ‘The schools aren’t safe—let the kids learn on their computers,’ ” Trump told reporters at the White House. “Woody wouldn’t hear of it.”

Instead, Trump said, “Kids went to school and the influenza just kind of disappeared eventually. Woody did a fantastic job.”

Dang, Andy! Are you sure he didn’t praise Wilson because of his overt racism and KKK support? RESIST!!

From Alternet: Remember when political reporters crowed about what a masterful play Majority Leader Mitch McConnell had made when he lined up his caucus to acquit Donald Trump without hearing from a single witness? Yeah, that acquittal came on February 6 when U.S. senators were already getting briefed on the seriousness of the coronavirus’ spread abroad.

But Senate Republicans, led by McConnell, fell all over themselves to make sure Trump was at the helm when the pandemic hit U.S. shores. Now, what once looked like a promising cycle for Senate Republicans has turned entirely treacherous precisely because the caucus is saddled with Trump as their standard bearer.

Politico reports the party is directing nearly its entire $100 million war chest at saving the seats of eight incumbent senators while the few GOP candidates aiming to defeat a Democrat have been left almost entirely to their own devices. With the exception of funneling a little money into the effort to defeat Democratic Sen. Doug Jones in Alabama, they simply don’t have the resources to play offense.

The seat of Democratic Sen. Gary Peters from Michigan, for instance, once seemed like a flippable seat. But as Trump has tanked in the state and Joe Biden is presently positioned very well there, Senate Republicans have left Republican candidate John James to fend for himself.

Instead, GOP groups, including the National Republican Senatorial Committee and the McConnell-aligned Senate Leadership Fund have been trying to bolster their defenses in Georgia, Iowa, and Montana—three states that weren’t even on the radar as potential Democratic pick ups when the cycle started.

I wonder how much of that money is going to help Bought Bitch Midnight Moscow Mitch. This shows how desperate the Republican Reich has become. May all their efforts fail! RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast of protest): Noodle Muffin’s “Morning in America” Music Video

Under Trump*, we are mourning in America! Kudos to left-wing protestors! RESIST!!

Vote Blue No Matter Who Top to Bottom!!

Russia Intervenes for Trump*!

Posted by TomCat at 10:37 am Politics

Aug 082020

It’s official. Criminal Fuhrer Trump* and Vladimir Putin [R-RU] are teaming-up in an attempt to steal the 2020 election the way they did in 2016. Republican Senators have joined the effort.

Russia is using a range of techniques to denigrate Joseph R. Biden Jr., American intelligence officials said Friday in their first public assessment that Moscow continues to try to interfere in the 2020 campaign to help President Trump.

At the same time, the officials said China preferred that Mr. Trump be defeated in November and was weighing whether to take more aggressive action in the election.

But officials briefed on the intelligence said that Russia was the far graver, and more immediate, threat. While China seeks to gain influence in American politics, its leaders have not yet decided to wade directly into the presidential contest, however much they may dislike Mr. Trump, the officials said.

The assessment, included in a statement released by William R. Evanina, the director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center, suggested the intelligence community was treading carefully, reflecting the political heat generated by previous findings…. [emphasis added]

Inserted from <NY Times>

Rep. Schiff on MSNBC: Trump Puts Friendship with Putin Over National Security

As long as criminal Fuhrer Trump*, aka Putin’s Piddle Pervert, fears the release of the pee-pee tapes, Daddy Vladdy [R-RU] will do all he can to keep his bitch* (apologies to female dawgs) in power.

Here’s coverage of the Senators, who are betraying America!

…Meanwhile, Senate Republicans on the Homeland Security Committee are holding hearings in an attempt to substantiate this charge — or, more realistically, to insinuate it. They have produced no evidence to advance their charge. The Russians have given Republicans stolen tapes of secret conversations Biden held with Ukrainians during his tenure as vice-president, and pro-Trump media outlets have hyped up the material, but nothing they have is inconsistent with the narrative that mainstream news organizations found. Biden was working to clean up Ukraine.

Senate Republicans tried to be cagey about their activities. After pro-Russian Ukrainians said they’d passed materials on to Republican officials, a Johnson staffer told NBC News in July that it was “‘false’ the committee has received any ‘oppo,’ or opposition research, without responding directly to whether that covers any materials from foreign sources.”

The Washington Post reported that Homeland Security Committee chairman Ron Johnson received secret documents from Ukrainians. And former Giuliani associate Lev Parnas has confessed to putting Devin Nunes, the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee and perhaps Trump’s most energetic defender on all things Russia, in touch with one of the Ukrainians releasing documents in the United States.

There is hardly any secret to what they’re up to. Johnson says he plans to release his report on Biden in September. It hardly matters if the information Russia gives him actually substantiates his allegations, or even whether it is authentic. The obvious plan is to splash some headlines into news screens in the heat of the campaign that seem to connect Biden to some kind of wrongdoing.

In reality, it is not a scandal about Biden at all. It’s a scandal about Republican cooperation with a Russian propaganda campaign…. [emphasis added]

Inserted from <NY Mag Intelligencer>

Russian Election Interference Finds Ready Conduit In GOP Senators

Russia Ron and Snake in the Grassley would not be doing this without the full knowledge and support of Bought Bitch Moscow Mitch.

RESIST!!

Open Thread–7/24/2020

Posted by TomCat at 11:14 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Jul 242020

It’s another busy day here in the CatBox. My Providence home health doctor is coming this morning for her routine monthly visit. Other than back pain, it’s a pretty good day. TGIF!!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:12 (average 5:14). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Trump* Virus Update:

0724TrumpVirusMap

Click for interactive map

US Cases: 4,171,378
US Deaths: 147,364
World Cases: 15,715,850
World Deaths: 637,615
Trump’s* share of World Deaths: 23.1%

Short Takes:

From Alternet: If November brings the type of major blue wave that Democratic strategists are hoping for, it would include not only former Vice President Joe Biden defeating President Donald Trump, but also, Democrats achieving a majority in the U.S. Senate, increasing their majority in the U.S. House of Representatives and enjoying victories in an abundance of state races. And the Cook Political Report is saying that according to its analysis, Democrats are now favored to retake the U.S. Senate.

Cook’s Jessica Taylor reports, “With just over 100 days until Election Day, the political climate appears dire for Republicans across the board. President Trump is the decided underdog against former Vice President Joe Biden in our Electoral College ratings, and Democrats could end up expanding their House majority. That leaves the Senate as Republicans’ firewall — the final barrier to unified control for Democrats in 2021.”

But that “firewall,” Taylor reports, could disappear because “as of now, Democrats are a slight favorite to win the Senate majority.”

A Republican pollster, quoted anonymously, told Cook, “Something remarkable would have to happen for Republicans to still have control of the Senate after November. It’s grim. There’s just so many places where Democrats either have the upper hand or are competitive in states that six months ago, we wouldn’t have considered at risk.” And a GOP strategist was equally pessimistic, telling Cook, “If you’re an incumbent in a bad environment sitting at 44%, you should be pretty damn scared. The expanding map has made it really hard, and there’s just a lot of Democratic momentum right now.”

From Cook’s projections to November results! RESIST!!

From YouTube (CNN Channel): Portland mayor is tear-gassed alongside protesters

Portland is my home. The rare crowd violence has nothing to do with the demonstrators. There are a few right wing anarchists using the peaceful demonstrations as an excuse to act-out. Both the federal Nazi Republican gestapo and the unmuzzled Portland Police Bureau are ignoring the violent anarchists and attacking peaceful demonstrators and our mayor. RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from labor): Ryan Bingham “Direction of the Wind” (Madison, Wisconsin protests) (live performance music video)

Except for unmuzzled Republican Nazi police unions, support labor. RESIST!!

Vote Blue No Matter Who Top to Bottom!!

Open Thread–6/25/2020

Posted by TomCat at 11:54 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Jun 252020

It’s a busy day, here in the CatBox. Store to Door will be delivering groceries, and I have to put them away. Tomorrow, please expect no more than a Personal Update or an Open Thread. I have a doctor coming from Providence Medical Group at Home. What I can publish depends on how long she is here. How many Republicans does it take to screw in a light bulb? The answer is ∞. Republicans want to keep you (and their idiot Sheeple) in the dark.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:09 (average 4:44). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Trump* Virus Update:

0625TrumpVirusMap

Cases: 2,463,923
Deaths: 124,308

Short Takes:

From NY Times: The Senate on Wednesday confirmed Cory T. Wilson of Mississippi to a New Orleans-based circuit court over united Democratic opposition, handing President Trump the 200th federal judicial confirmation of his tenure and achieving a Republican goal of filling every appeals court opening by the end of the year.

In winning Senate approval, Judge Wilson, a conservative state court judge and former Mississippi legislator, became the 53rd federal appeals court judge installed by Mr. Trump and cemented a milestone in a judicial legacy that has reshaped the federal courts during his administration, including putting in place two Supreme Court justices. Republicans lauded the achievement. The vote was 52-48.

This is a sad day for America. There are now 200 more reasons that justice here will be undermined for many decades. RESIST!!

From Crooks and Liars: Lighthouse Pentecostal Church in Union County, Oregon is tied to 236 cases of COVID-19 in the area — in a county with 258 cases.

And of course, the church in eastern Oregon cited Donald Trump’s demand that states allow churches to open as the reason they restarted services, against the law which didn’t allow religious groups to convene in large gatherings.

These Republican pseudo-Christians (the opposite of real authentic Christians) love to infect their neighbors with Trump* virus for their beloved criminal Fuhrer Trump*! RESIST!!

From YouTube (Adam Schiff Channel): Rep. Schiff on CNN: Barr is the Second Most Dangerous Man in America

Since Barrf is the third most dangerous man in the country (You forgot Bought Bitch Midnight Moscow Mitch), impeach him! RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past): Neil Diamond – Sweet Caroline High Quality

Ah… the memories! RESIST!!

Vote Blue No Matter Who Top to Bottom!!

Open Thread–5/6/2020

Posted by TomCat at 10:36 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

May 062020

It’s a super-tired day here in the CatBox. I have no idea why, but, after sleeping just a couple hours last night, I woke up and could not fall asleep again. Tonight is a WWWendy night. After de-stinking the rancid TomCat, we’ll be gooping. Happy Hump Day to all.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:16 (average 4:48). To do it, click here. Hoe did you do?

Cartoon:

I made this cartoon eight years ago. Republicans are still at it, but worse.

Trump* Virus Update:

0506TrumpVirusMap

Short Takes:

From YouTube (Raw Story Channel): Kamala Harris grills DNI nominee John Ratcliffe on Trump’s COVID-19 response [emphasis added]

That lying, goose-stepping, Republican Nazi Sycophant needs to change his name. As it stands, it’s an insult to Rats. RESIST!!

From YouTube (Daily Kos Channel): Essential Workers Deserve a Bill of Rights

While I fully agree that essential workers are heroes that need and deserve a Bill of Rights, I would take it one step further and cover ALL workers with a Bill of Rights! RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past): Wooden Ships – Crosby Stills Nash and Young

Ah… the memories! RESIST!!

Vote Blue No Matter Who Top to Bottom!!

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!!

Open Thread–4/1/2020

Posted by TomCat at 10:12 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Apr 012020

It’s another tired day here in the CatBox. I’ve been very busy researching my medical way forward. I did order one thing from Amazon that should help with both Trump* and cancer: 100 barf bags. I just learned I get my port in next Monday and have my first infusion the following Monday. This is getting too real! WWWendy comes this evening to de-stink the TomCat and help with chores. I’m ready for a nap, and it’s only 8:30. Happy Hump Day!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:46 (average 5:33). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Jen Sorensen Cartoon:

Embedded with permission from Jen Sorensen.

Trump* Virus Update:

0401TrumpVirusMap

Cases: 188,881
Deaths: 4,066
Recovered: 7,251

0401HospitalBeds

Short Takes:

From The New Yorker: Donald J. Trump should use this time when he is staying at home to repeat first grade, the nation’s teachers are urging.

Carol Foyler, the executive director of the National Alliance of Elementary Educators, said that the homebound Trump has a “golden opportunity” to use remote learning to repeat the first-grade curriculum.

“At a time when many of our nation’s children are being homeschooled, this seems like the perfect time for President Trump to learn the basics of reading, writing, and math,” she said. “By June, he could be reading ‘Hop on Pop’ and ‘Go, Dog, Go!’ ”

Sorry, Andy. I just can’t believe this one. All elementary educators are bright enough to be certain that criminal Fuhrer Trump* would flunk first grade. RESIST!!

From Alternet: Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler’s financial disclosures from late February and early March are simply fascinating. We already knew that Loeffler sold off a lot of stock in early February, while buying stock in a company positioned to do well during coronavirus shutdowns because it provides online meetings. But the hugely wealthy senator’s money moves didn’t stop there.

Loeffler sold off $18.7 million in shares of Intercontinental Exchange, the parent company of the New York Stock Exchange. Loeffler’s husband, Jeff Sprecher, is the CEO of the company and she used to be an executive there. Loeffler and Sprecher also sold shares of retail stores including Lululemon and T.J. Maxx, while making another really interesting investment. This time, they bought shares of a company that makes protective gear being used in hospitals fighting COVID-19.

She did not even warn her own constituents, let alone the rest of us, that she knew the Trump* virus pandemic was about to strike. How many thousands did she and Republicans like her murder by choosing to line their own pockets, instead of doing their job? RESIST!!

From YouTube (Robert Reich Channel): How to Prepare for the Trump Recession with Robert Reich

Of course the Reich on the left, Robert Reich, is right. The Reich on the Right, the Republican Reich, cares only for grabbing power and providing welfare for billionaires. All of Robert’s proposals are spot-on, but only as a start. I will not survive the Republican Recession. I hope and pray you do! RESIST!!

From YouTube: Canned Heat – On The Road Again [HQ]

Ah… the memories! RESIST!!

Vote Blue No Matter Who Top to Bottom!!

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