Trump* at the National Prayer Breakfast

Posted by TomCat at 10:44 am Politics, Religion

Feb 072020

A Dominionist cult, commonly known as ‘the family’ holds a supposedly non-partisan annual religious event called the National Prayer Breakfast. Presidents (and Residents) of the United States routinely attend. It’s normally pretty low key, as the family uses it to present themselves as mainstream and cover up who they really are and what they really do. But someone forgot to tell that to the criminal Fuhrer Trump*.

At the 68th, and perhaps last, National Prayer Breakfast, the main remarks were made by the former president of the American Enterprise Institute (and Post columnist) Arthur C. Brooks, who spoke on the themes of his wonderful 2019 book “Love Your Enemies.” President Trump then prefaced his speech by saying: “Arthur, I don’t know if I agree with you. But I don’t know if Arthur’s going to like what I’m going to say.”

It was a strange moment in U.S. religious history. The command to love your enemies, of course, came from Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. “Love your enemies, bless those that curse you, do good to them that hate you.” It might be expected for a president to express how difficult obeying such a mandate can be. Trump decided to dispute the command itself. And some in the crowd laughed.

The purpose of Trump’s sermon at the Hilton was, in fact, to put his enemies on notice. Those who pursued impeachment were “very dishonest and corrupt people.” “They know what they are doing is wrong,” he continued, “but they put themselves far ahead of our great country.” Congressional Republicans, in contrast, had the wisdom and strength “to do what everyone knows was right.”

Trump proceeded to make a thinly veiled attack against Mitt Romney of Utah, the only Republican senator to vote for the president’s removal: “I don’t like people who use their faith as justification for doing what they know is wrong.” And then a shot at House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.): “Nor do I like people who say, ‘I’ll pray for you,’ when I know that is not so.”… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <Washington Post>

Of course, every insult Trump* hurled at Democrats was a projection of what he and his Republicans Reich routinely do.

Trump waves ‘acquitted’ headline, takes shot at Mitt Romney in speech

Portman has his head up Trump’s* ass. The only message that Senate Republicans delivered is that there is nothing too evil for Senate Republicans to help Trump evade the consequences for doing it.

Joe Reads Bible To Critique Trump’s Prayer Breakfast Speech

Joe should not be surprised that the so-called believers there sided with Trump instead of Jesus. The NPV is sponsored by the Fellowship Foundation, aka ‘the family’. A Dominionist cult, they believe that they need to take over government to make the earth fit to receive Republican Supply-side Jesus on his return. Their vehicle they use to achieve this end is the Republican Reich. They are NOT Christians. Not all Republican Supply-side pseudo-Christians are Dominionists, but all Dominionists are Republican Supply-side pseudo-Christians.

Lawrence: Prayer Breakfast Rant Shows Trump Doesn’t Understand What Love Is

Very astute, Lawrence. The inability to experience love in relationships is a common symptom of Narcisistic Personality Disorder.

I’ve heard it said that Trump* has no soul. But he has what he is… an ass-soul!

RESIST!!

Open Thread–2/7/2020

Posted by TomCat at 10:43 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Feb 072020

It’s a lazy day here at the CatBox. On the plus side, I kept my food down yesterday and my breakfast, today. On the minus side, although my phantom nerve pain is gradually diminishing, it has cost me enough sleep over two nights that I’m dead tired. TGIF!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 2:57 (average 4:53). To do it, click here. How did you fo?

Cartoon:

Short Takes:

From Alternet: Fox News host Sean Hannity boldly defended President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address Tuesday night, by accusing Democrats of supporting “abortion after birth.”

There is no such thing as “abortion after birth,” as many on social media pointed out.

“It’s the party that wants to nationalize everything,” Hannity told his Fox News viewers. “Even supporting infanticide, and abortion after birth, as the Virginia governor told us.”

Again, there is no such thing.

Abortion after birth, were that possible, might not be all that bad in two instances. Hannity is one. The other wears an asterisk. RESIST!!

From YouTube (Robert Reich Channel): Iowa Caucus Glitch, Biden’s Drop, and Trump’s Acquittal

Of course the Reich on the left, Robert Reich, is right in everything he said. The Reich on the right, the Republican Reich, aka the Fifth Reich, is so evil that Hitler, Fuhrer of the Third Reich, stopped playing chess with Scalia long enough to express his envy of Fuhrer Trump*. I do like Lawrence’s idea of reorganizing the states to equalize the Senate and Electoral College. RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past): Roy Orbison – Oh, Pretty Woman (from Black & White Night)

Ah… the memories! RESIST!!

Vote Blue!!

Kudos to One Republican

Posted by TomCat at 8:59 am Politics

Feb 062020

This is a rare opportunity for me. Republicans and kudos are normally akin to Republicans on oxygen… oxymoronic. However, on those so rare occasions that Republicans do what is right for the American people, instead of goose-stepping in blind lock-step behind some billionaire or their criminal Fuhrer, Trump*, fairness demands that I give them credit for it.

Showing clear emotion in his voice, Republican Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah revealed on the Senate floor Wednesday that he will vote to convict President Donald Trump in the impeachment trial.

With the announcement, Romney became the only member of the president’s party expected to vote against Trump. He will approve the article of impeachment charging Trump with “abuse of power” in his effort to induce Ukraine to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden, a political opponent while voting against the “obstruction of Congress” charge.

He said the president is “guilty of an appalling abuse of public trust.”

Early in the speech, he became choked up when talking about his personal faith and paused to gather himself. He called the choice “the most difficult decision I have ever faced.”

“The grave question the Constitution tasks senators to answer is whether the president committed an act so extreme and egregious that it rises to the level of a ‘high crime and misdemeanor,’” Romney said. “Yes, he did.”…

Inserted from <Alternet>

Here is his complete speech announcing his intent.

Senator Mitt Romney to vote to convict President Trump on Abuse of Power

Thank you, Senator Romney. Kudos!

RESIST!!

Samantha Bee from 2/6

Posted by TomCat at 8:58 am Politics

Feb 062020

It’s that time of week again, and here are 4 great video clips from Sam’s show last night. Enjoy!!

The State of Our Union is BAD

I’m inclined to think that the state of our union rhymes with upchucked.

The Art Of Health Care Haggling

My Medicare Advantage company owns my hospital, and they pay for virtually everything. But it should cover things it doesn’t: dental, vision, hearing, long term nursing home (when needed), and, if Trump steals the White House again, psychiatric care.

Dental Care IS Health Care

I, and the one tooth I have left, thank you for taking this stand.

Someone Needs To Check on Steve Kornacki

I’ve been following the Iowa shit storm for three days now. I feel really sorry for Steve.

Thanks, Sam!

RESIST!!

Open Thread–2/6/2020

Posted by TomCat at 8:57 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Feb 062020

It’s a busy day here in the CatBox. Store to Door is delivering groceries some time this afternoon. I hoped to get an early nap., My stomach acted up all day yesterday, and Stumpy has been underdoing a rare bout of phantom nerve pain for over 24 hours. It feels like someone is stabbing my left ankle with a knife, but I don’t have a left ankle. I hoped to get an early nap, but that appears unlikely. ARGH!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 5:03 (average 6:51). To to it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Short Takes:

From The New Yorker: In the aftermath of Pete Buttigieg’s strong showing in the Iowa caucuses, Donald J. Trump accused the former South Bend, Indiana, mayor of engaging in “suspicious travel” to Afghanistan.

“People are saying that he went to Afghanistan for seven months in 2014,” Trump told the hosts of “Fox & Friends” in a phone call. “Seven months is a long time to be running around in a Muslim country full of terrorists, don’t you think?”

He added that Buttigieg reportedly had a gun with him while he was in Afghanistan, a fact that Trump said “sounds fishy to me.”

“Let’s see, you fly all the way to a Muslim country full of all of these terrorists who need guns, and you’re bringing a gun into a country like that?” Trump said. “Who was he planning to give that gun to?”

“I don’t know if he was part of some caliphate or just helping them out, but we ought to find out,” he said. “I have a call in to the President of Afghanistan.”

Dang Andy! Do you think he was part of an evil conspiracy with gay Muslim terrorists? Far more likely, Trump* will get a second asterisk on his name from his coming “perfect” call to President Ashraf Ghani! RESIST!!

From YouTube (Trae Crowder Channel): Liberal Redneck – Pelosi Disrespects Trump

FOMCPIMPROTFLMAO! I could not agree more! RESIST!!

From YouTube (Jeff Merkley Channel): Statement on the Senate Impeachment Vote of Donald J. Trump

Spot-on, Jeff! Once again I’m proud to have volunteered for his campaign. Oregon leads the way! RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past): The Good, the Bad and the Ugly • Main Theme • Ennio Morricone

Ah… the spaghetti westerns! RESIST!!

Vote Blue!!

The State of the Republican Reich

Posted by TomCat at 9:20 am Politics

Feb 052020

Last night, Nancy Pelosi told a lie. She said, “the President of the United States”. I looked at the screen, but there was no President there, just the criminal Resident Donald Trump”* Then his lies began, as soon as he began to speak, and I knew this would be no SOTU. It was the State of the Republican Reich.

Nancy Pelosi’s hands told the story of a nauseating night in Washington.

As Donald Trump took his place at the front of the House chamber for his third and possibly final State of the Union address, the House speaker and most senior Democrat in Congress reached out for a handshake, only to be rebuffed.

Seventy-eight minutes later, Pelosi, as she often tends to, got her revenge by ripping up her copy of the president’s speech while still in her position on the dais.

You could cut the atmosphere with a knife. Pelosi was the mastermind of Trump’s impeachment in this very chamber just weeks ago, staining his record in future school textbooks for all time.

But somehow, with seven of the Democrats who had pressed the impeachment case against him as impeachment managers glaring up at him from a prominent position, the president, like Bill Clinton before him, managed to resist using the “i” word throughout his speech. That, at least, was a departure from his gloves-off campaign rallies.

Yet Trump being forced to suppress his id was somehow even worse. The tension, grievance and resentment seething below the surface was almost palpable. The president’s tissue of lies and partisan swipes left Democrats heckling, throwing up their hands or walking out of the chamber in despair… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <The Guardian>

Fuhrer Trump’s* speech was wall-to-wall lies!

Here are seven notable lies that Trump told during the speech:

1. “We will always protect patients with pre-existing conditions.”

This one was flagged by CNN fact-checker Daniel Dale before Trump began speaking. Republicans, despite claiming credit for President Barack Obama’s achievement at passing into law protections for people with pre-existing health conditions, are in fact backing a lawsuit that seeks to dismantle those protections.

2. “Thanks to our bold regulatory reduction campaign, the United States has become the #1 producer of oil and natural gas in the world, by far.”

Dale flagged this one as false too, explaining: “The US became #1 in 2012, under Obama, though its advantage has grown under Trump.”

Inserted from <Raw Story>

I shared two. Click through for the other five.

Joe Scarborough covered Trump’s* lies and more.

Joe: How Do You Call It A Good Speech If It’s Fed By Lies?

Spot-on! As for Flush Limbarf, soon he’ll get to show his medal to Injustice Antonin Scalia!

CNN had a good panel, with one thoroughly vile exception!

Acosta: A state of the base speech, not a State of the Union speech

They had Frothy, aka “Man on Dog” on the panel?!!? Santorum is “the frothy mixture of lube and fecal matter that is sometimes the byproduct of anal sex”. Otherwise it was a good panel! And it was the State of the Republican Reich!

Finally, not everyone there was evil.

Here’s why Democrats chanted ‘H.R.3’ in the middle of Trump’s State of the Union speech

The women in white, including Nancy Pelosi, were the heroes of the event. Trump* and his Republican Reich were the villains.

RESIST!!

Open Thread–2/5/2020

Posted by TomCat at 9:19 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Feb 052020

It’s a hectic day, here in the CatBox. I still haven’t recovered from Monday’s ordeal. Last night, I accidently heard part of Trump’s* address, almost lost my supper, and felt nauseous for the rest of the evening. This morning, I broke through three days of Republicitis. I’m hoping Republicosis does not follow it, as it often does. WWWendy is coming this evening, and I’m totally ready for de-stinking. Happy Hump Day!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 2:55 (average 4:26). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Short Takes:

From Daily Kos: The Rotating (Regional) Primary Plan

Recommended by the National Association of Secretaries of State in 2000, this plan would divide the country into four regions—Northeast, South, Midwest, and West. There would be four primary days, one for each region. They would rotate every cycle. The original plan preserved the Iowa/New Hampshire duopoly, but just ditch it and rotate. Would work fine. Perhaps my favorite.

I guess I wasn’t the first to think of the idea I proposed yesterday. Great minds fall in the same ditch, after all. Please click through to see four more primary scheduling plans. RESIST!!

From The New Yorker: Calling the delay in the release of the Iowa caucus results “a threat to democracy,” the state of Florida has offered to help Iowa with the vote-counting process.

Harland Dorrinson, a spokesman for Florida’s official electoral commission, said on Tuesday morning that “Florida stands ready and willing to restore credibility to Iowa’s vote-tabulation procedures.”

Dorrinson added that Katherine Harris, Florida’s former secretary of state, was eager to “roll up her sleeves and clean up Iowa’s mess.”

“Just say the word, Iowa, and Katherine Harris will be on the next plane out,” he said.

Dang, Andy! Are you sure that’s Harland Dorrinson? I heard it was his brother, Chad! Or did they hang him? RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past): Simon & Garfunkel – The Sound of Silence – Madison Square Garden, NYC – 2009/10/29&30

Ah… the memories! RESIST!!

Vote Blue!!

Removing Iowa’s Favored Status is Long Past Due

Posted by TomCat at 10:21 am Politics

Feb 042020

For I long time I have proposed removing Iowa’s favored status in Presidential candidate selection. They have all the candidates crisscrossing the states for several months. My state, Oregon, virtually never sees a candidate before the convention, because our primary is in the last weeks of the season, and the nominee is virtually always decided before that. Now, beyond any shadow of a doubt, Iowa has demonstrated that they do not deserve to be first all the time.

…The first goal — and, really, the only goal — of election officials in any race is to ensure that the voters and the candidates believe in the fairness and the accuracy of the result even if it’s not what they had hoped for. Is there any way that any of the candidates will feel that way when the Iowa Democratic Party announces the results from Monday night?…

…It’s simply hard to imagine, given what we all witnessed play out on national TV Monday night, that some campaigns won’t try to cast doubt upon the numbers in a way they would not have been able to if the reporting of the tally had been seamless…

That’s obviously problematic for the candidates who appeared to be be overperforming and potentially headed to a victory. But it’s an even bigger problem for faith in our democratic institutions — for us to be able to trust that when we vote, that vote will be accurately counted and reported.

When you consider that Trump suggested with zero proof that 3 to 5 million illegal votes were cast in the 2016 election — an election he won! — you can see where a broad erosion in our elections could have disastrous consequences moving forward in 2020. [emphasis added]

Inserted From <CNN>

I just heard that there will be a conference call between the Femocratic Party of Iowa and the various campaigns at 11:00 AM PDT and that they hope to release the results later today.

Here are three video clips from three different sources.

State Party Hung Up On Campaigns During Conference Call