Voting Rights – Page 12

Open Thread for September 2, 2021

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 6:58 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Sep 022021

Yesterday, I got serious about getting ready to go see Virgil tomorrow. Even though I’ve done it once recently, it still requires thought and preparation. But I think I have it pretty much together. As the weather cools down, which I assume it will eventually, it will be easier … there are things I cannot put into the car a day ahead without risking heat damage to them at this point – unless I do so after dark, whidh has its own downsides.

Cartoon –

Short Takes –

The New Yorker (Borowitz) – New Law Requires Texans to Have Counselling Before Being Allowed to Vote
Quote – “Sometimes, a person is upset with their situation and thinks that voting is the only answer,” the Governor said. “A counsellor can sit with them, pray with them, and help them make the right choice.”
Click thgough for deets. For a split second I believed this was straight news.

The Hill – Colorado officers, paramedics charged in 2019 death of Elijah McClain
Quote – An independent probe submitted to the Aurora City Council in February determined that the police and paramedics involved were were at fault in McClain’s death, saying there was no reason to stop McClain, who was walking home from a convenience store. That report also concluded that no crime had been reported when McClain was stopped and he wasn’t exhibiting any threatening behavior.
Click through for a little more. Democratic AG + grand jury = results (sometimes.) You may remember that Elijah used to play the violing in animal shelters. As an animal lover and a former violinist, I took this personally.

The 19th – Even if Texas’ six-week abortion ban is overturned, clinics will close
Quote – “This law will end legal abortion in Texas. Allowing the state to do that and effectively close all abortion clinics — even if the law is ultimately struck down — will give the state what it wants,” said Leah Litman, an assistant professor of law at the University of Michigan and expert in constitutional law. “Just allowing this law to go into effect is ending abortion in Texas.”
Click through for story. In case you missed this (and had no idea what Andy was satirizing) this is it.

Food for Thought –

Video Thread 8/30/2021

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 12:05 pm Open Thread, Politics

Aug 302021

Glenn Kirschner – First Insurrection Trial Set for 10/18; Answers to FAQs About the Insurrection Cases

Meidas Touch – Is Being an Anti-Vax, Anti-Mask Parent CHILD ABUSE?! | Legal AF

Ring of Fire – Marjorie Taylor Greene Is FURIOUS That Republicans Won’t Follow Her Plan To Impeach Biden

Crooks and Liars – DeJuana Thompson, founder of “Wpke Vote.”

Also Crooks and Liars – CIA Expert Explains Why No One Should Second Guess Biden

In Memory of Ed Asner (RIP)

Rocky Mountain Mike – Medicine For Horses, It’s Lame

Beau – Let’s talk about a story for people in Louisiana…. I looked at that title and thought I probably would not share it … and then I listened.

Open Thread for August 25, 2021

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 7:02 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Aug 252021

Yesterday, I finished helping a friend get a post up at another blog, and received an email from a second cousin asking for some family info. I answered,, we had a little back and forth, and I will be scraping my memory for what I can and looking for paperwork for a while. I promise not to get overtired or frazzled doing this. I also finished the second sleeve on my crochet project, and, since I make up as I go, the last seam – all that’s left is the bottom border, which can be worked in the round.

Cartoon –

Short Takes –

Crooks and Liars – Don’t Worry, Rachel Maddow’s Not Going Anywhere
Quote – As re-upping negotiations dragged on, sources said, she expressed interest in possibly leaving the cable channel and moving into the streaming and podcasting space, in part to have more time with her family.
Click through for more. Looks like we just dodged a bullet that I for one did not know was coming.

The Hill – Lawsuit uses Jan. 6 to challenge secrecy of Congress
Quote – The panel ruled that the Constitution’s Speech or Debate Clause prohibited such lawsuits against Congress. But one of the judges, Karen LeCraft Henderson, wrote a concurring opinion in which she said, “I believe, in the right case, the application of the Speech or Debate Clause to a common law right of access claim would require careful balancing.” [Kel] McClanahan, [a lecturer at the George Washington University law school], said he saw Henderson’s opinion as an opening to raise the issues around legislative branch transparency in court.
Click through for details. The suit is not being brought by a known watchdog group like POGO or Roots Action or others, but by a “public interest law firm,” whatever that is. This could be interesting.

Law & Crime – North Carolina Court Immediately Gives Former Felons Right to Vote in ‘Historic’ Ruling Against Law with Racist Origins
Quote – “The court as of today is granting plaintiffs’ request for a preliminary injunction that prohibits the state defendants from refusing to register to vote any person on community supervision, whether a state felony conviction or a federal conviction,” Bell said during the phone call announcing the court’s history-making ruling. The text of the opinion itself was still pending as of this writing.
Click through for story. You may have seen this – it is definitely an eyebrow raiser, especially in North Carolina.

Food for Thought –

Video Thread for 8/7/21

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 12:13 pm Open Thread, Politics

Aug 072021

Glenn Kirschner – House Oversight Committee Hands Off DOJ Witnesses Trump Tried to Corrupt to Select Committee.

Really American

BREAKING: After an initial approval, Fox News has rejected our ad buy of January 6th testimony from capitol police officers 2 weeks ago. Further, Fox News refuses to put in writing why they are rejecting the ad. Retweet far and wide so everyone sees this. pic.twitter.com/SfmEW7L5J0

— ReallyAmerican.com 🇺🇸 (@ReallyAmerican1) August 5, 2021

MSNBC – Boston Candidate For Mayor, Andrea Campbell, Shares Family History With Lawrence. The first 5.5 minutes are a hanky alert. After that it goes to politics, Boston politics, and it’s good, but if you’re not local, maybe not necessary.

Thom Hartmann – How Will the Ongoing Trump Coup End?

NowThis News – Voting Rights PSA

Robert Reich – How the System is Failing Young People

Mrs. Betty Bowers – Hello & Goodbye to World History

Beau – Let’s talk about the national anthem….

Video Thread for 8/6/21

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 12:16 pm Open Thread, Politics

Aug 062021

Glenn Kirschner – Trump Tells DOJ Officials to Lie About Election, DOG Official Jeffrey Clark Does as Trump Directed

The Lincoln Project – Last Week in the Republican Party

Now This News – Cori Bush Reacts to Mark McCloskey’s Pardon

Liberal Redneck – Arkansas Governor Mad at Self

Rocky Mountain Mike – “I’ve Seen Unvaxed People”

Beau – Let’s talk about believing things without evidence…. So true!

Open Thread for August 3, 2021

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 7:28 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Aug 032021

Yesterday stayed oool enough that I got within spitting distnce of finishing that winter sweater. One or maybe two cool days and it will be done. And I have a large cotton project and several small, lightweight projects ready for more heat.

Cartoon –

Short Takes

The Guardian – Republicans will defend their Caesar but new revelations show Trump’s true threat
Quote – Those who claim that the events of 6 January were something other than a failed coup attempt would do well to come up with a better line. Or a different alternate reality. Ashli Babbitt is no martyr. Trump will not be restored to the presidency, no matter what the MyPillow guy says. Trump’s machinations and protestations convey the desperation that comes with hovering over the abyss. He knows what he has said and done.
Click through for well-written opinion. Yes, it’s an opinion piece, but there are also many facts here, and I certainly hope his opinions about future events are correct.

Reuters – Kosovo honours late son of U.S. President Biden
Quote – Kosovo declared independence in 2008 with Western backing, but Serbia still refuses to recognise it and considers it part of its territory. “What the United States and the American people have done for our country, for our freedom, for our right to exist, goes beyond any partnership currently witnessed in the world. Mr. President, Kosovo is your home too,” said Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani while presenting the award.
Click through for more, including background

The New Yorker – The Big Money Behind the Big Lie
Quote – Chad Campbell, a Democrat who was the minority leader in the Arizona House of Representatives until 2014, when he left to become a consultant in Phoenix, has been shocked by the state’s anti-democratic turn. For several years, he sat next to Karen Fann when she was a member of the House, and in his view she’s gone from being a traditional Republican lawmaker to being a member of “Trump’s cult of personality.” He said, “I don’t know if she believes it or not, or which would be worse.” Arizona, he added, is in the midst of a “nonviolent overthrow in some ways—it’s subtle, and not in people’s face because it’s not happening with weapons. But it’s still a complete overthrow of democracy. They’re trying to disenfranchise everyone who is not older white guys.”
Click through for full story. Not, I suppose, that anyone can claim to have the complete full story, but thos is about as full as it gets. And, yes, it’s long.

Food for Thought (from a T-shirt)

Open Thread for July 28, 2021

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 7:48 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Jul 282021

Yesterday was hot, but not as hot as was expected – which is a good thing – and particularly because I didn’t sleep all that well Monday night. I did make it through the day, though.

Cartoon –

Short Takes –

The Hill – Officers offer harrowing accounts at first Jan. 6 committee hearing
Quote – “The indifference being shown to my colleagues is disgraceful!” said Metropolitan Police Officer Michael Fanone as he slammed his fist on the table. “My law enforcement career prepared me to cope with some of the aspects of this experience,” Fanone said. “Nothing has prepared me to address those elected members of our government who continue to deny the events of that day, and in doing so, betray their oath of office.”
Click through for more, including some video. I’ll cover the hearing every day there is news of it – it may not always be from the same source.

Wonkette – Democrats Need To Pass Some Voting Rights Bills While We Still Have Voting Rights
Quote – How exactly will Democrats “out-organize” legislation that was specifically crafted to fuck them? That remains unclear in the electoral Magic Eight Ball. Nancy Wang, executive director of Voters Not Politicians, a Michigan-based ballot initiative, said Republicans are actively “trying to peel away Democratic-leaning voters wherever they can. … It’s sort of death by 1,000 cuts.” A relevant example in Michigan is a Republican push to require additional steps for voters who cast ballots without a photo ID. (The GOP likely isn’t interested in making photo IDs easier to obtain, of course.)
Click through for article. I cannot agree more. I don’t know what will work, short of a miracle. (And if you can stand any more discouragement, check this out. Unbelievable, but – true. )

The Guardian – Trump officials can testify to Congress about his role in Capitol attack, DoJ says
Quote – “The extraordinary events in this matter constitute exceptional circumstances warranting an accommodation to Congress,” Bradley Weinsheimer, a senior career official in the office of the deputy attorney general, said in the letter. The justice department told Rosen and Trump administration officials that they could appear before Congress as long as their testimony was confined to the scope set forth by the committees and did not reveal grand jury or classified information, or pending criminal cases.
Click through for details. This is noteworthy exactly because the DOJ has been (in my opinion, the opinion of Glenn Kieschner, and probably the opinios of everyone here) has so far been way too generous in extending executive privilege to TFG & Co. It would not surprise me if this is the theme of Glenn’s chat today. (Update – it isn’t ytoday, but he’ll get to it, I’m sure.)

Food for Thought:

Video Thread for 7/21/21

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 12:08 pm Open Thread, Politics

Jul 212021

Glenn Kirschner – Trump Associate Tom Barrack Indicted for 7 Felony Crimes, Unlawfully Acted as Foreign Agent (Sure glad Glenn read those 46 pages so I didn’t have to.)