{"id":10078,"date":"2013-03-04T01:51:42","date_gmt":"2013-03-04T09:51:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/?p=10078"},"modified":"2013-03-04T01:51:42","modified_gmt":"2013-03-04T09:51:42","slug":"open-thread342013","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/2013\/03\/04\/open-thread342013\/","title":{"rendered":"Open Thread–3\/4\/2013"},"content":{"rendered":"

I\u2019m off to two medical appointments today, so this is today\u2019s only article.  I\u2019m current with replies.  Tomorrow should be normal. but on Wednesday I have an early appointment than may last several hours, so that will also be an abbreviated day.<\/font><\/p>\n

Jig Zone Puzzle<\/strong>:<\/font><\/p>\n

Today\u2019s took me 4:38 (average 5:44).  To do it, click here<\/a>.  How did you do?<\/font><\/p>\n

Short Takes<\/font><\/strong>:<\/p>\n

From The New Yorker<\/a>: <\/font>The spending cuts mandated by the sequester may hamper the United States\u2019s [sic] ability to invade countries for absolutely no reason, a Pentagon spokesman warned today.<\/p>\n

The Pentagon made this gloomy assessment amid widespread fears that the nation\u2019s ability to wage totally optional wars based on bogus pretexts may be in peril.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s why the sequester would have never happened if we had a Republican ChickenHawk-in-Chief!<\/font><\/p>\n

From NY Times<\/a>: <\/font>Conservatives like to say that their position is all about economic freedom, and hence making government\u2019s role in general, and government spending in particular, as small as possible. And no doubt there are individual conservatives who really have such idealistic motives. <\/p>\n

When it comes to conservatives with actual power, however, there\u2019s an alternative, more cynical view of their motivations \u2014 namely, that it\u2019s all about comforting the comfortable and afflicting the afflicted, about giving more to those who already have a lot. And if you want a strong piece of evidence in favor of that cynical view, look at the current state of play over Medicaid. <\/p>\n

Click through for the rest of this fine Krugman editorial that explains how Republican governors are converting Medicaid into welfare for the 1%.<\/font><\/p>\n

From Think Progress<\/a>: <\/font>Meet The Press Host Challenges Boehner On GOP Tax Myths<\/p>\n