{"id":11036,"date":"2013-09-05T01:44:06","date_gmt":"2013-09-05T08:44:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/?p=11036"},"modified":"2013-09-05T01:44:06","modified_gmt":"2013-09-05T08:44:06","slug":"open-thread952013","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/2013\/09\/05\/open-thread952013\/","title":{"rendered":"Open Thread–9\/5\/2013"},"content":{"rendered":"

I\u2019m writing for tomorrow, day 83, which is also a high holy day in the Church of the Ellipsoid Orb: the Day of Return, the beginning of divine orb light shining upon the world.  I am blessed that the Denver congregation has been selected to celebrate this holy day with Baltimore, so I shall be in deep meditation.  It looks like we have one more hot day.<\/font><\/p>\n

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

Today\u2019s took me 3:23 (average 4:54).  To do it click here<\/a>.  How did you do?<\/font><\/p>\n

Fantasy Football Reminder<\/strong>:<\/font><\/p>\n

Last chance to set your lineup!<\/font><\/p>\n

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

From The New Yorker<\/a>: <\/font>As the debate over Syria moves to the United States Congress, a leading Senate Republican said today that the only way to resolve the crisis in the war-torn Middle Eastern country is by \u201cdefunding Obamacare at once.\u201d <\/p>\n

Appearing on the Fox News Channel, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) told host Sean Hannity, \u201cIf we\u2019re trying to send a strong message to [Syrian President] Bashar al-Assad, I can think of no better way to do that than by defunding Obamacare.\u201d <\/p>\n

Elaborating on his strategy, Sen. Cruz added, \u201cBy defunding Obamacare, we would basically be saying to Assad, \u2018This is how we attack our own President, so just imagine what we\u2019ll do to you.\u2019 That would make him think twice before he pulls another one of his stunts.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cYou can fire off as many Tomahawk missiles as you want,\u201d said Sen. Cruz. \u201cBut they won\u2019t have the same impact on Syria as defunding Obamacare.\u201d <\/p>\n

If they had not already thought of it, I have no doubt that, as soon as they read Borowitz, Republicans will adopt it.<\/font><\/p>\n

From Daily Kos<\/a>: <\/font>Scott Walker has hit a laughable new low in his attempt to stop the Solidarity Sing Along, a singing protest\/lovefest that has occurred every weekday at the Wisconsin State Capitol since March 11th, 2011. Walker\u2019s administration is working with grinchy right-wing organizations to reserve the Wisconsin State Capitol rotunda for bogus events in a futile attempt to ruin Christmas for the Whos down in Whoville.<\/p>\n

Nothing is too low for the Fartfuhrer!<\/font><\/p>\n

From YouTube<\/a> <\/font>(Hat-Tip to Sheryl, aka Dandelion, at Care2):<\/font><\/p>\n