{"id":12222,"date":"2014-02-20T00:10:21","date_gmt":"2014-02-20T08:10:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/?p=12222"},"modified":"2014-02-20T00:10:21","modified_gmt":"2014-02-20T08:10:21","slug":"open-thread2202014","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/2014\/02\/20\/open-thread2202014\/","title":{"rendered":"Open Thread–2\/20\/2014"},"content":{"rendered":"

I\u2019m writing for tomorrow.  It\u2019s been a busy day.  Housework was floors, dusting and the refrigerator.  I\u2019m waiting for Store to Door<\/a> to deliver groceries.  They help me put them away, and that makes me keep the fridge cleaned out to avoid embarrassment.  Earlier I watched Olympic coverage, and was most pleased to See Finland eliminate the team of Vladimir Putin (R-RU) in the quarter finals.<\/font><\/p>\n

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

Today\u2019s took me 3:40 (average 5:08).  To do it, click here<\/a>.  How did you do?<\/font><\/p>\n

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

From Daily Kos<\/a>: <\/font>The wingnut welfare must have run out for the man who became famous as "Joe the Plumber." Samuel Wurzelbacher, his real name, has had to get a job that involves something other than performing the role of the regular blue-collar white guy on the Republican speaking and media circuits\u2014and it’s a union job at Chrysler. Wurzelbacher took to Facebook sounding a wee bit defensive<\/a>:<\/p>\n

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\u201cIn order to work for Chrysler, you are required to join the Union, in this case UAW. There\u2019s no choice \u2013 it\u2019s a union shop \u2013 the employees voted to have it that way and in America that\u2019s the way it is,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Of course the Republican is lying. He may opt to pay a fee for their representation, so he does not have to join. This is one member UAW is better off without!!<\/font><\/p>\n

From Bill Moyers<\/a>: <\/font>Last week, The Wire creator David Simon told Bill Moyers<\/a> that the legal doctrine that spending money on political campaigns is an act of political speech protected by the First Amendment poses the greatest threat to American democracy. \u201cThat to me was the nail in the coffin,\u201d he said. \u201cIf the combination of the monetization of our elections and gerrymandering create a bicameral legislature that doesn\u2019t in any way reflect the will of the American people, you\u2019ve reached the end game for democracy.\u201d<\/p>\n

He\u2019s right. Not only does money as speech allow those with the fattest wallets to drown out the voices of average citizens, as John Light points out<\/a>, it also gives wealthy donors an effective veto over policies that enjoy majority support. But it\u2019s important to understand the other ways that the expansion of civil rights for corporations can conflict with the public interest.<\/p>\n

David Simon is spot-on. You owe it to your brain to click through for the rest of this outstanding piece.<\/font><\/p>\n

Corporations are NOT people!! Money is NOT speech!!<\/strong><\/font><\/p>\n

From Crooks and Liars<\/a>: <\/font>Here’s what we get to look forward to from now until Hillary Clinton either announces that she’s not going to run for president, or finishes up her second term in office if she ends up being the Democratic nominee and is elected and reelected.<\/p>\n

Media Matters nailed this one before it even aired: Fox Scrapes The Bottom Of The Clinton Conspiracy Barrel<\/a>:<\/p>\n

Barf Bag Alert!!<\/strong><\/font><\/p>\n