{"id":13551,"date":"2014-08-28T00:11:05","date_gmt":"2014-08-28T07:11:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/?p=13551"},"modified":"2014-08-28T00:11:05","modified_gmt":"2014-08-28T07:11:05","slug":"open-thread8282014","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/2014\/08\/28\/open-thread8282014\/","title":{"rendered":"Open Thread–8\/28\/2014"},"content":{"rendered":"

I\u2019m writing for tomorrow, day 129.  I\u2019m still running behind schedule, and am writing late in the day, but at least I found some better material.  Tomorrow is a Holy Day in the Church of the Ellipsoid Orb, but the Broncos  meditation will not be televised, so I won\u2019t get to watch them ride Cowboys.<\/font><\/p>\n

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

Today\u2019s took me 2:17 (average 4:12).  To do it, click here<\/a>.  How did you do?<\/font><\/p>\n

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

From NY Times<\/a>: <\/font>After 50 days of fighting that took some 2,200 lives, leveled large areas of the Gaza Strip and paralyzed Israel\u2019s south for the summer, Israeli and Palestinian leaders reached an open-ended cease-fire agreement on Tuesday that promised only limited change to conditions in Gaza and left unresolved the broader issues underpinning the conflict.<\/p>\n

Hamas, the militant Islamist faction that dominates Gaza, declared victory even though it had abandoned most of its demands, ultimately accepting an Egyptian-brokered deal that differs little from one proffered<\/a> on the battle\u2019s seventh day. In effect, the deal put both sides back where they were at the end of eight days of fighting in 2012<\/a>, with terms that called for easing but not lifting Israeli restrictions on travel, trade and fishing in Gaza.<\/p>\n

As long as Israel prevents Palestinians in Gaza from conducting normal commerce, I see no chance for success. Those people will not be content to live under a permanent state of siege. <\/font><\/p>\n

From NY Times<\/a>: <\/font>The trail to Rick Perry\u2019s indictment began with way too many drinks and a drunken-driving arrest for Rosemary Lehmberg, the Travis County district attorney, that was captured in embarrassing detail on videotape.<\/p>\n

But the conflict between Republicans who control state government and the Democratic district attorney\u2019s office has been playing out for years, forming a complicated back story to the unfolding legal drama known as the State of Texas v. James Richard \u201cRick\u201d Perry.<\/p>\n

Mr. Perry\u2019s powerhouse defense team filed a motion on Monday to dismiss<\/a> the felony indictment, asserting that the 64-year-old governor and prospective 2016 presidential candidate was constitutionally empowered to seek Ms. Lehmberg\u2019s resignation. Mr. Perry contends Ms. Lehmberg was unfit to remain in office after berating deputies and kicking a cell door after a drunken-driving arrest in April 2013. She served about half of a 45-day jail sentence.<\/p>\n

Mr. Perry and his lawyers have had substantial success in the court of public opinion, contending that the charges represent an overreach that has more to do with politics than the law. But Mr. Perry\u2019s critics note that the grand jury indictment was secured by a special prosecutor who was appointed by a Republican judge and has no clear political leanings or ties to the Travis County courthouse.<\/p>\n

Perry is so full of it that Rachel Maddow dedicated a Debunktion Junction to him.<\/font><\/p>\n