{"id":14172,"date":"2014-11-21T00:06:35","date_gmt":"2014-11-21T08:06:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/?p=14172"},"modified":"2014-11-21T00:06:36","modified_gmt":"2014-11-21T08:06:36","slug":"open-thread11212014","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/2014\/11\/21\/open-thread11212014\/","title":{"rendered":"Open Thread–11\/21\/2014"},"content":{"rendered":"

I\u2019m writing for tomorrow, day 16.  I\u2019m waiting for the President\u2019s speech to begin.  It\u2019s been a busy day.  I planned Thanksgiving dinner and put in my Thanksgiving grocery order at Safeway, as Store to Door is closed next week.  The cat is having bird.  I went to Care2 and uploaded the articles that wouldn\u2019t upload last night.  I check my fantasy football lineup.  What a mess!  I did some housework.  I still have to squeeze in a cat nap.  I\u2019m past due.<\/font><\/p>\n

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

Yesterday\u2019s took me 3:47 (average 6:42).  To do it click here<\/a>.  Today\u2019s took me 3:14 (average 4:58).  To do it, click here<\/a>.  How did you do?<\/font><\/p>\n

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

From Daily Kos<\/a>: <\/font>How the sausage is made<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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[New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie], who traditionally backs off from declaring how he\u2019ll act on pending legislation when asked by reporters, made his intentions clear on a pig gestation crate bill when asked last month about it during a visit to Northwest Iowa, according to a pork producer. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe indicated to us that he was going to veto the bill,\u201d said Bill Tentinger, an Iowa pork producer and former president of the Iowa Pork Producers Association. […]<\/p>\n

The bill would direct the state Department of Agriculture to prohibit \u201cthe confinement, in an enclosure, of any sow during gestation in a manner that prevents the sow from turning around freely, lying down, standing up, or fully extending the limbs of the animal.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Christie is now in trouble with many in New Jersey, the state he currently governs, for two reasons. First, the bill is popular in the state, which is why it’s currently sitting on his desk waiting for a signature. Second, advocates of that bill are furious that Christie hasn’t been telling them squat about whether he was going to veto the bill but can travel to Iowa as a maybe-possibly presidential contender and tell the folks there what he was going to do. Especially since it looks like pre-presidential pork producer pandering of the penultimate persuasion.<\/p>\n

Frankly, I don’t think this blatant cruelty will help PIGnocchio in his obvious Iowa Caucus pandering. Furthermore, it t wont make him safe in Washington DC. As soon as Iowa\u2019s new Senator, Joni Pig Nuts, gets a look at him, she’ll \u2026 snip snip \u2026 make PIGnocchio squeal!<\/font><\/p>\n

From Upworthy<\/a>: <\/font>I support the end of corruption in government and pay-to-play politics. Mayday.US is a nonpartisan group using the people\u2019s money to challenge big donors \u2014 perhaps the last chance we have to stop the madness. Actor Jason Alexander makes a strong point in this 30-second video: All citizens should keep this in mind every time they hear a political ad paid for by a special interest PAC.<\/p>\n