{"id":15535,"date":"2015-07-02T11:33:10","date_gmt":"2015-07-02T18:33:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/?p=15535"},"modified":"2015-07-02T11:33:10","modified_gmt":"2015-07-02T18:33:10","slug":"open-thread722015","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/2015\/07\/02\/open-thread722015\/","title":{"rendered":"Open Thread–7\/2\/2015"},"content":{"rendered":"

The heat wave continues.  I took a thermometer down the hall to the shower room with me at 4:00 AM.  Because the building collects the heat the temperature was 102\u00b0.  I hate taking a shower and mopping up my own sweat, before I finish drying.  Portland remains under a severe weather alert for excessive heat through the weekend.  I did manage, however to get about 6 hours sleep in the last 24.<\/font><\/p>\n

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

Today\u2019s took me 2:52 (average 5:25).  To do it, click here<\/a>.  How did you do?<\/font><\/p>\n

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

We still need one or two new players for <\/font>Lefty Blog Friends<\/a><\/font>, our fantasy football league.  We\u2019re trying to get Viv in, but are not sure if it will support her smart phone.  How about you?  For more information, <\/font>click here<\/a><\/font>.<\/font><\/p>\n

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

From Daily Kos<\/a>: <\/font>There have been so many ridiculous responses<\/a> to the Supreme Court ruling on the side of marriage equality, it would be quite the challenge to pinpoint the stupidest of them all. The Who’s Who of right-wing crackpots seem to all have a bet going to see which one of them can make the most outlandish, perverse statement against all this gay marriage having. I believe we may have a real contender for top prize in Arkansas pastor Tim Brooks. <\/p>\n

David Barton, who delights in wildly distorting American history<\/a> to suit his fundamentalist Christian beliefs, founded an organization called Wallbuilders [Republican hate group delinked<\/em>]. Of course they have their own radio show called Wallbuilders Live. It was on their whackadoodle airwaves that Pastor Brooks gave us what very well may have been the most over-the-top overreaction of over-the-top overreactions.<\/p>\n

His voice rising to fever pitch, Brooks asserted that America has gone the way of Sodom and Gomorrah. He then leaps to the logical conclusion that gay people will be coming to your home, dragging you into the street, bending you over and having at you<\/a> with lusty gusto.<\/p>\n

If ever there was a case of projection<\/strong>, this is it. What this Republican Supply-side pseudo-Christian describes with his antichristian lies is exactly what the Republican Party is doing to the American people.<\/font><\/p>\n

From Washington Post<\/a>: <\/font>…Today, as he works toward his run at the White House, Bush touts his business experience as a strength that gives him the skills and savvy to serve as the nation\u2019s chief executive. He has said he \u201cworked my tail off\u201d to succeed. As an announced candidate, Bush soon will be making financial disclosures that will reveal recent business successes and show a substantial increase in his wealth since he left office as Florida governor in 2007, individuals close to the candidate told The Post.<\/p>\n

But records, lawsuits, interviews and newspaper accounts stretching back more than three decades present a picture of a man who, before he was elected Florida governor in 1998, often benefited from his family connections and repeatedly put himself in situations that raised questions about his judgment and exposed him to reputational risk\u2026<\/p>\n

Criminal business dealings runs in Strike Three’s family. GW ChickenHawk’s scams are legendary, and the clan’s patriarch, Prescott Bush, committed treason. He continued to profit by selling war materials to Hitler, even after the US and Germany were at war.<\/font><\/p>\n

From Upworthy<\/a>: <\/font>As if Dolly Parton wasn’t cool enough, look what she’s been doing for kids \u2014 every single month.<\/p>\n