{"id":15544,"date":"2015-07-03T12:34:40","date_gmt":"2015-07-03T19:34:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/?p=15544"},"modified":"2015-07-03T12:34:40","modified_gmt":"2015-07-03T19:34:40","slug":"open-thread732015","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/2015\/07\/03\/open-thread732015\/","title":{"rendered":"Open Thread–7\/3\/2015"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s another day, and the unrelenting heat continues.  The webs between by toes, developed from living in cool, rainy Oregon for thirty-six years are cracked and brittle.  The long range forecast sets the next day, below 90\u00b0 as 7\/11.  This weather would be exceptional in the heat season, August and early September, not June and July.  ARGH!!  Although today is the official holiday, I\u2019ll save Independence Day greetings for tomorrow.<\/font><\/p>\n

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

Today\u2019s took me 6:15 (average 5:08 (COPD coughing attack in mid-solve)).  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 Media Matters<\/a>: <\/font>The Associated Press’ (AP) report on a meeting between lawless Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy and Republican presidential hopeful Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) completely ignored the nationwide controversy Bundy sparked in 2014 when he made a series of racist comments about "the Negro." Paul himself repudiated Bundy at the time for his "offensive" commentary, a fact that was also missing from the AP article.<\/p>\n

According to the AP<\/a>, Bundy and Paul met during a June 29 campaign event in Mesquite, Nevada. Bundy said of Paul to the AP, "In general, I think we’re in tune with each other." Politico additionally reported<\/a> that the two men spoke for 45 minutes.<\/p>\n

In its report, AP described the April 2014 armed standoff between Bundy supporters and federal law enforcement agents as "one of the more dramatic conflicts over land rights in recent years," but made no mention of Bundy’s infamous racist commentary…<\/p>\n

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