{"id":15641,"date":"2015-07-18T12:29:54","date_gmt":"2015-07-18T19:29:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/?p=15641"},"modified":"2015-07-18T12:29:54","modified_gmt":"2015-07-18T19:29:54","slug":"open-thread7182015","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/2015\/07\/18\/open-thread7182015\/","title":{"rendered":"Open Thread–7\/18\/2015"},"content":{"rendered":"

I\u2019ve has almost no sleep, because it has been hot and muggy, a combination that always exacerbates street noise.  Portland is under a severe weather warning for excessive heat until Monday evening.  Today\u2019s forecast high is 98\u00b0.  Fortunately, I got up very early this morning to cook, as now it would not be feasible.  I hope you\u2019re having a great weekend.<\/font><\/p>\n

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

Today\u2019s took me 2:47 (average 4:37).  To do0 it, click here<\/a>.  How did you do?<\/font><\/p>\n

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

From Daily Kos<\/a>: <\/font>The mayor of Airway Heights, Washington\u2014a suburb of Spokane\u2014is refusing calls to resign despite immediate backlash regarding comments he made on Facebook:<\/a><\/p>\n

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The comment in full that was found on Patrick Rushing’s Facebook page read:  "Gorilla face Michelle, can’t disagree with that.  The woman is not attractive except to monkey man Barack.  Check out them ears. LOL."   <\/p>\n

I showed Rushing the statement, and he confirmed he had posted it, so I asked him why he would write something like that.  <\/p>\n

"It’s just playful back and forth banter that my friends and I do," said Rushing.  <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The Airway Heights City Council was unanimous in their desire to see him resign, but he’s not budging.<\/p>\n

By thinking such comments were just joking, this Republican proved that he really is a racist.<\/font><\/p>\n

From NY Times<\/a>: <\/font>Days after a showdown over the Confederate battle flag, House Republicans are barreling toward a new confrontation on another contentious issue: How should Congress respond to the Supreme Court\u2019s decision to legalize same-sex marriage?<\/p>\n

Legislation granting protections for tax-exempt organizations and individuals objecting to same-sex marriage on religious or moral grounds is gathering momentum in the House. The bills<\/a>, drafted by Representative Ra\u00fal R. Labrador, Republican of Idaho, and Senator Mike Lee, Republican of Utah, already have 130 co-sponsors. On Thursday, the Republican Study Committee, the largest, most organized group of conservatives in the House, demanded a vote.<\/p>\n

Once again, Republicans are trying to make Republican Supply-side pseudo-Christians above the law.<\/font><\/p>\n

From Alternet<\/a>: <\/font>Elizabeth Warren has drawn a line in 2016\u2019s presidential election sands.<\/p>\n

Speaking at the Netroots Nation conference in Phoenix on Friday, she challenged the presidential candidates to stand behind legislation introduced this week that would vastly slow down the revolving door between Wall Street\u2019s financial firms and working for the government\u2014where high-level private sector employees end up making government decisions that favor their past employers over the public.<\/p>\n