{"id":16333,"date":"2015-10-05T01:23:20","date_gmt":"2015-10-05T08:23:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/?p=16333"},"modified":"2015-10-05T01:23:20","modified_gmt":"2015-10-05T08:23:20","slug":"squatchs-open-thread-05102015","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/2015\/10\/05\/squatchs-open-thread-05102015\/","title":{"rendered":"Squatch’s Open Thread 05\/10\/2015"},"content":{"rendered":"

That Lona has been at it again . . . I had an extended cat nap again this afternoon, but it was glorious!  Me and my 3 furbabes snuggled together.  I had spent the morning and early afternoon working on today's second article when my eyes started getting heavy.  I gave up resisting the allure of my pillow and I was gone!  I might have been gone but the laundry wasn't!  Tomorrow is a must on the laundry scene after physio and teaching ESL!<\/span><\/p>\n

Puzzle<\/strong> — Today’s took me 3:23 (average 5:13). To do it, <\/span>click here<\/span><\/a><\/strong>. How did you do? For those that don't know, we always do the 48 piece classic.<\/span><\/p>\n

Short Takes<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Raw Story<\/span><\/a><\/strong> — US Republican Representative Jason Chaffetz, chairman of the House oversight panel, announced on Sunday he was running for speaker, a bid seen as a long shot that could still stir up the contest to replace John Boehner.  …<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Representative Daniel Webster, former speaker of Florida’s House of Representatives, has also challenged McCarthy for House of Representatives speaker.<\/p>\n

Chaffetz said many Republican lawmakers wanted a change in leadership. Republicans currently hold a majority in both houses of Congress.<\/p>\n

The House Republican conference is set to start on Thursday, and by the end, a new Speaker of the House will be announced.  We know that Kevin McCarthy was anointed by Boehner to take over.  However he is now challenged by Jason Chavetz, the idiot who was caught with "his pants down" during the inquisition of Planned Parenthood's CEO, Cecile Richards, and Daniel Webster from Florida.  See <\/span>The Daily Signal<\/span><\/a><\/strong> for a short article on Webster.  I wonder if any more Republicans will come out of the woodwork for the top job?<\/span><\/p>\n

The New Yorker<\/span><\/a><\/strong> — Americans who are opposed to being shot, a constituency that has historically failed to find representation in Washington, are making a new effort to make its controversial ideas heard in the nation’s capital.<\/p>\n

“When you bring up the idea of not wanting to be shot with members of Congress, there’s always been pushback,” Carol Foyler, founder of the lobbying group Americans Opposed to Being Shot, said. “Their reaction has been, basically, ‘Not being shot: who’s going to support something like that?’”<\/p>\n

Foyler, however, believes that the right to not be shot, much like women’s right to vote, the right to same-sex marriage, and other rights that were deemed controversial in their day, may be an idea whose time has finally come.<\/p>\n

IMO, Andy has hit on something, albeit a little late.  Perhaps the 4th amendment of the US Constitution could be amended such as "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, and being shot when not in the commission of a crime,<\/strong><\/em> shall not be violated, …".  That might affect stand your ground laws, but . . .<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Alternet<\/span><\/a><\/strong> <\/strong>— <\/span>A 2015 study<\/a> found that when guns are used to kill people in the United States, they are overwhelmingly used for murder rather than self-defense. That study found that in 2012, there were only 259 justifiable homicides, or what is commonly referred to as self-defense, compared to 8,342 criminal firearm homicides. In 2008-2012, the report says, guns were used in 42,419 criminal homicides and only 1,108 justifiable homicides.<\/p>\n

So if Americans aren’t using their guns for self-defense, does it make sense to do away with the charade of “sensible gun restrictions” talk and just get real about banning at least some guns outright?<\/p>\n

The gun lobby is hanging its hat on the 2nd amendment, an amendment that was written in a different time under different conditions. Its unwillingness to support stricter gun regulations is, IMO, an indication that it does not care one iota for the innocent lives lost, only for the profits of the gun and ammunition manufacturers.<\/span><\/p>\n

Raw Story<\/strong><\/span><\/a> — <\/span>In an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) declined to endorse any of the candidates currently running, in spite of Tapper’s badgering.<\/p>\n

“Do you want to ask this six different ways?” she asked the CNN anchor as he attempted to get her to praise Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) over former Secretary of State and First Lady Hillary Clinton.<\/p>\n

\"Image:<\/p>\n

… She went on to slam Republicans for trying to shut down Planned Parenthood on the basis of anti-choice zealots the Center for Medical Progress’ phony video smear campaign.<\/p>\n

You really need to go to <\/span>Raw Story<\/span><\/a> <\/strong>to view a video of a feisty Elizabeth Warren speaking on women's health, Planned Parenthood and financial reforms. She is so passionate, so spot on.  Go Lizzie!<\/span><\/p>\n

My Universe<\/strong><\/span> — Love me some Simon's Cat<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n