{"id":26260,"date":"2017-02-12T12:06:24","date_gmt":"2017-02-12T20:06:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/?p=26260"},"modified":"2017-02-14T12:24:10","modified_gmt":"2017-02-14T20:24:10","slug":"open-thread-1122017-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/2017\/02\/12\/open-thread-1122017-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Open Thread – 2\/12\/2017"},"content":{"rendered":"

Wendy just left and I'm just beginning my writing for the day.  Please expect no more than a Personal Update from me tomorrow, because I have a routine appointment with my Urologist.  I feel sorry for Fuhrer Tiny Hands.  His Urologist is no longer available, having died laughing.<\/font><\/p>\n

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

Today's took me 5:27 (average 7:14).  To do it, click here<\/a>.  How did you do?<\/font><\/p>\n

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

From NY Times<\/a>: <\/font>When Republicans in Kentucky seized total control of the state government last year, Damon Thayer, the majority leader in the State Senate, began asking around for advice from counterparts in other capitals where the party already dominated both the legislative and executive branches.<\/p>\n

How should we handle all this power? he wanted to know.<\/p>\n

One answer impressed him, Mr. Thayer said, from a senior Republican lawmaker in Wisconsin: “Move quickly.”<\/p>\n

Kentucky Republicans have done just that, swiftly passing laws to roll back the powers of labor unions and restrict access to abortion. But they are only getting started, Mr. Thayer said in an interview: They also plan to make sweeping changes to the education and public pension systems this year.<\/p>\n

And they have plenty of company.<\/p>\n

While Republicans in Washington appear flummoxed by the complexities of one-party rule, struggling with issues from repealing the Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare, to paying for President Trump’s promised wall on the Mexican border, rising party leaders in the states seem far more at ease and assertive. Republicans have top-to-bottom control in 25 states now, holding both the governorship and the entire legislature, and Republican lawmakers are acting with lightning speed to enact longstanding conservative priorities.<\/p>\n

Democratic leaders, to their shame, have ignored building our state and local parties. That must change.<\/font><\/p>\n

From YouTube<\/a> (SNL Channel<\/a>): <\/font>Sean Spicer Press Conference Cold Open<\/p>\n