{"id":30645,"date":"2017-12-10T12:44:55","date_gmt":"2017-12-10T20:44:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/?p=30645"},"modified":"2017-12-10T12:44:55","modified_gmt":"2017-12-10T20:44:55","slug":"open-thread-12-10-2017","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/2017\/12\/10\/open-thread-12-10-2017\/","title":{"rendered":"Open Thread – 12\/10\/2017"},"content":{"rendered":"

Wendy just left and I’m going to rush to connect with my pillow, instead of paying attention to my Broncos getting slaughtered.<\/font><\/p>\n

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

Today’s took me 4:59 (average 5:51).  To do it, click here<\/a>.  How did you do?<\/font><\/p>\n

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

From Politico<\/a>: <\/font>Democrats head into Tuesday\u2019s Senate election in Alabama confident that they’ll come out on top no matter who wins.<\/p>\n

And many Republicans agree with them.<\/p>\n

If Doug Jones prevails, Democrats expect it will further excite their base, bolster candidate recruitment and fuel fundraising heading into 2018, coming off their near-sweep of last month’s elections. They will revel in picking up a Senate seat in the Deep South, especially in a state so central to President Donald Trump\u2019s political rise and where he earlier backed the loser of the GOP primary. Practically, Republicans would have a 51-49 Senate majority, leaving them with a single vote to spare assuming Democrats stick together.<\/p>\n

But the alternative won’t make for bad politics, either, Democrats say.<\/p>\n

If Roy Moore wins, they’ll spend the next year yoking every Republican they can to the accused child predator and a president who welcomed him into the GOP fold. They’ll be quick to remind everyone of all the other comments Moore has made against Muslims and gays and in favor of Vladimir Putin\u2019s view of America as evil, as well as his rosy view<\/a> of slave-era America.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019ll be the gift that keeps on giving for Democrats. If you\u2019re running in 2018, Roy Moore\u2019s going to be your new best friend. As a Republican, to think that you can win without the baggage of Roy Moore is pretty na\u00efve,\u201d said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.).<\/p>\n

He certainly does have a point. I want to win, but if we lose, Moore will be an ongoing source of ammunition. RESIST<\/strong>!!<\/font><\/p>\n

From The New Yorker<\/a>: <\/font>In a unique accord, the billionaire Koch brothers and the National Rifle Association have reached a timeshare agreement over the ownership of House Speaker Paul Ryan, representatives of both parties have confirmed.<\/p>\n

Speaking on behalf of the Kochs, Charles Koch said that he contacted the N.R.A.\u2019s executive director, Wayne LaPierre, with the timeshare proposal \u201cso that we could all get the maximum enjoyment out of owning Paul.\u201d<\/p>\n

The arrangement is intended to minimize conflicts between the Kochs and the gun group that have arisen in the past when both co-owners have wanted to use Ryan at the same time, Koch said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI said to Wayne, \u2018This is craziness,\u2019 \u201d he said. \u201c \u2018Let\u2019s work something out where you get Paul half the year, and we\u2019ll take him the other half.\u2019 \u201d<\/p>\n

Under the timeshare deal, the Kochs will have the exclusive use of Ryan during the months when tax cuts and environmental deregulation are put to a vote, while the N.R.A. will have him for the months when gun legislation is to be defeated.<\/p>\n

Dang Andy! Aren’t the KKK feeling snubbed? RESIST<\/strong>!!<\/font><\/p>\n

From NY Times<\/a>: <\/font>Newly released body camera footage shows a police officer shooting an unarmed man in an Arizona hotel after the man sobbed and pleaded with officers not to shoot him.<\/p>\n

The graphic video, which was released after a jury on Thursday acquitted the officer of murder and manslaughter charges, stoked outrage on social media and renewed calls for reforms in law enforcement.<\/p>\n

WARNING! Fatal Shooting Shown!<\/font><\/strong><\/p>\n