{"id":35133,"date":"2018-12-24T12:10:14","date_gmt":"2018-12-24T20:10:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/?p=35133"},"modified":"2018-12-24T12:10:14","modified_gmt":"2018-12-24T20:10:14","slug":"open-thread-12-24-2018","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/2018\/12\/24\/open-thread-12-24-2018\/","title":{"rendered":"Open Thread – 12\/24\/2018"},"content":{"rendered":"

I surprised myself.  I actually found a full slate of articles for today.  If you’re driving, please stay safe.  Holiday hugs!<\/font><\/p>\n

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

Today’s took me 3:36 (average 4:55).  To do it, click here<\/a>.  How did you do?<\/font><\/p>\n

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

From NY Times<\/a>: <\/font>Less than two hours after Defense Secretary Jim Mattis went to the White House on Thursday to hand a resignation letter to President Trump, the president stood in the Oval Office and dictated a glowing tweet announcing that Mr. Mattis was retiring \u201cwith distinction\u201d at the end of February.<\/p>\n

But Mr. Trump had not read the letter. As became apparent to the president only after days of news coverage, a senior administration official said, Mr. Mattis had issued a stinging rebuke of Mr. Trump over his neglect of allies and tolerance of authoritarians. The president grew increasingly angry as he watched a parade of defense analysts go on television to extol Mr. Mattis\u2019s bravery, another aide said, until he decided on Sunday that he had had enough.<\/p>\n

In a tweet later that morning, the president announced that he was removing Mr. Mattis from his post by Jan. 1, two months before the defense secretary had planned to depart. Mr. Trump said that Patrick M. Shanahan, Mr. Mattis\u2019s deputy and a former Boeing executive, would serve as the acting defense secretary, praising him as \u201cvery talented\u201d and adding that \u201che will be great!\u201d<\/p>\n

That means tiny hands can reach the button two months early. Duck world! RESIST<\/strong>!!<\/font><\/p>\n

From YouTube<\/a> (Parody Project Channel<\/a>): <\/font>AWAY IN A MANGER in 2018 – Parody<\/p>\n