{"id":38718,"date":"2020-01-18T08:51:07","date_gmt":"2020-01-18T16:51:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/?p=38718"},"modified":"2020-01-18T08:51:07","modified_gmt":"2020-01-18T16:51:07","slug":"open-thread-1-18-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/2020\/01\/18\/open-thread-1-18-2020\/","title":{"rendered":"Open Thread – 1\/18\/2020"},"content":{"rendered":"

It’s another crappy day, here in the CatBox, and I ALMOST went back to bed.  Oh well, I get the camera in my gut in less than a month now.  Tomorrow is a High Holy Day in the Church of the Ellipsoid Orb, the Festival of Conference Finality.  May the Orb shine it’s blessed light on your team, if it has survived.  I’ll be out of the saddle on Sunday and Monday.  Sunday is a WWWendy Day and we have a very stinky TomCat and lots of chores to manage.  Please expect no more than a Personal Update or Open Thread.  On Monday I have an appt. with my cardiologist.  If you remember, a few weeks back, I was telling my PCP about my heartburn, when an acid bubble came up my esophagus.  I put up my hand to my chest, winced, and lowered my head in pain.  Megan freaked out.  She slapped on the EKG stickers, and once she realized I wasn’t having a heart attack, she insisted I make an appointment with Lisa.  That was set back a few weeks ago, because TriMet Lift was two hours plus late and could not pick me up until well after my appointment time.  So Monday I hope to publish a Personal Update, and an MLK Day article, prepared a day in advance.  I hope to be back in the saddle Tuesday.  Have a great weekend.<\/font><\/p>\n

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

Today’s took me 4:24 (average 4:27).  I’m amazed I beat the average.  To do it, click here<\/a>.  How did you do?<\/font><\/p>\n

Cartoon<\/strong>:<\/font><\/p>\n

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

From Alternet<\/a>: <\/font>In the past, Sen. Susan Collins of Maine was among the most popular Republicans in New England \u2014 a region of the United States that has become increasingly Democratic in recent years. Collins, first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1996, was reelected by 17% in 2002, 23% in 2008 and 38% in 2014. But that was before Donald Trump became president, and according to polling by Morning Consult, Collins now enjoys 42% approval and 52% disapproval \u2014 making her the most unpopular politician in the U.S. Senate<\/a>.<\/p>\n

During the first quarter of 2017, according to Morning Consult, Collins enjoyed 67% approval in Maine. But the last quarter of 2019 found her overtaking Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in terms of unpopularity. <\/p>\n

It could not have happened to a more deserving bitch (apologies to female dawgs<\/em>)!  Maine… Vote Blue!!  RESIST<\/strong>!!<\/font> <\/p>\n

From YouTube<\/a> (MSNBC Channel<\/a>): <\/font>President Donald Trump Picks Jeffrey Epstein Lawyers For Impeachment <\/p>\n