{"id":39040,"date":"2020-02-22T09:55:57","date_gmt":"2020-02-22T17:55:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/?p=39040"},"modified":"2020-02-22T09:55:57","modified_gmt":"2020-02-22T17:55:57","slug":"open-thread-2-22-2022","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/2020\/02\/22\/open-thread-2-22-2022\/","title":{"rendered":"Open Thread–2\/22\/2022"},"content":{"rendered":"

The labs are in, and the news is bad.  I do have esophageal cancer, probably in stage III.  That gives me a three year survival rate of 32%, with chemo and radiation.  The next stage is a nose to knees Pet Scan.  So it\u2019s not a happy time in the CatBox.  I plan to get our hosting paid at least a couple years in advance and take steps to transfer ownership of Politics Plus to Nameless, Lynn, Joanne and Lona on my passing, so the community here will survive me.  I plan to dedicate whatever time I have left to do as much good as I can.  I\u2019m very tired.  I had an emergency Republicosis run at 1:30 AM.  Fortunately, I made it to the throne without accident this time.  Tomorrow, please expect no more than an Open Thread.  It\u2019s a WWWendy day, and we have lots of extra work, using the new blender to prepare food less likely to get stuck in my tumor.  Have a great weekend.<\/font><\/p>\n

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

Today\u2019s took me 3:37 (average 5:10).  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 ProPublica<\/a>: President Donald Trump\u2019s new acting intelligence director, Richard Grenell, used to do consulting work on behalf of an Eastern European oligarch who is now a fugitive and was recently barred from entering the U.S. under anti-corruption sanctions imposed last month by the State Department.<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

In 2016, Grenell wrote several<\/a> articles<\/a> defending the oligarch, a Moldovan politician named Vladimir Plahotniuc, but did not disclose that he was being paid, according to records and interviews. Grenell also did not register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, which generally requires people to disclose work in the U.S. on behalf of foreign politicians.<\/p>\n

FARA is the same law that Trump\u2019s former campaign manager Paul Manafort and former deputy campaign manager Rick Gates were convicted of violating. (Manafort went to trial. Gates pleaded guilty.)<\/p>\n

Although such behavior would disqualify a Democrat, in the Republican Reich, proof of such criminal corruption must be tendered by all applicants seeking employment in high office.  RESIST<\/strong>!!<\/font><\/p>\n

From YouTube<\/a> (Parody Project Channel<\/a>): GHOST DONALD IN THE SKY \u2013 Parody<\/font><\/font><\/p>\n