{"id":41108,"date":"2020-09-12T11:54:08","date_gmt":"2020-09-12T18:54:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/?p=41108"},"modified":"2020-09-12T11:54:08","modified_gmt":"2020-09-12T18:54:08","slug":"open-thread-9-12-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/2020\/09\/12\/open-thread-9-12-2020\/","title":{"rendered":"Open Thread – 9\/12\/2020"},"content":{"rendered":"

It’s a crazy day here in the CatBox.  WWWendy did not co to Crater Lake, because between the wildfires and Trump* virus, virtually everything there is closed.  She arrived late, because the visibility is terrible.  She cut my hair and is now gooping, while I write.  This is my only article today.  Have a great weekend.<\/font><\/p>\n

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

Today’s took me 3:05 (average 4:57).  To do it, click here<\/a>.  How did you do?<\/font><\/p>\n

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

<\/font><\/p>\n

Vintage 2013<\/font><\/p>\n

Trump* Virus Update<\/strong>:<\/font><\/p>\n

\"0912TrumpVirusMap\"<\/font><\/p>\n

Click for interactive map<\/a><\/p>\n

US Cases:6,639,386
US Deaths: 197,473
Plus thousands of Trump’s* GOP murder victims Republicans are hiding from us<\/font><\/strong> <\/p>\n

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

From NY Times<\/a>: <\/font>Well before his move to the Department of Homeland Security, Brian Murphy had become known as an ambitious counterterrorism investigator at the F.B.I., determined and relentless. At times, though, colleagues chafed at what some saw as an overzealous disregard for bureaucratic rules.<\/p>\n

All of those traits may have been at play this week when Mr. Murphy, a career law enforcement officer, became a whistle-blower<\/a>. <\/p>\n

The Department of Homeland Security was built after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, 19 years ago Friday, to keep federal, state and local governments coordinated on national security threats. But in his whistle-blower complaint<\/a>, Mr. Murphy, the department\u2019s former intelligence chief, said its senior leaders directed him to do the opposite: play down the primary national security threats of white supremacy<\/a> and Russian election interference, thus distorting intelligence to mirror President Trump\u2019s messaging. <\/p>\n

The allegations, coming less than two months before Election Day, add to the growing evidence that Mr. Trump has prioritized his own political goals over the word of his intelligence officials, and that the Homeland Security Department has become an instrument of his personal will. Mr. Murphy\u2019s complaint reflects the current turmoil at homeland security and is another front in Mr. Trump\u2019s battle with the government\u2019s intelligence agencies<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Barrf strikes again! That is far worse than acting as Trump’s* personal lawyer!  RESIST<\/strong>!!<\/font> <\/p>\n

From YouTube<\/a> (MSNBC Channel<\/a>): <\/font>Sen. Merkley On West Coast Wildfires: It \u2018Puts On Exclamation Point\u2019 On Climate Catastrophe<\/font><\/p>\n