Open Thread–9/6/2012

Posted by TomCat at 9:58 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Sep 062012

I had a rough day yesterday. The bus to my Urologist appointment was 15 minutes late, and then the driver missed my stop and dropped me 6 blocks beyond it. While hurrying to the appointment, I stepped on the edge of the sidewalk and fell twisting my bad leg. In addition, I severely bruised the other knee and skinned a 24in² patch on the calf. ARGH! I learned that the kidney stone was an 8mm stone of the most common type. The heat continues and is getting longer and hotter than originally forecast. ARGH! Nevertheless, I have one more article and it’s a big one. I’m current with replies. Tomorrow appears routine.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:40 (average 4:45). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From MoveOn: The Best Graphic You Can Share About Todd Akin And Paul Ryan Right NOW

6ryan-akin

Do you have to ask what my choice will be?

From The Globe and Mail: Thieves say the have stolen many years of Mitt Romney’s tax records and are threatening to make them public unless the rich Republican presidential candidate – or someone else – pays $1-million in ransom.

Whether the heist is a diabolical blackmail scheme, a whole new dimension of political dirty tricks in the digital era or just a wacky bluff isn’t clear, but the stakes are very high and the Secret Service is investigating.

Do you think Willard will pay? If the story disappears, he did.

From The Nation: Republican vice-presidential candidate Paul Ryan is barnstorming the country, promising to repeal every provision of the Affordable Care Act if the Romney-Ryan ticket is elected. But a letter he wrote to the Obama administration may undermine this message.

On December 10, 2010, Ryan penned a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services to recommend a grant application for the Kenosha Community Health Center, Inc to develop a new facility in Racine, Wisconsin, an area within Ryan’s district. "The proposed new facility, the Belle City Neighborhood Health Center, will serve both the preventative and comprehensive primary health care needs of thousands of new patients of all ages who are currently without health care," Ryan wrote.

If the grant was approved, you can be sure that lying SOB told his constituents that it came from him, not Obamacare!

Cartoon:

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Michelle Hit It Out of the Park

Posted by TomCat at 8:13 am Politics

Sep 052012

After last week’s Republican convention, the opening night of the DNC was a breath of fresh air. It offered a cross section of America, as opposed to a cross section of the country club. It was about people, as opposed to things. It was inclusive, as opposed to exclusive. It related policy to people, as opposed to misrepresenting policy altogether. It embraced Main Street, as opposed to Wall Street. It was exciting, as opposed to droll. It built to a crescendo, leading up to Michelle Obama, who hit it out of the park.

Democrats opened their convention here on Tuesday night with a parade of officials telling voters that Mitt Romney does not get it and with a rousing speech from Michelle Obama making the case that President Obama does.

Mr. Obama’s roster of Democratic promoters spent the first hours detailing a political indictment of Mr. Romney, blistering him as being out of touch with the middle class and intent on taking the country back to the policies that caused the economy’s problems.

But the main attraction of the evening was the appearance of Mr. Obama’s lead character witness: the first lady, who, wearing a pink-and-gold-speckled sleeveless dress, was greeted with chants of “Four more years!” from the excited arena, to which she responded: “With your help.”…

…“He believes that when you’ve worked hard, and done well, and walked through that doorway of opportunity, you do not slam it shut behind you,” Mrs. Obama said, her impassioned delivery drawing the crowd to its feet as it waved red, white and blue “Michelle” placards. “You reach back, and you give other folks the same chances that helped you succeed.”… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <NY Times>

Photo credit: Boston Globe

Chris Hayes and Al Sharpton had a few remarks.

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Even the right wing pundits I am hearing, with the exception of those on the Republican Ministry of Propaganda, Faux Noise, admit that she and the other speakers positioned the opening night of the DNC head and shoulders above their Republican counterparts.

May the rest of it be as inspiring!

Register to Vote Here!

Posted by TomCat at 8:10 am Plus, Politics

Sep 052012

I have frequently given examples here of how the Republican Party is bending head over heels to interfere with your right to vote, if you are old, disables, poor, a minority, a student or a worker. In sharp contrast, Barack Obama and the Democratic Party support voting rights for all qualified voters, regardless of affiliation, and have done this to try to make it easier to register.

Anyone with a website or blog can now easily help register voters for the fall election. You can use the settings at left to customize an embeddable voter registration widget for your website.

Visitors to your site will be able to easily fill out and print the appropriate voter registration form for their state, or register online if their state allows.

Inserted from <BarackObama.com>

You can click through to get this widget for your own site.

Open Thread–9/5/2012

Posted by TomCat at 8:09 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Sep 052012

Yesterday was the coolest forecast of the heat wave, and the temperature in my apartment dropped below 90° a little after midnight, so I’m pretty pooped. I actually have three articles today, but I will not have time to distribute the links before tomorrow, because of today’s medical appointment. I’m current with replies, albeit very briefly. Tomorrow I have to stay home, because my Medicare Advantage company is visiting for my annual O₂ check.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 4:17 (average 4:54). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From MoveOn: All Men Are Created Equal. Except For One Of These Twins, Apparently.

I was happy to see the recurring theme last night at the DNC that marrying whomever you love is a basic human right.

From Bloomberg: BP Plc (BP/), the owner of the Macondo well that caused the worst U.S. oil spill two years ago, declined in London after the Department of Justice reiterated it will pursue charges of gross negligence in the case.

Good! It’s sad the wheels of justice move so slowly!

From Boston Globe: Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren will be looking to boost her campaign with a speech to the Democratic National Convention.

Warren is scheduled to be among those speaking to the delegates on Wednesday night. The Harvard Law School professor and consumer advocate is trying to unseat Republican Sen. Scott Brown, who won a special election to succeed the late Sen. Edward Kennedy.

Go Warren!!!

Cartoon:

5Cartoon

Are We Better Off?

Posted by TomCat at 10:41 am Politics

Sep 042012

It surprised me that, when asked if we are better off now than we were four years ago on Sunday, Obama campaign officials fumbled the question. I would think that a comparison of conditions between Obama’s inauguration and the present, would be a key issue in the campaign. Lets look first at a Republican view of the issue.

Paul Ryan delivered a scathing criticism of President Barack Obama’s stewardship of the nation’s economy Monday, arguing that even conservative punching bag Jimmy Carter’s presidency was better as Democrats streamed to North Carolina to nominate Obama for a second term.

“The president can say a lot of things and he will,” the Republican vice presidential candidate told more than 2,000 supporters in East Carolina University’s student recreation center, about 230 miles east of the Democratic National Convention site in Charlotte. “But he can’t tell you that you’re better off. Simply put, the Jimmy Carter years look like the good old days compared to where we are right now.”

The message, comparing today’s economic problems with the troubled economic conditions of the Carter administration, is part of a broader GOP strategy to ask voters whether they are better off now than they were four years ago. Polling suggests the criticism may resonate with voters who continue to like Obama personally but are frustrated with the pace of economic recovery two months before Election Day… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <Washington Post>

Photo credit: The Republican Oracle

That may sound good, but note that Ryan evaded any actual comparisons between now and four years ago. There is a very good reason he avoided that.

Next, lets look a a Democratic view.

Democratic Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren, asked Tuesday if Americans were better off than they were four years ago, said people should remember the “recklessness” of Wall Street and the plight of the auto industry.

“I remember what was happening four years ago,” Warren said Tuesday on ABC’s “Good Morning America.” “The markets were crashing, the financial industry was threatening to seize up, the auto industry was about to plunge over the edge. There was a real question among most economists of whether this country was headed into a full-fledged depression. We have to remember what the recklessness on Wall Street did. It costs trillions of dollars in home value. It costs trillions of dollars in pension value. It cost millions of people their jobs.”

Warren, who is trailing incumbent GOP Sen. Scott Brown in Massachusetts, is set to address the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte on Wednesday night. She has become a liberal hero for her slashing attacks on Wall Street and for designing the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <Politico>

Photo credit: Left Foot Forward

Nobody I have found discussing this issue has more expertise on the economy than Warren, and unlike Ryan she actually used conditions four years ago. Also note the graph of Gross Domestic Product change. That bottom tip of the V is where the economy was four years ago. Only a moron could argue that it has not improved. The Bikini Graph of job growth tells the same story.

Next lets look at what American voters are most likely to be told on the main stream media.

60 Percent Of Segments Asked "Are You Better Off Than You Were Four Year Ago" But Provided No Explanation Of Where We Were Four Years Ago. Between August 1 and 26, CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC hosted 35 discussions that attempted to answer the question, "Are you better off than you were four years ago?" In 21 of those discussions — accounting for 60 percent of the segments — no data from 2008 was presented.

Monthly Jobs Data And GDP From 2008 Completely Shut Out Of "Are You Better Off" Conversation. None of the 35 segments mention two key economic indicators from 2008, gross domestic product and monthly employment changes.

Cable News Most Likely To Focus On Debt, Unemployment Rate When Discussing Where The Economy Was Four Years Ago. Cable news hosts and guests were most likely to focus on national debt and the unemployment rate when providing. During the 14 segments that provided context as to where the economy was four years ago, national debt was mentioned nine times, and the unemployment rate was discussed eight times. The financial crisis was mentioned three times, personal income was mentioned twice, and the stock market was mentioned once…

Inserted from <Media Matters>

That is pathetic. Over sixty percent of news segments present the issue like Ryan did, with no comparative data. Of the 40% that did, not one presented the most significant data. Is it any wonder that so many Americans are ignorant on this subject? So much for the so-called liberal media!

We are not completely without media representation. Last night, Ed Schultz explained why we are better off now than we were four years ago accurately and well.

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Four years ago America was over the cliff and plunging fast. To make matters worse, the Republican Party got together and recognized that whatever success Obama had in recovering the economy would provide a clear and accurate comparison between the two parties. The Republicans determined to do everything possible to prevent it, uncaring that they would be harming millions of American families in the process. In spite of their best efforts at sabotage, Obama and the Democrats stopped the downward plunge and made progress in returning the economy to conditions before Wall Street and the Republican Party trashed it.

So are we better off now than we were four years ago? In good faith, I just cannot say yes. Yes in insufficient. Lets try this instead:

HELL YES!

Democrats Release Party Platform

Posted by TomCat at 10:40 am Politics

Sep 042012

When I read the Republican Party platform, some of it actually sounded fairly good, until I considered the infinite gulf between what Republicans say and what Republicans do. This morning I got up early to read the Democratic Party platform and found it refreshingly in line with actual Democratic policy.

Democrats unveiled a party platform at their national convention Monday that echoes President Barack Obama’s call for higher taxes on wealthier Americans while backing same-sex marriage and abortion rights.

Delegates will vote Tuesday to adopt the platform that reflects the president’s argument that his work is unfinished and he deserves another four years to complete the job.

‘‘Today, our economy is growing again, al-Qaeda is weaker than at any point since 9/11, and our manufacturing sector is growing for the first time in more than a decade. But there is more we need to do, and so we come together again to continue what we started,’’ the platform said.

The document is a sharp contrast from the Republican blueprint that the GOP adopted at its convention last week. The Republican plan would ban abortion and gay marriage, repeal Obama’s health care overhaul law and shift Medicare into a voucher-style program.

Democrats acknowledged that divergent views.

‘‘This election is not simply a choice between two candidates or two political parties, but between two fundamentally different paths for our country and our families,’’ the Democrats said… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <Boston Globe>

This article goes on to give an analysis of the platform that is well worth reading, or you can download the Democratic Party platform here.

I trust that unless you are in the 1%, a corporate criminal, a hate monger, or trying to impose your religious dogma by force on those who want nothing to do with it, you will find the Democratic Platform far superior to the Republican.

Open Thread–9/4/2012

Posted by TomCat at 10:40 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Sep 042012

Yesterday was a restful holiday. I’m current on replies. Tomorrow I will likely have an Open Thread at most, because I have an extended appointment with my urologist for my kidney stones.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 4:06 (average 4:22). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From MoveOn: Did Eisenhower Predict The End Of The GOP?

4Ike

Their number is no longer negligible, but they are still stupid.

From Current: Paul Ryan Comedy Sing-Along: "You Can’t Hide Paul Ryan’s Lies" (The Eagles)

Truer words were never spoken, let alone sung!

From YouTube (Hat-Tip Nick from Care2): "Legitimate Rape" Pharmaceutical Ad (TW)

This shows just how absurd the GOP dogma really is!

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4Cartoon

Labor Day Greeting

Posted by TomCat at 10:06 am Holiday, Politics

Sep 032012

Labor-day2012

For most of my early life I considered Labor Day little more than a day off at the end of summer. That’s because I am not a union man. I have never belonged to a union, nor has anyone in my family. So what has the labor movement done for me? I have learned what organized labor has done to improve the lot of all American Workers, and I have come to understand that Labor Day is a celebration of Union labor, and one that is well deserved.

ThinkProgress has assembled just five of the many things that Americans can thank the nation’s unions for giving us all:

1. Unions Gave Us The Weekend: Even the ultra-conservative Mises Institute notes that the relatively labor-free 1870, the average workweek for most Americans was 61 hours — almost double what most Americans work now…

2. Unions Gave Us Fair Wages And Relative Income Equality: As ThinkProgress reported earlier in the week, the relative decline of unions over the past 35 years has mirrored a decline in the middle class’s share of national income…

3. Unions Helped End Child Labor: “Union organizing and child labor reform were often intertwined” in U.S. history, with organization’s like the “National Consumers’ League” and the National Child Labor Committee” working together in the early 20th century to ban child labor…

4. Unions Won Widespread Employer-Based Health Coverage: “The rise of unions in the 1930′s and 1940′s led to the first great expansion of health care” for all Americans, as labor unions banded workers together to negotiate for health coverage plans from employers…

5. Unions Spearheaded The Fight For The Family And Medical Leave Act: Labor unions like the AFL-CIO federation led the fight for this 1993 law, which “requires state agencies and private employers with more than 50 employees to provide up to 12 weeks of job-protected unpaid leave annually for workers to care for a newborn, newly adopted child, seriously ill family member or for the worker’s own illness.”

… [emphasis original]

Inserted from <Think Progress>

It’s well worth the time to click through for the rest of this article.

Furthermore, here is an excellent video on what labor has done for America.

Therefore, to begin my celebration of Labor Day in the best possible way, I wish to thank all of you who are or have been union workers. My life is better because of you. And to you and everyone else, have a Happy Labor Day!

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