Yesterday I got my groceries stowed away, but got little sleep, because of coughing. I’m getting all the rest I can. Some of the people I am feeding tomorrow will be taking on the lion’s share of the food prep, and I will cook the veggies today, so the only thing I’ll have to cook tomorrow is the ham. I’m current with replies. Tomorrow I will have two articles, an Open Thread and a Christmas message.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s tool me 4:34 (average 5:13). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Religious Ecstasy:
Fantasy Football Report:
Here is the playoff chart for our fantasy football league, Lefty Blog Friends.
Good luck to all!
Short Takes:
From NY Times: The United States government recently sold the last of its shares in the American International Group, more than four years after it bailed out the insurance giant with a package of assistance that eventually totaled $180 billion. In announcing the sale, the Treasury Department also said that the government had a “positive return” of $22.7 billion — a sum that fails to take into account tax breaks A.I.G. received as a ward of the state. But whether the government profited from the bailout is not important. The truly vital issue is this: Could this happen again? Unfortunately, the troubling answer is yes.
This needs to be a matter of concern for every American. I suggest you click through for the rest of this excellent editorial.
From Salon.com: Former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, who left public life two years ago after mysteriously disappearing to visit his then-mistress in Argentina, is poised to re-enter the political arena…
…The two-term governor was a rising Republican political star before he vanished from South Carolina for five days in 2009. Reporters were told he was hiking the Appalachian Trail, but he later tearfully acknowledged he was visiting Maria Belen Chapur, a woman he called his soul mate at a news conference announcing his affair. The two were engaged earlier this year.
The opening for Sanford comes after Rep. Tim Scott was appointed to fill the remaining two years of Sen. Jim DeMint’s seat. DeMint announced earlier this month he was resigning.
News that Sanford, 52, may be interested in the seat comes days after his ex-wife, Jenny, appeared to be dipping her toe into the state’s political waters.
You can be sure he’ll be running as a Republican Family Values candidate. That’s what Republican Family Values are all about. That he may be running against his victim is the height of irony. I highly doubt that SC will keep Tim Scott in that seat any longer than absolutely necessary, since his appointment was likely only a cover-up for Republican racism.
From Crooks and Liars: Just in case anyone didn’t think that Michelle Malkin’s display on Fox & Friends was quite enough with them carrying water for Wayne LaPierre and the NRA, they decided to bring in for good measure right wing rag The Daily Caller co-founder, and heir to the Swanson food fortune, Tucker Carlson, to lay the blame for the school shooting at Sandy Hook at the feet of President Obama, Democrats and Hollywood liberals. Because we all know that guns don’t kill people, people who watch violent movies do.
They complain about "Hollywood actors" supporting firearms restrictions. Have they forgotten Charlton Heston? I agree with them that Hollywood produces too much violence, but I hesitate to impinge on the studios’ rights under the First Amendment. The Republican Ministry of Propaganda is clearly supporting the NRA.
Cartoon:
17 Responses to “Open Thread–12/24/2012”
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3:51 Will I flutter-by the rest of you today?
3:38 All that glitters is not gold!
4:31 You both fluttered by me.
That is the grace of the ladies Jerry!
Last again! 🙁
TC, congrats on staying on top in your fantasy football league. Here's hoping you stay there till the end!
NY Times ~ Now that we are out of the insurance business, can we get some better regualtion? I know the answer to that is NO. It is just wishful thinking. don't miracles happen at Chrismas time?
Salon.com ~ Thank you so very much for the belly laugh, Tom. If he runs, especially against his ex-wife, it might be funnier than the clown show called the RepublicanT Primary.
Crooks and Liars ~ Their big star at the RepublicanT National Convention was Clint Eastwood who starred in movies like Dirty Harry and a whole slew of spaghetti westerns which we all know were warm, fuzzy movies with absolutely no violence in them at all. He is always in those "feel good" movies.
Cartoon ~ The NRA has you on their radar, Santa. Keep your head down and Rudolph's nose covered!
Thanks!
Thanks for a lovely fantasy.
YVW. Sometomes the facts are funnier than comedy.
Excellent point!
Good advice! 😉
Santa's MO means he will be shot many times in one night
Especially in states with shoot first ask later laws.
Puzzle — 3:38 All that glitters is not gold!
Fantasy Football — Sure glad you put MittMagicJock in its place — not first. Personally I would like to see them in 5th or 6th. Well I guess you can't have everything! Good luck! Go for the gold!
NY Times — One side of the barn door is closed, but the horse can still get out! It is time to close the other side! All the practices that brought the globe to the financial crisis must be eliminated, or tempered with reasonable regulation. Unbridled greed is not reasonable, nor is it desirable.
Salon.com — Family values, my ass! Family values and Republican/Teabagger in the same sentence is an oxymoron! What about the human family? The Republican /Teabaggers don't know anything about family values nor the human family! They are a cesspool of ineptitude.
Crooks and Liars — Please don't mention that demented raving lunatic, Charlton Heston around me! Hollywood, in my opion, is more a reflection of the popular culture than a maker of culture. Hollywood, like anyone else, wants to make money so they can produce more. The making of most films is a financial investment and nobody wants to lose an investment. So they follow the market. The NRA is hyping the gun culture and inflaming the rhetoric with lies — gun control is unconstitutional etc. That Faux Noise is pushing the propaganda is no surprise.
Cartoon — Cute and excellent!
A win for you!
Actually, all the players are solid progressives. I hope you will jopin the league next year.
Amen to that!
Of course. The term Republican Family Values points out their hypocrisy.
I heat you and agree.
Thanks!
Just want to wish you all a most Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
And if Christmas is not part of your celebrations, please enjoy this season of lights and the new year that brings new opportunities and joys.
Blessings all!
Thank you Lynn, and backatcha!
Situations such as AIG can and will happen again unless regulations are restored I cannot stand Tucker Carleson and just don't listen to anything he says. Don't work too hard tomorrow. Happy Christmas to all.
Thanks Edie. I agree. Same to you!
Frightening and funny cartoon – very apt – thanks TC – I do hope you are having good Christmas!
Thanks Pat. You too!