I’m running way behind today for two reasons. First, I overslept more than two hours. Second, I had to look harder then my norm to find material I want to cover. I’m current with replies, and please pardon the brevity of my responses. Tomorrow appears routine, but I do have prep work to do foe Tuesday’s volunteer work in prison.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 4:40 (average 5:26). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From Hillbilly Video: Red State Update: Real Mad Obama Won
This is a few months old, but I just found it. They do capture the essence of TEAbuggery!
From NY Times: …No other lawmaker [than Baucus] on Capitol Hill has such a sizable constellation of former aides working as tax lobbyists, representing blue-chip clients that include telecommunications businesses, oil companies, retailers and financial firms, according to an analysis by LegiStorm, an online database that tracks Congressional staff members and lobbying. At least 28 aides who have worked for Mr. Baucus, Democrat of Montana, since he became the committee chairman in 2001 have lobbied on tax issues during the Obama administration — more than any other current member of Congress, according to the analysis of lobbying filings performed for The New York Times.
“K Street is literally littered with former Baucus staffers,” said Jade West, an executive at a wholesalers’ trade association that relies on a former finance panel aide, Mary Burke Baker. “It opens doors that allow you to make the case.” …
I’m not surprised. In my opinion, BARF (Baucus Against Real Financial reform) Baucus is the Senates most bought DINO.
From Alternet:
In a week’s time the wide range of what was once considered routine GOP bigotry was on full display. Dave Agema, a former West Michigan state representative, and Republican National Committeeman called gays “filthy homosexuals." Next, Alaska Rep. Don Young blurted out the epitaph “wetbacks” in discussing the immigration issue. Then 23 members of the so-called White Student Union attended the Conservative Political Action Conference where its leader tacitly endorsed segregation and even slavery.
In times past, the silence from the GOP officials and rank and file would have been deafening. It would have reconfirmed the standard knock against the GOP as a party of Kooks, cranks misanthropes, and, of course, bigots. But in each of the three cases, there was an outcry from local GOP officials, bloggers, and GOP campus groups. They publicly denounced the bigotry, and in the case of Young, House Speaker John Boehner, Arizona and Texas Senators John McCain, and John Cornyn, and Republican National Committee Chair Reince Priebus blasted Young’s remarks.
At first glance, this seems a signal that the GOP recognizes that it’s widely considered the party of bigotry, and that it’s willing to do something about it. But the sea change may be much less than meets the eye. Many top GOP officials are still mute on its party’s bigots. The official record still stands that no top GOP official aggressively and consistently denounces the bigoted remarks or acts by a GOP operative, representative, or senator…
I’ll bet that in 2014, the GOP leadership remains active in supporting the worst of the worst in the general election. Whatever limited remorse we are seeing now reflects only their embarrassment of having their true colors exposed.
Cartoon:
The first one someone could buy.
16 Responses to “Open Thread–4/7/2013”
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
4:31 Twisted!
3:47 You just have to know which was to run up the spiral.
Cartoon — Most of us now carry many times (probably many orders of magnitude) the computing power of the IBM 701 in our phone.
For memory, it had 2048 36 bit words, giving it a functional equivalent of 4K. Forgety the phone. Your watch is more powerful.
4:37 I went spinny on this one! Patty, I think that Jerry is the twisted one!
You are not the first person to suggest that, and you probably will not be the last. BWHAAAAAA!
Critter crunched.
Hillbilly Video ~ I could have sworn I was listening to FAUX NOISE with an accent.
NY Times ~ Why am I not surprised?
Alternet ~ Obviously these outspoken bigots haven't read the memo telling them to pander to these groups in order to fool them into voting for them.
Cartoon ~ We've come a long way, Baby!
LOL!
There is nothing surprising.
The hypocricy with which they try to do both defies reason.
Amen!
"Next, Alaska Rep. Don Young blurted out the epitaph “wetbacks” in discussing the immigration issue. Then 23 members of the so-called White Student Union attended the Conservative Political Action Conference where its leader tacitly endorsed segregation and even slavery. " ….. You WHAT???!!!!!!! How in the name of Heaven haven't 99% of the population come down on the 'White Student Union' and all like them like a ton of bricks?!
Pat, I'd say that 90+% have not heard of it.
All Republican/Tea-Bags are FCINO's – Fiscal Conservatives In Name Only… 🙂
BARF is, in theory, a Dem.
I'm losing hope – between the gerrymandering and the "DINO"'s and a GOP that is divided – while at the same time united under the guise of greed and the destruction of any earned benefits programsisa, while also united in never taxing the 1%'ers and convincing the "sheeple" that this is "reasonable" – we're screwed! It would appear that any people who are inconsistent with their "values" are "persona non grata" – which includes "women" , LGBT + atheists (like myself), people who are elderly and recipients of SSI or Medicare/aid, unwanted children, unwed mothers – the list goes on and on – the only exclusions are the 1%'ers who can send their children "anywhere" for their abortions, or just disown the children who turn out "different" – continue to usurp their employees at slave wages – it's as a panelist on the Mellisa Harris-Perry show said, a new set of "share-croppers"!
Their "true colors" are indeed abhorrent! Will their own Party ever recognize it – or are they just too gerry mandered to ever make a difference?
I doubt it, and that is why, in the long term, wed will win.
Puzzle — 4:37 I went spinny on this one! Patty, I think that Jerry is the twisted one!
Hillbilly Video — Teabuggery indeed! I must admit that I found it very difficult to listen to and understand the words with the accent. Where is that accent from? And I thought Newfoundlanders, the "stay where you're at and I'll come where you're to" Canadians, were hard to understand. These guys take the cake. BTW, Newfoundlanders, you're good people and we love you!
NY Times — It really is time to take the money out of politics, and not just at the campaign level!
Alternet — "At first glance, this seems a signal that the GOP recognizes that it’s widely considered the party of bigotry, and that it’s willing to do something about it. "
Ha! Don't be fooled! In my opinion, the Republican/Teabaggers' righteous indignation is "all flash and no cash". These three incidents do nothing more than step on the GOP's plan to deceive people into thinking that they are something that they are not! A leopard cannot change it's spots, and likewise, the Republican/Teabaggers are incapable of changing, and not about to change, their bigoted, misogynistic ways.
Cartoon — How far technology has come since 1953! For me, 07 April is memorable because on that day in 1991, my best friend and paternal grandfather passed away at the age of 99.5 years. Because he was my best friend and buddy, and because I understood him so well, I could not be sad for him. But I was sure sad for me. Although he only had a grade 8 formal education, he was very smart and did much in his life, especially in service of others. He was widely read and a truly gentle soul that I think most of you would have liked.
Yup!
I'd guess southern Apallachians.
Amen!
See today's articles.
Condolences.