I’m still down, because overdoing it on Saturday set off my COPD yesterday, and I could not sleep. I’ll catch up on replies ASAP. Tomorrow. Happy Infernal Revenue Day. 
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 3:13 (average 4:24). To do it click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From MoveOn: Why It’s Harder To Be A Liberal In 11 Words
Also, it’s easy to invent sophistic lies that sound easy and simple, but the truth is often difficult and complex.
From NY Times: It is an open scandal in Washington that the Federal Election Commission is completely ossified as the referee and penalizer of abuses in national politics.
Karl Rove’s powerful Crossroads GPS money machine cruelly underlined the agency’s impotence last week with a snippy rebuff of a legitimate inquiry from the commission staff about the shadowy sources of the group’s war chest. Crossroads GPS archly replied that continued inquiries on the matter “are unnecessary,” but that if they keep coming, it will offer the same unrevealing response.
This was no niggling issue. The election commission was asking for more details about the operation’s 2012 fourth-quarter report showing more than $50 million in independent expenditures but not a sign of who donated the money. The insulting rebuke to the agency should be thrown back with a unanimous demand that election law be obeyed. But this is the F.E.C., one of the sorrier federal agencies, where standoffs engineered by the three Republican commissioners on the six-seat panel have stymied efforts to write regulations and enforce them.
No matter which way we turn, we see Republicans polishing their expertise in election theft.
From MSNBC: How the wealthy view social programs:
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Why do the wealthy want to cut our earned entitlements, for which we have paid all our working lives? It’s clear that the elite donor class, aka the 1%, has declared class warfare on the rest of us. While there are members of the 1% that do support us, they are, sadly, few and far between.
Cartoon:
5 Responses to “Open Thread–4/15/2013”
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3:13 We are running neck and neck, TomCat, but will we hold off Lynn and Patty?
3:21 My sneekers are still wet so they don't sneek very well!
3:23 My running isn't quite what it used to be. Last place for me!
I do agree with you and Mike Royko TC!! I saw on another post recently that the USA collects an astonishingly low percentage of taxes – the top three countries that collected most were (if I recall correctly) countries where people contributed a lot in taxes and got a lot back – and they were doing well.
Please take it easy for a bit – we worry when you are ill!!
MoveOn — Amen!!!!! x2 Could not have said it better.
NY Times — I have suggested so many times that a totally non partisan commission be established to oversee elections and election administration. Partisanship must be taken out so that there is some indication of fairness.
In my opinion, the US is no longer a democracy. How can it be with a bunch of rancid Republican/Teabaggers hijacking fairness and equality to serve their own ends, not the American people?
MSNBC — With 58% of wealthy individuals believing in spending cuts to Medicare, education and highways in order to cut budget deficits, there is a total disconnect with reality. I think we all know what would happen if the question was "Do you support tax increases on incomes of $250,000 or more and the closing of loopholes such as the tax treatment on capital gains in order to cut budget deficits?". The answer from the wealthy would be a resounding "No!". Talk about class warfare!
Cartoon — Funny! The US tax filing date is today, but north of the 49th it is 30 April. Arrggghhhh!!!!!
Personal Note — My two boys, Primo and Winnie, have their 5th birthday tomorrow. I am planning a meowy birthday for them with roast chicken breast for dinner. Hard to believe that I've had them almost 5 years.