I’m running way late. I did the research for today yesterday, but felt too exhausted to write. I slept late this morning. Everything that should be easy, isn’t.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 3:42 (average 5:02). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From The New Yorker: Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia lashed out at the cable network A&E today, calling its decision to suspend Phil Robertson, the star of the TV series “Duck Dynasty,” unconstitutional, and demanding that it be overturned at once.
Speaking at a press conference with fellow Justice Clarence Thomas, a visibly angry Scalia told reporters that Robertson was “exercising his First Amendment right to express an opinion—an opinion, I might add, that many other great Americans agree with.”
He warned that the suspension of the “Duck” star would have a “chilling effect” on freedom of speech in America: “If Phil Robertson can be muzzled for expressing this perfectly legitimate view, what’s to prevent the same thing from happening to, say, a Justice of the Supreme Court?”
Really! Wouldn’t muzzling the hate from SCROTUS (Republican Constitutional VD) Injustices SS Scalia and Teabag Thomas be a wonder to behold?
From Daily Kos: I’m still fairly convinced that Georgia Rep. Jack Kingston is not a real congressman but an elaborate hoax, but everyone insists to me he’s real. Either way, he would appear to be the illegitimate love child of Newt Gingrich and the New York Post editorial page.
[O]n Saturday, Kingston came out against free lunches, saying that children should have to pay at least a nominal amount or do some work like sweeping cafeteria floors.
"But one of the things I’ve talked to the secretary of agriculture about: Why don’t you have the kids pay a dime, pay a nickel to instill in them that there is, in fact, no such thing as a free lunch? Or maybe sweep the floor of the cafeteria — and yes, I understand that that would be an administrative problem, and I understand that it would probably lose you money. But think what we would gain as a society in getting people — getting the myth out of their head that there is such a thing as a free lunch," he said.
Because nothing instills a good sense of American whats-what in a child like being forced to perform janitorial duties in school while the kids with better parents go off to play or learn or something. What’s a little more lost government money when you can subject all the poor kids in America to a little bit more of that?
It’s the depth of InsaniTEA to insist that poor children have to work for their food when Republican politicians refuse to work for theirs.
From New York Magazine: Senator Max Baucus, a Democrat from Montana, has ticked off many members of his party during his 35 years in office. Baucus co-wrote the Bush tax cuts in 2001, is an advocate for tax reform, and warned months ago that the Affordable Care Act, which he shepherded through the Senate, would be a "huge train wreck" if the government didn’t improve its outreach to consumers. Republicans are hoping a win in Montana can help them gain control of the Senate in 2014, and while Baucus, who is unpopular there, already said he wouldn’t run next year, Democrats are getting him out of their hair even more quickly. Senate aides revealed Wednesday that President Obama will nominate Baucus to be his ambassador to China.
The senator’s early departure may boost his party’s chances in Montana, as it will allow Governor Steve Bullock to appoint a fellow Democrat to fill his seat. The interim senator, probably Lieutenant Governor John Walsh, could then run in the red state as an incumbent this November.
As good as it may sound to send BARF Baucus, perhaps the most corrupt DINO in the Senate, to China, there is a potential down side. China would be justified in calling it an act of war. Could you blame them?
Cartoon:
Noriega had refused to give Saint Ronnie Ray Gun’s CIA their cut of the drug money being used to fund black ops.
15 Responses to “Open Thread–12/20/2013”
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3:32 Cool snowman!
3:24 Agree!
New Yorker ~ Funny but Andy's satire sounds exactly like Joe Scarborough this morning. Insert Joe in place of Scalia speaking.
Daily Kos ~ Your comment at the end about "the depth of InsaniTEA" sums it up quite well.
New York magazine ~ Bauchus' appointment stunned Wahington and all the Talking Heads on TV. It was a smart move in that a more familiar face will run against a RepublicanT in November but I hope he doesn't offend the Chinese too much.
Cartoon ~ Another invasion brought to you by the Bush family. This one was courtesy of George H.W. Bush.
Kingston came out against free lunches, saying that children should have to pay at least a nominal amount or do some work like sweeping cafeteria floors.
Are there no prisons??? Are there no workhouses???
I know the New Yorker thing is satire, but a lot of comments on right-wing sites are claiming that suspending Phil is indeed suppression of free speech. Nonsense. It's common for employers to terminate employees who make high-profile public statements that become an embarrassment. Phil hasn't been silenced at all; A&E just chooses not to be associated with his views.
WRT Duck Dynasty's homophobic AND racist comments – just an observation that when you got Westboro Baptist Church on your side, it pretty much proves you're an a$$hole:
http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2013/12/19/3087431/nom-duck-dynasty-homosexuality-sin-degrading-human-soul/
And on the lighter side, we probably should have seen this coming …
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024199234
Truthfully I can back Kingston suggestion that children taking government handouts should expect to do some manual labor to help … just as a soon as I see some bailed-out bank CEOs scrubbing toilets.
3:42 Reminds me of M Bonhomme in Québec!
I wanted to stop by the "Catbox" and wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
I haven't been around much, but that doesn't mean I haven't been thinking about you all. I expected to be back on course before now but things are more complicated. Because of what is termed 'a sewer backup', I have to have renos done to my flat. The second floor leak went through the kitchen to the basement so there is a lot of work, The deconstruction of the basement was finished yesterday thank goodness. Because of the noise and dust etc, my babes are living with their godfather, the vet, and are getting so much attention from clinic staff that they think they have died and gone to heaven. But I have visited and they clearly miss me like I miss them. Normally the clinic does not take boarders but he could not resist his godcats! I will have them home for 3-4 days over Christmas and then it is back to the vet's when work starts again. I will also have to move out at that point. As part of being out of here, I may travel to Toronto to visit my brother but the dates are yet to be determined. I will certainly be glad when all this upheaval is done and I can get back to some kind of normalcy. Of course, all of this is taking me away from my online time but I will be back.
So, while my home is being fixed, I hope your's is warm and comfy, filled with catnip and turkey, love and blessings. Again, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from my family to your's. If you are travelling, please be safe!
Yikes! What a mess – and doubly bad at the Holidays. You sound like you're handling it with a LOT more equanimity than I could muster.
Give a few tummy "scritches" to the cats from me – and at least it will be a Christmas you long remember!
The New Yorker: And yet the applauded the firing of the MSNBC newscaster who criticized Sarah Palin!
Daily Kos: Yes, let's ostracize the poor as much as we can. That is the Republican mantra.
New York Magazine: Maybe the Chinese will keep Baucus!
Cartoon: I always wondered why they quit supporting him!
Keep taking care of yourself, TC. Merry Christmas
Sorry, don't know how I got that on your post. Have a great Christmas with your mom and aunt.
Lynn, I am so sorry you are having so much commotion at this time of year. Glad your fur babies have a good godfather vet. Have a safe trip to your brother's house and have a wonderful Christmas. Edie
Yes, Lynn. We miss you too. Have a Happy Christmas with your fur-babies back home. Safe journey to visit whomever you choose.
4:57 – Time for supper… 😆
~~The New Yorker: And yet the applauded the firing of the MSNBC newscaster who criticized Sarah Palin!
Daily Kos: Yes, let's ostracize the poor as much as we can. That is the Republican mantra.
New York Magazine: Maybe the Chinese will keep Baucus!
Cartoon: I always wondered why they quit supporting him!
Keep taking care of yourself, TC. Merry Christmas
From the 'cathouse' to the 'catbox': Merry Catmas!