It’s day 83. The second day of the new schedule did not do so well. I was awakened at 2:30 AM by the person in the apartment above me. He got off the elevator on the wrong floor and kept trying to open my door with his key. I did not get back to sleep until after 6:00 AM and slept later than intended. I could still write, but the news is all snow, so this is today’s only article.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 3:19 (average 5:38). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From NY Times: The political network overseen by the conservative billionaires Charles G. and David H. Koch plans to spend close to $900 million on the 2016 campaign, an unparalleled effort by coordinated outside groups to shape a presidential election that is already on track to be the most expensive in history.
The spending goal, revealed Monday at the Kochs’ annual winter donor retreat near Palm Springs, Calif., would allow their political organization to operate at the same financial scale as the Democratic and Republican Parties.
Is it any wonder that so many Republicans are whoring themselves to suck nevermind?
From Daily Kos: Interesting article in Politico today on how Elizabeth Warren ended Obama’s nomination of rich Wall Street banker Antonio Weiss to be Under Secretary for Domestic Finance. Warren led the effort to totally shut the deal down – she wouldn’t even meet with Weiss. Some choice bits:
The game in Washington had changed.
Elizabeth Warren, sometimes disregarded by the White House as a largely irrelevant nuisance, could no longer be ignored. Bolstered by grass roots groups eager for any anti-Wall Street crusade and a vibrant progressive media that hung on her every word, Warren succeeded in knocking out Weiss’ nomination
…
It was not a total victory. Weiss will still join Treasury as an unconfirmed counselor to Secretary Jack Lew. But in terms of symbolism, the Washington power game and the ideological direction of the Democratic Party, Warren won big. And the moderate, Wall Street- and business-friendly wing of the party — in past years happily occupied by Democratic presidential nominee-in-waiting Hillary Clinton — got punched in the mouth.
Isn’t it wonderful to have a Democrat with the will and the ability to hold Hillary’s feet to the fire. Go Liz!!
From Alternet: Severe winter storm events often prompt naysayers to mock, “Where’s that global warming?” But while the concept may seem to conflict with rising global temperatures, these storms are actually obvious evidence of man-made climate change.
Climate change, say scientists, fuels the increasing intensities of winter storms. Warmer temperatures allow the atmosphere to hold more moisture and create heavier than normal precipitation. Climatologists agree that global warming will continue to make these storms worse over time.
Weather is different from climate, scientists point out. Weather is what we experience on a day-to-day basis; climate — especially in regards to climate change — is more about long-term trends.
What’s more important is that this storm is deadlier than RepubliCare in a retirement community, even if it isn’t as severe as forecast. Please stay in a safe place.
Cartoon:
27 Responses to “Open Thread–1/27/2015”
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
Much of the content and quotes in political news these days are indeed a snow job. Do appreciate your teasing out the real nuggets of news.
Many in CA are hoping our State Supreme Court will allow Prop. 49 to hit the ballot for us to voice how much we do not like the Citizens United landscape silencing the majority of voter voices and giving voice only to the insanely wealthy. The Kochs choosing our Palm Springs may have intensified this desire here.
Hope the game is permanently changed so Bernie's effort to break up the big banks and some other essentials for economic health also gain traction.
Increasingly severe weather events=climate change…pretty simple and not so complicated that even those who aren't scientists should be able to grasp it.
I hope you get oy on the ballot, and it goes viral.
4:16, average down a little, 5:28. It's probably just me, but that chain collar looks almost like a pearl necklace.
NY Times – The only wonder is that there are still a few Democrats who aren't.
Daily Kos – I love Elizabeth passionately (politically, that is). I could surely do with a few more of her. It's harder to assassinate multiple people than just one.
Alternet – This has seemed obvious to me for years. Y'all may remember my complaints about summer of 2014 when my area got what seemed like the entire polar ice cap dropped on us in the form of mostly cold rain, with some hail (the hail is normal but NOT the cold rains, and certainly not the quantities). I read today in a related article that it is precisely the the warmer temperatures of the ocean that are causing the winds to be so high, affecting both the quantity of cold water being moved over the coast, and also, more obviously perhaps, the wind chill factor. And it is definitely getting worse. The cartoon is right on.
It's been obvious to me for years too. Winters have gotten colder and summers hotter here.
We need Elizabeth Warren more than ever with the Income Inequality and Banksters…
Amen Richard!
3:03 Pretty dogs. Let's chase some cats.
2:45 Jerry, we pussy cats really don't like to be chased! Remember what they say about the Peshmerga fighters . . . fearless! Consider pussy cats North American Peshmerga, weapons drawn!
2:50 I think the big dogs scared the TomCat today. Lynn didn't back off though.
TC was pooped.
Note to self: Bombard Critter with kitty crunchies!! 😈
Seems to me it'd be a WHOLE LOT wiser for the Koch Brothers to just MAYBE pay a little bit more in taxes, and then pocket their $900 MILLION.
Doing it their way is clearly a pretty damn poor ROI (Return On Investment).
Then again, they ARE Rethuglicans.
They couldn'y possibly spend their daily profits. It's about power and extremist views.
You just gotta luv Liz!
But as much as I'd LUV to have her in the Oval Office, the chance of that happening is so infinitesimal (at this point), I'll be glad to see her staying in the Senate.
I fully agree,
NY Times:
Yep, the posturing of the GOP/TP/Koch Party are prostituting themselves beyond belief for black moneyed-bags from the Koch boogeymen.
"Alex Seitz-Wald, noting how “astonishing” the figure [ $889 million ] is, provided some helpful context:
If they turned on the money spigots today, it would mean spending about $1.36 million a day, every day, from now until November 8, 2016. That’s $56,899 per hour, and $948 per second. […]"
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/koch-brothers-put-price-tag-the-2016-elections#break
Daily Kos:
Liz is awesome and should remain as a Senator. As much as a number of people would like to see her run for POTUS, she does not have much of a lead as compared to Hillary. Liz and the grassroots helped to get Weisss nomination out of the ballpark.
Alternet:
"Weather is what we experience on a day-to-day basis"
"climate — especially in regards to climate change — is more about long-term trends."
Cartoon:
Last night on Rachel:
RACHEL MADDOW 01/26/15
Northeast girds for powerful winter blast
Bill Karins, MSNBC meteorologist, Lt. J Paul Vance of the Connecticut State Police, and Frank McCarton, New York City OEM’s Deputy Commissioner of Operations report the latest developments in conditions and preparations for the Blizzard of 2015.
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show
Rachel:broadcasting::Liz:politics
Puzzle — 2:45 Jerry, we pussy cats really don't like to be chased! Remember what they say about the Peshmerga fighters . . . fearless! Consider pussy cats North American Peshmerga, weapons drawn!
NY Times — I believe there may be a misprint in the article.
should read
Right now, Canada's Conservatives have vastly out fundraised the other parties, but we also have spending limits during elections that go into place the minute the election writ is dropped. The Conservatives have a barrage of attack ads attacking both Justin Trudeau (Liberal) and Thomas Mulcair (NDP) on the air waves now (have been going for months now). All these funds are going to these ads now, before the writ. Knowing that the Kochs have significant interests in the oil sands of Alberta, it makes me wonder if they have, through their Canadian subsidiary, contributed to the Conservative war chest. We know that Harper, the inglorious bastard that he is IMO, is pro Keystone XL. Am I seeing smoke?
Daily Kos — Enjoyed hearing those 2 speeches again from the Senate floor. Love Liz! Wish we had her north of the border!
Alternet — Part of the reason climate change deniers have difficulty keeping straight climate change, global warming, and the daily weather forecast, is that their brains are the size of a pea! Add to that, most of them are not capable of critical thinking . . . unless maybe if it involves a dollar sign going into their pocket. Why think if you don't have to!
These guys will get us all killed!
Cartoon — West coast style — you know it is climate change when a little Mercedes Benz Smart car floats uncontrollably down the street or highway.
I think they believe Republican Supply-side Jesos will POOF then at the last minute.
So sorry your sleep got interrupted. One article is enough to keep us going.
Daily Kos: This is another excellent reason to overturn Citizens United, but our Congress won't because they are enjoying its poison fruit too much.
Daily Kos: This is why we need Warren to stay in the Senate. By 2020 she will have accomplished many of her goals and be ready to run, I fervently hope.
Alternet andCartoon: Do you think this storm will make some of the nay sayers on climate change think again?
How can someone think again, when they never thought? They parrot what they are told to say.
I hope your neighbor doesn't make a habit of coming home in the wee hours "confused".
NY Times ~ I hope they all had a good time at their private conference last weekend. I guess all the losers showed up in Iowa at that conference. No. The losers showed up at both places. The difference is the big money wasn't in Iowa. Failin' Palin gave a must see speech in Iowa. http://www.popscreen.com/v/94BhW/Full-Speech-Sarah-Palin-at-the-Iowa-Freedom-Summit-1242015
Daily Kos ~ Elizabeth Warren is a fighter for the American people. Too bad everyone "on our side" isn't as passionate as she and Bernie Sanders.
Alternet ~ Where's the global warming? Here it is : http://m.dailykos.com/story/2015/01/26/1360365/-Unprecedented-Ocean-Heat-off-East-Coast-is-Fueling-the-Historic-Hurricane-Force-Blizzard?detail=email
Cartoon ~ Yes it is! See above article.
That's an excellent article about oceanic surface temperartures.
TY TC – thank God for Elizabeth Warren (and Jeff Merkley [sp?] and Bernie Sanders) – they restore one's faith in the human race.
Sorry about your neighbour – I hope they were embarrased and profusely apologetic – well, I can hope!
Thanks Patty for the AlterNet global warming link. Global warming = climate chaos!
Apologetic, but hye's not likely to remember it.
A guy could get shot making a mistake like that. Not that you would, just saying.
Much of the time the candidte with the most money wins. Shows that voting whores have no more sales resistance than the Americans who make people who sell spray on hair, or Chia Pets millionairs. At least you have something when you buy a Chia Pet. You have nothing after voting for bat shit crazy politicians, except a defective product.
I has eaten no chile so my ass wasn't loaded.