My helper friend finally made it yesterday, and we shared six plus hours of heavy cleaning. Needless to say, I’m way pooped, but I’m writing, because, at my age, I need more days than I have left. On the plus side, today is definitely a kitty basking day with a forecast high of 70°. I feel so sorry for my Eastern and Midwest friends.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 6:12 (average 8:28). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From The Oregonian: A sweeping voter registration bill that could add another 300,000 to Oregon’s voting rolls won final passage in the Oregon Senate on Thursday on a 17-13 vote and heads to Gov. Kate Brown for her promised signature.
The so-called "New Motor Voter Bill" was promoted by Brown when she was secretary of state as a way to remove many of the barriers to voting, particularly for younger and poorer Oregonians who tend to move more often.
Republicans, however, charged that using drivers’ license data to automatically register voters raised worries about ID theft and undermined the privacy of Oregonians. House Bill 2177 passed both chambers without a single Republican vote. The only Democrat to vote no was Sen. Betsy Johnson of Scappoose, who had cast the deciding vote against a similar measure that died in the 2013 session.
When someone registers for a Driver’s License or an OID (same without driving, like I have), they are automatically registered to vote. This does not invalidate the many other ways Oregonians with no license or OID can register. Kudos to Governor Kate and the Oregon Democrats, except the DINO that needs to be primaried. Oregon leads the way!
From The New Yorker: In what could be a prelude to a Presidential run in 2016, on Friday Joe Biden released to the public both e-mails that he has written while serving as Vice-President for the past six years.
Biden took pride in announcing that he had sent both messages from his official government e-mail address, adding, “I have nothing to hide.”
Minutes after the e-mails were released, the media pored over the treasure trove of materials, which offer a fascinating behind-the-scenes glimpse into Biden’s tenure as Vice-President.
The first e-mail, written to President Obama in December of 2009, asks about the time and place of the White House holiday party.
Dang Andy!! Joe released both of them?!!? ARGH!! Isn’t that TOO transparent? 😉
From NY Times: The coffers of Jeb Bush’s not-quite-declared campaign for president are filling at such a rate that fund-raisers have reportedly been instructed not to ask megadonors to give more than $1 million each this quarter. The concern is seemliness — that acceptance of multimillion-dollar checks from deep-pocketed supporters could bolster the impression that Mr. Bush, the former Florida governor, is in their debt, according to a Washington Post report.
Just a million?!!? Strike Three is smelling just like Little Lord Willard!!
Cartoon:
What has changed? The Republican Party emplaced the racists.
17 Responses to “Open Thread–3/7/2015”
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6:12 (really – what a coincidence) average still 8:28. Clever decorating idea. Make your home look like a prison.
Oregonian – Sounds good to me. ID theft – right. Republican thinking.
New Yorker – Reminds me of Tom Lehrer's song, "Whatever became of Hubert?" The office of the Vice Presidency gets no respect LOL.
NY Times – Well, one doesn't often hear such loud snark from the Old Grey Lady. "Acceptance of multimillion-dollar checks from deep-pocketed supporters could bolster the impression that Mr. Bush, the former Florida governor, is in their debt." Indeed.
Cartoon – But – but – I thought we were supposed to be "post-racist." Right.
70's in these parts, too. MN is supposed to get into the 40's so they are happier, too.
Last data I saw indicated that OR has among the highest voter turn outs in the nation–and this shows how to make that happen I think.
Biden does prefer the phone I believe. Is Congress going to require all agency heads to record and preserve phone conversations to interfere with agency business, too?
Jeb's cut-off seems pretty arbitrary. Does he want lower amount donors to feel more equal to the big boys?
Selma is still today and OR shows us what things should look like if that really changed things as much as promised.
Just watched the President's rousing speech – the man is amazing in how he deals with issues and problems face on and yet manages somehow to be optimistic and enthusiastic. As Oregon once again leads the way, We the People are once again going to have to fight for voting rights.
Not yet hackneyed, but I'm working on it – but do remember to "Spring Forward!" From today's paper:
Bush is gonna regret asking them to hold back on their donations. He’s coming in a distant 5th and that may be the best thing for the nation!
Love Andy, ALWAYS!
I hope TC will have fuller coverage, but please, Please, PLEASE watch (if you can hear) or read the transcript of Pres. Obama speech today commemorating the 50th Anniversary of "Bloody Sunday" in Selma.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/03/07/1369267/-President-Obama-s-Speech-in-Selma-is-One-for-the-Ages-a-Speech-for-Humanity-Video-Transcript
I've long thought his Philadelpia speech back in 2008 on race was unbelievable …
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=88478467
But I think this eclipses it.
See today's #2
6:05 The old ball and chain were sure wrapped around my feet!
5:51 I broke the chain. Where's Jerry?
7:13 Your broken chain landed on my head.
Clearly not edible!
I hope you enjoyed basking in the sun today. It got to a balmy 46 degrees here today, which was a heat wave compared to the previous three weeks. You didn't take off very long.
The Oreogonian: Congrats to all of you for having a progressive governor and senate.
The New Yorker: Andy is so funny. He had one on FB today that promised the Republicans would show the same amount of hatred for Hilary as they have for Obama.
NY Times: Thanks again to SCOTUS. Strike three will have more than enough money to buy the election.
Cartoon: Hard to believe there is still so much rampant racism in this country after fifty years.
Puzzle — 6:05 The old ball and chain were sure wrapped around my feet!
The Oregonian — Lordy,Lordy, someone with common sense! Of course she is a Democrat! Here in BC, voter registration can be done on-line or at the time of voting. The application is short and asks for your driver's license. However, if there is no DL, then the last 6 digits of your social insurance number is required. If registering at the time of voting and a person has recently moved, they need only take the DL and a utility bill with current name and address on it. For federal elections, the process is pretty much the same, although there were changes as Harper, the good Republicanus that he is, put through the Fair Elections Act in June 2014.
The New Yorker — Further to JL's comment, didn't Nixon try the recording of conversations? . . . and look where that landed him . . . disgraced and out of a job! Watch out Joe.
NY Times — I read about Bush's request that donations be no more than $1m about a week ago. In that article, there was speculation as to why. . . broaden the base, look less "bought and paid for". I wondered if it was a tactic to throw off the other potential candidates as to the potential size of his war chest. Whatever the reason, he is still a poisonous shrub!
Cartoon — From Time.com
To be fair, there are other Republicanus/Teabaggerum attending the rally in Selma, Alabama as part of the congressional delegation, but one wonders if there had not been "widespread media coverage" of the dearth of Republicanus/Teabaggerum leadership, would McCarthy even be going? So much for looking "attractive" to the African American voters.
They left their sheets and hoods in the trunk.
It seems that the Repugs ideas start with 'we need more votes… we can't get more votes…. so how can we stop the others from voting… I know, cast unjustified aspersions on a vulnerable section of the population and say we are doing it for safety of the whole process.'
Hooray for Oregon for stopping them. The system that Lynn tells us of in BC sounds good.
That reminds me – our government recently did something odd – I am registered for a postal vote, and in quick succession I got a letter telling me I was still registered for a postal vote and need do nothing, followed by a letter telling me I must register for a postal vote with all sorts of details, and another letter with more contradictory information. I phoned up for help – and was told not to worry I was still down for a postal vote – but I worried a lot and filled the form in anyway – and followed it with two phone calls to see if I was down to vote. Nothing like confusing the voters with three different letters all saying contradictory things is there – and Cameron has been accused of trying to get a million voters off the register…. No,there couldn't be a connection…. could there?
Oregonian ~ Kudos for a great Bill. Here in NY there is a box to check on your license or vehicle registration renewal to check if you want to register to vote or change your residence for voting. It is not automatic though. You have to check the box.
New Yorker ~ Cute! If you're on FB, follow Andy. He posts funny snippets all day long.
NY Times ~ If I hadn't read this on several reliable news sources over the weekend I would have thought it was satire from Andy or The Onion.
Cartoon ~ Wonderful speeches in tribute at the bridge yesterday.
Thanks all. I'm very tired. Hugs.