I suppose the most positive thing I can say this morning, is that I have had no more surprises. Nevertheless, my tasks seem endless, so I’ll be brief.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 3:04 (average 5:15). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From Daily Kos: The soon to be officially announced presidential candidate, Bernie Sanders, from Vermont, and former MN Republican Congresswoman, Michele Bachmann, from Uranus, were guests on The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer. The show aired just before President Obama addressed the nation with his 2014 State Of The Union Speech. Sanders discussed issues that included income equality, minimum wage, education, social security, jobs creation, corporate wealth and tax evasion. Bachmann, a known liar (documented by Politifact), read from the repetitive Right-Wing, Koch-Sucking Declaration of Co-Dependance, while interjecting something about ‘Australia.’ She stuck to the GOP script and was completely unyielding to a mature, courteous, and educated debate.
Batshit Bag Alert!!
One key lie Batshit B attempted is that the lack of jobs is due to years of Obama’s "failed policies". What has stalled the recovery is years of Republican obstruction, sabotage and sedition. Bernie 1 – Tag Team Blitzer & Batshit B 0.
Another from Daily Kos: Yesterday we covered Pastor Matt Makela, the anti-gay Michigan pastor who was outed on Grindr.
Today a young man and his mother have stepped forward with their own story about Pastor Matt Makela. Tyler Kish was a teenage boy struggling to come to terms with his sexuality and sought counsel from Pastor Makela. His advice nearly caused Tyler to commit suicide:
"If he was going to go to hell for being gay then he might as well go to hell by committing suicide," Jennifer Kish said, regarding what Makela told her son.
He didn’t stop there:
Jennifer Kish said the pastor also became vocal on social media about how he felt her son being gay was wrong and that as a parent she shouldn’t support him.
I have zero problem with Pastor Mark Makela being gay. However, I support outing him and causing him to lose his job to stop his hate-filled behavior, as a Republican Supply-side pseudo-Christian hypocrite, from harming more parishioners.
From NY Times: After vigorous debate and intense last-minute pressure by Republican leaders, the Senate on Saturday rejected legislation that would curb the federal government’s bulk collection of phone records…
…The Senate will reconvene on May 31 to try again. But any extension is far from certain to get approval from the House, which is in recess until June 1, with at least one member threatening to block it.
Help keep the good news good. Harass your Senators.
Cartoon:
20 Responses to “Open Thread–5/24/2015”
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
Be sure to harass your congresscritters on a NO vote to reauthorize the Patriot Act and to vote NO on the USA Freedom Act ( a fake-reform bill ).
The best news, thus far, comes from: CREDO: Petition to Congress:
"The widespread, indiscriminate government spying on Americans suspected of no wrongdoing violates our constitutionally protected civil liberties. I call on you to support Rep. Mark Pocan’s and Rep. Thomas Massie’s bill to repeal the PATRIOT Act and rein in unconstitutional government spying."
http://act.credoaction.com/sign/ssra/
Jim, that is the original petition. The new one, which is a follow-up to the midnight vote, is here:
http://act.credoaction.com/sign/sunset_update?t=6&akid=14473.2616308.LufPsP
Thanks. I signed.
Been there. Signed that.
4:01 I got a flat tire.
2:59 I was really tempted to do some wheelies but that Puddy Tat's tail end was in my sights so I revved up my engine instead!
3:24 I need a tune-up.
Guess who has a heavy foot on the gas!!
4:30 average (was) 5:16. No racing for me today, I'm afraid. Glad there have been no more surprises. Surprises are overrated (so is excitement).
DKos1 – All I need to do is look at Bernie's face on the still and I know exactly how it went. Holy Batshit, Batman. Whose idea was it to bring those two together? Would they consider a show featuring Abraham Lincoln and Ronald McDonald?
DKos2 – Agreed that outing someone like that can be an unpleasant duty (if it were a pleasure, it would be an uncommonly base one, wouldn't it?) In this case, to stop him harming more innocent people is definitely a worthy reason. It will be interesting to see how this plays out The LCMS is technically a mainstream denomination – they have denominational government and seminaries and well established requirements to be in ministry. I'ts not like Ted Haggard and his made-up church, though even there, he didn't have as much power as he might have thought. It's also not like Pat Robertson. I was actually reared in the LCMS; the anti-Catholicism was virulent enogh to lead me to investigate the Catholic Church and I certainly have not looked back.
NY Times – New petition came in yesterday morning as I predicted. I posted the link as a response to Jim's comment because he has the old one
Cartoon – Yes, and it's just amazing how many are STILL buying!
Joanne is correct in her note above.
This petition came first: http://act.credoaction.com/sign/ssra/
This is the latest and current petition:
http://act.credoaction.com/sign/sunset_update?t=6&akid=14473.2616308.LufPsP
Sign both and let us get rid of the Patriot Act permanently.
Be sure to write your congresscritters to vote NO on both the Patriot Act and the USA Freedom Act ( a fake-reform bill ).
Thanks for the link. I signed and shared on Facebook.
I could not bear to watch the whole segment with Bachman. How she, and other idiots, (Cruz, Paul, Huckabee) for example ever fool enough people to vote for them is beyond my comprehension. She spouts all the Repub themes, give to the rich, take from the poor and every thing will be ok.
Daily Kos: Do you think that Makela has such self hatred that he projected it on other gays?
NY Times: I have signed at least ten petitions Against this collection of our private info. Of course, they go to McConnell, who thinks it is a wonderful idea for all our phone calls and internet activity to be gathered by the NSA. I don't agree with Rand Paul very often, but I am glad he decided to filibuster this one. Even a stopped clock is right twice a day.
Cartoon: They keep trying to!
Puzzle — 2:59 I was really tempted to do some wheelies but that Puddy Tat's tail end was in my sights so I revved up my engine instead!
Daily Kos — Bernie is a SAINT! . . . I saw him take a few deep breaths right before he started to bleed from his mouth. He is erudite and articulate while she is 3 fries short of a Happy Meal, and that`s on a good day! Trying to have a "debate" with Guano Girl who is hell bent on disgorging Republicanus/Teabaggerum lies and misrepresentations, is like walking through fire! She continually interrupted Bernie, changed the subject, wouldn`t answer direct questions, and lied, lied, lied! Blitzer was a useless moderator . . . in fact did not moderate the debate at all. I too noticed Guano Girl`s statement about "years of Obama’s "failed policies"" and my jaw hit the desk . . . dental work now required! . . . and my first thought was of the GOP obstruction and buffoonery. I found this so funny (Bachmann`s bull shit) that I didn`t need a barf bag.
Daily Kos — Makela`s actions are indefensible. My guess is that he is torn between his conservative religious beliefs and his own sexuality. He should never be allowed in this type of work again.
NY Times — Well I don`t have a senator to harass but I have signed a number of petitions. As I stated yesterday, Harper follows the Republicanus/Teabaggerum so closely, it`s scary. Bill C-51, our version of NDAA has a section that can be used to silence protesters. The Commons, where the Conservatives have a majority, have passed the bill and it goes to the Senate for approval. October is coming but not fast enough.
Cartoon — They are probably trying to privatise it, if it hasn`t been already.
I mentioned Bill C-51 above. Here is an Amnesty International petition against it that I hope you`ll all join me in signing.
http://e-activist.com/ea-action/action?ea.client.id=1770&ea.campaign.id=36151&gclid=CM3cg6K43MUCFcWUfgodfXQAWw
Done!
Signed and it actually went through!
Makela exemplifies the tragic self-hatred of those who grew up gay in a time and environment where being gay was an unthinkable horror. They express their loathing of what they know is within themselves by lashing out at others in whom they see the same.
At least there will be far fewer like him in the future. Today's young gay people are mostly growing up in a very different world.
I sure hope so!
TY TC – sorry, pain's back.
Thanks all. I'm worn out. Hugs!