Yesterday it reached 97°. Today will be almost as hot. We may have a couple of temperate days Wednesday and Thursday. I’m staying heat hunkered. I would love to have a nice rain storm, but this Republican-climate summer appears locked in.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 3:06 (average 4:51). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From Daily Kos: Just a few short weeks ago, the Kochs and the Republican party were in what one Republican operative said was an "all-out war" over who would control the party going forward. The Kochs have been systematically putting a ground force in place across the nation to build their own extremely sophisticated database, one that they would allow Republican candidates to use (excepting Trump). This alarmed the RNC because all that valuable information was not being held by them. That and the whole thing about how "it’s very dangerous and wrong to allow a group of very strong, well-financed individuals who have no accountability to anyone to have control over who gets access to the data when, why and how," in the words of Katie Walsh, the RNC’s chief of staff.
But now it looks like the RNC has given up the fight.
Since then, the rhetoric has ratcheted down. Last week, i360 [the Koch data arm] and Data Trust [the RNC group] signed a deal to share data for the 2016 cycle.
"I do think there’s a value to making sure we’re all working together to ensure that we’re doing things efficiently and effectively. We appreciate everything the Kochs are doing, and it’s a huge help," Walsh told The Washington Post. "But at the end of the day, our focus is making sure that the voter file and the field staff are ready for the nominee to come in." […]
The RMC wanted to BE those “very strong, well financed individuals who have no accountability to anyone”, but now it’s official. The entire Republican Party is sucking nevermind.
From NY Times: Ken Paxton, the Republican attorney general of Texas and a former state legislator, has been indicted by a grand jury on charges of securities fraud and of failing to register with the state securities board, officials said.
The grand jury in the northern Dallas suburb of McKinney handed up a three-count indictment against Mr. Paxton on Tuesday, the officials said. The indictment is to be unsealed on Monday, when Mr. Paxton is expected to turn himself in to the authorities at the Collin County Jail.
The charges — two counts of first-degree securities fraud and one count of third-degree failure to register — are tied to Mr. Paxton’s work soliciting clients and investors for two companies while he was a member of the Texas House of Representatives, before he was elected attorney general in November.
What could be more natural for Republicans than to put one of their fellow criminals in charge of prosecuting lawbreakers.
From The Hill: President Obama is looking to cement his legacy on climate change.
His administration will finalize sweeping new regulations on power plants on Monday, which is sure to spark a fight with Republicans in Congress.
In a video released early Sunday, Obama called the plan "the biggest, most important step we’ve ever taken to combat climate change."
Kudos to Obama. Because this will hit the Koch Brothers right in the wallet, expect the entire Republican Party to become so frantic that a WA-A-A-A-A-Ambulance will be needed.
Cartoon:
36 Responses to “Open Thread–8/2/2015”
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3:11 LIfe is too short not to stop and smell the flowers at least of a few seconds.
3:02 These look so much like Nasturtiums, related to watercress and an edible plant used in stirfrys and salads, that I had to ensure Puddy Tat did not devour its beauty.
Poor hungry kitten!
Kitten? KITTEN??? How about mangy, snaggle toothed tom cat . . . but a smart and compassionate one?!
4:12. Too bad the word "yellow" doesn't begin with the letter "m." Are those flowers edible?
DKos – Always interesting to see official confirmation of something which anyone who was paying attention already knew. Oh, darn, there's that phrase again – paying attention.
NY Times – Yippee! The article didn't mention Perry, so I looked around a little. He is still under indictment but there is nothing new. The newest was around early June. http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/06/04/the-indictment-hanging-over-rick-perrys-2016-presidential-bid-explained/ is short and sweet (or, for Perry, sour).
The Hill – Not that it makes up for the Arctic, but yes, it's a good thing. Long oversue, and sure to be postponed longer by foot-dragging. There are of course petitions out to support Obama, but right now I can't findany. There are certain to be more coming.
I did listen to Bernie's Urban League speech It had more substance than Hillary's, because it was more than a one-issue speech, and that is always harder to pull off (facts are so tough). But I think he did a good job of relating how economic issues, whether income inequality or campaign finance, affect the ability of any administration to address issues of fairness and respect, and I think from the audience response that the point was taken.
Completely off the wall – If you have gotten to the point that you just cannot stand contemplating evil swine (apologies to pigs) or corrupt cockroaches (apologies to insects) for ONE MORE SECOND, Mother Jones has some pistires of Congressman John Lewis with rescue puppies. http://www.motherjones.com/mixed-media/2015/07/john-lewis-puppies
Cartoon – They certainly don't. And sometimes they don't even bother to cover it up. Grrr.
JD, isn't this illegal? Seems it should be as it is unrelated to his presidential bid. Were I a contributor, I'd be demanding my money back!
"But the Times reports Perry has spent $1 million from his campaign chest on legal funds. So at the very least, this is amounting to an expensive headache."
As to John Lewis and the puppies, I'd like to know which one he adopted. They look so comfortable with him!
Indeed it is.
But the GOP, like Honey Badger, don't care.
Joanne – Don't know if you (or anyone else) is looking for a transcript of Hillary's powerful speech at the National Urban League last Friday, but I found one:
https://medium.com/@HillaryClinton/hillary-clinton-race-still-plays-a-significant-role-in-determining-who-gets-ahead-in-america-and-34360a3b14ad
Thanks, Nameless.
Thank you, thank you! I have "printed" it (into a file) so I can keep it without having to worry about a permalink. If I ever need to remind her of it, I will have it.
Lewis should have posed with kittens. That's too much dawg!
"Hatch Act of 1939
The Hatch Act of 1939, officially An Act to Prevent Pernicious Political Activities, is a United States federal law whose main provision prohibits employees in the executive branch of the federal government, except the president, vice-president, and certain designated high-level officials of that branch, from engaging in some forms of political activity."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hatch_Act_of_1939
Featured today on many "Sunday Talking Heads" programs was Donald Trump, in all his glorious delusions. Why, on ABC's "This Week" he boldly claimed not only does he have the Hispanic vote locked up, but also the Black vote:
Even after an outrageous claim like this about Pres. Obama:
Next we'll be hearing that "The Donald" has the disabled community's vote also "locked up". Why, I can hear him now …
Dear Lord: Please, oh PUH-LEASE, let Donald Trump be the Rethuglican nominee!
Yes, puh=lease. The dems should win hands down if he is their nominee. Congrats on making the 66,00th coment.
Amen, but I think Strike Three will get it.
It was cooler here than for you, but the smoke from the Rock fire by Clear Lake, which doubled in size overnight and is now over 50,000 acres with 12000+ evacuated and 50 structures burned, reached here about 4:30 pm (over 100 miles away) and is expected to get worse…only 5% contained
http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_details_info?incident_id=1161
The fires are horrendous here too,
Air conditioning is wonderful!
Daily Kos: The RNC knows who is supporting the Republican campaigns. Of course they caved. I used to vote for the person, not the party. No more. The Republicans represent corporations and billionaires, not the ordinary American. Ike must be rolling in his grave at what his party has become.
NY Times: I read the whole article. Is it Karma that he helped pass the law that is biting him now? From the dates listed in the article he was committing the same crimes before he was elected.
The Hill: I heard the speech earlier and read the contents in the Lexington Herald Leader. It will help enormously by removing so many carbon emissions. Unfortunately, it will destroy the coal driven economy in Eastern Ky. and we will be having an exodus of young people looking for work. The coal companies have successfully stopped any other industry that wanted to come here, keeping the labor force for themselves.
Cartoon: NO, they don't.
Please keep my cousin, Phillip, in your prayers. They started trying to wake him from the induced coma on Thursday, he is still not awake, plus, he now has pneumonia.
I sure will Edie
Thanks, JLA!
Oh Edie, I am so sorry to hear about Phillip – I have been praying for him daily (and you all), but I didn't like to ask the other day. Lots more prayers going up!
Thank you< Pat.
I'm so sorry, Edie. You bet I will!
Thanks, TC
Oh, dear, so sorry to hear that! Of course prayers keep coming.
Thanks, Joanne.
TY TC
Puzzle — 3:02 These look so much like Nasturtiums, related to watercress and an edible plant used in stirfrys and salads, that I had to ensure Puddy Tat did not devour its beauty.
Daily Kos — You mean I have been "assuming" all this time? I've always accepted that all Republicanus/Teabaggertum, with the exception of the uber rich like Trump, Murdoch, Adelson etc, have been worshipping at the altar of the Kochs and sucking nevermind! Those exceptions worship at their own altars!
NY Times — I read about this the other day in the Huffington Post. Perry has a problem with a prosecutor, a Democrat to be sure, not resigning due to a DUI, which has landed him in trouble with the law, and now we see the Republicanus/Teabagger AG being indicted on securities fraud charges. What's next in Republicanus/Teabagger Texas? Whatever it is, it can't be good for the decent people of Texas.
The Hill — I wish he'd have a serious chat with Herr Harper, the climate buffoon.
Cartoon — Ain't that the truth!
Personal news — Herr Harper has called an election for 19/10/15. With the campaign almost 3 months long, it is very long by Canadian standards. Not only that, Harper, least popular of the 3 leaders, has been revamping child care benefits and just sent out a tonne of money! Stay tuned for the political antics!
I am officially an honourary grandmother again! The 2 youngest children of my ESL student call me gramma and come to me for comfort without hesitation. Yesterday, the little one would pick a french fry out of a basket his mother was holding then come stand with me as he ate it. After 3 fries, he picked his fourth and then decided he needed a fifth. That one he gave to me as he smiled. WOW! What a cool feeling! I have also had several reading sessions with the 2 middle kids but we need to have a chat about expectations. With 6 kids in the family, I think sometimes there just isn't enough one on one time with mum, and of course she can't read with them. I will be trying to ensure I don't wear myself out.
I like your short election cycle – and even MORE if it gets rid of Harper.
Kudos on you Honorary "Grandmotherhood"! But I didn't know you could get a French fry in Canada that wasn't dripping brown gravy and encrusted with cheese curds. Live & learn.
Boooo Harper! Go NDP!! Yay Grandmama!!!
Enjoy your time with those kids, Lynn. The four who lived next door, that I called my pseudo grandchildren, moved in January. I miss them so much.
Donald Trump running!!.THANK YOU JESUS!
Daily Kos:
The RNC should rename themselves as the Koch National Committee. The GOP is no longer "nevermind", an overused, catch-all misnomer nowadays. GOP has "rebranded" themselves as the new "Koch Party". The GOP cannot match the amount of money the Koch Bros. are spending to prioritize their own agenda outside the mainstream GOP and even the GOP base. The RNC/GOP are more public than the Koch Party group. Koch Bros. have more "hidden" powers and groups out there doing what the Bros. want them to do.
Least we forget, Koch Bros. own companies that make the "voting" machines used in several states including Ohio and are not certified. Least we forget that the voting records were "misplaced", "lost" from the 2004 presidential election year.
Yep, The GOP is no longer a political party. It is the Koch Party. Bye-bye GOP.
Thanks and hugs to all.
Great one, TC! Gotta go, tho. Love all of it!