It’s another moderately cool day, with a forecast high of 80°. Since I’m extra tired after yesterday, and I plan to subject myself to TEAbuggery torture this evening, I’m hoping to catch up on sleep during the day.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 5:13 (average 6:44). To do it click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From Daily Kos:
Dick Dale, the "King of the Surf Guitar", is still on the road, playing nearly every night. Is he doing it for the love of music? Not exactly. The 78-year-old guitar legend has twice suffered rectal cancer, had parts of his stomach and intestines removed, lives with renal failure, diabetes, a damaged vertebrae and to top it all off, his wife is suffering from multiple sclerosis. And that’s why he’s still on the road. From the Pittsburgh City Paper:
“I have to raise $3,000 every month to pay for the medical supplies I need to stay alive, and that’s on top of the insurance that I pay for,” Dale explains. “The hospital says change your patch once a week. No! If you don’t change that patch two times a day, the fecal matter eats through your flesh and causes the nerves to rot and they turn black, and the pain is so excruciating that you can’t let anything touch it. That has happened to me because I was following the orders of the hospital.”
“Sure, I’d love to stay home and build ships in a bottle and spend time with my wife in Hawaii, but I have to perform to save my life,” he says. “I’ve been living like this for the past 15 years, but I’m still here and opening my eyes each morning.”
I found some video of him.
What an incredible guy. But shouldn’t he be able to have the medical supplies he needs covered? Republicans would take away what coverage he does have.
From NY Times: Hillary Rodham Clinton has very noticeably and intensely trained her sights on a single rival candidate for president: Jeb Bush.
On Friday, she lambasted Mr. Bush, a former Florida governor, as he waited in the wings at a National Urban League conference in Miami, twisting his campaign slogan into a critique of his stands on the Affordable Care Act and raising the minimum wage. On Tuesday night in Denver, she called him “out of touch” for questioning, earlier that day, how much government should spend on women’s health — a quick insert into a speech in which Mrs. Clinton had already planned to hit Mr. Bush on immigration.
For Mrs. Clinton, going after Mr. Bush with such gusto offers a debate about policy instead of simply answering persistent questions about her email practices and her family’s foundation, which have helped to precipitate a dip in her approval ratings.
And attacking Mr. Bush before black leaders, on immigration and on women’s health, can only help fire up Mrs. Clinton’s core supporters.
I think Hillary is smart to focus on Strike Three. The Republican Reich tends to follow the money, and most Republican money is following him.
From Alternet: What follows is a list of some of the biggest clichés and lies from the top 10 Republican contenders.
Bush: The cliché that Jeb Bush promotes is that he’s the "moderate" in the GOP field, but that is also his biggest lie. Just this week, he revealed how immoderate he is on women’s reproductive rights and health, saying the federal government is spending too much for gynecological-related medical services, which includes abortion. And Bush also keeps pedaling the line that he opposes ground troops to fight ISIS, but would send in more special forces and trainers—as if those soldiers have never been the harbinger of deploying more troops when war plans don’t work.
Carson: The cliché that Ben Carson keeps reciting is that Obamacare is one of the worst things federal government has ever forced on Americans. That’s always been a bizarre right-wing complaint, especially as Obamacare is built on the conservative embrace of the private health insurance industry. It’s also factually wrong, as evidenced by the 15-plus million people who have signed up for it. The optics of a retired African-American surgeon whcking [sic] Obama looks good on Fox News, but that’s just another ruse.
Rubio: The cliché that Marco Rubio keeps repeating is that he is a fresh face bringing new ideas and energy to the GOP, just as John F. Kennedy did for Democrats in 1960s. The big lie is that Rubio is a new Latino champion who breaks from past GOP policies. Even though his grandfather was undocumented immigrant, Rubio has walked away from earlier immigration reforms and embraced the party’s most draconian stances. He now opposes amnesty, the Dream Act, wants bigger border walls, and wants to require English proficiency for green cards.
I shared three of the Republican Cavalcade of Criminal Clowns. Click through for the other seven.
Cartoon:
37 Responses to “Open Thread–8/6/2015”
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4:17 I saved you from choking on this prickly tidbit.
4:56 Thanks Patty, but I am choking on your time. Too fast. You didn't even get to enjoy the echeveria agavoides.
4:50 WOW! I don't want to be picky, but . . .
I certainly would have,
6:06 It's clearly a succulent, so your kitty teeth might be able to get some juice out of it, but I am not sure it's safe.
DKos – The comments on site are very sad indeed. I hate it when even Kossacks seem not to "get" it.
NY Times – I think she is smart too, and for a reason given in the article – "going after Mr. Bush with such gusto offers a debate about policy." The way the MSM covers women in general, she is toast if she slips away from policy even for a second.
Alternet – All accurately analyzed, alliteration an additional asset. But I'm afraid they will all look good to Faux Noise viewers. (If they don't, it won't be pandering Faux's fault.)
Cartoon – Poor Granny should have the dignity of a living retirement. Although if you are as close to my age as I think you are, and you have a granny still living, you must have designer genes.
Don't forget, the "kiddie" table will be having their debate this afternoon if you are into the GOP/TP/Koch Party debates in toto.
Maybe someone knows a live link via computer to watch both debates. If so. post the link here in C2 and/or PP.
Maybe, just maybe I might play the part of a "masochist", brain intelligence pain. lol.
Unless you subscribe to Fox News (I don't even have cable TV – just internet, so I'm out) – you're pretty much out of luck for the 9 PM ET show. (I'm assuming that most cable TV subscriptions come bundled w/ Fox News – but that's just a guess)
Time magazine says you can stream or watch it w/ your FoxNews app – BUT both of those require a subscription to Fox.
http://time.com/3986043/republican-debate-watch/
You can LISTEN to it (well, assuming you have hearing – so I'm SOOL again) at both NetRoots radio and NPR – Links provided at link:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/08/06/1409489/-Debate-Live-at-8-on-NetrootsRadio
And the lead guy at Mother Jones will be doing a Liveblogging – but you'll have to go there at debate time because there's no direct link yet:
http://www.motherjones.com/
Thanks! MJ's blogging might come closest to a transcript
PS!
DailyKos is also Liveblogging – Far & away the best for keeping up w/ what the herd & "moderators" say AND Comments:
http://www.dailykos.com/
Thanks–I'll check there since MJ's was pretty sketchy
Thanks for the info. I'll have to by-pass all of everything tonight regarding the debates. Radio talk shows don't do anything for me as I am legally deaf but wear hearing aids in public. I use headphones when I'm on the computer. I also use Closed Captions at all times when I watch DVDs, computer programs. I need to look at "lips" as I am a lip reader. Radio shows don't provide any lips to watch and read. lol. As a lip reader + whatever hearing I can pick up and understand is my "hearing". Voices can be hard, at times, with all of the variations of the human speech patterns, the "dialect", loudness, etc and phonetics, intonations, education grammar matters.
Subscribe to Faux Noise: never.
In other news, Rand's PAC staffers have been indicted–including one who is a relative of his.
You think any questions related to issues Clinton has strength in compared to Jeb will make it into tonight's debate?
I also heard on the radio that the other 7 will get a future Faux forum opportunity, whatever that means.
I read that Hillary wasn't going to watch, but her campaign headquarters invited folks to watch and walls were plastered with pictures of the GOP candidates and the complements they'd given her in the past. Of the early post debate emails, the quote I like best came from Pelosi "The first Republican circus presidential debate just finished up.
Sure, there were ten of them. But they all stand for the same radical policies that are completely failing right now."
Wooo Hooo!!
Rand Paul's Republicanus/Teabaggerum staff doing what comes naturally . . . lying, cheating, deceiving etc!
Hope you get through your torture, TomCat. No doubt you'll be able to tell us all about it once you've recovered a bit from the ordeal.. Good luck.
Daily Kos: Isn't it sad if you're still having to perform when you're 78 just to pay your medical bills and insurance and stay alive. The old: "Too poor to live, too rich to die" comes to mind. Too many people forced to exist in this way – it can't be called "living", can it. If the Republicans are allowed to keep Congress in their clutches and, worse, one of the clown car is added on top of that, the ranks of elderly flipping burgers to pay for their medication will surely swell.
NY Times: Agreed, Hillary is indeed smart by focussing on Jeb and not wasting energy on others who obbviously aren't going to make it. From the start it was clear that the money of the Republican puppetmasters is on Jeb who might look the most sane, i.e. moderate in comparisson with the rest of the clown car's content. If she get's him on the defense right from the start, he will not come across all that sane or moderate either.
Alternet: Hillary is already working on Jeb's cliché lies, the others will get stuck in the quagmire of Tea Party lies of their own making before long.The really sad thing is that their rabid base wants to hear these lies, to have their own value system confirmed, while the candidates don't even believe these clichés themselves. If a voter sticks to the GOP now all clowns are known and strutting their stuff, they want to be duped and lied to. Any serious GOP voter will have left the building by now.
Daily Kos: Enjoyed listening to Dick Dale and his music, guitar playing. Wish he could have better medical cares for him and his wife.
Alternet: Each of the short descriptions could be developed into a chapter of a large book. More could be written of the policies enacted, words uttered for each of the candidates in whatever political position they served whether as governor. senator, representative, etc. Corruptions should be used in exposing them and their staffers if any chargers, indictments were levied upon them. Yep, the clown car is just that – full of clowns trying to do their best for their extreme right-winger rabid base to get the nomination. In agreement with the brief and short desriptions.
NY Times: About time Hillary came out and said a few words. Follow the money. Jeb may have a lot into his campaign fund but he sounds dumb much like Gohmert and has had to backtrack his utterances, lies many times. Jeb, as a three-time striker, should be OUT.
Cartoon: What food? Republicans will make it all disappear.
I don't know if anyone is interested, here is the Canadian leaders debate: http://www.macleans.ca/national-leaders-debate/
The moderator is not modertating which is ridiculous. I'd be interesting to hear what you think.
I took a peek, but I just don't have 2+ houes to watch it, although I would like to. Care to summarize?
I hope you got plenty of sleep today!
Daily Kos: This is a crying shame, that any American would have to continue working under these conditions to pay medical bills.
Ny Times: I think Mrs. Clinton is right to stay after Jeb. When the Donald's entertainment value collapses, Jeb will be the one the money backs.
Alternet: I read throught the whole article, and the thing that stands out for me is how many lies each of them have told. None of them represent anything other than themselves and their campaign contributors. That is what is wrong in DC today, most of Congress is company owned.
Cartoon: We don't know how many grannies are all ready eating cat food,do we? Funny that one of my cats is named Granny. Maybe I can tell the grocery clerks who ask if I have cats after I put 30 cans of catfood on the counter, that this is all for Granny!
Update on Cousin Phillip: Thanks again for all your prayers and good thoughts. He is conscious today and is responding to questions with eye blinks for yes and no. They have removed all the tubes but a feeding tube and a trachea tube. Stats are all good and meds have been reduced. They are not going to deal with his hands until they get him completely stabilized. He is still groggy, of course. Hard to believe I can feel elated that he is groggy.
So glad to hear that your cousin is starting to mend Edie – I do hope all goes well now – will keep praying.
Thanks, Pat.
That sounds very promising–means many body systems are functioning without help so IS cause for celebration. Will continue praying.
Thanks, JLA.
This is the best news to date. Still praying!
Thanks, TC.
Still praying here too and have enlisted reinforcements.
Thanks, Joanne.
It's the direction you all have been wanting – and workiing for – him to head!
Yes, it is, and he is improving again today, is now nodding his head.
THE RACHEL MADDOW SHOW 8/6/15
"They didn't have to be so mean about it"
Rachel gave a scathing report of the presentation.
Second-tier GOP candidates fight for distinction
Rachel Maddow shares highlights of some of the more distinguishing answers from the Fox News forum of second-tier Republican candidates.
Duration: 7:49
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/gops-second-tier-fights-for-distinction-500090947644
and
Fox News insults candidates with awkward staging
Rachel Maddow criticizes the staging of the early event for second tier Republican candidates with embarrassing camera shots of the empty audience seats. Duration: 3:15
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/empty-forum-makes-awkward-debate-staging-500078147867
One of the impressions I got was that the Faux moderators were smirking the whole time during the "kiddie" debate. Some of the questions that were asked by them to the candidates were mean-spirited. Unbelievable and humiliating. If I had been one of the candidates on that stage, I would quit the GOP and quit watching Faux news.
Yeah, I know – who cares about the second tier GOPers.
I'm looking forward to TC's PP presentation and the comments in it from the enlightened commentators on Friday.
Jim you sure have a knack of pre-quelling material I'm usung. 🙂
Puzzle — 4:50 WOW! I don't want to be picky, but . . .
Daily Kos — It is absolutely disgusting that a near octogenarian must work JUST to pay for medical supplies and insurance premiums . . . or curl up and die. Heaven help him and others if the Republicanus/Teabaggerum takeover.
NY Times — Strike three, Strike Three is out! Pitcher: Hillary Clinton. Smart move to go after Jebby. As time has passed, I think Jebby is probably the Republicanus/Teabaggerum nominee. That is not to say don't pay attention to the others though.
Alternet — As I read this, I started to talk to the monitor with editorial punches like "Ya right asshole!" and "In your dreams!" The most common punch was "Liar, liar! Pants on fire!" If any of these clowns make it to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, the country is doomed!
Cartoon — Amen Jim! No SNAP! No social security! No Medicare!
Thanks for the article TC – love everyones' comments; sorry, too poorly today to comment.
Thanks all. Hugs! Pooped!
Heared Rubio dissing Cuba.
Well,well. Cuba has universal health care. Micheal Moore, in his documentry "Siko" took some poor souls,who needed meical help, to Cuba, where they were taken to hospital and treated. How about that Marco baby!?.
Seriously ,why could the USA. nut go to Western Europe and find out just How to run healthcare.?They got it right.
Also. (as a health care professional,) I am aware of the incredible mark ups recieved by the drug manufacturers,and they refuse to negotiate price,Even M.D,s are now complaining . re the extortion. The veterans ass. negotiates, why not every other healthcare provider, or ,better still, the government