I’m in a huge rush to get my articles written and posted in time to take a nap before going to prison to do volunteer work.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 2:24 (average 4:38). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From Daily Kos: Josten Bundy found himself before Judge Randall Rogers in an east Texas courtroom to face a misdemeanor charge stemming from a fight he got into with the ex-boyfriend of his girlfriend, Elizabeth Jaynes. With Elizabeth by his side, the judge asked Bundy if "she was worth it" and then put him on probation with bizarre stipulations:
“I said, well to be honest, sir, I was raised with four sisters and if any man was talking to a woman like that,” recalled Bundy, “I’d probably do the same thing.”
Judge Rogers asked Bundy if he was married to Jaynes and then said, “You know, as a part of my probation, you’re going to have to marry her…within 30 days.”
That’s right. Judge Rogers forced the young couple to get married, which they did. Bundy was fearful the jail sentence would cost him his job and the couple had previously talked about getting married…..in the future. Judge Randall also forced Bundy to get counseling and write Bible verses.
Rogers should be defrocked and disbarred for 1st Amendment violations against Bundy and 8th Amendment violations against Janes.
From Alternet: Informed readers are well aware that US police have the dubious reputation of killing lots of civilians, compared to other countries. The War on Drugs provides much of the basis for this abomination…
…The Free Thought Project constantly reports on senseless, unjustified murders carried out by police, in the attempt to bring accountability to law enforcement run amok. Here are 10 of the most outrageous excuses police have used for killing unarmed people during the last year.
“He was walking with a purpose.” Officer Vanessa Miller killed Ryan Bollinger, 28, after witnessing him “dancing in the street” during a traffic stop. After a low-speed chase, Bollinger exited the vehicle and was “walking with a purpose” toward Miller, who then shot him from inside the car through the rolled-up window.
I’ve shared just one and ten examples of excuses made by police after they murdered innocent victims. Click through for the other nine.
From Democrats Unite: If I wrote that “Bernie Sanders admits to being a socialist,” nobody reading it would need an explanation of the word “admits.” “Socialist” is as dirty a word in US politics as “racist” or “bigot.” And for lots of voters, it’s probably even more of a deal-breaker. When a Republican really wants to insult President Obama, for example, he or she calls him a socialist.
The thing is — as the video below makes clear — America is already a socialist country, but just quietly, and only for the rich and for corporations. So the insult “socialist” only seems to really apply to things we ask the government to do for the rest of us.
In a word, Amen.
Cartoon:
This is humor. It is NOT s suggestion to do violence against Republicans.
24 Responses to “Open Thread–8/11/2015”
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I took the cartoon as being humorous,but may we at least remove the flowers? They are so undeserving of lovely things..
lol. Good one.
Rather than flowers, I'd go more with the hand at the grave scene at the end of the movie "Carrie"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAXU_7EyXFE
Boy, I still remember how I did NOT see that one coming – and it still spooks me!
Now, that's a good one too. lol. "Carrie's Hand"!
This grave site may be too small for a "mass" grave of GOP/TP/Koch clowns.
There was a great article in "The New York Times" the other day detailing 29 scientists writing a letter to Pres. Obama in support of the Iran Nuclear Deal:
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/09/world/29-us-scientists-praise-iran-nuclear-deal-in-letter-to-obama.html?_r=0
(And again, if you're approaching your 10/month NY Times visits, just copy/paste the paragraph –> then use it at Google –> then click on the NY Times link and you shouldn't be debited)
Here's the actual letter they wrote [PDF]:
https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3.documentcloud.org/documents/2235612/iranletteraug2015.pdf
4:38 and I still don't know how I did that.
DKos – Well, of course, I'm not a Republican, but I think I would have said "Oh no you don't! How will I ever know if you really wanted to marry me if you are only doing it under court pressure?" But that doesn't take the onus off of Rogers. (P.S., ladies, would YOU marry a man named Bundy?)
Alternet – Gee, TC, I hope your day improves after reading this. Well, I guess it will give you the feeling your guys are lucky to be alive, which they are. Jessica Hernandez – I was under the impression she was not in the vehicle but perched on the hood, which begs a couple of questions.
Democrats Unite – Well, duh. No kidding. NSSWWYFC. And so on.
Cartoon – I'm sure you "desire not the death of a Republican, but rather that he turn from his evil way and live." (PS Dotti No they don't, but flowers on graves are for the living, and you and I do.)
I may be back. I haven't scanned my email inbox yet.
That video should be required viewing for ANYONE running for president! BRAVO! She explained it to where even I could understand it! Love that video!
I hope you didn't take one of my naps, overslept and had to rush to get to prison in time, TomCat. Looking back at this sentence it has some awkwardness about it and I just realized that you may be the only being I wished a good time in prison upon 😉
Daily Kos: You've got to be kidding: forced to get married within 30 days and to write bible verses? The counseling is OK unless it's of the pseud-Christian type, of course. Only in Texas. Sigh…I hope.
Alternet: It isn't so much the excuses the cops come up with after they murdered someone, but the very fact that they come up with these incredibly bad excuses in the first place that nauseates me. There's obviously a culture within the police force that stimulates cops to never admit to making a mistake and always think up an excuse, no matter how transparent or ridiculous. Seeing how many cops get away with the, often cold blooded, killing of suspect, it is easy to understand how this culture has blossomed and become the norm within the force.
Sorry, have to break off, thunderstorm erupting (very unusual in winter here) and my washing is in danger of destruction…
Actually, your nap could not break through your blizzard. It never reached me. 🙁
You provided several candidates to join the GOP in Canada (can we then build that border wall many keep campaigning for ensure they stay away from us?…sorry Lynn)
I mentioned the absence of endorsements for Bernie a day or two ago and then voila' in today's email:
"
A champion of nurses, patients, and the people:
NNU Endorses Bernie Sanders for President
Hundreds of you gathered at NNU’s Oakland offices Monday, and thousands more joined virtually, for a historic conversation with Bernie Sanders. In an hour-long Q&A, Sanders proved that on a broad spectrum of issues—including fighting for federal staffing ratios, championing healthcare for all, protecting VA nurses’ rights and ending economic injustice—his values are nurses’ values.
That’s why we are pleased to announce that NNU has officially endorsed Bernie Sanders for president of the United States.
“What Bernie Sanders’ campaign represents is an opportunity to not just speak truth to power, but to join movements together to change our country,” said National Nurses United Executive Director RoseAnn DeMoro. “His issues align with nurses from top to bottom.”
Sanders replied, “I am honored to have the support of the largest nurse’s union in this country! Year after year, I have been proud to work with National Nurses United fighting to expand Medicare, to address the nursing shortage in this country, and to make sure that nurses at the VA and all over this country have the right to collectively bargain for decent wages and benefits, among many other things.”
The NNU Executive Council voted to endorse Sanders, based on:
Sanders’ long history of support for NNU, nurses and patients,
A 100 percent scorecard on a questionnaire NNU sent to all the Democratic and Republican Presidential candidates,
Overwhelming support for Sanders among NNU members in an internal poll, and
Sanders’ response to issues before the AFL-CIO Executive Council
NNU Executive Director RoseAnn DeMoro with NNU-endorsed candidate Bernie Sanders.
“There is no other legislator who represents the same humanity, the same courage,” DeMoro said, adding that for his track record of supporting the issues that matter most to nurses, the public and the planet, NNU is proud to endorse Sanders as a “president for all people.”
Another important Bernie perspective for anyone who commented on this issue to read and ponder:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/08/10/1410719/-Open-letter-to-progressives-You-re-doing-it-wrong-and-it-ll-cost-the-Democratic-Party?detail=email
King said white moderate, not white progressuve. I knew the man, and he loved the progressives who fought for peace and civil rights.
Daily Kos: This title of this article made me laugh. However, after reading more into the article, the "judge" made a terrible decision. "Attorney Blake Bailey, who practices constitutional law, said an order to marry is not legal." The judge ruined the couple's future plans for a wedding. This unusual situation also reminds me of "forced marriages" in many other countries.
Alternet: The police are definitely out of control. Some police academies use psychological profiles to weed out those who may not be fit for police duties. Maybe
those psychological tests should be updated to include those with a high propensity towards bigotry, racism, eager to kill or even to "defend" oneself from a misperceived threat. Maybe those same tests need to be upgraded to excuse those with flimsy arguments for the killings of innocent people.
In small police departments, it is usually the "good ole boys" network who fit a certain pattern, profile, background or similarities of discriminations that are hired.
Democrats Unite: USA has been socialistic for at least 85 years whether people want to believe this or not. Socialism is lots better than unfettered capitalism. "Jul 10, 2015 … Pope calls unfettered capitalism 'the dung of the devil'." Socialism as defined in this video in PP explains it quite well. It is short and to the point.
There are many, many examples of socialism in this country. We pay for those services through our taxes for the safety and health of our communities.
Cartoon: Any GOP/TP/Koch clown will do minus the flowers.
Political landscape is not in tune with Sanders I guess they figure Trump is bigger and better. Even Clinton is only in the news for (her dirty dealings with e-mails and Benghazi handling.) (oh my lol) So while the clowns on the right are playing games. They should be aware that the American people see and just like in 2009 when 2016 comes they will shocked when Clinton or Sanders is sworn into office.
Video and cartoon is great Tom thanks
I hope you had a good day with your guys.
Daily Kos: How do these idiots get to be judges? That ruling should never have happened. I hope the couple have a good life together.
Alternet: I read all of them and it makes me ill. We need better training and better screening of our police force. The militarization seems to be working well, since they regard all of us as potential criminals who need to be shot. I have always believed that most police officers were decent people doing their job. I hope I am not wrong. But, there are too many unarmed people being killed for something not to be terribly wrong.
Democrats Unite: I shared this video on FB even though I had sworn off anything but kittens and Maxine jokes. Too many Americans have no ideas of the true definition of Socialism.
Cartoon: I took it as a wish that the GOP was going out of business!
3:10 Where do I send the flowers in memory of this cute mutt which will be dawg fricassée if not rescued by Jerry or Patty?
2:39 Oh no! I hope he doesn't end up being doggie fricasee! Help him, Jerry!
Is it time to pass me the musturd?
The flowers are already there, in the cartoon, and will be used for garnish most likely.
Puzzle — 3:10 Where do I send the flowers in memory of this cute mutt which will be dawg fricassée if not rescued by Jerry or Patty?
Daily Kos — I wonder if Rogers ever considered that Jaynes might not want to marry Bundy? I quite agree with you TC "Rogers should be defrocked and disbarred for 1st Amendment violations against Bundy and 8th Amendment violations against Janes." Rogers must be a Republicanus/Teabaggerum!
Alternet — To me, this is about the American gun culture to solve problems and some non thinking people in uniform.
Democrats Unite — Excellent video! This should be required study for all students and members of Congress!
Cartoon — You need an insertion hole, you know, like a mail slot! That will make the process faster.
Daily Kos – are they SERIOUS?! What on earth! I truly thought this was a joke – and kept waiting for a punchline. It does remind me of Jim's comment some months ago verifying that judges don't even have to have finished high school in America.
Alternet – sorry, am far to ill to read this bunch of psychoses looking for a diagnosis.
God lbless and protect Bernie Sanders.
Daily Kos ~ Whay hasn't Bundy's lawyer made a formal complaint to the Bar about this judge? On the other hand, he might not even be a lawyer. In small towns anyone can be a judge. I'm sure this isn't the first time he's overstepped his bounds.
Alternet ~ Here in NY Cuomo and Shneiderman decided to address the situation. http://www.northcountrypublicradio.org/news/story/29194/20150811/cuomo-schneiderman-tout-ny-s-response-to-killings-by-police
Democrats Unite ~ I keep trying to remind folks on FB that we are a Socialist country already.
Hi TC. hope that all is well. Almost choked on my dinner last night listening to Jeb Bush blame president Obama.
for, 1, The Iraq war, losing the war, by not increasing the number of troops,the rise of ISIS ! and on and on.
At no time did he mention that the "Iraq War was based on a lie, perpetrated by W, Chenney, Rice, etc.etc. and it was started because the Bush,s were after the OIL> Who cares re. a few hundred thousand deaths, disabling thousands on American Service men,who thought that they were fighting for "rights"
Amost every issue that Jeb mentioned was a LIE!. What a great candidate and what a family ,Congenital Liars ALL.
However , what really blew my mind was the enthusiastic crowd,nodding and cheering at his every word.
While I am aware that many Americans have little use for FACTS.I was left wondering, "From which planet did these ignorant twits crawl ? ?.(please excuse my grammatical error.)
Thanks and exhausted hugs to all!