What a slow day. It poured rain all day, but was especially heavy when I had to go out for a doctor's appointment. I thought I was going to have to swim there . . . and back! My "kids" were quiet and I even managed a short nap. Lona, did you send some cat naps my way? Being a late to bed gal, you're getting this early because I'll be at church tomorrow morning.
Puzzle — Today’s took me 3:13 (average 4:43). To do it, click here. How did you do? For those that don't know, we always do the 48 piece classic.
Alternet — Putting aside absurdities, what is the real threat of Iran that inspires such fear and fury? A natural place to turn for an answer is, again, U.S. intelligence. Recall its analysis that Iran poses no military threat, that its strategic doctrines are defensive, and its nuclear programmmes [with no effort to produce bombs, as far as intelligence can determine] are “a central part of its deterrent strategy”.
Who, then, would be concerned by an Iranian deterrent? The answer is plain: the rogue states that rampage in the region and do not want to tolerate any impediment to their reliance on aggression and violence. Far in the lead in this regard are the U.S. and Israel, with Saudi Arabia trying its best to join the club with its invasion of Bahrain to support the crushing of the reform movement by the dictatorship and now its murderous assault on Yemen, accelerating the humanitarian catastrophe there.
This is taken from the middle of the article. Read the rest at Alternet
Reading Chomsky, knowing some of the history of the Middle East, and knowing a fair amount of US history, is it any wonder that the Republicans do not support the Iran deal?! Their support of the agreement would mean no war which translates into no exorbitant profits for the military/industrial complex. This is not about nuclear weapons but about profits to be made from the sale of weapons and materiel. And you can believe that the likes of Chickenhawk Cheney and the other neocons are right in there stirring the witch's brew.
Mother Jones — Johnson County, Wyoming, is the kind of remote, quiet Western community where life revolves around cattle—it was the site of an infamous 19th-century armed battle between cowboys and suspected cattle rustlers. The county ranks only 11th statewide for oil production, but it holds the No. 1 ranking nationwide for a more ignominious distinction: It has 249 new, high-risk oil and gas wells that the federal government has failed to inspect for compliance with safety and environmental standards.
Johnson County may have the most uninspected wells, but it's far from the only place where the problem exists. In fact, of all 3,486 oil and gas wells drilled on federal and Native American land from 2009 to 2012 that were identified by the Bureau of Land Management as high risk for pollution, 40 percent were not inspected at the most important stage of their development, according to records the BLM provided to Climate Desk.
Where does your state stand? Check in Mother Jones
With budget cutbacks, the BLM is stretched too thinly. There just are not enough resources to get the job done. And who suffers . . . people and wildlife who are caught in the blowouts and politics. When it comes to budget cuts, who do you think is holding the axe?
Huffington Post — A judge in the U.S District Court for the Northern District of California has ruled that the organization behind undercover videos targeting Planned Parenthood cannot plead the Fifth Amendment to avoid handing over any materials related to a lawsuit filed against the organization.
A crack in the armour of Citizens United? Beats me, but if this is a crack, then there could be a real political fight down the road.
My Universe — It's Saturday and time to party! Oh the headache in the morning!
15 Responses to “Squatch’s Open Thread 20/09/2015”
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Thanks Lynn – thank goodness your three were out of the downpour!
Alternet – God protect us from the lunatics trying to make war.
Mother Jones – does anywhere in the world want to protect its citizens (and wildlife) against these vicious companies any more?
Huff Post – good, about time.
My Universe – oh that poor darling cat – I hope he won't trust his owner so blithely in the future!
Can you send the rain to CA? Just make sure it doesn't prevent those video makers from getting their comeuppance from our courts.
An important yet lesserknown consequence of congressional budget games underfunding domestic needs and funding Pentagon to permit the waste by contractors and others without audits.
So on target with Iran given that the sole rights to the oil/gas in occupied territory Saudi Arabia was in line for went to a Cheney affiliated company via Israel.
3:15 I'm right behind you, Lynn,
We're at opposite sides of the continent and we also had a lot of rain between yesterday and this AM. I'm sure you'll be praying extra hard for TC today. I am too.
Puzzle Port Cape Clear ~ 3:226 I'm still waiting for the tugboat to tow me in.
Didn't you know my catnaps come with the Open Thread as a reward for all the hard work and lost sleep, Lynn?
And yes, this Thread came in so early that it for me it was simultaneous with the previous one. Can't keep up with you, girl.
Alternet: Spot on, Lynn. The only reason why the Republicans oppose a deal with Iran is that the US can not enter the war the Saudi's are waging against Iran's influence in the Arabic world. I'm with Chomsky, who points a finger at Saudi Arabia as one of the main culprits behind the chaos in the region and the Saudi royalty who have benefited greatly from Iran's isolation during the past decades, the chaos in Iraq and Afghanistan caused by you-know-who and the subsequent rise of Da'esh, who have been known to have been supported by the Saudis in the past. But make no mistake: if the Republicans can't block the nuclear deal with Iran and start a war against it for the sake of the arms dealers, they will have no qualms in making a 180° turn and start selling both the Saudis AND Iran the arms to keep the money coming in. Republican presidents had no qualms in doing so either, remember?
Mother Jones: That is some disturbing picture you put in there, Lynn. Of course the Republicans are willing to ignore it completely, the same as Climate Change. which is also facilitated by both the (gaseous) spills and the burn-off from what is pumped up there. Of course cuts to the BLM are necessary, not only because the 1% wants the money spent on it for themselves, but also because a functioning BLM would be a direct threat to the profits they make on these unsafe wells.
Huffington Post: Kudos to the judge who ruled against the organization behind the undercover videos, but with Big Money behind it, this organization will only take it to the next judicial level, right up to SCOTUS, in the meantime blocking the court case from continuing and in the end we know how SCOTUS will react to it.
My Universe: my scardycats can jump as high as that at unusual sounds.And so close to its head too!
Alternet ~ Excellent article. I am of the opinion that Republican voters like to be scared so the candidates are feeding into their fears. It's like watching scary movies which I don't like.
Mother Jones ~ In NY, we have none and we have a ban on fracking, thank God. Our problem now is the want to put tankers full of oil on side rails in the Adirondacks. We're fighting that right now. It's my backyard, so to speak.
HuffPo ~ Halleluja!!!
Your Universe is quite wonderful. Thank you for sharing it with us.
I LOVE the Cat GIF!
Just tell me the little kitty wasn't injured.
4:38 Port Cape Clear. "We couldn't decide whether to name it for the port or the cape."
Alternet – Can't argue with Chomsky. It's not about reality, it's about what you can sell to the sheep.
MoJo – Every regulatory agency is stretched too thin. Reoublican strategy – if you can't abolish the agency, underfund it so it can't do its job. If that doesn't make it look so bad that you eventually can abolish it (think EPA and old mines), at least you won't have to put up with all the meddling it's supposed to be doing. Of course Dick Cheney's state takes the booby prize. I see Colorado has one county in the 151-200 range. It's nowhere near me, but that's OK – the exploding oil train track is very near me.
HuffPo – Crack or not, it's good news.
Universe – Reminds me of the time hubby started the vacuum, unaware a cat was sleeping in the basket chair right next to him. He wasn't unaware for long. I swear the poor kitty went three feet straight up. Nothing hurt but his pride, though, fortunately.
Not rubbing it in, Lynn, but we have had two gorgeous, fall like days here in Kentucky, highs in the low seventies, lows in the fifties, with no clouds in sight. Loved it.
Alternet: You summed it up correctly. The real reason the Republicans are so against any deal with Iran is the lack of income they will suffer if we are not at war somewhere. I think we have been at war somewhere since Jimmy Carter left office.
Mother Jones: Yes the BLM is stretched too thinly, and who makes the budget cuts? The Repubs, who profit from the energy companies as well as the arms manufacturers. We need to get those people out of office and have term limits.
HuffPo: They have nothing to hide, but they want to plead the Fifth Amendment? Yes, and I bet they have bridges to sell in Brooklyn, too. I so hope these liars get fully prosecuted and are forced to release videos to undo the damage they have done to Planned Parenthood.
My Universe: So funny, you never know when a cat will freak out. Love my kitties.
Edie, I often get wrapped up and forget to say so, but Phillip is still in my prayers andI suspect I speak for all of os.. I am sorry that one Republican who voted right the other day is not your Rep – but I did know the odds were slim – though some will accept correspondence from folks outside their district.
Edie, I lit a candle at church and offered prayers this morning for Phillip and the family. Thinking of you daily.
A petition from Human rights about Syrian refugees I just got:
http://actions.humanrightsfirst.org/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=11654
Thanks JL. Signed
To me, this is not a European problem but a world problem. Europe just happens to be closer, the front line.
Thanks Lynn–I agree–we all need to think of ourselves as global citizens
Our pressure is working (albeit less than desired)–just got this in an email:
"Yesterday, Secretary of State Kerry announced that the U.S. will increase the number of refugees resettled in this country to 85,000 this year, and 100,000 next year."