Yesterday the Home Health Nurse came, and starting next week, I’ll be getting PT, OT, and a Bathing Aide at home. Then Terry and Sandi visited. I was doing prison volunteer work with them. Then JL A (aka Judi) visited. She was passing through Portland on the way to visit relatives for Christmas, so I ordered in Chinese, and we had a very present meal. She is one of the warmest people I have met.
Short Takes:
From Daily Kos: The stupid, it burns . . . . The worst of the lot? A former SCIENCE teacher that said she was afraid it would hurt nearby plants making them unable to photosynthesize . . . Woodland’s Planning Commission banned the solar farm on a 3-1 vote. That’s right, 75% of the planning commission was either too afraid to tell their stupid residents the actual scientific truth, or they’re just as stupid as their residents.
As detailed in this Roanoke Chowan News Herald story
Will I ever wake up from the stupidity of Republicans?
Bobby Mann said he watched communities dry up when I-95 came along and warned that would happen to Woodland because of the solar farms. [emphasis original]
Dang!! Thou shalt NOT commit TEAbuggery!!
From The New Yorker: Authorities were urging people to remain calm on Tuesday night after the broadcast of a chilling video that terrified millions.
The video, which was broadcast nationally on CNN, appeared to show nine extremists glaring into the camera and making a series of escalating threats.
The radicals’ increasingly violent rhetoric and palpable hatred rattled viewers across the nation, sources said.
Experts who viewed the video acknowledged that the words and images contained in it were alarming, but advised the public to remain calm until the extremists’ threats could be authenticated.
“At this point, there is no reason to believe that any of these individuals are credible,” one expert said.
Dang!! The previous item sounds more like Andy than Andy! I didn't even know there was a Clown Car Destruction Derby last night.
From Alternet: Another GOP debate, another steaming pile of half-truths, lies and pseudo-facts. The Republican Party seems to be almost entirely post-truth at this point, and if you call them out, you're the liberal media! It's a brilliant racket and one that led us to the current state of affairs where facts aren't just dispensable, but a political liability. Without further ado, here are the top lies and distortions from tonight's debate.
1. Ben Carson and Ted Cruz: "We cannot vet refugees."
A popular refrain in the wake of the Paris and San Bernadino attacks is that the U.S. government (or more specifically President Obama) cannot properly vet Syrian refugees. This has been repeatedly debunked as hysterical posturing, yet remains a popular trope among the far right. In addition to a rather thorough takedown by John Oliver two weeks ago, PoliticoFact rated this claim, "Mostly False" in its detailed analysis this evening.
2. Marco Rubio claims Assad created ISIS.
This is an old canard, and one that even nominally lefty outlets like Vox like to push, but it has little to do with reality. In an effort to shore up his neocon credentials, Rubio has doubled down on regime change in Syria while other GOP candidates like Paul and Cruz – as well as Bernie Sanders – have run away from this position. To do this Rubio has pushed the conspiracy theory that the reason ISIS grew in Syria is because the U.S. didn't back the rebels opposed to Assad when in fact the CIA, according to documents revealed by Edward Snowden, spent $1 billion a year arming, funding and assisting the opposition.
3. Donald Trump cites bogus poll that 25% of Muslims condone acts of violence.
A popular trope among the nativist wing of the Republican Party (aka the Republican Party), the bogus stat that 25% of Muslins support violence is thrown around quite often. But it originates from noted Islamophobic "think tank" Center for Security Policy. As the New York Times notes:
Mr. Trump vouched for the group at a rally on Monday night. But the poll — conducted by the Polling Company [pig poll delinked], a Republican firm — is in no way truly representative of all Muslim Americans because of its methodology. The poll was not based on a random sample, but included only people who chose to participate, and therefore is not representative of the population being studied. In addition, some of the questions were leading and biased.
I shared only the first three of the top ten Republican lies at the Clown Car Destruction Derby. Click through for the other seven.
Cartoon:
11 Responses to “Open Thread–12/16/2015”
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
Sounds like a really great day. Good!
DKos – The stupid, it burns is about all you can say.
New Yorker – Well, you were busy yesterday with much pleasanter things. I knew it was on but I'm sorry, I just can't watch those things. Fortunately some do so I don't have to. But I gather even a bunch of Dem elected officials chickened out last night.
AlterNet – 1. They use examples of people with VISAs – who were not vetted – to make the claim "we can't vet refugees." Does one laugh, cry, or scream?
2. Islamphobia created Daesh, and Islamophobia continues to feed it. And feeds it well.
3. I take (some) surveys (I could easily take enough to count as a full time job, but I choose not to), and when faced with a question worded so that my answer could be misinterpreted, I drop out. I'm sure I am not the only one.
4, 5, 6. It's really scary that Republican voters are so dumb they can be lied to with statements of facts and figures which are easily proved false. It may be even scarier that the candidates know it and continue to do it. This is what a Republican presidency would be lke. You'd think we'd remember.
7. Oh, great, the candidates aren't lying enough, the moderators have to lie too.
8. That's not unclear at all. It's clearly because Republicans believe women aren't human and therefore clinic attacks aren't terrorism.
9. She wants to sound like she knows something about military matters. She doesn't. And it's not because she's a woman. It's because she's an idiot.
10. At least this is not inconsistent. they also think that, after having paid into Social Security all our lives, we are being "given" something when we start collecting.
Cartoon – And withdrew in 2012. That must have been a Harper harlotry thing.
DK: Uh…. A science teacher? Whoa…way too stupid for me though! Sure it wasn't in Texas? lol.
New Yorker: I didn't sit and watch the 'show', nor did my family. Can't stomach it.
AlterNet: What a tangled web of lies and deceit they weave. Unreal. (and people believe this stuff).
Sounds good now that you are getting things lined up, health wise. Good for you! Plus, company for dinner. How wonderful that Judi stopped by! What a wonderful evening for you. Glad that you are doing good. Enjoy your day/evening, take care, and Thanks, Tom.
Good post, TomCat. I also failed to watch the circus but that's because I value my electricity…peace.
Daily Kos has a Rec'd post up of bizarre quotes from last night's debate. My favorite is by Gov. Chris Christie:
Not terrible, except King Hussein of Jordan has been DEAD since 1999.
http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2015/12/16/1460675/-10-G-O-P-Debate-Quotes-From-Fear-Mongering-to-Simply-Bizarre
That's MY governor, just as sharp as "what's her face," who could see Russia from her porch…in Fairbanks!
TC, it sounds like thing are beginning to look up! I sure hope so!
Daily Kos: I have sometimes considered the idea that the universe is not made up of atoms, fermions, but of stupidons, because I see stupid almost wherever I look. Damn, I just ralized, I have a cousin-in-law named Don…and he is a rabid "Reagan Republican," yep, a stupidon!
New Yorker: that's why I have not watched a single GOPig debate, concerns about PTSD!
Alternet: See my comment about the idiotbate!
It sounds like you had a very good day. I have never met Judi but her personality comes through in what she says on here and on C2. I really like her.
Daily Kos: Such ignorance is not only pitiful, but dangerous! I could see that happening here, too. Some of our science teachers still believe myths taught by their grandmothers and won't open their minds to anything that is real.
The New Yorker: Andy's comments read more like truth than satire today.
Alternet: I clicked through. It is very clear that all these lies and deliberate inuendos are self serving for all of them. How can CNN continue to call itself a news station when it allows such propaganda to go uncallenged?
Cartoon: Canada always seems to be ahead of us.
Bless you! Hope this means you've fixed your computer problems!
You had a very busy day, TomCat, but busy in the the most pleasant way. Isn't it great, and a little strange, to meet someone you know rather well from the internet, but had no idea what that person looked like? You both must have had a terrific evening. Good to hear your getting all kinds of physical/medical care, starting next week, but I was wondering if you also get some extra help with your household like cleaning and doing the dreaded laundry?
Daily Kos: The way these mindless sheep (sorry, sheep) are letting themselves be led against their own best interests by Republicans/Big fossil fuel, really angers me. Reporters would do well to go digging into what exactly happened before the Planning Committee voted against the solar farm and find out why they actually put up a moratorium on solar farms in the future. This reeks of lobbying, nay kickbacks, from Big Fossil. Getting that out in the open could help in preventing this over and over again.
The New Yorker: I'm not sure Andy's going to last past the election, he is starting to sound so bitter and truthful lately. I think having to watch the Clown Car "perform" each time is talking toll on him. I feel sorry for him and all other Americans who have to sit through that torture, knowing there's months ahead of the same and perhaps even worse.
Alternet: I've neither the time nor the energy to delve deeply into these 10 biggest lies, I've only one question: What the hell is wrong with you, (Republican) America? Your distrust of your government is bigger than it ever was, yet you allow yourself to be bombarded with lies, myths and half-truths by people who want to be your new government!? Another "debate" and at least 10 more, often repeated, lies, and you just sit there and take it they are lying to you no matter how often it is debunked. You should be ashamed of allowing people to think so little of you, to be so condescending to you, and still go out and vote for them "because he's telling it like it is" (Trump) or "because he's such a nice man"(Carson). Shame on you.
Cartoon: And some didn't.
Thanks all! Now tiday is a crezy day!! Hugs!
Thanks TC. Still sorry I missed Terry and Sandy.