Tomorrow I undergo my first of two outpatient surgeries for ocular cancer. The second will be on Friday. Lynn, our beloved Sasquatch, will be doing the Open Threads until I can return, and she and Nameless will be managing the site. I do hope to make a brief appearance at least once a day.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 3:51 (average 4:45). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From NY Times: President Obama, Hillary Clinton and other Democrats are rallying around proposals to expand Social Security and increase benefits, a sea change after three decades dominated by concern over the program’s rising costs.
The Democrats’ new consensus was driven by the populist election-year politics of Senator Bernie Sanders and by a realization that many workers have neither traditional pensions nor any significant retirement savings.
Thank you Bernie! At the outset we didn’t dream you could go so far.
From Alternet: With Donald Trump’s poll numbers sinking into a death spiral, dozens of Republican delegates are now openly plotting a coup to overthrow him at this year’s Republican National Convention.
The Washington Post has scored an interview with GOP delegates who are leading the effort to allow delegates to vote their consciences at this year’s RNC so they can choose someone other than Trump. The rule change would allow delegates to unbind themselves based on “personal or religious conscience.”
That’s transparent election theft. I think the response of the Trump Humpers would be armed mayhem. Rump Dump has won the Republican nomination fair and square. He has a right to represent the Party that chose him at the ballot box, however abhorrent I consider him.
From TPM: During her speech at the New Hampshire Democratic party’s convention on Saturday, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) continued her attacks on Donald Trump, calling him a "thin-skinned, racist bully."
"Donald Trump says he likes to see women on their knees," she told the crowd, according to NBC News. "Well, Donald, that’s not happening. Can you believe this guy? Democrats believe in equal pay for equal work and a woman’s right to decisions over her own body. And we’re ready to fight for it."
The Democratic senator also brought up the lawsuit over Trump University.
"Now Trump University failed, and that’s no surprise," Warren said, according to NBC News. "Think about all the other Trump failures. Trump casinos. Trump Airlines. Trump steaks. Trump magazines. Trump vodka. Trump Mortgage. Trump Games. Trump Travel. Trump Ice. Trump Network. Donald Trump is a proven businessman — a proven failure."
Warren said that Trump should be shaking "in his high-priced Italian loafers, begging the court to protect him, terrified about what happens if those videos go public and he is held accountable."
Keep it up, Lizzie!! You are still a national treasure.
Cartoon:
10 Responses to “Open Thread – 6/19/2016”
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IMO Bernie deserves far more credit than isolated sound byte issues that gained support from others like included here:
http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/36484-bernie-sanders-labor-ideology-and-the-future-of-us-politics
NY T: Bernie rocks, and he has done the country a wonderful favor!
Wash. Post: Sadly, if the GOPigs, who, as we all know brought this freak show upon themselves, dis the Orange Clown, (Ouch, I just caught a connection with the clown in that Stephen King novel, movie) he will get a phenomenal bunch of spotlight which will play right into his blathering, ranting, sweet spot! The NeoNazi will roil up the "uneducated" and make them fucking nuts! Okay, they are already nuts, but I mean nuts on steroids.
Alternet: Maybe the country does have some redeeming qualities. I had a very brief, talk with a total stranger today, as we stood in a line, with my wife. My wife gave me a "shushing" nudge/look when I mentioned Trump, but the lady missed not a beat before replying "Oh please, not him!"
TPM: Liz is SUCH a breath of fresh air!!!!
Just hopping in before I shut down my computer to wish you all the best for tomorrow's operation, TomCat!. I'm sure all will go well, but it's not some little trifle and understandably you're a bit nervous. Sending you an extra heavy dose of catnap to get you through the night. I'll finish my comment tomorrow afternoon local time, while you're still asleep, I hope.
NYT: He's for the People. Keep talking, Bernie!
AN: Whaa? The Repugs created him, and now that he's won the nomination, they want to do this?? If the situation were reversed, for Dems…. the Repugs would be all over that, like a big Stink. Can they even do that?
TPM: Wish others would get on the bandwagon there, and denouce Drumpf. Love Ms. Warren!
Positive vibes for tomorrow, and praying all goes well. In the meantime, take good care, rest, and relax. Enjoy your evening, and Thanks, Tom.
4:48 (4:45) Well, that would break a tooth or two.
NY Times – Social Securty, of course, is just one issue – one certainly dear to my heart sond 80% of my income is derived from it. And if I could get more, I could give more and work harder for other issues.
AlterNet/WaPo – Of course you ae right, TC. Amusing as it is. Part of the humor is that the last time a Republican had a conscience was about 50 years ago.
TPM – It's certainly different to see fearmongering and assertions of lying used against a Republican instead of by one. Of course this biggest difference is, this way, it's truth. I kind of wish Mark Udall had done some of this – it was certsinly done to him, false as hell but with grest effect.
Cartoon – Um – Surely they don't think they're wizards? Well, maybe they do. Maybe some of them are. Lord Voldemort of Florida comes to mind.
3:09 A flower for Fathers' Day!
Puzzle — 3:09 A flower for Fathers' Day!
NY Times — Even if Bernie isn't the nominee, he can still, and is having an effect on policies like social security. Go Bernie!
Alternet — I guess someone forgot to remind Republicans of "Caveat Emptor". Since Drumpf was nominated fairly under the rules in place, it was up to Republicans to take action at the beginning of the process. Instead, they were frozen in place, incredulous that Drumpf was for real. Republicans made their collective bed so now they have to sleep in it . . . nightmares and all!
TPM — Go Lizzie! A National treasure indeed!
NYT: Bernie Sanders can sure stick this feather in his cap and it will encourage him to keep pushing Hillary Clinton and the Democratic party towards committing to progressive, fair and equality-based politics.
Alternet: The very fact that Republicans are considering this coup and try to kill off their own spawn shows how close the GOP is to total collapse. If this desperate and insane plan would work – which it won't, it'll just divide the party even more – there'll be bloody mayhem at the convention and in the streets, and the GOP will have blown themselves to smithereens. Drumpf will then just go independent as he has said from the start. If these delegates fail they'll have committed political suicide and the GOP is dead as well. Either way even more people will vote for Drumpf because they're only loyal to him and not to the GOP at all, especially as they've been stabbed in the democratic back with this stunt. No, this won't happen and these "conscientious" delegates will be forced to eat crow goose step along with the rest of them.
TPM: Don't you love the way Elizabeth Warren breaks Drumpf off at the ankles, as we say, by concluding he's a proven failure after ticking off all his failed ventures. Time to tweet "Pocahontas" again a retort, Drumpf.
My thoughts are with you today, TomCat.
I think Reich has the best idea yet (which also is antithetical to the core neocon principles and thus the only thing that can garner support from progressives and Bernie supporters):
A Big Idea For Hillary
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-reich/a-big-idea-for-hillary_b_10567702.html
NY Times: Yes, Social Security needs to be expanded!
Yea to Bernie and other organizations for promoting that SS needs to be expanded. People keep forgetting that SS is NOT part of the government budget and is independent. We need to keep the GOP/TP from destroying it and out of the hands of the Wall St. brokers and banksters. Both the brokers, banksters are too well known for their deceptive tactics and practices they will use in order to steal money from SS people for themselves. They are salivating, foaming at the mouth at the idea of getting control of SS monies.
Alter: Frumpy Dumpty Drumpf can keep on spiraling downwards. Good riddance. And Drumpf can help the GOP/TP become extinct. YES!
Drumpf continues to shout out loud while the rest of the GOP/TP keep their collective word, thought poops quietly in their pants. Small wonder why the GOP/TP smell so bad as the elections draw closer and closer. May they all smell so bad that they lose their seats in Congress. The GOP/TP created Drumpf from their own policies.
TPM: Elizabeth Warren – An awesomely rare and beautiful politician in Washington, DC. Our National Progressive Treasure. A rare bird.
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