I’m writing early and did my research yesterday evening, because this is one of Wendy’s long mornings, and I expect her shortly. (Now she’s gone and I’m freshened. Tomorrow, please expect no more than a Personal Update, as I have an appointment with my Prosthetist.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 3:58 (average 5:14). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From Alternet: Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) told Stephen Colbert on "The Late Show" last night that she thinks America is very much underestimating Donald Trump.
"[Trump] is one dangerous man and we need to take him really seriously," Warren told Colbert.
Elizabeth Warren is a Democratic superdelegate and is speaking on behalf of Hillary Clinton at the Democratic National Convention Monday.
As always, Liz Warren is spot-on.
From Think Progress: The NBA announced Thursday that it will no longer hold its All-Star Game in Charlotte next year because North Carolina state lawmakers refused to backtrack on HB2, the anti-transgender law passed earlier this year. Though the event would have had a $100 million impact on the city, Gov. Pat McCrory (R) simply doesn’t care if that’s what it takes to keep HB2 on the books.
The Fascist Republican Theocracy of McCrorystan is revolting, and hopefully its people will revolt.
From Raw Story: While panels on HBO’s Real Time can become contentious, Fridays night’s discussion about voting rights went completely out of control as a former GOP lawmaker went to war with columnist Ana Marie Cox and actress/activist America Ferrera.
When Bill doesn’t have time to be funny, you KNOW to pay attention!
Cartoon:
12 Responses to “Open Thread – 7/24/2016”
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5:16 I think I'd want out of there – it looks like a cave.
AlterNet – And how right she is! So is Michael Morre! I hope people will listen. I am a little displeased with all the emails wanting me to pledge not to vote for Trump. For one thing, the whole pledge idea sounds so Republican – Grover Norquist – ALEC – the Koch brothers. Second, I feel my vote is private, or should be. Thirdly, "not voting for Trump" is not the solution. Not voting for Trump can include staying home or voting third party.
TP – Well, and here's a view of what the whole country will look like if Trump wins. Like Trump, McCrory not only doesn't care what anyone else thinks, but can't even be bothered to pretend to care.
Raw Story – What a crock of Republican S**T!!!! No accomodations on the time one can vote are going to allow people to vote if the nearest polling place is 20, 30, 40 miles away! No amount of absentee balloting is going to allow people to vote if they have to prove they will be out of the state on election day! Sure, my state (and yours, TC) has all mail balloting – so the only problem is if you are too poor to buy postage – which certainly is a possibility, but is also something party workers can reasonably assist with. Other states ….
Cartoon – Too bad it couldn't have been an elephant.
NEWS FLASH – DWS just resigned as chair of the DNC, to be effective at the end of the Convention.
The DNC – the Party – the country will all be better off without her as Chair.
She did it to herself – and she seemed to be immune to the warning signs that things were not going well.
She should resign publicly, on the first night of convention! She's the reason I have not donated to the DNC. I've only donated to Bernie & Tammy Duckworth, not to any committee or national organization.
Ditto. That and limited funds. But your choices are stellar anyway.
Those "pledge" e-mails are really onlty about leading you to donate; they try to get you into a "yes" mindset, and then pop the $ question!
AN: So wonderful to see her with Stephen…and she speaks the Truth, how refreshing!!
TP: What a shame too, it's still a Repug Thumping State as it was when I lived there 22 years ago…and only getting worse in their hatred for anyone who doesn't think like they do. Pathetic.
RS: Good video, America and Ana brought up good points!!
Cartoon: LOL.
Best to you tomorrow, with your prosthetist appointment, to and back home too. Take care, and Thanks, Tom.
*Well, we had a shooting yesterday evening, that rocked our small community here. Right down the hill, about 4 miles from my house. Three adults, one child, died, and another child in the hospital. So very sad.
http://www.kvue.com/news/local/five-dead-in-bastrop-shooting/280212723
Oh, Pat, I am so sorry. You deserve better than to be surrounded by shootings – and the people shot deserved far better than to be shot! So sad. If there is an adult surviving to raise the child who didn't die, I assume that adult was not at that location at the time.
So sorry to hear about it, Pat. It's sad enough when young lives are lost in a shooting (all adults were young, weren't they), but when children get caught in the middle of such violence and are killed or hurt, it really hits home that gun violence is really out of control. Even small communities like yours are not exempt, and that must make you both sad and a little scared, Pat.
Alternet: All of us love Warren. She is a strong woman who speaks truth on a daily basis.
Think Progress: McCrory is a fool, and I hope the NC voters are smart enough to get rid of him in the next election. Bravo to the NBA.
Raw Story: "We are either going to elect the first woman president, or the last president, ever." So true.
Cartoon: Yep!
Puzzle — 3:45 I wish I could run like that sign!
Alternet — Go Lizzie! I was listening to one of our radio editorialists with whom I often agree. He was talking about Drumpf and the mess at the RNC and I couldn't help but think about the accusations that Drumpf hurls at Clinton — liar and crooked being the most notable. It hit me then that Drumpf has a major case of projection. The problem is that people listening (his sheeple) don't stop to think about his lying and criminal activity, which in my opinion is far more egregious and dangerous.
Think Progress — Good on the NBA! It won't dissuade McCrory from his actions, but perhaps it will encourage voters to throw him to the curb like a piece of trash in the 2016 gubernatorial election.
Raw Story — There's another Republican that needs to be shown the door! He refuses to accept that Republicans are standing in the way of voting rights! Putz!!!
Cartoon — You've used this one before and I love it more each time!
Safe trip and good luck with George's doctor tomorrow!
Glad you're feeling a bit better, TomCat. A nice shower did wonders too, refreshing body and spirit, I imagine. I hope George's problems get sorted out this time.
Alternet: Of course Elizabeth Warren is right that the danger of Drumpf is underestimated. Perhaps not by the left who are going to vote Blue in November, but certainly by those who do not intend to vote, or not vote for Hillary but someone else because they've fallen of the donkey hard and think that what they do won't matter. Oddly enough, Europeans seem more aware of how dangerous Drumpf really is – with the exception of the far right who embrace him, of course – but then they've just witnessed what protest votes or not voting can lead to in the Brexit referendum.
TP: Isn't it strange how politicians in states like North Carolina always try to defend laws like HB2 by pronouncing anyone's or any group's disapproval of that law a direct attack on the democratic process of their state while at the same time denying that person or group their constitutional right to refuse to be part of it, to be forced to abide by this law and as a consequence take their business to a state that honors federal law? Well, not strange perhaps. But certainly very Republican.
RS: Another deluded Republican made to bite the dust. No one was buying into his nonsense and lies, and I really wonder if he did so himself. It sounded so scared; could it be he's up for re-election soon?
Cartoon: As it isn't economics that is trickling down, many would be happy if the 1% started peeing up a wall instead of directly onto their heads.