Pardon my brevity, but I have to go see my Physical Terrorist, Courtney the Inquisitor. I’ve been doing her exercises, but one set of them gives me cramps in stumpy, which abate in a couple minutes but are quite painful. This is today’s only article, but I am squeezing in an extra Short Take.
I’m back. I went on the big bus and negotiated the same crosswalk at which I injured myself two weeks ago due to poor vision. Knowing that the problem is there makes all the difference and I’m developing a strategy to assume such dangers wherever I go, so I’m prepared when one actually exists.
When I saw JD’s Mug Shot (to be posted soon) I mentioned how my back would appreciate her claws. In today’s mail, I received back scratchers from JD!! Thanks Joanne!!
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 4:46 (average 6:44). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From KP Daily Funnies: Funny or Die: Donald Trump: POW
Barf Bag Alert!!
Since his election would not be funny, he would give is the other alternative: die.
From Exposed by CMD: CMD has launched a petition, calling on AARP to stop funding ALEC. You can sign the petition here.
AARP, the non-profit seniors organization that exists to promote the financial security, pensions and healthcare of those over 50, is secretly funding the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), an organization whose bills have acted against the interests of ordinary Americans, including retirees and their families.
The Center for Media and Democracy has learned that AARP has recently joined ALEC, and that it is a named sponsor of the ALEC annual meeting taking place in Indianapolis, Indiana from July 27-29, 2016.
AARP isn’t exactly hiding its new financial relationship with ALEC, at least to ALEC legislators. Its logo appears in the conference brochure (see below) and attendees at the conference were each provided with an AARP branded portable USB power pack as they registered for the event.
ALEC exists to help its corporate funders advance their lobbying agenda through pushing bills that ALEC peddles as national “model” legislation. As CMD has documented in numerous ways, ALEC is a pay-to-play operation.
Since CMD launched ALECexposed in 2011, more than 100 corporations have quit the group, with many echoing Eric Schmidt of Google who told NPR as his company quit ALEC: “I think the consensus within the company was that that was some sort of mistake and so we’re trying to not do that in the future.”
I quit AARP years ago, because I soon realized that the only service they were providing me was giving me the privilege to be SPAMMED relentlessly using email, phone and snail mail by their many "partners". In my opinion AARP is a fraud. (After I wrote this, I received an email that AARP had stropped funding ALEC. I trust it was only because they were embarrassed at getting caught red handed.) My opinion is unchanged.
From Daily Kos: If there was any evidence Donald Trump was capable of thinking beyond the next moment, it would be easy to suspect that 90 percent of what’s bubbled from his lips over the last three days is a diversion. Attacking the Khans. Hints that he won’t accept the results of the election. Complaints that the polls are fishy. Saying that women should run away from sexual harassment. Even kicking a baby out of a rally. All of it.
Because as bad as all this is, if it serves to fend off media attention from the thing Trump’s campaign has suddenly gone quiet about, it could be worth it. Because the thing they’re not talking about is Russia.
While Donald Trump may now claim that his request for Russia to interfere in the election was just an example of sarcasm, it certainly didn’t seem that way to those listening on that day. And even if you wave that away—including the calls for a Senate hearing on the topic—other aspects of this story simply can’t be passed off as a joke.
In particular this is one place where both Donald Trump and campaign manager Paul Manafort are deliberately, publicly, and obviously lying. And that should be setting off major alarms.
That’s why this is the this is the third time I’ve covered it. Rump Dump and Manafart would deliver our security to Putin (R-RU).
From The New Yorker: A humanitarian crisis has been unfolding over the past week as Republican refugees seeking asylum have overrun the Democratic National Committee headquarters, in Washington, D.C.
D.N.C. staffers have confirmed that they were woefully unprepared for the masses of desperate Republicans who have shown up at the D.N.C.’s door, looking for safe harbor.
“These people have been brutalized for months and have decided to risk everything to save themselves and their families,” D.N.C. staffer Tracy Klugian said. “When they tell you their stories, they are absolutely heartbreaking.”
Andy, you blew it this time. The place for former Republicans seeking freedom is with rank-and-file Democrats, not the DNC DINOs.
Cartoon:
7 Responses to “Open Thread – 8/5/2016”
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Funny or Die: Enjoyed the video. A winner, for sure. LOL.
CMD: We quit AARP several years ago, because of the relentless snail mail also and robo calls.
DK: Frightening to say the least. What's he gonna say/do next?? ugh!
Cartoon: "On this day in 1861, Lincoln imposes the first federal income tax by signing the Revenue Act. Strapped for cash with which to pursue the Civil War, Lincoln and Congress agreed to impose a 3 percent tax on annual incomes over $800." "Congress repealed Lincoln’s tax law in 1871, but in 1909 passed the 16th Amendment, which set in place the federal income-tax system used today. Congress ratified the 16th Amendment in 1913." *history.com
Glad to read that you got to, and back, safely. Hope that you can relax the rest of your day/evening. It's hot here, with it 97 today, but in the 100's the next few. Take care, and Thanks, Tom.
8:14 I thought this one was much harder than the last two.
Back, sleepy and headachy, but otherwise intact. Cross posted Nameless, will return there later. You are most welcome. Those two, the bear and the croc, are my favorites Hope they work well for you.
FoD – Oh, how very well done!
CMD – I gave up AARP a couple of years ago over a different issue; had to resort to sending unopened mail back "REFUSED" but (fingers crossed) seem to be finally off their mailers. I got the same email and signed it from that. Scoundrels.
DKos – And you are so right. If you come across any stray petitions to Senators to put their feet to the fire to hold those hearings, shoot them our way.
New Yorker – Yes – Freedom is with the rank and file – but – I don't think Republicans are that smart – they would feel so much more at home with the DNC, they would not realize their error until it was too late.
Cartoon – No, he wasn't. Or – just maybe – he was and you soi-disant Republicans today aren't.
Puzzle — 5:53 This one makes yesterday's look like child's play. Careful Puddy Tat, I don't know if this plant is edible.
KP Daily Funnies — Unfortunately, I still don't have sound. I'll check this out again tomorrow after the computer doctor restores the sound that was OK when last it was in.
Exposed by CMD — How Republican! Petition signed.
Daily Kos — The only joke is Drumpf, himself, but he cannot be allowed to have the last laugh. In my opinion, it appears he is guilty of sedition and that alone should disqualify him from running for POTUS.
The New Yorker — Just don't send them north of the 49th. They might work as Democrats in the US, but once a Republican, always a Republican . . . and we got rid of our Republican.
Cartoon — In Canada on 25/07/1917, "… the 50-year old finance minister tabled a resolution which called for income tax: 4% on all income of single men over $2,000. For others, the personal exemption was $3,000.
For those Canadians with annual incomes of more than $6,000, the tax rate ranged from 2 to 25 per cent." Income tax was necessitated by WWI. It was intended as a temporary matter but 99 years later, we still have it and it is required for the public good like health care. At least you Americans had a 38 year reprieve from the temporary income tax.
Now that I've had a chance to watch the POW video, all I can say is OMG and LOL! Drumpf is such a despicable and vile lttle worm!
Yup, I have a back scratcher too, right here at my computer desk. Use it too. lol. Ah, that feels good, eh… Enjoy using yours from JD, TC.
KP Daily Funnies: That was funny. Maybe if the Drumpf had been a real POW, he would not disparage the Gold Star families and the real POWs.
CMD: AARP has gone downhill over the past decade. It no longer supports the retirees as it once did. Petition signed.
KOS: Drumpf continues to be a lyin' sniveling, despicable, narcissistic sociopath who never should have entered into the very public political arena.
New Yorker: Sorry: No humanitarian efforts should be given to the GOP/TP/Freedom Caucus people after what they have done to the decent people of US and the world. The "safe harbor" the GOP people are looking for is the outhouse as depicted in the PPs cartoon of yesterday. They brought it upon themselves and should pay for it.
Cartoon: Society benefits with taxes as long as everyone pays their fair share of them. One caveat: We should not be paying for unwanted wars, for a bloated military budget and military equipment we do not want nor need to give away to police departments.
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Thanks all! Hugs!!
CMD: I signed the other day!
Funny or Die: Well, since there is NOTHING funny about this ass….
Borowitz is marvelous!