Squatch’s Open Thread 09/08/2016

 Posted by at 1:43 am  Open Thread, Politics
Aug 102016
 

It has been about 2 weeks since I last posted an article.  My laptop has been in and out of the computer hospital, and it is too difficult on my knees to be sitting at my desktop long enough to put a post together.  But the laptop, Bella, is working great now.  We had rain last night and this morning which was very welcomed.  Temperatures have cooled, at least for a few days, which makes me very happy.  The furbabes are happy about that too.  I completed the dreaded task today, and I am in the process of cleaning out my clothes closet.  Every time I open the doors, there are 3 babes that dart in getting fur all over everything!  Have a good week.

Short Takes

Alternet — Donald Trump was out of the spotlight for a while last week, and that was very hard to abide. When people did talk about him, they were mostly saying not nice things. Imagine that! Things like, “That’s treason,” when he invited Russia to interfere with an American election. Things like, “How dare you not release your tax returns as every candidate for president has done in modern history?”

The Democrats had put on a good show with plenty of razzle-dazzle, and that hurt. When Trump awoke from his semi-subdued state, it was as if he was determined to prove every damn negative thing that had been said about him was true.

Temperamentally unfit to serve as commander-in-chief? “I’ll show you,” he roared!

Photo Credit: FlickR/IoSonoUnaFotoCamera

5. Confused Republicans seem not to understand the concept of acting.

It was bad enough that there were so many more truly A-list celebrities at the DNC in Philadelphia than at the RNC in Cleveland. Worse still, there were glamorous big celebs in the audience in Philly—who weren’t even speaking—whereas people in pinwheel hats, open carry nuts and followers of Alex Jones mostly graced Cleveland with their presence.CBC

One celeb in Philly in particular confused the hell out of conservatives. American Sniper Chris Kyle sat right there in the audience of the DNC. Well, not actually Chris Kyle, but the actor who portrayed him, Bradley Cooper. Same thing, right?

“Traitor!” tweeted some conservative idiots unfamiliar with the concept of acting. One called “USA Citizen” was enraged: “Bradley Cooper’s DNC appearance indicates his next role will be Jihadi John. Liberal piece of (emoticon of smiling pile of brown stuff.)"

We think we know which party is offering a steaming pile of shit this election season.

This is the fifth of 5 Stupidest Right-Wing Moments This Week from the week ending 31/07/2016.  And just like the title suggests, stupidity reigns supreme with Republicans.  Click through for the other four.

CBC — Canadians widely believe that President Donald Trump would be bad for Canada. Fully 78 per cent of respondents said that a Trump presidency would be "bad" or "very bad" for Canada, an increase of 16 points from when Insights West polled on this question shortly after Donald Trump entered the race for the Republican nomination a year ago. Only 13 per cent of respondents thought President Trump would be good for Canada.

While there is far less worry about what the Democratic nominee would mean for Canada (and given the choice between the two, Canadians would opt for Clinton in a landslide), opinions on the former first lady and secretary of state are still divided. Just under half, or 47 per cent, of those polled thought that a victory by Hillary Clinton would be good for this country, while 37 per cent thought it would be bad for Canada.

In a related CBC article, Éric Grenier, political analyst and pollster for the CBC, wrote on 01/08/2016

After closing the gap on Hillary Clinton in the polls, Donald Trump is closer to taking the White House today than he has ever been before. But there is one way the Democrats could virtually ensure their party's hold on the presidency — making Canada the 51st state.

That's obviously not going to happen. But Canadians would be among the most reliable Democrats if, well, they were Americans instead.   …

Trump is deeply unpopular in Canada. The Mainstreet survey gave him a favourability rating of just 15 per cent, with 75 per cent of Canadians saying they hold an unfavourable view of the Republican nominee. Clinton, on the other hand, scored a favourability rating of 62 per cent, against 24 per cent unfavourable.

In another related CBC article, Grenier provides the following polling numbers from the US (interactive display at site)

Presidential Poll Tracker – Electoral College at 07/08/2016
Hillary Clinton – Democrat Donald Trump – Republican
347 Projected Votes 191 Projected Votes
HIGH: 374 HIGH: 265
LOW: 273 LOW: 164

Of course, the only true poll is the one done in the polling booth.  Let's hope that Éric Grenier is correct.

Youtube — And now, some truth in humour from John Oliver.  I think he is the only one who can make the Republican National Convention seem humourous. 

My Universe — Can you find the cat in the woodpile?

cat.jpg

 

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  15 Responses to “Squatch’s Open Thread 09/08/2016”

  1. SoINeedAName says:
    August 10, 2016 at 5:40 am

    Temperamentally unfit to serve as commander-in-chief? “I’ll show you,” he roared!

     

  2. Mitch D. says:
    August 10, 2016 at 6:46 am

    Universe: I thonk I see el gato in the lower left.

    Alternet: ALL Repuublicans who would come to the general public's attention, are confused, bewildered, deluded, crazed, and, ap per the punchline in a joke about a visit to a psychiatrist, on second opinion, ugly!

  3. Joanne Dixon says:
    August 10, 2016 at 8:01 am

    AlterNet – I do remember having commented that Drumpf is unlikely to be knocking anyone's head off with those tiny hands.  Unless he wears loaded boxing gloves.  If those tine hands can hold loaded boxing gloves.  And that when I worked in theater (in a college) the director/department head used to make some amusing predictions of things that might happen to actors after opening night.  Always right on the money.  Sigh.

    CBC – Well, of course.  Canada is not as heavily populated as the US.  While Canada has also experienced greed showing up in, among other things, pollution of air and water, and while, like us, you have experience people growing up impaired as a result, there are enough who escaped that fate that you still have some rationality.  Not so in the United States.  This is unfortunately the first election year that it has ben evident that not only has pollution afffected amygdalas, but that some pre-frontal cortices have also been affected.  "Everyone is crazy but thee and me, and sometimes I wonder about thee" has never been more apt.  Not a first that should be celebrated.

    YouTube – John Oliver is always a ray of sunshine – not because the news is good, but because he is so witty in analysis he makes dreck funny. 

    My Universe – No.  Sorry.

  4. Pat B says:
    August 10, 2016 at 9:08 am

    AN: A person can only take so much, as evidenced by  Drump's rude/insensitive comment(s) regarding Mr. Khan's speech @ the DNC. Man doesn't know the meaning of sacrifice, or anything of politics. If I said half the things that he says, I'd be arrested. What a cad.

    YouTube: I like John O's take on the RNC. "Feelings"?? Nope, not with any of them.  

    My Universe: It took me more than a minute to find the kitty. There in plain sight, and perfect camouflage!!!

    We could use some rain, it's been very hot (100's) here. Gave my Blue Russian a bath the other night, oddly, she liked it. I see a trend here. lol. Enjoy your day, and Thanks, Lynn.

    *Nameless, love your picture/comment!!

  5. TomCat says:
    August 10, 2016 at 2:30 pm

    I'm glad your laptop is fixed.  I wist we had a cool week coming up.

    You insulted shit again.

    I hope Grenier is right too.

    LOL!!

    With my eyes, I can barely find the woodpile!

  6. Lona Goudswaard says:
    August 10, 2016 at 7:59 pm

    Good to hear Bella has been nursed back to health again, Lynn, and preparing and writing an article isn't so hard on your knees now.Why are your furbabes so obsessed with your clothes closet? I'm sure they have plenty of nice spots to lay down, so it must be either curiosity, some particularly nice smell or just the general cat obnoxiousness of wanting to do something that isn't allowed, I suppose.

    Alternet: I've read through all of them and all I can say is: goodness help us and give us strength to get through the next three months, not cave in under this unfair amount of Drumpfian pressure and vote Blue at every possible opportunity.

    CBC: Being so close to America, Canadians of course have cause to worry about the possibility of Drumpf winning the election. Canadians have also shown in their last election to have a better understanding of what politics are best for their country and voted Harper and his cronies out, so it stands to reason they have an excellent perspective on the dangers president Drumpf would pose for Canada and the rest of the world. Other Western countries, more distanced from America's sphere of influence, are acutely aware of the dangers he poses to them. Besides our Geert Wilders, I haven't heard a positive remark on Drumpf by a Dutchman or -woman these past few weeks. And while I've only been in Oz less than a week, I haven't heard anything but scouring remarks here, and plenty of them too.

    YT: Darn, The video is not available in Australia, and even if it was, my connection speed is too low to watch videos anyway.

  7. Lynn Squance says:
    August 15, 2016 at 11:46 pm

    Thanks all!

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