It’s been a very busy day, I was up early, and I’m quite tired. Wendi and I shined and polished the TomCat, did the floors, counters and dusting, cleaned thy CatBox, filed a pants-load of paperwork, cooked a sic day sausage casserole, and made steak and baked potatoes for brunch. I contributed a big sticky bun to the Southern Exposure Project. I’m looking forward to a nap.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 3:40 (average 5:13). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From Daily Kos: Although this was all legal, this Virginia man’s protest was frightening for the staff and volunteers at Jane Dittmar’s Palmyra (VA-05) congressional campaign office. Virginia resident Daniel Parks, who says he served in the military, stood outside for 12 hours, staring into the office and intimidating campaign volunteers:
"I’m just trying to provide a voice for someone who might be a closet supporter of trump. Other people who are a little worried to speak out because of possible persecution," he said.
He actually made a point of showing the gun to make campaign workers fearful. I suspect this is a trial run for how we might expect Republicans to behave at polling places.
From NY Times: Britain and the European Union may be getting over the initial shock of the British demand for a divorce. Now comes the bitter fight. Already, both sides have staked out very different positions on immigration, an issue that promises to be the most contentious in the separation proceedings.
Germany, France and other union members have argued that Britain must maintain open borders if it is to enjoy favorable access to Europe’s single market. Many British voters who chose to leave the bloc in June would like to see those borders more tightly regulated by the British government. However this issue is resolved, both sides have an obligation to find ways to minimize the economic damage to Britain and the rest of the union that a new relationship could bring. Formal negotiations are expected to start by the end of March.
The British prime minister, Theresa May, wants unfettered access to the European market, the world’s largest. Under her vision, Britain’s manufacturers would be able to sell products to customers in the bloc without paying duties, and bankers in London could serve businesses and investors anywhere in the union. But she and her colleagues insist on restricting immigration from other European Union countries.
Those demands are unacceptable to leaders like Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany and President François Hollande of France who insist that the union can accept the free movement of goods, services and capital only with countries that also accept the free movement of people.
It sounds to me that the Brexit Bridiots, who thought a protest vote was safe, now want all the benefits of membership in the EU, but none of the responsibilities. I don’t think so.
From Think Progress: Most of the grumblings and musings of rebellion have come from everyday Trump voters, but on Saturday, Trump surrogate and Milwaukee Sheriff David A. Clarke, an elected law official, tweeted that it’s “pitchforks and torches time” with a (stock) photo of an angry mob.
Here we have a Republican law enforcement official openly calling for riots, if Rump Dump loses.
Cartoon:
14 Responses to “Open Thread – 10/16/2016”
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4:20 Or you could just put in a little molasses. Brown sugar is just white sugar flavored with molasses.
DK – Yes, it's a pretty good bet it's a trial run for Election Day. Interesting in a way that he stood outside and didn't go in. Canpaign offices wouldn't have any hundred-foot laws to protect them, so helikely could have legally gone in. But he was very close to the office, which he coulldn't legally be to a precinct in Election Day. His protests that everything he did was legal are certainly interesting, though, as I've said before, if the law is not enforced, legality may not be a restriction. Certainly Drumpf cares not for the law.
NY Times – Idiots like that ALWAYS want all of the benefits and none of the responsibilities. Look at the Bundy Family (and I use "family" in the Cosa Nostra sense). Look at ANY Libertarian.
TP – My, my. Since he is elected, he can only be impeached, or resign voluntarily. And elected by the County, so there isn't a Mayor with power to do anything. Could the County Council possibly find a professional conference far, far away to which they could send him with all expenses paid that would keep him out of Wisconsin over Election Day? OMG, and he is registered as a Democrat! (Wikipedia)
Cartoon – Well, you just keep balanced, because if anyone deserves to have a positive opinion of himself, it's you.
Voter intimidation Trump-style. Wonder what happens when someone gets seriously hurt or killed?
Quote in advance…
"Who? Us?!!?"
DK: Oh, boy. Straight up crazy! and scary!!
TP: Looks like this man has gone to the 'Dark Side', on his tirades! What an awful, nasty thing to say! Aren't threats like this, especially coming from him considered dangerous and grounds for firing???
Cartoon: You sure do look focused on your picture there, Tom. Keep up the good work. Take plenty of naps too. They're good for the soul. Enjoy your evening, take care, and Thanks, Tom.
Dk: The Orange Emptiness has lowered the bar on what is acceptable behavior so far, that what was once considered bizarre, has come within a couple of miles of being acceptable!
NY T: Quell screw-up!
TP: Only the Republicans come out with htis crap. Donny really needs to be tried for sediton. On the other hand, the only way he gets tried is if Hillary wins, and if her Justice dep't tries to bring charges…fugedaboudit!
Carton: Self-Esteem requires affirming one's humanity, and value as a member of society. Speaking of which, the Empty Orange One has no redeeming qualities, nor any self esteem-He is facade, an emptines trying to fill itself with attention.
Steak & baked potatoes … sounds scrumptious!
Daily Kos: I hope this is not an indication of what will happen at the polls. I am curious, was he charged with anything, or can you just intimidate any time you please now?
NY Times: Sounds like the Brexit Bridiots have a large dose of Republicitis. Take two democrats and call me in the morning.
Think Progress: This guy should be removed from his job. Scary to think how bad it can get on voting day if the Trump supporters are not happy. He has brought out the worst in a lot of his followers.
Cartoon: I like this a lot. Self esteem and narcissism are linked and you have to be careful which direction you follow.
Sounds like a good meal, hope you feel great now that Wendy has fluffed and buffed.
Puzzle — 3:19 My cookies! Mine! Mine! Mine!!!
Daily Kos — These kinds of intimidation tactics are worthy of third world dictatorships. Drumpf's self fulfilling prophecy.
NY Times — "…who insist that the union can accept the free movement of goods, services and capital only with countries that also accept the free movement of people." — Amen!
Think Progress — I saw this yesterday. He is one mean looking man. Me thinks that this is sedition, and if not, it's damn close!
Cartoon — Well that let's Drumpf out! He is definitely unbalanced!
Getting ready to head out this Monday morning to Illinois to take my Mom and aunt leaf-peeping.
We'll be traveling the Great River Road that runs beside the Mississippi River up to Palisades Park. About 5+ years ago I took my Mom and a neighbor (Mom was still her house) on the same drive, and it's quite nice. Not Vermont – but for Illinois it's really quite lovely.
Just a short trip – up Monday; peep Tuesday; back Wednesday. For better or worse, I'm not even going to take the critter, because he's such a chore to get in his cage. Once in, he travels fine – and it's not a problem getting him back in at Mom's apartment. But at home, he hides – and it's taken me up to 2 hours to finally get him found, corralled and caged.
So I'll be AWOL for the next few days. But the leaves should be great. This is an interactive map tracking the foliage change – just slide the bar to the date to see what's patchy, near-peak, peak, past peak …
http://mashable.com/2016/09/07/fall-foliage-map-2016/#oDSXegMg75q1
Enjoy your trip, Nameless and Nameless' mom and aunt. I went leaf-peeping in New Enland years ago and it was absolutely gorgeous. The photo's we made all those years ago still adorn a wall in our house.
Have a great trip.
Leaf-peeping in Portland varies from year to year. Some years, it's magnificent. Other years, Summer becomes winter overnight.
You've had a busy, tiring but otherwise very useful day, TomCat. You worked hard for your nap and you certainly deserve to have one.
DK: I know it's good policy for journalists to show both sides of the story, but I wonder sometimes if it is really necessary to interview the Republican/Drumpf voter who has already made it very clear what he's all about. It only gives him a podium and the attention he so craves and get the Republican lies and excuses he's been having drilled into his skull fed back to us. After reading this, but especially after seeing the pictures, I also wonder if we're witnessing the upbeat to an election or to a civil war. Apparently the militias already have taken up arms…
NYT: Last Thursday Donald Tusk, chairman of the European Council, the gremium of European leaders, was unusually hard in his comment on Theresa May and Boris Johnson's ongoing attempts to fool the British people by implying that they can determine which EU rules they do or do not want to keep, irrespective of European institutions or the 27 other members of the EU. "It's useless to talk about a soft Brexit. The only real alternative for a hard Brexit is NO Brexit". The market obviously agreed with him and the other European leaders, because the British pound had reached its lowest value in 31 years after May announced that the negotiations wouldn't start until the end of March (April first?) of 2017. This value was even lower than right after the Brexit referendum. Europe is most certainly not letting Britons have their cake and eat it too.
TP: I read and comment on articles in the order you present them, TomCat, so now I can only repeat what I'v said on the DK story: it looks like America is getting ready for a new civil war, not an election. The midday news, in which an arson attack on a building of the GOP in North Carolina was mentioned, further strengthened my impression.
Cartoon: I see you didn't use a ginger cat for this one, TomCat. 😉
Let all be serious. Who.in their right mind would want to see Trumf and his despicable family living in the WhiteHouse and meeting with heads of state from civilized counties.! Not me,for one, with his sons who slaughter endangered Wildlife just because they can,.(they have the big guns) and his current wife,a model and stripper who was paid for her services! YIKES what a nightmare!
Thanks all! Pooped Hugs!!