Wendy just left and I'm just beginning my writing for the day. Please expect no more than a Personal Update from me tomorrow, because I have a routine appointment with my Urologist. I feel sorry for Fuhrer Tiny Hands. His Urologist is no longer available, having died laughing.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today's took me 5:27 (average 7:14). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From NY Times: When Republicans in Kentucky seized total control of the state government last year, Damon Thayer, the majority leader in the State Senate, began asking around for advice from counterparts in other capitals where the party already dominated both the legislative and executive branches.
How should we handle all this power? he wanted to know.
One answer impressed him, Mr. Thayer said, from a senior Republican lawmaker in Wisconsin: “Move quickly.”
Kentucky Republicans have done just that, swiftly passing laws to roll back the powers of labor unions and restrict access to abortion. But they are only getting started, Mr. Thayer said in an interview: They also plan to make sweeping changes to the education and public pension systems this year.
And they have plenty of company.
While Republicans in Washington appear flummoxed by the complexities of one-party rule, struggling with issues from repealing the Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare, to paying for President Trump’s promised wall on the Mexican border, rising party leaders in the states seem far more at ease and assertive. Republicans have top-to-bottom control in 25 states now, holding both the governorship and the entire legislature, and Republican lawmakers are acting with lightning speed to enact longstanding conservative priorities.
Democratic leaders, to their shame, have ignored building our state and local parties. That must change.
From YouTube (SNL Channel): Sean Spicer Press Conference Cold Open
She's good! In the real world, I like Baby Spice, Posh Spice, and even Scary Spice better than Shitty Spice.
From Think Progress: The Trump administration has elected not to contest a Texas federal judge’s injunction barring the federal government from implementing Obama administration guidelines that protect transgender kids in schools.
Oral arguments for the Obama Justice Department’s appeal of the judge’s decision were scheduled for Tuesday. The DOJ cancelled them in a legal brief submitted Friday.
“Defendants-appellants hereby withdraw their pending November 23, 2016 motion for partial stay pending appeal,” the brief says. “The parties jointly move to remove from the Court’s calendar the February 14, 2017 oral argument currently scheduled for that motion. The parties are currently considering how best to proceed.”
That brief was filed the day after Jeff Sessions was sworn in as Attorney General.
As ThinkProgress reported last August, the Obama administration’s guidance “stated that Title IX’s nondiscrimination protections on the basis of ‘sex’ protect transgender students in accordance with their gender identity, such that they must be allowed to use the bathrooms and play on sports teams that match their gender.” But the brief filed Friday signals that the Trump administration no longer wants to implement that guidance.
It took Beauregard only a day to translate GOP hate into disobeying the law to empower discrimination.
Cartoon:
13 Responses to “Open Thread – 2/12/2017”
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5:45 Tricky.
Free Press has a newish booklet (they started on it right after the election) on digital security for people who depend on their computers. I don't ecppect TC needs it, but anyone who is less cyber-savvy might want to take a look at it. I "printed" it to my portble hard drive.
https://www.accessnow.org/cms/assets/uploads/2016/11/A-first-look-at-digital-security.pdf
NYT – We need a two-pronged build, so to speak, at the state and local level. We need to be able to act quickly when we are in, but also to resist effectively when we are out. Which means we need to be able to get and keep voters' attention. I will say the nature of Democrats adds to the difficulty. Keeping Democrats focused is like herding cats.
SNL – I hear that in the world of Trump, the fact that he can be so beautifully and effectively mocked by a woman is making his position highly tenuous in real life. I hope that's accuratee. SNL seems to be picking up on that premise bigly! Let's wish them the best! Although I suppose there could be even worse people running around.
TP – I'm sorry, I guess this is news technically because it happened, but was there one soul in the nation, anywhere on the political spectrum, who didn't predict it, even if not out loud?
Cartoon – Well, that one must have been easy to make
Pretty plain that Twitler has tissue-paper thin skin – especially when it comes to women mocking him and his "staff".
That's why I'm hoping that Rosie O'Donnell will be doing Bannon in the near future.
These two still make me chuckle:
"Because she's blonde!"
"Which we won't!"
Oh, yes. I don't exactly collect Barbies, but I do make clothes or them,and have kept some, so I did appreciate that muchly too. That was Kate doing Sessions, wasn't it? And as great as Alec Baldwin is, if Tyne Daly could be talked into doing Trump, even just once, I think it would have a good effect on him. I mean good for us, of course.
NYT: Bummer about Kentucky. Well, I know how Texas is going…as far as Replicons in state and local offices here. And to say nothing of the calls to my state senators…yes, we need to rally for Democratic representatives to represent us!
SNL: MM is great, isn't she! She nailed it!! "Let's just call her Connie". lol I hope Rosie O. gets picked up for impersonating Bannon.
TP: Kids have it hard in school as it is, and now this.
Cartoon: Ain't that the TRUTH !!!!
Best to you with your appointment tomorrow. Hope that you have a good/relaxing evening. Take care, and Thanks, Tom.
The cartoon is VERY TRUE!!! They ain't done a DAMN thing to create jobs! If ANYTHING, they have done more to KILL jobs!!! Or better yet, KILL Mother EARTH!!! As EVERY nominee gets confirmed, there are more and more signs that THIS administration will do more to KILL the delicate balance that IS the CLIMATE and the CHANGE that is happening RIGHT NOW!!!
Thanks, TC!
YT/SNL: TC, you are getting to be just like Andy Borowitz, presenting the real thing!!
TP: Moving fast!!!! Growing Fascism on steroids, with a helping, or two, of cow dung!
'Toon: AW, shucks, TC, now you are forgetting all the millions of jobs they've created overseas, in who knows what kind of working conditions!
Puzzle — 5:03 I became stoned doing this puzzle!
NY Times — Strength comes from firm foundations. If the Dems want to wrest control from the Republicans, they must first build a firm foundation from dog catcher up. Without this, they will flounder.
YouTube — SNL is not available to me for viewing, but anything that truly annoys Drumpfenfarten and his minions is most welcome.
Think Progress — The thought of discrimination against Republicans makes my heart go pitter-patter. I do not abide discrimination, but the thoughts of Republicans getting a shot of their own medicine is heartening. Trouble is, they likely would learn nothing.
Cartoon — Looks about right!
Resist!!!
Thinking of Drumpf when peeing in a cup will definitely help you hit the target, TomCat. It's a remedy for hitting the right spot all over the world:
NYT: The Resistance shouldn't forget to pay attention to those states with a Republican majority, because the GOP in those states is equally evil to the federal GOP but far more cunning in implementing their disgusting legislation and stay in power. Republicans have been building up their strength on all levels and now The Resistance is thin spread because it has to fight on so many levels at once. It's going to a long hard battle to win it all back and restore the damage; getting rid of Drumpf is just a fraction of the battle won.
SNL: Great performance! Loved the way "Spice" showed off the down-priced bracelet and those shoes; real ROTFLMAO material.
TP: Democrats should have held Session's appointment a little longer…no, wait Drumpf had fired acting Attorney General Sally Yates and had put in a minion ton replace her, so it didn't really matter. Bannon and Pence had this all prepared of course, Sessions appointment made it just a tad more official, that's all.
Cartoon: Pity it's so hard to depict a negative.
All those urinals need are a couple of Russian hookers, and Twitler would be right at home!
Amen!!!
I'll bet the guys wanted to use the Drumpfenfarten urinal in the middle picture thus creating one hell of a waiting line!
I printed the bottom one for my Urologist.
Thanks all! Hugs!!