I have not heard from TomCat so I am assuming he is still very sick. I do hope he has called the doctor and doing what he needs to do to get better. This year’s cold/flu is ugly! If he is away tomorrow too, I’ll put up an Open Thread but it will be late as I have physiotherapy and a podiatrist appointment, all routine.
Jig Zone Puzzle
Today’s took me (Squatch) 4:19 (average 4:58). To do it, click here. (This link will automatically open to a new page.) How did you do? With any luck, the Puddy Tat won’t do the puzzle and the butterfly won’t be eaten!
Washington Post — Gun-carrying civilian groups and border vigilantes have heard a call to arms in President Trump’s warnings about threats to American security posed by caravans of Central American migrants moving through Mexico. They’re packing coolers and tents, oiling rifles and tuning up aerial drones, with plans to form caravans of their own and trail American troops to the border. …
McGauley and others have been roused by the president’s call to restore order and defend the country against what Trump has called “an invasion,” [emphasis added] as thousands of Central American migrants advance slowly through southern Mexico toward the U.S. border. Trump has insisted that “unknown Middle Easterners,” “very tough fighters,” and large numbers of violent criminals are traveling among the women, children and families heading north on foot. …
According to military planning documents obtained by Newsweek, the military is concerned about the arrival of “unregulated militia members self-deploying to the border in alleged support” of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. …
“The militia just needs to stay where they are,” said Metz [80 year old rancher], a Republican. “We don’t need fanatical people. We don’t need anybody here with guns. Why do they have guns? I have dealt with illegals for 30 years, and all of them have been scared, asking for help. The militias need to stay up north where they belong. We have no use for them here. They might shoot someone or hurt someone.” [emphasis added]
I certainly cannot argue with Metz. The 2nd amendment to the US Constitution reads: A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. [emphasis mine]. These militias are not regulated by any stretch of the imagination and are not accountable to any state authority. The 2nd amendment, which the militias hide behind, was written at a time when there was no army, no state police etc. People had to come together for protection. As Metz said, “They might shoot someone or hurt someone.”
AlterNet — As President Donald Trump’s egregiously disrespectful attitude toward members of the military has come under closer scrutiny, he has received an increasing amount of criticism for never having visited service members who serve overseas in dangers combat zones. …
A new report from the Washington Post reveals that Trump’s hesitancy is due to a very predictable reason: fear.
Daily Kos — The President of the United States is such an embarrassment that he cannot even perform the simple duty of the traditional Thanksgiving week pardon of turkeys without taking swipes at Democrats.
Instead of just performing this light hearted duty of the pardoning of the turkeys, one named Peas and one named Carrots, he just had to add some snarky nonsense:
“The winner of this vote was decided by a fair and open election conducted on the White House website. This was a fair election. Unfortunately Carrots refused to concede and demanded a recount and we are fighting with Carrots.”
Click through for the remainder of Trumps comments about pardoning Peas and Carrots. It seems that Kim Jung Un had the correct name for Trump . . . dotard! For those not familiar with the word, a dotard is “A state or period of senile decay marked by decline of mental poise.” as described by Merriam-Webster. I think we should also add in “given to vendetta without provocation” for Trump.
CBS News — So how important is voting anyway? We hear about people who cannot be bothered, while others have so many obstacles put in front of them that voting is near impossible. But have you heard about Gracie Phillips, an 82 year old great grandmother from Texas?
An 82-year-old great-grandmother from Texas voted for the first time ever during this year’s midterm elections. Gracie Phillips was battling pneumonia and in hospice care when she voted early on Thursday. Sadly, just four days after casting her midterm ballot, Phillips died — but not before she had her voice heard and her opinion counted, her granddaughters told CBS News.
Phillips registered to vote in Grand Prairie, Texas, last month, just before she was admitted to the hospital. “With such a large family started at such a young age, priorities in 1951 weren’t the same out here in the country,” her granddaughter, Michelle Phillips, told CBS News. “Women were allowed to vote, but she was raising seven children and trying to work… [voting] kept getting pushed aside and she decided this year, ‘I’m registering.'”
Click through for the rest of Gracie’s story. Do you want to bet that Gracie has all the people in heaven registered to vote! OK, the 2018 midterms are over and the Democrats wrested the House from Republican control by a good margin. The Senate and the White House must be next in 2020! So are you like Gracie was before 2018 . . . not registered for whatever the reason? If so, what is your excuse for not registering for 2020? Coming out to vote is your civic duty, not one to be shirked.
My Universe — In these tense times, I thought a little levity was needed. Enjoy!
Posted to Care2 HERE
18 Responses to “Squatch’s Open Thread 20 November 2018”
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Anybody have any contact info WRT Wendy?
Sorry, no. I have checked email and nothing.
WP: The Orange Bozo is going to create chaos, and blame the immigrants, and Hillary, for it. The loonies with the guns are going to create a danger, perhaps even to our armed forces, at the border. Someone need to stuff a cork into Trump’s northern anus!
Alternet: This reminds me of Roy Moore, who was always afraid that he’d be killed by “friendly” fire, because he was such a jackass! Perhaps Dumpy is seriously paranoid, aside from the other issues that make him such a poor specimen of a person.
DK: This is what the phrase “Piss poor protoplasm” was created for!
CBS: I do not know who Gracie voted for, but everybody needs to be registered for 2020!
My Universe: LOVE IT!
No contact info, sorry, wish I did.
To reach a wider audience I’ll post this here: I just now [timestamp] sent a text message to TC asking if there’s anything we can do to help from a distance.
Also asked if he could share any contact info WRT Wendy. I don’t have any.
Will update if I hear anything.
Thank you so much on behalf of all of us.
I add my thanks Nameless…
am thinking now that the front desk of his building might be best available source of info. if no one knows what agency referred Wendy to him
i’m worried about TC, does anyone have any news???
SoINeedAName, i just saw your comment!
Thanx, i will check back!
WP: Far too many gun nuts conveniently forget the first part of the 2nd Amendment.
AlterNet: Proof that the Orange Ogre is paranoid – but not necessarily without reason. The way he has treated our troops, can you blame him for feeling as though there are a lot of crosshairs aimed at his head?
DK: Reminds me of a story my grandmother told me. When she was growing up, her family frequently had peas and diced carrots as a side dish. Great-grampa loved to say “Eat every carrot and pea on your plate!”
CBS: I’m sure a lot of people of all ages 18 and up voted for the first time in these midterms. Now we really need to get out the vote in 2020 so we can do some serious kicking of GOP arse!
Meanwhile – Squatch, thanks for filling in! I love TomCat’s commentary and cartoons, and finding hilarious videos. I hope that he recovers so we can get more of him.
YVW Freya! I like his very knowledgeable commentary too and I know we’ll get some soon. You can’t keep a good cat down for long!
5:28 Funny – at least to me – how the use of the word “purple” has changed over the centuries. In a way, I guess it’s returning to its roots, but I doubt any ancient Roman would ever have called the color of this flower “purpura.”
So, Ivanka Trump used personal email for government business. Now, the WaPo says a House panel is going to investigate whether she violated the law. The House is still Republican majority through December. If they find that, yes, it did violate the law, they are going to have to impose something (or send her to a court which has the power to impose some punishment.) If they find that she didn’t, they must kiss goodbye forever to their dreams of locking up Hillary. What to do! What to do!
WaPo – Glad to hear that there is at least one 80-year-old white male Republican who has some sense.
AlterNet – Someone must have told him about fragging! Seriously, though, the people who want him gone are, by and large, not violent, whereas the people who are violent are, by and large, his enthusiastic supporters. So he really is being paranoid.
DKos – Freya’s comment reminds me why he picked Carrots to accuse of being a Democrat. He like pees – er, peas.
CBS -Bless her. Squatch, I suspect the only people here who are NOT registered to vote in the United States are not US citizens, or are under 18 – or just possibly felons in certain states. Or one other possibility – I believe there is one state that doesn’t have a registration process (maybe North Dakota?)
Universe – I’ve flown Frontier Airlines. It wasn’t this funny then, though.
Ah, fragging! That was the exact same word I was thinking of when I read this piece. Diaper Don loves the military so much . . . so much he concocted a case of bone spurs — 5 times — to avoid being drafted! And now he dresses down gold star families and military leaders. Can you feel the love? Yah, me neither!
WP: The militia needs to step back. Those ranchers along the border know what they are talking about from years of experience. I’m sure that they speak for the illegals who come through with respect and their concerns. I do too.
AN: Besides the fact that he doesn’t like rain, he doesn’t like the military. No spine whatsoever. ugh!
DK: I can’t watch him speak. He drains what energy I have, and he certainly has said remarks that bring the hair on my neck to stand upright.
CBS: God bless her, for voting, which I’m sure She did when she got to the Pearly gates, and watched her vote count. Lovely story, and may Ms. Phillips Rest in Peace now.
MU: Cute, and sassy. I liked it !!
Do hope and pray that Tom is okay…..Thanks, Lynn for posting.
I too, am concerned about Tom, and how he is doing. Thanks, Nameless for your post, and will
check on this page to get updates that you may post here. Prayers for comfort for Tom.
Hi, fellow commenters,
Just checking in to see if anyone has heard anything re: Tom.
Still worrying…but I’m assuming no one has heard anything……yet!
Hugs!
WP: tRumps thinks he has control over these people …he’s in for a rude awakening.
AN: tRump doesn’t have respect for anyone else but himself.
DK: He’s a disgrace. Takes the fun out of everything. No sense of humor, because he has no senses/brains.
I’m praying that TomCat is okay. I thought Wendy visits him a couple times a week? If you do hear anything, let us know.
I’ve had a sinus and head cold for going on a week now. It’s been a pain fighting it, with OTC stuff. Know if it’s not better by tomorrow, I’ll call to see if they can call something in or make an appointment for next Monday, since it will be a holiday.Thanks Lynn
Colleen, try EXCEL gum polar ice flavour to open up the sinuses etc. When you start chewing, breathe in through your mouth and feel the vapours going to your sinuses. Has worked for me for years. Of course if the doctor puts you on anti biotics, take those too.
Thanks all! Sasquatch out for now!