It’s another frigid day here in the CatBox. I lost yesterday’s comments. To provide you a little comment flexibility, I installed TinyMCE, the most basic comment plugin. Unfortunately, it had compatibility issues with WordPress 5.1. When I deactivated it, it trashed the site. Fortunately, after the last crash, I bought us a backup plugin with limited offsite storage and restored our database from yesterday morning’s backup. Then I posted yesterday’s Open Thread again, but the ten comments to it are lost. My apologies. WordPress plans to incorporate WYSIWYG for comments in the next major revision, but that is months away. 🙁
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 3:17 (average 5:13). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From YouTube (Robert Reich Channel): Robert Reich: What’s the Real American Story
The Reich on the left, Robert Right, is right. The Reich on the right, the Republican Reich is the Rot at the Top and the Malevolent Community. They act on behalf the Mob at the Gates. RESIST!!
From YouTube (Vox Channel): A better way to tax the rich
This is good, because Vox spreads Warren’s message beyond progressive circles. RESIST!!
From Seattle Times: Gov. Jay Inslee entered the 2020 presidential race Friday, launching a longshot campaign with a focused message that he’s the only candidate who would make defeating climate change the nation’s top priority.
In a short video announcing his candidacy, Inslee repeats what has become his signature slogan in recent years: “We’re the first generation to feel the sting of climate change, and we’re the last that can do something about it.”
Over images of fire-scorched landscapes and flooding, Inslee said the nation must rise to the challenge, portraying a clean-energy revolution as a potential win for the economy and the environment.
Along with Oregon’s Kate Brown, Inslee is the most progressive governor in the US. I welcome his entry into the race. RESIST!!
Cartoon:
15 Responses to “Open Thread – 3/5/2019”
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Qui parle, tRump! His hogwash about threats from foreigners are projection. He colludes with his Russian boss(es), then howls about “rapists” and “criminals” swarming over our border, justifying teargassing women with babies in their arms and yanking hapless kids away from their parents. His Orangeness is a perfect example of “rot at the top.”
What came to me before the end: The Green New Deal and Medicare for All are the Benevolent Community. Making the minimum wage a living wage and protecting voters from suppression and gerrymandering bolster the Triumphant Individual. The current “rot at the top” are the Rethuglicans and the ultra-rich individuals and corporations to whom they cater. The mob at the gates? Foreign tyrants, all who hate freedom. If I may brag I wasn’t far from Reich’s ideas.
Democrats need to focus on WINNING, so they need a coherent narrative to stir up the public. They need the populist appeal that Bernie Sanders has. They need to turn their backs on establishment Democrats, who have dragged the party to the right in the name of “centrism” (as in trying to please everybody and thus pleasing nobody), and follow the real progressives back to the party’s true path.
We definitely need a new “soak the rich” scheme – and we need to make sure there are NO loopholes or dodges. Period. Warren’s plan is no good unless it has lots of teeth.
Freya, there is a saying in business: You rise to the height of your incompetence. The Orange Ogre sure brings truth to that statement!
6:01 No need to rush since you don’t eat your kin. My, what eyebrows she has!
GOD, I love Jeff Merkley! And his statement on the current Presidential field is exactly right. If he at some point decides to endorse one, that one will likely be my first choice.
RR – He’s especially right that people need there to be stories. That’s how we learn most deeply. He’s done an excellent job of isolating and illustrating the stories and showing how they now need to be tweaked.
Vox – It’s going to be a hard sell. I can see all kinds of possibilities for abuse. But it needs to be done eventually.
Seattle Times – Thank you. This is good information.
Cartoon – That’s – probably – underestimating the harm.
RR: Excellent video. Forthright & a great teacher of history and politics! Passing this on too.
Vox: I’m all for that, in taxing the rich. It would help the less fortunate, to live better and to help the poor.
ST: I would support him also. I heard rumors yesterday, that Mr. Merkley, was going to run for POTUS, but will not now, and is opting for re-election instead, in saying that he’d be more effective in the Senate.
Cartoon: Strip mining, it’s very sad, and ruination of the land for the greedy. (R’s).
It’s pretty chilly here too, in the 30’s still. I hope my budding fig trees make it through this. Hope that your worries are over re: the comments, and site. Hope that you have a good evening, take good care, and Thanks, Tom.
*This just in: FYI, Nancy Pelosi is up in Austin today! idk that!!! I missed it!
“If they tell you to sit down, stay standing! If they tell you to ‘shut up’, speak louder! Don’t let them scare you away! Keep fighting for what’s right!!” ~ Nancy Pelosi ~
I really like the Nancy Pelosi quote you provided! Hadn’t seen it, so I did some Googling:
Thanks, Nameless for your comment.
They are powerful women, aren’t they?
I’m mad at myself that I d/not know that Ms. Pelosi
was up in Austin. I caught it on the tv. Dam!
Joanne is up to speed. Me? Not so much. Let’s see if I can figure some things out by dinking.
First – images.
This is NOT a caterpillar:
See:
Now Links:
This is NOT where I found it – but it is the same photo
And plain link:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/827325394017799782/
I wandered around in Pinterest, for a bit…OMG!!
This picture reminds me of a school child’s rhyme:
Two little dickie birds sitting on a branch,
One named Peter, one named Paul.
Fly away Peter, fly away Paul,
Fly away, fly away, fly away all!
Brilliant Vox vid & tax plan from Elizabeth Warren!!
Robert Reich it right yet again!!! Awesome explanation of the American stories!!!
RR: I absolutely love how Robert Reich explains history, government and economics. I would have loved to have him for a professor when I was in college. I passed this on to help spread the information.
Vox: Excellent video. Passed it on too. We need to get back to a true progressive tax system like we used to have in the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s.
Seattle Times: I watched Rachel Maddow interview Gov. Inslee last night and I was very impressed.
Thank you TomCat for the information you provide us and all the hard work you do keeping this site up and going.
RR never fails to explain things in such clear way, and he is right!
VOX: Amen!
Seattle Times: I’m impressed!
‘Toon: I’d like to strip mine a few Republicans, but am afraid that if we went a bit below their exterior layer, we’d only find mouldering fecal matter.
RR: Great video. Robert has an excellent way of explaining things. Agree with Ellie that things would be so nice if his policies ideas were implemented and in use today.
Vox: Excellent video. Sounds wonderful. We need something to finally get the wealthy ones to start paying their share, We
need to see the ones who actually do the work to be able to take decent pay home to feed their families and pay their rent.
Not to be struggling., Same goes for the ones that need help,having it
available for them.
Seattle Times: He’s Impressive.
Sure hope things get better for you in regards to the site, TC; I know something is still going on with the Care2 site too.
Puzzle — 4:03 I agree JD, at least the Puddy Tat does not eat his own. Although, this pretty little thing might not be too safe from the Puddy Tat! He may devour her, but only with his eyes!
Robert Reich — The community aspect . . . that is democratic socialism. The rot at the top . . . that is Trump, the Republicans and the 1% who care only for their own wealth and wellbeing (the “let them eat cake” crowd). Reich is spot on, as usual!
Vox — Not only does Vox spread Warren’s message beyond progressive circles, it also puts it in a concise simple to understand format that even a Republican and sheeple can understand. Let’s put an end to the ‘free ride’ that too many of the wealthiest avail themselves.
Seattle Times — I regularly get emails from Jay Inslee since I use a Washington zip code to sign petitions . . . ‘my governor’. I have been impressed with some of his stances, especially on the environmental end.
Cartoon — Yup! Republicans believe profits over people; profits over the earth. It does not seem to matter to Trump and his Republican ilk that with their greed there, may not be a planet to rape and pillage.
Thanks and pooped hugs to all. Happy Hump Day! 😻