It’s a very busy WWWendy day here in the CatBox. This is my only article today. Tomorrow I have my Trump* virus test, and Diana should be here slightly after I get home, so please expect no more than a Personal Update tomorrow. This Sunday, may the Lord keep Resident Donald Trump*… from destroying the country before we can put him in a cell.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 3:10 (average 4:35). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Cartoon:
Trump* Virus Update:
Click for interactive maps and charts
US Cases: 7,290,347
US Deaths: 209,208
Plus all the Trump* virus murders Republicans are hiding from us
Short Takes:
From Crooks and Liars: A hair-raising article in Bellingcat details what has been learned from chat logs of the Patriot Coalition of Oregon, thanks to an Antifa infiltrator. Journalists Robert Evans and Jason Wilson describe the group as part of a growing network “increasingly organizing around direct physical confrontations with leftist protesters in Portland and other American cities.”
The leaked chat logs appear to reveal that some members of the Patriot Coalition have taken part in multiple violent rallies throughout the summer, and that they claim to have operated a series of vigilante patrols and checkpoints during the Oregon wildfires. While the chats appear to show they work and fight alongside members of extremist groups like the Proud Boys, American Wolf and 1776 2.0, the Patriot Coalition seems to have no coherent ideology beyond a desire to violently confront leftists in the name of the police and President Trump. A user identified as Paige summed up the general feelings of the group in a post made ahead of a what turned out to be a bloody ‘Back the Blue’ rally on August 22nd in Portland when she wrote: “I’m waiting for the presidential go to start open firing.”
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Patriot Coalition members regularly declare Democratic politicians to be “Antifa” and thus fair targets for violence.
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Discussions of violence in the Patriot Coalition group chat are not hypothetical. While some individuals are likely grandstanding, the chat logs show members gearing up for a number of events where very real violence occurred.
On August 22nd more than 300 heavily armed right-wing demonstrators rallied in downtown Portland for what was, nominally, a rally supporting the police. Yet the situation quickly degenerated into a mass brawl, with numerous injuries (including to one of the authors of this article).
Those events reflected the plans that Patriot Coalition had made. In the lead up, members discussed acquiring paintball guns and freezing their ammunition for maximum damage.
One of the many, many horrifying comments obtained from the group reads, “The only real way to end it is start shooting everyone of them. Fists and pepper spray are fun but don’t get the job done. I think sooner or later it’s coming. Our governor and the coward mayor of Portland will let it go on till November. If we don’t take care of it ourselves. Then there’s the whole prison thing I don’t quite like. So your damned if do damned if you don’t.”
Click through. The rest is too important to miss. What these Republican terrorists are doing in my town today, they shall do in your town tomorrow. RESIST!!
From YouTube (Elizabeth Warren Channel): Elizabeth Warren Responds to Donald Trump’s Supreme Court Pick
Liz could not be more spot-on. Every Republican in power is one Republican too many! RESIST!!
From YouTube (a blast from the past): Lynyrd Skynyrd – Sweet Home Alabama
Ah… the memories! Protest like the 60s! RESIST!!
Vote Blue No Matter Who Top to Bottom!!
14 Responses to “Open Thread – 9/27/2020”
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I receive two “word-of-the-day” newsletters, one from Merriam-Webster, the other from the OED. The latter is generally useless. But yesterday’s was painfull pertinent – “titanolatry.” the worship of or excessive respect for power. WAY too many of those suckers running around.
Cartoon – Yeah. We’ll see. I’m sure it won’t be pretty.
TVU – As long as you don’t have it, TC. Good luck on the test.
C&L – One crazy person is a nutcase. Two crazy people is a friendship Three or four crazy people is a focus group. This many crazy people is a movement, or possibly a revolution (not all revolutions are good, sadly.) If they are going to be shooting at us, our only choices may be shoot back or die. I don’t personally know any, but I see comments in Democratic spaces on the internet that people are buying guns. And others already have them and are qualified and prepared to use them. I pray it does not come to that. There is a video which I can conscientiously recommend if any of this makes you feel like you might be well advised to buy a gun yourself. It is filled with “If you can’t do this, don’t buy one.” So it may well give you second thoughts. But it will certainly give you an idea of the responsibility you will need if you do. UPDATE: This is a relief, if only a temporary one.
Liz – I wish I thought this was the last gasp of a dying party, and not a last Hail Mary to stay in power and plunge us all into their darkness indefinitely. Even the comment someone made, that Amy Wild Hare Bennett has gone through every door RBG opened, and will now concentrate on slamming them in the faces of all other women. Of course, that’s a Republican.
BOP – I wouldn’t find it to be a sweet home myself, but I guess it’s different if one grew up there.
I have read that guns are being bought by those on our side of the craziness. I do not intend to buy one, and sure as hell do not wish to see war on the streets. One of my worst case scenarios -in my head- is that Dumpy looses, stages, or tries to stage a literal coup, and the crazies take to the streets. In response, the U.S. Armed Forces decide, on their own (because dumpsite won’t call them out) to protect the constitution. Having cleaned out the crazies, they then imprison Dumpness, and his cronies, and establish a military gov’t, hopefully a temporary one.
Taka many crazy people is a super-spreader event.
Cartoon: Oh, ick!
TVU: 1814 cases, 29 deaths. Going up.
C&L: Definitely scary, and worrisome about the safety of these peaceful protesters. Getting threats, or shot at seems to be the norm, (and they are getting away with this) as it escalates with each peaceful protest. And…with dt’s blessing. ugh!
EWC: Glad you put this out here, I just got done watching. Truth be told!! Go, Ms. Warren!
BOP: Love this song!!
Hi, WWWendy! Hope all is good with you and family. Best to you to and fro for tomorrow, Tom. Stay safe. I echo your prayer too, and not a moment too soon, imho. My guys are playing Pittsburgh and we’re ahead for right now. Fingers crossed. We shall see. Hope you have a good rest of your day, and Thanks, Tom.
*This just in: “Amy Coney Barrett referred to abortion as ‘always immoral’ and has ruled twice in favor of upholding restrictions to abortion access. Tells you all you need to know.” ~ Robert Reich ~
2. “America has no functioning democracy at this moment.” ~ Jimmy Carter ~
3. “The peaceful transfer I’m really looking forward to is the one where trump goes from courthouse to prison.” ~ Jeff Tiedrich ~
4. “Well…we can thank FL Gov. DeSantis for causing the Orange Menace to lose FL to Biden with his actions – opening up all businesses, restaurants and bars, and negating mask mandates and causing Covid cases to soar just about a week or two before the election. It’s going to come back and bite him in the end.” ~ Karen W. ~
5. “trump is flirting with treason by refusing to commit to a peaceful transition of power – and! – Republicans who stand by while he threatens our democracy must be held accountable!” ~ Elizabeth Warren ~
TJI#2:Yup!
TJI#4: And here we are, in a front seat, in Florida. It would be lovely if DeSantis’ idiocy were to cost Dumpy the state, and perhaps the election. It would be a shame, however, for this to cost still MORE people their lives.
TJI#5: “Flirting?” I think she was just being “political” and not calling him out for exactly what it is.
TJI #5 – I don’t think he’s so much “flirting with” treason as raw-dogging it.
Mitch & Joanne:
Thanks, enjoy reading your comments.
I rather agree with Warren when she says “flirting” as Trump has not openly said he won’t step down when he is defeated. He also has not said he will either. I know that is an extremely fine line and the fact that he has openly encouraged his people to vote twice (North Carolina for sure, but who knows anywhere else!) is an indication of his true intention. Some of his own staff had said that he does not know how to keep his mouth shut.
Having said that, Trump is power drunk and filled with his own self importance that I agree with you.
‘Toon: Verbal masturbation is his forté!
TVU: 7 million receding in the rear view mirror!
C & L: Trump’s crazies!!!!!! And, these bastards will still be an issue after he exits the WH. Maybe with Barr gone, the FBI will be able to act against them. With Barr there we can expect to become a fascist theocracy!
Liz: I fervently hope that she is right about “last gasp!” However, it is no surprise that the GOPIGGIES are unapologetic about their hypocrisy, having long ago jettisoned any semblance of ethical concern. As Barr has said, “History is written by the victors,” and they are about victory at any cost…to the culture, the country, the citizens!
BFP: Great song!
A question for whomever wants to comment.
From The Guardian:
If:
1) Trump refuses to leave the WH after losing, and
2) if Republicans successfully convince Republican controlled state legislatures to ignore the will of the people, and
3) if the Senate confirms nominee Barrett to SCOTUS with or without a promise to recuse (a Republican promise is worth butkus!), and
4) if devious Barr has engineered an election scandal to keep Trump in the WH,
what options are left to We The People to legally re-establish a fair and representative government without resorting to civil war which would be truly nasty?
Another 4 years will never fly and getting the correct people to take Trump out using the 25th amendment ain’t going to happen.
God forbid it! If Trump manages to steal the White House AGAIN, in that or any other scenario, I get to take the easy way out. Given the relative merits of death or a permanent Republican Reich under Fuhrer Trump*, too many might want to trade places with me, so I won’t offer.
I take it that is a definitive NONE!!!
Cartoon: Double yuck. Don’t look forward to his crap.
TVU: Slowly creeping .. now up to 46,610 cases, 776 fatalities.
C&L: Scary to continue seeing these rotten terrorists, getting away with these acts of violence against innocent peaceful protesters who aren’t causing any harm. tRump encourages them each and every time he speaks at one of his rallies. I can’t wait till he’s loses this November and then he’s locked up, thorn in prison with the keys thrown away.
Liz: Agree that she’s spot on. I hope that they can all stand with her and fight against tRump’s pick.
BOP: Great tune.
Good luck tomorrow, hope the virus test isn’t too painful. Plus that you have a good visit with Diana.
Take care. Thanks TomCat
Thanks and tired OGIM Hugs to all!