I’m writing later than usual for day 29, and this morning’s trip went well. I filled out an application, and if approved, I will move next month into a building with an elevator, and where I can install an air conditioner. I got out and back in the cool of the day, and although it was my longest walk since being released from the hospital, I weathered it well enough to continue blogging without the break I anticipated.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 2:38 (average 4:25). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From The New Yorker: Republican lawmakers in the Texas State Senate are proposing a precedent-setting new bill that would make it illegal for women to live in the state.
Senator Harland Dorrinson, one of the many pro-life lawmakers backing the woman ban, crafted his bill after witnessing Senator Wendy Davis filibuster an anti-abortion bill last month.
“That was our moment to say, ‘Enough is enough,’ ” he said. “This comes down to a choice between life and women, and we choose life.”
Humor aside, that is the very kindest thing they could do for women living in Texas.
From NY Times: Republicans muscled a pared-back agriculture bill through the House on Thursday, stripping out the food stamp program to satisfy recalcitrant conservatives but losing what little Democratic support the bill had when it failed last month. It was the first time food stamps had not been a part of the farm bill since 1973.
This is 100% political theatre. Nobody in their right mind believes that this could pass the Senate. But it serves as yet another illustration of the Republican war on the poor and middle classes. I’m happy to report that not one single Democrat goose-stepped with the Republicans.
From Bloomberg: U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren and a bipartisan group of lawmakers have introduced a bill aimed at re-creating the Glass-Steagall Act, the Depression-era measure that separated commercial and investment banking.
“It will take a lot of tools to get rid of too-big-to-fail, but one of them ought to be that if you want to do high-stakes gambling, good on you, but you do not get access to people’s checking accounts and savings accounts,” Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat, told Bloomberg Television’s Peter Cook in an interview today.
The bill sponsored by Warren along with Senators John McCain, an Arizona Republican, Maria Cantwell, a Washington Democrat, and Angus King, a Maine independent, would separate traditional banks that offer checking and savings accounts insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. from “riskier financial institutions.” The latter category includes companies involved in investment banking, insurance, swaps dealing, hedge funds and private equity, according to the lawmakers’ statement released yesterday.
Bravo!! This has been way to long in coming and is a fitting legacy as Elizabeth Warren’s first Senate Bill. I see little chance of passage, but it will help show voters who represents whom.
Cartoon:
32 Responses to “Open Thread–7/13/2013”
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Re-creating the Glass-Steagall Act or re-instating the Glass-Steagall Act is a very good idea and it should be done immediately.
Amen, Jim.
Wonderful news about the new apartment TC – an elevator AND an air conditioner do sound mandatory for someone with COPD! I will be praying hard that all goes well for you with it…. I love the fact that the Glass Steagall Act might be re-introduced – every country should have something like it!
Thanks Pat!
3:30 I was on lookout so I could not move very fast.
3:58 Thanks Jerry for being on the lookout and protecting me!
Mash time?
4:18 The meercat mashed me.
Wooo Hooo for me!
Please sign petition after reading it:
Sign on to the 21st Century Glass-Steagall Act
Too many Main Streets have paid the price for risky gambling on Wall Street.
Maria Cantwell, Elizabeth Warren, and others have introduced legislation to restore the Glass-Steagall Act that separated risky investment banking from regular savings banking until 1999 — and modernize it so our financial system is safer and bank bailouts become a thing of the past.
Senators Cantwell and Warren are teaming up with Progressives United to ask all supporters to stand with us and help rebuild that firewall.
Sign on as a citizen co-sponsor now.
http://www.progressivesunited.org/action/sign-on-to-the-21st-century-glass-steagall-act
Signing!
Signed with my Canadian postal code. As a career Canadian banker, I know a lot of the ups and downs. The US really needs to separate the day-to-day banking from the much riskier investment banking side and keep them separate. The 21st century Glass-Steagall Act will do that and offer much more protection to the retail side.
Already been there ands signed that, but I did remove all the garbage from the link. 🙂
I signed yesterday as soon as I got the email.
Glad that your health seems to be improving, and a new apartment should be better!
Elizabeth Warren is such an asset to the Senate! Good on her!
I may be laying low myself for a few weeks – shoulder surgery on Weds. – don't have any idea what convalescence looks like yet – or how tiring one handed typing is 🙂
Good luck TC – keep getting better!
Thanks Lee!
Amen!
You will be missed here. Recover quickly and fully! Thoughts and prayers.
With the looming Zimmerman verdict, I thought the Miami Herald had a very succinct, Sgt. Joe "Just the facts, ma'am" Friday (of Dragnet fame) summary of what's undisputed in the case:
I am sure by now you have heard the unbelievable news that Zimmerman was acquitted. I am adding Florida to Texas as another place I do not want to live.
I heard that on the news as I was driving home from my mother's. I was incredulous! I suppose, because the it was a trial by jury that the state (prosecution) can not appeal the verdict? As far as I am concerned, this is a total miscarriage of justice.
In light of that, the verdict seem even MORE absurd.
Chopping the Food Stamp program while preserving the tax breaks for the oil companies should show people just wha that party really is! I could chew nails when I read these reports.
Any woman with a grain of sense would be leaving Texas.
The Glass-Steagall Act needs to be restored, and the bankers who caused the crash in 08 still need to be prosecuted. I am sure the Republicans will stop both from happening.
Love the cartoon. The Republicans want to keep their strong hold, hope how soon they lose it.
Keeping my fingers crossed for you to get the new APT.
I hear that, Edie.
Bingo!
Sad and true.
Thanks twice.
Puzzle — 3:58 Thanks Jerry for being on the lookout and protecting me!
The New Yorker — With all of the shenanigans lately in Texas, it is a wonder any woman would want to live there.
I heard on the news tonight that the Texas Senate passed the anti abortion bill that will now be signed into law by Perry sometime this weekend. So much for access to well woman care like cancer screenings etc since the bill will mean the closure of all but about 5 clinics. I also heard that some law suits over this mess and what it means to women are looming.
NY Times — And when some areas start to look like Darfur, what will the Republicanus/Teabaggers say? Maybe that is a little extreme, but I think you understand what I am saying. For a bunch of Bible thumping pseudo Christians, this Republicanus/Teabagger dominated House knows nothing of compassion. They only know greed and control. I think it is time for the real Jesus to clear the temple again!
Bloomberg — Great stuff! But I agree, with this Republicanus/Teabagger dominated House that supports Wall Street, there isn't a chance it will pass. It puts too much regulation in place and it cuts down the amount of funds that banksters can play with. I think a snowball in hell has a better chance. However, it will, as you say, let the voters know who represents whom.
Cartoon — Just go straight up and don't stop until you hit Alpha Centaurus!
Mash time?
The court should strike it down, but how much damage will they do with it in the interim? Once clinics are closed, all the OTHER services they offer will be gone.
Thedy have lots of compassion, but only for the 1%.
Thanks,
Amen! LOL!
Cartoon – Just go stright down until you hit the "hot" spot. lol.
That's a good direction for Republicans! 🙂
"I got out and back in the cool of the day, and although it was my longest walk since being released from the hospital, I weathered it well enough to continue blogging without the break I anticipated."
That my dear friend is good news and I suspect is due in great to the cool of the day and the fact that you have quit smoking! You're doing great with your quit smoking programme. Keep at it. I think you know we are all rooting for you!
Thanks Lynn. There have been a couple more minor cheats, but I'm hanging in.
Good luck! I hope you get approved for the new apartment.
Thanks, Patty!
Cartoon ~ The RepublicanTs' crossroards to Nowhere.
Amen!