I’m writing for tomorrow, and running way late, because I spent the morning collecting the data for our monthly report. Pardon me for rushing, please.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 4:00 (average 5:52). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From Daily Kos: Republicans and conservative Democrats just voted to sell you out to Wall Street. In other words, it's Tuesday.
Today, the House passed the so-called Retail Investor Protection Act 254 to 166. 30 Democrats voted with 224 Republicans in favor. 165 Democrats–and one Republican–voted against it. Those following H.R. 2374 thought it would pass with wide bipartisan margins, so having 165 Democratic NAY's was better than expected. The 30 Democratic YEA's still need to be named and shamed, however.
First, let's begin with the important question: What is the Retail Investor Protection Act? The bill delays a new Department of Labor rule that would prevent financial advisers from stealing from your 401(K) plans or IRAs. Allowing financial advisers to rip you off is a great complement to that other plank in the Republican-Conservadem retirement insecurity platform, cutting Social Security…
…And here are the 30 Democratic YEA votes. Most of their names should look familiar if you've seen any of my past roll call diaries.
John Barrow (GA-12)
John Carney (DE-AL)
Gerry Connolly (VA-11)
Jim Costa (CA-16)
Henry Cuellar (TX-28)
John Delaney (MD-06)
Ted Deutch (FL-21)
Bill Foster (IL-11)
Pete Gallego (TX-23)
Joe Garcia (FL-26)
Denny Heck (WA-10)
Jim Himes (CT-04)
Derek Kilmer (WA-06)
Ron Kind (WI-03)
Rick Larsen (WA-02)
Dan Maffei (NY-24)
Jim Matheson (UT-04)
Mike McIntyre (NC-07)
Gwen Moore (WI-04)
Patrick Murphy (FL-18)
Bill Owens (NY-21)
Ed Perlmuter (CO-07)
Scott Peters (CA-52)
Gary Peters (MI-09)
Collin Peterson (MN-07)
Bradley Schneider (IL-10)
Kurt Schrader (OR-05)
Brad Sherman (CA-30)
Kyrsten Sinema (AZ-09)
Filemon Vela (TX-34)
…
These are the ones for whom I recently suggested a cactus suppository. If you own one, you know what to do.
From Upworthy: If You've Heard Someone Say 'Love The Sinner, Hate The Sin,' You Should Share This With Them
I used to be quite hateful in my attitude toward gays, until a fellow named Charlie decided that he was my friend, no matter how badly I treated him. He was such a good friend that he put a face on gay for me. That turned me from a homophobe to a strong supporter of LGBT rights.
From NY Times: Senate Republicans on Thursday thwarted the confirmation of two of President Obama’s nominees, one to a powerful appeals court and another to a home-lending oversight post, setting up a confrontation with Democrats that could escalate into a larger fight over limiting the filibuster and restrict how far the minority party can go to block a president’s agenda.
In a series of swift back-to-back votes, Republicans first blocked the nomination of Representative Melvin Watt, Democrat of North Carolina, to become the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency — a rare affront to a sitting member of Congress who has an extensive record of public service.
Next Republicans, who have accused the president of trying to tip the court’s ideological balance in Democrats’ favor, quickly dispensed with the nomination of Patricia Ann Millett to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. A former government lawyer whose husband serves in the military, she has worked in both Republican and Democratic administrations. The White House chose her as a test of how far Republicans would go to derail a qualified nominee.
NUKE THE FILIBASTARDS!!!!!
Cartoon:
25 Responses to “Open Thread–11/2/2013”
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5:25 I was seeing double on this one. Great time, Tom! You left me lying in the litter.
3:30 This reminds me of a place near me that is on my extended walking route. It is a garage but would make a wonderful carriage house residence.
4:10 I spent my time looking for the boats.
Not great enough! 🙂
Bigfooted!!!!!
Sigh…..I don't dare begin, you may just think I have a vulgar mouth…….be thankful you are not sitting next to me right now IRL. 🙂 I am damn sure making my old Corp Marine dad proud….or not…..bet his ears are flaming. LOL.
I really do HATE now…….and I thought I had evolved past that emotion…….NOT.
Terrie, bu ecpressing the authentic disgust that I so often feel, I prevent it from festering into hate.
Re the Daily Kos article – do those 30 odd Democrats actually realise what Democrats believe in? They sound like closet GOP to me – I hope everyone who can will go along to public meetings where they are due to appear and acquaint everyone with thier misdeeds! They should be campaigned against vigorously – and if that fails, resort to TC's solution!
Re the NYT article – oh the GOP just disgust me! Get rid of the filibuster for Pete's sake! America's political system just isn't working – and the whole world knows it – except for the Dinosaurs in the GOP/TP.
Roght on on both counts, Pat!
Well, John Barrow is just a Repug in Dem clothing so that one doesn't surprise me at all….he and all the Repugs are so nauseatingly REPUGnant ….
But still berely better than a Bagger!
~ 7:29 – Better late than Never… 🙄
Tony Campolo's story of a gay son
A must watch.
OOPS!
Amen!
We need to rid ourselves of these Blue-Dog Democrats aka Dino's… 👿
BUT only if you can replace them with a BETTER "D" – and not let it become an "R"
I'm all for purity – but I'm MUCH more supportive of practicality … and NOT cutting my nose off to spite my face.
I echo what nameless said.
Daily Kos ~ My RepublicanT Congressman, Richard Hanna, didn't vote at all. Chicken shit!
Upworthy ~ I still believe in "Judge not lest ye be judged first".
NY Times ~ I said they wouldn't honor their "gentleman's agreement" because they are no gentlemen of women.
Cartoon ~ Heavens! What must the Republican Episcopalians think?
Republican? Comdolences!
Amen.
Amen again!
Actually, a bunch deserted the Episcopal church because of it.
5:26 I had so many mouse issues I'm amazed I broke average at all.
Kos: I was really surprised and disappointed by some of those 30 Dems. Others, of course, not so much.
Upworthy: It's really sad if that's what it takes. But better that than nothing! And better that than knowing and caring about someone gay and NOT questioning negative propoganda. Allow me to post this link again:
http://wellthisiswhatithink.wordpress.com/2012/05/01/why-is-the-church-anti-gay-if-the-bible-isnt/
It is just not as easy to read the Bible as most people believe.
One more thing from Daily Kos, there is a follow up the the Rand Paul plagiarism story you posted on the Oct 30 Open Thread, and it is if possible even funnier.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/10/31/1252069/-Sen-Rand-Paul-dismisses-plagiarism-charges-possibly-because-he-does-not-know-what-it-is?detail=email#
Does anyone know how he made it through med school? Well, after this article, I guess we probably do. Can you imagine going to him for health advice? Of any kind? Let alone surgery?
Few things are more problematic than a constipated mouse.
Thank you. Excellent link.
Great minds do fall in the same ditch. That article is in today's Open Thread, that I'm about to upload.
"But those medical credentials are in question after a report from The Courier-Journal in Louisville, Ky., found that Paul is not certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology, the most well-known group in the profession. Instead, Paul is certified by the National Board of Ophthalmology, a group he formed in 1997 to protest a policy disagreement with the ABO. His group is not recognized by the American Medical Association." Click here for the rest.
Puzzle — 3:30 This reminds me of a place near me that is on my extended walking route. It is a garage but would make a wonderful carriage house residence.
Daily Kos — As someone who worked in the financial services industry for 40 years, I find the lack of meaningful regulation that protects the consumer unconscionable.
With tight economic conditions, up and down markets, sellers using deceptive practices shored up by politicians doing their bidding, and politicians chipping away at the social security safety net, the average consumer doesn`t have a chance. As the client gets older, there is less time to make up any losses. It seems to me that in US capitalism the phrase caveat emptor is all too true.
Upworthy — Tony Campolo is correct. The Biblical passage that the pastor refers to is John 8: 7
We tend to identify ourselves by what we do, rather than by who we are. And we do the same to others. In this case, that means that we only see what we perceive as a sin, and we do not see the person within. And this doesn`t just apply to our attitudes towards members of the LGBT community, but that is where our attitudes are most noticeable.
NY Times — OK Harry Reid, it is time to get the "Obamaballs" out and polished up. It is time to nuke the filibuster and the filibastards so that work can be accomplished.
Cartoon — Great day! . . . and about time! The United Church of Canada has been ordaining gay and lesbian ministers (priests) for more than 30 years. Currently, the Moderator (leader) of the church, the largest protestant denomination in Canada, is gay and married to his long time partner who is also a minister within the church.
When the UCC began ordaining gays and lesbians, there were some that formed a group called Community of Concern. They were opposed to ordination of gays and lesbians. Many of them left the church and went to the Presbyterian or Anglican churches. The Anglicans are the same as the US Episcopalians.
Blinding speed!!
Great info.
Well said!
Amen!
I know.
Upworthy: At 18, naive, inexperienced and ignorant, I lived in off campus housing with seventeen other girls and a housemother, not a sorority, couldn't afford that, but a place for overflow housing. Three of those girls were lesbians. I knew them as people first, before learning that they were lesbians. They taught me a lot, about the hardships they faced each day, and the hell they went through because of their sexual orientation. I am so grateful that I knew those women, and hope that their lives are happier today. I now have a gay nephew and a gay cousin, my hairdresser is also gay. I love all three of them, and I know if I had not known those girls so long ago, I would not have been so open to loving someone who is LGBT. I think that is the bottom line, actually knowing and loving someone who is different than you.
NY Times: they will do anything to thwart this President, no matter how much damage it causes to the country.
Cartoon: Hooray for the Episcopalians.
Thank you for the insight from experience.
Bingo!
Amen!