I’m writing for tomorrow. What’s unusual is that tomorrow is almost here. Today was a rough one. Because I had a two hour wait for the lift bus to pick me up, I spent over an hour of it in the dollar store next door. Between too much time in my feet and the thoroughly uncomfortable chairs at the medical imaging place, I was hurting big time by the time I got home. All I could do was crawl into bed. So I’m rushing now to finish this on time, and it is tomorrow’s only article. Day 8.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 3:03 (average 4:15). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From NY Times: It is, in a way, too bad that Cliven Bundy — the rancher who became a right-wing hero after refusing to pay fees for grazing his animals on federal land, and bringing in armed men to support his defiance — has turned out to be a crude racist. Why? Because his ranting has given conservatives an easy out, a way to dissociate themselves from his actions without facing up to the terrible wrong turn their movement has taken.
For at the heart of the standoff was a perversion of the concept of freedom, which for too much of the right has come to mean the freedom of the wealthy to do whatever they want, without regard to the consequences for others.
Start with the narrow issue of land use. For historical reasons, the federal government owns a lot of land in the West; some of that land is open to ranching, mining and so on. Like any landowner, the Bureau of Land Management charges fees for the use of its property. The only difference from private ownership is that by all accounts the government charges too little — that is, it doesn’t collect as much money as it could, and in many cases doesn’t even charge enough to cover the costs that these private activities impose. In effect, the government is using its ownership of land to subsidize ranchers and mining companies at taxpayers’ expense.
It’s true that some of the people profiting from implicit taxpayer subsidies manage, all the same, to convince themselves and others that they are rugged individualists. But they’re actually welfare queens of the purple sage. [emphasis added]
Paul Krugman did it again. We the people should get paid a fair price for the use of our land. We should end the subsidies to these millionaires Krugman calls "High Plains Moochers".
From TPM: Win or lose — and they’ll probably lose — Democrats hope this week’s Senate showdown over raising the federal minimum wage reaps them benefits in November’s congressional elections.
Whether they’ll get an Election Day payoff is uncertain.
In a Senate vote expected Wednesday, Republicans seem likely to block the Democratic measure, which would gradually raise today’s $7.25 hourly minimum, reaching $10.10 as soon as 2016. Even if the bill, one of President Barack Obama’s top priorities, somehow survives in the Senate, it stands little chance of even getting a vote in the GOP-run House.
Who would the proposal most directly affect? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, women and young people make up disproportionate portions of the 3.3 million people who earned $7.25 or less last year. Both groups traditionally skew Democratic, and the party would love to drive them to the polls in November as it battles to retain Senate control.
I fully expect the Republicans to give us another issue, along with the ACA, both of which can be used to hammer them.
From Think Progress: Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) told George Stephanopoulos Sunday that she left the Republican Party in the mid-90s because it was tilting the playing field in favor of Wall Street.
Warren has quickly become a populist hero to liberals. Stephanopoulos, host of ABC’s The Week, noted something in her background that “might surprise” her supporters: the fact that she has voted Republican in the past, and was a registered Republican in Pennsylvania from 1991 to 1996. Warren said she left the party after that because she felt it was siding more and more with Wall Street
I do so wish she was willing to be the first woman President.
Cartoon:
Many were executed for crimes far less heinous that those committed by Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rice, etc.
20 Responses to “Open Thread–4/29/2014”
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3:03 If the best I can do is tie that sneaky puddy-tat, I'll take it! Almost had you beat bt I dropped my last piece while moving it into place. Dang laptop!
3:01 I beat the puddy tat, but just barely! I couldn't however out run the pussy cat, Miss Kitty!
3:15 I stopped to pee on the column.
NY Times ~ I've always though of the "big time cattle ranchers" who graze their livestock on OUR lands as moochers. How can they justify the high prices they charge when their costs are almost nil unless there is a severe drought and they have to buy hay? If the BLM increased the grazing fees like they should, most of us couldn't afford to eat because the ranchers "need" their helicopters and planes. Horses and jeeps aren't good enough for them any more. They have gotten too big because of their mooching. Like Krugman says, I doubt if any of Bundy's supporters will back away from him and admit their mistakes.
TPM ~ The TeapublicanTs will probably block the vote again. I only hope that voters memories extend till November and into the voting booths. Remember how they try to keep us all below the poverty level.
TPM ~ So she was a Republican? There used to be some good ones. I'm sure there still are somewhere.
Cartoon ~ Oh, please, spain. Come and get our criminals!
Related to Cartoon:
Bush Convicted of War Crimes in Absentia
Kuala Lumpur — It’s official; George W Bush is a war criminal.
In what is the first ever conviction of its kind anywhere in the world, the former US President and seven key members of his administration were yesterday (Fri) found guilty of war crimes.
Bush, Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld and their legal advisers Alberto Gonzales, David Addington, William Haynes, Jay Bybee and John Yoo were tried in absentia in Malaysia.
http://www.foreignpolicyjournal.com/2012/05/12/bush-convicted-of-war-crimes-in-absentia/
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If you engage in torture or support its usage, you need to faces consequences all over the world.–kas
Bush’s Shrinking World: George W. Bush Cancels Europe Trip as Human Rights Lawyers Threaten Legal Action over Torture
Former President George W. Bush has been forced to cancel a planned trip to Switzerland after human rights attorneys threatened to take legal action against him for sanctioning the use of torture. The Center for Constitutional Rights said they had planned to bring a complaint on behalf of two men who were tortured by U.S. interrogators and held at the military base at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. “It was disappointing that we’re not able to actually prosecute him,” says CCR legal director Bill Quigley. “But I think it has shown worldwide that even though he was the president of the United States, if you engage in torture… there are consequences.” [includes rush transcript]
http://www.democracynow.org/2011/2/10/bushs_shrinking_world_george_w_bush?autostart=true&get_clicky_key=suggested_most_popular_story
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Thanks Jim for the links.
“We tried three times to get Bush in Canada but were thwarted by the Canadian Government, …” said Francis Boyle, professor of international law at the University of Illinois College of Law in America.
That’s the Rt dishonourable PM Stephen Harper and his harlots. . . aiding and abetting international criminals. And Harper proposes to be tough on crime? I am so ashamed of the Conservative government because I feel they have sold the Canadian soul for a few shekels of silver.
Since working for the prosecution in Malaysia, I wonder if Francis Boyle, professor of international law at the University of Illinois College of Law in America will be persecuted at home in the US through smear campaigns and job action? It would not surprise me. The McCarthy years come to mind.
From another article on Democracy Now “As Italy Sentences 23 CIA Agents in Rendition Case, Obama Refuses to Prosecute Anyone for Torture”
http://www.democracynow.org/2012/9/21/as_italy_sentences_23_cia_agents
“…according to our guest, four years after Obama made those comments, impunity for torture has now become a bipartisan policy of the U.S. government. “
A question from a non American: Is this part of the "America is the leader of the free world" and "America is the greatest" memes?
There need to be some serious changes!
Bush and his criminal cohorts are pretty much limited in their travel plans. There are many more countries who want to get them in their clutches. And, rightly so.
I don't know how you can ever schedule an appointment if you have to allow at least a 2 hour window on either end for transportation. They've got to be able to run the lift bus system in a more efficient manner for people.
4:06 and a lot of blind dumb luck involved at that.
Keep those days coming – you know we are all cheering for you.
NY Times – And this is exactly why I have said, and often think, when someone in the GOP says something outrageous, I will sign the petition for them to apologize. But I don't really want them to apologize! I want them to freeze in their idiocy! because I DO NOT want them to fool any more people and get elected or re-elected! And this thing – this is such a mess – of course Krugman is right on the money (pun intended) and will be conspicuously ignored by the conservative main stream media.
TPM – It's true we'll never get anything remotely progressive past the current House. But we should still try our best. And guys, sign all the petitions out there, for this, and for restoring emergency unemployment. Because the sheer numbers of signatures will definitely give our people something with which to hammer. Srsly – if you get the identical emal from 15 Senators and 79 Representatives, sign every one.
Think Progress – Why would anyone with a brain hold once having been a Republican against Warren? Lincoln and Eisenhower were Republicans – when that party stood for something. Neither would be today. I remember the eighties and nineties. Democrats were running on being "fiscal Conservatives." Seemed everyone had drunk the KoolAid. Warren was smart enough to see what was happening and get out, and get things done.
Cartoon – We should have the cojones and huevos to prosecute our own damned war criminals. But it's good that the rest of the world is taking action. Now that one trial has been held in absentia, maybe countries who wouldn't do that will think of other legal actions that can be taken in absentia and we can make the world too hot to hold them.
Lona at Care2 – Yes, Palin was speaking to the NRA, and she specifically said she would BAPTIZE terrorists with waterboards, leading to backlash from faith groups that are truly Christian for turning a sacrament into a bad joke. Jim, thanks so much for the link.
ADDENDUM ON PALIN
One faith group which was appalled by Palin, Faithful America, is putting together an open letter criticizing her "joke." It can be signed at
http://act.faithfulamerica.org/sign/palinwaterboarding?source=em_kicker&nr=1&t=2&akid=317.240419.I5RLi–
Since the original statement, she has added that people who have criticized her are "oversensitive wusses." I kind of take that personally. Thanks.
Petition in Joanne's box above signed:
"Sarah Palinsane does not speak for me nor does the NRA. Palinsane needs to apologize to all normal, nonviolent Christians."
Signed. Palin should just stay in Wasila and keep her big mouth shut.
Thanks TC – sorry you had to wait so long – it can be utterly exhausting – and very annoying too – which makes one even more exhausted when ill!
Paul Krugman is right – if there is one thing the Far Reich can do it is blow a smoke screen across their actions and blame everyone else.
I am rather horrified to think of Elizabeth Warren ever voting Repuglicon – and so recently – argh! However, she is good now and would indeed make a good President.
Jim – thanks for that news – astounding! We live in hope!
Joanne – thanks for clarifying $$ Palin's remarks – she will do anything for a headline, won't she?
Time 2:49
I think we have to take Elizabeth Warren at her word. She says she will not run and for now I believe that she means that. I'm not sure she isn't doing more for us right where she is, not every Senator dreams of the White House.
Now that Clive Bundy is no longer a mystery and we all he is nothing but a crook, the right wingers are abandoning this vulgar fool as fast as their feet will take them.
It is completely ludicrous that any one would try to speak for those businesses that pay so poorly that a full time worker is still living in poverty.
Sorry about your tough times with the bus and the waiting TC.
Just got my Mom and 85 y/o aunt back to their homes in Illinois after a week-long visit (hence my "MIA" status). We had a great visit, and my Mom has decided that it's getting too hard for her to manage living alone in her two-story house that I grew up in. (She does have a Healthcare Aide come in three days a week to help out.) Time to start looking for Assisted Living. If any of you have some suggestions, I'd appreciate it.
Back to the issues: While I'm enjoyiing the downfall of the racist bigot Clippers owner, Donald T. Sterling, I only wish it hadn't step on the major story of the other racist bigot out in Nevada. Remember how the right-wing Rethuglicans ran to embrace, adopt and promote Cliven Bundy as a "True 'Merikun Patriot"? Well, they can't get far enough away from him now. But for the record, here's a concise summary of their "Before & After Quotes":
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/muckraker/what-cliven-bundy-supporters-are-saying-after-race-comments
And BTW, do NOT fall for the Wingnut-o-sphere's mendacious claim that Racist Bigot Donald T. Sterling is a Democrat because he donated a couple bucks to them back in the early 90's. He's a registered Rethuglican!
http://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-mh-no-donald-sterling-20140428,0,6977964.column
You can fill in the blanks at the Los Angeles County Registar's website (article provides a Link) yourself to see, since it's public info. But you do have to know that Sterling lives at 808 N. Beverly Dr. in Beverly Hills, CA 90210. And that he was born 04/26/1934
Puzzle — 3:01 I beat the puddy tat, but just barely! I couldn't however out run the pussy cat, Miss Kitty!
NY Times — I do so agree with Krugman, as usual. "… welfare queens of the purple sage. " is so apt for people like Bundy. And his reference to Bundy doing the same thing on a neighbour's property is spot on . . . armed robbery. In my mind, since this is federal land, he IS doing this to all his neighbours, including those as far away as Hawaii and Alaska and Florida, for this is their land too. The feds need to make an example of Bundy but I doubt that will happen because that might give rise to the NRA meme that the government is coming for their guns (or whatever) and it would likely be political suicide. The rights of the many MUST supercede the rights of one in such circumstances.
TPM — "I fully expect the Republicans to give us another issue, along with the ACA, both of which can be used to hammer them." I agree with you, but look at 2012 with the war on the poor, women, voting rights, labour, etc . . . the Republicanus/Teabaggers still pulled off a lopsided victory in the House when they should not have been able to! As Krugman alluded in the previous piece, are Americans still going to allow themselves to be duped by the Republicanus/Teabaggers and the uber wealthy? Time to wake up and smell the real coffee!
Think Progress — I would like to see Warren in the White House, but perhaps she is more effective where she is now. What about 2020?
Cartoon — Wouldn't it be awesome if tomorrow's cartoon read: 30 April 2014 Bush, Cheney et al indicted for war grimes! We can hope.
I love that "welfare queens of the purple sage" it is so apt! Too many conservatives think that only the wealthy should receive breaks.
TPM: Apparently, the Republicans defeated the bill to raise the minimum wage, not surprised.
Think Progress: Love Warren,and I wish she would run. I did not know she had previously been a Republican.
I hope you got some rest today, TC.
". . . Krugman calls "High Plains Moochers."
If they ever make a movie of Doofus Bundy's life, they should title it "High Plains Grifter."
Thanks everyone. I'm rushing, because I have to be up early tomorrow.