I’m writing for tomorrow, day 115. I did a lot of house cleaning today in preparation for my grocery delivery. Then I put everything away. I feel a little tired, because I still haven’t found a stable sleep schedule.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 3:04 (average 5:00). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Patriots on Parade:
There’s been some misunderstanding, as several people have sent me links to articles about other people. You are the people I want to feature, the people who participate in this blog, whether it be here or on Care2, or somewhere else where my articles or posted. People whom you know personally would also work. It’s the everyday heroes like you that will be the ones to make a difference.
Also, there has been some discomfort over my choice of the term Patriot, because of its Republican connotations. That’s exactly why I chose it. Republicans stole the word. They didn’t earn it. It does not describe them. They don’t deserve it. My intent is to take it away from them and give it to people who have earned it, whom it does describe, and who do deserve it: you. You are the authentic patriots who are making your country better in countless small ways. It’s your word, not theirs. Haven’t we been allowing Republicans to define the terms of our national discourse for far too long?
Finally, those that don’t like to toot their own horn can just give me the info. I’ll do the tooting!!
Fantasy Football:
Players, don’t forget that our live draft is Saturday morning at 9:00 AM Pacific Daylight Savings Time. That’s 10:00 Mountain, 11:00 Central, Noon Eastern.
Short Takes:
From Raw Story: An Oklahoma man has been charged with threatening to kill Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and his family, according to court documents obtained on Wednesday.
Charles Jason Moreland, 31, of Tulsa, is suspected of sending profanity-laced email messages in April directed at the veteran Democratic senator from Nevada that said if Reid “ever steps foot out of D.C., he will be done. You’re a dead … man Harry Reid,” according to the documents.
A lawyer for Moreland was not immediately available for comment. Reid’s office was also not available for comment.
Moreland was arrested on July 31 and the court documents had been under seal until this week. He faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
When he gets out the RNC will have a job waiting for him.
From Common Dreams: Following criticism of Hillary Clinton’s hawkish foreign policy remarks published Sunday, Senator Bernie Sanders said in an interview on Monday that Clinton shouldn’t be presumed as the Democratic nominee for president since the U.S. political process isn’t one in which "we anoint people."
Sanders also hinted at his possible willingness to challenge her for the Democratic nomination for president.
Sanders spoke in an interview with ABC’s Jeff Zeleny a day after The Atlantic published an interview with Clinton in which she slammed Obama’s foreign policy, saying "Great nations need organizing principles, and ‘Don’t do stupid stuff’ is not an organizing principle." Sanders indicated his respect for the former Secretary of State, while at the same time cautioning against assuming that she will be the Democratic nominee before she’s even announced her candidacy.
I would back Bernie over Hillary in a hot minute.
From AlterNet: It’s become fashionable for politicos to predict that 2014 will be another boffo election for Republican candidates at all levels.
The New York Times this week reported that the GOP is likely to emerge with new majorities in perhaps nine state legislative chambers. Republicans currently control 60 of America’s 99 state assemblies or senates, and have monopolies on power in 36 states—the most since the 1950s.
But a closer look reveals that 2014 is not going to be a slam-dunk for the GOP in state legislatures. Instead, Democrats stand a good chance of breaking the Republican grip on power in five states—Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Iowa, Arkansas, New Hampshire—while maintaining current partisan divisions in others. That’s nowhere close to reversing 2010’s Republican wave, but it’s not merely holding the line, either.
Click through for more detail. Let me say this one more time. It’s all about turnout. Vote and get out the vote!!
Cartoon:
Art. 11. As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion,—as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquility, of Mussulmen [Muslims],—and as the said States never entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mahometan [Muslim] nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries. [emphasis added]
15 Responses to “Open Thread–8/14/2014”
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3:38 I'm going around in circles here.
3:42 I got dizzy looking up.
3:18 Not fast enough to catch that base jumping puddy tat!
Sorry, accidently put it below.
Wooo!
What, no "Hooo!"?
Day 115 ~ Good for you. I know the days are hard but the fight is worth it in the long run. Congrats!
Patriots ~ It's a great idea but if we all went around blowing our own horns we would lower ourselves to the level of the FAUX NOISE talking heads and a lot of politicians in the State Houses and on Capitol Hill. That would be a lot of giant heads floating around the US and Canada.
FF ~ I'm looking forward to it. I haven't had time to try the practice draft yet but today is a rainy day so maybe…
Raw Story ~ Maybe he was already in their employ (under the tabe). Just a thought. The part that gets me is his first threats were issued to Pres. Obama last Sept. and he wasn't arrested until this July. Why the long wait? The process didn't take so long when RepublicanTs were in office to the best of my knowledge.
Commom Dreams ~ This is definitely a wonderful dream to have Bernie throw his hat in as the Democratic nominee. Many more would back him over Hillary.
Alternet ~ Get out and Vote! Tell everyone you know to Vote. Make sure everyone is legally registered to Vote on time.
Cartoon ~ No religion, heh?
Pstty, when I write sbout the volunteer work I dco with my guys, is that lowering myself to the Faux Noise level?
No. You are sharing a part of your life with us. You have made the guys real to us and we now share your interest in them and their lives. You have opened our minds to the problems in prison by sharing with us. We know you're not doing it for recognition.
Politics is an interest of mine and I am active online but that is all. I have lost friends due to my political views so I don't voice them very often. All I can do is vote and vent here. Even on FB, life-long friends have told me to keep politcis off there. I still do it but more subtly now.
We'll that's no different from what I'm hoping folks will do.
My heart would back Bernie in a New York Minute.
My head? Not so much.
And I always like the Treaty of Tripoli … A LOT!
4:31 average up to 5:15
I didn't send you a link, but I did understand where you are going, I am just not personally comfortable with it. My suggestion would be to start with those of your readers who have their own blogs. For one thing, having one's own blog demonstrates a certain willingness to be public, and for another, the blog itself has a good chance of providing starting facts. After seeing some, others might be more willing to jump in.
Raw Story – True it wouldn't have taken as long for Repuiblicans to nab him had he been threatening them. But Republicans don't need no stinkin' evidence to lock someone up and throw away the key.
Common Dreams – I am SO torn. I do NOT like what Hilary said. "Don't do stupid stuff" is an oversimplification of course, but it aims to be understandable, and, since it requires every action to be evaluated for stupidity before doing it, it is flexible, and therefore a far better organizing principle than anything the GOP has come up with. BUT – the fact that the American people mostly agree with our positions does not mean they will vote for a person just because he or she embodies them. And I said "mostly agree" because the percentages coming up on polls are not overwhelming enough to run an election on. Bottom line, much as I love Bernie, I am more frightened of another Republican president than I am hopeful for a Bernie presidency.
Alternet – Thanks again for singing my song. I would only add, in states where Governors and Senators are on the ballot, push voting the WHOLE ballot. It DOES matter.
Cartoon – Article 11 was in the 1797 version. The Religious Wrong, of course, denies that it even exists. The same information in the 1805 version was in Article 14, and unfortunately, not expressed quite so forcefully. (Those who claim it doesn't exists assert that it's not in the Arabic version – like they are experts in Arabic. Who said arguing with a Republican is like playing chess with a pigeon – it will shit on the board and knock pieces over, and strut around like it is the undisputed winner?)
3:18 Not fast enough to catch that base jumping puddy tat!
Puzzle — 3:18 Not fast enough to catch that base jumping puddy tat!
Fantasy Football — Well I may be screwed. I couldn't remember my User ID or password. Hell I can't even remember my team . . . well except for the word 'stompers'. I finally found an e-mail with my user ID but the PW is still a no go. I have asked for a PW reset but Lord knows when that will come.
Raw Story — “When he gets out the RNC will have a job waiting for him.” — Undoubtedly . . . that is if it is still around.
Common Dreams — I guess this is one time when it is a good thing that NO doesn't necessarily mean NO! Go Bernie! I guess this means that we can't have him north of the 49th?! Such a shame . . . he would have made a good Canuck!
Alternet — Will the electorate remember how the Republicanus/Teabaggers obstructed any action on the economy, on jobs, on just about everything, and how they pushed an agenda that would strip Americans of Medicare, social security, or SNAP? Obama is not perfect, far from it. However, I think he has done fairly well considering the obstruction. The unpopularity numbers need to be seen in context. It is time to place blame where it belongs . . . squarely on the heads of the Republicanus/Teabaggers.
Get out the Democratic vote! If you don't vote, you are part of the problem, and you have no right to complain.
Cartoon — Funny how this "Art. 11. As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion, …" bit of American history is ignored by the likes of Bachmann etc who insist that the US is a Christian state and that the Founding Fathers intended it that way. History being rewritten the Republicanus/Teabagger way . . . yet again despite evidence that they are patently wrong!
I hope you get a decent sleep schedule soon, nothing is harder than not getting enough sleep.
Patriots on Parade: I understood what you were saying, Just don't feel I have any heroism in me.
Raw Story: I am glad he was arrested and hope he is convicted if tried, but you are right, the RNC will find a place for him.
Common Dreams: I too would back Bernie over Hilary, but I still doubt he will run.
Alternet: I really hope the predictions are wrong. If the Republicans take over the Senate and keep control of the House those of us who are not millionaires can kiss our incomes goodbye. Grimes is still behind McConnell in the polls here, he has used the war on coal against her very effectively.
Article 11: The pseudo Christians need to read this. I just shared in on FAcebook.
Thanks all. Ovverslept and still pooped.