I’m writing for tomorrow, day 62. I’m quite busy year-change record keeping for both myself and my volunteer organization. The Dulcolax finally worked, so I feel 20 lbs. lighter are far more like a Democrat.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 3:15 (average 4:55). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From The New Yorker: Sixty-four unskilled workers will report to new jobs in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday as part of a federal jobs program that provides employment for people unable to find productive work elsewhere.
The new hires, who have no talents or abilities that would make them employable in most workplaces, will be earning a first-year salary of $174,000.
For that sum, the new employees will be expected to work a hundred and thirty-seven days a year, leaving them with two hundred and twenty-eight days of vacation.
Some critics have blasted the federal jobs program as too expensive, noting that the workers were chosen last November in a bloated and wasteful selection process that cost the nation nearly four billion dollars.
But Davis Logsdon, a University of Minnesota economics professor who specializes in labor issues, said that the program is necessary to provide work “for people who honestly cannot find employment anywhere else.”
Andy has never been more accurate!!
From Yahoo News: Police officers turned their backs on New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio on Sunday during the funeral for Wenjian Liu, one of two NYPD officers killed in a Dec. 20 ambush, exposing the ongoing rift between the department and City Hall.
The officers were seen turning away from an outdoor screen showing de Blasio’s eulogy at the service in Brooklyn, defying a request by New York Police Commissioner William Bratton not to protest at the funeral.
“A hero’s funeral is about grieving, not grievance,” Bratton wrote in a memo to officers on Friday, less than a week after officers turned their backs on de Blasio at the funeral of Rafael Ramos, the other NYPD slain officer. “I remind you that when you don the uniform of this department, you are bound by the tradition, honor, and decency that go with it.”
The memory of Wenjian Liu is certainly worthy of honor and respect. Officers who dishonor that memory, while in uniform, by mimicking Westboro Baptist Republicans have forgotten their calling to serve and protect. They should be fired.
From Reuters: U.S. Representative Louie Gohmert, a conservative Tea Party Republican from Texas, said on Sunday he would challenge John Boehner for speaker of the House of Representatives.
Gohmert’s announcement came a day after fellow Republican Representative Ted Yoho of Florida said he might be willing to put his name up against Boehner, the Ohio Republican who is widely expected to retain the top job in the chamber when the full House votes on Tuesday.
"Ted is a good man for whom I could vote, but I have heard from many supporters and also friends in Congress who have urged me to put forward my name for Speaker as well to increase our chances of change," Gohmert said in a statement. "That is why I am also offering my name as a candidate for Speaker."
While I doubt that Go Go Goosestep has even the slightest chance to become Speaker, his actions will sow dissention in the ranks of the Republican Reich and embarrass Agent Orange.
Cartoon:
20 Responses to “Open Thread–1/6/2015”
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New Yorker – oh Andy has it perfectly – brilliant!
Yahoo News – shame on those officers who turned their backs on Mayor de Blasio – that was so wrong.
Reuters – what a lovely collection to choose from!
3:21 ~ Big fella! I don't know if you can take him dow, TC. Sasquatch or the Critter might be able to.
4:23 I got head-butted into the weeds.
3:17 I thought you looked a little pale TC so I'm letting you have this old mutton buster for the iron content.
The meat was very tasty and the hor4ns make great back scratchers!! 😀
What meat??? It was a statue!
New Yorker ~ Please get back to satire, Andy. I hate it when you only report the news.
Yahoo ~ I applaud the one officer who did not turn his back on the Mayor. The others showed unbelievable disrespect to the familes of the slain officers. It was also disrespectful of their own Commissioner.
Reuters ~ Loony Louie as Speaker of the House? Comedians will have a heyday!
Cartoon ~ That might be his most important job this year, to keep Jameson's in business.
Personally, I think that if all those petulant police people are so pissed off and want to protest they should turn their badges in and RESIGN!
Then they'd be doing it right.
Excellent comment.
I agree. According to the CBS evening news, they are also slowing down their police work, fewer arrests, parking tickets, etc.
Amen!
The New Yorker:
Of the 64 unskilled workers who will be reporting to their new jobs in Washington, D.C, will Representative Gordon Klingenschmitt, Colorado (R), renounce his free government health plan in favor of his highly touted "JesusCare"? "…that God will protect people from disease so long as they obey His commands and said that Americans "ought to look to the Lord for our healthcare" plan…
Klingenschmitt: Americans Should Rely On God For Healthcare
http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/klingenschmitt-americans-should-rely-god-healthcare
Yahoo News:
The police, turning their backs on New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, have shown their true colors: The arrogant blowhard like Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association head Patrick Lynch and those officers who stood with him are bigots and racists. In agreement that they should all be fired.
RACHEL MADDOW 01/05/15
Police send message with radical work slowdown
Rachel Maddow shows the radical drop in arrests and summonses by New York City police in the two weeks since two officers were murdered. The drop is seen as the result of an apparent work slowdown to spite the mayor and anti-police violence protesters.
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show
Reuters:
Gohmert as Speaker of the House would certainly be seen as a very interesting choice. What are Gohmert's "chances of change,"? What does he propose? What would be the "dissention in the ranks of the Republican Reich and embarrass Agent Orange" be like if Gohmert had his actions fulfilled? With Gohmert as Speaker of the House, he would be leading all the nutters down the path as the most motley group of fruitcakes ever seen in the House. lol. Never have I ever seen such a group assembled in a congressional law setting in my life!
Cartoon:
Who really cares that his skin color is orange from drinking, Boehner is obviously the worst Speaker of the House in US history.
Jim, Klingenschmitt won't be going to Washington, just to Denver. Yet. But I have no doubt he will embarrass me just as much as if he were in Washington.
Joanne – Thanks for the heads up. Looks like I slipped up on the status of Klingenschmitt as being a US Representative in Washington, D.C. I stand corrected. Klingenschmitt is a new Representative in Colorado House. Wonder if state representatives get free health plans like they do in D.C.. If they do, will Klingenschmitt toss it aside in favor of his "JesusCare"…
Yes, Klingenschmitt will embaraass you. No doubt at all.
6:00 average up to 5:30. He'd be awfully tough. He's a statue. Looks like a (very realistic) bronze, possibly cold-painted. Happy Twelfth Night, everybody! As I overslept, it will be night sooner rather than later anyway.
New Yorker – The accuracy of this presentation absolutely took my breath away. Every detail was in place. There was no faint suggestion of a false note. Won't he get in trouble for giving away the truth?
Yahoo – Ah yes. There's a graphic out that says:
Complete list of groups who protest at funerals:
Westboro Baptist Church
NYPD
I did not click through, having previously read about it, but my personal opinion (though I use and like Yahoo email) is that if you ever read any news on Yahoo, have a super-size barf bag ready. The people who comment on Yahoo can be the meanest and cruelest in the world. And there is little or no relief from the stream of hate. I guess it's just as well they are there. I wouldn't want them here.
Reuters – Reuters is a respectable news agency but this sounds like someone made it up. Oh, sorry, I forgot. You can't make this stuff up.
Cartoon – Would that this were true! I'm afraid what I see as their agenda is slash and burn, stone cold sober.
Unconscionable…
Puzzle — 3:17 I thought you looked a little pale TC so I'm letting you have this old mutton buster for the iron content. Republicitis can really kick the shit out of your system and leave you anemic.
The New Yorker — LOL Andy! You're back to straight news reporting again! The way these guys are packed into this room, I sure hope no one farts! Maybe that's why the don't like being in there more than 137 days.
Yahoo News — Bratton said it best I think.
“A hero’s funeral is about grieving, not grievance,” … “I remind you that when you don the uniform of this department, you are bound by the tradition, honor, and decency that go with it.”
If the officers can't do that, then they should leave their badge, gun and uniform at the door on their way out.
Reuters — Goh-merde as Speaker? . . . or Yoyo who just spins his wheels? Republicanus/Teabaggers are likely to try to outdo each other by entering the race and voting for themselves. Talk about division in the ranks! They'd probably try to blame that on Obama too. A house divided . . .
Cartoon — The new Speaker of the House . . . Jameson!
Glad you are feeling better.
The New Yorker: I swear, Andy has left satire in the dust and is reporting reality! Shared the article on facebook.
Yahoo News: I think those officers showed tremendous disrespect their their comrade in arms whose funeral they were attending. Whatever their differences with the Mayor, they could have found a better solution. I agree, TC, they should be fired.
Reuters: Boehner is a joke. Gohmert would have been a disaster. We seem to have little to choose from this year.
Cartoon: He almost looks happy.
Thanks all. It's been a really hectic day!