I’m still feeling quite ill, but it’s a new month and I’m swamped. It’s a grocery delivery day, and I have a Monthly Report and a new poll to prepare. I did get some sleep, but need more. The record heat wave goes on and on and on.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 3:43 (average 5:34). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Fantasy Football Recruiting:
We still need one or two new players for Lefty Blog Friends, our fantasy football league. We’re trying to get Viv in, but are not sure if it will support her smart phone. How about you? For more information, click here.
Short Takes:
From Upworthy: A man with a headache walks into a hospital and is whisked into the rigmarole of American health care. He’s floored by what he learns at the end of his visit. Hint: It isn’t his diagnosis. It’s his hospital bill.
Now that the battle for the ACA is won, it’s time grow it into Medicare for all.
From National Popular Vote: TELL YOUR LEGISLATORS TO SUPPORT A NATIONAL POPULAR VOTE FOR PRESIDENT
Oregon is ignored in presidential races by both parties because candidates have no reason to pay attention to the concerns of voters in states where they are comfortably ahead or hopelessly behind. Presidential campaigns are conducted in only about 9 closely divided "battleground" states — making Oregon and most other states into mere "spectators" to the presidential election.
Tell your State Legislators to support the National Popular Vote Bill. The bill would guarantee the Presidency to the candidate who receives the most popular votes in all fifty states and the District of Columbia. This would make every vote equal throughout the United States. That, in turn, would ensure that every Oregon voter would matter in every presidential election.
Click Through to find the National Popular Vote project in your state. Oregonians, click through to contact your legislators.
From MSNBC: Chris Christie political bridge burning haunts him for 2016
Robert Costa, national political reporter for The Washington Post, talks with Rachel Maddow about how New Jersey governor Chris Christie made enemies of his fellow Republicans during the Romney campaign and now works from a deficit for 2016.
Rachel leaves no stone unturned here. For the effect of PIGnocchio boarding the Clown Car, see below.
Cartoon:
28 Responses to “Open Thread–7/1/2015”
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4:27 average (still) 5:34. Not any easier the second time; the mouse remains the mouse.
Congratulations Oregon on legalizing marijuana. Want to also help your schools teach kids about the outdoors? http://www.blueoregon.com/petition/save-outdoor-school/
Happy Birthday to the Dalai Lama – 80 years young on Monday, July 6. Send greetings at http://action.savetibet.org/p/dia/action3/common/public/
Upworthy – Yup. One of the things ACA was suposed to do, and to some extent did, was to reduce "health care by ER." As you say, Medicare for all would do it permanently.
National Popular Vote – I have had misgivings (largely based on John Quincy Adams, whom I consider highly underrated), but we are not the same nation now, and we need a popular vote for the Presidency.
MSNBC – Voters' memories are so short, none of this will hurt him with voters. The party bosses are another story. I hope it turns out to be fun to watch. So many things that ought to be fun to watch turn out to be painful to watch because of the reactions of the base.
This is priceless, and needs to be shared. Bobby Jindal opened up a hashtag #AskBobby prior to a town hall – and the questions are a hoot!
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/bobby-jindal-askbobby-twiter-hashtag
Thanks, I am still laughing at the tweets!
Funny, all but I particularly enjoyed the tweet from PoliticalGroove
Just too spot on! That's one for all Republicanus/Teabaggerum!
Thanks for posting. Most of the tweets gave me a big belly laugh because they were both funny and a sharp attack on his political stance. Wish Jindal would see it that way too.
Love it.
Upworthy: Good question, and answered in the video when MS Insurance and Big Pharma have their argument. If costs to citizens go down, so do profits for the health corporations. A simple test for cholesterol is over $700 at our local hospital. The insurance company pays about $50 for this test, if a non insured patient has it, he or she pays the $700.
National Popular Vote: I signed the petition.
Rachel Maddow: So Romney gave Christie "payback? Shows the moral fiber of both men. Christiegate will not be forgotten by the voters.
Cartoon: Yep!
I hope you feel better soon!
The Rachel Maddow Show
Why the Liberal in Your Life Is Happy Today
Bernie Sanders Drawing Huge Crowds +
Executive Action on Overtime Pay
http://www.hulu.com/watch/813676
TY TC – feel better soon!
3:35 All that candy and all for me? Since I am sweet enough already (or at least as sweet as any sasquatch can be!), if I win the candy, you guys can have it all!
4:21 No candy for me today.
By now, it tastes like feet!!
Heat can be so exhausting, TomCat. Your body uses a lot of energy to keep things under control, so it's no wonder you need more sleep. We're in a heat wave officially too, with record breaking temperatures above 35 °C (95 °F). Not much if you live in Arizona or Texas, but for us it's too hot to handle. Most people have no air conditioner yet, but with records being broken year after year, many soon will. Not to good if you want tob reduce your carbon footprint.
Upworthy: Great video with a lot of appeal because actors that play actors in popular series now tell the truth about the system they usually play a more hiroic role in. Very well done and should get a lot of air time to keep the ACA and improve it, or better still, let it evolve into a commie national healthcare system. "Better red than dead" just sprung to mind.
National Popular Vote: I've already said far too much kn the American voting system, but for me it's clear that you're in desperate need of general overhaul, starting with a popular vote for the presidency and moving on from that. If America is indeed the United States, each vote should carry equal weight in each state.
MSNBC: As usual Rachel has done her homework and more, and has given an excellent analysis of why PIGnocchio hasn't got a chance in hell to even make it to the debates. Even his own party sees him for what he is now: one terribly big glob of pure ego. Let's hope the voters will see it that way too.
Cartoon: ROTFLMAO
With electoral college skew, a Wyoming vote has 9 times the electoral influence of a California vote.
Puzzle — 3:35 All that candy and all for me? Since I am sweet enough already (or at least as sweet as any sasquatch can be!), if I win the candy, you guys can have it all!
Upworthy — I can relate to this. My mother and stepfather were snowbirds living in California for about 5 months each year. In either 2001 or 2002, my stepfather became ill and went to an emergency hospital. Tests were done and it was determined that he had colon cancer. The hospital wanted to operate right then but his out-of-country travel insurance carrier said no and 2 days later he was flown home in an air ambulance. Arriving mid afternoon, he had the first of 3 surgeries at 8 am the following morning. The bill was over $27,000 including the ambulance. The insurance would not pay. My stepfather passed away 19/03/2004 from colon cancer. They paid the US hospital about $12K and settled with the insurance company by paying $6K. The operations in Canada cost him nothing. Do I like my "universal healthcare"? You bet! Thank you Tommy Douglas for fighting for it years ago. He is considered the father of Canadian medicare. Now Herr Harper won't sit down with the provinces to discuss healthcare funding and would like to see a US style system. Herr Harper must be terminated on 19/10/2015!
Nobody should be without. I would like to see changes to our healthcare:
1) national pharmacare;
2) national dental at least at a basic level;
3) national optometry coverage (as a diabetic, this is covered under my provincial medical)
National Popular Vote — As I recall from the 2012 election, Obama received the higher popular vote numbers, but that isn't used to determine who the POTUS will be. That function is performed by the Electoral College. A direct national popular vote would reduce the inequities of the current system.
In Canada, there is no direct national voting for the Prime Minister. The PM is an elected member of Parliament, elected only by his constituency. The PM is the leader of the party that wins the most seats. At the last election, the popular vote for the Conservatives was 39.6%, hardly representative of the country. Yup, we have a busted electoral system too that needs reform.
MSNBC — Egomaniac! Christie is an egomaniac! I heard a piece on the radio (sometimes we get more US news than Canadian) yesterday under the title "Christie lies". Here is an article from the NY Times about it http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/01/opinion/gov-christies-phony-truth-telling.html?_r=0
Cartoon — Completely off the rails!
Read the original article by Tom Moran yesterday, and both the editorial you linked to, Lynn, and that of Moran tear PIGnocchio to pieces. Apparently his former friends and associates now feel the need "to tell it like it is".
I will not be commenting for a while. This Lyme disease and the antibiotics are making me quite ill when I try to read.
Hope you get to feeling better real soon.
I know Lyme disease can be a real bear to deal with, so take your time … we'll be here to welcome you back when you're better!
Patty, I hope you recover quickly.
Party! Before you go, let me know something. What does that Lyme disease make you feel like? And how long are you having to take the antibiotics? Just wondering, cause my husband has been given a big bottle of antibiotics and they didn’t tell him what tick-borne disease he had. Thanks a bunch! Vivian B.
Arg! Autocorrect! Patty!
I'm on Doxycyclin twice a day for 21 days. I ache all over so badly that I couldn't sleep for 2 nights, swollen glands. Couldn't chew or swallow for 3 days. Red rash behind my left knee. I never got the bullseye rash. I got bit 2 weeks ago and removed the tick intact immediately. I put antibioic ointment on it for 3 days. Nausea hitting me once in a while. Feeling almost human today after 3 days of antibiotics. Very tired though.
If every vote doesn’t count, why do we vote? Even the least vote should be counted! If we had gone with the popular vote in 2000, we wouldn’t have had Strike Two, would we? Just asking. Seems I remember that Shrub lost the popular and won the electoral college. But, by any count, all votes should count!
You remember correctly. Gore won the popular vote, and woulf have won the election had not Ralph Nader made it close enough for Republicans to steal.
Thanks all. Swamped. Hugs!
Two of my horses had Lyme didease,(I lived in Ma..at the time. ) One became lame and walked "funny"!. the other had panic attacks..After many months of medication both recovered. All the best to the patients.
I am from the UK. and used to Universal Health care, it was established in the early 50,0s and is GREAT. Cannot for the life of me understand why Universal care could not have been a "spin Off from Medicare,which I thing does a good job!. Too difficult for the USA,OR maybe not enough Profit ?.Also nonsense from Palin,Bachman et.al. re.death panels and a public gullible enough to listen to them !
The OR desire for no more Electoral College sounds much like the argument that now forbids TV stations from calling the race before the polls are closed in CA and OR, etc…..