Good news. My insulin syringes should be arriving today. Yesterday’s tribulations tired me considerably, so please pardon my brevity.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 4:15 (average 5:39). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From Think Progress: On Thursday morning, President-elect Donald Trump tweeted that Director of National Intelligence James Clapper called him “to denounce the false and fictitious report that was illegally circulated” about Russia being in possession of compromising information about him.
But Trump was actually spreading a falsehood of its own. In a statement about the call, Clapper said, “the IC has not made any judgment that the information in this document is reliable, and we did not rely upon it in any way for our conclusions.”
What Clapper did claim is that the report was not a product of US intelligence. RESIST!!
From Metro: A former British intelligence officer has been named as the man behind a controversial but unverified document claiming Russia has leverage over the
Christopher Steele, 52, who runs London-based Orbis Business Intelligence, was named in reports as having compiled the file on Trump.
The 35-page dossier contains unconfirmed allegations that Russian security officials have compromising material on Trump that could be used to blackmail him. Steele’s brother Kevin has denied his sibling’s involvement in the document.
It was claimed that Russia has footage of Trump in a Moscow hotel room accompanied by prostitutes who performed golden showers on a bed previously slept in by President Barack Obama and the First Lady Michelle…
Clapper has said the document is unverified by US intelligence, not that it is untrue. Steele, the former MI6 agent, who compiled it, has gone into hiding. That’s only understandable, if Putin want’s Steele dead for jeopardizing the fruits Putin’s hard work, spent establishing his ownership of the Piddle Puddle Pervert. RESIST!!
From NY Times: As he prepared last week to deliver his farewell address, President Obama convened three Democratic leaders in the White House for a strategy session on the future of their party. The quiet huddle included Senator Chuck Schumer of New York and Representative Nancy Pelosi of California, the top Democrats in Congress, and Gov. Terry McAuliffe of Virginia.
One topic of urgent concern, according to people briefed on the meeting: how to break the Republican Party’s iron grip on the congressional map.
Thwarted for much of his term by a confrontational Republican Congress, and criticized by his fellow Democrats for not devoting sufficient attention to their down-ballot candidates, Mr. Obama has decided to make the byzantine process of legislative redistricting a central political priority in his first years after the presidency.
Emerging as Mr. Obama’s chief collaborator and proxy is Eric H. Holder Jr., the former attorney general of the United States and a personal friend of the president. He has signed on to lead the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, a newly formed political group aimed at untangling the creatively drawn districts that have helped cement the Republican Party in power in Washington and many state capitals.
We need all the help we can get! RESIST!!
Cartoon:
Republicans may be planning a sequel. RESIST!!
15 Responses to “Open Thread – 1/12/2017”
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5:26 The birdie's all yours, for all of me.
It is so depressing out there, I think maybe I should put in a couple of feel-good links (with hanky alerts) – http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/1/12/1619691/-Take-a-break-from-the-nastiness-and-watch-Michelle-Obama-surprise-people-recording-farewell-messages and https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2017/01/12/obama-surprises-biden-with-presidential-medal-of-freedom/
This is not exactly a feel-good – but it is factual and deserves as wide circulation as it can get: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2017/01/11/1619079/-Comparing-Presidential-Administrations-by-Arrests-and-Convictions-A-Warning-for-Trump-Appointees
TP – I should think so. Intelligence people don't denounce anything, ever. They are much too cagey for that.
Metro – Much as it pains me to agree on the slightest tidbit with Senator Grassley, I have to say that his position that Russia can't possibly blackmail Trump, because we already know he is such a pile of crap that it would be impossible to catch him doing anything that would make it worse, or deflect any supporter, is probably right on the money. There's an outside chance that if they had video of him sacrificing a virgin in a Satanist rite with a ritual dagger it might change the mand of a small percentage of supporters, but I kind of doubt even that.
NYT – Well, that has to be the most positive NGO he could possibly work with. Unlike hate groups (SPLC), human rights (Amnesty et al), even climate (Greenpeace et al), there isn't already somebody working on it. I would say this is something to support.
Cartoon – I fear you are prophetic.
TP: Clapper is probably getting a primer for DT to read on how access the information. Someone take away his phone too.
Metro: If a British Intelligence officer has gone into hiding over this information, it's pretty concerning. The more DT talks, the more the lies. Pathetic. Mr. Obama must be shaking his head over all this.
NYT: A daunting task ahead, but I have good faith in the newly formed NDRC, U wish them the best.
Cartoon: Ratified on August 18, 1920, the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution granted American women the right to vote—a right known as woman suffrage. Something the Clowns would take away if they could.
Glad that you are getting your delivery today. Hope that you have a good evening, take care, and Thanks, Tom.
Both Traitorous Trump and Kellyanne Conway have this fabulist "Humpty Dumpty" approach to the meaning of words. (“When I use a word, it means just what I choose it to mean—neither more nor less.”)
Earlier in a related matter they both tried to claim that:
When the declassified IC report actually said:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/01/07/trumps-bogus-claim-that-intelligence-says-russia-didnt-impact-the-2016-election-outcome/?utm_term=.5114ec1ee6b8
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2017/01/08/donald-trump-makes-false-claims-about-intel-report-on-russian-hacking.html
They both lie with the same ease – and regularity – as they breath. That is, constantly!
Puzzle — 3:39 Sorry Puddy Tat, JD misspoke — that birdie is ALL mine!
Think Progress — Where there is smoke, there is more often than not, fire. Trump has a propensity for seeing and hearing what he wants, not what is actually said or seen. In addition, he makes mountains out of mole hills, and visa versa. Oh it will be a long 4 years!
Resist!!!
Metro — I had to laugh at Trump's response to the golden rain aspect — he's a germaphobe so he wouldn't do that! I wonder how he explains being a pussy grabber then? Anyway, as I said above, where there is smoke, there is more often than not, fire. I hope an investigation can prove much of this.
Resist!!!
NY Times — You can bet that will be a major undertaking that will be opposed by the new administration, the Republican dominated Congress, and every Republican in every state. If they didn't gerrymander, Republicans wouldn't have a chokehold on the Congress. Good on Obama and Holder for taking leadership positions in this fight for a more fair government.
Resist!!!
Cartoon — They may try, but women, who make up over 51% of the US population, will not allow it! We are women, hear us ROAR!!!
Resist!!!
Good news on the syringes. So you use syringes, not an insulin pen? I use the pen which is so easy — just attach a small needle, dial up the dose, and stick it in. Needles come in boxes of 100. In dialing up the dose, you can count the clicks so having trouble seeing the numbers should not be a big problem. I had the most delicious Persian lamb stew for dinner tonight after teaching. Yum!!!
The pens are MUCH more expensive. The disposable syringes actually cost less than the needles for pens.
And we don't have single payer, so we have to pay for our options.
(The green is for envy.)
Few minutes ago:
Obama Awards Biden With Presidential Medal Of Freedom In Surprise White House Tribute
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/obama-biden-presidential-medal-of-freedom_us_5877ea9ee4b0b3c7a7b05958?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Obama%20Awards%20Biden%20With%20Presidential%20Medal%20Of%20Freedom%20In%20Surprise%20White%20House%20Tribute&utm_content=Obama%20Awards%20Biden%20With%20Presidential%20Medal%20Of%20Freedom%20In%20Surprise%20White%20House%20Tribute+CID_d6d1d405ea80f4a904741b8b7be1b32b&utm_source=Email%20marketing%20software&utm_term=Read%20More&
I saw video of it earlier this evening. Biden, I think it would be safe to say, was blown away and very humble. Wonderful tribute!
Well deserved.
Think Progress and Metro: I have no trouble believing the reports are true, just wish it had been confirmed.
NY Times: This is work that is long overdue. The Deomocratic party seems to be in shambles, maybe Pres. Obama can put it back together.
Cartoon: That will be the next right they try to take away.
Think Progress and Metro – sounds as though the report is right – and I don't blame that man if he has gone into hiding – politics these days is getting very, very nasty indeed, and there are far too many people who can be counted on by the Far Right to do something unstable if not actually violent if pointed in the 'right' direction. Sounds as though Mr Steele thinks so too.
NYT – why on earth didn't the silly ass (as in donkeys/mules not humans) not do this eight years ago??!!!
I Agree
Didn't you love Joe Biden getting the Medal of Freedom?
While Trump whines about the media and "false news" – as if! the guy who pretends to be Presidential Trump is posting things like this:
PresidentialTrump
@MatureTrumpTwts
As we near MLK JR Day & 3-day weekend 4 most, I hope you'll take a moment to reflect on the great sacrifices he & so many made 4 civil rts.twitter.com/realdonaldtrum…
If only he were the president!
And then there is this:
THE 7 STAGES OF TRUMP GRIEF: 1. omg 2. this is so bad 3. yep still so bad 4. we are going to die 5. help 6. somehow even worse today 7. omg
Yep
Arielle, 'mature' and 'Trump' in the same sentence is an oxymoron. Somebody has a good sense of humour, or a strong sense of doom, to produce this.
Thanks all! Hugs!!