Store to Door has delivered my groceries, and I put them away. It’s another scorcher that will probably break another record. It’s down ti 67% now, but when I got up this morning the humidity was 96%. ARGH!!! I so glad Wendy is coming this evening.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 2:58 (average 5:46). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From YouTube (PBS Channel): Why some scientists are concerned a government climate change report won’t be released
While not all leakers are performing a service, and some, like Putin’s other pervert, Julian Assange, are threat to our nation, these leakers are patriots. They brought to light information that should be in the public domain, because it has nothing to do with national security, but Republicans want to hide it for dishonest political motives. RESIST!!
From Upworthy: With the exception of an infamous trip to see Hamilton last November and a controversy about whether it’s OK to dine with women other than his wife, we’ve heard relatively little about Vice President Mike Pence since the election. In May, CNN even ran a story with the headline, "Mike Pence’s Disappearing Act."
He’s a heartbeat away from the presidency and seems interested in following his own political ambitions beyond this administration, so what exactly has Mike Pence been up to lately? A lot, actually.
Here’s 20 things Mike Pence has done since taking office:
1. In January, Pence and others lobbied Trump to take hard-line positions on abortion, making good on some of his anti-choice campaign pledges…
2. Pence has led the charge to advance Trump’s policy agenda…
3. He’s been very vocal about supporting the use of tax dollars to fund religious schools…
4. In January, Pence met with anti-abortion activists at the White House and delivered a speech at the annual March for Life…
5. Pence spent much of February selling the nomination of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court as "mainstream."…
I’ve shared just headers from the first five things done by the man who wants to be Fuhrer of the Republican Rectum Reich. Click through for the descriptions and the other fifteen. RESIST!!
From Washington Post: FBI agents raided the Alexandria home of President Trump’s former campaign chairman late last month, using a search warrant to seize documents and other materials, according to people familiar with the special counsel investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election.
Federal agents appeared at Paul Manafort’s home without advance warning in the predawn hours of July 26, the day after he met voluntarily with the staff for the Senate Intelligence Committee.
The search warrant was wide-ranging and FBI agents working with special counsel Robert S. Mueller III departed the home with various records. Jason Maloni, a spokesman for Manafort, confirmed that agents executed a warrant at one of the political consultant’s homes and that Manafort cooperated with the search.
The raid came as Manafort has been voluntarily producing documents to congressional committees investigating Russia’s interference in the 2016 presidential election. The search warrant indicates investigators may have argued to a federal judge they had reason to believe Manafort could not be trusted to turn over all records in response to a grand jury subpoena.
I bet a dollar against a donut that the FBI found things Manafart was hiding from the Congressional committees. RESIST!!
Cartoon:
13 Responses to “Open Thread – 8/9/2017”
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4:39 Except malachite, the mineral, looks like this.
I had to break out both the quilt and the heating pad last night. Relief is likely on the way for you, I would guess.
YT/PBS – There’s a word for “leakers” who are true patriots. They are calle Whistleblowers.
Upworthy – I won’t say I am not uneasy about Pencildick, because I am. However, I also suspect Mr. Mueller has his eye on him along with the other traitors in office. I am not going to panic – YET.
WaPo – Apparently, they would have had to demonstrate two things to get that warrant, one being reason to believe that, without it, evidence might not be turned over (might even be destroyed), and the other first, reason to believe evidence woulf be found which would show the fruit of a crime.
Cartoon – But they also do the opposite, which is even worse.
WRT WaPo – exactly.
A federal judge, to issue the search warrant, had to be convinced from what Mueller’s team presented that there was probable cause that evidence of CRIMINAL actions/activity could be found at Manafort’s home.
The big question: How “loyal” is Manafort? Will he flip?
I like your putting “loyal” in quotes. He’s probably loyal – but – to what? To America? To Trump? To Manafort? I’d bet money the last one is in there bigly – but WRT the other two – that’s anyone’s guess. Heck, HE probably doesn’t even know. It’s not the kind of thing criminals spend a lot of time thinking about, is it?
If they get enough on him that the alternative is senility upon release, you can be sure he’ll flip, if he gets a good enough deal.
PBS: Those in charge, unfortunately, are in denial over this subject.
Upworthy: He’s a sneaky snake for sure. I’d type ‘ugh!’ 20x’s, but that’s a lot of typing. UGH!
WP: The hole is getting deeper and deeper…..I love it!!
Cartoon: What Joanne D said. 😉
Hope that you have a good evening, rest and relax. Thanks, Tom.
PBS: The orange house will do all it can to disparage the report its own government produced, period!
I hope you get a break from this weather, soon!
YouTube: When the leakers are caught, they will be fired. In the meantime, they are doing us a service.
UPworthy: In some ways, Pence is scarier than Trump. I think he honestly believes that his religion should prevail over all of us.
Washington Post: I would love to know what the FBI found in Manafort’s home.
While it’s officially winter down here in OZ, that would normally mean that out here (in the Great Divide “mountains” in subtropical Queensland) the nights would be cold (freezing, close to zero Centigrade) but the daytime a pleasant 17-18°C. We’ve already had one night where the temperature wouldn’t drop below 15°C, and while the temperature dropped to -2 or -3°C last night but is expected to pick up to 25°C, and even more tomorrow. Weird.
PBS: Leaking this report as an act of patriotism is beneficial to American society, but it goes beyond patriotism as it signals to the international science community that for their part, American scientist are still independent and apolitical thinkers and their research and findings can be trusted by their peers in the world. Their unbiased contribution is of great importance to the the rest of the world in the combat of the effects of climate change and minimizing further temperature rise globally. Kudos to the leakers on behalf of the rest of the world too.
Upworthy: If Pence isn’t indicated in Mueller’s investigation too, America is stuck between a rock and a hard place when it comes down to impeaching Drumpf. Oh, and don’t forget about Ryan, who’s next on the list.
WP: This FBI raid on Manafort’s house the day after Manafort voluntarily appeared before the Senate Intelligence Committee indicates that the FBI doesn’t only trust him to have been truthful or have handed over all relevant material, it also tells a story of an FBI that doesn’t care much for the way the Committee operates either. Let’s say the FBI is “not impressed” and feels they have to do better.
Puzzle — 3:58 It is so hot and humid today that I could not move fast enough to save this little beauty.
YouTube — According to the CBC, the report as such was not leaked. Apparently it has been accessible online in one of its iterations as the scientists have reviewed and revised it according to Katharine Hayhoe, one of the chief authors of the report and a Canuck. With the content of the report and its availability to the public, the climate change hoax supported by Drumpf and his sycophants is going to be a tougher sell. With midterms coming up in a year, do they want to fight that battle? My guess is that Republicans are so beholding to the fossil fuel industry that they will fight that battle. I can just hear Drumpf saying “what report?” and calling it fake news. I rather hope that Mar-a-lago becomes a victim of sea levels rising and Drumpf takes a financial hit for his arrogance and stupidity.
Upworthy — “…let’s keep a watchful eye on what he’s doing now because he might just be president one day.” — Another pseudo Christian! Christ did not force people to follow him or to believe. He made the knowledge available but the decision was up to the person. Pseudo Christians force people to submit to their religion whether people believe or not. Pseudo Christians worship false gods (money, greed) and discriminate against other people (LGBTQ, transgender) which is not in keeping with Christ’s teachings. Look out because with Pence, the country might just become a Christian theocracy.
WaPo — There is not a chance that’ll take that bet!
Cartoon — I’m thankful I live in Canada. We sent our “Republicans” to the showers in disgrace back in 2015!
Resist, Persist and Remove!!!
Hot and humid are the words for today! 31 C (88 F), 60% humidity and lots of smoke. Word has it that there is a chance of rain on the weekend, but I am not holding my breath. Also the winds are supposed to pick up and change direction which should clear out much of the smoke. I’m from Missouri — I’ll believe it when I see it! If it does rain, I’m going to go out and dance in it! . . . and I won’t care if I get soaked to the bone!
“There is not a chance that’ll take that bet!” – Gluten free donuts cost more than $1.00 each anyway, so it’s not a bet I would take in any circumstances.
When I started using that phrase, donuts were not gluten free and cost a nickel.
Yes, I remember that too. Actually, bought by the 6-pack, even my gluten free ones are a bargain compared to some of the big, fancy creations.
Thanks all. Ellipsoid Orb Hugs!!