Sorry I did not feel up to posting an OT yesterday. I have had an on again, off again acquaintance with flu/cold for the past week or so. Yesterday was definitely a down day so I stayed down. Feeling a bit more energetic today. Nameless posted an update on TC HERE. WWWendy provided an update too:
Hello all this is an update from Wendy. Tom has been out of circulation for the last few days wanted to let everyone know that I had to take him to the hospital for admittance on Thanksgiving day. Tom is doing well and he is where he needs to be but is Recovering from a respiratory infection. He asked that no one spend any money on him please… He will be in the hospital probably till the beginning of next week. I will try and keep you updated all of your thoughts and prayers are appreciated
Tomorrow, there will likely be no OT as I am babysitting my little Sareena this evening and have church in the morning which will make researching a post difficult. I will post again come Monday for sure. As to today’s short takes, the last one should be a stand alone article but I just don’t have the time to separate it out.
JigZone Puzzle
Today’s took me 4:03 (average 4:41). To do it, click here. (This link will automatically open to a new page.) How did you do?
Yesterday’s took me 4:05 (average 5:01). To do it, click here. (This link will automatically open to a new page.) How did you do?
Short Takes
Maclean’s — Scientists were dumbfounded by the discovery of an unusual new migratory pattern this week when a sizable portion of the U.S. population walked into the sea. Early on Wednesday evening, thousands and thousands of Americans just stopped, checked their phones and walked into the ocean.
The mass migration began among individuals with immediate access to an ocean, but before long the phenomenon had spread across the nation. Landlocked Ocean-Walker-Into-Ers from not-coast to not-coast are making the long trek towards the ocean, planning, as the name suggests, to keep trekking right on into it when they get there.
Experts are mostly at a loss to explain the phenomenon. “Nope, I got nothing,” said Dr. Christos Stewart, a research associate in evolutionary biology at the University of Chicago when contacted for comment. “With the famous exception of the Homo Sapiens Has A Timeshare In Floridius subspecies, human beings are not known for these kinds of inexplicable migrations. Much like how we can’t figure out why a person would willingly travel to Florida, we haven’t the foggiest idea why all these people decided to up and walk into the ocean.” …
“As always we caution that correlation does not necessarily show causation, but in this case it does seem the inciting incident was a presidential tweet sent out at 7:23 p.m. on Nov. 21,” said Kirsten Stevens Professor of Spontaneous Aquatic Ambulation Studies at the University of Innsbruck. “The sidewalks, highways, shorelines started filling up at 7:24. Sadly, we’ve yet to determine exactly what it was about this tweet that led to such an outsized reaction. To be honest, most of us around here are just happy to find our department so suddenly relevant. I guess this is what it felt like to be a Finnish forester last weekend.”
Robert Reich — The “rule of law” distinguishes democracies from dictatorships. It’s based on three fundamental principles. Trump is violating every one of them.The first is that no person is above the law, not even a president. …
The second principle of the rule of law is that a president cannot prosecute political opponents or critics. …
The third principle of the rule of law is that a president must be respectful of the independence of the judiciary.
As TC would say, the Reich on the left is right, although I much prefer the word ‘correct’ to avoid any ambiguity. Trump says the US is a nation of laws, but what he really means is that the US is a nation of laws of which he, and only he, approves. That sounds completely authoritarian or autocratic! Fascism has arrived in the US in the form of Donald J Trump, but it cannot be allowed to take hold! Click through for Reich’s reasoning. IMO, he is spot on!
DC Report.org — The New York Times disclosed on Tuesday night that Trump had told White House counsel Don McGahn in the spring that he wanted to order the Justice Department to prosecute Hillary Clinton and the former FBI director James B. Comey, said two people familiar with the conversation.
Apparently, it was only because McGahn warned Trump he could face impeachment for doing so that Trump backed off.
The most concerning part here is not the fate of Clinton or Comey, but the idea that Trump thinks ordering individual prosecutions by the Justice Department is perfectly normal. As The Times noted, “The encounter was one of the most blatant examples yet of how Trump views the typically independent Justice Department as a tool to be wielded against his political enemies. It took on additional significance in recent weeks when McGahn left the White House and Trump appointed a relatively inexperienced political loyalist, Matthew G. Whitaker, as the acting attorney general.”
Perhaps this is all tit-for-tat, another diversion from the special counsel investigation that Trump himself faces. If he could launch another special counsel against political opponents, perhaps he thinks he could blunt the effects of the all-things-Russia probe. Of course, the fatal flaw here is that the Justice Department, through Comey, has already spoken on the Clinton matters, and there is no evidence of any crime. Comey may have leaked a memo, but it was not classified material.
Trump views the typically independent Justice Department as a tool to be wielded against his political enemies.
Indeed, according to The Times’ sources, Trump has continued to privately discuss the possible prosecutions and has also repeatedly expressed disappointment in FBI Director Christopher A. Wray, for failing to more aggressively investigate Clinton, calling him weak.
In this first video, Ari Melber from MSMBC and his guests discuss Trump’s spat with Chief Justice John Roberts and his total disregard for an independent judiciary.
Ari: So you think there might be a corrupt approach to the turkey pardon?
Maya: I think the turkey is going to have to demonstrate that it will violate the constitution in order to save its life.
And don’t you know that Trump used the pardoning to go on a rant: (from Daily Kos)
Trump: “Even though Peas and Carrots have received a presidential pardon, I have warned them that House Democrats are likely to issue them both subpoenas. Nonetheless, in the spirit of Thanksgiving, I will be issuing both Peas and Carrots a presidential pardon. Unfortunately, I can’t guarantee that your pardons won’t be enjoined by the Ninth Circuit. Always happens. They guarantee it.”
In this second video, again Ari Melber talks with his guests about Trump trying to order an investigation into Hillary Clinton and James Comey, both of whom Trump considers political enemies.
Nick Ackerman, Former Watergate Assistant Prosecutor: “He [Trump] wants to go back to the time of the English kings where anything goes, and that’s where we’re headed.” Now that is so what I see too. Just look at the picture at DCReport.org. Priceless!
Former Senator Robert Torricelli, (D-NJ) in my opinion is a centrist Democrat, an older white male, too willing to see Trump as an inexperienced politician instead of the criminal he is. Yes I know I am speaking in absolutes because nothing has been proven in a court of law, but Trump continues ad nauseum to display his guilt. Also, let’s face it, as someone with no experience, Republicans should not have allowed Trump to stand as their candidate for president.
To me, the fact that Republicans continue to shield Trump and not make him accountable for his bull shit, makes them complicit in this sham administration.
Petition: (Daily Kos)
The Trump administration is brazenly attacking transgender people. In a recent leaked memo, the Department of Health and Human Services announced it would redefine gender to be strictly biological, based on genitalia. They are trying to erase trans people from existence. The policy would roll back decades of organizing victories for trans people and rescind Title IX protections for over 1.4 million people.
Sign the petition: Rescind the proposed attack on trans people. All LGBTQ+ communities deserve federal civil rights protections.
My Universe — 
I fell asleep at the keyboard . . .
. . . and I landed hard on the floor!
OUCH!!!
Resist the Republican Reich!!!
Posted to Care2 HERE
26 Responses to “Squatch’s Open Thread 24 November 2018”
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5:46 [4:41] That would have gone MUCH better with a little computer cooperation.
Maclean’s – My first thought was that Andy has started writing for Maclean’s. Also my second and third thought.
Reich – Of course Robert is correct. Even Chief Justice Roberts sees that, and got into a Twitter fight with him over it. Do I need to post a link? There are articles at Raw Story AND at AlterNet AND at Daily Kos.
DC Report – Easy to remember which turkey he accused. It wasn’t Peas. He LIKES pees – er, Peas. Sigh. Comey, BTW, has been subpoenaed by the House to testify in camera, and he is fighting it, saying he will only testify in a PUBLIC hearing. His attorney’s statement is noteworthy.
Universe – Well, that’s three of us who have confessed to falling asleep at the computer. My chair has strong arms which can keep me from falling but not from neck pain. Nameless didn’t say anything about copnsequences. Sorry you had an ouch.
Oh, and I don’t know how many times I’ve signed this, but I just did it again.
NEW INFO AS OF 6:30 pm PST SATURDAY
I heard back from a volunteer in the prison program TC worked with until his health precluded it, and she learned the hospital TC is in – it’s Providence Hospital. She also said that Wendy is also sick. (more prayers and vibes to send.)
It seems good to know of the hospital, not good to hear that Wendy is ill, too.
Thanks JD!
Prayers for both TC and Wendy!
I think Comey will stick to his guns about public testimony and he is correct to do so. Republicans are so good at BS and they will leak what they want after twisting it if the testimony is behind closed doors!
Thank you for taking action to protect trans civil liberties.
58,524 Signatures Collected
Thanx Lynn
Where is that petition?
Sorry, got it…signed it!
Ugh – Wendy is sick, too? Time to double the healing vibes!
Already signed the Daily Kos petition.
Rule of Law is always best – if a) the laws are beneficial and b) they are properly and consistently enforced.
Squatch, thanks again for keeping Politics Plus going while TomCat recovers!
She’s good at that, isn’t she.
Aye – that she is!
Awesome!
YVW! But this is a team effort.
Falling asleep at the qwerty has been a new (and pretty much enjoyable) experience for me.
So far, I’ve not landed on the floor. I suppose that’s something to look forward to.
(Still and all, growing old beats the options.)
So that is what a qwerty is . . . a keyboard. I wondered. Fortunately the ‘ouch’ wasn’t bad as I have lots of padding!
First of all, don’t even think of apologizing for skipping a day filling in for our dear TomCat, Lynn. We know how busy you are, and you’re a Sasquatch with less access to American news. You’re doing a fantastic job and I’m sure TomCat is grateful for it. I can assure you, I am.
Maclean’s: Satire worthy of Andy Borrowitz indeed. My first thought was “lemmings” too, Lynn, but the “capacity to feel shame”made me doubt that. Unless lemmings jump from a cliff out of shame, of course. But leaving this myth out of it altogether, it’s good to see so many Americans freeze their socks of on the northern shores just to repudiate that incredibly stupid (though credible for Drumpf) tweet, even only in satire.
Robert Reich: Robert is of course correct, but let’s not forget that Drumpf would fail on each of the three point were it not for the support of Republicans now and their long-term preparation for their Reich. They allow Drumpf to yield these powers for his own dictatorial benefit because it is their dictatorial benefit too and the only way for them to hang onto power as long as they did.
DCR: So typical Republican and so Drumpflike to project wrongdoings on innocent others. Drumpf has now instated two Justices in SCOTUS that are outspoken Drumpfians, and now illegally instated an equally outspoken Drumpfian to take over the DOJ, all to cover his own future a$$ and now he calls every judge that rules against him an Obama judge, which will soon be a honorary nickname, I guess. Pure projection, and Roberts is also very aware of that. Standing up to Drumpf is also a way of smoothing out things for himself too. He knows very well that every judgement based on 5 Republican votes on the one side and 4 Democrats on the other, will always be seen as biased by two Drumpfians, no matter how well he elucidates on the verdict. He can now never win a fair argument.
And from Congress not a peep, of course. Still supporting their great leader, no matter what. They just doggedly follow orders and subpoena Comey to testify. And he’ll fight it until January until the Democrats take the House, and it horrid commissions, back.
Petition: Two years ago I’d thought we’d seen the last of the LGBT petitions, but…sigh.
My Universe: You didn’t hurt yourself, did you, Lynn? Can’t have that happen, not with TomCat in hospital.
Thank you for your marvellous effort to keep the thread going in the meantime.
YVW! No I did not hurt myself. Fortunately the ‘ouch’ wasn’t bad as I have lots of padding!
Maclean’s: What a great article, she writes like Andy….but worthy in her own right! I hope to see more of her articles. I feel a sense of loss for the office of potus (ID)…..and what it used to be….
RR: Spot on, Mr. Reich! Thankfully, the Rule of Law is in place! Not one peep re: Ivanka’s emails….where’s the ‘lock her up!’ chant? that he spews forth at every rally?
DCR: Good videos. He (dt) thinks he’s omnipotent, lacks any experience, nor candor, and working towards being an autocrat. Scary times for each and every one of us. btw….I am glad for Mr. Kelley’s statement with regards to Mr. Comey being subpoenaed, who has stated that this should be an open hearing. thx, Joanne.
DK: Signed petition. again.
MU: Oh, no! Falling is nothing to scoff at, hope that you are okay, with no twisted or broken joints either. Take good care too, and also warm and healing wishes to Tom, as he recuperates in the hospital, and to WWWendy also. Get well soon! Rest & Recover.
Thank you, Lynn for post.
Y’all are doing a fantastic job at keeping up the page here, and for that, …I appreciate, and Thank you.
*This just in: “Trump came down harder on Jim Acosta for asking questions, than he did on Saudi Arabia for killing a journalist.” ~ Wayne A. ~
I get a kick out of these … samplers from the middle-ages .
I’m not sure what they should be called.
And I did bookmark the site you use to generate them that you so generously provided at Daily Kos:
https://htck.github.io/bayeux/#!/
Not everything translates well or is equally effective even when it does. I was striving for “First they came for the journalists. I have no idea what happened after that.” It took me a couple of tries to even get this close.
Of course no one is ever going to do any better than the one that starts “Behold the field … “
Amen to “This just in”!!! I read an article the other day that Acosta and other journalists have no intention of following the new rules laid down by the WH. I am with them!
Maclean’s: Donny boy had a thing about not saying the seven words (Transgender, Vulnerable, Diversity, Entitlement, Fetus, Evidence-based, Science-based), but those six words are why he’s afraid of these seven. Now, he’ll add another seven: “Do not go into the ocean today.”
Robert Reich: Never known him to be wrong yet, but these 3 points put it all so succinctly!! DT continues to play by Hitler’s script.
DC Report: Dumpy does not understand the concept of “independent” entity, does not understand the concept of boundaries (“Boundaries? What the hell are they about? There is no need for them, as there is nothing out there but me. If I think it, it exists, otherwise it does not. Like with global warming: I did not think it up, so it does not exist.) I do not know where Torricelli’s head is, though I can envision a certain cartoon figure TC likes to use, but “inexperienced politician,” is no our Donald baby; bigly experienced grifter, is!
DK: I think I signed the petition on-line, previously, but now it is unquestionably done.
My World: …and changed color, too! OUCH!
Oh, boundaries exist. how else would we know where to build the wall?
I was in the midst of having my hair coloured!
Thanks all! The next OT is up!