It’s a very cold day here in the CatBox, and it will likely stay that way, at least through the weekend. It’s almost 20° below average. I want to crawl under my covers and hunker down.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 3:45 (average 5:25). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From YouTube (Robert Reich Channel): Robert Reich: A Bold New Idea to Boost Wages
The Reich on the left, Robert Reich, is right, but one more provision is needed to benefit the disabled/retired poor: an Unearned Income Tax Credit. No American should have to live in poverty, when billionaires get welfare. RESIST!!
From YouTube (MSNBC Channel): Elizabeth Warren Talks 2020 Campaign With Chris Hayes
I touched on this yesterday, but she explains it far better than I could have. Anti-corruption would be a great place to start. RESIST!!
From Daily Kos: …J. Beauregard Sessions was a legitimate threat to America’s secular government as Trump’s attorney general, but his theocratic aspirations paled in comparison to Trump’s latest theocratic cabinet member – a conservative Catholic malcontent who is unlikely to ever defend the U.S. Constitution because it is a secular document. It is noteworthy that Sessions only stated that, according to his mind, the separation of church and state in the Constitution is a concept that is unconstitutional. However, his replacement ardently believes that America’s government is duty-bound to enforce god’s laws because there is no place for secularism.
In a 1995 essay, Barr expressed the extremist Christian view that “American government should not be secular;” secularism is an abomination in Barr’s theocratic mind despite the law of the land is unmistakably secular. Furthermore, Barr contends America’s government is supposed to be imposing “a transcendent moral order with objective standards of right and wrong that flows from God’s eternal law;” eternal law best dictated by the Vatican and taught in public schools at taxpayer’s expense.
It is true that as attorney general William Barr will defend Trump’s criminality and corruption; it is one of the only reasons Trump nominated him. However, the real danger to the nation is Barr’s belief that the government’s primary function should be defending and enforcing his god’s moral edicts while ardently opposing any legislative branch effort to make secular laws according to the secular Constitution…
Beware the evil of Republican Supply-side pseudo-Christians, like Barr and Pence. They are the exact opposite of real Christians. RESIST!!
Cartoon:
16 Responses to “Open Thread – 2/26/2019”
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RR: Excellent, and great ideas, passing this one on. I'm all in for assisting our disabled/retired poor also!!
MSNBC: Like Ms. Warren's 'Can Do' attitude !! 'Make this democracy work for everyone'. Well said.
DK: Gulp! Not good news. At. All.
Cartoon: Of course!
Boy, you're sure having a winter this year! It's raining and cold here, but not like your temps. I hope that you stay nice and warm. Enjoy the rest of your day and evening, take care, and Thanks, Tom.
*This just in: "America must be the only country in the world where a President can use victims killed by illegal immigrants to justify border control, but not use victims in mass shootings to justify gun control."
~ stu cam ~
4:24 Ouch.
Gee – Feast or famine on temperature where you are. Sorry – do stay warm.
RR – I'm in the unearned category myself and pay no Federal or State income tax. (My taxable unearned income is always less than my standard deductions, whether under 2017 or 2018 deduction rules.) I can easily see half of Republicans objecting to a "UITC" on the gounds that people whoaren't earning (working) shouldn't get any kind of credit, and the other half embracing it because it would imply that Social Security and Mericare are not EARNED benefits and therefore are subject to being cut. Yeah,I know, they want to cut regardless, but citing progressive terminology to strengthen their case is something we probably don't want to give them. That does not mean I wouldn't welcome it; only that I think the framing needs work.
Chris/Liz – And if anyone doubted that she is calling small donors personally, there are witnesses.
DKos – Someone has come up with a phrase for this – "weaponized religion." I gather some right-thinking people are trying to get the hashtag #WeaponizedReligion to catch on. Pass it on.
Cartoon – I am so glad I retired when I did. Increasingly, the only jobs which remain are in retail sales. I am SO BAD at sales – if I tried to sell a heater to an Imuit, he or she would not be able to turn me down fast enough (maybe thinking I wanted to melt their home? I don't know. I'm just really, really BAD at it.) I know I am not the only person in the world who is bad at this either. My heart goes oout to anyone and everyone trapped in this.
RESIST AND PERSIST !!!
Addendum: Sacre merde! ¡Santa mierda! Holy – well, you know – can you believe a REPUBLICAN said this?
“There is no intellectual honesty in now turning around and arguing that there’s an imaginary asterisk attached to executive overreach — that it’s acceptable for my party but not thy party.”
Senator thom Tillis, R, NC
Do you suppose someone spiked his Kool-Aid with truth serum?
Better change the text a bit on the graphic — should read "fundamentalist Christian churches". Lord knows, with the Republican Reich, there are no other types of churches . . . Christian only, or should I say "fundamentalist pseudo Christian churches"!
See my response on the lead article.
RRC: That makes so much economic sense. Which is precisely why Rethuglicans and their snools will vigorously oppose it.
Barr is NOT fit to be Attorney General if he thinks that our government should not be secular! If religious bugnuts ever truly gain control of this country, if they completely dominate Washington, the entire world is in deep merde.
Cartoon: That is precisely where Big Business creates the most jobs – where wages are at rock bottom and protections for workers are minimal, if they exist at all.
Income inequality is one of the most serious probablems facing America. And Twitler & his Rethuglicans knew exactly what they were doing w/ their "tax cut" in order to exacerbate the problem – it was NEVER intended to help middle class working folks!
One of the reasons I like Sen. Warren so much is her dedication to correct that problem – and she brings the necessary wonkiness to do it!
RR: Shameful hearing truthful information of how the rich are getting away with all of the benefits. Agree that you that they need to pass a law to help disabled/retired people.
MSNBC: Great video. Elizabeth ..what a nice breathe of fresh air listening to her. She's for the people. Something we certainly have been lacking.
DK: Sick of hearing about religion being mixed with politics. Not wise at all.
Agree with Freya that BARR isn't fit to be Attorney General.
Cartoon: And it still continues. Big corporations moving overseas to be able to pay low or no tax, plus paying low wages. Must be stopped.
Keep warm. It's supposedly not going to warm up till next week.
EITC, brilliant & Robert Reich is as usual, RIGHT!
But i'm not holding my breath for it to be expanded while the swamp-rats are in your W.H.!
Isn't what Elizabeth Warren is suggesting, what Bernie Sanders already does?
Yes. That why I said took the trail Bernie blazed, when I touched on it the day before yesterday.
She still deserves much credit for taking the path, It's lonely there.
Robert Reich: For President!
MSNBC: Plain talking, simple, and wonderful!
DK: I saw an article, earlier today, about a Republican apologizing for standing by as the party was taken over by religious fundamentalists. Well, here we have the latest iteration of the danger! As Christopher Hitchens said, "Religion spoils everything!" And St. Reagan opened the door, wide, for them.
RR: He always makes so much sense. I wish he would run for president.
MSNBC: I love Elizabeth Warren. She is plain spoken and that is good for Democrats because she can easily make sense to the less educated voters.
DK: Man! The orange ogre is filling important positions with really scary far right crazies .
Thank you TomCat. Stay warm. Hopefully spring will come to you soon.
Puzzle — 3:46 Well you obviously got the point Puddy Tat! Did it hurt your little paw paws?
Robert Reich — As usual, Reich is spot on! Your comment — "…one more provision is needed to benefit the disabled/retired poor: an Unearned Income Tax Credit." is something that I have been thinking about here. For seniors and the disabled, especially in large centres like Metro Vancouver and Toronto where the cost of living is so high, incomes are insufficient to adequately cover monthly expenses.
MSNBC — Amen Elizabeth Warren.
Daily Kos — "…real danger to the nation is Barr’s belief that the government’s primary function should be defending and enforcing his god’s moral edicts while ardently opposing any legislative branch effort to make secular laws according to the secular Constitution…" — Some people who claim to be Christians are anything but! People do not need to be religious of any kind, including Christian, to know the difference between right and wrong, to have compassion and respect for all. Based on the right wing evangelical pseudo Christians, their religion has certainly not helped them with these qualities.
Cartoon — Sounds about right.
Our teps are substantially below normal too and are likely to stay that way for the next week. Weather has been sunny the past few days but we may have a bit more snow. It sounds like you are now getting what we had. Hunkering down under the blankets is sooooooooooooooooo comfy! Enjoy it! My Annie loves being under the blankets — specifically my blanket! The next 2 days are very busy for me so I will possibly be late or non existent.
3:27 Our TomCat didn't hurt his paws, but I sure did.
RR: If I understand your remark correctly, TomCat, the Earned Income Tax credit should expand not only amount-wise and cap-wise but also be reformed into a Income Tax credit in general, i.e. for those people who do not work, but have some form of income (social benefit, pension or whatever) they have to pay taxes on. Excellent idea if any loophole is closed which benefits the rich, e.g. income from dividend.
MSNBC: Elizabeth Warren is spot on with her campaign strategy. Not only is she no longer indebted to a few rich donors who buy their influence with campaign contributions, but she also gets up close with her small donors, has to listen to what they have to say but also builds up familiarity on bth sides. And that familiarity with grass roots will make a lot of people campaign for her. Not only because of her good ideas, but also because she has spent some time, if only moments, to make personal contact. So much better than the random, gratuitous baby-kissing of many others.
DK: Please tell me this article is a hoax. You are kidding, right? Right?! ?
Sorry to hear you're so cold in your new apartment, TomCat. Here it's 20°C again today.
Thanks and frigid hugs.
My paws are fine. That puzzle is toilet paper for Republicans.