Yesterday I did some housework and rested. It was not a particularly hot day, but it was so humid and sticky as to prevent sleep, so I am feeling quite tired. I am current on replies. Tomorrow’s schedule is open.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today it took me 3:51 (average 5:04). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From The Examiner: The death of Kelly Thomas, the 37-year old Fullerton, California resident described as a gentle, homeless, "gravely" mentally disabled young man, who cried for his father as six police hog-tied, repeatedly tazed, and beat him to death, reported and posted on Youtube by CNN Thursday, is increasing outrage across the nation, part of the aim of a new citizen human rights defenders group demonstrating compassion in an internet campaign. Chalked up as lack of police training according to The Washington Post Friday, the police department put the six officers on administrative leave, the FBI and district attorney’s office are investigating, and California residents are protesting Saturday morning at 8:00 at the police station.
I found the CNN report posted on You Tube, which cannot be embedded, shocking and disturbing.
From CNN: Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner is staying put, the Obama administration announced Sunday.
"Secretary Geithner has let the president know that he plans to stay on in his position at Treasury," a Treasury spokeswoman said in a statement.
He now plans to stay on through the 2012 election. I’m sorry to be the bearer of such bad news.
From Salon: During the last two weeks, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, by most accounts on the brink of a presidential candidacy, has reversed himself on the question of the proper venue for dealing with the two of the hoariest cultural issues in American politics, same-sex marriage and abortion.
First, at a Republican governors meeting on July 22, he referred [Faux Noise delinked] to the recent decision by the New York legislature to legalize gay marriage as something that was "fine with me," and said further: "That is their call. If you believe in the 10th Amendment, stay out of their business." But then, in a matter of days, he was performing what can only be described as a public act of penance on Christian right potentate Tony Perkins’ radio show, trumpeting his support for a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage nationally.
For tenthers, everything should be up to the states, except for what they want not to be. What a hypocrite.
Cartoon:
25 Responses to “Open Thread–8/8/2011”
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I doubt it, but just in case I wanted to note the passing of Mark O. Hatfield, the former Republican governor and senator from Oregon. He died on Sunday night at the age of 89.
There actually was a time when there were progressive, or at least moderate, Republicans – and I’m old enough to remember quite a few from this list, including Mark Hatfield:
John B. Anderson — U.S. representative from Illinois, 3rd party candidate for President, 1980
Edward W. Brooke — U.S. senator from Massachusetts
John H. Chafee — U.S. senator from Rhode Island
Lincoln D. Chafee — U.S. senator from Rhode Island
William S. Cohen — U.S. senator from Maine; secretary of defense
Mark O. Hatfield — Governor of Oregon, U.S. senator from Oregon
John Heinz — U.S. senator from Pennsylvania
Jacob K. Javits — U.S. senator from New York
Jim Jeffords — U.S. senator from Vermont
Robert M. La Follette, Jr. — U.S. senator from Wisconsin
Robert M. La Follette, Sr. — governor of Wisconsin and U.S. senator from Wisconsin
Fiorello H. LaGuardia — New York City mayor
John V. Lindsay — U.S. representative from New York, New York City mayor
Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. — U.S. senator from Massachusetts
Charles Mathias — U.S. senator from Maryland
Thomas L. McCall — Governor of Oregon
Wayne L. Morse — U.S. senator from Oregon
Robert W. Packwood – U.S. senator from Oregon
Nelson A. Rockefeller — Governor of New York, Vice President of the United States.
Theodore Roosevelt — President of the United States
Chris Shays — U.S. representative from Connecticut
William W. Scranton — Governor of Pennsylvania
Margaret Chase Smith — U.S. senator from Maine
James R. “Big Jim” Thompson — Governor of Illinois
Earl Warren — Governor of California and Chief Justice of the United States
Lowell P. Weicker Jr. — U.S. senator from Connecticut, Governor of Connecticut
“I am a man of fixed and unbending principles, the first of which is to be flexible at all times.”~~
Everett Dirksen, R, Illinois.
Thank you! How could I have forgotten Sen. Dirksen – my own home state Senator and world-class orator. Maybe best known (although now commonly misquoted as “a billion”) for this gem:
“[Think these are just] drops in the bucket? … A million here, a million there, and pretty soon you’re talking about real money.”
…….but he had a lot of common sense didn’t he. I agree with your list. Those are all better than those we have now. All the tea party people collectively don’t make a pimple on any of these! 👿
That’s an impressive list. I loved Lincoln Chafee – go for him for being governor. He was the last of the moderate repubs.
Once upon a time, there were Republicans for whom I voted and would do so again, including Mark Hatfield. The demise of the old Republican Party must have been very hard on him.
thanks “so i need a name” – how nostalgic!
I was shocked to see that video of the Fullerton resident – the “after” shot clearly showed police brutallity at its worst! I hope some justice is done-obviously as an atheist I don’t think “penance” is an appealing word!
What’s the Geithner mystique any way?
Lee, Geithner’s mystique is that Wall Street likes him.
5.25 🙂
You almost hit the average. 🙂
4:39 I am 71 out of 220 (323).
Jerry, today, I’m afraid you’re toast.
The beating of that homeless man was thoroughly unjustified. I hope they charge those officers with murder and send them away for life. 😡
As do I.
Ugg – Geithner for four more years. I can think of 10 people off the top of my head that are more qualified. Now we are stuck with this dumass. Yuck! 😡
I agree!
I only need to think of one. Warren.
Perry, who hasn’t even declared yet will get his ass beaten by Obama. He’s crowing to the religious nuts (he can have them) which will kill Bachmann’s chances (Thank God). 20% is not an election win. 😉
That’s only if this extremism isn’t hidden from voters.
A perfect sign for church! 😆
Thanks!
I think I went to singles nite at that church. All the ladies were sour look’n, wanted to argue and kept try’n to make me drink unsweetened tea! 👿
LOL!
Here (from Stonekettle Station) is a great commentary/satire post about Perry. It applies equally to all religious fanatics who pray (or is it prey) for divine intervention.
Thanks, Jerry. Excellent link.