Yesterday, I was so out of it that I forgot to upload the Open Thread to the site. Fortunately, I received an unexpected phone call from a friend, who shall remain nameless, to check on me. Today is a high holy day in the Church of the Ellipsoid Orb, but I slept through yesterday’s meditations. :-( I’m current with replies. We’ll see what tomorrow brings.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 4:03 (average 4:42). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From Maddow Blog: I feel like I hear this from GOP lawmakers fairly regularly: they keep creating crises, on purpose, because they’re eager for an epic fight over "the direction and the vision of this country." At a certain level, that’s understandable — in a democracy, these fights over the future can be healthy and necessary.
But what Graham and too many of his allies seem to forget is that we already had "one hell of a contest about the direction and the vision of this country."
It was a little something called "the 2012 election cycle," and though Graham may not have liked the results, his side lost…
…But wait, Republicans say, didn’t the electorate also elect a right-wing House majority? To a certain extent, yes, but in raw vote totals, Americans cast 1.362 million more votes for Democratic House candidates than GOP House candidates, which hardly points to a powerful Republican mandate.
We had an epic fight, and one side won. To pretend the election didn’t happen, and then say it’s time for another epic fight that disregards the will of American voters, is bad for the country — and for democracy.
I have little to add, except that Steve Benin could not be more spot on here.
From The Guardian: Why Paul Krugman should be President Obama’s pick for US treasury secretary.
Not only is he the world’s best-known economist, Krugman has the intellect and integrity to resist Wall Street’s calls for austerity.
President Obama hasn’t picked a treasury secretary yet for his second term, so he has a chance to do something different.
He could ignore what Wall Street and conservative media interests want and pick somebody who would represent what the electorate voted for.
Now who is that infamous fellow who has been suggesting that very thing since Obama’s error in picking Timmy the Tool? That’s right! It is I.
From MSNBC: Alan Grayson on the Debt Ceiling and the 113th Congress
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Grayson’s return is a breath of fresh air. Like Dennis Kucinich, he knows no fear when it comes to speaking his mind. Unlike Dennis, I don’t think Alan would ever be so foolhardy as to chose that phony, racist misanthropic gnome, Ron Paul, as a running mate. Welcome back Alan. Good riddance Ron.
Cartoon:
17 Responses to “Open Thread–1/6/2013”
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
3:56 I think this sailor has had one too many! . . . bricks that is.
3:21 Will I earn my Monster-ship back with the barge?
3:33 Yes, Patty, you have earned your Monster-ship back…dang-it!
Welcome back, Alan. The wingnuts loves to ridicule Grayson which means he must be right. Ridicule is the only weapon they have against truth!
Monstered and last! 🙁
"…unexpected phone call from a friend, who shall remain nameless, to check on me." — Ma Bell would be happy! Thanks to your nameless friend!
Puzzle — 3:56 I think this sailor has had one too many! . . . bricks that is.
Maddow Blog — Would we still be having this discussion had the Republican?teabaggers not gerrymandered some constituencies like they did? Lindsey Graham, and all other likeminded Republican/Teabaggers, needs to get his mind out of the election cycle, accept defeat, and get about the business of governing the country. "Idiotology" has no place in the serious business of governing a large country. You lost! Get over it!
The Guardian — Paul Krugman, an excellent choice for Treasury Secretary — for the people, of the people and by the people. The US needs a Treasury Secretary who supports policy that fosters development for the middle and lower classes not the top 1% and Wall Street investors. Danny Glover's petition signed. Hope everybody else will sign it — the link is in the Guardian article near the end.
MSNBC — I look forward to hearing more of and from Alan Grayson. But who is that interviewer on 'The Place for Politics'? What a rude dope! Near the end, in response to Grayson saying he was going to do his best, this knob said words to the effect of 'I sure hope so.' Maybe I'm thin skinned, but I found that offensive.
Cartoon — Domestic terrorists! Where's the law when you need them?!
Amen!
Three sheets to the wind.
Sure we would. Had Obama won all 50 states, Republicans would still claim a mandate.
Thanks.
I think he's a fill-in for the rfewgulart weekend guy. I watched anotgher clip of him this morning and he was equally rude.
Hijacked.
Maddow Blog ~ They have tunnel vision for this country. They want us to go into the tunnel and they will seal it up wit all their cockamamie draconian idea(l)s.
The Guardian ~ Krugman would be perfect! Maybe you should suggest it to our President. Do you think he would listen?
I also signe dDanny Glover's petition at the end of the article. Thanks for mentioning it, Lynn. I hope everyone takes your advice and clicks through.
MSNBC ~ Alan Grayson is a welcome addition to Washington. I don't think the RepublicanTs will be so welcoming though. He tells it like it is which doesn't make him many friends "on the other side of the aisle".
Cartoon ~ Indeed !!!
Amen!
I already have… several times.
They hate him with a green and purple passion!
Thanks!
“Elections Have Consequences”
Or at least they should. But what a difference a letter makes.
By just changing the letter from an “R” to “D” behind the person in the White House apparently made the Wall Street Journal decide that Bush's 2.4% winning margin back in 2004 was enough to become a MANDATE:
But Pres. Obama’s rare feat of obtaining more than 51% of the popular vote, providing him a 3.85% winning margin over Rmoney, made WSJ conclude that …
Combine Obama’s virtual landslide margins with the 10 MILLION plus popular vote margin of Democrats over Repubicans in the Senate, and 1.3 plus MILLION Democrat popular vote margin in the House, it’s clear mandate that our country endorses Democrats and their policies.
(But we all know that math was never a strong suit for Repubicans.)
So a note to Pres. Obama and all Democrats: The American people gave you a clear mandate to lead our nation – so USE IT!
Amen! Nameless. AMEN!!!!!
I hope the president and democrats use their mandate well.
Amen, Nameless, but Republicans are great at math as long as 2 + 2 = 3 and 2 + 2 = 5.
I hope everyone will sign actor Danny Glover's petition to Mr Obama telling him to nominate Paul Krugman as Secretary of the Treasury. What a fabulous choice! Here is the link to the petition.
http://signon.org/sign/nominate-paul-krugman?source=c.url&r_by=1135580
When I signed earlier today, I was about #7,115 on a goal of 7,500. Since then the target was moved to 125,000 and the current count is 136,000 on a 150,000 goal. We need to keep pushing so that Mr Obama knows who we think would give the best counsel to Mr Obama. And hey, this isn't just a US issue. This is a global issue. There are signatures from all around the world. So let's help Danny Glover get the message out. I have also published this on Care2.
Thanks for signing everyone!
signed!
I did. Thanks for posting the link.
Excellent!
Loved the cartoon. I hope you are feeling better, glad your friend woke you.
Thanks Edie.