Open Thread–8/9/2011

Posted by TomCat at 2:27 am Open Thread, Plus, Politics

Aug 092011

Yesterday I caught up on some much needed sleep, scheduled medical appointments, and did housework. I slept through most of my early research time slot, so I’m running a bit behind this evening, but I am current with replies. On today’s schedule, I have paperwork, and a discussion with a software developer about a pre-release plugin for the blog.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 2:56 (average 4:43). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Think Progress: On July 11, Melissa Jordan called 911 saying her husband — state Sen. Kris Jordan (R-OH) — was pushing her around and throwing things. Sen. Jordan was quick to trivialize his wife’s complaint and throw the blame on her, explaining “She got a little upset. Girls do that.”

This is a perfect example of how Republican’s view women.

From Washington Post: Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) is expected to announce his presidential plans shortly after the Ames Straw Poll this coming weekend, and his supporters are already soliciting contributions for the campaign, according to an e-mail from a Perry supporter.

I think he’ll beat Mitt.

From Ground Report: This week, Koch funded tea bagger organizations rode into Wisconsin on the Tea Party Express III bus. Tea Party Nation founder Judson Phillips, writing on his website and speaking at tea bagger rallies, compared the grassroots citizens of Wisconsin that protested Governor Scott Walker’s union busting and educations slashing bills to Nazi “brownshirts” and “storm troopers”. In an article published this weekend, Mother Jones points out that another group on the Tea Bagger Express III tour, Patriot Action Network, called Wisconsin’s Service Employees International Union “Obama’s brownshirts”.

This bizzarre comparison between nurses and teachers that are peacefully protesting and fascist blackshirts and brownshirts has always been confusing to an English/History major like myself. The fact is, Nazism and Fascism are right-wing ideologies that have openly attacked socialists, unionists, and liberals. Much like the tea baggers that rode into Wisconsin this week on their brown bus. [emphasis added]

I guess Republicans can’t find enough local wing-nuts in Wisconsin to meet their needs.

Cartoon:

9Cartoon

Boehner Limp Again, McConnell Walks Away

Posted by TomCat at 12:04 am Plus

Jul 302011

After several false starts, the Boehner Bill finally passed the house without a single Democratic vote, not even from the most cowardly blue dog. But the Boehner Bill could not stand up to the first motion in the Senate to table it. Every Democrat and six Republicans voted it down. Based on the way he was talking earlier in the week, I had hoped in vain that Mitch McConnell (R-KY) might be reasonable in the eleventh hour. He announced that he will filibuster the Reid plan, and he refused to negotiate with Reid. Here’s more.

The Senate voted Friday evening to reject Speaker John A. Boehner’s debt-ceiling plan just hours after it moved through the House, setting up a dramatic weekend of negotiations as Congress works to stave off a potential federal default.

The Senate tally was 59-41 on the motion to table the House plan, including some Republican votes.

Even as leaders from both parties engage in frenetic talks on the way forward, the House will hold yet another symbolic vote. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor announced the chamber plans to hold a vote on legislation that closely mirrors Reid’s plan, planning to kill it even before the Senate can adopt it… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <LA Times>

As of the time I collected ,my sources, which six Republicans broke ranks was not yet posted.

Lawrence O’Donnell provides more detail in two segments, the first with Kent Conrad (D-SD).

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Now Conrad is a terrible DINO, but in this instance he’s right. Lawrence continues with Ezra Klein and Jay Newton-Small.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

So here we are. Democrats could not have done more to reach a compromise, going so far that the progressive base is livid. But in their mindless lust to transfer the rest of the nation’s wealth to millionaires, billionaires and corporate criminals, and to establish a permanent one-party dictatorship, Republicans sowed the wind of InsaniTEA. I fear we may all reap the whirlwind.

Test Your Knowledge: Civic Literacy Exam

Posted by TomCat at 12:51 am Plus, Politics

Jul 112011

Since yesterday was a slow day for news I decided to share this online test from the Intercollegiate Studies Institute (ISI) with you. It is quite challenging. If you score 50% you’re slightly above average for US citizens, and well above the average of US politicians. Although they are “non-partisan”, their outlook and most of their leadership appear quite conservative, lest any accuse that the test is liberally biased. Enjoy giving it a try.

Full Civic Literacy Exam (from our 2008 survey)

Are you more knowledgeable than the average citizen? The average score for all 2,508 Americans taking the following test was 49%; college educators scored 55%. Can you do better? Questions were drawn from past ISI surveys, as well as other nationally recognized exams.

Inserted from <ISI>

Click here to take the test.

How did you do? Here are my results.

You answered 33 out of 33 correctly — 100.00 %
If you have any comments or questions about the quiz, please email americancivicliteracy@isi.org.
You can consult the following table to see how citizens and elected officials scored on each question.

I guess all those hours of research paid off. The table is particularly interesting.

Open Thread–7/10/2011

Posted by TomCat at 1:58 am Open Thread, Personal, Plus

Jul 102011

Yesterday was a busy day for me. I’m running a bit of a sleep deficit, because I cut my morning sleep short to run errands and started my evening sleep late to do the radio show. I’m current on replies to lots of comments. Today I have more errands to run and Zzzzzzs to catch.

Blog Talk Radio:

Yesterday Fred and Jed interviewed me on their radio show. I had a fine time and thank them for the opportunity. If you would like to hear the interview, you can at Fred and Jed.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 3:27 (average 4:58). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From NY Times: The House is scheduled to vote this week on a daft and destructive measure that — in the name of individual freedom — would repeal national energy efficiency standards for light bulbs enacted by Congress in 2007. Though utterly without merit, the bill stands a fighting chance in a legislative body where ideology now routinely trumps common sense.

The standards save an average of $200 per household per year.

From Think Progress: Three unnamed top U.S. officials told the New York Times that the U.S. intends to cut or suspend hundreds of millions of dollars of aid to Pakistan, underscoring a shifting administration view that the troubled nation is an unreliable counter-terror parter. The aid in question encompasses equipment, training, reimbursements for activities on the Afghan border, and direct security aid.

Finally! We have paid for an enemy for too long.

From Washington Post: A socially conservative group has apologized for including a passage about slavery in a pledge it asked the Republican candidates to sign as a prerequisite for the group’s endorsement in the presidential race.

No comparable apology has come from Batsh*t Bachmann, who wholeheartedly endorsed the offending passage at the same time she signed the pledge.

Cartoon:

10Cartoon

Happy Independence Day

Posted by TomCat at 2:52 am Editorial, Personal, Plus, Politics

Jul 042011

4th of July

While leaving the constitutional convention in 1787, a passerby asked Ben Franklin whether the new government would be a Republic or a Monarchy. “A Republic, if you can keep it,” was Franklin’s famous reply. His words echo across the centuries. Can we keep it? There have been many challenges to our great republic over the years, but never since the civil war have the foundations of our republic been so shaken as they are today.

The threat comes from the Republican Party, their criminal corporate cronies, and a handful of DINOs that goose step behind the Republican leadership in betrayal of America. They would transform America from a democratic republic into a fascist corporate plutocracy, a regime of one-party Republican rule.

Every 4th of July, I make it a point to reread the Declaration of Independence. Every 4th of July, I cannot help but notice how many of our founding fathers’ grievances against King George still fit Republican policies.

Can we keep it? That’s up to you and I. I see it as a two step process. Admittedly the Democratic Party is a swamp, but doing anything about it is very difficult, as long as it is infested with vicious Republican alligators. Therefore step one has to be pest control. Exterminate the alligators (politically speaking, only). The Republican Party must follow the Whigs into political oblivion. Then it will be time to drain the swamp in step two.

I wish you all a happy Independence Day, rich in all the blessings you deserve.

Politics Plus Fantasy Football

Posted by TomCat at 1:28 am Plus

Jun 272011

LeftyBlogFriends

Being a devout adherent of the Church of the Ellipsoid Orb, I intend to manage another fantasy football league this year. The league is Lefty Blog Friends and will be at NFL.com. Two spots are full, so there are eight openings. It’s a keeper league, so those who choose to stay in it next year will be able to hang onto a key player. There will be a live draft on Saturday, September 3, at 11 AM Pacific Daylight time (2 PM EDT). There is no charge to play. Ladies are welcome. In fact a woman won three years ago. Republicans, Teabaggers, etc., are NOT welcome. This is a place for lefties to relax.

One of the sites where I intend to share this has an infestation of insaniTEA, so I won’t be sharing the league ID and password here. If you want to play, email me: tomcat@politicsplus.org. Let me know your ID at the site where you saw the notice where you saw the notice or the name you use here at PP, and I’ll email you the league ID and password. First come, first served.

Bill Maher: New Rules 6/24/2011

Posted by TomCat at 1:24 am Plus, Politics

Jun 272011

Maher

I had to look harder than normal for this week’s New Rules, but I was able to find a source. Bill, in his normal irreverent way, has some fun with Bristol Palin’s revelations and Republican “family values”. Enjoy.

Bill will be off next week.

A Fathers Day Surprise

Posted by TomCat at 12:51 am Plus

Jun 192011

TomCat: “It wasn’t me! I did not have sexual relations with that dawg.”

Happy Fathers Day!

Older Entries Newer Entries

BIG Mouth Awards

Every 1,000th Comment
20 – Infidel – 7/6/2011
21 – SoINeedAName – 7/25/2011
22 – SoINeedAName – 8/17/2011
23 – Maria – 9/7/2011
24 – Phyllis – 9/29/2011
25 – Tom – 10/22/2011
26 – Lynn Squance – 11/25/2011
27 – Deborah – 12/29/2011
28 – Patty – 1/19/2012
29 – Lynn Squance – 2/8/2012
30 – Jolly Roger – 3/8/2012
31 – Patty – 5/4/2012
32 – Marva Dasef – 6/8/2012
33 – Patty – 7/8//2012
34 – Edith Belcher – 8/12//2012
35 – Patty – 9/17/2012
36 – Tasunka – 10/12/2012
37 – Lynn Squance – 11/6/2012
38 – SoINeedAName – 11/29/2012
39 – Lynn Squance – 1/11/2013
40 – Lynn Squance – 2/17/2013
41 – Patty – 3/23/2013
42 – Edith Belcher – 5/29/2013
43 – Jim Phillips – 6/29/2013
44 – Patty – 7/27/2013
45- Lynn Squance – 8/21/2013
46 – Rixar13 – 9/12/2013
47 – Rixar13 – 10/4/2013
48- Lynn Squance – 10/25/2013
49 – Patty – 11/27/2013
50 – Lynn Squance – 1/13/2014
51 – Patty – 3/7/2014
52 – Yvonne White – 4/16/2014
53 – Edie – 5/20/2014
54 – Jerry Critter – 6/23/2014
55 – Lynn Squance – 7/29/2014
56 – Joanne D – 9/5/2014
57 – Patty – 10/19/2014
58 – Arielle – 11/16/2014
59 – Pat A – 12/26/2014
60 – SoINeedAName – 1/24/2015
61 – Lynn Squance – 2/18/2015
62 – Joanne D – 3/21/2015
63 – Vivian B – 4/23/2015
64 – Joanne D – 5/23/2015
65 – Yvonne White – 6/22/2015
66 – SoINeedAName – 7/16/2015
67 – Lona Goudswaard – 8/6/2015
68 – Mamabear – 8/25/2015
72 – Judi Angell – 11/27/2015
74 – Judi Angell – 1/18/2016
75 – Jerry Critter – 1/2/2016
76 – Lona Goudswaard – 3/11/2016
77 – Lona Goudswaard – 4/4/2016
78 – Pat B – 5/5/2016
79 – Mitch D – 6/5/2016
80 – Joanne D – 7/3/2016
81 – Lona Goudswaard – 7/30/2016
82 – Mitch D – 9/2/2016
83 – Joanne D – 10/6/2016
84 – Pat A – 11/10/2016
85 – Pat B – 12/11/2016
86 – Pat A – 1/14/2017
87 – Lynn Squance – 2/18/2017
88 – Vivian Birdwell – 4/5/2017
89 – Vivian Birdwell – 5/16/2017
90 – Lona Goudswaard – 6/23/2017
91 – SoINeedAName – 7/30/2017
92 – Joanne D – 9/4/2017
93 – Pat B – 10/12/2017
94 – SoINeedAName – 11/20/2017
95 – Jerry Critter – 12/31/2017
96 – Joanne D – 2/12/2018
97 – Pat B – 3/27/2018
98 – Richard A – 5/5/2018
99 – Lynn Squance – 6/12/2018
100 – Mitch D – 7/20/2018
101 – Pat B – 8/30/2018
102 – Pat B – 10/5/2018
103 – Joanne D – 11/9/2018
104 – Animae – 12/18/2018
105 – Animae – 1/25/2019
106 – Colleen – 3/2/2019
107 – Joanne D – 4/11/2019
108 – Animae – 6/1/2019
109 – Pat B – 8/9/2019
110- Angelflowers – 09/20/2019
111 – Colleen – 11/5/2019
112 – Pat B – 12/25/2019
113 – None – My Bad
114 – Pat B – 3/24/2020
115 – Freya – 5/24/2020
116 – JL – 7/4/2020
117 – Colleen – 8/13/2020