Open thread–2/23/2020

Posted by TomCat at 8:42 am Open Thread, Politics

Feb 232020

It’s a very busy day, here in the CatBox. WWWendy worked late at her night job, so she’ll be a bit late today. We have a ton of stuff to do. Happy Sunday.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:24 (average 5:27). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Short Takes:

From YouTube (MSNBC Channel): Sen. Bernie Sanders Is The Projected Winner Of The Nevada Democratic Caucus

Kudos to Bernie, and sad condolences to Liz! I’ll post the delegates total, when Nevada is done counting. RESIST!!

From YouTube (CNN Channel): Anderson Cooper on Rod Blagojevich claim: Just nuts

Blago comparing himself to Nelson Mandela is like comparing a steaming pile of shit to a Rose. Blago is calling himself a ‘Trumpocrat’. He’s no kind of …crat. The way he talks and acts, he’s an dishonorary Republican, like that other famous Illinois political criminal: Chicago’s Mayor Richard Daley. RESIST!!

Also from YouTube (CNN Channel): Warren insults Bloomberg after Nevada caucuses

While her candidacy is in deep doo doo, we owe Liz a major debt of gratitude for exposing Bloomberg to America. Her insults are far less than he deserves. RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past): The Mamas And The Papas – California Dreamin’. Audio Gold Song ful HD.mp4

Ah… the memories! RESIST!!

Vote Blue!!

Is Bernie Russia’s Choice?

Posted by TomCat at 9:56 am Politics

Feb 222020

To avoid any misunderstanding, my answer is an unequivocal “NO!” Nevertheless the propaganda mavens and liars, who speak for the Republican Reich, are crowing that Russia is getting involved in the 2020 election to help Bernie Sanders, not their own criminal Fuhrer, Donald Trump*, based on the following.

Russia has been trying to intervene in the Democratic primaries to aid Senator Bernie Sanders, according to people familiar with the matter, and Mr. Sanders said on Friday that intelligence officials recently briefed him.

The disclosure came a day before the Nevada caucuses, where Mr. Sanders is a favorite, and followed revelations a day earlier that Moscow was interfering on President Trump’s behalf this year, as it did in 2016.

Mr. Sanders denounced Russia in a statement, calling President Vladimir V. Putin an “autocratic thug” and warning Moscow to stay out of the election. Drawing a contrast with Mr. Trump, he said he would stand against any efforts by Russia or another foreign power to interfere in the vote…. [emphasis added]

Inserted from <NY Times>

Here is more of Bernie’s response.

Officials tell Sanders Russia is trying to help his campaign

Although Republicans are blaming Bernie for not coming forward with this information a month age, remember that intelligence briefings to presidential candidates are classified and may not be divulged.

So why is Putin [R-RU] trying to help Bernie? The obvious answer is that he’s trying to move voters away from moderate candidates, because it’s easier to hand the election to Trump*, if he’s running against a progressive. I think the obvious answer, like the common wisdom it reflects, is wrong, because Putin knows that the publicity surrounding Russian help will really hurt Bernie. That’s what Putin is trying to do.

Putin appearing to help Trump doesn’t hurt Trump, because Republicans, lacking in ethics, drool for Russian help. But Democrats, who are far more ethical, object to Russian interference, so it hurts any candidate that appears to receive it. So the real question is this. Why is Putin trying to hurt Bernie?

Putin is afraid to have his puppet run against a progressive, who can excite and motivate voters to turn out. He thinks he can steal the White House from an establishment Democrat, like he did from Hillary. Since Putin wants Trump to run against an establishment Democrat, and Bernie is the progressive front runner, he’s pretending to support Bernie. If Liz were the progressive front runner, we’d be having this discussion about her.

RESIST!!

Open Thread–2/21/2020

Posted by TomCat at 9:53 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Feb 212020

It’s a yucky day here at the CatBox. My stomach has heartburn has been screaming all morning. I have to stay up, because Providence Home Medical Equipment is swapping-out a six pack of the portable O₂ tanks I use, when I’m out and about. TGIF to all!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:57 (average 5:49). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Republicans alternate between blaming Obama, Hillary, Nancy and Bernie.

Short Takes:

Froom YouTube (Washington Post Channel): Resurfaced video shows Bloomberg referring to transgender people as ‘some guy wearing a dress’

We knew Bloomberg [R-NY] was racist and misogynist. Add homophobic to his unsuitable list. RESIST!!

From Washington Post: Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) mounted a new defense Wednesday for the toxicity emanating from pockets of his presidential campaign’s supporters, implying it was possible Russian actors were again manipulating social media to incite Democratic divisions.

Sanders’s language was indirect, offered on the debate stage here as his opponents faulted him for the behavior of his most strident fans. It drew criticism from experts in disinformation, who said they had no direct evidence the Kremlin had masqueraded as Sanders voters to interfere in the 2020 race much as Russian trolls had done four years earlier.

“All of us remember 2016, and what we remember is efforts by Russians and others to try to interfere in our elections and divide us up,” said the senator from Vermont. “I’m not saying that’s happening, but it would not shock me.”

I tend to doubt that, because I remember the toxicity of many ‘Bernie Bros’ toward me in 2016, because, as a Bernie supporter, I committed to voting for Hillary, after Bernie asked his supporters to do so. ‘Bernie Bros’ were a factor in my switch to Liz Warren this year. I understand that some of the hate-mavens, threatening Democrats who disagree, are employees on Bernie’s paid staff. If so, he needs to identify and fire them immediately. That said, I would not put such skullduggery past Putin [R-RU] and his Puppet Pervert Trump* either. RESIST!!

From YouTube (Robert Reich Channel): Bloomberg Flounders, Warren Rebounds, and Bernie Brings the Heat

Of course the Reich on the left, Robert Reich, is right. Liz and Bernie were head and shoulders above the rest. And he’s right that the debate should have focused more on the evil Reich on the Right, the Republican Reich, and their criminal Fuhrer Trump*. I particularly liked how Robert used FDR as an example of democratic socialism. If Bloomberg [R-NY] wins the nomination in a brokered convention, it will destroy the Democratic Party and probably, the USA with it. RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past): Bad Moon Rising – Creedence Clearwater Revival (HQ – 5.1 Studio )

Ah… the memories! RESIST!!

Vote Blue!!

Nevada Debate: Big Win for Warren

Posted by TomCat at 8:53 am Politics

Feb 202020

The Nevada debate was far more interesting than any of the earlier ones. In my opinion, my two favorites finished first and second. I was most pleased to see Elizabeth Warren so dominant that NBC couldn’t okie-doke her the way ABC did in New Hampshire. I was also pleased to see Mike Bloomberg [R-NY] learn that having to buy his place on the debate stage showed that he never deserved his place there.

The top six contenders for the Democratic nomination gathered Wednesday night for (what feels like) the 7,000th primary debate of the 2020 cycle. But the latest episode of the politics-themed reality show that we’ve all come to know and dread was markedly livelier than its predecessors. And it isn’t hard to see why. Elizabeth Warren, Amy Klobuchar, Pete Buttigieg, and Joe Biden all came to Las Vegas desperate to improve their campaigns’ flagging fortunes with a big gamble or two. Bernie Sanders, meanwhile, is dispositionally incapable of allowing his newfound front-runner status to soften the edges of pugilistic populism. And Michael Bloomberg couldn’t help but bring out his co-partisans’ inner Robespierres.

So, who won the rumble in Nevada? Here’s a definitive ranking of the candidates’ nights from best to worst (as measured by the subjective impressions of an exceptionally unrepresentative white man in New York City):

1) Elizabeth Warren

The Massachusetts senator’s campaign is probably beyond saving. Warren entered Wednesday night’s debate polling in fourth place nationally, some 15.5 points behind the front-running Bernie Sanders. Current surveys suggest she is poised to win no more than a negligible number of delegates in the Nevada caucuses, none in South Carolina, and, per FiveThirtyEight’s model, just 8 percent of 1,357 pledged delegates up for grab on Super Tuesday.

But if there was anything Warren could do to revive her candidacy in Nevada on Wednesday night, she did it many times over. In recent weeks, the senator has tried to smooth out the rougher edges of her populist persona, in a bid to cast herself as the “unity” candidate (and/or to mitigate any potential gendered double-standard the electorate might apply toward female candidates who code as aggressive). But pugnacity is just another word for nothing left to lose. And with her campaign on the ropes, Warren reprised the role that had made her name: merciless inquisitor of the superrich and powerful.

Within minutes of the debate’s opening, Warren stopped the show, threw the nearest billionaire up against a wall, frisked him — and revealed that beneath the would-be emperor’s gilded façade lay little more than an empty suit…

Inserted from <NY Mag>

Please click through for the rest of the article. After Warren, the authors list, in order of finish, Joe Biden, Pete Buttigieg, Amy Klobuchar , and Mike Bloomberg. I agree, except that I would put Pete in third and Joe in fourth.

If you want to watch the entire debate: Watch The Full NBC News/MSNBC Democratic Debate In Las Vegas

For a debate summary…

Watch Highlights Of The Democratic Debate In 5 Minutes

Kudos to Liz for coming to Amy’s aid in the face of Pete’s unfair attack. Here are two about Liz alone.

Fat broads” and “horse-faced lesbians Warren rips Bloomberg

Elizabeth Warren Targets Mike Bloomberg For His Company’s Non-Disclosure Agreements

Woooo Hoooo! Did Liz tear that misogynist Republican a new asshole or what?

RESIST!!

A Win for Bernie!

Posted by TomCat at 9:05 am Politics

Feb 122020

After much publicity, and far more hype than their delegate count warrants, the New Hampshire primary, is now in the history books, and it’s a win for Bernie. If that surprises anyone, please contact me about the bridge I have for sale. It connects Manhattan to Brooklyn.

Senator Bernie Sanders narrowly won the New Hampshire primary on Tuesday, consolidating support on the left and fending off a late charge by two moderate rivals to claim his second strong showing in two weeks and establish himself as a formidable contender for the Democratic nomination.

Mr. Sanders had about 26 percent of the vote with 90 percent of the ballots counted, while former Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Ind., was a close second. Mr. Buttigieg split the centrist vote with Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, who surged in New Hampshire to finish in third.

Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Mr. Sanders’s progressive rival, finished a distant fourth in her neighboring state, and in a stinging blow to his candidacy, former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. finished fifth.

The results raised immediate questions about how much longer Mr. Biden and Ms. Warren, onetime front-runners, could afford to continue their campaigns. Both had already cut back their advertising because of financial strain… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <NY Times>

Bernie Sanders declares victory in New Hampshire

Here are the results, updated this morning.

0212NH

And here is the delegate count to date. I must say, that I’m disappointed Liz didn’t do better than she did. At least she beat Biden.

Here is the delegate count to date.

0212DemDelegates

Kudos to Bernie, I’m not quite ready to give up on Liz yet, but since she didn’t win, I’m glad he did. If Liz drops out, I’ll be an instant Bernie supporter.

The Republican Reich also had a NH primary. Republican voters defecated on America,

RESIST!!

Open Thread–2/2/2020

Posted by TomCat at 8:19 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Feb 022020

It’s a busy day here in the CatBox. WWWendy will be here in about an hour, and this TomCat needs to be de-stunk Big Time. It’s also the highest Holy Day in the Church of the Ellipsoid Orb, the day of Super Blessing. I will be keeping Mahomes as my fantasy QB next year and will meditate on a Chiefs win. However, if they do, Nameless may not stop crowing for months. Tomorrow please expect no more than a Personal Update. I’ll be gone all day getting a cardiac stress test at the hospital. Ellipsoid Orb Hugs to all!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:22 (average 5:11). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Short Takes:

From The Daily Beast: “Hillary Clinton is back in the news—and this time, she’s coming for Bernie [Sanders],” said The Daily Show’s Trevor Noah Tuesday night.

Yes, in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter to promote her upcoming 4-hour Hulu docuseries, which is bowing this week at the Sundance Film Festival, the former secretary of state hit out at the Vermont senator’s “Bernie Bro” supporters, wouldn’t commit to backing him or campaigning on his behalf against Trump if he were the Dem nominee (she later said she would), and said of Sanders in the doc:

“He was in Congress for years. He had one senator support him. Nobody likes him, nobody wants to work with him, he got nothing done. He was a career politician. It’s all just baloney and I feel so bad that people got sucked into it.”

That Hillary Clinton, a career politician and one of the most divisive political figures of our time, accused Bernie Sanders of being a “career politician” and unlikable is, well, pretty astonishing—as is the claim that she wouldn’t support him as the nominee over Trump, thereby prioritizing petty jealousies over the fate of the country. [emphasis added]

After Obama beat Hillary, she appeared in only eight campaign stops in his support for President. After Hillary beat Bernie, Bernie made almost forty campaign stops supporting her. I am not a Bernie Bro. I support Liz Warren, so I have no dog in this hunt. But Bernie deserves far better. Shut the fuck up, Hillary! You didn’t even visit the Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania, before the election. If you showed them you care about them, instead of assuming you owned their votes, you may well have won in spite of traitor Jill Stein and Russia. Leave this election to the candidates, who can beat Trump, unlike you. RESIST!!

From YouTube (SNL Channel): Impeachment Fantasy Cold Open

I knew that someday I would see an SNL sketch, in which the actual events are far more incredible and ludicrous that the actors’ fine satire. Now I have seen it. RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past): Jefferson Airplane – Somebody to love

Ah… The memories! RESIST!!

Open Thread – 1/14/2020

Posted by TomCat at 8:49 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Jan 142020

It’s an easier day here in the CatBox, but they don’t get much harder than yesterday. Breakfast was touch and go, but I managed to keep everything down since yesterday. I hope you all have a great day.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:33 (average 5:28). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Should we upgrade that charge to treason?

Short Takes:

From The New Yorker: In a positive sign for the former New York mayor, a new poll indicates that an increasing number of Americans would vote for Michael Bloomberg if that would make him stop airing campaign ads.

The poll found that sixteen per cent of those surveyed were “somewhat likely” to vote for Bloomberg if that would convince him to stop airing ads, twenty-one per cent were “very likely” to do so for that reason, and a whopping thirty-three per cent “strongly agreed” with the statement “Seriously, I’ll do whatever he wants—please, just make them stop right now.”

By contrast, only eight per cent said that they would vote for Bloomberg’s fellow-billionaire Tom Steyer if that would make Steyer stop airing his ads.

At Bloomberg campaign headquarters, in New York, the campaign’s chief strategist, Harland Dorrinson, said that the poll numbers made it clear that “Mike’s ads are having exactly their desired effect.”

Dang Andy! If I had a nickel for every time I’ve tuned out a Bloomberg ad, we could both retire! RESIST!!

From YouTube (CNN Channel): Sources: Bernie Sanders told Elizabeth Warren that a woman couldn’t win

The “Bernie Bros” should not be attacking Liz. They should be attacking Trump*. Bernie owes Liz an apology for some of his followers’ Republican-like, anti-progressive behavior, and he needs to muzzle his troops. CNN is useless for their insistence on equalizing both sides! RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past): Psychotic Reaction

Is this an advance reaction to today’s Republican Reich? Ah… the memories!! RESIST!!

Vote Blue!!

Open Thread – 1/13/2019

Posted by TomCat at 10:36 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Jan 132020

It’s a hectic day, here in the CatBox. I tried to refill seven prescriptions at Walgreens (now Alliance) Mail Order Pharmacy and, after trying at the website for three days, called them. I learned that they are no longer the preferred mail order pharmacy. I went to the Providence website and learned that Costco Mail Order Pharmacy is now the one. It took me over three hours to set up my account there, enter all my prescription, call my doctor, and arrange for her to fax them over to Costco. Then Walgreen’s sent me an email that they were processing my order. I called them back. It turns out they assumed I wanted to pay for those prescriptions myself. I told that poor CS gal that they should changer their name again from Alliance to Ulysses. “Why?” she asked. I replied, so customers can call them Useless for short!!” ARGH!!! Needless to say, all that cut into my research time Big Time, so this is my only article today. Oh God, it’s Monday!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 4:06 (average 6:36). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Short Takes:

From YouTube (NBC News Channel): Defense Sec. Esper Says He ‘Didn’t See’ Intelligence Showing Threat To U.S. Embassies

The threat was so immediate and immanent that impeached War Criminal Trump* and the Republican Reich ordered this murder seven months ago! RESIST!!

From YouTube (FiveThirtyEight Channel): If Joe Biden wins Iowa, ‘he’s off to the races’: Nate Silver

I’ve always respected Nate Silver, but let’s work like hell to make sure that Liz or Bernie wins Iowa for America’s sake! RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past): Heart – “Barracuda”

Ah… the memories! RESIST!!

Vote Blue!!

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