Open Thread August 29 2024

 Posted by at 6:06 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Aug 292024
 

Yesterday, my opinion of Jack Smith rose yet again – not just because of the new indictment, not even just because he has empaneled a new grand jury to authorize the superseding indictment, but because no one outside that tight little circle evenknew that a new grand jury was looking at it until it was published. That’s amazing. Also yesterday, Crooks and Liars had a story about a GOP chair who had been rejected by whatever in-group she was the chair of, but who refused to leave. Law enforcement was needed to remove her from the State Convention (not, obviously, Presidential, but Michigan’s primaried for state legislatures are coming up.) A judge ruled that the use of law enforcement in this case was legitimate. I hope the Colorado GOP is paying attention.

Personally, I don’t need to know something will hurt me directly in order to know that its bad. If it hurts someone else who doesn’t deserve to be hurt, it hurts me too. But I guess that’s just what makes me not a Republican. Still, it can be useful to realize how policies which hurt particular people end up hurting everybody (and the converse.)

Well, this is interesting. (And that’s throwing roses at it.) Greg Abbott and Ken Paxton must have become jealous of all the attention Harris and Walz are getting and decided thay wanted some of that. Sotty, Greg and Ken, attention because people hate you is not the same as attention because people love you. I hope you get sued within an inch of your useless lives.

Share

Open Thread July 13 2024

 Posted by at 6:08 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Jul 132024
 

Yesterday, Robert Reich posted Episode #7 in his DEBUNK series.  Also, the New York Times finally nailed Trump** – in an opinion piece (SMH). At least it was the full board, and I have to admit they did it thoroughly. We don’t need to be told this. But you may know people who do. Not MAGAts, who won’t listen, but “independents” and “undecideds.” And people who have never heard of Project 2025 (Joyce herself ran into one of these a few days ago. She says she didn’t try to convey the full scope of it, but instead focused on a topic close to the person’s heart. This person was a naturalized citizen, so she focused on immigration.)
Here’s the gift link from Joyce Vance

Mary Trump makes some very sound points here. I hope that the American people are not too caught up in the hysteria to hear her message.

Wonkette knows, and AOC knows, that this won’t go anywhere in the current House. But Wonkette also points out that that fact is “half her point.” I personally am more interested in the other half – but that’s me.

Share

Open Thread May 15 2024

 Posted by at 6:07 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
May 152024
 

Yesterday, though I am certainly not following the Manhattan criminal trial closely, this headline intrigued me, and after reading it, I thought y’all might enjoy it (Including the comments.) I remember watching video on the first day Cohen had to appear in court. He was on the sreet outside the courthouse, and he must have been early, because he was moving around somewhat aimlessly and waas clearly uncomfortably. Other people were on the sidewalk, going both directions, but no one made eye contact with him. I said to myself then that the gravity of his actions had come home to him, and that he already was not the same person, even though he’d have a long rioa growing fully into the new Michael Cohen. I have seen no reason to change my mind about that. (I planned to watch Lawrence last night for what he might have to say – but I’ll have posted this before that happens.)

This, from Robert Reich, is perhaps the best description I’ve seen of what is happening in the U.S. which greatly upsets me (and probably you also.)

And this, from Heather Cox Richardson, I can only call a masterpiece. It reveals just about everything about how we got herer, without even using the term “trickle-down.”

Share

Video Thread 11/20/22

 Posted by at 12:02 pm  Open Thread, Politics
Nov 202022
 

Glenn Kirschner – AG Merrick Garland appoints a special counsel to investigate Trump’s crimes. Will justice EVER come?

The Lincoln Project – War Drums

MSNBC – The Stark Contrast Between Pelosi’s Accomplishments And The House GOP Agenda (another long one … but it covers 20 yearsa

Real Subtitles? – Bad day for the general.

Baby elephant tickles Kenyan journalist’s nose with trunk during news report VERY short -and very cute.

Beau – Let’s talk about Native artifacts being returned….

Share

Open Thread September 5, 2022

 Posted by at 6:57 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Sep 052022
 

Yesterday, I came across a video related to “Saint Javelin.” I already have some material on “Saint Javelin,” the image (which came from the invasion of Ukraine by Russia) and some of the story. The image is based on an icon of the Virgin Mary, which has shocked some people – I assume mostly people who don’t realize what a badass Mary actually was. Should I do a piece on this? Thoughts?

Cartoon – 05 Labor Day RTL

Short Takes –

Robert Reich – What must we expect of journalism in this crisis?
Quote – Two Sundays ago, CNN’s Brian Stelter said: “It’s not partisan to stand up for decency and democracy and dialogue. It’s not partisan to stand up to demagogues. It’s required. It’s patriotic. We must make sure we don’t give platforms to those who are lying to our faces.” That was Brian Stelter’s last show on CNN. Today, CNN White House reporter John Harwood said: “The core point [President Biden] made in that political speech about a threat to democracy is true. Now, that’s something that’s not easy for us, as journalists, to say. We’re brought up to believe there’s two different political parties with different points of view and we don’t take sides in honest disagreements between them. But that’s not what we’re talking about. These are not honest disagreements. The Republican Party right now is led by a dishonest demagogue.”… Shortly afterward, Harwood announced he was no longer with CNN. (A source told Dan Froomkin of Press Watch that CNN had told Harwood last month that he was being let go despite his long-term contract with the network, and that Harwood used his last broadcast to “send a message.”
Click through for story. We talk about getting the Fairness Doctrine back. But that really isn’t what we need. We need a TRUTH doctrine.

Aeon – The African Enlightenment
Quote – The ideals of the Enlightenment are the basis of our democracies and universities in the 21st century: belief in reason, science, skepticism, secularism, and equality…. But what if this story is wrong? What if the Enlightenment can be found in places and thinkers that we often overlook? Such questions have haunted me since I stumbled upon the work of the 17th-century Ethiopian philosopher Zera Yacob (1599-1692), also spelled Zära Yaqob.
Click through for details. This is an article which I can guarantee will be banned in Texas and Florida schools – and that just for starters. But, whether you call us “Democrats and Republicns,” or “Liberals and Conservatives,” or “Progressives and Reactionaries,” both groups have existed everythere and in every time.

Food For Thought

Share