Citizenship – Politics Plus

Open Thread September 28 2024

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 5:53 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Sep 282024

Yesterday, Wonkette referred to this article in America’s Voice. It’s about something which actually happens a lot, yet is always worth celebrating. I mean, of course, the ceremony conferring American citizenship on those who have jumped through all the hoops. It goes right to my heart every time. Did you know a new citizen can change their name legally when naturalized, without having to go to court? I learned that when I was working at USAA and pulled up a piece of mail which turned out to be an N-400. I forget now what exactly he changed it to, but it was clear he was doing so to honor Dr. King. It made my day. Also, Robert Reich posted episode 4 of his current series.I didn’t use number 3 last Saturday – it wasn’t labeled as part of the series – but I did include it in the Open Thread for September 23. I’m still not 100% sure it’s part of the series, but in case it is, you’ll be able to find it.)

The 19th has no intent to disparage the men not of color who have been outspoken on this topic forever. But that’s different from what is happening here. this is a movemet to raise the voices of men of color who have been right all along but have been silent, for whatever reasons.

Well, this is nice. And it’s about damn time. If those children had lived, they’d be entering college and old enough to vote. Since they can’t, the rest of us have to vore for them -not, certainly, by voting multiple times, but by voting for people and initiatives which would have benefitted them, and against people and initiatives which disrespect them.

Open Thread July 13 2024

Posted by Joanne Dixon 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.

Open Thread September 20, 2022

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 7:14 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Sep 202022

Yesterday, when I opened up Weather Underground to record the times of sunrise and sunset (I want to have a full year), I noticed two things. The first one I couldn’t have missed, becausethe first thing that shows up id a 10-day graph of local weather conditions with the temperatiure in red – and yesterday, showing that Wednesday and Thursday are going to be cold. Most people might not think so, but for me, highs in the high fifties and lows in the low forties are “bundle up, or spend the day sneezing” weather. But the other thing I noticed was that California is due for some much-needed rain. I hope it goes into all the places that need it the most, and doesn’t flood too much. I expect Colleen will keep us up to date – hopefully her home will not flood.

Cartoon – 20 Meredith loaded

Short Takes –

Civil Discourse – Will the 11th Circuit Trump Trump?
Quote – By now, we all know that DOJ executed a lawful search warrant at Mar-a-Lago after Trump spent months haggling over the return of papers that belonged to the government. Ultimately one of his lawyers signed a document certifying that all of the materials were returned. This was a lie. Numerous records including approximately one hundred classified documents were found when DOJ executed its search warrant. Some folders that should have contained classified material were empty. Nothing is publicly known about the fate of those documents.
Click through. This is a great summry of how we got to where we are in the documents investigation (and they are not all that easy to keep straight.)

Justice News – Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Administers the Oath of Allegiance and Delivers Congratulatory Remarks at Ellis Island Ceremony in Celebration of Constitution Week and Citizenship Day
Quote – Like [the authors of the Constitution], each of you has now made a commitment not only to this nation and your fellow Americans, but to the generations of Americans who will come after you. In that commitment, you have given your posterity – and the posterity of all of us – a precious gift. I know how valuable that gift is because it is the same one my grandparents gave my family and me…. Of course, we still have work to do to make a more perfect union. Although the Rule of Law has always been our guiding light, we have not always been faithful to it. The Rule of Law is not assured. It is fragile. It demands constant effort and vigilance.
Click through for the full speech. Yes, this is a feel-good article. We sometimes need (at least I do) to allow ourselves to feel good, even though what we are feeling good about may not be perfct.

Food For Thought

Video Thread 8/18/22

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 12:10 pm Open Thread, Politics

Aug 182022

Glenn Kirschner – Lindsey loses in court; Rudy’s now a target in GA criminal probe; Trump says FBI took his passports?

Please note: after this video was recorded, the Department of Justice reportedly indicated that Trump’s passports were not seized. So Donald Trump may have . . . lied about that? Shocking, said absolutely no body. – Glenn Kirschner – 08/15/2022.

Meidas Touch – Military Veterans Facing Toxic Exposure REACT to President Biden Signing PACT Act

The Lincoln Project – Last Week in The Republican Party – August 16, 2022

Ring of Fire – Rest Of The World Is Freaking Out That Trump May Have Leaked Nuclear Secrets

Mrs Betty Bowers – “Religious Freedom is Neither”

Beau – Let’s talk about thr ultimate American test…. (Spoiler” There are a hundred questions avaiable, but the examiner chooses ten for any given applicant or group of applicants. Six is passing. I got 7 [and two more half right, which would not count, but would not need to.])

BIG Mouth Awards

Every 1,000th Comment
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26 – Lynn Squance – 11/25/2011
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56 – Joanne D – 9/5/2014
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60 – SoINeedAName – 1/24/2015
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72 – Judi Angell – 11/27/2015
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78 – Pat B – 5/5/2016
79 – Mitch D – 6/5/2016
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82 – Mitch D – 9/2/2016
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84 – Pat A – 11/10/2016
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86 – Pat A – 1/14/2017
87 – Lynn Squance – 2/18/2017
88 – Vivian Birdwell – 4/5/2017
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90 – Lona Goudswaard – 6/23/2017
91 – SoINeedAName – 7/30/2017
92 – Joanne D – 9/4/2017
93 – Pat B – 10/12/2017
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95 – Jerry Critter – 12/31/2017
96 – Joanne D – 2/12/2018
97 – Pat B – 3/27/2018
98 – Richard A – 5/5/2018
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100 – Mitch D – 7/20/2018
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104 – Animae – 12/18/2018
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106 – Colleen – 3/2/2019
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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