Open Thread – 12/29/2019

Posted by TomCat at 7:36 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Dec 292019

This is my only article today. WWWendy is coming to the CatBox for chores and my de-stinking. We have lots to do. In addition my Broncos are televised this afternoon. I did manage to eat a small portion of beans and rice for lunch, a small portion of soup for supper and a small donut for breakfast. It’s a relief to go a whole day without throwing up for the first time in days! Go Broncos!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:05 (average 4:53). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Short Takes:

From Alternet: Republican Senators have not bought into Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s impeachment strategy as the Senate trial looms.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) explained the dynamic during an interview on the Connecticut Network.

“I’ve talked to anywhere from five to 10 of my colleagues who have very severe misgivings about the direction that Mitch McConnell is going in denying a full, fair proceeding with witnesses and documents. My hope is that they will say publicly what Sen. Murkowski did, and really hold Mitch McConnell accountable,” Blumenthal said, as reported by The Hill.

Earlier this week, Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) publicly questioned McConnell’s strategy during a Christmas Eve interview with local television station KTUU.

Republicans are consummate liars. I’ll believe this, if and only if they vote against Bought Bitch Moscow Mitch! RESIST!!

From YouTube (CNN Channel): NYPD stepping up presence in Brooklyn after a series of possible anti-Semitic hate crimes

It appears there are more Republican hate criminals in Brooklyn than I thought! RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past):

Ah… the memories! RESIST!!

Vote Blue!!

Open Thread – 12/21/2019

Posted by TomCat at 8:56 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Dec 212019

It’s a busy time here in the CatBox. My heartburn was so severe last night that I threw up. Tomorrow is a holy day in the Church of the Ellipsoid Orb. My Broncos play the Lions, but it won’t be televised here. May the divine Orb shine its blessed light on your team, unless they are bearded puddy tats. Tomorrow is also a WWWendy day and we lave lots of chores to do. Monday is my gastroenterologist appointment, thank God. I’ll be gone from around 7:00 AM until Noon. Therefore, please expect no more than a Personal Update from me. Please have a safe weekend!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:11 (average 5:20). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Baggers, if you remember is short for Republican Tea Baggers.

Short Takes:

From YouTube (Parody Project Channel): FROSTY THE SNOWMAN (doesn’t have the Climate Blues)

Thanks, Don. I almost missed this due to a hospital procedure. Glad I didn’t. The top ten Democratic Presidential candidates ALL support the Green New Deal! Give that damn snow Republican a furnace for Christmas! RESIST!!

From YouTube (MSNBC Channel): Michael Moore: GOP ‘Dying Dinosaurs,’ Impeach Them

I love Michael Moore! I agree with him about who the Republican Party are, and I agree they are a dying dinosaur, with the caveat that, if they succeed in stealing and replacing our Republic with a National Socialist Reich, America, Not the Republican Party, will become extinct! RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past): John Lennon-Power To The People-Offical [sic] Video-HQ

Ah… the memories! RESIST!!

Vote Blue!!

Open Thread – 12/18/2019

Posted by TomCat at 9:43 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Dec 182019

It’s a tired day here in the CatBox. Yesterday was a gruesome day. TriMet Lift got me to the hospital 75 minutes early. No complaint. Better that than late. Then the Anesthesiologist was two hours late to my procedure. She was planning a general, but I would likely have to have spent the night, if they did. I ordered her to dope me up as little as possible with twilight drugs, gritted my teeth, and bore up under the pain, which was more severe than I anticipated. The doctor did hit the target, and I should know next week. WWWendy (God bless her!) got me home around five and fed me. I could not be more pleased that day is over! I’m pooped.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:29 (average 5:48). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Republicans would love to do this to all minorities!

Fantasy Football Report:

Here’s the latest in our own fantasy football league.

15Playoffs

Congrats to me and the Squatch for winning our games. Kudos to me for a record high score. This weekend WWWendy plays me, and Vivian plays the Squatch in the Semifinal games. Patty Monster is bye this week and will win the 5th place game next week. Good luck to all!

Short Takes:

From NY Times: The next Democratic presidential debate will go on as scheduled Thursday, after negotiators on Tuesday reached agreement in a labor dispute that had threatened to upend the event while highlighting organized labor’s influence with the leading Democratic presidential candidates.

The debate, which will be held at Loyola Marymount University, had been in question since last week after the seven participating Democrats each said that they would not cross a picket line, if there was one.

The dispute, between a cafeteria workers union and a food services company at Loyola Marymount, involved only about 150 workers and had drawn little notice over nine months. Yet in the heated political atmosphere surrounding the 2020 Democratic presidential contest, the impasse attracted outsized attention this month as the sixth primary debate approached.

Kudos to all the Democratic candidates for supporting the fight against the Republican War on labor! RESIST!!

From YouTube (CNN Channel): McConnell on impeachment trial: I’m not an impartial juror

Since Bought Mitch Moscow Mitch refuses to accede to his Constitutional mandate of impartiality, either he should recuse himself, or Injustice Roberts of SCROTUS (Republican anti-Constitutional VD) should order him to step down. Fat Chance! RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past): George Harrison-Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth)

Ah… the memories! RESIST!!

Vote Blue!!

Afghanistan: 18 Years of Lies

Posted by TomCat at 10:12 am Politics

Dec 092019

The Post has uncovered a treasure trove of documents that bring to light the many falsehoods and failures of three Administrations from both political parties to prosecute the War in Afghanistan, bring it to an end, or even tell the truth about it.

For 18 years, America has been at war in Afghanistan. As part of a government project to understand what went wrong, a federal agency interviewed more than 400 people who had a direct role in the conflict. In those interviews, generals, ambassadors, diplomats and other insiders offered firsthand accounts of the mistakes that have prolonged the war.

The full, unsparing remarks and the identities of many of those who made them have never been made public — until now. After a three-year legal battle, The Washington Post won release of more than 2,000 pages of “Lessons Learned” interviews conducted by the Office of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction. Those interviews reveal there was no consensus on the war’s objectives, let alone how to end the conflict.

To augment the previously undisclosed interviews, The Post also obtained hundreds of confidential memos by former defense secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld from the National Security Archive, a nonprofit research institute. Known as “snowflakes,” the memos are brief instructions or comments that the Pentagon leader dictated to his underlings as the war unfolded.

Together, the interviews and the Rumsfeld memos reveal a secret, unvarnished history of the conflict and offer new insights into how three presidential administrations have failed for nearly two decades to deliver on their promises to end the war…

Inserted from <Washington Post>

Scroll down almost to the bottom of the page for text of 611 documents.

Here’s the video.

Exclusive: A secret history of the war in Afghanistan, revealed

Finally, we need to examine earlier history to understand this better.

Let me be clear that Barack Obama was wrong to continue the war, which I said several times at that time. In addition, he was wrong not to challenge the lies of the GW Bush Regime about Afghanistan. But this war is a product of the Republican Party. In the 1980s the CIA under the Ronald Reagan administration created Al Qaeda by funding and arming Osama Bin Laden and other Wahhabi terrorists to commit terrorist acts against the Russian troops occupying Afghanistan. Without this Republican Terrorism, 9/11, the war in Afghanistan, the war in Iraq, and ISIL would never have happened.

Finally, please keep the Post article as a resource. It’s the best source I’ve seen.

RESIST!!

Open Thread – 12/7/2019

Posted by TomCat at 9:26 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics, Religion

Dec 072019

It’s a comparatively lazy day, here in the CatBox. Today’s articles are my only chore, except routine food prep and cleanup. I am a bit tired, because stayed up to watch the 13th ranked Oregon Ducks win the PAC 12 by beating the 5th ranked Utah Utes 37 – 15. Tomorrow is a Holy day in the Church of the Ellipsoid Orb. My Broncos are playing the Texans. Pat will get to watch it. I won’t. Sadly, no matter how much I yell at Pat, her team is just too horny for my guys. Tomorrow is also a WWWendy Day. One of our planned chores is to fleece the shaggy TomCat, before de-stinking the rancid TomCat. Therefor, please expect no more than a Personal Update. Have a great weekend.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:23 (average 5:07). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Short Takes:

From Alternet: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell rammed through eight of President Donald Trump’s lifetime judicial picks in just three days this week, accelerating the far-right court takeover that one commentator warned is “absolutely going to hamstring efforts to make the U.S. into a responsible, civilized country, for as long as we live.”

The latest slew of confirmations, according to Bloomberg‘s Sahil Kapur, means that Trump and his Federalist Society allies have now hand-picked “about one in every five American federal judges,” or 170 judges total.

“Nearly all are in their 40s or 50s with lifetime appointments and positioned to shape American law for generations,” Kapur noted on Twitter. “It gets a tiny fraction of attention compared to other stuff he does but this is the Trump legacy that’ll echo for generations after he’s gone.”

I wish I knew what to do. Frankly, I’m at a loss. Can we impeach 170 at once? My best guest is that the majority are guilty of crimes, if only lying during their confirmation process. As soon as we return DOJ to the people, they all should be investigated, and most, indicted, convicted, and/or disbarred. RESIST!!

From YouTube (RWW Channel): RWW News: Rick Wiles Says ‘The Democrats Are Forcing Me to Stockpile Ammunition’

Barf Bag Alert!!

Republican Supply-side pseudo-Christians, the polar opposites of true authentic Christians, are experts at projection. That is, they accuse the left of committing their own crimes. It is these Ammosexuals, who art plotting the overthrow of America through violent Talibangelical Jihad, not Democrats! RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past): The Monkees – I’m a Believer, 1966 (HQ Stereo)

Ah… the memories! RESIST!!

Vote Blue!!

Open Thread – 12/6/2019

Posted by TomCat at 9:25 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Dec 062019

It’s a quiet, lazy day here at the CatBox. All yesterday’s groceries are stashed, and except for PP and investing in ZZZZZs, my only appointment today is a visit from Providence Home Medical Equipment to pick up their O₂ concentrator between 10 AM and 1 PM. TGIF!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:11 (average 4:48). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Short Takes:

From Crooks and Liars: Don’t make light of Nancy Pelosi’s constitutional duties.

A reporter, Sinclair’s James Rosen, decided to shout a question to the House Speaker as she ended her Thursday press conference and announcement that the House will draw up articles of impeachment against Donald Trump.

He asked Nancy Pelosi if she hates the president.

Colleen alluded to this yesterday. Was it a thing of beauty, or what? RESIST!!

From YouTube (MSNBC Channel): Pete Buttigieg And The Republican Lie

I suspect Pete is lying to help him against more progressive candidates. That takes him down a notch in my estimation. The proof of the matter is in the following chart. He needs to be prepared to support the winner if the Democratic nomination no matter who it is, as do we all.

1206defecit

RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past): Lyrics~Stand By Me-Ben E. King

Ah… the memories! RESIST!!

Vote Blue!!

Open Thread – 12/3/2019

Posted by TomCat at 8:51 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Dec 032019

In case you’re wondering why I’m not out getting skewered, you won’t believe this story. Last Friday I went to the Providence website to confirm my biopsy. While I was there I noticed an unknown surgery at the hospital scheduled for Wednesday. So I called the hospital. The scheduler figured out that my anesthesiologist was scheduled for Wednesday. I suggested scheduling the anesthesiologist on Tuesday with the biopsy, since I wouldn’t be there Wednesday. She told me that she has corrected the schedule, and that they would see me Tuesday. However, she had moved the biopsy to Wednesday by mistake. On Monday the hospital called for some last minute clarification for my Wednesday biopsy. I told them it was Tuesday. They realized the scheduler’s mistake, but could not change it back. I told them I have no ride home Wednesday, so I have to reschedule the whole thing. I called to cancel my TriMet Lift bus and learned that they had scheduled me to go to the wrong place. Is Republican Incompetence spreading or what?!!? ARGH! hugs to all.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 4:40 (6:02 average). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Fantasy Football Report:

Here’s the news from our own fantasy football league.

Scores:

13Scores

Congrats to WWWendy, Patty Monster, and Squatch for winning their games. Had I only started Jackson and benched Mahomas, I would have won. Kudos to WWWendy for the week’s high score.

Standings:

13Standings

Kudos to WWWendy for leading the league.

This coming weekend is the last in our regular season. After that, we have three weeks of playoffs. Stay tuned. I’ll post the brackets with next week’s report.

Short Takes:

From YouTube (MSNBC Channel): Schiff: Intel Cmte. To Release Impeachment Report To Public

The reason the Fuhrer’s lawyers have no defense is simple. They have no defense. The miserable thing, however, is that with Bought Bitch Moscow Mitch and the Republican Reich controlling the Senate, the Fuhrer needs no defense. RESIST!!

From Washington Post: Attorney General William P. Barr has told associates he disagrees with the Justice Department’s inspector general on one of the key findings in an upcoming report — that the FBI had enough information in July 2016 to justify launching an investigation into members of the Trump campaign, according to people familiar with the matter.

The Justice Department’s inspector general, Michael Horowitz, is due to release his long-awaited findings in a week, but behind the scenes at the Justice Department, disagreement has surfaced about one of Horowitz’s central conclusions on the origins of the Russia investigation. The discord could be the prelude to a major fissure within federal law enforcement on the controversial question of investigating a presidential campaign.

Barr has not been swayed by Horowitz’s rationale for concluding that the FBI had sufficient basis to open an investigation on July 31, 2016, these people said.

This is exactly what we expect from Barrf! RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past): somebody to love-jefferson airplane

Ah… the memories! RESIST!!

Vote Blue!!

Open Thread – 11/27/2019

Posted by TomCat at 9:47 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Nov 272019

I’m very tired here in the CatBox. I woke up shortly after midnight, and I tossed an turned the rest of the night. I think I’m going to have to use some tunes again, while thinking of new ones. The good thing about good music is listening to it more than once. It’s a WWWendy night. Pardon my brevity hugs!!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:38 (average 4:52). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Short Takes:

From YouTube (Full Frontal Channel): After #MeToo Pt 1: Sam Bee and Tarana Burke Talk Past, Present, & Future of #MeToo

While in exceptionally rare cases, people in the #MeToo movement go too far, I fully agree with and support the organization. RESIST!!

From YouTube (MSNBC Channel): Why It Matters Trump Knew About Whistleblower Before Releasing Ukraine Aid

What we have here is a bank robber, who kills a guard, blows up the vault, and removes money. Then, he sees the police at the door, so he shoves the money back in the vault and says he committed no offense. RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past rerun):

Ah… the memories! RESIST!!

Vote Blue!!

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