Open Rage – 1/7/2021

Posted by TomCat at 10:57 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Jan 072021

It’s an outrageous day here in the CatBox. Yesterday when the Republican Reich attacked the US, I was so upset that I swallowed an unprocessed mouthful of food and rushed to the computer without thinking. Needless to say, that plugged my stent and I was sick all afternoon. A couple days ago I opined that this was the wrong time to impeach Trump* and throw him the attention he craves. I take that back. Now a state of war exists between the Republican Reich and the US. We must fight back with every legal weapon at our disposal. These dates shall live in infamy, as long as there is a USA to remember: Dec. 7, 1941, Sep. 11, 2001, and Jan. 6, 2021. I am waiting for Store to Door to bring my grocery order, and WWWendy is coming late this afternoon. I hope to be in the saddle tomorrow.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:23 (average 4:35). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

0107Cartoon

Short Takes:

From Daily Kos (Hat-Tip Mitch [ours]): This is too, too much. The schadenfreude! The sheer, sheer joy!

CNN:

President-elect Joe Biden has decided to nominate Judge Merrick Garland as attorney general, people familiar with the matter tell CNN, a long-awaited decision that was moved toward completion Wednesday as it became apparent that Democrats were on the brink of winning control of the Senate.

The announcement of the attorney general, along with other senior leaders of the Justice Department, is expected to be made as soon as Thursday as Biden moves closer to filling the remaining seats in his Cabinet before assuming power on January 20.

While Garland has been a top contender for weeks, concerns about the vacancy his selection would create on the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia raised alarm bells among Biden and many advisers who believed Senate Republicans would block any nomination to that seat. But with Democrats poised to control the Senate after two Georgia runoff races, those concerns were allayed.

I have to love this! And Beat Bitch Baby Bawling Mitch can’t stop it! RESIST!!

From YouTube (MSNBC Channel): U.S. Capitol Ransacked After Massive Security Failure

These are some of the same questions I have. It appeared to me that some of the police were in cahoots with Trump’s* terrorists who tried to repeat the Reichstag Fire. I agree with Mika that they would have slaughtered BLM demonstrators. I hear people saying this is the time to stay cool. My answer? BULLSHIT! RESIST!!

From YouTube: Live: NBC News NOW – Jan. 7 | Special Coverage On The Riot At The U.S. Capitol

I put this here to give you a chance to keep up with any freaking developments, should they occur. RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from yesterday): The Beatles-Revolution Protest Music Video

Given the Republican attack on America, this is all too appropriate! RESIST!!

12 Days Until the Big FLUSH!!

Open Thread – 1/1/2021

Posted by TomCat at 11:15 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Jan 012021

It’s a New Years Day, here in the CatBox. When the midnight hour came, I said, “ZZZZZZ”. I did not expect to see this day, as my Oncologist initially projected my departure for last May. I’m glad to be here, and I shall stay as long as God permits me to share my love with you all and to Resist the Republican Reich. WWWendy is coming this afternoon, and I’m running late, because I overslept on my morning nap. Thank you for being you.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:14 (average 5:39). To di it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Short Takes:

From Daily Kos: As 2020 comes to an end, America has a lot of work to do. To date, more than 19.5 million people in the U.S. have been infected with the novel coronavirus and over 340,00 have died as a result, according to The New York Times database. Despite the rising number of COVID-19 cases and hospitals reaching capacity nationwide, some officials are still reluctant to follow health recommendations.

This inability to follow safety precautions in place to stop the spread of the pandemic has resulted in not only an increase in infections across the country but an increase in deaths as well. Most recently, Louisiana Congressman-elect Luke Letlow died Tuesday from COVID-19 complications after being hospitalized for 11 days. LSU Health Shreveport Chancellor G.E. Ghali confirmed that Letlow did not have any underlying conditions and was only 41 years old, The News-Star reported. He is survived by his wife and two young children.

Sadly over 20 million Americans have now caught the Republican virus ,and Republicans have murdered over 354 thoudand Americans with it. I certainly regret the grief Letlow’s family is suffering as a result of his loss. However, I have to say that this is one of those few instances in which karma actually worked. RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from Portland): July 17, 2020: Portland Protests – Fenced in Feds & “Naked Athena”

Do you remember when the Republican Nazi Gestapo and Portland Police attacked Portland protestors and a naked woman chased them away? Oregon leads the way! RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past): Buffalo Springfield – For What It’s Worth 1967

Ah… the memories! RESIST!!

18 Days Until the Big FLUSH!!

Open Thread – 12/31/2020

Posted by TomCat at 11:19 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Dec 312020

It’s another tired day here in the CatBox, but I managed another post today. Tomorrow is a WWWendy Day. After the destinking the TomCat, we plan to have a special dinner. I will still be in the saddle tomorrow, as she’s coming in mid-afternoon. But I’m not big on year in review articles, so I don’t know what I’ll have to work with. Tonight we can celebrate New Years Eve together: ZZZZZZ with me!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:13 (average 5:38). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Short Takes:

From Daily Kos: The House of Representatives had a busy Monday, returning early from the Christmas break to easily override a Trump veto of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and pass a boost to the stimulus bill survival checks from $600 to $2,000. So Trump got a rebuke and a gift at the same time. Trump was walloped on the NDAA, with 322 voting to override to 87 sticking with him.

The Senate will convene at noon on Tuesday, when Sen. Mitch McConnell will indicate how the Senate is going to proceed with what the House is presenting to him this morning. The veto override won’t be an issue, even though it requires the same two-thirds majority as in the House. The Senate passed the NDAA with a 84-13 margin under Trump’s veto threat. The override vote could happen as soon as Wednesday, or Democrats could force a delay as they demand a vote on the $2,000 survival checks.

Loeffler and Perdue are now on board, saying “yes” to the checks. After saying “no,” of course.

Sens. Bernie Sanders and Ed Markey have vowed to block the defense bill until they get a vote on the $2,000 survival checks. “That relief passed in the House today with 44 Republicans voting for it,” Markey tweeted Monday. “Senate Republicans must do the same and get the American people the help they need.” Sanders said in a statement Monday, “Let me be clear: If Sen. McConnell doesn’t agree to an up or down vote to provide the working people of our country a $2,000 direct payment, Congress will not be going home for New Year’s Eve.”

Major Kudos to Bernie. A New Years Eve filibuster has the added benefit of slowing the spread of Trump* virus by keeping GOP Senators from sponsoring super-spreader events at home. Nevertheless, it won’t work, because Bought Bitch Midnight Moscow Mitch will not give-in. RESIST!!

From Crooks and Liars: You would think being “anti-wife beating” would be a bipartisan thing.

But what about “that guy I went out with once is stalking me and he has a gun”?

This week Senate Republicans again showed us who they are.

Senate Republicans are blocking re-authorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) over the so-called “Boyfriend Loophole.” USA Today:

…the most recent version of the bill passed by the House last year intended to close the “boyfriend loophole,” which proved to be a large point of contention for many Republicans.

Previous versions of the act barred those convicted of domestic violence or abuse from purchasing and owning a gun if they were married to, lived with or had a child with the victim. But the 2019 amendment hoped to extend that provision to include dating partners and stalkers.

Though it had support from all Democrats who voted but one, only 33 Republicans voted to move the legislation forward, and the GOP has been accused of giving into the National Rifle Association, which has opposed the change.

Blocking VAWA to protect the gun rights of stalkers with a history of domestic violence is so evil it’s… Republican. Thank God for Joe. RESIST!!

From NY Times: Josh Hawley became the first senator on Wednesday to take up President Trump’s demand that lawmakers challenge the results of the 2020 election, saying he would object to Congress’s certification of the Electoral College results on Jan. 6.

The move by Mr. Hawley, Republican of Missouri, is unlikely to alter the outcome of the election, but it will force Republicans to publicly affirm President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s victory in a politically fraught test of loyalty to Mr. Trump.

Mr. Hawley, an ambitious freshman senator, framed the objection as “an effort to highlight the failure” of states “to follow their own election laws as well as the unprecedented interference of Big Tech monopolies in the election.” He did not repeat the president’s false claim of widespread voter fraud.

“Millions of voters concerned about election integrity deserve to be heard,” Mr. Hawley said in a statement. “I will object on Jan. 6 on their behalf.”

The decision ensures that the certification process, typically a formality, will instead become a debate on the House and Senate floors, elevating Mr. Trump’s repeated false assertions. The Constitution requires that challenges to the certification process be endorsed by lawmakers in both the House and Senate. While Mr. Trump’s most strident allies in the House had announced that they would object to Congress’s effort to certify the Electoral College results, they had so far been unable to persuade a member of the Senate to publicly back their effort.

What an asshole! And what an embarrassment to residents of that state. While no citizen of that state is to blame, except those that voted in that Nazi, Hawley makes Missouri such embarrassing misery that the Kansas City Chiefs should relocate out of shame… preferably to Portland or Denver. RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past): Steppenwolf – Born To Be Wild

Steppenwolf wanted to create rock music as it might have developed here, had there been no British influence. Ah… the memories! RESIST!!

19 Days Until the Big FLUSH!!

Open Thread – 12/22/2020

Posted by TomCat at 11:03 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Dec 222020

It’s a tired hectic day here in the CatBox. Yesterday’s Safeway delivery was almost a disaster. When the driver arrived, he had just a couple bags in his arms. He said there had been a lot of cancelations. We brought them upstairs. He was in a hurry, but I insisted that we compare the cancellations with what he had. It was soon obvious that the vast majority of my order was not accounted for. We went back downstairs. He went out to check his truck and came back with the rest of my order that “had been hiding”. He needed a hand truck to carry it. We brought upstairs. It took me over an hour to put everything away. There were a few legitimate cancellations that were out of stock in the store. They included all my sweets. Nevertheless, it could have been far worse and would have been a disaster had I not been such a hard ass about it. Tomorrow please expect no more than a Personal Update. It’s a WWWendy day. I’ll be back in the saddle on Christmas Eve. Tuesday is Flush your Republicans Day. Take extra care. The closer it becomes to the end the harder they are trying to get away.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:06 (average 5:09). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Short Takes:

From The New Yorker: Russian hackers attempting to disrupt the U.S. government were disappointed to discover that it had already been thoroughly disabled, the hackers have confirmed.

Expecting to find a well-oiled machine that they could impair, the hackers instead came upon a barely operational mess that had already suffered what appeared to be four years of degradation.

Dmitri X (not his real name), was assigned to hack the Environmental Protection Agency’s computer systems and was “shocked” by the agency’s weakened condition.

“My job was to access the E.P.A.’s database and delete all of the environmental regulations,” he said. “There was nothing there left to delete.”

That’s straight news, Andy! With Republicans working so hard, Russians need no help to destroy America! RESIST!!

From Crooks and Liars: Everyone wants to show the happy videos of people getting vaccine shots.

The Governors in the 12 states that haven’t passed mask mandates especially want to get in on this hopeful news. They will crow about how Their President got them the vaccine. Not said, but implied, is that their refusal to pass a state-wide mask mandate was justified before and is not necessary now.

Image from: CNN

1222nomask_map

The experts say we will still need masks for months and we should NOT relax the mask protocols…

…Here are some ways to use the vaccination press conferences to pressure 12 Governors to pass mask mandates.

Method 1

Have the top medical experts tell the Governors behind the scenes, “You don’t get to be part of the vaccination press conference unless you pass a mask mandate.”

People in the public health medical community still want to believe that Governors will respond to facts and science. They won’t.

Withholding good PR at a press conference isn’t withholding their vaccine, just the reflected success of a vaccine.

But since most public health experts don’t want to be this direct, and the window for these first press conferences is closing, I suggest:

Method 2

PREPARE THE MEDIA for asking Governors why there is no mask mandate now and why they still won’t pass one.

This is especially important now that Trump botched the vaccine roll out!

First prep the experts to point out the EXCESS DEATHS that will happen because there is no MASK MANDATE. When the Governor still doesn’t respond with a mandate, post photos of DEAD NURSES to call out the GOVERNOR for NOT pushing a mandate before.

Click through for much more info. I fully support both methods. RESIST!!

From YouTube (MSNBC Channel): Maddow: U.S. Mired In ‘3-Way Split Screen’ Of Trump Crises

I agree with Rachel. The one thing that should have been included is that, Republicans wanted mass deaths, because such a high proportion of the deaths are Blacks. I also worry about Trump inciting violence., and agree that he is desperate to escape prosecution that must follow to prevent a Republican Recurrance. RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast of Christmas): Beta Radio – Angels We Have Heard on High (Official Audio)

A beautiful arrangement of a classic carol! HUGS!!

28 Days (4 Weeks) Until the Big FLUSH!!

Open Thread – 12/14/2020

Posted by TomCat at 11:33 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Dec 142020

It’s a Republicitis day here in the CatBox. I just spent 45 minutes on the throne and cast an unbelievable number of electoral votes, among other things. Speaking of Republican feces, we just passed 300,000 Americans murdered by Donald Trump* and the Republican Reich with their plague. WWWendy is coming tonight. I want to get as much rest as I can this week, because Thursday is a Hospital/Infusion day, followed by a will notary appointment, followed by a WWWendy day all on the same day. Expect exhaustion. Oh God, it’s Monday!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:31 (average 4:48). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Religious Ecstasy:

1213Broncos32-Panthers27

And a glorious, wonderful Orb it is!

Short Takes:

From Daily Kos: One of the great strangenesses and perversions in the QAnon conspiracy theory is that part of what Donald Trump—a man who was good friends with convicted child molester Jeffrey Epstein—is doing in his fight against the “deep state,” is to clean up a vast child-sex human trafficking cabal. The idea that there are powerful people engaged in illegal human sex trafficking that involves underage children is very believable. In fact, Donald Trump seems to have intimately known some of those people, and even hired the former Florida Attorney General Alexander Acosta—one of the main guys who cut a deal to let one of those human traffickers off with a hand slap.

Anywhos, QAnon theorists have evolved the Hillary Clinton and Pizzagate and whatever else anti-Semitic globalist bullshit theory that makes them feel like they know what’s going on. It’s like chemtrail conspiracy theory with a touch of sex and child abuse because QAnon is even more of a religious cult than Pizzagate was. And religious cults usually help define themselves by saying other groups of people do terrible things to children. And guess what? Republican QAnon conspiracy theorist and failed Louisiana candidate Ben Gibson was just pulled into custody on Wednesday and charged for … yup: four counts of possession of child pornography “involving juveniles under the age of thirteen.”

I’m not surprised. Republicans are not original enough to invent new crimes and perversions for their conspiracy theories, so they fall back on their own behavior for reference material and accuse Democrats of doing it. We call this projection. RESIST!!

From NY Times: In Michigan, Democratic electors have been promised police escorts from their cars into the State Capitol, where on Monday they will formally vote for Joseph R. Biden Jr.

In Arizona, state officials are holding the vote at an undisclosed location for safety reasons, far from what is expected to be a heated hearing on election integrity issues that Republicans will conduct in the Statehouse.

Even in Delaware, the tiny, deeply Democratic home state of the president-elect, officials relocated their ceremony to a college gymnasium, a site considered to have better security and public health controls.

For decades, Electoral College voters have served as the rubber-stamping bureaucrats of American democracy, operating well below the political radar as they provided pro forma certification of a new president. Despite its procedural nature, the role has long been considered an honor, bestowed as a way to recognize political stature or civic service.

This year, the Electoral College is another piece of routine election mechanics thrown into the cross hairs of President Trump’s sustained assault on voting integrity. After five weeks of lawsuits, recounts and Republican inquiries into unfounded claims of fraud, Americans will turn to the 538 members of the Electoral College to provide a measure of finality to Mr. Biden’s decisive victory.

And as small-town electors face harassment and more prominent figures adapt to increased security measures, a duty long considered a privilege has also become a headache.

I find it shameful that these people have to perform their civic duty under the threat of death and violence from the Republican Reich! As of now 168 Biden votes have been cast. RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast of Christmas): Frank Sinatra *☆* Adeste Fideles * (O’ Come All Ye Faithful)

Believe it or not, I first learned to sing this carol in Latin, as an assignment for sixth grade Latin class. Ah… the memories! HUGS!!

36 Days Until the Big FLUSH!!

Video Thread 12/12/2020

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 1:13 pm Open Thread, Politics

Dec 122020

Now This News – CoViD reality

Now This News – I saw the tweet thread – but seeing and hearing her is better.

The Lincoln Project – Mitch’s Tears

Steve Schmidt on MSNBC (Nicolle Wallace). Not pretty. But real.

At least THIS is delightful.

Beau – Term Limits. I was opposed to term limits already, but he has some good reasons to be opposed I never even thought of.

Keith from yesterday – and he’s right, dammit.

Jesus Christ the Apple Tree (18th century English poem set by Elizabeth Poston between 1961 and 1967

Open Thread – 12/4/2020

Posted by TomCat at 11:13 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Dec 042020

It’s a tired day here in the CatBox. WWWendy and I got everything done yesterday, and I did get a morning nap this morning. However, I’m already ready for another. I had a cheeseburger and eggs for breakfast. Tomorrow please expect no more than a Personal Update from me. It’s a WWWendy day to destink the TomCat, cook and do chores. TGIF!!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:16 (average 4:59). To do it, click here. How dis you do?

Cartoon:

Short Takes:

From NY Times: In his urgent demand on Monday that President Trump condemn his angry supporters who are threatening workers and officials overseeing the 2020 vote, a Georgia elections official focused on an animated image of a hanging noose that had been sent to a young voting-machine technician.

“It’s just wrong,” the official, Gabriel Sterling, a Republican, said at a news conference. “I can’t begin to explain the level of anger I have over this.”

But the technician in Georgia is not alone. Far from it.

Across the nation, election officials and their staff have been bombarded in recent weeks with emails, telephone calls and letters brimming with menace and threats of violence, the result of their service in a presidential election in which the defeated candidate’s most ardent followers have refused to accept the results.

There is a single word that best describes such heinous threats of violence to intimidate honest workers and keep them from doing their jobs: Republican! RESIST!!

From NPR: President-elect Joe Biden on Thursday said he has asked the nation’s top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, to become his chief medical adviser and said he plans to call on Americans to wear masks for the first 100 days of his administration.

In an interview with CNN, Biden said he’ll urge Americans to wear masks starting Jan. 20 to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. Biden said he would use his authority to require masks in federal buildings and on interstate transportation.

“Just 100 days to mask, not forever, 100 days. And I think we’ll see a significant reduction,” Biden said.

I think Fauci is an excellent choice. If super-spreader Trump* had followed his advice, America would be far better off. 100 days of masks is just the beginning of policies Biden should implement. Another is extensive contact tracing. RESIST!!

From YouTube (MSNBC Channel): Canadian Premier Makes Emotional Holiday Plea

Kudos to Brian Pailister. The US needs a Grinch like him in charge of every state. RESIST!!

From YouTube (CNN Channel): These Trump supporters say big tech is biased. Here’s why they’re on Parler [Twitter for GOP Sheeple]

A commenter on YouTube Said it best. The universe is made of protons neutrons, electrons and morons. To that I add, on Parler the morons are Sheeple whose intelligence echoes BAAA-A-A-A-A-AAADLY!! RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast for the planet): The Yardbirds – Shapes Of Things

This will be the last in the BFTP series. The Yardbirds knew the shape of things to come many years ago. Is it too late to change it? RESIST!!

46 Days Until the Big FLUSH!!

Open Thread – 11/19/2020

Posted by TomCat at 11:20 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Nov 192020

It’s a busy day here in the CatBox as Store to Door is bringing a double-order of groceries since they will be closed next week for Thanksgiving. I have a lot to unpack and put away. Tomorrow, please expect no more than Personal Update. It’s a full WWWendy day, and we have much to do. I hope you all have a fine day.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:16 (average 4:58). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Short Takes:

From Daily Kos: Texas Rep. Louie Gohmert has made quite a name for himself around these parts and others. Now the House Republican is jumping with both feet into suggesting that, well, maybe if Donald Trump didn’t win the election maybe it’s time for his Republican voters to rise up and end American democracy, period.

As reported by the Dallas Morning News, Gohmert claimed to a “Million MAGA March” audience near the White House that “this was a cheated election and we can’t let it stand.” He spoke of the American revolution and the Egyptian uprising: “They rose up though all over Egypt, and as a result of the people rising up in the greatest numbers in history,” he said, and “if they can do that there, think of what we can do here.”

And in perhaps what passed for an acknowledgement that an armed coup by red hat-wearing bozos would be, ahem, unpopular with the general public, Gohmert was quick to point out that “only about 30%” of American colonists supported that previous revolution. You don’t need a majority in these matters, after all. You just need enough ammunition.

I’m not at all surprised that the guilty party is Louie “Go Go Goose Step” Gomerde. However, it’s hard to find a Republican that would not plug into GOP Nazism. RESIST!!

From YouTube (MSNBC Channel): Ex-Pres. Trump On Trial? Why It’s Not Biden’s Call

I fully agree. Biden should have nothing to do with it, one way or the other. His job, with respect to DOJ, is to provide them the means to do their job. That’s ALL! RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast of unity): The Briar Rose Ramblers – “We Are One” (Live in a Living Room, 11-29-2015)

Amen! We are one! As such, those who would divide us, the Republican Reich, are against us all! RESIST!!

61 Days Until the Big FLUSH!!

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