Open Thread–2/5/2020

Posted by TomCat at 9:19 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Feb 052020

It’s a hectic day, here in the CatBox. I still haven’t recovered from Monday’s ordeal. Last night, I accidently heard part of Trump’s* address, almost lost my supper, and felt nauseous for the rest of the evening. This morning, I broke through three days of Republicitis. I’m hoping Republicosis does not follow it, as it often does. WWWendy is coming this evening, and I’m totally ready for de-stinking. Happy Hump Day!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 2:55 (average 4:26). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Short Takes:

From Daily Kos: The Rotating (Regional) Primary Plan

Recommended by the National Association of Secretaries of State in 2000, this plan would divide the country into four regions—Northeast, South, Midwest, and West. There would be four primary days, one for each region. They would rotate every cycle. The original plan preserved the Iowa/New Hampshire duopoly, but just ditch it and rotate. Would work fine. Perhaps my favorite.

I guess I wasn’t the first to think of the idea I proposed yesterday. Great minds fall in the same ditch, after all. Please click through to see four more primary scheduling plans. RESIST!!

From The New Yorker: Calling the delay in the release of the Iowa caucus results “a threat to democracy,” the state of Florida has offered to help Iowa with the vote-counting process.

Harland Dorrinson, a spokesman for Florida’s official electoral commission, said on Tuesday morning that “Florida stands ready and willing to restore credibility to Iowa’s vote-tabulation procedures.”

Dorrinson added that Katherine Harris, Florida’s former secretary of state, was eager to “roll up her sleeves and clean up Iowa’s mess.”

“Just say the word, Iowa, and Katherine Harris will be on the next plane out,” he said.

Dang, Andy! Are you sure that’s Harland Dorrinson? I heard it was his brother, Chad! Or did they hang him? RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past): Simon & Garfunkel – The Sound of Silence – Madison Square Garden, NYC – 2009/10/29&30

Ah… the memories! RESIST!!

Vote Blue!!

Open Thread–2/4/2019

Posted by TomCat at 10:20 am Open Thread, Plus, Politics

Feb 042020

Yesterday’s trip to the hospital was gruesome. TriMet Lift got me there an hour early, so I had to wait there for an hour. The tests, as I had told the doctors all along, was fine. Unlike my fart, my heart is completely healthy. They got done with me two hours early, so I called TriMet to see if I could get an earlier ride. No. In fact, they screwed up and did not pick me up for my 3:34 – 4:04 PM window until 6:10. That Lift Bus was crowded, so I did not get home until 7:25 PM, 25 minutes after my winter bedtime. Needless to say, I’m so pooped, I’m bleary eyed.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:49 (average 5:54). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

I’m on O₂ too. I’m not a Republican, so I’m not a moron.

Short Takes:

From YouTube (MSNBC Channel): In What Amounts To GOP ‘Bluff-Calling,’ Joe Manchin Proposes Senate Censure Trump

I must be hallucinating from being over tired. I actually agree with DINO Joe! After the conviction vote fails, a foregone conclusion, I would support a censure vote, as a way to further embarrass Republicans, most of whom would goose-step with criminal Fuhrer Trump*. RESIST!!

From YouTube (Late Show Channel): GOP Senators Give Lame Excuses For Voting Against Witnesses In Trump Impeachment Trial

Lame excuses? Since when has the Fascist Republican Reich given any other kind? RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past): The Mamas & The Papas – Monday Monday

Ah… the memories! RESIST!!

Vote Blue!!

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!!

Bill Maher from 1/31

Posted by TomCat at 9:42 am Politics

Feb 012020

It’s that time of week again, so here are 3.5 video clips, 2.5 of which are good, from Bill’s show last night. Enjoy!

YouTube did not release Bill’s Monologue, but I found part of it on Alternet. Click through. It would not embed here.

Very well said!

Mayor Pete Buttigieg

I like former-Mayor Pete, but I cannot support him for the nomination. He still has major problems relating to Black Voters, because of his own behavior as Mayor. More progressive candidates than Pete also have a vision that the majority of Americans can support. Their problem is that media figures, such as Bill, misrepresent them as “far left”.

Michael Eric Dyson: Made In America

Kudos to Michael Eric Dyson. I’ve always liked listening to him. Criminal (in)justice in the US favors the rich and is racist.

New Rule: Do the Wrong Thing

I agree, but only up to a point. We can be dirty, but legal. Otherwise, people will be unable to tell us from Republicans, who are dirty and illegal. Love the ad and debate plans! Democrats at the State of the Union should turn their backs on Trump* for the entire shit session. Are we sure Bill’s pee-pee tape isn’t real?

While I strongly disagree with Bill’s cavalier dismissal of Liz and Bernie, his New Rule was hilarious!

RESIST!!

Open Thread–1/31/2020

Posted by TomCat at 8:45 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Jan 312020

It’s a muggy, tired day here in the CatBox. I missed most of my nap yesterday, due to grocery delivery, and I’m feeling really pooped. TGIF!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 4:10 (average 5:54). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Short Takes:

From Daily Kos: Sen. Rand Paul has not been getting enough attention during this impeachment process, so he executed his predictable and promised stunt on the Senate floor Thursday afternoon, submitting a question to Chief Justice John Roberts during the Q&A session that presumably contained the name of the whistleblower. Roberts refused to read the question, so Paul left the floor to have an “impromptu” press conference (and probably hit the send button on a fundraising email).

CNN’s Manu Raju reports, “At press conference, Paul says: ‘I can tell you my question made no reference to any whistleblower.’ Then Paul reads aloud his question which names a Schiff’s staff member and names the individual who has been reported as possible whistleblower—and asks about their contacts.” This was an apparent effort to get the press to publish the name, since he seems intent on getting the whistleblower killed.

It likely won’t work. One reporter asked, “With all due respect, shouldn’t you be at the impeachment hearing right now?” Of course he should have been, and the sergeant-at-arms should be putting him in the Senate jail right now.

Mitch (ours, not BBMMM) suggested a parade. For now, I’ll just remember his title: Idiot (Rand Paul), Son of Idiot (Ron Paul), Named after Idiot (Ayn Rand). Lock him up! RESIST!!

From The New Yorker: The convicted drug lord known as El Chapo said on Thursday that he was “outraged” his 2019 trial had included witnesses. He also revealed that he was demanding a new trial without them.

Speaking from ADX Florence, a maximum-security facility in Colorado, the former drug kingpin complained that his trial would have resulted in a speedy acquittal had it not been for the irritating presence of witnesses.

“If I had to point to one reason why I was convicted of all of those crimes, it would have to be witnesses,” he said. “Once the decision was made to include witnesses, things really went downhill for me.”

Andy, El Chapo does make a valid point. If the worst criminal in US History, since Benedict Arnold, gets a trial with no witnesses or documents, fairness demands that witnesses be excluded from all trials. RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past): Bob Dylan – Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door (Unplugged)

Ah… the memories! RESIST!!

Vote Blue!!

Samantha Bee from 1/29

Posted by TomCat at 10:38 am Politics

Jan 302020

It’s that time of week again, and here are 3 great video clips from Sam’s show last night. Enjoy!

Coronavirus Is Scary! CDC Budget Cuts Make It Scarier

After looking at Rudy, I think I’ll go out and buy face masks. Seriously, with the time I’ll be spending in hospitals, this could be a problem for me. Several of us are in that boat.

Is The Iowa Caucus A Relic of the Past?

I like it that delegates for non-viable candidates get to move to viable ones. However, I’d like to learn what provisions Iowa makes to enable participation by people with disabilities. How about a pack of rubbers for Fred Trump*?

Are Republicans Being Shadow Banned? (No)

The only way to win with Fakebook is not to play! Unplug! Flush Fakebook!!

We got to see more of Sam’s serious side.

RESIST!!

Open Thread–1/28/2020

Posted by TomCat at 9:09 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Jan 282020

It’s I tired day here in the CatBox. I haven’t visited the throne since 3:00 AM, si I hope the Imodium caught up to the Republicosis. The Republican Trump* defense team finishes today. Are you as sick of those sphincters as I am? Have a great day!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:36 (average 5:41). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Short Takes:

From The New Yorker: Donald J. Trump has “no intention whatsoever” of having John Bolton’s book read aloud to him, Trump confirmed on Monday.

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said that his daughter, Ivanka Trump, had obtained a draft manuscript of the Bolton book and had offered to read it aloud to him “like she does with all of the other books,” Trump said.

“She reads the books to me slowly and stops when there’s a long word to tell me what it means,” Trump said. “But I told her that the Bolton book was the last book in the world that I wanted to hear.”

Dang Andy! Isn’t it a shame Senate Republicans will imitate their criminal Fuhrer? RESIST!!

From YouTube (Vox Channel): How Iran’s Soleimani became a US target

This is a well presented, unbiased history lesson to help you better understand the region, while allowing you the freedom to make your own judgement without propaganda. RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from Lona’s past): The Joker

Ah… Lona’s memories! Thanks Lona! RESIST!!

Vote Blue!!

Open Thread–1/26/2020

Posted by TomCat at 8:17 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Jan 262020

It’s a busy day here in the CatBox, as WWWendy will be here in about an hour. I’m feeling a bit better as, after throwing up most of the day yesterday, I kept supper down. Then I kept breakfast down this morning. Have a great Sunday!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 4:07 (average 5:28). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Short Takes:

From NY Times and YouTube: Even before the gas chambers were destroyed and the savage toll of years of industrialized mass murder revealed to the world, prisoners at the largest Nazi concentration camp were already repeating two words: Never again.

But as the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz approaches, an occasion being marked by events around the world and culminating in a solemn ceremony at the former death camp on Monday that will include dozens of aging Holocaust survivors, Piotr Cywinski, the director of the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum, is worried…

…Across Europe and in the United States, there is concern about a resurgence of anti-Semitism. Toxic political rhetoric and attacks directed at groups of peoples — using language to dehumanize them — that were once considered taboo have become common across the world’s democracies.

To find examples of the rabid antisemitism that led to Auschwitz, one need look no further than the US Republican Reich. Impeached Fuhrer Trump called the Republicans in this video “fine people”. RESIST!!

From YouTube (CNN Channel): New audio and video undermine President Trump’s claim about Lev Parnas

So the liar who had “never met Parnas” and didn’t even “know who Parnas is” knew him well enough to discuss the strategy of firing a US Ambassador and blackmailing Ukraine in the face of military aggression from Trump* buddy Putin [R-RU]. The Republican lackeys in the Senate wouldn’t mind hearing witnesses themselves. They already know how guilty Trump* is and don’t care. Those Republican cowards are afraid to have American voters hear the witnesses. RESIST!!

From YouTube (SNL Channel): Alan Dershowitz Argues for Trump Cold Open

The faces are slightly different, but the satirical reality they display is spot-on! However, Dershowitz should have taken his client downstairs and left him with his perv buddy Jeff! RESIST!!

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

I’ll never tire of this one. Ah… the memories! RESIST!!

Vote Blue!!

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