Justice – Page 112 – Politics Plus

Open Thread for January 16, 2022

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 6:48 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Jan 162022

Yesterday, The Opera was “The Marriage of Figaro” by Mozart. It’s based on the second of three plays by Pierre Beaumarchais, kown as the Figaro plays. All three have been made into operas – The first play, The Barber of Seville, by Rossini in 1816. The second, The Marriage of Figaro, by Mozart in 1786. The third, The Guilty Mother, by many composers, including John Corigliano, completed in 1991, and very different in that the source play is treated as a play within a play, and there is not a living person in the whole thing. These days it’s not obvious why all three were so controversial when new, particularly the plays, but they were. Beaumarchais was an American sympathizer who raised money for the Revolution before France sent actual military aid with LaFayette, and there are hints of that in the plays (fewer in the operas). But things have changed enough so that is not obvious to us today. Human nature, however, has not changed much if at all, and there’s plenty of that in all of them.

Cartoon –

Short Takes –

Huff Post – Major Student Loan Processor Cancels $1.7 Billion In Debt
Quote – Most of the loans being canceled are “subprime loans” that were given to students attending for-profit colleges, which often had graduation rates below 50%. That made it unlikely students would ever be able to pay the loans back.
Click through for background. This does not apply to all student loans, but it does apply to the most vulnerable. And there is another suit still going forward.

Reuters – DirecTV to drop far-right channel OAN from its service
Quote – OAN, which rose to prominence amid the triumph and tumult of the administration of then-President Donald Trump, has been criticized for spreading conspiracy theories about the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2020 election. “We informed Herring Networks that, following a routine internal review, we do not plan to enter into a new contract when our current agreement expires,” a DirecTV spokesperson said in an emailed statement to Reuters.
Click through for more. In a related article, Reuters estimates OAN’s revenue from DirecTV to be in the neighborhood of 90% of its total revenue.

The Guardian – Police and FBI respond to synagogue hostage situation in Texas
Quote – The incident took place during an online livestream of the Shabbat service at the synagogue in Colleyville, in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area. The livestream cut off at about 2pm local time…. “Colleyville Police Sgt Dara Nelson said negotiators have made contact with somebody inside the synagogue who they believe is a suspect,” the Dallas Morning News said.
Click through – They had better respond! This is clear domestic terrorism. UPDATE: All hostages safe, hostage taker dead.

Food For Thought:

Video Thread 1/15/2022

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 12:27 pm Open Thread, Politics

Jan 152022

Glenn Kirschner – The case for Subpoenaing/Investigating Reps Jim Jordan & Scott Perry for Covering-Up Trump’s Crimes

American Bridge – AB21 Co-Chair Steve Bullock discusses NYT Op-Ed on CNN

No Dem Left Behind – NDLB’s Richard Ojeda on why Trump remains a grave threat to the Democratic Party

Crooks and Liars – If you can’t convince them with reason, can it hurt to try absurdity?

KAYAK – Mom’s a KAYAK Denier (oh. my!)

Beau – Let’s talk about why they aren’t talking to the committee….

Open Thread for January 15, 2022

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 7:10 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Jan 152022

Yesterday, I managed to order a prescription renewal shipped to me, and also made the appointment for my booster – next Wednesday. And did a little knitting It’s amazing how much more I can acomplish when the internet works and the phone is back on all the handsets. (If I wanted to carry a phone around wherever I go in my own house, I’d use a cell.)

Cartoon – This is historical fact, but I suspect it’s also a provate joke between TC and Nameless.

Short Takes –

“Seditious Conspiracy” Charges Against Oath Keepers Mark a Major Advance in January 6 Investigation
Quote – [Oath Keepers founder Stewart] Rhodes was taken into custody in Granbury, Texas, according to his lawyer, Jonathon Moseley, who said he was on the phone with Rhodes about plans for him to be interviewed by the House select committee investigating January 6, when the FBI called. “The FBI special agent said they were outside and he needed to come out with his hands up and be arrested,” Moseley said.
Click through. I’m sure y’all know about the arrests, but there are some details herer.

Wonkette – Hmmm Why Would Republicans Be HOLY SH*TBALLS SO MAD About New DOJ Domestic Terrorism Unit?
Quote – “We face an elevated threat from domestic violent extremists — that is, individuals in the United States who seek to commit violent criminal acts in furtherance of domestic social or political goals,” [Assistant Attorney General Matthew] Olsen said [in testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee]. “Domestic violent extremists are often motivated by a mix of ideologies and personal grievances. We have seen a growing threat from those who are motivated by racial animus, as well as those who ascribe to extremist anti-government and anti-authority ideologies.”
Click through for more, including snark. The answer to the question in the headline is “Because they know who they are.”

Crooks and Liars – Steve Bannon Mocks Michelle Obama: ‘This Is The Rise Of Fascism’
Quote – “Remember, there are no coincidences. Michelle Obama who has floated above this thing at 60,000 feet with Barack Obama, floating above it because they’re national heroes, according to some people, over the weekend, what did she say she was going to do? … She’s going to lead an effort to sign up one million new voters for progressives. How many of those are going to be citizens?”
Click through for more, including video (Barf Bag Alert.)

Just a short note about the #BettyWhiteChallenge – Monday (1/17) would have been her 100th birthday, nd the challenge is to give $5 to some animal charity (preferably alocal one near you) in her memory. I realize not everyone can do that.

Food For Thought:

Video Thread 1/14/2022

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 11:50 am Open Thread, Politics

Jan 142022

Glenn Kirschner – Georgia District Attorney Fani Willis Seems Poised to be the First to Indict Donald Trump

Meidas touch – Matt Gaetz INDICTMENTS likely as ex-girlfriend testifies to Grand Jury in SEX TRAFFICKING probe

The Lincoln Project – Ernst Owning the Libs

American Bridge (after 2 months without putting out any videos and much longer since putting up any of general nterest, they have posted 35 in the last two days. Many are state specific. I’ll select a few) – Cecile Richards on ‘The Last Word With Lawrence O’Donnell’

No Dem Left Behind – Will GOP really make Trump Speaker of the House if they retake Congress?

Really American – COVID-19 vaccine

Beau – Let’s talk about Yellowstone and wolves….

Open Thread for January 14, 2022

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 6:33 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Jan 142022

Yesterday, while still taking things slowly, I worked ahead a little bit. That pretty much gave nme the evening free, and I appreciated it. Incidentally a good phrase for today might be “superseding indictments. Some Oath Keepers are going to get those now that their leader has been arrested for Seditious Conspiracy.

Cartoon –

Short Takes –

Huff Post – Voters Challenge Madison Cawthorn’s Reelection Bid On Constitutional Grounds
Quote – The nonprofit Free Speech For People filed a challenge with the North Carolina State Board of Elections on behalf of 11 North Carolina voters, stating that Cawthorn has violated Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. Section 3 says that no person may hold political office “who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress … shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion.” The section was initially aimed at lawmakers who had plotted or battled against the U.S. government during the Civil War.
Click through for details. After reading this, I sent an email to Colorado’s Secretary of State, Who is up for reelection in 2022, cited this article, told her I trust her and am proud of her, and remindng her of some things Lamborn has doe – like taking Lauren Boebert for a tour of the Pueblo Chemical Depot and accepting a decoration from Viktor Orban – which, far from trying to keep secret, he has bragged abot in emails. I don’t know whether any of that will help, but hey, nothing ventured …

Crooks and Liars – Blackburn Goes Out Of Her Way To Humiliate Black Judicial Appointee
Quote – Tennessee’s Senator Marsha Blackburn decided to try to make a Black judicial appointee, Andre B. Mathis, look like a criminal when she said he had a “rap sheet.”… What was on this alleged rap sheet? Breaking and entering? Kidnapping? Murder? Grand Larceny? None of these. Mathis had 3 unpaid speeding tickets, one of them for driving five miles over the speeding limit.
Click through for context. I’ve often pointed out, usually in connection with immigration, that anyone who has ever had a speeding ticket (or even earned one and not gotten it) has absolutely no right to whine that undocumented immigrants “broke the law.” I wonder how many tickets Blackburn has earned, and how recently.

Columbia Dispatch – Redistricting: Ohio Supreme Court strikes down state House and Senate maps
Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor (R) was the key vote, breaking with her party to rule against the maps. O’Connor, a Republican, joined the court’s three Democratic justices and the three GOP justices dissented. O’Connor, who has served in statewide office for 24 years, suggested an alternative to the commission, which she called out for its partisanship.
Click through for some good news. Ohio elects its judges – I hope Justice O’Connor is prepared to be primaried

Food For Thought:

Video Thread 1/13/2022

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 12:29 pm Open Thread, Politics

Jan 132022

Glenn Kirschner – Jim Jordan Refuses to Testify/Incriminate Trump: Here’s How it Will Come Back to Bite Him

Meidas Touch – Cult expert REVEALS the secret SECRET CULTS of Mike Pence and Bill Barr!!

MSNBC – I wouldn’t call it breaking news myself – but I like the way they talk about it. “driving the insurrection,” “right wing networks,” “knock down this conspiracy theory.”

Ring of Fire – Ron DeSantis Mocks Florida Residents After He Let A Million COVID Tests Expire

politicsrus – Jan 6 Part 2

The Lincoln Project – Lasr Week in the Republican Party – I had read that Gohmert said that, but thought it must have been an exaggeration. Nope.

Beau – Let’s talk about Trump, Pence, and updates on the committee….

Open Thread for January 13, 2022

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 6:57 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Jan 132022

Yesterday, like the day before, I tried to be laid back (and pretty well succeeded.) Sometimes, I just need to do that for a few days when I’ve had too many things to think about, so the mental spinning has a chance to stop, or at least slow down. But I did make the FFT (I want to stress that when I have to insert something that isn’t square, I’m not terribly good at it. I think if I had something more like a pen and less like a mouse to hold, I might do better – but maybe not.) At least it gets the point across.

Cartoon – 13 Dreyfus Loaded

Short Takes –

Comic Sands (a George Takei site) – Houston High School Teacher Charged After Infected Son Is Found In Trunk Of Car At Testing Site
Quote – [41-year-old Sarah] Beam reportedly kept her son in the car because he had tested positive for Covid-19. Beam wanted to isolate herself from him on the way to the testing site where she was planning on having him get tested again. The high school educator decided the trunk was the best place to put her son.
Click through for more. Yes, you read that right. SMH.

PolitiZoom – WATCH: Eric Trump, Trump Lawyer Run To Fox and Newsmax Right After Maddow Bombshell. What Do They Know That We Don’t?
Quote: Here’s what happened in just a few hours on Monday the 10th. Come, let us reason together, as LBJ used to say. First, Rachel Maddow announced that Donald Trump’s lawyers have met in person with the District Attorney of Fulton County, Georgia. Then Trump’s lawyer showed up on Newsmax and her villain du jour is Letitia James [NY], not Fani Willis [Fulton County]..
Click through for more backgrounsd and even a couple of videos. Rachel reminds us Of TFG’s December 18 rant, calling Democrats in the juducial systems, state and Federal, “thugs who just want to lock people up.” She postulates That that rant and the meeting of his lawyers with Fulton County are related. She may well be right.

The 19th – Lawsuits, complaints and protests are upending sexist school dress codes
Quote – “All of those girls are being framed as dangerous and as disruptive to the ‘peaceful’ learning environment,” said Shauna Pomerantz, author of “Girls, Style and School Identities: Dressing the Part” and associate professor of child and youth studies at Brock University in Ontario, Canada. “It’s a ridiculous idea to think that [editing] these pictures is going to somehow change the culture of the school. If anything, that kind of action is going to enhance rape culture in any school, and it’s going to give people the message that girls are asking for trouble if they show their cleavage.”
Click through for details and more examples.. “Dress codes” are generally written with the underlying assumptions that “boys will be boys” so girls have to hide their bodies to prevent rape But many dress codea are also racist. Natural black hair is often prohibited, and some articles of clothing which are fashionable in the black community are assumed to be “gang symbols.” This may not be the most obvious issue in a country which ia at risk of losing democracy, but it is an issue which dehumanizes people (some people, rather, at the expense of others) and does not lead to the most hmentally healthy adults.

Food For Thought: