Personal – Politics Plus

Open Thread April 30 2025

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 6:00 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Apr 302025

Yesterday, the Contrarian posted a “Words and Phrases We Could Do Without,” as it sometimes does. The phrase was “Golden Age.” Of course what the Rockmelon Regime actually wants to duplicate is actually the “Gilded Age” – and I have a personal story about how different that is. I have never cared for turkey, but my aunt always made it for Thanksgiving and we always went to them for Thanksgiving = they came to us for Christmas. The part of the turkey I could basically stand was the part no one else wanted – the tail (you have probably heard some bigoted nicknames for it – I certainly have.) The first Thanksgiving I was not there because I was in the USMC, my uncle decided that a cute was to say “we missed you” would be to “gild” the tail of the turkey, mount it on a little block of wood, and send it to me, so he did just that. Of course he didn’t use actual gold, but gold paint – however, I suspect the results would be the same had he used actual gold – you can gild a turkey’s ass, but you can’t prevent it from rotting. And that’s why the term “Gilded Age” is so appropriate. However, if “Gilded” bothers Republican snowflakes, may UI suggest “Fools’ Golden Age” as a possible alternative? Also, this Borowitz is from Sunday but I haven’t completely trained tutamail yet on what is and isn’t spam, so I just found it – and can’t resist sharing.

I just found this Heather Cox Richardson also. You may have seen the information, but I don’t know who is better than a great historian to analyze it.

The ACLU put this up and out on Monday. But since today, Wednesday, is the actual Day 100, I don’t consider it terribly late. there’s a donate screen, but you can just scroll down past it. I suspect everyone who has the means is already giving.

Robert Reich mentioned Al Gore as one of the past Presidents and Vice Presidents he had not heard speaking publicly about the Rockmenlon Regime. Then he found this. I figure if he missed it, we probably all missed it – know I did – so here it is.

Open Thread April 29 2025

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 6:00 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Apr 292025

Yesterday, as usual, I signed a bunch of petitions in my email. Lately, at least one of the groups sponsoring them has added an item in the personal information – “Do you want a response?” Frankly, as any as I sign I’d just as doon not have a response to every pne especially if it goes to multiple senders. This particular one also allows signers to edit (personalize) their individual letters. I decided to check “No” on a response and add this in a separate paragraph at the bottom of the letter: “Your vote will be my response.” I like that. It says “You are being watched and your votes are being noted. No amount of boilerplate language by a staffer is going to blind me to your record.” I am going to start doing that in every case where I am able to edit the message.

Digby quotes Josh Marshall at length to good effect. Most of us are aware that ships, railroad, trucks, all are part of the Supply Chain. But that’s not the same as understanding the timelines (and even that is incomplete unless one knows what cones from where.) There is still a little time for stocking up, but very little. This link from Fortune also has good information. If it looks like there’s nothing there, scroll down a bit.

Colorado Public Radio reprinted this from Chalkbeat (and has a link to it.) I guess how you look at this depends on how you define “legal system.” The laws themselves, though not perfect are what I would call broken. The enforcement, on the other hand, is catastrophic. It seems like every LEO involved in immigration in any way has the mindset of a small town sheriff in the deep South during the Civil Rights movement. Who wouldn’t be confused and anxious, for heaven’s sake? I’m very glad Denver University has this clinic, but I’m certainly not expecting it to solve everything.

Open Thread April 28 2025

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 6:00 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Apr 282025

Yesterday, Steve Schmidt wrote about the point to which bothsiderism has brought Bill Maher. I only point to it because TomCat would be so disappointed. It is easier that ever, knowing that Bill Maher and Bill O’Reilly are DNA cousins, to see the relationship. Also yesterday, I almost forgot to post this. My credit union has changed a bunch of stuff, and it involved issuing a new card with a new number and expiration date, and yesterday was the day I had to process the change. Also Virgil needed coffee, and the only place I can order it from that he will get it was apparently put (I hope they haven’t stopped carrying it), so I had to put money in his canteen account instead, and include a note explaining why. And Trinette was over also, which is always a delight, but not conducive to remembering whether I have or have not completed routine tasks. Fortunately. the Sundays I don’t see Virgil I often stay up past midnight to email for a reservation for the following week, because it can’t be timestamped before midnight and still be within the right time frame. As a result of all of that, I finished posting it around 2 am my time.

This article from Axios is obvious to anyone who has been paying attention. Sadly, far too few Americans have. It is concise and clear and , for those not paying attention, adds three separate articles at the end which provide examples. Well, that’s not a bad way to say “I am not making this up.” Now if we can only figure out how to get it into the hands of those who need to read and understand it.

Sadly, just because someone is a Democrat, even an elected Democrat, does not necessarily mean that they are vary smart, or that they are not grandstanding. This article from The F* News is a case in point.

Open Thread April 22 2025

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 6:00 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Apr 222025

Yesterday, Pope Francis died. Besides grieving for the loss of that good man, I can’t help feeling I’ve seen this movie before, and what happens next is not good. John XXIII was succeeded by Paul VI which was not great, John Paul I died so quickly I still wonder whether his death was facilitated, and then we got John Paul II and Benedict. We badly needed Pope Francis, and we still do, but he is gone. I won’t say meeting with JD Vance killed him, but I’m sure it didn’t help. Robert Reich, on the other hand, wrote an impressive eulogy. (I am still running behind and today did not help with that BTW.)

The F* News caught my eye with this headline. But it is a valid story worth reading. It appears that republicans now hate “others” so much that they even hate their tourist dollars. They’d rather starve or become homeless than accept furrin money now.

This from The 19th is positive as far as it goes – let’s hope it goes and keeps going. I’m familiar with DoD schools, having volunteered with one as part of a folk music trio with a male officer and a male civilian teacher in the latter’s fourth grade classroom. Don’t ask me to sing today – old age does not improve one’s singing voice unless one practices regularly, which I didn’t. But it’s still a fond memory.

The price for this pay-per-view is $20.26, and I expect it to be well spent. I don’t know every name featured – but every name I do know is well worth a listen. The date is this Saturday. I hope that’s enough advance notice for everyone who wants to watch it.

Open Thread April 21 2025

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 6:00 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Apr 212025

Yesterday, I saw Virgil and we played cribbage. More “two double run” hands than I’ve ever seen in a sitting, but also more zero hands. I was the only visitor, and Virg was sorry for people who weren’t getting a visit. I pointed out that those people might have kids or grandkids that their family needed to spend the day with, and also that Sunday is not the only visiting day and they might have been visited on Friday or Saturday, which seemed to relieve him. It is true that most people in prisons in the US (and probably elsewhere) don’t get visited at all. I’m more tired than usual; it’s been a rough week for me. So instead of looking for an article explaining “NORRA” (which really should be spelled “NoRRA,” but we all know Republicans can’t spell – and have no feel for language), but instead I’ll recommend you do a search on it. It’s pretty much a declaration of open war on the Judiciary.

Joyce Vance writes on the mass deportation cases we have seen (and can expect to see more of.) She makes it I think as clear as anyone possibly could.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/132270244
https://www.democraticunderground.com/132270260
Here are two videos, both posted at Democratic Underground which have information – information that I wish I didn’t need to know, but since I so, I’d rather have it blunt. Both are embedded at DU so no ads for anyone who watches them there. But also no comments from YouTubers.

Open Thread April 20 2025

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 6:09 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Apr 202025

Yesterday, the radio opera was “L’Assedio di Corinto” by Rossini. This is the first opera Beverly Sills sang at the Met – and in fact we heard a recording of that debut on April 19th of 1975, exactly fifty years earlier. Fifty years. I wasn’t there, but I had heard Ms. Sills a few years earlier, at the Kennedy Center, in recital, on the tour, which was famous at the time, when she was so ill she requested no encores, but people demanded them anyway, unable to believe that anyone could sing like that but have something wrong with her voice. It wasn’t until she asked the audience in her own speaking voice to refrain from requesting encores that she was believed and her request respected. I have this opera on vinyl with her and also with Norman Treigle, who is not in this performance (Justino Diaz is.) But that’s OK – Shirley Verrett is in this performance but was not on the vinyl. The opera is not really about Corinth (which has been through some sieges) but about Missolonghi which was under siege in 1826 by Turkey. I’m pretty sure none of the main plot (about a love triangle, a domineering father, and mistaken identity) happened at either siege. or at any siege ever), but it’s Rossini, so it’s listenable, even without the shining stars of this production. Sigh. I remember some opera opera lovers and I used occasionally to refer to Sills as “Silverly Bells” – a Spoonerism, but it intended as a tribute to that voice. Now I’m feeling old. But it was worth it. Also yesterday, Wonkette reported that Barbara Lee has won her special election to be the Mayor of Oakland, CA. I don’t believe it’s been officially announced, but the numbers are clear. I can only compare what that will be like for Oakland to South Bend, IN, who had Mayor Pete for 8 years. I certainly hope they keep her in office as long as they legally can. Now, let’s help make Kasie Porter Governor of California, and I’ll think about forgiving Adam Schiff. And one more thing – At 1:00 AM EDT yesterday, the Supreme Court issued an opinion – and it was a good one. This video from the Contrarian is almost 45 minutes. But it took me less than 10 minutes before my jaw dropped. If you already know about it, fine, but if you don’t you need to. Off to see Virgil now, will comment upon return.

And this in, of all places, Tennessee. And Dolly Parton wasn’t even there.

Colorado Public Radio published this on Good Friday, so I can share it on actual Easter. Nice not to be late, for once.

Wonkette doesn’t mention this, but I would like to point out, if you made phone calls or sent postcards or did anything at all to help keep the Supreme Court election in Wisconsin fair and prevent Republicans from getting the vote overturned in favor of the Republican candidate, give yourself a big pat on the back (just don’t break your arm.) Because you did this. Your work helped make it possible for the cOurt to rule this way. And this is an example of why I try to bring attention to special elections, recall elections, or any disputed or might-be-disputed, no matter where.

Founders

Dog

Open Thread April 18 2025

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 6:00 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Apr 182025

Today I am expecting snow in the afternoon and overnight. This is not the latest in the spring we have had snow. I remember one year in the late 90’s when we had snow during the third week of May. It wasn’t that much, but it was enough to ice the roads as I drove home from work. When I got home, I called the announcer of my local radio station and requested “Come un bel di di Maggio” (Like a lovely day in May) and she played that and also “Die Wunderschöne Monat Mai” (The amazingly beautiful month of May.) And we are not the only ones expecting un-spring-like weather. Hail is predicted over an area of the plains from roughly Iowa to Oklahoma city. They are not predicting but cannot rule out tornadoes there also. Sorry about the missed post – I did put it up when I realized it thanks to Nameless because there was so much in it, including a Borowitz. If you’ve been reading what I have put up, you’ll know I am being gut-punched by the news😢. It must not be stopping me from signing petitions, though. Yesterday I got 5 responses from my Congressman within the space of a minute, and I’m sure they are all responses to petitions and/or group sponsored letters.

This is about as straight talk as it gets. I’m going to be flippant for a moment and say, “Gee, there sure must have been a lot of people in Nazi Germany bitching about the price of eggs.” But it’s really no time for flippancy. I just get that way when I feel helpless. It’s good to know we still have some judges who are not corrupt – and I’m confident there are many more we are not hearing about because they haven’t been assigned a case like these – yet.

Personally, I don’t have anything against lawyers in general. I’ve been fortunate enough to know some really good ones – good people besides being good lawyers – and on principle I tend to assume a person is a decent human being until proved otherwise. But Joyce’s point that many Americans would have no sympathy for lawyers is probably sound (and for that matter, not just for Americans, but for just about every group since before Shakespeare’s time.) Most layers do not deserve to be treated like this. Sadly, some with firms that capitulate now are likely soon to do something that does deserve negative consequences.

More pretty much straight news from Andy (I don’t believe in the poll, but I do believe if there were one, this would be the result.)

Rachel Maddow interviews Senator Van Hollen

Open Thread April 17 2025

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 6:00 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Apr 172025

Yesterday, Senator Van Hollen (D-MD) was in my prayers all day. He is in El Salvador to do everything he can to bring back his constituent, Kilmar Abrego Garcia. I have two D Senators, but I doubt whether either of them would do anything like that. They are hung up on “collegiality.” Senator Van Hollen did inspire me to send a single-sentence email to both my Senators, though: “So – what are you going to do when he starts disappearing people who are legally residing in Colorado?” I do hope the Senator is safe himself – that is far from guaranteed. Speaking as a white person, I wish we could bring back Ellis Island, or something like it and screen immigrants, not for tuberculosis, but for white supremacy. Not by asking them whether they are a white supremacist, but with a psych screen. Elon would never have made it through that. Just in case anyone thinks I am overreacting (I know, not likely), here’s a link with thought. Also yesterday, Judge Boasberg issued a ruling that there is cause to hold the Trump** Regime in criminal contempt, and gave them a week to come clean (turn over all information he has requested.) HuffPost has the story.

This all along is what has worried and frightened me the most. And here we are. I may be wrong, but I don’t think Marcie at Wonkette is a lawyer, so I’m also posting the same story as explained by Joyce Vance, who is a lawyer, and not just a lawyer, a former DOJ prosecutor.

Nobody says it better or clearer than Joyce Vance. She doesn’t sugar coat it, and I certainly don’t want to either. And I am about out of words of my own at this point.

May as well add Heather Cox Richardson to the chorus. I really do not think there is any way to over-report this.

John Pavlovitz weighs in also. I think this can be called a righteous rant.

Had I found this in time, I would have used it Tuesday. But it wasn’t posted until late enough Tuesday that I had already scheduled Wednesday.Here it is now.

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