Open Thread–2/12/2020

Posted by TomCat at 9:04 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Feb 122020

It’s another sickly day, here in the CatBox. I could not keep breakfast down, but eventually the burn eased off enough for me to work. It’s a WWWendy day, and it’s been so muggy here, that I need de-stinking in the worst way. Happy Hump Day!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 5:08 (average 7:14). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

I made this cartoon when Crawford Caligula was Resident. Republicans are even worse on jobs now.

Short Takes:

From YouTube (MSNBC Channel): Entire Roger Stone Prosecution Team Quits Case In Protest

Now that criminal Fuhrer Trump knows he can get away with abusing his power, he’s setting off on a new crime spree. And whenever the AG hears his master’s voice, Barrf Barrfs! Kudos to the prosecutor who quit DOJ! I hope the Democratic President rehires him in Jan. RESIST!!

From YouTube: Bloomberg’s ‘stop-and-frisk’ comments resurface

Even if Bloomberg were not a proven racist, as the tape demonstrates so clearly, he should not be allowed to buy a chance to win the Democratic Nomination. RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past): Van Morrison – Brown Eyed Girl (Original Version)

Vote Blue!!

Ah… the memories! RESIST!!

Open Thread–2/11/2020

Posted by TomCat at 7:56 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Feb 112020

I’m afraid I’m having a rough day. I could not keep breakfast down, and my heartburn is screaming. This is my only article today.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 5:45 (average 5:20). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Short Takes:

From YouTube: Asked who’d be her ‘Mike Pence’, Warren says ‘I already have a dog’

FOMCROTFPIMPLMAO! RESIST!!

From The New Yorker: An employee who regularly self-identifies as “troubled” or “concerned” would benefit from seeking a different job, leading workplace experts said on Monday.

Professor Davis Logsdon, the director of the University of Minnesota’s Workplace Health Institute, cited the case of a Maine woman who appeared to undergo a traumatic experience every time she was faced with a difficult decision at work.

“According to her own account, each decision followed an excruciating period of existential torment,” Logsdon said. “Any employee who finds decision-making this harrowing should clearly consider working somewhere else.”

Logsdon said that the woman’s frequent episodes of being troubled and/or concerned usually resulted in an unsatisfactory outcome.

“At the end of her nightmarish deliberation process, she lost the capacity for individual judgment,” he said. “She just went along with what everyone else in the office decided to do, regardless of the harm that such a decision might cause.”

Andy, I fully agree. Slithering Susan Collins [R-ME] needs a new job. Work to clean up all the bullshit she has spewed would give her job security for years! RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past): The Beach Boys – Don’t Worry Baby

Ah… the memories! RESIST!!

Vote Blue!!

Open Thread–2/10/2020

Posted by TomCat at 9:24 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Feb 102020

It’s a tired day here in the CatBox. I woke up around midnight with an upset stomach, and could not get back to sleep. I held my breakfast down, but just barely. Oh God, it’s Monday!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:55 (average 5:43). To do it, click here. How did you do? I would have been faster, if I were a dawg, or if the hydrant were Trump*.

Cartoon:

Short Takes:

From Daily Kos: Everyone loved Bill Murray reprising his role as Phil Connors in Groundhog Day.

Everyone hated Trump.

USA Today’s Ad Meter, which tabulates consumer ratings, has been running its Super Bowl ad rankings since 1989. This year, Trump’s campaign ad was ranked as the worst.

The second-least favorite? This commercial for pretzel Pop-Tarts. Yes, pretzel Pop-Tarts are more popular than the president of the United States. Not coincidentally, a pretzel Pop-Tart would also be a much better president, because it has more dignity and gravitas and doesn’t necessarily have to be thoroughly toasted before breakfast. (You know, because Trump sprinkles Adderall on his pancakes. Or so I’ve heard.)

I personally found this year’s Super Bowl commercials (something I usually enjoy) to be the worst in my memory. That criminal Fuhrer Trump’s* was the worst of the worst put a smile on my face. RESIST!!

From YouTube (MSNBC Channel): Will New Hampshire Finish Joe Biden’s Political Career?

What really upset me is to see Liz tied with Biden at fourth. I think that ABC’s decision to give Pete and Amy more time than Bernie and Joe and way more time than Liz is at least partially to blame for that. As much as I’d love to see NH move Joe into well-earned retirement, I hesitate to count him out before SC, where Mayor Pete could be in big trouble.

From YouTube (a blast from the past): Harry Nilsson narrates “The Point”

I mentioned The Point yesterday. Here it is. If this clip does not auto-play the next six segments, click through for the playlist. Ah… the memories! Oblio is a Democrat! RESIST!!

Vote Blue!!

Open Thread–2/9/2020

Posted by TomCat at 8:13 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Feb 092020

It’s a busy day here in the CatBox. I’m feeling better than yesterday and WWWendy will be here shortly. This is my only article today.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today,s took me 3:30 (average 5:55). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

A visual blast from the past.

Short Takes:From Mother Jones (H/T Daily Kos): Here’s something sleazy: In 2019, the state of Montana had to twice warn voters about mailers from the Republican National Committee disguised to look like official 2020 Census documents. They were actually requests for money and voter information to help re-elect President Donald Trump.

But the GOP hasn’t stopped.

In response to our recent request for your political mail, a Michigan resident sent us a document that looks almost identical to the one the GOP came under fire for last year. (We’ve lightly redacted the document.) Our reader isn’t alone—a Michigan TV station wrote about the practice causing “confusion” recently, too. We’ve contacted Michigan’s census officials and are awaiting comment.

Click through to view this Republican SCAM SPAM in it’s entirety! Is this sleazy? Yes! Is it typical of the Republican Reich? Hell, Yes!! RESIST!!

From YouTube (SNL Channel): New Hampshire Democratic Debate Cold Open

It’s nice to poke some good natured fun at our own candidates for a change. As much as Republicans need and deserve satire as disgustingly vile as they are, we need a brief break. RESIST!!

From KOIN: A rally planned by the Ku Klux Klan at the Multnomah County Courthouse was canceled Saturday hours before its scheduled start. But throngs of anti-fascist protesters arrived, leading to the arrest of 3 people.

About three hours prior to the KKK rally taking place, the Portland Police Bureau announced organizers — who they did not name — had backed out of the event early Saturday.

Before the arrests, Portland police said it was a peaceful demonstration.

Olivia Katbi Smith, the co-chair of the Portland Chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, said hundreds came out to protest the KKK rally.

Kudos to the Democratic Socialists! Oregon Leads the way! RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past): Harry Nilsson – Everybody’s Talkin’ (1969)

I loved his The Point Album. Ah… the memories! RESIST!!

Vote Blue!!

Bill Maher from 2/7

Posted by TomCat at 10:34 am Politics

Feb 082020

It’s that time of week again, so here are 4 video clips, 3 of which are good, from Bill’s show last night. Enjoy!

Monologue: All Torn Up

Were all torn up, Bill. Any good week for criminal Fuhrer Trump* is a bad week for America.

24 Things You Don’t Know About Jared Kushner

They are all quite credible, especially #14

Steve Bannon and Bill Maher Go Head-to-Head

Although I agreed with most of his arguments, Bill still gives far too much publicity and far too much respect to Nazis!

New Rule: 100% That Mitch

That picture shows Bought Bitch Midnight Moscow Mitch creaming his bloomers. From beginning to end of this clip, Bill was spot on about Republicans!

Good show, except for Bannon.

RESIST!!

Open Thread–2/8/2020

Posted by TomCat at 10:33 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Feb 082020

I’m having a rough day. Although I haven’t barfed my breakfast, I have severe heartburn, and the Republicosis has returned. Tomorrow is a WWWendy day, so please expect no more than an Open Thread. I hope your weekend is better than mine.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 2:42 (average 4:31). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Short Takes:

From ACLU: Voting should be as easy and convenient as possible, and in many cases it is. But across the U.S., too many politicians are passing measures making it harder to cast a ballot. The goal is to manipulate political outcomes, and the result is a severely compromised democracy that doesn’t reflect the will of the people. Our democracy works best when all eligible voters can participate and have their voices heard.

Suppression efforts range from the seemingly unobstructive, like voter ID laws and cuts to early voting, to mass purges of voter rolls and systemic disenfranchisement. And long before election cycles even begin, legislators can redraw district lines that determine the weight of your vote. Certain communities are particularly susceptible to suppression and in some cases, outright targeted — people of color, students, the elderly, and people with disabilities.

Below, we’ve listed some of the most rampant methods of voter suppression across the country — and the advocacy and litigation efforts aimed at protecting our fundamental right to vote.

Click through for the best reference I’ve seen on voter suppression by the Republican Reich! RESIST!!

From YouTube (538 Channel): Who Won The New Hampshire Debate? Buttigieg? Klobuchar? Sanders?

Here’s my take on it. Buttigieg and Sanders ended in a virtual tie. Warren was third, in spite of being sabotaged by ABC news, who virtually ignored her all night. She got less time than Klobuchar, and WAY less time than Biden. Klobuchar was fourth. She seemed a bit desperate. Biden was fifth. He was more forceful, than before but was singularly unimpressive. Steyer is still trying to buy victory, and Yang is still a one trick pony. RESIST!!

From YouTube (MSNBC Channel): Witnesses Left Scattered In Wake Of Trump Impeachment Scandal

Criminal Fuhrer Trump* always leaves chaos in his wake, as others bear the consequences of his never-ceasing crimes and incompetence. RESIST!!

Also from YouTube (MSNBC Channel): Secret Service Skipping Reports On Payment To Trump Resorts: WaPo

Meanwhile a Trump* appointed federal judge just ruled that Congress lacks standing to sue Trump* for emoluments violations. RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past): The Doors – Hello, I Love You

Ah… the memories! RESIST!!

Vote Blue!!

Open Thread–2/7/2020

Posted by TomCat at 10:43 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Feb 072020

It’s a lazy day here at the CatBox. On the plus side, I kept my food down yesterday and my breakfast, today. On the minus side, although my phantom nerve pain is gradually diminishing, it has cost me enough sleep over two nights that I’m dead tired. TGIF!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 2:57 (average 4:53). To do it, click here. How did you fo?

Cartoon:

Short Takes:

From Alternet: Fox News host Sean Hannity boldly defended President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address Tuesday night, by accusing Democrats of supporting “abortion after birth.”

There is no such thing as “abortion after birth,” as many on social media pointed out.

“It’s the party that wants to nationalize everything,” Hannity told his Fox News viewers. “Even supporting infanticide, and abortion after birth, as the Virginia governor told us.”

Again, there is no such thing.

Abortion after birth, were that possible, might not be all that bad in two instances. Hannity is one. The other wears an asterisk. RESIST!!

From YouTube (Robert Reich Channel): Iowa Caucus Glitch, Biden’s Drop, and Trump’s Acquittal

Of course the Reich on the left, Robert Reich, is right in everything he said. The Reich on the right, the Republican Reich, aka the Fifth Reich, is so evil that Hitler, Fuhrer of the Third Reich, stopped playing chess with Scalia long enough to express his envy of Fuhrer Trump*. I do like Lawrence’s idea of reorganizing the states to equalize the Senate and Electoral College. RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past): Roy Orbison – Oh, Pretty Woman (from Black & White Night)

Ah… the memories! RESIST!!

Vote Blue!!

Samantha Bee from 2/6

Posted by TomCat at 8:58 am Politics

Feb 062020

It’s that time of week again, and here are 4 great video clips from Sam’s show last night. Enjoy!!

The State of Our Union is BAD

I’m inclined to think that the state of our union rhymes with upchucked.

The Art Of Health Care Haggling

My Medicare Advantage company owns my hospital, and they pay for virtually everything. But it should cover things it doesn’t: dental, vision, hearing, long term nursing home (when needed), and, if Trump steals the White House again, psychiatric care.

Dental Care IS Health Care