Open Thread–1/24/2020

Posted by TomCat at 8:47 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Jan 242020

It’s a tired day here in the CatBox. I didn’t sleep well last night, but I kept my food down all day yesterday and this morning. I’m going to do my best to force a week free of Medical Mayhem, before I let them perform more in their endless barrage of tests. Pardon my frustration, please. I’m just sick of sick. TGIF!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:52 (average 5:09). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Short Takes:

From Crooks and Liars: George Conway and his new group called The Lincoln Project created a second negative political ad targeting the vulnerable Senator from Maine, Susan Collins.

In the ad, they highlight the supposed “independent” credentials negated by her actions. They demand that Collins do her job during the Senate impeachment trial.

Amen! RESIST!!

From YouTube (MSNBC Channel): Adam Schiff Ends Day With Powerful Argument For Trump’s Removal

I think Schiff was speaking more to the American people more than to the Senators, whose ears and minds are closed. The real trial is the one in November. The onus falls on voters to send criminal Resident Trump* and the entire Republican Reich the way of the Whig Party! RESIST!!

From YouTube (a change of pace): Patsy Cline – Sweet Dreams

I’m so old that even this brings memories! RESIST!!

Vote Blue!!

Samantha Bee from 1/22

Posted by TomCat at 8:47 am Politics

Jan 232020

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

The Impeachment Trial: Show Us Parnas’ Receipts

If Parnas needs hemorrhoid cream, he must have VERY close contact with Rudy. Seriously, bring him on!

Iran Explainer with Gissou Nia & Michael Bennet

The proof that Soleimani was a war criminal is that he worked with the Republican Reich, until Trump* abandoned the Kurds. Trump murdered his own war criminal.

Paid Parental Leave Is Good For Business

American moms and dads need paid parental leave. Amen Sam!

I’m sure glad she’s back!

RESIST!!

Open Thread–1/23/2020

Posted by TomCat at 8:46 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Jan 232020

I had a rough day yesterday, My lunch disagreed with my gut, and I threw up several times. Supper was no better. However I was able to keep breakfast down. I want to finish early today, so I can take a partial nap, before Store to Door delivers groceries this afternoon.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 4:11 (average 6:16). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Short Takes:

From NY Times: When President Trump’s impeachment trial opened this week, the Democratic House managers prosecuting the case piled their table high with binders and notepads. Only a few rested on the defense table.

The contrasting amount of material the two legal teams brought into the Senate chamber to support their initial arguments foreshadowed a broader difference in their approaches to the trial.

In its opening days, the House managers have focused on the facts. They are trying to build a clear and coherent story around their theme that the president abused his power — delving into the details, putting up slides to summarize major points, and playing a well-organized selection of video clips of statements by Mr. Trump and by House witnesses.

Eschewing props, the defense team has focused instead on the process. They have used their time to reinforce the House Republican theme that impeachment is a sham and unfair to Mr. Trump — urging the Senate to swiftly dispose of the case without subpoenaing any additional documents or testimony.

Any good lawyer would prefer to present cases based on facts. However, when the factual evidence is completely stacked against them, they argue process to distract frim the factual case. This is why the House Managers are cleaning the Republicans’ clocks. It will probably make no difference to Republican Senators. They are complaining that they are bored, because they don’t want to listen. But another trial is coming in November. RESIST!!

From YouTube (Parody Project Channel): THE TWEET GOES ON – A Parody | The Freedom Toast & Parody Project

Thanks for including The Freedom Toast, Don. Those doctors may search, but they’ll never find one. If Trump* gets his image on the dime, people will be peeing on money. May voters send the entire Republican Reich the way of the Whig Party. RESIST!!

From YouTube (The Late Show Channel): Trump Brags About Obstructing Congress By Withholding Ukraine Evidence

This is typical of Republican criminal Trump*. He often brags about committing crimes at the same time he protests his innocence. RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past): Little Darlin’-The Diamonds-1957

I learned to jitterbug to this tune. Ah… the memories. RESIST!!

Vote Blue!!

Open Thread – 1/22/2020

Posted by TomCat at 9:56 am Open Thread, Politics

Jan 222020

It’s a frustrating day, here in the CatBox. John, my thoracic surgeon called. After addressing my case with a panel of around 30 other thoracic specialists, they reached the conclusion that I probably have cancer after all. To be sure, they will schedule me for a PET scan and a brain MRI. Depending on those results, I’ll most likely have to undergo radiation and/or chemo. I’m not a happy camper right now, but happy Hump Day to you. At least it’s a WWWendy day, so I get de-stunk!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:04 (average 4:16). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Short Takes:

From The New Yorker: On the first day of the impeachment trial in the United States Senate, Senator Susan Collins, a Republican of Maine, spent hours trying to decide what she would have for lunch before ultimately ordering exactly what Senator Mitch McConnell was having.

Clutching the Senate takeout menu in her hands, Collins told reporters mid-morning that the decision of what to have for lunch was a matter of serious consideration and that she wanted to review all of the available options before selecting one.

“I’m deeply troubled and concerned about getting this order right,” Collins said. “There are many valid choices on this menu and I don’t want to give any of them short shrift.”

Around 11 a.m., rumors swirled that Collins was leaning toward ordering a quinoa salad, a choice that would have set her apart from the rest of her Republican colleagues in the upper chamber.

By noon, however, Collins emerged from her office to tell reporters that she had ordered the exact same thing that the Senate Majority Leader had chosen…

Dang, Andy! Are you echoing real life, or what! RESIST!!

From YouTube (CNN Channel): Key moments from the first day of the Senate impeachment trial

In my opinion, Day One was a clear and total victory for our House Managers. They were prepared, concise, honest, and respectful. In contrast, the lawyers representing criminal Trump* were unprepared, disorganized, blatantly dishonest, and flippant. The House Managers have already presented more evidence than Bought Mitch Midnight Moscow Mitch wanted to allow in the entire trial. May they keep going strong! RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past): Mungo Jerry – In The Summertime ORIGINAL 1970

Ah… a one hit wonder! RESIST!!

Vote Blue!!

Open Thread – 1/21/2020

Posted by TomCat at 10:26 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Jan 212020

It’s a hectic day here in the CatBox, as medical mayhem is back in the driver’s seat. For some reason my Medicare Advantage premiums stopped being deducted from my social security check, so I have to pay the bill and get it fixed again. In addition, I have to call the hospital to get my stress test scheduled before my endoscopy (camera in stomach). Lisa (Cardiologist) tipped me off that, once the hospital finds the stress test ordered, they will delay the endoscopy until after the stress test, and you know how much trouble I had scheduling that endoscopy. Today is also a grocery order day and the first day of the Bought Bitch Midnight Moscow Mitch Show. ARGH! Have a great day!

Later: I scheduled the stress test and straightened out the Medicare Advantage premiums. Social Security Refusing to deduct Medicare Advantage premiums is a gift to American Seniors from Trump* and the Republican Reich. I have put it on my card automatically.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:39 (average 5:10). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Remember “Je suis Charlie”?

Short Takes:

From YouTube (CNN Channel): MLK Jr.’s son reacts to President Trump’s tweet

When the impeached twit* tweets, he often puts his Republican racism in display, but in this case, he’s just lying. RESIST!!

From YouTube (MSNBC Channel): Gun Rights Activists Rally Against Gun Control Legislation In Richmond

This is how Ammosexual, racist, violent Republicans celebrated MLK Day! RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past): The Platters – Only You – Lyrics

Ah… the memories! RESIST!!

Vote Blue!!

Personal Update – 1/20/2020

Posted by TomCat at 6:15 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Jan 202020

I’m writing most of this on Sunday Night, and in the morning I’ll fill in puzzle times. Congrats to Nameless and KC. However, I was shocked and disgusted to see far more Bloomberg than Budweiser during the game. I should be back from my cardiologist around 1:00 PM, so by the time I get out of my street clothes, put everything away, and eat, it will be well past my nap time. I’ll try to do a “got home safe” check-in before I lie down.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:25 (average 4:44). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Vote Blue!!

Open Thread – 1/19/2020

Posted by TomCat at 7:44 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Jan 192020

I’m hurrying to finish as much work as I can, before WWWendy arrives. This afternoon, I’ll meditate on the Holy Ellipsoid Orb. I’ll be rooting for the Chiefs in deference to one, who shall remain Nameless. I’ll also prepare tomorrow’s articles in advance, except for the puzzle.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 2:55 (average 4:12). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

In case you forgot, RepubliCare is the Republican Reich plan to replace ObamaCare.

Short Takes:

From Alternet: …Trump’s cold sweats are significant, because everyone who has been following this case knows that the Senate will acquit him. Not because he’s innocent — no one who has actually consulted the evidence is foolish enough to believe that — but because Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and the Republicans who control the Senate decided long ago that they would cover up for their shamelessly corrupt president no matter what he does. With such an assured outcome, Trump’s fears seem overblown and silly, even for someone crippled by sociopathic narcissism and its accompanying paranoia.

But it’s also true that high-profile travesties of justice, such as the one Senate Republicans are currently preparing to commit, can often provoke major political backlash. Getting a jury to acquit the obviously guilty can, as history shows, cause a public that’s already outraged about the crime to get even more furious. That, I suspect, is what Trump is sweating.

What the Senate is about to do is akin to the practice of jury nullification. That’s where a jury decides that either they don’t think the crime should be a crime at all, or that they believe people like the defendant should above the law, and so refuse to convict no matter how guilty the defendant is. This something that in theory, and sometimes in practice, can be used for good as when a jury refuses to throw someone in prison for a low-level drug offense, or refuses to enforce a law restricting free speech. But historically in the U.S., jury nullification has tended to be used to uphold injustice and reinforce racist or sexist systems of power….

As I so strongly implied yesterday, the Republican Reich is prepared to goose-step behind criminal Fuhrer Trump* into political extinction. RESIST!!

From YouTube (CNN Channel): Senator makes prediction ahead of impeachment trial

Coons is spot on that testimony from Jon Bolton and Lev Parnas is both relevant and probative, while testimony from Joe and Hunter Biden is neither. Coons’ argument would be valid, if this were a legal trial. It is not. Bought Bitch Moscow Mitch and the Republican Reich set the rules. They can would our objections to Joe and Hunter as an excuse to disallow all witnesses. So if Joe and Hunter appearing is what it takes to get us the real witnesses, bring them on! RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past): Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)

Ah… the memories! RESIST!!

Vote Blue!!

Bill Maher from 1/17

Posted by TomCat at 8:51 am Politics

Jan 182020

It’s finally that time of week again, so here are four excellent video clips from Bill’s show last night. Enjoy!

Monologue: I Need a Vacation

One week of following Fuhrer Trump* could debilitate anyone. Look what it did to me! I agree that Trump* will deny knowing Don Jr. I want the Audible version of “A Very Stable Genius”.

Andrew Yang 2020

I like one thing about Yang. Employed, unemployed, and unemployable people all need a living wage.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi

Nancy made a good point about how 70% of the American people want to hear witnesses in Fuhrer Trump’s* pseudo-trial. Will Republicans listen to the people, or will they goose-step behind Fuhrer Trump* into political extinction?

New Rule: Your Not-So-Highness

There must be fifty ways to leave your Republicans. Here only Fuhrer Drumpfenfarten* insists on being called ‘Your Highness’, but Bought Bitch Moscow Mitch is lobbying for the title.

Eight weeks without this shoe was seven weeks too long.

RESIST!!

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