Something to Know - The Eve's Kennel

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Juan

 
A face only a Rottweiler could love.
-- Lassie

Something to Know - 30 December

1.  Timothy Egan, as many pundits do at this time of year, has picked a topic to reflect upon.  His is actually quite funny and entertaining.   Like it is literally humorous,.....whatever:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/29/opinion/egan-words-for-the-dumpster.html?emc=eta1&_r=0

2.  Ross Douthat comes in with the same them as Egan did.  However, his is self-criticism about some of his own pontification gone awry:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/29/opinion/sunday/douthat-confessions-of-a-columnist.html?emc=eta1

3.  Robert Reich, turns rock star, to tell us about his opinion of the current Congress:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0K7hBTFML5g

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Juan

 
Never get a mime talking. He won't stop.
-- Marcel Marceau

Something to Know - 24 December

1.  The GeeOpie is fragmented, splintered, and in disarray.   Karl Rove's grip on being the Wizard behind the curtain is slipping.  The cats are running around free in the house, and herding them is going to be a spectator sport:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/24/us/politics/upstart-groups-challenge-rove-for-gop-cash.html?pagewanted=2&emc=eta1

2.  David Brooks has his assessment of the progress of the ACA.  Take it in with all the others that have been cast:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/24/opinion/brooks-the-legitimacy-problem.html?emc=eta1

3.  For your holiday enjoyment:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/24/opinion/a-christmas-manners-quiz.html?emc=eta1

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Juan

 
Pessimism is only the name that men of weak nerves give to wisdom.
-- Bernard DeVoto

Something to Know - 22 December

1.  Most of the readers of this ...(whatever this is), are people who are around my age, and somewhat removed from the development of new words that enter social conversations.   Most of them are developed by younger people who are adventurous with the English language and who prefer to invent new ways to name something that we really do not understand.  To that end, enjoy this:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/22/opinion/sunday/a-wordnado-of-words-in-2013.html?emc=eta1

2.  Catching up on some of the stuff I missed while I was cruising, I came across this piece in the Business section of the LA Times this morning.   If you have not yet seen "Inequality for All", by Robert Reich, you can start by reading this by Michael Hiltziik, and then catch the movie on Netflix:

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-hiltzik-20131222,0,1294414.column#axzz2oF5c8p7W

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Juan

 
Never get a mime talking. He won't stop.
-- Marcel Marceau

Something to Know - 20 December

1.  Jenny Beth Martin, with whom I had some email jousts several years ago, is the darling founder of the Tea Party Patriots from Woodstock. Georgia.  In this piece from the NY Times, she is offering up some sour taste from her skirmishes with the GeeOpie.   She offers up a bunch of ideology, but runs nothing about the very negative actions of her extreme zealots whose mission is to shut the government down.   It is ironic that she ends her column by quoting Kurt Vonnegut, who really had no bond with these folks:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/20/opinion/john-boehners-betrayal.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20131220&_r=0&pagewanted=print

2.  In keeping with the theme developed above, the Palin wing of the GeeOpie finds no shame in their climb to get aboard the Duck Dynasty Train.  If this is the substantive strength of a political campaign, they are doomed.  Perhaps the real muscle behind A&E's action is based on the opinions of the advertisers, with some deference to not supporting homophobia by the producers.  It makes great theater:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/in-embrace-of-duck-dynasty-star-2016-hopefuls-make-bid-for-evangelicals/2013/12/19/f42e464a-68db-11e3-a0b9-249bbb34602c_story.html?wpisrc=nl_politics

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Juan

 
Never get a mime talking. He won't stop.
-- Marcel Marceau

Andy Borowitz

DECEMBER 19, 2013

SCALIA CALLS "DUCK DYNASTY" DECISION UNCONSTITUTIONAL

POSTED BY ANDY BOROWITZ

WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report)—Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia lashed out at the cable network A&E today, calling its decision to suspend Phil Robertson, the star of the TV series "Duck Dynasty," unconstitutional, and demanding that it be overturned at once.

Speaking at a press conference with fellow Justice Clarence Thomas, a visibly angry Scalia told reporters that Robertson was "exercising his First Amendment right to express an opinion—an opinion, I might add, that many other great Americans agree with."

He warned that the suspension of the "Duck" star would have a "chilling effect" on freedom of speech in America: "If Phil Robertson can be muzzled for expressing this perfectly legitimate view, what's to prevent the same thing from happening to, say, a Justice of the Supreme Court?"

He added that, while he was a huge "Duck Dynasty" fan who never misses an episode, his objection to Mr. Robertson's suspension was "purely on Constitutional grounds."

Declaring that A&E's decision "will not stand," Justice Scalia said he would ask the Supreme Court to meet in an emergency session to overturn it: "This offensive decision by A&E is a clear violation of the Constitution, and I'm not the only one on the Court who feels that way. Right, Clarence?"

Justice Thomas had no comment.

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Juan

 
Never get a mime talking. He won't stop.
-- Marcel Marceau

Something to Know - 18 February

1.  Steve Lopez goes down to one day in the life of Señora Carmen Mendoza and how she is driven to try and make sure that he family can live the American Dream.  She has not car, so she is driven by the Metro LA bus system.  It is a very difficult life, and is typical of those who have long days in search of a better life:

http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-1218-lopez-carmen-20131218,0,6674325,full.column#axzz2nqN2ukaD

2.  Where is the Tea Party going?   The old, white, and angry are gathering in groups, as reported in this piece, bolstered by the Koch empire.   How it plays out with the mainstream GOP (which is re-emerging) remains to be seen:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/feeling-besieged-tea-party-groups-prepare-for-policy-battles/2013/12/17/c557476c-6760-11e3-8b5b-a77187b716a3_print.html

3.  This, from the New Yorker, offers a closer look at the ruling by Judge Richard Leon, who has put forward his action that has stopped the movement by two presidents and the NSA to snoop on ALL of our electronic messaging because it goes against the rights set forth in our Constitution:

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/johncassidy/2013/12/richard-leon-nsa-ruling-learned-hand.html?utm_source=tny

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Juan

 
Never get a mime talking. He won't stop.
-- Marcel Marceau

Something to Know - 17 December

My thanks to those who wondered about my health of late.  No, I was away on a cruise, and am too cheap to pay exorbitantly sky-high charges to get internet service on the high seas.

1.  In trying to spool up to matters (local and otherwise), the only really interesting discussion is about the difference in importance between Snowden and the Pope.  Then we have the Keystone GeeOpie and their internal jousting on policy and mission matters and leaving the Tea Baggers holding a bag of ashes.  With all that in mind, please settle for this piece from David Brooks, which probably makes more sense than all of the other stuff around:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/17/opinion/brooks-the-thought-leader.html?emc=eta1&pagewanted=print

2.  The New Yorker magazine has a swell way of letting us know just how wonderful things can be.   Look at it this way - Isn't it wonderful that a product exists that eliminates the odor from the baby's diaper?:

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/comment/2013/12/happy-holidays-from-your-friends-at-usa.html?utm_source=tny

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Juan

 
Never get a mime talking. He won't stop.
-- Marcel Marceau

Fwd: John Boehner has declared war on you

Couldn't happen to better crowd.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Tea Party Patriots
Date: Friday, December 13, 2013
Subject: John Boehner has declared war on you
To: juanma2t@gmail.com

You are receiving this email on behalf of Tea Party Patriots. 100% Grassroots, 100% of the Time. Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. Dear Patriot, Yesterday, House Speaker John Boehner declared all-out war on the Tea Party.  In an angry rant he railed against "outside groups" like Tea Party Patriots saying "they're using our members and they're using the American people for their own goals."   The last time we checked, we are the American people. Tea Party Patriots – like you – all across this country are the last hope for reining in this out-of-control government and protecting our Constitution. We must fight back, and we must fight to win! Please, make the most generous contribution of $10, $15, $25, or whatever you can afford to Tea Party Patriots immediately so that we can continue to fight the establishment elites in Washington. The Speaker of the House has drawn a line in the sand. We must build up our momentum so that we can educate more Americans about the ruling elite.  Ruling class politicians like John Boehner trumpet conservative principles when it's convenient, but when you look at their policies they are nothing but a bunch of tax-and-spend liberals. Just last night after his smug and pretentious rant, Boehner passed his so called "bi-partisan," back-room budget deal which increases discretionary spending, does nothing to reform entitlements, and fully funds Obamacare. It is an out and out betrayal of the American people.  Since the Tea Party handed the House of Representatives to a Republican majority in 2010, Boehner has done nothing but break promise after promise when it comes to cutting spending.  Speaker Boehner wants you to believe that the Congress in power 10 years from now will actually keep today's promise to cut spending. But he can't even keep the cuts he promised from his beloved sequester! Please make the very best contribution you can right away to help us ramp up the pressure on the Washington "ruling class." Help us reach our goal of $10,000 today. We can't win this war without your generous support. Please help by making the very best contribution you possibly can today! Thank you in advance for all your help! For Liberty,   Tea Party Patriots National Support Team Tea Party Patriots, Inc. operates as a social welfare organization organized under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions to Tea Party Patriots, Inc. are not deductible as charitable contributions for income tax purposes. Paid for by Tea Party Patriots, Inc., Debbie Dooley (Treasurer) and not authorized by any candidate or candidate's agent or committee. Copyright © Tea Party Patriots, Inc. 2013 Tea Party Patriots 1025 Rose Creek Drive | Ste 620-322 | Woodstock, GA  30189 Support: 404-593-0877 http://www.tppsupport.org  unsubscribe from this list | update subscription preferences

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Juan

 
How old would you be if you didn't know how old you are?

-- Satchel Paige

Something to Know - 2 December

Rush Limbaugh has a peculiar way of passing on Merry Christmas to Pope Francis.   

Rush Limbaugh calls the Pope's latest statement "pure Marxism." December 2nd, 2013 11:29 AM ET Rush Limbaugh: Pope is preaching 'pure Marxism' By Daniel Burke, CNN Belief Blog Co-Editor (CNN) – Pope Francis:  Successor to St. Peter ... the people's pontiff ... Marxist? That's what conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh suggests, calling the Pope's latest document "pure Marxism." Limbaugh blasted the pontiff on Wednesday, a day after Francis released "Evangelii Gaudium" (The Joy of the Gospel), a 50,000-word statement that calls for church reform and castigates elements of modern capitalism. Limbaugh's segment, now online and entitled "It's Sad How Wrong Pope Francis Is (Unless It's a Deliberate Mistranslation By Leftists)," takes direct aim at the pope's economic views, calling them "dramatically, embarrassingly, puzzlingly wrong." The Vatican issued the English translation of "Evangelii," which is known officially as an apostolic exhortation and unofficially as a pep talk to the worlds 1.5 billion Catholics. Francis – the first pope ever to hail from Latin America, where he worked on behalf of the poor in his native Argentina – warned in "Evangelii" that the "idolatry of money" would lead to a "new tyranny." The Pope also blasted "trickle-down economics," saying the theory "expresses a crude and naïve trust in the goodness of those wielding economic power." READ MORE: Pope Francis: No more business as usual The Pope's critique of capitalism thrilled many liberal Catholics, who have long called on church leaders to spend more time and energy on protecting the poor from economic inequalities. But Limbaugh, whose program is estimated to reach 15 million listeners, called the Pope's comments "sad" and "unbelievable." "It's sad because this pope makes it very clear he doesn't know what he's talking about when it comes to capitalism and socialism and so forth." In fact, Argentina was a battlefield between leftist socialists and right-wing security forces during much of Francis' early career in the country, where he was a Jesuit priest and later archbishop of Buenos Aires. Limbaugh, who is not Catholic, said he admires the faith "profoundly."  He admired Pope Francis as well, "up until this," Limbaugh said. The talk show host also said that he has made numerous visits to the Vatican, which he said "wouldn't exist without tons of money." "But regardless, what this is, somebody has either written this for him or gotten to him," Limbaugh added. "This is just pure Marxism coming out of the mouth of the Pope." Limbaugh took particular issue with the Pope's criticism of the "culture of prosperity," which the pontiff called a "mere spectacle" for the many people who can't afford to participate. "This is almost a statement about who should control financial markets," Limbaugh said. "He says that the global economy needs government control." "I'm not Catholic, but I know enough to know that this would have been unthinkable for a pope to believe or say just a few years ago," Limbaugh continued. In fact, Francis' predecessor, Benedict XVI, now pope emeritus, could be just as strong a critic of capitalism. In 2009, Benedict, in an official church document called an encyclical, said there was an urgent need for "a political, juridical and economic order" that would "manage the global economy." As Limbaugh notes, Benedict's predecessor, the late Pope John Paul II, was a noted foe of communism, after living under its oppressions in his native Poland. But evenJohn Paul thought that unregulated capitalism could have negative consequences. In "Evangelii," Francis called for more of a spiritual and ethical revolution than a regulatory one. "I encourage financial experts and political leaders to ponder the words of one of the sages of antiquity: `Not to share one's wealth with the poor is to steal from them and to take away their livelihood. It is not our own goods which we hold, but theirs,'" said Francis, quoting the fifth-century St. John Chrysostom. Liberal Catholics defended Pope Francis on Monday, calling on Limbaugh to apologize and retract his remarks. "To call the Holy Father a proponent 'pure Marxism' is both mean-spirited and naive," said Christopher Hale of the Washington-based Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good. "Francis's critique of unrestrained capitalism is in line with the Church's social teaching." Limbaugh is not the only conservative commentator to take issue with the Pope's views on capitalism. READ MORE: Sarah Palin 'taken aback' by Pope Francis's 'liberal' statements "I go to church to save my soul," said Fox News' Stuart Varney, who is an Episcopalian. "It's got nothing to do with my vote. Pope Francis has linked the two. He has offered direct criticism of a specific political system. He has characterized negatively that system. I think he wants to influence my politics." It doesn't sound like the criticism is slowing Francis down, however. He's started ending a Vatican contingent, including the Papal Swiss Guards, into Rome to deliver food and charity.

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Juan

 
How old would you be if you didn't know how old you are?

-- Satchel Paige

Andy Borowitz

 

• DECEMBER 1, 2013

G.O.P.: HEALTHCARE.GOV TOO FAST NOW

POSTED BY ANDY BOROWITZ

WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report)—Republican critics of Obamacare rose up in anger today, claiming that, after two months of fixes, the healthcare.gov Web site is now "unacceptably fast."

Leading the howls of protest was the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), who accused President Obama of designing a Web site that operates at a "blistering, breakneck speed."

"With pages loading in milliseconds, this Web site is insuring people before they know what hit them," Rep. Issa charged. "Clearly, this is what the President and his team had in mind."

Additionally, Rep. Issa said, at such high speeds "it is questionable whether this Web site is even safe for consumers to use, particularly the elderly."

The California Republican said he would call for hearings this week to investigate the dangerous new velocity of healthcare.gov, telling reporters, "If anyone can slow this thing down, it's me."

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Juan

 
How old would you be if you didn't know how old you are?
-- Satchel Paige