Thursday, July 31, 2014

Something to Know - 31 July

No cartoon is needed today.  This is is both funny and sad at the same time:



The National Memo

--- Breaking News ---


House Fails To Pass Immigration Bill, Asks Obama To Act Alone

House Republicans pulled their embattled immigration legislation on Thursday, after failing to find enough Republicans to vote for a pared-down funding bill. The embarrassing defeat for Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) greatly increases the odds that the House will not do anything to act on the border crisis before leaving Washington for its August recess. 

Ironically, Speaker Boehner — who, one day earlier, advanced his plan to sue President Obama for allegedly exceeding his authority with executive orders — responded to the defeat by urging President Obama to act alone on securing the border. Read more

--
****
Juan
 
 
The difference between a top-flight creative man and the hack is his ability to express powerful meanings indirectly.
-- Vance Packard     

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Something to Know - 29 July

Ben Sargent

1.  Yesterday, I opened up with an article critical of gov. christie's ploy to suggest that public employees would get the shaft in stabilizing his state's budgeting problems.  This article today, keeps open the focus on his charade to deceive and steal from unionized state employees.   This is what ALEC and all of the other conservative zealots are doing around the country - weaken or eliminate unions, and public employee unions, mostly.   This is a sad testament to the perpetuation of income inequality that is taking over this land:
http://www.nationalmemo.com/governor-christie-embraces-theft/


2.  Okay, I'll lighten up now.  Here is a puff piece on subtle efforts to make you buy stuff that you do not need.  If there is money to be made, some force will find its way to make it happen.  Social media has turned into a stage where whimsical exchanges of photos and banter are paid for by the collection of your personal information that is used to sell you something, or to enter into your attention span to stick a subliminal commercial message in your brain.  But hey, it's all free....right?
--
****
Juan
 
 
The difference between a top-flight creative man and the hack is his ability to express powerful meanings indirectly.
-- Vance Packard    

Monday, July 28, 2014

Coming up with a concoction to get Congress to agree on something (transportation related)

Good riddance. Over here in transportation-land, we have been watching to see when/if/what it would take for Congress to renew or extend the National Highway Trust. Though it's got the word 'highway' in it, we in transit also rely on it, for it includes funds to subsidize public transit. No Highway Trust = things get rough.

Anyway, it looks like the Fund will be extended during the lame duck session. The NY Times came up with a concoction/cocktail to tide us over called The Bipartison Compromise: "a cocktail nobody enjoys but serves the bare minimum purpose of getting you drunk", that includes 'offsets' with mixers. 

The Bipartisan Compromise
1.5 oz Everclear
0.5 oz port (any kind)
Egg white

Something to Know - 28 July

Jeff Danziger

1.  This op-ed in the NY Times yesterday has driven a cacophony of howls from opposing opinions.  Such is life.  I can remember my memories of hanging around Southern California beaches back in  the 70s with all types of people gathering signatures to petitions to put measures on the California ballot to legalize marijuana.  Young college kids, hippies, and citizens concerned with its prohibition on society were the only proponents.  Now, the issue has moved to the top of the opinion generator - the New York Times.  Change happens, and it is never a smooth process:

2.  There will be much media focus on how Gov. Christie works through the huge problem of the budget shortfall in New Jersey and its ability to meet funding for the public employee pension system.  I particularly like his statement that "promises were made that cannot be kept".  How he navigates this without a flood of Sandy Hook federal money to solve his state insolvency will be closely monitored.  I might want to ask him why promises to keep him in office after his corrupt election tactics are impossible to keep.  Does he regard public policy for employee benefits and compensation as merely "promises".  Perhaps he should regard his promise not to raise taxes as something he cannot keep:

Saturday, July 26, 2014

Something to Know - 26 July (revised for link correction)

Rob Rogers

1.  As the right-of-center political soldiers united in a peculiar form of a collective blob of nothingness and a distaste for anything "Obama", a funny thing has happened.  The blob is getting unglued by factions of realism and progressive thinking.  It is these particles of sanity that are creating a whiplash of disunity that just may be enough to put the whole blob out of touch with voters.  Here is an example:

2.  Those of us who experienced the 60's will appreciate this article.   When a bunch of us were in college, we saw the unrest, hate, and murders as our friends went to the South on a mission of uniting a neglected part of this country.  It was scary, and for good reason.  Today, there seems to be a difference when we look closely at what are parts of the South.  Not all has changed for the better, but globalization and transplants have contributed in some way:

--
****
Juan
 
 
It may sound funny, but I love the South. I don't choose to live anywhere else. There's land here, where a man can raise cattle, and I'm going to do it some day.
-- Medgar Evers    

Something to Know - 26 July

Rob Rogers

1.  As the right-of-center political soldiers united in a peculiar form of a collective blob of nothingness and a distaste for anything "Obama", a funny thing has happened.  The blob is getting unglued by factions of realism and progressive thinking.  It is these particles of sanity that are creating a whiplash of disunity that just may be enough to put the whole blob out of touch with voters.  Here is an example:
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/26/opinion/joe-nocera-chamber-of-commerce-lost-its-way-in-right-turn.html?emc=eta1

2.  Those of us who experienced the 60's will appreciate this article.   When a bunch of us were in college, we saw the unrest, hate, and murders as our friends went to the South on a mission of uniting a neglected part of this country.  It was scary, and for good reason.  Today, there seems to be a difference when we look closely at what are parts of the South.  Not all has changed for the better, but globalization and transplants have contributed in some way:
http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-wagman-south-race-20140727-story.html 

--
****
Juan
 
 
It may sound funny, but I love the South. I don't choose to live anywhere else. There's land here, where a man can raise cattle, and I'm going to do it some day.
-- Medgar Evers    

Friday, July 25, 2014

Andy Borowitz

Congress Blocks Obama's Attempt to Order New Office Supplies

BY 


CREDITPHOTOGRAPH BY PETE SOUZA/THE WHITE HOUSE.

WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report) — The war between Congress and the White House took a turn for the worse on Friday as House Republicans sought to prevent President Obama from ordering new office supplies.

The House panel that mandated the office-supply freeze denied that it was politically motivated, citing "budgetary concerns." "It's time President Obama learned a tough lesson," House Speaker John Boehner told reporters. "Being President does not entitle you to a spending spree at Staples."

At the White House, the President blasted the Republicans' move to strip him of legal pads, pencils, and other office essentials, calling it "just their latest attempt to keep me from doing my job."

In an Oval Office appearance, a visibly irritated President Obama showed reporters a nearly empty supply cabinet and said, "They have manufactured this crisis," noting that he will be out of paper clips and Post-its by August.


--
****
Juan
 
 
Vegetarian - that's an old Indian word meaning lousy hunter.
-- Andy Rooney    

Something to Know - 25 Juy

Ben Sargent

1.  I kind of like this op-ed by Paul Krugman.  You see, when I left Georgia over three years ago in our move back to California, we were asked why we would want to go back to LaLa Land and all the problems of a bankrupt state., high cost of living, and high taxes.   A review of the vital signs as of today (home value, health of government, quality of political leadership, etc, etc) makes us feel better.  I even get to take courses as an auditor at a real local college.  Life is good:

2.  From the Albany News Bureau, comes this article about something that many city political leaders always try and get taxpayers to fund; sport stadiums.  Some cities even go as far as slashing city pensions and services to get this stuff.  You want to know why Los Angeles does not have an NFL team....?   It is because there are enough people around who can smell the pending sleaze every time this comes up.  The city of Los Angeles almost gave away the Coliseum to USC for football.  Why do taxpayers need to fund something that so few people will enjoy, and endure home equity loans for tickets?  NIMBY.  Let private enterprise fund the facilities:
http://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/article/Stadium-subsidies-are-financed-by-pension-cuts-5645594.php?t=e1554c1649

--
****
Juan
 
Vegetarian - that's an old Indian word meaning lousy hunter.
-- Andy Rooney  

Thursday, July 24, 2014

Andy Borowitz

Rick Perry Orders Dallas Cowboys to Mexican Border

BY 


CreditPhotograph by James D Smith/AP.

DALLAS (The Borowitz Report)—In his boldest move yet to address the immigration crisis, on Thursday Texas Governor Rick Perry dispatched the Dallas Cowboys to the United States' border with Mexico.

In a photo opportunity with the Cowboys and several of the team's cheerleaders, Perry explained the rationale behind his latest decision. "Those who would cross our borders illegally will have to contend with the power and fury of America's Team," he said.

Critics of the move dismissed it as political theatre, noting that once the Cowboys arrived at the border it was unclear what they would do there.

Additionally, there were questions about how effective the Cowboys would be in stopping illegal immigrants, since the team has the worst-ranked defense in the N.F.L.


--
****
Juan
 
 
The problem in defense is how far you can go without destroying from within what you are trying to defend from without.
-- Dwight D. Eisenhower  

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Something to Know - 23 July

Jeff Danziger

1.  Two separate federal court rulings on the same issue with opposite conclusions.  This will drag the Supremes back to something they would just as soon not have to handle, but must now:

2.  For those who have benefited from 401(k) programs, employer contributions, and related enhancements, it is time to realize that this really favored the upper-end of the  "99%", and did not favor those at the bottom end.  This whole program should be revised so that there is equality for all, or an even playing field for all.  We tend to forget that we have created gizmos along the way that feather our nest at the expense of those who really need it more than we do:
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/23/opinion/a-401-k-for-all.html?emc=eta1
--
****
Juan
 
 
The problem in defense is how far you can go without destroying from within what you are trying to defend from without.
-- Dwight D. Eisenhower  

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Andy borowitz


Perry Boosts Presidential Stature by Using Troops for No Reason

BY 



AUSTIN (The Borowitz Report)—An aide to Rick Perry is confident that the Texas Governor proved he "has what it takes to be President" with his decision on Monday to send troops somewhere for no reason.

By deploying a thousand National Guardsmen to the U.S.-Mexico border, Perry has shown that as President he would be "ready and willing" to use troops without a defined objective, mission, or exit strategy, the aide confirmed.

"Sending troops someplace with no clear idea of why they are going or what they are supposed to be doing once they get there is a key part of the Presidential skill set," said the aide, Harland Dorrinson. "Rick Perry has just shown that he's got that nailed down."

Dorrinson acknowledged that the gold standard for using troops for no reason might have been set by Perry's predecessor in Texas, George W. Bush, but added, "If anyone can beat that record, it's Rick."

According to the aide, Perry's "extremely Presidential response" to the immigration crisis is already winning him the praise of G.O.P. voters. "Nothing unites Republicans more than standing up to children," he said.

--
****
Juan
 
 
The problem in defense is how far you can go without destroying from within what you are trying to defend from without.
-- Dwight D. Eisenhower  

Monday, July 21, 2014

Andy Borowitz

TODAY 9:08 AM

Nation Apparently Believed in Science at Some Point

BY 

CreditNASA

MINNEAPOLIS (The Borowitz Report)—Historians studying archival photographs from four decades ago have come to the conclusion that the U.S. must have believed in science at some point.

According to the historian Davis Logsdon, who has been sifting through mounds of photographic evidence at the University of Minnesota, the nation apparently once held the view that investing in science and even math could yield accomplishments that would be a source of national pride.

While Logsdon has not developed a complete theory to explain the United States' pro-science stance during that era, he attributes some of it to the liberal views of the President at that time, Richard M. Nixon.


--
****
Juan
 
 
The problem in defense is how far you can go without destroying from within what you are trying to defend from without.
-- Dwight D. Eisenhower  

Friday, July 18, 2014

Andy Borowitz

The Borowitz Report

JULY 18, 2014

BOEHNER DROPS OBAMA LAWSUIT; SAYS IT WOULD MEAN DOING SOMETHING

POSTED BY 

493091733-670.jpg

WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report)—House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) dropped his plans to sue President Obama on Friday, explaining to reporters, "I realized it would mean doing something."

In a brief appearance before the press, Speaker Boehner talked about his gradual realization that "filing a lawsuit requires effort and, yes, work."

"I came to the conclusion that while suing the President would be the best thing for the American people, it would also require that I do something," he said, struggling to retain his composure. "And that would be a betrayal of everything I stand for."

Mr. Boehner's decision drew praise from fellow Republicans, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky), who called it "courageous."

"I know this was a very difficult decision for John," McConnell said. "But at the end of the day you have to be true to your core values."



--
****
Juan
 
 
Fatherhood is great because you can ruin someone from scratch.
-- Jon Stewart  

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Andy Borowitz


The Borowitz Report

JULY 16, 2014

FLEEING IRAQIS RELIEVED THAT CHENEY HAS NO REGRETS ABOUT WAR

POSTED BY 

boro-cheney-regrets.jpg

BAGHDAD (The Borowitz Report)—Just days after former Vice-President Dick Cheney said that he had no regrets about the invasion of Iraq, people fleeing their homes across that war-torn nation expressed tremendous relief that he was at peace with his decision.

As news spread that Cheney would not change a thing about the 2003 invasion, Iraqis driven out of their villages and towns by marauding terrorists called the former Vice-President's words well-timed and soothing.

Sabah al-Alousi, who fled Mosul when ISIS militants overran it last month, said that Cheney's confident pronouncement about the invasion of Iraq "is the first good news I've heard in a long time."

"As I've fled from town to town, looking for a place where I might not be suddenly slain for no reason, the one thought that kept nagging me was, 'How does Dick Cheney feel about all of this?'" he said. "I can't tell you what a relief it is to know he isn't losing any sleep."

The Iraqi man said that he had been concerned that Cheney might harbor regrets about Iraq, such as the trillions of dollars spent, thousands of lives lost, W.M.D.s not found, and international disgrace of Abu Ghraib, but thanks to the former Vice-President's recent statements, "I now see that I was worried about nothing."

"Iraq is a scary place right now," al-Alousi said. "The country could be broken into pieces, or become a part of an Islamic caliphate, or be the scene of unspeakable sectarian violence for years to come. But somehow, knowing that Dick Cheney would do it all over again if he could makes everything a little better."

--
****
Juan
 
 
Fatherhood is great because you can ruin someone from scratch.
-- Jon Stewart  

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Andy Borowitz



The Borowitz Report

JULY 15, 2014

HOW TO LOOK SMARTER

POSTED BY 

rick-perry-290.jpg

NEW YORK (The Borowitz Report) – A new study released Tuesday indicates that wearing glasses does not make a person look smarter, but standing next to Texas Governor Rick Perry does.

In the study, when participants were shown photos of a person with and without glasses, they registered little or no change in their view of the person's intelligence.

However, when the photo of the same person was juxtaposed with a photo of Governor Perry, participants suddenly said that the person looked "much smarter" or "brilliant," with some participants even using the phrase "like a genius."

According to Davis Logsdon, who conducted the survey for the University of Minnesota, the results could be a game changer in the strategies people use to look smarter. "For people trying to appear more intelligent, it turns out that the must-have accessory is not glasses; it's Rick Perry," he said.


Fatherhood is great because you can ruin someone from scratch.

-- Jon Stewart 

Something to Know - 15 July

Ben Sargent
1.  There two interesting articles in the NY Times this morning.  Both concern women in the church.  One church being the Church of England, and the other the LDS (Mormons).   One presents the change that brings an organization into the 21st Century, and the other is a hardline stance that takes it back to the 19th Century:

2.  A hard-core hobby crafter has figured out the ultimate work-around for employees adversely impacted by the recent "Hobby Lobby" ruling:
http://www.newyorker.com/humor/2014/07/21/140721sh_shouts_rudnick?utm_source=tny&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=dailyemail&mbid=nl_Daily%20(218)

--
****
Juan
 
 
Fatherhood is great because you can ruin someone from scratch.
-- Jon Stewart 

Monday, July 14, 2014

Andy Borowitz

The Borowitz Report

JULY 14, 2014

CHURCH FOUNDED IN SIXTH CENTURY HAS MORE MODERN VIEWS ON WOMEN THAN SCALIA

POSTED BY 

464499687-290.jpg

LONDON (The Borowitz Report) - The Church of England, an institution whose origins date back to the sixth century A.D., has far more modern views about the rights of women than Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, experts said today.

"In recognizing that women are the equals of men, the Church of England has embraced a position that is centuries ahead of Scalia's," Davis Logsdon, a professor of religion at the University of Minnesota, said. "This is a remarkable achievement, given that Scalia was born in 1936 and the Church began in the late five hundreds."

But Dr. Carol Foyler, a history professor at the University of Sussex, took issue with that assessment. "I date the beginning of the Church of England to 1534, when it was officially established under Henry VIII," she said. "But regardless of whether the Church is fourteen centuries old or five centuries old, it's unquestionably more modern than Scalia."

As for Justice Scalia, he seemed to dismiss the controversy, issuing a terse official statement Monday afternoon. "I do not keep up with the goings on of every newfangled institution," he said.


--
****
Juan
 
 
If you obey all the rules,.......you miss all the fun.
-- Kathryn Hepburn 

Something to Know - 14 July

Rob Rogers

1.  Back to politics.  The turmoil within the ranks of of the Republicans is this summer's reality TV drama.  However it plays out, is the right-ward turn in ideology a turn off on those who they need to expand their base, or is it the beginning of the Dark Ages, once again?

2.  While the GeeOpie ideologists blast each other for control, perhaps they should all back off and look at the reality of their dim-witted visions and how they work:
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/14/opinion/kansas-ruinous-tax-cuts.html?emc=edit_th_20140714&nl=todaysheadlines&nlid=2318049

--
****
Juan
 
 
If you obey all the rules,.......you miss all the fun.
-- Kathryn Hepburn 

Sunday, July 13, 2014

Something to Know - 13 July

Jeff Danziger

1.  The World Cup of Soccer is over (Germany 1-0 over Argentina).  LeBron James is going to Cleveland.  Rick Perry is looking for a new pair of glasses to look more hip and serious.  So, what's left to wonder about?  Did you wonder why there are no Warren G. Harding High Schools?   This may be why:

2.  This NY Times editorial cuts to the chase.   Republicans are playing politics with an issue that demands immediate congressional action to take control of the issue at or our border:
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/13/opinion/sunday/congress-must-act-to-help-children-crossing-the-border.html?ref=opinion

--
****
Juan
 
 
If you obey all the rules,.......you miss all the fun.
-- Kathryn Hepburn 

Saturday, July 12, 2014

Something to Know - 12 July

Tony Auth

1.  Getting ready for the run-up to the campaign tactics employed by less-than-aware candidates?   It is usually a slap-stick goof that evokes a chuckle.   Gail Collins has a few examples for you:
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/12/opinion/gail-collins-rules-to-run-by.html?emc=eta1


2.  A break from the action.  Dick Cavett.  Always a good story:
--
****
Juan
 
 
If we bred people with half the sense we breed dogs, there wouldn't be no Republican Party to put up with.  No lawyers, either.
-- Joly Vernon (from Joe Bageant's Rainbow Pie

Thursday, July 10, 2014

Andy Borowitz

The Borowitz Report

JULY 10, 2014

AMERICANS UNHAPPY TO BE REMINDED THAT SARAH PALIN EXISTS

POSTED BY 

sarah-palin-580.jpg

WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report) — A new poll released Thursday reveals that a broad majority of Americans describe themselves as "deeply unhappy" to have been reminded that the former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin exists.

Palin's call for the impeachment of President Obama, a ploy to remind people that she still roams the earth, appears to have backfired, the poll shows.

With seventy-two per cent of respondents saying that they were "upset" or "very upset" to be reminded of her existence, Palin is one of three non-officeholders whose recent utterances have traumatized Americans.

According to the poll, eighty-one per cent were upset to be reminded that Ann Coulter exists, while a hundred per cent felt that way about the existence of the former Vice-President Dick Cheney.



--
****
Juan
 
 
If we bred people with half the sense we breed dogs, there wouldn't be no Republican Party to put up with.  No lawyers, either.
-- Joly Vernon (from Joe Bageant's Rainbow Pie

Something to Know - 10 July

Mike Luckovich

1.  The Texas Republican Party.  Does it really belong to the United States of America, or is it a bunch of smug, swaggering, blowhards? 
 The first four articles of the 2014 platform officially adopted by the Republican Party of Texas

Reaffirm Texas Sovereignty as Reserved Under the 10th Amendment, United States Constitution- We strongly urge the Texas Legislature to ignore, oppose, refuse, and nullify any federal mandated legislation which infringes upon the states' 10th Amendment Right. All federal enforcement activities in Texas must be conducted under the auspices of the county sheriff with jurisdiction in that county.

Opposition to Socialism- Socialism breeds mediocrity. America is exceptional. Therefore, the Republican Party of Texas opposes socialism in all of its forms.

Full Repeal of the 17th Amendment of the United States ConstitutionReturn the appointment of United States Senators by the state legislatures.

Unelected, Appointed Bureaucrats and AgenciesWe decry the appointment of unelected bureaucrats, and we urge Congress to use their constitutional authority to defund and abolish these positions and return authority to duly elected officials, accountable to the electorate. In the interim, we hold Congress responsible for agency decisions. Executive decisions by agencies must be reviewed and approved by Congress before taking effect.


  Check out the platform of this group:

2.  If the above entry does not stir your WTF alarm, Gail Collins of the NY Times offers this op-ed:
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/10/opinion/gail-collins-the-rant-agenda.html?emc=edit_th_20140710&nl=todaysheadlines&nlid=2318049 

--
****
Juan
 
 
If we bred people with half the sense we breed dogs, there wouldn't be no Republican Party to put up with.  No lawyers, either.
-- Joly Vernon (from Joe Bageant's Rainbow Pie