Open Thread – 2/27/2010

Yesterday I did manage to get caught up replying to comments.  I spent the rest of the day working on website design for my nonprofit.  Today, I’ll just have to see what the day brings.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

It took me 4:06.  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

Here's an idea. Democrats should agree to not to use reconciliation in return for Republicans agreeing not to use the filibuster. Since both are political tactics occasioned by arcane Senate rules, it's a fair trade.?  Fat chance, huh?

Gov. David A. Paterson ended his campaign for election on Friday amid crumbling support from his party and an uproar over his administration’s intervention in a domestic violence case involving a close aide.  While I cannot comment on his guilt or innocence, I consider his resignation a plus.

The average income reported by the 400 highest-earning U.S. households grew to almost $345 million in 2007, up 31 percent from a year earlier, Internal Revenue Service statistics show.  That shows that in 2007, the GOP’s only successful program, No Millionaire Left Behind, was working just as they intended.

Plus Humor:

The boys from Red State Update weigh in on the health care summit.

 

Cartoon:

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What’s up for your weekend?

Open Thread – 2/25/2010

Yesterday I fell behind due to volunteer work and running errands.  Today is my volunteer day in the prison.  If time permits, I’ll try to do some catch-up before I leave.  Tomorrow’s posts may be late because I will return home late and exhausted tonight.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

It took me 3:45.  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

Are democrats growing gonads?  Yesterday the Jobs Bill passed the Senate, and the House stripped the Health Insurance cartel of exemption from antitrust laws.

I had heard rumblings that Olympia snow had gotten her panties in a bunch over not being invited to the health care summit.  Obama Invited her, and she DECLINED.  He also invited Oregon’s Ron Wyden, who will attend.  Wyden has championed choice for health care consumers.

Minnesota Gov. Pawlenty wants to repeal the federal law that requires ER treatment  regardless of ability to pay.

It seems that McConJob’s primary opponent has gender identity issues:

Cartoon:

See Cartoons by Cartoon by R.J. Matson - Courtesy of Politicalcartoons.com - Email this Cartoon

Have a great day!

Open Thread – 2/24/2010

Yesterday I had quite a bit of paperwork to do and some errands to run, but I still stayed up to date on replying to comments and returning visits.  I’ll fall behind again today, because it’s my volunteer day at the former prisoners’ therapy group.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

It too me 3:47.  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

Goldilocks Boehner just can't make up his mind.  First the HCR bill was too long.  Now it’s too short.

While Main Street languishes, Wall Street is doing fine.  Bankster’s bonuses rose 17% last year.

According to Gibbs, the White House has not jumped onto the public option bandwagon, because it lacks the votes to pass in the Senate.  I say put it to a vote.  Let’s see if the DINO’s have the guts to say no on the record in the face of strong support in their states.

Cartoon:

See Cartoons by Cartoon by R.J. Matson - Courtesy of Politicalcartoons.com - Email this Cartoon

Happy hump day!!

Open Thread – 2/23/2010

Yesterday I not only stayed up to date on replying to comments and returning visits, but also made a few extra visits as well.  Today looks good for staying that way.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

It took me 3:52.  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

What a quote!  “I love gridlock,” Coburn said. “I think we’re better off when we’re gridlocked because we’re not passing things.”

Only one Democrat voted against cloture to debate Harry Reid's puny jobs bill. If you guessed Ben Nelson, you're right.

I hear ChickenHawk Cheney was hospitalized for heart trouble.  There must be another explanation, as Cheney lacks the necessary preexisting condition.

Did Marcy Kaptor (D-OH) tear into ‘too bought’ Timmy or what?

 

Cartoon:

See Cartoons by Cartoon by Pat Bagley - Courtesy of Politicalcartoons.com - Email this Cartoon

What’s up in your world?

Open Thread – 2/22/2010

Believe it or not I actually caught up on replying to comments and returning visits yesterday.  It took most of the day.  Today, I should stay caught up.  I have a few errands to run, and I have to arrange for a new web host provider for the nonprofit I help run.  If you’re considering Liberty Names of America (aka LNOA) as a host provider, don’t.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

My time was 3:20.  I have an unfair advantage on this one.  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

A senior administration official told CNN that Obama will propose legislation that would empower him to block excessive rate hikes by insurance companies.

World War III ended with the score USA 5, Canada 3.  Here’s video of all the goals.

Cartoon:

See Cartoons by Cartoon by Pat Bagley - Courtesy of Politicalcartoons.com - Email this Cartoon

OGIM!!

Open Thread – 2/21/2010

Yesterday I caught up replying to comments before leaving for my Board Meeting, where I was nominated to serve as the Treasurer for another year.  Today I hope to catch up on visits, but at 4 I will divert my attention to the one US war that I support: the battle against the evil Canadian hockey team. ;-)

Jig Zone Puzzle:

My time was 4:03.  Click here to do it.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

Yesterday, the Dutch government fell do to controversy over participation in the Afghanistan war.

The teabaggers have a new game to play.  In the game users must obtain a can of gasoline, burn a house, then pilot a single-engine airplane into an IRS building. Upon successful completion, the game declares: "Justice is Served!" Along the way, if players manage to hit a malfunctioning Toyota Prius, they are rewarded with the "Auto Recall" medal.  How do you spell S-I-C-K?

Cartoon:

See Cartoons by Cartoon by Nate Beeler - Courtesy of Politicalcartoons.com - Email this Cartoon

Are mou mourning for the Ellipsoid Orb?

Open Thread – 2/20/2010

Yesterday I accomplished little.  Barely able to see, I took an intended short nap and slept all day.  Today I will be away most of the day attending a board meeting for the nonprofit for which I volunteer.  My schedule looks pretty clear Sunday through Tuesday, so I’ll be catching up then.  Ugh!  What a week!  At least I can see again.

Today’s Jig Zone puzzle took me 3:56.  To do it, Click Here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

Rep. Brad Ellworth (D-IN) has decided to run for the Senate seat currently held by Evan Bayh.

Faux Noise ambush specialist, Griff Jenkins, was ambushed by Think Progress at CPUKE.

 

Cartoon:

See Cartoons by Cartoon by Nate Beeler - Courtesy of Politicalcartoons.com - Email this Cartoon

What’s up for the weekend?

Open Thread – 2/18/2010

Yesterday, by the time I returned from the therapy group where I volunteer, I had only enough tome to to reply to comments here.  This afternoon I gave field vision tests with my ophthalmologist to determine the extent of my glaucoma.  I’ll reply to comments and, hopefully, do some visiting before I leave.  The last time they did this, about eight years ago, they blurred my vision so badly that it was almost 24 hours before I could read again, so I may have to skip a day.  If there are no new articles up tomorrow, that’s why.  Please don’t worry.

Today’s Jig Zone puzzle took me 3:42.  To do it, Click Here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

The CPUKE conference opens today.  Batten down your tin foil hats because the rabid right has special plans: a Nancy Pelosi piñata and a Harry Reid punching bag.  I want the bag when they’re done.  The opening keynote speaker will be Mark Rubio, the Florida teabagger.

Rick “man on dog” Santorum plans to run for the presidency, as he has scheduled several trips to early primary/caucus states, South Carolina, Iowa and New Hampshire.  You’d better lock up your dogs if you live in one of those locations.

Cartoon:

See Cartoons by Cartoon by Cameron Cardow - Courtesy of Politicalcartoons.com - Email this Cartoon

What have you been up to?

Open Thread – 2/17/2010

By the time I finished my errands yesterday, I had time only to reply to comments here.  Today is my volunteer day at the therapy group, so I’ll just have to see how I feel when I return.

Today’s Jig Zone puzzle took me 4:06.  To do it, Click Here.  How sis you do?

Short Takes:

The Hill has an article about the lucrative opportunities on K Street for retiring politicians.  I wonder if they know something about Bayh.

There will be no Democratic primary for the Indiana Senate.  The contender who claimed she had sufficient signatures to put her on the ballot had only three.

Here’s a great chance for a progressive primary challenge to the Nevada Leg Hound, Harry Reid.  The rabid right will be split, because the tea baggers have qualified as a third party; they plan to nominate Jon Ashjian for that seat.

Cartoon:

See Cartoons by Cartoon by Cameron Cardow - Courtesy of Politicalcartoons.com - Email this Cartoon

Happy hump day!

Open Thread – 2/16/2010

Yesterday I spent eight hours replying to comments and email and visiting blogs.  I have a few errands to run today, so I may not stay caught up.  I’ll try.

Today’s Jig Zone puzzle took me 4:21.  To do it, Click Here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

On a flight back to the US from Vancouver another passenger attacked Mitt Romney, when Romney asked him to put his seat in the upright positions.  Could it be that the other passenger was an animal lover getting payback for Seamus? ;-)

In South Carolina landscapers are up in arms over damage done by wild hogs.  Those South Carolinians must not be too bright.  If they don’t want the wild hogs running free, they should lock the legislature so those politicians can’t get out. ;-)

Here’s your cartoon:

See Cartoons by Cartoon by R.J. Matson - Courtesy of Politicalcartoons.com - Email this Cartoon

What’s up this week?

Open Thread – 2/15/2010

Yesterday I finally caught up completely on replies and visits.  Hopefully, I won’t be as swamped in March as I am this month.  My dinner for my disabled neighbor went well.  I served steak, homemade noodles and cheese, Caesar salad, pie, and dark chocolate.  Kindness to those who can’t do for themselves feels good.  I also ate better than I probably would have had I been cooking just for me.  I have some errands to run either today or tomorrow, so we’ll see how the day works out.

Today’s Jig Zone puzzle took me 3:56.  To do it, Click Here.  How did you do?

Today’s Short Takes

Lizard Cheney claims that holding civilian trials rather than military tribunals following the WTC bombing in 1993 is the cause of the 9/11/2001 attack.  She is ignoring the infamous ‘OK, you’ve covered your butt’ memo.  I find her claim ludicrous, because we have no evidence that AQ had begun to plan the 9/11 attack in1993.  Not only is the torture she craves ineffectual, but also, how could her intended victims reveal what they did not even know?

Congrats to our Canadian friends!  Yesterday Alex Bilodeau won the gold medal in moguls, Canada’s first gold medal ever won on their home soil.

Yesterday Oregon celebrated our 151st birthday.

Here’s your cartoon:

See Cartoons by Cartoon by Mike Keefe - Courtesy of Politicalcartoons.com - Email this Cartoon

OGIM!!

Open Thread – 2/13/2010

Yesterday I completely caught up on replying to comments here.  Today, I plan to catch up on returning visits.

Today’s Jig Zone puzzle took me 3:36.  To do it, Click Here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

Today I have a couple videos for you.

A Canadian legislator forgot how polite Canadians are:

 

He reminds me of a Republican!

Keith Olbermann introduces the next Anchor Hottie on Faux Noise:

 

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Here’s your cartoon:

See Cartoons by Cartoon by Mike Keefe - Courtesy of Politicalcartoons.com - Email this Cartoon

Are you all set for Valentines Day?

Open Thread: 2/12/2010

Yesterday I fell even further behind.  By the time I returned home from pulmonary boot camp, I felt pooped and went to bed.  So, I’ve gone two days in a row without replying to comment or visiting blogs.  I shall, at least, reply to all comments today and visiting blogs tomorrow.

Today’s Jig Zone puzzle took me 4:04.  To do it, Click Here.  How did you do?

Short takes:

Has the Nevada Leg Hound grown a pair?  If you remember, the Senate Finance Committee’s health care bill was so bad, I named it BARF (Baucus against a real fix.)  Now I’m naming the Senate Finance Committee’s jobs bill BARF2.  Almost immediately after release, Harry Reid scrapped it, because it was loaded with GOP giveaways, including tax cuts for big corporations and even an extension of the heinous PATRIOT Act’s most undemocratic provisions.

Bill Clinton is recovering well after surgery, in which he received two stents in a coronary artery.  I wish him a speedy and complete recovery.

The five largest health insurance companies earned record profits in 2009 by dropping 2.7 million clients and denying them coverage.

Here’s your cartoon:

See Cartoons by Cartoon by Daryl Cagle - Courtesy of Politicalcartoons.com - Email this Cartoon

TGIF!!