Wednesday Open Thread | Little Birdie

Posted on November 22, 2017 by SouthernGirl2

I can’t stop myself, Chicas! I love this song.

About SouthernGirl2

A Native Texan who adores baby kittens, loves horses, rodeos, pomegranates, & collect Eagles. Enjoys politics, games shows, & dancing to all types of music. Loves discussing and learning about different cultures. A Phi Theta Kappa lifetime member with a passion for Social & Civil Justice.
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28 Responses to Wednesday Open Thread | Little Birdie

  1. Ametia says:
    November 22, 2017 at 9:30 pm

    Hello, Everyone. Hanging out in Tucson.šŸ’šŸ½

    Reply
  3. rikyrah says:
    November 22, 2017 at 5:09 pm

    My brand are broken
    My greens are picked.
    They are both on the stove on low heat.

    Next up:
    The onions and celery for the dressing

    Reply
  4. rikyrah says:
    November 22, 2017 at 10:40 am

    THE LAST WORD WITH LAWRENCE O’DONNELL 11/21/17
    Lawrence Summers on Trump Tax Cuts
    Lawrence Oā€™Donnell speaks with former Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers about how the Trump-Republican bill violates all of Ronald Reaganā€™s principles for tax reform and the underreported ā€œvindictive attackā€ in the tax bill.

    Reply
  5. rikyrah says:
    November 22, 2017 at 10:37 am

    Trump picks the wrong issue to target Alabamaā€™s Doug Jones
    11/22/17 10:06 AMā€”UPDATED 11/22/17 10:14 AM
    By Steve Benen

    I thought of this yesterday watching the president go after Doug Jonesā€™ (D) Senate candidacy in Alabama.

    ā€œI can tell you one thing for sure: We donā€™t need a liberal person in there, a Democrat ā€“ Jones. Iā€™ve looked at his record. Itā€™s terrible on crimeā€¦. I can tell you for a fact, we do not need somebody thatā€™s going to be bad on crime.ā€

    Asked soon after if he intends to campaign in support of Roy Moore, the president added, ā€œIā€™ll be letting you know next week, but I can tell you, you donā€™t need somebody whoā€™s soft on crime, like Jones.ā€

    Letā€™s pause for a moment to take stock. Doug Jones is a former federal prosecutor ā€“ a role in which he went after criminals. Heā€™s perhaps best known for convicting a pair of KKK members responsible for the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing, which left four children dead.

    Roy Moore, whoā€™s been accused of sexual assault, is an alleged child molester. Up until two weeks ago, he was best known for having been removed from the bench ā€“ twice ā€“ for ignoring federal court rulings he disagreed with.

    In Trumpā€™s mind, one of these two men are ā€œsoft on crimeā€ ā€“ and itā€™s not the one common sense is pointing at.

    Reply
  6. rikyrah says:
    November 22, 2017 at 10:26 am

    Why Politicizing the U.S. Census Is Dangerous
    by Martin Longman November 21, 2017

    …………………………………

    In his 2008 book, ā€œRedistricting and Representation: Why Competitive Elections are Bad for America,ā€ [Prof. Thomas Brunell] argued that partisan districts packed with like-minded voters actually lead to better representation than ones more evenly split between Democrats and Republicans, because fewer voters in partisan districts cast a vote for a losing candidate. He has also argued that ideologically packed districts should be called ā€œfair districtsā€ and admits that his stance on competitive elections makes him something of an outlier among political scientists, who largely support competitive elections.

    ……………………………..

    If youā€™re in the political minority, thereā€™s a big difference between feeling that youā€™re being poorly represented and feeling that there is zero chance that that will or ever could change. On the district level, itā€™s just a smaller version of the problem we have in the Electoral College, where people are disincentivized to vote because they know that their votes wonā€™t count or change anything. How much motivation does a Wyoming Democrat or a Rhode Island Republican really have to vote in a presidential election when they know their vote will be tossed out? But at least the Electoral College has some advantages like preventing the potential need for a national recount. Truly uncompetitive congressional districts suppress political engagement and promote apathy and cynicism, with the ultimate effect of undermining the consent of the governed. The simplest way of putting it is that the political process must offer hope, and ideologically packed districts offer none.

    ……………………………………..

    Brunell, a registered Republican, has criticized partisan gerrymandering in his work. But the GOP has repeatedly used his research in redistricting efforts, and he appeared as an expert witness to defend GOP-led states in lawsuits over potential gerrymandering. After the 2010 census, he testified or wrote a report in support of GOP redistricting efforts in Alabama, South Dakota, South Carolina and New Mexico.

    In North Carolina, where GOP leaders drew congressional districts that were ultimately overturned by the Supreme Court for unfairly discriminating against black North Carolinians, he wrote a report on behalf of the state analyzing the extent of racially polarized voting in 51 North Carolina districts. In Ohio, he wrote a report in opposition to expanded early voting, which many political scientists believe favors Democrats, arguing that it reduces overall turnout because it ā€œtakes away from Election Day as a civic event.ā€

    Brunellā€™s research has also tackled the Census itself. In the early 2000s, he wrote multiple papers on the political controversy surrounding the 2000 census, which included new statistical adjustments intended to more accurately count minorities and other groups that are relatively less likely to respond to the Census. Republicans argued that the new techniques were a veiled effort to boost the Democratsā€™ political fortunes; Brunell was sharply critical of them as well, arguing that ā€œa census with an adjustment ultimately leads to a less accurate headcount simply because the post-census adjustment becomes a crutch.ā€

    ………………………

    Heā€™s being brought in to help the Republicans use the census to their political benefit, which is bad enough in itself, but also a problem for legitimacy and disenfranchisement. People talk about white privilege all the time, but Americans suffer from a different kind of privilege. Because weā€™ve had such a stable political system for so long, we donā€™t think we need to worry about things like legitimacy and the consent of the governed. We can talk about how great it is to have more people getting the representation that they want without taking into account how bad it is to have people disengage from and ultimately revolt against the political system because itā€™s rigged and pointless and incapable of change or accountability.

    Itā€™s a danger when this happens with isolated and powerless minority populations, but it grows into something truly threatening when it happens to one half of the country, in this case the Democratic Party and its supporters. In 2000, Al Gore submitted to the nakedly partisan will of the Supreme Court, but times were different then. Thereā€™s no assurance that Democratic partisans will continue to sit still for a political system that is imposed on them specifically to disadvantage and disempower them. At some point, youā€™d argue they have a moral obligation to take their fight outside of an increasingly unfair civil process and into the streets.

    Reply
  7. rikyrah says:
    November 22, 2017 at 10:22 am

    Racism and Nationalism Were Central to the Election of Donald Trump
    by Nancy LeTourneau November 22, 2017

    Adam Serwer has published a profound piece at the Atlantic titled, ā€œThe Nationalistā€™s Delusion.ā€ His subtitle gives you an idea of where heā€™s headed: ā€œTrumpā€™s supporters backed a time-honored American political tradition, disavowing racism while promising to enact a broad agenda of discrimination.ā€ Here is how he summarizes the point later on in the piece:

    What I found was that Trump embodied his supportersā€™ most profound beliefsā€”combining an insistence that discriminatory policies were necessary with vehement denials that his policies would discriminate and absolute outrage that the question would even be askedā€¦

    The specific dissonance of Trumpismā€”advocacy for discriminatory, even cruel, policies combined with vehement denials that such policies are racially motivatedā€”provides the emotional core of its appeal. It is the most recent manifestation of a contradiction as old as the United States, a society founded by slaveholders on the principle that all men are created equal.

    From historical analysis to current data and interviews with Trump supporters, Serwer provides more than ample documentation for this assertion. But one of the most fascinating questions of our time is the one that asks how a country that elected Barack Obama twice could suffer from the delusion Serwer chronicled, leading to the election of Donald Trump.

    Reply
  8. rikyrah says:
    November 22, 2017 at 10:15 am

    When Even the GOP House Leaders Said Putin Was Paying Trump
    by Martin Longman November 21, 2017

    As I was perusing the New York Times article on Rep. Dana Rohrabacherā€™s woes, I was reminded that back on June 15th, 2016, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy was captured on tape confiding with Paul Ryan, Evan McMullin, and others that he ā€œswore to Godā€ that Vladimir Putin was paying Rohrabacher and Donald Trump. When the recording leaked, the House leadership tried to explain it away by saying it was just an attempt at humor. But McCarthy was serious and Ryan immediately swore everyone present to secrecy.

    Some of the lawmakers laughed at McCarthyā€™s comment. Then McCarthy quickly added: ā€œSwear to God.ā€

    Ryan instructed his Republican lieutenants to keep the conversation private, saying: ā€œNo leaks. .ā€‰.ā€‰. This is how we know weā€™re a real family here.ā€

    The remarks remained secret for nearly a year.

    ………………………………………..

    I want to do a little something here that I think will help you visualize the moment in time when McCarthy said Trump was being paid by Putin and Paul Ryan swore everyone to secrecy. That meeting occurred on 6/15/16, but I want to extend the timeline a bit in both directions so you can see what was going on and put McCarthyā€™s comments into their proper context.

    Weā€™re going to be looking at a pretty consequential two-week period of time. Itā€™s important to know that just prior to the start of our timeline here, on May 26th, Trump finally secured the majority of the GOP delegates he needed to win the nomination. Also, you should know that on June 3rd, WikiLeaks created the torrent for their insurance file which included the DNC hack. So, we know that WikiLeaks had the material by that date, even if the public would not see it until later. Also on June 3rd, Rob Goldstone first contacted Donald Trump Jr. by email, and offered assistance from the Russian government.

    Reply
  9. rikyrah says:
    November 22, 2017 at 10:13 am

    THE RACHEL MADDOW SHOW 11/21/17
    Kremlin scoops U.S. media on Trump Russia meeting, again
    Rachel Maddow points out the disturbing frequency with which Americans’ first notice about Donald Trump’s interactions with Russian president Vladimir Putin is from the Kremlin instead of the U.S. media, and wonders why that is.

    Reply
  10. rikyrah says:
    November 22, 2017 at 10:10 am

    This don’t make no damn sense.

    Heā€™s a Member of Congress. The Kremlin Likes Him So Much It Gave Him a Code Name. ā€“ The New York Times https://t.co/PBJwQfnmhH

    ā€” Paul Begala (@PaulBegala) November 22, 2017

    Reply
  11. rikyrah says:
    November 22, 2017 at 10:09 am

    2ļøāƒ£ Read our blog on how to talk to your family and friends about the tax bill when politics inevitably come at the dinner table: https://t.co/Jpi4LKH9ne

    ā€” Indivisible Guide (@IndivisibleTeam) November 22, 2017

    Reply
  12. rikyrah says:
    November 22, 2017 at 10:08 am

    How the net neutrality repeal could affect you https://t.co/mXGTOT0ASe

    ā€” The New York Times (@nytimes) November 22, 2017

    Reply
  13. rikyrah says:
    November 22, 2017 at 10:08 am

    #BREAKING: Ex-ethics chief files complaint accusing Conway of breaking law https://t.co/Opx46wYryV pic.twitter.com/7hC22dJPHM

    ā€” The Hill (@thehill) November 22, 2017

    Reply
  14. rikyrah says:
    November 22, 2017 at 10:02 am

    THE RACHEL MADDOW SHOW 11/21/17
    Trump FCC would close internet with revocation of net neutrality
    Xeni Jardin, editor of Boing Boing, talks with Rachel Maddow about why net neutrality is key to preserving the openness of the internet and why the Trump administration is likely to face a lot of uncomfortable pressure to undo its decision to revoke it.

    Reply
  15. rikyrah says:
    November 22, 2017 at 9:24 am

    THE RACHEL MADDOW SHOW 11/21/17
    Senator seeks answers on suspicious timing of US attorney firing
    Senator Chris Coons talks with Rachel Maddow about his effort to get answers from the Trump administration on why key U.S. attorney Dana Boente was pushed out of his position.

    Reply
  16. rikyrah says:
    November 22, 2017 at 9:20 am

    THE RACHEL MADDOW SHOW 11/21/17
    Dismissal of key US attorney, Dana Boente, a mystery
    Rachel Maddow describes the close proximity of U.S. attorney Dana Boente to some of key players and moments in the Trump Russia investigation, making his abrupt dismissal by Donald Trump particularly suspicious.

    Reply
  17. rikyrah says:
    November 22, 2017 at 9:05 am

    THE RACHEL MADDOW SHOW 11/21/17
    Trump aims to boost GOP gerrymandering advantage with census pick
    Rachel Maddow looks at how Republicans have successfully used gerrymandering to give themselves an electoral advantage, and how Donald Trump appears eager to extend that edge with, according to Politico, a census hire with no statistical experience but a zeal for partisan redistricting.

    Reply
  18. rikyrah says:
    November 22, 2017 at 9:02 am

    THE RACHEL MADDOW SHOW 11/21/17
    Mueller examining Kushner contacts with foreign leaders: WSJ
    Rachel Maddow relays a report from the Wall Street Journal that special counsel Robert Mueller is giving attention to Jared Kushner’s contacts with foreign leaders during the Trump transition.

    Reply
  19. rikyrah says:
    November 22, 2017 at 8:58 am

    THE RACHEL MADDOW SHOW 11/21/17
    Trump sex harassment accuser seeks campaign documents at court
    Rachel Maddow rounds up developments in political sexual harassment cases, including one of Donald Trump’s accusers asking a court to force Trump to hand over campaign documents.

    Reply
  20. Liza says:
    November 22, 2017 at 8:57 am

    I hadn’t thought of this, but it certainly rings true.

    https://twitter.com/deray/status/933294085363843072

    Reply
  21. rikyrah says:
    November 22, 2017 at 8:53 am

    NEWS: On Thanksgiving, Pope Francis will meet @RevDrBarber, who’s leading a revival of MLK’s Poor People’s Campaign. Barber is among international grassroots leaders meeting @Pontifex that day. https://t.co/PsYcqqJd9x

    ā€” Laurie Goodstein (@lauriegnyt) November 20, 2017

    “ā€œ[The Pope] wants to bless this movement, and meet with other activists from around the world who are fighting against poverty” @RevDrBarber https://t.co/z81oBDYGkR

    ā€” Guthrie Graves-Fitzsimmons (@GuthrieGF) November 20, 2017

    Reply
  22. rikyrah says:
    November 22, 2017 at 1:27 am

    Good Morning, Everyone šŸ˜„šŸ˜„šŸ˜„

    Reply

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