Wednesday Reads: P.A.D.
Posted: October 3, 2012 Filed under: 2012 elections, 2012 presidential campaign, abortion rights, Affordable Care Act (ACA), Africa, Austerity, Barack Obama, corruption, Crime, Diplomacy Nightmares, Foreign Affairs, Georgia, Hillary Clinton, Human Rights, Libya, Mental Health, Middle East, Mitt Romney, morning reads, PLUB Pro-Life-Until-Birth, Political Affective Disorder, Politics as Usual, Psychopaths in charge, religious extremists, Republican politics, Russia, Spain, Tunisia, U.S. Politics, War on Women, We are so F'd, Women's Healthcare | Tags: Forget Wake the Fuck Up, How about Romney Ryan Akin Issa Shut the Fuck up! 51 Comments »
Morning All…
Just a warning before you read any further, this post is going to start of with a smidgen of whine and a half-hearted rant about…stuff.
It has been such a struggle lately….have you been feeling it? Maybe it is just something I am going through alone these days.
It has become a struggle to run my eyes over the headlines on Memeorandum.com or read the items in my RSS feed reader. Maybe it is feeling so much frustration…seeing Romney’s name plastered all over the place? Maybe it is the touch of coolness in the air…the leaves turning from green to gold, signaling a new season. My favorite season. Fall.
Last night before I started to write this morning’s post, I found myself finding little superficies to waste time. Yeah, just doing stupid things that would give me a reason to procrastinate a bit longer. Just the thought of clicking the laptop on, and scouring the news sites made me want to forget about the blog…and avoid writing this post.
I was thrilled to see Boston Boomer posting a thread late yesterday, it meant I could even avoid doing a quick evening reads. And believe me, I have saved up some good cartoons to share with you all…but my enthusiasm was lacking for even that kind of post.
We all experience that feeling of being fed up, yes? Different things affect us, and make us scream inside ourselves…and bring about a desire to run into the hills pulling our hair out. Cleaning the bathroom sink becomes more appealing than listening to one more politician drone on about shit we know is ridiculous and flat-out wrong.
Anyway, that is it…there was my whine and feeble complaint about the Political Affective Disorder that has hit me…big time.
So, it should come to no surprise that the news links for this morning reads will be in Link Dump fashion.
The top news story, I guess the one getting most of the trending traffic this morning on Google News, was this: Top Republicans demand answers from over Benghazi attack
Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton watch as Chris Stevens’ remains are returned to the US at a military base in Maryland. Photograph: Molly Riley/Getty ImagesSenior Republicans in Congress have written to Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of state, claiming to have evidence of a previously undisclosed attack on the US consulate in Benghazi and threats to American ambassador in Libya in the months before he was killed.
Darrell Issa, chairman of the House oversight and government reform committee, and Jason Chaffetz, chairman of a subcommittee on national security, are demanding Clinton hand over information about previous attacks and threats as Republicans step up pressure on the White House with accusations of incompetence and a cover-up over the assault that killed the US ambassador, Chris Stevens, and three other American officials last month.
The letter says that US diplomats in Libya made repeated requests for increased security at the Benghazi consulate but were rejected by officials in Washington. The congressmen have called a hearing for October 10 and want Clinton to reveal what the state department knew about earlier incidents and how it responded to the growing security threat.
I do like that photo from this Guardian story. It shows compassion and genuine feeling of sympathy. Geez, what are we going to do without Hillary? I mean, it doesn’t matter who wins…Romney or Obama, she is gone next year. Sigh..
Another story making the popularity list is this bit of news from Penn State. Mike McQueary files defamation suit against Penn State
he former Penn State graduate assistant who complained he saw former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky showering with a young boy on campus and testified at his sex abuse trial sued the university on Tuesday for what he calls defamation and misrepresentation.
Mike McQueary’s whistle-blower lawsuit claims his treatment by the university since Sandusky was arrested in November has caused him distress, anxiety, humiliation and embarrassment. The complaint, filed in county court near State College, where the university is based, seeks millions of dollars in damages.
Hey, McQueary got that promotion to assistant coach when he neglected to go to the “real” police after it was obvious that telling Paterno about the sexual assault he witnessed in the shower…did absolutely nothing…as far as Sandusky is concerned.
Yesterday there was a shooting on the border. Here is the latest: Border Patrol shooting: No suspects yet I don’t know, the timing of this thing is a bit too convenient for me. With the election a month away, I guess perhaps my spider senses are somewhat over sensitive.
And over in Georgia..the results are in. Georgia election: US and Russia hail parliamentary vote President Mikheil Saakashvili is out and the Dream Party is slated to take over. Let’s see what comes of this change…I guess it would give Romney a reason to start talking about how the Soviet Union will respond to new President, Bidzina Ivanishvili.
On to a few Human Rights stories. Rights group: Mentally ill patients in Ghana chained up for months at a time at prayer camps
Mentally ill patients suffer from severe abuse at psychiatric hospitals and so-called healing centers in Ghana, with many chained to trees and even denied water, a human rights group said Tuesday.
Some 1,000 residents live in squalid, overcrowded quarters in Ghana’s three psychiatric hospitals, according to Human Rights Watch. Patients face physical and verbal abuse, and some are given electroshock therapy without their consent, said the group’s report.
The abuse is even worse in healing centers known as “prayer camps,” which lack government oversight, it said.
Thousands of mentally disabled people in the West African nation are sent to the camps, usually by their family members to be “cured” by self-proclaimed prophets through miracles, prayer and fasting. In most prayer camps, residents are only allowed to leave when the prophet deems them healed.
Fucking “organized” religion…used as an outlet for cruelty. Like we haven’t seen this shit before.
This next link is just too upsetting for words. Rights group: Police rape woman in Tunisia, then charge her with indecency
Tunisian women protest Tuesday, October 2, in front of a courthouse in Tunis where a young woman faces charges of indecency by two police officers accused of raping her.
While on the subject of rape.
Todd Akin In 2008: Doctors Give Abortions To Women Who Aren’t Pregnant
Gawd, I really hate that man.
I posted a cartoon the other day about the State Supreme Court mess down in Florida: Republican Party Aims to Remake Florida Supreme Court
You may remember it? The one with the Justices up in a tree, and an elephant revving up a chain saw?
The campaign against the justices by Republican state party officials, a conservative group founded by the Koch brothers and a grass-roots group is similar to the successful push by conservative activists in Iowa during the 2010 election. Voters there defeated three Iowa Supreme Court justices over a ruling that allowed same-sex marriage in the state. A fourth Iowa justice who also ruled in the case is being targeted for ouster this year.
In Florida, the issue is not same-sex marriage but another politically divisive matter: President Obama’s health care law. In a 2010 ruling, the Florida Supreme Court removed from the ballot a nonbinding amendment allowing Floridians to refuse to buy mandatory health insurance. The justices ruled that the required ballot summary contained “misleading and ambiguous language” and asked the Legislature to fix it. Lawmakers did, and it is back on the ballot this year.
For an update on Spain: Spanish Regions Agree to Central Government Deficit Plan
Spain’s 17 regional governments agreed on Tuesday to stick to budget deficit targets set by the central government, giving Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy some breathing space as he faces pressure from investors and his European partners to clean up Spain’s banks and public finances.
After a meeting in Madrid with leaders of the regional governments, Mr. Rajoy said, “Spain was giving a good message.” He added that he was “very grateful to everybody” for backing his government’s budget plans and avoiding a full-blown confrontation between the central and regional governments.
And these last two links are for all of us who are dealing with a cold from hell…it seems to be traveling through many of the front pagers on Sky Dancing, as well as some of our readers. (Beata, PD and HT…hope y’all are feeling better.)
Extra vitamin D may not help ward off colds
Vitamin C may shorten cold, not stop it
Have a good day, and we will see you later on tonight, as Romney and Obama meet for their first debate. I can hardly wait./Snark or should I say, /Sarcasm.
Sima
bostonboomer
ecocatwoman
fiscalliberal
grayslady
mablue2
NW Luna
peggysue22
quixote
Mona (aka Wonk the Vote)
Good Morning, JJ! I wish I could do something to help you with your PAD. To be honest, I have selfish reasons for that too. I don’t know if I could live without your posts–I think they keep me from getting PAD. Maybe you should stay away from Memeorandum. It’s just a right wing site like really.
Anyway, if I can do anything to help, just let me know. We need you girl!!
Amen! That was the first thing that crossed my mind when I saw “Memeorandum”. Ditch that site and you will feel immediate relief – trust me!
What BB said – we all need you JJ. I can understand the PAD – since the cold from hell took over my body, I’ve been watching silly shows just to take my mind away from the stressful situations displayed in the papers and blogs every day. Last night I watched Zorro – the one with Antonio Banderas (hmmmmm antonio) and had a solid 6 hours sleep after. You should try it. Just don’t go away – what would I and others do without Friday cartoon night?
Thank you so much for your support. I just wanted to explain the reasons for my “half-ass” job of writing post lately…I’m not going anywhere!
Here’s a feel-good story. At least I liked it: TV Anchor Responds to E-Mailer Who Tells Her She’s Fat.
That is a feel-good story. Thanks for posting it, BB.
Yeah, she has our support 100%.
That was a great reply. The guy who wrote her that email is a fool.
Wow, what a brilliant riposte from a beautiful woman. Definitely a feel good moment. My sister suffered from those kind of cruel comments for many, many years, so it hits home in a very positive way.
I can’t help but wonder if the person who wrote the email out of concern that this anchor person is not setting a good example and being a good roll model of health and fitness, is limiting his concerns to females or has he also written an email to Chris Christie expressing the same concerns? Actually, I don’t wonder, I already know that this ass feels he is perfectly within his rights to assess and comment on women’s bodies.
Hillary’s awesome response to Issa and Chaffetz on Benghazi. What a president she would make!
More at the link.
Michael Tomasky: If Benghazi is a scandal, what was 9/11?
I’ve thought for years that if 9/11 had happened on Clinton’s watch, the republicans would have hung him. Hell, they tried to blame him anyway,
Whenever I get credentialed, I’m going to lobby to have Political Affective Disorder to the current DSM at that time
half-joking, and only barely by half!
Gonna read your wednesday opus after class, babe. Love you, hang tough Wonder Woman
Debate tonight… I will try to be more participative on the live blog
I hope the DSM will be abolished!
Only 30 more days until we find out if Jim Demint and Jim Inhofe will hold chairmanships in the Senate.
Only 30 more days until the possibility of the Senate Judiciary Committee falling into the hands of the GOP whose major role will be in the selection of the next SC Justice.
Only 30 more days until the House elects another Speaker who will vow to impede any thought of putting the nation back to work.
Only 30 more days until the Catfood Commission is resurrected by one side or the other in the interest of “fairness”.
Only 30 more days until we are treated to another “filibuster” to block any proposed bill that would signify progress.
Only 30 more days to discover how low we have sunk if some of the stupidest people on the planet find themselves in charge.
Can’t wait.
I confess I have become a total airhead the past several days. It’s PAD’s fault.
JJ, here’s a fun quiz you might like. It’s about how to find your classic movie star style type. Mine is “Kate Hepburn – Smartly Tailored”. ( I hope this link works. I seem to be link-impaired lately. )
http://moviestarmakeover.com/kays-quiz
LOL! I Got Audrey Hepburn — Sophisticated Ingenue.
I scored as a Katherine Hepburn type. Puzzling.
That was fun, thanks Beata. I’m an Ingrid Bergman type.
Ooooooh! Now that’s glamourous!
The description was “Charmingly Natural”. The qualification was based on my hair being wash and wear, my legs being bare of stockings, my lipstick being chapstick and my last cosmetic purchase being sunscreen. Back in the day, they used to call people like me “bluestockings”. Today, I’m Ingrid Bergman – go figure.
Me too! Some of those questions didn’t have any answers that fit me. I liked the fact that animals were included in the description. I checked all of the results & that category fits me better than any of the others. That was fun!
Connie, we’re twins separated at birth? Sounds good to me.
Hey, I always wanted a sister. And, the way things are going in the US, moving to Canada seems like a totally fab idea.
I’m Ingrid Bergman! Yay! One of my all-time fav’s!
Which sunscreen do you use? (joke, yet not a joke)
LOL! Yes, that was my “cosmetic” and I chose the one with the fewest and most comfortable shoes!
I retook the test, giving the questions a little more thought. I wanted to be Ingrid Bergman, my favorite actress! But I ended up “Grace Kelly – Classically Ladylike”. I better watch my language during the debate.
I adore her too, Beata but I’m NOTHING like her. I wish I were because I think she’s awesome but I answered the questions honestly and I don’t think I’m anything like her. But what the heck, I’ll take it!
I admit, I’m totally psyched for the debate tonight. I hope I’m not the only one!
You’re not. But I have turned my fears over to congressional races that may bring more “freaks” to the legislative body than ever before.
To think that Todd Akin is still in contention in MO is beyond my comprehension. Or that Murdouch in AZ could win is troubling. McMahon is running neck to neck in CT and Scott Brown could still manage to pull out a win in MA which could easily turn the Senate into another GOP stronghold.
Romney/Ryan may “be over” at this point but those other races could cause the debacle many of us here have been railing against all along.
The race for POTUS that ushers in a GOP majority is more disastrous than who pulls out a victory for the WH in my judgment.
Just wish I could shake this feeling of doom.
No election is over yet. The whole pack of idiots could still win. YUCK!
They could also lose! (I’m a glass half-full type.)
Looks like people with money on the line also expect an Obama victory.
TPM: Wall Street’s Professional Pundits Game Out An Obama Victory
Even with the today’s Republican minority, Senate is already a Republican stronghold
Have to admit that I’m with you Pat. Impending sense of doom is the mood I’m in too. While I’m looking forward to the debates, I’m fearful at the same time. Reagan/Carter or W/Gore – who knew? It doesn’t seem to matter who actually wins but who is picked by the majority of talking heads. It’s the after party that picks the debate champ, not the viewers or participants.
Well there’s that too =)
Hiya Bb
Notice the letter Issa sent was signed only by himself. He’s having a conniption fit, because he wants it done within the week, oh yeah, he’s set up a deadline of Oct 10 for Hillary.
Too bad for McCready – we know it all comes down to money, and not those abused kids.
Well, if it weren’t for McCready, Sundusky would probably still be abusing kids, so I have to give him credit for that.
I don’t know so much about he time frame, and if it stopped……because it was reported that Sandusky, though ordered not to bring kids to the fooball building, continued to bring them to a summer camp at Penn State’s Behrend Satelite campus.
I kinda feel like what the hell, McQueary saw the crime take place on 9 Feb 2001, and reported it the next day. Then he was told that appropriate police action had taken place, but was instead covered up. My thoughts, is why didn’t he go through a police investigation since he was the one who witnessed the crime……………come on, his elvator didn’t go all the way to the top, to think he didn’t have to be questioned by the law.
Hope this is good for votes.
Poll: Republican, Democratic Party Favorability Ratings Diverge
Poll shows that Romney’s “you didn’t build that” campaign was an epic fail, while his “47 percent” are having a huge effect.
Oh yeah. I don’t know if everyone’s seeing it but here in VA the Dems are running an awesome 30 second spot with the audio of Romney saying the 47 percent stuff while they show pictures of veterans and working class Americans who would fall into the 47 percent he’s describing. It’s powerful.
Don’t miss this! The internet is strangely obsessed with greasy-faced Romney gifs.
Rmoney’s face photoshopped onto movie villains.
http://romneyistheantichrist.tumblr.com/
Took a turn for the worse today but here is something I wish we could do something about. Destroy Pete Peterson, H/T Suzie
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-hiltzik-20121003,0,376906.column
Keystone XL – well, we know Romney will approve the full pipeline on Day 1. This is what’s happening to people in Texas where the southern leg is going ahead: http://www.treehugger.com/fossil-fuels/texas-homeowner-speaks-out-about-transcanada-taking-her-land-keystone-xl-pipeline-video.html
Watching those trees fall made me really sad.
Yep, I’m with you janicen. Manifest destiny & eminent domain – ain’t it wonderful? And just how many PERMANENT jobs will this destruction create?
JJ, this one’s for you. Hope it will cure what ails you: http://www.treehugger.com/natural-sciences/octoputs-opens-food-canister-while-fending-off-shark.html Octopi are quickly becoming my 2nd favorite critter (cats will always be Number 1).