Saturday Odds & Sods: Tenderness On The Block
This week Adrastos discusses Mike Yenni, the Labour Party conference, Princess Margaret, and Puerto Rican baseball. Continue reading Saturday Odds & Sods: Tenderness On The Block
Month: September 2017
How trying to make free speech free can really not do that
The state of Wisconsin is in the process of considering a bill that would allow for higher levels of punishment against UW folk who “disrupt” the free speech of others. On its face, the idea seems good: Everyone has a right to speak, so let’s make sure that we let all voices be heard. Naturally, that’s not the point of this, as previous writers have pointed out. Republicans who supported this bill (all but one of them voted for it; naturally all the Democrats opposed it) believe college campuses are filled with weed-smoking hippies who hate anyone conservative enough to … Continue reading How trying to make free speech free can really not do that
Friday Catblogging: Classic Oscar
Oscar isn’t doing well after several weeks of steady progress. The marking has stopped but he’s listless and reluctant to eat. We have some new strategies but I’m worried. As an antidote of sorts, I’m posting this picture of the … Continue reading Friday Catblogging: Classic Oscar
Love Is (Luther) Strange But Roy Moore Is Even Stranger
Yeah, I know, the Senator who was appointed to replace Jeff Sessions by disgraced former Alabama Governor Robert Bentley lost to a lunatic. I’d been meaning to use the first part of the title forever but ain’t it funny how … Continue reading Love Is (Luther) Strange But Roy Moore Is Even Stranger
Nero Never Actually Fiddled
Nor did he sing accompanied by himself or someone else on the lyre … But our president sure does like to tweet. And apparently has the attention span of a gnat. While the Caribbean is still in full crisis, and … Continue reading Nero Never Actually Fiddled
Pulp Fiction Thursday: The Girl In The Cop’s Pocket
The cover of this book is rather pedestrian but the title and tag line rock. Continue reading Pulp Fiction Thursday: The Girl In The Cop’s Pocket
Heckuva Job, Trumpy
Adrastos on the disastrous response of the Trump administration* to Hurricane Maria. Continue reading Heckuva Job, Trumpy
Album Cover Art Wednesday: McLemore Avenue
The great soul keyboard player Booker T. Jones was blown away by Abbey Road: I was in California when I heard Abbey Road, and I thought it was incredibly courageous of The Beatles to drop their format and move out musically … Continue reading Album Cover Art Wednesday: McLemore Avenue
Our Fate is Your Fate
They’re letting Puerto Rico die: Four days after a major hurricane battered Puerto Rico, leaving the entire island in a communications and power blackout, regions outside San Juan remained disconnected from the rest of the island — and the world. Juncos, in a mountainous region southeast of the capital that was slammed with Maria’s most powerful winds, remains isolated, alone, afraid. Just like they let New Orleans drown, and California burn, and Houston flood, and the Midwest rust. I’ve been saying it for years. Don’t think you’re immune. Don’t think you’re safe. If they can do this to your neighbor … Continue reading Our Fate is Your Fate
Malaka Of The Week: Frank Scurlock
I try to avoid writing about literal malakatude, especially when it’s the public variety. It’s sticky and gross. Sometimes you’ve got to deal with ugly reality and ain’t nobody uglier than the NOLA mayoral pretender and bouncy house mogul who … Continue reading Malaka Of The Week: Frank Scurlock
Today on Tommy T’s Obsession with the Freeperati – Endless Freepathon edition
Good Monday morning, all!
Well, the Endless Freepathon finally ended on Friday, and there’s only 9 days between the third quarter edition and the fourth quarter edition. At this point, they might as well just leave the damned thing up year-round.
Also, I’m thinking that the final push every quarter that puts them over the top (see what I did there?) is just surrendering and calling it a victory : “Oh well – donations have dried up completely for the last couple of weeks, so let’s color the chart to the end and say we won. At least we’ll be spared the embarrassment of Freepers publicly noting that the beg-a-thon has become a permanent fixture of the site.”
Otherwise, it’s business as usual :
Ellison compares illegal immigrants to Jews fleeing Nazi Germany
The Hill ^ | Josh DelkPosted on 9/20/2017, 1:50:37 PM by SJackson
Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), deputy chairman of the Democratic National Committee, is comparing giving sanctuary to undocumented immigrants in the U.S. to giving shelter to Jews fleeing the Holocaust in Nazi Germany.
“And if you ask yourself ‘What would I do if I was a gentile in 1941, if my Jewish neighbors were under attack by the Nazis? Would I give them sanctuary?'” Ellison said Monday in comments on President Trump’s move to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
“I’m one of the people who believes we should give our neighbors sanctuary,” he told supporters in Minneapolis, as reported by the NTK Network.
Trump said earlier this month he was ending the Obama-era program, which spares from deportation those who were brought to the U.S. as children. The president, however, has called for a legislative solution and indicated a willingness to work with Democrats on the proposed Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act.
(snip)
“So this is not someone else’s fight; this is all our fight but some people are in the bull’s eye and others of us are not exactly the target. Therefore, it is our responsibility to stand up and fight and do the right thing,” Ellison said.
Very first comment?
Thanks so much for your support to this point… I personally apprecaite it…
FReepers, it’s far beyond time to wrap up this FReep-a-thon. Lets get the job done. Please chip in. President Donald J. Trump and the Free Republic of the United States of America
President Donald J. Trump’s address to the United Nations on 09/19/2017.
Please join the monthlies, an automated and the best way to help support Free Republic. If you opt not to join the automated monthly support program, please consider joining the One One Done project. LINK
FReepers, 93.50% of the Third Quarter FReep-a-thon goal has been met. Click above and pencil in your donation now. Please folks, lets end this FReepathon. Thank you!
…this is a general all-purpose message, and should not be seen as targeting any individual I am responding to…Just $442.00 dollars and cents to 94.00%
2 posted on 9/20/2017, 1:52:14 PM by DoughtyOne (DACA: Their dream, our nightmare… will the rule of law prevail or not?)
Oh, STFU.
To: SJackson
Keith, you mean like those Jews Roosevelt would not let into the US and sent them back to their deaths?………………
4 posted on 9/20/2017, 1:54:29 PM by Red Badger (Road Rage lasts 5 minutes. Road Rash lasts 5 months!…………………)
Amazing how sensitive these little snowflakes get when racial cleansing is brought up.
Why, in another thread about D.O.G. (Darkies Owning Guns), one Freeper debunks the Nazi connection once and for all :
To: marktwain
For more little nuggets of Fascism, read on –
Continue reading “Today on Tommy T’s Obsession with the Freeperati – Endless Freepathon edition”
Forbearance
Just a reminder to my fellow white people: To save you trouble of making sure: no, there’s no tweet on @BenSasse‘s feed today advising Trump on what to (not) say or how not to divide. pic.twitter.com/C44ltItTyH — Taniel (@Taniel) September 24, 2017 THERE IS NO EQUIVALENT FOR US OF THE RESTRAINT WE EXPECT PEOPLE OF COLOR TO EXERCISE IN THIS COUNTRY. We get all bent out of shape and call the fucking 5 o’clock news when the phone company doesn’t give us a $2 refund, but we expect people of color to call a police officer “sir” as he’s threatening … Continue reading Forbearance
Sunday Morning Video: James Brown Live At The Ritz
Here’s the Godfather of Soul live in 1986: Continue reading Sunday Morning Video: James Brown Live At The Ritz
Saturday Odds & Sods: How About You?
We had another boil water advisory in New Orleans this week. I’ve gotten used to them by now and don’t freak out. I’m married to a microbiologist so we ignore the “don’t shower” bit. It’s okay to bathe as long as one doesn’t have wounds or open sores. Besides, I’m not about to be stinky because the Sewerage and Water Board can’t get its shit together. Fuck that shit.
Oscar Update. It looks as if doubling his head meds and changing his diet has done the trick. Knock on wood. He hasn’t marked in several days and doesn’t look and act like a scaredy cat. His tail is in the air when he walks instead of drooping. Let’s hope it lasts. Knock on wood. I had forgotten about that live Bowie version. Make sure you click on that last link.
In other New Orleans news, I wrote a second column for the Bayou Brief about the Mayors race. The campaign is so dull and listless that I refer to the candidates as The B-List.
This week’s theme song is inspired by last week’s Gershwin brothers reverie. How so? The opening lyrics:
I like New York in June, how about you?
I like a Gershwin tune, how about you?
That works for me.
How About You? was written by Burton Lane and Ralph Freed for the 1941 MGM musical Babes on Broadway starring Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland. We have two versions for your enjoyment. First, the Chairman of the Board with a Nelson Riddle arranged version from an album you’ll hear more about later. Second, Harry Nilsson did an album of standards with *another* Sinatra arranger, Gordon Jenkins. Harry’s version was featured in Python alum Terry Gilliam’s best film, The Fisher King.
Heh, heh, heh. We just saw Robin William’s furry butt, he said in his best Beavis and Butthead voice. On that supremely lowbrow note, lets jump to the break.
Memento Mori
I was sitting in my basement early this week, sorting through the dozens of things I had to do when my wife came down to add one more: “Do you have anything you’re doing this weekend?” she asked. I tried not to flinch as I tried to answer in a vague way that would allow me somehow get out of whatever she was about to ask me to build, fix, move or buy while still not admitting I wanted a free weekend. “I’m not sure right now. Why?” “There’s that benefit at the park for Jacob…” Jacob is a 9-year-old … Continue reading Memento Mori
Friday Catblogging: Tabled
Della Street likes to sprawl all over the furniture. Here’s a close up of her exploits: Continue reading Friday Catblogging: Tabled
Malaka Of The Week: Bill Cassidy
Graham-Cassidy Bad. Jimmy Kimmel Test Good. Continue reading Malaka Of The Week: Bill Cassidy
Stranger Than Fiction
More evidence the Russians were all-in on The Donald Suspected Russia propagandists on Facebook tried to organize more than a dozen pro-Trump rallies in Florida during last year’s election, The Daily Beast has learned. The demonstrations—at least one of which was promoted … Continue reading Stranger Than Fiction
Pulp Fiction Thursday: The Ant Men
It’s pre-historic monster time here at First Draft. Continue reading Pulp Fiction Thursday: The Ant Men
Nambia Pamby?
Donald Trump: Explorer or Schnorrer? Continue reading Nambia Pamby?
Your President* Speaks: Apocalypse U.N.
Adrastos on Trump’s tirade on the Hudson. Continue reading Your President* Speaks: Apocalypse U.N.
Album Cover Art Wednesday: A Few Small Repairs
A Few Small Repairs came out twenty years ago and was recently re-issued in a fancy new edition. It was Shawn Colvin’s commercial breakthrough, became a big damn hit, and won several Grammys. Who doesn’t like a break up album, … Continue reading Album Cover Art Wednesday: A Few Small Repairs
Swastikas & Pride Flags Are Not Equal Opposites
Speaking of free speech abstractions and people buying into their own bullshit: Yep. But I’m arguing that people walking around wearing swastikas with impunity makes it harder, not easier, for people to wear pride flags. https://t.co/Z3HUYNSYFG — Angus Johnston (@studentactivism) September 19, 2017 Fuckin’ fuck’s sake. These aren’t opposing points of view: Nazi wearing swastika: I want everyone who isn’t Aryan to die. Gay person wearing a Pride flag: I would like to be able to live my life free of persecution and systemic inequality. DO WE REALLY NOT SEE THE GODDAMN DIFFERENCE? Angus’s mentions are full of idiots who … Continue reading Swastikas & Pride Flags Are Not Equal Opposites
Who Profits When We Fight?
The Daily Cal has been fucking killin’ it on the “Free Speech Week” fiasco: When UC Berkeley asked Young America’s Foundation, or YAF, and the Berkeley College Republicans to pay nearly $16,000 in security fees for Ben Shapiro’s speech, YAF lashed out immediately, stating that campus administration was taxing conservative free speech. But public financial returns obtained by The Daily Californian show that every year, YAF spends millions of dollars funding campus events such as Shapiro’s, propped up by tens of millions in annual donations from many wealthy, powerful foundations linked to prominent conservatives such as Donald Rumsfeld, the DeVos family and Charles and David Koch. This organization is … Continue reading Who Profits When We Fight?
First Draft Potpourri: Why Not Madman Across The Water?
Adrastos dishes on Trump’s nicknaming fetish. Trump mouthpiece Ty Cobb, and the Steele Dossier. Continue reading First Draft Potpourri: Why Not Madman Across The Water?
Today on Tommy T’s Obsession with the Freeperati – “The Art Of The Squeal” edition
Good morning, all! After three flips and a flop, thus quoth The Darnold :
Donald Trump: Let DACA Recipients Stay; Not Amnesty
Breitbart.com ^ | 14 Sep 2017 | Charlie SpieringPosted on 9/14/2017, 3:32:48 PM by Rockitz
President Donald Trump argued that allowing DACA recipients to stay in the United States would not be amnesty. “We’re looking at allowing people to stay here,” Trump said to reporters in Florida on Thursday.
He insisted that his deal with Democrats on DACA recipients would not be amnesty.
“We’re not looking at citizenship, we’re not looking at amnesty,” Trump said.
On Air Force One however, a White House spokesperson confirmed that “legal citizenship over a period of time” for DACA recipients would likely be part of a deal. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi insisted that the plan would offer them a “path to citizenship.”
***********
Legal status with a pathway to citizenship is NOT amnesty. So I guess that’s scratch number 7 here?
How has Trump screwed me? Let me count the ways :
1. Secure the border in a transparently verifiable way;
2. End the anchor-baby interpretation of the 14th Amendment
3. Enforce e-verify without exception and with severe penalties;
4. End chain migration. Entry per individual qualifications; not family ties.
5. Deportation upon contact with any law enforcement agency- federal, state or local;
6. No government benefits beyond critical emergency care(and that ought to be billed back to the home government);
7. NO “Path to citizenship” EVER for anyone who has entered the us illegally.
“Otherwise OK?”
“Spock! Analysis?”
To: Rockitz
Not true!
McCain’s brain actually still works.
To: Rockitz
What happened to Trump?
One day swinging like Tyson, tweeting, defending America. The next acting like Jeff Sessions.
6 posted on 9/14/2017, 3:41:04 PM by FreedomStar3028 (Somebody has to step forward and do what is right because it is right, otherwise no one will follow.)
To: xzins
Call it what you want, worker permit, student grievance, non citizen status it’s illegal illegal illegal. Let’s not parse words…are they still here? Yes…are they here illegally? Yes….are they illegal aliens? Yes….
Why are they not gone?
8 posted on 9/14/2017, 3:41:27 PM by Jarhead9297
Because Baron Poostain Harkonnen can’t snap his fingers and make it happen?
To: Rockitz
A Freeper even uses the T word, but fortunately, used a strikethrough.
To: Rockitz” a White House spokesperson confirmed that ‘legal citizenship over a period of time’ “None dare call it
treasonamnesty.
That was a close one.
Click the lovely “read more” for more stunned realizations that they’ve been had…
The Olds Are Alright, Too
I’m ’bout done hearing how exhausted we all are because if this guy can keep fighting so can everybody else: On platforms that didn’t exist during his first 80 years, Smith preaches about preserving democracy and the welfare state, creating a just society and living a life of compassion, all from an enthusiastically leftist perspective. And he rails against Donald Trump, Brexit, inequality, corporate greed and whatever else he finds loathsome, his pointed words delivered with an engaging, guy-on-the-next-barstool folksiness. In his tenth decade, Smith is trying to change the world, with the urgency of someone who understands the time … Continue reading The Olds Are Alright, Too
It’s About To Get Bad Again. And Again. And Again.
Here we go again: In releasing a revised version of their legislation to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Senators Bill Cassidy and Lindsey Graham, along with co-sponsors Dean Heller and Ron Johnson, claimed that their bill isn’t a “partisan” approach and doesn’t include “draconian cuts.” In reality, however, the Cassidy-Graham bill would have the same harmful consequences as those prior bills. It would cause many millions of people to lose coverage, radically restructure and deeply cut Medicaid, and increase out-of-pocket costs for individual market consumers. As I was thinking about having to fight this again, when we’ve already defeated … Continue reading It’s About To Get Bad Again. And Again. And Again.
Sunday Morning Video- Glenn Tilbrook: One For The Road
This 2004 film was made by Squeeze super fan Amy Pritkin. It documents Glenn’s first solo US tour when he hit the road in an RV to play a series of solo acoustic gigs. It’s good stuff. Continue reading Sunday Morning Video- Glenn Tilbrook: One For The Road
Saturday Odds & Sods: Nice Work If You Can Get It
U2 came to town this week but I was involved in another spectacle: babysitting the legendary Child Army so that their parents Cait and Dave could see the Bono bunch. I like early U2 and even the Mick and Keith dynamic between Bono and the Edge but I’m not a fan. Why? I detest the preternaturally pompous Paul Hewson.
Additionally, U2 played the Superdome and I hate, hate, hate stadium concerts. I saw the Stones at the Dome and the sound was atrocious. Dealing with the Benevolent Dictator, Gladowling, and Lagniappe (their social media names) was just as raucous and none of them is a pompous prat like Bono.
Here’s a photo taken by Dr. A that could be entitled Child Army Surrealism. Note the smiling malice of the girl child Lagniappe who is a cross between a cat and Harpo Marx; only she hands you objects instead of her leg.
Eat your heart (hat?) out, Rene Magritte.
Oscar Update: He continues marking but otherwise is feeling fine. We’ve tried everything suggested by the vet and various kitty savants, but are starting to feel like people on My Cat From Hell. At least we understand that it’s not about us but Oscar’s own furry demons. It doesn’t make it easier to deal with. The good news is that our vet has a new plan: to up Oscar’s meds and change his diet. Hopefully, that will help; otherwise we may need Jackson Galaxy.
You may have noticed that I love George and Ira Gershwin’s music. This isn’t the first Gershwin tune to be the Saturday Odds & Sods theme song and it won’t be the last. Nice Work If You Can Get It was written for the 1937 Astaire-Rogers movie A Damsel In Distress. It’s lesser Astaire BUT a major Gershwin tune. I’ll shut up and let Tony Bennett and Billie Holiday carry on.
My friend Kevin at the Gambit Tabloid and I use different words to describe what’s about to happen. He calls it a jump, I call it a break. This insignificant dispute leads to the inevitable Gershwin joke: you say jump, I say break. Let’s call the whole thing off.
Continue reading “Saturday Odds & Sods: Nice Work If You Can Get It”