Author: Trish

WTF? Obama Visits Marc Maron’s Garage

Trish
He wore a tie?
He wore a tie?

I stay about two years behind in listening to my WTF podcasts. Until today, I never skipped ahead to listen to this or that guest being interviewed by Marc Maron, no matter how big a fan of the person I was, because there is a continuity to the episodes and I prefer to work my way through them the hard way.

That changed today. When I started to sync my iPod before walking the dog this morning, I saw that Marc’s guest for the episode dated 6/22/15 was Pres. Obama. Yes. That Pres. Obama. How could I not listen in real (so to speak, since it’s a podcast) time?

I couldn’t.

[…]

Republicans Run Amok in Florida

Trish
FLHouse
Nobody home: Looks like a good place to hold a legislative session. Photo: Aaron Deslatte of the Orlando Sentinel

When the going gets tough, what do the tough do? They get going. And that’s exactly what Florida state House members did. They walked out in a huff, with three days remaining in the state’s annual legislative session.

You had one job, Florida House Republicans — to approve a budget. And you didn’t even come close.

Technically, there is no lack of leadership, it’s that the leaders are mainly Republicans, and this is what Republicans do. Let’s all be clear on that.

Republicans in the Florida House disagree with Republicans in the Florida Senate over Medicaid expansion. And the Republican governor keeps changing his mind.

For states unlike Florida, not run by Republicans, this is a non-issue. What’s not to like about getting more Medicaid coverage for your poorest residents, with most of the bill footed by the federal government?

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And Marco’s Not One of Them

Trish

80

Number of people who have signed up for Florida Health Choices, the Obamacare alternative health insurance plan devised by Sen. Marco Rubio (R) back in 2008 but only rolled out last year. “Obamacare, which Rubio wants to repeal, covers 1.6 million in Florida alone,” according to Politico, which adds that Rubio doesn’t mention his plan as part of his presidential platform.

The Sisyphean Task of Gay Republicans

Trish

Watching gays try to be conservative Republicans is like watching people beat themselves up.

— Steve Silberman, Wired writer and editor, tweeting a link to an AP story about the Western Conservative Summit barring Log Cabin Republicans from taking a booth at their expo this summer, where Republican presidential candidates are expected to speak. “We’d love to have them attend the summit and be in the discussion,” the group’s president said. “But we have to draw the line at a formal relationship between two organizations with diametrically opposed policy beliefs.”

Will We Fall in Love With Hillary in Time?

Trish
hillarysite
It’s a bad sign that the only way into Clinton’s campaign site is with a log in. If you’re on the fence about the candidate and just want more information, how likely are you to register with her site? I’m on her side, and I don’t even want to register for her site. This “Supporters Only” stance won’t turn out the vote.
Hating their guy (or gal) never makes up for not loving ours

If you’re fired up at the prospect of Hillary Clinton’s campaign for president and what it means for Democrats, you’ll want to skip this post. I don’t want to ruin your day with something none of us can do anything about. It’s not as if we can conjure up another Barack Obama or John F. Kennedy or even an Angela Merkel by closing our eyes and wishing.

We’re stuck with HRC, and here’s why I feel a sense of impending doom for our team:

No one loves Hillary.

[…]

Why You Felt Good About Things Before You Listened to the Pundits

Trish
Indicators
Figures from the Conference Board, which measures consumer confidence

There’s a new standard for judging the success of Pres. Obama’s initiatives: Every single last soul in America must be doing great before we can claim progress.

Don’t believe it? Can you count the number of times you’ve heard news reported this way?

Pundit: “Well yes, Freemont, unemployment continues to fall, month in and month out, but if you’re a person who is still looking for a job and can’t find one, then you’re not feeling any improvement.”

Duh.

Let me correct that. Big, super-irrelevant duh.

Facts are facts, and numbers are numbers. Whether “you’re the person” for whom things aren’t getting better doesn’t change the fact that THINGS ARE GETTING BETTER.

This Republican and tea party tactic of dismissing Pres. Obama’s proven successes by noting the exceptions has gone mainstream.

[…]

Clinton Can Say It Loud When She Really Means It

Trish

The science is clear: The earth is round, the sky is blue, and #vaccineswork. Let’s protect all our kids. #GrandmothersKnowBest

Former Secretary of State and Senator Hillary Clinton, weighing in on Twitter about the anti-vaccination movement, which is responsible for recent measles outbreaks. Clinton, who wasn’t as plain-spoken about her support for same-sex marriage during an appearance on NPR’s Fresh Air, seemed to be reacting to statements from Gov. Chris Christie (R-NJ) and Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky) expressing support for parents who choose not to vaccinate. Both are potential 2016 presidential candidates, as is Clinton.