A little bit of this, a little bit of that...
Greetings, fellow Dot Calm Readers, Freedom Fighters, and Truth Crusaders!
Not too many things kicking around inside my head today...but I'll give you the benefit of what is.
1. Have you heard the latest brouhaha about flossing not having evidence to support its efficacy? I have two things to say to that. First, when I floss after I brush, I get a lot of junk out from between my teeth. I'm no dentist, but I'm pretty sure that leaving all that stuff in there is really not a good idea. Secondly, my hygienist can always tell who flosses daily and who doesn't by the condition and cleanliness of their gums. I realize that this is a sample set of one patient and one hygienist's sample set of patients, but that's enough evidence for me to keep flossing.
2. Trump asked an adviser (more than one on more than one occasion, I think) why we have nukes if we can't use them. If that doesn't scare the shit outta ya, check out the Vox article below--if Trump does get into the White House, it's easier than you think for him to nuke an enemy--real or imaginary--if he wanted to. And no one would have veto authority over him if he did. Remember what I mentioned some posts ago regarding my confidence that at least we could trust Hillary not to nuke the economy or the planet? I didn't realize how close I was to the truth about Trump--I didn't realize how literal my statement was. Holy phuque.
3. You may have heard about the ex-CIA chief calling Trump an unwitting agent of the Russian Federation. According to Vox (article linked below), the official's explanation of Putin winning Trump just with a few compliments is overly simplistic. I agree that a few compliments alone probably don't constitute the entire reason behind Trump's enthusiasm for Putin and his policies. However, based on what Trump says and, indeed, has said for several years, I cannot dismiss the fact that Trump does indeed function as an unwitting agent for Putin. Trump is emotionally ass-over-heels in love with authoritarians; he admires Putin personally and supports his policies; and, let's face it, Trump's ego is so weak (which is predictable when you overinflate something so...thin) that there's no way Trump would be proof to a little sugar from his idol. No wonder Trump's star-struck. So I think that Putin's well-placed praise is just one factor--along with Trump's pre-existing admiration, support, and probably envy of what Putin gets away with that Trump could only dream of trying here--that seals the deal. Any way you slice it, a Trump presidency would be a tremendous plum for Putin, and it would give him free rein to expand in ways he's too constrained to try with just about anyone else in the White House.
4. Was Melania Trump an illegal immigrant? If so, she could be stripped of
But that's not the broader point. As you'll see in the Vox article posted in today's headlines, the point is that not even a privileged white European model finds this country's immigration process to be straightforward and unambiguous. This means that it's not exactly clear who is illegal or why--meaning that no one can tell at a glance who's illegal and should be deported versus who isn't. Turns out, it's complicated. Like "nuance," "complicated" isn't something Republicans do.
But mostly, I'm using this story purely as an excuse to
Don't forget to read Dot Calm's shadow's favorite independent sources of news and information:
Daily Kos
AlterNet
Conservative Clown Car--very pithy lately!
Peas, friends. Hug yourselves and each other for me--please and thank you! Oh, and have a shot of Fireball whiskey and a hunk of dark chocolate for me--it is Friday after all! You can bet I'll be indulging in both once I click "Publish." Assuming I can keep my eyes open and not face-plant onto the keyboard long enough to make blog happen.
Smooches!!
- Dot Calm's shadow
Consider the preemptive Blogger phuqued-up phormatting disclaimer to be in effect. Grrr.
-- Dot Calm's shadow
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ATTENTION,
REPUBLICANS!
Obama is coming
REPUBLICANS!
Obama is coming
for your guns 'n' Bibles
November 8, 2016.
DO NOT
LEAVE YOUR HOUSE
THAT DAY
FOR ANY REASON!
The rights you save
may be your own!
may be your own!
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I'm taking a slight liberty with Newsweek's headline here, but the basic story is that Trump sucks bawls as a businessman (Watch it, gentle readers--Newsweak's website starts yakking when you click the link! You have been warned.)
Vox: If President Trump decided to use nukes, he could do it easily
Vox: A former CIA chief is calling Trump a foreign agent. This is how absurd the election is.
Vox: The newest polls are devastating for Donald Trump
Vox: Obama mocks Trump's conspiracy theory that the election will be "rigged"
Vox: Donald Trump's poll numbers are so bad his supporters are making up new ones
Professional scumbag Roger Stone is threatening a bloody coup if scumdog millionaire Trump loses the election--I've taken a slight liberty with Medaite's headline, but I don't think it's an exaggeration
Vox: I'm a pro-life Christian. Here's why I'm voting for Hillary Clinton.
Vox: The US did not pay a $400 million "ransom" to Iran. Here's what actually happened.
Vos: Did Baltimore County police really have to kill Korryn Gaines?
Vox: Republicans could lose the Senate. And they'd have Donald Trump to blame.
Vox: Why people are speculating that Melania Trump was once an "illegal" immigrant
FiveThirtyEight: The Political Process Isn't Rigged — It Has Much Bigger Problems
What war on women? There's no war on women!
Oh, wait...
Think Progress: Idaho Tells Pregnant Women To Get Ultrasounds At Anti-Abortion "Clinics"
Jezebel: "Religious Freedom" Group Can't Quite Decide If After-School Satan Clubs Have a Right to Exist
...here's more about After School Satan. I think it's grand!
The Atlantic: Denmark isn't magic
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Mailbag
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Sign our petition today calling on Vice President Joe Biden to withdraw his endorsement of Debbie Wasserman Schultz.
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No one wants a Purple Heart.
Tammy Duckworth earned her Purple Heart when she lost both of her legs after her Black Hawk helicopter was hit by a rocket propelled grenade in Iraq.
Yesterday a supporter of Donald Trump handed over his Purple Heart to the presidential candidate. Trump said he had always wanted a real one, but getting it like this "was much easier."
From his attacks on Gold Star family members to his cheapening of the sacrifices made by veterans like Tammy Duckworth, Trump is unfit to serve as our Commander in Chief. We must stand up to him, and the party who stands with him:
Make a $3 contribution to Tammy Duckworth's campaign as a way of standing up to Donald Trump's attacks on veterans by helping to elect a new generation of progressive veterans to the U.S. Senate.
It's not just Donald Trump attacking service members like Tammy Duckworth. Tammy's opponent, Republican Senator Mark Kirk's super PAC is on the air with an ad attacking her as well. So your contribution to her campaign today couldn't be more timely, or important.
All our best,
- The team at VoteVets
CONTRIBUTE
Tammy Duckworth earned her Purple Heart when she lost both of her legs after her Black Hawk helicopter was hit by a rocket propelled grenade in Iraq.
Yesterday a supporter of Donald Trump handed over his Purple Heart to the presidential candidate. Trump said he had always wanted a real one, but getting it like this "was much easier."
From his attacks on Gold Star family members to his cheapening of the sacrifices made by veterans like Tammy Duckworth, Trump is unfit to serve as our Commander in Chief. We must stand up to him, and the party who stands with him:
Make a $3 contribution to Tammy Duckworth's campaign as a way of standing up to Donald Trump's attacks on veterans by helping to elect a new generation of progressive veterans to the U.S. Senate.
It's not just Donald Trump attacking service members like Tammy Duckworth. Tammy's opponent, Republican Senator Mark Kirk's super PAC is on the air with an ad attacking her as well. So your contribution to her campaign today couldn't be more timely, or important.
All our best,
- The team at VoteVets
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From Progressive Turnout Project
| Should every American be able to vote by mail? |
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From Keith Ellison
I’m a Muslim.
I’m an American.
I’m a Member of Congress.
And I am livid after seeing Donald Trump’s attack on the Gold Star Khan family.
How can you question a mother’s pain after her son is killed in combat?
How can you imply her religion -- not her grief -- kept her from speaking to millions of Americans on national TV?
I’m asking you to unite with me and sign the petition demanding Trump apologize to the Gold Star Khan family.
This moment is too important to stay silent.
That’s why I’m asking you to take a stand: Demand Trump apologize to the Khans today.
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From CPD Action--stop predatory payday loans
No one should be set up to fail, especially when trying to make ends meet. But greedy so-called “payday” lenders have created a cycle of debt for people of color in a cash crunch, leaving financial success forever out of reach.
With a new federal rule under consideration, now’s our chance to keep these loan sharks in check and hard-working Americans out of vicious debt traps.
Sign now – stop payday predators and their debt traps!
A payday loan is a smaller, supposedly short-term loan that is typically due when you receive your next paycheck, but most consumers can’t afford to pay back the full amount on time – forcing them to take out yet another loan at extravagant interest rates of 300 percent or more!
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| Tell Congressional Republican leadership: Follow your party platform and reinstate Glass-Steagall. | |
| Petition to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, and the Republican leadership in Congress:
"Put your money where your mouth is. Follow the 2016 Republican Party platform and schedule an immediate vote on the 21st Century Glass-Steagall Act, co-sponsored by Sens. John McCain and Elizabeth Warren."
Add your name:
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Please renew your support with a gift of $10.00 today to help us stop the latest attack on your internet freedom.
Thanks—
Candace
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From Change.org--close Indonesia's zoo of death
Sun
Bears kept in the Bandung Zoo are so hungry they eat their own feces.
One of the zoo’s giraffes suddenly died and was found to have 40 pounds
of plastic trash in its stomach. The Bandung Zoo has been coined Indonesia’s “death zoo” and must be shut down immediately.
Perhaps
the most upsetting was the recent loss of Yani, a 34-year-old Sumatran
elephant, who was visibly weeping when she died shackled on the ground.
She had been sick and neglected for too long. Yani’s species is
critically endangered and she was one of about 2,800 of these majestic
animals left.
Tourists often report that the confined animals look emaciated and weak.
The zoo is overcrowded and doesn't have a veterinarian on hand, so when
animals fall ill they are left to suffer like Yani. These are not the
only horrific events to have occurred within the zoo, and won’t be the
last.
Please
join me in imploring the President of Indonesia and his Minister of
Environment and Forestry to shut down this zoo and relocate these
animals to a conservation or sanctuary where they can be taken care of.
Sign P’s petition
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From Daily Kos--protect and expand Social Security
Millions of American senior citizens rely on Social Security benefits to survive. Seniors who have worked hard for decades should not be facing hunger, homelessness, and suffering illness without adequate treatment.
For years, Republicans have threatened to slash Social Security to score cheap political points and votes, showing blatant disregard for elderly Americans. The retirement age has increased and the reliability of investments like homeownership and 401K's has decreased.
Sign the petition by Daily Kos and our endorsed candidates: Demand that Congress strengthen and expand Social Security.
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| Tell Congress to pass the Automatic Voter Registration Act of 2016. | |
| Sign the petition to Congress:
"Making it easier for all eligible Americans to register and vote could bring millions of people into the democratic process. Pass the Automatic Voter Registration Act of 2016 now."
Add your name:
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Dear Trump supporters:
There is a difference between
honest and unfiltered...
Trump is unfiltered but not honest;
Bernie is honest but not unfiltered.
If you could learn the difference
and honor the right one,
that would be great!
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Democracy Now!
The interview with Garry Trudeau--one of my long-time faves--is delightful!
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Foreign money pouring into elections after Citizens United?!?? We are so skrooed...!
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Daily Kos--thar's some good readin' in here today!
- Proof Bill Clinton killed it: My Dad
- "Don't tell your father, but I'm voting for Hillary"
- Never Trump from a military family
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Dear Julian Assange:
if you could tell me
why you want Trump to be president,
that would be great!
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AlterNet
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Movies!
Guys 'n' gals, forgive me for not introducing these vids, but truth be told, I'm pooped. I'm also HONGRY--I decided to blawg before getting myself some dinner. Please and thank you!
Here's a topic I've been wanting to get around to...
Too awesome!!
Sunday skool--Friday edition...
I found a new-to-me atheist YouTuber--Underlings!
'Til next time, check out these great channels:
...or, if you just want something mindless and fun, try Tested
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I was trying to work the word "bromance" into the Trump-Putin part of todaze intro,
but I just couldn't contrive it.
I can still make it work, though:
but I just couldn't contrive it.
I can still make it work, though:
posted by Dot Calm @ 5:32 PM
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