HorsesAss.Org

A while ago, I wrote my Seattle elected officials asking to keep Seattle a sanctuary city. Now here’s one asking my legislators (find yours here) to keep, and hopefully improve our health care system:

I don’t know exactly how Donald Trump and the GOP Congress plan to change healthcare in America, but I’m urging you to make sure Washington residents still have access to healthcare after the Republican Congress repeals Obamacare. I hope that means a health care exchange, and I would love to see a public option included in that. Or if you can find the votes, just universal health care.

If Congress allows sales across state lines, I would hope we sell a public option as widely as possible. Without a motive to skim off the top, it might be able to make money for the state and provide better health care for the rest of the country.

Thank you,

Carl Ballard

HorsesAss.org

I’m glad to see that homeless people are suing Seattle and Washington State about the sweeps (h/t to Geov on Facebook, I’d recommend a follow if you aren’t already). As long as Seattle is mostly going to be sticks, there has to be this sort of push back.

Did you know that each month more people attend their local chapter of Drinking Liberally than attended Trump’s entire inauguration? That’s a true “alternative fact.” Please join us tonight for an evening of administration heckling and resistance at this week’s meeting of the Seattle Chapter of Drinking liberally

We meet every Tuesday at the Roanoke Park Place Tavern, 2409 10th Ave E, Seattle. You’ll find us in the small room at the back of the tavern beginning about 8pm.

Can’t make it to Seattle? Check out one of the other 199 chapters of Living Liberally, including ninteen in Washington state, three in Oregon and one in Idaho. Find, or go out and start, a chapter near you.

Well, the Womxns March in Seattle was a grand success. Great crowds, amazing energy. You can see some great pictures at the link above or the hashtag on Twitter.

I will note 2 things: First off, it was pretty white. You can “Imeanit’sSeattle” it if you want. And it was certainly more diverse than a lot of protests and marches I’ve been to. But it is worth noting.

The other thing, I was thinking was that the only 2 other protests I’ve seen of a similar magnitude were WTO and the Anti-Iraq war ones. While they were both important, and probably had many positive long-term reverberations, they didn’t succeed in their initial goals. I hope that’s a note of let’s keep working rather than of despair.

Daniel 11:21
In his place there will arise a despicable person, upon whom no royal authority has been conferred, but he’ll invade in a time of tranquility, taking over the kingdom through deception.

Discuss.

Across the U.S. today, people are marching in support of women. Why? Because we now have a government run by assholes who are openly hostile to women.

Exhibit one: The pussy-grabber-in-chief. That’s right, we are living in bizarro-world where the so-called leader openly boasts about using his position to sexually assault women or walk in on young women changing clothes at their workplace. It’s disgusting.

Americans are responding:

Here in Seattle we have the “Womxn’s March on Seattle” that starts with a rally at Judkins Park, followed by a march to Seattle Center at 11am. Something like 30,000 people are expected to participate. I wouldn’t be surprised if this is an underestimate.

To join the demonstration, check out this information.

Trevor with Cecile Richards: The high cost of defunding Planned Parenthood.

Rick Perry’s “oops!” moment with Sen. Al Franken.

2016: Warmest year on record.

And the Justice Said to the Philandering Sociopath, “You’re In!”

• Samantha Bee: Draining the swamp
• Stephen: repeal and erase.
• Olbermann: Trump’s devious plan to destroy the White House press corps.
• Inside the Real Donald Drumpf.
• Young Turks: Drumpf’s laughable speech-writing Tweet.
• David Pakman: Drumpf’s Ed Sec is DESTROYED at confirmation hearing.
• Sam Seder: Drumpf’s “high IQ” cabinet.
• Maddow: Drumpf yet to name directors at major agencies
• Lewis Black: The Drumpf inauguration’s no-star lineup:

• Stephen: Drumpf’s inauguration is really happening!
• Bill Maher: Season inaugural opening (full show)
• Drumpf v. Obama: Inauguration crowds
• Trevor: Drumpf’s pre-inaugural photo
• Conan: Drumpf calls Obama days before taking office.
• Is Drumpf president? Or am I crazy?
• Young Turks: Drumpf’s low-turnout inauguration
• James Cordon: There’s a better answer for grizzly bears
• Jimmy Kimmel and Bill Maher discuss Donald Drumpf.
• With mixed feelings, American’s make the switch.
• Samantha Bee: Full Frontal is scared–Masha Gessen edition:

• Maddow: Powerful ad against Steve Mnscumbag
• PsychoSuperMom: The Drumpf & Putin dance.
• Drumpf has a dream…too.
• Seth Meyers: A closer look at Republicans repealing the ACA
• Stephen: Drumpf gets ready for day oneish.
• The Drumpf inauguration lineup
• Trevor: Betsy DeVos gets grilled
• Sam Seder: Rick Perry makes an awkward “oops!” with Al Franken.
• David Pakman: Drumpf begins day one with pay-to-play.
• Randy Rainbow interviews Jennifer Holliday
• Samantha Bee: Great Feminists in Feminism Herstory Hall of Lady Fame
• Seth Meyers: A closer look at Drumpf taking office.
• Jonathan Mann: Don’t give him anything

Bill Maher with Jimmy Kimmel: Bill’s number one concern.

What you need to know about the 2018 Senate landscape.

With Grace and Humility, Obama Departs:

• Maddow: President Barack Obama departs with a long list of accomplishments.
• White House: West Wing Week–farewell edition:

• Obama departs.
• Stephen with The WERD: Thanks, Obama!
• David Pakman: Obama issues fewest executive orders in 120 YEARS.

Presidential Training Video.

Ezra Klein: Republicans have one major problem on ObamaCare.

Last week’s Friday Night Multimedia Extravaganza can be found here.

It’s the last few hours of the Obama administration. The last few hours of decency at the top of our government for at least 4 years.

I’ve talked to a lot of people who aren’t political who are going to the Womxns March in Seattle tomorrow.

The Republican Senate, and particularly Matt Manweller, are sure into local control. Let the locality make its own decisions, they say. You wouldn’t want the state to micromanage where it’s not even their business.

You know what, I can’t keep this joke going. It’s pretty bad, but their desire to not let Seattle do commercial rent control is bad policy on its own. And hypocrisy is the laziest charge in politics.

Also, when a literal socialist cares more about small business than the freemarketwillsolveeverything guy, it’s time to just ignore labels.

Join us this evening for the last meeting of the Seattle Chapter of Drinking liberally under President Obama.

We meet every Tuesday at the Roanoke Park Place Tavern, 2409 10th Ave E, Seattle. You’ll find us in the small room at the back of the tavern beginning about 8pm.

Can’t make it to Seattle? Check out one of the other 198 chapters of Living Liberally, including ninteen in Washington state, three in Oregon and one in Idaho. Find, or go out and start, a chapter near you.

A lot of us were shocked when the Islamic Center of the Eastside was burned. (video autoplays) Thank goodness they have a suspect in custody, but it still must be horrible for the people who use the facility. It’s a helplessness and not knowing who in your community would maybe be on their side. Even if it’s only a small fraction, it’s got to be scary as fuck.

If you want to do something a bit more tangible, this is the place I’ve seen on social media to donate to the repairs.

Galatians 5:12
I wish that everyone who is upsetting you would not only get circumcised, but would cut off much more!

Discuss.

Martin Sheen: This is what corruption really costs us.

The story of Haru, Japanese internment, and a caution.

Mental Floss: 25 facts about fitness.

The Golden Sociopath:

• Trevor: Drumpf v. Druth—The Russian hacking report.
• Young Turks: Do the Russians have “dirt” on Drumpf?
• Randy Rainbow: Tweets, Tweets and Nothing But Tweets:

• The next American P-P- President
• Stephen: Details continue to leak out about Drumpf’s Russia story.
• Samantha Bee: People are saying…Drumpf likes pee.
• Maddow: Worries that some Drumpf rumors may be true.
• Young Turks: Elizabeth Warren destroys Ben Carson.
• Seth Meyers: A closer look at Drumpf’s war with the press and conflicts of interest.
• Samantha Bee: Session on Sessions.
• Jonathan Mann: The President is compromised.
• Trevor: Drumpf takes on the media.
• Kimmel: Russian official denies compromising Drumpf.
• David Pakman: Drumpf calls CNN “fake news,” then takes question from Breitbart!?!
• Maddow: Drumpf caught blatantly lying about Putin’s Russian hacking intel report.
• Leaked tape of Drumpf’s golden shower show.
• Young Turks: FAUX News host sticks up for CNN after Drumpf’s shameful slander
• Sam Seder: Drumpf’s Russia dossier scandal
• Seth Meyers: A couple things about Drumpf and Russia
• Stephen: The damage Drumpf can do with his thumbs.
• Sam Seder: Drumpf puts Guiliani in charge of THE CYBER for the U.S.
• Rex Tillerson gets grilled by Senator Colbert.
• Trevor: President Water Sports:

• Are these the worst Cabinet picks ever? Maybe not.
• Farron Cousins: Drumpf gets pissy about golden shower story
• Cameron Esposito: Let’s talk about abortion!
• Kimmel: The Bushie and The Donald travel comedy show.
• Olbermann: Can Donald Drumpf confront America’s gun crisis?
• Young Turks: Drumpf is pissed at Buzzfeed.
• Seth Meyers: A closer look at Drumpf nominee confirmation hearings.
• PsychoSuperMom: Overrated!
• Stephen: A golden opportunity for jokes.
• Drumpf’s futile news conference
• David Pakman: Drumpf’s abysmal approval rating.
• Daily Show: Goldshower
• Sam Seder: Sen. Al Franken destroys Sen. Jeff Sessions over false claims about work on civil rights cases
• Stephen: Trump’s nuclear plan is funny because nothing matters anymore.
• Seth Meyers: A closer look at Russian hacking and Drumpf ethics.
• Kimmel: A 10 second recap of Drumpf’s press conference

Samantha Bee: White plight:

Heard on the Hill: The Saga of the Student Painting Heist.

Obama Cares:

• Farron Cousins: G.O.P. governors recognize that ObamaCare repeal is a political death sentence.
• Young Turks: G.O.P. vote on ObamaCare repeal.
• Farron Cousins: While you were sleeping, Republicans were trying to take away your healthcare

The real reason “In God We Trust” is on U.S. currency.

Young Turks: Guess who would make a “rape Melania” sign?

Cory Booker testifies before Jeff Sessions.

Going Out With Dignity:

• Obama says goodbye.
• Obama surprises VP Biden (and Biden gives his response).
• Reflecting on Obama’s sense of humor
• Jimmy Fallon: Michelle Obama says goodbye to Jimmy
• Mark Fiore: Obama farewell addendum.
• Is the U.S. economy better off after President Obama?

What does the World Bank actually do?

Conan: Russia has more kompromising material about public figures:

Sam Seder: Three bizarre Russia-related TV malfunctions.

Mental Floss: Why do we close our eyes when we sneeze?

Kimmel: The week in unnecessary censorship.

Last week’s Friday Night Multimedia Extravaganza can be found here.

Paid family leave would be great. Make it happen, the state and or Seattle. At the link above, Seattlish has the details.

If you’re in Seattle, Geov has plenty of protests going on. Before and during the inauguration. I heard some people say they didn’t realize there were anti-Trump rallies going on in the immediate wake of his election. So there you go.