Leviticus 3:17
So you and your descendants must never eat any fat or any blood, not even in the privacy of your own homes. This law will never change.
Discuss.
by Goldy — ,
by Darryl — ,
Kimmel: The week in unnecessary censorshop.
Jimmy Dore get a call from Ted Cruz after his town hall with Bernie.
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse does a science experiment test on the Senate floor.
President Pussy Pinching Putin Puppet:
Samantha Bee: Paul Ryan—a portrait in courage.
Seth Meyers with John Oliver: Obama should chill with the vacation photos.
Jimmy Dore chats with Mitt Romney.
Black History Month:
Bassem Youssef: How to hate right.
Samantha Bee: A break from the apocalypse.
Jimmy Dore chats with Sen. Sharrod Brown.
Last week’s Friday Night Multimedia Extravaganza can be found here.
by Carl Ballard — ,
I put this out on Twitter, but nobody responded. Rather than take the hint, I’m going to burn an Open Thread talking about a non-Washingotn thing for longer than I’d like. And it’s almost certainly nonsense. You’re welcome and sorry and you’re welcome.
At what point do we cross the 14th Amendment threshold for denying people office?
After the Civil War, Congress passed the 13th Amendment outlawing slavery. It also passed the 14th and 15th Amendments to try to make sure that it wasn’t just slavery, and that the slave population was integrated into society. So the 15th Amendment is an attempt to make sure you couldn’t stop people from voting based on race.
The 14th Amendment was a bit of a grab bag. People think of it as making sure that equal protection and rights apply to states. And maybe they know that’s where the if you’re born in the US you’re automatically a citizen bit of the Constitution comes from. It certainly has that. But, it also has some other stuff: We’re not going to honor confederate money or debts, and since slaves are free we’re not paying to free them.
For my question, I’m referring specifically to section 3:
No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any state, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any state legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any state, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.
Obviously, they meant the Civil War, but it has been used to block people from taking office since then. It doesn’t say how or when we should determine if people “have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof” and doesn’t offer any burden of proof.
Have people in the Trump administration, or who might join it, passed that bar? It wouldn’t apply to Trump, since January 20 was the first time he took an oath to support the Constitution. On the other hand, it’s looking more and more like Flynn was working with Russia to fuck up a US election. We aren’t at war with Russia, but then again, we weren’t technically at war in Korea or Viet Nam, but surely it would have counted then. If there are other officials who subverted American democracy, do they need 2/3 of both houses before they can serve again, and what happens if they’re already serving when we get proof but they don’t resign?
by Carl Ballard — ,
Don’t sign the anti-trans garbage initiative. Come on. You’re better than that. You’re better than some of Washington’s worst people trying to push a bathroom bill the state again. You’re better than even if we’ll probably win, we don’t need a months long campaign demeaning trans people. Don’t sign their bullshit hateful initiative.
*Thread is open to all legal posters. Some restrictions apply.
by Darryl — ,
Join us this evening for a scandal-free edition of the Seattle Chapter of Drinking liberally as we come clean about our Russian connections. You know, Vanilla Winter White Russians, Bailey’s Frozen Russians, Russian Kvas, Moscow Mules, …. It’s Valentines Day, so bring the comrade you love.
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 200 chapters of Living Liberally, including nineteen in Washington state, three in Oregon and one in Idaho. Find, or go out and start, a chapter near you.
by Carl Ballard — ,
I’ve been looking to see if a Washington State GOP Congressperson would actually have a town hall for a while. And the answer is sort of? Dave Reichert is going to have a virtual town hall through Facebook Live.
I mean, I guess. Great. It’s going to be hosted by KCTS, so it’s not a total run away half measure. But there still won’t be an audience for that incredulous laughter or booing at his bullshit answers. But still, if you’re a constituent, and you’re free at 1:00 on Thursday the 23rd, you might want to ask a question.
by Goldy — ,
by Darryl — ,
Samantha Bee is going to need a bigger closet.
Three unreported attacks by Muslims on US soil.
The twisted history of Valentine’s day.
Fake news investigative journalism.
Mental Floss: Is there an explanation for déjà vu?
Kimmel: The week in unnecessary censorship.
The Narcissistic Swamp with Strong Sociopathic Tendencies:
Mental Floss: 24 scientific studies about food.
Full Frontal: We made a promise.
Sam Seder: Bernie Sanders Vs. Ted Cruz ObamaCare debate.
Bill Maher: New Rule, “Pity slicker”.
Farron Cousins: Angry voters are confronting terrifying GOP members oer potential ObamaCare repeal.
Roll Call: A chat with the first African American Senate Chaplain for Black History month.
Valentines and guns.
Sen. Warren is Turtlehandled!
Armchair Presidents: The big game.
Jonathan Mann: The ballad of Judge Robart:
Pussy hats explained.
America needs Mexico…here’s why.
Last week’s Friday Night Multimedia Extravaganza can be found here.
by Carl Ballard — ,
I wrote this this morning, but forgot to actually hit publish. Sorry.
When the recreational marijuana initiative passed, I was a bit worried that Governor Inslee would sort of let it go by the wayside if challenged by Federal authorities. But I’m glad to see he’s going to defend it fully. Hopefully the Trump administration will have worse garbage to deal with and not want to prioritize this.
by Carl Ballard — ,
So proud of Seattle for divesting from Wells Fargo. If you do enough crap for long enough, you start to make enemies. For the foreseeable future banking is probably going to be ugly and harmful (it doesn’t have to be that way, but it does need to be regulated better). But at least the city can collectively stop spending its money on the worst of banks.
by Darryl — ,
Please join us this evening and raise a toast for the small victories at this week’s 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 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.
by Carl Ballard — ,
by Goldy — ,
1 Samuel 18:25-27
“Say to David, ‘The king wants no other price for the bride than a hundred Philistine foreskins, to take revenge on his enemies.’” Saul’s plan was to have David fall by the hands of the Philistines.When the attendants told David these things, he was pleased to become the king’s son-in-law. So before the allotted time elapsed, David took his men with him and went out and killed two hundred Philistines and brought back their foreskins. They counted out the full number to the king so that David might become the king’s son-in-law. Then Saul gave him his daughter Michal in marriage.
Discuss.
by Darryl — ,
Millions of us. Fighting corruption, and winning.
Why cartoon characters wear gloves.
Trumputin:
Paul Ryan’s Diary: Letting the right people into your heart (and country).
Stephen: Alter egos.
SCROTUS Nominee:
Waxing presidential with the Late Show road show.
Second City on immigration.
Last week’s Friday Night Multimedia Extravaganza can be found here.
by Carl Ballard — ,
Between Reuven Carlyle opposing light rail to Ballard last year and now Sharon Tomiko Santos wanting to restructure Sound Transit, there really should be some primary elections. You can’t keep opposing this vital institution in the Puget Sound and expect no consequences. I don’t know if they have an eye toward statewide office and think pissing on Sound Transit is the way to go, or if they genuinely think it’s a problem. But either way, they’re wrong.