From the GREAT STATE OF MAINE…
A Fine Quartet
Give good ol' Franklin Roosevelt a thumbs-up today. It was on January 6, 1941 when Roosevelt delivered his famous "Four Freedoms" State of the Union speech. (You can read it and hear it via the FDR Library). While the oft-cited quartet---of speech, of religion, from want and from fear---is timeless, so too is this part of his address, which basically is the progressive playbook. Here's what the dirty effing Hyde Park hippie bleated:
January 6, 1941
"The basic things expected by our people of their political and economic systems are simple. They are:
• Equality of opportunity for youth and for others.
• Jobs for those who can work.
• Security for those who need it.
• The ending of special privilege for the few.
• The preservation of civil liberties for all.
• The enjoyment of the fruits of scientific progress in a wider and constantly rising standard of living.
These are the simple, the basic things that must never be lost sight of in the turmoil and unbelievable complexity of our modern world. The inner and abiding strength of our economic and political systems is dependent upon the degree to which they fulfill these expectations.
Many subjects connected with our social economy call for immediate improvement. As examples: We should bring more citizens under the coverage of old-age pensions and unemployment insurance. We should widen the opportunities for adequate medical care. We should plan a better system by which persons deserving or needing gainful employment may obtain it."
FDR was right---simple and basic things based on decency, compassion and common sense to promote the public good. A helluva speech. I'm rather amazed Republicans didn't try to impeach him over it.
Cheers and Jeers starts below the fold... [Swoosh!!] RIGHTNOW! [Gong!!]
Cheers and Jeers for Monday, January 6, 2014
Note: Grumbling about global warming will cease until warming actually resumes. ---Maine Frozen Toes Prevention Committee
-
27 days!!!
By the Numbers:
Days 'til Groundhog Day:
27
Days 'til
Superbowl XXVVVIIIIIIIIIIIII in freakin' New Jersey:
27
Percent drop in donations for the Susan G. Komen Foundation last year, due in large part to the organization's attempt to lurch to the right:
22%
Percent change in the number of Freedom of Information Act requests since Edward Snowden started leaking NSA documents:
671%
(Source: Harper's Index)
Percent of the world's population that likely won't have a reliable fresh water supply after 2025:
2/3
Cubic miles of fresh water estimated to be contained under the seabed of continental shelves, much more than originally thought:
120,000 cubic miles
(Source: ScienceDaily.com via
The Week)
Number of ships hijacked by Somali pirates last year:
0
(Source: Time)
-
Puppy Pic of the Day: Starting lineup announced
-
JEERS to the return of the do-nothings. Congress comes back to Washington this week to kick off the second half of the 113th session. Here's the schedule as it now stands: Today, the Senate returns. Tomorrow, the House returns. Wednesday, gridlock returns.
CHEERS to a Sheriff of One. Since Congress spent the last year botching and then dropping from their agenda the sensible tweaking of responsible gun-ownership laws, President Obama is left to do what he can in the Executive branch. The latest:
Still true today.
President Obama announced two new executive actions on Friday that nudge his gun control agenda forward by making it easier for states to provide information about people with mental illness to the federal background check system. … “While the vast majority of Americans who experience a mental illness are not violent, in some cases when persons with a mental illness do not receive the treatment they need the result can be tragedies such as homicide or suicide.”
Or, in the case of NRA head Wayne LaPierre: becoming head of the NRA.
CHEERS to sending in the cavalry. First a Russian ship got stuck in the Antarctic ice. Then a Chinese ship got stuck in the Antarctic ice trying to rescue the Russian ship. Now
an American ship is going into the Antarctic ice to rescue the Russian and Chinese ships. And if that doesn't work, the penguins will never let us humans hear the end of it.
CHEERS to the couple that keeps on keepin' on. On January 6, 1945, George H.W. Bush married Barbara Pierce, and together they became the most famous George and Barbara Bush in American history. We wish them a happy 69th anniversary and all (the traditional gift for #69 is too naughty to mention here)---especially since "Bar" had a health scare last week. But the product of their hot night fogging up the Studebaker windows, George II, darn near destroyed our republic. That's why I'm still pushing for a constitutional amendment to outlaw the biggest threat to civilization: Republican marriage.
P.S. Greetings also to George and Martha Washington on their 255th wedding anniversary. Don’t worry about sending 'em a gift...they haven't spoken in years.
JEERS to Ted Cruz: International Man of Mystery. When the unhinged-by-design Republican Texas senator got caught with Canadian/American citizenship last year, his base freaked and he vowed to immediately renounce the Canadian half (which reportedly involves signing a form and then crushing an empty can of Molson with your thighs while breaking an Anne Murray record over your head). But over the weekend we learned that he still hasn't done the deed:
Ted Cruz shortly
after his birth.
The thorny issue of the Tea Party darling's birthplace has been a headache for the senator, since some in the neo-conservative movement had accused President Obama of being born in Kenya and thus not eligible to be U.S. president. Obama's father was Kenyan, his mother American. Cruz, the junior senator from Texas, is eyeing a run for president in 2016.
"If he's attempting to bring our system into disrepute by suggesting it's lengthy and complex, it's just not true. Revocation is one of the fastest processes in our system," said Kurland.
The horrified Teapublicans that make up his base are screaming, "What's the holdup?!!" Coincidentally, that's the same thing the Canadians are screaming, except with an "eh." And more politely.
Lambeau Field entrance yesterday
CHEERS to sports shorts. The winners from the weekend pigskin playpens are the Indianapolis Colts, New Orleans Saints, San Diego Chargers and San Francisco 49ers. They'll move up the ladder in their quest to be the team that has the distinct honor of being the tyrants whose blood the New England Patriots will use to water the Tree of Super Bowl XLVIII. And in other sports news, the winners over the weekend in the NHL were, as usual, the dentists.
-
Five years ago in C&J: January 6, 2009
CHEERS to good times in the Gopher State. Yesterday the Minnesota Canvassing Board slapped a sticker on Al Franken's ass that reads: "Certified 100% Hunka Hunka United States Senator." Franken responded:
"This victory is incredibly humbling – not just because it was so narrow, but because of the tremendous responsibility it gives me on behalf of the people of Minnesota. ... I want you all to know that I’m ready to go to Washington and get to work just as soon as possible. And I look forward to joining President-Elect Obama and Senator Klobuchar in getting our country moving in the right direction again. So, with tremendous gratitude for the victory we have won, I’m ready to get to work."
Norm Coleman issued a brief response: "Sassafrassa rassaratsa grrrr..." Bill O'Reilly's response is unprintable.
-
And just one more…
JEERS to fulfilling our worst expectations. Since we highlighted Democrat Franklin Roosevelt's vision for economic opportunity up above the fold, the least we can do is provide the Republican view down here in the cellar. Here's their annual New Year's greeting to America, which arrived this morning on moth-eaten parchment:
Dear Americans Who Are Not Rich Enough To Matter To Us,
Like your new ACA health insurance? We're going to try again to take it away from you 40 more times.
Unemployment benefits run out? Quit whining and get a job.
Not enough jobs to go around? Quit whining and get a job harder.
Want Social Security to be preserved? We don't.
Still in foreclosure hell? La la la we can't hear you.
Think the president is an American? We're still not convinced.
Want stronger unions? Fat chance, commie.
Worried about the environment? Crybaby.
Can't afford to buy food? Tough.
Muslim? Terrorist!
Latino? Illegal.
Gay? Degenerate.
Black? Moocher.
Female? Know thy place, woman!
Responsible gun-ownership laws? We'll blast 'em to bits.
Looking for fresh new ideas? Move to Scandinavia.
Want the food you eat to be safe? How quaint.
Think you can count on us to stimulate job growth? You can't!
Reproductive freedom? We own your hoo-hah, darlin'.
Don’t want the government to default on its debt? Too bad!
Wish we'd put America's interests above our party's? Keep dreaming.
Need a post office named? We're on it!
Signed in the spirit of Shortsightedness, Cruelty and Greed masquerading as Rugged Individualism and Fiscal Responsibility,
Your Republican Party
Celebrating Five Years of Nobody in Charge
They're getting soft in their old age. No cuss words this year.
Have a tolerable Monday. Floor's open...What are you cheering and jeering about today?
-
Today's Shameless C&J Testimonial:
Pat Robertson: God Told Me 2014 Will Be Shitty Except For Cheers and Jeers
---JoeMyGod blog
-