Leap Year Political Post

There was a time when this blog featured politics more often. I decided those accomplished nothing and birdie/dog/etc. pics were better for my blood pressure. As February 29th doesn't come around too often, there I go again.

1. TPP, TTIP, TISA (i.e. the agreements covered by Fast Track)

2. Journalism and Journamalism

3. Election 2016

Part One

Since my last post on the TPP, Our President managed to get Fast Track passed through Congress, primarily with Republican votes. There were two separate votes in the House, one for Fast Track and one to pair it with the TAA (Trade Assistance Authority, a fig leaf bit of legislation for pro-Fast Track Democrats who want to pretend to care about workers). The first passed 219-211, with 28 Democrats joining 191 Republicans. The second passed 218-208, with the same 28 Democrats joining the GOP (and Our President).

Thirteen Democrats joined the Republicans to get reach the required 60 votes in the Senate. But they could have rounded up a few more if needed...for instance, Chuck Schumer did everything he could to make this vote possible, then voted against it. If it had come down to the wire, you can be sure Chuck the Schmuck would have put his bloody fingerprints on that knife. That's why you can't rely a simple summary of a congresscritter's voting record to see where he or she really stands. You have to follow the play by play.

The TPP is a horrendous piece of legislation. Thanks to WikiLeaks, we see just how bad TPP trade deal is for regular people.

The TTIP is at least as bad. And then there is the TISA. The most secretive, and SURPRISE, the worst.

G.W. Bush began negotiations on the TPP. It took a sellout Wall St. Dem like Obama to get that stinker past our first (and best) chance to stop it.

Part Two Spotlight won the Oscar for best picture. It is a movie about journalism working the way it is supposed to.

Media coverage of Syria is an example of the opposite.

Inevitably, this kind of disinformation has bled into the American presidential campaign. At the recent debate in Milwaukee, Hillary Clinton claimed that United Nations peace efforts in Syria were based on “an agreement I negotiated in June of 2012 in Geneva.” The precise opposite is true. In 2012 Secretary of State Clinton joined Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Israel in a successful effort to kill Kofi Annan’s UN peace plan because it would have accommodated Iran and kept Assad in power, at least temporarily. No one on the Milwaukee stage knew enough to challenge her.

Part Three

Sanders 2016

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Frisbee Bird Bath

My contribution to Eileeinmd's Saturday's Critters #115.



I'm also linking to Anni's I'd Rather B Birdin'. Here's some frisbee bird bath action (house sparrows to the right your left, song sparrows on birdbath):



Mouse over pics for captions, and click them for larger versions.
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Cozy Couch

My contribution to TexWiscGirl's Good Fences #101.


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Early Spring Blossoms

My contribution to Michelle's Nature Notes (#351). I'm also linking to Anni's I'd Rather B Birdin'.


Lots of flowers were fooled by our warm December. This time, I think they've got it right...Spring is on the way!

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Nutkin Watch

My contribution to Eileeninmd's Saturday's Critters #114. (I missed TexWiscGirl's Good Fences #100, but you should visit!) And I'm also linking to Michelle's Nature Notes (#350).



The sparrows cleared out a dust bath circle for themselves.

By the way, that's an upside-down frisbee I'm using for a bird bath. Mouse over pics for captions, and click them for larger versions.
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Out The Back Window

My contribution to Eileeinmd's Saturday's Critters #113. And I'm also linking to Anni's I'd Rather Be Birdin'. Here's a view of my Canon G15 on the tripod from the 2nd floor:

And this pic was snapped using the remote shutter a few moments before or after (the A710's time isn't set exactly):

We also get an occasional mourning dove back there.

I don't think I'm getting pictures from the G15 as sharp as I used to. After all, you can see how close the camera is, and there's no shake with the tripod and remote shutter. It could be the thing has hit the ground a little too often, being a pocket camera and such as.

Mouse over pics for captions, and click them for larger versions.
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Nutkin Fence, Sparrows

My contribution to TexWiscGirl's Good Fences #99. And I'm also contributing to Michelle's Nature Notes (#349).



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Song Sparrows and Fuzzy-Toed Nutkin

My contribution to Eileeninmd's Saturday's Critters #112. Here are some song sparrows from when the snow was still around. Both house sparrows and song sparrows join the cardinals in the backyard. (I'm also linking to Anni's I'd Rather Be Birdin'.)




Of course Nutkin gets in on the party (post title reference):

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Nutkin Action Photo

My contribution to TexWiscGirl's Good Fences #98. And also to Michelle's Nature Notes (#348).




The people who live at this house put out seeds on their front walk. As one comes past the bushes on the sidewalk, all the critters spring into action. Usually they're all gone before I can snap anything, but this time I came by with the camera on and just snapped the shutter as soon as I passed the last bush.

Mouse over pics for captions, and click them for larger versions.
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