16 thoughts on “Wednesday Open Thread”

1. Parliament Funkadelic   Dr. Funkenstein

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEP-6262EgA

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2. Who cares about funk? 'Tis the stink we fear.

   Grand Stink Railroad, Donald Trump prop.

   Sean Hannity, resident Goebbels.

   His shorts bedecked with orange make-up.

   Picking up Trump's soap

   And telling America that Trump's poop smells like roses.

   But it doesn't. 

   It stinks.

   And Trump stinks.

   And Hannity stinks.

   Stay upwind, America.

   And watch MSNBC.

    

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   1. Maybe read a variety of news sources instead of getting your information from the boob tube.

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      1. VGR needs a ride on Parliament's "Mother Ship," I'm thinking, so he can "get the funk."

         Primary political reading for me: National Review, Economist, Mother Jones, Hightower Lowdown, Christian Science Monitor (which isn't heavily political).

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            1. I 'm fairly Catholic in my musical tastes but lean to classical, jazz, the blues and a soupcon of country.

               Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Dave Brubeck, mozart, beethoven, Vivaldi, Willie Nelson.  And, of course, Springsteen.

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3. New Sexual Harassment Allegations At Colorado’s Capitol Illustrate Ongoing Fear Of Retaliation

   Those that are fearful include four current and former Republican female staffers who are now sharing their allegations of inappropriate behavior by Sen. Randy Baumgardner, a Hot Sulphur Springs Republican. Joining them are four more current and former GOP staffers – three men and one woman – who say they witnessed or were aware of complaints about Baumgardner’s behavior.

   The allegations date back to 2009 but also as recently as the 2017 legislative session. They range from inappropriate hugging, to vulgar comments and sexual jokes.

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   1. WOTD from 538: "We Need a Better Way to Talk about Sexual Misconduct"

      Although the media and society at large are struggling to articulate and understand the differences between unwanted sexual behaviors, social scientists have been thinking about these distinctions for decades. Some have proposed categories that are more specific than the umbrella terms of “sexual misconduct” and “sexual harassment.” And these conceptual frameworks could be a starting point for an expansion of the public’s understanding of, and vocabulary for, unwanted sexual behaviors.

      …

      • Gender hostility refers to derogatory comments or actions that invoke sex or gender, rather than explicit requests for sex. There are two types — sexist hostility, which is specific to gender (for example, if someone made a joke about women in a meeting) and sexual hostility, which has a sexual component (for example, if someone asked about a co-worker’s sexual activities).
      • Unwanted sexual attention includes unwelcome attempts to initiate sexual or romantic relations (for example, when someone repeatedly asks a co-worker out on dates).
      • Sexual coercion involves many of the same behaviors as the previous category, but with the explicit threat of consequences — such as being refused a promotion — for not cooperating.

      …

      Fitzgerald and her team created the list of behaviors, which you can see below, by building on the work of previous scholars and researching women’s experiences. The conceptual categories also correspond to the legal standards for sexual harassment: The first two constitute the legal idea of a “hostile environment,” and the third maps to “quid pro quo” harassment.

       

       

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      1. Fitzgerald put together a practical and useful framework for understanding sexual harassment. If incorporated into law, it could give organizations such as our legislature very specific ways to assess appropriate consequences.

         Telling a dirty joke, even if unwelcome, should carry less severe consequences than touching a colleague's body, or insinuating that sexual favors would be part of negotiations for advancement or cooperation.

         As someone who has been on the receiving end of most of these behaviors at work, this framework brings some needed clarity to the discussion.

          

          

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   2. Let me save Nutlid the trouble: 

      Witch Hunt, it's a Witch Hunt! Burn the Witches!

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4. A glimmer of sanity peeks out in Kansas:

   Right-Wing Extremists Guilty In Terror Plot Against Muslim Refugees

   The men were enthusiastic supporters of Donald Trump, who vilified Muslims during his presidential campaign and has continued to do so while in office. During the plotting, Stein reportedly referred to then-candidate Trump as “the Man.” The men had planned their attack for after the 2016 election, so as not to hurt Trump’s chances of winning. Delaying the attack until then would avoid giving “any ammunition” to their political opponents, Stein said.

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   1. Good news that the plot was discovered, the actions prevented, and the perpetrators convicted.

      Now, we need to know more about how they were radicalized, how many others like them are out there, and how "conservatives" can stop becoming terrorists.

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      1. I'm afraid the murderous impulses have always been there, just awaiting a catalyst to unleash them.

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   2. Speaking of our neighbor to the east…

      Federal Judge Holds Kris Kobach In Contempt For Failing To Follow Court Order To Register Voters

      More than a year and a half later, the ACLU ― which is representing the voters who challenged the Kansas law ― filed a motion to hold Kobach in contempt, saying he had failed to send out the postcards [to inform voters of their polling places] and update the county election manual to reflect Robinson’s 2016 order. In a contentious hearing, Kobach said his office had orally instructed county clerks to send out the postcards, but could not force them to do anything. Robinson was furious, saying that Kobach had assured her in court that he would send out the postcards.

      Robinson imposed sanctions on Kobach on Wednesday, saying he had to pay the ACLU for attorneys fees and that “any further remedial measures” would be decided when she ruled on the merits of the case.

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      1. If they still have chain gangs in Kansas, maybe Kobach will serve a little "empathy-building" time behind bars.

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         1. If they still have chain gangs in Kansas, maybe Kobach will serve a little "empathy-building" time behind bars.

            I predict nothing will happen to him, as nothing will happen to the rapist who governs the next state over from Kansas.  Consequences are for Democrats and other little people.

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