Friday Cat Blogging

Cuteness overload with a snow bengal kitten and a labrador puppy.

Iggy Pop & Kate Pierson - Candy

Great performance and interview with Iggy Pop and Kate Pierson.

Quote of the Day: Dubious Rubio Edition

"I don't think a minimum wage law works."

Sen. Marco Rubio

Rubio made this statement when he proposed his bogus war on poverty.

Ted Yoho Misses the Jim Crow Era

Via Right Wing Watch: Rep. Ted Yoho wants to bring back the the voting restriction of only property owners being allowed to vote.

“I’ve had some radical ideas about voting and it’s probably not a good time to tell them, but you used to have to be a property owner to vote,” he said to applause.

In 1790, only white male property owners were allowed to vote. So if you are a woman or a minority you are shit out of luck if Ted Yoho ever becomes President. Judging by the fact that Yoho is speaking to a nearly empty church, I doubt we have to worry about Yoho becoming President anytime soon.

I wonder if the tax cut loving Yoho would support Florida bringing back the poll tax. USF political science Darryl Paulson outlines the laws made by whites in the 19th century to deny blacks the right to vote.

By 1876, Reconstruction was over, and Florida politicians would adopt many provisions to eliminate black voting. The Sunshine State would "legally" eliminate black votes without violating the 19th Amendment. Between laws passed by the Legislature and the adoption of the 1885 Constitution, almost every black vote was eliminated.

Florida, like every one of the former Confederate states, adopted a white primary, grandfather clause, poll tax, literacy test, long residency requirements and other obstacles to black voters. It was a virtual fail-safe system. If one barrier failed, there would always be another to stop them from voting.

Yoho's voting policies are about discrimination. Yoho is a self-professed birther.

In audio recorded by an audience member and posted on YouTube, Yoho can be heard telling the crowd that the issue of President Obama’s birth certificate was a “distraction” from topics like the national debt, he said he was hopeful that a birther investigation could bring down the whole government: “They said if it is true, it’s illegal, he shouldn’t be there and we can get rid of everything he’s done, and I said I agree with that.”

Still doubt Yoho holds racist views? Yoho told a black constituent that he isn't sure if the Civil Rights Act is constitutional.

FLOURNOY: Do you think that any part of the Civil Rights Act of 1965 [sic], do you think any part of that is constitutional? And then if you’d discuss why. [...]

YOHO: This country grew through a lot of growing pain. We’re going through it again. As we grow as a country and prosper, we’re going to go through it again in the future. That’s why I’m so thankful for the Constitution because it allows us to do that. Is it constitutional, the Civil Rights Act? I wish I could answer that 100 percent. I know a lot of things that were passed are not constitutional, but I know it’s the law of the land.

Keep this in mind when Yoho asks why black voters aren't Republicans.

Quote of the Day

"I think Nigerians have left everything to God for too long. No civilization has ever developed by leaving everything in God's hands!!"

#DoroDaddyM㊙️, on Twitter.

Hunters in Nigeria are offering to help find the missing girls. The hunters are claiming their supernatural powers will aid them. It is past time for Nigeria to join the 21st century. Nigeria needs more than magic to solve their problems.

Rep. Rehwinkel Vasilinda's Letter to Gov. Rick Scott

Florida House Rep. Rehwinkel Vasilinda is urging Gov. Rick Scott to sign funding for the Emergency Services Center For the Homeless. The proposed Tallahassee program is modeled after Florida State Sen. Bill Galvano's (R - 26th District) One Stop Center in Bradenton.

The Bill Galvano One Stop Center offers an array of services including financial help, health care, counseling, and employment assistance. Patrons include women, children, the elderly, and veterans. The Daily Bread serves lunch daily from 10am - 11:30am.

Sadly, Scott has taken every opportunity to cut funding for the homeless. In 2011, Scott vetoed $12 million for the National Veteran's Homeless Support Group. The program was attempting to provide housing for 700 homeless military veterans. The same year Scott vetoed $7 million in funding for a Jacksonville homeless shelter.

In 2013, Scott vetoed $1.3 million in funding for transitional housing facility Metropolitan Ministries sought to get people out of emergency shelters. Former Sen. Mike Fasano was not happy about Scott's veto.

Scott's veto of that project "baffles the mind," said state Rep. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey.

"What is disappointing is the governor left millions in the budget for a rowing regatta in Sarasota, but could not find funding for a very good project in Pasco that would have helped families most in need," Fasano said.

Scott's vetos have shown contempt for the homeless. I doubt Scott will even bother to read Vasilinda's letter.

Amanda Murphy Meet and Greets

Florida House Rep. Amanda Murphy will be doing several meet and greets with constituents this weekend. Pasco County residents should go and talk to their House representative.

WHEN: Friday, May 16, 2014 at 7:00 PM

WHAT: ACRE Cookout for Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative, Inc.

WHERE: Dan Canon Auditorium Pasco County Fair Grounds

36722 State Road 52

Dade City, FL

WHEN: Saturday, May 17, 2014 at 9:30 AM

WHAT: Gulfside Hospice Community Veteran Pinning Ceremony

WHERE: Harley Davidson of New Port Richey 5817 State Road 54

New Port Richey, FL

WHEN: Sunday, May 18, 2014 at 9:00 AM

WHAT: Gulf Harbors Pancake Breakfast

WHERE: 4610 Floramar Terrace

New Port Richey, FL

Big Wreck - Under the Lighthouse

The Andi Starr cover of this song is also worth checking out.

Quote of the Day

“Stupidity cannot be cured. Stupidity is the only universal capital crime; the sentence is death. There is no appeal, and execution is carried out automatically and without pity.”

Robert A. Heinlein

In related news: In Honea Path, South Carolina, Blake Randall Wardel decided to test out a bullet proof vest by letting a friend shoot him. Wardel is now dead. This is another case of people not understanding the danger of guns.

Joe Garcia Ear Wax Controversy

It is amazing that Rep. Joe Garcia digging into his ear wax got more attention on the internet than the House Judiciary Committee discussing warrantless wiretapping. Ear wax seems to be more important than potentially illegal wiretapping the the federal government.

Vladimir Putin's Bogus Ice Hockey Game

Vladimir Putin didn't learn how to play hockey until he was 60 years-old. Yet Putin manage to score 6 goals and 5 assists against Sochi. The Russian team Sochi is made of several former NHL players. Putin skated at amazingly slow speed and managed not to get checked once during the game. Can we say fixed?

We are to believe that Vladimir Putin came out onto the ice and suddenly became Wayne Gretzky in his prime. This is hysterical.