The debate in the Senate about extending the Patriot Act has gotten so bizarre that I suspect it is all kabuki.
Mitch McConnell's inability to muster a fillibuster-proof 60 votes for a straight extension of the controversial act has gotten most of the headlines, but there is a lot more happening underneath that we need to be aware of.

There will be a special edition of Not The Evening Blues tonight featuring Country Joe and The Fish, with News, Opinion, Commentary, Evening Greens and the like. There will be a cameo by Phil Ochs.

It won't be up to Joe's and Johnny's standards, but there will be something to fill the gap.

Y'all come.

Good morning, 99percenters! How's it going in your neighborhood today so far? Hope all is well with everyone.

It's a rainy Memorial Day weekend here. I'm preoccupied with the weather because there are flowers to plant! We've had rain every day for at least 2-1/2 weeks. Maybe more; I've lost track. And, the forecast doesn't look hopeful. I try to appreciate it because other areas such as California would love to have it. But, enough already.

This is a closeup of the flower on the first plant shown below.
Come inside and take a look.

This evening's music features the blues rock band Canned Heat.

Republican candidates have decided to use the recent setbacks against ISIS as a winning issue in the 2016 election, and it seems to be working.

This evening's music features Chicago blues guitarist and singer Andrew Brown.

Good morning 99percenters!
Morning news dump and music by Lucinda Williams.

As Spying Foes Look to 'Sunset' Patriot Act, White House Turns up the Pressure
Justice Department memo reveals pressure campaign as two competing spy bills head to vote

With key provisions of the Patriot Act set to expire at the end of the month and congressional in-fighting over the legality of government surveillance continuing to rage, the National Security Agency (NSA) will reportedly begin "winding down" bulk surveillance operations this weekend.

Right-wing articles are very entertaining. Did you know that we won the Iraq War?
I didn't.
At least Bush won Iraq before Obama lost Iraq.
I've discovered from reading right-wing sources that Iraq was perfectly fine until President Obummer fouled it up.

This evening's music features New Orleans piano player, singer and songwriter Fats Domino.

Even before the Fall of Ramadi the GOP presidential candidates were foaming-at-the-mouth war hawks. It'll only get worse.