Mission Failure: Afghanistan | Common Dreams
"In reality, the American mission in Afghanistan failed years ago. It’s as if we refused to notice, but the Afghans we were training did. Now, they are sending a message that couldn’t be blunter or grimmer from that endlessly war-torn land. Not to listen is, in fact, to condemn more Americans to death-by-ally."
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Five Things Everyone Should Know About GOP Senate Candidate Ted Cruz
Five Things Everyone Should Know About GOP Senate Candidate Ted Cruz: Today, Texas Republican primary voters selected Ted Cruz as their candidate to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX). Cruz, a former Solicitor General of Texas and law clerk to Chief Justice William Rehnquist, is among the nation’s most skilled Supreme Court advocates. Yet his considerable intellect is rivaled by his very poor judgment. [...]/p
Millionaire Mitt still whining about how hard it was 'to make ends meet'
Millionaire Mitt still whining about how hard it was 'to make ends meet'
"Clearly, Romneyland believes that if Mitt and Ann insist often enough that they're just regular folks who've had it tough, lived on the edge, struggled to make ends meet, and, of course, pulled themselves up by their bootstraps all on their own with no help from anyone (except for that stock portfolio from Daddy Romney, of course, and that house from Daddy Romney, of course), maybe voters will believe it."
"Clearly, Romneyland believes that if Mitt and Ann insist often enough that they're just regular folks who've had it tough, lived on the edge, struggled to make ends meet, and, of course, pulled themselves up by their bootstraps all on their own with no help from anyone (except for that stock portfolio from Daddy Romney, of course, and that house from Daddy Romney, of course), maybe voters will believe it."
Congressional investigation uncovers Afghan horror hospital
Congressional investigation uncovers Afghan horror hospital
"This is one of the most horrifying situations I've ever seen. (Warning: the photos at the link are quite gruesome.) And a military commander stopped a probe to protect his own standing? Organizational politics to an insane degree"
"This is one of the most horrifying situations I've ever seen. (Warning: the photos at the link are quite gruesome.) And a military commander stopped a probe to protect his own standing? Organizational politics to an insane degree"
House GOP Tax Plan Raises Taxes On 10 Times As Many People As Democratic Proposal
House GOP Tax Plan Raises Taxes On 10 Times As Many People As Democratic Proposal: Senate Republicans last week proposed a plan that would raise taxes on more than 20 million Americans, while maintaining the high-end Bush tax cuts. Letting those tax cuts on income in excess of $250,000 expire would affect just two million wealthy taxpayers, by comparison. Now, House Republicans have adopted the same plan, and the effect [...]/p
Mitt Romney’s 20th-Century Worldview | Common Dreams
Mitt Romney’s 20th-Century Worldview | Common Dreams
"Like a caveman frozen in a glacier, Mitt Romney is a man trapped in time — from his archaic stance on women’s rights to his belief in Herbert Hoover economics."
"Like a caveman frozen in a glacier, Mitt Romney is a man trapped in time — from his archaic stance on women’s rights to his belief in Herbert Hoover economics."
GOP Rep. Steve King Defends Dogfighting
GOP Rep. Steve King Defends Dogfighting: If you believe that the United States should legalize dogfighting because we allow humans to fight, fear not. You’ve got an ally in the United States Congress. During a tele-townhall late last week, Rep. Steve King (R-IA) fielded a question about his opposition to animal rights and recently introduced legislation that would undermine local standards [...]/p
Romney on his gaffes: The buck stops with ... the media
Romney on his gaffes: The buck stops with ... the media
"Does the buck ever stop with Mitt Romney? Will he ever take responsibility when something goes wrong? I'm telling you, if Mitt Romney loses this election, it won't be long before he claims he wasn't even the nominee. He'll say he was CEO of Bain or something."
"Does the buck ever stop with Mitt Romney? Will he ever take responsibility when something goes wrong? I'm telling you, if Mitt Romney loses this election, it won't be long before he claims he wasn't even the nominee. He'll say he was CEO of Bain or something."
Is Israel Fixing the Intelligence to Justify an Attack on Iran? | Common Dreams
Is Israel Fixing the Intelligence to Justify an Attack on Iran? | Common Dreams
"The key question is whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak will interpret the presidential campaign rhetoric as an open invitation to provoke hostilities with Iran, in the expectation that President Obama will feel forced to jump in with both feet in support of our "ally" Israel. (Since there is no mutual defense treaty between the U.S. and Israel, "ally" actually is a misnomer — at least in a juridical sense.)
"The key question is whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak will interpret the presidential campaign rhetoric as an open invitation to provoke hostilities with Iran, in the expectation that President Obama will feel forced to jump in with both feet in support of our "ally" Israel. (Since there is no mutual defense treaty between the U.S. and Israel, "ally" actually is a misnomer — at least in a juridical sense.)
As we saw 10 years ago with respect to Iraq, if one intends to whip up support for war, one needs to find a casus belli — however thin a pretext it might be. How about juxtaposing "weapons of mass destruction" with terrorism. That worked to prepare for war on Iraq, and similar rhetorical groundwork for an attack on Iran is now being laid in Israel."
GOP Report Finds No Connection Between White House And ‘Fast And Furious’
GOP Report Finds No Connection Between White House And ‘Fast And Furious’: Despite insistence from GOP leadership that the White House was behind the so-called “Fast and Furious” gunwalking program, a report from House Republicans released Tuesday names five officials at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms as culprits in the misguided effort. All five were reassigned before the release of the report — the first [...]/p
Meet Mitt Romney’s Economic Advisers
Meet Mitt Romney’s Economic Advisers: Steven Perlberg contributed to this report. In April, a Republican National Committee spokesperson said the Republican Party’s 2012 platform would focus on the same policies pushed by former President George W. Bush, “just updated.” In case anyone needs a reminder, Bush’s policies included massive tax cuts that led to exploding deficits and debt and a [...]/p
Mitt Romney’s Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Trip To Europe
Mitt Romney’s Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Trip To Europe: In 2008, then-candidate Barack Obama traveled to Europe and was greeted by hundreds of thousands of supporters and excited foreign leaders at almost every stop along his tour. Pundits across the board labeled the trip a success for the campaign, so it’s understandable why, four years later, candidate Mitt Romney thought it would be a [...]/p
California's Prop 32: The Next Big, Deceptive Corporate Attack on Working Families | Alternet
California's Prop 32: The Next Big, Deceptive Corporate Attack on Working Families | Alternet
"Never content with record income inequality and corporate profits, America's billionaires are forging ahead with an attempt to destroy what is left of the labor movement. And they're doing it by attempt to use anti-corporate populism to fool the voters In California, that takes the shape of the odious Proposition 32 in California, which does this:"
"Never content with record income inequality and corporate profits, America's billionaires are forging ahead with an attempt to destroy what is left of the labor movement. And they're doing it by attempt to use anti-corporate populism to fool the voters In California, that takes the shape of the odious Proposition 32 in California, which does this:"
Eight More Ways Women Will Benefit Under Obamacare Starting Tomorrow
Eight More Ways Women Will Benefit Under Obamacare Starting Tomorrow: When eight Obamacare regulations go into effect tomorrow, 47 million women will benefit from the guaranteed coverage of preventive services — including contraception coverage — without co-pays. The new rules will require most insurance plans to begin including the services at no additional cost at the next renewal date that falls on or after August [...]/p
Republican Candidate In Arizona Accused Of Voter Fraud
Republican Candidate In Arizona Accused Of Voter Fraud: While Republicans trying to justify voter suppression bills continue to struggle to find any actual cases of voter fraud, once again a Republican politician may be the exception that proves the rule. While voter fraud is exceedingly rare — a person is more likely to be hit by lightning than to commit it — then-Indiana [...]/p
Monday, July 30, 2012
A History Of Paul Ryan’s Attempts To Dismantle Social Security
A History Of Paul Ryan’s Attempts To Dismantle Social Security: That House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) supports the privatization of Social Security is well known. Ryan proposed $1.2 trillion in cuts and the partial privatization of Social Security upon taking control of the Budget Committee in 2011, and he has constantly warned about the supposed doom facing the program if major reforms aren’t [...]/p
REPORT: Ohio Routinely Tosses Thousands Of Votes In Every Election
REPORT: Ohio Routinely Tosses Thousands Of Votes In Every Election: In 2004, 9 votes per precinct pushed George W. Bush ahead of John Kerry in Ohio. But thousands are thrown out each election, according to a new report by the Cincinnati Enquirer. The battleground state, which has predicted the winner of every presidential election since 1944 except Nixon vs. Kennedy in 1960, often comes down [...]/p
Peaceful Protest Over Tar Sands Takes a Violent Turn in Burlington, Vt. | Common Dreams
Peaceful Protest Over Tar Sands Takes a Violent Turn in Burlington, Vt. | Common Dreams
"A Sunday tar sands protest in Burlington, Vermont turned violent when riot police shot protesters with pepper spray and rubber bullets."
"A Sunday tar sands protest in Burlington, Vermont turned violent when riot police shot protesters with pepper spray and rubber bullets."
Billionaire Mayor Bloomberg Sues to Keep New Yorkers' Wages Low | Alternet
Billionaire Mayor Bloomberg Sues to Keep New Yorkers' Wages Low | Alternet
"The world's 20th richest man declared recently that a living wage bill passed (over his veto) by New York's city council was the next best thing to Communist central planning. Michael Bloomberg, who's also made news recently trying to ban large sodas, today took the next step in proving how serious he is about keeping wages low--I mean, keeping New York City a "business-friendly" climate."
"The world's 20th richest man declared recently that a living wage bill passed (over his veto) by New York's city council was the next best thing to Communist central planning. Michael Bloomberg, who's also made news recently trying to ban large sodas, today took the next step in proving how serious he is about keeping wages low--I mean, keeping New York City a "business-friendly" climate."
As GOP Guts Food Safety Budgets, New Data Show Illnesses On The Rise
As GOP Guts Food Safety Budgets, New Data Show Illnesses On The Rise: House Republicans have gone to great lengths to block implementation of a new food safety law, while also trying to cut the budgets of agencies that oversee food safety. But new data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention shows just how foolhardy those moves are, as rates of foodborne illnesses are rising: The [...]/p
The Deep, Dark Mysteries of Pennsylvania's Voter ID
The Deep, Dark Mysteries of Pennsylvania's Voter ID
"There is no clear plan to help Pennsylvanians get the ID now required for voting. Does the state want thousands to simply stay home on Election Day?"
"There is no clear plan to help Pennsylvanians get the ID now required for voting. Does the state want thousands to simply stay home on Election Day?"
Happy Birthday to Medicare | Common Dreams
Happy Birthday to Medicare | Common Dreams
"Keep that in mind the next time you hear a politician or pundit argue that the Medicare program should be converted to a private voucher program, where seniors would get a flat amount to buy a health policy from a commercial insurance company. Such schemes are lucrative for the big private insurers but would be bad for most seniors, leaving them with inferior and progressively deteriorating coverage."
"Keep that in mind the next time you hear a politician or pundit argue that the Medicare program should be converted to a private voucher program, where seniors would get a flat amount to buy a health policy from a commercial insurance company. Such schemes are lucrative for the big private insurers but would be bad for most seniors, leaving them with inferior and progressively deteriorating coverage."
Florida Governor Rick Scott Preaches Austerity, Spends Big On Frivolous Lawsuits
Florida Governor Rick Scott Preaches Austerity, Spends Big On Frivolous Lawsuits: Florida Governor Rick Scott has spoken a lot about cutting government spending, lowering taxes for corporations, and removing social safety nets that millions of people rely on. But while he is busy eliminating more than $3 billion from public classrooms, his administration is simultaneously racking up hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars in legal expenses [...]/p
PERRspectives: Mitt Romney's Meth Labs of Democracy
PERRspectives: Mitt Romney's Meth Labs of Democracy
"As it turns out, Mitt Romney finds his inspiration wherever Republicans are experimenting with their junk social science. Romney, who in his run for governor told Planned Parenthood that he supported Roe v. Wade, funding abortion services through Medicaid for low-income women and the "morning after" pill, now proclaims, "Planned Parenthood, we're going to get rid of that." Just like Rick Perry in Texas. As draconian new voter identification laws in states like Florida, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Wisconsin improve his election chances by keeping minority residents (i.e. Democrats) away from the ballot box, Romney unsurprisingly announced, "I like Voter ID laws by the way... more of them." (Just this week, the Romney campaign demanded a probe of voter registration forms distributed in Bob McDonnell's Virginia.) Even though he once declared his "unwavering" support of Roe v. Wade after thedeath of a "dear, close family relative" from an illegal abortion, Governor Romney now suggests he could "absolutely" support state "personhood" amendments like the one that went down to defeat in Mississippi. And while he "can't have illegals" because he's "running for office, for Pete's sake," Mitt has called Jan Brewer's hard line immigration laws in Arizona a "model"."
"As it turns out, Mitt Romney finds his inspiration wherever Republicans are experimenting with their junk social science. Romney, who in his run for governor told Planned Parenthood that he supported Roe v. Wade, funding abortion services through Medicaid for low-income women and the "morning after" pill, now proclaims, "Planned Parenthood, we're going to get rid of that." Just like Rick Perry in Texas. As draconian new voter identification laws in states like Florida, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Wisconsin improve his election chances by keeping minority residents (i.e. Democrats) away from the ballot box, Romney unsurprisingly announced, "I like Voter ID laws by the way... more of them." (Just this week, the Romney campaign demanded a probe of voter registration forms distributed in Bob McDonnell's Virginia.) Even though he once declared his "unwavering" support of Roe v. Wade after thedeath of a "dear, close family relative" from an illegal abortion, Governor Romney now suggests he could "absolutely" support state "personhood" amendments like the one that went down to defeat in Mississippi. And while he "can't have illegals" because he's "running for office, for Pete's sake," Mitt has called Jan Brewer's hard line immigration laws in Arizona a "model"."
The CEO Plan to Steal Your Social Security and Medicare
The CEO Plan to Steal Your Social Security and Medicare
"Many of the same folks who brought the economy to ruin just a few years ago are now going to come up with a plan that is supposed to set the budget and the economy on a forward path. At the center of their proposal are big cuts in Social Security and Medicare.
"Many of the same folks who brought the economy to ruin just a few years ago are now going to come up with a plan that is supposed to set the budget and the economy on a forward path. At the center of their proposal are big cuts in Social Security and Medicare.
The most popular Social Security cut among this gang is a reduction in the annual cost of living adjustment (COLA) by 0.3 percentage points. They are betting that are ordinary people are too dumb to notice this cut since it is a relatively small amount each year."
ALEC: Hawking "Freedom" in Salt Lake City | Common Dreams
ALEC: Hawking "Freedom" in Salt Lake City | Common Dreams
"The average baby in America now enjoys the “freedom” to be born pre-polluted with over 200 chemicals and heavy metals in their blood causing subtle, and sometimes not so subtle damage to virtually every organ and altering their chromosomes leading to a broad range of chronic, debilitating and even fatal diseases later in life. Those chromosomal changes can be passed on to subsequent generations diminishing their health as well. Attempts to reign in pollution, our exposure to pesticides, plasticizers, endocrine disruptors and the 83,000 industrial chemicals that now contaminate every corner of the earth and every living in it, are fought tooth and nail by many of the corporations meeting with legislators across the street."
"The average baby in America now enjoys the “freedom” to be born pre-polluted with over 200 chemicals and heavy metals in their blood causing subtle, and sometimes not so subtle damage to virtually every organ and altering their chromosomes leading to a broad range of chronic, debilitating and even fatal diseases later in life. Those chromosomal changes can be passed on to subsequent generations diminishing their health as well. Attempts to reign in pollution, our exposure to pesticides, plasticizers, endocrine disruptors and the 83,000 industrial chemicals that now contaminate every corner of the earth and every living in it, are fought tooth and nail by many of the corporations meeting with legislators across the street."
Privatization: The Big Joke That Isn't Funny | Common Dreams
Privatization: The Big Joke That Isn't Funny | Common Dreams
"The privatization of public goods and services turns basic human needs into products to buy and sell. That's more than a joke, it's an insult, it's a perversion. It generally benefits only a privileged group of businesspeople and their companies while increasing inequality and undermining the common good."
"The privatization of public goods and services turns basic human needs into products to buy and sell. That's more than a joke, it's an insult, it's a perversion. It generally benefits only a privileged group of businesspeople and their companies while increasing inequality and undermining the common good."
At For-Profit Colleges, It's All About Profits, Not Students | Common Dreams
At For-Profit Colleges, It's All About Profits, Not Students | Common Dreams
"For-profit colleges are following a corporate model that puts profits above students, according to the findings of a U.S. Senate report published Sunday."
"For-profit colleges are following a corporate model that puts profits above students, according to the findings of a U.S. Senate report published Sunday."
Senate Republicans Filibuster Judge They Don’t Even Oppose
Senate Republicans Filibuster Judge They Don’t Even Oppose: Last January, President Obama nominated federal Magistrate Judge Robert Bacharach to a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. Since then, Bacharach’s done little more than generate bipartisan support for his nomination. Even Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK), an ultra-conservative who believes that Medicare is unconstitutional, called Bacharach “a stellar candidate” [...]/p
Sexual Assault Victims Charged Up To $1,200 In Wisconsin For Cost Of Their Rape Kits
Sexual Assault Victims Charged Up To $1,200 In Wisconsin For Cost Of Their Rape Kits: For years, hospitals in northeastern Wisconsin have billed sexual assault victims as much as $1,200 for the cost of their examinations, according to a new investigation. The Post-Crescent newspaper found that, despite the availability of government funds to cover the cost of sexual assault examinations, many hospitals were sending the bill to victims. The AP [...]/p
Sunday, July 29, 2012
5 Ways Churches Get Preferential Treatment and Benefit from Legal Loopholes | Alternet
5 Ways Churches Get Preferential Treatment and Benefit from Legal Loopholes | Alternet
"Many conservative religious leaders insist that houses of worship in America today struggle under intense persecution. To hear some of the Catholic bishops tell it, religious freedom may soon be a memory because they don’t always get their way in policy debates.
"Many conservative religious leaders insist that houses of worship in America today struggle under intense persecution. To hear some of the Catholic bishops tell it, religious freedom may soon be a memory because they don’t always get their way in policy debates.
It would be highly ironic if the United States, the nation that perfected religious liberty and enshrined it in the Constitution’s First Amendment, had become hostile to the rights of religious groups. But that’s not what’s happening. In reality, U.S. law is honeycombed with examples of preferential treatment and special breaks for religion. Some of these practices may grow out of the First Amendment command that the “free exercise” of religion must not be infringed. Others are traditions or were added to the law after lobbying efforts by religious groups."
Romney Lowers Threshold For Military Involvement In Iran, Says He’d Back Israeli Strike
Romney Lowers Threshold For Military Involvement In Iran, Says He’d Back Israeli Strike: Speaking to reporters in Jerusalem, a top foreign policy advier to Mitt Romney said the GOP presidential nominee would support an Israeli decision to attack Iran’s nuclear program. The right-wing adviser Dan Senor said Iran should not be able to attain a nuclear “capability” — a significant break in language from state U.S. policy. Senor [...]/p
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Bombshell: Koch-Funded Study Finds ‘Global Warming Is Real’, ‘On The High End’ And ‘Essentially All’ Due To Carbon Pollution
Bombshell: Koch-Funded Study Finds ‘Global Warming Is Real’, ‘On The High End’ And ‘Essentially All’ Due To Carbon Pollution: “The decadal land-surface average temperature using a 10-year moving average of surface temperatures over land. Anomalies are relative to the Jan 1950 – December 1979 mean. The grey band indicates 95% statistical and spatial uncertainty interval.” A Koch-funded reanalysis of 1.6 billion temperature reports finds that “essentially all of this increase results from the human emission [...]/p
Romney Cuts Off Press Access To Israeli Fundraiser Following London Gaffes
Romney Cuts Off Press Access To Israeli Fundraiser Following London Gaffes: Following a series of well-publicized gaffes in London, Mitt Romney’s campaign may be trying to restrict press access to the former Massachusetts governor as he travels to Israel, violating a pre-negotiated agreement. Romney, who is flying with a group of reporters on his international trip, had agreed in April to allow limited media coverage of [...]/p
12 Bigoted Taunts Peddled By Romney Camp and Allies | Alternet
12 Bigoted Taunts Peddled By Romney Camp and Allies | Alternet
"Corporate media largely ignored the subtext of Romney's earliest race-coded comments, and have been content to let more recent and blatant examples die after a day in the news cycle."
"Corporate media largely ignored the subtext of Romney's earliest race-coded comments, and have been content to let more recent and blatant examples die after a day in the news cycle."
Friday, July 27, 2012
Detroit Teachers to Emergency Manager: We Will Fight!
Detroit Teachers to Emergency Manager: We Will Fight!
"If Detroit Emergency Manager and Rick Snyder appointee Roy Roberts thought it was a good idea to pink slip all of Detroit's teachers, gut funding for schools and then force a contract on those teachers who were returning, he hasn't come face to face with AFT President Randi Weingarten recently. She and over 500 angry teachers had a message for Roberts: You had better sit down at the table and start negotiating rather than dictating."
"If Detroit Emergency Manager and Rick Snyder appointee Roy Roberts thought it was a good idea to pink slip all of Detroit's teachers, gut funding for schools and then force a contract on those teachers who were returning, he hasn't come face to face with AFT President Randi Weingarten recently. She and over 500 angry teachers had a message for Roberts: You had better sit down at the table and start negotiating rather than dictating."
It's Scary -- Ayn Rand's Nutty Ideas Are Being Taken Seriously, Even in Canada | Alternet
It's Scary -- Ayn Rand's Nutty Ideas Are Being Taken Seriously, Even in Canada | Alternet
"The masters of a Randian society would rule a wasteland of clear cuts, poisoned streams, and empty seas, except for those patches they personally owned and protected. To maintain themselves would be vastly more expensive, in wealth, time and energy than it is today: their own farms, their own roads, their own firefighters and teachers and engineers. Marx made no predictions about the shape of a communist society. Similarly, Ayn Rand and her followers really don't (or can't) imagine what their own utopia would be like.That in itself is the final contradiction of Objectivism: A philosophy of radical capitalism, without a business plan. But it's no longer a joke."
"The masters of a Randian society would rule a wasteland of clear cuts, poisoned streams, and empty seas, except for those patches they personally owned and protected. To maintain themselves would be vastly more expensive, in wealth, time and energy than it is today: their own farms, their own roads, their own firefighters and teachers and engineers. Marx made no predictions about the shape of a communist society. Similarly, Ayn Rand and her followers really don't (or can't) imagine what their own utopia would be like.That in itself is the final contradiction of Objectivism: A philosophy of radical capitalism, without a business plan. But it's no longer a joke."
Hey pundits, here's why Romney can't 'define himself'
Hey pundits, here's why Romney can't 'define himself'
"omney's only hope to win this election is the hope that people will reject the incumbent based on perceptions of the economy. Romney can't win the election on "positive personal feelings" because he doesn't have any towards the public. The feelings are mutual."
"omney's only hope to win this election is the hope that people will reject the incumbent based on perceptions of the economy. Romney can't win the election on "positive personal feelings" because he doesn't have any towards the public. The feelings are mutual."
Contaminated Inquiry: Prof with Money Ties to Industry Led Fracking Study | Common Dreams
Contaminated Inquiry: Prof with Money Ties to Industry Led Fracking Study | Common Dreams
"A recent University of Texas study, which claims to prove that the natural gas extraction process known as fracking does not cause environmental damage or water contamination, was led by a gas industry insider who currently holds up to $1.6 million in stock at a large fracking company. The information was revealed in a new exposé released by the Public Accountability Initiative (PAI)."
"A recent University of Texas study, which claims to prove that the natural gas extraction process known as fracking does not cause environmental damage or water contamination, was led by a gas industry insider who currently holds up to $1.6 million in stock at a large fracking company. The information was revealed in a new exposé released by the Public Accountability Initiative (PAI)."
Democrats introduce bill to raise minimum wage to $9.80
Democrats introduce bill to raise minimum wage to $9.80
"More than 100 House Democrats introduced a bill Thursday to raise the minimum wage. Rep. George Miller's proposed legislation would raise the minimum wage to $9.80 over three years, 85 cents per year, then link it to inflation, so that raising it wouldn't have to be a giant political fight every few years."
"More than 100 House Democrats introduced a bill Thursday to raise the minimum wage. Rep. George Miller's proposed legislation would raise the minimum wage to $9.80 over three years, 85 cents per year, then link it to inflation, so that raising it wouldn't have to be a giant political fight every few years."
House Republican Bill Would Fast-Track Tax Cuts For The Wealthy And Corporations
House Republican Bill Would Fast-Track Tax Cuts For The Wealthy And Corporations: House Republicans next week intend to vote on a plan that would both extend all of the Bush tax cuts — including those on income in excess of $250,000 — and fast-track “tax reform.” If the House GOP bill were adopted, tax reform legislation would “have special protections in the U.S. Senate, limiting the opportunities [...]/p
Trader Claims Rate Rigging Scandal Dates Back To 1991
Trader Claims Rate Rigging Scandal Dates Back To 1991: In the Financial Times today, a former trader for Morgan Stanley claims that rigging of the LIBOR rate has been going on since at least 1991. Revelations that LIBOR — a key benchmark for interest rates — was being rigged has caused a wide-reaching scandal in both European and American financial circles, and could lead [...]/p
Caterpillar Strike: In the US, It's Open Season on Unions | Common Dreams
Caterpillar Strike: In the US, It's Open Season on Unions | Common Dreams
"Caterpillar understands this. Its corporate culture may be more predisposed than most to punishing uppity workers. But for it to do so without even the flimsiest appeal to economic necessity is truly a milestone. And in today's atomised America, it isn't just good business. It's good politics."
"Caterpillar understands this. Its corporate culture may be more predisposed than most to punishing uppity workers. But for it to do so without even the flimsiest appeal to economic necessity is truly a milestone. And in today's atomised America, it isn't just good business. It's good politics."
It's Official: The NYPD Does Not Like Occupy Wall Street
It's Official: The NYPD Does Not Like Occupy Wall Street
"A new report by the Protest and Assembly Rights Project, which includes civil liberties experts from law clinics at NYU, Fordham, Harvard, and Stanford, has determined what anyone paying attention already knows: The NYPD went way overboard with seemingly random protesters, and media personnel (Even innocent bystanders in multiple instances) during Occupy Wall Street. But the group's findings, compiled inSuppressing Protest: Human Rights Violations in the U.S. Response to Occupy Wall Street, detail many incidents beyond the extreme few that got the most media play, counting 130 examples of extreme force in all, on top of "a complex mapping of protest suppression"."
"A new report by the Protest and Assembly Rights Project, which includes civil liberties experts from law clinics at NYU, Fordham, Harvard, and Stanford, has determined what anyone paying attention already knows: The NYPD went way overboard with seemingly random protesters, and media personnel (Even innocent bystanders in multiple instances) during Occupy Wall Street. But the group's findings, compiled inSuppressing Protest: Human Rights Violations in the U.S. Response to Occupy Wall Street, detail many incidents beyond the extreme few that got the most media play, counting 130 examples of extreme force in all, on top of "a complex mapping of protest suppression"."
ALEC Exposed, ALEC Diminished: A Special Report from Salt Lake | Common Dreams
ALEC Exposed, ALEC Diminished: A Special Report from Salt Lake | Common Dreams
"Who has stood by ALEC as directors despite the revelations of ALEC's extreme agenda andlegally suspect claims to the IRS and ethics boards? Big Oil & Coal: Koch Industries,Peabody Energy, Exxon Mobil,Salt River Project, and Energy Future Holdings; Big Tobacco:Reynolds, Altria/Philip Morris, and CenterPoint 360; Big Drugs: PhRMA (the drug companies' trade group); Bayer, and Glaxo Smith Kline: Big Insurance: State Farm; Big Alcohol: Diageo; Big Bail: the American Bail Association; and Big Telecomm: AT&T.
"Who has stood by ALEC as directors despite the revelations of ALEC's extreme agenda andlegally suspect claims to the IRS and ethics boards? Big Oil & Coal: Koch Industries,Peabody Energy, Exxon Mobil,Salt River Project, and Energy Future Holdings; Big Tobacco:Reynolds, Altria/Philip Morris, and CenterPoint 360; Big Drugs: PhRMA (the drug companies' trade group); Bayer, and Glaxo Smith Kline: Big Insurance: State Farm; Big Alcohol: Diageo; Big Bail: the American Bail Association; and Big Telecomm: AT&T.
Plus, for some yet to be discovered reason, UPS. One wonders, what is Brown doing at ALEC?"
Former Florida Republican Party Chair Says Republicans Actively Suppressed The Black Vote
Former Florida Republican Party Chair Says Republicans Actively Suppressed The Black Vote: In a 630-page deposition, released to the press yesterday, former Republican Party Chairman Jim Greer described a systemic effort by Republicans to suppress the black vote. Referring to a 2009 meeting with party officials, Greer said “I was upset because the political consultants and staff were talking about voter suppression and keeping blacks from voting.” [...]/p
Repeatedly debunked lies still front and center in Romney campaign ad blasting Obama stimulus
Repeatedly debunked lies still front and center in Romney campaign ad blasting Obama stimulus
"Even revealed, lies help shape a narrative as surely as does the truth. Individual lies may be exposed as frauds from time to time, but the big picture built out of a welter of lies gets absorbed unconsciously. You can be pretty sure that the ad twisting the record of the stimulus money is designed to achieve exactly that purpose. Approved by Mendacious Mitt."
"Even revealed, lies help shape a narrative as surely as does the truth. Individual lies may be exposed as frauds from time to time, but the big picture built out of a welter of lies gets absorbed unconsciously. You can be pretty sure that the ad twisting the record of the stimulus money is designed to achieve exactly that purpose. Approved by Mendacious Mitt."
Phil Gramm: Repealing Glass-Steagall Didn't Cause Crash
Phil Gramm: Repealing Glass-Steagall Didn't Cause Crash
"Pause here for belly laughs. Okay, I'll give him this: The Commodity Futures Modernization Act he rammed through in the 2000 budget showdown between Congress and Clinton was much worse. In fact, it had even more to do with the 2008 crash. It made sure that the credit swaps market was unregulated, and that banks and hedge funds didn't need a minimum reserve to back their casino bets."
"Pause here for belly laughs. Okay, I'll give him this: The Commodity Futures Modernization Act he rammed through in the 2000 budget showdown between Congress and Clinton was much worse. In fact, it had even more to do with the 2008 crash. It made sure that the credit swaps market was unregulated, and that banks and hedge funds didn't need a minimum reserve to back their casino bets."
After Stonewalling Obama’s Jobs Package, Republicans Complain About GDP Growth
After Stonewalling Obama’s Jobs Package, Republicans Complain About GDP Growth: New data released today shows that the U.S. economy grew by 1.5 percent last quarter, following a revised increase of 2 percent in the first quarter. Republicans, of course, leaped on the middling number, with Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) calling it “a troubling sign for the future of our economy.” But GOP’ers [...]/p
Alabama Asks Court For Redistricting Approval, Tries To Eliminate Voting Rights Act
Alabama Asks Court For Redistricting Approval, Tries To Eliminate Voting Rights Act: Yesterday Alabama filed suit in federal court asking for approval of the state’s redistricting plan. Alabama is one of nine states with a history of discrimination that the Voting Rights Act requires to get preclearance before making any changes to election procedures. Usually the states ask the Justice Department, but Alabama decided to go straight [...]/p
EXCLUSIVE: GOP Senate Nominee Shorting U.S. Treasury Bonds, Would Profit From Government Default
EXCLUSIVE: GOP Senate Nominee Shorting U.S. Treasury Bonds, Would Profit From Government Default: The Republican nominee in Ohio’s Senate race stands to reap a significant financial windfall if the government defaults by not raising the debt ceiling, a move he opposed last year and has indicated he would vote against if elected to the Senate. According to personal financial disclosure documents examined by ThinkProgress, Josh Mandel’s wife owns [...]/p
Capital One Forced To Pay $12 Million To Military Members Over Abusive Financial Practices
Capital One Forced To Pay $12 Million To Military Members Over Abusive Financial Practices: Just a week after it was ordered to pay $165 million in refunds and penalties for wrongful credit card practices, Capital One reached a settlement with the Department of Justice over charges that it financially abused active military members. Under the terms of the settlement, the bank will pay $12 million to American military members [...]/p
Survey: "Climate Skeptics" More Likely to Embrace "Free Market" Ideology, Conspiracy Theories | Common Dreams
Survey: "Climate Skeptics" More Likely to Embrace "Free Market" Ideology, Conspiracy Theories | Common Dreams
"A new survey of so-called "climate skeptics" -- who reject the global scientific community's broad consensus that global warming and climate change are being driven by modern society's emission of greenhouse gasses -- concludes that individuals who hold such views are also much more likely to believe in outlandish conspiracy theories and hold favorable views of the "free market" theory of the economy."
"A new survey of so-called "climate skeptics" -- who reject the global scientific community's broad consensus that global warming and climate change are being driven by modern society's emission of greenhouse gasses -- concludes that individuals who hold such views are also much more likely to believe in outlandish conspiracy theories and hold favorable views of the "free market" theory of the economy."
Are We Headed Back to the Dust Bowl? Blame the Banks | Alternet
Are We Headed Back to the Dust Bowl? Blame the Banks | Alternet
"Uncertainty is profitable. The Food and Agriculture Organisation is worried about price swings, even though prices are far from their 2011 peaks . Volatile prices create markets for hedge funds to trade and gamble on future trends. Traders, enabled by lax futures regulations, are perhaps the only people to see the bright side of the beating sun.
"Uncertainty is profitable. The Food and Agriculture Organisation is worried about price swings, even though prices are far from their 2011 peaks . Volatile prices create markets for hedge funds to trade and gamble on future trends. Traders, enabled by lax futures regulations, are perhaps the only people to see the bright side of the beating sun.
Which is why it's worth looking to history. Record-breaking weather, farmers losing crops, banks repossessing land from the poor, a president scorned by his opponents for socialism. We've seen this before. Such were the conditions of the dust bowl in the 1930s. Then, the drought stretched across most of the decade.By 1938, 80% of the Great Plains had been damaged by wind erosion . In large part, it was because farmers on small farms weren't taking care of the soil. What would bring farmers to the point of destroying the soil on which they depended? Most of them were deeply indebted to banks, and hanging on by their fingernails. Environmental destruction staved off financial oblivion."
How Will the 99% Deal with the Psychopaths in the 1%? | Alternet
How Will the 99% Deal with the Psychopaths in the 1%? | Alternet
"Did you know that roughly one person in a hundred is clinically a psychopath? These individuals are either born with an emotional deficiency that keeps them from feeling bad about hurting others, or they are traumatized early in life in a manner that causes them to become this way. With more than 7 billion people on the planet that means there are as many as 70,000,000 psychopaths alive today. These people are more likely to be risk takers, opportunists motivated by self-interest and greed, and inclined to dominate or subjugate those around them through manipulative means."
"Did you know that roughly one person in a hundred is clinically a psychopath? These individuals are either born with an emotional deficiency that keeps them from feeling bad about hurting others, or they are traumatized early in life in a manner that causes them to become this way. With more than 7 billion people on the planet that means there are as many as 70,000,000 psychopaths alive today. These people are more likely to be risk takers, opportunists motivated by self-interest and greed, and inclined to dominate or subjugate those around them through manipulative means."
A Bible-Based Approach to Health Care: Orthopedic Problems? You're Probably Just Possessed by a Devil | Alternet
A Bible-Based Approach to Health Care: Orthopedic Problems? You're Probably Just Possessed by a Devil | Alternet
"Despite a defeat in District Court last week, the Catholic Bishops and their conservative Protestant allies are forging ahead with lawsuits against Obama's health care reforms. Their goal? To ensure that American health options are dictated by religion rather than medical science."
"Despite a defeat in District Court last week, the Catholic Bishops and their conservative Protestant allies are forging ahead with lawsuits against Obama's health care reforms. Their goal? To ensure that American health options are dictated by religion rather than medical science."
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Rupert Murdoch's Reputation Is Shattered in UK -- Meanwhile He's Still Embraced as GOP Kingmaker in the U.S. | Alternet
Rupert Murdoch's Reputation Is Shattered in UK -- Meanwhile He's Still Embraced as GOP Kingmaker in the U.S. | Alternet
"Yet at the same time Murdoch is forced to withdrawal from Britain's political life, his profile is rapidly rising in the United States thanks to the unprecedented role News Corp's Fox News is playing this election cycle as it openly, and forcefully, campaigns against President Obama. The dichotomy between Murdoch's standing in Britain and America is striking, for rarely has a media mogul had his fortunes sink so low on one continent, while simultaneously rise so high on another."
"Yet at the same time Murdoch is forced to withdrawal from Britain's political life, his profile is rapidly rising in the United States thanks to the unprecedented role News Corp's Fox News is playing this election cycle as it openly, and forcefully, campaigns against President Obama. The dichotomy between Murdoch's standing in Britain and America is striking, for rarely has a media mogul had his fortunes sink so low on one continent, while simultaneously rise so high on another."
Watch How British Television Covered Romney’s Visit
Watch How British Television Covered Romney’s Visit: Mitt Romney’s criticism of the London Olympics in Great Britain led the nightly news show ‘BBC London’ on Thursday. The program reported on Romney’s uncomfortable visit with Prime Minister David Cameron after suggesting that the nation was unprepared to host the games, mocked his efforts to backpaddel those remarks and showed footage of London Mayor [...]/p
Don't talk about Ann Romney's fancy Olympic horse. Don't even THINK about it.
Don't talk about Ann Romney's fancy Olympic horse. Don't even THINK about it.
"Just add Ann "Woman of the People" Romney's fancy shmancy dancing horse to the list of things the Romneys believe should not be discussed at all: Mitt Romney's tenure as governor of Massachusetts, his tenure as CEO of Bain, his tenure as CEO of the 2002 Olympics, his tenure as a bishop of his Mormon church."
"Just add Ann "Woman of the People" Romney's fancy shmancy dancing horse to the list of things the Romneys believe should not be discussed at all: Mitt Romney's tenure as governor of Massachusetts, his tenure as CEO of Bain, his tenure as CEO of the 2002 Olympics, his tenure as a bishop of his Mormon church."
Increase in Extreme Storms Causing 'Rapid Ozone Destruction' | Common Dreams
Increase in Extreme Storms Causing 'Rapid Ozone Destruction' | Common Dreams
'Extreme summer thunderstorms are likely causing accelerated damage to the ozone layer over the United States, as the frequency and strength of storms continue to increase, according to a study released Thursday by the journal Science at Harvard University."
'Extreme summer thunderstorms are likely causing accelerated damage to the ozone layer over the United States, as the frequency and strength of storms continue to increase, according to a study released Thursday by the journal Science at Harvard University."
Drought in US Intensifying to 'Historic Proportions' | Common Dreams
Drought in US Intensifying to 'Historic Proportions' | Common Dreams
"The drought in the U.S. is intensifying and shows little signs of abating, according the most recent Drought Monitor issued Thursday."
"The drought in the U.S. is intensifying and shows little signs of abating, according the most recent Drought Monitor issued Thursday."
Hide the Ball: Romney's Long History of Hiding His Exorbitant, but Questionable, Business Practices
Hide the Ball: Romney's Long History of Hiding His Exorbitant, but Questionable, Business Practices
"How is it possible that, for two decades now, Mitt Romney has successfully avoided revealing any details about his vast wealth, has been able to manipulate and stash wealth overseas with no public accountability, has not been held to account for his complete lack of transparency, has painted himself as a creator of thousands of jobs even though the public record shows business decisions he presided over resulted in the loss of jobs because of mass wealth being scooped out of the assets of these same companies?"
"How is it possible that, for two decades now, Mitt Romney has successfully avoided revealing any details about his vast wealth, has been able to manipulate and stash wealth overseas with no public accountability, has not been held to account for his complete lack of transparency, has painted himself as a creator of thousands of jobs even though the public record shows business decisions he presided over resulted in the loss of jobs because of mass wealth being scooped out of the assets of these same companies?"
Worst. Congress. Ever
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
The damage the 112th Congress is doing to America, the media's complicity by letting them off the hook, and voters' disgust with the whole process
Stephen Colbert Makes a Mockery of Romney's Deceptive Campaign Ad
Stephen Colbert Makes a Mockery of Romney's Deceptive Campaign Ad
"Gotta' love it. It's a sad day when our comedians have to be the ones pointing out how utterly ridiculous the Romney campaign attacks are with the whole it takes a village and no one made it on their own nonsense and the right's pathetic response to someone saying something that is actually true."
"Gotta' love it. It's a sad day when our comedians have to be the ones pointing out how utterly ridiculous the Romney campaign attacks are with the whole it takes a village and no one made it on their own nonsense and the right's pathetic response to someone saying something that is actually true."
Labeling Genetically Engineered Foods: Whose Side Are You On? | Common Dreams
Labeling Genetically Engineered Foods: Whose Side Are You On? | Common Dreams
"This November, California voters will have an opportunity to vote on a simple, yet important ballot initiative called Prop 37 – the California Right to Know Act. If approved, it would require food sold in California supermarkets be clearly labeled if it has been genetically engineered"
"This November, California voters will have an opportunity to vote on a simple, yet important ballot initiative called Prop 37 – the California Right to Know Act. If approved, it would require food sold in California supermarkets be clearly labeled if it has been genetically engineered"
The World is Closer to a Food Crisis Than Most People Realize | Common Dreams
The World is Closer to a Food Crisis Than Most People Realize | Common Dreams
"The world is in serious trouble on the food front. But there is little evidence that political leaders have yet grasped the magnitude of what is happening. The progress in reducing hunger in recent decades has been reversed. Unless we move quickly to adopt newpopulation, energy, and water policies, the goal of eradicating hunger will remain just that.
"The world is in serious trouble on the food front. But there is little evidence that political leaders have yet grasped the magnitude of what is happening. The progress in reducing hunger in recent decades has been reversed. Unless we move quickly to adopt newpopulation, energy, and water policies, the goal of eradicating hunger will remain just that.
Time is running out. The world may be much closer to an unmanageable food shortage – replete with soaring food prices, spreading food unrest, and ultimately political instability– than most people realise."
Romney Campaign's Race-Baiting Strategy Could Have Dire Consequences for America | Alternet
Romney Campaign's Race-Baiting Strategy Could Have Dire Consequences for America | Alternet
"Romney's strategy has incorporated racial and cultural cues, both subtle and blatant, as a means of deflection from the Obama campaign's questions about Bain Capital."
"Romney's strategy has incorporated racial and cultural cues, both subtle and blatant, as a means of deflection from the Obama campaign's questions about Bain Capital."
Mitt's mouth touches off international incident somewhere between London and the middle of nowhere
Mitt's mouth touches off international incident somewhere between London and the middle of nowhere
"At the same time, Romney faced scrutiny for a London fundraiser Thursday night that's expected to attract employees of Barclays, which has been in the spotlight after becoming the first bank to admit its employees were involved in manipulating a key market index."
"At the same time, Romney faced scrutiny for a London fundraiser Thursday night that's expected to attract employees of Barclays, which has been in the spotlight after becoming the first bank to admit its employees were involved in manipulating a key market index."
Yes, Blame the NRA for the Movie Theater Shooting in Colorado
Yes, Blame the NRA for the Movie Theater Shooting in Colorado
"For 21 years, LaPierre has been the executive vice president - and chief political strategist - of the National Rifle Association (NRA). The blood of the victims of the Aurora, Colorado, shooting is on his hands."
"For 21 years, LaPierre has been the executive vice president - and chief political strategist - of the National Rifle Association (NRA). The blood of the victims of the Aurora, Colorado, shooting is on his hands."
Top Three Myths Conservatives Use To Oppose Increasing The Minimum Wage
Top Three Myths Conservatives Use To Oppose Increasing The Minimum Wage: House Democrats have introduced a bill in the House — bound to go nowhere due to the Republican majority — that would increase the minimum wage to $10. This would give the wage the purchasing power that it had in the 1960s. Republicans have publicly met the idea of raising the minimum wage with contempt, [...]/p
Top Two Oil Companies Earn $160,000 Per Minute, Paid Low Tax Rate
Top Two Oil Companies Earn $160,000 Per Minute, Paid Low Tax Rate: The top two corporations on the Fortune 500 Global ranking, Royal Dutch Shell and ExxonMobil, announced their 2012 second-quarter earnings today, bringing the total profits for three Big Oil companies to $44 billion for 2012 or $250,000 every day this year. Exxon profited by $16 billion this quarter, bringing its earnings for 2012 to $25 [...]/p
James Taranto: A-Hole!
James Taranto: A-Hole!
"I figured after a little time off I wouldn't get so sick reading and writing about the twisted minds of the conservative/TeaCrack Party, but I was wrong. Twitter has really fueled their lunatic scribblings. Check this out."
"I figured after a little time off I wouldn't get so sick reading and writing about the twisted minds of the conservative/TeaCrack Party, but I was wrong. Twitter has really fueled their lunatic scribblings. Check this out."
Heavily Edited Romney Video Targets Black Voters, Shows NAACP Audience Applauding
Heavily Edited Romney Video Targets Black Voters, Shows NAACP Audience Applauding: Mitt Romney’s speech at the NAACP was defined in the media by the resounding chorus of boos he elicited from the crowd. Campaign staffers had a different interpretation, insisting that he received “thunderous applause over and over again.” Reflecting this idea, the campaign’s new video targeting African American voters, “We Need Mitt Romney,” rewrites history [...]/p
The US Christian Right is Pushing Anti-Gay, Anti-Women Policies Abroad | Alternet
The US Christian Right is Pushing Anti-Gay, Anti-Women Policies Abroad | Alternet
"Ironically, these U.S. Christian Right groups criticize sound human rights initiatives as forms of neocolonial interference even while they aggressively seek to change reproductive practices themselves."
"Ironically, these U.S. Christian Right groups criticize sound human rights initiatives as forms of neocolonial interference even while they aggressively seek to change reproductive practices themselves."
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Romney Struggles To Distinguish His Economic Policies From Bush’s
Romney Struggles To Distinguish His Economic Policies From Bush’s: Mitt Romney couldn’t substantially distinguish his economic policies from former President George W. Bush’s during an interview with NBC’s Brian Williams on Wednesday, saying only that he would “take action to get America on track to have a balanced budget.” Bush increased the national debt by trillions of dollars. Rather than detailing specific differences with [...]/p
NSA Whistleblowers: They're Spying on 'the Entire Country' | Common Dreams
NSA Whistleblowers: They're Spying on 'the Entire Country' | Common Dreams
"The National Security Agency (NSA) has created a "pernicious, persistent and permanent" database since 9/11 and is spying on "the entire country" according to NSA whistleblowers Thomas Drake, Kirk Wiebe and William Binney."
"The National Security Agency (NSA) has created a "pernicious, persistent and permanent" database since 9/11 and is spying on "the entire country" according to NSA whistleblowers Thomas Drake, Kirk Wiebe and William Binney."
Despite Overwhelming Evidence, Federal Appeals Court Upholds Law Requiring Doctors to Lie to Women | Common Dreams
Despite Overwhelming Evidence, Federal Appeals Court Upholds Law Requiring Doctors to Lie to Women | Common Dreams
"Of course, as ideology increasing trumps science in our made-for-Orwell society, you can expect more intrusion into your personal life and more "evidence" trumped up by religious fundamentalists and anti-choice fanatics bent on controlling your life from "conception to natural death"."
"Of course, as ideology increasing trumps science in our made-for-Orwell society, you can expect more intrusion into your personal life and more "evidence" trumped up by religious fundamentalists and anti-choice fanatics bent on controlling your life from "conception to natural death"."
40 Economists Say The GOP Has Abandoned Economic Reality
40 Economists Say The GOP Has Abandoned Economic Reality: A survey of forty economists from across the ideological and partisan spectrum has concluded that on some of its most cherished issues, the Republican Party has simply taken leave of economic reality. For instance, economists Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers noted that one of the results from the survey — run by the University of [...]/p
Obamacare Has Saved Seniors $4 Billion On Prescription Drugs
Obamacare Has Saved Seniors $4 Billion On Prescription Drugs: The Centers for Medicare And Medicaid Services (CMS) released data showing that over 5.2 million seniors and people with disabilities have already saved nearly $4 billion on prescription drugs as a direct result of the Affordable Care Act. The CMS data also showed that over 1 million people with Medicare saved an average of $629 [...]/p
Voter Suppression: Up to 43% of Philly Voters May Not Have Newly-Required ID | AlterNet
Voter Suppression: Up to 43% of Philly Voters May Not Have Newly-Required ID | AlterNet
"And two weeks ago, I broke the news that the Corbett administration had awarded a $250,000 voter ID PR contract to the Bravo Group, a firm run by Mitt Romney fundraiser and longtime state GOP leader Chris Bravacos. On Friday, Talking Points Memo described how six people working on that contract all have GOP ties."
"And two weeks ago, I broke the news that the Corbett administration had awarded a $250,000 voter ID PR contract to the Bravo Group, a firm run by Mitt Romney fundraiser and longtime state GOP leader Chris Bravacos. On Friday, Talking Points Memo described how six people working on that contract all have GOP ties."
'Not a Mistake': NASA in Disbelief over Rate of Melting Ice | Common Dreams
'Not a Mistake': NASA in Disbelief over Rate of Melting Ice | Common Dreams
"Scientists say there has been a freak event in Greenland this month: Nearly every part of the massive ice sheet that blankets the island suddenly started melting."
"Scientists say there has been a freak event in Greenland this month: Nearly every part of the massive ice sheet that blankets the island suddenly started melting."
5 Reasons the Super-Rich Need Government More Than the Rest of Us | | AlterNet
5 Reasons the Super-Rich Need Government More Than the Rest of Us | | AlterNet
"Wealthy individuals and corporations want us to believe they've made it on their own, without the help of government or the American people. Billionaire financier Sanford Weill blustered, "We didn't rely on somebody else to build what we built." He was echoing the words of his famous predecessor, the formidable financier J. P. Morgan, who spouted, "I owe the public nothing."
"Wealthy individuals and corporations want us to believe they've made it on their own, without the help of government or the American people. Billionaire financier Sanford Weill blustered, "We didn't rely on somebody else to build what we built." He was echoing the words of his famous predecessor, the formidable financier J. P. Morgan, who spouted, "I owe the public nothing."
That's the bull of Wall Street. There are at least five good reasons why the wealthiest Americans need government as much as the rest of us, and probably more."
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
PERRspectives: Romney Doubly Embarrassed by Carr Talk
PERRspectives: Romney Doubly Embarrassed by Carr Talk
"When it comes to touting bogus presidential endorsements by foreign leaders, candidate George W. Bush is in a class by himself. But while Governor Bush was (easily) duped by a Canadian comedy show into proudly accepting the backing ofmythical Prime Minister Jean Poutine, Mitt Romney's misrepresentation of his private conversation with actual Australian foreign minister Bob Carr was willful. Willful, that is, doubly embarrassing. After all, Australian officials didn't merely reject Romney's boasting that Carr endorsed his critique of President Obama. As it turns out, Mitt Romney has consistently opposed that "one budget deal" which would supposedly end "all talk of America being in decline"."
"When it comes to touting bogus presidential endorsements by foreign leaders, candidate George W. Bush is in a class by himself. But while Governor Bush was (easily) duped by a Canadian comedy show into proudly accepting the backing ofmythical Prime Minister Jean Poutine, Mitt Romney's misrepresentation of his private conversation with actual Australian foreign minister Bob Carr was willful. Willful, that is, doubly embarrassing. After all, Australian officials didn't merely reject Romney's boasting that Carr endorsed his critique of President Obama. As it turns out, Mitt Romney has consistently opposed that "one budget deal" which would supposedly end "all talk of America being in decline"."
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