Mitt Romney's Pro-torture Gang of Puppet-Masters | Alternet
"ince I noted in August 2011 that Mitt had named two torture architects to his legal advisory committee (Tim Flanigan and Steve Bradbury), I have had zero doubt that Mitt would embrace torture if he were President. So Charlie Savage’s story –reporting on a September 2011 memoconfirming that fact–wasn’t surprising in the least to me. Here’s the key recommendation from the memo:"
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Chris Hayes: The Republican Bubble Trap
Chris Hayes: The Republican Bubble Trap
"From this Saturday's Up With Chris Hayes, Chris' Story of the Week and the Republicans who have been living in their own alternative universe these days as they refuse to accept the reality that the poll numbers in the presidential race really are not looking good for Mitt Romney."
"From this Saturday's Up With Chris Hayes, Chris' Story of the Week and the Republicans who have been living in their own alternative universe these days as they refuse to accept the reality that the poll numbers in the presidential race really are not looking good for Mitt Romney."
Study Linking GM Maize to Cancer Must Be Taken Seriously by Regulators | Common Dreams
Study Linking GM Maize to Cancer Must Be Taken Seriously by Regulators | Common Dreams
"But last week, Seralini brought the whole scientific and corporate establishment crashing down on his head. In a peer-reviewed US journal, Food and Chemical Toxicology, he reported the results of a €3.2m study. Fed a diet of Monsanto's Roundup-tolerant GM maize NK603 for two years, or exposed to Roundup over the same period, rats developed higher levels of cancers and died earlier than controls. Séralini suggested that the results could be explained by the endocrine-disrupting effects of Roundup, and overexpression of the transgene in the GMO.
"But last week, Seralini brought the whole scientific and corporate establishment crashing down on his head. In a peer-reviewed US journal, Food and Chemical Toxicology, he reported the results of a €3.2m study. Fed a diet of Monsanto's Roundup-tolerant GM maize NK603 for two years, or exposed to Roundup over the same period, rats developed higher levels of cancers and died earlier than controls. Séralini suggested that the results could be explained by the endocrine-disrupting effects of Roundup, and overexpression of the transgene in the GMO.
This was scientific dynamite. It was the first time that maize containing these specific genes had been tested on rats over two years - nearly their full lifespan - as opposed to the 90-day trials demanded by regulators. Around a dozen long-term studies of different GM crops have failed to find similar effects. Séralini's study also looked at the toxicity of the Roundup herbicide when fed directly to rats.
If the study stood up, then the consistent arguments of the industry that its GM maize is safe might be fatally undermined, with immense political, financial and social consequences."
As the Romney campaign unskews, will the GOP's racist id take over?
As the Romney campaign unskews, will the GOP's racist id take over?
"Like Mitt Romney's 47 percent remark, the Republicans use overtly racist appeals to whites to attempt to give the impressions that non-whites are the prime beneficiaries of "government handouts." And as in that case, when the 47 percent was mostly comprised of whites, like whites on Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Veterans benefits, student loan for college, the universal phone service requirement primarily benefits whites, in this case rural whites. Consider the Universal Service Program for Rural Health Care Providers"
"Like Mitt Romney's 47 percent remark, the Republicans use overtly racist appeals to whites to attempt to give the impressions that non-whites are the prime beneficiaries of "government handouts." And as in that case, when the 47 percent was mostly comprised of whites, like whites on Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Veterans benefits, student loan for college, the universal phone service requirement primarily benefits whites, in this case rural whites. Consider the Universal Service Program for Rural Health Care Providers"
'I don't have the time' to explain tax plan, says Paul Ryan on Fox News
'I don't have the time' to explain tax plan, says Paul Ryan on Fox News
"Ryan is straight-up using his reputation as the Republican party's big budget wonk to get out of giving direct answers to any actual budget wonking questions. Because from his point of view, "I don't want to get too wonky" or "I don't have the time" are more palatable answers than "if I gave you details you'd see that I've been lying"."
"Ryan is straight-up using his reputation as the Republican party's big budget wonk to get out of giving direct answers to any actual budget wonking questions. Because from his point of view, "I don't want to get too wonky" or "I don't have the time" are more palatable answers than "if I gave you details you'd see that I've been lying"."
Paul Ryan To Fox News: ‘I Don’t Have The Time’ To Explain How We Will Pay For Our Tax Plan
Paul Ryan To Fox News: ‘I Don’t Have The Time’ To Explain How We Will Pay For Our Tax Plan: For much of the general election, the Romney campaign has avoided any discussion of specifics, especially when it comes to the tax plan that he and Paul Ryan have put forward. On Fox News Sunday, host Chris Wallace gave Ryan an opportunity to finally talk about the details of his plan to a national audience, [...]/p
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Big Pharma Medicaid Fraud Penalties at Record High | Common Dreams
Big Pharma Medicaid Fraud Penalties at Record High | Common Dreams
"The seemingly undeterred pharmaceutical industry remains the biggest defrauder of the federal government."
"The seemingly undeterred pharmaceutical industry remains the biggest defrauder of the federal government."
Another right-wing attack on public workers | Economic Policy Institute
Another right-wing attack on public workers | Economic Policy Institute
"How does government pay compare with that in the private sector? The answer is pretty much what you’d expect: Wages and salaries are lower, but benefits are better. Overall compensation is, if anything, slightly lower, though this varies by class of worker; less educated workers are better paid in the public sector and more educated workers are better paid in the private sector. This again is not surprising when you consider that less educated workers in the private sector often earn poverty wages with no health benefits and government employers have little incentive to shift costs onto Medicaid and other government programs.
"How does government pay compare with that in the private sector? The answer is pretty much what you’d expect: Wages and salaries are lower, but benefits are better. Overall compensation is, if anything, slightly lower, though this varies by class of worker; less educated workers are better paid in the public sector and more educated workers are better paid in the private sector. This again is not surprising when you consider that less educated workers in the private sector often earn poverty wages with no health benefits and government employers have little incentive to shift costs onto Medicaid and other government programs.
But anti-government ideologues have deep pockets, so a minor industry has sprung up trying to show that government workers are overpaid. "
The Dangerous Conspiracy Theory Behind Mitt Romney’s Lyme Disease Mailers
The Dangerous Conspiracy Theory Behind Mitt Romney’s Lyme Disease Mailers: The Romney campaign is sending out a flyer in Northern Virginia pledging to fight Lyme Disease, which is describes as a “massive epidemic threatening Virginia”: The Washington Post notes that “According to the CDC there are less than 1,000 reported cases of Lyme disease in Virginia a year — in a state of eight million [...]/p
GOP Volunteer: 'Obama's a Muslim, Will Get Rid of Your Medicare'
GOP Volunteer: 'Obama's a Muslim, Will Get Rid of Your Medicare'
"A Florida resident's answering machine captured a call from a volunteer with the Republican Party of Clay County who was reaching out to potential voters with several important lies about the upcoming presidential election."
"A Florida resident's answering machine captured a call from a volunteer with the Republican Party of Clay County who was reaching out to potential voters with several important lies about the upcoming presidential election."
The Complete Idiot's Guide to The Nuclear Standoff With Iran
The Complete Idiot's Guide to The Nuclear Standoff With Iran
"Over at WhoWhatWhy.com, Christian Stork has a thorough analysis debunking the most common myths propagated about the West's nuclear stand-off with Iran. It's all so familiar, isn't it? I know if I think really hard, I can figure it out. Oh, wait - it's just like the buildup to both wars in Iraq! And of course both times, the media did their best stenography impression."
"Over at WhoWhatWhy.com, Christian Stork has a thorough analysis debunking the most common myths propagated about the West's nuclear stand-off with Iran. It's all so familiar, isn't it? I know if I think really hard, I can figure it out. Oh, wait - it's just like the buildup to both wars in Iraq! And of course both times, the media did their best stenography impression."
Florida Republican Volunteer Tells Senior Citizens: Obama Is A ‘Muslim’ Who Will ‘Get Rid Of Your Medicare’
Florida Republican Volunteer Tells Senior Citizens: Obama Is A ‘Muslim’ Who Will ‘Get Rid Of Your Medicare’: A volunteer for the Republican Party of Clay County, Florida called President Obama a “Muslim” and said that he would “get rid of your Medicare” while calling voters on behalf of Mitt Romney. In audio obtained by a Tampa-area radio station, the woman made the remarks directly to senior citizens, but her comments were recorded [...]/p
Meet a Romney Extremist in Virginia | The Progressive
Meet a Romney Extremist in Virginia | The Progressive
"A staffer in a Romney campaign office wants to execute parents on welfare and give their kids up for adoption."
"A staffer in a Romney campaign office wants to execute parents on welfare and give their kids up for adoption."
The Billionaire Bandits Behind Paul Ryan - In These Times
The Billionaire Bandits Behind Paul Ryan - In These Times
According to Palast, “Romney picked Ryan at the request of one of their most important donors, Paul Singer, a hedge fund manager literally known in the industry as ‘The Vulture.’”
According to Palast, “Romney picked Ryan at the request of one of their most important donors, Paul Singer, a hedge fund manager literally known in the industry as ‘The Vulture.’”
Taibbi: Wall St. Is Turning Dodd-Frank Into Swiss Cheese
Taibbi: Wall St. Is Turning Dodd-Frank Into Swiss Cheese
"Rolling Stone's Matt Taibbi, who has done more than just about anyone to keep Wall Street perfidy in the public spotlight, points out their latest successful effort to undermine what few regulations they do have."
"Rolling Stone's Matt Taibbi, who has done more than just about anyone to keep Wall Street perfidy in the public spotlight, points out their latest successful effort to undermine what few regulations they do have."
Voter fraud by Republicans uncovered in Florida
Dirty tricks are on display in Florida, Ohio and Colorado as Republican operatives pull out all the stops to alter the trajectory of the election.
Climate Change Takes a Bite Out of Global Food Supply | Common Dreams
Climate Change Takes a Bite Out of Global Food Supply | Common Dreams
"Humanity’s ability to feed itself is in serious doubt as climate change takes hold on land in the form of droughts and extreme weather, as well as on the world’s oceans."
"Humanity’s ability to feed itself is in serious doubt as climate change takes hold on land in the form of droughts and extreme weather, as well as on the world’s oceans."
Why Right-Wingers Need ‘Skewed Polls’ Conspiracy Theory for Romney to Win -- And Even More If He Loses | Alternet
Why Right-Wingers Need ‘Skewed Polls’ Conspiracy Theory for Romney to Win -- And Even More If He Loses | Alternet
"Since the inception of the ironically named Fox News Channel, right-wing media consumers have been convinced that every news source outside of their favored outlets pushes lies designed to destroy their beloved country with a collectivist agenda, one that favors those perceived as unworthy of partaking in the nation’s bounty. (These “unworthy,” of course, are often non-white and/or non-heterosexual-male.)
"Since the inception of the ironically named Fox News Channel, right-wing media consumers have been convinced that every news source outside of their favored outlets pushes lies designed to destroy their beloved country with a collectivist agenda, one that favors those perceived as unworthy of partaking in the nation’s bounty. (These “unworthy,” of course, are often non-white and/or non-heterosexual-male.)
To those of the paranoid, xenophobic mindset first identified by Richard Hofstadter in the 1960s, it’s hardly a stretch to believe it when they’re told that the very polls that are used by media to assess the state of political contests are skewed to favor the liberal candidate, especially when the candidate is a black man named Obama."
Friday, September 28, 2012
3 Things That May Have Wrecked Mitt Romney's Shot at President | Alternet
3 Things That May Have Wrecked Mitt Romney's Shot at President | Alternet
"Mitt Romney arguably lost Florida , with its heavy concentration of older voters, when he picked as his vice-presidential nominee Paul Ryan, the face of the conservative plan to end Medicare as we know it."
"Mitt Romney arguably lost Florida , with its heavy concentration of older voters, when he picked as his vice-presidential nominee Paul Ryan, the face of the conservative plan to end Medicare as we know it."
Obama blocks Chinese wind farms purchase near Navy base
Obama blocks Chinese wind farms purchase near Navy base
Citing national security risks, President Barack Obama on Friday blocked a Chinese company from owning four wind farm projects in northern Oregon near a Navy base where the U.S. military flies unmanned drones and electronic-warfare planes on training missions."
Citing national security risks, President Barack Obama on Friday blocked a Chinese company from owning four wind farm projects in northern Oregon near a Navy base where the U.S. military flies unmanned drones and electronic-warfare planes on training missions."
Marine Veteran and Senator Jim Webb Rewrites Mitt Romney
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Romney Loves American Cars; Obama Loves American Car Workers - In These Times
Romney Loves American Cars; Obama Loves American Car Workers - In These Times
"Obama has repeatedly confronted countries whose illegal trade practices threaten American companies and workers, filing twice as many cases in one term as Bush did in two. He has tangibly demonstrated his love for American cars and American car workers."
"Obama has repeatedly confronted countries whose illegal trade practices threaten American companies and workers, filing twice as many cases in one term as Bush did in two. He has tangibly demonstrated his love for American cars and American car workers."
Stupid GOP Voter Registration Tricks Continue in Swing States
Stupid GOP Voter Registration Tricks Continue in Swing States
"You'd think Florida, of all places, would be jumping on this terrible registration fraud. After all, this is the state that wants to purge actual registered voters from the rolls not once, but twice. Brad Friedman reports that the Palm Beach Election Supervisor is mystified by Florida's apathy to what is clearly voter registration fraud. Could that be because it's Republican voter registration fraud?"
"You'd think Florida, of all places, would be jumping on this terrible registration fraud. After all, this is the state that wants to purge actual registered voters from the rolls not once, but twice. Brad Friedman reports that the Palm Beach Election Supervisor is mystified by Florida's apathy to what is clearly voter registration fraud. Could that be because it's Republican voter registration fraud?"
Republican Party Paid $3.1 Million To Firm Under Investigation For Voter Registration Fraud
Republican Party Paid $3.1 Million To Firm Under Investigation For Voter Registration Fraud: The Republican National Committee is cutting ties to Strategic Allied Consulting, a voter registration firm under investigation for turning in fraudulent voter registration forms in Florida. The RNC hired the firm to do voter registration drives for $3.1 million this year. The firm’s founder, Nathan Sproul, is a longtime Republican strategist whose reputation was tarred [...]/p
Questions for Governor Romney
Since republicans are blocking the Veterans Jobs Bill, it's time for Mitt Romney to answer some questions.
GOP Senate Candidate Akin: ‘Free Enterprise’ Means Being Allowed To Deny Equal Pay To Women
GOP Senate Candidate Akin: ‘Free Enterprise’ Means Being Allowed To Deny Equal Pay To Women: Rep. Todd Akin (R-MO) has struggled with a well-established woman problem in his Senate campaign, ever since he claimed women could not get pregnant from “legitimate rape.” After he said his opponent, incumbent Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO), was not “ladylike,” her campaign released a video of Akin suggesting that businesses should be allowed to pay [...]/p
Fox News' bad news for Romney
Fox News' Laura Ingraham refuses to participate in the GOP battle against the polls especially after a Fox poll shows Romney trailing by five points.
Bill Moyers Exposes the Stranglehold the Corporate & Right-Wing Alliance Has on Our Democracy | Alternet
Bill Moyers Exposes the Stranglehold the Corporate & Right-Wing Alliance Has on Our Democracy | Alternet
"This week, Moyers & Company reports on the most influential corporate-funded political force most of America has never heard of — ALEC, the American Legislative Exchange Council . A national consortium of state politicians and powerful corporations, ALEC presents itself as a “nonpartisan public-private partnership”. But behind that mantra lies a vast network of corporate lobbying and political action aimed to increase corporate profits at public expense without public knowledge. Using interviews, documents, and field reporting, the episode explores ALEC’s self-serving machine at work, acting in a way one Wisconsin politician describes as “a corporate dating service for lonely legislators and corporate special interests.” In state houses around the country, hundreds of pieces of boilerplate ALEC legislation are proposed or enacted that would, among other things, dilute collective bargaining rights, make it harder for some Americans to vote, and limit corporate liability for harm caused to consumers — each accomplished without the public ever knowing who’s behind it."
"This week, Moyers & Company reports on the most influential corporate-funded political force most of America has never heard of — ALEC, the American Legislative Exchange Council . A national consortium of state politicians and powerful corporations, ALEC presents itself as a “nonpartisan public-private partnership”. But behind that mantra lies a vast network of corporate lobbying and political action aimed to increase corporate profits at public expense without public knowledge. Using interviews, documents, and field reporting, the episode explores ALEC’s self-serving machine at work, acting in a way one Wisconsin politician describes as “a corporate dating service for lonely legislators and corporate special interests.” In state houses around the country, hundreds of pieces of boilerplate ALEC legislation are proposed or enacted that would, among other things, dilute collective bargaining rights, make it harder for some Americans to vote, and limit corporate liability for harm caused to consumers — each accomplished without the public ever knowing who’s behind it."
Mike Papantonio on Romney Harvesting America's Middle Class
Recent video has surfaced with Mitt Romney discussing his plan to pillage companies through Bain Capital.
Romney Versus Realonomy: A Peek Inside the Bubble
Romney Versus Realonomy: A Peek Inside the Bubble
"In the real economy - the place where the 99% live and work - it's hard to take Mitt Romney's plan seriously; but let's try to make sense of it anyway, unhindered by logic, arithmetic or the laws of time, space and gravity."
"In the real economy - the place where the 99% live and work - it's hard to take Mitt Romney's plan seriously; but let's try to make sense of it anyway, unhindered by logic, arithmetic or the laws of time, space and gravity."
National Review Admits Bush Legacy Is Dragging Down Romney
National Review Admits Bush Legacy Is Dragging Down Romney
"After cheering on George W. Bush for 8 years, then spending the next 4 polishing his legacy, the clowns at the National Review are finally realizing that he was a big, freaking disasterfor the Republican Party."
"After cheering on George W. Bush for 8 years, then spending the next 4 polishing his legacy, the clowns at the National Review are finally realizing that he was a big, freaking disasterfor the Republican Party."
STUDY: Medicaid Expansion Would Save Arizona $1.2 Billion And Create Over 20,000 Jobs
STUDY: Medicaid Expansion Would Save Arizona $1.2 Billion And Create Over 20,000 Jobs: A report from the non-partisan Grand Canyon Institute suggests that if Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer (R) rejects Obamacare’s expansion of the Medicaid program, it could take a toll on more than just the low-income residents of her state who struggle to afford health coverage — in fact, it could also cost Arizona potential savings and [...]/p
Linda McMahon doubles down on Social Security sunset, endorses Ryan Medicare plan
Linda McMahon doubles down on Social Security sunset, endorses Ryan Medicare plan
"McMahon is absolutely saying she wants to have the ability to end Social Security. And now she's adding privatizing Medicare into the mix? Raising the retirement age?"
"McMahon is absolutely saying she wants to have the ability to end Social Security. And now she's adding privatizing Medicare into the mix? Raising the retirement age?"
Romney’s Approach To Medicare Reform Will Lead To Higher Costs, Study Finds
Romney’s Approach To Medicare Reform Will Lead To Higher Costs, Study Finds: A new Urban Institute Health Policy Center study finds that premium support models, such as the proposed Romney/Ryan Medicare plan, are more likely to increase excess costs in the program. According to the report, turning Medicare into a “premium support” program would encourage private insurers to draw less costly beneficiaries from traditional Medicare, leading to [...]/p
Romney’s Approach To Medicare Reform Will Lead To Higher Costs, Study Finds
Romney’s Approach To Medicare Reform Will Lead To Higher Costs, Study Finds: A new Urban Institute Health Policy Center study finds that premium support models, such as the proposed Romney/Ryan Medicare plan, are more likely to increase excess costs in the program. According to the report, turning Medicare into a “premium support” program would encourage private insurers to draw less costly beneficiaries from traditional Medicare, leading to [...]/p
RNC Chair Reverses Course, Says Republican Party Will ‘Absolutely’ Support Todd Akin
RNC Chair Reverses Course, Says Republican Party Will ‘Absolutely’ Support Todd Akin: Republicans, stuck with Rep. Todd Akin (R-MO) in the Missouri Senate race after the dropout deadline passed this week, have hit the fifth stage of grief: acceptance. After Akin declared last month that women cannot get pregnant from “legitimate rape” because “the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down,” nearly [...]/p
Poll suggests Republicans would be better off with Bush
Poll suggests Republicans would be better off with Bush
A wave of recent polls has shown Romney struggling to keep up with President Barack Obama. A lower favorability rating than Bush, who was recently named the most unpopular living U.S. president, shows how difficult it has been for the GOP nominee to resonate with voters during his current presidential bid.
A wave of recent polls has shown Romney struggling to keep up with President Barack Obama. A lower favorability rating than Bush, who was recently named the most unpopular living U.S. president, shows how difficult it has been for the GOP nominee to resonate with voters during his current presidential bid.
Why Mitt Romney Is Losing Ohio | Alternet
Why Mitt Romney Is Losing Ohio | Alternet
"Those famed white working-class voters that pollsters love to obsess over, make up a large chunk of Ohio's electorate, and they're not happy with the Bain Capital-ist and his history of calling for the auto industry's bankruptcy, endorsing attacks on their collective bargaining rights, and his plans—or lack thereof—for the economy. Barack Obama may not look like them, but Romney, as many have said, looks like the guy who fired them. And despite Republican governor John Kasich trying to take credit for improvements in the state's economy, Ohioans think that Democrats are a better bet when it comes to jobs. So it's no wonder that Romney's behind by 8 points or so in Ohio."
"Those famed white working-class voters that pollsters love to obsess over, make up a large chunk of Ohio's electorate, and they're not happy with the Bain Capital-ist and his history of calling for the auto industry's bankruptcy, endorsing attacks on their collective bargaining rights, and his plans—or lack thereof—for the economy. Barack Obama may not look like them, but Romney, as many have said, looks like the guy who fired them. And despite Republican governor John Kasich trying to take credit for improvements in the state's economy, Ohioans think that Democrats are a better bet when it comes to jobs. So it's no wonder that Romney's behind by 8 points or so in Ohio."
Why Mitt Romney May End Up Wishing He Never Picked Paul Ryan | Alternet
Why Mitt Romney May End Up Wishing He Never Picked Paul Ryan | Alternet
"Asked whom they trust to deal with the Medicare program, Ohio voters side with Obama over Romney by a 19 percentage-point margin. The president has a 15-point advantage on the issue in Florida and a 13-point lead on it in Virginia. In a separate national poll from the Kaiser Family Foundation released Thursday, Obama’s 17-point lead over Romney on Medicare is larger than it has been across public polls all year."
"Asked whom they trust to deal with the Medicare program, Ohio voters side with Obama over Romney by a 19 percentage-point margin. The president has a 15-point advantage on the issue in Florida and a 13-point lead on it in Virginia. In a separate national poll from the Kaiser Family Foundation released Thursday, Obama’s 17-point lead over Romney on Medicare is larger than it has been across public polls all year."
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Akin does it again
Todd Akin does it again, saying Senator Claire McCaskill's debate performance was not "ladylike" and like a "wildcat out of the cage." TheRoot.com's Keli Goff and Sam Stein of The Huffington Post join Ed Schultz to discuss Akin's latest comments and other big Senate races.
Romney's silence on security leaves duty unfulfilled
Rachel Maddow reviews some alarming headlines coming from Afghanistan and points out that the most Mitt Romney has managed to muster on the subject has been misguided remarks on suicides among veterans when what America really needs is a robust debate.
Meet One of America's Worst Election 2012 Hack Reporters | Alternet
Meet One of America's Worst Election 2012 Hack Reporters | Alternet
"The Washington Post's Chris Cillizza has a problem. He's the type who unironically referred to Bush's plan to let Wall Street pillage Social Security as “reform.” He now says that Paul Ryan's mission to replace Medicare with coupons-of-lesser-value is a “ plan to reinvigorate ” the program. On MSNBC, he said the probably-won't-be Veep's now-infamous slew of RNC lies were merely facts “out of context.” All the tragic, familiar signs are there. Hell, even his blog is called The Fix. Like so many poor souls of his lost journalistic generation, Chris Cillizza is addicted to bullshit."
"The Washington Post's Chris Cillizza has a problem. He's the type who unironically referred to Bush's plan to let Wall Street pillage Social Security as “reform.” He now says that Paul Ryan's mission to replace Medicare with coupons-of-lesser-value is a “ plan to reinvigorate ” the program. On MSNBC, he said the probably-won't-be Veep's now-infamous slew of RNC lies were merely facts “out of context.” All the tragic, familiar signs are there. Hell, even his blog is called The Fix. Like so many poor souls of his lost journalistic generation, Chris Cillizza is addicted to bullshit."
PPP: Pat Kreitlow sneaking up on tea party Rep. Sean Duffy
PPP: Pat Kreitlow sneaking up on tea party Rep. Sean Duffy
"Rep. Sean Duffy, the Wisconsin tea party freshman once famous for his stint on MTV's Real World, but most recently known for whining about how difficult is to live on a congressional salary of $174,000 per year, might just be having to find another gig soon. Challenger Pat Kreitlow is inching up on Duffy, according to new polling from PPP on behalf of CREDO Super PAC."
"Rep. Sean Duffy, the Wisconsin tea party freshman once famous for his stint on MTV's Real World, but most recently known for whining about how difficult is to live on a congressional salary of $174,000 per year, might just be having to find another gig soon. Challenger Pat Kreitlow is inching up on Duffy, according to new polling from PPP on behalf of CREDO Super PAC."
Republicans begin to rally around Todd Akin
The deadline for Congressman Todd Akin to withdraw from his Senate race against Sen. Claire McCaskill has passed-- and now Republicans are rallying around the candidate they were previously asking to step down.
MSNBC Is The Only News Network Paying Attention To The Election’s Impact On The Supreme Court
MSNBC Is The Only News Network Paying Attention To The Election’s Impact On The Supreme Court: Seven years ago, conservatives were widely perceived as being much more concerned with the judiciary than their progressive counterparts. Leading religious right groups held “Justice Sunday” rallies supporting President Bush’s most ideological judicial nominees, and Republican senators threatened “nuclear” tactics to eliminate judicial filibusters altogether (a tactic that, in retrospect, many Democrats now wish had [...]/p
New Romney Video Surfaces Debunking His Job Creator Claims
New Romney Video Surfaces Debunking His Job Creator Claims
Remember when Mitt Romney used his time with Bain Capital to assure us that he was the only candidate in the race who "understood job creation" because he had been in business and had "turned around" companies?
Remember when Mitt Romney used his time with Bain Capital to assure us that he was the only candidate in the race who "understood job creation" because he had been in business and had "turned around" companies?
Yeah. Not so much. Thanks to David Corn over at Mother Jones, we have a new video of a much younger Willard Mitt Romney talking up the purpose of Bain Capital. Here it is in a nutshell straight from Willard himself:
Bain Capital is an investment partnership which was formed to invest in startup companies and ongoing companies, then to take an active hand in managing them and hopefully, five to eight years later, to harvest them at a significant profit…
Republican senators file court brief to protect their right to break the government
Republican senators file court brief to protect their right to break the government
"Republicans had been using and were going to continue using the filibuster to block any appointments to the NLRB and CFPB, simply because they don't think an NLRB controlled by Democrats should be allowed to function and don't want the CFPB to exist at all. Now they're objecting to President Obama taking steps to make the government work. So what we have here is 42 of 47 Republican senators—all but Scott Brown of Massachusetts and Dean Heller of Nevada, both of whom are in tough reelection battles, along with Mark Kirk of Illinois, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Olympia Snowe of Maine—who are filing a court brief to insist on their right to, as a minority, prevent government agencies from functioning. Breaking the government is their priority, and they think they should get more power."
"Republicans had been using and were going to continue using the filibuster to block any appointments to the NLRB and CFPB, simply because they don't think an NLRB controlled by Democrats should be allowed to function and don't want the CFPB to exist at all. Now they're objecting to President Obama taking steps to make the government work. So what we have here is 42 of 47 Republican senators—all but Scott Brown of Massachusetts and Dean Heller of Nevada, both of whom are in tough reelection battles, along with Mark Kirk of Illinois, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Olympia Snowe of Maine—who are filing a court brief to insist on their right to, as a minority, prevent government agencies from functioning. Breaking the government is their priority, and they think they should get more power."
Senator Puts 'Secret Hold' on Veterans COLA Bill | Military.com
Senator Puts 'Secret Hold' on Veterans COLA Bill | Military.com
A Republican senator is using an anonymous hold to block the traditionally bipartisan cost of living adjustment that is given to America’s disabled veterans and their survivors.
A Republican senator is using an anonymous hold to block the traditionally bipartisan cost of living adjustment that is given to America’s disabled veterans and their survivors.
How The Tea Party Hopes To Purge Thousands of Ohio Voters
How The Tea Party Hopes To Purge Thousands of Ohio Voters: Members of an Ohio tea party group are taking it upon themselves to individually police alleged voter fraud, launching challenges to a targeted list of voters that includes hundreds of college students, trailer park residents, homeless people and African Americans in counties President Obama won in 2008. In all, the group has sought to remove [...]/p
Wells Fargo Courts Latinos While Investing in Private Prisons That Profit From Detaining Immigrants: Report Calls for Bank to Break Ties
Wells Fargo Courts Latinos While Investing in Private Prisons That Profit From Detaining Immigrants: Report Calls for Bank to Break Ties
"Wells Fargo has marketed itself as the bank of choice for Latinos, yet a new report details the bank's ties to the private prision industry, which lobbies for, and profits from, stepped-up enforcement and criminalization of immigration laws, like Arizona's SB 1070."
"Wells Fargo has marketed itself as the bank of choice for Latinos, yet a new report details the bank's ties to the private prision industry, which lobbies for, and profits from, stepped-up enforcement and criminalization of immigration laws, like Arizona's SB 1070."
Explaining Today’s Great Jobs News
Explaining Today’s Great Jobs News: New data released this morning by the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the private-sector added 450,000 more jobs as of March 2012 than previously thought. This means that the economy has crossed the threshold and more jobs [...]/p
Romney Has a Jobs Plan ... for China | Common Dreams
Romney Has a Jobs Plan ... for China | Common Dreams
"You may never have heard of Sensata Technologies, but in this election season, you’ve probably heard the name of its owner, Bain Capital, the company co-founded and formerly run by Mitt Romney. When they learned this, close to a dozen Sensata employees decided to put up a fight, to challenge Romney to put into practice his very campaign slogans to save American jobs. They traveled to Tampa, Fla., joining in a poor people’s campaign at a temporary camp called Romneyville (after the Hoovervilles of the Great Depression). They organized a petition drive, getting 35,000 people to join their demand for Romney to call on his former colleagues to save their jobs. Since Freeport is close to two swing states, Iowa and Wisconsin, they traveled to a Romney rally and appealed directly to him there (Ironically, for appealing to Romney to save their jobs from being sent to China, the Sensata workers were jeered as communists at the rally, and removed by U.S. Secret Service)."
"You may never have heard of Sensata Technologies, but in this election season, you’ve probably heard the name of its owner, Bain Capital, the company co-founded and formerly run by Mitt Romney. When they learned this, close to a dozen Sensata employees decided to put up a fight, to challenge Romney to put into practice his very campaign slogans to save American jobs. They traveled to Tampa, Fla., joining in a poor people’s campaign at a temporary camp called Romneyville (after the Hoovervilles of the Great Depression). They organized a petition drive, getting 35,000 people to join their demand for Romney to call on his former colleagues to save their jobs. Since Freeport is close to two swing states, Iowa and Wisconsin, they traveled to a Romney rally and appealed directly to him there (Ironically, for appealing to Romney to save their jobs from being sent to China, the Sensata workers were jeered as communists at the rally, and removed by U.S. Secret Service)."
Repackaging Mitt as a Compassionate Conservative? It’s Too Late | Common Dreams
Repackaging Mitt as a Compassionate Conservative? It’s Too Late | Common Dreams
"Trickle-down economics is the core of Romney’s economics, and it’s bunk. George W. Bush cut taxes — mostly for the wealthy — and we ended up with fewer jobs, lower wages, and an economy that fell off a cliff in 2008."
"Trickle-down economics is the core of Romney’s economics, and it’s bunk. George W. Bush cut taxes — mostly for the wealthy — and we ended up with fewer jobs, lower wages, and an economy that fell off a cliff in 2008."
US Designates Wikileaks "Enemy of the State" | Common Dreams
US Designates Wikileaks "Enemy of the State" | Common Dreams
"Military documents (pdf) obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request and posted online by Wikileaks show that the US government has designated the whistleblower website and its founder Julian Assange as "enemies of the state"—the same legal category as Al Qaeda and other foreign military adversaries."
"Military documents (pdf) obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request and posted online by Wikileaks show that the US government has designated the whistleblower website and its founder Julian Assange as "enemies of the state"—the same legal category as Al Qaeda and other foreign military adversaries."
Todd Akin Says McCaskill Is Not ‘Ladylike’
Todd Akin Says McCaskill Is Not ‘Ladylike’: Senate candidate Todd Akin (R-MO), who is still trying to make it up to women since he suggested that victims of “legitimate rape” cannot get pregnant, blew another hole in his pro-woman persona today when he said Sen. Claire McCaskill is not as “ladylike” as she was in 2006. In an interview with the Kansas [...]/p
GOP Senate Candidate Proposes A ‘Sunset Provision’ For Social Security That Would Jeopardize It’s Longterm Future
GOP Senate Candidate Proposes A ‘Sunset Provision’ For Social Security That Would Jeopardize It’s Longterm Future: Linda McMahon, the former CEO of the World Wrestling Federation and current Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Connecticut, told a Tea Party gathering earlier this year that she would be open to a change in Social Security that would introduce a “sunset provision,” effectively attaching an expiration date to the social program. The remarks [...]/p
Romney’s Budget Plan Could Kill Millions Of Jobs Over The Next Two Years
Romney’s Budget Plan Could Kill Millions Of Jobs Over The Next Two Years: The budget and tax proposals put forth by Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney would not lead to the economic prosperity and job growth he has claimed, according to a new study released this week. In fact, the Economic Policy Institute found that Romney’s plans would actually lead to a net loss of jobs over the [...]/p
Forbes 400 List Reveals Why the Greedy Rich Fully Deserve Your Contempt -- And Jesus’s | Alternet
Forbes 400 List Reveals Why the Greedy Rich Fully Deserve Your Contempt -- And Jesus’s | Alternet
"The bulk of America’s superwealthy refuse to pull their weight and kill opportunity for the rest. And they want your thanks!"
"The bulk of America’s superwealthy refuse to pull their weight and kill opportunity for the rest. And they want your thanks!"
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Scott Brown’s Racial Stereotyping of Elizabeth Warren | Alternet
Scott Brown’s Racial Stereotyping of Elizabeth Warren | Alternet
"Disturbingly absent from the analysis of Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown’s rebuke at last week’s debate of Democratic challenger Elizabeth Warren’s claim that she has Native American ancestry is any reference to the racially insensitive nature of his reproach. After noting that “Professor Warren claimed she was a Native American,” he added pointedly, “And as you can see, she’s not.”
"Disturbingly absent from the analysis of Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown’s rebuke at last week’s debate of Democratic challenger Elizabeth Warren’s claim that she has Native American ancestry is any reference to the racially insensitive nature of his reproach. After noting that “Professor Warren claimed she was a Native American,” he added pointedly, “And as you can see, she’s not.”
Which raises the obvious question: which of her facial features alerted Brown that she has no Native American blood coursing through her veins? Surely, if she possessed whatever tiny fraction of one’s DNA must trace back to an indigenous tribe before he or she is deemed to be Native American, she’d have shiny, jet-black hair or a tan complexion. Or was it the absence of beads or a feather and a headband that tipped Brown off?
For a fellow who, like so many other Republican senatorial candidates, has been distancing himself from Romney’s recent stereotyping of 47% of the populace as freeloaders, Brown’s remark was downright Romneyesque. Or worse."
Romney staff quick to correct Romney, slow to correct falsehoods
Contrary to Mitt Romney's claim that his campaign corrects or removes anything "amiss" in his ads, he continues to maintain several demonstrably false ads on his site, and the one thing the campaign does correct is Romney, who frequently misstates his own positions.
Obama Widens Lead in Two Biggest Swing States | Alternet
Obama Widens Lead in Two Biggest Swing States | Alternet
"President Obama has widened his lead in the two biggest swing states, Florida and Ohio, according to new polls by The New York Timesand the Washington Post . Obama leads in Ohio by 10 points and in Florida by 9 percentage points.
"President Obama has widened his lead in the two biggest swing states, Florida and Ohio, according to new polls by The New York Timesand the Washington Post . Obama leads in Ohio by 10 points and in Florida by 9 percentage points.
“In Ohio — which no Republican has won the presidency without — Mr. Obama is leading Mr. Romney 53 percent to 43 percent in the poll,” the Times/CBS Newspoll found. “In Florida, the president leads Mr. Romney 53 to 44 percent in the poll"."
6 Ways Mitt Romney's Getting His Butt Kicked | Alternet
6 Ways Mitt Romney's Getting His Butt Kicked | Alternet
"One has to admire the conservative brain's ability to stave off cognitive dissonance. Republicans have convinced themselves that Obama is the second coming of Hitler, and were sure that Americas would reject him for a nice-looking white business-guy with good hair. But now things aren't going well, so they've simply decided, en masse , that a conspiracy is afoot. The polls are being skewed, and any minute now Romney will come thundering back to crush the Kenyan interloper.
"One has to admire the conservative brain's ability to stave off cognitive dissonance. Republicans have convinced themselves that Obama is the second coming of Hitler, and were sure that Americas would reject him for a nice-looking white business-guy with good hair. But now things aren't going well, so they've simply decided, en masse , that a conspiracy is afoot. The polls are being skewed, and any minute now Romney will come thundering back to crush the Kenyan interloper.
Here in the real world, however, a different picture is emerging. After the necessary caveats – Romney can still win, external events could shake up the race late, nobody knows how restrictive voting laws will ultimately impact the vote – Romney is getting his butt kicked. And here’s how."
Bloated ballots latest tactic in Republican war on voting
Rachel Maddow shows sample ballots from Florida that are multiple pages long and dense with text, presenting an immense time burden on voters and worrying a polling system that already runs long lines and delays for Floridians trying to vote even as the Republican governor has cut the number of days for early voting in the state.
After Nearly A Decade Of Declines, Manufacturing Jobs Begin Rebound
After Nearly A Decade Of Declines, Manufacturing Jobs Begin Rebound: After nearly a decade of steep declines, American manufacturing jobs have begun to rebound since the beginning of the Obama administration, as the slide that occurred under President George W. Bush and during the Great Recession has largely been reversed. Manufacturing slumped in the first year of the Obama administration as the nation dealt with [...]/p
Phoenix Mayor Attempts To Live On A Food Stamp Budget: ‘I’m Tired, And It’s Hard To Focus’
Phoenix Mayor Attempts To Live On A Food Stamp Budget: ‘I’m Tired, And It’s Hard To Focus’: When local activist groups challenged Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton to live on a food stamp budget for a week to mark Hunger Awareness Month, he took them up on the offer and found out just how hard it was. Stanton kept a diary on the challenge, which allotted him roughly $29 a week, the same [...]/p
Romney’s Tax Rate Lower Than Any President’s Since Nixon
Romney’s Tax Rate Lower Than Any President’s Since Nixon: Mitt Romney is worth double the sum of the last eight presidents’ wealth, but he has paid one of the lowest tax rates. According to CNN Money, only President Richard Nixon paid a lower tax rate, at 6.1 percent, in the last 40 years. The chart below compares Romney’s relatively low tax rate to recent [...]/p
Who would promote job growth most in the near term?: Macroeconomic impacts of the Obama and Romney budget proposals | Economic Policy Institute
Who would promote job growth most in the near term?: Macroeconomic impacts of the Obama and Romney budget proposals | Economic Policy Institute
"The most pressing economic challenge facing the United States as of September 2012 remains elevated unemployment and underemployment rates, a legacy of the Great Recession that began at the end of 2007 and from which the labor market has yet to fully recover. In the near term, boosting employment will overwhelmingly hinge on fiscal policy."
"The most pressing economic challenge facing the United States as of September 2012 remains elevated unemployment and underemployment rates, a legacy of the Great Recession that began at the end of 2007 and from which the labor market has yet to fully recover. In the near term, boosting employment will overwhelmingly hinge on fiscal policy."
1st they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win...
Congratulations to Sheldon Adelson - the casino mogul who's made a fortune in China - and is now the new record-holder for the most money spent in an election here in the United States - at least that we know about. According to Politico - Adelson has funneled $70 million to the Republican Party so far this election - more than tripling the previous record of campaign spending by any single individual. And while Adelson hasn't shied away from the spotlight - and is, in fact, proud of his attempts to buy the election for Mitt Romney - there are a lot of other right-wing millionaires and billionaires in the shadows also spending huge amounts of money. You won't hear their names - you won't see their faces - but they're sure to have a profound effect in November - if not on the White House, then on the congressional and Senate races across the nation.
And we can thanks the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision in 2010 for making all of this possible. According to a new report by the sunlight foundation - more than three-quarters of the $465 million in outside spending so far this election would have been a crime for which people could go to prison before five right-wingers on the Supreme Court, in their lopsided 5-4 Citizens United decision, decided that billionaires and corporations - including those that make their money in other countries - should be able to buy American elections. SuperPACs - those political creatures spawned by the Supreme Court's five to four decision - have dished out $272 million so far on this year's election - and trade organization and non-profits, which according to Citizens United don't have to disclose their donors, have spent another $93 million so far - that we know about.
Voter Suppression Is the Last Resort of These Stop-at-Nothing Republicans | Common Dreams
Voter Suppression Is the Last Resort of These Stop-at-Nothing Republicans | Common Dreams
As millions of ad dollars have failed to put Mitt Romney ahead, his allies are trying to rig this election in worst Jim Crow tradition
As millions of ad dollars have failed to put Mitt Romney ahead, his allies are trying to rig this election in worst Jim Crow tradition
GOP strategist: Success of auto bailout 'a kick in the balls' for Romney
GOP strategist: Success of auto bailout 'a kick in the balls' for Romney
"And while Obama gets credit for saving the auto industry, Mitt Romney's plan was to simply let Detroit go bankrupt. Given that one in eight Ohio jobs are linked to the auto industry, it's not hard to see why the issue plays well for President Obama, a fact lamented by a GOP strategist with this colorful language"
"And while Obama gets credit for saving the auto industry, Mitt Romney's plan was to simply let Detroit go bankrupt. Given that one in eight Ohio jobs are linked to the auto industry, it's not hard to see why the issue plays well for President Obama, a fact lamented by a GOP strategist with this colorful language"
California's Prop 37: Monsanto, GMO Labelling and the Public Interest | Common Dreams
California's Prop 37: Monsanto, GMO Labelling and the Public Interest | Common Dreams
"While the initiative merely seeks to add a few words to nutrition labels, it has incurred the wrath and moneyed opposition of biotech and food giants - no doubt because they fear the initiative might herald actual regulations on an industry that has long been allowed to experiment willy-nilly with the food people consume in the United States."
"While the initiative merely seeks to add a few words to nutrition labels, it has incurred the wrath and moneyed opposition of biotech and food giants - no doubt because they fear the initiative might herald actual regulations on an industry that has long been allowed to experiment willy-nilly with the food people consume in the United States."
Romney’s startling confession on taxes
Romney’s startling confession on taxes
"For months, Mitt Romney has argued repeatedly that President Obama raised taxes. It's not really true -- Obama has cut taxes repeatedly -- but it's a standard line of attack."
"For months, Mitt Romney has argued repeatedly that President Obama raised taxes. It's not really true -- Obama has cut taxes repeatedly -- but it's a standard line of attack."
Chief Of Cherokee Nation Blasts Brown Staffers: ‘Downright Racist’
Chief Of Cherokee Nation Blasts Brown Staffers: ‘Downright Racist’: The Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation on Wednesday released a statement condemning the employees of Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA) after a video surfaced of three campaign staffers mocking Brown’s opponent’s Native American heritage. “The conduct of these individuals goes far beyond what is appropriate and proper in political discourse,” said Chief Bill John Baker [...]/p
Exposed: "Small Business" Group Just a Front for "Big Business" Interests | Common Dreams
Exposed: "Small Business" Group Just a Front for "Big Business" Interests | Common Dreams
"As the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), a little-examined business lobbying group, floods millions of dollars into this year’s elections, the Center for Media and Democracy is launching a new website (www.NFIBexposed.org) to shine a light on the group’s secret funding and partisan efforts. NFIB, the leading plaintiff in the lawsuit against the Affordable Care Act nicknamed “Obamacare,” has received $3.7 million from Karl Rove’s Crossroads GPS, and as disclosed on this new website, NFIB's legal arm received $1.15 million in 2010 from Donors Trust, a major donor to the Koch brothers’ Americans for Prosperity Foundation."
"As the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), a little-examined business lobbying group, floods millions of dollars into this year’s elections, the Center for Media and Democracy is launching a new website (www.NFIBexposed.org) to shine a light on the group’s secret funding and partisan efforts. NFIB, the leading plaintiff in the lawsuit against the Affordable Care Act nicknamed “Obamacare,” has received $3.7 million from Karl Rove’s Crossroads GPS, and as disclosed on this new website, NFIB's legal arm received $1.15 million in 2010 from Donors Trust, a major donor to the Koch brothers’ Americans for Prosperity Foundation."
Time for a People’s Education Platform | Common Dreams
Time for a People’s Education Platform | Common Dreams
"What if the real education experts — parents, teachers, students and school leaders — got to fashion a platform of policy goals for education and determine which ideas provide maximum opportunity for public school students, our future citizens?"
"What if the real education experts — parents, teachers, students and school leaders — got to fashion a platform of policy goals for education and determine which ideas provide maximum opportunity for public school students, our future citizens?"
Lawsuit: Bank Of America Failing To Maintain Foreclosed Homes In Black, Latino Neighborhoods
Lawsuit: Bank Of America Failing To Maintain Foreclosed Homes In Black, Latino Neighborhoods: A nonprofit group that supports fair housing has filed a lawsuit claiming that Bank of America, the nation’s second largest mortgage servicer, has failed to maintain and market foreclosed homes in African American and Latino neighborhoods the same way it does in white neighborhoods. The National Fair Housing Alliance filed the complaint with the Department [...]/p
Romney To Small Businesses: ‘Don’t Be Expecting A Huge Cut In Taxes’
Romney To Small Businesses: ‘Don’t Be Expecting A Huge Cut In Taxes’: Mitt Romney told voters in Westerville, Ohio on Wednesday not to expect a “huge cut in taxes” from his economic proposal, noting that he is “also gonna get rid of deductions and exemptions.” The message is at odds with the GOP nominee’s promises to cut taxes for the middle class and small businesses, while maintaining [...]/p
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Scott Brown's racial politics crosses line
video of staffers and supporters of Senator Scott Brown mocking Native Americans with hoots and gestures as a means of taunting Brown's opponent, Elizabeth Warren.
As Arizona's SB1070 Becomes Law, 'Dark Chapter' of History Looms, Author Warns
As Arizona's SB1070 Becomes Law, 'Dark Chapter' of History Looms, Author Warns
"As Biggers explained to Goodman, this fiasco is the kind of thing that always happens when right-wing extremists obtain political power and begin enacting their agendas"
"As Biggers explained to Goodman, this fiasco is the kind of thing that always happens when right-wing extremists obtain political power and begin enacting their agendas"
Romney Ignores Facts, Lies About Taxes
"This is the same sort of scam that the extremely wealthy have been perpetrating on working people for centuries. And to compound the hustle, now Romney and his rich buddies are claiming that if we tax them at the same rate a surgeon pays, at 35 percent like everybody else instead of the 15 percent "capital gains" rate paid for by banksters like Romney and heiresses like Paris Hilton, then the economy will suffer. But history - and facts - prove this point wrong."
Republican Attack on Women's Rights
Women of all ages explain how a Romney presidency would threaten their their rights, their health, and their equality.
Romney's Need for Cash Fuels Lust for Iran War | Alternet
Romney's Need for Cash Fuels Lust for Iran War | Alternet
"Romney’s war posturing aligns with Adelson’s lust for a war on Iran. And at a time when the Romney campaign is reportedly in debt and in need of some more fundraising help, Adelson’s donations to pro-Romney Super PACs doing the campaign’s dirty work is all the more important."
"Romney’s war posturing aligns with Adelson’s lust for a war on Iran. And at a time when the Romney campaign is reportedly in debt and in need of some more fundraising help, Adelson’s donations to pro-Romney Super PACs doing the campaign’s dirty work is all the more important."
There's Been a Dictatorial Coup -- Koch Bros. Have a Bunch of Czars Running Cities Across Michigan | Alternet
There's Been a Dictatorial Coup -- Koch Bros. Have a Bunch of Czars Running Cities Across Michigan | Alternet
"The Republican and Koch political networks are going all out to win--and if they do, your state/city could well be next on their Berzerkistan anti-democracy agenda."
"The Republican and Koch political networks are going all out to win--and if they do, your state/city could well be next on their Berzerkistan anti-democracy agenda."
Mitt Romney's Terrible Horrible Plan For Poor People
Mitt Romney's Terrible Horrible Plan For Poor People
"The idea of Mitt Romney taking food out of the mouths of hungry kids on school lunch programs, or housing assistance away from veterans, or leaving people with no options for long-term care for their elderly loved ones is so incredibly evil and cynical it should be called what it is: Selfish greed."
"The idea of Mitt Romney taking food out of the mouths of hungry kids on school lunch programs, or housing assistance away from veterans, or leaving people with no options for long-term care for their elderly loved ones is so incredibly evil and cynical it should be called what it is: Selfish greed."
Five Facts About Voting In America For National Voter Registration Day
Five Facts About Voting In America For National Voter Registration Day: Today is National Voter Registration Day. With little more than a month remaining until the elections, time is running out for new voters or voters who moved since the last election to register to vote this November. Voters who need a registration form from their home state can sign up for one here. In honor [...]/p
Ryan's 'Secret' Tape Is Even More Extreme Than Romney's | Alternet
Ryan's 'Secret' Tape Is Even More Extreme Than Romney's | Alternet
"When they booed Paul Ryan at the American Association of Retired Persons last week, most people didn't even know he called Medicare and Social Security "third party or socialist-based systems." Or that he said he wants to privatize them in order to "break the back" of a "collectivist philosophy."
"When they booed Paul Ryan at the American Association of Retired Persons last week, most people didn't even know he called Medicare and Social Security "third party or socialist-based systems." Or that he said he wants to privatize them in order to "break the back" of a "collectivist philosophy."
On recently transcribed remarks from an audio recording, Ryan said his ideas and values were shaped by an extremist author who thought humanity must "reject the morality of altruism," and that his opinions on monetary policy are guided by a fictional speech which says "the words 'to make money' hold the essence of human morality." That author says the "collectivist philosophy" Ryan ascribes to Social Security and Medicare is a "looters' credo." By that reckoning, anyone who receives assistance from the government -- including disabled combat veterans or impoverished children -- is a "looter"."
How Europe Is Taking Online Privacy Far More Seriously Than The U.S.
How Europe Is Taking Online Privacy Far More Seriously Than The U.S.: Last week, Facebook announced it would cease using facial recognition technology on European Union users and delete all data following complaints from member states and an inquiry by the Irish Data Commissioner. While the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission here in the U.S. over Facebook’s use of [...]/p
Calamity Romney and his tax troubles
Mitt Romney can't get himself out of his tax mess because no matter what he says, his low tax rate looks unfair to mainstream Americans.
Taxes and the Super Rich » Counterpunch: Tells the Facts, Names the Names
Taxes and the Super Rich » Counterpunch: Tells the Facts, Names the Names
"A few more years of supply-side economics and America will turn into a virtual reality of the film Escape from New York, a dystopian world where the city of New York has been converted into a maximum-security prison."
"A few more years of supply-side economics and America will turn into a virtual reality of the film Escape from New York, a dystopian world where the city of New York has been converted into a maximum-security prison."
Romney bused in activists for TV forum
Mitt Romney is hurting big time with Latino voters. During last week's Univision forum, he bused in activists to cheer for him on TV, and "threw a tantrum" when he didn't like his introduction.
We Never Liked You, Anyway
We Never Liked You, Anyway
"And now that Mitt Romney has suffered through an awful few weeks—a mediocre convention, an embarrassing response to the attacks in Cairo and Benghazi, then the release of the "47 percent" video in which Romney accused almost half of America of refusing to "take responsibility for their own lives"—the knives have come out."
"And now that Mitt Romney has suffered through an awful few weeks—a mediocre convention, an embarrassing response to the attacks in Cairo and Benghazi, then the release of the "47 percent" video in which Romney accused almost half of America of refusing to "take responsibility for their own lives"—the knives have come out."
Conservative Group Claims Obama Has ‘Communist Beliefs,’ Compares His Policies To Hitler’s
Conservative Group Claims Obama Has ‘Communist Beliefs,’ Compares His Policies To Hitler’s: A conservative religious group is sending its members a ‘survey’ that compares President Obama’s policies to those of Nazi Germany, and asserts that the President has “communist beliefs.” The mailer, a product of the Faith and Freedom coalition, is titled the “Voter Registration Confirmation Survey.” But its questions have little to do with registering to [...]/p
How The Right's Latest Conspiracy Theory Might Unleash a Wave of Domestic Terrorism if Obama Wins | Alternet
How The Right's Latest Conspiracy Theory Might Unleash a Wave of Domestic Terrorism if Obama Wins | Alternet
"In a somewhat desperate attempt to maintain morale among a Republican base that disdains its standard-bearer, a number of conservative media outlets are pushing an alternate reality in which Mitt Romney is leading in the polls by wide margins and American voters have a decidedly negative view not of the challenger, but of Barack Obama.
"In a somewhat desperate attempt to maintain morale among a Republican base that disdains its standard-bearer, a number of conservative media outlets are pushing an alternate reality in which Mitt Romney is leading in the polls by wide margins and American voters have a decidedly negative view not of the challenger, but of Barack Obama.
It's an exceptionally dangerous game that the right-wing media are playing. If Obama wins – and according to polling guru Nate Silver, he'd have a 95 percent chance of doing so if the vote were held today – there's a very real danger that this spin -- combined with other campaign narratives that are popular among the far-right -- could create a post-election environment so toxic that it yields an outburst of politically motivated violence."
STUDY: Contraception Is ‘Critical’ For Ensuring Women Achieve Their Life Goals
STUDY: Contraception Is ‘Critical’ For Ensuring Women Achieve Their Life Goals: A new study from the Guttmacher Institute investigates the ways that women believe their birth control has impacted their lives. Although the strong connection between increased access to contraception and increased improvements to women’s lives has been confirmed, women are rarely asked to speak about the effects of birth control on their own lives and [...]/p
Top GOP Senate Candidate Just Says It: 'Do Away With Medicare, Medicaid' | Common Dreams
Top GOP Senate Candidate Just Says It: 'Do Away With Medicare, Medicaid' | Common Dreams
"The video has only now surfaced and its a blockbuster -- especially in the aftermath of the release last week of a similar video that saw Republican presiential nominee Mitt Romney dismissing 47 percent of Americans as a "dependent" class unworthy of Republican consideration.
"The video has only now surfaced and its a blockbuster -- especially in the aftermath of the release last week of a similar video that saw Republican presiential nominee Mitt Romney dismissing 47 percent of Americans as a "dependent" class unworthy of Republican consideration.
Just to repeat: a top Republican Senate candidate has been caught on video talking about how he would “DO AWAY WITH MEDICAID, AND MEDICARE.”
Just to repeat: “DO AWAY WITH MEDICAID, AND MEDICARE.”
It should be understood that Thompson is no fringe-dwelling Todd Akin. As the longtime Republican governor of a swing state, he’s worked with every GOP president since Ronald Reagan, and he oversaw social programs for the Bush-Cheney administration. This year, he’s one of his party’s premier recruits in the fight to retake the Senate. Indeed, the race between Thompson and Democratic Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin could decide which party controls the chamber.
Thompson is, as well, closely aligned with Paul Ryan. The Senate candidate’s ties to Ryan’s politically connected family go back to when the Republican vice-presidential nominee was a child. Thompson has been a Ryan booster from the very beginning of the younger Wisconsinite’s career in electoral politics—when Thompson was the powerful governor of the state and Ryan was organizing his first Congressional bid."
Chinese oil company's Romney connection fouls new campaign message
Senator Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, talks with Rachel Maddow about Mitt Romney's financial dealings with a Chinese oil company, and holding China accountable for violating trade law.
The Trillion-Gallon Loophole: Shockingly Lax Rules for Drillers that Inject Pollutants Into the Earth | Alternet
The Trillion-Gallon Loophole: Shockingly Lax Rules for Drillers that Inject Pollutants Into the Earth | Alternet
"The waste – the byproduct of oil and gas drilling – was described in regulatory documents as a benign mixture of salt and water. But as the liquid rushed from the trucks, it released a billowing vapor of far more volatile materials, including benzene and other flammable hydrocarbons."
"The waste – the byproduct of oil and gas drilling – was described in regulatory documents as a benign mixture of salt and water. But as the liquid rushed from the trucks, it released a billowing vapor of far more volatile materials, including benzene and other flammable hydrocarbons."
Top 10 Ways Corporate Food Is Making Us Fat and Threatening Our Food Supplies | Alternet
Top 10 Ways Corporate Food Is Making Us Fat and Threatening Our Food Supplies | Alternet
"Large corporations account for half of the national economy and pay more for lobbyists to write and pass laws in Congress favorable to themselves than they do in Federal taxes. The way in which the Congressional committees that are supposed to watch certain industries actually become beholden to them is called ‘legislative capture.’
"Large corporations account for half of the national economy and pay more for lobbyists to write and pass laws in Congress favorable to themselves than they do in Federal taxes. The way in which the Congressional committees that are supposed to watch certain industries actually become beholden to them is called ‘legislative capture.’
For this reason, I don’t entirely trust the US government any more to look out for our health. We are increasingly exposed to thousands of chemicals that haven’t really been tested (plastics are full of them). We’re not even given the courtesy of knowing which foods are genetically modified so we can make a market choice for the natural ones.
Here are the top ten disturbing news stories about our food that have come across my screen in recent days, and which inspire a certain amount of alarm in me."
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