10 Facts That Will Blow Right-Wingers' Minds | Alternet
"9. Obama has increased government spending less than any president in at least a generation.
Republican campaign strategists may lie, but the numbers don’t. Government spending, when adjusted for inflation, has increased during his administration (to date) by 1.4%. Under George W. Bush, the increases were 7.3% (first term) and 8.1% (second term). Bill Clinton, in his two terms, comes in at 3.2% and 3.9%. George H. W. Bush increased government spending by 5.4%, while Ronald Reagan added 8.7% and 4.9% in his two terms.
Not only does Obama turn out to be the most thrifty president in recent memory, but the evidence shows that Republican administrations consistently increased government spending significantly more than any Democratic administration. Go figure."
Friday, January 30, 2015
Scott Walker Declares War On Academia
Scott Walker Declares War On Academia
"Now, no one can say for sure why Walker is doing this. He might be nursing a grudge from his own school days at Marquette University, where he got booted for cheating. It might be because he was a lousy student. It might be because he is sore at people like Professor William Cronon, who wrote an illuminating story on ALEC and the influence it had on Republicans.
Or maybe it's just Walker following the orders of his corporate overlords.
On a final note, Walker has made it clear that he is not satisfied with crippling the UW system. He's been going around on the squawk radio cycle saying that he feels that this sort of things should be going on nationwide."
"Now, no one can say for sure why Walker is doing this. He might be nursing a grudge from his own school days at Marquette University, where he got booted for cheating. It might be because he was a lousy student. It might be because he is sore at people like Professor William Cronon, who wrote an illuminating story on ALEC and the influence it had on Republicans.
Or maybe it's just Walker following the orders of his corporate overlords.
On a final note, Walker has made it clear that he is not satisfied with crippling the UW system. He's been going around on the squawk radio cycle saying that he feels that this sort of things should be going on nationwide."
The Kochs Will Spend $1 Billion on the 2016 Elections, but Deny It
The Kochs Will Spend $1 Billion on the 2016 Elections, but Deny It
"The political network organized by Charles and David Koch plans to spend an incredible $889 million to capture the White House in 2016 and deepen the Koch party's bench in Congress. But that's not what they'll tell federal regulators.
If history is a guide, the Koch network will claim that much of the nearly $1 billion it will funnel through an array of nonprofit groups is not about elections at all. Instead, the Koch groups will claim that their efforts to elect politicians who will lower capital gains taxes and overturn environmental regulations is really all about "social welfare"."
"The political network organized by Charles and David Koch plans to spend an incredible $889 million to capture the White House in 2016 and deepen the Koch party's bench in Congress. But that's not what they'll tell federal regulators.
If history is a guide, the Koch network will claim that much of the nearly $1 billion it will funnel through an array of nonprofit groups is not about elections at all. Instead, the Koch groups will claim that their efforts to elect politicians who will lower capital gains taxes and overturn environmental regulations is really all about "social welfare"."
Walker’s Punked Phone Call
http://scottwalkerwatch.com/koch-brothers/walkers-punked-phone-call/
Looks like the Koch brothers are going to get behind Scott Walker for 2016. Anyone remember this phone call? Good reminder of just how bought and paid for he really is. They owned him from the very start. (actual recording above the transcript)
Looks like the Koch brothers are going to get behind Scott Walker for 2016. Anyone remember this phone call? Good reminder of just how bought and paid for he really is. They owned him from the very start. (actual recording above the transcript)
The Conservative Movement Is Infected With Scams
http://mediamatters.org/blog/2015/01/26/the-conservative-movement-is-infected-with-scam/202272
"33 PACs that court small donors with tea party-oriented email and direct-mail appeals raised $43 million -- 74 percent of which came from small donors. The PACs spent only $3 million on ads and contributions to boost the long-shot candidates often touted in the appeals, compared to $39.5 million on operating expenses, including $6 million to firms owned or managed by the operatives who run the PACs"
"33 PACs that court small donors with tea party-oriented email and direct-mail appeals raised $43 million -- 74 percent of which came from small donors. The PACs spent only $3 million on ads and contributions to boost the long-shot candidates often touted in the appeals, compared to $39.5 million on operating expenses, including $6 million to firms owned or managed by the operatives who run the PACs"
The Kochs Plan to Buy the 2016 Election for $889 Million
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/01/27/kochs-plan-buy-2016-election-889-million.html
"But make no mistake: this represents a full-scale assault on American democracy. Ted Cruz was quoted as saying Sunday night that, “There are a bunch of Democrats who have taken as their talking points that the Koch brothers are the nexus of all evil in the world.” He said that thinking is “grotesque and offensive.”
While you have to respect Cruz’s loyalty to his owners, he is wrong. What is grotesque and offensive is what he and his fellow employees of Koch Industries have been up to at the Rancho Mirage Ritz Carlton: plotting the murder of American democracy."
"But make no mistake: this represents a full-scale assault on American democracy. Ted Cruz was quoted as saying Sunday night that, “There are a bunch of Democrats who have taken as their talking points that the Koch brothers are the nexus of all evil in the world.” He said that thinking is “grotesque and offensive.”
While you have to respect Cruz’s loyalty to his owners, he is wrong. What is grotesque and offensive is what he and his fellow employees of Koch Industries have been up to at the Rancho Mirage Ritz Carlton: plotting the murder of American democracy."
Fox News Destroyed By High Schoolers Over Their Lack Of Ethics – VIDEO
http://samuel-warde.com/2015/01/high-schoolers-destroy-fox-news/
"Roger Ailes set out to create a conservative propaganda outlet when he built Fox News. That he succeeded is discouraging. That he gets called out by high schoolers is encouraging.
Roger got his big start in the 1968 Nixon campaign. (Why am I not surprised about that?)
Working as Nixon’s “executive producer for television”, Ailes manufactured a series of fake news events, then paid TV stations to run them as if they were real news. (Seems like ol’ Rog has been into fake news long before FOX.)
Fired by Nixon after the election, he later was put in charge of the newsroom for Television News Incorporated. TVN was a pet project of Joseph Coors, the archconservative beer baron. (Loved his beer, hated his politics.)
The business plan was to provide news clips that stations could use as their own for a small percentage of normal production costs. Once the stations were hooked on the discounted clips, according to its President, TVN would “gradually, subtly, slowly” inject “our philosophy in the news.” Btw, the network’s motto was “Fair & Balanced”. (Ring a bell?)
There was just one problem. TVN made the mistake of hiring professional journalists who revolted over such crap. One news director who quit said the network was a “propaganda machine.” Of course those that didn’t quit in protest, were summarily fired and replaced. (Roger learned never to make the mistake of hiring real news people again.)"
"Roger Ailes set out to create a conservative propaganda outlet when he built Fox News. That he succeeded is discouraging. That he gets called out by high schoolers is encouraging.
Roger got his big start in the 1968 Nixon campaign. (Why am I not surprised about that?)
Working as Nixon’s “executive producer for television”, Ailes manufactured a series of fake news events, then paid TV stations to run them as if they were real news. (Seems like ol’ Rog has been into fake news long before FOX.)
Fired by Nixon after the election, he later was put in charge of the newsroom for Television News Incorporated. TVN was a pet project of Joseph Coors, the archconservative beer baron. (Loved his beer, hated his politics.)
The business plan was to provide news clips that stations could use as their own for a small percentage of normal production costs. Once the stations were hooked on the discounted clips, according to its President, TVN would “gradually, subtly, slowly” inject “our philosophy in the news.” Btw, the network’s motto was “Fair & Balanced”. (Ring a bell?)
There was just one problem. TVN made the mistake of hiring professional journalists who revolted over such crap. One news director who quit said the network was a “propaganda machine.” Of course those that didn’t quit in protest, were summarily fired and replaced. (Roger learned never to make the mistake of hiring real news people again.)"
Robert Reich Reality Checks GOP's Absurd Ideas About Addressing Income Inequality | Alternet
Robert Reich Reality Checks GOP's Absurd Ideas About Addressing Income Inequality | Alternet
"Under Reagan, Republican policy lurched in the opposite direction: Lower taxes on top incomes and big wealth, less public investment, and efforts to destroy labor unions.
Not surprisingly, that’s when America took its big U-turn toward inequality.
These Reaganomic principles are by now so deeply embedded in the modern Republican Party they’ve come to define it.
As a matter of fact, they’re just about all that unite the warring factions of the GOP – libertarians, tea partiers, and big corporations and Wall Street."
"Under Reagan, Republican policy lurched in the opposite direction: Lower taxes on top incomes and big wealth, less public investment, and efforts to destroy labor unions.
Not surprisingly, that’s when America took its big U-turn toward inequality.
These Reaganomic principles are by now so deeply embedded in the modern Republican Party they’ve come to define it.
As a matter of fact, they’re just about all that unite the warring factions of the GOP – libertarians, tea partiers, and big corporations and Wall Street."
Anti-Tax Republican Governors Are Raising Taxes On The Poor and Middle Class
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/01/26/anti-tax-gop-governors-raising-taxes-poor-middle-class.html
"Even though most Republican governors are wary of going all-in on tax cuts for the rich and corporations like trickle-down failure Kansas governor Sam Brownback, they are going all in to raise taxes on their poor and middle class residents to avoid putting any “financial strain” on their wealthiest donors and their corporations."
"Even though most Republican governors are wary of going all-in on tax cuts for the rich and corporations like trickle-down failure Kansas governor Sam Brownback, they are going all in to raise taxes on their poor and middle class residents to avoid putting any “financial strain” on their wealthiest donors and their corporations."
Sen. Chuck Grassley Absurdly Claims Bill of Rights Dependent on Citizens United
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/01/26/sen-chuck-grassley-absurdly-claims-bill-rights-dependent-citizens-united.html
"This is just another case of Republicans outright inventing things out of whole cloth when they oppose something. They can hardly tell the truth about what they oppose and still have a leg to stand on, so they invent stuff they know their base will rally around. It’s dishonest, sure, but without lies, the Republican Party would cease to exist."
"This is just another case of Republicans outright inventing things out of whole cloth when they oppose something. They can hardly tell the truth about what they oppose and still have a leg to stand on, so they invent stuff they know their base will rally around. It’s dishonest, sure, but without lies, the Republican Party would cease to exist."
Bernie Sanders Exposes How The Koch Primary Is Undermining American Democracy
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/01/24/bernie-sanders-exposes-koch-primary-undermining-american-democracy.html
"The connection between the Koch agenda and governing became obvious when Sen. Mitch McConnell cut off debate on the Keystone XL pipeline so that Republican senators could get to the Koch meeting."
"The connection between the Koch agenda and governing became obvious when Sen. Mitch McConnell cut off debate on the Keystone XL pipeline so that Republican senators could get to the Koch meeting."
Republican Governor Busted Trying to Use Fake Abraham Lincoln Quote to Defend the Rich
Republican Governor Busted Trying to Use Fake Abraham Lincoln Quote to Defend the Rich
"So the next time Kasich wishes to quote Lincoln to try to defend the rich, he might first want to know the context of the quote he’s trying to use, then make certain that Lincoln actually said it. That way he doesn’t look like a complete fool using fake quotes on national television."
"So the next time Kasich wishes to quote Lincoln to try to defend the rich, he might first want to know the context of the quote he’s trying to use, then make certain that Lincoln actually said it. That way he doesn’t look like a complete fool using fake quotes on national television."
Forbes Tears Boehner, Netanyahu Apart In A Scathing Column, Says GOP Cannot “Think Beyond Their Distaste For This President”
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/01/28/forbes-tears-boehner-apart/
"Regardless of politics, Boehner has stained the reputation, the dignity of the office of the president, and America’s diplomatic relations abroad."
"Regardless of politics, Boehner has stained the reputation, the dignity of the office of the president, and America’s diplomatic relations abroad."
Time To Prosecute House Speaker John Boehner For Violating Federal Law
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/01/27/time-prosecute-house-speaker-john-boehner-violating-federal-law.html
"This is not Boehner’s first offense without facing any legal action or congressional ethics violation repercussions to remove him for various acts."
"This is not Boehner’s first offense without facing any legal action or congressional ethics violation repercussions to remove him for various acts."
George Stephanopoulos Gives Bobby Jindal A Pass For 'No-Go Zones' Lie
George Stephanopoulos Gives Bobby Jindal A Pass For 'No-Go Zones' Lie
"One of the the most controversial topics coming out after the Paris attacks was Fox News' repeated claims that there were many cities in France and Britain taken over by radical Islam that were turned into Muslim "no-go zones." Those claims were immediately discredited and Fox News was forced to apologize several times over. The Mayor of Paris has said she wants to sue Fox News on top of it. During this whole fiasco, Bobby Jindal gave a speech in London and parroted the same Muslim "no-go zones' lies specifically to fan the flames of fear and hatred and throw his support around a xenophobic vision of the world. When Jindal was questioned by the media to point our where these no-go zones where, he couldn't respond and he was trashed for his lies by the press. That didn't stop him from continuing to dig a deep hole for himself. That sets the stage for today's ABC interview. And then it began and then it crumbled."
"One of the the most controversial topics coming out after the Paris attacks was Fox News' repeated claims that there were many cities in France and Britain taken over by radical Islam that were turned into Muslim "no-go zones." Those claims were immediately discredited and Fox News was forced to apologize several times over. The Mayor of Paris has said she wants to sue Fox News on top of it. During this whole fiasco, Bobby Jindal gave a speech in London and parroted the same Muslim "no-go zones' lies specifically to fan the flames of fear and hatred and throw his support around a xenophobic vision of the world. When Jindal was questioned by the media to point our where these no-go zones where, he couldn't respond and he was trashed for his lies by the press. That didn't stop him from continuing to dig a deep hole for himself. That sets the stage for today's ABC interview. And then it began and then it crumbled."
The True Cost of Citizens United: The Roberts Court’s Darkest Hour Revisited | Alternet
The True Cost of Citizens United: The Roberts Court’s Darkest Hour Revisited | Alternet
"Americans are increasingly skeptical of claims that democracy by the wealthy is compatible with their interests."
"Americans are increasingly skeptical of claims that democracy by the wealthy is compatible with their interests."
Dropkick Murphys Tell Scott Walker To Drop Dead
Dropkick Murphys Tell Scott Walker To Drop Dead
"Republicans love to use popular rock songs without permission. Apparently, there are only so many Ted Nugent songs to go around."
"Republicans love to use popular rock songs without permission. Apparently, there are only so many Ted Nugent songs to go around."
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
The New Tesla Car Has An Actual ‘Insane Button,’ This Is What Happens When You Press It (VIDEO)
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/01/28/the-new-tesla-car-has-an-actual-insane-button-this-is-what-happens-when-you-press-it-video/
"And the button isn’t hype, pressing it launches the car from 0-60 miles per hour in just over 3 seconds flat."
"And the button isn’t hype, pressing it launches the car from 0-60 miles per hour in just over 3 seconds flat."
Lobbyists Got To See Kansas Budget Before Legislators Did
Lobbyists Got To See Kansas Budget Before Legislators Did
"Gov. Sam Brownback’s budget director used a private e-mail account to share a working version of the governor’s proposed budget with two lobbyists three weeks before it was unveiled to lawmakers."
"Gov. Sam Brownback’s budget director used a private e-mail account to share a working version of the governor’s proposed budget with two lobbyists three weeks before it was unveiled to lawmakers."
The Kochs Will Spend $1 Billion on the 2016 Elections, but Deny It
The Kochs Will Spend $1 Billion on the 2016 Elections, but Deny It
"The political network organized by Charles and David Koch plans to spend an incredible $889 million to capture the White House in 2016 and deepen the Koch party's bench in Congress. But that's not what they'll tell federal regulators.
If history is a guide, the Koch network will claim that much of the nearly $1 billion it will funnel through an array of nonprofit groups is not about elections at all. Instead, the Koch groups will claim that their efforts to elect politicians who will lower capital gains taxes and overturn environmental regulations is really all about "social welfare"."
"The political network organized by Charles and David Koch plans to spend an incredible $889 million to capture the White House in 2016 and deepen the Koch party's bench in Congress. But that's not what they'll tell federal regulators.
If history is a guide, the Koch network will claim that much of the nearly $1 billion it will funnel through an array of nonprofit groups is not about elections at all. Instead, the Koch groups will claim that their efforts to elect politicians who will lower capital gains taxes and overturn environmental regulations is really all about "social welfare"."
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
Koch Network Vows To Spend Nearly $900 Million To Buy Presidency And Congress | Alternet
Koch Network Vows To Spend Nearly $900 Million To Buy Presidency And Congress | Alternet
"The robber barons are back and are buying American politicians at the highest level in more than a century, as several hundred of the wealthiest Americans led by the Koch brothers say they will spend $900 million in 2016’s presidential and national elections."
"The robber barons are back and are buying American politicians at the highest level in more than a century, as several hundred of the wealthiest Americans led by the Koch brothers say they will spend $900 million in 2016’s presidential and national elections."
Koch Brothers Plan To Spend Almost One BILLION Dollars To Buy 2016 Election
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/01/27/koch-brothers-plan-to-spend-almost-one-billion-dollars-to-buy-2016-election/
"A little over 300 people will now have the same kind of financial influence as both major political parties combined. There is literally no one alive that could argue that this would not corrupt the process and keep a straight face. Either politicians will obey the Koch brothers in hopes of securing some of that juicy campaign money or they will obey them for fear that money will used against them. In either case, the Kochs and their cabal of billionaires will own politicians."
"A little over 300 people will now have the same kind of financial influence as both major political parties combined. There is literally no one alive that could argue that this would not corrupt the process and keep a straight face. Either politicians will obey the Koch brothers in hopes of securing some of that juicy campaign money or they will obey them for fear that money will used against them. In either case, the Kochs and their cabal of billionaires will own politicians."
How Fox News Is Helping The GOP Disingenuously Rebrand Itself As The Party Of The Middle Class
http://mediamatters.org/research/2015/01/27/how-fox-news-is-helping-the-gop-disingenuously/202281
"Fox News is burying Republican policy positions that exacerbate income inequality in order to help the GOP rebrand itself as a party for the middle class."
"Fox News is burying Republican policy positions that exacerbate income inequality in order to help the GOP rebrand itself as a party for the middle class."
The Koch Brothers Have Decided On Your Next Leader: President Scott Walker
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/01/27/scott-walker-new-hope/
"why did they decide on using the college dropout who left after an attempt to run for student body president was foiled by a rule violation?
Most probably because he is completely and absolutely their servant. This was well demonstrated when The BEAST’s Ian Murphy crank called Governor Walker pretending to be David Koch. He owes everything to the Koch brothers, and cannot even step a toe out of line, or else he will lose everything he has. A political slave to big money. He lacks independent wealth, a stock portfolio to fall back on, or even a military career to monetize for support. This means, to the Koch Brothers at least, that he cannot go off-script, and will be their absolute servant."
"why did they decide on using the college dropout who left after an attempt to run for student body president was foiled by a rule violation?
Most probably because he is completely and absolutely their servant. This was well demonstrated when The BEAST’s Ian Murphy crank called Governor Walker pretending to be David Koch. He owes everything to the Koch brothers, and cannot even step a toe out of line, or else he will lose everything he has. A political slave to big money. He lacks independent wealth, a stock portfolio to fall back on, or even a military career to monetize for support. This means, to the Koch Brothers at least, that he cannot go off-script, and will be their absolute servant."
Jon Stewart Slams The New Ideas Republicans Have For 2016: “It’s The Exact Same F*cking Thing!” (Video)
Jon Stewart Slams The New Ideas Republicans Have For 2016: “It’s The Exact Same F*cking Thing!” (Video)
"And he’s absolutely right. It’s comical that Republicans are trying to act as if “there’s a different GOP coming in 2016″ – when they’re running on the same crap they’ve been using for years. Didn’t we just have a tax-cutting, deregulating Republican in the White House from 2000-2008? Remind me again, how did that work out for the U.S.? Let’s just use some common sense, shall we? For nearly 40 years we’ve been governed under the economic ideological belief of trickle-down economics. The belief that low taxes will give more to the job creators (aka the rich), and that excess will then spill over to the rest of us. And for nearly that exact same amount of time wages in this country for the poor and middle class have been flat, while the richest among us have flourished like never before. Right now, around 42-44 percent of our nation’s wealth is owned by just 1 percent of our population. Exactly how much more do they need before that starts trickling down? And are there really people out there who believe that without regulations businesses would simply choose to act morally and ethically? Because with regulations many don’t, so how would the behavior of these unethical companies (and there are many) improve with fewer regulations?"
"And he’s absolutely right. It’s comical that Republicans are trying to act as if “there’s a different GOP coming in 2016″ – when they’re running on the same crap they’ve been using for years. Didn’t we just have a tax-cutting, deregulating Republican in the White House from 2000-2008? Remind me again, how did that work out for the U.S.? Let’s just use some common sense, shall we? For nearly 40 years we’ve been governed under the economic ideological belief of trickle-down economics. The belief that low taxes will give more to the job creators (aka the rich), and that excess will then spill over to the rest of us. And for nearly that exact same amount of time wages in this country for the poor and middle class have been flat, while the richest among us have flourished like never before. Right now, around 42-44 percent of our nation’s wealth is owned by just 1 percent of our population. Exactly how much more do they need before that starts trickling down? And are there really people out there who believe that without regulations businesses would simply choose to act morally and ethically? Because with regulations many don’t, so how would the behavior of these unethical companies (and there are many) improve with fewer regulations?"
The Real Problems With Bobby Jindal And His Prayer Rally | Right Wing Watch
The Real Problems With Bobby Jindal And His Prayer Rally | Right Wing Watch
"The rally was also a showcase for the dominionist views of self-proclaimed “apostles” who promoted and spearheaded the event. One of those “apostles” was the event’s emcee. Doug Stringer has called the 9/11 attacks “a wake-up call” that happened because God was not around to defend America due to abortion, homosexuality, and kicking God out of public schools. While introducing Jindal, Stringer made a brief mention to “Seven Mountains” theology, which states that all the “mountains” in society – arenas like business, entertainment, and government – must be led by the right kind of Christian. A later speaker, Gene Mills of the Louisiana Family Forum, spent more time on the “Seven Mountains.” Mills said these spheres of influence belong to God, but are currently occupied by the “enemy"."
"The rally was also a showcase for the dominionist views of self-proclaimed “apostles” who promoted and spearheaded the event. One of those “apostles” was the event’s emcee. Doug Stringer has called the 9/11 attacks “a wake-up call” that happened because God was not around to defend America due to abortion, homosexuality, and kicking God out of public schools. While introducing Jindal, Stringer made a brief mention to “Seven Mountains” theology, which states that all the “mountains” in society – arenas like business, entertainment, and government – must be led by the right kind of Christian. A later speaker, Gene Mills of the Louisiana Family Forum, spent more time on the “Seven Mountains.” Mills said these spheres of influence belong to God, but are currently occupied by the “enemy"."
Bobby Jindal’s Big “Prayer Meeting” Explicitly Calls For American Theocracy (VIDEO)
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/01/27/bobby-jindals-big-prayer-meeting-explicitly-calls-for-american-theocracy-video/
"The problem is that while Dominionism is a pipe dream, these people are fanatics and would rather see the country burn before they compromise. In a few decades, when the GOP finally succumbs to its demographic destiny and either dies or banishes the far right, these pious monsters WILL, like all desperate religious fanatics, turn to violence. In the name of Jesus, of course.
The more Republicans empower the extremists of the religious right now, the angrier they will be when they inevitably lose. And the angrier they are, the bloodier their temper tantrum will be."
"The problem is that while Dominionism is a pipe dream, these people are fanatics and would rather see the country burn before they compromise. In a few decades, when the GOP finally succumbs to its demographic destiny and either dies or banishes the far right, these pious monsters WILL, like all desperate religious fanatics, turn to violence. In the name of Jesus, of course.
The more Republicans empower the extremists of the religious right now, the angrier they will be when they inevitably lose. And the angrier they are, the bloodier their temper tantrum will be."
Jon Stewart Has A Field Day With Steve King's Wingnut Summit Of GOP Hopefuls In Iowa
Jon Stewart Has A Field Day With Steve King's Wingnut Summit Of GOP Hopefuls In Iowa
"The Daily Show's Jon Stewart had a field day mocking the ever more crowded clown car of GOP hopefuls that showed up for wingnut Steve King's Iowa Freedom Summit this weekend."
"The Daily Show's Jon Stewart had a field day mocking the ever more crowded clown car of GOP hopefuls that showed up for wingnut Steve King's Iowa Freedom Summit this weekend."
5 of Sarah Palin’s most insane and incoherent moments
5 of Sarah Palin’s most insane and incoherent moments
"This weekend's scatter-brained speech in Iowa was hardly an anomaly"
"This weekend's scatter-brained speech in Iowa was hardly an anomaly"
Jon Stewart Mocks Sarah Palin’s Iowa Gibberish: ‘Ma’am You’ve Got To Leave The Walgreens’ (Video)
Jon Stewart Mocks Sarah Palin’s Iowa Gibberish: ‘Ma’am You’ve Got To Leave The Walgreens’ (Video)
"This was easily one Stewart’s best segments in recent memory. Then again, it’s hard not to have a great comedic segment when a large group of 2016 Republican presidential hopefuls all appear at the same event. And the saddest part is, all Stewart really had to do was play clips of exactly what these GOP presidential hopefuls said. The best comedy writers in the world often can’t come up with anything as hilarious as quoting Republicans verbatim."
"This was easily one Stewart’s best segments in recent memory. Then again, it’s hard not to have a great comedic segment when a large group of 2016 Republican presidential hopefuls all appear at the same event. And the saddest part is, all Stewart really had to do was play clips of exactly what these GOP presidential hopefuls said. The best comedy writers in the world often can’t come up with anything as hilarious as quoting Republicans verbatim."
Sunday, January 25, 2015
Kansas Governor Sam Brownback Is Stealing More From Children And Retirees To Fund Tax Cuts
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/01/24/brownback-stealing-children-retirees-fund-tax-cuts.html
"Despite his state facing bankruptcy, experiencing several credit downgrades, and a billion dollar deficit due to monumental tax cuts for the rich and corporations, Kansas Republican Governor Sam Brownback will not stop decimating Kansas schools."
"Despite his state facing bankruptcy, experiencing several credit downgrades, and a billion dollar deficit due to monumental tax cuts for the rich and corporations, Kansas Republican Governor Sam Brownback will not stop decimating Kansas schools."
The Kochs Call In Their Chips
The Kochs Call In Their Chips
"Charles and David Koch paid good money for that fresh-faced Congress, and now they expect to see some results, stat."
"Charles and David Koch paid good money for that fresh-faced Congress, and now they expect to see some results, stat."
A Tale Of Two Senators Who Grew Up Poor And Went Opposite Directions
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/01/24/a-tale-of-two-senators-who-grew-up-poor-and-went-opposite-directions/
"How can two Senators, with very similar backgrounds, be so polar opposite in how they view the world? Simple. One got a lot of money and feels entitled (there’s the real entitlement, GOP) and the other is humbled. One is threatened by people rising above their means and succeeding, the other champions it. One wants to keep the class of people poor, stupid, and desperate to win re-election while the other wants them to have a seat at the table."
"How can two Senators, with very similar backgrounds, be so polar opposite in how they view the world? Simple. One got a lot of money and feels entitled (there’s the real entitlement, GOP) and the other is humbled. One is threatened by people rising above their means and succeeding, the other champions it. One wants to keep the class of people poor, stupid, and desperate to win re-election while the other wants them to have a seat at the table."
Friday, January 23, 2015
Fox ‘News’ And Bill O’Reilly Get Hammered By High School Students For Their Lack Of Journalistic Ethics (VIDEO)
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/01/23/fox-news-and-bill-oreilly-get-hammered-by-high-school-students-for-their-lack-of-journalistic-ethics-video/
"Considering the fact that Fox “News” is currently embroiled in a scandal over lies that hosts and guests have been peddling about Muslims on the air, it looks like the right-wing propaganda machine has something else to profusely apologize for now.
It is comforting to know that most American youths are able to see right through the lies, distortions, and propaganda generated on bullsh*t mountain on a daily basis. Furthermore, it’s hilarious to watch Fox and blowhard host Bill O’Reilly get taken down by high school students over a hit piece they never should have aired in the first place. That’s just priceless."
"Considering the fact that Fox “News” is currently embroiled in a scandal over lies that hosts and guests have been peddling about Muslims on the air, it looks like the right-wing propaganda machine has something else to profusely apologize for now.
It is comforting to know that most American youths are able to see right through the lies, distortions, and propaganda generated on bullsh*t mountain on a daily basis. Furthermore, it’s hilarious to watch Fox and blowhard host Bill O’Reilly get taken down by high school students over a hit piece they never should have aired in the first place. That’s just priceless."
Jeb Bush’s Family Hydra: When One Head Disappears, Another One Pops Up
Jeb Bush’s Family Hydra: When One Head Disappears, Another One Pops Up
"No matter how many times Americans vote against them, contrary to the corporate media’s flattering reports, no matter how unpopular the Bushes are, no matter how many times they destroy our country’s fundamental principles, our social public services, fair wages, environmental protection, a strong middle class economy, no matter how many times they take a wrecking ball to all that is good and decent in this country, it seems that we can never get rid of those serpent-like Bush heads."
"No matter how many times Americans vote against them, contrary to the corporate media’s flattering reports, no matter how unpopular the Bushes are, no matter how many times they destroy our country’s fundamental principles, our social public services, fair wages, environmental protection, a strong middle class economy, no matter how many times they take a wrecking ball to all that is good and decent in this country, it seems that we can never get rid of those serpent-like Bush heads."
Mitch McConnell Cut Off Keystone XL Debate So Republicans Can Meet With The Koch Brothers
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/01/23/mitch-mcconnell-cuts-keystone-xl-debate-republicans-meet-koch-brothers.html
"McConnell behavior is evidence of the Republican-run Senate’s real priorities. Nothing is more important to Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans than the Koch brothers."
"McConnell behavior is evidence of the Republican-run Senate’s real priorities. Nothing is more important to Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans than the Koch brothers."
Researchers Made A Discovery That Changes Everything We Know About Greenland’s Melting Ice
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/01/23/greenlands-melting-ice/
"The melting of the ice at the northern and southern regions of the Earth has long been the most compelling and easily digestible proof to the public that the Earth is experiencing a rapid change in the climate. As researchers begin to learn more about how climate change is changing those regions, we are beginning to see that the changes that are taking place are creating more complex chaos than we previously imagined."
"The melting of the ice at the northern and southern regions of the Earth has long been the most compelling and easily digestible proof to the public that the Earth is experiencing a rapid change in the climate. As researchers begin to learn more about how climate change is changing those regions, we are beginning to see that the changes that are taking place are creating more complex chaos than we previously imagined."
The GOP Wants to Turn America into the Ultimate No-Go Zone
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/01/22/gop-turn-america-ultimate-no-go-zone.html
"What they are creating is a no-go zone for facts, like passing legislation (H.R. 1422) that would prevent scientists from advising the EPA in areas where they have expertise. You know, like climate scientists. Because the facts are not helpful to Republicans and their corporate owners, they want to replace actual scientists with industry “experts” who know a lot about how to extract oil or natural gas but nothing at all about the climate or environment"
"What they are creating is a no-go zone for facts, like passing legislation (H.R. 1422) that would prevent scientists from advising the EPA in areas where they have expertise. You know, like climate scientists. Because the facts are not helpful to Republicans and their corporate owners, they want to replace actual scientists with industry “experts” who know a lot about how to extract oil or natural gas but nothing at all about the climate or environment"
Senate Republicans Unanimously Block Amendment To Keep Keystone Oil In The United States
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/01/21/republicans-unanimously-reject-bill-keystone-oil-united-states.html
"Republicans have been trying to convince the American people that the Keystone XL pipeline will reduce our dependence on foreign oil and that it will create American jobs. Yet on Tuesday they voted to table an amendment introduced by Sen. Edward Markey (D-MA) and Sen Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) that would have required keeping the pipeline oil in the United States for domestic use. Republicans unanimously rejected bringing up the amendment to a floor vote."
"Republicans have been trying to convince the American people that the Keystone XL pipeline will reduce our dependence on foreign oil and that it will create American jobs. Yet on Tuesday they voted to table an amendment introduced by Sen. Edward Markey (D-MA) and Sen Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) that would have required keeping the pipeline oil in the United States for domestic use. Republicans unanimously rejected bringing up the amendment to a floor vote."
Obama The Science Guy: Watch The President Totally Geek Out In A Lab Full Of Cool Stuff (VIDEO)
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/01/22/obama-the-science-guy-watch-the-president-totally-geek-out-in-a-lab-full-of-cool-stuff-video/
"You just wouldn’t have awesome moments like this with a Christian Conservative as President."
"You just wouldn’t have awesome moments like this with a Christian Conservative as President."
'Doomsday Clock' Ticks Forward: Climate Change, Nuclear Weapons Push Humanity Closer Towards Global Catastrophe
'Doomsday Clock' Ticks Forward: Climate Change, Nuclear Weapons Push Humanity Closer Towards Global Catastrophe
"The two factors "pose extraordinary and undeniable threats to the continued existence of humanity," the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, which came to its assessment with its Board of Sponsors, which includes 18 Nobel Laureates, said in a statement."
"The two factors "pose extraordinary and undeniable threats to the continued existence of humanity," the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, which came to its assessment with its Board of Sponsors, which includes 18 Nobel Laureates, said in a statement."
‘Hottest Year’ Story Obscures Bigger News: Ocean Warming Now Off The Charts
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2015/01/22/3614256/hottest-year-ocean-warming/
"The oceans, where the vast majority of human-caused global warming heat goes, have seen an acceleration in warming in recent years. As climate expert Prof. John Abraham writes in the UK Guardian, “The oceans are warming so fast, they keep breaking scientists’ charts"."
"The oceans, where the vast majority of human-caused global warming heat goes, have seen an acceleration in warming in recent years. As climate expert Prof. John Abraham writes in the UK Guardian, “The oceans are warming so fast, they keep breaking scientists’ charts"."
More Bad News For Republicans As 61% Support President Obama On Keystone XL
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/01/19/bad-news-republicans-61-support-president-obama.html
"In short, the (false) Republican message that Keystone XL will be great for the economy is largely falling on deaf ears outside of Republican circles."
"In short, the (false) Republican message that Keystone XL will be great for the economy is largely falling on deaf ears outside of Republican circles."
2014 Is The Hottest Year On Record, Breaking 2005 And 2010 Highs
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2015/01/16/3612351/noaa-nasa-2014-hottest-year-on-record/
"In fact, as the top figure shows, the decade of the 2010s is on track to be the hottest decade on record. The 1980s were the hottest decade on record at the time. Then they were beat by 1990s, which in turn were beat by the 2000s for the title of hottest decade."
"In fact, as the top figure shows, the decade of the 2010s is on track to be the hottest decade on record. The 1980s were the hottest decade on record at the time. Then they were beat by 1990s, which in turn were beat by the 2000s for the title of hottest decade."
New Congress Begins Anti-Environment Attack With ‘No More National Parks’ Bill
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2015/01/16/3612702/new-congress-no-more-national-parks-bill/
"Earlier this week, Rep. Don Young (R-AK) introduced a bill to strip current and future presidents’ authority to designate national monuments, proposing an overhaul to a law that presidents have used for nearly a century to protect some of the country’s most iconic and treasured places."
"Earlier this week, Rep. Don Young (R-AK) introduced a bill to strip current and future presidents’ authority to designate national monuments, proposing an overhaul to a law that presidents have used for nearly a century to protect some of the country’s most iconic and treasured places."
It's Official: 2014 Ranks as World's Hottest Year on Record
It's Official: 2014 Ranks as World's Hottest Year on Record
"The finding reached by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and NASA offers more confirmation of the planet's warming trend as a result of greenhouse gas emissions."
"The finding reached by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and NASA offers more confirmation of the planet's warming trend as a result of greenhouse gas emissions."
Humans Have Brought World's Oceans to Brink of 'Major Extinction Event'
Humans Have Brought World's Oceans to Brink of 'Major Extinction Event'
"The report, published Thursday in the journal Science, finds that habitat loss, mismanagement of oceanic resources, climate change, and the overall "footprint of human ocean use" have resulted in a phenomenon known as "defaunation"—a decline in animal species diversity and abundance."
"The report, published Thursday in the journal Science, finds that habitat loss, mismanagement of oceanic resources, climate change, and the overall "footprint of human ocean use" have resulted in a phenomenon known as "defaunation"—a decline in animal species diversity and abundance."
Republicans Censor Presidential Speech – Edit State Of The Union Address To Hide Their Guilt (VIDEO)
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/01/21/gop-lies-sotu/
"Attempting to edit a video to hide an unwanted truth is what the US accused other nations of doing for years. That the GOP would turn to a tactic criticized as one of the “Evil Empire” only should tell us how out of touch they are. They cannot admit any wrong, so they commit a worse offense to hide it. Or worse, use it as an opportunity to push propaganda.
And that should tell us more about the state of our union than anything else."
"Attempting to edit a video to hide an unwanted truth is what the US accused other nations of doing for years. That the GOP would turn to a tactic criticized as one of the “Evil Empire” only should tell us how out of touch they are. They cannot admit any wrong, so they commit a worse offense to hide it. Or worse, use it as an opportunity to push propaganda.
And that should tell us more about the state of our union than anything else."
Jon Stewart Scorches Rand Paul And Ted Cruz Over Their State Of The Union Responses
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/01/22/jon-stewart-scorches-rand-paul-ted-cruz-state-union-responses.html
"Stewart decided to run through the responses in order to pick this year’s winner of the ‘Implody,’ an award given annually to the Republican who provides the worst speech. After highlighting past winners such as Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and former Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN), he focused on this year’s nominees."
"Stewart decided to run through the responses in order to pick this year’s winner of the ‘Implody,’ an award given annually to the Republican who provides the worst speech. After highlighting past winners such as Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and former Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN), he focused on this year’s nominees."
Joni Ernst’s family received nearly half a million dollars in federal farm subsidies
Joni Ernst’s family received nearly half a million dollars in federal farm subsidies
"Ernst isn’t the first Republican to lambaste government spending, even as her family feeds at the federal trough. Four House Republicans who voted in 2013 to drastically cut spending on food stamps had received farm subsidies worth at least $7,883,824 combined"
"Ernst isn’t the first Republican to lambaste government spending, even as her family feeds at the federal trough. Four House Republicans who voted in 2013 to drastically cut spending on food stamps had received farm subsidies worth at least $7,883,824 combined"
Bobby Jindal's Extremist Prayer Rally Brings Together Prophets, Bigots And Far-Right Activists | Right Wing Watch
Bobby Jindal's Extremist Prayer Rally Brings Together Prophets, Bigots And Far-Right Activists | Right Wing Watch
"Jindal’s event has even recycled promotional materials from the Texas rally, including a “prayer guide” blaming marriage equality for Hurricane Katrina and the 2011 Joplin tornado."
"Jindal’s event has even recycled promotional materials from the Texas rally, including a “prayer guide” blaming marriage equality for Hurricane Katrina and the 2011 Joplin tornado."
Forty-Two Years After Roe v. Wade, The Sad State Of Abortion Rights In America
http://thinkprogress.org/health/2015/01/22/3614096/roe-v-wade-42/
"Roe v. Wade, the landmark Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion throughout the country, marks its 42nd birthday on Thursday. But for women across the United States, it’s a somewhat complicated anniversary."
"Roe v. Wade, the landmark Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion throughout the country, marks its 42nd birthday on Thursday. But for women across the United States, it’s a somewhat complicated anniversary."
How Tennessee Awakened A New Wave Of Pro-Choice Activism
http://thinkprogress.org/health/2015/01/16/3612437/tennesssee-post-amendment-one/
"Tennessee is shaping up to be the next battleground for reproductive rights, thanks to the passage of a ballot initiative that gives state lawmakers more power to restrict abortion."
"Tennessee is shaping up to be the next battleground for reproductive rights, thanks to the passage of a ballot initiative that gives state lawmakers more power to restrict abortion."
On Roe vs. Wade Anniversary, GOP House Passes Vicious Assault on Women's Right to Choose
On Roe vs. Wade Anniversary, GOP House Passes Vicious Assault on Women's Right to Choose
"On the 42nd anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Roe v. Wade, which affirms a woman's Constitutional right to an abortion, House Republicans passed a far-reaching anti-choice bill that women's health advocates say would cause the entire insurance market to drop abortion coverage while raising taxes on small business who provide comprehensive health care to their employees."
"On the 42nd anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Roe v. Wade, which affirms a woman's Constitutional right to an abortion, House Republicans passed a far-reaching anti-choice bill that women's health advocates say would cause the entire insurance market to drop abortion coverage while raising taxes on small business who provide comprehensive health care to their employees."
The Real Battleground In The Fight For Abortion Access
http://thinkprogress.org/health/2015/01/14/3611700/the-real-battleground-in-the-fight-for-abortion-access/
"Since 2010, when Republicans swept legislatures across the country, states have enacted a staggering 231 restrictions intended to make it more difficult to get an abortion."
"Since 2010, when Republicans swept legislatures across the country, states have enacted a staggering 231 restrictions intended to make it more difficult to get an abortion."
The Growing Backlash To Republicans’ Effort To Ban Abortion
http://thinkprogress.org/health/2015/01/21/3613979/backlash-republican-abortion/
"Republicans are reportedly still in discussions about potentially tweaking the language of the rape exception."
"Republicans are reportedly still in discussions about potentially tweaking the language of the rape exception."
Hog-Castrating Bread-Bagger Joni Ernst’s Family Actually Received $460,000 In Federal Subsidies
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/01/22/hog-castrating-bread-bagger-joni-ernsts-family-actually-received-460000-in-federal-subsidies/
"But she’s here, and she will be one of many extremists poised to, as Ernst promised, focus on her version of America. But Ernst has joined Marco Rubio and his water bottle as what will become, as time goes on, a hilarious running joke — and Ernst, if she has not already attained this status, will be a public figure who will be taken seriously only by a select few individuals whose idea of a great America more closely resembles the world inside The Holy Land Experience than the “Land of the Free"."
"But she’s here, and she will be one of many extremists poised to, as Ernst promised, focus on her version of America. But Ernst has joined Marco Rubio and his water bottle as what will become, as time goes on, a hilarious running joke — and Ernst, if she has not already attained this status, will be a public figure who will be taken seriously only by a select few individuals whose idea of a great America more closely resembles the world inside The Holy Land Experience than the “Land of the Free"."
Bernie Sanders Files A New Constitutional Amendment To Overturn Citizens United
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/01/21/bernie-sanders-files-constitutional-amendment-overturn-citizens-united.html
"Sen. Sanders is leading the fight to inform the American people about the toxic nature of unlimited money in their electoral process"
"Sen. Sanders is leading the fight to inform the American people about the toxic nature of unlimited money in their electoral process"
Is Rep. Aaron Schock training for a 'most lies about the minimum wage' competition?
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/01/21/1359249/-Is-Rep-Aaron-Schock-training-for-a-most-lies-about-the-minimum-wage-competition
"Schock's glib BS is just intended to cover over the fact that he does not want to help these people. He and the Republican Party do not want to ensure that work pays enough to live on."
"Schock's glib BS is just intended to cover over the fact that he does not want to help these people. He and the Republican Party do not want to ensure that work pays enough to live on."
Memo to Joni Ernst: Most Americans want more than one pair of shoes
Memo to Joni Ernst: Most Americans want more than one pair of shoes
"Ernst’s speech, however, was really vague about the relationship of hard work to getting ahead—probably because Republican policies are about making sure that most people who work hard cannot get ahead, no matter how hard they try."
"Ernst’s speech, however, was really vague about the relationship of hard work to getting ahead—probably because Republican policies are about making sure that most people who work hard cannot get ahead, no matter how hard they try."
Thursday, January 22, 2015
Sen. John McCain Introduces Amendment That Will Destroy More American Jobs
Sen. John McCain Introduces Amendment That Will Destroy More American Jobs
"Here’s to hoping that one day, red state voters will wake up to the fact that corporations are not their friends, and neither are politicians like John McCain."
"Here’s to hoping that one day, red state voters will wake up to the fact that corporations are not their friends, and neither are politicians like John McCain."
5 Years after Citizens United, Democracy Is for Sale
5 Years after Citizens United, Democracy Is for Sale
"This week, Republican presidential hopefuls like Gov. Scott Walker, Gov. Chris Christie, and Sen. Rand Paul will travel to an exclusive resort near Palm Springs, Florida to kiss the rings of David and Charles Koch."
"This week, Republican presidential hopefuls like Gov. Scott Walker, Gov. Chris Christie, and Sen. Rand Paul will travel to an exclusive resort near Palm Springs, Florida to kiss the rings of David and Charles Koch."
It’s Citizens United’s birthday — so now you can watch ‘Koch Brothers Exposed’ for free
It’s Citizens United’s birthday — so now you can watch ‘Koch Brothers Exposed’ for free
"To commemorate the fifth anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United v. FEC, Brave New Films is releasing the documentary Koch Brothers Exposed: 2014 Edition online."
"To commemorate the fifth anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United v. FEC, Brave New Films is releasing the documentary Koch Brothers Exposed: 2014 Edition online."
The right’s home-school conspiracy: How I helped GOP launch a religious war
The right’s home-school conspiracy: How I helped GOP launch a religious war
"the evangelical schools and home school movement were, by design, founded to undermine a secular and free vision of America and replace it by stealth with a form of theocracy."
"the evangelical schools and home school movement were, by design, founded to undermine a secular and free vision of America and replace it by stealth with a form of theocracy."
The Republican Strategy of Stupidity
http://quietmike.org/2015/01/20/republican-strategy-stupidity/
"When someone saying they aren’t a doctor or a scientist is talking out of their ass about a subject they are proudly ignorant of, they have to be told to shut the f*ck up. Instead, we are giving them center stage on the Sunday Morning Talk Shows. They need to be schooled, not flattered.
A healthy society relies on a well-educated Electorate. Civilization relies on scientific advancement. Republicans are now actively trying to undermine both of these basic foundations, and if they’re allowed to continue doing so, they will bring the nation crumbling down.
If you exist in a world not based on reality, you will eventually lose to reality. The question is how many other people will you hurt along the way?"
"When someone saying they aren’t a doctor or a scientist is talking out of their ass about a subject they are proudly ignorant of, they have to be told to shut the f*ck up. Instead, we are giving them center stage on the Sunday Morning Talk Shows. They need to be schooled, not flattered.
A healthy society relies on a well-educated Electorate. Civilization relies on scientific advancement. Republicans are now actively trying to undermine both of these basic foundations, and if they’re allowed to continue doing so, they will bring the nation crumbling down.
If you exist in a world not based on reality, you will eventually lose to reality. The question is how many other people will you hurt along the way?"
French TV Show Mocks Fox News’ Absurdity in Hilarious Skit (Video)
French TV Show Mocks Fox News’ Absurdity in Hilarious Skit (Video)
"If you haven’t heard by now, Fox News hasn’t exactly had the best couple of weeks. Several of the lies they helped prop up following the terrorist attack in France were soundly debunked, the British Prime Minister has pretty much called them a joke and they were forced to issue several fairly humiliating public apologies because of their lousy reporting."
"If you haven’t heard by now, Fox News hasn’t exactly had the best couple of weeks. Several of the lies they helped prop up following the terrorist attack in France were soundly debunked, the British Prime Minister has pretty much called them a joke and they were forced to issue several fairly humiliating public apologies because of their lousy reporting."
9 Fox News Atrocities They Should Have Been Sued For if the U.S. Had Laws Like France | Alternet
9 Fox News Atrocities They Should Have Been Sued For if the U.S. Had Laws Like France | Alternet
"Although French law makes a successful prosecution more likely, here are a few of the times Fox News might have been taken to court in the United States over the years if the U.S had laws like France."
"Although French law makes a successful prosecution more likely, here are a few of the times Fox News might have been taken to court in the United States over the years if the U.S had laws like France."
Jon Stewart Makes A Mockery Of GOP Responses To State Of The Union
Jon Stewart Makes A Mockery Of GOP Responses To State Of The Union
"I'm sure it was a tough choice for The Daily Show's Jon Stewart to pick a winner for this year's "Implody Award" given for "unforced response errors" to President Obama's State of the Union address."
"I'm sure it was a tough choice for The Daily Show's Jon Stewart to pick a winner for this year's "Implody Award" given for "unforced response errors" to President Obama's State of the Union address."
Jon Stewart Rips Republicans For Sitting On Their Hands At State Of The Union Speech
Jon Stewart Rips Republicans For Sitting On Their Hands At State Of The Union Speech
"Stewart also explained why Mitch McConnell was having some trouble responding to President Obama's speech."
"Stewart also explained why Mitch McConnell was having some trouble responding to President Obama's speech."
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
Obama Drops The Mic On GOP Hecklers, Twitter Responds In The Best Way Possible (TWEETS)
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/01/21/obama-drops-the-mic-on-gop-hecklers-twitter-responds-in-the-best-way-possible-tweets/
"Leave it to the Twittershere to encapsulate what the rest of us are thinking."
"Leave it to the Twittershere to encapsulate what the rest of us are thinking."
RNC Chair Falls Apart and Blames Obama When Busted On Immigration SOTU Response Hypocrisy
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/01/21/rnc-chair-explain-republicans-mentioned-immigration-spanish-language-version-sotu-response.html
"Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus was on defense Wednesday on Morning Joe, when Sam Stein asked Priebus why immigration reform wasn’t mentioned in the official Republican State of the Union response but they did mention it in their Spanish language response."
"Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus was on defense Wednesday on Morning Joe, when Sam Stein asked Priebus why immigration reform wasn’t mentioned in the official Republican State of the Union response but they did mention it in their Spanish language response."
Republicans doctor State of the Union address by cutting out inconvenient climate change section
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/01/21/1359191/-Republicans-enhance-the-State-of-the-Union-by-cutting-out-inconvenient-climate-change-section
"Aww, does it hurt the Republicans' fee-fees to have the president point out that "I'm not a scientist" is a transparently stupid dodge? Does it puncture the "I'm not a scientist" dodge to have the president point out that you don't have to be a scientist to listen to what scientists are saying? Apparently so. And apparently Republicans don't even want their audience hearing that this is what scientists say."
"Aww, does it hurt the Republicans' fee-fees to have the president point out that "I'm not a scientist" is a transparently stupid dodge? Does it puncture the "I'm not a scientist" dodge to have the president point out that you don't have to be a scientist to listen to what scientists are saying? Apparently so. And apparently Republicans don't even want their audience hearing that this is what scientists say."
John Boehner's Office Releases Edited Version Of SOTU Address
John Boehner's Office Releases Edited Version Of SOTU Address
"In the website’s “enhanced webcast” of the State of the Union speech, President Obama’s comments criticizing Republicans for saying they are “not scientists” when it comes to climate change are erased."
"In the website’s “enhanced webcast” of the State of the Union speech, President Obama’s comments criticizing Republicans for saying they are “not scientists” when it comes to climate change are erased."
Obama Blasts GOP Climate Deniers For Their ‘I’m Not A Scientist’ BS In SOTU Address (VIDEO)
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/01/21/obama-blasts-gop-climate-deniers-for-their-im-not-a-scientist-bs-in-sotu-address-video/
"They’ve been playing the ignorance card and its a load of BS. They know it, the American people know it and Obama called them out for it Tuesday night."
"They’ve been playing the ignorance card and its a load of BS. They know it, the American people know it and Obama called them out for it Tuesday night."
OOPSIE: Ted Cruz Accidentally Posts Embarrassing First Take Of His SOTU Response (VIDEO)
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/01/21/oopsie-ted-cruz-accidentally-posts-embarrassing-first-take-of-his-sotu-response-video/
"Ted Cruz decided he would be one of those know-it-all Republicans that would make his own video, because of course citizens want to hear from their favorite Canadian-born Senator."
"Ted Cruz decided he would be one of those know-it-all Republicans that would make his own video, because of course citizens want to hear from their favorite Canadian-born Senator."
Media Ignore The Government Subsidies Helping Joni Ernst's Family Farm
http://mediamatters.org/research/2015/01/21/media-ignore-the-government-subsidies-helping-j/202221
"Ernst's family farm in Red Oak, Iowa received over $460,000 in farm subsidies between 1995 and 2006. Family members received conservation payments, commodity subsidies, and agricultural aid"
"Ernst's family farm in Red Oak, Iowa received over $460,000 in farm subsidies between 1995 and 2006. Family members received conservation payments, commodity subsidies, and agricultural aid"
Republicans Post Doctored Version Of State Of The Union, Censor Facts On Climate Change
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2015/01/21/3613732/you-cant-handle-the-truth/
"The official website for House Republicans has posted on YouTube a doctored version of President Obama’s State of the Union address which cuts out comments where the President was critical of Republican rhetoric on climate change"
"The official website for House Republicans has posted on YouTube a doctored version of President Obama’s State of the Union address which cuts out comments where the President was critical of Republican rhetoric on climate change"
GOP Speech Pushes Immigration Reform—in Spanish Version Only
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/01/carlos-curbelo-joni-ernst-immigration-reform
"What was the party's official response to Obama's State of the Union address? Depends on the audience."
"What was the party's official response to Obama's State of the Union address? Depends on the audience."
Jon Stewart Brilliantly Mocks Fox News’ Embarrassing Apologies (Video)
Jon Stewart Brilliantly Mocks Fox News’ Embarrassing Apologies (Video)
"the best part of the show came during his second segment when he addressed the apologies Fox News publicly issued on Saturday after the network was exposed and humiliated internationally for doing what they’ve been doing in the United States for years – blatantly making up information and lying."
"the best part of the show came during his second segment when he addressed the apologies Fox News publicly issued on Saturday after the network was exposed and humiliated internationally for doing what they’ve been doing in the United States for years – blatantly making up information and lying."
Fox News Already Having a Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad 2015 | Alternet
Fox News Already Having a Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad 2015 | Alternet
"Fox News, of course, has been relentlessly pounding Obama every day and every hour since the midterm defeats, and has been piling on all this year. Yet Obama's approval rating just soared nine points in one month?"
"Fox News, of course, has been relentlessly pounding Obama every day and every hour since the midterm defeats, and has been piling on all this year. Yet Obama's approval rating just soared nine points in one month?"
Facts Are In A No-Go Zone For GOP Presidential Hopeful Bobby Jindal
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/01/21/facts-no-go-zone-gop-presidential-hopeful-bobby-jindal.html
"The truth has been a no-go zone for Jindal for some time. Six years ago in his response to Barack Obama’s first State of the Union address, Jindal made up a story to cast himself as a hero fighting government red tape to rescue people during Hurricane Katrina. Sure it was a bold-faced lie, but an understandable one. After all, Jindal wants to be president some day, for Pete’s sake."
"The truth has been a no-go zone for Jindal for some time. Six years ago in his response to Barack Obama’s first State of the Union address, Jindal made up a story to cast himself as a hero fighting government red tape to rescue people during Hurricane Katrina. Sure it was a bold-faced lie, but an understandable one. After all, Jindal wants to be president some day, for Pete’s sake."
Rush Limbaugh’s Comments on Lawsuit Against Fox News Prove He Has No Idea What Freedom of Speech Means
Rush Limbaugh’s Comments on Lawsuit Against Fox News Prove He Has No Idea What Freedom of Speech Means
"This isn’t about free speech. Fox News is fully within their right to make factually based statements against the city of Paris. But what they can’t do is fabricate lies and push blatant misinformation to try to degrade a city."
"This isn’t about free speech. Fox News is fully within their right to make factually based statements against the city of Paris. But what they can’t do is fabricate lies and push blatant misinformation to try to degrade a city."
Bill O'Reilly Lies About His Role Pushing Debunked "No-Go Zones" Myth
http://mediamatters.org/blog/2015/01/21/bill-oreilly-lies-about-his-role-pushing-debunk/202207
"Fox News host Bill O'Reilly falsely claimed that he had no role in hyping the myth that Muslim "no-go zones" exist throughout France, just days after Fox News apologized for spreading the fiction. In fact, O'Reilly previously cited the so called "no-go zones" as one of the contributing causes of the Paris terror attacks."
"Fox News host Bill O'Reilly falsely claimed that he had no role in hyping the myth that Muslim "no-go zones" exist throughout France, just days after Fox News apologized for spreading the fiction. In fact, O'Reilly previously cited the so called "no-go zones" as one of the contributing causes of the Paris terror attacks."
CNN Legal Team: Fox ‘News’ Is Screwed If They Don’t Settle Lawsuit Slapped Against Them By Paris (VIDEO)
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/01/21/cnn-legal-team-fox-news-is-screwed-if-they-dont-settle-lawsuit-slapped-against-them-by-paris-video/
"Fox “News” could be faced with a huge legal price tag, as well as a huge loss in court, if they don’t seek a quiet settlement as soon as possible. The fact that Fox may get their asses handed to them by a country they have consistently mocked and characterized as weak is obviously entertaining to think about. After all, there’s a lot of video evidence proving that Fox constantly made false claims that some Paris neighborhoods are “no-go zones” with a 100 percent Muslim population that police are afraid to patrol. And as evidence that they knew their claims were all lies, Fox profusely apologized to France throughout the day on Sunday.
Sounds like Fox “News” was just trying to avoid this very kind of backlash. Hopefully, France will have the spine to pursue this lawsuit no matter how much Fox tries to bully their way out of it. Because after all the bullshit they have spewed on the air over the last two decades, it’s about time someone made them pay the price for it."
"Fox “News” could be faced with a huge legal price tag, as well as a huge loss in court, if they don’t seek a quiet settlement as soon as possible. The fact that Fox may get their asses handed to them by a country they have consistently mocked and characterized as weak is obviously entertaining to think about. After all, there’s a lot of video evidence proving that Fox constantly made false claims that some Paris neighborhoods are “no-go zones” with a 100 percent Muslim population that police are afraid to patrol. And as evidence that they knew their claims were all lies, Fox profusely apologized to France throughout the day on Sunday.
Sounds like Fox “News” was just trying to avoid this very kind of backlash. Hopefully, France will have the spine to pursue this lawsuit no matter how much Fox tries to bully their way out of it. Because after all the bullshit they have spewed on the air over the last two decades, it’s about time someone made them pay the price for it."
Dinesh D’Souza’s Absurd MLK Comments Prove the Man is Completely Delusional
Dinesh D’Souza’s Absurd MLK Comments Prove the Man is Completely Delusional
"D’Souza is someone who so desperately wants to matter nationally, but no matter how hard he tries to make himself seem credible and relevant, almost nobody cares what he thinks about much of anything. He’s basically just someone who’s easy to mock because he’s so delusional about his standing in society that he actually had the gall to compare himself to a civil rights icon."
"D’Souza is someone who so desperately wants to matter nationally, but no matter how hard he tries to make himself seem credible and relevant, almost nobody cares what he thinks about much of anything. He’s basically just someone who’s easy to mock because he’s so delusional about his standing in society that he actually had the gall to compare himself to a civil rights icon."
Honor King’s Legacy by Protecting Voting Rights | The Nation
Honor King’s Legacy by Protecting Voting Rights | The Nation
"Since 2010, nearly two-thirds of the states previously covered under Section 4 have passed new limits on voting rights."
"Since 2010, nearly two-thirds of the states previously covered under Section 4 have passed new limits on voting rights."
Conservative Cowboy Wannabe Claims MLK For Tea Party, Says Liberals Keep Racism Alive (VIDEO)
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/01/19/conservative-cowboy-wannabe-claims-mlk-for-tea-party-says-liberals-keep-racism-alive-video/
"In reality, the Tea Party was born out of racism in response to the election of the first African-American president. Since 2008, the Tea Party has demonstrated how racist it is time and time again. And it’s not like Tea Party racism hasn’t been well documented over the years."
"In reality, the Tea Party was born out of racism in response to the election of the first African-American president. Since 2008, the Tea Party has demonstrated how racist it is time and time again. And it’s not like Tea Party racism hasn’t been well documented over the years."
What bigots do on MLK Day: How hateful extremists tried to co-opt the holiday
What bigots do on MLK Day: How hateful extremists tried to co-opt the holiday
"These self-proclaimed patriots—wrapped in a flag, carrying a cross and a gun, and menacing minority populations—are in fact the heirs of the violent white Christianists who had a different target 50 years ago."
"These self-proclaimed patriots—wrapped in a flag, carrying a cross and a gun, and menacing minority populations—are in fact the heirs of the violent white Christianists who had a different target 50 years ago."
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
9 Sitting members of Congress who voted against Martin Luther King Jr. Day
9 Sitting members of Congress who voted against Martin Luther King Jr. Day
"First, some background. Congressman John Conyers, (D-MI) first introduced legislation for a Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday on April 8, 1968, four days after he was killed. When Conyers brought the bill to the floor in November 1979, it failed by five votes. A bill was finally passed in 1983 and signed into law by President Ronald Reagan, who only signed it because his veto would have been over-ridden.
So, let’s take a look at the politicians who are still in office and who voted against honoring Dr. King through a federal holiday."
"First, some background. Congressman John Conyers, (D-MI) first introduced legislation for a Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday on April 8, 1968, four days after he was killed. When Conyers brought the bill to the floor in November 1979, it failed by five votes. A bill was finally passed in 1983 and signed into law by President Ronald Reagan, who only signed it because his veto would have been over-ridden.
So, let’s take a look at the politicians who are still in office and who voted against honoring Dr. King through a federal holiday."
These State Of The Union Proposals Are Very Popular (Just Not With Congress)
http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2015/01/20/3613303/bipartisan-support-sotu/
"polling shows that Americans actually support his progressive policies, from minimum wage hikes to increased tax rates for the wealthy. Here are some of the proposals we’re likely to hear tonight that have broad, bipartisan support and could become reality — if Congress didn’t stand in the way"
"polling shows that Americans actually support his progressive policies, from minimum wage hikes to increased tax rates for the wealthy. Here are some of the proposals we’re likely to hear tonight that have broad, bipartisan support and could become reality — if Congress didn’t stand in the way"
Republicans have a Latino outreach plan for the State of the Union ... y es loco!
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/01/20/1358965/-Republicans-have-a-Latino-outreach-plan-for-the-State-of-the-Union-y-es-loco
"Every now and then, Republicans take a break from trying to pass pro-deportation laws and switch over to trying to rebrand themselves as sympathetic to the concerns of Latino voters. The policy may be all attack, but they'd like to put a "we care" veneer on it in hopes of getting a few Latino votes someday. The problem is, that veneer is really, really thin. More of a single coat of clear nail polish."
"Every now and then, Republicans take a break from trying to pass pro-deportation laws and switch over to trying to rebrand themselves as sympathetic to the concerns of Latino voters. The policy may be all attack, but they'd like to put a "we care" veneer on it in hopes of getting a few Latino votes someday. The problem is, that veneer is really, really thin. More of a single coat of clear nail polish."
How Koch Brothers Will Celebrate Citizens United 5th Anniversary
How Koch Brothers Will Celebrate Citizens United 5th Anniversary
"Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas, Rand Paul of Kentucky and Marco Rubio of Florida, and Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin received coveted invitations to speak to the vaunted network assembled by the billionaire industrialist megadonors Charles and David Koch"
"Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas, Rand Paul of Kentucky and Marco Rubio of Florida, and Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin received coveted invitations to speak to the vaunted network assembled by the billionaire industrialist megadonors Charles and David Koch"
What Happens When Conservative Ideologues Get to Run Their Own States | Alternet
What Happens When Conservative Ideologues Get to Run Their Own States | Alternet
"First and foremost is the laughingstock that extremist Republican Sam Brownback has made of Kansas. Brownback slashed social welfare spending and implemented steep regressive income tax cuts, promising that his Laffer curve-based supply-side economic experiment would bring jobs and prosperity to Kansas while increasing government revenue.
In fact, the opposite has happened. Revenue projections in Kansas are in freefall, and the economic growth benefiting the rest of the country--including economically similar areas in surrounding states--has bypassed the Sunflower State."
"First and foremost is the laughingstock that extremist Republican Sam Brownback has made of Kansas. Brownback slashed social welfare spending and implemented steep regressive income tax cuts, promising that his Laffer curve-based supply-side economic experiment would bring jobs and prosperity to Kansas while increasing government revenue.
In fact, the opposite has happened. Revenue projections in Kansas are in freefall, and the economic growth benefiting the rest of the country--including economically similar areas in surrounding states--has bypassed the Sunflower State."
Richest 1% Percent To Have More Than Rest of Humanity Combined
Richest 1% Percent To Have More Than Rest of Humanity Combined
"In less than two years, if current trends continued unchecked, the richest 1% percent of people on the planet will own at least half of the world's wealth."
"In less than two years, if current trends continued unchecked, the richest 1% percent of people on the planet will own at least half of the world's wealth."
Democrats Take on Wall Street With Financial Transactions Tax
http://truth-out.org/news/item/28608-democrats-take-on-wall-street-with-financial-transactions-tax
"The House Democratic Party leadership made a remarkable step forward last week in putting out a proposal for a financial transactions tax (FTT). The proposal is part of a larger package which includes a substantial tax credit for workers, and also a limit on the tax deductibility of high CEO pay, but the FTT portion is the most remarkable."
"The House Democratic Party leadership made a remarkable step forward last week in putting out a proposal for a financial transactions tax (FTT). The proposal is part of a larger package which includes a substantial tax credit for workers, and also a limit on the tax deductibility of high CEO pay, but the FTT portion is the most remarkable."
Researchers Call New Obamacare Results ‘Remarkable’
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/01/15/researchers-call-new-obamacare-results-remarkable/
"The newest data, just a year after the full implementation of the Affordable Care Act, should make even the staunchest capitalists feel warm and fuzzy toward the controversial piece of legislation. The data shows that people are paying their bills.
Healthcare bills have long been the number one source of bankruptcy in the U.S. That fact is bad for everyone. Medical providers get pennies on the dollar. Taxpayers get stuck with higher medical bills and with the cost of the bankruptcies.
While it’s too soon to reverse the bankruptcy trend, since courts typically see bills that are much older than just one year, the research from the Commonwealth Fund indicates that tides are turning.
The facts that they found are that as more people have insurance, more people are going to the doctor and more people are paying their bills."
"The newest data, just a year after the full implementation of the Affordable Care Act, should make even the staunchest capitalists feel warm and fuzzy toward the controversial piece of legislation. The data shows that people are paying their bills.
Healthcare bills have long been the number one source of bankruptcy in the U.S. That fact is bad for everyone. Medical providers get pennies on the dollar. Taxpayers get stuck with higher medical bills and with the cost of the bankruptcies.
While it’s too soon to reverse the bankruptcy trend, since courts typically see bills that are much older than just one year, the research from the Commonwealth Fund indicates that tides are turning.
The facts that they found are that as more people have insurance, more people are going to the doctor and more people are paying their bills."
Obama's approval rating spikes before State of the Union
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/01/19/1358795/-Obama-s-approval-rating-spikes-before-State-of-the-Union
"Not surprisingly, Democrats give Obama the most love, with 85 percent approving of his job performance compared to just 14 percent of Republicans. But independents are far closer to Democrats in their viewpoint, with 46 percent favoring the president's performance."
"Not surprisingly, Democrats give Obama the most love, with 85 percent approving of his job performance compared to just 14 percent of Republicans. But independents are far closer to Democrats in their viewpoint, with 46 percent favoring the president's performance."
Obama Soars As President’s Job Approval Rating Leaps 9 Points In A Month
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/01/19/obama-soars-president-approval-rating-jumps-9-points-month.html
"The president’s approval ratings are up 19 points with people age 18-29, 13 points with non-whites, including 22 points with Hispanics, 12 points with people earning less than $50,000 a year, 10 points with Democrats, 13 points with non-college educated white men, 11 points with men and 11 points with conservatives."
"The president’s approval ratings are up 19 points with people age 18-29, 13 points with non-whites, including 22 points with Hispanics, 12 points with people earning less than $50,000 a year, 10 points with Democrats, 13 points with non-college educated white men, 11 points with men and 11 points with conservatives."
Obama’s Tax Plan Forces Republicans To Choose Main Street Or Wall Street
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/01/19/obamas-tax-plan-forces-republicans-choose-main-street-wall-street.html
"Republicans in Congress quickly pledged their allegiance to the wealthy"
"Republicans in Congress quickly pledged their allegiance to the wealthy"
Pres. Obama Is Loved By Almost All, According To Soaring Approval Ratings From Across The Board
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/01/19/obama-rocks-polls/
"Little fact for our conservative readers (if we have any): at this point in his presidency, Ronald Reagan’s approval rating was 50 percent, identical to President Obama’s."
"Little fact for our conservative readers (if we have any): at this point in his presidency, Ronald Reagan’s approval rating was 50 percent, identical to President Obama’s."
How America's Wealthy Stole the American Dream and Cashed It at an Offshore Bank | Alternet
How America's Wealthy Stole the American Dream and Cashed It at an Offshore Bank | Alternet
"Runaway inequality and declining taxes are linked together through a set of economic policies called the "Better Business Climate" model which came to America around 1980."
"Runaway inequality and declining taxes are linked together through a set of economic policies called the "Better Business Climate" model which came to America around 1980."
Obama’s State Of The Union Will Be Great For America, And Disastrous For Republicans
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/01/18/obamas-state-of-the-union-will-be-great-for-america-and-disastrous-for-republicans/
"This will place Republicans in the unenviable position of needing to explain why they would rather use public money to support billionaires than blue collar Americans."
"This will place Republicans in the unenviable position of needing to explain why they would rather use public money to support billionaires than blue collar Americans."
Bernie’s On Board: Sen. Sanders Stands With President Obama On Tax Cut Plan
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/01/18/bernies-board-sen-sanders-stands-president-obama-tax-cut-plan.html
"Sen. Bernie Sanders announced that he is supporting the president’s plan to cut taxes for the middle class while closing loopholes that the wealthiest Americans use"
"Sen. Bernie Sanders announced that he is supporting the president’s plan to cut taxes for the middle class while closing loopholes that the wealthiest Americans use"
Paul Ryan Responds To Obama Tax Cut With Lies And Calls For Tax Hikes On The Middle Class
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/01/18/paul-ryan-responds-obama-tax-cut-lies-calls-tax-hikes-middle-class.html
"Obama’s tax plan closes loopholes that the super-rich and corporations use to avoid paying their share of taxes while giving millions of middle-class families a tax cut."
"Obama’s tax plan closes loopholes that the super-rich and corporations use to avoid paying their share of taxes while giving millions of middle-class families a tax cut."
President Obama’s New Plan: Tax Hikes On The Wealthiest, Relief For The Middle Class
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/01/18/obama-offers-amazing-tax-plan/
"To make matters even better, President Obama has taken a cue from Elizabeth Warren, his plan will also create a brand new tax which will be placed on the biggest financial institutions who partake in risky borrowing. The new tax will hopefully discourage such borrowing and will only be applied to roughly 100 banks that currently have assets of $50 billion or more (the same banks whose high risk borrowing led to the near collapse of our world economy)."
"To make matters even better, President Obama has taken a cue from Elizabeth Warren, his plan will also create a brand new tax which will be placed on the biggest financial institutions who partake in risky borrowing. The new tax will hopefully discourage such borrowing and will only be applied to roughly 100 banks that currently have assets of $50 billion or more (the same banks whose high risk borrowing led to the near collapse of our world economy)."
Arguing for Faster Internet, Obama Goes to Bat for Municipal Broadband
Arguing for Faster Internet, Obama Goes to Bat for Municipal Broadband
"Alongside his announcement, the White House presented a fact sheet outlining the municipal broadband initiative and a new report (pdf) authored by the National Economic Council and Council of Economic Advisers which examines the success stories of "community-based broadband" projects."
"Alongside his announcement, the White House presented a fact sheet outlining the municipal broadband initiative and a new report (pdf) authored by the National Economic Council and Council of Economic Advisers which examines the success stories of "community-based broadband" projects."
Five Years After Citizens United, Media Coverage Of Its Sequels Is Lacking
http://mediamatters.org/blog/2015/01/18/five-years-after-citizens-united-media-coverage/202154
"Williams-Yulee gives the court yet another opportunity to deregulate big money in politics by equating it with constitutionally protected speech -- this time by allowing members of the judiciary to directly solicit money from wealthy donors."
"Williams-Yulee gives the court yet another opportunity to deregulate big money in politics by equating it with constitutionally protected speech -- this time by allowing members of the judiciary to directly solicit money from wealthy donors."
Still No Tax Returns? What’s GOP Still-Hopeful Mitt Romney Hiding? (Video)
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/01/15/mitt-romney-tax-returns-whats-he-hiding/
"For starters, it’s quite disturbing that — out of all the vile, rapacious corporate raiders on Wall Street, Romney has been targeted with a lawsuit for racketeering. That really says something. The bar for getting courts to hear a lawsuit on racketeering — the kind of criminal and systemic money laundering, gambling, price fixing, and market manipulations associated with powerful mobs and drug lords — is so high that even fictitious district attorneys on shows like The Wire and The Sopranos have trouble with taking these cases to court."
"For starters, it’s quite disturbing that — out of all the vile, rapacious corporate raiders on Wall Street, Romney has been targeted with a lawsuit for racketeering. That really says something. The bar for getting courts to hear a lawsuit on racketeering — the kind of criminal and systemic money laundering, gambling, price fixing, and market manipulations associated with powerful mobs and drug lords — is so high that even fictitious district attorneys on shows like The Wire and The Sopranos have trouble with taking these cases to court."
JP Morgan ‘Under Assault’ By Unpatriotic Regulators, CEO Says
http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2015/01/15/3611830/ceo-whose-bank-epitomizes-need-for-tighter-regulation-wonders-if-tighter-regulation-is-un-american/
"In Dimon’s tenure, regulators have exposed JP Morgan’s involvement in numerous scandals. Three of those scandals are particularly instructive.
The bank joined other financial firms in an elaborate scheme to rig interest rates, an affair commonly known as the LIBOR Scandal, which had negative effects on a huge range of consumer credit products and hurt the financial outlook of many cities who had made bond deals tied to the rates JP Morgan helped manipulate. A rogue JP Morgan trader known colloquially as the London Whale was able to gamble the bank into a multi-billion-dollar loss on complex derivatives trades without any of his managers noticing and putting a stop to the highly risky behavior, which could have triggered a chain reaction within the global financial system. And Dimon’s firm has paid tens of billions of dollars in legal settlements over the bank’s role in mortgage-related financial market activity that helped exacerbate the financial crisis and ensuing recession.
None of these are dead matters. Each of the three illustrates a live question for how society will regulate the financial sector’s activity and its relationship to the real economy of goods and services and middle-class jobs."
"In Dimon’s tenure, regulators have exposed JP Morgan’s involvement in numerous scandals. Three of those scandals are particularly instructive.
The bank joined other financial firms in an elaborate scheme to rig interest rates, an affair commonly known as the LIBOR Scandal, which had negative effects on a huge range of consumer credit products and hurt the financial outlook of many cities who had made bond deals tied to the rates JP Morgan helped manipulate. A rogue JP Morgan trader known colloquially as the London Whale was able to gamble the bank into a multi-billion-dollar loss on complex derivatives trades without any of his managers noticing and putting a stop to the highly risky behavior, which could have triggered a chain reaction within the global financial system. And Dimon’s firm has paid tens of billions of dollars in legal settlements over the bank’s role in mortgage-related financial market activity that helped exacerbate the financial crisis and ensuing recession.
None of these are dead matters. Each of the three illustrates a live question for how society will regulate the financial sector’s activity and its relationship to the real economy of goods and services and middle-class jobs."
Catholic Church to Dave Agema: You’re Just a Bigoted Jerk
http://quietmike.org/2015/01/15/catholic-church-dave-agema-youre-just-bigoted-jerk/
"The church has had enough of the racist ramblings coming from the Michigan RNC Committeeman"
"The church has had enough of the racist ramblings coming from the Michigan RNC Committeeman"
“I was never a white supremacist”: The chilling return of David Duke
“I was never a white supremacist”: The chilling return of David Duke
"Duke also emphasized to both Smerconish and O’Reilly that he now possessed a Ph.D., and had written a doctoral dissertation-cum-book exposing Communism (copies of which he made sure viewers of both programs saw). In reality, Duke’s degree came from a Ukrainian “diploma mill,” and was not in fact a doctoral degree. Moreover, his thesis is a blatant rip-off of the dubious academic work of Kevin McDonald, a well-known anti-Semitic psychology professor."
"Duke also emphasized to both Smerconish and O’Reilly that he now possessed a Ph.D., and had written a doctoral dissertation-cum-book exposing Communism (copies of which he made sure viewers of both programs saw). In reality, Duke’s degree came from a Ukrainian “diploma mill,” and was not in fact a doctoral degree. Moreover, his thesis is a blatant rip-off of the dubious academic work of Kevin McDonald, a well-known anti-Semitic psychology professor."
Ron Paul Institute Publishes 'False Flag' Conspiracy About Paris Attacks
Ron Paul Institute Publishes 'False Flag' Conspiracy About Paris Attacks
"If you read the whole thing you'll be sickened by it and it has caused quite a stir today from some of his libertarian allies like Matt Welsh at Reason Magazine. The Weekly Standard was equally horrified by this screed too.
It shouldn't surprise anyone who has covered Ron Paul in the past, but most of the media only focused on Paul's popularity rise during the 2008 Republican presidential primaries and never bothered to ask why he was able to raise so much money with his "money bombs.' Being a right wing extremist or a conspiracy theory nut pays good dollars and Ron Paul capitalized on it big time."
"If you read the whole thing you'll be sickened by it and it has caused quite a stir today from some of his libertarian allies like Matt Welsh at Reason Magazine. The Weekly Standard was equally horrified by this screed too.
It shouldn't surprise anyone who has covered Ron Paul in the past, but most of the media only focused on Paul's popularity rise during the 2008 Republican presidential primaries and never bothered to ask why he was able to raise so much money with his "money bombs.' Being a right wing extremist or a conspiracy theory nut pays good dollars and Ron Paul capitalized on it big time."
The Color Of Money: GOP Congress Rushes To Pamper Wall Street
The Color Of Money: GOP Congress Rushes To Pamper Wall Street
"But why the urgency? Why the rush to let the banks run amok, even before Republicans turn their attention to authorizing the Keystone XL pipeline, repealing Obamacare and reversing the president’s executive orders on immigration? Those are all causes, however, that Republicans want to highlight, for which their base is clamoring. Deregulating Wall Street, by contrast, isn’t high on the tea party’s to-do list, if it’s on it at all. By scurrying to give the banks what they want, Republicans can get it out of the way and hope that any public memory of this unseemly spectacle is eclipsed by the epic, more popular battles to come.
By pushing mega-bank welfare to the head of the line, Republicans also sent a clear signal to Wall Street that they’ll do whatever it takes to further feather the bankers’ nests."
"But why the urgency? Why the rush to let the banks run amok, even before Republicans turn their attention to authorizing the Keystone XL pipeline, repealing Obamacare and reversing the president’s executive orders on immigration? Those are all causes, however, that Republicans want to highlight, for which their base is clamoring. Deregulating Wall Street, by contrast, isn’t high on the tea party’s to-do list, if it’s on it at all. By scurrying to give the banks what they want, Republicans can get it out of the way and hope that any public memory of this unseemly spectacle is eclipsed by the epic, more popular battles to come.
By pushing mega-bank welfare to the head of the line, Republicans also sent a clear signal to Wall Street that they’ll do whatever it takes to further feather the bankers’ nests."
Republicans use ‘death by a thousand cuts’ strategy to deregulate Wall Street
Republicans use ‘death by a thousand cuts’ strategy to deregulate Wall Street
"For the second time in two weeks, House Republicans brought up a package of 11 bills designed to deregulate Wall Street and water down Dodd-Frank financial reforms. This time, they had the votes to pass it.
Today’s bill easily cleared the hurdle of majority support, gaining final passage by a count of 271-154 largely along party lines."
"For the second time in two weeks, House Republicans brought up a package of 11 bills designed to deregulate Wall Street and water down Dodd-Frank financial reforms. This time, they had the votes to pass it.
Today’s bill easily cleared the hurdle of majority support, gaining final passage by a count of 271-154 largely along party lines."
Obamacare Has Reversed A Negative Trend. Researchers Call It ‘Remarkable.’
http://thinkprogress.org/health/2015/01/15/3611905/obamacare-medical-bills-commonwealth/
"Commonwealth’s findings, which also documented a drop in the number of Americans going without insurance, track closely with other surveys that have reported declines in the uninsured rate under Obamacare. The number of Americans without health care was reduced by about 25 percent last year, which means that between eight million and eleven million people have gained coverage."
"Commonwealth’s findings, which also documented a drop in the number of Americans going without insurance, track closely with other surveys that have reported declines in the uninsured rate under Obamacare. The number of Americans without health care was reduced by about 25 percent last year, which means that between eight million and eleven million people have gained coverage."
Monday, January 19, 2015
Bobby Jindal Embarrasses Himself In Europe With Retracted Fox News Story
Bobby Jindal Embarrasses Himself In Europe With Retracted Fox News Story
"What the hell is Bobby Jindal doing giving speeches in London on claims that have been retracted by Steven Emerson after being mocked with the hashtag #FoxNewsFacts, and even Fox News issued a very rare retraction and apology? Isn’t he supposed to be home finding ways to balance the budget which is about to implode due to falling oil prices and massive layoffs in the oil industry? Bobby Jindal claims that he’s over there to promote economic development, but honestly, who wants to move to or invest in a state with awful infrastructure (try getting from Lafayette to Baton Rouge when there’s been an accident on I-10), unhealthy residents, and an education system that ranks near the bottom of the pile?"
"What the hell is Bobby Jindal doing giving speeches in London on claims that have been retracted by Steven Emerson after being mocked with the hashtag #FoxNewsFacts, and even Fox News issued a very rare retraction and apology? Isn’t he supposed to be home finding ways to balance the budget which is about to implode due to falling oil prices and massive layoffs in the oil industry? Bobby Jindal claims that he’s over there to promote economic development, but honestly, who wants to move to or invest in a state with awful infrastructure (try getting from Lafayette to Baton Rouge when there’s been an accident on I-10), unhealthy residents, and an education system that ranks near the bottom of the pile?"
Friday, January 16, 2015
No conflict of interest here: PepsiCo lobbyist to help rewrite nutrition policy for children
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/01/13/1357512/-Top-PepsiCo-lobbyist-will-be-Senate-Agricultural-Committee-s-new-GOP-chief-of-staff
"And this is perfectly normal because anyone who objects to such a system is not a team player, will not get paid lots of money by those companies, and will be stuck working for the government from then on in, and working for the government long-term is one of those icky things that senators sneer at because then you are just a moocher and a petty functionary and the exact sort of government bureaucrat that your senator and the good people of PepsiCo have come to Washington to do battle against, because you are bad and money freedom is good and the Women, Infants and Children of this great nation will eat whatever the food companies of America damn well tell them to eat, you freedom-hating government nobody."
"And this is perfectly normal because anyone who objects to such a system is not a team player, will not get paid lots of money by those companies, and will be stuck working for the government from then on in, and working for the government long-term is one of those icky things that senators sneer at because then you are just a moocher and a petty functionary and the exact sort of government bureaucrat that your senator and the good people of PepsiCo have come to Washington to do battle against, because you are bad and money freedom is good and the Women, Infants and Children of this great nation will eat whatever the food companies of America damn well tell them to eat, you freedom-hating government nobody."
Fox News Viewers And Conservatives Were Asked A Question, Their Answer Made Me Sad For America (VIDEO)
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/01/15/fox-news-viewers-and-conservatives-were-asked-a-question-their-answer-made-me-sad-for-america-video/
"Fox and Conservatives in particular want to treat every matter like it’s open to opinion, when it simply is not. We are all welcome to our own opinions, but there are also black and white issues of fact and fiction where opinion is irrelevant."
"Fox and Conservatives in particular want to treat every matter like it’s open to opinion, when it simply is not. We are all welcome to our own opinions, but there are also black and white issues of fact and fiction where opinion is irrelevant."
Kansas GOP Governor Says He Needs To Slash School Funding After His Tax Cuts Bankrupts Treasury
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/01/13/kansas-gop-governor-says-he-needs-to-slash-school-funding-after-his-tax-cuts-bankrupts-treasury/
"Just a few years ago, Kansas Republican Gov. Sam Brownback wanted to show the world how great trickle-down economics could be, and now that his experiment blew up in his face, he admits he may need to start slashing funding for education to make up for it. But don’t worry, education wasn’t his first choice, he already plundered pensions and infrastructure."
"Just a few years ago, Kansas Republican Gov. Sam Brownback wanted to show the world how great trickle-down economics could be, and now that his experiment blew up in his face, he admits he may need to start slashing funding for education to make up for it. But don’t worry, education wasn’t his first choice, he already plundered pensions and infrastructure."
GOP House Budget Chair Tom Price Is Itching To Cut Social Security
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/01/13/gop-house-budget-chair-tom-price-itching-cut-social-security.html
"They are going after social security, and if you voted for them, your future suffering was self-inflicted."
"They are going after social security, and if you voted for them, your future suffering was self-inflicted."
Thursday, January 15, 2015
You call these “moderates”?! How the far right hopes to fool America (again)
You call these “moderates”?! How the far right hopes to fool America (again)
"The Beltway conventional wisdom now says the GOP is moving to the center and proving they can govern. Come again?"
"The Beltway conventional wisdom now says the GOP is moving to the center and proving they can govern. Come again?"
The 114th Congress’ First Week on the Job
http://quietmike.org/2015/01/10/114th-congress-first-week-job/
"Lastly, Mitch McConnell tried to take credit for the economic recovery and low unemployment rate. He tried to say that it was because Republicans won both the House and the Senate. What he actually did was praise President Obama without realizing it. Cursory research reveals blatant hypocrisy on the part of The Man Called Turtle.
It seems that the House of Representatives is throwing everything they can at the President as fast as they can. They’re taking a quick recess, and then they’re going to come back at all of us. Hard.
This is going to be a wild ride. Hang on to your hat."
"Lastly, Mitch McConnell tried to take credit for the economic recovery and low unemployment rate. He tried to say that it was because Republicans won both the House and the Senate. What he actually did was praise President Obama without realizing it. Cursory research reveals blatant hypocrisy on the part of The Man Called Turtle.
It seems that the House of Representatives is throwing everything they can at the President as fast as they can. They’re taking a quick recess, and then they’re going to come back at all of us. Hard.
This is going to be a wild ride. Hang on to your hat."
Romney Wants To Fight Poverty. Here’s How His 2012 Agenda Would Have Devastated The Poor.
http://thinkprogress.org/election/2015/01/13/3610933/mitt-romney-third-campaign-poverty/
"For Romney, the new focus is jarring. After all, he ran his 2012 campaign on policies that would have disproportionately benefited the wealthiest Americans and regularly argued that poor people didn’t need his help."
"For Romney, the new focus is jarring. After all, he ran his 2012 campaign on policies that would have disproportionately benefited the wealthiest Americans and regularly argued that poor people didn’t need his help."
Comparing Obama To Hitler, GOP Congressman Follows Conservative Media Lead
http://mediamatters.org/blog/2015/01/13/comparing-obama-to-hitler-gop-congressman-follo/202113
"For years, the Anti-Defamation League has been grappling with the mainstreaming of Hitler rhetoric by American conservatives. Last year the ADL again tried to raise a red flag, declaring, "The six million Jewish victims and millions of other victims of Hitler deserve better. Their deaths should not be used for political points or sloganeering. This type of comparison diminishes and trivializes the Holocaust."
The conservative media and the Republican Party aren't listening."
"For years, the Anti-Defamation League has been grappling with the mainstreaming of Hitler rhetoric by American conservatives. Last year the ADL again tried to raise a red flag, declaring, "The six million Jewish victims and millions of other victims of Hitler deserve better. Their deaths should not be used for political points or sloganeering. This type of comparison diminishes and trivializes the Holocaust."
The conservative media and the Republican Party aren't listening."
‘No Gays Allowed’ Law Set To Pass In Virginia
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/01/13/no-gays-allowed-law-set-to-pass-in-virginia/
"This would make it lawful for LGBT people to be barred from hotels, restaurants, schools, hospitals, and any other premise where a good or service is exchanged by someone who dislikes their sexual orientation"
"This would make it lawful for LGBT people to be barred from hotels, restaurants, schools, hospitals, and any other premise where a good or service is exchanged by someone who dislikes their sexual orientation"
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
The 80-Year Conservative War On Social Security Is Back For More
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/conservative-war-on-social-security-history
"Conservatives finally made their play for privatizing Social Security during the second Bush administration.
George W. Bush told conservatives in the midst of the 2000 campaign that Republicans "have to find a way to allow people to invest a percentage of their payroll tax in the capital markets" -- a new incarnation of the individual accounts or privatization concept.
But the GOP was getting sharper with its rhetoric. The libertarian Cato Institute renamed its existing Project on Social Security Privatization to the Project on Social Security Choice in 2002. The overall effect of the Bush-era proposals was the same, turning a guaranteed benefit into something else entirely, but they had figured out what they thought were better ways to talk about it.
"BANISH PRIVATIZATION FROM YOUR LEXICON," read a memo that Republican pollster Frank Luntz gave Bush during the 2004 campaign. But while Bush made Social Security a top priority at the onset of his second term and undertook a national tour to discuss the issue, those who support the traditional program rallied against it."
"Conservatives finally made their play for privatizing Social Security during the second Bush administration.
George W. Bush told conservatives in the midst of the 2000 campaign that Republicans "have to find a way to allow people to invest a percentage of their payroll tax in the capital markets" -- a new incarnation of the individual accounts or privatization concept.
But the GOP was getting sharper with its rhetoric. The libertarian Cato Institute renamed its existing Project on Social Security Privatization to the Project on Social Security Choice in 2002. The overall effect of the Bush-era proposals was the same, turning a guaranteed benefit into something else entirely, but they had figured out what they thought were better ways to talk about it.
"BANISH PRIVATIZATION FROM YOUR LEXICON," read a memo that Republican pollster Frank Luntz gave Bush during the 2004 campaign. But while Bush made Social Security a top priority at the onset of his second term and undertook a national tour to discuss the issue, those who support the traditional program rallied against it."
Republican Committee Chair Ron Johnson Says That A Single Working Mother Should ‘Find Someone To Support Her’ (VIDEO)
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/01/14/more-republican-sexism/
"What some Republicans don’t seem understand is that most single mothers do not receive welfare."
"What some Republicans don’t seem understand is that most single mothers do not receive welfare."
The March for Life is a march against birth control. Will the GOP get behind it?
The March for Life is a march against birth control. Will the GOP get behind it?
"Americans are pretty clear about birth control: They like it. They use it. A Kaiser Health Tracking Poll released last year found the public supports the birth control requirement in the new healthcare law by a 2-to-1 margin. And according to another report from Guttmacher, more than 99 percent of women between the ages of 15 and 44 who have ever had sex have used at least one contraceptive method, and that number holds for sexually experienced Catholic and Protestant women, too.
And the GOP kind of gets this, that an overwhelming number of people in this country like being able to have sex without having babies. Which is why you saw Colorado Sen. Cory Gardner and others do all manner of gymnastics to blunt their anti-choice records with campaign talk about over-the-counter birth control. (That particular priority, by the way, is nowhere on the Republican agenda for the new Congress.)"
"Americans are pretty clear about birth control: They like it. They use it. A Kaiser Health Tracking Poll released last year found the public supports the birth control requirement in the new healthcare law by a 2-to-1 margin. And according to another report from Guttmacher, more than 99 percent of women between the ages of 15 and 44 who have ever had sex have used at least one contraceptive method, and that number holds for sexually experienced Catholic and Protestant women, too.
And the GOP kind of gets this, that an overwhelming number of people in this country like being able to have sex without having babies. Which is why you saw Colorado Sen. Cory Gardner and others do all manner of gymnastics to blunt their anti-choice records with campaign talk about over-the-counter birth control. (That particular priority, by the way, is nowhere on the Republican agenda for the new Congress.)"
The House Is Set to Pass a GOP Bill Wiping Out Wall Street Reforms
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/01/dodd-frank-bill-house-gop-hr-37
"The bill, introduced by Rep. Michael Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), is called the Promoting Job Creation and Reducing Small Business Burdens Act, but its name obscures what it would actually do. The legislation is a compilation of deregulatory bills that failed to pass the Democrat-controlled Senate in the last Congress. It would alter nearly a dozen provisions of the 2010 Dodd-Frank financial reform law, loosening regulation of Wall Street banks."
"The bill, introduced by Rep. Michael Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), is called the Promoting Job Creation and Reducing Small Business Burdens Act, but its name obscures what it would actually do. The legislation is a compilation of deregulatory bills that failed to pass the Democrat-controlled Senate in the last Congress. It would alter nearly a dozen provisions of the 2010 Dodd-Frank financial reform law, loosening regulation of Wall Street banks."
House Republicans poised to gut Wall Street reforms
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/01/13/1357502/-House-Republicans-poised-to-gut-Wall-Street-reforms
"And just to make sure that all of this happens out of the glare of the public eye, this bill would weaken the transparency rules that Dodd-Frank imposed on publicly traded companies. It would exempt the majority of them from the rules about what has to be included in their financial statements filed with the SEC. That includes allowing some to omit historical data showing their past financial performance."
"And just to make sure that all of this happens out of the glare of the public eye, this bill would weaken the transparency rules that Dodd-Frank imposed on publicly traded companies. It would exempt the majority of them from the rules about what has to be included in their financial statements filed with the SEC. That includes allowing some to omit historical data showing their past financial performance."
Of the 21 GOP-led House committees, only one is headed by a woman … and it sucks
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/01/12/1357257/-Of-the-21-GOP-led-House-Committees-only-one-is-headed-by-a-woman-and-it-sucks
"Perhaps the lack of GOP leadership roles for women has to do with the fact that just 22 of 246 House Republicans are female, whereas 65 of 188 House Democrats are female. Overall, a record 107 women are serving in the 114th Congress, 79 Democrats and 28 Republicans."
"Perhaps the lack of GOP leadership roles for women has to do with the fact that just 22 of 246 House Republicans are female, whereas 65 of 188 House Democrats are female. Overall, a record 107 women are serving in the 114th Congress, 79 Democrats and 28 Republicans."
Texas GOP Bill Takes Salaries And Pensions Away From State Employees Who Obey Federal Same-Sex Marriage Rulings
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/01/09/texas-gop-bill-takes-salaries-and-pensions-away-from-state-employees-who-obey-federal-same-sex-marriage-rulings/
"If Texas Republicans pass this bill, the federal government should respond by stripping Texas of the more than $80 billion of federal cash it gets every year. Then we can all watch as Texas Republicans scramble to repeal it and take pleasure in watching them beg for the money their constituents lost because of their incompetent desire to whine about federal laws and court rulings out of some misguided effort to re-fight the Civil War."
"If Texas Republicans pass this bill, the federal government should respond by stripping Texas of the more than $80 billion of federal cash it gets every year. Then we can all watch as Texas Republicans scramble to repeal it and take pleasure in watching them beg for the money their constituents lost because of their incompetent desire to whine about federal laws and court rulings out of some misguided effort to re-fight the Civil War."
With Wall Street Holding the Strings, Republican-Controlled Congress Moves to Deregulate Big Banks
With Wall Street Holding the Strings, Republican-Controlled Congress Moves to Deregulate Big Banks
"Just weeks after taking over both houses of Congress, the Republican party is already aggressively moving to weaken legislation aimed at reining in big banks and protecting the public."
"Just weeks after taking over both houses of Congress, the Republican party is already aggressively moving to weaken legislation aimed at reining in big banks and protecting the public."
Obamacare had strong enrollments through January 1
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/01/09/1356665/-Obamacare-had-strong-enrollments-through-January-nbsp-1
"Obamacare enrollment for plans beginning January 1 has ended, but the exchanges remain open until February 15 for people who don't have coverage through their employers. But the January 1 deadline ended strong, with the government reporting nearly 6.6 million enrollments."
"Obamacare enrollment for plans beginning January 1 has ended, but the exchanges remain open until February 15 for people who don't have coverage through their employers. But the January 1 deadline ended strong, with the government reporting nearly 6.6 million enrollments."
Free Community College is a Big Deal. Debt-Free College Would Be Transformative.
http://www.demos.org/blog/1/9/15/free-community-college-big-deal-debt-free-college-would-be-transformative
"It wasn’t until the mid-1990s in which borrowing for college became the norm. Before that, low tuition and high state investment meant that students could afford college via part-time work or modest savings. But decades of neglect in our public institutions has led to a moment in which students borrow $30 billion each year to attend public colleges and universities.
Making public higher education a public good again isn’t going to happen overnight, and the idea of free tuition for the 45 percent of American students who attend community college is a nice start. Making public college debt-free again could be transformative."
"It wasn’t until the mid-1990s in which borrowing for college became the norm. Before that, low tuition and high state investment meant that students could afford college via part-time work or modest savings. But decades of neglect in our public institutions has led to a moment in which students borrow $30 billion each year to attend public colleges and universities.
Making public higher education a public good again isn’t going to happen overnight, and the idea of free tuition for the 45 percent of American students who attend community college is a nice start. Making public college debt-free again could be transformative."
Tuesday, January 13, 2015
Ted Cruz Takes Space And Marco Rubio Takes Earth: How The Senate Flip Could Undermine Science
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2015/01/13/3610709/ted-cruz-marco-rubio-climate-research/
"The reversal of the U.S. Senate’s majority party is falling into place, and there is reason for concern over how new committee chairs will influence the agencies they oversee. Right now two big reasons are garnering the most attention: Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) will chair the subcommittee that oversees NASA, and Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) will chair to the subcommittee that oversees the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA. Both have gone on record denying human-caused climate change."
"The reversal of the U.S. Senate’s majority party is falling into place, and there is reason for concern over how new committee chairs will influence the agencies they oversee. Right now two big reasons are garnering the most attention: Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) will chair the subcommittee that oversees NASA, and Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) will chair to the subcommittee that oversees the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA. Both have gone on record denying human-caused climate change."
Republicans Appoint Scientifically Illiterate Ted Cruz To Oversee NASA
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/01/12/republicans-appoint-scientifically-illiterate-ted-cruz-to-oversee-nasa/
"when it came to who would oversee the nation’s science programs, the GOP wasted no time in appointing one of their own who not only doesn’t agree with most current scientific discoveries, but has actively tried to defund science research in the past."
"when it came to who would oversee the nation’s science programs, the GOP wasted no time in appointing one of their own who not only doesn’t agree with most current scientific discoveries, but has actively tried to defund science research in the past."
Bad News for Texas: Thanks to Republican Leadership, the State’s Headed for Trouble
Bad News for Texas: Thanks to Republican Leadership, the State’s Headed for Trouble
"What Texas needs to do is take a good long look at what the tax cut-loving tea partiers did in Kansas, because that’s exactly where the state is headed under Republican leadership that doesn’t have a booming oil industry to fall back on. Because at the end of the day, political rhetoric and propaganda won’t create jobs. You have to have a plan, and that’s something Republicans don’t have."The truth is, Republicans don’t have a “job creating ideology.”
"What Texas needs to do is take a good long look at what the tax cut-loving tea partiers did in Kansas, because that’s exactly where the state is headed under Republican leadership that doesn’t have a booming oil industry to fall back on. Because at the end of the day, political rhetoric and propaganda won’t create jobs. You have to have a plan, and that’s something Republicans don’t have."The truth is, Republicans don’t have a “job creating ideology.”
Chris Christie’s Jersey nightmare: Why his state hasn’t touched the economic recovery
Chris Christie’s Jersey nightmare: Why his state hasn’t touched the economic recovery
"Twenty-first century New Jersey is a state so disconnected from the national narrative of “recovery” it might as well be its own country. The fact that the major media has ignored this story for so long is a tribute to Governor Christie’s prowess as a great entertainer. Not since the arrival of the Great Pandas from China has the major media been so distracted by sideshow antics."
"Twenty-first century New Jersey is a state so disconnected from the national narrative of “recovery” it might as well be its own country. The fact that the major media has ignored this story for so long is a tribute to Governor Christie’s prowess as a great entertainer. Not since the arrival of the Great Pandas from China has the major media been so distracted by sideshow antics."
Fox News Whines That The 1% Might Have To Pay Their Fair Share
Fox News Whines That The 1% Might Have To Pay Their Fair Share
"Haven't we heard enough from these fake news people that the Ryan Plan works for national prosperity? Facts are facts and we know a higher tax rate, which is unbelievably lower than Republican icon, Dwight Eisenhower's rates, works perfectly. Imagine if this Koch-Congress wanted to really heal the economy and create millions of infrastructure-repairing jobs? Of course they don't, so until we change the rules of Gerrymandering, the Democrats will have to settle for Executive Orders. You can rest assured, the GOP-TV people can be sufficiently outraged over the tyrannical, lawless, Socialist Kenyan Muslim President for the next two years."
"Haven't we heard enough from these fake news people that the Ryan Plan works for national prosperity? Facts are facts and we know a higher tax rate, which is unbelievably lower than Republican icon, Dwight Eisenhower's rates, works perfectly. Imagine if this Koch-Congress wanted to really heal the economy and create millions of infrastructure-repairing jobs? Of course they don't, so until we change the rules of Gerrymandering, the Democrats will have to settle for Executive Orders. You can rest assured, the GOP-TV people can be sufficiently outraged over the tyrannical, lawless, Socialist Kenyan Muslim President for the next two years."
House GOP Will Mark The Anniversary Of Roe v. Wade By Voting On National Abortion Ban
http://thinkprogress.org/health/2015/01/13/3611027/house-gop-abortion-vote/
"Next week, on the 42nd anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion across the country, House Republicans will mark the occasion by voting on — and, in all likelihood, advancing — a national abortion ban."
"Next week, on the 42nd anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion across the country, House Republicans will mark the occasion by voting on — and, in all likelihood, advancing — a national abortion ban."
WI Republicans Poised To Pass Education Privatization Bill
WI Republicans Poised To Pass Education Privatization Bill
"The Republicans have already passed legislation forcing the Milwaukee Public Schools to sell off school buildings to religious institutions and private voucher schools. This new bill only helps expediting the selling off of these buildings.
Ironically, the Republicans are claiming that this forced privatization is needed for accountability. The only accountability the Republicans are really worried about is being accountable to the big money special interests that bankroll their campaigns."
"The Republicans have already passed legislation forcing the Milwaukee Public Schools to sell off school buildings to religious institutions and private voucher schools. This new bill only helps expediting the selling off of these buildings.
Ironically, the Republicans are claiming that this forced privatization is needed for accountability. The only accountability the Republicans are really worried about is being accountable to the big money special interests that bankroll their campaigns."
To Pay For His Failed Experiment With Trickle-Down Economics, Kansas Governor Could Raid The School Budget
http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2015/01/13/3610739/kansas-brownback-budget-crisis-preview/
"None of this means the diehard conservative will reverse course or even make small concessions to critics who have warned for years that his trickle-down tax cuts would harm the Kansas economy"
"None of this means the diehard conservative will reverse course or even make small concessions to critics who have warned for years that his trickle-down tax cuts would harm the Kansas economy"
From awful to calamitous: Sam Brownback’s second term is off to a terrible start
From awful to calamitous: Sam Brownback’s second term is off to a terrible start
"In the meantime, the governor confronts a budget crisis of his own making — and an economic climate that is prompting many Kansans to abandon the Sunflower State. Amid the havoc he wreaked on the state, Kansas ranked seventh in the nation last year among states residents left. Pitching his tax cuts two years ago, however, the governor predicted a very different situation."
"In the meantime, the governor confronts a budget crisis of his own making — and an economic climate that is prompting many Kansans to abandon the Sunflower State. Amid the havoc he wreaked on the state, Kansas ranked seventh in the nation last year among states residents left. Pitching his tax cuts two years ago, however, the governor predicted a very different situation."
John Boehner Votes to Create 35 Jobs! It’s a Jobgasm!
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/01/10/john-boehner-votes-create-35-jobs-jobgasm.html
"You can no longer say House Republicans are opposed to job creation. Set aside for a moment President Obama’s creation of millions of jobs. John Boehner just led the vote to create 35 whole jobs! That’s right. Not 20. Not even 25. But 35.
Get out of the way of progress, Mr. President!
Of course, President Obama just finished up the best job creation year for a president since Bill Clinton in 1999 by creating 2.5 million jobs in 2014. The Republicans, on the other hand, have done everything possible for SIX YEARS to prevent the creation of even a single job.
But John Boehner is bragging on those 35 permanent positions resulting from a dangerous oil pipeline that will enrich Canadian oil companies who will then sell the oil overseas."
"You can no longer say House Republicans are opposed to job creation. Set aside for a moment President Obama’s creation of millions of jobs. John Boehner just led the vote to create 35 whole jobs! That’s right. Not 20. Not even 25. But 35.
Get out of the way of progress, Mr. President!
Of course, President Obama just finished up the best job creation year for a president since Bill Clinton in 1999 by creating 2.5 million jobs in 2014. The Republicans, on the other hand, have done everything possible for SIX YEARS to prevent the creation of even a single job.
But John Boehner is bragging on those 35 permanent positions resulting from a dangerous oil pipeline that will enrich Canadian oil companies who will then sell the oil overseas."
Carly Fiorina Is Suddenly Concerned About Income Inequality
Carly Fiorina Is Suddenly Concerned About Income Inequality
"As CEO of Hewlett-Packard, Fiorina was responsible for thousands of layoffs, outsourcing jobs overseas, and gutting the shared prosperity that Silicon Valley used to pride itself on. She declared that her only mistake at HP was not firing even more people than she did.
Worse yet, everything she did while there actually led to the destruction of the HP brand, one of the oldest and most respected in the industry. Watch for Fiorina to claim her executive ability is her best qualifier for the Presidency. She'll tell everyone she cares about average Americans but truly, she only cares about whatever the US Chamber of Commerce and her pals over at Koch Industries care about, and her own words confirm that.
Republicans are going to keep pretending they care about income inequality and populist issues because they understand how important those are to regular voters. But actions speak far louder than words, and fundamental Republican policies make that inequality worse and harder for working people."
"As CEO of Hewlett-Packard, Fiorina was responsible for thousands of layoffs, outsourcing jobs overseas, and gutting the shared prosperity that Silicon Valley used to pride itself on. She declared that her only mistake at HP was not firing even more people than she did.
Worse yet, everything she did while there actually led to the destruction of the HP brand, one of the oldest and most respected in the industry. Watch for Fiorina to claim her executive ability is her best qualifier for the Presidency. She'll tell everyone she cares about average Americans but truly, she only cares about whatever the US Chamber of Commerce and her pals over at Koch Industries care about, and her own words confirm that.
Republicans are going to keep pretending they care about income inequality and populist issues because they understand how important those are to regular voters. But actions speak far louder than words, and fundamental Republican policies make that inequality worse and harder for working people."
The First Four Things Republicans Are Trying to Change May Scare You
http://truth-out.org/opinion/item/28467-the-first-four-things-republicans-are-trying-to-change-may-scare-you
"4. Stripping Existing Wall Street Regulations
Taking a bunch of previously DOA financial bills that went nowhere when Democrats were in power, the Republicans created one big super-bill that their friends in the banking industry were no doubt proud to see moved forward. The bill would make it easier for corporations to commit fraud (and get away with it), allow executives to not have to disclose certain pertinent pieces of information to the public or investigators, and get rid of several established and important regulations that supposedly put a "burden" on business.
The Republicans tried to push the legislation through swiftly while the normal House rules were suspended, but fortunately lacked the 2/3 majority necessary to pass the legislation during this time thanks to opposition from most House Democrats. Still, that won't likely stop Republicans from taking similar steps under circumstances where only a simple majority is necessary."
"4. Stripping Existing Wall Street Regulations
Taking a bunch of previously DOA financial bills that went nowhere when Democrats were in power, the Republicans created one big super-bill that their friends in the banking industry were no doubt proud to see moved forward. The bill would make it easier for corporations to commit fraud (and get away with it), allow executives to not have to disclose certain pertinent pieces of information to the public or investigators, and get rid of several established and important regulations that supposedly put a "burden" on business.
The Republicans tried to push the legislation through swiftly while the normal House rules were suspended, but fortunately lacked the 2/3 majority necessary to pass the legislation during this time thanks to opposition from most House Democrats. Still, that won't likely stop Republicans from taking similar steps under circumstances where only a simple majority is necessary."
John Boehner Screws Over The American People By Blocking A $2,000 Middle Class Tax Cut
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/01/12/john-boehner-screws-american-people-blocking-2000-middle-class-tax-cut.html
"By the People’s House, Speaker Boehner means the Koch brothers, corporations, or other special interests. If Republicans were serious about governing, they would seize the opportunity to pass a middle-class tax cut that Democrats would support and the president would sign. Instead, Republicans are using their power in Congress to harm the middle class while claiming to be carrying out the will of the people."
"By the People’s House, Speaker Boehner means the Koch brothers, corporations, or other special interests. If Republicans were serious about governing, they would seize the opportunity to pass a middle-class tax cut that Democrats would support and the president would sign. Instead, Republicans are using their power in Congress to harm the middle class while claiming to be carrying out the will of the people."
Elizabeth Warren's Economic Agenda
Elizabeth Warren's Economic Agenda
"Elizabeth Warren's plan would bring us back to the economy of the post-New Deal years, an economy that was both fairer and far more prosperous for most people."
"Elizabeth Warren's plan would bring us back to the economy of the post-New Deal years, an economy that was both fairer and far more prosperous for most people."
GOP Is Bringing Two More Years Of War Against Disabled Americans, Women, The Elderly, The Poor, And Math
GOP Is Bringing Two More Years Of War Against Disabled Americans, Women, The Elderly, The Poor, And Math
"Welcome to 2015; the 114th Congress is gearing up for the new year, and with it, brand new assaults women, the elderly, the disabled, math, science, history, and reality in general."
"Welcome to 2015; the 114th Congress is gearing up for the new year, and with it, brand new assaults women, the elderly, the disabled, math, science, history, and reality in general."
The Anti-Science Climate Denier Caucus: 114th Congress Edition
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2015/01/08/3608427/climate-denier-caucus-114th-congress/
"The members of the 114th Congress who have publicly misrepresented the science behind global warming have accepted their fair share of contributions from the fossil fuel industry. The 39 climate deniers in the Senate have taken $28,152,466 in donations from the coal, oil and gas industries, while the 61 Senators who haven’t denied the science have taken $11,033,447 in career contributions, according to the CAP Action analysis. On average, Senate deniers took $721,858 from fossil fuel interests while other Senators took $180,876."
"The members of the 114th Congress who have publicly misrepresented the science behind global warming have accepted their fair share of contributions from the fossil fuel industry. The 39 climate deniers in the Senate have taken $28,152,466 in donations from the coal, oil and gas industries, while the 61 Senators who haven’t denied the science have taken $11,033,447 in career contributions, according to the CAP Action analysis. On average, Senate deniers took $721,858 from fossil fuel interests while other Senators took $180,876."
Paul Krugman Eviscerates Crazy Voodoo Economics of New GOP-led Congress | Alternet
Paul Krugman Eviscerates Crazy Voodoo Economics of New GOP-led Congress | Alternet
"It's a little funny, and a lot scary, because underlying this and other Republican talking points are ideologies that simply do not respond to an overwhelming volume of contrary, real-world evidence. How on earth can you reason with, let alone work with these people, who'd rather resort to conspiracy theories than acknowledge reality?"
"It's a little funny, and a lot scary, because underlying this and other Republican talking points are ideologies that simply do not respond to an overwhelming volume of contrary, real-world evidence. How on earth can you reason with, let alone work with these people, who'd rather resort to conspiracy theories than acknowledge reality?"
PERRspectives: 14 Things I Learned in 2014
PERRspectives: 14 Things I Learned in 2014
"The "Red State Model" is dead. In 2013, Arthur Laffer and Stephen Moore praised "the Red State path to prosperity." Slashing regulations, encouraging full-throttle energy exploration and, most of all, cutting taxes, they insisted, was the "Red State Model" for economic success. Their poster child was Sam Brownback, the Kansas Governor whose "Midwest renaissance rooted in the Reagan model" by early 2014 had Yahoo News describing him as "the possible GOP presidential contender no one's talking about." Alas, it didn't turn out that way. Tax-cutting Republicans governors like Chris Christie (R-NJ) and Brownback are instead facing catastrophic revenue shortfalls and imposing draconian cuts to public services, all while lagging America's overall economic performance."
"The "Red State Model" is dead. In 2013, Arthur Laffer and Stephen Moore praised "the Red State path to prosperity." Slashing regulations, encouraging full-throttle energy exploration and, most of all, cutting taxes, they insisted, was the "Red State Model" for economic success. Their poster child was Sam Brownback, the Kansas Governor whose "Midwest renaissance rooted in the Reagan model" by early 2014 had Yahoo News describing him as "the possible GOP presidential contender no one's talking about." Alas, it didn't turn out that way. Tax-cutting Republicans governors like Chris Christie (R-NJ) and Brownback are instead facing catastrophic revenue shortfalls and imposing draconian cuts to public services, all while lagging America's overall economic performance."
Thanks To Obamacare, Uninsured Rates Hit Record Lows – Again
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/01/07/thanks-to-obamacare-uninsured-rates-hit-record-lows-again/
"Obamacare has accomplished (and will still accomplish) exactly what it was designed to do. I’m waiting for the Republican apology for all the wasted time on frivolous repeal attempts and mass lying to the American public."
"Obamacare has accomplished (and will still accomplish) exactly what it was designed to do. I’m waiting for the Republican apology for all the wasted time on frivolous repeal attempts and mass lying to the American public."
Scott Walker Completely Destroys GOP Obamacare Challenge
Scott Walker Completely Destroys GOP Obamacare Challenge
"He's no fan of the Affordable Care Act; indeed, he's a Kochhead and therefore wants to kill it and all those newly insured people with it.
Nevertheless, he has managed to destroy the central argument going before the United States Supreme Court intended to gut Obamacare."
"He's no fan of the Affordable Care Act; indeed, he's a Kochhead and therefore wants to kill it and all those newly insured people with it.
Nevertheless, he has managed to destroy the central argument going before the United States Supreme Court intended to gut Obamacare."
The Changing Face of America’s Electorate
https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/immigration/report/2015/01/06/101605/the-changing-face-of-americas-electorate/
"Demographic changes are occurring at such rapid rates that, in some states, regaining 2004 levels of support simply will not be enough for the Republican presidential candidate to win them back in 2016. In other words, as voters of color become a larger share of the electorate, winning a state in 2016 will necessitate a higher level of support among voters of color than in past elections."
"Demographic changes are occurring at such rapid rates that, in some states, regaining 2004 levels of support simply will not be enough for the Republican presidential candidate to win them back in 2016. In other words, as voters of color become a larger share of the electorate, winning a state in 2016 will necessitate a higher level of support among voters of color than in past elections."
Monday, January 12, 2015
Media Ignore Supreme Court Case On Campaign Finance In Judicial Elections
http://mediamatters.org/blog/2015/01/07/media-ignore-supreme-court-case-on-campaign-fin/202044
"Major network newscasts have given almost no coverage to an upcoming Supreme Court case that will decide whether judicial candidates can personally solicit campaign donations -- despite the risk of corruption."
"Major network newscasts have given almost no coverage to an upcoming Supreme Court case that will decide whether judicial candidates can personally solicit campaign donations -- despite the risk of corruption."
Former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell Given 2 Years In Prison
Former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell Given 2 Years In Prison
"A federal judge has sentenced former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell to two years in prison, followed by two years of supervised release, for 11 convictions on public corruption charges."
"A federal judge has sentenced former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell to two years in prison, followed by two years of supervised release, for 11 convictions on public corruption charges."
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