Friday, January 1, 2016

2015 Hottest Year on Record

Ted Cruz Gets Busted Blaming Obama for Bush Administration Policy

Ted Cruz Gets Busted Blaming Obama for Bush Administration Policy

"Then again, this is Ted Cruz we’re talking about. He’s easily one of the most dishonest politicians in this country. While Donald Trump gets most of the headlines, in my opinion, Ted Cruz is the more dangerous candidate. He’s essentially everything that’s bad about Trump (if not worse), plus a whole load of crazy, right-wing evangelical anti-science nonsense, as well."

5 of the Most Cynical Libertarian Stealth Campaigns of 2015 @alternet

5 of the Most Cynical Libertarian Stealth Campaigns of 2015 @alternet

"Libertarians love to exploit news opportunities to promote their agenda. This year provided some choice opportunities to do just that as Silicon Valley and the Koch brothers ran a few stealth campaigns to privatize and deregulate without the general public or distracted liberals from noticing."

Five Failed Right-Wing Prophecies And Predictions Of 2015 | Right Wing Watch

Five Failed Right-Wing Prophecies And Predictions Of 2015 | Right Wing Watch

"Conservative commentators are running out of time for all of their dire prophecies about President Obama to come true, including fears about the looming imposition of martial law, establishment of Obama’s private army and the assassination of conservative leaders. Right-wing pundits also seemed to have missed with their prophecies about financial collapse, natural disasters and widespread unrest coming in 2015."

This Year In Crazy: 2015 Belonged To The Wingnuts

This Year In Crazy: 2015 Belonged To The Wingnuts

"more insanity, head-spinning untruth, and backwards thinking than anyone could have expected or should have to endure. This is 2015 - The Year In Crazy..."

Exxon's Climate Cover-Up Just Got Bigger: Docs Suggest All Major Oil Giants Have Lied Since 1970s

US Legalization Driving Mexican Farmers Out Of Pot Business @alternet

US Legalization Driving Mexican Farmers Out Of Pot Business @alternet

"The price declines have prompted a notable decline in marijuana production in Mexico, along with a drop in illegal trafficking to the U.S., according to officials on both sides."

U.S. Marijuana Legalization Is Hurting Mexican Cartels & Farmers

Landmark Study Confirms Marijuana Extract Is Amazing Aid to Prevent Seizures in Children With Epilepsy @alternet

Landmark Study Confirms Marijuana Extract Is Amazing Aid to Prevent Seizures in Children With Epilepsy @alternet

"The annual meeting of the American Epilepsy Society took place in early December, and the largest study presented confirmed the astounding benefits of medical cannabis to treat seizures."

Medical Marijuana Is Saving Lives; What’s The Wait On Legalizing It EVERYWHERE?

Climate Change Threatens Global Food Security — Here's What Needs to Be Done @alternet

Climate Change Threatens Global Food Security — Here's What Needs to Be Done @alternet

"Global food security is not just about how much we grow. To achieve it, we need to look at the bigger picture, particularly at the way in which water and energy needs underpin production."

322 Million Americans Rang in New Year and Wildlife Are Feeling the Squeeze @alternet

322 Million Americans Rang in New Year and Wildlife Are Feeling the Squeeze @alternet

"They call the U.S. home too, but many endangered species are increasingly threatened by human population growth."

Whoa...The Climate Crisis at the North Pole

Erin Brockovich: California Methane Gas Leak Is Worst U.S. Environmental Disaster Since BP Oil Spill @alternet

Erin Brockovich: California Methane Gas Leak Is Worst U.S. Environmental Disaster Since BP Oil Spill @alternet

"Runaway natural gas leak above Los Angeles has emitted more than 150 million pounds of methane since late October."

Climate Chart of the Year? Record Heat, of Course @alternet

Climate Chart of the Year? Record Heat, of Course @alternet

"The world is getting hotter. And hotter, and hotter. As 2015 comes to a close, it will be the hottest year on record, besting the former record holder of 2014 (also known as last year)."

WATCH: Julia Roberts, Harrison Ford and Kevin Spacey Lead All-Star Lineup for Eye-Opening Video Series on the Environment @alternet

WATCH: Julia Roberts, Harrison Ford and Kevin Spacey Lead All-Star Lineup for Eye-Opening Video Series on the Environment @alternet

"Liam Neeson, Edward Norton, Penelope Cruz , Reese Witherspoon and Robert Redford also contribute their voices to 'Nature Is Speaking,' which highlights the importance of nature conservation."

Enormity of Billowing Methane Plume in California 'Cannot Be Overstated'

Enormity of Billowing Methane Plume in California 'Cannot Be Overstated'

"A pipe leak has been releasing an estimated tens of thousands of kilograms of methane into the air every hour since mid-October, leading environmentalists like Erin Brockovich to declare it "a catastrophe the scale of which has not been seen since the 2010 BP oil spill"."

How Is This Not National News?

Ten Weather Extremes That Defined Hottest Year Ever Recorded

Ten Weather Extremes That Defined Hottest Year Ever Recorded

"From droughts to floods to mega-storms, extreme weather over the past 365 days raises disturbing questions about future of climate chaos"

Even Tumbling Fossil Fuel Prices Can't Deter Clean Energy Revolution

Even Tumbling Fossil Fuel Prices Can't Deter Clean Energy Revolution

"2015 saw 'a global surge for wind and solar energy, which occurred despite oil, coal and natural gas selling at bargain rates'."

How The Grinch Brothers Stole The Sun – So They Could Sell It Back To You

http://www.politicususa.com/2015/12/23/grinch-brothers-stole-sun-sell.html
"If the Grinch Brothers have their way, future growth of solar power in the United States will depend on their ability to steal the sun and sell it back to consumers"

DISASTEROUS Methane Leak Poisons California

The 5 Biggest Wins For America’s Public Lands And Wildlife In 2015

http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2015/12/28/3735244/2015-public-lands-wins/
"Despite dozens of failed attempts by one of the most anti-environmental Congresses in history to roll back conservation laws, the Obama administration and lawmakers were able to secure several victories for America’s public lands in 2015."

FOIA Request Shows Govt Lied About Lead in Water, Knowingly Poisoning Countless Children @alternet

FOIA Request Shows Govt Lied About Lead in Water, Knowingly Poisoning Countless Children @alternet

"Instead of keeping children safe from toxic chemicals, Michigan officials repeatedly lied about the safety of their drinking water even though they knew it was poisoned. Last month, the parents of these children and other Flint residents filed a class-action lawsuit against the governor and over a dozen other public officials responsible for failing an entire city. Unfortunately, no amount of money can compensate for the needless loss of a child’s developmental abilities."

Should Rick Snyder Be In Jail for Child Abuse?

Fox's Fickle Finger Stuck On Trump

Fox's Fickle Finger Stuck On Trump

"The Fox Effect is a real thing, and they're pouring it on for Donald Trump."

The GOP's Bleak Demographic Destiny: How to Win the White House When All Your Voters Are Dying @alternet

The GOP's Bleak Demographic Destiny: How to Win the White House When All Your Voters Are Dying @alternet

"Put simply, the Democratic edge among minority voters, younger voters and educated voters keeps getting stronger as each group comes to represent a larger and larger share of the electorate. And that edge will only be more pronounced heading into 2016. At the same time, the Republican base of non-college-educated white voters continues shrinking as a portion of the electorate."

Governor Brags About Vetoing Healthcare For The Poor -- 6 times

Lack Of Public Options Is How The Economy Gets Rigged Against Us

Lack Of Public Options Is How The Economy Gets Rigged Against Us

"We are banned by law from buying into Medicare until we are 65 -- and Republicans are trying to get rid of that by turning Medicare into a limited voucher to buy private scam insurance. That rigs the health care game against We the People."

Alabama Gov. Spending $1.8M In Disaster Relief Money To Fix Up 2nd Mansion For Himself (VIDEO)

http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/12/27/alabama-gov-spending-1-8m-in-disaster-relief-money-to-fix-up-2nd-mansion-for-himself-video/
"The Governor of Alabama, Republican Robert Bentley, has decided to spend between $1.5 million and $1.8 million of money given to it for disaster relief after the 2010 BP oil spill to finance a renovation of the Governor’s second mansion on the beach. Yes, the very same Governor who not that long ago announced the closure of 31 driver’s license offices in primarily black neighborhoods, because of “budget deficits.” Looks like we know where the Governor’s priorities lie."

Governor Diverted BP Oil Spill Funds To Build Himself A Mansion

Alabama Governor Robbed Citizens Of Millions In Oil Spill Money To Rebuild Beachfront Mansion

http://www.occupydemocrats.com/alabama-governor-robbed-citizens-of-millions-in-oil-spill-money-to-rebuild-beachfront-mansion/
"Showing a reckless disregard for the needs of his state’s people in favor of corporate bosses and his own fancy, Alabama’s Republican governor Robert Bentley is renovating an abandoned 7,500 square-foot governor’s mansion with money left over from 2010 BP oil spill settlement. An estimated $1.5 to $1.8 million of grants from the settlement in the Deepwater Horizon spill will be used to cover the costs of refurbishment. Such a blatant pillaging of funds intended to serve the public good for extravagant private use is downright shameful, especially given that the local communities, industry, and environment along Alabama’s Gulf Coast continue to suffer the effects of the enormous oil spill."

The 2015 Fox Primary: It's Trump, And Then Everyone Else

http://mediamatters.org/blog/2015/12/23/the-2015-fox-primary-its-trump-and-then-everyon/207659
"From May 1 to December 15, leading Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump lapped the rest of the field in interview airtime on Fox News. Trump's 22 hours and 46 minutes of airtime was more than twice as much as any other candidate during the period studied. Trump racked up more airtime on the network than Sen. Ted Cruz, former Gov. Jeb Bush, and Sen. Marco Rubio combined. Interviews with the Republican field have been a near-constant fixture of Fox News' programming during the second half of 2015, and The Fox Primary is showing no signs of slowing down as we approach 2016 and the first primaries."

Trump Fans Can't Stop Attacking Protesters

How Marco Rubio’s Scheme To Hurt The Poor Became A Campaign Rallying Cry (VIDEO)

http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/12/23/how-marco-rubios-scheme-to-hurt-the-poor-became-a-campaign-rallying-cry-video/
"Even though it is illegal to coordinate with super PACs, the New York Times pointed out that as this new super PAC ad debuted, Rubio’s campaign sent out an email with the subject “Marco: The Only Candidate to Strike a Blow to Obamacare.” Stomping on the face of those simply trying to have insurance coverage to cover their health care costs has now become just another way for a Republican to be elected president."

Campaign Finance Regulators Won't Do Their Job. Can a Lawsuit Force Their Hand?

http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/12/campaign-finance-regulators-wont-do-their-job-can-watchdogs-force-their-hand
"It's a case that has haunted campaign finance watchdogs for years. The Commission on Hope, Growth, and Opportunity (CHGO) emerged in early 2010 as a nonprofit that would not engage in political work. Then, in the six weeks before the 2010 elections, the group spent about $4 million on political ads across 15 congressional races, all attacking Democrats. But in filings with the IRS, the group maintained that none of its spending was campaign-related, and it did not disclose any of its spending with the Federal Election Commission. Facing complaints from federal regulators, the group folded. Some of its key players—including Scott Reed, now a top strategist at the US Chamber of Commerce, and Wayne Berman, the chief fundraiser for Marco Rubio's presidential campaign—split more than $1 million in leftover funds. No one involved was ever sanctioned. Almost all the money CHGO raised came from a single donor. The group's ability to spring up, use secret money to influence elections, and then disappear provides a template for rich donors who want to pick off or boost candidates without revealing their political activity."

Marco Rubio Describes His Love Affair With Lobbyists

Militia-backing AZ lawmaker who says Earth is 6,000 years old now leads state senate education panel

http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2015/12/22/1462814/-Militia-backing-AZ-lawmaker-who-says-Earth-is-6-000-years-old-now-leads-state-senate-education-panel
"Tea party stalwart Sylvia Allen, who first became a state senator in Arizona (and a national embarrassment) in 2008, has been made chairwoman of the Senate committee handling education legislation. The Phoenix New Times calls her a “professional fruitcake.” Allen is known for a string of bizarre and racist remarks as well as an attachment to conspiracy theories."

Arizona GOP taps creationist chemtrail truther to lead Senate education committee

Arizona GOP taps creationist chemtrail truther to lead Senate education committee

"Allen attended high school but did not go to college. She helped found a charter school in her home town of Snowflake."

Arizona Head Of Education Is A Creationist & A Chemtrail Truther