May 31, 2013
Aspiring Marijuana Mogul, Former President Of Mexico Join Forces In Unlikely Roll-Out Of National Pot Brand
Aspiring Marijuana Mogul, Former President Of Mexico Join Forces In Unlikely Roll-Out Of National Pot Brand: A former Microsoft manager who is acquiring chains of medical marijuana dispensaries announced his plans for a major national, and eventually international, brand at a press conference this week. Jamen Shively’s claims of establishing international trade on marijuana might have seemed a pipe dream, if not for the fact that Shively’s special guest was former [...]/p
Cigarette Maker Funded Dark-Money Conservative Groups
www.motherjones.com/mojo/2013/05/tobacco-dark-money-norquist-koch-brothers
"Reynolds doled out $175,000 to Americans for Tax Reform, conservative activist Grover Norquist's anti-tax group. The company also gave $50,000 to Americans for Prosperity, $45,000 to the US Chamber of Commerce, and $100,000 to the Partnership for Ohio's Future, an Ohio Chamber-backed group that supported restricting the worker bargaining rights."
"Reynolds doled out $175,000 to Americans for Tax Reform, conservative activist Grover Norquist's anti-tax group. The company also gave $50,000 to Americans for Prosperity, $45,000 to the US Chamber of Commerce, and $100,000 to the Partnership for Ohio's Future, an Ohio Chamber-backed group that supported restricting the worker bargaining rights."
After Obama Tears Him a New One, Boehner Lies About Raising Student Loan Rates
www.politicususa.com/obama-tears-one-boehner-lies-raising-student-loan-rates.html
"Boehner’s lies and spin can’t hide the fact that House Republicans keep digging their party in deeper by constantly putting their corporate masters ahead of people. The emptiness of the Republican Party was put on display. When confronted with the truth, all John Boehner could do is respond with lies."
"Boehner’s lies and spin can’t hide the fact that House Republicans keep digging their party in deeper by constantly putting their corporate masters ahead of people. The emptiness of the Republican Party was put on display. When confronted with the truth, all John Boehner could do is respond with lies."
The Latest Report On Medicare Shows The Program Is Getting Stronger
The Latest Report On Medicare Shows The Program Is Getting Stronger: The Medicare Trustees had great news for American seniors on Friday: the program’s solvency has been extended for two full years past what the trustees predicted in 2012. In their annual report, the trustees wrote that Medicare’s hospital insurance trust fund will be fully solvent through 2026. That’s over a decade longer than what the [...]/p
Joe Conason: Watergate Amnesia, the Nixonian Slur and Other Big Lies - Truthdig
Joe Conason: Watergate Amnesia, the Nixonian Slur and Other Big Lies - Truthdig
"Let’s state this very simply, so everybody will understand. The notion that Barack Obama is “Nixonian”—or that his administration’s recent troubles bear any resemblance to “Watergate”—is the biggest media lie since the phony “Whitewater scandal” crested during the Clinton presidency.
Fraudulent as it is, we have listened repeatedly to versions of this bogus comparison uttered by figures as diverse as former Fox News commentator Dick Morris and Bob Woodward of the Washington Post, alongside a phalanx of Republican politicians, including Senator Lindsey Graham and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell—whose latest attack ad directly links Obama with Nixon.
Only in a country afflicted with chronic historical amnesia could they issue such accusations without shame or embarrassment."
"Let’s state this very simply, so everybody will understand. The notion that Barack Obama is “Nixonian”—or that his administration’s recent troubles bear any resemblance to “Watergate”—is the biggest media lie since the phony “Whitewater scandal” crested during the Clinton presidency.
Fraudulent as it is, we have listened repeatedly to versions of this bogus comparison uttered by figures as diverse as former Fox News commentator Dick Morris and Bob Woodward of the Washington Post, alongside a phalanx of Republican politicians, including Senator Lindsey Graham and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell—whose latest attack ad directly links Obama with Nixon.
Only in a country afflicted with chronic historical amnesia could they issue such accusations without shame or embarrassment."
Chinese Meat Firm With Terrible Food Safety Record Buys The Largest Pork Producer In The U.S.
Chinese Meat Firm With Terrible Food Safety Record Buys The Largest Pork Producer In The U.S.: Two global meat giants with shady food safety histories are planning to merge in hopes of becoming the most powerful meat producer in the world. Smithfield Foods, the largest pork producer in the U.S., has been bought by China’s Shuanghui International Holdings Limited for $4.7 billion. If deal is cleared by Smithfield shareholders and the [...]/p
Conservative Activist Urges Republicans To Forget Hispanics, Work Harder At Courting Whites
www.addictinginfo.org/2013/05/31/conservative-activist-urges-republicans-to-forget-hispanics-work-harder-at-courting-whites/
"The truth of the matter is that the GOP has moved ever further to the right since Reagan was in office. It doesn’t matter which side of the political spectrum you’re on; the further toward the fringe you go, the less appeal you will have to the general population."
Read more: http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/05/31/conservative-activist-urges-republicans-to-forget-hispanics-work-harder-at-courting-whites/#ixzz2UtcCoRLx
"The truth of the matter is that the GOP has moved ever further to the right since Reagan was in office. It doesn’t matter which side of the political spectrum you’re on; the further toward the fringe you go, the less appeal you will have to the general population."
Read more: http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/05/31/conservative-activist-urges-republicans-to-forget-hispanics-work-harder-at-courting-whites/#ixzz2UtcCoRLx
Police Allegedly Assault Black Kid Carrying A Puppy For Looking At Them Wrong
Police Allegedly Assault Black Kid Carrying A Puppy For Looking At Them Wrong: Miami-Dade Police allegedly handcuffed and choked a 14 year old boy while he was carrying a newborn puppy for giving them a “dehumanizing” stare. A court case over the incident will begin on July 16th. Tremaine McMillian was, by his account, playing on a beach with a friend and his puppy on the Miami boardwalk [...]/p
Radio Wingnuts Call for Armed 'Peaceful' Overthrow' Of U.S.
Radio Wingnuts Call for Armed 'Peaceful' Overthrow' Of U.S.
"The "Santilli" that he's talking to there is my old pal Pete Santilli, who made violent threats against Hillary Clinton just a couple of weeks ago and doubled down on them last week."
"The "Santilli" that he's talking to there is my old pal Pete Santilli, who made violent threats against Hillary Clinton just a couple of weeks ago and doubled down on them last week."
Monsanto's 'Genetic Pollution' Threatens US Wheat Industry | Common Dreams
Monsanto's 'Genetic Pollution' Threatens US Wheat Industry | Common Dreams
"The U.S. wheat industry is reaping the swift global repercussions of the genetic pollutioncaused by Monsanto's rogue glyphosate-resistant wheat on an Oregon farm."
"The U.S. wheat industry is reaping the swift global repercussions of the genetic pollutioncaused by Monsanto's rogue glyphosate-resistant wheat on an Oregon farm."
Bankruptcy Ruling Leads To Cutting Pensions For Thousands
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
How to Protest Corporate Power | Alternet
How to Protest Corporate Power | Alternet
"The broad movement for peace and social, economic and environmental justice is here and you should be part of it."
"The broad movement for peace and social, economic and environmental justice is here and you should be part of it."
How Tesla's Success Is Rewriting The Future For Electric Cars
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Coal Workers Lose Pensions As Execs At Bankrupt Company Get Bonuses
Coal Workers Lose Pensions As Execs At Bankrupt Company Get Bonuses: On Wednesday, a bankruptcy judge in St. Louis freed a bankrupt coal company from its contractual obligations to retired miners. Judge Kathy Suratt-States explained that Patriot Coal could not be held to its $1.3 billion in pension obligations because the laborers who incurred those obligations shared in the responsibility for the company’s failure: “There is [...]/p
Thanks To Obamacare, Young Adults And Hospitals Saved $147 Million In 2011 Alone
Thanks To Obamacare, Young Adults And Hospitals Saved $147 Million In 2011 Alone: An estimated 3.1 million young Americans who would have lacked health coverage gained access to it thanks to an Obamacare provision that allows adults up to age 26 to remain on their parents’ health insurance. A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine concludes that shift saved young people from paying — [...]/p
Obama To Call On Congress To Avoid Doubling Student Loan Interest Rates
Obama To Call On Congress To Avoid Doubling Student Loan Interest Rates: President Obama will today launch a campaign aimed at preventing interest rates on federal student loans from doubling at the start of July, gathering college students at the White House in an effort to challenge Congress to prevent the rate increase. The White House has already re-upped its “don’t double my rate” campaign, which helped [...]/p
Congress' Farm Bill Readies to Kick Poor Off Food Assistance | Common Dreams
Congress' Farm Bill Readies to Kick Poor Off Food Assistance | Common Dreams
"If the House GOP gets its way, the new Farm Bill passing through Congress will prove the perfect opportunity to make some of the nation's most poor and vulnerable even less secure."
"If the House GOP gets its way, the new Farm Bill passing through Congress will prove the perfect opportunity to make some of the nation's most poor and vulnerable even less secure."
May 30, 2013
How Obamacare May Help Make Health Care Cheaper By Forcing Insurance Giants To Compete
How Obamacare May Help Make Health Care Cheaper By Forcing Insurance Giants To Compete: More than 120 insurance plans want Americans to be able to buy their products on Obamacare’s new insurance marketplaces, one of the key provisions of the health law that will take full effect in 2014. The Obama administration is heralding that news as more proof that the Affordable Care Act is already doing its part [...]/p
Fox News Commentator Says Women Should Stick To Raising Children
Fox News Commentator Says Women Should Stick To Raising Children: Conservative commentator Erick Erickson earned himself a lot of detractors Wednesday night when, responding to the news that a record number of families rely on women’s income, he argued on Fox News that it was “natural” for men to take the “dominant role” and that women being the primary breadwinner for families is “hurting our [...]/p
Republican Lies Thwart Attempts to Reach Democratic Ideal of Educated Citizenry
Republican Lies Thwart Attempts to Reach Democratic Ideal of Educated Citizenry
"Having an enlightened and educated citizenry is a great ideal to strive for in theory, but it can be very hard to achieve in practice.
"Having an enlightened and educated citizenry is a great ideal to strive for in theory, but it can be very hard to achieve in practice.
This is especially true when those that we are supposed to trust, like our elected officials in Washington, choose to lie to the American people over and over again, rather than face the facts.
And when it comes lying lawmakers, Republicans are the worst."
PERRspectives: CBO Study Shows Tax Breaks Favor the Rich
PERRspectives: CBO Study Shows Tax Breaks Favor the Rich
"Every year, tax expenditures--Uncle Sam's myriad credits, exclusion, loopholes and breaks--cost the U.S. Treasury over $1 trillion a year. To put that in perspective, that figure is greater than the cost of Medicare, Social Security and national defense. Much larger than this year's projected budget deficit of $642 billion, tax expenditures equal roughly 30 percent of federal spending. It's no wonder why Republicans are so fond of calling for closing loopholes while lowering rates to produce "revenue-neutral" tax reform.
"Every year, tax expenditures--Uncle Sam's myriad credits, exclusion, loopholes and breaks--cost the U.S. Treasury over $1 trillion a year. To put that in perspective, that figure is greater than the cost of Medicare, Social Security and national defense. Much larger than this year's projected budget deficit of $642 billion, tax expenditures equal roughly 30 percent of federal spending. It's no wonder why Republicans are so fond of calling for closing loopholes while lowering rates to produce "revenue-neutral" tax reform.
But a new study of the top 10 tax expenditures also show why GOP leaders including Mitt Romney, Paul Ryan, and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp refuse to name a single loophole they would close to achieve it. As the new Congressional Budget Office (CBO) analysis shows, half the value of those $900 billion in tax breaks goes to the top quintile of American income earners."
Nearly Zero Percent Savings Interest Rates Are Forcing Seniors to Ration for Survival, While Wall Street Investors Are Making Record Profits
Nearly Zero Percent Savings Interest Rates Are Forcing Seniors to Ration for Survival, While Wall Street Investors Are Making Record Profits
"The continual cries of "austerity" by the wealthy integrally relate to this tale of two economies, because there is no austerity being imposed on the wealthy: it's like the 1920's all over again for them.
"The continual cries of "austerity" by the wealthy integrally relate to this tale of two economies, because there is no austerity being imposed on the wealthy: it's like the 1920's all over again for them.
However, seniors and the working class are being squeezed by cuts in benefits, pay, and the inability to earn interest of any meaningful size on money that they saved for retirement.For most Americans, they have been living in austerity for years now.
It's time to see some austerity imposed upon the 1 percent.
Far too many of the rest of us are already "austeritied" to rationing for survival."
REPORT: Corporate Profits Soar And Wages Fall Thanks To Declining Unionization
REPORT: Corporate Profits Soar And Wages Fall Thanks To Declining Unionization: Corporate profits have soared in recent decades, while wages for the average worker have not fared nearly as well. A new study sheds some light on why that is happening: declining unionization. While some economists have posited that this trend is thanks to a rise in computerization, which boosted productivity and reduced the need for [...]/p
Rick Perry Vetoes “Buy American” Bill Approved 145-0 by Texas House
www.forwardprogressives.com/rick-perry-vetoes-buy-american-bill/
"Passing the Senate by a vote of 23-7 and the House 145-0, the Texas legislature overwhelmingly passed a bill meant to give preference to American-made goods for purchase by the State of Texas when they are of equal cost and quality to foreign-made products.
"Passing the Senate by a vote of 23-7 and the House 145-0, the Texas legislature overwhelmingly passed a bill meant to give preference to American-made goods for purchase by the State of Texas when they are of equal cost and quality to foreign-made products.
In other words, if an American-made product and foreign-made product are of equal quality and cost, when the state is purchasing a good or service, the state would always give preference to the American-made product or service."
The Danger in Our Water Supply
The Danger in Our Water Supply
"A dairy farm with 2,500 cows produces as much waste as Miami. FairWarning investigates how that puts our water supply in danger."
"A dairy farm with 2,500 cows produces as much waste as Miami. FairWarning investigates how that puts our water supply in danger."
Economic policy is largely being driven by obstructionism, not economic advisers | Economic Policy Institute
Economic policy is largely being driven by obstructionism, not economic advisers | Economic Policy Institute
"the GOP has routinely and frequently obstructed economic recovery since 2009—much of which should inform any debate this summer regarding much needed reform of the Senate’s filibuster rules, as well as the inevitable political fight over the debt ceiling. Conservatives, particularly the Tea Party caucus, are to blame for exploiting every piece of leverage available (including thenation’s credit worthiness) to extract premature spending cuts, filibustering just about anything that would boost aggregate demand, watering down the Recovery Act, hamstringing monetary policy and demanding counterproductive legislative ‘pay fors’—stipulated to never, ever include revenue increases. The frequently espoused pox-on-both houses punditry is not just off-base, but is also somewhat complicit in this sad state of affairs."
"the GOP has routinely and frequently obstructed economic recovery since 2009—much of which should inform any debate this summer regarding much needed reform of the Senate’s filibuster rules, as well as the inevitable political fight over the debt ceiling. Conservatives, particularly the Tea Party caucus, are to blame for exploiting every piece of leverage available (including thenation’s credit worthiness) to extract premature spending cuts, filibustering just about anything that would boost aggregate demand, watering down the Recovery Act, hamstringing monetary policy and demanding counterproductive legislative ‘pay fors’—stipulated to never, ever include revenue increases. The frequently espoused pox-on-both houses punditry is not just off-base, but is also somewhat complicit in this sad state of affairs."
Illegal Monsanto Wheat Contamination Found On Oregon Farm
Illegal Monsanto Wheat Contamination Found On Oregon Farm: Genetically modified wheat that was never approved for sale has inexplicably turned up in a field in Oregon. A farmer found the crop when it survived a dousing of Roundup weedkiller. When he took it to a lab to be tested, the wheat was revealed to be an illegal strain, genetically modified to resist pesticides [...]/p
Senate Republicans Want to Destroy the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Elizabeth Warren Created
Senate Republicans Want to Destroy the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Elizabeth Warren Created
"Count the ways that the GOP in Congress is still trying to destroy the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). There are so many that you would need a calculator."
"Count the ways that the GOP in Congress is still trying to destroy the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). There are so many that you would need a calculator."
How The American Tax Code Helps The Rich The Most
How The American Tax Code Helps The Rich The Most: The Congressional Budget Office (CBO), which is tasked with analyzing the economic and budgetary effects of government policy, just issued a new report on the various tax expenditures in the United States’s tax code. These are provisions that allow taxpayers to shield some income from taxation or pay lower rates, and they come in various [...]/p
Nutjob Calls For Armed Insurrection On July 4th
www.addictinginfo.org/2013/05/30/july-4th-gun-march-cancelled-wingnut-calls-for-armed-rebellion-instead/
"Kokesh also gave the federal government a one-year deadline to comply with his demands before possibly taking violent action"
Read more: http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/05/30/july-4th-gun-march-cancelled-wingnut-calls-for-armed-rebellion-instead/#ixzz2UnNukAlX
"Kokesh also gave the federal government a one-year deadline to comply with his demands before possibly taking violent action"
Read more: http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/05/30/july-4th-gun-march-cancelled-wingnut-calls-for-armed-rebellion-instead/#ixzz2UnNukAlX
Issa's latest round of subpoenas shows that for GOP, Benghazi is about stopping Hillary in 2016
www.dailykos.com/story/2013/05/30/1212578/-Issa-s-latest-round-of-subpoenas-shows-that-for-GOP-Benghazi-is-about-stopping-Hillary-in-2016
"Issa's most recent hearing made it clear that for the GOP, the Benghazi "investigation" is really the "Stop Hillary 2016" campaign. During that hearing, President Obama was mentioned just 15 times. Hillary, on the other hand, was mentioned 71 times. And now Issa is going on a fishing expedition hoping to obtain materials that can be distorted by Republicans in a political attack. It's a complete waste of resources—unless you're the GOP political hack who leaked the inaccurate Benghazi talking points emails to ABC's Jonathan Karl."
"Issa's most recent hearing made it clear that for the GOP, the Benghazi "investigation" is really the "Stop Hillary 2016" campaign. During that hearing, President Obama was mentioned just 15 times. Hillary, on the other hand, was mentioned 71 times. And now Issa is going on a fishing expedition hoping to obtain materials that can be distorted by Republicans in a political attack. It's a complete waste of resources—unless you're the GOP political hack who leaked the inaccurate Benghazi talking points emails to ABC's Jonathan Karl."
Exxon CEO: ‘What Good Is It To Save The Planet If Humanity Suffers?’
Exxon CEO: ‘What Good Is It To Save The Planet If Humanity Suffers?’: At Wednesday’s meeting for ExxonMobil shareholders in Dallas, CEO Rex Tillerson told those assembled that an economy that runs on oil is here to stay, and cutting carbon emissions would do no good. He asked, “What good is it to save the planet if humanity suffers?” One good would be that humanity has a habitable [...]/p
Tea Party's Idea of Joke: "Shoot" Senator Who Supports Immigration | Alternet
Tea Party's Idea of Joke: "Shoot" Senator Who Supports Immigration | Alternet
"Right-wing extremists see no need to dial back violent rhetoric"
"Right-wing extremists see no need to dial back violent rhetoric"
"They're not rational": 80-Year-Old Educator Speaks About Her Arrest in “Moral Monday Protests” Against Extreme Right-Wing Agenda in North Carolina | Alternet
"They're not rational": 80-Year-Old Educator Speaks About Her Arrest in “Moral Monday Protests” Against Extreme Right-Wing Agenda in North Carolina | Alternet
"A senior citizen endures an ordeal to protect equality and quality in the public school system."
"A senior citizen endures an ordeal to protect equality and quality in the public school system."
Workers Strike In Seventh City As Congressional Progressives Launch Campaign To Boost Wages
Workers Strike In Seventh City As Congressional Progressives Launch Campaign To Boost Wages: Fast food workers in Seattle walked off the job Wednesday night, making it the seventh city home to striking workers in the last eight weeks. Workers were expected to strike at fast food chains McDonald’s, Burger King, Taco Bell, and others during the one-day strike, just as workers in other cities have since the original [...]/p
After Bachmann, Who's America's Next Top Wacky Right-Winger?
www.motherjones.com/mojo/2013/05/next-michele-bachmann-wacky
"Facing a mounting investigation into her presidential campaign's alleged campaign finance improprieties, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) announced Wednesday morning that she won't seek reelection in 2014. Here's a quick guide to the people jockeying for Bachmann's place as the far right's biggest star in Congress."
"Facing a mounting investigation into her presidential campaign's alleged campaign finance improprieties, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) announced Wednesday morning that she won't seek reelection in 2014. Here's a quick guide to the people jockeying for Bachmann's place as the far right's biggest star in Congress."
Letters Containing Ricin Poison Sent To Bloomberg And Gun Control Group Director
www.addictinginfo.org/2013/05/29/letters-containing-ricin-sent-to-bloomberg-gun-control-group-director/
"This is the act of a coward. It appears as though a gun nut decided he didn’t like what these men were saying so he took it upon himself to try to kill them. I guess that’s the only thing that sort of person can understand; violence and threats. Not a great way to get sympathy for your position, is it? Hopefully this yellow-bellied blowhard will be arrested soon."
Read more: http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/05/29/letters-containing-ricin-sent-to-bloomberg-gun-control-group-director/#ixzz2Un93PqnD
"This is the act of a coward. It appears as though a gun nut decided he didn’t like what these men were saying so he took it upon himself to try to kill them. I guess that’s the only thing that sort of person can understand; violence and threats. Not a great way to get sympathy for your position, is it? Hopefully this yellow-bellied blowhard will be arrested soon."
Read more: http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/05/29/letters-containing-ricin-sent-to-bloomberg-gun-control-group-director/#ixzz2Un93PqnD
Want the American Dream? Get Rich Parents or Move to Canada | Alternet
Want the American Dream? Get Rich Parents or Move to Canada | Alternet
"The culprit is the growing role of inherited advantage, as affluent families make investments that give their children a leg up. Combined with the 2008 economic meltdown and budget cuts in public investments that foster opportunity, we are witnessing accelerating advantages for the wealthy and compounding disadvantages for everyone else."
"The culprit is the growing role of inherited advantage, as affluent families make investments that give their children a leg up. Combined with the 2008 economic meltdown and budget cuts in public investments that foster opportunity, we are witnessing accelerating advantages for the wealthy and compounding disadvantages for everyone else."
Colorado Becomes World's First Legal, Fully-Regulated Marijuana Market
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
North Carolina GOP Seeks Even More Regressive State Tax Burden Than Current Law
North Carolina GOP Seeks Even More Regressive State Tax Burden Than Current Law: North Carolina lawmakers are seeking to shift much of the state’s tax burden off its wealthiest citizens and most profitable businesses and onto its low- and middle-income residents. After initially proposing to eliminate the state’s income tax outright, Republicans are instead introducing a flat income tax rate across all earning levels. The proposal unveiled Thursday [...]/p
Don't Blame the IRS For Doing Their Job
Don't Blame the IRS For Doing Their Job
"That's really the bottom line here. Billionaires used these organizations to hide their massive contributions to election-buying. The only difference between a PAC and a c4 organization as they were used is that the c4 didn't have to disclose donors, which served them quite well and sent many of us on a lot of treasure hunts to try and find out who was behind those ugly ads in many states. The IRS was right to question them and right to carve them out for higher scrutiny."
"That's really the bottom line here. Billionaires used these organizations to hide their massive contributions to election-buying. The only difference between a PAC and a c4 organization as they were used is that the c4 didn't have to disclose donors, which served them quite well and sent many of us on a lot of treasure hunts to try and find out who was behind those ugly ads in many states. The IRS was right to question them and right to carve them out for higher scrutiny."
Budget Cuts Reduce Economic Growth In First Quarter Of 2013
Budget Cuts Reduce Economic Growth In First Quarter Of 2013: Economic growth slowed slightly in the first three months of the year thanks in large part to the government’s spending cuts, according to first quarter GDP numbers. As Reuters reports, “The U.S. economy expanded at a 2.4 percent annual rate during the period, down a tenth of a point from an initial estimate, according to [...]/p
Tea Party Conference Call Features Threat To Assassinate U.S. Senator Because She Supports Immigration Reform
Tea Party Conference Call Features Threat To Assassinate U.S. Senator Because She Supports Immigration Reform: In a Tea Party-sponsored conference call held on Wednesday night, a participant called for the assassination of Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) over her support for immigration reform. Prominent conservative policymakers Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL)’s communications director Stephen Miller and Heritage Foundation research fellow Robert Rector also joined the call, hosted by the conservative Eagle Forum [...]/p
May 29, 2013
School Bus Driver Fired For Facebook Rant over 'Free' Lunches
School Bus Driver Fired For Facebook Rant over 'Free' Lunches
" it does seem shameful that his constitutional right to free speech was abridged in this manner. The moral: stay the hell off Facebook and other social media if you want to keep your job.
" it does seem shameful that his constitutional right to free speech was abridged in this manner. The moral: stay the hell off Facebook and other social media if you want to keep your job.
Parents at Haralson County don't want to see someone who is actually speaking up for their kids to go, so there's a Change.org petition to reinstate Cook."
Ohio School District Considers Teaching Beck's Cuckoo Conspiracies
Ohio School District Considers Teaching Beck's Cuckoo Conspiracies
"After electing Tea Party representatives to school boards and city councils across the nation, the move is on to push these whacko theories into the mainstream, and in the case of at least one Ohio school district, they're succeeding."
"After electing Tea Party representatives to school boards and city councils across the nation, the move is on to push these whacko theories into the mainstream, and in the case of at least one Ohio school district, they're succeeding."
War on Democracy in Wisconsin: Bill Would Enact Voter ID, End Disclosure, Limit Early Voting, Expand Lobbyist Influence
War on Democracy in Wisconsin: Bill Would Enact Voter ID, End Disclosure, Limit Early Voting, Expand Lobbyist Influence
"A Wisconsin legislator has managed to bundle nearly all of the excesses associated with dirty elections into a single bill that good government advocates are describing as a "sweeping assault on democracy:" the legislation would try reinstating restrictive voter ID requirements, make it easier for donors to secretly influence elections, expand lobbyist influence, restrict early voting, and make it harder to register, among other measures."
"A Wisconsin legislator has managed to bundle nearly all of the excesses associated with dirty elections into a single bill that good government advocates are describing as a "sweeping assault on democracy:" the legislation would try reinstating restrictive voter ID requirements, make it easier for donors to secretly influence elections, expand lobbyist influence, restrict early voting, and make it harder to register, among other measures."
Leader of Armed March On Washington Calls For ‘Revolutionary Army’ To Topple Government
Leader of Armed March On Washington Calls For ‘Revolutionary Army’ To Topple Government: Thousands of people signed up to attend an armed march on Washington over the course of the last month. But now, the leader of the march is setting his sights much higher than a single demonstration — he wants his armed followers to help overthrow the American government. About a month ago, a gun activist [...]/p
50 Million Americans Are Going Hungry As Congress Considers Gutting Food Stamps
50 Million Americans Are Going Hungry As Congress Considers Gutting Food Stamps: As Congress debates exactly how many billions of dollars to cut from the government’s main food assistance program for low-income Americans, a new report finds that the existing safety net has failed millions of people who must constantly worry about how to feed themselves and their families. According to the International Human Rights Clinic of [...]/p
Top US Brand of Children's Vitamins Contains Aspartame, GMOs, & Other Hazardous Chemicals
Top US Brand of Children's Vitamins Contains Aspartame, GMOs, & Other Hazardous Chemicals
"Kids vitamins are supposed to be healthy, right? Well then, what's going on with Flintstones Vitamins, which proudly claims to be "Pediatricians' #1 Choice"? Produced by the global pharmaceutical corporation Bayer, this wildly success brand features a shocking list of unhealthy ingredients"
"Kids vitamins are supposed to be healthy, right? Well then, what's going on with Flintstones Vitamins, which proudly claims to be "Pediatricians' #1 Choice"? Produced by the global pharmaceutical corporation Bayer, this wildly success brand features a shocking list of unhealthy ingredients"
The Republican Party Ignores Reality According To Former Reagan Adviser
www.addictinginfo.org/2013/05/29/nates-reality-based-community-article/
"Ultimately, Bruce Bartlett has come to understand the fundamental flaw in conservative thinking. It is insular, only able to exist properly when divorced from reality. While one can be conservative, one cannot be ruled by conservatism. This demand for a reality bubble has resulted in Republican anti-science legislation geared to replace reality with their own brand of fantasy. No conservative thought can survive except in isolation, and if in isolation then it is unable to react to the realities of the moment. The modern Republican Party, and conservative movement can be summed up as a collective of putting their fingers in their ears and pretending not to hear what people are telling them."
Read more: http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/05/29/nates-reality-based-community-article/#ixzz2UiAG8V00
"Ultimately, Bruce Bartlett has come to understand the fundamental flaw in conservative thinking. It is insular, only able to exist properly when divorced from reality. While one can be conservative, one cannot be ruled by conservatism. This demand for a reality bubble has resulted in Republican anti-science legislation geared to replace reality with their own brand of fantasy. No conservative thought can survive except in isolation, and if in isolation then it is unable to react to the realities of the moment. The modern Republican Party, and conservative movement can be summed up as a collective of putting their fingers in their ears and pretending not to hear what people are telling them."
Read more: http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/05/29/nates-reality-based-community-article/#ixzz2UiAG8V00
Bye Bye Bachmann: Reliving Ten of the Tea Party Darling's Craziest Gaffes | Alternet
Bye Bye Bachmann: Reliving Ten of the Tea Party Darling's Craziest Gaffes | Alternet
"Minnesota far-right Republican Rep. Michelle Bachmann has declared she will not run for a fifth term in 2014, and is making the dubious claim that her decision has nothing to do with that ongoing ethics probe into her campaign fund-raising in the 2012 race, or her falling poll numbers. No, she is a newfound convert to term limits.
"Minnesota far-right Republican Rep. Michelle Bachmann has declared she will not run for a fifth term in 2014, and is making the dubious claim that her decision has nothing to do with that ongoing ethics probe into her campaign fund-raising in the 2012 race, or her falling poll numbers. No, she is a newfound convert to term limits.
Right. This is about as believable as some of the gaffes, misstatements, anti-science positions, conspiracy theories, not to mention wobbly grasp of both American history and world geography, she displayed on her ill-fated quest for the 2012 Republican nomination. She even managed to make Texas Governor Rick Perry look both sane and slightly enlightened."
Two Weeks After Calling for Obama Impeachment, Michele Bachmann Quits Due to Ethics Scandal
www.www.politicususa.com/mainstream-media-admit-ethics-scandal-forced-michele-bachmann-quit.html
"You wouldn’t know it by listening to the mainstream media, but it isn’t a coincidence that Michele Bachmann quit Congress after the FBI started investigating her.
"You wouldn’t know it by listening to the mainstream media, but it isn’t a coincidence that Michele Bachmann quit Congress after the FBI started investigating her.
The mainstream media is laughably believing Michele Bachmann’s claim that the ethics scandal has nothing to do with why she is quitting Congress."
Social Security, And Four Other Things The GOP’s Latest Senate Candidate Thinks Are Unconstitutional
Social Security, And Four Other Things The GOP’s Latest Senate Candidate Thinks Are Unconstitutional: Alaska Republican U.S. Senate Candidate Joe Miller is a throwback to the extravagant youth of the Tea Party. He embodies the era when conservative Republicans, drunk with the opportunity to bludgeon Democrats with a weak economy, turned off their filters and began proudly touting their most radical plans to change the country. Indeed, at the [...]/p
Oklahoma Lawmaker Blasts GOP’s War On Women: ‘What Happened To The Republican Party That I Joined?’
Oklahoma Lawmaker Blasts GOP’s War On Women: ‘What Happened To The Republican Party That I Joined?’: In an op-ed published on Wednesday, an Oklahoma Republican sharply criticizes his fellow party members for focusing on enacting unnecessary legislation to limit women’s access to abortion and contraception. “What happened to the Republican Party that I joined?” state Rep. Doug Cox (R) wonders, pointing out that the mounting pile of reproductive restrictions represents a [...]/p
Tell ABC News: Correct Your False Benghazi Report
www.action.mediamatters.org/tell_abc_news_correct_false_benghazi_report
"Help us hold the media accountable by telling ABC News to correct its report on the air. Sign our letter to top ABC News executives: Ben Sherwood, president; Kate O'Brian, senior vice president for news; and Kerry Smith, senior vice president for editorial quality."
"Help us hold the media accountable by telling ABC News to correct its report on the air. Sign our letter to top ABC News executives: Ben Sherwood, president; Kate O'Brian, senior vice president for news; and Kerry Smith, senior vice president for editorial quality."
Beware of Economic Nonsense Trotted Out by Profit-Seeking Corporations and Their Stooges | Alternet
Beware of Economic Nonsense Trotted Out by Profit-Seeking Corporations and Their Stooges | Alternet
"Forbes Magazine deployed its small army of corporate defenders and apologists in the multi-billion dollar fight to keep effective tax rates low for global corporations."
"Forbes Magazine deployed its small army of corporate defenders and apologists in the multi-billion dollar fight to keep effective tax rates low for global corporations."
Democrats Are Three Times More Likely To Tell Truth Than GOP, Study Reveals
www.addictinginfo.org/2013/05/29/republicans-lie-three-times-more-than-democrats/
"At this moment, Republicans have noses that even Pinocchio would be ashamed of, but they’re not only liars, they’re hypocrites too.
Read more: http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/05/29/republicans-lie-three-times-more-than-democrats/#ixzz2UhBcdYW4
"At this moment, Republicans have noses that even Pinocchio would be ashamed of, but they’re not only liars, they’re hypocrites too.
In their effort to smear and obstruct President Obama at every turn, Republicans have told lie after lie to advance their agenda. And a new study proves it, Salon reports.
A new study conducted by the Center for Media and Public Affairs at George Mason University shows that Republicans lie three times more to the American people than Democrats do."
Read more: http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/05/29/republicans-lie-three-times-more-than-democrats/#ixzz2UhBcdYW4
Both Sides Don’t Do It: Study Finds Republicans Lie Three Times More Than Democrats
www.politicususa.com/sides-it-study-finds-republicans-lie-times-democrats.html
"A new study from the nonpartisan Center For Media Affairs has concluded that since the beginning of President Obama’s second term, Republicans have lied three times more often than Democrats.
"A new study from the nonpartisan Center For Media Affairs has concluded that since the beginning of President Obama’s second term, Republicans have lied three times more often than Democrats.
The Center For Media Affairs (CFMA) at George Mason University found that PolitiFact rated Republican claims as false three times more often than Democratic claims. Not only do Republicans lie more often, but Democrats are more truthful. By a 2 to 1 margin"
Radical Kleptocrats Anxious to Stop Disclosure of Corporate Money in Elections | Common Dreams
Radical Kleptocrats Anxious to Stop Disclosure of Corporate Money in Elections | Common Dreams
"These kleptocrats are the real radicals. It's time to stop them, not only by disclosing their thievery, but ultimately by outlawing it — and retuning elections to the people. To join the effort, contact Public Citizen: www.citizen.org."
"These kleptocrats are the real radicals. It's time to stop them, not only by disclosing their thievery, but ultimately by outlawing it — and retuning elections to the people. To join the effort, contact Public Citizen: www.citizen.org."
The 8 Most Outlandish Moments Of Michele Bachmann’s Time In Congress
The 8 Most Outlandish Moments Of Michele Bachmann’s Time In Congress: Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) announced late Tuesday night, in a recorded video spot, that she will not be seeking reelection in 2014. Bachmann, a Tea Party standard-bearer, has been under Congressional investigation for misuse of funds during her failed 2012 presidential bid, but insisted in her video, “This decision was not impacted in any way [...]/p
Why We Should Be Very Worried About the Arctic Oil Rush | Alternet
Why We Should Be Very Worried About the Arctic Oil Rush | Alternet
"Big oil companies like Shell have a proven record of negligence and a legacy of pollution in Alaska."
"Big oil companies like Shell have a proven record of negligence and a legacy of pollution in Alaska."
May 28, 2013
Obama's Judicial Nominees May Spotlight GOP Obstruction
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
What Scandal? Why The IRS Did Nothing Wrong
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Engineering Empire: An Introduction to the Intellectuals and Institutions of American Imperialism
Engineering Empire: An Introduction to the Intellectuals and Institutions of American Imperialism
"Educating yourself about empire can be a challenging endeavor, especially since so much of the educational system is dedicated to avoiding the topic or justifying the actions of imperialism in the modern era."
"Educating yourself about empire can be a challenging endeavor, especially since so much of the educational system is dedicated to avoiding the topic or justifying the actions of imperialism in the modern era."
GOP's Lurch Right Leaves Party Moderates Behind
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Shell Admits Real Reason Coast Guard Had To Rescue Its Arctic Drilling Rig: Failed Tax Avoidance Scheme
Shell Admits Real Reason Coast Guard Had To Rescue Its Arctic Drilling Rig: Failed Tax Avoidance Scheme: The main reason an offshore oil rig ran aground off the coast of Alaska late last year was because oil company Royal Dutch Shell was trying to depart state waters to avoid paying millions in taxes. Sean Churchfield, operations manager for Royal Dutch Shell in Alaska, testified to the Coast Guard over the weekend that [...]/p
Shell Admits Tax Avoidance Played Role In Rig Accident
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Republicans get three times more ‘false’ ratings from PolitiFact than Democrats
Republicans get three times more ‘false’ ratings from PolitiFact than Democrats (via Raw Story )An analysis of PolitiFact ratings suggests Republicans are significantly less credible than Democrats. The Center for Media and Public Affairs at George Mason University found Republican’s had made three times as many false statements as Democrats this year. PolitiFact examines a variety of political…
The Bank Bailout Cost US Taxpayers Nothing? Think Again | Common Dreams
The Bank Bailout Cost US Taxpayers Nothing? Think Again | Common Dreams
"The bailout cost us plenty, and continues to do so. Sadly, it is the gift that keeps on giving to the very banks that drove our economy over a cliff – and took trillions in housing wealth, retirement funds and millions of jobs with it."
"The bailout cost us plenty, and continues to do so. Sadly, it is the gift that keeps on giving to the very banks that drove our economy over a cliff – and took trillions in housing wealth, retirement funds and millions of jobs with it."
The World's Richest 8% Earn Half of All Planetary Income | Alternet
The World's Richest 8% Earn Half of All Planetary Income | Alternet
"The lead research economist at the World Bank, Branko Milanovic, will be reporting soon, in the journal Global Policy, the first calculation of global income-inequality, and he has found that the top 8% of global earners are drawing 50% of all of this planet's income."
"The lead research economist at the World Bank, Branko Milanovic, will be reporting soon, in the journal Global Policy, the first calculation of global income-inequality, and he has found that the top 8% of global earners are drawing 50% of all of this planet's income."
The U.S. Ranks Ninth-To-Last In Work-Life Balance
The U.S. Ranks Ninth-To-Last In Work-Life Balance: The United States ranks toward the bottom among developed countries when it comes to work-life balance, according to the updated Better Life Index from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). While the country tops the charts for income and housing, other important economic indicators, its worst ranking is in work-life balance. It clocks [...]/p
Glenn Beck’s Paranoid Fantasy Novel Could Become A Textbook In Ohio
www.addictinginfo.org/2013/05/28/glenn-becks-paranoid-fantasy-novel-could-become-a-textbook-in-ohio/
His book is the worst kind of manipulative tripe and is badly written, to boot. It is set in a dystopian world – this is the place Beck fantasizes about when he’s worked himself up into a paranoid lather over unseen enemies and imaginary threats to freedom as he… I’ll stop there. I don’t have enough brain bleach. Anyway, it’s infantile propaganda. But a public school district wants to treat it as fact and use it in a curriculum that isn’t Bad Modern Lit 101.
Read more: http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/05/28/glenn-becks-paranoid-fantasy-novel-could-become-a-textbook-in-ohio/#ixzz2UbjFwugo
His book is the worst kind of manipulative tripe and is badly written, to boot. It is set in a dystopian world – this is the place Beck fantasizes about when he’s worked himself up into a paranoid lather over unseen enemies and imaginary threats to freedom as he… I’ll stop there. I don’t have enough brain bleach. Anyway, it’s infantile propaganda. But a public school district wants to treat it as fact and use it in a curriculum that isn’t Bad Modern Lit 101.
Read more: http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/05/28/glenn-becks-paranoid-fantasy-novel-could-become-a-textbook-in-ohio/#ixzz2UbjFwugo
Think Fracking Is Bad? Wait Until You Hear About 'Acid Jobs' | Common Dreams
Think Fracking Is Bad? Wait Until You Hear About 'Acid Jobs' | Common Dreams
"'Acid jobs,' a highly toxic method of fossil fuel extraction, have gone vastly unregulated by lawmakers, particularly in California where the method is commonly used.
An 'acid job' is a process whereby companies pump chemicals such as hydrofluoric acid into an already built gas and oil well to "melt rocks" and objects that are obstructing oil flow."
"'Acid jobs,' a highly toxic method of fossil fuel extraction, have gone vastly unregulated by lawmakers, particularly in California where the method is commonly used.
An 'acid job' is a process whereby companies pump chemicals such as hydrofluoric acid into an already built gas and oil well to "melt rocks" and objects that are obstructing oil flow."
March Against Monsanto Over 2M Strong. Blackwater Ops Watching?
March Against Monsanto Over 2M Strong. Blackwater Ops Watching?
"Most corn, soybean and cotton crops grown in the United States today have been genetically modified. But critics say genetically modified organisms can lead to serious health conditions and harm the environment."
"Most corn, soybean and cotton crops grown in the United States today have been genetically modified. But critics say genetically modified organisms can lead to serious health conditions and harm the environment."
Local Charities Speak Out On GOP’s Effort To Slash Food Stamps
Local Charities Speak Out On GOP’s Effort To Slash Food Stamps: One of New Jersey’s largest food banks is eyeing congressional efforts to cut two million Americans from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as food stamps) with concern. While proponents of the cuts often argue that food banks and other charitable food distribution operations will step into the breach as government shrinks its [...]/p
Source of Anti-Government Extremism
Source of Anti-Government Extremism
"something extreme has surfaced in modern American politics: an ideological hatred of government. From the Tea Party to libertarianism, there is a “principled” rejection – at least rhetorically – of almost everything that government does (outside of national security), and those views are no longer simply “fringe.” By and large, they have been embraced by the national Republican Party."
"something extreme has surfaced in modern American politics: an ideological hatred of government. From the Tea Party to libertarianism, there is a “principled” rejection – at least rhetorically – of almost everything that government does (outside of national security), and those views are no longer simply “fringe.” By and large, they have been embraced by the national Republican Party."
May 27, 2013
Some Groups Targeted By IRS May Have Violated Election Law
Some Groups Targeted By IRS May Have Violated Election Law: A report conducted by the Treasury Department’s Inspector General found that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) improperly targeted conservative groups applying for 501(c)(4) status and IRS officials have publicly admitted to relying on inappropriate criteria to screen out the names of organizations that included “tea party” or “patriots” for additional scrutiny. But the New York [...]/p
Republicans Have A Bridge To Sell You
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
‘Show Me Your Papers’ Bill Could Make North Carolina The Next Arizona
‘Show Me Your Papers’ Bill Could Make North Carolina The Next Arizona: North Carolina is set to vote on a piece of anti-immigration legislation on par with Arizona and Alabama’s racially-tinged laws that drew national attention and ire from immigration advocates. The Reasonable Enactment of Comprehensive Legislation Addressing Immigration Matters (RECLAIM) in North Carolina Act, or HB 786 would expand the scope of law enforcement officials with [...]/p
GOP Terrified Of Ending The War On Terror
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
U.S. Groundwater Consumption Accelerating | Alternet
U.S. Groundwater Consumption Accelerating | Alternet
"Aquifers across the United States are being drawn down at an increasing pace, finds a new study released today by the U.S. Geological Survey."
"Aquifers across the United States are being drawn down at an increasing pace, finds a new study released today by the U.S. Geological Survey."
PERRspectives: Red States Rejecting Obamacare Medicaid Expansion Need It Most
PERRspectives: Red States Rejecting Obamacare Medicaid Expansion Need It Most
"the defining irony of the never-ending debate over Obamacare is this: health care is worst in those states where Republicans poll best. The map of the states with the worst health care systems largely mirrors GOP strongholds in the Electoral College. Red state residents are generally the unhealthiest and more likely than their blue state cousins to be uninsured."
"the defining irony of the never-ending debate over Obamacare is this: health care is worst in those states where Republicans poll best. The map of the states with the worst health care systems largely mirrors GOP strongholds in the Electoral College. Red state residents are generally the unhealthiest and more likely than their blue state cousins to be uninsured."
Texas Will Deny Health Coverage To 1.5 Million Low-Income Residents
Texas Will Deny Health Coverage To 1.5 Million Low-Income Residents: 1.5 million low-income Texans may go without health care coverage after lawmakers in the state voted against expanding Medicaid using $100 billion in federal funds offered under President Obama’s health care law. The decision comes almost a year after the Supreme Court ruled that the federal government cannot require states to enroll more Medicaid beneficiaries. [...]/p
The New Farm Bill is an Economic Disaster | Common Dreams
The New Farm Bill is an Economic Disaster | Common Dreams
"The US Congress, its approval rating still near all-time lows, is reinforcing its own record of stupefyingly short-sighted lawmaking with what may be the most harmful piece of economic legislation in America in years: the $1tn 2013 farm bill."
"The US Congress, its approval rating still near all-time lows, is reinforcing its own record of stupefyingly short-sighted lawmaking with what may be the most harmful piece of economic legislation in America in years: the $1tn 2013 farm bill."
Ohio School District May Add Glenn Beck Conspiracy Theories To Curriculum
Ohio School District May Add Glenn Beck Conspiracy Theories To Curriculum: The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio is challenging an Ohio school district for considering a “controversial issues policy” that would require teachers to encourage discussions about creationism and conservative conspiracy theories about U.N. Agenda 21. Springboro Community City School District’s new curriculum — part of an effort to help students think critically and learn [...]/p
Protests Grow In NC Against Hard Right Turn
Protests Grow In NC Against Hard Right Turn
"A century and a half after the Civil War ended, the GOP-dominated North Carolina legislature is finishing the destruction Gen. Sherman’s troops never got to visit upon Raleigh, NC."
"A century and a half after the Civil War ended, the GOP-dominated North Carolina legislature is finishing the destruction Gen. Sherman’s troops never got to visit upon Raleigh, NC."
How Many Rotting Apples Do Our Hedges Hide?
How Many Rotting Apples Do Our Hedges Hide?
"High-profile prosecutions only hint at the crime and ethical misbehavior rampant in America’s most rewarding high-finance suites."
"High-profile prosecutions only hint at the crime and ethical misbehavior rampant in America’s most rewarding high-finance suites."
Bob Dole: Republicans Need 'Closed for Repair' Sign Until 2014
Bob Dole: Republicans Need 'Closed for Repair' Sign Until 2014
"Former Republican presidential nominee Bob Dole is telling Republicans to put a "closed for repair" sign on the door until 2014 so that the party can develop a "positive agenda"."
"Former Republican presidential nominee Bob Dole is telling Republicans to put a "closed for repair" sign on the door until 2014 so that the party can develop a "positive agenda"."
5 Controversial Cases Where Supreme Court Is Poised to Roll Back Civil Rights | Alternet
5 Controversial Cases Where Supreme Court Is Poised to Roll Back Civil Rights | Alternet
"Let’s go through a half-dozen cases where the high court majority, justices appointed by Republican presidents, is likely to stop or slow down the social evolution that began in the 1950s civil rights movement and also grant corporate America and the police more power over the genes in our bodies."
"Let’s go through a half-dozen cases where the high court majority, justices appointed by Republican presidents, is likely to stop or slow down the social evolution that began in the 1950s civil rights movement and also grant corporate America and the police more power over the genes in our bodies."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)