The right’s Benghazi insanity reaches new depths
"But the usual suspects on Fox and within the GOP leadership continue to believe they have a way to disqualify Hillary Clinton from becoming president, and it will take much more than facts to convince them otherwise."
January 3, 2014
The Fight for $15: Campaign for Living Wage Readies National Push | Common Dreams
The Fight for $15: Campaign for Living Wage Readies National Push | Common Dreams
"The push for a true living wage—not $8.25, not $9.50, not $10.10, but an hourly wage of $15—wants to go national."
"The push for a true living wage—not $8.25, not $9.50, not $10.10, but an hourly wage of $15—wants to go national."
'Jobs or Inequality?' That's No Choice at All
'Jobs or Inequality?' That's No Choice at All
"While it's theoretically possible to imagine an economy which experiences both extreme inequality and healthy GDP growth, it's not possible to imagine this economy growing that way."
"While it's theoretically possible to imagine an economy which experiences both extreme inequality and healthy GDP growth, it's not possible to imagine this economy growing that way."
The right’s Obamacare misinformation bubble: A visual representation
The right’s Obamacare misinformation bubble: A visual representation
"If you’re a regular here, then you’ve probably read a story or two about how the right’s ongoing war against Obamacare prevents most conservatives from acknowledging that anyone has benefitted, is benefitting, or will benefit from the Affordable Care Act — and that this unwillingness to grapple with any Obamacare success stories is inflating a conservative misinformation bubble. On the right it’s an article of faith that the law has done nothing but harm innocent people. That’s the only way to keep the repeal fantasy animated."
"If you’re a regular here, then you’ve probably read a story or two about how the right’s ongoing war against Obamacare prevents most conservatives from acknowledging that anyone has benefitted, is benefitting, or will benefit from the Affordable Care Act — and that this unwillingness to grapple with any Obamacare success stories is inflating a conservative misinformation bubble. On the right it’s an article of faith that the law has done nothing but harm innocent people. That’s the only way to keep the repeal fantasy animated."
Colorado Pot Sales Hit $1 Million
Colorado Pot Sales Hit $1 Million
"The state's marijuana dispensaries raked in $1 million on the first day of legalization, as Coloradoans braved winter weather and hours-long lines to be the first Americans to buy legal recreational weed. Marijuana was on sale at 24 stores, most located in Denver, and regulators said the roll-out of the nation's first legal pot industry went smoothly."
"The state's marijuana dispensaries raked in $1 million on the first day of legalization, as Coloradoans braved winter weather and hours-long lines to be the first Americans to buy legal recreational weed. Marijuana was on sale at 24 stores, most located in Denver, and regulators said the roll-out of the nation's first legal pot industry went smoothly."
Colo. Group Aims to Put the People Above Fossil Fuel Interests | Common Dreams
Colo. Group Aims to Put the People Above Fossil Fuel Interests | Common Dreams
"Local governments should have the authority to protect their communities from big polluters like the oil and gas industries and be able to ban practices such as hydraulic fracturing in the name of health and safety, says an amendment being proposed this week for the Colorado state constitution."
"Local governments should have the authority to protect their communities from big polluters like the oil and gas industries and be able to ban practices such as hydraulic fracturing in the name of health and safety, says an amendment being proposed this week for the Colorado state constitution."
January 2, 2014
What Would You Do With $67 Million? Cash-Strapped States Eye Colorado’s Weed Tax Revenues
www.addictinginfo.org/2014/01/02/marijuana-tax-revenue-stream/
"Marijuana use is now legal in Colorado. It will soon be legal in Washington state."
"Marijuana use is now legal in Colorado. It will soon be legal in Washington state."
Iraq War vet denied medical marijuana for PTSD first to buy legal pot in Colorado
www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/01/01/iraq-war-vet-denied-medical-marijuana-for-ptsd-first-to-buy-legal-pot-in-colorado/
"An Iraq War veteran who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder became the first person to legally buy recreational marijuana under a new Colorado law that went into effect New Year’s Day."
"An Iraq War veteran who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder became the first person to legally buy recreational marijuana under a new Colorado law that went into effect New Year’s Day."
Young Viewers Avoid Fox News Like the Plague as Ratings Drop 30%
www.politicususa.com/2014/01/02/young-viewers-avoid-fox-news-plague-ratings-drop-30.html
"The reality is that Fox News has the oldest audience in all television. The average age of a Fox News viewer is 65 years old. FNC can remain the ratings leader in the short term future as long as the senior set keeps tuning in, but what happens when there aren’t enough young people tuning in to replace the elderly audience?"
"The reality is that Fox News has the oldest audience in all television. The average age of a Fox News viewer is 65 years old. FNC can remain the ratings leader in the short term future as long as the senior set keeps tuning in, but what happens when there aren’t enough young people tuning in to replace the elderly audience?"
Fox News' 5 Worst Moments of 2013
www.alternet.org/tea-party-and-right/fox-news-5-worst-moments-2013
"It was another banner year for Rupert Murdoch's propaganda shop. Here are the most cringeworthy moments."
"It was another banner year for Rupert Murdoch's propaganda shop. Here are the most cringeworthy moments."
Mayor Bill De Blasio's "Progressive" Promise Puts Focus on NYC | Common Dreams
Mayor Bill De Blasio's "Progressive" Promise Puts Focus on NYC | Common Dreams
"New York City's new mayor recommits to far-reaching agenda as hunger for progressive populism bubbles nationwide"
"New York City's new mayor recommits to far-reaching agenda as hunger for progressive populism bubbles nationwide"
California Installed More Rooftop Solar In 2013 Than Previous 30 Years Combined
www.thinkprogress.org/climate/2014/01/02/3110731/california-rooftop-solar-2013/
"2013 was a banner year for clean energy and the U.S. solar industry was no exception. California, the nation’s solar standout, more than doubled its rooftop solar installations last year from 1,000 megawatts (MW) to 2,000 MW. To put this number in perspective, writes Bernadette Del Chiaro of the California Solar Energy Industries Association, it took California over 30 years to build the first 1,000 MW of rooftop solar."
"2013 was a banner year for clean energy and the U.S. solar industry was no exception. California, the nation’s solar standout, more than doubled its rooftop solar installations last year from 1,000 megawatts (MW) to 2,000 MW. To put this number in perspective, writes Bernadette Del Chiaro of the California Solar Energy Industries Association, it took California over 30 years to build the first 1,000 MW of rooftop solar."
Americans Can Now Start Using Their New Obamacare Coverage
www.thinkprogress.org/health/2014/01/02/3110271/americans-obamacare-coverage-january/
"Insurers are no longer allowed to discriminate against people with pre-existing conditions, or charge sick Americans higher prices than their healthier counterparts. And now, the Americans who have enrolled in new plans under Obamacare — either by picking a private plan on the state-level marketplaces, or by qualifying for Medicaid in the states that agreed to expand the program — may start using that coverage."
"Insurers are no longer allowed to discriminate against people with pre-existing conditions, or charge sick Americans higher prices than their healthier counterparts. And now, the Americans who have enrolled in new plans under Obamacare — either by picking a private plan on the state-level marketplaces, or by qualifying for Medicaid in the states that agreed to expand the program — may start using that coverage."
Why Is the IRS Fighting Efforts to Unmask Karl Rove and U.S. Chamber Political Money Laundering?
www.alternet.org/tea-party-and-right/why-irs-fighting-efforts-unmask-karl-rove-and-us-chamber-political-money
"Robert Jacobson, a Tuscon, Arizona physician who brought the lawsuit, believes that a nonprofit created by the State Department in conjunction with the U.S. Chamber to build a much-ridiculed exhibition at the 2010 Shanghai Expo in China had another purpose—diverting large slices of the $70-plus million in donations to Rove for campaigns to retake the House. The idea was that money from GOP-friendly corporations and even the Chinese government would evade oversight by flowing through barely regulated nonprofits."
"Robert Jacobson, a Tuscon, Arizona physician who brought the lawsuit, believes that a nonprofit created by the State Department in conjunction with the U.S. Chamber to build a much-ridiculed exhibition at the 2010 Shanghai Expo in China had another purpose—diverting large slices of the $70-plus million in donations to Rove for campaigns to retake the House. The idea was that money from GOP-friendly corporations and even the Chinese government would evade oversight by flowing through barely regulated nonprofits."
A Trickle Down Republican Assault Is Forcing Americans To Work Themselves to Death
www.politicususa.com/2014/01/02/trickle-republican-assault-forcing-americans-work-death.html
"Americans have been economically besieged by Republicans for the past thirty years through their trickle down economic assault with the goal of transferring all the nation’s wealth to the richest 1% of income earners. They have taken Americans’ tax dollars and handed them to the rich, kept wages low to enrich corporations, and they will hardly stop until they hand them Americans’ Social Security and public pensions as well. Now that they have most working Americans working for poverty wages, they can turn their full attention to those nearing their retirement age because their concept of economic security in old age is forcing every American to work until they drop dead"
"Americans have been economically besieged by Republicans for the past thirty years through their trickle down economic assault with the goal of transferring all the nation’s wealth to the richest 1% of income earners. They have taken Americans’ tax dollars and handed them to the rich, kept wages low to enrich corporations, and they will hardly stop until they hand them Americans’ Social Security and public pensions as well. Now that they have most working Americans working for poverty wages, they can turn their full attention to those nearing their retirement age because their concept of economic security in old age is forcing every American to work until they drop dead"
Why I fled libertarianism — and became a liberal
Why I fled libertarianism — and became a liberal
"I was a Ron Paul delegate back in 2008 -- now I'm a Democrat. Here's my personal tale of disgust and self-discovery"
"I was a Ron Paul delegate back in 2008 -- now I'm a Democrat. Here's my personal tale of disgust and self-discovery"
Conspiracy theorist Jim Garrow: Obama will enlist aliens and Canadians to rule America
www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/12/31/conspiracy-theorist-jim-garrow-obama-will-enlist-aliens-and-canadians-to-rule-america/
"A birther conspiracy theorist who inaccurately predicted that President Barack Obama would order nuclear attacks on U.S. cities has improbably found a way to top that wild claim.
Conservative activist Jim Garrow appeared Monday on Fox News contributor Erik Rush’s radio program, where he claimed that Obama would try to boost his tanking poll numbers by claiming that scientists had communicated with extraterrestrials."
"A birther conspiracy theorist who inaccurately predicted that President Barack Obama would order nuclear attacks on U.S. cities has improbably found a way to top that wild claim.
Conservative activist Jim Garrow appeared Monday on Fox News contributor Erik Rush’s radio program, where he claimed that Obama would try to boost his tanking poll numbers by claiming that scientists had communicated with extraterrestrials."
Right-Wing Facebook Page Calls For National Lynch President Obama Day (IMAGE)
www.addictinginfo.org/2014/01/01/right-wing-facebook-page-obama-lynching/
"Once again, conservatives are taking their hatred of President Barack Obama to the extreme. Not satisfied with merely criticizing Obama’s policies, they have called for killing our first Black president since we voted him into office in 2008."
"Once again, conservatives are taking their hatred of President Barack Obama to the extreme. Not satisfied with merely criticizing Obama’s policies, they have called for killing our first Black president since we voted him into office in 2008."
Tea Party Activist Exiled For Planning Extermination Of Blacks And Jews (VIDEO)
www.addictinginfo.org/2013/12/26/tea-party-activist-exiled-italy/
"it’s been reported that he has been urged by thousand of activists within the Tea Party to take a run at the presidency. He even released a video speaking directly to Tea Party members about the “discrimination” that white people have to go through."
"it’s been reported that he has been urged by thousand of activists within the Tea Party to take a run at the presidency. He even released a video speaking directly to Tea Party members about the “discrimination” that white people have to go through."
January 1, 2014
Majority Report: Dave Dayen Explains Hidden Disaster in New Budget
Majority Report: Dave Dayen Explains Hidden Disaster in New Budget
"the implications for federal workers due to the Ryan-Murry budget and how states like Illinois "are breaking contracts with workers and slashing pensions."."
"the implications for federal workers due to the Ryan-Murry budget and how states like Illinois "are breaking contracts with workers and slashing pensions."."
Finance's Hold on Our Everyday Life Must Be Broken | Common Dreams
Finance's Hold on Our Everyday Life Must Be Broken | Common Dreams
"Consider, for instance, the policies to confront the crisis. First, public funds were injected into banks to boost capital. Second, public liquidity was made available to banks to sustain their operations. Third, public interest rates were driven to zero to enable banks to make secure profits by lending to their own customers at higher rates.
This extraordinary public largesse towards private banks was matched by austerity and wage reductions for workers and households. As for restructuring finance, nothing fundamental has taken place. The behemoths that continue to dominate the global financial system operate in the knowledge that they enjoy an unspoken public guarantee. The unpalatable reality is that financialisation will persist, despite its costs for society."
"Consider, for instance, the policies to confront the crisis. First, public funds were injected into banks to boost capital. Second, public liquidity was made available to banks to sustain their operations. Third, public interest rates were driven to zero to enable banks to make secure profits by lending to their own customers at higher rates.
This extraordinary public largesse towards private banks was matched by austerity and wage reductions for workers and households. As for restructuring finance, nothing fundamental has taken place. The behemoths that continue to dominate the global financial system operate in the knowledge that they enjoy an unspoken public guarantee. The unpalatable reality is that financialisation will persist, despite its costs for society."
As Evacuation Ends For Explosive Oil Train Crash, Officials Hint At The Persistent Threat Of Rail Transport
www.thinkprogress.org/climate/2014/01/01/3109321/casselton-train-derailment/
"While the crash of a train carrying crude oil in North Dakota led to fireballs rocketing into the air, clouds of thick black smoke for 15 miles, and the evacuation of nearby residents, officials are saying the incident could have been much worse."
"While the crash of a train carrying crude oil in North Dakota led to fireballs rocketing into the air, clouds of thick black smoke for 15 miles, and the evacuation of nearby residents, officials are saying the incident could have been much worse."
13 Dumbest Things Media Said About Climate Change In 2013
www.mediamatters.org/blog/2014/01/01/13-dumbest-things-media-said-about-climate-chan/197331
"The evidence for climate change only got stronger this year, with a major climate report finding 95 percent confidence in manmade global warming and the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere hitting a record 400 parts per million. Climate doubters, in turn, became increasingly desperate, citing everything from a verified scam artist to the "Ouija board of weather"."
"The evidence for climate change only got stronger this year, with a major climate report finding 95 percent confidence in manmade global warming and the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere hitting a record 400 parts per million. Climate doubters, in turn, became increasingly desperate, citing everything from a verified scam artist to the "Ouija board of weather"."
Listicle: The 13 Best and Worst Economic Policy Ideas of 2013
Listicle: The 13 Best and Worst Economic Policy Ideas of 2013
"Reflecting the fact that fiscal policy in 2013 is a mess, the number bad ideas on this list far exceed the number of good ones. (A 9-to-4 bad-to-good ratio seemed about right.)"
"Reflecting the fact that fiscal policy in 2013 is a mess, the number bad ideas on this list far exceed the number of good ones. (A 9-to-4 bad-to-good ratio seemed about right.)"
Mayor Bill DeBlasio: “We are called to put an end to economic and social inequalities"
Mayor Bill DeBlasio: “We are called to put an end to economic and social inequalities"
"The thing I liked best about the ceremony? The inclusion of Dasani Coates, the ambitious homeless girl recently profiled in the New York Times, in the festivities. What a change from Bloomberg!"
"The thing I liked best about the ceremony? The inclusion of Dasani Coates, the ambitious homeless girl recently profiled in the New York Times, in the festivities. What a change from Bloomberg!"
50 Dumbest Things Right-Wingers Said in 2013 | Rolling Stone
www.rollingstone.com/politics/lists/50-dumbest-things-right-wingers-said-in-2013-20131204
"When America's right-wingers opened their mouths, astonishing words fell out of them."
"When America's right-wingers opened their mouths, astonishing words fell out of them."
The 10 Dumbest Public Figures In 2013
www.addictinginfo.org/2013/12/31/2013-stupid-people-awards/
"This past year has been rich with the stupid."
"This past year has been rich with the stupid."
Conservative Facebook page suggests lynching President Obama to make a ‘National Holiday’
www.freakoutnation.com/2013/12/31/conservative-facebook-page-suggests-lynching-president-obama-to-make-a-national-holiday/
"Is that a knock I hear on ‘‘America the next Generation’s‘ door?
"Is that a knock I hear on ‘‘America the next Generation’s‘ door?
Dear Secret Service, have you seen this?"
The 25 Best Progressive Victories of 2013 | Common Dreams
The 25 Best Progressive Victories of 2013 | Common Dreams
"let's look back at 2013 and examine 25 significant accomplishments -- elections, ballot measures, court rulings, legislation, new waves of mobilization, and changes in public opinion -- that meet one or more of those three criteria."
"let's look back at 2013 and examine 25 significant accomplishments -- elections, ballot measures, court rulings, legislation, new waves of mobilization, and changes in public opinion -- that meet one or more of those three criteria."
'Era of Marijuana Prohibition Officially Over' in Colorado | Common Dreams
'Era of Marijuana Prohibition Officially Over' in Colorado | Common Dreams
"For the first time in 70 years, legal recreational marijuana sales commenced in Colorado Wednesday, marking the beginning of a new year and, many hope, a new era for legalization."
"For the first time in 70 years, legal recreational marijuana sales commenced in Colorado Wednesday, marking the beginning of a new year and, many hope, a new era for legalization."
America's first marijuana stores open in Colorado
America's first marijuana stores open in Colorado
"America's first retail stores sellingmarijuana open for business in Colorado on Wednesday, putting the western state in the vanguard of the country's evolving attitudes on legalizing the drug."
"America's first retail stores sellingmarijuana open for business in Colorado on Wednesday, putting the western state in the vanguard of the country's evolving attitudes on legalizing the drug."
Wall Street Sings While Americans Sob: Happy New Year One and All | Common Dreams
Wall Street Sings While Americans Sob: Happy New Year One and All | Common Dreams
"Bankers on Wall Street rang in the final hours of 2013 with gains unseen in almost twenty years. However, for roughly half of America, these stock market highs mean nothing as they face a new year with little work and even less of a safety net."
"Bankers on Wall Street rang in the final hours of 2013 with gains unseen in almost twenty years. However, for roughly half of America, these stock market highs mean nothing as they face a new year with little work and even less of a safety net."
The Year in Stupidity: A Look Back at the Dumbest Republican Moments of 2013
www.forwardprogressives.com/the-year-in-stupidity-a-look-back-at-the-dumbest-republican-moments-of-2013/
"In January of 2013, Governor Bobby Jindal implored his party to, “Stop being the stupid party,” during a National Republican Committee meeting. Unfortunately, his party wasn’t really listening to him, and as it turns out Gov. Jindal had a hard time taking his own advice."
"In January of 2013, Governor Bobby Jindal implored his party to, “Stop being the stupid party,” during a National Republican Committee meeting. Unfortunately, his party wasn’t really listening to him, and as it turns out Gov. Jindal had a hard time taking his own advice."
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