http://truth-out.org/opinion/item/28375-the-republicans-didn-t-really-win-the-senate
"They've been saying for years now that voters were angry about President Obama and his policies, and the fact that Republicans will now control the Senate and the House is about as good a sign as you can get that the US public wanted a change.
At least what Republicans want you to think.
The good people over at FairVote crunched some numbers and it turns out that the GOP's takeover of Congress isn't as much of a victory as the media says it was - far from it, actually.
If you take the states out of the equation and just look at the nationwide totals, Democratic Senators actually got more votes than Republican Senators, and it's not even close.
According to FairVote, the 44 Democratic Senators and their two independent allies received 67.8 million votes over the course of the 2010, 2012 and 2014 elections. The 54 Republican Senators, on the other hand, received only 47.1 million votes during that same time period. That's a difference of more than 20 million votes!
If you think this is insane that the party that got the fewest votes - by more than 20 million - now controls the Senate, well, then, you're right. As it's put together right now, the Senate is incredibly anti-(small "d") democratic."
January 7, 2015
Americans Saved $14 on Gas this Year; Wall Street Cries to ‘Stop the Bleeding!’
http://aattp.org/americans-saved-14-on-gas-this-year-wall-street-cries-to-stop-the-bleeding/
"To hear some of the folks on Wall Street tell it, especially those in the energy industry, the recent plummet in the price of oil is the most horrifying thing to happen since the Great Depression. Which, let’s face it, wasn’t all that depressing for some people. Energy czars and oil states use phrase like “stop the bleeding,” “hemorrhage” and “panic.” But, as we’ve seen time and time again (and somehow have yet to actually learn), the interests of the American people have kind of an inverse relationship with the vices of Big Energy and Wall Street. When we bleed, they profit; and finally, it seems, vice has become versa."
"To hear some of the folks on Wall Street tell it, especially those in the energy industry, the recent plummet in the price of oil is the most horrifying thing to happen since the Great Depression. Which, let’s face it, wasn’t all that depressing for some people. Energy czars and oil states use phrase like “stop the bleeding,” “hemorrhage” and “panic.” But, as we’ve seen time and time again (and somehow have yet to actually learn), the interests of the American people have kind of an inverse relationship with the vices of Big Energy and Wall Street. When we bleed, they profit; and finally, it seems, vice has become versa."
America’s most ambitious infrastructure project of the century: Why today’s high-speed rail launch is miraculous
America’s most ambitious infrastructure project of the century: Why today’s high-speed rail launch is miraculous
"The most important kickoff in America today will not happen in Washington, where the 114th Congress begins its work. No, a far more consequential beginning takes place on the other side of the country, in modest Fresno, California, at an invitation-only ceremony on the corner of Tulare and G Streets. There, officials will break ground on America’s biggest and most ambitious infrastructure project of the century, a high-speed rail line linking San Francisco and Los Angeles that, when completed, will run at speeds of 220 miles an hour and move people between those metropolises in around two and a half hours, half the time it takes by car."
"The most important kickoff in America today will not happen in Washington, where the 114th Congress begins its work. No, a far more consequential beginning takes place on the other side of the country, in modest Fresno, California, at an invitation-only ceremony on the corner of Tulare and G Streets. There, officials will break ground on America’s biggest and most ambitious infrastructure project of the century, a high-speed rail line linking San Francisco and Los Angeles that, when completed, will run at speeds of 220 miles an hour and move people between those metropolises in around two and a half hours, half the time it takes by car."
2014 Was The Hottest Year On Record Globally By Far
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2015/01/05/3607735/2014-hottest-year-by-far/
"What makes setting the record for hottest year in 2014 doubly impressive is that it occurred despite the fact we’re still waiting for the start of El Niño. But this is what happens when a species keeps spewing record amounts of heat-trapping carbon pollution into the air, driving CO2 to levels in the air not seen for millions of years, when the planet was far hotter and sea levels tens of feet higher."
"What makes setting the record for hottest year in 2014 doubly impressive is that it occurred despite the fact we’re still waiting for the start of El Niño. But this is what happens when a species keeps spewing record amounts of heat-trapping carbon pollution into the air, driving CO2 to levels in the air not seen for millions of years, when the planet was far hotter and sea levels tens of feet higher."
For The First Time, Scientists Prove Fracking Caused An Earthquake Strong Enough To Be Felt By Humans
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2015/01/06/3608591/77-earthquakes-linked-to-fracking/
"The scientists, from the University of Miami, identified 77 earthquakes of varying size in the Poland Township of Ohio, all occurring between March 4 and March 12 and all located near a group of oil and gas wells. The quakes ranged between magnitudes of 1.0 and 3.0, but the local community reportedly only felt one, a magnitude 3.0 on March 10."
"The scientists, from the University of Miami, identified 77 earthquakes of varying size in the Poland Township of Ohio, all occurring between March 4 and March 12 and all located near a group of oil and gas wells. The quakes ranged between magnitudes of 1.0 and 3.0, but the local community reportedly only felt one, a magnitude 3.0 on March 10."
Climate Deniers Employ Predatory Tactics in Fight Against Facts: Scientist
Climate Deniers Employ Predatory Tactics in Fight Against Facts: Scientist
"a concerted effort on the part of fossil fuel interests who find themselves facing overwhelming scientific consensus about the threat of human-caused climate change—and, by implication, the necessity to reduce global carbon emissions."
"a concerted effort on the part of fossil fuel interests who find themselves facing overwhelming scientific consensus about the threat of human-caused climate change—and, by implication, the necessity to reduce global carbon emissions."
January 6, 2015
Dominionist 'Passion' Cult Seeks More Publicity On Fox News
Dominionist 'Passion' Cult Seeks More Publicity On Fox News
"When you unite an intimidation-based religious cult with a 'conservative' political agenda, you indoctrinate a whole new generation of misinformed Republican voters."
"When you unite an intimidation-based religious cult with a 'conservative' political agenda, you indoctrinate a whole new generation of misinformed Republican voters."
Michele Bachmann’s 6 most insane moments
Michele Bachmann’s 6 most insane moments
"over the course of her eight years in the House, Bachmann established herself as one of the most incendiary and demagogic Republicans on the national stage."
"over the course of her eight years in the House, Bachmann established herself as one of the most incendiary and demagogic Republicans on the national stage."
5 Demented Right-Wing Moments This Week: Michele Bachmann's Hilarious Delusion | Alternet
5 Demented Right-Wing Moments This Week: Michele Bachmann's Hilarious Delusion | Alternet
"Drivers enjoying the cheapest gasoline in years may not know this, but they have retired Congresswoman Michele Bachmann to thank for the low prices at the pump. During her awe-inspiring run for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012, Bachmann promised voters that if elected, she would bring them $2-a-gallon gasoline, and dang if she did not deliver on that campaign pledge this week.
The, how shall we say, not entirely reality-based, Bible-thumping former presidential candidate touted her accomplishment on Twitter this week, just to remind everyone.
You might wonder, did the fact that this miracle occurred under Democratic President Barack Obama cause any cognitive dissonance for Bachmann? No, it did not. Because for that, you would have to have cognition to begin with."
"Drivers enjoying the cheapest gasoline in years may not know this, but they have retired Congresswoman Michele Bachmann to thank for the low prices at the pump. During her awe-inspiring run for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012, Bachmann promised voters that if elected, she would bring them $2-a-gallon gasoline, and dang if she did not deliver on that campaign pledge this week.
The, how shall we say, not entirely reality-based, Bible-thumping former presidential candidate touted her accomplishment on Twitter this week, just to remind everyone.
You might wonder, did the fact that this miracle occurred under Democratic President Barack Obama cause any cognitive dissonance for Bachmann? No, it did not. Because for that, you would have to have cognition to begin with."
Koch-Funded News Outlet Defends Dark-Money Organizations
http://mediamatters.org/blog/2015/01/02/koch-funded-news-outlet-defends-dark-money-orga/201996
"Watchdog.org, is funded largely in part by one of the biggest conservative dark money spenders, Donors Trust, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit group that pools large donations for support of conservative causes while protecting the identity of the donors."
"Watchdog.org, is funded largely in part by one of the biggest conservative dark money spenders, Donors Trust, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit group that pools large donations for support of conservative causes while protecting the identity of the donors."
10 Things Republicans Should Stop Doing In 2015
10 Things Republicans Should Stop Doing In 2015
"10) Present another Paul Ryan budget
Sure, it’s an annual tradition. But the running gag that is the Paul Ryan budget has gotten really stale at this point. We get it, Republicans. You want to slash taxes, Social Security, and Medicare. You want to repeal Obamacare and replace it with the equally effective Shake-It-Off-Care, while boosting defense spending so the U.S. can finally muster a challenge to Al Qaeda’s nonexistent air force and navy. Every year it’s virtually the same budget, with its outrageous projections for employment and reality in general. If this is the “path to prosperity,” I can only hope a few of the bridges are out along the way."
"10) Present another Paul Ryan budget
Sure, it’s an annual tradition. But the running gag that is the Paul Ryan budget has gotten really stale at this point. We get it, Republicans. You want to slash taxes, Social Security, and Medicare. You want to repeal Obamacare and replace it with the equally effective Shake-It-Off-Care, while boosting defense spending so the U.S. can finally muster a challenge to Al Qaeda’s nonexistent air force and navy. Every year it’s virtually the same budget, with its outrageous projections for employment and reality in general. If this is the “path to prosperity,” I can only hope a few of the bridges are out along the way."
Speaker John Boehner Confirms Republicans Will Target Obamacare Once Again
Speaker John Boehner Confirms Republicans Will Target Obamacare Once Again
"You’d think that after more than 50 times trying to repeal or defund the Affordable Care Act, perhaps Republicans would focus on doing something else. You know, maybe something like coming up with their own version of the road and jobs bill that Sen. Bernie Sanders intends to introduce in the new session of Congress – but no, it looks like we are going to see more fruitless attempts to take down Obamacare in any way possible."
"You’d think that after more than 50 times trying to repeal or defund the Affordable Care Act, perhaps Republicans would focus on doing something else. You know, maybe something like coming up with their own version of the road and jobs bill that Sen. Bernie Sanders intends to introduce in the new session of Congress – but no, it looks like we are going to see more fruitless attempts to take down Obamacare in any way possible."
Kochs and Walmart Clan Wage Dirty War to Stop You From Putting Solar Panels on Your Home | Alternet
Kochs and Walmart Clan Wage Dirty War to Stop You From Putting Solar Panels on Your Home | Alternet
"ALEC, which has long been an opponent of renewable energy and the Obama administration’s effort to reduce carbon emissions, is working with conservative activists and corporate interests to fight homeowners who are installing solar panels on their roofs."
"ALEC, which has long been an opponent of renewable energy and the Obama administration’s effort to reduce carbon emissions, is working with conservative activists and corporate interests to fight homeowners who are installing solar panels on their roofs."
The Finance Industry Is Gorging Itself on Your Future—The Trend Lines Will Blow You Away | Alternet
The Finance Industry Is Gorging Itself on Your Future—The Trend Lines Will Blow You Away | Alternet
"For nearly a half century between the New Deal and the 1970s, Wall Street was tightly controlled. Taxes on the wealthy were high, worker wages were rising, and debt levels on consumers, companies and government were low. After finance was deregulated (circa 1980) private and public debt exploded, wages stalled, taxes on the rich fell and inequality soared."
"For nearly a half century between the New Deal and the 1970s, Wall Street was tightly controlled. Taxes on the wealthy were high, worker wages were rising, and debt levels on consumers, companies and government were low. After finance was deregulated (circa 1980) private and public debt exploded, wages stalled, taxes on the rich fell and inequality soared."
January 4, 2015
Sam Brownback’s Destruction of the Kansas Budget
http://quietmike.org/2015/01/02/sam-brownbacks-destruction-kansas-budget/
"How trickle down economics and Republican tax cuts are ruining the State's economic future"
"How trickle down economics and Republican tax cuts are ruining the State's economic future"
Sam Brownback’s terrible, horrible, no good, very bad 31 hours
http://www.kansascity.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/yael-t-abouhalkah/article5332056.html
"Gov. Sam Brownback promised Kansans that his deep income tax cuts favoring the wealthy would bring lots of great new things to the state.
Instead, Brownback — and residents — have been enduring a steady drumbeat of bad news after the cuts took effect.
This week, a 31-hour stretch brought three different body blows to Brownback’s administration.
At 9 a.m. Tuesday, the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics released a report showing how jobs had grown in metropolitan areas across America.
Unfortunately for Brownback, the report showed that the Missouri side of the state line had gained jobs at four times the rate of the Kansas side. And yes, that’s after including new employment in Johnson and Wyandotte counties.
So much for Brownback’s promise that jobs would be fleeing Missouri-side cities for Kansas after the tax cuts."
"Gov. Sam Brownback promised Kansans that his deep income tax cuts favoring the wealthy would bring lots of great new things to the state.
Instead, Brownback — and residents — have been enduring a steady drumbeat of bad news after the cuts took effect.
This week, a 31-hour stretch brought three different body blows to Brownback’s administration.
At 9 a.m. Tuesday, the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics released a report showing how jobs had grown in metropolitan areas across America.
Unfortunately for Brownback, the report showed that the Missouri side of the state line had gained jobs at four times the rate of the Kansas side. And yes, that’s after including new employment in Johnson and Wyandotte counties.
So much for Brownback’s promise that jobs would be fleeing Missouri-side cities for Kansas after the tax cuts."
2nd Court Slams Brownback For Underfunding Education To Expedite Kochs’ Tax Cuts
http://www.politicususa.com/2014/12/31/court-slams-brownback-underfunding-education-expedite-kochs-tax-cuts.html
"It is important to note that Republicans, including Brownback, held up Kansas and its unfunded tax cuts for the wealthy-elite and corporations as the idealized Republican economic plan for all America to follow. One Kansas Republican even admitted that one of the primary goals of the Koch-Brownback economic plan was cutting government down to size and they have been successful in slashing the state public education system to unconstitutional levels as well as cutting public retirement accounts to pay for the tax cuts.
Despite the abject failure in Kansas, incoming Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told Brownback “It’s exactly what we want to do in Washington,” and now that they control both chambers of Congress, it is certainly what they will attempt. The only thing standing between the entire nation, the federal government, and public education going the way of Kansas is President Obama’s veto pen. Because without him as a firewall, the entire nation will become the Koch brothers’ vision of America and will look exactly like Kansas."
"It is important to note that Republicans, including Brownback, held up Kansas and its unfunded tax cuts for the wealthy-elite and corporations as the idealized Republican economic plan for all America to follow. One Kansas Republican even admitted that one of the primary goals of the Koch-Brownback economic plan was cutting government down to size and they have been successful in slashing the state public education system to unconstitutional levels as well as cutting public retirement accounts to pay for the tax cuts.
Despite the abject failure in Kansas, incoming Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told Brownback “It’s exactly what we want to do in Washington,” and now that they control both chambers of Congress, it is certainly what they will attempt. The only thing standing between the entire nation, the federal government, and public education going the way of Kansas is President Obama’s veto pen. Because without him as a firewall, the entire nation will become the Koch brothers’ vision of America and will look exactly like Kansas."
Dish Network Exposes Fox News as Nothing More than a Conservative Entertainment Channel
Dish Network Exposes Fox News as Nothing More than a Conservative Entertainment Channel
"Yes, Dish Network replaced the supposedly “fair and balanced” Fox News with the channel founded by radical right-wing conspiracy pushing propagandist Glenn Beck. Now, why would they replace a supposed “news” network with a channel that’s nothing more than right-wing propaganda? That doesn’t make any sense. Unless, of course, they know that Fox News is nothing more than conservative entertainment and instead of replacing it with some kind of legitimate news channel, they chose to replace the network with a channel that panders to conservatives."
"Yes, Dish Network replaced the supposedly “fair and balanced” Fox News with the channel founded by radical right-wing conspiracy pushing propagandist Glenn Beck. Now, why would they replace a supposed “news” network with a channel that’s nothing more than right-wing propaganda? That doesn’t make any sense. Unless, of course, they know that Fox News is nothing more than conservative entertainment and instead of replacing it with some kind of legitimate news channel, they chose to replace the network with a channel that panders to conservatives."
Sen. Mitch McConnell's first goal: saving the super-rich from campaign finance restrictions
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/01/02/1350574/-Sen-Mitch-McConnell-s-first-goal-saving-the-super-rich-from-campaign-finance-restrictions#
"These were the things McConnell started making noise about first. Of all the issues currently facing America, of all the changes that the Republican Senate wants to make upon regaining control of the institution, carving out further exceptions to the rules that govern who can give money to Mitch McConnell was the most urgent thing on the stack."
"These were the things McConnell started making noise about first. Of all the issues currently facing America, of all the changes that the Republican Senate wants to make upon regaining control of the institution, carving out further exceptions to the rules that govern who can give money to Mitch McConnell was the most urgent thing on the stack."
Our scary new Congress: Meet 5 Tea Party extremists taking office this month
Our scary new Congress: Meet 5 Tea Party extremists taking office this month
"Come next week, a few of Congress’ most notorious Tea Partyers will no longer be in office. Rep. Paul Broun, a Georgia Republican who once declared evolution and the Big Bang Theory “lies straight from the pit of hell,” lost a U.S. Senate primary this year and won’t be returning to the House. Neither will Michele Bachmann, who needs no introduction.
But the departure of such inflammatory conservatives hardly means that the 114th Congress will be a more sober one. Indeed, the crop of Republicans taking power next month is even further to the right than the current House GOP conference. The newly Republican Senate, too, will feature more than its fair share of ultraconservative hard-liners."
"Come next week, a few of Congress’ most notorious Tea Partyers will no longer be in office. Rep. Paul Broun, a Georgia Republican who once declared evolution and the Big Bang Theory “lies straight from the pit of hell,” lost a U.S. Senate primary this year and won’t be returning to the House. Neither will Michele Bachmann, who needs no introduction.
But the departure of such inflammatory conservatives hardly means that the 114th Congress will be a more sober one. Indeed, the crop of Republicans taking power next month is even further to the right than the current House GOP conference. The newly Republican Senate, too, will feature more than its fair share of ultraconservative hard-liners."
Bad News For The GOP: Pope Francis Calls For Ending Modern Slavery And Exploitation Of Workers
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/01/02/bad-news-for-the-gop-pope-francis-calls-for-ending-modern-slavery-and-exploitation-of-workers/
"And just in case conservative folks in the GOP, on Fox News, and around the world choose to misunderstand Pope Francis’ message and apply a very narrow definition of the word “slavery,” His Holiness makes it abundantly clear that he objects to any exploitation of workers and our fellow human beings."
"And just in case conservative folks in the GOP, on Fox News, and around the world choose to misunderstand Pope Francis’ message and apply a very narrow definition of the word “slavery,” His Holiness makes it abundantly clear that he objects to any exploitation of workers and our fellow human beings."
The 11 Dumbest Things Conservative Media Said About Climate Change in 2014
http://mediamatters.org/blog/2014/12/30/the-11-dumbest-things-conservative-media-said-a/201964
"Yet despite the fact that more Americans than ever support action on climate change, conservative media went to ridiculous lengths to cast doubt on the scientific consensus behind global warming, citing everything from free market economics to witchcraft, touting conspiracy theories and predictions of an "ice age," and even fulfilling Godwin's law."
"Yet despite the fact that more Americans than ever support action on climate change, conservative media went to ridiculous lengths to cast doubt on the scientific consensus behind global warming, citing everything from free market economics to witchcraft, touting conspiracy theories and predictions of an "ice age," and even fulfilling Godwin's law."
Fox host: We don’t need smog rules because ‘whatever happened with acid rain?’ (Spoiler: Laws worked)
Fox host: We don’t need smog rules because ‘whatever happened with acid rain?’ (Spoiler: Laws worked)
"the reason Morris can’t remember “whatever happened to acid rain” is because regulations worked.
Beginning in 1980, Congress began passing laws like the Acid Deposition Act, President George H. W. Bush amended the Clean Air Act during his term, and the EPA issued the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) under President George W. Bush.
More than 20 years after the government began regulating acid rain, the EPA estimated that 2009 sulfur dioxide levels were cut to about one-third of what they were in 1990. But the EPA has also said that further reductions are still needed to recover from the effects of acid rain."
"the reason Morris can’t remember “whatever happened to acid rain” is because regulations worked.
Beginning in 1980, Congress began passing laws like the Acid Deposition Act, President George H. W. Bush amended the Clean Air Act during his term, and the EPA issued the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) under President George W. Bush.
More than 20 years after the government began regulating acid rain, the EPA estimated that 2009 sulfur dioxide levels were cut to about one-third of what they were in 1990. But the EPA has also said that further reductions are still needed to recover from the effects of acid rain."
How Fox News Covered Pope Francis' Action On Climate Change
http://mediamatters.org/blog/2015/01/02/how-fox-news-covered-pope-francis-action-on-cli/201994
"acting on climate change already has widespread support among Catholics. The pope's move comes after senior bishops from around the globe called on the world's governments to phase out fossil fuels completely"
"acting on climate change already has widespread support among Catholics. The pope's move comes after senior bishops from around the globe called on the world's governments to phase out fossil fuels completely"
The Koch Brothers Launch A Surrogate War Against Pope Francis
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/01/02/koch-brothers-surrogate-war-pope-francis.html
"The Cornwall Alliance was quick to lash out at the Pope this week when he announced he would be issuing a “rare encyclical on the environment and climate change” early this year, as well as convene a summit of the world’s religious leaders to address climate change. Pope Francis will also address the United Nations General Assembly with a view toward influencing the upcoming U.N. meeting on climate change in Paris this year.
The Pope’s announcement drew a harsh rebuke from the religious right’s Cornwall Alliance, whose spokesman, Calvin Beisner, said that regardless of his position as Pope, or intent to help mankind, “Francis will be opposed by the powerful US evangelical movement.” The Koch-funded “Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation” had previously issued a biblical declaration labeling the American environmental movement a dirty false religion and “unbiblical.” There is nothing whatsoever in any version of the Christian bible that refers to the American environmental movement as a religion, false or otherwise, or contrary to biblical principles. But American evangelicals cannot be expected to know the contents of an alleged holy book they refuse to read much less follow."
"The Cornwall Alliance was quick to lash out at the Pope this week when he announced he would be issuing a “rare encyclical on the environment and climate change” early this year, as well as convene a summit of the world’s religious leaders to address climate change. Pope Francis will also address the United Nations General Assembly with a view toward influencing the upcoming U.N. meeting on climate change in Paris this year.
The Pope’s announcement drew a harsh rebuke from the religious right’s Cornwall Alliance, whose spokesman, Calvin Beisner, said that regardless of his position as Pope, or intent to help mankind, “Francis will be opposed by the powerful US evangelical movement.” The Koch-funded “Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation” had previously issued a biblical declaration labeling the American environmental movement a dirty false religion and “unbiblical.” There is nothing whatsoever in any version of the Christian bible that refers to the American environmental movement as a religion, false or otherwise, or contrary to biblical principles. But American evangelicals cannot be expected to know the contents of an alleged holy book they refuse to read much less follow."
Radical Right Are Losing Their Sh** Over Pope’s Encyclical On Climate Change (TWEETS)
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2014/12/30/radical-right-are-losing-their-sht-over-popes-encyclical-on-climate-change-tweets/
"In 2015, Pope Francis will publish an encyclical on climate change. An encyclical is a rarely issued edict addressing matters the Pope deems serious. The Pontiff will urge all 1.2 billion Catholics, on both moral and scientific grounds, to take action on climate change."
"In 2015, Pope Francis will publish an encyclical on climate change. An encyclical is a rarely issued edict addressing matters the Pope deems serious. The Pontiff will urge all 1.2 billion Catholics, on both moral and scientific grounds, to take action on climate change."
The Pope Thinks Climate Change Is a Major Threat. So Do American Catholics.
http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2014/12/pope-francis-climate-change
"The pope's climate plans follow a call by prominent Catholic bishops to end the use of fossil fuels and secure a global agreement to fight climate change."
"The pope's climate plans follow a call by prominent Catholic bishops to end the use of fossil fuels and secure a global agreement to fight climate change."
January 3, 2015
13 Species We Might Have To Say Goodbye To In 2015
13 Species We Might Have To Say Goodbye To In 2015
"In fact, the world is losing dozens of species every day in what experts are calling the sixth mass extinction in Earth’s history. As many as 30 to 50 percent of all species are moving toward extinction by mid-century — and the blame sits squarely on our shoulders."
"In fact, the world is losing dozens of species every day in what experts are calling the sixth mass extinction in Earth’s history. As many as 30 to 50 percent of all species are moving toward extinction by mid-century — and the blame sits squarely on our shoulders."
January 2, 2015
PERRspectives: Three Ways the GOP Will Sabotage the Government and the Economy in 2015
PERRspectives: Three Ways the GOP Will Sabotage the Government and the Economy in 2015
"After simple math showed that his tax-cut windfall for the wealthy would add trillions to the national debt, Ryan among other conservatives decided to change the way the CBO does math."
"After simple math showed that his tax-cut windfall for the wealthy would add trillions to the national debt, Ryan among other conservatives decided to change the way the CBO does math."
January 1, 2015
Right-Wing Media's Catastrophic ACA Predictions Still Haven't Materialized
http://mediamatters.org/research/2014/12/27/right-wing-medias-catastrophic-aca-predictions/201959
"Conservative media issued catastrophic predictions and myths about the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2014, despite ample evidence that the health care law is working."
"Conservative media issued catastrophic predictions and myths about the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2014, despite ample evidence that the health care law is working."
Murdoch, Scaife and CIA Propaganda
https://consortiumnews.com/2014/12/31/murdoch-scaife-and-cia-propaganda/
"The Reagan administration pulled right-wing media executives Rupert Murdoch and Richard Mellon Scaife into a CIA-organized “perception management” operation which aimed Cold War-style propaganda at the American people in the 1980s, according to declassified U.S. government records."
"The Reagan administration pulled right-wing media executives Rupert Murdoch and Richard Mellon Scaife into a CIA-organized “perception management” operation which aimed Cold War-style propaganda at the American people in the 1980s, according to declassified U.S. government records."
PERRspectives: The Laffer Curve: The GOP's Favorite Fiscal Fraud Turns 40
PERRspectives: The Laffer Curve: The GOP's Favorite Fiscal Fraud Turns 40
"But Arthur Laffer's supply-side snake oil didn't produce increased revenue, but instead red ink as far as the eye can see. And that's not the only by-product of Reagan and Bush's tax cut windfalls for the wealthy: they fueled the highest levels of income inequality since 1929. And despite all of the GOP mythology about "job creators," the U.S. economy grew faster, generated more jobs and produced better income gains when taxes were higher--even much higher."
"But Arthur Laffer's supply-side snake oil didn't produce increased revenue, but instead red ink as far as the eye can see. And that's not the only by-product of Reagan and Bush's tax cut windfalls for the wealthy: they fueled the highest levels of income inequality since 1929. And despite all of the GOP mythology about "job creators," the U.S. economy grew faster, generated more jobs and produced better income gains when taxes were higher--even much higher."
Fox News Pundit Claims The Minimum Wage Increase Will Ruin Us
Fox News Pundit Claims The Minimum Wage Increase Will Ruin Us
"Fortunately for us, we have factual data we can reference that shows that Morici is just plain wrong. During the supply side years of Reagan and Bush 1 and 2, we can clearly see that economic growth is not greater than the growth during the Clinton years. Morici, who advocates for tax cuts to wealthy Americans, forgets to mention that this supply side nightmare also causes the deficit to double, triple or worse.
Not satisfied enough with parroting false economic theory, Morici had to dip into the "Obama won't let us drill for oil" lie, because that's as false as his economic genius."
"Fortunately for us, we have factual data we can reference that shows that Morici is just plain wrong. During the supply side years of Reagan and Bush 1 and 2, we can clearly see that economic growth is not greater than the growth during the Clinton years. Morici, who advocates for tax cuts to wealthy Americans, forgets to mention that this supply side nightmare also causes the deficit to double, triple or worse.
Not satisfied enough with parroting false economic theory, Morici had to dip into the "Obama won't let us drill for oil" lie, because that's as false as his economic genius."
Millions Of Workers Will Get A Raise On New Years Day
http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2014/12/31/3607346/new-years-minimum-wage/
"And while opponents of a higher wage often claim that it will kill jobs, that hasn’t played out in reality. The states that raised their wages on January 1 of 2014 had experienced faster job growth than those that didn’t as of midyear. Washington has had the highest minimum wage for 15 years and has seen steady, above-average job growth. Overall, economists who studied state-level wage increases over two decades didn’t find any evidence that they impacted jobs."
"And while opponents of a higher wage often claim that it will kill jobs, that hasn’t played out in reality. The states that raised their wages on January 1 of 2014 had experienced faster job growth than those that didn’t as of midyear. Washington has had the highest minimum wage for 15 years and has seen steady, above-average job growth. Overall, economists who studied state-level wage increases over two decades didn’t find any evidence that they impacted jobs."
"Boobs on the Ground?"10 Dumbest Things Fox News Did Last Year
http://www.alternet.org/media/boobs-ground10-dumbest-things-fox-news-did-last-year
"It was another banner year for Fox News, which spent its past twelve months mocking female soldiers, advising women not to vote, making light of domestic abuse victims, wishing ebola on workers, and, of course, standing up for America’s awesomeness, no matter what a non sequitur it might be."
"It was another banner year for Fox News, which spent its past twelve months mocking female soldiers, advising women not to vote, making light of domestic abuse victims, wishing ebola on workers, and, of course, standing up for America’s awesomeness, no matter what a non sequitur it might be."
2014 Politician Liar Of The Year - The Winner Is...
2014 Politician Liar Of The Year - The Winner Is...
"This one was a really hard call, but in the end, Issa won the prize for his propensity to release partially edited emails and testimony to mislead the public as well as his behind-the-scenes narrative building for the sole purpose of electing more Republicans rather than governing the country."
"This one was a really hard call, but in the end, Issa won the prize for his propensity to release partially edited emails and testimony to mislead the public as well as his behind-the-scenes narrative building for the sole purpose of electing more Republicans rather than governing the country."
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