August 12, 2015
Why conservative billionaires have started talking like Bernie Sanders: “We are creating a caste system from which it’s almost impossible to escape”
Why conservative billionaires have started talking like Bernie Sanders: “We are creating a caste system from which it’s almost impossible to escape”
"Joined by his friend Ken Langone, founder of Home Depot, Georgescu warns his fellow 1 percenters that “[w]e are creating a caste system from which it’s almost impossible to escape.” The column raises the specter of “major social unrest” if inequality is not addressed."
"Joined by his friend Ken Langone, founder of Home Depot, Georgescu warns his fellow 1 percenters that “[w]e are creating a caste system from which it’s almost impossible to escape.” The column raises the specter of “major social unrest” if inequality is not addressed."
The Outrageous Ascent of CEO Pay
The Outrageous Ascent of CEO Pay
"Consider that in 1965, CEOs of America’s largest corporations were paid, on average, 20 times the pay of average workers.
Now, the ratio is over 300 to 1.
Not only has CEO pay exploded, so has the pay of top executives just below them.
The share of corporate income devoted to compensating the five highest-paid executives of large corporations ballooned from an average of 5 percent in 1993 to more than 15 percent by 2005 (the latest data available).
Corporations might otherwise have devoted this sizable sum to research and development, additional jobs, higher wages for average workers, or dividends to shareholders – who, not incidentally, are supposed to be the owners of the firm.
Corporate apologists say CEOs and other top executives are worth these amounts because their corporations have performed so well over the last three decades that CEOs are like star baseball players or movie stars.
Baloney. Most CEOs haven’t done anything special. The entire stock market surged over this time.
Even if a company’s CEO simply played online solitaire for thirty years, the company’s stock would have ridden the wave."
"Consider that in 1965, CEOs of America’s largest corporations were paid, on average, 20 times the pay of average workers.
Now, the ratio is over 300 to 1.
Not only has CEO pay exploded, so has the pay of top executives just below them.
The share of corporate income devoted to compensating the five highest-paid executives of large corporations ballooned from an average of 5 percent in 1993 to more than 15 percent by 2005 (the latest data available).
Corporations might otherwise have devoted this sizable sum to research and development, additional jobs, higher wages for average workers, or dividends to shareholders – who, not incidentally, are supposed to be the owners of the firm.
Corporate apologists say CEOs and other top executives are worth these amounts because their corporations have performed so well over the last three decades that CEOs are like star baseball players or movie stars.
Baloney. Most CEOs haven’t done anything special. The entire stock market surged over this time.
Even if a company’s CEO simply played online solitaire for thirty years, the company’s stock would have ridden the wave."
Hillary Clinton Shreds Scott Walker For Delighting In Harming College Students
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/08/11/hillary-clinton-shreds-scott-walker-delighting-harming-college-students.html
"Republicans believe that the doors of opportunity should be nailed shut on the vast majority of Americans. This belief is good for getting billionaires to open their checkbooks, but it a big reason younger voters continue to support the Democratic Party."
"Republicans believe that the doors of opportunity should be nailed shut on the vast majority of Americans. This belief is good for getting billionaires to open their checkbooks, but it a big reason younger voters continue to support the Democratic Party."
Hillary Clinton Joins Debt-Free College Push With a Big Plan
http://www.thenation.com/article/hillary-clinton-joins-debt-free-college-push-with-a-big-plan/
"All three major Democratic candidates embrace the idea of free public higher education."
"All three major Democratic candidates embrace the idea of free public higher education."
Clinton Will Unveil College Affordability Plan To Give States Incentives To Lower Tuition
http://thinkprogress.org/education/2015/08/10/3689782/clinton-will-unveil-college-affordability-plan-to-give-states-incentives-to-lower-tuition/
"College affordability has been a hot topic recently after Corinthian College students’ debt strike and the movement’s subsequent talks with the U.S. Department of Education, along with reports of misrepresentation of job placements for for-profit colleges, which can have higher tuition than comparable colleges. Total student debt in the U.S. is currently over $1 trillion."
"College affordability has been a hot topic recently after Corinthian College students’ debt strike and the movement’s subsequent talks with the U.S. Department of Education, along with reports of misrepresentation of job placements for for-profit colleges, which can have higher tuition than comparable colleges. Total student debt in the U.S. is currently over $1 trillion."
The Proof That Obamacare Is Working Is Getting Really Hard To Ignore
http://thinkprogress.org/health/2015/08/10/3689845/obamacare-working-research/
"the states that embraced Obamacare have seen the largest drops in the number of residents going without health care."
"the states that embraced Obamacare have seen the largest drops in the number of residents going without health care."
Melissa Gilbert Will Run For Congress
Melissa Gilbert Will Run For Congress
"some good news from Michigan. TV Star Melissa Gilbert has announced her intentions to send current Republican representative Mike Bishop home for good."
"some good news from Michigan. TV Star Melissa Gilbert has announced her intentions to send current Republican representative Mike Bishop home for good."
'Bringing People Together' Big Time as Sanders Attracts Tens of Thousands
'Bringing People Together' Big Time as Sanders Attracts Tens of Thousands
"It was by far the largest turnout for any presidential candidate this year, as nearly 30,000 people rallied in Portland, Oregon on Sunday evening for Bernie Sanders, filling the city's Moda Center to capacity with thousands more directed to overflow areas to watch the event on large screens."
"It was by far the largest turnout for any presidential candidate this year, as nearly 30,000 people rallied in Portland, Oregon on Sunday evening for Bernie Sanders, filling the city's Moda Center to capacity with thousands more directed to overflow areas to watch the event on large screens."
Championing a 'President for All People,' Nurses Back Bernie
Championing a 'President for All People,' Nurses Back Bernie
"Championing "a president for all people," the National Nurses Union on Monday announced that it is throwing the full weight of its 185,000-member organization behind Senator Bernie Sanders in his bid for president."
"Championing "a president for all people," the National Nurses Union on Monday announced that it is throwing the full weight of its 185,000-member organization behind Senator Bernie Sanders in his bid for president."
Why conservative billionaires have started talking like Bernie Sanders: “We are creating a caste system from which it’s almost impossible to escape”
Why conservative billionaires have started talking like Bernie Sanders: “We are creating a caste system from which it’s almost impossible to escape”
"Joined by his friend Ken Langone, founder of Home Depot, Georgescu warns his fellow 1 percenters that “[w]e are creating a caste system from which it’s almost impossible to escape.” The column raises the specter of “major social unrest” if inequality is not addressed."
"Joined by his friend Ken Langone, founder of Home Depot, Georgescu warns his fellow 1 percenters that “[w]e are creating a caste system from which it’s almost impossible to escape.” The column raises the specter of “major social unrest” if inequality is not addressed."
Marco Rubio Pretends Those Billionaire Bucks Don't Buy Any Influence
Marco Rubio Pretends Those Billionaire Bucks Don't Buy Any Influence
"Marco Rubio wants us to believe that all of that money flowing his way from the millionaires and billionaires funding his super pacs and political campaign don't have a bit of influence on his agenda."
"Marco Rubio wants us to believe that all of that money flowing his way from the millionaires and billionaires funding his super pacs and political campaign don't have a bit of influence on his agenda."
If There's Nothing To Hide...
If There's Nothing To Hide...
"Professor Clarkson is asking to see the paper tapes from the voting machines. They do not tell how someone voted, but “merely timestamped votes with associated metadata.”No can do, says Kansas. The reason?
Because the software is proprietary, even elections officials can’t examine it and postelection audits can’t be done, according to Pamela Smith, president of Verified Voting Foundation, a nonprofit agency whose mission is to safeguard elections in the digital age.
Okay, so we privatize elections and end up with private elections."
"Professor Clarkson is asking to see the paper tapes from the voting machines. They do not tell how someone voted, but “merely timestamped votes with associated metadata.”No can do, says Kansas. The reason?
Because the software is proprietary, even elections officials can’t examine it and postelection audits can’t be done, according to Pamela Smith, president of Verified Voting Foundation, a nonprofit agency whose mission is to safeguard elections in the digital age.
Okay, so we privatize elections and end up with private elections."
Planned Parenthood Can No Longer Offer Cancer Screenings To Poor Women In Texas. Thanks, GOP
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/08/10/planned-parenthood-can-no-longer-offer-cancer-screenings-to-poor-women-in-texas-thanks-gop/
"Texas women are the victims today, but you can rest assured that there will be more victims in other states before too long. Wherever Republicans are in charge, women are vulnerable."
"Texas women are the victims today, but you can rest assured that there will be more victims in other states before too long. Wherever Republicans are in charge, women are vulnerable."
Most 2016 GOP Presidential Candidates Would Push Seniors Into Poverty By Cutting Social Security @alternet
Most 2016 GOP Presidential Candidates Would Push Seniors Into Poverty By Cutting Social Security @alternet
"It sounds like everyone but Huckabee and Trump are taking their Social Security advice from their billionaire donors."
"It sounds like everyone but Huckabee and Trump are taking their Social Security advice from their billionaire donors."
Scott Walker to Women: Drop Dead
http://thedailybanter.com/2015/08/scott-walker-to-women-drop-dead/
"Scott Walker believes that the law should have prevented doctors from saving that woman’s life, or any woman’s life, if her pregnancy threatens to or is certain to kill her. That Scott Walker believes this should disqualify him from any position of authority, and while the media is unconscionably giving him a pass on this, it should hurt him in the long term."
"Scott Walker believes that the law should have prevented doctors from saving that woman’s life, or any woman’s life, if her pregnancy threatens to or is certain to kill her. That Scott Walker believes this should disqualify him from any position of authority, and while the media is unconscionably giving him a pass on this, it should hurt him in the long term."
Fox Stacked The Deck For Walker In Debate, Walker Still Lost
Fox Stacked The Deck For Walker In Debate, Walker Still Lost
"Yet, despite Walker not complying with their own rules, Faux Newz gave Walker the third seat at the debate. Other candidates who followed the rules were demoted to the little kids debate table."
"Yet, despite Walker not complying with their own rules, Faux Newz gave Walker the third seat at the debate. Other candidates who followed the rules were demoted to the little kids debate table."
Fox News Fails To Disclose Its Pro-Walker Debate Analyst Is A Walker Adviser And Co-Author
http://mediamatters.org/blog/2015/08/07/fox-news-fails-to-disclose-its-pro-walker-debat/204826
"Fox News repeatedly failed to disclose that its debate analyst Marc Thiessen has worked for debate participant Scott Walker. During his Fox appearances, Thiessen praised Walker as one of the "obvious winners" and singled him out as having a "great" debate moment."
"Fox News repeatedly failed to disclose that its debate analyst Marc Thiessen has worked for debate participant Scott Walker. During his Fox appearances, Thiessen praised Walker as one of the "obvious winners" and singled him out as having a "great" debate moment."
Why Did Chris Christie Say He Was Appointed U.S. Attorney The Day Before 9/11 When He Wasn’t?
http://thinkprogress.org/election/2015/08/07/3689230/chris-christie-september-10/
"Reports from the time suggest that Christie’s nomination to the vacant U.S. Attorney slot in New Jersey was widely anticipated prior to the attacks. But Bush didn’t actually nominate him until December 7 of that year, and he did not assume office until early 2002."
"Reports from the time suggest that Christie’s nomination to the vacant U.S. Attorney slot in New Jersey was widely anticipated prior to the attacks. But Bush didn’t actually nominate him until December 7 of that year, and he did not assume office until early 2002."
Fox News Had Time To Ask The Candidates If They’ve ‘Received Word From God,’ But Not These 7 Topics
http://thinkprogress.org/election/2015/08/07/3689171/things-the-gop-cant-talk-about/
"Corporate Welfare
Though former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee mentioned that, “Most of the income in this country is made by people at the top who get dividends and — and capital gains,” there was little mention of the idea that corporations are getting huge benefits from the current system. Even the right-wing billionaire Koch brothers have come around on corporate welfare, saying that “Business leaders (must) recognize that their behavior is suicide.” This is perhaps because candidates are increasingly beholden to donors who have contributed at least a million dollars to their campaigns."
"Corporate Welfare
Though former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee mentioned that, “Most of the income in this country is made by people at the top who get dividends and — and capital gains,” there was little mention of the idea that corporations are getting huge benefits from the current system. Even the right-wing billionaire Koch brothers have come around on corporate welfare, saying that “Business leaders (must) recognize that their behavior is suicide.” This is perhaps because candidates are increasingly beholden to donors who have contributed at least a million dollars to their campaigns."
FactChecking the GOP Debate, Late Edition
FactChecking the GOP Debate, Late Edition
"The first prime-time Republican presidential debate featured the top 10 candidates, according to polling, and they twisted some facts."
"The first prime-time Republican presidential debate featured the top 10 candidates, according to polling, and they twisted some facts."
The First Republican Debate Was a Mess and the GOP Should be Embarrassed
The First Republican Debate Was a Mess and the GOP Should be Embarrassed
"If this first debate was any indication of what the next 12-15 months is going to be like, all I can say is – wow. We have a government education grant program called “Race to the Top,” well the GOP presidential primary seems to be a “Race to the Bottom.” The fight for the Republican nomination really does seem to be a battle to see who can pander to ignorance and bigotry the best. Outside of Kasich, every other candidate was filled with more of the same anti-immigrant, anti-women, anti-helping the poor rhetoric to which we’ve all become accustomed from the GOP. Because that’s what we saw tonight. Ten candidates, standing on a stage pandering to some of the worst parts of our society."
"If this first debate was any indication of what the next 12-15 months is going to be like, all I can say is – wow. We have a government education grant program called “Race to the Top,” well the GOP presidential primary seems to be a “Race to the Bottom.” The fight for the Republican nomination really does seem to be a battle to see who can pander to ignorance and bigotry the best. Outside of Kasich, every other candidate was filled with more of the same anti-immigrant, anti-women, anti-helping the poor rhetoric to which we’ve all become accustomed from the GOP. Because that’s what we saw tonight. Ten candidates, standing on a stage pandering to some of the worst parts of our society."
Jon Stewart Blessed Us All With One Last Final Rant on ‘The Daily Show’ – and It Was Perfect (Video)
Jon Stewart Blessed Us All With One Last Final Rant on ‘The Daily Show’ – and It Was Perfect (Video)
"Trust me, if you have a few minutes, watch this segment. Reading parts of it just doesn’t do it justice."
"Trust me, if you have a few minutes, watch this segment. Reading parts of it just doesn’t do it justice."
As Jon Stewart Exits The Daily Show, Here’s a Look at Some of His Best Moments
As Jon Stewart Exits The Daily Show, Here’s a Look at Some of His Best Moments
"After several personalities from Fox News accused him of lying, Stewart absolutely hammered the network’s dishonesty by playing a short six-second clip of 50 lies that have been told on the conservative entertainment network."
"After several personalities from Fox News accused him of lying, Stewart absolutely hammered the network’s dishonesty by playing a short six-second clip of 50 lies that have been told on the conservative entertainment network."
This Study Shows How Hard It Will Be For A Republican To Win The White House
This Study Shows How Hard It Will Be For A Republican To Win The White House
"Now, a study by Latino Decisions shows that in order for the GOP to win the White House in 2016, they will need at least 47% of Latino voters to vote for the Republican candidate – and it is only going to get harder with every election cycle in the future. The study specifically points out how candidates like Donald Trump are driving away Latinos, at the expense of the GOP in the long-term.
The future doesn’t look good for the Republican Party when it comes to Latino voters, and they have only themselves to blame. While Democrats are welcoming voters across the demographic board, Republican candidates are doubling down on extreme rhetoric in order to win primaries and bring out the base. That approach presents a political Catch-22 situation for candidates in many states since they need the angry white vote to win the primaries, but by appealing to these voters, they have created hours and hours of video which can then be used against the party in the general election.
In 2012, Mitt Romney only got 23% of the Latino vote as his campaign lost in an electoral college blowout to President Obama. He may have had more of a chance if he hadn’t run so far to the right in the primaries and made comments about getting undocumented immigrants to “self deport,” a statement that RNC chairman Reince Priebus called “horrific.” This time around, Donald Trump is making it extremely difficult for the GOP to get to 23%, let alone 47%."
"Now, a study by Latino Decisions shows that in order for the GOP to win the White House in 2016, they will need at least 47% of Latino voters to vote for the Republican candidate – and it is only going to get harder with every election cycle in the future. The study specifically points out how candidates like Donald Trump are driving away Latinos, at the expense of the GOP in the long-term.
The future doesn’t look good for the Republican Party when it comes to Latino voters, and they have only themselves to blame. While Democrats are welcoming voters across the demographic board, Republican candidates are doubling down on extreme rhetoric in order to win primaries and bring out the base. That approach presents a political Catch-22 situation for candidates in many states since they need the angry white vote to win the primaries, but by appealing to these voters, they have created hours and hours of video which can then be used against the party in the general election.
In 2012, Mitt Romney only got 23% of the Latino vote as his campaign lost in an electoral college blowout to President Obama. He may have had more of a chance if he hadn’t run so far to the right in the primaries and made comments about getting undocumented immigrants to “self deport,” a statement that RNC chairman Reince Priebus called “horrific.” This time around, Donald Trump is making it extremely difficult for the GOP to get to 23%, let alone 47%."
Senate Republicans try to gut Wall Street reform, Obama administration strikes back
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/08/06/1409282/-Senate-Republicans-try-to-gut-Wall-Street-reform-Obama-administration-strikes-back
"The bill would gut Wall Street reform for big banks and would completely restructure the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, stripping its independence by creating a politicized board of directors and making its funding subject to congressional approval. Another provision would prevent the FCC from fully implementing net neutrality rules. Yet another would block funding for enforcing new clean air rules. And that's just a sliver of what it would do."
"The bill would gut Wall Street reform for big banks and would completely restructure the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, stripping its independence by creating a politicized board of directors and making its funding subject to congressional approval. Another provision would prevent the FCC from fully implementing net neutrality rules. Yet another would block funding for enforcing new clean air rules. And that's just a sliver of what it would do."
THANKS, WARREN – New Rule Requires Companies To Reveal What Their CEOs Are Earning
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/08/05/thanks-warren-new-rule-requires-companies-to-reveal-what-their-ceos-are-earning/
"Of course the panel’s two GOP members opposed it. Why on earth would they give a damn about exposing income inequality? Their donors have made it clear that they don’t want average Americans knowing how badly they are being scammed by those they work for."
"Of course the panel’s two GOP members opposed it. Why on earth would they give a damn about exposing income inequality? Their donors have made it clear that they don’t want average Americans knowing how badly they are being scammed by those they work for."
Why Jeb Bush's Pitch to the Koch Brothers Should Scare You @alternet
Why Jeb Bush's Pitch to the Koch Brothers Should Scare You @alternet
"The appointment of Supreme Court justices by a president who holds the shrouded workings of private capital in such high esteem promises future decisions that will make Citizens United look like a ray of sunlight.
In his bid to become the third in his family’s dynasty of mediocrity to occupy the White House, Jeb Bush is ready to sell the nation to the most secretive corner of the 1 percent."
"The appointment of Supreme Court justices by a president who holds the shrouded workings of private capital in such high esteem promises future decisions that will make Citizens United look like a ray of sunlight.
In his bid to become the third in his family’s dynasty of mediocrity to occupy the White House, Jeb Bush is ready to sell the nation to the most secretive corner of the 1 percent."
August 8, 2015
These guys want to gut America: 6 ways the GOP has obliterated American opportunity—and how we can start fighting back
These guys want to gut America: 6 ways the GOP has obliterated American opportunity—and how we can start fighting back
"A quick note about those two broad Republican lies: In reality, Democrats are much better than Republicans for the economy, as shown by more than a dozen studies discussed by Eric Zeusse in his 2012 book, “They’re Not Even Close: The Democratic vs. Republican Economic Records, 1910-2010.” (The less said specifically about the Bush family record, particularly on job creation —less than 4 million in 12 years—the better.) As for the second lie, overall growth stopped helping most Americans back in the 1970s, when the GOP’s neoliberal “trickle down” economics began replacing the social democratic policies, from the New Deal to the Great Society, which had produced decades of shared prosperity."
"A quick note about those two broad Republican lies: In reality, Democrats are much better than Republicans for the economy, as shown by more than a dozen studies discussed by Eric Zeusse in his 2012 book, “They’re Not Even Close: The Democratic vs. Republican Economic Records, 1910-2010.” (The less said specifically about the Bush family record, particularly on job creation —less than 4 million in 12 years—the better.) As for the second lie, overall growth stopped helping most Americans back in the 1970s, when the GOP’s neoliberal “trickle down” economics began replacing the social democratic policies, from the New Deal to the Great Society, which had produced decades of shared prosperity."
10 Ways to Make The U.S. Economy Work for Everyone, By Bernie Sanders @alternet
10 Ways to Make The U.S. Economy Work for Everyone, By Bernie Sanders @alternet
"1. Stop corporations from using offshore tax havens to avoid U.S. taxes. Each and every year, the United States loses an estimated $100 billion in tax revenues due to offshore tax abuses by the wealthy and large corporations. The situation has become so absurd that one five-story office building in the Cayman Islands is now the “home” to more than 18,000 corporations.
The wealthy and large corporations should not be allowed to avoid paying taxes by setting up tax shelters in Panama, the Cayman Islands, Bermuda, the Bahamas or other tax haven countries. The first bill that I introduced in the Senate (the Corporate Tax Dodging Prevention Act) would raise more than $580 billion over the next decade by eliminating the most egregious corporate offshore tax haven abuses."
"1. Stop corporations from using offshore tax havens to avoid U.S. taxes. Each and every year, the United States loses an estimated $100 billion in tax revenues due to offshore tax abuses by the wealthy and large corporations. The situation has become so absurd that one five-story office building in the Cayman Islands is now the “home” to more than 18,000 corporations.
The wealthy and large corporations should not be allowed to avoid paying taxes by setting up tax shelters in Panama, the Cayman Islands, Bermuda, the Bahamas or other tax haven countries. The first bill that I introduced in the Senate (the Corporate Tax Dodging Prevention Act) would raise more than $580 billion over the next decade by eliminating the most egregious corporate offshore tax haven abuses."
Scott Walker Wins Koch Straw Poll, $900 Million in the Offing
Scott Walker Wins Koch Straw Poll, $900 Million in the Offing
"As the Koch network of funders gets ready to unleash an unimaginable $900 million on the 2016 campaign, they are busily trying to remake their public image and spin undisclosed dark money as a plus in political campaigns."
"As the Koch network of funders gets ready to unleash an unimaginable $900 million on the 2016 campaign, they are busily trying to remake their public image and spin undisclosed dark money as a plus in political campaigns."
What’s The Matter With Kansas? They’re Losing All Their Teachers
http://thinkprogress.org/education/2015/08/04/3687915/kansas-teachers-gone/
"Kansas embarked on an experiment with radical right-wing policies since Governor Sam Brownback (R) was elected in 2010, and it failed miserably. The centerpiece of the project, led by Governor Sam Brownback, was huge tax cuts, largely for wealthy individuals and businesses, based on the Republican orthodoxy that tax cuts create jobs.
Now, a teacher shortage appears to be the latest consequence of Kansas’ abject failure to manage its economy. It’s not hard to see why teachers don’t want to work in Kansas.
While the tax cut experiment didn’t create jobs, it did destroy the Kansas budget, and one major consequence of that has been massive funding cuts for Kansas schools. Several districts ended the school year early for lack of funds. Education funding levels are so low, and unequal across school districts, that judges have ruled them unconstitutional and the case is currently pending at the state Supreme Court.
Kansas’ teacher pay is among the lowest in the nation."
"Kansas embarked on an experiment with radical right-wing policies since Governor Sam Brownback (R) was elected in 2010, and it failed miserably. The centerpiece of the project, led by Governor Sam Brownback, was huge tax cuts, largely for wealthy individuals and businesses, based on the Republican orthodoxy that tax cuts create jobs.
Now, a teacher shortage appears to be the latest consequence of Kansas’ abject failure to manage its economy. It’s not hard to see why teachers don’t want to work in Kansas.
While the tax cut experiment didn’t create jobs, it did destroy the Kansas budget, and one major consequence of that has been massive funding cuts for Kansas schools. Several districts ended the school year early for lack of funds. Education funding levels are so low, and unequal across school districts, that judges have ruled them unconstitutional and the case is currently pending at the state Supreme Court.
Kansas’ teacher pay is among the lowest in the nation."
5 Scary Ways the Right-Wing Is Trying to Subvert How Kids Are Taught US History @alternet
5 Scary Ways the Right-Wing Is Trying to Subvert How Kids Are Taught US History @alternet
"Koch-Approved Education: In North Carolina, a Koch-backed group is developing a curriculum for K-12 students, even using grant money from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, meaning that a politicized right-wing organization is essentially being paid by taxpayers to help indoctrinate kids."
"Koch-Approved Education: In North Carolina, a Koch-backed group is developing a curriculum for K-12 students, even using grant money from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, meaning that a politicized right-wing organization is essentially being paid by taxpayers to help indoctrinate kids."
GOP Celebrates 50th Anniversary Of The Voting Rights Act With Coded Call For More Voter Suppression
http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2015/08/06/3688771/gop-celebrates-50th-anniversary-of-the-voting-rights-act-with-coded-call-for-more-voter-suppression/
"The Republican National Committee issued a statement on Thursday praising a law that Republican appointees to the Supreme Court have hobbled and that Republican officials have actively sought to undermine through state laws that disenfranchise racial minorities. RNC Chairman Reince Priebus’s statement on the 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act even contains a coded call for more laws making it harder to Americans to cast a ballot."
"The Republican National Committee issued a statement on Thursday praising a law that Republican appointees to the Supreme Court have hobbled and that Republican officials have actively sought to undermine through state laws that disenfranchise racial minorities. RNC Chairman Reince Priebus’s statement on the 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act even contains a coded call for more laws making it harder to Americans to cast a ballot."
How Right-Wingers Are Suppressing the Minority Vote in Georgia - and the Pushback to Expand Democracy @alternet
How Right-Wingers Are Suppressing the Minority Vote in Georgia - and the Pushback to Expand Democracy @alternet
"This is part of a fight against a larger trend, accelerated by the Roberts Court's gutting of the Voting Rights Act"
"This is part of a fight against a larger trend, accelerated by the Roberts Court's gutting of the Voting Rights Act"
Planned Parenthood Is Way More Popular Than All The Republican Candidates For President
http://thinkprogress.org/election/2015/08/07/3689330/planned-parenthood-popular/
"The GOP is counting on anti-Planned Parenthood rhetoric to paper over their support for policies that would hurt lower and middle-class Americans for the benefit of the wealthy. But even if that works in Republican primaries, polling shows they’d be wise to back off if they want to have any hope of winning the general election."
"The GOP is counting on anti-Planned Parenthood rhetoric to paper over their support for policies that would hurt lower and middle-class Americans for the benefit of the wealthy. But even if that works in Republican primaries, polling shows they’d be wise to back off if they want to have any hope of winning the general election."
The Answer That Will Sink Marco Rubio In A General Election
The Answer That Will Sink Marco Rubio In A General Election
"Scott Walker also said the life of a mother had no bearing on his views of abortion. Good luck with that in the general."
"Scott Walker also said the life of a mother had no bearing on his views of abortion. Good luck with that in the general."
Jeb Bush Defunded Planned Parenthood…Here’s What Happened
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/08/07/jeb-bush-defunded-planned-parenthood-here-what-happened/
"Jeb Bush defunded Planned Parenthood as governor of Florida, and all hell broke loose.
In 2001, just two years into his governorship, Bush cut over $300,000 from women’s health services through PP. That money he cut had been provided each year to Planned Parenthood for more than a decade. Here’s what the state got in return for $300k:
By 2014, the Center for Reproductive Rights released an evaluation that showed Florida tied with Arkansas and Oklahoma for the worst state for a women’s well-being.
The uninsured rate for women ballooned to 25%, coming in second to Texas.
Approximately 20% of women are found to be in fair, poor or ill health. Florida ranks 13th in that category out of all states and territories.
Approximately 20% of women do not have access to a personal doctor, physician, or general healthcare provider, three percentage points higher than the national average.
Florida ranks 46th in the number of women who have had a pap smear in the last 3 years.
Twenty-three of Florida’s 67 counties lack an OB-GYN, based on a 2014 survey
By 2030, demand for women’s healthcare providers will fall 18% short while the female population will increase by 50%
In most parts of Florida, women must travel more than an hour just to see a doctor"
"Jeb Bush defunded Planned Parenthood as governor of Florida, and all hell broke loose.
In 2001, just two years into his governorship, Bush cut over $300,000 from women’s health services through PP. That money he cut had been provided each year to Planned Parenthood for more than a decade. Here’s what the state got in return for $300k:
By 2014, the Center for Reproductive Rights released an evaluation that showed Florida tied with Arkansas and Oklahoma for the worst state for a women’s well-being.
The uninsured rate for women ballooned to 25%, coming in second to Texas.
Approximately 20% of women are found to be in fair, poor or ill health. Florida ranks 13th in that category out of all states and territories.
Approximately 20% of women do not have access to a personal doctor, physician, or general healthcare provider, three percentage points higher than the national average.
Florida ranks 46th in the number of women who have had a pap smear in the last 3 years.
Twenty-three of Florida’s 67 counties lack an OB-GYN, based on a 2014 survey
By 2030, demand for women’s healthcare providers will fall 18% short while the female population will increase by 50%
In most parts of Florida, women must travel more than an hour just to see a doctor"
The Pill Has Prevented 400,000 Cases Of Cancer, But The GOP Wants To Ban Birth Control
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/08/05/the-pill-has-prevented-400000-cases-of-cancer-but-the-gop-wants-to-ban-birth-control/
"According to a study published Tuesday on The Lancet Oncology, some contraceptives do more than help the 88 percent of women who will use birth control at some point in their lifetimes reduce the risk of bringing an unwanted child into the world — they also assist in preventing cancer. As oral contraceptives “trick” the body into thinking it is pregnant, the amount of natural estrogen circulating in the body drops, which lowers the risk of developing uterine (endometrial) cancer."
"According to a study published Tuesday on The Lancet Oncology, some contraceptives do more than help the 88 percent of women who will use birth control at some point in their lifetimes reduce the risk of bringing an unwanted child into the world — they also assist in preventing cancer. As oral contraceptives “trick” the body into thinking it is pregnant, the amount of natural estrogen circulating in the body drops, which lowers the risk of developing uterine (endometrial) cancer."
New Proof That Birth Control Pills Can Help Save Women’s Lives
http://thinkprogress.org/health/2015/08/06/3688609/birth-control-cancer-study/
"The birth control pill has prevented hundreds of thousands of cases of endometrial cancer, and can help reduce women’s risk of developing cancer even long after they stop using it, according to a new research that analyzes data collected between 1965 to 2014.
Endometrial cancer — sometimes also called “cancer of the womb” — begins in the inner lining of the uterus. Mainly affecting older women who have gone through menopause, it’s the most common gynecologic cancer in the United States. An estimated 10,000 American women will die from this condition in 2015.
But the statistics would be much worse without the pill, according to research published this week in the prestigious Lancet journal. After examining data from 36 different studies conducted in several high-income countries around the world, researchers from the University of Oxford concluded that taking birth control pills for just five years can reduce a woman’s risk of developing this type of cancer by 25 percent. They estimate oral contraceptives have prevented about 400,000 cases of endometrial cancer since 1965 — including 200,000 cases in the last decade alone."
"The birth control pill has prevented hundreds of thousands of cases of endometrial cancer, and can help reduce women’s risk of developing cancer even long after they stop using it, according to a new research that analyzes data collected between 1965 to 2014.
Endometrial cancer — sometimes also called “cancer of the womb” — begins in the inner lining of the uterus. Mainly affecting older women who have gone through menopause, it’s the most common gynecologic cancer in the United States. An estimated 10,000 American women will die from this condition in 2015.
But the statistics would be much worse without the pill, according to research published this week in the prestigious Lancet journal. After examining data from 36 different studies conducted in several high-income countries around the world, researchers from the University of Oxford concluded that taking birth control pills for just five years can reduce a woman’s risk of developing this type of cancer by 25 percent. They estimate oral contraceptives have prevented about 400,000 cases of endometrial cancer since 1965 — including 200,000 cases in the last decade alone."
Elizabeth Warren Destroys GOPers Trying To Defund Planned Parenthood
Elizabeth Warren Destroys GOPers Trying To Defund Planned Parenthood
"For decades now, piece by piece, the Republican party has turned themselves over to their right-wing fringe radicals because they needed the votes. After they infused the party with the televangelist voters beginning in 1980, and continued this trend up until they turned over the rest of the party apparatus to the Tea Party of 2009."
"For decades now, piece by piece, the Republican party has turned themselves over to their right-wing fringe radicals because they needed the votes. After they infused the party with the televangelist voters beginning in 1980, and continued this trend up until they turned over the rest of the party apparatus to the Tea Party of 2009."
Elizabeth Warren humiliates Senate GOP: “Did you fall down, hit your head, and think you woke up in the 1950s or 1890s?”
Elizabeth Warren humiliates Senate GOP: “Did you fall down, hit your head, and think you woke up in the 1950s or 1890s?”
"Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren was none too pleased with Republican’s attempt to grandstand on the issue of women’s health as the first GOP primary debate approaches, and she voiced her displeasure to her senate colleagues in no uncertain terms on Monday."
"Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren was none too pleased with Republican’s attempt to grandstand on the issue of women’s health as the first GOP primary debate approaches, and she voiced her displeasure to her senate colleagues in no uncertain terms on Monday."
Liars Behind Planned Parenthood Videos Linked To Antiabortionist Terror Group (VIDEO)
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/08/04/liars-behind-planned-parenthood-videos-linked-to-antiabortionist-terror-group-video/
"David Daleiden, founder of the anti-choice group Center for Medial Progress, appeared on CNN in an interview with Alisyn Camerota to defend the group’s overly edited, extremely misleading video series about Planned Parenthood."
"David Daleiden, founder of the anti-choice group Center for Medial Progress, appeared on CNN in an interview with Alisyn Camerota to defend the group’s overly edited, extremely misleading video series about Planned Parenthood."
This Is The New MSNBC: Joe Scarborough Uses Edited Videos To Attack Elizabeth Warren
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/08/04/msnbc-joe-scarborough-edited-video-attack-elizabeth-warren.html
"Welcome to the “new” MSNBC. Joe Scarborough can smear a sitting United States Senator with no consequences, but there is no room for liberals who discuss the plight of working Americans."
"Welcome to the “new” MSNBC. Joe Scarborough can smear a sitting United States Senator with no consequences, but there is no room for liberals who discuss the plight of working Americans."
Watch: Elizabeth Warren Shreds Republicans During Senate Floor Speech (VIDEO)
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/08/04/watch-elizabeth-warren-shreds-republicans-during-senate-floor-speech-video/
"Republicans seem to think that voters actually believe the latest attempt to defund Planned Parenthood is just an unplanned response to deceptively edited videos released by the front-group Center For Medical Progress."
"Republicans seem to think that voters actually believe the latest attempt to defund Planned Parenthood is just an unplanned response to deceptively edited videos released by the front-group Center For Medical Progress."
Anti-Public School Evangelicals Now Control Alabama and Texas Education Boards
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/08/02/anti-public-school-evangelicals-control-alabama-texas-education-boards.html
"Both Abbott’s and Bentley’s appointments of highly unqualified religious fanatics with no experience in public education is founded on their desire to abolish public schools and replace them with a taxpayer-funded evangelical madrassa system; a two-fold assault on America. First, misappropriating taxpayer dollars for biblical instruction is patently unconstitutional, and second, it is another tactic to wipe out America’s public education system as part of their crusade toward government by theocracy."
"Both Abbott’s and Bentley’s appointments of highly unqualified religious fanatics with no experience in public education is founded on their desire to abolish public schools and replace them with a taxpayer-funded evangelical madrassa system; a two-fold assault on America. First, misappropriating taxpayer dollars for biblical instruction is patently unconstitutional, and second, it is another tactic to wipe out America’s public education system as part of their crusade toward government by theocracy."
Fundamentalist Public School Hater To Oversee Public Education In State Of Alabama
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/07/30/fundamentalist-public-school-hater-to-oversee-public-education-in-state-of-alabama/
"It’s no secret that Republicans have been working to destroy the public school system to justify their need to privatize it"
"It’s no secret that Republicans have been working to destroy the public school system to justify their need to privatize it"
The Secret Plan Behind Ted Cruz And His 'Defund Planned Parenthood' Vote
The Secret Plan Behind Ted Cruz And His 'Defund Planned Parenthood' Vote
"everyone should wonder why Clarence Thomas has not been recused from hearing them."
"everyone should wonder why Clarence Thomas has not been recused from hearing them."
Here’s how we beat the billionaires: The simple campaign reform Sheldon Adelson & the Koch brothers fear
Here’s how we beat the billionaires: The simple campaign reform Sheldon Adelson & the Koch brothers fear
"Super PACs have given plutocratic ideologues unprecedented power -- but there's a remarkably easy way to curb them"
"Super PACs have given plutocratic ideologues unprecedented power -- but there's a remarkably easy way to curb them"
Jon Stewart Hilariously Mocks Republicans Cozying Up to Koch Brothers at Weekend Event (Video)
Jon Stewart Hilariously Mocks Republicans Cozying Up to Koch Brothers at Weekend Event (Video)
"over the weekend five Republican presidential candidates (Jeb Bush, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Scott Walker and Carly Fiorina) were invited to a “business conference” in California that was essentially nothing more than an event setup to have these candidates audition for the nearly $1 billion the Koch brothers have said they plan to spend on the 2016 elections."
"over the weekend five Republican presidential candidates (Jeb Bush, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Scott Walker and Carly Fiorina) were invited to a “business conference” in California that was essentially nothing more than an event setup to have these candidates audition for the nearly $1 billion the Koch brothers have said they plan to spend on the 2016 elections."
Classic! Scott Walker Tricked into Posing in Front of $900 Million Check Signed by Kochs @alternet
Classic! Scott Walker Tricked into Posing in Front of $900 Million Check Signed by Kochs @alternet
"Student dupes Walker into posing with check illustrating he's bought and paid for by the Koch brothers."
"Student dupes Walker into posing with check illustrating he's bought and paid for by the Koch brothers."
Jon Stewart Shreds Fox News’ Hypocrisy After They Call Him a ‘Tool’: ‘This One Is Gonna Blow your Motherf**king Mind!’ (Video)
Jon Stewart Shreds Fox News’ Hypocrisy After They Call Him a ‘Tool’: ‘This One Is Gonna Blow your Motherf**king Mind!’ (Video)
"The conservative media, in particular Fox News, has masterminded this scheme where they perpetuate the idea that they’re the only sources for “truth,” and any other media entity or public figure that might call out their nonsense is all a part of a conspiracy against that “truth.” It’s textbook cult-like indoctrination; you get people to believe you’re the only beacon for honesty, then attack anyone who calls you out for being full of crap."
"The conservative media, in particular Fox News, has masterminded this scheme where they perpetuate the idea that they’re the only sources for “truth,” and any other media entity or public figure that might call out their nonsense is all a part of a conspiracy against that “truth.” It’s textbook cult-like indoctrination; you get people to believe you’re the only beacon for honesty, then attack anyone who calls you out for being full of crap."
Hillary Clinton is becoming the oligarchy’s Public Enemy #1
Hillary Clinton is becoming the oligarchy’s Public Enemy #1
"It isn't just rich conservatives looking to take Hillary down a peg. Rich Dems are getting in on the action now too"
"It isn't just rich conservatives looking to take Hillary down a peg. Rich Dems are getting in on the action now too"
EXCLUSIVE: The Restrictions Journalists Agreed To In Order To Attend The Koch Brothers’ Conference
http://thinkprogress.org/media/2015/08/03/3687249/koch-freedom-partners-media-restrictions/
"This weekend, Charles and David Koch’s Freedom Partners hosted five Republican presidential hopefuls and hundreds of top conservative donors at the St. Regis Monarch Beach luxury resort in California. The tax-exempt organization, which has been dubbed the Koch Brothers’ “secret bank,” allowed nine news organizations to cover parts of the conference.
The New York Times highlighted these invitations last week as evidence of the Kochs’ attempt to change their image as a “secretive” network with a “culture deeply allergic to the spotlight.” But in reality, those reporters who covered the event were subject to numerous restrictions — restrictions one media ethics expert called “outrageous"."
"This weekend, Charles and David Koch’s Freedom Partners hosted five Republican presidential hopefuls and hundreds of top conservative donors at the St. Regis Monarch Beach luxury resort in California. The tax-exempt organization, which has been dubbed the Koch Brothers’ “secret bank,” allowed nine news organizations to cover parts of the conference.
The New York Times highlighted these invitations last week as evidence of the Kochs’ attempt to change their image as a “secretive” network with a “culture deeply allergic to the spotlight.” But in reality, those reporters who covered the event were subject to numerous restrictions — restrictions one media ethics expert called “outrageous"."
Kochs Rebrand Themselves As Champions Of Poor, Fight To Slash Wages And Eliminate Their Health Care
http://thinkprogress.org/election/2015/08/03/3687152/kochs-rebrand-themselves-as-champions-of-the-poor-rightful-heirs-to-civil-rights-movement/
"This isn’t the first time the Koch empire has attempted to re-brand itself. Earlier this year, the brothers launched a media charm offensive in which they described themselves as economically conservative and socially liberal — despite spending tens of millions of dollars on campaigns to ban abortion and gay marriage, among other socially conservative causes."
"This isn’t the first time the Koch empire has attempted to re-brand itself. Earlier this year, the brothers launched a media charm offensive in which they described themselves as economically conservative and socially liberal — despite spending tens of millions of dollars on campaigns to ban abortion and gay marriage, among other socially conservative causes."
Meet the Hedge Funders and Billionaires Who Pillage Under the Shield of Philanthropy @alternet
Meet the Hedge Funders and Billionaires Who Pillage Under the Shield of Philanthropy @alternet
"America’s parasitical oligarchs are masters of public relations. One of their favorite tactics is to masquerade as defenders of the common folk while neatly arranging things behind the scenes so that they can continue to plunder unimpeded."
"America’s parasitical oligarchs are masters of public relations. One of their favorite tactics is to masquerade as defenders of the common folk while neatly arranging things behind the scenes so that they can continue to plunder unimpeded."
Walker Wants To Lift People Up Through The Education System He Broke
Walker Wants To Lift People Up Through The Education System He Broke
"If anyone is the staunch enemy of funding education, Scott Walker takes all the (cheese) cake that garnished this segment on Fox."
"If anyone is the staunch enemy of funding education, Scott Walker takes all the (cheese) cake that garnished this segment on Fox."
Walker Appoints Political Crony To Appellate Court Seat
Walker Appoints Political Crony To Appellate Court Seat
"In case you missed it, Hagedorn was appointed to be an appellate court judge even though he has never been a judge.
In fact, Hagedorn has precious little in the way of experience. Before he was Walker's legal mouthpiece, he worked at a right wing law firm and a member of the Federalist Society.
Perhaps Walker felt that Hagedorn was qualified for the things he did while Walker's counsel, such as fighting open records requests or keeping Walker from being held accountable for a death he caused by negligence as Milwaukee County Executive
Then again, in Walker's eyes, Hagedorn's greatest achievement probably was sabotaging the John Doe investigation into Walker and his illegal collaboration with dark money groups."
"In case you missed it, Hagedorn was appointed to be an appellate court judge even though he has never been a judge.
In fact, Hagedorn has precious little in the way of experience. Before he was Walker's legal mouthpiece, he worked at a right wing law firm and a member of the Federalist Society.
Perhaps Walker felt that Hagedorn was qualified for the things he did while Walker's counsel, such as fighting open records requests or keeping Walker from being held accountable for a death he caused by negligence as Milwaukee County Executive
Then again, in Walker's eyes, Hagedorn's greatest achievement probably was sabotaging the John Doe investigation into Walker and his illegal collaboration with dark money groups."
Grand Jury Indicts Conservative Texas Attorney General On Felony Charges
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/08/02/grand-jury-indicts-conservative-texas-attorney-general-on-felony-charges/
"a Grand Jury formally indicted the Tea Party-supported Texas conservative on Saturday on felony fraud charges stemming from Paxton’s time as a puppet of investment firm Mowery Capital Management while he was a member of the Texas state legislature."
"a Grand Jury formally indicted the Tea Party-supported Texas conservative on Saturday on felony fraud charges stemming from Paxton’s time as a puppet of investment firm Mowery Capital Management while he was a member of the Texas state legislature."
Scott Walker Stresses Importance Of Education Days After Cutting Education Funding By $250 Million
http://thinkprogress.org/education/2015/07/31/3686604/governor-who-cut-universities-by-300-million-says-key-to-boosting-wages-is-education/
"Walker proposed a state budget that would slash $300 million from the University of Wisconsin over two years and cut $127 million from public primary schools. The state budget also continues a freeze on state special education aid for the eighth year in a row and erodes teacher licensing standards by requiring the state department of education to give permits to teachers who haven’t completed a bachelor’s degree, according to The Washington Post.
A U.S. Census Bureau report, issued in May 2014, which covers the fiscal year of 2011-12, shows that Wisconsin’s decrease in per pupil spending from the 2010-11 year was the highest of all 50 states. There was a 3.6 percent rise in per pupil spending in 2010-11, a 2.6 percent rise in 2009-10 and 3.6 percent rise in 2008-09 before Walker was sworn in as governor."
"Walker proposed a state budget that would slash $300 million from the University of Wisconsin over two years and cut $127 million from public primary schools. The state budget also continues a freeze on state special education aid for the eighth year in a row and erodes teacher licensing standards by requiring the state department of education to give permits to teachers who haven’t completed a bachelor’s degree, according to The Washington Post.
A U.S. Census Bureau report, issued in May 2014, which covers the fiscal year of 2011-12, shows that Wisconsin’s decrease in per pupil spending from the 2010-11 year was the highest of all 50 states. There was a 3.6 percent rise in per pupil spending in 2010-11, a 2.6 percent rise in 2009-10 and 3.6 percent rise in 2008-09 before Walker was sworn in as governor."
Ted Cruz Super-PAC Has Just One Donor
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/07/cruzs-super-pac-super-easy-understand
"A super-PAC backing Ted Cruz called Keep the Promise II just filed its campaign disclosure, and it stands rather in contrast with the filing this morning from Jeb Bush's super-PAC. Right to Rise, the Bush-backing super-PAC, revealed a list of donors that included anonymous shell corporations, 28 former ambassadors, and hundreds of wealthy and moneyed elite from around the country, requiring this reporter to do plenty of math to determine how much came from big donors and how much came from very big donors. Keep the Promise II's disclosure is much simpler.
One guy gave $10 million.
That's it.
Although the super-PAC raised more money than the actual campaigns of 14 of the 20 declared major candidates, there were no other donors.
The guy's name is Toby Neugebauer. He is the billionaire founder of a private-equity firm, and his father is Congressman Randy Neugebauer (R-Texas)."
"A super-PAC backing Ted Cruz called Keep the Promise II just filed its campaign disclosure, and it stands rather in contrast with the filing this morning from Jeb Bush's super-PAC. Right to Rise, the Bush-backing super-PAC, revealed a list of donors that included anonymous shell corporations, 28 former ambassadors, and hundreds of wealthy and moneyed elite from around the country, requiring this reporter to do plenty of math to determine how much came from big donors and how much came from very big donors. Keep the Promise II's disclosure is much simpler.
One guy gave $10 million.
That's it.
Although the super-PAC raised more money than the actual campaigns of 14 of the 20 declared major candidates, there were no other donors.
The guy's name is Toby Neugebauer. He is the billionaire founder of a private-equity firm, and his father is Congressman Randy Neugebauer (R-Texas)."
Scott Walker destroyed his state: Wisconsin’s economic cautionary tale
Scott Walker destroyed his state: Wisconsin’s economic cautionary tale
"In 2011, Walker created the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation to give businesses taxpayer loans and grants. Within a few years, state auditors published reports spotlighting “concerns with WEDC’s administration and oversight of its economic development programs and its financial management.” Specifically, auditors said “WEDC did not require grant and loan recipients to submit information showing that contractually required jobs were actually created or retained” and also noted that money was handed out “in ways that did not consistently comply” with state law.
Much of the cash flowed to Walker’s political allies."
"In 2011, Walker created the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation to give businesses taxpayer loans and grants. Within a few years, state auditors published reports spotlighting “concerns with WEDC’s administration and oversight of its economic development programs and its financial management.” Specifically, auditors said “WEDC did not require grant and loan recipients to submit information showing that contractually required jobs were actually created or retained” and also noted that money was handed out “in ways that did not consistently comply” with state law.
Much of the cash flowed to Walker’s political allies."
Meet the Megadonors Bankrolling Jeb Bush's Campaign
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/07/right-rise-donors-revealed
"Jeb Bush knows it doesn't look good if a candidate appears to get most of his financial support from a small group of wealthy donors. Earlier this spring, he asked donors to try not to give checks of more than $1 million to his super-PAC, and when the group announced its total haul for the first six months of the year, it took pains to emphasize that 9,400 of its more than 9,900 contributors had donated less than $25,000.
But now it's going to be a lot harder for anyone to think of the Bush super-PAC—which completely dwarfs his campaign in terms of financial resources—as anything but driven by extremely wealthy donors.
This morning, the Right to Rise super-PAC filed its first disclosure reports, confirming that it had indeed raised $103 million in the first six months of the year. That is an unprecedented amount, but what's really news is the distribution of the donations. It does appear that only about 500 donors gave more than $25,000 to the super-PAC, but donations of less than $25,000 accounted for just $21.7 million of the total. On the other end of the spectrum, 23 people gave more than $1 million to the super-PAC, contributing a total of $27.3 million.
The size of the donations is shocking. Despite the growing public perception that super-PACs are playgrounds for millionaires, the number of people who have ever given $1 million to political causes in their lifetimes is small."
"Jeb Bush knows it doesn't look good if a candidate appears to get most of his financial support from a small group of wealthy donors. Earlier this spring, he asked donors to try not to give checks of more than $1 million to his super-PAC, and when the group announced its total haul for the first six months of the year, it took pains to emphasize that 9,400 of its more than 9,900 contributors had donated less than $25,000.
But now it's going to be a lot harder for anyone to think of the Bush super-PAC—which completely dwarfs his campaign in terms of financial resources—as anything but driven by extremely wealthy donors.
This morning, the Right to Rise super-PAC filed its first disclosure reports, confirming that it had indeed raised $103 million in the first six months of the year. That is an unprecedented amount, but what's really news is the distribution of the donations. It does appear that only about 500 donors gave more than $25,000 to the super-PAC, but donations of less than $25,000 accounted for just $21.7 million of the total. On the other end of the spectrum, 23 people gave more than $1 million to the super-PAC, contributing a total of $27.3 million.
The size of the donations is shocking. Despite the growing public perception that super-PACs are playgrounds for millionaires, the number of people who have ever given $1 million to political causes in their lifetimes is small."
Right-Wing Shutdown Of Export-Import Bank Already Threatens Jobs
Right-Wing Shutdown Of Export-Import Bank Already Threatens Jobs
"Workers and business owners need to stand up against this attack on the Ex-Im Bank and on our country's ability to compete in world markets."
"Workers and business owners need to stand up against this attack on the Ex-Im Bank and on our country's ability to compete in world markets."
Chris Christie didn't just kill the tunnels, he did it out of partisan spite
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/07/31/1407618/-Chris-Christie-didn-t-just-kill-the-tunnels-he-did-it-out-of-partisan-spite
"As governor, he didn't just kill the tunnels so that he could divert the money to other New Jersey projects, thus sparing him from having to raise New Jersey's among-the-lowest-in-the-nation gas tax, he did so as part of the organized Republican effort to sabotage America's economic stimulus program and blunt the employment effects of those projects."
"As governor, he didn't just kill the tunnels so that he could divert the money to other New Jersey projects, thus sparing him from having to raise New Jersey's among-the-lowest-in-the-nation gas tax, he did so as part of the organized Republican effort to sabotage America's economic stimulus program and blunt the employment effects of those projects."
Republicans Tell Their Own Media: You’re Destroying Our Chance To Govern With Your Idiocy
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/08/01/republicans-tell-their-own-media-youre-destroying-our-chance-to-govern-with-your-idiocy/
"It’s no secret that Fox News is by far the worst perpetrator when it comes to spreading rhetoric and lies. Within minutes of the shootings in Charleston they were blaming mental illness and “Christian persecution.” They’ve spent more time covering Benghazi than they have real issues at home. They are so obsessed with Hillary Clinton’s email server that one has to wonder how often it will come up in the upcoming Republican presidential debate they’re hosting.
Between Fox, Glenn Beck’s ridiculous hate-fest The Blaze and the plethora of right-wing blogs willing to print every bit of hate they can find, no matter how ridiculous the source, there seems to be only one logical conclusion: The GOP has zero chance of being an effective governing body."
"It’s no secret that Fox News is by far the worst perpetrator when it comes to spreading rhetoric and lies. Within minutes of the shootings in Charleston they were blaming mental illness and “Christian persecution.” They’ve spent more time covering Benghazi than they have real issues at home. They are so obsessed with Hillary Clinton’s email server that one has to wonder how often it will come up in the upcoming Republican presidential debate they’re hosting.
Between Fox, Glenn Beck’s ridiculous hate-fest The Blaze and the plethora of right-wing blogs willing to print every bit of hate they can find, no matter how ridiculous the source, there seems to be only one logical conclusion: The GOP has zero chance of being an effective governing body."
Fox News Says Don’t Worry if Times’ Clinton Email Story Wrong, Keep Talking About it
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/07/31/fox-news-worry-times-clinton-email-story-wrong-talking.html
"They just have to keep doubt alive, just as they’ve tried to do with global warming, and before that, smoking. Throw enough dirt, and some will stick. And after all, where they’ve invented one lie, they can invent another, and keep inventing them."
"They just have to keep doubt alive, just as they’ve tried to do with global warming, and before that, smoking. Throw enough dirt, and some will stick. And after all, where they’ve invented one lie, they can invent another, and keep inventing them."
Secrets of the extreme religious right: Inside the frightening world of Christian Reconstructionism
Secrets of the extreme religious right: Inside the frightening world of Christian Reconstructionism
"the end result would be a social order based on biblical law—including all those Old Testament goodies like stoning gay people to death, while at the same time justifying “biblical slavery"."
"the end result would be a social order based on biblical law—including all those Old Testament goodies like stoning gay people to death, while at the same time justifying “biblical slavery"."
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